001I'm going to probably just make money. >> Good evening everyone. I'd like to thank each of you for coming out tonight and welcome to the Gates County School Board meeting here at Gatesville. Uh Mr. Rick um had to leave. He has um a 6:30 appointment, so he will not be with us tonight, but I believe he said he would go back and view it online since now we're on YouTube. And thank you, Miss Brooks, for allowing us to come out and meet at your school. Board members, um I have in front of me a couple things that I like to bring to your attention before I get started, and that is an ethics concern, and I'm going to read it to you. Board members are reminded that it's our duty to avoid conflicts and interest
002and the appearance of conflicts of interest as we handle the work of this school board. Does any member of this board tonight have any conflict of interest or ha or appear to have anything of conflict with respect to any matters coming before us at this meeting tonight? If so, please state them for the record. If during the course of the meeting you become aware of an actual or apparent conflict, please bring it to the matter of tension of myself, it will then be the duty of you as a board member to abstain from participating in the discussion on the matter and the voting on that matter that's been um that conflicts you of voting on that matter. Okay, we're going to start this morning by I mean this evening by standing and saying the pledge
003of 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. Now, while we're standing, I'm ask Miss Ry to send an invocation. >> Nothing might surprise us. >> I'm sorry. Okay, let's pray. >> Dear God, please be with this board and all of the people that are here tonight. Please be with the board and help us to make sound decisions that um are in line with your will for this county and for our students and employees. God, thank you for all the blessings you've bestowed upon each one of us and um give us safe travels on the way home tonight. In your name I pray. Amen. >> Amen. Thank you, Miss Rick.
004Okay. Next on our agenda um is I'm asking you if there are any public comments tonight. Anybody signed up? I think Miss Ballard signed up for you. Go ahead and hit the podium. and I'll also um join when she finishes. >> Okay. >> Good afternoon. Um I'm Gloria Wilson. I'd like to thank the board for having me to speak and my opinion tonight. I am a mom and a grandma. Uh I have heard one speaker about the closing of the schools and um uh everybody has their opinion. My opinion is about the students. What about our students? Now I was born and b here in the county. I went away. I got education. So I came back to the county. the county that I grew up in and we are hoping that our children will
005do the same thing because without our children we won't be the county would not be great. Um, I look around the county. Um, not until my age, but I've been here a long time. So, um, I see different buildings. Do we want this for our money? Um, I I the Gates County used to have four or five banks here. Look around. Now we just have one bank and the banks are the building is just about closed down or ran down that they step up. The same thing will be the if whatever school the board or the county decides to close. Um each one of the board members done an excellent job of doing their homework and telling why the expenses of keeping whatever school it is open, whether or not it's closing uh uh or
006whether or not is um uh enlarging the classroom and decreasing the provider of the teachers. Think about that. Do we want that? If we decrease the uh the teachers, the staff and enlarging the uh classroom, what would that do to our students? Everybody learns on a different pace. Now, I have two grands. One give them a pencil paper and they off. The other one needs a little more help. She's a hands on person that needs to be loved and touched and patted on the butt. Come on, baby. You can do it. So, what would this do to our students? Now, sounds like to me that we are putting more strain on our teachers. Our teachers are also our parents. They needs to be home also helping their child doing the homework. not graing papers and
007helping somebody else's child even though that's what they went to school for. That's what they took a place to do. But think about it. If I had a choice, I would help my child first. So, um I heard Miss Brook speak about Gatesville school. Gatesville school is um I'll say our capital and each one and the capital have um our townships. Our township less our county just like our capital needs the townships. When um new residents comes in the county, what do they look at first besides the cost of the property? They go to the schools and see what the school have to be providing. So if they want to look around and see time, let me say one other thing. Oh um my goodness. He asked his if we close a school, would there
008be anybody a staff to upkeep the school? Uh whether or not it's deployment or the volunteer or what? If you go up 32, it was a school there that was loose. Look at that building now. trees and rivers are growing up and um for some whatever the reason they caught a vine and that's our eyes sore our eyes sore. Do we want our friends and neighbors to come and visit us and uh uh uh see all this in our backyard and on top of that we want our children and their children to come and support Gates County. >> Thank you. Mr. Jordan. >> Yes. Good evening. Good evening. >> Um, I didn't have an intention on speaking this afternoon or addressing the board. Um, I came pretty much to um I just want to be
009more involved in what's going on um being in leadership. Um, but I made a request to uh Miss Jordan Um I don't know how long ago it was a month um address the issue of um as you all know we're short of drives and I have coaches um I have one coach that has bus license and if a coach who gets a stifling drive a bus he only gets paid $25. Um last year when we didn't have um bus drivers to drive athletic trips, I drove the bus and I got paid $25. Um and there's no way that we can attract bus drivers that got licensed coaches and pay them $25. I work I've been driving ever since uh the first of the year morning and afternoon and drove this afternoon. I'm working 60 hours
010a week getting paid for 40. I have no problem with that. But the problem I have is that when I'm trying to make things uh work, I don't have the support from the board. I just asked for $25 extra dollars so that I can pay a driver and then I don't have to worry about Central Middle School. I wanted to take care of this. Um I didn't want to do this in a form like this. Um but I did a procedure took it to Miss Jordan. She presented before the board. Um and initially I asked for $75 but uh Mr. Harold had told me you know with the situation it'd be best to go with 50. And I was like, "Okay, that that's reasonable." Um, but there's no way that I'm going to send a
011bus down the road only paying a driver $25 and they're already going anyway. That don't doesn't make sense. My job is to make sure that I get kids to school and home safely. athletics. Um, that is something that occurs. Uh, finances. Every time we have a ball game, they accumulate finances. I had uh when I took the job, I had $65,000 um in a in the in the budget that they had collected over the years um in hopes of getting the activity bus. So, I went and asked the state for a couple buses. They gave them to us and we got them renovated and everything. Um, but yet still that money that they had occurred years ago is gone. Um, I was told to just wait a minute and three years now um to see
012what happened with those funds um and nothing. So, um I need uh to be able to pay a driver $50 or I'm not going to be able to um to get that bus down the road. I'm going for now get kids to school and from school and because I'm having a problem doing that. But to do athletic events and not have the support of the board, then we have no other choice to but not do it. And I hate to, you know, to come to this, but that's just that's just the way it is. >> Thank you, Mr. I have a question. Um, is there any way that you could put that in writing to um Dr. Jordan um stating that you were tracking going back to $50 an hour? >> I had did >>
013I think we got it at $75. >> We did. >> I did it at 50 because Mr. Her had told me that, you know, that we know we'll work up to that. So, I put it at 50. >> Okay. We'll we'll get back with you then. Okay. Thank you so much. Thank each of y'all for coming out to speak for public comment. >> Thank you, Mr. >> Board members, you have an agenda before you and one of the board members um has had some questions about the consent agenda which is item three, a donation. Um we would like some additional information from that and so we're going to um ask for that to be removed at this time or tabled um until we can get some more information. It's supposed to be a loan instead
014of a donation. That was >> Oh, it's supposed to be a loan. >> Yes, that's a mistake on my part. >> Okay. >> It should be anonymous loan. >> Okay. Well, we'll get you, Mr. Harold, to explain it to us. Okay. All right. Board members, um, you've heard that correction and, um, what is the pleasure of the board as far as the agenda that is written before you? I make a motion that we accept um the agenda as noted with the changes. >> Okay. I have a motion. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> I have a motion and a second. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Motion carries. Board members, you have the opportunity to have uh reviewed the um regular session meetings and the special call meetings for
015the 8, 10th, 18th, and then the January 5th, 6th, and 7th. What is the pledge of the board as far as the meetings as written? >> I got one oop, sorry. I've got one um question or correction, Landa. Um on the 128 on the I think it's third page. Yes. Under vacant board seat. It says December 19th. >> Okay. >> And we actually met on the 18th, but I just wanted to make sure. >> Okay. >> Other than that, that was it. >> Okay. You've heard the corrections. Board member. What is the pleasure? I make a motion that we um approve the minutes um with the correction of December 8 December 18th. Well, December 19th to December 18th on 12825 minutes. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Okay. Board members, before we
016vote, the uh motion was to change on December the 8th. The minutes from December the 19th to read as December the 18th. >> All those in favor signify saying I. >> I. Okay. Items for information, board summary, and board report. >> Good evening. Good evening. >> Hello. >> You have your monthly board report. Our state funds are at 52.55%. We're happy to have you here, Mark. Our local funds are sitting at 46%. Process of transitioning some of those state funds into local now. Just the balance of the year. Our federal funds are federal grant funds sitting at 43% at the half year mark. Capital outlay is sitting at 79.49%. Our child nutrition at 54%. Our daycare is at 46 finishing at 46% and um our local aid restricted 56.24%. You have any questions? >> No.
017You know I do. Okay. Our daycare line here, it says 46.14%. Explain that to me if we've transitioned ownership over on that. >> Is that the loan money today? I had to increase the budget to match that just to show the money being in the account. >> Okay. So that when you increase that budget to that line, that's where you lowered your percentage. >> Okay. Now, um is this just through December? This is is that correct? >> That is just through December. Yes. >> Okay. And that would have been our sixmon mark. >> The daycare so far this year is $50,000. That will be about 275 for the for all said. >> Okay. >> And that's why you're asking for that $25,000 loan. >> Yes, sir. Yes, sir. This is the This was tentatively approved.
018This is one I saw. That's >> okay. >> We should have one more to the last one. >> So, I'm confused. >> I am too. Go back. You said the $25,000 that is here >> is a loan, >> right? Approving the second loan here >> which is the 25,000. Is this what's listed on our agenda here from an anonymous donor to the dayare? >> It wasn't supposed to be the supposed >> Okay. So, I think what Mr. Harold is stating that is that in order to close out the daycare, the daycare needs an additional $25,000 in order to cover the cost. Is that correct? >> Okay. >> And that $25,000 will then cover all the cost. >> You're going to have one more loan to approve when you have your all of your benefits paid
019out, your longevity, and everything that's included into that. >> Okay? >> That would be next month. That would be the end of that as far as the loan process. >> Okay. But you don't know that yet what the total cost is. >> I know Baltimore, but I wouldn't know by the end of this week. >> All right. >> Um I have lost my complete train of thought. Um >> who where is the loan coming from? >> It's coming from general. >> Okay. >> I just got confused with the donor stuff. >> I do know where my the rent that is being paid by the private entity that is in there now. Does that go back into the general fund to and I know I know it's going to take multiple years months to get there.
020Multiple years, but is that where that's going? Is that going straight in there? locally restricted. >> Okay. All right. Now, um can you with this being our sixmon mark, can you make a projection at our current rate of spending where we will be with these numbers in June? >> My hope is we're going to be right at the line. >> Right at the line as in what? what is budgeted is what we will spend. >> Okay. Um >> unless we have 1% come on >> if if we go if we go over if we have if we go over which ones are you anticipating are going to be over? I know that's $50 million question. >> Got your question. No, I just I I mean which one if if we were going to go over
021because salary should be fixed. >> I would say EC cost. >> Okay. >> Um and not to believe EC cost they're they're up and down without sometimes one that's hard to budget for. It's also, you know, it's it's just hard to budget for because there such a wide range of expenses. Okay, that's all I have on this sheet, but I got >> any other questions. Board members, >> do you I mean the um the questions that I have are about the amendments. >> Okay. So, are we are you ready for that? Okay. I don't know if I've got these in the same order as what you've got here, but the federal budget amendment three, there's three numbers here that it was like $8,200. Where did that come from? >> Those were grants that came in
022with pots money rather than right toward this past month that had to be put on the ledger. >> That's fine. All right. The under local funds, you've got $15,000 it looks like was moved out of financial human resources up to support develop development services. What What is What is that? That was just something that I took out of my finance budget to cover an expense. >> And do you know services >> that what was that EC? Is that tied to EC or >> uh it is possible? >> All right. Um the special revenue funds, where did that $5,000 come from for that's in the educational media services? >> That is a grant that we received paper, I believe. >> Okay. You said international paper, >> I believe. >> Okay. >> Any other questions, board members?
023Um, yeah, I ain't got to the state one yet. >> Okay. >> What is I my note says right here with a star. Please explain where these transfers came from. What is it? What is all this stuff? >> Uh, that is transitioning from my state aotments into my local a lotment. Just moving moving budget numbers around so they balance out. >> Okay. Because at the end of the day, the purpose codes on on your sheet that you look at your main sheet, the purpose codes are all being balanced, >> right? >> So when I saw the transition say expenses into local expenses, >> I'm just moving that to allow for that to make sure the numbers stay the block. You're not moving money per se, moving budget money just to make sure your purpose stay.
024>> Okay. So, this is you're taking the state money from here to put in local. Is that what you're saying? Or I got it backwards? >> Well, some of that is also some of the expenses you might be I might be having expenses from I'm adding schools based support services and I'm moving money out of one line and putting it in two other lines there. I believe we had some human resource and financial expenditures we had to cover just to make sure to make sure they were covered. Okay. Because the um schoolbased support services was 200,000 and then the financial human resource support was 208. >> Right. And the number when I moved like that it's it's nine times out of 10 it's covered for the rest of the year. for a what? >> Rest
025of the year. >> The rest of the year. I thought you said an aggressive year. I'm like, okay. >> Okay, that's all I have. >> Any other questions, board members? >> You do? >> I do not. >> Okay. >> Thank you, Mr. Har. One correction. You were You guys were right. I when I had talked to Mr. Hurl he had said you know 50 would be better and I thought that I went back and corrected on my paperwork from 75 250 >> that's uh my mistake >> right now that is perfect that >> okay Dr. Williams. >> I'd like in superintendent update. I'd like for Miss Roundree to start off with some with some recognition, some highlights, good things right here. I'm here to recognize some um renewal for National Board Certification. National Board Certification
026was designed to develop, retain, and recognize accomplished teachers and to generate Orange Fluent including in schools nationwide. It is the most respected professional certification available in K12 education. More than 133,44 teachers across the United States have achieved board certification. North Carolina continues to lead the nation with teachers who hold certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Approximately 24,232 teachers in North Carolina now have achieved the respected national certification, which is based on a rigorous performance-based assessment that typically takes from one to three years to complete and measure what accomplished teachers and counselors should know and be able to do. It's an honor to recognize and congra and congratulate two Gates County employees who have renewed their national board certification. Miss Amanda Hobbs, Gates County High School English teacher, Mr. Picture. Yeah. Yeah. >>
027Yeah. You get the picture. >> You use your phone. >> Smile my friend. >> Thank you. Congratulations. And we got Lee Morgan, Central Middle School and Gates County High School band director. Congratulations ladies. Great press. Last week we had threeformational sessions regarding their consolidation study. And what I want to do is I want to thank all the community members who showed up, participants who took time to u attend theformational settings uh regarding the study. You the presence of the people and that just showed uh and demonstrated engagement and deep care of what they have for their schools. Again, we genu we genuinely appreciate uh all those who share their feelings, their thoughts, and their perspectives during these conversations. Uh your willingness to be part of the conversations helped to ensure that our community's values and
028concerns are being heard and the board of education really appreciates that. So now, what's up next? So, next steps. Uh I'm currently working on a template uh for data entry from my directors for the next meeting. So at the next work session meeting uh the board of education is going to be provided uh with a summary offormational meetings, a survey results, additional information from my administrative team and of course the principles. and the work session will be a discussion, question answer uh and a review of all the study material that we have researched. So anyway, uh for all those who participated and came out Tuesday, Wednesday, thank you very much for all those who participated. Uh now up next, it's good that we presented our teachers right here for their hard work, commitment, loyalty to
029the school system, but most definitely to the students. I want to take this moment to express my deep pride in the board of education. This is Board of Education Appreciation Month and these dedicated public servants have earned multiple awards every time they go to the NCSBA in November down in Greensboro for their exceptional commitment of professional development and continuous learning. a testament to their understanding that serving our students requires ongoing growth and expertise. What sets the Gates County School Board apart is not simply the hours they invest, though those are really considerable, but it's the intentionality behind every decision, the careful deliberation, and the unwavering focus on what's best for our students. In a role that often requires making difficult choices, they consistently demonstrate a duty of care that puts the students first always. This
030is not easy. Board members face pressures from many directions, political, educational, and they must navigate the complex challenges while staying true to their mission. Very hard to do. Yet, they persist with grace, professionalism, and an uncommon dedication to truth and accuracy in all their communications. Our school community is fortunate to have elected officials who lead with integrity, who listen before they speak, who seek to understand rather than divide, and who treat all stakeholders, even though you might disagree with them, with dignity and respect. In an era where civility in public discourse can be rare, our board models what principled leadership looks like. They remind us that public service is about elevation, not deescalation. It's about facts, not friction. It's about building up the community, not tearing it down. So, I just want to say, Mr.
031Everyone, thank you to our board of education for your service, your character, and your steadfast commitment to our students in our school. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Now, what I would like to do, I got a text message this morning. Uh, and the message was, uh, I received several questions from the public about the cost of the school consolidation study. Members of the public have heard that the consolidation study was $50,000, Mr. Harrow, and that person just wanted to know if that was true. So, what I'd like to do is just take this brief 60 seconds to set the record straight. The consolidation study directed to be done by the Gates County Commissioners did not cost $50,000. The school consolidation study cost the school district
032$27,800. Mr. Harold can verify that in the finance department. So, I wonder from the text message, where did this rumor come from? How in the world did we go from 27,000 to 50,000? And believe it or not, they just dawned on it. It was actually started by the Gates County Commissioners when they wrote a statement in a letter dated December 17, to the North Carolina Office of State Auditor requesting an audit of the school district. The statement is on page five of the letter and it states in part, "The consolidation study was presented on November 5th and to say it was disappointing would be an understatement, especially given a $50,000 cost. The statement by the Gate County Commissioners is false and completely inac." Now, if it were me, I'd correct the record by making a
033public retraction of this statement and by also sending a letter to the office of state auditor stating that they provided false information about school district, school board, superintendent, and the chief finance officer in their letter dated December 17, 2025. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Thank you, Dr. Williams. >> We're going to do board report two. I'm going to start with Miss Rick. Okay. Um, let's see. I got a couple of notes here. Um, let me start by saying, um, we don't have a big crowd here. Not near as big as we had last week. Um and hopefully some of them are turned in or tuned in. Um there was a lot of information in three nights and it was very tiring. It was um trying to to take notes and and stay up
034on everything that was was said. Um and it this the consolidation um and the public forums that we had um there is no doubt that it is a heart issue. Um it is very much a heart issue. It is a heart issue for the parents. It is a heart issue for our staff that we have. Um, and it is a struggle for us sometimes as board members to be able to separate our head and our heart. Um, but that's what we're charged to do that we have to we have to look at things. Um, you you got to have compassion and I'm not saying don't have a heart, but you've got to be able to sort everything out. It's like having two kids arguing about something and you know they both are really passionate about
035it but you got to keep a level head you know but it doesn't mean you don't care and don't love. Um so we've got a lot that we've got to go through. We've got a lot that we've got to um information still that has got to come to us. Um but we did get a lot of valuable input from um the community and I thank all the community for um that spoke that have sent us emails that have called us. Thank you to the principles that um presented and had your staff there um to be able to speak and we do appreciate that and we we're taking every bit and piece of this um and putting it aside and and or putting it aside for us to go back to. But please know that this
036is not a something we take lightly. It's not a flip it decision. And um we process it. We process it all and um taking it from all avenues. So thank you for that. Um and um thank you for to Miss Brooks for last month welcoming me in to come and read to the um children when I got to share some time with them and I thoroughly enjoyed that. if you need something to brighten your day, just come read at the elementary school because they are just it's it's just it's so uplifting and it's wonderful to be able to um do that. Um I do have a couple of questions that as I was going through some of the stuff from last week after I took about um 36 hours that I just didn't do anything.
037I needed some I needed some some time to breathe. Um, but Dr. Williams, when when is the expected time for us to be able to make a decision after we have received all this information? I know there was a timeline put out there, but I know you said that we're going to have a work session with all of this, but there's also some information that I think Mr. Green was trying to gather for us that he I mean, he's really dependent on other people to try to get it. So, how's that going to affect where we are at timeline? >> I have a like I said up there, I got a 12page document. I'm meeting with the uh administrative team tomorrow. There's a lot of information that I need for them so they can provide
038to you. Um, so once they get me that information, then we'll share it out. We'll put it up on a presentation. We'll put it on a on a document where you can look at numbers and all kinds of things. uh as far as as well the reduction in force component too is that part part of that process but we have to realize that this is a process >> right >> everything is a process like you don't just not eat eating good one day and think you want to lose 20 pounds you're not going to do that >> so uh that's one component but the next component I want to be you know throw back the question at the school board is when you get another board member that's appointed, do you not want that person
039to be involved in the decision making? >> Yes. >> So, you would like to have that done after I'm assuming the election. >> So, uh we should have all our information >> uh to you for another meeting for a work session in February and I'll give you a more definitive date because my team they have jobs, right? you know, and the principles, they're, you know, 247 lights on, lights off, you know, leaders. So, uh, once we get all that information, but but I'll get you that and I'll send you some information also as well. >> Okay. >> By email. >> Okay. Thank you. Um, and Mr. Harold, this question. I know you get tired of my questions and I'm but I can't apologize for them because it's who I am. Um if we do proposed
040consolidation and I just want clarification on this. If we do a consolidation um the proposed consolidation cost savings that are there what funding line is that going to be in? Is it state, local, federal? Where where is the cost savings going to be? >> Uh 3/4 of it will be state funding. >> 3/4 of it will be >> State funding. Okay. That's what I needed. And that's all that I got on my notes. >> Okay. Miss Ryan, >> I was going to tell y'all to just please let me say I concurred with everything that Miss Riddick said, but then she started talking, so you probably forgot what she said. We do appreciate you coming out and we do appreciate all the work you're done. And please know that this is not easy. This is an
041old principal talking to you and every time I walk in Gatesville, I go, "This might be the last time I'll walk in Gatesville like this to pick up a kid. I've got a daughter at home that's furious that her child may not go to Gatesville." So just like you are meeting those things in the community know that we are going to make the decision that is best for the students. Um that's so important and and I will tell you there has not been a great deal I have thought about other than consolidation since we first had the study done. It's not something that goes away and you cut off and you get get it going the next day. But I just wanted to say thank you. Be patient. I'm not going to say give us
042some grace because one time I said that and I caught the devil. Not saying it again, but I did go to the Christmas program at Gatesville and it was wonderful. Um, I I I did also get stuck in the yard and I have to share that with you because >> my yard. >> No, no, no. What would what that was? Me. I had somebody pull me out. But when I was principal here, we put up gates around the grass because I didn't want any parents driving on them. >> I heard that. >> I know. And when I came up here for the Christmas program, there were no parking places. I thought, well, these two cars parked here. I'm going to park here, too. On the grass, it was karma. And it made me bad because
043I had to get my son-in-law to get somebody to pull my car out. So, it wasn't pretty. And I learned my lesson. But you still need to get those things back around there so they can't drive on your grass. Thank you. >> Excuse me for a second. >> My chair fell down. >> Oh, Lord. I apologize for that. I first would um I'm so thankful that all four of us of the existing board members um were able to attend last week each section and I have got to say that Dr. Williams, you and your team did an outstanding job on presentation. um each principal. Y'all did a fantastic job and I want to thank you for you coming out giving us information, educating us on your building. Also, I would like to thank your staff
044for showing up for your support and also would like to thank the community who came out and supported each um session that we had and thank those who attended public comments. um my November and December um was very challenging to me whenever on the 24th I had bladder surgery and then the first week in December I had to turn around and have a heart cathization and it wasn't your normal caization they went from my right wrist to also my neck but I am still standing I am a fighter and I hope to be back on track I know that um I carried some things to Miss Rosco. And Miss Rosco told my wife, I knew there was something wrong because he was not here. And I truly hated that. I could not. But I heard
045that each presentation for the Christmas programs were outstanding from my resources that I had. So, and it's my understanding um just from what you stated um Dr. Williams is that um the work session will be probably at Merchants Meal Pond and um after your date tomorrow uh meeting with the administrative staff that we will have a February open session meeting which will be open only um it will not be a public comment type session but it will be open and I think that's pretty much all I have um to Thank y'all all again for coming out and I am so happy for Miss Hobs and Miss Morgan for their dedication and it requires a lot of time to master that certification and to renew that certification that takes a lot of time and thank you
046for your service. Yeah, that's another >> Yeah. Yeah. So, um if there's not any other information, um board members, you have an opportunity in the closed session to review Dr. Williams recommendation for personnel. What is your pleasure? I make a motion we approve the superintendent's personnel recommendations and reports from close session. >> Second. >> I have a motion and a second. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. >> Okay. The next on the agenda is the consent agenda items. There are four items on the consent agenda. The first one is um Gates County High School, which is a field trip for the senior beta convention to attend Greensboro, North Carolina, which will be an overnight um trip. And then we have policy updates from Mr. Wright for policy 1600, government principles, policy 4130,
047discretionary emission. Policy 4152, unsafe school transfer. Policy 4150, school assignment. Policy 2302, remote participation in board meetings, and policy 7425, school administrator contracts. Next, then we have um which the agenda has been corrected. It is a loan from the general fund of $25,000 to cover um some expenses for the daycare. And then the last item is from Miss Rosa, principal at Central Middle School, a softball softball tournament that Miss Ashley Horn will be holding. Board members, you've had an opportunity to look at the four items in the consent agenda. What is your pleasure? >> I make a motion that we approve the consent agenda. >> Okay. I have a motion. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> I have a motion and second. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Motion
048carries. >> The next item um board members um Mr. Harold went over um explanations of the budget resolutions. I believe that we can do all of them in one motion. What is your pleasure? Or do you have any more questions? No questions. >> No more questions. What is the pleasure of the board as far as the budget resolution? >> I make I make a motion that we approve the budget resolutions. >> Second. >> I have a motion and a second. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Motion carries. Other business. We have some additional items that um will be added to the other business. Um we're going to start off with one setting the date and the time and location for the next meeting. Um it's been brought to my attention by
049several board meetings. It's very very difficult even though it is fantastic to go from school to school, but I feel like and some of the other board members feel like that we need to establish a central location that we meet. Um, and that establishing a central location makes it hard on that pencil, but I know one of them going to volunteer and do that. And but it also allows for the equipment for the um do it now that we're on YouTube as far as presenting the board meetings like for example the mics, the camera system and things like that can be stored at a central location. So, I'm asking Miss Brooks because this appears to be an ideal situation if she would volunteer to do that from now on and also if she's willing to
050do that. Are you willing to do that? >> Yes, we figured we posted a lot. >> Okay. All right. Thank you, Miss Brook, so much for that. And also, our policy states that we are to meet I think the second Monday of each month. The second Monday I believe is February the 9th. >> Correct. >> So, um board members um openly discuss that. How do you feel? >> I'm good. >> Okay, good. >> I have on the 10th a special call meeting. Did I make that up? Okay. I made >> that was intended today. >> That was that was for the work session. >> That was session. So, we're gonna eliminate the February 10th special call meeting that was earlier stated. So, um, it sounds like the February the 9th. What time would you like
051to start? 4:00 for closed and six for open. >> Yeah, I think that's fine. If is there anything that if we don't have a lot of personnel stuff or that we have to do does it can we change it to five so it's not we're not here at four if not if it's not or do we have to stick to what we say in here? Do you know what I'm saying? >> It can it can be changed um but you have to post it right >> and um it has to be posted at least 48 hours. Is that not right, Miss Doctor? So, and not only does it have to be posted, it needs to be posted on the website. Um, also, um, posting at other locations that you post it to. So, >> four
052is fine. Four is fine with me. I don't have a problem with just, >> but I will state this. Um the question has come up as to why this board requires two op two hours for closed session. Number one, we are the largest employer in the county. We actually have 300 an average of 365 employees. And not only do we have to discuss um whether we're going to hire somebody, whether we're going to terminate somebody, but we have other features that are required under the general statutes that we need to do in close session. We are totally different than um for an example, the municipal which is Gates County. they only have a limited number of people, maybe 45 to 50. And so that time can be brought down and they can bring their time
053down. And so it takes more time for the board of education to conduct close session sessions where we discuss employment issues. Could be contract issues or it could be whether we're going to award somebody um a special doctrine degree. whatever's under the general statutes of um section 143 uh 318 um.11 I think that's right there three or four things in that under the general statute which is in this book here if you would like to look up those um items um so I know it seems like from an outside yeah that's a question why are you discussing so many things and so long in close session but there is a legitimate reason why that has to be done and I would just like to clarify that. The second thing um so we're going to go
054with February the 9th tentatively at 4:00 here at Gatesville and 6:00 for um open session. The second thing is some of the board members would like to meet together and I feel like it should call for a special meeting and we would like for Mr. green to come up with or give us some tenative dates on Saturday for us to come out and walk through Gatesville Elementary, TS Cooper Elementary, and Buckland Elementary and to show us the demographics of how the building flows and what is being suggested in the consolidation study. And I know that um we're asking um Dr. Williams, if you'll get with um Mr. Green on some of those dates so that we can post it. It will be posted 48 hours. It will be an open session um type situation, but
055it will only be where the board members will ask questions um and share let Mr. Green share an idea. I noticed and I'm and I'm not taking away from other board members but for an example um I've been here the longest so I knew the answer to one of the questions but we as board members are entitled to ask questions and we did some of the board members didn't know the demographics of for example increase in the cafeteria at Balkan Buckland Elementary um I've been here so I I' I've known that but it's good for us to refresh that and to learn that. So that's why board members I am asking that we get with Mr. Green. He give us some um dates for a Saturday meeting and that we call this as a special
056session meeting. Is that pretty much okay? >> It it is fine. I will not be in town the 17th through the 24th, but he probably won't have time to do it when Okay. All right. Any other discrepancies in time? I won't I won't be available on the 17th 24th. Probably not the 31st either. So I'm I'm thinking we probably need to go into >> the first part of February if it work if it works for him. Whatever you know schedule-wise is >> work for him, >> right? And I truly have to say that was an excellent question from a board member because you are training yourself to know the school system how it functions and also to help you in making a decision which is going to be a difficult decision to make and what's
057in the best interest of the students here at Gates County School. The third thing is is that um the county manager and the county commissioner sent us a copy of a letter that was addressed to the state auditor and thank you Dr. Williams for making that correction. But I believe that we as a board and the administrative staff need to work together to come up with a rebuttal to the letter that is stated. There are facts um that have been stated that are incorrect and there are facts that are correct. And we would I feel like we as a board need that opportunity to let the state auditor before he begins this audit to know our findings and so it would help him with his audit process. Board members, how do you feel about that?
058>> I'm okay. Yeah. >> Okay. So, everyone has agreed with that. Okay, Dr. Williams. Okay. And thank you, Dr. wheels because I do not know how $50,000 got out there, but the total cost was 27,800. So, and thank you for that clarification. Okay. Now, um the work session um that Dr. Williams and his team will give us will be at a date that will be presented and Mrs. Daltry will post it in time so that the public will know it. It will be done on posted on the website as well. Um, are there any other items that need to be brought to our attention at this time? >> I don't know. >> Okay, Dr. Williams. Okay. If it's not any other business, our meeting will be regular meeting will be February 9th here at Gatesville
059School. And thank you, Miss Brooks, for volunteering there. And um I you know I hate it that we can't go to each school. I just I really hate that because that is really awesome. >> Yeah, it is closer. Yeah, you're right. So >> But if there's not any other business, board members, do I have a motion to adjurnn? >> I make a motion to adjourn. >> Okay, M. Do I have a second? >> Second. Okay, Miss Ryan has made a motion to adjurnn and Miss Rick has made a motion to second it. All those in favor signify saying I. >> I. Motion carries. >> Thank you. Thank you all for coming out tonight and >> congratulations. >> Great job, Lee.