Gates County Schools Special Called Meeting - Buckland Elementary School Part 2

001There you go. Just put it right here. >> Okay. Very good. >> All right. So, what I I'm here to talk about two different pieces of information. And the first one is about school capacity. Um, there was some information given out by Dr. Watson about the capacity of the schools in this study. I just went back and redid some of those numbers to check to see classroom capacities. This does not look at gym size. It does not look at cafeteria. It looks at how many classrooms we have in the building that can hold our students. So as you see Gatesville Elementary School has a number from 360 to 380. 360 is a number that according to the state would be 90% capacity where you want to be at that is the same number for TS

002Cooper and that Buckley Elementary School is 340 to 360. 340 being 90% capacity. Um as you can see we have currently have 611 students like this like Mr. Byron said earlier through all throughout all elementary schools and that includes our prek students. So as you can see each elementary school would have the capacity to hold no matter which one was consolidated. The next piece is zoning. So, [clears throat] common sense would tell you that if we go from 3 to two, we're going to have to reszone East County area for attendance. There's really only two ways you can do that. You can go north to south, and you can go east and west depending on what school uh would be closing. As you can see on the map, ignore the color. It didn't work out

003very well. But the yellow part is Buff of course. The purple part is Gatesville. And then you have the pink which is TS. Okay? If you went and I'm just This is all examples, okay? Because until we really know, we cannot get 100% accuracy on what numbers will look like, where boundaries would be. But we will want and to get both sides whether you went north, south, east and west as close equal as possible. So if you went east west, which would mean would stay open or gateill either one, you're going to be running right through almost straight down the county medical center all the way down. All right, that right there, that line being, you know, and again, I cannot be 100% on what side of the street you're going to be on, but

004that puts 300 students over here, about 300 some students over here to make it as equal as possible. Okay, same. It would be the exact same if you went north south and that would mean Buckland Gates. Okay, and that is this line right here. It's pretty much already there for gates on all the way across. I know this map's kind of hard to see, but the board always ask me to point out where the schools are at. [laughter] Do that right in here somewhere. And then of course we got TS. So again, without without knowing exactly what's going to happen, we can only guesstimate where these lines would be, but those two lines um are just about as close as I can tell you right now. >> Boy, do you have any questions for me?

005>> No, sir, I don't. Board members, >> the next thing I want to mention while I'm up here is we have surveys. We have hard copy surveys up at the table. If you did not get one, by the end of the week, it will be on the website. So, you can go to the district website and complete the survey regarding your concerns or the information you want to provide on consolidation. Okay. >> Oh, I forgot one. Sorry. Uh when we when we do the zones, of course, we're going to look at make some key considerations. That's distance to the school and travel time. uh school capacity which I already talked about uh trying our best to maintain the diver diversity through the schools and then the balanced grade levels um and again like Miss Roundre's

006gonna tell you in a minute I'm gonna let her do it. Bible. [laughter] [snorts] >> Good evening. >> I'm here to talk about demographics, which I really can't talk about until we actually the board actually decide which school will be closed. There's no way I can give you demographic information on the students. So once this once it's decided which school is closed and which way the line is drawn and which students are assigned to each one of the two schools then the daily center will be able to give any kind of demographic information that needs as to how many students are there black white um any of those kind of things. All of the students data will travel with them to whatever school they are assigned to. So that will not be a problem. But

007to actually be able to give you numbers right now. [clears throat] >> Good evening. Um, this doesn't have anything to do with personnel. Let me just start by saying I was delay. When I sat down, I hit the mic and muted everything. We [laughter] figured it out. It was my fault. But anyway, um so I am going to talk about staffing impact and personnel. Um as Dr. Williams um shared that a reduction force may um have to be considered if we do look at the um option of or if we do decide to consolidate schools. And what that would mean is looking at closing one school would eliminate approximately 10 positions. Those positions um would include um five teaching positions, one media specialist, one counselor, cafeteria manager, lead worker, and one part-time custodian. Um one

008thing to keep in mind is that those there are reduction in force wouldn't only look at the three elementary schools. We would be considering the certifications and all staff K12 and Gates County schools. So we'll be looking at where people are certified, what their license area, where they have experience and things like that. But we also want to look at first where we can absorb and save positions through attrition as Dr. what he was also saying um as people retire and as they resign or leave the district look at not filling those positions before we look at people losing jobs or reduction in so these are um the positions right now and as he shared about 92% of the cost savings for consolidation would come from capital personnel and these are the areas that we

009would um definitely be considering looking at in that case >> Casper >> [clears throat] >> Good evening everyone. Just so I can sure be sure that you can hear me. So I'm just going to talk for just a minute on what the impacts both benefits and potential drawbacks could be for curriculum and instruction by consolidating two schools. Um certainly we feel like there will be more consistent curriculum implementation when we are able to not spread our resources and our teachers and our district staff across three schools trying to um to assist and coach with curriculum. Um it would be um easier of course to do that across two. It also allows our teachers to have someone in the building that allows them to um to spend time with and to collaborate with. it is much

010much more difficult for our third, fourth and fifth grade teachers to do that currently because they're singletons. Okay, they're teaching um that subject by themselves. Um we do feel that that would be an increase um to give them that opportunity. So it would increase their collaboration and instructional quality across our district. [snorts] It would also allow us to look at our teacher expertise and we would be sure that we spread that as evenly as possible across our district. We would look at teachers who are certified with reading certifications or AIG certification. Those teachers who are qualified mentors who have been through that training and can work with our reading teachers. And certainly it would give us the potential to reduce the cost of our curriculum. Currently most of the things that we purchase we have

011to do through site license which means we do currently three site license. So to go to two might increase the cost a little bit based on the fact that it's only two, but it would allow us to hopefully expand curriculum resources um give our teachers more of what they need to do to assist our students. We do know there are some drawbacks and it hopefully would be temporary because we know that students are resilient, but it would lead to some transitional disruption between our teachers and our students because we understand you have home schools and that's where you feel comfortable and that's where our students feel loved. Um we would have to put some mitigation plans in place in order to ensure that we try to um alleviate those those concerns. um it could possibly

012l not possibly it will lead to a little bit of a larger class size. So that could be a you know a problem with feedback to students. We understand that interventions as well. But we do feel like having more people in the building two buildings versus three would allow us to spread some of that um staffing um out so we are able to assist with those issues. We do understand it could be a social emotional impact on some of our students. While many of our students are very resilient, it could be a difficult transition for some of our students. So, we would certainly look at what we could do with our counseling and our administrative staff and our teachers to help alleviate that. And we do see that we have to deal with the challenges

013that we're going to have with connect classes, our health and PE, our library time, our arts, because it is going to mean a larger number of students that we have to serve during those times. You have any questions? [clears throat] >> Thank you, >> Mrs. Smith. [clears throat] >> Good evening. Hope you all are doing well. Um, sorry for the technical difficulty. Dr. Jordan was keeping me on my toes. [laughter] Um as far as the technology goes uh as far if we you know when we look at transitioning or consolidating uh in terms of the classroom technology uh you know we have mostly Chromebooks and iPads and then elementary iPads for lower grades and Chromebooks upper grade uh that would be redistributed to you know the schools and we were doing that equitably. So we

014make sure that you know put nobody gets all new stuff and old versus old we do that equitably. Uh teachers will be allowed of course to keep their current laptops and any other equipment they may have if they when they or if and when they move to another. Uh, as some of you may know, about two years ago, two summers ago, we got smart panels in all of our classrooms. So, they're already there. [cough and clears throat] So, the big issue there would be if we had to, you know, take somebody we store them, we keep them, you know, in case we need to back up. So, what have you, but some of you might volunteer to hold on to one, right? But anyway, we would uh we need to that would be an issue.

015We'd have uh phone equipment. Uh we would of course if we lost a phone system we would keep those for parts as well as the intercom system. Our intercom systems are old systems but they're very reliable and um they work really well. The only issue is you can't find parts for them anymore because they're so old and of course we have keep those for and the boards in defensive green. Um the access points in the schools will be redistributed and all of our access points wide area network equipment and internet is all provided in part by which some of you may know is a federal program that provides network help assistance provided for networks. They pay about 80% of our meals and then the other 20% is picked up locally and the state reimbures us

016for for that. So network equipment I just went over that in wide area network that would also be funded. If we did go down and lose one site we would just increase the bandwidth in the other two sites. But an internet service we get [clears throat] that from MCNC that is automatically adjusted as needed [clears throat] and they they don't ever cut you back when they bump you up if you need to increase a certain threshold or I think it's either eight or 10 consecutive days they'll bump you up. So in summary overall I really don't see any major issues with the technology we just divide it up and do what we need to do. keep things far and I've been in contact with our coordinator with DPI. She of course assist us as far

017as the rate issues go. That's something we want to make sure we you know we do that right but she she would definitely help us with that. So I've already had I had a meeting with her last week. Are there any questions? >> Yes sir. Simpson. [clears throat] >> Good evening everyone. If the board decides to close school, these are just some things that should take consideration um for our breakfast and lunch program. Um we need to make sure that there's enough time built into the schedule to serve a larger population. We also need to make sure that there's enough time allotted to replenish the serving line between the lunch periods. We also need to make sure that students are able to move through the serving line and be seated within the allotted time provided.

018We also need to make sure that um the meal periods are staggered so that students are able to sit down, enjoy their lunch without feeling that they're being rushed. Also, we just need to make sure that we have enough seating capacity for um each lunch period. For our kitchen and cafeteria needs, um we need to make sure that the receiving school has adequate equipment such as our warmers, refrigerators, ovens. Um we also need to make sure we have enough freezing space. Freezer space is a concern especially at gate electric because the freezer is very small. um we don't even have enough space to store the food for our current deliveries. So there's a possibility that we may be able to relocate the freezer from the closing school to the receiving school, but then we have

019concerns with um where would we put it or what was the what would be the cost associated with the relocation. But that's something we would have to work with um maintenance on. We will need additional warmer to maintain the food temperature for the additional food that we have to prepare. That needs to be taken into consideration. And other factors to consider [laughter] is the dining area capacity for whatever school um or schools that will be receiving schools just to make sure that we do not exceed the state regulations. And for the staffing adjustments, we just need to determine whether we need to reassign, reduce, or to retrain um the staff based on the new structure. Any questions? >> Any questions for >> Okay, Mr. Green. Um I wanted to um first start by discussing wastewater

020plants here in Gates County. Um and these in in a very rural county like we have. Um our three elementary schools have to have wastewater plants to uh address waste water from these schools. As you all probably ridden through parking lot at at Bucknell Elementary School, you looked in the back and kind of seen that um some of the vegetation and all back that rear portion of the school there that is called a constructed wetland system that we actually got in partnership with North Carolina State back in the early 90s. Um the other two schools we have what what are called recirculating sand pellet beds. Um those are we have to have a wastewater operator on site to uh manage those beds. They test weekly uh every twice a month those results have to go

021to lab uh uh and they go to angle for results to go to come back to us which we report to the state each month. So there's a lot involved with that process. Uh we're very fortunate that the county received a grant from Cooper and Buckland to install pump stations here. So we'll be able to take those wastewater plants out out of service hopefully this summer or toward toward the fall. Um [snorts] Gatesville Elementary School just talking about Mr. Baron mentioned some of the concerns and consolidation. Um Gatesville Elementary School was served by back in 1998 a decision was made to put a geothermal system in at that school. Uh many of you have been behind the school. You notice there's a large playground. That play playground underneath the soil there. There's a tremendous number

022of vertical wells that are used and water continually circulates through the building and back outside to that playground area to transfer heat for the heating air conditioning system. That equipment there, piping and equipment all together are 27 years old. Air conditioning was installed throughout the county back in 1998. We were fortunate to get it. Uh but the result of that and some of it is not we've not had the funds to replace it. So it's it's all some of it is is got to that age. Um so that is a concern there at that school as I've [clears throat] mentioned in the other prior meetings. You know in the maintenance department we're all always concerned about what we call the showstopper and that being something whether it's electrical plumbing mechanical that I'm having to make

023a call to admin Scott Williams Mr. say hey we've got to shut school down for this reason. Uh and that's why I bring that up is the fact that you know there is as much water moving there as in that school as there is in the area make up air equipment there at Gatesville as well that's that's 27 years old u geothermal piping and [clears throat] HVAC service tech back in as I mentioned earlier piping out in the ground is is a is a polyethylene it's more of a plastic style piping inside the building is metal piping over the last several years we we I tend to get a call occasionally where uh ceiling's leaking and it's not a roof leak. It's it's a leak from this piping. Um it's very difficult to get to.

024It's very difficult to service. The decision was made back in the early 90s before the project started in 98 to remove the service deck from the equipment. So all the service for these 40 pieces of equipment above the ceiling of Gates School had to be handled with a 10-ft ladder. So it's very challenging to get to. um if we were to move forward and and you know make some changes there at Gatesville School upgrades, that's something I would certainly like to have considered as we move forward uh with major projects and and replacing equipment like that at an elementary school. Many times the ceilings would be removed. Um you all may have been some of the renovation I've seen some of the renovations such as that back at the middle school. Uh many times the

025ceilings are removed and the lighting comes out but the lighting at that school as well is 27 years old. So as that as that is replaced or as that ceiling goes back, it really wouldn't make sense to put 27 year old lighting back in a ceiling. So we'd most likely convert that to LED. So projects like that tend to snowball a little bit. You know, as you get into the project, other things that tend to get encountered that just makes good sense to uh to deal with them while you have that opportunity. Uh roofs in Gatesville Elementary. Um there is still some 27 year old uh roofing there. just a small portion on the back of the building as mentioned yesterday at TCO. There is some there as well. They they was grouping that occurred

026back in 98 with new additions um such as you know the 1998 edition of Gatesville school and the um what we call the red hall the six classroom edition at TS Elementary as well as admin edition. Next slide. Um Buckland Elementary School as mentioned earlier uh cafeteria is a concern here. Uh TS Cooper was added on to back in 2008. Uh and an eight classroom addition was added to Cooper as well. The same year a full classroom addition was added here at Buff Cafeteria was not expanded and most likely that was because of limited space and the way the driveways were where the power lines were located. Um, I've talked some of the board um as uh the the boiler room which is no longer in service uh but right up to the cafeteria and

027we're um you know certainly investigating what what cost would be to to take that space in and potentially use it as additional cafeteria space if need. Um so that's one thing we're looking at here at the school u classroom space. I think Mr. Wright spoke on earlier. I did mention to the board that there are still four mobile units here. Now keep in mind those mobile units are 30 years old in a time back in the 90s didn't have enough water space and they were the county was scrambling due to an increase in population and I think we had as many as 20 some mobile units put in back in trying to account for an additional population at that time. Um but those those trail the full mobile classrooms are still here. Um, as I

028mentioned, they're 30 years old and the walk ramp and all certainly need some attention, but um, you know, they they are still here as potential additional classroom space. Um, sanitary sewer piping here in very fortunate to have made some major upgrades um, over over the years, especially getting rid of some windows and replacing some roofing, upgrading some mechanical. Uh we do still have some sanitary sewer concerns uh in some of the older older restrooms that would potentially need to be addressed uh down the line. Um everything to my knowledge is working well right now, but we do have some overight on this slab that would potentially need to be addressed. Um if we're the elementary school has chosen and we can and we actually consolidate um the wastewater plan here as mentioned. There is a

029benefit here that the westward plant will be taken out of service uh as far as scheduled to be taken offline uh either over the summer or into the fall. So that's a pretty [clears throat] big benefit. Um the wastewater the high school and the middle school already go to a collection site on Will Lane which is Cottonham Road there. Uh and PS go to the same location. Um regardless of which two schools were chosen for consolidation as you all know parking is already challenging in the afternoon pickup is challenging in the afternoon at all three elementary schools really principles do a tremendous job of working with uh trying to make trying to get people out of the road where the hazards exist there for wrecks and things. Um that's something regardless of which two schools

030that we consolidate are chosen. Uh but parking will have to be addressed there to um account for the additional parents there at one time for pickup. Uh staggered times were used at the middle school when we were adding on to the middle school. It was pretty challenging. It took a while to get it down, but we had sort of a staggered time pickup. I want to say it was about 10 or 15 minutes there where the first crew came in for pickup and then other group came in a little later. Um that worked but it it takes a lot of coordation implementation from principles but uh that that is something that'll be need to be taken into consideration at any of the three schools. Um if we were are to close a building, some of

031the things that um the unused building or or school that was taken out were no longer used for students could potentially be used for. Um the repurpose of the closed school could be used for the following central office. It we have a very small central office where we're at is it's uh is the offices are very small. Uh that's what would be one consideration. Support program offices. uh possibly maintenance transportation technology could use some of those spaces. Um those addition this additional space storage there's never enough room for storage. Um you all know how it how it gets uh that work here at the schools. It seems like it's always a struggle regardless to to have room for for storage. But multiple uh storage can be used for multiple programs technology supplies instructional uh custodial

032etc. Right now all the sterile supplies come to the maintenance department and we distribute them from there and you know it certainly could be used for that benefit. Uh meeting space um these areas just like we're in here could be could be used for school board conferences, parent meetings and and things of that nature. Um educational programs as well. U we we had an alternative education program at Sunbury back in early 2000. uh it was shut down due to I believe the condition of the buildings and the cost to replace some roofing. Uh we haven't had that since uh that certainly would would potentially be a consideration. Early college, we're very fortunate to partner with COA, but our our kids do a lot of traveling to Elizabeth City. You know, we could bring some of

033those programs closer to home. I think it would be a big benefit to parents and students as well. And it also potentially would be used as a testing center. um savings eliminate some of the current central office building. If we were to were to move out of that, I think that would potenti potentially be some some savings there. Any questions? >> Any questions, board members? >> Okay, Mr. Harold, >> good evening everyone. >> Good evening. Up until about 2010, De County Schools maintained a student population of around 2,000 students. Over the next decade, it started to be a slow decline. And once we hit CO, it was even a faster decline. When I came to Gates County Schools, we had student population, 1466 students. My first year, we lost 55 students. This year, we've lost

03438 more. and and DPI has projected us to lose 50 more next year for a total of 143 kids students. And over the average of the past two years, uh this state maintains a $9,800 revenue stream per student or from the statement. If you do the math on 143 at 9,800 a student, that's the budget's in nightmare from my point of view. So what we have to do here is somehow someway get kids to come back to public school level off at least we can maintain a a school system where we're not in a constant state. With the uh that being said, the projected cost that Dr. Watson had a little bit lower because his numbers retire like a retirement and hospitalization were not quite up to date. My numbers are a little bit higher

035on the savings that we will have before the build's being closed with bio certified staff. I'm rounding out the benefits at $80,262 media specialist at and a guidance counselor at 8791. Uh, treasury at 69,964, cafeteria manager at 55,000, lead staff at 378, custodial staff at $29,871. My utilities are a little bit higher than Dr. Watson's score. Round rounded out total $824,748 for savings, which is more in line with where we are as far as the deficit. So next slide and this here you can see most of that like Dr. Williams said 92% of that is personnel and utilities make a small fraction of of that total deficit where we're at as of today. You have any questions? There's been a lot of conversation tonight about um cost savings and consolidations, but we also need to

036look at things that may be reoccurring or one-time expenses that may um reduce the savings, predicted savings in consolidating schools. So, a few of those things may be um possible reinstatement of two front office positions. Um two or three years ago we um reduced the number of front office staff in the um three elementary schools from two people to um one person. There was a secretary and of a bookkeeper in each front office. Um now there's just a bookkeeper in the front office that does a number of things. I mean here I know Miss Lily. I mean she's the backup nurse. She answers the phone. She does bus notes. She is the teacher assistant she needs to be. She may even walk and drive a bus. I'm not sure but [laughter] you know. So um

037but increasing enrollment at schools that also would increase the traffic, the phone calls from parents, the number of bus notes required, the medications that need to be administered. So a lot of the things that happen in the front office will be increased by increasing enrollment. So we would have to look at possibly considering um reinstating those positions in the front office at whatever two schools there were that were remaining open. And that would be a recurring cost because that's something a salary is something that would occur each year and not just a one-time startup cost. um possible addition of bus drivers. Um same thing that would be recurring because again salaries would be something that would recur every year. But the idea there would be um and redist redistricting and redrawing the lines. We just

038don't know right now how long bus routes make it. And right now I know we have students on buses for longer times than students and parents I'm sure would like. But um in adding more students to schools and possibly zones where they're further away from the school, we may look at have to look at adding um bus routes to lessen the route and the time that students are on buses. So again, that would be adding staff adding bus drivers to what we currently have now at the schools. Um possible increase in cafeteria staff. Again, another recurring cost possibly, not um guaranteed, but possibly because as Dr. Since mentioned, it is still important to make sure that our students are able to um get through the breakfast and lunch line and not feel rushed to be

039able to sit down and enjoy and socialize with their friends and have that time the same as that they have had um in the past. So, that will take some extra work and extra um staff in the cafeteria area to make sure that you can do that. And you're looking at increasing enrollment by 50, 60, 70 students. um additional cafeteria equipment, warmers, freezers, dishwashers, more students, more food. Where are you going to store it? Right now, I think Dr. Simpson mentioned that um at one of the schools right now, the freezer space is very limited and some of that food is not even housed there on that school campus. It's housed at the maintenance shop. So, if we look at um our schools and the equipment that's currently there, what additional equipment may be need

040to make sure that we able to support the um the number of students that are there and large parking lots at um two of the schools, Mr. Dream talked about that. You all know how parent pick up drop off go now. And not even that assemblies, programs, open house, things like that. When you look at increasing 40, 50, 60 students, that's the same number of parents and families that you're going to see coming out for those events and things like that. So, making sure we have adequate space for people to come and go safely and be able to continue to attend those events. Um, additional work days for teachers in transition of classrooms. This is something that's going to take time. Um if there were school to close and um teachers and classrooms have to

041be moved, this takes time. Um right now there are built-in work days in the calendar, but it may we may look at having to need more days, you know, and they would be paid days for staff to be able to come in and make sure that the transitions can happen smoothly for staff and students and they're prepared when students do come through the doors. Um additional work time for maintenance and transitional furniture, equipment. Um the same thing for technology. Again, it's a team effort. everybody, you know, would have to work together for the same goal of making sure that wherever the students are going that we're able to move the resources for those students to those locations in a timely manner, but again, in more time than we already have allotted, you know, could possibly

042take more time in that to make sure those things are in place and that people are settled in where they may where they may be may be. Again, these costs will offset predicted savings. So um the projected number in the beginning that may be savings and consolidation that number may be a little bit lower when we look at other costs that may have to come in. So rather than hidden costs, recurring costs and um one time expenses that may have to go into consolidation. These are just a few things. >> Any questions? >> Yes. >> You know you were going to hear my voice. >> I got away. I didn't expect it twice. >> No. if you would um speak to I think we had mentioned it before some of the things like we've had

043long-term subs in place and some of the things we've already got in place to try to help >> okay and I should have spoke on this more with the personnel slide but what I'm ready to speaking of is things that we're doing already to be proactive in preparing for possible consolidation of schools and that's looking at positions and how we're filling positions and staffing schools right now um so right now we have position positions where people resign or retire. We are not necessarily filling those position with full-time person. Sometimes maybe a part-time sub that comes in or maybe a full-time sub or, you know, sometime we're absorbing some of those things in house and covering extra duties. So that we are looking at some false saving measures there. So one is we have long a

044long-term sub in one of our kindergarten classrooms right now who's a veteran 25 year plus TA who has been around and done it all and um does a phenomenal job. That's one of the ways that we're looking at um kind of cost savings and preparing for consolidation if that does become because remember we did talk about positive personnel positions. So again we want to do everything possible to make sure people don't have to lose jobs but if we can we can absorb those positions and so those things are already built in and that's what we would definitely like to do. Another thing that we've done to be proactive in the EC department is we've kind of restructured our EC program across the district to look at where our the majority of our students are and

045where our certified teachers are and where we can kind of combine resources to make sure that all of our students needs are being met with using the personnel that we have in a more equitable and more strategic way. >> Thank you. >> Yes, I just um thank you Dr. Jordan. um at our meeting at the merchants mail pond um when we were given the presentation from Dr. Watson we asked Mr. screen to um do a lot of research for us. And um because of the holidays, we were not able to get all of those information. And information that we requested would be like cafeteria costs, what it would take to enlarge cafeteria here, what it would take to add on for the equipment, the heating and air at Gatesville school, the waste water at Gatesville

046School, and any other improvements that would be needed as well as those that in the lighting and the ceiling tiles and everything at Gatesville Elementary. Those costs will come back to you when we get the information to them. There are hidden costs, but they're also known as unknown cost. We don't know what that will be. It will be an upfront cost if this board decides to consolidate from three elementary schools to two elementary schools. As Dr. Jordan spoke, the first three bullets she said will be reoccurring. That means there'll be um that cost will occur year after year after year and those things are much needed to help out in individual schools uh elementary for their u bookkeepers because they are having an enormous task. I know that uh Mr. Jordan, director of um transportation

047will run u numerous um scenarios of bus routes um whether we go north, south or east or west. And I know that Miss Roundtree will take the data of all the schools within the school system and she will run the demographics of um the diversity of all the students within all three elementary schools. And we have a lot of other things that might come up, but it will come forward so that we the public does know what it is. And we do apologize for not having it tonight for the Christmas holidays. We were not unable to get that information, but it will be coming. Now, I'm going to turn it over to Miss Ryan. Now that y'all are exhausted from hearing all this information, um, we've done our best tonight to give you an idea

048of where we are right now in the consolidation study. I'm not going to repeat what Chairman Bar said about not having some of those answers. Um, there are so many things that have not been answered yet, but I assure you this board will make sure that as we get those answers, you also get them. And and I think it's important to say too that no matter what we decide to do, it is going to be based on what is best for our students and then staff and community. Um we can't really make those decisions without your input. So I'm looking forward and I hope many of you who've signed up to to talk with us. Um I I would like to share so that you don't think we're not asking questions. We've heard this report

049twice and so that's why you're not going to be here till 10 o'clock tonight like Gatesville was and uh you didn't hear all those questions we had on Monday. I you know it's it's so good to see such a good turnout and I'm so glad that you're here because I still kind of have that principal's heart and I can't imagine walking in school and walking out of school every day not knowing if my school was going to be open next year or not. And that's tough for you as parents and that's tough for you as teachers and just your community because schools mean so much to the community and to our kids. Promise you again it is going to be based on what is going to be best and all those things chairman be I'm

050talking about hidden costs upfront cost you will be privy to that. So I I promise you that also. So, um, with no further ado, I think we may take a break and then we will be hearing from all of you. If you haven't signed up yet, Miss Lana hadn't picked up the form yet either. So, please sign up so that you can tell us what you think. >> Thank you. Everybody will get elementary school and We're very excited to see her report and also we're excited to hear from the public comments or the people who signed up for public comment and turn it over. >> All right. Good evening. Um I'm Crystal Williams. I am the principal here at Butland. This is my first year as a principal here. Um it's been a fun year

051to come on in on with you guys. Um [laughter] So I I'm not new to Buckland. I'm not new to Gates County. Uh I actually was a student here first for kindergarten through third with Mr. Gregory. [laughter] Um I came back and student taught under Mr. Gregory and [laughter] Miss Nipples. Not Miss Snipples anymore. She was Miss Jojo. Um I came back to teach. I left for I went to the middle school for a bit to teach. Came back here to teach. Got to be assistant principal last year at the middle school. Back here again principal. [laughter] Well, I've been a parent through the whole thing, too. So, I'm I'm very thankful. I just want to say like I'm thankful that the board and Dr. Williams and everyone has given the principles an opportunity um

052to speak. And the reason I say that is because personally the way I view this is you all have a bird's eye view. So everybody's kind of like looking in to figure it out, right? Um us as administrators, Miss Brooks, myself, we all have the boots on the ground, right? The teachers have the boots on the ground, the parents, it's a different view. So for me that is what this whole thing is about is just making sure that you guys have a view and how the inner workings of each building works. Um how things can be adjusted or shifted and the different use of those things. Okay. Um and so that's kind of what I'm using this as an opportunity. I wasn't here last year when um the consolidation study was done, but I'm here

053now. So I'm going to give it a shot. So look, okay, I put a lot of words up there. I'm just going to be reading to. Okay, that this isn't even the worst one, but I had a lot to say. Um, [laughter] here's a little bit of history. Buckland's built in 1951 and was originally a union school serving African-American students in grades 1 through 12 from 1951 to 1970. From 1971 to 1970 to 1971, Buckland became totally integrated and housed grades 1 through 8. Later, it became a K3 school until consolidation in 1998 when it became a K5 school. In Buckland's history, there have only been eight principles. If it's wrong, Mr. Gregory will tell me later. One [laughter] who served as principal of Buckland for 41 years. I'll let y'all figure out WHO um

054Buckland has quite the history of longevity, not just with um administrators, but also with our staff. Um so our support staff, the current average of being here at Buckland is 11 years. That ranges from two years to 20 years of experience just here at Buckland. That is not counting experience elsewhere. Our teaching staff is very similar. They averaged about 11 years here at Buckland. Um two years to 32 years. All right. Um all of our teachers here at Buckland are highly qualified. Seven have a master's degree and three are nationally board certified. So I think that's all super important. [clears throat] Okay. Can't see this. I'll explain. Okay. Um one of the things we might skip a page there. Okay. >> Um, so one of the things that this is like our historical data. So

055when I went to the first meeting, they said that we had one open classroom. I mean, that's what it was, right? And I said, "Huh?" Um, when I told the teachers, they said, "What?" I said, [clears throat] "Miss Lily, what was our top number of students?" And needless to say, I think Miss Lily got down on the floor into some binders that she has kept her information in. And so that is where these numbers come from. These come from her and the data that she has kept over the years. So the purpose in me putting this up here is to show that there are a lot of similarities between what has already been done and what we are being asked or potentially asked to do now. like the question is can this school hold the

056number of kids that were asking to be helped. Um so in 2006 2007 it shows I'm not going to go through every single one of these y'all but it shows that we had a number of teachers on the left side what grade level they were in the number of students in each grade level and the average class size. It totaled 17 teachers maxed based on the numbers that I looked at from the consolidation report and everything or the the study the presentation was about 18 teachers would be what would be maxed out. We were already at 17. The total number of students enrolled at that time was 287. Um during that time prek ate in the classroom. Miss Lily even knows how many kids ate in the cafeteria. 277 ate in the cafeteria at that

057time. Uh during this year the old building was used and the trailers were used. Okay. The next year 2007 to 2008 again 17 teachers totaling um average not average the number of students was 290 students based on the first information that was given. I think our max out top number was 294. Um but we I believe I could be wrong that number. Um but that shows that we were getting pretty close [clears throat] to it there. Uh 2008 to 2009 we had the 18 teachers here um classroom teachers at that time. This included the prek program more at 4 and kindergarten through fifth grade. Uh there were 296 students enrolled at Oakland that year. Um fifth grade moved in the building. It moved uh fifth grade moved into the main building. The new building was

058built and occupied mid year. I helped Jojo move all her stuff. [laughter] It was a lot. Um, prek and more 48 in the classroom, 274, eight in the cafeteria. With 296 being enrolled here before, basically, you're looking at adding eight more students than that it to get to 304 students, which is what Buckland or Gatesville would absorb. we would end up at 304. That's eight more than that year. Um, basically this shows that it has been done before. The number of teachers and expected class [laughter] sizes are similar to what this consolidation would look like. So that's the purpose in that. [laughter] Okay, y'all can't see my map. Okay, this is a map of the school. [clears throat] Here's another history lesson I just [laughter] thought about. Mr. Gregory had me design this map [laughter]

059when the new building was still student teaching. That's funny. Um, had thought about that. It's still in use, but Miss D has had moved it to Canva. Thank you, Miss D. It makes a lot easier to manipulate. [laughter] Can't get rid of some of the original stuff, but we hid it underneath there. So, but the layout has not changed. In the blue at the top, the part that you cannot see, there are 20 full-size classrooms available, not including the trailers. Okay. 20. Currently, we are using 14 of them as regular a classrooms. Two of the four trailers are currently being used for a Head Start office and occupational therapy. They're still in use. Um, the heat and air works, the bathrooms work. We do need updated walkways. Like, if they were going to be used

060for anything, we'd kind of need to update the wood. New splinters. You don't want that. Um, as far as bathrooms go, you know, like prek, if they were to come, you would need bathrooms, things like that. We currently house Head Start. Head Start is currently here. So, we have certain criteria [snorts] that we have to meet that room has to meet. For bathrooms, classrooms with bathrooms, there are four in the new building. Um, three classrooms on the front hallway have their own bathroom. One classroom on the back hallway has its own bathroom. And all four of the trailers have bathrooms. I'm pretty sure, Mr. All four of the trailers have bathrooms. [laughter] Um the the playground is currently divided. The K3 playground. We have two different ones. We have a K well three if you

061divide it. K3 playground, the um Head Start playground, and then we have a fourth and fifth grade playground in the back. So, it's already divided to meet the Head Start needs. Um, we do have like if you were to come here, you do have a separate K1 building. You do have the trailers. Um, all exterior doors during the day stay locked. Um, just like they do at other schools for safety purposes because you never know when Mr. Wright's coming [laughter] toward um, this map, although you all can't see it. I labeled it. It has I just want to tell explain it. It has three teachers per grade level, but that is not realistic based on the numbers, right? I tried to go on the high end, okay? And it's K through five on my map.

062But realistically speaking, if we if this school is selected, you would not have three teachers in every grade level, which means there would be room to adjust for preK or whoever needed to come. So, there's a little flexibility. Um, but that wouldn't you wouldn't know that until decisions are made. Um, bus parking has been something that has been brought up a few times that I've heard about here. I remember when there were quite a few buses over there. Um, and so that parking lot hasn't changed that park inside. Um, two loads, first load, second load, load them up, move them out. I mean, that's kind of the the thought process [laughter] I have for that is that, you know, you would have two loads. This isn't something that hasn't been done before. There were 296

063kids here. Buses came here, so it's it's still doable. Like, it's just a new time of thinking about it. The boxes, the red, they're supposed to be red. I'm not right. Um, the boxes, they are your flex spaces. They are potentially available based on the need. I didn't want to label them like with what they could be used for. Um, I'll show you this. So, this one is actually our current work room. That one that's currently the work room. It used to be a classroom. It used to be one of our EC classrooms. Um, so, [laughter] so it I didn't count that one in my 20 because it's a little bit smaller. But again, that's needsbased. Like, what do you actually need there? So, that's kind of where that one went. Okay, y'all can't see

064any of that. I just had a lot to say and I just wanted to make sure it was all in there. [laughter] I wanted them to be able to see it. I printed it off for them. So, let me explain. Another big concern that I've heard about Buckland is this. We have a really small cafeteria compared to the other two schools. We do. I mean, I'm not going to deny that square footage. I get it. Um, over there on the left, I made you guys a sample lunch schedule. [laughter] Um, I have a thing about schedules. I really like them. Um, so I I enjoy them quite a bit. Uh, one of the things that I've heard is staggered lunches. Um, we already do that here at Buckland. Every class, every teacher's class comes in

065five minutes apart, um, or more to allow some of that layover time. Um, so it'll be the same thing, but we have room in the schedule right now and we have other ways. It It takes a little bit of creativity and thought into how you make that work. Okay, let me explain. So, what I did here was I said, "What if you had three teachers per grade level with an average of 20 students per class?" In reality, this schedule demonstrates 360 students. You're not supposed to be getting that many, but I figured, let's go big. Um, basically, [clears throat] each block represents 120 students in the cafeteria at a time. Thanks to Mr. Brown, I know that we have 159 peeps in there right now. Um, so that shows that that's doable. In reality, we're

066not going to have 120 students in there at a time because you're not going to have three teachers per grade. With this schedule, your prek and your Head Start, they would eat in their classrooms. That's what they used to do before. So, for here, that's more than likely what they would do again, unless we get in the rhythm. We find out that we can make something else work. So, our current tables hold 24 um students per table. They're those round seats. How many of y'all were in school when they knew? You remember the round ones? You're so excited. Yep. Um, let me see. I already told you some of this stuff. Okay. Additional concerns and needs are at the bottom down there. So, I do think it would be beneficial to get new tables like

067the ones at the middle school. They are benches. They are like picnic tables. Our kindergarteners don't need the same amount of elbow space that our fifth graders need, right? So, those tables allow for more flexibility within the number of kids that you can seat. I'm not saying squish them in like sardines, but it that allows for a little more flexibility. That's what we saw last year, too. Um, we currently, let's see, I put that we currently have 159 seats in the cafeteria. [clears throat] Mr. Brown, help me out. So, um, with more tables, we can see 200 or so. Again, my schedule shows you at 120 per block. And so, it's rolling. It's rolling through. The white lines show a break in there. So, there's like a 5 to 10 minute window for them to

068restock and and get the food and everything straight. All right. Buckland has one serving line right now that's within the kitchen. From what I can tell, unless Dr. Simpson tells me something different, she might correct me in a minute. There's another line out front that could possibly be used. Um, if you kind of like move the register to I can see it in my head. So, sometimes I can see things up here that I can't fully explain to you guys, but there's a way that in my head haven't talked to Dr. Simpson, that you can have two lanes going and one register at the end if you move the register to the other end. um to create a better flow. What we learned at Thanksgiving is you don't have to have that. The line does

069get a little long. Some of you may have come. Miss April um and her team and Dr. Simpson came and helped out. They um prepared a full meal for our students and we invited our parents and friends and families to come and eat with our kids. I did the math on how many visitors because you have to sign in. We have 223 students that ate that day and we had 85 visitors. When you add that up, that was 308 people who went through the cafeteria that day to eat between the time of 10:45 and 1:00. Only 20 of those people chose not to eat in the cafeteria that day. We had a few extra spots set up and they chose that because it's kind of noisy. You could go talk to your friend, your your

070panda or your student in another place. Again, sorry for the wordiness there. All right. Okay. Maintenance and upgrades. So, [clears throat] the new hallways were installed in the summer of 2024. We have new energy efficient windows installed last summer. The new roof and insulation that Dr. Williams mentioned was installed this past summer. Uh, Mr. Green mentioned that our existing water plant waste water plant will be replaced this upcoming summer in the fall. I hope that I have demonstrated that we do have adequate classroom space um to house additional students and scheduling in new tables will allow the cafeteria to support the number of students who will be fed daily um instead of having to renovate immediately. I'm not saying Mr. upgraded that it wouldn't be nice to have a little extra space. Um, but if

071you needed some more time, I think we could be a little [snorts] creative. Um, because really I think it'll be okay to start lunch at 10:45 and it would probably be okay to go to 1:15 unless I'm wrong. I don't know. But I wouldn't want to go much outside of that window. So, what I just showed you, there's even more flexibility within that to help with the restocking windows. So, that's just something to think about. I also listed listed a few accomplishments down here for Buckland. Um some big things that have come out. Buckling came out of low performance status last year during the 2024 2025 school year and is currently a C school. Everyone did a great job there. [clears throat] Um one of the things I think I heard at one of the

072other meetings is possibly a decrease in attendance if consolidation happens. So um we've been really tracking that this year. We have improved attendance rates from 2024 school year during the first nine weeks is what I have data for right now. Tardies have improved by 48.7%. In the first nine weeks, that's actually going from 199 tardies first nine weeks last year down to 97 this year. Attendance [clears throat] has also improved by 61.7% during the first nine weeks. Last year there were 535 tardies the first absences the first nine weeks and this year there were only 330. So I think that's pretty strong. Um [clears throat] also I was asked about how to offset some cost. Um our staff here already does a pretty strong job of of that. So from 2009 to 2025 Miss Dickerson

073helped me. Everybody around here, they keep some numbers and I kind of go know which ones to go ask though for which things. Buckland staff has been awarded $74,44 in grants and three Buckland staff members served on a team of five that helped to write the 21st Century Learning Grant for the district and were awarded $299,999. Um, we currently have 39 students attending Buckland who are outside of the Buckland district. And there's one bullet point I forgot. I don't know how I forgot them. I knew to add them. We also have a very strong volunteer system here. Um, they are they they are dependable. They are here. Sometimes they tell me what to [laughter] do. I don't know where that one is. And I wasn't even talking about my mother. [laughter] Not her. >> That

074one. Um, we actually have seven volunteers who come out almost weekly. um that includes grandparents, retired teachers, and community members. And I consider that a great accomplishment when you have that kind of um investment within the school. All right. Another great thing we have going here, ready, is our PTA support. [snorts] Luckland has a very strong PTA and they're very supportive and um they help to offset a lot of expenses um within our school. So, fundraising efforts. I got to get my other paper. fundraising efforts have yielded the following over the last three years. This year currently, they have raised $9,914. Last year, they raised $25,41. That's not including Amazon wish list purchases. 2023 to 2024, they raised um in fundraising $18,11563. Our PTA, so what do they do with the money, right? How do

075how does that help to offset costs? So, I'm going to give you a brief breakdown. Our PTA utilizes these funds to support through programs that promote academic success that whether that's honor honor roll rewards. They help um with title one night. They sometimes give us like the foods and the snacks and decorations and things like that so that the other money can go towards the program um and for tutors and things like that. They help us with teacher grants. So these grants have funding crit have helped with funding critical classroom needs such as classroom libraries, mid-year [clears throat] classroom supplies for teachers, $50 offered to four or five teachers per holiday. Teachers most commonly ask for copy paper, card stock, expo markers, and class incentives and prizes. They also help with programs that promote student

076engagement like open house donuts with grown-ups which they work in coordination with our book fair. Book fair sales co- up if you coordinate donuts with grown-ups [laughter] significantly higher than days where grandparents don't come or parents grown-ups whatever don't come they really know how to those kids really know how to work that in there um also playground enhancements they'll deal with programs that enhance student life like fall festival Easter egg hunt day etc I mean the list goes programs that support staff and increase morale Now, so each year they um have $75 classroom supply reimbursement for all teachers and support staff on top of what the school is able to do and the system is able to do. $50 of classroom supplies and student incentives are offered to every teacher and support staff throughout the

077year. They help us with teacher appreciation week funding and decorations for grade level programs as needed and the list goes on. And the last thing they really help us with is programs to encourage community engagement. Our mom and fern fundraisers that blew up the first year that was moms everywhere. The Gates ruling club volunteers to unload and sort these um established fundraiser these established fundraisers that community members ask for [clears throat] every year whether it's can they come help or when are you having them? They help us with the milk pond light display Christmas braid and candy penny wars. If you ever want to see something cute, you need to see kindergarteners stomping down the hallway declaring penny war. [laughter] Um, I've included for the board, they had this printed off for them. Um, and

078I included in there an extra map that shows how in [clears throat] blue you get blue boxes of how it's currently being used. So that shows the blue boxes show that those are the rooms that are your flex spaces. Um, it yes, currently we're spread out because we can. Who wants to be, you know, closer together? No offense. We all like each other here, right? But who wants to be that close if you don't have to be. You can get some extra elbow room. Um, so that's how that one works. I also included the list of things that our PTA helps us with. And then I also included a nice list from our Buckland staff and um that they [clears throat] compiled a list of questions for you guys that they wanted to share um

079for you to take into consideration because if I if we asked all those tonight, y'all wouldn't leave before midnight. So, we have a lot of questions. [laughter] So that's a little light reading. Um the last thing is thank you for letting the administrators have the time to share details about each school and the inner workings. Okay. Um you all have a hard decision to make and like Miss Brooks said the other night, I didn't get to go to I didn't even get to log in. Miss Rosco, I got home at Lake 8. I did log in. Um had some family things going on, but we are still one school system. We are all here for what is in the best interest of our students in this county and we all have to continue to work

080together no matter what decision is made and that's what we really need to stick to. So any questions? Do I have to ask that? [laughter] >> I have a quick question. >> Yes sir. >> Um on the map it was the ring. >> What number? >> A you put me to the test? >> Yeah. I'm sorry. >> It's okay. Let's see how good I am. Show us what the boiler room is. >> Okay, here's your cafeteria right here. Um, let's see. This right here should be your boiler room area. And right to the right, >> I don't know. They [clears throat and laughter] both have storage in them right now. And I try not to go in there. There's like spiders. >> THIS GENERAL AREA RIGHT HERE, MR. GREEN. >> YEAH. Back in Mr. Greger,

081I'm sure. um back I don't remember this Mr. directly with us. There was a door that led in just said that's correct. >> Yeah. [laughter] At some decided to [clears throat] close that down and to break it in, but the L still there where the door existed that whole supports the block above. So, I mean, you go in the cafeteria, you don't notice it unless it's pointed out to you what there was a door that led into that ballroom area at some point, >> but it's just >> it's just there. I'm confused. I know you find that hard to believe, but one is it 160 is you that you're saying is boiler room or what's these other things back here? >> So, this is an office right here. That's an office um that directly connects

082to the cafeteria 162. >> So, 161 and 160. 161 and 160 are like that's not used and 160 is what he's talking about. 161 is just like an open office there. It's like all chopped up. [cough and clears throat] >> All right. I have a question. >> Okay. And I don't know if this is a question. >> Okay. >> But are there size requirements on cafeteria and the number of students that [laughter] we have and do we know it is >> the capacity the max capacity >> like a square footage square footage per per student. question because I know [laughter] >> I [clears throat] know that that many students have been run through here and have been done at times but that was also almost 20 years ago and I don't know >> we got

083to know those kinds of things before [clears throat] we we do we got to know if we're meeting regulations and codes and that kind of We can see [clears throat] and find out, right? >> All right. Any more >> any more questions? >> I think you did a good job. >> You did a good job. Yeah, we got an excellent >> finding space and all consolidation important class. You've done your homework. So, use your time to do that. I think a good job and also thank you >> and thank [laughter] you for your >> thank you for your teachers consolidation questions. >> Yeah and the teachers who participated in it. Thank you. >> Um another question and this is not just for you. It's probably administrative. Um I know Head Start is here and Head

084Start rents space from school system. Is that correct? So to my understanding, >> so what would happen with them >> if we were to take their space? What happens there? [snorts] >> To be determined. >> I mean, it it would just depend on what the other building was used for. There's a lot of, you know, unknowns right now. That was some that's a conversation that would have to be had with the director of Head Start as well, okay, >> based on what their needs are. So it's not a question that can't really be answered right now. But I will say Head Start was at Gatesville about three years ago. >> Okay. So it has been in other buildings before. >> Okay. >> And and with this too with the blue, do you have room for

085>> the blue? >> Well, so the the prek for the prek I didn't include them in there, but that would depend on how many teachers we had per grade level. [clears throat] >> So that's one of those things that I don't and like are you going to keep prek all at one school? Will it be at more than one? like I don't know some of those things so I didn't put them in up there but um I also the red boxes over on the side they're also like the trailers and I did not include the trailers as classrooms but they could continue to be used as flex spaces whether that is you know our therapies our our tutoring our AIG so if they were over here they could or speech they could go over here

086so that's just more flex space that I didn't want to consider as actual classroom face. >> So >> that's [clears throat] helpful. Thank you. >> Okay. I was I don't I don't know. >> So of the four modular trailers that are here, only three are being used, right? >> Well, two are being like used daily by people. >> Okay, >> that's the first two. >> Yes. So the other one one is being used as a storage PTA storage trailer and the other one is being used the first one over on the other side is being used as um >> storage and I don't know I'm just going to say it. I don't know I don't know if this is allowed. I have no idea. Could that be used as additional seating in the cafeteria if

087we had to get that far until something else would be done? I'm not sure what the codes are for that. I don't know the answers to that. I'm just throwing that out there because I don't know the answer to that either. But it is located right out the door and there's a set of steps that go straight up from the cast. >> And on the on the red, I'm confused with the red and blue. You know me. Um, [laughter] >> okay. So, let me check. >> Blue is current. >> And that you've got the trailer that's being used >> for head [clears throat] start. >> That's being used as a head start. >> Not head start. >> The head start. Where is Head Start? >> Head Start's in our building right now. That's the right

088office. [laughter] And that's the office. >> So that head start, >> but I mean she uses the daily. She has the office set up in there, but it's not used for students. >> Thank you, >> Miss Ricky. >> Yes. uh the economic improvement council, Dr. Landon Mason. He's over Head Start and we move we moved it from Gatesville Elementary to Buckland. He came in, he just did an assessment to determine if it met code and looked at all the regulations. I don't know if Mr. Ryan remembers, Mr. B remembers that. I know he does. And so then we had to come up with a lease agreement and everything. So he's the gentleman that we would speak to on his start. I remember the approximately 300 students that were here at one time and all the

089buses that stayed on the time. I remember >> I remember the well job that Mr. Gregory did. >> Okay. and all the requirements and certifications and the inspections and all of that stuff. How long does that I know you can't give me exact but you know how long of a process are we talking can they not be moved until all of that is checked off or how does that work >> right the classrooms have to be licensed the space has to be licensed and that takes time I mean you may put in an application to be licensed or to get that space licensed but to know where you will come up on the schedule it's really hard to tell so three to six months maybe um to have some you know to get an area

090or space license but of course if they come out and say that it doesn't meet regulation for a certain reason that would have to be corrected before that space can be occupied. >> And so they have to even if if Buckham was chosen before we could move them all that we potentially would have to pay in a different place than if we if we hadn't gotten everything licensed, >> right? Classrooms would have to be licensed before they could be occupied by students. >> Anything [clears throat] else? Thank you. Thank you very much. [applause] >> Okay, we're going to open up the floor for public comment. Please remember that you have three minutes to speak and um [clears throat] we're going to welcome everyone that wants to speak. We're here to listen and we're going to

091listen to every one of them. And I believe Miss Dory said there was several that had signed up. So if she would state the name and when you come to the podium before your time, please state your name um so that the minutes will reflect it. >> Laura Dickerson. >> All right, Miss Dickerson. >> Public speaking is not my thing. So you know I have a question. >> I'm Laura Dickerson. I'm the media specialist here at Black. So, first, thank you for your dedicated service to our community. You give countless hours to meetings and trainings and no doubt many sleepless nights, especially right now as you work to make the best decisions for the students of Gates County. The choice before you tonight is difficult and one we likely would not be facing if public

092education was fully funded by our state. But I want to share with you why Brooklyn is rare. Having taught at two schools in Chapel Hill before returning to Gates County, I can say with confidence that Buckland is different. It's a family. Miss Lily knows each student and their mom and daddy, uncles, aunts, grandma, grandpa. Uh when I have bus duty and there's a kid and we don't know, we might have a new bus driver and we call her and say, "Oh, we need an address," she usually gives it to us without even checking the the directory. She just knows it. When our bus drivers are out sick, Mr. Brown will volunteer to drive after teaching all day so that students don't have to wait two hours after school for a double run. Miss April in

093the cafeteria knows our students favorite foods and worries if they don't eat. There are many, many stories I could tell you about all the things our teachers do to go above and beyond, but I only have three minutes. There are lots of teachers here who have taught the mamas and daddies of many of our current students. The turnover rate for teachers at the school is incredibly low. This is so so rare in a current school climate especially. [clears throat] Under Miss Williams leadership this year, our whole staff, not just teachers, but every member of our school team has been united around student safety and success. Every one of us is on the same page. Rare. We are a seasoned group of teachers. Not old, but seasoned. With that season, with that seasoning, there can also

094often be a lot of snarkiness or drama, but there is none of that here at Buckland. Again, incredibly rare. We operate as a true team. I have heard nothing but praise for our principal. She has brought us together, supports our efforts with consistent encouragement and appropriate timely discipline, and helps keep our focus on student success. That unity is rare. We are a school family that wants to stay together. Because of that hand of strength and support, I truly believe that our Buckland staff could welcome students and staff from another school and help them feel at home. While research predicts a short-term dip in test scores after consolidation, I am confident that the Buckland family, led by Mrs. Williams, would adapt and continue moving forward without missing a beat. Finally, I respectfully ask that regardless of

095which school closes, staff be consulted about their placements rather than simply reassigned. The district has lost excellent teachers in past years when reassignments were made. Please give current staff a voice in these decisions. >> Thank you VERY [applause] [clears throat] UM, good evening. My name is Megan Talbert. Um, I'm the mother of a fourth grader who has attended here in Buckland since um, kindergarten and he's an autistic student. Um, as that the stability of the school is very important. Um, as you guys have displayed, the decline in the size of the county over the last several years, um, it's been brought to my attention that are there's a subdivision, um, intended to be placed across the street from my current home that will include and increase our community by 45 homes. um which was originally

096intended to be 300 and I believe that the county had made different decisions on the sizing of the plots of that land that had been sold and will be developed on. So that will include an increase of 45 families to our current community and our current school system as it's intended. I'm sure they're not all going to be retired families that move in there. um as people want to move to rural areas so that their children can have the great experience that we have at Buckland for caring, [clears throat] considerate, devoted teachers who pour in their time and dedication to the specific needs of each child. Um, it's most likely going to increase the population as the Hampton Roads area continues to increase and as they continue to push into our areas, we're going to

097feel that. So, what is the plan for our county as we consider consolidating schools and closing specific areas? You know, how are we going to address that? And you know that being said, it's most likely that this doesn't match, you know, or does this match with the two schools that will remain open? Are they prepared to handle the increase that that is coming even if it's not next year in the next five years? You know, um that's a question I have. And then how are we going to continue to accommodate as we consolidate um our title one goals by increased class sizes. You know that we have a responsibility with title one that we get as a county and increasing the class sizes [clears throat] and increasing the and reducing the staff as it's been

098pointed out and saving all this money. How are how is that a support to our students? And have we considered consolidating the transportation for K12? >> Thank you very much, >> Lawrence. >> All right, I'm gonna read fast when I get up here. I [clears throat] got a lot to say. All right. I am Melissa Lawrence. I am um a parent of two students that so good evening. I am not opposed to consolidating schools. I ask the board to truly have open minds in regards to all three schools and gather and review all information even if that means consolidation doesn't happen this upcoming school year as long as we are restructuring. Has a K2 and three five school been considered? What is the estimated dollar amount needed to upgrade Gatesville, Buckland, and Cooper to meet

099the increased capacity needs? What funds will be used to pay for those renovations? Is your fund balance in a position to be able to absorb these additional costs? Because you're not going to have the cost savings from personnel at the time renovation will be needed. And I believe your most recent financial audit recommended you take prompt action to preserve your fund balance. How long before you would to expect to see a positive financial return on your investment? If the large portion of financial savings, 92.7% is cuts in personnel, is it accurate to say that a majority of these costs saving cuts could be gathered without closing a school? We have been cutting positions for years. Think about our arts program and yet our finances haven't improved. What makes these 10 positions the special answer? As

100far as cost savings due to closing a facility, to me, this amount cannot even be considered as a cost savings. If the [clears throat] building will be used for any other purpose, you will still have operating expenses. And if the building is not going to be used, please share the plan on how you're going to deal with a vacant school. We can hope that it turns out better than some berry school. Maybe a charter school will open the doors. Do you feel this is the best time for a decision to be made for the upcoming school year? You have a majority of your board that is about to change. You have county officials calling for an audit and renovations take time when there are laws that dictate how how you must go about procuring services

101like writing RFPs and taking bids. Something can can't simply be set up. There could be true benefits in making sure you have reviewed all information like redistricting maps, bus routes, renovation costs, and floor plans that will show the setup of each school after consolidation. You could use the upcoming school year to start renovations as you could potentially spread the renovation costs over three fiscal years by making a decision that is effective for the 2728 school year. Once consolidation occurs and all students, families, and school staff have felt the burden, there is going to be an expectation that the financial state of the school system improves. This is going to be the responsibility of the board, those sitting here now and those that are in the audience audience hoping to be sitting here next year. There

102will be a strong expectation of this board to be fiscally responsible, operate transparency, and build a school system to a higher caliber with more shared resources. There will no longer be talk about consolidation as a magic fix. >> Louise Knight >> [laughter] >> Good afternoon everybody. >> Good night. This is my second home in New York. And when I heard about his deal with me, should I come? Should I stay? live right across the road over there and I said, you know, I need to come because this building, Mr. Rick, Mr. Greg, Miss Faith, Miss Lawless up in here been here for years. Miss Abby, Mr. Whim, he gone in the way. I talked back with him this summer, too. I work [clears throat] anyway. And I told him, and I read it back, welcome.

103Please, Lord, don't let school cuz that's my second home. Anyway, I just want to let y'all know that this building had came from a long, long ways. Some know about it, some don't know about it. This the top in the building here used to be way high. We brought it down. The ceiling been low. [clears throat] Floors like it said. I'mma tell y'all a little story. I'm going shut out sit down a minute. We had them old windows and I had a a coworker working with me, Miss Shirley Smith. We got locked back in that last room right down there. [laughter] Back then, Mr. Gray, we didn't have no phone. We didn't had no connection. The door locked on us. And guess what we had to do? >> We had to clam out the window.

104[laughter] So, who clammed out the window? I did. I miss shirt had a little weight but anyway thank you I found out that Wednesday so I let y'all know that there a lot of members here when I looked over this summer and saw uh roof Mr. done. We come from a long way. When this Oh my god. Thank you, LORD. WHEN THE FLOORS got done, took that carpet up, y'all. Been out there for so many years, during, but it's okay. ANYWAY, [laughter] I WANT Y'ALL TO LET Y'ALL know this is my second home. I stayed here. I've been in the system for I came out of school 1969. I came in right after I came out of school working driving the school bus [clears throat] custodian then Mr. gravy and my job cut full time

105cut 30 or part time first then I came full time and I worked here for 30 years 30 years and everybody I have met that came through them doors been a blessed person in here I tell people right today this is one of the blessed buildings in the county not talking about nobody but I know for myself I've been down to the central office I met new people down there and I love y'all dearly but like I >> [clears throat] >> I pray. I pray. I know you you all got some decision to make, but guess what? Only one to take her is the God and take care of all this stuff that we stirred around up in here. So, like I said, pray change a lot of stuff. So, that's what I had just

106let y'all know that when I came in, they said sh for what? So, they said [laughter] I said, "Okay, what?" Well, that's I want to let y'all know, encourage all of us. All of us been through some of them. But I just want to let y'all know, my first home was across the road, 473, North Carolina over there. But this is my second home that got saved for years. Years. My mother worked here 15 years. My son worked 10 years. My My mother worked 10. My son worked 15 years. So, we got Baker's blood in us when we public school. So, [clears throat] like I said, just pray about it and God can direct your path. SO, I'll be looking over that. [laughter] >> Ed, >> good evening members of the board. My name is

107Evan Wind and I'm here to speak in support of the transition from three elementary schools to two. But I'd like to urge the board to look beyond a simple geographic solution. In my discussions with other citizens about this topic, it seems to me the most obvious long-term solution is to have a single centrallylo elementary school similar to the middle and high schools that we currently have. I understand that funding and planning is not currently in place to make something like that [clears throat] a reality. But instead of creating two separate K5 schools, I ask you to consider the merits of a grade level center model. One K2 school and one 35 school. We all agree that reducing our footprint allows for a more equitable sharing of technology. A lot of people have come up and

108spoken about the advantages of reducing the number of of locations to share those things. [clears throat] supplies and staff. But if we simply close one building and keep the others as K5, we risk missing an opportunity to make the most out of a disruptive change. [clears throat] In my opinion, a grade level split offers three advantages. First, teacher collaboration. By placing every teacher of a certain grade level in the same building, we create an environment for immediate daily collaboration. This ensures that a student's quality of education is dictated by county and state standards, less by differences in teaching styles between different schools. Second, fiscal and staffing efficiency. As mentioned earlier by Miss Riddick regarding state funding, our current system risks pockets of overcrowding in different locations. We shouldn't be in a position where two different

109schools, even if it was three, two, have five students over a cap and we still have less funding than we need for those teachers and the grade levels. By consolidating the grades into one location, we can respond to enrollment shifts with much greater precision. Third, social unity. Centrally locating our students, just like we do with our middle school and high school, allows students from across the county to build relationships years earlier. It embodies the idea that we are Gates County Schools even more strongly and would eliminate tribal disagreements between two student or parent populations. I recognize this model presents logistical challenges, particularly for parents with children in both buildings. However, any consolidation plan will have traffic and maintenance hurdles. We've talked about many of those tonight. They wouldn't change if we decided to have a

110K5 school or a K2 and 35 school. If we're going to ask our community to navigate a transition in that we have to restart. If we are going to ask our community to navigate a transition that is this significant, let's choose an option that provides the highest return on investment for our students academic experience. In my opinion, consolidating by grade level into the two remaining schools would provide students and teachers with the greatest opportunity to share the resources that we know are so limited to collaborate with each other to begin fostering relationships with other students from across the county and would allow for an easier transition if and when the opportunity for a true consolidated school present itself in the future. >> [laughter] >> I lead [snorts] with in five or 10 years, I'd like

111us to look back on this decision as one we made with the long-term future of the county in mind, not just one where we disrupted as little as possible to fix the financial shortfall right now. >> Amy Nimttz. >> Hi, I'm Amy Nits. My son used to go to B. I agree with him what he said. Do a central elementary school, but do a K through five. We got a piece of land sitting by the library. Why not build a K through five building there? Take our elementary schools, turn them into a senior community center. My mom goes to a community center that is very underutilized. We had a Thanksgiving dinner there. There was over a hundred senior citizens there. I asked a couple why they don't come Monday through Friday. They have to choose

112between gas money to go to a grocery store, buy prescriptions, or go to the senior center. Why not have a community center in each area of the community? If these buildings aren't utilized as a community center, make them into a senior apartment buildings where our communities can be utilized. That would make a better idea. Then that way it's benefiting all of our community all together. We got a a centralized elementary school that can grow. We could see about getting grants to help build the elementary schools. We're going to be bu spending money to upgrade our elementary schools. So why not see about building a central elementary school like we got a central high school, a central middle school. Then all of the teachers are all together in one where it would be centralized and we

113would utilize all our resources which would make better sense than to have different and reconsolidating buildings because then what happens as I said in five years or 10 years if gates county explosing population then we're back at the building blocks again of we have to reopen do we have to redo buildings what do we have to do instead of doing all this expanding and contracting build one school where it can be expanded upon if we have to if our county explodes when Hampton Road starts pushing into our community. That would be a better way of looking at things and instead of pushing ourselves into a corner and then we can't back out of that corner to look at it another way because I love Buckland. Mr. Gregory was the principal when my son was here

114and we loved it as as teachers. My granddaughter will be coming here when she's up to grade level, but I can't see putting ourselves into a corner, into a box. Why not look at things in another way where we could utilize our school buildings as another option to our whole community and seniors could get benefits to where they're not able to utilize it. and we could look at our county commissioners to see if they would be open to that possibility as the two boards collaborate on one. [snorts] Thank you. Thank you, >> Carrie [clears throat] Fox. Um, good evening. I am Carrie Fox. So, my husband and I are new to the county. We moved in June of 2025. And uh we come from a different county in um North Carolina, but I have a

115fourth grader that goes here and a first grader that goes here. And I'm just here to tell you that Buckland is completely different. Um my fourth grade student has made principles list for both of them. I'm excited he's been here. He's never done that before. He has ADHD, so he's, you know, it's a little rough, but um my daughter is excelling. She's got a lot of confidence and and within herself. And we also um as Megan mentioned, we live near the area that has also been cleared where developments coming, more houses are coming. And um you know, we just kind of asked, does the decision have to be made now? Can we look at this, you know, from you know, doesn't it have to be made by the end of this year or, you know,

116stuff like that? But um Miss Williams is wonderful. um we've never met her before until this year. And the second day of school, she knew both my kids' names right out of the car. I mean, they love her. They love the school nurse. They love their teachers. So, um it really is just a different special place and they feel like they have a sense of belonging. So, um we just appreciate the time and we do look like so. >> Joseph, I can't understand the last name. >> Oh, okay. >> [laughter] >> I'm Joe Johnson. Um, [clears throat] I agree with a lot of stuff that other people said already tonight. And I really don't have nothing on why the school should stay open because honestly, 20 years ago, all three elementary schools should have been

117closed and we should consolidated into one and made moves back then when we built the gym. But that's neither here nor there. My questions are if we're looking at consolidating schools, we haven't drawn a line yet. Why have we not drawn a line to see if we close Buckland? What are the logistics going to look like? We close gates, what are the logistics going to look like? Close, what are the logistics going to look like? We've got to know the numbers and you got to know where the lines are going to be drawn. I know Mr. Right Ted, you've been on one side of all, but you can use the numbers that are at school today to know what we're looking at if we look at closing the school. And I don't see why we

118ain't already moving towards that. As far as the diversity, I me personally, I get tired of hearing the word diversity. Everybody that's a child of God, stop looking at skin color and let's start looking at people. Um big question, we say we're losing students. Why have we done any type of study to see why we're losing students out of Gates County schools? 10 years ago, surrounding counties were leaving their counties to come to Gates County. Why are we now having people from Gates County leaving to go to another county? Um, with the drawing of lines, you can actually see how long kids are going to be on the bus on the bus routes. Have we looked at what's going to happen if we do a double run by still keeping school split up? Um, I

119know right now most of this is financially driven. Uh, we lost two two elementary school teachers last year. We've [clears throat] got temp sub long-term subs in place this year. Have we seen any increase in funding, any revenue from that? Because if we're already cutting positions like Melissa said, we're not seeing nothing come back, where's the money go? Um, have have we uh we said we're going to close school in 10 positions. If we close cut to positions, if we close a school, are we we're only talking about K through 12 positions. If we close one school, do we need as many administrators at the central office level? Because you if you're downsizing everything to my knowledge right now, we're renting the central office from the county with all the extra classrooms. Can we move

120the central office to one of the schools? And that's instant money towards the school system because you're not paying it to the county. If we got all this room, why ain't we already looked at that? Athletic coaches back in the past, 25 years ago, had to drive the school buses for the athletics. They don't do that no more. Why haven't we gone back to that to bring money back into the to the school? Um, like they said, long-term goals is what I would like to see. Right now, this seems like a band-aid fix. I don't really see the long-term longevity. What are we looking at 10, 15 years from now? Have we considered [clears throat] making Cooper and Buckland K to2 and Gates 3 to 5 where Gate Coast 35 is when we start testing

121for [clears throat] the students. That way all the teachers are right there together with all the students with all the testing. and in closing. Um, I don't know legally how it works. Ain't that smart? But a school board owns gates. [clears throat] The county owns Cooper and Buckland. Are there any legalities when [snorts] it comes to closing them to what can be done with the buildings? [clears throat] Because board don't own. Mason Lawrence. My name is Mason Lawrence. I'm a parent of two children that go to this school. Um, Mr. Regger was my principal many years ago. Um, I will say this. I call malarkey. You do not have to have HBAC. when it was 103 [laughter] children have AC. I'm just kidding. Um, but some of the things I want to see is is

122there a benefit to merging the smaller school into the two larger schools? If we're talking about a K2 and a 35, the distance between Buckland and Gatesville is less than four miles. If you do between Buckland or Gatesville to TS Cooper, you're 15minute drive. I did it a minute ago when I dropped my child off at basketball practice to come here. Um, I think [snorts] we need to look at a long-term plan. This is a band-aid solution. Like Joe said earlier, we need to have a plan in place for what our school system needs to have. What is the long-term goal? Terrell County Schools just got a grant for $39 million to build a brand new K12 school. Washington County schools two years ago got a brand new K12 school as well. as they consolidated,

123they saved money. I understand that there's a lot of whatifs and we don't know until we do it, but that is a problem when we make decisions based on whatifs and unknown factors. Um, when it [snorts] comes to worried about the size of a cafeteria, children are only mandated to have 20 minutes of seat time in a seat. That's a fact. They get more than that now, I believe. Miss Williams, correct? Um, I'm not saying we have to rush them. My two boys eat here. They're done before 20 minutes. It would probably be quieter in the cafeteria if you ship them out fast. [laughter] Not saying we do that. I also like to say it appears right now from listening to this we have a we're going to keep TS Cooper open and we're going

124to close either Buckland or Gatesville is our two options. Why are we looking at that? In the report that was given in the presentation, there was no mention of the cost to repair anything about TS Cooper. Is it move in ready? Can we just roll in an extra 75 kids or 100? Actually, needs to be more than that because they're only at 150. So, do you have enough to double their school capacity at no extra cost? M. Williams talked about 39 kids that do not go to this that do not go to their assigned school. If we redraw school maps, are we going to lock in and say if you're drawn to go to whatever school, you're not allowed to move your kid to another one? because if not, we're going to have the same

125problem where parents pull their kids out of the school they don't want them to go to and then send them to another school that they choose. Button is a wonderful family. I enjoy going to school here. I enjoy the principles. I enjoy the school system. Um I think it is a fine place to raise their raise kids is unlike [clears throat] most other places. If you look at Camden and Pascane County and Kuratup, you see the subdivisions from Ryan Honey moving in. It will be only a matter of time before they move in here. If we leave TS Cooper open, the population growth is going to come down 13 and will be paid credit and west. It is not going to be in the small. We need to take a look at that. Under maintenance,

126we talked about the central office. Whatever we do to a building, we need to close it and move on from it. It does not save us money if 92% is firing the teachers. Fire the teachers. And I don't want to fire teachers. I don't agree to that. But if that's where you're going to make all of your thing, why are we closing a building? Central office wants to move, move them to TS corporate. Leave all three schools open. Central office can go to TS corporate. There's plenty of spaces available. We need to think proactively, not just say we need money. We need to close this down. Um, since the county owns the building, we can't technically sell the central office. If I'm not mistaken, they own it. So, we're not going to save any money

127there. Um, we all know that children do not benefit from less teachers. In addition to cutting five teacher positions, guidance counselor, media specialist, have we looked at the central office? Now, I'm not saying who should be let go or what should be done, but are we looking at the whole picture or have we pitch ourselves into a small vision of what we need to do to get through the next two or three years? Um, finally, in the $50,000 consolidation presented by Dr. Watson only a list of additional potential savings for the school of Buffalo. Where were the savings to close Gatesville or TS Cooper? It was not in his PowerPoint. Um the presentation PowerPoint leaves much to be desired. I think it's sad that our principal and Miss Lily put together a better presentation for

128this school in a matter of weeks than we paid a consultant to come in and learn her. He didn't even get our enrollment right. All you have to do is go ask Lily. She could have told you. >> I mean, I call her all the time to find out stuff. [laughter] Um, lastly, one of the things that was brought up was safety was brought up as a concern at the Gatesville meeting. And as pointed out that Gatesville would have a quicker response time by emergency personnel and how much longer of a response time does it take for EMS, fire, and stuff. I'm a volunteer firefighter in Gatesville. If there is an emergency, you will have people here as quickly as you can. It doesn't matter if you're at Tus Cooper, if you're at Gatesville, or

129if you're at Buck. If there is a, god forbid, fire, they're going to page out at least three stations. Probably they'll page out every department. And I can understand and promise you that if there's an incident, the sheriff's department will deploy every person to here. They're not going to send just one person. EMS is the same way. We've had incidents here at our school. We've had to have EMS here. Safety is not a concern. the open breezeway can be sealed in and then you have no longer open access doors. I know they keep them locked at all times, but that was something I was said. Um, and closing. I know I spent more than 3 minutes. I apologize to everyone. I know we all have to be at work in the morning. You guys have

130to teach my children. Please be kind to them. Um, [laughter] thank you board. I would just stress that we move forward with a vision for what our county wants to be in 5, 10, 15 years from now and look at possibly going to a single elementary school. Thank you, >> Carolyn Hurdle. >> Good evening. I'm Carolyn. I am Some of y'all probably like, "Well, who is she? She don't have kids here." No, I don't. I was one of the pandas on Mr. Greater. And contrary to popular opinion, I didn't get up and say a whole lot because most of what I was going to say has already been said. [laughter] I just have a couple of statements and I'm out the way because of workers and teachers and students. So, just give me one second

131and I'm going to get right to the point. [snorts] I did um hear all the principles And I was impressed with every one of them. I was impressed more so that they stood up and fought for what they believe in. I agree with what the young man said a little while ago to Miss Lily. Well, she is. We could have paid her probably $10 and did [laughter] whole out of this because she seemed to have had a lot of information that was very pertinent to what was needed for this um consolidation study. Um I don't have a lot. I just would like to say um I'mma read my two statements and I'mma start from the end because you know the Lord say they send us from the end to the beginning. So I'mma start from

132the end. Um the decision that should be made for consolidate or not consolidate must be guided not only by efficiency but integrity. Rebuilding trust is not optional. It's essential if this consolidation is to serve students, families, and educators in a way that strengthens the district instead of dividing it. I think all three schools have done remarkable jobs. There's a lot of things and a lot of things that was brought up that I had in what I would have liked to have said, but it's already been said. Um, we do we used to have the number one educational system, which we only have two things in Gates County, farming and education. farming is really fighting for their life. And this year, for the past five, seven years, so has our education system. Something is wrong. And

133it's not the consolidation, it's not the teachers, it's not the school, it's the whole umbrella of the operations because everything else has changed. There have been principles that come and go. There's been teachers that come and go. There's been, you know, students that come and go because parents want a good education system for their kids. And we have the people sitting here coming in in the morning at all three schools that's willing to do that. If we don't look at what's the cancer that's eating up this, we will not get a good successful rate on this consolidation. So let's look at the things that were said tonight as very put them under the microscope because that's your underlying problems of why we are here where we are today. THANK YOU ROSLEY. I had not planned

134to speak this evening, so I'm not prepared, but I took some notes. I am a teacher. I teach in a neighboring county. I don't believe I need a microphone because I talk so loud. Okay. But some takeaways from this that I have I've seen. I feel like Ace County school system has become a reactive school system and not a proactive school system. And that is the root of our our initial problem. Um why is our enrollment down? Why haven't we done a study? We're studying to consolidate, but why haven't we studied where our people are going? Okay, our I took some notes. So, we were 12,197 back in wherever that was and now we're at 10,289. We have 611 total K5. How many K5 kids are out there in Gates County that are not coming

135to the public school and why? That's what we need to know. Okay. I'm a Buckland Panda. I came here. My children came here. My cousins have come here. My brothers have come here. And this is a wonderful school and a wonderful family. And how dare you even think about taking something of that away from Gates County because it is a beautiful thing that you cannot find everywhere. My kids could go to Camden County schools because that's where I work. I choose to bring them here. Okay. That school in Camden County, that primary school and intermediate school is huge. Do you think those kids know each other? No, they do not. Do they have the sense of community we have here? No. I got off topic top topic. I knew I would get emotional. Okay. Once

136we close a school, we will not get it back, people. We won't. Once you dismantle this place and use it for parts, you're not going to get this back. Okay? Look at Sunbury Elementary School. If our enrollment has gone down, I would love to know how much of our central office staff has increased since our enrollment has dropped. >> I would really love to know that number. Has there been a study done on that? Okay. Sorry, I'm a little about that. I was also a little bit touched earlier about us using long-term subs in the place of educators, test scores, quality education. And I know some long-term films are wonderful, Miss Faith Freeman. Praise you and all the other stuff that we have. Okay. But from a parent standpoint, we need quality educators in this

137classroom. And if I'm not mistaken, you said that every single educator here is a quality quality highly qualified teacher. Thank you. Okay. We don't have long-term subs here. Okay. And why are we using long-term subs to save money when our children should be the priority here? Yes or no? Do you all agree? >> Okay. And my time is up. I'm not going to take it all over, but I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get that way, but let's educate our kids, please. Thank you. Thank you, Rihanna Ears. She still here? No. Briana Earls. Yes, she's gone. Miss Susan Bazemore. [snorts] That's a hard one to follow. Um, I really had not planned on speaking until this afternoon. Uh, most of what I have to say has already been said. Um, I've worked in Buffalo for

13831 and a half years. I was here when the school redistricted in 1998. Uh when we had no air conditioning, I was here then too. Um and also when we had, you know, close to 300 students and I will say that we efficiently were able to feed them in the cafeteria. We may have had some more workers. Uh the buses, we had more buses. Of course, you we did that. Um and I just want you just to consider the information that Crystal has given you. uh when you make your decision. Uh I also want to voice my concerns about the large class sizes our students are getting ready to face. Uh I understand that it makes sense financially, but is it the right thing for our students? Uh the answer is no. This year I'm

139working with a large over the limit class size and it is very discouraging. I have so many things that I need and want to do with my students, excuse me, but I'm not able to do that because of time. They are not getting the teacher time they need for remediation or enrichment. I work very hard to serve them, but it is impossible. I believe smaller class sizes are part of the reason Gates County Schools has done well academically in the past. We want this to continue. This may mean we are at the maximum capacity every year if we consolidate. I mean your teachers are going to have the highest number that they can have every year. At least now this year I have this year and I can look forward to next year because I

140may not have as many students next year and I can do more. Uh my last question was what does it mean for the school if as far as the grade for the school that you go? Right. So for example, if I want everybody to be an A school and when we do testing this year, I pray that every elementary school is an A school. But when we look at reality, if we have a C school and we have a D school, if we put the students from the C school into the D school, do they redo the test scores to recalculate what the school would be or do all those teachers and students who have who go to that school have to go through the stuff that a dchool has to go through? in your

141local form and you have extra um observations. You have a lot of extra stuff that you have to do. So, um you know, I just And what does that mean for our county? Does that make us a low performing county? Um you know, I don't know the answer to that and that's why I'm asking you and maybe you can find out for me and maybe you already know that. I'm not sure. Um so, thank you so much for your time. I'm so glad I don't have to make this decision. I'm sure that all of you will make the best decision with Gates County Schools. The legendary Don Gregory. >> Uh before you start my clock, [laughter] I want to say something about the bus drivers if that's okay. >> I listen to them every day

142starting at quarter to six. I have radio on so I hear them. I don't I can't say they wake me up every day but but I hear them a lot and that young man along with others are keeping you from double runs. Uh when I was here, we to show you the difference. And by the way, we don't have a state budget yet, do we? >> We do not have a North Carolina state budget yet. How do you plan for your teachers knowing how many you going to have if you don't have a budget? >> We had one one year like that was October, November. We got one >> if you remember. And you know, you're trying to plan for a year and you don't even have a budget. You got to go with what

143you did last year. >> That's true. >> And from the difference between the staff members we used to have and the ones they have now, it's a shame. M Miss Lily showed me I'm digressing a little bit. Miss Lily showed me one year sometime back how much these teachers have per teacher. I said, "You are kidding me." She's No, she's not. So, these teachers have a lot to to work with. And the bus drivers, again, going back to that, I listen to them every morning helping each other trying to pick up your kids. You know, you go down this road, I'll get yours, you get mine. They they am I right, Mr. Brown? And and he's he's he's done it so many times along with with others. I was lucky because I had a teacher

144bus custodian and some others that had a license and somebody was out, you know, they they fell in and that kept us from from having any double runs. I don't think we had any because of that. But I my hats off to these bus drivers getting these kids on because they're doing their best to do it to get them on. >> [laughter] >> What I wanted to say is some maybe some things that haven't been to me is a wonderful place but so are the other two schools. Uh Miss Brooks, she worked here first. Uh principal at TS Cooper went here. So I I know there great things about all of all of us. They're great things, but you you know you you you're trying to decide what to do and what's the right thing.

145That's a tough job. Good job on the presentation of our new principal here at Buckman. She's been here a long time for many different things and she's a teacher supporter and like her and her presentation was great. Uh the uh campus at here is a good size campus. If you need to spread out, you got room. Um, if you need more parking area, you got room to to find it. Uh, so there that's that's a good thing. I thought about the community center. I've heard discussions about closing it because of of the maintenance problems with it. Uh what I would what I would say to consider [laughter] is if you close that one and I'm talking about the we used to cut the county in half. It was north to south. That's the way we

146did it. And uh made a lot more buses, a lot more kids. But the the community center, if that's in disrepair, I would say move it to Gatesville. Move the superintendent's office to Gatesville. You got other other things you could use that building for and leave the two on each E10 uh to to maybe cut the bus ride some. Right now they're starting to cord six. We tried not to have any more than kids on a bus any more than an hour and we were able to do that for the most part. THANK YOU Sandy Savage. I do not plan to speak either, so I don't have a paper in front of me. Um, I teach kindergarten here at Buckland. I've been here for 22 years. Um, Mr. Gregory hired me. Um, my children came

147here first. I stayed home with my children for eight years. And because my children came here first, this is where I wanted to be. This is home. Um um so what I um I agree with what Evan said. I don't want to be away from any of my co-workers, but I think if you put K2 in and one and 35 in the other, you'd have all of your teachers there. You'd have um we do grade level meetings once a month, but they are quick and rushed through. if we were all at the same school, you know, you could collaborate with each other as we went. Um, the 35 is our tested grades. They would be in the same school and K2 wouldn't always have to be so quiet and we could do our testing and

148they could do their testing and it would be uh unity where that's concerned. Um, um, lost my train of thought. Um, I guess that's all I had to say. [laughter] >> Yeah. >> Anything else? >> Um, oh, the um the K2 and the 35. I was thinking, you know, about the buses. If you did that, would it be possible for siblings to ride the same bus? And either way, kids are going to be on the school bus a long time. you know, could you make a drop off here and a drop off there? So, I know there's no one perfect decision and I thank you all for all of your hard work and I hope you take into consideration some of these good things that have been said tonight. And again, THANK YOU Tanya Parks.

149[clears throat] So, of all the people sitting here in this room, I'm probably the one who is the furthest. I live at the Gates County Cholan for women's line. My girls, including myself, always always went to TS Cooper. TS Cooper was my homie and I still consider it my husband. Mr. Saunders was probably as good as Mr. Gregory. I I don't know Mr. Gregory as well, but he was like the epitome. He was wonderful. Him, Mr. Hall, Miss Loretta, we all know. I mean, just cream of the crop. Um, with my second child, she has some some some issues that we have to address. And and last year we nothing to talk bad, but we just decided we needed a change. And I was really skeptical. I I come completely out of my comfort zone

150to do that for her. And when I came here to Buckland open house, we all came. My husband came, my oldest daughter, we were like welcomed. Welcomed. And it made me feel so good to know that she was coming here because I did not want to do that. And since she's been here, she has met out wonderfully. She's met new friends. She loves her teachers. She loves coming to see Miss B. She loves to go see Miss Lewis. I mean, she just loves everything. She not had one coin. No one. So for her, I would love for this woman to stay. >> That's all I have. Mr. Is anybody else that would like to Is anybody else that would like to speak that did not sign up for the public comments? >> Anybody else? >>

151My name is Paul Will. Um [laughter] I have a grandson that goes here in first grade too. But my my primary um concern is my as a taxpayer. Um [clears throat] you know um if we close the school district this school or gates of school or you know even what are we going to do with that school? We don't want to see another Sunday school situation like we had because that that did not work out well at all for the community. Um I would say uh tonight that everybody did a pretty good job because they had a long list of questions and some of them had been touched on and some other people brought up some things. Um one thing that was touched on, you know, if you go to Franklin, you go to S,

152you see the new houses that are being built right down to the line and you mentioned the 40 subdivisions getting ready to go in here Gates County. We're going to see more of that. you know, it may be two years, maybe five years, but that they're going to be coming. There's no doubt about that. So, we got to look not what exactly what we're doing right now. We got to look to the future. Um, and also the other thing I'd like to say is the county has has got a big investment in the schools that we have. Um, we put a lot of money in, spent a lot of money put in the last few years. you know, it's going to be a big waste in my opinion to walk away from the building and

153maybe it'll be used for something or maybe not, but we're still going to have some maintenance cost, you know, for anything. There's already been a lot of tax money and grant money invested in our buildings and it's going to be a, you know, it's going to be tough just to toss that aside, you know, walk away from it and be very wasteful in my opinion. Um but whatever we do, um it was also touched on tonight if the school system has has shrunk. We got to look at everything to cut costs. I mean, if we have to look at the administrative um people down at the central office, we need to look better. I mean, I think if we're in a that much of a bind, we got to look at everything. >> So, I

154know we got some some pretty high paid salaries that we're paying. We got we need to look at everything but we also got to look to the future because we have been dying since 2010 but that's going to change our population is going to go up. There's no question that thank you. >> Anybody else would like to speak? >> Can I please? My name is Michelle Badget. Um, I just wanted to talk about the K2 to three to five grades. Mr. Greg, we talked about one hour bus drive. I think now there's like two hour bus drives. If you're driving somebody from Sandy Cross all the way to Buckland, what's that drive going to be every day for students on a school bus? I don't think splitting up the grades would really work. That's pretty

155much all I have to say. Anybody else would like to speak? >> Can we all just go outside and blow and let the ball blow in? >> [laughter] >> PUT YOU ON THE SPOT. Would you [laughter] like to say something? >> I'd like to know if I could ask >> on the spot. Would you like to add something? >> I didn't hear you, Mr. >> Oh, I'm sorry. [laughter] going to ask Miss uh Miss here if she's glad they replaced the windows. [laughter] >> I'm going to show everybody your car. >> I do have a car. They had beveled windows in this building and we were getting ready to go on a field trip. So I went over and I was closed. The bus was here. Everybody got kids. I was sitting in a circle

156and I'm going to close the window and I kind of went through the window and the [clears throat] kids were sitting there. Blood was going everywhere and it was beveled glass stuck in my arm and I'm like, "Boys and girls, I'm okay. Could you please go get Mr. Greg?" [laughter] And he comes down there and he's like, "Oh, we're going to call the rescue squad. You got to go to the hospital." I'm like, "I'm going on a field trip." I didn't QUITE [laughter] MAKE IT THAT DAY. We have new windows. I think you're out. But I will never forget the classroom that the ride [laughter] to the hospital. >> I figured we need a light note and I'm glad I could help you. [laughter] >> Mr. Brown tonight. Would you like to say something? [clears

157throat] [laughter] >> [clears throat] >> Um, I have probably didn't sign up because I had too much to say. I thought it would be long too long. But 20 20 years ago, 21 years ago, I was working in a different county, living in different count, working in Borook County, living in Pit County. and my mom retired and told me to come back. I should apply for this job because it was her favorite job. She worked at central office as a coordinator. She came here and she loved it for seven years. Um, so I I [laughter] didn't think I would do it, but I did. I came back. I do have a chance to work with my elementary school, Mr. Gregory. My first grade teacher, Miss Freeman, my second grade teacher, Miss Holly. Um, I came

158here and didn't even live in the county. Didn't live in the county until 2007 when I got married. But I always call Gates County my home. and Buckland [snorts] was the Brown family's own most. Um, also went to Gatesville, TS Cooper, sorry, Gatesville Central High School, and I love those schools as well. [snorts] Um, and and some of my good friends work at those other schools. That's one of the reason I didn't sign up to talk because I know how important those schools are to them as well. But as Miss Dickerson mentioned earlier, it started off so many other people have. Buckland's a special place. It starts with Mr. Gregory making it work, loving other people and and just being a humble servant. And because of that, me and my wife, even though we lived

159walk out our door in Gatesville, we live school, drive my kids here. Um, that's not because Gatesville wasn't a wonderful school. It was >> [laughter] >> But my point is is this buck hunt is a special place. And when your kids leave here [snorts] and go to Central, they they have a lot of wonderful teachers here. I talked long enough. I know my time's almost over, but there were so many other teachers I had in my mind that I wanted to say she Susan Baitmore, Susan Parker. I know I'm going to miss a lot. All those teachers, Claire White Hurst when she was here, make this a wonderful place. Miss Williams along with our other teachers continue that tradition. And I would ask if there's any possible way to try to keep Oakland open um

160save money elsewhere, I would love that. And I and I know Thank you for that. >> This is this is going to be last call. Anybody else that did not sign up that would like to speak? Um please raise your hand, come forward. >> Mr. Jordan, are you coming? [laughter] Um, one thing, um, I'm not from Gates County. I, like a lot of, uh, people who live here, I married and and moved here. Um, and being in law enforcement for the, um, now 18 years or 15 years as SRO, um, we really have to have the best interest of our kids. You guys don't know what these kids go through. I have developed a good rapport with a lot of kids and there are a lot of horror stories out here with our children that

161you guys know nothing about. Horror stories. So it's not about just financial, it's all about these kids and we have to make the best decision for them. Um it's not like popularity. I know when we draw these boundary lines, people gonna it's g it's not gonna it's not going to be comfortable. It's not going to be good. But we have to make the best decision for these kids. We got to put them first. They haven't been put first. They've been lost in the mix. And um that's that's just my concern is for these kids. when I um um when the thing happened at the sheriff department, um Dr. Williams said, "Look, I want you in this school." And u I really I really got depressed when I thought that I was not going to be

162able to be around these kids. Um when I was the given the opportunity to be the transportation director, um I've been driving a bus ever since I got the job, which is almost three years. But my my what I love is when them kids get on that bus and I get to tell them good morning because I know that some of them went through hell last night. >> I know it because I've heard it for the past 15 years. That's my heart and that's my passion is those kids. And boy, I hope that you have the compassion for those kids. and not listen to these parents because they gonna send you emails. They gonna call you and it's not forget the politics, it's about these kids and I hope that you can feel their heart

163because it is it's it's tough out there and um [snorts] you know the Lord has put them in our care. We're responsible for them educating them and we have to uh uh be reminded of that. I great take great joy when I go to Gatesville Elementary and see so many kids that have come through Gates County. They go away, but they come back home. That's special. So, closing down schools and all that, hey, all the politics, the monies, the budgeting came out yet, whatever. But we just got to do what's best for the kids. Thank you. [applause] >> [laughter] >> Okay, last call. Anybody else? If not, um, board members, this concludes our meeting. Um, board members, do you have a motion to adjourn the meeting? >> I make a motion that you adjourn. >>

164We have a motion by Miss Riddick to adjurnn. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second to adjourn. All those favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Thank y'all all for coming out. Be safe. Okay.