Gates County Schools Special Called Meeting - Gatesville Elementary School

001Yes. [clears throat and cough] >> I'mma call the meeting to order tonight. Um I truly would like to welcome each and every one of you who came out tonight. Um and I thank you for your dedication to the children of Gates County Schools. Board members, in front of you, you have an agenda. Do I have a motion to approve the agenda? >> I make a motion that we approve the agenda. >> We have a motion. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> I have a motion to second. All those in favor say I. >> I. I. >> Okay. Uh before we move on to the next section, um I received an email from Melissa Lawrence um concerning Freedom of Information Act request and the request is for um a copy of the report from

002Dr. Watson, the minutes for the 11:26, 128, 1210, 2025 meeting of the school board and any documents that are presented tonight as well as tomorrow night and well as Wednesday night. Okay, the next item on us um board member um is to fill the vacancy um or try best to fill the vacancy. I will have to say that I truly made a mistake when we met at the meal pond um because I did not ask for a formal uh motion to approve the point system. Um it is fair. It is legitimate, but I did not ask um for that um to be done and it's not recorded in the minutes. And I had Miss Daltry go back today and look and I look back at my notes and I did not see it and I

003do apologize [clears throat] for that. So tonight the general statute tells us that we shall attempt to fill the position of an unexpired term. So board members, I'm going open the field out to you tonight if you have um any discussion um before you call out a name of what's in the best interest or you would like to call out a name and then do the discussion. What is the pledge of the board? [cough and clears throat] >> I'd rather do the discussion first. >> Okay. So is that okay with everybody else? >> All right. So, we're going to open up the floor for discussion from um any of the board members. [snorts] >> Choosing someone to go on the board is a very difficult thing to do. We and I left my green sheet

004at home that I had my notes on, so forgive me. >> But we had excellent people apply for the position. Now, when we put out notices for people to apply, there was no one that had said they were going to run for office. However, after we did our applications, three out of the five people who came to us are now are now running for the your seat. That's a lot of people running. It also puts us in a very I think this is just me at a very sensitive position about who we might choose to be on the board. Now it is 54 days before the election. The person who is going to fill that your seat is going to be elected on Tuesday, May the 2nd. It is my feeling. >> I'm sorry. March.

005What did I say? May >> I need that shoe to pick up? Anyway, the 54 days. I truly feel as though if we go ahead and appoint someone tonight, that person does not win the election, then they're going to be with us until November. And if it were me, I would feel like I was a sitting duck because there wouldn't be much that I could do. Now, other people may feel differently, but I just think that um and and the attorney was checked with, so this is a legal thing to do. It is a you right down there. It is a viable option. I just think we wait. We're going to have two more consolidation meetings and then we have our regular January meeting. Then we have our meeting in February and then the election

006is going to be held prior to our March meeting. So I'm just sitting here thinking about I I don't want to ruffle anybody's feathers. I don't want anybody to say that the person we picked for the board seat that's who we want or the person that we did not pick for them to say that's who the board does not want. So I'm just thinking my end I would prefer for us to wait until March elections and take the person who wins the March elections and put them on the board. That will give them seven extra months. they're going to have to run again at the end of Ray's term, which will be two years from 28. So, they're going to have a shortened term anyway. I just think let's let's just look at giving them

007the entire time. I don't think we're going to be making any terrific uh we're not going to be deciding on consolidation that quickly. It it will not be before we have that next board member. And and I just kind of feel like it's a good plan. But now I'm sure others have questions or concerns or whatever and I'm open to them. other board members. >> The benefit of that doing it that way, the way Miss Ryan suggested, waiting until the election allows the community to decide and it would not be a decision made solely amongst four people. it would be the community decides and there is a benefit to that. I am perfectly prepared either way. Um but but if we if we wait until after the March 3rd election, then the community has spoken.

008And there is also the aspect of if we put someone forward and swear them in in January, then they have to go through the training for the board of education, the ethics training and all of that that the board the school system has to pay for and then potentially have to turn around and do it again after the well in November or December. So it would mean that we may have to pay for it twice. There is the possibility of that. So I mean either way it I'm okay either way but there is some validity in letting the community decide versus the four of us making the decision. >> Um I'm good either way as well. Um but if one of the candidates that of course interviewed with us and if they picked by us

009my feelings is also it would be unfair to other two candidates be like lead of who we decide and I think that one of those candidates were selected and did the interview would not like I said before to the other two candidates and we would much rather that the citizens of Gates County um pick who will fill the your seat versus um one of the candidates that were we didn't know this whole thing has been for us. We did not know it was going to happen and I know I didn't the statutes and everything changed. We thought years ago quite naturally that a person would pick Phil raise seat the whole term but it's not the way this year uh someone will get the seat in the vote on March 3rd. someone be appointed or

010elected I should say for the your seat and if we were to appoint someone tonight out of those three that we interview and like I said it just wouldn't be to me it wouldn't be anyway fair to the other two but I'm open um whichever way we go of course I had a candidate I wanted quite the answer in place but I'm willing to that one can't be quite natural I'm open to the >> [clears throat] >> Okay, I can tell you that um I really sat down and took a long hard thought to everybody and of all the five candidates that we had and all five of them really did a great job. Um yes, they're not going to be able to answer every question that was um asked and ask it in a

011manner that we as a school board member would know the correct answer for. It's a learning skill. I'm still learning. I've been here 27 years. I'm not running after this one and it's time for me to go. I wish everybody well. I will still support the system. Um, I did have a candidate here, but I also have been overwhelmed with phone calls on electing who is the best person for this position. >> [snorts] >> Yes. The general statute states that if we were to appoint someone tonight, they would have to take the ethics class through the North Carolina School Board Association and complete that training in order to serve on the school board system. That's for any school board in the North Carolina school system. Um I'm as a chair I am hearing that the

012majority of the board wishes to prefer that that selection be done by the population of Gates County and they determine who is the best candidate they want to serve. And I'm asking, do I have a motion on the floor to um do that process for us all to after the election March 3rd? [snorts] >> I make a motion that we defer the appointment until after the March 2nd election. >> Okay. >> And I guess we need to put that in there, too. and that we will we will swear in the person who is elected needs to be in there also. >> Okay. All right. I have a motion. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> I have a motion and a second before we vote. board members. The motion was that we allow this

013this school board to wait until after the March 3rd um election cycle to determine who is the best candidate that the people would like to serve in this capacity [snorts and clears throat] and that they would be announced um in the March meeting they would come on. Is that not right? Is the motion that was stated? So all those in favor please signify by saying I. I. >> The motion carries. Okay. The next item on our agenda is the presentation and information for discussion of consolidation study. Miss Riddick, our board member, has a well-written um report that she would like to state. And before that um I would like to read this. Ethics statements to be read by a board member. Board members are reminded that it is our duty to avoid conflicts of interest

014and the appearance of conflicts of interest as we handle the work of this board. Does any member of the board know any conflict of interest or any appearance of conflict with respect to any matters coming before us at this meeting? If so, please state them for the record. If during the course of the meeting you become aware of an actual or apparent conflict of interest, please bring the matter to the attention of the chair, it will then be your duty to abstain from participating in discussion on the matter and from voting on the matter. Also, before Miss Riddic reads her statement, there is a public comment sheet in the back. Um, our policy state Oh, you already got it. Okay. I hope that you have signed up for it. Um, we are going to listen

015to everyone that signed up. It's not going to be a limitation tonight because we feel like we're here as a board to listen to you and the community and the school of Gatesville Elementary School. Now, I'm going to turn it over to Miss Riddick for her read. Um, this is probably the biggest crowd since I have been on the board that's been here. And I'm really glad to see this many people take an interest in our our school system and the decision that we've got coming down the pike as far as consolidation. So, um, it is refreshing to see that many people that [snorts] um, want to hear what's being presented and and or may have something um, to give us. So, can everybody hear me? Everybody in the back? No. >> I usually said

016no. >> I usually don't have that problem of people hearing me. But this is a statement that is from from my heart. This is me speaking for Terry Rick and board. [laughter] The decision to explore consolidation of the Gates County of Gates County's three elementary schools is one of finances, not just saving funds, but to be able to better utilize the funds provided by the state, local, and federal sources. There is absolutely no personal agenda in this consolidation process. What a lot of people do not understand is how our funding comes to us. The state is the largest contributor to our school systems budget. We are allotted funding based on district enrollment numbers. For example, we are allotted teacher salaries for first grade teachers based on the number of students in the first grade in

017the whole school district, not the number of students in a particular school. So hypothetically, you can have one school that has 25 students in first grade, another school with 23 students, and a third school with 36 students in the first grade. That is a total of 84 students in the first grade in all of Gates County. The state would say that we need five teachers. The classroom numbers hypothetically cannot exceed 18. We are only going to get funding for five teachers from the state. But if we need six teachers to meet the class size restrictions, having to divide our limited funds over three schools has become unsustainable. It seems more manageable to divide these resources between two schools. It is my hope that being able to better manage these resources will allow us to have

018the resources to be able to better serve our students. Utilizing resources is not just money. It is our human resources, our teachers, staff, transportation, and maintenance. This is not a competition between the three elementary schools. We as a board must look at a lot of factors that go into this decision. I think of our schools sort of like the church. The church is its people. Where these people gather is just a building. It's just bricks and mortar. People are what makes the church just as it is the people that makes up our schools. If we close a building, it doesn't change the people. We will have the same students and the same teachers. They just may be inside a different building, but they are still the same people. Change is never easy, whether it is

019good or bad. Will there be bumps along the road? Of course, there will be. But if we're all keep the focus on what is important, which is our students, we can work those bumps out for the best. This consolidation is not something that has never been done before. There are numerous neighboring county school districts that have recently gone through this process. And although many of you may not remember, some years ago, Gates County Schools had to restructure elementary education when Sunbury School was closed. Students had to change schools and the community had to adapt to the change. Rest assured that we as a board will consider all of the information and input from the community and make the best decision possible for our students and staff to be able to give our students the best

020educational opportunities that we can. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Riddick. You spoke from your heart. Um once again before we begin the presentation for the consolidation study, no decision will be made tonight, tomorrow night or Wednesday night whether we will consolidate or not. We are here tonight to listen to you. We're here to give you information as far as what's considered in the consolidation study. and we're here to educate you and you're here at to educate us on your feelings of the community. Mr. Smith, if you'll move on. [clears throat] Once again, I want to welcome the Gates County Schools consolidation study information session for the Gatesville Elementary School community. Dr. Williams and his team are here tonight to share with you information gathered at this point. More importantly, we are here tonight to

021hear from you, the school, and the community, and to get your views of this consolidation study and what you feel like is in the best interest before we make a decision. Next, the process for tonight, we will share the information with you that we have gathered. We will hear from the school principal and the school personnel. We will hear from any community members who would like to speak that have signed up on the public comment. That will be done at the very end of the slide presentation. Please remember this is strictly anformational session. We are live tonight by YouTube. So um if somebody misses the video, they will be able to go back and see it. If somebody is cannot be there Tuesday night and Wednesday night, be sure to contact the central office um

022to get the link for the YouTube presentation. We're starting out new and um it's a new year and we're going to be a better board and we're also going to give our staff and students the best education possible. And as I said again, no decision has been made at this point and we're only here to share and be helpful and answer any questions that you would have. [clears throat] The Gates County population has decreased from 12,197 people to 10,289 over the past 15 years. Elementary school enrollment is currently right now 611 at all three elementary schools. As you walk around in some of the schools, you will see visually there are some unused classrooms um in each of the elementary schools. The consolidation study here was directed to be conducted to see if there would

023be a cost savings to the closing of one school. Now I'm going to turn it over to um Dr. Williams. Good evening everyone. Um information that has already been shared was by Dr. Jim Watson. He completed the study and when he came to Gates County schools at the mill pond his study indicated that Buckland Elementary School would probably be the school to close for two reasons. Number one because cafeteria is not big enough to house the other students that you would have to school and number two is lack classroom space. So when he had talked with the principal, the principal at that time told him these were the classrooms that they had and they really didn't have any space available. The [snorts] cost savings for closing one school would be approximately 52,000 plus. Now that

024cost is going to come down because the grants that I've written have we put in energy efficient windows, we put in a new roof, we got Hback and so that cost is going to be decreased. And that right there, that 52,000, that's just cost of utilities. Uh so the cost savings that you're going to get when you close the school is approximately going to be 668,000 and some change. Now, Dr. Watson was the one who gave that number out. Mr. Harold will share a different number because I don't think that he added some benefits [laughter] or or some other things in that as well. Uh so to see these savings $52,000 or less to close one school, we're going to have to go into something called a riff. Now a riff is is called a

025reduction in force. And so the reduction in force, you would probably have to cut 10 personnel positions to create the amount of money that would equate to $668,000. So we would hope that attrition like when people retire or people resign that that would be that that would take care of that reduction but that's not a guarantee and it's likely more than likely most definitely likely that you're going to have to go into a reduction in force. So in summary from Dr. Watson's presentation, 92.7% of the savings of closing a school is from personnel cuts. Now, Mr. Wright is going to share a little bit about some attendance zones and some transportation and some other things. >> Good evening everybody. [clears throat and cough] I'm really just sharing a few things. The first one is about

026school capacity when consolidation. [clears throat] Uh and these numbers were gathered mainly by looking at classrooms within the building. It does not necessarily look at the your gym size. It doesn't really look at your cafeteria size, your media center size. It's strictly looking at classroom size. And for the people in the back, Gatesville Elementary School has between 360 and 380 student capacity. Now 380 is very top. You don't want to go there. The recommendation is to stay at 90% capacity, which would be 360 students. TS Cooper is around the same 360 to 380. You want to stay at 360 for for 90% capacity. And then Buffham is between 340 and 360. 340 being where you want to be at uh 90% capacity. Now, as you can, as Mr. Byron said earlier, our current student population

027is for the elementary schools including our prek is 611 students. So those two two elementary schools could easily handle that student population. The next big piece is going to be attendance zones and boundary lines depending on where I'm sorry my colors aren't matching up over here but what you can see I don't know what happened right here. Uh Gatesville zone is the purple area. Buckland is the yellow and then you have the pink which is TS Cooper. Okay, common sense will tell you you go from three to two, you're going to have to redraw the lines. All right. Um no matter how which school you're talking about, you only have two options really. You're going east west and dividing right down the middle or you're going north south and dividing right across the middle. um

028when these boundary drawings are are redrawn into the system um we will have a better idea of what student population will look like at two of these schools. Um so it really depends and we can't get numbers on anything yet until a decision is made for the boundaries to be drawn. Um but I'm sorry those that can't see the map. As you can see when you do this [snorts] you change a line it is going to affect school the school population. So there's a couple things that we will consider when we do that this distance to the school and travel time school capacity which I already talked about and then maintaining diversity at each school. Um and then balanced grade levels. You also have to look and make sure that we don't have, you know,

029100 first graders in one school and one in another. Um, so that will that will be a process that will be we can only do once we know what the decision is. >> Mr. >> could you go back a slide and just so everyone can see where the three schools are if you can just kind of estimate where they are located. Did I ask you a hard one? Sorry. >> No. So TS Cooper is right around No, I'm just kidding. [laughter] It's It's over here somewhere. I think this is Cooper Loop over here. >> You got Buffin, which is over in this area. You got Gainesville. I could be doing that wrong. Over somewhere in here. >> Okay. >> So, you know, uh Gainesville and Buffin, of course, are are close together. You know, when

030you're [clears throat] redrawing lines, let's say we go north to south. you cut you're cutting all the way across. So, you know, um, of course, you're going to have students at some schools that are going to have to go to the other one. Uh, same with east to west. If you do this, the natural line is page ridd going all the way down. Okay, as you can see, that cuts quite a bit off from one school to the other. So, it's going to change your student population. So when you say you're going to look at the lines after the schools are chosen, you will look will you look at both north and south and east and west and the different um possible divisions when you choose the two schools. >> Um well really we can't

031do anything into the 10 system until the board chooses which school. But can we not do that um >> without getting technical and going into the TIM system? I mean we know from our from our you know what I'm asking. We know right now from our bus routes where kids are correct. >> So if we did a preliminary >> I think I think preliminary would be helpful to me. >> For an example we've done a preliminary already. Good. Okay. Um >> be quiet. >> No no it's okay. Yes, it can be done and I think I mentioned it at the the last presentation that we did. I didn't bring my folder in here, but let's say that, you know, we divide this east to west. You know, there was um >> 320 kids on one

032zone, >> uh 300 and some change into the other zone. >> And that was going straight down pay. So, you can do it, >> but it's not going to be 100% accurate until you you put it plug it all into the system. I have one more question and [clears throat] I'm not sure if this is a question for you but >> I know you feel >> if when the bus routes are done and some kids are going to have longer routes is it going to be possible but those kids who have longer routes if they come first in the morning they can go home first in the afternoon which would be a simple >> reversal kind of bus route. >> Yeah we've got Mr. transportation director. He would probably tell you that we're going to

033do everything possible to make sure that kids are not on longer than normal. >> Yeah. Because we've got kids on the bus a long time now. Is that a possibility? I mean, to to say, I pick up student A, so student A is going to get home first from the school. Just take an alternate route. Don't put all the other kids out, but just run the very same route backwards. >> That's a possibility. >> Okay. Thank you. We do that now. >> It all depends on the >> Yeah, it just depends on the efficiency of the route because that's what the state is asking you to do to have the most efficient route possible. >> We start doing that. >> It just depends on what route you're looking at in some cases. Yeah. >> Okay.

034>> Any other question? [clears throat] Thank you. Good evening. Um, actually mine is very short because it's asking about the demographics of the students that will be in each school. And until the board actually decides what two schools will actually be operating and until they decide which line will be drawn, whether it's this way or that way, I can't give you a number on how many black students, white students, first graders, second graders, or any of that information. It would just be information we're thinking, but it won't be true information. >> [clears throat] >> mall cart information. >> You don't want to do that >> because we I mean we really can't until I know I can't give demographics until I know who the students really are that's going to be in the schools. I

035mean like if you want us to like later assume that you're going to close this school and then we got this amount of kids over here this we might do something like that but right now we don't have anything to school >> thank you >> good evening >> as Dr. Williams um already um highlighted on in closing one school, we would look at the elimination of approximately 10 positions because 97% of the savings cost in a consolidation. >> Okay. Think I got an outside voice. All right, that made me feel good. That was a compliment. Okay, but um as Dr. William shared 90% about 97% of the cost savings in a consolidation if we were to consolidate would be with personnel and that would be looking at eliminating about somewhere approximately 10 personnel positions. Those

036personnel positions would be classified and certified positions and not all of the rift impacts would necessarily occur at only the elementary schools. The RIP impacts would be seen throughout the school system at all five of our schools and that would or could include five class five certified teachers, one media specialist, a school counselor, cafeteria manager, a lead worker, and a part-time custodian. So, and that would equate to the 10 personnel positions that would be considered if we were to eliminate one elementary school for the purpose of consolidation. Jordan. >> Yes, ma'am. >> I know you you were expecting my voice. >> I was. I looked right over there. Um, can you um verify that we we already have some things in place to try to help with some of what we're losing. like we have

037some long-term subs or TAS in positions that to try to compensate for some of that. Do you know what I'm >> I do. As we mentioned earlier too, some of those positions we would hope to be able to absorb through attrition through retirements and transfers or resignations um in the district. For example, if we were to have or um right now in I can think of a kindergarten position at one of our schools that we have a certified in lie of filling that certified teacher position with another certified teacher at the time we have a teacher assistant as a long-term um person in that position that's filling that role right now. So, we are doing some of those things, cost-saving measures right now to prepare for the possibility of consolidation um or reduction in our

038costs um and spending within the district right now. And we will continue to do that throughout the end of the year as we have retirements and things staff or things that come up. We will look for ways to kind of absorb those costs or fill those positions without hiring full-time right now. >> Dr. Sh. >> Yes. [clears throat] >> Um I think Dr. Williams mentioned that um we would bring the uh down to [clears throat] 92.7%. So of that 7.3% um is that what would be considered in that 10 or it could be a little less than that 10. >> Okay, I'm lost. >> I was going to say math is not my thing. But no, I think that 7% is what you were talking about with the savings in the um the utilities of

039the building. 7% the 92 whatever that number was on the first slide that was the personel cost >> right okay >> yeah so the other was about cost >> yeah personnel would only be that 92 or 90% that was on that first slide >> yes >> C miss with Dr. George I've created a a spreadsheet and you'll have employee name listed first name last name current position hard to field position yes or no license requirement areas of lure extra duty position extra duty position hail. So all those things are ready to go and those things will be put in once we find out what kind of decision the board education is going to make. So so this is all information that templates spreadsheets everything ready to go. >> Thank you. >> All right. Good evening

040everyone. Um I'm going to talk for just a moment about the impacts on curriculum and instruction. So educational benefits there definitely are some for going from three schools to two. um we would have more consistent curriculum implementation because you'll have teachers in the building together. Second grade teachers will be in the building in the second grade. Generally at our schools now you have maybe not second grade we have two but if you go into third, fourth and fifth we generally have one teacher that is teaching a particular subject area. So they meet once a month in order to have um a professional learning community but there would be more consistency in being able to meet together more frequently. Um there certainly would be increases in our instructional quality as well because it gives us the

041opportunity to go as district level um personnel and instructional coaches from managing three schools to looking at the instructional quality within two schools and gives us the opportunity to be more um diligent in the professional development we put in place to assist those teachers. It would also allow us to distribute our teacher expertise. um we would look at AIG certifications, mentor training. We would want to make sure that that was consistent across two schools. And then it does give us the opportunity to reduce or expand curriculum resources. Instead of having to purchase three site license for a particular program, we would be able to do two. And eventually we would hope to be able to look at things like maker spaces and other um opportunities to expand our curriculum. For trendial drawbacks, there are of

042course some of those as well. Um there is some transitional disruption for both our teachers and our students and we're very aware that that's going to happen that there are people who have identities with a particular school and they would have to merge with another system another school that can be difficult particularly for our littles and we realize that it would require mitigation plan on our part and we've been thinking about some things that we could do. Um we do have the potential for larger class sizes. We understand that as well, which can mean less feedback by teachers, less personalized instruction. Um, but generally, as you saw, our numbers, they're not so huge that it would make um it's going to make an impact, but we don't see it making as large an impact as

043it would in another district. Of course, we recognize social emotional impact on our students. We know that they love their school, and that's something that we would have to to work through. And then we do recognize that there could be some scheduling challenges for our connect classes because when we're merging those two schools together, then we do have to have make sure that we have adequate PE, adequate technology, library time, things of that nature as well. >> Question when it [clears throat] comes down the counselors and all. I think one counselor I think is going to be cut to possibly their position will be cut. Yes, that's the one that has been has been talked about. Um, but we have recently had a resignation. So, um, that position right now, I'm not sure whether it's

044being filled or not, Dr. Jordan. >> Not right now. >> And then as the schools are right now, is the counselor able to accommodate students in the three schools right now as their emotional needs? >> I think I do believe so. You know, that's Mr. writes um as director of student services. That's his um wheelhouse. But I believe right now that our elementary schools are doing pretty well. >> I guess my concerns is because then we gonna lose a counselor and then we have more students at these two schools >> and the social emotional impact and far adjustment and everything else. And I just want to just make sure that our students that need those type of services would be able to get them to be able to make adjustment. That's >> Yes, sir. Mr.

045I believe the numbers that we have would >> I mean be honest with you the numbers we have would we'd be considered within what the state requires but we can always use more school counselors uh social emotional issues right now are at all time high you know my my bigger concern has always been middle school with just the one counselor there you could use more counselors everywhere so that's just my honest opinion come from student services. [snorts] >> Miss Casper, >> I have a question. I don't know if this would be >> you or or Dr. Jordan, but I was just sitting here thinking you're talking more about curriculum and students. How if we go from having three schools to two schools because we struggle with having EC and enough EC teachers and such. What

046would be the impact of having two instead of three? It would would it be a I'm sorry. [laughter] Would would it be I mean do we see this as being something that would be a positive impact or a negative impact on the EC department EC students? >> Well, I'll um start by um kind of comment as Mr. right there. We always need more support, EC. Yes. But I will also say as a district, we have already started with a started a consolidation process to make sure that we're able to support the needs of our students at the school based on the enrollment that we have at our um three elementary schools and the enrollment that we have K12. So some things that we have already done is looked at their enrollment in our elementary schools

047and we have one school that now is kind of our site for more more of our more severe profound um students with autism. So we have one site for that we have combined classrooms and so that we could have the appropriate staff and wouldn't have classrooms that were not without certified staff. So I say all that to say looking at consolidating um EC is mandated by the the needs of the student the numbers and the needs of the student in the classroom. So, it's not necessarily, okay, we have an EC student that's in the first grade class. It's based on the setting and where that student is served and what that student's needs are. So, consolidation really wouldn't have necessarily a it wouldn't be a pro or con because either way, right now, we have

048the adequate number of staff that we need to um serve our students with special needs, but that could change tomorrow. You know, we know that just based on the needs of the students that we have that come into our district. And that's why we're always looking at ways that we can um transform or modify our program to make sure we're meeting the needs of our students at the schools that we have with the staff that we have. >> Yes. Good evening. Hope you all are doing well. Um we're going to talk a little bit about the impacts on technology. Um and they are minimal I think overall. Um of course if we do look at closing a school we're consolidating Chromebooks and iPads would be uh redistributed to the other two schools. Uh we would

049try to do that in an equitable way. So you know one school wouldn't get all the new ones and wouldn't get get all the old ones. So we we would look at a process for that. Of course, um uh teachers would be allowed to keep current laptops and any equipment that they have. Uh smart panels, you know, summer before last we did a major project and and upgraded all the smart panels in every classroom. So um we would keep some of those if need be for spares. Um of course then it comes in a storage space. Where do we store them at? So that would be an issue we would have to look at for a lot of this equipment. Additional phone equipment would also be kept. Intercom systems um they are old but reliable

050and so we would keep the extra one if need be for parts because those parts are very expensive and hard to come by when we need to replace them. And also the access points would be redistributed. Um and we would get assistance from our state. We get readyate uh federal money to for our wide area network u uh wireless access as well as our network hardware. They pay about 80% and then the state reimbures to the other 20. Um and then network equipment we'll save that. You know you always have switches and other things that go out and you would need need those. So we would again storage might be an issue. Number eight I touched on that already. wide area network partially funded by we would just you know if we have to take

051a circuit out we would uh increase commandment to the other two remaining sites if need be uh internet service is automatically adjusted by MCNC ISP if we reach um threshold on that they will they will update that for us so overall I don't see any you know major issues um but our DPI rate coordinator will assist with with those I met with her last week to go through some of this stuff. So, she would be aware of that. So, she is and she be glad to help us with that. So, any questions? >> I don't have any. >> I don't, Mrs. Smith. Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Dr. Simpson. >> Good evening, everyone. Good evening. >> If the board decides to close a school, these are just some

052things that should be taken into consideration for our breakfast and lunch program. Um the time required to serve a larger population. Um we need to just make sure that enough time is built into the schedule to um serve the larger group of students. We also need to make sure that enough time is allotted to replenish the serving line. We need to make sure that there's enough time for students to move through the serving line and be seated within the allotted time. We also need to make sure that the meal times are are staggered to accommodate the larger group of students and just to make sure that we have enough seating capacity to serve the students that will be either I mean coming to the um receiving school. For the kitchen and cafeteria needs, um we

053need to make sure we have adequate equipment such as warmers, ovens, um refrigeration, freezer. Now, our freezer space, there are some concerns because at Gatesville, the freezer is very small and now we don't even have enough space in there to receive our current deliveries. Some of the times we have to transport um some of our deliveries down to our maintenance. Um, so now we could possibly take the freezer from the closing school and relocate it to the receiving school, but there is some concerns with where would it go and what fees would be associated with that. That's something that would have to be evaluated by the maintenance department to see if that's even possible. We will also need additional warmer and the concern with that would be um all the kitchens in the elementary schools

054are very small and if you ever been to the cafeterias the serving lines actually sit in the kitchen so there's not a whole lot of space in the kitchen. So the concern would be where would that additional warmer go especially at um but because that kitchen is very small and other factors to consider would be the dining area capacity. We just need to make sure that we do not exceed state regulations. And as far as the staffing is concerned, just to determine whether we need to reassign, reduce or just provide additional training for the new service. [snorts] >> Mr. Green, >> are there Dr. Simpson? Yes, Dr. Simpson. Are there requirements from the state around like the time frame of lunch, when lunch can start and when it ends and how long each group, you

055know, goes through. >> Well, the principal set the schedule for meals and I believe it's like maybe there are some guidelines and I think they need to get I believe 15 or 20 minutes for lunch and breakfast. Okay. >> But I think >> but they normally set the schedules. >> That's what they have to sit not to go through the line. >> Well, I don't know. I normally >> accommodate whatever schedule they set. Okay. >> And that's what we go by. Okay. I didn't know if there was like a certain guideline or certain time frame that all have to be fed within this certain block of time or if there was some discretion there. So that's awesome. >> Normally whatever schedule y'all provide to us, that's what we go back. We try to work together

056with it and it's been working together. Okay. >> Thank you. >> Park, how much time does a child go through the line, eat, and go back out? 30 minutes. >> 20 minutes >> done. >> Less than 30 minutes. >> Yeah. Unless >> they're here. [snorts] >> We have two at Gatesville. We have two serving lines and one >> register. >> Mhm. And two serving lines and some Yeah. only have one >> one serving line. >> Okay. >> Is that because of space? >> Is why >> is that because is it one serving line because of space? No, that's how it's built. >> That's what I mean. >> Oh, yeah. Is there Is there room for a second serving line? >> Gotcha. >> That's TS Cooper. >> Well, TS Cooper and Gates will both have two

057serving lines, >> right? And then Buckland because of the size only has >> set up kind of weird anyway because it's a serving line outside the window, then it's one like but we're only using the one >> at Buckling. You only want to use one. >> Yes. And that's because of space. >> Yes. >> And the way the kitchen >> the way it's designed. Yes. >> Good afternoon. >> Good evening. >> Um wanted to talk to you all a little bit tonight about some concerns about consolidating the schools. uh what and in our in my field we consider you know the worst day is what we call showstoppers when I call Doc Williams or call Mr. right? And say, "We've got this problem. We've got to send kids home. We can't continue to stay here

058based on mechanical issues or electrical issues or those kind of things." So, as as we've looked at this uh and and the and the possibility of consolidation, I want to touch on some areas here that need to be considered, which as we look at the different schools and which one we might potentially close. Wastewater plants in Gates County, as you all know, it's a very rural area. I tell people all the time, we have work with contractors. I said we have stop no have one stoplight, no drive-thru and no soft serve machine, very rural area. Uh as far as wastewater, we have to we have each one of the elementary schools what's called a wastewater plant. We have to do testing. We have a wastewater operator. U we have to do testing, send it off

059uh every other week to a lab which goes to department of water quality. Um, at Gatesville Elementary School in the back here, there used to be a greenhouse, but we have what's called a recirculating sand filter bed. Um, we did the county did receive grants within the last year to put uh pump stations in at TS Cooper Elementary, which means we could remove the wastewater plants at TS Corper and Buckland. That's a, you know, considerable cost savings to the school because now there's not testing required, monthly reports and all those kind of things. Uh the other concern with the wastewater plan here is that when we increase the student population, uh there'll probably have to be adjustments to the wastewater plans due to flows. So there could be uh cost associated with consolidation here at

060Gatesville along those lines. As far as the wastewater plant, um Gatesville Elementary School, as your parents have probably seen as you walk down the hallways, um back in 1998, this portion of school we're in was renovated. It's what we call a geothermal heating and cooling system. Um the school board at the time made the decision to it's kind of cutting cutting edge at the time. Still is. It's very efficient system, but it it is it is very u there's a lot of moving parts. As you walk down this hallway from the kitchen back and through what we call the pods, there are 40 units above these ceilings. Um we've spent a lot of time over the years uh trying to service equipment and keep it online. Originally, when this building was designed, it was supposed

061to have what's called a mezzanine. You were supposed to be able to walk up above the ceilings and do the service. At the time, I was told the budget would not allow for that. So, you have to do all that service work from a 10 foot ladder. Uh, it's very challenging. Um, originally, we had a lot of leaks in the oil field. I'm sure the teachers and parents have seen us in back out on what's the playground. If you what's there is a lot of geothermal wells. There's vertical wells below the ground. This water continually circulates through the building and out into the ground for heat transfer. The equipment here, uh, just about all of it is about 27 years old. So, we're at a point where I'm working with the board relaying information, uh,

062on what costs are to upgrade this system. Uh, if we are to upgrade the system, there's some other equipment, makeup air equipment, and some other things. Uh, but I would love to put some if we're going to stay on [clears throat] this school as we upgrade, I'd love to put some service decks up top as well, so that equipment can we can get to it and do the routine maintenance. Um, it it makes it much more convenient and much safer. Um, now when you do major projects like this and you come in and you start taking out these ceilings in a 27 year old building, you start looking at fluorescent lighting, which you all know when you go to the store today to buy bulbs, everything's LED. So, it's it's kind of a a snowball

063type project. Once you start pulling ceilings out, 27 year old ceilings to replace equipment. Um, then there's, you know, do you really want to put back 27 year old lighting? And the answer is no, you look at putting in something more efficient, which would be LED lighting. So, if that project is to was to occur in the next uh coming years, uh the lighting would need to be upgraded as well in in the hallways. uh roofing. There is some we've done some roofing work here in the last three or four years. Ma major portions of the school the roof has been replaced. There's a small section of roof above us here uh that is still 27 years old. A small s section of flat roof. Next um now as I'm as we talk about both

064you know there again it was mentioned uh that the cafeteria space is very limited at Buckland. Um, I believe back in 2008, Buckland and uh, TS Cooper were both built around 1951. And the kitchens were uh, kitchens, cafeterias were almost identical. In 2008, a renovation project occurred out at TS Cooper. They added on to the cafeteria and they put in an additional serving line. U, so that's why, as Dr. Simpson mentioned, there's two serving lines there. Um the the opportunity to uh expand the cafeteria space at Buckland uh would only the only opportunity that I'm aware of is kind of landlocked there where everything sits. We do have a boiler room boiler room that's been taken out of service there that I'm working with the board and giving us some information on that we could

065exp potentially expand that cafeteria space into the u boiler room there at Buckton Elementary a little bit. um classroom space. I you know I haven't been directly involved with u capacities with um you know as far as what they figured out with the the classrooms. The only option there for additional classroom space would be to potentially move into some mobile units that are uh approximately 30 years old. So you know that's certainly not a permanent fix but there is an opportunity there. Those those mobile units certain I think there's still four mobile units there that are still currently we're not using them for instruction. They're used for offices of sorts. U Buckman Elementary School, as mentioned earlier, uh one advantage to Buckland Elementary School would be getting ready to get a pump station in place.

066Um which means there's no need for a recirculating sand filter bed on that campus once that and uh once that happens. So the wastewater plant could be taken out of service and there's not not the need there to do testing on a monthly basis. uh at all three schools uh whatever whatever decision the board makes one uh parking will have to be discussed because as you all know in the morning when it's not a big deal to drop off kids in the morning but oftent times in the afternoon you find yourself sitting in line um and that's already with the current population. So as we look at putting more kids on those campuses u parking will definitely additional parking and areas to sort of stage u parents for pickup. Um seems like ever since CO

067u numbers have have been been pretty high on student on parent drop off and pickup. Uh but that'll need to be addressed at uh at each one of the schools. Um drop off and pickup times could possibly be staggered at the middle school. When we built a new middle school, it was very challenging there for a while. Um so we had to have a staggered schedule with buses and car rider uh pickup. So it took a while to implement that. It did work. um a little more challenging for students. I mean for parents having to to work with a schedule like that, but otherwise additional asphalt would need need to be added uh at whatever schools we decided to u move into or consolidate to. Closed buildings if we were to to consolidate um the

068per repurpose of the school could be used for the following u central office. There's been discussion about possibly moving the central office into uh a larger area. uh support programs, maintenance, transportation, technology, as Mr. Smith mentioned earlier, smartboards and things like that. They're pretty large. Uh there's always need, as you all know, at your homes, there's always a need for additional storage. Um uh sport programs, uh maintenance, transportation, technology could use for that purpose. Uh multiple programs, technology, supplies, instructional, custodial, uh it could be used, uh several different type means of storage. uh could also be used as meeting space as far as schoolboard conferences, parent meetings, u educational programs, uh alternative education. Many of you may remember we had an alternative school back in Sunberry uh back in early 2000. Uh we haven't really

069since since we moved or closed Sunberry the Sunberry campus completely, we haven't had an alternative education program that might would uh could be considered at closed building for that opportunity. early college as well. Many of our students have to drive to Elizabeth City on a daily basis. It'd be nice to have some of those programs here in the county, so it didn't require as much travel. Uh it could also be used for additional testing centers. Um savings, eliminate and sell the current central office building. That's certainly a big board decision. That would be one that y'all would no need to make, but u that was considered that potentially the closed school could be used for uh central question. >> Mr. Green, you are still working on getting the cost figures, >> correct? >> For what

070we requested in the meal pond, >> correct? working on that and relaying that information to you all so I know that the Christmas holidays were in there >> and put a damper on it didn't >> but I appreciate that sir >> thank you Mr. Are you also I know at the mill pond when we talked about things you said that you would have to have engineers come in to determine if Gatesville could handle the um waste water and that kind of thing. Is that something that they can come and with an estimate of the number of students that they can give you an idea of whether yes it would what we've got will handle it or we have to have something else. We've discussed it in house quite a bit um based on the larger

071numbers we've had here in the past. One thing 2022 if you all remember we had a pretty big fortunate we had a downspout that ended up tearing down the greenhouse structure we had back here in the back. >> Um that the purpose in that um greenhouse over our wastewater bed was to keep rain water out. >> Um it pretty well destroyed it destroyed the wastewater bed. it had to be completely replplumbed. Um, but as we went around to get a new greenhouse, it wouldn't fit the existing block structure without potentially damaging some of that. So, we decided not to go back with a greenhouse and um, as we uh, renewed our permits. It wasn't an issue. I feel like moving forward, we could, you know, we potentially would need infrastructure over top of that again

072to keep rainwater from being a factor in in that in the plant's operation. So, I I feel like it could be addressed, but there would be some costs to maybe replace the greenhouse or use some other type of structure there. some of these um things that you had talked about, you know, adding cafeteria space on or HVAC and replacing lights and all those different things. Is that something that the educational lottery money we would potentially be able to utilize for some of that? >> And that's a very good question. Um, as many of you all know, we applied for grants back in 20 22 2023. We're very fortunate to get four rounds of to get four grants, one for each of the elementary schools as well as the high school. Um, a lot of that

073work has been accomplished and that was moving removing 1950s and60s windows, upgrading mechanicals, placing roofing, significantly helping energy envelope of those buildings. We are thankfully uh on the three elementary schools we're well below budget uh on those projects. So hopefully you know that that some of those funds could be helping u and addressing some of the upgrades and and changes for if consolidation boards occur. >> Mr. Green, I have a quick question. Um, I'm not trying to put you on the spot, but um, it's from what I read, the formula for um, funding the educational part from the lottery has decreased. Um, do you see that as being um, a significant problem for us or we still pretty much in um, line with our cost figures? >> Well, but elementary schools, I said we're well

074below budget. It's below budget. is below budget significantly at some at at um at um especially one school. But um I've been very very happy with where the numbers have come in when those projects were bid out. Um so as I said it and as I relay that information to you all, you all will see where where um where the budget stand on each one of those projects and that hopefully will help with some of the decision making. Uh but um yeah, it's um we'll go below budget on the three other projects. >> Okay. And then um this would be a Dr. Williams question. Dr. Williams, is there any other funds out there available that the state is willing to help out because there will be some upfront cost if we do consolidate. >> There's

075always a grant that comes out in the fall and spring uh which is needsbased grant capital funds. And that's just an application. A lot of school systems [laughter] are yet to receive any grant. Like Mr. Green said, we have been lucky to receive funding that we have received and grants that we've written. Extremely lucky. I don't know if that was process or or how the grant was written, but that was when Mr. Green took him on top buildings. I took a bunch of pictures and we submitted it. and said, "Hey, this is what you need." Now, Van Denton, he's over the lottery. And Van Denton gives school districts $500,000 every year. So, that right there is called renovations and repair. It's called [clears throat] R&R, >> right? >> But that money can only be used

076for a dedicated type construction. So, Mr. Green just can't use that money to build something new or or to just add something new. It has to be a fixed itemized type thing that is required by that by that grant. But we're lucky to have that. Mr. Green is very very conservative with that because things that come up that may break or may may be needed. So, uh hats off to Mr. Green for doing everything he can for our maintenance and our facilities. He's done a great job. >> That is attribute for us to be under budget. Almost thanks to you, Mr. Green. And we appreciate it. >> Hey, Mr. Har. >> Good evening, everyone. I only have one short slide um that I will feed off of Dr. Williams what you seen by Dr. Watson

077study. Um my numbers are an updated retirement hospitalization numbers for hospital staff members that may go into a reduction of force with the utilities as well. And it rounds out to be around $824,000 roughly. And that number kind of coincides with where we are with our shortfall. I do get one question meaning over and over again. Everyone wants to know like Mr. Rick had said earlier, everyone wants to know where did the money go. Well, the the money really never went anywhere. The money just stopped coming. For 2009, we were for over a decade. We were sitting around 2000 ADM with the that mean ADM is your student population. After 2009 we started to drop off gradually um and over the years it's been a steady decline. CO was uh kind of dropped a number

078on many districts in the area and after CO it's even gotten worse. My first year we lost 85 kids. uh rounded out for the last couple years, the state gives us around $9,800 per kid. This year, we lost 38 more kids. Next year, DPI has let me know we're we're projected to lose 50 kids or a total of 143 kids. So, if you do that math, that's to me that's that's a number that's it's I get it, but if you don't believe this every day, it kind of shoots right over your head. That's that's over a million dollars. So, that's it's a major it's a major task to overcome that. The consolidation is one of those things where Dr. Watson, he has done a really good job. He did did a really good job with

079that study to help us get our budget and our buildings back online. And you have any questions for me? >> I do and and it's going to be a pain question. I I cannot even begin to read the smaller print on that. Could you just start at the top and start with the blue and read it around the corner so we know what's up there? >> And state the dollar amount. >> State the dollar amount for us. We have five certified teaching positions. We're still equified teaching positions over $80,62. Sorry. This here's your media specialist at $87,81. Gavin's counselor is $8781 as well. Your treasurer at the school possibly is $7,764. Remember these numbers have benefits included, retirement, hospitalization. So these are not salary numbers. These are total cost numbers to the district. We set

080up a budget. Um, cafeteria manager $55,812. Lead staff $38,610. Custodial staff $3,671. Your insurance for buildings $4,884. Fuel electricity 41,000. Fuel 2,800. Water 610. round up that number of $824,748. [clears throat] >> Mr. Harold, and that um cost figure um that is including benefits as well as just the salary. >> Yes. Benefits and hospitaliz retirement hospitalization, >> right? >> Yes, sir. >> That's that's the total cost when I'm budgeting. I have to include that. That's what we pay as >> Right. What is the retirement and insurance percentages? >> Retirement right now is 24.67%. Hospitalizations are 8,500 a year >> per [clears throat] employee. >> Per per full-time employee. >> Yes, ma'am. So basically half of that not quite half it would represent the K5 population >> teachers and certified teachers. Is that not correct? >>

081Okay. [snorts] >> Now this the term savings that we're using and I guess it's probably just because it's the best. It doesn't mean that that's money that's going to be socked into the bank account because when people think of savings that is they think of oh that's the money that we're going to have and we're going to be able to sock it in the bank account. That's not what this is. >> No ma'am. This is this is a lot of this is a shortfall which we have to stop pulling out a local so we can get our local budget back online. That's kind of how I set up. >> Thank you. question. >> Thank you. >> Can I can I add [clears throat] back here behind me? But this might make it easier for you.

082This chart, this pie chart up here, all of its personnel, except this piece of pizza right here. >> This right here is your electricity, your water, your uh fuel oil, and your telephone. Everything else is personnel. So that's what I was talking about when I said So I hope that helps out. >> That's perfect. >> Oh, it's okay. I mean, you can't you can't avoid it. You can't afford it. [clears throat] >> And that's approximately about $50,000 of that 824 of the three of four that Dr. Williams mentioned. >> It's probably less, Mr. Byron. Yeah, but with Mr. Green, >> it is a little less. I went high. >> All right. I know we've all heard the old cliche, everything that glitters ain't gold and then grass ain't always green on the other side. So,

083in considering consolidating or not consolidating, we think that okay, consolidation automatically means money in the bank like Mr. That's it. But if decision is to consolidate, there are some hidden costs that will have to be considered and things that will have to be done to make that process possible. So, one would be the possible reinstatement of two front office positions. Um, I don't know how many years ago it was, maybe two years ago, um, there was decisions to make, call savings, decisions to make um, made across the district for our elementary schools. We went from two front office personnel, a secretary and a bookkeeper to now we only have one person in our elementary school front offices that where they do front office and bookkeeping and school nurse if the nurse is not there and

084fill in for the principal's not there and whatever else they need to do. There's one person in that front office. I feel you elementary. I know. All right. And then um possible addition to bus drivers. Um so we may know we always have a short of bus drivers. We always need more bus drivers, but when we talk about consolidating schools, if you have more students going to that school, you may need more buses going to that school to also reduce um the time that students are on buses because the more students you have going to that school and you're looking at expanding your attendance zones and things like that, we have, you know, the travel time comes more of where these students are going that are attending the school. So, we may need more buses

085and more transportation for those students. Um possible increase cafeteria staff hours. Um we're looking at feeding more students. It takes more time. We're talking about getting students through the line. Some of our I think I heard one of our schools only has one serving line. So if you um increase that enrollment by even 50 kids or 75 kids, you look at what time it's going to be to get those students through the serving line. Um additional cafeteria equipment. Um Dr. Simpson hit on that. Warmers, freezers, dishwashers. You know, we have to be able to handle the capacity or the increased number of students that are there in a timely manner because we still have to work within the time frame of the cafeteria staff that are there. Everybody's not full-time. They're in the cafeteria now.

086So, we have part-time people that are there. They're not there six, seven, eight hours. So, still working in that time frame. We have to have the equipment that's going to help support those um hours. Enlarge parking lots at two schools. We're looking more students, more teachers, more parking. Um so, you know, increasing or enlarging the parking lots and do we have the land and the capacity to do that that school? And even if we do, it's cost that would have to go into u making sure that those things can happen. Um additional work days for teachers in transition of classrooms. Right now our I don't know any better way to say it, but elementary people know what I'm talking about. Our teachers on the wheel um they transition or transfer from school to school. So

087there will be time needed to make sure these teachers can make the transitions that they need between grading periods to serve the increased number of students that they will be serving at each of the um elementary schools. if we do look at consolidating additional work time on maintenance and trans maintenance to transition furniture equipment etc. So if we do look at consolidating um that's things that maintenance and our um technology department going to have to do as well. We have to have time to make sure these items can be transitioned and moved with our students and staff whichever direction it may be. An additional work time on technology and transition of computers, printers, etc. to make sure that everybody has that they need so that the buildings and the programs can run successfully. And these

088costs will offset the u predicted savings. So when we looked at the first slide, that big number, we looked at the number just said a little over $800,000 of savings. this these things are things that would offset those costs. So these are things that would possibly have to be done to make sure that you know to ensure that a consolidation is even possible regardless of what school you know which school we'll look at closing or moving etc. So, um, these are additional things to consider when you're looking at whether to close a school, and if so, what schools to close, where you would look at the call, additional costs for things that will have to be, um, done in addition. >> That's right. >> I got you. I know you're sitting here, you're probably, oh,

089I know that you're sitting here, you're probably overwhelmed with all the information that you have received. Please know that we, too, are overwhelmed with all of it. had noted there's so much more coming especially from our buddy Mr. Green. Um let me brief my stuff as I should. Key takeaways your financial impact. How much can be saved? Who will benefit from the savings? And how will the hidden cost impact the savings? Our potential benefits are stronger collaboration, resource, efficacy and you know okay uh concerns transitional disruption larger classes student displacement and student discipline. Our decision point, which all of us have got to look at, is what serves the best interest of our students. And we value what you think and what you're going to share with us tonight and your opinions. So, please feel

090free if you didn't sign up, get signed up quickly and we will listen and take everything you have to say into consideration. And we will be doing that for a long time. So phone lines are open, text messages, whatever you need to do, get the message to central office or to the board. Okay. >> Oh, we have a survey, but uh yes. >> Yeah. >> I don't know about survey how it's going to be handled. Are you going to discuss that tonight or is Mr. Wright going to discuss that tonight? Mr. Rice. [laughter] >> So, we do have a survey, a consolidation survey that we would like everybody to complete. We have some hard copies, but it is going to be posted uh on the website tomorrow, the Google do forms that you can complete

091at at your leisure, whenever you get a chance, if you need a copy, like I said, there is some on the table, but we can certainly get you one. >> Okay? So, let us know if you do not get a copy and want a copy and then you if you do not want to do it on paper, you can do it online. Okay. Okay. Board members, we're going to take a brief quick break. Um that if you have not signed up for public comment, please come do so at the front of here. And um after we come back, we're going to turn the floor back over to our principal, Mrs. Brooks, and her team. >> [clears throat] [laughter] >> Yes. [laughter] Another slide. That was [laughter] appreciate that. [laughter] I'mma call the meeting back to

092order. People in the hall would like to come back in and join us. >> Thank you Gatesville School for the wonderful chicken salad. >> [laughter] >> Now that we're all back, I'm going to turn it over to Mrs. Brooks. [cheering] >> I think got some bonus points. [laughter] Um, I think I'm gonna try to stand over here so the people online can um, see me as well as hear me. First thing I want to do is thank all of you for coming out. Um, thank you for your interest in what's going to happen here with the county schools. I also want to thank the directors for all the hard work that you put in to giving us this information and um, the pros and the cons and letting us see a full picture. Dr. Williams,

093thank you for leading us in this um and getting Dr. W to come out and do this um study after it was requested and thank you board for hearing us and giving us this opportunity as a gates family to kind of present and let you know all the great things that Gatesville have for has to offer. First thing I have to say before we even get started is Gates County School Gatesville Elementary was voted best of roam chan this year. Um so we're excited about that. All right. Um some school history just some things. This was very fun to hear about and um we have people looking things up and um the community also giving us some information. So it was good to hear. Prior to 1840, there were predominantly privatemies held here in Gatesville.

094While the first public school on this property was built in 1912 and it was called Gatesville High School. You'll see we even have um some memorabilia here. It was considered a consolidated school because it housed grades 1 through 11. I don't know what happened to kindergarten or 12th grade, but they were there. [laughter] >> In 1954, nine African-American children from the Zion community. Anybody know where Zion is? >> Y'all old. I mean, [laughter] um, because I I don't know where that is. Um, they began attending Gatesville School and the newspaper and things that we read, it gave us the name of some of those students. And why that's relevant is, um, before this happened before Central or the high schools began segregating Gatesville um, ele well, Gatesville school, it was an elementary then. Um, I

095won't say they welcome nine students because it wasn't um it was a great transition moment, but there were some some hardships in that. In 1963, the original Gatesville Elementary School was built here and our prek and daycare are still in the part of that original building. And Mr. Green, thank you for the new blinds. [laughter] I appreciate you. Um, in 1996, the addition was built onto Gatesville Elementary, and that is where we are now at this moment. And there has been a school of some sort on this property for the past 114 years. >> All right. So, now we're looking at past enrollment. And one of the reasons why we thought this was important because if we're looking to say, um, Mr. And I know that it's been a while, but we're looking to say,

096okay, we're going to have we would have to house um 300 and something students um pull [clears throat] this information because we want to see have we ever done that in the past. And so when you look from 2010 um going all the way to 2015 um we got this from DPI um from the ESSA reports and it stated in 20134 we had 309 students here on campus and that didn't include well that does include prek but it did not include daycare and head start that were also housed here during that time. Um, if you go 2015 to 2021, those are we got those from the school report card. And we do believe those um do they include prek as well. And then 21 to 26, you see what our numbers are there. Any questions

097on that slide? No. And those numbers came from Dr. Watson's consolidation study on what was here. All right. So, here are some of our strengths. And I'm sorry that you can't see the pictures, but um trust me, they're great. [laughter] Um we have large classrooms here. So, classrooms are spacious enough that simultaneously, um we could have whole group instruction going, small group instruction, and independent practice. So most of our classrooms are set up that they have an area for all three of those. Um, and so you see how large our classrooms they are. Our classroom storage, each classroom has builtin cabinet space, built-in storage. And all of our classrooms except except for two have sinks also in their classroom. So we have a fourth grade and a fifth grade classroom that do not. I'm sorry

098guys. um but the majority do. Um safety is a big thing for us. So we said, okay, if we were to get an influx of students have to take on some of this student, would that be would we feel safe? And so we said some things that would help us feel safe are the fact that each one of our classrooms has two exits. So we have an exit to the hallway and then there's an exit to the outside as you can see in that picture. So if there was a fire or an emergency, we'd be able to get out quickly. That's very important to us. Also, we have wide hallways which allow for quicker transitions and wheelchair access. You know that I'm going to always look at that. Um so one of the things we

099talked about was um we were we met capacity during our um holiday program, right? Um and we were able to evacuate that space at the in the program um very well because our hallways are big. Also also our well it'll come up later at the many exit points that we have there. Um another strength of our school is our entire school is located in one building. So we don't have any outouses. We don't have any um [laughter] any trailers or any other buildings that aren't attached. Everybody's here in this one building. So, we consider that a strength. Um our school is close to the police and fire department should an emergency arrives. We think that's very important that they could get to us fast. Um bathrooms. There are student bathrooms in each pod allowing quick

100transitions to class um which increases our instructional time because um many of our teachers are here and they tell you they especially where's Lori um she is our instructional time police and um we're not spending a lot of time in those bathrooms. So, because we have so many here at our school, if we had a large influx of students, we'd still be able to keep the integrity of our instructional time. Um, there's also staff bathrooms in each pod. So, um, you know, easy access for everyone. All right, work rooms. Each pod also has a large staff workroom with a copy machine and storage there in that. So, um, our teachers are not waiting for copers. Um there's always one that's there, easy access. Also, those spaces can be used for tutoring or anything else that

101we needed. Um and it wouldn't take from classroom space. Um and we have a total of four teacher workrooms in the main building office space. our administration, well me, um the data manager, Miss Jenny, and the nurse are all located in the same area. We also have two vacant rooms, while we use them for a teachers word room. Um well, really where our copier is stored and a snack area that if we did have to take on an additional secretary or something like that, we could still all be housed in the same area. Um, it helps for when we need to talk to each other, get things done more efficiently. Um, our counselor is in close proximity right across the hallway. Um, and we like it that way because of confidentiality purposes. She's able to

102service those kids and they feel comfortable coming to her room instead of feeling like they're coming to the office and they're in trouble. Um, cafeteria. Our cafeteria is the second largest cafeteria. Um, and we do have two serving lines. As um, Dr. Simpson stated, they are in the kitchen area, but we use these daily. So, you can, um, access, there's four doors to get into the cafeteria if you've never been in there to get into the food park. And so, students each day there's two different entrances. They go through at the same time simultaneously and they are able to come out. Um there is only one um cash register, but we could fix that if we needed to. But it does make it so that we can get students in and out um quickly. Our

103library and the gym are they are both the largest of the elementary schools. And there are multiple exits from both of these areas. We have five exits coming out of the gym and four exits from the library. And we just bring those up because that's all part of safety. If we had to get out of here quickly, um we need to be able to do so and not be like a herd, right? Additional services. So even um with well with consolidation, we will still have space for PE um speech, occupational therapy, guidance, AIG, and tutoring. So when um Dr. Watson came to talk to us about consolidation and see what our school could hold. Um, we sat with a map and we went through and he asked each room what we used it for and

104he he considered and he talked about what if it could be used for a classroom or not. That's not something that um I as the principal told him what they would be. He he said that could be used for a classroom or that or not. He did that study, not me. Um, so with the spaces that he did deem could be a classroom, it still left us little nooks and crannies that we would be able to use for and that we currently use for speech, occupational therapy, guidance, AIG, and tutoring. All right, our parking lot. [clears throat] We have the potential in our front parking to have a two car two-lane car drop off and pick up. So, right now we use the large circle, but we could also use the middle circle where you

105currently park today. So, we could run cars both ways if we needed to to help with the influx of students. um our buses are loaded and unloaded behind the school. Those buses are never in the front of the school where our our drop off and drop drop off and pickup are um in the mornings and afternoons. So that helps that things run [clears throat] smoothly that way. Um it doesn't affect the car pickup and drop off. Our back parking lot is in close proximity to the bus garage for bus refueling and maintenance. Currently, um the EC buses for the county park here behind our school as well as our buses that we have. Um so we all we we're already housing um a lot of our transportation right there with us. Um but it need

106um some something that we could do is our buses could be parked closer to the bus garage. Yeah. Closer to the bus garage and staff could park in the back of the building. that would allow for more um parent parking in the front. Um our playground, we have a large playground with room to expand. So, you know, as you see, there's a lot of area here with no equipment that we could add equipment if we needed to. Um prek and daycare um have their own playgrounds that are fenced in. Um, there's a fence on the back side of our playground, not not containing the whole playground, and that's to keep um all the animals in the woods and all our little animals out of the woods. [laughter] All right. Okay. Now, let's talk about square

107footage and things like that. And these numbers are from Dr. Watson's PowerPoint. So our square footage total is 76,183 square ft. Bucklands is 44,354 square ft. Our our footage is 41.8% larger. TS Cooper is 55,217. We are 27.5% larger than TS Cooper. We have the largest square footage faculty capacity facility capacity I'm sorry Gatesville 429 Buckland 294 so we could hold 31.5% more students than Gatesville and Cooper is 354 so we could hold 17.5% more and as I said these came from Dr. box figures at 90% capacity. Gatesville, we had we could do 386 students. So that would be what we're being what we would be being asked to hold if we consolidated plus room to grow. Buckland has 264. So um we can hold 31.6 more students. Cooper is 318. We can hold 17.6

108six more students. So looking at those figures, it seems that we are the largest school, but Cooper and I Cooper and Gatesville have similar setups as far as pods and things like that. Um, so this is just showing you on a a visual if you're a visual person those numbers that I have just shared. So we're here in not green on purpose but and then I mean yes then button and then TS on each. All right. Um other things to consider our prek program. Um we have three prek classes in house. Um one is a developmental day classroom. These programs are so so important um because they help get our students ready and help them learn what learning is all about. Um and our developmental day classroom requires its own bathroom. So if moved, the

109new prek rooms would have to be inspected and approved by the state and the license cannot be transferred from one location to another. So that's something else we would have to um consider and there may be costs to that. Um prek has its own playground already furnished and fenced in and that's according to regulations. So if they were to move, we'd have to do something with that. Um and it has housed 40 students each year. They've been full for the last six years. Please click. [applause] So, you know, some of our things are if Gatesville um were to close but prek stayed in the building, they would need cafeteria services and some things like that. They would also need um to be with some peers. Um and also, if it's if it's moved, their student

110numbers will need to be considered when determining overall capacity. So, we got to make sure when we're looking at if they're going to have to be that we're including their numbers in what we're doing. Other things to consider from 2003 to 2017, daycare enrolled approximately 50 students each year. And the reason why we put that there because in in those numbers that we're looking at to see if we've ever housed that many students, we have we we haven't included some of them, you know, um especially those that are at the age of using the restroom. Head Start was also located at Gatesville for 10 years and they enrolled 20 students each year. So that's another 20 students that we have housed. Um, and we currently serve the largest population of lowincome students. We also serve

111the largest EC population and speech and that includes speech therapy that's here. That's our school. Um, so it asked me for my recommendations and saving ideas. Um, and this was hard for me. Um, but the one point I need you to know is let's do what's right for the children. Let's let's let's do it. Um, and so some things that, you know, I want to be considered is consolidating two schools allows funds such as Title One to be used more strategically, strengthening targeted academic and behavioral supports for students. Right now, we are the largest school. We're the largest need-based school. We have the largest EC population. We have some needs that could be met better if funds were only split between two schools. Um, it Miss Casper knows I I I turn funny in the

112face sometime when we start talking about money because yes, we we get a bigger pot because um of those needs, but that pot doesn't always wash to now this is what I have for for to use for our students. Um, so to be able to use those funds to even when we talk about technology, you know, we have the technology in there. We've done a great job getting resources. We have Waggle and Boost that our students use, but most of our computers that are in there are not able to be upgraded so that we can use those efficiently. Um, so those are some things we need to consider and what's going right for the children. Dividing resources between school two schools would strengthen instructional services, improve intervention programming, and create better student to resource ratios.

113Currently, key positions like our DPI instructional coach, Lisa Wilkins, our AIG coordinator, our art teacher, computer technology assistants are shared across three schools, reducing consistency and instructional impact. When we talk about our DPI instructional coach, last year she picked um vom that she picked, but um she targets two schools. [clears throat] Last year it was Gatesville and TS Cooper. Um G um not Gatesville, it was Buckland and TS Cooper. Buckland came out of low performing. we didn't um I won't say that's all Lisa Wilkins, but I would say when you have that that um support in ELA um and it's targeted and she coaches and does things like that, it definitely [clears throat] plays a factor. And even this year um we are a target school. We are one of hers. Um but the coaching

114cycles haven't begun for us yet because she still has to split her time between three schools. We have been deemed low performing. We have the most economically disadvantaged. And we have the most EC students, but our coaching cycles haven't started yet. It's hard not to believe that's because we're splitting her with three schools and not two. Everybody else's coaching cycles have started. So, um, yeah. Um, consolidation decisions should prioritize a school's fabul capability to accommodate future enrollment growth. I know we're saying it's going to drop, that they're telling us, um, Mr. Herald's going to drop. It's going to drop, but there may be a time that it picks back up. [clears throat] And so, we want to be prepared. So, ensuring long-term sustainability as the countyy's population may increase. My heart says though that we

115are better together. So what I need you to walk away with um from our heart is that we are one county. We are one team. We should have one vision. We are one county and one school system. decisions may be difficult, but when the process concludes, we will continue forward together as Gates County Schools. I'm excited that we were the first school because I need you to make sure and to tell your neighbors that [clears throat] this is not a dirt contest. This is this is going to affect all of our students, all of our teachers. It's not about Gatesville. It's not about Buckland. It's about it's not about TS Cooper. It's about Gates County Schools. And at any time a buckling can become a pan panda can become a gateill dragon. And a dragon

116might become a a wild cat because Lord knows I've been to all of them. [laughter] And many of our teachers you've worked at more than one, you know, and so it's not about an individual school. unified leadership and staff. The superintendent, the central office staff, the principles, the teachers, the support staff, and the board of education must remain on one accord, working collaboratively to support our students and communities. And that's something we started last year. We began meeting as principles. we began having um um meetings once a month for staff, you know, together, working together. And I'd hate to see something like this stunt what we've already been working so hard to accomplish, and that's being on one accord and and working together. So, collective commitment. Um, I vow as a principal and I hope

117that other ones will vow with me that we will work together and support one another and take pride in our shared mission ensuring that every school, every staff member, and every student succeeds. So, I appreciate you again for coming out and I thank you for your time. But I just I I pray and I hope that we keep clear minds, positive hearts, that we work on this together. And I know we, you know, it was hard for me when I first got here and I had been a dragon for 20 years. And every time I made those announcements that I mean, I had a panacea, I had to re retrain my mind. And so it's worked. Um it was hard when I did those um Sunday announcements. I had to re how many times I

118had to re record those because I kept saying it's great to be a panda that I was in dragon land and I had to reposition. But I did. I did and it's okay. So, just want to make sure that we're all working together and that we're keeping the main thing the main thing, which is the students and that we're not hurting each other, but we're loving on each other. Um, so keep that in mind. We're not throwing any shots at any schools or anybody. They're all wonderful buildings. They're all great teachers. We we've been deemed low performing, but Gatesville school building is not low performing, right? So, we're going to work together. We're getting out of low performing, but if we do consolidate, it's because we all need to work together for what's good for

119the students. If we don't consolidate, it's because we all need to work together for what's good for the students. Correct. >> [applause] [cheering] [clears throat] >> Miss Brooks, you did an outstanding job on this presentation. You pointed out some really key features that we need as a board um to look into if we're going to decide to consolidate. I really really as a board member really appreciate your better together and I like the way you boldfaced some of your um words in there. We're one county and that we are one accord and we all ought to work collaboratively together and that we are showing that every school gets the key feature and that is to make sure that every student succeeds and we give them that opportunity. Thank you very much for you and your

120team. Y'all did an outstanding job. Board members, >> I I just want to say thank you. And as a past principal of Gatesville, you almost made me cry. Couldn't hear me. Past principal of Gatesville, I know how much Gatesville school means. And you did an excellent job. Thank you. Made me proud. [applause] Okay. Anybody else have a comment? Crystal, >> from what I read and what you said, there's a very common theme in that and that we need to do what is the best for all of our students and that's what we as a board and a community needs to keep in mind that the students need to be at at the forefront as well as our staff and we need there's a lot of things we got to take in consideration but I do

121appreciate your sentiments on keeping us together and and whatever the decision is the willingness to say okay this is for our students so thank you >> miss ros did a wonderful job and definitely about you know better together because you also said if I'm not mistak even though whatever may happen we need to be able to look beyond that and still work together and having this person I very important to be and just because now there's almost a spirit in our country where if you don't agree with somebody they think you don't like them >> that's not true I mean I disagree with my boys raising them I love them [laughter] you know and we have to change that just because I don't agree with you don't mean I ain't gonna like just because you

122disagree with me you don't like it's just that we see things different but we still can work together for overall our students and also our account as a whole. So, thank you for the presentation. >> Okay, if there's no no other comments, I'm going to open the floor for public comment and you're going to be given three minutes um to speak and we look forward to hearing from you. So, our first person Jessica three minutes. [laughter] >> Hey y'all. My name is Jessica Harold and I'd like to share a few thoughts with you. I'm a Gates County resident. I've lived here all my life. I've taught in all three elementary schools in the county. Buckland, I did my student teaching. TS Cooper, I was a beginning teacher for six years. And now I'm at Gates

123Elementary. And not only am I a teacher, but I also went to school here in fourth, fifth, and sixth grade. And my children have also gone to school here. And they've received early intervention services through speech. But I'm not here to talk about me, although I've done a few seconds of that. [laughter] I'm here to talk to you about our school. Gates Elementary School used to be a high school. And this jacket is my father-in-law's. And if it's my youngest son who is a fifth grader here, it usually hangs in my classroom because it's an interesting bit of history. Something for our students to be proud of that connection to their community. How many of y'all remember Swampfest? >> Oh yeah. >> That was a great community event that was housed at Gatesville School and

124years later they changed it to the community center and it just kind of fizzled out. Location is very important. Or what about the craft fair that was held across from the courthouse library? All the students at Gatesville used to walk all the way down to that and all the way back to school. Um, and we still do walking field trips here at Gatesville School. Lots of community events have happened. Church basketball practice in our gym, pancake and sausage suppers in our cafeteria, church services on some Sunday mornings. Um, and when we just had the Gatesville parade, the Gatesville schoolyard and our parking lot was used by the community and it was also a meeting place for many parents to meet back up with their kids. It's always seemed really appropriate that our largest township and

125our county seat have a school that has been open and inviting for many events. This school, Gateswell Elementary, has served as a meeting place for many community events and that's what we need most in our school is community involvement. Now, my time is running short, but I want to impress upon you the importance of school to all communities. When communities began, schools were the first things that were created. They were an integral part to the development of communities. and closing this school. I believe this would have a deep wound to our community. That would be a regression for our school system and for our county. Let's not lose focus during this consolidation. We are here for our students and we're here to make um decisions that will also affect our community. Our students deserve this

126building and the space that it provides. Our community deserves to continue to be involved in our events. Thank you, [applause] >> Miss Mary Bunch. PreK. >> Miss Mary Bunch. >> [applause] >> I'm not gonna take the whole 30 minutes [laughter] and I'm not gonna stand behind the podium because you pick up the mic. >> We want to hear your beautiful voice. >> Okay. [laughter] >> So, I'm not gonna stand behind the podium because I can't see. Want to say good evening to everybody. Um, so just to talk, I'm a NCK teacher here on the other end of the hallway. Um, and I love my little home because I've been there 25 years now. So, um, just a few facts about preK. We do have three classrooms down there. Um, I do have a developmental day

127classroom. So, I see children who have special needs. Um, and a bathroom is really needed for my classroom. So, you know, in thinking that about that, please make sure you realize that there we do need bathrooms um in the classroom uh would be uh very helpful. So, we've kind of made our home down there. um um to move us to another school. Um each classroom will be required to go through the whole process of sanitation, fire, inspection, licensing, compliance, reertification. So, it's not one of those easy we pick you up, we're going to move you, and tada, you're there. It's not going to work like that. We do have to go through the whole process again. I know that's because I had to do that when I moved my classroom. we had to have all

128those certifications done prior to me moving in and um that was almost almost didn't make it because those things weren't done. Um but luckily it did get done so it's not a quick one turnaround. It takes several months to get that stuff taken care of. Um so the process will take longer than compliance visits. Um we get those every five four years three years every three years. Um, so we'd have to go through that whole process again. Um, >> and our window for is is open for this year. We have to go through Edgars this year. And so we would have to redo it all over again next year as well. >> So we are we are actually in that process right now. Um, >> and that's how we get our star rating if you

129don't know. >> [snorts] >> else. Um, when we do move, we have a lot of stuff. [laughter] We have to rotate stuff in and out for our children. So, we do have a lot of stuff. >> We we have a whole room, a storage room down there that is packed of stuff that we rotate in our in all three classrooms. >> Yep. I was going to say it's a shared space for us to be able to utilize the same material. So every classroom doesn't have, you know, the same things at all at the same times, but we rotate amongst one another. So we're a great little community down there. Um, so >> and we do not want to be left down there if [laughter] if Buckland is the one that gets saved. We don't want

130to be left by ourselves. >> No, because we do visit the our co-workers, our children do see this side and they get to understand what the other side is like. Um, and we share resources, we share ideas, and we do Oh, okay. [laughter] Thank you, [applause] >> Kathy Matthews. >> Good evening, everybody. >> Good evening. Hello. >> My name is Kathy Matthews and I teach third grade here. Although I'm new to teaching here at Gates County, I'm not new to education. Coming from a larger elementary school to one of the size, I do see great positive benefits of the smaller school setting. Um, I do feel the community feeling and the we are a close school family, but I'm really here to focus on the most important piece to this puzzle and that's our kids,

131our students. Um, because without them, we aren't needed. Um, our students are able to have instruction tailored to their needs with our small class sizes. Um, I feel like we get to know our students better with the small setting. um we can figure out their interest. We get to know their personalities, what they need, what they like. There's also less distractions in the classroom. Finally, our students have stronger bonds with our teachers and our principal. She is able to go around and assess students vocabulary vocabulary word every week, which is amazing. I've never experienced that in my 24 years of teaching. Um, also she goes around and she has the lower grades read their spelling list to her and that's a bond that you can't break. So no matter what happens as far as consolidating,

132we need to make sure that our students are come first and we need to consider what's best for them. [applause] >> Emily Truman. M Sherman. >> Okay. So, I'm here as a parent. >> I can rush through. [laughter] >> You can't do this. >> Come on. >> Okay. So, yes, I'm here as a parent. Um just again just for that call. It's not representing any board of thoughts. Um, [clears throat] I'm thankful for the information, the pros and cons that have been put forth tonight. I think that that has been the most for most forthcoming at one time and it's very appreciated. Um, I do want to point out with the pros and cons that were listed and we don't want to focus on the negatives too terribly much. Um, attrition is happening already. We've

133mentioned you said there's been a resignation from one position that would have been cut at this point. We have the unfilled position that's being uh I guess filled or taught by a um uncertified teacher, part-time teacher. Um those things are happening naturally as they should. The majority of the hidden costs are onetime fees. There's a redistribution of assets that are the buses and the different equipment. We're talking to purchase all these things. Most of it is simple redistribution. Um just being good stewards of what we already have. Um, [clears throat] staffing reconstruction. Again, we talk about new staff or or cafeteria, those kind of things. We're going to have staff that can go between the two schools. We already have those positions. Um, taking that in consideration along with the projected decline in student population,

134the fact that we have one middle school and one high school, um, [clears throat] nobody wants to see a school close. And I know that we were some voices there that say it has to. Unfortunately, you all were elected to make the hard decisions and we want to talk about the social emotional health of the kids. Kids are adaptable. They're resilient. It's going to be hard. But what about the social emotional effects of increased financial hardships when taxes have to be increased or a half a million million dollar deficit every year? When an already less than ideal financial environment is happening in our country, state and county, those kids are going to feel that at home. School is a safe place for so many. Whether it be three schools or two schools, school is a

135safe place. [clears throat] But if they're more financially or encountering more financial hardships at home, we're taking away some of that safety from them. So social emotional can go many different ways. Um, I also want to point out the 52,000 in saving for utilities. I would suggest maybe not including that. And I know that lowers your number, but if this building is going to be an operation in some capacity, whether through you all, through the county, however it works, that 52,000 isn't necessarily a savings. And I do love that you pointed out that the savings is not going to be stocked in the bank. We're hoping to break even at some point for right now. Um so anyways um we disintegrated from public school to home school or from high school to public school and

136I will say you have just heard why it has been so easy for me because this woman right HERE [applause] >> Thank you [clears throat] Lesley Stranger. Lovely stranger. Good evening. I apologize for the phone. I um decided once I was here today, I was going to speak. So, my name is Leslie Stranger. I'm here as a parent, but I'm also an educator. I teach in Virginia Beach. This is year 17 for me. So, I'm coming into this in a very interesting aspect. I'm new to Gates. Um, my stepchildren, one of my stepsons go here and I'm here tonight to understand better of what's happening. So, my look tonight isn't um what schools should be saved or such. So, I apologize. I know that's not the way we want to say it, but that that's

137that's I'm to the point and I only have another two minutes left. Um, but the point is is I have questions. So, I I hope that's an okay way to do it rather than and please, yes, this is an amazing school. Love, love it. But these are my questions that I have that weren't answered tonight that as an educator and as someone within the school systems that I I would want to know more about. Buses, I already know that a fourth grader is getting on the bus at 6:45 in the morning. That's really low. Um um so what are the distances and times for the buses? Um when we're looking at um the money, yes, this isn't money that's going into the bank somewhere. So are we really saving the money? How much of the

138changes that are going to be needed are going to impact and increase the funding that we're going to have to spend to start with? If we are looking to save that million dollars, I'm going to use a round number. If we're looking to save the million dollars, how much money are we having to put forth to begin with that then is going to um be a detriment and push us further into the negative to begin with? Um when we're talking about the scenarios for redistricting, when we're looking at all of that information, um can't we run all of those scenarios and look to see what these numbers are beforehand? We know what our options are when we're doing north and south, east or west, kitty corner, whatever it is. look at what those numbers are.

139Yes, they're not going to be exact. Yes, they're not going to be perfect, but at least it gives us an idea of what we're looking at. Um, how can we make a decision to consolidate before we know what that option is going to entail? If we're making the decision, yes, we're going to consolidate, and then we look later on and we don't have and it's like, oh well, this won't work because of this, then we're back to square and we've done so much. Um, and lastly, I want to speak on the side of the education. Um, are we going to be meeting the needs of all of our students with a reduction of personnel? Maybe, maybe not. We do lose staff through a school. But my big thing that I would look at is, are

140we meeting the needs and not increasing too much of a strain on staff? And we're looking at the size of classes. That is a huge impact, a huge impact in any elementary classroom. Um, so making sure that's being thought of, our scheduling of all of our specials and making sure that we're not using portables. That's a safety thing. >> Thank you. [applause] >> Thank you very much. [laughter] >> [clears throat] [laughter] >> Missurdle. [clears throat] >> Good afternoon. Excuse me because I got something going on here, but I don't know. I want to take my time. I'm Carolyn Hurdle. Um, I'm a former Gates County employee and my heart is heavy tonight because I'm back at somewhere that is making an impact. Um, as you all know, New Daycare has closed its doors and I'm

141here speaking not on behalf of what is going to be a consolidation or not a consolidation or a school close or not a school close but I like to bring a little different outlook to the table. Um the proposed consolidation of Bucka Elementary, TS Cooper and Gates Elementary is not simply a question of buildings or budgets. It's a decision that will shape the future of our community for years to come. While enrollment tends, trends and financial realities require careful consideration, the most critical issue facing this process is trust. Gatesville Elementary loa located in the center of center of the county offers clear logistical advantages. Central placement can reduce transportation challenges and provide more equitable access for families across the district. However, numbers and maps alone cannot guide this decision. Each school represents more than a

142facility. It represents families, educators, and a shared history that deserves respect. Right now, trust is fractured at every level. Parents do not trust that school leaders will respect boundaries or tell the truth unless forced to do so. This belief, whether earned or perceived, causes families to question every statement and doubt every assurance. Lawmakers in turn do not trust districts to use new resources wisely or to operate within the limits set for them, leading to oversight that districts often view as a as restrictive rather than supported. Teachers feel caught in the middle, struggling to trust that the legislature truly has their backs as expectations rise while supports feel uncertain. Each group points to the worst behavior of the others to justify its own actions. The result is a cycle of defensiveness and division that makes responsible

143decision making harder, not easier. If this consolidation is handled without addressing trust, no choice whether Buckland, TS Cooper, or Gatesfield is likely to be accepted as fair. But if the board leads with transparency, clear criteria, and genuine engagement, this process can become an opportunity to rebuild confidence rather than destroy it. The community does not expect perfection, but it does expect honesty, respect, and accountability. Thank you, [applause] Okay. I just have um clarification. Um Miss Stranger, is that how you pronounce it? >> Yep. Stranger danger. Yes. >> Okay. Um I think I listed five questions. Were they more than Did I miss one? >> Um [clears throat] I had our buses with the distances and time. Um, I had the question as far as um, looking at the different scenarios to see if drawing the district

144lines would how those would impact um, and making sure we know those consolidations um, knowing all the options before we determine whether or not we're going to consolidate. Um, and then I talked about the sizes of our classes, um, the scheduling. I use the word specials and I apologize. That's um, music, art, different ones. I did get everything. Um, this is something that we as a board will look into and I I really appreciate everybody who came out tonight. Is there anybody else that did not sign up to speak at public comment that would like to be heard tonight? One in the back. Miss Harold, if you'll state your name. >> Samantha. >> Yeah. [laughter] >> I mean, I know who you are, but >> yeah. Okay. So I want to go back on that

145Miss Brook and I said I learned in a previous trip and I attend today's big um active shooting teaching. It was like three hours long was in Charlotte, North Carolina and it gets your head spinning. So you think about how many how many times do you hear of a school fire? Not many. How many times do you hear of a school school shooting? A lot. So, thinking about what you said about the different schools, say like Buckland, I'm not down in Buckland by no means because it's a great school, but they have the other little campus outside. And so, I [clears throat] pre, like I said, I previously worked in the school district, and I was presented one day with a drill. A guy walked in, I was that one running this I was the

146nurse in the front desk doing all of it. Okay. I was also 32 weeks pregnant, had pregnancy brain, didn't know what was going on. So [laughter] um they walked in and handed me a piece of paper and said, "What if I was an active shooter and walked out?" I let him in. Didn't know who he was. So you think about stuff like that with the other camp, like with the other little building at Buckland. I don't know about TS Cooper. I have no any idea about TS Cooper. And again, I'm a parent. I have a pre-K student here. But you think about stuff like that. And it's nice knowing that all the kids are within one school. So, in the event an active shooting does happen, you have all the kids contained in that one

147school. You have those outdoors, which in a shooting, would you go outside? I don't know. [clears throat] I can't say that. But if there was an event to happen in one of [clears throat] those little outouses, like you said, you think about stuff like that. And like I said, I this was just me rambling on thoughts sitting back there. I don't have a speech prepare or anything like that, but you think about stuff like that. And I think about that for my children coming here, my friends children, my nieces and nephews. It gets you, it gets you thinking. So that's just something safety is a big thing with the community with the um wide hallways moving those students in and out, you know, not having those extra buildings, sitting outside with students that are not

148always, for say monitored because yes, they're monitored by their teachers, but there is no essential staff out there monitoring them. So that's all. Sorry, it's kind of a ramble, but that's just my thoughts thinking back there. So, >> thank you, MR. [applause] >> Last chance. Did uh is there anyone else that would like to speak? Three minutes. >> Okay. Mike. >> Yes. >> I had to get [laughter] >> if you just state your name for Miss Dart cuz >> I know who you are. I know, >> right? [clears throat] >> I understand schools and stuff and everything. My concern is the you taking less of teachers, staff and to be more students in the classroom, right? >> Is that right? >> Not necessarily. Yes. >> May or may not be. >> May or may not.

149[clears throat] >> Okay. But if there was taken away from the students, >> right? And it's also taking the way the teachers because the teachers with a small classroom are more attentive to each student. So if you got a classroom of 13 and you got to add 15 more to it and you got one teacher that's very overwhelming. You understand what I'm saying? Mhm. >> And takes away from the students learning [clears throat] and the teachers being more on that. >> Okay. >> Thank you. [applause] [clears throat] >> Okay. Um board members, I think this concludes our public comment. Um, I just want to express my sincere thanks, but everyone who came out tonight and spoke. I would also like to thank Miss Brooks and her team for doing an outstanding job pointing out key

150factors um in our making our decision a little harder, but um I know that we have to make this decision. And also, I would like to thank Dr. Williams and his teams. Um, I know I'm going to start off over here with Dr. Jordan, Mr. Harold, Mr. Smith, Mr. Green, Mr. Wright, Dr. Simpson, Miss Rantry, and Miss Casper. If they get anybody, and Mr. Jordan, you're hiding over there from it. >> Okay. [laughter] And, um, I really do appreciate it more than I can tell you. U, this is a difficult decision. Um, as Miss Riddick says, it's it's a decision that has been brought to our attention and we as a board need to decide what is the best interest for our students and our staffs in the community here um in Gates County. If

151there's not any other business, um, I would entertain a motion to adjourn. >> Before we do, I'd like you to say also we thank Manda for >> Oh, yeah. Miss Leon, I forgot you. I'm sorry, Miss Dawson. [laughter] Thank you. Any anything else that I missed? >> Just thank you all. >> Yeah, thank y'all. >> Thank you all for the work you put into it. And >> it was a great crowd. >> Thank you for the food. >> Yeah. >> Yes. >> Anything else? Thank you, Mr. D. I'm sorry. I understand that. Okay. Um >> I make a motion that we adjourn. >> Okay. I have a motion that we adjourn. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Have a motion and a second. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. >>

152Thank y'all all for coming out. Drive careful coming home. Going home. They'll get you John hot too.