001Hey, Jake. It is now 6 p.m. and it's January the 10th, 2026. Welcome to our monthly board meeting of correction. February the 10th. Thank you. and it is January uh February the 10th. Uh welcome again. Uh we apologize in advance for not being able to have uh our microphones here. We had some u communication difficulties. So uh if you think that we're screaming, we're not. We just want to make sure that uh you hear us all. Okay. And so now I would like to uh ask uh Captain for the invitation. You can lead us to pray. >> Let us bow our heads. Thank you, Lord, for allowing us to be here today. We ask that you bless everyone in this room. Bless the ones, Lord, that may wanted to come. Lord, we ask that you
002bless the children of Hope County, all the staff members. Keep us all together. Give us the mind to serve, Lord, while we have the opportunity. We give you praise for this meeting. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. Amen. >> Can I get a motion to approve the agenda? I make a motion to approve the agenda for February, 2020. I second. >> Captain has motion. Angela has a second. Those in favor? >> Those against? Okay. All right. Um the next thing is going to be the chair's report. Um, we have a lot of great things uh that [snorts] uh we're going to be dealing with. Uh, the first thing I like to address is the uh policy committee members. Uh, we're doing basically a change of guard. Um, at this point I'm going to go ahead
003and u appoint Miss Katherine Blue as a chair for the policy uh committee and uh Angela Sutherland will be a uh one of the additional board members uh to that committee and also uh Miss uh uh Miss Miss Jessica uh Brown. Um and then um just to give you uh a heads up uh we're going to get the uh also we're going to implement a much neededed polic uh committee which is the finance uh uh committee. Uh we're still working uh a few uh u details uh on it. Uh but just to give you a heads up, the finance committee of the Hope County Board of Education is uh will be responsible for supporting the board of education and fulfilling its duty to uh oversee the financial health of the Hope County schools. Uh the
004responsibilities of the finance committee include reviewing all Hope County Board of Education financial policies and procedures to ensure such policies and uh procedures uh conform to applicable federal and state laws. uh collaborating with the superintendent and finance officer in the uh development uh and review of the district's budget, including uh assessing the district's capital and operational funding needs and uh monitoring the district's uh expenditures, ensuring such expenditures are aligned with the goals of the whole county board of education and whole county schools. Uh recommending actions to the whole county board of education based upon finance committee. uh meeting uh this uh caution. Um this uh finance committee is going to be on the uh action honor for the next uh month. There's still things we got to work through uh with the administration to make
005sure that when when in fact it is uh implemented. Um uh we're going to be uh hitting the ground running. Uh [clears throat] I would like to have uh obviously three uh uh volunteers in the um within the board. Uh keep uh [snorts] please keep in mind we're going to need a chair and chair and two um uh additional board members. Uh I will be obviously attending u both uh committees eventually or the chair of the board will be u attending also without having a vote to recommend to move uh policies forward as an example. Okay. So so so some those are some of the things that uh we're working on. Um, like I said, we're still uh timing up a few things with the uh Dr. Spells to make sure it u it runs
006uh smooth. And um [clears throat] the uh other thing that I will I would like to address is the uh board member school assignment. Uh I this time I will give the floor to uh u. >> Thank you chairman. Um good evening everyone. the board member school assignment um will consist of all the board members being a representative to each school. And the reason one of the reasons we think it would be a great idea is so that we can be more involved and attend the events at schools because so many schools have uh activities or programs going on at the same time. as well as having a contact person for that school. So we came up with the idea that of course we are all still part of [cough and clears throat] every school
007but each school will have a board representative as a contact person that would kind of like be on call. So um and we'll make sure that the principles get this information at Sandy Grove Middle um and Sandy Elementary. The person will be board chair person Ruben Castalone. Um, vice chair Angela Sutherland will have up church and Don Steve. Board member Jessica Brown will be the contact person for Rockfish Hope and JW McLaclin. U myself, I will have Westo Elementary, West Hope Middle and Hawkeye Elementary. And board member Rosa, Dr. Rosa Mallister McCrae will have East Hope Middle and Sherlock and we are all tagged the high school will al also be Charlton Alternative School and S Hope Early College. So we just think it'll be a great idea to have a board member to represent
008each school to make sure that we're involved and our faces are seen and we could collaborate more with the students um the administrator and the staff. And some of the benefits I think will come from this is we'll collaborate more, attend more events, uh be that powerful contact person and we can be more involved. You can ask us to read a book, meet with the class, visit the classrooms and I think this can be a good thing for Hope County schools. Um if it don't work out, we can always tweet it. But I want to thank my board members um for uh just jumping on this because this was my vision. After I reflect the first year, there was so many things going on and we wanted to be everywhere and we could be. So
009I think this will allow us as board members to be more present. Thank you. >> Thank you, Catherine. I think I appreciate you for taking the lead on this. Uh great job. Uh the other thing I want to address and uh this might come as a surprise to some uh uh some individuals but uh there's something that uh that I uh I believe in doing I' I've always been a person that believes in giving to the community um and what I want to do uh moving forward. Now again this is just specifically me um I've uh developed something uh ran through it with the u uh Dr. spouse and um other uh individuals. And so next month um the person that the administration selects to be the u teacher of the month uh will be
010the uh chair's pick. Um, and so basically what's going to happen is the uh individual that excels excels in certain categories will be the one that uh gets recognized uh uh by me uh every month. And this person is going to receive a total of $250 award, a certificate of appreciation, and obviously [clears throat] public recognition during the uh the board meeting. And um that is all I have. Uh any board members like to uh put any highlights that you might have attempted to during the month? [clears throat] >> A shout out to our wrestling team. They're wrestling in the dual team state championship the first round today right now. And we're currently beating. >> Oh wow. >> Three hours wrestle pine today. But we beat them wrestle. Love to our wrestlers. >> Thank you.
011Anybody else? Okay. All right. At this time, uh, we'll pass it on to the, uh, superintendent. >> Thank you, Mr. Cast. Good evening, everyone. >> Working on a lot of things and just want to let the community and the board know that we're finishing up our capital project. We hope to have that ready to present to the board no later than April. We've been talking to principles and getting our list ready for county commissioner so we can present that to county commissioners in May. So, uh, this is going big district PD coming up on February 16th from 26 26. Looking forward to that, too. Elementary and secondary. Good opportunity for our staff. Last summer, I had a meeting with Dr. um Dr. Stewart out at the president out at Sand Hills Community College, and we
012talked about >> [clears throat] >> um transportation and transportation between Sand Hills and San Hope and Sand Hills going to give us $40,000 to help augment our um transportation. So, I just think that's a great thing. It was just a great conversation. We talked about a lot of things that day, but uh we pulled this one off and we're just very excited about that. >> Dr. Ramshshire, is there anything else you want to add to that? >> No, I'm excited about that. Giving more of our students access to both uh the campus in uh Moore County and then also uh the campus uh for our Hook High School students over in um the Hope County campus. So just excited about the opportunities for student. >> Thank you. Thank you. Great vision and just glad we
013pul able to pull it off. $40,000 is a lot of money even today. We have our VAEX robotics on February 21st at West Oak Middle and we're also going to continue back that with the kindergarten registration. So we're looking forward to that. >> [snorts] >> February is CTE month and I also want to thank Dr. Ramshure and Dr. Forberry for an excellent presentation last night about CTE and other things that we're doing in the district. Thank you very much. Also love the bus week is this week. So make sure you love your drivers and love the bus and [clears throat] love the people that get on the bus. also very excited about we received $255,000 $255,400 for EC grant. So, a lot of things that we can do with that. So, we're very excited to
014receive it. On February 20th, board of education and superintendent and my staff, we're going to visit the developments at the new building next door. We'll take a look at it. So also looking forward to that. So a lot of things going on, a lot of moving parts. We're very excited about it. February is that is that month close to graduation and students are getting excited. It's getting warmer. So it's a great time to be in Hope County Schools. All right. [clears throat] And uh next is the uh spotlight on success. the um Hulk is missing. >> Thank you. Good evening. My name is Charmaine Gibson and I serve as media coordinator here at Hope County High School. With me this evening is De Jane McAllister, my student library assistant and the founder of Hope High's
015anime club. I also have with me Frans Winston, president of our esports club. The Hope High Library uh sponsors four clubs in all and teams. The first one being Battle of the Books at the high school level, chess [clears throat] club, the Hope Elite Esports Team, and we also host the anime club. These programs provide structured opportunities for academic growth, [snorts] collaboration, and belonging, particularly for our military connected students with intentional support through our school's district acron program. This year, our battle of the books will return um as the high school level district champions. Our esports team has been invited to tour the esports arena at at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, giving students exposure uh to technology- based careers and pathways. Our chess club is preparing to host a local league and
016future tournaments to broaden student participation. But most recently, our anime club received $4,000 donated to attend a convention in Raleigh, and the company Galaxy Con is the donator. This company hosts largecale fan and cultural events nationwide. So, we're really happy about that donation. The [clears throat] organization became aware of the academic leadership and community building work supported through our library sponsored clubs. This donation will allow at least 30 of our students to attend the convention. Notably, there's 46% of anime club members who are military connected students, making this opportunity especially meaningful for a population that often relies on school-based programs for stability, for [clears throat] connection, and enrichment. Students are currently fundraising to cover a one night stay uh to participate in this first time endeavor. We respectfully request any support you are able to
017provide and thank you for the opportunity for us to highlight our students work. And [clears throat] there's a little bit more these students would like to say. Fans is our again our president of our esports team. >> Hello everyone. Um this year our esports team hosted our first schoolwide tournament in November. It was a really huge success. a lot more people than expected to show up. Um, we are now planning to expand by hosting an intercount tournament. Last season, our Brahala team, I am one of our players, made it to state and place 13th overall through our sponsor, sorry, through our sponsor vessel. This year, our Smash Bros. team is currently qualifying for state and we're hoping to win. >> [clears throat] >> Um, we appreciate your continued support for our program and any way
018you can help us. >> Thank you for [applause] the next uh item is the America 250NC flag. >> [clears throat] >> Good evening everyone. I am so honored to be before you tonight. Anytime we can celebrate students is an opportunity to uplift the joy of learning. And so tonight we're going to celebrate our students. Tonight we are proud to celebrate the creativity, the talent, and the patriotism of our students through the America 250 flag challenge. America 250N is the official state organization leading the commemoration of the United States 250th anniversary. As part of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, they work to educate the public on 250 years of North Carolina history. Through this initiative, we proudly join the America 250 NC County Flag Challenge, inviting our fourth grade students to participate. The contest
019encouraged our students across our county to think deeply about their community, what it means to them, and how they wanted to be remembered in the future. Their designs reflect not only their artistic talent, and they are artistic, but also their pride, history, and the vision for tomorrow. Tonight, we're going to celebrate the first place winners from each elementary school. And I am going to call at this time Miss Iris Flowers. She currently is the America 250NC Hope County. We are one chairperson to join me as we present each student with their certificate. As we call each student's name, I invite the principal, the AP from each school to come up and join us and also any family members that would like to take part in the pictures as we celebrate each student. And once we
020invite once we uh introduce individual students, we will announce our top three county winners from Rockfish Hope Elementary School. We have Alana Allen. [applause] Yeah. [applause] Congratulations. [clears throat] Congratulations from West Hope Elementary School. We have Daryl Simmons. [applause] Mom [applause] from elementary school. Olivia Hop. [applause] >> [laughter] [applause] >> from elementary school. TINSLEY CARTER [applause] >> [applause] >> from Gro Elementary School, Amina Lombardi. >> [applause] >> That's right. [laughter] Yeah. I got it [applause] from elementary school. Maline Holland >> [applause] [clears throat] [applause] >> from school rocks. >> [applause] [clears throat] [applause] >> And from Church Elementary School, Beck Bloomfield. >> [clears throat] [applause] >> Let's give it up for all of our students. We're so proud of the work they did because a part of this was a writing piece. I'm gonna tell
021you, with all this technology, writing is hard for students. Um, and they did extremely well. So, we're so proud of them. At this time, we want to announce our top three winners for the district, boys and girls. But remember, you guys are all winners. In third place for the district, we have Alana Allen from Rock. [applause] Beautiful. [laughter] [clears throat] >> [applause] >> Stay right there for us. Okay. In second place, we have Beck Bloomfield. [applause] >> [clears throat] [clears throat] [applause] >> And our first place winner that will represent Hope County School for the state competition is Daryl Simmons from West >> [applause] [laughter] >> money. >> Congratulations from North Carolina. >> [laughter] [clears throat] [laughter] [applause] >> We're going to get one additional picture of our top three winners if we get all
022of our students together. If you come up in front right here, >> let's give it up for all [applause] Thank you so much for your participation. Thank you so much parents for being here. Boys and girls, incredible job. We are so proud of you. >> I'd like to say something as North Carolina chairperson. Thank you so much. Thank you to Dr. Rose McCra who also presented this to Dr. Hammond. I'm gonna go ahead and say that's who you are. That's who you are. [laughter] Thank you so much to all the parents for participating. We are making history 250 years. Your family, your child's name, the the official winner will be displayed on North Carolina's website on April 16th, I think. And so, and 50 years from now, when their children, grandchildren look back, look, they'll
023see their their mother, their father's name on the website. This is certainly something that we should be proud of. Hope County was one of the only counties that participated in this challenge. Out of the 89 counties that are participating in the state of North Carolina because there's 100 counties, but of the 89 counties, only 32 counties participated. Miss Hammond did the work. Thank you. [applause] County, Moore County, Scotland. None of them participate. The whole county did. >> [applause] >> NEXT is public comment. >> We have two individuals that have signed up for public comment this evening. You will have three minutes to speak. Um our first individual is here senior. Please come up to the podium. >> [clears throat] >> All right. Um, so I'll just place my voice near me. Uh, good evening. My
024name is a senior. I am a father to a daughter at Tul High School. Um my biggest concern that I have that I want to address to the board members here is that um being the principal at Hope I had a very destructive conversation. The conversation came about with the safety concerns of the actual facility of the school. Now I know there's a budgeting plan that's been set. That's great. But the issue that I have and that that base concerns that is when we have safety officers that are overwhelmed and they cannot participate in ensuring the safety of the actual campus to the best ability that's a problem. A little bit background about me is that I am an active duty member of the United States Army. So therefore I do understand how budgeting and
025how we address safety concerns at best that we can do with the personnel we have. But it is not an excuse to short change certain schools or based off of budgeting plans on how things work. You can't have a protective security system that's not even working or if it's not working, what is the plan forward to make sure we're fixing it. How are we going about this to make sure these items for toys like you say are ensuring the safety for our students? You know, my biggest concern before I I yield is that there was a open protest. There's not an issue about that. But how can we ensure students are accurately being tracked if the system doesn't work? I.e. scanners. If you're leaving school, scan your ID. How can we keep accountability? That's a
026big thing in my in the military, accountability of personnel. So, if we can't keep accountability with students and it's not all lies on the principal, it lies in the big group members here. So my question that I have is moving forward um the agenda, how are we going to fix this? You know, how are we going to implement other plans and avenues to address these loopholes or I like to say cancer crevices that are constantly compounding throughout the school year but yet being put on the back burner but not being brought forward. All right. Um who is going to be keeping track of this throughout the school year to make sure that we are making movements to make sure this is being addressed? Okay. We have these great technologies available to us, but how are
027we improving them to make sure they work? You can have the technology all you want to, but if it don't work, what what are we doing for it? It's just it's just a paper weight. All right. Um, and last lastly before I yield, um, my question I have is, are we going to keep a a track record of this? I I did not want to go up here and have a negative input, but I have a concerning input moving forward because if we keep delaying on this and not making a plan forward to address these concerns, my fear is that something catastrophic is going to happen before we actually do something. So, in the business of what I work to protect you all and I make that sacrifice every day is what are we doing
028to set up counter measures to address these concerns, these loopholes or these premises to make sure our children are safe? Are you >> Thank you. >> [clears throat] >> Um, next we have >> I apolog nonprofit here here in Hook County that helps parents get involved in education. Um, a couple months ago, I reached out to Hook County Schools and um, proposed an idea that I have to help parents get involved and to help improve literacy. So, I've come up with the idea of a family silent book club. Traditionally with book clubs, everybody's assigned the same book. You're supposed to read x amount of chapters by a specific date and then you meet and discuss it. But in today's age, that's really difficult to do. making time for that is really hard. Far too often,
029our children don't get to see us adults reading for leisure. We don't get to sit down and actually practice with them. So, I've created a a small program to try to help combat that. We are going to meet um at Upurch Elementary School once a month. It's open to any K through5 student and family in Ho County. We'll begin the meeting with a small literacy lesson that the parents will go ahead and model with their children. The teacher will be there to help guide them along and help answer any questions. Then the families will spend a few minutes reading together. Afterwards, the children will go and do centers with our librarians while the parents actually get to sit back and enjoy reading whatever they want on their own. This is a simple way to try
030to help incorporate parents into our education. Making sure that we're building those foundational literacy skills, not just with our students, but so that our parents know how it's being done. Far too often that's a problem when parents talk about, "I don't know how to help my child with their homework because I don't know how you're teaching it at school anymore." So, these are some things that we're just trying to do to try to help combat those issues. Making sure that we're keeping that level of transparency with our parents so they know fully how [clears throat] to um use the the methods that are being used um at school so they can do it at home. And then making sure that our parents have access to these kind of things. Um we'll make sure that they
031have on-site child care for those that have younger children that um aren't reading yet and they still want to be able to participate. um we'll make sure they have some light snacks and we also have our migrant education program involved in this. So we'll have translators there to help our ESL and ELELLL families as well. Um so our first meeting is going to be on March 17th at Upurch Elementary School Library from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. I brought flyers for you guys if anybody wants one. But um yeah, I hope to see some of you guys there. I'd really love your help in um kind of spreading the word about this stuff, making sure that all of our schools know about it as well. >> All right, next uh item is the consent agenda. We
032got two items. Uh, can I get a uh motion to approve the minutes for January 13, 2026? >> I move that we um in >> favor. >> Those in favor? >> Those against. And uh second item is the uh second read of the u school board policy. Um, >> I had a question. >> I think we pulled policy 2230 because it's about >> it was on our agenda. It was back before policy committee today. Okay. >> Any more questions, comments? I make a motion to approve. Wait a minute. It's been pulled. You said >> it's on the list, but it it was back before policy committee, so it needs to be removed from that drive folder, but it will not be approved tonight. >> It'll it'll come back for the first read next month >>
033and it's on the uh website um on the um policy committee hyperlink. [clears throat] So I guess if it's over here we need to make amend. >> Yeah. So if you want to amend um make a motion to amend and approve the second read policies excluding 2230. I get my numbers. >> Yes. >> I move that Jesus [laughter] >> we remove policy 223. Who's who's making the motion? >> I make a motion that we remove policy code 2234 committee. >> I seconded. >> Okay. Those in favor? >> I. >> Those against. >> Okay. So, that removed it. So, now if we need a motion to approve, which I think Catherine made the initial motion to approve second. Okay. Those in favor? Those against. Okay. And next item is administration. The vacancy report. >> Good evening.
034Good evening. I presented the vacancy report tonight. As you can see that we have a total of certified vacancies, 24 classified eight. Hopefully after tonight we'll be down to a total of from 32 to 28 on our vacancy report. [snorts] Next item. the u the finance financial month uh day. >> Good evening board chair members. Um today I have two items. Um I have the the contract for the fiscal year 26 audit is coming up. So I have information today so um you can vote on it next time. Um and I will give each of you a copy of it so you can look at before we come back next week next month for the contract. They will be here this month to start our compliance audit. And then next is the amendment number two.
035to the next page. So, and this one has to be voted on. So, I guess because it's on the information this morning, but we had um two changes, one state fund and one in capital outlay. um our state funds grew by money that was this in the second page they were showing this will show you how we moved the money and then in capital outlay we moved um $1 million from the 6,000 series which was the systemwide support services to the 5,000 which was instructional services because and the 5,000 um purpose code that's where we paid for the Chromebook update and also some things that we fixed at the school. This is the capital outlay money that we get from the commissioners and it fixed some of the schools. So they ended up in the
0365,000 series. That's why we had there was no money budget there. So we had to move that there. And this second page just basically shows you how we move the money. [clears throat] So as you see if you look at um O1 which is classroom teachers, we had moved that amount of money for because we had international teachers. So that's where th that funds come from from the act classroom teachers. Um so on 09 that is annually bonus leave which that's not budgeted to us that's just I don't want to say free money but they give that to us to pay out annual leave and um short term. So that money is just paid by the state, but we have to keep track um driver training got an additional the summer reading because that was
037from last year's money that got taken back from the state. Um we had to use it during the summer for PRC 16, but whatever was left, they always take it back every year. Um so as you see in 20, we moved the money from the classroom teachers to that spot. the mission a lotment because some of them came like behavior support um [snorts] the child and family nurses and social and the social workers. What happens is that we're given three positions. We filled those and whatever months that were left, we moved it to 43. So, um that money can be used for other things like staff development and supplies they need for nurses and social workers. Um we got our initial initial a lotment for achieve [clears throat] to our achieve third grade bonuses fourth
038and fifth grade and the principal um bonuses that came this year. So that was 46 and 48. Um the school connectivity alignment drop the career technology credential support which they get every year that drop. Um and we got additional allotments in A5 and we also got a small grant which is for feminine hygiene and that's where the money moved. So it total us to $884,44.9. So that just shows you how the money is moved. >> Any questions? >> Sorry. I'm sorry. Go ahead. >> No. >> I was going to ask a question. We were saying something about 5,000 and we were trying to find it over here. >> So on the first page it says the 5 the 5000 tells you it's instructional services. The 5000 series the purpose code is for instructional services. >>
039Is the amendment number two? >> Yes, it's method number two. There's two pages. >> The one with the >> [clears throat] >> Oh, instruction. >> Yes. >> I just had a question. >> Yeah. >> The summer reading camp. >> Uhhuh. >> You said that the state that we didn't use it. >> Right. Well, they use they they do the summer reading camp and I think DH could explain that to you what they do. Um they get special kids they have to work with and then whatever they don't use they take it back but then they give as much have move >> any more questions >> I just >> so we didn't understand >> we didn't have something >> no some specific specifically in particular because some >> well basically that money is paid for teachers
040>> to teach. >> Yeah. >> So they use all the staff that they could some some money that goes back when we send money back is because it's only for one specific thing and we can't use anywhere else. >> I understand that part but could we have added something else maybe? Did you say anything? >> Yes, ma'am. I'm sorry. So, um, RTA camp is the money that the state gives us for third grade and we also do second grade students that are not proficient by the end of the school year meeting a pathway. And so, they do give us the funds. Most of the funds do to go towards like salaries. We use it for supplies and things of that sort. Um, but I would like to sit with um, Miss Richardson to look at
041this because, you know, I tried to use every dime. So, I am also kind of surprised that we didn't use some of it. Um because even when we don't use it all, normally what we do is use the rest of the money to buy materials or things like that to um kind of help support. Um so but yes, so we do try to use every time and not spend it. >> So how would you know if you use it or not? >> Normally what I do is follow up with finance to see what we have left and then from that we start making plans like so what can we use this money for? Uh things of that sort. Is there a particular time that you're supposed to use it? So if you don't use it
042by June 30, whatever. >> Yes. >> Then you have to >> October 30th. >> October 30th. >> Okay. >> So So I I have a question. So this money specifically for a specific event. >> Okay. So, who is who is actually tracking this event to make sure that >> I am. >> Okay. >> And um like I said, we can I'm going to sit down with Miss Richardson to go over this. We do have different pots of money, so maybe something but I tracked it down to the dollar. [laughter] Um I tracked it down to the dollar, but maybe that's something we can sit down just to look to make sure between the budgets. The money is definitely being used but >> because it could be income allocated and encumbered and then >> at the
043last second purchase comes back short and then you don't have time to spend it and it goes back >> and then that's why we always that's why we say whenever you do a purchase order whatever you have to make sure you get those items in because sometimes something is back ordered and the other gets sent in they cancel the order and that puts Right. Any more questions? >> No. >> Okay. Next uh item is the action items. We have a few uh the 2026 2027 school uh calendars. >> They got any questions on it? >> No. Okay. So, can I get a motion to approve uh the 2026 2027 school calendar? >> So, uh let's review. >> Didn't we see him last month? >> I just saw >> we did information last month. >> So,
044that's why I say >> Could I get a motion to approve uh the 2026 2027 school calendars? 2026 2026 2026 2027. [clears throat] I make a motion, chairmen, that we approve the 2026 2027 school calendars. Second. >> Those in favor? >> Those against. >> All right. Next item is the high school restroom uh renovation. [snorts] >> Did they ever go back to >> uh we have u um if we have any questions? We got Dr. Chat. >> Um, does anybody have any questions before we approve this? >> Come on. >> I guess the question was, have we been to the county commissioners? We have not been in front of the county commissioners at this time. However, we have shared the documentation and the explanations to um support the provided documentation with the request over to
045the county commissioners. We are waiting to hear back from them for approval to be on the agenda. Um, the reason why I'm asking for this to be approved is because in the RFP it does have a May one deadline um with the work to be completed, but also the $16,000 for reallocating at the um county commissioner's discretion would be is is only for the mini splits that go into the restrooms. It's not for anything else. Um, so the $16,000 only supports the the HVAC mini systems for both restrooms. Um, and then if it is approved tonight, um, my understanding is that once we go to the county commissioners and they approve the $16,000, then we could bring back an amendment to the contract um, with Thomas Plumbing to sign it. >> Any more questions? >>
046No. My issue with that is when we when you went to the county commissioners during the summer, they asked how much you needed to repair the bathrooms and you guys said $150,000. So now it's the 150. It's 150,000 plus the 16. So what you're saying is that you're going to the county commissioners and you're asking for an additional $16,000. Well, the 16 I'm going address two things on that. Um, Miss Southerntherland, the $16,000 would be reallocated from the funds that we've saved. So, over the course of this year when we are when we've completed the projects, we've saved almost $100,000. So, we would be asking them to allow us to spend $16,000 of the $100,000 that we've saved. And then the other thing is that this summer when the county commissioners did ask us that,
047we told them that we did have um an estimate on that and that estimate was at 150,000 but it did not include the mini split HVAC systems. And excluding the mini split HVAC systems, the quote that we received was for $149,000. You saying that you said that this the things weren't included at the time whenever you went before commission. >> That is correct. The HVAC mini split um system was not on there. While talking with the company, we did realize that including the HVAC mini systems um after the capital project funding was approved that the mini split HVAC systems would help with the air circulation in the restrooms. >> Okay. So this is what I want to clear up chairman is that initially like we said we went to before the county commission they said
048$150,000 when we had the meeting the last time this issue came up it was only an information item it was that we never [clears throat] voted on it I never voted to take anything from Thomas plumbing I had questions that's my job is to ask questions when we went before the county commissioners They said $150,000. So my concern was why was it to the T and why was it extra? Because that never came to us. So we didn't vote on it. I didn't vote to take it from Thomas Plumbing. I asked a question to be clear because I was there at that meeting and they asked and you guys said $150,000. So that's what I wanted to clear up. So again, whenever you guys went before him, they said they requested that we got three
049bids. And that's why I asked the question because we always run into that problem. We don't never do what we're asked to do. We never get the three bids. [snorts] So that was my question. I wanted to clear the three bids. >> Yes. And we didn't we didn't get the three bids. No, we did not. >> Uh, Dr. Hunt, can you elaborate on the bidding as to how this occurred? Uh, I vaguely remember what you referred to when this item was first brought up to the uh, board. U, not everybody qualified. So, can you bring bring us back to speed on this? >> Yes, sir. Uh, we did post an RFP twice. um once in November, I think once at the towards the end of October. Um and when those bids were when the RFP
050was posted during the first time frame, no one responded to the RFP. During the second time frame, Thomas Plumbing did respond to the RFP. We did have another company come out and take a look at the proposed project, but they never replied with a bid. And again, Thomas Plumbing was the only company that submitted a formal bid. So, as a board member, I have every right, chairman, to ask questions. I just wanted to be very, very clear. I've done business with Thomas Plumbing. I did not vote for him not to have the contract. It was never on the table to be voted on. I asked the question because that's what the the citizens voted me for was to do do right by the citizens and to do right by this district. So I had every
051right to ask that question because I was there. I was present in that meeting. When you guys asked for the money, they asked you specifically how much did you need to get it done. You guys told them they gave it to us and they said get three bids and that did not happen. So that was my concern as a board member as a part of my job description. I just didn't I don't want to be in the public that I took something back from a company that never had a contract from the beginning. >> I just want to make that clear. >> Um our students have to have bathrooms outside of campus. Uh we have deadlines to meet. We can't just keep dragging. It actually was removed from the agenda twice. This will be the
052third time it is. >> No, I was not. >> Let's not talk each other. >> We owe it to our students. We have to have a bathroom. If the county won't give us $16,000 to do a bathroom when they're about to spend $500,000 on the America 250 project. I'll personally pay [clears throat] $16,000 to do it. >> And I make a motion that we approve the budget. Approve it right now. Is there any more discussion? >> It was never that I wanted. >> I understand. Is there any more discussion about this? >> Okay. Can I get a Can I go ahead and get a motion to uh approve this? >> Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Those in favor? >> Close again. >> Okay. So, moves. And the uh next item [sighs and
053gasps] is the COSSBA national conference approval of uh March 1315. >> I approve that. What What do we make a motion that um we go first that the board members attend? Yeah, there's uh uh spells. Who's going to this uh event? >> Board members. >> There right now two board members [clears throat] have signed up. >> Okay. So, just just keep in mind that uh the board is approving the the financial uh the budget for this uh thing. So, once we approve this, that means that these these individuals are the ones that going. >> Okay. >> I make a motion to approve conferencing. Can I >> think it's how many we have to call out names who call? >> No, it's not required. >> The motion to approve the 2026 Costco National Conference. A second.
054>> Those in favor? >> I. Those against. Okay. They moved. Okay. The next item is a close session. Can I u motion? >> I make a motion. I make a motion that we go into close session under the North Carolina General Statute 143 318 111A13 and 6 to prevent the disclosure of confidential personnel and student matters to consider matters relating to initial employment of individual employees. and to consult with the board's attorney to preserve the attorney privilege. >> Those in favor? >> I. >> Those against? Okay. We can take a five.