001Father, I thank you today. Lord, I thank you for us coming together again. God, we're asking you to give us the knowledge and the understanding of the things that's going to be brought before us. God, I'm asking you to continue to bless us. Watch over our students. Watch over our staff. Watch over our bus drivers. watch over everyone that's in this district and in our community. God, we're asking you to continue to allow us to be safe. Continue to bless the security officers and the officers of the sheriff department to have the knowledge to keep us safe. So Lord, I just want to thank you again for bringing us all together again to settle things at this table in your son Jesus name. Amen. Amen. >> Thank you so much for that. At this time
002before we do that approval for the agenda, I'm asking to make uh for a motion to uh under information a if we can bring that back to the table make amendment because we didn't get um a respond to that RFP. So we would not be doing that one today. >> So we're taking it off. >> Okay. >> Until next month. Okay, Madam Chair. >> Yes. Um, I want to make a motion to take item A from the information um section off. >> Second. >> Okay. Motion has been made to approve the agenda with the taking um action uh information item eight off tonight to bring back for December. All in favor say I. >> Any opposers? At this time, this is the chair's report. I just want to thank everyone for being here today. Thank
003you for actually taking your time out. I know we normally meet um on Tuesday, but some things happened, so we just moved it to today. We also have Jessica Brown on Zoom with us on tonight. I just want to say that on two weeks ago I did have an opportunity to attend the boys of distinction at um they had a great event at the right building and it was really a good event to see the young boys with their fathers pinning them. So it was really a good event. Had opportunity to walk through some of the schools and see some smiling faces and so thankful for everything that whole county staff do. So that's just my chair's report. If any other board members have anything they want to add, they can about event or celebration
004you have. Amen. If not, thank you so much. We'll turn this over to Superintendent Dr. Kennes. >> Thank you, Miss Blue. We've been doing a lot a lot of great things been going on. We had an excellent veteran program. Um had good turnout. The the veterans were very happy about the uh the program that we had over at the DLC. But we want to make sure that we continue that uh tradition of doing that. And it's always important to honor the people that work so hard and keep us safe for the job that they do and the sacrifices that they make. So I really enjoy that. We also had an excellent trunk or treat uh here at the district office. We gave out a lot of candy to a lot of smiling faces and the
005parents were very appreciative of the trunk or treat. Almost ran out and that's a good thing. Made the kids happy, made the dentist happy, >> but it was a good event and just it was a good feeling in the air too. So, anytime you can get that, um, we always want to do that. Um, we have our Thanksgiving lunchon next week. It'll be on Monday at 12:00. So, again, looking forward to that. I know everybody's getting into that holiday spirit. students still learning a lot every day and studying their social studies compliance, but we are getting into the holiday spirit and supporting our families during this very difficult time. So, Thanksgiving lunchon also proud to share that Don Steve made the um list, you know, San Hogan made the list of top schools in the
006North Carolina and the United States and Don Steve made it as an elementary school. So, the class is on its way. There's a lot of great things that's happening and just want to make sure that um the people know that we have great schools and great things are happening in our schools. I am proud to announce that on November 20th, we'll have our it'll be right here at district office. We have our turkey giveaway. Uh carp sales, one of our employees will be working with me and we'll pass out um turkeys for our families that are need. Again, there's a lot of need during this difficult time >> and we want to make sure that we're being good neighbors and we're helping to support our families. So, we'll have our turkey giveaway. The turkeys are
007in root. The thing that we're working on now is the cranberry sauce and stuffing. And some people have shared with me that people like dressing too instead of stuffing. So, we'll do both. We'll try to do both. So, that's on that's on Thursday, November 20th. So, I think the families will be very happy about that. We will get our names from the principles at the buildings. try to get six to seven people per building to give turkeys to anytime you can support the families that'll be a great thing. So, it's just been a busy month with our community outreach and the things that we're doing in the classroom to move the needle. >> That's it. >> Okay. Thank you, Dr. sales. Great things happening. At this time, we will actually have public comment and I'll
008turn this over to attorney. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, we have one individual signed up for public comment tonight. Um, each public comment gets three minutes. I'll keep time for you and I'll just raise my hand when the time is up. Um, our first speaker is Sanders. >> Cameron Sanders. Sanders. >> Thank you so much for that question. >> Good evening. I wrote some notes down. Let me go my time slot. >> Okay, perfect. So, my name is Cameron Sanders. Um, glad to be here. I'm happy you're all here. I'll start with something good and end with something better because I don't want you all to think that I just come up here to speak negatively. So, I'll start with this. Um, recently I just attended 3-day conference in Charlotte, North Carolina. Um, National
009Center for Families. Um they had a conference in Charlotte um and one of our whole county parents was recognized there um because called engagement champion engagement of community or families or something like that. It was a great experience. Um and so just letting you guys know that um good things come out of county everybody on the TV and that people are recognizing are aware of the service and things that's happening in county. Um what I'm here tonight to speak on um is I'll read off of here u mental health awareness. Um I listen I understand right that um the school board is not responsible for every single issue that the youth or the community encounters. Um, but because it's here, right, and it's being presented to us, um, I'm just wanting to put it on
010the table and see what the school board have in place or we're working on something to be put in place, um, to combat the issues um, to help deal with mental issues and concerns for the youth, right? Um, I don't know. I don't know the policies. I don't know the regulations. I don't know who's in charge. Um, but I do want to make this a point of concern or issue. If it's not, I want us to be looking for it. I want us to be working on it. I want us to be better prepared for it because even if the stuff doesn't happen in our school, it happens in our community and our kids are aware of it. Our youth are aware of it. So then what do we have um in place? How are
011we dealing with it? How are we addressing with it? We can just say it didn't happen on my ground and then bypass it, but it's still affecting us. I hope that we all aware that it affects us that when stuff happens with our students, it affects us. So again, I don't know anything about budgeting. I don't know anything about dollars. I don't know where it's going to come from, but I just want all of us to be aware and I want the people out there to know that it's a topic. It's being talked about. It's an issue and that we need to take time to address it and present it to the community. Let them know that we're aware and that it's being addressed. >> Great. And so I'll close with this, the better part.
012Um so my baby son has recently launched an initiative calling called called fueling our future. All right so it's a student created student led and student ran program that builds partnerships with community and businesses to help resource or combat food insecurity. Um particularly we're focusing on Hope County High School right now because county high school has just started or just launched there. How much time I got to >> you got four seconds but I'll let you finish. >> Perfect. Come on now. I like you. And so P High School has just launched that food pantry. So what that does or what this initiative does and it allows the youth to go out and work, be able to be of service. He don't have they don't have to wait to be of service. They can be
013of service now. And so starting tomorrow we are his initiative is going to be presenting food bags to um the students in the car rider line and at the bus line. So, um, letting you guys know again that good things happen in Hope County and it's from all points. It's from the parents, it's from the students, and it's from the admin and teachers. And so, I appreciate you all. >> Thank you. >> I'll hand it back over to you, Madam Chair. >> Okay. Thank you so much. At this time, we're down to the consent agenda. And um, the first item on the consent agenda is the minutes for October 14th, 2025. Can I get a motion to approve? Madam >> Chair, I move to approve the U amends for October 14, 2025. >> I second
014the motion. >> The motion has been made and second to approve the minutes for October 14, 2025. All in favor say I. >> Any opposers? >> Uh here is she >> can >> is she listening? >> Yeah, I think so. Is she on? >> Yeah. >> Can you hear us? >> Yes, I can. >> There you go. >> Yes. >> All right. The second item is school board policy first read. Can I get a motion to approve school board policy first read? >> Madam chair, I move to approve the U first read school board policy. >> I second. >> Okay. The motion has been made to approve the school board policy. First read is been second. All in favor say I. I. >> Any opposers? Thank you. Next, we'll move right along to information. Um,
015and we will go to the vacancy report. >> Madam Chair, board members, superintendent spells. Good evening. >> Good evening. >> I'm here to present the vacancy report. As you see on our vacancy report, we have a total of 27 uh certifi certified vacancies and 18 classified vacancies. There's a total of 45 uh for the entire district and most of our certified vacancies are our section of children uh department which is a hard uh area to fill. >> Thank you. Any questions? Anyone? Thank you. At this time we have the financial month today. Good evening everyone. >> The month date um we'll start sharing with you what's going on in the finance world. So the first thing about it is the audit update. Um the audit is coming to a close. We're waiting for I thought
016I would have gotten it today, but we're waiting for numbers from the county office so they can complete our audit. So, I'm staying on Garvin to make sure we get that um by tomorrow so we can close because we don't really date this year. The next thing is a child nutrition concern. So, um because of the federal government shutdown, November was the last month that the federal government has given child nutrition funds to run the child nutrition department. So, um, we're unsure of what's going to happen with December on, but I just want come to tell you that, uh, we do know that they do have enough, uh, fund balance to run for three months. So, uh, right now, we're not really concerned and we're hoping the federal government is going to do what it's
017supposed to do to make sure our children get fed. So, we're just going to be keep praying on that and keep lobbying to make sure they come back up and make sure our child nutrition is completely covered with funding. >> And that is what I have to report today in Thank you. Okay. Learning.com. Good evening. >> Good evening. >> So, just uh to bring before you learning.com. Um it's a program as part of our North Carolina digital literacy initiative. It's critical for equipping all our students with essential digital literacy skills. Um and it ensures that they can demonstrate the academic knowledge uh that they need in order to navigate the digital digital world. So in 202122 our school year um our county was designated as a tier one county which qualified us to participate in
018this DPI's fully funded program around the digital learning initiative. Since then we have been u integrating this initiative into our strategic plan every year making sure that we're participating. Uh it allows our K8 educators with uh it gives them a comprehensive digital literacy curriculum. Typically our media coordinators are uh the uh facilitators of this and it allows us to give the necessary training to students to transform our students from content consumers to content creators. Um, and it is aligned with the ISTY standards and it is aligned with our North Carolina standard course of study and it does everything from digital citizenship to keyboarding to all of those different things. So for the school year, DPI has allocated funds covering the $37,25922 subscription cost. There's no direct expense to the district. Uh however, as this amount
019exceeds our uh $30,000 threshold, we're requesting um board approval to enter into the contract for the 2526 school year. Um and then that approval will allow us to continue uh with that program should um you vote to do so. >> Are you asking for approval tonight because it's open next month? >> Yes, ma'am. Okay. Any questions? board members. >> U Dr. Roshu, one of the schools are missing. >> Why is that on page U? >> It's the high school. >> The high school is not included in that. >> Oh, and uh Sanho. >> That's right. It's just KA. Yes, ma'am. It's just uh the digital literacy initiative is just for kindergarten through 8th grade. Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. Any more questions? Okay. Thank you so much. At this time, um, we will be we have
020a presenter, Mr. Jeremy Ross, the band director. >> Hey guys, how you doing? >> I'm Jeremy Ross. I'm not going to prolong anything. Um, I just want to talk to you about proposed budget for the band program. um reason why uh we can't sustain uh growth with the band program without having uh some financial backing through the county. Every every dollar we raise is put into maintaining the program but we don't have enough funds to grow the program and uh some items that that need to be addressed instrument uh repair instrument purchase music supply uniforms technology uh as well as travel and clinician staffing. Um why we want to make sure each student has uh a a professional professional grade resources to make sure everybody is having the same quality of instrument especially those specialized
021instruments such as our marching euphoniums marching French horns souafones things of that nature or marching percussion. Uh these are not instruments that you just go out and rent or purchase. Um, right now we have 10 players. We have only eight king souafhones and we project to have 13 sousafhone players. Right now we're maxed out on euphoniums which is we have five we have five players at this time and none will graduate. Uh, same thing with melophones will well same thing with melophones. Um, and we have no room for growth there. uh we have to not turn away students but direct them to other instruments and and I think that would be a disservice to the students performing those specific instruments and these specialized instruments such as like the instrument I mentioned their high cost size
022and storage challenges uh which limit students to purchase themselves as well as they only used for one season. All right. When we move over to concert season, these instruments not used by students. So there's no reason for them to purchase those things. Um uh if we look at like cost of things in nature, we look at uh susophones from $7 to $9,000. Uh we look at French $3 to $8,000 depending on the brand and quality we you get. You have those models just like you have cars, the entry level, the intermediate level, and then the professional level. Um, next thing I want to speak to you about is instrument repair. Uh, the reason that we want to have instrument repair, all are preserve sound quality, uh, to prevent costly repairs, uh, to uh, enhance playability
023for students and longevity and to protect, uh, student health. Um, communicable diseases are passed through instruments. Let's say somebody with strep throat. you don't want to share something with somebody with strep throat. Let's say and I have more information, but I know I'm on time limit and you'll be able to read this. Uh let's say for that $3,000 or my bad for that $6,000 or $9,000 sousafhone, it takes $189 to to take a sonic cleaning each year. And that prevents all that corrosion uh and dent work that happens inside. And we're maintaining it. It's like buying a Lamborghini and never getting oil change. Um, and in the breakdown you'll see the different prices for these instruments. So, we pay $1,000 and we pay $100 just to maintain it each year. Um, when we come to
024travel, last year the band spent $10,295.87 in traveling. This comprised of two away games, three competitions, two parades, uh five all districtount events, two music performance adjudications, one festival in the park, and then two professional clinics. Um and it cost the band that amount. And these figures are based on some volunteer drivers uh that that that donated a time instead of paying it. Right now, the projected cost with just the mileage for this year is $16,1187.60 and that come that covers uh six competitions, one away game, two parades, uh two district events, which are our our district um clinics, uh two tri county day events. That's where our where our musicians become one band with Scotland, Richmond, and county. Two performance adjudication and one professional clinic. Uh these expenses don't cover uh cover driver's lodge
025and meals or anything else. Um lastly, I'd like to speak about uh staff hours and staff uh having paid staff. Uh right now if you look at um from camp to our last performance if you for just our sassy camp alone which is our dance team they do 22.5 to 45 hours in that week. Uh drum line camp is 20 hours. Uh full band camp is 90 hours in two weeks. Uh seasonal practice equals up to 126 hours. That's three days a week. And that's the minimum practical hours we do Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, not counting if we add Monday or Friday practice. Uh football games, we're looking at 36 hours for six games. Uh and competitions, and this is a low ball number of 36 to 48 hours, we're asking uh staff members to
026uh volunteer that time. Um, let's see. Let's get to that where and that's not here. But, uh, where other counties ask for less responsibility on their staff members and they they make where we say $2,700 for the for the season per staff member. Um but our our our staff member are doing a lot and volunteering their time and efforts inside the for the students. Uh last thing is like supply cost that the band occurs throughout the year and we think about re mouthpieces that range from a box of reads of $25 to a susafhone mouthpiece which is 100 to 100 plus dollars >> meters. And um I know I'm getting low on time, but um these things are necessary for the BAM program to grow and be successful for longevity. Um this gives them a
027chance to have purchasing power so every kid is afforded an instrument that that needs it. Right now we're surviving off the rental program of music and arts in Edwards and um and repairs come at the cost of the money raised to the band. So every time we do these fundraisers, money goes out to repairs or let's say our cleaning bill for our uniforms was roughly about $2,000. So, um, and also if you look at it, fundraising, the competition probably nets us, I'm be transparent with us, probably about 8 to $9,000. And that funds these the travel for the marching man and a little bit of the springtime. And um, most of our fundraisers net us probably about a thousand to our best one was our pancake breakfast was $4,000. And um just that one trip
028last week looks roughly like $2,500 worth of travel. So um every dollar that we raised is kind of like in one hand and then out the other. So um for those maintenance issues, we kind of like I'm I'm the repair guy and I'm not the best or um we kind of zip tied and duct tape it up. So I don't I don't want that to be the norm when it shouldn't be. Um, uh, lastly, I'd like to bring your attention. The band has been awarded a trip to, uh, DC this this springtime. Um, and there's only eight bands chosen out the whole United States, and we're one of them. Um, it's a clinic with the the president's own band, which we would go up there on a Wednesday, uh, do a clinic with them, which
029is more so like, hey, they're refining our performance. Then we will perform on the next following day uh to the adjudicated panel and then uh view the concert of the Marine I say the Marines own president's own band. Uh after that we're um after our adjudication we're we're placed as in if we're the best band in in that criteria and then we'll be coming home the next day. Uh, so I would like the kids to have this opportunity and I would love for any help, any uh financial backing that we could have for right now it's $799 per kid. Um, that's not counting our our bus as well. Uh, we're going to do things to make sure we raise the funds, but uh, we can lessen the load. I would greatly appreciate >> and uh,
030thank you for your time. Um, I'm not a big speaker, but thank You did great. Thank you. >> We have a question. >> Okay, cool. Cool. >> Do you have that budget you're talking about? >> Yes, ma'am. Mr. Ry, I can send it to each person. >> All right. Go ahead, >> Madam Chair. I I vaguely remember when we first started uh that the band had this financial issue and I clearly remember unless I dreamt this that uh during the one of the interim superintendent that we had um female superintendent that we had that uh uh it was arranged that the band was going to have a percentage of the uh of uh the football team when they would uh uh get paid uh when they were having home games. I'm kind of curious what
031whatever happened to that that >> is that is that still going to tell the truth. I don't know what's going on, but that's what we discussed. >> That's right. I know we did. So, I'm just kind of curious. Did we Did we not make that happen? If he's saying he doesn't get part of the position, he should not. >> Do we have a budget? Do you have a budget? What's your budget now? >> Whatever we raise each student for a band fee pays $300. $22 goes to the wind suit, shirt, hats, pads, shoes. Uh that last $98 goes to miscellaneous funds that the banner use for travel and all those other things. Um uh we use we started off this year with a calendar fundraiser which helped students take care of those band fees uh
032which was total if you did the entire calendar fundraiser it totaled out to $498. Um which 300 went towards your band fee or that 202 went towards your band fee and that remaining balance went to the band's fund. Uh, next we um we did the pancake breakfast >> which was which net us around about $4,500. And then lastly we do our concessions at the football game which really uh after >> their expense is probably about $700 to $900 on depending on the population of the game. And that's not really fair to them cuz they're way on the other side >> not really getting why why are they paying for the bus? >> So, Madam Chair, Madam Chair, um so clearly clearly the ball was dropped on this because I know we talked about this and
033we got the finance officer here to verify what we what we talked about. So >> we need to madam chair this needs to be rectified. >> Yes. >> What was what what what was the >> uh the So what what I vaguely remember uh was that for every time that they performed here in the uh with the football team that they were going to get a cut >> and then every time they win with the football team that they were also going to get a cut. >> Um that's what I remember. I'm assuming that uh because uh they never brought it up. I was assuming that that was >> happening. >> We can look at a minute. >> So, um I don't remember the percentage, but it wasn't like 1%. It was it was say
034a uh not a like 50/50, but it was like because I remember talking about that they're they're performers. They should get paid. they should get paid because I know that we bring a significant amount of money when everybody got to pay to get in there. So, >> come and see the band anyway. >> So, so they're performers and you know, we know we've seen them perform. They uh I think that they deserve and uh you know, clearly it didn't happen, but this needs to happen. Madam Chair, >> since we've been on the board, we've been waiting on the man to come because we want to support you all, but you never came forth >> because we thought it got taken care of. Yeah, >> we thought it got taken care of, but it wasn't. >>
035So, it needs to be taken care of. Madam Chair, >> we look into it and >> Mr. Ross, thank you for coming to give us this information. >> Thank you. Thank you, >> Madam Chair. >> Yes. Yes, ma'am. >> Can I just say that we find money um at the district level for things all the time, and I think that maybe it's an option to take money from one set of students and give it to the other. Um but I think we can find the money at the district level and provide it that way. I I don't think the answer is taken you're the proposal is to take students from money from one group of students and give it to another. >> I think we can find it at the at our level. We can
036find those funds. >> Yeah, we're going to look into it to make sure that we can assist. We got to assist. >> Um like I said, thank you Mr. Ross for coming forward with that information. We have been waiting >> and I know you just kind of like getting on. You're doing a good job and I just want to say thank you. >> Thank we going to move to the action item. >> M madam chair I just want to make sure that we are crystal clear on this so this does not happen again. I request that the administration um proceed forward to figure something out whether it's going to be from uh what we originally agreed to or like uh uh Miss uh Brown says we can find money. Okay. So, uh I'm I'm asking
037that the uh that our CEO um um takes on the challenge to make sure that this does not happen again so we can take care of this. Okay. >> Thank you. >> Can Can I ask in Jeremy when when is when are you going to Washington? >> Uh April 14th through the 18th. >> And I have one more question. So is that um is that separated from Is that separated from what what you given us tonight? Because we want to make sure. >> Yes, ma'am. It's it's separate from what I gave to you tonight. I can give you that proposal uh in like a couple hours if you would like. >> Send it to I'm looking at the one that you just said though. >> Yes, ma'am. That that was uh I guess that's the
038the budget for like if um I guess the unit budget that I would need for band. >> Okay. How many students are in the band? >> Uh right now it's about 95 students in in the March band. Uh and then we're projected growth. It'll be about 110 115 next year. >> Thank you. >> All your scholarships. >> Thank you so much. >> Any more questions? Jessica, any question? >> No. >> Okay. All right. So, at this time, we're going to move down to action items. Uh we have whole county 2025 year contract and we have the state amendment number one. So, the first one, um, anybody have any questions before I ask a motion? Any questions? I have time to get over. Can I get a motion to approve? >> Yes. And I move that
039we approve the service agreement between the whole county school board of education and solutions. >> I second. Okay. The motion has been made to approve 2025 contract. It's been uh second. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposers? Okay. Thank you. We move to state amendment number one. And that is for October 2025. Any questions before I ask for a motion? >> Thank you. Can I get a motion to approve the state amendment number one? >> Madam chair, I move to u approve the state amendment number one. >> Second. >> Okay. The motion has been made to approve state amendment number one October 2025. It's been second. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposers. Okay. All right. So, at this time, can I get someone to move make a motion
040to go into close session? >> Yes. Madam chair. >> Yes. I moved uh to go into close session under uh North Oklahoma Structure 143 car 11 A6 to prevent the disclosure of customation personality and student matters to consider matters related to employment of individual employees and to consult with the board attorneys uh to serve the attorney client privilege. >> Second. Okay. The motion has been made to go into close session. It's been second. All in favor say I. I. >> Any opposers? Okay. Thank you. Go into close session. need five tenants and would you like