001Afternoon everyone. The meeting is called to order on June 9th, 2025. The time now is 4:01 and at this time we are going to have the invocation. Let us bow our heads. Father, we thank you for this day. We thank you that you allow us to come together one more time. We ask now, Lord, that you would just come into this meeting and have your way. God, we give you praise. We give you honor and glory for Hope County, for the students, the family, the community, and all stakeholders. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. Amen. At this time, can I get a motion to approve the agenda? Can I get a second? Second. And the agenda for today of June 9th, 2025 has been the motion has been made to approve the agenda. It's been
002second. All in favor say I. Any opposers? Okay. Thank you. At this time is the sheriff's report. And I just want to say thank you to everyone that's here on today. Thank you for the hard work, your dedication. And as we come down to the end of the school year, we want to definitely um just give you a shout out for all the things that you have endured. We thank you for our visitors that's here with us on the day of the state visit. Um and on behalf of the board, we are excited to begin another school year. And I would like to u take this opportunity to see if any board member have anything that they would like to say at this time. Well, I I would like to say that I put a
003chair in chairperson um about all the hard work that we have done throughout the [Music] year of course for the years to come and Um I appreciate all of us today. Let's just keep moving forward. Anybody else? If not then um we're to the park for superintendence report. Dr. S got a few things I want to talk about tonight. Before I move to those, I want to recognize some folks. Can everybody hear me? Great. Great. Tonight, I want to recognize, well, this afternoon I want to recognize some great folks, some of the hardest working people in America, um, the unsung people of the building. Tonight I brought out the assistant principles. A lot of times I assist the principles work behind the scenes to get a lot of stuff done and they do a lot
004of that negative work that uh that a lot of us don't want to deal with. So we we want the assistant principles to know that you are appreciative. We gave him a piece of cake and u you didn't get to see it before it was cut. It said thank you for all that you do. But again, we do thank you for all you do and we we want you to know that you know this you are noticed by administration and definitely noticed by me. The job I ever had was three years as assistant principal in Alton, Illinois. and I'll never forget it. 2002, 2005. Great experience, but the hardest job I've ever had. So today, it's your special day. I know assistant principal's day was was earlier, but in whole county schools, assistant principal day
005is today. Today. So, thank you. When I call your name, please stand up so the board can see you. And thank you in advance and thank you again. Thank you from Thank you Brian Kingsville. Thank you, [Music] Tracy. Thank you, Tiffany Tyler. Stand Steven Kershaw. Thank [Music] you from the high school. The art the prayer think I think that's the first time ever and the house guest house guest Alison Bale Alpha Bell was the house guest at the last board meeting. Now you're officially a member of the team from Don C. Britney Christina Campbell. Thank you, Jessica Shaw. Amanda Briggs and W Elementary, Seth White from Pope and yellow, Jacob Daniel Elementary, Amber Dallas. Okay, I'm going to have him with his namera Smith. from Rockfish P. Did I mention about I did this Miguel
006from East Co. Normally we work together when he and uh the princip I said do I miss anybody you would scream the name out but you didn't do that today but I think we got everybody I want to thank you assistant principle again you are recognized by the team cabinet and the board continue to do great work you know you can't you can't win these games and you can't win successful students if it's not for the work of our assistant principal and board members. We have a lot of assistant principles who one day are looking for that opportunity to be principles and they get ready each day and they're ready. They're ready for that opportunity. So, thank you very much. And I need principles to stand up and just say thank you to our sister
007Paul. All right, moving right along. Again, I think it's very important that we recognize our folks and show our folks that they're of value. Got a lot of work to do this summer. We're working on our summer cleaning, power, our personal and our maintenance team with Scott. We're working to get our builders ready to rock and roll for the fall. It's right around the corner, folks. June, next thing we know, it'll be all the kids will be back and ready to rock and roll. Couple things that I'm excited about. We uh Miss Dr. Mloud is going to talk to you next month about our accreditation report. So, we're looking forward to hearing that. Some very good things to have here and Dr. Mloud will share that with us. Also, as we move right along and
008we do this one year out, we're getting ready to start our strategic plan process. uh strategic plan expires 26 2026. We always do it a year out. So we're working to get our teams together working on the process. So this next year we be real busy working on that. My team will be mission and vision. I'm in the process of putting that team together. Dr. Mloud where he had Dr. right behind me. She is working hard to get those other teams together to work on our strategic plan. We are working when I get my team together, we will try to come up with a a name, a vision, a theme. Last time I was with resilience and ready. So my team will get together and try to come up with a a good theme for
009our strategic plan. So we're we're definitely looking forward to that. On Wednesday, we'll go down to the um county building to present our big beautiful budget to the county commissioner. That'll be at 10:00 on Wednesday morning. We're looking forward to that, sharing our ideas, sharing our plans. definitely be a team affair that we work share our share our mission also with mission. So that's the a lot of big projects we have to get done a lot of a lot of hard work that don't necessarily not necessarily want to see on TV but it's the work that makes sense. Thank you so much Dr. At this time we have spotlight on success. Spotlight on success. Spotlight on success. I went to and I' I've heard these young quotes a few times, but I went to a
010um a ceremony, a veteran ceremony, Purple Heart Awards, and I saw these three people in front of all those superintendents and board members stand up and represent B County. Well, I mean, they stood up there. They did that star banner and as a superintendent I was just so happy. Dr. Os was so happy. We just smile like just our cats. We were so happy. U Dr. Could you uh present the team to us? Good afternoon. To Madame Chair, Mr. Superintendent and members of the board. I am delighted this afternoon to present to you our national um anthem choir from Hope County High School. Uh these young people were asked by Mr. uh Lamour who is our state director for um the military to sing at our purple star celebration. So at this time u I
011am going to let each one of them come and introduce themselves to you. Um hello my name is Brian Alexander. Hello my name is Mac. Hello my name is Collins. Um hello, my name is Michael and they are under the direction of our great uh chorus director, Mrs. Turner from Hope County High School. They did an excellent job. I just want you to know and we would say back in Blake County, these kids. So thank you for representing us well. [Music] Oh, say by the early proud [Music] we stripes and bright stars to the pir. world is The grand we were so [Music] be streaming and spread bursting [Music] in through the night there. Say does the [Music] [Applause] [Music] star of the spring and the home of God. Awesome. I like it. Wow. Wow.
012At this time we have public comment. We have one individual signing for public comments. James, you'll have three minutes. You come to the podium, please. Good afternoon. Chair, superintendent, members of the board of education here in Oak County. It's a pleasure to stand before you again this afternoon. I haven't been before the board since uh the early 2000s as I served as your sheriff in this county. I come before you this afternoon maybe with a little heavy heart some concerns that have been brought to our attention. When I say our I mean the P County NAACP. Uh I serve as the chair of the legal redress committee of the NAACP here in Oak County. Our branch have worked closely with the school system throughout the years and several other boardrooms members of the NWAC branch.
013Uh we are concerned about concerns that our parents bring to our attention and uh our teacher. And whenever we have those concerns, we like to try to mediate those at the uh we want to do it uh in support of the systems uh in place. And I want to know today today is a way that we can get the processes and procedures as to how best to have uh parents uh bring their concerns to you teachers that have concerns that they want to bring before the board to address. Um while they have provided us with their initial concerns, uh we'd like to try to make sure that we step through proper processes and bring those concerns to you from a legal redress perspective. Okay. Thank you very much. I appreciate having this pass. Thank you.
014At this time, we are at the consent agenda and one of the first items on the consent agenda is the minutes for May 13, 2025. Yeah, I had an opportunity to look at them. Can I get a motion to approve the minutes for May 13, 2025? Madam Chair. Yes. Make a motion that we approve the minutes from May 13, 2025. Second. Second. Okay. The motion has been made and second to approve the minutes for May 13, 2025. All in favor say I. I. Any opposers? Okay. Thank you. The next item is the school board policy. First, please madam chair. Uh just have a question. Are we changing the procedures? Uh in the past we've uh uh included all the items consent requested the consent agenda be approved. We're going to do individual items now. I
015think so because of the last board meeting we had even though it was in action item I would like to do one by one so nobody would think jumping over something just to be uh transparent with Thank you for the clip. You're so welcome. Can I get a motion to approve the school board? Second. Okay, it's been approved and second. All in favor? I. Any opposers? Okay. Thank you. At this time, we have information items and the first individual is Mr. Bruce Jacobs. Hello, my name is director of 86 1986. I want to let you know I'm not going to be doing any singing at all. But what I am here to do is ask if I can use the logo for the Buck Diner. Um, I'm the former owner of the Highway 55. I've
016been here since 2005 or 2006 when I think I opened and of course I'm no longer with Highway 55. I work away from them. I got my own franchise, my own system going on here. And I like to use the logo instead of what I got off the internet. I like to have something that that looks fair. Um it's only going to be used for the shirt. U maybe um the menu and I think I have this is the logo that's going to be on the menu. Um I'm not going to go any selling items. Um even though I have had some interest with people wanting to buy shirts already. Um, again, it's with the consent of whatever you offer me to do, but I I I don't plan on selling any shirts. Um, and
017if I do, um, if it's in violation of of what you may do or may not be, it'll be with something different. Maybe just this. But that's why I'm here, just to ask if I can use your leg for the menu of Buck D, which is located right across from the street from from the hospital. Um, with that being it, I started unless there's any questions. Any questions? Anyone have any questions? Thank you. Thank you. Next, we have the Madam Chair. Yes, sir. Um, since uh, M. Bruce took the time to come over here and clarify our questions, I think it would be good idea to either approve his request for denying. I don't think u we've already have plenty of time to think about this. So I don't think there's anything else more to
018discuss. I am four. Uh if you go to FSU as an example to FSU campus, it's all about the products everywhere. And so I think that's a great representation that a local business wants to actually uh use uh our new local because we all agree that's pretty that's extremely Yes, madam chair. I um I move to uh I I move to move this item to be back. Thanks. I would recommend we we write just an agreement that clearly articulates the terms. It's a great idea. Um that maybe you can approve an on action in July. Um because you've already approved the agenda for this evening unless you want to change it and y'all approve agreement that's not drafted yet. See you I recommend we have an agreement that you approve for this purpose a written
019a written document. I'm satisfied with that. I'm sure. Okay. So we'll bring it back. You know once you get that written up then we'll definitely make I think everybody is ready to get on board with Mr. J. So in July we'll actually do that. Um next we have the high school building dedication plaque. Good afternoon madam chair superintendent. Today's presentation will outline the purpose and proposal related to the dedication plans for the new school building being constructed on the county high school campus. Next slide, please. The purpose of the plan is to serve as a permanent marker on the building that will identify key contributors by recogn during the process and ideally the dedication pack will be posted by the front doors of the building. Next slide please. This is the uh current example with
020mockup of the dedication plaque and posted at the new high school building. Uh so today we received option or options plaque that is to be posted. Next slide please. So with this we like to keep in mind that this information is totally what it is information this afternoon. So a decision may be provided by the board of education members at the next board meeting is Jul. But we do have three different types of plaques or three different information plaques that could be posted by the doors. The first option is a plaque to honor the board members and the superintendent who initiated the project and that began in March 2022. The second option is a plaque for board members and the superintendent in office at the time of the groundbreaking ceremony which were in February 2024.
021And then the last option is a plaque recognizing the board members and the superintendent of the official or the official opening of the school for next year. Um I think it's around the March time frame that we [Music] decid to occupy that building until June because of the city school. So essentially the information that I would need to know from the board of education members would be uh which one, two or three pl all three plaques that we would like to recommend be put and if only one plaque is desired or two plaques are desired. Which one of those one or two options? And also the same information would need to be shared with county commissioners because they've had a change in board members over the past three years. Um so they also have have
022opportunity to choose information that they doing as well. Yes. Can I ask um so Dr. Hunt does have to be this size? You say one, two, and three planks. Can it be a bigger plan? A larger one? I would check with the architects on that to see if they make it larger and hold as much information as possible and then present that as oppos I would suggest um the past and this is just me I would suggest the past um board members because they initiated right and then and then board that are here right now. So um should be financial not about them and then the current here and now should be and only because you know their initiatives along with um the superintendent that will be represent with the SFI on the black and
023it could be I mean you know it could be one or two larger but that would be mine because they did put the the ideas work engaging and trying to find um construction people trying to find new architect so it just didn't come out they did okay thank you any more Madam Chair. Yes, Madam Chair. I I I do uh agree that I think it's a great idea to recognize the previous board members as they were the one that initially started the project. I also agree that the uh current board members uh which is all of us should also have applied uh but uh the project is not going to be completed until completion is January 2027 and that's uh that's a few months after the next election cycle and uh I'm just going to
024full transparency some of us some of us might not be here So, uh whether we are here or not, is that still in effect or is there going to be a change? Uh one or two or all of us might not be there. Um is that going to be a change or just solid to where the the previous and current board members? Well, really, Madam Chair, that's a question for the board member. We're the ones that are going to have to vote on this. Do y'all want to talk about it now since information making decision later? That's a good that's a good question. This information for right now, right? Yeah. But that's that's about understand this is just for information only. However, the administration is making decisions based on what the feedback that they receive
025here. So we have to provide clear guidance as to what the board uh what what they wish. I mean the only time we really get to talk about this is when we come together. We don't get email messages about what you think about this and that. So but we have to do that later because right now it is information. Okay. So we can have y'all want to have the discussion. Like I said, I would just like to reinforce what Mosa said and I do agree that we should acknowledge the previous board members that are not here today and definitely should acknowledge the board members that are here uh with us today because we're the ones that have made the most impact on high school project. Uh, so I'm not too certain that we should have
026a third flag if let's say one or all three of us are not here when they really didn't have nothing to do with it. So I definitely agree with Rosa that we should have at least two um flags, one for uh which included all the original board members and the one with the current board members. As far as the county commissioner, yes. Um, we're we're as I see it, we're extending that courtesy to to them. So, I would say probably two flags too. Also, yeah, I think she just pass. I agree with that. [Music] I really don't want to discuss right now by hand. Dr. Steel, have you ever been involved in process like this before at other schools where they were opening a new? Yes, I have. What is the typical practice? the practice
027that we used at that building. We had the uh current board and current superintendent different state. Yes. Anyone else? I agree with Ruben and Rosa as well. That would be anybody else. Yes. Thank you. You're welcome. Next is the AI. Good evening. I am Dr. director of the AI program and I've just passed out some documents that will shed light on the work we've done this revision year for our AIG plan. Now I have to tell you it was a joy to work with gifted learners in the state of North Carolina as well as in Hook County School Systems. As you will see in the packet, North Carolina is a leader in the nation for their legislation and their services, their accountability that they have for gifted learners. So, I'd like to talk to you
028just a little while um and not very long, but about what our revision committee in Hope County Schools has done to ensure that we are following what the plan, what the legislation has said. So, in your documents, you have the North Carolina standards. This is a program, a legislation that dates back, Can you hear me? Well, yes. Um, a legislation that dates back to 1961, but it wasn't until 1996 when article 9B was established which defined gifted learners in the state of North Carolina. Those definitions include six accountability standards with various practices. The standards are in your blue document and they go on and on and talk about how we need to ensure that the students who are identified as gifted learners in the state of North Carolina are receiving advanced services differentiating ongoing regular
029and committed to excellence in our district. So in North Carolina, this legislation says that every three years, every school district in the state should revise their plan. We have as a committee, the AIG Ho County AIG local plan committee revised our standards for this 10th generation plan. The 10th generation plan will go from 20 2025 to 2028. I'd like to give you a summary of what we decided. And you've noticed I kept saying we because I'm not the only one who did quite the leg work. So before I summarize what we decided, I'd like to recognize those members of the committee. And if you are here, please stand. Our committee member, uh, Dr. Rosen Mallister McCrae, one of the school board members here. Thank you. Dr. Rancher, also part of the Hope County system or
030assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, Mrs. Kimberly McMillan. She is Yes, she is S. Hills Community College assistant dean or dean of high school initiatives. And our specialists are in the room if you're standing. Yes, we have Miss Mary Haywood here. We have Mr. Bridges there in the pink tie. Miss Dax Turner at the high school level and Miss Bhuton. They're also at the elementary level. We have a host of other members. Are there any others who are here I didn't recognize? This was our team as well as a parent member uh who is not here tonight. I I really wanted to emphasize that because this has been a year-long process of revising our plan, keeping what we do well, as well as ensuring that we are meeting these standards as they have been revised.
031So, if you'll go with me for a moment to it is our one pager. It's the red document and I'll I'll be quick about it, but I do want you to have an understanding of what we are committed to. Whereas our prior plan we were a portrait of gifted learners. This plan we are advancing intellect motivating scholars. You could think of it as an acronym for aims. We aim to do that. We believe that we will do it and do it well. Our mission, as you can see on your one page or on the screen, highlights and underscores what the state of North Carolina says we should do, especially with regard to differentiated, intentional differentiating services for our gifted learners. And this is something that our primary goal will do so they are successful in
032career and college. Our vision underscores this. And I'd like for you to look on the right side of your one pager, your red uh document there. And these are just some of the services that we provide and are committed to continuing to provide at each level. Our elementary level, we have because our standards in North Carolina have now revised to say we should be committed to the social, social, and emotional learning of our gifted learners. We've embedded in Fly Five curriculum as an ES as an SEL source. We continue to make use of our wonders literacy curriculum and math superstars at the elementary level and a whole host of other services. These are just a few. At the middle school level, we still have our credit CM our credit by mastery by demonstrated mastery for
033math one. In grade eight, we continue with our cluster grouping and sometimes flexible grouping to ensure that our gifted learners talking about how our gifted learners have intentional differentiated services to make sure that they are receiving a rigorous education for our high school level. Our services are continuing with our d our relationship with the community college and our dual enrollment courses CTE. our curriculum compacting tiered assignments uh some form of the data models and society seminars and the fishbowls and the like as well as PD for our professional PD for our teachers and our specialists. So those are any given day when our our children who are identified as gifted will receive these services. Our enrichment services then go beyond it. These are the students who need more than just acceleration. They need more than
034just extension. They need enrichment. So you're talking about students who have mastered basic content. And you can see some of the examples there. We have a robust set of clubs with beta and uh in the next few weeks our beta club will go to Orlando for competition and they are also going to be doing service learning at or in Orlando. something they're committed to from Sandy as well as our North Carolina school scholars. So on our second page of our one page I haven't much longer but as you look at the second page there you'll see the six standards that I talked about on why North Carolina is number one in gifted education. legislation. North Carolina says every school district must follow these standards and prove how you are doing this. There's standard one. We
035have a program for student identification. We have a robust way of how we identify and plan to build on. We follow differentiated instruction here. We utilize the honors implementation framework and you'll be hearing more about that in the coming year. Standard two, our comprehensive programming with total school community includes there the categories of how our students are labeled. Some are ag academically gifted. Some are IG, intellectually gifted. Some are AIG, academically and intellectually. Those are categories. We do the research, we do the receptance and we ensure that our students are receiving the services. So to our board, when we got to standard four on personnel and professional development, we looked at what we do well and how we might better serve students. We had a really great relationship with UNCCTP in training our teachers who
036want to become specialists to take this the courses to receive their certification. um or students uh teachers have the opportunity to take the practice gifted education exam and score higher than 157. But as you're looking at a bit of that third bullet, uh we believe that we can evolve our AIG structure that as it is now, we have a director and specialist on the ground, but we want to better serve and more immediately serve our gifted learners if possibly we re-evaluate our structure and think about if in these three years there's need for a revised structure. So before I begin, I handed you a set of papers. If you pull out this big packet and go to page 13, and I just like to um emphasize here a little to you what a new structure
037could look like. In our plan, we miss a page 13. So on page 13 when we're kind of you know what holds the foundation of our program our specialists who are at the schools they are serving our students but we also feel that perhaps in the tenure of our program that maybe specialists uh we might need specialists who are at the elementary level who are more directly affecting and impacting those specialists at the schools and they will report to the director possibly one or two specialists or specialist who serves the middle school and the high schools or some variation of this new AIG structure. So in standard four in the standard we wanted to ask ourselves an answer are we really serving our gifted learners as best we can when we talk about who's on
038the ground who's giving them immediate feedback who's ensuring we are identifying all categories of students who can't be identified. So this is one example of a new structure that we discussed. Um and in our plan we say possible new structures as we feel will allow if we feel we can serve students better. And just incidentally on page 12, if you turn back, that is our current structure that we have been on um in the structure for at least the past um nine years and we are currently in that structure to the H County School Board and Superintendent Stells. Uh there are just a few more just one that as you look at our plan overview in this short one pager that we are saying we have covered these standards and we do them well and
039we plan to commit and recommmit to these standards in partnerships that mention our relationship with both micro and macro level Sand Hills Community College as well as the National Gifted Association and our stakeholders. Finally, standard six is about program accountability. And I'd like to highlight there the last bullet that talks about growth. All of the principles in the room could tell you and I too that perhaps one of the hardest group of students to grow as gifted learners. Sometime it is measurable but we know we can do so much more. So standard six, program accountability. North Carolina says we need to ensure that we are looking at our program and showing how we're accountable. And one way we want to do that is by measuring growth of our gifted learning. So according to some of
040those examples as you consider our plan and these were the overviews and our reading material. Um we hope that you'll agree and approve the work that we've done. Are there any questions? Any questions? Any questions? Thank you. Thank you. Next we have our Good afternoon, board chairs, uh, board members, Dr. Spells, cabinet, and to everyone in the room. Thank you for allowing me to present a brief update on our uh elementary K5 math curriculum which continues to play an important role in our instructional strategies across CO schools. Next slide. So just some brief information we began using map um the 2122 school year and we are now entering into our fourth year of implementation. Uh, this researchbased digital tool is used across all of our elementary schools and provides consistency in instruction and assessment for
041our students. Next slide, please. It aligns with the North Carolina standards. It offers reliable diagnostic data and it helps us deliver personalized differentiated instruction based on our student needs. Teachers are not only able to monitor growth throughout the year but also plan with readymade lessons, presentations and assessments. The consistency and support embedded in the program ensure every student has access to quality and standards aligned learning. Next slide please. So this year we were able to provide some support um across our leadership team uh to ensure implementation fidelity. We also supported our school leaders. Mid year we conducted mask walkthroughs. We actually had a representative come into our school walked with us and were able to provide feedback that our leaders could use to help move forward with the instructional planning. Additionally, our administrators participated in
042training to strengthen their capacity to their data conversations and support instructional teams. Our principles also took it upon themselves to get together and have a data p uh one of our principles bullet she's excellent with this rating data and they actually started having those these conversations on their own as a leadership team. This aligns with our broader district goal of building leadership capacity around curriculum and instruction. Next slide, please. So, just some brief data in the blue folder uh that I gave you guys. We have three data points there. The first one is just taking a look at um our usage and completion um by school as it relates to our end of the year diagnostic. We know that previously there were conversation on actually using the curriculum and I can say across all of
043our elementary schools we are using it. Um as you can see we have a 98% completion rate as it relates to our rating diagnostic for end of this year. Next slide please. This shows our diagnostic data. There are two data points in your folder that goes along with these two data points. It showed our beginning of the year data, which is that top graph, and then also our end of the year data there for you to take a look at. And just looking at that data, you can see over time how students improve. Um, at the beginning of the school year, we had more students that were two or three grade levels behind. And as you can see, towards the end of the school year, we started closing those gaps. And we had more students
044that were on grade level or early on grade level. Next slide, please. So we always try to take a look at how our curriculum compares to what students are expected to do across the state. IRA does a great job providing those projections for us. And so here you'll see a comparison between our ready proficiency projections and then our actual end of the year um testing uh initial testing for some of our students where you can see that in third grade I already projected projections align with the EOG um it projected 54% of our students uh to be proficient and before retesting we had about 54% so of course that number has increased in grade all five also you're able to see that a found there we were one number off but again after retesting that
045number has also increased in grade four we is where we showed um some level of misalignment there um which shows that we're going to continue to work in that area but even after retesting that number has also increased to meet uh those expectations. So this level of alignment shows that when the curriculum is implemented with fidelity, we can accurately assess student performance and provide early intervention. Next slide, please. So teachers specifically report that I is user friendly for them because it provides everything they need and it's time saving. Lesson plans are there so they don't have to go searching for anything. It allows them to focus on instruction rather than spending time creating and trying to pull materials. It supports small group instructions, offer clear next steps through data, and promotes consistency and instructional quality
046across our district. So regardless to school, we can say that students at every school are receiving researchbased highquality material in their classroom each and every day. Next slide, please. So just some next steps as we move forward to the 2526 school year. Our plan is to continue using our already uh NAS 4 K5. This decision supports our strategic plan for academic growth and builds on the training already in place and keeps us aligned to our goals for equity, consistent consistency and data informed instruction. Next slide please. So, thank you uh for your continued support and at this time any questions are you going to go over the quote on the other side? So, you Yes. So, the quote I don't have the quote with me but it is up there. So uh in previous years
047we have been able uh to purchase I Ready um the entire I Ready everything that is offered but I Ready is a very expensive program. I'm going to be honest about that and do some fun there this year. Um we are not able to purchase everything. Um but we are looking to purchase some things that are needed to get the job done. Um, and these are conversations we're going to have in our preschools meeting this week. Just talk about what components of it. Um, do we really need to meet our goal right now? This quote shows the diagnostic that we need for student performance and also shows the instruction piece that teachers need to be able to have that high quality material at their hands um each and every day. Thank you. Any other question?
048So, um, Miss H. So they they they sell al uh they do and they've even offered um just various forms of quotes honestly even broken down by school. So let's say as a district we're able to purchase something um they've broken the rest of it down. So if a school decides you know what we can use whatever funds to pay for this part of it at a cheaper rate because it's a district rate they provided that for us also. Um so yes, any other questions? Thank you. Thank you. At this time we don't have EC contract. Good afternoon board members. I'm here to present to you the American interpret. Okay, thank you. Thank you. Any question? At this time, we have the middle school bus. members of the court members of the candidate here this
049evening uh to recommend the adoption of reconsider as a core literacy resource for our middle schools after careful review and meaningful teacher feedback. that we believe this curriculum can be a strong next step to support rigorous consistent reading instruction across the district. So the recommendation is based on five key points. The first being aligned and familiar. So it's aligned and familiar but with a little bit more structure. We're reading reconsider is modeled after our current curriculum using actually many of the same anchor texts that are already already being taught in our classroom. the same books that our students are are using in the classroom. What sets it apart is that it offers more structure, more depth, and more clarity. And as one teacher said, it's our curriculum with more meat on the bones. The units
050are well sequenced. They're highly specific and easier for teachers to follow without sacrificing quality of care. The second point is it's uh teacherdriven selection and adaptability. uh teachers and administrators have had a seat at the table and they are actually the teachers selected the units that we would use and that we would plan to adopt. So we know that no curriculum is perfect. No curriculum is 100% which is why we will continue to use the DGP which is daily grammar practice that we are currently using and doing some explicit instruction on morphology and edmology to ensure that we're covering all of the ELA standards. So we know that that one program alone will not fully address it. Also the third point would be that it's realistic and um there's a supportive implementation. Um teachers recognize
051the curriculum value especially um understanding that new staff need something to sink their teeth into long-term substitutes that we might have and schools benefit from that greater support. um the lessons are ready to use and they allow that teacher autonomy uh and allow them to adjust to the the instruction. It's a cost effective investment. That's point number four. Um the cost of reading reconsidered is under that $30,000 threshold for all three middle schools for three years. Um which is unlike most curriculums in comparison to some of this other commercial ELA program. incredibly affordable option that delivers real value, structure, and impact. And remember again, it's very closely in line to what we're already doing. Um, it's a practical investment that gives us high quality instructional material without overextending profession. And then lastly, it's a community
052and data informed decision. We've gathered comprehensive feedback from teachers and administrators. Their input has helped us to shape and propose this plan. Um, so in summary, this curriculum aligns with what we're already doing. It fills in those much needed gaps and provides clarity or consistency all at an affordable um cost. So it's not a replacement. It's a resource that enhances what teachers are already doing and supports them in delivering that high quality instruction. Any questions? Thank you. Next we will have Sanho Early College again. Uh so uh Miss Neil, principal at Sanh College was not able to be here this evening. So in herstead I just wanted to share with you a proposal to adjust the school day hour day hours, excuse me, the school day hours for San B. The recommended operational hours are
053from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This proposed change is grounding both academic benefit and transportation. So the academic benefit the new schedule allows students to take advantage of later afternoon college classes significantly expanding the number of course selections uh that that are available to the students. It means more flexibility in scheduling. It's increased access to college credit opportunities and stronger pathways toward associate degrees and certification. Also, we look at some of the other um early colleges in the area. Um Cumberland two of the three early colleges run from 9:15 to 4:30. Very similar schedules. Um we look at other colleges around the state. Early college high schools around the state 9:15 to 4:15 from Durham uh early college. Um, Guilford Early College, which is like every number one in the state, 920 to 420. Edgecom
054College, 8:50 to 3. Um, STEM at North Carolina standard, North Carolina State University is 920 to 420. And then at Harper Middle College in Charlotte is from 10:50 to 3:30. So again, in alignment with some of the other early colleges, it's not outside the norm, although we know that it's different from our secondary school schedules. Moving to a 9:30 to 4:30 day position San Early College in the same way that helping us meet those academic needs um of our students. The operational efficiency is that equally important is that transportation impact. So a 9:30 start actually gives us a third tier for transportation schedule. This changes and this change improves our bus efficiency. I know that's not my area. Uh so I'm I'm taking notes from that means that it improves our bus efficiency rating and
055allows us to optimize our routing and fleet usage while potentially reducing car. So um it's expand course access for students when we think about that it's in line with other high performing early colleges and it improves our transportation efficiency for the district. So um that is the proposal that enhances both student opportunity and systemwide opportunity. So appreciate your thoughtful consideration of that schedule change. Um, as I stated earlier, you know, kind of went over with the agenda, um, have you guys thought about the survey for the parents because 9:30 might be um, take a toll on some of the parents as it relates to their work schedule. So, how would that play a part into deciding this 9:30 to 4:30? So absolutely one of the things that we did talk about was after we presented
056to the board that we would put out a stat state survey to parents. So now that we have had this opportunity to present to the board, we would like to survey parents to get some feedback from them and be able to bring that back to you next month. Um have you all had any type of conversation with the partners with San Community College? Yes, ma'am. Any other questions? Madam chair. Yes. Just for clarification, um the start time obviously the students would have to be picked up way before 9:30. Yes sir. So that's not that's not going to be a conflict with the high schools. No sir. My understanding Mr. Ke please correct me if I'm wrong. Madam Chair, can we have a transportation director come over here and clarify that for us? So the question
057is how why is this going to be making more efficient? Break it down for us. Gotcha. So looking at the early college having that 9:30 start time is going to as Dr. said have a third tier on. So right now our early college uh sort of conflicts there with the high school and the middle school time. Um if we change that start time to 9:30, what we'll do are we were able to have a elementary uh route and that bus also be able to have a middle or a high school run and then turn around and do early college afterwards. So we're uh utilizing less to get more guns, saving fuel, less drivers like that. So, what time are they being picked up? Right now, the uh early college students, early college um students are
058being picked up at the same time that our middle school and our high school students. And what time is that? That's that's going to be around that 7:30 time frame. They leave from the elementary school student background to start their high school and our trucks as well. Okay. So, are you saying we just leave the buses? Basically, and and you know, also assisting with our driver shortage that we've had this past year. Yeah, because it's been like this like 2006. It's been like that since 2006. This is the first time that it's been like, okay, now we got and it's probably because you don't have enough bus drivers and you need those buses. I think it's worth trying like a 30 minute window. So, we're looking at that 60 to 75 minute time frame window
059for run. I like the idea, but I still would like to have some feedback from parents. Madam Chair, yes. Um, do we know the impact it's going to have uh on student athletes? So we also did have conversation about that. So for games it doesn't impact games at all because students would typically get released from games and things of that nature. The impact it would have would be on practices and working with those coaches directly making sure that they know those schedu for those. So we did talk about that. That was a major conversation because we wanted to make sure they were not negatively impacted. Okay. Any other questions? Madam Chair, just to be clear u regarding Miss Jessica's question. So it's not going to impact or it's going to it will impact the time
060students get to practice but it will not impact their ability to be at in game or so it will they will get to practice a few minutes later. We did have that conversation working with those coaches uh working with those coaches individually those those students that are in that impact. Um we did talk about that in terms of the other urban colleges probably asked around in terms of the regions just to see how people are doing with that who do have their part times. Another point I did not bring up was an effort to get their school day to be along the same amount of time as the other school days. most like the other schools in our district. Thank y'all so much. At this time, we have a financial month today. Good afternoon everyone
061members and yes I want you to present information on our fin if you would look at our first page there we have our state information the beginning budget was 76,880,000 million48 [Music] $822. Once our transactions went through the accounts, we have an unencumbered balance of 5,111,736 pound. This is a very busy time of the year, you guys. So, um very busy. Um page two, this is our local budgetary expense. This is one that we are still trying to close out on. Um, still trying to get our invoices in. If you notice those balances, we are hoping that we will get some of these invoices processed and unencumbered um, POS unencumbered. Some of those funds will drop back into account. But we also know that some of this is due to um elevated utilities um maintenance
062operations. We've had to go above and beyond what was requested last year. Um but we pinpointed those pounds. So we made a a gesture to go ahead and request more such as for utilities and officiating. Our charter school payments are going up. Um and we had new new additions to those bills during this school year. We couldn't foresee them, so we couldn't request funds for that type of thing. Um another thing that we had that affected this budget was um we had to manually have the um set fish and that was very very very expensive. Um but that problem was resolved now so we shouldn't have to worry about that expense. Um, also just so you know, we've had conversations already. I've gotten with some people in the department and we've been brainstorming about how
063ways that we can enhance our responsibility, our fiscal responsibility without the students having to suffer. Um, and we even have one that got really inspired and she came up with a purchasing document that she can share with us. Um then we've also posted our our purchasing manual on the website so that everyone has access to it. But we plan throughout the summer to discuss with everyone in their um respective departments to brainstorm ways that we can um control some of these costs for this. Okay. Next is our our federal budget and and so those adjustments those are those are adjustments. um they're on that um with the federal they're adjusting this that we discussed last time. Yes. But the the uncovered balance is what actually is left in the account. That very last column. Okay.
064Next page. Capital outlay fund. We are actually in the process of getting busted. So, we'll have some more entries for this um coming very soon. The beginning balance was 67,475,52383 once all of our transactions flow through the accounts balance 40, 18 40, 2021, 489. And that's actually a part of our our um item our computer um refresh. So all that will be um paid over in installment year. Next is our child nutrition 1 page fine beginning budget $6,300,000 once transactions go through the accounting cover balance is 12763981. And of course we have we're continuously um processing invoices. So these numbers will change as we do our fund six be budget 175,000 we have a year to date activity 148 31591 and our balance is 26,684 pay seven is our restricted the beginning budget We estimated
065at 8,74124648. We had to make some adjustments um as we spoke about last time to get that revenue close to the actuals and uh once our transactions flow through the uncovered balance this month is 1,889,53345. [Music] The very last page, here's our grand total. 49,13,277 32. Do you have any questions? Madam Chair, yes, I have a question. Um, our state and federal funds that are unencumbered, are they going to roll over? Are they going to carry over? It depends on which PR which account that it is. There's certain ones that roll over. some roll down um federal like those in consolidate that roll over. Um but we're going to try to utilize everything we can. We don't want to send anything back. M I have a question with page four in capital outlay. You were
066saying that you get more glasses. Yeah, the state the state is doing it. We're not we're not um the state's allocating those funds, but that's not it's not included. We're working on that now. So, you said state allocating them. Yes, ma'am. We're not having any job any other. I was just wondering because you had mentioned and I think early on you said something about some invoices that were out. Yeah, we're we're continuously processing invoices as we're closing out. So we expect you know more for many of these towns to come in as well as we also expect to collect some type of cost and some invoices may be less than the PO. So those funds will go back into the account when we pay the invoice. Okay. So that would be something like on page
067to the current local expense fun. Yeah. And actually that is with all of them. Um if say for instance we get a quote and that quote has um it's for $1,000. Well, for whatever reason the price change and that the now it's only $900. That $100 that we incumbred on that PO go back into that account once we pay that invoice and close that transaction. So, is the budget now closed for the years? No, ma'am. Yes, ma'am. We're working on that now. Anyone else? Thank you. Um, at this time we have the vacancy for Madame Chair, board members, superintendent, and yes, good evening. I'm here tonight to present our vacancy report. You can see on our report that we have a total of seven vacancies. That's an increase from when we had our May 9th
068meeting. Uh, seven positions. Of those seven positions, three are certified positions that increase and four classified positions that increase since May the 9th. So, we are tracking them by each week at this time to ensure that we our vacancies and fill in those vacancies. Thank you. Anyway, any question? Thank you. At this time, we are down to the action items. And um before we start, I would like to uh kind of like apologize, I guess, to the board last board meeting. Um I did not intentionally try to do all the action items at one time. There was a lot of them on the agenda and my mind was just trying to get it over with. So I apologize to the community. I want to be transparent that I have nothing to hide. And tonight we
069will be going item by item. And the first item is the 2025 26 child nutrition service. Can I get a motion? Madam Chair. Yes. I would like a motion to approve the 202526 child nutrition service. Okay. Then approved and second to approve the 202526 trial nutrition service did. All in favor say I. I. Any opposer. Thank you. Next we have school fees scheduled. Can I get a motion to approve the school fees? Madam chair. Yes. school feings and dooms for 20 through 26. Okay. Motion has been made in second to approve the school feed schedule 20 2526. All in favor say I. I. Any opposers. Thank you. Third is the open gates weapon texting system. Can I get a motion to approve it? Chair. I move to uh approve the open gate weapons protection system.
070Second. Okay. The motion has been made to approve the open gates weapon protection system. It has been second. All in favor say I. I. Any opposers? Next we have the EC contracts. Can I get a motion to approve the EC contract? Madam Chair, yes. I'd like to make a motion to approve the EC contract. M. Yes, I Okay, the motion has been made to approve the EC contract and second. Uh, all in favor say I. Any opposers? Thank you. Last but not least is the state amendment. And I get a motion to approve the state a madam chair. Yes. I would like to make a motion to approve the state amendment. It's been approved. The motion has been made to approve the state amendment. It has been second. All in favor say I. Any opposers?
071Thank you. At this time, can I get a motion to go into close session? Yes. 15 North Carolina. Can I get a second? Second. Okay. The motion has been made to go into close session and second. All in favor going up for clos. Any opposes? Thank you.