001Allegiance. >> I pledge allegiance >> to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Do I have a motion to approve tonight's agenda? >> I make a motion that we approve tonight's agenda. >> I second that motion. >> All in favor? >> I thank you. >> All right. At this time, I'd like to introduce Mr. Ed Gardner from Blue Ridge with couple of students who are going to play. Play and sing or just play? >> Play. And I'm going to sing. >> You're going to sing. >> I am the chorus. >> We got William Marks. >> Yes. We got William Marks and Guy Federico. >> Yes. So, I'm trying to get you I was born in
002the path of the win. I was raised where the mountains are old time. I remember the tales they told the whistling ways of my buties like the light alone in your sight. singing [Music] over you and me down to the sea. I've been to the city and back been by some met [Music] Take me along in your song. Sing your song ever and winding and free rolling. You changing you and me river down to the sea. When the flowers are grass and to the prince that I And the song I will sing I know you're rolling changing. That's it. >> Thank you for that. >> Thank you. >> At this time, we'll do um Dr. S will have some special recognitions. >> Thank you, Mr. Gardner, our Blue Ridge students for making the trek down
003the mountain. We always enjoy um having our student showcase. If you'll recall last year, our board meetings were what I call the traveling road show. So, this is our year that we're going to be here in the building, but every month a school has signed up to be featured. So, thank you, Blige, for being first this year and featuring students. So tonight we're going to recognize a few students that are really exemplars in our not just our our Smoky Mountain High School, but in our state and in our district. So um I'm going to read you a little bit about them and then I'm going to have them come up here and stand for a really long time in front of the crowd so that you can see their faces. So tonight we recognize six
004outstanding Smoky Mountain High School students who have achieved honor from the College Board. If you don't know what the College Board is, that is the board that administers the ACT and a lot of um other national uh nationally normed exams. So, I'm going to ask these students to please come forward. So, Maheen Dilva, come on up. Maheen, Caitlyn Helt, Gracie Lee Irons, Isabelle Joiner, Ace Pringer, and Kuster Pringer. So they are all really towering over me. They are all students from Smoky Mountain High School. And so what happens is these students take tests as sophomores and juniors and then their scores come in a little delayed. So um almost all of them other than ACE all of them are seniors but we're just now getting the um information about their score. So I want to
005read you a little bit about it. The College Board's National Rural and Smalltown Recognition Award is a program that honors high achieving students from rural and smalltown high schools. It's part of the larger national recognition program which also includes first generation awards and collegebound awards and a general school recognition award. This award specifically recognizes students who have demonstrated academic excellence and are from communities often less well-known by colleges and universities. To qualify, students must demonstrate strong academic performance, typically by scoring in the top 10% of their class, and also in the top 10 of the PSAT test takers in their state, or by earning a three or higher on two or more distinct AP exams, have a cumulative GPA of anything that is a 3.3 or higher is also required, and they must identify as
006attending a high school in a small town setting, and are eligible during their 10th and 11th grade years. So, as I said, they took the test last year. So, this is in my five-year tenure, going on five years, the first time ever I've recognized students for this. So, you are the uh folks making the mark and setting the standard for all the students that follow us. So, we're really proud of these students that are here tonight who represent, as I said, not just Smoky Mountain High School, but they are the only six in our district here in Jackson County Public Schools. So, I'm going to shout out their name and give them the certificate and I would like to do a picture with all of them. So, um make sure you wave at them so
007they'll know who you are. So, we have senior Maheen Dilva. So, Maheen has not just one but two, the high school recognition and the rural and small town recognition award. Now, you can clap for Maheen. And they might not be in order. I thought they were in order. Thank you, Miss Woody. I would appreciate that. The next student is senior Caitlyn Helt and she is receiving the high school recognition Caitlyn. Of course, it's going to be the last one, right? Congratulations, Kaitlin. Gracie Lee Irons. Gracie Lee is a senior and she is receiving the high school recognition award. I'll do better and make sure they're in order next time. >> It's both of us. Senior Isabelle Joiner who is receiving high school recognition and the rural and small town recognition. AC junior, our only junior,
008Ace Pringer, high school recognition. Congratulations, Ace. and senior Kuster Pringer who is receiving high school recognition. So, let's give them all a round of applause. I'm just curious. It's my mic. So, I'm just curious. Um, I would like them to tell you where they're looking at headed after high school, whether it's to the career or military. But I think you need to hear from them. So, I'm going to start with Izzy over here. You can pass the mic. >> Okay. I would like to attend a 4-year university and then go to medical school where I want to become a pediatrician or a neonatlogist. >> Um, my name is Gracie Lee and I'm looking into nursing school and one of the top schools I'm looking at right now is Chapel Hill. >> Um, I'm Caitlyn and
009I'm looking at NC State for mechanical engineering. >> I want to do a four-year uh bachelor's degree in chemistry and then after that I'm planning on either med school or doing an MD, PhD. >> Uh, four-year university. uh four-year university and then business school after that. >> So, this is our future standing right here. These are some amazing students. So, we're going to grab a quick picture. >> Can I just stand in the middle of you so I don't look so short? >> Bunch up. Can you get us all? >> Yeah. Congratulations. And I like to mention congratulations to the parents. I see parents here. Y'all have done great job. And then also our teachers. We know that these students have had some excellent teachers that have this award. >> And I'm going to ask
010Shenica, did she already step out? I was going to see if you would do some individual pictures in the hallway with them. So, others who are here just for recognition, this is a good transition time. I'm not running you off. You're welcome to stay, but this is a good transition time. >> I kind of had a feeling that was going to happen. >> Thank you, Carrie. your neighbor. All right. So, up next on the agenda is the uh consent action agenda. Draft open session minutes of the regular meeting on August 26th. Do I have a motion to approve those minutes? >> Make a motion that we approve the open session minutes from our August meeting. >> I second that motion. >> All in favor? >> Right. And at this time, we'll have a superintendence report
011from Dr. Ays. >> And I would ask um whoever's running back there, Greg or Jaden, if might you um put up some pictures. Did y'all get those pictures I sent you earlier? If you Okay, that's okay. It was a pictures of our new signs for building projects. We're going to talk a little bit about them in a minute. So, good evening, chair and board members. I want to begin by sharing the exciting news that Dr. Nathan Friselle has been announced as our principal of the year for Jackson County Public School. >> It's not a secret because we surprised him last week at Blue Ridge and we're so grateful. um that we were able to do that with the help of Miss Jackson who helped slide us in there and then also we were able to
012get um Dr. Friselle's son in there. So, we are very excited for you and this is a really special honor because we don't choose him as board members. He is selected by his principal peers and that is always something that's very heartfelt um in my opinion as a former principal when your peers select you. So, congratulations Dr. Brazelle. This week, we are collaborating with the Jackson County Sheriff's Office to conduct a safety drill at Smoky Mountain Elementary School. This drill will ensure that we are prepared for an emergency involving an active shooter. Our goal is to practice safety plans and procedures to keep our students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors safe. The public will notice emergency vehicles in and around Smoky Mountain Elementary School during that time, but this is only part of the drill.
013The drill has been planned and coordinated with Roland Hamrik from Specialized Consulting Services along with Jackson County Sheriff's Office, Jackson County Emergency Service, multiple fire departments, and other local responder agencies. Our purpose again is to learn and improve our practices for school safety. Yesterday, I received the latest drawings for several of the construction projects going on in Jackson County Public Schools. In the coming weeks, you're going to be seeing renderings for both Fair View and the Smoky Mountain High School track and field complex, as well as drawings for Blue Ridge School, the Smoky Mountain High School weight room and fieldhouse, and the new bus garage. At this time, we have learned that the construction company will be going out for bids for Fair View and Smoky Mountain High School track in October. October is just
014next week. Yay. Um, in October with the bids hoping to return in November. This is really an exciting time for our district to see some action. And what I was going to show and I must have neglected to send the picture um was images that this board and many of you have already seen because there are signs out announcing our building project. So you'll see one on the campus of Smoky Mountain High School that says coming soon track and field complex. And there is another sign at the corner of 107 and old Kowey Road that says Smoky Mountain Middle School. We're moving mountains for our kids. So, had a lot of feedback from the community already. Excited about seeing those. Also, Jackson County Early College will open their application for fall 2026 next week on
015October 1st. Interested students should follow online and on social media for application information. Our current JCEC freshman class is the largest one we've ever had, and we continue to see them grow. This month, each school has also spent time the entire month focusing on attendance awareness and celebrating the su successes of our students. Did you know that too many absences, whether they are excused or unexcused, can keep a student from succeeding in school? Well, you might ask, how many are too many? And that's 10% of the school year. If a student miss 10% of the days in the school year, that's 18 days or two days a month. and that can really knock students off track. I want to remind parents and families of the importance of having students at school, not just at school,
016but on time each and every day so that we can maximize every moment of instruction. And finally, I want to shout out Fairview Elementary School's Angie Pitts, and she'll be recognized at the next meeting. She has been chosen by Jackson County Public Schools um as the middle school exceptional children's teacher for our district and they call it the teacher of excellence. And so she was surprised two Fridays ago I believe um at Fair View with her students alongside her and that's always an awesome opportunity. So congratulations to Angie Pitts and thank you for representing our um school district but also for being dedicated to our students. That concludes my report. Thank you, Dr. Harrison. Up next, we've got Adam Holt with the state accountability data release. All right. Good evening, Dr. Members of the board.
017I come to you tonight to present our JCBS accountability data from the 2425 school year. Just a little bit of information before we get into some numbers. Um, so our students completed EOG assessments in May and June of last school year. They completed their EOCC assessments both in December and then also in May as well. Um, every year around the 1st of September, the state board of education releases all of our statewide data. Um, our school level growth represents just 20% of that school performance grade where our proficiency represents 80%. And then our school performance grades are based on a 15point scale. So not your normal 10-point scale ABCD, but a 15-point scale. Here's our overall data um from last school year. So we see the schools going down the left hand column and then
018the next column is our achievement. Again, that's 80% of the calculation. This is where all of our test data comes into play. So, EOG assessments, EOCC assessments, uh ACT results, ACT work keys, graduation rate, um extend one assessments. So, schools have to have at least 30 data points within each of these um areas to be cons to be included in part of their school performance grade. So, each school has a little bit of a different makeup of what gets included in this portion. The next column is a growth rating. Um so, our growth ratings range from -10 to positive 10. That's the scale um that we use through EVOS. Um anything from um below -2 is a not met category. From -2 to positive2 is met and then anything above positive2 is exceeded. So you
019can see our growth ratings for each of our schools and that growth index that correlates with it. And then DPI puts that growth index into a scale from 50 to 100. So that's what that growth score is. That is a conversion that DPI has come up with 50 to 100. That puts that growth index into a scale out of a 100 and that represents 20% of the school performance grade calculation. And then that next column is their final school performance grade number and then their letter that coincides beside it. Jackson Community School is a little bit different. They're alter alternative school and they follow the alternative accountability model. This year they received a progressing rating. That means that they they increased their score from the prior year by at least three points. Um so that's
020very good for them to in to increase um their score from where they were the prior year. There it goes. I did just highlight a little bit our graduation rates over the last couple of years. Um we did come up on our grad rate from where we were back in 2024. Um as a district we are at that 87.6 right at the state average um in terms of where we sit with our graduation rate. Um Smoky Mountain High School did reach back over 90% this year. There we go. And then I have just a couple slides with some highlights that we wanted to bring out. I did not want to go through all of the highlights because this would be a really long meeting if I talked about all the things that we could pull
021out of our data release. Um, but I do have just a couple points that I want to emphasize tonight. So, as a district, uh, Jackson County Public Schools increased our grades 9 through 12 EOCC proficiency by almost three points, 2.7 percentage points from where we were the prior year. Um, inside of there is NC math 3, which increased by over 13 percentage points. Um, English 2 was 2.1 percentage points. So, the great work there with our EOCC subject areas. Uh, we continue to have very strong ACT scores as a system. ACT is our college entrance exam that North Carolina pays for every year um whenever students take it during their junior year. The UNC system minimum requirement is a 17 or higher that is set by um all of our colleges in the UNCC system.
022So, we're sitting at 60.5% of our students are reaching that 17 minimum or higher. Um, and that sits above the state average, which is 53.8 and ranks us 19th out of 115 school districts. So, our ACT scores continue to be strong throughout the state. Um, looking at our elementary side, um, we increased our grades 3 through eight reading EOG proficiency by 2.1 percentage points. um grades four, six, and eight, all of our even number grades there, all saw an increase by more than four percentage points from the prior year. And all of our grade levels, so one thing we do, we we do a comparison between grade level to grade level, but also we track cohorts. So, how well is the group of students from third grade as compared to how well they did in
023fourth grade? And all of our cohort groups, grades four through eight, grew from the where they were the prior year. So, we're increasing that proficiency rate. U we also rank sixth in the state in our percentage of English learner students meeting annual progress towards exiting. So this is a criteria that all of our students who are identified as English learners take an a separate test called access and they have so many years in which to exit that status. And so we rank six in the state um in terms of having our students obtain or grow in their English language and making that progress towards exiting. Um a few school specific highlights that I wanted to show as well. Blue Ridge School increased their school performance grade by five points from the prior year. Kell Valley
024increased their school performance grade by three points from the prior year. Uh because we're in North Carolina, we like to give lots of letter grades. Um so not only do we give one for the overall school, we also give one for 38 reading and 38 math as well. Blueidge school in Kyooy Valley increased their reading three grades 3 through eight school performance grade by six points from the prior year. and Scots Creek increased thirst by five points. So, making good gains with our schools. I think this is my last page here. Jackson County Early College, NC Math 3 and English 2 EOCC proficiency rates are greater than 93%. Which is fantastic. And math 1 increased by more than 20 percentage points from the prior year. Smoky Mountain High School increased their EOCC uh math 3
025proficiency rate by 20 percentage points and English 2 by almost 3 percentage points from the prior year. I know that was a lot of numbers and a lot of data points just to go through, but it's just a few of our highlights that I wanted to bring to you tonight to your attention. Um, if anybody wants to get more and kind of dig into our data a little bit deeper, if you go to the JCPS page under the accountability department, there's a link to the state file and you can see all of the schools in the state and how everybody ranked up. I would be glad to answer any questions if you have any tonight. >> Oh, I have a question. >> Yes, ma'am. Can you in some way in layman's terms define school growth?
026>> Sure. >> Okay, >> I can do that. I I will do my best to do that. Okay. >> Okay. >> Um so what they do with school growth is they look at how well did students do in their previous testing histories. >> Okay. >> So they don't just look at like one specific test score. They look at all student test scores from prior time and they group students together into common testing history groups >> and then they look and say how well did that group of students perform this year. And so then they do a comparison within that small group and of course this is done on a really large scale with all the students across the state and then they see did these group of students who have similar testing histories how well
027did they do on this particular test this year. So then if they had if they were like higher than the average of that group that's positive growth. If they were right at the average that would be zero or zero growth which is okay which is a good thing. Or if they were below that that would be negative growth. So when we see a growth for a whole school that's saying that um like if they were above two or they exceeded that means they increase from the prior year compared to their peers. >> I have a follow-up question. Yes ma'am. So sometimes we have teachers classrooms who have growth >> within their classroom. Do we have something in place to um help the individual teacher to to have growth or does she have to come up
028with her own plan for growth? Is it like an overall thing or is it up to the individual teacher? >> So in terms of calculating the growth, is that what you're referring to? >> Oh yeah. And like, you know, we've had times where we've celebrated some of the teachers for having growth within their >> particular classroom or particular subject area. >> Um, is it because of them? Is it something they're implementing on their own or is it something that was given to everyone and they just happen to implement it? Well, >> okay. So, a couple things. Let me see if I can explain all the pieces of it. Um, so right now we have our school data for growth. They kind of release the data over a couple of months. So, we've received our school
029level data. We'll receive the specific teacher level data. They always tell us Halloween plus or minus two weeks. So, here in the next four to six weeks, we'll receive that information. >> Okay. >> Um, but in in essence, all of those individual student pieces do add up to the school data and then also to the teacher level data as well. So, we'll get that information soon. Um, it's not something that anybody can really calculate ahead of time because it's based on how well did all of the students do throughout the state. >> Gotcha. >> So if if the entire state grew four points based upon where they were last year, then that's zero growth and everybody is the same, right? So that doesn't ever happen to be exactly that way. But that's in essence, I
030can't predict it because I don't I don't see how everybody across the state performed. Um, those teachers we like to highlight every year. Uh, I know Dr. Iris typically has them um recognition during each of our board meetings for all of our teachers that exceeded growth and that's something that we'll get that information here in a couple weeks. >> Okay. >> Does that help answer some of your questions? >> It does, but I just I just wonder is it something like when we highlight these teachers, is it just a fluke that they had growth or is it something they implemented >> in which they had growth? So it typically is going to come down there to their instructional practices that they implement within their classroom. >> Okay, that's what my question >> that's correct. So
031we're looking to see how well is that teacher growing that specific group of students from that l from that school year. >> So that could be different things that they implemented their curriculum, how well they're implementing their standards using their district or benchmark assessments um to ensure their students are learning the content. Okay, >> I think that's some good points um that you and good questions you brought up. And I think more um honing in a little bit more on I'm thinking of teachers like Michelle Long or Cheryl Seeddra and those teachers who've done really well and we've recognized in past years. Our um curriculum team also shares that information with our principles. Here's a great example. Last year after the data was released and we recognized teachers at each board meeting, our instructional coaches,
032our principles, they all got together and said, "All right, I'm going to use Melanie Jacobs as an example. All right, Michelle Long at Scots Creek is doing something amazing in fifth grade science. Melanie took her fifth grade team to watch Michelle Long and see what's happening in there in there. So, we're trying to capitalize too on the good things that are happening in our district. We also many of the principles sitting in here um went to other school districts and visited those exemplars is what I call them. And so I think that touches a little bit on what you're asking. I don't think it's a fluke that they exceeded growth, right? >> I think it's strong good bell-to bell um firm instructional practices. But that's why we are looking at those exemplars in our district
033and outside of our district and going, "Hey, I'm going to I'm going to go watch Chelsea Stevens and see what she's doing at Scots Creek." >> Okay. >> So, are we taking some of those best practices that are being identified and implementing them in other classrooms? >> Absolutely. And I, you know, I I don't want to put Melanie on the spot, but I know she had some um pretty strong growth this year at Koe Valley in specific areas, but after we released the names of all those teachers, all the principles got it. Um they were talking to each other about what day can I come over and watch soando teach in this class because this is this is going well and we want to steal their ideas. I think too one thing um and and
034just having been in those you know teaching for many years one of the things that happens as well is that there are groups of students that excel as a group and why that is you know we don't know the moon it's you know at some point I'm being facitious but I know that that's something so looking at a teacher's consistent ability to bring students scores up is different than just looking at one year and saying, "Oh, wow. They did great." Well, they might have had just an exceptional group like those students that were standing here. Um, you have them in a class. Wow, your scores are going to go through the roof. So, there's other factors that come in as well. But I think looking at a consistent pattern of growth within a classroom is
035real important and and I appreciate so much um um your willingness to share this data, but I want to say I'm very concerned to have as many schools that we have that are D's. That's not acceptable in Jackson County. And I'm not pointing fingers at any person, any director, but it's not serving our community well when we have schools that have de everyone needs to rise up. Every school. And if we're doing the same thing that we've been doing the last five years, Dr. Ays, that's not okay. We have got to see an overall growth. Jackson County schools years ago was the highest in the west and there's probably lots of factors why it's not anymore, but it can be again. I believe that we have amazing teachers. We have amazing faculty and staff, but
036we can't keep doing the same thing and expecting to get out of those D's. We've got to do better. And I hope that maybe you can come before us as a board and show us some of those specific things that you're changing. you know, not not um and I know that's hard, but I think it's very important because I have people ask me in the community, why are our schools like this? They didn't used to be that way. And it's true. So, I was looking at the um I was looking at the state report and just bulletins about it and I really want to encourage the community to get involved. When you look at with communities who have really good schools, really great teachers, really great school boards and administrations. There is so much community
037support. There's no like divide in the community. Everybody is on the same team and that's really up to all of us as adults like parents, administrators, teachers, all of us to put aside like petty differences to make sure that just like Dr. was saying that our kids get to school, they get to school on time, they get a full education and even when they leave school that at home that education is still encouraged and um in every way. I really would like to see Jackson County as a community and for everybody out there listening get on the same page and say we want our children to have the best education despite the fact that they might want to be at Scots Creek and they're at Fair View or despite the fact that they want to
038be in one teacher's class and they're in another teacher. Whatever our differences are or whatever the problems is that we lay them aside and get on the same page. Any other questions related to the data that I could help answer tonight? >> Adam, I would like to know uh we had a long school like Fairview, you're talking about cohort groups and you have a totally different uh class makeup the next year than you did the the year before. >> Okay. >> How do you call that a cohort group? >> So, we are just tracking how well that grade level does from one year to the next. Um so, yeah, there's always going to be some students who come in and out of each of those cohorts. Um, at Fairview, we probably see least overall change
039from one year than some of our smaller schools because at a smaller school, just a couple students can make a big difference with those percentages. But yeah, there they're never going to be exactly the same. Um, but we are just tracking just those overall proficiency rates from one year to the next with the cohort groups. It's hard test. If you ever if you ever try to look into it, I feel for you. >> The release tests are online. >> Yeah, I >> and I do want to say I have been in several of the schools this year and I'm just so excited about what I see going on. There are some wonderful things going on. >> Absolutely. And um I feel like th those teachers are working so hard and I want to see them
040supported and I want to see them get all that they need. And if we as a board need to do something else, we need to do it. We need to help them get what they need to serve our students. So contact me if you're a teacher or a principal or anybody and you see, well there we need this. I can't promise it, but we'll address it as a board. We'll bring it up and see what we can do because y'all are on the front line and we need we we have your back. >> I feel like there have been some changes made over the past few years and you know it takes some time for some of those to really start showing dividends. I think >> well yeah we can say that and you know
041and say that every year. Well, I think you what you are seeing is that reading I mean our reading and Buck's back there shaking his head, Mr. Condell's back there. Our reading is finally showing the change in the progress and improving over time. So when Adam's talking about a cohort um and he specifically if you'll go back a slide he specifically said our fourth through eight um cohorts are changing especially in reading and that's because we're tracking that group of kids from third grade to fourth grade to fifth grade then sixth grade. So as they metriculate we're seeing that their reading is growing and we all know the basis of all learning is got you got to be able to read. >> Yes. And so I think that that is such a positive for our
042district. Um but also just this year, one of the things that that you uh and I all talked about is the change to our instructional coach model. And so now our instructional coaches are not assigned to one school, but all schools are getting the benefit of the expertise of different coaches. And so, um, I have met with all principles over the last two weeks to do their beginning of the year PDP and I have not heard one derogatory negative thing about the the new coaching model that we as a district move to because now Koi Valley who has an expert in Jennifer Patton as a middle school reading person is also getting the expert knowledge of Stacy Collins in middle school math and Stacy McNab in elementary math and all the others. And I think
043those are two real things that we can look at that they're why we're starting to show this change in reading is our our reading um resources that we have. But then this instructional coach model that all the principles have been extremely pleased about. >> And like if you look at that too, when I first came on the board, one of the things was three years ago, where wisdom, you know, like blow my phone up. And um look, I mean, we said that when you move a ship, it takes a while. Like you start turning in a direction, it takes a while. >> Sure. But that's you know whether we liked it when it came in or not. So the things do take time >> and the hurdles that I think we experience with the new
044adoption um with it's rigorous. Every principal in here can shake their head and say Whit Wisdom is a challenging rigorous u resource but again as I wrote in the paper a couple weeks ago nothing ever beats the adults standing in the room. You can have all the resources in the whole wide world, but nothing is going to be what it means to have a qualified teacher who's teaching bell-to bell with a plethora of resources. So, and I think Whiten Wisdom has been a really strong resource for us and we're starting to see the results >> and I will say I've talked to several of those instructional coaches and they're very pleased with the changes that that are going on. So that's a very good good change. >> That is Thank you. >> Yeah. I wasn't
045doing a plug for Wit and Wisdom either because I use that curriculum that I Yeah. But I will say I will say it was good. Um it's not just that. It's just the fact that it was introduced. It was new. It was a fall apart. But once we got it together, >> right, >> this is Yeah, we got great teachers. >> We do. >> We got great teachers. People >> were out there in some world listen to this on the video. We have great teachers and great administrators in Jackson County. Move out of the county. You'll see. >> Okay, that's it. >> Thank you, Adam. All right, up next we have Laura Kade with a school nutrition update. >> She provided props for all of us right here. Good job. >> They're edible edible props.
046>> Was be a cupcake. >> No, sorry. I tried to do it, >> but they're organized in the way of the handout. This is what we've been doing this week. Couple schools. So, um, good evening board chair, members of the board, and Dr. Ays. Uh, thank you for the opportunity to provide an update of the school nutrition program. Uh, proud to share the progress that we've made and how we're continuing to assure every student has access to nutritious meals that fuel learning and growth. I always say I've got a good job. Go after Adam. But um our program currently serves uh 3500 approximately 3,500 meals um a day across the district. That includes breakfast, lunch, and after school snack. We operate six kitchens and 10 schools. And we have a team of 41 uh dedicated
047nutrition professionals. Um and that includes myself and the administrative team here, which is Sandra Stevens and Janet Bottoms. Um the school nutrition program, we operate as an enterprise fund. So, our funding comes from a combination of USDA reimbursement, student payments, and supplemental sales. We actively are seeking grant opportunities, support initiatives, uh, such as equipment upgrades, um, farm to school activities, um, our school health advisory council, which is a little bit separate, but that's something I'm co-chair of. Um, our major expenses of course include food purchases, our labor costs, um, equipment, supplies, maintenance of our equipment. We can go on but um as everyone probably sees there's a rising cost in the food and supplies um and that remains a challenge especially in this area um seeking each year uh procurement and all the different products
048that we serve and food. Um so we're always uh trying to seek cost effective um vendors and then also managing our inventory. Um meal participation plays a critical role in our financial stability and we've seen a stable uh participation in breakfast and lunch from last year. Last year we increased about 5% breakfast and lunch. So currently there's about 42% of our students that participate in breakfast and 78% of our students participate in lunch. And so we always strive to increase those. Um, I do want to say at Smoky Mountain High School, um, and we always appreciate how our administration works with us because it's kind sometimes trial and error, but we have a second chance breakfast, um, that has been very popular. And then at Fairview School, we have, um, for seventh and eighth grade,
049we've been taking breakfast up there. And some of those challenges, um, to do that in all all of our schools are staffing sometimes and other things, but we do want to always increase that. Um, our program financial goals include maintaining a balanced budget. um investing in our equipment, our training, ensuring that all of our students, regardless of income, have access to healthy and appealing meals. And I do want to say the stability um I don't have pages, I promise. The stability was made significantly stronger by a remarkable show of support from our county commissioners. Um, I do want to extend a heartfelt thank you to them um for the $500,000, maybe more, but supplemental uh funding that they provided to our program. Um, this June was the first year in several years uh that we
050had a cash balance at the end of the year. Typically, we have to wait um for August and September bills to be able to pay those until we start receiving our reimbursement. And that's a tough thing. Um, this investment allowed us to maintain high quality meals without passing increased cost to families. It helped us absorb in inflation related expenses, sustain staffing levels, which is huge, and continue offering free meals to all of our students in Jackson County. And I want to say thank you to y'all too for your support because it really is an amazing thing that we're doing here in Jackson County. I don't know of many other counties that operate like us. Um, for many families, um, especially those that are above our eligibility, uh, threshold, this eases, um, financial burden, uh, about
051family of two students, it's about $2,500 to participate, um, in breakfast to lunch a year. Might not sound like a lot of money, but that is a lot of money. >> Um, and we sure appreciate that. So, in short, I just really want to say thank you for directly contributing to feeding kids, reducing fe food insecurity, and keeping our program on solid financial ground. Um, as part of our ongoing commitment to improving meals and food safety and efficiency, we've made several upgrades recently for equipment, uh, Smoky Mountain Elementary School has a new walk-in cooler and freezer, and that was made possible by federal equipment grant. Smoky Mountain also received an upgrade of two serving lines um, last year near the end of the year. And then as of today, Koy Valley has a dishwasher, a
052new one, brand new. >> We're super excited. They're getting training on it on Thursday. Um, and I also just want to say a big thank you to our maintenance department. Um, all of our departments do so much for school nutrition. They kind of laugh about it, but maintenance just really, uh, the last few weeks, um, has been really, really important, and I just appreciate that. Um, and let's see what else we've got. Okay, so October is farm to school month. Um, we're wanting and always participating and proud to participate by what we offer um, on our menu such as local beef. We have had local apples, local pears, um peaches, squash, zucchini. Um and so we try to do that throughout the school year and highlighting that. Um this week in collaboration with Blue Ridge
053School in Scots Creek, we're celebrating Johnny Apple Seed. So um they're tasting the four different varieties of apples. We slice them up, just go through them, talk about facts about apples, and it's just adorable and very fun, especially the little bitties and our three and four. So, um, but during the month of October at almost all the schools, um, we're going to have a display, um, in the cafeteria during that time of just displaying all of our just other vendors that we use and local farms. Um, and they're going to get to see and taste things such as mushrooms, cheeses, apples. We have different herbs, eggs, stuff like that. So, it'll be really fun. And, um, let's see. So, staffing, we currently have three positions, um, or openings. Uh we have two that are managers,
054very key positions. Um one at Blige and one at Scots Creek. And the other position that we have open currently is a part-time position at Kowy Valley that supports the Catamount School. Um and to strengthen that um the team and build inter excuse me internal capacity. Um we begun cross trainining. And so um we have just several potential employees that are qualified. Um, and so we're just slowly easing them in to just see what it takes to become a manager. So, we have started that process this week. And in closing, I just want to say thank you. Just we appreciate everything that happens and all of our support, um, all of our staff, um, administration, and I just enjoy this job still. So, I'm very grateful for that. And I just want to say thank
055you, and I'm happy to answer any questions y'all have. I'm going to give a shout out because Ednc, Education NC, an online um publication, they did an article and I think I sent it to everybody in JCPS a couple uh weeks ago, maybe a month ago, but they re um reput the article on social media today. So, JCPS is on the front page of their uh with your entire staff and your cute little red shirts. >> Um and but thank you, yes, to our maintenance, but thank you to Laura who um steps in. She's been a lot of jobs and a lot of hats and she'll text me at 2 o'clock in the morning say, "I got to go to Callaway. I got to take care of this." And so, she's always the go-getter. And
056I appreciate you. >> You did you say she does this place at every school? >> Yes. I haven't emailed the principles yet, but y'all don't have to do anything. >> Surprise. >> I'm just I'll do it. >> But, um, it's a different day. I have them all. I will invite them. But, um, we're just going to set up in the cafeteria. So, we did it at Koi Valley last year. And so just kind of in the back as they go through and they're exiting, they just walk through. They can touch, smell, feel, however. Um, and then I don't know if we'll do it this year, but last year we did like an apple salsa and then we made we've made like baked cinnamon pita chips and it takes a day or more to do that
057and then it's gone in like 30 minutes. I'm sure you know the feeling. So this time we're just doing a display. And then we also have local pie pumpkins. So we're going to do a little raffle in the bottom um of the trays randomly and whoever has one will get a little pie pumpkin. And that's from a local farm, too. Probably should tell the bus drivers. >> And and today, there's >> a lot to think about. >> You were at Blige, right, with Miss Wanda in the little class doing >> she's the best. >> She is. Thank you. I appreciate it. >> Do we have anybody sign up? Mr. >> Chair, we have no one signed up to speak and I did not receive any written comments. Thank you. >> Okay. Up next is the
058action agenda. with the budget resolution from Christy Walker. >> I might see if we ever get a budget. >> I was about to say >> I have provided you with a copy of our 2025 2026 budget resolution. Uh we still do not have a state signed budget. We do have a mini budget that allowed us to get to this point that gave us our retirement rates and our hospitalization. So we felt it very wise to just go ahead and bring that to you. Um, and so that's what I'm seeking approval for this evening is that 2526 budget resolution, but I'm happy to answer any questions that you may have. >> You want to be a fortune teller and tell us when we're going to have a state budget? >> No. No. So, I will add
059that's that our whole team and Christie specifically, we operate very frugally because you don't you never know what's going to happen with the state budget and and our all of our um district office directors. We've been talking about this since last spring. So, we're operating very tight and very wisely with our funds, whether it be Angie's back there like, "Yep, federal funds." we're we're being very careful and very intentional about what we spend. And so, um, I feel like it's the first year in a long time that we've had to hold tight to the purse strings, but we're doing it for the right reasons. Um, Esser's money is long gone, and we felt like we were living in the land of plenty for a few years. Um, but we're not there yet. Um, and might
060not ever be in that position again. So, we're being very wise about our expenses. Well, um Kim and I attended the um North Carolina Association of School Boards meeting in Asheville. It was a regional and they got up to talk about the budget. He put a slide up and he says, "Okay, I'm done." It said budget. He said, "You know, we don't have a budget." And his information to us was that he doesn't see too much progress on the horizon. and he said I don't want to be negative but so I think you're very wise Dr. airs. We just don't know >> and things could change tomorrow, but >> it doesn't look real positive right now to come to a resolution. So, >> I'm glad we're in a good place. >> Yes. >> Thank you.
061>> Yeah. And thank you, M. Walker, for all your juggling. >> Do we have a motion? >> I make a motion that we approve the 2025 2026 budget resolution. >> I second that motion. >> All in favor? >> Thank you, Christie. Up next, SRO memorandum of understanding. Dr. >> So, this is our annual renewal of um our MOA and it is with the Jackson County Sheriff's Office. Um they have already taken it and um done any edits that they might need to, which were none compared to last year. If you'll recall, last year we had quite a few reviews in that because they or in two years ago they added the body camera. So, we had that piece in there. The only thing Cora and I caught this afternoon is on page one under number
062three, location of services. They included the Catamount School. The Jackson County Sheriff's Office no longer provides an SRO to the Catamount School and that money doesn't flow through us because they are covered under the WCU Police Department. So, um, Sheriff Farmer has already signed it, but we do see that there is um, something that they've included in here and then we will strike that out. So, I just wanted y'all to be aware of that. >> Um, I did find several misspellings and typos and since this is a legal document, I think those probably need to be that first writ desire to ride for a school is spelled wrong and >> through it very carefully. >> Okay. And there's several um core I could list about six different >> typos and misspells. to >> Yeah. Thank
063you. >> and make that correction about >> Yeah, it came to to us from them. >> Oh, I Yeah, I'm not >> But we both seen it and didn't catch that. >> When you sign it, you don't want it to be missing. >> Thank you. >> So, um we are already are operating under this. One suggestion that I have for future years is um if there are no significant changes that we anticipate, I don't know why we wouldn't move to a two-year cycle. and not have to do this every single year. So, um, we're gonna we're gonna go with this one for this year, but I look I look for us in future years to go with a two-year cycle if everybody >> if the sheriff's office and everybody agrees with that and >> because
064I don't anticipate us ever not having SRO in our schools. >> I did have one question. it. I I read that part that you mentioned about the the who's paying for who and Smoky Mountain High School has two and on here it says one. So, does that need to be changed as well? >> No, I think what you're talking about is that that >> compensation >> that Jackson County Public Schools just pays for one and the Jackson County Sheriff's Office pays for one. >> Okay, that's is that correct? >> We're only paying the county only pays for four. The SRO's we pick up the rest through grant funds and such. Okay. >> But that would be Yes. One is paid by the M. >> Okay. Yeah. >> So I seek your approval for the SRO
065MO. >> I make a motion that we approve the 2025 2026 SRO >> with correction with >> I second that motion. >> All in favor. All right. Field trips. Dr. >> Field trips. So, I am seeking your approval for um several field trips. Um the first one is Blue Ridge School grades 1 and two to Young Harris um which is right over the line in Georgia. Um the next one is Fairview Elementary School 4th grade to the Ripley's Aquarium and that is an overnight field trip. Then Fairview Elementary School grade six to Blue Ridge Assembly in Black Mountain and that is occurring tomorrow uh through the end of the week. Jackson County Early College grades 10 and 11 will be traveling over the line into Clemson uh South Carolina to visit Clemson University. And then
066finally, Scots Creek Elementary School, grade 8. This is their Outer Banks trip, and that is not until the spring in April, but it takes a lot of time to fund raise, so I'm seeking approval for all five of those. >> I cleared my schedule for that week. >> It clears your schedule for that week. And I had one concern about one of the shop rooms um with that Fair View trip. >> You know, I mean, they just are letting anybody >> No, they have to um you talking about >> they have to be cleared in a volunteer training. Wink wink wink. >> I saw >> I think we might can trust that one. >> I saw your name. They don't >> I have concerns for anybody else who has to sleep in the same hallway
067with us. Oh, but I did tell um Miss McCauley this and I am absolutely thrilled that an eighth grade trip is again going through North Carolina. They study North Carolina history in 8th grade and I just feel like that is a wonderful trip. I know for generations Jackson County kids have benefited from that. So, thank y'all for doing that. Yes. >> I make a motion to approve field trips one through five. >> Second that motion. >> All in favor. >> All right. At this time, we find it necessary to go into close session pursuant to GS4318.11 for the following purposes under subsection A1 to prevent the disclosure of privileged or confidential personnel information pursuant to GS115C-319-321 and A3 to discuss matters protected by the attorney client privilege. Do I have a motion to go into
068close session? change next month's meeting. We need >> before we go to close this meeting. >> Yes. Sorry. We have one other thing. >> We we do. Thank you. You just hit me >> for reminding me that um there is our next board meeting is scheduled for October the 28th and um there's a schedule conflict. So, I would ask this board to consider a change to that meeting um date either to be the week prior on October 21 or move it to a Thursday night which is >> October 30th. >> Oh, yeah. >> What is the conflict? >> It is a a my schedule conflict is what it is. >> So, I did share this with the board chair and vice chair earlier today. Um, and instead of me not being able to attend the
069meeting, we recommended that we change the date. >> Yes. >> On the third Tuesday, >> I have another board meeting. >> But do you do the 30th October 30th that Thursday? Does that work for everyone? >> Maybe not for me. >> Yeah, that is >> football season for me. >> Is Jamie football season over at that time? >> No, I don't think so. I think that's so >> I will say that the the November meeting is also earlier because of Thanksgiving too. So just putting that on your radar. Um but because it's the next meeting um we would need to make a decision to >> I think you can do the the 21st. I just don't know if I can >> with the week prior >> the week earlier >> since the November meeting's early
070also. >> Okay. >> We can do that. Okay. And you can work. Don't do that for me. So October 14th I have a meeting a board meeting with came out South Mount Christian County. Monday. Yeah. >> What about Monday the 20th? That works for me. >> Yeah. >> Every Tuesday is a meeting. >> October. Yeah. >> October. >> You could do that or you could stay in the same region week and do the 27th. I don't >> Yeah. >> Did you say you could do the you could do the 21st? Maybe. >> No. No. No. I can't do Tuesdays. I mean, every single Tuesday. >> Can we do the 27th? to a day earlier. >> 27th works for me. >> Yeah, that would be better. >> Let's do October 27th. >> Okay. So, we'll need
071a motion to amend that >> schedule. >> I make a motion that we >> Will that give you time to get to your meeting? >> Yes, ma'am. Thank you for asking. >> I make a motion that we amend the board meeting scheduleuling our October board meeting to October 27th. >> That's Anybody else? Ashley. >> Okay. >> Sorry. I guess we should ask. >> Did I second that motion? >> All in favor? They got room full of attorneys they could send anyway. >> Oh, wow. We don't want >> You're irreplaceable, Ashley. >> We want Ashley. >> Okay. I'm not going to read the close session stuff again, but we have a motion to go. >> I make a motion that we go into close session. >> I second that motion. >> All in favor? Come here.
072Glad you remember Jack. Abigail. Three. >> All right. There was no action taken during close session. I'd like to turn it over to Dr. Ays for personnel recommendations. >> So I would seek your um action and approval for the personnel action agenda uh as presented. >> Make a motion that we approve the personnel action agenda as presented. >> I second that motion. >> All in favor? Any other topics of discussion? Lyn, >> well, I've not been here for a while, as you know, for various circumstances. Um, and I came to find out that and and I'm very much in favor of the other schools getting all they want, but my my school, the parents were so excited that we were finally on the agenda as a first option. And then um I came to find
073out that not only has the auditorium been taken off. All right, I'm kind of okay with that. But then we've been down moved down to the second phase. I'm not okay with that because our parents and you know our our so excited and um when the architects were there, they said we were in the first phase and they would be back in touch with us within a couple weeks. That was months and months ago. So, I'm dealing in my community with promises made, promises unkempt. So, all I'm asking is I think we need to be be moved up to the first phase at Smoky Mountain High School. I want them to be taken care of, but not not not at our expense, not to knock us out of that first phase. So, I went back
074and pulled the um list of priorities for the last three years, and I could have went back another year, but I didn't get that close cuz I got this um this question right before we came in. So, in 2023, when we met in a joint meeting with the county commissioners and the and our board of education, the priority list was number one, cafeteria and classrooms at Fairview. Number two, a traditional middle school. Number three, ADA upgrades concession stand at Smoky High. Number four, track. Number five, a bus garage. Number six, erosion control. Number seven, Blue Ridge Gym with performance space. And number eight, a softball field. So that was the priority list at our joint meeting in 2023. Um, it stayed in that same order at our joint meeting in 2024. And then in 2025,
075it stayed in that same order again and we met on February 6th of 2025. But I will go back and say that this priority list is one that other than the traditional middle school, it is one that this board and previous board members had had for many, many years. And so even the county has this list in order. The only thing that has been changed since I under my tenure was the addition of the traditional middle school. So all along Blue Ridge has been number seven on all of the past three years. >> Okay. I'll have to go back and find some additional information because I know that Blue Ridge was moved up with Fairview to numbers one and two. Um >> it is a part of what is under contract right now, is it
076not? It's all in the county commissioner's budget to be funded. So >> yes, >> it's not a matter of as if that something is not going to happen. It's just the order in which things are going out for bid. And when we talk about the phases, the phases is driven by the county manager and the county commissioners because they're taking these projects in clumps to the local government commission to get the because all of this is borrowed money, our projects and the counties uh and the county's projects. All this is borrowed money. So, uh the county manager intends to take I think isn't it Dr. is in February. Um the first package and then the next package will be um May. >> Yes. But remember that in our conversations and that have been very public
077county commissioner conversations, our package includes also the county's package because they have construction projects too. >> So when we talk about phases, the county is also building or working on new administration building for the county that's unrelated to our our projects. And so when they're talking about phases, they're talking about going out for the borrowing the money and such. So the first one is February, then it's May or June. I'm not >> So we're talking about the order is a matter of months, not years. So it's a difference of I mean the architect and Venoi only has a certain load capacity to do all of these at once as far as going through all the contract process and the bid process. Um but you know, all of these projects will be rolling out for bid.
078are all funded. Nothing's not funded. >> And I I will >> it's whether or not the funding that is available >> covers all the things. As a reminder, it's $2 million for each one of the projects except for um Blue Ridge, which is $15 million. So >> Blue Ridge is the cafeteria, the the new gym >> and a kitchen. Don't forget that kitchen. So and Jake is right. The bus garage is allocated 2 million. The Smoky High is allocated um two or four million and then Fair View is is allocated 4 million. But all of those combined don't equate to the 15 million the county has already set aside for Blue Ridge. >> Okay. And I'm very appreciative of that. I have no problem with it. The thing I do have a problem with is
079that before I left, we were right under Fair View in phase one. Now, I don't know who put us there, the county commissioners or whoever, but we were so excited and I know my husband tells everybody who comes to know our business, "Oh, we're getting ready to start. We're getting ready to start." He's been telling that for a year and now we're going to wait another year. I don't like that. >> And that's probably very likely because we the county, we Pinnacle Construction, don't have the capacity to run five projects at once. >> Okay? >> They don't have that capacity. >> I'm not asking them to do that. I'm just talking asking that we be moved up on the priority list so that we get started a little bit sooner than a year from now
080because they came to our meeting. We had quite a few parents there. >> We had meetings at all sites. Yes. >> I know. But you didn't have as many parents as we did. >> Nope. Y'all had the most. About 50 parents came. >> Yeah, >> that's right. And that is correct. >> You know, the promises were made and I took them at their word and we kept on rolling and rolling and I was so satisfied with what was going on. And then I came back to find out, uh, you know, it's gonna be another year. I'm embarrassed. >> I mean, that's beyond the Jackson County Board of Education's control. >> I mean, I'd like to see where that document is that had the I've never seen shift in what projects were. >> Well, part of
081it came from the fact that um, one of the commissioners said that before we built the new middle school, and I'm I'm okay with building the new middle school. no problems with that that that we need to take care of the old schools. And I took pictures of the filth and the you know things that were breaking down and um they were very uh nice about it and um I'll have to go back and see if I can find it on a list somewhere, but I know that we were number two under Fair View when I left. >> Well, again, have not seen so that order. >> You know, >> Dr. A is right. could be a year. It could be a year for any of these projects, but as far as going for the
082the funding, it's a matter of months. And so, Blue Ridg's project is the most elaborate project except for, you know, the construction of the middle school. So, from start to finish, you know, Blue Ridg's project will be considerably longer than to build the cafeteria at Fair View, definitely to do any of the work at Smoky Mountain High School because it's much more um scale is much smaller. But the comments that I hear is, you know, this is the way it's been the year after year after year. First they gave it to us and they take us take it away. Give it to us, take it away before we ever get it. So it's like, okay, we're used to it. What else do we >> What else? >> So all I can say is the the
083money's in the budget and allocated for $15 million. >> I'm talking about time. I'm not talking about money. >> When you saying before you left, what's the time period? What are you talking about? Well, there was no delineated time period, but um it phase one was Fairview and then Blue Ridge. >> No, only when you left, so they could look back and see maybe this is what document you're talking about. You said it was Blue Ridge was moved up to number two before you left. >> Well, it was Fairview and the middle school and then Blue Ridge. The middle school came in there. I think I think you came up with this last month, six months ago. What time period are you talking about? >> Two months ago. Three months ago. It's not changed since
084then. >> What was in the spring? >> Okay. Cuz I thought I know I think that's what you're talking about. >> Well, I will say that they're still on the list. In fact, I emailed y'all today that if you want to go look at any of the plans that are taped all in the walls in there, the Blue Ridge plans are taped on the wall. You're welcome. uh for you to review. There are several iterations of these plans. Um the Fair View Cafeteria and Kitchen and the Smoky Mountain High School track are in the furthest iteration of those. Um and those are the ones going out for bid in October. Um but none of the other projects have been cut. I mean, they're happening. They're just not I don't have the timeline. My timeline was
085yesterday for everything. So, but they're still in the budget and they're still making progress. And Jake and I meet every other week with the architect. >> I guess the other thing that I would just say to clarify, please don't be under the impression that they have been working harder on certain projects than others. >> I'm not >> um because they've been working on all the projects, but again, Blue Ridg's site is very complicated. There's a lot of rock. there's two different um wetlands areas to deal with and so they have done two rounds of bore sampling up there to say okay let's go do the bore samples see if this is a site and then to go look at another so I guess I just wanted to clarify to make sure it's not as if
086we're saying or anybody has said we're going to put blue off to the side and work on that later we're going to focus on this right now as you can see there's plans but now they're in the phase of to see if if it can actually be what we want it to be, what's in those drawings. And then also then the question is, can we afford that? Will all of that fit in the $15 million um budget? So >> they took out the auditorium, right? >> Yeah. the auditori with the with the proposed drawings in there. There is the demolition, the building of a new um 3 through six uh building, then demolishing the 36 pod because now we got a traditional building. There's some in here, a traditional building. >> And then that's where
087kitchen and cafeteria is going to >> I never heard about a 336. Mhm. >> Because we are landlocked, >> we've got wetlands, >> and we've got rock. And so that's why a lot of that's happening. But there was no way to build and construct a performing arts center along with a new gym, a new kitchen, a new cafeteria, and new classroom space in a $15 million budget. And I understand that. That's not the problem. The problem is not the money and not that they cut the auditorium. I'm fine with that. Love to have it. It would be a beautiful plan. But what I am concerned about is that >> we made a promise to our community. >> We're not keeping it. >> We are keeping it. We just don't know. We don't know the timeline
088and that's beyond this board's control >> because I'm not going to tell them. >> Mr. Chairman, do you mind if I make a recommendation? >> Absolutely not. um for the next board meeting to put on the agenda and information item to update the board on these projects. >> Of course, >> yeah, I think I think where where the misunderstanding is is the promise that you're talking about. I think I think there has been a promise made to deliver these projects and they've been funded and and they're going to be delivered, but I think there's a misconception about the order in which they were going to be delivered. So, I don't know. And I guess that's where we don't really know where that came from. So, >> well, I did it came from um the county
089manager and um the architects. So, we will Ashley take your recommendation and we'll get with the architect and the um county manager and have a presentation next month whether it be Jake or uh maybe a clear timeline. Thank you, Ashley. >> Any other items of discussion? >> We have a recommen next next regularly scheduled board meeting. We have changed that date to now be on October 27th at 6 p.m. in this building. That is a Monday. So, um, at this time, do I have a motion to adjurnn? >> I make a motion that we adjourn. >> I that motion. >> All in favor? I'd like to also point out that they have new artwork in the