001you want to trade. Good evening everybody and welcome to our regularly scheduled board meeting for the month of May. Um, at this time we will stand for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of Americans. Do I have a motion to approve tonight's agenda? Make a motion that we approve tonight's agenda. I second that motion. All in favor? All right. Up next will be special recognitions. Dr. S. So, if I can invite Miss De to come forward and our Smoky Mountain High School students up come on up. Oh, this is a nice crowd. So, I asked Miss Dills to be up here because CTE is her baby and it has been something that she has worked diligently on for 20 plus years and this is a really special
002moment for her to see the expansion of our program and then what these students are doing. But what's important is to hear what they did most recently at the state competition. Do would you care to read or would you like me to read? Okay. The Health Occupation Students of America, the HOSA students at Smoky Mountain High School attended the annual state competition in March held in Greensboro. The state hosts a leadership conference, hosts student competitions in a variety of events such as epidemiology, nursing assisting, home health aid, emergency management technology, forensic science, nurse aid, voting delegates, and prepared speaking. This year, more than 3,000 students from across the state participated. Our students did an outstanding job representing both Smoky Mountain High School and Jackson County Public Schools. Smoky Mountain High School returned home with a
003lot of finalists and two top three finishers. Kayn Allen and Emma Pollock placed in top 10 in EMT. Logan Cunningham earned first place in life support skills. Morgana Makulla placed second in home health aid. Kiara Salgado received fourth in home health aid. Mega Patel was in the top 10 in nurse aid. Gracie Gilmer placed in the top 10 in jobseeking skills. and Gracie Lee Irons earned a top 10 in research and persuasive speaking and writing. The Smoky Mountain High School HOSA program was also recognized for being a top performing blood drive with the blood connection. Their chapter was recognized as a gold star chapter and both teachers Martha Smith and Miss Kayla Day were honored as gold star adviserss. Five of these students will advance to the international leadership conference for HOSA this June in
004Nashville, Tennessee. I cannot think of a better career and greater need than producing students who desire to be in the health occupations field. Congratulations to all of our students and special thanks to Mrs. Day and Mrs. Smith for their leadership. If they are are they in the audience? Smith or Miss will y'all raise your hands and come on up. You make us proud. Have one certificate for the program. So probably next [Music] Okay. All right. Now, I'm going to invite Dr. Jeremy Collie to come on up. So, this is a really special moment. I should have invited you to wear your cap and your gown and all of the regalia or attire that you need to. Um, so this is a special moment this evening for for Jeremy Collie who has spent the bulk of
005his um school career and his all of his adult career in Jackson County Public Schools. So, let me read a little bit about him with my glasses on. Tonight is a wonderful moment to sing the accolades and praise the hard work of Jeremy Collie, assistant principal at Scots Creek. Jeremy was born in South Boston, Virginia, where his father served as a pastor. He began school in Raleigh before he and his family moved to Jackson County in 1996. Jeremy attended Fairview and Scots Creek before graduating from Smoky Mountain High School. Jeremy Collie began his college career at Western Carolina University as a North Carolina teaching fellow in 2009. His teaching career began in 2013 with JCPS where he taught history at Smoky Mountain High School. In 2018, Jeremy and his wife Lindsay decided to go back
006to school. I love how he says they decided to go back to school. It is a collective work, isn't it? This time it was to study school administration. This study took place again at Western Carolina and was completed in 2020. At the same time, Jeremy transitioned into school administration at Smoky Mountain High School and later Scots Creek. For the fall of 2022, Jeremy and his family once again decided to go back to school. After three years of living through a house remodel, adding two more children, and doing a little homework, Jeremy graduated on May 8th with his doctorate of educational leadership and North Carolina Superintendent License from Gardener Web University. One of the greatest moments of this process was coming home after his dissertation defense and telling his boys, "We are done with homework." I
007think many of us can relate to that too. To which they replied with a cheer, "The greatest takeaway Jeremy shares throughout the entire project was summed up by New Zealand explorer Sir Edmund Hillary." When asked about getting to the peak of Mount Everest, he said, "We didn't conquer the mountain, but we conquered ourselves." Jeremy knows he is still a continuous work in progress and this pro project highlighted this idea. He believes that he is in no way an accomplishment of one but rather of many. He greatly appreciates his village for standing behind him. We're proud of you, Dr. Jeremy Collie. I did not award him this diploma, but I thought it was important for you all to see at least the cover of it. Oh, it's going to be in there. They're in a mailing.
008Would you like to start saying uh so talked about the village that that's absolutely part of this. Um this is a three-year journey that my wife was absolutely MVP of this thing. Um we we added to the list of parks we kind of got to work through and so just a huge team effort. Um our children were part of that as well. Our oldest deacon was very helpful when I was too worried out to turn pages and book. He would help us out with that. Our middle son Tatum he was excellent at putting his mark on every textbook by drawing and our little girl exclamation point to make this thing be get done. So, um, again, nothing by me, uh, but huge thanks to my family, huge thanks to you guys, huge thanks to Miss
009Bryson. I haven't told many people this, but uh, got her woken up many a time at wee hours of the morning by setting the motion sensor off the Scott Street. Got to meet many of our clients and waking her up. So, thank you so much. Next is the girl behind the camera. So, Shenica, if you would come on up. She doesn't like to be on this side of the camera. I'll be honest with you. You can sit that right there by Miss Okay. to hold your camera and take a photo. So, I'm going to let you hold your award because this award came from not just Jackson County Public Schools, but one from the state of North Carolina. So, listen a little bit about what Shenica has been doing. Each year, the North Carolina School
010Public Relations Association, better known as NCPRA, and that's how we kind of say it altogether, honors school communicators from across the state at the Blue Ribbon Awards ceremony in High Point. This year they presented awards to 35 school districts for their outstanding communication and public relations during 2024. The blue ribbon awards are the highest honor presented by NCPRA to school districts. Individual entries earn a gold, silver or bronze. Note the gold the highest level. And the awards are given in the following categories. marketing, digital media, electronic media, excellence in writing, publications, image and graphic design, photography, and special events. This evening, we recognize our very own public information officer, Chenica Allen. Chenica joined our team, it feels like an eternity ago, but just over two years ago, and has been hugely impactful in sharing critical
011messages that include weather calls, which I know you enjoy those early mornings, school safety information, and highlighting our incredible students and staff. Most of you know her as the camera girl who attends a multitude of athletic events, arts programs, and special community activities. But she is so much more. She writes important press releases, communicates with local news media, created the first JCPS annual report, and releases videos to highlight the work of departments and staff. Shenica was awarded two golds this year and a silver in the categories of publications, image, graphic design, and electronic media, respectively. She received a nearperfect score for the annual report of 98 out of 100. Congratulations, Chica. Shenica. It's not easy. We'll get him one of these bags. And finally, I'm going to invite Miss Deals to return with a little
012more CTE accolades. So, if I could have the following students come forward. Hope Ward and Amber Ward, Caitlyn Rodriguez, and Bradley Perez. Students at Blue Ridge Early College under the instruction of agriculture teacher Nicholas Presler, who is in our audience tonight. Wave, Mr. Presley. Come on. have earned their FAA 107 remote pilot certification drone license. The class offered through our career and technical education programs allow students the opportunity to develop the drone piloting knowledge and skills needed to participate in drone mission planning, control basic flight operations, perform drone aircraft maintenance, and to execute communication as a flight crew team member. Drone coursework programs in CTE are a new cutting edge opportunity and are only taught in specific schools where the instructor meets these intense qualifications to attain the license themselves. Students attaining this license should
013do so after taking drone technology fundamentals and the second course in the series drone technology 1. This license is very rigorous. It is a national exam that covers the operating rules, the safety requirements, the aerospace limitations, and specific procedures for various drone operations. The FAA 107 certification is an industry valued credential leading to commercial use such as surveying, inspecting infrastructure of facilities, delivery service, business industry photography, and agricultural inspection process just to name a few. Congratulations to rising senior Hope Ward, rising junior Amber Ward, rising senior Caitlyn Rodriguez, and rising junior Bradley Perez for attaining this rigorous licensing. This is exciting for all of you and Blige Early College. We could have used him to do the the um drone footage survey, right Jake? For Blige that we just recently had done. It would have
014been helpful. So there he is. He's listening outside. So if you all want to come together, Miss Steels, would you like to be in the photo? Awesome. Congratulations. So, before we move on to um the next part of the agenda, there was one late ad that I wanted to recognize. Um but I'm going to ask Miss Bryson, where is Miss April Bryson's? if she wouldn't mind coming up to that microphone for just a moment and sharing a little bit about um something that students at Scots Creek have done. So, I'll give you the mic for just a minute and then we're going to see a very short snippet of what they've worked on in the gifted program there. Good evening. This project was um for our AIG students. We spent a lot of time in
015the last six months traveling around to different middle schools. There's talk about a middle school. Will there be a middle school in Jackson County? Won't there be what's the purpose? Um what's the value in having um a school building that is just for middle to house middle school students and what resources would be available? And our middle school students at Scots Creek won't be part of that if it does happen because they'll be in high school by the time the middle school is here. So, I asked them, I challenged them to come up with a design for a middle school and to include portions of it that they felt um would be a good addition to our K8 schools if they stayed there, but would also be something worth while for middle school students um
016to be part of if they were given um just a blank slate. So, they took that and ran with it. They weren't super excited about it at first. They saw it as something extra to do. Um, but through the course of it, they learned a lot and and by the end of it, they were really proud of what they did and I think that they enjoyed it. So, I hope you enjoy the pres. It was a great challenge, Miss Bryson. So, Jaden, if you will cue. So, this is a slideshow and there are videos on each slide and we're not going to go through them all, but this is the one where they introduce themselves. So, I want you to see these students and then we'll give you a glimpse of what they made. So,
017Jaden, if you'll just play that piece. Okay. I'm Kaya Kerry. I'm Nicious Mio. I'm Kayie Ber. I'm Addie Riddle. I'm Chloe Edwards. I'm Chloe M. I'm Bro Davis. I'm Zachary Ben. I'm Mason Andrews. I'm BTO. I'm Grace. So, these kiddos created their own middle school and you're going to see some images in just a few moments. But the night they presented at the Scots Creek event, which was full of families and community members, um I snapped a few pictures and also sent them to our architect because I thought they had some really good ideas and a quick video. So, you're going to see a few of those photos right now. So, I'm going to give you just a little narration. So, they built on the bottom photo on the far right, they built uh an
018all-inclusive football field. Um, if you'll move your move um your eyes to the left, then they had dedicated outdoor space like a green area, a corridor, a commons area. Um, they had kind of in the middle a complete performing arts center right smack in the middle of all of the school. I asked them when we were talking through this, I said, "You don't expect that to be all that spread out because we can't find flat acreage that wide." And so they got a a nice uh kick out of that comment, not thinking of that aspect of it. And then as you move to the left, you'll see parts of the building, but they were very creative. Um you could see more closely in detail. They even included little people, tiny little people that were in
019there. And so they spent a good part of the last um eight to nine weeks working really hard on this. So, this was thanks to Miss Bryson's challenge, but also thanks to the leadership of the classroom teacher, and that was Gretchen McHugh. So, thank you for uh allowing me to show this off. I just got it today, and I didn't think that we should not show it. You needed to see those students. So, that is all I have. Thank you for those special recognition. We'll move on to the consent action agenda. Do I have a motion for uh open session minutes of the regular meeting on April 22nd? Make a motion that we approve the open session minutes of our regular meeting from April 22nd. I second that motion. All in favor? Also, uh we
020had a special call meeting on April 23rd. Do I have a motion to approve those minutes? I make a motion that we approve the open session minutes from our special called meeting on April 23rd. I second that motion. All in favor on to information with the superintendent report. Good evening, chair and board members. We are at the conclusion of the 2425 school year and it's been a good one. Our students and staff worked hard to finish strong and end the year on a positive note. I'm proud of the work of our students and equally proud of our staff for pushing, encouraging, celebrating, and loving our students. This past week, our schools held promotion and graduation ceremonies. It was a beautiful week of celebrations honoring our students. We graduated nearly 270 seniors who are off to
021the military, workforce, or pursuing further education. What a monumental week it was. Also, in the last few weeks, we've had several other major happenings. Special Olympics was held on April 25th. Proms took place. The SMH theater students presented Guys and Dolls and we held our annual excellence in education awards. We honored teacher of the year, principal of the year, bus driver of the year, school nutrition employee of the year, and many others. But we also recognized 12 staff members who are retiring and stepping into their next journey. Tonight, we'll also discuss a name for our new middle school. At the community input sessions in January, several school names were recommended by students, staff, families, and community members in attendance. Hopefully, the board will be able to determine the name tonight because I am anxious to
022get a sign constructed to put on our property. Our annual back to school bash is on August 2nd from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the color rec center. I know people are not thinking of going back to school right now, but we have to plan accordingly, well in advance. We are in the planning and organizing stages now. Any monetary or physical donations can be sent here to the central office or if you have questions about what you can donate, you can certainly call the office. Finally, I want to encourage our community to support my efforts to increase the annual JCPS supplement of both certified and non-certified staff. My budget request to the county commissioners will increase that annual supplement from $2,000 to $2,500 for certified staff and from $600 to$,500 for non-certified staff. The
023county commissioner proposal last week did not fully fund some of my requests related to salary and compensation. I truly believe our commissioner's desire to support education as is evidenced by their commitment to fund the capital building projects. I'm appreciative of their gracious funding but desperately wish for them to find the supplement incre fund the supplement increase and staff costs that exceed state a lotments. Thank you in advance for advocating. Thanks to each and every one of you who've made this year a success respectfully. Thank you for that report. Up next is Megan Cruz with our mental health awareness. Hello Dr. Ays members of the board. some members who I hope will be watching this later. Um I think I have a presentation that it's not get the presentation to them ahead of time. Great. It's
024in the presentation. That's okay. Did members of the board get it in their packet? Excellent. Well, I am happy to talk with you about it and then maybe we can um send it out to folks for public viewing at a later time. All right. This is going to be a great test of my memory and my practice skills. I really appreciate this opportunity talking and I'm gonna try to get it to Jaden record. Thank you, Dr. Harris. Yes, ma'am. So, we are here at the very end of mental health awareness month. Thank you so much, Miss Warren. Um, I've got it right here, too. So, I am here just to share a little bit about the good work that's been happening in Jackson County Public Schools and how we plan to keep it going and
025how we plan to continue it. Um, so some of you may remember that in 2021, Jackson County Public Schools was chosen as a Projectaware site. So we are the only district that was chosen in the west for five years of funding from SAMA, which is federal funding. Um, which we are very fortunate and lucky to have and hope that we continue having through the end of our five years. Um, and so since receiving those funds, we have worked really hard to expand the services that were already being provided in Jackson County public schools. Um, and Jackson County was really chosen because we were prime for this work because we were in the unique position of already having some licensed clinicians on staff and having supportive county commissioners and having a supportive schoolboard and supportive district
026leaders. Um, and so we have really been able to maximize that funding because of that. And so we've received a lot of national recognition since receiving that funding. North Carolina Project Wear has received multiple awards. Um I have presented at multiple national and regional conferences about the work happening here and we are working hard to share it with our partners in western North Carolina to make sure that all of our region is being lifted by this funding while we have it. Um, and so as a part of that, we participated in an 11-month Medicaid collaborative program that was funded by Projectaware and the Camber Foundation and an organization called Rural Opportunity Institute. And so for 11 months, we have been learning about Medicaid funding and how to maximize it in schools, which is incredibly challenging,
027which is why most schools are not accessing it for behavioral health. Um and so we have been able to partner with them to offer a second cohort which much of the western region is enrolling in um to learn how to really leverage those funds to be able to continue behavioral health work in schools. Um another thing that we have done is worked really hard to leverage funds from our community partners. We have partnered with at least four different local organizations including Great Smokies Health Foundation, Highlands Cashers Health Foundation, Dogwood Dogwood Health Trust and the Evergreen Foundation. Um, thank you. I'm on the slide that says leveraging partners. And so with those funds, we've been able to provide trauma-informed um spaces in all of our schools and grow our team even further. and we worked really
028closely with two of our neighboring partners so that they could apply for funds to replicate what we're doing in Jackson County because we know that we share students and we share a community. Um so if you go to the next slide, another thing we're really proud of this year, so Jackson County Schools has a really long history of screening students for behavioral health needs. Um we were doing it, I told the Silva Herald today, we were doing it before it was cool. um before everyone started doing it. And then when parents bill of rights legislation took place, um we had to kind of take a step back to figure out how we were going to continue screening students and how we were going to obtain parental consent to do that. Um and so I have
029to give a big shout out to our student support teams and our teachers and administrators and everyone who worked very hard this year to try to get parental consent from as many students as possible so that we could engage in that screener again, which we did. Um, and we screened a much smaller portion of our population. So, you may remember in years past I've had lots of pretty pie charts to show you about the number of Jackson County students who are identified as at risk. And we just don't have the numbers to accurately predict that right now. But that screening was really powerful because what it did was help identify students who are not on the radar. Students who we were not aware of, who were struggling, who we were then able to connect with
030services. So, we have some lofty goals to really increase the number of students we screen next year through more of those consent efforts. Uh, but we did so the mental health team served 223 students this year. Um, there were 2,330 total contacts with students and families made this year. And of those, 1,966 were face-to-face contacts. And so if you think about therapy sessions and all the barriers that there are to families accessing services, transportation, the cost of loss work, the the time commitment, the stigma associated with going to an office that feels maybe out of their comfort zone, um having these services located in school really helps to remove a lot of those barriers. And so most of these contexts and students who receive those services maybe wouldn't have otherwise received them if we were
031not offering them at school. So we are really proud of the fact that we in Jackson County have been able to offer that. If you'll go to the next slide, please. And so the last thing I wanted to make sure and share about is how we are really leading in western North Carolina and in the region. Um I co-f facilitate the bimonthly meetings for region 8 um for the school mental health initiative. And so we bring together all of region 8 every other month um and schedule guest speakers. We share resources. We really are helping to elevate the things happening in the west around school-based mental health. Um and we present at all these different conferences. And I serve on the advisory board for the Carolina network which is a school behavioral health network that
032meets every alternate year in North Carolina and in South Carolina. I'm very excited this coming year it's going to be in Charleston. So, I get to go to that. Um, but really learning from all these different states and all these different regions and sharing the good things that are happening here. I joke that sometimes I feel like we're in our little bubble and just focusing on what we're doing. And I go to these national conferences and meet people from all over the US and realize like, oh wow, we've got it going on in Jackson County. Like they want to learn from the things that we're doing here. Um, and we share resources with all of our neighbors. and I tried to rack my brain and list all the people who call me all the time
033asking for like, "Can I have a copy of this policy? How are you guys navigating this?" Um, and so we just have have lots of things to be proud of. So, I appreciate this opportunity to kind of shout out some of the work that's happening and how we plan to sustain it. Um, because we we want to make sure that we continue being proud of this good work. And I would be happy to answer any questions you have. You all got a little green ribbon to wear for mental health awareness month. Mom. Yeah, Megan. Um, the A Project Awake Aare, there's been two names for it the whole time I've been here and I'm sure yours prior to that. So, we were one of the first in the state, the first cohort of folks um
034to receive that grant. So, for their knowledge and for the general public, what does that encompass and when does that end and what happens next? I know we've been talking a long time about what that what that looks like after the grant. Right. So, Project Wear is a big federal SAMA grant and the state of North Carolina applied for it in 2018 and did it with three districts and was so successful that then they got to apply for another round of funding which is kind of unheard of. So, in 2021 is when we got to join that cohort and we're the only ones in the west that were selected. And so there are several big overarching goals and objectives involved in that. Um, as you can imagine with a federal grant, we have lots of
035reporting we have to do every quarter. Um, and so the primary goal is to increase access to mental health services and to decrease things like um like suicidality, decrease things like dropout and negative outcomes for our students. Um, and so we really have invested in increasing access to services and helping support a lot of the other things happening in our schools. Um, and collaborating with the student support teams that are already here. Very good. My question is like you had all these face tof face encounters. How's the community like when you're having us face to face? Is your is it just face to face with the student or are the parents involved or absolutely so we have high expectations for our clinical team especially the younger the student the more parents should be involved. So
036typically what it looks like when we get a referral they contact that parent within 7 days to schedule an intake appointment. And so that looks like them coming in to do an assessment and establish some treatment goals together and then they've established a timeline like are we going to meet weekly? What is this going to look like? Um and so the parent should be a collaborative part of that the whole time through. Now as you can imagine as students get on up into high school and have more independence, they you know parents maybe are less involved but we always have their consent before engaging in services but they may become less frequently right? they receive it positively most of the time overwhelmingly. So, yeah, a lot of um the feedback we've gotten. So our um
037our national partner Annlar does a lot of our data and evaluation and we did a family survey and we had 111 respondents that they shared this morning but I don't have all that data to share with you yet but they showed me some really positive trends that people increased their um knowledge of mental health and the need for it, the knowledge of how to access it and they reported decrease in struggle accessing mental health for their students. So those were those were really positive points that I will send you as soon as they get me that report. Thank you Megan. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you Megan. Um up next we have Angie Deals with update to board policy. Good evening board chair members Dr. Ays. So tonight we bring before you a policy that
038we would like you to uh review uh with a possible revision to bring back for action at the June board meeting. So uh it's policy code 3620 extracurricular activities and student organizations. There are two tentative changes. The first is a technical change that you will see um on page two in your packet. Uh just to clarify that students in the sixth grade are eligible to participate in all intercolastic athletics except for football. That is a technical error. We had that list listed in our policy. Um so we want to correct that. The second change is more significant. You're going to find that on page three under special circumstances letter D. Uh the proposed change um is regarding a class schedule. So the previous policy stated that a student must participate in a class schedule that
039is at least one half of the assigned school's instructional day. At least one class must be taken on campus each semester. The proposed new policy would read, "The student must participate in a class schedule that is at least three instructional periods of the assigned school day on the school campus with three of those being high school credit bearing courses. These classes may be a combination of academic core classes, CTE, JOTC, visual performing arts or other advanced courses such as an AP course or college and career promise course. So this policy was reviewed as part of our secondary curriculum meeting in April. Our secondary principles were there as well as myself, Mr. Buchanan to talk through this um proposed change. So do you have anything else to add in respect? I just stood up um just
040to stretch my legs, but uh also Angie and I worked on this together with the principles and the parts that you like. You can give Angie the credit for it, parts you don't. Um but uh you can blame me, but um this does fall into eligibility. This uh this will uh what am I trying to say? comply with North Carolina High School Athletic Association elig eligibility requirements. Um, and as Angie said before, this is primarily addressing uh students who are homeschooled that wish to participate extracurricular activities with Jackson County Public Schools. Um, so this would not necessarily be the guidelines that would be followed for a student that is fully enrolled at Smoky Mountain High School, Blue Ridge, or Jackson County Early College. uh but particularly students who their families are wanting to um be
041homeschooled but also enroll in activities uh extracurricular activities specifically sports which is something that the board has had a lot of questions about and been questioned about over the last few years and it says on campus on the school campus how does that apply towards students who are taking SEC courses that may not be offered on campus so then that would have to be an additional class outside of those Three. As the board is aware though, we do have a large number. Dr. Ays and Angie's worked very hard to get SEC courses offered on the campus of Smoky Mountain High School on the campus of Blue Ridge, whether in face toface or um uh face toface or uh uh virtual. Um but this would be um this would be you would have to take that
042in addition to three classes that were physically on those campuses. So just to clarify, this would be students who would be dy enrolled. So under number three, um homeschool students who are dually enrolled in accordance with the school systems enrollment and assignment policies and procedures are eligible to participate in high school interolastic activities if they comply with all of the following. So this would be for students who are at a home school obtaining credit and coming to us to obtain credit. So, it would change the policy for them to um have two from being having to be with us for two credits for them to be with us for three credits. I think just for clarity, if you are a full-time enrolled JCPS student, you're a full-time student. Correct. This doesn't apply. This does not
043apply. I just want to be clear because if you are you're a freshman, you don't have the option to be enrolled in anything but four classes each semester. sophomore year, junior year, it's only really your senior year do we allow high school students who are on track to um to to not take class and have a gap. There's some extenduating circumstances, you know, 504s and different things that would allow for that, but primarily this is addressing a a student, maybe a family that has been homeschooled all the way through 8th grade and now has decided to enroll at Blue Ridge Early College and wants to play on the soccer team. um but traditionally has asked, "Hey, can I take PE fourth period with Coach Macy and can I take a SEC class online at stay
044at home and then be fully eligible to um participate on the soccer team?" Previously, they would be, but this new policy would say no. You know, the spirit of why we have athletics and why we value them so much is a part of the culture and climate of being a student in one of our schools. And so, yeah, you can still get your homeschool degree if that's the path that you want to take. and and take some of your courses as a homeschool path, but you need to be engaged in the school and your teammates and your classmates and be at the school for a greater period of time of the day than we had previously allowed. So, this is a first read. I encourage you to think about it. We're not going to make
045a decision on it tonight, but I will add that this was brought to our team last summer as wanting to be implemented immediately, but we didn't think that was sufficient time to implement a policy when football offseason workouts start the next the next week. So, we wanted to make sure that we took careful uh input from our high school principles to offer what they wanted to. And this has been shared with our athletic directors as well. Could we get maybe how many students this would affect and absolutely traditionally? I'll make a note of that. Yeah. How many students are already under? Yeah. Same thing. I'd like to know how many students would this affect that's already in our athletic programs. Yeah, the number we can absolutely get that for you. The number is going to
046be very small. We never had this. Um when I was principal at Smoky Mountain High School, all those years we had never had this. This has only been the last couple years we've had a couple of students. I think I've encountered two in I was thinking of only one or two that I can think of. It's less than five. Absolutely. But we can get you that the exact numbers. We have had a lot of questions about this um over the past six months. So, we would like to have time to notify families going into the next school year if we want to make this change is the reason why bringing it for a first read this month and then some action before July 1st. So, um so yeah, if you have any questions, please reach
047out to Jagger. We'd be happy to answer those uh going forward for next month. Anything else? Thank you. Thank you, Jake. Now that you're stretched out, you talk to us about capital projects. All right, the Mr. Chair, Dr. S, members of the board, this is budget season. Um, which also means this is capital project planning time of year. And so we have uh sent out to all the principles their requests for capital projects moving into next school year. Um the uh uh maintenance staff have gone through and evaluated like they always do through work orders and through um uh inspections uh roofs, HVAC, plumbing situations that needed need to be addressed and and put into that list. Um and so we have we have accumulated that list and we're in the process of prioritizing that
048based on funding from the county commissioners. We really can't develop a plan until we know exactly um what that funding is going to be. Um we have asked for some additional funding this year to address some very specific projects. And so we don't know if those will be funded from the the county or not. We do know because there's been a lot of discussion about this. Um and you know regardless if there'd been a lot of discussion about it or not, our top priority is a new roof on the science building at Smoky Mountain High School. building's now 21 years old. We moved into it in 2004 and it's time for um replacement of that. Um but other than that, we're still, like I said, in the planning phase and uh and plan to to
049roll that out, but I'd be happy to ask any answer any questions that the board has about um capital moving forward. And I'll just pipe in um I laid on board members chairs. We received today Jake and I received some uh draft drawings. So I I haven't even gotten to share them with anybody yet. Um one is the Smoky Mountain High School um eight lane track with a soccer field in the middle and restrooms. And so this is a a really rough draft that nobody in this district has even looked at and made edits and prop proposed changes. And then we'll receive two proposals for Blue Ridge, an option one and an option two. And so it is um within seemingly within the $15 million budget that the county commissioners have allocated. So it has
050um a really beautiful new gym. Um Randy refers to it as a competition gym. So it is uh pretty pretty astounding to see that. So you see two different proposals and the placement of that. And so I hadn't gotten to even give these out because we got them about 11:30 today. So I wanted you all as board members to have hard copies and this is only the first go at it. So there'll be lots of hey this needs to be changed, this needs to be looked at. So and as far as um the other thing that comes to mind as far as moving forward with all the projects, the surveying, you know, the architects need appropriate surveys of all these sites. So, the surveying for the bus garage um is completed and the uh architect
051has had that for a few weeks now. Same for Fair Views. Had that for several weeks. Finished up with Smoky Mountain High School um not long ago and uh architect has that. Um Blue Ridge needed an extensive one because the size of the campus and the topography and the complexity of the project and so that has also been completed. Um and then the uh the surveyor for our middle school property um which is a large project that's 58 acres that has never really been surveyed before. Um that surveying work uh commenced this past week. Um and they thought it would be a two or three week process, but we are their top priority to get that done and get that in the hands of the architect so I can start making plans. So, but if
052there are any other questions about capital, thank you very much. Thank you, Jake. Up next, we have Christy Waffle with Pecard Audits. Good evening, Dr. Ays, members of the board, Mr. Chair. Uh the first information item I have is our successful completion of the third quarter audits both internal and Bank of America. U that's our PECARD purchasing program. These audits cover January through March for all of our nine schools and some select purchase cards. And you will find a copy of both of these reports in your packet. Both reports show no neg negligence, fraud, or findings in either audit. Any comments or concerns were of course discussed and corrected during the audit and then shared with appropriate staff. Is there any questions regarding those audits? No questions. You can go on with the unodudited financial
053summary. Okay. So, this is also included in your packet. It's the usual information that you expect. Um, this information shows we are within our approved budget resolution for this year and there is also the comparison data for last year. One note, I would ask you to look to the right column in the 2025 chart and it shows that we are 90.83% spent for state funds. These are funds that will expire on June 30th and our goal is always 100%. So I checked it again today and we are at 99.86 work. Yeah, I think we're on track. This is Chrissy's season right now. June's here. Thank you. Thank you, Chrissy. Thank you. All right. Now, it is time for our open session for public comments. Cora. Yes, we have a significant number this evening. Um, first
054I'm going to read instructions for our speakers in the audience. Each month during part of the regularly scheduled board meeting, time is set aside for citizens to address the board through public comment. Each speaker will receive three minutes to present comments. However, the public comment session will not exceed 30 minutes total except by majority vote of the board. I think we'll make that fine tonight. A signup sheet will always be available 30 minutes prior to the meeting begins for any individual or group to indicate their desire to address the board. During the public comment period, we will recognize speakers in the order in which they signed in. Substitute speakers will not be permitted and speakers may not donate any portion of their time to another speaker. If a speaker is unable to present all of
055his or her information within the specified time limit, the speaker may provide the board with the additional information in written form. If an unusually large number of people request to speak, a majority of the board may decide to reduce the time for each individual or to require the designation of a spokesperson for each group of persons supporting or opposing the same positions. At any time, the board may establish additional procedures to ensure that public comment sessions proceed in an efficient and orderly manner. Written public comments may be sent in advance of the board meeting and will be shared with the board during the meeting. All written public comments must be received by 4 p.m. the day prior to the board meeting to be included. Public comments are designed for the school board to listen. The
056board will not engage in dialogue or answer questions. And please, complaints about individuals or employees or students are prohibited. We've received two uh written public comments. The first one was received May 7th at 4:10 in the afternoon via email and it reads as follows. Dear Jackson County School Board, my class and I strongly disagree with the board's decision to move Bleridge Elementary's principal because she has been here for more than three years now and ultimately we are comfortable with her. She has made lots of excellent decisions for our school and we love her. She makes fun programs like music groups, men and women from the Cherokee tribe and plans fun field trips. With the absence of our principal, our school experience wouldn't feel the same without her. Our school wouldn't be the same. Please take
057this letter into deep consideration. Sincerely, Zoe Bumgner, Blige School 6th grade student. The second written comment was received May 7th at 4:11 uh p.m. via via email and it reads as follows. Dear Jackson County School Board, I strongly suggest that you let us keep Blue Ridges Blue Ridge School's current elementary principal. She was here for 5 years with us and has set a lasting great example for the students in Blue Ridge School. If the board still decides to move her, the incoming principal will have big shoes to fill. She has helped me and my class all the way up to sixth grade and I hope for many more years to come. I hope this helps you in making a choice that we as a class, myself and others will miss our current elementary principal. She
058has set up field trips and academic choices for us to be able to have opportunities for us to get a scholarship for the people without the money can still go to college. This is from the bottom of my heart and that our current principal stays. Signed Kenya Aguilar Fuentes, sixth grade student at Blige School. Okay. Additionally, we have um seven speakers signed up. First one is Erica Smith deal. Erica would like to speak about Blige. Have three minutes commencing now. Okay. Uh good evening. I want to thank the board for allowing me to speak tonight. For those of you who do not know me, I am Erikica Smith and I have the privilege of being the social worker at Blige schools. I come here tonight to advocate for my school, my kids, and my co-workers.
059North Carolina Department of Public Instruction sets the standards for my profession, and one in which I am evaluated on yearly is my advocacy for my school. The recent change in administration has thrown my school into turmoil that is creating a negative ripple effect, and many are turning to me for answers that I simply cannot provide. So, tonight, I ask for your help in answering the questions I keep getting asked. How does this administration move benefit Blige School? and how does this benefit our outgoing principal? I can't seem to come up with a response that satisfies my students, parents, and co-workers. Nothing seems to make sense as our school has been working hard for the last couple of years to rebrand our image. We've worked through being grossly understaffed and managed to give this district the
060outcomes that you guys asked of us. Increase test scores and building community. We had a principal giving this district the outcomes you wanted and she actually wants to stay there. Blige school was notorious for being hard to hire due to its location and cost of living in cashers and next year we were excited at the very real possibility that we would be fully staffed. We had one position open at Blige. We had a team of people who weren't afraid to do the extra work and we actually worked well together. Now due to two decisions made by county office, we have four additional openings in counting. Five openings in a singleton classroom school that is notoriously hard to hire. When we were understaffed before, the district had to offer extra money and the use of a
061county car to entice people to come down and help us. And still, people refuse to come. Yet, the majority of us at Blige commute and make no more than anyone else in the district. So, here we are building community, building school pride, retaining staff, growing our kids, and literally in the blink of an eye, this has been taken from us. And I'm truly at a loss how to make this better. I am a fixer by nature. I want to fix this. I want parents to trust the school and I want them to trust the district. I want my schools to walk through the my students to walk through the doors in August to a fully staffed school and be provided the best education possible. I want my co-workers to feel safe, valued, and heard. Some
062of you will tell me that you don't have as much power in the as the public thinks, but I beg to differ. If you all did not have power in this district, we wouldn't have action items that require your vote of approval. We wouldn't have budget or hiring approvals. You wouldn't have be an elected official if you didn't have power. You do have a say and I ask you to truly listen to the Blige community tonight and explain to us how this is benefiting Blige school and assure us that our doors will be open in August to a fully staffed and fully supported school. Thank you for your time. Our next speaker is Destiny McConnell and she would like to speak about Blige. Dear members of the school board, hello. My name is Desi McConnell.
063I'm standing here to express my deep disappointment and concerns regarding the decision to remove our BRS principal from her position and reassign her. Myself along with many other students, parents and faculty members are extremely upset by this decision. During her time as a principal, she has been exceptional leader and a positive influence on our school community. She has consistently demonstrated a commitment to the success and well-being of all students. Personally, she has helped me by supporting my growth and by always supporting me by helping me change my behavior in a positive way. She also helped me put education first in a way to better my future. I know that many other students have similar stories of how our principal has positively impacted our lives. I urge you to reconsider this decision and and recognize the
064value she brings to our school. We need a strong supportive leader who pri prioritize the needs of students and she has consistently proven to be the that kind of leader. Removing her will be a significant loss to our school community. Honestly, ever since I was in kindergarten, I've seen principles come and go at Blue Ridge, but our current principal is different. I've never seen anyone put so much heart and soul to keep the school going strong. She has really tried to bring everyone together to build a community here at Blige so we can all have a great year. That's why I think you should reconsider this decision. It's not about me or other students. It's about the whole Blige family and the future of our school. You'd be hurting a lot of people. Thank you.
065Our next speaker is Melissa Wilcox and she would like to speak about questionable leadership. Good evening. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to speak to you tonight. Um, please forgive my nervousness. I don't like public speaking, but my friend my friend used to always say, "If you're going to be a chicken, you better be a brave chicken." I didn't come here tonight to complain, but I came to pose a series of questions. I don't know why I'm crying. Apparently, I really don't like public speaking. I came to pose a series of questions not to be answered, but to be pondered. Number one, isn't it frightening that one person has the power to move a principal from a growing successful community to bury them as a third assistant principal without cause? Good leaders are hard
066to find and they're being moved around like pawns on a chess board, often sacrificed to protect the queen. Did anyone ask why? If not, I will. Why? Is it all for the sake of change? Because it certainly isn't for the sake of the children. And this isn't the first time this thing has happened in Jackson County, and it won't be the last. If no one is brave enough to stand up and say that this isn't right, because when one person has too much power, no one wins. Isn't it frustrating that one member uses their elected position to ser to settle personal vendettas instead of doing what's best for all children in the county? I'm pretty sure that wasn't part of their campaign promise to us when they were running for election. And isn't it disappointing
067that the other members know what's happening and they still refuse to stand up against it. They refuse to advocate for the very people who elected them. Have your campaign platforms become nothing more than a gallows in the town square on which to hang empty promises? I certainly hope not. So, I urge you school board and the superintendent to remember why you got into this. If it wasn't to do what is best to educate all the children in our community, then you're in the wrong place. And if you've strayed away from that reason, then it's your opportunity to come back home. When you plant a garden, weeds will always grow with it and try to choke out the good plants. But the solution isn't to pull up the good plants, but rather to pull the weeds
068out, root and all. When a garden has been weeded properly, plants will flourish and produce good fruit. In this case, it will produce educated children who are able to think for themselves, problem solve, and grow into productive members of society that will give back to their communities and ultimately produce good fruit of their own. So, in closing, I'll leave you with three thoughts. Number one, when you know you're being lied to, but you choose not to question it, you become complicit in the lie itself. Number two, when you don't stand up for what's right, then you're part of everything that's wrong. And number three, they say money speaks, but it should never be loud enough to drown out the voice of our children. So, if you're going to be a chicken, at least be a
069brave chicken. Thank you. Our next speaker is Amanda Wood, who would like to speak about Blige School. I'm here tonight to speak on behalf of Blige Early College parents. I am very irritated to know that the principal of Blue Ridge School and the principal of the year has been demoted to be an assistant principal at Smoky Mountain High School where there is already two assistant principles and a third one was made to move her there. Um, all of this was suggested by our Jackson County Superintendent and I pray that the school board members ask some questions as to why if she had a cause to be demoted as our principal at Blue Ridge to be moved to Smoky Mountain as an assistant principal. If the members of this school board did not ask to see
070the cause in writing, then shame on you. These decisions should be looked at thoroughly because our children and their education is on the line. And quite frankly, I could care less how many times you wave and smile at the camera, flip your hair, and get your picture in the paper. That's not why you're here. You are here to protect my child and other children and give them a fair opportunity for an education. I have already approached some of the members of this board about a situation in the fourth grade class at Blue Ridge School, which my child attends the fourth grade class. And I don't believe that all of the board members knew about this situation. And shame on you for not sharing that. You should not be allowed to make these decisions that you're
071making all on your own. And I'm begging the members of the school board to start doing some investigating on some of these decisions. I feel like Blue Ridge School has never really mattered and making the statement that Blige matters to you is simply just a statement your actions show different. These decisions should not be made on whether you like the person individually or this person is a yes person to every suggestion that you make. I feel that the school superintendent does not like to be questioned about anything. Blige school is always understaffed and is always put at the bottom of the line. Just take a look at the agendas and see where we fall on the agenda. If not, watch the recording meetings and see how many times that you guys have to be reminded
072about Blue Ridge. And I know and I feel that the decision about our principal is a retaliation due to some of these circumstances. It is always a hot topic from the superintendent about the middle school down here. Are we going to name it after her? What's the deal? I just feel like we that that Blue Ridge should be shot should be thought about. Also, our next speaker is Elena Alcantar who would like to speak about Blue Ridge School. Um, good evening. Um this is about us wanting to keep our Blue Ridge um principal Carrie Cowen. Um I was there when she first started as assistant principal in Blige Early College and she has grown so much and she has helped Blige school a whole lot more than anybody has before. And I can say this
073because I worked at Blid School in the cafeteria for a few years until um 23. But um my I don't have kids in that grade anymore, that side of the school. They've moved to the other. But they still look to her every day as someone of leadership, someone that they need to answer to if they're doing wrong or if they're doing good. They know she's there to cheer them on. I don't understand the reasoning behind why they're wanting to move her to a different school and much less demote her down to be assistant when she's capable of doing much more and especially for us at Blige school. Um me growing up, I would have loved to have somebody like her advocate for me like she does for all the kids of Blue School and hold.
074Um as you can see, she looks good in green. Um, and um, I'm not good at speaking and I did not say anything that my speech did say, but I would just like you to consider that not only did those two sixth graders on the public announcement speak, but there's kids here that adore her and want nothing more than for her to stay with Blue Ridge School. They have seen so many principles and teachers and school nutrition people come and go. But she has been constant there from 5:00 in the morning, 5 6:00, whatever time she has to get there to drive the bus that morning till well after soccer or basketball ends that night. She's there constantly. She is there constant and that is what our kids need. Thank you. Our next speaker is
075Kim Akin who would like to speak about Blige. Good evening members of the school board. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to speak tonight. My name is Kim Aken and I am a proud parent of students at Blige School. I am here to express my deep concern regarding the decision to reassign our principal, Gary Cowan, to another school. I urge you to reconsider this move, not just as a parent, but as someone who believes in the power of stability, consistency, and strong leadership in our children's lives. Principal Cowan is not just a school leader. She is the heart of our school. During her time she has been at Blige, she has fostered a culture of respect, encouragement, and academic excellence. And this just isn't my opinion. She has been named principal of the year
076two years in a row. That is not a small achievement. It's a clear indication of her exceptional leadership and unwavering commitment to our students, staff, and families. Our children spend a large portion of their lives in school. For many, especially these those who face instability or lack of support at home, school is their one steady place. In that environment, having a consistent, trusted leader makes a world difference. It offers a sense of security, structure, and care. When children walk through the doors and see a familiar face leading their school, someone who knows their name, their needs, their challenges, they feel seen, they feel safe, they thrive. Removing a principle of this caliber, especially without the input of the school community, risks disrupting that foundation. It sends a message that even excellence is not enough to
077secure continuity. It risks undermining the progress that has been made, the relationships that have been built, and the momentum we've worked so hard to gain. We are not asking for special treatment. We are asking you to do what is best for our children to prioritize their emotional and educational well-being by ensuring they have stable, consistent leadership. Please keep Principal Cowan at Blige. Let's build on what we've started, not tear it down. Thank you for your time, and for considering the voices of the families you serve. Our next speaker is Kendra Presley, and she would like to speak about behavior issues in class. I've had to pray long and hard about what to say tonight cuz at first I was just angry. um now heartbroken, disappointed in this board. This board's actions and inactions have left
078our students vulnerable, our teachers unsupported, and our school in crisis. One student's ongoing disruptive behavior is not just impacting a classroom, it's affecting an entire school. Our children are walking on eggshells, being praised for ignoring chaos rather than being supported in learning. They're not just missing instruction time. They're being taught intentionally or not that their learning, their safety, their emotional well-being comes second to managing one student's behavior. And guess what? It's costing us dearly. We're losing incredible teachers. Some who have resigned, others who are being transferred. All the while, families are being driven away, not by choice, but they feel they have no other option. For the first time ever, I have to actually consider my children not going to Blitch. And it just about kills me to do that. But if my daughter is
079placed in that class again with a disruptive student or in a class that doesn't actually have a teacher and is being combined, it's not my choice anymore. You're forcing our hands. You're making decisions for me and other parents. And maybe the most painful part of all of it is that our students see it. They feel forgotten. They feel unworthy. My oldest child recently asked, "Why does the county hate our school?" That's what our children think about how this board treats our school. That's the message you guys send to them every day. You voice your concerns over funding that charter schools get through our budget, but you're the reason families are leaving. You're the ones pushing them away. What do you expect parents to do when the people who are meant to protect our children don't
080step up and you let our facilities become outdated? you don't support our teachers while you prioritize appearances in the interest of schools on this end of the county while ignoring the real pressing issues affecting our classrooms. There's something really special about Blige there. Those of us who are part of it, we know it. We live it. But instead of preserving that magic, it's being eroded by your decisions or lack thereof. Instead of protecting what makes it great, you're watching it unravel. And maybe that's your goal after all is to close it down. I'm pleading with you to hold each other accountable. Fight for our teachers. Fight for our students. They deserve better and you must do better. If we do end up with a new principal, I will welcome her to the Bobcat family and
081I hope that she knows that we will continue to fight for our school and our students with her. And our final speaker this evening is Teresa Owen who would like to speak about Blige. My granddaughter is a third generation student at Blige School. She's 8 years old and will be going into third grade. She has autistic spectrum disorder and feal fetal alcohol spectrum disorder both. I'm here tonight on her behalf. Blige school has had a very challenging year this past year. While another school in the county was getting new lights for their outdoor ball fields, Blue Ridge had no working lunchroom due to a piece of equipment not working. leaking ceilings, no janitorial staff, not enough bus drivers, and an unsafe playground. During all of these challenges, I have witnessed our principal mock flooded floors,
082clean bathrooms, run the floor machine, and pressure wash the main entrance to the building. All to ensure our students had a clean environment to learn in because, in her own words, they deserve it. She helps serve lunch if she's needed and drives a bus to help get those students to school and back home again. She works tirelessly for all of the students at Blige School to help them be their best academically. Under her leadership, Blue Ridge has exceeded academic growth standards, growing by 14 points. She has brought Blue Ridge from a low D up to a C school. Also, recently she was voted principal of the year. The most important thing she has done for me personally is to hold my hand and walk me through the IEP meetings. She has sit beside me and
083explained what each item means and pointed to where they are in the paperwork. I was completely lost in that paperwork and the process before she started helping me. She also knows each of her students well enough to be able to suggest new goals to help them to continue moving forward. Her background and knowledge with exceptional children cannot be replaced by someone else. She also fights tirelessly to help parents and guardians keep their students with special needs at their home school and not have to be busted somewhere else for an education. That's very, very important for these children. Autistic people thrive with rituals and familiarity in their day-to-day lives. We have lost our familiar speech pathologist. So that will be a new challenge next year. We there are going to be many changes next year. Each
084one will present a new challenge for these kids. They need to have something familiar that doesn't throw another challenge at them. Keeping our same principal at Blueridge School would be hugely beneficial for these students. With all of the challenges that will present be presented next year, I'm not sure we'll be able to continue our third generation with Blue Ridge School. Our superintendent and this school board have a history of not fixing what's broken at Blue Ridge. Why in the world? Thank you. Would you fix something that's not broken? comments in our action agenda with Christy Walker with budget amendments. Good evening again. I am seeking approval for amendment number nine to our 2025 budget resolution. You will find a copy of it in your board packets. This amendment is for the state public school fund,
085the local fund, federal grants fund, capital outlay funds, and the other specific revenue fund. What questions do you have regarding this amendment? Questions? I seek your approval. Do I have a motion to approve? I make a motion that we approve the budget amendments. I second that motion. All in favor? Thank you. Up next, we have Dr. Ays with the 2025 2026 board of education meeting schedule. So, you might be pleased to hear that this is in the alternating year um the year that we return here to the central office and I think that this board um in previous conversations would like that to be the case from this point forward. Um so what you have in front of you is a calendar of the proposed uh board meetings. I will note that there are uh
086three dates that do not follow the normal trend of our um our fourth um our fourth Tuesday of the month. So that is November because of the Thanksgiving holiday, December because of the Christmas holiday and January I asked you last last year in October to change that meeting. I serve on a state board um and that meeting always conflicts. So I ask that the January meeting be moved up a week so that that won't uh conflict with the commitment that I have for a state board that I serve on. So um if everything looks okay then I ask for your approval for the board of education meeting schedule. Anybody have any conflicts with Alabama at this time? But I'll be fine. I make it work. Make adjustments. Of course, we can also make adjustments as
087the year goes on as well. So, do I have a motion to approve this calendar? So, I do approve this calendar, but I do I would like for us to get um feedback from principles and schools as to whether or not they feel like it's too much for them with us coming to schools. But I do like traveling to the schools because we do get to several of them that we don't regularly get to visit. So we like I love the traveling road show but this is our year if we continue. I agree with this but before we move forward with saying we're staying here every year. I would like input from schools because I think I do enjoy that portion. I I do enjoy that. I will say that if you remember the years
088that we're typically here, I invite each month a school to do the pledge or a video or a group of students. So we will have that. But yes, I think that's a conversation for the following year. Absolutely. Um, so I do make a motion that we approve the meeting schedule as presented. I second that motion. All in favor? Up next, we have Dr. again with naming the new uh upcoming middle school. So, I believe Jaden or Greg has a document that I want to share with you, but I want to give you um all the general public a little information. So, as we approach that time that uh we need to figure out a name for the new middle school, I want to remind everybody that that is not um a decision that is made
089by me. It is ultimately the board's decision and that is policy 90 9300. So u I want to read a couple of things from that policy so you will be uhware well aware of that the board acknowledges that the community may want to recognize et exceptional contributions to a school or the school district by providing a permanent dedication of a school or building. Um names can be names of deceased or retired individuals who have made exceptional or outstanding contributions may be proposed or names of persons actively serving Jackson County Public Schools shall not be considered. The superintendent will submit a recommended name or a limited list which you're going to you're looking at now of recommended names to the board for approval. The board shall make every effort to respect the preference of the community.
090However, the final decisions on the naming of school facilities and the dedication of school areas shall rest entirely with the board. And again, that's policy 9300. So, what you're looking at is the multiple meetings that we had in January. We had uh community input sessions um independently and unfortunately the weather was not cooperating with one of them but we had two of those in backtoback weeks and then once again we had a meeting with our architects and so we kind of did a ticket out the door. Some people didn't complete the ticket out the door. We didn't force anybody to complete a ticket out the door. What you see is those folks who responded um what they what they were looking at for a name. So students also, if you'll note some of the names
091in here, students also submitted ideas. So we're not here tonight to choose a mascot or the colors because I do want to have more of our student input uh in that piece of it. But what the board does have the authority to do and is responsible for is choosing a name. So, you can see from the projection, Smoky Mountain um middle school was the one that got the most votes. I did note that there's an E in that. And so, we already have a Smokeoky with an E and a not an E. So, that's something y'all have to decide if you go with that name. Then, Jackson County Middle School, then Tuckiji Middle School, um and then the list continues on with some uh more singular proposals. Um, of course I I got a chuckle
092out of Hogwarts Middle School, which got one vote by one one student, I'm assuming. Um, but this is the time for you all to talk about that and what that what that might look like. I want to have a sign made and constructed on the site so people can start seeing that um, as there's progression with all of our building projects, but folks will know where that is. So I defer to you all to have conversation and ask questions of any of us in our leadership team that may want to discuss. It's hard to come by. I mean I'm personally I'm in agreeance really with the top vote getter across the board. Honestly, I feel like it it makes things a little bit easier when you're looking at purchasing uniforms or passing down uniforms or,
093you know, it's not uh it's not really thinking outside of the box, but it's it just kind of flows. So, I think I'm in agreement either well either one of the top two, but um for some of the same reasons and hopefully we'll we'll agree on similar colors and similar mascot. Not too fond at first name because we already have two Smoky Mountain schools. We got SME, we got Smoky Mountain High. It would be nice to have a different but I mean Jackson County middle school I like Jackson take into account the whole district the whole district I think that's why I'm against some of the other ones but and I know there's other meanings behind some of those but yeah like Silver Webster leaves out Halloween CG leaves out you know I mean already.
094I like Jackson County me. It may be something we need to just wait on Gail and Lynn to be able to participate in this discussion as well. So, and if you want, I could I could send out um a parental survey cuz school's out now to see to gather input from that. Um, the one thing about putting a survey out, I'm not a super fan of surveys because 50% of the people are going to love it and 50% of the people are going to hate it. Um, but these were attended, these sessions were attended, probably not overly attended, but as I said, the weather, the inclement weather really impacted one of them. Um, but if you wish for us to have some more input, we could certainly do some kind of of of survey. But
095you're also, if you put a public survey out, you also get people who don't even live in our community or people from Texas or wherever out there. So when you do that, it's difficult because you you really can't farm out. You can you can ask, but everybody's not always honest. And so I would like it to be a community decision um and community input. So, you know, we could brainstorm other ways. However, that'll take a little more time. And so that that is up to you all as a board which direction you want to go with that. I mean the input from this is extremely limited. Yeah, it is really um you know how you necessarily get more input. I don't know. I know those meetings weren't as well attended as you would have liked
096or we would have liked. probably the largest and one at Smoky Mountain High School U was pretty well attended, but everybody did not choose to do the paper as they exited. I I will do what you asked of me to do. I think with the three of us not being in consensus, I think we need to postpone voting on this until we have the full board. And do you do you wish for me to try to gather more information? No survey. I think if you send a survey out, you need to limit. I don't I could send a survey out to the staff would impact. Email us. Tear our emails up. If you got suggestions, send it in the email. And I don't think they should survey it. I don't want to get outside input.
097I'd rather know what the people in the county are thinking. give you another 30 days before we have to vote on it next month. Is that good? Are y'all? Yeah, I think everybody will be here at the next board meeting. So, the other board members are bad right now cuz I just told y'all to blow their email. Okay. So, we're going to table this. Yeah, Mr. Chairman, just because it's action motion. Okay. I make a motion that we table the decision for naming the new middle school. And I second that motion. All in favor? Thank you. Up next, uh, we have Angie Deals with uniform purchase for the Smoke Mountain High School band. Good evening. I come to you tonight to request approval for a purchase of new band uniforms for the Smoky Mountain High
098School marching band. You have in your packet three quotes. Um, principal Joey Robinson and I have been working with Matthew Langford, who is the band director at Smoky Mountain High School since about last November and trying to secure some samples and get some quotes and things like that. This is a very lengthy process because these are all handmade. Our current uniforms are close to 15 years old, between 13 and 15 years old. So they have been there for a while. Um just want to point out that our band program is significantly growing. Uh we've grown uh from 31 last year for marching band to over 45 this year. And we have a very robust middle school band. So we have a lot of students coming in. So this uh quote would account for that growth.
099So you have a picture of the sample that was sent. This is one of our students at Smoky Mountain High School. And then the three quotes they have chosen the vendor um if you approve FJM who had the lowest quote at 47970 for those uniforms and if approved then we would go into contract with the vendor and um wait on those. They actually have to be manufactured and sewn from hand. So, um, ask if you have any questions tonight or, um, if you would like to, um, approve that purchase. I have a question. So, if they approve, are they going to be ready for us to march in this fall? I would love for that to happen, Dr. Ay, but as we all know, sometimes those deadlines don't happen. So, we would love to be
100able to go ahead and get this in their queue to be processing. I don't know that it would be available for the first home football game, but we are hoping to do um at least one of our home football games that is a little later in the season to do a debut type of thing. So, it's 210 days on. Thank you. It's a lot. So, this is for 90 total uniforms. Correct. Yes. That would include middle school students who want to participate in marching band and high school students across the district. Does anybody have any questions? Nice. They are more modern and give an ode to the mountains as you see in the in the uniform there. So motion to approve this purchase. Make a motion that we approve the band uniform purchase from FJN.
101Second that motion. All in favor, you're up again with the CTE. Yes, sir. Local application. Yes. The CTE local application incorporates the requirements of all applicable state and federal laws which govern CTE programs in North Carolina. This application must be submitted annually to the Department of Public Instruction to receive and use state and federal funds for CTE programs and services in grades 6 through 12 for the 2026 fiscal year. The application that is in um included in your packet describes the manner in which we propose to use the funds in accord with the purposes mandated by this federal and state legislation. CTE programs are conducted in all middle and high school count uh schools in Jackson County public schools to include a diverse career and technical education curriculum in which students are provided opportunities to
102make classroom instruction relevant to real world situations in program areas of business and marketing, information technology, health science, early childhood education, culinary arts, carpentry, woodworking, horiculture, animal science, natural resource management, agricultural mechanics and STEM. Um, in fact, we teach over 50 courses um that span career and technical education across Jackson County Public Schools. They also offer industry quality credentiing and certification opportunities uh to include those you heard about tonight with the FAA 107 at uh program at Blue Ridge, Nurse Aid 1 certified pharmacy technician, OSHA 10 early childhood credentials, serve safe first aid stop the bleed, NCCER and saw blade woodworking credentials. These are an essial essential component of the curriculum and provide industry quality credentials that students may leave high school with and go into the world of work. All program services and activities
103administered through this local plan will be in accord with the asurances listed in part six asurances and certifications of the application. At this time, I would like to ask if you have any questions about CTE programming in Jackson County Public Schools and ask for approval of the 2026 CTE local application for state and federal funding. We need this. Do I have a motion to approve this application? Make a motion that we approve this local CTE application. All in favor? I second that motion. Thank you. Greg Stewart's up next with a request of stuff. Oh boy. Oh boy. A regular always asking for things. Uh good evening board. I'm here requesting approval for the renewal of our copier contract with Toshiba. Um we current our current contract is with Toshiba, but this new one um offers
104quite a bit of uh benefits and cost savings for the district. So we'll be replacing every copier and multi-function in the school district with brand new equipment. Um the new contract has no it has the removal of guaranteed copies and prints and minimums. So right now we have we pay for a certain amount of copies in color and in black and white if we use those copies or not. This removes that restriction from our contract so that we're only paying for what we use. Um and there's no minimum to that which is a huge advantage and benefit to JCPS. Um also on top of that they're reducing the cost of our color copies which is our most expensive segment. Um, and so we ran the numbers. If we copy and print the same numbers that
105we did this year, next year, it'll be a savings of around $20,000, $21,000. So, um, so I highly encourage and recommend that we approve this contract. Anybody got any questions for Greg? All right. Do we have a motion? I make a motion that we approve the Toshiba coffee or contract renewal. I second that motion. All in favor? Thank you. Lauren Dills is up next. Request to approve the purchase of Reed 180 supplemental reading support program. Good evening, Mr. Chairman, members of the board, and Dr. Ays. In your packet this evening, you have a quote for a Hootton Mifflin product called Read 180. Um, this is a product that we have looked at before. It is a nationally recognized supplemental product. So, this is not a curriculum adoption. This is just a supplemental product. Um, and
106I do want to share a little additional information uh with you about this. So, as I said before, we have reviewed this product before. As you can tell from the quote, it is a uh rather pricey product. And we have four schools in Jackson County who are designated by the federal um education standards as ATSI which is additional targeted and support and improvement schools. And those are schools who have a subgroup specifically within that school who the subgroup is performing lower than the five% of the lowest performing schools in the state. So um those are four schools in Jackson County. It is Ki Valley, Fair View, Scots Creek, and Smoky Mountain Elementary. And all four of those schools, it is specifically their students um their exceptional um children's program. Students in the exceptional children's program,
107students with disabilities. So those students are performing lower just that subgroup, not the school at large. So this product is specifically to help provide interventions to build the reading skills for those students. There are counties around us who already utilize this program specifically with uh students with disabilities to build that uh reading proficiency for those students. So this is restricted funds specific to that ATSI designation that can only be utilized for that purpose. And we looked very specifically at products for that. uh and we selected this product based upon success from other counties around us using it with the same subgroups of students. So, um I would be happy to entertain any questions that you might have. Again, it's not a curriculum adoption and it's just a supplemental product, but it does exceed the $30,000
108spending threshold. The quote in includes access for up to 379 students across those schools to access it and teacher access and extensive training for 13 staff members. So, I know it is very specific in its purpose. Um, so if you have questions, I'd be happy to entertain those or, um, we can speak to Janet Roberts about that. The surrounding counties that have been using it, do they have any statistical data that shows improvement with the groups that they're using it on or Okay. When I when I checked on data, other counties around the state said that they have grown students um the first year by 5% and then if they did it the following years it it grew students. So it really meets students where they're at and helps them grow in their reading skills.
109And it's very specifically oriented towards students with disabilities. So, it's easy for them to use. It's easy for teachers to to see it. And you can monitor the progress pretty easy, too. And it has both online products for them to use. They could use in the general ed classroom or under the guidance with their um exceptional children's teacher, but it also has um hands on hands-on books and things that they could do together. So, it's not just screen time based. We didn't want a product that was just putting students on a computer when we have highly qualified staff that could work with them as well. We want to get staff trained this summer so they're ready to go when school starts. And this is an intervention pro product not replacing our core. It's not those
110students would still access their full um core. Okay. But for students with reading disabilities sometimes it's you know they might be two grade levels behind and struggle with reading. So this meets them where they're at and grows them so that they can meet those goals and we would hope to carry out and continue to use the product um with some federal designations. The hard part about achieving success is that the funding goes away. So then I think we internally if we see that it is a product that creates success for us then we would need to analyze as a district leadership team and as a board other ways to financially support that. um we won't know our designation based upon the the testing that we just conducted until October or November of next year. And
111so then that money doesn't drop until gosh, it didn't come till March this year because of how it all goes. So by the time we got quotes, met with vendors, reviewed different products, that's why we're bringing this to you now. So even though it's last year's money, we didn't even have access to apply for it to March and are just now um able to spend it. So, it would be for next year's students, but if we retain that designation, um it's certainly a goal. We would be working towards exiting that designation. Um but we'd have to acknowledge that that would impact the funding related to that designation. Okay. Any other questions? Those are my questions. We do seek your approval for that. Um they are holding a couple of days for us for training to
112because their calendars are booking up for August. So, we would like as soon as um we can get your approval, if you would so grant it, to get those days firm on the calendar for our staff to be trained. I'll make a motion that we approve the purchase of read 180 supplemental reading programs. Yeah, I second that motion. All in favor? Thank you. Thank you. All right. Again, AIG. Yes. Um, next in your packet you have the uh proposed JCPS academically and intellectually gifted plan that would begin with the next school year, the 2526 school year. Uh, which is just odd to say those of us at a certain age. Um, and in North Carolina, our plan for serving our academically and intellectually gifted students is good for three years. We can so choose to
113edit it amongst um in the middle of those three years, but it's only due for revision and approval by the board every three years. So, I did do a cover sheet for you. Hopefully, you received that as well to let you know. Our prior plan, which was good from 2022 to the conclusion right now that we're finishing up this school year here in 2025, um had no findings. It had a few recommendations for improvement, but it had nothing where we weren't in compliance um with the general statutes and articles set forth by the state that govern serving gifted students in our schools. So, some of the updates that we did in the plan, it is a lengthy plan, so I did want to just do an overview so you didn't have to read things that
114weren't fully edited. Um, standard one is about student identification, how what criteria we use to identify students as academically or intellectually gifted. And so we just wanted to do a better job of defining that and the process to get there the screeners that we use the referral process. So nothing about the the criteria or the screeners change. They're the exact same as we had before. We just work to better define it in more parent and community language um terms that would be friendly to them. Uh we continue to work on trying to identify underrepresented populations. That's been a goal since I've been a director here in Jackson County. That is mostly students who qualify for free or reduced lunch. Um and there's nothing in my personal belief that if it's a student who qualifies for
115free or reduced lunch that they are any less likely to be academically or intellectually gifted, but sometimes they have other things that they are combating in their life that prevents them from showing it as readily as other students. So we're just trying to give them opportunities to shine. But we do have to have a plan for how we identify those students. Um you can see a little bit more. Standard two is about comprehensive planning within the total school community. That talks about how our AIG specialists in our schools collaborate with teachers to provide high-quality program for students and how we provide enrichment club after school type opportunities for our gifted students. Um there were no significant changes in standard 3. uh standard four, we just have to update if any of my roles have changed
116or uh any professional development requirements. And so we continue to work with all of our JCPS staff to make sure they're aware of the needs for identification and service of gifted students. So I'll be happy to entertain any specific questions you have. I know that was a lot um but it is important and is an important population of our students. Just for your information, the state funds us as as if 4% of our students were identified as gifted and currently we are identifying about 11% of our students as gifted. So if you fall below that 4% threshold, then they do reduce your funding. If we were at 3% of our students identified, they would reduce the funding, but we could be at 25% and you'll still only get 4% funding in the current state um
117legislative funding model. Right. Any questions? If not, I do seek your approval so we can submit that to the state. After your approval, it is reviewed by DPI consultants and submitted to the state board for their approval as well. I just want to point out that the overview was on page 43 and I had already went through 42 pages. Um, I'll contact Core tomorrow. So, Miss Moore, if you would like to join our gifted programming as a AIG specialist, you seem very well equipped. We'll work on getting you a teaching license. She probably already has one. Thank Yes. Yes. Thank you. We'll get that added to your license. Thank you for taking the time to review that. It is lengthy, but it is a very important population of our students and we want to keep
118them in Jackson County Public Schools and keep them challenged. Yes. So, do you seek your approval? There's no further questions. make a motion that we approve the AIG plan as presented and I second that motion. All in favor? Next we have Brent Speckhart. K through8 HMH intro to math curriculum contract renewal. Good evening board chair Jameson, board members and superintendents. I come to you this evening to ask for your approval to renew our contract with Huelet Mifflin Hark kindergarten through 8th grade into math curriculum for our schools. Um the initial contract for Huelet Mifflin Hardcore into math began in 2020 and it expires in July of this year. The contract renewal includes kindergarten through 2 grade resources that are digital and paper for students and teachers and digital resources for students and teachers in grades
1193 through 8. The contract renewal is for one year costing $69,15563 and state textbook funds will be used to renew our contract with Mifflin Hardcourt. Are there any questions for me? And do I have your approval? Any questions? I'm assuming with us having used this since 2020 that we have found that it is beneficial. It is aligned to our state standards. It does uh provide a plethora of resources like um online common assessments that are aligned to our state standards. Um they provide consumable textbooks, workbooks um as well as online teacher editions um for the teachers. Um we we have seen success with it. Um we have peaks and valleys with our data in math. Um but it's all in how you use the product and if you use it with fidelity. And I think
120one thing that's important most of my team knows we're doing math foundations training, foundations of math training with all of our staff and we've been doing that over the past several years. So our goal is to have all of them trained. So it's more of an integral piece of foundational math that can then uh add strategies or instructional delivery models that incorporate any product whether it's bridges or HMH or whatever it is um that districts use. But the math foundations is a professional development training that supports math teachers regardless of the curriculum. And so that's a direction we've been moving to to be better equipped to be able to use whatever resources that you have. Yeah, math is definitely an area that that our district needs to focus on, but it's probably like so much
121curriculum that what you have to review it with the teachers every year or you mean the training piece of that? There are there are as as Brent said a plethora of resources. So there is always ongoing training when they meet quarterly. The grade levels meet quarterly, but they don't go into a full-fledged like training of something unless it's Brent moving from second grade to fifth grade and he needs to um acquaint himself with that curriculum. Okay. So initially when we purchased the product, it did come with professional development. We utilize all that the first year of the product and currently our instructional coaches are um very proficient with the product and they serve as our our support resource for the product. Okay. Make a motion that we approve the intro to math curriculum renewal through
122HM. I second that motion. All in favor? Thank you. Thank you. You're welcome. Next is Jake Buchanan with the approval of the district architect. Yeah, the board may be asking, we thought we um selected an architect last year for all of our capital projects, but um actually the county uh selected an architect. We were a part of the process. Um Wes, you were there um in that selection process, but that architect is under contract with the county to oversee um the capital projects for us. But from time to time, we do need our own architect to provide advice and to manage project projects. First of which being the roof project at Smoky Mountain High School. Because of the complexity, because of the cost, we are required by general statute to have an architect supervise that
123project. Um, and so we went through the board's RFQ process to select an architect. And at the end of that um the committee selected uh Pinnacle Architecture um who is our current architect doing the projects for um all of our bigger projects. So I would ask your approval to select Pinnacle Architecture to be um our architect. The contract itself will be worked out um with their attorney and with Ashley to define that relationship specifically. make a motion that we approve Pinnacle as our district architect. I second that motion. All in favor Jake again. Yeah. So um we do need to with many of our capital projects we can um you know figure out a little bit more not quite as timesensitive or as uh cumbersome as replacing all of the carpet in one of the
124pods. um at one of our schools. And so Fair View is due um for carpet replacement in one of its pods. And we would like to go ahead and get on the schedule for the um the uh the carpet installers to get that done in the window before school starts. Um and so I'm asking for your approval for the purchase of replacing carpet and pod at Fairview. Make a motion that we approve the purchase of carpet for Bod at Fairview. I second that motion. All in favor. Thank you very much. Thank you, Jake. At this time, the board finds we need to go into close session pursuant to general statute 14318.11 for the following purposes under subsection A1 to prevent the disclosure of privilege or confidential and personal information pursuant to general statute 115 C-319-321
125and A3 to discuss matters protected by client attorney client privilege. Do I have a motion to go into close session? You make a motion that we go into close session. I'll check. All in favor? [Music] All right. Uh, no action was taken during close session. So at this time, Dr. Ays, do you have uh personnel access? personel. I request approval of the personnel action agenda as presented. I make a motion that we approve the personnel action agenda as presented. I second that motion. All in favor? All right. Our next regularly scheduled board meeting will be on June 24th at 6 PM in this building. Do I have a motion to adjurnn? We make a motion that we adjourn. I second that motion. All in favor? All in favor?