001meeting back to order. [clears throat] We will now have an invocation at this time. I invite you all to join with us or engage in a moment of silent reflection. Let us pray. Lord, we come before you in humbleness to ask your blessings on this meeting. We ask that you give us discernment as well as guidance on the decisions we're about to make for our students, teachers, and complete staff of the McDow County School System. Let our discussions and decisions be the best for our top priority, our children. Help us to be a positive influence and to provide a safe environment for them all. Lead God direct. Amen. >> At at this time, Mr. uh Baker, if you would introduce the uh color guard or Derek, either one. >> Ladies and gentlemen, we're going to
002have the presentation of colors and the pledge of allegiance presented by the McDow High NJTC color guard. Y'all please stand. colors. Altce please hands college to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Oh, colors. Ready, cut. House of colors. Post Hide. Peace. Port arms. Oh. At this time, [clears throat] uh, the first Monday in December of every year, it's required that we do reorganization of the board. So, at this time, I turn the meeting over to Dr. Grid, our secretary, to uh do those honors. >> All right. Thank you, Mr. Frank. Ladies and gentlemen of the audience, uh trying not to bore you here, but this is a procedural thing that we go through
003the first Monday of of December every single year. So, this is the annual board reorganization process. And this is a nomination of the board chairman. As a superintendent of McDow County Schools and secretary to the McDow County Board of Education, it is my official duty to preside over the reorganizational meeting of the board. The chairman of McDow County Board of Education is elected at the regular December meeting of the board held on the first Monday of December and serves until December of the following year. At this time, we will begin the nomination and election for the board chairman. There is no second needed, so the nomination itself will stand. If more than one person is nominated for office, voting will be done with a show of hands in the order of the nomination until a
004majority is reached. Superintendent will note that a quorum tonight is present. Miss Smith, we have nine board members present. And at this time, the floor will be open for nominations for board chairman. >> I'd like to nominate Terry Frank for chair. Okay. At this time, I have a nomination uh for Mr. Frank. Mr. Mr. Frank, would you accept the nomination? >> I will accept. >> If no further nominations are received, the floor will be closed. All right. At this time, um we'll need to do a vote. All those in favor with a show of hands. It's a unanimous vote. 90. Mr. Frank, Chairman Frank, congratulations and I'll turn this meeting back to you, sir. At this time, our next order of business is to nominate a vice chairman. The newly elected board chair will conduct
005the nomination and election for the board of vice chairman. Uh at this time we will begin the nomination and election for the board vice chairman. There is no second needed as uh stated earlier. So the nomination itself will stand. If more than one person is nominated for office, voting will be done with a show of hands and order of nomination until majority is reached. The board chair who is me will state that a quorum is present and there are Smith there are nine people present and at this time I will open the floor for nominations. >> Mr. Frank I'd like to nominate Mr. Abani Mr. Abernathy has been nominated for vice chair of the board McDow County Board of of Education. U is there any further nominations? Mr. Abernathy, will you accept the nomination? With
006no additional nominations, the floor will be closed. And at this time all those in favor of Mr. Abernathy becoming the vice chair signify by raising your right hand which is unan well unanimous. Okay. At this time, the annual board appointees. Uh, at the annual reorganization meeting, the board reappoints a secretary to the board and executive assistant to the board. At this time, the board chairman will open the floor for a motion to approve the following appointments. Motion to appoint Dr. Tracy Grit, superintendent, as a secretary and Miss Becky Smith as executive assistant to the Mcdow County Board of Education. All So, >> we have a second. >> Second. >> Is there any further discussion on the annual board appointments? With no further discussion, all those in favor signify by raising your right hand, which is
007unanimous. Dr. Grit, reaffirmation of the North Carolina School Board Association Code of Ethics. >> Yes, sir. Thank you, Chairman Frank. Uh before you tonight, uh ladies and gentlemen of the board, you should have uh policy 2120 code of ethics for school board members. At this time, um I'm to preside over that. As required by the North Carolina General Statute, each board member is required to reaffirm the code of ethics u for school board members and the board member conflict of interest on an annual basis. Uh you also have a copy of this that will need to be signed and collected at the end of the meeting. The following board policies were included in the electronic board packet and are posted on the MCS website under board policies. The board policies are 2120 code of ethics
008for school board members as required by general statute 160- A-86 and general statute 115 C-4757. Board policy 2121, board member conflict of interest, as required by general statute 14-234. A signature page with copies of each policy is located in a file folder at each member seat. Please sign the affirmation as record of receipt of the policies which in which provides statutory guidance for the board member service of the board of education. The superintendent, that's me, will request that each board member submits the signature sheet to the board assistant at the end of the board meeting. >> All right, Mr. Frank. Okay. Item number nine on the agenda is superintendent remarks. And Dr. At this time asking you to go to the podium and give those if you [clears throat] don't mind. >> Yeah. Thank you.
009Quiet bunch out there tonight. Y'all could smile a little bit. We got through the formalities. Um, congratulations to the board and our reorganization. We're delighted to have Chairman Frank with us again this year and Mr. Abernathy as our vice chair and just really appreciate this board. Uh this is something that's ceremonial. Um but but it also something that I want to talk about the work that goes into being a board member for just a minute. Um and and part of what I'm going to do in my remarks here shortly is go through some of that. Um but this board's done a great deal of work over the last year and their work's not done. Um we've got quite a bit more to do. Um, but I'm delighted to have this board and uh proud of
010the work that they do uh to for the betterment of our students in McDow County Schools. So, I am going to bore you with something that I've written tonight. Um, but I just kind of want to jump into it tonight. I want to open our meeting with a few a few quotes that honor Thanksgiving. Abraham Lincoln's Thanksgiving procla proclamation was delivered on October the 3rd, 1863. It taught us to honor our many blessings with a day of thanksgiving and prayer. James F said, "As with all commandments, gratitude is a description of successful mode of living. The thankful heart opens our eyes to a multitude of blessings that continually surround us." This next quote is unknown, um, but I felt it really powerful and fitting for not only board reorganization, but for our team in Mcdow
011County Schools. A grateful team is unstoppable because appreciation breeds motivation. We have so much to be grateful for this season. Mcdow County Schools team is truly blessed to have a long, loving and caring individuals who work diligently every day to ensure our students succeed. Tonight, we are thankful for each of them. our teachers and teacher assistant, bus drivers and transportation department, child nutrition teams and custodial staff and maintenance department, our technology department, and the many clerical positions that keep us going every day. From those who answer our phones to those who make sure that we get paid. We are also grateful for our administration and our board of education who set the tone and lead our schools. All this work would not be possible without students. And I'm so thankful that we have excellent students
012in Mcdell County and they are just an extension of our community who stand by our side every day. In keeping with the theme of giving thanks tonight, it is it is with great pleasure that I get to announce this year's bounty has been incredible and historic. On Tuesday, November 18th, 2025, McDow County Schools learned that we were one of 94 school districts across the state to apply for a capital needs-based grant. One of 10 to receive an award. We received a $42 million award to build a new combined school for East Mill Eastfield Global Magnet and Marion Elementary School. Folks, I just want to say that again. We received a $42 million grant. So proud of the work that took place to get to that point. We have so much this Thanksgiving season to be
013thankful for. Want to take a moment to explain what led up to that work and discuss our next steps. In 2020, the facility needs assessment stated that we needed a new school. We conducted two studies. One of our facilities for our facilities was in 2022 and another on our student populations in 23 and 24. Both of which prompted us to seek new elementary school and to combine Eastfield Global Magnet and Marion Elementary School. From 2020 to 2024, we were moving through this process slowly and methodically. Once we established the goal of targeting a new school, I attended every meeting I could over the last two and a half years, getting in the room with those decided those who decided our grant. On several occasion, I met with individuals from DPI who helped me to understand
014precisely what the rubric called for. June of 2025, we moved into warp speed. We entered into agreements to purchase two land parcels, conducted phase one environmental testing on both sites, and and bought the property, including obtaining approval from our county commissioners. We issued an RFQ, hired an architect, who's here with us tonight, developed preliminary plans, brought in the Department of Transportation, and entered into an interlocal agreement with our county commissioners on this project. Mr. Frank and I met with representatives Green and Johnson and senators Heis and Daniel. Also had meetings with our state school board members, Dr. Janet Mason and Mr. John Blackburn. I met with the faculty and staff at Marian and at Eastfield, answered questions about the grant, reassured them about our job opportunities, and in a final push, I attended the last
015three months of the state school board meeting. Uh I met with state superintendent Mo Green and our school board attended the North Carolina schoolboard conference uh just the past couple of weeks where we met with the team from DPI who awarded the grant. So that was a lot of stuff that's happened over the last five years. Um and that was just in in a nutshell. Now what's next? That's the exciting stuff. That's what we get to talk about now. First I want to take a moment to celebrate. Let's catch our breath and recognize that we have a $42 million brand new school that's coming our way. Appreciate the support from the folks in the general assembly who helped us make this possible and the team of dedicated folks who are sitting along that back wall
016all the way around this room. And that's our principles and our executive staff and directors who work behind the scenes to help us pull this together. What a blessing that over the next several years, this money not not only provides us with a school, but we hope that our local contractors and workers will help build the school, which will infuse the funds back into our community. As we begin the next journey, we will seek feedback from the community and staff on the calendar, the mascot, the school colors, and programs for the school. We incredibly excited to have such great partners with our county commissioners and they will undoubtedly be involved as we work to downsize. We will seek another study on our facilities to determine how best to move forward. The wheels are already in
017motion here and we hope to have better understanding and timeline of all this work in March. In conclusion, I want to draw your attention back to the quote that I read earlier. A grateful team is unstoppable because appreciation breeds motivation. Tonight, we need to be grateful not just for this grant, but for one another and the work that we've done here in McDow County Schools to bring great things for our community and to our kids. Chairman Frank, ladies and gentlemen, thank you. >> Thank you, sir. [applause] >> Continue on item number 10, sir. All right. Well, I shouldn't have sat down. At this point, let me catch up here. We're going to do our student recognition. Miss Dattle. >> Thank you. Good evening, Mr. Frank, Mr. Abernathy, Dr. Grit, and members of the board and
018our esteemed guests. How do you follow up $42 million? Well, you show the reason that we get $42 million, which is our kiddos. um and our staff. Okay. The North Carolina School Boards Association sponsors an elementary student cont poster contest every year. It is open to members member districts throughout North Carolina. Elementary students are invited to submit a poster based on an a designated theme selected by the North Carolina State School Board Association. The 2025 theme was what's super about public schools. Students were encouraged to draw a picture of what makes their local public school super, which could be a teacher, school staff, or anything that they love about their school. There are two submission categories, kindergarten through 2 grade and third through fifth grade. NCSBA judges select the top posters from each submission category.
019Each category has first, second, and third place winners as well as honorable mentions. The student posters are displayed during the NCSBA annual board conference each year. This year, the conference was held November 12th through 14th at the Curry Center in Greensboro, North Carolina. and we are proud of the representatives from Mcdow County that was chosen um to represent and be at the conference for the entire state to see. So, first up, when I call your name, if you could please come to the front, >> we're trying to work out the handing here. So, the third place winner in the third through fifth grade was Saker Alichek from fifth grade from Eastville Global Magnet School. Come on up here, buddy. Let's give him a round of applause. [applause] For honorable mention, we have Jaden Cook, second
020grade from Glennwood Elementary School. [applause] Honorable mention, Stella Gallion and Enley Hudson. They are both in third grade at Nebo Elementary School. [applause] Next up, honorable mention, Anna Kelly, fifth grade, West Marian Elementary School. [applause] And last, but certainly not least, we have Willow Newcomer, first grade at West Marion Elementary School [applause] again, as they're standing up here. And moms and dads, you get all the pictures you want. I want to reiterate that these uh were selected out of submissions from the entire state. So for Mcdow County to schools to have this many represent us, we could not be prouder of their hard work. Great job, guys. [applause] >> Moms and dads, if y'all want pictures, you can go ahead and take them. >> Turn around so the board can see the artwork. Congratulations. That's
021great. >> Appreciate you so much. >> Thank you. >> Great job. >> Good job, guys. [applause] >> Thank you guys. And you are welcome. That is for you to keep and for your moms and dads to put them up in their houses. And you got a certificate that you get to keep as well. Thank you all so much. You did a great job. [applause] Yeah. All right, guys. Y'all can sit down. Thank you. Good job. All right. So, each month we take the opportunity to recognize the outstanding individuals who go above and beyond in their roles to make a difference in our school community. Our certified and classified employees of the month exemplify dedication, professionalism, and a commitment to excellence. These honores consistently demonstrate our core value, showing leadership, teamwork, and a genuine passion for
022supporting students, staff, and the overall mission of our district. Their hard work not only helps our schools run smoothly, but also create a positive and inspiring environment for everyone around them. Today, we're proud to celebrate and extend our heartfelt congratulations to our certified employee of the month and classified employee of the month for their exceptional contributions and unwavering dedication. First up, I'd like to call Principal Deanna Ray to recognize our certified employee of the month, Miss Marie Mock. Miss Mock, come on up here as well. Nice try. [laughter] >> All the way to the front. [clears throat] >> Good evening. It is my great pleasure to uh recognize Miss Marie Mock. I have nominated her since I have been at Glenwood for anything that I had an opportunity to nominate her for. And if you
023have ever worked with her, you would know why. Um she's just an amazing human being and um a leader and an educator. and I'm just blessed to be able to work with her. Now, if you know her, you know that she doesn't want or ask for that recognition. Um, but I would like to read what I submitted about her. Mizmock, it is with great enthusiasm that I nominate Mrs. Mock for employee of the month. Miss Mock is more than an outstanding speech language pathologist. She is a leader, mentor, and dedicated educator whose impact extends across our entire school and district. Mrs. Mock is a core member of the MTSS team where her expertise is invaluable in making critical educational decisions regarding students academic and developmental needs. Her role has been essential um [snorts] especially cru
024crucial excuse me in the exceptional children department or EC. In a period of significant turnover at Glenwood of new resource teachers joining Glenwood, Miss Mock has been the only constant on our EC team. She has stepped up to train, mentor, and provide essential support for every new staff member, ensuring continuity and highquality services for our students. Mrs. Mach consistently exceeds expectations by proactively seeking ways to enhance her professional practice and align her therapy with classroom instruction. A clear example of this is her request to participate in the intensive OG training or Gillingham training. This was not a requirement for her role, but she recognized its value in ensuring her therapy sessions directly complemented the literacy instruction her students received in the classroom. This [clears throat] initiative demonstrates her dedication to an integrated appro approach to
025student learning. Miss Mock's leadership extends beyond Glenwood as she serves as the district SLP lead. In this capacity, she is a trusted resource who guides and supports her colleagues across the district. She is responsible for mentoring and supporting new SLPs, SLP assistants, and student teachers, ensuring the strength of the next generation of therapists. Mrs. Mach possesses excellent rapport with students, families, and staff, and is highly regarded by her colleagues. Her expertise, selfless mentorship, and dedication make her an in indispensable part of the Glenwood family, staff, and community. Marie Mock would be an outstanding and deserving representative of this honor for McDow County Schools. [applause] Next up, please welcome Miss Tracy Whitman to recognize our classified employee of the month, Coach Joe Cash. Come on up, Coach Cash. He loves the attention on him, as you
026can tell by his face. >> Such a lovely. What I like to tell Joe just about every day is I am his favorite principal. [laughter] And Joe likes to tell me. I'm his only principal. I don't think we need to point out the obvious. [laughter] But I would like to recognize Coach Cash. He is a rock star. As the athletic director at McDall High School, Joe Cash plays a huge, huge role in the success of our programs. Joe constantly goes above and beyond to support our student athletes, our coaches, and our officials. And that includes things like sweeping, mopping, running the floor cleaner, emptying trash, getting water bottles for officials, and everything in between. I actually don't even know if Joe goes home. I think he might live at McDall High School. I'm not sure.
027Um whether he's organizing the countless details that keep our athletic programs running, and believe me, there are countless details or cheering from the sidelines. Coach Cash always shows what true Titan pride looks like. His commitment and leadership help create an athletic environment where our [clears throat] students feel supported, our coaches feel valued, and our entire community feels connected. His behind-the-scenes work often goes unnoticed. But its impact is felt in every single practice, every single game, and every single student who proudly wears Titan Blue. We are deeply grateful for everything he does to strengthen and elevate athletics. Please help me by celebrating Coach Cash, his dedication, his integrity, and the incredible difference he is making each and every day. [applause] And now >> [applause] >> Um, our last recognition tonight had the opportunity to attend a
028um national conference and is not here with us, but it is Miss Rachel Stewart. She is McDow County School's 2025 uh 2026 school counselor of the year. This is the first time that we have awarded um this recognition and she was nominated among her peers of the other student services um team. And u Miss Stewart, if you don't know her, she is the counselor at Pleasant Gardens Elementary School, but goes over and beyond each and every day to serve students. Last year during the hurricane and PG welcome in Oford Elementary, um the word in the words in the nomination was that Miss Stewart had open arms um to help serve students at not only Pleasant Gardens Elementary but for at Old Elementary as well. Even this year, extending to this year, while um the counselor
029is uh out on maternity leave at Oldford Elementary, Miss Stewart still goes down to Old For Elementary to serve those students at least two days a week. The when we talk about serving students, sometimes um when we are at one school, we think just about our one school and we focus just at our one school. But Miss Stewart has the mindset that we are here to serve all students. And so we are very grateful for her and all of her hard work. And it is truly a welldeserved honor um to recognize Miss Rachel Stewart as the McDow County Schools Counselor of the Year. If you could just give her a big round of applause. [applause] When she comes back, we'll bring her back so that uh we can bring her up front as well. Thank
030you. Item number 12 on the agenda is report from our teacher representative, Miss Amber Lawing. And Miss Amber Loing, uh we we just always uh look forward to this moment, but please show mercy upon our board members. Thank you. [laughter] >> I was on all but one. This always moves and it's weird when I [cough] first get up here. So, good evening. Each month I am reminded I'm already going to start. Okay. Each month I reminded how much has hap how much has been happening in our schools for so many years. the effort, the quiet routines, the small victories, the moments that look ordinary from the outside because they don't come with big announcements or big applause. The Starfish recognition lets us shine light on the kind of work that makes a real impact through
031steady dedication. And one of those places where that happens the most is career and technical education. CTE is one of the most important spaces in a school. It is where students are learning real skills with real purpose. Skills that build, design, care, create, and serve. From health science to business, agriculture to construction, technology to public service, these programs give students more than technical training. They give them direction, confidence, and pride in who they are and what they can do. CTE is not an alternative or a backup plan. It is a powerful pathway that this community depends on. It prepares students for college, for careers, for leadership, and for the kind of opportunities that come from knowing how to think, create, build, and problem solve in the real world. The work happening is not just valuable,
032it is essential. These students [clears throat] will shape the future of our workforce, our community, and our county. And they deserve to be seen for the talent they bring and the strength they are already building. Some teachers teach lessons that stay with you, not just in what you learned, but in who you are, how you carry yourself, and how you treat others. They notice every kind of student, those who need support, those who need challenge, and those who simply need to know that they're seen. We have the privilege of honoring one of those teachers tonight. Mr. Allison, your kindness, your steadiness, and your quiet strength have shaped so many lives across this county. And I will say that you and I are definitely going to have to stick together until June with all the pen
033clicking going on. It's rough. At my second board meeting, I asked Mr. Barkstdale if I could use his pen for a minute because I needed it, which was not a lie, but only so I wouldn't grab it out of his hand and throw it at him. [laughter] And I'm not above it. I have the podium to hide me. I put the pen on the other side of my notebook out of his reach. His face was priceless. He promised that if I gave it back, he would not do it again, and he did not. But tonight is a new night, and I'm sure that promise is already forgotten. [laughter] It always is. So yes, Mr. Barksdale, I am reminding you again. >> Thank you. [laughter] >> Joking aside, Mr. Allison, you are a part of a
034special group of men who have chosen to pour their lives into education. Men like you remind us how important it is for students to see examples of integrity, humility, and hard work. The kind that shows up every day, quietly doing what's right, even when nobody is watching. You've devoted so much of yourself to McDow County. First as a student in our schools, then as a teacher who gave everything to your students, and now as a schoolboard member who continues to give back to the community that raised you. You might not have started your career as a teacher, but you eventually found your way into the classroom where you truly belonged. When you taught electrical trades at McDow High School, your classroom became a place where hard work and encouragement went hand in hand. You helped
035your students see what they were capable of, not just in their craft, but in themselves. You helped them find their spark. Did you catch one when I did their third spark? You're welcome for that. Okay. I [clears throat] was proud of myself for that one. If you ask your former students, they'll tell you that you built memories in the in between moments, too. Like in the mornings when you would load the bus up and head to Riverside for a biscuit. Something that simple becomes the kind of story students tell years later because it wasn't just about breakfast. It was about belonging, being seen, and starting the day with someone who cared. I graduated from McDow High in 2001, and while I was never a student in your class, I remember plenty of people who were.
036You were one of those teachers the guys especially looked up to, not just because of what you taught, but because of who you were. And I want you to know your kids still talk about you with a smile, the kind that comes from good memories. And they call you Mr. Jimmy Allison, not Mr. Allison. [clears throat] They remember how you treated every student like they mattered, the ones who struggled, the ones who were steady, and the quiet ones who kept giving their best in the background. You noticed every one of them, and it made all the difference. They still tell stories about you. This is my favorite. They [clears throat] laugh and say that when you swung that paddle, you could feel the wind before it ever landed. [laughter] Giving them enough time to rethink
037their life choices and promise themselves they'd do better next time. Wanting to make you proud just as they were proud to have you. They knew you cared more about their future than their mistakes. You gave your students a reason to be proud, not just of their work, but of themselves and who they were becoming. and you gave them a sense of dignity that can't be graded or measured. As life carried them into new chapters, careers, families, and everything in between, what they learned from you stayed with them in the way they work, lead, and care for others. They learned what quiet, steady leadership looks like simply by watching you. And the lessons you taught are still working in every student who held on to something you said and leaned on it when life got heavy.
038That is what makes you special, Mr. Allison. You weren't just a teacher. You were a builder of confidence and character, and your influence is still felt in the people you helped shape. One of your former students said it best. I had the privilege of having Mr. Jimmy Allison as my electrical trades teacher at McDow High, and he quickly became more than just a teacher. He was a mentor who made a real impact on my life. During the summer I worked for him, he trusted me with responsibilities no one else had given me at that point. And that trust gave me a confidence I didn't even know I needed. Even now, as an adult, he continues to be a source of guidance, encouragement, and friendship. Mr. Jimmy Allison is the kind of person who greets everyone
039with a smile and genuine kindness, no matter where he is. I am truly grateful for the example he continues to set and the support he has continued to give me through all these years. Kyle B. McDow High School 2005 to 2008. [applause] >> You have heard this story read many times before, but tonight it's being shared a a little differently. So, let's listen. gently picking them up one by one tossing them back into the ocean. >> Why are you spending so much on this? >> The man asking. >> One morning, a man was walking along the beach covered with thousands of starfish that had washed the shore during the night. >> That wasn't me. [laughter] >> One morning, one morning was man. >> [laughter] >> Starfish. >> One morning, a man was walking along a
040beach covered with thousands of starfish that had washed ashore during the night. Up ahead, someone was gently picking them up one by one, tossing them back into the ocean. >> "Why are you spending so much energy on this?" the man asked. There are so many of them to take a difference. They'll die if they are left in the sun. The person replied without pausing. The man glanced up and down the endless shoreline, but there were miles of beach and thousands of starfish. You can't possibly save them all. What difference could it make? Another starfish was lifted from the sand and sent back into the waves. Smiling, the person said, >> "I made a difference for that one. Sorry, I put it up the first time. I actually practiced this a lot before I do this.
041You would not believe it, but I really do. These were the only voices that could make the starfish story truly yours. [clears throat] When I was putting your pictures and the student statement together for tonight, I spent more than an hour at the high school flipping through old yearbooks trying to find you. You were listed as Jim in some, Jimmy in others, and then suddenly James towards the end, which meant I had to start all over because I wasn't even looking for a James. Out of all those yearbooks, there were only four extra pictures of you. And two of those didn't help me at all because you were in staff photos. One picture was of you waving and smiling. You just saw that one. And another was you in your classroom with only your dark
042eyebrows and that white hair peeking up from behind that computer. And there's Mr. Spivey. You can tell the proof of the good old days. Look at that dark hair. No goatee. I'm telling you. [laughter] I do want to know your secret because I can't make it through one school event without someone snapping a photo. But what really got me was this. And I wish I would have took I wish I would have brought one in those awful staff pictures that we always have to take every year. You were just cheesing and all of them. Every single one. And you only had four extra pictures in all the notebooks com I mean all the yearbooks combined. I did not understand that one. Miss Allison sent me some pictures and I am so glad you were in
043more of your family photos than you ever were in the yearbooks combined, which honestly isn't hard to beat. Mr. Allison, here is your starfish keychain. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> I hope when you see it, you are reminded of the lives you have shaped and the strength you have added to this community. You did not just teach a trade. You shaped futures. You did not just prepare students for work. You gave them pride, confidence, and the belief that their effort matters. You're a proof that one teacher can make a difference. Quietly and steadily, you have spent your life helping others build their futures. And tonight, we wanted to make sure you heard that. You've changed life, Mr. Allison. Plain and simple. We all know you don't like spotlight or recognition. And honestly, neither
044do I. Because while we're being recognized, there are so many others who cross our minds that we feel deserve it more than we do. But Mr. Allison, in your case, that couldn't be further from the truth. I told Dr. Grit that if he ever gets tired of hearing the starfish story, I will not take it personally. No hurt feelings. I will just sit and cheer you all on at the schoolboard meetings. And if any of you get tired of hearing it, please tell him. Maybe you can convince him because I have tried and failed. So take the hint, okay? Give me Okay. I couldn't even talk Miss Becky into helping me either. So, in June, if not before, after my final presentation to the board and our community, I will be joining you and we
045will stick together in the background right where we've always felt most comfortable. But even in the background, you'll still be seen because people like you can't help but stand out. I want to say thank you to Miss Allison. You made sure I had what I needed for tonight and I am so grateful for your help. Mr. Jimmy Jim James Allison, thank you for shaping futures and the difference you made. It isn't going anywhere. Thank you. >> Miss Lawren, stay up there. [applause] >> Okay. If if uh you would Jimmy come around with your whole family and you, Miss Lawren, and let's get a picture. Never gonna get out of one of these. >> Andrew, I'm going to move. So then they can get one of their Okay. [clears throat] [applause] >> Mr. Mr. Frank, if
046we could uh I know you always ask the board members if they have anything to say, and when I saw this on the agenda tonight, I had a whole roast of stuff, but I'm not going to roast him. But I did want to say this. Brian Franklin uh and Joe Cash and a couple of guys said it best is sometimes we celebrate people after they're gone. Now, Jimmy's got at least 50 years left that I know of, but I may not have. So, uh I just wanted to say this about Jimmy. just heard about the teacher that he was. And I had the privilege of seeing him from the age of I think I was 7 years old. And I saw him through athletics. Number one, as a fan, second, as a supporter, a volunteer,
047a coach, and then when I got older, I saw how he was as a dad to Jason. Jason and I played together. Somehow he got the all-time best race car driver for a daughter-in-law also in the family. Then as I got older, I saw him as a dad when I was coaching. and I coached Casey and I saw what kind of man he was to the coaches and the support that he gave us. The next one I'm going it's still the subject of the biggest question mark in McDow County history and it's how in the world did he catch Andrea's eye as a loving husband. All right, so we're still trying to and they'll be asking that question a long time. The next one is a teacher. I saw him as a teacher and it
048just phenomenal. Everybody loved Jimmy. you tried to as a teacher be as good as Jimmy and try to be favorite, but he had it done. Uh, an outdoorsman that cared about kids and their experiences more than his own. Uh, yeah, he likes to take pictures with big fish and bear and everything else, but he wants the kids to honestly have a great uh, experience. Now, as a grandfather, I'm watching him and he talks about his grandkids and, you know, got Savannah in the family, one of my favorite students. U, you're very, very gifted. Grandkids, he's getting old. Watch after him. Okay. And at least the last and least not least is that what a great friend you have been. And I appreciate our friendship. I've always looked up to you and it couldn't go this
049award couldn't go to a better person. So, thank you, Jimmy. >> Thank you. [applause] >> Jimmy, you got anything you want to say? [laughter] >> No, I don't think I think >> I think it's been said. >> Wow. Man without words. He said something other about having a group hug after [laughter] >> item number 13 on the agenda is a request to address a board public comment session and uh this is kind of a unique request. We do have a request and I want to say that uh this gentleman um I've known him for a long time. He's a deputy with the uh McDow County Sheriff's Department. Does an outstanding job and is just a a real great person. And Mr. Heath Helms, would you come up? But Mrs. Helms from the board, tell us
050a little bit about Heath. He's kin to you. [laughter] >> I don't know if she wants to tell any story. >> He and my husband are first cousins. Um Heath, you're a remarkable man. And I want you to know from us, we love you. We love Anna and Brooke and Jared. Um I was able to talk to Jared at the movies yesterday. He told me Anna was getting ready to start her is it her last? >> She's got four left. >> Four rounds of chemotherapy and she's doing well. She looks great online. Um but I just want you to take a message to her and tell her that our family, as I know many others here in the system, love her. We miss her. We're praying for her. I lift her up daily in my
051prayers and for her strength and endurance and um and anything that that your family needs, we'll be there. >> I appreciate that. Let's not >> try not to get emotional. >> Hold on just one minute. >> Okay. [laughter] >> Uh Miss Helms, I know you'd like to make a motion to let him speak. >> I would love to make a motion to let Heath Helms speak. Okay, we have a motion by Mrs. Helms and a second by Mr. Schuford. Is there any further discussion? With no further discussion, uh, all those in favor signify by raising your right hand, which is unanimous. And of course, you got a timekeeper, so your limits an hour. [laughter] First off, thank you board members um and family and friends here. Uh try not to get emotional, but it's tough
052when you see good golly people take time out of a busy day. I know y'all are busy. MPG, Mr. Wheeler, I appreciate you to do a little drive-thru for my wife. It really uplifted my spirit. Some of you school board members was there. Uh she's not the worst shape and she'll kill me. She don't even know I'm doing this. She's starting to lose her nails. There's some vein parts, you know, hair was one thing. nails is another. She's still battling. She does real good. She's strong. She don't rest a lot. Um, but I just really wanted to say thanks to the family and friends. You know, you pray, you pray, and God's got everything, but then little lights shine. That's all of y'all showing your support and being where you are. and um the comments
053on Facebook. It's just overwhelming for me. And I want to come tell y'all thanks, tell all the schools thanks. Um PG especially, that's been her home for a while. She was at Nebo for a while. Her first year was at Glennwood. Um, but every everybody just know that everybody has touched me personally and it's through the grace of God that we're all going to get through it. So, um, I just really want to tell y'all thanks. I'll try not to take up me any more time, but I will say this. Um, I sat and listened to all the great things you said about Jimmy and uh, you never played ball for me. He didn't always smile. I can go ahead and tell you. I mean, Jason can attest to that. He didn't always have his
054grin on his face. But no, seriously, what what y'all mean to me and and um the support that this small community has for each other is just it's amazing. And um I just really want to say thank you. And I I don't don't have a lot. I mean, when I'm on my job, I don't do this. I can't. Um it is it's it's a different me. Um when it comes to family, which like I said, I've known a lot of y'all a long time. And um it it's just I'll always be 33 and a half. I'll never get no older. Um it's just me. But um y'all don't know how much you mean to me. You you just you don't know. The phone calls, the the cards that the kids did. Um she's still reading
055notes. That's That's really all I got. I just want to say thank you. [applause] I have some response I'd like to read to uh on behalf of the board. But on behalf of my family, I want to extend our deepest gratitude to the board of education for your kind thoughts, prayers, emails, and messages of support following the passing of our mother. Your compassion and care brought us great comfort during a difficult time. And we are truly thankful for your thoughtfulness and kindness. And with heartel heartfelt appreciation, Crystal Hamby and her her the Hobbs family. And we thank you so much and and we our hearts go out to you as well. >> All right. Up next, we've got a community recognition. Well, I ask Miss Jill Ward to please come to the podium. And while
056she's coming, I I do want to just let folks know uh we are on a regular schedule tomorrow. I know there may be some kids out there who were hoping otherwise. >> I tried to ask. It didn't work. >> But we will. >> Yes. You always told me no. >> We will be up early in the morning checking, but as of right now, we're going to be on a regular schedule. Miss Ward, >> we can pray. I had asked Dr. regret if I could speak at the board meeting on behalf of Old Ford Elementary School and our students and staff. So, um it's been one year since Hurricane Helen changed our lives. In the past year, we've grown, we've learned, we've laughed and cried, and we've done things we never dreamed we could ever do.
057The support that Oldfor Elementary received was truly unbelievable. We were loved big and we were loved well. And as we close this chapter in rebuilding and we're building a new school um for Marian and Eastfield, I wanted to express our heartfelt appreciation to this county. First of all, to Pleasant Gardens Elementary, thank you for opening your doors and your hearts and allowing us to move in for the year. You gave us space, stability, and a place to belong. Aaron Rayfield is amazing. She never hesitated when we had a request. She just simply made it happen. To the staff and students, Anna being one of those that welcomed us with open arms. You shared your classrooms, your playground, and your daily routines with us. We didn't just share a space. We became a family. And those
058friendships will last forever. To Miss Brenda, the secretary who welcomed us on the morning announcements every morning. She announced our birthdays, our celebrations. She sent us off each afternoon with a smile and was excited for us to return. To Miss Whitney, who can truly do anything and everything, we appreciate you. To the cafeteria staff's old fort and PG who worked in a very tiny space. They somehow made sure that we were all fed and fed well each and every day. And a special thank you to Mr. Alan Carver. I don't know if you know Mr. Alan Carver, but he is very OCD and he was probably the happiest person to see us leave PG. Um, but he was amazing. He moved a cazillion boxes. He cleaned up after us. He worked tirelessly each and every
059day and he never complained. Um, to Pleasant Gardens Baptist Church and Pastor Ethan Hester, thank you for welcoming our littlest learners with kindness and care. Um, I also want to extend our appreciation to the Mcdow County Sheriff's Department for calling me on a regular basis about traffic. No, I'm just kidding. Thank you so much for the traffic support each morning. Um, it was hard to get two schools into one campus, but it happened. And it happened because we had amazing traffic directors in the mornings. Um to the neighbors that lived around PG Elementary School, thank you for your patience and kindness when we blocked your driveways and the traffic was at a standstill. I also want to extend an appreciation to the McDow County Schools administrative staff. Many of you don't know this, but when
060we when Helen happened and we moved on the weekend, some of the family of the MCS staff came and cleaned out the entire bottom of the Pleasant Garden School. so we could have classrooms and they did this in one day. So I wanted to extend our appreciation to them and your willingness to jump in and do whatever was needed and that made such a huge difference. To Mr. Trinks who began our recovery. Um, and the entire maintenance department under the direction of Jess Vaughn and Chad Marsh. Um, thank you for cleaning, painting, scraping, shoveling, repairing, landscaping, the countless behindthe-scene tasks that no one ever sees. Um, your dedication never wavered. Mr. Vaughn and Mr. Marsh held every contractor to the highest of expectations, ensuring that our school was not just repaired, but returned to a
061stellar condition. Because of your leadership and your attention to detail and tireless work, our students and staff were able to walk back into a building that truly felt like home again. to Suzanne Rampy for overseeing the financial pieces of our recovery and ensuring our school received everything we needed to start back up. Navigating mountains of paperwork with insurance and FEMA is no small task. And because of your dedication, we were fully restored and I appreciate that. To Miss Baker, my fellow colleague principles, all of McDow County Schools, their staff and students, thank you for the overwhelming outpouring of love and support you showed us. From the big gestures to the quiet moments of encouragement through emails and phone calls, you reminded us that we're never alone. Your kindness carried us through some of the hardest
062days, and we will never forget it. McDow County Schools is not just a school district, it's a community of schools. Miss Dowel, Miss McCarth, Miss Hamby, Mr. Hughes, thank you for always checking on me. Hurricane wasn't in my college handbook. We didn't get that class. But you were so kind to help me navigate unknown situations. Your leadership and your encouragement and steady guidance meant more than you'll ever know, and I appreciate it. To the board of education, thank you for ensuring that a realistic and thoughtful timeline was established for our return home. For conducting the walkthroughs, monitoring the work progress, and for navigating public comments with care, transparency, and resolve. Your steady oversight and your commitment to doing what was truly best for our students and staff made all the difference. Dr. regret. Thank you
063for personally, patiently, and constantly reminding me that we would get back to Old Fort. Your leadership, problem solving, and ability to navigate so many unknowns gave us confidence during the most uncertain times. You were not only the calm in the storm, you were the calm in the hurricane. And because of you, we never lost our vision. Thursday, November 19th, our school had a special program to honor the generous people who carried us through the season. Our students sang, they cheered, wrote poems, speeches, made posters, and banners. It was a p powerful reminder of what our community really means. There is simply too many people to name and too many people to thank. And that alone speaks to the overwhelming support we receive. As we close this chapter and move forward, it feels important that we
064pause and show our gratitude. This year's school theme at Old Fort is home is where the heart learns. We are truly blessed to be back where our hearts belong at Old For Elementary School. And thank you for helping our Eagles continue to soar. Old Fort Pride deep inside. And from all of us, thank you, [applause] >> Miss Ward. Uh, hold up just one second. Mr. Schuer, do you have anything being the representative from PG you'd like to say? And then Mr. McInness, I'll give you the >> I'd love to. Um, Miss Ward, I've I've known you for many years and I had the privilege of uh my my wife is on the on the staff up there, but um when I've met with you and and Aaron and talked about how things were going, I
065was never met with anything but positivity and and uh we're doing great and we're helping each other and and it's just working out. I didn't see sadness up there. I saw a lot of lot of smiling faces, saw things continuing to work and as they should and even better. And my hats off to you uh and to Miss Rayfield for for uh a great great effort. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Well, Miss Ward, what a couple of years this has been. Um, I remember we first actually met. We had uh met together that uh I guess it was a Saturday morning to actually clean up the schoolyard out there. And little did we know just a month later all of that. But um you guys showed tremendous resolve with your leadership and as you correctly pointed
066out Dr. Grit, he's shown through the whole thing uh problem solving. Um I mean he was right there. he's been right lock step in the community the whole time and um you was talking about some of the public comments you know if there was a concern or problem we all want to address that but when there's not then we want to give credit where credit's due and you deserve that credit and we thank you for what you've done Dr. Grant, we thank you for what you've done. And board, of course, we're all appreciative of what everybody's here done, too. Uh, but most of all, the community and the kids. Uh, it's all for the kids. So, thank you, >> Chad. We appreciate you as well. Uh, you you sped the process along. Of course, you
067gave you the recognition that you needed. Now, let me say this very quickly. I think we probably need about a five minute break, especially for the children. So, take about five minutes. If you need to go to the restroom or whatever, go ahead and then we'll start back. invite Miss Crystal Hamby up. She's working on our 2025 2026 LPS school improvement plans. Miss Hamby. >> Good evening, Chairman Frank, member of the board, and Dr. Grit. Uh tonight I stand before you requesting approval of our school improvement plans for our schools that have been identified low performing. This uh these plans represents a collaborative effort among school leaders, teachers, parents, and district support teams to address the specific academic and organizational needs identified through data review and stakeholder feedback. The school improvement goals and strategies align
068with our district goals and expectations, creating the conditions for improved student outcomes. I'm extremely proud of the work our principles have done and are doing to make a difference for each of our students. Tonight, I stand before you and I respectfully request the board's approval of the school improvement plans for our schools that have been identified by the state as low performing. Are there any questions from Miss Hamby from the board? If not, I'll entertain a motion to approve the McDow County Schools uh low performing school plans. >> Mr. Frank, as the the chair of the curriculum committee, I make the motion that we accept the school improvement plans. >> Second. >> Okay, we have a motion by Mr. subtles and we have a second by Mr. Schuford to accept the uh school improvement plans
069and uh is there any further discussion concerning this topic? With no further discussion, all those in favor signify by raising your right hand, which is a unanimous vote of nine. >> Thank you all so much. I appreciate you, Mr. Settles and Mr. Chief. Thank you and the members of the board. >> Thank you, Miss H. All right. Next up, uh we've got uh something really exciting. Mr. Patrick McMurray is our architect and he has Miles right with him. They're they're here to be able to talk with us a little bit a little bit about our several of our projects. Uh they're with Holland and Ham uh architects and uh they won the RFQ on the um new school and um I did ask them just as a little teaser uh to be able to and
070I didn't I didn't necessarily share that out with everybody, but I was hoping and I didn't want to put too much pressure on you guys to have us a little something tonight. I mean, when you get a $42 million award, you get pretty excited about it. So, we were hoping you could uh give us a little teaser and also talk about the West Middle School uh ball field project that you guys are working on >> just and just roll right. >> Yes, sir. The floor is yours. Yes, sir. >> Well, uh on behalf of Holland and Ham Architects and Miles, right, I appreciate this uh this opportunity tonight. We're we're thrilled about it just like you are. Um it's not every day, you know, $42 million is is out there for a for a new
071school project. So, very exciting. Um we uh we did we did work with the school system administrators on on selecting two sites to look at and um ended up u honing in on the one by WestRock. Um and that things that went into that that decision were geotechnical um sites specific um items [clears throat] that uh overall helped us to make the best decision that we we we all felt like. Um, so for for the elementary school project, we're we're probably actually a little ahead of of norm what we would normally be at, but um when this went to DPI, we wanted to uh you know, really really blow them away. And um so we came up with a with a plan that's similar to Old Ford Elementary. uh what we're probably looking at is
072is roughly uh 105,000 square feet. And we're able to get that data from DPI uh based off of um projected enrollment, what what we'd like to see student wise, student capacity and um we so we get we send that data into NCDPI and then they come back and we go back and forth um about you know how large the school should be. So, I I say it's similar to Old Fort U. Because of the site constraints, we would be looking at a two-story 105,000 square foot uh roughly 38 classrooms. But I do want to preface everything is um nothing is set in stone right now. Again, we we did want to blow uh uh DPI away in our submission. So, um nothing set in stone. The next step would be having focus groups, with administrators,
073with maintenance staff, with students, um with uh teachers, faculty, and um you know, we want to hear their needs and their wants and go through it all. And then also when I say 38 classrooms, that that's the stuff that's it's kind of easy to pinpoint through the NCDPI matrix. um things that are going to be um school specific, district specific or um you know EC classrooms, specials. Uh would you like to have a gymnatorium? How many would it seat? Uh auditorium like environments that that sort of thing that makes it really um district and school specific. I'm going to uh so right now up on the screen is the site plan. I'm going to I'm going to let Miles kind of speak to the site plan, but like I said, this is beside West Rock
074between um Court Street and uh Ridge Road. >> Hey, good evening. Uh like Patrick said before, you see the site plan that we submitted to DPI for for review and comment. Uh this plan is also under review by DOT municipal planning right now uh to help us with the uh locations of driveways, the amount of stacking that we need for uh student drop offs, uh bus stacking, things like that. So that is under review by municipal planning right now with DOT. And that's really just a first step that we need [cough and laughter] to uh help us determine what the site's going to look like uh once once we get into the deeper planning stages of this of this project. Uh as you can see right now we have on the lefthand side of the
075plan uh we have a uh student drop off area uh we have uh guest parking and faculty parking on that side. Uh we have an entrance coming in almost uh directly to I guess the the entrance to the right. You can see that's that'll be the entrance only and what will happen is the students will come in that that area come drop off at the front of the school and then come around and come right the uh entrance on or the exit on the left hand side there. >> So where where they're pointing to right there folks uh Patrick that entry the first entryway that you see on the far left the yes that is closest to Clinchfield Baptist Church and Nebo would be you would be going heading towards Nebo the other way just
076to kind of help folks orient where you're going in the room. Correct. And we also have the bus parking will be on the far right hand side. There will be bus entrance coming into the rear of the property. Uh so the students will enter from the rear. There will also be staff parking at that location as well. Uh we have some area kind of depicted by some little soccer fields right there which will be the uh outground play area uh for the for the project. We also have some uh uh playground areas. Uh you can see kind of at the cross to the top right hand side of the cross there will be some outdoor play areas. Uh we did have some sight constraints on this project there's you can see the blue lines in
077the green uh to the right those are some streams of wetlands that we have to deal with. Uh so we have to stay out of that area. There's also you can kind of see the power line rightway that runs through the project there uh that we have to uh stay clear of and stay clear of the existing power poles in that area. So there were some sight constraints with this project but with this site but uh nothing that cannot be worked around and and uh and made made to work. This is just a kind of a kind of a blow up of the uh of the entrance area. You can see the uh entrance to the right. That's the that's the uh uh entrance to the school and the drop off will be right at
078the school front up there. Uh and like I said, we have staff and uh some visitor parking out front as well. So the students will come in the right side, kind of look around the front of the school, kind of look back around and come out the the left side there near the back near the Baptist church. And this is just sort of a blow up of what the uh bus parking area is going to look like in some areas that we have depicted with some soccer fields right now as an outdoor play area. And you can see the uh playground areas as well uh right there at the corner of the schools. >> Yeah. In this area right here to the right, that's the larger play area. And then this pin area, that's your
079prek and kindergarten um bus drop off and pick up right here with overnight buses parking coming into a a central corridor and midside. Um that can a lot like a lot like old after hours and school kind of shut down. So, here's our floor plan. I'm going to zoom in a little bit more. So, this is partial partial floor plan of the first floor. Can everybody hear me? All right. >> Yes. >> This is partial first uh first floor plan on the if you're looking at it from uh Court Street 70 the left side and u that's where all your uh uh kindergarten, first grade, second grade, they'd all be located on ground floor along with specials and DC with the uh with the library up here in the center because the school plan so
080big we have to chop it up into different sheets. Um here's the so here's the continuation of of that front and this is 70 out here in the front of the building. That'll be the the library would be the main focus from the road. Um, and then working down through the central corridor to this commons area before you get to a gymnasium, cafeteria, kitchen area with adequate drop off area, loading dock space in the back. Um, I I went around Eastville Global and Marian with Jeff a few weeks ago. Um this this will be a huge step up from some of the some of the loading dock and uh sight line constraints. Um Eastville Global I think I counted 14 different elevations in that school. This has two elevator. So then you got your second
081floor. That'd be your third, fourth, and fifth up there with a STEM lab. And um you know we we feel like this is some this is an opportunity to really um do something that McDow County Schools is proud of. Um it's going to be you know right right outside of downtown Marian right there on a prominent roadway. So um you know we want to blow people away with with the with the way it looks. Um, and so that that's your your visual from Highway 70, uh, looking up at the library, the twotory sections, uh, intersecting that, and then your, uh, gym gymnasium, cafeteria area in the back. Any questions? Now, now the fun part starts. So, we get to really start drawing it after we again meet with the focus groups and really honing in
082on on what are the needs, what are some of those wants and um getting all those boxes checked. >> Absolutely. And really just having a like I said tonight, you know, a chance to catch our breath and and really just kind of take a pause for just a moment and uh get some begin to get some timelines in place. And uh March is kind of that first deadline that I've talked with Mr. uh Marsh about um you know being able to say okay in March we really need to and obviously Patrick that's not yours. You go ahead and do be working now but that's ours. Uh that's that's the that's the time frame for us to kind of catch our breath and uh start to make plans to be able to pull the community together
083to do some of those meetings you're talking about and um you know get get these principles on board and make sure that we've got a school that everybody will be pleased with. Um and I think that's the important part. So thank you so much for sharing that with us tonight. Board, I don't know if y'all have any questions for them before they roll into the next. This is like I said just a teaser. We wanted to just throw something up there to to show you that we had been working behind the scenes a little bit. So, >> so the needs assessment is a printed document that you'll provide to us and >> projecting out >> 20 acres or whatever. >> Yeah. [cough] [laughter] >> [clears throat] >> So, so I think I want to make
084sure I'm clear, Mr. Abnathi, in your question. The needs assessment is what the c what we do as a county um every five years um that we do a facility needs assessment. Um we're actually in the process of doing that with all of our facilities. Again, the last one that we did was in 2020. Um, and in the last one that we did, uh, we deemed that Marian Elementary School, uh, needed to be closed. Uh, that's really one of the reasons why we were able to, uh, to to get the grant. What what Patrick and his team did for us is they went in and did an extra evaluation on that so we could submit it with our grant to DPI to show that's what the 14 levels of uh, differing levels were in Eastfield
085and and those things. So, I want to be clear. Is that what you were asking? >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. Thank you. >> And I got a little mixed up. They provided you the states profile. >> Yeah. >> Could you go over real quickly the uh reason I've had a couple people ask me why are we consolidating and I've explained to a few people about our ADM dropping? >> Yes sir. That's a great question. So um we have had a declining enrollment for the past 10 years. Um this year we're we are down about 98 students. Um, so when you look across that back row of those principles, they know it all too well. Um, because those are the conversations that we have to have about staffing and and what that looks like. Well, eventually
086you get to a point where you're not just having conversations about staffing. If you have a hundred kids each year over 10 years, Mr. Wheeler, I think we've got some math people. I won't ask Dr. Whis. I don't want to put him on the spot. You ready, Dr. Whis? [laughter] But I think that's about a thousand uh students over the past 10 years. Um, so if you do the math and you really start to think about it, we're in a position where we need to consider condensing or consolidating our footprint. Um, so one of the reasons that you can that you can be eligible for these grants according to DPI, um, is to show the need for consolidation. Um, and those two studies that we did, Mr. Bartdale, both of them recommended, uh, that we
087consolidate those two schools. I mean, you know, it's one of those that it's kind of glaring at you, but it's it it's it's very much so glaring when you have two different studies from two different groups telling you the same thing. So, and then of course, uh Patrick and his team will be able to help us bring that vision to to light here, but that's really what that's all about. >> Thank you. >> Yes, sir. >> Eastfield was built in the mid70s. >> When was Marian? Marion was built in the 50s and then there was an addition that was built on it. I don't know the exact 99. Thank you. >> 1955. >> 1999. Yes. >> You do the math on it. Very old. >> Very old. Yes. >> There you go. >> Any any
088further questions for Mr. McMurray before he moves into the West Middle project? Guys, thank you for sharing this with us tonight. Yes, >> sir. >> And these two kind of roll right into one another. >> It's kind of nice when you have some dirt from one property to go ahead and start balancing it out. >> So So what year might what fall might we be moving in? >> Just curious. >> Got to count back up. >> This is all on the record, right? >> So I've said 29. >> 29. >> Beat it. Yeah, >> maybe. >> Thank you. I won't ask. >> Okay. Um, >> so I'm sure y'all are all aware that you got federal funds for some at high. If you go on Google Earth now, you actually see I guess the satellite
089images taken right after the so far. This is uh this is really to remedy uh some of the drainage issues at high school in Westville, but also getting some of those athletic fields, the lower athletic fields up and then also addressing the entryway, you know, adding adds to it, dressing it up so that um visitors and and fans and students, they know that they've arrived at the high school. Um this is a project condition sheet. There are a few alternates that I I kind of want to to hit quickly on this project because um anytime you're kind of digging in the dirt, Miles, you back me up. um sometimes it can be a little tougher to quantify and so you have the you have the approximately $4 million to for this project. Um we have
090some some ad alternates to to be able to play around with if we if we go over or if we're a little under and we want to add some stuff. It gives the board the administration a little bit of control to uh to select some of those things. So, real quick, um those add those alternates would be uh pickle ball courts. And I'm gonna we're going to get into some detail and show you where all this stuff is, but it's um it's down there at the lower road on the recreck field is the majority of the project site. Um we're looking at doing pickle ball courts down there. Um sight lighting all the way up from from the intersection all the way up to u really the ninth grade academy. Um, so, so right now
091that's not really lit at all and and so it's a pretty substantial lighting package as part of this project. Uh, masonry pier pileasters going down the road. Um, right now you I'm sure you can all you all remember that it's a chainlink fence. So, this is masonry pyasters with a black aluminum fence in between the pilasters. Really dressing it up. um pickle ball court. It'll have a parking lot adjacent to the courts. And so that's one of the the um the um alternates to we can either take that away or leave it. Um and then there's a few more parking lots along that area. And then also um two two more things. There's a there were a lot of and and maybe it wasn't storm damage from the from the hurricane, but along the uh
092third base side of the softball field, there's a lot of down trees and stuff that are just lying on the um on the chain link fence. Uh just addressing that whole uh parcel line, cleaning that up for the softball field. and um and then also pressure washing and repainting the handrails on the uh the stair that leads from West Middle down to the to the middle school baseball field. So that's um that's nine alternates. That's that's a that's pretty good amount, but again, it'll kind of give the board and administration some control as as uh when we get the uh the bids in. Um Miles, you want to just jump into what we're >> Yeah. Uh this is the lower field. You can see kind of the uh where the existing baseball field is located.
093Now uh the the goal with this area with the grant is to raise this area up out of the flood plane. Uh so that will not have any uh additional flooding if you know, god forbid, another hill comes uh comes this way. Uh so the idea is to raise this whole area up out of the flood plane to uh to meet the uh requirements of the of the grant and also to protect the baseball field and the addition of the uh uh pickle ball court and soccer fields and parking lot and all that that we're planning on putting down that way. >> The line is comes through about right there. >> Correct. Yes. About about towards the uh out very out of the infield right there is where the where the existing flood line comes.
094Uh, as Patrick showed, we have four pickle ball courts uh planned as an alternate. Uh, we're showing uh four uh I think it's U9 uh soccer fields uh adjacent to the uh pickle ball courts. Uh we're showing a parking area uh down there. Uh and we're that parking lot's going to be gated as well, so we can close that gate off to keep uh people out uh uh during times where the fields are not in use. And we're also keeping an area to the right for the uh practice football field as well for the for the middle school. Uh you can see at the entrance to the uh to the high school, we have the uh proposed sign locations uh that you'll you'll see in a minute about what [snorts] those going to look like.
095Uh we also have the uh brick palisters pisters going down the uh highway 70 showing the aluminum fence in between the those uh basically going all the way to the end of the property uh at the guard shack uh there. We're going to try to clean that area up a bunch. We're going to take out the existing pavement and put in a landscape medium there with some nice landscaping to kind of dress that area up as well. U we're showing the uh parking existing parking lots down there to be paved. Uh there's an existing parking lot right beside the baseball field that's going to be paved that I think that's an alternate as well. And then the one across the street as well. That one also be paved as as an alternate. Uh there's some
096additional parking right there at the guard shack right beyond right beyond the gate uh that we're showing as an alternate as well. [cough] >> And this is the existing parking lot. >> Yep. >> Which is right above right above the old the old pond there. And you have a lot of chain fences out there. Not everything would be the the aluminum black thicket, but all the chain would be switched out like black vinyl. >> Yeah, especially especially around the baseball field area. The whole baseball field area will be vinyl coated black chain link fencing around the baseball field area, including the back stop area. We've got that vinyl coated as well. I know we talked about lighting a few minutes ago, but just to kind of go back to the possibility of having a pickle
097ball court. Um, and I know Mr. Spivey, the idea of having lighting there and having people playing on campus at 10, 11, 12:00 at night is probably not a good thing. So, we you'll notice that there's no lighting there. So, that that facility when the lights go out, it's time to go home, folks. U go ahead. >> This is further up the hill. When you get to West Middle, there's an outdoor classroom currently there. We're proposing a a parking lot of that that flat area >> and there's some some drainage issues in that area as well. There's an old sediment basin that's still in existence for the parking lot as shown now. Uh that old sediment basin will be taken out and we'll install drainage in that area to get that area to drain, which
098it's not. It's not doing now. The water's just kind of sitting in that area. >> And again, because the sheet size, this is a continuation of working right there. >> Yeah. >> So that thoroughare in line. >> Yeah. And just to kind of kind of give you an idea of what we're doing right now that uh the road basically from the middle school up to the high school was a three-lane threelane road. Uh in previously I I guess when the middle school was built, traffic was planned to come in from the high school down to the middle school. So there was a need for three lanes at that time, but now the traffic patterns has switched and everything comes up from Highway 70. So to be able to save cost on this thing a little
099bit, we're taking the third row of of the uh of the driveway and turning that into a parallel parking uh going up the driveway. That's for, you know, tennis, for softball, uh for people to park down that way. they won't have to walk forever to get down to the softball field and to the tennis courts. Uh so we're doing that plus we're adding sidewalks uh along the the parking area. Uh we're doing a bunch of uh high visibility crosswalks with uh with speed tables uh to slow traffic down coming down the coming down the entrance way. I think that was one of the big concerns is the amount of uh the speed of the traffic coming down coming down the uh down the road there. I know we're out there on a couple occasions at
100at the afternoon coming out of the out of the school. We kind of saw it firsthand. So, uh that there's definitely a need for that as well. U there's also uh some drainage. Uh of course, part of this project is the drainage, addressing the drainage. So, what we're planning on doing to try to bypass the tennis court area and all that, uh we're planning on putting drainage on this on the new section of uh of road from the high school down to the middle court middle school to pick up the drainage in that area and kind of bypass around where the tennis courts and go uh to uh to keep from all that water flowing down towards the tennis courts and down to the softball field at at the middle school. So, we're bypassing that
101area with with storm drainage as well. So, just as a reminder for the board, the intent of this uh grant money was to um capture that water as it came off the hill and to divert the water and move it into one direction. So, you'll notice the sidewalks and all the things with the additional pavement and and catch basins that that handle that. Um but with that said, um our parameters were very tight on what work we could um could actually do. And that's one of the things that we tasked these guys with is coming up with a design that would help ensure that the water was uh will move in the correct way to meet the intent of the grant, but also to be able to to dress it up a little bit too.
102>> Correct. Yeah. Trace it up, make it make it look real nice. >> Patrick, can we ask you a question on this? Um, so as far as the layout, uh, Mr. Mr. Garrett and I had measured at this and looked at some stuff a long time ago when he was here, but would it be even possible to take the softball field, the existing softball field, and put it where the you have the practice football field there and do the parking lot between it. And I'll tell you why. We wanted to give the football field, the entire football field back to them because right now the outfield fence cuts into part of their field. So West doesn't have a football field. They use the high school. So, if we take the softball field and put it
103down there, which it'll fit because we measured down there, and then took the pickle ball courts that you need and move them up closer to the high school tennis courts, that gets the pickle ball courts closer to the gymnasium, which your PE kids are going to be using that instead of walking all the way down during [cough] the school day. Just my thoughts because we looked at this at one time and it thought it would be a good idea to have softball and baseball together with a park in between cuz there wasn't a concession stand in the past. Now we've got to but there was a lot of problems with that and football not do you understand what I'm saying there? >> Are you talking about high school softball? >> No, I'm talking about the
104middle school softball field. >> Can you go back go back to the you back to the main >> the main one? Yeah. >> So if I Yep. Go back one >> the the sight plan the There you go. That one. So I'm talking about here in the same direction together. So that's what we talked about one time. I don't know if that plays a part into what the grant says and dirt moving and everything else. >> We we would we would have to take a look at it. >> Yeah, we could definitely take I mean we could slide the parking area over to where the pickle ball courts are now. >> Uh for for us for us the biggest thing is just meeting the intent of the grant. which means elevating um things and and
105to be honest with you, we we hope we hope that we could pull a pickle ball court off, but that'll be the first thing to go. Pickle ball court, parking lot there will be the first thing to go because there's the money has to go towards diverting the water. So, the sidewalks, the Yeah. >> coming off the hill is going to be first. So, the question is going to be whether we the board would like to take up another project uh potentially. And um in that I in other words I don't know that we can get all that in one. >> So so when would bids be open on this >> Russell? >> Yeah. So January 6 January 6 is the proposed bid not starting until March 15. >> At this point you don't have
106any synthetic turf planned right there. Right. It's all okay. It's all natural. >> Is the squiggly line right there beside the parking lot. Is that the bank area? >> That's the outline of the existing tree area. Yes. >> Cuz I remember when we looked at it, the elevation change there was tremendous. >> Oh yeah. Yeah. Basically from the woods line straight up to the middle school. >> It's tremendous tremendous grade change at that point. >> It is definitely a wet area too. >> How much we can we can do and can't do. I mean, that's that's definitely something we can look at. Smoothness. >> I mean, you're just you're turning a football field into a softball field. >> I don't know if you need dugouts or anything down there or not, but that may be
107some addition we may have to do, but uh yeah, I don't I don't see it being, like I said, it's definitely something we could take a look at and see. I >> mean, it just to me it makes more sense, especially if you do want the pickle ball courts, which they're hot right now. Everybody wants to play pickle ball and get them as close to the school for safety as you can. >> Okay. I I hope if the bids are high and the pickle ball courts get xed out, I would hope before we do that, you at least ask and look at other funding partners. >> Sure. I mean, I think that the what we would need to do is um get the bids, bring that back to the board and make some decisions. you
108know, it's one of those that we're blessed to have the uh additional funding uh with the new school, but at the same time, we have an additional funding with the new school. Uh so, we've got to be cautious with our capital funds at this point and certainly don't want to pour mouth, but uh that money will that money will go uh quick. So, >> one one thing we're looking at too to try to know try to tie the two two projects together, we're going to need a sign significant amount of dirt for this project to bring those baseball fields up. And on the elementary school property, you can see kind of on the left hand side there, there's a kind of a huge hump there. Looks like the site has been graded out over the
109years. Uh, so we're looking at taking the dirt out of that west hump there to kind of grade the site down to where it needs to be for the elementary school. So, we're taking about I think it's roughly 25,000 yards out of that area, which is going to help us uh on the budget for the elementary school as well. Uh we're going to include that in this project. So, it's going to help out really out help out both projects because we're getting free dirt because the school system already owns that project. So, we're getting free dirt from this side. It just have to be hauled to the to the high school and the middle school uh for that. So, it's like I said, it's helping helping out both projects by by doing that. >> Dr.
110Grid, is there not something that you had planned? uh someone is wanting to use that property and they said they'd help us clearing. >> Yes, sir. And I think Mr. Marsh uh I'll give him an opportunity to talk a little bit about that this evening, but uh they have requested to utilize the property as a layown uh for doing some work for the city of Marion and we've of course agreed to that. Um and they'll stay out of our way, but as a condition of that, we we've asked them to maybe do a little work for us on the side. So, scratch our back, we'll scratch yours kind of deal. I'll let Mr. Marsh. Uh, talk a little bit about that if you'd like to, Mr. Marsh. We'll give you the floor when you come
111to the podium. Is that okay? >> Okay. Thank you. Mention the signage coming in the campus. Um, it's a little deceiving because this sign right here is 12 ft high. And so you know pretty sizable masonry either side logo and cast for west but it'll be coming into all the chamber and >> [clears throat] >> What's the height of the star there, Patrick? I I want to say it was like is it 18 feet? >> I think it's >> 174. >> That's beautiful. It be nice to put the lines underground. >> That's kind of [snorts] >> folks. We appreciate your work and all your efforts to put together something that we can um you know all all be very proud of that that that entryway. Um like we said, I mean it meets the meets
112the intent of the grant. Um but it but it does uh replace a sign that was you know it was in the flood zone so we we can that is one of the things we can uh do and our fencing to upgrade our fencing along the way. I think it's money well spent. I will also uh go ahead and let the board know that we have been in contact with Marian, the city of Marian about the possibility when you're driving down 70, you'll notice they have a sign there that says welcome to Marion. It's kind of lackluster. We've talked a little bit a little bit about it with uh city manager Woody Ays and uh he he has agreed to uh to look at that sign with us and and upgrade it as well. We
113talked with Patrick about what that could potentially look like. So, as you drive in coming from the old fort side, um you you should see and and we're really coming in from either side, um you should see an up just a refurbished area all the way down Highway 70. It's going to be really beautiful. We we appreciate y'all's effort and putting into it and and the building and grounds uh committee, Mr. Bartell, um you guys have done a tremendous amount of heavy lifting on this project in a in a short amount of time um because we had to meet the intent of this grant. Um and Mr. Marsh and the the work that you guys have put into it. I just want to say thank you. Um and and our principles. I this is one
114of those that we've been talking a little bit about it, but we've not even been able to share it or show anything. So, tonight was kind of the first time to be able to debut some of the some of the visions that that that have come to come kind of come on the computer screen there. We're very proud of them. Mr. Barstdale, anything further? No, sir. >> Patrick, thank you. Miles, thank you. Appreciate you. >> [clears throat] >> All right, Mr. Marsh, you've got several things on the agenda tonight, and I'll just invite you to the podium just to [snorts] take it up from there. U Thank you, Dr. Grit, Mr. Chairman, members of the board. It's always a pleasure to come before the board. So, in the interest of time, and as was brought
115up by Mr. subtles. Uh it was my intent tonight to come before the board and request board action because as was pointed out by our architect, we do need to move forward on this project. But what I would like to recommend is and request is board action with uh some instruction to our architect. Uh, I would like to request board action to move forward with the plans as presented for the West McDow Middle School project with the addition of asking for a 10th alternate on the plans to look at the cost associated with moving the softball field um, as Mr. Settles had laid out if if that would be agreeable uh, to members of the board. We need to make that motion, ma'am. >> I I'd love one, sir. >> I'd like to make the
116motion. Uh, as stated, >> I'll second. >> Thank you, Jim. >> Okay, hold on. >> Okay, we have a motion by Mr. Barksdale and and I will reiterate and re read the motion and a second by Mr. Allison on the U. the tent the additional tenth uh project addition to the uh West McDow Middle Mcdow High School grant project and uh Mr. uh Marsh if you would uh give me the motion again. >> Yes, sir. [clears throat] Uh, >> it's our request >> recorded >> that the board approve the West McDow Middle School, McDow High School grant project as presented with a request for the architect to add a 10th alternate that includes relocating the middle school softball field. Sir, >> do you have that, Miss Smith? Okay. All right. We have a motion again
117by Mr. Barkstdale and a second by Mr. Allison. Is there any further discussion as to the motion that's been made? Mr. Settle, do you have anything that you want? >> Okay. Thank you. Thank you. >> Okay. All those in favor with no further discussion, signify by raising your right hand. Mr. Parksville, I think it's that's unanimous with a nine vote. Thank you, Mr. Mark. >> Um, so, Mr. Chairman, our board and board, uh, the the director has been really hustling. Um, I want to talk a little bit just briefly about each one as I always do. I appreciate Mr. Thomas' efforts. We've actually had to send a couple of our brand new buses back for warranty work, but the reason that we're able to do that is because our mechanics are so thorough. And so
118I appreciate them taking the time to do that because our kids certainly deserve it. Um, Mr. Barry Hill and his staff have been have doing the line share of the work and I know Mrs. Whitman could talk about it but just today but uh they were at McDall High School working on some camera work today. So we um I I just want to say how serious we do take the input from all of our principles when it comes to things that you believe you need on your campus to make your campus safer and more effective. And we're working on all those and so we appreciate the communication. Mr. Haynes and his staff, the just the sheer magnitude of Thanksgiving meals that they put out and the thousands of meals they cook every day is just
119is just eye watering um on the heels of a very tough situation which we had talked about before Mr. Haynes losing his father. Um safety, we continue to await disposition of our grant application for the stop school violence grant which we anticipate an additional million dollar grant. So we're waiting there and feel very good about our application. Um athletics as you saw coach Cash here today and I thought Mrs. women did a wonderful job of highlighting just some of what we know Joe Cash to do on a daily basis. I mean, what he does is just is truly awesome and we appreciate uh coach Cash for everything that he's doing there. But our middle school and high school winter sports are are certainly well underway and appreciate the members of the board who attended the
120fall sports banquet at Medall High School. Appreciate seeing several of you there. Mr. Vaughn, his staff continue to address the mountain of work orders that continues to pile in on Sherpa. Um, and just today he and I were were talking about I think we were at six different schools today addressing HVAC issues. And so we're well over 140 work orders just since March that have been put in HVAC. And so the work that's being done there is just it's it's staggering and and and very much appreciated. I know not just by me but by all. Um, as was pointed out earlier uh with regards to our grant, it's incredible and certainly proud to have a small part of that. But really, it just means that the work continues for us. And so, uh, we appreciate
121very much Mr. Chad Young and his staff with the district's DOT staff here and everything that they've been able to do for us. Again, we talk about collaboration, but there's so many different layers of collaboration, and DOT is is is nothing uh, but in the middle of that. And so, they had a third-party group that was not only at uh, Eastfield Global, but also at Marion Elementary. appreciate both of our principles working there. We maintained a safe campus but also was able to get traffic count numbers and these are integral to them to be able to get that traffic study pushed through um with uh Raleigh as Holland and Ham pointed out u this evening and as Dr. Grip pointed out with our third party some of the project that we saw from um from
122the Ridge Road property uh I was in contact with the board's attorney and spoke Mr. John Henning and Mr. Henning has assured me that it was well within our authority, Dr. Grits, specifically to be able to approve a layown area for a third party organization that was contracted by the city of Marion. And so this is our turn to repay some of the of the good stewardship. And so, uh, we sent a document to, uh, Mr. Henning for him to review. He changed it, sent us back something. Uh, we got it in front of the contractor. They have since signed it. And so what it's basically doing is there's a third party contractor who's here and hired by the city to do sewer work and they're doing infrastructure and sewer improvements for the city and
123they're going to use a small portion of that area as a layown area for piping and other things. And while they're there, they like Chad, let us know what we can do. And so my request is uh that I'm going to ask them and have asked them is that what you saw today from Highway 70 uh it showed you the very front of the school. Well, you can't see that now because there's a row of pine trees, uh, some small scrub pines that are there. And so, I've asked them that prior to their uh, leaving the site in the middle of March that they try to take some of that down for us and so that reopen our site. Um, I think that will create a lot of things and one of them is some
124excitement. So, when people start seeing some trees moving, they're going to get excited. And it's important, I think, for for people to understand that, you know, that $42 million uh is coming back this way. And and that's it's really something we should be celebrating. So, I'm looking forward to getting that excitement rolling. Um, as I had mentioned to the board on a number of occasions, I just want to say thank you. G, can we go to the pictures of the of the outside work? Just want to appreciate the board's confidence. Um, and and and Mr. Barksdale uh from the building and ground side. We you know we we asked for a quarter of a million dollar concrete project. The board stood behind it and I appreciate it. So we are done with setting concrete drainage
125boxes at Oldford Elementary. We've completed sidewalk steps and ramp improvements at Marion and Glennwood. And now what you're seeing is scroll through the sides, Garrett. This is at Nebo Elementary School. Um this is all new sidewalks that we have installed. Keep going. Um here and you can see some of this. It's it's pretty intricate. Um I mean they have uh and while they were there we talked about some drainage issues and some cracking and so we kind of extended a little area down to the bottom but steps uh sidewalks go to the next one and this is one of my favorites and I know Mrs. Bagwell could talk about this but that ramp was in incredible disrepair prior to us being able to get that fixed. It's in the middle of the courtyard and so
126um it was one of those where not just the children with disabilities were at risk getting up and down it but people who were maybe assisting him. So really proud of this. Uh, one thing you'll notice is Jabwards, the handrails, they're they're being fabricated, but uh, we went ahead and poured the concrete while we had the opportunity to do that, but the handrails will be installed as well. So, really proud uh, of the work that's being done there. And if you've driven by um, East Middle, you've seen a bevy of equipment laid out front there, and that's what they're doing there, as well as addressing the sidewalks that had been a complaint from um, anybody who's ever walked on them in the last year or two or whatever. It's just really uneven and unsafe. And
127so, we're working there. So, I just appreciate the board on that. Um, Garrett, can we go to the Duke Energy easement pictures? Approximately uh a month ago, I received a a RFI, a request for information uh and a telephone call from a a nice young lady with Duke Energy. Um, and she said that she had a proposal for the board and she wanted to know about getting an easement approved at Nebo Elementary School. And um, so I contacted the board's attorney, Mr. Henning, and I'd like to read uh, what Mr. Henning has outlined for the board. The procedure for approving these is, in his words, dead simple. Uh, general statute 115C-518b permits the board to simply grant easements for public utilities. Uh, it does require board approval though and there are no requirements to provide
128any public notice and or declare the property surplus or anything of the kind. Just approval on the next agenda. But I wanted to take it a step further and make sure I educate everybody because again, as was pointed out tonight, we try to operate in the sunlight. So, some of the uh pictures you're seeing. So, 254 is your elementary school, Mrs. Bagwell's elementary school. Off that pretty steep embankment that goes down the back uh towards Railroad Drive and North Carolina 126, you'll see a red off the 3570. Across the street there, you'll see a red with double uh or triple set of arrows. What they're asking to do is relocate a telephone pole in an area that is not used by the school and most likely never will be. So tonight, Mr. Chairman, I come
129before the board and after conferring with the attorney, request motion for board action to approve the easement proposed and approved uh by our attorney for Duke Energy. >> Mr. Chair, I'd like to make a motion to approve the request for the easement from Duke Power in the vicinity of the Nemo Elementary. Second. >> Okay, we have a motion at request of Mr. Marsh for the Duke Energy easement request at Nebo Elementary. Uh, Mr. Barkstdale, we have a second by Mr. Abernathy. Is there any further discussion from the board concerning this motion? With no further discussion, all those in favor signify by raising your right hand, which is unanimous nine vote. Uh, thank you, Mr. Chairman. Certain, if it pleases the board, I'll have uh paperwork with Mrs. Smith at some point for your signature. Sir,
130Garrett, can we please go to the pictures of the bus? If the if the board will recall one of the things that we were discussing and you know and dog on Mr. Subtles like stealing some thunder, I swear. Uh, no. And he brought up Chad, what can we do about getting a bus wrapped? and and and so uh I could you can't surprise Donnie. He yanks it out from under you. But we've been working on this and but it but his interest spurred along. So I just want to say Mr. Subtles, thank you uh for for your continued support of athletics. Really do appreciate that, brother. >> Yeah. Well, um so let me I'm going to explain what I did. Um so we want to keep things local. There's no requirement to, but boy isn't
131it nice to to try to to keep things local. So I contacted the only local folks that I knew and the first one was one that I have done some business with over the years in a number of different capacities called master's hand and I spoke with the owner and said do you wrap them and [clears throat] he said I do u but I'm going to I'm going to give you an official refuse to bid because I am so busy. He said I'm going to do something I'm not good at my wife is telling me to do. He said but when I do that I'm going to pass you along to another local contractor brand new. He said and I think this guy's going to do a great job for you. So he did. He
132passed me along to another local contractor on Highway 70 and and after several iterations us passing back and forth um these are some of the results. So we checked number one I want to say the board we checked with uh DPI there are a couple requirements for activity buses those have all been accounted for like what the number of the bus must stay intact the county for the school bus must stay intact the words activity bus must stay on the front and rear of the bus or in the military for and aft. So everything else is within good taste of of what we choose. Um I spoke with Mr. Thomas and one of the things that he has he's taught me about is Chad if you give that brand new activity bus that you got
133that the board just bought and you do it give to athletics elementary school principles are going to kill you. So we're not doing that. We're going to take a a slightly older but very uh much capable uh bus and we're going to wrap it. And so this is the this is the first slide. Next slide. This shows you the back. I I'm I just think this is I'm in love with this. It pops. I I think it says pride and it shows um it shows some you know investment in our athletes. Next slide. And this is a little bit more of a closeup. I I want to state publicly I know I if if we put every single thing that we did and every we wouldn't there's not enough room on a bus. And so
134my commitment is to continue with the board's approval is to continue to find ways to get everybody involved. Whether that means a band bus or a a wrestling picture on it. There's ways for us to do it. This is bus one. This is bus one. So um Mr. Chairman, I'm not coming before the board tonight after some discussion uh and requesting motion to be allowed to proceed with our one-of-a-kind wrap for an activity bus. >> I'd like Mr. Sutton to make the motion. >> Well, hey, I was going to say uh nobody will make that motion but Mr. [clears throat] Subtles. >> Let me say this. If I'm in elementary school, I want to ride this bus, [laughter] you know. So, no, I I will make the motion. Chad, again, thanks for doing that and
135looking into it. I want to make the motion that we accept uh the proposal to wrap the bus. >> I'll say Mr. Mars, do we do we have We don't have prices yet, do we? >> I do, sir. >> Okay. That that kid out there is great. Oh, yes, sir. Yeah. He has been He has been so excited about being part of anything that has to do with McDow Titans and McDow County Schools. And the fact that we had a no bid and then we had somebody bid, I can tell you that it was it was a lot less cheaper than Mrs. Rampy thought it was going to be. Uh because I got fussed at uh and so but it's it's well within uh our approval, sir. And I can show anybody who wants to
136see. >> Well, sir, let me interject right there. uh she might just uh have second thoughts since uh Clemson beat Carolina South Carolina this past week. >> That that's one of the ugliest things I think I've ever heard you say, Mr. Friend. [laughter] >> Totally uncalled for, sir. >> Can we just vote so I can sit down? That's awful. Do >> you have Do you have the second wrap in mind? >> I do, sir. You do? >> Yeah. Oh, you know I do. You know you have >> to tell us. >> Thank you, sir. I appreciate it. I'll show it to you soon. >> We We have a motion by Mr. Settles and a second by Mr. Allison. Were you going to pass on the cost or >> I'll tell you if you'd like to,
137sir. >> It's $8,800. $8,800, sir. >> And comparatively speaking, that was about a third what we expected. Um, and it beat what Master's Hand was going to be able to do for us. So, we're and keep it local. We're very, very happy with that. So when win >> I think so sir I think so >> I'm telling you I know Mr. Sles is happy u is there any further discussion on the uh approval of this motion on the new activity bus wrap. Does anybody have any else anything else for the board? Okay with no further discussion. All those in favor signify by raising your right hand which is unanimous. >> Okay. >> That concludes my comments. >> I do have one question. >> Yes sir. >> And I'm not sure if Dr. grid or you
138would be the one uh to uh answer this. But uh we've been hearing all these numbers, grants here, grants there, and I think the public needs to know uh the amount of grants that uh that y'all have been involved with, especially during your tenure here. And this would be grants that's received outside of what we uh the the state or the counties funds us. I I'll defer >> there's a lot of work that goes into these grants and I at first what is your team? >> Two and a half years. >> And uh [clears throat] Mr. Mr. Bart still I would I would estimate and I couldn't give you an exact. I think Miss MacArthur probably wrote a grant today that we might we might get or Mr. Barill did, but we're somewhere in the
139neighborhood of about $60 million with the 42 million that was accepted for the uh award that we got for the for the building. And then the additional grants that we've gotten so far with the mental health grant, gear up grant, the Elise grant, um the Dogwood Health grants, uh this this uh $4 million for uh the project that we're doing at the West Middle School uh ball field. So somewhere around $60 million in about two and a half years. [laughter] >> I'd just like to thank you for your hard work because I do know in writing grants, it's a tremendous amount of work involved. >> Thank you. I appreciate that. And it's one of those that um I I don't write those grants, Mr. Bart. Still, I I think the folks sitting around the the
140tables here um are the ones that that that do the work. Um we we bring a vision to them and they find a way to to get those things done. I'm proud of them. >> Thank you. >> I'll tell you what, we're proud of them, too. Every every single one of you. Uh it's it's fascinating. Uh I've never seen so much money come in in my my time, and I and I'm I'm appreciative. Right. Thank you. >> All right. >> Thank you, Mr. Marsh. And and speaking of money, uh M Miss Rampy likes to tell people no. You thought I like to tell people no. Miss Lawy, Miss Rampy never says anything, but no. M Rampy, if you want to just give us a financial update. And >> I will. I'll try to keep it
141short and sweet. facilities had important but lengthy updates. Uh so we will it's a competition every every month. Uh just a couple things on the finance update. We did quite a bit of updates last month but I did want to give you a quick update on the state of the state budget which is the same as it was last month. [clears throat] Uh which is we do not have a state budget. So we are still authorized to pay our um current salaries and with our current base uh base budgets that we have. So we are still in a stalemate there and we hope to maybe have something they think uh in the first quarter but there's no promises of where we're at. But just an update there. Still no increases for our employees um but
142we are on that continuation budget. So we are able to pay our salaries and our um with our state funds. The other update I have is regarding the audit status. I don't know if you remember from last month, but the federal OMB or the compliance supplements have been delayed uh because of part of the federal shutdown. We are still delayed on those, but we do now have uh approval to go ahead and submit our audits on Octo by December 31st as long as we do not feel like the compliance supplement will change. Uh because of any grants that we've gotten from the federal government, we do not feel like that would change any of the audit steps. So, we will go ahead and submit our audit. um before December 31st. If anything comes back where
143they have a different um section or a different compliance that they need to check, then we would resubmit that. But our plans are to have that submitted by December 31st. Hopefully get that back from the LGC pretty quickly and then we'll have a finance committee to be able to review that as soon as we get that back. So, we are a little bit later this year because of that. Generally, um uh they are due in the month of November. So, we're at least 30 days out from where we normally are, but we'll get that processed and get it back to the finance committee as soon as we can. Um, but that is my update for this month. >> Does anybody have any uh questions for Miss Rapid? >> Mr. Frank, not necessarily a question, but
144just to the board. you know, with finances being held up at the state level, it's making things difficult for us as far as as far as being able to sit down and really look at and evaluate things, but I continue to be proud of where we are with our teacher supplements. Um, and I know we have work to do on some others. That's there's no question about it. Um, but this process is somewhat delayed when uh you're dealing with the state. So, I know Miss Rampy's been looking at that. Mr. Marsh has been talking about as well as Miss Dattle on on on looking at that as a possibility, but that is something that we are kind of little somewhat handcuffed at this point, but we do hope to be able to have some of
145those u really it's your committee meeting uh finance committee meeting coming up in January. Can I ask you a question because I got the question earlier and I wasn't real sure about it. Are we as a system required to use a state health insurance? We have to use the same ones. We can't go against the state of North Carolina and try to source out our own. >> Right. Exactly. That is the stealth health plan for the teacher. And >> so we're stuck with Etna no matter what. Okay. Same thing with their prices and all their prices. >> That's right. Okay. >> Same thing with the retirement system as well. Those are the benefits that they offer. You know, they go out as a a group to collect that and that's what we have to offer.
146>> Okay. I thought so. I just want to make sure. >> So compliance testing, this is a question. is complying with receiving federal dollars as well as grants and and and are handling them. >> Right. Exactly. Every year we there's a compliance supplement that comes out for state and federal. State's not been held up in general. State funds don't change a lot. Uh but federal comes out every year and unless we get new funding, which there was new funding with evening you had some ESR funding, things like that that we did have that we were finishing up in 20 in June 30, 2025. So, um, that would be the only thing, but we those were sources of funds that we've had for a few years. So, we don't feel like that's going to change, but
147every year they send a compliance supplement out for the auditors to know exactly what they they need to focus on testing wise, materiality, also the number of samples, things like that. And then just what uh the purpose of each fund is to make sure that they're in compliance. >> Thank you, Miss Randy. Uh, item number 16 on the agenda, new business, request to mend the monthly close session meeting time of the board of education. Mrs. Helms contacted me uh with a worthy request and I I told her we'd put it on the December agenda. So, I'm going to turn it over to Miss Helms and and listen to what she has to say and then we as a board will uh talk about it, make a determination. So, go ahead, Miss Helms. Yeah, I had
148just requested that we go back to meeting after the regular meeting. It's become increasingly hard for me to get here by 4:30. I have to, you know, see my last patient about 3:30. Best laid plans in my men. I had one walk in at 5 to 4 today. And so it just makes it really hard for me, especially this time of year to be able to be here by 4:30. So, I had sent out an email asking that we return to to meeting after our our regular meeting for close session. >> Okay. Does what? So, are you making a motion to change it to six o'clock the whole the beginning and then uh our close session at the end of uh >> Yeah. the way we did previously, at least for you guys to consider
149it. >> Yeah. Well, what we'll do is is correct me if I'm wrong, Dr. Grit, but what we'll do is we'll go ahead and let you make a motion. We'll vote on it and then if there's another if if we don't pass it then we'll have another motion to either leave it the same or another option if that's fair enough with the board. Is everybody in agreement with that? >> Can we comment before you do that? >> Oh, absolutely. >> You know, I want to >> Well, during discussion time after she makes her >> Yes, sir. That's all I understand. >> Okay. All right. At this time, go ahead and make your motion. I'd like to make a motion that we amend the monthly close session meeting time of the board of education um close
150session for after our regularly scheduled meeting. >> Okay. And now we need a second. >> I'll second. >> Okay. Okay. We have a motion by Miss Helms to change uh our meeting time for the close session from at the beginning at 4:30 until the end uh like we used to do prior to changing it. Now, Mr. Subtles has second that. Now, we're open for discussion. Go ahead, Mr. >> I was just going to say that's what I was asking for, too. Um me being a young one, I'm still working. I wish I could retire, but I'm not retired yet. Uh, and there's a lot of time that I'm four and five hours away. Like today, I was in Charlotte. I drove to Charlotte this morning and drove back to make sure I'm getting here. So,
151makes it difficult at 4:30 to get here. Uh, I don't want to miss the meetings. Obviously, I don't mind driving the five hours and then I'm driving 5 hours back usually after the meeting. So, makes it a little more difficult. 6 o'clock gives me a chance to to take my time to get here. So, I would appreciate that on my part. >> Are you bringing up so young? >> No, I'm just saying I'm I'm one year younger than you, Mr. Baker, >> you're the only one that doesn't have any gray. >> It's in my beard. >> Is there any further discussion? Yeah, I I just want to say real quickly, um, you know, when I saw this pop up on the agenda, I did not think there'd be a whole lot of discussion, and this
152has nothing to do with this, but I will tell you, there've been several people that have contacted me just today and asked me to not go along with this. And the one thing that they kept bringing up, and I I I initially said, "Well, I'm going to use your name." And then I got to thinking what I'd like to do is I think we ought to listen to the administration and I'd like if you feel comfortable enough tell me or tell the board what uh by going back how that will affect and if it is a positive to go back or if it's a negative and I think that that's one of the things that we need to look at and I I sympathize but I had no idea that I would get as much
153feedback back on this as I did and I'd like to ask your opinion since you have contact with your administration. >> Well, well, my favorite thing to say is I work at the pleasure of the board. >> Um, but I will say that having the meeting at 4:30, uh, with the close session, I feel like we are much more fresh and much more into the into the meeting at that time. Um, it provides us with an opportunity to have a close session. if we need to carry it over, we can carry it over. Um on a couple on well, not a couple of occasions, several occasions we've came in at 4:30 and it's been 15 20 minutes. So, it's quick. Um that was not necessarily the norm. Um before when we were doing it after
154the close sessions seemed to just kind of go on and on and on. I don't know if the condensed amount of time beforehand has made them go quick. I I don't know. I don't really have the answer to that. So, um, but but from my perspective and from the staff's perspective, um, you know, getting out at a at a reasonable time is is is is nice. Um, but again, certainly work at the pleasure of the board. >> Thank you. >> Yes, sir. >> Is there any other discussion? >> I mean, I would just point out that in our close session today, we had a lengthy discussion on certain things and it went 25 minutes. Uh, so that 25 minutes if we put it on the end of this, which we had a very long awards
155ceremony. U, I talked too much about Jimmy a little bit. Um, I'm just saying, you know, you're looking at our typical closed sessions being 25 to 30 extra minutes. It puts us out of nine. The previous board, there were times when we were in here till 10:30, 11:00 to make sure that we did 1:00 to make sure we did the right thing for the kids. I don't want us to leave out the kids. So, as long as I have to stay here, it doesn't matter about my job. I'm standing here until the right thing's done for the kids, whether it's 4:30, 9:30, 1:30, whatever. >> I mean, it's it's one day a month. And I mean, even just from a business perspective, if I have to not see four patients, >> my cutting off an
156hour, >> I mean, I work for myself. I mean, I think the ones of us who still work, I mean, I get it. people want to be home early, but but I also knew that coming in >> that that was part of part of my responsibility. >> Let let me >> and sometimes I think we rush when we're doing it beforehand to get to dinner and what if things come up during our meeting that could could stand a little bit more conversation. Um I also feel and I just going to say this there's a lot of discussion behind closed doors that we're not a lot of us aren't privy to and we may have questions. I mean I I think we can discuss things a little bit more not be in such a hurry sometimes
157to to get out of here. I mean that's just my personal concern. >> Is there any other discussion? >> I mean there's discussion behind closed doors on this start of the meeting. Well, like, you know, the plans for the school, lots of things that are, you know, we kind of just hear that are going on that we've not had the opportunity to to hear about or >> I'll be really >> because we don't really talk as a group anymore about anything. We just kind of rush through and prior to the meeting and and kind of go on on about things. But, I mean, I'm just here to ask you guys. I mean, it's it's money out of my pocket actually, but it seems like no matter how how hard I try to get out on
158time and I can show up late, but I but I think that's my responsibility is this as well. >> I I empathize with starting starting later. It it to me starting earlier gives us better decisions. It gets us out of here at a reasonable time. It affects hundreds of people. Uh that um not hundreds, but when you extend it out to the families, it affects a lot of people and puts people home at a at a reasonable hour. So, I'm I'm going to be supportive of, you know, maybe you could move it to five, but I'm moving it back to six. I I'll I'm not hard hardnosed on it, but I'll I'll >> No, I mean I'll go for five. I'm talking about having our close session after the meeting instead of before. >> Yeah.
159And I think it's I think the way we're doing it is better because it it it puts an ending on the close session. We would sit in here for hours previous the previous board and just be all over the place all night long almost with with close session. And it kind of gives us more structure this way. But I'm I'm I'm okay with it. However, however we do it, I'll I'll be here. Is there any other discussion? All I'm going to say is vote your heart. uh what you think we really need to do. So if there is no further discussion, we will take a vote and the vote is to change it as the motion has been made to put in our uh close session at the end of the session rather than at
160the beginning of the session. >> We are changing the time from 4:30 to 6. >> Right. That's correct. And uh so at this time I'm saying all those in favor of the motion that's been made by Miss Helms signify by raising your right hand. Okay, that's four votes. Am I correct? Raise your hands again one more time. >> There's five. >> Five. Okay, two. Three. Four. Five. Okay. Okay, there's no need to make another motion that carries. So, we'll start. So, we'll >> meet at five. >> No, no, no. Six was the motion. Now, if somebody wants to to amend that to 5:00, then I don't see why we don't, you know, we're just talking 30 minutes later. Why don't we go ahead and keep the close session at the beginning? Because if you're saying
161we're there 25 or whatever minutes, you can amend your motion if you'd like. >> No, I guess I'm just confused now. >> Okay. Well, let let me try to try to >> Okay. >> Because we've always met at six, >> right? Right. >> Which is what we'll be doing. >> Yeah. But you then you said five o'clock. You You said I I I can live with five o'clock. >> I think Mr. Abernathy mentioned five. >> I thought you just said >> I just did, but I think Mr. Abernathy brought it up. >> Did he? >> Okay. Well, so you don't want to mo you don't want to amend your motion. >> We could always, you know, if we have to if we've had a lengthy discussion at the beginning, we can always close out of
162the regular meeting and go back in. >> Well, we've got that on the agenda. It's right there. >> It's It's always there. >> Yeah. So, if we have to So, if if if five would work, is that going to help you that much? Well, all I'm saying is if if we want five, we need to amend she needs to amend her motion or or she's right now we're starting to see >> or make another motion. >> You we got to get rid of this one. >> Oh, I thought we already >> we have >> Mr. Okay, >> yeah, raise your hand to five. Now we voted. Is there any law against start her motion? >> Oh >> if you amend it do file. I mean, >> well, I mean, 30 minutes is is better than
163nothing, and it seems like a compromise if everybody I mean, heck, I don't know. At this point, um I'm not sure what we just voted on. >> You've got just as much to say as anybody. >> That's exactly right. >> So, you you tell us what you if if you if you're happy with this. The motion has passed and it's it's it's it's there. >> Is 30 minutes helpful to you or is this regular the 6:00 better? Six o'clock obviously is better, but if you wanted to go, every little bit is going to help. >> How's that going to impact the dinner? >> I mean, >> we're going to meet while we eat. >> We always We always came in early and ate. >> Can we Can we do How about this? Can you admit
164it to say 5:30 start and then we'll have the 30 minutes for close session. That puts us at a six o'clock start because that's typically what we do. So 5:30 if you amend it to that. >> If I may. >> Go ahead. >> The one thing that I think you got to consider there, Mr. Subtles, is the is the audience who normally starts to show up 5:45, 5:30, somewhere in that neighborhood. Some Some want to get a good chair so they come early. But that is the one thing. So what I don't want to have to do, what I don't recommend doing is having them locked out. >> Okay? So, we can we can we can potentially wait them upstairs or wait them somewhere else, but I do want y'all to consider that. >> I'm
165okay with the five. Go ahead. I'll make I'm like I said, I'm one of the few on here. This is not the last board where everybody worked, you know, and it was a problem. So, I'm okay with that. If you want to do it at five. >> Okay, let's make them I make a motion we amend to to meet at five. >> Okay. To what? >> To five. Let let me Okay, the We've got a amended motion to start our meetings at 5:00 pm rather than uh 6. >> Okay. So, Miss Helms, do you want to stay as making the motion? >> Okay. Mr. Sales, do you want to stay? >> I'll second it. >> Second. >> Fine. >> Okay. Now, let me say this. There was a it was brought up by Mr. Baker
166and and and it's very that's why we've got the agenda set up the way it's set up. If we come in we get out of here uh you know early uh that that's great. I mean if we get out a close but we can come back. So uh you know I I think I think it's a great compromise myself but >> okay with with no further discussion. Is there any discussion? Let me say that before we carry on. All those in favor of starting our our close session uh meeting at 5:00 pm signify by raising your right hand which is unanimous. >> Thank you. >> No, thank you. [cough and clears throat] >> Mr. Frank. >> Yes. If I if I will folks that I do think that gives us time to eat at 5,
167have our close session and allow parents plenty of time to come in. I think that's a nice compromise. Thank you. >> Okay. Uh board reports under uh new business. Uh I've got North Carolina School Board's annual conference. The only thing I really would like to say about that is uh I feel very uh appreciative of Mr. Baker being selective uh being selected as our representative for the North Carolina School Board's board of directors. Uh that's quite an honor and also the fact that our county commissioners were uh voted and nominated and I mean not nominated but selected as the county commissioners of the year for all of North Carolina. That's quite a quite a feat. And that's all I've got to say. Uh Mr. titles. >> Uh we already pat already went over the school
168improvement plans. Uh on another thing, the McDow High School Athletic Hall of Fame met and voted and we are inducting Marty Hensley for basketball, Mike Wade for football, and Tara Pitman for basketball has an update. So that already >> is that Marty Hinsley from Glenwood. >> Marty I think was from Glenwood. He went to Chapel Hill, played at Chapel Hill. So >> 85. >> Okay. >> Yeah. So Marty, Mike Wade, and Tara Pitman. Okay. >> Uh, Mr. Barksdale, building grounds. >> I believe everything's been said that needs to be said. Thank you. >> Uh, Mr. Shu for finance. >> I I have have no report further than what Miss Rampy's already. So, >> okay. Let let me give you some orders if you don't mind. Uh, whenever you go for your January meeting, if it's
169January, your next meeting, >> uh, if you would, Mr. Uh Baker has uh wants to bring up a subject in there. So if you get with him and make sure it's on the agenda to bring that up and and y'all discuss that as a as a >> Yeah, it'll be done as requested. >> Okay. Thank Thank you very much, sir. All right. Uh what about Head Start? You want anything on that? >> No. >> Okay, Miss Helms, uh policy and and we're going to look at a couple policies uh that may need some amending. Okay. >> So, do you have anything? >> Nothing further. Okay. Well, remember we've got to look at those. Okay. All right. Uh Mr. McGinness, uh inadvertently you were left off, but we know what a great uh opportunity you had
170to go to Washington DC. So, I I know you got want got something you want to talk about within JOTC. So, floor is yours. >> Should I go out for the >> Yeah, that's fine. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I just want to say how sensitive that Michael was. So, anyway, so what happened? As everybody knows, Captain Hardy Rose, he passed away. He was a former instructor here back in the late 80s, early 90s, I think all the way up to 2000. Uh, but he was interned in Arlington National Cemetery. So, an honor guard from the high ROC got to go up there to actually present colors and they invited me to go with him because I was a cadet. Mr. Carson was a cadet. Any other former cadets in here? Right here, we had
171a former [clears throat] cadet. Okay. Did you know, Captain? >> I didn't know I was. >> Okay. Yeah. Awesome guy. I mean, just absolutely amazing. So, what you're looking at here, we stayed in these. This is actually, I think, a BFW. It was a scout camp, but it was set up like a barracks. And we'll just go kind of through these kind of quick. Yeah, that's the van. Basically, document was there. This is the approach to the entrance to Arlington. So, as we go further, um, that house up on the hill you see in the distance is actually the residence of General Roberty. Lee. this land was seized from his family and it was turned into a national herite. [cough and clears throat] Uh but that's the old house that still stands and eventually they
172were paid for the land. But you know, dollars to donuts. But if you'll notice in the deep background those cars, that entrance is enormous. But uh anyway, moving on. Here's our guys. Um that's Master Chief on the side there. And then the four cadetses um Ammons and Helms. Um trying to remember those other guys, but um anyway, that was the uh that was the contingent that got together. And this is just more of the footage. Uh it's still us just making our way in right here. >> Mr. McInness, excuse me. Could you not get in your uniform? >> Do I? No, I stayed I stayed I probably couldn't fit in mine from back in the day. So [clears throat] this um Master Chief decided to take them up to see the Tomb of the Unknowns.
173So this was our escort the ride we found to get up there. We had to walk back though. So we're boarding. So if you guys get a chance, there you go. Here's just us. So we get a first class trip all the way up. Took about 15 minutes to drive through a graveyard to get from one point to the next, if you want to imagine that. So, this is one little section of the graveyard, and there's about 3,000 gravestones right there on this one section. You can't see the whole thing. Arlington National Cemetery is home to 430,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines. So, and then it just goes on and on. This is from the bus window. You can see the Washington Monument in the background. I like this little signal thing. So, we'll keep
174going and it just goes on and on. I'm waiting and purposely was taking those pictures once every minute. So, you get an idea. This rotunda that you're seeing here is the back part of the tomb of the unknown soldier. And this is the approach to it. And then that's a little bit of the history of it. And then here's the actual tomb of the unknowns. So what you're seeing here, that big large obelisk is the first unknown soldier that was interred. Right in front of him is three or four different graves. They've got one from World War II, uh, Korea, uh, Vietnam. They do have one from Desert Storm, and they're probably going to do the last one from the Global War on Terror, and that's probably going to be the end of that tradition
175as far as adding um, soldiers or sailors to this uh, monument. the uh gentleman out there in the uniform, that is the old guard of United States Army. They're out there 247 365. They never stop. And so here we are kind of posing. That's a Master Chief on the far side. Um and then of course the tomb behind them. And then I took the opportunity to jump in there with him. That's proof I was there. Anyway, this amphitheater, um, this is where they hold all kinds of different events, but this is actually right behind the tomb. And then, of course, that's the parting shot as we're basically running through the cemetery to get back down on time where we're going to be. The cadetses was kind of getting a little nervous um, as far as
176us getting back on time, and I told him not to worry. Master Chief will decide what time it is. And that's just a beautiful view from right there at that portico. And you can see the Washington Monument all the way in the background. This is the suburb of DC. Here we are. They're getting last minute advice before the ceremony starts. A little bit more advice. And of course, if you look closely, Master Chief is reattaching the head of the guy carrying the flag. No. So, anyway, he's adjusting covers. And these guys look sharp. I got to tell you, for a bunch of teenagers to do what they're about to do, this blows my mind. And everybody in this room should be highly proud of these four cadetses. And I'll show you why here in just
177a second. So what happens here is this is going to be the funeral power where they're going to set the body. But this is not going to be the actual internment. This is just a parade ground they use for the ceremony. And of course this is flanking the rows and rows of the honored dead. It goes on for miles and miles. And of course this is where we set up on this sidewalk. and they're all adjusting their gear and getting ready. What's going to happen is when the family and the actual party arrives, they're going to go right in front of them. And so here they are getting ready. Now, if you'll notice that American flag, and ignore my top of my middle middle finger there. It's just kind of dropping down the lens, but
178the American flag looks like it is blowing. And it continues to do that for about 45 minutes. And that kid, Cadet Ammons, held that flag. And that was like 60 mph winds. It was insane. But they did not break rank a single time the entire time. It's pretty amazing. You can see that flag in the background. That's like uh about 300 yards from where we was at. That is a Tom Johnsoniz flag and it's blowing almost fully the entire time we were there. This is the actual Navy um rifle honor guard. They're the ones that actually going to do the 21 gun salute off to the side. And somewhere in that wall behind them, I believe is actually where the captain was um actually interred. And of course between these two cadets, that is captain's
179daughter escorted by Navy honor guard all the way across the field there. Close-up shot of that. And then you can see the flag starts blowing. It doesn't stop. And they're fighting it the entire time. In the background, you can see the Navy honor guard to the rear and the Navy band that actually marched up with the quesons. And of course, that's basically what we've seen the entire time. So, if you can imagine a flag that size and that guy was just sitting there holding it the entire time and would not let that thing go. And then this is the actual ceremony where they're even having to hold that flag to keep it from blowing away. You can see the sailor on the far left at the flag. He is actually leaning back to hold it
180in place to keep it from flying out of his hand. And it's amazing when they get the casket up there on that thing. They don't just take it off like we see here and just rolled it on. When they got him off, they put him over. They slung him straight overhead and held him there and then lowered him all the way down. I've never seen that done before. More of the ceremony. And of course, this is the honor guard walking off. And I thought it was amazing. Every one of them went by, saluted our guys. They saluted the colors. So, it was just awesome. It was a good experience for these young men for sure. And I managed to get my shadow in that photo. So, now here [laughter] is afterwards. They had a reception.
181I mean, I've never that these people, his family treated us with such graciousness and kindness. There's not enough can be said. But this is some of the captain's achievements. And if you'll notice that small picture up in the right hand corner, the man could play a main clarinet. Um he actually grew up um in New Orleans around that area and he was in a jazz band most of his life. Here's just some more pictures. One of my favorite ones, this is his service medals and campaign ribbons and whatnot. Uh, if you'll notice the very center picture to his right shoulder, that is him actually returning from a combat mission in Vietnam. The captain was a stud. What can I say? And then over here, that prop, that's when he first was learning to fly. And
182then his band actually achieved some kind of honor. I didn't quite get the whole information on that, but that's that bottom lower. Uh, but they actually went around the BFW um and BA centers in Prescott, Arizona, where he was living. Uh they called themselves the uh Geratl Jazz and that's what they did. They went around and entertained vets. But the whole time we were playing up there or while we were eating uh they had him playing the clarinet on like a record he'd release. I got to get my hands on that. It's awesome. Uh this is Master Chief Crossman. He's talking to the family and giving his remarks. And then this was something they handed [cough] me. I've got that on my desk in my office at the sheriff's office. uh sail there's great challenge
183going. Everybody there got a different one. They got like a round one for the Navy. So it was kind of great honor. And of course the dear little lady is sitting right there in the middle of this group is Captain Rose's wife. She's 93 years old and she got up to give one heck of a speech. Uh and of course that's our guys and she just like enjoying the moment. She loved being around us. And of course there you are. And then that's when she was giving a speech. And if you notice, she's actually wearing the captain's wings on her top of her lapel there, which I thought was awesome. And I think that's uh yeah, that's the inside of the barracks where we stayed. And these guys got to looking sharp. And I tell
184you what, they they really did a great job. So that was that was a trip. None of those they'll they won't forget it. Three of those guys have already committed uh to Naval or well to differentmies. Um, one of them is trying to get a billet right now and he's going to find out in a couple of days. And one of them on our way back from that lunchon got accepted to one. So, it was kind of amazing, but that blank check, they're willing to go put their name on it. So, good guys. And of course, this is when Captain Finley pulled up. The band was ahead of him. Um, they brought him up on full queson and it was amazing. That was that was just an awesome experience. Uh, great honor to been a
185part of that. And of course, that's when we actually started the day. I got them a little out of order, but I think that might be it. Yeah, that was probably the last shot. Oh, and there she is talking. This is amazing. So, anyway, we we absolutely had a great time and I think that's all of it. So, thank y'all. >> Thank you for going. >> Oh, yeah. >> Great job, D. [applause] >> Item number 17 on the agenda is approval, the consent agenda. Uh, and I want to remind the board that if uh there's a certain item on that agenda, the the consent agenda that you want pulled, we can pull it by uh majority board vote. But if not, I'll accept a motion to accept the uh agenda as printed, the consent agenda.
186>> I'll make a motion to accept the consent agenda. >> I'll second. >> We have a motion by Mr. Schuford and a second by Mr. Baker. Is there any discussion concerning the consent agenda? With no further discussion, all those in favor signify by raising your right hand, which is a unanimous vote. Okay. We don't need to return to close session. Um we'll u I'll entertain a motion on the uh close session uh personnel matters both certified and non-certified. I'll make a motion we accept. >> Second. >> We have a motion by Mr. Settles and a second by Mr. Barksdale. Is there any further discussion on personnel accepting both certified non-certified personnel record uh mo personnel uh business? Okay. Okay. All those in favor signify by raising your right hand. Okay. That's a nine. Unanimous vote.
187Okay. >> All right. Um before we >> Oh. Oh, wait. Wait. Just I'm give announcements and then then if you don't mind. Okay. Announcements. Uh, board education regular session meeting will be Monday, January the 12th at uh 6 uh 5:00 pm. >> Close session at 5:00 pm. Start at 6. >> Right. And u also anybody that can next Monday the 8th uh here on the board come to the county commissioners room boardroom. [clears throat] Uh we're going to officially present them with a county commissioners of the year award. Uh Dr. Grip will be doing that. >> Okay. >> What time does that start? >> 5:00 next Monday. >> Next Monday. Yes, sir. >> Yeah. If I was to speak one more time, everybody's going to get up and leave. I'll be real quick. Being being
188a chairman can be stressful. It it really does change when you come to these meetings and you have to have to chair it. Mr. Frank does a just an incredible job doing that and I I know I speak on behalf of the board thanking thanking you for doing that. Um and with with much appreciation and you you really do a nice job. >> Second thing, I hope everyone has a merry Christmas and I think I can do that on behalf of the board. So to staff and everybody, I hope everyone enjoys enjoys their Christmas. >> Stand up. >> Yes, they are the heroes. [applause] >> Uh wait, just one more. No, thank you. Uh one more thing we got to journ. But one question for for Ms. Alison, did you stay so you could drive
189him home? [laughter] >> You want to have a hard time getting my head in the truck? [laughter] >> I'll entertain a motion to adjourn. >> I'll make a motion to adjourn. >> Second. >> Okay. Is there any further discussion on the journey? With no further uh discussion, >> I'll entertain a vote. All those in favor signify by raising your right hand. Uh Mr. Allison. >> Yeah. Okay. That that's that's you. No, thank you. That's lash.