001It really doesn't. It's just 412. >> All right. Is everybody ready? I call this meeting, this June meeting of our Pit County Schools Board of Education, um to order. Sorry for we're just a couple minutes late. Um we have a lot to discuss. So, um we're glad you're here. Justin, will you please lead us in the pledge and the mission statement? >> Yes. If everybody would please stand. I pledge algiance 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. >> Amen. I'm sorry. >> All right. Uh Pit County's mission, Pit County Schools mission statement is Pit County schools will lead collaboration between school, home, and community to foster growth and success both academically and socially in
002order to develop productive global citizens. And now if you all participate in a moment of silence, Thank you. >> Thank you, Justin. Um, are there any adjustments to the agenda? >> Motion to approve the agenda. >> Motion by Amy, >> seconded by Worth. Any discussion? All in favor, please raise your hand. Okay, the passes. So now I invite um our new PIO. We we're so glad that you're here to um shine our spotlight on teaching and learning. >> Absolutely. Good evening, Chair Weaver, Vice Chair Moltzby, board members, Superintendent Lacader, and everyone joining us in person and online. First of all, I'd like to take a moment. My name is Robin Cox and I just want to take a moment and say how excited I am to join the team here at Pit County Schools. The
003my first week could not have been more wonderful. I have had such a such a great time meeting so many warm and wonderful people. It confirmed everything I already knew which was how much like home this place already feels and how much like family. So, I wanted to say thank you for the opportunity to serve you, the students, the staff, faculty, and all [clears throat] of the families and community of Pit County Schools with you. I am honored to be your to serve as your chief communications officer for Pit County Schools. And now, let's get on to the rest of the business at hand, shall we? Tonight's spotlight on teaching and learning showcases the incredible work happening across our district to support our students. From instruction and operations to innovation, art, and athletics, our staff
004and students strive every day to make Pit County Schools a place to learn and grow and foster both. We are thrilled to have our honores here with us this evening. I'd like to bring up someone all of you know well, Miss Sarah English, executive director of student services. Miss English stepped in as interim PIO. And I think you'll agree with me, she did an amazing job, didn't she, [applause] and now she is here to recognize some of our exceptional athletes. Miss England. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Cox. All right. Our first spotlight on teaching and uh learning honore with athletics is Abby Midi. We're from Aiden Griffin High School. Abby is the 3A track champion, state champion for long jump. Um and a little bit about Aby's background. Um Abby was part of the
005first ever um state championship team at Aiden Griffin last spring with the 4x400 me 4x400 meter relay win. Now with her two titles both in long jump for indoor and outdoor, she has become not only our most decorated track athlete, but most decorated in Aiden Griffin history with three state championships. [applause] >> She will continue her track and field career next year at the University of Mount Olive. And she is here tonight with Dr. Mayus, the principal from Aiden Griffin and her coach Jonathan Butterworth. Congratulations, Abby. >> Congratulations, [applause] >> Abby. Congratulations. There's a lot of first there. And you get this uh with the long jump. Is that right? Long jump means that you can jump from here to there. Well, we're all proud and I know a driven community proud and on behalf
006of uh board of education, we present you with this certificate and we just pray that you have much much success in your uh in your college and that you'll continue to win awards and jump further and further. >> [applause] >> two. >> Congratulations. [applause] Okay, our next honore I would like to introduce is from South Central. Shaw Okula is the South Central men's 7A tennis state champion. Wow. >> So, welcome Sha and his coach Shannon Surles and Dr. Kaitton the principal at South Central. Congratulations. >> Congratulations. [applause] >> So, who did you bring with you? >> My coach, my my dad. He's also my coach. My mom, my sister, my princess. >> And how critical is it to have all these people behind you? >> Really critical. Really important to me to have all them.
007I wouldn't be able to do it without them. >> I know. I know. And I could just feel and so we love having families here. So, thank you for all you invest at the school level. You're amazing at what you do. At the coaches level, we know it's a huge commitment and we're so proud. So, congratulations [applause] Same God. [laughter] [applause] And last for our athletic spotlight honores tonight is also from South Central, the men's 7A track championship 4x400 relay. Come on in. We have Jan Williams, Muel Smith, Yahhee Gibbs, and Ezra Mechum. >> [applause] >> joined by the administrative team from South Central and their coach Robert Wahberg. Congratulations. [laughter] >> I'm very [laughter] frantically but I know I didn't catch it. I think I got Jan right. Correct. Congratulations. >> I did get
008that one right. All right, congratulations. >> That's it. I did it. I did it. It was very quick. Thank you, Ezra. Congratul And who's all with you today? Are your families here? >> So, welcome to the families. Please come in because we really want to make sure you all can see this great moment. We're so proud of all of you. So, tell me what was the order in the relay? >> Was this was the order? >> Awesome. Awesome. And you ran this the whole year. as a team. >> What was it like to come together as a as a group? >> What What was special ingredient for this particular group, do you think? >> Yeah. And it really takes it takes it to group effort. You have to trust each other, right, and believe in
009each other. I have a lot of respect for I love the people who run but I know you're excellent academician great support just thank you for everything you invest in our kids and congratulations [applause] tell 3 2 [applause] She looked a bit >> good. >> Thank you, Miss English and our athletes. Next, I'd like to welcome Miss Jessica Avery, director of the AVID program to share some exciting news with you this evening. Good evening everybody. Tonight I am very proud to recognize Mrs. Paula Ames from Hope Middle School for earning the distinction of AVID certified educator. She is the first educator in Pit County schools to achieve this honor. This program recognizes educators who demonstrate excellence in the avid foundations of instruction through professional learning, reflection on teaching practices, implementation of high impact instructional strategies,
010and the collection of classroom evidence showing student growth. This experience, which was a year long, culminated in a capstone project where she was able to showcase her master classroom and the learning and the impact on her students. So, please join me in congratulating Miss A on this outstanding achievement and her commitment to student success. [applause] >> [applause] >> Miss A on behalf of Pit County Schools, we want to thank you so very much for the uh positive influence that you have on your students and you know to be the first one to be certified as an AVIT cohort is really plowing new ground. I like to use illustrations that involve agriculture a lot because I'm in the agriculture industry, but it really is plowing new ground. and so many other individuals and so many other
011instructor instructors. You have given them the u the motive and you've given them the example to be able to continue to do this and we're just so grateful and thankful for everything that you do. Thank you very much. Well, now we're gonna get on international >> called Facebook. >> Thank you very [applause] much. [applause] >> Congratulations, Miss A. Now I'll turn it over to our chief academic officer, Diver Kamar Roach, who will introduce the outstanding team from Lake Forest Elementary for a special recognition. >> All right. Yeah. So, >> good evening. Um, we want to take a moment to recognize Mr. Perkins and a few of his team members. Come on in. uh for being a promising PL PFC school at work. Um the process do you want to tell them process process or would
012you like for me to tell them? >> Go ahead. >> Okay. So the process involves um filling out an application. Um and throughout that application process they review everything and they come back and they give feedback. Um and the feedback that they gave to Mr. Perkins and the information that he sent and the work that they are doing at Lake Forest, they came back and said, "You are a promising PLC at school work at work schools." So, we are excited for Mr. Perkins um and for his team and all the work that they are doing over there and all the greatness that we know continues to happen. So, congratulations to you all. >> Congratulations. [applause] >> Look at that. >> Oh, wow. Oh, look. [applause] [applause] >> You all would turn that way. Congratulations. >>
013Thank you, Miss Cox. We are so glad that you're here. Um, and it's good to see everybody. Um, now it's time for public expression and um, vice chair Nobles Maltz will remind us of public expression. Good evening. This evening we have three individuals offering public expression. Public expression is an opportunity to share issues or concern that are relevant to the business of the board. The board will listen to your comments respectfully and our chair may offer some direction if our rules are not followed, but the board will not respond to your comments. Only speakers who have signed up for public expression may address the board. When a speaker's time expires, you must end your remarks and step away from the podium. If a speaker is not present when his or her name is called, the
014opportunity to speak will be considered waved. During this time period, you may hear someone share a viewpoint with the board that you do not agree with. We do not censor speech by viewpoints and we do not permit an audience to express approval or disapproval for a viewpoint expressed. This time is for the individual speaking to address the full board. The board does not permit speakers to name a staff member or student when offering praise or criticism. We also do not permit comments that are irrelevant to our business which includes attack on individual or something in your personal lives or the discussion of board members family members. Again, the board member will listen to your comments respectfully, and our chair may offer some direction if our rules do not follow, but we will not respond to
015your comments. At this time, we will hear from our first speaker. If I mess up your name, it's because you blame my heart. Don't break my heart brain just because I don't know. Rashanna Carmen, did I do good? Rash, >> you have three minutes. Wonderful. >> Um, good evening, chair, board members, Dr. Lacader and staff. My name is Rashana Carmen and um, first I wanted to thank Dr. Lacader for taking the time out a couple of weeks ago um, to meet with me and speak, you know, with me regarding the concerns that I had about these sexually explicit books in some of our school libraries. Um, we had a great conversation. So, I I appreciate, you know, your time for that. One of the concerns that I did bring up to Dr. Lacier is I
016understand that you guys have a policy in place regarding um, you know, the content in in the libraries, but um, one of the questions that I did ask him was how can parents opt out um, their children out of something that they are not aware of um, or that they don't even know that exists. So um the first time parents are hearing about these materials should not be from me on social media. It should absolutely come from the school system directly so that parents can be aware and make informed decisions for their children. So I do appreciate Dr. ambassador for saying that, you know, that making parents aware of this at the beginning of the school year is something that could be put in place and I believe that he is a man of his
017word and um I'm looking forward to seeing the follow through on that and um I just wanted to thank you for the time tonight. >> Next we have Trica Warhol. Three minutes, please. Good evening, board, Dr. Lasser, everyone else. I've lost my voice, so it's a good evening to be speaking. It's been a school year, hasn't it? We made it through, though. Well, almost all the way through. Knock on wood. I'm excited to to be here at the end of this school year. I've got a senior that's graduating. I've got a kid that is going to make it through. I've got another that made it 15 days at their middle school. They've got another I think three to go and they have loved every second of it. They attended their first formal on Friday night
018you guys and it was adorable. They got to attend a middle school formal thanks to three of you at least on this board listening to a parents please of advocacy for the last year. Um, you know, back to what I hear. I visited 33 of the 39 schools in the district and that is what has led me to a lot of the points I've made and wanted to bring up with you guys and advocate for. Um, in fact, one of those things I'll be bringing up in a second. Um, what some of the things I'm really proud of um with the district over this last 12 months is, you know, you guys closing on Mayday uh to support teachers. Some of the policy changes that you guys have made or hesitated on other things I'm
019less proud of are how unheard some of those parents fighting for advocacy for their children have felt unheard um or the speed in which those changes have been made. But moving along to what I'm actually here to address tonight you guys because I have visited the 33 of 39 schools in the district. I want to advocate for you guys to consider funding capturing kids' heart at all of the school campuses. My kids, as you know, attend one of the schools that was named a demonstration site in this country because they are doing such amazing things. I believe in this district as a whole because of the amazing things that's happening at that high school. And I think that could happen districtwide. my kid that is at the middle school down in Winterville, there was two
020fights that broke out um on Thursday of last week in 8th grade. And I honestly believe if that school is a CK school, those fights wouldn't have happened because it's not just a paradigm shift for the kids, it's a paradigm shift for the adults as well. So the attitude of being indifferent to this kid acting such a way or this kid acting such a way is met with more curiosity and the community is stronger with these kids. They're less likely to want to fight with each other. And I think that could be a vital thing walking into the difficulties we'll be walking into next school year. So, I know funding is short, but I would love it if we could look at grants or find a way to make capturing kids hearts happen at all
021of the schools. Thank you for your time. Have a wonderful summer, you guys. And our last person offering public expression this evening will be Miss Julie Anderson. Three minutes, please. Okay. Good evening, everyone, board members, and everyone else that's here again. Um, excuse me. I have a little bit of a cold. Um, I'm representing Moms for Liberty here and the parents that I speak with on an ongoing basis. June, which is the 1 of June right now, is um, parental rights month. And I like to um, make that aware to anyone that's a parent. And it all started out in the 1920s in Oregon when uh when a uh governor uh Walter Paris had strongly supported the KKK and opposed private religious schools. So that law went to the United States Supreme Court once they
022passed it 90 and said that every child has a right to go to whatever school the children permits. So I just wanted to bring that up very quickly. That principle is just as important today given artificial intelligence and algorithms become more common in our education. So in March I brought up uh as Moms for Liberty chair submitting an AI policy proposal to the board. I have not heard anything back even just a simple email to say or looking at it. The proposal includes parental rights protections, transparency requirements, safeguards for the use of AI and algorithms, and it specifically calls for parental notification and oversight, and opposes the use of algorithm for student uh counseling, mental health guidance, or influencing personal decisions without parental knowledge and consent. So, as this board considers the future of AI
023in our schools, I respect respectfully ask that you uphold the principle affirmed 101 years ago. It's still be you is being used in uh lawsuits by the way um that parents are the primary decision makers in their children's lives and education. [clears throat] I also want to bring up and piggyback on what I said last month about the books in our schools. I proposed that you take a look at opt in instead of opt out which came out of Mimmude versus Taylor out of Lowden County, Maryland last year. um when a parent wasn't allowed to opt out due to religious for religious reasons um with sexually explicit books, things that they did not want their child exposed to. So, I'm just asking and reiterating again if you would please look at the optin proposal um
024side of what I said if you have to go back and listen to what I said last month so we can get rid of these books in our schools. We do have some pretty horrific books and we do not want them to go public if we don't have to, but we're ready to do it. I have all summer to do it, but I'm hoping that you work with us on this with Moms for Liberty and uh the parents that have been learning more and more about what's what's going on. When I do get the list in their hands and tell them about these things, they're appalled. Thank you very much for your time. >> Okay. Um, now on to business. Our consent items um, tonight. Our consent um, items on our our on our consent
025agenda include our May 4th board uh, May 4th, 2006 26, excuse me, board meeting minutes. May 18th, 2026 board uh, work session minutes 2026 27 interim budget resolution. um the 2526 amended audit contract, teacher and school nutrition supplements and bonuses, digital resources purchases, and student device purchases. Um and then our confidential agenda items as well, including our close session minutes, personnel report, teacher contracts, outofcount discretionary student list, and board panel student transfer list. Um is there a motion to approve our consent agenda? >> Motion to approve by Worth and seconded by Amanda. Any com um any discussion? All in favor, please raise your right hand. All right. And it passes. Um and now our new business. I invite Dr. Patterson to come and share with us about expanding our educator pipeline. I see we have
026some visitors. >> Good evening board. Dr. Lacader. I am very excited um to be here this evening. And before I share uh about this wonderful opportunity, I want to introduce our guests that are here with us that are part of this process. So if they would come forward uh Dr. Maria Bar uh from Pit Community College, Dr. McGee and Dr. Lackey all from Pit Community College, and then also Dr. Green and Dr. Bails from East Carolina University. So, I'm very excited they're here with us this evening because this is a partnership between Pit County Schools, Pit Community College, and East Carolina University. We have been notified that our um here's a clicker. We have been notified that our apprenticeship uh step up, become a teacher, uh has been approved by NC apprenticeships. We've been working
027together on this as a partnership. It is the first K12 teacher apprenticeship that is actually a registered apprenticeship in North Carolina. So we're very excited [applause] about this and um Dr. Fails, Dr. Lackey and I uh we started talking about this uh towards the end of last year and have worked on this throughout this year and then we shared it with Dr. Far, Dr. Green and Dr. laster um before submitting it for approval and we were just very excited to have this partnership. I really appreciate them being here this evening. It really shows how much we're all working together that they all came uh to show um their support. So, thank you very much for you all being here. >> Thank you. [applause] >> Okay. So uh just to share a little bit more with
028you about the apprenticeship. Um the why that we started talking about this towards the end of last year, beginning of this year was to increase enrollment in our traditional education programs. Uh we are getting a lot of teachers that are emergency and residency which is wonderful. We we are thrilled to have th those folks and we're working uh with them through the residency program. This apprenticeship opportunity allows us to also work on increasing um our traditional uh education uh program enrollment. We are also looking at growing our own educators to increase retention. Um so we're starting at the high school with our juniors and seniors and uh growing um our own educators beginning then and also strengthening our partnerships with two of our educator prep programs uh East Carolina University and Pit Community College uh
029in order to reduce tuition costs for our aspiring educators, provide those apprenticeships for teacher assistant and teacher uh training our own teachers, increasing their enrollment and ultim ultimately working to make Pit County schools the best option for our students. I just wanted to share a little bit about the actual apprenticeship and and I want to emphasize that this was a partnership. I mean Dr. Lackey and I we worked together on the teacher assistant apprenticeship with Pathway 1 and then our teacher apprenticeship at ECU. Dr. Fails was involved in that as well. Um so the teacher assistant apprenticeship we would hire a teacher assistant apprentice that does not have a um an associates degree yet which is required to be a teacher assistant but through this registered apprenticeship we can hire them in that apprenticeship opportunity.
030Um and they will have the opportunity of 2,000 hours of training per year. That is the minimum requirement as well as the minimum requirement is 144 contact education hours a year. You'll see below that by completing the PIT community college courses that are required um that's 948 to 965 hours over a period of two years. So they're getting more than the required hours. Uh and so that would allow them to complete their associates degree while working in the teacher assistant role. Also the teacher apprentice uh apprenticeship which is pathway two. Um, so they can go straight from the teacher assistant apprenticeship to the teacher apprenticeship. Um, or they can come in straight into the teacher apprenticeship. So we would hire them in at the teacher assistant um, pay as a teacher apprentice. Um and they
031would actually in addition to I mean they are in that teacher assistant role but they would have the opportunity to be observing and teaching small groups doing their practicum opportunities their student teaching opportunities uh while working in that teacher assistant I mean a teacher apprenticeship role and so um they're actually in a full-time position contributing to retirement. That way when they actually graduate and come in as a teacher rather than starting at step zero, they could start at step two or three which is at a higher pay rate uh because they have that um that experience with the state behind them. Um and again you will see the ECU instructional hours which goes above and beyond that minimum apprenticeship requirement. So these are just the stepping stones to becoming an educator. So um once you
032have registered apprenticeships with NC apprenticeships then you can design a pre-apprenticeship which we're working on. So the idea is they could start as juniors and sen or seniors in high school completing the pre-apprenticeship where they would actually have hours to be able to go into a school um just like our trades formers programs and other trades apprenticeships we have. They would be able to go in and get those hours um as juniors and seniors in high school. And then they could go from that to the teacher assistant apprenticeship and then the teacher apprenticeship or as you can see they can come in at any level. So they do not have to start in high school or have to start um with that associates degree. They can come in at any one of those um steps.
033And I thought there was another another slide but I must have missed that. Um so I was just going to share um some scholarship opportunities. As you all know, we do have the Pit County School Education Foundation, uh, which can provide some scholarship opportunities. Pit Community College has the Bulldog Promise Scholarship. And so, if they complete the, uh, 12 credit hours as a pre-apprentice, um, if they have that 12 12 hours completed, they can enter in um, to the teacher assistant apprenticeship program and have the Bulldog Promise Scholarship and not have any tuition through Pit Community College. And then also through ECU um through the partnership teach they can be approved for teaching fellows. There are multiple college of education scholarships. Um and so we do have a lot of opportunities that we're working together
034on to try to get that tuition down as much as we can for these folks that are in these apprenticeship opportunities. So that's it for our presentation. Yes, Amy. >> Um, a quick question for the PCC pathway. Um, would that allow like them to continue on if they wanted to do the teacher like like a kind of like a similar to like a two plus two if they wanted to continue on ECU or would they have to start from the beginning like they wanted to assistant and go to the teacher? >> So, if they were starting as an assistant and going into a teaching already have have their associates degree. Well, if they followed that pattern, >> the the one you just showed with the PCC, right? >> And they want to continue on, is
035that an option? >> Yes, ma'am. So, um that if they already have their associates degree from PCC and they just want to continue on through um ECU, then they can come in to that teacher apprenticeship opportunity. Um they do not have to come in as a teacher assistant apprentice. So, they can come in at any one of those areas. So, if they already have that two-year degree and they've been working on that, they can just continue on. Also, those who graduated from high school that already have that two-year degree, they can just enter right into the teacher apprenticeship. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Any other questions? I just got a sure >> observation or comment I guess more than anything else but >> I think I'm very familiar with what how this is working and
036if it's the same type of thing I am very impressed um Dr. forward. We've got a young man that just graduated from Farmville Central High School and his goal and the reason why I say that is because you've got East Carolina University represented in this which is wonderful. You know, I sweat purple, bleed, gold, but but I also serve on a board of trustees with the University of Mount Olive. We prepare future teachers as well. And one one of those is in agricultural education which East Carolina University of course does not do. And this young man is enrolled currently at Pit Community College and has already done substitute teaching and and and got a very he didn't know whether he really wanted to teach or not but but when he started doing that through this
037program I'm sure it's this program he has told me he said Mr. forest. He said, "I can't wait to get back in the classroom full-time." Our FFA alumni is helping him with his education when he moves on to University of Mount Olive. So, I am very highly supportive of what y'all are doing. I think it's a wonderful thing. How in the world did we not think of this year as a good So, thank you very much. >> Dr. I would like to just invite Dr. Far and Dr. to come up and have words if they would like about the partnership. They're two great partners. They're going to get me afterwards, but >> I told them they were more than welcome to speak. >> Thank you, Dr. Lacader and board of education. Um, you know, I
038think what is so interesting and unique about this is it was always a recognized need, right? We always need more public school teachers. And once you recognized that need, it was just a matter of putting together the kinds of programs that already existed to ensure that we were serving the local teacher pipeline. Um, so it's something that I think we're all incredibly proud of and to have been the first registered apprentichip at the K12 level. Um, that's something also that you all should be quite proud of. So it makes me very happy to stand up here with Dr. Green, Dr. Patterson um in unison because this is about collaboration and in the true sense of the world of the word it's putting the students in the center of our thinking which is always going to
039yield the right response. So agree >> well I I won't add much I can just say um when you put people in a room together and just start thinking about what is possible this is what is possible and so I remember sitting in the room Dr. Lasser Dr. Patterson Dr. far Holly and everyone else and we just start thinking and brainstorming around some ideas and this is this is a result of that. Um we've been great partners with you all for years and so this is one initiative that we plan to get behind. Um last year as I think I said to this board we offered as much in scholarship dollars we have as we have done in the last several years with over 1.3 million and um we're hopeful that that's going to continue.
040This year we had over 115 teaching fellows program um um participants that will be joining us in the fall and so I think sky's sky is the limit and so we just look forward to the promise of this program and we hope people step up to to do it. So thank you for the opportunity. >> Um Dr. Carr and Dr. green. Thank you all for being such great partners um and prioritizing our students in Pit County Schools. Um I say to this board anytime that I need Dr. Far or Dr. Green, they are right there. They call me back. They answer my questions. It doesn't matter when or where if we need to sit down and just have a conversation. Um I've been to Dr. Far's office. I've been to breakfast with Dr. Green. We
041talk. They're always thinking about how we can make our community better and our students better. And I want to publicly say thank you to you all, to your team, to Dr. Patterson for this wonderful opportunity to help build our pipeline of teachers and helping us lead that work and being a model across the state. So, thank you very much. >> Thank you. [applause] Okay, Miss Dunn um to come share with us about the professional auditing services contract. >> Oh, are we done? >> I'm so sorry. You are done. >> No, no, >> I was just I was double checking. I had carried them some more. >> Oh, yes. >> Anybody have any other questions for Dr. Patterson? No. Okay. >> Thank you, Dr. Patterson. Miss Dunn. Good evening, Chair Winger, Vice Chair Baltzby, Dr. Ler,
042and the remaining school board members. I am here to present the proposed professional auditing services contract. We recently sent out a RFP, which is a request for proposal for auditing services, and we received two proposals back. I just want to let the board know that the current auditors did not send a proposal back. So after going through an external auditing selection rubric with an auditing committee, we have chosen Anderson Smith and W as the new auditors for P County schools. Currently um Anderson, Smith and W um audit approximately 90 of the 115 school districts in North Carolina. Their partners have 20 years plus experience of um audit school experience and they have efficient auditing practices and complete fieldwork in a timely manner and they comply with all peer requirements. So I would like um request
043that the board can um vote on this. >> Okay. Any questions for Miss Dunn about this new auditing services contracts >> for their headquarters? they are in um they're in the western part of the state. So, some of their um practices will be we'll have to send stuff electronically to them, but they will be on site some also. >> Is there a motion to approve? >> Um a motion for these auditing contracts. >> Contract or approve. >> Do we need to approve? to approve. >> Move to approve these contracts. Yes. >> Motion to approve. >> Okay. >> Seconded by Amy. So motion to approve this proposed professional auditing services contract by James. Seconded by Amy. Any discussion. Okay. Please raise. All in favor, please raise your right hand. Okay. Motion passes. >> Thank you, Miss
044Dunn. >> Miss Dunn. >> Okay. Um, Miss Hudson, please come share some policies with us. >> Good evening, board members. As was discussed in your work session, uh, with some suggestions for revisions, I present to you uh, the set of policies listed [snorts] on the slide for first reading. These are all amendments to policies. In the interim, if you have any questions before the policies would be approved for second reading on June 29th, uh please let me know any any other further suggestions, corrections or feedback. >> Okay. Any conversation, any questions, discussion about the policies we um reviewed at our work session? Is there do we need to put it on the consent agenda or we'll discuss it again? Unless someone objects, I believe. Okay. Put it on the consent agenda for a second. >>
045So, is there consensus to include that on the consent agenda? >> Okay. >> All right. Thank you. Um, and now closing comments. We'll start with you, Dr. Lasser. Moving along. >> Thank you. Moving right along, chair. >> Um, first and foremost, I believe I see in the audience our state senator, Candy Smith. Thank you so much for being here. Um, it is always encouraging to have our state representatives in our board meetings and supporting. As I've said before, you always show up. You're always there to support us. And at the last function that I saw you at, thank you for always letting me know that you're supporting and rallying around our public schools. So, it's good to see you tonight. Thank you for being here. Um, I am just in my role um finishing my
046second year as superintendent. Uh, tonight's meeting is just encouraging. Um, as you all know, the year um has been quite eventful, but also rewarding. >> Yes. >> Also rewarding um to see our athletes being recognized tonight and to win to be on a winning streak. Pit County Schools is just on a winning streak and they're they're doing our students are doing great things. Um, to see Lake Forest be recognized as a promising practices school takes my mind back to when I returned to Pit County Schools in 2018 and the current superintendent said, "I want you to implement PLC's across 39 schools in one year." And I thought that was going to be impossible, but we did it. We came together as a team and we did it. And we're now seeing the benefits eight or
047nine years later of what it looks like to work together, put your head down, and get the work done. So, I'm [snorts] really excited about that. I'm excited about Dr. Patterson um and her leadership in the human resources department. Um if the public doesn't know, we have a great leadership team. Um and every Monday we sit around this table and we talk about how do we give every child in Pit County schools a better opportunity? Um and you saw that tonight with Dr. Patterson looking at our juniors and seniors and saying, "Education is still noble. how about we create a pathway for you to be a teacher and that's exciting. So, thank you Dr. Patterson and senior staff for uh your leadership in stepping up. We appreciate you. Um also, next to the last thing
048I want to say, it is testing season. Our students are taking their EOGs and EOCC's begin Dr. Roach next week I believe. Um so, let's keep our schools encouraged and they need may need proctors. So, if you can proctor her, uh, please go out and proctor and help support during those, uh, end of grade test and EOCC's, uh, because they can they're a lot. They can be a lot. And last but not least, uh, Miss Cox, if you'll stand, we are excited. She introduced herself, but I want to say publicly how excited we are to have you uh, join the team as our chief communications officer. Uh, she was so excited, you know, sharing about last week, but last week was eventful. So, I'm I'm glad [laughter] she was excited about it, but it was
049it was an eventful week. She is already doing a fantastic job, her and Mr. Hines. Um, thank you for being here. Thank you for already being a part great part of the team, a great addition. And thank you, Miss English, um, for your time, uh, over the past couple of months serving in multiple roles. you were serving in three roles at one time, but we did that because it was what we needed to do to make sure that our classrooms were taken care of as we made difficult decisions. And I want to thank you and I want to thank the board as I finish my second year for your support um making allowing me to make those difficult decisions, allowing yourself as a board to make those difficult decisions for the in the best interest
050of every child in Pit County Schools. So, thank you, Madam Chair. This concludes my comments. >> Thank you. We'll start with you this evening. >> We're glad for you to make those difficult decisions [laughter] >> if they're the right decision. >> That's right. That's right. >> But you have done an excellent job and we just uh appreciate that was one of the best decisions that the board has made. One of the best. And it was just great to have someone in house that knew our community and our community knew about you. Um it was uh something that benefits we were going to also see the benefits in our county as a result of that. >> Thank you. >> Uh again I want to speak to uh testing. I know today a a lot of kids
051there might have been I hope there weren't a lot but kids got letters saying whether they passed or failed the uh reading and it's so important for parents to look at those and to request in in grades four eight in that um sense retesting um if they want their kids to to retest. Um I I do think one thing that we really need to work on with our teachers. Sometimes teachers in the middle school say, "Okay, this kid is a certain age group, they going to be responsible for telling the parents and letting everything know." You know, I I always instilled in my teachers even at the high school level, we are here to help that child. Doesn't matter what age they are. If this this kid may need more help than someone else, kids
052not organized, it's important that you help them in organizing. And I think we need to uh not just blanket look at everybody the same way, but look at individuals and whatever is best for that child. um the apprenticeship. You know, I've been speaking to you and I've been speaking to the past superintendent about PCC P County and ECU working together as I uh when I was associate superintendent. I didn't see it and I always kept bringing it up and people, you know, they would say, "Well, our teachers that we get from the university or here, they're so frustrated." I said because they are put in the classroom and therefore they are just thrown in there and haven't had that experience. I think this program, this apprenticeship for the teachers as well as even there are
053some that are going to want to be teacher assistants. It addresses that as well as scholarship programs to help them get through. Uh, I think we're going to see um a big difference and plus all three entities are working together. PCC, Pit County Schools and ECU. >> Thank you, W. Appreciate it, >> Amanda. >> Good evening. Um, in addition to all the wonderful uh things that we celebrated tonight, I also wanted to extend a huge congratulations to the CMPS and AG Cox Chorus for winning first place at the Music in the Park competition at Busch Gardens this past weekend. Kudos to the EPS and ACOK orchestra for placing second in their division in the same competition. And hats off, I had to use a thesaurus because there's only so many way to to say congratulations.
054Uh hats off to the fabulous coalition of EPS, ACOK, Pacis, Farmville, and Welcome Middle Schools who all worked together and won first place in the middle school concert band competition and best overall middle school concert band. So very impressive. Um, I also want to give a special shout out to the seniors at Innovation Early College High School and Pit Community College, Early College High School, uh, who walked the stage last week and received their diplomas. I'm also looking forward to the remainder of our high school graduations, which are happening at the end of next week. Even if you're not going to be in attendance, I hope you will be thinking about all of our amazing seniors who are heading out into the next stage of their lives. whether that's college, apprenticeships, the military, or the
055workforce. Um, but our seniors are not the only ones feeling the excitement. Uh, as the great poet Alice Cooper once said, "School's out for summer. School's out forever. No more pencils, no more books, no more teachers dirty looks. Out for summer, out till fall. We might not come back at all. Very soon, our students will be finished with their school year and heading into that glorious time known as summer break. No matter what their summer plans are, I hope all of our students get some time to be with family and friends and to relax for a bit. They've earned it. And to parents, I promise we will make them come back in the fall no matter what Alice Cooper says. And that concludes my comments. >> Thank you, Amanda Benji. >> Thank you, Madam Chairman.
056Um, three minutes is a long time, but it's for me. I can't say anything in three minutes. >> Well, I'm going to attempt to >> don't That's my [clears throat] >> uh Dr. plaster. >> Yes, sir. [laughter] >> I made a lot of hard decisions and a lot of hard votes in Pit County schools over the last several years, but one of them was was was not a hard decision and that was vote for you for superintendent. You've done an outstanding job the last two years. I stood over there at James's church two years ago and I told those people what I tell them, James, I was going to hold up both hands when it came time to vote. So, you got 10 votes. you really I don't know whether you know that or not
057and uh so I'm very excited about that. Robin >> [clears throat] >> uh Cox, thank you so much for uh choosing excellence by coming to Pit County Schools. And it's exciting to know that we've got people coming from other counties that want to come to Pit County. Let me tell you what that's an a tribute to. That's a a tribute to the leadership in all of the agencies of Pit County from the county commissioners to the general assembly to the board of education and everyone that has been a a vital part of making this school system successful because I tell you my daddy told me this a long time ago and I'm 70 years old so you know it was a long time ago. When you surround yourself with good people, good things happen. That's
058true. >> And I really do appreciate all that is going on. Lastly, I've had the opportunity to be a part of the barbecue circuit. During the end of the year, we have several of our CTE programs that have banquetss and awards programs and different functions. and to be a part of those different school um schools uh CTE programs and watching those young people uh receive those awards and the excellence from those teachers that we've got excellent teachers and it it shows in those students. We develop leadership. Pit County develops leadership y'all and that's what it's all about. And as long as we continue to surround oursel with good things, good people, good things will occur. Thank you. >> Thank you, Benji. >> Yeah. >> Do you want to save that for [laughter] Save that for
059next time? >> Save it on. >> Don't let him get another time. >> Somebody wants to give me their three minutes, I'll do it. >> Amy, I also want to say welcome to Miss Cox. We're so glad to have you and we look forward to all the good things that you're going to be able to do for us. Um, congrats, as Amanda said, to all of our early college graduates at both um, Py Schools, Early College, High School, and Innovation. Um, it's always a joy to see those young folks that are graduating with their high school diploma and associates degree or lots of college credits at ECU. And it's amazing to see. And there's a lot of students that do it even through the other six high schools as well. this amazing opportunity that they
060have and one of our many um perks to our relationship with Pit Community College. >> Um as a teacher there myself, you know, I I got to promote that. Um again, we're excited about that teacher. Well, I'm very excited about the teacher and the teacher assistant apprenticeship with all three schools and I'm I'm just school systems. I'm really excited about that and getting as Worth mentioned, I think the biggest um thing about teacher education is that you get the training but doesn't prepare you for what the classroom is truly like. And I think having them in the classroom is a big part of that and then they can see what it's like and help to hopefully not run people away. You want you want to make sure they understand everything that comes with that. And
061it it is definitely a passion. It's a calling to be a teacher. It is not an easy job. I don't care what anybody says. If they want to see it, they need to go do it themselves and see what it's like in the classroom. Um, good luck to all of our students out there that are taking EOGS and EOCC's. Um, I know that's a lot of pressure, but a test does not make you who you are. So, just remember that. Make sure you tell your kids that, that it's just a test. Do the best you can and, you know, just be proud of them no matter what. I think that makes a huge difference for your children. And then basically just have a great summer. Enjoy your time off and um let the kids be
062kids. Enjoy your summers and be ready to start again in the fall. >> Thank you. Uh ditto what already been said. I do want to say that I want to congratulate uh Principal Ingram at Bilbo School on earning her doctorate degree. >> That is a great feat for her. We really appreciate all that she's doing at Bilbo School. And I do want to say thank you to our county commissioners for working with Dr. Ler and his team in making sure that we had a good budget for our schools this year. I I think the relationship that this board has with the county of commissioners and with our uh state senator Smith advocating for us have made a big difference in what our budget was uh we were blessed to receive this year. And I'm really
063thankful for the uh unity amongst all of them working together. Thank you, Dr. Lassley. Your team has in in the face of what we had to deal with has done an outstanding job that people didn't lose their jobs like we thought they were. Uh things stayed in place and I'm very thankful to that because uh we need that in a unstable atmosphere as we've had. I think Pit County has really looked out for Pit County people and I really I'm glad to be a part of that and to say that you've been with us two years. You've done outstanding and this is why and I've said to the board I'm working hard to try to get uh Dr. Lassida at our state conference to be one of the presenters at our state conference on what
064we're doing here in Pit County. And that's going to happen that he's going to be one of the presenters at our state conference. Thank you. >> Yes, sir. [laughter] >> Whatever the board wishes, I will do so. [laughter] >> Thank you, Bishop Justin. >> Well, thank [clears throat] you, Madam Chair. Bishop, we must have been sharing some wavelength because I got wrote down right here to thank Dr. Lester, his team, and staff for working on the budget the past few months and making the transition away from all the ESSER funds, fighting for teacher pay positions, right? and thanking the county commissions for the positive response and working with Dr. Lassie. I don't know how we did that together, but we did it. Um, uh, welcome, Miss Cox. I had that wrote down. Thank you for
065coming to Pit County Schools. Um, I'm ready to work with you and see everything that you do. Uh, congratulations to all the athletes. Um, thank you for all the public expressions. Congratulations uh to all the graduates upcoming and the ones that have already graduated and the ones um upcoming in next week. As uh Miss Workhall said, we've made it and uh you've made it graduating and we made it to the end of the school year. Uh I know we are excited for the summer and I know the parents will be excited for when school comes back. Um and as as they talked about testing, I I uh embraced my Dr. Seuss the other day and posted on Facebook to do your best, take the test, and forget the rest. >> Um, no number, no grade
066will ever determine the type of student or person you will be. Um, so don't stress it. Just do the best you can. Um, I think that was Oh, and for the uh graduates, when you get out into the real world and you start um getting involved with stress and college, if you ever want some inspiration and hope with the new generation, if just go visit a prek graduation. I was able to visit one this morning and it is the most inspiring thing seeing those little four and five, six year olds getting up there and wanting to be doctors, cosmetologists, teachers, athletes, just the hope in their eyes. Really, it really it really inspires you and makes you want to work hard and make the world a better place for them. Um, that's all I got
067for tonight. That concludes my comments. >> Thank you, Justin. >> Sure. that I'm glad you said the the prek in the junior kindergarten because today's my son's birthday, but when he was going through his graduation, he said he wanted to be an ice cream maker. You know, you can make a good living doing that, but it's just so much fun to watch them just have such joy in their eyes when they see the possibilities before them. And if we could protect that, um, and I think these partnerships with that we're doing with ECU and PCC are all for that purpose is to protect that and to and to drown out some of the noise that I think sometimes detours kids because they see soundbite information and they really don't see the bigger picture. And exposing
068them to teachers in the classrooms and kids in the classrooms, I think that's the way through this. Um, and I'm hopeful that maybe that will happen for other professions like we can set this up and then we can do other things like behavioral health or other disciplines that we need to get more people into those areas that we can maybe find these ways to help our kids move forward in a little more seamless manner and then maybe they would stay here in P County which is exciting. I see her nodding up there but Sarah English you hang the moon. Um, we really do appreciate I know that this has taken a lot of time away from your family. Um, but you have come in this room every single time with joy and just can't thank
069you enough for stretching yourself. Um, for highlighting all the amazing things our kids do and we're just so glad to have you and Miss Cox, I just it's going to be an amazing team. Um, one person we didn't talk about is Emma. Emma, that list of policies and all the time that you put into that. Thank you so much. You are one of the people that I truly have a lot of respect for because you try your very best to make sure that the kids stay in the center of all decisions that we're making. And so, just know that we do see all the work that you do and it is a lot. Thank you for mentioning music in the park. I walked lots of miles um on Saturday, but I will also acknowledge our
070high school orchestra won superior rating. Then their wind ensemble also won. And these kids were just we have such incredible talent, incredible talent at Pit County Schools. I am just absolutely blown away. Um but just thank you to all the parents and the teachers who invest in the kids um so that they can shine in all their ways, including our athletes. Graduation is a heavy time. It's a joyful time. It is also a heavy time. So, please keep that in mind as we're moving through these events that people are feeling lots of feelings and we just want to be able to be present with all of them. Candy, thank you for being here. Your advocacy amazing and I just am so glad to see you here. Um, retired teacher celebration, I just didn't want to
071stop. That was an amazing event at Rock Springs. So, thank you to all of our staff and teachers who gave us their very best for many years. So, thank you. >> Thank you, madam. Again, congrat to a lot of things that has been said and I may repeat just a few. Congratulation again to you, Miss Cox. We're glad to have you. Thank you again, Senator Smith, for being here with us and always supporting us. And um I'm too excited about our partnership with uh PCC and ECU. Um I'm sure there are going to be many that would take advantage of that partnership and and truly our children will be the ones that will be blessed with that partnership as well as those that will further their career. also would like to tell Justin, I was
072in your area a few weeks ago and as you said, Jennifer, we have some amazing, and I mean amazing, children in this county. I was able to present um a scholarship to one of the seniors that will be graduating and going to Fedville State University. So, as an alumni, I was able to present her with that scholarship. But while I was there, while I was there, grades 9 through 12 were presented with honors. all the kids that got honors recognition, there were so many students. So, I'm going say to you again, we are blessed to have such talented children in our district. >> Um, again, Jennifer, I too want to congratulate to all of our retirees for your dedicated service to our children and just six months since Dr. Lacier and Dr. Patterson and their
073staff has welcomed you. We would love to have you back to do what you know you do best and that is teach. And Father Ler, we love you. God bless you. We are so blessed to have you. You are so amazing. Um can't say more than enough [clears throat] about you. You and your staff have brought us so much joy to this county. You have put us on the map. There are people that when I go places they say we see you all. There are people watching us you all that I didn't even know. I have friends that I graduated in college that tells me they know you all. They can call some of you by names because they watch you all and it's because you're doing a marvelous thing and we'll so I'm so
074happy to be a part of this. And last but not least, we have eight more graduations. We would love for you to come out and continue supporting our graduates. And congratulations to the two high schools that have already graduated and I'm looking forward to celebrating the the other eight. Thank you. >> Thank you everyone. Um Justin, my baby wanted to be a paleontologist when he was >> when he was in >> um graduating from prek. So yes, those things stick with you for a lot of years when you see that. Um, >> so you know, I'm not going to repeat all of the things we've said. We you're here. We've got great things happening, hard decisions to be made, hard conversations to be had. We'll continue to have them. Um, with such a strong team,
075it truly is an honor to be part of this board and to be part of this district. Um I am proud of um all of our schools um and the things that they're doing being in the schools. You can see it. Um I got to proctor over at Welcome this week last week and um those kids are just there. It was just such a great time. Um so I encourage you to go to the schools, celebrate our students. Um appreciate our teachers because this is a hard last few days. Um >> the testing is happening, the retesting is happening, the corraling, the chaos after the testing. So um we're in it together. We've got some celebrating to do. Um and we want to keep partnering with everybody here. So um it's it truly is an
076honor to be part of this district and in this board. So at on that note, is there a motion to adjurnn? >> I move that we adjourn, madam chair. >> Motion to adjurnn by Benji, seconded by Mary. Any discussion? Okay. All in favor, please raise your right hand. Okay. Motion passes. Thank you'all so much.