001Mhm. >> I call this meeting of this April meeting of our Pitt County Schools Board of Education meeting to order. We are so glad there are so many people here tonight. It feels like it's been a little while since we've been together. So I will recognize Worth Forbes to lead Let's all stand and pledge allegiance. Okay. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. I'm now going to read the Pitt County Schools mission statement. Pitt County Schools will lead collaboration between school, home, and community to foster growth and success both academically and socially in order to develop productive global citizens. At this time we'll have our moment of silence. Dear Father, we
002thank you for allowing us to get together. We pray, dear Father, that this will be a productive meeting. Give us the wisdom, Lord, that we need to make great decisions for our students and families of Pitt County. Father, we just thank you for looking out for us and protecting us. And Lord, we thank you for dying on the cross to save us from our sins. In your name we pray. Amen. Thank you, Worth. Are there any adjustments to the agenda? Motion to approve the agenda. Motion to approve by Amy. Second. Seconded by Worth. Any discussion? Um Seeing no discussion, all who are in favor, please raise your right hand. Motion carries. Now I invite Sarah English to begin our our spotlight on teaching and learning for this month. Thank you, Chair Weaver. Good evening, Chair
003Weaver, Vice Chair Maltbie, Board Member Superintendent Lassiter, those with us here tonight in person, and those joining us online. Our spotlight on teaching and learning highlights the incredible work happening across our district to support student success from instruction and innovation to operation and athletics. We are thrilled to have a large number of spotlight honorees this evening. We will get started as I invite Ms. Anderson Lee and to join me with a special guest to honor the Board of Education with a special recognition. Good evening, Superintendent Lassiter and Board members. I'm Shannon Smith with Synergistic. Our VP Butch Collier and your energy specialist Anderson Lee, and we just want to congratulate you on having 31 buildings certified in 2025 for Energy Star. Energy Star certified buildings outperform 75% of similar buildings across the nation and also
004use 35% less energy and emit 35% on average less greenhouse gases. So congratulations. Great work. We really appreciate our partnership with Pitt County Schools. >> [applause] [laughter] [applause] [laughter] >> One of the areas in which PCS students and teachers excel every day is the arts, and we've had some very exciting musical performances take the musical performance events take place in the last month. I would like to invite Mr. Russell Knight, the Arts Education District Coordinator for Pitt County Schools, to join us and present the next several spotlight groups for recognition. Thank you, Sarah, and thank you, Board, for your time this evening. It's very exciting to be here tonight and have a chance to acknowledge the accomplishment of several students at different age groups that have all um They have all auditioned and made it
005into state honor ensembles. We're going to honor some choral ensembles, some band groups, some jazz band groups. Some of these events happened back in November, some happened actually one happens this weekend, one is next month, but these are all of our auditioned all-state events that happened throughout the year. There are many other clinics that students can participate in at different college campuses and things like that, and we have a lot of students that do that, but these students, what sets these apart, these students all auditioned either live or through a recorded audio audition that was submitted electronically, were evaluated by music educators across the state, and were selected from among hundreds, if not thousands, of other students that also auditioned to earn a spot in these honors ensembles. So we're going to begin tonight by
006honoring our students who participated back in November as part of the Music Educators Conference in Winston-Salem in the North Carolina Elementary Honors Chorus. And we have students from two schools here tonight, and I'm going to list them for each group just alphabetically by last name. So to begin with, I would like to recognize Gisara Caratini from Wahl-Coates Elementary. I I must confess, I think I did the wrong name because my wife's name is Eliza, so I'm sure when I type L I Z, the H just came out. So >> [laughter] >> We'll get that corrected. Let's do it all together. Next we have from Chicod School, we have She's not here tonight. We had Henley Caten. Also from Chicod School, we have Elizabeth Cullen. >> [applause] >> Mr. Knight, you can go ahead and say
007all the names and then we'll give all of the awards We also have from Chicod, Ms. Brinley Harrington. Not here this evening, unfortunately, is Zoe McKittrick, also from Chicod School, but we do have with us Ms. Hannah Taylor from Chicod School. >> We do not have with us Miss Olivia Ventures from Chicod School, but we do have with us Miss Aubrey West from the Chicod School. >> [applause] >> Also, I would like to recognize uh Miss um Liz Hamilton, the music teacher at Wahl-Coates, and principal uh Miss Tracy Davenport are here. And we have uh Beth Hegwer, our music teacher at Chicod School, along with principal uh Dr. Hayes is here. So, thank you to all of you >> [applause] >> Congratulations to each one of you. I I want to say something if I
008could. It won't take just a second. Um I've been on the Board of Education now for about 18 years. And people ask me almost on a daily basis, "What What are the things about being on the Board of Education that you don't like?" You know what I tell them? That one of the things on the Board of Education that really means something to you, this never gets old, y'all. We really do appreciate the parents and the teachers and the community and everybody that's involved to help these young people become excellent in Pitt County. So, some people strive for standard of average. Y'all strive for excellence. And that's what I love about you and the people that support you and your parents and everybody that's around you to make you the person that you are, okay?
009Thank you. >> [applause] >> Congratulations, guys. >> [applause] >> The next group that we're going to recognize uh actually had their performance at the same conference in Winston-Salem back in November, and this is the middle school honors chorus. These students actually had to audition in person, which is just a whole 'nother level of anxiety and nervousness for them to uh to be in an audition room in person. Um and so, we had six students um that made our middle school honors chorus. We have four of them here with us tonight, and we're going to begin uh with Mr. Ryan Hegwer from the Chicod School. We unfortunately don't have Braylon Johnson with us from A.G. Cox Middle School, but we certainly do congratulate Braylon. Uh we have Seth Langley here from Ayden Middle School. >> [applause]
010>> We have Oliver Little with us from Chicod School. >> [applause] >> We're unfortunately missing uh Riley Riggs from Chicod School tonight, but we do have with us uh Miss Taylor Smithson from Chicod School. And once again, I'd like to recognize those teachers as well. We have Miss Beth Hegwer again from Chicod School and Dr. Hayes, the principal. Um even though they're not here, I would like to recognize uh Stephanie Payo, the music teacher at A.G. Cox and the principal Dr. McDuffie. And uh we have Miss Rochelle Collis, the music teacher, the choral teacher at Ayden Middle School, and uh Miss Marika Harris and the principal there. So, we want to recognize them as well. And congratulations to each and every one of them. >> [applause] >> You got something you want to say before
011you >> [laughter] >> Anyway, we all as a board, we are very proud of all of these students. And they have a talent. And it's a special talent. And it was a God-given talent. And we are so proud of them and hope that they continue using the talents that they've been given um throughout their lives. So, thank you so much. And and I got I got to pull one out. You know, you you grow you grow up with some other students, you know, being in the same church, being in the same community, lived to be next door neighbors. And I watched this young lady right here, Miss Taylor Smithson. I've watched her grow up from little bitty baby all the way up to where she is today. And I just continue to be very, very
012proud of everything that you do. I know your parents are raising you right along with the rest of them. I wish you would. Anyway, man, I might have. I do have something else for you, okay? Hang it on the wall and be proud of it. My son taller than you are. >> [applause] >> The The next group of students are um students that auditioned back at the beginning of March. Uh first off, they auditioned back in January to make our all-district band. They had to place high enough in the top few chairs in our all-district band to be eligible to audition at all-state. Um they went to the all-state audition beginning of March and had an in-person audition there with the best of the best through the seven districts in the state. And we had
013two students from Pitt County uh recognized as all-state high school band members. Um actually three. I take that back, three. Only two are here tonight. Unfortunately, Mr. Ben Han from J.H. Rose is at ECU doing a trombone performance tonight, so he's not here. Um but we do have with us Mr. Ayden Cavanaugh um from J.H. Rose High School, who made it on mallet percussion. >> [applause] >> And we also have with us Mr. Camden Tyson from J.H. Rose High School, who made first chair bass clarinet in the entire state. >> [applause] >> Also, certainly want to recognize their band director, Mr. Matt Howard. >> [applause] >> Principal Dr. Nigel Jones is always here to support as well. So, uh thank you, Dr. Jones. >> [applause] >> We're going to We're going to go ahead and
014acknowledge our high [snorts] school jazz band or middle and high school jazz band as well while we're doing this and getting a picture. So, um these students are actually participating at the clinic the all-state clinic in North at North Carolina State this coming weekend. Uh we had two middle school students make the band this year, both from C.M. Eppes Middle School, and that's uh Mr. Jayden Barnes on the tenor saxophone. >> [applause] >> And Mr. Xavian Holmes on the trombone. >> [applause] >> The high school all-state jazz band will also be at NC State this coming weekend, and we have two of our students, and you'll hear their names sound familiar because they made the all-state band and the all-state jazz band, which I can tell you from experience is ridiculously difficult to do. Uh
015Mr. Ben Han on trombone, who's not here, and Mr. Ayden Cavanaugh on the vibraphone seat uh for the all-state jazz band. >> [applause] >> And I certainly want to mention the C.M. Eppes band director, Miss Helen Park, is here, and certainly Mr. Matt Howard again from J.H. Rose. And we have Miss Kim Harris, principal at C.M. Eppes as well. So, thanks to all of these people for their support. [applause] >> [applause] [applause] >> Next, we have a very exciting athletic accomplishment to celebrate. So, I will ask Mr. Paul Cornwell, our district athletic director, to come forward. Good evening, everyone. It's very proud to be here to introduce a young lady who uh I'm very honored to introduce. I'm going to Zainab Hijawi. Uh she's a senior at South Central High School. Uh and she is
016the 2026 uh Is it 6A or 7A? 7A. It's 7A. 7A. 7A. [laughter] I got to get big stuff. 7A girls wrestling state champion in the 114-lb weight class. And even bigger than that is she is our first girls state wrestling champion in Pitt COUNTY ATHLETIC HISTORY. >> [cheering and applause] [applause] [laughter] >> SO I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WATCHING you train over the years. We would pass each other in the gym while she was amazing and I would watch and I would watch the support you give your daughter. And it is so awesome to see such strong women's talent in the eyes of Pitt County schools. So please know you stand on the shoulders of amazing women athletes but you are now one of those THAT'S THE SHOULDERS. >> [cheering] [applause] >> THANK YOU
017SO VERY MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. It's just like a big deal to break stereotypes so no matter what a girl's background. Thank you so much Dr. Caden. No matter how you look like, no matter what your background is, there's always if you have determination and support from your community and from the school you always can achieve something else. It was big I support her yet thousands of miles. We go home by 12:00 a.m. Yeah. My car. >> [laughter] >> Her teachers in the school because she kept a very high GPA, she get determination, she never misbehaved, she's a good student. Every single teacher in the past three years made sure that she support like something the homework and this support means a lot for a student who is in sight student and an athlete at
018the same time. >> [applause] >> Yeah, it's her brother who got her into the sports. >> [cheering] [applause] >> Next it is my honor to introduce Raj Nandan Karanam Pudi, an eighth grade student at AG Cox Middle School. Raj had an awesome experience participating in the spelling bee. He won the school and district spelling bee to qualify for the regionals which were at the Bank of America Stadium. Raj placed sixth overall in the regional competition. Raj's parents shared that they enjoyed the experience as well as well and were proud of him. Raj represented AG Cox and Pitt County schools well. >> [applause] >> So this is a special speaker award beginning but the prize that goes with that extends that. Now can you share with us what was the the word you earned? >> [laughter]
019>> That's awesome. >> [laughter] >> We're very proud of you. We're so happy you spelled correctly. Congratulations. >> [applause] >> Look this way. Come on Mom, you want to come You couldn't have done it without you. Look this way. Ready? 3 2 1. One more. 3 2 1. >> [applause] >> Miss English, the um teacher of the gifted award? Yes. Okay. It's in a different order. I wanted to make sure we didn't skip anyone. Our next award is a state level honor for Pitt County Schools teacher. I will invite Ms. Julie Simpson, interim chief of technology, digital and media learning to present this next spotlight award. Good evening, board. It is my honor to introduce not only Pitt County Schools AIG Teacher of the Year but also North Carolina Association of Gifted and Talented 2026
020Teacher of the Year, Ms. Vicki Carden. >> [applause] >> For nearly two decades, Ms. Carden has embodied what it means to be a true teacher leader in gifted education. She has served multiple terms as our AIG leader, mentors, colleagues, models leadership at her home school of Chicod and with our team. She has truly become a cornerstone of our program. In the classroom, Ms. Carden is equally exceptional. She designs rich and challenging learning experiences that invite students to think deeply, take risks and see their own strengths. Her classroom is a place where gifted learners are known, supported and stretched academically, socially and emotionally. What distinguishes Ms. Carden is her quality of service for her students. She is reflective, collaborative, innovative and relentlessly student-centered. She lives out the core values of NCAGT, excellence, equity, advocacy and a
021belief in untapped potential of every gifted learner. It is with pride that I present to you 2026 NCAGT Teacher of the Year, MS. VICKI CARDEN. >> [applause] >> DR. HAYES, COME ON OVER HERE. MS. CARDEN, DR. Hayes will get a picture. 3 2 1. One more. 3 2 1. Now Ms. Now Ms. Carden, how many years you've been teaching now? >> A lot. I know. A long time. But you know what that tells me? You're a one dedicated teacher. You really are. And you are definitely a gifted teacher cuz Dr. Hayes, every time I go out to Chicod, somehow before I leave, I always run into her and I never could figure [clears throat] out how she did it does it except that she is certainly gifted. Thank you for everything that you did. All
022right, thank you. >> [applause] >> Okay, we're going a little bit back in time. March was National School Social Work Month. As part of the Student Services Team, I welcome Dr. Lori Collins to honor a part of our outstanding school social work team. Dr. Lassiter and the board, thank you so much for this opportunity to recognize our school social workers. They are the grease that keeps our school running both in the building and outside of the building and communities. They make In addition to making home visits, phone calls, they constantly give of their time to community efforts to support our students both academically and physically in the needs in meeting the needs throughout the community. So from bags of groceries to bags of clothes, they meet all the needs in between. So thank you for
023this opportunity to welcome to recognize our wonderful school social worker staff. >> [applause] >> And I'll share we have These are people that are so important. I mean So Pitt County Yeah, we have um 20 school social workers and we have a small group of our amazing team here with us tonight. >> [laughter] [applause] >> And last but certainly not least, I would like to present the 2026-2027 Pitt County Schools Teacher of the Year for Spotlight on Teaching and Learning Recognition. Ms. Janine Duncan teaches economics and personal finance at North Pitt High School. She is in her ninth year of teaching this year and is a graduate of East Carolina University where she earned a bachelor's degree in her bachelor's degrees in history and history education. Pitt County Schools is honored to recognize her and
024support her as she represents our county as the 2026-2027 Teacher of the Year. >> [applause] [applause] >> I think we could do a LITTLE BIT LOUDER. >> [screaming] [cheering] [applause] >> WE'RE VERY PROUD OF YOU AND I'M SURE THE parents and all the teachers and staff at Northwood, [snorts] I know you're going to represent us well. You're doing an outstanding job North of the river. We really appreciate you and we looking forward to great things in the future out of you. Congratulations again. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone there? 3 2 1 more 3 2 1 >> [applause] [applause] >> We have one more I'd like to to mention and honor. Um March was also National Athletic Trainers Month and I think we weren't able to get any of them here tonight um because they're probably
025all serving at an athletic event. [laughter] Um but I just wanted to mention that make sure we honor them. Coach Cornwell did something to celebrate them during the month of March. So, thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you so much English. It's a lot to celebrate going on around here. Um and now I invite um Vice Chair Nobles Maultsby to um introduce our public expression for the evening. Good evening. This evening we have four individuals offer public expression. Public expression is an opportunity to share issues of concern that are relevant to the business of the board. The board will listen to your concern comments respectfully and our chair may offer direction if our rules are not followed. But the board will not respond to your comments. Only speakers who have signed up for public
026expression may address the board. When [snorts] 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 opportunity to speak will be considered void waived. 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 our 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 censor comments by viewpoints, but it will not permit speakers to name a staff member or a student when offering praise or criticism. We also do not consider attacking [snorts] a person for something in their personal
027life to be relevant to our business and will not permit remarks remarks of this nature during public comments. Finally, discussion of the family member of a board member is not relevant to our business and will not be permitted. Again, the board member will listen to your comments respectfully >> [snorts] >> and our chair may offer some direction if our rules are not followed. But we will not respond to your comments. At this time, will Trisha Woodall please come? You have 3 minutes. >> [snorts] >> Good evening, friends. I hope you guys have had a good month. Oh, cool. That's good. So, I actually had something completely prepared for tonight and honestly, you guys might get an email about that with me following up on it because my chat for you guys tonight has changed based
028on just the things that happened here tonight. You guys, the most important thing we have is each other and I was reminded of that tonight, honestly. I've been reminded of it all weekend, honestly. And my kids, my high schoolers go to an incredible school that was celebrated tonight and the mother specifically said how grateful she was that her kids went there. I'm going to piggyback on that because it reminded me of what is important because the things I wanted to address with you guys like outdated policies and procedures hurting kids and administrators violating state and federal law because of those outdated policies and procedures, those are important, but really really really dark things are happening and coming together now is more important and I was reminded of that. And it is possible it is so
029possible you guys have seen me for going on a year now and you you are very aware of how I can be. I promise you that principal is, too, and she's still just as patient with me now as she was when my kids enrolled a year ago. Over a year ago now, you guys. My kids, one of them is graduating from there. That school is a Capturing Kids' Hearts school and I believe it. I've seen the amazing miracles that happen there. I know some of the stories of the kids that go there and I honestly weep about it. My kids' life, we have a story and it's hard to feel like that story can be talked and my children made friends with kids who have gone through very difficult things that are thriving at that
030school. The sense of community is possible. My children have father figures because they attend that school. My kids have examples of possibilities. My 18-year-old wouldn't have thought of going to college had we not been suggested that school. I have my difficulties with district leadership and it is very known, but I will never stop being grateful for them doing what was in my my children's best interests and putting them at that school or suggesting I look at that school. I drive 100 miles a day for my kids to be at that school because it is that phenomenal. It has helped their mental health that much. That is what community can do and we need that. We need the social emotional wellness to help us navigate when we are having hard times and we need the grace
031of our community to lean on while we are learning to do that. We just have to learn to do it now. So, I will be following up, but the theme I want to leave us all with tonight is we have to lean on each other and we have to do it now. Thank you for your time. Thank you, Ms. Woodall. Virginia Moore, 3 minutes, please. Uh good evening uh members of the board and Dr. Lassiter. My name is Virginia Moore. I'm a school nurse and a parent of two little girls speaking on behalf of the school nurses across Pitt County. I'd like to begin by thanking everybody for continuing to advocate for the school nurses and recognizing our vital role we play in supporting the health, safety, and academic success of our students. Our positions
032are funded through partnership with ECU Health, Pitt County Schools, and Pitt County Health Department. 24 school nurses now serve 40 schools and programs up from the 21 nurses in the 2019-2020 school year. With a 7.2 increase in enrollment since 2020 and growing medical complexity, nurses visits and counselings have doubled and students requiring daily medication have increased by 93%. Last school year, nurses cared for over 12,000 students, kept 94% of those students in class, and connected 1,650 students to mental mental health services to mental health services. EMS calls are twice as likely when a school nurse is not on campus. Pitt County school nurses go go far beyond treating minor injuries. We are responsible for managing, delegating, and training complex medical tasks such as feeding support, diabetes care, medical medication administration, and emergency interventions. School nurses
033also train and certify first responders and help manage public health issues such as the TB exposures. Since 2023, DH Conley has managed three separate tuberculosis exposures. Each incident required extensive education, contact tracing, and the administration and reading of two separate TB skin tests for every single exposed student. This year, Farmville Middle School experienced a a s- simultaneous exposure involving more than 250 students. As a result, from January 2026 to March 2026, the school nurses at DH Conley and Farmville Middle School, supported by the supported by the entire school nursing team, have administered and read 714 TB skin tests all while continuing their daily responsibilities. School nurses have tremendous respect for the vital work teachers and staff do every day at Pitt County Schools. We respect them so much. They are underappreciated civil servants molding our
034future future generations. Our presence on campus can support teachers and staff by managing medical needs, enabling them to concentrate on their primary role, which is educating students. Thank you so much for your time, your service, >> [snorts] >> and your dedication to our community and us. Thank you, Ms. Moore and the nurse staff. Nicole Warren, 3 minutes. Good evening. My name's Nicole Warren and I'm the parent of two elementary school students. Parents and teachers see through the carefully worded listening tours. There's been plenty of talk, but no evidence of real listening. Cutting teachers is not budget management, it's negligence. I understand that you can only fund with what you are given, but county office should be operating with a skeleton crew before cutting the people working in the trenches directly with our children. These cuts
035increase class sizes, strip planning time, and push already overwhelmed teachers to the brink. At the same time, student needs are higher than ever with more 504s, IEPs, and required support. Without adequate substitute funding, teachers are losing even their planning periods just to club cover classes. Make no mistake, this is no longer just an academic issue. This is a safety problem. Managing over 20 students is not safe or sustainable. It is not just bad policy, it is reckless. Meanwhile, experienced teachers are being pushed out, and you are replacing them, if you can even fill the positions, with new teachers who are being thrown into the fire without proper mentorship or support. That isn't sustainable. They will leave in just a few years, perpetuating the same cycle. Use them, burn them out, and replace them, and repeat.
036That is not how you build a system, that is how you watch one collapse in real time. Don't insult the community by calling it attrition. That is not what is happening. These are our families, our friends. We're having conversations with them. Students are losing their advocates and their resources. And cutting nurses? That puts medically fragile children at risk and shifts responsibility onto teachers who are not trained, equipped, or paid to handle it. That is unacceptable. You have a burnout problem. One you must address now. What's done is done. But what's the plan when classrooms can't be staffed in the fall? When performance drops even further? When something preventable happens and families start asking questions or filing lawsuits? Because this is exactly where we are headed. And the optics matter. Posting job fairs even for other
037positions while cutting teaching and nursing positions is tone deaf. You cannot recruit talent while dismantling the very roles that support students. This is a failure of leadership, and our children, teachers, and communities will pay the price. Finally, I want to remind our board members that you are the check and balance. Regardless of your re-election status, you carry the responsibility to carefully evaluate and approve or deny the budget. Most importantly, you are accountable to your constituents, and there's clear and growing concern within this community. We are watching, we are talking, and we expect better for our children and staff who directly support them every day. >> Warren. And the last person for this evening is Caitlin Swindell. Good evening. Good evening. My name's Caitlin Swindell. Um I didn't come as well prepared as some of these
038people, but I do have a child who's in fourth grade and a rising kindergartner who is in the public school system. I was born and raised in Pitt County, and me and my sister are both students of the public school system, and in light of the recent um discussions that have come about with budget cuts, and knowing teachers and friends personally that are being affected by this, I just felt that I needed to do attend a meeting to learn more, to have support the community, and become a part in advocating for the students. Um the passage of a budget that fully supports Pitt County public schools is what I would like. And I would like to know how the board plans to partner with leaders to ensure all the students and staff have the resources
039they need. My daughter when learned that one of her um teachers at her school was one of the potential teachers that would um be losing their position, she was tearful, and I didn't really understand on how I would explain that to her. Um she says that uh I mean she cried, and it it was just heartbreaking. Um I just I have so much faith in the public school system growing up in it, and the teachers, and the friends, and the um people I've met through that. I can only hope that she would have the same. Um and I don't want to send my child to another school to see that. I want her to grow up with kids that aren't 100% like her, learn how to accept inequities among one another, um build relationships, and
040how she can still be a good person while helping others. Um and I think public school system does that. I think it provides that for children. So, I just come to you guys asking to please advocate for the school system, where the funds go, how they show up, and how we can keep our teachers wanting to pursue this career opportunity. Right now, I can see how it may not be very appealing to them, and what are we going to do to reinvigorate them to want to pursue this career option. Um and I only hope that my kids will get the same quality education that I got, and learn how to go to school and grow up with kids who just may not look, see, feel the same way they do, but they can still get
041along and share a friendship and responsibilities. Thank you, Ms. Swindell. Thank you. Um thank you for everyone who spoke tonight. Um we will now move on to our consent items. Um tonight on our consent agenda, we have the March 2nd, 2026 board workshop meeting uh minutes, the March 2nd, 2026 board meeting minutes, uh March 23rd, 2026 2026 board work session minutes, budget amendment number one, contract with Comfort Master for Ayden Middle School HVAC, the Pitt County Sheriff's Department um request for flock cameras at Welcome and Chicod, 2025-2026 full summer summer school plan and extended summer school plan, and also from our um our confidential items, March 23rd, 2026 closed session meeting minutes and personnel report from April 13th, 2026. Is there a motion to approve our consent agenda? I move to approve the consent agenda.
042Approved by Jennifer and seconded by Amanda. Any discussion? Okay. All in favor, please raise your right hand. Okay. Motion carries. Okay. And now on to new business. Um Ms. Gretchen Wilson, please come and share with us about summer feeding kits. Good evening, board. Um tonight I wanted to bring to you the update of what we're doing for summer feeding, and and ask for approval for purchasing of the food items for that. Um you did receive three flyers. Um there is a flyer showing our open sites. These are the sites that students can come on campus and eat and consume the meal there. Then we also have a flyer with our non-congregate meal sites that we did last year. We're doing one location this year, [clears throat] not two, but we're having two different time periods
043in that day in each day. Um that'll be going on for 8 weeks. For both of these, we have um informa- the food that we need. So, that's on tonight's con- agenda. I am requesting um board approval to purchase the 7-day meal kits that is for the non-congregate feeding site, and the 3-day meal kits that will be going to the Bethel Youth Center, Belvoir School, Northwest, and J.H. Whitfield during their Reach to Achieve time period. So, that's only during that 3-week time period for those schools, and for the Bethel Youth, I think it's 6 weeks that's going to be at theirs. So, that also would be we're doing a mixture, so it's going to be they have their 4-day meals at school, and then they'll get the 3-days for Friday, Saturday, Sunday to take home
044with them while they're there. So, we're offering that as a new this year. Therefore, we had to go and purchase a new item, which is a 3-day meal kit. Last year, the meal kits were very successful. I did not have any complaints. Um I spoke to the parents um in the pickups on the last 2 weeks of the distribution, and everything went smoothly. So, we're looking forward to offering this again. We did go to bid, and you can see there was um multiple groups. Well, I don't know if you can see if there's multiples, but we had, I think, five different turned in uh quotes, but it is the same company as last year that did win per pricing. So, I'm seeking board approval for us to bring in the same products from last year,
045and to add the 3-day meal kits. Any questions for Ms. Wilson? I have a question. Yes, Mr. Workman. What qualifies a school to be a site? Okay. Um when you do the non-congregate meals, you have to be considered rural. So, it's rural plus with the need, so it's two different things. So, that's why we were able to choose those sites. A lot of sites we thought were, they were not because of the location, cuz we have a mapping toolkit we get from the No Kid Hungry site. So, it is a considered a um a rural site plus with the with the 50% need. So, Grifton would did not qualify? Grifton, uh we do not have a location in Grifton, and right now that those meals are coming out of um Ayden this summer, and Ayden's
046not qualified, so I was not able to do that. If Ayden's if Grifton school is open, I would have been able to do it at that school. So, we were doing at schools that are already opened, so we wouldn't have to have other additional locations, not knowing how many we would serve out there. So, that is a possibility. We're starting small. We chose these to see if they would go well for the first year, do it for 3 weeks, see how the families like these meal kits, and then we can expand as long as they meet the criteria. If you guys I think there's two more possible sites, but again, they weren't open for Reach to Achieve, and we were looking at the sort of Reach to Achieve, try to make sure to minimize the
047efforts and have the kitchens that we already have staffed. I I our church is providing a hundred would put together a hundred bag of meals at church. Um and it's 50 per week. [snorts] And we're sending them to Grifton for those weekends um to help make up lunch or whatever is available. But of course you take care of of that through this program. Mhm. Through this program during the summer. That's what >> During the summer, yes. Anybody can come to A and A Elementary and pick up meals. I mean not pick up, excuse me, they have to eat on site for that. But that is going to be an open site all summer, so all weeks we will have that site open for the community to come in and we do feed the library in
048Grifton. We always do that every summer. Okay. Any other questions? I motion to approve the the purchase of the summer feeding kits. Motion to approve. I second it. Approved by her and seconded by Mary. Any discussion? All in favor, please raise your right hand. Okay. Motion carries, approved. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. The flyers will be available for soon on our websites and we're going to send them on to the administrators also. There is if you want to share with your partner groups, there is a partner join us for anything if they want to donate any flyers or any nutritional educational mental type of items we're glad to disperse during the distribution or if anybody wants to come out and help volunteer distribute. Thank you so much. Thank you, Ms. Wilson. Ms. Wilson.
049Okay. I invite Aaron Erickson please to come share with us about the sewer station upgrade project at Falkland. Good evening. Um good evening. I am seeking approval from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality funding that we received in 22-23. Um this is our [clears throat] last fiscal or last calendar year to spend these funds. One of the projects on our list was to upgrade and significantly replace the majority of the functioning parts and pieces of the Falkland sewer field and it's vault box where the pumps are, all the floats levels, the holding box, and all the operational valves, as well as to clean out the existing lines to extend the life and the functionality of that of that system. So we are seeking permission after two rounds of bidding to get enough bidders um
050with to contract with Benny A. Moore Septic Tank Service of Williamston for a contract amount of uh $134,400 and then some unit prices if it's determined beyond what is estimated in the project um design documents for number 57 stone at $164 a ton and fill dirt at $135 a ton. Okay. Any questions for Mr. Erickson? >> I've got one too. Yes, Benji. Um Aaron Yes. we always [clears throat] have every year um some um need for the these kinds of services for upgrade of sewer stations. I mean you just about every year you've got something about that in the budget. A need for that. Well, my point is my point is uh uh a year or two ago we got a special um appropriation from the North Carolina General Assembly for $600,000 to do to
051do requests as far as they come to sewer systems. Have we already spent that money? So we did A and A Elementary's kitchen grease trap project installation. We did the North Pitt line coming out of the back of the high school going to GC's pump station and then this would be the third of four projects. The last project is won't come to the board because the value is underneath, but there is replacing the screening assembly at the Northwest sewer field. So this will be the third of the four. And yes, we've spent with this contract we will only have 65,000 of the 600,000 remaining and that will be for the Northwest screen. Okay. I I guess I'm trying to make a point, Dr. Lassiter. Uh once once we spend all of that Yes, sir. you're
052still going to have sewer needs, correct? Correct. That's so every every year with the schools that we have, we always either do a new new installation or the replacement of a kitchen grease trap sewer system. Um and so yes, that will be an ongoing never-ending replacement cycle. That That's one of the things that North Carolina General Assembly, Dr. Lassiter, really works with us on. Uh and very very diligent in making sure that those kinds of resources are made available to us and we just need to to kind of continue to thank them for what they've done and continue to ask them for additional help in the future. Any Did you have another question, Benji? No, that was my third question. Okay. Can I ask for one? How you doing today, Aaron? Any other questions? Okay.
053Motion to approve the the sewer station upgrade project at Falkland. I move to approve. I I'll second. Okay. Moved by Jennifer, seconded by Amy. Any discussion? All in favor, please raise your right hand. Motion carries. Thank you, Aaron. And now [snorts] Ms. Simpson to come share with request for some replacement laptops at Innovation. >> Yes. >> [snorts] >> Um so I am coming to request permission to purchase 110 laptops through ECU um for Innovation Early College. Five years ago there were devices, 220, purchased through ECU. Um our devices that we use here at Pitt County do not work with ECU's network. Um and so they came together as a group and decided um what was going to be the best collaboration to ensure that our students could access um the technology needed while they were
054on campus at ECU. And so those devices were purchased with ESSER funds. Um and so ECU and PCC Early College were not included in our regular phased approach. Um and so we are There it goes. Um so we um have met with them um to look at a kind of rotating replacement of those 220 devices. They did allow um us to look at several options of devices. The original ones [clears throat] were um teacher grade and our students don't need quite as much manpower and so we um were able to bring that down for um 210 units. And so we're they're looking at around $1,048.32 apiece for a total of $115,315.20. Any questions about the laptops? Where's that money coming from? It is coming from my technology. >> Your technology. Yes, ma'am. I was just
055curious, why is it that our laptops coming from PCS don't work at ECU? Yeah. Um ECU does not support Chromebooks and so and so what was happening um from my understanding is that um our students were trying to use Chromebooks that we manage through our Zscaler. ECU also has their own Zscaler and so the two platforms would then not talk and work together and so then nothing could Wow. Okay. Thank you. Yes, ma'am. >> [laughter] >> Yes, Amy. Just out of curiosity, does ECU help at all with any of this cost? They do not help with this cost. I will say that we um purchase the devices. They go to ECU, so ECU will purchase them for us through their contract and then they manage those devices while the students are there. After the end
056of the contract and the warranty expires, and we can either continue it a warranty, get another warranty for another year, or those devices come back to us for us to be able to use after that four-year period. So the IT team at ECU is the one that manages them. Correct. Are we getting a discount because ECU is making the purchase or we're just doing it through them? So So we are required to do it through them and they do it off of their state contract. So it is it is there. >> Thank I'm out. Any other questions? Is there a motion to approve the request for funding I move to The move to approve by Amanda. Seconded by James. Any questions or discussion? All in favor, please raise your hand right hand. Okay. Motion carries.
057Thank you. Thank you, Ms. Simpson. All right. A lot of work tonight. Now Superintendent Lassiter, we'll start with your closing comments. >> All right. Thank you, Madam Chair. It is good to see everyone tonight. I I want to start first with just some just sad news. Former director, Marsha McLawhorn, she was an elementary director for Pitt County Schools for many years, supported me as a principal, supported many people in this room, even worked with her, passed away today. And so we remember Marsha, who was just a phenomenal leader, wonderful personality, and incredibly smart. And so our thoughts and our prayers are with Marsha's family. So, please keep her keep her family in your thoughts and prayers. Tonight was just what I needed as a superintendent was to see our students. They are first and I
058was just so proud to see them on display. To see the great things that our school system continues to do and will do moving forward and that's making sure that we educate our children even when times are difficult. Even when we may see things a different way, our students are always first and that's my priority as a priority as a leader. That's my commitment to the board and that's our partnership as a board between a board and a superintendent is to make sure that our students continue to be first. Madam Chair, this concludes my comments. Thank you, Dr. Lassiter. Okay, now we'll start with comments from the board. We're going to start with Justin this evening. Um just to echo uh it's very good to see some positivity in the last month after all the
059hard conversations we've had. Um we need to continue having those hard conversations uh to help us as a board and as a public school system make progress and become a better environment, place of employment, and a stronger community. Uh as always, thank you to everybody who expressed their voices publicly. That is the best thing we can do to get opinions out there, to get people to support, to make changes. Um it all it all starts right there at the podium. Um Uh I'm very excited that Pitt County was represented by the band and chorus as well as they were. I'm a big sports guy, but art holds a special place in my heart. So, that it was really good to see 19 different students represented that way. Um but to echo everybody else, congratulations to
060the South Central State Champion. Uh I mean, that's just no matter what happens, for forever in the record books, she will be the first female State Champion of Pitt County Schools. Her name will be etched in the school forever and the and the record books forever. I mean, that's just a huge accomplishment and I mean, it just who knows what doorway it opened for the next female athlete and I mean, that's just amazing to me. Um Thank you for all the assistant principals, uh the social workers, athletic trainers. Congratulations, Ms. Duncan at North of the River. Uh Teacher of the Year is a is a great accomplishment also. Um Burnout has been a huge topic lately and I did a little research myself just to see what resources were out there out there. And really,
061the only thing I saw after 10 to 15 minutes of looking was surveys. And to me, I mean, y'all get enough surveys throughout the year and answering questions that sometimes may feel like they're falling on deaf ears. Um So, I'm really I'm I'm I'm promise you that I am looking to for uh resolutions and things that can help with burnout. I need help though, so please reach out to me. I'm always available. I'm very approachable. Uh You got my phone number, you got my Facebook. I got a 24-hour rule. If I don't respond to you within 24 hours, something is wrong. So, please call me. Um But again, the last thing I want to say is congratulations to Farmville Middle on getting their first wins today in softball and baseball. Got to toot that horn
062a little bit. Um proud District 4 always and proud of the community and thank you all for showing and being here with us tonight and I conclude my comments. Thank you, Justin. Um you know, you had me thinking about we've seen lots of good news come out lately with Pitt County Schools. We have Morehead Cane Scholars. We have students who have just risen in their own rights and different talents that they've had. Um our Special Olympics. I want to hear all about that. So proud of those athletes. I just watch these photos and these videos of the schools embrace their athletes and celebrate them and cheer them out of the buildings and it was just such a good sight to see that everybody needs their purpose honored and supported. Um and I think that's what
063our board does is we really work hard to make sure that our students have enough of choices where they can navigate and find their purpose. And so, we are so incredibly grateful to the teachers and the nurses and the administrators and the parents and everybody who makes that happen cuz it is all hands on deck. Um I appreciate public comment because it really helps me to understand how information is being digested. Um you know, I sometimes we get pieces parts of it and we don't fully understand and we can get so passionate about it and I have to catch myself, too. Um so, having to really dig in and and just encouraging people, like you said, come to us, talk to us. I sat down with um somebody the other day for an hour and
064a half and just listened because that's our job. We want to hear, we want to listen, and we are working very hard with the superintendent and our leadership team to figure out what we can do to get through the tough time, but we are not about cutting teachers. Central office has definitely taken um their load of some of this, too. And see, this is the part that, you know, I really want people to understand is that we have been looking wide and far and the board has even done some cuts, too. So, so, we just really encourage people to to talk to our superintendent, to really hear the information so we can perpetuate out there what is the truth. Um it's really important. Okay, Creekside had an amazing title one night. I've never called bingo
065before, but I did it for 2 hours straight. Um I have much respect for people who call bingo now. It is not easy. Um there are only 20 different ways you can say I-42. I-4 So, but these kids were rock stars. They had a dance that night for the fourth and fifth graders. Um but the teachers and the volunteers and the parents and the PTA and the love and the the heart that was in that building, um the administrators, it was just powerful. So, being in in with your schools is so important. That's a privilege we have. Our school nurses, thank you, thank you, thank you. Um and just continuing to to think about the arts, which I love. I'm going to pull a plug into. So, Rose High School is performing Chicago the musical
066on the end of April, 24th, 25th. And be there. All right. I am very sorry about Marsha. Cuz when I was was associate superintendent, she was up here and she was part of the group that went with me out to the schools and walked through the schools and so, I am very sorry about that. I will say our end-of-course and end-of-grade tests, they are coming up soon. This to me is a time period in our schools that field trips should be at a minimum. Movies and videos should be approved only by the principal. And because that should be a major focus on academics. That being said, um one thing that I want you to be aware of, if there's any programs that we are adding to in our system, um that we'll put new programs
067on computers or whatever we're doing or we're buying more computers, I'd rather invest in people than those programs. I still believe there's programs in our school system right now that we can do away with and use those funds to invest in people. I didn't have I I'm not speaking of school nurses tonight just because they presented. I didn't know they were going to present, but I also want to bring that up. We as a board, we need to make sure that we do not cut those school nurses because if you don't have a healthy child, you're not going to have a child that will be able to learn. And I think of all of these kids, a lot of kids, um that don't go to the doctor on a regular basis, that school nurses identify
068certain illnesses that they may have that start out at a young age that uh can affect that child's learning. And I just think that is an important uh part and I think our school nurses are very important. I would like to thank everyone that presented tonight. We are a blessed county when it comes to talent. And we not only keep it in in house, we share. And I think that's so great that these kids get or able to take that young lady tonight, wrestler. She was very proud and did you hear her her mom say it? That says volumes in what she said and about her child, what the school system has meant for her child and so forth. And that is something great. Give credit to the teachers as well as the school board
069and the staff. Um it's just a great thing. That's all I have. Thank you, Amanda. Uh good evening, everyone. Uh of course, I want to congratulate our honors chorus, all-state band, and jazz band participants, our state wrestling champion, uh Ms. Hijawi, and our district spelling bee winner, Mr. Karampudi. Your hard work and talent makes us proud and shows us the excellence that we do have here at Pitt County Schools. I also want to give a hearty congrats to of the year, Ms. Dunkson Ms. Duncan, and to Ms. Carden on her recognition by the state. Uh you all are the reason why our students are so excellent. Um but now I'm going to turn to something more serious. Um as so many of you know, uh Pitt County Schools has been facing a budget shortfall and
070has been forced to make hard decisions. But it's important to understand why our school system is in this financial position. It's not due to poor planning or budgeting on the part of the central office, who puts a lot of time and a lot of careful thought into it. Rather, we are facing multiple budget cuts on multiple fronts. Two of the most important are the lack of a state budget and the end of COVID-era ESSER funding. So I encourage everyone to read and share the uh FAQ page that was put together by PCS. It is up on their website. Uh it's a great example of their commitment to transparency and communication. And I encourage you, if you have questions about that document, to please, please reach out. Um but I also want to bring to your
071attention another recent blow to public education funding. In 1994, five North Carolina school districts in low-wealth counties, along with families, filed a lawsuit against the state. This was known as Leandro versus the State of North Carolina. This argued that school districts did not have enough money to provide an equal education for their children. Uh twice the Supreme Court has ruled, in 1997 and in 2004, that North Carolina has a constitutional obligation to ensure all children have access to a sound basic education that includes competent and well-trained teachers and principals, as well as equitable access to sufficient resources. Since 2018, parties to the Leandro case have developed a comprehensive eight-year remedial plan. Um however, this ruling was challenged last week and our Supreme Court threw out this landmark educational funding case with prejudice, which means it
072is permanently dismissed. It's a disappointing result after decades of advocacy advocacy work. So um I see my time's running out. This is a sad reality, but it is one we are all living through. Um so I implore everyone seated in this room to reach out to your representatives in Raleigh and demand that they fulfill the mandates of our state constitution. If you're not sure who to contact, just go to findmylegislators legislators on ncleg.gov. Thank you, Amanda. Sorry for going over. Thank you. Oh, Madam Chairman, I did mean it when I was down there at very beginning and saying one of the best things about being on the Board of Education is to recognize excellence of these young people. And we did it again this evening and it's all because of the accomplishments of everyone in
073this room and in our community that support our school system and I appreciate that so much. I also had uh it was an honor to be able to attend all three of the listening sessions. And one of the things I think um that kept coming up, Dr. Lawson, is is teacher burnout from the standpoint of just getting more and more and more things on their plate. [clears throat] And I think we've reached a point where we You you you know, teachers cuz I was one. You you know, a thank you goes a long ways. But but there comes a point in time when thank you kind of runs out after a while. I think it's time for us to be able to get serious about teacher burnout from this from this standpoint. Um we we
074need to come up with some kind of official document that every time something in addition is put on a teacher's plate, something needs to be taken off. And I don't know if if our if our central office staff, in co- cooperation with our teachers and administration out in the schools, can identify some of the things that can be taken off a teacher's plate, but we we need we need to have a you can call it a policy in place, a bylaw in place, a procedure in place, where when something in addition is put on a teacher's plate, something needs to be taken off. That ought That ought to be Pitt County Schools. We we'd have teachers coming in here from everywhere. We just if we just if we would just do that. Second thing, we
075we I I I heard in all three listening sessions, volunteers. Volunteers can take some of the uh excuse me, burden off of teachers. And I believe volunteers can, too. But I think the community I think the school system, I think I'm some of some of our faculty and staff, we all have a different idea of what volunteers what volunteers are and who we can use and how we can use them and what we can use them for. And I think it's it it's time that we develop a document or another procedure or something where here are the legitimate things that we in Pitt County Schools look at to our volunteers that we honor that they can do. And in in the mean while, while we do that, there's got to be you know, you get
076volunteers Y'all Y'all need to give me some more time. I'll give you just another second to finish your thought. >> Okay. Um there's got There's got to be some perks in place to gin up volunteerism to a to a different level. Now I know perks and volunteers sound like they're contradictory terms, but but I don't think they are. I think that, you know, uh if if the people in the community understood and knew that this is this is what we want, these are some things that we can help you with. It might be as simple as a rooting club meeting at Jar Whitfield School without having to pay. Yeah, it it could be it could be that early. >> Thank you, Benji. We'll continue that >> are the those are the kinds of things and
077I appreciate, Madam Chairman, you give me a little extra time cuz it takes me a long time to say something sometimes. It's important important thing to be considering, so thank you for that, Benji. It's okay. >> [laughter] >> We're going to Amy nice. Please, Amy. I'm going to echo a lot of what was already said tonight, uh starting with Justin and Jennifer about reaching out to us about getting you know, facts versus fiction and really understanding all the stuff that goes on behind the scenes cuz we all care. We all do not like the situation we're in and we're all looking for solutions constantly. So any way that we can help or we've been cutting. As several people as I I've already mentioned, we've looked at things we can do as a board, we've looked
078at things at the central office, everything we can do to save money. So we're we are trying to do that. Um so I encourage you to reach out to it doesn't have to be your district. If you there's somebody you're more comfortable with, reach out to somebody up here and talk to us. You know, that's what we're here for. Um and I do agree that FAQ page is a is a huge help, but some of that stuff to someone who doesn't understand it can be a little overwhelming. So I mean, even as a board member, some of the budget stuff is very overwhelming to us as well. It's a lot to take in. So that's what we're here for. Um teacher burnout. I am right there with you. I've been a teacher for 23 years.
079I understand completely where these teachers are, um especially um the ones in that mid you know, we're not quite at retirement yet. We're not the beginning teacher. We're just kind of stuck in the middle. And it's it's a lot and anything we can do to help and I totally agree with what Benji was saying about understanding what a volunteer can and cannot do. And maybe that would help have some kind of thing like here's the things you can do to help teachers. Like maybe even with lunches, the duty-free, you know, giving them duty-free lunches or a really big thing, proctor, proctor, proctor. Um can't tell you that enough. They the more people we have to volunteer proctor, the less the teachers are stuck in there proctoring and they can get more stuff done. Um it
080is very That's one thing that I've done every year except for last year. I did not proctor last year. I had a graduating senior. So I had a lot going on this time of year, but it that's one thing you can definitely help as as a parent. You can get in there and you can help proctoring. Um it's not a very fun job. It's it's very kind of dry, but you're you're there for a reason. You're there to help. So you know, anything you can do like that to help um and I do really want to kind of follow up what you said and really look into getting some more people to volunteer to help these teachers in any way that we can, us included. Um and then congrats to all the students tonight who
081got everything. I I've never talked this long. Um but thank you to everyone and it was so awesome to see everybody out here tonight and I I was that wrestler, oh my gosh, I I just want to know what made her decide to do that, but I think it's wonderful and I'm so excited to see where she's going to go with that. So, thank you again. Thank you, Amy. There's your magic trick. [snorts] Uh I totally agree with what already been said. I'm not going to repeat everything that's said, but it's good to be a part of a board that put the children first and are concerned about all the staff of Pitt County schools. Uh we work very well together. We're in a difficult time for all of us and so I just ask
082that parents, teachers, school staff and others to be patient uh with our superintendent reference our budget. Having to manage the budget with a state budget has been not passed. For him and his staff it's been difficult. It's been challenging, but I believe in the end they're going to do the right thing for all of our staff. I strongly support our superintendent and staff doing this time that they have to make tough decisions along with the board and they keep the board informed. Uh we are very well informed and as others have said, if any have questions for us, we're not that hard to get up with, but uh please get up with us. Be patient with us if we don't answer you right away. I know Jessica said they have 24-hour rule, but we we
083are very concerned about what is happening. I do ask that we contact our legislators not to fuss at them, but to encourage them to pass a budget and I do want to thank the county commissioners who strongly support Pitt County schools and I know they're having budgeting going on now and I'm sure they're going to do what they can to help them overcome some of the budget problems that we're having here in Pitt County. And again, I just ask that we continue to support our superintendent and his staff. I do want to say that Ayden Elementary School has been recognized as a national showcase school for uh capturing kids' heart. Uh they also had the opportunity to take nine avid students fifth through eighth grade to UNC Charlotte Hornets game, which I couldn't win. And
084it was an experience of a lifetime. And then at Stokes uh Friday, Stokes Elementary its 10th leadership day with almost 100 guests in attendance. Families were able to visit classrooms, participate in activities and learn. They also had the opportunity to participate in Encore class to learn all about what Stokes has to offer. Again, I just ask all of you, especially all nurses, all teachers, just know that we're very concerned about what is taking place and I believe if you be patient with us, you'll see some results that is in favor of what we're trying to do. Thank you. Thank you. Teacher Bishop. Yes, sir. Yes, ma'am. Thank you. First of all, I would like to echo especially most of the things that you said with the plus plus plus, Bishop. And it's interesting that Amy
085and Benji were with you two especially talked about burnouts because that's what I want to speak on this evening just briefly. Teachers, I hear you. We all hear you. As a 48-year educator, we understand. I understand. As a board, we remain committed to working tirelessly to support our educators and most importantly, our students and our teachers. Do we do everything perfectly? No. But I can tell you this, this board alongside Dr. Lassiter and his dedicated staff, we will continue to do our very best to ensure that Pitt County schools as we serve on this board, we will continue to do our best to make things as most satisfactory as we can. We have what we have. We've been dealt what we've been dealt. We It's not just us. It's everywhere. But just like he said,
086be patient with us. We have not left you out. We understand and we will not forget you. As this board, we respect you and your position. Thank you. May I share? I have my I have so many things I could say. I'm I'm going to try not to keep you here too long. Um it is it is a hard time for all of us and and I don't know about other board members necessarily, but I know that I'm waking up in the mornings thinking about how we can serve our students and what we need to be doing as a board. Um there's a lot of noise. There's a lot of talking, which is so important and so good. And all of the budget conversations are so complex and nuanced that uh um quick a a
087uh quick headline or a even a brief Facebook post is not getting to the nuances of the conversations that we're having. So, we want to keep the conversations, but we do want to be having them transparently and we are and I appreciate you, Dr. Lassiter, for your transparency in our listening sessions and in answering questions and our documents that we're putting out. Um please know if you have questions, we want to explain it. We want you to know where we are because it also helps us to talk it out to figure out what we need to be doing. So, um like many have mentioned, please call us, um email us, be part of the conversation. Um Let's see. But teacher burnout, one thing I've learned in my training um as a mental health clinician is
088that you can't burn out if you don't care. And um and so we see a lot of people that care so deeply about our students and that's something we need to focus on is that these people are not our teachers, our wrap-around services are not burning out because they don't care. They're burning out because it's so much and that it gets heavy. So, recognizing the incredible hearts and dedication and passion of our teachers is so important and we cannot forget that they're burning out because they care so deeply about all of our students. Um I love the We need to talk about volunteers. People need to be in our schools because that's what gives me so much joy is being in our schools. That's when we see why this matters. Um and I wanted to
089highlight a few things that have I've been able to see in our schools that have not been highlighted um and on Facebook or anywhere. It's because our teachers and our our educators, our students, our families are just are doing them every single day. Um Wintergreen Intermediate did a basketball game, student-teacher basketball game to celebrate the reading successes of students and it was so fun. The students are excited to read because of the opportunity to beat Dr. Brynie in a free throw competition. Um Um Miss Rountree over at W.H. Robinson um invited us to go see a therapy garden that they created for our students in the EC program. Um we are meeting the needs of students in really incredible ways every single day. Um Wintergreen is also Wintergreen Primary is also um uh there's a
090ribbon cutting for a story walk that our kindergarten and first grade students created a story walk for Alice Keene Park about their experience with serving in the garden and their the kindergarten while they're in kindergarten. Um and there's so many beautiful ways that our schools are connected with our community and it's happening every day and it's getting um muffled by the noise of very important conversations, very important conversations, but we cannot forget the good that still continues to happen. Um and I'm not a Pollyanna necessarily. I don't think we need to just focus on the good, but we can't forget that it's there every single day. Um So, being in the schools, Benji's mentioned volunteering. Amy mentioned police proctor. I've been getting emails from schools about proctoring for EOGs. Our teachers need you. Um our
091BTs cannot be in the room alone for EOG testing. We need a lot of people. So, please volunteer. Show up in our schools. Every single principal needs you because there's EOGs in every single school. Um And volunteers, that was that was and then also um with Miss Wilson mentioned the summer feeding. There's opportunities. We want you there. So, please um be aware of those things that are coming up. Um summer feeding would be a great way to serve um serve our schools in the summertime. Um Also want to highlight our um national board teachers that we celebrated this week that are continuing to um just improve their excellence in in teaching because they matter so much. Um legislators will be in our schools on Wednesday. Um so, we will be showing them the incredible things
092that are happening in our schools with our students there this week, educators in our schools are this week. Um Teacher Appreciation Week is coming up. So, we can use a lot of words to to thank them, but we need to do more than that with appreciating them, the words, too. Please um Also, our nurses, thank you for being here. Social workers, thank you for being here. We've talked so much about the importance of our wrap-around services. We have 24 24 nurses, that's not enough. We have 20 social workers, that's absolutely not enough. Um and so, we are seeing it in all areas where we're all having to pick up pick up a lot. Um so, know that we see you and it matters. Um words don't do it justice, but know that we are having
093those conversations and we will continue to do that. Um And I just really appreciate y'all being here. Thank you all and thank you for all the board for for your continued dedication to our students um and to this district. And thank you, Dr. Lassiter and central office and every human that's here or listening online. Um okay. Y'all ready to go home? Motion to adjourn. And then motion to adjourn from Mary. Fight for it. Seconded by Wortham. Any discussion? Okay. All All in favor, please raise your right hand. Thank you so much, everybody. Have a good night. We're adjourned.