001I call the January 5th, 2026 meeting of the Pit County Board of Education meeting to order. All board members are present um tonight. Happy New Year. We're glad for you to be here with us. Um at this time, Benji Forest, will you please lead us in the pledge of allegiance in a moment of silence? >> Thank you, Madam Chairman. May we stand. Hand over our heart. 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. >> May we pray. Our heavenly father, what a privilege it is to come tonight to do the business of Pit County Schools. We thank you, oh Lord, for this opportunity because we all do look at it as an
002opportunity that you've given each and every one of us. We thank you, oh God, for our audience tonight, for it is filled, every seat, it looks like, is filled tonight with those that are interested in what's going on with the children's interest here in Pit County. We thank you, oh God, for every teacher and staff member that we have. We we praise your name for being able to have such an organization as this. We thank you, oh God, for being able to be a great employer for this county and to be able to make a difference by by motivating and and teaching young people skills that they will need to be able to carry on career opportunities hopefully right here in eastern North Carolina and Pit County itself. We ask oh God now uh that
003you will grant to this meeting tonight harmony because harmony is the strength and support of all institutions and may we look at it as for this one as well. We ask all of these things in Christ's name. Amen. >> Thank you Benji. So on for routine business, is there a motion to the adopt the agenda as presented tonight? >> Okay. And is there a second? >> Second. Second. So, it's been moved by Amanda and seconded by um Jennifer. Is there any discussion? >> Okay. Um all in favor, please raise your right hand. Any opposed? Um the agenda is adopted unanimously by a vote of 8 to zero. At this time, I'll invite Miss Olers to please come present um the spotlight on teaching and learning for for us this evening. Good evening, Chair Weaver, board
004members, Dr. Ler, those that are here in attendance, and those watching online this evening. Happy New Year. I hope that you had a joyful and healthy holiday season. We have certainly hit the ground running today with our first day back at school. Our educators and our leaders have been um high energy all day and our kids came in ready for um the second half of the school year. Um, we do have some wonderful spotlights tonight and I invite Mr. Paul Cornwell who is our director of athletics for Pit County Schools to introduce some um incredible athletes from Aiden Griffin High School. >> All right. Thank you so much. Uh, I wanted to introduce uh the Aiden Griffin Charger volleyball team. As you know, we recognized Rose High back in uh December for winning a state
005championship, but tonight we're going to recognize uh the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 3A state champion Aiden Griffin Chargers. Um [applause] just a little bit about them, uh they had a overall record of 27 and seven. Uh those seven losses were mainly because uh coach Waters set up a tremendous schedule for them. They knew they were going to have a really good team and they went out and played some of the best teams across the state and they didn't back down from those challenges and they lost some tough matches but they competed, they got better and then when they got in the conference they rolled through conference, entered the playoffs with a lot of momentum. uh went all the way through the playoffs without dropping a single set, including in the state championship match.
006They dominated uh had an opportunity to be there. Coach Lass, Dr. Lasser and I, Coach Lasser, sorry about Dr. Lasser, Dr. Lasser and I had a chance to watch that and it was just it was just a thrill to be there to see these young ladies really compete and uh and go and uh not just win a state championship, but dominate for it. Um so, as I said, they didn't lose a single set in the playoffs. Um, and Laney Evans was the MVP of the state championship match. Raise your hand now. [applause] And what we'd like to do is recognize each one of them. So, as I call their name, we're going to be presenting them with a certificate. >> All right, >> that would be excellent. When Mr. Forbes gives you your certificate if
007you will kind of walk around so we can get a picture of you standing behind the board. So you'll kind of make a horseshoe behind the board. >> Great. >> First will be KP Olar. >> Um uh Adeline >> Manuso. All right. Charlie Rose. >> Okay. Ashlin Overby. All right. >> Olivia Baker, >> uh Reagan Wright, >> uh Livia Evans, >> uh Leila Waters, Kinsey Lechworth, Madison House, Laney Evans, Uh Addison Perry, Asia Carver, Elena Peyton, Janiah Sherman, Kellen Hill, and Hon is not here. And then coach Nicole Waters >> and her [clears throat] assistant Lexi Bryant is not with us tonight. >> All right. So, >> yes. >> On behalf of the board, we are are grateful for what you have done and what you have accomplished. I think what you said earlier about
008the coach setting up tough competition that helped pay off. It might not have, hey, we lost this, but yet you grew and uh you became stronger and we appreciate it and we're proud of you. Aiden Griffin uh attendance area is proud of you as well as all of Pit County schools. And uh what a way to start the new year. Thank you so much. [applause] Okay, just stay. >> Come take a picture. >> Three, two, one, four, three, two, one. and ladies, we'll keep you in place for this next. >> Okay. >> In addition to uh being the coach of the state championship team, Nicole Waters was also uh selected as a North Carolina Volleyball Coaches Association 3A State Coach of the Year. >> Wow. [applause and cheering] Coach Waters's record 150 wins and 35
009losses, 77 and six in conference and this was her fifth straight conference championship at Aen Griffin High School. Uh she's also a Spanish teacher at Aen Griffin High School. So we really appreciate her dedication in both in the classroom and outside. >> All right. >> Thank you. >> [applause] >> Thank you. >> And at this time, we would like to recognize our wonderful AD for the district, Paul Cornwell. he was invited um to and this is a tremendous honor to be the assistant coach for the North Carolina team for the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas and he had a wonderful weekend with his I think your family got to go with that right coach coming up here. He's going to tell us a little bit about the experience. >> Um it was a tremendous honor.
010Um, I've coached 33 years and this is we don't really have a Hall of Fame in North Carolina, but for a football coach, this is like being elected to the Hall of Fame. So, >> uh, it is a it was a truly an honor to represent my community, our county, and our state as we played South Carolina. We came up a little short in the game, but we had a great time. We were with great kids, great people the whole week. uh and my family were was able to come and and be a part of that uh experience with me and um you know I really appreciate the support that I got from Pit County Schools to be able to achieve this honor and uh I honestly I don't know when the last coach from
011Pit County actually had this honor. It's been a long time. Uh but um I I'm very very appreciative of the things that I've gotten from Pit County schools and and uh to have this have this great opportunity. So, thank you so much. We appreciate it. [applause] >> Coach Cornwell, we are um appreciative of your leadership, not only at the Shrine Bowl, but across the county and how you're leading our athletics um to multiple state championships and continuing to grow strong athletes and strong students um that are excellent here and it's because of your excellence and how you're leading with us. Thank you so much for all you do. >> Thank you so much. Yes. [applause] >> Coach Cornwell is truly our MVP and our Hall of Famer. We're so fortunate to have him leading athlet
012athletics for Pit County Schools. Next, I invite the wonderful Dawn Hester, who is our director of exceptional children's program um with Pit County Schools as well as the lead adapto PE teacher, Michelle Maisie. I had an opportunity to work with Michelle for many years when I was at Wintergreen and she is just incredible in front of children. Her um her personality is so contagious and there's always a joyful moment when Michelle is in the room. And so they're going to share with you all the great things that are happening with adaptive PE across Pit County schools. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> We're gonna have Mr. Lee come on up. We are having Mr. Lee. He is a huge supporter of our adaptive uh physical education department. Our program is housed at his school at
013EBA Cox. So we're happy to have him in support of us. So thank you all for having us here. It seems like we've got a little physical education activity theme going on. So we're going to keep going with that. Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to recognize this special group of educators um and department, our adaptive physical education team, which consists of um Paige Arp, Jonathan Wells, and like she said, Michelle Maisie, who has been our lead AP teacher for the past 15 years for Pit County Schools. Um some of the typically national physical education sports month is week is celebrated the first week in May but we have a lot of great things that are going on above and beyond that we really wanted to share and celebrate with you all today here
014in June January not June I'm thinking ahead aren't I so that one of the great things that we do for our students to make sure that all of our students are included in all of the activities for physical education is we also to provide bicycle safety for our students. This is where we have our students that are in our PE classes. They get to learn how to ride a bicycle. They get to learn about the um bike bicycle safety uh just included with all students. Another great thing that we do is our adaptive aquatics that we have. We partner with ECU Health and we provide services for over 400 students for them to have water therapy and learn water safety as well. Um and I don't I don't know if you can see, but in
015that picture right >> there on the end is me. Yes. >> In the water with the students. Even even the director need a little water therapy there. [laughter] I >> got in. >> Um so we had a lot of fun that day. Um another great thing that they go above and beyond that we provide our students is those lifelong sports that they can generalize in school and out of school. um bowling, yoga, lots of different activities, golf that they can everybody can participate in and generalize in their post-secary and outside of the schools. And of course, we are huge partners. Our AP department is a huge partner with Greenville Rex for our Special Olympics. Please mark your calendars, April 9th and 10th this school year um at JHROS. We are very, very excited to have
016another amazing Special Olympics. And then we had a special celebration as well. Jonathan Wells, who is one of our adaptive PE teachers, was um was honored as the NC NC NC shape adapted physical education teacher of the year. This is one of the highest honors that a physical education teacher can receive in the state of North Carolina. This award really shows the commitment and demonstrates a teacher who goes above and beyond their services to make sure that students are included and equitable and um are committed to physical and the love of physical activity. So in December we were really um honored to be able to recognize Jonathan for this award, Mr. Wells for this award. Um, Miss Maisie actually nominated him for the award, which just goes to show how we are always lifting up
017our staff. Um, and so we are very, very proud of Mr. Wells, but we have a lot of great things going on with our AP department and we just wanted to celebrate them and recognize them this January. >> Yeah. [laughter] >> Thank you. [applause] >> Let me go back. Sorry. >> So, so just so you all know, I have pictures of Miss Maisie doing swim lessons with my sixth grade >> when he was like two. >> Um, so she works with and does incredible things for all of our students because of how she loves them and um wants everyone to succeed >> um and have fun and uh her love is very clear. >> So, if you ever can go to PE and Friday. Fridays is the best day of the week. >> Every day
018is a good day to be a jer. >> Um, so thank you, Miss Maisie, Mr. Wells, Miss Hester, for all that y'all do for all of our students to be active um in all parts of who they are as students. >> Um, and will you please give this also to Mr. Wells um as we celebrate him and what he's um doing for our students. >> Thanks so much. >> We appreciate all that you do. Thank you so much. >> Thank you for having us. [applause] appreciate. Thank you for >> me. We were just turn Lastly, we want to celebrate you. This is happy schoolboard appreciation month and we want to thank you for all that you do whether it is at Battle of the Books or if it's being a big supporter and cheerleader at
019a theater production or opening your church for back to school events to make sure children have backpacks and school supplies when um when they are off to school the first day or whether it's um helping with our you know FF FA or scholarships for students or making sure they have memberships in their professional organizations or asking questions and challenging us to make us better. Um because you know we want to you see at the bottom of that engage, empower and elevate and our board helps us do that. You are engaged. You help empower us by the decisions that you make every day and that certainly elevates our school system. So, please take this moment to feel appreciated and loved by our schools. Um, we appreciate the many hours that you are here, not only on
020Mondays, but also in buildings taking phone calls and making sure that Pit County Schools is the best school district in North Carolina. So, we thank you for all that you do. >> Thank you. [applause] >> Thank you so much, Miss Olers. Um we are so proud of all of the um outstanding achievements uh athletic achievements um and wonderful um leaders that we have here in Pit County. So um as of 6:15 we have two individuals and one group that is registered to speak tonight for public expression. So at this time I recognize Vice Chair Nibbles Maltzy um to provide some reminders regarding our rules that govern our public expression time. >> Thank you Madam Chair. This evening we have two individuals and one group offering public expression. Public expression is an opportunity to share issues
021of concern that are relevance 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. >> [snorts] >> 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 opportunity to speak will be considered waved. During this time, you may hear someone share a viewpoint with the board that you do not agree with. We do not censor speech by viewpoint and we do not permit our audience to express approval or disapproval for the viewpoints expressed. This time is for
022the 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 irrelevance to our business which includes attack on individual or someone in their personal lives or of discussion of the board members family members. Again, the board will listen to your comments respectfully and our chair may offer some direction if our rules are not followed, but we will not respond to your comments. [clears throat] At this time, I would like to ask if Julie Anderson, she has five minutes, if you will come to the podium. Thank you. Happy New Year. >> Happy New Year. >> I'm with Moms for Liberty. As some of you may not know, I'm turning around because I believe
023the camera's back here. And being that it is public, often times when I've went back and watched things, I don't even see who's actually speaking. Tonight, I'm going to be not that that long, but I want to talk about this book just real quick. I've already provided it to the superintendent. Thank you. >> It's the new face of woke education by Priscilla West. It's out of the government accountability institute. This goes back to what actually certain entities not just in our government basically multi-billionaires want to do not just >> Anderson. Will you please speak into the microphone? >> Okay. not just to the in the United States but also worldwide. It comes down to data mining, not just adults, but primarily data mining, data mining our children. And it's being done right now in our
024schools. And it all started in the 1990s when my children were growing up. >> Miss Anderson, please address the board. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> So, it all began in the 1990s when I was raising my children. We notice now that a lot of lot of young adults in their 20s and even in their 30s, they have a difficult time with critical thinking. It's mostly what they've done is social emotional learning. And that's what their goal is. The evil people I will call them. One of them, of course, it's the United Nations World Health Organization. It's also Mark Zuckerberg and uh Bill Gates. And there's a few others in there like the Rockefellers, but they are the ones funding all of this. And you as a school board, when you make a decision on
025what type of program you want to have in your schools, you may not even realize that that program, which is attached to a cloud, they call it, and we're getting into computer stuff, is actually collecting data on our children. It's actually and it gets into the DEI, of course, which we don't like to talk about. it gets into their um LGBTQ and all these other things that everybody's, you know, going crazy over and whatnot. What it doesn't matter what you think about it. The point is they're trying to take control of our children's minds. And it's working. It's all over our country. It is working. And we wonder why we need more psychologists in our schools, why we need more counselors, and children are having more behavior problems. If you read this book, you're going
026to understand why we're having more and more behavior problems with our children. And I just ask you, please, I have extra books. Please take the time to read this book. This is no joke. We need to take this serious. And this is a new year. We need to come together. It's not about political parties, okay? It's not about whether we're Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, or whatever we are. We need to come together as parents and as school board members, and we need to work together and fight this because we're going to lose our country. We're going to lose our children. We think we have issues now with our children. Just wait if you ignore this. Okay? I'm I'm really serious about this. I If if you really love our children and care about them, you need
027to read this book and find out what's going on. It's not a lengthy book, but there's a lot of things in here that we've never heard of before, but and all the acronyms they use that, you know, they keep changing. And when we're buying things for our school districts and whatnot, and we're using it through our computers and even our our um not just the programs, but curriculum, when we're doing assessments for our schools, when we have the children answer questions, it's all part of the data mining they're trying to collect. They know everything about us and them. And some of you might be like, well, well, of course they do. No, that's not it. They're molding our children's minds, their behaviors, and their beliefs. And it's not getting better, people. It's getting worse. So,
028we really, really need to be vigilant about this and be bold on the decisions that we're making. And that means we cannot think that if we're running for office that we have to turn around and and and look to our political party on how we're supposed to vote for a chair or a vice chair. because we might not get some hand cards or uh a sign to put in our yard, right? We need to pay attention to this. We need to vote and we need to do things on the content of our character, okay? And not give up our reputation. So, I ask you to please do this on behalf of our kids. Thank you. Next we will have Miss Trisha Workham and you have three minutes. I think it's work out. >> Thank you.
029>> Good evening friends. Happy new year. It's great to be back in front of you guys. So, at the end of last year, I did my annual check to church and heard a really good lesson that I'm going to share with you guys today in addition to the other things that I want to address in front of you guys. And the lesson I learned from that sermon was what are we doing here you guys? The pastor talked about Methuselah being on this planet for forever and there being about this much about him in the Bible. And if we're going to be on the planet this long, we need a little bit more this more than this much about us written. We need to be doing good. And I know that I don't make it to
030church a lot and I'm a little rough around the edges, but I love Jesus and I love what he teaches. And I know that he teaches us to love one another and he teaches us to go out and do good and to look at what we're doing. And that brings me to what I want to address with you guys tonight. I think one of the things the board could do as a way of what are we doing and putting our name in good is bringing transparency to the parents and the staff and the people that work for the district. Um, I think that's important because it is easy for things to get dismissed or missed when there's not when it's not brought out. I think ways that this could be done is by having live
031streamed work sessions that are often offered. I think another way would be having public expression offered at those work sessions. I believe that we could offer five minutes of time to everyone so that way if they take more or less time, we have that. We could allow email submission of public expression forms up into a time limit to provide more access to people wanting to participate. We could have an overhauled and updated district handbook because the one we have now is abhorrent. I have read it back and forth and if I have one more person get to decide what what interpret [snorts] it. We we need it to be a little less interpretable by the humans at this point because it's harming our students when we have people that can make decisions because they're hungry
032or tired or they've got personality conflicts and those decisions go real far. We need a little bit tr more transparency and why those decisions are getting made. And so I'm here tonight asking you guys for a little bit more transparency to help us feel that we know we have the best people running so that way we know what are we doing as we move forward into this year. Thank you for your time. >> And beyond Lee three minutes please. You know what actually I'm representing as not as individual I'm representing as a group. I'm the representative of human relations commission of a pit county. Okay. >> So the three minutes is okay but I prepared. Yes. >> You can have five minutes. >> So actually I prepared some document to some of you maybe to
033review. This is this is something what we are going to do. Hello my name is Bang Lee. You can pronounce this B young. I want to be young forever. Okay. So uh today's I would like to share this is something at the human relations commission is trying to do uh year 2026 this we are preparing for this launching as a special event for this uh young people and the all the family can able to participate it as you may know your 2026 will be America we are celebrating 250 years so we'd like to do a special event called America 250 dika poem contest. You may not know this what is a dika poem is a dika it's a digital camera it's a poem combined word use the word this pagoric or picture poem just combining
034the two word combined in it we going to celebrate our America 250 years of history and also this places and also this uh peoples because of This America we have so many unique history say we we do have. So each individual will take pictures even local pictures or uh federal level of this history pictures even sometimes a document they can take a pictures they can write it about poem it is this less than five lines. Sometimes it can be one line or two line or three line but anybody easily can be doable. So this is that's the one representing one topic is history. The other one is places. We have so many beautiful places in here in America. Any individual going around to take pictures or churches, schools, hospital, even farmland this is taking the
035pictures they can write about their this their expressions. So that's one of the the other topic is places. And then third topic is this people who making this America moving forward just like all of us teacher doctors janitors construction workers those people who does making America to be this moving forward. So this is the event that we are going to recognize America for this 250 years. We wants to celebrate the very unique way and then I don't believe anywhere in United States will be doing in this kind of way of celebration. This is this very unique way of the tapa poem contest will be operating by the human relations commission and also this we can collaborate it with the county school would be great and then this we wants to reach out to North Carolina
036to do it and I want to this throughout the US I would like to bring the all the attention of this all over the US to p county that is my goal and it is uh I'm trying to reaching out to many people throughout the US to participate this event together and then this we added this main core groups that is we what we are going to do that so I'm asking the p county school board and the p county school to participate it we are this a key members to do it together to celebrate our America 250 doing a thika poem and then this is we have the children level, elementary level, middle and high school level, and then adult college and adult levels. We have a even price brand price $1,000 and $500
037for the individual and then this uh 300 200 and certificate levels would like to do that and then I would like to have a blessing from you guys and then I would like to have this all the P County school to this I'm hoping all the students to participate remember our country 250 years history people places that is this what we are trying to do that's why this I'm came here to introduce what we are trying to do and there's hope to be this uh informations there you can go into there's a QR code and there's website informations out there and there also backup papers then some example what will be looks like digital da poems will be looks like just in general ideas about it thank you >> sir So, we'll move on to
038our consent agenda for this evening. The following items have been listed on our consent agenda for approval this evening. Minutes from December 1st uh 2025 board meeting. The minutes from the December 15th, 2025 board meeting. Minutes from the December 15, 2025 special called meeting. A second reading and adoption of the change to policy 2130 public participation at board meetings. Approval of restart reauthorization for Griffin School and South Greenville Elementary School minutes from the December 15th, 2025 close session and the personnel reports for January 5th, 2026. Is there a motion to approve the items that are on our consent agenda? >> I'll move that we approve. >> Motion to approve by James, seconded by Amy. Um, is there any discussion? Okay, hearing none. Um, it is moved by James, seconded by Amy, uh, to approve the
039consent agenda this evening. All in favor, please raise your right hand. Any opposed? Uh, the motion's approved, um, to the motion to approve the items on the consent agenda passes unanimously. Um, and at this time, we'll move on to new business. Um and I ask Miss Hod Miss Hodson to um present the revision to policy 4150, the school assignment for first reading this evening. Thank you board members. As was shared at your work session, we have updated policy 4150 to clarify the processes by which families may request a different school. Um we have added language to the policy uh related to schools on a lottery list which you would designate by March 1st. um excuse me, on or before March 1st, the lottery registration would occur between March 1st and March 15th. And then by
040the end of the month, lottery emails will be sent to families. So that is the first update is to recognize this lottery process and and make it clear and simplified for families. The second update relates to student reassignment. Um just to clarify, we have changed adjusted the period uh so that that will begin on April 1st and go through June 30th. Reassignment includes open enrollment uh and families seeking reassignment for other reasons including um being with siblings, stability, hardship or unusual circumstances or work curriculum related reasons. It's all spelled out in the policy, but the new period for that will begin on April 1st and run through June 30th. uh if you are to pass the updates as presented, uh we would eliminate paragraph C1B5, which is some outdated language that is no longer applicable
041to families in our system. And then um we have added some language as well uh to further clarify the grounds for revocation of reassignment, open enrollment, re excuse me, reassignment, the lottery or um even for transfer students as well. Um, if there are no further changes to the policy, we would ask that it be approved. Uh, second reading on your consent agenda for the February board meeting. Any discussion this? Okay. Is there a consensus to include the revisions for policy 4150 on the consent agenda for our February meeting? >> Yes. >> Okay. There's a consensus. Thank you, Emma. At this time, I ask Dr. Roach and Dr. Feller to please share the proposed 2026 2027 academic calendar and the survey results with us. >> Thank you. Good evening madame chair, madam madame vice chair board
042and Dr. Lacader. So Dr. Feller and I um are back to talk about the feedback that we received in regards to the 2026 2027 school calendar. As you'll remember from our board work session in December, this is the calendar um that was shown to you all. Um and this is the calendar that we asked the public for feedback on. We want to just make a reminder of what our legislative requirements are in terms of making a school calendar. Um the the things that we have to remember the most are that um our start and our end time. Those are always important. Um, and those are the things that when we look at feedback, the things that people um would like for us to change the most. So, when we start to look at the calendar
043feedback, the calendar um survey feedback was open for two full weeks. We received 612 responses. Uh, community members without students, there were four. Uh, district personnel 27, parent guardians 198, school administrators 13, school classified staff 51 responses, teachers 292, and then just there was an other I guess someone found it online and decided they wanted to give some feedback. Um, and so we had two people to to do that. when we start to look at the themes um the things that we constantly saw reoccurring um in the feedback um structure of the calendar that was the very first thing people talked about the overall structure uh the calendar was regular it was predictable um it was appealing even though they may or may not agreed where where dates were actually placed on the calendar they
044liked that the calendar had monthly breaks um for students and staff half um to reduce burnout. They appreciated again that there was a day off each month, that it's the breaks were evenly spaced throughout the calendar. Um and they appreciated there being two full weeks um in December for winter break. Um additional feedback that we consistently saw was centered around teacher work days and professional learning time. Um the general request um was for teacher work days to for there to be a teacher work day immediately following a break like a long break that we would have. And then there was a request for more optional work days within the calendar um because those are the days that people could actually take off um and so there was a request request to have more of those
045built within this calendar. Um and I'll let Dr. Feller talk about spring break. Good evening. Um, so yeah, to follow up on the conversation uh that we had last time, I know that there was a lot of conversation around spring break. So, we did a deep dive into the comments and into the data on spring break. Um, 149 or 25% of all the responses reference spring break directly. Uh, 14%, excuse me, 14 of them, um, there was a specific request aligned to either Pit County uh, Pit Community or East Carolina. Uh, seven people requested a later break, um, specifically saying April or May. Um, eight people requested separating spring break from Easter, but they didn't indicate a preference whether they wanted it early or later. Um, and 120 of them expressed appreciation for aligning the
046break with Easter and Good Friday. Uh, so there was the there's kind of a table uh just to to highlight all of that. um some additional feedback that was that was listed. Um there were some themes that popped up. One was um a request for having a full week off at Thanksgiving um to end school before Memorial Day. Uh there was a request for some clarification around parent conference days and also um a request to start earlier in the year so that we could end first semester before the winter break which would include putting high school exams before the winter break. Um, so we we expected most of those. >> Before you leave that, >> can you go back to I mean how many what are we talking about in numbers here? Are we just
047talking about individual is sent in or or what? >> So I don't have the exact numbers off top of my head. They were large enough that they I mean that it popped up multiple times. All of these were multiple times. And by multiple it's not two or three. Um yeah, it was these were pretty significant. >> Okay. >> Um other additional feedbacks or considerations that people requested? Um, and we would like to say that in seeing this, this popped up more than 50 times um, in the feedback there that people would like for us to for the school system to have uh, the semester end uh, in December and for exams to be given. And so um, we want to make sure that we address this. We do not want anyone to think that we
048do not hear what they are saying because we do hear that you would like for the semester to end in December for exams to be then. Um based on the calendar that we do have if that were to happen it would create uneven semesters. Um and so that would mean there would be 79 days in the first semester and 101 days in the second semester. Um this significantly reduces our instructional time for students to master the content um in the in particular subject areas well in all subject areas and an early start calendar um because that is also addressed. Why can't we start earlier so that we can have we can get out early um not get out early we start early so that we can have the exams uh before winter break. An early
049start calendar would mean that Pit County schools would not be adhering to the calendar law. Um, and this would open the district and the school board up to potential lawsuits. Okay. So our next steps uh when we initially um came to you in December, we were asking to bring the feedback to you uh provide the feedback to you and then make a revised calendar, bring that back. Um what we are asking tonight is for your consent for approval for the calendar that you all have in front of you and we are asking for that consent for approval. Um due to the calendar already being complete um we did um have some conversations as you will see there when we start to talk about how the revisions to the calendar were made. We used the survey
050feedback. We used um board comments from our December work session and we did have some conversations with PI Community College and we do thank doc thank Dr. Far and Dr. McGee and the staff there um for reaching out to us and having conversations with us about where spring break could be placed. Um and so based on that feedback um we have moved the spring break as you can see on the calendar. Um and that will be aligned to where Pit Community College will have their spring break. So based on the board feedback, Pit County Schools um has confirmed Pit Community College participation in the calendar process moving forward. Um and we will continue to um have conversations with our other community partners about engaging in the process with us. >> Any discussion or questions for
051Dr. Roach? >> I don't have a >> Mary. I don't have a question. And I just want to thank you for listening and taking in the suggestion that we offered to include the others and that way the community can see that we are trying to act together as educators to do the best what's best for our children. So want to really give you all a pat on the back for doing that. >> Thank you. And the only other thing I would ask and I'm sure you're probably going to grant this just so I can communicate with the right numbers. Will this be offered to us as a paper copy or the presentation? >> Yes, ma'am. >> The results. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Thank you. >> I just wanted to say that I think calendar y'all
052have done a wonderful job in getting it's instructionally balanced and to me that was something that was very important. Uh and I know parents, you know, they have would prefer and the kids would prefer that uh they take exams in December, but in the long run when we look at uh instructionally we need to have our semester's balance to where they are evenly split as much as possible and uh I think we have worked around the uh trying to work with these other agencies in making sure that our holidays and spring breaks and so forth are can meet their standards as much as possible. So I think it's a good calendar. >> Thank you. >> And you also have got reasons why we can't do some of the things >> exactly >> that were requested.
053You got something written down and I think that needs to make public needs to know that. >> Okay. There a motion to approve the proposed. >> I'm sorry, Benji. >> Yeah. Yeah. I want to follow up on that because I know you can't tell a newspaper how to print the paper and what to put in it. But flip back on that u point where it has where we were asking for let's where we were asking reasons why we couldn't do >> Oh, >> right. That would certainly be a that'd be a nice thing that the daily reflector could create for us if they would certainly do so. Uh because that that that is one of the big reasons why we have to do what we do and and why we do it. >> Yes, absolutely.
054Thank you for highlighting that. Is there a motion to approve the proposed 2026 2027 academic calendar that's been presented by Dr. Ro and Dr. Motion to approve. >> Motion to approve. Fourth. >> Justin, any discussion? [laughter] Oh goodness. No clue around here. >> We're in it together. Um >> Okay. [laughter] Um any further discussion about the calendar this evening? Okay. So, um it's been uh moved by Worth and seconded by Justin. All in favor, please raise your right hand. And this motion passes um eight to zero. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Appcate. >> At this time, we'll have our closing comments. Um we'll start with Dr. Lasser and then um our individual board members. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh good evening everyone and uh happy new year. I hope everyone
055had a great holiday. It's uh feels good to be back into uh the groove of things. go. Uh it was great to get back to work today and and continue the successful things that we're doing. Proud of our students. It's always great to see our students up and uh being celebrated and acknowledged for the great work they're doing as well as our employees. So, I'm very proud. I also want to thank uh Dr. Roach and uh Dr. Feller for their work on the calendar. Uh I think they work just as hard as we sort of work Dr. Patterson uh with a couple with an item here recently and I'm just thankful that uh we have a great team who hear feedback and they go back and work really hard to make things work um not
056just for our board but for our community as it was already stated. So I'm really thankful and appreciative uh to them. I'm looking forward to the next half of the year. We've got some great things ahead planned for Pit County Schools. Um, and I'm thankful for the board support and the new ventures that we have and opportunities that we have for our students and families. So, I'm just really excited about this uh next half of the year. Uh, in addition to looking forward to celebrating our board this month. Uh, so happy school board appreciation month to our school board. As I always say, the best board in North Carolina. It's an honor to serve and work with you and we look forward to continuing to celebrate you this month for the work that you do
057for our community. So, Miss Madam Chair, this concludes my comments. >> Okay, this is new seat over here. Um, happy new year everyone. Thank you so much for being here tonight. And I want to just kind of go off what Dr. Lasser was saying. I truly appreciate Dr. Roach and Dr. Feller and Dr. last talking to um Dr. Far. You know, of course, everything Dr. Patterson has been dealing with us and going back and forth and back and forth. So, we so appreciate all of you guys and everything that you do for us and helping us with making sure that all our constituents are are happy and we do what we can for our county as a whole. So, we really appreciate that. Um, and I love the idea of getting more people involved in
058the calendar because I think that's always a big issue and I think the more people get involved, I think the more um, transparency that we have in that aspect there. So, I do appreciate all of that. Um, thank you again to all of our people that spoke today. Um, congratulations to our 3A volleyball team, Aiden Griffin. That's very, very I know they're very honored for that and I know they worked really hard for it. It's always great to see a team that works hard pull it off in the end. So that's always a great thing. And I just hope everyone has a great semester. Let's hopefully this will be an uneventful semester maybe. We'll see. That concludes. >> Thank you, Amy. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Happy New Year to everyone. I do want to
059uh bring attention to there were four homicides last week in the county and I want to make sure if any of our students are affected by the homicide that took place that we have continually like we do have people in place to uh talk with our students. Um it is a very serious time in all communities and when you have a grandson who take the lives of his grandparents um that family really need uh prayers from everyone. Now I just ask that we continue to pray for the four families and also to continue to talk to our children about the things that are going on in our communities. also um to north of the river. Uh we'll start visiting this month to our school north of the river. So I'm looking forward to having a
060good time visiting with our schools. Uh congratulations to the Aiden Griffin volleyball team. I hate that Rose High beat Green Central during the um holiday class, but congratulations to Rose High >> for beating Green Central. [clears throat] I won't happy about that, but I'm glad to be a part of Pit County. [laughter] >> But again, uh I want to say to the board, I look forward to to 20 uh 26 being a good year for the board to move forward and work together. So many people don't understand how we work together. And my grandson has taken an interest in coming to the meetings. It seemed like every meeting now he wants to come to the meetings and to have young people want to come and see what we do. And I'm asking any other young
061person uh talk to your parents about bringing you to the board meeting so they will see what we're trying to do to make sure that our children get the best education that they can and that we're taking care of all of our children uh throughout Pit County. Thank you. Uh, just to echo, I'm try to keep it short so I don't cough on everybody. Um, happy new year. Glad to be back. Glad the kids are going back to school today. Always a good time for us parents. Um, over the holidays, uh, some of the board members were able to participate in some parades, which is a great time. I really enjoyed the fellowship we had, uh, with community members, leaders, and each other during that time. Congratulations to uh Miss Waters and Aiden Griffin. Um
062also Miss Waters runs a top-notch or should I say top caliber volleyball club team out of Greenville area. Um so if your kids ever looking for travel volleyball, she is definitely one of the ones to go to. She is a great coach. Uh my daughter was lucky enough to play for a year [snorts] or two and uh we really thank a lot of Miss Waters and the Aiden Griffin volleyball team. Uh thank you to the people who did public speaking tonight. Always a pleasure to hear from all of you. Um, thank you to Dr. Roach and Dr. Fellows for the calendar. As as I stated, you know, not only will we open ourselves up to lawsuits, I think we talked about potentially losing federal funding also by breaking the laws. And I think that's that
063plays a huge part when you're thinking about the kids and not just about what day would be easier to get out of school around Christmas. Um, but other than that, uh, like I said, just got like Bishop said, talk to your kids about the severity of the actions and the consequences of what they what can happen and just make sure that they know that something as simple as pulling a trigger could could really end their life and somebody else's life. Um, not only that, we had a uh family that has to bury a uh very young baby in district 4, which is always sad and no parent should ever go to. So, if you if you need anything, reach out to the community. District 4 is behind you. I know there's some things going on
064in the farmal community that are trying to um bring back the materialistic things that you've lost. Uh, but please reach out if you if you need to talk to anybody or or just just need somebody to vent to. We're all here to listen to you. That concludes my comments. Thank you. [snorts] >> Thank you, Justin. Um, just glad to be back and, you know, was thinking about just the amazing staff and leaders that we have here. Um, Paul and his honor and and I know he's not a boastful guy, but but you can see how much it meant. um to have that honor. And I'm it just tickles me to see people who work so hard for their entire careers get to have capstone experiences like that. And so I'm I'm just really excited for
065him and for his family and for Picone because I think it's an incredible um win for everybody. And then Dawn just lights up every time she gets to talk about her staff. And I would love to, you know, pour more and more into our students um to ensure that all of our kids have the capacity and access to be as healthy as possible and and just I think some of the pictures you see, you know, other children helping our children. And I think that's really what we need to go a little bit with what Bishop Trip was saying is we just need to help each other and and move with love and kindness. We don't always have to agree. We won't, but that's that's what this world is about, but we have to be able
066to do it with kindness. Um, so and it's a privilege to serve with that in mind. I also want to keep in mind our high schoolers who are preparing for finals. So I know this can be a very anxious time for them. So whatever supports those teachers, parents and children need um just am really grateful that we have such great educators that those those children will do well. Um and the other thing is the flu. So I'm putting us all in the bubble as a district, right? We are we're in impenetrable bubble, but just make sure you're talking to your kids about and your students about handwashing and keeping kids home if they're running a fever so that we can kind of contain some of this. I really do worry. Um, there's only so much
067we can do. Cue the sneezing and the coughing. Um, but I I do think if we just try to really support our students in getting caught back up, um, sometimes I think they're afraid to miss school because they're afraid to miss a day. So, we have to all kind of work together to contain this. So, but anyway, I just appreciate all that the parents are doing to try their kids their keep their kids as healthy and and we're going to get through this one way or another. So, thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. Congratulations to Aiden Griffin, the volleyball team. I mean, we all should be proud of that. I also think during this time of the year, uh, it was I felt like it was always a good time, especially with principles,
068to review some important things that we need to remind them of. And just a few things that come to my mind is the instructional time, how important that is, and that that teachers are teaching from bail to bail. If you lose five or 10 minutes every day, count that up over a year. Um, another thing that I think is important is principles need to know what kind of movies are being shown and will they support the instructional strategy that they're teaching. Uh, I always get someone to call during holidays or half days that they say, you know, I just I don't see my kid anymore because all they do is watch movies. I know that it's not happening everywhere, but just for principles to be aware, there was not a movie shown in my school
069that I didn't approve and it had to support the um standard course of study. Uh, also, and I've mentioned this before, that's so important to me that I think our kids are lacking in public [clears throat] speaking. And I'm hearing that from professors at the community college as well as the college ECU that they they the public speaking skills are weak and their writing skill [snorts] writing being able to write uh a strategic idea or thought on a piece of paper. And we really got to be careful about that because now, you know, students can rely on AI and they're going to lose a whole section of their brain that is stimulated by these activities. Um, if our teachers are not doing things within the class, you know, it's got to be done within the
070class. And uh I think the public speaking aspect is so important because our kids are going to graduate. They're going to go out and they're going to apply for jobs and being able to speak will be the difference in you getting a job and you not getting a job. And being able to be knowledgeable in whatever you're seeking. But I just think that is so important for us to do. And I think you got a principal's meeting tomorrow. >> Okay. Thank you a lot. >> Thank you. >> Got it. >> Uh so good evening and of course a big congrats to uh PCS athletics. So the Aiden Griffin volleyball team, Miss Waters, Mr. Cornwell, and the adaptive PE team and Mr. Wells. Um this is such an important part of developing a child is the
071physical aspect and the physical education. Um we know from so many studies that uh exercise and therapies uh can make such a difference and can help students learn better. So I'm so proud of our district and uh all their work in that. Um I also want to wish everyone a happy new year and welcome back to Pit County Schools. I hope everyone is rested and recharged. I am also wishing luck to students as they prepare for their finals. I have uh had two teenagers sitting at a kitchen table in my house for several days working on calculus, so I I feel their pain. Uh I know there are a lot of great apps that help you study, but in my opinion, nothing beats a good oldfashioned flashc card. So kids, Google it, flashcards. Um they're
072excellent for studying. [laughter] Um, so what I look forward to in 2026, um, in addition to seeing the amazing things we're doing for the physical health of our students, I'm also really proud of what District 8 is trying to do with the mental health of our students. Um, PCS educates with academics, but also with social skills that allow us to understand each other, to self-regulate when we're upset or angry, and to learn how to resolve our differences with reason discourse rather than anger and distrust. So to that end, um Wall Coats um had their students participate in a positive behavior challenge right before winter break and this encouraged positive student behavior and work habits and they plan to do another challenge this week from from what I've read. Um, another thing that I think is
073pretty great is EPS has become uh a capturing kids heart school. And right before the break, they ask parents to fill out a survey uh to uh see how they're how basically the program is working. And they're going to ask they ask parents questions like, "Do you feel that your school cares about your child? Do you feel comfortable talking to faculty and staff?" Uh these are such important questions because of course our schools aren't just our students, they're um the people who take care of the students and if they feel comfortable and happy in our schools, then everyone's going to just do a lot better. Um and then finally, I'm excited for on the road again and I really hope that Dr. Lacier will consider playing the Willie Nelson song as people. >> Thank you.
074Yeah. >> Thank you, Madam Chairman. Uh first of all, uh I do wish everyone listening and everyone in the audience tonight a happy new year. Looking forward to this semester. I'm feel confident that we'll have a very very successful new year and a new semester. Um so many times we do have every one of you are celebrities. I want you to understand that you're very special. But uh to sometimes you just got to point someone out to sitting in the audience. It's really really special. And I've gotten to know this young man over the years. He's in his early 20s. >> He started he started his own business. He's very civic-minded and he's going going places one day and they're all going to be positive places. And I was telling him I was having a
075school board meeting tonight. He said, "Mr. Forest, I sure would like to come be a part of that. Just kind of see what the business of schools are all about." So, Landon Anderson, raise your hand so everybody can see [laughter] you. And I'm sure that the TV camera can turn around and make sure they point you out. Uh, secondly, I'd like to um say, you know, I echo about public speaking. One one of the best leadership skills we can teach is public speaking. I I taught public speaking for about 30 years and and one of the best tools that we have in Pit County schools to teach public speaking is our career technical student organizations that go through career technical education. and I had the opportunity along with a couple other school board members that
076are sitting around the table this evening to be a judge for public speaking for the regional uh FBLA that we had right before Christmas. Those young people did a fantastic job and it's our it's it's critical that Pit County schools teach those leadership SC skills that a lot of cases only come through career technical education. I tell you something else that we're really missing the boat on. uh even some career technical education program areas have dropped the ball on and that's uh public uh not public speaking but parliamentary procedures. It's very vital that our young people have those parliamentary uh procedure skills as well. And I'll get the opportunity to do that when we have our annual FFA alumni meeting that's going to be at the Pig Palace this upcoming week. those young people over
077700 FFA members many of many of that uh representatives will be at that pig palace next week and they'll be performing some of those parliamentary procedure and public speaking skills. So I'll come back in February and report to you how successful they've been. >> Thank you madam chair. Happy new year and a special congratulations to Aiden Gritham volleyball team, coach Conwell and everyone who was recognized this evening. I was delighted to attend the Parker Barbecue Holiday Tournament and congratulations to J Rose High School boys and girls team won the tournament. I'm looking forward to visiting the four schools in my district in the near future. A public thank you to my sorority sisters [clears throat] to my former colleagues and to my sweet daughter for helping make one of our students have a wonderful Christmas.
078I spoke with his mother and she said, "Miss Monsby, my baby was overjoyed." She said he was just all out of himself. And to for to hear a parent say that about their child and the mother were just in an accident, it really makes you know that you're doing the right thing. Again, thank you to their principles and assistant principal for this delicious popcorn. Thank you to Dr. Lasser and Miss Offer for recognizing us on this evening. Thank you. That makes you again feel good. And last but not least, thank you Dr. Roach. Thank you [snorts] Dr. Feller. We know you did your best and we thank you for this nice calendar that you worked so hard to come up with. That concludes my comments. >> Thank you. Um, I'll be fairly quick. Um, welcome
079back everyone to our students and to our staff. Um, and happy new year. We're excited for what Pit County Schools has in the upcoming year. Um, I'm excited about the on the road again and um, all of the things that the spring holds. Um, that is such special things that happen within our schools. Um, I want to kind of echo some of the things that our board did say and I won't belabor the point, but um, Jennifer, Bishop Trip, talking about how important it is that we help each other. What we do impacts one another. Um, whether it's an a direct impact or um an indirect impact. You know, what we're doing here in the boardroom impacts our schools and what happens in our classrooms is impacting our families. Um, and so recognizing that we
080we need each other and we need to be working together. Um, which leads also to the transparency that I think is so important. Um, and I know and have spent time with this board. We've been together for a little while now. Um, and I know that everyone on this board wants our community to know what we're doing, what we're talking about, where our passions are. Sometimes we don't we don't know what you don't know. Um, and so we need you to ask us. We want you to engage, which is part of why we're going on the road again. Um, but I really encourage our community, our educators to ask questions of your principles, of your teachers, of us, because we don't know what you don't know. When it becomes the air we breathe, we know
081the calendar law. And so, we don't necessarily, our first thought isn't to explain why the calendar is the way it is. So know that if you don't understand something as a community member, um we want to uh be transparent and we want to have those conversations and I can um confidently say that everyone around this board table um wants our communities to know how we're coming to our decisions and why we're having those um conversations. Um I'm so proud of the well-roundedness of our students across Pit County. the athletics tonight. We talked about um thinking about the art show, the Harvey Wooten art show we had back in um December, the FPLA um regional um regional competition that we had recently. I know we have all district band tryyouts this weekend, which is going to
082be it's going to be something in that middle school gymnasium. I can tell you that. Um, so there's so many things that our students are doing outside of the classroom that adds to their education. And I'm so proud to be part of a district that prioritizes all of those things as well. Um, and the public speaking. I absolutely I think it's so important um for our students to find confidence to make eye contact, to speak. Um, we see that in CTE. I also want to celebrate that we see it in our um, Spanish immersion program. um we see it and if y'all want to see the video of my first grader presenting it was it was incredible how um these ext these other experiences whether it's CTE Spanish immersion band athletics how it really um
083supports our students to be well-rounded community members um and I could go on and on because I think P County schools is wonderful and this board is wonderful and things we're doing are wonderful but we all don't want to listen to me and so I appreciate appreciate all of you being here. Um, is there a motion to adjourn this evening? >> I James Trip Jared [laughter] was also been moved by James and seconded by Mary to adjourn adjourn the meeting. Um, any oppose or all in favor, please raise your right hand. Okay. The motion to adjourn passed unanimously. >> Happy January.