Richmond County School Board (May12, 2026)

001Heat. Heat. homeschool and some neighboring counties. Together, they create a long-term strategy for financial stability and student opportunity. We feel so strongly about this initiative that we have provided a draft of grant needed to begin the districtwide solar project, demonstrating that the plan is not only visionary but actionable. The LB magnet is a critical part of this strategy. All ERB middle attendance zone students would automatically be enrolled, ensuring stability for families and continuity for the school. And importantly, this is only a pilot. Our long long-term vision is a district with multiple magnet themes, each aligned to the strengths of its community. The LB magnet plan is a student opportunity plan, one that prepares our children for jobs of the future, strengthens enrollments, pulls families back into public education, and stabilizes the entire district. Our committee

002respectfully requests that the board fully review these proposals and upon approval implement them according to the timelines included in each plan. Next, you will hear about cost savings opportunities these plans provide. Thank you. Good evening. My name is Willis Fabby, 166 East Main Street in Elerby, North Carolina. Richmond County Schools can achieve significant referring savings through energy modernization supported by state and federal programs based on the district-wide solar and micro feasibility analysis. Annual savings across all 15 schools are projected at 159,000 to 274,000 per year with cumulative savings over 20 years reaching between 3 million and 5.5 million. These savings come from programs already active in North Carolina including Duke Energy's power repair incentives and peak shaving peak shaving strategies that reduce demand charges because of the district paid some of the highest per kilowatt

003rates in the region. Richmond County stands to benefit more than many districts that have already adapted solar. The districtwide solar plan also improves energy resilience. Schools with battery storage can maintain critical operations during outages, protect refrigerated food supplies, and support communication systems when power is disrupted. Enrollment drives district stability. The project grow middle school from 191 students to between 250 to 300 students within three years with the strongest gains in years one and two. These projections match rural magnet trends statewide where enrollment typically rises 20% to 40%. This growth produces substantial recurring revenue. Based on this district's ADM funding rate, the LB magnet is projected to generate 800,000 to 1.2 million in new ADM revenue annually by years three to five depending on enrollment growth. Magnets also attract grant funding, business partnerships, and community investment.

004Solar focused programs qualify for STEM workforce development and energy education grants that traditional schools cannot access, positioning EMS as a region regional model for innovation. Students who begin exploring solar technology at Elby Middle School can later earn industry recognized certifications to Richmond Senior or Richmond Community College, including the solar installer certification, which students can complete before graduating high school. This prepares them for high demand technical careers immediately after graduation. Solar energy, agricultural technology, and energy efficiency trades are among the fastest growing sectors in North Carolina. And the median seller for solar installers is approximately 48,800 right out of high school. Most importantly, this plan benefits students and the next speaker will discuss those student focused advantages in more detail. Thank you. Bill Webb. >> Good evening. My My name is Bill Webb and I reside

005at 442 John Webb Road in Elerby, North Carolina. at I'd like to thank all the community for showing up tonight at the on the third leg of the proposal that's been put up at by Deborah and Will and at the center of this proposal is one priority what's best for the students of Richmond County. The solar aggra science magnet gives students a clear pathway from Lerby Middle to Richmond senior or RCC with opportunities to explore high demand technical fields. They can gain foundational knowledge, learn about agricultural science, sustainability, engineering, environmental technology, and STEM problem solving. Hands-on learning at the middle school level is especially powerful. Research shows that early exposure to real world problem solving processes increases engagement, improves attendance, and strengthens long-term outcomes. And students in STEMbased magnet programs are more likely to compete

006high school complete CT pathways in high school and earn industry credentials. The magnet supports career exploration, not career selection. Students are not being asked to choose a profession at age 11 or 12. They're being given opportunities to explore emerging fields, see how technology connects to agriculture and energy, and build confidence in solving complex problems, skills that benefit them in any future path. Renewable energy of course is one of the fastest growing job sectors in the country with a growth of about 40 to 50% over the next decade creating strong pathways to employment. Our vision is seamless certification pipeline. Richmond Senior provides the solar aligned coursework and RCC delivers the industry training needed for entrylevel solar installation allowing students to graduate being fully certified in this job ready field. The magnet also strengthens the district's relationship

007with local employers, solar companies, agricultural technology firms, and energy efficiency. This is a good basic structure. You as a board may find five or six years from now that the technical part of this might be more better suited to tie to the uh to the campus right below town here. We just don't know yet. But we think the solar energy model is good to go along with agriculture in our in our community. In closing and on behalf of the Wildcat Pride uh Pride Committee, we respectfully request that the documents provided for our proposal be made part of the official record. We also ask that the board fully exhaust the solution for this along with any other viable proposals before considering a closure study. We appreciate your time. Elizabeth Bryant, >> better known as >> Testing,

008testing, testing, testing. I am Beth McFaden Bryant from Ellerby and I strongly oppose the proposed closure of Ellerby Middle School. Ellerby Middle is not simply an educational facility. It is a cornerstone of the Eerby community. Living in an agricultural hub in the northern end of the Richmond County provides a unique experience. It's an environment that's different. It provides experiences hard to replicate elsewhere. It is here where we grow crops, peaches, tobacco, produce, and where we raise horses and cattle and chicken and swine. But our greatest commodity and our most profound investment is the raising and educating of our children. As a retired educator, most of my 30 plus years were spent in Richmond County in the classroom at Mineral Springs and Ellerby Middle and then in all the schools in the district with technology. So

009I come to you with experience and firsthand knowledge of the impact lerby middle school has on students. Without a doubt, Ellerby Middle student Ellerby Middle School facilitates 21st century learners who are well-rounded and globally aware. Communities like Ellerby deserve investment, not reduction. Students in Lerby deserve equitable access to education close to home. Rule schools should not be viewed only through enrollment numbers, age of buildings, and operating cost. Preserving the school would demonstrate a commitment from you, the board, to supporting all students and communities in the northern end of the county. In the year 1854, Chief Seattle of the Northwest Indian tribe offered his profound expression of concern about the loss of his heritage, the loss of land, and the displacement of his people. A concern that echoes into our modern discourse about cultural preservation. The

010spirit of his legendary speech is as alive today as it was 172 years ago. And I will paraphrase that speech. All things are connected like the blood that unites us. We did not weave the web of life. We are merely a strand in it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. So just as the web of life reminds us that we do to one strand affects the whole, what you, Richmond County Board of Education does to the school in Ellerby will vibrate. It will resonate through the entirety of Richmond County. You cannot weaken the rural community without eventually weakening the county as a whole. In closing, I strongly request that this board pursue alternatives that maintain Lerby Middle School. And by saving the school, you will invest in the future of rural

011education in Richmond County. >> Thank you. Right behind you. Marshia Lambeath, >> Dr. Frell, Mr. Chairman, members of the board. Um, due to the brevity of the time that we're able to speak, I shortened it considerably, but I do have a copy for all of you of what I wanted to say. Can y'all hear me? >> All right. I'm Marsha Lamb and I'm from Derby and I love Ellerby School and I love Ellerby people and I am proud of them. Our elderly students uh and schools have always done more with less and we will continue to do so. But it feels like we are being punished for a crime that we did not commit. I'm reminded of words from Mr. Gerald Tilman, a custodian from Ellery Junior High, who once told me, "Listen to what

012people say, but listen more carefully to what they do not say. In the March 24th meeting, I heard a great deal about financial hardships and how closing Ellerby Middle was supposedly the only option. I heard callous and dismissive remarks. But what I did not hear was discussion about what is truly in the best interest of the child. Even though student success is the first governing principle of Richmond County Schools Board of Education, I want to thank those of you who stood against the closure study and ask that you will commit to keeping K8 schools in Ellerby. Our high school students have traveled long distances since the opening of Richmond Senior High School and the negative effects have been well documented. disciplinary issues, academic struggles, and even tragic loss of life. Two students lost their lives

013while traveling to Richmond Senior High, and a young lady was killed while waiting in the dark by the side of the road for her bus when a car slid off the road on ice, struck, and killed her. >> They were simply trying to get to school from our end of the C. Excuse me. Their lives were cut short. Their families forever changed. And the world will never know what they could have become. The decisions you make about closing our school will affect generations to come. I respectfully urge you to lead with fairness, compassion, and courage. Put yourself in our shoes. Carefully analyze all data, not just financial and enrollment. Remember the golden rule. Do unto others as you will have them do unto you. Keep our K8 schools in Eerby. That's all we're asking. >>

014Keep our schools bare so we do not punish 6 through 8. Thank you. And our last speaker is Sierra McQueen. My name is Sierra McQueen. I reside in Derby, but we also like to call it God's country. My family has a long history of attending Ellerby schools. My granny Marie Marie East McQueen graduated from Ellerby High School in 1953. This notebook that I'm reading from was actually used for her planning her 40-year class reunion there. My aunt was the last graduating class in 1972. When I was there, it was Ellery Junior High from 6th to 9th grade in 1998 until 2002. I rode the bus one hour each way to school, getting on the bus around 6:50 to 7:00 in the morning. I was active in clubs and cheered my ninth grade year, named homecoming

015queen by my peers and selected for the principal's award. If our school had been consolidated, as y'all have liked to plan, so many students like myself wouldn't have the opportunity to play sports or take part in afterchool activities. I was fortunate enough to have my granny pick me up or a classmate's mom from afterchool activities. I recently spoke with a bus driver from Mineral Springs who took me through his daily route going from Mangum, X-way, Norman to Ellerby, a 2hour trip one way for the first ones on and the last ones off. the last student being dropped off at 5:00 pm. How does it make any sense to consolidate our school on the northern end of the county to another school that is an additional 18 minutes away by car with no additional stops. Kids

016that have these long bus rides will be less likely to play sports or engage in afterchool activities if made to consolidate. It was stated in other options it would be to close Ashley Chapel or West Rockingham Elementary. It would seem most convenient and economical to make the closure of West Rockingham and consolidate with LJ Bell since they are being awarded a $42 million grant to rebuild. It sounds like money that could accommodate the students and staff at West Rockingham which is only 2.7 miles away from LJ Bell. There are obvious cuts that can be made without messing up the legacy and humble beginnings that come out of Ellery Middle. >> Thank you, Sierra. >> We do have an existence of a quorum. So I call this meeting to order. Mr. Tilman, would you please prayer

017and silence and pose? >> Yes, you all stand for moments of silence. >> Thank you. We can address the flag. 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. >> Thank you, Mr. Tilman. >> Board members, you have the open session minutes from our April 14th meeting. I need to get a motion. A motion to approve those minutes. >> I'll make the motion. >> A motion by Mr. Eths by a second. >> Second by Miss Orsby. Is there any discussion? >> All favor by saying I. >> I. >> All oppose. >> Thank you. >> Dr. Frell, what about tonight's agenda? Um, I'd like to add um the LJ Bell construction project after item

0187.15, facilities optimization. >> Okay. So, I I do need a motion to adopt the amended agenda. >> So, move. >> Have a motion by Mr. Baldwin. Do I have a second? >> Second by Mr. Mason. Is there any further discussion on that? All in favor by saying I. All >> opposed have an agenda. Thank you, Dr. Frell. And our first order of business, as I said, we're going to have a lot of student and staff recognition. So, here we go. Um, our first order of business is with Miss Cameron Whitley. >> Good evening, Chairman Satderfield, Dr. Frell, members of the board. We're excited to recognize some staff tonight for our very last inspiring excellence of the school year. We will start with Miss Joy Watson at East Rocking Camp Elementary. Good evening. My first excellence

019award recognition goes to Miss Casey Hatcher. Miss Casey Hatcher. >> She's fighting her way through the crowd. Miss Casey Hatcher exemplifies excellence through her unwavering commitment to East Rockham Elementary students and staff. As an EC teacher, she consistently goes above and beyond to ensure that every child she serves receives the support, encouragement, and high quality instruction they deserve. Casey's work is rooted in a deep understanding of her students as a genuine passion for helping them succeed. She thoughtfully designs instruction that is individualized, engaging, and aligned to children's needs. Through her patience, creativity, and perseverance, she helps students build their academic skills and confidence. She celebrates their progress, no matter how small that is. She creates a learning environment where students feel safe, valued, and capable for success. Beyond the classroom, Casey is a strong advocate

020for her students and their families and maintains an open, consistent communication with parents, ensuring that they feel informed, supported, and included in their child's education. Casey is supportive and collaborative colleague. She works closely with the general ed teachers, the staff, the inter I'm sorry, the administration to ensure students receive what they deserve comprehensively. What truly sets Casey apart is the heart of service. She consistently goes above and beyond, not because she's required, but because she genuinely cares. Whether she is supporting a struggling student or guiding a parent or assisting a colleague, she approaches every situation with professionalism, empathy, and Yeah, two. The next excellence award goes to Miss Priscilla Henson. Miss Hson is a shining example of dedication, professionalism, and excellence at East Rockingham. In her role as data manager, she consistently goes above and

021beyond to ensure the school operates efficiently and effectively. Her attention to reliability, detail, commitment, and accuracy make her invaluable as the asset to the staff administration. What sets Priscilla apart is not only her mastery of the primary responsibilities, but also her willingness to step in whenever she is needed. During a time of transition within the school when the need arose to hire a new bookkeeper, Priscilla did not hesitate to take additional office duties to ensure continuity and support for daily operations. She seamlessly absorbed aspects of the bookkeeper role while continuing to fulfill her own at a high level. Her flexibility and problem solving mindset help maintain stability during a period that could have otherwise been challenging to the school. Priscilla approaches her work with a calm and steady demeanor, even under pressure you would never

022know it. She is highly organized, proactive, and anticipates needs before they arise and addressing issues with efficiency and professionalism. Beyond her technical skills, Priscilla demonstrates a unique and genuine commitment to the success of East Rockingham Elementary. She understands that her role impacts every aspect of the school. From the student records to the daily operations, she takes responsibility seriously. Her work often happens behind the scenes, but it impacts the entire school. Priscilla exemplifies excellently excellence through her dedication, adaptability, and unwavering support of the school. Her desire to go above and beyond, especially during times of needs, makes her truly a desire for excellence award. >> Thank you. One, two, three. Next we'll have Joyce McCra with Richmond Senior High School. >> Good evening, Chairman Satderfield, Dr. Frell, and members of the board. The first person I'm

023going to recognize tonight is Mr. Alexander. Mr. Bowler exemplifies the spirit of inspiring excellence through his strong teacher leadership and unwavering commitment to student success. He creates a safe, structured, and highly engaging classroom where clear expectations and purposeful pacing drive learning. A respected leader among his peers with the exception of him being the copier hog. Mr. Bowler contributes to the professional growth of others by preventing act by presenting active engagement and effective instructional strategies during PLC's. His ability to build positive professional relationships with both students and staff fosters a culture of respect and collaboration. In the classroom, Mr. Bowler skillfully facilitates learning through a variety of instructional approaches, including annotation, collaborative learning, case studies, and real world applications. His lessons challenge students to think critically and embrace productive struggle while maintaining strong structure and momentum.

024By consistently monitoring progress and providing targeted support, he ensures every student remains actively engaged and supported throughout the learning process. Mr. Bolo's dedication and impact make him truly deserving of this recognition. Should have jumped on it. And next I have Officer Tony Little. >> Officer Little represents a spirit of inspiring excellence. Twice this year, he showed incredible calmness and courage by stepping in during lunch duty to administer the Heimlick maneuver and ensure student safety during two critical situations. His quick actions and steady presence made a big difference in those moments. He was also quick to jump into action at a ra a recent Raider baseball game when one of our youngest fans experienced a medical emergency and needed to be rushed to the hospital. What makes Officer Little so special though is that the same

025level of care shows up in everything he does each day. He is always willing to jump in to help no matter what is being asked of him. Or if it's not asked of him, he's still going to do it. Whether he's assisting around campus, helping clean up after lunch, or simply checking in on students and staff, he does it all with a positive attitude and genuine kindness. He speaks to everyone, makes people feel seen and valued, and builds strong relationships throughout the school. Officer Little is dependable, respectful, and always willing to go above and beyond to support our school community. His selfless dedication and caring nature have made a lasting impact on both students and staff, and he is truly deserving of this recognition. >> Congratulations. >> Thank you. CONGRATULATIONS. >> Now we hear from

026Miss Joyce McCrae for JRTC recognition. It is an honor and privilege to recognize our JRFTC instructors, Major Houston, Chief Warrant Officer Harris, and First Sergeant Light. And I'm also going to let um Major Houston introduce the students. brought some students with him. You want to tell who they are before I get started? >> So, we have here with us from uh sort of left to right our battalion S3 uh cadet captain Trenton Lacer, our battalion commander, cadet uh Lieutenant Colonel Clay Cell, and our Bravo Company commander cadet captain or sorry, first lieutenant Kenya Ingram. This year, our JOTC program achieved an exceptional score of 99.6 out of 100 on our program accreditation conducted by the fourth brigade US Army Cadet Command. This rigorous evaluation conducted once every five years assesses both in instructor and cadet

027performance while ensuring full compliance with Army curriculum and regulatory standards. Our score ranks among the highest in the brigade over the past year and places us as only one of four schools in North Carolina to earn a 99.6 or higher. Beyond academic and program excellence, our cadets have made a meaningful impact through extensive community service over the past year. They supported numerous initiatives including preparing holiday food baskets for the Richmond County Aging Services Christmas event, maintain flag displays along Highway 74 for federal holidays, and as color art and wreath escorts for the Richmond County Veterans Day Memorial Service at Rockingham DFW. Cadets also participated in wreaths across America by placing wreaths on Veterans Graves at East Side Cemetery. Additionally, the battalion proudly represented the community in three major parades, homecoming, Veterans Day, and the Christmas.

028Our archery team has demonstrated outstanding performance this year. Throughout the season, the team consistently excelled, earning multiple first, second, and third place finishes. They earned an imitation to the prestigious best of the best regional tournament in Hickory, where they placed 17th overall. Their performance also secured a national ranking of 77th, qualifying them for the national championship tournament at Fort Lingardwood, Missouri. They're leaving first thing in the morning to attend this event. Similarly, our Raiders team focused on military and physical fitness competitions, competed in several fall events, and brought home numerous trophies with top finishes in both all male and mixed team divisions. Our color guard and saber teams have also played a vital role in school and community events. They supported all football and basketball games, the homecoming pep rally and ceremony, the STEM fair,

029the special Olympics, and they will proudly participate in this year's graduation ceremony. This program success be possible without the dedication and leadership of our JTC team, Major Houston, Chief Harris, and First Sergeant Martin. We are grateful for the time, energy, and commitment they invest in our students each day before and after school and on the weekends to ensure they are prepared to succeed in the 21st century. Thank you. Thank you. One, two. >> One, two, three. >> Let's see. Is James Johnson here? I haven't seen him. >> Oh, Lauren Brewer. >> That's right. Hey, Lauren. >> Hello. Good evening. Um, Dr. Frell, chairman Satderfield, and members of the board. Um, I am here today to recognize um, our student athlete success all over the county. Um so we're first going to start with um Rockingham

030Middle for our spring um baseball championship. So, the Rockingham Rockets coached by coach J MCDONALD a little make two rows, guys. Two rows. That's one more than you got. Now we'll get this. Come on. >> It's the coach's fault. >> Oh, step on your foot. >> Step out a little bit. >> You come up here. >> One, two, three. Perfect. Congratulations. Also from Rockingham Middle, the boys basketball team. >> Some of them were on the basketball team, too. >> They got to regroup. So again, the Rockingham Middle School boys basketball team coached by JOSH COWOON. YES. AND IT IS four years in a row for him. And I believe the baseball team was >> three in a row. >> Take a picture up here. That's okay. >> Good job, guys. I GUESS >> shortest one,

031two, three. >> Okay. You knew the soccer team would get in there. >> Next from Rockingham Middle School, we have the girls soccer team. And this was their fifth straight conference WIN by Amanda Gy. >> Congratulations. >> Come around the front. >> Have to have more than in the front. >> Yeah. Keep >> one, two, three. Perfect. Um, next we have Nick Whitley. and Gio Parnell. And they are both from Rockingham Middle School. Um they won their individual um weight class um for wrestling in the Copper Championship. >> Good power move. >> Great sport. Congratulations. Thank you. >> Congratulations. >> Good job. >> CONGRATS. >> All right. Next up, we have Hamlet Middle School. and we had one championship from them um this winter and it was our girls basketball team for the second year

032in a row. Um they went undefeated in regular season and conference tournament play. Okay. One, two, three. Congratulations. Next we have from Ellerb Middle, um Bo Connor, who won his individual, um weight class, the conference championship. Thank you. And our from our last middle school, Cordova, we have Gregory Estridge also wrestling in his weight class. You hear me? Andrew, >> Andrew, Andrew, with your son. We're good. All right. So that completes our middle school portion. I do know that the Rockingham boys soccer team is playing for a championship tomorrow at Sandy Grove. So we wish them um the best of luck. All right. So, our teams from Richmond Senior High School, we have the boys basketball team coached by Lucy Pedigrew. >> And also I want to say uh Jay Hamilton, he was our uh

033conference play of the year this year. All conference and all conference for uh Donovan Jones. Scotty and I are just chopped liver. You made me feel please. >> One, two, three. Perfect. CONGRATS, GUYS. All right. And for our individual winners, we're going to start with swimming. And we have our Midtown male swimmer of the year, Cole Thrower. >> He also placed second in the 100 yard freestyle and third in the 50 yards freestyle. as his coach. I'm very proud of him. >> Yeah, you get in there. One, two, three. >> Congratulations. All right. And next we have for wrestling we have Jordan Hamilton all conference. >> Dylan Nunes all conference and state runner up. And Hayden Smith all conference. We also have Jason Gayy as a state qualifier as well. Hey Jordan, Jordan, >> right

034for girls indoor track. Um, we have our EVP Camora Watkins. And outdoor on track for the shot. We have Zary. >> All right, Coach Miller. parents a little bit. >> Great. And for boys track, we have Elijah Ingram, conference champion in Shawoot. Ty Coington, conference champion. In the 1100 meter hurdles, we have Keonte Peg, Amir Morrison, Tington, and Tyrese Collins. Um, champions in the 4 by 100. And Elijah Ingram, conference champion and shot foot. >> Perfect. Thank you. And lastly, we have our golfers. Um, both all conference CJ Turner and Kevin Posy. What was the best >> I taught for coach how to play >> perfect >> and the last thing um our writer baseball team is playing tonight at 7 o'clock um in the third round. Um so we wish them uh the best

035of luck as well. >> Great job. >> We have skills USA Wendy Wallace. Right. So I am presenting in on behalf of Anthony Mayor. He is the skills USA advisor for Richmond senior but his wife was introduced this morning. So they are currently in hospital having a baby. So I have seen an end for him. So it is my honor to bring before the board a recognition that represents the very best of what career technical education looks like in Richmond County schools. This year, Richmond Senior High Skill Skills USA chapter competed at the North Carolina Skills USA state leadership conference. And we are proud to announce that our American Spirit team has earned a state championship and will res represent Richmond County on the national stage at the Skills USA conference in Atlanta, Georgia, June

0361st through 6th. New American Spirit Competition is not a traditional skills contest. is a year-long high stakes leadership challenge in which a team of three students manage and document a comprehensive portfolio built around three pillars. Community service, patriotism, and CTE promotions. Students must then defend their work before a pan panel of industry judges. Winning this event requires discipline, strategic thinking, and exceptional communication and sustained commitment. And our students delivered on every account. Please join us in congratulating our state champion American Spirit Team, Myra Brody, Somaya Evans, and Riley Hatcher. >> One, two, three. One, two, three. >> Somebody's calling. >> I just ignored them. So, I'm sorry. I didn't know that was you. >> Now student celebrations with Kelly Gordon. That's exactly what I was going to say. When you walk in, I us we'll

037kind of let them throw a hand up. Do this really formally. Okay. Good evening, Chairman Centerville, Dr. Frell and members of the board, parents and guests. Tonight, I am honored to take a few moments to recognize some truly exceptional students from across our district. We will celebrate young people who have risen to the top of highly competitive programs in our district and across the state. These students represent the very best of what our schools have to offer. The curiosity, discipline, and talent that they possess makes our district proud. Um, we do have quite a few, so we will try to group for picture purposes. Okay. >> So, there was a presentation, but we'll get through it. So, the first we're gonna um recognize y'all y'all. That's her formal name. I didn't know that about her.

038But this first young lady was our spelling be champion this year, which I always really commend them because even though I was an English teacher, I was a very weak speller. So, I'm very proud of her. So, we will recognize her. She is from raw middle and eighth grade. All right. We also are going to recognize our two um students that were rec that were accepted to governor school this year. We're especially proud of Natalie Hudson and Eric Lrand. >> We were also fortunate enough to have a student selected to attend the school the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics this year. So, congratulations to Charles Mun. And this is a first for me in this position, but we were lucky to um have Sophia Garner be accepted to the North Carolina School of

039Arts um for dance. All right. And definitely, last but not least, in this group of students, we have Brian Dominguez, and he is going to take part in the North Carolina School of Science and Math Summer Accelerator Initiative. And so, he'll get to go partake in a bunch of things and learn about STEM and all kinds of fun stuff. So, we're excited for him, TOO. >> YEAH. behind you. >> All right. One, two, three. >> You got another parent back here. Yeah. >> Jennifer, Tuck, y'all want to get in? >> Sorry. Everybody, >> Congrats. >> All right, while they're walking in, we're going to start um by recognizing our Junior State Beta Club winners. We had lots of students come participate this year and we had lots of students place which is really exciting. So

040we'll start with Ellery Middle. >> So representing them we have Riley Kaggel and um Olivia Chavis. >> Seventh grade and sixth grade respectively. Wonderful. Thank you. >> All right, Hamlet Middle, you guys can start filing in. >> Yeah, you guys might make two rows. Wow. >> There we go. >> And their names are up here on our slides. It's a bigger group. You can see every single individual and some large groups too that So, we're excited for them as well. >> One, two, three. >> Congratulations. >> Thank you very much. >> All right. Now, we're going to bring up Rockingham Middle. And again, their names and competitions and places are on the screen. Great participation tight tight tight. >> One, two, three. Very good. >> Congratulations. Really great stuff. >> All right. Thank you'all very

041much. Yeah. Thank you. Congratulations. All right. Now, we're going to move on to our senior beta winners, and we're going to bring in Richmond first. Come on down. >> How are you? Thank you. >> Look, they came prepared. They even brought their flaps. I love that. >> All right. >> Just like, >> come on over here. >> Throw us the right way. Make sure it's the right side up. >> One, two, three. >> Perfect. Wonderful. CONGRATULATIONS, I CONGRATULATIONS. >> Thank you. >> All right. You have a scooch for me. >> One, two, three. >> Perfect. >> Yes. Thank you. Congratulations. All right. And now we have our um Lerby Middle School science Olympiad team um with their advisor, Miss Clark. >> Congratulations. One, two, three. >> Come on back. Come on back. >> We're okay.

042>> All right. Good job. Thank you very much. We will move on to the beginning teacher audit with Miss Peter McNeel. Thank you. Nice lady. Good afternoon. I'm Tina Pierce McNeel, the director of beginning teacher support and recruitment. I have in front of you a packet. The packet, if you open it up to the right, you'll see the PowerPoint that we're going to discuss and you'll also see to the left the Department of Public Instruction paperwork that they sent to us. So, starting with the beginning teacher support program audit review. On December 10th, 2025, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction conducted a monitoring visit for Richmond County Schools and that was to review the compliance of the state board education policy TCD16, our beginning teacher support program. The monitoring visit consisted of an examination

043of program files, interviews with leadership and program administrators, and surveys of beginning teachers and mentors. The one thing about this monitoring visit was the fact that our leadership team came together and the leadership team consisted of 12 employees for Richmond County Schools, two lensure specialists, the executive director of HR, the MTSS coordinator, former principal and federal programs director, three curriculum department directors, two mentors, the dropout prevention coordinator, and myself. And what happened was they actually asked us questions about our program that we have in place in Richmond County Schools. The audit was to ensure that compliance with state statutes and policies, governance support, mentoring, and evaluation of beginning teachers were taking place. The audit examines structures, practices, documentation, and outcomes to verify that beginning teachers receive high quality support and promote professional growth and retention

044of those teachers. The evidence that was reviewed, the evidence reviewed was about the mentor program structures and PLC's of mentoring practice, administrative evaluations and observations. our observation length and documentation, the peer conferences that were conducted, postconference timelines and feedback within a 10-day window. Also, the niss monitoring and corrective actions of our HR department and then our retention data dealing with our VTs in their first through third year. Now, with the VT audit results, before I talk about the VT audit results, I want to go to your packet that you have, you have behind the letter that was sent to Dr. Frell, our superintendent, you have the monitoring instrument. that monitoring instrument. And unfortunately, you all cannot see this, but the monitoring instrument depicts that we were able to display files for 39 of our teachers.

04539 teachers were in their initially licensed teachers. The initially licensed teachers conducted eight BT1s, 12 BT2s, and 19 BT3s. That information is going to be important at the end. But out of those 39 files, 30% of those folders were reviewed by the Department of Public Instruction. So they review 12 files and those files have to have information in it concerning our mentors that are providing in uh instructional support for our BTS. The curriculum department, the lensure specialist, everything we do for our BTS, they were actually reviewing it in their focus. Mental documentation must be signed by our principles and also by our assistant principles and then by the BT director. So looking at the audit results when you look at the first page, the first page is talking about the marks developing, proficient, accomplish, and

046distinguish. And it's talking about our program that we have in place right now. The program that we have in place, it was already board approved. And when you look at the marks, we have to actually be above proficiency. So where the marks are proficient, accomplished, and distinguished, that's great for our district. But the areas in which we were lacking in proficiency, you will find that on page 10. So if you go me to page 10, you will see that it says mentors have opportunities to participate in professional learning communities of mentoring practice. That's one thing that the audit results were saying that we were lacking in. So therefore, you'll see on the screen it says professional learning communities mentors must have consistent opportunities to participate in PLC's of mentor practice. Why? Because the mentors must

047know what their criterias are when it comes to conducting information for the BTS. The mentors their continuum consists of our standards for leases. It looks it's aligned to the observations for our beginning teachers. So where you have standards one through five standards one being leadership two diversity three content four facilitation and then five reflection. The mentor need needs to actually have an evaluation where they are actually evaluated on each standard and they should have an accomplished or at least a distinguished rating. If they have a proficient rating, that is fine, but we need our administrators to document that and they're going to document that at their school. But this year, I've asked for that documentation to come to the HR department because of this audit. So when you see the annual evaluation, if you would

048turn to page 12, on page 12, you'll see where it says the formal process of conducting observations and a summitative evaluation. That summitive evaluation is very important because the summitive evaluation it is aligned to our administrators conducting evaluation of that BT and they're actually providing feedback to that BT to tell them their grading as far as the classroom management the instructional opportunities in our classroom the advocacy of the students and of the uh the school in itself. So looking at page 13, you'll see where we do not have any checks when it comes to BTS being evaluated at least once annually by school administrator. Now that was only one out of our 12 folders. That's the reason why we did not get that check. And then each observation lasting for at least 45 minutes of

049the entire class period. That was only two of those folders. That's the reason why we didn't get that. And then each administrative observation is followed by a postconference with a 10day period to discuss uh the BT strengths and weaknesses. That was two of our folders and one of those were was dealing with a peer conference. So as you can see up here it says the annual evaluation. Each beginning teacher must be evaluated at least once annually by a qualified school administrator. that qualified school administrator is the principal. Assistant principles cannot evaluate at the end of the year our beginning teachers. It must be the principal. The only reason that a school would allow an assistant principal to conduct an evaluation is if a school um demographics is 1,500 students or more. So therefore, in our

050district right now, this year, of course, Richmond Senior High, if they had um the opportunity to um need have the need for an assistant principal to conduct evaluation, they would be the school that would need that help and that support. However, we've actually spoke with spoken to um our administrator. He and she knows to actually do all those evaluations. When it comes to the postconferences, we need to make sure that we're doing the post conferences within a 10-day window. We actually missed that mark a little bit this past year. And that postconference is actually a need because within 10 days, that educator needs to know what they need to improve on. They need to know what their strengths are and they need to know that information so they can spiral that that information back to

051the students. So if you would look with me now when it comes to this template, if you go all the way to the end of the template to page 16, you'll see the non-compliance findings. And the non-compliant findings deal with the mentors having opportunities to participate in the PLC. So if you look why should mentors have a chance have need a chance for a PLC because they need to know the areas in which they need to align information for their beginning teachers. Beginning teachers have to select goals and those goals are their professional development plans. So the one thing we've done this year is we've implemented mentor PLC's mentor and PLC's dealing with mentoring practices. Why? Because I need the mentors to know that if your BT is struggling in standard one when it comes

052to leadership, then I need to give you information on standard one. If it's dealing with standard three when it deals with content, then I need to bring either the coaches, academic coaches in in line with that mentor or the curriculum department. Those are things that are needed. So the mentor will not feel like an outlier because the mentor is supposed to be there to help that teacher at all cost. They have to be there with them all the time. So that's why it says mentor evaluation, mentor continuum, niec's training. the NE6 training that um is on the PowerPoint slide is talking about the training for peer observers, the training for our administrators. The one thing we've had to say to our administrators in the K12 meetings is to make sure that they do not allow

053the assistant principal to to complete an evaluation. Assistant principles can complete observations but not evaluations. And we've also implemented a document with our administrators to where they actually have to train all our teachers in our building to be peer observers. And they have to sign to say that they know the protocol about peer peer observation. Why? Because they have to have a 45 minute time slot. And they also have to conduct um conference with the teachers within a 10day window. And they actually have to provide feedback. So our action steps, I've already spoken about some of them. Our action steps, monthly mal PLC's, we implemented that in January. We will have those PLC's every month. The annual evaluations HR department at the end of this year in June. We will make sure that all of

054the administrators have conducted their evaluations of our BTS in their first to three years. And then when it says peer observation training, we're making sure that our peer observers are notified and they know the correct timelines of what they're supposed to do with that BT. That way all of them will be a 45 minute window and then within 10 days they actually have to give feedback. The mentor continuum it will be provided in our mentor PLC's. Just making sure that our mentors are prepared and they can actually help our BTS to the best of their ability. Celebrations and accommodations. Our PSU has more BT3s than BT1s and BT2s. What that means is the fact that when you at the beginning of this instrument that I gave you, you were able to see where 19 BT3s

055folders were actually reviewed. Well, that's that's a check for us because it seems as if we are retaining our BT3s and we're doing it in a productive manner and that's why we actually got the mark for BT3s. um and for retention. The additional layers of support provided to beginning teachers um was outstanding because of the 12 people that we had on our leadership interview team and then also the new teacher orientation phase. The mentor selection mentors are selected within the first week that we have a beginning teacher. So therefore they're not by themselves. The PSU um routinely monitors NIS's pro progress and takes corrective action when issues arise to ensure compliance with policy and statute. Our mentors know now with the mentor PLC's in place. They can call me at any time. They can email

056me at any time if something's going on with our BTS, our mentors now are open to tell me, I need your help with this. or they will actually tell me I need you to talk to the administrator about something dealing with our BT and they feel comfortable. The one thing I can say and I can applaud us with this year with with the audit and the monitoring visit is the mentors when I told them that we were going to actually implement mentor PLC. They were happy. They filled this room on January 5th and they actually said can we actually tell you the things that we need and will you get it done? So that's a work in progress, but that's the one thing that come out of our audit that our educators really like. So

057with that being said, you actually have our work plan that we had to submit to DPI. That work plan was approved March 19th and they will come back this school year 2026 to 2027 to make sure that we're implementing the needed items and I feel like we're doing it to the best of our ability and I feel like our BTS will be very productive with everything we have in place. Like I said, last year they only looked at 39 of our folders, but we had more teachers in the program. However, this year we have 80 teachers in the program. Out of those 80 teachers, we're now looking at alternatively licensed teachers, not just initially licensed teachers. So therefore, we have to do some more with our plan to make sure our alternatively licensed teachers are

058supported just as well as the initially licensed teachers. >> Tina, who who monitors those BT folders? >> I monitor the BT folders and I also speak with our executive director and I also speak with our lensure specialist to make sure that we're doing the right things with those voters. And that's why I wanted to step up. If you notice, um, she provided a rubric. We're distinguished in majority of the areas. So, I'm really proud of that. But I also want to just congratulate our beginning teacher director. She has worked really hard with the beginning teachers, advocating for them. I mean, staying here 7 8:00, they call, she's there. So, I just want to tell her I'm so proud of her and what she's doing. And I want to ditto that because Tina, you know, BT

059support's near and dear to my heart. It is. >> Those of y'all that don't know, that was my position for 11 years before I retired. And so I love um supporting our BTS and thanks for the hard work you're doing. It's evident from the data that um our retention efforts are working. I wanted to ask so you this was 30% so you're saying we have 80 um >> we actually have 80 >> BTS now >> yes ma'am we have 80 BTS we have 30 in year one we have 27 in year two and we have 24 in year three and the thing with the um that number the initially licensed teachers they come from educating educator preparation programs that means that they've actually had a chance to do internships they've actually had a chance to

060student teaching. So, we actually have some now that are alternatively licensed teachers. They come up under permit to teach. That means if you actually have a degree and you want to try teaching, we actually have you come in. We train you. The curriculum department has to help. Of course, our lensure specialist help, but we provide you with a mentor. We provide you with a support team. And the permit to teach is just like I'm sorry but I have to turn around but our permit to teach is just like having a learner. Someone needs to be with you at all times and then you can actually develop into a productive teacher and you can get your continual license. But the other thing about that is with emergency license that is a pathway as well and that

061pathway is under the alternative license. And then we have res Resency is not new, but residency means that that teacher is on the job train and that is very difficult because they're actually learning pedigogy and they're actually going back to school to make sure that they're provided the best instruction. We actually have collaboration and partnership with RCC now and um the specialist there is Crystal Harris. So, she's been very phenomenal in our program and we go into the classrooms together. So therefore, she's actually providing support from the RCC standpoint for our teachers. I'm I'm providing support as a BT coordinator and director. And then we actually have a behavior specialist Daniel is providing support. We have our academic coaches that are providing support. So, we're trying to make sure that we're actually increasing our measures

062of the low performance school and we're actually trying to make sure that we're providing substance in our classroom for our students. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Federal programs approval of assurances. Miss Angel May. >> Good evening, Chairman Saturn, Dr. Frell, and members of the board. Um, as you know, I'm Angel May, director of federal programs. Um, as you know, part of the federal programs consolidated application process requires that the district signs a statement of asurances. And I do have on the board for you what this looks like. Um for each of the grants that we receive, we have to state that we assure that we are going to be good stewards of this money uh that we receive. Um it normally looks like it's all part of this application. Um it's

063a checkbox is what it has been for the last couple of years. It used to be a paper copy and it was all done in August when we submitted the application. They have now broken it up and made it a two-step process. Um and this year by June 30th they would like for us to just do the assurance part of that. And so for each of the titles we do have title one, two, three, four and RIS that we do need to do our um asurances for. And so these are basically if you look through there's a title one these are part of the documents for you. Um we are just stating that we are supplementing not supplanting. We are going to provide services to all eligible students. Just kind of summarizing, we will coordinate

064with families. We will help to reduce class sizes, support um language acquisition, that's title our title three, and support teacher development. Those are just in a nutshell some of the things that we do. We do have to consult with uh private schools um to offer them services. Um we also um just have to make sure that um we are just making that we are providing services to all students. So I just want to make sure that everyone is aware that we do this as part of each of the things. We're just separating it. It's just into two parts this year. There are several pages going so that you can see each of the Oh, now it's just Am I? >> Oh, you're so that you can see what this looks like. So that the assurances

065were provided to the state education agency in an online application. And by checking the box on the consolidated application, the local education education agency, which is us, certifies that we will comply with the asurances listed in these documents if the funds are applied for work and subsequently approved. Um, a copy of these statements um of these grants has been provided on the on the board for review and in the board documents. Tonight I am requesting approval from you and the superintendent to digitally sign the asurances um by June 30th and submit and step one for substantial approval of the application. >> Motion a motion by Mr. Eths to approve the asurances. >> Second by Miss Orangebe. Do I have any further discussion? All in favor by saying I. All opposed. Thank you Miss strategic plan.

066Dr. Kate Smith and a lot of work is going into this. >> All right. So, good evening, Chairman Satderfield, Dr. Frell, and members of the board. Um, so tonight we are going to just bring to you um proposed strategic plan goals for your review. I will just remind you that the purp of creating this plan is a five-year plan that establishes a clear vision for our future. Um, and it also aims to provide meaningful support systems for students including academics, social emotional behavior. We also included our auxiliary services um, transportation, maintenance, technology, child nutrition as well as you can see with the target goals. Um the goal also is to ensure that we have a variety of stakeholders give us feedback um so that when we begin the actionable steps we can meet these target

067goals. Okay. And I just wanted to let you all know that um we had various stakeholder groups as you can see our teacher advisory council, we had board members, student health advisory, school-based um student advisory groups, um our minister's council, we had district and school administrators, student support staff and parent advisory council all give us some feedback specifically related to our current plan and um any additional ideas that they had that we we could And some consistent themes that emerged were the importance of strong highquality instruction. Uh specific though, teachers want differentiated professional development options and there is an all-encompassing need pervasively um need for mental health support systems and a commitment to pathways for graduation that begin in middle school and allow our students to have a lot of experiences with exploration in careers

068and a strong focus on retention and recruitment strategies. um we have good strategies just you know people have lots of ideas about how to um continue doing that so good and I would also just remind you that this strategic plan before you is a road mapap for the next five years and these are targets and goals that you've been provided once you guys go through the 30-day review and give us some feedback um we can then start working on the actual actionable steps that will be really driven by much of the feedback that we receive from stakeholders And so I would just request a 30-day review for you guys to study and reflect and certainly collaborate with us on any additional ideas that you have moving forward. >> So we have some homework. >> Yes.

069>> Any questions for Dr. Smith? >> Thank you for your work on this. I know it's just a lot of work that goes into this. So thank you very much. >> Thank you. Technology update. Katherine Bendale. >> Good evening, Dr. Barl, Chairman, Senator Build, and members of the board. Thank you for giving me a minute to talk tonight. I wanted to talk to you a little bit about technology and what we've been doing this year and give you a little update. Um, so, um, with that being said, so technology impacts every classroom, every school operation, communication system, safety system, and instructional platform in the district. Our focus this year has been building stronger systems, improving support, strengthening cyber security, and expanding innovative opportunities for both students and staff. Sorry. Um, so one of the biggest

070shifts we made this year is trying to restructure the department into clearly defined areas of support and taking it into four pillars which you can see up here on the screen. IT services and infrastructure, instructional technology and media, um student services, student information system, which is the infinite campus, um and STEM and innovation. And so with IT services and infrastructure, we've worked really hard to improve responsiveness and support systems across the district. Our schools now have clearer pathways for support through our help desk systems, technology facilitators, school-based support systems, and district technology staff. And so you can see um we have developed a tech help line so that now all of our staff in the district can call 0000 if they need support. as well as we have our our steal our IT um help

071desk where we can put in tickets. You know, if you have something that's not an immediate need, but let's say that you have Wi-Fi out of your school, okay, let's call the helpline. Don't wait for a ticket, you know, so we can get quicker response. Um we work to have about over 900 um work orders monthly that we um deal with and that we try to effectively um handle. And then um also we're trying to improve response times. We have created something that is a service plan that we have also implemented so that all of our schools have the direct help and provide the speedy um responses. And then we've also developed something called a school-based support team where we have our district um technology as well as our school technology and admin media specialist.

072our um our STEM ambassador as well as our data managers. We all meet monthly and um we create a a team effort between district and and schools so that we can know the needs of the school and the schools can also know what you know is coming down from the district. we can have a a clear line of communication. And so another um focus is cyber security and as it continues to grow um it is um it's growing fast and and this year we've implemented the stronger cyber security planning, staff awareness training, filtering improvements and infrastructure audits to strengthen district protections. And so recent statewide cyber security situations have reinforced the importance of these proactive measures. And so a few things that we've done this year is we've created a cyber security plan. And we

073have started implementing staff training um throughout. We've done um quite a bit of fishing campaigns. And if you're not familiar with what that is, if you get emails and you may see something that um you know, maybe it looks like I sent it out, but really it didn't come from my email. it's just a fishing scam. And um so just trying to make people aware that those things are out there and you don't want to click on them because then that is a virus and that could could then um spread throughout our district and you know we don't want that to happen. So we've been working hard with staff to um understand that as well as you know our students with different programs that we do with them. Our K8 have a program called learning.com

074and then our 912 have Neptune navigate which they also learn things with that um as well. No, and I wasn't I I wasn't directly looking at you, but No, I I promise I was actually looking at that up there. But I am glad that you I and I am glad anytime I get any calls, you know, is this legit? Is this okay, Lisa? I would rather you ask than click on it because it is better to be safe than sorry and as we are handling this right now with um a a current um canvas issue with within the the world actually right now. So yes no please call and ask and that's not directed to you but to anyone for for that matter. Um, so and then other things that we've done is we worked

075in our um with our network. We've done a network audit to see where some missing holes are and where some things are that we need to update. We've we've created a five-year -ate plan so that our networking can be um do very strong and continuing to grow and then we have created a lot of filtering um updates with our Zcaler which is our security and um we've also created um timekeeper kiosk. so that it's something that's easier for our staff to clock in at schools. And we also have implemented Rise Vision, which is part of these TVs that you're seeing here. And then it's also able to now um push out any type of alert that it needs to if there is for some reason that it needs to do some kind of security alert

076or weather alert, things like that to let our students and staff know of um any type of communication that either camera needs to do or something within the schools. Um and then another area is making a sustainable device management um program. So trying to take our devices that we have for our students and utilize them with the best that we can, but also implementing the new devices um with a intent to replenish and replace at a routine um time frame. And so trying to put in place where every um kindergarten, second grade, um sixth grade and ninth grade have rotations. So when you come into those schools, you would get a new device at that time. And the reason why it's kindergarten and second is because kindergarten and first grade have iPads and then the

077rest second through 12th have laptops or actually starting now they have Chromebooks. Um that as we are replacing we are we have standardized to one type of device and that is HP Chromebooks. And so as as a new second grade comes in, then they'll get the device and then it'll rotate with them until they leave. And then so we'll have a replenishment plan in place. And um we've also implemented bulk purchasing and where therefore we can buy devices for all the schools at at one time and it saves quite a bit of money and you'll see in just a few minutes how much money that has saved just this year for the for ordering devices. And then we also have created something with warranty so that all devices as we have purchased starting this year

078have have warranty on the devices so that then they can um you know if if they get broken we can send them off to get them fixed and those kind of things to help save with parts. And then also we have ongoing technology in the classroom where we are implementing new digital tools and resources AI innovation and um we do um TLC's which is technology learning communities and we also do um micro PDS where there are different um tech tools or different um implementations that we may want to share with instructional technology that can be done for CEUs as well as just for learning purposes. And then also something we did this year was implement the House Bill 805 which is where all um media library books that are off that are available in our

079schools not just in the media center but also in the classrooms are now listed online. So the parents can see what their children are reading. So the um another pillar that we have been working on is our CIS and that is infinite campus. And so in a large scale transition progress is steadily and ongoing and so we have made it so that staff are being trained, communication and tool rights for staff are clear, data systems improving and then um some of our focus areas right now is data accuracy, continued training and process consistency. Um thing that I um especially think has has helped put us in a great part with Infinite Campus is creating a district data team. And this is something that is going to is helping our district to really understand what Infinite

080Campus and it is a true team effort and we are really um trying to make that happen. And we we see that it is more than just a grade book. It is more than just an attendance um data piece. It is truly something that is integrated into everything that we do. Another few things that we have done is we have made it so that um our main data source for staff which is our HR link data is now implemented and pushing into infinite campus which so we have accurate data for staff. We also are making it so that our student data is accurate and everything that comes from Infinite Campus with our students is going into all of the programs that um our our students use. And so it is accurate and pushed and rostered

081that way. So it's safer for our students, but it also is is the same information that they're seeing across um any any program that they use. So something that is a highlight to I think not just technology but to our district is innovation that we're trying to um push through um technology as well as into the district. And so we have STEM and innovation. We have a district-wide STEM ecosystem that we are building. And with that, we were able to have our first annual robotics competition. And this consisted of 27 student teams, over 200 students. And if you want to see a day of what I call organized chaos, but it was a phenomenal day was um the robotics um competition. And if you um I know some of you all were there and I

082appreciate you going. Um, but it was kids just being innovative and they were learning and they were creating and running the robots and just doing all the things and they knew exactly what they were doing. Did I necessarily know? No. But I mean they knew they could code, they could move the robots. They were they were doing great things implementing them with um career and um actually within things within our own area like we implemented things with um the the rock with you know racing and farming because that is something that's big in our area and just trying to take real world careers and real world focuses and giving them to the students so that they can then see what it's like if you were to be one of these people in these jobs in

083the future. And so just to give them a little quick idea, but it was a really neat neat day. And then another thing that happened that day was our fifth annual STEM showcase which was at the district I mean at the Cole auditorium and that was another great event as well. And so we are trying to build um a very um invasive STEM ecosystem. Amazon has been a very big help with us and a partner with us and they have sent down something called a big Amazon bus and they were act they're called the creative hut and we they actually worked the week before we got out for Easter break and the week after we got out for Easter break with two of our schools Washington Street and Rock Middle. And the reason for those

084two schools is because those two schools are currently trying to become STEM schools for the state. and that was the reason to to have those, but we hope to bring it to all the schools um you know next year. And then another thing that we've established is the Richmond County Schools Tech Jamberee, which is for all staff in the district to um provide um techn um technology, but also instructional resources for teachers and admin staff and anyone else in the district. We actually have a few of the students that also are going to that have been invited to come as well. And so just a few data highlights that I wanted to to touch on really quickly. As you can see, um these are a few of the devices that we handle within the district.

085We have student devices, staff devices, and network devices. And we have over 150 software programs that we um touch with the district. And then um with that, so it's like one technician to 52 5,239 devices is is what our ratio is. And that sounds crazy bad, but actually that's pretty good compared to other other counties. Um so we are right along in the middle. So that's that's pretty good. Um just a few other things to pinpoint on are um our rich some savings that we have just by ordering in bulk for the district. we saved over $120,000 in savings and um in doing that um we hope that that will continue and then that will help provide more devices for our students in um in the district. And actually what that did is because the

086there was that those savings that gave more money to the schools to have more money to spend on devices or other things with their budgets that they were pulling that money pulling those that money for those devices from. And then another thing that we are doing is we have um created um warranty like I said before and so our parts budget has actually been reduced by over half um which also is something that we're hoping that we can utilize that to help purchase more devices as well in the future and it will continue to decrease to to decrease as we keep buying devices each year because more and more will go under warranty. And then we've also audited cell phones, hotspots, WAN, phone lines, device parts, and other types of devices, which is saving the

087district currently about 21 a year just from um auditing those this year. And then partner partnership with Amazon has also helped us a lot. They helped to um with our robotics competition. they they are helping us with our technology um conference that is coming up which is right here the tech jamberee and they are also helping us with some STEM initiatives as well and so I I leave you with this I um on June 2nd if you are not doing anything from 8 to 2:30 if you have something that you would like to do that would be fun innovative and lots of learning I challenge you to come to the innovation island at Richmond Senior High with the rest of the staff in Richmond County schools. >> Thank you for allowing me to do this

088update. You have any questions? >> Impressive. Thank you all for everything you're doing on this 45 a day on my 20day. >> That's solid. >> Thank you, Catherine. >> Thank you. >> Were you okay? Do you need a break? That's okay. Keep going. >> Okay. >> You guys okay over there? >> We'll go with construction update. Stephen King, you got lucky. They saved right before >> I was waiting, Dr. Frell and members of the board. I just want to give you a quick update on our renovations of the former Night Academy for the LJ Bell students and staff to move to this summer for the next two years while their new school is being built. Um, so our marquee sign, all our interior walls, exterior doors, all that painting is complete. Our floor refinishing is

089complete. Uh, new playgrounds are complete. We've got sidewalks and awnings been completed. the rubber wall base uh in school has been completed. Um our safety vestibule um two new spaces in the old weight room area and fencing will be completed about the next two weeks. Um we've ordered new whiteboards, new port boards, coat and book bag storage uh systems and the new room identification plaques. All that's on order. We should have those in in the next couple of weeks. We've provided LJ Bell uh 775 move boxes. Uh I actually met with a contractor today to look at the logistics of the moving uh work that schedule out with Miss Do, principal there at LJ Bell um to best suit their staff. Um the teachers are being assigned their new rooms u at the former nth

090grade academy. Um and we have our third stakeholder meeting this coming to uh coming Monday the 18th. Um, and Miss Miss Bendelle actually stole my catchphrase. So, if you want to see the school and it's, you know, it's shiny like a new penny, you know, the next couple weeks, everything's be cleaned up and stuff. But after that, the organized chaos of it, >> organized chaos of moving will will take place uh the end of this month and through the month of June. Then teachers will be coming in setting up set setting up their rooms. So, you know, we're in good a good place to to have everything ready, everything that they need, working with the local health department and the state prek licensing to get the prek um set up. So, we're checking off all

091the boxes and getting all the all the things done. Any questions on former Night Road Academy for LJ Bell? >> We've been over there. I just want to thank you for the work that you and your staff have been doing. um you know converting it back from the ninth grade academy back to the elementary school been a lot of work and looks like the old Richmond primary again. So we we are really happy about that. So thank you for doing that. That's it. >> So just a few other various projects. Our roofing project at the high school is coming along with it. They've been very fortunate with weather. Um I mean it's unfortunate we haven't had much rain but it's really good for roofing projects. So that project should finish up at the end of

092the month. Um our Rockingham Middle School and remodel project. We're set to get that started right after school gets out. So, they'll come in, take out all the old seats, u polish the concrete floor, paint uh from ceiling to all the walls. Uh then they'll come back in and reinstall the new seating and we'll get new carpet down the aisles and in the front. So, we got everything set on go for that. Um >> Stephen is just to bring Cameron in this. Cameron, can you make sure that you get before and after pictures of Kate Family Auditorium when they when they do that so we can have them so in case public can't get over there, they could at least see them before and after. Our new LJL project um the surveying began um 27th

093of last month. Um we we met with Mosley and Bordeaux and and our staff on the 30th at LJ Bell. Um that was the first time, you know, we collaborated together. um the architect and the contractor and our team. It was a really good productive meeting. Following that on the 7th, uh we had a meeting with uh just our staff and LJ Bell to kind of plan with Miss Norwood how she's going to involve her staff in being a part of, you know, just making sure that we everybody has an assigned space and and they they mingled together, you know, flow through the school. Uh we working through that. Um Dr. Frell and I had uh conversation following the meeting on the 7th with the architect just to to update them where we're at um

094as far as the project and what feedback they need from us to finalize a a full plan and a design so we can just move continue to move forward. Um uh so we have we do have another meeting coming up u um with Mosley and and Bordeaux and uh to provide the feedback from LJ Bell staff. Any questions on the new LJ Bell project? And just finally, we we're working with our new custodial services coordinator and the principles and custodians that'll be do doing the floor cleaning and and regular cleaning of the schools over the summer. We have a training session planned, two training sessions planned actually. We have to capture the the morning folks and the evening folks. Um we have that set up right after school, right after students leave. So, we have

095a pretty good solid plan for the summer as far as getting the buildings clean. New coordinator will be out and about, you know, working with the the staff and just um kicking off their summer cleaning program. >> Any questions? >> Got a lot going on, don't you? >> Makes about that. >> Y Thanks. >> Thanks, David. Budget amendments. Miss Don Jordan. >> Good evening. Chairman Satfield, Dr. Frell, members of the board. You should have before you on board docs budget amendments 14 through 17. Budget amendment 14 is an increase in state funding of $143,630. Budget amendment 15 is an increase in federal funds. Sorry, that was state funds. Um that's $63,962. Budget amendment number 16 is an increase in capital outlay. The amount of this increase is 2 million 02875784. And budget amendment number 17

096is other local funds an increase of 146,192 16. We're requesting budget I mean board approval for uh budget amendments 14 through 17. Do you have any questions? >> And these are just this is just money added to those budgets. the public to know that this is money that's come in to us from >> it's just the reallocations that we get throughout the year, >> right? >> They actually did give us a little bit for transportation increase >> which is good. >> Not much but a little bit. >> If our number is low, that's good for us. >> Good. >> Questions. >> So, we need a need approval on amendments 14 through 17. >> Have a motion by Mr. Baldwin. Second. Second by Mr. Tilman. Any further discussion? All in favor by saying I. >> All

097opposed. >> Thank you, M. Jordan. >> Policies for review. Ingram. Good evening. Chairman Sfield, Dr. Ferrell, and members of the board. Board actually have a list of policies that I that I would like to present for 30-day review. Uh policy 1510 4200 7270 school safety policy 3430 uh school improvement plan policy 3565 um 8307 title one program comparability of services policy um 401 equal educational opportunities and policy 7530 military lead 30-day review. >> Yes sir. And there's field trips in your board docks as well. Upcoming field trip as well. >> Looks like we're going all over the country. >> Oh yeah, we got a lot of winners as you saw here tonight. That's fantastic. >> Go compete. >> Thank you for keeping us updated on that. >> All right. Thank you. Thank you. Got to

098make sure I put it in the right spot. >> Behind 7.15. >> Yes. All right. Surplus. Dr. Peril. >> Um, you were provided with a list of surplus items in uh on board docs um primarily related to items that we're moving out of LJ Bale. And so I would request your approval to list those on govdeealss.com. >> Can we not get this on those? >> Does he know that it's not coming through? >> Yeah, he's in there. >> Seven items. I'll make a motion to approve the surplus items as presented. >> There's a motion by Mr. Ballin. Second, >> Second by Miss Orangeby. Any discussion? >> All in favor by saying I. >> All opposed. Okay, there we go. We got all go deals and then we'll go to facilities optimization and long range planning.

099Dr. Joe Ferrell, >> need to wait. Okay. >> Um, so you all will recall at the April board meeting, um, I provided you all with a list of um, some cost-saving measure cost-saving measures. Um and then we of course opened it up to the seven of you as well as to the community to provide any additional um suggestions that they had and um a number of um people have taken us up on that opportunity. Um I want to share with you first um this first document that you're looking at. Am I pointing in the right place? Camera >> toward you. Sorry. Okay. So, um maybe maybe I know how to work this. Um so, I'm providing the first document to you. I am providing exactly as it was submitted from um either directly from one

100of the seven of you or from the community. And so you will see all of those um suggestions again just exactly as they were submitted on um the website or some of them were submitted in person and there were um or by phone call or other method but there are a total of 28 of those. The next document that you will see um did you take it over? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Thanks because you're doing a much better job at it than I was. Thank you. Um and so the next document that you will see um or that you saw on board docs is um something that's a little more uh friendly for the for the monitors that we have. Um but it is the exact same information in the exact same order just sort

101of um cleaned up and rewarded um a little bit just to get make it all fit. And so if you click through those, you will see the ones that I suggested, the ones that you suggested, and the ones that were submitted um from community members um on the on the website. And these two documents should match um exactly as far as the um the information um contained in them. And so I am turning all of those over to you at this point, seeking guidance from you about which of those items you would like for us um to pursue and or study or provide more information on and so forth. >> So when I was looking at this the other night, there's 20 something uh go to the go to the end Cameron. >> 28. There's

10228 of them. And of course, I know that all of us cannot agree. Seven people can different 29 different things. So I was thinking maybe taking this home looking at it for a month and bringing your five things that we would like to study back in June moving forward because I don't think we can do all of them but I think if we come to a consensus of the five ones that we think we can look at as a board I think that would be fair and equitable. That's just my thoughts of again going over 29 items that is that is really really difficult. I'll just say I think we probably need a little bit more time. I mean you talking about 29 items to come back in one month. I don't think that's enough

103time and then on top of that we have other information as well. I I know I would want to have a little bit more time to kind of go through for me. >> I agree. We need more than a month. I'm just starting the conversation. >> And also, there's so many of them that an we need an answer to. I've read them. I've read them twice. And um I do need more than a month to to review them and and um investigate more myself. But when we get back together, we need answers on a lot of them. whether I mean and I think some of them does they don't have to be a study they could be just we need we need to answer that and I think that >> could have a work we

104could um >> I don't know but but we're it's a huge task to take on and I think we need time to make sure we look at all of it and all of them helpful >> I just like to thank Dr. Pharaoh and the district and everyone that's helped and we're looking at it holistically now and that's that's all I wanted from the beginning and I just I appreciate that. >> I'd like to make a motion that we table this until um we're set to um talk about it and and vote on it. >> We want to do that at a board meeting. Do we want Dr. referral to create maybe a July or August uh work session. >> I would think a work session would be >> absolutely >> very good so that we

105all can share our share our ideas and what we think um going forward. >> Well, that's what I was thinking. I was think you know if we don't discuss it together then how do I know that Jerry doesn't have saw something in it that I didn't see and I want to hear what he has to say about it and I might it might change my view on some on one of the studies. So >> do you all have a need to talk about can we possibly do this starting in the morning maybe because it might be a long work session. >> Is that possible? >> We are available whenever you would like for us to be. Absolutely. I know people got vacations and stuff coming up in June and July so forth towards probably the

106later latter part of July. >> Okay. So could So how about this? How about we start working on a late July early August date? Um looking and and we'll start to get some plans together for that. um as far as um finding out when staff's available, when the board's available, just because of summer vacations and all that, we can we can start working on that tomorrow. And then um in the meantime, while you all are looking over this information, it would be help we will be starting to put together some information that we have on each of these. Um, and then of course, um, if you have something that specific that you would like for us to pull together, um, for the work session, we we're happy to do that. >> When do all the

107when's all staff development start for the beginning of the school year? First week in August. When's your leadership? >> August leadership. >> Yes. you know, just got to try to find we have find time for us. But also, I know you're very curious that time of year and then the next week is when >> we can Yeah, we can we can find it. We can find a time. >> Maybe everybody look at their calendar for the last week in July. Anybody know they have a vacation that week or anything? >> Does anybody have to come? >> I would love to. And you the last week of July. >> Yeah. >> If that fits into his schedule. >> Yeah. We'll we'll get we'll collect that >> sometime in July >> availability of July. How's that sound?

108>> Okay. We'll do it that way. >> And I would even say even if we have to do a couple of work sessions, you know what I'm saying? I mean I mean really I think you know uh just looking at all all the information the information that we had received from I think the uh council, >> right? >> Looking at all. >> So, let's just let's just take big picture look down the road a little bit. >> We're in May right now. Let's look at March of 2027. Okay, March of 2027 is is when Dr. Frell, his staff meets with the county commissioners and talk and dawn talks about budget. Am I right? So, budget season started. April and May comes, you do your budget. At that time, they're going to present us a budget

109that has something in it between probably $800,000 and $1.2 million of using fund balance to offset the budget. Am I saying anything wrong so far? Maybe 600,000. >> I don't think I don't think so. But my are you talking about next year's? >> We're talking about the next year's. >> Okay. Because we've presented this year's, >> right? So, I'm just talking about the timeline. So, we have got to be cognizant of that timeline because once we do that budget and say we're taking more money out of fund balance, that is going to drop our fund balance down lower. So, as whatever we do, whatever this board decides to do, we've got to be cognizant of that as we move forward because as Ronald says, it might take a couple of work sessions to do this,

110but we're eventually going to have to have a deadline for this sometime going into budget season so at least we know what we're doing. Does that make sense to everybody? >> You have any comments on that? I'm just >> trying to look try to forward think a little bit. Whatever we do, we've got to give him some suggestions how to cut money from the budget. >> The office agree. Okay. All right. So, that that's kind of a timeline we can get and then Joe can kind of work on that for us as we start the work session. We got a timeline. You can even put in a Friday update, Joe, what y'all are thinking once you meet with your cabinet. >> Okay. And as far as this late July, early August uh work session, we

111will of course um publicize and advertise that so that if any members of the public are interested in a work session, they are certainly welcome to be there. Those are open session meetings. >> There's no need for motions. I resent my motion. >> Yeah. So, we just Yeah. Yeah, we agree with you though. Anyway, >> any other comments about that? >> Okay, thank you. >> All right, we'll move on to uh LJ Bell. >> Okay, so um thank you for adding that um that item by the way. So, um I know that part of the whole school closure um discussion or study discussion um particularly as it relates to uh West Rockingham Elementary School. Um there's been lots of talk about, you know, about where are the there are 17 classrooms currently at West Rockingham.

112Where would they go if we were to do first of all if you all were to approve a school closure study and then if you were to approve the closing of that school depending on uh what that study showed. And so there was quite a bit of discussion about how many classrooms would we need to add at the new LJ Bell building in order to um as we start to think about closing one school and moving some students. And so um and so I sent an or I had a conversation with the architect about that and you will recall that on May 1st um in your weekly update email from me. Um I shared with you that I had had this discussion with her and that I asked her off the top of your head

113what are the things that we need to be thinking about and she gave me some things like um you know how many um the LJ Bell site is small um so you have you can only add so many classrooms um adding classrooms could extend the completion date of the school for occupancy beyond um August of 2028 which is um on the current timeline. line. Um adding classrooms would likely eliminate the keeping of the auditorium, which is something that had been discussed. Um and um adding each classroom added is approximately $500,000. And so the probably the most important thing she stated that day was if the board of education decides to add any classrooms at LJ Bell um Mosley would need to know about that very soon as the whole process has started obviously for getting

114that school designed. And so as I was thinking about coming into this meeting, I thought and and I was on a call with her about something else. I thought, you know, I might want to have a little more um um direct conversation about what would that really look like. And so she told me that she would crunch some numbers and get that information back to me. And she did that. Um and she said, "Remember that this school is being designed with a core of about 600 students." Now, that's when you start thinking about core, that's your core spaces, like your media center size, your cafeteria size, the size of the gym, and other common spaces. Um, and she said to me that, um, you know, of course, increasing that would do two things. One, it

115would cost more, of course. Um, two, it would get us into a situation where we had a very large elementary school for a district our size with over 600 students. So, um, she feels that we could, um, add four classrooms at this point. We could keep that would keep us within budget. That would keep us on our timeline. it would keep us within our 600 um student core so that those spaces did not have to be enlarged. Um and she said she reminded me that that would have to hap that she would need to know that very soon. Um this would however include demolishing the auditorium and adding a stage onto the existing uh gym area, turning that more into a multi-purpose space. Um, and so in my discussion with her, it it really came

116down because we don't know if we're going to do I mean, we just bumped it out to a school closure study for West Rockingham. If we do, we don't know what that school closure study is going to show us and then you all will have to make some decisions obviously about that. So, we can easily roll into fall um and the holiday season before any kind of decisions are made. um if you're going to add any classrooms at LJ Bell um in the new building, now's the time. And so um what she said to me is that our board would um have to consider, would you like to add, um any classrooms at that school, maximize the number of classrooms? um go ahead and plan for that regardless of what happens with the West Rockingham

117study um if you choose to do it at all. And um but at the end of the day, you would still end up with four additional classrooms at LJ Bell, but that would be at the expense of the auditorium. >> All right. When is very soon? >> Um now. >> Now. Yeah. Well, the reason I'm asking it is a shame that you cannot wait to after we have our work sessions. I mean, did you get what did you give us? 24 hours. >> When did you get this information? >> No, no, no. She didn't. When I say now, I don't mean like within 24 hours. I mean now as in this board meeting. Um, she, you know, they they're just in the I could ask her if we could if we could extend it out.

118Um, I wouldn't think we could do it beyond the June meeting. >> Is tearing down the auditorium the only place that you can put four extra classrooms? Because not only are you um adding four classrooms, you're also the um the amount of money that it's going to take to tear them that would be extra cost. Am I right? >> Tearing the auditorium down. So that's what she um it's not about placing the classrooms where the auditorium currently is located. It's about the money that it would have cost to renovate the auditorium going toward these four classrooms and demolishing the current auditorium. But one, I think it was the meeting before last or whenever we took when Stephen talked to us, he said that we didn't have to put do all the renovations to the auditorium.

119Am I right? I mean, you could get by without doing the extreme modifications or renovations to the auditorium. I don't know that we had that discussion with the architect at our last site meeting like where the cafeteria is physically attached to the auditorium. The cafeteria is going to go away and there's going to be some structural stuff that would have to do in that exterior wall uh of that auditorium to make it stand alone basically until the new ski school is built up against it. So, I mean, there there are a certain there are certain things that would have to be done for sure. Um, you know, I don't I don't know what code looks like. You know, we have to bring some things up to code. Um, whether it be HVAC or or what,

120you know, we didn't get that far into it. We're dealing with a lot of ifs. Um, okay. for more classrooms at LJ Bell. How about the um prek classes? Are they going to be at LJ Bell or are they going to be at Monroe Avenue? >> Which? >> All right. We have a prek class at LJB. All right. In our discussion, we've talked about putting all the prek together. Is that including that? Do you remember? >> Yeah. Our discussion was not we had move we had moved away from the discussion about putting all of prek at the Monroe Avenue facility. >> So we're going to leave them all in the schools. >> Okay. I didn't know that. >> Well, I'll just say we've been looking at long-term planning for the past couple months. That auditorium

121is 60 plus years old. It's not going to get any younger. It's going to need continuous repair and upkeep. To me, it makes more sense to maximize square footage with classrooms than it does to And I love the historical aspect of it. I get it. I I went there. I sang on that stage myself. But it's I I think it's it's fiscally irresponsible to try to save that auditorium over building classroom space when we don't know what's coming. Be it tremendous growth from Amazon coming here, be it, you know, consolidating schools. It makes better sense to me to classrooms in a dust to preserve an auditorium. And I I I second that. I agree with that. You know, that's been a conversation we've had from from day one. I mean, we're building a new facility

122and to to add or to leave a old existing building there just to me doesn't make sense either. And I I I much rather build expectant growth than to build or or try to remodel a old building that we might end up spending more money trying to upkeep of. You know, and one of the things we had talked about as a board was talking about trying to update some of our older facilities, you know, getting newer facilities, you know, and applying for grants and things like it. Just doesn't to me doesn't make sense to hold on to auditorium that's old if we can get additional class sizes without having increase in what we already have as far as the grant. And with that said, there is there's some way that something from that that auditorium

123could be incorporated into it. Be it the floor on the stage, make a decorative wall out of it or something so that there's a piece of it. I'm sure the architect could work something like that in there without a lot of additional cost if I had to guess. Am I right in saying that, Stephen? >> Well, this this came from Richmond Senior High School. This wood right here came from a gymnasium at Richmond Senior High School that you're looking at. What is the historical part? But it's also you if you tear down an art, you never get one. When we built Richmond Senior High, the plans was were to make to build a Ttorium. We don't have a Tortorium in Richmond Senior High yet. So, I know that if it's torn down, it will not

124be rebuilt. And I do understand and and that's the main our main purpose for being here is to make is prepare for the future. So, I know we need extra classrooms. And it's a shame that we or building on a place where we don't have any more land than we do. Um but I understand and um we also you know if to go back to what Bobby Sue said if we wait till July or August that means it's going to push out the planning phase of LJ Bell and that means that we will not be anywhere close to the August 2028 and those kids will have to stay at LJ Bell um Rohannon Primary, Rohan and Richmond primary along with nth grade academy and that affects the mineral kids because those kids have got to

125get over there. So, um I think what Joe's looking for tonight is that Ashley needs to know if that's what we want to do. So, I will entertain a motion if that's what we want to do. >> I'll make a motion to give the architect direction to demo the gym and build the four additional classrooms. Demo the demo the auditorium for additional classroom. Sorry, I was thinking out loud. >> That's it. >> Um have a a motion by Mr. Bowwin. I'll second it. Any further discussion? All in favor? >> And that's the only option you think >> to get to get more classrooms? Yeah, we we have to rob Peter to pay Paul somehow. >> According to the architect, that's the only way at this time to get additional classrooms at LJ Bell. Yes. And

126it still stays under budget >> without additional >> Within budget, excuse me. >> I I understand. >> I was promised that we would keep the auditorium, but I do understand that we need additional classrooms. >> Who promised? We've never We said that we would try to keep >> Ashley myself. >> Yeah, we all asked Ashley, but we she never promised her. We never promised that we would keep the auditorium. It was asked that we if we could keep it at all sorts we would and we've all had that conversation with Ashley. Um we had it at downstairs of LJ Bell when we were there looking at the facility that day. Um >> I wish we could keep it but I do think we need to optimize classrooms. >> I do too. I I I agree

127that we need classrooms. >> No, I forgot what I was going to say on that one. I do want to say the date the final date for LJ Bell is August >> 2028 >> the date >> what if it rains if it snows >> and it goes into September. >> Well get in that that's we'll move during the school year. We'll just have to make arrangements to move during the school year. >> So there's there's a little bit of cushion in there. Not a lot, but there's a there's a little bit of cushion in there. >> So, we have a motion by Mr. Bowwin, a second by >> who? By Mr. Tman. >> One more time. Any further discussion? All in favor by saying I. >> All opposed. You can tell Ashley to go ahead

128and start making plans for that. Okay. Is there is there a a way that we can make sure that other elementary schools can use the facility of Kate Finley Auditorium. >> I think that's always I think I think that's always a possibility. I think that would be a great thing to do. >> We're spending all this money for Kate Finley Auditorium. Um getting updated there's no there's no reason why LJ Bell couldn't go up there. It's a they can walk up there on a nice pretty day. Definitely just like we use RCC to call auditorium. >> I know you know this year I don't know the stipulation to it but the uh of course you know they saying at First Baptist Church again this year you know and I know it's an expensive thing to

129go to Cole for us to to do that. So, you know, one thing, you know, I think it would be great if we could uh get it where that is works into a situation where they could use Kate Flet auditorium, especially with us redoing it. Without a doubt, >> it's just like the the middle school kids go in and play ball at the the high school, elementary school kids can go there. Even the Richmond senior high kids, of course, could go there. I think that's way use our facilities. comments from board members. >> Um, I I'll go ahead and start. I had the privilege to dress in the buttskin outfit again at uh Mineral Springs and the kindergarten teacher asked me every year to come and do that. We we had a great STEM night.

130They had a lot of different activities going on. Uh I was able to go to the chorus uh event at First Baptist Church and and I don't know how that's set up, how it's works works into the scene. But I will say to any church that's ever you that we've ever used your facilities, I want to say thank you from Richmond County Schools. Uh I was able to go to the Cordova Band concert and the Hamlet band concert. Uh these bands are quality for for me to see them and have played an instrument and a a con a cornet and marching band or French horn and concert band. Seeing the quality of of the bands that we have in elementary a middle school is awesome. It doesn't matter which one you go to in Richmond

131County, you know, whether it's LB, Rockingham, Cordova, or Hamlet, they're good quality sound. Real good sound. And then uh I had the opportunity today to to proctor at LB Middle School in a math class. And uh I I can't tell you the number of times I've gone through the proctor training, but I've had that opportunity today. Had a good time. Thanks, Jerry. Any comments? >> Uh, yeah. Just saw online the other day that uh Christian Eric Culver's child was the one that struck by the ball at Richmond Senior High and saw that he was home and doing well. So, just just thankful for that. Uh, also saw this week that coach had was able to return to work. So, that's after a long leave of absence. So, it's great to see him back. Um, two

132positive things. So, I I'll add one negative thing. Last month, as we sat in this room, we convened in the closed session. Closed session is is here to prevent the disclosure of student and personnel private information. Uh at that time, there was an opportunity taken. There were some comments made and and I want to address that. Close session is not intended for board members to condemn or shame other board members for the way they vote on something. And I think it's very important that we're transparent. We communicate openly and honestly and I just felt the need to say that. >> You took my notes. Did you see my notes? >> No. >> Okay. >> Thanks, Scott. Anybody else? >> Yeah, I've been to several concerts, athletic events, STEM, and robotic. It's been a very busy.

133We met the educational foundation board met today and we got a report from our clay shoot which was very successful which um provides scholarships and money for growing our own teachers in Richmond County which is the goal for um the um educational foundation and we've already started planning for the next year. So as soon as I get the date I'll give it to you. it in um it will be toward the end of um April. But it was very successful and that means lots of some of our students will get scholarships, some of the teachers will get funds to go back to school, finish their degree and it all be local. So very very pleased with that committee. >> How do you let How do you let Carrie beat John Clay? >> So I was

134the shortest kid on the basketball team. Um when she said very successful I was going to say not for me like a 38. >> Well all of you should come and participate. It is very is it's a lot of fun but it is just supporting the um the foundation where we know that the money is put right back in Richmond County to help make sure that we keep teachers. And I forgot one other thing. I'm glad I got another second. So um I went to the um Special Olympics this year. We had a beautiful day and great participation. I am just really glad um whoever is responsible Kate Ders that we continue to do that. It was it was very good. Very successful. Those children had a great time. >> I missed the date. I

135always love to go but >> it was very good. >> But I've got my EC. >> I just want to piggy back on what Scotty said. I think it's really important that over the next month year we talk about these tough issues that our board stays together and that even though we disagree with each other and disre with each other hard that after the meeting is over we're right back at it again talking to each other and doing all that. So I I do appreciate that we al remember that we also got to be kind and each other as we're talking and not overalking each other and not repeating ourselves and all that stuff. I think I know I do that a lot and some of you also do that a lot, but I appreciate

136y'all talking and becoming those friends again after the meeting. So, I think we need to keep that in mind as we go forward with these tough decisions because again, these are going to be very, very tough decisions going forward and we're going to need some leadership with each one of y'all. Thank y'all for what you do. Corey is repetitive, but I've been to as many of the end of the year concerts as I could attend, and we've got some talented kids and um athletics and the concerts and everything. But um thanks to our staff for all the wonderful things that are going on. >> Some talented staff members, don't we? >> We do. >> Really, really good. So, thank y'all for going and doing those things. >> And an update, the Raiders are up one

137to nothing. >> Anything else? Okay. So, we got superintendent report, not Frell. >> So, I made a list of things that I wanted to share tonight, and I think that a lot of them have already been shared by um by you all who chose to share some things. Um I just want to I want to make sure that I say this. So, I was in my office this morning preparing for the board meeting, and we're dealing with a lot of heavy things right now. You know that as a board, you know that as an audience, we know that as a community, we're dealing with a lot of heavy things. We're not the only school system dealing with these exact same things. Um, but I was in my office and just going through all of the

138information and things were feeling heavy and Melvin Ingram walks into my office and he's got his hat on his head and he's ready to go. And I said, "Where are you going?" And he said, "Oh, I'm going to um the spoken word um event over at REACH." And he said, "Are you going to that?" And I said, "Yeah, yeah, I am." Because that was about students. And so I got up and I left all of my board meeting material right there on my desk and went over to reach today and heard some of the best poets and singers and just amazing kids doing amazing things. And I thought, thank God he walked into my office and said that he was going over there because it I just needed that moment to be reminded this is

139why we do this work. This is what matters. And it was a really great event. And so hats off to the REACH folks for the great job that they did. And of course, there's so many um great things like that going on throughout our school district right now. We have awards programs happening. You know, we're going to the REACH awards program tomorrow night. kids are going to be getting major scholarships um to go to college and what an awesome opportunity that is. And then of course soon after we'll do the same thing with um with Richmond and um graduations are coming up for Reach on the 20 um 2nd of May and Ashley Chapel on the 28th of May and Richmond Senior High School on the 29th. And so while we have all of these

140heavy things going on and all of these heavy decisions facing us like a lot of other school districts have, I just want to remind us all to take the time at this time of year to really get out there and focus on what matters because the school year is wrapping up for our students and great things are happening and they're excited and telling us about the colleges that they're going to and all that. So, just don't lose don't lose sight of that when things get heavy because we'll get we'll get through this and and we'll make you know you'll make you'll make some great decisions and we'll we'll move this thing forward. And um I just wanted to remind us all that that sometimes you just need to just stop and go do something with

141students because it will change your entire day. >> Thank you for serving. Very good. I'm telling you, sometimes you got to speak from the heart. >> That's right. There you go. >> So, I need a motion to enter in and close session pursuant to North County General Statute 143318 111A1 and take the motion >> to prevent the disclosure of confidential personnel records and discuss personnel matters and Jerry Ethridge seconded by Scott. All in favor by saying I. We are now in close session. Did you hear my It's on you. >> Chairman Satfield, Dr. Farah, and members of the board on board docs is their personnel report and addendum. I'm asking for approval at this time. >> I'd like to mot a motion by Mr. Esters to the personnel report. >> Second by Mr. Baldwin. Any

142further discussion? All in favor by saying I. I. All opposed. >> Thank you, Dr. >> Thank you, >> Mr. Chairman. I have a motion. >> Yes, sir. >> I'll make a motion to approve the superintendent's amended contract as presented. >> Have a motion by Mr. Baldwin to approve superintendent amended contract. I second. A second by Mr. Tilman. Any discussion? All in favor by saying I. >> All opposed. >> Congratulations. Thank you. Need a motion to adjourn this meeting. >> Move. Motion by Mr. Baldwin, second by Mr. Edge. fair by saying.