001a bunch of people here tonight which makes my heart feel good. We we are so happy that you are here and we are going to not take much time and we're going to go ahead and start this thing. So, uh, the the board chair declares a quorum is present for the April 8th, 2025 Richmond County Board of Education meeting. Will the board please come to order? Will everybody please stand? Have a moment of silence and the pledge of allegiance. Moment of silence, please. Thank you. Everybody please stand and face the flag. Repeat. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Board members, you have in front of you the minutes of
002open session minutes meetings from March 11th and our work session on March 25th. Do you need a motion to approve? I'll make a motion. Make a motion by Mr. Ethridge for motion to by Mr. Eth with a second by Miss Orangebeby or any discussion. All in favor by saying I. All opposed by saying no. Minutes are passed. Mr. Superintendent, we do we have any changes to the agenda? No. So we are rolling along. Our first order of business is Miss Cameron Whitley. Good evening Cameron. Always exciting to introduce our inspiring excellence winners for the month. And we will start with Miss Wendy Taylor from Rock Middle. Ronald and Jerry. We all do those two. All right. Chairman Satderfield, Dr. Far and members of the board, it is my pleasure to present the inspiring excellence award
003um to Miss Atoria Smith, aka Kiki. So, Miss Kiki, could you come on up? Miss Kiki is the first person everyone sees as they arrive at Rockingham Middle School. From the moment the doors open, she greets each visitor with a warm smile and a genuine hello. Her unwavering positivity sets the tone for everyone who walks through the through our doors, making them feel immediately welcomed and valued. Beyond her friendly demeanor, Miss Kiki is a true team player. She is always willing to do whatever it takes to make our school run efficiently. Whether it's assisting with administrative task, supporting teachers, or helping te students find their way. She wears many hats without ever complaining. Her selflessness and commitment to our mission are an inspiration to us all. Thank you, Miss Kiki, for your unwavering dedication, your
004infectious spirit, and for making our school a better place every single day. [Applause] All right. It is my great pleasure to present the Inspiring Excellence Award to Miss Charlotte Jacobs. Miss Jacobs is a remarkable teacher who works tirelessly to develop meaningful relationships with her students. She understands that education is not just about imparting knowledge, but also about fostering connections that empowers students to thrive. Her ability to build rapport with her students creates a foundation of trust and respect, enabling them to feel safe and supported in the learning journey. In her classroom, collaboration is key. Miss Jacobs provides countless opportunities for her students to work together, engage in thought-provoking activities, and think outside the box. Her innovative approach encourages creativity and critical thinking, helping her students not only grasp the curriculum, but also develop essential skills
005for their future. We are incredibly fortunate to have Miss Jacobs as a leader in our building. Her passion for teaching and her dedication to our students set a shining example for us all. Today, as we honor her with this award, let us also celebrate the profound impact she has made in the lives of our students and our school community. Thank you, Miss Jacobs, for your hard work, your passion, and your inspiring leadership. [Applause] And next up we have LJ Bell Elementary School and Miss Meredith Norman. Good evening, Chairman Satderfield, Dr. Frell, and members of the board. I am honored to stand before you tonight to recognize two of our finest bumblebees. And I will first start with our lead custodian, Mr. Ernest Patterson. I had to tell him to come. I needed him to come
006with me to hear some maintenance questions. So, that's how I got him here. So, Mr. Patterson or Earnest to us all joined LJ Bell at the beginning of this school year. It did not take long for others to notice his strong work eth work work ethic. His hard work, dedication, and team spirit make him a true asset to LJ Bell. Thanks to Mr. Ernest, our school stays clean and orderly. And let's be honest, the floors have never looked better. He always goes above and beyond handling every task with a smile, even putting up with our constant radio calls. Honestly, with all the mystery spills, glitter explosions, and the occasional un unidentified sticky substances in the hallways, we don't know how you do it. Yet, no matter what chaos the school day throws your way, you
007tackle it like a pro. You truly inspire excellence throughout our school building and our family. We appreciate everything you do, and today we just want to say a big thank you. [Applause] Yes. Okay. All right, I got two. One, two, three. One, two, three. One more. You know I do. You know I have to have a page. Thank you. Congratulations. Next I would like to recognize Miss Casey Mat. Miss Mat has been the music teacher at LJ Bell for many years. Miss Mat is the ultimate music teacher who makes every day a blast. She's the stu superstar behind our school chorus, always pushing students to reach their best notes and have a ton of fun doing it. Not only did she kick off our very first Black History Month program, but she also helped the
008third graders rock out for Hispanic Heritage Month with awesome music celebrations for Title One Night. Miss Mat doesn't stop there. She's a leader in the district, helping other music teachers get the hang of the new music standards. And when she's not teaching others, she's offering encore to our prek class, setting up exciting monthly stations, and lending a hand with instructional support for third through fifth grade students. With her energy, creativity, and love for music, Miss Mat makes every class feel like a musical adventure. Thank you for inspiring excellence throughout the school and our community. [Applause] Thank you. Yes. One, two, one more. One, two, three. Perfect. Thank you. We're going to talk about backpacks now. We are. So, I'm excited to introduce somebody that I think a lot of you already know and does a
009tremendous amount for our district, and that is the executive director of Backpack Pals, Pastor Steve Cruz. Mr. Chairman and board, thank you for the invitation. We're we're glad to be here. I believe most of you know about the Bat Pow program, but for anybody that doesn't know, it's a program try to alleviate hunger in school children for children that are dependent upon the school cafeteria and sometimes when they go home on the weekends, they may have little or nothing to eat. uh the students are recognized by the school and uh each school sends us a number and we provide that number of bags to that school. We don't get no list of names. I don't know any individuals. We just know a number and then each school has a place set up to where they
010know to go to pick up their bag on Fridays when they leave for the weekend. And uh we'd like to say that we do appreciate each one of our schools. They've been wonderful. Dr. Wendy Jordan has been my contact person and it's been a wonderful operation and we certainly appreciate all the support that we get from the schools. Uh right now we are packing uh 445 bags each week. Uh that's going out every Thursday. Uh, another thing that we uh, appreciate about the Batpack pal program is totally volunteer. We have no paid staff. I'm a volunteer. I'm the founder of the program and also uh the uh, executive director of the program and we have no paid staff. All the bags are packed by different uh groups uh volunteers and a bunch of uh military
011retired people. Uh they deliver the bags to the schools. Uh so every bit of the money that comes into our program goes right back into the program to either buy food, put gas in the truck and maintenance and a little bit of utilities uh that we have. Uh this year uh so far this school year, we've already been able to invest and spend $59,438.84 84 cents on food alone. Uh so we're we're at a situation, one of the things that has hurt us a little bit is the food prices just kept going up and kept going up and kept going up. And so it has ate through a lot of our funds in the past few uh years. uh as it kept going up and going up and at the same time we saw numbers
012going up, the need began to get greater also. And so we uh uh standing in need of funds. If anyone would like to help us, we'd be more than glad. There's a lot of different ways you can get involved. Uh we have lists that we can provide to you. Uh some groups do food drives. Uh some people uh they like to donate uh monetarily. So whichever way that they would like to do it uh that that would be fine. Uh but uh it's hard to believe uh we're almost already done started our 20th year of this program. And so but uh we're thankful that we're able to do it and that we want to continue to do it. Uh we're in all schools program available to every school in Richmond County now. And so that
013was our goal when we first started this. Some of you remember back when we first started and uh we had a goal that we would like one day be able to get it to all the schools. Well, it's available to every school in the county now. So we're we're certainly glad about that. Uh, anyone have any questions or anything I might can answer? I wanted to do is there anybody that will listen to you and give you discounts? Yeah, we we buy all our food now uh from wholesalers and we don't we have to because we pack so much we have to actually buy it in pallet loads and uh we negotiate it with a grocery wholesaler uh out of outside of Charlotte and uh we're we're getting some of the same prices that they
014get uh that they give to grocery stores. We're also being you brought that up. We're also negotiating with the new BJS up in Southern Pines. We've been we've been up and met with them and and and we're working with them and it seemed like it may be a good good fit for us. Good. It's an excellent program. Thank you, ma'am. Thank you. I'll just say I just thank you and your organization for you know um the collaborative partnership with our school system. You know you said something that was very very important. You know a lot of our kids sometimes this may be the only meal that they do receive. So you know I think you know um the work that you guys are doing is is awesome. Um and that's you know um a hungry
015child can't learn and so I really appreciate appreciate you guys for all that you do. I have some information that I'd like to share with the board. Yes, sir. Uh this is some uh but uh that's the company and it just of some of the uh food that company we're buying food from. And each school year we we order approximately four to five times during the school year pallets loads of food. And uh that those uh food orders is where we come up with the $59,000 that we have spent uh this year so far. This is fantastic. Thank you so much for what you do. $445 meals a day, $59,000 in costs in 20 years. We are blessed to have you in Richmond County. Well, we thank you. We appreciate the board and appreciate all
016y'all do for us. Thank you. All right. Thank you. Can we get Can we get a picture? Go down there. And I had her take that out. That's a some of like a typical pack a lot of times. They'll be getting when they go home. There we go. One, two, three. One more. One, two, three. Perfect. Thank you. [Applause] Crime Stoppers poster. Miss Whley, are you good? Crimestoppers poster contest. Mr. Ingram. Um, greetings, Chairman Satderfield, Dr. Pharaoh, members of the board. Um today um I'm honored to introduce uh the remarkable efforts of the Richmond County Crimestoppers, an organization dedicated to promoting safety and reducing crime in our community. Uh many of us finally remember McGruff the Crime Dog and his iconic message to take a bite out of crime. While our students may not recall
017these commercials, the mission of the Crimestoppers remains as vital as ever. So I have um have um Chuck Cobb with me. He is um chairman of um Crimestoppers, Region County Crimes Stoppers and I'm sorry, Rene Grisbowski. Renee Grisbowski, one of our board members, and I'm proud to serve on that board as well. Um and this board has been instrumental in fostering community engagement and awareness. U one of our recent um initiatives, the postal contest, has brought together uh the creative talents of our students and um to help spread the message of crime prevention. Uh the contest was coordinated by Karen Good, our district art mentor in collaboration with uh district art teachers across Richmond County as well as the board. The artwork created by our students will be used for marketing and promoting the important
018message of Richmond County Crimes Stoppers. So we're proud to announce the winners at this time. So we have our first place winner, um Victoria Bedau. Is she here? All right. Our second place winner, Tyu. Is she here? And our third place winner, Cadence Barber. And let me say this. Um, Victoria Bedau uh is a a 12th grader at Richmond Senior High School. Um, Tyu is a 11th grader at Richmond Senior High School. And Cadence Barber is an eighth grader at Hamlet Middle School. Um, and so um, they get a monetary prize. You would like to say something? Well, I was just going to say that we have the monetary cash or the cash rewards. We also have some promotional merchandise to give you. It was a very tough contest. We had so many posters. We
019met here and we had posters spread out on the conference table on the floor and many posters got number one votes and so you all had awesome artwork and we were just able to we just counted the number on the number Congratulations to all three of you on a fantast. Take a picture. You got to hand that out. Perfect. All right. One, two, three. One, two, three. Perfect. Thank you. Congratulations. Congratulations, Chuck. Thank you very much for your pens and your your pads, too. Thank you very much. Mr. Johnson, good evening, sir. Good evening. How are you doing, sir? I'm good. Good. I'm good. All right. We got a got a lot of them tonight, so that's a good thing, I guess. Um, a lot in the middle school, so hopefully the future looks good.
020I'mma start with wrestling. I'm do a little different. It's listed on the on the list. Miss Whitley gave me a Axel Nunez from Hamlet Middle placed first in his weight class. Axel, if you come on up, Edgar Sodto from Hamlet Middle in his weight class. And Caleb Haristen, Haristen, excuse me, from Rockingham Middle placed first in his weight class. coming up. They were coached by Joe Nicholson. All right, I guess photo opportunity is yours. Hey, thanks. You ran cross country. Don't go too far. All right. U also Hamlet Middle and I don't know if any others are here. Uh the cross country team coached by Blake Kelly won I think it was the first conference championship in school history. So anybody else is here besides Axel? Come forward. I mean, y'all want to do it
021again or are we good? Thank you. Good job. All right. Also from Hamlet Middle, girls basketball, undefeated season, conference champions, coached by Dorothy Hall. So, anybody's here representing H Middle. Come on. Were any games close? Do y'all have any any Were any of them close? No, I don't think so. I saw y'all a few times. Y'all good. All right. So, they were the conference champions. Yes, sir. Conference champions. Undefeated. Undefeated. Get you guys tight. And if some of you in the front will kind of squat a little. There we go. Perfect. Okay. One, two, three. Get another one. Perfect. Thank you guys. Congratulations. [Applause] All right, rounding out the middle schools boys basketball conference champions for the fourth consecutive year. Rockingham Middle. [Applause] Coaches do. Oh, sorry. Didn't recognize y'all. Shook your hand. But Dion
022Green and Julius Bowen. Coaches. Okay. One, two, perfect. Congratulations. All right, staying with basketball, moving on to the high school, Richmond's varsity girls basketball team. Regular season conference champions, we'll go ahead and say they would have been the tournament champions have we finished playing it and fourth round appearance in the playoffs. So, Coach Reer, Coach Reader, any girls here? Stay here. All right, that was fast. So, we'll stay on basketball and wrap that up. Varsity boys basketball coached by Donald Pedigrew, conference champions, third round. How many years in a row is this? Four. Four consecutive years. So, come on in. Congratulations. [Music] Dr. You can't be on the back row. Okay. One, two, three, four. Perfect. Thank you guys. Congratulations. [Applause] All right, moving on to track. And I'll just recognize the three of them
023at once. Amaria Gibson, 55 meters champion, girls indoor track. Kamora Watkins, long jump champion indoor track. Bob Pis third place. You said long correct long jump indoor track. My memories get bad. Coached by Aaron Coleman by John Rich and Reggie Miller. Conference Kamar is the conference MVP. You need to come see me too. I got a plaque in my office for you by the way. Yeah, most of the [Applause] [Music] All right. One, two, three. Do one more. One, two, three. Perfect. Congratulations. Thank you. [Applause] All right, last one for the evening. I think he's been as many schoolboard meetings as I have this year. So, Kamari Morgan finished third place in the state in wrestling. Probably injury away from a state championship, conference champion. There's probably a lot more accolades we could throw out
024here, but I've done it a couple times with him already. So, we'll go ahead and take his picture and roll on. Congratulations, [Applause] Fville State. One, two, three, one more. One. Perfect. I tried to convince him do the middle school portion to speak and he said he just did something for a public speaking class, but I couldn't sell him on. I'm done unless y'all want me to talk some more. Sing us a song for you. Oh, that's mad. Mr. King, we got some construction updates, don't we? You cleared out here quick, didn't you? You want that one first? Okay. Thank you. Good evening, Mr. Chairman Satderfield, Dr. Frell, and members of the board. Uh just wanted to brief you up, give you a brief update on our construction projects. Uh starting with Febu Heights. As
025you know, we've been in that building for a while now. Still just a couple of outstanding uh punch list items that we're working on. So, those should be finished soon. Uh the same with Mineral Springs. Um just a few punch list items left for the for the phase two project, uh which was the main building. Phase three, the service road was paved um last week or week before last. Um so they're done with that. They just got to come back do some fine grading and some seeding and straw and remove all the fence. Just kind of clean up outside. So that those two projects are are all but complete. Moving to the high school. Um still just continuing to work on uh the heating and air uh plumbing, sprinklers, roof trim. Uh doing trim work
026on all that. Ceramic tiles complete. Epoxy flooring is complete, which is in the laundry room and the bathrooms. Uh the painting, the ceiling in the in the gym's been painted, uh is complete. Uh the walls have at least one coat of paint on them. Uh ceiling grids in um weight room flooring is scheduled to go in, I think it's April 15th, uh and then followed by the weight room equipment, I think over spring break. Um, I wanted to share with you right quick. Um, just a few photos. Um, so that's the gym. Um, as you can see, the walls got the first coat of paint. The ceilings, all the duct work, everything in the ceiling's been painted. Um, this is standing on the um, the balcony on the second floor looking down into the gym.
027Um, this is down on the gym floor looking back up where I was just taking showing you that photo. Uh those three openings there will be in that long corridor on the second floor that you can overlook into the gym. Um this is just down one of the hallways. You can see all the ceiling grids going in or it hasn't been been installed. The door frames have a coat of paint. The walls have one coat of paint. Um this is one of the typical classrooms. Uh as you can see some windows in the back there. Uh ceiling grid. All the utilities above are in place. Um, this is the actually the laundry room. Um, there'll be connections for three washers and three dryers. Um, we do have those purchased. Uh, actually two sets purchased. Um,
028and just waiting on on the space to be finished to get those installed. Uh, this is one of the locker rooms. The lockers have already been installed. They just got them covered up here. Epoxy flooring is in. You can see around the edge the little wall base there. So, a multiflex color. um epoxy flooring. Uh this is one of the bathrooms. You can see the wall tiles in. Uh they're starting to install plumbing fixtures. Um this is uh one of the locker rooms. Uh some of the showers there, getting everything trimmed out. Uh this is one of the gang bathrooms on the bottom floor. The one on the right's uh the girls. One on the left is boys. Uh the one on the very right is actually a staff toilet. Uh and you can see
029in the for picture that well in the entrance of the two bathrooms you can see the epoxy floor color and then right outside of that will be that's where they did the mockup for grinding the concrete. That's what the the rest of the floors will do. Just another picture of one inside of the bathrooms. Uh this is second floor. Uh it's a balcony. It's going to be an overlook looking down into the lobby on the first floor. On that wall there, behind that railing, uh will be the the Raider Diamond. Um there's two classrooms that are that are behind that wall there. Uh picture concession stands. That's that's just a picture of the railing that hadn't been installed yet on the previous picture there. That this railing here goes right there where that temporary railing's
030at. Um, that's a little little niche there for like a a jersey display or art display, whatever whatever we put in there. And this is standing in the lobby on the first floor looking into the three um double door entrances to the new gym. And that's it. Any questions on the high school or any other construction projects? When did you say that flooring will be put in? Is that floor in there now? like that. Is that Well, the gym will obviously have the wood sports floor. How How long will that take to put in? Do you have any idea? Uh about a week. They'll have to um have it delivered and put it in the building. They're actually starting up the the units, the air conditioned units probably first of next week. So once they
031get to the point that the flooring will have to be delivered, it'll have to sit in the building for a week at least depending on temperature to acclimate before they install it. So, um that that'll be obviously before their bleachers are installed, but um that should happen probably by the end of the month, 1 of May. Any questions? I'll ask the age old question. Are we still on track with the completion date or? Yeah, I mean it the last schedule update I got from substantial completion was June 27th. So you there there's still a lot of work to be done, but you know, we we're meeting continuously and on the site and virtually and phone calls and just trying to make sure you know we we're doing our part to to push it forward. So
032to answer your question at this time, that's that's that's what I have. I did want to give you a couple other quick update. Are there any other questions on the construction projects? Couple other quick updates. um the running track repair and replacement. Um we had a pre- bid meeting at the site today with the engineer and we had three contractors show up. Um so that that project will be going out to bid soon. Uh it'll start right after graduation and uh be complete uh before football the first football game in August. Uh the baseball field uh renovation, we have a meeting next week uh to finalize things before that project goes out to bid. Um that'll be done sometime over the summer. Um the repainting of the existing gym floor uh at the high school
033will happen over spring break. It's been a number of years, probably 10 years since it's been re the lines have been repainted. So they'll come in with a sander and and sand the wood down and take the paint off, repaint it, and then reseal it. So that'll that'll look fresh. Um the handrails at the stadium at the high school uh will be installed before graduation. They actually I got a call this afternoon that they have started install them. It'll take them just a couple weeks, but they did promise that they would be installed before graduation. And then finally, the Rockingham Rockingham Middle School roof replacement was scheduled to start yesterday, but obviously due to weather it did not. They did they did start today on those projects. So, a lot going on in the world
034of construction. Any any questions on those projects? How long will that would that take at Rocket, you think? Well, we told them that it had to be complete and build this physical year. So, I think it was June 20th that I told them, look, you got to be done and have that build so we can get all that done in this physical year. And again, depending on weather, um it's a pretty straightforward repair. Um there's not a lot of roof pitches. I mean, there's it's pretty simple roof for the most part. access is is a challenge there just because it's a tight site, but they I have I've met this company several times on the site, so I have a lot of faith that I'm think just fine. Any questions on that? All right. How
035do I exit out of that? Okay. You said you don't want it. No, I have to click on this. Thank you. All right. So, moving on. Let's see. So, the maintenance department, we issued an RFP or request for prices for a video board, also known as a jumbotron, to replace the existing U scoreboard for the at senior high for the football field. So, we only received one bid from Dtronics. And keep in mind that Dtronics is the company that installed the sound system on that scoreboard some years ago. um Dtronics bid was in the amount of $260,27456. So per our board policy, uh projects over 90,000 have to be formally bid, which we did meet that requirement. We we submitted or we put a RFP out. We posted it on our uh school website. We
036directly contacted at least three companies to to offer them a chance to bid. Um, so in that $260,000 there was a 7500 about $7,500 for a live camera. Our head football coach requested that as part of the the package. Uh, and in talking to the sales rep with Dtronics, they said they'll be welcome to take that out. We could look at buying that separate and save that money. They they would be willing to do that for us if that's something we choose to do. Also, the bid included uh installation of the the jumbotron and that was about $31,000. Again, the salesperson said, "Look, we don't we don't you know, we don't have a problem if you want to take that out of the out of the scope of work for us and you you contract
037directly with the installer. It doesn't have anything any effect on the warranty, but because the installer as long as we use their certified installer, so there may be an opportunity for us to save some money there as well. Um, so if if this project is uh approved, we plan to make a public announcement um of the project to allow for community involvement and provide opportunities maybe for people to donate um towards this purchase. Our athletic director, James Johnson, and head football coach Brad Denson, they've both already started some conversations in the community and they've had a lot of positive feedback. So, I'm seeking uh board approval to purchase a jumbotron to replace the existing football scoreboard in amount of in amount not to exceed the 260,000 27456 with the hopes that we'll we'll receive some
038donations and possibly have a fundraiser to help fund this project. So, just a couple questions off the top of my head. So, if you find somebody else that's licensed by them to put the scoreboard up, it's we still have the full warranty of it. I just want to make sure I heard that correctly. Yeah. Well, if we if we contract directly with an installer that they they typically use, the answer is yes. If we go somebody outside of that, they still may approve them and warranty it. We would just need to get that approved. You have no idea what that cost would be? Uh, I think Dr. Carter talked to him and it was about half and and what's the other question I had was the live camera. What's the live camera for? It would
039be the the one that they quoted is actually a hardwired camera. So it would be somebody could be on the field um videoing the game or cheerleaders or whatever activities on the field and it would be a live feed to the jumbotron. Now they're and so they quoted one for about $7,500 and they said look we you know we're not really in that business but we asked for that in the RFP. So they were required to put that in if we want to pull that out and and have our technology folks or you know work with uh football head coach and see what the needs are and see if we can uh outsource that you know at at a more reasonable price. There are options for wireless cameras, but the sales rep told us those
040were in the neighborhood of $20,000. So, well, true for his. So, you know, there's some options for us to explore. Maybe a more economical hardwired and or look at what what a wireless camera would cost. Yeah, I I know it's it's a it's a large price. I'm just trying to save the community and the school system as much money as I can. Yes, sir. And still have is a wonderful company. They all the the stadiums. They do Panther Stadium. They do NC State, Carolina, they do it all. They're all over the country and they probably put every scoreboard into the country feel. If we can save some money and do it that way, I'd rather do it that way. That would be my opinion. Said full 260, we can get it down to 230, something
041like that. Oh, I think I hit the wrong thing. That one be Excuse me. Is that price in the ballpark of what you were um anticipating? Yes, ma'am. Um we we had gotten a a budget number from them previously, but it didn't include installation or sales tax or the camera. So, by the time we added all those things, it it it is to answer your question. And this is um what they proposed that it would, you know, something similar that it would look look like. And see, we we would have um advertisement opportunities around around the the board and it will integrate with our our existing sound system. Uh we checked into the power. We will have to upgrade our power at the site, but we've already talked we've already reached out to Duke Energy
042with that. That's not an issue. Um, we checked into uh the integration with sound system and and the press box uh having to have fiber optics um uh service there. There's already fiber optics for the sound system. So everything that we can think of so far we we've gone down that road and and and checked the box. So we we feel comfortable about it. As far as location of the scoreboard, it still would still be in the exact same location as the old scoreboard or would it be moved to the other end of it? It'll be in the same location. If you'll look at the picture on the on the screen here, the the box at the top with the R in it, that that houses the majority of the sound system and the the
043structure to the right and on the left of that, all that all that's existing where it says existing truss and sound system to to remain. So they basically remove everything below that that's there now. There's three posts out there and everything goes right back up and and I know we'll make money off the sign eventually after several years of paying it off. I I I personally think that Richmond Senior High School should have a little skin in the game and if they want a camera, they should purchase a camera with their athletic fund money. That's what I'm just saying. Let them We're gonna We're gonna What's that? Yes, there's not camera wireless home but she's indicated she's all in that do it. You have to buy the kids. So, what are you looking for, Steve?
044We just need board approval to to move forward with the purchase of it with a price not to exceed the And this is in your board docs. Thanks, ma'am. 260,000. 27456. We need a motion to approve the bid. So, let me ask you this. So, where's the cost for the cost for you said for the live TV, the top live TV? You mentioned that. Where's that on here? I Well, $7,500 for the camera down at the bottom. Okay. Well, the the the $7,500 is a line. Well, it doesn't show up as a line item. Um if you look on the page page one of the the quote um two the 10th item down or the third one from the bottom says camera kit high definition theyought receiver and transmitter. But if we approve this, are
045we we're approving the entire thing, right? Up two. Up two. Yeah. And yeah, price not to exceed the total and we can back out from there. That's right. I mean, if that's that's what I would like. Okay. I'll make a motion, Mr. Chairman, that we accept the um recommendation of uh the school board at up to the amount of $260,27456 including tax and installation. Have a motion by Mr. Tilman. Second. Second by Mr. Ball. Any further discussion? All favor by saying I. All opposed. Thank you, Mr. King. Welcome. Thank you. Miss Jordan. Good evening, Chairman Satderfield, Dr. Frell, members of the board. You should have before you on board docs um budget amendments uh 19 through 22. Um, budget amendment number 19 is um an increase in state funds of 52,443. Budget amendment 20 is
046um interfund transfer with local funds. Budget amendment number 21 is an increase in federal funds of $91,472.76. Budget amendment 22 is an increase in other local funds of $80,6428. I'll be glad to take any questions if anybody has any. If not, I'm So you're still getting federal dollars coming in all the time, which which is good. Do you fear that at all? Do I what? On your budget. On your budget. You're good with that. exhaust coming in smoothly. All that it is perfect. Some of it's a little slower than others, but it's it's it's coming. Um but so we are seeking board approval for budget amendments 19 through 22. Mr. Chairman, I'll make a motion to approve the four budget amendments as presented. I have a motion by Mr. Baldman. Do I have a second?
047I second. Second by Miss Horn. Is there any conversation? Any discussion? All in favor by saying I. All opposed. Thank you, Miss Jordan. And I guess you're gonna stand right there, aren't you? Yep. I'm gonna stand right here. Um we had our work session and we um talked about our proposed budgets um the capital outlay budgets um that were in the beginning of your packet um which were the sales tax projects remain the same as last year of the 2 million five and $500. the regular capital outlay remain the same of $423,500. So, if you'll So, back on on page um 20, the proposed budget, we talked about a 5% increase in teacher supplement, a 3% increase for payroll, a 3% increase for all projected fixed cost, and an implementation of the salary study for
048those jobs. Um so on page 28 where we have the cost of identified needs. That isn't that would be that's everything we talked about and that would be an increase from 2425 budget of 1,337,59.94. [Music] If you want all of those, those are just for your consideration as to which what we're going to the county for because this is your budget to approve. Well, if you look at the top three, the 5% local teacher increase, 3% payroll increase, 3% fixed cost increase, that's all stuff that we continue to talk about, stuff that we need. I am concerned a little bit about the implementation of the third phase of the salary study and maybe splitting that in half and doing it this year, half this year, half next year. And I know it wouldn't be half,
049but we would have to divide it out. Well, that would be my thought process. We can go ask for everything, but I just made that suggestion last month and I looked at it, looked at it, looked at it, still go back to looking at that that way. So, how would you prioritize your third phase? You know, I probably would look at it just doing like uh in no specific order of years, you know, put teacher assistants in one category and then the other people in custodians, monitors, childcare assistants, our main certified staff in the other. Okay. Um, and I know that would help a little bit for asking all that money. Okay. On page um 26, right? That's that's the one that has the um breakdown of each job, right? Does everybody understand what that
050would entail? That if we just did teacher assistance and then everybody else, you know, you're looking at maybe what the third difference would just simple math. So you're going you're saying go ahead and make the decision that if you divide it the division is there for teacher assistance that's the large large lump of personnel. Yes. And this is part of the salary stud that Dr. Frell has been, you know, doing since he since he got here that we've asked him to do or we just ask for the whole thing and see what they say. If we ask for the whole thing with with the whole salary study, right now we Yes. Yes, ma'am. Right now, we have the salary study um implemented in three phases. We've implemented the first two. Those that you're looking at
051on page 26 there are the f is that right those are everybody that's left for phase three. Yes. So everybody other than child nutrition right? Yeah. Everybody other than child nutrition are right here. Well if you don't ask for it you definitely won't get it. So my recommendation be to ask for every everybody. That's what I was going to say. I thought you know it's just well I can say typically um what they have been able to do in the past is what they try to do they try to do as best they can. Y'all all know that they typically will do the local teacher supplement increase but we ask for the the payroll raises and the fixed ass uh the fixed cost increase. they typically will pull that out and and do the teacher
052supplement and um they've been very good about the salary study. I mean, they've done great the last last two times. Of course, it has not been as much, but we all I knew the teacher assistants were going to be the biggest group and they're they're as deserving as anybody else and maybe more. They are. They are. And um I talked to other counties and that was their last ones that they took because they knew it was it was their biggest group and it was the co costliest group. I just I just want us to know and county commissioners know that we just don't take this lightly and we want to work together as a team. This is what this is then what it is. Question. Have we had a chance to talk to the county
053or county manager about what we possibly would be may be proposing just kind of so it's not like it's not a dollar figure of what we're proposing. You know they know that we've been talk the salary study they actually had talked about doing one themselves. Um I don't know that they've done anything with it yet but I do know that they had talked about doing one themselves. But they were positive when they knew that we were doing the salary studies. Am I right? I remember back. Oh, absolutely. And they've been very supportive of of everything we've asked. That's why I said I mean I know they'll do whatever they can. That just seems like they they've been willing to really willing to work with us. So when you we need a motion to approve. If
054you want to do the increase, the total request of um impro um it would be the budget the total budget proposed would be um 12,61633294. And that's on page 28. Is that correct? But taking a little bit off and and the reason if you you'll look that that's not really a $1 million or $1.3 million increase in the budget, but it's because I'm not allocating I allocated $600,000 this past year of our fund balance. If you'll look on the last line, fund balance appropriated. I'm only doing a million dollars because the $600,000 was for construction projects. Well, I make a recommendation that we go forward and if we have to come back and work on it, we will. But we'll think positive. Motion I make a motion. Motion by Mr. Armsby to accept the 202526
055budget. I second second by Mr. Tman discussion topics all in favor by saying I all opposed thank you very much Jordan Mr. Dream, I think you're back up again, aren't you? All right, Chairman Satfield, Dr. Farah, members of the board. Um, in board docs, you have a list of policies presented last month for review. This being the conclusion of the 30-day review period. I would like to present these policies for adoption. 3620 Extracurricular activities and student organizations 5150 reporting to external agencies 7130 lure 9110 use and selection of architects engineers surveyors and construction manager at risk motion Mr. Eth's motion for to approve the four policies as presented second by Mr. Is there any discussion? All favor by saying I. All opposed. Thank you, Mr. Mr. Ringer. You've got policies for review. Um yes. Um
056you can just keep going. Okay, I'll keep on going. Board Doc, you have a list of policies that I would like to present for um review. Um, and I'm I'm asking the board to wave um the 30-day uh review for these policies. These policies are relation to um school reassignment um safety and um student transportation services and bus routes. Um just um changing the language um from um last year to this year in terms of what we've done um in those areas. Um so we've kind of improved those things and try to make policy match practice and so this is effort to continue that. So we need a motion to wave the 30-day because you want to approve policy 4150. Yes. As it wave the 30-day and approve policies as presented a motion by Mr.
057Baldwin. Second a second by Miss Orangeby. Any discussion on waving the 30-day review the policy 4150 school sign just got a question. So I know you were talking about waving but what so what's the reason for the wave? I mean waving it and we can't wait until next month cuz I I'll be honest with you. I hadn't looked at those policies for upcoming. Now what are the major biggest changes with those policies? Was it just some um citations? Yes. So, in terms of 4150 in terms of of school assignment, um the changes are just like adding um approval. When you approve a reassignment, they'll be notified by email and also um um by regular mail. Um there's some language that um we kind of held some students harmless um the fifth graders and eighth graders.
058So, they were able to remain at the school. Um and so, um that language would be taken out um because that year is already passed at 24 25. And then um the references there um um as far as uh 6305 of safety and student transportation is just taking out language. It's improving the references um and it's taking out language um that should be u in a reference. It's like C regulation code um safety and student transportation in terms of discipline and behavior and that kind of thing. Um and then um the other one um 6305 safety um and student transportation. I think there was language in there relating to school principles um establishing bus routes, but we've moved to TIMS um in order to um to raise the efficiency of our bus routes. Um so
059that was just um outdated language. Um and then um as far as uh policy 6321 bus routes, it talked about just making sure that's in there about u school districts um um will provide transportation to licensed child care facilities within the middle school attendance boundaries u where the students um school is located. That's what we're presently doing. And then also the lang um just references um legal references I know we're approaching that season. I know, you know, school assignments, they have the deadline of June 15th. I know for me, I'm I'mma vote against this because I hadn't read it. I don't vote on something unless I see it. Not not that I don't trust what you say, but that's just me. Um, but that's doesn't mean that I don't approve, you know, but I just
060can't vote on this at this point. So, we have to do two things here. First of all, we have to have a motion to wave right there. We've already done that, right? So, it's time discussion. So, it's time to vote. Okay. To wave the 30 days these policies. All in favor by saying I. All opposed. We have the 30 days has been waved. So now that we have to vote on the actual um policies. So I need a motion to approve the four policies. No, therefore review. They're not going to wave it. Okay. I'll make a motion to approve the policies. Make a motion to approve by Mr. Balling. I have a second. Second by Miss Sh. Any discussion on these? All in favor by saying I. All opposed. Thank you, Mr. I'm in field
061field trip, sir. Boy dos. Thank you. Dr. Frell. Um, so you have a surplus, one surplus item. Hang on, let me see the back of my stack here. And it is, we are requesting approval u for Richmond Senior High School Athletics to sell a 1996 John Deere tractor. Uh, proceeds from the sale will go towards the purchase of a new tractor or mower. The difference tonight is our board policy does allow a private sale um the instead of um um listing on gov deals. And so um usually I am asking you to um for approval to list it on gov deals. They're going to do a a private sale for this so that they can go ahead and get things moving for the purchase of the new contract. Is that done by way of seal
062bid or Um, not with a private sale. Not with a private sale. I guess what they're saying is they have an individual to sell it to. Correct. So, how do we ensure that we're getting a fair price for it? And it's not somebody's buddy's cousin. how people have access to. So, um Melissa Colthard handles these kinds of things. Um and what she does is she goes and looks at the um kind of not a Kelly Blue Book, but kind of a Kelly blue book of tractors. Um and says, "Here's a range that you um can sell the item for." Um and then um we don't do we don't typically do it this way and so that's the you know per policy that's the cleanest way to do it. So that's the way we are doing.
063We have a we have a range. Now do they have to sell it for that exact range or within that range? I guess the answer technically is no to that. Um but we are um so for example they have asked the range I think starts at $6,400. Is that right D? Right. But that's kind of how she finds her deal. Yes. And um and the um the high school staff because it was bought with high school money and not with the money that we provide to them. They are requesting to sell it for uh $4,000. So the money goes back to the high school, goes back to the school and then they use it toward the purchase of um a track toward a new piece of lawn equipment. I guess like for me, I mean
064I understand the rationale behind I guess. But I mean, this is the first time I've ever been on the board and we've had something like this. Everything always came through gv deals. And it it to me makes it cleaner and keeps it neutral, you know? And to your point, Scotty, I mean, because who how do we know if it's not somebody's buddy that we're that's buying it? You know what I'm saying? So, I know for me, I'mma be a no on this one. I can't do that. So the question that I have um for you Eva is we we know who's I know who's buying it. Um is that something that we should disclose here in it's not confidential legally? Um you know the policy says that and this is comes from state law that
065you can use private negotiation and sale if it's worth less than 30,000 um for an item or group of items. So, one reason that you often don't use that is because you may have, you know, like when you're disposing of vehicles, it's often a group of them. And so, if you add them all together, it's more than 30,000. Um, it is, it does still require that you set a fair market value. Um, so I'm sorry, what was the question? The question is, um, one of the concerns of board members, rightfully so, is to make sure that it's not being sold to someone's cousin or friend or buddy. Right. Right. It would certainly need to be someone who is not an employee or a immediate family of an employee. And it's not even so much that
066my my concern is that we're actually getting fair market value for something and sometimes the market determines the price. There's a whole more transparency in an auction than there is a handshake deal or a private deal. Sure. So I guess in full disclosure then um so uh Hajes Landscaping handles our fields maintenance um and they are um offering to purchase this um tractor um at the $4,000. um they will continue to use it at our site um to maintain our fields. And so um and then if it's sold to them for the $4,000, then it come that $4,000 goes back to high school athletics and they turn around and buy a different piece of equipment that they need. Um, and so I think that I think that the discussion on their end is it's going
067to continue to be used at our school and so we sell it for four instead of six. So my recollection is why who cares if it's still being used at our school? They're using it. So if they want it and we can sell for 6,000, let's get 6,000 for it. We're going to buy buy a mower for how much? We're going have to buy They're buying a brand new mower. It's probably what $20,000. No, they're buying a piece of equipment that is um about $5,500. Okay. So, it would actually cost them an additional $1,500 to buy it. It's already been predetermined that they're going to buy it. It doesn't even sound like anybody else has had an opportunity to buy or hasn't. I don't I'm not understanding the process. No. I understand what you're trying
068to do. I just don't think this board should get into that. I'm sorry. I just don't think we should get Are they going to give us a discount on field maintenance? Not to my knowledge. Okay. And see, where I have a problem is I think it it puts us in a bad situation. I mean, because we've never to my knowledge, we've never done this piece of equipment. We're going to go through the same process. I'm all about being transparent, consistent, and fair. And I just I just see I just see this being a problem, you know. Um I I get the concept to me now, even if we went to go deals and got it auctioned off, whatever, the money still can go back to it. Might not be what they thought they were going
069to get. But I much rather do it that way because it's cleaner and it keeps us out of seem like we're in the middle of it. And if he wants it, he has the opportunity to build on deals. as everyone else. So the board could approve disposing of it but ask me correct. That's right. Say that again. I'm sorry. Um if if you prefer I mean the request is for the board to approve declaring a surplus. You could make a motion to do that, but directed it be through a competitive process. I make a motion to approve the surplusing of the 1996 John Deere tractor uh through the avenue of gov deals or competitive bidding process to premarket. I have a question before do I need to wait after till we second? We've got a
070motion on the floor. So, we got to go through with that. But Mr. Ball got You have a second. I second by Mr. Tilman. Now we have discussion. I just want to know in the discussion in doing it a different way, was it to the did did the was the decision made to be an advantage for Richmond Senior High School or Richmond County Schools? Am I is that a If I'm understanding your question correctly, I think that this the high school athletic staff saw it as a um an opportunity to sell it to someone who's going to continue to use it at the school. Okay. And so by by that logic, yes, is the answer to your question. I think that's how they saw it. Okay. If um I don't know. I think why does
071Hodgees use that tractor now? They do not currently use that tractor. We use it. Okay. So, if we don't sell it to them and they continue doing our the the work out there, they'll just use something else. That's I'm I'm confused on that part of it. It don't make a lot of sense, does it? They're not using it now, but they would start using I don't understand that. I don't understand that. I I take, you know, I listen and I try because I don't know. I mean, I know a push more, but I don't know much about tractors and all that other stuff. But if what are they using now in place of that? I I don't think they're you I don't think our high school staff is using that tractor at all now. And
072Hodgees isn't either. And Hodgees is not either. So all of a sudden, if we sell it to him, he's going to start. So my assumption would be they must be using some other equipment. I'm not. Yeah. And Don and I talked about this at length and we knew this was messy. Um and so we we brought the request to the board because it is because policy does allow it. If policy didn't allow it, I wouldn't have brought it here at all. uh because it was requested. I talked with Dawn about it. We both put our heads together and said this is messy, but because it is outside of the norm that we do, but because it was requested and because they bought it, this we didn't give them from the school system money to purchase
073it. They bought it with with their with money from Richmond Senior High School. We said that's why we would bring it and go outside what we normally do, but it's still within policy. It's still Richmond County Schools property. Yes. Any other discussion? So, we have we have a motion by Mr. Ball and a second by Mr. Tilman to sell it using gov deals. the fair market value. I don't if everybody's saying I I'm still going to ask a question. I'm sorry. You're okay. If the money if we sold it like I voted I voted. Did you get my vote? I still have a question that is just confusing if I thought I don't understand this whole process. But if um if we sell it on gov deals, gov deals, who gets the money the other
074way? high school. The money will still go back to the high school. Okay. Put a reserve on it. She can put a price and put a reserve that doesn't sell for what we want it for, then we don't sell. So, let me add to that then. If it does not reach what we consider our reserve or fair market value, then I would be okay with offering it to that price. But does that need to be part of this money? So technically your policy allows the superintendent to make that decision. So um sorry I've navigated away from it now but I believe your policy on surplus items superintendent can dispose of items under $30,000. Um, but I guess given that the motion was a competitive process, you've already voted on it. Well, so are you saying
075we didn't really need to vote on that? Well, it it has been the practice to bring them to you and that's because I'm not going to start selling Richmond County Schools equipment without this board's approval. So, we didn't we didn't we didn't vote yet either. It's Oh, I thought you No, we were getting ready to vote and she I interrupted interrupted. Oh, I'm sorry. But I do want to make sure I understand. Amend your motion. I don't I You know what? Let's leave it like it is and just go with go deals. It's because if it doesn't sell within then he can make the decision and say and back to us. Don't set a reserve and then Hajes can bid $4,000 and if they get it, they get it. Well, that would be the fair.
076That's fair though. R that's Ronald Tilmanism at the best. It's fair. That's all I want. Just consistency and fairness. Any other questions? That's okay. So, all in favor of accepting Mr. Bowwin's motion, say I. I. All opposed. Say no. It's approved. Put it on good deals. Okay. My reason for questioning was because I know we have a hard time getting people work on that field. It's a discussion every year and I just thought, well, if we if Hodgees is doing it, but I really saw no reason. So, any they're getting paid for their work. Well, I just think it keeps our superintendent and the board from it being sticky and icky. Sorry that took so long. No, I'm sorry. So, we have do we have comments from board members tonight? We we did Arts Alive
077in in March, correct? Yep. It was a great event. I want to say that. I wanted to also say recognize Greg Norton. Uh he did his last CT advisory council. Um, I guess that was back in March, too. And, uh, he's he's done a great job and and Jason and Terry Young and Lisa Campbell, all them have done a great job to have a lot of people in the county involved with that. That's something good. Uh, I had the other night, uh, Bobby Sue and I went over to LJ Bale. They had a STEM night going on, an art night going on. Uh they had a book fair going on. They had two food trucks going on selling selling uh desserts of course and then then they had the choir. I think it started at
078six for might have might have been an hour and it all all the things that was just so organized and it was such a great job. And then uh Casey went through and they did songs from 1920, 1940, 1960 and all the way up. And all the kids that they were just so into it. It was really a great time to see that. I got there at the end. What I saw was good. We have a great art program. I'm talking about music, art, band in Richmond County. And I am always very supportive of it. The only thing I want to say is give a a report from our clay shoot Friday. It was excellent. Um looks like we made over $10,000, but it was pretty day and just um good participation and I appreciate
079the education foundation and I hope y'all saw the pictures where the grants were awarded for all the schools and I understand they were very excited. very very pleased with um education foundation on board. Arts Alive was great that I got to go to and I did get to the CTE advisory council meeting that Jerry was talking about. Um and um I also got to the National Technical Honor Society and National Honor Society induction and that was a great ceremony to see that many students um inducted in those two honor societies. And then um this past um Saturday, I'd like to give a shout out to Esther Salah. She is one of our Spanish teachers at the high school and she's the advisor for the world world languages club and I won't it right. But they
080have their loss quinc um that's right. Okay. Fiesta but celebrating six of our students um reaching the 15 their 15th birthday and the decorations that Miss Solace did and the money for the decorations and all. I mean it was just unbelievable. So Esther does a great job and I wanted to recognize all our is doing a great job. We appreciate everybody. Anyone else? Dr. Frell, um I only have one and I think this will probably um explain the need. Um spring break is April 18th through the 27th. Anybody happy about that? It is time. It is late this year. You've had a long time since Christmas break and had a couple holidays. Did we have Christmas break? Yeah. But you but also the calendar was smart because y'all had parent teacher conference day on a
081Monday and then Friday you had a work day. So that really really kind of helped a little bit. So you you you know what I'm talking about. Absolutely. Miss Tman likes those days right there, doesn't she? That's right. That's right. So the chairman will call for a motion to enter into close session pursuant to general statute 1433 318 111A1 and A6. Do I have a motion? Make a motion. Make a motion by Mr. Eth. Do a second. I second. Second by Miss Hornsby. Discussion. All in favor by saying I. All opposed. We are now in close session. Any discussion? All saying I. All opposed. It is passed. Mr. Mr. Baldwin, that sounded good. Dr. Bowwin. Uh, Mr. Chairman, I make a motion to to approve the employment contract for Dr. Ferrell as presented. A motion
082by Mr. Bowwin to approve the contract as presented by Dr. Dr. Ferrell. Second. I second. Second by Miss Hornsby. Any discussion? All in favor by saying I. I. All oppose. Congratulations. Thank you. Just would like to uh state just publicly to everybody that uh Dr. Frell contract has been extended to June 30, 2029. So we're excited to have Dr. Frell here as our superintendent. He has done tremendous work in this short amount of time. you know, anytime coming back from CO like we have and for him to come in with his team, just tremendous the work he's done. So, I wanted to say thank you on behalf of the board. Thank you for what you do and what you continue to do daily and make sure you take care of yourself. I'm taking care of
083myself. I I appreciate you all and I'm glad you said and my team because it's certainly not my work alone. So, I appreciate the efforts of them and all that they do. We really do. We really do have an awesome team here. So, thank you all. Need a motion. So move. Need a motion to adjurnn. Got first, second by Mr. Eth. All in favor by saying I. You all have a great night.