001All right, every are we on? There we go. All right, everyone. Welcome. Good afternoon. Today is Tuesday, September the 2nd, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. We're going to call our regular meeting of the Wake County Board of Education to order. I want to welcome those of you who are watching at home and those of you who are joining us here in person this afternoon. County Board of Education meetings are conducted for the purpose of carrying on the official business of the school system. The public is invited to attend board meetings to observe the board as conduct business. Persons who carefully interrupt, disrupt or cause disturbances at an official meeting may be directed to leave by the presiding officer. Members of the audience should show respect for speakers by refraining from loud comments or other disruptions. Disruptions
002by any person or persons of a public meeting will be subject to action in accordance with general statute 143 31817. I note that we do have a quorum and so all of those who are able I ask you to join us and stand for the pledge of 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. Um, the first item on our agenda is approval of the meeting agenda. Before we get started, I wanted to ask, is there any motion to amend tonight's meeting agenda? >> Mr. Chair, >> Vice Chair Swanson, >> I make a motion that we amend the agenda to add the HR uh recommendations to consent. >> Thank you. Is
003there a second to Vice Chair Swanson's motion? >> All right. So, this will amend our agenda to take the items recommendations for administrative appointments and recommendations for employment that would be scheduled for after close session and move them onto our agenda as um an action item immediately after approval of the meeting agenda. All in favor of the motion, please say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? All right. The meeting agenda has been amended. All in favor of adoption of the amended agenda. Well, we need a motion. >> I move. So move. >> We have a motion for Mr. Hershey to adopt the amended agenda. Is there a second? >> Second. >> We have a second from Dr. Ring. >> Oh, I'm sorry. The motion is from Vice Chair Swanson with a second from Dr. Ring.
004I was looking this way and listening that way. All in favor of adopting the amended agenda, please say I. >> Any opposed? All right. Tonight's amended meeting agenda has been adopted. And with that, the first item will be adoption of the recommendations for administrative appointments and recommendations for employment that were previously reviewed in closed session. Is there a motion at this time? >> We have a motion from Vice Chair Swanson and a second from Mr. Hershey to adopt the recommendations for administrative appointments and the recommendations for employment previously reviewed in closed session. All in favor of adoption of the recommendations, please say I. >> Any opposed? All right, those have been adopted and we'll proceed with the rest of our agenda as scheduled. The first item on the amended agenda after adoption of those HR
005recommendations is an information item from academic achievement. And so I am happy that we will be able to welcome up I believe Mr. Jeremy Tucker, who will be presenting on our arts and education week and immediately following Mr. Tucker's presentation, will move to an action item about said proclamation. Welcome. >> Good evening, Chair Hagerty, Superintendent Taylor, members of the board of education, chief academic officer Hill, and while I can still say this, Assistant Superintendent Drew Cook. This past April, the Wake County Board of Education endorsed its support for WCPS's arts education framework, a significant step forward in expanding arts education and arts extracurricular opportunities for students across every region and area of our district. Your action affirmed the essential role that arts play in shaping not only the academic success of our students, but also
006their creativity, resilience, and engagement as citizens. This evening, I'm honored to present the 2025 National Arts and Education Week proclamation. This proclamation directly reflects the vision of our arts education framework, reinforcing our commitment as a district to ensuring that every child in Wake County has access to the arts. I'm often reminded that our communities aspire for all schools to be AAA schools, thriving in academics, athletics, and the arts. National Arts and Education Week is recognized across the country as a time to celebrate the transformative power of the arts, to advocate for their access, and to shine a light on the ways in which dance, music, theater, media arts, and the visual arts empower students to thrive. With your continued leadership, we can ensure that every student in Wake County has meaningful opportunities to participate in
007the arts, both inside and outside of the classroom. I'm honored to read the 2025 National Arts and Education Week proclamation. I'll pause afterwards for any comments or questions. And as outlined in the action section of the agenda, we'll seek for your approval of the proclamation and look forward to celebrating big time next week. >> Thank you, Mr. Tucker. >> So, at this time, I'm sorry. >> I don't have to read. >> No, no. I was just say at at this time, do board members have access to the proclamation that Mr. Tucker is going to read? All right. So, we're going to be following at home, but go ahead, Mr. Tucker. >> All right. Whereas arts education encompassing dance, music, theater, media arts, literature, design, and visual arts is a core academic subject and an essential
008pillar of a complete and balanced education for every child. And whereas arts education equips students with critical thinking and problem solving skills, sparks imagination and creativity, fosters discipline and collaboration, provides meaningful ways to communicate and express ideas, and cultivates cross-cultural understanding, thereby supporting personalized pathways to academic success across all areas of learning. And whereas the Wake County Public School Systems arts education framework ensures equitable access to arts education and extracurricular arts opportunities for all students. And whereas Wake County Public School System affirms arts education as a core subject area within its strategic plan, recognizing its indispensable role in developing the whole child and advancing academic excellence. And whereas success in today's economy demands that students skillfully integrate words, images, sounds, and movement to communicate effectively. And whereas the arts are woven into the fabric of
009American life, strengthening communities, enriching culture, and contributing to the v vitality of our nation. Now therefore, be it resolved that Wake County Public School Systems Board of Education and the Superintendent of Schools recognize that September 7th through 13th, 2025 as National Arts and Education Week and encourage all citizens to engage in and fully support quality arts education programs for children and youth. >> Thank you, Mr. Tucker. And so at this point, a resolution has been presented to us for our consideration. The next item on our agenda is an action item for immediate consideration of the resolution. Board members, do you have any questions for Mr. Tucker or is there any discussion or debate as to the resolution? Mr. Hershy, um I I just want to thank you for being here. Arts are such a critical
010piece of what Wake County Public Schools do and critical in our society that we continue to support them in any way we can. And I particularly love um the language that we're using in this and strongly support it. >> Thank you, Mr. Hershey. Dr. Ring. >> Uh thank you so much, Mr. Tucker. Um just thinking back when I was in third grade um coming to United States not knowing a word of English, art was the my channel for expression and uh I was able to um go to a n adjacent middle school to get the art class that they didn't have at the elementary level and it was it was a a way for me to really get involved in and and um get integrated into the school system. So this is a a great
011asset for our school system. Thank you. >> Thank you. Further comments, Miss Rice, >> board chair. >> Mr. Tucker, I absolutely adore the amazing things that you do, how you always create a space for board members to participate um with students in a creative space, in a creative way. You know, I enjoyed the play so very much. um I don't even know but I think somebody you may have already registered me for the um for the event um and going because you know I'm going to show up and I'm going to be there and so I just want to say thank you a lot. This was a lot of what I did as a kid here in Wake County um and to see it still being carried on 30 plus years 40 plus years later
012um to a higher level. I'm so excited that you're um at the helm of this. Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you Miss Rice. Any other comments from any board members? Miss Cfield, >> I just want to repeat what everybody here says and feels and I think it's really important um for our students to be able to express themselves and it's programs like this that actually brings our families and our community together and it's just a vital part of who our kids are and who they grow up to be and it shapes them. So, thank you. >> Thank you. All right, >> Mr. Chair. >> Yes, sir. Mr. Vice Swanson. >> I move that we adopt the national uh National Arts and Education Week proclamation. >> So second. >> All right. There has been a
013motion for approval of the requested resolution which you've all heard read by Mr. Tucker. I heard a second from Miss Rice. All in favor of adoption of the resolution, please say I. I. >> Any opposed? All right. The resolution has been adopted. Thank you, Mr. Tucker. >> Thank you. >> All right. and happy National Arts and Education Week. All right, at this point on our agenda, we will move to the public public comment portion. Speakers commenting on items on tonight's agenda will be heard before speakers commenting on topics off agenda. All other speakers will be heard in order of their sign up. And again, we do give priority to students that have come out to speak with us tonight. And if you do need to assist a student with the podium, you may do so.
014Um, other than assisting the student to get started, only the person speaking at the podium will be able to stand. All other attendees that are not speaking should remain seated. Concerns related to personnel issues or student matters may be addressed through applicable WCPSS personnel, the grievance policy, or other policies. If you've come with such a matter before you leave, stay for a minute. We might have someone on staff that might be able to help you to resolve your issue tonight before you leave. In the interest of maintaining civility and decorum, speakers are encouraged to address their comments upfront to the board and must retain refrain from personal attacks and insults directed at the board, individual board members, staff, and especially members of the public. It takes a lot of courage to get up and speak
015before a public body like this. Whether you agree or disagree, please remain quiet and give your courtesy and your attention to the speaker. Um, individuals who are at the podium, please remain at the podium for the duration of your speaking time. If you have any materials you wish to share with the board, please give them to Mr. Malone, our board attorney, sitting here on the end, either before or after your comments, and then that way the time it takes to do that won't come out of your allotted speaking time. During public comment, you can speak for up to three minutes. The microphones at the podium are adjustable. Your time will begin once you begin to speak and the green light will appear. When that green light turns yellow and you hear an audible tone, that's
016a signal that you have 30 seconds remaining in your time. When you hear the tone a second time and that yellow light turns red, that means your time has expired and we will call the next speaker up to the podium. So, please respect that speaking limit. Um, and so I think we will begin tonight. I think we have some student speakers. Let me pull up our agenda. And I see that our first speaker is a student, Luca Chiovali. And Luca will be followed by uh Irvy Kolc Carne. >> Good evening, Luca. >> Good evening. Good evening, members of the school board, teachers, and students. My my name is Luca, and I'm a fifth grader at Harris Creek Elementary. Tonight, I'm speaking for myself, my classmates, and for a teacher who means so much to us,
017Miss Wardruff. Miss Wardruff is more than just an EL teacher. She is a guiding light in our school. Her classroom is a place where we feel safe, inspired, and exciting, excited to learn. The love and dedication she pours into her teaching has created a bond with each of us that cannot be easily broken. Can you imagine our school without her laughter, her encouragement, and her unwavering support? We simply can't. She has also made our classroom a family. Part of that family includes our pets, Tamilan, our beta dragon, and Prince our hamster. They are not just pets and cages. They are part of our daily lives. They bring us joy, teach us responsibility, and make learning fun. If Miss Woodruff leaves, they will go with her, and the warmth and uniqueness of our classroom will be
018gone, too. Every day, Miss Woodruff goes above above and beyond to ensure we thrive. She makes learning engaging and accessible, adapting her lessons to meet the diverse needs of each student. Her passion for teaching has ignited a love for learning in many of us, and that should be cherished, not discarded. I know the reason she is she she is being moved is because she is newer to Wake County, but is that really fair? Should a teacher be taken from a student just because of the date she was hired and not because of the difference she makes every single day? Rules don't like this measure the love, the encouragement, and the inspiration a teacher gives to her students. Miss Wruff makes learning possible for kids who struggle and exciting for kids who already love school. She
019loves she teaches every one of us in the way we need and she she makes us want to be better students. If she is displaced, Terrace Creek won't just lose a teacher. We lose the heart of our classrooms. So tonight, I ask you, please let Miss Wridge stay. Let us keep our pets, our joy, and the relationships we build. Let us show that teachers are valued for the way they change lives, not for how long they've been here. Please remember what it felt for like to have a favorite teacher, one who inspired you and believed in you. That's what Miss Woodruff is to us. Please don't take her away. Thank you. Thank you, Luca. Our next speaker will be Erve Karn. He'll be followed by Arouch Karnne. >> Okay. Good evening, members of the board.
020My name is Irv Karnney. I'm a junior at Heritage High School and I'm here with my cousin Arish Karnney and we're co-founders of a business college or a conceptual a startup called Haven LLC. Um we recently competed in the International Leadership Foundation and NCAAC um business competition where we met the amazing Dr. Ing who asked us to come and speak about our project today. Um, we're currently developing our product which is essentially an SOS bracelet that helps um that helps students and people in general contact emergency services with just a press of a button. And some reasons that we came up with this idea in general was because of issues we saw in rising in the community. The first one and the most important one being public safety. According to a 2024 report by Tulain
021University, between 2023 and 2024, 26% of US adults or 68 million people reported to um claims of sexual sexual harassment or sexual assault. Now, these rising public safety concerns are very obviously very important, especially for students who might face similar concerns. And while products like ours already exist, there's a very large affordability gap. Um, for example, a sim very similar company Invisaware that does safety bracelets as well, their safety bracelets retailed at $199, which is very expensive and unrealistic for students and people of a low-inccome status in general. And finally, or perhaps the most relevant um concept or the most relevant topic here is because of the recent NC law that was passed that I'm sure everyone knows was that um from this year, student um cell phones are restricted to use in schools, especially
022during um classroom time. And our bands help maintain safety without having to compromise the um without a without being able to without having to compromise the issues that are posed by having a cell phone in your phone. And I'm sure my cousin is the next speaker. So I was trying to keep this quick and he will tell you guys more about it. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. So as introduced our next speaker will be Arouch Karnne and that will conclude our student speakers. Hello members of the board. I wanted to add on to what my cousin Roku Carney said. My name is Rich Carney. I'm a sophomore at Heritage High School and I want to talk to you about how Haven works. So Haven is a discrete wristband which is designed for safety
023and with the press of a hidden SOS button. It instantly alerts preset contacts or emergency responders. Unlike a phone, it's always accessible even when devices are restricted. And a few features that we would like to incorporate in the future are fall detection, silent distress signals, so students have multiple layers of protection built right in. A few applications for school is that it can be part of everyday safety protocols. Just like we practice fire drill, students can use Haven for personal emergencies. It's especially useful during field trips, after school activities, or athletic events where supervision is limited. With North Carolina's upcoming phone restrictions in classrooms, Haven bridges the gap, keeping learning distraction free while also giving students a reliable lifeline in critical moments. Moving on to the benefits for parents and students. Parents get peace of
024mind knowing their child has a non-distracting safety tool. And students can feel protected without carrying an obvious or expensive device like an Apple Watch. Because it's discreet, students can focus on school and activities without the stigma of carrying a safety device. This creates a stronger trust between families and schools, showing that they both care equally about safety and learning. Moving on to the broader community impact. The benefits don't just stop at school doors. Haven can build can support safety at concerts, college campuses, and even for seniors who may be at risk of for falls. For Wake County, adopting Haven shows leadership and innovation in student safety. And it also builds a culture where safety isn't just a reaction to emergencies, but something we plan and protect every day. Starting with our schools and spreading into
025the broader community. Fools may be limited in schools, but student safety should never be. Haven provides simple, discreet, and affordable solution that aligns with state law and Wake County's commitment to student well-being. As students ourselves, we know firsthand the importance of feeling safe, and we believe Haven is a tool that can make that possible. Thank you. >> Thank you, Arouche. That'll conclude our student speakers and the next speaker it will be um from our list of onaggenda speakers will be Leslie Okconor who will be followed by Jamie Boo. >> Good evening chair, members of the school board, staff and families of Wake County students. My name is Leslie O' Conor and I'm both a graduate of the Wake County Public School System and a proud parent of two thriving elementary age daughters. Tonight is all
026about choices and the responsibility falls on you to make an important one that impacts the students, teachers, staff, and families of two elementary schools in northern Wake County. I believe that this board directed staff to provide opportunities for budget reduction. And I believe the staff came back with what they thought was the best options that were available through school choice. I also believe that the board has to make the decision and needs to make the right choice to keep both North Forest Pines and Pleasant Union year round, whether they be multi-track or year round schools or single track schools. I was a student at Henry Adams Elementary when Westlake Middle School first opened in the early 90s and the choice, the idea of a choice for parents for schools was first introduced. Flash forward 30
027years to when my husband and I had a choice of where we were to send our oldest daughter to school. We live in a culde-sac that has eight houses with kids enrolled in six different schools. Those are private, they're charter, and they're public schools. Our calendars are traditional, they're modified year round, or they're multitrack year round. Sure, scheduling a neighborhood barbecue gets a little difficult sometimes, but that's okay. The difference is we have a choice in where our children attend school. Our families have adapted to our calendar. Our teachers have adapted and are thriving in their classrooms with kids. And our community businesses that provide child care during trackout have adapted to our calendar. We ultimately chose to send our kids to a year-round school and the North Forest Pines community has embraced us with
028open arms. specifically related to North Forest Pines. If we wanted our kids to go to a traditional calendar, we could send them right across the bus loop and they could go to Forest Pines Elementary. But we chose to have that choice. I'm genuinely struggling with the idea of having two traditional calendar elementary schools that share a wall with each other. It just does not make sense. The choice to have a traditional calendar at one school and a year- round calendar at the other school is the only one that makes sense. With the proliferation of charter schools in northern Wake County, I fear that if North Forest Pines and Pleasant Union are placed on a traditional calendar, more local tax dollars may be siphoned from the Wake County Public School System budget and sent to charter
029schools for per pupil aotment so that families can keep a year- round schedule even if it's modified. Allow us to keep the choice for our children and where we wish to send them to school and our tax dollars in Wake County Public Schools by exercising your choice to keep our schools year round. And Luca, I really hope your teacher gets to stay. >> Thank you. Our next speaker is Jamie Boo, who will be followed by Katie White. My name is Jamie Booze and I spoke with you last month um about the proposed calendar change at pee and I appreciate the sincere conversations that we had after that meeting. Again, this would fundamentally change our school's family structure and culture that we've cultivated over the years throughout our community. Over 550 students and their families and
03070 staff members and their families are going to be affected by our decision today. your decision today. And I have three points. If pee changes to a traditional calendar, every staff member will be moved from a 12-month pay schedule to a 10-month pay schedule. Over a dozen positions will have their salary significantly reduced regardless of the pay schedule. And while that would happen even if we went to a single track schedule, 12 paychecks would decrease the financial impact for over a dozen positions. These positions are filled by real people with real families and many of them bring their own children to pee to learn because of the me the community that I mentioned earlier. We all understand the budget restraints that the board faces and it's impossible to work in public education and not be
031aware of the many budget issues that you face. However, putting the meager amount of money that will be saved by this challenge above the livelihoods of the people and families that the school and culture and everyone that will be impacted is not the example that Wake County should be setting. Please hear our voices. There are more financial solutions to improving our budget other than the calendar change proposed. If these options have not been presented to the board, I urge you to please consider them before voting on a change that affects so many. For example, we have a single bus route that only serves six students. And in fact, none of our buses are full. Combining routes saves a considerable amount of money, and it saves funds that impact far less families than the proposed solution.
032We can't be the only school in this predicament. A problem that we cannot solve though is that PUE will most certainly lose students to charter schools and private schools that have more flexible schedules should we go traditional. We could lose more money with students leaving than we would save by this change and it's not worth the risk. Finally, as noted by our special education team, students with disabilities thrive on routine and structure. The consistent schedule of a year-round school minimizes disruptions and supports behavior and emotional stability. This consistency reduces anxiety, helps with transitions, and creates a sense of security that fosters learning. This is true for our K5 students with services as well as our preK and CCK students. This allows for timely interventions, enrichment opportunities, and therapy services without long gaps in in support.
033This ongoing access is essential for student growth and success. In conclusion, while we ideally prefer to remain unchanged on a multitrack year- round schedule, if a change has to be made today, please adopt a single track 4 schedule for >> Thank you. All right. Our final speaker on our agenda topics tonight is Katie White. Following Miss White, we will move to our off agenda speakers. >> Oops. Welcome. >> Good evening. My name is Katie White and I am a parent of a kindergartener and a first grader and a PTA member at North Forest Pines Elementary. I've had the privilege of speaking with some of you in person and electronically over the past month and I really appreciate your willingness to listen to parent, faculty, and community concerns and input. I am here to continue to
034urge you to preserve the year-round calendar at North Forest Pines and Pleasant Union Elementary Schools. These schools have wonderful cultures and are doing great work for our students and families. While the culture of a school is holistic by its very nature and a product of the work of many caring individuals, including staff, families, students, and community members. The year- round calendar is a component that really strengthens our school culture. It reduces burnout and learning loss over long breaks. It offers many families the opportunity for better balance between their students academic pursuits and their family life. A single track year-round calendar could offer the same fiscal prudence as the traditional calendar and it would help preserve the culture that has drawn so many families like mine to North Forest Pines. Families in North Carolina have many
035options when it comes to picking a school for their children. and providing viable year-round choices for parents will help them choose Wake County Public Schools for their students. Thank you for your consideration. >> Thank you. We'll now move to our off agenda speakers. Our first off agenda speaker tonight will be Joseph Deon, who will be followed by Colleen Miller. Great progress has been made uh filling teacher vacancies in difficult conditions. Policy 7100 lists qualifications to consider including the applicant's references but does not have specific instructions. This is troubling because there have been so many instances nationwide, including Wake County, when public schools have failed to vet those who pose a danger to students. NBC reported that the alleged killer of the parents who were protecting their daughters in that Arkansas park in July had just
036been hired for his fourth teaching job in the fourth different district in four years. Now, did those conducting the hiring process for the last three jobs investigate to find out why he left previous districts and whether there were any reported boundary crossing or or suspicion of grooming. NBC reported that in his first job, he gave treats and special lunches just for girls. Two of the boundary crossing behaviors that I listed last time. He also played tag at recess just with girls, which is one I hadn't heard before. Instead of firing him for boundary crossing and suspected grooming, the district said it was for poor classroom management and favoritism. By that choice of words, the district allegedly evaded state and federal law and did not report the reason for his termination to the Texas DPI and
037therefore he was not detected in background checks. But that's no excuse for later districts failing to call his past principles, colleagues, and references and asking direct questions. If NBC could find out about this guy, why why didn't the schools this kind of thing keeps happening? It's as if school districts haven't learned anything from all the abuse scandals. The first thing that needs to be done is revise policy 7100 to include details on properly vetting job applicants. Everybody knows how desperate we are to hire people, but the consequences are just too severe if if a predator uh slips through screening. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Dayton. Next up is Colleen Miller, who will be followed by Eileene Allen. Can we switch up? She go first. >> I I don't mind. >> Okay. Thank you. Good
038evening, Lord. I'll be reading um the sodomy rape of a child uh that uh was board approved for the 10th grade curriculum. The the novel The Kiterunner. Hassan laid with his chest pinned to the ground. Kamal and Wall-E each gripped an arm twisted and bent at the elbow so that Hassan's hands were pressed to his back. As Seth was standing over them, the heel of his snow boots crushing the back of Hassan's neck. "Fine," I said snapped. "All I want you weaklings to do is hold him down. Can you manage that?" They nodded and looked relieved. Asaf uh knelt behind Assan, putting his hands on Hassan's hip and lifted and lifted his bare buttocks. He kept one hand on Hassan's back and undid his own belt buckle with his free hand. He unzipped his jeans.
039He dropped his underwear. He positioned himself behind Hassan. Hassan didn't struggle. He didn't even whimper. He moved his head slightly and caught a glimpse of his face. I saw the resignation in it. It was a look I had seen before. It was a look of the lamb. I turned away from the alley. From just around the corner, I could hear's quick rhythmic grunts. And that was as close as Hassan and I ever came to discussing what had happened in the alley. I thought he might burst into tears. I pretended I hadn't heard the crack of his voice, just like I pretended I hadn't seen the dark stain in the seat of his pants of those tiny drops that fell between his legs and stained the snow black. Mark Twain says, "Humans are the only animals
040uh that blush and also need to." How hard and unresponsive our conscience as the culture, as schoolboard members, as parents, as students that we have become. When I was a sophomore uh in high school in the 60s, the 1960 to be exact, the nation was appalled by the gyrations of Elvis. At what point do we feel the blush of shame at our anesticizing the conscience of our children? >> Thank you. Next, uh, we'll go back to Miss Miller and then Miss Miller will be followed by Rachel Chivali. >> Thank you. I appreciate you allowing us to change the order. Um, I was speaking to on the same topic at the last school board meeting and I ran out of time so I kind of want to continue with that. Uh I did I think I
041told you I read The Kiter Runner about 20 years ago and I found it to be even just hearing that that again uh what she read was is deeply troubling and I I it was it was so dark for me and I think about the potential for psychological harm for our students that read that book. And this book was was included in the English curriculum at Panther Creek High School um last school year. A parent did challenge the book uh but a Wake County Educational Committee uh denied her request and to have the book removed and this members of this board uh rejected uh the parents appeal to remove it from the curriculum. Um so I think I I found that disturbing that a book when there's so many good books out there that this
042one was chosen. And although some of some may advocate for the Kiterunners, its focus on culture and anti-bullying themes, the content to me seems too dark for high school students. It and actually it was too dark for me. I I still shiver and shudder when I hear that the book read. It lacks any redeeming uh narrative and the conclusion leaves readers with a profound sense of hopelessness. And I don't think like we want our students to feel hopeless. And that book does have that hopeless feeling about it. Um it's just a dark theme and I I really don't think it's a good good one to leave students with. Thankfully, recent legislative changes, the um prevent sexual exploitation of women and minors act will direct local school boards to adopt policies that facilitate greater parental oversight
043and allow for student exemptions from content that conflicts with personal beliefs. I look forward to seeing the school board adopt policies that comply with the law. I'd like in lie of the kiterunner I'd like to suggest a couple of uh more positive books and this one is uh facing escaping excuse me Vietnam. It's Hayan's story and it was written by a Raleigh n a Raleigh resident. This memoir describes a young woman's escape from oppression in the camp the Vietkong and she arrives in Raleigh and gets the support she needs and she achieves the American dream. Another book I suggested last time was uh Enduring I did not excuse me I take that back. I did suggest escaping Vietnam and I can get you a lot of copies of this book. I know the author uh
044Enduring Freedom um is set in the 9/11 postwar post 911 era. This novel is is about American teenager in the army and an Afghan boy living under Taliban rule. Their friendship and courage is uplifting and inspirational. Let's inspire our youth. Let's inspire our students, not give them a sense of despair. Thank you. >> Our next speaker is Rachel Chivali, who will be followed by Tara Randall. >> Good evening, Superintendent Taylor and members of the board. My name is Rachel Shioali. I'm the parent of a second grader and fifth grader at Harris Creek Elementary. I am here tonight along with many other families to ask for your support in protecting two of our school's most qualified and beloved teachers from displacement. This is not simply about numbers. It's about children, families, and the stability of an
045entire school community. Under current human resources policy, displacement is decided not by teacher quality, credentials, or impact on students, but by hire date. The most recently hired staff member without a break in service is the one who must go regardless of their effectiveness in the classroom. Because of this outdated policy, Harris Creek is losing two outstanding teachers. Both hold advanced degrees. Both have proven their successes with students, and both are deeply trusted by families. Yet, they are the ones being forced out. And the impact doesn't stop there. This decision will disrupt seven entire classrooms. This means numerous students will be shuffled, combined, or assigned a brand new teacher in the middle of the year. Relationships built since July will be broken, trust be lost, and learning momentum will suffer. I want to highlight especially the
046current fifth graders. They began kindergarten in the fall of 2020 during CO and their entire elementary journey has been shaped by instability, online learning, constant changes, and the challenge of catching up socially and academically. Now in their final year of elementary school, they are once again facing disruption as teachers are displaced and classes are rearranged. These children deserve stability, not more upheaval. In just the past week, parents and students have collected nearly 300 signatures to keep these teachers in place. That should tell you how strong our community feels about this issue and how much support these educators have from families. We know North Carolina already faces a teacher retention crisis. Nearly one in 10 left the profession last year. At a time when we should be doing everything possible to keep excellent educators, this policy
047is pushing them away and destabilizing schools. Parents and staff have raised several other concerns at our school that continue to go unressed. issues that affect school climate, student well-being, and teacher support. History shows us that policies must evolve when they no longer serve people equitably. Civil rights protections, IDEA, Title 9 each required change because outdated rules were doing harm. Tonight, Harris Creek families are asking for the same kind of leadership. This HR policy must have once served a purpose, but now it fails to reflect what is best for students, teachers, or schools. We respectfully ask that the board to reconsider the displacement decisions at Harris Creek. Update HR policies so staffing decisions reflect teacher quality and student impact, not just hire date. Put children's needs, stability, consistency, and access to the best teachers at the
048center of every staffing choice. We are committed to working with you, but we can't remain silent while our school community is destabilized in this way. Our kids deserve better and our teachers deserve the best. Thank you. >> Thank you. Our next speaker is Tara Randall who'll be followed by Becky Lou Hobbs. [Music] >> Good evening board members. Um I'm going to read the letter that I wrote to Dr. Smith uh about a week ago. Um my name is Tara Randall and I'm one of the speech language pathologists at Harris Creek Elementary in Raleigh. I just found out today along with many other members of the staff at Harris Creek that two of our teachers are being displaced. Obviously, this is upsetting for the teachers involved and the rest of the staff, but it greatly impacts
049our students. Harris Creek is a place with a warm, empathetic staff that serves our student population with love and kindness. I have only been at Harris Creek for two years, but I have been a speech language pathologist for 28 and I say with all honesty that Harris Creek is the best school in which I have ever worked. It is really special in part because of the diversity of the student population. With that diversity often comes fluctuation in fluctuations in student enrollment. Knowing that our school's enrollment e es and flows, why wasn't it accounted for when teachers were hired? It is unlikely that Harris Creek student population will stay at its current number. And I'm concerned about what happens to the students and teachers then. More kids get piled into already overflowing classrooms. Teachers burn out
050from having to take on even more students and dealing with even more diverse learning styles and behaviors. Help us, please. Our team at Harris Creek has already lost a beloved principal this year. Don't force us to lose more excellent teachers, colleagues, or friends. And just as an example, one of these teachers, both are excellent, but one of the teachers has a student in her class who is um selectively mute. And as the speech pathologist, I was called in to help work with this student. And this teacher at the advice of the students outside therapist, this teacher has been coming in early several times a week so that the student can become more comfortable with her and begin speaking in her presence. She's not getting paid for that time. She's doing it because she cares about
051the kids. We need to put people over policy. Thank you. >> Thank you. Our next speaker is Becky Lou Hobbs who will be followed by Richard Brides. Hello, I'm Becky Lou Hobbs and as you guys know, I've had kids in the Wake County Public Schools since 2012 and I myself am a Wake County Public School graduate. On July 29th, HB 805 was enacted protecting the rights and safety of women and children in North Carolina. This bill accomplishes several things, including recognizing that there are two sexes, male and female, that sex and gender are not interchangeable terms, that the term library book now applies to all print and non-print resources in classrooms. Online access to library catalog must be available on the school's homepage. Schools must provide advanced notice to parents about specific classroom instruct dis
052discussions, activities and assigned readings so the parents have the option to opt out and also to provide separate spaces for children on overnight field trips and other private spaces. Last month I asked several questions to the board about this because many of our school policies do not comply like when will the policies be corrected and what steps are being taken to bring them into legal compliance. And I saw at the August policy committee meeting that a few policies were discussed regarding these changes to North Carolina law, but they didn't address all the requirements set forth in HB 805. First of all, the online catalog access regarding classroom materials. There's a brief mention in the discussion, but there was no plan or timeline. Parents currently have no access at all to what's in the classroom libraries.
053And then about the online library catalog access, it's supposed to be easily accessible from the school's homepage. Well, I couldn't find any any of them accessible on the school's homepage, and they certainly weren't easily found on any school's website. And next, what's being done about all the policies that use phrasing such as race, gender, religion, and so forth? None of those were brought up in the policy committee meeting, but North Carolina law specifically defines that sex and gender are not interchangeable terms. Sex is based on biological fact. Gender is based on feeling. So lots of policies need to be addressed with just this basic terminology. Now, I understand from the committee meeting that some of the policies will appear on the next board meeting's um agenda for their first reading, and this is a step
054in the right direction before um to comply with North Carolina law. But there is still a lot of work to be done. Many critical policies remain untouched, and until they're addressed, the district is not fully compliant with HBA5 and not protecting our children. Thank you. >> Thank you. And our final final speaker tonight is Mr. Richard Bridges. Again, uh Richard Brides, if Mr. Brides is here. All right. If not, that will conclude our public comment period. Thank you all. The next item on our agenda is the consideration of the items on our consent agenda. The chair would request a motion at this time for adoption of the consent agenda. So moved. >> Second. >> We have a motion from Vice Chair Swanson with a second from Dr. Ring. All in favor of adoption of the
055consent agenda, please say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? All right. The consent agenda and all of the items on it are adopted. We'll now move into the action item portion of our agenda. The first item up for discussion tonight concerns facilities and calendar conversions for the 2728 school year. And we'll welcome Mr. Corrosa up to the podium. >> Good evening. Uh staff comes to you this evening recommending a calendar conversion for both North Forest Pines and Pleasant Union Elementary Schools for the 27, excuse me, 2728 school year. On June 10th, staff presented their initial recommendation to the board during the facilities committee meeting. During the month of July, a thought exchange was launched to obtain feedback from the public. Meetings were held at with school staff and virtual virtual feedback sessions were conducted. On
056August 5th, staff then presented the feedback collected to the board during the board work session. Calendar conversions are generally recommended to the board is one of our last options to address long-term planning concerns. In this portion of the county, the additional seats that the multitrack year round calendar provide are no longer needed. Operating a multitrack year- round school cost the district additional dollars. When operating these schools in high growth areas that allows the district to utilize the additional capacity, cost savings can be realized by not building additional schools. This is not easy. this process. No matter what decision you make tonight, someone will be impacted. Whether it's the future calendar application area changes that were discussed earlier during the annual enrollment plan, whether it's impacts to the capital improvement plan for new or renovated schools,
057someone will be impacted. To recap, the initial recommendation that staff made was to convert both schools to the traditional calendar. A future calendar conversion for Oakview Elementary has been delayed due to um board member Mafy stepping down and I just wanted to share that with you before I seek your approval tonight. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Corrosa. So, the recommendation for action or next step is uh requested approval from the board. So, can just to make sure we're all on the same page, can you specifically state Yeah. what it is you're requesting of the board tonight. >> Staff's recommendation was to convert Pleasant Union Elementary and North Forest Pines Elementary to the traditional calendar. >> All right. Thank you. >> Yeah. >> All right. Uh board members, you've heard the presentation for Mr. Corrosa.
058Are there any questions for Mr. Corrosa or are there any motions at this time? >> Dr. Inc. Um because I am the district 3 representative um of both these schools. Um I am um uh against the idea of having conversion to a traditional calendar >> and um I would like to make a motion to convert it to single track year round instead. >> Okay. Second. >> Thank you. Hearing a lot of support for that. So, I want to make sure before we uh move forward that I understand the motion. Dr. Ing, your motion is to amend the staff proposal. Is that for both Pleasant Union Elementary and for uh Northfor Pines? >> Yes, it is. >> Okay. All right. So, board members, you've heard the motion to amend the staff proposal and I heard a
059motion from Mr. ing and I heard a second from a couple people. Um we'll go with um Miss Cfield and or like and so at this point does anyone wish to speak to the motion? Miss Rice, >> I do for discussion just points of clarity if I can ask Mr. Carrosa some questions. Um I just want for clarity um is it true that converting to um traditional saves the district dollars or will track 4 do the same? >> Track four will do the same. >> Okay. Thank you. >> When it comes to the financial aspect, yes. >> All right. Are there any additional questions or anyone else wishing to speak? Miss Cfield, >> I just wanted to clarify because I think when we were in our not work session, we were in our committee, we
060were saying that it was an option for us to switch. It wasn't as painful to switch the modified track 4. Okay, that's correct. because that's what I had to note that that's what I thought was a good possibility and the families that we have heard from >> um we've gotten a lot of feedback and for me I think it's also another point that we do have two schools side by side that one would be traditional option one would be at least track four would help the families alleviate some of the struggles that they're going to have so that's >> all right Swanson did you have any >> my questions were very similar to what Miss Caulfield had raised I So I don't need to. >> Okay. Thank you. Coming around to this side, we've heard
061from Dr. Ing. Do any other board members have any questions or comments? >> All right. So we have a motion to amend the proposal to um change the calendars from a multi-track year round calendar at the two schools, but to change them instead to a um a single track multi-year calendar, a track four calendar. >> All right. At this point, unless there's anyone else speaking, we'll move to a vote. All in favor of the motion by Dr. Ring, please say I. >> Is are there any opposed? >> All right. Very much. >> Thank you, Mr. Corrosa. >> Take care. [Applause] >> Okay. Thank you. The next item tonight on our action agenda is um regarding our fund balance, fund balance appropriation from Juul and the Altria settlement funds. And it looks like Mr. Clintenning, will
062you be presenting to us tonight? >> Yes, with some help from my friends. >> All right, we see Mr. Cook coming up. >> Just waiting for my slides to come up there. All right. All right. Good evening, Chair Hagerty, uh, Vice Chair Swanson, members of the board, and Superintendent Taylor. I'm Brian Glenn Denning. I'm the director of health and physical education for our district. Tonight, staff is requesting board approval of a fund balance appropriation in the amount of $611,35362 to support both personnel and non-personnel program activities for the 2025 2026 school year. As you know, vaping continues to be one of the fastest growing health risks facing young people. Students as early as elementary school are being exposed to misinformation, peer pressure, and targeted marketing that makes vaping seem harmless when in reality it has
063serious consequences for both health and development. With the settlement money, we are uh we have a funding opportunity which allows us to provide students with age appropriate education about the risks of vaping, develop and distribute resources that reinforce healthy choices, offer staff support and training so educators feel prepared to guide conversations and identify warning signs. Create meaningful programming that engages students through interactive learning, peer leadership, and prevention campaigns. And finally, open up advocacy opportunities, empowering students to use their voices in shaping a healthier school culture. For brief historical background and context, the Wake County Public School System participated in class action lawsuits against both Altria and Juel. As a result of these lawsuits, our district will be receiving a total of approximately 5.86 million. Several million have been received by the district already. This funding
064has provided an opportunity to make meaningful steps to undo the damage caused by the vaping epidemic in our schools and in our community. We've developed a multi-year action plan that will strategically use these funds to pro to support prevention, education, and advocacy efforts. The goal is to protect our students, equip our staff, and rebuild trust by ensuring that this money is directly addressing the harm that was done to our community. There are eight areas of focus we are using to guide our district to address and undo the damages our community has experienced from youth vaping. On the next slide, I will go through the actions we are taking to address each of these areas. So to make sure those eight areas are fully addressed, we've identified several actions that will guide how this funding is
065used. Multiple discussions and collaborative planning sessions have already occurred throughout the spring of 2024 with universities, business partners, and those will be formalized and expanded when funding for the 2025 2026 school year is in place. The first action is in the upper left corner. Um it is action one standards align uh curriculum with tiered support and progress monitoring. We will begin vaping education lessons in grade three ensuring students receive age appropriate standards aligned instruction for students who commit tobacco offenses. We will provide tiered support curriculum focusing on education rather than just discipline. All teachers delivering these lessons will receive training and um we will also implement programmatic evaluation to monitor the progress of the initiative. Action two is in the right corner. Um that's sessation treatment. We recognize that many students are already struggling with
066nicotine addiction and dependence. To support them, WCPSS central office staff and one counselor from every school will be trained in strategies for assisting students with vaping sessation. We will also distribute a referral guide to connect students and families with local treatment resources and central office staff will be complete tobacco treatment specialist training to strengthen districtwide expertise. The third action which is in the bottom right is district infrastructure. To support this work, we will add several key staff positions. Those positions will be contingent on continued funding. As as long as the funding is going, we will be able to continue the the staffing. This includes a coordinating position for um to oversee and manage K12 curriculum rollout as well as two substance use specialists who will provide staff training and sightbased student support to schools. The
067fourth action on the left uh in the middle is the communications campaign. Once the items I have already discussed are in place, we will invest in a campaign that raises awareness and communicates a strong anti-aping and anti-tobacco message across the district, reaching students, staff, families, and the wider community. And the final action is action five in the bottom left corner and that is advocacy scholarships. We want to empower our students to be leaders in this effort. We will partner with a scholarship program agency to recognize and reward students who demonstrate a commitment to reducing vaping and tobacco use among their peers. Together, these actions provide the structure, support, and recognition necessary to re reverse the harms caused by vaping and build a healthier future for our students. So our timeline and next steps, our focus
068is and will continue to be on ensuring an effective and sustainable roll out of this initiative so that students feel and see positive impacts for years to come. We want to move quickly, but we also want to ensure we do so in a way that is most beneficial and long lasting for our student community. The next important step is the board approval of funding to implement strategies for the 2526 school year, which is why we are here this evening. Once approved, we will need to formally establish staffing, including one coordinating teacher position and two substance use specialist positions to provide leadership and direct support to our school community. Much of that foundational work has already been done throughout the spring. So now the funding will allow us to execute and carry out the logistics involved
069with posting, interviewing, hiring, and onboarding these new staff. In parallel, we will finalize our service agreements with partner organizations, allowing all planned work to begin in the coming weeks and months. as a plan uh as we plan to do annually the duration of the funding program. We will provide a comprehensive program update to the board in January of 2026 uh the work session or student achievement committee regarding the implementation of the actions listed today. So, with the background and context in mind, we are requesting board approval of the fund balance appropriation as outlined to support both personnel and non-personnel program activities for the 2025 2026 school year. At this time, I'm happy to provide any additional information or answer any questions as needed. >> All right. Thank you, Mr. Glenn Denning. I know board members
070have been familiar with the settlement and all the work that we've been doing in this area. You've seen the timeline and the specific proposal for the use of these funds this year. Are there questions for Mr. Glenn Denning or any comments from board members? Miss Edmonds, >> thank you. Um, this has been a long time coming and uh for those that may not be aware, I'm the board representative for the SHAK, the school health advisory committee. Um, and we've discussed this numerous times. I' I've seen an iteration of this presentation before >> and um I just want to thank you for all your work and it's um it supports our commitment of what we as a board discussed when we got the settlement that we wanted that money specifically used for this purpose. So, thank
071you to you and your staff. Um and Cher Hagerty, I'm prepared to make a motion if you're ready to accept. >> Please. Um, I move that we approve the fund B balance appropriation for um, as stated by Mr. Glendenning for the purposes stated. >> Thank you, Miss Edmonds. Is there a second for Miss Edmonds motion? >> Second. >> Heard a couple different ones. >> You can have it on the list. >> All right, Dr. Ing. It's been deferred to you. >> All right. So, we do have a motion for Miss Edmonds and a second from Dr. Ring. Are there other comments, Vice Chair Swanson, the House Rise? >> Thank you. Um, I know when we had this during executive, it was important to the chair and I that we informed the public of what we
072were doing with this since the school year is just getting started and we know that school is a a learning environment and it's important for us to teach and model those behaviors that we want our students to to become. And so, thank you for the work that you've done. Thank you, Mr. Cook, for your assistance on this. And now it's time for us to get to work to ensure that all students are are are safe and exercising uh doing the healthy things they they should be doing. So, thank you. >> Looking forward to it. >> Thank you, Vice Chair Swanson. Mr. Russ, >> uh thank you so very much for this presentation. I just wanted to say the components that you've put together are absolutely amazing and one that particularly draws eye to me is
073the advocacy scholarship. Um, and I would love to be able to see how you could coordinate with um, the spotlight on students and that as you find students who are actually doing the work to encourage students to amplify their voices about not vaping. It would be great to see um, one of the spotlight awards categories about students who are really doing work around um, speaking out about vaping and vaping information and knowledge. It would be great. >> Thank you so much. That's a great idea. >> Thank you, Miss Russ. And Miss Emmens, I know we through work on SHAK and some of the affiliated groups will often have an annual like tobacco summit >> and now we've move beyond tobacco to all these other nicotine containing products. But it would be nice to have more
074than just that annual reminder of the work that students are doing. If there are other things you could uplift, I think that's a great suggestion. Y >> we'll go to Miss Cfield. >> Thank you. Um, thank you for all the staff who put this together and the aim and direction that you're taking. Um, I agree the advocacy scholarship is the one thing that stuck out for me because I think if you empower our students to be part of the problem, then that will we'll see a lot more uh success with that. And they'll also empower their friends, you know, around them, their peers. um the positions that will be terminated terminating um I assumed but when I was reading that that it means it's funded this time but going forward we do not have funding
075for it. >> So we have up to $5.86 86 million and this year we have we are asking for 600,000 in chain 630,000 um and that funds three positions and all of the items that I've mentioned. So so long as that money continues to to be available, we can stretch out the opportunity for initiatives for those positions to continue and once that money is is exhausted then those positions would terminate. So, I guess my question was going to be um do we know how long the funds that we receive from the dual settlement, how long that would last for us to keep this going? >> Um, right now it would be all right. I think we'll hear from Mr. Cook on the issue. He can probably do as well as I could answering the question.
076I think so. If five to seven years, I think is kind of the ballpark to answer your question directly, Miss Cfield. And obviously, that will depend on inflation. That will depend on how aggressive we may want to be with other program initiatives, but if you kind of map it out, we're talking about a pretty, you know, relatively speaking, long-term commitment, 5 to seven years, give or take. >> Okay, great. Thank you. I'd love to see in the future going past that that we were able to actually incorporate that in our budget because it's really a health need, you know, it's not really like a want for a special program. Um, but I also wanted to say that I appreciate that the resources for the anti-tobacco and vaping are in there because if we don't have
077the resources, it's just a lot of talk and we all know that teenagers don't always listen. So sometimes if they're not only empowered, but they have things in front of them, it's something for them to use and I think it's more effective. So thank you. I think it's great. >> Thank you. And >> Mr. Chair, I just want to add that uh we know that funding will last for that period of time, five to seven years board. Um but we hope in that five to seven year span we find ways to be able to make these permanent positions. Uh once we've done the bulk of the work uh we may determine that we need uh maybe one fewer staff but uh ultimately this is something that we know the board is committed to. So it
078is about uh how we identify continuation funding five to seven years from now. >> Thank you superintendent Taylor Dr. Uh yeah. So, you know, I think for me the the key point is sustainability, sustainability. Um and it's not so much I mean for me not so much having um more or less staff. I think it's more about changing culture and changing uh the mindset of um the the students, the kids. Um you know, because there's always a next thing out there that people are going to be addicted to uh or want to uh seek out. I just heard today on the on on a podcastratomratom is the next thing out there and it's easy to get. >> So, you know, we we need to be aware of what's out there and and create a culture
079uh that the kids do not seek out these uh addictive um substances. Thank you. >> I'm going to use that as a quick kind of followup to the previous question. I think ultimately our goal is that in five to seven years we won't need positions specifically dedicated to this work, right? So that's why the focus upfront is on curriculum, uh on educational awareness, on communications, all of those things. So certainly we want to be in a position to be able to have that option if we need it. But I think ultimately we hope to work our way out of the need for that five to seven years from now if this program truly does what we want it to. >> Thank you. So just just to add on to that, I think it's important that
080we all recognize the gravity of the health threat that these products do provide. You know, the we've always, as long as I've been around, had issues with tobacco use in schools, but the products contained or the nicotine levels contained in the products by Juul, Altria, and by numerous other manufacturers, many overseas manufacturers are so far above and beyond what you could find in a pack of cigarettes. The substances are often unmonitored, unregulated. You don't know what is in that product in terms of heavy metals, toxic chemicals, in addition to such a load of nicotine that it overpowers again what a child could get from smoking a pack of cigarettes in that time. And nicotine is addictive. So while there is an important mental and social component to trying to interrupt and break that cycle of
081children starting ex starting on these products, experimenting with these products once they do start, we have to also recognize there's a physical dependency that's created as well. And so that's very tough, very hard to break. And prevention really is our best strategy. And what I really want to commend you gentlemen on and our nonprofit partners and student partners that have worked on this is that, you know, all of us at this table have grown up hearing messages about different substances, whether it was the, you know, don't smoke commercials in the 70s and 80s to just say no, you know, in in the 80s or 90s. Um, the misinformation that children get today about these products through YouTube videos, influencers, and peers is often times far more influential than anything I can say at the table,
082>> you know, and so engaging and activating peers and other students, I really love that strategy and I think they're going to be some of the most credible and influential with their other peers. So, please know that I think you have all of our support for your effort and then the strategies you're employing and we really do want to hear more progress on this issue as you continue through the year. So, we do have a motion on the table. Are there any other comments? If not, Miss Rice. Uh board chair, uh the last thing that I would like to say um is in reference to part of what you said and that is you mentioned that you're working with counselors and other staff so that the behaviors or the things that are happening are not
083so punitive but more about finding help and support. I just did not know where in with even within our policies do we need to change to show a more supportive space about recovery um that recovery is possible right with our students because we're talking about health challenges talking about addictions and so when we talk about that even with adults and then when we talk about it with students we're talking about resilience they can be resilient they can come back and so you talked about changing culture and so one of the things I would love to see us do, Miss Edwin Edmunds, is how do we change the culture of that um to a degree by policy that shows other options for our principles, giving them the option, right, to to look at other methods versus
084just saying, "No, this is what the policy says I have to do and showing how do we make recovery possible for students." >> Thank you, Miss Rice. And I think also I saw I think Dr. Hill over there. I think this is something that um you know again the stu our student achievement staff can really work on when we talk about student wellness and how we incorporate resilience and recovery into those policies and we actually need to be very forward thinking about that. All right. So if there are no other comments we do have a motion on the table. At this point I'll move into a a direct vote. All in favor of the fund appropriation uh from the Altria and Juul funds in the uh fund balance to fund these programs, please say I.
085>> I. >> Any opposed? >> All right. Thank you, gentlemen. We appreciate your work. >> All right, that will conclude the items on our action agenda. So, at this time, we'll move into our final information items, our superintendent and board comments. First, we'll hear from our superintendent, Dr. Robert P. Taylor. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. And I do think uh our Harris Creek parents, are you all looking to leave? If you are, that's fine. I mean, you won't, you know, we'll give you an opportunity if you need to leave. >> Oh, great. He wants to hear me. >> Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh tomorrow, the state will release accountability results for districts uh across North Carolina. Uh these reports are an important measure of how our students are performing and they help
086us better understand both where we're succeeding and where we need to do more. You find uh while I can't share specific numbers before the data is released publicly, I can say that there are many encouraging signs in this year's report. Student proficiency in course subjects has continued to move in a positive direction reflecting the hard work of our students, our teachers, and our families. uh certain grade levels and subject areas have showed clear growth particularly in math and we saw continued growth in reading as well. These improvements are important because they tell us what's working and how we can build on that success moving forward. The state accountability results are just one part of the picture and we know that uh by the end of the week we will share detailed progress reports for every
087school on our website at wcpss.net/progress report. So we encourage you to visit those uh that site to see those reports. These reports will include not only test scores but also information about school climate, demographics and other key factors that help us understand the full story of teaching and learning in each of our schools. Graduation remains a point of pride for Wake County. Over 12,000 students crossed the stage last spring and our graduation rate remains among the highest in the state. I think that number was actually 12,61 or two. Uh but well above 12,000. Looking ahead, we know there's more work to do. Uh our regional support model, our student centered learning model, and the daily commitment of our educators are all helping us lay the groundwork for continued progress. And I'm confident that with persistence,
088collaboration, and focus, we will see even greater uh growth in the years to come. And I do want to share with our public that uh this has been a very tumultuous year in education in terms of funding changes u issues with students uh and attendance uh and and our schools have been impacted tremendously. But through all of that they have shown resilience uh and these numbers show that uh that resilience both by both our students and our teachers. I do want to just share that. I also want to share an exciting opportunity for our high school students. Applications are now open for the WCPSS Art Student Advisory, a leadership group designed to amplify student voice and strengthen our district art initiatives. As members, students will earn volunteer hours for serving in district level arts leadership
089roles, support and assist with district-wide art events, connect with other student artists across Wake County, attend and experience diverse arts events in our community, and explore college and career opportunities in the arts. Applications are due October the 1st. Students can apply online at wcpss.net/artsadvisory. So, I encourage our board, staff, and school leaders to help spread the word about this opportunity so we can continue building strong student leadership in the arts. Finally, September is suicide prevention awareness month, a time to remind ourselves and our community that hope and healing are possible. This year's theme is together in strength, dignity, hope, and purpose. It's important to remember that suicide is preventable and that there are many resources available for anyone in crisis. We know that with the right support, individuals can heal, rebuild, and thrive after even
090the most difficult crisis. Throughout this month, we will be sharing tips and resources on our Facebook page. I would also like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that there is help available for students and families in need or for anyone concerned about someone at risk. You can call or text 988 to reach the suicide and crisis lifeline 24 hours a day. You can also use the say something anonymous reporting system to report any concern you may have about yourself or a loved one. While anyone can use this app, students and staff at our middle and high schools have been trained on its use and should be familiar with the help available through the system 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. And I do want to add that we are doing the training
091with the sixth graders this year who will be new uh to the app and refresh your training for 7th through 12th grade. Students and families should also feel comfortable reaching out to their school counselor, psychologist, or social worker. Supporting the mental health needs of our students remains a top priority. So, please help us spread the word about resources available and don't hesitate to reach out if you or someone you know is in crisis because above all, no one should feel they have to struggle alone. No one. There is help and there is hope for everyone. But that, Mr. Chair, I'll yield back to you. >> So, Dr. Taylor, I that was pretty much what I was going to say. So, >> all right. Well, there there are a few things um that I will add
092in my comments tonight and I really but I do want to lift up your remarks um especially on mental health this month. But first, as we do start a new traditional school year, I encourage everyone, parents, staff, and students to uh work together to understand the new mobile phone policy that is in place. Make sure that everyone is on the same page, understands it. So far, we've gotten good reports back in from our schools. Even our older students, our high school students that are oftentimes very dependent on these devices have been noticing an improvement in their school culture already. That's just anecdotal, but it's some very good feedback coming in that's consistent with what we have seen in some other districts. But making sure you know and you understand the policy is probably the first
093step everyone should take. Um and also in related to health, it's an important time to um encourage encourage f I'd like to encourage families to learn about the importance of student nutrition going into this year and specifically understanding what is available through the schools in terms of access to healthy meals and nutrition. Sometimes these are things we take for granted. We don't always know what could be out there, what is offered, but we have a wonderful child nutrition team. They're prepared to talk to you, get uh feedback on the meals that are served to your students. They frequently take student suggestions. They've had uh taste tests that have helped select items for menus. But then just knowing what is available and what you do have access to as a family can be um a great
094way to make sure that your child is coming to school and getting all of the energy, all of the nutrition, everything they need um to have a healthy and productive day and be ready to learn. And again, uh again, September to Dr. Taylor's comments is an important month for checking in on others, both other people and you checking in on yourself. You know, oftentimes we hear phrases like see something, say something, and you think of it in terms of security, but it's just important when you see something, you have a friend or a classmate or a student who's exhibiting behavior that's noticeably different or just seems down. All they need, maybe all they need is someone to just ask how they're doing, to see how their day is. Maybe they're just down or blue, but
095it could be something more serious. Oftentimes there are students that could be experiencing potential not just um you know issues related to their mental health but with physical health with abuse with substance abuse a lot of things where just sometimes that check-in can make a very big difference in their lives. So, I I really would encourage everyone to kind of, you know, show some empathy, show some awareness this month and really take an interest and concern in the well-being of your students and your community around you. And that applies not just to our students, but our teachers, our staff, and our parents as well. So, um, again, I applaud Dr. Taylor for all his remarks. I won't go into those and repeat those further, but an exciting new school year with some exciting opportunities ahead
096of us, and I look forward to hearing what our fellow board members have to say. And with that, I will turn to Miss Gordon to lead us off tonight. >> Thank you, chair. Um, I first want to acknowledge the student speakers that spoke tonight. Um, thank you for being solution seekers, problem solvers, and above all, advocating for what you believe. There is no greater joy than seeing and hearing our future leaders stand up and take an active role in advocacy around their learning and learning environments. Your words bear weight. I know they aren't here tonight, but I hope they're listening. Um, your words bear weight, and I say this all the time. We all of us are here at this table because of students. If there were no students, there would be no need for
097board. So I look forward to the night that there are more student speakers than anybody else. Um I also want to speak to something Chair Hagerty said about um knowing and understanding um your schools and the district's initiative around nutrition. Um I want to encourage everyone to follow on social media um Wake County CNS. They have been doing a wonderful job with um encouraging uh nutritional nutritious meals and also um putting out what we are serving every day, sharing great food nutrition tips. Um, I follow them and the the work that they are doing is phenomenal. Um, and then finally, I want to say I am super excited that September 7th through 13th has been proclaimed as Arts Education Week. Um, I want to take a moment to highlight why this recognition matters so deeply.
098Arts education is not an extra. Um, as you heard this evening, the arts is a core academic subject. It is an essential part of well-rounded education that opens doors for students in ways that other disciplines uh can. Um whether it is music, visual art, dance, or theater, the arts builds creativity, confidence, critical thinking, and collaboration. And they provide students with opportunities to express themselves, to see the world differently, and finally to find joy in learning. And I want to um close with um a quote tonight that I heard from a parent that resonated with me deeply. Our kids always deserve better and our educators deserve the best. I hope the school year has been has gotten off to a great start. Thank you. >> Thank you, Gordon. We'll go to Mr. Hershey. >> Thank you,
099Chair. Um, I want to welcome everyone back to traditional calendar schools. It's good to be back. I am happy to send my son back to school. I'm not the only parent who thinks that. Um, I love him though. Uh, it's also the start of the athletic season. We are about two weeks in um to the fall sports and I want to I trust that uh our sportsmanship is on display with our athletic programs, with our students, but especially um from our spectators and our parents and comments being directed towards our student athletes along with officials. Uh it's not an easy job. I know the officials are doing their best and um I do encourage anyone because we are always needing officials that uh if you don't like how we're doing to please sign up and
100give it a try. Um we're happy to have you. Um couple of other items. I wasn't here for the last meeting. So, I just want to say thank you uh to Lindseay Mafy and the work that she's done on the school board over the last almost 10 years now. Um our our school districts are very different. She's in a she represented a district that had often had reassignments um a lot of new schools opening. It's very different from my district and there's a lot of stress and a lot of engagement that goes into her district and um it's a lot for anyone to go through and I thought she really did a tremendous job representing um her constituents even though there would be disagreements but uh she's a person who loves public schools, loves our
101public schools and I appreciate her very much and her work on the board. Uh, finally, I just want to say this. I um always listen to the comments about books and uh I will respectfully disagree with some of the stuff that was said tonight, but something very specific caught me because um you know, we had another school shooting. This one was in uh Minnesota or um couple of weeks ago. It hits home when it's elementary school students, especially for me. And I heard the comment about the books. At what point, you know, do we feel shame for words in a book? And and I just couldn't help but think, at what point do we feel shame as a country for doing absolutely nothing about guns and kids getting gunned down? I mean, this is a
102repeated convers repeated board comments for me over the last two and a half years. I'm sure I'll be repeating it as long as I'm on the school board. Um, I know individual school districts really try hard and do their best to keep students safe, but if we don't address the guns, you you no school district can turn schools into fortresses that are impenetrable. It's just not realistic. And these kids were praying. I mean, it's a continuation going all the way back to Coline in the 1990s. Um, when will we feel that shame? It seems like never. Thank you. >> Thank you, Dr. Rick. >> Good evening. Um, this past weekend I had the chance to attend the annual Young Entrepreneurship Conference Awards ceremony sponsored by the International Leadership Foundation and the North Carolina Asian-American Coalition.
103Um, several of the high schoolers, several teams of high schoolers uh, from all over the Triangle participated uh, in this competition to come up with some great ideas, entrepreneurial ideas that could help our society. And uh I am happy to say that two teams won um uh in this competition uh from our own um WCPSS. Um the second place went to a team of students from Green Level High School. Uh and they proposed an incar safety solution to detect drowsy and distracted driving. Um the third place you already heard from um Irvy and Arouch Karnney from Heritage High School. Um, and you heard about their great idea. Um, and uh, you know, congratulations to all the winners and all the other participants. Um, I think they they made their parents proud. Um, our first BAC
104meeting of the year will be on Monday, September 15th at 5:30. Um, it will be held at Wakefield High School and our special guest will be Mr. Michael Peshy, uh, director of, um, school social work, and Miss Michelle Woodson, who will give us a presentation on school mental health services. Um, I think it's appropriate time, uh, to to look at mental health in our in our kids. Um, and, um, uh, this would be a appropo topic. Um, and I want to thank you to all the parents and staff who had contact all of us regarding the the vote on the calendar conversion. Um I I want to thank the rest of the board who voted with me and I want to thank um the community and the staff um who were willing to meet us
105halfway. Um I think it was a you know um in some ways it was a a no no situation but we got something out of it that both both sides um um had some um uh benefit. Um I think you know in northern Wake County where I am um you know we we are seeing some decline in student enrollment. Um but I am hopeful that there will be a resurgence in the future um as uh young couples um look for older homes to start their family. Um I've seen that in um in the uh uh Northridge subdivision where I used to live and I I see it all all everywhere that I around me. Um and by keeping single track year- round format, I think we can preserve the possibility of going back um uh
106if it the demand requires it. Um and also preserving that year- round options gives our family the choice that they seek. And really that actually brings up a topic that we have to kind of be honest with ourselves. Um you know, we do live in a time where we have choice, parents have choice in education and we we live in a free market society. Though we as a public school system have to compete with other choices and we cannot be complacent in the way we do things expecting that people will choose us automatically. When I was young um we only had three TV networks and we watch what they give us what what they show us. But now we have hundreds if not thousands of options to to to view um anything that we want
107anytime that we want. And so you know we can cannot be complacent and we you know th those three networks are not the kind of you know the crown jewels that we think of you know when we were um growing up. So we cannot be complacent with um you know uh where we are um and we have we have a lot to be proud of of course um but we need to understand that the forces that drives uh decisions a famil family's decisions about uh their children's education and what's important to them. Um you know does the community believe that we are delivering on our mission statement? Um are we focusing on teaching the essentials that children need? Um are we fulfilling our duty to educate children with exceptional needs? Uh and if we fail
108in our mission, parents will find out fa will find somewhere else to find to fulfill their needs. And you know we are celebrating this year opening four new schools and I am happy that we can accommodate the growth in other parts of Wake County. Um but we cannot neglect to take care of our existing schools. um we ris we risk losing our more market share when we don't take care of the schools that we already have. Uh we must have clean and safe places for our children to learn in. After all, they spend a big chunk of their time there. Um so I commend the families who do have a choice and still choose to have their children go to public schools despite having problems with the HVAC or, you know, doors that need fixing
109or bathroom facilities that need repair. I'm glad that we are beginning to shift our focus in the coming years to take care of our existing schools and I look forward to seeing what we can do to speed up the process of giving our aging schools a little more TLC in a more timely manner. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Evans. >> Thank you. Many thanks to Yates Mill and Swift Creek elementary schools for welcoming me recently. And this week I am going to five district 5 schools. Dillard Magnet Elementary, Dillard Magnet Middle, Middle Creek High School, West Lake Elementary, and Centennial Magnet Middle School. So, I'm very excited about these campus visits and I thank the area superintendent that have worked with me to um arrange these. Thank you to Athens Drive High School's principal
110Bosch for allowing me, Mr. Dr. Hershey and some of our seniors facility staff to tour parts of their campus last week. They were extremely generous with their time and it allowed me to see specifically some of the gym spaces that will benefit from their upcoming renovation next year. Um, I would like to take a moment to spotlight all of our educators who showed up for students this new school year, even though state lawmakers are not showing up for you. We should have had a state budget by now, a budget that prioritizes public education and funds what educators need in their classrooms. A recent report um shows that North Carolina's teachers are second in the nation for for the most personal money spent on their classrooms. Our state ranks 43rd in teacher pay. Yet, our teachers
111are the top, excuse me, the second top spender out of their own pockets to fund their classrooms. As shameful and as embarrassing as that is, it makes sense when you consider that North Carolina is 48th in the nation in per pupil funding. Unfortunately, fixing these numbers and approving a state budget are not what state lawmakers are doing. In fact, they're on perpetual recess right now. Our educators, however, are not on recess. They're hard at work. All while North Carolina's corporate tax rate sits at zero, which means that corporations contribute nothing in the way of taxes to support these educators or their students. Educators started this new school year with no new state budget, but private school vouchers in our state will get more than $700 million this year alone in taxpayer money. Educators are not
112on recess. Our legislators shouldn't be either. They should be working daily to support our teachers and students in our public schools. Lastly, I want to express my deepest gratitude and respect for our school librarians and classroom teachers. This applies to you, too. Last week, we updated some of our policies to be in compliance with HP 805, a bill that restricts student access to the freedom to read and learn. Those changes were not something this board wanted to do. It's a forced state mandate, one that I find offensive to your profession and your professionalism. So, thank you for remaining committed to children and cultivating in them a love for learning and discovery even in this time of censorship and overreach. I and so many others on this board, in the community, in our schools appreciate you
113very much. Thank you. Thank you. And we'll come back around the table to Miss Rice board chair. Um in August, just before the traditional uh start of the school year, I had the pleasure of visiting Hodgej Road, Nightale, and Rogers Lane elementary schools, accompanied by the amazing Dr. Serita Smith. Each visit offered a powerful snapshot of the exceptional work happening in our schools. At Hodgej Road Elementary, Principal Dorsy and three enthusiastic students greeted us at the door with radiant smiles and a dual language welcome sign. Their warm greeting in both English and Spanish set the tone for what was an inspiring visit. The dual language immersion program at Haj Road stands out as a model of excellence, clearly committing a rigorous collaboration and nurturing instruction. Every classroom I stepped into was buzzing with engagement. Students
114were active participants in their learning and generally in uh enjoying the process. At Nightdale Elementary, um I met with Principal Noah, a dynamic new leader with high expectations and clear vision. um their implementation of the crew model um which will help the see me, know me, engage me, challenge me align with our um student focus model aligns perfectly with our with that student centered approach. I was particularly impressed with the school zero tolerance policy on bullying bullying. Um it is a proactive non-reactive and I hope to see it this approach model across the district at some point. Nightdale Elementary is setting the stage for strong academic and personal outcomes for students. And then I went to Rogers Lane Elementary. Although students were not yet in session during my visit at Rogers Lane, Principal Morgan provided
115a compelling overview of what's ahead. The academic growth here has been explosive with many students moving from not proficient to proficient, which we know the next phase is pushing students from proficient to advanced. The progress already made is both significant and deserving of celebration. So, I look forward to the upcoming school visits plan for district 4. Um, in district 4, we are doing what? Empowering education and elevating communities. I also wanted to thank the Enlow and Southeast Raleigh Magnet High for a successful South Southeast Raleigh Classic football game. I enjoyed every moment of the game um and the connection with students, parents, and staff. an outstanding job to principles Harden and Jordan for hosting a safe and fun event as well as Raleigh Ray's development and core branch for donating $7,000 to support each one
116of those schools. Just want to share a upcoming save the date updates for our BAC's um meeting. The next one will be October the 6th. Um we'll have a venue set u momentarily. Also for other opportunities con to connect with talking with T Rice on Mondays at 12:15 to 12:45. You can visit the tshibarice.org site for that. And now let's um continue to work together to ensure all students are seen, known, engaged, and challenged. Um I want to thank everyone for their support and commitment in our schools as I visit them this past um August. The final thing I want to say tonight is about a social wellness tip. Um, I do apologize for the last board meeting. I did not make any board comments. I did get some feedback in reference to where was
117those wellness tips, but I was in my emotions for the moment. So, please forgive me. Speaking about emotion. So, what I want to do is talk about a social wellness tip about practice response, not reaction. When emotions run high, pause before responding. Taking a moment to breathe and think helps you respond with empathy and respect instead of re reacting impulsively. This builds trust and promotes healthier communication. So we also want to own our impact. Even if your intentions were good, acknowledge when your actions hurt others. Being responsible for how we act, how we being responsible um for how we affect those around us, not just what um we meant to do. strengthening relationships and builds accountability. So on the way to learning how to do these things, I want to not reiterate the things that
118were said about mental health as we all know that is my thing and I'm going to get a director at some point here. But I do want to remind us that um things that we can say that are helpful and not there are things that we the ways that we can learn more about how to say what's helpful and not helpful is taking a mental health first aid training. We have them in youth, teen and adults and we can um utilize that curriculum that not only supports prevention but also intervention of suicide. Thank you chair. >> Thank you Miss Cfield. >> Thank you chair. Um, I wanted to address our speakers tonight and all of the incredible emails that I've been receiving regarding two of our special teachers in District 1. Although we cannot always
119make all the changes that we wish we could, I wanted Harris Creek Elementary School educators and parents and our awesome, brave students that came to speak for us before us today um that I hear you and we will continue to have these conversations. and to our two teachers that so many came forward to speak on behalf of. Kudos. You have touched so many families and so many amazing students and it's invaluable. So, thank you for all of the work that you do. On September 29th, um we will have our first board advisory uh committee meeting at Wake Forest Middle School. And sorry, I had said high school. So, I want to make sure I it it's at the middle school. Um, we'll be discussing safety and CNS child nutrition services. At the beginning of the
120year, I think it's good for all of us to go over protocols, safety updates, and measures, expectations, and just refresh on important information. Programs like see something, say something, but also programs like be smart, where it talks about the safety measures that we can all take in our home and in our lives. I know we all cover this in our schools at the beginning of each school year with our drills and our students, but I think as families, it is also a great opportunity to have these conversations at home and with each other. So, parents, please look out for that information at home to have these important conversations with your children. We will discuss CNS so that we can share the information that people may need to know if they qualify and how to use
121the program and services available. I know with changes comes adjustment and each new year brings newcomers to our schools, new policies and changes and adjustments to new schedules. I want to wish everyone a successful year ahead including our principles, our teachers, guidance counselors and bus drivers. And I want to recognize the hard work that it takes to put all of this together for our students. I would also like to invite all of our parents to sign up to volunteer at our schools and to be part of the village that it takes to help our children succeed. Most of us have heard that phrase time and again. It takes a village. And we are all part of that village. And that's a good thing. When good things come around to celebrate, we should all do that
122together. And in times of crisis, we all do the same. We support each other. This year, I would like us all to focus on that, being part of that village. It bonds us in unity and it helps our children grow into well-rounded young adults. But this comes in many layers and everyone has to play their part. I've been hearing a lot of talks surrounding safety. It's hard conversations about serious problems. I hear folks blaming guns as the reason for these horrific events. And I would really love for us to dig a little bit deeper. Whether it is a gun that has been obtained, another weapon, a car driven into a crowd, a bomb, or a threat of one, we've all seen these recent headlines. It's no more the weapon than it is the mental state
123of that individual that used it. Same as the person who used the pencil for hate mail or the keyboard for bullying or the internet or Snapchat or Instagram for bullying someone into suicide. We have to recognize the mental state of these individuals that are using these tools. We cannot simply take away every single tool. As shown in these many examples, there are many sources and they will find another avenue. It is their mental state that is causing such tragedy and heartbreak. It affects everyone around us and we cannot simply point the finger at the toll if we want to be serious about solutions. Our health, mental and physical, drives us each day or it doesn't. Our emotional state stems from that. You exercise and you feel great and your body physically undergoes a transformation. It
124is not a mystery when we look at the state of our children right here in America. We are some of the unhealthiest people in the world. Food, toxins, pharmaceuticals, social media, it all acts as a poison for our bodies. And yet, in the name of convenience and money, we still load our worlds with it. We all recognize these things, but we seem to brush them under the rug. Children have developing minds and bodies, and we must recognize the environment that we put them in. If we're really serious about fixing these horrific outcomes, we must stop blaming the devices that are being used in these heinous acts. Look at if we look a little deeper, if we really want solutions, check the mental health of all those around us, the climate we are raising our children
125in. I mean, we even have crowds of people that are heartlessly, inhumanely knocking people out and stomping on their faces to the death or point of brain damage or disfigurement. That is not even a weapon. This wasn't a gun. Same result. It was a human being. It was the human being that criminally didn't accidentally that criminal didn't accidentally get there the day that horrific or horrible crime was committed. Is it's the society as adults in the room. Are we proud of what this is creating in the name of progress? We are losing our children to screens, over sexualizing, desensitizing, and blurring the worth of the family unit. Social media now feeds their minds and worth. Chachi PT has sexy little mates that become your friends or give you advice on how to properly commit suicide
126and ignore your parents' feelings and coach a beautiful young man to his death. Parents, please be aware of the dangers of these screens. While it is easy to blame a gun in the tragedy that just happened, it it is easy to to blame it on the guns, we all know that the tragedy happened long before that. And the result is now these poor families, the community are in heartache and nothing can undo that now. If we really want solutions, we will dig deeper and create a societal shift, one of compassion, family values, healthy relationships, purpose, and looking up at one another, not down. It starts at home in our village. So, it is going to take all of us to be part of the solutions to end the sense these senseless acts. I do hope
127that everyone joins me in sharing prayers for these families that are affected in the recent news in the recent news because the power of prayer is what they need to try and navigate through this and find some peace in their hearts. Thank you. >> Thank you. And we'll conclude tonight with Vice Chair Swanson. >> Thank you, Chair Heggery. And let me just say welcome back to all of our traditional calendar families and students, teachers and staff. Um last week I had a very busy week out in district 9 in western Wake visiting uh numerous schools. On the first day of school I had the opportunity to um participate in carpool at East Kerry Magnet Middle School with members of the divine nine. Um also had a visit at both Davis Drive Elementary and Davis Drive
128Middle School. Also want to say that Davis Drive Elementary is celebrating their 30th anniversary this year. and um stopped by Kerry High School to see the great things that were going there on the first day of school. Um second day or third day, I can't quite remember. Um Dr. Chavis had put together a very lengthy schedule and I just followed along with them. Um we had we visited Northwoods uh elementary school, Adams Elementary School, and I want to give a special thank you and a shout out to the aviators uh the ambassadors who welcomed us and gave us a tour and shared some of their great things that they enjoy about Adams Elementary. um followed by a visit to West Kerry Middle School who is celebrating their 60th anniversary. Um had a great visit at
129Rudy Creek Elementary followed by the Rudy Creek Magnet Middle School, Weatherstone who was also celebrating their 30th anniversary and Kingswood who also had some great ambassadors who welcomed us. And of course, we could not stop by Kingswood and not visit our teacher of the year uh who is uh currently our teacher of the year, Wake County Public Schools. Um so I want to thank all those Western Wake for their warm uh welcome. Um and also wanted to thank um Superintendent Green for hosting his kickoff for um uh kickoff for elevating North Carolina public schools at Centennial where the chair superintendent and I had an opportunity to participate at the event. Um and really want to give a great thank you and uh to Miss Pitman for coordinating all of that. Um and since it is
130football season, I thought Mr. Hershey was going to talk about the Western Wake robbery since I had to be very biased. Um, but I want to, you know, give nonbias, sorry. I wanted to give a great shout out to both Apex and Kerry High for their 100th for the centennial anniversary of the Old Western Wake rivalry game. Uh, where I was joined by board member Hershey and Mafy. Um, and it was a great game and Carrie High pulled it off. I believe the score was 2510 and then they uh recently defeated Athens this Friday. So great job to both. And finally, I just want to also thank Miss Mafy for her service here for WCPSS. And when I joined the board, she was the chair. And you know, uh it's not easy uh for the
131work that we do, but I think she did an outstanding job to Mr. Hershey's point. um you know centering the needs of the families in uh western and southwestern uh Wake County and so um thank you all and those are my comments and Mr. Chair if you're ready I would make a motion that we return to close session. >> Thank you Vice Chair Swanson. We do have a motion to return to close session for the statutory reasons stated in the work session. Um avoiding the rush I have a second from Mr. Hershey. Unless there's any discussion or need any debate, I'll move to a vote on returning to close session. All in favor say I. >> Any opposed? All right, we'll reconvene in the board conference room. Thank you very much.