School Board Meeting- 2-24-26

001call the school board meeting for February 25th to order. Um, Miss Wagner will give the pledge and then Miss Gillyard will give the invocation. Please stand. I pledge algiance 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. >> Let us pray. Father, in the name of your son Jesus, we pause right now to tell you thank you. Thank you for keeping us today. Well, first, thank you for waking us up this morning. God, clothed in our right mind and the activity of our limbs. We say thank you, God. We thank you that uh you kept us from hurt, harm, and danger. And you've brought us to this place, God, where we are to conduct the business

002of this school district. God, we pray for divine guidance. We pray, God, that you will lead us, God, in a way that is pleasing unto you and that everything be done decent and in order. God, thank you for the exceptional staff that we have and our great children that are striving and doing well. God, we give you glory and we pray right now guidance in Jesus's name. Amen. >> Amen. >> All right, we will move to uh agenda item B1, art in the capital. Miss McDaniel, you're recognized. I'm gonna take another one of your time here. >> Good afternoon. Thank you. Um, today we're proud to recognize a sixth grade student from James Along Elementary. Uh, Caleb Stevens. I don't know if Caleb is here yet. Um, so if he comes in, I don't know

003if we will recognize him or do we want to push it down? >> Wait later in the meeting. >> Okay, we can because he's supposed to be here and I know his principal and his teacher's here. So very good. Okay. >> All right. We'll move to the uh retirement recognitions and uh Miss Whitehurst, you're recognized. >> Good afternoon. It's always um one of our things that we truly enjoy when we get to celebrate some employees and today we are celebrating some um as they have made the decision to step into retirement. Um it's a bittersweet time always for us. Um but we want to start out with Mr. Willie Goozby. He is from Crescent City Junior Senior High School. Yeah, he's back there in the corner. Come on up. He has been with the he's

004been with the district almost 12 years, but he has served with Florida Retirement System for 25. So we are so thankful for all he's done for us. Mr. Willie, >> good job. >> I need to ask, do they get a picture back? >> All right. And our next one is Miss Patricia Island. Patty Island, I think she is also here. Come on up. Um, she has served the district. Are you ready for this? For 37 years and we are so thankful for her. Wow. Thank you. >> Wow. And then our last one, and and I didn't mention, Mr. Guzby was one of our custodians at Crescent City Junior Senior High School. And Miss Island has been one of our cafeteria managers most recently at Jenkins Elementary School. And we actually have another cafeteria manager. I'm

005not sure what Miss Nikki is going to do um coming up here in the next few months. Um from Melon Learning Center, Miss Dana Beckham, who has been with the district for 24 years and with FRS for 30. Is Miss Dana here? Nope. Okay, we will make sure we get this to her. All right, we have uh an employee recognition by Tim Adams. Mr. Adams, you're recognized. >> Good afternoon. >> I'd like to take a moment to recognize two individuals. Uh, Coach Carter, who happens not to be here today, but the other one is Marian Asbury. Maryann Asbury, if you come come on up, I'd greatly appreciate it. I'd like to recog take a moment to recognize two truly outstanding members of our school family at Crescent City Junior Senior High School. As Coach Carter

006and our health room assistant, Miss Maryanne Asbury recently, their quick thinking, professionalism, and selfless dedication literally saved a student's life. When a student began choking on food, Coach Carter immediately sprang into action and successfully performed the Heimlick maneuver. Mrs. Asbury then stepped in to carefully monitor the student, contact paramedics and the students parents, and continued to provide calm, skilled care until they arrived. Their teamwork, composure, under pressure, and unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of our student exemplifies the very best of our district. Um, we are incredibly grateful and uh thankful and uh we appreciate the dedication. So, thank you very very much. Awesome. >> Wow. >> Oh boy. Thank you, Mr. Adams, for doing that. >> All right, boy. We have a presentation by the education foundation and the uh I guess executive

007or the president, Missette Jones. You're recognized. >> Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Evette Jones and I am the chair of the Education Foundation of Putnham County. I have here with me Miss Joyce Oliver and she is a board member with the foundation. And today we are giving y'all a check. Um it's a two-part check. Um $20,84310 comes from the um state matching grant. This is the second round. We presented a check I think back maybe in the fall um for the first part of it. This is the second half. But we also have a very generous donation from Dr. Tom Hunter. Um he is donating um $3,000 to four of the area high schools and that is to I'm not sure what is is to use >> it's to use at their discretion >>

008at their discretion. And so he's given a total of $12,000. And so we wanted to present this to um the district and we're gonna have Miss Renee Huff and Miss Laura France come up to accept. One day I'm going to be able to do money like that. Yes. >> Come here. Thank you. also um Miss Joyce Oliver, thank you. A board member with the foundation, thank you for being here today also. And I believe our student for the uh recognition is present. So, Miss McDaniel, you are recognized. Thank you again. Um, today we are proud to recognize sixth grade student Caleb Stevens. Caleb, do you want to come up? This is Caleb and he is from James A. along. You can stand up here and turn around if you want. Um, and so this year

009or every year, uh, we select a student from each district to represent the district for the art in the capital competition. The art in the capital competition is a statewide initiative established in the Florida statute that showcases two-dimensional artwork from students in grades six through eight across the state. And each district selects one winner to be displayed in the Florida Capitol in Tallahassee during the legislative session. So that's an incredible honor, Caleb. Congratulations. I do want to share with all of you uh a picture of his artwork. It is uh burned into wood and it features a detailed alligator gliding across the calm water beneath the word Florida and the natural wood grain there makes it a beautiful representation of our state. So, I know many of you have uh gone to Tallahassee in the

010last couple of weeks, so maybe you've seen his artwork hanging there. Um, but congratulations. That's wonderful. It's a great piece of art, and we are truly honored that you uh did that and are representing us. And I want to special um specially thank Miss Lisa Deal, his teacher, for encouraging him to uh enter this competition. And um just we're just proud of you. So, thank you. And here's the certificate. And as to Caleb Stevens for the honor of representing Putnham County School District in the art in the capital competition. >> Keep this. >> You want to come here and get a picture? All right, board. We will now go to agenda item B5 and u our bond oversight committee chairman Jared. Mr. Dollar, you're recognized. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, Superintendent, and Mr. Holmes for having

011us today or having me today. I would rec like to recognize Ivette Jones again because she's on the bond oversight committee with me. And I do have a question because the back of that check says free popsicles. Um, so you and I are going to talk later. >> I saw that, too. So, >> I tease every time. >> We had our our last meeting uh last month and just had a couple of items that the our committee wanted me to bring forward to the board. Uh first item is and I talked to Jonathan earlier so I don't want to steal this thunder but he told me to go ahead. We will be issuing the third round of bonds coming up very shortly. It will be done by June. Uh the important part to remember is

012if it's done on time, which we hope, it will hit the tax bills coming up. So it'll be the final installment. So the tax bill should not go any higher due to the bonds, but it will that part will be over and all 300 million will be issued uh to the district. The other thing that our committee brought up that we wanted the the board to take action on or at least consider is now that we finished the first school completely. Um I wouldn't say we're having trouble, but trying to get the final figures on everything is difficult because you have so many contractors, we had uh several things going on at one time. We would like to find out what audit will happen, whether there's an automatic audit from the state. No one's been

013real clear on how that's going to proceed. And it's not because we think anything went wrong, but we're building other schools and we'd like to know if we could change something to make things better. It'd be better to know that now than later. Um, and also, you know, with one person resigning from the district that was doing a lot of the contract negotiated negotiating, we would like to just see some additional oversight either from the state, whoever you decide uh could do that audit. That would be something we would definitely consider that uh have you do that. The last item, and I brought this up in August when I was here, is the composition of our committee. Our committee, each person was uh we have three-year terms appointed by the members of the school board,

014and our first meeting was April 19th of 23. So, our three-year anniversary for our first meeting is April. However, I found in our bylaws that the three-year uh term was actually up January 31st of this year. So, I don't believe the board's made any action yet. And our next meeting is April 22nd. So, as of right now, by our bylaws, we don't exist. Um, we had we joked around that you could either keep us or not, and you can replace anybody you want on the committee, but right now, we need to get some direction or some action from the board to make sure that if you want us to stick around, uh, that we do that and are following proper procedure. So you can do that maybe at your next meeting or however you want

015to handle that part. That's all I had. All right. Any questions from the board? >> Thank you, Jared. >> Thank you for no questions. >> Thank you, Mr. Dollar. >> Thank you. >> All right. We will now move to our budget update. Uh Mr. ODM, you're recognized. Thank you. One second. I didn't change. Let me see if I can get Mike or Melissa, please. I'll move. >> I needed to show my notes. >> Mike, >> I just need it to where the notes section is over here in the presentation up there. So, right now it's duplicating. I just >> Let's see. display. It should be one. That's the floor. >> Thank you, sir. I might have to call a guessing down here because I'm not really sure. This is what I normally choose. It's only

016giving me one option there. So, guess here real quick. >> We can. Okay. So, I know he just said he's going to try to see if we can get Justin in here real quick because um all my notes are on the slide and when I it's duplicating what I'm seeing then you aren't seeing the whole slide. I don't know. See if I can channel my past IT experience real quick. So, >> I say we blame this on Justin when he gets here. >> We can um I can go ahead and do it a slightly slower way. Um but it's I'm able to do that until he gets here. Uh so, good afternoon. Uh today we're going to discuss the budget as of the end of the calendar year, December 31st, 2025. Um, typically there's not

017been a mid-year budget update, but with the state of the funding across all districts, I do plan to make this a yearly recurring presentation so that you have the most up-to-date information halfway through the fiscal year. As mentioned in the summer presentation, we have 64 funds categorized into general, debt, capital, special revenue, internal, permanent, trust, and enterprise. of these categories. We'll be specifically discussing the general funds for the district and the internal funds for self insurance. It should just be a display setting to make it multiple. And when I just went into No pressure, Justin. We're just blaming it all on you. Right now, I have that one froze. So, >> desktop. It said it didn't detect another monitor as well. didn't know hover above that button the other way. Yeah, there you go. Thanks,

018sir. All right. As discussed in the BR budget workshop, this this past summer, financial condition ratios are determined at the end of each fiscal year and more specifically the end of each auditing period. The audit I didn't press. The auditor general publishes a report on every school district's annual financial report or the AFR. Within this report, they state the district's financial condition ratio for the general fund. Financial condition ratios consist of all assigned and unassigned fund balances which are 3% reserve fund required by the statute and unreserved fund balances at the end of the fiscal year. The auditors also published a report entitled significant findings and financial trends of all Florida school districts of all Florida school district that tells the Florida school district average financial condition ratio. In this graph, the green line indicates

019Putnham County School District's financial condition ratio. The blue line is the state average. It is no longer missing the data for 232 24 school years as it was recently published. So before when you saw that, you didn't see the far right blue um mark. As a reminder, this data always lags a full year behind. So this is the data from the 2324 school year. Um, PCSD had a financial condition condition ratio of 15.10% which is above the state average of 12.79%. The report also shows how many school districts have fallen below the 3% reserve fund balance and in 2324 that included two school districts, Glades and Union County. So, here is the current financial status of the general fund as of December 31st, 2025. Keep in mind that the revenues come in on a regular

020monthly basis from the state throughout the year, while most expenditures happen in the latter half of the year. Page three and four of the December board financials, which you'll be voting on later, show a more detailed breakout of the current allocations of both the revenue and the expenditures. Are there any questions on the slide? Uh, I can go over it if you'd like me to. I did put obviously give you all handouts. Do we have any more funding coming in from the um delinquent taxes tax sales? >> We I know we had as of the as of December, we had um some come in. I don't know about January >> because they're doing one basically every month, aren't they? Yes, they're doing it more frequently. No. And just to point out as well, this does

021the second bullet does state that 35.89% of our budgeted general fund expenditures have occurred while we've collected 56.54% of our general fund revenue. And that goes along with what I stated a second ago where the revenue comes in on a regular pace and the uh expenditures tend to hit at the end of the year. The um sub bullet points will are the same reasons I gave you over the summer why stuff comes in at the later half of the year and that's for additional checks, drops, benefits, those kind of things. Any other questions? So, this is the base student allocation. Now, I want to leave this in here because we did get um updated numbers based off uh third calc and it's at $5,372. Um that actually did not change, but that is what we

022will be sitting at for the remainder of the year. And as a as another point, um there are several categoricals that take away from the BSA. Um and in not 20 22 23 uh is when they took several categoricals out. We still fund them, but that's why you see the jump um between 2223 to 23 24. It's the only abnormal jump in that range and that's because they took several categoricals away and actually put them into the BSA. So they funded the BSA more during that year. With the third calc, our FD has increased to 10,67.04, up from 10,421 we were projected at the beginning of the year. This is our second consecutive year of increased enrollment for Putham County and third year in the last four years, as well as third year since 2017

023as represented by the graph. Just to clarify that is Putnham County. That is not Putnham County School District. That is every student in Putnham County. On that note, the House and Senate budget proposals from this past week show a projected increased enrollment once again. However, I do want to pre-warn again that even with those increases in total students, all of those students are not in our schools. Jonathan, so are all of those students either are they getting vouchers in lie of being in >> not everyone because that number includes charter schools as well. >> Okay. >> And we'll see a little bit of the breakdown here. >> Okay. >> Um here is a bit of breakdown of the increase FTE from last slide. Uh due to the size of slide I provided y'all the handouts.

024It was the main main factor for all that paper. Let me get the mouse. This is the same slide I showed you uh over the summer prior to the year. However, we now have true numbers based off the third calc. With the information from the last two slides, we can see that in 2526, our our FTE increased to the 10,67.04. And when we break it down, we can see that in 2526, combined charter school enrollment dropped 1.5 students or 0.3%. PCSD students dropped 218.31 or 2.34%. And fees increased 411.5 students which is a 64.98% increase over prior year. And uh if there are any questions, you can go ahead. Okay, so no questions. On the next slide, we're looking at the uh cost of the scholarships. So after looking at the increased enrollment numbers for

025our FT on the last slide, we're digging into the cost. Over the course of eight years, the cost of fees scholarships has gone from $344,89 to $9,43,966. >> So, we're roughly losing 9 million a year. >> 9.4. And I mean, this this clearly is the worst year >> from 2018. So, Jonathan, where do we where does it count for private schools? We don't have any of their information, right? Or they don't they don't count as far as which information? >> Well, funding information like are are they, you know, most of the the students they're getting the scholarship funds or or I mean, obviously the charter schools aren't, but um we don't have there's no way for us to know that, right? >> No. And um I mean I would believe uh Jonathan Hinky might have

026to chime in here, but I believe that if if a student is enrolled in a multiple Do y'all track charter schools too if they get both fees and enrolled in charter or is that just us? >> That is a complicated question. We we'll uh >> students who receive a scholarship should not be full-time enrolled >> correct >> in any public charter or public school. >> Um so yeah I'm not prepared to answer that question. >> That's fine. We can we can we can come back and you can do one of your famous presentations at a later date. Thank you. It's very complicated to answer. >> Well, part of the problem >> look at the total numbers of all the different scholarships, >> right? >> Because you have different scholarships that are FPS. You also have

027FTC. You can use private school. You can use FTC and FPS or private school, but in certain scholarships fulltime enrolled. So, that's just a complicated. >> Okay. All right. Jonathan, go ahead and proceed. Um there is one more thing I wanted to point or say about this slide that I actually uh didn't have time to get around to doing. Um I wanted to show the projections for 2627 based off uh what the state has us at and what the House and Senate budget have us at. So in 2627 I'm just going to give you the numbers verbally. In 2627 we were looking at um around a $10.5 million increase. The House and Senate budget has us the House budget has us at a 10,910,530 increase or up to 10,910,530, sorry. And the Senate has us

028going up to 10,725,640. Um, that is a 1.5 and $1.3 million increase, respectively. That puts us right around the increase they projected this past year when we fell 1.4 4 million short of their of the projection. So this next slide is the 2526 FFE budget and proposed 2627 budgets. So the second column is what we started the year with the second calc. The third col column is the third calc that we just received and the fourth column is the house proposed budget. The last column is the Senate proposed budget. Now, I want to point out the district school funds like earlier when I mentioned the categoricals uh came out of the BSA, but we still uh supply them to the areas. Uh that is in the top line for district school fund. There we go.

029Press the wrong button. All right. And to remind that last year I budgeted for the prior year's fees hit as well as an overage of what our increase was was the 8 million. If I were to do the same for next fiscal year to budget for the for what hit this year the 9.4 million and for what is projected I would need to budget 13,536,6426. And just a reminder that when I did that budget this past year, we did have that shortfall. Are there any questions on the specific numbers? And the ones I broke out for you are the mental health, safe schools, student transportation, class size, and of course fees. >> So, we won't know for sure until this session ends, the budget's passed, and the governor signs it. But are you anticipating any

030shortfall this year? So, as a district, no, because our executive team, uh, we planned for between a 1.5 and a $2 million shortfall potential when we first got our first look at FS numbers. And with the data I run, I believe that along with our reserves and our planning on executive team, we should be able to cover it. >> Very good. >> So, it may be a shortfall, but you all have taken care of it by budgeting and doing things. >> Correct. One thing, one thing that happened with that is on the board financials this month, you will notice Kim broke out um the reserves at the bottom, those funds, those include the fees that we set aside as well as a couple other shortfalls. Um I think three other shortfalls that we're going to

031utilize to cover. the state can't even find $30 million or or more of that, you know, in some of these money that's passed on and some of these different scholarships that u and we've covered that a recent meeting. I guess Don Gates has been working on that, but I go ahead. >> Any other questions on this one? Okay, next up we're um looking at self insurance. Um, and I want to remind again this is as December 31st. All right, so this is the end of the actual calendar year for self insurance. Um, I wanted to notate that we began self insurance in January of 2024 and at that time we had a 5,295,728 balance. We had our ribbon cutting in August of 2025 for the wellness center. Um and in December there were 839 eligible

032members to attend the wellness center. Those eligible members 161 attended for various services which at the time was our second highest month only to October who had 162. However, January numbers did already come in and we had 243 attendees. So there was a significant jump in the new year. Um through December, we have expended $418,1657 to Marathon Health. That includes cost uh from rent, utilities, and to the original renovation of the office space. As of the end of last year, December 31st, 2025, we are sitting at 6,13,612.32. Any questions? Have we seen a reduction in um healthc care u doc appointments and that type of thing submitting for um reimbursement? >> I wouldn't have that data right now. I would have to dig into that >> talking about claims. >> Yes, claims. Thank you, >>

033Andy. I don't know if you have that information available. >> I could get that. The biggest thing that might you had a large single claimant or a couple large single claimments like they had a major accident like something happened to their knees or something that >> his knees. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Great example, Andy. I can get that. >> Um, Jonathan, if I may, on the so between January of 24 and January basically of 26, the um the fund went up, you know, over a million. Is that or right about a million? >> I just want to clarify when you ask your question, are you including January? >> Because you said in between. I just so I just want to make sure but the reason I ask we've already paid claims out in January

034um and at the end of January it was lower. However, uh we won't we don't know the true self- insurance balance until um June 30th and actually not even on June 30th. We know it later in August or September because we if we have to do anything back if we get any bills late or anything and we have to um do a charge back. So the insurance fund fluctuates throughout. So in between the 5.3 and the 6.1 on our on the spreadsheet Andy and I put together for insurance committee, it's constantly doing this in between those numbers. Um but your number, your truest number is always June 30th. um because that is when we do our accounts receivables and we receive any uh do uh do any chargebacks in August or September to June 30th.

035So June 30th and that is actually since you are on insurance committee I do want to state that is actually a point I was going to make at the next insurance committee when we discuss this uh table or that spreadsheet. Anything else for the insurance fund? Next slide. I want to go ahead and give a bond update. Um, you will see on the upper right hand corner that from the first bond sale was 104 million. Second bond sale was 103 million. The last update on the interest had us just over 10 million showing total proceeds of $217.5 million. Then below it, you have the expenditures broken out from um by everything that was pre-bond. Um so even even for the second issuance, any pre-bond of the second issuance, those expenditures are in there as well.

036And then you have your Melrose, Middleton, Bernie, Placa Intermediate, and Pla Primary expenditures all totaling as of the end of the year 132,534 53,3451. Picture-wise, these are all updated pictures. Um, as you see, Placa Intermediate is the big one. Uh, lower left is Middleton Bernie. Lower middle is the Melrose aerial sketch. and lower right is work being done at Placa Primary. Is there any questions on the bond? >> So, we're we're we're going to sell the next 100 million by June. >> Correct. We um we did we looked at a lot of numbers. We we had several discussions about the time frame. Um we knew we were going to have to pull down something this year having four schools. Um, and I say four schools still because the soft cost of Placa Intermediate are still

037happening. Um, so we knew we were going to have to pull down something and through discussions and through our bond attorneys, um, and the timeline we had to spin down, it made more sense to go ahead and pull it all down and, um, get it now, spend it instead of having to go out this year for maybe 60 million and next year for 40. And that number would also include um the three remaining major renovations that we're going to do at um Browning Pierce, Jenkins, and Aquella. >> I think anything. >> So, so based on that, and that's the first I've heard of the the renovation. So based on all that, all the combined projects, um do you have a I mean the GMP for the Melrose hasn't been decided yet and of course the

038three other um refurbishment projects um obviously don't either, but where do you anticipate us being in the total spent amount spent under the bond under the 300 million? Um, so based off the conversation of us planning out the rest of the bond money, we discussed the remaining funds and the remaining projects. And I would expect, um, so for example, we're at 217.5 million off of two issuances. So I believe the plan will be to um, obviously go up to the 300 million and then use what interest we need to complete a job if it's needed. And if not, that interest would then be used for payback. Um, however, we still haven't got the arbitrage report, which I was supposed to have for the last bond oversight committee. And, um, that is supposed to show us

039if we've collected too much interest, um, and have to owe it back to the IRS. If that happens, um, I believe that'll only happen on the first issuance because interest rates were really high during the first issuance and they're not now. What we the interest rates we owe currently are uh, at higher than the interest interest we're receiving. So, there's a IRS cap on how much interest we can >> The cap to my understanding is um the interest we owe. So, anything over the interest you owe, which would be profit at that point, um you're supposed to have to pay back unless there's an exception you fall under. They did say there's a few exemptions. I don't know what they are. Um and we haven't got the report yet. So, um it will be a

040point of clarity I'm going to make when we get to that point. Would we be penalized for the portion the percentage portion that the tax collector pulls off the money? >> No. So the only the only penalty essentially that the district will face is the first year when we kind of had to eat it. We worked that into the millage rate after. >> Okay. So the the average um property owner this next cycle next it's going to go up about the same >> uh that depends on property tax values. >> Okay. So okay >> so it essentially what what what Miss Pig's question is so it'll the incremental increase will be basically what it was under the second 100 million. Correct. >> If if property values come in at the same amount from >> the

041property values don't go up. >> It would. >> Right. Okay. >> Any other questions? All right. So the next slide I went ahead the all the construction managers were kind enough to give photos of the completed schools. So here's Placa Intermediate. Three different aerial shots. And this um this school is completed structurally to my understanding. Then there's Middleton Bernie Elementary, which I misspelled, but three other aerial shots. And then we're going to look at Crescent City Junior Senior High and the special facility updates. So, we were awarded a total of $95,68,159 for that project. We have spent that should say as of 123125 we have spent 52,358,87355 with $4,95,58343 encumbered leaving us with just over $37.8 million on that project. So on these pictures, um, I wanted to point out the two on the left

042are almost identical pictures that you see and the two on the right are as well almost identical except the um, buildings kind of to the side. Actually, I take that back. The two on the right are not the same because in the bottom lefthand corner is the I believe the cafeteria, the twotory building there. >> Well, no, that's not the cafeteria. >> That's not where the cafeteria is going. >> Well, the left on the left is the gym. >> Gym is being built. >> That's right. That's the gym and the weightlifting room, right? Yes. Okay, that is right. On the next page, >> here's a few more. Now, this will show you more sideby-side comparisons. So, the top two are that same building we just discussed from a long look. And then the one in

043the upper right hand corner is from the side of it where it looks like you'll see an entrance. >> That's the building where we had our topping off. >> Yes. >> ceremony. >> Correct. Um the far right and I know we've got them here. We need to clarify, but the far right middle picture is where the two buildings are going to connect. Um, is that accurate? >> Yes. >> The senior wing, senior high wing. >> So, that is where the two buildings will connect. And you'll see in the bottom middle picture, you got a side view of the same exact area. So again, they were they were all really generous with sending me pictures. I had to go through and pick some out. And when I saw good sideby-side comparisons of some of the same

044images, it I think it turned out really well. >> I think the middle bottom is the cafeteria. >> Yeah. So the two middle top pictures, the or the middle bottom. >> Mhm. >> Yeah. So the middle bottom and the right middle are the same picture, just two different angles. >> Yeah. Right middle. >> No, that's in front that that's the new senior high building. >> Yeah, the right middle is Okay. >> And then that's behind the present cafeteria in the middle. >> Ollie knows that campus, does she? >> Mhm. >> When you when you when you see an aerial shot when you see an aerial shot they provided, um you can see everything all the work going on at once and it's really cool. >> Yeah. Um, but yeah, I I do see what you're

045saying now because the building on the side and the green roof aren't lining up. So, >> Jonathan, can we go back to the uh I just want to understand the numbers. So, the 95,68,159 that is the total GMP for the project. >> That is what the state awarded us. >> That's the So that's only 70% of the of the of the project cost. Correct. >> No, that is the full project cost. >> Okay. They are paying for it in full. We are paying it back. >> Okay. So, we pay the 30%. We don't have to pay the whole 100% back, right? >> No, we it it should come out to three years millillage, but um we still don't know what that millage was. Technically, we're not supposed to know what the millage is until um

046the end of the project. I've verbally been told what it could be uh by the state, but when I ask them to send it to me an email, they didn't hear back. So, in my discussions in Tallahassee last week with um the uh house on the, you know, our next project which ultimately will be in Larkin Junior Senior High School, right? >> Correct. after that once we pay that back then we can we can submit application for state funding for that >> special facilities fund right >> correct as as the bill the legislation stands now I know they're trying to change it but as it stands now we cannot apply again until we've paid back this one >> and and you and you're saying that's a three-year that's a three-year >> process to pay that

047back >> no no it's a three-year process of millage So the this year and the last two years of millage is supposed to determine the amount we pay back. >> I got you. >> Which during the summer was roughly 35 million I gave you guys. >> Um we don't have to start paying it back till the project's done. We can pay it back in one year. We can pay it back to my understanding little increments over 50 years. So um I know >> but that would preclude us from applying I mean >> the quicker we can pay it back. Yes. >> The quicker we can then apply for the the parking funds. Right now it's 3 years at 1.5 >> 3 years at 1.5 >> 5 years at at one mill. Correct. >> So that

048there was a lot of confusion around that as well. Um the last time I talked directly to Miss Piden, it was the 1.5 3 years of 1.5 mill. So >> and that's also later that same day. Um like 7 o'clock at night, she called me and gave me a number, asked for an email, didn't get it. So, at this point, I'm just waiting till the end of the project so I can actually know a true number. >> Okay. >> And I will say my predecessor started saving for this uh 2 years before construction ever began. So, we've been planning for the full payback and um trying to go right back into applying again. >> Okay, good. >> Any questions on anything else? >> Any board have any questions? I just I just wanted to bring

049up one other thing that that's uh become a kind of a hot topic especially for the small rural districts that are financially constrained is that in the budget the House and Senate differ on their funding mechanism. Before there was a $250,000 uh flat fee that was paid to the counties for um school safety, our school safety program under the safe schools uh funding that the legislature allocates this year. that um looks like it could be changed and the funding is different in the Senate and the House. There's a I think a 1.5 or 2.5 billion difference in the House and Senate budget. So, you know, as as as we have discussed, you know, my goal would be um you know, we don't want to do anything that hurts our counterparts. Um but we certainly don't

050want to do anything that hurts us. Um it looks like under that new formula uh we we'd be pretty whole, but we still are having to um augment through general fund dollars a pretty significant amount for the safe schools program. And you know what I was hoping is that you know consolidation of schools and additional funding from the state that we could we could slowly start bringing that down. And um I just I think at some point in time we we probably ought to do a board workshop on that to understand you know that it's a complicated process and formula. Um but you know we don't we certainly don't want the legislature backing off on on what their commit commitment is you know under that program. >> Yeah. >> So would you would you agree?

051>> Um >> I mean not session probably. >> Yeah. Yes. Uh so when we have more uh accurate information as far as where we're going to be at and how it's going to truly affect us and if we need to have a workshop to see how the district's going to handle that at the board's request, we will we'll we'll do a workshop. >> Okay. >> All right. Any other questions on the budget or budget item under uh let's see what was that number? Well, we we can talk about that when we get Is there any questions overall for Jonathan budget-wise on anything? >> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. We'll move to public comment and I have three comments. >> Mr. Chair, could I make a comment before >> Yes, sir.

052>> public comments. I want to address the impact of the board chairman's recent public comments in two separate forms. My purpose is not to enforce policy, but to outline how public statements by board chair about our district and employees can undermine public confidence in our work. First, comments were made on social media that included personal attacks on district staff and characterized members of my leadership team in a derogatory manner. While the board chair did not explicitly identify his title in that post, his role was apparent within the context of the discussion and is well known to the community. Secondly, during a recent Senate Judiciary Committee, the same board member identified himself as the board chair and made statements regarding a district audit report and a communication issued by my office. Both of those statements were

053inaccurate and did not reflect the facts or the official record. When board members speak publicly, particularly when their role is known or explicitly stated, those comments are reasonably understood as reflecting the district. Inaccurate statements or public personal criticism of staff in the context in that context can create confusion, undermine trust, and negatively affect employee morale. I want to be clear in my support for my leadership team and our staff. I maintain complete confidence in their professionalism, competence, and dedication to this district. Specifically, I want to reaffirm my trust in Tanya Whitehurst, our assistant superintendent of business operations. She has provided dedicated service to this district for over three decades and has consistently exhibited integrity, sound judgment, and effective leadership throughout her tenure. Her depth of knowledge and leadership have led her to mentor other human

054resource directors across the state and to present at state and national school personnel conferences on effective district practices. Oversight and disagreement are part of a healthy board administration relationship. However, concerns related to district operations or staff performance must be addressed accurately, respectfully, and through appropriate channels. My expectation moving forward is that we maintain clear role boundaries, uphold professional standards in all public communications, and work together in a manner that strengthens, not diminishes, public confidence in this district. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you, Mr. Superintendent. And I'd like to uh read a a statement also for the record with respect to the Facebook post which in fact was mistakenly posted by me thinking I was me messaging the individual that uh had reached out to me. I'm truly sorry. And I called to apologize to Miss

055Whitehurst uh for my my comments. Uh she did respond by email that she did not want to discuss a matter with me except through formal channels. I didn't realize that until today what what exactly the former channels would meant. Uh it was um inappropriate and um unprofessional but again it was never meant to be posted. Uh when I realized that it had been posted and rather than a message I immediately deleted it which was three or four minutes maybe. Um, but obviously long enough for someone to do a screenshot as we know in social media how things are and send it to the superintendent who subsequently sent it to the board and the board attorney. I replied to the superintendent's text that it was a mistake and I was almost uh and was almost immediately

056deleted. Again, I apologize, Miss Whitehurst and any staff, um the pressure and the frustrations, which is no excuse on my part, uh that that we have been faced with over a number of decisions concerning personnel matters uh in the last several months have been agonizing for me. And um again, no excuse, but but again, I apologize. With respect to my testimony before the committee, uh, I had two minutes and, um, I essentially did not I said I was board chairman, but I did not say I represented the board. I didn't say I didn't. Um, the the the policy reads that the school board members should um, you know, in writing when speaking, you know, state that they are not representing the board. That was an oversight on my part. And, um, um, I I can

057assure you that that won't happen again. uh and if I testify without the board taking official action on legislation and the bill was the school board members bill of rights bill which was critically important to uh Senator Leak Tom Leak our state senator. Um so again my sincere apologies and uh I hope to do much better. All right, we will move into our public comments. Uh, our first speaker is Mr. Tim Hotelling. Mr. Hotelling, please come up, state your name and address. You have three three minutes and, uh, the board um won't do any response or anything and unless they individually decide to. So, you're recognized, sir. >> Hi there, Tim. Hoteling. Yay. >> I get 15 minutes now. Huh? Tim Hoteling 105 Riverside Way, San Mateo. You know, I've delivered papers to y'all. Uh

058first first thing I was trying to advocate for the the value and the virtues of the office of inspector general and how a properly trained and functioning office reportable to you will make life a lot easier and eliminate uh uh some of the unfortunate public things that come with audits where we lead the state so badly. Anyhow, I did that and then I provided you the equivalent of an investigative report on the uh contracting soul source contracting. Um that's appears totally inappropriate. I gave you the the laws and the standards and the rules that so you could compare them yourself. I personally thought that that was enough that it should shake some pillars that would deserve a referral to the u the state auditor general. Um through no negative of its of its own your

059entities entities have grown and exceeded the circumstance but their attachment to soul source source uh contracting is anyhow I was hoping to hear something I never heard anything. So today I come to you as hoping that you might somebody will request a special workshop to discuss the actual audit and the findings requiring in uh the school superintendent staff to provide uh a detailed description of what they they found after the audit came down and what they did and what more needs to be done and how the the system of checks and balances in is in place so you won't have the same thing happening. I know the um FWL whatever the federal law enforcement Florida law enforcement folk report just came down and and it seems like uh Mr. bowling was pretty much an unfortunate

060uh uh it was really unfortunate that he had to leave because if in fact take taking at at face value it came down to a form that was misinterpreted andor a form that was incomplete. And that's just one real example of um how you have to dig further in my estimation into the evaluation and the responses because if that form hasn't changed, if there's been no change, all you're going to do is is and another another superintendent and uh another board and they're going to have to repeat the same thing. >> Okay. Thank you, Tim. Appreciate it. Our next speaker is Mr. Ron Whitehurst. Mr. White, if you just give your name and address for the record and you are recognized. Ron Whitehurst, uh 318 North County Road, 315 Interlock in Florida. Uh my comment

061is about professionalism. I'm sure it's going to feel like I'm kicking the dog down the road again, but feel like I need to speak. Uh I'm I'm also the AD and pre-calculus teacher in Logan High School, but I'm not here in that capacity. I'm here today as a concerned citizen and a husband. Uh I want to read the post because I think it's necessary. Well, how ironic to hear from you. And the reason I voted twice is because had we revertised, we got the same result. White herds doesn't know how to be a human resources director. She's a bigger idiot and quite frankly all they would do is just procrastinate on it and end up with the same result or something maybe worse. My mom and dad always said that if you can't say something

062nice, say nothing at all. But I had to break that rule today. You are the most unprofessional person I have ever seen. All these qualifications you appear to have, but evidently you never learn professionalism. My wife has more honor and integrity in her little toe than you have in your whole body. You talk about HR qualifications, but you are an HR nightmare. You have made inappropriate comment remarks to a young female teacher during a board meeting. You have threatened people with repercussions during a board meeting. You have put social media posts just like the one I read that are completely unprofessional and character assassinations with no reason necessary but to try and save face. I don't know how anybody would work for you because all you try and do is bully people. Sir, I'm here

063to stand up to the bully and the keyboard warrior. If you call my wife an idiot or question her qu qualifications again, I'm going to use one of your big words. There will be repercussions. The repercussions being if you run for any kind of office in this county, I will help and assist who runs against you in any way I can. I hate politics, but you have pushed me over the edge. you would be the worst candidate to run for any office in this county or state. I am letting anybody know that would like to run against this individual that I will help you in any way I can in Putinham County. Thank you very much. >> All right. Our last uh speaker is uh Mr. John Sims. Uh Mr. Sims, you come and get

064your name and address and you are recognized, sir. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. >> Good afternoon. >> So, I'd like to discuss a little bus safety again. I was here last school board meeting February 3rd. >> Yes. >> Uh I got nowhere and I'm still getting nowhere. So, I don't think it's very safe for my daughter riding a bus that's 22 degrees. I sent those pictures to Miss Whitehurst. All ensued was an argument when I talked to her on the phone. That's all I got. She told me to call Miss Edwards, which is in charge of the bus routes. Excuse me. I don't feel very good right now. So, I talked to Miss Edwards, sweet lady. And she did everything she could do possibly when I talked to her, which is her hands are tied

065when it comes to these buses and heat. I mean, all she's in charge of the routes. So, then I got a call, this was all February 6th. Then I got a call later on about I had to look back at my phone to make sure about 6:00 in the evening from a young man named uh JT Williams. He said he was the shop supervisor. Told me that the heaters on these buses are working as they should. Well, if they're working as they should, why are they 22 and 30 degrees on a bus? I That's ridiculous. So, see this pump? This keeps me alive. I wear it 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and I change it every 48 hours. Just because it turns on doesn't mean it's working as it should. So when

066a bus when my daughter I have to buy her hand warmers if she goes to get on the bus, there's days I can't get up to go take her to school. That's what the bus is for. That's what we pay taxes. We were just talking about all the millions of dollars we're spending on infrastructure, but we got no money for buses. We're worried about buildings and infrastructure, but we're not worried about transportation for these kids in in this district. Does Does that make any sense to anybody? Because it makes not a damn sense to me and worried about people bickering back and forth. Is children's safety really the top priority of this district? Or is it just we're gonna do whatever we want to do and spend the money so we look good having flashy

067buildings and put them on buses from 1990, 1980. I don't know when the hell they come from, but I'm tired of my daughter getting put on a bus and me having to take her to school when it's a bus. Like this whole week I've taken her to school. My wife took her Monday. I took her today. I don't have I don't have the health and the time for this nonsense when we should be taking care of these kids and not worrying about when I get a see a Facebook post when I sent the pictures to Miss Whitehurst that she requested of the temperature on the bus and then she sends me to her subordinate. What are we doing? >> Thank you, Mr. Sims. We appreciate your comments and we will look into them. >> Well,

068I was told that before and look where we are here. I'm back again. >> All right, board. We will move into our consent agenda and Miss Wagner, I will start with you. >> I am pulling just make sure it's right. >> I wanted to pull E9, please. >> E9. >> E9. All right, Mr. Gillyard. Um, I'm I'm good, sir. >> Mr. Buckers. >> I'm good, Mr. >> Pick. Good. >> Okay. >> Um, all right, Mr. Chairman. Hold on a minute. Mr. Williams. Mr. Williams. >> Never mind. He's gone. >> Sims. I'm sorry. It doesn't matter. I he left early the last time and I I know the superintendent has directed people to look at the buses so it I'll try to catch up with him another time. Go ahead, Phil. >> All right. We uh

069chair will entertain a motion for the balance of the uh consent agenda excluding E9. >> Mr. Chair, I'll make a motion that we accept the consent agenda as written except for E9. >> I second. >> We have a motion and a second. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Motion carries. All right. Mr. We will move to E9. >> We have David Martin here. >> All right. Mr. Martin, you want to come up? >> Yeah. And that's the one I had, but JT JD took care of. Yes, ma'am. >> Yeah. And I I sent um Mr. Thompson a lot of emails um over the last couple of days, but >> that's the one I Yeah. Oh, that's >> But he answered it. E9. That's it. >> E9. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Yeah.

070>> JD took care of me. >> Go ahead. >> So, just with this um with this documentation, I had some kind of specific questions and I just wanted some kind of specific answers. Sure. Um, my first was and I I do have an answer for this that y'all provided, but um I just wanted to explain how why we're just now addressing hiring Kimley Horn. Um because it's for additional engineering on the sanitary lift station and specifications for the wastewater treatment facility. Um, did this need to expand uh the scope arise recently and y'all said it was an anticipated additional part of the project but not included in the preliminary work? Can you tell me what that kind of means? Because >> I I I didn't respond I didn't I that that was my response. Okay.

071That's fine. We' had a discussion but your response if you wanted to this is what you just so those were JD's words. >> Okay. Because I know some was some we were dealing with several different topics. >> Yeah. Yeah. We emailed those back I think this morning, but we can send them over to you. But essentially, when we first came into the project, there were some concerns with the wastewater treatment plant. Um, after further digging and and moving into the actual investigative portion of it and talking with the local um twofold, it's a local um wastewater um company that I believe services and maintains >> operator >> the operator of the plant. Um they highly recommended a brand new wastewater treatment plant. Um you know our thoughts were uh you know we're providing a brand

072new school for Melrose and there are new codes. I've got Jameson with Kimley Horn who's doing the heavy lift on the design. He can chime in. But um there are new codes that are coming into play um that will require additional upgrades to the water treatment plant that weren't known uh initially. Um and so after speaking with them who who know that plant in and out more than anybody and understanding that we don't want to put a band-aid on this for five years if we're spending money uh to upgrade the entire school. Um we were um wanting to at least move forward with providing the new water treatment plant. That also triggered the design of a new lift station. At the time it was functioning seemingly okay. The school had no issues. When we got

073into it and started investigating that there were some major concerns and it felt again we didn't want to bandaid it but we wanted to provide uh the Melrose Elementary with with fully functional. That's really what I was looking is like is did y'all know from the very beginning y'all are going to have to do all of this and we didn't realize it and then all of a sudden we get this this jump. Um, one of my my biggest concerns though is the 1.15% um markup on on on this contract. It says um and I'm specifically looking at page four or four. I think it's on the the exhibit A, but it lists task one, task two, and task three. And those total there are 8,64,500 and 14,000. I believe the total of that is 86,000

074and some some dollars. It says Kimley Horn will perform the services in tasks one through three for the lumpsum fees shown above in addition to the lumpsum labor fee which are those numbers. Direct reimburseable expenses such as express delivery services fees, air travel and other direct expenses will be build at 1.15 times cost. Dropping down a little further, it says lump sum fees, which are those ones listed, will be invoiced monthly based on the overall percentage of services performed. Reimburseable expenses will be invoiced based upon expenses incurred. Yet on the very front page, it shows a total of 99,475, which includes a 15% markup of 12,975. Um, is that a separate 15% markup or is that the markup? Is that a 15% markup for the reimburseable expenses? And if so, why? >> So, the 15%

075the 12,975 for coordination and management is directly from Casper Architect's contract with you guys initially. And so that's for anytime there's a service that we're doing additional meaning out of our basic scope of services there's a lot of you know meetings there's coordination efforts for example when we get um you know a new pump for the lift station. And so my engineer then has to go back and provide electrical power, analyze the specifications of the new lift station, the treatment plant, and then we have to adjust things as well. So even though we're moving like there's a different company taking the heavy load, there's still an effort required. Um it's it's pretty black and white in the contract that is given with us that we're, you know, essentially allowed to do that, but we'd be

076happy to >> sit down and talk more. >> Well, and that's that actually that's uh a surprise to me just because I was under the impression that that 15% was more along the lines of the the reimburseable expenses. And I was going, you're basing reimburseable expenses ahead of time based on the total. So y'all are contracting with the Kimley Horn for that amount and then whatever that amount is, you guys charge 15%. >> Yeah. So task one, two, and three is directly from Kimley Horn and their effort to do the new design and then coordination and management is Casper's fee to follow that through and make sure it gets incorporated. And is that is is there I mean is that um >> practice >> would you say a pretty standard uh percentage? I mean what

077I looked at it's it's on the high end um of of percentages in general but >> yeah I'm not fully privy to all the other architecture firms and how they do it in house. Uh but yeah, for Casper it's pretty standard for our additional service to be 15 and then a reimburseable of 10. >> And those reimburseables, the reimburseables say 15 >> add service should be 15, reimburseable is 10. And there's two different pieces. There's our contract which would >> Yeah, this is Kimley Horns, I guess. But the constru coordination and management comes from our initial contract that allows us to bill um separately is Kimley Horns with their page four um where you're referencing I believe the 15% mark there on that page. >> Okay. Yeah. That >> is that right? And and thank

078you for clarifying because I thought that 15% markup was somehow being done for the the reimburseables and so that's completely separate. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. that that clarified that. I think it just feels a little high, but >> and for future work when we get, you know, if if if we were to start over on Melrose, that would be something you could negotiate with us when we pull that contract in front of you guys initially to sign us up. >> There's an opportunity there. I mean, there's still an opportunity, but >> Well, and I'm I'm just glad things are starting to to move along over there. We're very excited. So >> yeah, it's going to be a beautiful school. >> Any other questions to the board on the wastewater treatment facility and >> no

079rose? >> E9. All right. Chair will entertain a motion. >> Mr. Chairman, I' I'd move that we um approve item E9. Second. >> All right. I have a motion in a second for approval of E9. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Motion carries unanimously. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Jameson, >> I asked for Mr. Sims to come back. He he left early at the last meeting and I wanted to assure him that that the superintendent would talk to transportation and I I even talked to him about it and I know that he did. I don't know why the buses aren't warm because they probably come from Interlockan or Palata pickup. Where are you in Flor? >> I'm in Flor. They come from Interlock. >> They'd come from Interlockan. So they should be warm

080but in this time of year it is bad. And if and if the buses aren't up to standard, we need to get them looked at cuz my grandkids have been fussing about how cold it is, too. But I just wanted you to know that I know that he had it looked at, but it's something that we probably need to take a closer look at. And I appreciate you coming in here. what you know and and we need to also transportation needs to know you've got a problem and and you have to make sure she's okay and you can't always get up if you've got if you're held to that device all the time but I just wanted to let you know that >> well the sad thing is is we pay all this money in

081taxes and we spend all these millions and millions of dollars and I understand it gets cold outside you know but a bus being below freezing or at freezing that's unacceptable >> well That's that's what we're looking at right now. I'm glad you came back and told us about >> heaters. They make all kind of things. But when the shop supervisor tells me that it's working as it should, >> I'm sorry. Excuse me when I say this, but it pissed me right off. >> Well, we're going to look into it just work as it should. >> All right. We're going to look into it again. >> And I came in here last time and I was nice and polite. Figured we'd get it knocked out. Now it's done. Got on my nerves. >> All right. Really

082bad. >> Well, thank you. So, I'd like to figure out what we're going to do unless we need to I need to take alternative measures. You just go ahead and let me know. >> I'm I'm sure that superintendent will double down and try to figure out some way to get this thing working right. >> All right. Okay. Board, we will uh temporarily adjourn the regular meeting, move into emergency. >> Thank you for coming back. And um we will take up um item I one the change order for the uh Crescent City Junior Senior High School. >> Mr. Chair, we do have a representative from Parish McCall here. >> Okay. >> If you have any questions, >> the board have any questions? >> I think nope. Representative. Okay. Any questions or on the item? >> M

083you good with it? >> I'm good. >> Okay. All right. All right. Okay. So, um chair will entertain a motion >> that we accept item um one under the emergency change order number eight, item 61, Crescent City Junior Senior High School Parish McCall justification, explanation, time sensitive. >> Okay. Do I have a second? >> I'll second. >> All right. I have a motion and a second. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Motion carries unanimously. We'll now move to I2, the 2526 amended instructional salary schedule. Um, and I think it's pretty selfexplanatory. All >> you have any questions, Miss Whers? Be glad to address it. >> Yeah, I had questions and it it is is a it is a good amendment and it really will help uh in this area. >> Chair will

084entertain a motion on I2. >> Mr. Chair offer motion that we accept emergency item two 2025 20226 amended instructional salary schedule justification explanation time census. >> I'll second that. All right, we have a motion and a second. All in favor signify by saying I. I. >> Motion carries unanimously. We'll move back into our regular session and we will we have no unfinished or new business. We'll move to reports. Um Miss Pickkins, I'll start with you. >> Okay. Thank you. Um, since the last board meeting, um, we had the topping off at Crescent City Junior Senior High School in the gymnasium. It was an absolutely, um, wonderful event and the the gym is, um, makes me want to go back and teach again. Um, it's a it's just a wonderful building. Um, I also got to

085tour um, Middleton Bernie Elementary School and um, it is very similar to the Palaca um, intermediate but um, bigger. There's more classrooms. Uh, it's it's a beautiful building. um and things that I thought maybe could be improved on at the um plaque intermediate seemed that that's not the case in that school. So um anyway, I thought that was really good. Um and Justin was amazing. You can call him and get a tour. It's an excellent tour. Uh, one thing they have the outdoor play area they were putting the roof on and it's just an extinuation of the it's still brick and it's it's really nice. It is really nice and there's plenty of rooms for fields. Um, this past week I uh tuned in to the webinar by the leadership committee at the FSBA and

086Scott Ward went through the third calc with um the people in attendance and um how to interpret and prepare for things exactly what Jonathan was talking about. It was very informative and it's available. You can watch it anytime. Um, Miss Wagner, Miss Gillyard and I, um, went to the crown meeting of the FSBA. Um, I felt like it was an excellent meeting. Um, always they give you really good information. one um item they talked to us um you know in our board reports and at board meetings to really um focus on areas and they they gave us the Iowa lighthouse study. But the very first thing that you know made me think um of a diff of a focus for our board and it says high achieving boards believe that all students can learn at

087high levels and that the district is responsible for making that happen and um that just resonated with me. Um I uh the presentation today to um Coach Carter and Mary Ellen Asbury. Um actually Coach Carter sent me a text beforehand. He he had he'd just come out of the hospital, but um he said that, you know, he didn't even think he saw a boy in distress and he went immediately and he said that's what he would do in any situation. He he truly is a great man and Mary Ellen has such a wonderful calm demeanor. Um I'm sure she really made the young man. I happened to be at the school that day. I didn't know what happened, but I saw the young man's grandmother come through with a very concerning look and um then

088I saw her come back out with him and everything was, you know, fine. So, it was it's a it's a we train our employees to do exactly what they did. So, I'm I'm very thankful to both of them and to Mr. Sims. um the problem with the bus, you know, I I think I will reach out to him. Um but we need to stay on top of this. We can't have two weeks and um you know, our next board meeting and it we've had another cold snap and um >> you know, I mean, we need to address that. We need to fix that. Um and I would like to request um that we do have two workshops. Um one on the sole source like Mr. hotel and was talking about just so that we have

089more information about it. And then one thing that was brought up in the crown meeting um we have a lot and then it caused me to look through a lot of policies and we have a lot of policies that are out of date you know I mean they are Niola um but you know 2004 was a long time ago and so I would also like to have a workshop um maybe either with Niola going through things with us or are us just picking out, you know, and obviously we can't attack the whole situation or we could, but it would take a good, you know, a good amount of time, but maybe over a period of time address each um one that we feel that's really out of date. So, those are two requests I have

090and I have talked to Dr. Cerny about that. So, >> okay, we'll make sure the uh is it consensus the board on those two? I was going to bring up the same thing about the sole source that we And I was going to bring up about the policies. >> Okay. So, so it's consensus. All right. So, >> you were a high achieving board. >> Yeah. >> We will ask the superintendent to uh work with hit the M staff schedule and and over the next month or six weeks we can get those two. Um >> let me review again two workshops. One on soul source >> the other one on the other >> the policy >> policy. Yeah. >> Two separate workshops >> probably. I think they >> Yeah, they may be quicker that way, too.

091>> Okay. >> And that's all. >> All right. All right. Thank you, Mr. Buckles. >> Uh, echoing Mr. Sims, you know, we we don't like unpleasant situations. I know that our transportation divisions have even used cars to transport students that had underlying circumstances. And I'm I for whatever reason this just occurred again and I might be the sudden cold snap again. Who knows? But it fell through the cracks and I I hate it because we certainly care about our children and I I know the superintendent will report on a drill he had at Palaka High or witness this morning when he gets time. you know, and I go back to listening to people talk about this audit stuff and I I had nauseium tried to tell everybody that a couple of things and I didn't.

092Nobody died and left me in charge or said I I know it all because I don't. I've just been through a lot of stuff. But when you have an audit, you're going to have audit findings. That doesn't mean that the audit finding is accurate. It means you're going to have audit findings or the auditors don't get hired to do an audit again. So, you're not going to have any state agency or national agency that doesn't come in with audit findings or they're going to come in with something. and what has occurred on social media about the gentleman that got that worked for us that left us and how he was vilified and and put on the front page of a paper and some of these you got letter writers from that want to write letters

093and stuff on Facebook all the time. It was a It was a travesty what occurred because you don't know until it's over or it's vetted what the outcome's going to be. I just cannot believe that people can't shut their mouth long enough to understand that it's an audit finding. doesn't mean it's it's accurate or true, but let's wait and find out until it's vetted and let's don't go off the deep end and make people feel like they're going to prison or somewhere like that. I I uh I just have to tell you I've I've been through so many audits and uh and over the years and some are more pleasant than others, but I don't ever remember one without audit findings. And if somebody chose, you know, to take a finding and and go to

094the newspaper and try to make it on the newspaper or put it on social media, it go it's going to make the rounds. You're going to get 25 or 30 shares. And I guess the people that get to share think they're really doing something because that's really great. You know, young man who served our arm in armed forces and grew up here. His daddy was an administrator. Uh I I just people are are just out there sometimes. I I listen to the rhetoric coming out of Tallahassee, you know, talking about indoctrination in schools. You'll see stuff on on social media where there's no flags. We're put flags back in public schools. It is it's mindboggling what people believe and what you got out there. And and and I know I've fussed in past meetings. I've

095criticized a fellow board member that, you know, need to tone it down. My my purpose was to just tone things down. let's just wait and and let's you know it's how you go about doing the things that you feel like are right but sometimes you wind up exposing the board to situations of liability or or in a terrible negative light which I looked at where the St. Augustine high school technical high school is closing and I looked at some of the comments that you're you know maybe 1520$20 million in a hole over there in St. Jones County that was the the the top-notch bastion of of wonderful career tech education years ago over for decades and now it's it's going away and and I looked at social media it's the same kind of comments in

096St. John's County, somebody's lining their pocket, somebody's doing this, somebody's doing that. This craziest stuff. I don't know how people get off on u on having a good time with making negative out of somebody's life being destroyed or trying to destroy it. But I I know I even uh I I even kind of took the chairman to task a little bit and I you know I I >> He deserved it. >> Pass boards. Well, that it it kind of ran you in line. I mean, we all do things we shouldn't do sometimes, but this this whole deal, this this young man's life has been been plastered around on the newspaper. And I can't believe the Plaque Daily News isn't here today. I guess there's nobody here today from the Plaque Daily News, but they'll probably

097see it or hear it. But I guarantee you 40 people will call them about the next audit finding that comes up and everybody will go absolutely slobber and stupid want to try to make something out of it. But the rhetoric that you hear and I I don't I don't know the superintendent and and it his team have to deal with stuff and you know like the gentleman a while ago I I don't blame him for being angry but in the course of a day you may have a kid lifellighted off a school campus and and you haven't they didn't go out and warm the bus up quick enough. I don't know but we we're going to have to look into it and see what we can do. And uh you know the board has options

098if the board wants to do something. Um you know I I'm not really interested in more board training workshops coming in because I've been to so many and people didn't listen over the years. But um but in the in the long run, you know, we're all here to help kids and we do care about our students and that's number one. And uh I will be glad when this cold snaps over cuz I want to go back to some baseball and softball and volleyball games and uh we're going to a lot of them. So I'll pass it on to Miss Gillard and I'll shut up for the rest of it. >> Thank you, Miss Miss Gillyard. >> Yes, sir. Oh god. Um just want to Mrs. Whitehurst when when our employees come up that are retiring

099uh and the pictures are taken. Have we ever sent them those pictures? >> I don't know if they get those. I would have to check with Melissa. They come in and signers do a video. >> I know. Yes, you told us that. Okay. Yeah. I just want to make it as extra special. >> Miss McDaniel and see if they can start. >> Yeah. and maybe we could surprise them in the mail with that picture. Yeah. Uh Mrs. Pickkins and I were talking about that as they came up. Uh just want to uh commend again the district on the para pros. We did sign that agreement to again work with St. Leo's. It is awesome. An awesome way to grow your own and and because they're rooted here, they drank the water. They'll stay with us.

100uh the groundbreaking at Kelly Smith that was exceptional. Uh just just took me back some some years. Uh thought about all the teachers and the great people that I had met there at Kelly Smith that helped to launch my career as an educator. Uh there was one thing that he did say in the article that I do need to straighten out. I did not go to uh uh Kelly Smith as a student. I was a teacher there. I went to school at East Palaca Elementary School. Walter Wilson was my principal. >> You were in third grade for three consecutive years. >> Yes. Yes. Yes. And and was the validictorian. >> All right. Um our sorority had the opportunity to share with Brown and Pierce students uh last Thursday for Black History Month. uh just want

101to commend them on the way that it was set up. The the behavior of the students, their enthusiasm, the questions that they were asking, it just made for an awesome stay. They had us in three different locations and we served third and fourth grade. It was it was fantastic and and I just want to send a shout out to them for an excellent uh program and acknowledgement. I too, as Mrs. Pickkins has stated, along with Mrs. Wagner, we did attend the Crown Region meeting that was hosted here and they did commend Putnham County. Uh Dr. Rice commented on how beautiful our facility is. Um and so that that made us feel good. But they did open our eyes to quite a few things and and that's why you send us to trainings and we are

102part of them so that we could help take what we have and make it even better. Um did receive an article uh a text message from the superintendent on an article that was so well written regarding the Putham County School District. And I think personally that it should run in the Palaca Daily News. Um, yes, sometimes it may seems as if we go off on a tangent and we get focused on other things and lose sight of the other. Trust you, me, we we haven't lost sight of anything. We're working. Um, there is a story uh well, I won't go there. I was about to tell you about Habbeca and his concerns. That's that's biblical. I'll leave that alone. But you think that people aren't moving and aren't working, but they are. And what Habbeca

103had to realize was that things were changing, but he needed to change. So, a lot of times we need to look within ourselves and we need to change. Enough said. I'll get I'll get out of the pool pit. Uh Crescent City Junior Senior High topping off ceremony. Just just phenomenal. I just I just enjoyed that. Uh, final thing I do want to mention is that uh we lost uh uh a fine employee that had served the Putnham County School District in South Putnham, Mr. Raph Padet. He was a retired custodian at Middleton at Miller Intermediate School. Uh a very humble man, uh tall, but he walked humbly. And I just want us to just have a moment of silence. you know, uh, he served us well and the kids he helped mentor when Regina was

104down there. And so, if we could just have a moment of silence. I would appreciate that. >> Thank you all. >> Amen. >> I'm done, sir. >> Okay. Thank you. All right, Mr. Wagner. Well, um risk of uh being monotonous, yes, the the school board uh conference was interesting and I was not able to stay for the entire thing, but I completely agree with the review of policies. Um they mentioned that some districts go through, you know, each full section every two years. you know, you can set up goals on well, we want to get through this in our, you know, next year or the next year. So, um, because if we tried to look at all of it all at one time, it's just outrageously connected and similar in different areas. So, um, Neiola

105is great with giving us the updates, but they're not always perfect and they've admitted such and, um, they're also more than open to to take um, corrections if we find something. But they were suggesting things that, you know, maybe something was controversial 15 years ago and it's just not an issue anymore. So, we could go through those things. So, I'm I'm definitely excited about that. on the sole source issue. I think it would be good for all of us to be um more educated on that matter. Um I spoke at length with um or emailed with Mr. Helms on this issue too because um we had information presented to us. Um I also did my own research and had a lot of questions and he did answer a lot of my questions. Um, but I

106told him I'm going to let that absorb and I'll probably come back with more. So, a workshop would be very helpful with that. Um, and and they also talked at the conference, they talked about accessibility on our on our website. And I was just because we did a a a little exercise where we had to look up a certain type of policy on each other's websites and to find out how easy it was to find, whether you even had that kind of policy. Um, and the only thing I was going to suggest is on our webs, our district website, we've got a whole section under our menu that says schoolboard. Um, and it says Putnham County School Board. Under that public notice of meetings. Then under that is another menu that says schoolboard information. And

107that's where our minutes and agendas, the policies and all of that is. And I just think maybe we could talk about um and and I'm happy to talk with whoever I need to about maybe making that just another item under school board and not hiding it under another menu because that's really a u finding those policies and procedures. I think parents and and and the community need to be able to have it jump out at them a little more. Um the insurance committee has been uh working diligently on a lot of uh a lot of different topics and I'm sure there will be an update here soon for you guys on some things there. Um I just got my uh my card for Express Imaging and uh I'm very excited about that. So uh those

108of y'all who have the insurance, I'm assuming those are getting sent out um to everyone. So I got mine today. So was very happy on that. Um I also wanted to shout out to Melrose Elementary. I saw they have met their attendance goal for the 60th day this this year. Um so they have a a great little program where when they reach uh 93% attendance or greater, there's little incentives and and this last one was you could basically it ended up being a paper airplane competition. And so the students get really involved and really want that attendance and they get excited as a school. Um so kudos to them. Um it's just great seeing seeing the kids become involved in the pride of their school. Um and and I just >> I was just really

109taken by that. Um and I just just to touch very gently on on some of David's comments. Um, we have talked a lot about audit findings um, in the past few months. I agree. Yes. Most of the time any anybody that's doing any kind of audit, you're going to probably have something found. Um, at the same time, we had 12 and that's a, you know, that's something I think we do need to look at. I I believe I said that before. We we need to own it. It is just is what it is. But the the goal is going forward. Um, I don't want to, uh, you know, I don't want to come in here and just go lay blame on people, but I I do think we need to be very open. I think

110we need to talk about it. I think we need to know where we're what we're changing. Um, those are very valid questions for anyone to ask. And, you know, it's like with anybody, if you tell me as an attorney, I'm I'm not as effective in this realm, that's that's constructive feedback. And I want to know, okay, well then what do I need to change to be better and maybe I need to tell my my clients that, hey, you know what? I'm doing this. Uh I actually have I've I've cut back on I'm not taking new cases for a while. I've been telling every one of my clients so that they know, oh, then she's got more time to focus on me. And it it's a positive step by addressing what appears to be a negative.

111So, um, you know, I I do think we have to do that because we want our community confident in us and I know everybody up here on this board is here for students and I I have no doubt about that. Um, we don't always see the same on issues and that's great. That's what it's about. But I do think we need to our focus is on our students, but I think we have to be aware that our community's opinion of us makes a big difference and we need them behind us. And in order to do that, again, transparency um and and being upfront with everybody uh I think goes a tremendous way. And uh I've been, you know, that's just all I'm saying. the the the last point was the rhetoric on Facebook. Absolutely. Keyboard

112warriors can can say an awful lot of really horrible stuff. Um and sometimes too soon before we know just like anybody's accused of a crime, you know, it it still is innocent until proven guilty. Um, I think I think that's all the more reason for us to address the issues. So that if if we address issues quickly and publicly, then I think it it cuts back on the just the junk that gets said and the buildup of stuff and people conjecturing and and it just becomes crazy. So, um, that's pretty much all I I wanted to say on it. >> All right. Thank you, Mr. Wagner. >> Mr. Chair, can I you you sparked something about uh Brown and Pierce today. When I went to pick up my niece and nephew from Brown and Pierce,

113they got a bear bump. And I said, why did you get that? They say, for coming to school say, cuz a lot of kids don't come on early release days. And I said, dog. So, the kids are being taught and they're understanding. Yes, I'm getting a bare buck. But it's important that kids come to school even if it is early release that attendance that you said about Meros because if they they they can't learn if they're not there. So, >> right. >> Anyway, I just wanted to share that what they're doing. >> Okay. I just have a a quick thing. Uh uh board's covered pretty much all the items that with respect to um celebrations and groundbreaking and everything. Um, just real quickly because this is tied to the FSBA governance committee and and I

114just want to just make you all aware and you you've gotten this from the school boards association. Um, couple of bills that I think are are really very positive going through on the personnel and compensation. Senate Bill 26 1216 uh on public school personnel uh expands the colo adjustments to more school employees and removes certain pay limitations and broadens the use of advanced degrees for salary purposes and it's passed the Senate floor and and it's in I believe in on the h in house uh on the house um agenda for coming up soon. Um, Senate Bill 718, the educator uh preparation certification, another one um by um Senator Cataloon and expands the enrollment in educator preparation programs, adds a new pathway for temporary certification for those with expired certificates and strengthens the professional learning opportunities.

115and it um it has passed the the Senate Education Committee and it's in rules and should be taken up this week uh on curriculum and instruction uh uh Senate Bill 7038 on education revises a range of educational policies including tuition waiverss, consumer disclosures and performance metrics um and um you know questions around PEL grant metrics and unintended consequences for certain career programs. uh that also passed the Senate Education Committee and is als pass pass the House Education Employment Committee 12 to 4. Um I have mixed emotions about that, but um it looks like that's on a fast track. Uh, also and um and then um finally the school safety and background screenings, Senate Bill 1168 um expands by Senator Gro expands the level two background screening requirements and adds new um disqualifying offenses for school

116employees and it's it passed 90 and is also in rules committee. So, lots of bills moving, lot some some really good ones. Some, you know, um on this uh I'm not sure what they're getting at here with the uh Senate Bill 824 on uh submitting annual inventories of unimproved real property. I don't think we have any unimproved real property, but um that one kind of makes me scratch my head. So any questions that y'all see and you have um when a bill comes up um as long as you know and we won't be voting on it you know I think you know we could you know discuss it plea please please please let me know or I'm h you know at the next board meeting if you have something um I do anticipate now that

117that that because um of the this being an election year that the house and senate will finish pretty close on time um early next month and um and and the budget will will be a consensus and and I'm hoping that um the uh the funding for the additional teacher salary increases will will stay in. And that's all I have. Mr. Holmes, >> nothing. >> Superintendent. >> Okay. Quickly, we um just want to say we will prepare a presentation on how we are addressing each audit finding. What we're waiting on is approval from the state for our plan. So once we get that we can we'll come back and present that. So that's not an issue. We have steps to address each audit finding. So be glad to share that. Uh today myself and a number

118of our staff went to PLA Junior Senior High School and watched a um a or listened to messages from emergency personnel, law enforcement, hospital personnel about the dangers of students using their phones while they're driving. And the entire senior class was in attendance. Show some videos and that type thing. And then we went outside and they staged a a um they had two wrecked cars. A truck was on top of a car and they actually came out with the jaws of life and showed them how they cut the car open and and they actually had a gentleman there acting as a victim laying on the ground and they called in a life flight. Actual a helicopter came in and they went through the entire process of um you know transporting him. So I think it

119was very well received by our students. Few other things very quickly. Uh this month or this week is public schools awareness week or appreciation week. So if you see a public school employee, just thank them. You know, traditional public schools. Um it's also CTE month. Mentioned that before. So I know our CTE department's been doing a lot of u activities feeding a lot of our CTE teachers and so forth. We're hosting a VPK enrollment carnival on March 5th from 5 to 6 at Melon Learning Center. Just want to encourage all families u who have little learners who turn four by September 1st to please attend >> and they get to come out and meet our teachers. It is Black History Month and we're getting ready for the Black History Month celebration which is this Thursday

120at the Jim Pnado Theater and they also will be using the cafeteria um to be feeding the folks there. Um, Feed the Need is asking for donations of Roman noodles and they can be dropped off here at the district office or during regular business hours uh during the month of February. Product to Putinham, we've already opened nominations and we are starting to receive I think Felicia said we probably got a hundred the first day. So that's gotten to be very popular. But again, if you want to nominate any PM County graduate who works in our community or volunteers who contributes, please do so. And the nomination form is on our website and the deadline is April 1st. We did celebrate the groundbreaking at Paka Primary School. our guest of honor, as you know, were um

121kindergarteners from all the feeder schools, and that was quite interesting to watch them with the shovels and play in the dirt and so forth. And again, that's scheduled to open August the 27. And just make sure on your calendar, we'll be celebrating the groundbreaking at Melrose Elementary School on Wednesday, March 4th. >> Wednesday, March 4th. I think it's 10 o'clock. >> 10 o'clock March 4th >> at the school. >> Mrs. Michael will send us >> Michael will send us. >> Oh yeah, I'm sure. I'm sure. >> Thank you. That's all I have. >> Okay. All right. Board. Any other business come before the board? >> All right. We will stand adjourned.