001call the uh school board meeting to order and we will have Mr. Buckles will lead the pledge and Miss Gillyard will give the invocation. Please stand. >> All rise, please. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Let us pray. Father, your son Jesus, we pause right now God to say thank you. Thank you for safety. Thank you for provisions. Thank you, oh God, for keeping our children safe and watching over us, God, as we take care of the affairs of this district. God, we thank you for those who share in the vision, who believe, God, that our children can learn and that they will succeed. God, we thank you for
002our staff, for our teachers. God, for those that drive our buses and feed our children. God, we thank you for everyone that is connected because it takes all of us, God, to raise the children in our village and it takes all of us, God, to get the job done. Now, God, this board, we ask for your guidance. We ask, oh God, that you would give us clarity, God, that you would give us exactly what we need to make the decisions that's in the best interest of our children that they may grow, glow, and then go and represent. We ask all this in Jesus's name. Amen. >> Amen. Okay, board. Before we get started, just want to let everybody know that F2 has been removed from the agenda and be reagended for next month. We now
003will move to our retirement recognition and Miss Whitehurst, you are recognized. >> Thank you. >> Good afternoon, board. And looking around, I think we only have one, but we're still going to announce all of them. Um, our first one that we would like to recognize, I'm going to make mention of, is Miss Veronica Glover. And she is a teacher at Crescent City Junior Senior High School. And she has served Putham County for 18 and a half years, but has been in Florida Retirement System for 25. And I don't yet, she's not out there yet. She might come in. So, we'll we'll catch her. Um, and then the next one is, um, Miss Donna Taylor. I know she was in here. There she is. Um, she has been a little bit of everything for us in
004the district. She's been with us for 27 and a half years and with Florida retirement, she's been for almost 31 and a half. >> And we are definitely going to miss Donna. I don't think I prove that. >> That's right. >> All right. And we would also like to recognize Miss Carmen Luciano. She is going to be um Donna, I gave you the wrong one. >> Donna, I gave you the wrong one. We'll switch out. >> Maybe he didn't approve. >> Maybe we didn't approve her. >> Maybe we didn't approve. >> Um Miss Carmen has been um she has been a food service working in food service with us for the last It's been a day. >> Gotcha. Um for the last five and a half years and she has decided to go ahead and
005retire. So we are so thankful for all that you have done for us. Congratulations. >> Congratulations. >> Okay, I'm going to sit down because I'm getting everything confused. computer keeps. >> All right, we will have any public comment. I haven't received any. >> Okay, no public comment. All right, we will move to our public hearing under D1. Um, send policy 2020 2205. Chair will entertain a motion. >> Mr. Chairman, I'll make a motion that we follow the recommendation to rescend policy 2205. >> Second. >> I have a motion and a second. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Motion carries unanimously. Uh adoption of amended policies D2. I'll offer a motion that we adopt the amended policies 7510 and 8651. >> I'll second that. >> All right, we have a motion and
006a second. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. >> I. >> Motion carries unanimously. And then D3, the adoption of the amended bylaws and policies that we read at the last meeting for advertisement uh per Neola's update. Um chair will entertain a motion. >> Mr. Chair, I'll um offer a motion to adopt the amended bylaws and policies. 0 1 1213 1 42 1 410 2215 2 410 2 417 2 421 2 431 2 431.01 01 2455 3410 3700 0 4120 4242 5136 5200 0 5223 5330 30.01 5410.01 7540.02 849, excuse me, 847 920-9800 peril update volume 26 number one. >> All right. Um, >> quick cuz I was going to ask you to >> I was sure glad you I was sure glad. That's why I went first because it was short. >>
007Um, go ahead. >> Any questions or comments on D3? All right. Chair will entertain a motion. >> Oh, >> we did have that motion. I'm sorry. Second it. All right. >> Uh, all in favor signify by saying I. >> Motion carries unanimously. Ma'am, >> our other retirees come in. >> By all means, let's >> Sure. You You're recognized. Come on up. >> Okay. So, we have Miss Glover who is here. So, we would like to give her her retirement resolution. Um, we are definitely going to miss her. And I believe that one of the board members almost didn't sign your paper. >> I'm sorry. >> No. Congratulations. >> Sorry. >> Thank you. >> Love you. >> My coach, my teacher. Yeah, she tells us what to do as well. >> All right, board. We'll move
008to the consent agenda. Uh, Miss Wagner, I'll start with you. >> I do not have anything to pull today. >> All right, Miss Gillyard. >> Everything is great. Thank you, sir. >> Mr. Buckle, >> I wanted to pull F6 and seven. F6 and seven. >> F6 and seven. Miss Pickkins, >> I've I talked to James for today, so I have nothing to pull. >> And I had all my concerns and questions answered in our pre-board meeting. So, >> and Mr. Chair, I just uh just for your information, we do have representatives here from Ajax and CRA. If you have any questions about the GMP, just want to make sure you knew they were here. Okay. Any any questions for our board council or we have the esteemed Dr. Tom Hunter here who participated in helping
009us review that and uh I was fortunate enough to get to talk to him and I feel really good. So, thank you. Thank you uh Tom for for participating and helping us on that. Um all right, I'll take a motion for the consent agenda excluding F6 and 7. I'll offer Go ahead. I'll offer a motion that we accept the consent agenda minus >> F6 and seven. >> Second. >> All right. I have a motion and a second. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Motion carries unanimously. >> All right. Brief. >> The fact the one that was removed or not. >> Oh, F2 was removed. Yeah. I announced it at the beginning of the meeting. >> Yeah. >> All right. Mr. briefly in a in a nutshell. I I I know that a
010lot of what we've done in in recent meetings had to do with an audit, which a lot of things we do in Tallahassee and and throughout the state, all agencies uh respond to audits. But I just want to make sure that we understand that or or try to bear in mind there will be situations that may arise that somebody's going to have to make a decision at some point to use a vehicle or may have to. Hopefully, it doesn't happen, but there are those extenduating circumstances that do occur where it could even be life and death. So, I just I just wanted to tell you I I was uh long I feel like the superintendent should have the latitude to u approve who does it. Obviously, the school board, you know, approves it when the
011superintendent recommends it. But, uh there are situations that will occur that this may create a problem for. But with that, uh, if there's no other other discussion, we'll I'll make a motion and we'll >> any Miss Gillard. >> But didn't we say that the superintendent still had that? >> We Yeah. >> to in case of an emergency other than those that were listed. >> It does say in the policy and the school board, right? >> So, he he'll be able to do it. >> He he'll have to >> I would recommend it to the school board. That's that's what that's what I just wanted to clarify. >> And the policy who which is should be coming to us maybe at the next board meeting, you know, has um specific language in there that we had
012as part of our motion. If you'll remember a couple of months ago that there, you know, pending contingencies. >> I know there will be those things. >> Then it would recommend to us we would review and then approve. >> Well, I'll go ahead and and uh Oh, you go ahead and say what it was. I would just like I we adopted uh 8651 today. That was the reward worded, >> right? Oh, okay. It was today. That's right. >> Yes, it was today. >> Okay. Well, I just wanted to clarify that. And my motion is to to uh bring it to you to go ahead and and uh approve uh F6 and F7 uh sign PCSD vehicles authorized drivers. No personal commute. Uh seven uh PCSD vehicles authorized drivers with personal commute. Just just I wanted
013you to know there will be circumstances uh that that'll the superintendent will have to take care of. And with that, y'all can get a second and approve it. Whatever you want to do. >> I'll second. >> All right. I have a motion and a second. And we are combining F6 and F7. >> Any questions, further comment? >> All right. Uh, all in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Motion carries unanimously. >> Mr. Chair, before we go into our next one, >> could I um ask that Mr. Marini come up and just give us a brief overview report of the progress of our new flag primary. >> Sure. >> Absolutely. >> You >> I hate I hate him wasting a trip to come here. So I want to get I want to make sure we
014hear from him. >> Just uh you're you're recognized, sir. >> Thank you. So hopefully everybody can hear me. So it's always an honor to be in front of you guys. Thank you very much. Um and the update is on Kelly Smith. So, um, we have begun based on the earlier released, uh, package that the board approved back in, uh, I believe it was November 18th, if I'm, if my mind isn't going there. Um, so we proceeded with that work. So, site work and utilities, clearing, those types of things, working closely with the, uh, the folks there, and then Travis Woods um, to get that work completed. Um, we will now be able to, thanks for the approval tonight, be able to move forward with contracting with the additional subcontractors that were apparent lows and be
015able to just keep keep rocking. Um, the next thing that the next big um uh milestone after the site clearing such will be the building pad. So, that'll get started once soon as we get the sub the concrete subcontractor on board. Um, we're on track. Go for tortoises are all taken care of and good. So that's really I mean if you get a chance to go by and look at it it's it's it's pretty impressive so far just from the clearing. So, >> and I do want to mention, and correct me if I'm wrong, we have scheduled a groundbreaking. >> Um, we've we have scheduled a groundbreaking um February 10th, um the uh Yes. And so, if those of you who attended the Crescent City groundbreaking, it'll be very similar. Um we'll we'll Ajax will
016be providing, you don't pay for it before anybody asks, uh providing uh hard hats and um uh shovels and such for uh that event. Waters at 10:00 a.m., right? >> Yes, at 10:00 a.m. That is correct. Um, so hopefully I would hope that you guys some of you guys can can make it. That'd be great. Um, and uh, you know, just it's it's it's just I mean, Crescent City has been a uh, C uh, Crescent City PK through 6 has been a fantastic experience. I think, you know, this is just going to be another fantastic experience. So far, it's off to a great start. >> And I do want to add, we met with uh, Mr. Meridian who group was it last week, the week before? >> Yes, sir. We had a representation from many
017of our departments just giving input to make sure that, you know, a lot of these items were included in the GMP. So, I think we all feel really good about it. You know, we're on the front end of it and um you know, I think I think it's going to take off and be a great project. Yeah, the the team did a really good job um the on y'all's on y'all's side of bringing in the discipline, you know, whether it be security or IT, those kinds of folks, so they could have some feedback um on what we have and what we don't have included. And I think that was a very helpful exercise um to make some amendments to that GMP so that we make sure that everything's included that we want. Um so that
018was that was that exercise and I thought it was great. Agree. >> And who the civil engineer is? I've read it but >> um it's Kimley Horn. >> Kimley Horn, >> correct? Right. Okay. All right. >> It's a different civil engineer than Crescent City. Yeah. >> Actually, their person on site is one of our high graduates. >> Yeah. Uh uh Mr. Turner and I were asked by an individual if he had uh if we had any uh heavy equipment work for him when we were walking into the board meeting. So, uh another hopeful success there. Told him to go to the job site, treat it like a employment office, and see if he can get a job there with the site work guy. Um, so we're continuing that effort as well. So, >> okay. All
019right, board. Any other questions or comments? >> Thank you, sir. >> Thank you, guys. >> You're very welcome. >> Thank you guys for coming. Okay. >> All right. >> Great. Regards, >> board, we will adjourn temporarily the regular meeting and move into emergency session. We have one item I one um under personal personnel application. So, any questions or comments by the board? >> Okay. None. Seeing none, the board will entertain a motion. >> Mr. Chair, I'm motion that 2020. Well, item I 2025 2026 personnel allocation change numbers 19 and 19.1 justification explanation time sensitive. >> All right. All right, I have a motion. >> Second, >> and a second. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Motion carries unanimously. We will move back into our regular meeting. And um Andy Bernett, our
020insurance committee chairman, will come up and talk about a great program that uh that's going to offer our employee our employees that aren't insured some services. Thank you, Andy. You're recognized. >> Yes, sir. Thank you. Good afternoon, board. Andy Berdett, ESC director, health insurance uh chair. Um like Mr. Larry was saying, an exciting program from UF called UF Health Street. Um and so when I'm always up here, I'm usually talking to you about health insurance employees or our health plan. This program would be for everybody in our district. If you're an employee, you can come and take advantage of this. Um the committee discussed it in our meeting in December and we decided this is going to be something great and something we can use. Um what they do is they'll come in, they have
021a mobile van with a registered nurse employee can come in, get a finger stick, get their A1C checked, blood glucose, oxygen, weight, blood pressure, that that type of thing. the nurse and then we'll go over the results with them, give them some recommendations and they also get to talk with the community health worker there as well to give them some ideas that hey these are some things that maybe you need to look at probably should go see a doctor about some of these things. So I think it's something that's going to be great for um all of our employees. We're also looking forward to bringing them back in the fall. The idea being before we go open open enrollment with our health plans, they can come in, all the employees will have a chance to
022get some health screenings done, look at, you know, and make that determination. Hey, do I want to go ahead and get on a health plan now to try to take care of these things? Um, they're going to be here February 24th from 12 to 3 at PLA Junior Senior High School. It's an early release day. We wanted to have it in a central area with the idea that hey employees go to work once the kids leave then they can go take advantage of this. So >> 24 >> it's from 12 to three >> and this is >> it by appointment. Excuse me. >> No ma'am it is not by appointment. So just show up and all Putnham County schools. >> Yes sir. And um and really what we're targeting we're trying to target here which
023is really important in this in the why the program is no cost uh to the district is it's federally funded uh through a grant to UF Health and um it covers I think four counties. Um so they'll be very much in demand but it it really as this board has continued to make strides and commitments and accomplish things with respect you know conjunction with the administration on health care for our employees. This this is a big step for those that that need it the most probably. >> It is it is >> all right. Any other? >> So if a if a excuse me if a um employee say in Interlockan or in Crescent City or or at another school than Pala Junior Senior High School, if is there a professional learning scheduled that day, are
024principles going to let them leave >> and obviously there could be conflicts. Um, our thought was with the committee, we see how it goes. This first time and I talked with Jennifer there at UF and she said, "Yeah, let's have one, see how it goes, and then we can always come back and do more if we're having success with it." >> Thank you. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay, board. Any other questions or comments? Andy, thank you so much. >> Yes, sir. Thank y'all. >> Coming up to give us that >> good information. Okay. Um, we will now move to Mr. Hanky and our strategic plan for 26 through 29. You're recognized, sir. >> Thank you. Good afternoon, board. >> Good afternoon, sir. >> Good afternoon. >> Pull this up here. I did provide you a
025print out of this presentation. Um so as we go through it if you have any questions it is under new business so that if we have questions or conversation um please stop me um we can talk about that as we go. Um last time we did strategic planning uh was in 2020 and 2021. It seems like a long time ago. Um, and actually it is a long time ago. Uh, before I get into strategic planning, um, we decided to put in a few additional insights into the recently released data from DOE regarding our graduation rate in 2025. Um, so I'm going to share some of those additional insights, things that you probably did not see in the paper or other press releases. Um and then we'll talk about strategic planning if that's okay with you.
026>> Yes sir. >> These are insights I shared with district and school leaders um last week as soon as data was released. And so I want to share with you a little bit of that. Um when we talk about the actual rate of 96.6 that is 650 students. Um 14 are still working on their diploma. um which means they did not graduate in the four-year um time commitment. When you enter nth grade, your clock of four years begins counting and you need to graduate on time to be included um in that top number. Eight students were coded as dropouts in this cohort and one student was coded as an other non-graduate. Give you a little bit of a sense of where we once were and where we currently are. Um, this 11-year comparison compares 2015
027and 2025. I think it's important to note that in this comparison, the size of the cohort has not actually changed much since 2025. Um, or since 2015, between then and now. Um, so back in 20205, you had um 698 students in the denominator. This year, you had 673. Uh but the big the big number there is the actual number of students who graduated on time. Uh back in 2015 we were 66th of the 67 districts and this year we are fifth of the 67 districts. I also put in there that we've this is the greatest number of students who have ever graduated on time 650. It's the largest group that has graduated on time since we um transitioned to the new uniform graduation rate back in 2012. Um I gave you just four years of
028cohort comparisons. Um 2020 2021 obviously those were weird years because we had a lot of exemptions and waiverss because of the pandemic. Um we also had students coming and going um leaving our schools going to virtual schools. There was a lot of transition in those years. So I left those two years off. You'll see that 2022 was a significantly deflated cohort. Um when we think about comparing it to today, it was about 53 less students um in the denominator. But the past three years have been pretty steadily right around 670. Just a few more or a few less. Obviously, the big difference is the number of students graduating on time. And there you can see that just those 5.4 percentage points from um 2024 to 2025 really significantly improved our rank compared to the other
029districts. And speaking of rank, these are the top 10 in the state and this is where we fall. We aren't often clustered with districts like that. So, it's kind of exciting for us to have that be included with some of those top performing districts for this graduation rate. Um, once again, we exceeded the state of Florida's average and the unique thing about this year is that our students outperform the state of Florida averages in every single tracked subgroup category. And so, here are those breakdowns for you. Um, so here is the race ethnicity breakdown and I've included the rank there. Very good. >> And then these are the other subgroup breakdowns um that we have enough students to count for. Um I think the notable ones there, free and reduced lunch, ELLL students, 100% of
030them graduated on time, first in the state. Um our at risk students, so a student is considered at risk if in 8th grade they were below a level three in both reading and math. So when we think about our eighth graders entering nth grade reading and doing math below grade level, we are getting them to graduate in those four years on time. Um third ranked third in the state >> pretty number one at something, >> right? Well, the free and reduced cohort it just kind of speaks for itself and the ELLL uh you know for people that haven't really don't understand the dynamics we're dealing with with um you know that that that's it means so much to these kids because 20 20 years ago or more it was a a lifetime a child that
031graduated from high school with either a a high school diploma or its equivalent GED would make up to 400 $1,000 more in lifetime earnings than one that didn't. And now it's it's got to be well beyond that, but I haven't I asked Rick to try to get with Renee and try to get an update on what people feel like that is now, but that's very very nice. So, I just wanted to share those additional insights with you. um in February when we have all of our final data for the cohort that graduated in 2025. I want to highlight that cohort because when we think about the number of ACE diplomas earned, the number of dual enrollment credits earned, the number of ACE exams passed, the number of AP exams passed, the 2025 cohort is a
032pretty phenomenal group of students. And so it's not just their graduation rate. there are a lot of other data pieces that are part of that group of students that we want to highlight and share with you. Um so we'll we'll talk more about this cohort um once we have all of that final data. >> Good deal. >> All right. So strategic planning. The last time um we developed a plan as I said earlier was in 2021. Um and obviously since that time a lot has changed in our district. So back then um we were still you know dealing with the impacts of the pandemic. Um we were just beginning to talk about the revitalization plan, school consolidation. A lot of things were happening in our district and a lot has changed since then. So over
033the next six months, uh we are going to begin working on a new three-year plan that will better reflect our current priorities and establish updated long-term goals that are important to our stakeholders. So this afternoon, I want to share with you a little bit more about what that process will look like. Um, last fall, uh, Putham County was selected to be part of a strategic planning cohort of districts organized by FADS. Um, and so Dr. Cerny and I have been meeting with that group of districts, uh, giving us an opportunity to network, share best practices, and get feedback on our planning process from the consultants that FADS has hired. So, that's been very helpful for us throughout our planning process. uh we met three times already uh this year and we meet again in February
034and it's just a great way for us to get uh free support. We are not paying for that collaboration um but it's nice for us to have that network to to provide support to the process. As part of this um plan uh for 2629 uh we were we are going to update um our course of action. So thinking about our priorities, our action steps, our long-term goals, uh we are not going to update. So that means that the following things will remain the same. Um if you were part of the process back in 2020 and 2021, we did everything new. We we did a rebranding of the district. We had new vision, new mission, values, portrait of a graduate. All of that was new, but we are not doing that this time. We are keeping
035those things. Um we will get feedback on those things, but we are not starting over. When we think about how uh people can be involved, including you as the board, um in this process, we are going to be doing a few different rounds of surveys. I'm going to talk about those. There are two different ones um with all of our stakeholder groups. We will also have a focus group representing employees, parents, and community members. I'm going to um talk about that with you in a few minutes and your role in that. And then we will have feedback cycles with our students. Um I've already met once with the um superintendent student advisory council um that comes and meets with Dr. Cerny. So I've already met with them once. Uh as well as groups of our
036school and district leaders and then presentations and discussions with the school board. So, just like last time, if you remember and you were on the board back then, I would come to you about monthly and give you updates as to where we were and have you approve things along the way, provide feedback, suggestions, etc. as a board. Um, at the last schoolboard meeting, you approved um a contract with a company called Education Elements. We are going to use them as a third-party data collection and analysis um survey group. uh to help us gain perception data um and have them do some analysis and and um sharing of their uh kind of thinking around where we need to prioritize based on their analysis of this survey data. Uh and so the four areas that the data
037triangle survey will gather perception data around um are there on the screen. instructional support and feedback, student learning and engagement, school culture and safety, and then student experience and well-being. The different groups that'll be taking those surveys, um the students in grades 4 through 12, uh their survey will open February 2nd. Every single PCSD employee will be invited to complete the survey. Their survey also opens February 2nd. And then the parents, families, and community members, uh, their survey will actually open January 28th, but all of the surveys will close on the 13th. This district data, um, as part of the education elements partnership will be shared by, um, via reports as well as a public-f facing dashboard that we will be able to share with you. and school specific data from the surveys will also
038be provided to our principles so they can use that data about their specific school for school improvement purposes. Then in March, we'll come back around and do an in-house survey. Um, this survey will be our shaping the future survey, very similar to the one we did in 2020. We want to ask a lot of the same questions and be able to compare response rates and uh perception data from back then to current. Um, this data will be shared on our website. Um, but this one will be in-house and so we'll take care of this one ourselves and we are not having to pay for this one. Here's a little bit about what the timeline looks like. So October, December, Dr. Cerny and I have been part of that um fads cohort that has been getting
039um planning guidance and consult um consultation work organization research data collection all the things that we've been doing to prepare for today and our kickoff of the first surveys um next week. We've also started some initial feedback cycles. I've done one with the students as I said I've also done one with our school principles. Next week I'll be doing one with our school ba our um districtbased leadership team. In February uh we will release um all of the education element surveys and the f the focus group which I'll talk about again here in a minute will meet for the first time. In March we'll do the shaping the future survey more data analysis. The focus group will meet again to provide input on that feedback and um review the data with us. In April, we
040will do priority setting, action planning, create a draft plan. In May, that'll go through feedback cycles, revisions, finalization, and then the focus group will meet once more to kind of look at some of that. Um, and then June or July, we will bring a plan to you for final approval. However, like I said before, throughout the process, I will continue to come before you through presentations and give you updates as to where we are and what we have accomplished in the process. The focus group will consist of 15 to 20 employees, parents and community members. And so this is where your part comes in. Um I am asking each of you to nominate a parent and a community member. So someone who has a student in our school district, someone who does not um from
041your district who would be willing to participate. So please have conversations with them. Don't just send me their name and contact information and then when I reach out they have no idea what I'm talking about. Um, we would love to have you submit those two names to me by the 30th. Um, and if you have a phone number or an email, that would be great. You can just email those to me. Um, and >> you said a parent and >> a community member. So, looking for someone who has a student um or students in the school district and then someone who does not. um this focus group as I've mentioned throughout the past few slides. They will come in and they will meet with me um three times over the next six months. So, it's
042not a huge commitment, but I am asking for um an in-person commitment. Um we will plan those in evenings or at a time that works best for the people that are nominated. Um, and when they come in, like I said before, they're going to be reviewing data with us, looking at some of the survey results, giving feedback, suggestions, um, and input along the way throughout the process. >> And that is all I have. Any questions for me, >> about our process or plan? >> Keep pushing ahead and take it to the next level. Yes, sir. >> I have a >> a time >> um to nominate these two. Give us a ballpark >> by 30th. >> By the 30. Yeah. So, end of next week, January 30th. Yep. >> Just because I want to be
043able to um reach out to them and start to get availability and some things like that. Kind of explain exactly what the process will look like. So Jonathan the um the question that that I'm I'm trying to understand the math and statistics. So >> the eighth graders all seventh and eighth graders in high schools now the eighth graders from all the high schools when they go into the ninth grade all right whatever that number is say it's a hundred >> um they 96.6.6% 6% of that 100 students on it, you know, will graduate >> on time. Yes. >> If they if they go like the 2025 group did. >> Yeah. I mean, that's what the 2025 grid group did. Yep. >> Right. >> So, you're So, when you enter high school as a ninth grader,
044that's when your fouryear window, the clock starts ticking. So, in order to graduate on time with a standard diploma, which all of these kids earned a Florida diploma, um, you have to complete all of your requirements, pass your assessments, have a G, I mean, all the things that go into that. Make sure you've met all the requirements. >> Okay. >> Yep. >> I just want to point out this is an example, which we said many times, of some of our systems that we put in place. And you know we started a a graduation rate initiative back in 2015 16 and that has been a long marathon if you will. It wasn't a quick fix but we've been able to back then we had graduation coaches and did a lot of training and that type thing
045but I'll tell you our principles and our teachers now are driving this. they've stepped up >> and uh you can ask any principal and give him a name and he can tell you if they're on track to graduate or not. That's how good they are. So, but it's I credit originally Jonathan and Tanya who were on on that initial team and then they've been able to develop that plan and you're seeing the results of that plan and everybody is taking part in that now. So, credit to you guys. Any other questions or Jonathan discussion? >> Are teachers specifically a focus? Like do they teachers help build the initiative? >> Like >> for the >> our our strategic plan do they are they >> so they will be they will be included in all of the
046surveys. Okay. Um there are a stakeholder group that's included in both of those. In addition on the focus group, we will have the teacher of the year and the support related employee of the year along with the principal of the year and assistant principal of the year. So um we will have some employees on that focus group um along with the 10 nominated parents and community members and then a few other key partners. Um I'll be reaching out to our foundation and asking for somebody to sit on that focus group from the foundation. So there'll be a few other key partners that we'll ask. So that's why I said it'll be about 15 to 20 people on that focus. >> And even even without that, Holly, I think they've got them trained now that they
047look for those that are falling through the crack, you know, or not. And they've got a real sharp lookout on that right now. >> All right. Any other questions, board? Thank you, Jonathan. Appreciate the update. Thank you, sir. Good news. >> Okay, we will now move to our reports and Mr. Weaver, our our three-time award-winning safety officer, is uh going to give us some information. You're recognized. >> Thank you, sir. So, I just need to report to the board that um during the second quarter um October through December of this year, DOE's Office of Safe Schools conducted three safety compliance audits, which um the three schools represents about 20% of our total schools and in all three we had zero deficiencies. So, that is all I have. Thank you. >> Great. >> Thank you, sir.
048That's good news. We certainly a priority along with the education to keep our our kids safe. >> Okay board, we will now move into reports and we'll start with you, Miss Pickkins. >> Okay. Thank you. Um on January 10th, um I was asked to serve on a schoolboard panel for the Florida Association of Agricultural Educators. It was extremely um interesting. Uh there were schoolboard members from Pulk, Hillsboro and Valuchia and we just basically discussed with the teachers like different questions that they had and and we had some questions for the teacher and I do believe that what the main focus was is communication um just among teachers and if if there is something that they need or want they need to reach out. we can't know that they need it unless, you know, they reach
049out and let us know. Um, but it was it was really interesting. The um partic and they're like not next door to each other, you know, 51 schools. She has a lot of traveling to do. And she drove up to Valuchia County to do this. I thought that was fabulous. Um, I'm looking forward to the spelling bee tomorrow and reading for literacy week um next week. I think the graduation um announcement 96.6% that's just um amazing. Now, um I think our focus needs to be them graduating, of course, but you know, attendance. We need to really focus on getting them to school cuz I can see that we have a great graduation rate if they would come to school, then maybe we'd be as competitive on our ELA and our and our math test. Um,
050I just feel like they'd be a lot more successful if they came to school as well as they, you know, as much as they want to graduate, if they came to school that much, that would be great. Um, congratulations to Veronica Glover. Um, she was on my first basketball team, my first volleyball team that I coached. Um, she was my point guard and a setter. So, um I just think it's strange that I could be that old, but um I guess I am. So, um >> you a child prodigy. >> I do. Yeah. Yeah. I was very I was 17 when I graduated. Um uh James with Ajax spent, you know, 30 minutes with me talking to me about um the new school of Kelly Smith. And I um I really appreciate that because I
051know he's a busy person. and he has a lot of numbers in his head all the time and um I I really appreciate that and I'm I'm glad that happy that we're actually getting started. Oh, and the highlight of my week last week was u Mr. Adams took me in the new gym at Crescent City and I just was in awe. I you know it was just I mean it's not finished. Uh, a lot of stuff needs to be done, but just the color, the fact that it's very bright. When when I was hired at Crescent City, the gym was painted blue, and I said, "Aren't the colors like maroon and gold?" And it was blue. So, to go into a gym that is actually painted maroon and gold is is just really nice. Um,
052and to think that they're going to be bleachers on both sides. I there's just things that you you just, you know, you you deal with, but it's going to be so much better for them. And um, it's beautiful. It's beautiful. I It, you know, it doesn't smell like a gym yet. I love that smell, too. But it will. It will. So, that's it. Thank you. >> Oh, boy. >> Thank you, M. Mr. Buckles. Well, it once again it everything we do, all this crazy stuff we fuss about and fight about and and and bicker over all has to tie in to to to impact teaching and learning. It's our kids and it's what they're doing each and every day to help these children live better lives. I mean, we're title one school district. Until you've
053ridden a bus in the summertime in the outlying areas of the county and watch them feed the kids, you can't understand the reality between what you see on TV or what you hear on the news and what's really going on. And I am just incredibly proud of each and every person that that has worked with these kids along the way and and everything they've done to help these children just get a high school diploma's equivalent. Not to mention those who are going on above and beyond. I've talked to some students who graduated a year ago. They're getting airline pilot license and stuff all across America. I mean, they're they're traveling and coming home for the holidays. And but you know with that I I appreciate everybody with a little bit of common sense looking at
054this policy because there there are going to be times when you're going to do things that you don't you wouldn't ordinarily do or policy wouldn't dictate unless you had the latitude of being the superintendent who would report to the board and have to explain to the board what they're doing. And beyond that, Phil, I just I feel like I'd like to see you in Tallahassee working with Chris on this stuff going on, but I'm optimistic that maybe some common sense will prevail up there as well. So, we'll see what happens, but I'm I'm done. >> All right. Thank you, Miss Cury. >> Yes, sir. Just want to uh wish our students well that are competing uh in their various areas. We have the junior ROTC from Palaka Junior Senior High, the air rifle team that
055will be competing uh the 23rd. So, we wish them success. We also have from Palaka Junior Senior High School uh the cheer team that's competing and we wish them well. And then Interlockan Junior Senior High have their JV and varsity team that's competing. and uh it's going to be at, if I read it correctly, at Disney and ESPN, Wide World of Sports. So, our children are doing what they need to do in the classrooms and yet they are excelling in the extracurricular and we appreciate that. I too give a thumbs up to our graduation rate. Uh we are certainly catching the eyes of others around us and we're moving in the right direction. Uh, I did attend uh a homegoing celebration uh for Mrs. Joyce Smith. She was one of our former teachers. She taught
056at Price Middle School. That's where I met her. She started out as a home economics teacher and two of her daughters are still in our district, Deborah Gastelum and Garnet Knap. Uh, and so, uh, we want them to know that our hearts, uh, are with them. uh they have our condolences. Thank you, sir. >> Okay, Miss Wagner. >> Um I'm sad. I know you had uh mentioned literacy week and I'm I'm uh so sad I'm going to be missing that this week due to a a I mean this month due to a legal conference. Um I wanted to bring up one thing. When Mrs. Sims was speaking um recently about Melrose Elementary and about the the building. Um for those of you who watch from these meetings from home, which I've been really surprised at
057the response recently of people that are watching these meetings, um I did reach out to Miss Lundy about Sandy. You had suggested maybe a photo, you know, a frame photo left put in the school. Um, we don't know what kind of time frame we have, but there was a couple opportunities um that she saw that uh we may be able to have a a good photograph if they can do it without all the uh temporary fencing being in it. But we're hoping to actually do that. Uh I would really like to see that because I think that would be a way to to honor the the former building um that that so many people love. Um the I wanted to touch base too on on something Holly spoke on is the attendance. Um, just from
058a from my work that I do as a lawyer, um, I see a lot of school records and I I hear a lot of people fighting over children for different reasons and many times it ends up being, oh, dad doesn't make sure they get them to school or mom, you know, for whatever reason, one is doing better with attendance and not the other. Um, despite those issues, the reality is there are attendance issues. And I know certain parents have just seem to become very lax in thinking it's fine to just check them out early. It's fine to let them miss today to go do this. Um, and I think I don't know how to um promote that more through our schools, but uh the younger, not just for the ones eighth grade and up, they
059have to get set in a good habit of attendance and and one day off can change, you know, some some vital things. So, uh, I just want to encourage parents that are watching to think about that before you take them out for a, you know, a doctor's appointment. you could have scheduled another day or a birthday celebration that that isn't really doesn't really need a day off. Uh because the education is something you just it's just invaluable as we all I think agree up here. >> And other than that, I'm looking forward to the employee of the month or the employee of the year um uh ceremony this evening. And that's all I have. >> Great. Thank you. Um I attended uh Miss Alice Ri's um memorial service and was just overwhelmed by the number
060of people that was packed, many educators and uh she was certainly a a dime in in the school process and teaching and and uh reading coach and all the different things. And uh you know it's it's it's just heartwarming to see all the even students that had come back. And so that was uh very very very good service. Um I I too am want to echo everything that the board has said and and I am planning to go to Tallahassee. Uh I have been monitoring all the legislation um early early in the session but uh things seem to be going u well for us. I mean the voucher bill re uh re reform bill has passed in the Senate unanimously and has moved to the house. Uh I do feel confident that the House will
061uh take the bill up early and that they will uh negotiate uh a program and and hopefully have a separate entity either as part of DOE or or the the CFO or something to to run that program and to uh bas make sure that the money that is being given out is spent for the education and not something else. So good and and so far the budget we we are have a pretty significant surplus this year in the state. I think it's three or 400 million which uh the economists did not predict. So that bodess well for funding and and certainly uh mental health is one of the priorities for us. Um, I'm also looking forward to the uh teacher uh recognition and and uh nominees this evening and uh always one of the highlights
062of the year and um and then there's the fundraiser for Gayla for the the Pala High football team and several other fundraisers uh that that are ongoing that uh hopefully will do well. the FFA uh chili cookoff Saturday evening uh went exceptionally well at the fairgrounds, well attended and and was a lot of fun and my chili did not win or even in the top three. Uh I think it was rigged but >> you said it was empty your bowl. >> Yeah, it was empty. So anyway, that's it for me. counselor, >> just briefly since the subject of attendance was touched upon, some of you may know um that the legislature in its infinite wisdom actually weakened the laws that were being enforced previously for with regard to truency and parents of truence and um
063some of the tools that were available before aren't really available now. Um, I think that there are a number of jurisdictions right now that are trying to sort out uh how they can um respond and what we can still do. But um if if you take a minute or two to to look at it, Google it, whatever you'd like, you'll you'll see that there have been a number of u changes that did not strengthen the process. We had truency corp last week. Um the the the uh I guess significant and surprising thing for me until I began handling the truency court was that it is not at all unusual to have a child come in there with 44 absences as of this time of year. um 44. Matter of fact, court before last session, we
064had two families, two two families with siblings in each and their average, their average of the six siblings was 45 days missed uh school, hard to go to, hard to learn. And some of the children appeared to be based upon what we could see from the records, they brought they were bright enough so that they could have could have attended school. But for instance, now whereas before the court could could uh basically put a child in interface for 30 days and the child was over 10 years of age and they would have some structure and they'd give at least a 30-day. Now that's been limited to 10 and they and the court can't do it unless they find the parents in contempt of court which uh judges are a little bit reticent to do because
065of the ramifications of that for the judge. So just take a look at it if you get a chance when you're talking about legislators and I don't know maybe nobody else has the pertuency problem so it wasn't maybe I don't know what what the thinking was but uh >> they all do everybody have >> but uh anyway uh Mr. Weaver and I have met along with folks from u uh other agencies and um it uh right now they didn't do us a favor. H >> okay that'll be something among those Mr. Superintendent. >> Okay, get your calendars ready. Um, first of all, while you're doing that, I just want to thank Jonathan and his leadership on the um strategic plan. You know, that fiveyear strategic plan, I think, has really given us a roadmap on
066what all the major accomplishments that we've made over the last five years and because it's it's kind of like it guides us along the way. It's a working document and um you know we get together every year and readjust it look at what we've accomplished what else we need to work on. So this three-year plan is really going to be important for this next step. So thank you Jonathan working on that. He also mentioned superintendent advisory council. We had our first meeting last week had 22 high school students show up. They were totally quiet. wouldn't say anything, but we finally got them talking and uh they'll talk your head off eventually, but they they definitely give us good information that u from the the student voice and I certainly appreciate that. We'll be meeting with
067them again in February. I think we've mentioned the employee of the year tonight. That's at Grace Fellowship. So, look forward to whoever can be there. Um, we officially kicked off the FADS joint effort across all Florida school districts to promote and celebrate Florida's public schools. So, if you go on our Facebook page, there's they have a different theme every month and uh you'll see the the first theme that we came out with. Um, also want to mention we're having a uh Pathways to Success family night that will be on Thursday, January 29th. And this event is especially helpful for students in grades 6 through 8, but it's open to anyone in Putnham County. And this includes current uh students in Putnham County. also homeschool students, virtual students, private school students are encouraged and uh to
068come out and they can see the opportunities are available in our school district. So what's the time on that Jonathan? >> 6 to 8. Thank you. >> And it's going to be where >> CA at at the U auditorium. >> Yes, starting in the >> Yeah. Thank you. >> transitions. >> Very good. Um, also it's been mentioned about the educational gala which will be uh Friday night and if you haven't gotten your ticket um you should have they should have sent you a invitation. So >> yeah. >> Also speaking of the foundation, we actually interviewed um the executive director and one and the president of the board on our first podcast in our new studio. And remember, we have an audience, a live audience. So, we actually brought in some students in the audience who
069had received some of the some of the um recognition and some of the gifts from the foundation. So, that was good. That should be coming out if it hasn't already coming out pretty soon. But, we are looking for more guests to be in our that new studio. and might even call on some of y'all to come in and maybe have some students or some of your uh some of your voters or whoever to come in and ask you questions or something like that. So, >> spelling be is going to be tomorrow in this room at 9:30 a.m. >> And last thing, rural days. Anybody here going to rural days? Well, I'll be there. And uh that'll be tomorrow and Thursday. So, I'll keep you a breast of what I find out. That's all I have.
070Thank you. All right, board. Any other comments? >> And Mike just told me that tomorrow we'll be releasing that um podcast middle of the day of our u where we interview the foundation and the students be released tomorrow. Thank you, Mike. >> Okay. All right, board. We will without objection stand adjourned. Okay. Thank you.