School Board Meeting- 9-23-25

001I'll call the uh school board meeting to order and we will have the pledge led by Miss Pickkins and the uh invocation will be led by by brother Eddie who is here today as uh as our guest uh preacher. So, if you'll please rise. >> Thank you. >> 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. >> Would you bow your heads? Father, we thank you for this afternoon. And Lord, I thank you for the the commissioners here, the leadership that you placed to help raise up the next generation of innovators. Lord, I thank you for today and everyone that came out. Lord, I pray that we would be able to reach the

002a common goal because our goal is this. How do we leave Putnham County for the best for the next generation? Lord, we pray over our schools, administrators. We pray for our teachers, support staff. Lord, I pray, Father, that you would cause your face to shine upon them. >> Yes. And Lord, we pray for Putnham County. Let thy kingdom come, thy will be done. >> Yes. >> In Jesus mighty name we pray. Amen. >> Amen. Amen. Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you, brother Eddie. >> Okay board, we will go to presentations. And so we've have the Amazon check presentation by Miss Jean Bill. >> So, >> hey. All right. >> Good good good afternoon. So, I'm Brian Helms, uh the director of purchasing. And so, um, my first couple weeks here, Jean got with me

003and Josh and, um, said, "Hey, we have some rebate for you." So, I was like, "Yes, bring it on. Bring it on." So, um, she was able to do that. The check has already been deposited, just so you know. We're just taking a picture saying that we received it. And I'll let her explain that. >> I'll set this up. I'll hold it. >> Okay. Thank you. >> So, I'm Gene Valvus. I am your district's account manager for Amazon Business. Since 2018, we've had a great partnership with your district, and I've worked with the finance uh team, your schools, and all your departments. Last year, we started a new rebate growth rebate program, and your district along with NEPAC achieved your growth rebate target and got a 3% rebate back. So, I am here to present

004the board with a check in the amount of $67,43.98. And we look forward to many more years of a great partnership. >> Thank you. [Applause] >> Come down. Yes, >> sir. >> Take 10% Amazon. Can we get rebate? Thank you, >> ma'am. He's young. All right. Uh, Miss Whitehurst, we have uh employee recognition. >> Good afternoon. So, typically I come up here and I present to you some retirees. Um, but today we're going to um just honor some current employees. So, this is a recognition that um we have decided to start with the 2425 school year. Um, took me a little bit to to get it all together, but we want to recognize our employees who have perfect attendance. And we had 33 of them. It's a little hard to get them here in the

005afternoon because many of them are transportation or school food service. And so what I did was over the last couple weeks, I've been out to um all three bus compounds. I've been to different cafeterias. I've been to some classrooms and some departments and we have recognized them with a certificate and they've all received what we call a challenge coin and it has our district logo with 2425 and on the back there's a cute little alarm clock that says perfect attendance. So, they all received that. I'm hoping um I've I've put a plea out to a partnership for a little bit of a an extra thank you to them, but I haven't received word on that, but I'll keep y'all posted. So I just want to share with you who those employees are and um and

006how we did that recognition. So from maintenance we had Jim Constantino and from it we had George Matchet. So we had them come here to the district office and we gave them their certificates and um some of these pictures have their supervisor with them. Um when we get to some of the the teachers you'll see their students with them instead. Um, from school food service, we had five different schools where we had someone with perfect attendance at Mosley. We had Lind Lindsay Roberts, Crescent City Junior Senior High, Elizabeth Wells, Jenkins Elementary, Patricia Arrington, Melon Learning Center, Nicole Rogers, and at James A. Long Elementary, we had Sarah Constantino. And I just want to say with the school food service, it was really neat because I went in the morning, they're back there. They're trying to

007get everything ready for lunch, and it just put a a pause on everything. and um but it their their co-workers were very excited for them too. And then some of the managers were just saying, "Hey, we need more of y'all next year." So, that's what we're hoping. We're hoping that it'll just spur um just a little bit of um incentive there to just have that little bit of recognition. Um, transportation, we had several and we didn't get pictures of all of them because many of them um, unfortunately sometimes our bus drivers as soon as they get done with a morning route, they go do another job and then they come back and they do an afternoon route. Um, some of them were in the middle of washing buses and they couldn't come in. So, but

008we did get pictures of as many of them as possible. From central we had Latoya Buford, Daryl Clark, Sharon Hardy, Kim Mack, Cynthia Marshall, Bridget Perry, Simone Thomas, Caraphina Williams, Ingred Williams, and Leticia Wright. And then from South Transportation, we had Jessica Brown Warren, Adah Morales, Malcolm Wilkerson, and Mary K. Williams. And then on the west end of the county, John Cooper, Leah Kittington, Melissa DeWalt, Connie French, Linda Hickman, Cynthia Melendez, Hollis Oliver, and Linda Shyver. Um, so it was great recognizing all of the employees, but it was really special when I was able to go to the three schools and recognize teachers. At Jenkins Elementary, we had um Mr. Deonte Holloway. At Mosley, we have Mr. Christopher Williams. And at Aquilla we have Mr. um Jack Dockri. And it was exciting because they were

009in class with students and the students got so excited that their teacher were was getting some kind of recognition. So we got some pictures with them with their um with their students and that was just really special um how excited they were for their teachers and and just being able to thank them for that. So, we just wanted to take time to let the board know um this is just one new way that we are trying to recognize employees who are here every single day. No vacation, no sick leave, no flex time. Like they were there every single hour of their contract time and we just really appreciate those employees. I also want to do a special recognition. Um, we received a a letter and um the this teacher has already received this letter. She

010is doing um 21st century at Jenkins Elementary School. I don't believe she's here. Kim Fleming, I think she's she's running 21st century at Jenkins Elementary School. Um but this letter um was actually addressed to the school board as well as um sent to Mr. Cerny, myself, Miss Adams, and the teacher. And it is from a parent. We just don't get this very often. And I wanted to read this letter um to the school board. It says um dear members of the Putham County School Board and Miss Fleming, I am writing to express my sincere gratitude to the Putnham County School Board and to Mrs. Kimberly Fleming of Jenkins Elementary School in Interlockan, Florida. I first met Mrs. Fleming when my son Jed Jedadias Ski entered her class as a kindergarten Cambridge student. From the very

011beginning, Mrs. Fleming has consistently demonstrated an extraordinary level of care, professionalism, and dedication to her students. Her love for teaching and her unwavering commitment to student success far exceed any experience I have encountered as a parent. Mrs. Fleming maintains firm expectations for her students while providing a supportive and nurturing environment that fosters both academic and personal growth. She is conscious of each child's unique needs and circumstances, ensuring that every student is valued and understood. As my son now approaches the completion of his final years as a Jenkins Ram, Mrs. Fleming continues to play an instrumental part part in his development. She guides him to make thoughtful choices, treat others with respect, and take responsibility for his actions. Whether his behavior is a positive or needs improvement, Mrs. Fleming provides timely feedback and encouragement that promotes

012accountability and continued growth. Her professionalism and dedication to all stakeholders, including students, parents, colleagues, and administrators, are truly commendable. The positive impact Mrs. Fleming has had on my son's education and character is immeasurable, and I believe her efforts deserve formal recognition and praise. Thank you for your continued commitment to providing a supportive and enriching learning environment for the children of Putnham County. With heartfelt appreciation, Tina Ski [Applause] >> Okay. Thank you, Miss Whitehurst. and uh we certainly are proud of all of our employees and the and the hard work that they do with our students. Okay, what I'm going to do, we're moving to public comment now, but anybody that's here for the annexation, I'm going to move the public comment to write before we take up that agenda item. Uh won't be long and

013uh that way you don't have to sit here in case something else comes up and and for an hour. Um, so is there anybody here to speak not on the annexation but in any way any other public comment? >> Okay. All right. Very good. All right. Then we will move to our consent agenda. Uh, Miss Pickers, we'll start with you. >> I've had my questions answered. I have no >> I've had my questions answered. >> Miss Gillyard >> had everything taken care. Yes, sir. >> Miss Wagner. >> I just want to pull G4 for discussion. G4 discussion. >> Okay. All right, chair. I'll entertain a motion for the balance of the uh consent agenda. >> Mr. Chairman, I'll make a motion that we approve the balance of the consent agenda minus G4. >> Second. >>

014I have a motion in a second. All in favor signify by saying I. >> Motion carries. >> All right, Miss Wagner, you're recognized. >> And I just I just wanted to pull this. This was a a rather lengthy document, but there I had some questions earlier and I spoke with uh Mr. Bowling. And Miss Ping, was did was anybody able to come or? >> Yes. >> Excellent. >> So, in reviewing this package, which was was a lengthy package. I just had some questions on the final invoice, which is the safe the security and fire electronics incv. It is for uh the blue LED strobe lights. and you might be able to say more about what that's that is, >> but I also my question really related to the the the tax involved because there's approximate

015a little over $10,000 worth of material involved and there was almost $38,000 in labor. Um, number one, I thought that was a little excessive on the labor. I I my understanding is you have some explaining on that you can do. Um, but my other question was the the tax is the entire amount of $47,000 is being taxed at 7% and I just I want to know more about is that appropriate, is that customary and what can you tell us on that as well? >> Sure. >> So, I'm Bill Elliot. I'm the senior project manager at the Crescent City uh uh school that we're building for you guys. Um, so I'll answer your second question first, which is the uh amount of labor on this. Um, so this this the blue the blue emergency lights were

016added like maybe a month ago to the project as a as a safety feature. And so we have to go back in and install uh conduit and some wiring in the building. and we're already past the phase where we normally do that. So, it's very labor intensive um to to do that portion of it. So, I I don't have that broken down any further. Um in fairness, I just found out about the questions about an hour ago. So, >> just to just to elaborate a little bit on that, the strobe lights, for those of you who don't know, are the blue lights that we have on the uh the exterior portions of our buildings to alert students and parents who are coming up that we're in some type of lockdown scenario. Travis Weaver has been

017installing those a school at the time or a couple schools at at a time each year um with safe schools dollars. um and we're here at the new bills and he said, "Well, we need to go ahead and put them in there, too." So, that's why it was an after the fact um type item and it wasn't in the original scope. It will be on the next round. Um so, he's kind of gotten ahead of that now and knows to show up and make sure that's a part of it. And then I reached out to Tommy Smith who used to be employed by us. Most of you know him. He's now employed by safe and I told him and and you know so he's actually the one out there installing the blue light. So even

018though he's not working for us now but he did explain like you said it's very labor intensive lots of conduit and wire pulling that type thing. Um, so you know that explains that and uh we did talk to James Marini um briefly about this on the phone, Miss Wagner and I and he did um you know assure us that he would go back through take a look at it and recoup any sales tax that were owed. >> Correct. And I and I did I did have a chance to look into it further. Again, SAFE is not is not normal subcontractor to us. So I have put in a call to them to see what their explanation would be. Um, I do know that there are some there is some construction labor in Florida that is

019taxable. Um, but I can't confirm right now. And my my searches today as well showed that primarily and I'm not swearing to this but just from what I was finding if you're if they are producing if their labor is producing the materials on site for the project then their labor is taxable. Um I didn't some of the other answers I found were basically lawyer answers. It depends. You know, we I got a lot of it depends, but I didn't find some actual answers. And if you know, and I mean, I get tax on on things, but this is $3,100 of tax um because it's being because it's taxing both the materials and the labor. So, you know, I'm I'm all for and I think he had mentioned us approving this with the understanding that this

020would be looked into and if any of that tax uh or any of the pricing on the materials themselves could be reduced that th that those credits would come back to us at a later time. >> Yes, ma'am. Um and I think I had oh on the at the very beginning the last question it said work not included in this proposal patching painting firecock ceiling work and electrical work of any time of any kind. I know electrical work can get expensive. Um is that listed because you believe that's going to be needed? >> We'll have that include that that I believe that was from SAFE's estimate through here. Yeah. So the we'll include that at our GCN like they're not going to do any of that work. Our other subcontractors that are painters and drywall

021guys if there needs to be any will perform that work and we don't anticipate any. >> Okay. That's my question is do you anticipate a lot of additional work? >> No ma'am. >> Okay. >> Then does anybody else have any >> any other questions by the board comments? All right. Uh I'll entertain a motion. >> Mr. Mr. Chairman, I would uh offer a motion that we approve item G4, the contingency change request package number one, the present city PK6 from Ajax, uh with the understanding it's going to be looked into as to any credits that would come back to us. >> Okay, I have a second. >> Second. >> I have a motion and a second. Very good questions, Miss Wagner. All in favor signify by saying I. >> Motion passes unaners. >> We will

022now move into uh journ the regular meeting for a few minutes and go into emergency session um and take up item um J1 the 21st century after school transportation program and you handling that Jonathan >> Jonathan or Ashley >> or Ashley >> you got the short straw you recognized Gladly. Good afternoon everyone. So this is to cover transportation costs for students wanting to stay at the 21st century after school program at Crescent City High School. We typically do not cover transportation for our programs. Um all of our schools have waiting lists. All of our elementary programs. Crescent City is our only high school program and we've not been able to fill it to capacity. And for a couple of years now, families have been concerned they would let their children stay but they can't because

023of transportation. And so this year we put into the title one uh grant which was just apply uh approved a few a week or two ago that we would cover that transportation cost. The way to process that was different than I anticipated and I missed the deadline because the approval just got here and these drivers started driving on September 8th and so we want to pay them as quickly as possible. So that's why it's in this this way. So >> any question? >> I have one question. So the the elementary schools are on a waiting list. >> So the grant has each school gets a certain amount of students. They cap it. So maybe a school gets 100 students. We have more than 100 families who are willing to drive their students and provide transportation.

024Um so each of our elementary programs does have a waiting list this year, which is great. I wish we could open it up more. and we are exploring a lot of other options, even some paid options for our families in the future. But, um, as you know, this summer we looked at losing that program. We did a lot of surveying to our families. It is a it is a big need in our community. Um, the last time we went for this grant, we were not awarded for two schools that used to offer the program, Aquilla and Melon. Um, all of our schools are up for um going after the grant again for next year. It's up after this year. So it behooves us to be sure that our programs are filled and very successful so

025that we can be very competitive when we go after it next year. And so there's just been a huge priority to get as many students as possible at Crescent City High because they've not been able to utilize the funds that they've been given because the enrollment is low. Um and so we are seeing um Steve Cummings um coordinates the program there and he's already seeing quite a few students who are taking advantage of it. Um, we have two buses that run, one north, one south. Um, and it's mainly our seventh and eighth grade students. Um, and they get a lot of extra academic support. So, so we were excited to be able to offer that and that it got approved. So, this is the first time we've done that. So, we are definitely looking for

026options because we also know that if we had transportation, we would have an entirely larger group of families to accommodate for that. Um, and years ago, we did offer it. Um, but it became very costly. So there was you don't get enough money within the grant to do that. So you have to supplement it with some other funding. So >> is that a pass through grant from federal to state? It >> is the need it's the Nita M. Lowry grant. It's a federal grant pass through >> um and it's DOE hadn't provided additional funding for that with the federal funds. >> It the all of the grant is federal passes through to them and it is competitive. So, we when we compete for this grant, also you should know we compete against um YMCA's, Boys

027and Girls Clubs, lots of different entities can apply for this grant. It's not just school districts. Um and and we've always been very fortunate to receive it. The last grant we applied for and we didn't. Um three scorers, two scored us a 98 and one an 82. It was just really surprising. We didn't get a lot of feedback. So, we're going into this grant round with a different attitude. Like, we really are going to have to show our game than show them what we've been doing. And, um, it's not only does it support our families, it's a great supplemental income for our teachers and pair professionals. Um, so we have a lot of a lot of our staff who depend on that for extra income and have been able to get that for a really

028long time. So, um, so we are we're exploring other options, paid options. Um, St. John's County offers a a model where they have individual schools. Some schools manage it themselves. School some schools bring in outside agencies who manage after school programs and different care programs. So, we know the need is there and and in order to stay competitive. It's something we're going to have to do and Dr. Cerny has had us spend a lot of time looking into that. So, especially this summer when we thought we might lose it. So, um yeah, we just want to be super competitive and and get the most that we can out of it this year. And um so it made sense to supplement them. >> And just for the hearing, >> what takes place at our 21st century?

029>> Oh gosh, it's >> Yeah. >> At at a high school, >> at a high school, we do Well, certainly for high school, graduation is always our priority for high school, right? So, it provides an opportunity for students um at Crescent City specifically, any students who need extra academic support, credit recovery. Uh we have ELLL students who come into our area that don't speak great English, they provide extra support there. If there's programs during the day that they need to just spend more time on, they can do that. Along with that are extracurricular things. So, they might have art, they might do um CTE pieces that they weren't able, you know, some things they might still be working on there. There's always a section of homework help. There's um there's a snack time. Our food

030service department provides snack and at Mosley they provide actually a second a second meal. So the kids right before they leave get a full meal that would be comparable to like a dinner before they go home. It's something Nikki has done. So there's a lot happens in that program. Three hours >> told this that it's not just a babysitting program. >> No. And actually one of the one of the reasons that it can be difficult to get the grant is you have to keep your numbers. Um there's a there's a teacher to student ratio and a pair professional to student ratio because when you provide the academic support the elementary teachers doing the afterchool tutoring have to connect it to the day teachers core curriculum. So those they have to look at their lesson plans.

031They have to communicate with those teachers and those students have to be doing activities that support the standard that they see every day all day and those numbers have to be lower. So our site coordinators are very creative and work very hard to ensure that it is an extension of the day and not some additional just random academic that it's very focused on what those kids need. So >> it's pretty robust. So >> any questions or comments by the board? All right. Chair entertain a motion. >> Mr. Chairman, I'll make a motion that we approve L >> J >> one under, excuse me, J1 under uh the emergency session. >> Second. >> All right, I have a motion and a second. All in favor signify by saying I. I. >> Motion carries. All right, we

032will now move into our public comment on the annexation uh on item um L one. >> And um just just some background information before we get started. Um the procedure allowing representative of groups or factions on to on a proposition to address the school board. If you have a spokesperson, that's fine. If you still like to speak, um that's fine, too. Um we also um generally limit it to three minutes and although the chair does have prerogative to extend that. So if you're right at a point you're about to make your point don't worry if the buzzer goes off um Miss Michael will turn it off I hope so. Um we will start now and the first speaker is Mr. Jason Sheffield. So Mr. Sheffield you give your name and address and you're recognized. Good

033afternoon. >> Yes, sir. Podium. Yes, sir. >> Mr. Chairman, Madame Vice Chair, members of the school board, Dr. Cerny, good afternoon. My name is Jason Sheffield and I reside at 315 Round Lake Road, Palatka. I have been a Putham County resident for nearly 50 years. I attended Kelly Smith Elementary School from kindergarten to fourth grade somewhere around 1980 to 1984. And yes, that's where I met the famous Miss Gillyard. Didn't have the the privilege of having her as my fifth grade teacher because I got transferred to Mosley, but my wife had you and she still talks really good about you to this day. >> I'll write a check before you leave. >> My wife Trevan and I, including our four children, are all products of the Putham County School System. To the point and purpose

034of my visit today, my family and I are against the annexation of the 5.5 acres of property currently located just south of the existing Kelly Smith School. It's important to know that the city annexation of this property is not required or necessary in order to move forward with the expansion or renovation project of the Kelly Smith Elementary School that's slated for sometime next year. The property currently sits inside the county's jurisdiction. The zoning is Agg. A allows for the proposed use as it's been described to me by Mr. Bowling um for the uh recreationalbased activity of a playground and so forth. So if it remains in the county, no further action is needed by way of the county in order to basically move forward with that project. Please know that I spent lots of time

035evaluating this annexation, talking with Dr. Cerny, Mr. Holmes, Mr. Bowling, and trying to understand the impact of not moving forward with this annexation. The main thing is we are not trying to stop the expansion project of the Kelly Smith Elementary School at all. What we're trying to do is keep the annexation from occurring. And that's our point today. So the facts are this. It's very simple. The first thing is you do not have to annex this property into this city in order to move forward with the expansion project. Very important to know. And the second thing is you do not have to get any additional approvals from the county in order to do what you want to do as proposed for this expansion project. Those are the two key points here today. So based on

036those, I sincerely request that you guys formally withdraw the application with the city of Palatka and set aside the annexation of those 5.5 acres. Okay? So that's why I'm here. We are we've been in this conversation. Many of us in this room have talked about this and we're just adamantly against it for multiple reasons. Um, but the key is making sure that your project can continue to move forward without having to do this annexation. So, thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Sheffield. >> Thank you for being here. Perfect timing. >> Wow. >> All right. Our next speaker is Mr. Denny Brham. Please come up and state your name and address for the record, sir. Good afternoon. I'm Denny Brandham. I reside at 174 Kelly Smith School Road and it's sacred ground over there. Kelly Smith

037at one time used to be the the the pinnacle of this county right here. I don't know what we're trying to do to to take that away, you know, from uh the community because it it was an honor at one time to go to Kelly Smith School. I must go. It was. Now, the problem I have with all this right here is all these grants. Somebody has to pay for them. This is the poorest county in the whole state of Florida right here. And we can't keep gouging and gouging and gouging when we can't even manage the money that we have from year to year to year. Money is not the uh the answer to the situation to any of this right here. I'm not saying I'm opposing to updating the school, making the school

038a better school, but as far as the the whole idea of uh borrowing more money just like our federal deficit right here. Our kids have to pay for it. And the worst thing is our properties are at stake because of the the added tax burden on us and it affects us uh transferring our >> Mr. inheritance. >> Yeah. Um we're talking about the annexation only. >> That's exactly what what what I'm talking about. I am really for the annexation, but I am I would like to to table it. I would like to keep uh the school in the county >> if if if at all possible. >> Yeah. This >> because bear in mind that is one of the best schools in this whole county and something to be proud of. >> Okay. >> And

039let's let's let's not lose that heritage. >> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you, D. >> All right. Our next speaker is Miss Kevin Brandom. Please come up. State your name, address, please, for the record. Kevin Brandon, 174 Kelly Smith School Road. Um, I'm going to read Lewis's letter first if that's okay. >> Yes, ma'am. And and state, do you know his name, full name, and address? >> Lewis Rodriguez. >> Okay. >> No, sorry. Lewis Ramirez Jr. >> So, the chair is allowing allowing the speaker to read a letter that that the the uh property owner couldn't be here at the meeting. Please proceed. >> Well, and his address is at the bottom of this. >> No, it's at the top of this. >> Yes, ma'am. >> He's at 108 Frances Road, Planka, Florida, 32177.

040>> Very good. >> The subject was the formal opposition to annexation of 5.5 acres into Kelly Smith Elementary School. Dear mayor and members of the city board of commissioners and the school board members, I write to formally oppose the proposed annexation of the 5.5 acres adjacent to Kelly Smith School. My opposition rest on serious procedural irregularities, conflicts of interest, and insufficient public notification. First, at the initial city board meeting when annexation was introduced, I reserved that Mr. Christopher Casease Barnes, a sitting member of the board of commissioners, voted to advance the annexation despite a clear conflict of interest. Mr. Barnes is a realtor with iHeart Realy, the very firm that brokered the sale of the school property, and he stands to benefit personally and professionally from this transaction. This dual role compromises the board's impartiality

041and undermines public trust. When I raised this conflict of interest directly with at the second meeting, I received no commitment to recuse or to conduct an independent review. An adequate notice was given. A single newspaper announcement does not reach the majority of affected residents. At 36 years old, I do not receive printed newsletters at home nor regularly monitor your website. I am confident that many in our community remain unaware of the significant land use change. He doesn't have children, by the way. Um, moreover, all annexation hearings have been scheduled midday on weekdays when working residents cannot attend, effectively excluding public participation and critical decision making. If your goal is genuine, community input meetings should be in be held evenings or weekends to capture the full spectrum of the opinion. I requested clarification on the future

042use. Wait a minute. I'm sorry, I went back up. Further concerns arise from the school board's approach. Kelly Smith School has acted like an unregulated corporate entity mandating fees and services without resident agreement. The current annexation process feels akin to philanthrop philanthropy sorry used as leverage to impose decisions on the surrounding homeowners without their consent to restore the confidence and to ensure the federal fair process. I respectfully request that the board conduct a formal conflict of interest investigation into Mr. Case Barnes's role. Recuse any members or personal financial states in the annestation. Provide mail notices to every property owner, resident within one mile radius alongside digital notices on your official site. Reschedule public hearings to evenings or weekends to maximize community attendance. Publish a detailed written land use plan for the annexation of the 5.5

043acres. Clarify which governing body, city, county or school board which oversee development and services. Post a complete list of all vendors, contracts, and service providers involved in annexation related properties, projects with disclosure of any of those entities and schoolboard members and require all schoolboard and commission members to declare in writing any direct or indirect relationship with companies providing services to Kelly Smith. These steps will help ensure the transparency, uphold the ethical standards, genuinely engage the community in decisions that directly affect the neighborhood. Until these issues are addressed, I must remain firmly opposed to the annexation proposal. Thank you for your prompt attention to these critical matters. I look forward to you written response and for participating in a transparentable equitable process going forward and silly rul Lewis. Okay. And now me personally I just recently

044moved across the road from Kelly Smith. I've been there for about four years, five years. I don't see any reason whatsoever for this to take place. That school can load up in 20 minutes time and unload in 20 minutes time. I'm talking like literally you could set your watch and at 2:00 or 2 p.m. whatever time that bell lets out in 20 minutes there's not a parent or student to be seen. Nowhere. I mean, it really is the epitome of of somebody's hard work to fix it so that parents can get their kids and drop them off and get them picked up. Now, I realize there are people that like to line up out there an hour before school lets out, but that usually has something to do with schedules and making use of their

045transportation and time more efficiently. A lot of us, me included, cuz I've picked up grandchildren out there many times and I drive even though I live across the road. >> Mr. Can Can I I hate to interrupt you, but what's that got to do with the annexation? >> What do you need it for? What do you need it for? If it's transportation, which is what originally started, they were going to have people go through the middle of that property and back out and then back around. There was no point. >> The whole design is going to change and the and the configuration. Most of the all but one wing of the school is going to be demolished and and re be rebuilt. the 5.5 acres is actually going to be a a part of the

046playground. >> Okay. Yeah. So, we went to the across the road over there >> uh >> and talked about this when we first got our letter in the mail and not one plan has been shown to us that shows us not one. And you can ask them. I guarantee you they know our three faces and our names down there because we were down there more than once. We went to the city. >> Uh-huh. >> And listened to meetings there, too. >> Okay. All right. Well, I I think we we understand what you're you're saying and and and the lack of information that was presented at the annexation meeting. I'm assuming you're talking about at the city. You know, that that was the applicant that, you know, I mean, that was us making the presentation. Um

047but, um, we should have had some type of, you know, detailed plans so that could show people what what we're actually going to propose the property. We can do that and um I promise you I will get you a schematic so that you can look at it and see what the new design of the school is going to be because we're are well underway with that. >> Then why wasn't it made available right then? >> Yes, ma'am. I wasn't I wasn't there. >> We don't tell the city of Pala what to do but we on situations like this we may have differences of agreement at some point. So we'll that we'll cross that shortly. But that's what's caused all this uproar right there is the fact that city doesn't have the same information or doesn't

048present the same information as the school board and the county doesn't either. And that appears like there is some bad things happening if all three people in Putnham County. Now we're not talking Duval or Elatcha. We're talking little Putnham County and the three agencies can't say the same thing and present it to all the different people that need to know. >> Well, this first time >> such as neighbors I've heard from you, Miss Brandom >> and I know Denny, but I don't I don't deal with them unless I'm called to deal with them. >> Miss Brandon, we're going to we're going to have to move on. So, but I will make sure that you get we can do a schematic. I think we have them in 8 and 1 half by 11 of what the

049school site just to reduce size but to show you how all the property is going to be and where the school's going to be situated and why we bought additional property and why this property was originally considered for or is being considered for annexation was so that all the properties that the school currently is annexed into the city where the school is now. So, you know, the thought was, well, why not have it all annexed, all the property? And so, that's what started it. But, but any at any rate, yeah, there was a lack of information. I don't know why the city didn't have that up, you know, when they when the annexation came up, but I I don't I don't I can't, you know, >> I mean, us citizens did our due diligence is

050all I'm saying, to try and find out what was going on, >> right? And until this minute, this conversation right here, after mega hours, I mean mega hours, this is the first time that I didn't know. Y'all didn't know, right? >> I mean, y'all were the applicant. Y'all were the one requesting it. >> So, >> all right. Thank you very much. All right. All right. We will next uh next speaker is Wayne Westberry. Good afternoon. Wayne Westbury, uh, residing 168 County Road 309C. Currently, uh, staying at my mom's house on 286 Round Lake Road, uh, out by Kelly Smith Elementary. Uh the annexation uh myself is and many others are against the annexation of this property and uh and as y'all know it is not required to annex to do what you need to do.

051And I think that the uh playground area is going to be a great thing for Kelly Smith Elementary. Uh, and I just want to voice my opinion and let you know that myself and others are against the annexation of this property and we would uh like it very much if you voted against that. Thank you. >> Thank you, Wayne. All right, our next speaker, Mr. Jeff Beenball. And while you're coming up, I've been remiss in not recognizing county commissioner Josh Alexander. Josh, welcome to the meeting. >> Thanks for having me. >> Go ahead, Jeff. be recognized. >> Good afternoon. My name is Jeff Beenball. I live at 227 Round Lake Road, right next door to Kelly Smith School. Um I'm here on behalf of my wife Pam and I and we would simply just like

052to ask you to please um vote to withdraw your application to annex that 5.5 acres into the city. Um, we uh are are proud to be neighbors of the school and as you know uh y'all purchased the 10 acres from us to expand the school uh up to Donley Road there. And we love the school being next door to us and hearing the kids play on the playground. And so if y'all would just consider that to to not uh have that annex into the city. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Our next speaker is Miss Debbie Robbins. You missed a commissioner. >> Oh, I did. >> The one that had I taught in remedial reading when he was I didn't >> Oh, hey, Commissioner Peliser, my apologies. I thought you left. I'm sorry. Oh, by

053the way, Commissioner Pelier said we need to pull our microphones closer to us so he can hear, which is I always tell him in their meetings the same thing. So, anyway, Miss Robbins, please. >> Nice jacket. >> My name is Debbie Robbins. My husband Floyd and I live at 112 Donley Road. We are neighbors to Kelly Smith Elementary School and we are proud to be their neighbors. As Mr. Been Bal just said, I enjoy hearing the kids run and play outside. I spent 20some years in the school system and I just enjoy the children. My property is surrounded on all three sides of the school board's property. the property that you're speaking of now, the 5.5 acres is apparently, if I understand it correctly, where the playground's going to be. I just don't understand why

054it is important for the playground to be in the city limits. I think that someone had said the possibility of having a restroom in the area or possibly water fountains out there for the children, which I can understand that too. But I also think that the special needs center there has access to water and bathrooms for the kids. and I just am asking if you will please consider using that property and tying into their system as opposed to annexing the entire 5.5 acres into the city limits. We're afraid if the 5.5 acres is annexed into the city, it will open the door for the adjoining property to also be annexed into the city. All of our neighbors in our neighborhood have a minimum of a acre piece of property with their own personal well and

055septic tank. Many of them having a lot lot more than that. If the city has control of that property, there's no telling what they will put there. We've heard anything from subsidized housing to anything. We just don't know. But I was just asking if you would consider withdrawing the request to annex that property into the city since it does not sound as though it is necessary to achieve the goals that the school board's trying to achieve. In addition, I would like to take this time to thank Mr. Thomas Balding, Mr. Don Holmes, and Mr. Travis Woods for working with us to keep our property. We were afraid of losing pieces our property and apparently y'all had the right to take the property through intimate domain I think is what Mr. Buckles had said. But we

056just kindly thank you for your help in helping us keep our property. We do not oppose the school. We will be nothing but good neighbors to the children at the school. Thank you very much. >> Thank you, M. Robins. Appreciate your comments. All right, that that's all the speaker cards I have, but if there anybody else would like to speak on the annexation before I close the public comment. Okay, I'm going to close the public comment and bring it back to the board. But board, before we discuss, I'd like Mr. Holmes to give an update on information that uh he had received this afternoon, I think, from the engineer. So, uh, as has been mentioned, we've been under the impression all along that the current zoning of the property and the land use of the

057property in the county would allow for uh, school related purposes and without the need for any additional land use permitting. That's that's really not been a question in in in our mind for a while. The only issue was uh the ability to get water and or sewer to the 5.5 acres without annexing the 55. I had contacted the chief planner, the department head for the city and asked if we might be able to just run a line from our property we already own that's already in the city over to the 55 uh and just service the 55 from our property without without the need for an additional tap or anything like that. Uh and I was advised that that would be against city policy. Uh because I was told that uh even though if you'll

058remember there had been a question about whether the property south of us, the 50 or so acres that was I understand the subject of a contract. At one point there was a question about whether or not they could obtain city water and sewer if they did not annex in which would make our 5.5 critical as to whether it was annexed in or not because we were the contact point for them landto land. The city had advised me then that they would allow them to have water and sewer even if they did not annex in if they signed an agreement agreeing to annex if and when they ever they ever were eligible. So when I was advised that we would not be able to run a line from our property to our property for water and

059sewer, of course my question was, well, if they can do it, why couldn't we do it? And the answer was because we are eligible for annexation and we would be choosing not to annex and that would violate city property if they then let us have water and sewer. However, um and that was from the planning director and understand you know in government and everything else you've got different levels of authority and at that time I asked about a waiver of the policy or a variance from the policy and he said that we could ask but he couldn't guarantee it. Subsequent to that though Mr. Bowling had gotten word from one of our engineers, one of the engineers, not our engineer, but one of the project engineers that he had been told by the city water

060department supposedly, and now this is thirdand because I did not speak to these folks um that uh that and this that the city attorney had weighed in and said that u that we could have a have water extended from our property to our property without additional tap fees or search charges. So the the reason for the original annexation concern was so that we could put bathrooms you could put bathrooms on the 5.5 acres which I understand is to be used primarily for playground playground purposes and that was the hurdle that we were trying to to deal with. Now based upon the information that we have right now and these last two these last two bits of information came in today but based upon what what we've heard today I guess to speak in non-awyer terms

061uh so and make Mr. pelicier happy for a minute. Uh to speak in non-awyer terms, I would think that the odds are very high that if you did not annex the property, you would still be able to get water and sewer over to your 5.5 acres. I think the odds are very high that uh now if you decided you wanted to put a whole wing of a school on that 55 uh while I think zoning and land use would allow it at the county level. I'm not sure that you'd be able to service it with water and sewer on that large of a scale. Um I'm not sure the city wouldn't object to that. but a couple of bathrooms and water fountains. I would be very very surprised if they actually stood in the way

062of that. So if you if you're if right now the plan is not to build a wing on of a school on that 55 or some significant amount of structural development, it would be my belief that you'll be able to to do what you want to do even if that does require water and sewer without >> my my concern Don would be that in the event of a future board I mean actions of prior board can't bind the actions of a future board we had some kind of of understanding uh developed between the city if at some point the board decided to go in this direction. I I know that even you know even with the 5.5 if you know we we hold the power to declare imminent domain if we feel like we need

063it to protect our kids and our school and >> you already own the propert. Yeah, but I mean if we wanted to take another buffer and annex that in, there's there's all kind of ways to play the game, but the thing is we'd like to work with the city and the county and and all together to try to get our school built and not go through something that's going to be >> get everybody upset, you know. >> So, and remember this is not a permanent forever decision. you decided not to annex today and then somewhere down the road, 5 years from now, some other board decides they want to build buildings over there. >> That's correct. >> And the city thinks that you're going to need to be in the city if you want to

064get water and sewer from them for that building, you could always apply for annexation at that point. >> Yes. But right now with the plans that I understand are on the table for using that property only as recreational with a couple of bathrooms. All I guess I'm just trying to say that I would be very surprised if the city stood in the way of your having the sewer and water capacity necessary to service a couple of bathrooms and water fountain >> and not if you didn't >> not to dominate the conversation but given the history of things we've done for the city of Pala different boards have ball field over by the old school board office uh you know recreation department getting portables uh you name it running city water and sewage at the school

065district's lost out to Kelly Smith and over the years and you know then you then you worry about the quality of life issues that may incur at some point with the residents out there. But I I have to rely on on my fellow board members and the superintendent to kind of direct us here to how do we preserve all that and and uh come back with the best safest recommendation. And I think Rick's got you know some ideas on that. >> Mr. Chair, I did talk to the board attorney, our board attorney before the meeting, and let's just say theoretically, if we had to go back and ask for an annexation to be able to accomplish that goal, I asked the possibility of could we could we possibly change the land description where we could

066leave a buffer between the property that we annexed that on the property that we own and only annex a portion of that property and leave a portion in the county. So, so there would be we would still have that county buffer between us and that southern portion of land. So, good. >> So, that is something that could be possible if we had to. Is that correct? >> Yeah. I mean, you you basically decide what the description of the property is that you're going to annex. Um, and if you wanted to not not annex the entire 55 so as to leave a buffer at the southerntherly boundary, um, that you could. I mean, you could leave part of that in the county. There's nothing that says you couldn't. Um, now whether you obviously you can put

067an asterk by that if you're going to try to put a building as straddling the line, I don't know. But you can get into all kind of, >> you know, all kind of scenarios. But if you were just trying to leave a buffer, but right now, >> I don't even think I'd get into that. I think I just >> And our goal is to have water and restroom facilities for the kids. That's playground and for those kids to walk all the way back up to the building would be inappropriate. Let's do this board. Let's let's uh any questions or comments? We'll go do Miss Pickkins. >> Um it it seems to me that, you know, we have good advice. We've heard from quite a few people, which I appreciate them coming. Um I feel very

068comfortable with. >> All right. Miss Miss Gillard. >> Yes. I was just going to say when I spoke with uh attorney Holmes um his explanation to me and what the superintendent wanted, we're going to be able to have those things, the water and the restroom for the students without having to do uh what our stakeholders are asking us to consider not doing. So I'm I just thank you for helping a neopight kind of, you know, get a better understanding of it. That's right. Yes. >> Um, I had several conversations today as well as uh receiving emails from from the community that I believe we all received and it it makes sense to me at least to a keep our constituents as happy as we possibly as we possibly can. Um, especially when they are supporting

069what we are doing with our schools. and B, it kind of if it if it ain't broke, don't fix it. >> Um, that if we don't require annexation into the city, then I don't see the need to do so. >> Very good. Okay. And I just like to say that is my district and as I told y'all at the last board meeting, I'm adamantly opposed to the annexation. Um, and I think, you know, as a land use planner and having a lot of experience, you know, working with land use attorneys like Mr. homes. Um, you know, I don't know how the city could deny, you know, if you already have a tap there with water and sewer, putting that on any property, you know, contiguous to the property that's annexed into the city. And in

070my entire career, I've never heard that. And that does happen. So, um, I agree with with what y'all said. And, uh, basically, uh, I think that, uh, there is no reason to to annex it. And um and at this point in time, I think that uh we can continue on with the uh I think we're at the final design stages and then we can move forward with the construction. So the chair will entertain a motion. Do you have anything else, Mr. Superintendent? >> Okay, >> Mr. Chairman, I'll make a motion that we um let me read it here again. We're on L1. Is that correct? >> Yes, sir. L1 >> is that we decline >> withdraw the application or the the for annexation into the city of Pala L1. >> Second. >> I have a

071motion and a second. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Motion carries. Thank you all uh neighbors and residents for coming. We appreciate your your input. He say for your wisdom. All right. >> All right. We'll we'll give this >> Walton. Walton. That exit sign means that's where you leave. >> You don't need to return that clip on. >> I wasn't trying to dump that. Good job, Mr. Chairman. >> Thank you. >> Yes. >> For helping us navigate. >> You always gave me a hard time about speaking lawyer, >> but you know what? It does. It takes every one of us and hearing all of us. >> Yeah. >> See you later. >> Okay. We will um we will now move to um agenda item L2, uh the design advisory committee recommendation.

072and Miss McDaniel, would you come up please and be recognized and give us your wisdom? >> Sorry, I missed that. It's kind of loud back there. I'm Sarah G. McDaniel. My um title here is executive director of leadership development, which means I do support and supervise all principles and oversee all of our elementary schools. And I am the coordinator of the design advisory committee. Um, with my experience in schools, uh, it's not necessarily the pretty design that we're always making choices for, but the academic pieces, the desk, the, um, just studentfriendly um, areas and, uh, furniture, things like that. However, part of the design advisory committee is um, we were given the authority to name the new building or to recommend, excuse me, overstated that, recommend naming of the new buildings. >> Okay. Um so

073board uh let's have some discussion or comments on on the uh the current Kelly Smith site which is being recommend recommended as the uh Palaca Primary School. Um I'll be glad to start that that again that's in my district. you know, I I understand the u the because we're going to be, you know, bifurcating the, you know, kindergarten through uh second and then third through six. Um but I have gotten calls from a number of Kelly Smith past, you know, uh parents and students and and even a call from um one of the Smith family and and I was talking to Sarah Gene before the meeting. I was just wondering, you know, could we add and recommend to the committee that it be the Pla Primary School, Kelly Smith campus? And then that way it

074keeps that Kelly Smith name in there. Um, and but it's still the, you know, it's like, you know, the Veterans Memorial Stadium, you know, Bennett Cooper Field and and now Ron Dennis box and all that. I mean, I I just I hate to lose our heritage and our history. And uh Kelly Smith, Senior, who was on the school board for gosh, I don't know how many years and was instrumental in in that school being constructed there. Uh and then of course his son, Kelly Smith, who was state representative, you know, did a tremendous amount for the school district while he was a state representative. And that and the in the Smith name and there's now a whole clan of them. um uh that I I I just think it it deserves some recognition and um

075and I think that would also apply to the our next agenda item which we'll talk about. Um ju just just so we keep some history and heritage and and that that that would be my recommendation but I'd like to hear what the board Mr. >> Chair can and we've had discussions with administration. >> Yeah. Can I speak to that too? >> And you can speak to this cuz you probably discussed it in your meeting, but you know, we also have the same thoughts about um you know, the other two schools that are feeding into that, James A. and Mosley. And there's been discussion and Serge you can talk about this but about possibly using those names and I don't disagree with you at all >> but using those names in a fashion uh maybe naming

076portions of the school auditorium cafeteria not auditorium excuse me cafeteria um >> gym possibly the gym the >> well there would be a gym at the >> at the intermediate but >> but not at the primary but you know cafeteria and library, that kind of thing. So, again, I'm I'm sensitive to the fact we have three schools that I want to make sure that we are sensitive to. >> Yeah. That we have Yeah. We continue. I mean, obviously Mosley schools after named after former Governor Mosley and and Melan and James A. Long after Dr. James A. Long, who was a prominent, you know, black physician here for years and years. And um and you know I I would be amanable to to doing the Palaca um the other school with the the Dr. James A.

077Long campus at the Palaca intermediate school and then that then we only have to find something for Governor Mosby >> and that that was the discussion at the design advisory committee. Um and like I spoke with you before um we would have to approve or not approve the names before we could go to the next step. So um remember we also have eh Miller name is where black intermediate actually is. So we have eh Miller um wound Mosley James along >> I got you. Um >> it was for a while a public school was yes and Kelly Smith. So >> bought Brierwood school. >> That's right. The committee >> their thinking the thinking ahead was that everyone would be honored. Every student would be coming from different area and the families, the namesakes would be

078honored through the gym, the cafeterium, the media center um and between the two schools. You know, we just have one gym, but we do have two media centers, cafeterium um and different spaces that would honor um the namesakes. I don't have a problem with what the superintendent said segments of the of the campus or you know whether it's the the athletic fields or the or the cafeterium or media center things like that. I mean, I know that the old well, it's what Mosley is now. There's the Jim Holt uh >> media center, library, and that was something that's been done. The Bill Thomas workforce development site for with the college uh at the old the original Mosley school. So, I just think some some thought needs to go in this and there needs to be

079you know I you know you could I I don't disagree with this. I've had a >> I've had a call from the Smith family as well and I you know who doesn't like Kelly? >> Yeah, >> he helped us get the money for Qi Roberts when he was a state representative. So, uh, it's a no-brainer to keep the name involved to some extent, but I would I'd like to see the superintendent just look into it and bring something back to the board. >> Yeah. And and our design advisory committee. >> Yeah. The design advisory pass to do that. And their recommendation at this time is to name Palaca, the school at the Kelly Smith property, Pala Primary. and they what I was saying we can't move forward to give names of different areas until if

080we if we are staying with Kelly Smith if that's your recommendation then we wouldn't have a Kelly Smith media center or gym >> right and I guess my recommendation would be in order to if you look at the history and heritage of the two families of the Long family in the African-American community and of the Smith family the Kelly Smith family you know and overall to me those outweigh um Mosley, you know, takes precedent over the governor, but you know, it is what it is. And and even though Miss Miller, eh Miller, right, Miss Miller served on the school board, you know, I think it'd be fitting to maybe name the the cafeterium at at the uh at the intermediate school uh with her, might do that. But those two names to me are so

081prominent um if we just had them as as the at the campus at the level. And I that'd be my recommendation. And I I think that that um a lot of people don't know that we're doing this and stuff and so, you know, >> we're going to have more people call us. >> Um but but my recommendation, I'd be happy to put it in the form of a motion to to recommend to the to the committee that we we table this for now, send it back to the committee um and that they look at and you know, see what their recommendation is. You obviously have a very broad committee there, you know, to name to have the Pla Primary School, Kelly Smith campus, and then the Pla Intermediate School, the Dr. James A. Long campus,

082and then, you know, we'll name something and then y'all decide what you know within the two schools, what you want to do with with the Miss Miller, the each Miller, um the u the Governor Mosley, and then um what was the other one? I'm sorry. Um anyway, >> that's it. >> Yeah, those two you decide because we can make a we could make a prominent name for that. I mean >> and I'll make that >> may I ask before you go um your committee? >> Yes. >> Who that comprised of? >> That is comprised of there are 12 members on each committee and it is u staff school staff, parents, community members, um students. Okay. >> So it is all stakeholders that of that area. So each area has a committee. >> Okay. All right.

083So the so the community member um would be different say >> for Kelly Smith and Middleton burn. >> Yes. >> Is it different? >> Yeah. Okay. That's right. Because we got Middleton Bernie. So um so would we have then would you recommend that we have the Middleton Bernie campus at Crescent City Elementary School or or you just Well, let's take that up on the next time. Let's go ahead. That's going to be deep. >> All right. I'm I'll pass the the gavvel to the vice chairman and I'll make the motion that for Kelly Smith Elementary that we um recommend to the committee or or send it back to them to look at naming it the uh Placa Primary School, Kelly Smith campus and then uh other names that would honor other, you know, people that

084certainly be deserve being recognized for other parts of the campus. >> That's my motion. Um, and did you were you going to add the intermediate? >> Well, that's Oh, in the intermediate, too. I'm sorry. Yeah, because y'all hadn't we hadn't started that yet. >> We've already >> That's already You've already named plaque intermediate. So, that's already been approved. So, we would have to do a >> We'd have to go back and look at that. Well, we can go back and look at that one. those >> I know the design advisory committee is um our job is new build so I'm not sure where we would fall since inter pl intermediate >> is almost built I I do know that was approved so I do I don't know if that would fall >> ask the superintendent

085to work y'all to look at that >> and see if there's a compromise and um um >> see about that so yeah and I I I'll include in my motion I'll I'll amend my motion to add uh the PLA intermediate school Dr. James Hong campus. >> We have a motion. Any second? >> Can I say one more? Yes. One more thing. >> I'm sorry. Um just remember that James A. Long Elementary School will still be in operation the first year of Palaka Intermediate School. So you will have two campuses with like names. So, we would need to wait a year then at least. Okay. Or I would >> just something to consider. >> Yeah. No, that's true. Yeah. I withdraw my amendment and just stick with the original motion. >> But what what Okay, let

086me weigh in. >> But we need to be absolutely sure because we're talking about possibly two years down the road and the configuration of the board could change. And we do not want to lose that name. I mean, just like with Robert H. Jenkins, it it it is only fair that we consider the contributions that were made by these people. And so, uh, we just need to almost have it in writing somewhere that that would come. We could make that part of the but we I still keep that in the motion and make a recommendation to the committee and they could then say if they agree with that or you know the recommendation they'll make back to us then we could say it would be at you know one year once the the melon was

087closed. >> No uh James A long once James A. Long was closed. Correct. >> Okay. Okay. And then >> how about that? >> But I love the idea palacta intermediate >> Dr. James A long campus. Can I get clarification just for the committee? >> Yeah. >> And Mr. Board attorney, you can weigh in. Um, he's the motion is to name Black Intermediate at Kelly Smith campus and Black Intermediate James Day. Long campus and that's going to be deferred until that school closes >> one year. Correct. Yes. >> So, the role of the committee, I want to make sure the committee is very clear on what their role is. Are you is this motion to make a recommendation for the committee to consider or is that is that a board decision naming that and then the

088board naming that campus and then the committee supposed to name the sub areas. So I just need clarification. I think that that it would be prudent, at least from my standpoint, for the committee for them to hear what we recommended that we're not making a we're not making a final decision today and then get their input. I mean, you know, you made me aware of some things today that I didn't even think about and I appreciate that. >> Okay. I just I just needed that. >> Okay. Is that it be the same >> recommendation to the committee >> with the the the other would be the recommend second recommendation would be for them to consider at the end of the one year period to >> and that wasn't something that was discussed. It was discussed

089let's honor everyone in some way. Now there may be ties to eh Miller to William D. Mosley, you know, we're choosing two of the four here um to recommend, but the the thought was not to let go of anyone's legacy, but honor everyone and not someone over >> the others. I I >> um I would just like to I actually had a person that I thought had a really good idea um to incorporate a mural with, you know, depicting what um Governor Mosley did. You know, I I think that would be a really good way because PLA is known for murals and so I don't know how that would work into the whole thing, but I think that would be a good way to honor um all of them. >> All right. Well, we we

090y'all can certainly consider that too. Sure. >> Can you restate? >> Yes. >> Yeah. Confused. I'm sorry. Uh, Miss Michael, uh, my motion is to recommend to the committee that they review and bring back a recommendation to the board um to the name the the uh, PLA Primary School, the Palaca Primary School, Kelly Smith campus, and for them to consider in one year uh, you know, once the James A. Long school closes to changing the name or adding the name of Dr. James A. Long campus to the Palaka Intermediate School. >> Yes, >> we have got >> clear. Yes. >> Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Okay. Um and then is this a straight >> Yes, straight vote. >> Straight vote. Okay. All in favor say I. >> I. >> All opposed. >>

091Okay. Very good. >> None. Motion passes. >> All right. All right. So we will then um move to uh L3 the new Crescent City Elementary School and M. McDaniel you can tell us what recommendation. >> Okay. So recommendation there um was to and it may have been influenced by you know the other schools being named um for the area they're in. But Crescent City Elementary School, we did have a community member that um was very um passionate that, you know, we do have a large Hispanic community in Crescent City and that, you know, if we do have the names that maybe that that um those students need to be represented also with the naming. Um and so the only other vote I know you will see that it was unanimous for Palaca primary and we

092did have one other vote um for a name for Crescent City but it was taken the um names off alto together and to honor the peacocks around the community something that all of the students and um community do see. So that that was the only other recommendation. There was not a recommendation for Middleton Bernie. Again, um to honor the Middleton family and the Bernie family within the Crescent City Elementary School, not to drop their legacy or dishonor them, but to bring them into the school in that way. >> All right, Miss Pickicket. >> Um >> recognized. We have um I've had a lot of conversations about this. We don't have other elementary schools feeding into this school. This is this is Middleton Bernie Elementary and they're going to move a mile down the road. It

093has significant history which I've shared with y'all. Um I feel very strongly that it should remain Middleton Bernie Elementary School. it just like you said, historical um reasons. And uh I I you know, one thing I definitely would not want is to um see Middleton Bernie gone. You know, if you consistency, but I I still feel like we're going to have a Browning Pierce. So a Middleton Bernie to me is, you know, if it was 1997 is when the name was changed to Middleton Bernie. So most people with, you know, elementary kids now, that's all they know is Middleton Bernie. And um, you know, >> Mr. Mr. Buckles. >> I was superintendent in 97 when Bruce uh Barnes brought this before the school board at the time and it was a large contingent of people

094in the community that wanted this and uh and I I don't know how chat GPT or whatever messed it up because I couldn't quite remember when it went back to Crescent City Elementary, but it did for a little while >> because when it was the chat GPT said it did in when was it Susan? Like 2017 or >> 2009 but I I think that was a mess up. I know it was but this was in 97. I've talked to Charlotte Pound today former she was a principal at the time. I've I've talked to Cynthia Asia and Helen Robinson Brown, excuse me, uh to get a little more of the history of it and remember what it was like. And my concern is what's going to happen with the old school and what will happen with

095the name there, Rick. I mean, you Yeah, I know you got enough on your plate without even with what we're stacking on you here because you'll have to evaluate all these things. What would happen to the school as far as its usage or >> or the name or if if you move a name out there to the corner it you know >> well I mean if the name is moved to the new school then it would be >> free to be called something else. I got you. >> He called something else and you know the purpose of it is yet to be determined but it would sh it' be a closed school. >> 104 Miss >> Oh, I'm sorry. >> I'm I'm I'm through Sandy. >> Miss Gear. >> No, I just um uh got

096the calls and every call that I would get, I would direct it to Mrs. Pickings because I know her passion uh about the the naming of the school and I do know just a little history on on the Middletons and the Bernie family and I do know that that the um stakeholders there are adamant >> right >> so >> okay swagger >> I I do not know as much about the history of the names but I can certainly relate with um the history of a name and and the meaning behind it and the legacy that people have left and hearing what what you all have said it you know I understand people want change and you know my personal opinion is I'd like to see everything all um very uniform and named you know similarly

097or something but that's just not possible in a county that's as large is ours and with the various communities and the people that have supported these communities and have had items named. So, um, if the if the area of Crescent City is predominantly wanting to keep that name, I have no opposition to that. >> Okay. All right. And um I I would you know professional courtesy is I would any of y'all defer to Miss Miss Pickkins and and uh I can support uh Middleton Bernie Elementary or Crescent City Elementary, Middleton Bernie campus, whatever whatever you prefer, but why don't we just make those recommendations that you know the preference I believe is to keep it Middleton Bernie and get take or do you'all want to make the decision today or take it back to the

098committee I prefer the superintendent mole about it and and decide with his >> Let's let's let this let's also defer that back to the committee and then the superintendent can work with >> and where and I think Mr. Bolan stepped out. Where are we at on as far as um I know we're on a schedule where we need to have this done by a certain time for you know >> Yeah, we have branding coming up. I mean we we have some time but I mean this is most important. I mean this is history years uh in the making. So to take it back to the committee, whatever they choose to do, >> we've got time. >> Yeah, I appreciate your recommendations and um more feedback from you here from more people um than I do.

099So I will absolutely take back whatever you recommend to the committee as soon as possible and bring it back hopefully to the next board meeting. >> All right, M. >> We appreciate your work. You want to make a motion? Um I'll make a motion that we um recommend to the design advisory committee that that we would prefer that the new elementary school in Crescent City be Middleton Bernie Elementary. Um with the caveat that if I just don't I mean I don't even think it's necessary to say >> Middleton Bernie campus because we're going to have schools that have names. So that's my recommendation. That's my motion. >> All right. Have a motion. >> Second. >> Have a second. All in favor signify. Signify by saying I. >> I. Carries. All right. >> Let me let

100me clarify that now. If you your motion was to name the school Middleton Bernie Elementary School. >> Keep the name. >> Did I hear that? >> Actually, I said a recommendation back to them. >> Yeah. Back to them. >> Okay. But what would you like them for clarification now? >> What would you like them to consider? because the final decision is going to be with the board. >> Well, then I'll change my motion. >> I'm just I'm trying to get clarification what you want the committee to do because the committee made a recommendation, but the final decision if the board is warning it to be middle and burning >> then really that would be the final call if that's what your motion is. >> And again, I'm want to make sure I'm being clear. >>

101I think you are. And that was kind of my question, too. So, you want to withdraw your your original? >> I'll withdraw my original motion. >> Withdraw and second. And so, now we're back. The chair will entertain a motion on >> my my the reason that I had questions is that there are other educators in South Putham as well that schools that were closed and and they may want to use a name in a library or a cafeteria or an athletic complex. I just think at some point the board, we can do what the board choose, a majority of the board chooses to do obviously, but I'd like to see the superintendent maybe use this committee to gather more information. >> And I'm glad you said that because I I know Sarah Jeene mentioned I

102think the first order of business was naming the school, whatever that is, come up with that and then these sub areas do that secondly. Is that my understanding? >> Yes. Because if we do not name the school after the current namesakes, then that would leave it open to name the areas of course after. >> Right. Okay. >> I think to your point if if it if it is decided it's going to be called Middleton Bernie Elementary School. >> That's correct. >> Then the committee could come back and if there are >> recommendations for other people to name >> different parts parts that be considered by the committee. >> That is kind of where I'm going with it. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Thanks. That's the board. >> Okay. So, let me get this clear. So, we're

103we're going back to the design. No, no, we're making >> what what I understand. And so, you know, the superintendent and the committee have proper direction is that the consens seems like the consensus of the board is to name it Middleton Bernie. So the committee would then just review for other parts of the of the campus of the school to be named after other people like the auditorium and the gymnasium and that kind of thing. >> It's like the Holly pickings gymnasium which I'm just being I'm being a little facicious here. >> George C. Miller. I mean we have Miller. >> Okay. >> So is I will make a motion that we name the new elementary school in at Middleton in Crescent City Middleton Bernie Elementary. and that we will >> and that we will

104refer >> to the committee >> defer to the design committee naming other parts of the building >> bring it to us. >> Second. >> All right, I have a motion in a second. All those in favor signify by saying I >> I >> motion carries unanimously. >> All right, we will move to board. >> I'll take that back. Just want but we won't have to rebrand now. So we we already have the Middleton Bernie. >> Okay, there is everything clear as far as what you got. Yes, I have it to take to the committee. The colors were already the same. The >> I did have a request though um instead of being called the little Raiders to just be called the Raiders. >> That may be a discussion for another day. I'm not sure where

105that falls under my >> get these other bridges crossing. >> Coach Pick, you can't stop her, you know. >> All right. keep this one. >> Thank you so much and and be sure to relay to the both committees uh you know the board's appreciation for the work they do. >> Definitely. >> All right. Thank you. All right. So, we now will move to board reports and start with you, Miss Wagner. >> Thank you. Um I did want to say finally I I got down to um have an appointment at the new health clinic and I had been looking forward to that. So, I went and I must say the the number one complaint I've always had when I go to the doctor is they never even look you in the eye and they are typing

106on the computer, answering emails while you're telling them what's wrong. And it that really frustrates me. Um, they told us they were not going to do this. They told us they um their average appointment time with with patients is, I think, 35 minutes. Um, she sat with me for 40 and she was she went over to look up something about a medication and came back. She wasn't in front of a computer and I was just incredibly impressed that she's having a conversation looking at me hearing what I'm saying. You know, you you felt heard when you went there. So, I I was very very happy with uh my appointment. I plan to continue using it. And something that uh was brought up in our conversation that I think people might need to know is if

107you have a regular GP um this is where you generally go, but you just maybe maybe they can't get you in for a while, you can use this as a walk-in urgent care center. You can use this as just here or there to be seen because they she knew all about me the minute I walked in. She knew my history. She knew everything. It was It was uh impressive. But uh but so you don't have to like move your home base off uh of your your health care to them. You can use them as much or as little as you need. And um I'm really happy and I I was hoping it was going to be that way. And I was just really happy that it was. Um and I did just want to say

108uh throw out a congrats to Melrose Elementary. Um they recently were given bronze status on the Florida PBIS. It's a positive behavioral intervention um program and I was able to speak with Miss Wy today getting some more specifics on that and it just sounds wonderful. They have it has to do with schoolwide expectations and I'm a big proponent of expecting um having expectations of children and adults um because you're not going to get the performance if you don't expect great things. And so they have the Mustang way at Melrose Elementary and um the kids get recognitions when they do certain behaviors. Um and the teachers are a part of it too. So attendance is a big issue and she said students get recognition for uh doing great attendance during certain periods but so do the

109teachers and we saw some of some of that even today. So um she said the the whole school is really enjoying it. It seems very deep as far as the complexity of some of uh the activities they do and the rewards they give, but she said it's working wonderful and sounded very excited. And their next goal is to get gold status there. If there's a silver, they're skipping right over that. Their goal is to hit gold gold status and and uh I I think they're going to do great. So awesome. >> All right, Mirard, >> real quick, uh career night at Palaka High School. phenomenal. Uh I saw Mr. Buckles as I was going in. He was headed to the volleyball game and and so was Mrs. Picking. So we're trying to spread out and

110cover all the bases, but it was well attended and there were some uh prospects there for our students. I saw students walking around, excuse me, taking notes and and and and honestly asking questions. Um, we did get a few, my sorarity was there. We were signing up students to register to vote and a lot of them I was pleased. They said that when they got their license, it's a new thing. They can pre- I guess register and when they turn 18, it automatically happens. But just a wonderful, wonderful experience. Um, also just want to commend uh throw a shout out to Mrs. Whitehurst and Mrs. Carol for representing Putnham County in Nashville, Tennessee that I am a mentor. So now what? Uh at the 87th uh annual conference. I'm going leave it at that. And

111then I just thought the recognition for the perfect attendance was just awesome because that's what we attempted to do one year before COVID hit, I think, was because it it doesn't take a whole lot of money. All people want to know is that you care. And when you show them just by doing what you did there, uh, we're going to get more productivity and and they're going to become happy employees and they're going to work and we do appreciate them and thank you all so much for doing that for them. And then the final thing is the Brown and Pierce Marquee. They have the new one out there. And I tell you, people getting out their cars, snapping pictures of their kids, waiting for it to come back across the the marquee. And this this

112is what it's about. Uh our children, our parents, and bringing them together. And so the reason I know that's true cuz I had to put my niece out to take a picture of her grandbaby and she stood there until it popped back up. But it's just it's great things happening on all of our campuses and I just want to commend the administration and the teachers and just all of them. They make they make it work. >> I'm done. Mr. Buckles >> volleyball. Tell me about volleyball. >> Volleyball it takes a long time when you have all the granddaughters playing that I have. So anyway, it's it's a lot of fun. I just I I was just thinking I'm going back to the years of naming schools and school names following schools and I I'm glad

113that that the board did vote to give the superintendent latitude because you may come back with dual names, you know, and and different things like add at a name was Smith or something like that. You don't know. It's like Browning Pierce, >> the Browning family, Senator Pierce's family. So there's there's always it's you don't want to paint yourself in a corner and really you really don't even if this board were to decide you can you can undecide at a future meeting. It's just the way it goes. U but I appreciate the background that the chairman had in land planning and working on that today. I I value the questions that uh Linda had on the uh cost of the little flashing lights. That's kind of something. But, you know, the state requires that safety stuff,

114so it's it you really have to do it. But Holly and Sandy always I see Holly at all the ball games, too. So, she tells me what to do there as well. So, it's all lucky Bill. That's what I call him. >> But that's it. I'm good. >> All right. Miss Dickens. >> Um, >> well, I'd just like to say thank you to everyone that that wrote emails, reached out to to talk, um, sent texts, just, it's nice to have, um, public comment. It really is. I think it's beneficial to us as a board and I, you know, I welcomed it. I thought it was excellent. Um, I did think that the perfect attendance, I would have been the person that would have tried really hard to get that. I might had a I would

115have really really um of course I loved getting my sick leave check when I retired. I did love that. So um and I you know thank you to all the me everyone from the public that spoke today. Um I you know these decisions aren't they don't come easy. So um anyway a lot of thought went into it. So, uh, that's all I have. >> Okay. Thank you. All right. Um, I'll just say that, um, the the work that on the, uh, advocacy committee for the school boards association, um, there's like four meetings planned and and believe me and I think as you know, the superintendent will tell you, there is so much going on in the legislature right now. uh they've already started in what they call interim committee meetings that they have, you know,

116they'll have up through December prior to the the legislative session started in January, but significant talk about tax reduction and tax especially for uh homestead. So that's going to be a u that from what I understand is top priority for the governor, senate, president, house speaker. Um, you know, I I'm I'm very concerned about the the the funding levels, though, you know, and I was I saw where the governor and the um the secretary of education were um at a an event down in Southwest Florida and you know, talking about the um Bright Future Scholarship and that, you know, that money, you know, at the time that the uh the lottery was passed, it was the beall endall for funding basically all school, not just but you know, you see uh what was it a

117$2 billion jackpot they had like you know and I don't know what the state share of it is but the amount of money it's being spended through the lottery is just exponential and for it really to only be funding bright futures is is to me a very sad connotation um and uh I I'm not sure where funding's going but uh uh it's I have a a significant concern about it and the superintendent did speak and I'll let him talk about it at the legislative delegation meeting. But the advoc advocacy committee, we're going to be working on a couple of main things on funding and trying to reestablish, you know, some funding back from the lottery to some of these programs. And I think a logical one would be the mental health program >> of the

11821st century. >> Yeah. In the 21st century. So anyway, um just to let you know, I'll keep you updated, but it's a fastmoving process and so but we have four meetings in a row lined up to meet for to basically set the um priority that we'll we'll adopt it at the convention in December. So that's pretty much all I had today, Mr. Holmes. >> Awesome. >> I don't have anything. Thanks, >> Superintendent. >> Yeah, very briefly, we still have openings for prek at Melon. So, um, just want to let the public know if if you have a child that age and, uh, you'd like to enroll them, please, you know, go to Melon and speak to the staff there. Um, Sarah Jeene actually led a tour of leadership Florida, which is connected with the chamber,

119many of our local business people. I took them on the tour of the CTE wing at PLA Junior Senior High School, especially our new building construction area. and then she took them on a tour of the um Paka Intermediate School and uh they were pretty amazed and and we will be setting up future tours um in the future maybe into November and so on and um but I'm I'm very proud of that and y'all would be amazed. I've been in there not too long ago and is really looking nice when I leave. >> Will you Oh, excuse me. Will you um make sure I so that people will know how they can get on the list to go when you do the tours? >> I would say um contact Sarah Jean. She's she's leading all

120the tours. So would that be >> and I mean our stakeholders, other people that may >> Oh, you're not ready for that? Okay. >> Yeah, we're not ready yet. But I think if anybody anybody outside our state you know our stakeholders email or call for Sarah Gene McDaniel and she can set those up. >> Yeah. For them to hear. Okay. >> Uh when I leave this meeting today I'm driving to Orlando and uh attending the faz meeting the superintendent conference and the big push there is um and actually every superintendent's bringing their communications person. So Felicia will be attending also. But the whole purpose of it is to really come out with a unified message about traditional public schools and and really talking about, you know, why we are why we should be the best

121choice. And we're not putting down choice, but you know, we really need to be proactive and really push out the positive. And that is a a really a big initiative and a priority for our superintendents. And finally, as u Mr. chair mentioned uh myself and the head of the foundation, Kathleen Hosnet, >> and Renee Huff, our CTE director, uh shared at the legislative delegation about an appropriation request for a new CAP grant for Interlock Junior Senior High School, which would be to uh begin a new engineering program out there. and we already have one at Qi, but again, we'd like to expand that to um out to the west part of the county. And I know that they're working, the foundation is al also working on additional uh appropriation requests. And I thank them because

122the legislature has been really >> good to them, >> gracious to us on appropriation requests, and it's why we started so many of our CTE programs. and we actually had uh Representative Sap come in and meet with us independently here the day before and really, you know, got some good information from him. So, very optimistic about that. Good. >> That's all. And I just had one one other thing, a reminder. Uh, Saturday night, uh, starting at 5:30, the feed the need gayla, which is a huge big fundraiser, u you know, for the program that they supply food and, you know, for the backpack program for for us in the county, is is is going to be and a fun event. It's a um Hawaiian theme. Uh also uh related to that you know in in

123our uh information we get from schoolboard association there was a huge article about uh nationwide about 70% of teachers buy food for their students. I mean that you know 70% nationwide of teachers in schools buy food for their students. I thought that was >> about right. >> Yeah. Alarming. And you know, we are so blessed that we have, you know, the Feed the Need program here that seems to be growing and growing and they're doing more and more. And um I'm just tickled pink to to help sponsor it. And if if Mr. Buckles will come and dance, I'll dance, too. >> I'm wearing my flowered shirt. >> Yeah, that's right. >> But ladies, you have to wear a grass skirt if you come. I >> tell you, Denise has been squeezing me for money for

124years, so it's all good. >> All right. Well, if no other comments or questions by the board, we will stand adjourned.