[00:02:58]
TO CALL THE MEETING OF THE BUFORD COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICTS, FINANCE COMMITTEE TO ORDER, I'D LIKE TO START WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
IF YOU WOULD PUT THE FLAG UP PLEASE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES, UM, LIBERTY AND JUSTICE, FOR ALL, AS I LIKE TO, UH, ASK THE MEMBERS FOR APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA, I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVED AGENDA, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO REMOVE THE MINUTES.
I THINK THEY NEED TO BE, UM, APPROVE THE AGENDA WITH THE REMOVAL OF THE COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES.
COULD YOU RESTATE THAT PLEASE? I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE GO FROM THAT AGENDA WITH REMOVAL COMMITTEE MINUTES OF 18, NOVEMBER 18TH AND OCTOBER 14TH, 14TH, IT'S MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE THE AGENDA WITH THE DELETION OF ITEM D AND E ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
ROBIN, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? NO, SIR.
TANYA, ARE YOU READY FOR THAT? I'M
[00:05:01]
READY.SO THIS EVENING, UH, I'M JUST GOING TO PROVIDE A, UH, BASICALLY A SUMMARY OF AUDIT REPORT INFORMATION.
UH, I WILL NOT GO INTO THE DETAILS OF THE OPERATIONAL EXPECTATION MONITORING REPORT, UH, THAT YOU'VE BEEN PROVIDED.
THERE'S A NUMBER OF PAGES THERE, BUT, UM, I DO WANT TO TOUCH ON BRIEFLY, UH, THE REASONING BEHIND, UH, THE OPERATIONAL EXPECTATION THIS EVENING AS 6.1 THROUGH 6.8.
UM, THOSE ALL RELATE TO, UH, THE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT OR, UH, OR, OR VARIOUS REPORTING WE DO THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WHICH I'VE PROVIDED EXAMPLES OF, UH, ALWAYS NINE THROUGH 18 PROVIDE EVIDENCE, UH, OF DEBT INFORMATION.
AND THAT REPORT BE GIVEN IN MARCH OF OUR ANNUAL WORK SESSION ON DEBT.
AND SO IT, IT WAS A NICE SPLIT BETWEEN TWO SEPARATE PRESENTATIONS.
SO HALF WILL BE REPORTED NOW AND HALF IN MARCH.
SO, UH, I JUST WANT TO MENTION, UH, MARVIN JENKINS IS OUR, UH, THE DISTRICT'S EXTERNAL FINANCIAL AUDITORS AND THEY HAVE ISSUED AN UNMODIFIED OR CLEAN OPINION FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30TH, 2021 AND, UH, HOPE HINDER GRASS.
UH, THE MANAGING PARTNER WILL BE PRESENT, UH, VIRTUALLY ON TUESDAY NIGHT FOR THE BOARD MEETING IN ORDER TO GIVE YOU A THOROUGH PRESENTATION OF THE AUDIT AND THEIR PROCEDURES AND, UH, AND THE RESULTS OF THAT AUDIT.
UH, SO I'M NOT GOING TO GO INTO A LOT OF DETAIL THIS EVENING, BUT I'LL HIT A FEW HIGHLIGHTS.
UM, SO, BUT ONE MAJOR THING AND MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT, UH, FOR OUR DISTRICT AND OUR STAFF IS THAT WE HAVE, UH, THE DISTRICT IS IN ITS 21ST CONSECUTIVE YEAR OF NO AUDIT FINDINGS.
SO WE'RE CELEBRATING THAT AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT.
UH, THAT'S PRETTY, UH, UNPRECEDENTED, UM, IN GOVERNMENT WORLD, UH, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE STRIVE FOR EVERY YEAR.
SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT.
UM, SO I'M GOING TO REFER YOU AND, UH, I'VE TALKED TO ROBIN ABOUT IT AND WE'RE GOING TO MOVE OVER TO THE ACTUAL AUDIT REPORTS.
UH, EACH YEAR WE TRY TO PROVIDE SOME, A NICE COVER.
AND SO IN THAT FILE, YOU'LL SEE THE, UH, WE WERE HIGHLIGHTING THE PRESCHOOL BUS, UH, AND SO WE THOUGHT IT WAS APPROPRIATE TO, YOU KNOW, WE, UH, FOCUS ON THAT AND, UH, PROVIDE IT'S, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL BUS AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE SHOOT, UH, CHILDREN THERE WHO ARE ACTIVELY, UH, WORKING WITH THE TEACHERS AND STAFF THAT ARE ON THE BUS.
BUT, UH, WE'RE GONNA FLIP OVER TO PAGE 24 AND THEY'RE NUMBERED AT THE BOTTOM, THE NUMBERING SEQUENCE AT THE BOTTOM AND ON PAGE 24 OF THIS REPORT IS A GREAT SNAPSHOT OF ALL OF THE MAJOR GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS OF OUR ACCOUNTING OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
AND SO, UH, IT PROVIDES A SUMMARY OF REVENUES AND EXPENSES FOR EACH FUND AND THE FUND BALANCE AT THE BOTTOM.
SO IN THE FIRST COLUMN ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE IS THE GENERAL FUND AND YOU'LL SEE REVENUES TOTAL REVENUES OF HUNDRED AND 49.9 MILLION.
YOU MOVE DOWN TO TOTAL EXPENDITURES OF 252 MILLION, UH, AND THEN SOME TRANSFERS IN AND OUT.
SO OVERALL THE NET ADDITION TO FUND BALANCE IS $5.8 MILLION THIS YEAR.
UH, IT MOVES OUR FUND BALANCE FROM 44.8 MILLION IN THE S IN THE GENERAL FUND ONLY TO $50.6 MILLION.
SO THAT'S ABOUT 19% OF OUR PROJECTED NEXT YEAR'S EXPENDITURES.
UH, AND SO WE'RE A LITTLE ABOVE THE BOARD'S POLICY OF 15 TO 17%, BUT WE'RE IN A VERY HEALTHY FINANCIAL POSITION OVERALL.
UH, THE MAIN REASON FOR THOSE INCREASE THAT INCREASE IS THAT OUR TAX REVENUES CAME IN ABOUT 2 MILLION GREATER THAN EXPECTED.
UH, OTHER STATE REVENUES CAME IN ABOUT ANOTHER MILLION GREATER THAN EXPECTED, AND OUR EXPENDITURES, WE CAME UNDER BY ABOUT 2 MILLION.
[00:10:01]
THE TOTAL OF THAT, UH, EQUALS THE 5.8 MILLION, UH, THAT WE INCREASED THIS YEAR.SO, UM, JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT ALSO, YOU'LL SEE, UH, FOUR CATEGORIES OF SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS HERE.
UH, ALL OF THESE FUNDS ARE CONSIDERED TO BE SPECIAL REVENUE.
SO ALL FOUR COLUMNS THIS YEAR, WE HAD A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT INSTANCES.
UH, ONE IS PUPIL ACTIVITY FUND FOR ACCOUNTING PURPOSES.
THERE WAS A NEW GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTING STANDARD AND, AND HOPE WE'LL GO OVER THIS ON A TUESDAY NIGHT, BUT IT IS NOW CONSIDERED FOR OUR DISTRICT TO BE A SPECIAL REVENUE FUND.
SO, UH, AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE HAD A NUMBER OF NEW FUNDS THAT WERE COVID RELATED, THAT'S THE SR ONE ESTHER TO LEAP FUNDING.
AND WE FELT LIKE IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT THAT THESE BE SEPARATED OUT AND NOT JUST LUMPED TOGETHER AND COMBINED, UM, SO THAT WE'RE ABLE TO VERY CLEARLY DISTINGUISH THEM AND SEE WHAT THOSE FUNDS GENERATE ON A SET SEPARATE BASIS.
SO THIS, UH, WE WERE VERY ADAMANT THAT THOSE BE SEPARATED IN OTHER COLUMNS AND NOT COMBINED UNDER ONE COLUMN HERE.
SO YOU'LL, AS YOU'LL SEE, UM, PEOPLE ACTIVITY FUNDS ARE DOWN A LITTLE DUE TO COVID, UH, THE CAUSE OF THE LACK OF REDUCTIONS AND RENTALS AND FUNDRAISING AND THAT SORT OF THING.
BUT OUR COVID RELATED PUNCH YOU'LL SEE THAT WE SPENT $9 MILLION, $9.4 MILLION THIS YEAR.
SO THAT'S A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT.
AND WE WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT, UM, WITH THOSE ALLOCATIONS, UM, SEPARATELY.
SO, UM, THAT REALLY CONCLUDES MY SUMMARY.
AND, UM, I'LL JUST MOVE INTO, UM, YOU KNOW, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO ASK QUESTIONS SEEMING, UM, AND, UH, I'LL TURN IT OVER BACK TO THE INSTRUCTOR.
YOU'RE MUTED, MANY MEMBERS, ANY COMMENTS MR. CAMPBELL? UH, NO, I DON'T HAVE ANY ONE COMMENT.
UM, TANYA, EVERY BOARD MEMBER HAD A COPY OF THIS FRIDAY TIME.
UM, THIS WILL BE, UM, MOVED INTO THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR DOCS.
IT WILL BE MOVED INTO THE CONSENT AGENDA SECTION AND THEN HOPE WE'LL HAVE A SEPARATE PRESENTATION, A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION THAT WILL BE IN THE SUPERINTENDENTS REPORT, BUT THIS IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITE.
AND I CAN SEND A LINK TO EVERY BOARD MEMBER IF THAT MIGHT HELP AS WELL.
SO ALREADY POSTED IT ON OUR WEBSITE.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM BOARD MEMBERS? I DID HAVE ONE THAT I JUST THOUGHT OF.
THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY RELATED TO THIS, BUT, UM, TONYA IS THERE IS A, IS THERE A NEW IT'S MANAGING, THERE'S A NEW REPORTING REQUIREMENT BY SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO REPORT THE, I THINK IT'S THE PER PUPIL EXPENDITURE BY SCHOOL OR, OR MAYBE THE SCHOOL EXPENDITURES.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT? YES.
UM, UH, THE E I BELIEVE THAT'S THE E S E A A AND REGGIE ACTUALLY PUT IT ON MY DESK TODAY FOR REVIEW.
AND, UH, IT IS A, IT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS AND IT IS A PER PUPIL EXPENDITURE OF ALL.
UM, THERE ARE SOME FUND FUNDING SOURCES I BELIEVE THAT ARE EXCLUDED.
SO, UM, AFTER I REVIEW THAT, WE SUBMIT THAT TO THE STATE, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING.
I WAS, I COULDN'T RECALL WHAT IT WAS AND I THOUGHT THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING NEW WHERE THEY WERE HAVING DISTRICTS REPORT IT DOWN BY INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL SITE.
UM, AND SO I WAS WONDERING IF THAT WOULD BE COMPOST IN THESE TYPES OF REPORTINGS IN THE FUTURE, OR IF THAT'S GOING TO BE A SEPARATE REPORTING THAT WOULD COME TO FINANCE COMMITTEE OR PERHAPS TO THE FULL BOARD, UM, WE DON'T TYPICALLY REPORT IT, UH, TO ANYONE BUT THE STATE, BUT THERE IS ALSO A LOCATION SUMMARY SCHEDULE IN THE BACK OF OUR FINANCIAL REPORT.
SO I DON'T HAVE A PAGE NUMBER AT THE MOMENT, BUT, UH, WE DO REPORT EXPENDITURES BY SCHOOL.
THEY'RE NOT, NOT BY PUPIL THOUGH.
SO, UM, BUT IF THAT'S SOMETHING THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO SEE
[00:15:01]
IN FUTURE, I CAN CERTAINLY BRING THAT FORWARD.I JUST THOUGHT THAT THAT WOULD BE, UM, I KNOW WE DON'T WANT TO GET INTO THE WEEDS WITH THINGS, BUT ONE OF OUR, UM, BOARD GOALS IS MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE EXPENDING FUNDS IN A EQUITABLE MANNER ACROSS ALL SITES.
SO I JUST THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT MAYBE WE MIGHT WANT TO JUST TAKE A GLANCE AT.
UM, SO I APOLOGIZE IF THAT WAS A BIT OFF TOPIC I WANTED TO ASK ABOUT IT.
THANK YOU, MR. OR MS. POPE, RIGHT.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? NO, I DON'T KNOW.
I I'M, I'M STILL IN THE POINT WHERE I'M LEARNING ENOUGH TO ASK A QUESTION, I'LL GET THERE SOMEDAY, RIGHT? UH, I HAVE ONE QUESTION TANYA, WITH A $50 MILLION FUND BALANCE.
WHAT NUMBER IN THE FUND BALANCE DO YOU THINK WOULD BE SUFFICIENT TO NOT REQUIRE US TO HAVE A TAN IN A YEAR WITHOUT COVID? UM, SO WE BORROWED, I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBER FOR THAT.
UH, I CERTAINLY, UM, I SUPPOSE I SHOULD HAVE THAT NUMBER IN MY HEAD.
WE DID BORROW A $14 MILLION THIS YEAR.
UM, HOWEVER WE BORROWED THOSE FUNDS BECAUSE OF COVID.
UM, WE, OUR, OUR BALANCE IS NEARING A POINT WHERE WE MAY BE ABLE TO DO WITHOUT, BUT WHILE COVID FUNDS ARE HERE, WE MUST EXPEND FIRST AND REIMBURSE THREE MONTHS, THREE TO FOUR MONTHS LATER.
SO IN THE, UM, IN THE FALL MONTHS, WE ARE RAPIDLY SPENDING THOSE FUNDS AND GETTING RE UH, AND WAITING TO GET REIMBURSED LATER IN THE YEAR.
SO, UM, THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.
AND I'M GOING TO HAVE TO GET BACK TO THE BOARD WITH, UH, AFTER I RUN A FEW CALCULATIONS.
UM, BUT CERTAINLY I WILL PROVIDE, UH, WITH COVID AND WITHOUT COVID RELATED FUNDS TO GET A PICTURE OF, UM, WHAT THE, THAT AMOUNT SHOULD BE, PLEASE DO, UH, HAVE THAT, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE A PROJECTION, BUT ASSUME THE MILLAGE WILL STAY THE SAME AND ASSUME THAT IT'S BOTH COVID NON COVID AND, AND GIVE A BALLPARK FIGURE OF WHAT NUMBER AND THE FUND BALANCE WOULD BE SUFFICIENT TO NOT REQUIRE A TAX ANTICIPATION NOTE.
YOU'D LIKE TO GIVE THAT SAME TIME THAT YOU, THIS AUDIT REPORT IS GIVEN TO THE PUBLIC, BECAUSE I WANT PEOPLE NOT TO SAY, OH MY GOD, LOOK AT ALL THAT EXTRA MONEY SITTING THERE.
UH, AND THE FUND BALANCE WHEN WE HAVE TO BORROW MONEY TO GET US THROUGH THE LEAN TIMES BEFORE THE TAX REVENUE ARRIVES.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, MR. STRINGER? UM, YEAH.
I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT, THAT THAT'S NOT AN ALL OR NOTHING THING.
UM, YOU KNOW, W IF WE COULD REDUCE THE 10 BY 75%, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A GOOD THING TOO, SO IT'S NOT AN ALL OR NOTHING.
TANYA, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE? SO THE PLAN IS THAT AT THE MEETING NEXT WEEK, THIS REPORT WILL GO INTO THE FULL REPORT.
WE'LL GO INTO THE CONSENT AGENDA, BUT WE WILL GET A FULL BRIEFING TO THE BOARD BY THE AUDITORS ON THE RESULTS OF THE AUDIT.
IS THAT CORRECT? AND I DO HAVE SOME MOTIONS PREPARED FOR YOU TO SEE IF YOU CHOOSE TO DO THAT ACCEPTANCE THE SAME THING.
UH, SO I'M GOING TO ASK THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS, UH, FOR A MOTION, UH, TO PROVIDE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE FULL BOARD TO ACCEPT THE RESULTS OF THE ANNUAL AUDIT.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE MAKE A MOTION THAT OKAY.
WISCHNEWSKI WERE YOU SECOND? THAT IS IT OKAY IF I GO AHEAD AND JUST PUT IN THE 6.1 THROUGH 6.8.
[00:20:01]
UH, IT'S A SIMPLE MOTION.SO THE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION DAVID? THIS WILL GO TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE RECOMMENDATION RECOMMENDED MOTION SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE OPPOSED MOTION PASSES.
UH, WE HAVE O E 18 SCHOOL FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES.
SO THIS EVENING WE ARE DOING THE ENTIRE O E 18.
UM, BUT TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING TIRELESSLY TO CAPTURE INFORMATION FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS.
UH, WE HAVE TIM GREEN AND ROBERTA EDWARDS AND DAN COLA HERE ON ZOOM WITH US THIS EVENING.
AND I'M GOING TO START OUT BY PROVIDING SOME BACKGROUND AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION, AND THEN I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO THEM TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR.
SO, UH, IN SUMMARY, UH, JUST A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON THE FOOD SERVICE OPERATION.
UM, THIS IS A HEAVY REGULATED, HEAVILY REGULATED OPERATION, UH, USDA, THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, NUTRITION OFFICE, UM, MONITOR THIS, UM, HAVE TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF REGULATIONS, BUT ALSO MONITOR ON A VERY REGULAR BASIS.
UM, THE OPERATION AND THEIR CITATIONS ARE THAT WE DO THAT AS WELL, WHICH WE DO, UM, THIS THE LAST TWO YEARS HAVE BEEN UNLIKE ANY YEAR THAT I'VE EVER SEEN.
AND I THINK THIS TEAM HAS EVER SEEN, AND THAT, UH, WE HAD FREE MEALS FOR ALL STUDENTS FOR THE ENTIRE SCHOOL YEAR.
AND THOSE DO END, UM, ON, UH, JUNE 30TH, 2022.
UH, WE HAVE NOT HEARD, I'VE NOT HEARD OF ANY EXTENSIONS BEYOND THAT DATE AS OF THIS TIME.
UM, SO THE REIMBURSEMENTS THAT WE'RE RECEIVING IN THE FORM OF USDA REVENUES ARE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER, UH, PER MEAL THAN WE NORMALLY EXPECT.
AND AS A RESULT OF THAT, UH, THE, THE FINANCIALS REFLECT THAT, UH, INCREASE.
SO IF I MAY, UH, ROBIN, THERE'S A FLIPPING, I WOULDN'T, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, UM, FLIPPING OVER TO THE REVENUE SECTION, I THINK I HAVE IT ON, UM, UM, I'M SORRY, I SHOULD'VE BEEN MORE PREPARED ON THIS.
UH, THE TOP IS EVIDENCE IMPLIES 18.8, AND THIS WILL REFLECT THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS SERVING ABOUT TWO 8 MILLION MEALS PER YEAR, UH, IN THE TOP TABLE.
AND THEN DOWN TOWARD THE END OF THE PAGE, UM, THE ENTERPRISE FUND, WHICH IS A FOR-PROFIT FUND.
SO FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES IS A, UH, AN ENTERPRISE FUND AND IT IS THE ONLY ENTERPRISE OR FOR-PROFIT FUND OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
SO THERE IS AN EXPECTATION THAT THERE IS A PROFIT ANNUALLY AND THAT THE, THE FUND IS SELF-SUSTAINING.
SO THE FUND BALANCE HAS ACCUMULATED TO AN ALL TIME HIGH OF A $5.2 MILLION BALANCE AS OF THE END OF JUNE 30TH, 2021.
UM, THIS IS UP ABOUT $2 MILLION FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
OUR ANNUAL REVENUES, PRIMARILY PRIMARILY FROM USDA ARE ABOUT $11 MILLION THIS YEAR.
SO IT'S THIS SUBSTANTIAL OPERATION, UM, WITH A LOT OF FED FEDERAL REVENUE.
UM, SO THE CONTRACTED RATE, UH, THAT WE'RE RECEIVING IS 4.25, $4 AND 25 CENTS PER MEAL.
AND THE RATE THAT WE PAY CONTRACTUALLY TO STICK.
SO OUR FOOD SERVICE PARTNERS IS $3
[00:25:01]
AND 30 CENTS.SO, UH, THE REVENUES COMING IN AND A MUCH HIGHER RATE, THE PAYMENTS GOING TO SEDEXO ARE, UH, ABOUT A DOLLAR, LESS PER MEAL.
SO THAT REFLECTS ABOUT A $2.3 MILLION PROFIT IN FOOD SERVICE OPERATION.
SO, UM, AND THE NEXT PAGE REFLECTS, UM, THE EXPENSES, BUT ALSO, UM, THE CAPITAL, UH, THE REQUIREMENTS OF FUND BALANCE, UH, USDA, AND THEN THE STATE NUTRITION OFFICE REQUIRE THE DISTRICT TO SPEND DOWN, UM, THE BALANCES.
THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE AN EXCESS OPERATING BALANCE.
AND SO SINCE THOSE $2 MILLION ARE THEN REINVESTED, ANY PROFITS ARE REINVESTED BACK INTO THE PROGRAM EACH YEAR THROUGH A PROGRAM OF RE-PURPOSING, UH, REPLENISHING OR REPLACING, UH, EQUIPMENT IN OUR KITCHENS, UH, OR CAFETERIAS.
UH, IT COULD ALSO, UM, PAY FOR EQUIPMENT OR CAFETERIA TABLES, UH, VEHICLES FOR THE TRANSPORTATION OF FOOD AND WORKERS ACROSS THE COUNTY.
AND SO WE HAVE A PLAN TO REINVEST THOSE DOLLARS BACK INTO WALK-IN COOLERS, FREEZERS, REFRIGERATORS, DISHWASHERS, AND OVENS THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT.
UM, SO, UM, THE PLAN, UM, PROVIDES, UH, IF YOU, CAN YOU BOARD ABOUT THREE PAGES, UH, SEE A SPENDING PLAN WITH A LISTING OF THE DOLLARS, UH, THE VARIOUS BUDGET ITEMS THAT WE PLAN TO, OR HAVE ALREADY BEGUN TO IN SOME CASES, UH, EXPAND IN ORDER TO BRING THAT BALANCE DOWN TO THE SAME LEVEL AS THE PRIOR YEAR AS REQUIRED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
SO YOU'LL SEE, UM, THERE ARE SOME SIGN-ON BONUSES FOR RECRUITING AND RETENTION, UH, REFERRAL BONUSES FOR OUR EXISTING EMPLOYEES TO RECEIVE SOME COMPENSATION.
IF THEY, UH, REFER SOMEONE THAT SUCCESSFULLY IS HIRED AND STAYS WITH THE, UM, FOOD SERVICE OPERATION FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.
AND WE'RE REPLACING SOME OUTDATED, UM, EQUIPMENT IN THE KITCHENS, PACKAGING, SUPPLIES, SMALLWARES TABLES, AND, AND, UM, SOME VEHICLES THAT ARE IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT THAT WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN PAID FOR IN OUR 8% CAPITAL BUDGET.
SO WE'RE ABLE TO SAVE THOSE, UM, SAVE THE FUNDS AT 8% AND UTILIZE THE FUNDS HERE IN OUR FOOD SERVICE, UH, PROGRAM.
SO, UM, JUST, UH, ONE LAST THING, UH, WE HAD, UM, WE DO HAVE ANNUAL, YOU KNOW, THE AUDIT, THE ANNUAL FINANCIAL AUDIT THAT YOU JUST SAW IS, UM, UH, DOES AUDIT THE FOOD SERVICE OPERATIONS SINCE IT IS ONE OF OUR MAJOR FUNDS.
UH, AND SO THERE WERE, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, NO FINDINGS IN THAT, UH, AS WELL AS OTHER DISTRICT OPERATIONS.
UM, WE DO HAVE ANNUAL ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEWS FROM THE FOOD SERVICE OFFICE AND IN THE REPORT, THE E MONITORING REPORT, I DID INDICATE, UM, THAT WE DID HAVE AN, UH, A REPORT, A REVIEW IN JULY OF 2020, UH, AND A REPORT THAT CAME OUT ABOUT SIX MONTHS LATER.
SO I ASSUME THE PANDEMIC DELAYED THE REPORTING.
THERE WERE SOME, UH, RELATIVELY MINOR DEFICIENCIES IN THAT THEY WERE ON THE NUMBER OF MEALS THAT WERE, UH, DOCUMENTED.
UH, SOME OF THEM WERE NOT AT A FEW SCHOOLS, WERE NOT DOCUMENTED CORRECTLY.
UH, SOME MEALS WERE OVERCLAIMED.
SO WE HAD PUT SOME THINGS IN PLACE.
UH, UM, MR. POHLAD IS, IS IN, UH, IS IN CHARGE OF OVERSEEING THAT OPERATION AND HE IS SPREAD VERY THIN THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT IN OUR MANY, UH, SCHOOLS.
SO WE'VE ADDED ADDITIONAL STAFF MEMBER, UH, TO EARLIER IN THE YEAR TO THE FOOD SERVICE FOR THE MAIN PURPOSE OF MONITORING MEALS.
SO WE HAVE TO GO ONSITE AND PHYSICALLY LOOK AT THE PLATES AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE USDA COMPLIANT AND THE MEALS ARE DOCUMENTED CORRECTLY AS THEY'RE DISTRIBUTED TO STUDENTS.
SO, UH, WE HAVE PUT SOMETHING IN PLACE, A PROCESS IN PLACE TO MAKE TO CORRECT THAT DEFICIENCY.
AND, UM, I THINK THAT WE'VE, IT'S MADE A SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT THIS YEAR.
SO WE ARE UP FOR ANOTHER PROGRAM ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW IN JANUARY OF 2022.
SO WE EXPECT THAT WE'LL SEE SOME, UM, PROGRESS OR IMPROVEMENT AT THAT TIME.
[00:30:01]
ALWAYS WANT TO TELL THE, THE GOOD WITH THE BAD, SO THEY KNOW ALL THE DETAILS.AND, UM, SO WE'RE, WE'RE NOT PERFECT, BUT, UH, WE, WE ARE STRIVING TO STRIVING FOR PERFECTION THAT'S FOR SURE.
SO, UH, SO BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO CHEN AND ROBERTA FOR OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS, I DON'T KNOW IF WE WANT TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY HERE FOR ANY FINANCIAL RELATED QUESTIONS, SOME QUESTIONS.
UM, MR. CHAIR, I JUST HAD ONE QUESTION.
IT WAS IN REGARD TO THAT FOOD SERVICE FUND BALANCE.
UM, I THINK THAT THAT, THAT LISTING OF THINGS THAT, UM, IT'S BEING SPENT DOWN FOR OR WITH, UH, ARE PRETTY, PRETTY COMPLETE.
I JUST HAD A QUESTION IN REGARD TO, I KNOW WHEN WE'VE BEEN DOING SOME DIFFERENT VISITS OF SCHOOLS, PARTICULARLY THOSE THAT HAVE A STRAIN ON THEIR COMMON SPACES, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS HAS BEEN, THOSE CAFETERIA AREAS ARE EXPANDED.
AN OUTDOOR COVERED AREA TO, TO EAT WAS AT ONE, ONE SCHOOL.
UM, SO I'M WONDERING, COULD THAT SPENDING PLAN INCLUDE SOMETHING LIKE THAT? I KNOW IT HAS CAFETERIA TABLES, BUT WHAT ABOUT, UM, EXPANSIONS OF THOSE CAFETERIA SPACES? YES, IT CAN BE USED FOR OUTDOOR DINING AREAS.
UM, AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH FREDDIE LAWTON AND THE FACILITIES TEAM TO IDENTIFY, UM, AREAS THAT THE NEED IS THE GREATEST IN THAT RESPECT.
UM, NOW SOME, WE HAVE TO WORK WITH THE WE'LL WORK WITH THE PRINCIPAL, AND I HAVE RECEIVED A COUPLE OF REQUESTS FOR MINE, JUST A FEW PICNIC TABLES AND UMBRELLAS.
SO SOME REQUESTS COME, YOU KNOW, ON A SMALL SCALE, OTHERS ARE LOOKING FOR SHADE STRUCTURES THAT MAYBE HAVE PERMANENT, UM, UH, FOUNDATION WORK THAT MAY NEED TO BE REQUIRED.
SO, UM, WE CERTAINLY DO, I'M WORKING WITH RAY LAWTON AND ROBERT AUDITING TO IDENTIFY WHICH SPACES ARE WHERE THE NEED IS.
AND THEN I HAVE THE, UH, THE FOOD SERVICE FUND.
WE HAVE THE BUDGET TO BE ABLE TO HELP WITH THOSE RESOURCES.
CAUSE I KNOW THAT THAT'S A CONCERN, UM, IN SOME OF THOSE VERY, UH, HIGH CAPACITY SCHOOLS.
THANK YOU, MR. CAMPBELL, YOUR YES, I WAS JUST WONDERING, WE'LL LET 2.2 MILLION TAKE CARE OF EVERY SCHOOL AS FAR AS EQUIPMENT AND AN ISSUE THAT, WELL, WE HAVE A FIVE-YEAR PLAN WE'RE, UH, BASED ON THE LIFE CYCLE OF CERTAIN EQUIPMENT AND THAT'S AT THE RECOMMENDATION, OUR FOOD SERVICE FOLKS TEAM MEET WITH OUR MAINTENANCE TEAM AND GO THROUGH THE SCHOOLS TO IDENTIFY WHICH SCHOOLS HAVE WORK ORDERS THAT ARE SHOWING WHERE CERTAIN EQUIPMENT ITEMS ARE SHOWING AGE AND HAVE REGULAR REPAIRS THAT ARE NEEDED LIFECYCLE REPLACEMENTS, UH, OVER A FIVE-YEAR PERIOD.
AND WE'RE ACTUALLY FAST TRACKING THAT CYCLE TO DO THREE YEARS THIS YEAR, SINCE WE HAVE THE FUNDING.
SO WE'RE GOING TO, UM, I CAN'T SAY THAT IT TOUCHES EVERY SCHOOL FOR THE EQUIPMENT FOR FRISK.
UM, BUT CERTAINLY WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO, IF NOT THIS YEAR, WITHIN THE NEXT TWO YEARS, ABSOLUTELY TOUCH EVERY SCHOOL.
UH, IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE SMALLWARES REPLACEMENT, WE ARE PROVIDING THOSE SPOONS AND SPECIALISTS AND PANS AND POTS AND PANS AND THAT SORT OF THING, AN ALLOCATION TO EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL.
SO, UM, OUR INTENT IS TO TOUCH AS MANY SCHOOLS AS POSSIBLE.
UM, HAVE THE SUPERINTENDENTS INTERPRETATIONS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED? YES, SIR.
ALL OF THE, MY, UH, THE AREAS THAT REPORT TO ME, EVERY INTERPRETATION HAS BEEN APPROVED.
I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE THE CASE FOR 1810.
I THINK THIS IS THE BOAT COMPLETELY, BUT IF IT'S ALREADY BEEN APPROVED, THEN, THEN THAT'S WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE.
SO WHY DO WE HAVE TO KEEP A, TO APPROXIMATELY $2 MILLION FUND BALANCE AND IN THIS AREA? WELL, W WHAT KIND OF, WHAT BROUGHT US TO THAT NUMBER? UM, THE SPENDING PLAN, UM,
[00:35:02]
THERE IS, UH, A CALCULATION THAT'S PERFORMED, UM, TO TAKE THE CASH ON HAND.UM, LET'S SEE, THERE IS A CALCULATION ON TWO PAGES NUMBERS HERE, BUT, UH, IT'S THE CASH ON HAND, UM, AND TAKES THE YEARLY EXPENDITURE BY 10 DIVIDED BY 10 MONTHS OF A YEAR.
AND YOU MUST MAINTAIN THREE MONTHS OF OPERATIONS.
UH, YOU CANNOT MAINTAIN MORE THAN THREE MONTHS OF OPERATIONS IN YOUR FUND BALANCE.
SO THIS AMOUNT, THIS $2 MILLION IS WHAT EXCEEDS THAT THREE MONTHS OF OPERATIONS IN THE FUND BALANCE.
CAUSE THIS IS A SEPARATE ACCOUNT.
THIS IS NOT, YOU PAY A CONTRACTOR, SO YOU HAVE IT, IT'S NOT A PAYROLL ISSUE.
SO THE PRIMARY SPENDING, SO IT IS A SEPARATE BANK ACCOUNT AND THE TREASURER HAS, UH, AN, A SEPARATE ACCOUNT AS WELL.
SO THE COMBINATION OF THE TWO CREATE THE FUND BALANCE OR THE CASH OR THE EQUITY AND CASH, UH, AS A COMBINATION, THE PRIMARY, UM, EXPENDITURE OR THE LARGEST EXPENDITURE IS THAT OF OUR PAYMENTS USE THAT XO, UH, FOR THEIR SERVICE.
WE DO HAVE APPROXIMATELY SEVEN EMPLOYEES LEFT ON BUPA COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT PAYROLL.
AND WE MUST HAVE AT LEAST ONE PERSON IN THE FOOD SERVICE OPERATION THAT IS A DISTRICT EMPLOYEE THAT OVERSEES AND MONITORS THE OPERATIONS OF, AND THAT IS MR. COLE LOT.
UM, SO, UM, WE NOW, AT THIS POINT WE HAVE TWO IN THAT OFFICE, ONE THAT IS, UM, THE NEW EMPLOYEE THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER.
SO, AND OTHERS HAVE BEEN GRANDFATHERED IN AND BEEN WITH THE DISTRICT FOR MANY YEARS.
SO, UM, THE, THE OTHER EXPENSES ARE THOSE THAT YOU SEE HERE, SUPPLIES, MATERIALS, UM, AND SEDEXO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SOME OF THE EXPENDITURES AS WELL.
UM, AND SO THERE IS A CON CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION OF BOTH PARTIES FOR CERTAIN EXPENDITURES THAT IS UNIQUE TO MOST OTHER CONTRACTS AND SERVICE CONTRACTS IN THE DISTRICT.
PLEASE PROCEED WITH THE, WITH YOUR REPORT.
UM, MR. GREEN, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO YOU FOR, TO START SOME CONVERSATION ABOUT OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS.
WELL, THANK YOU ALL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
AND, UM, I WANT TO INTRODUCE ROBERTA EDWARDS.
SHE IS THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS HERE, AND I HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE JUNE.
I'M NOT NEW TO VIEW FOR, UH, MY FAMILY IS FROM, FROM HERE.
SO, UM, I'M STILL LEARNING A LOT OF THE ROPES AND LEARNING, UH, THIS PART OF THE, UH, UH, THE PROGRAM I'VE BEEN TO A LOT OF THE SCHOOLS.
SO, UH, OPERATIONAL WISE, I WILL LET ROBERTA TELL YOU ABOUT, UH, THE FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM.
MY NAME IS ROBERTA EDWARDS, AS TIM SAID, UM, FOR, UH, LAST YEAR, OUR PROGRAM, UM, YOU FOR COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM, WE SERVE ABOUT 2.8 MILLION MEALS, UM, THROUGH DIFFERENT AVENUES.
WE PARTNERED WITH, UM, TRANSPORTATION TO BE ABLE TO DISTRIBUTE MEALS TO THE STUDENTS, UM, DURING THE VIRTUAL TIME.
AND EVEN WHEN THE TIME WHEN THE DISTRICT WASN'T, UM, AT A PLACE WHERE WE COULD ALLOW THE KIDS TO COME BACK IN FACE TO FACE.
WE ALSO PARTNERED WITH, UM, INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES FOR PARENTS THAT WERE HAD TO WORK AND THEIR KIDS WERE IN DIFFERENT COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, BUT THEY WERE STILL BEING ABLE TO DO VIRTUAL LEARNING.
AND THEN WE ALSO WORKED WITH, UM, WELL BRIAN'S GROUP TO PROVIDE MEALS OVER THERE TO THOSE STUDENTS AND TO, AND HELENDA, UM, LOCAL CHURCHES WE'VE WORKED WITH.
UM, AND THEN THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB YMCAS THROUGHOUT BUFORD COUNTY, UM, ALL OF US PARTNERED TOGETHER TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE MEALS WEREN'T GETTING OUT TO STUDENTS, BOTH BREAKFAST AND LUNCHES.
AND THEN WE ALSO, UM, HAVE WORKED WITH, UM, VOCATIONAL REHAB PROGRAMS. UM, WE'RE DOING THAT THIS YEAR, WORKING WITH THEM TO HELP GET SOME OF THE STUDENTS ARE NOT STUDENTS.
I'M SORRY, SOME OF THE ADULTS THAT'S IN THAT PROGRAM TO GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A JOB AND WORK.
AND WE'VE WORKED WITH THEM IN THE PAST AND WE JUST STARTED BACK WORKING WITH THEM AND WE HAVE ABOUT EIGHT SCHOOLS,
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I'M SORRY, SIX SCHOOLS THAT WERE, UM, HAVING THOSE VOCATIONAL, UM, EMPLOYEES WORKING AT TO HELP OUT IN CAPACITIES WHERE IT'S FEASIBLE FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO WORK AND MAKE THEIR OWN MONEY.UH, THIS IS A, THIS IS A NEW THING THAT WE'VE JUST STARTED WITH THE SPECIAL NEEDS.
THEY'VE DONE THIS IN THE PAST.
UM, UH, MY COUSIN WAS PART OF THAT PROGRAM AND I, IT'S KIND OF DEAR TO MY HEART, UH, TO HAVE SOME OF THOSE, UH, UH, COMMUNITY MEMBERS BE PART OF OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY.
SO, UM, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING AS WELL AS, UM, RECRUITING HAS BEEN, YOU KNOW, AS A REALLY DIFFICULT SITUATION WITH EVERY, UH, RESTAURANT FOOD SERVICE AND JUST ABOUT EVERY BUSINESS.
SO, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE SAID XO HAS A RECRUITING, UM, REFERRAL PROGRAM.
UM, WE'VE ALSO BEEN ABLE TO, UM, DO SOME REFERRAL BONUSES THIS YEAR TO TRY TO GET SOME PEOPLE ON BOARD AS WELL.
WE'VE SEEN A SLIGHT UPTICK IN THE TRAFFIC THAT WE'VE HAD OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS.
SO THAT'S BEEN A POSITIVE, UM, POSITIVE EFFECT WITH THE VIDEO RECRUITING BONUSES.
UM, THE WAY WE'RE GETTING THERE IS WE'RE, WE'RE GETTING OUT THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, FACEBOOK, UH, INSTAGRAM, UM, YARD SIGNS, UH, THAT ARE BEING PLACED UP AROUND THE SCHOOLS.
UM, THIS IS KIND OF A, UM, A BOUTIQUE TYPE JOB WHERE IT'S MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, UH, NO NIGHTS, NO WEEKENDS.
SO IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT, UM, CULTURE OF TRYING TO HIRE PEOPLE FROM, YOU KNOW, THE RESTAURANTS, THE CHICK-FIL-AS AND THE FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS, OR EVEN THE RESTAURANTS, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE NIGHTS AND, UH, NIGHTS, WEEKENDS, AND HOLIDAYS.
SO WE'RE NOT GETTING THE SAME TYPE OF RESTAURANT WORKER.
UM, SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT, IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT WHEN PEOPLE SAY, WELL, WHY DON'T YOU JUST GO TO THE RESTAURANTS? THOSE TYPES OF PEOPLE DON'T WORK.
THESE TYPES OF JOBS, THESE ARE KIND OF A SPECIALTY TYPE TYPE JOB.
UM, AND THEN ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS I WANT TO KIND OF CLOSE ON A, A HIGHLIGHT, UM, WE HAVE JUST, UH, PARTNERED WITH THE, UM, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AS WELL AS THE BUFORD COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT ON SOME OF THEIR, UM, VOCATIONAL JOBS.
SO WE'RE THE FIRST ONE THAT SIGNED UP FOR THE YOUTH APPRENTICE PROGRAM, WHICH WILL BE, UM, TAKING SEVERAL OF OUR STUDENTS FROM THE CULINARY PROGRAM.
UM, AND IT WILL BECOME A, AN APPRENTICESHIP AND A MENTORSHIP, UM, WHICH THEY WILL ACTUALLY GET A CERTIFICATION, UH, FROM, UH, THEY WILL WORK WITH US.
AND THEN IN THE SUMMERTIME, WE'RE PARTNERING WITH THE, UM, HEALTHCARE SYSTEM AS WELL AS PARIS ISLAND, UH, TO GIVE THEM SOME REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE BEFORE THEY GET OUT INTO, UH, COLLEGE OR DECIDE WHAT THEY'RE REALLY GOING TO DO.
SO, UM, THAT WE JUST DID THAT THIS WEEK, AND THIS IS KIND OF A NICE, NICE THING THAT, UH, WE WERE PRESENTED WITH.
I BELIEVE THAT CONCLUDES OUR REPORT AND MR. GUYER, I WILL TURN THAT BACK OVER TO YOU, MR. THANK YOU.
UM, I HOPE THIS IS AN OFF TOPIC, BUT IS THERE ANY INITIATIVE TO BUY LOCAL PRODUCE WHAT MAYBE THINK OF THIS AS THE GOLF FARMER'S CO-OP HAS JUST BEEN A WHOLESALE THING ON ST.
HELENA AND I THOUGHT, BOY, IT'D BE GREAT IF THEY COULD GET THOSE FRESH VEGGIES DOWN TO THE, TO ST.
HELENA, BUT I WASN'T SURE IF THAT COULD BE DONE.
SO THAT'S, UH, UH, THAT IS A, A GREAT QUESTION.
AND TANYA AND I WERE ACTUALLY AT THE RIBBON CUTTING YESTERDAY AND ROBERTA, UH, AND LARRY WILSON, WHO IS MY BOSS.
AND YOU GUYS KNOW LARRY, UM, THIS HAS BEEN A PROJECT THAT THEY HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET IN THE WORKS FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS, UM, WITH THEM.
AND, UM, UH, SEDEXO HAS WORKED WITH LIMEHOUSE PRODUCE OUT OF CHARLESTON, UM, BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY WORKING PARTS TO GETTING THIS TO HAPPEN BECAUSE OF THE INSURANCE, YOU KNOW, THE QUALITY OF THE PRODUCT, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S AVAILABLE DURING THIS TIME AND A WAY TO DISTRIBUTE IT TO ALL THE SCHOOLS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE BUY PRODUCE, WE BUY A LOT OF PRODUCE.
AND SO WE OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO THE FARMERS PRETTY BUSY, YOU KNOW, PLANNING STUFF.
SO THE WAY WE'VE GOT IT WORKED OUT RIGHT NOW IS THEY ARE GOING TO, UH, GO THROUGH LIMEHOUSE PRODUCE.
UM, WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PLACE AN ORDER WITH THEM ON A WEEKLY BASIS BASED ON WHAT'S AVAILABLE AT THAT TIME, WE WILL GET A REPORT THE WEEK BEFORE IT SAYS, YOU KNOW, BROCCOLI'S COMING ON BOARD OR CARROTS OR WHATEVER IT IS.
UM, I KNOW THAT THEY HAVE A PURCHASE DAY CHOPPING MACHINE THAT WILL ALLOW THEM TO OFFER MORE PRODUCTS FOR WHAT WE'RE DOING AND PACKAGING.
[00:45:01]
AND SO WE WILL BE STARTING THAT VERY SOON.THAT, THAT BRINGS A BIG SMILE TO ME.
WISCHNEWSKI THAT'S REALLY GREAT.
AND DAVID THAT'S, UH, THAT WAS A GOOD QUESTION.
I MEAN, THINKING ABOUT IT, BUT THAT'S EXCITING, UM, TO HEAR THAT THINGS LIKE THAT ARE GOING ON, UM, AND THE DISTRICTS, YOU KNOW, MAKING THOSE COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS.
UM, I WAS JUST GOING TO, WHILE WE HAD YOU GUYS ON THE LINE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE THROUGHOUT COVID BECAUSE, UM, I KNOW THAT ONCE IT HIT GETTING THOSE MEALS OUT TO KIDS, UM, WHEREVER THEY WERE, UH, WAS SO IMPORTANT, AND I JUST WANTED TO GIVE KUDOS TO Y'ALL'S TEAM BECAUSE I'M VERY THANKFUL FOR THAT.
WHO DOES INGRID MR. SMITH SMITH.
UH, I WAS JUST GOING TO AGREE WITH HIM THAT WHEN THAT'S KEY, UM, I WOULD DEFINITELY LIKE TO GIVE A THANKS TO YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE DURING COVID AND AS WELL AS THE, SAY, I, IN TERMS OF THE PROGRAM THAT MR. SCRIBBLER JUST MENTIONED, UH, AS FAR AS THAT NEXT GUY WILL SAY, UM, I HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF IT, AND I WAS KINDA, I WAS KINDA WONDERING HOW IT, WAS THAT SOMETHING THAT WILL BE COMING BEFORE THE BOARD TO INFORM THE COMMUNITY OR, OR HOW, HOW, WHAT WAS THE PROCESS OF DOING THAT, THE PROCESS OF, OF ZOLA FARMERS? YES.
UM, THAT WAS A NEW DEVELOPMENT, UH, AS FAR AS THE RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY OCCURRED YESTERDAY, UM, WE JUST RECENTLY FOUND OUT ABOUT IT.
UM, SO MY PLAN WAS TO BRING, UM, ACTUALLY I TALKED TO MR. JACKIE FRAZIER YESTERDAY AT THE RIBBON CUTTING AND ASKED HIM IF HE WOULD BE WILLING TO COME PRESENT TO THE BOARD AT SOME POINT, ONCE WE GOT THE PROGRAM UP AND RUNNING.
SO I THINK HE'S DONE THAT YEARS AGO IN THE PAST.
UM, AND HE SAID HE WOULD BE THRILLED TO COME BACK AND HE WOULD LOVE TO, SO WE WANNA, UM, MAKE SURE WE GET THE PROGRAM UP AND RUNNING, GET SOME PICTURES OF FOOD AND KIDS EATING COLLARD GREENS OR WHATEVER, OR, OR, UH, OTHER VEGETABLES AND FRUITS THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE AND, AND MAKE SURE THAT, UM, WE GIVE AN UPDATE TO THE BOARD.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE, UH, SOMETHING THAT WE HAD ALREADY PLANNED TO DO.
UH, MY QUESTION WAS, WHAT WAS THE PROCESS IN GETTING THAT GOING? HOW DID, HOW DID THAT, HOW DID THAT GET STARTED? UM, ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE CO-OP OR ARE THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CO-OP THE OLD RUBBERS, THE MOU, HOW IS THAT BEING DONE? WELL, THERE'S NO MOU OR MOA IN PLACE.
IT'S A, IT WOULD BE A FOOD PURCHASE THAT WE WOULD GO THROUGH PROCUREMENT TO PROCURE ANY FOOD, UM, FOR THE DISTRICT.
BUT THE COPS HAVE BEEN WORKING ON DEVELOPING, UM, THEIR ORGANIZATION FOR OVER 10 YEARS.
AND LARRY WILSON BEING IN THE DISTRICT FOR, FOR SOME TIME HAS BEEN WORKING WITH MEMBERS OF THE CO-OP TO HELP THEM THROUGH THE FEDERAL AND STATE AND LOCAL REGULATIONS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN.
SO HE'S BEEN ACTIVELY WORKING WITH THEM IN PARTNERSHIP, UM, TO DEVELOP THEIR CO-OP AND, AND AS, UH, AN INITIATIVE FOR THE DISTRICT TO BE ABLE TO PARTNER WITH.
SO IT'S, UH, IT'S JUST A OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO, TO PURCHASE FOOD FROM THEIR CO-OP AND, AND KEEP OUR, UH, PURCHASES OF FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES ON A LOCAL, LOCAL, UM, LOCAL, UH, PLATFORM.
AND WHILE WE HAVE THE, HAVE THE, THE, THE, THE US STAFF, I'VE STILL, I JUST WANT TO PUT IT OUT THERE.
UM, I THOUGHT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT FINANCIAL FINANCES, BUT I JUST WANTED TO PLUG THAT WE'RE STILL GETTING JUST A COUPLE OF COMPLAINTS AND REFERENCING TO THE PACKAGING OF THE LUNCHES.
UH, ONCE YOU KIND OF, I KIND OF PUT THAT OUT THERE AND, UH, I FIGURE OUT WHO DO WE KNOW WHEN, WHEN AND HOW TO BEGIN TO HAVE ON THAT? UM, TONYA, YOU WANT ME TO ANSWER THAT ONE? ALL RIGHT, MR. SMITH, WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS, UM, WORKED WITH THE PRINCIPALS TO DECIDE WHICH AVENUE
[00:50:01]
ON WHICH WAY WOULD BE BEST FOR US TO PROVIDE THE MEALS FOR THE KIDS COMING THROUGH THE LINES, UM, WITH INCLUDING SOCIAL DISTANCING FOR THE KIDS.SO THE STYROFOAM COVERED TRAYS.
WE CAME UP WITH THAT IDEA FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS.
ONE IS BECAUSE A LOT OF THE KIDS WERE TAKING THE MEALS BACK TO THE CLASSROOM, AND YOU DON'T WANT, WE DIDN'T WANT SOMEONE TO HAVE A CONTAINER THAT'S OPEN WHERE SOMEONE SNEEZE ON IT AND IT BE AN ISSUE.
SO THAT'S WHY WE CAME UP WITH THE COVER TRAYS FOR THEM.
UM, AND THEN THE CLAMSHELLS THAT WE ARE USING AS FAR AS FOR THE SANDWICH, UM, THE SALADS WE'VE BEEN USING THOSE AT THE SCHOOLS BEFORE COVID, UM, IT GIVES THE STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY SEE THE FOOD THAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO GET AND EAT.
AND, UM, FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS I'VE BEEN WORKING AND HELPING OUT AT BLUFFTON MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND, UM, THE KIDS ARE COMING THROUGH THE LINE AND EVERYTHING, BUT THE PRINCIPALS STILL DON'T WANT THE LINES TO BE BACK UP.
SO KIDS WON'T BE STANDING CLOSE BY DEVAA FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME.
SO WE WORKED WITH EACH OF THE PRINCIPALS, UM, WHEN COVID FIRST CAME OUT LAST YEAR, AND THE DISTRICT OPENED BACK UP IN OCTOBER, WE HAD A MEETING WITH EACH PRINCIPAL TO COME UP WITH AN AVENUE OR A WAY TO SERVE THE MEALS THAT WOULD MEET THEIR NEEDS, AND ALSO TRY TO KEEP THE FOOD, UM, AS HARD AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.
AND I WAS, I GUESS I, WHEN I SAY PACKAGING HOURS, UH, BASICALLY SAYING THAT ALSO THAT PARENTS, THAT STUDENTS WERE COMPLAINING THAT THE FOOD WAS, UH, NOT TASTING IT AND IT, IT NOT ONLY DID NOT LOOK GOOD, IT DIDN'T TASTE GOOD.
AND THE VARIETY HAD THE VARIETY OF WHAT YOU CAN GET HAD CUT DOWN TREMENDOUSLY.
AND THAT BASICALLY THEY GET WHAT WAS IN ONE LINE OR NOT IN IT.
AND THAT WAS JUST A LOT, A LOT OF, A LOT OF PEOPLE QUESTIONING IT NOW.
AND I WANT TO KNOW WHAT BROUGHT THAT ON VERSUS, UH, THE LIMITED TO I'LL ANSWER THAT WILLIAM.
SO PART, PART OF THE ISSUE THAT WE HAVE IS YOU'RE, WE'RE 65 EMPLOYEES DOWN.
WE WERE AT ONE POINT, UM, ABOUT 80 SOMETHING EMPLOYEES DOWN, UM, DIVIDING THAT BETWEEN THE SCHOOLS, UM, SERVICE AND THE SERVICE MODEL THAT WE'RE DOING, THE PACKAGING PART OF WHAT WE'RE DOING IS ACTUALLY, UM, MORE, YOU KNOW, TIME STRAIN ON OUR PEOPLE.
SO WE'VE HAD TO CUT DOWN, UM, WE'VE HAD TO CUT DOWN THE MENU TO BE ABLE TO PRODUCE THE FOOD, TO ACTUALLY GET IT ONTO THE CONTAINER, UH, ONTO THE, UH, THE, UH, THE TRAYS AND ACTUALLY PUSH THEM TO THE CLASSROOMS FOR SERVICE.
UM, SO THE, THE VARIETY AND THE CHOICES WE WENT WITH MORE, UM, I WILL CALL THEM FAMILIAR FOODS, UM, THAT THE KIDS TEND TO LIKE TO EAT.
UM, BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE DOING THAT, YOU'RE SAYING YOU'RE GOING TO SERVE PIZZA ON FRIDAY WITH A SALAD.
UM, YOU KNOW, THAT'S MORE CONDUCIVE THAN MEATLOAF AND MASHED POTATOES.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE OF KIDS EAT THAT KIND OF FOOD.
SO, UH, WE'VE HAD TO LIMIT THE, UH, THE TYPE OF FOOD BASED ON THE SERVICE STYLE THAT WE'RE DOING.
AND WITH THE LIMITED AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT WE'RE DOING, UH, SERVING, UH, IT'S MADE IT, IT'S MADE IT QUITE A CHALLENGE.
AND I HAVE TO COMMEND ALL OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS BECAUSE WE HAVE, UH, WE HAVE SCHOOLS THAT NORMALLY WOULD HAVE FIVE PEOPLE, AND WE'VE GOT TWO, UM, THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, BEING ROCK STARS, TRYING TO KNOCK THIS OUT.
AND I THINK EVERYBODY IN THIS OFFICE, INCLUDING MYSELF, I RAN PRITCHARD BILL FOR A MONTH AND WE STILL HAVE ROBERTA AND, UH, PAT AND A COUPLE OF OTHER PEOPLE IN THESE SCHOOLS REALLY TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE KIDS ARE GETTING A MEAL.
CAUSE THAT REALLY IS OUR MISSION AT THIS POINT IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE KIDS GET A MEAL.
UM, I'M NOT TO SAY THAT THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE SOME COMPLAINTS.
I HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS, ONE LIKES PIZZA, ONE LIKES SALAD.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, IT MAY NOT BE THEIR FAVORITE MEAL OF THE DAY.
UM, BUT WHAT WE ARE SERVING IS BASED ON THE USDA REQUIREMENTS, AS WELL AS THE NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION AND THE CALORIE COUNTS THAT WE ARE GIVEN TO FEED THE STUDENTS.
UM, I'VE BEEN TO THE STUDENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE FROM EACH OF THE HIGH SCHOOLS, ALL FIVE OF THE HIGH SCHOOLS, AND I'LL HAVE THE LAST HIGH SCHOOL AT WILL BRANCH TOMORROW.
AND AT EVERY ONE OF THOSE ADVISORY COMMITTEES.
AND BASICALLY THESE ARE STUDENT LEADERS OF ALL THE NINTH, 10TH, 11TH, AND 12TH GRADE THAT COME IN AND SPEAK TO DR.
RODRIGUEZ ASKED HIM, WHAT'S GOING WELL, WHAT'S NOT GOING SO WELL.
AND EVERY ONE OF THEM, THEY BRING UP THE ISSUE THAT MR. SMITH JUST MENTIONED.
[00:55:01]
EXPLAINS TO THEM WHAT CHALLENGES YOU ALL ARE FACING AND TELLS THEM, HAVE YOU BEEN TO A RESTAURANT LATELY THAT HAVE HAD, OR SERVICE OR NOT HAVE EVERYTHING ON THE MENU AND SO ON, THEY ALL AGREE.AND BY THE END OF THAT LITTLE DISCUSSION, THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING.
AND NOT ONLY IN OUR DISTRICT, BUT IN COUNTY AND OUR NATION BECAUSE OF THE COVID IMPACT AND THE SUPPLY CHAIN PROBLEMS AND SO ON.
SO, UH, WE KNOW THAT YOU'RE DOING THE BEST YOU CAN.
WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT THE STUDENTS KNOW THAT AS WELL.
AND, UH, W WE REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO, AND WE KEEP TELLING THEM IT'S GOING TO GET BETTER.
AND, AND, YOU KNOW, WE'LL BE, WE'LL GET OVER THIS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, THIS BOAT RIDE, PLEASE? WELL, I WAS GOING TO SAY EXACTLY WHAT YOU SAID, AND THEN I THOUGHT I WANTED TO ADD THAT THE STUDENTS THAT WE TALKED TO, YOU KNOW, THAT I'VE TALKED TO, THEY SO APPRECIATE WHAT THE STAFF'S DOING.
A LOT OF THEM WORK IN FOOD AND BEVERAGE THEMSELVES.
AND ONE OF THEM HAD HILTON HAD, THEY WANTED TO HAVE A LITTLE PARADE FOR THEIR FOOD STAFF.
SO THE STUDENTS ARE VERY APPRECIATIVE AND THAT'S SAYING SOMETHING FOR, SO I WANTED TO JUST ADD THAT LITTLE BIT IN.
ANY OTHER, ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO ADD? UH, TANYA, ANY OTHER COMMENTS? OKAY.
UH, DO I HEAR A MOTION TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES REPORT TO THE BOARD? OKAY.
DO I HAVE TO SAY THAT IT'S BEEN MOVING SECOND AND TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF 18 FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES TO THE FULL BOARD, ANY DISCUSSION HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
OPPOSED HEARING NONE MOTION PASSES.
CAN YOU SHOW THE AGENDA AGAIN, PLEASE? ROBIN? UM, I HAD TO TAKE TRISHA'S NAME OFF OF THAT BECAUSE SHE IS NOT HERE ON THIS MEETING.
FUTURE TOPICS, COMMITTEE MEMBERS, MR. CAMPBELL.
UM, I WAS JUST GOING TO REITERATE THAT REQUEST TO SEE WHENEVER TONYA HAS IT AVAILABLE.
I DON'T, WHENEVER THAT'S AVAILABLE ON THE, UM, THE SITE SPECIFIC SPENT EXPENDITURES.
UH, I'D ALSO LIKE TO, UH, MENTIONED THAT BASED ON OUR MEETING YESTERDAY, WE'RE GOING TO BE CHANGING COMMITTEES PROBABLY AT THE FIRST OF THE YEAR, WHICH IS OUR NORMAL PROCEDURE.
I WOULD, UH, LIKE TO TAKE A SHOT AT DISTILLING THE OES OR THAT THE FINANCE COMMITTEE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR, UH, PER OUR DISCUSSION YESTERDAY AND SEND THAT OUT TO COMMITTEE MEMBERS, UH, BEFORE THE FIRST OF THE YEAR OR ANY COMMENTS, ADDITIONS, SUBTRACTIONS, VACATIONS, WHATEVER.
SO THAT WHEN THE NEXT COMMITTEE MEETS, IT KIND OF GIVES THEM A HEADSTART ON LOOKING AT THOSE ZOE'S.
IS, IS, IS THAT ALL RIGHT WITH THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS? THAT'S YEAH, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE DAVID HAD THAT QUESTION ABOUT WHAT WAS IT, 18, 10, OR SOMETHING TODAY AND FELT THAT IT MISSED THE MARK.
SO I THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.
OKAY, THEN WE'LL, UH, WE'LL DO THAT.
ANYTHING ELSE FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER? DO I HEAR A MOTION TO ADJOURN? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.