[00:00:01]
CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY BEAVER COUNTY, BEAUTIFUL COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
[Call to Order]
TO ORDER WE WERE IN THE MEDIA CENTER.THE IDES OF MARCH REQUESTS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT PARTICIPATION WILL BE ACCEPTED BETWEEN FIVE AND 5:30 PM.
BY SENDING AN EMAIL WITH YOUR NAME, PHONE NUMBER AND TOPIC, THE ROBIN CUSHION MARY AT BUFORD K-12 S C DOT U S THAT'S R O B Y N.
YOU WILL RECEIVE A PHONE CALL DURING PUBLIC COMMENTS AND ADDRESS THE BOARD FOR A MAXIMUM OF THREE MINUTES ON ISSUES WITHIN THE BOARD'S DOMAIN.
THE FORM WILL BE LIMITED TO 30 MINUTES.
IF YOU'RE IN PERSON, YOU MAY ADDRESS THE BOARD FOR MAXIMUM OF THREE MINUTES ON ISSUES WITHIN THE BOARD'S DOMAIN.
EACH SPEAKER MUST FILL OUT A PUMP PUBLIC COMMENT CARD.
WE SEE THE BOARD CLERK FOR A CARD REQUEST FOR THE SECOND PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR THE ACCEPTED BETWEEN SEVEN AND SEVEN 30 IN THE SAME MANNER.
SECOND PUBLIC COMMENTS WILL TAKE PLACE PRIOR TO A GERMAN NO LATER THAN 9:00 PM.
SECOND FORM IS LIMITED TO 15 MINUTES IN THE EVENT.
THE BOARD IS NOT FINISHED ADDRESSING ALL ITEMS LISTED ON THIS AGENDA.
WE'LL RECONVENE AT 6:00 PM, MARCH 16TH, TOMORROW.
FINISH THE AGENDA ITEMS. YEAH, OUR FIRST
[Executive Session]
ITEM IS EXECUTIVE SESSION.DO WE HAVE A MOTION? THANK YOU, JESS DRIVEN.
DARE I MOVED AT THE GORDON EDUCATION, GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS RECEIPT OF LEGAL ADVICE RELATED TO TWO PENDING MATTERS COVERED BY THE ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGE PURSUANT TO SOUTH CAROLINA CODE ANNALS, SECTION 34 78 TO REPEATEDLY ICE RELATED TO PARTICIPATE, LEARNING MASTER SERVICES AGREEMENT COVERED BY THE ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGE PURSUANT TO SOUTH CAROLINA, CODY AND OLD SECTION 34 78, 2 AND DISCUSSION OF NEGOTIATIONS INCIDENT TO PROPOSE BLUFFTON HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC EDITION AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO MB COMM CONTRACT PURSUANT TO SOUTH CAROLINA CODE ANNALS, SECTION 34 78 TO AFTER O'BRIEN'S SECOND DISCUSSION.
MR. SMITH, ARE YOU VOTING OR I STARTED QUITE A QUESTION I HAD ABOUT THAT QUESTION.
MY QUESTION WAS WHO WAS GIVEN THIS, UH, LEGAL ADVICE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO GET PAST THE BOARD TODAY? WE HAVE, UH, MR. MATTHEWS.
WE HAVE, UH, MR. DUFF, WE HAVE MS CARTLIDGE AND OTHER STAFF MEMBERS FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
OH, AND WE HAVE, UM, UH, MS. MS. KENNEY, MS. KENNY, UH, UH, AS WELL, UH, ALSO AN ATTORNEY.
WELL, I THINK YOU'RE IN A BAD PLACE.
UM, THIS EVENING WHERE YOU'RE HAVING THROUGH YOUR E OR THE EXECUTIVE SESSION, MANY PEOPLE AREN'T AWARE OF IT, BUT HOMELESSNESS IS A CHALLENGE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS IN BUFORD COUNTY HAVE BEEN WORKING TO COMBAT HOMELESSNESS, BUT THEY CAN'T DO IT ALONE.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO HELP, PLEASE CALL 8 4 3 5 2 1 3 1 5 3
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IT'S TIME.WE ALL WORK TOGETHER TO END HOMELESSNESS IN OUR COUNTY.
AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC MEETING, THERE ARE NO ACTIONS NECESSARY OR APPROPRIATE REGARDING MATTERS, DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSIONS.
[ Approval of Agenda]
IS APPROVAL OF AGENDA.THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR, CHAIRMAN, I MOVE THAT.
WE APPROVE TONIGHT'S AGENDA SECOND.
[Pledge of Allegiance, Moment of Silence, Statement of Media Notification]
THANK YOU.VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE PLEDGE THAT EVERYBODY WAS ON THE SAME RHYTHM, THE SIZE.
WELL, THE MEDIA HAS BEEN PROPERLY NOTIFIED, MOVE TO BURST PUBLIC COMMENTS.
[Public Comments]
UM, GOOD EVENING CHALLENGE THE BOARD DR.RODRIGUEZ, THE AUDIENCE HERE AND VIRTUALLY IT DOESN'T GIVE ME GREAT PLEASURE TO STAND BEFORE YOU ALL DECEIVED.
I WAS TOLD THAT THIS CHANGE TOOK PLACE TWO YEARS AGO.
WE WERE ALL UPSET AND NERVOUS ABOUT THE COVID AND THAT'S WHAT WAS ON OUR MIND.
WE WERE THINKING, BUT THE LOVED ONE WILL LOSE FAMILY AND HAVE THAT UDACITY TO BANK ABOUT CHANGING THE COLORS OF BUFORD HIGH AND REDESIGNING THE LOGO.
AND WHERE IS THE LEGAL AND BINDING AGREEMENT THAT WAS MADE BY THE SCHOOL BOARD? WERE YOU AWARE OF THE CHANGES OF THE SCHOOL COLORS AND THE NEW DESIGN EAGLE PEN IS A DECISION OF THIS MULTITUDE MADE BY ADDING MINUTES GREATER.
WHAT OTHER CHANGES HAVE TAKEN PLACE DURING COVID-19? TO ME THAT NEEDS TO BE INVESTED IN ANYONE, BUT LET US USE FUNDRAISING TO BEAUTIFY THE SCHOOL AND MAKE THE SCHOOL BEAUTIFUL.
[00:10:02]
I LEFT ST.DON'T DO THINK THAT'S AN IMPACT ON ME.
NOW, IF YOU HAVE A HOT THINK ABOUT HOW WE FEEL IT, HOW MANY OF YOU HERE HAVE BEEN TO BUFORD HIGH, SAID HELENA AND ROBERT'S LAWS AND TELL YOU WALKING DOWN TWOS.
THANK YOU HAVE A BLESSED EVENING POINT OF PRIVILEGE.
THERE SEEMS TO DEFINITELY BE A PROBLEM WITH THE AUDIO SYSTEM.
AND SO I DON'T THINK, UH, I SUSPECT PEOPLE THAT ARE CONNECTED REMOTELY ARE NOT HEARING.
UM, WELL, AND I SEE THAT THE MICROPHONE IS GOING ON AND OFF OR HERE, EXCUSE ME, THAT THE MICROPHONE IS GOING ON AND OFF.
SO THE EVENING PUBLIC CALL HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED AND EXCUSE ME, BECAUSE THE POLLEN HAS TAKEN ITS TOLL ON ME.
AFTER THE LAST MEETING I LEFT HERE PERPLEXED THAT THE DECISION THAT HAD JUST THE DISCUSSION THAT HAD JUST TAKEN PLACE, I WAS UNCLEAR IF THE SCHOOL BOARD VOTED FOR THE CHANGES OR THEY AUTHORIZE OR ALLOW CHANGES BY OTHERS.
IF SO, THAT WAS NOT A DECISION THAT WAS HANDLED PROFESSIONALLY DECENT.
AND IN ORDER THE NEW BUFORD HIGH SCHOOL, AS IT RELATES WHEN THE CHANGE TOOK PLACE AND HOW THE THREE BECAME ONE AND THE ISLAND PACKET DATED JUNE 13TH, 2019, AN ARTICLE THAT I READ WAS MOVING AND CAUSED ME TO DIG DEEPER, TO UNDERSTAND THE FRUSTRATION OF THOSE WHO STOOD BEFORE YOU AT THE LAST MEETING, YOU WOULD HAVE HAD TO HAVE BEEN A PART OF THE HISTORIC CHANGE.
IT WAS OBVIOUS TO ME THAT SOME OF THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS MAY HAVE ALSO LEARNED ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL AT THAT MEETING.
THERE WERE, THERE WERE ONLY TWO BOARD MEMBERS THAT SAID THAT THEY ATTENDED ONE OF THE SCHOOLS.
I'M NOT HERE TO JUDGE OR OSTRACIZED INTERVIEW, BUT HOW COULD YOU IN GOOD CONSCIOUS ALLOW THE THOUGHT, LET ALONE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CHANGING THE BUFORD HIGH MASCOT, COLORS AND COLORS, KNOWING THE HISTORY AND THE AGREEMENT AND THE ARTICLE I READ IT STATES THAT THE 1969 SCHOOL BOARD BOARDED FOUR TO THREE IN FAVOR OF COMBINING SCHOOL, WHERE IS THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT? WHAT THE AGREEMENT, IF THERE WAS A VOTE, THERE WAS A MEETING.
AND IF THERE WAS A MEETING, IF THERE WAS A MEETING, THERE WERE MINUTES, HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS OF THIS NATURE SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE ARCHIVES OF THE BUCHANAN SCHOOL DISTRICT IN SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION BASED ON ROLE MEASURING STEP THAT BUFORD HIGH WENT THROUGH TO INTEGRATE THE, UH, THAT PEOPLE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT TOOK TO INTEGRATE THE THREE SCHOOLS.
WHAT AM I SAYING? HERE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH BLACK, WHITE, GREEN, OR BLUE.
IT HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH HEART AND LOVE FOR HUMANITY IN 1971, WHEN INTEGRATION TOOK PLACE AND THE THREE BECAME ONE, ALL THOSE STUDENTS WITH TALK WITH THEM ON DAY.
ONE WERE HARD, SOME FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN AND THE LOVE FOR THEIR SCHOOL.
THEY WERE LEAVING THEIR SCHOOL NAME COLORS, AND THE MASCOT, THE BALD EAGLE AND IMPLEMENTING OR SUGGESTING CHANGES.
WAS THERE A COMMITTEE GROUP OR PERSONS THAT DECIDED THESE CHANGES? IF SO, WHO WERE THEY WHO CHOSE THEM? HOW MANY MEMBERS IN THE ALUMNI WERE THERE ANY ALUMNI? WAS THERE A SURVEY DONE BEFORE, DURING OR AFTER? IF SO, DID THEY KNOW THE HISTORY OF THE BUFORD HIGH SCHOOL AND THE STRUGGLE IT MADE IN THE STATE'S EFFORT TO INTEGRATION? I TRULY FEEL THAT YOU SHOULD RELOOK OR LOOK TO ENSURE THAT THIS DOES NOT HAVE MORE TO SAY, BUT ONCE YOU GET A COPY OF THIS, UM, WE BACK HERE TODAY, I GUESS, TO GO OVER THE SAME THING WENT OVER THE LAST WEEK.
I FEEL THAT IT JUST NEEDED TO BE CHANGED.
IT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT'S HEARTBROKEN ABOUT THAT DECISION TO CHANGE.
LIKE I SAID BEFORE, MY PAST EAGLES SAY HELL ON THE HIGH SCHOOL, ME AND MY SIBLINGS ALL WAS EAGLES BUFORD HIGH SCHOOL.
[00:15:01]
SOMEONE JUST HAD THE AUDACITY TO CHANGE THE EAGLE AND PUT IT IN A CIRCLE IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.IT DON'T EVEN LOOK LIKE THAT ORIGINAL MASCOT.
THE ORIGINAL MASCOT IS A BALL EAGLE THAT FLIES THAT'S STRONG AND GRACEFUL, AND WE NEED THAT BACK.
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE'S UPSET ABOUT IT.
AND I JUST HOPE YOU ALL HAVE SOMETHING IN YOUR HEART TO FEEL WHERE WE COMING FROM, BECAUSE THIS WAS DONE WAY BEFORE A LOT OF US WAS EVEN HERE, YOU KNOW, 1969.
I WAS ONE YEAR OLD, THE FIRST CLASS OF BUFORD HIGH COMBINED NINTH CLASS OF 71.
I WAS TWO, THREE ILL, BUT THAT LEGACY LIVE IN ME AND WE NEED THAT BACK.
THANK YOU, MR. STEVEN GREEN UNTIL AFTER WHAT SIR.
WELL, THAT WOULD BE THE SECOND PUBLIC COMMENTS.
I'M GLAD TO BE HERE WHERE I'M ABLE TO VOICE MY OPINION AND MY CONCERNS.
I WAS THERE DOING INTEGRATION.
I WAS THERE WHEN THE THREE SCHOOLS COMBINED AND CHOSE THE MASCOT, THE EAGLE, THE COLORS, GREEN AND WHITE FROM ROBERT SMALLS EAGLE FROM SOME HELENA AND THE NAME BUFORD HIGH SCHOOL.
I WAS THERE WHEN A CLASS OF 500 AND SOMETHING, UH, GRADUATES GRADUATED FROM BUFORD HIGH.
THE FIRST COMBINED CLASS I WAS THERE WHEN WE HAD TO DO MORNING CLASSES AND AFTERNOON CLASSES IN ORDER TO FIT EVERYONE BECAUSE THERE WAS ONLY ONE HIGH SCHOOL THAT WAS BUFORD HIGH SCHOOL.
SO AS WE LOOK BACK AT THAT, AND AS I LOOK UPON THE FIELD, THE FOOTBALL FIELD, AND I LOOK AT THE SCHOOL BOARD AND THE PRESS BOX, AND I SEE THE REBRANDING OF THAT EAGLE AND THIS HAS DONE SUBTLY.
AND IF WE DON'T COME FORTH AND LET YOU ALL KNOW WHAT WE DON'T LIKE AND SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PUT UP WITH, YOU WILL NOT KNOW.
I DON'T KNOW WHEN THIS HAPPENED, BUT WHEN WE CELEBRATE OUR 50TH CLASS REUNION, WE NOTICED THE FIELD AND A LETTER WAS WRITTEN TO THE PRINCIPAL AND HER RESPONSE WAS NOT THAT GREAT, BUT WE WILL NOT SETTLE FOR THAT.
WE'RE LOOKING FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
THE MASCOT AGAIN IS THE EAGLE.
THE REBRANDING IS THE HEAD OF THE EAGLE IN THE CIRCLE AND THE COLORS.
SOME OF THEM HAS BEEN CHANGED TO GRAY, UM, TO THE UNIFORMS, THE, UM, GYM, THE SEATS ARE NOW GRAY WITH BLACK AND GREEN LETTERING.
AND I UNDERSTAND ONE OF THE, UM, UH, UM, TEAMS THEY'RE WEARING, UM, BLACK UNIFORMS. UM, SO WE NEED TO REALLY DOUBLE THINK.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL KNOW THE HISTORY, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF HISTORY AND WE DON'T WANT OUR HISTORY LOSS AS AFRICA KIND OF AMERICANS, MANY THINGS HAVE BEEN SWEPT UNDER THE RUG AND COVERED OVER.
SO WITH BUFORD HIGH SCHOOL AND THE HISTORY THAT COMES FORTH WITH THE THREE SCHOOLS COMING TOGETHER, DOING INTEGRATION, WHICH WAS A HARD TIME FOR ALL OF US.
WE DON'T WANT IT SWEPT UNDER THE RUG.
WE WANT IT TO REMAIN GREEN AND WHITE, THE EAGLE MASS, THAT HIGH FLYING EAGLE AS THE MASCOT AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT GOES WITH A BUFORD HIGH SCHOOL.
WE DON'T MIND CHANGE, BUT WHEN YOU MAKE CHANGES, IT NEEDS TO BE A COLLECTIVE EFFORT, NOT JUST ONE PERSON OR TWO PERSONS, THE COMMUNITY WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THIS.
AND WE'RE HOPING THAT YOU SEE FIT TO INVESTIGATE ALL OF THIS.
[00:20:05]
GOOD EVENING, DOUG RODRIGUEZ, UH, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.I LIKE TO START WITH THE FACT THAT THERE ARE SOME THAT SAY DESPITE THE HISTORY, UH, THIS IS ACTUALLY A LOGO.
THIS IS A LOGO, BUT THIS SO-CALLED LOGO.
DOESN'T IDENTIFY EAGLE MUCH LESS A BALD EAGLE OR FIGHTING EAGLE.
IN FACT, YOU CAN'T EVEN TELL WHAT TYPE OF BIRD IT IS.
THIS RUNS VERY DEEP, NOT ONLY FROM A COMMUNITY STANDPOINT, BUT PERSONAL.
MY GRANDMOTHER, AGNES SHERMAN WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN FEMALE ELECTED TO THE SCHOOL BOARD, REPRESENTING ST.
HELENA YOU IN THAT TIME, SHE AND OTHERS ON THE BOARD WORKED TIRELESSLY WITH TIME AND EFFORT TO ENSURE THEY COMPROMISE FOR WHAT WAS THE BUFORD NAME, THE EAGLE MASCOT AND THE GREEN AND WHITE.
I SHOULD HOPE THAT THIS BOARD DOES THE SAME TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WRITE THE WRONG, OUR HISTORY, OUR HERITAGE, AND OUR LEGACY.
HERBERT GLASS, THE CHAIRMAN TO THE BOAT TO AND I PAID BEFORE.
YOU HAD A WONDERFUL MEETING WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT LAST FRIDAY.
AND AT THAT MEETING, HE SHOWED ME A COPY THAT I CC I WILL CC YOU ON, UH, ON EMAILS.
SO ABOUT THE EAGLE, ABOUT THE ORIGIN, WHICH ACID.
AND IF I MAY, IF I MADE A MISTAKE, UH, AS ONE, BUT I WANT TO READ TO YOU THE RESPONSE FROM A PARTICULAR EMAIL THAT I WAS LIVING.
I'VE ONE, SINCE I WAS ATTACHED TO THE EMAIL, I COULD NOT READ WHAT WAS MENTIONED, THAT NO FEEDBACK, THE MASCOT CHANGES CLEMSON, USC.
TO ME, I HAVE NO SIGNIFICANT TUBULE FOR HIGH.
THIS WAS A STRUGGLE FROM 1964, KNOWING SEGREGATION OF SCHOOLS, THERE'S PROCESSES ENDED UP IN FEDERAL CODES IN THE SPRING, 1969, PERHAPS CLEMSON AND USC CHANGE FOR THE SAKE OF CHANGING.
HOWEVER, AT THE TIME IT WAS MANDATED BY FEDERAL CODE, THAT THE MASCOT, THE FIGHTING EAGLE FROM ST.
HELENA, CARLOS GREEN AND WHITE ROBERT SMALLS, AND THE SCHOOL BUFORD HIGH FROM THE TIDAL WAVES THAT THAT WAS MENTIONED, THEN IT'S OKAY TO CHANGE THE NAME OF THE SCHOOL TO LET US OUT ON AN HONORS HIGH SCHOOL.
TO ME, THIS IS A TOTAL UNDERMINING.
WHAT THOSE INDIVIDUALS PRIOR TO YOU ALL FOUGHT, WENT TO JAIL ATTACK AND HOSPITALIZED FOR THIS TO HAPPEN.
I CAN ASSURE THAT CLEMSON AND USC DID NOT GO THROUGH THE STRUGGLE, CHANGE THEIR MASCOT.
IT APPEARS THAT NO ONE IS LISTENING OR TAKING MATTER.
SERIOUSLY, PRIOR TO THESE CHANGES, NO ONE CAN THROUGH THE WIRELESS SMALL HISTORICAL PRESERVATION, OUR ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OF SAN HELENA IN REGARD TO THE CHANGE AND DIFFERENT EAGLES, DIFFERENT EAGLES THAT WE SEE SHOW IN OUR FAVOR.
WHY SHOWS IN OUR FAVOR? BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE TOO CONSISTENT ABOUT BEING INCONSISTENT.
AND EVERY TIME HE GOT A NEW COACHING, THEY PUT A DIFFERENT DIMENSION TO THE THING.
THE ONLY LEGACY THEY ARE NOW IS THE NAM PEOPLE IN HIGH SCHOOL.
THE EAGLE HAS NO LEGACY, AND WE ARE STILL HERE.
PEOPLE WILL BE LONG AND GONE, BUT WE WILL STILL HAVE STRUGGLING.
IT SEEMED LIKE AS DJ VU ALL OVER AGAIN.
THANK YOU, MR. TERAN SANDERS TO THE CHAIRMAN, COULD THE BOARD NUMBER.
I'M HERE TO SAY I'M MY 1977 GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL.
I FIRST CAME IN 1974 AS A FRESHMEN.
IT WAS DUE TO INTEGRATION TOWN.
WHEN HE SAID WE HAD TO DO TO ROB THE SMALLEST COME TO BE BACK AT THAT TIME, WE WERE PROUD TO GO INTO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AS EVIL, ALL DIVA COLORS, GREEN AND WHITE IS REPRESENTING JUSTIN.
[00:25:01]
NOW THIS OLD SAYING, IF IT'S NOT BROKE, DON'T FIX IT.SOMETHING WAS DEFINITELY BROKE.
THE COMMUNITY WAS NOT INVOLVED WITH THIS CHANGE.
AND YOU WILL HEAR ABOUT WHAT THE COMMUNITY HAS TO SAY.
NOW I'M AGAIN, I'M ASKING YOU ALL.
Y'ALL DON'T HAVE TO HAVE ME REMEMBER TO BE GOOD HIGH SCHOOL.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE THE HIGH SCHOOL, DON'T CHANGE THE COLOR GREEN AND WHITE PEOPLE HAVE DIED.
PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN BEATEN UP TO BOND WITH THE THREE SCHOOLS, THE GOVERNMENT THAT'S JUST DON'T CHANGE LEGACY BANG.
I'D SCREW YOUR NAME OUT LIKE THAT.
PROTOCOL HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED.
I'M PROUD OF NOT THE 52 GRADUATE OF ROBERT SMALLS HIGH SCHOOL.
I SERVED AS THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT ROBINSON HIGH SCHOOL AND AT PROVEN HIGH SCHOOL, MOST IMPORTANTLY, I SERVE, I BUILD HIGH SCHOOL DURING A TRANSITIONAL PERIOD, BUT THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST CHARLES INFERIOR THREE HAVE EVER HAD AND DIFFERENT KIND OF SCHOOL SYSTEM.
WE HAVE SUCH SMOOTH SAILING DURING THE TRANSITION PERIOD THAT PEOPLE CONDUCT THE CAMP, THE MODEL FOR THE WHOLE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, EVERYONE CAME TO FIND OUT WHAT WE'RE DOING.
I RAN REASONABLY GOOD PLANNING OUT OF THE PLANNING PRINCIPLE FROM BEAVERTON HIGH SCHOOL, MR. HENDERSON, ROBERT HIGH SCHOOL, MR. JACOB RICHARDSON, ST.
AND ONE OF THE MAN THING, THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS BRING SOMETHING FROM HIS SCHOOL, THAT ROLE FOR THE STUDENT, SOMETHING ER, FOREVER.
AND SO THAT THE STUDENTS HAVE SOMETHING TO CHALLENGE THEM.
AND I SAID, THIS TAN FROM MY SCHOOL AND THIS SOURCE BE EVERLASTING.
SO NOW BE DIFFERENT HIGH SCHOOL FROM BUPA HIGH SCHOOL, THE COLOR GREEN OR WHITE ROBIN SMALLEST HIGH SCHOOL MASCOT EAGLE FROM ST.
HELENA HIGH SCHOOL AND THIS POSSIBLY FOREVER.
NOW ABOUT ROBINSON FALLS ASSOCIATION.
THEY SAID THAT MAN'S THING WAS, LET'S NOT FORGET TO REMEMBER.
SO I'M ACTUALLY NOT FORGET TO REMEMBER THAT THE COLLEGE HAS TO BE GREEN AND WHITE MASCOT BECAUSE THE EAGLE, THANK YOU, GERALDINE DYE.
OH, I'M SORRY AT THE CLOCK STOP.
I COME BEFORE YOU AGAIN TONIGHT.
I'M KIND OF FULL BECAUSE IT BRINGS BACK MEMORIES, HARD NUMBERS, BUT I'M GOING BACK TO THE HISTORY.
SO WE ALL KNOW THE HISTORY, BUT I'M GOING WAY BACK IN THE SUPREME COAT PLASTER AND FERGUSON DECIDED IN 1896, RULED THAT SEGREGATION WAS LEGAL AS LONG AS IT WAS SEPARATE BUT EQUAL.
HOWEVER YOU FOR COUNTY SPENT $38 AND 72 CENTS PER WHITE STUDENT AND $13 PER BLACK STUDENT.
THIS HAPPENED IN 1910, TOTAL ENROLLMENT OF WHITE STUDENT WITH 600 TOTAL EXPENDITURES FOR WHITE OR $38 AND 72 CENTS.
TOTAL ENROLLMENT FOR BLACK STUDENTS.
WE HAD 3,498 STUDENTS AND GETTING THREE, $3, 18 CENTS.
BUT EACH STUDENT, 1950, TOTAL ENROLLMENT FOR WHITE, 1,503 TOTAL EXPENDITURE $188.
TOTAL BLACK ENROLLMENT, 4,030 STUDENTS.
[00:30:01]
GETTING $72.THIS WAS BROUGHT ABOUT INTEGRATION.
HOWEVER, IN REGARDS TO BROWN VS THE BOARD OF EDUCATION IN 1954, THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES FOUND THAT RACIALLY SEGREGATED SCHOOLS WERE INHERENTLY DISCRIMINATOR AND VIOLATED THE 14TH AMENDMENT OF THE STATE CONSTITUTION.
BRETT GUARANTEEING ALL CITIZENS EQUAL PROTECTION OF THE LAW.
AND UNDER THE PASSAGE OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964, TITLE SIX BUFORD COUNTY SCHOOL WOULD LOSE FEDERAL FUNDING.
IF THE DISTRICT CONTINUED TO OPERATE ALL BLACK AND ALL WHITE SCHOOL.
SO THE CHANGING ABOUT EAGLE MASCOT AND I'LL BRING IN WHITE COLLAR WOULD BE A DISGRACE TO THE HISTORICAL LEGACY OF BUFORD HIGH.
I HAVE, UM, EACH ONE OF YOUR BOARD MEMBERS.
IF YOU WILL, AT YOUR COPIES, THIS IS OUR EAGLE RIGHT HERE.
THIS IS WHAT UNFAMILIAR SEEM LIKE.
THE CHILDREN MIGHT GET SCARED IF IT LOOKS AWFUL, WE HAD NO INPUT IN IT.
I WOULD SAY TO YOU, THIS IS ANOTHER, I WOULD SAY TO YOU JUST BE FEARFUL OF WHAT DON'T GO BACK.
THANK YOU, MR. ARNOLD B UH, GOOD EVENING.
AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AT THE SCHOOL BOARD.
UM, THIS IS A YEARBOOK FROM THE CLASS OF 1971.
THIS IS A COMBINED YEARBOOK OF BLACK KIDS, WHITE KIDS FROM BEHIND ROBINSON BALLS AND SOME HELMET.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT, IT HAS, THE EAGLE HAS THE NAME AND IT HAS THE NAME OF YOUTH AT HIGH, A CLASS OF 1971.
UH, THE OTHER THING I WANT TO SAY IS THAT, UH, LET'S REMEMBER OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN UKRAINE.
WE PROBABLY DON'T WANT TO CHANGE PLACES WITH THEM.
BECAUSE THEY ARE BEING PRESSURED RULE BY PUTIN.
WHO'S A DICTATOR WHO DOES NOT LISTEN TO THE WORLD.
IN FREEDOM OF CHOICE, I ATTENDED BUFORD JUNIOR HIGH, SIXTH GRADE, SEVENTH GRADE, FOUR YEARS AT EUCLID HIGH.
AND I EVENTUALLY MOBILE SCHOOL BUS IN NINTH GRADE, 10TH GRADE, 11TH GRADE AND 12TH GRADE.
I PICKED UP ALL THE BLACK AND WHITE KIDS WHO MADE THAT CHOICE TO GO TO BUFORD HIGH SCHOOL, GO TO THE DIFFERENT SCHOOLS, FRICK BILE, AND HUNTING ISLAND, ALL OF A SUDDEN HELMA POSSIBLY DISSOLVED.
UH, AT THE LAST MEETING, MR. ROLAND DARDEN MENTIONED THAT THERE WERE TWO STUDENTS FROM BUFORD HIGH, TWO FOR ROBIN SMALLS AND TWO, FOUR FROM SAM HELLMAN.
THEY GOT TOGETHER AND MADE DECISIONS.
AND WE HAD RECOMMENDATION THAT WAS ECHOED BRIBE, DR.
COOKSON, THIS AFTERNOON, BUFORD KEPT ITS NAME AND KEPT ITS SOUND.
THE ALMA MODEL SENT HIM HOME AND KEPT THE EAGLE ROCK WITH SOME HOLES, KEPT THE COLORS.
STEVE BRENE MENTIONED THAT THIS WAS UNAUTHORIZED CHANGE IN THE LAST MEETING.
IF I HAVE TIME, I'LL TELL YOU ABOUT THE REBEL FLAG THAT USED TO BE DISPLAYED AT BUFORD FIVE.
UH, SO IT WAS A GOOD FAITHFUL DECISION THAT WAS MADE BACK IN 1970 OR 69 LATER.
SO LET'S STAY WITH THAT CHANGE.
STAY WITH THE CHANGE THAT WAS MADE IN 1970, GO WITH THE CHANGE THAT'S HERE.
WHAT, WHERE ARE THE ADULTS THAT MADE THE CHANGE? THEY ARE NOT HERE TONIGHT REPRESENTING THEIR CHANGE.
SO IT SEEMS TO BE A NO BRAINER IF THEY DON'T FEEL THAT STRONGLY ABOUT IT, THEN THIS IS, THIS IS EASY, BUT THEY'RE NOT HERE TO REPRESENT AND PROMOTE THEIR CHANGE.
UH, OR WE CAN PUT EVERYTHING ON THE TABLE, ALL THE CHANGES ON THE TABLE TO STUDENTS FROM BUFORD HIGH TO FARMERS, STUDENTS FROM SELMA TO FORMER STUDENTS FROM, UH, ROBIN SMILES AND PUT EVERYTHING ON THE TABLE, LET THEM MAKE A DECISION AGAIN, AS THE GOOD DECISION THAT THEY'VE MADE BEFORE, OR JUST STICK WITH
[00:35:01]
THE DECISION THAT WAS MADE IN 1970.THAT WOULD BE THE THING THAT'S.
THANK YOU, REVEREND JOSEPH BRYAN, MR. MICHAEL RIVERS.
HI REPRESENTATIVE RIVERS ONLY.
UM, ONE GOOD THING BEING THAT THIS WAS A SCHOOL BOARD, MR. RODRIGUEZ AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.
UM, WE'RE IN THE TEACHING BUSINESS AND WHENEVER YOU MAKE MISTAKES, THAT'S WHY THEY PUT ERASERS ON PENCILS AND EVERYONE MAKES MISTAKES.
SO, AND I THINK IT'S BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THIS IS A MISTAKE BASED ON THE HISTORY OF WHAT WAS GOING ON.
UM, AND, BUT MY CONCERN IS JUST FROM BEING HERE A FEW YEARS AGO, UM, IT JUST SEEMS TO ME THAT THERE WAS SOME BOARD POLICY THAT WOULD PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING, UM, IN A VACUUM.
UM, SO I'M, I'M, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
AND MAYBE I FORGOT SOMETHING, BUT AS I SIT HERE AND LISTEN TO ROBERT SMALLS, I THINK ABOUT SOME ELEMENT AND WHAT'S GOING ON IN UKRAINE, WHAT SOMEONE HAS MENTIONED.
AND SOMETIME IT SEEMS LIKE THOSE WHO HAVE THE LEAST PERCEIVED POWER ARE THE ONES WHO GET RAN OVER SOMETIMES.
AND, AND IN THIS SITUATION, I THINK OF ROBIN SMALLS, HIGH SCHOOL, AS I REMEMBER IT, WHERE THEY WANTED TO RECONSTRUCT OR BILL THE SCHOOL, UM, WHERE THE COMPLEX IS NOW, UM, THERE WAS TALK ABOUT MAYBE IT WILL BE TOO MUCH CONCRETE OR SOMETHING NEGATIVE WHERE A LARGE BUILDING OR A SCHOOL COULDN'T GO THERE, BUT NOW WE HAVE A COMPLEX THERE.
SO WHEN YOU SEE THAT, AND NOW YOU FAST FORWARD TO NOW AND THE EAGLE IS TRYING TO BE RACED, AND THEN YOU SAY, WELL, WOW, IS THIS HAPPENING AGAIN? UM, SO I REALLY WANT US TO NOT DIG INTO CORNERS, BUT BE FLEXIBLE ENOUGH TO SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE BEST DECISION SOMETIMES NEEDS TO BE MODIFIED.
AND, UM, IT'S KINDA INSULTING REALLY FOR ME, 1976, GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL.
AND I WANTED TO SAY SOME HELL BECAUSE WHEN I WAS COMING UP, I WOULD ALWAYS LOOK AT MR. GLOVER RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE I WANT YOU TO GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL, BUT THAT WAS TAKEN FROM US.
AND NOW IT SEEMS THAT, YOU KNOW, THE EAGLE IS BEING TAKEN AGAIN.
AND I JUST ASKED YOU, UM, PUMP YOUR BRAKES, BUT IT IN REVERSE, YOU WAS RIGHT.
UM, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY LOVES OUR CULTURE, BUT IT SEEMS THAT OUR CULTURE OFTEN GETS STEPPED ON.
AND THEN WE'RE SUPPOSED TO JUST GO ALONG WITH IT AND ROLL WITH THE PUNCHES.
UM, SO, UM, AND I'M GONNA LEAVE ON BACK IN THE SEVENTIES, AS YOUR BROTHERS HAD A SONG OUT, FIGHT THE POWER AND WE'VE COME SO FAR BACK IN THE SEVENTIES, HE WAS THE BLEAKER PART OF THE SONG OUT, BUT THEY DON'T BELIEVE THAT ANYMORE.
BUT ALL I'M SAYING IS THAT REMEMBER US.
AND WHEN I LIKE, WHEN HE SAID, NEVER FORGET TO REMEMBER, THANK YOU, TANNER AND PATRICK BATTISTA, I'M FROM RIVER RIDGE.
MY NAME IS AND I'M FROM RIVER RIDGE AND I'M FIRST GRADE.
SO NOT THAT GREAT TO US SCHOOL.
I'M JUST SO NOT IN THAT GRADE TO US THIS YEAR, WE MADE A PETITION FOR PEOPLE TO SIGN.
AND HERE ARE A FEW OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE DIDN'T, THAT WE DID NOT LIKE ABOUT THE SCHOOL LUNCH.
THE LUNCH IS NEVER WHAT IS LISTED ON THE MENU.
SOMETIMES IF A KID WANTS TO GET LUNCH AND IT'S NOT CORRECT
[00:40:01]
ON THE MENU AND THEY HAVE ALLERGIES, WHAT WILL THEY EAT? THE SCHOOL LUNCH IS NEVER ENOUGH.SCHOOL LUNCHES OFTEN TASTES BAD AND SOMETIMES OLD FOOD IS SERVED JUST TO GET RID OF IT BEFORE IT ROTS.
KIDS NEED ENOUGH NUTRITION TO BE ABLE TO EAT IT A LOT, LEARN AND FOCUS ON SCHOOLWORK.
IF THERE IS NOT ENOUGH FOOD, IT'S HARD TO CONNIE TRAIT, ALSO BAD FOOD, HIS SHIRT, HIS HAND, GET SICK, PLEASE SIGN SIGNAGE PETITION.
IF YOU WANT TO HAVE SCHOOL LUNCHES.
SO HE CAN HAVE HER VOICE HEARD BY THOSE WHO MAKE THE DECISIONS ABOUT HER SCHOOL.
ALL MY NAME IS GERALDINE DAWSON, AND I AM A 1971 GRADUATE OF BUFORD HIGH SCHOOL OF THE FIRST GRADUATING CLASS OF THE NEW BUFORD HIGH SCHOOL BE COMBINED EFFORT HAS TO HAVE ROBERT SMALLS, HIGH ST.
PRIOR TO THAT, I WAS A FREEDOM OF CHOICE, BUFORD HIGH STUDENT.
WHEN IN 1965, WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHOOSE WHERE WE WANTED TO GO.
UM, WHEN INTEGRATION WAS BEING INSTITUTED AND IMPLEMENTED IN THE SOUTH, I CHOSE TO GO TO BUFORD HIGH SCHOOL AND THE BUFORD HIGH SCHOOL CLUSTER.
I STARTED AT ME FOR JUNIOR HIGH IN 1965 AND GRADUATED IN 1970.
IT WAS A PLEASURE TO SEE THE SCHOOLS COME TOGETHER.
THE HIGHEST THE THREE HIGH SCHOOLS COME TOGETHER WITHOUT HAVING TO BE MANDATED FEDERALLY.
LIKE I'D SEEN EVEN IN THE NORTH, IN OHIO AND SOME OTHER PLACES.
SO TO HAVE SOMEONE COME ALONG WITHOUT DOING ANY RESEARCH, ANY BACKGROUND, ANY QUERY AT ALL, AS TO HOW WE GOT TO BE BUFORD HIGH SCHOOL EAGLES IS AN INSULT.
COATSON STATED HE AND SEVERAL OTHER STUDENTS, AND I HAD SOME CLASSMATES INVOLVED WERE PART OF THAT COMING TOGETHER AND COMPROMISING.
AND IT WAS A VERY, VERY PLEASURABLE THING I WISH.
AND I ASK THAT IT BE RECONSIDERED.
THERE'D BE NO CHANGES BECAUSE YOU'RE STEPPING ON THE HISTORY OF THE CULTURE.
YOU'RE STEPPING ON THE HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL.
YOU'RE STEPPING ON THE HISTORY OF THE COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU, MRS. MARGARET SIMMONS.
I'M A 1979 GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL.
AND I COACHED AT BUFORD HIGH SCHOOL FROM 1987 TO 1998, FROM 2015 TO 2018.
MY QUESTION IS WHY WAS THIS ALLOWED TO BE DONE? WHY IS IT TAKING SO LONG FOR THOSE IN POWER TO DIRECT THOSE THAT MADE THOSE CHANGES TO CHANGE IT BACK TO THE WAY IT WAS THE SCHOOL NAME, COLOR MASCOT IS A NON-NEGOTIABLE.
AS LONG AS THERE IS A BUFORD HIGH SCHOOL IN BUFORD, SOUTH CAROLINA, IT COLORS WILL BE GREEN AND WHITE ONLY.
AND ITS MASCOT WILL BE THE ORIGINAL EAGLE.
THAT WAS, THAT HAS WINGS FROM 1971 PRINCIPALS, ATHLETIC DIRECTORS, CHOIR DIRECTORS, BAND DIRECTORS, COACHES, STAFF, TEACHERS, ALL PERSONS AFFILIATED WITH BEEF.
[00:45:01]
TOOL TO BE MADE AWARE OF THAT.WHEN YOU CHANGE THE NAME OF THE SCHOOL, THE SCHOOL MASCOT OR THE SCHOOL COLOR, YOU ARE CHANGING OR ERASING HISTORY, WHETHER YOU REALIZE IT OR NOT, YOU ARE ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE WHAT CAME FROM ROBERT SMELLS IN SOME HELENA AND KEEP, BUT CAME FROM EVEN HIGH SCHOOL.
YOU DON'T GET TO ERASE HISTORY BECAUSE IT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD ENOUGH TO YOU.
WE HAVE COME TOO FAR TO GO BACKWARDS.
YOU HAVE TO LIVE WITH IT, EVEN WHEN IT MAKES YOU FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE.
I BELIEVE WE HAVE THREE PHONE CALLS, SO THERE ARE CONCERNS IN REGARDS TO MAINTAINING HISTORY.
I'M GOING TO HAVE YOU REPEAT, UH, DO YOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS AGAIN.
IT DID NOT GET PICKED UP BY THE MIND, BUT BY FILLING IT GOOD AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS AUDREY COPAXONE.
I AM THE ALUMNUS OF THE BUFORD HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1984.
I BELIEVE THAT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO MAINTAIN OUR COLORS, MAINTAIN OUR MASCOT.
AND OF COURSE OUR NAME, THE COMBINING OF THOSE TWO, THREE INSTITUTIONS THAT CAME TOGETHER WERE IMPORTANT PART OF HISTORY.
AND THAT DOES NEED TO BE MAINTAINED.
AS FAR AS OUR SCHOOLS ARE CONCERNED.
WE, IF THERE DOES NEED TO BE A CHANGE THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION AND DEFINITELY THE ALUMNI NEEDS TO BE INVOLVED IN THAT.
BUT IF THE MANDATES HAVE INDICATED AS A PART OF THE DESEGREGATION PROCESS, THAT THE NAME, THE MASCOT AND THE COLORS WORK SUPPOSED TO BE A PERMANENT PART OF BEEF AT HIGH SCHOOL, THEN I FEEL THAT IT SHOULD REMAIN THAT WAY.
I'M CALLING ME FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
I'M GOING TO PUT YOU ON SPEAKER PHONE.
IF YOU COULD STATE YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME AND YOUR PURPOSE OF SPEAKING, ARE YOU READY? OKAY.
[00:50:01]
AFTER ORIGINALLY FROM FORT ROYAL SOUTH CAROLINA, I WENT TO ROBERT SMALL SCHOOL AND UH, SIXTIES IN THE SEVENTIES, UH, UPSTANDING SCHOOL.IT'S ONE OF THE ONE THAT'S ALWAYS ON MY MIND AND ON MY HEART AND BACK IN NATURE.
AND IN THE EARLY SEVENTIES, WE, WHEN THE SCHOOL WAS UNDER MANDATORY, UH, DESEGREGATION, WHERE YOU VOTED, YOU COULD HIDE, HIT THE NAME.
BUFORD HOT COLOR WOULD BE ROBERT SMALL COLOR.
THE MASCOT WOULD BE FINN, ELLA, THE EAGLE, THAT'S THE WAY WE VOTED AND IT SHOULD STAY THAT WAY.
WE FROM ROBERT SMALLS, WE EARN THAT.
WE'VE LEARNED TO KEEP THAT NAME AND TO KEEP THAT COLOR WHY? WELL, WHEN WE WAS GOING TO SCHOOL, WE HIT THE SMELL, THE LANDFILL DURING LUNCH HOUR.
THAT'S WHAT WE SMELLED THE LANDFILL.
WE CAN DO A USED BOOK FROM BUFORD HIGH.
WE GOT USED SCHOOL BUS WITH EVERYBODY ELSE HAS ALREADY USED AND WENT THROUGH, BUT WE MUSTERED UP THE COURAGE TO CONTINUE DOING IT.
IT WAS A LOT OF WORK AND A LOT OF VERY GOOD EDUCATORS AT ROBIN SMALL HIGH SCHOOL.
THEY'VE ALREADY HAD ENOUGH CHANGES.
THEY TOOK THE PROPERTY AS A WAY SAYING THAT THE PROPERTY WOULD SINKING AND WHATNOT.
THEN THEY BUILT OFF THE HOME BUILDING.
THEY BUILT A BEAUTIFUL COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER AND WHATNOT.
AND IF IT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH, IF IT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR THE GOVERNMENT CENTER, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN GOOD ENOUGH FOR THE SCHOOL.
YEAH, SOME CLUNKY REPUBLICAN THAT'S, BUT IF HE WAS FAKED YOUR FIRST AND YOUR LAST NAME, I'M GONNA PUT YOU ON SPEAKER PHONE.
HOW IS EVERYBODY DOING THAT COULD HAVE MADE IT TONIGHT, BUT, UH, FORTUNATELY I HAD TO CALL IN EVERY MOMENT THEY SAW.
I'LL TRY TO MAKE IT SHORT AND SWEET.
UM, I JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, SWITCH GEARS A LITTLE BIT, UM, SOME GREAT PRESENTERS TONIGHT, AND IT'S REALLY AMAZING THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE COMING OUT TO TALK ABOUT A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, UM, PREVIOUS HISTORY IN BUFORD, GOOD STUFF, BUT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.
UM, THE SCHOOL BOARD HERE HAS, HAS VIOLATED THE RIGHTS, UM, SOUTH CAROLINA LAWS AND FEDERAL LAWS, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, AND JUST FOLLOWED, UM, YOU KNOW, ILLEGAL POLICY.
SO, UM, MULTIPLE TIMES WE'VE EMAILED CALLED ATTENDED MEETINGS TO POINT OUT THESE ILLEGAL ACTS, UH, IN DETAIL.
AND MOST TIMES YOU GUYS USE D HECK AS A SHIELD.
UM, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU THOUGHT IT WOULD PROVIDE, UM, YOU KNOW, COVER OR A WAY FOR YOU TO AVOID, UH, ANSWERING THE PARENTS AND, UM, YOU KNOW, OR BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DID.
BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF HOLDING YOU GUYS ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE, BUT I THINK THE MORE IMPORTANT THING IS YOU GUYS NEED TO START COMING UP WITH A PLAYBOOK AND A PROCESS TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN.
UH, YOU KNOW, W WE ARE NOT GOING TO TOLERATE YOU VIOLATING THE RIGHTS OF OUR CHILDREN AGAIN, VIOLATING THE PARENTS' RIGHTS AGAIN.
AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK YOUR FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS SHOULD BE TO COME UP WITH A PLAN FOR THE FUTURE, IF THERE'S ANY, UH, ANYTHING LIKE THIS THAT COMES AGAIN.
ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS I WANT TO TALK ABOUT WAS DOING SOME RESEARCH ON USE OF SR FUNDS IN THE SCHOOLS.
ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE WERE TOLD THAT THE KIDS HAD TO WEAR MASKS IN SCHOOLS AT THE BEGINNING, AND EVEN SCHOOLS WERE CLOSED IN THE BEGINNING WAS BECAUSE IT'S, UH, AIR FILTRATION SYSTEMS AND HVAC SYSTEMS. I WAS SURPRISED TO LEARN AND RESEARCHING SOME OF THIS STUFF, THAT THERE WAS EXACTLY $0 OF THE FUNDS THAT WAS USED FOR EFA AIR FILTRATION SYSTEMS IN THE SCHOOLS.
SO I WOULD ASK YOU GUYS WHY, BUT THIS IS PROBABLY A BETTER QUESTION FOR ME TO DISCUSS WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA ATTORNEY GENERAL, BECAUSE THIS IS A BIG MISUSE OF FUNDS AND YOU
[00:55:01]
GUYS HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, TAKING FEDERAL BRIDE MONEY TO FORCE ILLEGAL POLICY AND LOCKDOWNS OF OUR KIDS OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.AND THIS, THIS IS A BIG DEAL TO PARENTS.
SO AGAIN, THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS, LIKE I SAID, IS I THINK WE NEED TO COME UP WITH A, A PLAYBOOK AND A GAME PLAN IN THE FUTURE THAT DOESN'T VIOLATE OUR CHILDREN'S RIGHTS AND LAWS.
SO, UM, THAT'S REALLY ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
THERE'S STAND UP PUBLIC COMMENTS VERSUS PUBLIC MOVE ON TO THE CHAIRMAN'S REPORT.
[Chairman's Report]
UM, I JUST WANT WANTED, THIS ARE MY LAST REMINDER, THAT STATEMENT OF ECONOMIC INTEREST HAS TO BE COMPLETED WITH THE ETHICS COMMISSION BY MARCH 30TH AT NOON.SO I HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REMIND YOU AGAIN, OUR NEXT ORDER
[CLOC Quarterly Report]
OF BUSINESS IS THE CLOCK QUARTERLY REPORT.UM, MR. SCRIBNER CHAIRMAN, THANK YOU, DR.
UH, FOR THOSE OF YOU DON'T KNOW ME, MY NAME IS TED BARBER.
I'M THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CITIZEN LED OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.
UM, MANY OF MY COMMITTEE MEMBERS ARE ON ZOOM TONIGHT.
RAY WAR CO, WHO IS OUR CPA OF OUR GROUP IS HERE TONIGHT WITH ME AS WELL.
I WANT TO PROVIDE A FIRST QUARTER UPDATE TO THE BOARD OF WHERE WE ARE, BUT ALSO TALK ABOUT WHERE WE ENDED UP IN 2021.
UM, SO MY NEXT LOT, IT WILL BE A SUMMARY OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT OCCURRED IN 21.
UH, THE MEMBERS OF THE CLOCK SPENT APPROXIMATELY OVER, SORRY, OVER 500 HOURS IN 2021 REVIEWING PROJECTS ACROSS THE COUNTY UNDER THE BOND REFERENDUM AS OF 12 30, 1 93 $0.9 MILLION OF THE 3 44 HAD BEEN SPENT.
NOW OUR ANALYSIS AT THE END OF 21 INDICATED THAT THE REMAINING REFERENT A PROJECTS COULD BE COMPLETED WITHOUT, UH, WITHIN THE W WITHOUT EXCEEDING THE TOTAL REFERENDUM BUDGET.
SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO COMPLETE ALL THE PROJECTS AT THAT POINT IN TIME, BUT SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS THAT WERE ACCOMPLISHED IN 2021, WE COMPLETED NEW ADDITIONS AT MAY RIVER AND NEW ADDITIONS AT RIVER RIDGE ACADEMY.
THEY'RE THE COMPLETION OF REFERENCE AND PROJECTS AT LADY'S ISLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL AND RIGHT CHOICES.
THERE WAS COMPLETION OF SAFETY AND SECURITY BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS AT 12 SCHOOLS ACROSS THE COUNTY.
THERE WERE COMPLETIONS OF ATHLETIC IMPROVEMENTS AT SEVEN SCHOOLS ACROSS THE COUNTY.
THERE WAS COMPLETION OF PLAYGROUND IMPROVEMENTS AT 12 SCHOOLS AND CONSTRUCTION HAD COMMENCED AT ROBERT SMALLS INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY, WHICH IS A PROJECT COSTING THE TAXPAYER 61.7 MILLION AND BATTERY CREEK HIGH SCHOOL, WHICH IS COSTING TAXPAYERS 49.5 MILLION, AND THEN ALSO RENOVATIONS FOR BUFORD ELEMENTARY, OR WE'RE NEARING COMPLETION AT THE END OF LAST YEAR.
SO LET'S TALK ABOUT WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW IN 2022.
UM, I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT WHAT I CALL LARGE PROJECTS BECAUSE OF THE PROJECTS THAT ARE USING LARGER AMOUNTS OF FUNDS, UH, IN 2022 NOW BUFORD DALE, UH, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, UM, 2019 REFERENDUM FUNDING WAS 20 MILLION, $20.8 MILLION.
WE'VE CONTRACTED FOR 20.7 AND PAID TO DATE OF 19 TO 50.
THAT PROJECT IS ON SCHEDULE AND IT RIGHT NOW IT'S TRENDING UNDER BUDGET.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS HAPPENING AT BUFORD ELEMENTARY.
LET'S TALK ABOUT BATTERY CREEK, HIGH SCHOOL, UH, BATTER CREEK HIGH SCHOOL, UH, THE FUNDING FOR THAT WAS 56 MILLION.
UH, WE'VE CONTRACTED FOR 53.9 AND PAID TO DATE 16.2.
HOWEVER, THIS SCHEDULE IS AS SLIPPED A LITTLE BIT, AND AS WE ALL KNOW IN THIS WORLD, IT IS DUE TO MATERIAL SHIPMENT DELAYS, WHICH WE ARE HAVING TROUBLE WITH ALL OF THE PROJECTS, BUT THE PROJECT MANAGERS ARE STAYING ON TOP OF THAT.
AS WE WORKED THROUGH ALL OF THE SHORTAGES THAT WE'VE SEEN TODAY, LET'S TALK ABOUT ROBERT SMALLS
[01:00:01]
INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY, UH, THAT IS, UH, THAT THE 2019 REFERENDUM FUNDING FOR THAT WAS $68.9 MILLION.THAT AS A REPLACEMENT SCHOOL FOR ROBERT SMALLS, UH, THE CONTRACT WAS 65.6 AND THERE'S BEEN 3.9 MILLION PAID TO DATE THAT SCHOOL HAS COME OUT OF THE GROUND.
THE FOUNDATIONS HAVE BEEN POURED, UH, AND THAT'S MOVING ON NICELY.
I'VE ACTUALLY VISITED THAT SCHOOL THREE WEEKS AGO AND LOOKED AT THAT SIDE.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S TALK ABOUT BUFORD HIGH.
WE'VE HAD A LOT OF COMMENTS ABOUT BUFORD HIGH TONIGHT, UH, BUFORD HIGH, UM, UH, WAS A PROJECT THAT LOOKED AT ALL OF THE ATHLETIC FIELDS.
THE TECHNOLOGY SAFE SECURITY INTO SCOPE.
THERE WERE ADDITIONAL CONTINGENCY FUNDS ARE AUTHORIZED BY THIS AUGUST BODY TO WORK ON SOME ADDITIONAL ATHLETIC IMPROVEMENTS, WHICH INCLUDE THE WESTLINK WRESTLING AND WEIGHT ROOM ADDITIONS, WHICH IS A FULL WRAP THERE.
AND THAT PROJECT IS ON SCHEDULE AND ON BUDGET.
LET'S TALK ABOUT LADIES ISLAND, MIDDLE SCHOOL, LADIES ISLAND, MIDDLE SCHOOL, AGAIN, THAT'S TECHNOLOGY AND SAFETY UPDATES, AS WELL AS PRO PLAYGROUND MATERIAL.
THE PLAYGROUND IS SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETED IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR.
AND THERE IS A PROPOSAL OUT TO DO THE REST OF THE WORK, WHICH WE'LL START ON IN Q2 OF THIS YEAR.
LET'S TALK ABOUT BLUFFING AND HIGH, UH, ANOTHER BIG PROJECT FOR US.
THAT'S ALL SAFETY SECURITY TECHNOLOGY.
THE ATHLETICS COMPLEX IS COMPLETE, UH, THE, THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE TECHNOLOGY UNDERWAY.
AND WE'RE WORKING ON SOME ADDITIONAL CHANGES, WHICH YOU BELIEVE APPROVED ON YOUR IT'S YOUR MARCH, OR YOU APPROVE IT.
THE MARCH 15TH BOARD MEETING, LET'S TALK ABOUT HILTON HEAD HIGH.
NOW HILTON HAD HIGH IS A SAFETY SECURITY SCOPE.
ALONG WITH SOME ATHLETIC, UH, CHANGES.
THE STADIUM LIGHTS HAS BEEN COMPLETE.
THE THIRD FIELD HAS BEEN COMPLETE.
UH, THERE ARE PROPOSALS OUT FOR THE REMAINING ATHLETICS AND SAFETY SECURITY SCOPE.
NOW, ONE THING IN THE REFERENDUM FOR THIS YEAR IS ALSO AN EXTENSIVE STUDY OF HILTON HEAD HIGH SCHOOL TO DETERMINE WHAT THE NEXT STEPS NEED TO BE WITH THE SCHOOL ITSELF.
SO THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FUNDS IN THE REFERENDUM FOR THIS YEAR.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE REST OF THE REMAINING PROJECTS.
THESE ARE WHAT I CALL MEDIUM AND SMALL SCOPE PROJECTS ACROSS THE COUNTY WITH ALL THE SCHOOLS THEY FALL IN THREE CATEGORIES, IT SAFETY AND SECURITY DESIGN PHASES, AND ATHLETIC RENOVATIONS.
THERE ARE 22 PROJECTS IN VARIOUS PHASES ACROSS THE COUNTY.
THE TWO PROJECTS ARE AT CLOSEOUT THAT WOULD BE RIGHT CHOICES AND LADY'S ISLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL.
SO THAT THEN WE, WELL, WE'RE STILL CONTINUED TO DEAL WITH SUPPLY ISSUES, BUT I DO HAVE TO GIVE THE PROJECT MANAGERS FOR THE COUNTY, UH, KUDOS, BECAUSE THEY ARE MANAGING THESE ISSUES VERY CLOSELY AND TRYING TO KEEP THE PROJECTS ON SCHEDULE BASED ON SUPPLY ISSUES.
SO I HAVE TO GIVE HATS OFF TO THEM IN THE, IN THE CVRE HEARING, PEOPLE THAT ARE HELPING MANAGE THE SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES.
NEXT PAGE HAS ALL OF THE PROJECT CLOSE OUTS.
THE PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN COMPLETED.
I MENTIONED SOME OF THOSE LIKE MAY RIVER AND A RIVER RIDGE ACADEMY.
UM, AND NOW CLOSE OUT MEANS NOT ONLY IS THIS NOT AS THE, ONLY AS THE SCHOOL COMPLETED AND THE PROJECT COMPLETED, BUT WHAT WE ALWAYS SAY, THE PROJECT'S NOT DONE UNTIL THE PAPERWORK'S DONE.
SO A LOT OF THESE ARE THE SMALL PROJECT, UH, PAPERWORK THAT NEEDS TO BE COMPLETED.
SO THE FINAL PAYMENTS CAN BE RELEASED IN THE PROJECT CAN BE SAID TO BE COMPLETE.
LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU ALL, WHERE WE ARE OVERALL FINANCIALLY FOR THE BOND REFERENDUM.
AT THIS POINT IN TIME, ALL BUDGETED DOLLARS FOR THE PROJECTS EQUAL THE DOLLARS APPROVED BY THE REFERENDUM.
NOW OUR FINANCE COMMITTEE REVIEWS THE UPDATE EVERY MONTH.
THEY LOOK AT THE FIVE 19 REPORT AND REVIEW IT AND THEY HAVE FOUND NO FINDINGS AT THIS POINT.
INDIVIDUAL BUDGETS HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED, BUT THEY'RE SUPPORTED BY THE CONTINGENCY DOLLARS THAT ARE FOUND IN THE REFERENDUM THE DOLLAR SPENT, AND THOSE DOLLARS ENCUMBERED DO NOT EXCEED THE BUDGETED PROJECT.
TOTAL, THE DOLLAR SPENT PER PROJECT DO NOT EXCEED THE ESTIMATED PROJECT PERCENT COMPLETED.
SO WE HAVEN'T PAID A HEAD IN MATERIAL AND CONSTRUCTION COSTS CONTINUED TO CHALLENGE THE COST CONTROLLED AND THE SCHEDULE, BUT FINANCIALLY WE'RE DOING VERY WELL.
SO I'LL GIVE THAT A GREEN LIGHT.
LET ME SHOW YOU WHERE WE ARE ON THE CONTINGENCY, AS YOU KNOW, IN ALL PROJECTS AND SOMETHING OF THIS SIZE, THERE'S A CONTINGENCY BUDGET.
THE ORIGINAL PRO PROGRAM CONTINGENCY, WHICH IS HELD AT THE DISTRICT OFFICE WAS 17,000,781 WITH ALL OF THE CHANGES THAT HAVE OCCURRED THERE WERE SPENT WAS 18, 6 0 4.
HOWEVER, AT THE PROJECT LEVEL 9.8, SIX, SIX WAS RETURNED TO THE CONTINGENCY.
SO OUR CONCERN CURRENT CONTINGENCY IS 9,000,063, AND WE FORECAST AN ADDITIONAL RETURN OF 8.3.
AND AS I SAID, ALL PROJECTS CAN CARRY CONTINGENCY AT THE PROJECT LEVEL, AS WELL AS THE HOME OFFICE CONTINGENCY.
SO ON A SUMMARY WHERE WE ALL REFERENCE SPEND TO DATE
[01:05:01]
AT THE END OF LAST YEAR, OF COURSE, THE REFERENDUM WAS 3 44, 6, 10.SO THE REMAINING BUDGET IN THE LAST YEAR WAS 110 MILLION TO, UH, THE SAME AMOUNT, 3 44.
WE'VE NOW CONTRACTED AT 1 32, WE'VE PAID 1 0 8.
SO THE REMAINING BUDGET IS 1 0 4.
UH, AND THE CLOCK CONTINUES TO MEET EVERY MONTH.
WE MEET THE SECOND WEEK, SECOND WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH.
AND YOU'VE, YOU'RE WELCOME TO ATTEND THOSE MEETINGS.
SEVERAL OF YOU HAVE, AND WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING THERE.
UH, AND THEN ALSO OUR SUBCOMMITTEES WORK ON THE SIDE TO DEVELOP INFORMATION AND BED INFORMATION AS WELL, INCLUDING MYSELF WHO HEADS UP THE PROJECT COMMITTEE, WHO DOES VISIT SITES TO VERIFY THE CONSTRUCTION LEVEL.
SO WITH THAT, I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
I REALLY DON'T HAVE A QUESTION.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO PERSONALLY, THANK YOU.
AND ALL THE MEMBERS OF YOUR COMMITTEE, I'VE ATTENDED A FEW COMMITTEE MEETINGS IN PERSON AND A COUPLE ON ZOOM, AND I KNOW THE AMOUNT OF TIME AND CARE THAT EACH OF YOU IS BRINGING TO THE TABLE AND THAT YOU ARE, UM, DIGGING INTO THINGS AND, AND YOU ARE, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NOT A RUBBER STAMP.
YOU ARE LOOKING, ASKING QUESTIONS.
AND I PERSONALLY APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH.
I THINK YOU'RE DOING EXACTLY WHAT THE CITIZENS LED OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE TO DO.
RODRIGUEZ SELECTED THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS, HIS CHARGE TO US WAS TO DO JUST THAT, TO REPRESENT THE TAXPAYERS OF BEAVER COUNTY.
I'VE HAD NO STUDENTS THAT HAVE GRADUATED FROM A, FROM HIGH SCHOOL OR FROM ANY OTHER SCHOOL IN THE COUNTY.
I DO LIVE NEARBY FROM HIGH SCHOOL, UH, BUT I PAY MY TAXES AS WELL, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE WELL-SPENT.
AND AS, AS I HAVE ALWAYS SAID, IN THESE MEETINGS, OUR CHILDREN ARE THE FUTURE.
SO THESE SCHOOLS HELP MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE OUR CHILDREN FOR THE FUTURE.
AND I THINK A LOT OF OUR MEMBERS VOLUNTEER THAT AND MAKE SURE THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE WELL-EDUCATED AND THAT, BUT THEY HAVE TO HAVE THE FACILITIES TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
AND THAT'S WHAT THIS, THAT'S WHY THIS MONEY IS SO IMPORTANT, BUT IT'S ALSO WHY WE WATCH IT AND MAKE SURE IT IS WELL SPENT SO THAT THE PUBLIC CAN TRUST WHAT WE ARE DOING.
AND THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.
UM, MR. BARBER, MY COMMENTS TO HER LONG MISS ROBOT, AND TO JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR COMMITTEE SO MUCH, UM, THIS IS THE REPORT FOR THE YEAR END 20 21, 500 HOURS REVEALING PROJECTS THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE WHAT YOU DID IN 2020.
AND THAT, THAT IS THE NEXT, OR, UM, FROM WHAT WE WILL BE PUBLISHING ON THE WEBSITE AS OUR ANNUAL REPORT, WE DO A ONE PAGER THAT WILL GO UP, BUT THAT'S JUST WHAT WE DID IN 2021.
THERE IS THE 2020 REPORT IS UP THERE.
SO IT WAS APPROXIMATELY THE SAME NUMBER OF HOURS, RIGHT? SO THAT WAS MY POINT.
I WOULD LIKE TO EMPHASIZE FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT, WELL, OVER CLOSE TO 1000 HOURS HAVE BEEN SPENT BY THIS COMMITTEE THAT MADE A FOUR YEAR COMMITMENT, RIGHT? CORRECT.
FOUR YEAR COMMITMENT TO VOLUNTARILY, LOOK OVER ALL THE FINANCIALS, FOLLOW ALONG WITH THE PROGRAM, HOW THE PROJECTS ARE BEING COMPLETED, USING YOUR EXPERTISE.
AND MR. , I THINK IS HE'S SITTING BACK THERE, HIS KNOW CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT.
WHAT IS JUST SO AMAZING, WHAT YOU ALL HAVE OFFERED TO DO.
AND AS SPEAKING FOR MYSELF, AND I'VE GONE TO SEVERAL OF YOUR MEETINGS, IT RAISES MY LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE THAT WE ARE SPENDING THE PUBLIC'S MONEY APPROPRIATELY.
THESE PROJECTS ARE BEING OVERSEEING.
WE EVEN IN THIS PANDEMIC WHERE WE KNOW MATERIALS ARE TIGHT, LABOR IS TIGHT.
WE'RE ABLE TO STAY WITHIN BUDGET WITH A QUALITY PRODUCT.
AND THANK YOU, YOUR COMMITTEE VERY MUCH.
WE APPRECIATE THAT ON ALL THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS ARE DEDICATED TO MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN STAND IN FRONT OF YOU, BUT OUR MAIN PURPOSE, ESPECIALLY SINCE THIS IS BEING BROADCAST ON THE COUNTY CHANNEL TONIGHT, TO LET THE TAXPAYERS KNOW THAT WE ARE LOOKING AFTER THEIR MONEY AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE DOING.
AND IT'S BEING WELL-SPENT, I MUST SAY, AND IT'S BEING MANAGED VERY EFFECTIVELY BASED ON MY 40 PLUS YEARS OF WORKING IN CONSTRUCTION AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT.
I CAN SAY THAT IF IT WAS NOT TRUE, I WOULD NOT SAY THAT'S BECAUSE I HAVE NOT, I DON'T HAVE A REASON TO SAY OTHERWISE, I'M JUST UP HERE TO REVEAL WHAT I FIND AND WHAT THE COMMITTEE FINDS.
AND YES, WE DO SPEND A LOT OF HOURS, BUT WE ENJOY IT.
AND BELIEVE ME, I HAVE LEARNED TREMENDOUSLY
[01:10:01]
ABOUT BEAVER COUNTY SCHOOLS AND WHAT GOES ON WITHIN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.AND SO IT'S BEEN AN EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE FOR ME PERSONALLY.
AND I'M ALSO PROUD TO SEE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE COMPLETE IN PLAN THAT, UM, MOST PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I DO AS A VOLUNTEER, AND I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF COMMENTS ABOUT BUFORD HIGH SCHOOL TONIGHT, BUT I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK TO CHAIN GANG AT A FOOTBALL GAME THERE ON THAT NIGHT BRAND NEW TURF FIELD.
AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE NICEST THINGS THAT I'D EVER SEEN BECAUSE WHEN I PLAYED FOOTBALL, IT WAS A DIRT FIELD.
AND IF WE'RE LUCKY, IF WE HAD GRASS, SO WE DIDN'T HAVE ASTROTURF AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, IT WAS REALLY GOOD TO SEE THAT AND ALSO SEE THAT NICE TRACK AND ALL THE FIELD EVENT AREAS THAT WERE IMPROVED AT BUFORD HIGH SCHOOL TO ONE OF THE HIGH SCHOOLS THAT HAS ONE OF THE BEST TRACK PROGRAMS IN THE STATE.
SO IT'S REALLY GOOD TO SEE THAT.
AND I KNOW OUR COMMITTEE IS REALLY HONORED TO DO THIS, AND WE WILL BE WILLING TO TAKE QUESTIONS AT ANY TIME.
WE, WE ASKED THAT IF YOU WANT INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON, GO TO THE DISTRICT'S WEBSITE, THERE IS A CLOCK SECTION ON THE DISTRICT'S WEBSITE.
YOU CAN REVIEW ALL OF OUR DOCUMENTATION AND ALL OF OUR MEETING MINUTES AND NOTES ARE THERE.
WE JUST COMPLETED OUR 27TH MEETING ON MARCH THE NINTH AND ALL THAT INFORMATION IS THERE FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE.
UH, FIRST, UH, CHAIRMAN BARBARA.
I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR TONIGHT'S PRESENTATION.
MY COMMENTS ARE ALONG THE SAME LINES AS, AS MS. ROBOT AND MS. GOODRICH THAT I JUST WANT TO EXPRESS GRATITUDE TO YOU AND MR. WORKER WHO ARE PRESENT AND TO THE REST OF YOUR COMMITTEE ARE ALL VOLUNTEERS AND YOU ARE DOING A TERRIFIC SERVICE FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND TAXPAYERS, AND ULTIMATELY THE BENEFICIARIES OF YOUR EFFORTS, DEDICATION, HARD WORK AND EXPERTISE ARE OUR STUDENTS, OUR STUDENTS NOW, AND OUR STUDENTS IN THE FUTURE.
UM, LIKE LAST EVENING I DROVE ALL THE WAY TO HILTON, HEAD TO HIGH SCHOOL AND HAD TO DRIVE ALL THE WAY BACK TO LADY'S ISLAND, OR I LIVE, UH, IN THAT TRAFFIC, BUT I ENJOYED GOING TO SEE, AND THINGS ARE HAPPENING AT DIFFERENT AT THE, AT THAT HIGH SCHOOL AND HILTON HEAD AND HILTON HEAD MIDDLE, AND GETTING TO SEE THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING THERE.
I VISIT ALL THE SCHOOLS ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHER MEMBERS, SO WE'RE VERY FAMILIAR WHAT'S HAPPENING.
SO THANK YOU FOR THAT COMMENT.
WE, WE WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE, UH, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO REPORT TO THIS AUGUST BODY, UH, ON A QUARTERLY BASIS.
I'M SORRY, NOT GONNA HAVE A QUESTION.
THAT'S ALL I WANT TO PIGGYBACK OFF OF WHAT EVERYONE ELSE HAS SAID.
I DO REMEMBER THE LAST MINUTE WE DIDN'T SAY THAT EVERYONE WAS A PART OF YOUR TEAM IF THEY COULD.
WERE THERE ANYONE ELSE ELSE HERE TONIGHT BESIDES YOURSELF? NO, RAY IS THE ONLY ONE HERE.
WE HAVE SOME THAT ARE ON ZOOM TONIGHT.
THEY'RE THEY'RE THEY, THEY HAD OTHER COMMITMENTS, SO THEY COULDN'T BE, OR HAD MEETINGS PRIOR TO THE MEET.
SO THEY COULDN'T GET OVER HERE.
A LOT OF THOSE FROM THE HILTON HEAD AREA, UH, COULDN'T BE HERE TONIGHT, BUT, WELL, I STARTED VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE DID RECOGNIZE THEM AND KNOW WHO THEY WILL KNOW WHO THEY WERE, UH, LET THEM KNOW AS WELL AS YOU THAT WE APPRECIATE THEIR SERVICES.
THE SMITH, MR. CARLTON, DALLAS IS ON THE, ON THE SCREEN.
THERE HE'S ONE OF OUR MEMBERS AND HE ALSO SERVES ON THE PROJECT COMMITTEE WOULD MAY REVIEWING HE AND I WERE AT IT HILTON HEAD HOUSE HIGH SCHOOL LAST, LAST EVENING.
AND HE'S ON THE FINANCE COMMITTEE AS WELL.
ANY MORE QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.
[Committee Reports]
OPERATIONS, RIGHT.MR. CHAIRMAN, UH, THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE MET IN ADVANCE OF CLOCKS COMMITTEE.
UH, LAST WEEK WE MET AT A BLUFFTON HIGH SCHOOL AND JUST AS A NOTE, THERE WAS A MASSIVE INTERNET OUTAGE.
SO THANK YOU TO ROBIN AND OUR TECH SUPPORT TEAM FOR, UH, BEING FLEXIBLE AND MAKING IT GO.
UH, WE HAD FOUR AGENDA ITEMS. UH, THE FIRST ONE WAS, UH, DOMINION ENERGY.
MR. PARKS MOSS CAME AND SPOKE ABOUT, UH, SOME PLANS.
THEY HAVE TO EXTEND SOME POWER LINES, UH, NEAR ROBERT SMALLS, INTERNATIONAL, UH, ACADEMY.
THEY DON'T NEED AN EASEMENT FROM US CAUSE THEY HAVE A BLANKET EASEMENT, BUT THEY WANTED US TO BE INFORMED, UH, UM, AS TO WHAT WAS GOING ON.
SO I APPRECIATE THEM COMING AND DOING THAT.
AND I APPRECIATE THE, UM, OPERATIONS COMMITTEE STAFF FOR, UH, BRINGING THAT TO THE BOARD.
I THINK THAT'S AN AREA WHERE PEOPLE SHOULD BE AWARE.
THERE ARE A LOT OF PLANNED, UM, UH, PROJECTS GOING IN THERE AND IT'S AN AREA WHERE WE ARE BUILDING A BRAND NEW SCHOOL AND MAKING A SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENT.
SO I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA THAT WE BE AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON, UH, IN THAT AREA.
[01:15:01]
UH, BUT THERE WAS NO ACTION NEEDED FROM COMMITTEE.THEN WE HAD ANOTHER EASEMENT REQUEST FROM, UH, BUFORD, JASPER WATER, SEWER AUTHORITY.
THEY ARE BASICALLY TAKING A WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT AND TURNING INTO A PUMP STATION.
IT'S NEAR THE BASE LAUREL BAY.
IT'S ON NEAR SHANKLIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND THEY'RE JUST GOING TO GET NEED AN EASEMENT FROM US TO, UH, BASICALLY RUN PUMP THE WASTEWATER TO THE RECLAMATION PLANT.
UM, AND APPARENTLY SHANKLIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS THE ONLY FACILITY THAT USES THIS WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.
SO IT'S, IT'S A HUGE BONUS FOR US AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE DOING IT FOR THE SCHOOL'S BENEFIT.
SO WE DO HAVE A MOTION, UM, BUT I'LL, I'LL GET BACK TO THE MOTION HERE.
I'LL JUST GO THROUGH THE REST OF OUR LITTLE, UH, OPERATIONS REPORT.
WE HAD A CONSTRUCTION UPDATE WITH MR. CORBYN, UM, AND HE IS PREPARED TO GIVE THAT AGAIN TODAY.
ALTHOUGH I THINK THE CLOCK HIT MOST OF THE POINTS THAT HE HAS IN HIS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.
THE ONE THING THAT, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO PERSONALLY POINT OUT THAT WAS NOT IN THE CLOCK REPORT, IS THAT ON MARCH 31ST AT 5:00 PM, UH, WE ARE GOING TO BE HAVING A COMMUNITY OUTREACH, UH, FOR THE HILTON HEAD ISLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL.
SO I ENCOURAGE, UM, INTERESTED FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO PLAN TO BE THERE.
UM, AS OF RIGHT NOW, IT'S BEING PLANNED TO BE DONE VIA ZOOM.
I'M NOT SURE IF THAT WILL CHANGE OR NOT, BUT THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS ON OUR, UH, CONSTRUCTION UPDATE.
AND FINALLY, WE HAD A QUICK, UH, UPDATE ON THE FACILITIES ASSESSMENT THAT'S BEING DONE THAT WE AUTHORIZED, UH, RECENTLY BASICALLY WHERE THEY'RE GOING THROUGH AND LOOKING AT ALMOST ALL THE SCHOOLS, UM, AND REVIEWING THEM FOR, UH, THINGS THAT MAY NEED WORK, UH, TAKING A BASELINE OF PICTURES OF DIFFERENT FACILITIES.
UM, AND THIS WILL BE USED TO, UM, BASICALLY AS A, AS TO HELP US PLAN OUR FUTURE OUTLAYS AND, UH, FUTURE, UH, FACILITY PROJECTS.
SO THAT WAS JUST A QUICK LOOK AT WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
MR. DAVID, TOM THOMPSON, WHO'S WITH, UH, CVRE GAVE A QUICK PRESENTATION, SHOWED US SOME EXAMPLES OF PICTURES THEY'RE TAKING AND, UH, DISCUSS THE TIMELINE THERE.
THERE'S STILL, UM, A LITTLE BIT MORE WORK THAT THEY NEED TO DO.
AND THEN THERE'LL BE MAKING A MORE FULSOME REPORT TO OPERATIONS COMMITTEE.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND BRING UP OUR MOTION THAT WE HAD COMING OUT OF COMMITTEE, WHICH WAS THAT, UH, REGARDING THE, UH, SEWER EASEMENT ALONG JOSEPH'S SHANKLIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
UH, THE MOTION WAS OF THE OPERATION COMMITTEE RECOMMEND TO THE FULL BOARD TO AUTHORIZE DR.
RODRIGUEZ, HIS STAFF NEGOTIATE AND FINALIZE THE EASEMENT WITH VIEW, UH, BJ WSA.
SO BASICALLY WHAT THAT MEANS IS WE'RE GOING, WE ARE SAYING THAT WE SHOULD JUST LET DR. RODRIGUEZ AND, OR HIS DESIGNEE, UH, FINALIZE AND NEGOTIATE THAT EASEMENT.
SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO COME BACK TO THE COMMITTEE A SECOND TIME.
UM, I CAN'T SEE THE MOTION, BUT WHAT WAS STATED ONCE YOU RECOMMEND TO THE FULL BOARD? I THINK THE MOTION SHOULD, SHOULD SAY I MOVE THAT THE BOARD GAVE AUTHORIZATION OR WHATEVER.
NOT, I DON'T THINK WE WANT TO VOTE ON THAT.
YOU RECOMMEND IT TO THE FULL BOARD.
THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AUTHORIZES DR.
RODRIGUEZ, HIS STAFF TO NEGOTIATE AND FINALIZE THE EASEMENT WITH BUFORD JET WITH BJ WSA BOARD OF EDUCATION AUTHORIZED DR.
RODRIGUEZ STAFF TO NEGOTIATE AND FINALIZE THE EASEMENT WITH BJW S A GHOST OF SHANKLIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
AND THEY WEREN'T QUITE PREPARED.
WE CAN'T ACTUALLY AUTHORIZE AMUSEMENT AT THIS POINT CAUSE THEY NEEDED TO DO A LITTLE MORE WORK.
UM, BUT THEY HAVE BASICALLY IT ALL LAID OUT.
SO WE'RE JUST SAYING RATHER THAN HAVING THEM COME BACK ANOTHER TIME, JUST GO AHEAD AND LET THE OPERATION STAFF FINALIZE THESE MINT.
[01:20:11]
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS HERE.
UM, CAUSE ON THE DOCUMENT, THIS IS THE CORRECT MAP, RIGHT? UM, ON THE DOCUMENT IT SAYS THAT THE DETAILED SURVEY IS UNDERWAY BY ATLAS SURVEY AND A DRAFT EXHIBIT WILL BE PRESENTED FOR CONSIDERATION ONCE IT'S COMPLETED.
SO I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS BECAUSE I DIDN'T SEE ANY EXISTING LINES ON HERE OF ANY, UM, SEWAGE LINES.
AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER IS MOVING FORWARD, THAT THERE'S NO POTENTIAL FOR THERE TO BE ANY BREAKAGES THAT WOULD HAPPEN IN A LINE WOULD BE TOO CLOSE TO THE SCHOOL.
AND YOU'RE A PLAYGROUND OR THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A SEWAGE BREAK NEAR WHERE KIDS ARE PLAYING AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO BECAUSE THAT INFORMATION DOESN'T SEEM TO BE IN HERE YET.
CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT? THANK YOU.
SO THE PLAN IS TO RUN A WHAT THEY'RE PLANNING ON DOING, IT'S CALLED A JACK AND BORE.
SO THEY'RE GOING TO GET, THEY'RE GOING TO BEGIN AT ONE END OF THE PROPERTY OFF PROPERTY WITH A BORE PIT AND THEY'RE GOING TO BORE LINE UNDERNEATH THE PROPERTY RIGHT ALONG THE PROPERTY LINE.
SO THEIR EASEMENT REQUEST WHEN THAT'S DONE IS GOING TO BE A 15 FOOT EASEMENT RIGHT OFF THE PROPERTY LINE.
SO THAT'S THE, THE LINE WILL BE COMPLETELY UNDERGROUND.
SO IT WON'T BE VISIBLE OR THEY WON'T HAVE A LOT OF NOISE OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE.
UM, AND IT WILL BE ALL THE WAY TO THE PROPERTY LINE.
SO THAT AREA THAT THEY'RE GOING DOWN, UH, IS A WAY FROM PLAYGROUNDS AND KIDS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
SO THIS LINE THAT'S PROPOSED MAY OR MAY NOT BE THE FINAL LINE THOUGH, CORRECT? UM, THAT IS, I MEAN, THAT'S JUST A GENERAL AREA.
THE ONLY REASON THEY WOULD CHANGE IT IS SOMETHING'S DISCOVERED ON THE SURVEY IN THE WAY.
UM, BUT BASICALLY IT'S GOING TO BE 15 FEET RIGHT OFF THE PROPERTY LINE, THE TYPE OF HYPOTHETICAL.
SO SOMETHING IS IN THE WAY, IS IT GOING TO COME BACK TO THE BOARD FOR US TO HEAR ABOUT THAT? OR IS IT JUST GOING TO GO TO THE OPERATOR, TO OPERATIONS COMMITTEE? HOW'S IT GOING TO FOLLOW? IF SOMETHING IS FOUND ON THE SURVEY, I MEAN, TO DO A DIRECTIONAL BORE, YOU REALLY CAN'T VARY IT A WHOLE LOT.
SO I JUST GAVE THAT IN HIS EXAMPLE, IT'S KIND OF THE SURVEY IS, UH, I'LL BE GLAD TO BRING IT BACK IF THERE IS A CHANGE.
I JUST FEEL LIKE IF WE'RE APPROVING SOMETHING IT'S TOO HYPOTHETICAL AT THIS POINT BECAUSE THERE'S NO FINAL LINES, SO THAT'S MY HESITANCY.
ACTUALLY, I'M NOT THE ONE THAT YOU KIND OF HIT ME HIT MY POINT.
SO I JUST FIGURED THAT THIS STILL NEEDS TO COME BACK TO THE BOARD SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING WAS A SUCCESSFUL WITH IT IN TERMS OF HOW DR.
AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, THE FINAL STILL COMES BACK TO THE BOARD.
IT CAN, WELL, THE WAY WE HAVE THIS CONVERSATION OPERATIONS AND HE SHOWED US AND AS I UNDERSTOOD IT, THAT BASICALLY IT'S JUST GOING TO RUN ALONG THE PROPERTY LINE.
AND THE SURVEY ISSUE IS BECAUSE AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S ONE LITTLE JOG WHERE THERE WAS SOME QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THEY CAUSE THAT'S OWNED BY A DIFFERENT PERSON.
SO FROM OUR EASEMENT STANDPOINT, HE BASICALLY IS JUST GOING TO RUN ALONG THE PROPERTY LINE.
SO THEN THERE'S THIS ONE LITTLE RIGHT ANGLE YOU CAN SEE AND WHAT WAS THE TERM? THEY COULDN'T BOARD.
THE HOMEOWNER DIDN'T WANT THEM TO BORE US.
THEY WERE GOING TO COME OUT AND TRENCH OPEN TRENCH, BUT THAT WILL NOT BE ON OUR PROPERTY LINE.
SO THAT'S ONE OF THE AREAS THAT THEY'RE STILL WORKING ON, BUT BASICALLY THIS IS ALL SETTLED.
AND THE QUESTION WAS WHAT WE DECIDED AND OPERATIONS COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY WAS TO LET THE DISTRICT JUST FINALIZE IT BECAUSE IT'S NOT GOING TO IMPACT, UM, SHANKLIN ELEMENTARY.
AND I GUESS WE CAN HAVE THEM COME BACK ANOTHER TIME AND DO IT, BUT WE FELT PRETTY CONFIDENT THAT THAT BASICALLY FROM, UH, THE, THE, UH, SHANKLIN ELEMENTARY AND FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD'S POSITION, THAT THIS WAS NOT REALLY GOING TO CHANGE.
MR. OCAML, UH, IS THIS LINE THE ONE GOING TO WRONG LOBBY HOUSING AREA.
THIS IS COMING FROM THE LAUREL BAY SEWER PLANT.
AS MS. BOATWRIGHT SAID EARLIER, THEY'RE DECOMMISSIONING THEIR SEWER PLANT AND THEY'RE PUTTING A LIFT STATION THERE.
SO THEY'RE NO LONGER GOING TO BE TREATING SEWAGE ON LAUREL BAY.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE PUMPING IT AS MS. BOATWRIGHT WAS REFERRING TO, TO THEIR RECLAMATION PLAN.
THANK YOU, DOC RODRIGUEZ, JUST BEFORE YOU, YOU VOTE ON IT.
I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR ON WHAT THE EXPECTATION IS, UH, FROM STAFF IN TERMS OF HAVING TO COME BACK TO THE BOARD OR, OR NOT.
UM, I'M A LITTLE FUZZY ON THAT RIGHT NOW.
SO I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR ON WHAT WE'RE EXPECTING THE MOTION WAS THAT YOU WOULD NOT
[01:25:01]
HAVE TO COME BACK TO THE BOARD, BUT IF THAT MOTION FAILS, WE'LL HAVE TO CROSS.YEAH, I CAN'T SUPPORT THIS MOTION.
I THINK IF THERE'S TOO MANY UNKNOWNS HERE, NORMALLY WE, UH, DISCUSS A POTENTIAL, UH, LEGAL CONTRACT IN, UM, EXECUTIVE SESSION.
SO I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS MOTION AND I HAVE ABSOLUTE CONFIDENCE AND TRUST IN DR.
AND I DON'T WANT THAT TO SOUND LIKE IT'S A, UH, A LACK OF THAT.
NO FURTHER HANDS, DOUBLE CHECK.
CAN I ASK ONE QUESTION? I DIDN'T WANT TO, I'M AT A ZOOM AT THE MOMENT AND I'LL DOUBLE CHECK.
WELL, BECAUSE WE DON'T EASEMENTS, DON'T GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WE'VE BROUGHT MOST, ALL THE EASEMENTS IN THE YEAR.
WE'VE JUST BROUGHT TO THE FULL BOARD AND VOTED ON THEM, BUT THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN WE'VE BEEN DOING INCORRECTLY AND WE NEED TO TAKE IT INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
I DON'T THINK, I CAN'T RECALL US GOING EASEMENTS AND EXECUTIVE SESSION, BUT IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT I'D WANT US TO BANK ON.
NO, I THINK WE, UM, HAVE DISCUSSED THEM IN EXECUTIVE SESSION AND IT'S CAUSE ITS POTENTIAL OF, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, HOW THE, UH, UH, ADJACENT LAND OR THE LAND OF THE PROPERTY WE OWN IS GOING TO BE UTILIZED.
AND UM, SO I DON'T THINK THAT, THAT THERE THAT IS NECESSARILY ALWAYS A, UH, PUBLIC DISCUSSION ONLY.
I DON'T THINK WE HAVE A DEFINITIVE ANSWER HERE ON THIS ONE, BUT THIS IS PUBLIC.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND THE SECOND MR. SMITH, UM, I TOO DO HAVE SOME ISSUES WITH IT.
I WOULD LIVE WITH IT, NOT COMING BACK TO, TO THE BOARD.
SO WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE, WHAT WE'RE GETTING INTO.
I MEAN, BECAUSE I REMEMBER IF MY MEMBER SHOWED ME CORRECT, I DO BELIEVE THAT THAT THE GUY THAT PRESENTED THAT NIGHT, HE DID SAY THAT THEY'RE WORSE OR ONE OWNER AT THE CORNER OF SOMETHING THAT THEY HAD TO CLARIFY, THAT THEY ARE NOT SURE WHETHER THEY WERE GOING TO GET THAT CLEARED UP BECAUSE MAYBE SHE'S HESITANT.
SO SHE, SHE WAS HESITANT OR HE, OR SHE WAS HESITANT AND THAT'S NOT TELLING US THAT EVERYTHING WILL GO THROUGH CRYSTAL CLEAR.
SO THAT DOES BRING ME SOME TYPES OF CONCERN BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A CRYSTAL CLEAR THE WAY IT'S NOT CRYSTAL CLEAR HERE.
SO THERE ARE SOME UNDERLYING THINGS.
SO FOR IT NOT TO BE BROUGHT BACK TO THE BOARD, I DEFINITELY COULD NOT SUPPORT THIS MOTION BECAUSE OF THAT.
I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE A PROBLEM UNLESS YOU ARE NO MORE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT AMENDMENT, YOU'RE GOING TO OFFER AN AMENDMENT.
COULD YOU JUST BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD AFTER IT'S DONE BY THE STAFF? WELL, THEN WE DON'T REALLY NEED EMOTION BECAUSE IF IT'S GOING TO COME BACK TO THE BOARD, BUT LIKE IT'S, AND I'LL JUST MAKE ONE STATEMENT, I'M FINE WITH THAT.
I DON'T HAVE A DOG IN THIS FIGHT PER SE, BUT I WILL SAY THIS IS A UTILITY EASEMENT WHERE THEY'RE BASICALLY DECOMMISSIONING A SEWER PLANT THAT ONLY SERVES SHANKLIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND THEY NECESSARILY HAVE TO PUMP THE SEWAGE OUT.
THEY'RE GOING TO RUN IT ALONG THE PROPERTY LINE.
THEY COULDN'T GIVE US THE, GIVE THE FULL STUFF BECAUSE OF THIS ONE INDIVIDUAL ISSUE.
I'M HAPPY TO BRING IT BACK, BUT THAT WILL SLOW IT DOWN BECAUSE IT'S GOT TO COME BACK THROUGH THE PROCESS.
THAT'S WHY WE FELT ON THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE, THAT IT WOULD THAT DR.
RODRIGUEZ AND MR. ANI WERE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE THAT SO THAT WHEN THE TIME DOES COME, BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO DO IT OVER THE SUMMER, BUT THEY CAN JUST GO.
SO THAT'S FINE TO BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD.
IF THAT'S WE WANT TO DO PERSONALLY, I THINK THESE UTILITY EASEMENTS ARE, YOU KNOW, ARE FAIRLY STRAIGHTFORWARD.
I THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT DR.
RODRIGUEZ COULD DO WITHOUT THE UNNECESSARY STEP OF GOING BACK THROUGH.
BUT IF THE BOARD FEELS DIFFERENTLY, I WILL, I'LL GO ALONG WITH THAT.
I'M JUST TRYING TO GET US TO THE POINT WHERE THE BOARD EXPRESSES TO WHEEL BY VOTING.
I WAS GOING TO SAY THAT I FULLY SUPPORT THIS MOTION AND I'M CALLING FOR THE VOTE.
WISNIEWSKI AND MR. SMITH ARE BOTH.
I THINK MR. CHAIRMAN, UM, IF MR. CORBIN, I DON'T KNOW IF HE NEEDS TO DO HIS CONSTRUCTION UPDATE BECAUSE, BUT IF ANYONE HAS QUESTIONS FOR MR. CORBIN, CAUSE IT WAS VERY MUCH WHAT THE CLOCK
[01:30:01]
JUST WENT THROUGH, BUT THAT WOULD BE CONCLUDE OUR REPORT.THAT WOULD SEEM REDUNDANT TO HAVE MS. GO AHEAD.
I JUST HAD A QUESTION ON THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY FOR THE, UM, THE CONSTRUCTION UPDATE FROM MARCH.
IT HAS THAT THERE'S A COMMUNITY OUTREACH UPDATE THAT INCLUDES INFORMATION FOR HILTON HEAD ISLAND, MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND THAT, UH, DETAILS ON THE ZOOM MEETING THAT'S TAKING PLACE ON MARCH 31ST IS GOING TO BE COMING FROM THE PROJECT MANAGERS THAT COME IN TO ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS AS WELL, OR HOW WE DISSEMINATING THAT OUT TO THE PUBLIC.
IF THEY'RE SCHEDULING A MARCH 31ST, I REQUESTED THAT IT BE OFFERED IN-PERSON AND HYBRID, AND THAT THEY LOOK INTO HAVING TRANSLATION, UH, SPANISH TRANSLATORS THERE BECAUSE WE HAVE A LARGE HISPANIC POPULATION.
SO THAT'S WHY THERE'LL BE MORE DETAILS THE TIME.
AND THE DATE IS SET, UM, WHETHER OR NOT PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO ATTEND IN PERSON OR JUST BY ZOOM AND HOW THAT WORKS WILL BE FORTHCOMING.
AND I'M ASSUMING MR. OD, AND YOU CAN MAKE SURE THAT THE BOARD GETS THAT BY EMAIL AND WE CAN DISSEMINATE IT TO THE COMMUNITY.
I WAS GOING TO ELABORATE AND YOU ARE CORRECT.
UH, I DID TALK TO THE PROJECT MANAGER AND WE ARE GOING TO DO THIS AS A HYBRID MEETING SO THAT THE MEETING NOT ONLY TAKES PLACE IN PERSON, BUT WILL ALSO BE OFFERED BY ZOOM.
WE'VE ALSO GOT A SPANISH TRANSLATOR, UH, LINED UP TO SUPPORT THAT MEETING.
AND IN TALKING WITH THE PROJECT MANAGER, WE HOPE TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THE FULL DETAILS OF THAT MEETING BEFORE THE END OF THIS WEEK.
AND THAT INFORMATION WOULD GO TO ALL BOARD BOARD MEMBERS AND THE CLOCK, UH, MEMBERS ALSO HAVE, UH, SHOWN INTEREST IN THAT MEETING.
SO THEY'LL RECEIVE THAT AS WELL.
AND I WILL ALSO SAY WE HAVE ANOTHER, THAT WOULD BE MY FINAL CONCLUDING PIECE.
OUR NEXT OPERATIONS COMMITTEE IS MARCH 21ST.
UM, AND SO IF THERE'S ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGES, WE'LL BRING IT TO THE BOARD, UH, AT OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING, WHICH I GUESS WOULD BE APRIL 5TH.
ISN'T IT? SO IT WOULDN'T BE IN TIME ANYWAYS.
I DO KNOW THAT THERE WAS A QUESTION IN TERMS OF THE, UH, THE, UM, HILTON HEAD, THE SECURITY AND SAFETY UPDATES, BECAUSE I, I THINK I REMEMBERED, UM, IF MY MEMBERS, SHOULD IT BE GREAT THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THOSE IN REFERENCE TO LIAISON MIDDLE? WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, I REMEMBER, I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT ELSE SOMEONE BROUGHT IT UP THAT THEY WERE WONDERING HOW COME SAME LIAISON, MIDDLE SCHOOL WERE GETTING CERTAIN UPDATES AND HILTON HEAD HIM WAS NOT GETTING UPDATES.
AND THEY WERE SAYING THAT THE, UM, THAT LASER, THAT HILTON HEAD IS GETTING IS THERE ARE ASSURED THAT THEY'RE GETTING A NEW BUILDING VERSUS LAYS LIAISON.
MIDDLE SCHOOL WAS NOT ASSURED THAT THEY'RE GETTING A NEW BUILDING.
AND AS I THOUGHT ABOUT THE HEDGE WANTED TO KIND OF MAKE SURE I KIND OF WONDERED, ALSO MAKE SURE THAT THAT THAT WAS IN W W WHERE WAS THAT MONEY COMING FROM? WHERE'S THAT MONEY COMING FROM THE, THE REFERENDUM? WHAT WAS THAT? WHAT WAS THAT FUNDING COMING FROM? AND HOW HAS, HOW, HOW WAS THAT DONE, MR. I MEAN, THAT WAS YOUR, THAT WAS YOUR QUESTION, RIGHT? UH, TECHNOLOGY, NOT SAFETY AND SECURE, BUT TECH TECHNOLOGY.
OTHER THAN, UH, THE WORD ASSURED, UM, WHAT I DID SAY WAS THAT THE BOARD HAS ALREADY APPROVED FUNDING FOR THE DESIGN WORK AT HILTON HEAD HIGH SCHOOL.
SO THAT IS IN THE REFERENDUM, THE DESIGN WORK.
SO THEY HAVE COMMIT THE BOARD.
YOU HAVE COMMITTED FUNDING FOR HILTON HEAD HIGH SCHOOL TO BE RENOVATED.
THERE IS NO FUNDING AT THIS TIME, COMMITTED TO LADY'S ISLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL THAT WAS PLANNED FOR THE PHASE TWO OF THE REFERENDUM OR THE NEXT, UH, UPCOMING REFERENDUM WOULD INCLUDE, UH, AN ADDITIONAL, UH, RENOVATION WORK AT LADIES ON MIDDLE SCHOOL.
SO ON THE FRONT OF THAT, I THOUGHT IT WAS THAT LAID OUT.
I HIT AND HIT A HIT, AND THEN HIGH SCHOOL WAS GETTING A NEW SCHOOL.
THE DESIGN WORK HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE BOARD AND IT IS IN THE REFERENDUM.
JUST THE DESIGN WORK CONSTRUCTION WOULD BE PART OF PHASE TWO AS WELL, WHICH WOULD BE A FUTURE REFERENDUM.
SO AS OF RIGHT NOW, AND I, I GUESS THE WAY I WAS SAYING THAT IS THAT LADIES ALLEN MIDDLE SCHOOL HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT BEING IN THE PHASE TWO, BUT THE BOARD IS NOT, UM, OR THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS NOT APPROVED ANY FUNDING FOR THAT.
WHILE HILTON AT HIGH SCHOOL HAS HAD THE DESIGN WORK APPROVED BY BOTH THE BOARD AND THE COMMUNITY.
AND WHERE DID THE FUNDING COME FROM? THAT? THE UPGRADES FROM LILY LAYS I'M AT SCHOOL.
GOT WHERE DID THAT FUNDING COME FROM? MEAN HILTON HEAD? NO, THE, THE, THE TECHNOLOGY UPDATES THAT LAYS OUT MIDDLE SCHOOL, WHERE DID THAT FUNDING COME FROM? SO EVERYTHING WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS REFERENDUM.
IT WAS PART OF THE REFERENDUM.
UM, IT'S ON THE FACILITY CONDITION ASSESSMENT.
THAT'S AN, A PILOT DOING A PILOT OF A FEW SCHOOLS FIRST, AND YOU'RE DOING THE DATA ENTRY.
[01:35:01]
ONE, THE DATA ENTRY IS GOING INTO A FACILITIES MANAGEMENT DATABASE, WHICH ONE ARE YOU USING? SO WE HAVE A, UH, WE'VE HAD FOR SEVERAL YEARS ENVISION, UM, WHICH WAS BOUGHT BY CARDIOGRAPH.SO IT IS, UH, THE SOFTWARE NOW IS BY CARDIOGRAPH.
AND THEN I DIDN'T SEE, BUT I'M ASSUMING IT'S THE, THE REPORTS OR THE FINDINGS ARE COMING IN APRIL TO THE FULL BOARD OR TO OPERATIONS COMMITTEE.
I WOULD BE GOING TO THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE AND YES, WE ARE STRIVING FOR AN APRIL, MAYBE LATE APRIL TIMEFRAME, BUT THAT IS OUR GOAL.
YOU SAID THAT THREE TIMES NOW, BUT I SAID IT WAS YOUR VOICE ONTO THE SUPERINTENDENT'S
[ Superintendent's Report]
REPORT.IS GOING TO TAKE US THROUGH THE FIRST STEP ON THE SUPERINTENDENTS REPORT, UH, ON STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT REGARDING SUMMER LEARNING PROGRAMS. GOOD EVENING, CHAIRMAN STRIVEN, GER, AND BOARD MEMBERS.
I HAVE OUR DIRECTOR OF LITERACY, MELISSA MURRAY WITH ME.
SHE'LL BE COMING FORWARD TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AND UPDATE FOR OUR SUMMER PROGRAMS FOR THIS COMING ACADEMIC SCHOOL YEAR.
THAT IS GOING TO START ON JUNE SIX.
UH, MS. MARIE, GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.
UM, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE REPRESENTING THE TEAM THAT IS WORKING TOWARDS CREATING SUMMER LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STUDENTS THIS SUMMER.
SO THE FIRST PAGE OF YOUR PACKET IS THE, I GUESS, THE CALENDAR OF JUNE, UM, THAT IS WHERE A MAJORITY OF OUR SUMMER LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES WILL TAKE PLACE.
YOU WILL NOTICE THAT THIS YEAR WE INCLUDED THE EXTENDED SCHOOL YEAR, SUMMER READING OR SUMMER SCHOOL, WHICH IS FOR OUR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.
SO WE'VE BEEN COORDINATING WITH THE SPECIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
WE ALSO SHOW YOU WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THE SYSTEM, THE SEA ISLAND SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS PROGRAM.
SO WE ARE COORDINATING WITH THEM AND THE NEW MED TECH, UM, CAMP THAT IS GOING TO COME.
SO THAT IS PART OF THE GRANT THROUGH OUR BUFORD AND BATTERY CREEK CLUSTERS.
SO AS YOU'LL SEE HERE, A MAJORITY OF OUR SUMMER READINGS WILL TAKE PLACE OR SUMMER SCHOOL, SORRY.
THE DIRECTOR OF LITERACY IN ME KEEPS COMING OUT.
UM, SUMMER SCHOOL WILL TAKE PLACE THROUGH THE MONTH OF JUNE, MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.
THE NEXT PAGE IS TO SHOW YOU THE ONE CHANGE TO THAT, OR, UM, REVISION OR DIFFERENCE IS THAT THE STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES IS A HALF DAY AND IT WILL RUN FOR SIX WEEKS.
SO THOSE SERVICES WILL GO UNTIL JULY 14TH.
UM, AND YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THAT IS FROM 7 45 TO 1145.
AND YOU'LL SEE THE THREE SCHOOLS WHICH WILL HOST STUDENTS FROM ACROSS OUR DISTRICT.
UM, THE STUDENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS ALREADY WORKING TOWARDS IDENTIFYING STUDENTS, MEETING WITH PARENTS AND PUTTING TOGETHER INDIVIDUALIZED PLANS FOR SUMMER SCHOOL FOR THE STUDENTS.
THE NEXT PAGE IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE DAILY SCHEDULE TO THE LEFT.
YOU WILL SEE OUR ELEMENTARY, UM, SCHOOL'S SCHEDULE.
YOU WILL NOTICE THAT THE SUMMER SCHOOL DAY REFLECTS THE REGULAR SCHOOL DAY.
SO THROUGHOUT SUMMER LEARNING, UM, THEY WILL GO THE ENTIRE DAY.
THE SCHOOL INSTRUCTIONAL DAY STARTS AT 7 45 AND STUDENTS ARE DISMISSED AT 2 45.
UM, YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THERE IS TIME FOR BREAKFAST AND FOR STUDENTS TO ARRIVE BY BUSES.
UM, AND THEN THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF TIME FOR THEM TO BE DISMISSED BY BUSES.
THIS IS IMPORTANT ON THE ELEMENTARY SIDE, BECAUSE WE FOLLOW THE READ TO SUCCEED LEGISLATION, WHICH REQUIRES 96 HOURS OF LITERACY INSTRUCTION.
AND SO YOU'LL SEE WE HAVE THAT BROKEN DOWN AT THE BOTTOM TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS RECEIVE QUALITY INSTRUCTION THE TOTAL OF 96 HOURS DURING OUR SCHEDULED DAYS.
BUT THEN WE STILL HAVE TIME THAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN OUR INSTRUCTIONAL TIME FOR EATING LUNCH, BREAKFAST, UH, SOME TIME TO PLAY OUTSIDE AND A ENRICHMENT PERIOD.
SO SIMILAR TO A REGULAR SCHOOL DAY, THERE WILL BE A TIME IN THE DAY FOR STUDENTS TO RECEIVE A, WHAT WE WOULD CALL A RELATED ARTS, UH, SPECIALS.
UM, IT IS ONE PERSON CAUSE IT'S SUMMER SCHOOL IS MUCH SMALLER THAN NORMAL SCHOOL.
UM, BUT THEY HAVE BEEN VERY CREATIVE.
SO YOU'LL SEE A VARIETY OF THINGS FROM LEGO LAB TO YOGA, TO SO MANY COOL THINGS.
UM, AND WE WORK INDIVIDUALLY WITH SCHOOLS BASED ON TEACHERS THAT ARE APPLYING TO FIND THE RIGHT FIT ON THE OTHER SIDE IS THE MIDDLE SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL SCHEDULE.
UM, THAT IS, UM, A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT BECAUSE YOU'LL NOTICE WHERE THEY HAVE TO FOCUS IS ON CREDIT AND COURSE RECOVERY.
UM, SO WE BROKE DOWN THE HOURS FOR THAT GIVING TIME FOR CREDIT AND RECOURSE RECOVERY.
[01:40:01]
ALLOWING SOME TIME FOR STUDENTS TO BE ENRICHED WITH SOME OTHER EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES OPTIONS.AND I'LL GET INTO THOSE A LITTLE BIT MORE LATER IN THE PRESENTATION, THE NEXT COUPLE OF SLIDES ARE GOING TO SHOW YOU WHICH SCHOOLS WILL BE OPEN THIS SUMMER TO HOST SUMMER LEARNING.
UM, THIS IS OF COURSE BASED OFF OF OUR PLANS FOR FACILITIES, MAINTENANCE, REPAIRS, CONSTRUCTION.
UM, SO SOME OF OUR SCHOOLS WILL BE POSTING OTHER SCHOOLS.
UM, AND I, AND ON THIS, I ALSO AM SHOWING YOU WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO FIND CYSA MED TECH.
SO YOU CAN SEE WHERE ALL OF THE SUMMER CAMPS ARE THAT KIND OF PULL FROM ACROSS OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT TO COME INTO THE SCHOOLS WE ARE IN PROCESS OF, UM, APPLICATIONS ARE OUT.
SO WE ARE RECRUITING TEACHERS RIGHT NOW FOR SUMMER LEARNING.
UM, WE ARE DOING IT BECAUSE WE ARE TRYING TO TAKE A TIERED APPROACH.
SO WE ARE GOING TO SEE INTEREST, UM, COMPARE THAT TO OUR BUDGETED NUMBERS, WORK WITH THE SCHOOLS, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A WELL-ROUNDED PROGRAM THAT CAN MEET ALL OF THE NEEDS BASED ON DATA, AND THEN DETERMINE IF WE NEED TO DO ANOTHER ROUND OF RECRUITING, UM, TEACHERS.
AND THEN THAT WILL ALSO ALLOW US TO START MUCH EARLIER INVITING STUDENTS TO COME TO SUMMER SCHOOL.
UM, SO YOU WILL SEE THAT FOR STAFFING CONSIDERATIONS.
OF COURSE, ALL OF THEM WILL BE STAFFED WITH TEACHERS.
ELEMENTARY WILL HAVE A ONE TO 15 MAX RATIO THAT IS DETERMINED BY READ TO SUCCEED LEGISLATION, MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL.
WE TRY TO STICK TO A ONE TO 20 RATIO BECAUSE REMEMBER WE ARE TRYING TO DO CREDIT AND OF COURSE, RECOVERY, ALTHOUGH KEEP IN MIND AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL, WE HAVE TO BE REALLY AWARE OF THAT.
WE ARE, WE ARE TRYING TO RECRUIT, COVER, RECOVER CREDITS, AND LIKE OUR SCIENCES ONLY A CHEMISTRY TEACHER CAN RECOVER THAT CHEMISTRY.
SO YOU MIGHT SEE SMALLER CLASS SIZES AND BASED ON JUST WHO NEEDS THE SUMMER SCHOOL AND THEN WHAT KIND OF CREDIT WE'RE TRYING TO RECOVER.
BUT IN GENERAL, THE ONE TO 20 RATIO IS WHERE WE GO TO FIRST.
WE WILL HAVE A COORDINATOR, UM, AT EACH SITE, THIS PERSON COULD ALSO BE TEACHING.
IT DEPENDS ON THE SIZE OF THE PROGRAM.
WE WILL HAVE AN ADMIN ON DUTY FOR EVERY SITE.
SO EVEN SCHOOLS THAT ARE SHARING LOCATIONS, THERE WILL BE A CO THEY WILL HAVE THEIR OWN PROGRAM RUNNING INSIDE OF THE OTHER SCHOOL.
SO THERE WOULD BE AN ADMIN ON DUTY FOR THEM AND A COORDINATOR.
UM, IN ADDITION, WE ARE RECRUITING NURSES.
UM, WE WILL FOCUS FIRST ON OUR SCHOOLS WITH THE STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, UM, AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE COVERING NEEDS.
AND THAT IS ALSO WHY WE'RE STARTING THIS PROCESS EARLY.
SO WHEN CHILDREN APPLY TO BE PART OR ACCEPT THE INVITATION TO BE PART OF SUMMER SCHOOL, WE ASK PARENTS AND WE LOOK AT THEIR RECORDS TO SEE WHAT KIND OF MEDICAL NEEDS THEY MAY NEED.
UM, THE NEXT PAGE GOES INTO GOOD NEWS, UM, THAT THE FOOD SERVICES WILL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO BE FREE THROUGH JUNE 30TH.
SO ALL STUDENTS COMING WILL GET FREE MEALS.
PART OF THAT FEDERAL LEGENDS, I GUESS, I GUESS IT IS LEGISLATION THAT CAME DOWN.
SO THAT IS STILL IN EFFECT THROUGH JUNE 30TH, WHICH IS REALLY NICE BECAUSE WE WON'T HAVE TO RECOLLECT, UM, DIFFERENT DOCUMENTS, ALL KILLED CHILDREN WILL GET BREAKFAST AND LUNCH.
THEN THE LAST COUPLE OF PAGES, IT'S JUST GIVING YOU A LITTLE BIT OF INSIGHT INTO WHAT WE WILL DO DURING THE DAY.
UM, SO IN ELEMENTARY YOU ALREADY SAW THAT THERE IS A LOT OF LEARNING WRAPPED IN LITERACY GOING ON.
UM, AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS FUN FOR STUDENTS.
THEY'RE SPENDING THEIR SUMMER WITH US AFTER ALL.
UM, AND THAT IT ALSO DIPS INTO OTHER CONTENT AREAS.
SO MOST OF THE TEXTS THAT THEY WILL READ AND ENGAGE WITH AT A HIGHER ORDER THINKING ARE INFORMATIONAL TEXTS.
I BROUGHT A VERY COOL EXAMPLE FOR YOU.
SO THIS IS A BOOK THAT THE STUDENTS WILL GET TO EXPERIENCE THIS SUMMER IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND IT IS ALL INFOGRAPHICS AND LIKE JUST VERY COOL ABOUT ANIMALS.
UM, SO THERE'S GOING TO BE AT THE MATIC APPROACH AND SOME AREAS.
SO THERE'S A SERIES OF BOOKS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT IF ELEPHANTS DISAPPEARED, WHAT IF SHARKS DISAPPEARED? SO YOU'RE GOING TO READ, THEY'RE GOING TO CRITICALLY THINK WE SELECTED THE BOOKS AND THE TOPICS AND THEMES BASED ON OUR DATA.
SO WE KNOW THAT INFORMATIONAL TEXT, UM, IS AN AREA THAT WE ARE CONTINUING TO WORK ON.
WE ALSO UNDERSTAND THE LEVEL OF QUESTIONING THAT WE NEED TO GIVE OUR STUDENTS EXPERIENCE WITH.
IN ADDITION, WE ARE GOING TO BE DOING SOME BRAIN BOOSTERS WORK.
UM, YOU MIGHT BE FAMILIAR WITH THAT BECAUSE THAT'S ACTUALLY PART OF A PREPARING STUDENTS FOR GT.
[01:45:01]
BUT WE'RE PULLING OUT THE PIECES ABOUT WRITING A QUESTION, UM, GENERATING QUESTIONS WITH A CLUE.SO YOU CAN SEE THERE'S THIS BIG THEME AROUND CRITICALLY THINKING AROUND TEXT.
UM, AND THEN I HOPE YOU ALSO SEE THAT IT ALLOWS TIME FOR INQUIRY SCIENCE, UM, SOCIAL STUDIES, LIKE OTHER TOPICS TOO.
UM, ALONGSIDE THAT, OF COURSE WE'RE GROWING OUR READERS.
SO WE WILL HAVE STRATEGIC SMALL GROUPS USING LEVELED LITERACY INTERVENTION AND SIPS, WHICH IS THE SYSTEMATIC INSTRUCTION AND PHONICS, PHONEMIC AWARENESS AND SIGHT WORDS IN SECONDARY.
UM, THE FIRST PRIORITY IS WE MUST USE EDGENUITY AS OUR TOOL FOR CREDIT AND COURSE RECOVERY.
UM, WE HAVE ALIGNED THESE TO OUR STANDARDS AND THE PACING OF OUR INSTRUCTIONAL UNITS.
SO THE STUDENTS IN THE SUMMER MAKING UP THEIR CREDIT OR COURSES, WE'LL SEE THE SAME TIMELINE AND STANDARDS THAT THEY WOULD HAVE SEEN DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR.
SO, UM, THERE IS A GREAT EFFORT TO ENSURE THAT IT IS A TRUE RECOVERY OF MISSED COURSES AND CREDITS IN ADDITION, THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES AND TIMES FOR THE STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN READING OF NOVELS, USING, UTILIZING READING PLUS, UM, USING DBQ AND HAVING SEEN BASED LEARNING PROJECTS.
SO WE CAN SEE THAT THERE COULD BE TIME FOR BOTH, WHICH WILL GIVE CHILDREN TIME ON THE COMPUTER AND OFF IN THE SECONDARY LEVEL.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, THANK YOU.
I HAVE TO, AND THIS MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT MORE FOR ROBERT ANI.
UM, LAST SUMMER, UH, HILTON HEAD HIGH SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAM WAS MOVED TO HILTON HEAD MIDDLE BECAUSE OF PLANNED, UH, SECURITY AND SAFETY UPDATES.
UM, THAT DIDN'T ACTUALLY OCCUR.
MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THEY WERE GOING TO OCCUR THIS SUMMER AND NOW YOU'VE GOT HILTON HEAD MIDDLE COMING TO HILTON HEAD HIGH.
SO IT'S GOING TO BE ISOLATED TO A PORTION OF THE BUILDING AND THEY'VE WORKED OUT THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO BE ENTERED AND BE AWAY FROM CONSTRUCTION.
SO THE PLANT, THE BULK OF EVERYTHING, YOU KNOW, IS GOING TO BE RIGHT THERE AT THE FRONT ENTRANCE WAY AND THEIR PLAN IS TO ENTER THE BUILDING FROM THE BACK WHERE THE GYM IS LOCATED.
WE'LL MAKE SURE WE HADN'T LIKE THIS, THAT, AND THEN I HAVE ONE OTHER COMMENT.
UM, I DO HAVE, UH, UH, A FRUSTRATION THAT I HAVE VOICED MANY TIMES, BUT THE, YOU KNOW, I'M IN THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY AND ST.
JOSEPH'S HAS BUILT A FACILITY SOUTH OF THE BROAD VIEW FROM MEMORIAL HAS BUILT A FACILITY SOUTH OF THE BROAD HILTON HEAD IS EXPANDING ITS FOOTPRINT.
WE HAVE WE'RE EXPANDING SUN CITY.
THE HEALTHCARE NEEDS OF MY COMMUNITY ON HILTON HEAD ARE EXPLODING YET.
IF ANY OF MY CONSTITUENTS WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MED TECH, THEY CAN DRIVE ONE HOUR AND 11 MINUTES ARRANGING THEIR OWN TRANSPORTATION TO WHALE BRANCH, MIDDLE SCHOOL, OR 58 MINUTES TO BUFORD HIGH SCHOOL.
I KNOW THAT I UNDERSTAND THE MAGNET GRANT, BUT IT IS FRUSTRATING TO ME THAT WITH THE TREMENDOUS NEED WE HAVE FOR THESE STUDENTS, THAT WE DON'T HAVE SOMETHING FOR THEM.
SOUTH OF THE BROAD MAY I PROVIDE SOME INFORMATION, UM, MRS. BOAT RIDE, WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THE GROWTH OF OUR HEALTH AND ALLIED HEALTH SCIENCE PROGRAMS ARE A LARGE PREDOMINANT INITIATIVE FOR US.
SO I DO WANT TO ADD THAT ON NOT JUST NORTH OF THE BOARD, BUT OUR SCHOOLS IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY AS WELL.
THOSE INITIATIVES ARE GROWING BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF STUDENTS ON HILTON HEAD AND IN BLUFFTON THAT CANNOT ARRANGE THEIR OWN TRANSPORTATION RECOGNIZE WE'RE ALSO EXTENDING DUAL, DUAL ENROLLMENT FOR CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION AS WELL.
SO WHAT, WE HAVE A FEW IRONS IN THE FIRE TO PROVIDE MORE.
UM, THE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH PROGRAM, SUMMER SCHOOL THAT WILL END ON THE 31ST OF WHAT JUNE IT WILL.
IT WILL END THE DAY IN THE JUNE.
WE DO HAVE TO REACH OUT FOR EXTENDED SERVICES THAT WE'LL LOOK AT.
THAT PROCESS IS IN PLACE RIGHT NOW, MR. CAMPBELL, TO ADDRESS OUR STUDENTS FOR THE TWO ADDITIONAL WEEKS IN JULY.
WHAT HAPPENS, UH, AFTER WHEN SCHOOL SCHOOL STARTED NEXT YEAR, I WOULD HAVE TO REACH OUT TO OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, MS. CROSBY, YES.
FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH APPLICATIONS MUST BE COMPLETED.
IT IS PART OF THE REGISTRATION PACKET FOR EVERY STUDENT AS A, WE KNEW THE REGISTRATION.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO HAVE TO PUSH FORWARD IS PLEASE COMPLETE THAT REGISTRATION PACKET IN THAT FORM.
THE REASON I ASK THAT IS BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME SENATORS IN WASHINGTON TALKING ABOUT CUTTING OUT THE MEALS.
SO THAT'S THE REASON WHY I HAD, YES, I, YES, SIR.
[01:50:03]
THANK YOU, MR. .UM, THANK YOU, MS. MARIE, UM, CAN YOU JUST TELL ME THE MEDTECH SEVEN? HOW ARE STUDENTS IDENTIFIED FOR INCLUSION IN THAT DR.
SHUTTER THAT WOULD BE AMONGST OUR, THIS FOOT AT FIRST YEAR? IT IS AMONGST OUR FEEDER SEVEN SCHOOLS.
THOSE ARE SCHOOLS WITHIN THE LADY'S ISLAND, MARCIO, BUFORD, MIDDLE YOU'VE HEARD HIGH.
AND THEN OUR SCHOOLS WITHIN THE WHALE BRANCH CLUSTER, THEY WILL BE INVITED TO ATTEND THE CAMP THIS YEAR, FOLLOWING YEAR THAT CAN PUT OPEN UP TWO ADDITIONAL STUDENTS WHO HAVE AT THE CAMP THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, WHO HAVE APPLIED TO ONE OF THOSE SEVEN SCHOOLS WHO WERE PART OF THE GRANT.
THEY WILL BE INVITED TO ATTEND THE CAMP AS WELL.
MORE MY QUESTION, LIKE, LIKE, HOW DO YOU, HOW DO YOU GET THE KIDS TO COME LIKE OUR, YOU KNOW, THE SCIENCE TEACHERS RECOMMENDING AND REACHING OUT AND SAYING, HEY, THIS WOULD BE REALLY GREAT FOR YOU TO DO.
I MEAN, HOW ARE YOU, HOW ARE YOU ENCOURAGING THE KIDS TO NOT LOOK AT THIS AS SUMMER SCHOOL? AND THIS IS SOMETHING REALLY GREAT.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS IS ACTUALLY HAVING A MARKETING PLAN, WHICH WAS EARLIER DISCUSSION TODAY.
THAT WILL BE PART OF THE INVITATION BECAUSE WE WANT TO MARKET THAT THIS IS A CAMP FOR FUN, FOR ENGAGING IN, FOR EXAMPLE, UTILIZING DIZZY Z SPACE WITH THREE 3D SIMULATING COMPUTERS THAT ARE TARGETED, SCHOOLS ARE GOING TO HAVE WITHIN THIS GRANT.
WE WANT IT TO HAVE HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES.
WE'VE JUST BROUGHT ON A TECH, A YOUNG MAN WHO'S WORKING WITH TECHNOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENT FOR THE GRANT.
HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE TO GROW A LITTLE BIT FOR THE UNMANNED VEHICLES, A SMALL LITTLE CUBE DRONES.
THESE ARE THE IDEAS WE HAVE IN PLACE INTEGRATION OF PROJECT LEAD THE WAY THEY'RE PROJECT-BASED TECHNOLOGY, AND ACTUALLY STARTING WITH PROJECT LAUNCH AT THE ELEMENTARY.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING VERY NEW FOR US.
WE HAVE NOT HAD PROJECT LEAD THE WAY AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS TO THE LEVEL THAT WE ARE NOW GOING TO HAVE WITH NSAP.
THIS IS A PILOT THAT'S BEING PUT IN PLACE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR DIVISION TO BRING IN THESE ENGINEERING CONCEPTS, INTO THE ELEMENTARY, BEYOND WHAT OUR STEM TEACHERS ALREADY DO.
MA'AM SO WE'RE GOING TO MARKET TO TRY TO SHOW TO CREATIVITY BECAUSE WE NEED IT FOR THE STUDENTS, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO, FOR A TEACHERS RIGHT NOW, THEY NEED AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE CREATIVE AS WELL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
UM, I THINK THAT THE SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAM SEEMS TO BE REALLY WELL THOUGHT OUT.
IT DID, UM, QUESTION THAT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS WILL NOT HAVE A COUNSELOR, UM, IN THE MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL WILL.
SO, YOU KNOW, I JUST, HOW WAS THAT DECISION MADE OR HOW WILL THOSE STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS OR WHO'S GOING TO FILL THAT ROLE? SO, MRS. ROBOT INITIALLY WAS THE IDEA OF THE COMPLETING OF STUDENTS, SO THEY CAN BE PROMOTED, BUT MANY OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS, I MEAN, I APOLOGIZE I'M ELEMENTARY PRINCIPALS.
SHOULD THEY FEEL A NEED FOR THE STUDENTS WHO THEY'RE SERVING? THERE'S ONLY ONE ANSWER.
AND THAT ANSWER IS YES, WE WILL PROVIDE THAT OPPORTUNITY.
THIS INFLAMMATION JUST WENT OUT TO THE PRINCIPALS LAST WEDNESDAY.
THEY'VE ALREADY GIVEN US SOME FEEDBACK FOR GROWTH.
SO THEY KNOW THAT ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS ASK AND WE WILL MAKE IT HAPPEN FOR THEM BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZE, I KNOW WHERE YOU'RE DRIVING THE QUESTION TO NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS.
WELL, WE TARGETING ON THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL.
ALL WE ASSURED THAT, THAT THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WE GO THERE AND WE HAVE NO ADEQUATE PREPARATION FOR SHOWING THAT THERE'S INSTRUCTION FOR THOSE PEOPLE AND KNOW, AND WHEN I SAY WHO WE'RE TARGETING, I SEE SOME OF THE SCHOOLS HAVE PROGRAMS ALREADY IN PLACE.
THAT'S GOING TO BE SUPPORTIVE.
AND I SEE SOME SCHOOLS HAD NO PROGRAM.
LIKE THEY DISSOLVE THE MIDDLE LAKE SAMPLE THAT'S IN PLACE.
SO WHAT ARE WE GOING TO GET? AND WE'LL BE TRYING TO GET THEM ON THE HIGH SCHOOL.
IS IT SOLELY FOR THOSE WHO ARE TRYING TO BE CREDIT, YOU KNOW, COVERED CREDITS OR ARE THERE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENRICHMENT OR FOR SUPPORT AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL AND HOW ARE THEY, ARE THEY BEING ASSURED THAT THEY CAN ATTEMPT? YES, SIR.
AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL, UM, LEGISLATION REQUIRES THIRD GRADERS AT RISK OF RETENTION ARE THE FIRST ROUND OF STUDENTS.
UM, BUT OUR DISTRICT HAS BEEN ABLE TO SECURE ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO INVITE ADDITIONAL STUDENTS.
SO WE, WE ACTUALLY AT THE ELEMENTARY HAVE ALREADY HAVE, UM, STUDENTS IDENTIFIED AT A VARIETY OF LEVELS AT VARIED AT VARIETY OF GRADE LEVELS.
UM, WE HAVE STARTED TO ANALYZE THAT PARTICULAR DATA TO KNOW WHAT, HOW WE COULD BEST SERVE THE STUDENTS.
SO WE LOOKING AT THE DATA IN THIS LARGE VIEW ACROSS THE DISTRICT, WHAT DO WE
[01:55:01]
SEE? UM, BUT WE ALSO ARE ALREADY STARTING TO DRILL DOWN TO INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS.UM, THAT IS WHY WE STARTED THE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR TEACHERS A LITTLE SOONER THIS YEAR, BECAUSE WE NEED TO, UM, RECRUIT THE HIGH QUALITY TEACHERS.
UM, WE, WE ACTUALLY COLLECT ALL OF THEIR NAMES.
UM, AND WE KNOW THE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE THEY HAVE WITH TEACHING LITERACY.
WE KNOW THE DEGREES THAT THEY HAVE IN CERTIFICATIONS.
WE KNOW IF THEY ARE A LITERACY TEACHER ENDORSED.
UM, SO WE ARE ABLE TO PRIORITIZE HIGH, HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHERS OF LITERACY FOR THE SUMMER PROGRAM.
WHEN WE KNOW THOSE NUMBERS, THEN WE START TO INVITE STUDENTS BASED ON PRIORITY LISTS.
UM, AND SO WHEN YOU GET INTO MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL, IT'S A SIMILAR EXCEPT FOR THE FIRST, THE FIRST ROUND IS WE HAVE TO LOOK TOWARDS THE STUDENTS THAT ARE IN NEED OF CREDIT OR COURSE RECOVERY, BUT THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES, UM, DR.
STRATIS EXPRESSED TO THE PRINCIPALS FOR ADDITIONAL STUDENTS.
SO IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE LIMITED TO STUDENTS THAT ARE IN NEED OF CREDIT AND OF COURSE, RECOVERY.
UM, WE COULD, WE CAN OPEN THIS UP TO OTHER STUDENTS.
UM, AND IN, I THINK ACROSS ALL GRADE LEVELS, THERE IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE CREATIVE AND DO THE RIGHT THING FOR STUDENTS.
UM, AS IN, LIKE YOU SAID, YOU WANT, NOT ONLY DO YOU WANT TO INVITE STUDENTS, YOU WANT THEM TO WANT TO COME.
SO, UM, YES, SO WE, WE HAVE A FAIRLY GOOD REPUTATION, WHICH IS NICE WHEN WE SURVEY AT THE END AND WE DO THE CELEBRATIONS AT THE END OF SUCCESS, PARENTS AND STUDENTS TYPICALLY ENJOYED THEIR TIME, UM, DURING THE SUMMER.
UM, AND THAT HAS HELPED US RECRUIT IN FOLLOWING YEARS.
SO WE'LL, WE'LL KEEP YOU POSTED, BUT I, I THINK THAT THIS WILL BE WELL RECEIVED THIS YEAR.
YEAH, I GUESS MY FOLLOWUP, IS THERE SOMETHING IN PLACE THAT CROSS REFERENCE ISSUE TARGETED AUDIENCE VERSUS YOUR BAT REFLECTION? LET'S SAY, YOU KNOW, WE GOT 40% OF WHAT WE LOOKED AT.
WE WANTED WAY ALONG THE LINE THAT MISSED OPPORTUNITY IS WHERE WE NEED TO BE GOING AND STARTING LAST YEAR INTO THIS YEAR, THOUGH, THE STUDENTS THAT DO COME ARE ALSO IDENTIFIED IN POWERSCHOOL.
SO THAT GIVES US A MEANS BY WHICH TO MONITOR ONGOING.
BUT WE ALSO KEEP RECORD OF WHO'S INVITED, WHO DECLINES THE ROUNDS THAT WE GO THROUGH OF GETTING THE STUDENTS IN THE SEATS ACTUALLY, MR. CAMPBELL WAS GOING OR THAT'S WHERE I WAS GOING AT AS WELL.
UM, MY QUESTION TOO IS HOW ARE WE PUTTING THIS? HOW ARE WE PUTTING THE LEARNING LOSS INTO THIS COMPONENT OF WHAT IS GOING ON? HOW ARE WE ENGAGING THOSE STUDENTS AS WELL? SO, UM, PLAIN PLAN PLANNING STARTS VERY EARLY FOR A SUMMER SCHOOL.
UM, BUT IT'S IN SERVICE OF LEARNING LOSS, UM, AND REALLY KIND OF BEING REALLY PURPOSEFUL AND STRATEGIC WITH WHERE ARE OUR GAPS.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, WE, WE ARE AWARE AT A DISTRICT LEVEL AND SCHOOL BY SCHOOL OF THE AREAS THAT WE HAVE, THE HIGHEST PERCENT OF STUDENTS SCORING THE LOWEST.
WE HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT THE STUDENTS THAT WE ARE INVITING.
UM, YOU KNOW, LIKE THE THIRD GRADERS WE'RE REALLY FOCUSING IN RIGHT NOW.
WE KNOW IF THEY'VE BEEN RETAINED BEFORE WE KNOW IF THEY HAVE ANY SORT OF SPECIAL PROGRAM ATTACHED TO THEM.
WE KNOW IF THEY'RE ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE, WE KIND OF WERE ANALYZING THOSE BARRIERS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT TEACHERS FOR THEM.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, LEARNING LOSS REALLY IS AT THE HEART OF IT ALL.
UM, SO WE'RE REALLY AWARE OF THE, I THINK NEXT STEPS OR WHAT COULD THE BEEN THE POTENTIAL GAPS FOR THE STUDENTS, UM, AND WHAT, HOW WE CAN BEST EXPEDITE SOME LEARNING FOR THEM OVER THE SUMMER.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, AVOID THE SUMMER SLIDE, WHICH IS A THING THAT WE HAVE TO CONTEND WITH EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
SO, UM, EITHER WAY, THIS IS A REALLY GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS TO BE IN THIS SMALL SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT OVER THE SUMMER, READ LOTS OF REALLY GREAT BOOKS WITH REALLY GREAT TEACHERS AND JUST KEEP THE LEARNING GOING BECAUSE YOU ALL KNOW CHOOSE ANYTHING.
IF YOU DON'T PRACTICE FOR TWO MONTHS, UM, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE AS GOOD AT IT WHEN YOU COME BACK, UM, IN THE END.
SO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S JUST THAT CORE OF IT TOO, THAT HELPS MAKE IT WORK.
[02:00:01]
ALSO TO RECOGNIZE THAT OUR STUDENTS ATTENDING AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WILL BE GOING HOME WITH BOOKS.THAT IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS AS WELL.
SO AS WE, AS THE TEACHERS WORK THROUGH LESSONS THAT THEY'RE BUILDING THE PROFICIENCY AND ABILITY OF OUR YOUNG CHILDREN, OUR YOUNG STUDENTS TO READ THE GOAL IS THAT THEY TAKE THE BOOKS HOME AND HOPEFULLY READ TO WHO, ANOTHER SIBLING, A FRIEND, A NEIGHBOR, WE'RE ALSO PARTNERING WITH EACH CHILDREN'S.
UM, UM, AND NOW THE WHOLE NAME JUST DROPPED OUT OF ME, BUT IT SAID CHILDREN ORGANIZATION, GROUP OUT OF HILTON HEAD, I WANT TO SAY TO CHILDREN FOUNDATION, THAT BOOKS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE UTILIZING, WE'RE GOING TO BE GIVING THEM THE SAME BOOKS.
SO WE CAN HAVE OUR KIDS WHO ARE AT A NONPROFIT GROUP IN HILTON HEAD THIS SUMMER, AND THEN HAVE THE SAME MATERIAL BECAUSE THEY'RE PICKING UP A LITTLE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF STUDENTS.
THEY ACTUALLY RUN A LOT PRETTY LARGE PROGRAM.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO EXTEND THAT AS WELL.
SO OUR BOUNDARIES ARE GETTING, IN OTHER WORDS, OUR NET, WE'RE TRYING TO CAST CAST LARGER AND LARGER.
WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO BUILD WITH OUR NONPROFIT GROUPS TO SEE SOME OF OUR SITES HAVE THEM BE CLOSING, YOU KNOW, BUT AS JUNE, THEY NEED, EVERYONE NEEDS A BREAK, BUT TO SEE IF WE COULD HAVE OTHER GROUPS GET INVOLVED IN THE MONTH OF JULY TO CONTINUE BRIDGING EDUCATION AND LEARNING FOR OUR STUDENTS.
SO THIS IS A PRIMARY STEP, A BIG FOUNDATION, BUT WE'RE NOT COMPLETED YET.
WHERE'S FUNDING COMING FROM THIS PROGRAM AS HER FUNDS AND STATE FUNDS WILL BE UTILIZED FOR EXTENDED LEARNING.
I WASN'T GOING TO SAVE FROM OUR TAXES, BUT I WASN'T GONNA GO.
I DID IT, BUT, UM, IT WILL BE PREDOMINANTLY IF A MASTER IN A COMBINATION FROM OUR STATE FUNDING, ESPECIALLY IN THE AREA OF THIRD GRADE, THAT IS A PREDOMINANCE AREA THAT WE MUST UTILIZE THE STATE FUNDING.
FIRST, WE'RE EXTENDING AT ELEMENTARY.
WE'RE NOT, WE'LL GO FROM SECOND GRADE TO GRADE FIVE.
THOSE INVITATIONS ARE GOING TO BE OPEN TO THE SCHOOLS.
WE'LL BE INVITING THE CHILDREN BECAUSE WE ALSO RECOGNIZE OUR SECOND GRADE STUDENTS HAVE ALSO BEEN ONE RATHER FRAGILE.
THEY THEY'VE NOT HAD A YEAR AND A HALF OF EDUCATION.
SO SHOULD WE HAVE THE PERSONNEL AVAILABLE? THE MORE PERSONNEL WERE ABLE TO ONBOARD THE GREATER OPPORTUNITY OF EXTENDING OUR NET AT MEETING THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS.
UM, THE NEXT ITEM IS UNDER HOLOCAUST, HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS.
AND THIS IS IN RESPECT TO AN UPDATE ON THE EFFICIENCY STUDY AS HAD BEEN REQUESTED.
SO THE EFFICIENCY STUDY YIELDED 37 RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS BREAK DOWN THESE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR YOU AND, UH, BY CATEGORIES, UH, AND JUST GIVE YOU A STATUS UPDATE.
SO, UH, UNDER THE REORGANIZATION AND REALIGNMENT, THE STUDY PROVIDED FIVE RECOMMENDATIONS AND THAT WAS, UH, TO REESTABLISH STUDENT SERVICES DIVISION, WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE, UH, ALIGNED PRIMARY FUNCTIONS, WHICH HAVE BEEN DONE EXCEPT FOR ONE THAT THEY, UH, THEY, THEY RECOMMENDED THAT REALLY, UH, CAN'T BE DONE BECAUSE LEGAL, UH, LEGAL ADVICE HAS BEEN CONTRARY TO THAT.
AND THAT IS TO HAVE THE HEARING OFFICERS THAT THE RECOMMENDATION WAS TO HAVE THE HEARING OFFICERS IN THE STUDENT SERVICES DIVISION, BUT BECAUSE STUDENT SERVICES IS WHERE OUR DISCIPLINE, UH, SITS THE, UH, LEGAL ADVICE THAT WE RECEIVED, THIS IS THAT HEARING OFFICERS SHOULD NOT SIT IN THE SAME DIVISION.
AND SO, SO ESSENTIALLY THEN THE ALIGNING OF PRIMARY FUNCTIONS HAS BEEN, UH, COMPLETED AS WELL, IMPROVED SUPPORT ROLES FOR SCHOOLS, ORGANIZATIONAL CHART, UNDER THE RESPONSIBILITY OF HR AND TO HIRE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS.
THOSE HAVE ALL BEEN COMPLETED.
UM, UNDER RECRUITMENT, THERE WERE FOUR RECOMMENDATIONS.
ONE IS TO CONDUCT A SALARY REVIEW, WHICH WE ARE CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF DOING.
UM, AS YOU KNOW, UM, THE OTHER, UH, THREE ARE ONGOING EFFORTS THAT WE ENGAGE IN ALL THE TIME.
SOME OF THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS ARE NOT RECOMMENDATIONS THAT HAVE END DATES, UH, THEY'RE REALLY RECOMMENDATIONS THAT SHOULD BE ON AN ONGOING BASIS.
AND SO FOR EXAMPLE, RECRUIT AND HIRE TO ALIGN WITH EXPECTED DIVERSE POPULATIONS, CONTINUE HIRING WELL-QUALIFIED LEADERS AND CONTINUE TO PROVIDE COST OF LIVING STIPENDS TO TEACHERS.
THOSE ARE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE DO, AND THOSE ARE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE ON AN ONGOING BASIS.
UH, THE NEXT, THE NEXT, UH, ONE ARE UNDER HIRING AND RETENTION.
THERE WERE FOUR RECOMMENDATIONS.
SO DESIGN A STAFFING MODEL FORMULA TO ADDRESS INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL NEEDS.
AND WHEN YOU, UH, ON THE 25TH DURING THE WORK SESSION, WHEN, UH, WHEN WE HAVE A BUDGET CONVERSATION, WE WILL TALK ABOUT THAT.
UM, OFFER ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CAREER PATHWAYS.
THOSE ARE ON AN ONGOING BASIS.
THE FOLLOWING OUR ONGOING EFFORTS THAT WE ENGAGE IN ALL THE TIME, UH, AND THESE ARE THINGS LIKE SUPPORT PRINCIPALS WITH TRAINING TO HIRE DIVERSE TEACHERS
[02:05:01]
AND STAFF MEMBERS AND OFFER ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.THOSE ARE ONGOING, UM, THINGS ALL THE TIME.
NOW UNDER POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, WE HAVE FOUR RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH ARE ONGOING.
ALL THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ALSO ARE NOT REALLY THINGS WITH END DATES.
SO, UH, THAT WAS INCLUDE REPRESENTATIVES IN REVIEWS AND UPDATES AND SHORT POLICIES ARE CONSISTENTLY APPLIED ACROSS SCHOOLS.
UM, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE ROLES THAT OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS PLAY AND THAT WE BEGIN TO TIGHTEN UP ON, UH, DEVELOP POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR STAFFING AND PLANNING AND DEVELOP A PROCESS FOR REVIEWING AND UPDATING JOB DESCRIPTIONS WERE 20 SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS TO DEPARTMENTS OR DIVISIONS.
UH, HR HAS COMPLETED SEVEN OUT OF THE EIGHT SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS.
UH, UH, THERE IS ONE THAT IS ONGOING AND THAT IS CONTINUE MOVING AWAY FROM PAPER-BASED PROCESSES.
THAT'S ONE OF THOSE THAT IS GOING TO BE AN ONGOING THING.
UH, THE COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION, UM, HAD ONE RECOMMENDATION ON THERE THAT ONE RECOMMENDATION HAS BEEN COMPLETED, WHICH WAS, UH, TO MOVE FORWARD OUT OF RISK MANAGEMENT AND INTO, UH, COMMUNICATIONS.
UM, FINANCE HAS COMPLETED TWO OF THE THREE RECOMMENDATIONS.
ONE REQUIRES CONTINUED CONSIDERATION.
ONE THAT REQUIRES CONTINUED CONSIDERATION IS TO MOVE TECHNOLOGY OUT OF FINANCE INTO A DIFFERENT OR A SEPARATE DEPARTMENT.
SO WITHIN TECHNOLOGY, THERE ARE TWO FUNCTIONS THAT WE HAVE.
ONE IS OUR INFRASTRUCTURE FUNCTION, AND ONE IS OUR EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY COMPONENT.
OUR EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY COMPONENT CURRENTLY SITS WITH OUR INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES DIVISION.
SO, SO THAT WAY, UH, THEY'RE REALLY TEACHING AND, AND, UH, PROVIDING PD AROUND, UH, AND SUPPORTING, UH, UH, ANY OF OUR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING, UH, THAT UTILIZE THIS TECHNOLOGY.
THE INFRASTRUCTURE CONTINUES TO SIT WITHIN, UH, FINANCE AT THE MOMENT.
AND, AND THAT IS TYPICALLY BECAUSE THERE IS A TREMENDOUS EXPENSE THAT GOES, AND THERE'S ACQUIRED WITH, UH, TECHNOLOGY AND TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND SO IT SITS IN THERE AND THEY, THEY, THEY WORK WELL HAND IN HAND.
SO I WOULD SAY THAT THAT IS ONE THAT IS STILL UNDER CONTINUED CONSIDERATION ON WHAT, WHAT WE WILL BE DOING THERE.
I ASKED THE, UH, HAD TO, UH, AND THEY'VE COMPLETED THE TWO, UH, RECOMMENDATIONS.
LEGAL HAS COMPLETED ONE OUT OF THE TWO RECOMMENDATIONS.
UH, AND ONE OF THEM IS ONGOING.
UH, SO ONE OF THEM THAT WAS COMPLETED WAS TO HIRE A LEGAL ASSISTANT AND WE HAVEN'T DONE THAT.
THE OTHER ONE IS THAT IS ONGOING, IS, UH, CREATING, UH, STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES AROUND ONBOARDING AND TRAINING.
AND SO LEGAL IS WORKING WITH HR AROUND THAT.
AND SO THAT'S CONTINUED AND ONGOING.
UM, LET'S SEE, WHERE AM I? OKAY.
OPERATIONS ARE OPERATIONS HAD FOUR RECOMMENDATIONS.
THEY HAVE COMPLETED THREE OUT OF THOSE FOUR RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND, UH, THE ONE THAT THEY, THAT ISN'T COMPLETED ALSO REALLY ISN'T AN END DATE.
IT'S JUST AN ONGOING ISSUE THAT WE HAVE, AND THAT MOST TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE.
AND THAT IS, UH, CONTINUE TO, UH, THE RECOMMENDATION WAS TO CONTINUE TO BUILD CONSISTENCY ACROSS TRANSPORTATION STAFF, TO PREVENT SUPERVISORS AND LEADERS FROM SUBBING IN TO DRIVE BUSES.
UH, THE REALITY IS THAT THERE'S A SHORTAGE, UH, AND, AND WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH DRIVERS.
AND SO THAT DOES REQUIRE OUR SUPERVISORS TO STEP IN AND DRIVE THE BUS IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH THE MISSION OF TRANSPORTING OUR STUDENTS TO AND FROM SCHOOL.
SO I, I, I CAN'T TELL YOU THAT'S COMPLETE, BUT UNDERSTAND THAT THAT IS AN ONGOING THING THAT WE WORK AT.
UM, THEN THERE ARE THREE RECOMMENDATIONS, UH, AS THAT ARE REALLY STILL UNDER CONSIDERATION OUT OF THIS, THIS, UH, THIS WHOLE THING.
AND THAT IS, UH, UH, THEY'RE EITHER STILL UNDER CONSIDERATION OR ARE IN THE PROCESS OF BEING ACCOMPLISHED.
I'VE ALREADY MENTIONED MOVING TECHNOLOGY TO DIFFERENT OR SEPARATE FROM, WE'VE ALREADY SPOKEN ABOUT THAT.
UH, CREATING A LEADERSHIP ROLE UNDER STUDENT SUCCESS TO OVERSEE ALL OF ATHLETICS, PROVIDING SUPPORT AND LEADERSHIP TO ALL MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC DIRECTORS.
UH, ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS WAS TO HAVE THAT A POSITION THAT SITS AT THE DISTRICT, UH, IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH THAT, TO ACCOMPLISH THAT, THAT IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE PART OF, UH, UH, THE BUDGET PROCESS THAT WE'RE LAYING IN INTO THE BUDGET, INTO THE UPCOMING BUDGET.
SO, UH, IF THAT STAYS IN THERE, IT WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED.
IF IT DOESN'T STAY IN THERE, THEN IT'LL BE A WORK IN PROGRESS, UH, CONTINUE TO BUILD CONSISTENCY ACROSS TRANSPORTATION.
SO THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE, THAT IS THE UPDATE AROUND THE EFFICIENCY
[02:10:01]
STUDY AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT, THAT RESULTED FROM THE EFFICIENCY STUDY PUBLISHED ALMOST EVERYTHING ALREADY THAT, UH, WAS LAID OUT IN THAT EFFICIENCY.UM, I THAT A LOT, BECAUSE, UM, AT MY FIRST BUDGET SESSION ON THE SCHOOL BOARD, THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE WANTED TO ACCOMPLISH WITH RAISING, UH, THE AVAILABLE FUNDS.
AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT'S ALL BEEN DONE, UH, YOU KNOW, LARGELY BEEN DONE.
UM, ONE OF MY QUESTIONS WAS I HAD ASKED ALSO FOR AN UPDATED ORG CHART, WHICH WE HAVE HERE, CAUSE WE'VE DONE, ESPECIALLY WITH ESSER, WE'VE ADDED POSITIONS, WE'VE COMBINED POSITIONS, WE'VE MOVED POSITIONS.
AND I JUST STARTED TO FEEL LIKE I NEVER HAD A HANDLE ON IT TO BEGIN WITH.
AND I WAS LOSING WHAT LITTLE I HAD.
UM, THERE WAS ONE THING UNDER HR, WHICH SAID THAT THEY WERE GOING TO BE ESTABLISHED, THAT HR WAS GOING TO TAKE OVER THE ORG CHARTS AND THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE A PROCESS FOR UPDATING AND MAINTAINING THEM.
IS THERE SOMEWHERE THAT A PARENT, A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, A STUDENT COULD GO AND SEE THE TECHNOLOGY OR CHART? CAUSE WHEN THE, IN THE REGIONAL EFFICIENCY SIDE THAT EACH DEPARTMENT BROKEN DOWN, IF YOU HAVE A CONCERN YOU WANT TO, YEAH.
YOU WANT TO GET SPECIFIC INTO WHERE YOU NEED TO GO AND KIND OF THE SCOPE BECAUSE SOME OF THESE TERMS ARE NOT CLEAR TO ME.
SO, SO WHAT YOU SEE ON THIS ORG CHART BY IS, IS THE HIGH LEVEL DISTRICT COURT CHART, RIGHT? UH, AND SO WITHIN, UH, EACH OF THESE RIGHT, HR IS WORKING ON PUTTING HYPERLINKS THAT SOMEONE CAN CLICK IN A BOX AND GO, GO DEEPER INTO, INTO IT, THUS IMPROVING, GOING PAPERLESS, WHICH ALL ABOUT, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT THAT, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WAS ONE OF THE BIG MOVES YOU MADE AFTER WE GOT THAT, THAT STUDY, UH, CONVINCIBLE WOULD THAT THERE WAS, AND NOW THAT WE DON'T HAVE ONE, IS THERE SOME CONCERN WITH THE BATMAN, THAT GUY APPARENTLY GOT TO GO MOVE THIS AND WELL LINKS UNDERNEATH THE DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT AND THAT ALL NOW WOULD FALL, I GUESS, ON THE DEEP DQ.
SO WHAT ARE THE PLANS FOR THAT AND, UH, THAT COMING UP, BUT THE PLAN IS TO MAINTAIN THAT POSITION AND TO ADVERTISE AND TO HIRE THAT POSITION.
WELL, FIRST LET ME START OFF BY SAYING THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION, BUT ALSO THOSE THAT YOU JUST GAVE US.
I HAVE TO BE ABLE TO READ THAT, UH, WHERE, WHERE, WHERE IS THAT AT? OR CAN YOU SEND US AN UPDATE ON ALL THOSE? SO THAT, SO SORT OF, I WANT TO REFER BACK LATER.
I CAN REFER BACK TO MY NOTES OR REFER BACK TO WHAT YOU JUST READ, WHAT I SHARED WITH YOU ALL.
I MEAN, THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S MY UPDATE.
I MEAN, THAT, THAT TELLS YOU, UM, THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE AND HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED ON, ON THE DEFICIENCY STUDY.
BUT WHAT I'M ASKING IS THAT, CAN YOU GIVE US SOMETHING WRITTEN TO SAY EXACTLY WHAT YOU JUST SAID? SO I CAN REFER BACK TO THAT IF NEED BE, OR JUST TO UNDERSTAND WHEN SOMEONE ASKS ME WHAT'S GOING ON, THEN I CAN HAVE THAT TANGIBLE SECOND, BE ABLE TO RECITE INTO ONE END TO HAVE NOTES TO PIGGYBACK OFF OF THAT.
UH, I'M AN, I, YOU KNOW, I WOULD JUST SAY, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE LEARNS DIFFERENTLY AND I BELIEVE IN IT BEING ACTUALLY HAVING THOSE DOCUMENTS, YOU KNOW, AS A BOARD MEMBER, IT BOTHERS ME WHEN, WHEN WE GET THE INFORMATION, THIS IS AS IMPORTANT AS THIS GIVEN TO ME VERBALLY VERSUS HAVING IT BE ABLE TO READ IT LATER AND BEING ABLE TO SEE IT AND DIGEST IT FOR ME, THAT'S, THAT'S A LITTLE MORE APPRECIATIVE AND IT REALLY BOTHERS ME WHEN SOMEONE JUST BRINGS UP THE INFORMATION TO GIVE IT TO ME VERBALLY.
SO I'M JUST ASKING FOR THAT INFORMATION TO BE IN BLACK AND WHITE.
AND SO THAT I CAN HAVE, I CAN HAVE THAT AND BE ABLE TO REFER BACK TO THAT LATER.
THAT THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT.
I MEAN, I'VE STATED IT HERE FOR THE RECORD.
SO IT IS, YOU KNOW, IT IS THE WORK WE'VE DONE.
[02:15:02]
ALSO, I DO HAVE A CONCERN IN TERMS OF THE DEP UH, THE DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT, UM, THE WAY THIS IS BREAKING DOWN, AND I'VE ALWAYS ASKED THAT WAS, I'VE GOTTEN THE BOARD.UH, UM, MY QUESTION IS, IF YOU'RE NOT HERE, THE WAY THIS, THE WAY THIS CHART BREAKS, THIS INFORMATION DOWN IS IF YOU'RE NOT HERE, IT'S ALMOST, I'M NOT REALLY EXACTLY SURE WHO WAS IN CHARGE.
AND THAT CHART DOESN'T SHOW THAT BECAUSE OTHER, THE DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT, HE HAD THE EXECUTIVE, RIGHT? THE CHIEF INSTRUCTION THOUGH, UH, UH, CHIEF INSTRUCTIONAL AND ALSO STUDENT SERVICES.
SO YOU STILL, YOU STILL HAVE CHIEF ADMINISTRATORS AND YOU STILL HAVE SOME OTHER, YOU STILL HAVE OTHER TIERS OUT THERE AND I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, UM, AND IN TERMS OF, IN TERMS OF THE, THE, THE CHART, WHERE, AND WHO EXACTLY IS SECOND IN COMMAND HERE AND HOW, AND HOW DOES THAT WORK? WHAT'S THAT LOOK LIKE? SO THE DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT POSITION IS ACTUALLY SECOND IN COMMAND IS VACANT AT THE MOMENT.
AND WHAT WE HAD IN PLACE BEFORE WE HIRED A DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT WAS THAT, UH, OUR CHIEF INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES OFFICER WOULD BE SECOND IN COMMAND.
SO UNTIL WE HIRE THE, UH, DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT, THEN THAT'S, THAT'S THE RIGHT.
WELL, AND I UNDERSTAND MY CONCERN IS, IS WHEN I LOOK AT THE ORG CHART, HOW I UNDERSTAND IT AND HOW I VISION, HOW I READ IT IS JUST THAT YOU HAVE SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE, OBVIOUSLY, OBVIOUSLY THEY ALL, THEY ALL REPORT TO YOU.
BUT IN, IN, IN TERMS OF IT'S, IT'S NOT CLEAR IF SOMEONE, IF SOMEONE WAS TO CLICK ON THIS DOCUMENT AND SAY, WELL, IF I CAN'T REACH DR.
RODRIGUEZ, WHO WOULD I CONTACT NEXT, NEXT, NEXT TIME IN TERMS OF LEADERSHIP? AND I JUST DON'T BELIEVE THAT THAT WAS ONE OF MY, IN, IN THE SUPPORT OF HIRING THE DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT.
THAT WAS ONE, ONE, AND ONE OF MY BIGGEST WISE, AND ONE OF MY BIGGEST PROBLEMS WITH THAT RATHER THAN WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT WAS A DEPUTY, THAT THAT PERSON WOULD BE CLEARLY DISTINCTIVE NEXT IN LINE AFTER YOU, IF, IF YOU, IF YOU LOOK AT THE DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT BOX ON THAT ORG CHART, IT STANDS A LITTLE BIT HIGHER THAN, UH, THE OTHER CHIEF BOXES, RIGHT? SO THAT, THAT, THAT WOULD PUT OUR DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT AS NUMBER TWO, NOT NECESSARILY BECAUSE TO ME, EVERY DRAW A LINE IS STRAIGHT ON THE SAME LINE AS A CHIEF ADMIN.
I MEAN, I'M NOT GONNA HOLD YOU WITH THIS, BUT I'M JUST SAYING THAT I JUST, IF YOU COULD, SOMEHOW I WOULD JUST LIKE A MORE CLEAR VISION BECAUSE TO ME, HOW I PERCEIVE THIS IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT, AND I KNOW THAT THAT'S IN THE HIRING OF, AND SUPPORTING OF THAT, THAT WAS ONE OF MY PET PEEVE PET PEEVES.
AND ONE OF MY CONCERN IS THAT IF YOU'RE NOT HERE, WHO'S DO IS NEXT.
AND, AND, AND I UNDERSTAND YOU SAID THAT THE DEPUTY IS UP THERE, BUT YEAH, THERE'S A DIRECT LINE FROM ME TO THE DEPUTY ON THAT.
AND THE DEPUTY'S BOX IS HIGHER THAN THE CHIEF BOXES.
JUST RESPONSIBILITY HAS A QUESTION.
UM, SO THIS CHART WILL BE YOU REDO THIS SHOT, RIGHT? WELL, BECAUSE, UH, MRS. UH, ANDERSON, CORRECT.
I MEAN, THIS IS WHERE WE'LL HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THIS CHART WILL ALWAYS BE A LIVING DOCUMENT BECAUSE AS PEOPLE EITHER RETIRE OR MOVE TO DIFFERENT POSITIONS, UH, SO WHEN SHE OFFICIALLY MOVES TO ANOTHER POSITION AND THE NEXT PERSON IS HIRED, UH, THAT NEXT PERSON'S NAME WILL BE IN THERE AND SHE'LL MOVE TO ANOTHER BOX WITHIN AN ORG.
NOW, THE STUDY THAT WAS DONE, I THINK A YEAR AGO, OR YEAR, TWO YEARS AGO, WHEN SHINING, YOU KNOW, THE FOLKS IN THE, IN THE DISTRICT OFFICE, I HAVE ALL THOSE POSITIONS HAVE BEEN FILLED ALREADY.
UH, I, YOU KNOW, ABOUT THE EFFICIENCY STUDY THAT WE DID.
SO WHAT I WOULD SAY IS, IF YOU REMEMBER THE LANGUAGE THAT THEY USED REGARDING HR WAS OFF TO 17 POSITIONS, OKAY.
WE HAVEN'T HIRED 17 POSITIONS, RIGHT.
BUT WE'RE JUST GOING TO HIRE 17 POSITIONS BECAUSE IT'S SET UP TO 17 POSITIONS, RIGHT.
WE WANT TO FOCUS ON THE FUNCTION AND WHERE WE ARE ALONG THE WAY AND WHAT WE NEED.
SO WE HAVE, WE HAVE, UH, HIRED INTO HR, UH, AND I BELIEVE IT WAS ABOUT EIGHT POSITIONS, BUT IT'S NOT, UH, UH, UH, JUST TO BE CLEAR, IT'S NOT 17 BECAUSE THE LANGUAGE THEY USE WAS UP TO 17, UH, MS. CROSBY.
[02:20:05]
SO AS PART OF OUR MONTHLY FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, UH, WE HAVE, UH, THREE REPORTS FOR YOU THIS EVENING, THE A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS REPORT DETAILED AND CONSOLIDATED, AND THE TRANSPARENCY REPORT.ADDITIONALLY, THE BOARD BUDGET, MONTHLY BUDGET REPORT IS AVAILABLE.
UM, SO, UH, ONE THING I WANT TO POINT OUT, UM, AND I, AS I HAVE DONE FOR THE LAST, UH, MEETING OR SO, UM, THERE WAS A REQUEST ABOUT AMAZON PURCHASES AND THERE IS NOT A SUMMARY IN THE CONSOLIDATED REPORT, BUT, UH, WHEN CONSOLIDATING THE TWO, UH, BOTH THE AMAZON MARKETPLACE AND AMAZON.COM WHEN CONSOLIDATING BOTH TOGETHER, IT DID REACH JUST OVER THE A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLAR THRESHOLD.
IT WAS 101,000 THIS MONTH, $866.
SO, UM, IT DIDN'T SHOW UP ON THE REPORT.
IT'S AN AUTOMATED REPORT THAT PULLS ONE VENDOR AT A TIME, BUT, UM, IT IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT WE COULD MANUALLY ADD IN THE FUTURE ON, AS A REFERENCE POINT, I THINK WILL BE A GOOD IDEA FOR US TO DO THAT.
SO, UM, SO, UH, THE DETAILS OF THOSE TRANSACTIONS, ABOUT 681 TRANSACTIONS.
SO WE WOULDN'T INCLUDE ALL OF THAT DETAIL AGAIN.
UM, IT'S, IT, IT WOULD BE A DUPLICATE OF WHAT'S IN THE TRANSPARENCY REPORT, BUT I DID WANT TO POINT THAT OUT THIS, UH, THIS EVENING, BUT BEYOND THAT, I'D BE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS ON ANY OF THE REPORTS, THE SEATBELT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THE AMAZON STUFF AND COCONUTS YOU ABOUT, UM, I JUST HAD A QUESTION ON THE BOARD MONTHLY, UH, BUDGET REPORT AT THE VERY TOP.
THE FIRST THING IT HAS IS THE INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM FOR IMPROVEMENT SERVICES.
I, I BELIEVE THAT WAS FOR THE, THE BOARD, UM, SESSION THAT WE HAD.
UM, I WAS JUST WONDERING, BECAUSE THAT'S KIND OF STANDING ALONE AND I KNOW IT WASN'T INCLUDED IN OUR ORIGINAL BUDGET, BUT COULD THAT COME FROM THE OTHER PROFESSIONAL AND TECHNICAL BUDGET? ABSOLUTELY.
IN INTEREST OF, UH, BEING, UH, TRANSPARENT ON NOT DOING THE BUDGET TRANSFERS, UM, TO SHOW WHERE, WHERE WE ACTUALLY SPENT VERSUS THE BUDGETING WE LEFT THE BUDGETS AS IS, BUT DEFINITELY WE CAN SUPPORT THAT WITH ANOTHER AREA WITHIN THE BUDGET.
AND THEN, UM, MY OTHER QUESTION IS IN REGARD TO THE DIFFERENT TRAVEL ALLOCATIONS, THE VERY TOP LINE DOESN'T HAVE A PROJECT NUMBER, AND I KNOW ALL THE OTHER PROJECT NUMBERS REPRESENT INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBERS, CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
WHAT DOES THE TOP LINE INDICATE THAT DOES NOT REPRESENT A PROJECT FOR, UM, THAT IS, UH, IF THERE IS ANY EXCESS IN ANY OF THE ACCOUNTS, UH, AS A WHOLE THAT CAN COVER THE, UM, TRAVEL FOR THE INDIVIDUALS.
UM, IT ALSO COVERS I BELIEVE ROBIN AND MOLLY'S UM, ANY ADDITIONAL, OH, EXCUSE ME.
ROBIN CAN PROBABLY ANSWER THAT ONE BETTER THAN I CAN.
BELLA'S TRAVELS ARE FOR LIKE LOCAL TRAVELS WHEN YOU DO YOUR LEGISLATIVE LUNCHES, THE BREAKFAST IS AND STUFF THAT ARE LOCAL IN BEAVER COUNTY THAT THE BOARD MEMBERS ATTEND.
YEAH, NO, I UNDERSTAND WHAT THOSE ARE FOR.
THE TOP LINE HAS NO PROJECT NUMBER, BUT IT DOES HAVE A BUDGET ALLOCATION.
SO I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO DOES THAT REPRESENT? I KNOW SINCE THE WHOLE BOARD, IT'S NOT JUST FOR INDIVIDUALS, SO IT'S A CATCH-UP SO DO YOUR LOCAL LUNCHES OR OUR LOCAL TRAVELS THAT NOT TRAVELS, BUT, UM, EVENTS, LOCALLY EVENTS AND STUFF.
IT COMES OUT OF THAT BECAUSE IT'S NOT A INDIVIDUAL BUDGET.
AM I SAYING THAT CORRECT? WHERE YOU CAN UNDERSTAND IT? YEAH, I THINK I UNDERSTAND.
AND THE ONLY REASON I EVEN NOTICED IT WAS BECAUSE ON THE, THE ONE FOR STATE TRAVEL IT'S 297% RIGHT NOW.
SO I WAS JUST WONDERING THAT WAS A PRETTY BIG MARKET.
SO FOR, IN TRANSPARENCY, AS TONYA SAID, THERE WERE SOME THINGS THAT WHEN WE DID THE P-CARD, WE DID NOT ALLOCATE THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WE SHOULD HAVE ALLOCATED, BUT WE DID NOT DO ANY BUDGET TRANSFERS FOR YOU ALL'S REQUESTS.
SO SOME OF THOSE SHOULD HAVE COME FROM INDIVIDUAL TRAVELS, LIKE WHEN WE REGISTER YOU FOR YOUR STATE CONFERENCES AND SO FORTH.
IS THERE GOING TO BE A RECONCILIATION OF ANY OF THEM RECONCILE AT THE END OF THE YEAR? OKAY.
AND I THINK WE'RE NOT TRANSFERRING THAT BECAUSE I'VE BEEN PUSHING THAT.
WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT OUR, WHAT OUR BUDGET VARIANCES ARE.
SORRY, REALLY QUICK, BUT THE NET WORTH ON THE A HUNDRED K CONSOLIDATED SAYS A SECOND 25% MILESTONE PAYMENT FOR NETWORK ALON ELECTRONICS REFRESH.
IS THAT THE 8%? IS THAT ESSER? IS THAT THE REFERENDUM? WHAT, BECAUSE
[02:25:01]
THERE'S SO MANY TECHNOLOGY BUCKETS RIGHT NOW.YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE VERY FIRST IRON.
A SECOND MILES, 25% MILESTONE PAYMENT FOR NETWORK ELECTRONICS REFRESH AT ALL SCHOOLS.
SO I'M SORRY, WHAT WAS, WHAT WAS THE QUESTIONS THAT WAS, THAT IS THAT OUR 8% WE HAVE LIKE THAT MONEY OR IS THIS REFERENCING THE 8%? OKAY.
SO THE, UH, NETWORK REFRESH WAS, WAS THE 8% FUNDS THAT WERE APPROVED IN MAY OF 11.
SO DO WE HAVE AN, I DON'T KNOW, THIS MAY NOT BE YOUR QUESTION, BUT DO WE HAVE OUR NETWORK ELECTRONICS ON A REFRESH CYCLE OR IS THAT JUST SOMETHING THAT YES.
UM, AND MR. SHEEHAN IS MOST LIKELY ONLINE, BUT I BELIEVE THAT IS EVERY FIVE YEARS.
AND I WAS JUST WONDERING WHAT THAT WAS.
MS. MATTSON IS GOING TO BE HERE AND COMING UP TO THE PODIUM TO TALK ABOUT THE, UH, THIS MONTH'S ESTHER UPDATE.
UM, WE'VE YOU RECEIVED AGAIN, THE SAME REPORT THAT YOU HAVE.
WE DO TRY TO SUMMARIZE NOW WITH AN EXECUTIVE REPORT, UM, IN DIFFERENT AREAS.
YOU CAN SEE THAT, UM, OUR ASTRO ONE, WHICH IS CARES ACT, WE HAVE ABOUT $200,000 REMAINING.
THE ONLY IX SPANISH, OR WE HAD WAS PPE THERE FOR THE MONTH.
AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO EXPAND THAT IN THAT CATEGORY.
THERE IS, WE'RE STILL WAITING.
UM, IF THIS FUNDS GOES AWAY AND THEY, UM, WE'RE STILL WORKING WITH ONE PRIVATE SCHOOL TO TRY TO FINISH UP THEIR EXPENDITURES, UM, IN THAT AREA.
AND THEN, UM, IN THE SR TWO, WHICH IS ANOTHER, WE HAVE 19 MONTHS LEFT OF THAT GRANT.
WE, UH, SPENT A LITTLE OVER 844,000 THIS MONTH OR FEBRUARY, UM, WHICH IS OUR MONTHLY GOAL WAS ABOUT 765.
SO WE DID MEET THAT MONTHLY GOAL TRYING TO, UM, AT LEAST LOOK AT OUR SPENDING AND MAKING SURE WE'RE GETTING THERE.
WE DO EXPECT, UM, LOTS MORE SPENDING FOR THE SUMMER LEARNING.
YOU HEARD THAT PROGRAM THAT IS ALMOST FULLY FUNDED FROM ESSAR.
UM, LAST YEAR, IF YOU LOOKED AT YOUR REPORT FOR NUMBER 16 ACTIVITY, UM, WE SPENT $1.3 MILLION FOR ALL OF THE SUMMER PROGRAMS LAST YEAR.
AND WE DO HAVE ALSO AS ARE THREE FOR THAT FOR, UM, SUMMER 23 AND SUMMER 24, I'M WORKING THROUGH THERE.
OUR LARGEST AREAS OF, UM, SPENDING IS IN THE MOLD REMEDIATION, WHICH WAS A VERY DELAYED INVOICE THAT WE RECEIVED THAT WAS COMPLETED.
THAT WAS, UM, THAT WE DID PAY THAT, UM, AREA, UM, RECENTLY IN THE LAST MONTH.
AND THEN YOU'RE SEEING AFTERSCHOOL TUTORING IS GOING ON IN OUR SCHOOLS.
UM, AND SO NURSING COSTS, WE HAVE SPENT ABOUT 34% OF THIS GRANT TO DATE.
UM, AND THEN IN ASTER THREE, WE HAVE 31 MONTHS LEFT.
THERE WAS ONLY $209,000 SPENT THERE.
MOST OF IT WAS INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS AND THE CUSTODIAL, UM, ONGOING CONTRACTS THAT WE HAVE.
SO WE DID NOT MEET WHAT OUR MONTHLY EXPENDITURE BUDGET IS.
IF YOU JUST DIVIDE IT OUT BY, UM, 31, WHICH IS ABOUT 1.3, BUT MANY OF THESE ACTIVITIES AND SR THREE ARE CONTINUATIONS OF .
HOWEVER WE DID, UM, FINISH OUR STAFFING MEETINGS WITH ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE, UM, OWNERSHIP OF THESE ACTIVITIES.
AND WE HAVE IDENTIFIED SEVERAL ACTIVITIES THAT PROBABLY WON'T COME IN AT WHAT WE THINK WE BUDGETED FOR.
SO WE ARE GOING TO, UM, WORK ON A, A LARGE AMENDMENT TO MAKE SOME CHANGES THERE.
WE HAVE A SURVEY READY TO GO OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND PARENTS AND STAFF TO GET MORE IDEAS, IF THERE'S ANY AREAS THAT, TO SUGGEST SOME INPUT FROM THAT BEFORE WE, WE DO THAT.
SO BE LOOKING FOR THAT, WAITING FOR APPROVAL ON, ON BAT, TRYING TO GET THAT OUT OR REAL BLAST FOR AT LEAST A GOOD TWO TO THREE WEEKS TO GET INPUT FROM AS MANY STAKEHOLDERS AS POSSIBLE IN THAT AREA.
[02:30:01]
YOU HAVE, I'LL BE GLAD TO TAKE THEM.I HAVE TWO OR ONE SUGGESTION PERHAPS.
UM, THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY IS VERY HELPFUL.
UM, AND I'M JUST WONDERING IF PERHAPS ALONG WITH THE PERCENTAGE OF FUNDS SPENT TO DATE, YOU COULD ADD THE DOLLAR AMOUNT, UM, AS JUST A, THIS IS HOW MUCH WE SPENT, UM, OR HOW MUCH IS REMAINING, UH, PERHAPS.
AND THEN I THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING A SURVEY AND THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT KIND OF THE HUMAN CAPITAL ELEMENT OF EVERYTHING.
CAUSE I KNOW THAT THAT'S A LARGE PORTION OF THE FUNDS, UM, FOR INSTRUCTIONAL COACHES OR NURSES OR WHATEVER IT BE.
SO, UM, DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA OF WHEN THAT WILL BE COMING FORWARD? BECAUSE I'M LOOKING AT SR TWO WITH 19 MONTHS REMAINING ON THAT ONE.
AND I JUST KNOW IF WE WERE GOING TO OFFER A CONTRACT WITH SOMEBODY, UM, 19 MONTHS, THERE'S NOT MUCH ON THAT CONTRACT.
SO WE HAVE ACTUALLY, UH, FOR STAFFING, UM, HAVE REALLY PRETTY MUCH GOTTEN QUITE A FEW OF THOSE NOW SET, READY TO GO, THAT WE'VE GONE THROUGH THE STAFFING WITH ACTUALLY, UH, SCHOOLS AND THINGS THERE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY ARE VACANT TODAY FOR THAT, BUT WE, SEVERAL OF THOSE IN THE LAST GRANT, WE HAD ALSO IDENTIFIED TEACHING ASSISTANTS, YOU KNOW, BUT NO TEACHERS.
SO WE ARE REALLY LOOKING AT THAT.
THE LEARNING FACILITATOR POSITIONS WE'VE RE THEY REVAMPED HOW THEY WANT TO DO THAT.
IT WILL BE TRAINING FOR PEOPLE AND ALREADY EXISTING AND COACHES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO WE'RE REALLY LOOKING AT STAFFING RIGHT NOW, TOO.
SO WE DON'T HAVE THAT HUGE CLIFF COMING WHEN, WHEN THE GRANTS ARE ALL OVER THERE.
SO THAT WAS A LOT OF THE INSTRUCTION THERE.
I KNOW IN OUR, ON SOME OF OUR REPORTS TOO, WE HAVE THOSE COLOR CODED SO THAT WE KNOW WHAT POSITIONS ARE VACANT, THAT ARE FUNDED, UM, WITH SR DOLLARS.
AND THAT'S BEEN VERY HELPFUL AS WELL.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, WE ARE KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON THOSE POSITIONS AND THAT THE BOARD IS AWARE OF HOW THOSE CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE BECAUSE WHEN IT WAS FIRST PRESENTED, YOU KNOW, WE HAD AN IDEA OF WHAT WE WERE GOING TO DO WITH THE FUNDS.
SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE INFORMED, THANK YOU BACK AND KIND OF DO A REVAMP OF THE ACTIVITIES WHERE WE MOVE DIFFERENT, UM, THINGS AROUND, BASED ON THAT INPUT AND RECOMMENDATIONS AND, UM, BUDGET MOVES.
SO THERE'S, THERE'S A LOT OUT THERE AND, YOU KNOW, A YEAR HAS PASSED AND THERE'S PROBABLY DIFFERENT NEEDS THAN WHAT WE ASSUMED AT THAT TIME.
UH, MS. MATTSON, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
CAN, UM, I KNOW YOU'VE SPOKEN ABOUT THIS, UH, IN PRIOR PRESENTATIONS, UH, ABOUT, UH, DOING AMENDMENTS AND YOU HAVE TO PRE I BELIEVE SUBMIT THEM TO THE STATE.
SO HOW IS THAT? JUST, CAN YOU REMIND US, LIKE HOW OFTEN DO YOU HAVE TO DO THAT? AND, UM, THERE'S NOT A SET TIME TO DO THAT.
UM, AND IT, THE WORDING SAYS IT'S SUBSTANTIALLY DIFFERENT IN SR THREE WAS THAT REQUIREMENT THERE, THAT REQUIREMENT THERE'S TWO ACTS, BUT THIS LAST ONE THERE, BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT ALL OF THEM AT THE SAME, SAME TIME THERE.
SO THREE, WE'VE BEEN REALLY CAREFUL THAT KIND OF, IF WE HAD A SUPPLY THAT WE PURCHASED AND IT ACTUALLY WAS EQUIPMENT, WELL, THAT'S A BUDGET CHANGE.
WE DO HAVE TO MOVE MONEY FROM EQUIPMENT.
I MEAN, FROM SUPPLIES TO EQUIPMENT, BUT IT STILL WAS ABANDONED INSTRUMENT.
IT WAS JUST OVER THE LIMIT OF SUPPLIES.
SO THOSE ARE SMALL BUDGET CHANGES.
WE FIGURED THIS WAS WE'RE AT A YEAR ALMOST.
AND SO IT'S A GOOD TIME TO HAVE A REALLY LOOK AT THIS SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE GET IT EXTENDED IN TIME.
SO IT WAS, I THINK MARCH 11TH OF LAST YEAR WAS WHEN WAS ACTUALLY PUT IN ACT BY THE U S YOU KNOW, SAY, THANK YOU, MR. MELVIN, GMO PROBLEMS THAT I'D LIKE TO HAVE DOLLARS TO SPEND, AND YOU HAVE WAYS TO SPEND.
AND YOU SAID THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEND OUT A SURVEY TO GAUGE THE COMMUNITY PER SE.
AND MY QUESTION TO YOU AND DR.
RODRIGUEZ IS THAT WE LOOK AT TOTALITY AND I WOULD BE FROM A DISTRICT STANDPOINT.
AND, UH, I MEAN, WHAT AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVAMP SOME OF THE THINGS WE DO.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF THE ENTITY HAS THE ANSWERS, AS MUCH AS THE EXPERTS DO, EXPERTS
[02:35:01]
WOULD BE THE STAFF, TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS OF THESE PARTICULAR SCHOOLS AND THEIR NEEDS.HOW ARE WE, HOW ARE WE INCORPORATING THAT AS WE GO, I CALCULATED, YEAH.
WOULD A $60 MILLION TO DO BY THE END OF THE THREE, RIGHT? THAT'S WHAT YOUR CALCULATION SAYS TOO.
AND RIGHT NOW WE GET GRASPING FOR SQUIRRELS ON HOW TO SPEND IT.
IF I WAS A FULL, WHO GIVING YOU THIS MONEY, I'D BE READY TO PULL IT BACK BECAUSE WE'RE NOT AGGRESSIVE ENOUGH AT GETTING THIS MONEY SPENT AND THE NEEDS ARE QUITE OBVIOUS.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, APPLAUDING THE EFFORT, BUT, UH, I'M ENVIOUS.
I'D LIKE TO HAVE SOME OF THAT MONEY TO SPEND MYSELF ON PROGRAMS THAT WORK AND ARE CONSISTENT.
YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES WHEN WE BRING PROGRAMS FOR CONVERSATIONS, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS WE ALWAYS HEAR FROM THE BOARD IS, WELL, YOU KNOW, AN EDUCATION, THERE'S ALWAYS PROGRAMS. THEY GO AWAY, THERE'S OTHER PROGRAMS THEY GO AWAY AND THERE'S OTHER PROGRAMS THAT GO AWAY.
SO I THINK WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS I THINK WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO, I THINK WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS THEN WHAT I'LL PROBABLY DO IS SCHEDULE SOME TIME WITH EACH OF YOU AND BE HAPPY TO HEAR WHAT THOUGHTS AND INSIGHT ABOUT, UH, THAT YOU HAVE AROUND, AROUND SOME OF THAT AS WELL.
WHEN I SAY PROGRAMS, FRANK, I DON'T MEAN SOMETHING THAT'S TEMPLATED, SOMETHING THAT'S CREATED.
UM, I HEARD YOU SAID THAT YOU WERE GOING TO SEND OUT SOME SURVEYS, UM, AND EVERY COMMUNITY SURVEYS IS NOT A ONE SIZE SHOE FIT ALL.
AND IN MY COMMUNITY, I DON'T THINK THAT SURVEYS IS, IS ENOUGH BECAUSE YOU HAVE GRANDPARENTS, YOU HAVE DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT, UH, PEOPLE IN AUNTS, UNCLES, GRANDPARENTS, WHO ARE RAISING THESE KIDS AND THEY HAVE, THEY MAY HAVE SOME INPUT IN IT.
THEY MAY BE RETIRED, TEACHERS, RETIRED ADMINISTRATORS.
SO MY QUESTION WOULD BE WHY NOT? I MEAN, BECAUSE THE SURVEYS, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? I MEAN, HAVE YOU, EVERYONE KNOWS THAT THEY'RE GETTING SURVEYS, YOU KNOW, SO THAT'S, THAT'S SOMETHING I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO SPEAK TO, OR THAT I WON'T CONFIRM OR NEGATE THE IDEA WITH REGARD TO TOWN HALLS, MR. SMITH.
BUT I WILL SHARE THAT LIKE PARENT LINK IS HE ACCESS OR MANY OF OUR, THAT WE UTILIZE AS A DISTRICT STANDARD FOR EVERY STUDENT WHO IS REGISTERED WITHIN BUFORD COUNTY, WE CAN PUSH OUT A SURVEY TO FAMILY.
IT WILL, I RECOGNIZE THE MAJORITY OF FAMILIES DO HAVE A MOBILE DEVICE IN THE SURVEY COULD POPULATE THERE AS WELL.
BUT I, WE DO HEAR YOU WITH REGARD TO ALTERNATE MODELS AS WELL.
AND I JUST BRING THAT UP BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THE FACT THAT I'M, I DO APPRECIATE HOW Y'ALL DO DO Y'ALL SERVICE, BECAUSE I'VE READ SOME OF YOUR, SO YOUR SURVEYS, BUT EVERY TIME I GET GRANDPARENTS, YOU'RE LOOKING AT MR. SMITH, I AIN'T GOT ACCESS TO NO TECHNOLOGY.
I JUST GOT TO DO MY CELL PHONE IS HIS PICK UP TOP.
I DON'T DO ALL THAT OTHER STUFF.
SO WE JUST NEED, I JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M SERVING THEM AS WELL IN ANY CAPACITY THAT WEEKEND.
AND ALSO, IF YOU DEFINITELY LET US KNOW WHEN YOU DO PUT THOSE OUT AND WHAT ACTUAL COURSE OF ACTION THAT YOU TAKE SO THAT I CAN INFORM MY COMMUNITY.
UM, CAN WE HAVE SOME OF THIS MONEY TO DEAL WITH AND CLOSE THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP? WELL, I THINK, CAN YOU HEAR ME? I THINK WHAT WE'RE CONSTANTLY TRYING TO DO WITH WHATEVER PROGRAMS OR INITIAL ACADEMIC OUTCOMES FOR ALL OF OUR KIDS AND THAT'S PART OF AND INCLUDES, UH, YOU KNOW, CLOSING ACHIEVEMENT GAPS.
I MEAN, I THINK, I THINK THAT'S WHAT I, WHAT I WOULD WANT TO SAY IS THAT WE'RE CONSTANTLY EVERY, EVERY INITIATIVE THAT WE PUSH OUT IS WITH THE INTENT THAT WE THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE A GOOD RETURN ON INVESTMENT, ON IMPROVING ACADEMIC OUTCOMES FOR STUDENTS.
THEN WE REEVALUATE IT AND SEE IF IT WAS, OR IF IT WASN'T.
AND IF IT HASN'T BEEN, WE EITHER MAKE ADJUSTMENTS OR, OR WE MOVE ON TO ONE THAT, THAT HOPEFULLY WILL.
[02:40:03]
THANK YOU.UH, THE NEXT ITEM ON THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT IS ON A COVID MATTERS UPDATE.
SO ON THE COVID MATTERS, UH, UPDATE, UH, WE'RE SEEING, YOU KNOW, THE NUMBERS AGAIN, DECREASE AGAIN IN TERMS OF POSITIVE CASES.
UH, THE POSITIVE STAFF CASES THIS WEEK IS ONE AND THE POSITIVE STUDENT CASES FOR THIS WEEK, ZERO THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED JUST TO BE CLEAR, THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE REPORTED FOR LAST WEEK.
UH, AND SO WE REPORT IT TO D HECK AS, AS WE'RE ASKED TO DO, UH, AT THE BEGINNING OF, OF THE SUBSEQUENT WEEK.
SO YES, MA'AM, UM, I ACTUALLY WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION AT THIS POINT, I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, DIRECT THE SUPERINTENDENT TO DISCONTINUE ROUTINE COVID REPORTS AT BOARD MEETINGS.
I DON'T THINK WE NEED THEM ANYMORE.
WELL, I MEAN, YOU CAN BREAK, THEY CAN COME BACK IF COVID REASSESSES, BUT I I'LL GO AHEAD AND SPEAK ON MY MOTION.
WE'RE NOT DOING ANY KIND OF ORDER.
WE AREN'T, I HAVE NEVER BEEN A FAN OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT BEING BURDENED WITH PUBLIC HEALTH REPORTING.
WE'RE NOT REALLY EQUIPPED TO DO IT.
IT IS AVAILABLE OFFICIALLY THROUGH D HECK.
THAT IS THE AGENCY THAT IS CHARGED WITH DOING IT.
I AGREE AND NOT AGREE TO IT, BUT I WAS OKAY WITH IT WHILE WE WERE DOING INTERVENTIONS BASED ON COVID REPORTS.
SO WHEN WE WERE QUARANTINING, WE ARE NO LONGER DOING ANY INTERVENTIONS FOR COVID.
SO TO CONSTANTLY HAVE THE STAFF HAVE TO GATHER, CONFIRM, AND VERIFY INFORMATION AND REPORT IT, I THINK COULD POTENTIALLY BE PROBLEMATIC AND IS NO LONGER NECESSARY.
AND I THINK IT'S A DISTRACTION BECAUSE WE NEED TO GET BACK TO, YOU KNOW, THE FALLOUT OF COVID, THE LEARNING LOSS, THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US FROM A FACILITY STANDPOINT.
SO TO ME, WE HAVE ONE POSITIVE CASE IN THE ENTIRE DISTRICT.
WE DON'T NEED TO HEAR EVERY BOARD MEETING WHAT THE CURRENT STATE OF COVID IS.
RODRIGUEZ, IF, AND I DO ANTICIPATE THAT WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER ROUND OF COVID POSITIVITY AT SOME POINT, UM, THAT IF IT GETS TO A POINT WHERE IT IS ONCE AGAIN, AFFECTING THE SCHOOL OR AFFECTING STUDENTS, THAT HE WILL COME BACK WITH THE REQUIREMENT, UH, FROM D HECK, YOU KNOW, TO YOUR POINT IS THAT IF A SCHOOL HAS, UH, TWO CONSECUTIVE WEEKS OF 10% OF THE STUDENT AND STAFF POPULATION, THAT THEN YOU WOULD RE-INSTITUTE AT THAT PARTICULAR SCHOOL, UH, THE, UH, PROTOCOLS AROUND QUARANTINES.
AND, AND UNTIL YOU HAVE TWO CONSECUTIVE WEEKS AT THAT SCHOOL OF LESS THAN 10%, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT AT THE AGENDA SETTING MEETING, IF YOU HAVE NOTHING TO REPORT, YOU CAN TELL US, AND WE DON'T PUT IT ON THE AGENDA, BUT TO LEAVE IT ALL.
I DON'T THINK WE NEED A MOTION ON THAT MYSELF.
WELL, I AM A RELUCTANCE TO SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE THE FACT THAT WE HADN'T, WE HADN'T HAD SPRING BREAK YET.
AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SENDING STAFF AND STUDENTS ON SPRING BREAK.
AND WE, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT COULD BRING INTO THE COUNTRY.
YOU KNOW, WE KINDA, WHO SAID, YOU KNOW, YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT COULD RE APPEAR.
I'M, I'M HOPING THAT WE WOULD HAVE KEPT THIS UNTIL AFTER SPRING BREAK AND SEE WHAT THAT DOES.
I'M OKAY WITH PROBABLY NOT DOING IT, BUT NOT BEFORE SPRING BREAK.
THAT'S A BIG, A VERY BIG CONCERN OF MINE.
AND PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ME ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS IT LOOKING LIKE IF YOU KNOW, THIS GIVES ME TIME UNTIL THEN TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO THAT.
SO THAT'S A BIG CONCERN OF MINE.
I AGREE WITH MS. MS. BOATWRIGHT, AND I DO UNDERSTAND YOUR CONCERNS, MR. SMITH, BUT IF WE NEED TO, RE-INSTITUTE JUST LIKE SHE SAYS, IF WE NEED TO, RE-INSTITUTE THE REPORTING, IT CAN BE DONE AFTER SPRING BREAK, BUT UNTIL THEN WE DON'T, HE DOESN'T HAVE MUCH TO REPORT.
SO IF IT DOES, IF THE NUMBERS DO SURGE, ONCE WE GET BACK, THEN YES, HE WILL BE COMPELLED TO COME BACK TO US AND SAY, WE HAVE OUR AGENDA SETTING MEETING.
I NEED TO ADD THAT, UM, TO THE AGENDA SO I CAN SPEAK ON IT.
[02:45:04]
YEAH.AND I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR, THIS INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE THROUGH D HECK WE'RE NOT THIS INFORMATION IS NOT THAT WE WILL NO LONGER HAVE IT.
UM, AND TO YOUR POINT ABOUT IF HE NEEDS TO REPORT IT AGENDA SETTING, I THINK WE GET INTO A GRAY AREA OF WHAT NEEDS TO BE REPORTED.
SO TO ME, THERE'S A CLEAR OPPORTUNITY HERE FOR A BRIGHT LINE DIVISION.
WE ARE NO LONGER INTERVENING IN ANY WAY IN THE SCHOOLS.
SO UNTIL THAT IS NECESSARY, I DON'T THINK THAT WE NEED TO CONSTANTLY HAVE THE NUMBERS PRESENTED BECAUSE IT IS A BURDEN OF TIME.
AND LIKE I SAID, IT IS NOT ACTUALLY SOMETHING THE SCHOOL IS EQUIPPED TO DO WELL, EXACTLY WHAT SHE SAID, BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, ADDED TO THE SETTING.
HE MIGHT NOT HAVE ANY NUMBERS, BUT IT COULD BE TODAY'S AFTER WHAT WE DO WHEN WE DO COME TO THE MEETING THAT HE DOES HAVE THAT NUMBER.
AND IF YOU'RE, IF THE GYM IS ALREADY SET AND HE DIDN'T ASK FOR IT, HE DIDN'T ASK FOR IT TO BE ON THE AGENDA.
IF HE CAN'T REPORT IT, IT TAKES FIVE MINUTES.
DOES THE REPORT HE JUST DID AND WE CAN MOVE ON AFTER THAT.
I MEAN, IT'S KIND OF, VERSUS IT'S NOT HURTING ANYTHING.
IT TAKES FIVE MINUTES TO REPORT THE NUMBERS OUT AND BE, AND BE DONE WITH IT.
I JUST DON'T SEE THE HARM IN IT.
I WAS JUST, I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM THAT, UM, DR.
RODRIGUEZ CAN ADD ANYTHING TO THE AGENDA UP TO 24 HOURS BEFORE A MEETING.
JUST ONE, I WOULD ASK HOW MUCH EFFORT DID IT TAKE FOR YOU TO FIGURE OUT THAT THERE WAS ONLY ONE? WELL, GENERALLY WE HAVE STAFF MEMBERS THAT THE SCHOOLS ARE REPORTING UP.
UH, THEY REPORT, UH, TO OUR RISK MANAGEMENT AND THEN OUR RISK MANAGEMENT COMPILES, UM, AS, AS PART OF THAT PROCESS.
AND THEN, UH, YOU KNOW, I LOOK AT, AND THAT'S ON A DAILY BASIS, RIGHT.
AND SO I LOOK AT IT ON A DAILY BASIS, YOU KNOW, AS I MENTIONED IN THE PAST, IT'S SOMETHING I LOOK AT SEVERAL TIMES A DAY AT THE MOMENT.
UH, I DON'T NEED TO LOOK AT IT SEVERAL TIMES A DAY.
SO, SO AT THE MOMENT, UH, I LOOK AT IT EVERY DAY.
UM, BUT, BUT, UH, SO I MEAN, I, YOU KNOW, THE NUMBER IS, IS LOW RIGHT NOW.
UH, AND, AND I THINK THE HEC IS ASKING THAT WE MOVED TO TREATING IT AS AN ENDEMIC SITUATION, THE WAY THAT WE TREAT, UH, A FLU OR A STOMACH VIRUS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE FOUND OURSELVES IN A SITUATION WHERE A CLASS HAD A STOMACH VIRUS AND YOU FOUND, UH, THAT THAT VIRUS WAS, YOU KNOW, RUNNING THROUGH THE CLASS AND RUNNING THROUGH THE SCHOOL, YOU MIGHT SHUT DOWN THAT CLASS.
OR YOU MIGHT SHUT DOWN THAT SCHOOL.
UH, THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN, THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH COVID.
THAT, THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN AS FAR AS I KNOW, UH, AS AN ADMINISTRATOR.
UH, SO, SO THEY'RE, THEY'RE MOVING TOWARDS TREATING THIS AS ENDEMIC, UH, NOT PANDEMIC AT THE MOMENT, MR. MILTON, ALL RIGHT, HERE, ALL OF THIS, BUT WE ALL KNOW WHAT WE WENT THROUGH WITH THE PANDEMIC AND I DON'T SEE WHY GOOD NEWS ISN'T ACCEPTED AS BAD.
AND, YOU KNOW, I REALLY DON'T SEE A REASON WHY, HOW ALL RIGHT BY SAYING, LOOK, WE HAVE CANCER-FREE.
AND THEN I THINK THAT THAT WOULD HELP MORALE THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
IF WE KNOW THAT THE KIDS ARE SAFE AND EVERYTHING, THE NUMBERS LOOK GOOD.
BUT TO ADD TO THIS MESSAGE AFTER, YOU KNOW, SOME EARLY REPORTING, I THINK, YOU KNOW, CONTINUE REPORTING UNTIL WE'RE CLEAR, WE'RE OUT OF THE WOODS AT GOV, ONE OF THE THREE CASES IN SOUTH CAROLINA LAST WEEK.
SO I THINK WE CONTINUE TO CONTINUE TO MONITOR, AT LEAST I'M TELLING YOU OF THE SCHOOL YEAR OR, OR UNTIL WE'RE CLEAR THAT THAT IS GONE FOR THE RECORD FOR THE RECORD.
UH, WE REPORT STUDENTS AND STAFF, NOT BOARD MEMBERS.
I DON'T THINK THE FACT THAT IT DOESN'T HURT TO DO IT IS A GOOD REASON TO DO IT.
AND THE SECOND THING I'LL SAY IS IF YOU WANT TO COMPARE IT TO CANCER, THIS WOULD BE LIKE SOMEONE
[02:50:01]
THAT'S CURED OF CANCER.AND THEN EVERY TIME THEY RUN INTO THEM, THEY SAY, HEY, YOU'RE STILL CANCER-FREE.
ARE YOU STILL CANCER-FREE? I THINK THERE IS A PSYCHOLOGICAL COMPONENT OF THIS, THAT IF COVID SITS ON OUR AGENDA ALL THE TIME, EVEN THOUGH NOTHING TO REPORT, AND WE'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT ANYWAYS, I DO THINK THAT THERE IS A REASON TO SAY THE SCHOOLS ARE NOT INVOLVED IN COVID REPORTING.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT AS A CANCER SURVIVOR, I APPRECIATE PEOPLE ASKING ME IF I'M STILL FREE.
EVERY TIME, EVERY TIME YOU SEE THEM, YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE THEY'RE TELLING ME THEY CARE AND THEY REMEMBER, AND I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS.
AND I DON'T MEAN TO BE GUSHY ABOUT THIS, BUT IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT WHEN I WAS STRUGGLING AND THE WARD SENT ME A GET WELL CARD.
I EXPECT PEOPLE LIKE CARL GUY ARE ALWAYS ASKED ME EVERY TIME HE SEES ME, HOW ARE YOU DOING? I WAS STILL FREE.
BUT I DO THINK THAT CONSTANTLY, AND I'VE WORKED WITH CANCER PATIENTS IN THE HEALTHCARE SETTING.
EVERYONE DOES HAVE DIFFERENT SENSES WITH THAT, BUT IT'S A QUESTION OF KEEPING IT FRONT AND CENTER WHEN IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE FRONT AND CENTER.
I THINK WE CAN VOTE ON THIS CALL FOR THE VOTE MOTION TO DIRECT THE SUPERINTENDENT, TO DISCONTINUE UPDATE ON COVID ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, THOSE OPPOSED.
THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS UPDATE ON THE BUFORD HIGH SCHOOL LOGO AND MASCOT ISSUE AS IT'S LISTED ON THE AGENDA.
AND SO WHAT I'M GOING TO DO, UH, THIS EVENING IS SHARE WITH YOU, UH, JUST AN UPDATE ON, UH, WHAT HAS TRANSPIRED, UH, UH, THROUGH THIS, THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
SO AS YOU'RE AWARE, AND THE LAST BOARD MEETING, WE HAD, UH, SEVERAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO SPOKE ABOUT THE LOGO EPI FOR HIGH SCHOOL.
THE FIRST THING I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE DO, WE DO TALK ABOUT, AND THAT IS A DISTINCTION BETWEEN LOGO AND MASCOT, RIGHT? THIS IS THE, THEY ARE THE BUFORD HIGH SCHOOL EAGLES, AND THAT HAS NOT CHANGED, RIGHT.
THEY ARE THE BUFORD HIGH SCHOOL EAGLE.
WHAT, WHAT, UH, UH, AND THEN, AND THEN THE ISSUE REGARDING THE COLORS.
AND SO THE COLORS FOR THE SCHOOL ARE GREEN AND WHITE, AND THE COLORS REMAIN GREEN IN MIND.
NOW HAVING SAID THAT, I WILL TELL YOU THIS.
CAUSE AS, AS, AS WE HEARD AND WE SAW, UH, FROM OUR, FROM OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, UH, THEY, AND THEY SHARED A LOT OF INFORMATION WITH US LAST MEETING AND THIS MEETING AS WELL.
SO, UH, WHAT I DO WANT TO SHARE IS THAT, UH, THAT THE, UH, THE BAND UNIFORM, UH, WELL, LET ME, LET ME, I'LL GET THERE.
SO THE ADMINISTRATION AT THE SCHOOL, UH, SHARED THAT PRIOR TO JULY 1ST, 2019, THE LOGO THAT'S DEPICTED ON THE FIELD CAME INTO USE AT, AT THE SCHOOL.
UH, THE ADMINISTRATION FURTHER SHARED THAT THE BAND PROGRAM DID RECENTLY PURCHASE GREEN, WHITE, AND BLACK UNIFORMS AND THE BLACK COMPONENT FOR THE UNIFORM, OR WAS ESSENTIALLY BECAUSE THEY, THEY CONSTANTLY, UH, INCURRING AN EXPENSE AROUND, UH, KEEPING THOSE UNIFORMS CLEAN.
AND WHEN THEY'RE GOING OUT TO PERFORMANCES AND WE'RE GOING OUT TO COMPETITIONS, AND THAT WAS WHY THAT HAPPENED WITH THE PANTS.
THAT IS WHAT, UH, ADMINISTRATION SHARED AROUND THAT.
UH, MR. RONNIE AND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE PRIVILEGE TO SPEAK WITH THREE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, UH, ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25TH, 2022, BEFORE THE LAST BOARD MEETING AND LISTENED TO THEIR CONCERNS.
AND THEY SHARED, UH, THEIR HISTORY.
THEY SHARED THE STORY OF THE SCHOOL, UH, BUT HUBBY FOR HIGH RECEIVED ITS NAME, I'LL BE FOR HIGH RECEIVED ITS CARS, UH, BUFORD HIGH RECEIVED ITS MASCOT.
UH, WE'VE HEARD THOSE STORIES SEVERAL TIMES LAST BOARD MEETING.
WE'VE HEARD THEM SEVERAL TIMES, UH, AGAIN, UH, THIS EVENING, UM, THEY SHARED, UH, LET'S SEE, UH, THEY WANTED TO MEET, UH, THEY, THEY SHARED WITH ME THAT THEIR PURPOSE FOR THE MEETING WITH ME ON
[02:55:01]
FEBRUARY 25TH.AND THE REASON THEY WANTED MEET WITH ME WAS TO INFORM ME THAT, UH, THAT THEY AND OTHER ALUMNI WOULD BE COMING TO THE MARCH 1ST BOARD MEETING TO SPEAK AND EXPRESS THEIR FEELINGS ON THE MATTER WHICH, WHICH THEY DID.
UH, DURING OUR MEETING, I SHARED THAT THE LOGO ON THE FIELD WASN'T USED PRIOR TO JULY 1ST, 2019, BECAUSE WHEN I ARRIVED HERE TO BEGIN MY TENURE HERE AS A SUPERINTENDENT ON THAT DAY, JULY 1ST, 2019, THERE WAS A CAP, UH, WITH THAT LOGO ON IT, UH, AS A WELCOME FROM THE SCHOOL, UH, TO, TO, UH, TO BEAVER COUNTY, UM, I DID, THEY, THEY EXPRESSED, UH, THEIR, THEIR SENTIMENTS AND HOW THEY FELT HURT BY, UH, BY, BY THAT LOGO SHIFT OR CHANGE.
UH, THEY, THEY SHARED THAT WITH ME ON THAT DAY, UH, DURING OUR MEETING, UH, UH, I SHARED THAT I DIDN'T THINK THAT ANYONE AT THE SCHOOL HAD ANY INTENT ON DIMINISHING OR INSULTING THE HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL OR ANY OF THE INDIVIDUALS, UH, THAT ARE CLOSELY, UH, AND THAT WE'VE HEARD, WE'VE HEARD FROM CERTAINLY OVER THE LAST, UH, COUPLE OF BOARD MEETINGS.
UM, AND, AND THAT, IN FACT, I DO KNOW THAT THE SCHOOL DOES CELEBRATE ITS HISTORY.
UH, AND IN FACT, WE TALKED AT THAT MEETING ABOUT HOW THAT HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL IS MEMORIALIZED IN THE PURSE OF THE SCHOOL, UH, AND, AND INCLUDING, UH, THE, THE EAGLE THAT, THAT IS IN PLACE, UH, AS YOU WALK INTO THE BUILDING, UH, THAT IS THERE, UH, ON FRIDAY, MARCH 4TH.
UH, WELL, WE HAD THE BOARD MEETING ON MARCH 1ST ON FRIDAY, MARCH 4TH, 2022, MR. AWNING.
AND I MET WITH TWO OF THE SAME COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT WE MET WITH ON FEBRUARY 25TH.
UH, ONCE AGAIN, UH, DURING THIS MEETING, UM, I SHARED MY THOUGHT THAT IT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA FOR REPRESENTATIVE GROUP OF THE ALUMNI, UH, TO MEET WITH A REPRESENTATIVE GROUP OF OUR STUDENTS AT BUFORD HIGH SCHOOL.
UM, AND THEY, THEY SPECIFICALLY ASKED ME ABOUT WHAT THE PURPOSE OF THE MEETING WOULD BE.
AND I SHARED WITH THEM THAT I THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO SHARE MORE ABOUT THEIR HISTORY, UH, TO SHARE ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES AND THAT WHY THIS, THIS ISSUE IS VERY PERSONAL TO THEM, UH, WITH THE STUDENTS.
UM, WE TALKED ABOUT THAT FOR, FOR QUITE A BIT, UH, THERE COULD EVEN BE AN OPPORTUNITY IN SUCH A MEETING FOR THE STUDENTS, UH, TO, TO SHARE WHY THEY EMBRACE THE LOGO, UH, AS WELL.
UH, THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY SHARED WITH ME THAT THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO MEET WITH STUDENTS AND PROVIDE KIND OF AN ADDITIONAL EDUCATION AND BACKGROUND, UH, ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL AND THE EAGLE AND WHY IT'S SO PERSONAL AND IMPORTANT TO THEM, BUT ALSO SHARED THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE SOLUTION AROUND THAT EAGLE TO THEM WAS NON-NEGOTIABLE, UM, ADMINISTRATION AT THE SCHOOL SHARED THAT THE LOGO ON THE FIELD AGAIN, WAS IN USE PRIOR TO JULY OF 2019, UH, AND THAT THEY SHARED THAT THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 23 OTHER LOGOS THAT HAVE BEEN USED OVER TIME DEPICTING THE EAGLE, UH, IN VARIOUS WAYS.
UH, AND THEY SHARED THAT THEIR SCHOOL CARS DO REMAIN GREEN AND WHITE, THAT THEY ALSO CONTINUE TO USE THE ORIGINAL EAGLES AND SCHOOL, EXCUSE ME.
AND, AND THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION POINTED, UH, UH, ALSO TO THE FACT THAT THEY USE IT, EVEN THE ORIGINAL EAGLE ON THEIR PROGRAM, UH, GRADUATION AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND SO THAT'S ESSENTIALLY, UH, MY UPDATE TO THE BOARD, UH, US TO, UH, THE ISSUE RIGHT NOW.
WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP? WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK, UH, OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HEARD FROM OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT OUR PERSONAL, THIS SITUATION IS TO THEM AND HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS FOR THEM.
UM, AND I DO THINK, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE SCHOOL IS A PART OF THEM, YOU KNOW, AND, AND THIS IS A COMPLICATED ISSUE BECAUSE IT'S ALSO A PART OF THE STUDENTS THAT ARE THERE TODAY, RIGHT.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHY I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA FOR THEM TO COME TOGETHER AND, AND TALK ABOUT IT AND SHARE.
I MEAN, WE'VE HEARD THE STORY, THE INCREDIBLE STORY OF HOW THREE SCHOOLS CAME TOGETHER AND DETERMINED WHAT THEIR MASCOT WOULD
[03:00:01]
BE, WHAT THEIR COLORS WOULD BE, WHAT THEIR NAME WOULD BE.AND THESE ARE STUDENTS, THEY WERE, THEY WEREN'T STUDENTS, THEY WERE STUDENTS FROM THREE DIFFERENT SCHOOLS COMING TOGETHER.
AND, AND I JUST THINK WE FIND OURSELVES IN A SITUATION WHERE, UM, WE HAVE STUDENTS THAT ARE STUDENTS OF THE SCHOOL TODAY, AND WE FIND OURSELVES WITH ALUMNI WITH A VERY RICH AND PERSONAL HISTORY AROUND, UH, AROUND THE SCHOOL AND IT IS PERSONAL, YOU KNOW, TO THEM.
AND SO, I MEAN, I DO THINK THAT COMING TOGETHER AND HAVING CONVERSATION ABOUT IT IS AN IMPORTANT, UH, STEP FOR SURE.
YOU KNOW, AND, AND I, I PERSONALLY DO INTEND TO GO AND SPEAK TO STUDENTS AT THE SCHOOL.
UH, AND, AND THEN, THEN LOOK AND SEE IF THERE'S A POSSIBILITY FOR, UH, FOR US TO BRING, UH, UH, BRING THEM TOGETHER.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE AN IMPORTANT PIECE THE WAY OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS LED THE WAY BEFORE IN A DIFFICULT SITUATION.
I THINK THAT WITH A LOT OF THINGS AS A BOARD, YOU KNOW, THERE'S LESSONS LEARNED, UM, AND THIS IS ONE WHERE THE COMMUNITY SPOKE OUT.
I WAS BORN AND RAISED ON HILTON HEAD.
UM, I REMEMBER WHEN WE CHANGED TO THE STINGRAYS AND THAT WAS A BIG DEAL FOR A LOT OF THE STUDENTS.
SO I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT, UM, THE IMPACT IS TO SOMEONE WHO SEES CHANGES HAPPENING AT SOME, A SCHOOL WITH THE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANT IN BEAVER.
UM, WHEN I WAS LOOKING AT OUR BOARD POLICIES AND HOW WE DETERMINE THESE THINGS AND WHO GOVERNS, WHERE IN ISSUES LIKE THIS, UM, THE POLICY CAN BE INTERPRETED AS BEING UNCLEAR IN THAT THE PREFACING STATEMENT TALKS ABOUT SCHOOL NAMES AND THEN A UNDERNEATH THAT TALKS ABOUT NAMES, MASCOTS, AND COLORS, AND IT'S SILENT ON LOGOS.
SO I DO THINK THAT THERE'S A NECESSITY FOR US AS A BOARD TO LOOK AT THE POLICY, TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY REVISIONS THAT NEED TO BE MADE AS WELL AS TO CONSIDER HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE, BECAUSE WE ARE BLESSED IN THAT.
WE HAVE A LOT OF RICH HISTORY HERE, AND I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE A CONSIDERATION AND POLICY FOR WHEN WE DO MAKE ANY CHANGES IN THE FUTURE.
SO PERHAPS THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE IN HERE.
UM, AND I'D BE HAPPY, YOU KNOW, TO LOOK AT THAT WITH THE POLICY COMMITTEE, BUT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT SUGGESTION, THOSE STATEMENTS, UH, YES.
UM, THE ANGLES AND THE CALLS WERE DONE IN 61 62 67, 7, 6, AND VOTED ON A 69.
UM, MY QUESTION IS NORMALLY WHEN YOU WANT TO CHANGE SOMETHING AT A SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION AT THE SCHOOL, TALK TO THE STUDENTS AND SEE WHAT INPUT DAMN WAS THIS DONE.
BECAUSE I KNOW THAT, UM, WHEN AT RAIL BRANCH, UH, THE SURGEON WAS INVOLVED IN ALL OF THAT DAY, THEY CAME UP WITH THE NAME, THEY CAME UP WITH THE WARRIOR'S NAME AND ALSO THE, UM, THE MASCOT.
SO, UM, I WOULD HOPE THAT, THAT WE CAN STRAIGHTEN THIS OUT.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S JUST MY CONCERN.
THANK YOU, MR. WILLIAMS, ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, AS A, BEING AN ACTUAL EGO, YOU GRADUATED FROM YOUR HIGH SCHOOL AND UNDERSTANDING THIS, YOU KNOW, THE CONVERSATION IS THE CONVERSATION.
ISN'T ABOUT THE MASCOT CHANGE BECAUSE EGO IS STILL THE MASCOT, BUT THE EMBLEM THAT REPRESENTS THE SCHOOL HAS CHANGED.
IF THE EGO IS SEEN IN MORE PLACES THAN A FLYING EAGLE, THEN THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE WILL ASSOCIATE HIGH SCHOOL WITH.
IT APPEARS THAT THE REBRANDING IS OCCURRING.
WHEN YOU CHANGE AN IMAGE, A LOGO REPRESENTING A SMALL BUSINESS, OR A COMPANY, OR A GROUP OR AN ENTITY.
THIS IS, THIS IS THIS WHAT HAPPENS.
RATHER WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT EACH SPORTS PROGRAM, FOOTBALL, FOOTBALL, PRESS BOX, OR BOARD SOCIAL MEDIA OUTLETS, HAVE THIS BRAND ON IT.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, NOT ONLY HAS THE
[03:05:01]
MASCOT HAS BEEN CHANGED, BUT IT HAS THE BRAND, THE BRAND HAS CHANGED.AND JUST TO, UM, LOOK UP, I LOOK UP THE DEFINITION OF REBRANDING BRANDING, MEAN CHANGE CORPORATION, OR A COMPANY ORGANIZATION TO SOME PEOPLE I DON'T NEED A PERSON THAT'S EAGLES.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF BIRD THAT IS.
THAT COULD BE A PARROT, A DUCK THAT BIRD HAS NO MEANING AND ALL.
AND SO WOULD THAT BEING SAID, YOU KNOW, I HEAR WHAT I DO.
I'M ONE OF THE MOST BIG ADVOCATES FOR STUDENTS, BUT THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN PROTECTED BECAUSE THIS WAS ALSO BY COURT BY ALSO BY A FEDERAL COURT.
SO WOULD THAT, WOULD THAT BE A SAID, I DON'T THINK IT'S REALLY ABOUT WHAT THE STUDENTS WANT BECAUSE YOU CAN'T GO INTO THE MILITARY AND TELL THE MILITARY THAT YOU WANT TO CHANGE THEIR LOGO.
THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN PROTECTING, I THINK, AS A BOARD MEMBER, I FEEL THAT I HAVE DROPPED THE BALL, BECAUSE LIKE YOU SAID, THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN SOMETHING IN HERE BECAUSE THIS IS A DIFFERENT SITUATION IN TERMS OF IT BEING HISTORY.
THIS IS THAT WE ARE YOUR RACING HISTORY.
AND LET ME JUST GO AHEAD AND ADDRESS THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM.
WELL, IT HAS BEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE ASKING ME, MR. SMITH, IS THIS A PART OF THE CRITICAL RACE THEORY? I TELL THEM, I DON'T KNOW, BUT WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT THE BRAND AND THE IMAGE AS CHANGE THE REBRANDING HAS DEFINITELY HAD DEFINITELY TOOK PLACE.
SO W W W WOULD THAT, THAT BEING SAID, WOULD THAT BE A SET AS A BOARD? I BELIEVE THAT I APPRECIATE THAT RODRIGUEZ FOR MEETING WITH THE ORGANIZATION AND THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE COMMUNITY THAT CAME TOGETHER.
BUT I THINK THAT WHOLE HOLIDAY, THIS IS A BOARD FUNCTION, AND THIS IS A BOARD DECISION THAT WE, AS A BOARD, WE HAVE TO MAKE THIS RIGHT, BECAUSE LEADERSHIP STOPS AT THE TOP.
SO AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE RETURN THE FIGHTING EAGLE TO BUFORD HIGH SCHOOL WITH THE HISTORIC HISTORY, AND ALSO TO INCLUDE THE INFORMATION TO RESTORE THE FIGHT, THE FIGHTING EGO, TO BE FOR HIGH SCHOOL BRAND BRAND, BRAND REBRAND, THE IMAGE, THE LOGO, THE, AS IT WAS, THAT IS BEST ABOUT MY AIDE IS NOT WHAT IT, WHAT IT IS WHEN YOU GOOGLE IT.
BASICALLY THE MO THE MOTION, AS SIMPLE AS THIS, I MAKE A MOTION AS THE BOARD THAT WE REINSTATE THE FIGHTING EAGLE HIGH SCHOOL AS HIS LOGO.
I MEAN, AS, AS, AS, AS HIS MASCOT AND LOGO.
AND ALONG WITH THAT, THE CAR WAS GREEN AND WHITE.
I HAVE LISTENED WITH GREAT INTEREST IN AND CARE ABOUT THE HISTORY AND THANK YOU FOR THAT.
EVERYBODY THAT HAS SHARED THAT.
HOWEVER, I AM A LITTLE CONFUSED.
SO MY CHILDREN GRADUATED FROM BUFORD HIGH SCHOOL IN OH FOUR AND OH SIX, AND IT'S WAS THE BITING EAGLE AND THE COLORS ARE GREEN AND WHITE.
SO TO MAKE SURE THAT I WAS INFORMED FOR TONIGHT'S MEETING, I TOOK A TOUR OF BUFORD HIGH SCHOOL.
AGAIN, I MEAN, I HAVE BEEN THERE SEVERAL TIMES, BUT I TOOK IT JUST TO SEE WHAT WAS ON.
AND I'M CONFUSED BECAUSE YOU SAY RETURNED TO THE FIGHTING EAGLE, THE INSTITUTION OF LEARNING THE HIGH SCHOOL ITSELF,
[03:10:02]
YOU DRIVE UP AND THERE IS THE FIGHTING EAGLE ON THE MARQUEE.YOU WALK IN THE FRONT DOORS AND THERE IS A 10 BY 15 MOSAIC OF THE FIGHTING EAGLE ON THE FLOOR.
YOU LOOK AT THE ATTENDANCE SIGN AND IT SAYS, SIGN IN HERE.
AND THERE'S THE FIGHTING EAGLE RIGHT THERE.
I MEAN, IT IS, THE SCHOOL IS REPLETE WITH THE FIGHTING EAGLE AND YOU GO THROUGH AND EVERYTHING IS, IS GREEN.
I MEAN, IT'S, SO WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS, ARE WE ONLY TALKING ABOUT THE FOOTBALL FIELD AND I'M BEING VERY SERIOUS? ARE WE ONLY TALKING ABOUT THE FOOTBALL FIELD? I'M NOT, NOT DONE.
UM, AND SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND YOUR EMOTION ABOUT RETURNING TO IT BECAUSE I SPOKE TO THE PRINCIPAL, I'VE SPOKEN TO PARENTS.
IT IS THE EAGLE, IT IS GREEN AND WHITE.
SO WHAT REALLY IS THIS MOTION ABOUT RETURNING TO, SO IS IT JUST THE FOOTBALL FIELD? IS THAT WHAT IS REALLY, AS YOU WANT THE FIGHTING ADAL BACK ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD.
SO IF YOU COULD SHOOT, LIKE, IF YOU COULD EXPLAIN YOUR MOTION, PLEASE.
WHEN I WENT TO A BASKETBALL GAME A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, AND WHEN I WALK IN THE BASKETBALL GAME, I SEE FIRST OFF, I SEE THE GRAY AND GREEN BLEACHERS.
I'M LIKE, WHERE AM I AT? I'M THINKING I'M AT BLUFFTON HIGH SCHOOL, BECAUSE ACTUALLY JUST ALSO TO GIVE IT TO GIVE A BACKSTORY, THAT'S THE REASON WHY BLUFFTON HIGH HIGH SCHOOL ALSO HAVE THEY, AT FIRST, THEY WERE GOING TO BE GREEN AND WHITE TOO, BUT THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THAT WOULD MIRROR BE FOR HIGH SCHOOL.
SO THAT'S WHY IT'S CALLED, IS B A, B L T H S, WHICH IS BLUFFTON HIGH SCHOOL OR WHATEVER.
THAT'S HOW THAT WAS A CHANGE IN THAT.
ALSO THERE CAUSE WORK GREAT IN BLACK, THEY ADDED GREAT IN BLACK TO THEIR GREEN AND WHITE TO DIFFERENTIAL DIFFERENTIAL, DIFFERENTIAL DIFFERENTIAL IN TIME FROM BEFORE HIGH SCHOOL, BEFORE THE MOMENT I WALK IN AND I SEE, I MEAN, GRAY AND GREEN UNIFORMS, UNBELIEVABLE.
AND THEN I LOOKED AT THE BAND UNIFORM, THE BAND IS BLACK AND GRAY AND GREEN OR SOMETHING.
THOSE COLORS, WHEN YOU ACTUALLY, WHEN YOU LOOK FOR YOUR HIGH SCHOOL, YOU'RE LOOKING FOR STRICTLY GREEN AND WHITE.
WHEN I WENT TO HER TRACK MEET AND I LOOKED AT THE TENT, THE UNIFORMS, ALL THOSE, ALL THOSE STUDENTS ARE IN GREEN AND WHITE.
AND THEN ALSO JUST, JUST TO, JUST TO GO FURTHER.
I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS AT BUFORD HOSPITAL, I WAS A PART OF THE BASKETBALL TEAM.
AND I REMEMBER WHEN MR. CALVIN LIGHT LESSON, UH, UM, I REMEMBER WHEN MR. BRUCE BEASLEY GOT SOME UNIFORMS AND THEY WERE GREAT IN GREEN CAT.
MR. CATALYTE TOLD HIM AT THAT TIME, THE MEANINGFUL FROM THE REAL GOOD YOU TELL MICHAEL DEAN PERRY, THANK, BUT YOU CANNOT WAIT THIS UNIFORM BECAUSE THE UNIFORM SHOULD BE GREEN AND WHITE BEFORE HIGH SCHOOL, BECAUSE THAT'S JUST THE BOTTOM BETWEEN.
SO WHEN YOU WEAR DIFFERENT THINGS WITH DIFFERENT REPERTOIRES, THEN YOU'RE SAYING YOU SOMEONE WHO YOU'RE NOT, AND IT'S JUST NOT WITH THE FOOTBALL STADIUM, IT'S WITH THE, I DON'T HAVE HIM IN THE GYM, BUT IN THE GYM, THEY HAVE GREAT.
AND I ACTUALLY, I ASKED MR. MR. HARVEY, AND REMEMBER IT WHEN I KNOW WHEN YOU ASKED ME YOUR QUESTION, WAS IT PERSONAL THINKING OPERATIONALLY? I SAID, NO, IS THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS A PROBLEM WITH IT? AND THAT I SAW GRAY BLEACHERS IN GREEN, AND THAT'S NOT OUR COLORS.
AND WHEN YOU GOOGLE THE NEW, THE NEW EAGLE COMES UP THAT THAT'S THAT NEW LOGO THAT'S THAT, THAT THAT'S NOT BRAND.
RODRIGUEZ, OH, WHAT DID YOU FIND OUT ABOUT JULY 1ST, 2019? HOW DID THE LOGO ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD CHANGE? I MEAN, WHO, WHO DID THAT AND HOW DID THAT HAPPEN? JULY 1ST, 2019 WAS MY FIRST DAY HERE, JULY 1ST, 2019, THERE WAS ALREADY A HAT, UH, THAT HAD THAT LOGO ON IT.
SO THAT, THAT HAD TO BE PRIOR TO THAT IS WHAT I'M SAYING.
I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW IF IN YOUR RESEARCH AND SPEAKING TO ANYBODY, HAVE YOU FOUND OUT WHEN, WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN? UH, MY UNDERSTANDING IS MR. RONNIE, IF, IF YOU CAN, UH, YOU KNOW, HELP WITH THIS TOO, IF YOU'RE AWARE, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT DURING, UH, THE YEAR OF 20 19, 20 18, 20 19 SCHOOL YEAR, UH, IS WHEN THAT WOULD HAVE, THAT WOULD HAVE TAKEN PLACE.
AND I THINK, UM, UH, MR. RONNIE, IS THAT ABOUT RIGHT.
[03:15:01]
I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT TIME OF THE CHANGE, THE NEW LOGO.THERE ACTUALLY WAS A VERSION PRIOR TO THIS.
UM, I BELIEVE IT WAS ABOUT THE TIME THAT THE FOOTBALL HEAD FOOTBALL COACH CAME IN.
UM, AND I EVEN THINK IT STARTED IN THE FOOTBALL COACH PRIOR.
SO I, I ACTUALLY HAVE TO SAY, I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT TIME THAT THAT DATE WAS CHANGED.
I MEAN, WHERE THE LOGO WAS CHANGED TO WHAT THE NEW LOGO IS, IT'S ON THE FIELD NOW.
SO THE FOOTBALL COACHES ARE THE ONES WHO GET TO MAKE THE CHANGE.
I'M JUST SAYING THAT'S ABOUT THE TIME THAT IT OCCURRED.
I DO NOT KNOW THE PROCESS THEY WENT THROUGH.
I WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE SCHOOL PROCESS AS FAR AS, UM, MR. MILL CAMPBELL.
FIRST OF ALL, I, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE CONVERSATION IS, UH, IT'S A LOT MORE CONCERNING THAN MOST OF US CAN EVEN REALIZE, PARTICULARLY BOARD MEMBERS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN A PART OF THIS COUNTY FOR ANY PERIOD OF TIME.
UM, AND, AND THIS, THIS CONVERSATION, THIS ARGUMENT ABOUT RATHER, UH, WHEN IT WAS CHANGED OR HOW IT WAS CHANGED IS NOT AS SIGNIFICANT IS AS IT IS, WAS CHANGED.
AND IT SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN CHANGED, UH, PARTICULARLY BECAUSE OF THE HISTORY BEHIND IT.
AND FIRST OF ALL, A LOT OF FOLKS DON'T EVEN KNOW, GOT TO BE THE MASCOT AND THE FIRST PLACE AND THE HISTORY BEHIND THAT.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S, IT THAT'S THE OTHER ISSUE, BUT THE TRYING EXPERIENCE TO INTEGRATE THE SCHOOLS AND IN 1971, AFTER 17 YEARS BEYOND BROWN VS BOARD OF EDUCATION ALONE IS A, IS A HISTORY THAT WE AS BOARD MEMBERS NEED TO STUDY.
AND KNOW IF YOU'RE GONNA SAY WE'LL BUILD REALLY TRUE AND FORCES OF PROPER EDUCATION ON THIS COUNTY, BECAUSE THIS COUNTY HAS A HISTORY THAT'S EVOLVING, BUT SOME OF THE THINGS IN THIS COUNTY HISTORY THAT'S BEING DISMISSED, AND THIS LITTLE THING IS, SEEMS LIKE A LITTLE THING AND SEE IS FOREVER.
AND I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THE SENTIMENT OF WHAT'S THE POINT IT'S AN EAGLE AND EAGLE IS AN EAGLE IS AN EAGLE.
BUT FROM, FROM MY STANDPOINT, THAT EAGLE REPRESENTS SOME SERIOUS HISTORY.
THAT'S INDENTED IN, IN THIS, IN THIS, IN THIS COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM.
AND I DON'T SEE HOW ANY CHANGE OF THAT COULD BE DONE ON THE PROPER TERMS FROM THE STANDPOINT OF TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS WHO UNDERSTOOD THAT.
SO OUR PROBLEM IS A LOT DEEPER THAN JUST THE CHANGING OF THAT EAGLE.
IT'S FROM FOLKS WHO CLEARLY ARE EDUCATORS, WHO SHOULD BE EDUCATING.
AND I ACTUALLY IN THE BALANCE TO MEET WITH THE DAY'S STUDENTS, THESE PARENTS ARE GRADUATED 19 71, 19 70, AND THEY'D GO AND MEET WITH STUDENTS WHO ARE GRADUATING IN 2022.
AND YOU EXPECT THAT TO BE A, UH, AN UNDERSTANDING THAT'S GOING TO COME TO SOME KIND OF FRUITION.
WELL, LET'S LOOK AT THE TIME PERIOD, A RELAPSE OVER THAT TIME AND THE HISTORY AND THE EDUCATION THAT HAVE BEEN LACKING IN THAT TIME PERIOD, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE OUR MIND SHOULD BE SET.
HOW MUCH OF THAT IS THREE THAT THEY BROUGHT IN, YOU KNOW, IN A MATTER OF PROACTIVE IS THE LAST TWO MEETINGS THAT WE REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT MEMBERS DON'T KNOW, EDUCATORS IN THOSE SCHOOLS DON'T KNOW IN PARTICULAR, THE EDUCATORS THAT BE FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL DON'T KNOW, AND TO DISCUSS IT IN A CONTEMPORARY SENSE IS, IS, IS A BASIC IN FRONT.
IT'S A BASIC, A FRONT TUTOR, THE PEOPLE WHO WENT THROUGH IT, WHAT IS THE BASIC UPFRONT TO ME AS A BLACK PERSON SAYING, HEY, I WAS BORN IN THIS COUNTY AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS COUNTY HAVE GOING THROUGH.
AND I UNDERSTAND THE EDUCATION AND THE LACK OF EDUCATION THAT IS PROVIDED.
[03:20:03]
I THINK WE CAN DO SOME THINGS TO CORRECT THAT LACK OF EDUCATION, BECAUSE WE GO ON A FORCE, SOME PEOPLE WILL GO BACK AND REVIEW AND STUDY BROWN VS BOARD OF EDUCATION, WHICH I DOUBT THEY STUDY AT ALL IN EYES OUT.AND THEN THAT'S MY IDEA IS THIS IS A NO BRAINER IN TERMS OF IF WE WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING, IF WE WANT TO PROPERLY EDUCATE ALL OF OUR CHILDREN AND BEAUTIFUL COUNTY, I MEAN, WE JUST HAD THE AFRICAN AMERICAN SEMINAR FOR TWO WEEKS, BUT THAT'S A TIP OF THE ICEBERG IN TERMS OF WHAT NEEDS TO BE TAUGHT AND WHAT OUR CHILDREN NEEDS TO LEARN.
THIS MIGHT BE MINOR IN MANY OF THE MINDS, BUT I SEE THIS AS A PIVOTAL DISCUSSION IN TERMS OF HOW OUR FOCUS IS AT PRESENT EDUCATED.
I WILL SUPPORT THE MOTION OR WHATEVER IT DOES.
I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT, I MEAN, THIS ISSUE, I DIDN'T GO TO SCHOOL HERE.
I'M NOT GOING TO GET INVOLVED IN THE MASCOT.
UM, BUT WHAT I FIND UNCOMFORTABLE ABOUT THIS MOTION IS THAT WE ARE NOT, THERE'S GOTTA BE A BETTER PROCEDURE THAN THIS FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
I MEAN, A IT'S ON THE AGENDA AS AN UPDATE ON THE LOGO ISSUE, AND WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON IT WITHOUT EVEN HEARING FROM, I KNOW I'VE RECEIVED EMAILS AND I'VE TALKED TO STUDENTS.
IF YOU REFERRED HIGH, WHO WANT TO KEEP THE MASCOT, WE AREN'T EVEN HEARING FROM THOSE ORGANIZATIONS AND WE'RE GOING TO DIRECT A SCHOOL TO DO SOMETHING.
THERE IS NOTHING IN OUR POLICY THAT ALLOWS US.
WOULD YOU ONLY BE FINISHING JUST FOR A MINUTE? SO AT ANY RATE, I THINK WE MEET, I LOOKED AT OUR POLICY AND IT SAYS UNDER MASCOTS AND COLORS, BOARD RESPONSIBILITY, NAMING NEW SCHOOLS AND DETERMINING THEIR MASCOTS AND COLORS IS THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE BOARD.
NOW THAT IS IN REFERENCE TO NEW NAMES AND CHANGES TO MASCOTS.
BUT IT HAS A SENTENCE IN HERE.
THIS IS THE BOARD WILL APPOINT AN AD HOC NAMING COMMITTEE TO SUGGEST POSSIBLE NAMES, MASCOTS, AND COLORS.
WHEN THE NEED ARISES, COULD WE NOT DO SOMETHING SIMILAR HERE, APPOINT A COMMITTEE, GET DIFFERENT PEOPLE TOGETHER TO DISCUSS THE POSSIBLE CHANGES OF THE NAMES AND THE COLORS.
I BELIEVE MR. SMITH SUMMED IT UP.
I DON'T CARE WHAT THE STUDENTS WANT.
I THINK THAT SUMS IT UP THERE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS HISTORY.
STUDENTS DON'T HAVE THAT HISTORY.
MANY OF THEM PROBABLY DON'T HAVE THE, SOME, SOME, SOME MAY, BUT THAT'S WHAT IT BOILS DOWN TO.
UM, I THINK DOC, I AGREE WITH WHAT DR.
RODRIGUEZ WAS TRYING TO DO TO GET THERE'S TWO SIDES.
ONE SIDE LIKES THAT NEW LOGO THERE SIDE, DOESN'T LIKE THE NEW LOGO AND YOU HAVE A CLASS OF 71 WHO HAS ALREADY DEMONSTRATED THEY'RE INCREDIBLE NEGOTIATORS BECAUSE THEY PUT THREE SCHOOLS TOGETHER.
SO YOU WOULD THINK MAYBE THEY COULD GET TOGETHER WITH THE STUDENTS AND COME UP WITH A COMPROMISE.
I GUESS I JUST SEEMS LIKE THE NATURAL NEXT STEP IS TO HAVE THE PEOPLE ON THIS SITE TO TALK TO THE PEOPLE SIDE.
BUT WHAT I'M HEARING FROM WHAT MR. SMITH SAID IS THEY DON'T WANT TO TALK AARON, CHARGE THEIR HISTORY.
THEY'RE GOING TO PUT THEIR FOOT DOWN.
THIS IS AN ADULT TO, SO I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU RESOLVE THAT.
I MEAN, I'M FAMILIAR WITH THE COMMITTEE AND ALL THAT.
I JUST DON'T WHEN I RESOLVE THAT.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE COMMUNITY FOR COMING OUT AND EXPRESSING YOUR CONCERNS.
UM, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO KNOW THE HISTORY I'M NOT FROM HERE.
SO I DID NOT KNOW THE HISTORY UNTIL THIS CAME UP AND THIS WAS BROUGHT TO ME AND I WENT TO THE SCHOOL LAST WEEK, DROVE TO THE SCHOOL, TO SEE THE EAGLE.
I SAW THE EAGLE ON THE FRONT OF THE SCHOOL AND I WENT TO THE FOOTBALL FIELD.
AND SO WHAT WAS ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD TO GET BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WAS GOING ON? I HAVE A QUESTION BECAUSE IT WAS MENTIONED TWICE.
IT WAS STATED THAT THERE WAS A LEGAL MANDATE THAT STATED THAT BUFORD HIGH WOULD HAVE THE NAME.
[03:25:01]
THE MASCOT WOULD BE THE EAGLE AND THE COLORS WOULD BE GREEN AND WHITE.WHERE IS THAT LEGAL MANDATE? WHERE WAS THAT WRITTEN? AND, UM, I I'M LOOKING AT WENDY CARTLIDGE BECAUSE SHE IS OUR LEGAL COUNSEL.
SO IS THERE, OH, HERE COMES, HOVERED UP.
CAUSE I NEED TO KNOW WHERE, WHERE IS THAT WRITTEN? IT WAS THAT LEGALLY PUT ON PAPER, BECAUSE LET ME TELL YOU IN THE LEGAL FIELD, IF IT'S ON PAPER IS LEGAL.
AND THE ONLY REASON I'M COMING UP IS BECAUSE WE DID SOME RESEARCH AND TRIED TO FIND THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT IN ANY WAY THAT STAN, HOW IT WAS STATED.
WE WERE NOT ABLE TO FIND THAT WE WERE ABLE TO FIND SOME HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS TO DESCRIBE IT AND DESCRIBE THE AGREEMENT.
WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO LOCATE THE ACTUAL ORIGINAL DOCUMENT.
SO, UM, I HAVE NOT SEEN IT TO DATE.
AND IF ANYBODY HAS IT, WE'LL BE GLAD TO LOOK AT IT.
CAUSE ONE OF THE CONCERNS WOULD BE HOW WAS IT STATED? AND, AND HOW WAS IT DESCRIBED THERE? AND SO THAT WE'VE NOT BEEN ABLE TO LOCATE.
AND THAT, AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO DEFINITELY SEE.
I'M GOING TO HAVE TO ABSTAIN FROM THIS VOTE.
AND, AND I, AND I BELIEVE IN PRESERVING THE HISTORY, BUT THE ONLY REASON I'M ABSTAINING AND I WANT THIS TO GO ON RECORD BECAUSE THERE'S MORE INFORMATION THAT I NEED.
LIKE, I, I NEED TO HEAR THE INFORMATION AND THIS IS MY LEGAL MIND WORKING.
THAT'S WHY I'M, THAT'S WHY I'M GOING TO ABSTAIN FROM THE VOTE.
BUT I TRULY BELIEVE IN PRESERVING YOUR HISTORY.
IT NEEDS TO STAY THERE AND BEING A BAND STUDENT, I'M MARCHING, DAN AND WE WORE WHITE PANTS FOR TWO YEARS AND I COLORS WERE GONE IN BLACK AND WE WENT BACK TO BLACK PANTS BECAUSE IT WAS HARD TO KEEP THOSE UNIFORMS, WHITES WHEN YOU HAVE WHITE AS ONE OF YOUR COLORS.
SO I UNDERSTAND CAN, YOU CAN Y'ALL COULD Y'ALL COMPROMISE FROM A BAND STUDENT TO OTHER BAND STUDENTS.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANY, ANY GREEN, GREEN PANTS.
IF THAT'S GREEN PANTS ARE EASY TO CLEAN WHITE PANTS OR NOT, BUT IF THAT IS WHAT YOU WANT, I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE OKAY.
CAUSE I HAVE NOT SEEN THE BAND MUCH SO, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED AND NEEDS TO BE CHANGED.
UM, MR. SMITH, I GUESS HE FORGOT TO PUT US DINNER.
I ALSO, I KNOW THAT THE COMMUNITY CAME OUT TONIGHT AND THE LAST MEETING TO EXPRESS THE HISTORY, WHICH I APPRECIATE.
I FEEL ALSO THAT WE DON'T HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION UNNECESSARY.
FOR EXAMPLE, THERE'S COST INVOLVED TO THIS.
AND ONE COST IS WE'VE SPENT REFERENDUM DOLLARS IS AS I UNDERSTAND ON THE WOULD BE ON THE LOGO THAT'S ON THE FIELD.
AND THAT WOULD OBVIOUSLY BE THE TURF EXPENSE, WHICH I IMAGINE IS QUITE HIGH.
AND ARE THE BLEACHERS ALSO PART OF THE REFERENDUM DOLLARS? THE, UH, THE, THE ROBERT WENT TO GET IT, UH, THE, THE FIELD, RIGHT? THE, UH, TRACK THE SCHOOL BOARD, THE, UH, PRESS BOX, UH, I BELIEVE WE'RE ALL PART OF THAT.
AND CAN ROBERT, I MEAN, WE CAN VERIFY ALL THE SPECIFIC, NO.
UM, AND ALSO JUST TO BASICALLY PUT IT, UH, PUT IT BACK INTO PERSPECTIVE THOUGH.
IT'S NOT THAT I DON'T THINK THAT A COMMUNITY IS NOT WILLING TO COMPROMISE, BUT YOU JUST DON'T ERASE.
THERE'S NO COMPROMISE, ERASING, UH, INNOVATION IN A RACING HISTORY, YOU KNOW, AND IN OUR COMMUNITY, IF YOU GO OUT AND YOU, AND YOU PUT THIS PERSPECTIVE AND PUT IT IN REAL TIME, IF I GO BACK, GO TO CHRISTIAN ACADEMY, I CAN GO TO CHRISTIAN ACADEMY AND SAY, I WANT TO CHANGE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY OR TELL ME YOU WANT TO CHANGE THE NUMBER OF THEM.
YOU TAKE, YOU TAKE YOUR, YOU TAKE YOUR CHECK AND YOU GO TO ANOTHER ACADEMY.
AND SO I THINK THAT IS MORE SO OF IN THE SAME INSTANT HERE IS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET THE COMMUNITY TO NEGOTIATE HISTORY.
TO ME THAT JUST, THAT DON'T GO OVER.
I MEAN, IF YOU LOOK AT THE CHARTER SCHOOLS THAT WE GOT GOING, WE HAVE KIND OF, RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE PUTTING THESE KIDS OUT LEFT TO RIGHT LEFT TO RIGHT.
THEY'RE NOT CHANGING, THEY'RE NOT BREAKING THE RULES.
[03:30:01]
IS ALSO ON THE BASEBALL.I WAS ALSO ON THE BASEBALL TEAM.
SO KEEP THE TIME, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE GOT SOMEBODY TO LOOK FOR A DOCUMENT, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE ELSE I TOO DO NOT WANT TO ALTER ANYTHING ABOUT BUFORD, HIGH SCHOOLS, FLYING EAGLE COLORS, WHICH ARE GREEN AND WHITE.
HOWEVER, THIS MOTION, I TRULY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS.
SO IF I WERE RUNNING TRACK MR. SMITH, I NEED TO KNOW WHAT YOUR MOTION MEANS.
IF I WERE RUNNING TRACK AND I HAD EAGLE WINGS ON MY LOGO, EAGLE WINGS, GREEN AND WHITE, IS THAT ALLOWED? OKAY.
THEY HAD A BID B, THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE EAGLE.
THEY HAD A BEEF OR BUFORD, IF YOU EVER HIDE THE GREEN AND WHITE B.
SO WHAT DOES THIS MOTION MEAN? THAT YOU ARE ONLY ALLOWED TO USE THE FLYING EAGLE? IS THIS WHAT THIS MEANS? SO NO MATTER WHAT SPORT YOU PLAY OR WHAT ACADEMIC TEAM YOU'RE IN, IT CAN'T EVER LOOK ANY DIFFERENT.
THE ONLY LOGO OF THE EAGLE YOU CAN USE IS THE FLYING EAGLE.
SO YOU CAN'T USE, LIKE I SAID, YOU CAN'T USE A EAGLE'S WINGS ON A FOOT BECAUSE YOU KNOW, YOU'RE FAST AND FLEET, YOU KNOW, OR YOU CAN'T USE, UM, I MEAN THE ONLY LIT THE ONLY LOGO YOU CAN USE OF THIS EAGLE IS THE EXACT FLYING EAGLE ON EVERY SINGLE PIECE OF ARTICLE OF CLOTHING, EVERY PRINTED MATERIAL, EVERY GRADUATE.
I MEAN, WHAT ARE YOU SAYING? BECAUSE ONCE WE MAKE THIS MOTION, WHAT DOES IT MEAN? WHAT ARE YOU ASKING DR.
RODRIGUEZ TO FORCE BUFORD HIGH SCHOOL TO DO BEFORE I CAN VOTE FOR THIS.
WELL, LET ME ASK YOU THIS QUESTION.
UM, RIGHT, RIGHT, RIGHT, RIGHT, RIGHT.
WE HAVE APPLE APPLES ON APPLE, APPLES.
WHAT DO YOU SEE ON THE IPHONES THAT REPRESENT THEM? HOW, AS I'M ASKING YOU A QUESTION, SO ARE YOU SAYING EVERY SPORT WRESTLING, SWIMMING, THE ONLY THING THAT CAN BE ON THAT UNIFORM IS THAT, THAT EAGLE THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I'M SAYING, BECAUSE THAT IS THE MASCOT.
AND THAT IS HOW PEOPLE KNOW THAT YOU'RE REPRESENTING BEFORE HIGH SCHOOL WAS YOUR GREEN AND WHITE COLOR.
WE HAVE, UH, WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS AND WE HAVE A CALL.
SO CAN I, YEAH, WELL, YEAH, WE WOULD NEED A MOTION STAND IN THE MEETING, BUT WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR ALREADY, SO WE CAN JUST DEAL WITH EMOTIONAL REFORM.
AND THEN THE OTHER STUFF, MR. SMITH, WE DON'T NEED THE SIDE CONVERSATIONS.
I'M TRYING TO KEEP US MOVING HERE.
AND THEN WE CAN HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS OR WE HAVE TO HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
WE NEED TO EXTEND THE MEETING.
SO LET'S GET RID OF THE MOTION.
MOTION IS TO RETURN THE FIGHTING EAGLE TO BUFORD HIGH SCHOOL AS ITS MASCOT, LOGO, LOGO, READING AND WHITE.
ALL THOSE AFFAIR CAMPBELL WAS OPPOSED, RIGHT? BRIAN MYSEL, DR.
I'M GOING TO SUGGEST A BETTER WORD, EMOTIONAL, MORE SUCCESS, MORE SPECIFIC.
WE NEED A MOTION TO EXTEND THE READING.
I MOVE THAT WE EXTEND TONIGHT'S MEETING UNTIL WE FINISHED THE AGENDA.
[03:35:01]
FOR YOU AND I ARE NOW YOU'RE AN EYE OR NOT EYE FOR AN EYE.NOW WE HAVE TO MOVE ON TO THE PUBLIC.
UM, MR. STEVEN GREEN, YOUR FIRST, BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN WAITING ALL NIGHT TO SPEAK SO GOOD EVENING.
UH, MR. CHAIRMAN, SUPERINTENDENT RODRIGUEZ, AND THE REST OF THE BOARD MEMBERS.
I THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HEARD.
UM, I HEARD WHAT YOUR VOTE WAS.
I HOPE WE KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT THE END OF IT.
IT'S NOT AS SIMPLE AS CHANGING OF A MASCOT.
I WOULD HOPE THAT FOR ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS THAT ARE NOT FROM HERE, THAT WE LEARNED ABOUT HERE, YOU JUST COMPLETED A SEMINAR THAT TALKS ABOUT THE DANGER OF NOT UNDERSTANDING WHERE YOU ARE AND HOW TO TEACH THE CHILDREN HERE.
THIS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF WHAT GOES WRONG.
WHEN YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE MONEY THAT IS GONE TAKE IS NOT MONEY THAT WE ARE ASKING YOU TO SPEND.
IT IS MONEY THAT WAS ALREADY SPENT UNWISELY BEFORE THE RESEARCH WAS DONE.
SO THE QUESTION NOW BECOMES, WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? DO WE THINK, OKAY, WE'LL GO BACK HOME.
AND NO, THAT COLOR GREEN AND WHITE SHOULD STAND THAT MASCOT.
WHAT WE SAW IN THAT FIELD DOES NOT REPRESENT THE EAGLE FROM BUFORD HAT.
IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS ACCEPTABLE, WE ARE WILLING TO TEACH THE CHILDREN.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO CHANGE TO BE PROUD OF WHERE THEY ARE AND WE CAN SHOW THEM WHERE WE CAME FROM.
WE DON'T MIND GOING FORWARD, NOT JUST MYSELF, BUT OTHERS FROM ALL THREE OF THE SCHOOLS, WE'LL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO TALK, TO MOVE THE CHILDREN FORWARD.
UH, WE HAD THIS CONVERSATION WITH DR.
THE PROBLEM WAS HOW WE WERE GREETED AND NO ONE CARED ABOUT OUR HISTORY TO PREFER TO ASK FOR FORGIVENESS THAN PERMISSION IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.
SO WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND WE'LL BE BACK GERALDINE, DAWSON.
AGAIN, I MUST STATE MY DISAPPOINTMENT WITH YOUR VOTE AND, UH, I MUST CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO SOME THINGS.
UM, I'M LOOKING AROUND THIS BOARD TABLE AND I KNOW ALL OF YOU WENT OR MOST OF YOU WENT TO A SCHOOL, BE IT HIGH SCHOOL OR A COLLEGE.
WHEN YOU WENT THERE, YOU MET THINGS IN PLACE.
THERE YOU MET A NAME, SOME COLORS AND A MASS THAT YOU ARE NOT AT LIBERTY TO CHANGE THEM JUST AS THE STUDENTS ARE NOT AT LIBERTY TO CHANGE THEM, LET ALONE NO RESEARCH HAVING BEEN DONE.
IF A CHANGE WAS NECESSARY OR WANTED DESIRED, ALL EVEN BUILT OUT THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A PROCESS.
AND THERE REALLY WASN'T, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT A SCHOOL, THE SIDES AS YOU
[03:40:01]
ALL WELL KNOW, EVEN AS A BOARD, AS FORMER STUDENTS YOURSELVES.SO LIKE THEY SAY IT, WE WILL BE BACK, TAKE IT UNDER CONSIDERATION THAT THIS IS NOT GOING TO GO AWAY EASILY.
I'M GOING TO PUT YOU ON SPEAKER PHONE AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES STATE YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME.
CALLING FROM DETROIT, MICHIGAN.
I AM A MEMBER OF THE 1971 GRADUATING CLASS OF BUFORD HIGH SCHOOL.
I AM ALSO ONE OF THE THREE ORIGINAL STUDENTS THAT INTEGRATED SCHOOLS IN BUFORD COUNTY IN 1964, BY ATTENDING MOSSY OAKS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
AT THIS POINT, MAY I SAY I AM THE WHISTLEBLOWER WHO BROUGHT THE CARTOON CHARACTER EAGLE TO THE ATTENTION OF MY CLASSMATES AT OUR 50TH REUNION IN OCTOBER OF 2021.
AT THAT TIME WE DONATED $1,000 TO THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT AND OFFERED TO PAY TO HAVE THE GREAT EAGLE REPLACED, WHICH WAS DISMISSED, BUT THERE CANNOT BE TWO SEPARATE EAGLES DESIGNED, A FLYING AMERICAN, BALD EAGLE AND A CARTOON CHARACTER.
IT PLEASES ME TO SEE THE YOUNG BOYS THAT SPOKE EARLIER BECAUSE THEY INDICATED THAT THEY WANTED TO START A PETITION TO IMPROVE LUNCHES THAT THEIR SCHOOLS, I APPLAUD THEM AND THEIR PARENTS FOR TEACHING THEM EARLY, TO STAND UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT.
I TOO AGREE THAT IF NECESSARY, THE BUFORD HIGH SCHOOL, GREEN AND WHITE EAGLES COULD ALSO START A PETITION IN ORDER TO CORRECT OR WRONG.
I HAVE HEARD TOO MANY EXCUSES, NO ONE TAKING CREDIT FOR THE DESIGN AND WHO APPROVED IT.
SURELY NOT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
I WAS A MAJORETTE AND A FEW FOR HIGH SCHOOL BAND AND OUR UNIFORM FOR WHITE AND THE BAND WORE WHITE PANTS.
AND THERE WAS NEVER A PROBLEM WITH GETTING UNIFORMS CLEANED.
SO THIS IS THE COURT, EXCUSE, ORDERING BLACK PANTS.
IGNORING I HISTORY IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.
FAILURE TO FOLLOW POLICY IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.
WE WILL NOT BE SILENCED ARE NOT CLOSED AWAY.
THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO INSULT OUR HISTORY HAVE OBVIOUSLY NEVER HAD TO FIGHT WAR CAUSE NOR HAS ANY RESPECT FOR CULTURE OR PRIDE.
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE CURRENT STUDENTS TO HAVE A REALISTIC OPINION TOWARD HISTORY THAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN TAUGHT.
I TAKE PRIDE IN BEING A BUFORD HIGH SCHOOL FIGHTING EAGLE, AND I WILL NOT ACCEPT THE COLORS OF GREEN AND BLACK OR ANY OTHER VARIATION OF COLORS.
DO NOT CARE TO WEAR BLUFFTON HIGH SCHOOL WITH COLORS.
I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE THE ELECTED BOARD AND MEMBERS TO LISTEN CAREFULLY TO.
WHAT'S BEEN SAID BY THESE REGISTERED VOTERS AND TO TAKE THE RIGHT ACTION FOR US.
IF THE BOARD DID NOT APPROVE THIS CHANGE IN THE WORD, DESPITE LEE'S MOVIE, DO THE RIGHT THING IN MY GEECHEE DIALECT.
BUT THOSE WHO ARE NOT KUPER TONY, YOU BECOME HERE.
WE'VE BEEN HERE, THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.
AND I CLOSED WITH EAGLES FOR LIFE.
[03:45:26]
WE START ALL OVER.YOU WOULDN'T CHANGE THOSE TWO FLAGS.
I SERVED IN THE MARINE CORPS FOR THREE YEARS, ACTIVE DUTY JANELL FATHER.
WHO'S ON THE PHONE SHERIFFS OVER 30 YEARS.
OKAY? IN THE MARINE CORPS, YOU BE NOT CHANGE THEIR FLAG OR WEAR IT UPSIDE DOWN ON A FLIGHT UPSIDE DOWN FOR THAT MATTER.
SO YOU HAVE TO STAND UP SOMETIME FOR WHAT IS RIGHT AND NOT BE SO POLITICAL.
WHAT WAS RIGHT? WHERE ARE THE PARENTS AND THE STUDENTS? WE HAD TWO MEETINGS OR ARE THEY, BUT YOU CAME IN HERE BIAS AND REPRESENTING PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT EVEN HERE.
THEY'RE NOT EVEN HERE, BUT YET YOU VOTING FOR THEM AND THEY DON'T HAVE THE GUTS TO BE HERE.
THEY DON'T HAVE THE GUTS TO BE HERE BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A POSITION.
NOW CAN SAY I ATTENDED THE BUFORD SCHOOLS SYSTEM FOR SIX YEARS, JUNIOR HIGH AND FOUR YEARS OF HIGH SCHOOL.
BEFORE THE MERGER, THERE WAS A MAJOR REST OF THE CHEERLEADERS OR WHATEVER THEY USED TO COME ON THE FIELD IN 68, 69, SOMEWHERE IN THAT TIMEFRAME, ANY CARRIED A REBEL FLAG, THEY CARRIED A REBEL FLAG IN THE, IN THE PARADES AND THE PARADES AND THE FOOTBALL FIELD, UH, PEP RALLIES HAIR COME A BIG RED REBEL FLAG.
IT MAY MEAN SOMETHING TO PEOPLE WHO GREW UP IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
BUT SO IF THAT WAS OFFENSIVE TO BLACK PEOPLE AND I DON'T HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO YOU WHY.
SO WHAT IS MEANINGFUL TO SOMEONE IS VERY HURTFUL TO SOMEONE ELSE.
SO THIS IS COMING BACK, IT'S COMING BACK IS THIS MAKES NO SENSE AT ALL, FOR WHAT YOU'VE HEARD IN THE LAST TWO MEETINGS.
AND YOU REJECT THAT, YOU KNOW, IF THIS WAS IN A COURTROOM, IF YOU DON'T SHOW UP, THE OTHER SIDE WINS BY DEFAULT, THEY DIDN'T SHOW UP.
AND THEY WON IN YOUR ENDORSING BAD BEHAVIOR BY ENDORSING SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT ALLOWED IN THE FIRST PLACE SO THEY CAN DO OR BUSINESS
[ Board Business Action]
ACTION.UH, I THOUGHT YOU SAID THAT YOU WERE GOING TO MAKE A MOTION THAT YOU SAID THAT SOMETHING MORE CLEAR, SOMETHING YOU SAID THAT YOU WERE GOING TO MAKE A MOTION, OR YOU WANTED SOMETHING MORE HERE.
I SAID, I THOUGHT THAT IF YOUR EMOTION WAS CLEARER, IT MIGHT'VE HAD A DIFFERENT OUTCOME.
AND, AND IN TERMS OF MORE, MORE PACIFIC, THAT WAS VERY BROAD.
IT WOULD MEAN EVERYTHING WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE RIGHT? EVERY, AS I THOUGHT, THIS FINISH OUTLINED IT PRETTY WELL.
IT WENT FROM, I THOUGHT IT WAS THE EAGLE ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD PRESS BOX AND THE SCHOOL.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE ISSUE, BUT YOUR EMOTION EXPANDED TO EVERYTHING.
AS MS. FIDRYCH EXPLAINED, YOU KNOW, I LOOKED AT THE CATCHER'S MASK AND IT'S GOT THAT NEW LOGO ON AND THE BASEBALL HAT, NEW LOGO, THE ONE STILL ONE OF THE LETTERS OF THE NEW LOGO.
I GUESS, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT, THEN, THEN YOU'VE GOT YOUR RESULT.
YOU WANT TO CHANGE THE LOGO AND THE FOOTBALL FIELD, THE PRESS BOX ON THE SCOREBOARD.
THAT'S A DIFFERENT MOTION THAN THE ONE YOU PUT UP.
SO I, I'M NOT TRYING TO INFLUENCE Y'ALL, I'M JUST SAYING, YOU KNOW, IT MIGHT'VE HAD A DIFFERENT OUTCOME.
[03:50:01]
RIGHT.AND I GET THAT THE ONLY WAY I WOULD POSSIBLY SEE ABLE TO GET DONE IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, IF WE GAVE THEM TIME TO GET BACK TO THE ORIGINAL LOGO, BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, EVEN, EVEN AS I SIT HERE AND THINK, YOU KNOW, UM, WITH, WITH WHAT THE LADY W W WHAT THE LADY JUST SAID, YOU KNOW, WE ALL, WE ALL THEM THE RIGHT TO RESTORE THIS, BUT THE, THE, THE, THE PROCESS, THE WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, WHY, AND HOW ONLY THING I COULD SEE FIT FOR IS TO SAY, GIVE THEM A GIFT, GIVE THE SCHOOL WITHIN THE SIX MONTHS OVER THE NEXT YEAR.
AND THAT EVERYTHING IS OVER A PROCESS THAT THE FOOTBALL FIELD AND THOSE THINGS IN TERMS OF GRADUATION, OTHER THINGS, THOSE ARE RESTORATIVE IMMEDIATELY, BUT I CAN SEE GIVING THEM TIME, BUT TO NOT TO SAY, UM, NOT EVERYTHING.
AND ONCE AGAIN, THAT WE, WE RUN BACK INTO THE SAME ISSUE UPON LEVELS.
I UNDERSTAND YOU DON'T WANT TO CHANGE YOUR EMOTION, YOUR EMOTION.
I WAS JUST TRYING TO GIVE YOU SOME ADVICE AND I IT'S BAD ADVICE FINE, BUT WE NEED TO MOVE ON.
I MOVE THAT WE ACCEPT THE 20 22, 20 23, A REVISED ACADEMIC SCHOOL CALENDAR AS PRESENTED, UH, THIS EVENING.
AND IT APPEARS THAT THE CHANGE ON THIS CALENDAR IS TO INCLUDE, UH, NOVEMBER 8TH, THE GENERAL ELECTION, UH, THEY AS A SCHOOL IS CLOSED.
SO MR. CAMPBELL, FEBRUARY 10TH WOULD SO BE A NO STUDENT CONTACT DAY THAT IT WOULD BE A PD DAY.
AND IN TERMS OF THE I'LL JUST LEAVE IT ALONE.
WE HAVE NO OTHER HANDS UP COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION THROUGH ACCEPTED ONLY THROUGH FREE ACADEMIC CALENDAR MODIFICATIONS, BAD, ADDING A MEMORY.
THIS IS A CLOSED DAY, WHICH HAS TO DO BY LAW.
I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, EXCEPT THE DONATION FROM READING POWER IN THE AMOUNT OF $15,000 TO JOSEPH'S CHECKLIST ELEMENTARY FOR THE PURCHASE OF BOOKS DISCUSSION.
I JUST WANT TO THANK THE DONORS READING POWER, UH, FOR THIS GENEROUS DONATION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? WELL, MR. SMITH IS ABSENT.
[03:55:01]
IT TAKES US TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.UM, I'LL PUT IT DOWN BECAUSE ACTUALLY, UH, PULL UPS.
I COULD MAKE THE MOTION, BUT I'M GOING TO BE ABSTAINING.
[ Consent Agenda]
ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, RIGHT.[ Future Agenda Topics]
TOPICS.MY, I PUT MY HAND UP PREMATURELY.
UM, AND THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE MEETING, I NOTICED THAT WE HAD A, UM, WHAT WAS IT CALLED? A CLEAR YOU HAD THE RIGHT TO SAY, HE SAID HE WAS JUST GIVING US AN UPDATE BECAUSE HE HAD A, UM, NO, YOU SAID EARLIER THAT ONE WAS JUST UPDATED BECAUSE HE HAD ACCESS.
YOU ALREADY HAD, YOU ALREADY HAD THE RIGHT OF WAY.
I WOULD JUST LIKE AN UPDATE ON ANY BLANKET EASEMENTS THAT THE DISTRICT HAS A PERIOD, JUST SO THAT IN THE FUTURE, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT'S SOMETHING, I WAS KIND OF SHOCKED.
I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THAT PEOPLE HAVE BLANKET, ER, UH, BLANKET, UM, EASEMENTS.
AND SO I WOULD JUST LIKE TO KNOW WHAT OTHER BLANKET EASEMENTS MIGHT BE OUT THERE FROM THE DISTRICT.
SO IF WE COULD HAVE THAT AN UPDATE.
BUT I THINK IT WAS THE ENERGY COMPANY, NOT THE DISTRICT HAS THE BLANKET EASILY.
I MEAN, I'M JUST SAYING IN GENERAL, IF THERE ARE ANY BLANKETS, ANY BLANKET, THE BLANKET EASEMENT, ANY BLANKET EASEMENTS THAT DEAL WITH THE DISTRICT THAT WE KNOW OF.
I JUST LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT THOSE.
UM, UH, WE SAID THAT SOUNDS LIKE AN INFORMATIONAL EMAIL THAT WOULD BE SENT DOWN INSTEAD OF HAVING IT AS AN OKAY.
UM, JUST THE ONLY THING LEFT ON THE AGENDA IS THE TOURNAMENT.
NO, WE HAVE TO GO BACK TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
[Executive Session]
I FORGOT ABOUT THAT.HEY HONEY, CAN YOU SET THE TABLE, DALE NINE 11.
WHERE'S YOUR EMERGENCY? HEY GUYS.
I'M ADAM FARBER WITH BEAVER COUNTY LIBRARIES.
AND I WANTED TO TELL YOU ABOUT OUR NEW STREAMING SERVICE CALLED UP.
IT'S A FREE SERVICE FROM BUFORD COUNTY LIBRARIES.
ALL YOU NEED IS A LIBRARY CARD AND IT'S AVAILABLE ON IOS, ANDROID, AND DESKTOP COMPUTERS.
I HAVE AN IPAD AND WE'LL DOWNLOAD THE HOOPLAH APP.
YOU CAN GET UP TO 10 TITLES PER MONTH FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT US@BUFORDCOUNTYLIBRARY.ORG.
[Action as necessary or appropriate regarding matters discussed in Executive Session.]
THE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVED AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE WITH MB CON CONSTRUCTION FOR BLUFFTON HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC PACKAGE, BASED ON THE GUARANTEE, MAXIMUM PRICE JMP OF 6 MILLION, 151, 6 MILLION, $151,845.[04:00:01]
THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.DO WE, I JUST WANT TO SAY IT'S EMPOWERING.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WOMEN, ALL THE HARD WORK THAT YOU DO IN THE COMMUNITY AND THAT YOU DO, UH, SENDING UNSEEN.
THE COUNTY CHANNEL IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON VIDEO, ON DEMAND.
GO TO BUFORD COUNTY, SC.GOV, SCROLL DOWN TO PUBLIC MEETINGS, CLICK WATCH NOW, AND THEN CLICK THE VIDEO ON DEMAND BUTTON AND SELECT YOUR PROGRAM FROM LIST CALL TO ORDER IF YOU'D LIKE A DVD OF THIS PROGRAM, CLICK ON THE LINK ON THE RIGHT AND FILL OUT THE ORDER FORM.
AND THANK YOU FOR WATCHING THE COUNTY CHANNEL.
THE COUNTY IS ONE OF THE OLDEST FORMS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE UNITED STATES EARLY SETTLERS FROM ENGLAND BROUGHT THE TRADITION OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT TO AMERICA.
TODAY MORE THAN 3000 COUNTY GOVERNMENTS PROVIDE SERVICES THAT AFFECT ALMOST EVERY CITIZENS LIFE.
SOUTH CAROLINA'S 46 COUNTIES ARE VERY REPRESENTATIVE OF HOW COUNTY GOVERNMENT HAS EVOLVED.
THE COUNTY UNIT IN SOUTH CAROLINA WAS REGARDED AS THE LOCAL EXTENSION OF STATE GOVERNMENT, BUT A STATE CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM MOVEMENT IN THE EARLY 1970S LED TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY PASSING THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT LAW.
ALSO KNOWN AS THE HOME RULE ACT IN 1975, THE HOME RELAXED, GREATLY EXPANDED COUNTY AUTHORITY AND CHANGED THE NATURE OF COUNTY ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION TO WHAT WE KNOW TODAY BEFORE COUNTY WENT FROM HAVING A BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO A COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBERS OF THE 1975 COUNCIL INCLUDED CHAIRMAN ARTHUR HORN, VICE CHAIRMAN, GRADY THEMES, LEROY BROWN, GARY FORDHAM, WILLIAM GRANT, HARRIET KAISER LANE, DAVID JONES, BILL MCBRIDE AND BOOKER WASHINGTON.
AS THE NEW COUNCIL SOUGHT TO DISTINGUISH ITSELF.
COUNCIL MEMBERS DESIRED AN OFFICIAL SYMBOL THAT WOULD REPRESENT THE JURISDICTIONS IDENTITY AND UNIQUE CHARACTER COUNCIL APPOINTED AN AD HOC COMMITTEE TO UNDERTAKE THE TASK AND CARRY OUT A CONTEST FOR THE BEST COUNTY SEAL DESIGN.
HARRY HAD COUNSELING WAS A MEMBER OF KIND OF COUNSEL.
AND IT WAS HER IDEA BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING THAT COULD SIGNIFICANTLY IDENTIFY OUR BEAUTIFUL BUFORD COUNTY.
WE MET THEN UP AT A, I THINK IT WAS A CAROLINA BANK AT SOME YEARS AGO, BACK THERE ON WEST STREET.
AND THEN WE PUT THEM IN PILES, YOU KNOW, LIKE GOOD, BAD, MAYBE UNTIL WE FINALLY GOT IT DOWN TO THE ONE THAT WE NOW USE COUNTY COUNCIL APPROVED THE SALE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION, WHICH REFLECTED THE COUNTY'S HISTORY, TRADITIONS AND NATURAL BEAUTY.
THE SEALS COLORS OF BLUE AND GREEN REPRESENT THE COLORS OF THE COUNTY'S OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENT WITH ITS MANY WATERWAYS MARSHLANDS AND MARITIME FOREST.
THE FIVE IMAGES WITHIN THE SEAL, THE PIGS, SOME OF THE COUNTIES DISTINGUISHING FEATURES, ANCIENT LIVE OAK TREES, THE SEAFOOD INDUSTRY, RICH NATURAL RESOURCES AND A RARE MARINE ECOLOGY, LOW COUNTRY ARCHITECTURE AND MILES OF RIVERS, CREEKS, AND INLANDS.
I THOUGHT IT ENCOMPASS WHAT, WHAT WE, AS A BODY, WE'RE LOOKING FOR A SEAL.
IT WOULD WHEN YOU LOOKED AT IT AND JUST THOUGHT ABOUT A LITTLE BIT, IT REALLY COVERS THE ASPECTS OF BUFORD COUNTY.
SO HE DID A GOOD JOB OF BRINGING TOGETHER
[04:05:01]
THE THINGS THAT WE HOLD SO THERE.AND WHAT WE REALLY LIKE ABOUT BUFORD COUNTY, COUNCILMAN BILL MCBRIDE WAS AN OFFICE WHEN THE CONTEST WAS HELD AND WAS PRESENT WHEN THE COMMITTEE REVEALED THE WINNING DESIGN.
I THINK COUNCIL WAS STATIC ABOUT IT, THAT IF WE THOUGHT THAT THE STEM WAS ON THE SEAL REPRESENTED, UM, ASPECTS OF LIFE IN BUFORD COUNTY, THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANGE IN THE ORIGINAL ON DRAFT WAS ZANY TO US WHERE YOU HAVE THE SHRIMP BOAT TODAY.
INITIALLY IT WAS A PLEASURE CRAFT, A SAILBOAT YACHT TYPE BOAT.
AND, UH, IT WAS CHANGED BY COUNTY COUNCIL BECAUSE WE FELT THAT THE SHRIMP BOAT WAS A BETTER REPRESENTATION, UM, OF A MORE COMPREHENSIVE, UH, ASPECTS OF YOUTH AND KIND OF LIFE BECAUSE YOU HAD OTHER THINGS ON THE SEAL THAT REPRESENT THE PLAYERS IN RECREATION, THE FISHING AND THE BEACH.
SO THEY THOUGHT THE SHRIMP BOAT, WHICH WAS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF YOUR COUNTY CULTURE STRIPPING, ESPECIALLY AT THAT TIME WOULD BE REFLECTED ON THE SEAL.
THE WINNER OF THE CONTEST WAS AN ARTIST FROM HILTON HEAD ISLAND.
THE LATE LEE PAIN, HIS DESIGN WAS SELECTED FROM MORE THAN 126 CENTURIES SUBMITTED FROM AS FAR AWAY AS INDIANA AND TENNESSEE, HE WAS AWARDED $250 FOR HIS DESIGN, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, HE CAPTURED THE LEGACY OF OUTDOOR BEAUTY CULTURE AND HISTORY THAT HELPED TO DEFINE IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF LIFE IN BUFORD COUNTY.
TO SEE MORE FOR COUNTY MOMENTS, GO TO THE BUFORD COUNTY LIBRARY HOMEPAGE AND CLICK ON THE LOCAL HISTORY TAB.
DID YOU KNOW PRIOR TO CONSTRUCTING OR PLACING A STRUCTURE ON YOUR PROPERTY, YOU NEED TO FIRST OBTAIN A ZONING PERMIT.
VIOLATING THIS ORDINANCE CAN LEAD TO A HEFTY FINE FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO BC GOV.NET/CODE ENFORCEMENT.
IT'S CIVILIZATION VERSUS NATURE'S FURY, RAGING BLIZZARDS BERRIES CITIES UNDER THOUSANDS OF TONS OF SNOW.
HOLLY HURRICANES TEAR APART, COASTAL COMMUNITIES WITH WIND AND RAIN AND FLASH FLOODS, WIPE ENTIRE TOWNS OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH.
AS THE SKY IS CLEAR, PEOPLE BEGIN TO PICK UP THE PIECES, BUT AFTER THE STORM INSIDIOUS DAMAGE IS STILL BEING DONE.
OUR MOST VITAL NATURAL RESOURCES UNDER ASSAULT.
OUR NATION'S WATERS WE'RE AT THE CHATTAHOOCHEE NATURE CENTER, AND WE'RE TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT A WATERSHED IS.
I NEED YOU TO TELL ME WHAT A WATERSHED IS.
DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WATERSHED, UH, WATERSHED WHERE PEOPLE GO TO THE BATHROOM? SO I THINK, I GUESS SOMETHING TO DO WITH SWEATING, LIKE AFTER YOU RUN, WHEN YOU, YOU BOTH SPIRE.
WE WANTED TO ASK YOU IF YOU KNEW WHAT A WATERSHED WAS, WATERSHED YEAH.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT A WATERSHED IS? SHED THAT HOLDS WATER.
I WANT TO ASK YOURSELF, DO YOU KNOW WHAT A WATERSHED IS? NO.
DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA? WHAT DO YOU THINK IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH WHAT A WATERSHED IS? YEAH, THAT'S JUST A DRAIN POOL, I GUESS YOU'D SAY.
OR THE DRAIN AREA, THE BOARD OF WATER, THE RAINWATER GRAINS INTO THE RIVER.
UH, WATERSHED IS THAT AREA OF LAND THAT DRAINS TO A BODY OF WATER, BE THAT IF IT'S A RIVER, A STREAM, THE OCEAN AND ESTUARY A BAY, WHEREVER YOU LIVE DRAINS TO SOME WATER BODY AND YOU'D LIVE IN A WATERSHED.
SO EVERYONE LIVES IN A WATERSHED.
AND IN THIS MODERN INDUSTRIAL AGE, OUR WATER SOURCES ARE BECOMING MORE CONTAMINATED WITH EACH PASSING YEAR.
THE BIGGEST WATER QUALITY PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE IN THE NATION TODAY IS POLLUTED RUNOFF, ALL WATER EAST OF THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE, DRAINS TO THE ATLANTIC WHILE WATER WEST, THE DIVIDE FLOWS TO THE PACIFIC AND ONE DROP OF RAIN CAN CROSS MANY DIFFERENT WATERSHEDS ALONG THE WAY.
AS RUNOFF FLOWS INTO RIVERS, STREAMS AND STORM DRAINS, THE WATER PICKS UP TRASH, DIRT, BACTERIA, TOXIC CHEMICALS, AND FERTILIZERS, CREATING A SOUP OF POLLUTANTS THAT IS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS TO THE ENVIRONMENT.
AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF POLLUTED RUNOFF EXIST WORLDWIDE.
AND ESTIMATE IS THAT THERE'S ABOUT A BILLION PEOPLE ON THE PLANET RIGHT NOW WHO DON'T HAVE ADEQUATE ACCESS TO FRESH WATER.
97% OF ALL WATER ON EARTH IS SALTY OCEAN WATER OF THE REMAINING 3%.
IT'S FRESH OVER TWO THIRDS IS FROZEN AND GLACIERS AND POLARIZED.
THAT LEAVES LESS THAN 1% OF ALL.
THE PLANETS WATER FOR OUR USE ARE PREDICTING THE FUTURE THAT SOME OF THE U
[04:10:01]
S WATER NEEDS ARE GOING TO COME THROUGH PIPELINE BECAUSE WE HAVE JUST OVERUSED OUR SUPPLY TO ADDRESS THE COMPLEX THREATS FACING US WATER RESOURCES.THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY RECOMMENDS ADOPTING A WATERSHED APPROACH.
WE'RE TRYING TO RECONNECT SOME OF THE RIVER.
IT'S A METHOD THAT LOOKS AT EACH WATERSHED FOR ITS OWN UNIQUE SET OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS.
IN MANY CASES, PEOPLE MISTAKENLY IDENTIFY LARGE DISCHARGE PIPES IN THE WATER AS THE PROBLEM, BUT THAT MAY NOT BE THE PROBLEM.
IT MAY BE COMING FROM AGRICULTURAL RUNOFF.
IT MAY BE COMING FROM STORMWATER RUNOFF OVER PARKING LOTS AND IMPERVIOUS SURFACES.
EVERY WATERSHED IS DIFFERENT AND YOU NEED TO LOOK AT EACH WATERSHED IN ITS OWN TERMS, AND THEN THINK SYSTEMATICALLY ABOUT HOW YOU REMEDIATE, HOW YOU CLEAN UP THAT WATERSHED IN CALIFORNIA, THE SANTA MONICA BAY WATERSHED DRAINS A DANGEROUS AMOUNT OF POLLUTED RUNOFF AFTER EACH STORM.
WHEN IT RAINS, LITERALLY THE WHOLE RESIDUE OF URBAN LIVING ENDS UP GETTING WASHED INTO THE STORM DRAIN SYSTEM AND ENDS UP GOING STRAIGHT INTO THE BAY ON SANTA MONICA BAY BEACHES WITH NO TREATMENT WHATSOEVER.
IT'S ACTUALLY LIKE A GIANT TOOL AT FLUSHING BECAUSE ALL OF THE POLLUTION, THE DOG MESS HAS BEEN BUILDING UP AND BUILDING UP AND BUILDING UP WHEN IT RANGES, FLUSHES INTO THE STORM DRAIN AND GOES DIRECTLY INTO THE, UH, THE SURF IN 1996, THE SANTA MONICA BAY RESTORATION COMMISSION PROVED THERE WAS A LINK BETWEEN THE CONTAMINATED RUNOFF IN THE SANTA MONICA BAY AND REPORTS OF ILLNESS, AFFLICTING PEOPLE WHO SWIM THERE.
BUT WE DID FIND WAS AT THE OUTLETS OF STORM DRAINS, NO MATTER WHERE THEY WERE UP AND DOWN THE BAY, IF THERE WAS A FLOW OF RUNOFF INTO THE SURF ZONE, THOSE PEOPLE THAT WERE SWIMMING IN THOSE AREAS, UH, DEFINITELY EXPERIENCED HIGHER INCIDENCES OF ILLNESSES.
THE POLLUTANTS IN THE WATER AFFECTS SURFERS BECAUSE WE'RE ACTUALLY THE INDICATOR SPECIES WITH ALL THE POLLUTANTS.
UM, WHEN WE WERE IN THE WATERS, WE'RE INGESTING IT THROUGH OUR SKIN AND OUR MOUTH.
EVEN IF PEOPLE DON'T TAKE A SWALLOW OF WATER, IT'S STILL GETTING INTO OUR SYSTEMS, OUR EARS, ANY ORIFICE ON YOUR BODY.
IT CAN CAUSE A COLD SORE THROATS.
I WOULDN'T WANT US LIMIT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF IT'S GOT THOSE DISEASES IN THERE, YOU KNOW, JUST FLOATING AROUND, MAKING MORE DISEASES.
I'VE SEEN IT PRETTY MUCH AS BAD AS IT CAN BE.
I'VE SEEN CRAP FLOATING OUT IN THE WATER.
LITERALLY GENERICALLY, WE CALL IT FECAL COLIFORM.
MORE SPECIFICALLY YOU MIGHT KNOW OF IT IS E-COLI SALMONELLA OR ENTEROCOCCUS.
THERE'S TIMES WHEN IT TASTES FUNKY.
EVERY DAY, THE CITY AND COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES PERFORM A BATTERY OF TESTS TO KEEP THE PUBLIC INFORMED ABOUT WATER QUALITY IN THE SANTA MONICA BAY SES ARE OURS.
ADD-ON BEGINS THE MONITORING PROCESS EACH MORNING BY TAKING A SERIES OF COASTLINE WATER SAMPLES.
THEN IT'S BACK TO THE LAB FOR ANALYSIS.
MOST OF THE BACTERIA THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE, YOU'RE GOING TO EAT.
AND WHEN YOU PUT IT UNDER THE UV LIGHT, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A DIFFERENT CAR COLOR.
IT'S A FLUORESCENT SIGN THAT THERE IS A BACTERIA.
AND THEN ONCE IT'S CALLED ECOLAB, THAT ONE DEFINITELY IS A THESIS FROM ANIMALS, OR IT COULD BE HUMAN SOURCES.
THE RESULTS ARE REPORTED TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND EACH WARNINGS ARE POSTED AS NECESSARY.
THE NUMBER OF BEACH POSTINGS HAS DECREASED AND 85% OF THE BEACHES THAT HAVE BEEN MONITORED IN CALIFORNIA THAT HAVE RECEIVED EITHER A OR B GRADES.
AND THAT'S SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT THAN FOUR YEARS AGO.
BUT WHILE PROGRESS IS BEING MADE IN CALIFORNIA, THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF POLLUTED RUNOFF ARE A GROWING CONCERN EVERYWHERE.
SO WHAT CAN THE AVERAGE PERSON DO TO HELP REDUCE POLLUTION IN OUR WATERSHEDS? HOW YOU APPLY PESTICIDES OR NODDING YOUR GARDEN, HOW YOU WASH YOUR CARS, UH, MAKING SURE THAT YOU DON'T THROW CIGARETTE BUTTS OUT ONTO THE STREET.
WE DO NOT DUMP THINGS ON THE GROUND, ESPECIALLY OILS OR ANY CHEMICAL POLLUTANTS, UH, PICK UP AFTER YOUR DOGS.
LIKE PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS AND JUST BE A CONSCIENTIOUS CITIZEN AND DON'T LEAVE ANYTHING ON THE GROUND.
I THINK ONE PERSON CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND IT NEEDS TO MAKE THE DIFFERENCE.
IF NOT YOU WHO COMING UP, WE ARE HEADING FOR, WHAT'S KNOWN AS AN ECO SYSTEM COLLAPSED, CAN THE GULF OF MEXICO BE SAVED FROM BLUE TO RUNOFF? IT WAS A FLOOD OF APOCALYPTIC SCALE, 26,000 SQUARE MILES OF THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY INUNDATED BY WATER, MORE THAN 200 LIVES LOST.
AND 600,000 PEOPLE DISPLACED FROM THEIR HOMES.
THE FLOOD OF 1927 WAS THE MOST DISASTROUS IN US HISTORY.
AND ITS EFFECTS ARE STILL FELT TODAY.
AFTER THE FLOOD OF 27, MASSIVE LEVIES WERE PUT IN PLACE.
AND WHILE THEY HELPED PROTECT THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI RIVER BASIN FROM FLOODING, THE LEVIES AND OTHER HUMAN ACTIVITIES WOULD ULTIMATELY HARM THE WATERSHED IN UNFORESEEN WAYS.
[04:15:01]
STATE OF LOUISIANA IS THE TERMINUS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER, THE MIGHTY WATERSHED THAT DRAINS 41% OF THE AREA OF THE LOWER 48 STATES INTO THE GULF OF MEXICO.UH, WE RECEIVE WATER FROM AS FAR AWAY AS MONTANA, MICHIGAN, PENNSYLVANIA, OHIO, IOWA, ALL THE WATERS DRAIN RIGHT HALF THIS AREA RIGHT HERE.
BUT BY THE TIME ALL THAT WATER ENTERS THE GULF, IT IS ACCUMULATED ENOUGH CONTAMINANTS FOR POLLUTED RUNOFF TO CREATE AN ENORMOUS HYPOXIC ZONE, AN AREA OF WATER LACKING IN VITAL OXYGEN.
THE SIZE OF THE LOW OPTIONS ZONE IN THE GULF OF MEXICO IS ABOUT 9,000 SQUARE MILES.
THAT'S EQUAL TO THE SIZE OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
THE SHORTAGE OF OXYGEN IS KILLING FISH AND OTHER SEA LIFE, AND COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE A DEVASTATING EFFECT ON THE REGIONAL ECONOMY.
WE ARE THE LARGEST NAVIGATION PORT IN THE UNITED STATES.
WE ARE THE SECOND LARGEST IN THE WORLD.
WE HAVE THE LARGEST FISHERY IN THIS COUNTRY.
OH, HE WAS CRABBING A LOT OF TIMES, ALL OUR CRABS, WE THEN WE CAN'T EVEN SELL THEM.
THE REASON HYPOXIA SHOULD BE OF CONCERN TO MOST CITIZENS IN THIS NATION IS BECAUSE IT'S A SIGN.
IT'S A SIGN OF THE DEGRADATION OF OUR WATER RESOURCES.
WHAT'S KNOWN AS AN ECO SYSTEM COLLAPSED.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE AN ECOLOGICAL DISASTER CAUSED BY THE OFFSHORE HYPOXIC AREAS, THEN THAT ABSOLUTELY TRANSLATES INTO AN ECONOMIC DISASTER.
SO WHAT EXACTLY IS CAUSING THIS DEAD ZONE IN THE GULF HYPOXIA DEVELOPS WHEN AN AREA OF WATER RECEIVES EXCESS POLLUTANTS, PRIMARILY AN OVERABUNDANCE OF NUTRIENTS, WHICH PRODUCE LARGE ALGAE BLOOMS THAT DIE OFF AND LEAD TO LOW OXYGEN.
AND SINCE THE MISSISSIPPI GETS FED BY TRIBUTARIES, THAT FLOW THROUGH 31 STATES, THAT ADDS UP TO A STAGGERING VOLUME OF CONTAMINATED RUNOFF.
YOU HAVE DRAINAGE INTO THE GULF OF MEXICO FROM THE OHIO RIVER, THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AND THE MISSOURI RIVER HAD EACH OF THOSE THREE MAJOR RIVER SYSTEMS ARE WATERSHEDS IN AND OF THEMSELVES WITH THEIR OWN CHALLENGES AND THEIR OWN PROBLEMS. THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER HAS ALWAYS DELIVERED A LOT OF WATER AND THAT HASN'T CHANGED OVER THE CENTURIES.
WHAT'S CHANGED IS THE AMOUNT OF NUTRIENTS IN THAT WATER.
IN FACT, THE MISSISSIPPI'S NITROGEN LEVELS AND THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI RIVER HAVE TRIPLED SINCE THE 1950S AND THE GROWING HYPOXIC ZONE OFF THE LOUISIANA COAST CONTAINS THE DISTURBING EVIDENCE.
IT'S LIKE A RUSTY COLOR STANKY, ROTTEN LOOKING, YOU SEE FISH, JUST SWIMMING, SIDEWAYS, GASPING FOR AIR AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
AND, UM, YOU PULL UP THE NET, NOT A ONE SHRIMP ALIVE, ALL DEAD ORANGE, THE FISH, THEY, THEY ROTTEN LIKE MELTING AWAY AND STUFF LIKE THAT, CAMBRIDGE AND STUFF.
THE WAY WE TREAT OUR WATER SYSTEMS, BECAUSE WE USE THEM AS OUR GARBAGE DUMPS.
WE USE THEM TO DILUTE OUR POLLUTANTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
I BELIEVE THE STATISTIC IS THAT IF YOU'RE IN NEW ORLEANS, THE WATER THAT IS GOING BY, YOU HAS PASSED THROUGH THE HUMAN GUT.
SOMETHING LIKE THREE OR FOUR TIMES BEFORE IT GETS TO YOU, INCREDIBLY LOUISIANA BOASTS TO NATURAL RESOURCE THAT REMOVES POLLUTANTS FROM THE DRAINING MISSISSIPPI, THE ONES ABUNDANT WETLANDS, PLANTS THAT GROW IN WETLANDS PRODUCE THESE WONDERFUL FILTERS FOR EVERYTHING THAT IS COMING INTO THEM.
THEY TRAP SEDIMENT A OF CHEMICALS AND WHAT LEAVES THE WETLANDS IS MUCH, MUCH CLEANER.
WATER WETLANDS ALSO PROVIDE AN IMPORTANT HABITAT FOR BIRDS AND OTHER WILDLIFE.
SADLY, THE LOUISIANA WETLANDS ARE QUICKLY DISAPPEARING.
COASTAL LOUISIANA HAS LOST ABOUT 1.2 MILLION ACRES OF WETLANDS IN THE LAST 100 YEARS.
WHEN WE LEAVE IT OFF THE MISSISSIPPI, IT CUT OFF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER WATER FROM THE MARSHALL.
IN ADDITION TO THE LEVIES, A NETWORK OF MAN-MADE NAVIGATION CHANNELS IS ALSO COMPROMISING THE WETLANDS BY ALLOWING SALTWATER TO SEEP INTO THE MARSHES.
ONCE THAT SALTWATER TRAVELS UP THESE CHANNELS AND OVERFLOWS THE BANKS OF THESE CHANNELS OUT INTO FRESHWATER SYSTEMS, SUCH AS THE CYPRESS SWAMP, THAT SALTWATER SITS OUT THERE AROUND THE ROOTS OF THESE TREES AND KILLS THEM.
THEY CANNOT SURVIVE, SALTWATER THEIR FRESH WATER PLANTS ELIMINATING THE HYPOXIC ZONE.
WE'LL TAKE MORE THAN SAVING OUR WETLANDS.
REDUCING NUTRIENT RUNOFF IN THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER WATERSHED IS THE HEART OF THE PROBLEM.
IT'S AN ISSUE INVOLVING OVER HALF THE STATES IN THE NATION AND A VAST ARRAY OF INDUSTRIES, PARTICULARLY FARMING, WHICH USES NITROGEN RICH FERTILIZER TO GROW ITS CROPS, FERTILIZERS OR HELPING THE UNITED STATES PRODUCE THE FOOD FOR THE WORLD.
BUT THERE IS SUCH A THING AS, AS OVERUSE, THERE ARE SCIENTISTS WHO HAVE DONE THE ANALYSIS AND PREDICT THAT YOU COULD REDUCE FERTILIZERS BY ABOUT 12% WITHOUT REDUCING CROP PRODUCTION AND SEE A SIGNIFICANT DECREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF NITROGEN GOING INTO THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER EXPERTS SAY THE FIRST KEY TO CHANGING BEHAVIOR
[04:20:01]
IS RAISING PUBLIC AWARENESS.WE ALL LIVE DOWNSTREAM OF SOMEBODY AND WE ALL LIVE UPSTREAM OF SOMEBODY.
SO WHAT SOMEBODY ELSE DOES IN THEIR WATERSHED EFFECTS, THE WATER THAT I RECEIVED AND WHAT I DO IN MY WATERSHED AFFECTS THE WATER THAT SOMEBODY ELSE RECEIVES DOWNSTREAM.
IF WE DON'T CLEAN UP OUR ACT, OUR WATER RESOURCES, WHICH WE SIMPLY CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT WILL BE RUINED COMING UP.
CAN THE WATER SUPPLY FOR 9 MILLION NEW YORKERS BE SAVED FROM THE RAVAGES OF POLLUTED RUNOFF IN JANUARY OF 19 96, 1 OF THE MOST DEVASTATING WINTER STORMS IN HISTORY SLAMMED THE EAST COAST.
TWO FEET OF SNOW DUMPS ON NEW YORK AND THROUGHOUT THE NORTHEAST CORRIDOR SCHOOLS, AIRPORTS AND ROADS ARE SHUT DOWN BY THE TIME IT'S OVER THE BLIZZARD AND RESULT IN FLOODING COST $3 BILLION IN LOSSES AND 187 LIVES ARE TAKEN.
AND IN THE CATSKILL MOUNTAINS OF UPSTATE NEW YORK, THE SNOW MELT TRIGGERS ANOTHER POTENTIALLY DEVASTATING CRISIS, STORMWATER RUNOFF CONTAMINATED WITH TRASH, DIRT, FERTILIZERS, AND PESTICIDES FROM NEARBY FARMS AND COMMUNITIES THREATENS THE FRESH WATER SUPPLY.
AND THE CATSKILL SYSTEM OF RESERVOIRS IS VITALLY IMPORTANT FOR IT IS THE BIGGEST WATERSHED OF NEW YORK CITY PROVIDING DRINKING WATER TO OVER 9 MILLION PEOPLE.
THE MIRACLE OF THE CITY'S WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM IS LARGELY UNKNOWN TO MOST NEW YORKERS.
YOU ASK PEOPLE WHERE DOES THE WATER COME FROM? OFTEN PEOPLE SHRUG THEIR SHOULDERS AND SAY NEW JERSEY.
I FIGURED THAT, UH, WE WERE PROBABLY OUR OWN SEPARATE WATER SYSTEM FROM THEN FROM UPSTATE.
I'D RATHER BE DRINKING WATER FROM UPSTATE.
THEY DON'T KNOW THAT MOST PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF HOW LARGE THE PROBLEM IS AND HOW CLOSE TO CRISIS MANY OF OUR WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS ARE TO PRESERVE THE PURITY OF THE RESERVOIRS AND ENFORCE THE SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY PRESENTED THE BIG APPLE WITH TWO OPTIONS, EITHER BUILD AND MAINTAIN A $6 BILLION FACILITY TO FILTER ALL OF THE CITY'S TAP WATER OR FUND A $1 BILLION PROGRAM TO PROTECT THE WATERSHED FROM POLLUTED RUNOFF.
WHEN IT COMES TO OUR INVESTMENT IN CLEAN AIR AND CLEAN WATER, PRESERVING OPEN SPACE, FIXING ANTIQUATED SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS, WE CAN'T WAIT.
IT DOESN'T GET ANY LESS EXPENSIVE.
IT GETS MORE EXPENSIVE WITH THE HISTORIC WATERSHED AGREEMENT OF 1997, AN UNPRECEDENTED UPSTATE DOWNSTATE PARTNERSHIP WAS FORGED TO PROTECT THE NEW YORK CITY WATER SUPPLY SHED AGREEMENT IS SAVING NEW YORK CITY, BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
THE PLAN INCLUDES PURCHASING AND PRESERVING 355,000 ACRES OF UNDEVELOPED WATERSHED LAND, THE UPGRADING OF SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS AND THE PROTECTION AND RESTORATION OF STREAM PORTERS.
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE IS A MAIN TRIBUTARY OF THE SOPAS CREEK.
DURING THE FLOODING, WE WERE SEEING A LOT OF SEDIMENT COMING OUT OF THE STREAM.
THE CLAY GETS INTO THE WATER COLUMN AND IT BECOMES VERY TURBINE.
AND THEN IT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO TREAT AND CLEAN THAT WATER.
SO FROM A WATER QUALITY PERSPECTIVE, WE'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT EROSION.
THE PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES FUNDING FOR FARMERS THAT IMPLEMENT AGRICULTURE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES.
BUT WE HAVE A VERY EXCITING PROGRAM WITH THE WATERSHED AGRICULTURAL COUNCIL, WHERE WE ARE WORKING WITH LOCAL FARMERS.
WE LOOK AT HOW THEY'RE HANDLING THE ANIMALS, FILL THAT THE RUNOFF ASSOCIATED WITH MANURE FERTILIZER AND THAT THAT FARM ACTIVITY ISN'T GETTING INTO THE, THE STREAMS AROUND OUR RESERVOIRS.
THIS WATER HERE IS BASICALLY THE WATER YOU'RE GOING TO BE DRINKING DOWN IN THE CITY.
AND, UH, I FEEL I'VE GOT A RESPONSIBILITY TO TRY MY BEST TO KEEP IT CLEAN FOR WHEN IT GETS DOWN THERE.
IT USED TO BE WHEN IT RAINED HERE ON THE FARM, THE WATER THAT RAN AWAY FROM THE, THE BACK OF THE BARN HERE WAS FULL OF MUD MANURE, AND IT WOULD JUST RUN BROWN AND RIGHT INTO THE STREAM.
TWO YEARS AGO, WE WOULD SPREAD EVERY DAY.
WE'D HAVE TO TAKE IT OUT, SPREAD IT ON THE FIELDS.
IF THE SNOW IS DEEP, WE SPREAD IT ON THE SNOW.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, IF THE GROUND WAS FROZEN, WHEN THE SNOW MELTED, THE NUTRIENT VALUE OF IT FOR FERTILIZER WAS GONE.
THAT WOUND UP DOWN IN THE RESERVOIR WITH NEW YORK CITY FUNDING, A SECURE ABOVE GROUND STEEL TANK THAT CAN HOLD 400,000 GALLONS OF MANURE WAS INSTALLED IN THE MEADOWBROOK FARM.
THAT'S ENOUGH STORAGE FOR SIX MONTHS OF THE YEAR.
NOW WE CAN STORE IT, SPREAD IT WHEN IT'LL DO THE MOST GOOD TO US FOR FERTILIZER.
AND, UH, WE DON'T HAVE TO SPREAD IT EVERY DAY.
I WORKED WITH TIM ON THE PLAN TO DEVELOP THE IMPROVEMENTS WE'RE GOING TO MAKE PLAN REALLY BELONGS TO THE FARMER.
UH, AND IT'S A COLLABORATION OF THEIR IDEAS AND WHAT TECHNICAL ADVICE WE CAN BRING TO THE PROGRAM.
BUT THE FARMER MAKES THE DECISION.
IT'S A PROGRAM THAT SEEMS TO MAKE EVERYBODY HAPPY.
THE FARMERS WHO ARE WORKING SO HARD TO MAKE SURE WE'VE GOT CLEAN WATER TO PUT IN OUR COFFEE TO GUARANTEE THE CITY'S WATER SUPPLY IS FRESH AT THE TAP.
COMPREHENSIVE TESTS ARE PERFORMED BY THE NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, BOTH IN THE LAB AND AT OVER 1000 SAMPLING STATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
YEAH, THE CITY AS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST EXTENSIVE WATER QUALITY MONITORING
[04:25:01]
PROGRAMS IN THE NATION, IF NOT THE WORLD WE'RE SAMPLING EVERY DAY, 365 DAYS A YEAR, I'VE BEEN DRINKING THIS WATER FOR 53 YEARS.THAT'S WATER IN THE WORLD, NEW YORK CITY, STRAIGHT FROM THE TAP TO MY LIPS COMING UP.
THE FUTURE OF OUR WATER SUPPLY REMAINS AT RISK, BUT THERE'S SOMETHING EVERYONE CAN DO TO HELP PROTECT IT, FIND OUT HOW NEXT TO KEEP OUR WATERSHEDS FREE OF POLLUTANTS WILL REQUIRE THE ACTIONS OF EVERY CITIZEN HUMIDITY AND BUSINESS PAVED, CONCRETE SURFACES, ASPHALT PARKING, LOTS SIDEWALKS.
THE QUESTION IS, DO WE NEED TO HAVE AS MANY AS WE DO BECAUSE TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU HAVE TOO MUCH IMPERVIOUS SURFACE, THE WATER IS NOT RETAINED ONSITE.
IT DOESN'T SOAK INTO THE GROUND.
IT RUNS OFF, PICKS UP SPEED, CARRIES POLLUTANTS AND CONTAMINANTS INTO THE WATER BOTTLES.
ONE STRATEGY FOR PREVENTING STORMWATER RUNOFF IS OCCURRING AT THE NEW FORD ROUGE CENTER IN DEARBORN, MICHIGAN.
THIS REMODELED TRUCK PLAN IS COVERED BY A GREEN ROOF, THE SIZE OF EIGHT FOOTBALL FIELDS PLANTED WITH A POOREST GROUND COVER.
IT REDUCES THE AMOUNT OF POLLUTED RUNOFF RELEASED INTO THE WATERSHED.
THE THING THAT TENDS TO GET THE MOST ATTENTION IS THE 10 ACRE GREEN ROOF, BUT THAT'S REALLY JUST PART OF A PHILOSOPHY THAT IF AN AREA DOES NOT HAVE TO BE PAID OR BUILT UPON, IT'S GOING TO BE GREEN SPACE AND COMMUNITIES ARE ALSO IMPLEMENTING GREENSPACE STRATEGIES, SUCH AS RAIN GARDENS.
THEY SLOPED THE LIE IN SUCH A MANNER THAT ALL THE FLOW GOES TOWARDS THIS LANDSCAPING.
WE'RE BASICALLY THE POLLUTED RUNOFF CAN PERCOLATE INTO THE GROUND AND GET FILTERED.
UM, I THINK GOING STRAIGHT ONTO THE STREET INTO THE STORM DRAIN SYSTEM AND REALLY A VERY SIMPLE APPROACH TO CLEANING UP OUR RUNOFF IN URBAN AREAS, BUT PERHAPS THE MOST POWERFUL COURSE OF ACTION IS INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPATION.
PEOPLE NEED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE STATE OF OUR WATERS AND WATER.
CONSERVATION IS ONE AREA WHERE THEY CAN DO THAT AS A COMMITTED CITIZEN, ALL THOSE THINGS.
UH, YOUR MOM TOLD YOU TO TAKE A SHARP SHOWER.
DON'T LET THE WATER TAP RUNWAY.
YOU'RE BRUSHING YOUR TEETH, TAKING YOUR HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE TO A CLEANUP AND RECYCLING DAY.
DON'T WASH YOUR CAR ON THE, ON THE STREETS AND PUT ALL THOSE SUDS DOWN INTO THE DRAIN.
WHEN YOU CHANGE YOUR USE MOTOR L YOU DON'T DUMP IT INTO THE STREET.
EVERYBODY'S GOT TO CLEAN UP AFTER THEIR PETS.
OBVIOUSLY THAT'S A BIG CONCERN, FERTILIZERS, HERBICIDES, PESTICIDES, AND MAKE SURE YOU DON'T USE THEM ANY TIME.
THERE'S ANY CHANCE OF RAIN COMING UP IN THE NEAR FUTURE WHEN YOU'RE IRRIGATING YOUR LAWN AND YOUR GARDEN, MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE NOT OVER SPRAYING AND CAUSING ALL THOSE CHEMICALS TO END UP GETTING INTO THE STORM DRAIN SYSTEM.
THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM IS IF EVERYBODY DOES THEIR PART, WE ALL LIVE IN A WATERSHED.
WE ALL HAVE AN IMPACT ON OUR ENVIRONMENT, AND WE MUST ALL PLAY A ROLE IN THE PROTECTION AND RESTORATION OF OUR VALUABLE WATER RESOURCES TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED AND TO GET A FREE BROCHURE CALLED AFTER THE STORM VISIT EPA.GOV/WEATHER CHANNEL.