[00:00:01]
CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY BEAVER COUNTY
[1.A. Call to Order]
EDUCATION.THIS MEETING WAS A LIVE STREAM BY THE CHINESE CHANNEL REQUEST FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.
WE ACCEPTED BETWEEN FIVE AND 5:30 PM.
BY SENDING AN EMAIL WITH YOUR NAME, PHONE NUMBER AND TOPICS TO ROBIN, WE SHOULDN'T BARRE AT YOU HEARD THAT K-12 THAT S C U S.
THEY REMINDS YOU THAT YOU RECEIVE A PHONE CALL DURING PUBLIC COMMENTS WHERE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SPEAK AND ADDRESS THE BOARD FOR A MAXIMUM OF THREE MINUTES I'M ISSUES WITHIN THE BOARD'S DOMAIN.
WE CAN'T HEAR NONE OF THEM UP TOMORROW, AND WE'LL BE LIMITED TO 30 MINUTES.
IF YOU ARE IN PERSON YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS THE BOARD FOR MAX, EACH SPEAKER MUST GO OUT OF PUBLIC COMMENT CARD.
PLEASE SEE THE BOARD BOOK ACCEPTED BETWEEN SEVEN AND 7:30 PM IN THE SAME MANNER.
TAKE PLACE PRIOR TO A GERMAN, BUT NO, MY THE 9:00 PM, THE SECOND FORM WILL BE LIMITED TO 15 MINUTES AT THIS TIME.
[1.B. Move into Executive Session]
I NEED A MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.I HAVE HEARD THE BOARD EDUCATION GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS
AND WHAT MATTER REGARDING PERSONAL GRATIFICATION REPORT
AND THEN UNDER 15 CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT.
CAN YOU TELL US WHO WILL BE ADVISING US OF ANY LEGAL MATTERS IN EXECUTIVE SESSION? UM, TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
YEAH, THE NAPPIES WILL BE ADVISING ON THE FIRST MATTER AND I WILL BE ADVISING ON SUBSTANCE.
DID YOU HEAR THAT MR. SMITH? YES, MA'AM.
UM, ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY.
THERE IS A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO DO BACK TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING, AYE.
I DIDN'T HEAR YOU COLLECTING CANS TO HELP THOSE IN NEED.
WELL, BRANCH EARLY COLLEGE, HIGH SCHOOLS, NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY, AND LADIES FIRST HAVE TEAMED UP TO ORGANIZE A FOOD DRIVE.
SO THE POP-TOP CAN DRIVE IS FOR THOSE WHO ARE LESS FORTUNATE AND BECAUSE THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE CAN OPENERS, IT'S EASIER TO OPEN THE CANS FOR THEM.
STUDENTS CAN DONATE CANNED FOODS OR RATHER NON-PERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS BY PLACING THEM IN THE PINK BINS LOCATED IN THE MEDIA CENTER.
IT MAKES ME FEEL GOOD BECAUSE I KNOW THAT I'M GOING TO BE HELPING OTHERS AND GIVING THEM THINGS THAT THEY MIGHT NOT BE AS FORTUNATE TOO.
AND JUST GIVING THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE WITH FAMILY OR HAVE THOSE THAT THEY DON'T HAVE.
OTHER PEOPLE MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO HAVE FOOD FOR THANKSGIVING OR CHRISTMAS THAT WE HAVE MORE THAN ENOUGH TO GIVE
[00:05:01]
BACK TO THEM.IT MAKES ME KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE IN GOOD HANDS AND IT HAS SOMETHING TO EAT.
FIRST BUSINESS STUDENT CLUB MADE UP A FEMALE STUDENTS WHO WORK TOGETHER TO POSITIVELY IMPACT THE SCHOOL AND SERVE AS ROLE MODELS FOR OTHER STUDENTS.
LADIES FIRST IS A MENTOR GROUP THAT WE HAVE AT SCHOOL.
IT'S ALL FEMALES AND WE GET TOGETHER AND HAVE DIFFERENT DISCUSSIONS TO HELP EMPOWER EACH OTHER AND TO BRING OUT COMPETENCE.
IT'S LIKE SOMETHING THAT I WANT TO BE A PART OF BECAUSE I KNOW IT UPLIFTS WOMAN.
IT ALSO LIKE IT'S JUST AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO CONNECT, GET TOGETHER AND DISCUSS THINGS THAT ARE GOING CURRENTLY ON IN THE WORLD.
THE POP TOP FOOD DRIVE BINS, OCTOBER 29TH AT WILBURN IN CHILI COLLEGE, HIGH SCHOOL, BROWN LOPES BEAVER COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO ORDER.
[2.A. Action as necessary or appropriate regarding matters discussed in Executive Session.]
ACTION AS NECESSARY OR APPROPRIATE, UH, REGARDING MATTERS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION? YES.MADAM VICE CHAIR, I MOVED AT THE BEAVER COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, DIRECT ADMINISTRATION TO ISSUE AN INTENT TO AWARD AND ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS TO FINALIZE A SCHOOL FOOD SERVICES CONTRACT WITH THE NUTRITION GROUP UPON SUCCESSFUL NEGOTIATION OF THE CONTRACT WOULD BE FOR COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, AUTHORIZES THE SUPERINTENDENT TO EXECUTE THE CONTRACT AND FOR THE CONTRACT TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR FINAL APPROVAL.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, UH, IS THE MOTION POSTED ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION THAT AS IT APPEARS, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
I, I MEAN, MADAM CHAIR, I ABSTAIN.
SO IT IS 10 0 1, MADAM VICE CHAIR.
THE SECOND MOTION I MOVE AT MR. I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE SUPERINTENDENTS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EMPLOYMENT LISTED ON THE APRIL 1ST TO APRIL 30TH, 2022 PERSONNEL RATIFICATION REPORT FIVE, A SECOND FACTOR QUADS.
THE MOTION, ANY DISCUSSION, SEEING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE SUPERINTENDENTS, UM, PERSONNEL RATIFICATION REPORT, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? I THINK IT WAS A UNANIMOUS VOTE.
UH, THAT'S UH, APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY.
I MOVE, WE ACCEPT THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATION FOR THE MONTHLY ADULT EDUCATION HOMESCHOOL REPORT FOR APRIL, 2022 MR. SMITH.
ANY DISCUSSION SEEING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THIS MOTION TO ACCEPT THE SUPERINTENDENTS RECOMMENDATION A RECOMMENDATION FOR THE MONTHLY ADULT HOME, UH, SCHOOL REPORT, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
MADAM VICE CHAIR, I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVED THE AMENDMENT.
NUMBER 15 WITH MB CON CONSTRUCTION FOR SAFETY SECURITY AND TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE WORK AT BLUFFTON HIGH SCHOOL BASED ON THE GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE GMP OF $2,000,782 TO 200, $2,782,279.
SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION MR. SMITH? UH, MY, UH, MY QUESTION IS FOR, FOR CLARIFICATION THAT THIS, UH, THIS ITEM THAT IS COMING UP TONIGHT, THIS IS A, IS THIS UNDER THE, THIS IS A REFERENDUM THAT WOULD, THIS WAS VOTED ON UPON THE REFERENDUMS IS, UH, FROM UPON THE VOTERS.
[00:10:01]
CORRECT.SO THIS BEING A REFERENDUM ITEM AND BASICALLY JUST, IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE GIVEN TO OTHER SCHOOLS.
I'LL BE IN SUPPORTIVE THAT ANY OTHER COMMENTS? OKAY.
AT THIS TIME, UM, I'D LIKE TO TAKE A VOTE ON THIS MOTION, UH, EX UM, MOVING THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVE AMENDMENT NUMBER 15 WITH M B CON CONSTRUCTION FOR SAFETY, SECURITY AND TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE WORK AT BLUFFTON HIGH SCHOOL GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE OF $2,782,279.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
SO THE MO THE MOTION PASSES, UM, 10 0 1, RACHEL
THAT CONCLUDES ALL OF THE MOTIONS COMING OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION.
[2.B. Approval of Agenda]
AT THIS TIME, UM, I NEED, UH, A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.AND I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVED TONIGHT'S AGENDA, UH, MS. FISHER FIDRYCH SECOND SET.
ANY DISCUSSION, SEEING NONE? UH, THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR IS TO
[2.C. Pledge of Allegiance, Moment of Silence, Statement of Media Notification - BHS JROTC Color Presentation]
FOLLOW.IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL THE POLICE READY, MARTIN HUTCH.
PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
THE MEDIA HAS BEEN NOTIFIED AT THIS
[2.D. Student Performance - Robert Smalls International Academy 3rd and 4th graders singing “I Feel the “Power” under the direction of music teacher Marcie McMillan.]
TIME.WE, UH, HAVE A STUDENT PERFORMANCE.
DID YOU WANT TO INTRODUCE THEM? YEAH.
WE HAVE FROM ROBERT SMALLS, INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY, UH, THIRD AND FOURTH GRADERS SINGING.
I FEEL THE POWER UNDER THE DIRECTION OF MUSIC TEACHER, MARCY MCMILLAN.
I FEEL THE POWER BY JOHN JACOBSON AND JOHN HIGGINS.
THIS SONG CONTAINS TWO, A BEETHOVEN'S TO JOIN IN HIS FIFTH SYMPHONY.
WE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THE GREAT COMPOSER AND RAISE YOUR CLASS.
THEY TOLD HIM WAS BORN IN THE CLASSICAL PERIOD, DECEMBER 17TH, 1770 IN VAUGHAN, GERMANY, WHO IS A COMPOSER, MUSICIAN, PIANIST, AND ORGANIST, AND MANY GREAT COMPETITIONS LATER.
MY SPACE CHOSE HIM AGAIN, KNOWING DEATH WILL CONTINUE TO PLAY GREAT MUSIC.
HE DIED AT THE AGE OF 56 DURING THE ROMANTIC PERIOD ON MARCH 26TH, 1827,
[00:15:02]
VIENNA, AUSTRIA THAT WAS EXCELLENT.[3. Points of Celebration]
MOVING ON TO POINTS OF CELEBRATION THIS EVENING, UNDER POINTS OF CELEBRATION.UH, FIRST WE'D LIKE TO, UH, WELCOME AND, UM, AND SHARE WITH YOU, UH, INFORMATION ABOUT THE PARKERS FUELING THE COMMUNITY DONATION.
EACH YEAR, WE RECEIVE A SIGNIFICANT DONATION FROM PARKER'S CONVENIENCE STORES, AS PART OF THE COMPANY'S FEELING, THE COMMUNITY INITIATIVE, THE PROMOTION GIVES 1 CENT OF EVERY GALLON OF GAS SOLD ON THE FIRST WEDNESDAY OF EACH MONTH TO LOCAL SCHOOLS.
A PORTION OF THE DONATION COMES TO THE DISTRICT OFFICE TO SUPPORT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S ANNUAL SUPPORT PERSON OF THE YEAR RECOGNITION PROGRAM, WHICH HONORS SCHOOL NURSES, SOCIAL WORKERS, BOOKKEEPERS, OFFICE MANAGERS, TEACHER ASSISTANTS, SCHOOL SECRETARIES, AND TECHNOLOGY AND DATA SPECIALISTS.
BUT HE ALSO IS DISTRIBUTED TO SPECIFIC SCHOOLS DESIGNATED BY PARKER'S CUSTOMERS WHEN THEY PURCHASE THEIR GASOLINE.
TONIGHT, WE'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE PARKERS FOR THEIR ONGOING SUPPORT OF OUR STAFF AND STUDENTS.
AND NOW I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE PARKER'S CORPORATE RECRUITER, THIS OLIVIA PARKER, UH, BIG CHECK.
UM, BUT I JUST HAD A COUPLE OF WORDS.
UM, SO I AM THE CORPORATE RECRUITER HERE AT PARKERS, UM, AND I'M ALSO THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH MANAGER.
SO MY JOB IS TO KIND OF FOSTER RELATIONSHIPS IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT, UM, OUR EMPLOYEES, OUR CUSTOMERS LIVE, UM, AND ARE PART OF, UM, SO MY PART HERE, UM, THIS JOB JUST STARTED FOR ME.
I ACTUALLY STARTED AT THE BEGINNING OF APRIL.
SO IT'S BEEN REALLY EXCITING TO GO TO THE DIFFERENT MARKETS.
UM, SO FAR THIS IS JILLIAN SHE'S.
UM, PART OF MY TEAM THAT WE'VE BEEN TRAVELING, UM, JUST ALL THROUGHOUT GEORGIA AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
CAN THEY GIVE THEM AWAY BIG CHECK DONATIONS? UM, FOR THE LAST, I GUESS COUPLE OF WEEKS, UM, WE'VE ACTUALLY, OH, SORRY, SORRY.
UM, I, I THINK JUST ABOUT LAST OR OUR FIRST FOUR CHECKS, WE GAVE AWAY $42,000.
I THINK THIS WILL BRING US TO, UM, 275, UM, TO LOCAL SCHOOLS IN THE AREAS OF GEORGIA AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
UM, SO JUST TO NAME A COUPLE OTHER DISTRICTS WE GAVE, UM, TO CALL CHIN, UM, BERKELEY DORCHESTER, CHARLESTON COUNTY, UM, HAMPTON, CHATHAM, UM, AND WE HAVE A COUPLE MORE,
[00:20:01]
UM, SO WE'RE SO EXCITED.UM, YOU DEFINITELY TOUCHED ON OUR PROGRAM.
UM, THE START OF NEXT YEAR, WE REALLY WANT TO GET MORE FACULTY, PARENTS, UM, PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE PROGRAM AND WE'RE REALLY GONNA BLAST IT OUT, UM, BECAUSE OF COVID, WE KIND OF PAUSED OUR FEELING, THE COMMUNITY INITIATIVE.
UM, AND NOW WE'RE SUPER EXCITED TO GET BACK UP THERE.
UM, I ALSO DID WANT TO TELL YOU, WE'RE STARTING A NEW CAMPAIGN NEXT MONDAY, MAY 9TH.
UM, IT'S OUR ROUNDUP CAMPAIGN.
SO, UM, AT ALL OF OUR STORES, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO ROUND UP, UM, TO THE NEXT DOLLAR.
UM, AND IN SOUTH CAROLINA, UM, ALL OF YOUR PROCEEDS WILL BE GOING TO THE LOW COUNTY, LOW COUNTRY FOOD BANK.
UM, SO WE'RE SUPER EXCITED TO PARTNER WITH THEM FOR THIS FIRST QUARTER.
UM, EVERY QUARTER WE'LL HAVE A DIFFERENT DONATION, UM, GROUP, UM, BASED IN GEORGIA AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
UM, SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
UM, BUT THANK YOU GUYS FOR LETTING US COME.
UM, CAN ANYBODY WANT TO BE IN A PICTURE? ALL RIGHT.
YOU GUYS STEPPED FORWARD A LITTLE BIT AND THEN THAT WAY, JUST LIKE THAT MUCH HIGHER UP THE SIDE.
FIRST 1, 2, 3, BUT MORE OR LESS.
AND I CAN LET YOU GUYS SHOW US IF YOU WANT.
I GAVE THE PHYSICAL CHECK TO MR. TANYA.
UM, BUT THANK YOU GUYS FOR LETTING US BE HERE TODAY.
NEXT ITEM ON POINTS OF CELEBRATION IS A FEBRUARY STUDENT OF THE MONTH FOR NORTHERN BUFORD COUNTY.
OUR CHARACTER EDUCATION PROGRAM WAS FORMED TO SUPPORT PARENTS EFFORTS TO DEVELOP GOOD CHARACTER IN THEIR CHILDREN.
WE'RE CELEBRATING THE CHARACTER ED STUDENT OF THE MONTH EXHIBITING THE CHARACTER TRAITS OF HONESTY AND INTEGRITY.
HONESTY IS DEFINED AS TELLING THE TRUTH, ADMITTING WRONGDOING, BEING TRUSTWORTHY AND ACTING WITH INTEGRITY.
INTEGRITY IS DEFINED AS A FIRM ADHERENCE TO A CODE OF ESPECIALLY MORAL AND OR ARTISTIC VALUES, BEING HONEST, TRUSTWORTHY, AND INCORRUPTIBLE.
WE'RE HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT OUR CHARACTER EDUCATION STUDENT OF THE MONTH FOR FEBRUARY IS LAILA PIGEON A THIRD GRADE STUDENT FROM COOSA ELEMENTARY AND HERE TO INTRODUCE HER STUDENT IS KUSA ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL, MS. MELISSA PENDER.
I'M THE PROUD, PROUD PRINCIPAL ACOUSTIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
AND WITH ME, I HAVE JENNIFER LOUGHS ONE OF OUR THIRD GRADE TEACHERS THAT NOMINATED LAILA PIGEON OR HER FAMILY WILL LIKE TO COME ON UP.
THEY'RE HERE WITH US TONIGHT ALSO.
UM, THIS IS ONE OF THE GREATEST HONORS IN MY PERSONAL OPINION.
UM, SHE NOT ONLY EXCELS ACADEMICALLY AND REMAINS ON THE HONOR ROLL, BUT CHARACTER IS WHAT FORGES THIS FORWARD IN LIFE.
IN MY PERSONAL OPINION, SHE WAS NOMINATED FOR HONESTY AND INTEGRITY.
SHE DOES THE RIGHT THING WHEN NO ONE IS LOOKING.
SHE CONSTANTLY HELPS HER PEERS AND SHE STRIVES TO BE THE BEST VERSION OF HERSELF.
WE APPRECIATE YOU AND KEEP BEING THE BEST VERSION OF YOURSELF.
[00:25:01]
AS THE ABILITY TO HAVE CONTROL OVER YOUR FEELINGS OR ACTIONS IN PARTICULAR ONE'S EMOTIONS AND DESIRES OR THE EXPRESSION OF THEM IN ONE'S BEHAVIOR, ESPECIALLY IN DIFFICULT SITUATIONS.WE'RE HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT OUR CHARACTER EDUCATION STUDENT OF THE MONTH FOR MARCH IS VERONICA.
CRUZ PEREZ, AN EIGHTH GRADE STUDENT AT BUFORD MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND HERE TO INTRODUCE HER STUDENT IS BUFORD MIDDLE PRINCIPAL.
ELVILL THE GRANT, HIS MOM HERE, A COUPLE COME ON, MADAM CHAIR, BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT RODRIGUEZ.
I AM SO HONORED TO INTRODUCE VERONICA CRUZ PEREZ AS STATED SHE'S EIGHTH GRADE STUDENT AT OUR SCHOOL.
VERONICA PLAYS A FLUTE AND OUR BUFORD MIDDLE SCHOOL BAND.
AND SHE JUST RECENTLY PERFORMED AND I SHREK JUNIOR MIDDLE MUSICAL.
HER TEACHER STAYED THAT SHE'S VERY RESPECTFUL, DEDICATED, AND HARDWORKING, AND SHE STRIVES TO HAVE GOOD GRADES.
VERONICA IS THE TYPE OF STUDENT WHO, WHEN SHE SEES A FELLOW CLASSMATE THAT'S STRUGGLING, SHE WILL ACTUALLY PROVIDE THEM ACADEMIC ASSISTANCE, VERONICA PLANS TO ATTEND AND BUFORD HIGH NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.
AND HER FUTURE GOAL IS TO JOIN THE MILITARY.
HER FAMILY IS HERE AND THEY'RE PROUD OF HER.
AND WE ARE SO HONORED THAT VERONICA IS THE STUDENT OF THE MONTH FOR CHARACTER ED FOR CONTROLS.
SO VERONICA, WE ARE VERY PROUD OF YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS.
AND SHE WANTED ME TO CLARIFY THAT WOULD LOVE TO JOIN THE ARMY BAND.
SO SHE WANTS TO JOIN THE ARMY BAND.
THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT.
THE NEXT ITEM, WE'VE GOT QUITE A BIT TONIGHT FOR YOU, SO IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO CELEBRATE GOOD NEWS.
UH, THE NEXT ITEM IS A REGIONAL SCIENCE FAIR MIDDLE SCHOOL COMPETITION.
SEVERAL BUFORD COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS COMPETED FOR HONORS AT THE 2022 SEA ISLAND, REGIONAL SCIENCE FAIR IN MARCH.
AND TONIGHT WE RECOGNIZE ONE OF OUR FIRST PLACE AWARD WINNERS FROM THE MIDDLE SCHOOL COMPETITION.
WOULD LADIES ISLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL, PRINCIPAL CHAVONNE BROWN, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND TELL US ABOUT HER SCIENCE FAIR WINTER.
I AM HERE AS THE PRINCIPAL THAT LADIES ISLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL.
VERY PROUD TO TALK ABOUT THE EXCITING NEWS, UM, OF PALLY TRAN AS WELL AS SHOWCASE A VIDEO WE HAD MADE, UM, TO HIGHLIGHT HER SUCCESSES.
LADIES ALLEN, MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT HOLLY TRAN, WAS AWARDED AN AMAZING THIRD WIN AS GRAND AWARD WINNER AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL, SEA ISLAND, REGIONAL SCIENCE FAIR THAT WAS HELD AT MAY RIVER HIGH SCHOOL ON MARCH 30TH FOR THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW.
HOWIE TRAN BEAT COMPETITORS FROM NEIGHBORING PUBLIC AND PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT BEAVER COUNTY TO WIN FIRST PLACE IN HER CATEGORY AND BE RECOGNIZED.
OVERALL GRANT AWARD WINNER HOLLY'S WINNING PROJECT PROJECTS INCLUDE IN SIXTH GRADE CAN PLANTS TO LEARN HABITUATION OF THE MIMOSA PADUCAH PLANT.
AND THAT WAS IN THE CATEGORY OF BOTANY IN SEVENTH GRADE IS MY PSYLLIUM, THE MATERIAL OF THE FUTURE IN THE CATEGORY OF PHYSICAL SCIENCE AND HER MOST RECENT WINNING PROJECT.
ECO-FRIENDLY THERMAL INSULATORS, MATHEMATICS, ENGINEERING, AND COMPUTERS.
IN THIS PROJECT, SHE EXPLORED THE POTENTIAL FOR USING SUSTAINABLE NATURAL MATERIALS AS ALTERNATIVE INSULATORS TO COMMERCIAL, CHEMICAL BASED PRODUCTS.
WHILE HOLLY'S MOST RECENT WINS ARE IN THE FIELD OF PHYSICAL SCIENCE, HER SCIENTIFIC AND FUTURE CAREER INTERESTS LIE IN THE HEALTH SCIENCE AND MEDICAL FIELDS.
LADIES' ALLEN MIDDLE SCHOOL CONGRATULATE TALLY ON HER STELLAR SUCCESS.
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT SHE WILL ACCOMPLISH IN HER FUTURE ENDEAVORS.
SHE'S NOT ABLE TO BE HERE TONIGHT.
SHE IS, UM, IN THE MIDST OF REHEARSALS FOR HER DANCE RECITAL, THAT'S UPCOMING, BUT, UM, SHE AND HER PARENTS ARE EXTREMELY HONORED TO BE RECOGNIZED THIS EVENING.
[00:30:09]
FIGURING OUT THE WINNING FORMULA FOR THIS LEADING MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT HAS WON THE SEATTLE REGIONAL SCIENCE FAIR MIDDLE SCHOOL COMPETITION FOR THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW.I WORKED REALLY HARD FOR IT, SO I'M GLAD I KEPT MY STREAK ALL THREE YEARS.
I THINK THAT'S PRETTY COOL HOW WE PRESENTED HER PROJECT TO A GROUP OF JUDGES LAST WEEK AT THE COMPETITION HELD THAT MAY RIVER HIGH SCHOOL, MY PROJECT, IT WAS CALLED ECO-FRIENDLY THERMAL INSULATORS.
SO BASICALLY I TESTED DIFFERENT TYPES OF INSTALLATION, CALMING CHEMICAL BASED TYPES VERSUS ECO-FRIENDLY ONES.
AND IT ACTUALLY SHOWED THE ECO-FRIENDLY ONES THAT I TESTED MY CELIAC AND CORKBOARD PERFORMED BETTER THAN THE STANDARD ONES, HOW THEY USE LAST YEAR'S WINNING PROJECT TO INSPIRE HER WORK THIS YEAR.
LAST YEAR, I ACTUALLY WORKED WITH MY CELIAC TOO, BUT I TESTED DIFFERENT PROPERTIES.
SO I REALIZED THAT IT WAS SUCH A VERSATILE MATERIAL.
I WONDERED WHAT OTHER PROPERTIES IT HAD.
SO I WAS RESEARCHING AND REALIZED IT WAS A GOOD THERMAL INSULATOR.
SO THAT'S KIND OF HOW IT CAME AROUND.
THE EIGHTH GRADE SCIENCE WHIZ LOVES CONDUCTING HER OWN EXPERIMENTS.
I'VE JUST ALWAYS BEEN INTERESTED IN MAINLY ANIMALS AND I LOVE PLANTS.
AND SO I'M NOT PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN LIKE INSTALLATION OR ENGINEERING, BUT I LOVE TO LIKE GET HANDS-ON AND LIKE JUST FIGURE OUT HOW THINGS WORK.
AND SO I THINK IT'S REALLY INTERESTING NOW PLANS TO SUBMIT HER WINNING PROJECT VIRTUALLY INTO THE NATIONAL BROADCOM MASTERS COMPETITION AT LADIES ALLEN MIDDLE SCHOOL P FOR COMPANY SCHOOL DISTRICT TEST AT THE END OF THE MEETING.
NEXT ITEM IS LIGHTHOUSE SCHOOL DESIGNATION ST.
HELENA ISLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, A BUFORD COUNTY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL EARNED INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR THE QUALITY OF THEIR STUDENT LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS. BASED ON THE BEST-SELLING BOOK, THE SEVEN HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE LAST MONTH, ST.
HELENA ISLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS GRANTED LIGHTHOUSE SCHOOL STATUS.
THEY JOINED KUSA JOSEPH SHANKLIN, JOSEPH SHANKLIN, AND MICHAEL C. RILEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AMONG 600 SCHOOLS IN THE WORLD.
WITH THAT DESIGNATION HERE TO TELL US MORE ABOUT THEIR LEADER IN ME PROGRAM, OUR ST.
HELENA ISLAND ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL, MS. TARA MAC, AND SAY HELENA'S LIGHTHOUSE COORDINATOR, MS. WHITNEY HARRIS.
I AM HONORED TO BE HERE TONIGHT AS ONE OF THE PRINCIPAL OF ONE OF THE NEWEST LEADER IN THE LIGHTHOUSE SCHOOLS IN BUFORD COUNTY, UM, THROUGHOUT OUR FIVE-YEAR JOURNEY, AS A LEADER IN THE SCHOOL, WE HAVE WITNESSED OUR STAFF, OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES DEVELOP LEADERSHIP AND LIFE SKILLS THAT ARE NEEDED TO NAVIGATE THIS WORLD.
THROUGH OUR STUDY OF THE EIGHT HABITS, OUR STUDENTS HAVE BECOME MORE INDEPENDENT.
THEY TAKE INITIATIVE, THEY PLAN AHEAD, THEY SET AND TRACK THEIR OWN GOALS.
THEY COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY, AND THEY'RE LEARNING HOW TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE GREATER SOCIETY THROUGH THEIR SERVICE LEARNING PROJECTS.
THIS, IF YOU COME INTO OUR BUILDING, YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO SEE LEADERSHIP IN THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT HERE, LEADERSHIP THROUGH OUR COMMON LANGUAGE OF THE HABITS AND PARADIGMS, AS WELL AS FIELD LEADERSHIP THROUGH OUR CULTURE OF CARING RELATIONSHIPS AND AFFIRMATIONS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR RECOGNITION.
IF YOU WERE NOT ABLE TO JOIN US FOR OUR LEADER AND ME LIGHTHOUSE REVEAL, WE INVITE YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE WONDERFUL VIDEO THAT WAS CREATED BY RON LOTES.
BUT BEFORE THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE MS. HARRIS, WHO WAS OUR LIGHTHOUSE FACILITATOR.
SHE'S DEFINITELY THE BRAINS BEHIND THIS OPERATION AND ALSO MY OTHER STAFF MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE TONIGHT.
I THINK I SEE MS. BENNETT, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, MS. BENNETT, AND ANYBODY ELSE ONLINE THAT IS JOINING.
UM, ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD PARADING THROUGH THE HALLS ST.
HELENA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HELD A SURPRISE CELEBRATION FOR STUDENTS AFTER FINDING OUT THE LEADER IN ME SCHOOL HAS BEEN NAMED ON WHITE HOUSE SCHOOL.
IT MEANS THAT WE ARE DEFINITELY IMPLEMENTING ALL OF THE PRACTICES AND HABITS THAT THE LEADER IN ME FOCUSES ON.
IT MEANS THAT WE ARE DEFINITELY DOING A GREAT JOB WITH LEADERSHIP CULTURE AND ACADEMICS HERE AT ST.
THE SCHOOL MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT DURING A SPECIAL ASSEMBLY WITH CLASSROOMS JOINING IN ON ZOO BATTERY CREEK HIGH SCHOOL BAND WAS AT THE CELEBRATION AS WELL AS INVITED COMMUNITY MEMBERS, DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVES, AND SCHOOL
[00:35:01]
BOARD MEMBERS ST.HELENA'S CHEERLEADERS ALSO PERFORMED CELEBRATING THIS AMAZING SCHOOL-WIDE ACCOMPLISHMENT.
ONE OF THE PARADIGMS IS THAT EVERYONE IS A LEADER AND EVERYONE HAS GENIUS.
AND SO WE LIKE TO SEE THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE SHINING, WHETHER IT'S IN LEADERSHIP, WHETHER IT'S IN ACADEMICS OR OTHER AREAS.
AND SO IT MAKES US PROUD THAT THE PRINCIPLES AND HABITS THAT WE SEE SHINING THROUGH OUR STUDENTS LEADER IN ME, TEACHERS, STUDENTS, LEADERSHIP SKILLS, USING STEPHEN COVEY'S BESTSELLING BOOK, THE SEVEN HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE.
MY FAVORITE HABIT IS BE PROACTIVE IN SYNERGIZE BECAUSE I LIKE TO WORK WITH OTHERS AND I LIKE TO HELP OTHERS.
WELL, I'M IN CHARGE WITH MYSELF AT THE SAME TIME.
MY FAVORITE HABIT IS ENERGIZED AND PUT FIRST THINGS FIRST BECAUSE I LIKE TO DO MY WORK FIRST AND THEN PLAY.
AND I LIKE TO WORK WITH OTHERS FOR OTHER LEADER IN ME, SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT HAD PREVIOUSLY OR IN THE LIGHTHOUSE STATUS.
JOSEPH HAS SHANKLIN AND MICHAEL C BRILEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN BATTERY CREEK HIGH SCHOOL AT ST.
MOST PEOPLE COME TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
THE LAST ITEM, UH, THIS EVENING IS UNDER A BATTER CREEK HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, MS. SARAH HAYES, WHEN WE CELEBRATE ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENT, WE USUALLY CELEBRATE OUR STUDENT ATHLETES.
BUT TONIGHT WE'RE CELEBRATING ONE OF OUR HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC DIRECTORS WHO WAS RECENTLY NAMED BOTH THE THREE CLASSIFICATION ATHLETIC DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR AND THE REGION
IT'S MY PLEASURE TO BE HERE THIS EVENING.
UM, I GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO MY FIRST, UM, SOUTH CAROLINA ATHLETIC ADMINISTRATORS CONFERENCE THIS SPRING.
AND SO WATCHING COACH HAYES IN ACTION WAS SOMETHING TRUE, TRULY WONDERFUL.
UM, SHE'S A BATTERY CREEK ALUMNI.
SHE WAS VALEDICTORIAN OF HER GRADUATING CLASS AND SHE JUST HAS A HIGH STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE IN EVERYTHING THAT SHE DOES.
WE OFTEN ARGUE OVER WHO WORKS HARDER.
AND I THINK SHE DEFINITELY BEATS ME SOME DAYS BECAUSE SHE JUST PUTS IN HOURS UPON HOURS IN SUPPORT OF OUR STUDENT ATHLETES IN OUR SCHOOL.
AND SO GETTING TO SEE HER IN ACTION AT THAT CONFERENCE WAS REALLY AMAZING.
SHE HAS SUCH A VOICE AT THE STATE LEVEL.
SHE HAS EARNED DEEP RESPECT, UM, BY HER COLLEAGUES AT THE STATE LEVEL.
SHE RAN SEVERAL PARTS, IF NOT, PROBABLY ALL BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE CONFERENCE, AS WELL AS DOING A VERY POWERFUL PRESENTATION ON THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF TITLE NINE, WHICH WAS VERY EXCITING TO SEE HER A PART OF.
SO FOR ME AS HER PRINCIPAL, IT WAS JUST WONDERFUL TO SEE, I SEE THE DAY-TO-DAY WORK SHE DOES AT BATTERY CREEK, BUT TO SEE HOW SHE'S ADVOCATING FOR STUDENT ATHLETES AT THE STATE LEVEL WAS REALLY AMAZING TO SEE.
UM, SHE HAS CULTIVATED A SHARED VISION AMONG OUR STAFF.
UM, SHE EXPECTS HER COACHES TO HOLD OUR STUDENT ATHLETES TO THE HIGHEST STANDARD, AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO RAISE OUR STANDARDS SO THAT WE CAN ACHIEVE EXCELLENCE IN THE CLASSROOMS AND THEN TRANSFER THAT ONTO THE PLAYING FIELDS.
SHE'S NOT HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE ALL OF OUR SPORTS SPRING SPORTS TEAMS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ONE HAVE MADE IT TO THE PLAYOFFS.
SO SHE IS CURRENTLY AT, UM, OUR GIRLS SOCCER, EXCUSE SOFTBALL.
THIS, SHE WAS JUST TEXTING ME.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON, BUT I THINK SOFTBALL'S TOMORROW BASEBALL'S TONIGHT SOCCER'S TONIGHT.
AND THEN TRACK WAS LAST NIGHT GOLF.
I CAN'T, IT WAS A LOT THIS WEEK, UM, WITH OUR SPRING PLAYOFFS STARTING SO VERY, VERY GRATEFUL.
UM, SHE, AS A, A LAMENESS OF THE SCHOOL, I REALLY USE HER A LOT AS A SOUNDING BOARD FOR, UM, OUR VISION.
SHE'S BEEN A HUGE HELP WITH THE REFERENDUM PROJECT AND I'M EXTREMELY GRATEFUL TO WORK ALONGSIDE HER.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR RECOGNIZING HER THAT CONCLUDES OUR POINTS OF CELEBRATION THIS EVENING.
UM, FOR THIS, UH, GREAT RECOGNITION.
I'M ACTUALLY ON THE ROAD TO A GIRL'S SOCCER GAME.
UM, BUT RECEIVING THE RECOGNITION AS THE REGION EIGHT, THREE DAYS IN CLASSIFICATION, THREE, A ATHLETIC DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR AWARD, HAS THAT BEEN A GREAT RECOGNITION OF ALL THE HARD WORK THAT WE PUT IN HERE? IT SHOWS THE PROGRESS THAT WE'VE MADE IN ATHLETICS.
I BATTERY CREEK HIGH SCHOOL, UM, AIDY MEANS ALL DAY AFTER DARK.
UM, SO THERE'S A LOT OF HOURS PUT IN.
THERE'S A LOT OF INVESTMENT THAT WE PUT IN TO MAKE SURE
[00:40:01]
THAT OUR STUDENT ATHLETES ARE SERVED THE BEST WAY THAT THEY CAN BE.UM, WE DEFINITELY HAVE A LONG WAYS TO GO.
UM, BUT RECEIVING THIS AWARD, UM, SHOWS THAT WE ARE DEFINITELY ON THE RIGHT PATH AT RAM.
[4. Public Comments]
BRINGS US TO THE, UM, PUBLIC COMMENTS SECTION.I DO WANT TO CONGRATULATE ALL OF OUR, UM, STUDENTS AND STAFF WHO RECEIVED, UM, WRECKING RECOGNITION TONIGHT.
UM, WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR ALL THAT YOU DO AND, AND, UH, CELEBRATE OUR STUDENTS AS WELL.
UM, SO PUBLIC COMMENTS TONIGHT BEFORE WE BEGIN, I JUST WOULD LIKE TO BRIEFLY REVIEW, UM, THAT RULES REGARDING PUBLIC COMMENT.
UM, SPEAKERS ARE ASKED TO COMBINE THEIR COMMENTS TO ISSUES WITHIN THE DOMAIN OF THE BOARD, REFRAIN FROM RACIAL COMMENTS, ABSURDITIES, VULGARITIES, AND REFERENCES TO SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS BY NAME NOR COMMIT.
OTHER BREACHES OF RESPECT, NOT EXCEED THREE MINUTES.
THERE'LL BE A VISIBLE AND AUDIO.
AUDIBLE TIMING DEVICE, VISUAL DEVICE WILL BE USED.
UH, YOU MAY NOT YIELD YOUR TIME TO SOMEONE ELSE, AND THIS CARD NEEDED TO BE COMPLETED WITH THE TOPIC THAT YOU WANTED TO ADDRESS.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER TONIGHT WILL BE LINDA MOINES, UM, HILLS, GOOD EVENING.
THIS IS JUST A REPETITION LETTER FROM APRIL 19TH, 2022.
THE BOARD FAILED IN THEIR DUTIES BY ALLOWING INDIVIDUAL TO AMEND THE HISTORY OF THE NEW BUFORD HIGH SCHOOL OF 1971 WITHOUT PROPER AUTHORITY, IF IT IS PER.
SO WE WILL NOT BE HERE DISCUSSING THE FIGHT TO REVERSE.
SOMEONE ON THE BOARD KNEW WHAT TOOK PLACE.
IT SEEMS SNEAKY, DISRESPECTFUL, AND THE WAY IT WAS DONE DURING COVID 19 PANDEMIC, THE WORLD, THE COUNTRY, WE'RE ALL IN A TIME LOOP.
PEOPLE WERE LOSING THEIR JOBS LIVES LOVED ONE AND FRIENDS, BUT SOMEONE DECIDED THAT THE BEST TIME WAS TO MAKE CHANGES WAS WHEN NO ONE WAS LOOKING.
I AM REQUESTING A DETAILED, WRITTEN RESPONSE TO THE FOLLOWING QUESTION BY MY EMAIL, LINDA AMYLOID HILLS@COMCAST.NET WHO REQUESTED TO CHANGE JUST TO BUFORD HIGH SCHOOL COLOR AND MASCOT.
WHEN WAS IT REQUESTED AND TO WHOM DID THEY'RE SENT THIS REQUEST TO WHAT WAS THE REASON JUSTIFICATION FOR THE CHANGES, BUT THIS AN INDIVIDUAL GROUP COMMITTEE, THE REQUESTS, THE CHANGES WHO ARE THEY, THEY DID SOME, THEY DID, THEY DID KNOW THE HISTORY OF BEEF HIGH EDIT RELATE TO INTEGRATION AND THE USE OF THE COLORS AND THE MASCOT IN THE ALUMINA ASSOCIATION PRESENTED FROM ROBERT SMALLS, BEAUTIFUL HIGH OR ST.
AND I'M GOING BACK TO THIS DIRECTED TO YOUR CHAIRMAN, THAT THE SCRIPT, AND HERE WE ARE BEATING A DEAD HORSE IN REFERENCE TO A RECENT PUBLISHED ARTICLE.
IT READ DAVID'S SCRIPT INTO A CHAIRMAN FOR THE SCHOOL, BOTH SAID IN THE MEETING THAT THE BOARD COULD NOT RESPOND TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PER SCHOOL BOARD POLICY WHEN CONTACTED WHENCE DISCREPANT JUST SAID, THE LOGO CANNOT BE CHANGED WITHOUT PRIOR BOARD APPROVAL.
SO THE BOARD HAS TO DIG INTO HOW THIS GOT TO THIS POINT.
THE ISSUE IS ONE THAT ELECTED BE DISCUSSED AT THE MEETING, AND THERE HAS BEEN VARIOUS MEETINGS SINCE THEN.
SO TELL ME AS BOARD MEMBERS, BUT DO YOU PLAN TO DO AND A QUESTION TO BE AS HOW MANY OF YOU ALL ARE REALLY NATIVES OF BUFORD, BORN, BRED AND LIVE HERE AND KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT? CAUSE THIS IS MY HOME.
SO I ASKED THAT TO ALL CONSIDERED THIS BECAUSE IT SEEMED LIKE YOU ALL NOT THINKING OF NOTHING WE ARE BRINGING TO THIS TABLE.
I WILL CONTINUE TO COME UNTIL YOU RESPOND TO WHAT I ASKED YOU.
UM, OUR NEXT IS JOSH SKELLY EIGHT AND, UM, UM, PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR COMMENTS ARE RELATED TO THE DOMAIN OF THE BOARD.
SO MY COMMENT IS AN INTRODUCTION FOR, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT, I'LL JUST GET INTO IT.
AND I GUESS IF I STEP OVER THAT LINE, I'M SORRY, MY NAME IS JOSH
UM, I WAS BORN HERE IN BUFORD.
I'VE LIVED MOST OF MY LIFE HERE
[00:45:01]
IN DISTRICT FOUR, AND I CURRENTLY WORK AS A LIEUTENANT WITH THE LADY'S ISLAND ST.I HAVE FOR THE LAST NINE YEARS.
UM, THAT JOB HAS TAUGHT ME A LOT ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF LEADERSHIP AND SOME OF THOSE ATTRIBUTES WE'VE DISCUSSED TONIGHT WHEN WE, UM, AWARDED THE CHILDREN FOR INTEGRITY AND SELF CONTROL.
AND I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
SO I APPLAUD EVERYBODY FOR BRINGING THOSE KIDS UP AND SHOWING THE IMPORTANCE OF LEADERSHIP AND THE ATTRIBUTES THAT THEY HAVE.
UM, TWO OTHER ATTRIBUTES THAT ARE IMPORTANT FROM WHAT I'VE LEARNED, UM, TO LEADERSHIP IS TRUST AND, UM, CONSISTENCY AND CONFIDENCE.
AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE THOSE ATTRIBUTES IN ORDER FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS TO RESPECT YOU AS A SUCCESSFUL LEADER, I HAVE LOST FAITH AND TRUST AND, UM, THE CURRENT COUNTY COUNCIL.
AND SO I DECIDED TO RUN THIS YEAR TO REPRESENT DISTRICT FOUR ON COUNTY COUNCIL.
SO I WANTED TO INTRODUCE MYSELF AND I WOULD APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT OF ANYBODY THAT LIVES IN DISTRICT FOUR.
THANK YOU, GERALDINE DOE GOOD AFTERNOON.
OH, AS SOON AS YOU START TALKING.
THE CLASS OF 1971, THE ALUMNI OF ROBERT SMALLS SEND HELENA HIGH SCHOOL AND THE COMMUNITY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HAVE THE POLICY COMMITTEE MET TO DISCUSS THE CHANGE OF THE MASCOT AND THE COLORS OF THE UNIFORM, ET CETERA, AT BUFORD HIGH SCHOOL, IF THEY DID, WHAT DID THEY DECIDE AND HOW DID THEY COME TO THAT CONCLUSION? THERE WAS SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT GETTING THE PRESENT, THE PRESENT STUDENTS INVOLVED.
I BELIEVE THAT WOULD BE UNWISE BECAUSE THEY WON'T KNOW THE HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL AND HOW THE THREE SCHOOLS CAME TOGETHER AS ONE.
AND OF COURSE THAT WOULD BE A PRECEDENT FOR THE NEXT CLASS THAT COMES.
THEY WOULD BE ABLE, THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO CHANGE THE MASCOT AND COLORS.
PLEASE TELL US HOW THE BOARD WOULD ADDRESS THAT.
AND THE NEXT CLASS THAT COMES ALONG, WHAT WILL YOU TELL THEM HOW THE NEW MASCOT WAS SELECTED? AND THE NEW SCHOOL COLORS, THE EAGLE MASCOT AND THE GREEN AND WHITE COLORS AT BUFORD HIGH IS HISTORICAL.
THE CHILDREN NEED TO KNOW WHAT TRANSPIRED DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF MANDATORY INTEGRATION AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE EAGLE.
DON'T JUST SHOW THEM A HEAD OF AN EAGLE.
CHILDREN'S STUDENT LIKE TO ASK QUESTION.
WHY, WHEN WHAT, AND WHAT WILL YOU TELL THEM? REMEMBER EVERYTHING THAT IS DONE, THERE IS A REASON AND A PURPOSE.
REMEMBER? SO I AM ASKING THE BOARD MEMBERS FOR THE REASONING AND THE PURPOSE OF THE MASCOT AND THE COLOR CHANGES.
WE NEED ANSWERS LAST BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT, AND ALL THE NEED TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM.
YOU HAVE AWAKENED A SLEEPING GIANT.
UH, MS. UH, STAY WILLIAMS, ESTELLE, I THINK S D SORRY.
UH, MY NAME IS SD WILLIAMS. I ATTENDED BUFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS IN THE EIGHTIES AND NINETIES GRADUATING ALSO LIKE SARAH HAYES AS VALEDICTORIAN, BUT FROM BUFORD HIGH SCHOOL IN 1999, I BEGAN MY TEACHING CAREER ELSEWHERE, BUT EVENTUALLY FOUND MY WAY BACK TO BUFORD HIGH, TO TEACH MATH FROM 2010 TO 2015, I THEN SERVED AS AN EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY COACH FOR THE DISTRICTS THROUGH LAST SCHOOL YEAR.
CURRENTLY IN MY 17TH YEAR IN EDUCATION, I WORK AS AN EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION SPECIALIST, WHICH IS A COORDINATOR POSITION, ALL THIS TO SAY, I HAVE BEEN TAUGHT BY TEACHERS, BEEN A TEACHER, WORKED ALONGSIDE TEACHERS AND SUPPORTED TEACHERS AND BUFORD COUNTY FOR MANY, MANY YEARS NOW, WITHOUT TEACHERS, THERE WOULD NOT BE PUBLIC PUBLIC EDUCATION AND LONG STORY.
SHORT TEACHERS ARE NOT PAID ENOUGH HERE, THERE, AND EVERYWHERE, BUT ESPECIALLY HERE WHERE COST OF LIVING IS HIGHER
[00:50:01]
THAN ANYWHERE ELSE IN OUR STATE WHERE RENT HAS GONE UP 31% SINCE 2019 AND MORE HOUSE PRICES ARE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS MORE THAN THEY WERE IN JUST 2020.WHEN I MYSELF WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO PURCHASE MY FIRST HOME IN BUFORD MATTEO'S NEIGHBORHOOD, PERSONAL CONNECTION TO THE DISTRICT AND PLAYING COMMON SENSE OR WHY I'M HERE TO, UH, TO EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR ANY PLAN FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT WILL INCREASE TEACHER SALARIES.
THE MORE, THE BETTER SUSTAINABILITY IS ALSO A KEY.
AS I KNOW EVERYONE WORRIES EACH YEAR, WHETHER OR NOT THE COST OF LIVING BONUS WILL BE PASSED, KNOWING FOR SURE THAT MONEY AND MORE WILL BE THERE FOR TEACHERS WILL BE A RELIEF FOR TEACHERS.
I URGE THE BOARD TO SUPPORT RAISING TEACHER SALARIES AS SOON AS, AND AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
I ALSO HAVE SOME IDEAS FOR RETENTION, LIKE IMPROVING THE PAYOUT FOR UNUSED SICK DAYS, PROVIDING FREE DAYCARE OPTIONS TO TEACHERS AND IMPROVING THE SALARY STRUCTURE FOR DISTRICT DOGS, SUCH AS, UM, SO THAT A TEACHER'S PROFESSIONAL PATH CAN BE LONG IN A SENDING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
SO YOU'RE DEFERRING UNTIL THE SECOND COMMENT PERIOD.
YOU READY TO HAVE YOU ON PUBLIC COMMENTS? HE WOULD STATE YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
HI, THIS HAGADORN, UM, ACTUALLY LIKE ON THE NUSC MOBILE CLINICS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE SCHEDULED FOR THE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I BELIEVE THIS IS A VERY SLIPPERY SLOPE THAT WE'RE GOING DOWN HERE.
YOU GUYS ARE AN EDUCATION BOARD, NOT A HEALTH BOARD, AND I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHY.
ALL OF A SUDDEN WE ARE BRINGING IN A HOSPITAL SYSTEM INTO OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.
FIRST OF ALL, THIS IS LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR MEDICAL TREATMENTS TO BE DONE WITHIN A SCHOOL SYSTEM.
AND I'M NOT REALLY SURE WHERE IT ENDS.
FOR INSTANCE, I HAVE A SQUIRMY EIGHT YEAR OLD WHO NEEDS TO MOVE HIS BODY FOR HIS BRAIN TO WORK.
HE DOES NOT HAVE A MEDICAL CONDITION.
HE IS TRULY A KINETIC LEARNER SO FAR.
WE'VE BEEN PRETTY LUCKY WITH TEACHERS WHO UNDERSTAND THAT, AND THEY'RE HAPPY TO ACCOMMODATE HIM WITH HIS MOOD WITHIN HE TO MOVE.
AND WE'VE BEEN VERY HAPPY SO FAR.
HOWEVER, ONCE THERE'S A MEDICAL FACILITY WITHIN A SCHOOL SYSTEM, WHICH I BELIEVE THIS IS LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR, I FEEL TEACHERS WILL HAVE LESS PATIENTS WITH HIM AND JUST FIND IT EASIER TO SEND HIM DOWN TO THE QUOTE UNQUOTE SCHOOL DOCTOR TO GET HIS ADDERALL OR RITALIN OR WHATEVER.
THEY FEEL LIKE TRANQUILIZING SQUIRMY CHILDREN WITH SO THAT THEY SIT STILL DURING CLASS.
AND WHAT ABOUT A DAY WHEN A TEACHER DECIDES THAT A STUDENT SEEMS SAD TODAY? SO LET'S SEND THEM DOWN TO THE PSYCHOLOGIST FOR SOME ANTIDEPRESSANTS OR ANXIETY MEDICATION, AND IT DOESN'T END THERE.
THIS MAY SEEM FAR FETCHED, BUT LET'S FACE IT.
AND WHAT'S TO SAY THAT ONE DAY, MY SECOND GRADER IS DECIDES HE LIKES THE COLOR PINK THAT THE TEACHER DECIDES HE NEEDS TO GET ON, SEND THEM DOWN TO THE SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT HE'S OKAY WITH STILL BEING A LITTLE BOY THAT DOES SOUND LIKE A FAR STRETCH TO YOU.
BUT HAVE YOU SEEN THE WORLD TODAY? HAVE YOU SEEN THE INSANITY OUT THERE? DO WE REALLY NEED TO INVITE THAT INTO OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM? NO, I BELIEVE WE SHOULD.
I FEEL LIKE EVERYBODY HERE SHOULD STAY IN THEIR OWN LANE.
YOU GUYS SHOULD FOCUS ON EDUCATION AND LEAVE HEALTH DECISIONS AND HEALTH TREATMENTS TO PARENTS AND DOCTORS, DOCTORS OF PARENTS' CHOICE.
OF COURSE NOT A QUOTE UNQUOTE SCHOOL DOCTOR THAT GETS TO COME TO THE CAMPUS VIA A MOBILE CLINIC.
AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO REITERATE, I BELIEVE THIS IS A VERY SLIPPERY SLOPE.
IT COULD LEAD TO SOME VERY NEFARIOUS THINGS.
AND AS A PARENT, I'M VERY MUCH OPPOSED TO IT.
I'M SURE THAT YOUR ARGUMENT AGAINST ME IS GOING TO BE THAT SOME KIDS DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO CERTAIN VACCINES AND WHAT HAVE YOU.
AND THIS ALLOWS FOR EASY ACCESS.
HOWEVER, THERE ARE HEALTH DEPARTMENTS AND THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE FOR.
AND THEIR HEALTH DEPARTMENTS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY ARE ALL OVER THE STATE AND ALL OVER THIS AREA.
WE DO NOT NEED TO BRING THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO THE SCHOOLS.
THIS JUST TRUST THAT YOU ARE GIVING PARENTS AND IMPLEMENTING A MEDICAL FACILITY INSIDE OF SCHOOL IS FAR MORE DETRIMENTAL TO A PARENT.
HAVING TO FIND A WAY TO GET THEIR CHILD TO ONE OF THE MANY FREE HEALTH DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE STATE.
I SPOKE ON TRUST LAST WEEK, ABOUT HOW YOU GUYS ARE MAKING PARENTS LOSE TRUST IN YOU.
I DIDN'T THINK THAT I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO TURN AROUND TWO WEEKS LATER AND POINTED OUT YET AGAIN.
AND YOUR ABILITY TO PERFORM YOUR JOB THAT YOU WERE ELECTED TO DO, YOU WERE ELECTED TO BE AN EDUCATION BOARD.
SO AGAIN, PLEASE JUST STAY IN YOUR LANE SO THAT PARENTS CAN CONTINUE TO TRUST THE EDUCATION SYSTEM.
[00:55:01]
MAYBE IT'S TIME, YOU GUYS SHOULD RESIGN SO THAT WE CAN GET SOME PEOPLE IN THERE THAT WE CAN TRUST THAT WE'LL STICK TO EDUCATION AND EDUCATION ONLY.YOU WERE TRYING TO BE MORE THAN EDUCATORS TO THESE CHILDREN.
YOU WERE TRYING TO BE THE PARENT AND IT NEEDS TO STOP.
I AM CURRENTLY AN EIGHTH GRADE SCIENCE TEACHER AT ROBERT'S FALLS, MIDDLE SCHOOL, I INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY.
AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY, UM, WHEN YOU LOOK FOR TEACHERS, YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A COUPLE OF THINGS.
YOU'RE LOOKING FOR PEOPLE WHO LOVE KIDS THAT LOVE THEIR CONTENT AND WANT TO SHARE THAT WITH KIDS AND, AND, AND SCIENCE.
I'M CONSTANTLY TEACHING KIDS TO LOOK AT PROBLEMS AND HOW WE SOLVE THOSE.
HOW DO WE, HOW DO WE LOOK AT DIFFERENT WAYS? HOW DO WE TAKE WHAT PEOPLE ARE DOING NOW AND MAKE IT DIFFERENT AND MAKE IT BETTER? AND IT'S THE SAME THING THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING EVERYDAY ON THIS BOARD.
YOU'RE LOOKING AT PROBLEMS WITHIN THIS DISTRICT, AND YOU'RE TRYING TO THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX AND HOW DO WE SOLVE THAT? AND SOMETIMES IN SCIENCE, THERE ARE VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD SOLUTIONS TO SOME PROBLEMS. AND I KNOW ONE THING THAT WOULD HELP KEEP A LOT OF TEACHERS HERE IS ALLOWING THEM TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO LIVE HERE.
UM, MY WIFE AND I MOVED HERE FROM KANSAS CITY ABOUT A YEAR AGO, AND WE CANNOT FIND A HOUSE WE CAN AFFORD.
WE, UM, LUCKILY WE'RE NOT IN ONE OF THE APARTMENTS THAT RAISED OUR RENT 30%, BUT I HAVE FRIENDS WHO ARE NOW CURRENTLY LOOKING FOR APARTMENTS OR ARE HAVING TO MOVE BACK HOME BECAUSE A ROOMMATE HAD TO LEAVE FOR MEDICAL EMERGENCY.
AND NOW THEY ARE LOOKING FOR HOUSING.
AND WHEN YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE IN A PLACE, HOW AM I ABLE TO INVEST IN THE COMMUNITY? IT'S NOT MINE BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE A TRANSPLANT THAT IS WAITING TO BE MOVED SOMEWHERE ELSE.
SO AS YOU LOOK AT YOUR PROPOSED BUDGET AND YOU LOOK AT RAISING, UH, RAISING A SALARY FOR TEACHERS, THINK ABOUT NOT ONLY US, BUT THINK ABOUT YOUR KIDS AND YOUR GRANDKIDS AND YOUR COMMUNITY.
BECAUSE IF YOU WANT YOUR TEACHERS TO BE A PART OF THAT COMMUNITY, THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO LIVE IN THAT COMMUNITY ON THE SALARY THAT THEY ARE GETTING.
SO AS YOU LOOK TO APPROVE THE BUDGET, UM, PLEASE LOOK AT IF, IF THAT'S ALL WE CAN DO FANTASTIC, BUT CONTINUE TO SHOOT FOR THE STARS.
BECAUSE THE MORE YOU CAN GIVE THESE TEACHERS, THE MORE THEY'RE GOING TO STAY HERE.
AND THEY ARE GOING TO BE HERE TO NOT ONLY TEACH THE KIDS OF TODAY, BUT TO TEACH THOSE KIDS KIDS LATER IN TIME.
WELL, ANGELA, THIS IS ROBIN AND YOU'RE READY TO PUT YOU ON PUBLIC COMMENTS.
I'M CALLING IN TONIGHT FOR TWO VERY IMPORTANT TOPICS.
THERE ARE VACCINE CLINICS BEING OFFERED ON SCHOOL CAMPUSES.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE OFFERED OFF OF THE TRUCK.
MISTAKES HAVE HAPPENED IN THE NOT SO DISTANT PAST WHERE VACCINE CLINICS HELD IN SCHOOLS RESULTED IN THE WRONG STUDENTS BEING GIVEN THE SHOTS.
IN MY OPINION, THIS IS AN OVERREACH OF AUTHORITY WELL-MEANING OR NOT TOO MANY ISSUES CAN RESULT FROM THESE VACCINES ON WHEELS.
I AM VERY UPSET WITH THE WAY OUR DAUGHTER'S SCHOOL AND THE DISTRICT IN GENERAL IS DEALING WITH OUR DAUGHTERS WHO ARE NOT TAKING THE STANDARDIZED TEST NEXT WEEK.
WE EVERYTHING'S THE TEST FOR OUR DAUGHTERS SINCE WE MOVED HERE FIVE YEARS AGO AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM NOW, BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT TAKING THE TEST, THEY ARE BEING PLACED IN SEPARATE ROOMS, AWAY FROM THEIR CLASS.
I FEEL THAT THIS IS PUNITIVE AND THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION IS A POLICY IN PLACE THAT ALLOWS USE.
THE STANDARDIZED TESTS ARE LEGALLY ABLE TO DO WITHOUT HAVING TO SIT AND STAND FOR HOURS WASTING THEIR DAY, OR THESE SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT HAVE NOT MADE STUDENTS WILL REPEAT THE TEST, BE PLACED IN SEPARATE GROUPS, WHICH IS FEDERAL STIPULATE.
THAT BOARDS OF EDUCATION CAN CREATE SUCH POLICY PRINCIPLES AND INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS.
PRINCIPALS SHOULD HAVE NO SWAY IN HIS POLICY.
OPINIONS CAN CLOUD THEIR JUDGMENT SCENE IN SEPARATE ROOMS WHILE WE'VE USED THEM.
THE TASK IS NOT ONLY A WASTE OF TIME, BUT IT HAS CAUSED OUR OLDEST THOUGHTS AND INTERVIEWS FOR HER.
AND SHE IS IN ADVANCED COURSES AND OUR THREE YOUNGER DAUGHTERS TO MAKE
[01:00:01]
ACTUAL REAL INSTRUCTIONAL TIME.I'M CALLING TO HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
CAN YOU STATE YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME PLEASE? ARE YOU READY? DID EVERYONE HEAR ME? OKAY.
UM, CHAIRMAN, UH, BOARD MEMBERS, DR.
THANKS FOR GIVING ME A TIME TO SPEAK TONIGHT.
I DID NOT APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU CALLED THE DEPUTY UP TO INTERRUPT ME WHEN I WAS SPEAKING AT THE LAST MEETING.
AND I THINK BY NOW YOU'VE BEEN MADE AWARE THAT IT'S NOT THEIR JOB TO ENFORCE ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER, AND YOU HAVE YOUR OWN PROTOCOLS FOR PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES AND ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER, BUT USING A DEPUTY TO ENFORCE IT IS NOT PART OF IT.
SO WITH THAT IN MIND, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IN THE FUTURE.
IF YOU WOULD ALLOW PEOPLE TO FINISH THEIR COMMENTS.
I KNOW IN THE PAST, YOU'VE ALLOWED PEOPLE TO SPEAK OVER THEIR THREE MINUTES WITHOUT INTERRUPTING THEM WITH A DEPUTY.
AND I FEEL A LITTLE BIT, UM, PUT ASIDE WITH THAT BECAUSE I'M A PRETTY NICE PERSON AND MY COMMENTS MAY NOT BE APPRECIATED AND THEY MAY NOT BE SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT TO HEAR, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU NEED TO HEAR ON MANY OCCASIONS.
THE OTHER THING IS WE NEED TO GET OUR SCHOOL STAFF TO AVOID USING THE LANGUAGE ABOUT LOVING OUR CHILDREN.
I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S APPROPRIATE.
THE OTHER THING THAT WE'VE GOT TO BE CONSIDERING AT THIS POINT IS THE REMOVAL OF YOUR CONSENT PAGE.
DURING THE REGISTRATION PROCESS, I'VE DONE RESEARCH ON IT AND HAVING THE CONSENT PAGE, WHICH ALLOWS US TO CLICK THROUGH, TO LET THE KIDS PARTICIPATE IN SURVEYS AND ASSESSMENT ACTUALLY VIOLATES DUE PROCESS BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GIVING ANY TIME OR SAMPLES TO PREVIEW ANY OF THE ASSESSMENTS OR SURVEYS.
SO I'D LIKE YOU TO REMOVE THE CONSENT PAGE DURING THE REGISTRATION PROCESS AND GO BACK TO PERMISSION SLIPS, TO GET PARENT'S PERMISSION, TO LET THEIR KIDS PARTICIPATE IN SURVEYS AND ASSESSMENTS.
THIS IS THE ONLY WAY TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF PUPILS AND THE PARENTS.
THIS PROCESS VIOLATES THE FEDERAL PROTECTION OF PUPILS RIGHTS AMENDMENT.
I APPRECIATE YOU LETTING ME SPEAK TONIGHT, AND I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST HAVE A GOOD EVENING.
THAT CONCLUDES, UM, PUBLIC COMMENTS.
[5. Chairman's Report]
ON OUR AGENDA IS THE CHAIRMAN'S REPORT.AND THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE IN THE AUDIENCE CAN SEE THAT, UH, CHAIRMAN STRINGER IS NOT HERE IN PERSON, BUT HE IS WITH US VIA ZOOM.
I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT BEING THERE, BUT DR.
PAUL, I MEAN DRIVING, THAT'S A LONG WALK.
UM, THE COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING, SOME THINGS WERE SAID THAT I FEEL WE HAVE TO RESPOND TO ABOUT SCHOOL IMPACT FEES.
SO I DRAFTED A LETTER UP, YOU KNOW, I WILL READ IT.
AND AT THE CONCLUSION, IF THE BOARD APPROVES, I WILL, UM, SUBMIT THIS LETTER AS THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD.
IF THE BOARD HAS NOT APPROVED, I'LL SUBMITTED AS DISTRICT TWO REPRESENTATIVE WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE SCHOOL IMPACT AT GUILFORD COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING ON APRIL 25TH, 2022 COUNTY COUNCIL VOTED TO RESCIND SCHOOL IMPACT FEES AND RETURN ALL COLLECTED MONEY TO DEVELOPERS.
THEIR DECISION ON OTHER IMPACT FEES WAS POSTPONE DURING THE DISCUSSION OR COUNTY OFFICIAL POINT TO THE LACK OF IN-PERSON SCHOOL, BOARD MEMBERS, ATTENDANCE, AS AN INDICATION, THE SCHOOL BOARD WAS NOT AVIDLY SUPPORTING IMPACT.
REALLY A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR FUNDING SOURCE WAS REJECTED BECAUSE NO MEMBER COULD ATTEND THE MEETING
[01:05:01]
FIVE YEARS OF ONE WAVERING SUPPORT AND MULTIPLE VOTES WAS NOT ENOUGH.SEVERAL JOINT MEETINGS WITH COUNTY COUNCIL ON A TOPIC ON AND OFF MEMBER ATTENDANCE AND COMMENTS AT MULTIPLE TOWN COUNCIL MEETINGS TO URGE ADOPTION OF IMPACT FEES WAS ENOUGH.
THE SUPERINTENDENT MEETING WITH THE MAYOR WAS NOT ENOUGH.
THE PUBLIC COMMENTS SUBMITTED IN WRITING TO COUNTY COUNCIL, BUT NOT READ THAT EVENING WAS NOT ENOUGH.
DON'T APPLY THE SCHOOL BOARD AND DISTRICT ARE NOT SUFFICIENTLY INVOLVED WITH EITHER MADE FROM IGNORANCE OR INTENTIONAL DECEPTION, WHATEVER THE MOTIVATION IT WAS ABSURD AND FALSE.
WHAT IS THE REAL REASONS FEASIBLE, RESCINDED, OR WAS IT BECAUSE MUNICIPALITIES INVOLVED NOT AGREE TO INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENTS NEEDED TO COLLECT THE FEES ON THE COUNTY STAFF? WAS IT BECAUSE THE DEVELOPER FILED A LAWSUIT DISTORTING THE FEEDS THAT IMPLEMENTED WERE ILLEGAL.
WAS THERE SOME OTHER PROJECTS UNDERNEATH THE FOG OF MISUNDERSTANDING, CONFLICTING STATEMENTS AND HIDDEN AGENDAS? THERE IS A STRAIGHTFORWARD AND FACTUAL EQUATION.
THERE IS NO DISPUTE THAT THE EXPLOSIVE DEVELOPMENT AND BLUFFTON IN HARTVILLE WILL CAUSE A SIGNIFICANT STRAIN ON SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE THAT CANNOT BE HANDLED BY CURRENT FACILITIES.
AND THE CURRENTLY FUNDED EXPANSIONS NEW SCHOOLS WILL HAVE TO BE BUILT, VOTE FOR SCHOOL IMPACT.
THESE SAYS THAT DEVELOPERS SHOULD CONTRIBUTE TO OFFSETTING THE COST OF THE NEW FACILITIES NEEDED AS A RESULT FOR DEVELOPMENTS.
SO IT'S THE ENTIRE BURDEN SHOULD BE BORN BY BUFORD COUNTY.
TAXPAYERS, BUFORD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION HAS NEVER WAVERED FROM ITS BELIEF.
THAT IMPACT FEES ARE REASONABLE AND EQUITABLE WAY TO PROVIDE SOME RELIEF TO COUNTY TAXPAYERS.
AND THEN THE SIGNATURE IS DAVID
WE ACCEPT THE LETTER, UM, THAT DAVID STRINGER, OUR CHAIRMAN JUST READ, AND YOU SAID DAVID TO SUBMIT, BUT YOU DIDN'T SAY SUBMIT WHERE.
SO WE HAVE TO CLARIFY THAT AFTER WE, UM, HAVE THE MOTION ON THE TABLE.
SO I MOVE THAT WE ACCEPT THE LETTER IS WRITTEN.
IS THERE A SECOND FISH, FREDERICK SECONDS, ANY DISCUSSION? I HAVE A QUESTION.
SO IT'S KIND OF A POINT OF INFORMATION.
WE HAVE IMPACT FEES ON THE AGENDA, SO I'M NOT SURE WHY WE'RE VOTING ON THE LETTER BEFORE WE HAVE THE DISCUSSION.
IT'S JUST KIND OF A CURIOSITY TO ME, THE ORDER AND WHAT WE'RE DOING THIS REVISITING THE MOTION AND IMPACT FEES.
UH, I DON'T KNOW, DAVID, DO YOU HAVE A FEELING ON THAT? THIS LETTER IS A RESPONSE TO COMMENTS, UM, BEST LATER, BUT THERE WAS A REQUEST, UM, TO OVERTURN THE PREVIOUS MOTION TO TABLE OR POSTPONE A DISCUSSION OF IMPACT FEES.
BUT THIS IS, THIS IS A DIRECT RESPONSE TO THINGS THAT WERE SAID AT COUNCIL COUNTY AT THE COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING.
SO I DON'T SEE ANY PROBLEM WITH IT AT ALL.
SO, DAVID, UM, MY QUESTION MAY BE, PERHAPS YOU DIDN'T HEAR IT.
YOU S YOU MENTIONED IN YOUR OPENING REMARKS BEFORE READING THE LETTER THAT YOU INTENDED TO SUBMIT IT, BUT DID NOT SAY WHERE ARE YOU, IS IT GOING TO BE A LETTER TO THE EDITOR? UH, W WHERE ARE WE, WHERE DO YOU ENVISION SUBMITTING IT? UH, I SUBMIT A LETTER TO THE EDITOR, OR HOWEVER ELSE I WANT TO BLAST IT OUT TO ALL THE MEDIA.
SO, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER, WHATEVER THAT ENTAILS, UM, LETTER TO THE HEAD OF TERM OP-ED PIECE, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SURE, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE JUST GONNA SEND IT OUT TO OUR MAILING LIST FOR, UM, THE MEDIA, UH, DR.
UM, MY COMMENT IS, UH, IN REGARD TO IT THERE'S MULTIPLE QUESTIONS THROUGHOUT THE LETTER, AND MY ONLY SUGGESTION WOULD BE TO ADD IN, UM, YOU MENTIONED DIFFERENT MEETINGS AND DIFFERENT FOLKS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE.
I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF, UM, LISTING AT THE BOTTOM, MAYBE THAT REFERENCES THOSE DIFFERENT OCCURRENCES,
[01:10:01]
THE DATES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.UM, JUST SO THAT IF ANYBODY NEEDS TO REFRESH THEIR MEMORY, THEY CAN GO TO THOSE VERY PUBLIC RECORDS, UM, AND, AND LOOK INTO THEM AND SEE WHAT THE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS WERE FROM THE BOARD.
THANK YOU AS ANY OTHER, UH, INGRID.
UM, I AGREE WITH THE SENTIMENT BEHIND THE LETTER.
UM, I AM, WE, I WAS NOT ON THE BOARD WHEN THE VOTE WAS TAKEN.
I HAVEN'T DONE AS MUCH IN SUPPORTING IMPACT FEES AS THE BOARD CAUSE THAT WAS DONE BEFORE I WAS ELECTED ON.
I KNOW THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS DONE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT IN SUPPORT OF IMPACT FEES.
SO I WAS TREMENDOUSLY SURPRISED BY THE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE AT MONDAY'S MEETING.
WE WERE ON THE SAME SIDE AS COUNTY COUNCIL UP UNTIL FAIRLY RECENTLY, THEY HAD VOTED TO SUPPORT IMPACT THESE AND WE'RE COLLECTING IMPACT FEES.
I DON'T KNOW WHY THINGS GOT, UM, SO SOUR SO FAST, MY CONCERN AND WHY I CAN'T SUPPORT, UM, SENDING THIS PERSONALLY.
I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY I'LL GO WITH WHAT THE RECOMMENDS TO DO, BUT I DON'T LIKE THE TONE OF HIDDEN AGENDAS AND INTENTIONAL DECEPTION.
BUT I THINK WHEN YOU START PULLING OUT WORDS LIKE HIDDEN AGENDAS AND ABSURD AND FALSE WITHOUT ACTUALLY SAYING WHAT THEY ARE, YOU'RE INSINUATING THAT THAT JUST LEADS TO MORE BADNESS AND LEADS TO MORE BITTERNESS.
AND I WOULD RATHER NOT GET INTO THAT KIND OF A DISCUSSION WITH THE COUNTY.
UM, BUT OF COURSE I'LL SUPPORT WHAT THE BOARD DOES, EARL CAMPBELL.
UM, I AGREE WITH DAVID, WE JUST STARTED TALKING ABOUT IMPACT FOR YEARS.
WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IMPACT FOR YEARS AND THESE COMMUNITIES IS GROWING AND WE GONNA NEED SCHOOLS.
AND IF, IF WE CAN'T HAVE BLUFFTON IN ALMOST POWER TO SUPPORT US IN THIS, THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO START HAVING THE CROWDED CLASSROOMS AS SIMPLE AS THAT, YOU KNOW, AND, YOU KNOW, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH, UM, PEOPLE GET NAVIGABLE.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY? UM, I'M ON HONDA'S BOARD TO SERVE PEOPLE, THE TAXPAYERS, NOT TO WORRY ABOUT WHO WHO'S GONNA GET ANGRY, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR YEARS AND NOBODY SEEMS TO WANT TO LISTEN.
YOU KNOW, WE NEED THE SCHOOLS, EDUCATED CHILDREN AND, AND WE NEED TO GET SOME EXTRA FUNDS BECAUSE THE TAXPAYERS CANNOT SUPPORT AUGUST BY THEMSELVES.
SIMPLE AS THAT, I WAS COUNTING ON, I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO BRING SOME INDUSTRY IN THIS COUNTY TO HELP PAY THE TAXES.
THANK YOU, MS. GOODRICH, I AM GOING TO SUPPORT THIS LETTER.
I LISTENED TO THE COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING ON MONDAY, APRIL 25TH.
AND I URGE EVERYBODY TO WATCH THE COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING THAT NIGHT AND HOW, WHAT THE TONE WAS REGARDING THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE SCHOOL BOARD, UM, AND THEIR SUPPORT OR LACK OF SUPPORT FOR IMPACT FEES.
UM, I THINK A STRONG RESPONSE IS, IS WARRANTED.
UM, AND SO I WILL ABSOLUTELY BE SUPPORTING THIS LETTER HURDLE GUYER.
I AM THE AUTHOR OF THE LETTER TO THE COUNTY COUNCIL.
IT WAS A VERBAL I WASN'T ABLE TO ATTEND.
SO I WROTE OUT I TIMED IT, I THREE MINUTE VERBAL AGREEMENT OR NOT AGREEMENT, BUT A VERBAL STATEMENT ABOUT SUPPORTING SCHOOL FEES WITH SPECIFIC DATES AND DOLLARS I EVEN SENT, I SENT IT IN AND GOT IT IN ON TIME.
I HAVE AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT IT WAS RECEIVED ON TIME.
I EVEN SENT THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL, A PERSONAL EMAIL WITH SOME MORE BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT WHY I WAS SUBMITTING THIS.
I UNDERSTAND TO INDIVIDUAL COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBERS BEFORE THE MEETING, BUT IT WAS NOT PUT INTO THE RECORD.
THIS TO ME IS JUST ANOTHER INDICATION OF A LACK OF RESPECT BY THE COUNTY
[01:15:01]
COUNCIL TO THIS ELECTED BODY.SO I THINK THE TONE OF MR
HEY, AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE, OH, RACHEL, THANK YOU, MADAM VICE CHAIR.
UM, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE, UM, STRIKE AS WRITTEN AND WE ADD WITH CITATIONS.
I THINK THAT THAT STRENGTHENS THE LETTER, ESPECIALLY IF IT'S GOING TO BE SENT OUT TO MEDIA AND, AND OTHERS.
UM, SO I WOULD PERSONALLY LIKE TO SEE CITATIONS IN THERE TO STRENGTHEN IT.
UM, IF I GET A SECOND, THAT'D BE GREAT.
UH, MS. SECOND, SHE WANTS IT TO AMEND IT, TO READ MOTION, TO ACCEPT THE LETTER, UH, WITH CITATIONS.
IS THAT CORRECT? NOTION WHO ACCEPT THE LETTER WITH CITATIONS? YES, MA'AM UH, UM, I'LL PUT IN MY 2 CENTS HERE.
I SUPPORT THE IDEA OF ADDING THOSE CITATIONS.
UM, I THINK THAT THE HISTORY OF THE IMPACT, THESE WE ALL STARTED, WE, WE PAID FOR A STUDY WITH, WITH THE COUNTY COUNCIL TO STUDY THE ISSUE OF IMPACT FEES.
IT'S A VERY REGULATED, UM, PROCESS.
THERE ARE PLACES WHERE, UH, IMPACT FEES CANNOT LEGALLY BE APPLIED, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S, THEY'RE LEGAL.
WE HAD A LARGE PRESENTATION, UM, IT'S TIME FOR US TO ACT, THINK THAT THE POINT IN THE LETTER THAT, YOU KNOW, IF THE DEVELOPERS DON'T HELP, THEN IT ALL FALLS ON THE TAXPAYERS, EVERY SINGLE PENNY.
SO I THINK THAT, UM, ADDING THE CITATIONS DOES HELP KIND OF STRENGTHEN THE LETTER A BIT.
I, I THINK THAT IT'S WELL WRITTEN, UM, AND WE NEED TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THEIR COUNTIES, UH, INACCURATE REPRESENTATION.
UM, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT OPENING PART WAS ONLY MEANT TO CREATE THE IMPRESSION OR, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT SCHOOL BOARD HAS BEEN VERY, VERY COMMITTED TO IMPACT THESE WASN'T MEANT TO BE A HISTORICAL, UH, HISTORICAL REPRESENTATION OF EVERYTHING WE DID, BECAUSE THAT WOULD TAKE SEVERAL PAGES, I BELIEVE.
UM, I THINK IF WE, IF WE WANT US TO IN HISTORICAL DOCUMENTATION OF EVERYTHING THAT THE BOARD HAS DONE, THAT MIGHT BE A REALLY GOOD FOLLOW-UP, BUT I'D REALLY LIKE TO GET THIS LETTER OUT TO SET THE TONE.
AND THEN IF THERE'S QUESTIONS WE CAN DO ALL THE RESEARCH REQUIRED TO, YOU KNOW, TO PUT ALONG ALONG THE SITE AFTERWARDS, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS, THAT WAS MY INTENT, BUT THAT FIRST PARAGRAPH WAS JUST TO SET THE TONE THAT WE'VE DONE QUITE A BIT.
AND I THINK THE POINT IS MADE, IT'S JUST, UM, I'VE SAT HERE AND ABOLITION AND YOU KNOW, THIS TO MY COLLEAGUES AMONGST, UH, I MEAN, DISCUSS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ABOUT HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT THIS, BUT, YOU KNOW, UM, A MONTHS BACK AND WRITTEN REFERENCE TO THIS AND RELATIONSHIPS, RELATIONSHIPS IS EVERYTHING.
I REMEMBER WHEN WE HAD A, I REMEMBER WHEN A BABY, I REMEMBER I WENT TO COUNTY COUNCIL AND REQUESTED A MEETING.
AND I REMEMBER WHEN I ASKED HIS BODY HERE IN SUPPORT TO LET'S MEET WITH KIND OF COUNCIL SO THAT WHEN WE HAVE ISSUES LIKE THIS, THAT WE CAN, THEY CAN ALREADY UNDERSTAND US AND KNOW WHAT WE, WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH FROM WHAT WE HAVE GOING ON.
AND INFORMATION BEING INFORMED AND RELATIONSHIPS IS EVERYTHING.
AND I THINK THIS IS, THIS IS A PART OF THAT.
AND NOW I ALMOST FEEL AS THOUGH WE'RE MOVING BACKWARDS, BECAUSE IF WE, WHAT HAPPENED WAS THERE WAS, THERE WAS CERTAIN GROUPS OF IT, OR THERE WAS A COMMITTEE FORM.
ALL OF A SUDDEN IN THAT COMMITTEE MET WITH THE COMMITTEE ON COUNTY COUNCIL.
SO THEREFORE IT WAS KIND OF A, UH, ORGANIZE ME WHERE CERTAIN PEOPLE MET.
AND, AND, AND BY SAYING THAT, WHEN I SAID, WHAT I WAS PUSHING FOR WAS FOR BOTH BODIES TO COME TOGETHER AND HAVE A MEETING
[01:20:01]
AND DISCUSS ALL THESE OUTLINES SO THAT WE CAN INFORM THEM AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.SO WHEN ISSUES LIKE COME UP, THEN THEY WOULD UNDERSTAND US AND WE WOULD UNDERSTAND THEM.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I I'M JUST, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T PICK AND CHOOSE WHEN IT'S CONVENIENT.
AND WHEN, WHEN, WHEN WE WANT THE PEOPLE TO JUMP TO OUR BEAT, WE REACT, WE SHOULD BE WORKING TOGETHER SIMULTANEOUSLY 365 DAYS A YEAR.
SO I'M, I'M, I'M, I HAVE A LITTLE MIXED EMOTIONS ABOUT THIS.
SO, UM, I DON'T KNOW, BUT I JUST WANT TO, HOPEFULLY MOVING FORWARD THAT WE WILL GET TOGETHER WITH THE KIND OF COUNCIL AS TO TWO BODIES AND MEET AND DISCUSS LEVEL STUFF LIKE THIS, BECAUSE THE RELATIONSHIPS ARE IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF OUR CONSTITUENTS.
UH, THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR, A ROBOT.
WHEN I SAW, UM, MR. STRANGER'S LETTER, WHEN HE PUT IT IN BOARD DOCS, I ACTUALLY PULLED OUT MY IMPACT FEE FILE AND I CAN PRETTY MUCH RECITE OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD ALL THE TIMES.
I, I THINK IF YOU SUBMIT IT, I AGREE WITH MR.
WE NEED TO GET THE MESSAGE OUT THERE AND WE NEED TO GET IT OUT THERE.
NOW, I THINK IF WE'RE GOING TO ADD CITATIONS, IT TRULY WILL ADD VOLUMES MULTIPLE PAGES TO THIS.
FOR EXAMPLE, TANYA CROSBY GAVE US A NICE SUMMARY BACK ON NOVEMBER FOUR, 14TH, 2020 OF A TIMELINE OF THE SCHOOL IMPACT FEE DISCUSSION.
AND SO THERE'S BEEN CONSIDERABLE, UM, UH, ADVOCACY FOR THE SCHOOL IMPACT FEES SINCE NOVEMBER 14TH, 2020.
SO THAT'S NOT ON THIS TIMELINE.
FOR EXAMPLE, SHE ALSO HAD GAVE US ON THAT SAME DATE, A NICE SUMMARY OF THE DRAFT INTER GOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENTS, THE TIMELINE OF THAT AS WELL.
I THINK UNFORTUNATELY, OUR CHILDREN HAVE BEEN HARMED BY THE COUNTY COUNCIL'S DECISION, GREATLY HARMED SCHOOL IMPACT FEES ARE VITAL FOR THE GROWING AREAS IN OUR COUNTY, AND THEY ARE A ONE-TIME FEE TO KEEP UP WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S NECESSARY WITH THE DEVELOPMENT.
AND SO WE NEED TO TAKE SOME OF THE BURDEN OFF THE ENTIRE COUNTY TAXPAYERS, AND THIS IS ONE WAY TO DO IT.
AND IT'S ONLY A PORTION OF THE FUNDING FOR OUR SCHOOLS.
IT'S NOT THE WHOLE FUNDING FOR OUR SCHOOLS, SO I WILL SUPPORT, UH, DAVID'S MOTION THE WAY IT IS, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET IT OUT THERE.
I WILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR SCHOOL IMPACT FEES.
I'VE ADVOCATED, PYRE, LESLIE, ALREADY FOR THEM.
AND, UH, PERHAPS AS WE HAVE THE DISCUSSION, UH, ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION UNDER BOARD BUSINESS, I WILL, UH, GIVE SOME MORE, UM, DATES, ET CETERA, UH, SHOWING HOW MUCH THE BOARD HAS DONE FOR ADVOCATING FOR SCHOOL IMPACT FEES, MR. EARL CAMPBELL.
UM, I REALIZED THAT WILL YOU LIKE TO WORK WITH FOLKS THAT WANT TO WORK WITH US IF YOU KNOW, THE HISTORY OF COUNTY COUNCIL, AS FAR AS, AND THE BOARD OF EDUCATION ARE SOMEONE THAT COULD CARE LESS ABOUT WHAT GOES ON WITH THIS BOARD? SO HAVING A MEETING WITH THEM IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE ANYTHING.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR YEARS AND NOTHING CHANGED, YOU KNOW, SO I THINK WE NEED TO JUST GO ON AND DO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO.
AND MR. CAMPBELL, I MUST ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT YOU SAID BY THE END OF THE DAY, IF YOU DON'T, IF YOU DON'T TRY IT, YOU'LL NEVER KNOW.
I MEAN, THE HONEST THING TO DO IS TO SAY THAT WE'VE PUT FORWARD THERE.
SO MY MOM SAID YOU HAD NEVER FAILED UNTIL YOU TRIED IT.
SO, I MEAN, THAT'S JUST, THAT'S JUST THE, THE, THE RIFLE THING TO DO IS TO PUT THE, PUT THE BEST FOOT FORWARD WITH FAITH, KNOWING THAT FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD.
UM, IT'S MY RECOLLECTION THAT BACK WHEN WE FIRST STARTED TALKING ABOUT THIS COUNTY COUNCIL REFUSED TO MEET WITH US AS THAT WE DID FLOAT THAT IDEA TO THEM, AND THEY SAID IT WAS TOO BIG, TOO BIG OF A GROUP.
RODRIGUEZ, I WOULD JUST ADD THAT IN MAY OF 2020, THERE WAS A JOINT BOARD OF EDUCATION COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING THAT TOOK PLACE.
THAT WAS THE OFFICERS FROM, UH, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, THE OFFICERS FROM, UH, COUNTY COUNCIL COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, SUPERINTENDENT CFO'S COUNTERPARTS, UH, AT THAT MEETING WHERE THE SCHOOL BOARD, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT DID ARTICULATE OUR DESIRES OR
[01:25:01]
NEED FOR IMPACT FEES WAS ANOTHER JOINT BOARD OF EDUCATION COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING ONE YEAR LATER IN MAY OF 2021, UH, OR ONCE AGAIN, THAT DID HAPPEN.SO I MEAN TO SAY THAT WE HAVEN'T COMMUNICATED OR THAT, ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
I MEAN, I THINK THAT'S, AND THEN THERE WERE ADDITION ADDITIONAL COMPONENTS, BUT IN TERMS OF THE TWO BODIES COMING TOGETHER FOR AN ENGAGEMENT THAT DID HAPPEN TO MAY OF 2020, AND THAT DID HAPPEN TO MAY OF 20, 21 AND IMPACT FEES OR A PART OF THAT CONVERSATION, UH, MR. MEL CAMPBELL CALL THE QUESTION.
WELL ACTUALLY, UH, I ACTUALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, OPPOSE THAT BECAUSE, BECAUSE TH THERE'S SOMETHING THAT I, THAT NEEDS TO BE CLEAR.
SO WHEN WE NEED TO, WE NEED TO, AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE A VOTE TO CALL THE QUESTION.
SO ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF CALLING THE QUESTION SIGNIFIED BY SAYING AYE.
IT HAS TO BE TWO THIRDS IN FAVOR AND IT WAS BECAUSE IT WOULD ONLY MR. SMITH.
SO THE QUESTION'S BEEN CALLED, RIGHT.
WE DO HAVE TO VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT.
SO, UM, THE AMENDMENT, IF YOU CAN PUT THAT UP, I BELIEVE WAS TO INCLUDE CITATIONS WITH THE LETTER CITATIONS, WITH THE LETTER.
SO ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO ACCEPT THE LETTER WITH CITATIONS, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING, AYE.
SO IT'S ONE, UH, I WON YOU'RE ABSTAINING 1 8, 2 1 8 2.
SO THAT MOTION FAILS FROM NOW WE GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION AND SO NO, MEL CAMPBELL IS NOT ABSENT.
YOU VOTED AGAINST IT, I THINK.
NOW WE MOVE ON TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION.
WE'LL WAIT FOR THAT ONE TO COME UP.
AND THAT WAS TO, UH, AS WRITTEN TO ACCEPT THE LETTER AS WRITTEN ALL THOSE IN.
I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT AFRICA, AFRICA.
I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT FOR TODAY.
OH, ACTUALLY I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY, BECAUSE I'VE A AVID COMMENT ON THIS, RIGHT.
ACTUALLY, JUST TO, BECAUSE I HAVE THE OPTION TO CIRCLE BACK, UM, AT THAT MEETING THAT WHAT WAS, UH, REFERRED TO A MINUTE AGO, THE OFFICER WERE THE ONLY SPEAKING PEOPLE AT THAT MEETING IN TERMS OF, WHEN I SAY HAVE A MEETING MEETING IN GENERAL, EVERY BOARD MEMBER HAS THE CAPACITY BUILDING AUTHORITY TO SPEAK.
SO THAT'S TWO DIFFERENT THINGS VERSUS THE MEETING THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
I JUST WANTED TO BRING, CLARIFY TO THAT.
YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU DO AT MOUNTAIN CIM.
I JUST WANNA BRING CLARIFIED TO THAT.
TO ACCEPT THE LETTER AS WRITTEN ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
UH, DID YOU, OKAY, SO ONE, UH, 9 1 9 1 1 9 1 1.
SO THE MOTION PASSES TO ACCEPT THE LIP, UH, LETTER AS WRITTEN.
THANK YOU, MR.
EVEN IF I DID, I'D BE SCARED TO SAY IT, SO, OKAY.
[6. Committee Reports]
MOVING ON, UH, THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA ARE OUR COMMITTEE REPORTS AND THE FIRST COMMITTEE TO GIVE US A REPORT TONIGHT WILL BE THE ACE COMMITTEE.MADAM VICE CHAIR, THE BOARD MET, WE HAD A BUDGET BRIEFING, UH, BOTH THE
[01:30:02]
EXPENDITURES FOR THIS YEAR AND A PROPOSED BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR.UH, THEY HAVE A VERY, UH, VERY POSITIVE BUDGET, UH, PERFORMANCE AND FACT, THEY INCREASED THEIR FUND BALANCE AND TO A POINT WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO BE REDUCING THE FUND BALANCE BY USING THE EXCESS FOR CAPITAL NEEDED CAPITAL INVESTMENTS AND THIS COMING FISCAL YEAR, THEY HAVE A VERY GOOD ENROLLMENT PROJECTION AS IT LOOKS LIKE A FULL ENROLLMENT PROJECTION FOR NEXT FALL.
UM, ALL THE PROGRAMS ARE, ARE DOING VERY, VERY WELL.
THEY WILL BE HOLDING COMPLETER CEREMONIES LATER THIS MONTH.
UM, THOSE ARE GREAT THINGS TO GO TO AND, UH, I'M SURE YOU'RE ALL, UH, WE'LL GET AN INVITATION TO THAT, BUT ALL IN ALL, UH, THE ACE PROGRAM IS GOING SWIMMINGLY, FRANKLY.
SO, UH, AT THE END OF MY REPORT MANAGER, THANK YOU.
UH, ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, RIGHT? MS. FIDRYCH, UM, COLONEL GUYER, UM, AT ONE POINT ACE HAD TALKED ABOUT HAVING A, UH, CHILDCARE, UH, PROGRAM.
UM, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT WAS, YOU KNOW, EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHING OR ACTUALLY TRYING TO SUPPORT THE CHILDCARE.
HAS THERE BEEN ANY MORE CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT? IT'S ONLY A VERY, UH, CONCEPTUAL CONVERSATION.
THERE, THERE IS ROOM ON THE CAMPUS OR EXPANSION.
AND ONE OF THE IDEAS THAT THE DIRECTOR HAS IS THAT A NEW CON POSSIBLE NEW CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING A CHILDCARE CENTER AND STAFFING IT WITH TEACHERS OR CHILDCARE, BUT ALSO STUDENTS TO LEARN ABOUT CHILDCARE AND PERHAPS GETTING A CERTIFICATE.
AND THEN THAT BEING THAT FACILITY WOULD BE PRIMARILY FOCUSED TOWARD TEACHERS SENDING THEIR CHILDREN TO THAT CHILDCARE CENTER.
AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHERE THAT'S LOCATED, IT'S REALLY IN THE VERY CENTER OF THE COUNTY.
SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, UH, I THINK MAYBE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A POSSIBLE FUTURE REFERENDUM, BECAUSE IT WOULD TAKE A CAPITAL EXPENDITURE TO DO IT.
THEY COULD NOT DO THAT IN THEIR EXISTING FACILITY, BUT IT'S A VERY, A VERY GOOD CONCEPT THAT I THINK WE SHOULD EXPLORE MORE.
AND OF COURSE, WITH JASPER COUNTY AS WELL, UH, YEAH, THAT IS, COULD BE, WOULD BE A GREAT IDEA, BUT, UM, I THINK THAT WE DID DISCUSS THAT AT ONE POINT, BUT, UH, WITH US GETTING READY TO POSSIBLY BE GOING TO SAKS.
AND I'M SURE THAT THAT'S PROBABLY NOT SOMETHING THAT THE DIRECTOR MAY WANT TO GO DOWN, GO DOWN, GO DOWN THAT AVENUE RIGHT NOW.
I THINK WE'RE TRYING TO FOCUS MORE ON GETTING READY FOR SEX AND, UM, IN, IN THE FUTURE, THAT WILL BE INTERESTING.
SOMETHING THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS TAKEN INTERESTING, BUT I THINK THAT THE LAST TIME WE TALKED THAT WE WERE NOT REALLY PROB POSSIBLY MOVING FORWARD WITH THE NEW, AT THIS POINT IN TIME UNTIL WE GET PAST SEX.
LIKE YOU, HEY, ANYONE ELSE? ALL RIGHT.
UH, NEXT COMMITTEE REPORT, LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE.
VICE CHAIR, ROBIN, LAST WEEK, SIX BUFORD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS ATTENDED THE SOUTH CAROLINA SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION DAY AT THE CAPITOL IN COLUMBIA UPON ARRIVAL.
WE HAD A ONE HOUR BRIEFING SESSION ON THE LEGISLATIVE ISSUES FOR OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
BEFORE WE HEADED OVER TO THE STATE HOUSE TO TALK WITH THE BUFORD COUNTY LEGISLATORS, WE WERE ABLE TO MEET WITH SIX OF THE EIGHT LEGISLATORS, ALL THE REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATOR TOM DAVIS, AND WITH OUR LOBBYIST, OUR DISCUSSIONS FOCUSED ON THE NEW K-12 SPENDING PLAN AND FISCAL AUTHORITY FOR THE BEAUTIFUL BUFORD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION.
AT LUNCH, WE HEARD FROM EIGHT CANDIDATES FOR SOUTH CAROLINA SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT IN A FORUM HAVING ATTENDED SEVERAL OF THESE LEGISLATIVE EVENTS AT THE STATE HOUSE PREVIOUSLY, I THOUGHT THIS WAS THE BEST ONE.
AFTER A TWO YEAR HIATUS DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, OUR BOARD WAS ABLE TO SPEAK TO THE DELEGATION MEMBERS ONE OR TWO AT A TIME.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT MADE IT SO HELPFUL PRIOR TO THE DAY AT THE CAPITOL, THE BEAVER COUNTY LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION HAD A PUBLIC MEETING IN BLUFFTON ON APRIL 11TH, TWO BOARD MEMBERS ATTENDED AND DELIVERED REMARKS TO THE DELEGATION.
[01:35:02]
TRISHA FIDRYCH SPOKE ON ALTERNATIVES TO TEACHER CERTIFICATION TO ALLOW QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS WITH KNOWLEDGE OF SUBJECT CONTENT TO TEACH IN OUR SCHOOLS.I GAVE COMMENTS OUTLINING THE IMPRESSIVE TRACK RECORD OF FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY EXHIBITED BY OUR DISTRICT FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES IN ADVOCATING FOR FULL FISCAL AUTHORITY FOR THE BOARD, THE BOARD IN DELEGATION RECEIVED COPIES OF MY REMARKS AND TWO FOLLOW UP EMAILS WITH INFORMATION AND SUPPORT A FISCAL AUTHORITY.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO REACH OUT TO THE DELEGATION AS WELL.
BY MID JUNE, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION WILL NEED TO SUBMIT TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION, ANY LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS FOR THE 2023 GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
SO WE NEED TO HAVE THIS AS AN AGENDA TOPIC AT THE NEXT BOARD MEETING AND SEEK INPUT FROM THE FULL BOARD, OUR LOBBYISTS AND THE SUPERINTENDENT.
ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS MOVING ON, UM, OPERATIONS COMMITTEE, THIS BOAT, RIGHT.
UM, WE HAVE TWO ISSUES TO BRING FORWARD TO THE BOARD TODAY OUT OF OPERATIONS.
UM, THE FIRST ONE IS JUST KIND OF, IT'S A OH EIGHT SEVEN FACILITIES USE REPORT, WHICH WOULD NORMALLY GO ON CONSENT AGENDA.
UM, BUT WE HAD A PRETTY GOOD DISCUSSION ABOUT IT.
SO I THOUGHT I WOULD JUST BRIEFLY GO OVER WITH THE BOARD WHAT WAS DISCUSSED AND SEE IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS.
UM, OH, 8.7, DEVELOPING CONSISTENTLY ADMINISTERED FACILITY USE GUIDELINES, DELINEATING PERMITTED USES APPLICABLE FEE STRUCTURE, USER EXPECTATIONS AND ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES.
SO, UH, NOW THAT PEOPLE ARE BACK TO MEETING IN PERSON AGAIN MORE FREQUENTLY, UM, AND WE'VE INVESTED, UH, THANKS TO THE TAXPAYERS OF BUFORD COUNTY, A FAIR AMOUNT OF MONEY UPGRADING OUR FACILITIES, UM, HOPEFULLY IN THE COMMUNITY COMING IN AND USING THOSE FACILITIES.
UM, AND WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PROCESS WAS WELL OUTLINED.
AND SO WHAT WE HAVE IN BOARD DOCS IS ESSENTIALLY OUR APPLICATION FOR, UM, THE FACILITIES USE.
AND IT DOES GO OVER ALL THE THINGS.
IT TALKS ABOUT WHAT THE FEES ARE, THE INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS, WHO TO SUBMIT TO HOW IT'S MANAGED BY THE DISTRICT.
UM, AND IT'S ACTUALLY SUBMITTED TO THE PRINCIPAL.
AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE DISCUSSION POINTS THAT WE HAD, THAT THE PROCESS FOR FACILITIES USE IS YOU APPLY TO THE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL AT THE OFFICE AND BASICALLY FILL OUT THE FORM.
AND THEN THE DISTRICT KIND OF HELPS MANAGE THAT, UH, FROM AFAR, BUT IT IS ULTIMATELY THE PRINCIPAL WHO, UH, MAKES DETERMINATIONS AS TO WHO CAN USE A FACILITY.
HOWEVER, THERE ARE GUIDELINES, UM, AND THE DISTRICT CAN GET INVOLVED, UH, IN SOME OF THESE DECISIONS WHEN NECESSARY.
AND WHAT I WANTED TO POINT OUT FOR THE PUBLIC IS THAT ALL OF THIS IS LAID OUT VERY CLEARLY IN OUR ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATION, OPERATED OPERATING SERVICES, 29 OR O S 29, WHERE IT LAYS OUT EXACTLY WHAT THE EXPECTATIONS ARE, WHAT THE APPROVAL PROCESS IS.
AND IT DOES SAY THAT THERE ARE ONLY CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH A PRINCIPAL CAN DENY A REQUEST FOR A FACILITY USE.
SO THERE IT'S, IT'S NOT A, UM, AT THE SOLE DISCRETION OF, BUT THAT IS THE CORRECT PROCESS.
SO, UM, IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS THAT KIND OF HITS THE HIGHLIGHTS, I DON'T KNOW IF, UM, THE OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS WANTED TO ADD ANYTHING FROM THAT DISCUSSION.
I JUST WANTED TO GET IT OUT THERE IN THE PUBLIC.
GLAD I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS AND OR COMMENTS.
SO I NOTICED, UM, ON, UH, LET'S SEE THE COPY THAT WE HAVE IN OUR, UM, PACKET TONIGHT.
IT WOULD BE, UH, PAGE THREE AND IT'S JUST A SAMPLE OF THE FACILITY'S USE AGREEMENT.
AND, UM, UNDER, UNDER B THERE, IT SEEMS LIKE THE USAGE RATE TO BE CHARGED IS THAT SHOULD BE LEFT BLANK, I THINK.
AND THEY'RE JUST SOME THINGS THAT ARE FILLED IN THAT PROBABLY REALLY SHOULD BE BLANK.
I'M TRYING TO CATCH UP V G OR WHERE I'M UNDER THE, UM, THE ADDENDUM NUMBER ONE TO FACILITIES, USE AGREEMENT WITH THE NAME OF THE CHURCH FOR SUNDAY CHURCH SERVICES AT SCHOOL.
AND IT LOOKS UNDER LETTER B AS IN BABY.
UM, THAT JUST LOOKS LIKE THERE'S THINGS THAT ARE FILLED IN THAT REALLY PROBABLY SHOULDN'T BE YEAH.
WHICH EQUALS 8 CENTS PER SQUARE FOOT, WHICH EQUALS $0 PER HOUR.
I FEEL LIKE MR. AUDIENCE IS POISED.
READY TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION? ALL, ALL I WOULD ADD IS THAT THAT EIGHT TENTHS OF A CENT IS IN OUR POLICY ON HOW MUCH WE CHARGE.
AND ACTUALLY THE WAY THAT'S WHAT WE CAME ACROSS A LOT OF TIMES, UM, WHEN WE RENTED TO CHURCHES, THEY GROW AND THEY'D KIND OF GET ADDITIONAL SPACES.
SO THIS WAY WE'RE CHARGING THEM FOR WHAT THEY'RE USING.
[01:40:01]
KIND OF HOW IT'S SET UP.THAT'S WHEN IT'S A, UM, A FEE FOR A REGULAR USE THAT'S RECURRING USE, IT'S THAT EIGHT TENTHS OF A CENT PER SQUARE FOOT.
SO YOU DON'T CHARGE THE CHURCHES FOR THE SPACE THEN? NO, WE DO.
IT'S BASED ON THE SQUARE FOOTAGE THAT THEY WANT TO USE.
SO WE'LL CALCULATE THE CAFETERIA IF THEY WANT TO JUST BE IN THE CAFETERIA.
IT'S THAT SQUARE FOOTAGE TIMES THAT AMOUNT, WHICH WE'LL GET TO THEIR FEET.
SECOND THING IS ON RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING USE OF THE SCHOOL FACILITIES UNDER PROHIBITED CONDUCT.
IT'S THE LAST ONE ON THIS PAGE.
NUMBER EIGHT IS PRIVATE USE AND, UM, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO WEDDINGS, FAMILY REUNIONS AND BABY BRIDAL SHOWERS.
AND THEN FUNERAL FUNERALS IS NOT IN THAT LIST, BUT CONSIDERED SEPARATELY.
I'M JUST WONDERING WHY WOULD NOT BE PART OF THOSE, UH, OTHER THINGS LISTED WELL, UM, THAT IS A SETUP.
THE WAY OUR AR IS SET UP AND OUR PRACTICE FOR SOME TIME HAS BEEN, UH, FUNERALS ARE TYPICALLY FOR STAFF MEMBERS OR STUDENTS WHEN THEY OCCUR.
UM, THERE'S BEEN, WE'VE GONE IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS.
THERE'S BEEN A PUSH IN THE PAST FOR NO FUNERALS.
UM, AND THEN THERE HAS BEEN REQUEST TO HAVE FUNERALS AND BUILDINGS.
SO WE'VE OPENED IT UP A LITTLE BIT.
UM, QUITE FRANKLY, IT'S AN ITEM THAT'S KIND OF OPEN-ENDED THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT MAY BE SOMETHING THE BOARD MAY WANT TO GET INVOLVED IN TO MAKE A DECISION ON OR GIVE US MORE GUIDANCE ON, I THINK IT MAY BE WORTHWHILE FOR, FOR THE BOARD TO CONSIDER A POLICY, NOT AN AR, BUT A POLICY ON ITS STANCE ON FUNERALS, ON DISTRICT FACILITIES.
WE DID NOT GET INTO THAT PARTICULAR DISCUSSION, BUT POLICY COMMITTEE COMING YOUR WAY, MR. CAMPBELL IS POSSIBLY HAVING A COMMENT.
I SAID, I DON'T UNDERSTAND DIFFERENCES.
WELL, I THINK, UM, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE TO MAKE A POLICY FOR FUNERAL AND WE HAVE TO MAKE A POLICY FOR WEDDING VALERIE UNIONS BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO BE, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU START BEING SPECIFIC ON WHAT IS AND WHAT ISN'T, I THINK IT'S STILL UP TO THE BO THE PRINCIPALS OF THE SCHOOLS AND THE SUPERINTENDENT TO ULTIMATELY SAY YAY OR NAY.
AND IF, IF THE SUPERINTENDENT WANTS TO SAY NO, ALL FUNERALS, FOR WHATEVER REASONS, THEN THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT THE, OUR POLICY STATES THAT'S, THAT'S THE AR UH, WHAT I'M SUGGESTING IS, IS YEAH.
AND WHAT I'M SUGGESTING IS THAT WE MAY WANT TO CONSIDER A POLICY SPECIFICALLY AROUND FUNERALS, BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH FUNERALS, YOU'RE DEALING WITH HUMAN REMAINS IN SCHOOL FACILITIES THAT ARE BUILDINGS OF EDUCATION, RIGHT.
UH, WHEN THEY ATTEND THOSE, THAT'S, THAT'S AN IMAGE THEY HAVE ABOUT THAT FACILITY FROM THEN ON OUT.
AND I'M JUST SAYING THE BOARD MAY WANT TO CONSIDER THAT AND, AND WHATEVER IT IS IT IS, BUT IN TERMS OF A POLICY VERSUS, UH, UH, NAR, BECAUSE WITH AN AR WHATEVER RULING WE MAKE, WE SPEND THE NEXT 3, 4, 5 DAYS ON THAT ISSUE, REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE DECISION, BECAUSE CONSTITUENT, CONTINUOUSLY, UH, WE'LL COME BACK, UH, WITH WHATEVER RESPONSE WE GIVE THEM, UH, SOMETIMES WANTING A DIFFERENT RESPONSE.
SO THAT'S WHY I, UH, THAT'S MY ONLY RATIONALE FOR IT, BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S MY THINKING.
I HEAR YOU NOW SUGGESTING THAT WE COME UP WITH A POLICY THAT IS BEING A PART OF, I TH I, I THINK BEFORE SAYING THAT WE DENY IT, I THINK IT'S WORTH A CONVERSATION TO DETERMINE WHETHER THAT'S A DIRECTION THAT THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO GO OR NOT.
[01:45:02]
UH, IN TERMS OF THAT IT'S TO CAMPBELL TOOK IT RIGHT OUT.UM, WHAT I W WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY, UH, IN TERMS OF FAIR REFERRALS AND, AND, AND FAMILY UNIONS ARE NO DIFFERENT THAN IN FRONT OF US.
I MEAN, I DIDN'T KNOW WAS EXCEPT THAT THE, UH, THE BODY IS ACTUALLY THERE, BUT IN THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN CULTURE, WHAT HAPPENS IS, AND B FOR COUNTY, THERE'S NOT REALLY SOME TIME FACILITIES THAT ARE BIG ENOUGH.
SO THAT THAT'S BEEN THE PAST PRACTICES THAT WE'VE USED THE SCHOOLS FOR THAT.
AND ALSO WITH THE GUY, YOU KNOW, I CAUTIONED THE BOARD THAT, YOU KNOW, UH, HAD, THERE IS WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL BECAUSE WE GOT NEPHEW, SAME PEOPLE TO SUPPORT OUR REFERENDUMS. AND WE'RE TELLING THEM TO GIVE US THE MONEY FOR THE BUILDING, BUT THEY CAN'T USE THEM.
THAT'S NO DIFFERENT THAN WHAT THE COUNTY IS DOING RIGHT NOW WITH, WITH THE RECREATIONAL CENTERS, US AND US, PEOPLE ARE ANGRY AND UPSET BECAUSE THEY HAD TO HAVE THE CITIZEN AND NOT USING THEM AND OPEN.
SO FOR US TO TELL PEOPLE THAT THEY CAN HAVE FRIEND WHO WAS HERE AND THAT'S WHAT THEY WOULD, THEY'VE BEEN USED TO.
THEN I THINK THAT THAT IS THAT THAT MAY NOT BE, THAT MAY NOT BE HEALTHY, BUT ALSO, I KNOW TOO, IS THAT, UH, IF A PARENT FEELS THAT A KID WILL FEEL THAT WAY, THEN THEY'LL TURN, PARENTS WILL TELL THEIR KIDS NOT, I DON'T WANT YOU TO GO TO THE FRONT OF MINE.
I'M JUST LIKE OVER HERE, NOT LONG AGO, MY COUSIN LOST HER HUSBAND AND SHE DID NOT ALLOW ONE OF HER KIDS TO GO.
SO, YOU KNOW, SO, SO, SO, SO THERE ARE, I BELIEVE THAT IS, I THINK THAT IS REALLY UP TO THE PARENT VERSUS THE DISTRICT.
I THINK IT'S, THE DISTRICT IS AS BOARD MEMBERS IS OUR JOB AS A, POSSIBLY TO PROVIDE THE FACILITY AND LET THE PARENTS LIKE I'D CALL HER COLLEGE CALLED NOVEMBERS AGO AND SAID, I THINK THAT THERE'S A LINE THAT I THINK WE SHOULD AS BOARD MEMBERS, UH, PROVIDE FACILITIES.
AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR DECADES, AND IT'S A PART OF A CULTURE.
AND WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE CULTURE THAT WE HAVE HERE IN ATLANTA, TOO, BEFORE COMING AND CHANGING THE CULTURE, THE CLIMATE.
IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS MIGHT BE AN ISSUE FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION AT THE POLICY COMMITTEE AS RECOMMENDED BY DR.
IS THERE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR? NOT YET.
I WAS JUST GOING TO ASK IF THERE IS A MOTION FOR THIS, UH, O E I BELIEVE WE HAD A MOTION TO RECOMMEND TO THE FULL BOARD TO ACCEPT OH, 8.7 FACILITIES USE REPORT.
ARE YOU MOVING? ARE YOU MAKING THAT MOTION? OKAY.
I'LL SECOND IT, MR. SMITH, ANY DISCUSSION MS. FIDRYCH HAD HER HAND UP PRIOR.
MR. SMITH, ALSO, IN TERMS OF, IN TERMS OF THIS TOPIC HERE, UM, MY QUESTION IS ALSO IN TERMS OF FACILITY USE, UM, WHAT'S THE, WHAT'S THE, UM, PROCEDURES FOR THE FOREIGN ELECTED OFFICIAL TO HAVE A PUBLIC COMMUNITY MEETING IN HERE HAD THOSE? I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING OF THAT IN HERE.
I REMEMBER WE TALKING ABOUT IT BECAUSE, UM, THAT WAS, I BELIEVE THAT'S THE, KIND OF THE REASON WHY, WHY WE REINVENTED THE FORM BECAUSE, AND I WAS TRYING TO HAVE A COMMUNITY MEETING AND WE WANTED TO GET CLEARED ON THAT.
SO MY QUESTION IS WHAT, WHAT'S THE, WHAT'S THE TERMS OF AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.
WHO'S TRYING TO HAVE A MEETING AT A SCHOOL AT A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER.
W WHERE DOES, WHAT DOES IT SPEAK TO THEM, HIM AT, IN, IN, IN, IN THIS FORM? SO, UM, UH, ELECTED OFFICIAL ACTING AS AN INDIVIDUAL WOULD BE LIKE ANY OTHER CITIZEN, UH, FROM BUFORD COUNTY, THEY WOULD BE NO DIFFERENT THAN ANYBODY ELSE.
UM, THEY WOULD BE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT THE FACILITIES, USE FORM AND PROVIDE INSURANCE.
UM, IN MOST CASES, THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, OTHERS, IF THEY'VE ASKED TO USE IT, WE'VE WAIVED THE FEES AS LONG AS IT'S A KIND OF A PUBLIC MEETING.
UM, BUT THEY ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE INSURANCE IF A PUBLIC, A GROUP OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS, UH, WHICH IS ENDORSED BY THE BOARD, UH, DECIDES TO HAVE A MEETING THEN THAT THERE ARE NO FEES.
THERE'S NO INSURANCE REQUIRED.
THAT WOULD BE A BOARD SPONSORED EVENT.
SO AS LONG AS THE BOARD SUPPORTS IT, THERE WOULD BE NO REQUIREMENT OF ANY KIND FOR THAT OFFICIAL.
IT'D BE LIKE ANY OTHER STAFF MEMBER AT THAT POINT, UH, GIVING SOME KIND OF PRESENTATION AT A SCHOOL.
AND WHERE IS THAT SPELLED? WHAT YOU JUST SAID, WHERE THAT SPELLED OUT AT? UM, IT IS NOT SPELLED OUT IN ANY KIND OF, I'LL HAVE TO LOOK AT THE FORM AS FAR AS, I GUESS, WHAT YOU, UM, THERE IS NOTHING THAT SPELLS OUT THE INTERPRETATION THAT A PUBLIC OFFICIAL IS A PRIVATE CITIZEN THAT WOULD BE, I GUESS, A LEGAL RULING.
UM, BUT I'LL BE GLAD TO FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT FOR YOU.
WELL, BECAUSE I AM, I AM A LITTLE, UH, I AM, UH, A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE I WAS EXPECTING OF THAT BECAUSE ALL THE HELL I WENT THROUGH, I WAS EXPECTING
[01:50:01]
TO KIND OF SEE SOME OF THAT AND HAVE SOME OF THAT DETAIL IN HERE, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IF SOMEONE COULD COME BEHIND ME AS WELL AND WANT TO, I WANT TO HAVE THAT.AND THEN I'VE ALSO SEEN A COUPLE OTHER MEETINGS WITH THE, WITHIN THE, WITHIN THE COUNTY RECENTLY.
AND I WAS JUST WONDERING, YOU KNOW, WHAT THAT PROCESS WAS AND, UH, IN TERMS OF WHAT THAT LOOKED LIKE.
AND I, THE LAST TIME I THINK THAT WE SPOKE ABOUT IT, MY QUESTION WAS IN TERMS OF, UH, US NOT HAVING ROOM FOR INTERPRETATION, I THINK I BELIEVE THAT WE HAD TO SEND IT TO THE POLICY COMMITTEE FOR THAT, BUT I, I'M STILL NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY, WHY THE NOT SPELLED OUT IN BLACK AND WHITE AND THEN THIS AND THIS FORM RIGHT HERE.
SORRY, I DON'T KNOW IF I'M SUPPOSED TO JUMP IN OR, BUT TO MR. SMITH'S POINT, W WE TALKED ABOUT ESSENTIALLY, UM, W I THINK WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR MR. SMITH AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG IS YOU WANT A SPECIAL PROCESS ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT WAS ALREADY IN THIS FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS, BECAUSE WHAT I HEAR FROM MR. RAW AUDIO AND WHAT I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT THE MEETING WAS THERE'S NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, EXCEPT THAT IN A RE IN A, ANY OTHER INDIVIDUAL WE DO OFTEN.
IN FACT, I THINK IN MOST CASES, IN FACT, POSSIBLY IN EVERY CASE, WAIVE THE FEE FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS, BECAUSE IT'S A COMMUNITY SERVICE EVENT.
UM, THE QUESTION FOR POLICY, I THINK WOULD BE, DO WE NEED A SEPARATE CARVE OUT POLICY WHEN IT COMES TO ELECTED OFFICIALS AND SEEING AS HOW CAMPAIGN SEASON IS UPON US, IT MIGHT, YOU KNOW, IF WE WANT TO DISCUSS THAT AND, UH, POLICY, BUT THOSE ARE THE CONVERSATIONS WE'VE HAD.
I DIDN'T EXPECT COMING OUT OF THIS, A SEPARATE POLICY AT THIS POINT, BECAUSE I THINK THE BOARD HAS TO TALK ABOUT IF THEY WANT TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
NO, YOU DON'T HAVE THE FLOOR, MR. GOODRICH.
UM, ON MARCH 31ST FOR THE POLICY COMMITTEE REPORT, I REPORTED TO THE ENTIRE BOARD UNDER USE OF SCHOOL FACILITIES.
THE QUESTION WAS RAISED BY A BOARD MEMBER.
IF THE FACILITIES USE REQUIREMENTS WOULD BE APPLIED TO THAT BOARD MEMBER, THE GENERAL CONSENSUS OF THE COMMITTEE AND THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS WHO WEIGHED IN, AND THAT PROCESS FOR AN INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBER TO REQUEST TO YOU AS A SCHOOL FACILITY, HOWEVER, AS AN INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBER, HE, OR SHE WILL HAVE TO ABIDE BY THE REQUIREMENTS SUCH AS PROVIDING INSURANCE AND PAYING THE APPROPRIATE FEE.
SO I'VE ALREADY REPORTED OUT ON THIS TOPIC.
IT WAS ART STARTED GONE THROUGH POLICY AND MR. SMITH AT THAT MEETING, YOU ASKED IF THERE ARE FUNDS AVAILABLE TO BOARD MEMBERS IN ORDER TO PAY FOR THEIR INSURANCE REQUIREMENT AND FOR THE USE OF THE FEE, YOU ARE NOT INTERESTED IN FINDING THAT OUT YOURSELF.
AND SO I SAID, I WOULD, I HAVE SENT AN EMAIL ASKING WHETHER OR NOT THERE ARE FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER TO PAY FOR THE INSURANCE AND FOR THE FACILITY USE FEE.
IF THERE IS ONE I'M ANTICIPATING RECEIVING AN ANSWER PRIOR TO OUR NEXT POLICY MEETING.
SO I ALREADY REPORTED ON THAT THE END OF MARCH, THIS SOUNDS LIKE THIS IS A REDUNDANT CONVERSATION, UM, UNLESS I'M MISSING SOMETHING.
SO I'M NOT SURE IF I'M MISSING SOMETHING.
MR. STRIVEN, DEAR MR. SMITH, I'LL GET BACK TO YOU.
WE HAVE OTHER PEOPLE IN THE QUEUE, MR.
I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY PRETTY MUCH THE SAME THING.
THIS FIGURE IS JUST SAID, WE'VE HAD THIS DISCUSSION OVER AND OVER AND OVER, AND THE ANSWER IS ALWAYS THE SAME.
SO I DON'T SEE ANY REASON TO CONTINUALLY ASK THE SAME QUESTION TO GET THE SAME ANSWER MR. SMITH.
YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE SAY THAT WE'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION OVER AND OVERLY, YOU KNOW, HAVE A CONSTITUENTS ASKING WHY AM I NOT HAVING COMMUNITY MEETINGS IS BECAUSE I CAN'T GET THAT.
UH, BUT, BUT JUST TO, BUT JUST TO ADJUST THIS, I MEAN, JUST TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS, IF I JUST ASKED HIM MR. OUTING, THIS NOW, WHERE IS IT SPELLED OUT SO THAT I CAN UNDERSTAND THE POLICY? THE PROBLEM IS THAT IS WRITTEN.
IT'S NOT A BLACK AND WHITE, THEN IT DOESN'T MATTER.
SO HOW DO I KNOW TO UNDERSTAND THAT? AND HOW DO I KNOW THAT THAT'S JUST NOT A POLICY, UH, FOR ME OR, OR HOW DO I KNOW THAT THAT IS HOW THE PROCESS IS BEING WORKED.
AND, AND ALSO, AS SHE SAID, IF I, IF I ASKED HER ABOUT THE, I ASKED I WAS WAITING BACK, BACK FOR IT, SO I DIDN'T HEAR IT.
SO THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS IS ACTUALLY COMING UP NOW.
I DON'T SEE NO REASON TO NO PROBLEM WHY ALL THIS CAN'T BE SPELLED OUT.
AND, AND, AND THIS AND THIS, UH, WE RIGHT HERE AND 8.7, I MEAN, SO, I MEAN, SOME PEOPLE WOULD SAY IS, IS YOU'RE BEATING A DEAD HORSE.
WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, WHY, AND HOW I'M ASKING FOR IT.
SO WHEN I WANT TO GET THIS DONE, OR WHEN I WANT TO UNDERSTAND IT, THAT INFORMATION THAT I NEED, I CAN GO AND LOOK IT UP ONLINE.
AND IT'S IN BLACK AND WHITE, AND I CAN PRINT IT OUT AND FOLLOW THE STEPS BECAUSE YOU ASK THEM TO FOLLOW THE STEPS, BUT SHE'S TELLING ME TO FOLLOW THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD, BUT THE ROAD IS NOT THERE TO FOLLOW.
SO THEREFORE THAT'S WHERE THE PROBLEM IS COMING AT.
YOU SAYING, FOLLOW IT, FOLLOW IT, BUT IT'S NOT THERE.
AND THEN ALSO WITH THIS, THERE WAS OTHER,
[01:55:01]
THERE WAS ANOTHER QUESTION TOO, THAT WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT IN TERMS OF THE FUNCTION BETWEEN THE DISTRICT AND THE, UM, AND THE SCHOOL, THE DISTRICT AND THE SCHOOL IN TERMS OF GIVING PERMISSIONS.AND THAT, THEN THERE WERE ALSO SOME, THE INDICATORS THAT THERE WERE SOME CONCERNS THERE.
SO LET'S JUST NOT, LET'S NOT BE NAIVE, LET'S NOT GET THEM NISHA.
AND JUST TO JUST SAY, IT WAS JUST SOMETHING THAT DATA WITH ISSUES THAT I HAVE, CAUSE YOU GO BACK AND WATCH THE TAPE.
THERE WERE SEVERAL ISSUES OR SEVERAL THINGS THAT WILL POINT IT OUT ABOUT THIS, ZOE.
SO LET'S JUST NOT MAKE IT ABOUT ME.
SO THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING FOR CLARITY.
IF IT'S NOT BLACK AND WHITE, WHAT WOULD I SAY? IT DOESN'T MATTER IT BECAUSE IF YOU CAN READ EXACTLY WHAT WAS THE PROCESS, THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING FOR.
I'M ASKING FOR A PROCESS QUESTION.
THIS IS APPLICATION HOW I GET DONE, WHAT I NEED TO GET DONE.
I'M MEETING IN MY COMMUNITY SUCCESSFULLY.
UM, VICE-CHAIR ROBOT, UH, MS. CUSHING.
BARRY, CAN YOU PLEASE, UM, DISPLAY THE MOTION? THAT'S ON THE TABLE.
SO MR. SMITH, IF YOU WANT TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION, WHY DON'T YOU DO THAT? UM, MR. CAMPBELL, EARL CAMPBELL.
I WAS JUST GOING TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION, MAYBE THIS MS. SMITH CLUE, OR MAYBE THEY'LL DO THIS, BUT, UM, COULD YOU WORK WITH THE PRINCIPAL AT THE SCHOOL WHEN THEY HAVE THEIR SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT COUNCIL MEETING OR COMMUNITY CENTER ON ST.
YOU CAN'T, IF YOU KNOW, THAT'S JUST A RECOMMENDATION, YOU KNOW, AND YOU WON'T HAVE TO GO INTO ALL THIS, YOU KNOW, BACK AND FORTH BECAUSE ABOUT PAYING INSURANCE AND ALL THIS STUFF.
THAT'S AS A RECOMMENDATION NOW, I'M JUST NOT, YOU KNOW, SO WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
UH, MR. SMITH, DID YOU WANT TO, UM, AMEND THAT MOTION? THE MOTION IS TO, UH, RECOMMEND TO THE FULL BOARD, THE ACCEPTANCE OF OH 8.780 8.7 FACILITY USE REPORT.
AND IN THAT REPORT ARE, UH, ITEMS, UH, SPECIFIED ARS AT TALK ABOUT THE ITEMS THAT WE'VE JUST DISCUSSED AND POLICY COMMITTEE, BUT WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT? ASHLEY, MADAM CHAIR? I WILL JUST SAY I HAVE A VOTE.
MY VOTE WILL SPEAK, SPEAK LOUDER THAN MY WORDS.
YOU ALREADY SPOKE RIGHT? MR. SMITH JUST DECLINED.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE, UM, ACCEPTANCE OF OH 8.7 FACILITIES USE REPORT, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
SO IT, IT, UH, THE MOTION CARRIES TEN ONE.
GLIDES, I THINK WE SHOULD, UM, UH, ACCEPT THE DESIRE OF OUR SUPERINTENDENT.
AND, UH, I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, UM, ASK THE POLICY COMMITTEE, UH, TO REVIEW AND RECOMMEND TO THE BOARD, UH, POLICY ON, UM, IT WAS SPECIFICALLY PRIVATE, PRIVATE USE, INCLUDING FUNERAL FUNERALS.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE ALL THAT PART.
I WOULD JUST PREFACE IT WITH THAT, THAT I MOVED THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, UM, ASSIGN THAT'S PERFECT POLICY COMMITTEE, PRIVATE USE OF FACILITIES, PRIVATE USE OF SUITABILITY PRIVATE USE, UH, UH, FACILITIES, INCLUDING FUNERALS TO REVIEW AND MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD, I THINK IS WHAT I SAID TO REVIEW AND MAKE A RECOMMENDATION.
ANY DISCUSSION MR. CAMPBELL? WELL, IT'S WRITTEN THEN IT'S ACTUALLY VERY BEAUTIFUL.
I OWE YOU, I MEAN, I BOUGHT YOU'RE TALKING PUBLIC
[02:00:10]
SPECIFICALLY FOUNDRY, UM, MR. CAMPBELL, LIKE ON IT'S ON, HE JUST DOESN'T LIKE, WHATEVER THAT LINE, WHATEVER THAT LINE SAID, IN TERMS OF THAT PARTICULAR LINE BY AN EIGHT, I BELIEVE, RIGHT.IT'S PROHIBITIVE CONDUCT NUMBER EIGHT.
PRIVATE USE, BUT, UH, ALL OF IT IS PRIVATE USE.
SO THAT PROBABLY IS KINDA MISLEADING.
I HAVE TO LOOK AT WHETHER, YOU KNOW, JV TEAM FOOTBALL TEAM, THAT'S NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE SCHOOL COULD USE IT AND THAT'S PRIVATE ALSO.
SO I SUGGEST YOU FIND TWO OF THOSE SPECIFIC THINGS ON THAT BLIND BATTERY, BATTERY UNIONS.
AMENDED MOTION COVID USE SLASH WHATEVER ELSE IS THEIR FAMILY UNION RULES AS WRITTEN, MAYBE PRIVATE USE, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO WEDDINGS, FAMILY REUNIONS, BABY BRIDAL SHOWERS AND FUNERALS AT IT.
WE'RE JUST PRIVATE USE BASICALLY THE WHOLE WAY.
THE WHOLE LINE, THE WHOLE LINE FROM NUMBER EIGHT IS THE MOTION WE WANTED LIMITED TO THAT ROBERT IT'S PROHIBITED CONDUCT, I THINK IS YES.
PROHIBITED CONDUCT NUMBER EIGHT AND MET HIM CHAIR.
WE'VE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE, BUT COULD WE, I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT, YOU KNOW, CAN WE GO AHEAD AND DO THE CONSTRUCTION UPDATE AND THEN COME BACK.
CAN WE POSTPONE THE MOTION UNTIL AFTER CONSTRUCTION UPDATES? SO WE DON'T SIT HERE.
WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE WE HAVE TO DISPOSE OF.
SO, UM, SOMEBODY WANTS TO LAY IT ON THE TABLE POSTPONED UNTIL AFTER THE CONSTRUCTION, BUT IT JUST, YOU KNOW, JUST TRYING TO BE EFFICIENT.
WE HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT FUNERALS AT SCHOOLS, BECAUSE MOST OF THEM, BECAUSE OF A TEACHER, ALL HIS STUDENTS AND WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL OF THEM.
THE POLICY COMMITTEE CAN JUST FLUSH IT OUT.
ARE WE READY? IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT.
UH, THE MOTION, UM, I THINK OUR INTENT IS PRETTY CLEAR THERE.
WHAT DO YOU ALL THINK ABOUT THAT? JUST YOU DON'T HAVE, WE DON'T HAVE FUNERALS.
I THOUGHT IT WAS BEHIND THE LOCKED.
SO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION ASSIGNED TO THE POLICY COMMITTEE, PRIVATE USE, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO WEDDINGS, FAMILY REUNIONS, BABY BRIDAL SHOWERS AND FUNERALS, OR YOU DON'T WANT TO PUT THAT LAST PART IN THERE EITHER, BECAUSE THE LAST PART JUST TALKS ABOUT THE SUPERINTENDENT.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION.
UH, I'D LIKE TO BRING UP TO THE STAGE NEXT TO MR. ROBERT CORBAN.
HE'LL BE DOING THE CONSTRUCTION UPDATE.
AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE CONSTRUCTION UPDATES THAT WERE PROVIDED AT THE APRIL 20TH OPERATION COMMITTEE MEETING.
UH, AS ROBIN PULLS OPEN THE POWERPOINT MATERIALS, I'LL GO AHEAD AND DIVE IN, IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, UH, AS I'VE REPORTED FOR THE PAST FIVE TO SIX MONTHS, LONG LEAD TIMES AND COST INCREASES CONTINUE TO BE ENCOUNTERED DUE TO THE SUPPLY CHAIN
[02:05:01]
ISSUES.UM, CURRENT MARKET CONDITIONS AND INFLATION THE PROJECT MANAGERS CONTINUE TO DO AN EXCELLENT JOB WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE DESIGNERS AND THE CO AND THE CONTRACTORS TO FIND SOLUTIONS FOR THESE CHALLENGES AS THEY ARISE AND, UH, CONTINUE TO KEEP THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION INFORMED.
UH, ROBIN, IF YOU MOVE FORWARD TO SLIDE FIVE AND SIX, UH, THERE ARE TWO YELLOW TRAFFIC LIGHTS THAT, UH, APPEAR IN THIS MONTH'S PROJECT UPDATES.
THIS IS THE SAME NUMBER AS REPORTED LAST MONTH, UH, FOR SLIDES FIVE AND SIX THEY'RE RELATED TO BATTERY CREEK HIGH SCHOOL, THE YELLOW TRAFFIC LIGHT IS THERE DUE TO SCHEDULE CONCERNS DUE TO MATERIAL DELAYS.
UH, WE CONTINUE TO MONITOR THOSE CLOSELY, UM, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO SO.
THE OTHER ONE THAT HAS A YELLOW FLAG IS HILTON HEAD ISLAND, MIDDLE SCHOOL THAT'S SLIDE 27.
THAT YELLOW FLAG ON SLIDE 27 IS DUE TO BUDGET CONCERNS.
UM, WE HAVE RECEIVED PRICING FROM OUR CONSTRUCTION MANAGER, THOMPSON TURNER CONSTRUCTION THAT CAME IN LAST FRIDAY, APRIL 29TH.
AND THAT IS CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF BEING EVALUATED, UNFORTUNATELY, WITH RECEIVING THAT PROPOSAL SO LATE IN THE WEEK, UH, WE WERE NOT ABLE TO COMPLETE OUR REVIEW AND EVALUATION AND BRING A RECOMMENDATION FORWARD TO TONIGHT'S, UH, BOARD MEETING.
UH, BUT WE ARE, UH, UH, ACTIVELY GOING THROUGH THAT.
AND I AM SCHEDULED TO MEET WITH THE PROJECT MANAGER FOR A FEW HOURS TOMORROW TO GO OVER SOME OF MY REVIEW COMMENTS WITH HIM.
UM, OTHER ITEMS I'D LIKE TO SHARE, UH, ROBIN, IF YOU MOVE FORWARD TO SLIDES 68 AND 69, THEY DEAL WITH OUR PROJECT CLOSE OUTS OF FOUR, 8% CAPITAL PROJECTS.
I'M REAL PLEASED TO REPORT THAT A TOTAL OF 21 PROJECTS WERE CLOSED DOWN IN THE MONTH OF MARCH FOR REFERENDUM PROJECTS THAT YOU SEE ON SLIDE 68 AND 69, UH, SEVEN PROJECTS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED AND CLOSED OUT TODAY.
WE'VE ALSO ADDED THE LADY'S ISLAND MIDDLE-SCHOOL AND RIGHT CHOICES PROJECTS NOW IN THIS CLOSEOUT PHASE.
UM, AND FOR THE, UH, SIX, UH, PROJECTS THAT YOU SEE IN THIS SECTION WITH YELLOW TRAFFIC LIGHTS ASSOCIATED WITH FINAL CLOSE OUT THOSE SIX, UH, WE HAVE RECEIVED THE FINAL CHANGE ORDERS.
UH, THOSE HAVE BEEN FULLY COMPLETED.
UH, THE ONLY REMAINING ITEM IS THE FINAL PAYOUT.
THOSE HAVE BEEN REQUESTED AND HAVE BEEN RECEIVED.
AND THOSE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REVIEWED AND ONCE, UH, APPROVED AND PROCESS FOR PAYMENT, THOSE WILL MOVE OFF OF A YELLOW TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND BE REPORTED HERE SHORTLY AS COMPLETED.
WE DO CONTINUE TO MONITOR AND DISCUSS THE PROJECT CLOSE OUTS ON A WEEKLY BASIS WITH PROJECT MANAGERS.
IF WE MOVE FORWARD TO SLIDE 74, POP A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR CASHFLOW FOR THE MONTH, UH, AND OUR A TOTAL NOW OF PAID TO DATE THROUGH THE END OF MARCH 31ST, 2022, YOU'LL SEE THERE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE COLUMN WHERE THE CURSOR IS, OUR TOTAL PAID TO DATE IS NOW $119,539,651.
UM, THAT IS A CHANGE FROM THE PREVIOUS MONTH OF, UH, JUST ABOUT $11.4 MILLION, WHICH IS EXCELLENT NEWS TO SEE THEN, UH, THE BILLING IS, UH, PICKED UP AND MOVING AT THAT PACE.
THE OTHER ITEM THAT I'D LIKE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UH, DEALS WITH COMMUNITY OUTREACH, IF WE'D GO TO SLIDE 78 ROBIN FOR HILTON HEAD ISLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL, UH, WE, UH, HAVE, UH, HELD A COUPLE COMMUNITY MEETINGS TO SHARE, UH, DETAILS, UH, UH, RELATED TO THAT PROJECT WITH A 10 DAYS.
THE FIRST MEETING TOOK PLACE ON MARCH 31ST.
UH, A MEETING HAS ALSO SINCE TAKEN PLACE, UH, LAST WEEK ON THURSDAY, APRIL 28, THAT WAS HELD AT HILTON HEAD ISLAND SCHOOL FOR CREATIVE ARTS.
AND WE CURRENTLY HAVE A MEETING SCHEDULE FOR HILTON HEAD ISLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR MAY 12TH.
AND THAT TIME HAS NOW BEEN DETERMINED TO BE AT NOON.
AND THE MEETING THAT WE'RE SETTING UP CONTINUES TO BE WORKED ON FOR A PRESENTATION WITH THE HILTON HEAD ISLAND, BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB.
AS SOON AS THAT DATE AND TIME IS, UH, LOCKED IN, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CONTINUE TO SHARE THOSE DETAILS VIA EMAIL SO THAT, UH, UH, THE BOARD MEMBERS, AS WELL AS THE CLOCK MEMBERS CAN, UH, BE MADE AWARE OF, UH, THAT,
[02:10:01]
UH, MEETING DATE AND TIME, THE LAST ITEM THAT'S NOT ON HERE, I DID INCLUDE WITH DE-BRIEF, UH, AT THE OPERATION COMMITTEE MEETING AND IT RELATED TO AN EVENT THAT WAS HELD LAST THURSDAY, UH, ACTUALLY NOT LAST THURSDAY, TWO THURSDAYS AGO, APRIL 21ST, FROM FOUR 30 TO SIX 30, THE DISTRICT HOSTED ANOTHER LOCAL VENDOR AND MWB OUTREACH EVENT.THIS EVENT WAS HELD AT THE DISTRICT OFFICES LOCATED AT MINK POINT BOULEVARD AND WAS ADVERTISED IN MULTIPLE PAPERS ON ALSO WANT A COUPLE OF LOCAL RADIO STATIONS REPRESENTATIVES FROM ALL FIVE OF THE DISTRICTS, CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT FIRMS ATTENDED AS WELL AS ALL THE PROJECT MANAGERS.
AND, UH, FOR THOSE THAT, UH, ATTENDED, THEY WERE, UH, GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO FROM EACH OF THE, UH, FIRMS REPRESENTED TO LEARN ABOUT THE PROJECTS THAT THEY'LL BE WORKING ON IN 2022 AND DISCUSS WHAT OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY MAY HAVE FOR THE VARIOUS PEOPLE THAT ATTENDED.
AND THEN WE'LL GO AHEAD AND WRAP UP AND CONCLUDE MY UPDATES FOR THE MONTH.
AND WE'LL SEE IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS MR. SMITH.
UH, I HAVE A QUESTION IN TERMS OF LAY DOWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, UM, AS CORPORATE IN THE, IN THE BACK.
UM, I DON'T SEE, I JUST NOTICED, I DIDN'T SEE ANY GREEN LIGHTS ON PAGE 49, AND THEN IN THE BACK OF THE SCHOOL, I UNDERSTAND THAT A PLAYGROUND AREA THAT IT LOOKS LIKE THEY ARE STARTING IT, AND THEY DON'T HAVE A SOFT TOP ON THE BOTTOM OF IT.
THEY HAVEN'T SPREAD IT, BUT I KNOW THAT THERE'S A CERTAIN, UM, PIECE OF PLASTIC TO BE DOWN UNDER IT.
I NOTICED THAT THE GROUNDWORK GROUND WAS PRETTY HARD.
SO COULD YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHERE WERE WE AT ON, ON THAT PRIOR ON THAT, IN TERMS OF THAT AND MR. SMITH, IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE PHOTO THERE, AND THE QUESTION IS RELATED TO THE INSTALLATION OF THE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT, UH, YOU'LL SEE, ON THE SLIDE THERE, THAT FIRST BULLET POINT, UH, WE WERE ABOUT 50% COMPLETE AND THAT, THAT IS SCHEDULED TO WRAP UP THIS MONTH.
UM, IF YOU, UH, UH, WILL GIVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY, I WILL BRING THOSE TO THE ATTENTION OF THE PROJECT MANAGER, YOUR COMMENTS, SO THAT HE CAN LOOK INTO IT TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY CONCERN THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE CONTRACTOR.
MUST CALL, BUT I DEFINITELY APPRECIATE THAT.
UM, AND MY, UH, OTHER QUESTION IS WHAT YOU'RE REFERENCING TO PAGE 52.
AND BEFORE I ANSWER IT, UM, LET ME ASK THIS QUESTION.
LET ME JUST GO AHEAD AND SAY, UM, I DEFINITELY DO APPRECIATE MR.
WHEN I ASKED YOU, I'M ASKING YOU TO SIT DOWN WELL, WHEN WE SAT DOWN AND YOU AND THE, UH, THE, UH, WHAT DO YOU CALL THE GUY NOW? YOU JUST SAID, MS. CORBETT PROJECT MANAGER, THERE PROBABLY THE PROJECT MANAGER.
HE, UH, I DEFINITELY APPRECIATED THAT, UH, THE TIME THAT YOU TOOK OUT, BUT YOU TOLD ME THAT YOU WOULD BE GETTING BACK TO ME SOON.
SO I'M JUST, I'M JUST ASKING THIS QUESTION TODAY.
I'M JUST HOPING THAT I'M GONNA GET A GOOD ANSWER.
HAVE WE CAME UP WITH THE, HOW WE CAME UP WITH THE, THE DOOR ENTRANCE OF ST.
HELENA GYM YET? HAVE WE CAME UP WITH THAT PROPOSAL YET? W WHERE WE ARE, IS WE HAVE RECEIVED THE DRAWINGS AND WE HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH CON UH, WITH THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGER, UH, TO OBTAIN A PRICE PROPOSAL ON THAT, UH, THAT, UH, FROM HIS AJAX CONSTRUCTION AND WITH THIS CURRENT MARKET CONDITIONS, THEY'RE HESITANT IN TRYING TO ACCURATELY PROVIDE US WITH A TRUE COST.
SO THAT WORK, THEY HAVE PERFORMED AN ESTIMATE ON THAT.
UH, BUT THEY ARE TRYING TO TRACK DOWN, UH, UH, PROPOSALS FROM FIRMS THAT WILL ACTUALLY DO THE WORK.
UH, IT'S ONE OF ROBERT'S GOALS, AS WELL AS MINE TO BRING TO THE, UH, NEXT OPERATION COMMITTEE MEETING, WHICH WOULD BE ON THE 11TH, UH, EIGHT DAYS FROM TODAY, SO THAT WE CAN SHARE WITH YOU THOSE ELEVATIONS, AS WELL AS ANY OF THE ADDITIONAL COST INFORMATION THAT WE'VE RECEIVED AT THAT POINT.
UH, OUTSIDE OF MINE, I JUST APPRECIATE THAT IF WE CAN KEEP THAT, IF WE'RE KEEPING THAT IN FRONT OF US.
ANY ELSE? ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? HEY, IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THAT.
UH, THAT CONCLUDES THE OPERATION COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE WEDNESDAY, MAY 11TH.
IT'S AT THE DISTRICT OFFICE HYBRID.
IT'S CURRENTLY SCHEDULED TO BEGIN AT FOUR 30, BUT, UM, AFTER HEARING ABOUT SOME OF THE AGENDA ITEMS THAT IS TBD, WE MAY NEED TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT, CAUSE THEY CLOT COMES IN AFTER US AT SIX O'CLOCK.
[02:15:04]
HEY, DR.[7. Superintendent's Report]
THANK YOU.FIRST ITEM ON THE SUPERINTENDENTS REPORT UNDER STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT IS RUBICON UP NATE AND DR.
STRADDLE CENTER TEAM ARE COMING FORWARD.
CHAIRMAN DISTRIBUTOR, DISTRIBUTOR, MADAM VICE CHAIR, ROLE BINE AND BOARD MEMBERS.
ATLAS IS A CURRICULUM MAPPING AND MANAGEMENT TOOL USED BY BUFORD COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT ENABLES THE ORGANIZATION OF CURRICULUM MAPPING AND ASSIST TEACHERS WITH LESSON PLANNING.
TONIGHT, WE ARE HIGHLIGHTING THE WORK BEING CURRENTLY CONDUCTED BY KYLENE BECK.
BARSKY KAREN MCKINSEY, WHO UNFORTUNATELY IS ATTENDING US ON ZOOM.
WE'LL JUST BE OBSERVING MELISSA MARY NICHOLAS FLOWERS WOULD A HOST OF EXEMPLARY EDUCATORS TO FOCUS AT IMPROVED ALIGNMENT AND ARTICULATION WITHIN RUBICON ATLAS.
THAT COLLABORATIVE WORK IS STARTING IN LATE SPRING AND WILL CONTINUE THROUGH SUMMER IN ORDER NOT TO BE REPETITIVE WITH THE ITEMS BEING PRESENTED THIS EVENING.
I WANT TO BRING FORWARD OUR TEAM AND AT THIS TIME COLLEEN BECK AND BARSKY THANK YOU.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO TOUCH BASE REALLY QUICKLY ON THE, UM, TECHNOLOGY THAT WE USE, WHICH IS RUBICON ATLAS AS DR.
SO I'M IN THE DOCUMENTATION THAT YOU RECEIVED.
THERE ARE TWO LINKS THAT WE PROVIDED ON THERE.
ONE OF THEM IS THE INTERNAL LINK.
THAT'S WHERE OUR STAFF AND OUR TEACHERS ACCESS THE SYSTEM SO THAT THEY CAN FIND THEIR ONE-STOP SHOP FOR CURRICULUM AND ASSESSMENT.
UM, THE SECOND ONE IS THE PUBLIC FACING SIDE OF THAT SYSTEM, AND THAT IS ON OUR DISTRICT WEBSITE.
SO IT CAN BE REVIEWED PUBLICLY AS WELL THERE.
UM, WHAT WE DO ANNUALLY IS WE TAKE A ARCHIVE OR A SNAPSHOT OF THE SYSTEM RIGHT AROUND THIS TIME.
WE'LL BE CONDUCTING THAT AT THE END OF THIS WEEK.
SO WE TAKE THAT PICTURE AND THEN WE ARCHIVE IT.
AND THAT ALLOWS US TO GET BACK IN THERE AND START TO DO THAT REFINEMENT WORK FOR THE UPCOMING WRITING THAT WILL HAPPEN THIS SUMMER.
SOME OF THE FEEDBACK WE GOT FROM OUR END USERS, OUR TEACHERS AND OUR STAFF WAS JUST TO HELP SIMPLIFY SOME OF THE NAVIGATION IN THERE.
AND WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT FOR THEM THIS YEAR.
SO ONCE WE TAKE THAT SNAPSHOT, WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GO IN THAT SYSTEM, SIMPLIFY IT.
SO THEY'RE EASY TO FIND THEIR CURRICULUM.
AND PART OF THAT IS THE TEMPLATE, UM, ADJUSTMENTS AND ORGANIZATION AS WELL.
AND I BELIEVE ROBIN, YOU HAVE A COPY OF THAT, THAT WE SENT FOR YOU TO LOOK AT, BUT SOME OF THE TECHNICAL FEATURES THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO FOR THEM, IT'S JUST IN THE ORGANIZATION OF THE WAY THAT THEY'LL FIND THAT CURRICULUM.
AND WE'RE ABLE TO REALLY A HIGHLIGHT NOW IN THE SYSTEM, SOME SECTIONING OFF TO HELP THEM IN THEIR PLANNING AND A WAY TO ORGANIZE THEIR STANDARDS IN A LOGICAL WAY.
UM, SO YOU CAN SEE THE COLOR CODING THAT'S PROVIDED FOR THEM.
THEY CAN SEE THE PRIORITY STANDARDS THAT ARE IN THERE A WAY FOR US TO ORGANIZE LITERACY STANDARDS FOR ML, UM, INCLUSION INTO THE CURRICULUM, AND THEN ALSO FOR SUPPORTING STANDARDS THAT GIVES US AN AREA TO HIGHLIGHT COMPUTER SCIENCE STANDARDS OR ADDITIONAL ONES THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE ARE TAGGED INTO A PARTICULAR UNIT.
SO WE WILL BE WORKING ON ALL OF THAT AFTER WE, AGAIN, TAKE THAT SNAPSHOT.
AND THEN IT ALLOWS FOR THE TEAMS TO BEGIN THE REFINEMENT WORK THAT MELISSA AND NICK WILL BE SHARING AS WELL.
ONCE ALL THAT WORK IS DONE, THEN ANOTHER TECHNICAL COMPONENT IS JUST MAKING A PUBLIC, GETTING THAT ALL CLEANED UP AND GETTING IT ONTO THAT PUBLIC WEBSITE THAT HAPPENS AT THE END OF THAT WRITING TIME.
SO I'LL LET MELISSA ARTICULATE MORE ON THE CURRICULUM AND REFINEMENT WORK.
SO COLLEEN SPOKE OF RUBICON ATLAS, WHICH IS OUR TOOL THAT WE USE TO ARCHIVE, UM, TO ORGANIZE AND TO HOLD ALL OF THIS INFORMATION.
BUT THE WORK, HOW THE CURRICULUM IS PACED OUT IS DONE BY A TEAM OF HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHERS.
UM, EACH YEAR TEAMS ARE FORMED.
THEY REPRESENT EVERY SINGLE GRADE LEVEL, UM, ALL CONTENT AREAS.
AS COLLEEN MENTIONED, WHEN THE YEARS BEFORE WHEN THE PREVIOUS YEARS MAPS IS WHAT WE CALL THEM ARE ARCHIVED.
WE'RE ABLE TO SEE THE PREVIOUS WORK AND THEN TAKE THE FEEDBACK THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
SO INSIDE OF RUBICON, ATLAS IS A FEEDBACK LINK.
AND SO ONGOING FEEDBACK IS GIVEN TO US FROM THE TEACHERS, FROM STAFF.
WE STORE THAT UNTIL IT'S TIME FOR TEAMS TO COME IN AND USE THEM AND MAKE THE CHANGES.
UM, IN ADDITION, IF THEY REACH OUT TO ANY OF US THAT ARE LEAD WRITERS, WE ALSO BRING THAT FEEDBACK TO THE TABLE.
SO THESE TEAMS ARE GONNA START WORK VERY SOON.
WE ARE GOING TO PRIORITIZE THE PRIORITY STANDARDS THAT WERE GIVEN TO US FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
UM, AND THE GOAL HERE IS THAT WE HAVE THIS GUARANTEED VIABLE CURRICULUM ACROSS THE DISTRICT.
SO EVERY KINDERGARTEN, FIRST GRADE, EIGHTH GRADE 12TH GRADE STUDENT, UM, RECEIVES THE SAME QUALITY INSTRUCTION WITHIN A SAME TIME PERIOD.
[02:20:01]
SO THE IDEA AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL FOR THIS CURRICULUM MAPPING AND PACING IS HOW DO WE PAY OUT THE STANDARDS THAT ALL STUDENTS MUST LEARN? UM, NO, AND BE ABLE TO DO THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.AND SO WE CAN ENSURE MASTERY BE ABLE TO FOLLOW UP WITH ASSESSMENTS, WHICH MR. FLOWERS IS GOING TO SPEAK ABOUT.
SO THEY DO THIS VERY BIG WORK, UM, IN THINKING ABOUT OUR ENTIRE SYSTEM, THE WHOLE DISTRICT.
SO EVEN THOUGH THEY WORK IN ALL OF ONE SCHOOL, THEY REPRESENT ALL OF THE SCHOOLS.
WHEN WE DO THIS TYPE OF WRITING AND WORK, THEY'RE TAKING THE STANDARDS, THEY'RE DIVIDING IT UP INTO CONTENT AND SKILLS.
SO THAT MEANS WHAT DO WE WANT STUDENTS TO KNOW AND BE ABLE TO DO WE HAVE CONSISTENT ACADEMIC LANGUAGE AND VOCABULARY THAT'S HIGHLIGHTED AT CERTAIN TIMES.
UM, AND THE GOAL HERE IS THAT WE JUST HAVE THIS EXPLICIT CONNECTION BETWEEN OUR STANDARDS, THE RESOURCES WE HAVE AND THE INSTRUCTION THAT WILL BE SEEN IN EACH OF OUR SCHOOLS.
AND THEN AS WE SAID, BECAUSE WE KNOW WHEN THESE STANDARDS ARE BEING TAUGHT, THEN WE CAN ANALYZE IT AGAINST WHEN THE ASSESSMENTS ARE BEING TAKEN FROM THE STUDENTS.
AND THAT LITTLE CYCLE THAT YOU SEE IN THE SUMMARY THAT WE GAVE, YOU LEADS TO THAT.
SO THIS PART ABOUT PLANNING, DOING THE TEACHING AND LEARNING, AND THEN WE CHECK, WE ASSESS WHERE THEY ARE, AND THAT'S WHEN MR. FLOWERS IS GOING TO JUMP IN.
SO AS THE DISTRICT CONTINUES, ITS WORK TOWARDS THAT BALANCE ASSESSMENT SYSTEM.
WE'RE REALLY MAKING SOME REFINEMENTS FROM LESSONS LEARNED FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR AND REALLY FOCUSING ON THAT BALANCE BETWEEN FORMATIVE AND SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENTS.
SO RIGHT NOW, REALLY HONING IN AND AS WE LOOK AT THIS SUMMER, WE'LL TAKE THE WORK OF HOW THE STANDARDS HAVE BEEN PACED OUT THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR AND ALIGN, THEN THE ASSESSMENTS TO LOOK AT THAT INSTRUCTIONAL PACING.
SO WE'LL HAVE TWO, THEN THAT WILL HAPPEN.
UM, SO AS WE'VE WORKED THROUGH THE YEAR AND ABOUT THE FALL, THEN DO A QUICK CHECK, LOOKING DIRECTLY AT THE STANDARDS AND THEN BEING ABLE TO DO THAT CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT CYCLE TO CHECK WHERE WE ARE AT THE STANDARDS.
AND AGAIN, UM, WHEN WE COME BACK IN THE SPRING TIME.
SO, UM, WE CAN REALLY HONE IN FOR THOSE INTERIM ASSESSMENTS THERE AND THEN THE WORK OF SUPPORTING TEACHERS TO BE ABLE TO HONE IN THEIR TEACHING AND NOT HAVE AN ABSTRACT ASSESSMENT.
WE WOULD REALLY END UP WITH HAVING SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS, ONE LOOKING AT WHAT ARE THE UNDERSTANDINGS AND THE MISUNDERSTANDINGS THAT THAT ASSESSMENT IS TARGETING.
SO REALLY HAVING A CLEAR PURPOSE FOR IT.
SO THEN TEACHERS CAN STRATEGICALLY ALIGN THEIR TEACHING TO BE ABLE TO MEET THE NEEDS THEN OF THE STUDENTS BASED ON THE DATA THAT WAS COLLECTED.
AND THEN ALSO HAVE AN ITEM ANALYSIS THEN FOR EACH ITEM ON THERE.
SO AS THEY'RE GOING THROUGH IT, WAS IT AN ITEM THAT WAS A HIGH DEPTH OF KNOWLEDGE ASKING THE STUDENTS TO DO A LOT OF THINKING OR POTENTIALLY IT WAS AN ITEM THAT THEY NEEDED TO USE A PROTRACTOR.
SO WHEN WE'RE SITTING IN PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES, THEY MAY LOOK AT IT AND OH, A LOT OF OUR STUDENTS MISSED IT, BUT IT'S A LOW LEVEL QUESTION OF WHAT WE'RE REALLY ASKING FOR RECALL, BUT THERE'LL BE AN INDICATOR THERE TO SAY, OH YEAH, THEY SHOULD HAVE USED A PROTRACTOR OR SOME OTHER TOOL.
SO, UM, THERE'LL BE THOSE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS TO DO THE ITEM ANALYSIS, BUT ALSO THE BIG PICTURE OF THE ASSESSMENT FOR THE UNDERSTANDINGS AND MISUNDERSTANDINGS AS WE CULMINATE THE WORK OVER THE SUMMER, UM, THE WORK THAT'S HAPPENING FOR THE CURRICULUM MAPPING AND RUBICON AND THE ASSESSMENTS WILL ALL COME TO AN END, UM, IN JUNE.
AND SO THEN AS WE WORK THROUGH JUNE, IT'LL BE, UM, COMMUNICATING THAT OUT OF HERE'S THE STATUS OF THE WORK.
HERE'S HOW IT'S GOING, PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
UM, EARLIER THIS MONTH WE SPOKE WITH PRINCIPALS, GAVE THEM AN UPDATE ON WHERE WE ARE.
AND SO THEN IT'LL BE A TRAIN, THE TRAINER MODEL.
SO WORKING WITH COACHES, TEACHERS REALLY SATURATING, UM, ANY OPPORTUNITY WE CAN GET OVER THE SUMMER SUMMER INSTITUTE TO GET THE TRAINING FOR TEACHERS OF HERE, WE'RE FINE TUNING, UM, THE MAPS, UM, AND HEAR WHERE THE UPDATES WERE.
AND THEN AS NEW TEACHERS ARE BROUGHT ONTO THE DISTRICT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE BEING ABLE TO ACCESS COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING FOR THE UPDATES AND JUST WHAT THIS TOOL IS SO THEY CAN MAXIMIZE THE LEARNING AS THEY GO THROUGH IT.
TALK TO ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT STORAGE AND ACCESSIBILITY OF INDIVIDUAL STUDENT METRICS, UH, WILL THIS METRICS FOLLOW THEM THROUGH THEIR EXPERIENCE SO THAT WHEN I GRADUATE FROM THIRD GRADE TO FOURTH GRADE, MY NEW FOURTH GRADE TEACHER KNOWS WHAT MY THIRD GRADE TEACHER SAID ABOUT ME AND, AND
[02:25:01]
NOT THROUGH THE PROCESS.SO COLONEL GEIER AND I'LL HAVE COLLEEN HERE AS WELL.
WHO'S BEEN PART OF THE PROJECT MANAGER ON PERFORMANCE MATTERS.
YOU'RE SPEAKING ONTO THE REPOSITORY OF WHERE WE'RE HOLDING THE METRICS EITHER.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE DIAGNOSTIC DATA FROM NWA.
WE HAVE EARLY WARNING SIGNALS THAT DATA WITHIN PERFORMANCE MATTERS.
WE HAVE THE ABILITY OF OUR FORMATIVE ASSESSMENTS OR WHAT NICHOLAS HAS BROUGHT FORWARD OUR INTERIM ASSESSMENTS THAT WILL BE ADMINISTERED DURING THE ACADEMIC SCHOOL YEAR.
NEXT YEAR, THAT DATA WILL BE WITHIN PERFORMANCE MATTERS.
IF A STUDENT IS WITHIN THE SAME SCHOOL SITE, I BELIEVE WE WILL BE ABLE TO PULL A PRIOR ASSESSMENTS.
AND I DON'T KNOW, WE HAVE THE CAPABILITY THOUGH TO PULL THE INDIVIDUAL, BUT I CAN CHECK THAT.
I COULD ASK COLLEEN TO COME FORWARD, PLEASE.
YEAH, I DON'T, I'VE NOT SEEN THAT FEATURE, BUT IF I MAY, DR.
SO I THINK IT DEPENDS ON, ON WHETHER IT IS, UH, JUST TO REFRESH WHEN THE STUDENT MOVES UP IN GRADE, UH, IN THERE, THEN THEY'VE GOT THAT DAY, BUT THEY'RE LIKE I READY DATA, THEIR NWA DATA.
UH, SOME OF THOSE, THOSE, UH, BIGGER ASSESSMENTS, UH, THAT AS, EVEN AS IT STANDS TODAY, I THINK THEY CAN, THEY CAN ACCESS THAT, UH, THE SMALLER FORMATIVE ASSESSMENTS.
UH, I'M NOT SURE THAT THOSE, UH, NECESSARILY CARRY OVER ON THE SMALLER FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT.
I, I JUST SEE THE VALUE OF A STUDENT COMING INTO A NEW NEW CLASSROOM AND THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL IN THE FALL AND THE TEACHER CAN GO IN AND SAY, OKAY, LITTLE JOHNNY HAS A PROBLEM WITH, UH, MATHEMATICS AND IN THIS SPECIFIC AREA.
SO I KNOW THAT I NEED TO GIVE HIM A LITTLE MORE EMPHASIS ON THAT HIS ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS ARE GOOD.
AND I KNOW THAT I CAN MATCH HIM WITH ANOTHER STUDENT THAT MAYBE NEEDS A LITTLE HELP.
THIS IS DATA, IF IT IS EASILY ACCESSIBLE AND THERE'S A PROCESS THAT THEY CAN SHARE.
SO I THINK THE LONGITUDINAL DATA ON THINGS LIKE IREADY AND THINGS LIKE A MAP AND THOSE LARGER ASSESSMENTS, I THINK THAT IS, UH, I'M NOT SURE, BUT I BELIEVE THAT IT, THAT DOES CARRY THROUGH THE FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT THAT WE USE IS, IS FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT FOR THE TEACHER TO USE, UH, AND IT'S INFORMATION AROUND THE IMPACT OF THAT INSTRUCTION THAT WAS JUST DELIVERED.
SO THAT IF YOU LOOK AT THIS, UH, CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT MODEL ON THE VERY TOP, THE VERY FIRST GROUP UNDER DESCRIPTION, YOU SEE IT SAYS PLAN, DO CHECK AND ACT, RIGHT? UH, SO YOU PLAN, RIGHT? UH, YOU DELIVER INSTRUCTION.
THEN YOU CHECK WHETHER THAT INSTRUCTION WAS MET WITH STUDENTS MASTERED AS A RESULT OF THAT INSTRUCTION OR THE IMPACT OF THAT INSTRUCTION.
AND THEN IN THAT ACT IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE TEACHER TO SAY, OKAY, THIS PORTION OF IT WAS MASTERED, BUT THIS PORTION OF IT WAS NOT.
SO LET ME ADJUST AND MAYBE RETEACH HERE.
AND SO, SO THE FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT MORE ABOUT THE IMMEDIACY OF THAT MOMENT AS A RESULT OF THIS INSTRUCTION, SO THAT I DON'T THINK CARRIES OVER, BUT I DO THINK THAT THE LARGER SCHEME OF THINGS, UH, THE, THE OTHER ASSESSMENTS LIKE IREADY AND MAP THAT I BELIEVE DOES.
IT DOES THAT THE BIGGER ASSESSMENTS DO, THE TEACHERS HAVE ACCESS TO A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO ACCESS IT.
PERFORMANCE MATTERS IS ONE, BUT THERE'S ENRICH INFORMATION.
THEY CAN ACCESS NWA DIRECTLY TO GET SOME OF THAT INFORMATION.
WE TRY OUR, WE'RE TRYING TO PUT AS MUCH INFORMATION IN PERFORMANCE MATTERS AGAINST IT'S ONE PLACE TO SEND TEACHERS.
UM, SO WE WORK THROUGH THOSE WITH THE VENDORS TO SEE HOW WE CAN GET EVERYTHING IN A, IN A NICE PACKAGE FOR THE TEACHER, FOR THAT UPCOMING STUDENT, AS FAR AS CURRICULUM.
I JUST WANTED TO DO THAT AS WELL THAT TEACHERS CAN SEE ALL OF THAT, UM, VERTICAL ARTICULATION ALSO.
SO THEY WOULD KNOW CURRICULUM WISE, MOVING FROM THIRD TO FOURTH, WHAT THAT STUDENT WOULD HAVE, OR SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED TO THEN ELABORATE ON AND MOVE FORWARD AS WELL.
SO JUST ONE MR. MERRILL CAMPBELL, AND SHE MENTIONED THE KEY WORD SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED.
YOU KNOW, WE WE'VE GONE HAS BEEN IN OUR DISTRICT FOR HE'S 10 YEARS.
WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET IT, YOU KNOW, AS A BIG PART OF THE IMPRINT OF THE DISTRICT AND IT'S REALLY A WATER NEED OF THE CURRICULUM AS YOU GO THROUGH THE PROCESS, EVERY, EVERY SCHOOL'S GOT WHAT ENGLISH ONE SHOULD LOOK LIKE AND THE PACING GUIDE FOR THAT.
THAT'S HOW I INTERPRETED Y'ALL CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.
BUT, UH, TEACHERS ARE INSTRUCTED ON WHAT ELEMENTS OF THE STANDARDS THAT THEY SHOULD COVER.
[02:30:01]
AND IF IT'S NOT AT A EFFICIENT LEVEL, THEY HAVE REVIEW TIME AT THE SAME TIME, WHICH IT DOESN'T ADDRESS.WELL, AND I THINK THAT'S, TO YOUR POINT IS IT'S GOT A PACE TO A DEGREE WHERE THE CURRICULUM IS COVERED AND SOMETIMES DEPENDING ON YOUR QUALITY OR THE, OF YOUR STUDENTS, THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE.
I'LL TELL YOU FROM FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE.
SO YOU KIND OF GET SIDETRACKED OFF OF THAT RUBY CON YOU'RE IN SOME OTHER WORLD, BUT YOU HAVE TO ALSO ANALYZE WHAT THEY CAN GET OUT OF THE CHUNK AND WHAT THEY CANNOT GET OUT OF THE CHUNK.
AND THEN THAT ARTICULATION THAT YOU MENTIONED IS IDEAL, WHICH I DON'T THINK WE DO VERY EFFECTIVELY.
THAT ARTICULATION MEANS WHAT DID THIS CHILD LEARN? WHAT DID THEY LEARN? AND HOW CAN I ADDRESS IT AHEAD OF MY RUBRIC RUBICON EXPLORATION THIS YEAR? AND THAT'S, THAT'S THAT'S YEAH.
PART OF IT, BUT THAT THE INTENT OF RUBICON IS TO FORMULATE A, UH, SYNCHRONIZED CURRICULUM THROUGHOUT WHERE EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE TAUGHT.
THE PIECE IS SUPPOSED TO BE TAUGHT AT AND THEN ANALYZE.
AND IT GIVES THE ADMINISTRATORS A GOOD TOOL FOR ANALYZING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE INSTRUCTIONS.
AND HOPEFULLY THEY'RE SENSITIVE ENOUGH TO ALSO MATCH THE STUDENT LEVEL BECAUSE THE TEACHER ISN'T GETTING IT DONE DON'T MEAN IT'S THE TEACHER'S FAULT BY BEING THE CLIENTELE JUST REACHED THAT PACE, THOSE THINGS, JUST JUSTIFIABLE THINGS.
SO I, YOU KNOW, I, I SEE THAT AS I SEE WHAT WE'VE DONE IS A GOOD TOOL.
I KNOW IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO PUT IT IN PLACE FROM WHERE WE WERE WHEN WE STARTED NOW, MR. CAMPBELL, I THINK YOU'RE, YOU, YOU JUST, YOU SHOULD HAVE DELIVERED THIS TODAY.
I MEAN REALLY WELL SAID, HONESTLY, BECAUSE, BECAUSE THE FACT IS THAT THAT, YOU KNOW, WITHIN ANY SINGLE CLASSROOM, ANY SINGLE CLASSROOM, RIGHT.
UH, THEIR STUDENTS ARE AT A VARIETY OF, OF LEVELS.
AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S ONE OF THE CHALLENGES IN, IN, IN EDUCATION, RIGHT? IT'S THE DIFFERENTIATION WITHIN THE CLASSROOM, RIGHT.
AND SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO SLOW DOWN TO GO FAST, RIGHT? AND THEN WHEN YOU SLOW DOWN TO GO FAST, YOU KNOW, THERE BETTER BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO FAST, RIGHT? BECAUSE OTHERWISE, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT GAP GROWS AND GROWS AND GROWS, BUT IT'S THE REALITY OF THE CLASSROOM.
THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SPEAKING ABOUT.
AND THAT'S PART OF THE CHALLENGES THAT EXPERTS THAT YOU MENTIONED WOULD BE THE ONES WHO PUT THOSE THINGS IN PLACE, UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT IS THE TWO ELEMENT IN THE CLASSROOM.
YOU CAN PRINT OUT THE TEXTBOOK.
THAT'S A GREAT JOB OF ANALYZING WHAT WE JUST COVERED.
WE WERE GONE IS IT'S OUR WAY OF PIECING IT AND SAY, LET'S NOT WORRY ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR ONE AS MUCH AT COORDINATES, PRIMARILY WITH THE STATE STANDARDS AND OTHER THINGS TO GET US TO ANOTHER, UH, LEVEL OF EFFICIENCY.
BUT, UH, I THINK IT'S A GOOD TOOL, BUT I KNOW IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE A LOT OF OVERALL EFFORT TO, TO REALLY MAKE IT BACK TO MAXIMIZE THIS POTENTIAL, WANTED TO CLARIFY IT BECAUSE YOU KNOW, BOARD MEMBERS DON'T UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS.
YOU DID A, YOU DID A GREAT JOB BECAUSE, BECAUSE, UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU, UH, THAT, THAT PACING PART IS IMPORTANT, RIGHT? BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, RIGHT, MAY THIS TIME OF YEAR, RIGHT? OUR STUDENTS ARE SITTING FOR SC READY ASSESSMENTS, RIGHT.
AND NOW WHETHER YOU COVERED THIS MUCH OF THE CURRICULUM, OR WHETHER YOU COVERED THIS MUCH OF THE CURRICULUM, RIGHT.
THEY'RE ALL TAKING THE SAME TEST, WHICH COVERS THIS MUCH OF THE CURRICULUM.
AND SO, SO THERE, THERE IS THE CHALLENGE.
SO THE PACING COMPONENT AND ALL OF THAT IS, IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT TO BE AS MUCH AT THEIR FINGERTIPS AS POSSIBLE.
THE WORK THEY DO IN THEIR PLCS IS ALSO CRITICAL IN KEEPING THE WORK, MOVING ALONG AND TRYING TO IDENTIFY OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STUDENTS TO EITHER CATCH UP REMEDIATE, ACCELERATE.
SO THAT'S THE CHALLENGE, THE ART AND THE SCIENCE OF THIS.
UM, I THINK THIS IS ALONG THE LINE OF, OF WHAT IS BEING TALKED ABOUT, BUT IS THERE ANYTHING IN HERE THAT TRANSFERS ONTO THE NEXT TEACHER, THE LEARNING STYLE OF THE STUDENT, UM, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, EACH STUDENT HAS A, HAS A DIFFERENT LEARNING PROCESS AND, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO BE STUDENT CENTERED.
SO I'M WONDERING IF THE FOURTH GRADE TEACHER
[02:35:01]
GETS THE ADVANTAGE OF THE THIRD GRADE TEACHER FIGURING OUT WHAT THE BEST LEARNING STYLE IS FOR STUDENT A, UM, IS THAT CAPTURED AND PUT IT SOMEWHERE, MAY I? SO THIS IS TRUE ACTUALLY, WITHIN RUBICON ITSELF, WE DON'T HAVE A LEARNING STYLE SURVEY THAT IS, THAT HOSTS THE STYLE OF ANOINTING FOR MARY VERSUS KAREN OR, OR, OR A PETER.BUT WE DO HAVE THAT HAPPENING WITHIN THE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES.
IF A STYLE STUDENT IS WITHIN THE SAME SCHOOL, THAT OPPORTUNITY OF SHARING INFORMATION OF WHAT IS UNIQUE FOR MARY, WHAT IS UNIQUE FOR PETER OR PAUL DOES HAPPEN WITHIN THE LEARNING COMMUNITIES AT SCHOOL SITES, AS WELL AS THE OPPORTUNITY OF LOOKING AT PRIOR METRICS WITHIN PERFORMANCE MATTERS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THOSE FORMATIVE ASSESSMENTS.
BUT YOU BRING BOTH A VERY GOOD POINT.
HOWARD GARDNER RIGHT NOW IS PROBABLY SHOULD BE LISTENING TO YOU AS WELL, BECAUSE THAT LEARNING STYLE THAT WE COULD BRING MORE OF THAT INFORMATION FORWARD WITHIN THE EARLY PART OF SCHOOL YEAR WOULD HELP YOU THEN TO SCAFFOLD MY LESSONS AS MR. CAMPBELL IS SHARING IN ORDER, I COULD BE A LITTLE MORE UNIQUE AT MY DELIVERY OF INSTRUCTION TO HELP LEARNING.
SO IT'S VERY, VERY GOOD LENS, SIR.
POINT TAKEN ON THAT, MR. SMITH, AND MY QUESTION, AND JUST GO BY, RIGHT, RIGHT.
IN THE SAME QUESTION, HOW DOES THIS HELP OUT WITH, IN, IN THE AREA OF SPED, HOW DOES THIS, UH, HELP HELP US DRIVE IT HOME? SO AS WAS BROUGHT FORWARD, AND I HAVE BOTH TEAM MEMBERS COME UP, AS WE IDENTIFY SPECIFIC UNIQUENESS FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE MULTI-LINGUAL MULTI-LINGUAL STUDENTS, WE HAVE THE SAME COMPONENTS BEING DEVELOPED FOR OUR STUDENTS WITH AN IEP.
SO A STUDENT WOULD HAVE AN IEP AND A STUDENT WOULD AN EILAT MODIFICATIONS.
THAT INFORMATION IS BEING SHARED WITHIN RUBICON, BUT I'LL LET MS MELISSA SPEAK TO THAT, SIR.
ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE GOALS FOR THE CURRICULUM WRITING TEAM IS I'M INSIDE OF THE RE.
SO WHEN, WHEN TEACHERS ENTER RUBICON, IT HAS THAT PACE OUT STANDARDS.
AT THE TIME, IT HELPS BREAK THE STANDARDS DOWN FOR THE TEACHERS.
THEN IT GOES INTO CORE RESOURCES.
UM, BEYOND THAT THOUGH, WE ALSO HAVE THREE DIFFERENT BOXES, UM, WHERE OUR WRITERS PUT IN INFORMATION, UM, STRATEGIES, RESOURCES TO HELP DIFFERENTIATE STUDENT NEEDS.
SO WE TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION ML, SPECIAL EDUCATION, SOME OF THESE, UM, YOU KNOW, GRAPHIC ORGANIZER NEEDS GETTING THE LANGUAGE IN FRONT OF THEM FIRST.
SO BASED ON WHAT STANDARDS ARE BEING ADDRESSED, WE DO HELP SET THE TEACHERS UP FOR SUCCESS, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE WE TRY TO THINK OF IT LIKE THAT BRAND NEW TEACHER COMING IN.
THEY WANT A FEW THINGS AT THEIR FINGERTIPS.
SO RIGHT IN THERE, WE DO HAVE SOME RESOURCES THAT IN GENERAL WILL HELP STUDENTS GET TO WHAT THAT STANDARD IS GOING AFTER TRYING TO SUPPORT THEM TO MASTERY.
UM, AND, UH, TO, TO THE POINT OF ALL THE CONVERSATION AROUND THEN THE PLC WORK IS BASED ON WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE STUDENTS, BASED ON WHAT WE SEE IN RUBICON, LET'S COLLABORATIVELY PLAN AS A TEAM, AND THINK ABOUT ALL OF OUR GROUPINGS OF STUDENTS AND THEIR DIFFERENT NEEDS.
SO IN THOSE PLC AND COLLABORATIVE PLANNING TIMES IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO ALSO TAKE SOME OF THOSE RESOURCES THAT HAVE MAYBE BEEN PROVIDED AND THEN REALLY THINK ABOUT THEM THROUGH THE LENS OF PARTICULAR STUDENTS AND THEIR NEEDS.
I WILL JUST LIKE TO THANK YOU.
AND THAT DESCRIBES, AND YEAH, I GOT A WHOLE TEAM I'VE SEEN, GOT WORKING HARD ON THIS.
UM, AND I KNOW YOU'VE HAD SIMULTANEOUSLY, UH, PROJECTS GOING ON AT THE SAME TIME AS THIS.
I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU BECAUSE I'M JUST HOPING THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN PUT OUT AND PUT IN OUR MENU TO HELP US IN TERMS OF LEARNING LOSS SO THAT WE CAN DEFINITELY MOVE FORWARD IN THE DISTRICT AND MAKE SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE EXCELLING IN EVERY AREA.
I RECALL THERE IS A COMPONENT IN THERE ALSO WHERE SOME OF OUR SAMPLE LIBRARY LESSONS ARE, UH, PLACED IN THERE WHERE TEACHER MIGHT BE STRUGGLING AND FIND THAT LESSON TO ADDRESS THAT STUDENT THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE SAID, OH, I LIKE THIS.
I'M GOING TO USE IT CAME FROM BATTERY CREEK.
THAT'S ANOTHER COMPONENT OF THE WHOLE DEAL IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S AN EXCELLENT TOOL.
AND I SAID, BUT IT'S CHALLENGING TO GET IT DONE, BUT YOU GET IT DONE.
AND IF IT'S WORKING AND WE'RE THERE, BUT WE'RE NOT THERE YET.
MADAM VICE CHAIR, MAY I JUST A QUICK, UM, MR. CAMPBELL, ONCE AGAIN, GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR INFOMERCIAL BECAUSE YOU'RE ALREADY AHEAD ON THE PLC GUIDEBOOK THAT WE'RE DEVELOPING THAT IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE INCLUDING THE PRACTICE
[02:40:01]
OF EXEMPLARY OF WORK AS WELL.THAT ONCE IT GOES TO A REVIEW WITHIN YOUR SCHOOL.
SO YOU'RE BUILDING ON WHERE WE'RE DRIVING OUR WORK, RIGHT? MS. BELL RANG.
I JUST WANNA MAKE A COMMENT BECAUSE MR. CAMPBELL WAS BACK TALKING ABOUT ME WHEN HE SAID BOARD MEMBERS WHO DON'T UNDERSTAND.
IT'S NOT THAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND, BUT I WANT TO MAKE, THE ONLY POINT I WANT TO MAKE IS AS A NON-EDUCATOR, Y'ALL SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN PLCS TALKING ABOUT 500 FOR HIS IEP.
I LAPSE A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.
IT TOOK ME AWHILE TO FIGURE OUT THE ACRONYMS. SO THE ONLY THING I'LL SAY FROM MY LENS IS I UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.
IF THIS IS FOR PUBLIC CONSUMPTION, UM, YOU KNOW, AT EACH GRADE LEVEL CURRICULUM TEAMS WORK TOGETHER TO DEVELOP INSTRUCTIONAL UNITS THAT ARE INCLUSIVE PRIORITY STANDARDS THAT ALIGN WITH CORE RE IT GETS A LITTLE SORT OF JARGONY.
SO SOMETIMES IT MAY BE, IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE WANT THE PUBLIC TO REALLY BE, UM, YOU KNOW, UNDERSTAND AND BE ON BOARD WITH.
AND THE ONLY EXAMPLE I'LL GIVE IS LIKE IN MEDICINE, YOU CAN TALK JARGON AND YOU KNOW, THE PATIENTS LOOK AT YOU GO, THEY'RE LIKE, WHAT DO YOU MEAN? I'M LIKE, WELL, YOU'RE GETTING OLD AND YOUR BACK HURTS.
HERE'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT.
YOU DON'T NEED TO KNOW ABOUT STENOSIS AND SPONDYLOLYSIS.
I JUST WANT TO PUT THAT BACK OUT THERE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
UH, THE NEXT ITEM ON THE SUPERINTENDENT REPORT, I WAS ASKED DURING AN AGENDA SETTING TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE MEETING THAT I HAD WITH, UH, HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AT, UM, AT BUFORD HIGH SCHOOL REGARDING THE LOGO.
SO, UH, MY UPDATE IS AS FOLLOWS.
I MET WITH A GROUP OF STUDENTS FROM BUFORD HIGH SCHOOL.
THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY, UH, 30 TO 35 STUDENTS THAT PARTICIPATE IN AND WERE ACROSS SECTION OF THE SCHOOL.
WE SPOKE ABOUT THE HISTORY OF BUFORD HIGH SCHOOL.
WE SPOKE ABOUT THE LOGO AND WHAT THEIR THOUGHTS WERE ON.
THE MATTER WHAT I TOOK AWAY FROM THE MEETING WAS THIS STUDENTS WERE CLEAR ON THE SCHOOL'S MASCOT AS THE EAGLE, AND THEY WERE CLEAR ON THEIR COLORS AS GREEN AND WHITE, THE MAJORITY OF STUDENTS KNEW THE HISTORY OF THEIR SCHOOL AND HOW THE SCHOOL GOT ITS NAME, HOW THE SCHOOL GOT ITS COLORS AND HOW THE SCHOOL GOT TO MASCOT.
SEVERAL STUDENTS POINTED TO THE PILLARS AT THE FRONT OF THE SCHOOL, UH, AS A WAY OF THAT THERE, THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THOSE ARE AVAILABLE, THAT THEY SEE THEM ALL THE TIME AND THAT, AND THAT THEY HAVE SPENT TIME LOOKING AT THEM IN VARIOUS WAYS.
AND SO THOSE PILLARS AT THE FRONT OF THE SCHOOL THAT DEPICTS THE HISTORY, UH, OF, OF, OF THE SCHOOL WITH RESPECT TO THEIR, UH, MASCOT, THEIR COLORS AND THEIR NAME, SEVERAL STUDENTS POINTED OUT THAT MR. GLACE TYPICALLY SHARES THE HISTORY WITH THE STUDENTS.
OFTENTIMES AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, UH, DURING AN ORIENTATION SESSION, UH, APPROXIMATELY 65 TO 70% OF THE STUDENTS INDICATED THAT THEY PREFER THE EAGLE LOGO THAT EXISTS ON THE FIELD TODAY.
APPROXIMATELY 20% OF THE STUDENTS PREFERRED THE SOARING EAGLE LOGO, THE REMAINING APPROXIMATE 10% OR SO STUDENTS DID NOT HAVE AN OPINION ON THE MATTER.
SOME STUDENTS SUGGESTED THAT THEY HAVE THE SOARING EAGLE AS A FORMAL LOGO FOR THE SCHOOL, FOR EXAMPLE, UH, FOR EITHER GRADUATIONS, UH, OR FOR FORMAL, UH, ACADEMIC MATTERS.
UM, BUT THAT THEY KEEP THE EAGLE LOGO ON THE FIELD AS THE ATHLETIC LOGO, BECAUSE THEY PERSONALLY LIKE THE WAY THAT IT LOOKS FOR ATHLETICS AND FOR COMPETITIONS.
THE EAGLE, UH, LOOK THAT'S ON THAT LOGO WAS, UH, WAS A MORE STERN LOOK, WAS A MORE, UH, AGGRESSIVE LOOK OR, OR WHAT HAVE YOU, UH, WAS ESSENTIALLY, UH, WHAT THE STUDENT COMMENTARY WAS FROM THAT MEETING.
SO THAT, THAT IS THE UPDATE AS REQUESTED ABOUT THAT MEETING.
UM, SO MS. CAMPBELL, DID YOU WAS YOUR HAND UP? I JUST SAW YOU AT YOUR ANIMALS.
I JUST WANT TO BE FAIR, THE WANT WON'T BE FAIR.
UM, AND, AND, AND IN TERMS OF THAT, I'VE, I'VE TALKED TO SEVERAL STUDENTS, COME IN, RELATE RELATIONS IN REGARDS TO THE EAGLE MYSELF, I'VE BEEN VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT GOING TO KIDS AND TALKING TO THEM ABOUT THIS.
AND A LOT OF KIDS HAVE SAID THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW THAT THE HISTORY OF IT, AND THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF IT AND THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH GOING BACK TO THE ORIGINAL E EAGLE BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THEY THOUGHT THAT THE HISTORY WAS IMPORTANT.
THEY THOUGHT THAT THEY WERE LIKE, WELL, MS. SMITH, WHAT, REALISTICALLY, WE HAVE BEEN TAUGHT THIS, YOU KNOW, AND THAT LEVEL YOU SAID, YOU KNOW, THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HEARD MRS. GLAZER, SOME OTHER PEOPLE EVERY NOW AND THEN HAVE SAID THAT, BUT, YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS YOU WENT IN DETAIL, YOU KNOW, WE WALKED, WE WALKED PAST THOSE PILLARS, BUT SOME OF US DON'T ALWAYS READ THOSE PILLARS.
SO I'VE TALKED TO DIFFERENT POCKETS OF PEOPLE
[02:45:01]
IN DIFFERENT POCKETS OF, OF STUDENTS WHO HAVE CONVEYED THAT THEY SEE THOSE PILLARS, BUT THEY DON'T REALLY KNOW HIM AND, AND WENT IN.AND WHEN THIS WHOLE SITUATION IS TAKING PLACE, THAT THEY DIDN'T REALLY UNDERSTAND IT.
AND THEY SAID, WELL, MR. SMITH ASKED YOURSELF WHEN YOU WERE HERE, DID THEY TEACH YOU THE HISTORY? THEN? I SAID, NO.
SO
SO WITH WOULD THAT BEING SAID AND UNDERSTANDING, AND HAVING SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS WITH THE KIDS AND THE KIDS ARE ALL WILLING AND THEY DO SUPPORT IT.
UH, AT THIS TIME I WOULD MAKE A MOTION THAT WE RESTORE THE EGO WITHIN THE PLACES THAT WITHIN THE PLACES THAT SHOW THE ORIGINAL IDENTITY OF THE EVIL HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE FIGHTING SOAR IN EAGLE, THAT WE RESTORED, UH, IN THE TERMS OF FIELD, THE, UH, GYMNASIUM, THE STADIUM, THE PLAY, THE PLACES THAT WERE
SO I MADE THAT MOTION IF I CAN GET A SECOND ON THAT FOR DISCUSSION, UH, MR. CAMPBELL, EARL CAMPBELL SECONDED IT.
MY QUESTION IS WE'LL RESTORE IT BACK TO WHAT IS WHAT IT WAS BEFORE.
WHAT WOULD THAT CAUSE, UH, OVERALL, WHAT WOULD THAT COST YOU JUST CAN'T? SO I WOULD SAY I DON'T HAVE A COMPLETE ANSWER ON THAT BECAUSE MR. SMITH'S MOTION TALKED ABOUT, UH, THE FIELD, THE, I GUESS, EVERYTHING IN THE STADIUM.
I TH I GUESS TALKING ABOUT SCOREBOARDS, I GUESS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE BASKETBALL COURT.
I DON'T HAVE A COMPLETE PICTURE OF THAT.
I CAN TELL YOU JUST THE FIELD ITSELF IS ABOUT $60,000 TO RESTORE THE ORIGINAL IDENTITY FIGHTING SHORE EGO, AND THE, AND THE PLACES THAT WHAT'S THE WORD, THE WORDING IS THAT, THAT, UM, THAT, THAT, THAT THE BRAND, THAT BRANDS THAT IDENTIFY WITHIN THIS BRAND AND ALL THOSE ORIGINAL PLACES, AS IN THE STADIUM, THE FIELD TH THAT OUT BASICALLY THAT ARE BRANDED THAT ARE, UM, AND, BUT BASICALLY TO DESTROY THE, TO RESTORE THE, THAT'LL BE THE ORIGINAL ONE THAT DIDN'T, UM, TO THE, TO THE, TO THE PLACES OF THE, OF THE ORIGINAL, THE ORIGINAL EAGLE WAS AT, THEY MAKE IT SIMPLE.
AND MR. EARL CAMPBELL, SECOND, ARE YOU OKAY WITH THAT? WITH WHAT HE STATED, EARL, HE JUST KIND OF REWORDED HIS MOTION.
ARE YOU STILL OKAY TO SECOND IT, YEAH, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH A SECOND.
THAT IS MY THING IS I WANT TO KNOW WHAT WE'LL CALL US, YOU KNOW, UM, WE CAN, WE CAN TALK ABOUT RESTORING
[02:50:01]
IT, BUT WE GOT TO FIND OUT WHAT IS IT GOING TO CAUSE, AND MAYBE GOING TO GET THE MONEY FOR HIM, UH, MR. MEL CAMPBELL.I, YOU KNOW, THOUGHT PROCESS OF THE PROCESS AND THE FIRST PLACE TO GET A CHANGE.
AND WHAT WILL THIS DO TO UNDO THAT PROCESS? IF THERE WAS, THERE WAS DUE PROCESS STANDARD, THEY WENT THROUGH A DUE PROCESS TO, TO PUT THOSE NEW EAGLES THOUGH, DAWN SOARING EAGLE AROUND THE PLACE, THEN BY US OVERTURNING IT OR ASKING THAT IT'D BE RESTORED WILL BE UNDULY DUE PROCESS, OR WAS THERE NO PROCESS AT ALL? YOU NEVER GOT THE ANSWER TO THAT TERMS OF PROCESS BECAUSE I, MY FIRST THOUGHT WOULD BE THERE WAS A PROCESS.
THEN THERE COULD BE A COUNTER PROCESS.
IF THERE WAS NO PROCESS, THEN WE WERE IN A GRAY AREA OF HOW WE, HOW WE CHANGED THINGS AND WHY WE CHANGED THINGS AS A BOARD.
BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, MY MIND, I, YOU KNOW, ME BEING BORN AND RAISED IN BUFORD COUNTY, MY MINDSET IS THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S SUCH A HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT MOVE JUST TO HAVE THE EAGLE, BECAUSE IF YOU, IF YOU UNDERSTAND THE HISTORY, THEN MOST OF, MOST OF YOU DO DO NOT.
AND I DON'T HOLD YOU HOSTAGE FOR NOT KNOWING THIS.
YOU BUFORD COUNTY, WHEN THE STUDENTS THAT ARE SENIORS AT BUFORD.
I NOW DON'T KNOW THE HISTORY OF THAT SCHOOL, BUT UNDERSTAND THE HISTORY OF THE AREA, KNOWING THAT THOSE SCHOOLS MERGE.
BUT PRIMARILY MOST OF THEM ALL AFRICAN-AMERICAN SCHOOLS GETTING NOTHING IN THAT MERGER, EXCEPT THOSE THINGS THEY GOT, THEY GOT, THEY GOT NO TEACHERS FROM THEIR PREVIOUS SCHOOL TO MOVE INTO BUFORD.
THEY GOT, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY THE TRADE-OFF WAS, THIS IS THE PHYSICAL THING YOU'RE GOING TO GET.
AND THEY FELT WELL, AT LEAST WE'RE GETTING SOMETHING TO HOLD ON TO FOR A LONG TIME.
SO THAT'S THE THOUGHT BEHIND IT AND MY MIND, AND MY SENTIMENT WOULD BE THE WHO WE STORE THAT EAGLE, JUST BECAUSE OF THAT.
NOW I DON'T WANT TO STEP ON THE TOES OF THE CHILDREN WHO ARE GOING THERE NOW AND THEIR HISTORY, BUT IT'D HAVE TO BE SOME, SOME HISTORY TAUGHT TO OUR STUDENTS ABOUT HOW THESE THINGS ARE GOOD AND WHAT'S HAPPENING, YOU KNOW, UH, YOU KNOW, AND I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO THE CRT VERSUS EDUCATION ARGUMENT, BUT IT IS CRITICAL THAT WE START TALKING ABOUT THESE THINGS NOW START ADVANCING THE EDUCATION.
SIMPLE THINGS I SEE ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS ARE BEING SHIFTED WELL TO EDUCATION IS NOT BEING TAUGHT.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO BE DETRIMENTAL TO ALL OF OUR CHILDREN, NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN JOB, BUT DETRIMENTAL TO ALL OF THEM.
UM, I, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER WE CAN VOTE ON THIS MOTION AGAIN, AS STATED, OR IS IT CHANGED FROM THE ORIGINAL MOTION THE LAST TIME, BUT I'LL SUPPORT THE IDEA OF RESTORING THAT SOARING EAGLE, MR.
UM, I ANSWERED SEVERAL EMAILS AND, UH, I'VE TALKED TO SOME FOLKS, INCLUDING MR. GREEN.
I AM 100% BEHIND PRESERVING THAT HISTORY.
IT IS IMPORTANT AND THERE'S THINGS WE CAN DO THAT DIRECTLY ADDRESS THAT, UM, ON THE SCHOOL WEBSITE, WE CAN HAVE THAT HISTORY EXPLAINED.
WE CAN INCLUDE THIS, UH, HISTORY AS PART OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN EDUCATION CONFERENCE.
WE CAN HAVE ADDITIONAL EMPHASIS, UM, AND STUDENT ORIENTATION ON IT, UM, YOU KNOW, TO MAKE IT A FORMAL AND, AND EMPHASIZE PART OF STUDENT ORIENTATION.
I THINK THOSE FINES, THE THINGS ADDRESSED THE ISSUE OF HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE.
AND LIKE MR. MEL CAMPBELL SAID IS IMPORTANT FOR THE STUDENTS TO KNOW THAT I DON'T THINK CHANGED IN THE EAGLE ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD, UH, ACCOMPLISHES THAT.
UM, AND, AND ONE THING THAT MR. SMITH SAID AT THE LAST, IN HIS LAST MOTION WAS HE DIDN'T CARE ABOUT WHAT THE CURRENT STUDENTS,
[02:55:01]
UH, WANTED.I THINK WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM AND THE PROBLEM IS PRESERVING THE HISTORY AND GETTING THE STORY OUT SO THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT STORY.
ONE OF THE BIG ADVANTAGES OF, OF THE CLASS OF 71 COMING IN AND MAKING ALL THESE PUBLIC COMMENTS IS THEY EDUCATED ME.
UM, IT WAS THE EDUCATION PIECE THAT WAS IMPORTANT.
UM, I DIDN'T KNOW THE COMPLETE HISTORY.
I KNEW BITS AND PIECES, BUT I KNOW A HECK OF A LOT MORE NOW.
UM, AND SO THAT'S WHAT I THINK WE NEED TO ADDRESS, UH, NOT THE LOGO ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD.
SO I SAW I CAN'T VOTE FOR THIS, UM, FOR THOSE REASONS, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO LIKE US TO, UH, INITIATE, UM, SOME ACTIONS, UH, THAT ADDRESSED THE HISTORY AND DO WHAT WE CAN TO PRESERVE THE HISTORY AND MAKE SURE THAT IT'S NOT LOST.
ONE JUST GRADUATED FROM BUFORD HIGH OTHER.
ONE'S A JUNIOR AND BUFORD HIGH, UH, BOTH PARTICIPATED IN LACROSSE, SOCCER, SWIMMING, AND OTHER ATHLETICS.
I SAID, DO YOU CARE? DO YOU CARE WHAT THE EAGLE LOOKS LIKE? UM, NO, I REALLY DON'T.
SO, UM, BUT THE PEOPLE THAT COME UP HERE THAT HAD A MAJOR PART OF PUTTING THAT THERE, THEY DO CARE AND DO WELL.
MY GRANDSONS COME BACK IN 50 YEARS, SAME, WE SHOULD HAVE THE EAGLE THAT WAY WE HAD IT ON A FOOTBALL FIELD.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO SAY THAT IT DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING TO, I REALLY DON'T THINK IT MEANS ANYTHING TO THEM.
THEY WANT TO KEEP GREEN AND, AND WHITE.
SO I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR THIS BECAUSE I REALLY BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD HONOR THE FOUNDERS OF THIS.
UM, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE COST 60, $60,000 OR, OR MORE, UH, TO DO THIS, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, THE, UH, STUDENT ACTIVITY FUND FROM BUFORD HIGH SCHOOL COULD TAKE CARE OF THIS.
SO, UM, I I'M GONNA VOTE FOR THIS.
CAN I ASK THE AUDIENCE TO PLEASE? THANK YOU.
UM, I TOO BELIEVE THAT THE HISTORY ABSOLUTELY NEEDS TO BE PRESERVED.
I I'M STRUGGLING HERE THOUGH, BECAUSE I THINK THERE HAS TO BE A COMPROMISE, I THINK CAN BE A COMPROMISE WITH THE INSTITUTION OF LEARNING.
AND THE HIGH SCHOOL ITSELF IS REPLETE WITH THE SOARING EAGLE.
YOU COME TO BUFORD, YOU GO TO BUFORD HIGH SCHOOL, THE MOSAIC ON THE FLOOR, THE RELIEF ON THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING, UH, THAT SOARING EAGLE IS EVERYWHERE AT THE INSTITUTION OF LEARNING.
SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE FOOTBALL FIELD, WHICH IS NOT THE INSTITUTION OF LEARNING, AND IT'S A DIFFERENT RENDITION OF, OF THIS EAGLE.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE, WE HAVE A FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY TO TRY TO DO THE BEST WE CAN WITH THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE.
SO, SO THE COLORS ARE GREEN AND WHITE.
MY TWO CHILDREN GRADUATED FROM BUFORD HIGH SCHOOL.
THE COLORS ARE GREEN AND WHITE.
THE SOARING EAGLE IS THE MASCOT.
IF WE'RE JUST TALKING, IF ALL OF THIS BOILS DOWN TO JUST CHANGING THE LOGO, THAT'S IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD, COULD WE NOT GET A BREAKDOWN FOR MR. AUDITING OF WHAT THAT WILL COST? WHAT WOULD IT COST TO REDO THE PRESS BOX? WHAT WOULD IT COST TO REDO THE, THE SCOREBOARD AND DO SOMETHING TO INDICATE THE SOARING EAGLE AT THE BALL FIELD AT THE FOOTBALL FIELD, BUT NOT CHANGE FOR 60,000 PLUS DOLLARS, THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD UNTIL THE NEXT TIME IT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED.
THE OTHER ONE IS WHAT MR. MILL CAMPBELL BROUGHT UP ABOUT THE PROCESS.
I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT EAGLE GOT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FOOTBALL FIELD.
I DON'T KNOW IT WASN'T THROUGH THIS BOARD.
SO THERE'S A PROCESS SOMEWHERE.
[03:00:01]
THAT, THAT HAPPENED AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL, AT THE PROJECT MANAGER CONVERSATIONS WITH THE PRINCIPAL, WITH OTHER IMPORTANT MEMBERS AT THE SCHOOL.SO IF WE UNDO THAT PROCESS, WHAT ARE WE DOING? AND ALSO ARE WE ONLY TALKING THE FOOTBALL FIELD AND, AND THE BASKETBALL COURT? WHAT ABOUT THE T-SHIRTS? I MEAN, ARE WE ALSO UNDOING THEM AND MAKING, I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THIS, AND, AND PLEASE DON'T MISS THIS STAN MATE.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ADVOCATING SO HARD FOR THIS HISTORY TO BE REMEMBERED.
RODRIGUEZ, I HOPE THAT YOU'RE TALKING TO THAT PRINCIPAL OF BUFORD HIGH SCHOOL AND THAT THIS IS A CRUCIAL INTEGRAL PART OF THE CURRICULUM FOR FRESHMEN, AND IT SHOULD BE AT RUBICON.
WE SHOULD HAVE ALL KINDS OF RESOURCES AND CURRICULUM SUPPORTS IN RUBICON FOR THIS, FOR THE NEW TEACHERS THAT COME TO THIS AREA THAT DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT, BUT TO VOTE YES, FOR THIS MOTION.
AGAIN, I DON'T SEE IT MUCH DIFFERENT THAN THE LAST ONE, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT ENDS.
SO RIGHT NOW GRADUATION'S FOUR WEEKS AWAY.
SO DOES IT MEAN IF, I MEAN ON, ON EVERYTHING THAT THERE MIGHT BE, WE HAVE TO, IF, IF THERE IS THAT FACE OF THAT EAGLE, WE HAVE TO THROW IT ALL OUT AND REPLACE EVERY, IT JUST DON'T KNOW WHERE IT ENDS.
I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION, SO I CAN'T SUPPORT THIS NOW, BUT HEAR ME LOUD AND CLEAR.
I FULLY SUPPORT THE HISTORY BEING FRONT AND CENTER OKAY.
OF BUFORD HIGH SCHOOL AND THE WAY THAT THE MASCOT AND THE COLORS AND EVERYTHING CAME CAME ABOUT.
AND IT SHOULD NEVER, EVER BE TOUCHED AT THE INSTITUTION OF LEARNING, WHICH IS BUFORD HIGH SCHOOL.
SO I CAN'T SUPPORT IT RIGHT NOW.
THE MOTION IS SAYS, LET'S SEE, EVERYBODY'S WHO'S HANDS UP.
IN TERMS OF, IN TERMS OF WHAT SHE JUST SAID.
UM, AND I WOULD LIKE TO ADD IN SIGNATURE PLACES, THE ESSENTIAL PLACES, LIKE AS IN THE FOOTBALL FIELD, BECAUSE WE JUST, WE JUST TALKED ABOUT GRADUATION.
GRADUATION IS A FORMAL PLACE WHERE YOUR BRAND IS AT.
SO, I MEAN, SO I MEAN, JUST TO BRING, TO BRING CLARITY, SHE SAID SHE, NO, SHE WOULDN'T SHOW UP AS A T-SHIRTS ARE NO DIFFERENT TEAMS CAN HAVE CERTAIN DIFFERENT THINGS.
BUT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT REPRESENTING YOU FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL, WE HAVE BASKETBALL TEAMS WHO HAVE JERSEYS THAT ARE GREAT AND GREEN, THAT'S NOT OUR COLOR.
OTHER PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT KINDS OF I'VE HAD SOMEONE TOLD ME THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHO THEY KNOW WHO WE WEREN'T ON THE COURT.
THEY KNOW WHAT SCHOOL THAT WAS BECAUSE OUR COLORS ARE GREEN AND WHITE.
I TRACK UNIFORMS ARE GREEN AND WHITE.
SO, SO AS BIG AS I THINK THAT I'M, I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A, A STEP.
WE DIDN'T SAY, I MEAN, LET, LET LET'S EDIT.
LET'S, LET'S GET REALLY SERIOUS ABOUT DOING IT.
WHY NOT? LET'S GET IT DONE TONIGHT.
WE DIDN'T SAY WE HAVE TO, WE HAVE TO PAY THE 65.
HOW MUCH OF A DOWNLOAD THAT, THAT IT TAKES.
WE DIDN'T SAY THAT WE'RE SAYING THAT LET'S GET SOMETHING DONE AND LET'S SHOW OUR TASK TO PARENTS.
LET'S PUT OUR MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH IS.
IF WE'RE REALLY SERIOUS, THEN I SHOWED THEM.
WE DIDN'T SAY THAT IT HAS TO BE DONE TONIGHT, OR THAT WE HAVE TO REOPEN HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO COST.
SO I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED WHEN I HEAR, OH, I'M FOR IT.
AND I'M OPEN FOR IT AND I WANT TO GET IT DONE, BUT WE CAN DO IT THROUGH THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS.
THE PROCESS IS THAT REALISTICALLY THAT'S LADIES OUT IN HIGH SCHOOL, WE'VE HAD HIGHS ON LADY'S ISLAND.
THE T THE NAME, THE TIDAL WAVE CAME FROM SOMEPLACE DIFFERENT.
SO IF WE STILL HAVE THAT NAME, THEN WHY ARE WE HONORING EVERYTHING THAT COMES WITH IT, IT, MR. SMITH, ARE YOU GOING TO AMEND YOUR MOTION? UH, I GET TO, I GET TO THAT AMOUNT.
UM, UM, YEAH, AS, AS, AS, AS WELL AS, UH, THE ATHLETIC ATHLETE, AS WELL AS THE ATHLETIC AREAS, SO THAT WE'LL TAKE CARE OF THAT TO ATHLETICS, AS WELL AS THE ATHLETIC AREAS
[03:05:27]
YOU HAVE TO PUT WHERE WHERE'S THAT JUST BECAUSE IF YOU PUT WHATSAPP, THEN THAT MEANS WHERE WAS THAT KNOB? YOU WANT TO PUT, UH, ATHLETIC, ATHLETIC AREAS AS WELL.I MEAN, ADD THE ATHLETIC AREAS AND NOT PUT WHERE IT WAS THAT JUST PUT THE ATHLETE AREAS AS WELL.
SO THEREFORE I PROBABLY BE A MILLIONAIRE.
HE SAID HE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THAT.
THAT'S PROBABLY MY, MY, MY, MY, MY PURPOSE OF DOING THAT AND ADDING NETFLIX AREAS.
AND SO THEREFORE, IF A CERTAIN ATHLETICS, CERTAIN SPORT WANT TO ADD SOMETHING DIFFERENT OR WANT TO MAY USE THAT EAGLE HEAD, THAT DOESN'T LIMITED THEM IN, IN TERMS OF THEIR CERTAIN, CERTAIN THINGS.
BECAUSE AS LONG AS IT'S, AS IT'S KNOWN THAT THE FIGHTING EGO IS WHO WE ARE IN OUR, I MEAN, AS LONG AS IT'S KNOWN THAT A FIGHTING EAGLE IS OUR EMBLEM, THEN THAT GIVES THEM THE, THE, A LITTLE LEEWAY, AS LONG AS THAT, THAT IS, THAT IS KNOWN BECAUSE WHEN YOU GO IN THAT ERA, THAT'S WHAT YOU SEE.
SO IT'S NOTHING WRONG WITH USING, YOU KNOW, WITH, I GUESS, HAVING A LITTLE SOMETHING DIFFERENT, BUT THAT THE, THE FIGHT, THE FIGHTING EGO IS THE, THE, THE, THE, THE BRAND.
SO, SO, AND SO IN TERMS OF MRS. WHAT MRS. FISHER SAID THE ONE TIME BEFORE, WHERE COULD IT NOT JUST BE A B OKAY.
THAT'S ATHLETIC WRESTLE THAT GIVES THEM THAT OP THAT GIVES THEM THE, THAT GIVES THEM THE OPTION TO PUT THAT BEYOND ON THE HAT.
I GIVE THEM THE OPTION TO PUT A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT THINGS ON THE HAT.
SO, YOU KNOW, SO, AND THIS AND THAT, THIS DOESN'T HAVE TO BE, YOU KNOW, DONE AS ONE BIG CABOOSE.
THIS CAN BE PHASED, BUT LESS MY POLICE THAT WE DO, WE DO SOMETHING TONIGHT.
AND THAT WE'VE PUT OUR MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH IS, AND THAT WE AREN'T SAYING THAT, OH, IT HAS TO BE DONE.
UH, AS IN IT HAS TO BE RESTORATIVE IMMEDIATELY.
THAT'S WHY I DIDN'T SAY EFFECTIVELY, IMMEDIATELY.
I'M SAYING THAT WE STOPPED THE PROCESS.
THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING FOR, UM, WE'VE GOT TO DO OUR NINE O'CLOCK PUBLIC COMMENTS, SO WE'LL HAVE TO CONTINUE THIS DISCUSSION AFTER OUR NINE O'CLOCK PUBLIC COMMENTS, UM, MR. GREEN, UM, SO ALL OF THE BOARD MEMBERS, INCLUDING THE CHAIRMAN WHO IS NOT HERE, UM, SO MUCH HAS BEEN SAID TONIGHT, NOT ONLY ABOUT THE EAGLE, BUT EVEN THE STUDENTS THAT GOT UP ONE THING IN PARTICULAR THAT GOT MY ATTENTION WHEN THE STUDENTS WERE UP.
AND THAT IS HOW YOU COMMENDED THEM.
DON'T REMEMBER ALL THE WORDS, BUT ONE WAS HONESTY AND INTEGRITY WITH THE WAY IN WHICH THIS WAS REMOVED, LACK, BOTH THE QUESTION HAS BEEN ASKED, WHO IS RESPONSIBLE TO A GREAT EXTENT IS ALMOST NOT IMPORTANT OTHER THAN TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.
I COMMEND YOU FOR CARING ABOUT YOUR PHYSICAL FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, BUT THAT QUESTION SHOULD HAVE BEEN ASKED BEFORE IT WAS REMOVED.
SO IS IT MORE EXPENSIVE TO REMOVE SOMETHING THAT IS WRONG? AND YOU SAY, HOW CAN I STAND HERE AND SAY, WHAT IS RIGHT OR WHAT IS WRONG? I WAS IN 71.
I BLED CRIED AND SWEAT IT, NOT JUST IN 71, BUT THAT PROCESS STARTED WITH ME BACK IN 1965.
SO I KNOW WHAT WE WENT THROUGH SO MUCH HAS BEEN SAID.
UM, I DON'T WANT TO THE LITTLE THE POINT, BUT IN THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT, HE SAID, HE SPOKE
[03:10:01]
TO THE CHILDREN.WE SPEAK TO, WE NEED TO BRING THEM ALONG.
AND IT SOUNDS AS IF, WELL, IF THEY DON'T LIKE THIS EMBLEM, THEY WON'T BE WITH YOU.
LOOK THAT EAGLE STANDS FOR SOMETHING SO PROUD THAT IF THIS TOOL RIGHT, THE FOUNDATION OF GREATNESS HAS ALREADY BEEN SET AT BEFORE THAT, AND WE CAN CONTINUE THAT WITH THE FOUNDATION WE HAVE.
WE DON'T SAY WE DON'T WANT TO BRING THE CHILDREN ALONG.
ONE OF THE SWEETEST WORDS I'VE EVER HEARD SPOKE TO MY NIECE AT A ROCK HILL WHO RAN TRACK AND SAID, SIMONE, HOW DID Y'ALL DO WELL? WE WERE DOING GREAT UNTIL THEM EAGLES FROM BUFORD HAD SHOWED UP AND FLEW AROUND THE TRACK.
SO EVERYONE WE KNOW WHO WE ARE.
I'M PROUD TO BE HERE THIS EVENING.
I LIKE TO LET YOU KNOW WHO I AM.
SO I AM A PRODUCT OF BUFORD COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM.
WHEN I WAS EIGHT YEARS OLD, I WENT TO BUFORD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, BROAD RIVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
I'M PROUD TO SAY I WAS IN THE FIRST CLASS THAT WALKED THROUGH THE BUILDING OF ROBERT SMALLS.
NOW ROBERT SMALLS INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY.
THEN IT WAS ROBERT SMALLS, JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL.
AND I GRADUATED FROM BATTERY CREEK HIGH SCHOOL IN 1990.
I AM HERE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I AM INVESTED IN THIS COMMUNITY.
I SPENT 14 YEARS IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA, AND IN THE 14 YEARS THAT I WAS THERE, UM, I LEARNED A LOT OF STUFF AND I WORKED VERY HARD, BUT THEN I FELT I NEEDED TO COME AND INVEST IN MY COMMUNITY.
AND UNFORTUNATELY IN 2013, I MADE THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT I'M MAKING NOW.
AND YOU MAY SAY, OH, THAT'S NOT A BIG DEAL.
BUT HERE'S WHAT THE BIG DEAL IS.
BUFORD'S ECONOMY IS VERY SIMILAR TO ATLANTA.
AND IF IN 2013, I WAS MAKING WHAT I'M MAKING.
NOW HERE, YOU KNOW, THAT I'M WORKING EXTRA HARD TO BE ABLE TO LIVE HERE IN BUFORD COUNTY.
I PURCHASED THE HOME IN AN AREA WHERE I COULD BE IN MY COMMUNITY SO THAT THE STUDENTS THAT I TEACH ARE MY NEIGHBORS.
NOT MANY TEACHERS CAN SAY THAT.
AND MY PRINCIPAL WILL TELL YOU THAT WHEN HE CAME ON, AS THE PRINCIPAL, I WENT TO MEET HIM AND SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT? I'M THE REAL DEAL.
AND THERE HAVE BEEN MANY PRINCIPALS SINCE I RETURNED TO BE FOR COUNTY.
IN FACT, I WAS HIRED AGAIN HERE BY THE PRINCIPAL THAT I WORKED FOR WHEN I LEFT IN 1999.
SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONSIDER YOUR STAFF, CONSIDER THE PEOPLE THAT ARE INVESTED HERE.
WE WANT THE BEST TEACHERS HERE IN BUFORD COUNTY.
AND I MUST SAY I HAD THE BEST TEACHERS, WHICH HELPED ME TO COME BACK, WHICH HELPED ME WANT TO DO WHAT I DO.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT HOW YOU WANT TO SUPPORT YOUR TEACHERS, WE APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO.
RODRIGUEZ A FEW WEEKS AGO AND SAID, I KNOW YOUR JOB IS DIFFICULT.
AND I KNOW THAT YOU ALL ARE WORKING HARD AND I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO.
BUT AS MY SHIRT SAYS, I AM THAT TEACHER.
AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE MANY LIKE ME THAT WANT TO BE HERE AND THEY WANT TO FEEL AS THOUGH YOU SUPPORT THEM.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO AND THANK YOU FOR THINKING OF YOUR TEACHERS THE NIGHT.
I'M AT, YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES.
IF YOU WOULD STATE YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME, YOU READY? OKAY.
[03:15:01]
HOLD ON.MY NAME IS DANIELLE HUNT AND I TEACH THIRD GRADE AT OTT EACH YEAR.
I RECEIVED MY ANNUAL BENEFITS STATEMENT, WHICH INCLUDES SICK DAYS AS PART OF MY COMPENSATION.
HOWEVER, AS A DEDICATED TEACHER, I CHOOSE NOT TO TAKE MY SICK DAYS WHENEVER POSSIBLE.
AFTER 19 YEARS OF TEACHING, I REALIZED THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS IT HAS ON MY STUDENTS AND MY CLASSROOM DYNAMICS AS A WHOLE, OVER THE YEARS, I'VE SERVED YOU FOR COUNTY STUDENTS AND FAMILIES.
AND I HAVE DEPENDED ON MY FAMILY TO STAY HOME WITH MY OWN SICK CHILDREN AND TAKE THEM TO VARIOUS APPOINTMENTS.
SO I COULD BE IN THE CLASSROOM WITH MY KIDS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE WITHOUT TAKEN MATERNITY LEAVE.
WHEN I HAD MY TWO CHILDREN, I WOULD CURRENTLY BE WELL OVER 90 UNUSED DAYS.
AFTER 90 ACCUMULATED DAYS, I WILL BEGIN TO LOSE THESE DAYS UPON RETIREMENT.
I WILL BE COMPENSATED $10 A DAY FOR ONLY 90 DAYS.
THIS IS A DISGRACE AND IT WOULD BE FINANCIALLY IRRESPONSIBLE FOR ME NOT TO BEGIN TAKING MY DAY.
I HAVE EARNED THESE DAYS AND THEY ARE A COMPONENT OF MY BENEFITS PACKAGE.
I AM ENTITLED TO PAY FOR MY DAYS AT MY DAILY RATE.
AS A BOARD, YOU NEED TO ENSURE THAT YOU SHOW RESPECT FOR THE DEDICATED TEACHERS WHO HAVE LONGEVITY WITH THE DISTRICT AND WHO HAVE PROVEN THEIR DEDICATION TO THE PROFESSION PROFESSION AND THEIR STUDENTS AND THEIR FELLOW COLLEAGUES BY COMING TO SCHOOL EACH DAY, PLEASE.
SO TEACHERS THAT WE ARE RESPECTED AND OUR PROFESSION IS VALUED BY FULLY COMPENSATING US FOR OUR DAY.
ANYTHING OTHER THAN FULL COMPENSATION IS A SLAP IN THE FACE TO YOUR TEACHERS AND OUR PROFESSION.
THANK YOU FOR HEARING MY CONCERN.
UM, I DO WANT TO REMIND THE BOARD THAT WE HAVE A STOPPING TIME AT NINE 15, UNLESS WE HAVE A MOTION TO CONTINUE THE MEETING.
HOW ABOUT WE DISPOSE OF WHAT WE HAVE ON THE FLOOR? YEAH.
I JUST WAS AFRAID THAT, YOU KNOW, THE DISCUSSION IS GONNA TAKE US WHEN WE HAVE OTHER THINGS, BUT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE WITH THIS UNTIL WE DISPOSE OF IT, I GUESS, UNTIL WE, WELL, ONLY, I'M JUST ASKING FOR THAT.
I'M JUST ASKING FOR THE BOARD TO OBS, JUST GOING TO BE DONE ON THE, I'M ASKING FOR THE BOARD TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY, SHOW THE COMMUNITY THAT WE MEAN WHAT WE SAY, PUT OUR MONEY AND I PUT OUR MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH IS AND YOU KNOW, THAT I ACTUALLY BE SHOWN THE ACTION CAUSE NO ACTION IS ACTION.
AND, YOU KNOW, TO GET THIS DONE, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE SHOW THE SHOW, THE COMMUNITY THAT WE DO VALUE HISTORY, AND THAT WE WANT TO BE FAIR AND SENSITIVE AND DIN OBJECTIVE TO ALL, TO ALL TO OFTEN TO EVERYONE'S NEEDS IN THIS COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF, OF OUR RACING HISTORY AND, UH, RE RE RE RE RESTORING WHAT, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT WE SHOULD, WHAT WE SHOULD RESTORE TO THE COMMUNITY I'M DONE.
UM, OCTOPUS, NEVSKY, YOU HAD YOUR HAND UP PRIOR TO THE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
WAS THERE SOMETHING YOU WANTED TO ADD? UM, I HAVE THE SAME CONCERNS, UM, THAT SOME OF THE OTHER MEMBERS HAVE MENTIONED.
UM, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE FUNDING WOULD COME FROM TO DO THIS.
I KNOW THAT COLONEL GEIER MENTIONED THE STUDENT ACTIVITIES ACCOUNT, WHICH AS OF DECEMBER, 2021 FOR BUFORD HIGH HAD 198,000 IN IT.
SO, UM, WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH OF THAT, UM, WOULD BE EATEN UP BY DOING THIS.
UM, I THINK THAT WE ALSO NEED TO GET TO THE, THE SIGNIFICANT ROOT OF THE ISSUE LIKE, UM, MR. CAMPBELL MENTIONED, AND MR.
I CANNOT SUPPORT THIS MOTION BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH IT WILL COST US.
I DON'T VOTE FOR THINGS IF I DON'T KNOW, UH, IF I CAN'T SUPPORT THEM WITH THE MONEY, UM, WE HAVE TEACHERS THAT NEED, UH, ADDITIONAL SALARIES.
WE HAVE LOTS OF ECONOMIC NEEDS.
I THINK THE IMPORTANT PART HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT IT'S THE HISTORY.
UM, I WILL SUPPORT ANYTHING I CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT THE HISTORY IS TAUGHT TO THE STUDENTS
[03:20:01]
AS THEY COME ON AND THAT THE HISTORY IS PRESERVED.UM, BUT AT THIS TIME I CAN'T SUPPORT EMOTION THAT HAS, UM, FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCES THAT I AM NOT SURE HOW WE WOULD MEET MR. SMITH.
YOU KNOW, I KEEP HEARING EVERYBODY SAY ABOUT FINANCIAL.
WE COULD COME BACK AND REVISIT THE FINANCIAL PART OF IT.
I THINK TO ME, IT'S NOT PUTTING THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE IS BASICALLY AS AN EXCUSE, NOT TO VOTE, NOT SUPPORT IT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE DIDN'T, WE DIDN'T, WE DIDN'T SAY WHAT ABOUT THE FINANCES WHEN IT HAPPENED? ALL I CARE, WE CAN SPRAY PAINT THE EAGLE ON THE FIELD AND, AND, AND, AND SPRAY PAINTED HIM AND PUT HIM PUT A FIGHTING EAGLE ON THE FIELD.
SO, SO WHAT WE REALLY, WE WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT FINANCES.
SOME PEOPLE JUST UNCOMFORTABLE, UNCOMFORTABLE MAKING A DECISION IN TERMS OF, OF THE HISTORY AND, AND, AND WHAT, AND WHAT IS REALLY ABOUT, BECAUSE WE MAKE IT A LOT OF DECISIONS WITH WHAT WE HAVE.
WE HAVE TO FIND MONEY AS THE BOARD IS OUR JOB TO MAKE IT, MAKE THE DECISIONS.
AND, AND WE, AND WE LEAVE IT UP TO THE SUPERINTENDENT TO FIND THE, FIND THE FINANCES.
SO, I MEAN, SO WE, WE CAN'T GET AMNESIA AND MAKE DECISIONS WHEN IT'S CONVENIENT.
SOMETIMES THINGS IN LIFE ARE UNCOMFORTABLE, AND THIS IS UNCOMFORTABLE DECISION.
IT'S UNCOMFORTABLE FOR ME, MY CAREER AND MY COMMUNITY FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY I DIDN'T, I PACIFICALLY DIDN'T SAY EFFECTIVELY, IMMEDIATELY WE COULD HAVE, IF IT WAS THAT, IF IT WAS, IF PEOPLE WERE THAT SERIOUS ABOUT IT, SOMEONE COULD SAY, MRS. SMITH, LET'S PUT US IN STEP.
THIS IS THE FIRST STEP TO GETTING THAT CHANGE.
I SAID THAT ABOUT FIVE OR 10 TIMES A NIGHT IN TERMS OF FINANCE.
SO I JUST REALLY FEEL THAT THAT SHOWN AS SHOWN ACTUALLY I CAN'T COME IN.
OTHER, SOME OF IT HAS GOTTEN TO BE A PART OF THE CRITICAL RACE THEORY.
I MEAN, I'VE BEEN TRYING NOT TO SAY THAT THE WHOLE NIGHT, BUT ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS, AND I'M ALSO GOING TO BE DONE WITH IT.
I AIN'T GOING TO, I AIN'T GO OUT.
I'M NOT GOING TO TALK, TALK ROUGH TO BOARD MEMBERS.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY MIGHT TAKE OF ME AND I'M NOT BEING ROUGH.
AND THE TRUTH IS UNCOMFORTABLE AND IT HURTS SOMETIMES.
AND I'M HURT BY THE DECISION THAT, ABOUT THAT.
MY COLLEAGUES, I'M MAKING THAT, THE MESSAGE THAT WE'RE SENDING TO THE COMMUNITY, TO TAXPAYERS WHO WERE GOING TO GO OUT AND WE'RE GOING TO ASK THEM TO SUPPORT US IN A REFERENDUM TO COME.
AND WE DON'T WANT TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT BY, BUT BY STARTING THE PROCESS, NOT SAYING THAT WE GONNA DO, WE GONNA DO IT TOMORROW.
WE GONNA PAY FOR THE MONEY SPRAY, SPRAY THE SPRAY TO BURDEN THE FIELD SPRAY, TO FIGHT AN EAGLE, EVERYBODY READY TO VOTE.
UH, THE MOTION READS THE AMENDED MOTION IS TO RESTORE THE ORIGINAL SOARING EAGLE TO THE SIGNIFICANT PLACES, AS WELL AS THE ATHLETIC AREAS.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING, AYE, THOSE OPPOSED SIX.
UH, DO WE NOW GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION? SO I HAVE EARL CAMPBELL BUILDING.
AND DICK GUY OR HOLDING? YES, I HAVE ANGELA MIDDLETON OF STATE.
I MOVE THAT THE BOARD DIRECTOR SUPERINTENDENT TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO PRESERVE THE HISTORY OF BUFORD HIGH SCHOOL IN ALL WAYS POSSIBLE AT, ON THIS IS, YOU KNOW, LET'S, LET'S EXAMINE THE FRESHMEN ORIENTATIONS AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.
LET'S EXAMINE THE SCHOOL WEBSITE AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.
LET'S MAKE SURE THIS IS INCLUDED IN THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN EDUCATION CONFERENCE AND OTHER THINGS I CAN'T THINK OF, BUT LET'S COME UP WITH A PLAN TO MAKE SURE
[03:25:01]
THIS HISTORY IS PRESERVED.UM, CAN I VERIFY THE MOTION? I MOVE THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT DEVELOPED A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO PRESERVE THE HISTORY OF BEAVER HIGH SCHOOL, THAT THE MOTION DID YOU HEAR THAT DAVID CAMPBELL, BESIDES THE CLEARING ANY HISTORY OF BEFORE THE HIGH SCHOOL WOULD PROBABLY BEGIN WITH THOSE ANIMALS AND COLORS, ET CETERA.
I, YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE THAT INITIATIVE, BUT THERE IS MORE TO IT THAN JUST THE ANVIL AND JUST THE INITIAL HISTORY.
SO THAT ALSO IS A PART OF WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT FOR MONTHS NOW, THE, THE PROFILE OF THE BUFORD COUNTY GRADUATE.
I THINK THAT'S A BIG PART OF, OF THAT INITIATIVE ALONG WITH, YOU KNOW, OTHER ENTITIES IN THE COUNTY, BUT BUFORD HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS OUGHT TO KNOW THE HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL FIRST, BUT THEN THE HISTORY OF THE SURROUNDING COUNTY AREA AND, AND OTHER OTHER PARTS OF UTAH COUNTY.
SO I DON'T WANT TO PIGEON HOLE THEM INTO JUST LEARNING BEFORE HI HISTORY, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY AN INTENT THAT WE ALL EXPECT WHEN A STUDENT COMES IN THERE THAT THEIR HIGH SCHOOL HISTORY IS DAWN AND TEACHERS AND STUDENTS ARE GOING TO BE UP.
THAT'S A PART OF SCHOOL SPIRIT.
YOU UNDERSTAND THAT HISTORY, BUT UNDERSTANDING THE HISTORY OF THE AREA AND HOW BEAUTIFUL COUNTY TIES INTO THAT HISTORY IS ALSO RELEVANT.
AND I, AND WHEN I'M SAYING THAT, I'M SAYING IT CANNOT POSSIBLY UNDERSTAND BEFORE COUNTY, BEFORE HIGH SCHOOL HISTORY, UNLESS YOU UNDERSTAND ME FOR COUNTY'S HISTORY AND THEY CAN UNDERSTAND ME FOR CONNIE'S HISTORY, LESS.
THEY UNDERSTAND THE EDUCATION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, THE HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA'S HISTORY, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO SEPARATE BUT EQUAL.
SO ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE INTERTWINED AND THOSE GUARANTEES HAVE TO BE BUILT INTO OUR TOTAL CURRICULUM.
UM, I AGREE WITH MELVIN, UM, WE DON'T EVEN KNOW MOST FOLKS IN, IN BUFORD COUNTY DON'T EVEN KNOW THE HISTORY OF FRANKLIN AT SCHOOL WAS STARTED BY MR. SHANKLIN AND BOOKER T WASHINGTON.
UM, IN TERMS OF THIS, I THINK THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE, THE BOARD HAVE ALREADY GIVEN DR.
RODRIGUEZ, UH, GUIDANCE ON THIS.
UH, AND THEN, AND AS MR. CAMPBELL SAID, THAT WAS IN THE TERM OF THE BEAVER COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT PROFILE OF STUDENTS STUDENT PROFILE.
SO I THINK IT WOULD BE CALMER.
I DON'T THINK IT BE PRODUCTIVE, UM, FOR US TO BE DOING THIS AND MAKING IT AS ONE AS IN 1, 1, 1 SCHOOL, ISN'T JUST BE FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL, BECAUSE THIS DOES NOT, THIS IS NOT A FIXED.
I MEAN, IT WAS, IT WAS A GOOD, UH, IT WAS A GOOD GESTURE.
I'M GONNA CALL IT WHAT IT IS A GOOD GESTURE, BUT THIS IS NOT, THIS IS NOT ACTUALLY PUTTING THE BANDAID ON THE, ON THE SITUATION BECAUSE WE'VE ALREADY HAVE GIVEN DR.
RODRIGUEZ, THE OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE ALREADY ALREADY ASKED YOU TO GIVE HIM DIRECTION IN TERMS OF THE BEAVER COUNTY SCHOOL, UH, STUDENT, UH, PROFILE IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR AND WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO ADD THAT IN.
AND I BELIEVE THAT THAT DESCRIBES, HAD WHAT REPORTS BACK AND THEY WERE, THEY W THEY WERE ALREADY WORKING ON THIS.
SO I DON'T, I DON'T BELIEVE THIS IS KIND OF COUNTER PRODUCTIVE TO DO THE, TO DO THAT.
AND IT ALSO HE'S HAVE ALREADY WORKED ON IT BECAUSE HE BOUGHT A REPORT, A REPORT BACK.
SO I CAN'T SUPPORT THIS MOTION BECAUSE THIS MOTION REALLY DOES NOTHING.
IT DOESN'T MEAN IT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD.
IT WAS A GOOD GESTURE, BUT THAT'S ABOUT IT.
IT'S, THERE'S, THERE'S NO, THERE'S NOTHING CONCRETE IN IT.
[03:30:02]
UM, I CONCUR WILLIAM.I THINK THIS MOTION IS KIND OF BROAD.
I WOULD SEE THIS MOTION AS BEING TOO BROAD AND REDUNDANT FOR WHAT WE'RE ALREADY DOING, UM, WITH THE, UM, COMPREHENSIVE, UH, UH, YEAH, B FOR PROFILE.
AND THEN I SEE IT AS, TOO NARROW THAT WE'RE ONLY FOCUSING ON BUFORD HIGH SCHOOL.
AND IT'S NOT THAT I DON'T THINK HISTORY IS IMPORTANT.
I THINK HISTORY IS VITAL, BUT I JUST, I JUST DON'T THINK THIS IS, UH, THIS IS, UH, WILL ACCOMPLISH WHAT MAYBE, UM, THE INTENT WAS BY MR.
SO I WON'T SUPPORT THIS IT'S DISTRIBUTOR.
I'M I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED, BUT, UM, EVERYBODY HAS THEIR OWN SLANT ON THIS.
I'M JUST TRYING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE THAT CAME BEFORE US BY THE CLASS OF 71.
AND I'M TRYING TO ADDRESS IT HEAD ON.
THEY DON'T WANT THE HISTORY OF BUFORD HIGH SCHOOL LOST THIS MOTION IS AN ATTEMPT ON MY PART TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE, HEAD ON, MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T LOSE IT, DO WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO PRESERVE THAT HISTORY.
NOT ABOUT BUFORD COUNTY, CLASS OF 71 IS TALKING ABOUT, DO FOR HIGH SCHOOL.
SO THAT THAT'S THE POINT OF THIS MOTION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
I SAID, I AL DID YOU SAY I, I DAVID YOUR EYE? I HAVE EARL CAMPBELL, DAVID DISTRIBUTOR, CATHY TO CAMPBELL.
I HAVE DAVID STRIVEN, DEAR CAT ROLE BY MELVIN CAMPBELL AND ANGELA MIDDLETON.
DID RACHEL SAY I, RACHEL SAID I GOT IT.
I HAVE EARL CAMPBELL, DAVID STEVENS, OR KATHY ROLL BY MELVIN CAMPBELL'S, RACHEL ONESKI AND ANGELA MIDDLETON.
SO IT IS, UM, EIGHT GAS UNKNOWN NINE.
THERE'S A MOTION WE VOTE THAT WE ADJOURN ANY DISCUSSION AFTER, RIGHT.
BECAUSE I THINK WE HAVE SOME OF OUR TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS THAT ARE STILL HANGING ON FOR DEAR LIFE HERE ON THE BUDGET CONVERSATION.
THAT, THAT IS STILL, STILL OUT THERE.
SO, UM, TOMORROW, TOMORROW? YEAH.
FORTUNATELY RACHEL'S HANDS UP.
UM, I'M GONNA VOTE NO ON ADJOURNING, UH, SIMPLY BECAUSE I DID WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE BUDGET DISCUSSION.
UM, THERE WAS, UH, I THINK THERE'S BEEN SIGNIFICANT CHANGES SINCE OUR BOARD WORK SESSION AND I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE TOMORROW.
UM, AND I REALLY WANTED TO HAVE, UM, INPUT IN THAT DISCUSSION.
UM, SO IF THIS DOES PASS THEM, WE ARE GOING TO ADJOURN.
I GUESS I COULD SUBMIT, HOW CAN I SUBMIT MY, MY COMMENTS?
[03:35:01]
IT'S JUST SUCH A BIG DISCUSSION.I, I ALREADY HAVE, UM, SOMETHING THAT I HAVE TO BE AT TOMORROW.
IS THERE ANYBODY HAVE A SESSION? YEAH.
WELL, I THINK YOU CAN ALWAYS SUBMIT THEM TO THE, I CAN DO THEM NOW.
YOU CAN SEND THEM TO TANYA, TO MS. CROSBY.
I PERSONALLY WOULD RATHER WE FINISH TONIGHT MYSELF.
UM, I'VE ACADEMIC COMMITTEE MEETING TOMORROW AT FIVE O'CLOCK.
SO I GUESS THAT WOULD GO BY THE WAYSIDE.
UM, OR WE COME HERE AND HAVE THAT ACADEMIC COMMITTEE MEETING AT FIVE.
I PREFER TO READ JOHN, UH, MR. SMITH.
I WILL SUPPORT IT BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT I THINK THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A FRESH MIND WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF THE, THIS BUDGET AND WHAT PEOPLE ARE PROPOSING AND ALL THE EMAILS.
AND SO THAT WE'VE HAD, YOU KNOW, I THINK, RIGHT, RIGHT NOW, I'M NOT SURE MAYBE WITH WHOEVER, WHEREVER WHERE WE'RE THERE.
SO I DON'T SEE A PROBLEM WITH COME BACK TOMORROW AND GET IT DONE ONE MORE DAY.
WE'LL WANT TO SHOW HOW THAT, HOW THAT WILL HURT.
SO I WOULD DEFINITELY SUPPORT THIS MOTION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR TO, UH, DAVID, MR.
I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY, I AGREE WITH MR. SMITH.
UH, THE BUDGET IS A BIG TOPIC.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF A JOURNEY, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
THOSE OPPOSED FOR EARNING A TOP ENDORSEMENT.
THE BUFORD COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICTS OFFICE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD HAS BEEN NAMED AS A PARENTS, AS TEACHERS BLUE RIBBON AFFILIATE.
WE ARE EXCITED TO BE NAMED A BLUE RIBBON PARENTS AS TEACHERS AFFILIATE, AS IT'S A DIRECT RESULT OF THE DEDICATED TEAMWORK, STRATEGIC PLANNING, AND PASSIONATE SERVICE BY OUR PARENT EDUCATORS AND TEAM.
SO MOM, WOULD YOU TAP ON THE BOOK AND GO AHEAD AND START.
THE BLUE RIBBON ENDORSEMENT RECOGNIZES THE PARENTS AS TEACHERS PROGRAM FOR DELIVERING OUTSTANDING SERVICES TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AS THEY WORK TO PROMOTE AND END COVERAGE LANGUAGE, INTELLECTUAL GROWTH, AND MORE HER PARENTS AS TEACHERS PROGRAM IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY PROGRAMS IN THE HOME VISITATION AND PARENT EDUCATION FIELD.
WE SEND OUR PARENT EDUCATORS INTO THE HOMES OF FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN, BIRTH THROUGH KINDERGARTEN.
THE PARENTS AS TEACHERS PROGRAM DOES MORE THAN JUST WORK WITH CHILDREN PROGRAM EMPHASIZES TO PARENTS THAT THEY ARE THEIR CHILD'S FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT TEACHER.
OUR ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO BUILD STRONG, SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES, THRIVING FAMILIES, AND TO ENSURE ALL CHILDREN WILL BE SUCCESSFUL IN KINDERGARTEN.
AND BEYOND THAT DISTRICT'S PARENTS, AS TEACHERS PROGRAM WILL BE HONORED FOR THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENT AT THE 2022 PARENTS, AS TEACHERS INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE NEXT YEAR IN COLORADO FOR THE BUFORD COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT RAMOS.
AND WHAT ABOUT THE RED SQUARE SLIME AND COUNTY CHANNEL? UM, WE LEFT
[8. Board Business Action]
OFF ON THE AGENDA.THE FIRST ITEM WE WILL DISCUSS TONIGHT IS REVISIT MOTION TO TABLE IMPACT THE DISCUSSION.
UM, I DID ASK FOR THIS, UM, THIS, UH, TOPIC TO BE TAKEN OFF THE TABLE TO REVISIT THE DISCUSSION ON IMPACT FEES.
UM, WHEN THE BOARD VOTED TO TABLE, THIS DISCUSSION THAT WAS FRIDAY, APRIL 22ND ON MONDAY, APRIL 25TH, UH, BUFORD COUNTY COUNCIL REPEALED SCHOOL IMPACT FEES.
UM, I BELIEVE THAT IT IS CRUCIAL THAT WE HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT IMPACT FEES.
UM, THIS BOARD VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO HAVE IMPACT FEES, UM, AS STATE STATUTE ALLOWS.
AND, UM, I'M MOSTLY INTERESTED IN THE DISCUSSION BEING AROUND WHAT OUR NEXT STEPS CAN BE.
SO I MOVE THAT THE, UH, DISCUSSION ON IMPACT PHASE BE TAKEN OFF THE TABLE.
[03:40:09]
ALL SECOND.ANYONE ELSE? DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION? OKAY.
TRISHA CAME THROUGH QUITE CLEARLY, BUT YOU ARE NOT.
I WAS JUST LETTING YOU KNOW BETTER NOW.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE DID.
SO IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION THAT'S ON THE FLOOR.
GRADS, CAN YOU HEAR US? WE ARE A LITTLE TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY.
WE WILL, UM, HOLD FOR A MINUTE TO SEE IF WE CAN GET IT RESOLVED AN ICU.
SO AT THIS TIME, UM, THERE DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE ANY DISCUSSION, SO WE WILL VOTE ON THE MOTION.
THE MOTION IS, UM, THAT I MOVED THAT THE, THAT THE DISCUSSION OF IMPACT THESE BE TAKEN OFF THE TABLE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
GLAAD SAID I IS, IS DAVID, DID YOU SAY AYE? OKAY.
SO THAT WOULD BE 10 ZERO WITH, UH, DR.
UM, I'M NOT REALLY SURE OF THE PROCEDURE NOW.
SO WHETHER THE DISCUSSION ENSUES AT THIS TIME OR WHETHER IT WILL BE AT THE, UM, NEXT, UM, MEETING.
I DON'T KNOW THAT STAFF IS PREPARED TO TALK ABOUT NEXT STEPS ON, ON IMPACT FEES.
UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT, WHERE WE SHOULD GO WITH THIS I'M I'M NOT SURE.
I JUST, I DEFINITELY WANT IT AT LEAST AT A MINIMUM AT OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING.
IS THAT, DOES THAT MAKE SENSE TO GIVE STAFF TIME TO HELP IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THAT? UH, DR.
COLONEL GEIER OH, MR.
WHAT ARE, WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR? UM, I HEARD A TRUE SITE NEXT STEPS.
UM, IS THERE SOMETHING OTHER THAN, WHICH IS REALLY A LOGICAL THING TO TALK ABOUT, BUT IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE THAT WE'RE, THAT WE'RE AIMING FOR, THAT THE STAFF NEEDS TO GET READY? UM, THANK YOU, MRS.
UM, WE VOTED AS A BOARD UNANIMOUSLY FOR IMPACT FEES,
[03:45:02]
THE COUNTY COUNCIL REPEALED IMPACT FEES.SO AS FAR AS NEXT STEPS, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW WHAT OUR OPTIONS ARE.
SO I'M LOOKING TO SEE WHAT ARE OUR OPTIONS, HOW DO WE, UM, GET IT BACK IN FRONT OF COUNCIL COUNTY COUNCIL? UM, WHAT KIND OF TIMEFRAME WOULD THERE, WOULD THAT BE? WHAT WOULD WE HAVE TO DO TO GET IT BACK IN FRONT OF COUNTY COUNCIL AND HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT IT? UM, SO THOSE, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY OTHER IDEAS? CHRISTINA JOINED THE MEETING.
TINA, DID YOU HAVE ANY OTHER IDEAS? OKAY.
JOHN CAMPBELL, POINT OF ORDER, KATHY, I CAN'T HEAR AND LET ME NOW.
YEAH, LET'S SOUND LIKE THE AUDIO WENT OUT IF IT'S JUST ME, BUT IT SOUNDED LIKE THE AUDIO FOR THE WHOLE THING WENT OUT FOR, FOR A LITTLE BIT.
YOU'LL JUST HAVE TO LET US KNOW BECAUSE WE, UM, ARE NOT AWARE OF IT.
AND WE DISCUSSED THE DOCUMENTATION, SUPPORTING THE INFORMATION ON THE LETTER.
AND I THINK ONE OF THE POINTS WE CAN START AT IS, IS PROVIDING THAT DOCUMENTATION IN A SUPPORT LETTER AS A, AS A CONCRETE ARGUMENT FOR WHY OUR SUPPORT OF THE IMPACT FEE.
I MEAN, IT'S CLEAR THAT WE HAVE SUPPORTED IT, BUT IT'S NOT DOCUMENTED IN TERMS OF A FORMAL DOCUMENT.
SO THAT'S, THAT WOULD BE ONE OF THE POINTS I THINK WE COULD START AT ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY IDEAS.
SO AT THIS POINT WE WILL, UM, SEND IT TO THE, UH, ADMINISTRATION TO HELP US DETERMINE NEXT STEPS, UH, FOCUSING ON THE
I THINK THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF THINGS THAT PERHAPS WE, WE NEED SOME GUIDANCE ON COLONEL GEIER.
THIS IS NOT AN ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUE.
UH, THIS IS A POLITICAL ISSUE, UH, AND WE HAVE TO GET THE COUNTY COUNCIL AND US TOGETHER TO TALK ABOUT A SOLUTION.
WHAT, IN MY MIND, WHAT HAPPENED WAS COUNTY COUNCIL GOT OUT AHEAD OF THE COMMUNITIES AND THEIR INTER-GOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT.
AND THEY, I THINK PERHAPS THEY THOUGHT THAT BY SETTING UP THE IMPACT FEES ON AN UNINCORPORATED, IT WOULD PROVIDE EMPHASIS TO THE COMMUNITIES TO GET A INTER-GOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT.
BUT IT'S A BIGGER, IT'S A MUCH, MUCH BIGGER ISSUE.
AND I THINK POLITICALLY, WE HAVE TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE INCLUDED IN THE DISCUSSION AND WE HAVE TO ENSURE THAT WHEN, AND IF, WHEN NOT IF, BUT WHEN IMPACT FEES ARE RE INSTITUTED THAT WE ARE INCLUDED.
[03:50:01]
WOULD BE FOR THE CHAIR AND YOU CAN PICK SOMEBODY OR IT COULD BE THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE OR SOMETHING, HAVE A MEETING WITH THE COUNTY COUNCIL COUNTERPARTS.AND, AND THIS WORKOUT, THIS POLITICAL ISSUE, DR.
ARE YOU ABLE TO HEAR ME? ARE YOU ABLE TO HEAR ME? WE HEARD THAT.
SO CATHY, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES.
SOUNDS LIKE SHE CAN'T, I'M NOT SURE WHETHER YOU CAN HEAR ME THROUGH MY PHONE OR THROUGH THE COMPUTER, BUT IF YOU, HER WITH, OKAY.
I CONCUR WITH WHAT, UM, COLONEL GEIER JUST SAID.
I DEFINITELY THINK, UM, THERE, THERE'S A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT I SEE PROBLEMATIC.
IT SEEMS TO ME HAVING ATTENDED THE, UM, BLUFFTON TOWN COUNCIL MEETING IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR AND HAVING READ THE NEWSPAPER ARTICLES, UM, THE ISLAND PACKET ARTICLE THAT WAS PUBLISHED, LET'S SEE HERE ON APRIL, IT WAS UPDATED ON APRIL 27TH.
AND THE TITLE OF THAT WAS BUFORD COUNTY COUNCIL REPEAL SCHOOL FEES, MONEY GOING BACK TO PROPERTY OWNERS.
AND THEN ALSO READING THE BLUFFTON SUN, WHICH IS ARTICLE ON APRIL 19TH, 2022.
THERE SEEMS TO BE A GREAT DEAL OF MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT SCHOOL IMPACT FEES.
I DON'T THINK, UM, THE MEDIA NOR SOME OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND ELECTED OFFICIALS OF OTHER BODIES, I E COUNCILS REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THESE ARE.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN QUOTES THAT THEY'RE DOUBLE TAXATION, AND THERE'S BEEN A LINK THAT THEY'RE LINKED TO THE 2019 SCHOOL BOND REFERENDUM, AND THAT WE'RE DOUBLE BILLING.
AND THAT IS ABSOLUTELY NOT CORRECT.
THE SCHOOL IMPACT FEES WHEN THEY'RE DEVELOPED, TOOK INTO ACCOUNT THE REFERENDUM DOLLARS SO THAT THERE WOULD NOT BE DOUBLE BILLING TO THE, UM, TO THOSE THAT WERE PAYING THE FEES.
AND THAT I THERE'S ALSO THIS, UM, THIS MISUNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS SOMEHOW REPETITIVE OR REPETITIVE BILLING.
AND I'M NOT SURE IF THAT WAS A COMMENT MR. CUNNINGHAM MADE AND OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS AGREED WITH HIM.
AND I, I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT COMMENT.
THEY'RE ABSOLUTELY SEPARATE AND DISTINCT FROM THE SCHOOL BOND REFERENDUM OF 2019.
I DO THINK IT'S A POLITICAL ISSUE.
I THINK ALSO WHAT MR. GEIER SAID THAT I THINK THERE, UM, UH, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR THOUGHT BY HAVING THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF, UH, BUFORD COUNTY SIGN ON TO THE IMPACT FEES THAT WOULD SORT OF, UH, UH, TWIST THE ARM OF THE MUNICIPALITIES I E BLUFFTON AND HILTON HEAD, ESPECIALLY CAUSE THOSE AND HARDY BILL, BUT THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN THAT CERTAINLY BLESSED AND DRAGGED ITS FEET.
AND, UM, I JUST, I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN NOT HAVE THE AREAS OF THE COUNTY THAT ARE HAVING THIS RAPID GROWTH.
AND, UM, WE ABSOLUTELY NEED CAPACITY INCREASING, UH, FACILITIES ON SCHOOLS, IN THOSE AREAS, IE, NEW SCHOOLS OR ADDITIONAL CLASSROOMS THAT ARE NOT COVERED IN OUR CURRENT, UH, REFERENDUM.
AND, UH, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO BE INVOLVED WITH THIS OR HOWEVER, DAVID, UM, DURBIN JUROR WANTS TO ARRANGE IT.
[03:55:01]
THERE'S ALL KINDS OF STORYLINES TO THIS WHEN DICK AND I WENT TO THAT MEETING WITH THE COUNTY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR, YOU KNOW, WE, WE SAW THAT THERE WERE QUITE A FEW AGENDAS AT WORK.WE NEED TO SIT DOWN AND GET A STRAIGHT ANSWER FROM COUNTY COUNCIL.
UM, TH THERE'S JUST NO DOUBT ABOUT THEM FROM THEM, AND WE NEED TO BE VERY CLEAR ON OUR POSITION.
UM, AND ONE OF THE ANSWERS WE GOT WAS IT WAS BECAUSE THE TOWNS ONE IS TINY IN THE IDEA, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT ARGUMENT KIND OF FALLS APART.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE ACTIONS OF RESCINDING THE SCHOOL BOARD, BUT NOT RESCINDING THE OTHERS.
UM, AND THE, THE EXPLANATION WAS THEY DIDN'T RESCIND THE OTHERS BECAUSE THEY'RE HOPING TO GET THE IGA IS WORKED OUT THAT KIND OF CASTS DOUBT ON THE LEGITIMACY OF THAT BEING, WHY THEY GOT RID OF THE SCHOOL IMPACT FEES.
UM, SO WE DO NEED TO SIT DOWN WITH THEM AND CERTAINLY ATTEMPT TO GET A STRAIGHT ANSWER FOR, AND JUST, JUST GET IT OUT ON THE TABLE AND SEE, AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.
IF THERE'S ANYTHING WE CAN DO.
I MEAN, ONE OF THE PROBLEMS COURSES BY STATUTE, THE COUNTY HAS TO CARRY THIS FORWARD.
WE CAN'T, WE MAKE OUR RECOMMENDATION THAT THEY HAVE TO CARRY IT FORWARD.
SO I THINK THE NEXT STEP MAY BE TO SET UP A MEETING, BUT I WOULD, BEFORE WE SET THAT MEETING UP, I WOULD LIKE SOME LEGAL ADVICE ON SOME OF THE THINGS, YOU KNOW, WHAT OPTIONS MIGHT BE AVAILABLE TO US.
LIKE, YOU KNOW, CAN THEY UNRESTRAINED? I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S, IF THAT'S POSSIBLE.
UM, ANOTHER QUESTION I HAD WAS I READ THAT THEY WERE GOING TO RETURN THE MONEY TO THE PROPERTY OWNERS AND, UH, TISCHLER BICE WAS VERY SPECIFIC THAT THE MONEY HAD TO GO BACK TO THE PEOPLE THAT PAID IT, WHICH WERE THE DEVELOPERS.
UM, I NOTICED EVERYONE WANTS TO DANCE AROUND THIS FACT THAT THE DEVELOPERS PAY THE IMPACT FEE.
EVERYBODY DOESN'T SEEM TO WANT TO, TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
SO ALL THOSE THINGS PROBABLY NEED TO GET OUT ON THE TABLE ON A MEETING WITH COUNTY COUNCIL.
AND I'LL BE GLAD TO GLAD TO TRY TO SET SOMETHING UP.
YOU, ANY OTHER COMMENTS, MR. SMITH, UM, AND IN TERMS OF THE MEETING, I THINK THAT, UM, ONCE AGAIN, I'LL SAY THIS, I THINK THAT BOTH BOARDS SHOULD MEET WITH FINE COUNCIL, BUT I DEFINITELY AGREE WITH THE PART WITH THE FACT ABOUT GETTING SOME LEGAL, UM, SOME, SOME LEGAL ADVICE.
UM, I THINK THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT WAS A, UH, THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S A VERY, THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT STEP, UH, TO FIGURE OUT HOW, HOW, HOW WE CAN RESOLVE IT, BUT MORE SO I THINK THAT IT SHOULD, IT SHOULDN'T BE, UH, JUST A COUPLE PEOPLE GOING TO MEET WITH A COUPLE PEOPLE FROM THEIR BOARDING.
IT SHOULD BE BOARD TO BOARD AND UNDERSTANDING, AND THAT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, AS THAT, THAT'S MY, THAT'S MY PHILOSOPHY ON THINGS SO THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS IT AND EVERYONE'S THERE.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT WE KNOW SOMETIMES THEY SAID THAT A TWO HAS ALWAYS BETTER THAN ONE.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? OKAY, MS. CROSBY.
UM, SO I AGREE THAT SEEKING LEGAL COUNSEL WOULD PROBABLY BE A VERY GOOD IDEA ON THIS.
AND THERE ARE A FEW LEGAL COUNSELS FROM WHAT I'M TOLD IN THE, UH, IN THE STATE WHO DEAL WITH IMPACT FEES.
AND I KNOW THAT AT LEAST ONE OF THE GROUPS IS ON YOUR BOARD, UH, APPROVED LISTS.
SO I'M SEEKING INFORMATION ABOUT WHETHER YOU WOULD LIKE IT TO BE A BOARD REQUEST FOR LEGAL COUNSEL OR YOU'D LIKE ADMINISTRATION TO TAKE THAT, UM, MAKE THAT STEP AND, UM, YOU KNOW, ADMINISTRATIVELY.
SO I KNOW THERE'S BEEN SOME DISTINCTION IN THE PAST AND, UH, I JUST WANT TO SEE WHICH WAY YOU'D LIKE TO GO WITH THAT.
I THINK SINCE IT'S A JOINT VENTURE, BUT THE BOARD IS THE ONE THAT HAD TO VOTE TO BRING THE SCHOOL IMPACT FEES FORWARD TO COUNTY COUNCIL.
SO I THINK THE LEGAL REPRESENTATION SHOULD BE, UM, FOR THE BOARD, YOU KNOW, PRIMARILY, I GUESS YOU'D SAY THE BOARD FIRST AND, AND THE DISTRICT SECOND, ALTHOUGH WE'RE OBVIOUSLY HAVE THE SAME INTERESTS, UM, IN THIS MATTER.
AND SO WE'RE NOT, WE JUST NEED ONE, ONE, UH, LEGAL, UH, GROUP REPRESENTING THE, THE TWO OF
[04:00:01]
US.UM, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION.
UM, PERHAPS I'M NOT ALLOWED TO MAKE FOR SOMEONE ELSE, LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION REGARDING THIS.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? WOULD YOU LIKE EMOTION? YEAH.
SO I MOVED AT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, SEEK LEGAL GUIDANCE ON, UH, NEXT STEPS FOR, UH, SCHOOL IMPACT FEES SINCE THE COUNTY COUNCIL RECENTLY REPEALED, UM, SCHOOL IMPACT FEES, TRISH, FREDERICK SECOND, SET, ANY DISCUSSION.
I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE AS TINA STATED THAT WE VOTED FOR THE IMPACT PHASE.
WE HIRED THE TISCHLER BICE TO DO THE STUDY, AND I THINK THIS IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO SEEK THIS LEGAL ADVICE.
SO I CONCUR ANY OTHER DISCUSSION.
THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR IS AT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, SEEK LEGAL GUIDANCE FOR THE NEXT STEPS FOR SCHOOL IMPACT FEES.
UH, SINCE COUNTY COUNCIL RECENTLY REPEALED SCHOOL IMPACT BEADS, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE, AYE, ALL THOSE OPPOSED ANY ABSTENTIONS.
AND SO I BELIEVE IT PASSED 10 ZERO.
SO NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS THE, UH, FISCAL YEAR 2223 PROPOSED GENERAL FUND BUDGET.
WELL, I AM A LITTLE CLEAR MORE CLEAR-MINDED THIS MORNING OR THIS AF THIS EVENING THAT I WAS YESTERDAY EVENING.
SO I'M GOING TO JUST START A LITTLE EARLIER.
UH, AND, UH, I'M NOT GOING TO DO A LONG PRESENTATION FOR YOU TODAY.
YOU'VE ALREADY RECEIVED IN OUR LAST MEETING.
UM, A LOT OF THE DETAILS OF OUR BUDGET.
I ALSO WANT TO MENTION THAT, UM, THOSE PRESENTATIONS ARE ON OUR WEBSITE.
UH, WE MADE SURE AND THE EASIEST WAY TO GET THERE IS TO GO TO THE SEARCH ENGINE AND TYPE IN BUDGET.
AND THERE'S A, THE TOP FOLD, UH, TOP LINK IS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR BUDGET.
AND WHEN IT WILL TAKE YOU TO THE THREE OR FOUR PRESENTATIONS WE'VE HAD SO FAR OVER THE NEXT LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS AFTER TODAY'S MEETING, WE'LL GET THE HANDOUTS AND TODAY'S PRESENTATION AS WELL UP ON THE SITE.
SO IN THE VIEWING AUDIENCE OR ANYONE WHO WISHES TO, UM, SEARCH FOR THAT IS WELCOME TO DO THAT ON OUR WEBSITE.
UM, SO, UM, LAST NIGHT, UH, ONE OF THE, UH, SPEAKERS IN PUBLIC MENTIONED ABOUT, UM, WHAT ABOUT, UH, WHAT IS THE PROBLEM WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS? AND SO THAT KIND OF RESONATED WITH ME, WHAT IS THE BUDGET TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH THIS YEAR? UM, AND SO THE PROBLEM IS RECRUITING AND RETENTION.
AND SO THAT IS THE PRIMARY, UH, THEME OF THIS BUDGET.
THE PRIORITY, THE MAIN GOAL OF THIS IS TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE OF TEACHERS, PROFESSIONALS, UH, CLASSIFIED ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF AS WELL.
UH, AND SO WE BELIEVE THAT THIS BUDGET RECOMMENDATION DOES THAT.
SO ON THE FIRST SLIDE OF THE POWERPOINT, UM, I AM GOING TO JUST GIVE KIND OF A LITTLE RECAP OF OUR PRESENTATION ON THE PRIOR MEETING.
AND I JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT FIRST THE EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION.
UM, SO THIS IS THE FIRST SLIDE OF THE POWERPOINT.
UM, ROBIN, IF YOU COULD FLIP OVER TO THAT, I'M SORRY.
UH, AND WANT TO REITERATE THAT THIS BUDGET RECOMMENDATION, THE BUDGET RECOMMENDATION OF STAFF ADMINISTRATION IS, UH, A $4,000 INCREASE PLUS A STEP.
AND THAT IS BASED ON THE ORIGINAL GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION AND THE ORIGINAL SENATE HOUSE, UH, EXCUSE ME, SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE BILL THAT WAS PASSED.
UM, THIS IS ALSO I BELIEVE ON PAGE EIGHT OF HANDOUTS, IF YOU'D LIKE TO FOLLOW ALONG THROUGH THERE.
SO I'LL BE REFERENCING, UM, THE HANDOUTS THAT WE'VE PROVIDED AND THOSE PROVIDE A LITTLE MORE NARRATIVE DETAIL OF THE, OF THE ITEMS THAT
[04:05:01]
I'M GOING TO BE REFERENCING IN THE POWERPOINT.SO, UM, THE, UH, ADDITION IN ADDITION TO THE TEACHERS, UH, $4,000 INCREASE, UH, WE WERE PROPOSING TO ADD A 26 STEP TO THE TEACHER SALARY SCHEDULE.
UH, WE DO HAVE SOME INFORMATION ON THE COST OF ADDITIONAL STEPS IN THE HANDOUT AS WELL.
UM, BUT, UH, BUS DRIVERS ARE STATE MANDATED.
THERE'S A STATE MANDATED INCREASE OF 5%.
UH, THAT WOULD BE, THERE WOULD BE A STEP INCREASE FOR THOSE, FOR THAT CATEGORY OF EMPLOYEES AS WELL.
AND THEN ALL OTHER EMPLOYEES WOULD HAVE A, UH, PROPOSED TO BE A 3% INCREASE COST OF LIVING INCREASE PLUS STEP, UH, IN ANTICIPATION OF A CLASSIFIED AND ADMINISTRATIVE SALARY STUDY THAT WILL BE BROUGHT TO THE BOARD, UM, EARLY IN THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.
SO THERE'LL BE MORE INFORMATION TO COME AS, AS, UH, THAT INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE FROM OUR OUTSIDE CONSULTANT.
OTHER INCREASES IN THIS BUDGET ARE 24 POSITIONS.
22 OF THEM ARE SCHOOL SCHOOL-BASED POSITIONS, AGAIN, LISTED IN THE HANDOUT, BUT TEACHERS, UM, THERE ARE CERTIFIED TEACHERS INTERVENTIONISTS, ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS, CAREER DEVELOPMENT, FACILITATORS.
UM, WE HAVE SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHING POSITIONS, UH, SOME ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT POSITIONS AND PSYCHOLOGICAL AND BEHAVIORAL SUPPORT AS WELL.
SO THE OVERALL, UH, BUDGET IMPACT, UM, IS A FOUR MIL INCREASE AT THIS TIME.
SO, UH, WHEN IN OUR LAST MEETING, YOU, UH, THE BOARD MEMBERS REQUESTED SOME REDUCTIONS IN THE CURRENT BUDGET, THEY ASKED FOR US TO, UM, SORT OF THAT THAT'S THE APRIL 22ND.
I'M SORRY THAT YOU DON'T HAVE.
SO IT SEEMS THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE, YOU DON'T HAVE THE POWERPOINT THAT I'M REFERRING TO.
UM, SO WOULD YOU HELP US GET THAT TO ROBIN AND, UM, SOMEHOW THAT DIDN'T, DIDN'T GET TO YOU, UH, REDUCTIONS ARE IN, SO I'LL JUST REFER STRAIGHT TO THE HANDOUTS, THEN THAT MIGHT BE EASIER.
UH, ON PAGE, ON PAGE 10 OF THE HANDOUTS IS THE LIST OF REDUCTIONS.
UH, THERE ARE INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT.
UH, THEY ARE OPERATIONAL SUPPORT, UH, AND THOSE REDUCTIONS ARE PRIMARILY IN THE AREAS PRIMARILY IN AREAS THAT REQUESTED INCREASES IN THE BUDGET.
SO WE REDUCED BASED ON HISTORICAL SPENDING.
SO WE'RE NOT DECREASING, UH, BUDGETS, UH, UNLESS THERE WERE REQUESTS TO DO SO.
THERE ARE, UH, REDUCTIONS IN THE RE IN THE INCREASED REQUESTS, SO LEGAL FOOD, TRAVEL SUPPLIES, AND OTHER SERVICES TO NAME A FEW, UH, IN THAT CATEGORY AND THOSE AMOUNTED TO ABOUT $800,000, UH, IN A REDUCTION IN PERSONNEL SERVICES OF ABOUT 800,000 AS WELL.
AND THOSE ARE PRIMARILY DUE TO THE NEW FUNDING MODEL CHANGES.
UM, THE NEW FUNDING MODEL ROLLED A COUPLE OF FUNDING SOURCES INTO THE GENERAL FUND.
UH, HOWEVER, WE HAVE SOME CARRYOVER THAT WILL LAST FOR ONE YEAR, SO THAT ONE YEAR CARRY OVER THOSE STAFF MAY STAY IN, IN THOSE, UH, SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS.
UH, SO WE, UH, ARE ABLE TO MOVE THAT STAFFING BACK OUT TO SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS.
SO WE'RE ABLE TO UTILIZE THOSE, UH, MAXIMIZE OUR UTILIZATION OF SPECIAL REVENUE AND REDUCE THE IMPACT ON THE GENERAL FUND FOR THIS YEAR.
ALSO, UH, THERE WAS, UH, JUST, UH, LAST WEEK OR SO THE, THERE WAS A NEW SPORT APPROVED BY THE HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE.
ANYTIME A NEW SPORT IS APPROVED AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL.
UM, THERE DOES SEEM TO BE SOME INTEREST, UH, TALKED TO THE LEAD ATHLETIC DIRECTOR AND, UM, THERE WAS, UM, DEFINITELY SOME INTEREST IN SEVERAL OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS.
AND SO THIS BUDGET SUPPORTS A ABOUT A $200,000 STARTUP COSTS FOR STIPENDS STARTUP, UH, EQUIPMENT AND FOR A NEW SPORT THAT WOULD BE ADDED TO, TO OUR HIGH SCHOOLS.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, UH, WE WERE ASKED TO BRING A SICK LEAVE PAYOUT PROGRAM PROPOSAL AS WELL.
SO THERE IS A PLACE HOLDER IN THIS BUDGET OF $1.5 MILLION.
UH, THIS PLAN IS TO INCREASE TEACHER RETENTION, UH, INCREASE INSTRUCTIONAL TIME AND TO REDUCE SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS.
AND SO THAT, UM, THAT PLAY THAT PLAN, WE HAVE PLACED IN A $1.5 MILLION
[04:10:01]
INTO THIS BUDGET UTILIZING THE SAVINGS IN THE OTHER CATEGORIES.SO IT'S A NET, NO IMPACT IN THE TOTAL EXPENDITURE LINE FROM THE PREVIOUS VERSION THAT YOU'VE ORIGINALLY SEEN.
SO THE TOTAL BUDGET RE RECOMMENDED BUDGET IS REMAINS AT 297.1 MILLION.
SO IN ADDITION TO, UM, THESE REDUCTIONS AND THE SICK LEAVE PAYOUT PLAN, THOSE REDUCTIONS WERE TAKEN, WE'VE PROVIDED, UH, A SECOND MODEL OR A SECOND OPTION.
UH, SO THOSE, THE ITEMS THAT I'VE JUST MENTIONED ARE, HAVE BEEN INCORPORATED INTO BOTH OPTIONS.
SO THE REDUCTIONS AND THE SICK LEAVE PAYOUT PLAN ADDITION ARE BOTH IN THE BOTH OPTIONS THAT ARE BEFORE YOU TODAY.
SO THE ALTERNATIVE BUDGET PROPOSAL IS A $2,000 TEACHER SALARY INCREASE, AND IT IS ROLLING THE $2,500 OF THE LOCALITY SUPPLEMENT INTO THE TEACHER SALARY SCHEDULE, WHICH PROVIDES A SAVINGS OF $3.2 MILLION, UH, DECREASES OUR MILLAGE REQUEST TO A 1.7 MIL REQUEST.
AND THE GOAL IS REALLY TO, UM, IF THIS OPTION IS MINIMIZING THE TAX PAYER, MINIMIZING THE IMPACTS ON TAXPAYER AND, UH, ALSO TO UTILIZE, UH, MAKE, UH, STIPENDS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE AVAILABLE TO SUPPLEMENTS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE AVAILABLE TO TEACHERS PUTTING THEM, MOVING THEM INTO A PERMANENT STATUS OF THE TEACHER SALARY SCHEDULE.
UH, SO THAT DOES HAVE A SAVINGS.
UH, AND SO IS IT IS CONSIDERED TO BE THE ALTERNATE OR OPTION TWO PROPOSAL THIS EVENING.
UM, THIS SLIDE IS A SUMMARY OF THE 2023 INCREASES THAT WERE, UM, ON THE SCREEN BEFORE US TODAY.
AND THE ONLY CHANGE FROM THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL IS IN THE EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION LINE.
IT DOES BRING THAT DOWN BY THE SAVINGS OF 3.2 MILLION.
SO AS YOU SEE THERE AT THE BOTTOM, UH, ONE PROPOSAL IS A $297.1 MILLION REQUESTED BUDGET.
THE OTHER IS 293.9 MILLION, UH, ONE, UM, IT IS IN A POWERPOINT THAT WAS PROVIDED, BUT I'LL, THERE IS THE DETAILS ARE IN A, UH, SUMMARY IN THE LARGE SLIT SHEET THAT I HANDED OUT TO JUST NOW.
SO THE, THE ONE SLIDE IT, UH, ONE SIDE IS THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL AND THE FAR RIGHT IS THE ALTERNATE.
SO, UM, IMPACT ON THE TEACHER.
UM, AND I CAN PROBABLY JUST SLIP OVER TO THAT, UM, MAIN SLIDE FOR YOU.
UM, WE MIGHT AS WELL MOVE TO THAT, TO THE LARGE HANDOUT.
I THINK THAT MIGHT BE BEST AT THIS POINT.
SO, UH, IN YOUR ONE PAGE HANDOUT, IT IS PAGE 13.
I BELIEVE LET'S SEE HERE PAGE 12 OF YOUR HANDOUT.
THE LEFT IS THE ORIGINAL AND BLUE, AND THE ALTERNATE PROPOSAL IS IN THE YELLOW ORANGE COLOR ON THE RIGHT.
SO, UM, JUST TO WALK THROUGH, I LINED THEM UP, UH, UH, HORIZONTALLY SO THAT YOU COULD S COULD FOLLOW THE SAME CHANGES THAT WERE MADE THROUGHOUT.
SO WE BEGAN WITH THE CURRENT YEAR BUDGET OF 274.3 MILLION CROSBY.
CAN I JUST STOP YOU FOR A MINUTE? I SEE DR.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE SHE IS HEARING THIS.
SO WHAT ROBIN IS DISPLAYING IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
SO, UM, THE INCREASES IN THE BUDGET ARE 22.9 MILLION, UM, IN BOTH VERSIONS.
UH, YOU'LL SEE, THE REVISIONS THAT WE JUST SPOKE ABOUT ARE THE ADDITION OF THE SICK LEAVE PAYOUT PLAN, UH, THE SICK LEAVE PAYOUT PLAN.
WE, UH, DO NOT HAVE A SPECIFIC PROPOSAL FOR YOU THIS EVENING.
I BELIEVE THAT IT DOES NEED FURTHER CONVERSATION.
THERE ARE SEVERAL OPTIONS WE COULD GO WITH, AND I THINK IT DOES NEED ME MORE RESEARCH.
THIS, THIS OPTION PROVIDES THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF PAYOUT POSSIBLE.
UH, AND SO IF, IF ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE OPTION WERE TO BE CHOSEN, THEN THE SAVINGS COULD SHIFT OVER TO THE CLASSIFIED SALARY AND, AND,
[04:15:01]
UM, ADMIN CLASSIFIED SALARY STUDY IMPLEMENTATION.AND SO IT WOULD ALLOW US TO DO, UH, EITHER IMPLEMENT A LITTLE SOONER, UH, OR BUY AT A HIGHER PERCENTAGE, PERHAPS AS A PHASE-IN FOR THAT PLAN.
ADDITIONALLY, THERE'S THE NEW SPORT PROVIDED BY THE HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE, THE OPERATIONAL REDUCTIONS AND SPECIAL REVENUE, UH, UTILIZATION, OR IN BOTH BOTH VERSIONS, THE DIFFERENCES ARE IN RED ON THE RIGHT, AND THEY ARE THE S SO THIS PLAN IS A TEACHER SALARY INCREASE OF 2000 AND MOVES THE $2,500 OF LOCALITY INTO THE BASE SALARY.
UH, THE $2,000 IS A $4.2 MILLION SAVINGS ROLLING.
THE $2,500 IN WOULD BE RETIREMENT ONLY.
SO RETIREMENT BENEFITS ARE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 22%, 23%.
UM, AND SO THE COST OF THAT IS A RETIREMENT COST OF $1 MILLION, UH, TO, TO THE DISTRICT.
SO IN, IN THAT VERSION, THERE IS A $3.2 MILLION SAVINGS AND THE TOTAL EXPENDITURE BUDGET.
SO INSTEAD OF A FOUR MIL INCREASE IN THE ORIGINAL, IT WOULD BE REDUCED BY, UM, REDUCED BY 2.3 MILS TO A LEVEL OF AN, UH, A REQUEST OF, OF 1.7.
SO JUST WANT TO NOTE THAT, UM, THERE ARE BENEFIT PROS AND CONS FOR BOTH, AND I'VE, I'VE DONE MY BEST AT, UH, INDICATING WHICH THOSE ARE, THEY'RE MORE SUBJECTIVE.
UM, SO THOSE ARE, UM, BUT I'M SURE YOU ALL WILL HAVE ADDITIONAL, UM, COMMENTS ABOUT WHICH ONES ARE THERE OTHER ADVANTAGES OR DISADVANTAGES OF EACH OF THE, EACH OF THE VERSIONS, BASICALLY.
UM, THE NEW STARTING TEACHER SALARY IN THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL IS $43,066.
THE NOTE NEW BASED TEACHER SALARY IN THE ALTERNATIVE PROPOSAL IS $500 GREATER.
THE NEW TEACHER SALARY IN THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL WITH ALL COMPENSATION INCLUDED IN WITH THE LOCALITY IS $48,066.
AND THE ALTERNATIVE PROPOSAL IS $46,066.
SO THERE'S SOME, SOME DIFFERENCES THERE.
SO BASICALLY THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL PROVIDES LARGER COMPENSATION PACKAGE FOR TEACHERS IN TOTAL.
UH, IT BRINGS THE TEACHER SALARY CLOSER TO THE GOAL OF 50,000, WHERE ARE ABOUT $2,000 AWAY? UM, IT DOES PROVIDE SOME FLEXIBILITY IN TIME IN TIMES OF ECONOMIC VOLATILITY.
I BELIEVE THAT IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME HARDER TIMES THAN WE'VE HAD IN THE NEXT AND FROM A FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVE, ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVE.
UM, AND, UH, WE WANT TO BE PREPARED FOR THAT.
UH, IT DOES MOVE OUR, THE NEEDLE ON, ON OUR RANKING, WHICH IS ONE OF THE GOALS WE WANT IT TO BE IN THE TOP FIVE OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN SOUTH CAROLINA IN TERMS OF THE STARTING TEACHER SALARY.
AND IT DOESN'T MOVE US TO A POSITION THAT I BELIEVE CAN GET IS, HAS THE POTENTIAL FOR GETTING US THERE.
SO WE WON'T KNOW UNTIL THE EVERYONE HAS FINISHED THEIR BUDGETS AND SUBMITTED THEIR SALARY SCHEDULES TO THE STATE, BUT I DO BELIEVE IT MOVES IT UP SIGNIFICANTLY, UH, UP THE SCALE.
UH, SO OUR INFLATION, UH, LAST I TALKED TO YOU, IT WAS 8.5.
I'VE HEARD, UH, COMMENTS OF 11% INFLATION AT THIS POINT.
UM, SO THIS ALLOWS US TO BRING THOSE SALARIES UP TO A LEVEL IN THE 13% RANGE OF INCREASES.
AND LASTLY, UH, IF WE DO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, IF OUR, UH, CURRENT YEAR REVENUE PROJECTIONS COME IN GREATER THAN WHAT WE PROJECT RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOWER THAT MILLAGE BEFORE MILLAGE SETTING IN AUGUST.
SO WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO IN WITH A FORMULA REQUEST AND IN JULY, THE END OF JULY OR MID AUGUST, WE SEE THAT REVENUES ARE COMING IN A MILLION DOLLARS, MORE, A MILLION AND A HALF MORE.
WE HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO GO BACK AND SAY, WELL, I THINK WE COULD LIVE WITH THREE MEALS INSTEAD OF FOUR POTENTIALLY, OR SOME NUMBER TO THAT EFFECT.
SO WE WATCH IT ON A WEEK, UH, ON A MONTHLY BASIS.
AND, UH, THEY WILL COOPERATE WITH US IF WE ASK FOR A BI-WEEKLY BASIS.
AND SO WE CAN GET INFORMATION MID MONTH,
[04:20:01]
UH, AND THEIR COUNTY TREASURER'S OFFICE HAS BEEN VERY GENEROUS IN GIVING US THAT INFORMATION WHEN NEEDED.SO IT DOES PROVIDE SOME FLEXIBILITY.
UM, THE CONS ON THIS ONE, YOU DO HAVE A LOT LARGER OVERALL BUDGET INCREASE.
UM, YOU HAVE A GREATER IMPACT ON TAXPAYERS, ALTHOUGH THE, ON A $400,000 HOME, THE AMOUNT IS $96 PER YEAR.
SO THE INCREASE IN TAXES WOULD BE $96 PER YEAR WITH A FOUR MIL INCREASE.
SO, UM, ON THE SECOND ALTERNATIVE VERSION, SOME, UH, SOME ADVANTAGES OF THIS MODEL, UH, THAT HALF OF THE HALF THE LOCALITY BECOMES A PERMANENT INCREASE.
IT RESULTING IN AN INCREASE IN RETIREMENT WAGES FOR TEACHERS.
SO YOU'RE TAKING A, UH, SOMEWHAT TEMPORARY SUPPLEMENT AND MAKING IT A PERMANENT PART OF THE TEACHER SALARY AND BECOMES PART OF THEIR RETIREMENT WAGES.
UM, SINCE THERE IS A NEW BASE TEACHER SALARY, IT'S $500 MORE, IT'S SLIGHTLY HIGHER IN TERMS OF THE RANKING ON THE BASE TEACHER SALARY SCHEDULE WHEN COMPARED TO OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE STATE, UM, THERE IS A SMALLER OVERALL BUDGET INCREASE, UH, AND THE SAVINGS TO TAXPAYERS WOULD, UH, YOU WOULD HAVE THE IMPACT ON TAXPAYERS WOULD BE MORE LIKE A $41 PER YEAR INCREASE ON A $400,000 HOME.
AND SOME DISADVANTAGES OF THIS APPROACH WOULD BE THAT THE TOTAL COMPENSATION PACKAGE IS $2,000 LESS FOR TEACHERS AND WOULD RESULT IN LESS TAKE HOME PAY WILL TAKE US LONGER TO GET TO THAT $50,000 MARK, BECAUSE WE'RE AT MORE AT 46,000.
UM, AND REALLY WE DON'T HAVE THE MILLAGE FLEXIBILITY.
IF WE START LOW WITH A MILLAGE NUMBER, WE CAN'T GO UP.
WE CAN ONLY GO DOWN OUR STAY, WHERE WE ARE.
SO THERE IS NO REAL OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE ANY MILLAGE AT THAT POINT, UM, ONCE THAT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED AT THAT LEVEL.
AND SO THAT'S KIND OF A DEEP, A LOT OF, LOT OF INFORMATION AND SEE IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS SO FAR COLONEL DRYER, CAN I MAKE A COMMENT BEFORE WE START THE DISCUSSION, BUT WE WILL VOTE ON TODAY IS WHICH PROPOSAL WE WILL GO FORWARD TO COMMUNITY FOR COMMUNITY INPUT.
WHAT WE VOTE ON TODAY IS NOT THE APPROVED BUDGET, BUT IT GIVES US SOMETHING OR COMMUNITY TO SAY, THIS IS WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT.
SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE.
NOW, THERE'S BEEN A PROPOSAL TO DO THIS VIRTUALLY, OR DO IT WITH A VIDEO THAT EVERYBODY CAN WATCH.
AND THEN YOU HAVE A SURVEY THAT YOU CAN MAKE COMMENTS.
I DON'T, I DON'T BELIEVE WE SHOULD DO THAT.
I BELIEVE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT I HAVE SEEN IN THE LAST THREE YEARS AND THIS BUDGET DISCUSSIONS WAS GOING TO THESE MEETINGS AND LISTENING TO OUR EMPLOYEES AND LISTENING TO THE PUBLIC, LISTENING TO PARENTS AND SO ON.
SO I, I CAN NOT SUPPORT, NOT HAVING AT LEAST LIKE WE HAVE IN THE PAST, UH, NORTH OF THE ABROAD IN A SOUTH OF THE BROAD COMMUNITY MEETING.
EVERYBODY'S INVITED STANDING IN LINE AND WE LISTENED AND THEN COME BACK AND FINALIZE WHICH BUDGET WE'RE GOING TO GO WITH.
UM, SO TANYA, WHEN IS THE SENATE GOING TO DECIDE, UH, THE HOUSE WANTS THE 4,000 INCREASE? THE SENATE WANTS 2000, SO WHAT, WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DECIDE YOUR GUESS IS AS GOOD AS MINE? UH, SO THAT WAS ONE OF THE POINTS I WANTED TO MAKE THIS EVENING.
SO, UM, SO AS FAR AS THE LEGISLATURE IS CONCERNED, UH, OF COURSE THE GOVERNOR ORIGINALLY RECOMMENDED A $4,000 INCREASE.
SO THAT IS A $40,000, UM, SALARY MINIMUM SALARY FOR TEACHERS, UH, THAT IS, WOULD BE MANDATED UNDER THAT MODEL, UH, THAT HAS HA PASSED A BILL HAS BEEN CREATED BY THE HOUSE AND PASSED.
SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE STATE WOULD HAVE A MINIMUM SALARY OF $40,000.
IF YOU'RE ALREADY ABOVE THAT AMOUNT, YOU WOULD NOT BE REQUIRED TO GO UP THE FULL $4,000, OR IF YOU'RE NEAR THAT YOU WOULD ONLY BE REQUIRED TO GO TO FOUR.
[04:25:01]
UH, IF, IF THE SENATE'S VERSION IS A $2,000, UH, MANDATE AND THE SENATE HAS PASSED THAT BILL AS WELL.SO AT THIS POINT, UH, I ACTUALLY MADE SOME NOTES AND I THINK IT'S ON MY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE SLIDE.
UH, THE, THE, AFTER THE SENATE HAS PASSED THEIR BILL, IT GOES BACK TO A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.
SO IT'S MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE COME TOGETHER.
AND BASED ON THE LAST, UH, UPDATE I RECEIVED FROM MY SCHOOL BUSINESS OFFICIAL, UH, ASSOCIATION THAT MAY 3RD THROUGH FIFTH, THE BILL WOULD BE RETURNED TO CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.
SO THAT'S YESTERDAY THROUGH TOMORROW, AND THEN MAY 10TH THROUGH 12TH.
UH, THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE WOULD PROVIDE A REPORT AND A BUDGET TO THE GOVERNOR.
SO BY THE END OF NEXT, SO NEXT THURSDAY BY NEXT THURSDAY, OR A DECISION SHOULD BE MADE, WHETHER THAT'S EXTENDED OR NOT.
I DON'T KNOW THE BILLS ARE PRETTY FAR APART AT THIS POINT.
THERE'S ONE MAIN DEBATE THAT IS PRETTY SIGNIFICANT.
THERE'S A BILLION DOLLAR TAX REBATE, UH, INCOME TAX REBATE, UH, DISCUSSION.
AND THAT'S A MAJOR STICKING POINT IN BOTH DELIBERATION, BOTH, UH, THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE AND THE DELIBERATIONS ARE GOING TO BE, UH, INTENSE.
I WOULD ASSUME I WOULD ASSUME SO.
UM, BUT AGAIN, THESE ARE THE 38,000 AND 40,000 OR THE MINIMUMS THAT ARE IN THOSE, UM, OUR CURRENT SALARY SCHEDULE WITH THE LOCALITY, UH, W EXCUSE ME, OUR CURRENT MINIMUM SALARY SCHEDULE WITH THE 3% COST OF LIVING THAT THE BOARD PASSED, UH, ON MARCH 25TH, I BELIEVE, UH, IS $39,066.
SO WE'RE ABOVE BOTH OF THOSE AND NOT TECHNICALLY DISTRICTS ARE NOT TECHNICALLY REQUIRED TO GO UP THE FULL TWO OR THE FULL FOUR, BUT THOSE ARE STILL PART OF OUR RECOMMENDATIONS TODAY.
THE, I KNOW THAT THE, UM, SICKLY PALE PROGRAM HASN'T BEEN WORKED OUT TO THE LEVEL OF DETAIL THAT WE NEED, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WILL INCREASE THE NEW TEACHER SALARY WITH FULL CATALOG.
IF IN FACT, WE PROBABLY HAVE SOMETHING ON 62ND, IS THAT A CORRECT IMPRESSION? UM, SICK LEAVE PAYOUT IS NOT, UH, SUBJECT TO RETIREMENT.
UM, OUR CURRENT SICKLY PAYOUT PLAN DOES NOT ONLY VACATION DAYS ARE PART OF THOSE, UM, ARE, ARE SUBJECT TO RETIREMENT, UH, WITHHOLDINGS.
SO TECHNICALLY THEY WOULD NOT INCREASE, UH, RETIREMENT WAGE, SICK LEAVE PAYOUT WOULD NOT INCREASE RETIREMENT WAGES FOR EMPLOYEES.
UM, YEAH, IT WASN'T AIMING IT THROUGH RETIREMENT SO MUCH AS I WAS, UM, IN THE POCKET MONEY.
IT DEFINITELY INCREASES TAKE HOME PAY.
AND THE THEORY IS THAT, UH, THAT EACH YEAR TEACHERS WOULD BE ABLE TO CASH IN SOME OF THEIR UNUSED SICK TIME.
IS THAT, IS THAT THE CONCEPT? YES.
THERE ARE TWO PARTS TO THE PROPOSAL.
ONE WOULD BE THAT, UH, EMPLOYEES RETIRING, UH, WOULD BE ABLE TO, UH, CASH IN THEIR DAYS AT A RATE THAT'S HIGHER THAN THE CURRENT $10 A DAY.
AND THE SECOND PART IS THAT EMPLOYEES WHO LAPSED DAYS OR LOSE DAYS, UH, ANNUALLY, WOULD BE ABLE TO BE COMPENSATED FOR THE LAST DAYS SICK LEAVE.
I FEEL LIKE I'VE BEEN LOOKING AT ALL THESE FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS AND I STARTED TO LOSE THE THREAD JUST A LITTLE BIT.
CAN YOU CLARIFY THE LOCALITY SUPPLEMENT BETWEEN THE TWO LOOK HOW THE, THE, THE BLUE BUDGET, THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL, UM, LEAVES LOCALITY AS IS, AND THE GOLD BUDGET, UH, MOVED 2,500 INTO THE BASE SALARY? IS THAT, AM I UNDERSTAND THAT CORRECTLY? YES.
SO IT WOULD REMAIN, UH, WITH, SO THE LOCALITY SUPPLEMENT BECOME TO $2,500.
SO INSTEAD OF, UH, TEACHERS, FOR EXAMPLE, RE CURRENTLY RECEIVE 2,500 IN DECEMBER 2,500 AND MAY, IT WOULD MOVE TO 1,250 IN DECEMBER AND 1,250 IN MAY, AND THEN THEIR, THEIR TAKE HOME PAY ON A, ON A BI-WEEKLY BASIS WOULD INCREASE, UM, BY, UH, 2,500 DIVIDED BY 26 PAYCHECKS, WHATEVER THAT, UH, ABOUT A HUNDRED DOLLARS A MONTH, IS THAT ABOUT A HUNDRED DOLLARS, A PAYDAY, A HUNDRED DOLLARS A PAYDAY? SO MY KIND OF MY OTHER QUESTION IS THERE'S WHITE BUDGET
[04:30:01]
OR GREEN BUDGET THAT HAS A FULL LOCALE THAT WERE THE LOW, THE ENTIRETY OF THE LOCALITY IS MOVED IN, BECAUSE THAT DOES GO TO WHERE WE END UP ON THE RANKINGS, RIGHT.UM, THAT THERE IS NO PROPOSAL TODAY THAT PROVIDES THAT, BUT IT IS CERTAINLY POSSIBLE THAT, UM, IT COULD BE A THIRD OPTION.
UH, OBVIOUSLY, UM, THE IDEA WAS THAT THIS WAS A LESS DRASTIC CHANGE AND THAT THOSE WHO ARE, YOU KNOW, REALLY LOOKING FOR THAT, UM, CHRIS, UH, THAT BONUS RIGHT BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS OR RIPE ITSELF FOR THE SUMMER BREAK WOULD STILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT SUPPLEMENT.
UM, BUT JUST AT A LESSER RATE AND TH BUT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT IN THERE, UH, BI-WEEKLY WAGES.
I, I, YEAH, LIKE I WAS JUST TRYING TO REMEMBER, IT SEEMED LIKE WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THAT, BUT, UM, THEY'RE STARTING TO BLUR A LITTLE BIT.
AND THEN MY OTHER QUESTION, IF YOU DON'T MIND IS HOW MUCH FLEXIBILITY DO I, I DON'T UNDERSTAND ALSO THAT AS COMPENSATION ANALYSIS, IT'S GOING TO COME OUT, UM, SOME FIGURES HAVE KIND OF BEEN FLOATED.
HOW DO YOU ACCOMMODATE THAT IN THE BUDGET? I MEAN, WHAT IF IT COMES IN WITH THE INFLATION AND ALL THIS MUCH HIGHER, LIKE IN HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO WE HAVE ENOUGH FLEXIBILITY IN THIS BUDGET TO ABSORB ALL THAT EXTRA COSTS? SO MY EXPERIENCE WITH, UH, COMPENSATION AND SALARY STUDIES IS, UM, IT HAS BEEN, UH, WE HAD ONE, SEVERAL YEARS AGO.
I DON'T KNOW THE CORRECT YEAR.
UM, IT TYPICALLY HAS REQUIRED US TO DO IT, PHASE IT IN OVER A SERIES OF YEARS, POSSIBLY TWO, POSSIBLY THREE YEARS.
SO WITHOUT KNOWING THE TOTAL IMPACT BEFORE THE STUDY, THE STUDY OBVIOUSLY IS NOT, HAS NOT BEEN FINISHED.
AND, UM, THE STUDY IS EXPECTED TO BE PRESENTED TO STAFF OR THE BOARD IN, IN THE SUMMER.
UM, I PUT A PLACEHOLDER OF APPROXIMATELY 2 MILLION PLUS BENEFITS, WHICH WAS ABOUT 2.6 MILLION, I BELIEVE, UH, INTO THIS BUDGET TO ACCOMMODATE FOR SOME PORTION OF THAT, IF IT WERE, IT MAY BE PAID, IF WE ARE NOT, UM, FINALIZING THE NUMBERS INTO THE FALL, IT COULD BE BEGUN IN JANUARY OR, OR THERE ARE MULTIPLE OPTIONS THAT COULD OCCUR, UH, AS FAR AS THE IMPLEMENTATION, BUT, UH, WITHOUT KNOWING I DID.
AND, UH, WE MADE SURE THAT AT LEAST SOME COMPENSATION WAS START, UM, PUT IN THE BUDGET AS A PLACE HOLDER FOR A PARTIAL IMPLEMENTATION.
OH, THANK YOU, MR. SMITH, DESCRIBE THE FIRST, LET ME START OFF BY SAYING THANK YOU FOR PUTTING ALL YOUR HARD WORK, YOU AND YOUR STAFF INTO THIS BUDGET.
I KNOW THIS IS A LOT GOING INTO THIS HAPPENED WITH HAVING TO WAIT FROM THE STATE AND ALL THAT.
IT DEFINITELY MAKES DECISIONS HARD, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE, WHEN IT COMES TO US.
BUT ONE OF MY QUESTIONS IS, UM, WHEN WE MEAN, WE FIRST STARTED FROM MEXICO AND YOU STARTED OUT THIS, YOU ARE IN TERMS OF THE BUS DRIVERS.
I KNOW A COUPLE YEARS AGO WE HAD THEM ON EACH STEP AND WE HAD THE MONEY STEP INCREASE, BUT THEN DUE TO COVID, WE KIND OF BACKED OFF THAT BECAUSE WE WERE TRYING TO DO IT IN.
AND, UH, AND, AND BASICALLY IN PHASES.
AND YOU WERE SAYING THAT, THAT THE STATE IS NOT OFF, IS NOW TELLING US TO GO UP ON PHONE ON 5%.
AND WE HAVE FIVE-YEAR 5% LAST YEAR.
LAST YEAR WAS A MANDATED 5% INCREASE.
AND, UH, THIS YEAR IS AN, ALSO AN ADDITIONAL 5% INCREASE.
UM, AS, UH, WE HAVE BEEN ON STEP INCREASED A STEP SCHEDULE FOR A FEW YEARS NOW WITH BUS DRIVERS.
UH, I THINK IT'S BEEN SEVERAL YEARS, ACTUALLY, ALL OF THE CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES WERE PUT ON A STEP SEVERAL YEARS AGO, SO THEY ARE RECEIVING STEP.
SO, AND IN TERMS OF THE STEP THAT WE VOTED ON, ANYTHING, WHEN I FIRST GOT ON THE BOARD IN TERMS OF THE STEP THAT WE VOTED ON, AND ALSO IN TERMS OF THE STEP THAT THE STATE IS GIVING, HOW IS THAT AFFECTING OR HOW, HOW IS THE, HOW, HOW DOES THAT LOOK IN TURN IN TERMS OF WHAT WE PROPOSE, WHAT WE'VE PUSHED AS WELL AS THE STATE? I'LL, I'LL ALWAYS JUST SAYING THAT, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT WE VOTED ON, UH, WHAT THE STATE VOTED ON, IS IT ENCOMPASSES MORE OR LESS, OR, OR I WOULD JUST PUTTING IT IN TOGETHER, WE POCKET AND PUTTING IT IN AS ONE THIS PAST YEAR, THE CURRENT YEAR THAT WE'RE IN, WE, UM, BUS DRIVERS RECEIVED A 5% INCREASE.
THEN THE BOARD VOTED ON, UH, ON MARCH 25TH FOR A 3% COST OF LIVING INCREASE FOR ALL.
SO THEY RECEIVED THAT AS WELL.
AND THEN THEY WILL RECEIVE 5% INSTEAD OF 3% DURING THE NEW YEAR WHERE THE CLASSIFIED ADMINISTRATORS WILL RECEIVE THREE BUS DRIVERS WILL RECEIVE FIVE OR PLUS A STEP.
SO THAT'S ANOTHER APPROXIMATE 1.7 TO 2%
[04:35:01]
IN THAT AVERAGE RANGE.SO THE COST OF LIVING WILL, WOULD BE HIGHER THAN THE OTHER, UH, OTHER EMPLOYEES.
ALSO, ALSO, UM, LOOKING AT THIS HOUSE, JUST WONDERING, I KNOW YOU CAN'T TELL ME NO, BUT I WAS JUST WONDERING 'CAUSE I WAS JUST THINKING OF INTEL IN TERMS OF COMING IN AS AN RECRUITING YOUNG TEACHERS, COULD WE POSSIBLY PUT, PUT THAT IN THE OPTION AS IN, IF I COULD WORRY ABOUT THE SALARY BEING MY SALARY WOULD BE MORE OR VERSUS MY BONUS, COULD WE POSSIBLY MAKE THAT A AND I, AND AN OPTION WITHIN ONE OF THE CHOICES, BECAUSE AS OF RIGHT NOW, THAT'S REALLY A CHOICE, CORRECT.
UH, AND I WOULD CERTAINLY, UM, I'VE BEEN WITH THE DISTRICT FOR MANY YEARS AND HAVING TWO SALARIES, YOU WOULD HAVE TO HAVE TWO SALARY SCHEDULES IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH THAT.
SO I DON'T BELIEVE THAT PROVIDING AN OPTION FOR ONE WAY OR THE OTHER WOULD BE, UH, WOULD BE ALLOWABLE BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT.
UM, IT WOULD BE VERY CONFUSING, VERY CONFUSING FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL, FOR OUR, UH, STAFF TO BE, UH, HAVING THOSE ELECTIONS, UH, REMOVED AND ADDED BACK.
AND SO I THINK IT, IN THIS CASE, IT NEEDS TO BE ALL OR ALL OR NONE.
SO WE COULD CERTAINLY LOOK AT, AND I CAN, YOU KNOW, CONTINUE TO PROVIDE CALCULATIONS ON WHAT THAT WOULD TAKE, YOU KNOW, WITH 2,500 MOVING IN, IT'S A MILLION DOLLAR COST TO THE DISTRICT.
SO IT'S ABOUT HALF A MILLION PER, UH, 2.2 MILLION OR SO.
I MEAN, WHAT'D, YOU KIND OF SEE, I'M JUST TRYING TO MAKE IT LOOK MORE TRY.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, CAUSE YOU KNOW, MOST OF THEM REALLY MOSTLY IS DEFINITELY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE LOOKING AT, WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT, AS IN TERMS OF GROWING AND RETIREMENT, YOU WOULD DEFINITELY WANT IT ON THE, ON THE, IN TERMS OF THE SALARY VERSUS THE BONUS, BUT OKAY.
I JUST, IF WE'RE IN THE TOP FIVE WITH OUR BASE SALARY AND OFFER THE SUPPLEMENT ON TOP OF THAT, WE'RE GOING TO BE GOLDEN.
AND I MEAN, I HAD A, I HAD A DISTRICT OFFICE STAFF MEMBER, TALK TO ME, STOP ME IN THE HALLWAY THIS WEEK.
SHE GRADUATED IN 1998 FROM COLLEGE UPSTATE.
SHE WAS PLANNING ON GOING INTO TEACHING IN THE UPSTATE AND THEN LOOKED AT THE TEACHER SALARY SCHEDULES ACROSS THE STATE AND SAW THAT BUFORD AT THAT TIME WAS NUMBER ONE.
SO SHE CAME TO VIEW FOR IT AND SHE'S STILL HERE.
SO THAT'S THE KIND OF THING WE NEED TO DO THAT THAT'S GETTING PEOPLE'S ATTENTION.
THAT THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON.
UM, IN ORDER TO GET, GET GOOD PEOPLE, GET HIGHLY QUALIFIED PEOPLE AND HAVE THEM STAY HERE FOR A LONG TIME.
SO, AND, UH, SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WAS REALLY, UH, WAS POWERFUL TO ME, DR.
THANK YOU, TONYA, FOR YOUR PRESENTATION, ROBIN, CAN YOU, UM, SCROLL UP ON THIS SLIDE YOU HAVE THERE SO WE CAN SEE THE PROS AND CONS.
SO, UM, AS, AS YOU KNOW, TANYA PREVIOUSLY IN OUR DISCUSSIONS, I, I REALLY, UM, WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE LOCALITY SUPPLEMENT AS PART OF THE, UH, TEACHER SALARY.
SO ONE, WE GET CREDIT FOR IT WHEN WE ARE COMPARED TO OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS, SALARY TO SALARY.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE VOTED ON AND IT'S ANNUALLY BY THE SCHOOL BOARD.
SO IT'S A SURE THING ONCE IT'S ROLLED INTO THE SALARY AND THERE'S THE ADVANTAGE FOR THE EMPLOYEES THAT THEY'RE ALSO NOW GETTING RETIREMENT, UM, BENEFITS ON THAT.
SO, UM, AND I SEE HOW YOU AS ALREADY BROUGHT UP BY, UM, THIS BOAT BOATWRIGHTS COMMENTS THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT HALF IN THERE AT THIS POINT AS, AS A, UM, SORT OF SEGUE INTO EVENTUALLY DOING THE WHOLE THING.
SO DO YOU KNOW, UM, A COUPLE THINGS, THE NEW, NEW BASE TEACHER SALARY.
SO THIS WOULD BE IN THE ALTERNATE BUDGET, 43,566.
WHERE IS THAT? NOW ON THAT LIST YOU GAVE US, UH, LIKE A MEETING OR TWO AGO IT WOULD BE NEAR THE TOP.
UM, BUT I DO KNOW THAT GREENVILLE IS PROPOSING A $2,000 INCREASE TO BRING THEM TO 44,515, I BELIEVE IS THE NUMBER.
AND I DO KNOW THAT FORT MILL IS ALSO PROPOSING A TO $2,000 INCREASE AND THEY WERE NUMBER TWO ON THE LIST.
[04:40:01]
WOULD PLACE US HOPEFULLY IN THE TOP FIVE, BUT REALLY, LIKE I SAID, IT'S A MOVING TARGET.I KNOW AT LEAST ONE OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT WE WERE IN TOUCH WITH WAS RAISING 4,000 MOST WERE RAISING 2000 OR LESS.
UM, UM, ROBIN, BECAUSE ON THE ALTERNATE PROPOSAL YOU HAVE THAT, UM, I BELIEVE THE CON WAS 2000 TOTAL COMPENSATION.
TOTAL COMPENSATION PACKAGE 2000 LESS, BUT ISN'T, IT REALLY ISN'T, IT, IT WOULDN'T REALLY BE LESS THAN 2000 BECAUSE, UM, THEY, THEY ARE NOW GETTING, UM, RETIREMENT BENEFIT.
YOU HAVEN'T TAKEN THAT INTO ACCOUNT IN THAT I'M REFERRING MORE TO THE GROSS SALARY BEFORE ANY, ANY WITHHOLDINGS IN THIS SCENARIO, BUT YES, THE 2,500 ROLLED IN WOULD BE SUBJECT TO A 9% RETIREMENT WITHHOLDING A AT, WHICH WOULD BE ABOUT $225 OR SO.
WHEN WE, UM, WHEN THE, UH, SIX BOARD MEMBERS WENT UP TO THE, UM, STATE HOUSE, UH, LAST WEEK AND WHEN TOM DAVIS TALKED TO US, HE, HE, HIS, HIS COMMENTS WERE ALL ON THE NEW FUNDING FORMULA.
AND HE SPECIFICALLY MADE A POINT OF SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, THE HOUSE, YOU KNOW, HAD THE $4,000 INCREASE FOR THE TEACHER'S SALARY, WHEREAS THE SENATE THERE'S, THEY WERE PROPOSING THE $2,000 INCREASE IN THE SALARIES FOR TEACHERS.
BUT HE, HE SAID THAT THE SENATE PROPOSAL ALLOWED FOR MORE FLEXIBILITY FOR, UM, SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO, YOU KNOW, MOVE THE MONEY WHERE THEY REALLY NEEDED TO HAVE THE MONEY.
AND I BELIEVE ANOTHER BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND SENATE, UM, FUNDING FORMULAS WAS THE HOUSE, HAD THE NEW FUNDING FORMULA APPLY TO ALL OF THE MONEY WHERE I BELIEVE THE SENATE HAD THE NEW FUNDING FORMULA APPLY TO JUST A PORTION OF THE, OF THE MONEY.
I DO WANT TO MENTION ONE THING ON THAT.
UH, THERE IS A PROPOSAL SENATE PROPOSAL, I BELIEVE.
UH, THEY ARE MOVING, UM, PROPOSING TO MOVE THE TEACHER SUPPLY REIMBURSEMENT FROM $275 TO $300.
SO I WANT TO MAKE THAT POINT AS WELL.
SO THAT'S AN INCREASE FOR THAT.
WE'LL PUT DOLLARS IN THE HANDS OF TEACHERS.
WE GET THAT IN THE FORM OF A REAL CHECK AND THEY CAN SPEND IT ON SUPPLIES FOR THEIR CLASSROOMS. MS. PHAEDRA, THANK YOU.
SO TANYA, I'M LOOKING AT THE BLUE BUDGET AND, YOU KNOW, YOUR OPENING REMARKS IS WHAT, WHAT ARE, WHAT'S OUR PURPOSE TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN.
SO, UM, WHEN YOU LOOK AT ALL THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS AND TODAY, TELL ME, TELL ME IF I'VE GOT THIS COMPREHENSIVELY, UH, 3% RETROACTIVE.
SO, UM, THAT SHOULD BE IN TEACHERS AND BY THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, RIGHT.
SO AT THE BEGINNING 10TH, AT THE BEGINNING OF SUMMER, RECOMMENDING A $4,000 SALARY INCREASE YES.
AND RECOMMENDING ONE STEP RECOMMENDING A LOCALITY SUPPLEMENT, AND YOU JUST TOLD US ABOUT THE TEACHER SUPPLY GOING UP TO $300.
SO I KNOW THAT TEACHERS, I KNOW THAT EVERYBODY'S EXCITED ABOUT THE LOCALITY SUPPLEMENT WHEN IT'S CHRISTMAS TIME.
AND, AND I, I APPRECIATE YOUR THOUGHTS ON IF WE PUT THE ENTIRE LOCALITY SUPPLEMENT INTO THE SALARY, YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD JUST KIND OF BE A SHOCK.
UM, BUT I ALSO BELIEVE IN THE LONG-TERM THAT BY HAVING THIS INCREASE IN THE SALARY, IT RAISES US HIGHER ON THAT SCHEDULE AND ALSO HELPS TEACHERS WITH LONG-TERM RETIREMENT.
SO IF WE WERE TO TAKE HALF OF THAT, I'M TALKING TO BLUE BUDGET RIGHT NOW.
AND WE WERE GOING TO TAKE HALF OF THAT LOCALITY SUPPLEMENT AND PUT 2,500 INTO THE SALARY AND DO 2,500 AS A TAKE-HOME 1250 EACH SEMESTER.
KNOWING THAT WE HAVE THIS PROPOSAL FOR THE SR FUNDS TO USE THE $2,000 TO COME OUT IN NOVEMBER, CORRECT? YES.
[04:45:01]
RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT BONUS THAT IF YOU STAY BY NOVEMBER 15TH, IF WE WERE TO APPROVE THIS TODAY, THAT $2,000 WOULD BE PAID OUT RIGHT AROUND THE HOLIDAYS.ALONG WITH THIS 1250, WHICH WILL BE 30 TO 50 50, RIGHT? YES.
WHICH IS MORE THAN THE 2,500 TYPICAL STIPEND.
DO YOU SEE WHERE I'M GOING WITH THIS? THAT THAT WOULD LESSEN THE BLOW OF PUTTING HALF THE STIPEND INTO SALARY, KEEPING THE HALF THE STIPEND AS A LOCALITY SUPPLEMENT, BUT THEN USING THESE SR FUNDS, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A, I THINK THIS IS A FABULOUS WAY TO USE THESE SR FUNDS.
SO TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THAT.
SO $4,000 PLUS SPRING 2,500 IN THAT'S.
AND LOOK WHERE THAT WOULD PUT US, WE WOULD, IF YOU ADD THE 2,500 TO THE 43, 0 6 6, YOU'RE TALKING 45, 5, 6, 6.
THAT BASED ON THE NUMBERS, YOU JUST TOLD US OF WHERE THE OTHER DISTRICTS ARE, WOULD DEFINITELY PUT US TOWARD THE TOP.
SO ONE, MY INITIAL POINT, UH, IS THAT IT WOULD COST ME, IT COST OF A MILLION DOLLARS ADDITIONAL EXPENDITURES.
SO WE COULD EITHER ADD IT TO THIS BUDGET, INCREASE THE MILLAGE, OR REDUCE SOMETHING ELSE IN THE EXPENDITURES.
AND IT WOULD BRING THE TEACHER SALARIES UP TO THE BASE SALARY TO $45,066, 45,566.
AND THE OVERALL WOULD BE SO 40, 40 AGAIN, 50,000.
AND WE'RE TAKING THE FIT 45, 5 66 PLUS 2,500 ADDITIONAL IS THAT 43 66 PLUS 2,500.
WHICH IS HALF OF THE LOCALITY SUPPLEMENT.
SO THAT WOULD RAISE OUR STARTING TEACHER SALARY TO 45, 5, 6, 6, RIGHT? YES.
STILL ALLOWING A LOCALITY SUPPLEMENT, A 2,500 TO BE DISPERSED OVER TWO SEMESTERS AND THEN ANOTHER 2,500 LOCALITY, RIGHT.
AND IF THE BOARD SO AGREES THAT THE SR FUNDS BE USED IN SUCH A WAY FOR A $2,000 RECRUITMENT RETENTION BONUS TO BE DISPERSED, OR IF YOU'RE STILL WORKING BY NOVEMBER.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHEN THIS PAYOUT WOULD BE, WE'RE TALKING THAT INFLATION RATE, YOU JUST TALKED ABOUT WHERE WE'RE TALKING, HELPING TO KEEP OUR EMPLOYEES HEADS ABOVE WATER.
BUT WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS? IT'S UH, IT WOULD BE 0.7 MILS IF, IF THERE WERE AN INCREASE TO THE EXPENDITURE, UM, 0.7.
SO THEN THE PROPOSED MILLAGE INCREASE WOULD BE 4.7.
YOU, YOU TOLD US BEFORE, WHAT IS OUR, UH, MADAM VICE CHAIR? I'M SORRY.
YOU, UM, YOU TOLD US BEFORE THAT WE'RE ALLOWED HOW MUCH IN OUR MILLAGE 8.3 8.3.
SO WE'D STILL HAVE A ROLLBACK OF 3.6.
I SHARE, UM, TANYA, THE STEP INCREASES AS RIGHT.
NOT BEING OFF TOPIC, BUT I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE WE'RE GOING WITH IT.
IS THAT MANDATED BY THE STATE? YES, SIR.
SANDY, JUST THE TEACHERS STEP AND I BELIEVE THE BUS DRIVER STEP ARE MANDATED BY THE, IS IT A PERCENT OF WHERE YOU ARE? ISN'T A DOLLAR NUMBER.
IT IS NOT A, A STANDARD PERCENT.
IT IS AN AVERAGE OF ABOUT 2%, 1.7 TO 2%.
UM, WHEN THERE ARE FLAT INCREASES IN, IN SALES, LIKE 2000 OR 1000 AND IT SKEWS THE PERCENTAGES, YOU'RE THE MATHEMATICIAN.
IF WE STARTED, LET'S SAY TRISH'S THEORY, WE STARTED AT 50,000.
[04:50:01]
MORE THAN IF WE STARTED AT 48,000, RIGHT.THAT'S AT THE END OF 30 YEARS, A TEACHER IS, HAS REACHED A CERTAIN POINT THAT DOES, THAT IS A BUY INTO, THEY SAID, THEY LOOK AT, I TEACH A LOOK AT IT AND THEY CALLED IT SHOULDN'T LOOKS AT THE WHOLE THING.
WHERE WILL THAT BE? IN 20 YEARS, WE TALKING WITH DANNY, YOU KNOW, THEY GOT TO KNOW WHERE THEY GOING TO BE IN 20 YEARS.
AND I LIKED THAT IDEA, TRISHA, BUT WHAT ABOUT THAT? SO FUN.
YOU KNOW WHAT I SAY? THAT WE, WE, WE THINK ABOUT THE DEMAND FOR OUR NEEDS RIGHT NOW.
AND YES, I KNOW THIS HAS TO END BY, I THINK SEPTEMBER 20, 24.
AND SO I HAVE FULL FAITH THAT, AND WE PUT IT IN REAL, FIND THE MONEY, CONTINUE IT.
I, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M PRO TEACHER LIVING ON MORE THAN BREAD AND WATER.
AND, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER THE HIGHER-UPS WE CAN GO.
AND I, YOU KNOW, I CONSIDERED THE INFLATION AND WHEN I ANALYZE IT FROM A MATHEMATIC STANDPOINT, WE'RE NOT RAISING THE TEACHERS, YOU KNOW, LIVING EXPENSES, COST OF LIVING THAT MUCH.
AND I TELL HIM A TWO TO 3% AREA WHEN YOU CONSIDER INFLATION.
SO THAT'S ANOTHER THOUGHT TOO.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE OTHER COUNTIES ARE DOING.
I SURE THEY HAVE THE FLEX THAT WE HAVE, BUT I, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE OUGHT TO BE GIVE THEM A REAL FAIR DEAL.
THAT'S THAT'S MY THOUGHT ABOUT IT.
I THINK THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO, TO CHANGE THE IMPACT IN BUFORD COUNTY OR WHAT WE FEEL ABOUT TEACHERS.
WE'RE THE 10TH LARGEST COUNTY, I THINK.
AND WE'RE 50 SOMETHING IN SALARY.
AND THE SAY THAT WE'RE BUFORD COUNTY, I THINK THIS MIGHT PUT US AT NUMBER ONE.
I, IF I, IF I COULD JUST INTERJECT HERE AND THEN I'M GONNA GET BACK TO THE QUEUE, BUT I THINK THAT, UM, WE'RE AT A TIME IN OUR COMMUNITY NOW WHERE OUR COMMUNITY RECOGNIZES, I TRULY BELIEVE THIS, THE SHORTAGE OF TEACHERS AND HOW THEIR CHILDREN ARE BEING IMPACTED BY, YOU KNOW, THE NUMBER OF CLASSES THAT AREN'T BEING COVERED.
AND I THINK WE HAVE TO DO WHAT WE CAN KNOW TO, TO SHOW THAT WE'RE, WE WANT TO BRING TEACHERS HERE.
AND ONE WAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET QUALITY TEACHERS HERE AND FILL THOSE SPOTS BECAUSE OUR CONSTITUENTS, OUR STUDENTS NEED QUALIFIED TEACHERS IN THOSE SPOTS IS WE'VE GOT TO TAKE TEACHER SALARIES SERIOUSLY.
AND WE HAVE TO, UM, I THINK TO USE MR. SMITH'S WORDS, PUT OUR MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH IS.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE MILLAGE RATE.
THE ALTERNATIVE MILLAGE RATE IS OF 1.7.
THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL IS A 4.0, AND THAT IS NOT THE FULL MILLAGE THAT WE COULD ASK.
CORRECT? WE ARE, WE ARE, WE ARE BANKING SOME MILLAGE OR THE UNKNOWN, AND THAT'S GOOD DIFFERENCE FOR A TAXPAYER.
I'M TALKING THE GUY THAT OWNS THE $400,000 HOME ON SEA PINES THAT HE RENTS OUT FOR A GAZILLION DOLLARS A YEAR.
THIS MEANS FOR HIM 50, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A 1.7 AND A 4.0 MEANS FOR HIM $55 A YEAR, THAT'S LESS THAN THAT'S LESS THAN $5 A MONTH.
AND FOR THAT, AND FOR THAT, WE CAN GET THE $2,000 MORE FOR THE TEACHERS.
THAT'S A NO BRAINER AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.
AND IF YOU KNOW, AND I THINK YOU'D ASK THAT PROPERTY OWNER, IS HE GOING TO RAISE HIS RATE $5? NO.
I MEAN THAT THIS IS CHUMP CHANGE AND I, AND I KNOW IT'S TERRIBLE TO SAY, TAXPAYERS ARE GETTING, YOU KNOW, OUR CHUMP CHANGE, BUT
[04:55:01]
$55 A YEAR IS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.AND IT'S $2,000 A YEAR FOR THE TEACHER THAT, THAT MAN THAT'S, I WAS DOING MATH WOULDN'T MAKE SENSE.
SO I, YOU KNOW, I THINK, I THINK WHATEVER PROPOSAL WE CHOOSE, WE STICK WITH A 4.0 MIL 4.7.
IF WE DO THAT 4.7 4.7 MILLION INCREASE.
LET'S SEE, MS. BOATWRIGHT, THANK YOU.
UM, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE THAT WORKS IN HR FOR A SMALL BUSINESS, IT'S, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE, WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT YOUR BUDGET, RAISING SALARY AND RAISING BENEFITS, IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S A TOUGH EQUATION, BUT MIKE, WHY WOULD SUPPORT? I THINK WE NEED TO, IF WE CAN, FOR TEACHER SALARIES, IT'S NOT JUST BECAUSE OF INFLATION.
THERE WAS AN ARTICLE THAT HILTON HEAD ISLAND HAD THE 15TH, HIGHEST RENT INCREASE IN THE NATION.
WE WERE THE ONLY PLACE IN SOUTH CAROLINA IN THE TOP 20 BUFORD COUNTY.
I THINK THEY SAID 31% INCREASE IN RENT.
SO WHEN YOU FACTOR IN THE FACT THAT FOR SOME, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER REASON, THE PANDEMIC, THE LIFESTYLE, UM, AND COLONEL GUY, THE $400,000 HOME AND SEA PINES, NO WAY, NOT EVEN KINDA.
UM, SO I THINK WE RECOGNIZE THAT IF WE WANT THE TEACHERS TO LIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WE WANT THEM TO HAVE ONE OF THE, YOU KNOW, AS, AS A DAUGHTER OF TWO TEACHERS, TEACHING SHOULD BE A REASONABLE LIFESTYLE.
IT SHOULD NOT BE A 45 MINUTE COMMUTE BECAUSE YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE ANYWHERE NEAR WHERE YOU WORK.
RIGHT? SO ONE OF THE BENEFITS, I THINK PEOPLE DO WANT TO LIVE HERE, BUT THAT WE HAVE TO, IT'S NOT EVEN COMPETING WITH THE OTHER DISTRICTS.
I DO BELIEVE THAT BUFORD COUNTY HAS GOTTEN SO HIGH IN TERMS OF RENT, UM, THAT WE NEED TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO GET THE TEACHERS TO A POINT WHERE THEY CAN AFFORD AN APARTMENT.
I MEAN, THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
AND WE HEARD THE GENTLEMAN, UM, THE SCIENCE TEACHER FROM ROBERT SMALLS LAST NIGHT, TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE, LOSING ROOMMATES AND HAVING TO MOVE.
I MEAN, IT IS DIRE, UM, ON THE, ON THE HOUSING COSTS.
I THINK IN ADDITION TO THE INFLATION, WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT BUFORD COUNTY IS IN A UNIQUELY DIFFICULT HOUSING CRUNCH.
AND, UH, THAT'S GOING TO MAKE, EVEN IF WE ARE THE NUMBER ONE SALARY IN THE COUNTY, WHEN YOU TRY TO RENT UP SOMEWHERE TO LIVE, UM, OR BUY A HOUSE, WE REALLY HAVE TO DO SOME EXTRA STUFF FOR OUR TEACHERS.
SO I WOULD DEFINITELY SUPPORT DOING WHATEVER WE CAN TO RAISE, UH, THE TEACHER SALARY IT'S MIDDLETON.
AND THANK YOU, MS. CROSBY FOR THIS REPORT.
I TOTALLY SUPPORT WITH MS. FREDERICK HAS COME UP WITH, WITH HER NUMBERS.
I THINK ABOUT THE TEACHERS THAT WERE HERE LAST NIGHT FROM ROBERT SMALLS.
IT MAKES NO SENSE FOR A TEACHER TO HAVE TO BE IN THE CLASSROOM NINE HOURS A DAY, THEN GO HOME AND THEN WORK A PART-TIME JOB.
AND WITH RENTS GOING UP OVER 30, 30%, 30 PLUS PERCENT, COME ON, WE HAVE TO DO BETTER.
AND AGAIN, MS. MRS. SMITH SAID SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO DO, PUT OUR MONEY WHERE THE MOUTH IS.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND GIVE THEM MONEY.
AND AS A TAXPAYER, YES, I WILL PAY WHATEVER.
AS A FORMER TEACHER AND A CURRENT TAXPAYER, I WILL PAY WHATEVER TO GET OUR TEACHERS, THE INCREASES THAT THEY NEED.
THANK YOU, MS. FREDERICK FOR CALCULATING THOSE NUMBERS, MRS. SMITH, UH, COULD YOU KIND OF HELP ME WALK ME THROUGH, UH, IN TERMS OF THE SICK PAY, HOW WILL WE ROLL THAT OUT? WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE? THAT PLAN IS NOT A FULLY DEVELOPED.
I THINK WE NEED SOME CONVERSATIONS, MORE ABOUT IT.
UM, SO THAT THE BOARD SEES A FEW SCENARIOS.
AND SO I THINK THAT REQUIRES A LITTLE MORE ATTENTION THAN, THAN THE TIME WE HAD FOR THE BUDGET CONVERSATION.
SO I MIGHT PUT A PLACEHOLDER IN, UM, SO THAT WE HAVE SOME OPTIONS, UH, AND WE HAVE, UH, AN AMOUNT TO WORK WITH THAT THAT'S NOT, THAT'S NOT FINAL WRITER TO BE DISCUSSED.
RODRIGUEZ, THANK YOU, MS. ROBOT.
AND I THINK WHAT I WAS GOING TO CHIME IN AND IT'S BEEN SAID, BUT IT'S, IT'S ALONG THE LINES OF WHAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT, UM, MS. ROBIN, AND THEN WHAT MS. MR. BOATRIGHT, UH, AND MS. MIDDLETON HIT UPON, WHICH IS, AND I THINK OUR COMMUNITY NOT ONLY OBVIOUSLY WANTS US TO HAVE THE GREATEST OPPORTUNITY AT ATTRACTING TALENT AND ATTRACTING TEACHERS, BUT I THINK THEY ALSO WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO LIVE RIGHT HERE IN THE COMMUNITY.
I HAD A CONVERSATION THIS MORNING WITH ONE OF OUR TEACHERS WHO, UH, SHARED WITH ME, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH I TEACH
[05:00:02]
AND THAT'S POWERFUL, YOU KNOW, AND, AND I, AND I AGREE WITH, WITH, WITH ALL OF YOU ALL THAT, I DO THINK THAT OUR COMMUNITY WANTS THEM TO LIVE HERE IN THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.SO THAT'S IT MR. EARL CAMPBELL? OH, YES.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR YEARS, WHAT IT COSTS TO LIVE IN BUFORD COUNTY.
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT EVERY TIME SALARY GOES UP, RENT GOES UP.
SO MAYBE WE NEED TO SIT DOWN AND TALK TO THE REALTORS AND THE FOLKS THAT ARE RUNNING, YOU KNOW, UM, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH MAKING A PROFIT, BUT JESUS CHRIST, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE KILLING PEOPLE, THAT DON'T MAKE SENSE.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, AND I KNOW PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO HAVE IT.
I MEAN, YOU DON'T HAVE TO GUYS PEOPLE POCKETBOOK JUST TO MAKE A PROFIT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WHEN YOUR DAD TAKE A WEEKEND, YOU KNOW, IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE, DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME.
AND, AND, AND, AND WE CAN TEACH A SATURDAY CAN GO UP TO 60,000 OR 70,000 AND THE PEOPLE THAT RENT OR THEY'RE GOING TO GO UP, YOU KNOW, THERE HAS TO BE, UH, UH, UH, SOME POINT A CUT OFF POINT SOMEWHERE.
AND MAYBE WE NEED TO SIT DOWN WITH THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THE REALTORS AND TALK WITH THEM, YOU KNOW, THAT'S ALL.
UM, DO YOU HAVE MORE PRESENTATION, LIKE TO CONTINUE WITH, I SEE NO MORE HANDS AT THIS POINT.
UH, COLONEL GEIER, UH, MATT I'M.
HOW DO YOU WANT TO PROCEED? WHAT WE COULD DO IS A VOTE FOR THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL, BUT MAKE A MOTION AND SAY HERE'S THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL AND GET A VOTE.
AND IF IT, AND THEN IF THEY DON'T GET SIX VOTES FOR IT, GO TO THE SET, READ THE SECOND MOTION, HOW DO WE CHOOSE WHICH PROPOSAL WE'RE GOING TO GO OUT AND GIVE TO THE COMMUNITY? AND THEY OPEN IT IN THE COMMUNITY SESSION.
I WOULD RECOMMEND IF IT SEEMS THE CONSENSUS IS TO GO WITH A HIGHER WITH MS. FIDRYCH HAS PROPOSAL.
WE JUST ALTER THAT THE MOTION THAT I'VE PROVIDED THE DRAFT MOTION, AND JUST GO WITH ONE, I WOULD, I'M HAPPY TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
AND IF YOU, DID YOU REWRITE THAT, THEN YES, WE CAN TAKE A RECESS.
UH, W W ARE YOU FINISHED WITH THE PROPOSAL? YOU FINISHED A COUPLE OTHER THINGS.
I WANT TO HEAR THOSE THINGS FIRST.
AND THEN ALSO I MIGHT GET ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES.
DOES ANYONE, UH, I THINK I HAVE A COPY OF THAT.
CAN, MAY I HAVE THAT MR. SMITH LET'S LET HER FINISH AND THEN, OKAY.
I'D LIKE TO GO TO SLIDE EIGHT IN THE PRESENTATION.
UM, SO WE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THE LEGISLATIVE UPDATE AS PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS.
UH, ADMINISTRATIVE RULE
SO TONIGHT I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO VOTE ON THIS, BUT I DO WANT YOU TO SEE IT FOR THE FIRST TIME.
AND THEN WE'LL SEE IT AGAIN ON THE NEXT MEETING.
UM, THE DEBT SERVICE BUDGET COMES FROM A, A SYNOPSIS OR A SUMMARY FROM BRIAN NEUROTIC, THE, UH, COMPASS MUNICIPAL ADVISORS.
AND IT'S BASED ON THE PRINCIPLE AND INTEREST PAYMENTS THAT ARE COMING DUE OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR OR BUDGET YEAR.
SO THOSE TOTAL EXPENDITURES OF PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST WILL BE $88.2 MILLION.
THOSE ARE ALREADY ESTABLISHED AND MAY INCLUDE ANY UPCOMING BOND ISSUES THAT WE MAY MAKE THAT WILL BE PAID BACK IN THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR AS WELL.
UM, THIS, SO THESE ARE BASED ON THESE NUMBERS ARE BASED ON THE LONG-TERM FINANCING PLAN YOU'VE ALREADY SEEN DURING OUR DEBT DAY PRESENTATION IN MARCH, UH, AND IT MAINTAINS THE CURRENT MILLAGE AND DEBT SERVICE OF 36.3.
SO NET WE ARE NOT REQUESTING ANY CHANGE IN THAT MILLAGE.
UM, THE PROJECTED FUND BALANCE.
WE ALWAYS LOOK AT THE DECEMBER FUND BALANCE IN DEBT SERVICE BECAUSE WE HAVE FALL INTEREST PAYMENTS.
SO YOU CAN'T LOOK AT JUNE 30TH
[05:05:01]
AND THINK THAT, OH, WELL, WELL, WE HAVE AN EXCESS, WE DO NOT, WE HAVE TO HAVE ENOUGH IN THE FUND BALANCE AT JUNE IN ORDER TO PAY OUR SEPTEMBER INTEREST PAYMENTS.SO THE LOW POINT IS WE GENERALLY TRY TO KEEP IT AROUND $5 MILLION AT DECEMBER 31 AND, UH, THIS BUDGET ACCOMPLISHES THAT.
SO, UH, IN THE HANDOUT, THERE'S A DETAIL.
IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN LOOKING AT, UH, THE DETAILS OF THE NUMBERS, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE MATH BEHIND THE NUMBERS, AND THOSE ARE PAGE SEVEN.
UH, JUST AGAIN, MR. GUYER, UH, SAID JUST EXACTLY WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY, AND I JUST, I DO NEED SOME GUIDANCE TO SAVING ON WHICH METHODS SO THAT I CAN GO FORWARD WITH A PUBLIC FORUM.
UH, SO WE WERE PROVIDED DISCUSSING A VIRTUAL PUBLIC FORUM, BUT THERE IS A NEED FOR US TO BE IN PERSON THIS YEAR.
UH, SO OVER THE COURSE OF YESTERDAY EVENING, AND TODAY I'VE BEEN TALKING WITH, UH, BLUFFTON HIGH SCHOOL AND BUFORD HIGH SCHOOL TO, UH, FIND A SPACE.
UH, AND WE, IT SEEMS THAT WE WERE LOOKING IN THE TIMEFRAME OF MAY 10TH AND 11TH.
SO THAT'S NEXT, UH, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY.
UH, SO WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO STAY WITHIN THOSE TWO DAYS AND, UH, RE UH, PROVIDE A PROPOSAL OR A PRESENTATION TO THE COMMUNITY ON THOSE DATES.
SO WE'RE ALREADY TALKING TO PRINCIPALS, UH, SO WE'RE ON IT.
AND, UH, THE LAST THING IS THAT OUR BUDGET READINGS WITH COUNTY COUNCIL HAD BEEN POSTPONED.
UH, THEY REALLY WERE LOOKING FOR AN APPROVED BUDGET PRIOR TO FIRST READING.
UH, AND WE'RE WAITING ON A COUPLE OF OTHER BUDGETS, UH, FOR FIRE DISTRICTS, I BELIEVE SO IN THE INTEREST OF HAVING FINALIZED BUDGETS COMING FROM THE MUNICIPALITIES OR THE FIRE DISTRICTS AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, UM, THE COUNCIL HAS INFORMED US THAT, UH, THE STAFF HAS INFORMED US THAT THE FIRST READING WILL BE POSTPONED TO MAY 23RD.
SO MAY 23RD, JUNE 13TH AND JUNE 27TH WILL BE FINAL READING.
SO WE'LL BE RIGHT AT THE END OF THE RIGHT AT THE END OF THE HOUR, GETTING THE BUDGET APPROVED THROUGH COUNCIL.
UM, SO, UH, ONE OTHER NOTE I WANTED TO MAKE IS THAT THE LOCATIONS OF THOSE HAVE ACTUALLY ALREADY BEEN SET AND THEY'RE ALL ON THE NORTH, THE NORTHERN SIDE OF THE RIVER.
SO THE FIRST MEETING ON THE 23RD WE'LL BE AT THE, UH, REC CENTER BURTON WELLS RECREATION CENTER, AND THE OTHER TWO READINGS, THE SECOND AND THIRD READING WILL BE AT COUNTY COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
SO, UM, I WILL SEND AN INFORMATION OUT TO PRINCIPALS FOR THOSE WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN ATTENDING, UH, MAY 23RD IS A GRADUATION NIGHT FOR BLUFFTON HIGH SCHOOL.
UM, SO I THINK THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
UM, MS. CROSBY, I HAVE A QUESTION ON PAGE EIGHT OF THE DEBT SERVICE BUDGET.
IT SAYS PROJECTED FUND BALANCE AT 12 31 23 IS 23 OF THE CORRECT YEAR, OR SHOULD IT BE 22? AND THAT IS ON SLIDE EIGHT SLIDE.
R A SO IT'S A WHOLE YEAR IN ADVANCE.
UM, ONE OTHER THING THAT I, BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD WITH EMOTION, I FEEL THAT, UM, SINCE I KNOW THAT RACHEL EXPRESSED, UH, LAST EVENING THAT SHE HAD QUESTIONS AND SHE WAS GOING TO SHARE THEM WITH YOU.
UM, I, I THINK THAT I, AS A BOARD MEMBER WOULD LIKE TO HEAR WHAT HER QUESTIONS WERE AND WHAT THE RESPONSES ARE, SO THAT, OH, SHE DID.
MY, MY PROBLEM, WELL, I DIDN'T SEE THE EMAIL, BUT, UM, IT WAS A BUSY DAY TODAY.
UM, SHE HAD SOME GOOD QUESTIONS.
UM, DON'T RECALL ALL OF THEM, BUT I DO RECALL ONE WAS ABOUT THE BOARD'S BUDGET.
UH, THERE APPEARED TO BE AN INCREASE, UH, AND THE INCREASE, UH, WAS ACTUALLY, SHE MENTIONED AN INCREASE OF APPROXIMATELY $150,000.
IT'S NOT AN ACTUALLY AN INCREASE FROM BUDGET TO BUDGET.
IT'S INCREASED FROM THE ACTUAL SPENDING IN FISCAL YEAR 21, UM, THERE, AND VERSUS THE BUDGET FOR THE CURRENT YEAR OR THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR, FOR OUR NEW YEAR.
UH, THE DIFFERENCE IS ACTUALLY DUE TO SAVINGS AND IN FISCAL YEAR 2021, UH, AND THOSE SAVINGS WERE DUE PRIMARILY
[05:10:01]
TO COVID.SO THERE WASN'T AS MUCH TRAVEL IN THE BOARD'S BUDGET.
UM, AND SO WE DO EXPECT THAT TO RETURN AND TO BE HAVING THOSE, UM, THE TRAVEL THAT WE WERE EXPERIENCING PRIOR TO COVID.
SO THAT'S THE REASONING BEHIND THE MAJORITY OF THAT INCREASE.
UM, SHE HAD SOME GREAT QUESTIONS REGARDING LIKE, AS YOU DID THIS EVENING, JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, UM, THE VARIOUS, UH, OP OPTIONS THAT WERE AVAILABLE TO US AND UNDERSTANDING, UH, THE PROS AND CONS, UH, AND KIND OF JUST GAINING A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THOSE AND ALSO THE SICK LEAVE PAYOUT.
UH, SHE HAD A QUESTION SIMILAR TO MR. SMITH AND THAT IS, UM, UH, THOSE WERE ANSWERED AND ALSO THERE A PROPOSAL, UH, THE PROPOSAL WOULD BE FORTHCOMING IN THE FUTURE.
MR. SMITH, DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION YOUR HANDS UP? YES.
UM, IN TERMS OF, UH, IN TERMS OF WHAT MR. CAMPBELL SAID, UM, I THINK THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT, THE SAME WAY, HOW WE SEND LETTERS OUT FOR DIFFERENT THINGS AND ABOUT THE CONSOLE.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, UH, WHEN YOU HEAR ABOUT IT, YOU SEE EMAIL, YOU, SHE, YOU GO TO DIFFERENT MEETINGS.
I SEE IT VERY, UH, CONCERNING THAT WE HAVE THESE ROADS OF GROUPS THAT ARE LEADING THESE DISCUSSIONS, AND THEN I AREA.
SO I THINK IT'D BE AWESOME FOR US TO MAYBE POSSIBLY EVEN, YOU KNOW, TO FOSTER AS THE SCHOOL BOARD THAT WE SEE AS IMPORTANT TO HAVE TEACHERS HERE FOR US TO START LEADING THE DISCUSSION AND TO, YOU KNOW, WE NEED SOME TYPE OF UNDERSTANDING, SOME TYPE OF, UH, OF CAPPING WHEN IT WENT, WHEN IT TAKES OFF THREE, WHEN IT GOES UP THREE, 3.3%, THEY WON'T HAVE THE PERCENT WAS, EXCUSE ME, I'M NOT, I'M ON MY KNEES ALL OVER THE PLACE RIGHT NOW, BUT WHEN, WHEN IT GOES UP THAT MUCH AND B FOR COUNTY AND NO ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE TAKING THE LEAD ON THAT CONVERSATION, I DO DEEM THAT SOMEONE NEEDS TO TAKE THE LEAD ON THAT CONVERSATION WITH SOMEONE MUST TAKE A STAB AT IT.
AND I THINK THAT W W I THINK THAT IT WOULD NOT ONLY JUST SHOW GREAT LEADERSHIP IN THE SCHOOL BOARD, BUT IT WILL SHOW ALSO OUR STAFF THAT WE ARE CONCERNED AND THAT WE CARE ABOUT THEM LIVING AND WORKING IN THE SAME COMMUNITY.
I THINK THAT WOULD MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT.
I THINK THAT WE SHOULD HAVE A MEETING WITH THE, UH, WITH, WITH THE, UH, THE RELATIVES, OR WE SHOULD START SOMEWHERE OR MAYBE RUBBER, RUBBER, RUBBER RUBBER SAID, COMMITTEE REVERS, UH, THE BOARD LEVEL.
WE SHOULD START FIGURE OUT WHAT, WHAT, WHERE WE WANT TO GO AND NOT, AND NOT JUST TALK ABOUT IT BECAUSE I DON'T WANT THAT TO FALL ON DEAF EARS.
I THINK THAT NOW IS THE APPROPRIATE TIME TO GO AHEAD AND GET THAT BALL ROLLING.
IF NOT NOW, THEN WHEN, I MEAN, THAT'S, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I'M NOT SURE HOW Y'ALL FEEL ABOUT IT.
I MEAN, I KNOW THAT'S KIND OF A LITTLE DIFFERENT, BUT EVEN IF WE PUT THAT ON THE NEXT AGENDA OR SOMETHING, BUT THAT'S VERY, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
DO YOU WANT TO MAKE A MOTION? SURE, SURE, SURE.
UM, AT THIS TIME I MAKE A MOTION THAT THE BOARD CREATES
UM, AND I MEAN, HOW WE GUESS WE HAVE TO FIGURE THAT OUT.
I MEAN, YEAH, BUT I GUESS THAT WOULDN'T BE A WHOLE LOT YET, BUT YET THAT'S ABSOLUTELY SHIT.
SO I PROPOSE THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD, THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD AND THE, THE, THE RELATIVES ASSOCIATION LEADERSHIP GROUP TO, TO, TO HAVE A MEETING, AH, TO THESE TWO, THESE SKUS, THE, THE, THE COST OF LIVING, THE COST OF LIVING AND BEAVER COUNTY.
NO, NO, JUST TO, TO, TO, TO A BOARD MEETING.
[05:15:01]
WE HAVE A SECOND ON THAT? OKAY.EARL CAMPBELL AND, UM, THE, UM, AND THE CHAMBER CHAMBER, BECAUSE THE CHAMBER HAS A LOT TO DO WITH THIS HOUSE OUT.
I DO TO ACCEPT THAT AMENDMENT, MR. SMITH, UH, MS. BOATWRIGHT, THANK YOU.
UM, THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF FEEDBACK ON MY END, SO I'D LIKE TO SEE THE MOTION AND WRITING, CAUSE I WASN'T A HUNDRED PERCENT SURE I CAUGHT IT.
UM, AND THEN MY OTHER QUESTION, WHEN YOU SAY THE CHAMBER, AREN'T THERE THERE'S I KNOW THERE'S THE BUFORD REGIONAL CHAMBER, WHICH IS SORT OF NORTH BROAD AND THEN THERE'S THE HILTON HEAD CHA I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY CHAMBERS THERE ARE, OR IF THERE IS ONE PARENT CHAMBER, CAN SOMEONE CLARIFY IT WAS ABOUT THERE'S ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE OF THEM IS UP.
NEXT COUPLE OF DIFFERENT CHAMPIONSHIPS.
SO YES, MA'AM AND WE WILL DEFINITELY WANT TO INVITE EVERY CHAMBER.
THE MOTION IS PRESENTED IN BEEN SECONDED.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION MR. CAMPBELL? YEAH, I SUPPORT THE IDEA.
I THINK THOUGH, THAT WE OUGHT TO BEGIN TO THINK OUT OF THE BOX A LITTLE AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT AND START THINKING ABOUT SOMEWHAT SUPPORTING SOME HOUSING FOR OUR INCOMING TEACHERS, WHATEVER THAT PLAN COULD POSSIBLY LOOK LIKE, ANYTHING FROM SOME OF THE TEACHER'S SALARY GOING TOWARDS HOUSE OWNERSHIP WHEN THEY'RE HIRED OR WHATEVER, BUT WE BETTER START THINKING ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO REMAIN A PROBLEM.
UH, IF IT'S AN ENTICEMENT TO BRING IN NEW TEACHERS, A PART OF IT IS IT WILL EVENTUALLY SECURE HOUSING BECAUSE WE GUYS HAVE KIND OF BUILT INTO, UH, A PLAN.
AND I THINK IN THE LONGTERM THAT WOULD HELP, THAT WOULD HELP THE TEACHERS SIDE TO RELOCATE, BUT IT'LL ALSO HELP TO SUSTAIN THE TEACHERS HERE ONCE THEY GOT HERE.
AND, UM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF FUNDS IT WOULD TAKE, BUT IN COLLABORATION WITH THE REALTORS OR THE CHAMBER, I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE OUGHT TO BE BEGIN TO START THINKING IF WE'VE GOT TO SUSTAIN THE CULTURE OF THE AREA IN TERMS OF TERMS OF, UH, PUBLIC SCHOOLS, PERHAPS IT COULD BE A FUTURE AGENDA TOPIC.
GRADS, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, WE COULD.
YOU HEAR ME? YOU HEAR ME? OKAY.
SO ONE IS, WE'RE GETTING OFF TOPIC HERE.
WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DISCUSSING THE BUDGET.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN, I'M NOT GOING TO SUPPORT THIS MOTION.
I THINK WE'RE GETTING INTO TOTALLY DIFFERENT TERRITORY HERE.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN ELECTED BY, BY THE COMMUNITY TO, UH, OVERSEE THE EDUCATION OF, UH, PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS IN BUFORD COUNTY.
I DON'T, I AM, I ACTUALLY DO, DO MANAGE RENTAL REAL ESTATE AND I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO BE AS A SCHOOL OR I DON'T SEE WHAT AUTHORITY WE HAVE TO TELL THE REALTORS ASSOCIATION AND THE CHAMBER, HOW TO MANAGE PROPERTY.
I WON'T SUPPORT THIS MS. MIDDLETON.
YEAH, I UNDERSTAND EVERYBODY'S CONCERNS.
GWADAR THIS HOUSING MARKET WILL SHIFT.
WE DON'T KNOW WHEN I'M NOT AN ECONOMIST.
I KNOW THAT THE INTEREST RATES ARE GOING UP AND THE SALES ARE SLOWING DOWN.
WE CAN'T TELL SOMEBODY WITH THE RENT THEIR PROPERTY FOR EVEN IF WE MEET WITH THESE ORGANIZATIONS, THEY'RE JUST GOING TO GIVE US A FORECAST OF THEY'RE GOING TO TELL US WHAT THEY'RE SEEING IN THE MARKET.
YOU KNOW, HOW MANY HOUSES ARE BEING SOLD, BECAUSE WOULD THAT BLUFFTON AD HOC GROWTH COMMITTEE, WE HAD SOME OF THE, THE REALTORS, ASSOCIATIONS, THE PRESIDENT, AND THE VICE-PRESIDENT COME AND TALK TO US ABOUT THE GROWTH AND HOW MANY HOUSES ARE BEING SOLD.
THEY, I DON'T, I CAN'T SUPPORT IT BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING THAT THEY CAN TELL US.
[05:20:01]
DO.UM, BUT THIS MARKET WILL SHIFT.
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A SELLERS MARKET EVER.
AND WHENEVER THERE'S A SELLERS MARKET, THE RENTS GO UP BECAUSE HOUSES ARE BEING SOLD AND PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO CAPITALIZE ON ALL THIS MONEY THAT'S FLOATING AROUND IN THIS ECONOMY.
SO I CAN'T SUPPORT THIS MOTION.
UM, MR.
UM, I THINK WE NEED TO REFOCUS ON THE BUDGET.
AND THE SIMPLE ANSWER IS WE NEED TO GIVE THE TEACHERS THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF TAKE-HOME PAY THAT WE CAN DO.
UM, ALL THIS OTHER STUFF OUT OF OUR CONTROL.
WE NEED TO GIVE THE TEACHERS AS MUCH MONEY AS WE CAN GIVE THEM, UM, AND VOTE ON MOVING THAT FORWARD AND NOT GET DISTRACTED BY THIS STUFF.
UM, MR. EARL CAMPBELL, AND THEN I'D LIKE TO SAY, THIS'LL BE THE LAST COMMENT BECAUSE WE HAVE DIVERTED FROM THE BUDGET.
WE'LL TAKE A VOTE ON THE MOTION AFTER YOU COMMENT.
I'M NOT TRYING TO TELL ANYBODY WHAT TO DO.
I THINK WE NEED TO SIT DOWN AND TALK WITH THEM, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THE CHAMBER AND THE REALTY, AND I THINK IT'S THAT SIMPLE TO SIT DOWN AND TALK WITH THEM.
HOW CAN THEY HELP US? THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING.
UM, AT THIS POINT, I'D LIKE TO CALL THE QUESTION.
I THINK IT CAN BE SOMETHING THAT CAN BE BROUGHT UP AGAIN AT A LATER TIME.
THE MOTION IS THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD INVITE THE REALTORS ASSOCIATION AND ALL CHAMBERS TO A BOARD MEETING TO DISCUSS THE COST OF LIVING IN BUFORD COUNTY.
THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE SAY, AYE, THOSE OPPOSED BEFORE FIVE, UH, SIX, SEVEN.
I MOVED AT THE BUFORD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION SUPPORT BUDGET OPTION NUMBER THREE, WHICH INCLUDES A $4,000 INCREASE TO TEACHER SALARIES AND MOVING $2,500 FROM THE LOCALITY SUPPLEMENT INTO THE BASE TEACHER'S SALARIES TO ALLOW THE ADMINISTRATION TO SEEK COMMUNITY INPUT FOR THE 20 22 23 BUDGET.
ANY DISCUSSION, MS. BERGER? JUST, JUST A QUICK QUESTION.
SO MS. CROSBY, WE DON'T HAVE TO VOTE ON THE LOCALITY SUPPLEMENT SEPARATELY.
IT'S ALREADY INCLUDED WITHIN THIS IT'S INCLUDED.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? OKAY, MR. SMITH, UM, IN TERMS OF WHAT ACTUALLY, AND THIS IS THE, UM, IS THE, THE STIPEND FOR COMING FROM THE, UM, AS THE FUNDS, IS THAT, IS THAT I DIDN'T REALLY KNOW.
UH, ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT.
SO THE MOTION READS, I MOVED AT THE SCHOOL BOARD AND NO ON MOTION.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ALL KNOW WHAT WE'RE BURNING, MAN.
UH, THE MOTION IS THAT BUFORD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION SUPPORT BUDGET OPTION NUMBER THREE, WHICH INCLUDES A $4,000 INCREASE TO TEACHER SALARIES AND MOVING $2,500 FROM THE LOCALITY SUPPLEMENT INTO THE BASE TEACHER SALARY TO ALLOW THE ADMINISTRATION TO SEEK COMMUNITY INPUT
[05:25:01]
FOR THE 2223 BUDGET.UM, I DO HAVE A QUESTION SHOULD THAT SAY $4,000 INCREASE TO THE BEGINNING, TO THE FIRST STEP TEACHERS TO BEGINNING TEACHERS, BECAUSE THE WAY IT READS THE WAY IT READS, IT SOUNDS LIKE EVERY TEACHER, IT IS EVERY TEACHER, EVERY TEACHER, EVERY, EVERY TEACHER WILL GET IT.
THAT'S THE ONLY WAY THEY CAN STAY AHEAD.
ANY OTHER MOTIONS? WE HAVE A DISCUSSION ON THE EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION, RECRUITING AND RETENTION BONUS.
ARE YOU READY FOR THAT? YES, I AM.
WHY DON'T I, WHY DON'T I READ A MOTION AND THEN HAVE IT OPEN FOR DISCUSSION? OKAY.
I MOVED AT THE BUFORD COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT PROVIDES EACH CURRENT FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE WHO REMAINS EMPLOYED BY THE DISTRICT ON NOVEMBER 15TH, 2022, A $2,000 RETENTION BONUS EACH NEW FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE HIRED AFTER TODAY'S DATE WILL RECEIVE A $2,000 RECRUITMENT BONUS.
IF THEY REMAIN EMPLOYED BY THE DISTRICT ON NOVEMBER 15TH, 2022 FUNDING NOT TO EXCEED $6 MILLION WILL BE UTILIZED BY THE FEDERAL ESSAR PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES COVID IMPACT RELIEF.
SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION MR. DEDRICK? THANK YOU.
UM, I ABSOLUTELY IN SUPPORT OF THIS, BUT MS. CROSBY, I WANTED TO THROW AN IDEA OUT TO YOU AS HER FUNDS WHEN YOU GO AND LOOK AT OUR SR ONE, TWO AND THREE, UM, AND YOU SEE THAT ONLINE 32 OF US OR THREE, WE HAVE INDIRECT COSTS OF 20.71%.
NOW IT SAYS THAT, UM, YOU ARE ARP ALLOWS, UH, 21.71% INDIRECT COST.
SO WHAT I WAS WONDERING IS COULD WE AMEND THIS MOTION SO THAT IT ALSO APPLIES TO THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR? SO TEACHERS WILL KNOW, NOT ONLY HAVE THEY BEEN RECRUITED WITH $2,000 AND RETAINED FOR 2000, BUT WHEN THEY START THEIR SECOND YEAR, THEY WILL ALSO GET A $2,000 BONUS.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, JUST, JUST MIRRORING THIS AND ALL OF IT COMING OUT OF ESCROW FUNDS.
AND THE REASON I BROUGHT UP LINE 32 IS THAT IT SAYS YOU'RE ALLOWED UP TO 21.7% INDIRECTS, I'M SORRY, 20.7 INDIRECT COSTS.
AND IS THERE SOME ROOM TO, FROM SR FUNDS TO SAY THAT THE SAME COMPENSATION, THE SAME RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT BONUS WILL ALREADY BE IN PLACE FOR NEXT YEAR? THE SR FUNDS HAVE TO BE USED BY SEPTEMBER 20, 24, 20 24.
SO WE'RE COMING INTO 22, 23, 23 FOR THE 2324 SCHOOL YEAR.
JUST, CAN YOU, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT? SO, SO YOU'RE SUGGESTING TO MOVE, UH, USE INSTEAD OF MOVING INDIRECT COSTS INTO THE GENERAL FUND OPERATING BUDGET, YOU TO UTILIZE THOSE IN ESSER ON THE ADDITIONAL YEAR OF SUPPLEMENTS ON, SO HOW, HOW MUCH, HOW MUCH IS IT? THIS COSTS ALMOST CLOSE TO $6 MILLION TO DO THIS.
UM, AND WE HAVE FOR INDIRECT COSTS, 9.8, BASICALLY.
UM, SOME OF IT'S ALREADY BEEN USED.
I SAID, I SAID, LINE 32, THERE MIGHT BE OTHER AREAS.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER USE OF SR FUNDS THAN TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN OUR TEACHERS ARE I'M SORRY, NOT JUST TEACHERS.
[05:30:01]
I WANT TO GO HIGHER IF YOU'RE, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE WALKING US INTO THE NEXT YEAR AND WE MIGHT NOT WANT MIKE SAY, SO IT GIVES US MORE FLEXIBILITY.SO, I MEAN, YES, THE ESCROW FUNDS WILL STILL BE THERE, BUT SOME OF THEM ARE ALREADY GETTING ENCUMBERED.
SO THAT'S MY, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU ARE, WHEN YOU PUT IT OUT THERE THAT THIS IS WHAT YOU WANT TO USE THE FUNDS FOR, THEN YOU'VE ALREADY PUT IT, YOU KNOW? SO I JUST THROW IT OUT THERE TO, TO THE, TO THE TEAM HERE TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT IT'S EVEN A POSSIBILITY, BECAUSE I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER USE OF SRO FUNDS.
SO MS. CROSBY, DO YOU HAVE A RESPONSE TO THAT? YES.
SO IN FACT, UM, A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE FUNDS ARE ACTUALLY COMMITTED TO SOMETHING THERE WE'VE BUDGETED EVERY LINE ITEM TO SOMETHING AS YOU, YOU SEE IN THERE IN OUR REPORTS EACH MONTH.
SO IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH THE, UM, MOST RECENT, UM, WE, WE PUT DUAL MODALITY IN, UM, AND THAT COSTS A COUPLE MILLION DOLLARS AS WELL.
AND THEN THIS PROPOSAL IS FOR 6 MILLION.
AS WE SHIFT AWAY FROM THE ORIGINALLY PROPOSED ACTIVITIES THAT WERE BUDGETED, WE HAVE TO TRIM OFF EACH OF EAT SOME CATEGORIES AND OTHER AREAS.
UM, THIS YEAR WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT BECAUSE WE ARE NOT TAKING AS MUCH INDIRECT COSTS TRANSFER INTO THE GENERAL FUND IN THE CURRENT YEAR, UM, TO LESSEN THE KIND OF OFFSET THE EXCESS TAX REVENUE THAT WE'RE, WE ARE EXPECTING.
SO THAT SAVED US A COUPLE MILLION DOLLARS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO REALLOCATE TO SOME OF THE INITIATIVES THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN APPROVED.
UM, I I'M RELUCTANT TO, UM, RECOMMEND A SECOND YEAR BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T YET HIT A FULL SUMMER OF SUMMER INSTITUTE, UM, SUMMER READING SUMMER SCHOOL WITH ALL SCHOOLS, ALL STUDENTS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE OR INTERESTED PRESENT.
UM, SO I, I WOULD RATHER HAVE A GREAT IDEA OF WHAT THAT NATURE COST IS GOING TO BE.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE SHOULD SEE CONSTRUCTION OF, UM, SOME OF THE HPAC UNITS AND, UH, WATER BALLER BOTTLE, FILLER STATIONS, AND SOME OF THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT WILL BE COMING AS WELL.
SO I DON'T WANT TO, UM, COMMIT TO $6 MILLION IS PRETTY HIGH PRICE TAG FOR A SECOND YEAR.
UM, SO IT, IT WORRIES ME A LITTLE TO, UM, COMMIT THAT AND THEN NOT HAVE ENOUGH FOR SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT WE HAD ORIGINALLY PUT IN PLACE.
SO, YEAH, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
THAT'S WHY I WAS BOUNCING IT OFF YOU.
AND ALSO WHEN IN OUR PACKET, I DIDN'T SEE THE 6 MILLION THAT WASN'T ON, ON THIS MOTION.
SO JUST DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WENT BACK AND NOTICED THAT, UH, THE RECOMMENDATION THAT I SENT TO THE BOARD DID NOT HAVE A DOLLAR AMOUNT IN IT.
SO I MADE SURE TO CHECK WITH DENISE MATTSON, OUR DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL REVENUE WHO INDICATED THAT 6 MILLION WAS THE AMOUNT THAT WE BUDGETED.
BUT THAT, I MEAN, THAT'S, THAT IS HIGHER THAN I EXPECTED.
UM, AND, UH, SO ANYWAY, WHEN THIS CONVERSATION IS BEING HAD NEXT YEAR, I HOPE THAT IF THERE IS SOME CONSIDERATION FOR THAT, SO, WELL, WE CAN SEPARATE THE SPENDING, UH, FOR THIS PARTICULAR BONUS IN A SEPARATE PAY TYPE.
SO WE KNOW EXACTLY HOW MUCH WE SPENT THROUGH THE COURSE OF THE YEAR.
AND THEN I THINK WHEN WE GET, UH, UH, ABOUT SIX MORE MONTHS UNDER OUR BELTS, WE CAN SEE WHERE WE ARE AND HAVE A BETTER IDEA OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE REMAINING.
SO WE ALWAYS HAVE THE OPTION TO GO BACK AND DO IT AGAIN.
I, IT JUST CONCERNS ME A LITTLE TO GO AHEAD AND COMMIT TO THAT WHEN, UM, WE REALLY WANT TO LOOK AT FUNDING.
HOW, HOW ARE, UH, VALID THAT'S FAIR? UM, I JUST WOULD REITERATE THAT I CAN'T THINK OF ANY GREATER USE OF THESE SR FUNDS THEN TO SUPPORT THAT.
AND I DON'T BELIEVE THIS WAS AN ACCEPTABLE USAGE WHEN THIS, WHEN IT WAS FIRST PUT OUT, RIGHT.
WE WEREN'T, WE WERE TOLD WAY BACK WHEN THAT EXTRA FUNDS COULDN'T NECESSARILY BE USED FOR TEACHER BONUS.
IN THE EARLIER THE S ARE ONE AND TWO.
AND SO WE ASSUMED THAT SR THREE COULD NOT BE SPENT THAT WAY AS WELL, BUT THEN WE CONTACTED A HIGH LEVEL OFFICIAL AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WHO INDICATED THAT IF YOU ADD UP A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, UM, THEN YOU CAN DO, UH, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE.
A LITTLE SLOW ON THE MUTE BUTTON.
UM, SO THIS KIND OF IS IN LINE WITH MY QUESTIONS
[05:35:01]
FROM YESTERDAY IN TERMS OF, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE EMPLOYEES HAVE UNTIL MAY 15TH TO RETURN THEIR CONTRACTS AFTER WHICH I ASSUME THERE'LL BE A FLURRY OF HIRING.SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND SORT OF THE PROGRESSION, BECAUSE THIS DOES HAVE A CLOSET AT, THAT SAYS ANYBODY HIRED AFTER TODAY.
AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVEN'T HIRED A BUNCH OF PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO BE LIKE, WAIT, THAT WE'RE SORT OF, WE'RE TIMING THIS CORRECTLY WITH THAT, WITH THAT DATE.
SO IF SOMEONE COULD JUST REASSURE ME THAT, THAT'S KIND OF WHAT HAPPENS IS ANYONE ON, UM, ALICE WALTON OR, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF DR.
RODRIGUEZ YOU CAN ADDRESS THAT IF, IF NO ONE ARGUMENT HERE.
I THINK, UH, UH, MS. BOATWRIGHT, IF I UNDERSTAND YOU CORRECTLY, WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO ENSURE IS THAT ANYBODY WHO HAS BEEN HIRED FOR NEXT YEAR, UH, UH, PRIOR TO TODAY, UH, WOULD STILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR THAT, UH, RECRUITMENT BONUS, IS THAT RIGHT? THAT END TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NOT A BUNCH OF PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THAT CATEGORY, YOU KNOW, SO THAT WHEN WE PICK THIS AS LIKE THE DATE, EVERYBODY AFTER THIS DATE, THAT WE'RE NOT CUTTING OUT A BIG CHUNK OF NEW HIRES.
UM, THE WAY, THE WAY I UNDERSTAND THIS MOTION IS THAT ANYBODY, UH, IN TERMS OF THE RECRUITMENT PIECE THAT ANYBODY HIRED, UM, UH, MAY I HAVE TO EXCUSE MY EYES FOR A MINUTE? LET ME SEE IF I CAN, IT SAYS EACH NEW FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE HIRED AFTER TODAY'S DATE WILL RECEIVE A RECRUITMENT BONUS.
SO THE WAY I UNDERSTAND THE BOARD'S INTENTION IS THAT ANYBODY THAT'S BEING HIRED FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR, UH, AS A NEW HIREE IS, IS, WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS RECRUITMENT BONUS AND BETTER WAY TO PUT IT.
UH, MAYBE, MAYBE WE WANT TO, MAYBE WHAT WE WANT TO SAY IS, UH, UM, EACH ANYBODY HIRED FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR, UH, UH, WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE RECRUITMENT RECRUITMENT BONUS, BUT MS. WALTON, UH, THE WAY THAT'S, HOW I UNDERSTAND IT IS, IS THE BOARD'S INTENT HERE IS TO COMPENSATE AND TO PROVIDE A RECRUITMENT BONUS FOR ANY EMPLOYEE COMING IN FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.
UH, AND AS A RETENTION BONUS FOR ANY TEACHER THAT STAYS, UH, UH, EMPLOYED WITH, UH, OR ANY, UH, FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE, I'M SORRY, ANY FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE WHO REMAINS EMPLOYED, UH, WITH THE DISTRICT, UM, ON THAT NOVEMBER 15TH DATE.
I THOUGHT THAT THERE WAS TWO PIECES, THERE WAS RETENTION PIECE FOR OUR CURRENT EMPLOYEES AND THEN A RECRUITMENT PIECE FOR NEW EMPLOYEES THAT STARTED TODAY.
BUT THE WAY YOU'RE SAYING IT IS, IF YOU WERE HIRED IN APRIL AS A NEW HIRE, YOU WOULD THEN FALL INTO THE CATEGORY OF REMAINING HIRED THROUGH NOVEMBER 15TH, YOU WOULD STILL GET THE BONUS.
I THINK THAT'S HOW I UNDERSTAND THE BOARD'S INTENT IS TO, IS, IS, IS TO HAVE A BONUS FOR THE PURPOSE OF KEEPING OUR EMPLOYEES AND FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECRUITING EMPLOYEES.
SO, UH, TO ME, THEY, THEY WOULD ALL FALL IN THAT UMBRELLA IN TERMS OF ELIGIBILITY FOR THIS, UH, FOR THIS NOTICE.
CAN I ADD TO THAT WE HAVE HIRED OR OFFERED TO THIS POINT ABOUT 126 CONTRACTS FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR, AND THOSE CONTRACTS HAVE BEEN SIGNED AND THEY, THEY WERE DATED BEFORE THIS DATE, EVEN THOUGH THEIR CONTRACTS TECHNICALLY DON'T BEGIN UNTIL AUGUST.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S SOMETHING TECHNICALLY THAT WE NEED TO CHANGE ABOUT THE MOTION THAT WILL COVER ALL OF THOSE EMPLOYEES.
WELL THERE, YEAH, YOU COULD JUST SAY EACH NEW FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE HIRED FOUR, BUT 20, 22.
I HEARD FOR EMPLOYMENT DURING THE 2223 SCHOOL YEAR.
YEAH, I THINK I JUST READ IT ONCE, ONCE HE WAS TALKING ABOUT, I REALIZED THAT HOW I WAS READING IT, IT JUST CAUGHT MY ATTENTION, THAT NEW HIRES AFTER TODAY'S DAY.
AND I WAS LIKE, WELL, APPARENTLY THERE'S 100 AND SOME THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN HIRED, HE SHOULD BE NEW HIRE.
SO HOWEVER THE BOARD WANTS TO HANDLE IT.
I KIND OF UNDERSTAND IT NOW, MS. MIDDLETON, LET ME CLARIFY
[05:40:01]
THIS LAW.THE SENATE SHOULD READ EACH NEW FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE HIRED FOR THE 20, 20 TO 2023 SCHOOL YEAR WILL RECEIVE A $2,000 RECRUITMENT BONUS IF THEY REMAIN EMPLOYED BY THE DISTRICT ON NOVEMBER 15TH, 2022.
IS THAT HOW WE WANT THAT TO READ? YEAH.
RODRIGUEZ SAYS A REAL CLEAR PICTURE OF THE BOARD'S INTENT.
UM, WE CAN WORDSMITH THIS FOREVER, BUT I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO.
HE KNOWS WHAT WE WANT AND HE'S GOING TO IMPLEMENT IT.
SO I DON'T THINK WE REALLY NEED TO SPEND A WHOLE LOT OF TIME TRYING TO WORDSMITH THAT THE MOTION MS. CROSBY, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING ELSE? I WAS JUST GOING TO OFFER EMPLOYED VERSUS HIRED AND POSSIBLY, BUT YOU KNOW, IT, THEY REALLY EMPLOYED EMPLOYED INSTEAD OF HIRED, BUT THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S AT THE WILL OF THE BOARD TO, IT'S NOT NECESSARY.
SO, BUT UH, MR. SMITH, I WAS JUST GOING TO STAY PRIOR TO THIS COMPETITION AND OUT THAT I WAS GOING TO SAY THAT WHAT MRS. FISHER'S PROPOSAL FOR MEXICO, THAT, UM, I REALLY THINK THAT WAS, UH, PUTTING US, UH, PUTTING OUR MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH IS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE SOME OF THESE TO THINK ABOUT.
AND I JUST WANT TO LET HER KNOW THAT SHE WAS NOT OUT THERE BY HERSELF.
I DO AGREE WITH THAT, BUT I ACTUALLY, THE REASON WHY I ORIGINALLY, I TOLD YOU I DIDN'T HAVE A, I DIDN'T HAVE A QUESTION AGAIN BECAUSE ACTUALLY MRS. CROSBY ANSWERED MY QUESTION.
AND, UM, AND WHEN SHE SAID THAT, THAT THE MONEY WAS ALLOCATED FOR OTHER THINGS ARE READY SO THAT YOU KNOW, THAT TODD GETS TO SIT AT THE WORD, I TAUGHT ME BACK OFF THE LEDGE, BUT I WAS DEFINITELY WITH YOU MS. FISHER.
I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I, I DO AGREE WITH THAT.
IT WAS NOT A FAR-FETCHED AT ALL.
SO I DEFINITELY DO APPRECIATE THAT.
SO I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT THERE, THAT TEACHERS THAT OUT, THEY SEE THAT WE ARE TRYING AND WILLING AND ABLE TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN WITHIN OUR POWER TO GET THEM WHERE, WHERE THEY NEED TO BE.
HEY, I FINALLY ON THERE, UM, HIS BUFORD COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT EDUCATION PAID OFF ALONG WITH HIS COLLEGE EDUCATION.
UM, SO MY MIKE, SO I SEE HOW THIS EMOTION IS BOTH, UH, OUR RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT BONUS.
MY ONE CONCERN IS SO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE RECRUITED BE RECRUITED FOR NOVEMBER 14TH, WORK ONE DAY AND GET THIS BONUS, OR ARE THESE PEOPLE THAT WE WANT STARTING WITH US THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, OR THEY HAVE TO COME ACTUALLY A WEEK AHEAD OF TIME TO DO THE PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT, ALL THAT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, EXCUSE ME, THEY WOULD RECEIVE THE BONUS.
I, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT IN MY MIND, THE BOARD'S INTENT IS TO AID IN THE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION PROCESS.
WE KNOW AS WE'VE GONE THROUGH THIS YEAR AND WE'VE GONE THROUGH PRIOR YEARS, THAT THERE ARE EMPLOYEES THAT RESIGNED PART WAY THROUGH THE YEAR.
THERE ARE EMPLOYEES THAT WE HIRE PART WAY THROUGH THE YEAR.
AND, UH, AND I THINK, UH, THE INTENT OF THE NOVEMBER, UH, PORTION THAT THE NOVEMBER DATE THAT'S ON THERE IS, IS REALLY SIMPLY THAT WE ARE ABLE TO, UH, TO, TO ENCOURAGE EMPLOYEES, TO SIGN ON WITH US AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE, STAY WITH US AS WELL.
AND, AND I THINK THAT IS, UH, THE INTENT THERE.
SO, I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND THE POINT, YOU KNOW, ABOUT SOMEBODY ON NOVEMBER 14TH OR NOVEMBER 10TH OR, OR WHAT HAVE YOU, BUT, UH, UH, I GET IT, I UNDERSTAND THAT.
AND I THINK THE, UH, THE INTENT, AS I UNDERSTAND IT FROM THE BOARD IS A RECRUIT RETAIN, UH, THAT'S THE BONUS FOR PEOPLE AND, AND WE WANT TO KEEP THEM, UM, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, W WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EVERYBODY WHO WE BRING ON FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR.
UM, IF THERE'S, IF THERE'S A, UH, A SHIFT ON THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, IN TERMS OF WHAT DR.
WADS IS TALKING ABOUT, UH, I THINK WE WOULD NEED A CAVEAT IN THERE FOR THAT THIS SCRIPTURE, MS. CROSBY, WHY WAS NOVEMBER 15TH? JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY, IT WAS ABOUT, UH, 90 DAYS AFTER THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
SO SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, UM, 90 DAYS WOULD PROBABLY
[05:45:01]
BE MORE LIKE JANUARY.SO I'M JUST WONDERING WHY NOVEMBER 15TH, INSTEAD OF MAYBE, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE STILL WITH US AFTER WINTER BREAK AND YOU'RE COMING BACK, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IS THERE A REASON, NO, IT WAS JUST A, SOME EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY WERE WORKING AT LEAST SOME PORTION OF THE SCHOOL YEAR AND, UH, STAYING BEYOND JUST, UH, A FEW MONTHS OR A FEW WEEKS AND LOSING, UH, LOSING STAFF THAT WE HAD BROUGHT ON BOARD.
AND THEN WEREN'T ABLE TO FIND SOMEONE REMAINDER OF THE YEAR FOR THE POSITION.
I THINK IF YOU'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS, UH, DR.
SQUAD'S CONCERN, I MEAN, ONE WAY WOULD BE TO SAY, UH, IN TERMS OF, UH, NEW EMPLOYEES, UH, MUST REMAIN EMPLOYED, UH, FOR, FOR A 90 DAY PERIOD OR SOMETHING.
MY CONCERN WAS JUST KEEPING THEM THROUGH THE FIRST SEMESTER, YOU KNOW, AND NOT, AND NOT TAKING THE, TAKING THE $2,000 AND SAYING, OKAY, I'VE GOT MY MOVING MONEY.
THIS IS, YOU KNOW, CAUSE IT'S HOLIDAYS AND I'M GOING TO MOVE, YOU KNOW, IT JUST, I WAS JUST WONDERING IT'S, I'M NOT GOING TO BELABOR IT, BUT I JUST WONDER IF IT WOULD, YOU KNOW, BE WISER TO DO THROUGH THE FIRST SEMESTER THAT WOULDN'T ALLOW US TO PROVIDE THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING OR BONUS AT CHRISTMAS.
SO THAT MIGHT BE A CONSIDERATION THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER, UM, AS THE LOCALITY IS REDUCED, UM, IF WE CHOSE A DATE AFTER THE NEW YEAR, IT WOULDN'T ALLOW FOR THE CHRISTMAS, UH, FOR THE BONUS TO DECEMBER.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING TO CONSIDER.
THE MOTION READS, UM, BUFORD COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT PROVIDE EACH CURRENT FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE WHO REMAINS EMPLOYED BY THE DISTRICT ON NOVEMBER 15TH, 2022, A $2,000 RETENTION BONUS EACH NEW FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE HIRED AF HIRED FOR THE 20 22 23 SCHOOL YEAR WILL RECEIVE A $2,000 RECRUITMENT BONUS.
IF THEY REMAIN EMPLOYED BY THE DISTRICT ON NOVEMBER 15TH, 2022 FUNDING, NOT TO EXCEED $6 MILLION AND WILL BE UTILIZED BY THE BREAD ROLL ESSER PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES COVID IMPACT RELIEF.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING, AYE.
THAT'S UNANIMOUS 10 ZERO, RACHEL, ABSENT FROM THE BOAT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL, ALL THE WORK THAT YOUR TEAM DID AND COMPILING THAT.
SO 10 TENS OR, YEAH, RACHEL'S NOT HERE.
[9. Consent Agenda]
THIS TIME WE HAVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? MADAM VICE CHAIR.
WE APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
PEOPLE WOULD TAKE IT OFF BEFORE THAT.
ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
10 0 1, RACHEL, ABSENT FROM THE VOTE.
[10. Future Agenda Topics]
UH, MR. UH, INGRID, MR. INGRID, SORRY.UM, YEAH, THIS IS, I THINK THIS IS GOING TO GO STRAIGHT TO OPERATIONS COMMITTEE TO HAVE A SENSE, BUT THE DAYCARE ISSUE HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP TO ME BY A FEW PEOPLE, AND IT WAS MENTIONED IN THE PUBLIC COMMENTS, UH, DAYCARE OR CHILDCARE FOR TEACHERS.
AND I THINK WE CAN PROBABLY FOLD THAT INTO OPERATIONS COMMITTEE, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO FORMALLY MAKE AN AGENDA REQUEST TO HAVE THE BOARD UNDERSTAND THAT ISSUE BETTER.
[05:50:03]
UM, ONE OF OUR PROBLEMS TO ME, A WORD, IF THE BOARD HAS ANY, UH, LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS THAT WE WANT TO SUBMIT TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION, THAT WOULD BE IN THE, FOR THE 20, 23 LEGISLATIVE SESSION.AND ALSO, UM, IF WE HAVE ANY, UM, UH, MODIFICATIONS TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION, A CONSTITUTION, AND I KNOW BOTH OF THOSE THINGS ARE NORMALLY DO ON JUNE 15TH AND WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO NEED, UM, UH, LYNN STOKES, MARIE ASSISTANCE.
LIKE WE DIDN'T USE, LIKE WE'VE HAD HER HELP US IN THE PAST, SO WE DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME REALLY FOR THAT.
ANY OTHER FUTURE AGENDA TOPICS? MEL IS YOUR, IS YOUR MIC ON, I THINK IT IS THE BLUE LIGHTS.
I LIKE TO REVISIT THE BOARD DIVERSITY TRAINING PROGRAM.
THAT KIND OF GUY INTRODUCED TO US IN AUGUST.
LIKE FOR US TO LOOK AT THAT AS A DISCUSSION, SO WE CAN SET A TIME OR A DATE MAYBE IN A NEW YEAR IN WHICH WE CAN HAVE A DIVERSITY TRAINING.
ANY OTHER FUTURE TOPICS? UM, YES.
UM, THE, UH, THE, THE TERMS OF, UH, DISCUSS, UM, DISCUSSING, UM, WITH, WITH, WE HAVE IN CONVERSATION WITH DR.
REALTOR'S ASSOCIATION AND THE CHAMBERS AND CHAMBERS, ANY OTHERS.
[11. Announcements]
WE HAVE NO ANNOUNCEMENTS ANNOUNCEMENT.UH, ACTUALLY, UH, I HAVE, I HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT I WOULD LIKE TO, AS A BOARD MEMBER, I'D LIKE TO, UH, RECOGNIZE ALL TEACHERS AND LET TEACHERS KNOW AS A BOARD MEMBER THAT I DO APPRECIATION.
THIS IS TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT THE TEACHERS HERE WOULD BE NO US.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO LET YOU JUST KNOW FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, I BELIEVE EVERYBODY ON THIS BOARD, UH, WE CAN SEND THAT.
WE WILL THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO RATHER SMALL TO BIG RUBBER SEEN OR NOT, NOT SEEN BECAUSE WE KNOW TEACHERS INVEST A LOT OF THEIR PERSONAL TIMES AND WHAT THEY DO.
AND SO WE JUST WANT TO LET TEACHERS KNOW THAT WE DO APPRECIATE YOU.
AND WHAT THAT WAS SHE AT THE TOP OR THE BOTTOM IS DEFINITELY TOO CROWDED.
I WAS GOING TO, UH, RECOGNIZE AND, UH, TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK AND OUR TEACHERS, BUT IN, IN ADDITION TO THAT, UM, I ALSO WANT TO JUST, UH, THINK THE HEAD SYMPHONY, ORCHESTRA CEO, ALAN JORDAN MAESTRO, JOHN MORRIS, RUSSELL, UH, LAST WEEK THEY HAD, UH, AN EVENT WHERE THEY, THEY HOSTED, UH, HILTON HEAD ISLAND, IB ELEMENTARY HILTON HEAD SCHOOL FOR THE CREATIVE ARTS.
IN ADDITION, THEY HOSTED RED, CEDAR ELEMENTARY AND JOSEPH S SHANKLIN ELEMENTARY FOR AN INTERACTIVE PROGRAM WITH OUR STUDENTS.
UH, WE APPRECIATE, UH, THE PARTNERSHIP AND THEIR WILLINGNESS TO ENGAGE WITH OUR STUDENTS IN OUR SCHOOLS AND WANTED TO, UH, JUST MAKE THAT ANNOUNCEMENT AND THANK THEM FOR THAT.
UM, SO WE ARE DOWN TO, UM, A GERMAN, SO MOVED.