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WE WILL NOW CALL THE BUFORD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE MEETING OF JUNE 15TH, 2022 TO ORDER OUR FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA.
AND THAT WAS MS. DANDRIDGE? YES.
UM, ANY DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND SAY AYE.
NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS IS, UM, THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
I PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS AND LYNN HAS JUST JOINED US.
SO I JUST WILL SAY THAT THE MEDIA IS JOINING THE MEETING AND WE'LL, WE WILL, UM, GO TO LYNN STOKES, MARIE, BECAUSE SHE IS UNDER A TIME CONSTRAINT THIS EVENING AND WE'LL COME BACK TO THE, UM, COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES APPROVAL.
SO LYNN, WE ARE SO GLAD YOU CAN JOIN OUR COMMITTEE TODAY.
IT'S VERY KIND OF YOU AND, UM, I KNOW YOU HAVE LIMITED TIME TONIGHT AS WELL, AND WE'RE JUST INTERESTED IN HEARING YOUR THOUGHTS AND GETTING US UP TO DATE.
YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR THE HOUSE IN THE BACKGROUND.
I'VE GOT A BILL BEING DEBATED ON THE FLOOR.
SO IF I SEEM DISCOMBOBULATED, IT'S PROBABLY BECAUSE I AM.
UM, BUT THERE'S A LOT THAT'S HAPPENED TODAY.
UM, AND A LOT THAT'S HAPPENED SINCE THE LAST TIME WE TALKED.
SO LET ME START WITH ELECTION RESULTS.
UM, WE HAD IN THE PRIMARY LAST NIGHT, SIX INCUMBENTS DEFEATED NON WERE IN BEAVER COUNTY.
UM, BUT ONE OF THOSE WAS THE CHAIR OF THE HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE, RITA, ALISON.
UM, SO THAT'S GONNA SOME MAJOR SHAKEUP, UM, PROBABLY RAY FELDER, WHO IS A FIRST VICE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE WILL WIND UP TAKING OVER.
NONE OF THAT WILL HAPPEN UNTIL WE REORGANIZE IN DECEMBER, BUT JUST KNOW WE'VE GOT A LEADERSHIP CHANGE COMING IN AND IT'S A HUGE LOSS THAT, UM, REPRESENTATIVE ALICE AND WON'T BE BACK WITH US.
UM, NO Y'ALL KNOW, GUBERNATORIAL RACE, THE GOVERNOR MCMASTER WON HANDEDLY, JOE CUNNINGHAM WON OVER ME AND MCCLOUD PRETTY SIGNIFICANTLY.
THE OTHER, UM, INTEREST I THINK INTERESTED RACE IS THE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION.
AND THERE'S A RUNOFF BETWEEN KATHY NAMUS AND ELLEN WEAVER.
UM, I THINK PROBABLY THE MOST INTERESTING THING ABOUT THAT IS THAT ELLEN STILL DOES NOT HAVE, HAS NOT MET ALL THE QUALIFICATIONS TO BE SWORN IN AS THE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION.
SO WE DON'T KNOW HOW THAT WILL SHAKE OUT IF SHE'LL WOUND UP WITH HER MASTER'S DEGREE BEFORE THE ELECTION OR BEFORE AN OPERATION, SHOULD SHE WIN THE RUNOFF THAT ANYWAY, THAT PRIMARY RUNOFF WILL BE HELD IN TWO WEEKS.
SO THE 28TH, UM, SO THAT'S KIND OF QUICKLY WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE ELECTIONS BUDGET STUFF WE HAVE ADOPTED ON BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE SIDE TODAY, THE CONFERENCE REPORT FOR THE APPROPRIATIONS BILL, THE TAX CUT BILLS, ALL THAT WAS LEFT OUT THERE HANGING.
SO I REALLY WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.
UM, AND THANK YOU ROBIN FOR PUTTING THIS UP, UM, IS, IS GOING TO BE MY TALKING POINT FOR YOU ALL THE, UH, TAX CUT BILL 10 87 WAS ADOPTED, UM, THIS IS THE BILLION DOLLAR REBATE THAT WAS PROPOSED BY SENATOR PEELER.
HE WAS VERY ADAMANT ABOUT THAT BEING DONE THIS YEAR.
UM, HE, UH, THEY, THEY SAID TODAY THEY'D
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EXPECT DELIVERY OF THOSE CHECKS AT ABOUT $800 AS HE SAID, JUST IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS.UM, AND THEN THE ADDITIONAL PIECE OF THAT IS, UH, THE HOUSE PROPOSAL, WHICH REDUCES INCOME TAX.
UM, IT'S OVER A FIVE-YEAR PERIOD OF TIME FROM SEVEN TO SIX AND A HALF PERCENT.
UM, THIS WAS REALLY DONE IN AN EFFORT TO TRY TO BRIDGE THE GAP, UM, COMPETITIVELY WITH NORTH CAROLINA AND GEORGIA WHO HAVE, UH, LOWER INCOME TAX RATES ON THE BOOK.
PEOPLE ARGUE ALL THE TIME ABOUT WHETHER THAT'S REALLY ACCURATE OR NOT, BUT NEVERTHELESS, THEY'VE ADOPTED THAT PROPOSAL.
UM, AND IT DROPS DOWN OVER THIS FIVE-YEAR PERIOD OF TIME.
UM, SO THAT'S ABOUT A $600 MILLION A YEAR COST, UH, WITH A MILLION DOLLARS.
UM, ULTIMATELY WHEN IT'S FULLY, NOW THEY'VE TALKED ABOUT RAMPING IT UP DEPENDING ON WHAT GROWTH WILL BE, UM, AND WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES WE MAY HAVE IN FISCAL YEAR 23, 24.
BUT RIGHT NOW THAT'S WHERE WE ARE.
UM, THE MANUFACTURING PROPERTY TAX CUT ALSO IS DROPPED FROM NINE TO 6% AND THAT'S ABOUT A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLAR COST.
UM, WE'VE INCREASED OUR RESERVE FUND BILLS.
SO THE GENERAL RESERVE ON BILL, THE CAPITAL RESERVE FUND BILL, UM, AND WE ARE ABLE TO USE THE CAPITAL RESERVE FUND FOR ANY OFFSET REVENUE REDUCTIONS.
I THINK THEY'RE REALLY WORRIED THAT THE ECONOMY IS GOING TO TANK, UM, AND THAT WE MAY NEED TO CALL ON THESE RESERVE FUNDS.
UM, NEXT YEAR, THE HIGHLIGHTS THAT YOU PROBABLY CARE ABOUT MOST OF ALL IS THAT TEACHERS WILL RECEIVE A $4,000 A YEAR RAISE.
UM, AND THE MINIMUM SALARY, UM, WILL ALSO BE INCREASED.
I AM UNCLEAR IF IT'S GOING FROM 36 TO 38 OR 36 TO 40.
I HADN'T SEEN THE LANGUAGE ON THAT YET.
SO I'LL HAVE TO SEND THAT BACK TO YOU, BUT THE $4,000 RAISE IS FOR SURE INCLUDED, BUT WHETHER OR NOT THE MINIMUM $40,000 YEAR SALARY IS IN, I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT YET, BUT I WILL FIND OUT, UM, IT CENTRAL, UM, ALL THE PROVISOS AND YOU'LL SEE IN ONE AND THE, AND THE ONES IN SECTION ONE AND AGAIN, THREE SECTION THREE, ALL OF THOSE ARE, UM, OUR EDUCATION PROVISOS MOSTLY K THROUGH 12.
UM, IT TELLS YOU WHAT A HOUSE OR SENATE VERSION WAS ADOPTED, UM, AND, UH, HAVE GOT THE FULL LIST, WHICH I'M HAPPY TO SEND TO YOU ALL.
G IF Y'ALL WANT TO GO THROUGH THE PROVISORS MAMBO LINE, UM, IT WAS A BANNER YEAR FOR EDUCATION.
UM, WE HAVE JUST, UM, DONE A GREAT JOB AND I THINK THAT, UM, THERE'S PLENTY OF MONEY THERE, SCHOOL BEST MONEY, UH, 12 MAIN DOLLARS FOR NEW BUSES, THERE'S MONEY FOR, UM, IN THE LOTTERY ALSO FOR NEW SCHOOL BUSES.
SO I THINK WE'VE JUST ABOUT GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE THE FLEET IS ABOUT TO BE TOTALLY UPDATED.
UM, SO, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL HAVE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BUDGET.
I KNOW THAT SUMMARY CONTROL DOCUMENT IS HUGE.
AGAIN, YOU'RE GOING TO BE INTERESTED IN SECTIONS ONE AND TWO, AND THEN AGAIN ON THE LOTTERY, UM, WHICH IS THE VERY LAST PAGE OF THAT DOCUMENT.
I WANT TO TAKE YOU TO, UM, ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT BEFORE I GO TO THE ESA BILL? YES, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF HANDS UP AND THANK YOU, LYNN.
UM, FIRST IS, UH, UH, COLONEL GEIER.
UH, LAST NIGHT AT THE COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING, UH, SENATOR TOM DAVIS, UH, SPENT, UH, ABOUT A HALF HOUR BRIEFING THE COUNTY COUNCIL ON ALL THE BUDGET, STATE BUDGET, UH, THAT HE KNEW ABOUT ONE OF THE STATEMENTS HE MADE WAS THAT STATE FUNDS FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS WILL BE LESS RESTRICTED THIS YEAR.
I WONDERED IF YOU COULD EXPAND ON THAT.
YES, THEY HAVE WHAT THEY UNDER THE, UM, NEW FUNDING FORMULA, WHICH WE TALKED ABOUT KINDA LINK THE LAST TIME I WAS WITH YOU ALL, UM, OBVIOUSLY TWO DIFFERENT VERSIONS AND THEY BASICALLY TOOK A MIX OF THEM BOTH.
AND WHAT THEY DID WAS PROVIDE MUCH MORE THE, UH, SENATE LANGUAGE, WHICH PROVIDED FOR MORE FLEXIBILITY
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FOR HOW THESE FUNDS COULD BE SPENT.SO I THINK HERE TWO, FOUR, YOU'VE HAD, UM, MONEY ROLLED UP IN A LINE AND IT COULD ONLY BE USED FOR THAT SPECIFIC PURPOSE.
THEY'RE BASICALLY SENDING YOU MONEY AND SAYING, Y'ALL FIGURE OUT WHERE IT NEEDS TO GO, YOU KNOW, BETTER THAN WE DO.
AND I CAN GET YOU THE EXACT LANGUAGE ON THAT, UM, FROM THE EDUCATION FUNDING FORMULA LEGISLATION, IF YOU BUY, THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL.
UH, MY QUESTIONS ALONG THE SAME LINES REGARDING WHAT, UH, SENATOR TOM DAVIS SAID LAST NIGHT, HE DID SAY THAT THERE WOULD BE $280 MILLION OF RECURRING FUNDS, BUT HE ALSO INDICATED OUT OF THE $3.7 BILLION NON-RECURRING FUNDS 300, 5 MILLION WOULD GO TO SCHOOLS.
SO IS THAT WHAT YOU WERE REFERENCING FOR COLONEL GUY OR THAT THERE WILL BE LESS RESTRICTIONS ON THAT 305 MILLION? AND DO YOU KNOW HOW THAT WILL BE PARSED OUT? UM, SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE SUMMARY CONTROL DOCUMENT, IT, UM, IT GIVES YOU EVERYTHING WHERE IT'S ALL GOING, WHAT'S IN THE BASE, WHAT'S AN EIA, WHAT'S IN THE NON-RECURRING AND THEN WHAT'S IN THE LOTTERY, WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO.
AND I KNOW IT'S COMPLICATED IS YOU HAVE TO MATCH THE PROVISOS THAT ARE IN PART ONE B OF THE BUDGET.
SO YOU WILL KNOW HOW THEY'RE DIRECTING THOSE FUNDS.
UM, I SHOULD HAVE THAT PIECE OF THE DOCUMENT.
I MEAN, THIS WAS JUST ADOPTED THE DAY.
UM, SO I SHOULD HAVE THAT PIECE OF THE DOCUMENT AND ALL THE LANGUAGE WHICH I CAN SHARE WITH Y'ALL.
I THINK WHEN I'M GOING TO MEET WITH Y'ALL IN JULY, BUT I CAN SEND IT TO YOU BEFORE THEM, BUT THOSE PROVISOS, UM, THAT ARE ATTACHED TO THE DOLLAR LINES, TELL YOU WHERE THAT MONEY IS DIRECTED.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? I LOST HER ON MY SCREEN.
PATRICIA, WE COULDN'T HEAR YOU.
OBVIOUSLY, I JUST NEED TO SPEND MORE TIME DELVING INTO THOSE MYRIAD, UM, LINE ITEMS. IT'S CRAZY.
AND I, WHAT I TOLD ROBIN AND G WAS THE BAD THING ABOUT DOING THIS TODAY IS THAT I'M ONLY HALF PREPARED.
I CAN TELL YOU WHAT THE MONEY IS, BUT I DON'T HAVE ALL THE LANGUAGE THAT FITS WITH IT SINCE WE JUST ADOPTED ALL THIS, UM, TRULY ABOUT THREE HOURS AGO.
SO, UM, WHATEVER YOU WANT US TO DO, UM, MADAM CHAIR, IN TERMS OF AN ANALYSIS OF THE PROVISOS AND THE MONEY, WE'RE HAPPY TO PULL ALL THAT TOGETHER, UM, BETWEEN NOW AND WHEN WE GET BACK TOGETHER.
WE HAVE SOME, LET'S SEE, UM, EARL CAMPBELL'S HAND IS UP.
YEAH, I JUST, MY QUESTION IS, IS THE DAY THAT THE LEGISLATURE IS THINKING ABOUT, UH, PASSING A BILL TO HAVE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS RUN HAS REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATS, IS THAT TRUE? SO THAT WAS A QUESTION ON THE PRIMARY BALLOT.
UM, UH, AND I'M SURE WHEN YOU VOTED, IF YOU VOTED EARLIER, IF YOU VOTED YESTERDAY, YOU SAW THAT WAS ON THE BALLOT.
THERE WERE THREE QUESTIONS AND THAT WAS ONE OF THEM.
UM, SO I SUSPECT THERE WILL BE LEGISLATION FORTHCOMING, UM, TO DEAL WITH THAT.
I THINK IT WAS REALLY SORT OF A PULSE OF WHAT THE TEMPERATURE WAS, BUT, YOU KNOW, FOR, FOR VOTERS, WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANTED TO SEE THAT DELINEATION OF, OF SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS TYPICALLY RUNNING AS, AS YOU KNOW, NON-PARTISAN RACES, WHETHER THEY WANTED TO RUN PARTISAN AND IT WAS, YOU KNOW, OVERWHELMING.
UM, SO WE ARE DONE FOR THIS YEAR, SO IT CAN'T BE INTRODUCED UNTIL WE COME BACK.
UH, IT COULD BE PRE-FILED IN DECEMBER AND IT WOULD BE CONSIDERED IN 2023.
SO IF YOU ALL HAVE A POSITION ON THAT, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD WANT TO KNOW LOOKING FORWARD INTO, INTO NEXT YEAR'S LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.
MR. GUYER, WE CAN'T HEAR YOU DICK.
SO THE ONE OTHER THING THAT I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT, IF YOU GOT MORE QUESTIONS, IS YOU SITTING THERE LOOKING THROUGH THE STUFF Y'ALL JUST, JUST SHOOT THEM TO ME.
UM, THE OTHER THING WE TOOK UP TODAY, UM, WAS THE SENATE BILL 9 35, WHICH IS THE EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNT LEGISLATION.
I DON'T THINK I SENT YOU ANYTHING.
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YOU DR.ASK FOR FUNDING, WHICH Y'ALL ARE JUST AT YOUR LEISURE.
BUT, UM, I, I JUST GOT THE CONFERENCE REPORT, SO I DIDN'T HAVE A DYSINGER COPY OF IT, BUT I WILL.
UM, SO THE HOUSE AND SENATE HAVE ADOPTED THE EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNT LEGISLATION.
THEY'VE RENAMED IT TO THE EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP AT IT, UM, WILL INCLUDE K THROUGH 12 IT'S $5,000 PER CHILD FOR THE FIRST THREE YEARS.
AFTER THREE YEARS, IT CAN BE INCREASED UP TO $15,000.
ANY CHILD THAT IS MEDICAID OR CHIP'S ELIGIBLE CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM.
AND THEY'VE RESERVED 500 SLOTS FOR ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY CHILDREN, UM, ENROLLMENT DATE, AND THIS IS PUBLIC OR PRIVATE.
UM, ENROLLMENT DATE WILL BE JANUARY 15 THROUGH MARCH 15TH, 2023.
IF THEY HAVE MORE STUDENTS ENROLLED THAN THEY HAVE SPACES, THEN THEY'LL USE A LOTTERY SYSTEM TO CHOOSE.
UM, THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IS GOING TO PROVIDE ONLINE COUNTS TO PARENTS, UM, EDUCATION PROVIDERS, UM, THE VENDORS THAT WILL, UH, PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM WILL BE CHOSEN ANNUALLY.
THE EDUCATION OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE WILL DO AN ANNUAL REPORT AND, UH, THE PROGRAM WILL BEGIN SCHOOL YEAR 23, 24.
UM, SO THAT WAS JUST ADOPTED TODAY AND IT IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT, UH, THE SENATE, UM, HAD K-12 THE HOUSE HAD K THROUGH EIGHT, THEY HAD DIFFERENCES ON QUALIFICATIONS AND NUMBERS AND MONEY, BUT THAT'S WHERE THEY LANDED, UM, ON, ON THAT PIECE OF LEGISLATION SECRETARY.
SO CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION ABOUT THAT? SO WHAT ARE THEY, UM, THOSE, THOSE, UH, THE MONEY, WHAT IS, WHAT CAN IT BE USED FOR TUITION OR, OR, YOU KNOW, COMPUTER OR, UM, YOU KNOW, VIRTUAL CLASS OR DO YOU KNOW THE, UM, KIND OF, UH, AS LONG AS I UNDERSTAND IT, ALL OF THE ABOVE, UM, I DID HAVE ONE OTHER, HANG ON A MINUTE, ONE OTHER MORE DETAILED.
I DO USE LANGUAGE FOR, UM, EDUCATION CREDIT FOR EXCEPTIONAL NEEDS.
UM, THEY ARE GIVING 502 CHILDREN ENTERING KINDERGARTEN IN THE SC READY PROGRAM.
UM, THEY USE THE HOUSE DEFINITION OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS.
THEY USE THE HOUSE DEFINITION FOR DISCRIMINATION.
THEY USE THE HOUSE DEFINITION FOR STANDARDIZED TESTING.
UM, THEY TOOK THE HOUSE LANGUAGE, WHICH IS $5,000 PER STUDENT.
SO A FOLLOW UP LYNN WOULD BE THE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS.
WOULD THAT INCLUDE YOUR, UM, LIKE PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS? I THINK IT IS ACROSS THE BOARD.
ONCE THE, UM, THE CONFERENCE REPORT AND THE LANGUAGE IS UP ON THE SYSTEM, I'LL GO THROUGH IT AND HIGHLIGHT IT AND TRY TO ANSWER THOSE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS.
UM, UH, THE HOUSE IS STILL IN THE SENATE, STILL IN THERE WAITING ON A CONFERENCE REPORT.
UM, ONE LAST CONFERENCE REPORT, I THINK THAT WILL ADJOURN SANI DOT.
THEY'LL BE BACK THE WEEK OF THE 28TH TO DEAL WITH GIVEN TUTORIAL VITO'S ON THE BUDGET.
UM, THE GOVERNOR HAS FIVE DAYS EXCLUDING SUNDAYS, BUT INCLUDING SATURDAYS, UM, TO, TO ISSUE HIS VETOES.
SO THE CLOCK STARTS TO TICK AS SOON AS THE BILL'S RATIFIED.
AND I'M ASSUMING THAT THEY WILL RATIFY TONIGHT BEFORE THEY GO HOME.
SO, UM, WE SHOULD GET A VETO MESSAGE ABOUT MIDWEEK, UM, MIDNIGHT, TUESDAY, FIRST THING ON WEDNESDAY MORNING.
UM, AND SEE WHAT HE'S VETOED IN THE, IN THE APPROPRIATIONS BILL.
WE'LL COME BACK AND DEAL WITH THAT.
AND THEN WE'LL BE DONE UNTIL JULY WHEN WE COME BACK FOR, UM, THERE'S A, UH, OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK TO DISCUSS ROE VS.
WADE, DEPENDING ON WHAT THE SUPREME COURT DECISION IS.
AND IF THEY DON'T ISSUE AN OPINION, THEN WE WON'T BE BACK.
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IF THEY DO, THEN WE PROBABLY WILL.BUT THAT SESSION IN JULY IS LIMITED.
THEN WE'LL COME BACK IN DECEMBER TO REORGANIZE.
UM, IT'S A BEGINNING OF A NEW TWO YEAR SESSIONS.
THEY WILL HAVE ALL NEW HOUSE MEMBERS LOOKING LIKE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE PROBABLY ABOUT 30 NEW HOUSE MEMBERS.
SO THAT'S ABOUT A THIRD, WHICH IS PRETTY SIGNIFICANT, OF COURSE, THIS UNITED SENATE'S NOT UP, SO THEY WILL REMAIN THE SAME.
SO WE HAVE A LOT OF CHANGES AND COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS, LIKE I MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, WHO IS GOING TO TAKE OVER FROM HIS HOUSE AND THEY'LL PROBABLY BE RIGHT BUILDER, BUT THE SHAKEUP AND THE, AND THE MOVE ON THE COMMITTEES WILL, WE'LL SEE A LOT OF THAT, ALL THAT HAPPENS IN DECEMBER.
UM, I THINK THAT'S MOST OF WHAT I GOT FOR Y'ALL AND I'M SURE ONCE YOU, AT THIS APPROPRIATIONS BUDGET DOCUMENT THAT YOU MAY HAVE MORE QUESTIONS FOR ME, I AM HAPPY TO MAKE MYSELF AVAILABLE NEXT WEEK OR NEXT TIME Y'ALL MEET, UM, PRIOR TO THE BOARD MEETING IN JULY, SINCE I CAN'T BE WITH Y'ALL ON TUESDAY NIGHT.
UM, IF YOU JUST LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU NEED, IF YOU NEED ME TO COME DOWN AND SIT DOWN AND GO THROUGH IT WITH YOU ALL, I'M HAPPY, HAPPY TO COME DOWN.
SO, UM, THANK YOU LYNN, BEFORE YOU GO, I JUST WANT TO ASK, UH, THE OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS THAT HAVE BEEN QUIET IF THEY HAVE, IF THEY HAVE ANY, UM, QUESTIONS FOR YOU, AND THAT WOULD BE MS. MIDDLETON OR, UM, DR.
AND, UH, THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
I, I DID HAVE, UM, A QUESTION.
I'M NOT SURE IF, UH, MS. STOKES AND I CAN ANSWER IT, BUT THE QUESTION IS ON, IN REGARDS TO THE NEXT TOPIC THAT WE WERE GOING TO DISCUSS.
CAUSE THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT I WAS JUST A BIT UNCLEAR OF AND I WANTED TO SEE IF SHE MIGHT HAVE SOME ANSWERS ON IT, BUT IF SHE HAS TO GO AT TOTALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT WHAT'S THE NEXT TOPIC.
OH, IT WAS, THAT IS THE TOPIC IN REGARD TO, UM, ALICIA TAX CREDIT AND THAT'S YOUR VOUCHERS.
YEAH, I THINK THAT THAT'S LARGELY WHAT SENATE BILL 9 35, THIS, THAT I WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT.
UM, AND, UH, IF YOU NEED ME TO GO THROUGH THAT AGAIN, I CAN, BUT THAT IS DUBBED THE, THE VOUCHER BILL, PUBLIC PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS UP TO $5,000 PER CHILD.
UM, BUT THEY MUST BE MEDICAID OR CHIPS ELIGIBLE.
AND MY QUESTION WAS MORE GENERAL AND IT'S IN REGARD TO, UM, THE SPECIAL NEEDS TAX CREDIT, UH, THAT IS CURRENTLY IN PLACE IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
AND I JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF YOU KNEW IF THAT HAD BEEN CONSTITUTIONALLY CHALLENGED.
UM, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IT HAD BEEN FOUND CONSTITUTIONAL.
IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING ALSO THAT IT HAS BEEN FOUND CONSTITUTIONAL AND I BELIEVE IT WAS FUNDED AND I'LL TRY TO FIND THE, THE LINE FOR YET, BUT, BUT THERE WAS, UM, A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THAT.
SO LYNN, BEFORE YOU GO, UM, WHAT DO YOU SEE AT, IN THE, IN THE, UM, YOU KNOW, NEXT YEAR'S GENERAL ASSEMBLY, UM, WHAT DO YOU SEE AS IN TERMS OF EDUCATION, SINCE OBVIOUSLY THAT'S WHAT WE'RE INTERESTED IN AS A WHERE THEY'RE HEADED, OR IF YOU HAVE, UH, UM, SUGGESTIONS FOR, UM, OUR INPUT, WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING ON A, UM, A LEGISLATIVE, UH, UH, UPDATE HERE.
IT IS OUR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES, UM, THAT WE'VE, WE'VE DONE THIS, UH, FOR A FEW YEARS, ALTHOUGH WE HAVE NOT CHANGED IT REALLY IN THE LAST, UH, YEAR OR TWO, AND, UH, WE'VE PUT FORTH OUR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES.
THESE ARE, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I THINK WE'RE VERY FOCUSED ON THESE THINGS AND HAVE BEEN, AND, UH, I DON'T THINK MUCH IS NEW WITH ANY OF THESE REALLY, OTHER THAN A LOT OF, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF, UH, EMPHASIS THIS IN THIS PAST YEAR, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE PANDEMIC OR DURING THE PANDEMIC WITH, WITH, UM, MENTAL HEALTH, UH, CARE FOR, FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF.
SO DO YOU HAVE ANY, YEAH, I DO.
AND I MEAN, I, AS I'M LOOKING AT WHERE, WHERE, WHAT ALL YOU HAD INCLUDED IN YOUR AGENDA IS SO MUCH OF THIS WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ADDRESS THIS YEAR BECAUSE WE HAD THE FUNDING TO DO IT.
UM, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT WE'RE NOT DONE ON THE CONVERSATION OF THE EDUCATION FUNDING FORMULA.
UM, THE EDUCATION FUNDING FORMULA WAS ADOPTED AS A COMPROMISE FOR A YEAR, UM, WITH THOSE DISTRICTS THAT WERE IMPACTED, UM, PARTICULARLY ON EFA FUNDING, UM, SAYING, HEY, WE'RE
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JUST GONNA SEE HOW THIS GOES AND, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO REVISIT THIS.SO, UM, I FEEL REALLY CONFIDENT THAT WE'LL BE BACK AT EDUCATION FUNDING REFORM.
UM, I THINK ALSO MENTAL HEALTH HAS BEEN DISCUSSED AD NAUSEUM.
UM, THE BUDGET IS CHOCKFULL OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, NOT ONLY THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, BUT ALSO, UM, AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL AND WITH SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS AND, AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CENTERS AROUND THE STATE, TRYING TO BE ABLE TO REACH TO THESE CHILDREN THAT HAVE, YOU KNOW, SUFFERED TRAUMA THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.
UM, I THINK THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE TOPIC OF CONVERSATION.
UM, OPIOID ADDICTION, UM, WILL CONTINUE AS WELL.
UM, I THINK THAT WE HAVE, UM, SORT OF A NEW WAVE OF CONSERVATIVES COMING INTO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
I THINK YOU WILL PROBABLY SEE MORE CONVERSATION AGAIN, AS IT RELATES TO FUNDING, FORMULAS, EXPANDING VOUCHER PROGRAMS AND THIS ESA PROGRAM, ONCE IT GETS OFF THE GROUND, I, I SUSPECT THAT THERE MAY BE SOME EFFORTS TO TRY TO FURTHER OPEN THAT UP FOR DISCUSSION.
UM, HAVEN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO SENATOR HEMBREE ABOUT HIS AGENDA FOR 23, BUT I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO BE WITH HIM IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS, UM, TO, TO KIND OF GET A SENSE FROM HIM OF WHAT HE WANTS TO TACKLE NEXT.
AND I THINK A LOT OF THAT'S GONNA DEPEND ON WHO OUR SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION IS.
UM, I'LL MAKE A PREDICTION THAT, UH, I DON'T ANTICIPATE THAT THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE WILL WIN.
UM, I THINK IT WILL BE ELLEN OR KATHY AND THEY HAVE SOME PRETTY DIFFERENT PHILOSOPHIES, UM, AND HOW THEY GO IN AND CHANGE THE DEPARTMENT FROM WHAT HAS BEEN MOLLY'S ALL THESE YEARS.
UM, SO I'M PAYING REALLY CLOSE ATTENTION TO WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.
SO WE MIGHT GET A SENSE OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEIR PRIORITIES ARE AND, AND I THINK IT WOULD MAKE A LOT OF SENSE, UM, IN THE FALL, ONCE WE SEE, UM, AFTER NOVEMBER WHO WINS THE ELECTION, UM, TO GET OUR QUESTIONS TOGETHER AND GO SIT DOWN AND, AND TALK WITH THE DEPARTMENT ABOUT WHERE THEY'RE HEADED AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALIGNED AND THAT, THAT WE, UM, ARE WORKING IN CONJUNCTION WITH THEM, UM, TO MAKE THINGS EASIER FOR YOU ALL.
UM, SO THAT'S A BIT OF A RAMBLING, BUT THAT'S KIND OF WHAT I SEE THAT WAS VERY HELPFUL TO ME, AT LEAST.
I, I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH.
DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS BY, UH, UM, THOSE IN ATTENDANCE TONIGHT? I HAD JUST GO AHEAD.
UM, IT'S IN REGARD TO OUR PRIORITY OF SRS AND MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVES AND WE STATE IN THERE THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE ARE LOOKING FOR THE SRO TO BE FUNDED.
I THINK PART OF THE CONVERSATION THAT MIGHT BE MISSING FROM THAT.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF THE CONVERSATIONS ARE BEING HAD UP IN COLUMBIA, BUT, UM, IS THAT THE ISSUE WE FOUND A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN WE DECIDED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PRIVATE OFFICERS IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, WAS THAT, UH, WE WERE TOLD THEY WEREN'T GOING TO BE ABLE, EVEN IF WE WANTED TO HAVE THAT STAFFED BY SROC, THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE CAPACITY, THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE, THE EMPLOYEES OR THE OFFICERS TO DO THAT.
SO FUNDING IS ALMOST THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE.
UM, AND SO I WONDER IF THAT'S A CONVERSATION UP IN COLUMBIA AND, AND IS THERE A WAY TO INCENTIVIZE AN SRO PROGRAM, UM, SOMEHOW UP THERE? YEAH, I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT.
I MEAN, THERE, THERE ARE SO MANY VACANCIES AND LACK OF TRAINED PROFESSIONALS AND, AND, UH, PEOPLE THAT MEET THE QUALIFICATIONS THAT IT'S, YOU'RE RIGHT.
I THINK WE'VE GOT THE MONEY NOW.
IT'S JUST DO WE, HOW DO WE FIND THE RIGHT PEOPLE? UM, AND MY UNDERSTANDING IN THE PROVISOS THAT ARE IN PART ONE, THEY'VE GIVEN A GREAT DEAL OF FLEXIBILITY TO WHAT HERE'S, YOU FOUR HAVE BEEN SOME PRETTY STRINGENT REQUIREMENTS ON WHAT THOSE FOLKS HAVE TO HAVE.
SO I THINK IT'S THE WILL OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO PROVIDE FLEXIBILITY BACK TO THE LOCALS, UM, THAT, THAT GIVES YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO FILL SOME OF THOSE SLOTS THAT YOU MAY NOT NECESSARILY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO IN THE PAST.
SO MUCH THE TOPIC OF CONVERSATION, FLEXIBILITY, LOCALS, KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
THEY KNOW WHAT THEY NEED IN THEIR OWN BUDGETS.
THEY KNOW WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE THEY NEED.
LET'S LET SEND THE MONEY TO THEM AND LET THEM MAKE THE DECISIONS.
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UH, I'VE HEARD THAT HAS BEEN THE CONSTANT OF THE CONVERSATION.UM, IT'S GOOD TO KNOW THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE FLEXIBILITY THERE AS WELL.
BEFORE YOU GO, WE HAVE ONE LAST COMMENT OR QUESTION BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION CHAIR.
A PJ TANNER AS PART OF HIS CAMPAIGN, HE SAID THAT HE WAS GOING TO HAVE AN EMPHASIS ON TRAINING AS SORROWS, UH, AND THAT HE WAS GOING TO CREATE A PROGRAM SO THAT IF YOU JUST WANT HIM TO BE AN SRO, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO DO ALL THE REST OF THE STUFF.
SO I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY WHERE WE NEED TO FOCUS IS ON PJ AND GETTING HIM TO DELIVER ON THAT COMMITMENT.
I DON'T THINK WE HAVE TO GO TO COLUMBIA FOR THAT ONE.
SO, UM, LYNN, WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED YOUR ATTENDANCE TONIGHT AND YOUR, THE INFORMATION YOU'VE PROVIDED AND YOU WILL PROVIDE, UH, UM, IN THE, IN THE NEAR FUTURE, HAS YOU MENTIONED, UM, IN YOUR REMARKS AND THEN WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN IN, UM, JULY AT OUR REGULAR SCHEDULED BOARD MEETING.
AND THEN AS THE COMMITTEE HAS OUR DISCUSSION TONIGHT, WE CAN ALSO, UM, DECIDE IF WE, UH, YOU KNOW, WANT TO, UM, HAVE, UH, ANOTHER MEETING WITH YOU EITHER BEFORE OR AFTER THAT.
MY SCHEDULE IS GETTING TO BE A LOT BETTER AFTER TODAY.
APPRECIATE ALL YOUR HARD WORK.
SO, UM, ROBIN, CAN YOU SCROLL UP ON WHAT YOU HAVE THERE? OH, LET ME PUT IT BACK UP.
SO I WAS, UM, UH, LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND ALSO, UM, THE OTHERS THAT ARE BOARD MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE IN ATTENDANCE, NON COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
I WAS THINKING BEFORE EVEN LYNN MADE HER REMARKS TONIGHT THAT WE MIGHT WANT TO JUST WAIT ON, UM, DETERMINING, UH, HOW WE WANT TO TWEAK OUR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES UNTIL AS SHE MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW WHO THE NEXT, UH, STATE SUPERINTENDENT IS GOING TO, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOW FINISHED FOR THE SUMMER.
WE REALLY WON'T BE, UH, UH, PROMOTING, UM, OUR PRIORITIES, UH, LEGISLATIVE WISE, CERTAINLY AT THE STATE LEVEL UNTIL, UM, UNTIL, UH, UH, THE END OF THIS YEAR OR THE BEGINNING OF THE, OF THE NEW YEAR.
I WAS GOING TO SAY, I AGREE WITH THAT MADAM CHAIR, UM, IN ADDITION TO THE, YOU KNOW, ONCE THE BUDGET GETS FINALIZED AT COUNTY COUNCIL AND WE START TO SEE THE EFFECTS OF ANY CHANGES TO THE FUNDING FORMULA, I THINK THAT WE DO NEED TO MAYBE PRESS PROCESS FOR A BIT.
I JUST WANT TO SAY, I AGREE WITH YOU COMPLETELY.
THE, UH, THE NEXT STATE SUPERINTENDENT, TWO CANDIDATES ARE DRAMATICALLY DIFFERENT.
UM, ONE IS BIG TIME PUBLIC SCHOOL AND THE OTHER ONE IS BIG TIME CHARTERS.
UM, SO THAT IS REALLY, I THINK, GOING TO BE A BIG INFLUENCE AS WE SEE THAT SHAKE OUT ON WHAT OUR PRIORITIES ARE GOING TO BE, BECAUSE IF IT STARTS TILTING TOO MUCH TOWARD, UM, DIVERTING PUBLIC SCHOOL TO CHARTER SCHOOLS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SOME KIND OF A STATEMENT.
SO I THINK DELAYING IS PROBABLY REALLY SMART.
LET ME JUST SEE, ARE THERE OTHER HANDS UP, I'M LOOKING AT THE SCREENS.
SO, UM, I DON'T THINK WE REALLY NEED A MOTION FOR THIS BECAUSE WE DIDN'T NECESSARILY, UM, IMPLY ON THE AGENDA OR STAYED ON THE AGENDA THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE ACTION ON THIS ITEM, UH, THIS EVENING.
UM, YOU CAN HAVE ACTION ON, UH, ON THE AGENDA ON YOUR COMMITTEE AGENDAS, ASSESS THERE'S ACTION, TAKEN ON ANY ITEMS. SO IF YOU WANT IT TO, YOU COULD, BUT YOU DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO, SINCE YOU'RE ALL IN AGREEMENT.
AND I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHEN EXACTLY WE WOULD BRING IT FORWARD, BUT OBVIOUSLY IT'S GOING TO BE, UM, PROBABLY, UH, IN THE FALL OR, OR LATE SUMMER, I WOULD IMAGINE.
UNLESS ARE THERE ANY, ANYBODY WHO WOULD DISAGREE WITH THAT? NO.
[00:35:01]
SO, UM, DR WAS NATZKE.I JUST WANTED TO RESPECTFULLY AND POLITELY MAKE A COMMENT IN REGARD TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOL AND CHARTER SCHOOL, UM, DISCUSSION.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IN SOUTH CAROLINA AT THE, THAT THE CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT THEY ARE AUTHORIZED.
SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S CLEAR.
WE HAVE A CHARTER SCHOOL IN OUR DISTRICT AND THEY, THEY MAY OPERATE BY A DIFFERENT BOARD, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S NOT BECOMING A DAY VERSUS US CONVERSATION.
CAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT MOVES FORWARD FOR CHILDREN.
UM, AND I THINK WE'RE ALL HERE TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR THE KIDS.
SO I JUST WANT IT TO, AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A FAIR CHARACTERIZATION TO SAY THAT ONE CANDIDATE IS PRO-CHARTER OR PRO PUBLIC.
UM, I JUST THINK WE NEED TO BE A LITTLE BIT CAREFUL AND MINDFUL WITH SOME OF THAT.
SO, UM, ROBIN, COULD YOU GO BACK TO THE AGENDA? SO, UM, DOCTOR WAS NASTY.
YOUR TOPIC OF REQUEST WAS F HERE ON OUR AGENDA, THE DISCUSSION OF THE TUITION TAX CREDITS, CREDIT AND VOUCHERS, WHICH WE'VE ALREADY, UM, DISCUSSED, UH, TONIGHT.
DO YOU, OR DO YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER, UM, UH, QUESTIONS OR, OR COMMENTS OR DO ANY OF THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS? YES, MA'AM.
THIS WAS, UM, IN REGARD TO THE S CSBA CONVERSATION THAT WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF TIMES, UM, IT'S IN THEIR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES AND THERE'S WAS SOME SPECIFIC LANGUAGE THAT WAS ADDED TO THE 21 REVISION THAT CALLED TO QUESTION THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF TUITION TAX CREDITS AND VOUCHERS.
UM, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE VOUCHER CONVERSATION WAS, UM, DECIDED, I THINK IN 2020, I WANT TO ADD TO DO WITH CARES ACT OR GEARS MONEY THAT WAS BEING ALLOCATED, UM, THROUGH A GRANT.
AND THAT WAS FOUND TO BE UNCONSTITUTIONAL, UH, PER THE SOUTH CAROLINA STATE CONSTITUTION.
BUT, UM, AND THAT'S WHY I ASKED THAT QUESTION OF MS. STOKES MARIE, BECAUSE IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE EXCEPTIONAL NEEDS TUITION TAX CREDIT PROGRAM HAS BEEN FOUND CONSTITUTIONAL.
SO I FEEL THAT THE CURRENT LANGUAGE THAT IS IN, I KNOW WE'VE ALREADY NOT, WE'RE NOT CHANGING.
WE HAVEN'T SENT ANYTHING UP TO S CSBA.
I JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT.
UM, BECAUSE I DID NOTICE THAT THERE HAD BEEN A CHANGE TO THE, UM, THE STATEMENT AND THAT I THINK THAT ON ITS FACE IT'S, IT'S PERHAPS DISINGENUOUS TO SAY THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT IT'S AS INTENDED BY THE CONSTITUTION BECAUSE THAT WAS FOUND CONSTITUTIONALLY VIABLE, UM, ADDITIONALLY, AND THE RATIONALE THEY LIST OUT THAT, UM, THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO ACCOUNTABILITY, WHICH IS UNTRUE FOR THAT PROGRAM AS WELL.
THERE IS FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY, AS WELL AS STATES TESTING STANDARDS THAT ARE APPLIED TO THAT.
UM, SO I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT PERHAPS I KNOW WENDY HAD WORKED BEFORE TO TRY TO GET A STATEMENT FROM STSB TO GET THEIR OFFICIAL, UM, STANCE ON THAT PARTICULAR PROGRAM, BECAUSE THAT ONE'S BEEN AROUND FOR QUITE A WHILE.
UM, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN, WHEN I'M VOTING ON WHETHER OR NOT, I, I DON'T WANT TO MAKE A CHANGE.
I DON'T WANT TO MAKE A SUGGESTION TO S CSBA ON SPECIFIC THINGS LIKE THIS, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT ARE ASSISTING EXCEPTIONAL NEEDS STUDENTS IN OUR STATE, UM, THAT I'M NOT PUTTING SOMETHING OUT THERE OR PUTTING A SEAL OF APPROVAL ON SOMETHING THAT I DON'T AGREE WITH.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY ACTION NECESSARY FROM THAT, BUT I KNOW THAT THERE HAD BEEN CONVERSATION AND BOARD MEMBERS HAD ALSO ASKED ME, UM, FOR FOLLOW-UP ON IT.
SO, SO WENDY, DO YOU HAVE ANY, UM, UH, REMARKS I, I HAD SPOKEN WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION, DOC DOCTORS, NEVSKY IS RIGHT ABOUT, UH, WITH A SPECIAL NEED, YOU KNOW, VOUCHERS BEING CONSTITUTIONAL.
I HAVE TO GO BACK AND GET MY NOTES.
LIKE, I THINK THIS WAS MUCH BROADER THIS NEW PROPOSAL.
SO, I MEAN, THIS IS, THIS IS FOR ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY PRIVATE RELIGIOUS OR HOMESCHOOLS.
SO I'M JUST WONDERING IF, IF WENDY, IF COULD GET A STATEMENT FROM SOMEONE AT SBA THAT IS PARTICULAR INTO THAT EXCEPTIONAL NEEDS, UM, IT'S A TAX CREDIT, NOT ABOUT YOUR, UM, YEAH, SORRY, I'M SORRY, RACHEL.
UM, THAT PROGRAM, I THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR A LOT OF KIDS, SO I'D LIKE TO KNOW THEIR STATEMENTS.
[00:40:01]
YEAH.I WILL ASK THEM I, IF I REMEMBER RIGHT THOUGH, I, I THINK THEY MIGHT'VE BEEN OPPOSED TO THAT PART OF IT, BUT I'LL DOUBLE CHECK TO BE SURE.
AND I'LL, I'LL SAY YES, I'LL CHECK ON THAT.
AND AS WE'VE MENTIONED AT THE, I THINK IT WAS THAT THE LAST LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE MEETING, AND THEN I, I, AT THE, UM, THE MOST RECENT, UH, BOARD BUSINESS MEETING, UM, WE SUBMITTED OUR, OUR, UM, LEGISLATIVE, UH, PROPOSAL, UH, REGARDING CHARTER PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS AND TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS LIKE BCSD, UM, OF HAVING THE SAME, UH, UM, REQUIREMENTS OR RESTRICTIONS ON HIRING NON-CERTIFIED TEACHERS.
AND THAT WAS DUE ON JUNE 13TH.
AND THAT, THAT DID GO THROUGH TO, UM, THE SESP AND, AND ROBIN, UH, COPIED ME ON THAT CORRESPONDENCE.
SO I DON'T THINK, YEAH, I THINK THE NEXT STEP WITH THIS, FROM WHAT YOU'VE JUST SAID, RACHEL WOULD BE FOR, UM, WENDY TO, UH, REACH OUT TO THEM AND, AND, AND GET THE SPECIFICS THE OTHER WAY WE CAN, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, HOW SHOULD I SAY INITIATE OUR, OUR, UM, WHAT THE BOARDS WILL IS REGARDING ALL THESE DIFFERENT RESOLUTIONS.
SINCE THIS JUNE 13TH DEADLINE HAS PASSED, WE CAN ALSO DO IT WHEN WE HAVE THE DELEGATE ASSEMBLY.
UM, THAT'S IN EARLY DECEMBER, EVERY YEAR.
AND, UH, BUT THE BOARD, YOU KNOW, THAT WE SEND DELEGATES TO THAT, TO THAT ASSEMBLY, AND THEY HAVE TO REPRESENT THE WILL OF THE BOARD, NOT THEIR OWN, YOU KNOW, FEEL, YOU KNOW, THEIR OWN, UH, OPINIONS OR WHATEVER.
SO PROBABLY THE BOARD WOULD HAVE TO VOTE ON CHANGING THE LANGUAGE, OR WE, WE, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE SOME KIND OF MODIFIED LANGUAGE AND THEN WE COULD, UH, SEE WHAT THE WILL OF THE BOARD WAS, BUT I DON'T THINK WE HAVE TO DO ANYTHING RIGHT NOW OTHER THAN HAVING WENDY, UH, FOLLOW THROUGH ON THAT.
ARE YOU ALL RIGHT WITH THAT DOCTOR WAS NAVIGATE.
WE CAN GAUGE THE WILL OF THE BOARD IN REGARD TO THAT.
AND HERE WE HAVE, WHAT WAS, WE DID SUBMIT, UM, BY THE, BY, UH, WELL, I GUESS THE DEADLINE WAS MONDAY AND THAT'S WHAT WE VOTED ON ALREADY.
THE, THE WHOLE FULL BOARD DID.
SO I THINK WE ON OUR AGENDA, WE SKIPPED OVER, UM, OUR COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES.
SO WE COULD GO BACK TO THAT AND ROBIN WILL DISPLAY THOSE.
AND DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MAY 19TH, 2022 LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES? I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE MAY 19TH, 2022 LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES.
TRISHA, FIDRYCH MADE THE, UM, SECOND, THE MOTION, ANY DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND SAY, AYE.
SO OUR NEXT, UH, UM, ORDER OF BUSINESS IS DECIDING, UM, WHEN OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE.
AND, UM, I DON'T KNOW, FROM WHAT WE'VE DISCUSSED TONIGHT, IT SEEMS LIKE MAYBE WE COULD, UM, SKIP JULY SKIP THE SUMMER MONTH, OR IT'S A COMMITTEE.
HAS THE, WILL THAT NO, WE'D LIKE TO MEET IN JULY AND BRING, YOU KNOW, LYNN STOKES, MARIE BACK I'M I'M, THAT'S FINE.
WHATEVER THE COMMITTEE WILL IS.
I WAS, YEAH, I AGREE WITH YOU.
WE SHOULD TAKE, UM, JULY PROBABLY OFF TO ALLOW FIRST AT A TIME TO DIGEST, UM, WHAT COMES OUT OF SESSION.
AND PERHAPS I WAS GOING TO ALSO MAKE THE SUGGESTION IS AFTER WE HAVE TIME TO GATHER THAT AND HAVE A DISCUSSION THAT TRY TO SET UP, UM, MEETINGS WELL IN ADVANCE WITH THE DELEGATION, ATTEND, DISCUSS, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT OUR, WHAT OUR CONVERSATION IS GLEANED FROM THAT I KNOW THAT WE'VE HAD SOME TROUBLE IN THE PAST SCHEDULING THINGS, AND I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL IF WE TRIED TO GO AHEAD AND GET SOMETHING ON THE CALENDAR.
WELL, IN ADVANCE OF THAT, THAT SOUNDS GOOD.
I'LL I KNOW ROBYN CAN ADDRESS THIS TOO IN THE PAST.
AND AS RECENTLY AS LITERALLY A FEW, WHAT
[00:45:02]
PROBABLY A MONTH AGO, A MONTH AGO, OR TWO MONTHS AGO, THEY WERE NOT WILLING, YOU KNOW, THEY, THE LEGISLATIVE DELL, OUR COUNTY LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION, UM, DID NOT, UM, HOW SHOULD I SAY ACQUIESCE TO OUR REQUEST TO MEET WITH THEM? AND SO THAT'S WHEN ACTUALLY, UM, I, AND MS. FIDRYCH, UH, WENT TO THEIR, UH, LOCAL DELEGATION MEETING, WHICH WAS IN BLUFFTON AND WE, AND WE, UH, PROVIDED BOARD INPUT.SO TO SOME DEGREE, ALTHOUGH THEY WERE, ARE, WE WERE SPEAKING AS AN AS INDIVIDUALS, UM, WITH SOME INFORMATION TO THE DELEGATION, BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL IF WE, IF WE, UM, UM, YOU KNOW, HAD, UH, HAD A MEETING WHERE WE EXCHANGED IDEAS AND PERHAPS THE ONE TO BROKER THAT WOULD BE ACTUALLY LYNN STOKES.
I, I CAN'T RECALL WAS THAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE WHERE WE REQUESTING A MEETING WITH THE FULL, LIKE OUR FULL BOARD AND THE DELEGATION, BECAUSE PERHAPS THEY WOULD BE AGREEABLE TO MEETING WITH THE COMMITTEE.
AND I ALSO THINK A LOT OF THAT HAD TO DO WITH THE TIMING BECAUSE THEY WERE IN SESSION.
I, I, I SHOULD HAVE SAID THAT YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT.
AND I THINK THAT'S ONLY FAIR TO SAY THAT THAT PROBABLY WAS THE BUSIEST TIME OF THE YEAR FOR THEM.
AND THEREFORE IT WAS PROBABLY THE MAJOR REASON WHY THAT IT JUST WASN'T A PRACTICAL AT THAT TIME.
IT'S BEEN HARD TO NAIL THEM DOWN DURING SESSIONS.
SO I WAS, UM, I'M TRYING TO BE A LITTLE BIT AHEAD OF THE EIGHT BALL AND GETTING SOMETHING ON THE CALENDAR WITH THEM FOR WHEN THEY AREN'T, AND AFTER WE'VE HAD A TIME TO DIGEST, WHAT'S COMING, COMING OUT OF COLUMBIA.
WELL, IF, UM, IF THE, UH, COMMITTEE AND THOSE ALSO, UM, THE OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE, WHY DON'T I REACH OUT TO LYNN STOKES MARIE AND SEE WHAT SHE THINKS, WHAT WOULD WORK BEST? AND, UM, AND THEN WE CAN, UH, UM, GO FROM THERE, WHETHER WE NEED TO HAVE THE BOARD VOTE ON IT, OR SHE COMES BACK, YOU KNOW, I, I'M NOT SURE.
I JUST THINK LET'S, LET'S TRY TO, I JUST THINK SHE'S OUR, SHE'S A GOOD GIRL, YOU KNOW, A GOOD GO-BETWEEN FOR US.
AND SHE MIGHT BE VERY HELPFUL FOR US THAT WAY.
SO THEN WE'RE LIKELY GOING TO GO INTO AUGUST FOR THE, UM, NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING.
SO WE PROBABLY LET ME GO INTO A CALENDER FOR A MINUTE.
I WAS JUST GIVING A THUMBS UP TO THAT.
SO LET'S SEE ANY, UM, WE HAVEN'T REALLY HAD A REGULAR SCHEDULED, UM, DAY OF THE WEEK ROBIN WRITER OR WHICH WE DON'T.
WE JUST MEET AS NEEDED AS NEEDED.
SO WOULD THE STUDENTS START, I BELIEVE ON THE, IS IT THE 15TH? YES.
SO, UM, WOULD WE LIKE TO GO AFTER THAT OR BEFORE THAT, OR I PREFER TO GO AFTER THAT.
UM, AND I KNOW, I THINK WE HAVE A, WE HAVE A MEETING ON THE 16TH AS WELL, A REGULAR BOARD MEETING, CORRECT? YEAH.
SO DO YOU WANT TO MEET ON THE 23RD? THAT WOULD BE THE FOLLOWING WEEK THAT'S I WAS GOING TO SUGGEST THAT WE NOT MEET THE FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL IF WE'RE GOING TO WAIT UNTIL THEN THE SECOND WEEK SOUNDS REASONABLE.
SO THE 23RD, UM, AND THEN YOU HAVE THE SCHOOL LAW CONFERENCE OVER THE WEEKEND.
SO MAYBE TUESDAY, THE 23RD OR WEDNESDAY, THE 24TH.
HOW, WHAT WOULD THE, UM, WENDY AND THE OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS, EITHER OF THOSE DAYS, YOU CAN'T MEET ON THE 24TH AS ACADEMICS.
SO MAYBE TUESDAY THE 23RD, DOES THAT WORK FOR EVERYBODY? YES.
I THINK WE SHOULD DECIDE, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT IS, WHAT TOPICS, AND NOT JUST HAVE A MEETING, YOU KNOW? SO IF BY AUGUST WE'RE LIKE, OKAY, WE HAVE TO MOVE ON THIS OR WHATEVER, THEN WE SHOULD MEET.
OTHERWISE WE DON'T, WE DON'T HAVE TO.
SO THIS COULD BE A TENTATIVE, UM, RIGHT.
UM, DOES THAT WORK FOR YOU? DR.
WAS NEVSKY AND MS. MIDDLETON? YES.
SO IF WE MADE IT WOULD BE THE 23RD AT FIVE O'CLOCK CORRECT? YES.
I KNOW FOR SOME OF US, UM, OUR WORK SCHEDULES.
SO LET'S TENTATIVELY HAVE THAT AS A, AS A DATE.
AND THEN AS PATRICIA POINTED OUT, LET'S SEE IF WE, IF WE HAVE A BUSINESS THAT WE NEED TO, UM, ADDRESS OR NOT.
[00:50:01]
ANY OTHER, UM, COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS BY THOSE IN ATTENDANCE? NOPE.SO WE CAN HAVE A MOTION TO A MOTION TO ADJOURN, SOME MOVES.