Apr 26, 2024 Board of Education Work Session

I DON'T KNOW WHY YOUR MICROPHONE WHO WANT US TO GIVE YOU A BRIEFING ON THAT AFTER.

SURE.

UM, CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW OR NOT REALLY? YEAH, YEAH.

MAYBE I JUST DIDN'T HAVE MY, UM, MOUTH CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE MICROPHONE.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM BOARD MEMBERS? YES, I .

MARY, DO YOU RECALL WHO ACTUALLY OFFERED THE, UM, THE LAST BIT ABOUT THE, UM, THE SENATE? YOU SAID THAT THAT LAST ONE THAT YOU MENTIONED, THE COUNTY LIBRARIES? YES.

COUNTY LIBRARIES.

YEAH, THAT CAME.

THAT CAME.

SENATOR JOSH KIMBRO FROM SPARTANBURG.

ALRIGHT, I THINK WE'RE WE'RE GOOD LYNN, AND AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE, UH, YOU TAKING THE TIME THIS MORNING, UH, OUT OF TOWN TO UH, UH, GIVE US AN UPDATE AND WE'LL SEE YOU IN MAY.

LOOK FORWARD TO IT.

Y'ALL HAVE A GREAT DAY.

SO NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS, UM, THE EXECUTIVE, UH, SESSION.

YOU NEED A MOTION GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION NO AND PLEASE READ THEM LL WANT ME TO READ 'EM FOR YOU? SURE.

22 4 25 EMPLOYMENT RECOMMENDATIONS PURSUANT TO SOUTH CAROLINA CODE ANNOTATED SECTION 30 DASH FOUR DASH 70 A ONE.

DISCUSSION OF NEGOTIATIONS INCIDENT TO PROPOSED AMENDMENT NUMBER OH FOUR WITH MB KHAN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INCORPORATED FOR THE REBUILD OF HILTON NET ISLAND HIGH SCHOOL GMP PROPOSAL FOR PHASE ONE A AND PARTIAL PHASE ONE B SITE WORK PURSUANT TO SOUTH CAROLINA CODA ANNOTATED SECTION 30 DASH FOUR DASH 70 A TWO.

FINALLY, DISCUSSION OF NEGOTIATIONS INCIDENT TO PROPOSE A I A AGREEMENT AND AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE WITH TURNER AND TOWNSEND HUIE FOR CAPITAL PROGRAM MANAGEMENT AND COORDINATION SERVICES PURSUANT TO SOUTH CAROLINA CODE ANNOTATED 30 DASH FOUR DASH SEVEN 70 A TWO.

AND DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.

SECOND BY, UH, CARLTON, DALLAS.

AND, UH, ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

ELIZABETH A AYE.

ALRIGHT, THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY BY ALL THAT ARE PRE PRESENT IN PERSON AND ONLINE.

SO WE'LL GO DOWN TO, UM, CONFERENCE ROOM E AND TAKE YOUR RED, UH, BINDER PLEASE.

THERE'S OTHER DOCUMENTS THAT ARE GONNA BE IN THE, UM, CONFERENCE ROOM TOO.

RECORDING STOPPED APPROPRIATE REGARDING THE MATTERS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

YES MA'AM.

WE HAVE A NUMBER OF MOTIONS THAT WE NEED TO VOTE ON.

UM, EMPLOYEE ISSUES.

THE BOARD ACCEPTS THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATION THAT THE CONTRACT OF A LETTER OF AGREEMENT TEACHER, EMPLOYEE A, IS NOT RENEWED FOR THE 24 25 SCHOOL YEAR.

SAY A, A AYE.

[00:15:01]

HEY, AYE.

ABSTENTIONS I STATE.

ALRIGHT, MOTION CHAIR.

UM, 7 0 1 MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE.

THE BOARD ACCEPTS THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATION THAT THE CONTRACT OF THE LETTER OF AGREEMENT FOR EMPLOYEE B IS NOT RENEWED FOR THE 20 24 20 25 SCHOOL YEAR ABSTENTION.

6 0 1 CHAIR.

ACCEPT THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATION THAT THE CONTRACT OF AN ANNUAL CONTRACT TEACHER, EMPLOYEE C IS NOT RENEWED FOR THE 20 24 20 25 SCHOOL YEAR.

SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR IN THE ROOM, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND SAY, AYE.

A NAYS, ABSTENTIONS AND HEY.

BUT FOR SOME REASON I'M STRUGGLING TO HEAR YOUR MICROPHONE AT CERTAIN TIMES.

UM, THANK YOU ELIZABETH, MAYBE WE CAN SWITCH IT.

CAN YOU HEAR IT NOW? I CAN.

UM, BUT FOR EXAMPLE, FOR THE LAST VOTE, I COULD NOT TELL WHEN YOU WERE OR WERE NOT SPEAKING AND I WAS TRYING NOT TO ENTER INTERRUPT.

UM, WHY DON'T WE, UH, SINCE WHY DON'T WE TAKE YOUR VOTE FOR THE, IT WAS EMPLOYEE B, EMPLOYEE B, B.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO CAST THE VOTE? YES, I THANK YOU.

AND YOU, I FOR THIS ONE TOO, C, CORRECT? CORRECT.

CORRECT.

YOU MOVE ON.

AND JUST FOR, UH, FOR CLARIFICATION FOR PUBLIC, UM, PUBLIC CLARIFICATION.

NOW I WILL ABSTAIN FROM THAT LAST VOTE AS WELL.

YEAH, YEAH.

HOLD ON PLEASE.

13 4, 6.

SO THIS VOTE, WHICH IS EMPLOYEE C, IT'S, UH, 7 0 1 AND UH, THAT WOULD ALSO BE THE SAME FOR THE B NOW WITH THE CORRECTION AND EARL FOUR C OKAY.

SO 8 0 1.

SO ELIZABETH, YOU JUST SPEAK UP.

IF YOU CAN'T HEAR ME, I'LL JUST TRY TO PUT MY, UH, MOUTH CLOSER TO THE, UM, MICROPHONE.

IT SOUNDS PERFECT NOW AND IT ISN'T CUTTING IN AND OUT, SO HOPEFULLY WE WON'T HAVE PROBLEMS MOVING FORWARD, BUT THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR.

GO AHEAD COLONEL GEIER.

MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE THE BOARD ACCEPT THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATION AND THAT THE CONTRACT OF ANNUAL CONTRACT FOR TEACHER, EMPLOYEE D IS NOT RENEWED FOR THE 20 24 20 25 SCHOOL YEAR.

UM, MS. HAY A AYE NAY NAYS, ABSTENTION, I'LL ABSTAIN FROM THAT MOTION.

ALL RIGHT, SO THE, SO THE MOTION CARRIES 8 0 1.

YEAH, CHAIR, I MOVE.

THE BOARD ACCEPTS THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATION THAT THE CONTRACT OF INJUNCTION ONE, CONTRACT TEACHER, EMPLOYEE E, IS NOT RENEWED FOR 2024.

ANY NAYS AND ABSTENTIONS I'LL ABSTAIN ON THAT FROM THAT VOTE.

SO THE MOTION CARRIES 8 0 1.

THE BOARD ACCEPTS THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATION THAT THE CONTRACT OF CONTINUING GBE CONTRACT TEACHER, EMPLOYEE F IS NOT RENEWED FOR THE 20 24 20 25 SCHOOL YEAR.

ALL ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

A AYE.

NAY.

ANY NOS, NAYS AND ANY ABSTENTIONS? MR. SMITH WILL BE ABS ABSENT FROM THAT VOTE.

MOTION FROM THAT VOTE AND CARRIES.

THE BOARD ACCEPTS THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATION

[00:20:01]

THAT THE CONDUCT OR CONTRACT OF INDUCTION TO CONTRACT TEACHER, EMPLOYEE G NOT BE RENEWED FOR THE 20 24 20 25 SCHOOL YEAR.

HE STILL NEW? YEAH, OF COURSE.

TOO GOOFY.

ALL RIGHT, .

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND SAY AYE.

A AYE NAY ABSTENTION, I WILL ABSTAIN FROM THAT VOTE.

ALL RIGHT, MOTION CARRIES.

THE BOARD ACCEPTS THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATION THAT THE CONTRACT OF ANNUAL ONE CONTRACT TEACHER, EMPLOYEE H IS NOT RENEWED FOR THE 20 24 20 25 SCHOOL YEAR MOTION.

A A.

ANY NAYS? ABSTENTION I'LL ABSTAIN FROM THE VOTE.

THE BOARD ACCEPTS THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATION THAT THE CONTRACT OF INDUCTION ONE, TEACHER, EMPLOYEE, AYE, INDIA IS NOT RENEWED FOR THE 2024.

2025 SCHOOL YEAR.

JUST VOTE RIGHT.

ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

ANY AYE.

ANY NAYS? ABSTENTION I'LL ABSTAIN FROM THE VOTE.

THE BOARD ACCEPTS THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATION THAT THE CONTRACT OF AN INDUCTION THREE CONTRACT TEACHER, EMPLOYEE J, IS NOT RENEWED FOR THE 20 24 20 25 SCHOOL YEAR.

MR. CAMPBELL, ALL IN FAVOR? PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND SAY AYE.

A A.

ANY NAYS AND ABSTENTIONS, I WILL ABSTAIN FROM THAT VOTE.

8 0 1 MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE.

THE BOARD ACCEPTS THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATION THAT THE CONTRACT OF AN INDUCTION ONE CONTRACT TEACHER, EMPLOYEE K, IS NOT RENEWED FOR THE 2024.

2025 SCHOOL YEAR.

MR. DAY.

A A.

ANY NAYS? ABSTENTIONS, I'LL ABSTAIN FROM THAT VOTE AS WELL.

THE BOARD ACCEPTS THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATION THAT THE CONTRACT OF ANNUAL TWO GBE CONTRACT TEACHER, EMPLOYEE L IS NOT RENEWED FOR THE 20 24 20 25 SCHOOL YEAR.

SECOND BY MR. NAY.

ANY NAYS AND ABSTENTION? I'LL STAND FROM THAT VOTE.

8 0 1 MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE.

WE ACCEPT THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE RENEWAL OF CERTIFIED EMPLOYEES FOR THE 20 24 20 25 SCHOOL YEAR.

ANY DISCRETION? ALL IN FAVOR? SURE.

GO AHEAD.

WHAT, WHAT WAS THAT VOTE AGAIN? COULD YOU REPEAT THAT? VOTE? WHAT WAS THAT VOTE MADAM CHAIR.

I MOVE.

WE ACCEPT THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE RENEWAL OF CERTIFIED EMPLOYEES FOR THE 20 24 20 25 SCHOOL YEAR.

BUT IS, UM, DURING EXECUTIVE SESSION, I HAD SOME QUESTIONS IN, IN, IN TERMS OF THIS, UH, BECAUSE I WAS NOT, I WAS NOT ON TIME AND THE MATTER AND THE CHAIRMAN DIDN'T FIGURE THAT, UH, IT WAS, UH, APPROPRIATE FOR ME TO RE-ASK TO QUESTIONS AND I CANNOT VOTE.

UM, I, I CANNOT VOTE CONFIDENTLY.

AND THE SUPERINTENDENT DID, UH, HE DID, UM, TALK TO ME ABOUT SOME OF IT, BUT I STILL HAVE SOME MORE QUESTIONS UNDERLYING, UM, QUESTIONS.

SO I'M NOT CONFIDENT IN, IN, IN VOTING FOR THIS.

SO UNFORTUNATELY TODAY I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THIS DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO HAVE TO HAVE TIME, AN EXECUTIVE SESSION AND, AND, UH, THIS IS A WORK SESSION AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR.

WE ARE HERE TO WORK AND TO HAVE TIME TO BE ABLE TO DISCUSS THIS.

UNFORTUNATELY, I WAS NOT GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY, SO THEREFORE I WILL NOT VOTE FOR IT.

MY RESPONSES AS THE CHAIR, IT IS MY DUTY AND RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP THE BOARD MEETINGS EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE.

[00:25:02]

AND WE WERE ON A DIFFERENT TOPIC AT THAT TIME.

I WILL SAY NO MORE.

SO ALL IN FAVOR OF THIS MOTION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND SAY AYE.

SO THE MOTION CARRIES 7 7 1 0.

PROVE THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVE AMENDMENT NUMBER FOUR WITH MB CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INCORPORATED FOR THE REBUILD OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND HIGH SCHOOL, PHASE ONE A AND ONE B, WHICH INCLUDES THE NEW THREE STORY BUILDING EDITION AND MAIN ENTRANCE FOR A GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE OF $80,170,995.

SO MOTION BY, UH, COLONEL DYER AND, UH, INGRID BOATWRIGHT.

SECOND THE MOTION.

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AND THEN, AND THEN ABSTENTIONS.

NO, BECAUSE THAT'S EVERYBODY.

SO THIS MOTION CARRIES 8 1 0 AND I MISQUOTED THE NUMBER OF YESES ON THE PRIOR, UM, VOTE.

THAT ONE WAS ALSO AID IN FAVOR AND IT DOES NOT CHANGE THE OUTCOME.

MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE THE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVE AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE WITH TURNER TOWNSEND, HARRY, WHICH AUTHORIZES A NOT TO EXCEED LIMIT FOR THE REFERENDUM PROGRAM MANAGEMENT PLAN AND ESTABLISHES THE 2024 STAFFING PLAN.

SECOND BY MR. DALLAS.

A DISCUSSION, RIGHT? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

ANY NAYS? ABSTENTION.

I'M GONNA ABSTAIN FROM THE VOTE.

SO THE MOTION CARRIES.

MADAM CHAIR, THAT COMPLETES ALL THE MOTIONS.

UH, THANK YOU COLONEL GEIER.

NEXT, UM, WE NEED A, A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.

SECOND, MR. CAMPBELL, A MOTION WAS MADE BY VICTOR NAY AND SECOND BY EARL CAMPBELL.

ANY DISCUSSION OF TODAY'S AGENDA? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

ANY NAYS? ABSTENTIONS.

SO THE VOTE WAS UNANIMOUS.

NO OBJECTIONS.

WE'LL STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AGAIN.

, PLEASE REMAIN STANDING.

WE'LL HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR LAURA MARKOVICH, AN ENGLISH TEACHER AT BATTERY CREEK HIGH SCHOOL.

AND THEN AT MAY RIVER HIGH SCHOOL, WHO DIED ON APRIL 15TH.

SHE STARTED WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AUGUST, 2015.

ALSO A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR DR.

JOHN LOT COUM, A RETIRED ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL WHO DIED APRIL 12TH, AND HE SERVED AS AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR MORE THAN 32 YEARS.

PLEASE BE SEATED.

THE MEDIA HAS BEEN PROPERLY NOTIFIED.

UH, MS. CUSHING BERRY, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? HAVE, UH, ONE PERSON, UH, REMOTELY.

HI DAVID.

I'M CALLING YOU FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS.

UM, YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES IF YOU CAN STATE YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME AND SPEAK ON WHAT'S ON THE AGENDA TOPICS.

[00:30:03]

BOARD MEMBER DR. RODRIGUEZ AND STAFF.

GOOD MORNING.

THANKS FOR GIVING ME A CHANCE TO SPEAK TODAY.

UH, I'LL SPEAK ON THE USE OF FINANCIAL RESOURCES AND THE FOLLOWING ITEMS SINCE DISCUSSING BUDGET.

UM, BUT I WANTED, SIR, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME.

THIS IS, SORRY, THIS IS DAVID COOK.

I APOLOGIZE.

AND YOUR TOPIC IS SPEAK ON THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES, BUDGET ITEMS. OKAY.

PLEASE GO AHEAD.

UM, I SAW DR. RODRIGUEZ AS A FINALIST FOR SUPERINTENDENT OF THE YEAR, SO CONGRATULATIONS FIRST ON THAT.

UM, THANKS TO THE DISTRICT FOR COOPERATING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND COMMITTING TAX DOLLARS ON THE ARREST OF FOUR EDUCATORS IN THE LAST 18 MONTHS, CHARGED WITH SUCH EXPLOITATION OF A MINOR FOUR OUT OF 2300 EDUCATORS CHARGED WITH THAT CRIME AS A STATISTICAL, AN OBOLE.

BUT I'M GLAD YOU'RE HELPING LAW ENFORCEMENT COMPARE THAT TO THE POPULATION OF 18 TO 65 YEAR OLDS AND APPROXIMATELY ONE PERSON EVERY THREE DAYS SHOULD BE.

SO ARE THESE EDUCATORS HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH OUR BUDGET? CORRECT? YOU'RE NOT ON BUDGET.

ME IS WASTED ON KEEPING A HILTON HEAD, MIDDLE SCHOOL SPANISH TEACHER INTENTIONALLY USING PLATFORMS AND WEB-BASED INSTRUCTION WHERE STUDENTS CHOOSE MULTIPLE CHOICE.

MR. COOK THE WORD P***Y S**T, MR. COOK, YOU MAY REDIRECT YOUR COMMENTS TO BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT'S UPCOMING BUDGET DISCUSSION IF YOU WOULD LIKE, BUT YOU ARE OFF TOPIC AND THE AGENDA TODAY CLEARLY STATES THAT THE PUBLIC COMMENTS MUST BE, UH, LIMITED TO TOPICS ON THIS AGENDA.

YES, MA'AM.

I WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT THE I UNDERSTAND .

SO ARE YOU GOING TO COMPLY WITH THE PUBLIC COMMENT, UM, DIRECTIVE OR NOT? BECAUSE IF YOU'RE NOT, YOU'RE, YOU, WE WILL END THE END.

YOUR COMMENTS NOW USING YEAH, JUST REFERRING TO THE USE OF TAX DOLLARS IN REGARDS TO THE BUDGET.

I, I DON'T THINK I IT HAS TO BE ON BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT'S BUDGET.

YES, THAT'S WHAT I'M SPEAKING ABOUT.

I DON'T THINK SO.

WE'LL GIVE YOU ONE MORE TIME, SIR.

YEAH, NO PROBLEM.

UM, EIGHT OF YOU WERE PAID AND WORKED, UH, HARD, LONG AND HARD TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO ELIMINATE ME FOR MY CHILDREN'S EDUCATION.

SO WE NEED TO CUT BACK ON SPENDING FOR BOARD MEETINGS.

UM, OKAY, WE'LL, WE'LL END THIS.

HE IS DEFINITELY OFF TOPIC.

I'M TALKING ABOUT FUNDING, I'M TALKING ABOUT BUDGET DISCONNECTING.

NEXT ON OUR TOPIC, WE HAVE THE BUDGET UPDATE, UM, WITH TANYA CROSBY.

MORNING.

UM, WITH ME TODAY IS JENNIFER HAMLIN, A DIRECTOR OF BUDGET AND PROCUREMENT.

UH, WE ARE GOING TO, UM, WORK, UH, SPEAK TO DIFFERENT PORTIONS OF TODAY'S PRESENTATIONS.

SO, UH, WE WILL, UH, GO BACK AND FORTH, UH, NOT TOO MANY TIMES HOPEFULLY, BUT, UM, AND, UH, PROVIDE THE DISCUSSION FOR YOU TODAY.

WE LIKE TO, UH, SIT BECAUSE THIS IS GONNA BE A LONG, UH, CONVERSATION TODAY.

SO, UM, JUST A QUICK NOTE.

WE, WE ARE FIGHTING SOME ALLERGY THINGS, SO WE HAVE PLENTY OF COUGH DROPS AND WATER HERE, BUT IF IT, IF WE GET HUNG UP, WE HAVE A BACKUP NEXT, NEXT TO US.

SO, UH, WE'RE GOOD.

WE'RE GOOD THERE.

UH, JUST WANNA SAY FIRST OF ALL, THAT NO MOTIONS OR APPROVALS ARE BEING REQUESTED TODAY REGARDING THE BUDGET.

SO WE HAVE STILL A FEW ITERATIONS OF, OF CONVERSATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS AVAILABLE TO US BEFORE, UM, MAY 21ST IS ULTIMATELY THE POINT AT WHICH WE WOULD LIKE TO GET, UH, OBTAINED THE BUDGET CERTIFICATION FROM THE BOARD.

SO, WITH THAT, UM, CAN I JUST HAVE YOU PAUSE FOR ONE MINUTE OR 10 SECONDS? SO ELIZABETH, JUST WANNA BE SURE YOU CAN HEAR THIS.

YES, I CAN.

I CAN HEAR HER CLEAR AS DAY.

AND I'LL LET, I WON'T KEEP

[00:35:01]

ASKING YOU.

I'LL JUST, SO YOU LET YOU, UH, TELL US IF YOU, IF YOU, IF THAT CHANGES.

UM, I WANT TO TOUCH ON SOMETHING THAT WAS ASKED, UH, DURING THE LEGISLATIVE UPDATE.

AND THAT WAS ABOUT THE, UH, SENATE FINANCE AND THE HOUSE REVENUE PROJECTIONS AND HOW THEY AFFECT BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT.

SO I'M JUST GONNA START WITH THAT.

AND THEN, UH, WE'RE GONNA GO INTO A DISCUSSION OF THE CURRENT YEAR BUDGET AND FUND BALANCE, AND THEN LEAD INTO THE NEXT YEAR.

SO FUND BALANCE, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO UNDERSTAND WHERE WE ARE CURRENTLY IN ORDER TO SEE WHERE WE'RE HEADED FOR NEXT YEAR AS WELL.

UH, REGARDING THE, UH, BUDGETED PROJECTION THAT JUST CAME OUT WITH THE SENATE FINANCE.

SO ALL OF THE INFORMATION YOU HAVE TODAY IS BASED ON HOUSE PROJECTIONS.

SO THE REVENUE IS BASED ON THE HOUSE.

UH, JUST ON FRIDAY WE RECEIVED THE SENATE FINANCE PROJECTIONS, AND FORTUNATELY THEY ARE RELATIVELY MINOR.

UH, IT'S A MINOR REDUCTION.

SO IT WAS, UH, IN TERMS OF THE ENTIRE BUDGET, SO OF, OF THE $80 MILLION TOTAL THAT'S PROJECTED FOR BUFORT, IT WAS $146,000 REDUCTION TO US OVERALL.

THEY, THERE WERE SOME MAJOR REDUCTIONS, UM, IN STATE AID TO CLASSROOMS IN THE MAIN SOURCE, BUT THEY REALLOCATED IT INTO, UH, FOR AND PROVIDED ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR HEALTH INSURANCE.

THE HEALTH INSURANCE INCREASES ARE GOING UP SIGNIFICANTLY THIS YEAR.

UM, BUT THEY'RE ALL IN THE SAME POT OF MONEY.

SO IMPACT ON BUFORT WAS RELATIVELY MINIMAL CONSIDERING THE MAJOR CHANGES THAT TOOK PLACE OVERALL.

AS THEY'RE, UH, VOTING FOR CERTAIN, UH, PROVISOS, CERTAIN BILLS THAT ARE PASSING THROUGH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.

SO, UH, WE'LL GET STARTED WITH THE FUND BALANCE CONVERSATION.

AND, UH, FIRST OF ALL, WE'RE GONNA JUST TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT THE CURRENT YEARS FINANCIAL PROJECTION AND TALK ABOUT SOME POLICY CONSTRAINTS AND THE PURPOSE OF THE DISCUSSION AND A RECOMMENDATION FROM OUR STAFF.

SO, UH, ON THE CURRENT YEAR REVENUE PROJECTION, WE HAVE BUDGETED IN THE, UH, IN THE LOCAL TAX REVENUE, $195.9 MILLION.

SO THAT WAS AFTER A ROLLBACK MILL, UH, AND SOME GROWTH.

UH, HOWEVER, UH, GROWTH DID, UH, EXCEED OUR PROJECTIONS AND WE ARE NOW PROJECTING TO AT LEAST, UH, 205.8 MILLION IN LOCAL TAX REVENUE FOR THE CURRENT YEAR, WHICH IS A BUDGET VARIANCE OF RIGHT AT $10 MILLION.

UM, ACTUALLY WE RECEIVED SOME REVENUE, UH, INFORMATION LAST WEEK, LATE LAST WEEK, AS WELL AS THE STATE.

AND WE ARE ACTUALLY OUTPERFORMING THIS PROBABLY, UH, BY EXPECTED ANOTHER MILLION DOLLARS.

UM, SO THAT IS HOT OFF THE PRESS AND, AND OUR DOCUMENTS WENT TO YOU BEFORE THAT, UH, INFORMATION CAME TO US.

SO, UM, JUST KNOW THAT THESE ARE CONSERVATIVE AND THEY MAY BE EVEN BETTER, UH, THAN THAT INTEREST INCOME.

WE BUDGETED 1.7 MILLION.

WE'RE AT 5.5 IS OUR PROJECTED ACTUAL, SO REVENUE, INTEREST INCOME DRASTICALLY INCREASED, UH, OUT OUTPERFORMED OUR PROJECTIONS OF INTEREST.

UH, AND SO WE'RE HAVING $3.8 MILLION BUDGET VARIANCE, POSITIVE VARIANCE THERE.

STATE REVENUES ARE COMING IN ABOUT 2.6 GREATER THAN OUR PROJECTIONS.

AND THEN, UM, WE HAVE FEDERAL AND OTHER, WHICH IS BASICALLY YOUR INDIRECT COST TRANSFERS WE'RE, UH, ROUNDING OUT THE LAST OF OUR ESSER EXPENSES.

THEY WILL EXPIRE IN SEPTEMBER.

SO WE HAD SOME, UH, FEWER, UH, INDIRECT COST TRANSFERS INTO THE GENERAL FUND FOR OVERHEAD PURPOSES.

ALL IN ALL, WE ARE EXPECTING TO RECEIVE ABOUT 15.6 OR 16 MILLION, UM, DUE TO RECENT PROJECTIONS MORE THAN OUR REVENUES THAT WE BUDGETED.

SO THERE ARE SOME, UM, THE NEXT SLIDE, UH, PROVIDES SORT OF A OVERALL DETAIL IN THE IMPACT ON THE FUND BALANCE.

SO, UM, SO WE LIST THE OVERALL REVENUE PROJECTIONS FOR THE CURRENT YEAR, 336 MILLION.

WE DO EXPECT TO SPEND, UH, THE $320.4 MILLION CURRENT YEAR BUDGET AND A PROJECTED INCREASE OF 15.6, WHICH MAY NOW BE A LITTLE MORE.

AND OUR PROJECTED FUND BALANCE, ENDING FUND BALANCE AT JUNE 30TH, 2024 IS GOING TO BE IN THE $80 MILLION RANGE, UH, WHICH IS ABOUT 22.2% OF FUND BALANCE.

SO, UM, THERE IS A LOT OF DISCUSSION AT THE STATE LEVEL ABOUT FUND BALANCE.

UM, SO, UH, OUR LEGISLATORS, UH, HAVE, UM, RECEIVED A LISTING OF EVERY COUNTY, EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT'S FUND BALANCE.

AND THEY USE THAT INFORMATION

[00:40:01]

UM, SO THERE'S A LOT OF FOCUS ON THAT THIS YEAR.

UM, AND IT IS THE UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE.

UH, THAT MEANS WE HAVE DIFFERENT, UM, SEGMENTS OF A FUND BALANCE.

WE CAN BE, UM, HAVE AN UNASSIGNED FUND.

BALANCE IS, IT'S NOT RESTRICTED FOR ANYTHING.

IT IS JUST USED, IT HAS NOT BEEN DESIGNATED FOR ANYTHING.

IT IS JUST, UH, USED AND CARRIES OVER INTO THE NEXT YEAR.

AN ASSIGNMENT WOULD BE THE BOARD MAKING A DECISION AND A VOTE TO SAY, WE WANT TO SPEND X NUMBER OF DOLLARS NEXT YEAR ON THIS PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

AND THAT IS AN ASSIGNED FUND BALANCE.

SO IF WE DESIGNATE IT FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, THEN IT DOES NOT FALL IN THAT UNASSIGNED CATEGORY, WHICH IS WITHIN OUR, IN OUR POLICY.

YOU'LL SEE IN JUST A MOMENT, UM, TALKS ABOUT AN UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE, UH, FROM 15 TO 17%.

AND THE UNASSIGNED NUMBER IS WHAT THE LEGISLATORS ARE LOOKING AT.

SO THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT, UM, SO MY SENSE IS THAT MY RECOMMENDATION IS THAT WE NOT INCREASE THE FUND BALANCE OR THAT WE ASSIGN A PORTION OF THAT FUND BALANCE FOR NEEDS THAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED.

AND SO, UM, AND THOSE NEEDS, IN MY OPINION, SHOULD BE NON-RECURRING ITEMS BECAUSE THESE ARE ONE-TIME FUNDS.

UH, SO THEY WILL NOT CARRY OVER.

WE ARE INCORPORATING THAT GROWTH.

AND, AND ALL OF THIS IS DUE TO THE GROWTH IN THE COUNTY.

UH, AND REASSESSMENT.

WE HAVE HIGHER PROPERTY VALUES AND SALES OF PROPERTIES ARE JUST MUCH HIGHER.

WE HAVE NEW PROPERTIES COMING ON, PARTICULARLY APARTMENT COMPLEXES, HOMES THAT ARE BEING RENTED OUT AND THAT SORT OF THING.

THOSE ARE THE REASONS FOR THE, THE TREMENDOUS GROWTH.

UM, SO WE'LL TALK SOME MORE ABOUT THAT GROWTH IN THE BUDGET PRESENTATION AS WELL, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ALL HAD SOME GROUNDWORK ON, ON THE FUND BALANCE AND WHERE WE ARE THIS YEAR.

YES, MA'AM.

SO, UM, JUST TO CLARIFY A LITTLE BIT MM-HMM.

OR GO INTO A LITTLE MORE DETAIL.

SO WE ARE REQUIRED TO REPORT WHAT OUR, YOU ARE SAYING UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE IS TO THE STATE LEGISLATORS.

UM, WE, IN OUR FINANCIAL REPORT, YEAH, WE HAVE THE SEPARATE DESIGNATIONS AND THAT INFORMATION IS, UH, SENT TO THE STATE AT THE END WHEN END OF OUR AUDIT, WHEN WE ISSUE OUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ON DECEMBER 1ST.

AND SO THAT INFORMATION IS THEN CAPTURED, UM, IN A REPORT AT THE STATE LEVEL.

BUT WE WERE RECENTLY REQUESTED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, UM, ON THOSE FUND BALANCE NUMBERS.

SO THERE IS INFORMATION FLOATING OUT THERE ON EVERY DISTRICT AND, AND WHAT, AND SOME DISTRICTS HAVE SIGNIFICANT, SOME FUND BALANCES IN THE 70 TO 90% RANGE, MANY OF OUR, UH, VERY SMALL DISTRICTS.

SO THAT, UM, THAT INFORMATION IS BEING USED TO MAKE DECISIONS AT THE STATE LEVEL, WHICH IMPACT ALL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE.

SO IS OUR, OUR, UM, THE PERCENT OF NEXT YEAR'S PROJECTED EXPENDITURES, THE 20, WELL, EXCUSE ME, THE LINE ABOVE THAT, THE PROJECTED ENDING ENDING FUND BALANCE OF NEARLY 80 MILLION, IS THAT BOTH UNASSIGNED AND ASSIGNED COMBINED OR NO, IT IS, UM, AND THERE IS VERY LITTLE THAT'S ASSIGNED ANY PREPAID EXPENSES AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE WERE TO RECORD, UM, PAY FOR A TRIP, UH, UH, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN IN JULY THAT WE PAID FOR IT IN THE CURRENT YEAR, THAT WOULD BE AN EXAMPLE OF A, UH, OF AN ASSIGNED FUND BALANCE.

UM, SO THERE'LL BE, WE HAVE VERY LITTLE ASSIGNED FUND BALANCE IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.

UM, AND WE CAN CERTAINLY SHARE THAT WITH OUR LOCAL LEGISLATORS AS WELL.

SO THEN, JUST TAKING THIS A STEP FURTHER, 'CAUSE I WANNA BE SURE I'M UNDERSTANDING IT CORRECTLY.

IT SEEMS THAT IF THE STATE, UM, UH, LAWMAKERS ARE LOOKING AT THESE FUND BALANCES WITH THE INTENTION OF HOW TO DISTRIBUTE MONEY, MM-HMM.

, IT SEEMS LIKE THE PRUDENT FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE DISTRICTS THAT HAVE THE APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF FUND BALANCE IN A WAY MAY BE PENALIZED.

WE HAVE TO HAVE A CERTAIN FUND BALANCE, AND I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE PUBLIC TO KNOW IN ORDER TO HAVE HIGH CREDIT RATINGS AND HIGH CREDIT RATINGS GIVE US THE ABILITY TO BORROW AT A SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER RATE OF INTEREST.

AND SO IT'S ALL TIED TOGETHER.

SO, UM, I JUST WANNA MAKE THAT POINT.

IS THAT, AM I LOOKING AT THIS CORRECTLY? YES.

AND THE, WE PA UM, AT DR. GUY, UH, COLONEL GEIERS REQUEST ON A PAST MEETING, I THINK LAST MONTH WE PASSED OUT A NARRATIVE OF WHAT THE FUND BALANCE IS INTENDED FOR AND WHAT THE NEED IS.

UM, AND SO THAT WAS SHARED WITH THE BOARD.

[00:45:01]

UM, MISS BOATRIGHT, I THINK YOU'RE CORRECT, DR. WATTS, ALTHOUGH I, THE PART THAT, AND I WAS NOT PART OF THESE DISCUSSIONS 'CAUSE THEY OCCURRED BEFORE I WAS ON THE BOARD, BUT WE HAVE A POLICY, SO I'M ASSUMING WE HAD DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHAT THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF FUND BALANCE BETWEEN 15 AND 17.

SO IF WE'RE AT 22%, THEN WE'RE ABOVE BOARD POLICY.

SO TO MY MIND, EITHER WE SPEND THAT 5.2% OR WE ADJUST BOARD POLICY.

'CAUSE IT'S NOT REALLY, AND I DO THINK THERE'S SOME ARGUMENTS TO BE MADE THAT COASTAL COMMUNITIES NEED A HIGHER FUND BALANCE.

BECAUSE OF, UM, SOME OF THE ISSUES WE HAVE.

AND CERTAINLY WE CAN MAKE THAT ARGUMENT, BUT I DO THINK THERE'S A BOARD LEVEL DISCUSSION TO BE HAD ABOUT WHAT THE APPROPRIATENESS IS.

I WOULD ALSO, I, I AGREE WITH YOUR COMMENTS.

IT WI HAVE BEEN ON THE BOARD ALONG WITH EARL WHEN WE HAD BEFORE, I THINK IT WAS 13 TO 15%, AND THE, UH, EXACTLY THE BOARD, UH, TOOK A VOTE AND, AND WE UPPED IT TO THE 15 TO 17%.

I THINK FOR US TO HAVE A PROPER DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS, BRIAN NERRICK WOULD DEFINITELY HAVE TO BE INCLUDED.

AND HE'S OUR, OUR, OUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR FOR THE, FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND BOARD COLONEL GEIER.

WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS NOT TO HAVE TO BORROW MONEY WITH OPERATIONAL FUNDS TO PAY FOR TURNING ON THE LIGHTS AND PAYING SALARIES FROM THE END OF JULY TO THE 1ST OF DECEMBER WHEN WE START TO RECEIVE REVENUE.

THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR THAT WE HAVE NOT HAD TO BORROW MONEY FROM OUR OPERATING CAPITAL TO FUND THAT.

NOW THAT TAKES MORE THAN 17%.

AND SO WE'RE GO, WHAT I BELIEVE WE SHOULD CHANGE AND WE GO TO POLICY COMMITTEE IS TO STATE NOT A NUMBER BECAUSE THE NUMBER FLOATS WITH COST INCREASES, BUT STATES SIMPLY THAT WE HAVE SUFFICIENT FUND BALANCE TO NOT REQUIRE A TAX ANTICIPATION NOTE EVERY YEAR.

AND THAT WOULD BE A, A, A RELATIVELY SIMPLE POLICY CHANGE.

IT WOULD GIVE US FLEXIBILITY, UH, TO DEAL WITH THE UPS AND DOWNS OF EXPENSES AND INTEREST RATES AND SO ON.

I WILL ALSO TELL YOU THAT I SAT IN ON A MEETING WITH THE MOODY'S FOLKS WHO DID OUR AUDIT TO DETERMINE OUR CREDIT RATING.

AND AT THE TIME, THAT WAS THREE YEARS AGO, THE ONLY NEGATIVE IN OUR CREDIT SCORE AS FAR AS MOODY'S WAS CONCERNED, WAS THE FACT THAT WE NEEDED A TAX ANTICIPATION NOTE.

NOW WE'RE GONNA BE BORROWING $440 MILLION IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.

THE INTEREST THAT WE CAN GET THAT AT IS A VERY IMPORTANT, NOW YOU SEE THAT WE, WE DID WELL IN INTEREST ON OUR FUNDS THAT THE TREASURER IS HOLDING FOR US BECAUSE THE INTEREST RATES HAVE GONE UP ON WHAT THEY PAY TO USE OUR MONEY.

AND CONVERSELY, INTEREST RATES FOR BORROWING ARE STILL HIGH.

SO WE'VE GOT TO KEEP THIS MOMENTUM GOING AND KEEP KEEP IT STEADY.

NOW, THERE'S A, THERE'S A SLIPPERY SLOPE WHEN YOU HAVE EXCESS, UH, FUND BALANCE.

AND THAT SLIPPERY SLOPE IS WHEN YOU DECIDE TO USE THAT FOR LIKE, ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL AND SALARIES THAT COME BACK EVERY YEAR.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO WITH ANY EXCESS IS DO SOMETHING THAT USE IT FOR BUYING SOMETHING THAT'S A TANGIBLE ASSET LIKE PROPERTY PERHAPS, OR REPLACING OLD VEHICLES THAT ARE INEFFICIENT AND HIGHLY MAINTENANCE FOR NEW VEHICLES THAT ARE MORE EFFICIENT AND LESS MAINTENANCE OR OTHER THINGS THAT MAKE US MORE EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT AS AN ORGANIZATION.

THAT'S THE BEST USE, BUT DON'T, DON'T USE ANY EXCESS FUND BALANCE FOR RECURRING ITEMS. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR.

MR. SMITH.

UH, MAD, UH, MADAM CHAIR, POINT OF CLARIFICATION.

UH, JUST LIKE TO KNOW, UH, WE'LL THE PROCESS IN TERMS OF HOW WE ARE, ARE WE LETTING MS. CROSBY FINISH THIS, UH, BE OR ARE WE ASKING QUESTIONS AS WE GO ALONG? WHAT, WHAT'S THAT? WHAT'S THE FORMALITY IN THAT? DO YOU HAVE A PREFERENCE, MS. CROSBY? I WOULD PREFER TO GO THROUGH, UH, THE PRESENTATION BECAUSE I THINK SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE, UH, WILL RELATE TO ITEMS THAT ARE ON THE SLIDES.

SO IF WE COULD, AND I'LL MOVE THROUGH THEM RELATIVELY QUICKLY, MR. DAY.

OH, I THOUGHT YOUR HAND WAS UP TOO.

IT WAS, BUT I'LL WAIT.

INFORMATION.

SLIDE, I I, WE'VE ALREADY STATED THIS IS A PROJECTED ONE-TIME ADDITION TO FUND BALANCE.

SO, UM, ON THE NEXT

[00:50:01]

WE'RE PROJECTING FUND BALANCE TO BE A 22%, WHICH IS ABOVE THE TARGET IN THE CURRENT POLICY.

IT IS A TARGETED 15 TO 17%.

AND, UM, AND THAT'S ON THE NEXT SLIDE, UM, WHERE WE STATE POLICY BOARD POLICY OE 5.1, MAINTAIN AN UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE.

THAT WORD IS VERY IMPORTANT, UNASSIGNED NO LESS THAN 10% OF THE NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET EXPENDITURES WITH A DESIRED TARGET BETWEEN 15 AND 17.

SO THE TARGET IS NOT A HARD LIMIT, BUT IT IS A RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD, UM, FOR AN UPPER LIMIT, UH, OF THOSE ANNUAL OPERATING EXPENDITURES EXPENDITURES FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

AND WHEN YOU SAY THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, IT'S BECAUSE A FUND BALANCE WILL NOT BE SPENT UNTIL THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

SO THAT IS WHY WE'RE TAKING IT AS A PERCENTAGE OF A FUTURE NUMBER THAT MUST BE PROJECTED.

UM, SO TODAY'S PURPOSE IS TO JUST BEGIN TO DEVELOP IDEAS, PLANS FOR UTILIZATION OF THAT ONE-TIME FUND BALANCE THAT INVOLVES THOUGHTFUL CONSIDERATION, INPUT, UM, DISTRICT POLICIES AND STRATEGIC DECISION MAKING.

AND SO, UM, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BOARD KNEW, UH, OF THE, THE, THE PERCEPTION AT THE STATE LEVEL AND THE, THE THINGS THAT ARE BEING, UH, DISCUSSED.

AND I'M, YOU MENTIONED DR. WATTS, THAT, UM, THE DECISION THAT FUND BALANCE WAS A WERE BASED ON, ON YOU BEING USED TO MAKE POTENTIALLY DECISIONS ON ALLOCATIONS OR REVENUES.

I THINK IT'S MORE ABOUT BILLS AND EXPENDITURES THAT ARE COMING THROUGH.

FOR EXAMPLE, PAID PARENTAL LEAVE WAS PASSED LAST YEAR.

MAINTAIN THE FUND BALANCE AT ITS CURRENT LEVEL, WE'RE APPROXIMATELY 19%.

, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE AN $800,000 INCREASE INCREASE IN THIS BUDGET AS A RESULT OF THAT POLICY.

IT WAS COMPLETELY UNFUNDED.

AND SO THAT THE DISCUSSIONS DURING THAT, IN MY UNDERSTANDING FROM STATE OFFICIALS WAS THAT THE DISTRICTS COULD FUND IT THROUGH THEIR FUND BALANCES.

SO THAT SORT OF THING IS AN EXAMPLE OF, UH, THE, SOME OF THE DECISIONS THAT ARE BEING MADE AT THAT LEVEL.

SO, UM, MY RECOMMENDATIONS WOULD BE TO MINIMIZE ANY ADDITIONS TO THIS FUND BALANCE AS OF THE JUNE 30TH, 2024 YEAR, IDENTIFY NON-RECURRING ITEMS. EITHER SPEND FUNDS BEFORE JUNE 30 OR COMMIT THEM OR SIGN THEM BEFORE JUNE 30.

SO WE MAKE A DECISION BEFORE JUNE 30, HOW TO SPEND IT THE NEXT YEAR, OR EXCUSE ME, WE TRANSFER ANY EXCESS REVENUE BALANCES TO THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND.

AND THEN WE HAVE, UH, WE CAN DO THAT BEFORE YEAR END.

AND THEN WE CAN TREAT, UM, HAVE A DISCUSSION OF SPECIFIC LINE ITEM BUDGETS THAT THOSE DOLLARS WILL BE SPENT ON, AND WE'LL KNOW THE EXACT DOLLAR AMOUNT BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

SO THOSE WOULD BE, THOSE ARE SORT OF THREE OPTIONS THAT WE COULD USE TO MAINTAIN THAT UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE AT A RELATIVELY, UH, MINIMAL LEVEL AT STAY WITHIN POLICY AND, UH, AND ACTUALLY ADDRESS NEEDS OF THE DISTRICT.

SO THE NEXT SLIDE, UM, IS ABOUT SOME OPTIONS.

SO, UM, FROM A CAPITAL PROJECTS PERSPECTIVE, UM, I, UH, I KNOW THAT THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE HAD A MEETING RECENTLY IN WHICH, UH, THE 8% PROJECT LIST WAS DISCUSSED.

UH, ON THAT LIST WERE A COUPLE OF MA BIG, BIG TICKET ITEMS. AND, UH, THEY COULD BE USED FOR, UH, THIS COULD BE AN OPTION FOR THE USE OF THIS FUND BALANCE.

SO WE HAVE A LAPTOP REFRESH FOR TEACHERS.

SO THOSE ARE, UH, EVERY THREE OR FOUR YEAR, FOUR YEARS I BELIEVE IS A REFRESH CYCLE.

AND THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT WAS FOUR AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS IN THE 8% PROJECT LIST.

UM, SCHOOL FURNITURE ALWAYS HAS NEEDS.

THERE WASN'T A SPECIFIC LINE IN THE CAPITAL PROJECTS IN THE 8% LIST ON THESE.

UM, BUT WE COULD CERTAINLY, UH, I KNOW THAT THE NUMBER IS VERY LARGE OF NEEDS IN THE SCHOOL FURNITURE CATEGORY.

UH, AND ALSO THERE WAS AN AMOUNT OF $5 MILLION OF DISTRICT OFFICE RENOVATIONS.

UH, THERE WERE SOME NEEDS FOR, UM, UH, SECURITY AND HVAC, UM, OR OTHER NEEDS THAT MAY BE OCCUR.

UM, AND SO THE OPTION OR FOR CONSIDERATION IS THAT WE COULD USE THESE DOLLARS TO REMOVE PROJECTS, BRINGING THE 8% DOWN, UH, LISTING DOWN TO A MORE, UH, COMPARABLE LEVEL TO PRIOR YEARS APPROVALS AMOUNTS.

SO, UH, THE NEXT SLIDE IS, UH, OTHER CONSIDERATIONS.

UM, SO THIS PLAN WOULD

[00:55:01]

UH, WE DO HAVE A MOTION COMING THAT CAME OUT OF FINANCE COMMITTEE TO REFER A NEW, A CHANGE IN THE FUND BALANCE POLICY TO THE POLICY COMMITTEE.

SO THAT WILL TAKE PLACE ON THE NEXT POLICY COMMITTEE, I WOULD ASSUME.

UM, BUT THIS ALSO ADDRESSES THE NEEDS THAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED.

AND AGAIN, IT REMOVES 10 AND, UH, NINE AND A HALF MILLION, I BELIEVE IS THE NUMBER.

UH, COULD BE 10 AND A HALF IF WE PUT ADDITIONAL FUNDS IN FOR FURNITURE OF ITEMS OF THAT ARE ON THE 2026, 8% CAPITALISTS THAT ARE YET TO BE APPROVED WILL BE APPROVED IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.

UM, SO THOSE ARE JUST FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PORTION OF THE PRESENTATION.

MR. NAY.

UM, SO I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS ENTIRELY IN YOUR REALM, BUT YOU'RE CLOSER THAN I AM.

SO, UH, IS THERE ANY LEGISLATIVE INDICATION ABOUT WHAT TOO MUCH FUND BALANCE IS? I MEAN, I, I, I KNOW THAT WE'RE WALKING A FINE LINE BECAUSE WE DON'T WANNA BE FLAGGED BY LEGISLATORS AND SAYING, OKAY, EVERYBODY'S CARRYING TOO MUCH OF A FUND BALANCE.

UM, BUT WE NEED A FUND BALANCE SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO GET A TAN.

UH, SO IS THERE ANY INDICATION WHERE THAT FINE LINE IS? UH, NOT FROM THE LEGISLATURE.

I HAVEN'T HEARD WHAT THAT NUMBER WOULD BE.

THE GFOA, WHICH IS OUR NATIONAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, RECOMMENDS NO LESS THAN TWO MONTHS OF OPERATIONS.

SO 60 DAYS OF OPERATIONS, WE'RE A LITTLE ABOVE THAT.

UM, THIS WOULD TAKE US TO 71, I BELIEVE.

UM, SO THAT IS, UH, CONSIDERATION.

UM, AGAIN, COASTAL COUNTIES IS A PARTICULARLY, YOU KNOW, A GOOD REASON TO HAVE A LITTLE MORE THAN THAT BECAUSE OF THE UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES IN THE FALL, UM, THAT WE WILL ENCOUNTER.

SO I HAVE NOT HEARD WHAT A, WHAT A NORMAL ONE WOULD BE, BUT, UM, OR AN AVERAGE.

BUT I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF ATTENTION AROUND A FEW OF THE DISTRICTS THAT ARE IN THAT HIGH, MUCH HIGHER CATEGORY, BUT THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES ARE VERY MUCH DIFFERENT AS WELL.

SO, AND, AND THEN MY SECOND QUESTION IS IF, IF YOU DON'T MIND.

UM, AS FAR AS THE, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ASSIGNED, UM, COMMITTED AND OBLIGATED, UH, ASSIGNED FUNDS, IF WE ASSIGN FUNDS, UH, SO THAT, UH, THEY'RE ACCOUNTED FOR, UM, HOW OFTEN CAN WE REASSIGN FUNDS REASSIGN? WOULD YOU REASSIGN THE SAME FUNDS OR, OKAY, SO, SO ARE THE FUND, ONCE WE ASSIGN THE FUNDS, IS THAT ESSENTIALLY COMMITTED? WE CAN'T SPEND THOSE FUNDS ON ANYTHING ELSE.

OR CAN WE SAY, OKAY, WE'RE GONNA SIGN THESE FUNDS FOR NOW AND THEN, UH, IF WE NEED TO, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE PUTTING THEM IN A DIFFERENT CATEGORY NOW SO THAT THE, THE, THE, THE POT OF MONEY ISN'T FLAGGED, SO TO SPEAK.

, UM, CAN WE REASSIGN FUNDS LATER AS NEEDED? I THINK THE ANSWER IS NO, BUT I CAN STUDY UP ON THAT A LITTLE MORE.

BUT THERE'S ANOTHER OPTION.

SO ASSIGNING FUNDS MEANS THE BOARD WOULD MAKE A MOTION FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE FOR A SPECIFIC PURCHASE TO BE MADE.

FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU WANTED TO SPEND $500,000 ON FURNITURE, YOU WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO DO THAT, AND WE WOULD HAVE TO SPEND IT ON THAT.

UM, HOWEVER, WE, IF WERAN MADE A TRANSFER FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND AND ALLOWED THE BOARD TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT THAT WHEN NEEDED, YOU CAN USE THOSE FUNDS.

UH, YOU DON'T HAVE TO, TO DESIGNATE EVERY BIT OF THOSE FUNDS THAT, SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, WE MOVED $16 MILLION OVER AND THE BOARD, UH, DECIDED TO MAKE DE, UM, ASSIGN OR, UM, DESIGNATE 10 MILLION OF THAT TO DO SOMETHING SPECIFIC, BUT LEFT, LEFT $5 MILLION, YOU COULD USE THAT $5 MILLION COULD BE TRANSFERRED BACK TO THE GENERAL FUND IF YOU HAD A SHORTFALL THE NEXT YEAR OR FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE.

SO YOU HAVE FLEXIBILITY IF YOU'RE TRANSFERRING IT TO THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND.

IT IS NOT AN ASSIGNMENT ANY LONGER.

THE BOARD HAS DETERMINED THAT WE ARE GOING TO TRA MAKE A TRANSFER TO CAPITAL PROJECTS, AND THEN YOU HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO DO WHATEVER YOU WANT TO WITH THOSE FUNDS.

UH, UNLIKE OTHER CAPITAL PROJECTS FUNDS, WE HAVE BONDS THAT, THAT COME IN THERE.

THESE DO NOT HAVE THOSE RESTRICTIONS TO BE SPENT ON SPECIFIC THINGS.

SO UNTIL YOU DESIGNATE THEM TO BE MADE, SO, THANK YOU.

SO WE'LL JUST KEEP GOING.

I'M CHLOE GORDON.

MS. CROSBY, THIS MAY OR MAY NOT BE, UM, A PART OF THIS AGENDA, BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UH, FUNDS.

AND I KNOW THAT THE CHARTER SCHOOL, UH, RIVERVIEW, SO FUNDS THAT THEY PAY US, IS THAT A PART OF THIS, THE FUNDS THAT THE STATE PAYS US FOR RIVERVIEW? NO.

[01:00:01]

THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE SCHOOL.

RIVERVIEW SPEAKING TO YOUR MICROPHONE.

THE SCHOOL, YES.

THEY PAY US, RIGHT.

UH, WE PAY THEM, UH, AN ANNUAL OR MONTHLY PAYMENT AND, UH, FOR THE GENERAL OPERATIONS.

AND THAT'S BASED ON THE TA UH, REVENUES OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FROM THE PRIOR YEAR.

SO THE REVENUES THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING THIS YEAR, THE INCREASE REVENUES THEY WILL EXPERIENCE OF BUDGET INCREASE NEXT, NEXT BUDGET YEAR.

SO THEY'RE BUILDING THOSE FUNDS INTO THEIR NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET, AND WE'LL SEE AN INCREASE IN THEIR REVENUE FROM THE DISTRICT.

WE, WE ARE REQUIRED BY STATE LAW TO ALLOCATE A PORTION, A PROPORTIONATE SHARE OF DISTRICT FUNDS BASED ON THEIR NUMBERS OF STUDENTS.

AND SO WE TAKE THE TAX REVENUE AND ALL REVENUES, UM, DIVIDED BY THE TOTAL NUMBER OF STUDENTS AND THEN MULTIPLY IT BY THEIRS.

SO, UM, THEY ARE RECEIVE AN ALLOCATION OF APPROXIMATELY $10 MILLION A YEAR FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

AND THAT'S JUST IN THE GENERAL FUND.

THERE ARE SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS THAT ARE ALLOCATED TO THEM AS WELL.

UM, CAN I MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO SEE YOU? YES, MA'AM.

? YEAH, IT'S COMPLICATED.

ALL ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE COMPLEX AND WE'LL BE HAPPY TO MEET WITH ANYONE WHO'S INTERESTED.

MR. EARL.

KIM? UH, YES.

UM, YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT $80 MILLION THAT THE, THE STATE HAS FOR THE, THAT'S AN EXCESS.

80 MILLION WOULD BE THE FUND BALANCE AMOUNT IF WE ENDED THE YEAR WITHOUT ASSIGNING OR MOVING ANYTHING OUT OF FUND BALANCE.

NO, NO, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE STATE.

THEY HAVE, I THINK THEY FOUND SOMETHING LIKE 80, $80 BILLION.

HUH? 13 BILLION.

THEY FOUND ONE POINT SOMETHING BILLION DOLLARS, $1.8 BILLION RECENTLY.

NOW, BECAUSE OF, OF THE INCREASE IN, IN HEALTHCARE, WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THAT, DO WE GET IT FROM THE STATE? DID WE GET ANYTHING PER SE? YES.

THE NEW, UM, THE NEWEST SENATE PROJECTIONS SINGLED OUT THE HEALTH INSURANCE INCREASE, AND WE'RE GETTING ABOUT TWO AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS FROM THAT ALLOCATION.

UM, I, I, I THINK THE, THE OPPORTUNITY IS FOR THE BOARD TO ACTUALLY IDENTIFY, UH, POTENTIAL ASPIRATIONS THAT PROTECT OUR FUND, BALANCE, APPEARANCE, THE AESTHETICS.

POLITICALLY WHAT'S HAPPENING IS THE LEGISLATORS ARE SEEING A LOT OF EXCESS REVENUE THAT'S COMING IN AND THEY'RE HEARING FROM THEIR CONSTITUENTS ABOUT REDUCING TAXES.

SO IF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE EXCESS, YOU KNOW, THEN WE BECOME SORT OF A TARGET.

SO I THINK IT'S IN OUR BEST INTEREST TO ACTUALLY MOVE IT WHERE IT'S PROTECTED ON AN ASSIGNATION, WHICH THEY THEN CAN BRING IT BACK.

AND SO THE AESTHETICS OF THAT MAKE US IN SYNC WITH WHAT THE LEGISLATORS ARE GOING TO WANT.

AND I THINK IT CAN DEFLECT SOME OF THE ARROWS THAT POTENTIALLY COULD COME OUT WITH MS. BOATRIGHT.

I CONCUR WITH CARLTON DALLAS.

'CAUSE I'M HEARING SIMILAR THINGS.

AND, AND IT IS A, A QUESTION OF PERCEPTION AND MESSAGING ABOUT FUND BALANCE.

UM, AND I THINK THAT I'M, I'M ACTUALLY THINK THIS IS A GREAT CONVERSATION FOR THE BOARD TO HAVE, WHETHER IT'S IN POLICY AND THEN COMING BACK TO THE FULL BOARD ABOUT WHAT YOU, AS YOU SAID, WHAT IS A SUFFICIENT FUND BALANCE.

AND TO YOUR POINT, I THINK THE PROBLEM IS IF YOU'RE LOOKING, I'M NOT AN ACCOUNTANT IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM.

I MEAN, I'M THE OPPOSITE OF THAT KIND OF LIKE SPREADSHEET, YOU KNOW.

BUT THE TERM SUFFICIENT AS A DATA PERSON SORT OF, UH, PUTS UP MY RADAR BECAUSE HOW DO WE DEFINE SUFFICIENT, RIGHT? ONE MAN'S SUFFICIENT IS ANOTHER MAN'S INADEQUATE.

SO THERE HAS TO BE A PROCESS THAT GOES WITH THAT POLICY.

IF THAT POLICY IS GOING TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY POLITICAL PERSPECTIVE, THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY CRUNCHING SOME SORT OF NUMBERS.

WE CAN DO THAT ANNUALLY.

WE CAN DO THAT ONCE EVERY FIVE, WHATEVER IT IS.

BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME WAY TO DETERMINE OR DEFINE SUFFICIENT.

UM, I HAVE A COUPLE OF JUST SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IF WE DID DECIDE TO SPEND THIS MONEY.

UM, AND ONE IS, I HAD A CONVERS, OR THERE WAS A CONVERSATION WITH THE 8% FUNDING ABOUT TECHNOLOGY EQUIPMENT.

'CAUSE IT'S A HUGE CHUNK OF OUR, UM, 8% BUDGET.

AND, UH, MR. SHOHAN MADE THE, UH, POINT THAT WE ARE, WE CANNOT USE GENERAL FUNDS FOR TECHNOLOGY.

WE HAVE TO USE OPERATIONAL FUNDS.

AND I, IN MY RESEARCH, WHICH YOU TRY TO LOOK UP, WE NEED AN AI CHAT BOT FOR THE STATE FINANCIAL CODE BECAUSE IT IS DENSE .

BUT, UM, TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, WHAT I COULD SEE IS THAT OPERATIONAL OR ONE-TIME NON-RECURRING EXPENSES.

SO CAPITAL TYPE OUTLIERS.

WHEREAS A REFRESH OF A COMPUTER CYCLE, ESPECIALLY SINCE WE DO SO MUCH INSTRUCTION ON, UH, SOFTWARE COULD POSSIBLY GO EITHER WAY.

BUT I WOULD LOVE CLARIFICATION ON THAT.

UM, BECAUSE A LAPTOP REFRESH WOULD BE A, A RECURRING EXPENSE.

YOU KNOW, IT'D BE EVERY FOUR YEARS.

UM, I'M JUST CURIOUS IF WE ARE ALLOWED TO SHIFT THAT AROUND.

UM, SO AT SOME POINT A FINANCE COMMITTEE COULD JUST GET CLARIFICATION ON THAT.

[01:05:01]

AND THEN I HAVE SOMETHING I'D LIKE TO TALK TO THE BOARD ABOUT AT THIS MOMENT FOR A FUTURE TOPIC.

BUT I BRING IT UP HERE 'CAUSE IT'S APPROPRIATE.

UM, WE, I KNOW THAT OPERATIONS HAD LOOKED AT I THINK AN EIGHT POINT SOME MILLION DOLLAR, UH, BUDGET ITEM TO REDO, UH, THIS BUILDING, THE DISTRICT OFFICE.

AND I DOES 8 MILLION SOUND ABOUT RIGHT IT IN THERE SOMEWHERE.

EIGHT TO 10 MILLION, SOMETHING LIKE THAT FOR THE HVAC SECURITY UPGRADES PHASE.

THAT'S PROBABLY LIKE PHASE ONE.

IT WAS A PHASE APPROACH.

UM, WHAT WAS IN THE 8%? RIGHT NOW IT'S 5 MILLION FOR COULD YOU GET YOUR MIC SO WE CAN HEAR PEOPLE ON, ON CAN HEAR? I JUST WANTED CLARIFICATION 'CAUSE I WAS WAITING UNTIL THAT CAME OUT OF OPERATIONS, BUT IT'S, IT GOES HERE.

I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING, I'LL GO AHEAD AND WAIT FOR MR. ING TO TESTING .

THANK YOU FOR THAT.

MR. DOLEY, DO YOU WANNA REPEAT THAT MR. OTIE? I HEARD IT, BUT MAYBE SOME OTHER PEOPLE DID.

Y YES.

SO WHAT IS IN THE 8% RIGHT NOW IS $5 MILLION FOR SAFETY SECURITY AT THE FRONT OF THIS BUILDING.

THE ENTIRE PROJECT WAS IN PHASES AND THERE WAS MAYBE A FA FIRST PHASE THAT WAS 8 MILLION, WHICH ALSO INCLUDES SOME STARTING HVAC, BUT THE TOTAL WAS MORE LIKE 20 MILLION FOR THE ENTIRE BUILDING.

SO ONE THING I THINK THAT BEFORE WE EMBARK ON THIS PHASED APPROACH, UM, THAT WE AT LEAST HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT IS WE LIVE IN A GEOGRAPHICALLY CHALLENGED DISTRICT AS CAME UP RECENTLY.

UM, AND WE HAVE A LOT OF WATERWAYS AND IT IS GETTING VERY, VERY TRICKY TO COMMUTE.

HILTON HEAD IS A DISASTER, THAT BRIDGE, UM, AND IT IS CAUSING UNTOLD PROBLEMS FOR THE COMMUNITY HILTON HEAD THAT I LIVE IN.

BUT NOW YOU SEE IT AT 2 78, 1 70, TREMENDOUS GROWTH OCCURRING ON ONE 70 INTO BEAUFORT.

SO AS I WAS GONNA TRY AND VIDEOTAPE IT, BUT IT DIDN'T SEEM SAFE.

UM, SO JUST SO YOU KNOW, I I KEPT MY HANDS IN 10, 10 AND 12, UM, 10 AND TWO.

SO, BUT DRIVING IN ON ONE 70, IT'S BACKING UP AND FOR NO REASON OTHER, AND THAT'S BEFORE THESE APARTMENT BUILDINGS ARE EVEN REALLY RENTED OUT.

AND IF YOU DRIVE AROUND THIS AREA OF BEAUFORT, WHETHER IT'S RIGHT OUT HERE, THE GROWTH IS SO EVERYONE'S JAW IS KIND OF ON THE FLOOR ABOUT ALL THE CLEARING AND BUILDING OF MULTI-FAMILY HOMES.

SO I THINK WE'RE LOOKING AT, IN A TWO TO THREE YEAR TIME HORIZON, TREMENDOUS PRESSURE ON OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND MAYBE THE COUNTY HAS A SECRET PLAN TO DEAL WITH IT THAT THEY JUST HAVEN'T BROUGHT FORWARD YET.

BUT AT THIS MOMENT, I KNOW OF NO INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN TO ADDRESS THE CONSTRICTION ON ONE 70 THAT I KNOW THERE'S SOME TRAFFIC CALMING GOING ON 1 72 70.

SO WITH THAT IN MIND, I THINK WE NEED TO CONSIDER HAVING A SATELLITE OFFICE FOR DISTRICT STAFF RATHER THAN INVESTING A FULL 20 MILLION IN REDOING THIS HERE.

BECAUSE IT IS GOING TO GET VERY DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO GET BACK AND FORTH THE, THE, THE AREA SOUTH ABROAD FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM, BUT THE BLUFFTON HILTON HEAD AREAS CONTINUING TO SHOW SUBSTANTIAL GROWTH.

AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO BECOME VERY CHALLENGING FOR PEOPLE THAT LIVE, CERTAINLY LIVE ON HILTON HEAD AND PARTS OF BLUFFTON TO EVEN GET TO THE DISTRICT OFFICE AS EMPLOYEES, UM, WHICH IS CUTTING OFF SOME OF OUR POTENTIAL WORK STAFF.

SO I HAVE A LOT OF REASONS, I THINK IT'S A FUTURE TOPIC, BUT SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW WE'RE GONNA SPEND THE MONEY AND THAT DISTRICT BUILDING IS IN A RECOMMENDED THING, I WANNA THROW OUT BEFORE WE REALLY START COMMITTING $20 MILLION TO REBUILDING ONE DISTRICT OFFICE THAT IS VERY INCONVENIENTLY LOCATED FOR THE MAJORITY OF OF OUR FAMILIES THAT WE CONSIDER HAVING SOME SORT OF A ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT.

THAT'S ALL.

I ADDED IT TO THE FUTURE AGENDA TOPICS.

COLONEL GUYER, CAN I ASK A, A QUICK QUESTION? SURE.

UH, TANYA, WOULD SOMETHING LIKE THAT BE CONSIDERED, UH, AN ASSIGNED PROJECT? UH, YES.

UH, IF A PARTICULAR DESIGNATION WAS MADE FOR X NUMBER OF DOLLARS FOR A SPECIFIC BUILDING OR PURCHASE OF A BUILDING YEAH.

OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

OF THOUSANDS OF TREES DOWN, YOU SAW TRUCKS COMING FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY TO HAUL LUMBER AWAY.

COLONEL DI I NEED TO GIVE A LITTLE HISTORY LESSON HERE.

UM, IN 1894, A CATEGORY FOUR, CATEGORY FIVE, HURRICANE HIT, BEAUFORT COUNTY AT PENN CENTER.

AND YOU KNOW WHERE PENN CENTER IS IN ST.

HELENA ISLAND? THERE'S A CHURCH THERE AND THEY HAVE A MARK ON THAT CHURCH WHERE THE TIDAL SURGE HIT.

IT WAS 20 FEET.

20 FEET.

NOW IF THAT HAPPENED AGAIN, UH, ST.

HELEN ELEMENTARY WOULD BE WIPED OUT.

LADIES ISLAND ELEMENTARY WOULD BE WIPED OUT THE ROADS AND IT WOULD BE IMPASSABLE.

THE COUNTY COUNCIL, THE COUNTY HAS A FUND BALANCE, MUCH LARGER PERCENTAGE THAN DO WE BECAUSE THEY SAY, WELL, WE HAVE TO PUT ROADS BACK IN.

WELL, WE HAVE TO PUT KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL.

AND THOSE OF YOU THAT LIVED ON HILTON HEAD, AND REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED WITH MATTHEW HIT AND WE HAD HUNDREDS

[01:10:01]

WHEN THAT HAPPENS, YOU CAN'T GIVE THEM A CREDIT CARD.

YOU GOTTA HAVE CASH, YOU GOTTA HAVE A MONEY TO LOOK.

WE'D HAVE TO RENT BUILDINGS THAT WE COULD FIND THEM TO PUT KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL, NOT, AND TAKE CARE OF THE DAMAGE.

NOW WE CAN USE OUR 8% MONEY, BUT 8% MONEY TAKES A COUPLE MONTHS TO GET, WE MUST BE ABLE TO HAVE SUFFICIENT RESERVES.

AND THAT'S WHAT THE FUND BALANCE IS, FRANKLY, TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

AND ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS LISTEN TO THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO'S REPORT ON WHAT THEY SAY THAT THIS YEAR'S HURRICANE SEASON IS SUPPOSED TO BE.

AND WHETHER YOU BELIEVE IN CLIMATE CHANGE OR NOT, WHAT EVERYBODY WILL TELL YOU IS THAT HURRICANES ARE GOING TO BECOME MORE COMMON AND MORE DANGEROUS.

SO FOR THE PUBLIC, THEY, THEY NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE NOT JUST HAVING A BUNCH OF MONEY, MONEY IN THERE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THIS LOOKS GOOD ON OUR BALANCE BOOK.

THIS IS A REAL ISSUE THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY, UH, FOR THE FUTURE.

SO THAT, THAT'S, THAT'S GOTTA PUT THIS IN PERSPECTIVE.

GO AHEAD.

UH, JUST TO PIGGYBACK ON WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, COLONEL, UH, EVERY YEAR, YOU KNOW, THERE'S AN EXPERIENCE WITH SOME KIND OF STORM THAT IS THREATENING THE COAST OR PASSING THROUGH THE AREA, AND WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH, UH, WINDS AND ALL THOSE KINDS OF THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT.

BUT ONE OF THE PAIN POINTS, OF COURSE, OUR DECISIONS ARE BASED ON SAFETY FOR STUDENTS, AND THAT'S HOW WE MAKE THOSE, THOSE CALLS AND REQUIREMENTS THAT, THAT WE HAVE TO FOLLOW.

BUT, BUT ONE OF THE PAIN POINTS OF THAT IS THAT WHENEVER WE HAVE TO CLOSE SCHOOL BECAUSE OF A STORM COMING OR A POTENTIAL THREAT JUST THROUGH, THROUGH DUE TO A STORM, UM, IT OFTEN MEANS THAT PARENTS HAVE TO STAY HOME BECAUSE CHILD IS AT HOME.

SO IF A STORM WERE, ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE CONNECTED, RIGHT? THE COUNTY'S ABILITY TO GET THE ROADS BACK UP AND RUNNING TO GET, UH, ALL THOSE PUBLIC SERVICES BACK UP AND RUNNING THAT, THAT NEED TO BE UP AND RUNNING, RIGHT.

UM, IT IT'S CONNECTED BECAUSE THEY NEED, THEY DO NEED WORKERS FOR THAT, RIGHT? AND, AND, AND THEY, THEY NEED EMPLOYEES FOR THAT.

AND SO OUR ABILITY TO STAND UP OUR, OUR SCHOOLS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, RIGHT.

UM, UH, HELPS THEIR ABILITY TO STAND UP ALL THE OTHER SERVICES.

SEE WHAT I'M SAYING? MR. SMITH? UH, UM, JUST TO, I WOULD ASK MRS. UH, GORDON A QUESTION TOO AS WELL.

UM, WHEN, WHEN YOU WAS TALKING ABOUT THE, ABOUT THE CHARTER SCHOOL, WERE YOU, I HEARD, UH, WERE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE RENT MONEY? WAS, WAS THAT WHAT YOU WERE REFERRING TO IN TERMS OF, UH, UH, BASICALLY, I'M TRYING TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING WHERE THE FUNDS GO TO.

I KNOW THAT WE PAY OUT A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY, CORRECT.

BUT WE ALSO TAKE YES.

A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY FROM, I KNOW RIVERVIEW, CHLOE, JUST GET A LITTLE CLOSER TO YOUR MICROPHONE, PLEASE.

I KNOW AGAINST, UM, FOR RIVERVIEW, I'M, WHAT I NEED IS AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE THE FUNDS THAT THEY GIVE US, WHERE DOES THAT MONEY GO? DOES IT GO BACK TO RIVERVIEW? DOES IT GO TO SUSTAIN, YOU KNOW, CERTAIN PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE? UM, AND IF SO, WHAT ARE THOSE PROGRAMS? HOW MUCH MONEY? I, I'M SORRY.

I FAILED TO MENTION.

IN OUR MONTHLY ALLOCATION, WE DO DEDUCT A PORTION OF THE FUNDING.

UM, I BELIEVE IT'S APPROXIMATELY 49,000 A MONTH, UM, THAT THOSE DO COME BACK INTO DISTRICT FUNDS TO CO TO HELP OFFSET THE OPERATIONAL COSTS.

SO YES, WE DO DEDUCT, UH, A PORTION OF THEIR MONTHLY ALLOCATION BACK TO THE DISTRICT.

WHY? UM, THAT WAS AN AGREEMENT THAT WAS MADE IN 2009 10 RANGE.

UM, AND, UH, WE ARE ACTIVELY LOOKING AT THE CONTRACT OR THE AGREEMENT AT THIS POINT.

UM, THERE ARE SOME MAINTENANCE COSTS THAT ARE INVOLVED.

UH, THE DISTRICT OFFICE, UH, DOES PERFORM SOME MAINTENANCE FOR THEIR BUILDING.

UH, WE DO PERFORM OTHER SERVICES AND THAT SORT OF THING.

SO WE'RE, WE'RE ACTIVELY WORKING ON TRYING TO CLARIFY THAT AGREEMENT AND, AND, AND GAIN A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF IT.

ABOUT WHERE THE FUNDS GO AND HOW WE ARE USE USING IT.

AND, UM, AND AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE TO SIT DOWN WITH YOU, BUT I, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE REST OF YOU, BUT I'M, I'M KIND OF AT A LOSS

[01:15:01]

AND THAT'S A SCHOOL WHERE THERE'LL STILL BE FOR COUNTY KIDS, ALTHOUGH THEY GO TO RIVERVIEW.

I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, UH, $49,000 A MONTH.

MM-HMM, .

WOW.

THANKS FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.

ALSO, UH, UM, ALSO IN, IN MY, MY QUESTION.

THANKS.

UM, ALSO, ALSO, UM, IN TERMS, IN TERMS OF THE FUND BALANCE AND ALL, I MEAN IN TERMS OF THE FUND BALANCE, WE ALSO, I REMEMBER WAS HAVING, HAVING THIS CONVERSATION WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT TAKING UP THE 8%, UM, THE 8%, UH, BALANCE.

I MEAN THE, THE 8%, UM, NUMBER BASICALLY UPON HOW MUCH 8% PROJECTS THAT WE TAKE IN UPON THAT, UM, HOW DOES THAT FIT INTO THIS FUND BALANCE? WHAT ARE, WHAT'S THE, WHAT'S THAT PROCESS LIKE? THEY'RE ACTUALLY, UH, VERY SEPARATE.

UM, SO, UM, THE CAPITAL PROJECTS LISTING, THE 8% LISTING IS THROUGH, UM, WE, THE MONEY THAT WE BORROW TO PROVIDE THOSE PROJECTS OR TO FUND THOSE PROJECTS ARE THROUGH DEBT SERVICE FUND.

SO THAT HAS A SEPARATE TAX MILLAGE ON OUR TAX BILLS THAN THE OPERATIONS FUND.

SO THOSE ARE FUNDED THROUGH, UM, TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

THOSE PROJECTS ARE FUNDED THROUGH TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

UM, SO IF WE WERE TO, WHAT I WAS SUGGESTING IS TO LOWER THE AMOUNT OF THE 8% PROJECT LIST THAT WAS RECENTLY PRESENTED, AND SHIFT SOME OF THOSE PROJECT ABOUT $10 MILLION OF PROJECTS OVER TO USE THE, UH, GENERAL FUND FUND BALANCE EXCESS SO THAT WE COULD LOWER THE BORROWING AMOUNTS.

UM, THAT AND THE PROJECT LIST THAT'S BEING REQUESTED.

BUT IF THERE, IF, JUST JUST TO SAY, UM, IF THERE WAS A TRAGEDY, LIKE WE, WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING, COULDN'T WE USE THAT 8%, UH, FUND AS WELL TO, TO, IF WE WOULD RUN INTO ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE WE NEED TO, WE HAD TO RENT A SCHOOL OR WE HAD TO RENT A PLACE, COULD WE USE THOSE SAME, THAT FUNDING FOR THAT AS WELL? YOU COULD, BUT AS, AS MR. GUY COLONEL GEERS SAID, UH, WHEN YOU, YOU WOULD HAVE TO GET BOARD APPROVAL, THEN YOU WOULD HAVE TO, UM, GO OUT FOR BID ON THE BONDS, PREPARE A BOND PACKAGE.

SO WE'D HAVE TO APPROVE A BOND, UH, RESOLUTION.

THEN WE'D HAVE TO, UH, DO, GO OUT FOR COMPETITIVE BID ON THE BONDS.

AND A MONTH, OR ABOUT TWO MONTHS LATER, IT WOULD TAKE AT LEAST TWO MONTHS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE CASH ON HAND TO BE ABLE TO, IT'S SORT OF LIKE CLOSING ON A HOUSE.

IT TAKES A WHILE FOR THE ATTORNEYS TO DO ALL OF THEIR WORK.

UH, AND IT WILL TAKE ABOUT TWO MONTHS TO GET CASH ON HAND.

SO IF YOU HAVE CASH ON HAND IN A FUND BALANCE, YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO ACCESS IT IMMEDIATELY.

BUT IF, IF, IF YOU WANT TO PAY, HAVE TO PAY THE VENDORS IMMEDIATELY, YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO UTILIZE THOSE RESOURCES UNTIL, UM, THE CASH CAME IN AND A FEW MONTHS LATER.

SO, YES.

UH, AND I HAVE, WELL, I, I HAVE A FOLLOW UP AND TWO TO GO TO THAT TOO AS WELL.

IN, IN, IN TERMS OF THE, IN, IN, IN TERMS OF TAKING THE, YOU SAID YOU WANT US TO LOWER THE, THE AMOUNT THAT WE WERE DOING ON 8% PROJECT? CORRECT.

UM, I, MY RECOMMENDATION, THE PROJECT LIST THAT WENT TO THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE WAS 48 MILLION.

UM, WE ARE, UM, SO MY RECOMMENDATION, THEY WERE ATTEMPTING OR PLANNING ON REMOVING SOME DOWN TO A, A LIST THAT'S MORE COMPARABLE TO PREVIOUS YEARS BORROWING.

SO THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THE PROJECTS MANAGE AND, AND THE IDENTIFIED NEEDS WITH ANOTHER FUNDING SOURCE.

AND I'M NOT, I'M NOT, I, I'M NOT DISAGREEING WITH YOU.

MY, MY, UH, MY, MY QUESTION WAS, WHAT WAS IT BEFORE, BEFORE, BEFORE WE WENT? BECAUSE I REMEMBER, OH, I THINK MAYBE THE LAST YEAR OR THE YEAR BEFORE THAT, I THINK WE DID, WE DID, WE TOOK THE VOTE AND WE, AND WE TOOK IT UP BECAUSE I, I, I, I REMEMBER, I WAS NOT IN FAVOR OF, OF, OF, OF, I THINK OF TAKING THAT UP.

DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT THE, WHAT THAT, WHAT THAT NUMBER WAS? THAT NUMBER WAS 30 MILLION.

AND WE DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO BORROW, UH, 42 MILLION WITHIN THE MILLAGE RATE IN DEBT SERVICE THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE.

SO WE DO HAVE SOME, UH, AVAILABLE FUNDS THERE AS WELL.

AND, AND HOW MUCH, UH, JUST FOR, FOR OUR FUTURE REFERENCE, HOW MUCH, UH, HOW MUCH, HOW MUCH DOES THE I, I DEFER.

I DEFER.

SO I'D JUST ADD TO THAT, THAT, OR REMIND THE BOARD AND THE PUBLIC THAT THAT 30 MILLION, UH, DOLLAR AMOUNT WAS REALLY WHAT WAS RECOMMENDED FROM BRIAN NURK AT IF, LIKE, IF YOU LOOK AT HIS WHOLE DEBT DAY EXPLANATION, UM, HE'S GOT ALL THE CALCULATIONS OF HOW, HOW, HOW, WHY THAT NUMBER, UM, IS, IS BASICALLY WHAT HE HAS RECOMMENDED.

[01:20:02]

LET'S SEE.

WHO IS NEXT? EARL? NO, I, I WAS JUST GONNA FOLLOW UP ON SOMETHING, COLONEL, GOD SAID ABOUT HURRICANES.

IF WE HAVE A HURRICANE AT KATRINA, YOU CAN FORGET ABOUT HILTON HEAD AND ST.

HELENA.

PERIOD.

UM, IN THE EARLY FIFTIES, I WAS, I WAS LIVING ON HILLS HEAD.

WE HAD A HURRICANE CAME THROUGH, AND THAT WHOLE HOLLAND, THE ONLY WAY YOU COULD TRAVEL.

YOU HAVE TO GET IN A BOAT TO GO WHERE YOU WANTED TO GO.

SO, YEAH.

I THINK MR. DALLAS IS NEXT.

SO, UM, THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR.

UM, I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO, TO HAVE A DEBRIEFING WITH A CFO CROSBY, UH, AND MR. OTTING.

AND, UH, BASICALLY THE FUND BALANCE IS LIKE A CHECKING ACCOUNT.

IT'S SITTING THERE.

NOW, IN THE BUSINESS WORLD, IF YOU ACCUMULATE TOO MUCH CASH, THAT'S NOT PERFORMING, YOU'RE GOING TO BE THE SUBJECT OF A TAKEOVER.

SOMEONE'S GONNA COME IN, RAID YOUR ACCOUNTS, AND THEN PAY THEIR SHAREHOLDERS.

ALL THEY WIN.

BUT IN THIS CASE, THE FUND BALANCE IS THERE.

IT'S VERY LIQUID.

'CAUSE WE WILL BE COLLECTING IT.

AND THE QUESTION IS, DO WE TRANSFER THAT FUND, THAT EXCESS FUND BALANCE, WHICH HAS SOME NEGATIVE VIEWS AT THE LEGISLATIVE AREA INTO ASSIGNED PROJECTS THAT PROTECTS IT, AND WITH IT BEING ABLE TO BE REVERSED BACK INTO THE OPERATING FUND IF IT NEEDS, IT PROVIDES A LITTLE BIT OF LIQUIDITY.

THAT'S AN INSURANCE POLICY.

SO I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I LEARNED YESTERDAY.

SO I'M NOT REALLY GOOD AT THIS STUFF, BUT THEY, THEY ARE, I WANNA MAKE ONE IMPORTANT POINT AS WELL, REGARDING HURRICANES.

UH, THOSE ARE ALWAYS IN THE FALL AND THE CASH FLOWS FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FALL IN THE FALL, AND THEY'RE THE LOWEST POINT ON OCTOBER 31ST OR AROUND THAT TIMEFRAME BEFORE TAX REVENUES COME IN.

SO IN, AS FROM THE OPERATING BUDGET PERSPECTIVE, THAT CASH FLOW IS VERY MINIMAL AT THAT POINT, BECAUSE THE WHOLE POINT OF THAT FUND BALANCE IS TO AVOID BORROWING MONEY WHEN OUR CASH IS AT ITS LOWEST POINT.

SO HAVING RESERVES IN ANOTHER AREA, CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND WOULD BE IDEAL.

MR. SMITH, UM, ALSO, MR. CROSBY, DURING THOSE TIMES WHEN, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HURRICANES IS A TOPIC OF DISCUSSION RIGHT NOW, THAT'S THE, UH, CATCHALL PHRASE.

DO YOU, IF A HURRICANE, FOR INSTANCE, KNOCK ON WOOD , UM, IF A HURRICANE WAS TO COME TO COME THROUGH BEAUFORT AND, AND WE WERE HITTING ONE AREA, DOES THE GOVERNMENT ASSIST US IN THAT, OR THE, OR CAN YOU OR CAN YOU YEAH.

AND WHAT, WHAT IS THAT PROCESS? VERY LONG , UH, MULTI-YEAR.

UH, I WOULD DESCRIBE IT AS VERY LONG ROBERT FOX HAVING BEEN HAVING BEEN, UH, IN, IN FLORIDA DURING THE TIME OF HURRICANE ANDREW, WHICH CRUSHED SOUTH MIAMI AREA AND HOMESTEAD AREA IN PARTICULAR.

UM, IT, IT, IT CAN TAKE YEARS TO RECOVER, RIGHT FROM, FROM A MASSIVE STORM.

I THINK HERE, UH, IT TOOK, MATTHEW WAS, I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT WAS, BUT IT TOOK A YEAR AND A HALF FOR MATTHEW, AND THAT WAS NOT A HURRICANE ANDREW.

DO WE, UM, WELL, LEMME SAY THIS.

YOU KNOW, SO, WELL, LET, LET, LET, LEMME REPHRASE.

LEMME EXCUSE ME.

LEMME, I APOLOGIZE.

THAT WAS A BROAD QUESTION.

LEMME REPHRASE IT.

IN TERMS TO, STRICTLY IN TERMS OF FUNDING.

IN OTHER WORDS, MY QUESTION IS, WHEN WE TAKE UPON A STORM, DOES THE GOVERNMENT GIVES US FINANCIAL BACKING? OR DOES THE GOVERNMENT GIVES US MONEY TO, UH, A LOT TO REPAIR SOME OF THE DAMAGE, DAMAGE AND, AND WINDOW? AND WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? MORE IN LINES OF JUST THE FUNDING, NOT THE PROCESS AND THE PAPERWORK AND ALL THAT ABOUT THE FUNDING MORE, MORE TO BE SPECIFIC.

GENERALLY, I THINK WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT YOU HAVE, UH, THE GOVERNOR WOULD ISSUE AN EMERGENCY ORDER OR DECLARATION, WHICH WOULD ALLOW FEDERAL FUNDS, UH, TO MOVE INTO THE AREA AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE FOLLOWING THE STORM.

THEY TRY TO STAND UP POWER, THEY TRY TO STAND UP, UH, HOSPITALS, THEY TRY TO STAND UP ALL OF THE MAJOR PUBLIC SERVICE, UH, ENTITIES, RIGHT.

ASSUMING YOU GOT BUILDINGS RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, ASSUMING YOU HAVE, UH, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

SO IT JUST DEPENDS ON, UH, ON THE SEVERITY OF THE STORM.

BUT THEY, THEY DO FUNNEL.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IT TAKES YEARS.

I MEAN, UH, UH, TO, TO, YOU HAVE TO, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO GO AND ITEMIZE EVERY SINGLE THING THAT WAS LOST.

UH, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO SEND ALL OF THAT STUFF THROUGH FEMA, UH, AND, AND IT IS HELPFUL.

BUT, UH, BUT YOU MIGHT BE, YOU KNOW, EIGHT YEARS DOWN THE ROAD BEFORE YOU GET ANYTHING FOR, FROM FEMA.

SO YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO STAND YOURSELF BACK UP.

I MEAN, UH, I MEAN, THAT'S, THERE'LL BE SOME SUPPORT, BUT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO STAND YOURSELF BACK UP.

RIGHT? AND, AND, AND DON'T DO WELL DO THE DISTRICT THAT WELL.

WELL, NOT, I'M NOT GONNA SAY DON'T, I MEAN, I'M GONNA SAY,

[01:25:01]

DO THE DISTRICT, DON'T WE, DO WE, DO WE HAVE INSURANCE FOR, FOR, UH, FLOODING OR FOR CA FOR A, UH, STORM? DO WE DO, DO THE DISTRICT DOES, DO WE CARRY SOME TYPE OF INSURANCE FOR, FOR THOSE, FOR THOSE, UH, SITUATIONS? I AM NOT AN INSURANCE PERSON AT ALL.

SO I, I, WE DO CARRY INSURANCE.

I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE, UH, QUALIFY IF NAME STORMS QUALIFY.

UH, JUST SO FOR YOUR INFORMATION, THE, UH, AFTER MATTHEW, WE, IT TOOK ABOUT THREE YEARS FOR REIMBURSEMENT.

FOR, FOR OUR DISTRICT TO SEE REIMBURSEMENTS.

BUT WE DID RECEIVE IT THOUGH.

YES, WE DID.

AFTER A LOT OF BUREAUCRATIC PAPERWORK.

YEAH, THERE'S A LOT.

I MEAN, YOU HAVE TO ITEMIZE EVERYTHING AND PUT IT ON FORMS AND GET IT TO YOUR INSURANCE, YOU KNOW, TO INSURANCE CARRIERS, ALL OF THAT STUFF, YOU KNOW, AND, AND YOU WON'T SEE IT RIGHT AWAY.

I MEAN, I CAN TELL YOU, WE JUST A RE ONE OF THE REGULAR HURRICANES THAT CAME THROUGH, UH, IN, IN MY PRIOR SCHOOL DISTRICT, A, A BATTING CAGE WAS, UH, MANGLED, UH, AS A RESULT OF THAT STORM.

UH, AND I BELIEVE IT, IT, IT TOOK ABOUT THREE YEARS JUST TO GET THE REIMBURSEMENT FOR, UH, OR THE MONEY BACK FOR THE MANGLED BATTING CAGE.

AND THAT'S JUST THE BATTING CAGE.

RIGHT, RIGHT, RIGHT.

SO, I MEAN, IT, IT TAKES A LONG TIME.

I MEAN, I DO, I DO UNDERSTAND THAT BECAUSE I DO REMEMBER, UM, UH, A LADY IN THE COMMUNITY, UM, SHE HAS SOME ISSUES.

AND ACTUALLY SHE HAD TO HELP BECAUSE OVER AT THE, UH, PIN CENTER, THEY HAD, THEY HAD SOMEONE FROM FEMA COME DOWN THERE AND HELP, HELP OUT PEOPLE.

AND WE HAD A WHOLE MEETING ABOUT THAT.

SO I DO, I DO, UH, I DO UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S A, IT'S A PROCESS BECAUSE, UH, WITH US BEING A DISTRICT, BUT IMAGINE PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES.

THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT THIS DISTRICT DO HAVE TO GET US THROUGH THAT TO GET THAT DONE.

SO IMAGINE AVERAGE ORDER PEOPLE WHO, WHAT THEY GO TO, TO GET, TO GET DONE THEIR, THEIR REFUNDS.

BUT MY, MY MY POINT IS THAT THE, THE, THE, IT MAY TAKE THREE YEARS, OR IT MAY TAKE SOME TIME, BUT WE DO GET THAT MONEY BACK IN, IN TERMS OF THE, UH, THE, UM, THEY SPEND THE, UM, THE, THE, UM, THE BALANCE, UM, THE, THE, UM, FUND BALANCE.

FUND BALANCE, THANK YOU.

THE, THE, THE FUND BALANCE.

SO I'M JUST PUTTING ALL THAT INTO THE QUIT INTO THE EQUATION OF UNDERSTANDING THE PROCESS AND THE AMOUNT OF, OF FUND BALANCE.

AND ALSO THE, THE MORE, MORE, SO ALSO PLAYING THE DEVIL DEVIL'S ADVOCATE OF WHO'S WHERE, WHAT, WHEN, WHY, AND HOW IN THE PROCESS OF UNDERSTANDING IT ALL, BECAUSE WE JUST CAN'T, I DON'T, I DON'T WANNA SEE MORE APPEAR TO PEOPLE WHO ARE WATCHING THIS, THAT WE'RE JUST COMING IN FROM ONE EYE PERSPECTIVE, THAT WE ARE HAVING A BROAD EYE ON IT, AND THAT WE ARE, THAT WE DO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE DIFFERENT THINGS OF IT IN A DIFFERENT FORMATS.

I'M NOT ALLOWING Y'ALL TO BRING THOSE, BUT THERE, THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT, THAT GO ALONG WITH IT.

I JUST WANNA, I WANNA CONTINUE TO BRING THAT THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR.

I, I THINK THE OTHER THING IS THAT WE'RE NOT THE ONLY, UH, ENTITY IN, IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.

RIGHT? SO FEDERAL FUNDS ARE NOT JUST FEMA'S NOT JUST COMING FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S, NOT THE ONLY THING THAT'S GONNA BE AFFECTED WHEN YOU GET A STORM THAT COMES THROUGH, RIGHT.

IT'S, IT, IT, IT'S, IT'S GONNA EVERYTHING.

ADAM CHAIR.

I'D JUST LIKE TO, UH, ADD ONE A COUPLE OF POINTS.

ONE, UH, WE OWNED PROPERTY IN WEST PALM BEACH IN 2005.

AND WHEN THOSE THREE HURRICANES CAME THROUGH, FIRST OF ALL, ALL THE INSURERS, YOU'RE GOING TO FIND SPECIFICATIONS IN YOUR INSURANCE POLICY THAT YOU NEVER KNEW EXISTED BEFORE .

SO THEY'RE NOT GONNA PAY.

MM-HMM, .

THAT'S THE BUSINESS.

THE SECOND THING IS, THOSE THAT STAY ARE GOING TO BE VERY TOUGH ABOUT BRINGING YOU BACK.

BUT IN TERMS OF CURRENT CASH OUTLET DOING A A CATASTROPHE, YOU'RE GOING TO FIND THAT AS A BUSINESS, THEY'RE PROTECTING SHAREHOLDERS.

SHAREHOLDERS.

SO SOME OF THE HOMES ON, ON HILTON HEAD, YOU KNOW, FIVE, 600,000, $700,000, IT CAME KNOWN AT THAT POINT IN TIME THAT THE DEDUCTIBLE WAS 10% OF YOUR HOME VALUE.

NO ONE HAD PLANNED ON THAT.

SO THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF THINGS THAT OCCUR.

AND THAT'S WHY HAVING EXCESS FUND BALANCE, PARTICULARLY IF YOU CAN PROTECT IT BY ASSIGNING IT, IS A VERY SMART FRUIT AND FISCAL WAY TO GO JUST FOR WHATEVER THAT'S WORTH.

YOU, WHEN YOU PURCHASE THAT PIECE OF EQUIPMENT, BECAUSE OF COURSE IT'S DEPRECIATED SOME, AND IT'S JUST, IT'S, IT'S A NIGHTMARE.

I CAN SAY ADDRESS THIS CONVERSATION VERY EASILY FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCE FROM OCTOBER 8TH, 2016, HURRICANE MATTHEW, MY OFFICE IS ON HILTON HEAD ON ONE OF THE HIGHEST POINTS ON HILTON HEAD, AND I HAD $150,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE, AND OF COURSE, METAL EQUIPMENT, FURNITURE, FIVE INCHES OF WATER IN MY OFFICE.

THE FIRST THING THAT WAS NECESSARY, FIRST OF ALL, YOU COULDN'T EVEN COME BACK ONTO HILTON HEAD FOR SEVERAL DAYS.

SO IT SAT THERE FOR SEVERAL DAYS, AND THEN OF COURSE, YOU, THE FIRST THING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IS PUMPING THE WATER OUT AND DRYING OUT THE, THE, THE BUILDING.

WELL, OF COURSE YOU HAVE TO DO THAT.

I MEAN, TO GET BACK AND RUNNING.

IT'S NOT LIKE YOU CAN SUBMIT IT TO INSURANCE AND SAY, OH, WILL YOU DO THIS FOR ME? YEAH, I DID IT, YOU KNOW, JOHNNY ON THE SPOT.

AND, AND BECAUSE FORTUNATELY I HAD A FUN BALANCE FOR THAT SITUATION.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, FILING WITH ALL THE INSURERS, I MEAN, I WAS WELL INSURED, BUT YOU HAVE TO FILE THROUGH A WHOLE BUNCH OF DIFFERENT INSURERS.

IT TOOK AT LEAST TWO OR THREE YEARS TO GET TO RECOUP, UH, THE, THE DAMAGES, THE LOSSES.

AND OF COURSE, THEY HAVE TO SEE, YOU HAVE TO PROVE LIKE WHEN

[01:30:01]

I CAN TELL YOU, LET'S PRAY THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY MAJOR STORM IN THE FUTURE.

COLONEL GEIER, ONE, ONE OTHER THING TO MENTION TO YOU, UH, MY HOUSEHOLD, UH, INSURANCE, UH, WENT UP ABOUT, UH, 25% OF THIS YEAR.

WE HAVE YET TO SEE THE COMMERCIAL PROPERTY, UH, INSURANCE.

WE NORMALLY PRIVATE PROPERTY GETS, UH, INSURANCE FIRST.

THEY'RE THE LEAD LEADING ECONOMIC INDICATORS FOR INSURANCE.

UH, IT'S COMING.

AND OUR INSURANCE BILLS THAT WE PAY, I THINK WE PAY OVER $2 MILLION, UH, RIGHT NOW.

AND WE COULD SEE THAT COMING UP, AND WE, WE NEED TO BE KIND OF PREPARED FOR THAT WE MOVE ON TO.

ALRIGHT, UH, WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO THE BUDGET FOR 20, UH, 20 24, 20 25.

AND I'M GONNA TURN THIS OVER TO JENNIFER HAMLIN.

UH, CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME OKAY? NO, YOU'RE NOT CLOSE ENOUGH TO IT.

I NEVER ASPIRED TO BE A SINGER, SO THIS IS NOT EVEN CLOSER.

, UH, OKAY.

AM I GOOD? OKAY.

THANK, THANK YOU, SIR.

AND LASTLY, UNDER FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP.

I APPRECIATE IT.

GOOD MORNING.

UH, WE'VE ALREADY HAD QUITE A BIT ROBUST CONVERSATION, SO NOW WE'RE GONNA JUMP INTO OUR FISCAL YEAR 25, WHICH IS OUR SCHOOL YEAR 24 25 BUDGET.

UM, SO, UM, I'M GONNA BEGIN THE PRESENTATION WITH TALKING ABOUT, UH, ALL OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS THAT WE, UH, ENGAGE THROUGH THIS PROCESS.

WE ARE STILL CONTINUING TO HAVE ENGAGEMENT WITH ADDITIONAL STAKEHOLDERS.

UM, THIS YEAR WE, AND EVERY YEAR, BUT THIS YEAR EVEN MORE.

SO.

GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, ROBIN.

WE HAVE WORKED DILIGENTLY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE HEARING THE VOICES OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS.

SO WE, UM, OF COURSE HAVE GONE THROUGH A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF CONVERSATION WITH THE BOARD REGARDING PRIORITIES.

WE HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS REGARDING ENROLLMENT AND STAFFING.

WE HAVE, UM, MET WITH DEPARTMENTS TO REVIEW THEIR BUDGET SUBMISSIONS, THEIR STAFFING REQUEST.

AND THEN WE'VE ALSO MET A SECOND TIME WHEN WE HAD TO MAKE INITIAL REDUCTIONS TO THIS BUDGET THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE PRESENTING TO YOU AND, UM, ASK FOR SAVINGS OPPORTUNITIES AS WE LIKE TO CALL THEM.

UM, AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE'VE HAD REGULAR MEETINGS WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT TO KEEP HIM ABREAST OF WHERE THE BUDGET IS, WHAT THE BUDGET IS LOOKING LIKE, AND TO GET HIS FEEDBACK.

UM, WE MET WITH STUDENTS AND HAD A STUDENT ADVISORY, UH, COUNCIL CAME AND MET WITH US AND GAVE THEIR INPUT REGARDING WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN THE BUDGET.

AND THIS NEXT WEEK WE WILL HAVE TWO PUBLIC FORUMS THAT WILL ALLOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO HAVE THEIR VOICE AS WELL.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, AS WE DO EVERY YEAR, WE SUBMITTED A BUDGET SURVEY OUT ON OUR WEBSITE AND HAD QUITE A NUMBER OF RESPONSES TO THAT.

EACH YEAR.

WE'RE SEEING A GREAT NUMBER OF RESPONSES IN THAT, THAT PARTICULAR PLATFORM, WHICH, UM, ALLOWS US TO HAVE A LOT OF GOOD FEEDBACK TO BUILD THIS BUDGET.

SO THIS BUDGET IS BUILT ON A FOUNDATION OF STAKEHOLDER INPUT, AND I WANT YOU ALL TO BE VERY AWARE OF THAT.

UM, THIS, THIS SECOND SLIDE IS A VERY SIMPLIFIED LOOK AT HOW WE DEVELOP THE BUDGET.

UM, WE BEGIN WITH LOOKING FOR, UM, BUDGET PRIORITIES AND ALIGNMENT WITH OUR STRATEGIC PLAN.

WE ARE FINDING THAT IT'S, YOU KNOW, WE WANNA CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE'RE FUNDING IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH WHAT OUR STRATEGIC PLAN IS GUIDING OUR PRACTICES TOWARD.

UM, WE MOVE FROM THAT TO THE BUDGET REQUEST, WHICH, UM, WE GET FROM DEPARTMENTS AND SCHOOL ALLOCATIONS.

AND THAT'S WHEN THE MEAT AND POTATOES HAPPEN.

THAT'S WHEN WE BEGIN TO LOOK AT WHAT ARE THE REAL NEEDS FOR OUR DISTRICT.

AND THEN WE MOVE INTO OUR REVENUE PROJECTIONS.

UM, BASED ON MY HISTORY, THIS IS KIND OF A REVERSE WAY OF BUDGETING.

USUALLY YOU HAVE YOUR BUDGET ALLOCATION, YOUR REVENUE ALLOCATION, YOU BUILD YOUR EXPENDITURES.

IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, WE BUILD OUR EXPENDITURES, SEE IF OUR REVENUES CAN SUPPORT OUR EXPENDITURES, AND IF NOT, THEN WE LOOK FOR WAYS OF SAVINGS WITHIN WHAT'S BEEN REQUESTED.

I DO WANNA MENTION THAT WE DO A ZERO BASED BUDGET, WHICH MEANS THAT WE RESET ALL OF THE BUDGETS TO ZERO EACH BUDGET CYCLE.

AND THAT MEANS THAT DEPARTMENT SUBMISSIONS HAVE TO PROVIDE JUSTIFICATION

[01:35:01]

FOR THOSE EXPENDITURES.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF BACKGROUND ACTIVITY THAT HAPPENS WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENTS TO REVIEW PROCESSES, REVIEW TECHNOLOGY, REVIEW PROGRAMS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE FUNDING AND SUPPORTING PROGRAMS THAT ARE, WE'RE SEEING RESULTS.

UM, AS A PART OF THIS PRO PROCESS, WE KIND OF CREATED BUDGET PRIORITY PILLARS.

AND SO ALL OF OUR BUDGET PRIORITIES THAT YOU GUYS PROVIDED TO US ARE, WE'VE ROLLED UP INTO FOUR MAIN TOPICS, STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, TEACHER QUALITY, SAFETY, AND SECURITY, AND FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP.

SO YOU'RE GONNA SEE OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL SLIDES HOW WE'VE ALIGNED OUR BUDGET PRIORITIES UNDER THESE FOUR PILLARS.

THESE PILLARS ARE VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU'RE GONNA SEE IN OUR STRATEGIC, UH, PLAN PRESENTATION LEADER TODAY.

UM, SO UNDER STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY THAT WAS ON, UH, THE BOARD'S AGENDA WAS FOR, UH, STIPENDS FOR CRITICAL NEEDS.

ROBIN, YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

CRITICAL NEEDS STAFFING, SPECIFICALLY SPECIAL EDUCATION, IMPROVING STUDENT OUTCOMES BY FOCUSING ON OPPORTUNITY GAPS IN CURRENT PROGRAMMING, EXPANDING OUR LEARNING SITES TO SOUTHERN BUFORT COUNTY, OUR EXTENDED LEARNING SITES AND FINE, UM, AND PERFORMING ARTS INITIATIVES FOR OUR TEACHER QUALITY PILLAR.

UM, WE ALIGN THE PRIORITY OF MAINTAINING THE HIGHEST BEGINNING TEACHER SALARY FOR THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA CHILDCARE FOR OUR EMPLOYEES AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOP DEVELOPMENT FOR ALL EMPLOYEES, INCLUDING, UH, CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION.

UH, UNDER SAFETY AND SECURITY, WE'RE GOING TO, WE, UH, PUT INTO THIS BUDGET, UH, MAINTAINING OUR SAFETY AND SECURITY PROTOCOLS, UM, WITH OUR SROS AND OUR SECURITY GUARDS.

AND WE HAVE ALSO ADDED, UH, CONTINUED OUR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, UH, FOR STUDENTS AND EMPLOYEES.

UM, THESE PRIORITIES, WERE NOT SPECIFICALLY BOARD, BUT THESE ARE KIND OF STANDING PRIORITIES FOR US AS A, AN ORGANIZATION.

AND THAT IS WE WANT OUR PRIORITIES TO MAXIMIZE ACADEMIC OUTCOMES, PRIORITIZE OUR EXPENDITURES FOR MAXIMIZING A ACADEMIC OUTCOMES, PROVIDING A BALANCED BUDGET, UH, PER BOARD POLICY, MAINTAINING A SUFFICIENT FUND BALANCE TO REDUCE THE NEED FOR A TAX ANTICIPATION NOTICE, WHICH WE'VE JUST HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT AND MINIMIZING THE FINANCIAL IMPACT ON THE TAXPAYERS OF BEAUFORT COUNTY.

SO THAT'S JUST KIND OF A LITTLE BIT OF AN OVERSIGHT OF HOW WE, UM, THE PROCESS WE DID TO DEVELOP THE BUDGET AND HOW WE ALIGN THE PRIORITIES, UM, FOR DEVELOP THIS BUDGET DEVELOPMENT.

I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO TANYA.

SHE'S GONNA REVIEW OUR REVENUES AND THEN I'LL BE BACK FOR EXPENDITURES.

UH, SCHOOL STAFFING ALLOCATIONS, ADDITIONAL 4 MILLION OPERATIONAL EX INCREASES ARE 13.7 AND CHARTER AND VOCATIONAL INCREASES, WHICH IS THE VOCATIONAL PART IS ACE.

UM, I JUST WANNA NOTE, UH, VERY QUICKLY THAT, UH, JENNIFER HAS BEEN ON THE STRATEGIC PLAN COMMITTEE.

SO SHE IS, UH, VERY IN TUNE WITH THE PILLARS OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN AND THE WORKINGS OF THAT GROUP, AND HAS DONE A GREAT JOB OF ALIGNING THE TWO, THE BUDGET WITH THE STRATEGIC PLAN THIS YEAR.

SO I JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT.

THAT WAS A GREAT BENEFIT THAT WE HADN'T NECESSARILY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO IN THE PAST.

UM, AND, UH, IT'S REALLY MADE THE BE, UH, THE BUDGET AND THE STRATEGIC PLAN BOTH VERY MUCH STRONGER AND ALIGNED.

SO, UH, ON THE PROPOSED REVENUES.

SO THIS IS, THIS SLIDE IS A SUMMARY AND WE WILL DIVE, TAKE A DEEP DIVE INTO THE DETAILS OF THIS IN JUST A MOMENT.

UM, SO WE ARE EXPECTING $223 MILLION, UH, WITH THE CURRENT LOCAL TAX MILLAGE OF 1 21 0.8.

SO ON THIS SLIDE, THERE'S A YELLOW HIGHLIGHT, AND THAT IS ONE OF THE MAIN CONCEPTS OF OR POINTS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE ABOUT THIS PRESENTATION IS THERE IS NO MILLAGE INCREASE REQUESTED IN THIS BUDGET.

UH, STATE REVENUE IS GOING TO RISE TO AN AMOUNT OF 134 MILLION.

FEDERAL REVENUE WILL BE 660,000 TRANSFERS IN FROM OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS, UH, ARE 850 FOR A TOTAL OF 359 MILLION AVAILABLE IN TO SUPPORT ANY PROPOSED EXPENDITURES.

SO THOSE ARE THE DOLLARS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO US.

ON THE NEXT SLIDE ARE OUR PROPOSED EXPENDITURES.

AND SO, UH, WE ARE ALIGNING THE PROPOSED EXPENDITURES WITH THE AVAILABLE REVENUES, UM, WHICH PREPARES, UH, PRESENTS A, A BALANCED BUDGET, UH, AND WE HAVE MAJOR AREAS, UM, SORT OF THE PILLARS OF THE EXPENDITURES.

UM, SO EX EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION INCREASES AMOUNT TO NINE, UH, RIGHT AT $20 MILLION.

[01:40:02]

UM, THOSE COMBINED EQUAL A MILLION.

AND SO THE SUBTOTAL OF THE INCREASES IN THE BUDGET IS $38.7 MILLION FOR A TOTAL OF 3 59.

SO AGAIN, IT'S A BALANCED BUDGET RECOMMENDATION, UH, WITH THE SAME MILLAGE IN, UH, SAME MILLAGE OF 1 21 0.8, AND THAT THAT MILLAGE WAS ROLLED BACK LAST YEAR.

UM, WE LOWERED THE MILLAGE BY ABOUT FOUR MILLS IN THE PRIOR FISCAL YEAR.

UM, AND IT WOULD PRESENT AN ENDING FUND BALANCE OF 79.9 MILLION WITH JUST OVER A, A FUND BALANCE OF 21 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS OR 78 AND A HALF DAYS OF OPERATIONS.

UM, SO THE NEXT SLIDE IS, UH, JUST A, JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA, A, A VISUAL PERSPECTIVE OF OUR, THE MAKEUP OF OUR REVENUES.

THE BLUE IS LOCAL TAX REVENUE.

SO ALMOST TWO THIRDS OF OUR REVENUES IN BUFORT ARE DUE TO OUR LOCAL TAX REVENUE.

UH, ABOUT THE OTHER THIRD IS STATE REVENUE.

AND SO WHEN YOU SEE WE ARE ONE OF THE, UM, WEALTHIER DISTRICTS IN THE STATE, UH, IN TERMS OF ASSESSED VALUE OF PROPERTIES COUNTYWIDE, AND, UM, SO THAT, UM, DISTRICTS THAT DO NOT HAVE THAT, UH, BENEFIT WOULD BE A VERY DIFFERENT SLIDE HERE.

AND I LOOKED BACK AT LAST YEAR AND THE SLIDE IS IDENTICAL TO THE PRIOR YEAR.

SO NO CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE.

SO THIS IS THE DEEP DIVE, UM, OUR HISTORICAL MILLAGE.

IT JUST GIVES YOU A PERSPECTIVE OF, OF WHERE WE'VE GONE, UH, ON THE MILLAGE.

AND WE ARE BASICALLY AT THE SAME LEVEL OF MILLAGE AS, UH, UH, TAX YEAR 2022.

SO, UM, EVEN THOUGH, BUT THE, WE ARE ABLE TO DO MORE WITH THE DOLLARS BECAUSE THE VALUE OF THE MILL IS GROWING CONSIDERABLY.

UM, SO ON THE NEXT SLIDE, UH, IS THE OPERATION THE VALUE OF AN OPERATIONS MILL.

SO ON THE OPERATIONS TAX LINE ITEM, UH, WE HAVE 121.8 MILLS IN OPERATIONS THAT MILL.

SO ONE MILL OF EACH, EACH MILL GENERATES A CERTAIN DOLLAR AMOUNT OF TAXES.

AND SO, UM, SO YOU'LL SEE HERE THERE'S A MULTI-YEAR COMPARISON.

AND BACK IN 2016 WE ARE VALUE THE MILL WAS ABOUT 1.2 MILLION.

UM, WE TYPICALLY PROJECT ANYWHERE BETWEEN ONE AND 3% GROWTH FACTOR WHEN WE'RE BUDGETING FOR THE NEXT YEAR.

SO YOU CAN SEE IN THOSE YEARS UP AND DOWN, BUT SOME MOST ARE IN THE ONE TO 3% RANGE.

AND ONLY SINCE COVID, UM, IN 2023, WE SAW A JUMP TO 7.2%, UH, UH, GROWTH OF 7.2% IN THE MILL VALUE.

AND THEN WE PROJECT THIS YEAR A GROWTH OF OVER 14% IN THAT GROWTH MILL VALUE.

YOU CAN SEE HERE WE'VE PROJECTED BACK OR, OR DONE A COMPARISON BACK SEVERAL YEARS.

I'VE BEEN WITH THE DISTRICT A LONG TIME, I'VE NEVER SEEN A GROWTH FACTOR THAT LARGE.

UM, AND SO WE CERTAINLY DIDN'T PREDICT THAT, UH, SOMETHING SO EXTREME.

UH, BUT WE DO EXPECT THAT TO FALL AND BASED ON INFORMATION FROM THE ASSESS, UH, ASSESSOR'S OFFICE, WE DO NOT EXPECT TO SEE THAT LEVEL OF GROWTH AGAIN.

SO WE HAVE PROJECTED A GROWTH VALUE OF 7% FOR NEXT YEAR FALLING.

SO THAT, THAT, UH, COMES BACK DOWN INTO ALIGNMENT.

UH, I DO NOT, I, THAT IS RE RELATIVELY LIBERAL, UM, PROJECTION, BUT THE GOAL IS TO NOT CONTINUE TO ADD ON THE FUND BALANCE.

UM, AND SO WE WILL CONTINUE, SO OUR PROJECTIONS AND THE ASSUMPTIONS IN THAT GROWTH WILL BE 7% THIS YEAR.

SO THE NEXT SLIDE IS JUST SHOWING THE PERFORMANCE OF LOCAL REVENUES.

UM, SO I, I THINK BASICALLY I WOULD SHOW THAT, UM, I THINK THE BUD IN THE BUDGET COLUMN, THE BOTTOM TWO NUMBERS.

SO IN 2324, WE BUDGETED $195.9 MILLION.

UH, WE ARE COLLECTING MUCH, UH, IN THE $207 MILLION RANGE THIS YEAR.

SO WE EXPECT GROWTH TO IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 220 MILLION.

SO BETWEEN TWO 20 AND 1 95 IS A $25 MILLION

[01:45:01]

INCREASE IN, IN OUR BUDGETED LOCAL TAX REVENUE.

SO THE MAJORITY OF THIS INCREASE THAT WE'RE SEEING IS IN LOCAL TAX REVENUE, AND THAT IS THE REASON FOR THE DISCUSSION WE HAD EARLIER TODAY.

UM, BUT NOT ONLY ARE WE SEEING IT IN THE LOCAL SIDE, UM, THE PROJECTIONS FROM THE STATE CAME, UM, SURPRISINGLY HIGH THIS YEAR AS WELL.

UM, WE ARE SEEING INCREASES, UH, IN SALES TAX, UH, REIMBURSEMENTS ON LOCAL, ON LEGAL RESIDENCE EXEMPTIONS.

THAT'S THE, UM, THAT WAS THE, WE CALL IT THE TIER THREE REIMBURSEMENT.

THAT WAS WHEN IN 2006 WHEN THEY, THE ACT 3 88 WAS FORMED, THEY REMOVED OWNER OCCUPIED RESIDENCES AND REPLACED IT WITH A SALES TAX.

THIS IS THAT SALES TAX.

UM, SO, AND THEN STATE AID TO CLASSROOMS, YOU'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT TODAY, THE NEW FUNDING FORMULA.

NOW AGAIN, THESE ARE BASED ON STATE PROJECTIONS, SO, OR THE, UH, HOUSE PROJECTIONS.

AND SO THESE WILL, UH, SLIGHTLY CHANGE, UH, BASED IN OUR NEXT PRESENTATION.

SO 11 AND A HALF MILLION IN STATE AID, UH, ONE AND A HALF MILLION IN RETIREE INSURANCE AND OTHER STATE REVENUE OF ABOUT 400,000, TOTALING OF 15.2 MILLION.

SO, UM, THE MAKEUP OF OUR REVENUE BUDGETS, LOCAL, STATE, AND THEN FEDERAL AND OTHER, UM, UH, AMOUNTS TO THE ABILITY FOR OUR INCREASE OF 38 MILLION WITHIN THE CURRENT TAX REVENUE THAT WE ALREADY, UH, PREDICT TO RECEIVE, UH, PROJECT TO RECEIVE.

SO THE BUDGET, UH, REQUEST IS FOR $359.2 MILLION.

UH, WE'RE GONNA TAKE A DIVE INTO THE EXPENDITURE SIDE AND JENNIFER'S GONNA WALK US THROUGH THOSE.

OH, BUT AFTER I FINISH THE NEXT SLIDE, , UM, SO JUST A PATTERN OF OF THE EXPENDITURES THAT, YOU KNOW, ON THE NEXT SLIDE WHERE WE'LL TALK ABOUT A HISTORICAL EXPENDITURE, BUDGETS VERSUS CPI.

SO THIS IS THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX.

SO WE TYPICALLY DISPLAY A SLIDE.

UH, THIS SLIDE PROVIDES A COMPARISON OF THE TRENDS OF THE OPERATIONS BUDGET AND THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX.

AND THE OPERATIONS BUDGET MUST MEET THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS IN THE DISTRICT.

BUT THE FEDERAL RESERVE STRIVES TO IMPLEMENT MONETARY POLICY BY MANAGING INTEREST RATES AND THE, UH, MONEY SUPPLY ALSO TO ACHIEVE A GOAL OF 2.0.

SO WE'VE DRAWN A GREEN LINE WHERE THE GOAL OF THE CPI SHOULD BE.

UM, AND THAT LEVEL OF GROWTH HAS NOT BEEN THE DESIRED LEVEL IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

CPI IS AN AVERAGE OF WHAT WE CAN EXPECT AS A DISTRICT TO INCREASE EXPENDITURES WITHOUT ANY CHANGES IN THE WAY WE RUN DISTRICT OPERATIONS.

UM, SO WHEN WE ADD PROGRAMS AND POSITIONS, THERE WILL BE INCREASES IN EXPENDITURES AS WELL.

SO ALTHOUGH THE GROWTH IS, IS NOT, UH, THE SAME AS IT WAS IN 2022 AND 2024, THE LEVELS OF COSTS, THE COST LEVELS OF, OF OUR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES ARE STILL REMAINING VERY, VERY HIGH.

SO, AS YOU ALL KNOW VERY WELL, FOOD, GASOLINE, RENTAL COSTS IN PARTICULAR, UH, AND THAT WE'RE SEEING SOME PAIN POINTS THERE, UH, WITH TRYING TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN STAFF AS WELL.

SO THAT IS THE POINT OF THIS SLIDE TO, TO DEMONSTRATE, UM, HOW THAT CPI RELATES TO OUR EXPENDITURE LEVELS AND RISING COSTS IN THE DISTRICT.

UM, DO YOU WANNA TAKE ANY QUESTIONS FOR RE REGARDING REVENUE YET? NO.

I'M GONNA GO INTO THE EXPENDITURE SIDE OF THE HOUSE, UM, AND HOW WE HAVE ALLOCATED EXPENSES FOR THIS YEAR, UM, ON THIS PARTICULAR SIDE, UH, WHERE IT SHOWS YOU THE SUMMARY OF THE BUDGET INCREASES.

THIS IS AN EXCELLENT, COULD YOU BRING THE MIC MORE? THANK YOU.

SORRY.

UM, THIS IS AN EXCELLENT SLIDE TO SHOW YOU WHERE THE INVESTMENTS ARE IN THIS BUDGET.

AND AS YOU CAN SEE, UM, AS HAS BEEN HISTORICAL, WE ARE INVESTING A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THIS BUDGET INTO PERSONNEL.

UH, PART OF THAT IS A RESULT OF OUR ANTICIPATED, UM, INCREASES FOR OUR CERTIFIED STAFF AND OTHER, UH, STAFF MEMBERS.

UH, BUT YOU'RE ALSO GONNA SEE A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN OUR OPERATIONAL EXPENSES.

AND I WANNA ADDRESS THAT REAL QUICK.

UM, WE HAVE PRETTY MUCH HELD OUR OPERATING COST FAIRLY STAGNANT FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS IN ORDER TO HAVE THE FUNDING TO SUPPORT THE INCREASES IN PERSONNEL COST.

AND IT'S CATCHING UP

[01:50:01]

WITH US.

SO THIS YEAR WE ARE SEEING SOME EXPONENTIAL INCREASES IN THE COST OF UTILITIES, IN THE COST OF MAINTENANCE SUPPLIES, IN THE COST OF CONTRACTS IN GENERAL, SPECIFICALLY THE CONTRACTS THAT WE WILL BE GOING OUT FOR BID AND WE'LL BE HAVING NEW CONTRACTS IN PLACE IN FY 25.

SO YOU'RE GONNA SEE A MUCH HIGHER INCREASE IN OPERATIONAL, UH, COST IN THIS BUDGET OVER PRIOR BUDGETS.

AND IT'S, UM, BASICALLY JUST, JUST KIND OF GETTING UP TO WHERE WE SHOULD BE, UH, BASED ON THE COST OF GOODS AND SERVICES.

UM, AND THEN OF COURSE, THE 2%, 2.7% INCREASE FOR CHARTER AND VOCATIONAL, AS TANYA MENTIONED EARLIER.

UM, ALL THOSE ALLOCATIONS ARE LOOKED AT BASED ON THE COLLECTIONS OF THE PRIOR YEAR'S REVENUES.

AND WITH THOSE INCREASED REVENUES, WE, WE ANTICIPATED SEEING AN INCREASED COST IN THOSE ALLOCATIONS FOR THE FY 25 BUDGET.

UM, THE, THE NEXT SLIDE IS GONNA, WE'RE GONNA REVIEW THE PROPOSED STATE INCREASES, UM, AND, UM, WE'RE GONNA START WITH OUR, UH, CERTIFIED STAFF.

WE HAVE PUT INTO THIS BUDGET A $2,500 INCREASE, UH, TO OUR MINIMUM TEACHER SALARY, UH, TO OUR TEACHER SALARY SCHEDULE.

THOSE COSTS ARE GONNA COST US RIGHT AROUND $6 MILLION.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE DO AN ANNUAL STEP INCREASE FOR ALL ELIGIBLE, UM, UH, CERTIFIED STAFF.

THAT'S ABOUT 1.6.

UM, THIS YEAR WE HAD AN 11.8% INCREASE MANDATED BY THE STATE FOR THE EMPLOYER SIDE OF THE HEALTH INSURANCE, UM, WHICH IS WHAT THE STATE SENATE KIND OF LINE ITEMED OUT.

THEY WANTED TO MAKE US MAKE US AWARE THAT THEY WERE PROVIDING SOME FUNDING TO HELP OFFSET AN 11 PER 0.8% INCREASE.

THE STATE IS ALSO MANDATING THAT THE, UH, NUMBER OF STEPS BE INCREASED TO 28 STEPS.

WE, WE HAVE BEEN DOING THAT, UH, INCREASING THOSE STEPS YEAR OVER YEAR.

SO THIS IS, UH, WE ARE, WE'RE FOLLOWING IN ALIGNMENT WITH THAT.

AND THEN THE, UM, PAID PARENTAL LEAVE, WHICH IS AN UNFUNDED MANDATE OF THE STATE, UH, IS RIGHT AROUND $745,000.

SO, OKAY.

CAN I ASK A QUICK CLARIFICATION? ABSOLUTELY.

SO THAT, AS I READ THIS PREPARED, PROPOSED STATE INCREASES, AND THEN YOU SAID WE ARE PUTTING IN, ARE ALL OF THESE EXPENSES, MAN, NEW LEGISLATION MANDATED FROM THE STATE? OR ARE SOME OF THEM DISCRETIONARY TO THE DISTRICT? NO, THEY ARE ALL, THEY ARE ALL STATE MANDATES, INCLUDING LIKE 2,500.

THERE'S NO WIGGLE ROOM ON THAT.

THAT'S, I JUST WANNA BE CLEAR, 'CAUSE YOU SAID WE PUT IN 2,500.

YEAH, SO THE 2,500 IS, IS, UH, SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT IN THE SENSE THAT THEY'RE REQUIRING THE MINIMUM SALARY TO GO TO A CERTAIN LEVEL.

I, RIGHT.

WE'RE WE'RE ALREADY THERE.

WE'RE, WE'RE ABOVE THAT.

JUST WANNA MAKE SURE, BUT, YOU KNOW, OUR BUDGET, PART OF OUR BUDGET PRIORITIES, UH, WAS, WAS ALSO IN TERMS OF THAT COMPENSATION NO, NO.

I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I UNDERSTOOD WHAT WAS STATE MANDATE.

YES, THANK YOU DR.

SO WE, UM, YES, WE PUT IN THAT 2,500, UM, IS, IS OUR CON CONTRIBUTION TO KEEP US IN THAT, THE RUNNING FOR NUMBER ONE IN THE STATE, UH, IN THIS BUDGET.

UM, THE NEXT SLIDE IS GONNA SHOW YOU, UH, NEW SCHOOL STAFFING ALLOCATIONS AND ADJUSTMENTS TO OUR STAFFING.

SO WE HAVE INCREASED CERTIFIED, UM, STAFFING, WHICH, UM, WE'RE FUNDING ADDITIONAL TEACHERS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION, MULTI-LANGUAGE LEARNERS AND ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS OF ABOUT, UH, $364,000.

WE HAVE INCREASES TO SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION AND SUPPORT, UH, WHICH IS 134,000 AND, UM, SPECIAL EDUCATION AND STUDENT SUPPORT POSITIONS, UM, AT 900,000.

AND THEN WE, WE ALWAYS PUT IN A VARIABLE FOR TEACHERS FOR GROWTH, SHOULD WE HAVE AN EXPONENTIAL INCREASE IN OUR ENROLLMENT, WE NEED TO HAVE SOME POSITIONS BUILT INTO THIS BUDGET IN ORDER TO FUND THOSE POSITIONS.

UM, WE HAVE, I BELIEVE, FOUR POSITIONS FOR TEACHERS FOR GROWTH.

I WILL SAY THAT ALL FOUR OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS ALIGN WITH OUR STRATEGIC GOAL ONE AND OUR BUDGET PRIORITY THREE.

SO YOU WILL SEE THAT ON THE HANDOUTS THAT WAS PROVIDED, WE HAVE MADE A POINT TO ALIGN WITH A, A SPECIFIC STRATEGIC GOAL AS WELL AS OUR BUDGET PRIORITY PILLAR, UM, THAT WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA USE, UM, ONE OF THE, GO AHEAD.

YES, ABSOLUTELY.

WHEN YOU HEAR THE TERM PILLAR .

THIS IS A CONVERSATION WE'RE GONNA DIG INTO DURING THE STRATEGIC PLAN CONVERSATION LATER.

SO WHEN YOU HEAR THE TERM PILLAR, THINK, OKAY, THIS IS TIED TO STRATEGIC PLAN.

THANK YOU, DR. RODRIGUEZ.

[01:55:01]

UM, SO OUR OTHER COMPENSATION INCREASES, NUMBER ONE ON THAT LIST IS OUR CRITICAL NEEDS STIPEND.

THAT WAS YOUR NUMBER ONE BOARD PRIORITY THAT CAME OUT OF OUR BOARD WORK SESSION.

THIS IS, UM, PROVIDING A SUPPLEMENTAL STIPEND OF 6% TO THE BASE SALARY FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION CLASSROOM TEACHERS AND, UM, TEACHERS.

UM, AND SO THIS WILL HOPEFULLY PROVIDE US WITH THE RESOURCES WE NEED TO DRAW IN THOSE EDUCATORS INTO OUR COUNTY.

UM, THIS ALIGNS WITH STRATEGIC GOAL TWO AND BUDGET PRIORITY ONE.

UM, WE HAVE ALSO BUILT INTO THIS BUDGET OF 3% COLA FOR OUR NON-CERTIFIED, UH, CATEGORIES OF POSITIONS THAT IT MAKES IT A FAIRLY COMPARABLE INCREASE, UH, TO WHAT WE ARE PUTTING INTO OUR CERTIFIED.

UM, IT'S A COST OF LIVING INCREASE FOR CLASSIFIED PROFESSIONAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF.

WE ARE ALSO DOING A, HAVE BUILT INTO THIS BUDGET A A STEP INCREASE FOR THOSE EMPLOYEE CATEGORIES AS WELL.

THE NEXT LINE IS ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION, AND THIS IS OUR CATEGORIES LIKE SICK LEAVE PAYOUTS AND, UM, ADDITIONAL CLASS PAY FOR EMPLOYEES THAT ARE COVERING CLASSROOMS THAT WE MAY HAVE A VACANCY.

AND ALSO OUR SUMMER LEARNING, UH, PROGRAMS. UM, WE'VE ALSO TAKEN OUR, UM, SUPPORT STAFF AND ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF TO THE 28TH STEP, UM, AND WHICH IS ABOUT, UM, $44,000, UM, SUPPORT, SCHOOL SUPPORT AND TRANSPORTATION.

THIS IS, UM, POSITIONS THAT ARE, ARE WE'VE ADDED TO, UM, PROVIDES ADDITIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY SUPPORT TO, UM, OUR SCHOOLS, AS WELL AS SOME MECHANICAL, UM, UH, MECHANIC SUPPORT TO OUR TRANSPORTATION AREA.

PROGRAMMATIC SUPPORT ADDRESSES, UH, ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONAL NEEDS, UM, SUCH AS TUTORING, SUMMER ARTS PROGRAM, CRISIS PREVENTION, CULTURAL EVENTS, AND VIRTUAL, UH, SCHOOL PROGRAMS. UM, AND THE NEXT ONE IS WE'RE WE'VE ADDED, UM, $500,000 IN THIS BUDGET FOR ACADEMIC, ATHLETIC AND, UM, FINE ARTS STIPENDS.

UM, THIS WILL BE, UM, RESOURCES THAT WE'LL USE, UM, TO, UM, ALIGN THOSE STIPENDS TO, BASED ON A STUDY THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE, UM, STIPENDS ARE COMPARABLE TO AND COMPARABLE TO OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT ARE COMPARABLE TO US.

UM, WE HAVE MONEY IN THERE FOR SUMMER SCHOOL AND THEN WORKERS' COMPENSATION.

WE HAVE HAD AN EXPONENTIAL INCREASE IN COST OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION.

SO YOU'RE SEEING $800,000 ADDED FOR THAT.

UM, CONTRACTED SERVICES.

UM, THE VERY FIRST LINE IS OUR SUBSTITUTES CONTRACT.

THAT IS ONE OF OUR CONTRACTS THAT WE'LL BE GOING OUT FOR BID.

UM, FOR FY 25.

WE ARE SEEING, UM, SO WE HAVE, WE HAVE APPROPRIATELY PLANNED FOR SOME CONTRACTUAL ANTICIPATED COSTS FOR JUST THE CONTRACT ITSELF.

THIS ALSO BUILDS IN BASED ON OUR HISTORICAL ACTUALS, WHAT WE WOULD NEED TO HAVE IN THIS BUDGET TO SUPPORT OUR, AND CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR CONTRACTED SUBSTITUTES, UH, CUSTODIAL GROUNDS AND MAINTENANCE.

THAT IS ALSO ASSOCIATED WITH, UM, THE GOING OUT FOR BID FOR A CUSTODIAL CONTRACT AND WHAT OUR ANTICIPATED, UM, INCREASES WILL BE WITH THAT.

AND OUR NORMAL CPI INCREASES FOR THAT.

AND THEN OUR SECURITY, UM, WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THAT FOLLOWS INTO OUR, UM, BUDGET PRIORITY NUMBER FIVE, WHICH IS SAFETY AND SECURITY.

PUPIL, UH, INCREASE TO OUR SCHOOL BUDGET ALLOCATIONS THIS YEAR TO SUPPORT, UH, CONTINUED PROGRAMMING AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL.

OTHER OPERATIONAL, UH, EXPENDITURES, UM, TECHNOLOGY, EQUIPMENT AND SOFTWARE.

THIS IS GOING TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR OUR EXISTING SOFTWARE PROGRAMS THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY SUPPORTED WITH SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS.

UM, THAT'S TWO AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS.

AND AS COLONEL GOER HAD MENTIONED EARLIER, WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN OUR PROPERTY AND CASUALTY INSURANCE, UM, OF $842,000.

UM, ANTICIPATED UTILITY INCREASES, UM, OF ABOUT HALF A MILLION DOLLARS.

SUPPLY MATERIAL, UM, IS, IT LOOKS LIKE A LARGE INCREASE, BUT WE HAVE ADDED A $5, UH, PER

[02:00:01]

STUDENT ACTIVITIES IS, UM, 65,000.

OUR INTERNATIONAL TEACHERS PROGRAM.

UM, WE'RE PUTTING SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDS IN THAT, UH, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, WHICH WAS BOARD PRIORITY NUMBER THREE.

WE ARE PUTTING IN ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO SUPPORT TEACHERS, SUPPORT STAFF AND ADMINISTRATORS.

UM, THIS INCLUDES REGISTRATION COSTS AND DUES, UM, AND LEASES.

THIS YEAR WE IDENTIFIED AS PART OF A NEW GASB RULING THAT WE HAVE, WE HAVE TO MAKE AN ADJUSTING ENTRY FOR LEASES.

THEY ARE ACCOUNTED FOR DIFFERENTLY.

AND SO WE MADE SURE TO BUILD INTO THIS BUDGET OUR ANTICIPATED COST ASSOCIATED WITH THAT LEASE.

AND, AND IT'S OUR MON THIS IS ASSOCIATED WITH OUR PRINTER PROGRAM, OUR MULTI FUNCTION PRINTER PROGRAM.

AND THEN STORMWATER FEES AND TRANSPORTATION, 172,000.

AND LASTLY, UM, THE OTHER INCREASES, YOU'RE GONNA SEE ABOUT AN $800,000 INCREASE TO OUR RIVERVIEW ALLOCATION.

AND, UM, A $284,000 INCREASE TO OUR VOCATIONAL SCHOOL, OUR CONTRIBUTION TO BEFOR JS FOR A, SO, OKAY, THE NEXT, OKAY, THE NEXT SLIDE.

UM, WE WANTED TO GIVE A VISUAL DEPICTION OF WHAT THE IMPACT OF OUR CONTRA OUR INVESTMENTS INTO OUR CERTIFIED STAFF SALARIES WOULD LOOK LIKE.

SO ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THIS SLIDE, YOU'RE GONNA SEE HOW THE SALARIES CURRENTLY SIT, UH, WITH OUR, UM, OUR ACTUAL SALARY SCHEDULE SHOWING, UH, THAT WE'RE AT 48 5 66.

YOU ADD THAT LOCALITY, WE, OUR, OUR STARTING COMPENSATION PACKAGE FOR FIRST YEAR TEACHER WOULD BE 50,000, OH 66 NEXT YEAR, OR THE PROPOSAL FOR THE 24 25 BUDGET.

WE BEGIN AT THAT 48 5 66, AND WE ADD THE 2,500, WHICH PUTS US AT 51 0 66.

THEN WE ADD THE 20, THE 1500 LOCALITY.

WE SHOULD BE AT A TOTAL COMPENSATION PACKAGE FOR A FIRST YEAR TEACHER AT 52,566.

SO THE HOPE IS THAT THE BEFORE THE LOCALITY AT 51,000, OH 66, THAT THAT NUMBER WILL MAINTAIN US AT AS ONE OF THE TOP, UH, SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE COUNTY AS FAR AS STARTING TEACHER COMPENSATION IN THE STATE.

SORRY, .

UM, THIS IS JUST KIND OF A RECAP OF OUR BUDGET PRIORITIES AND THINGS TO CONSIDER, AGAIN, STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT.

OUR GOAL IN THIS BUDGET IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CONTINUING TO ADVOCATE FOR STATE FUNDING AND TO SUPPORT LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR, UH, AND STATE MANDATES, TEACHER QUALITY.

WE WANNA MAINTAIN THE NUMBER ONE STATUS IN THE STATE, WHICH ALLOWS US TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN, UH, STRONG QUALITY EDUCATORS.

UM, SAFETY AND SECURITY.

WE WANNA CONTINUE TO INVEST IN OUR BUILDING AND SECURITY PROTOCOLS TO KEEP OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF SAFE IN, IN A SAFE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT AND FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP.

IT'S VERY CRITICAL THAT WE MAINTAIN OUR, OUR BOND RATING SO THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO ELIMINATE THAT TAN.

WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR ANY BOARD MOTION.

WE JUST, OUR RECOMMENDATION BASED ON THIS PROPOSAL IS THAT THE BOARD CONSIDER APPROVING THE EXPENDITURE BUDGET OF $359,000,170.

AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, WE ARE, THAT IT STAYS ON RECORD, THAT WE WANT TO HAVE THE BUDGET CERTIFIED BY MAY 21ST, 2024.

OUR NEXT STEPS, UM, LIKE I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE'LL BE SEEKING COMMUNITY OUT INPUT IN OUR PUBLIC FORUMS ON MAY 1ST AT BLUFFTON HIGH SCHOOL AND ON MAY 2ND AT BEAUFORT HIGH SCHOOL.

WE'LL UPDATE ANY ESTIMATES, UH, BASED ON INPUT WE'VE RECEIVED FROM YOU ALL TODAY, AND THAT THROUGH THOSE FORUMS. AND THEN WE BEGIN OUR, UM, READINGS WITH THE COUNTY THROUGH, UM, THE, THROUGH THE THREE READINGS REQUIRED FOR BUDGET WITH THE COUNTY.

THE NEXT SLIDE JUST SHOWS THOSE DATES, UM, AND WHAT THE PURPOSE OF THOSE DATES ARE.

AND THEN THE NEXT SLIDE IS ANY QUESTIONS.

SO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME.

COLONEL GEIER.

UH, TAKING THE PRIORITIES THAT WE GAVE YOU, UH, THE INPUT FROM STAFF AND FROM STUDENTS AND SO ON, IT'S UNPRECEDENTED AND I CONGRATULATE YOU.

THIS IS MY FIFTH YEAR LISTENING TO THIS.

UH, THIS IS BY FAR THE BEST.

UM, THE WAY IT'S LAID OUT, UH, THE PROCESS YOU WENT THROUGH,

[02:05:01]

UM, EARL CAMPBELL AND THEN MR. DALLAS.

I JUST NEED TO GET BACK ON WHAT COLONEL GUY SAID.

THIS IS VERY GOOD JOB.

GOOD, GOOD JOB.

UM, MS. CROSBY, IN PAST YEARS, DID WE, IN PAST YEARS, DID WE GET MORE MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAN WE GETTING NOW? UM, I THINK, SO.

THE FEDERAL FUNDING THAT YOU MAY HAVE SEEN IS THE TRANSFERS IN FROM THE ESSER FUNDS.

AND SINCE THOSE ARE EXPECTED TO EXPIRE SEPTEMBER 30TH, WE'RE GOING TO SEE LESS FEDERAL FUNDING IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

THANK YOU, MR. DOS.

UM, I, I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO PIGGYBACK ON WHAT COLONEL GUYER SAID, MR. CAMPBELL, AND SPECIFICALLY AT SLIDES 13, 19, AND 27.

WHAT THOSE SLIDES DO IS THEY PROVIDE A LOT OF INFORMATION, A LOT OF DATA VISUALLY.

THEY HAVE NUMERICAL VALUES THERE, BUT YOU ALSO SHOW COMPARISON OVER A LONGITUDINAL PERIOD OF SEVERAL YEARS.

AND THAT MAKES IT VERY EASY FOR SOMEONE LIKE ME WHO MAY NOT BE AS EXPOSED TO THESE NUMBERS ON A DAILY BASIS TO SEE WHAT THE TREND LINE IS.

SO I WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT.

UH, AND IT'S, IT'S A GREAT PRESENTATION.

GREAT PRESENTATION ON PAGE FIVE WHEN IT COMES, BECOMES THE APPROPRIATE TIME, UH, WHICH I, I'M ASKING SORT OF HARKENING BACK TO THE CONVERSATION WE HAD SLIDE FIVE, SORRY, UH, EX EXPAND EXTENDED LEARNING SITES TO FUND THEM AS A STARTUP, NOT RECURRING.

WOULD THAT QUALIFY AS AN ASSIGNATION? GOING BACK TO OUR FURTHER DISCUSSION DISCUSSIONS FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS FROM EARLIER WHERE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER TODAY? YES.

THE FUND BALANCE.

OH, IN TERMS OF, UH, UH, ASSIGNING DOLLARS FROM FUND BALANCE, RIGHT.

AS A STARTUP.

UH, UH, SO WE KNOW IF WE WANT TO KEEP THESE PROGRAMS GOING.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT HE IS ASKING? MM-HMM.

THESE, AND I'M LOOKING AT YOU BECAUSE, UH, I ALSO WANNA KNOW IF WE CAN DO IT RIGHT.

, .

SO, SO HERE'S THE, WHAT WHAT HE'S GETTING AT IS, RIGHT.

THERE'S A, THERE'S A CONTINUOUS COST FOR CONTINUING THOSE PROGRAMS, RIGHT? BUT IF WE WANT TO AS A SEED MONEY AS A STARTUP MM-HMM.

OR A, A NEW PROGRAM THAT WE'RE EXPANDING, RIGHT? A NEW EXTENDED LEARNING SITE, RIGHT? CAN THAT BE, UH, SOME OF THOSE ASSIGNED FUND BALANCE DOLLARS? AM I GETTING YOU RIGHT? YES.

AND, AND, AND TO, TO RESPECT WHAT WE WERE, WHAT WE LEARNED EARLIER, SO THAT THERE'S NO ONGOING COMMITMENT.

WE PROBABLY, IF SOME, LET'S SAY AN ENTITY SAID YES, WE'LL START ONE.

'CAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF INTEREST ON THEM, WE WOULD SAY, WE'LL HELP YOU GET STARTED THAT FIRST YEAR, MAYBE EQUIPMENT, BOOKS OR WHATEVER USING THE ASSIGNATIONS.

BUT YOU HAVE TO BRING US OVER FOUR OR FIVE YEAR PERIOD, SOME TYPE OF GUARANTEE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO FUND IT AND IT DOESN'T COME BACK IN A FAILURE WITHIN THAT FIVE YEAR PERIOD.

SOME, UH, SUSTAINABILITY YES, SIR.

COMPONENT TO IT.

STARTUP COSTS OF, OF SOME KIND, AND WE'LL EXPLORE THAT.

I, I KNOW THAT, UH, WE ARE SEEKING, UH, GRANTS AND GRANT DOLLARS, OKAY.

AND WE HAVE NOT HEARD, UH, UH, THE RESULTS OF, OF THOSE, UH, GRANT APPLICATIONS YET, UH, TO COVER THE COST OF, UH, OF EXTENDED LEARNING SITES.

SO THAT, YOU KNOW, YOUR QUESTION PIQUES MY INTEREST AS TO WHETHER WE, WE CAN USE THAT ON ASSIGNED FUND BALANCE, APPLY SOME CAVEATS TO, TO THOSE SITES AND SAY, YOU KNOW, HOW DO YOU BECOME INDEPENDENT, I GUESS? UH, YEAH.

AND, AND IF IT, PART OF THE CAVEAT IS THEY WOULD HAVE TO GIVE US BASICALLY IRONCLAD GUARANTEES FROM EXISTING COMMITMENTS FROM SHAREHOLDERS OR CITIZENS OR WHATEVER THAT YEARS TWO THROUGH FIVE THEY HAVE COVERED.

AND THEN THAT WAY WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF 'EM CRASHING AND BURNING AND YEARS TWO THROUGH FIVE.

RIGHT? UM, I, YEAH, THE ANSWER IS YES, WE COULD FUND STARTUP COSTS.

I, I DON'T KNOW TO WHAT EXTENT WE HAVE THOSE STARTUP COSTS, BUT WE WILL DEFINITELY EXPLORE WHAT THOSE ARE.

I THINK MAJORITY OF THE COSTS WE'VE SEEN ARE ONGOING, THEIR STAFFING, UM, UH, TRANSPORTATION AND RENTAL FEES, THAT SORT OF THING.

SO, UH, BUT I'M SURE THERE ARE SOME

[02:10:01]

THANK YOU SIR.

MR. SMITH.

WELL, JUST TO JUMP BACK, RIGHT, RIGHT INTO THAT CONVERSATION, RIGHT? THAT WAS JUST THAT JUST TAKING PLACE.

UM, I BELIEVE THAT WITH DISTRICT, WE, UH, ARE AWARE, UM, THAT THERE ARE STOP COSTS BECAUSE WE HAVE, UH, WE HAVE, WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN THROUGH THAT.

UH, WE HAVE ALREADY, UH, CIRCLED THAT WAGON ALREADY.

AND TO MY, TO MY RECOLLECTIONS OF, UH, UNDERSTANDING THIS WHOLE, UM, HALF OF SCHOOL, UM, THIS WHOLE, UH, EXTENDED LEARNING AFTER SCHOOL, WHATEVER, WHATEVER WE'RE, WE'RE CALL, WE'RE, WE'RE CALLING IT, UM, IN, IN TERMS OF, TO WHAT MY COLLEAGUES SAID, HOW, HOW WOULD THEY, A LITTLE DIFFERENT IN TERMS OF, WE, WE, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE, THE GAP OR THE, THE WEALTH GAP, WHATEVER GAP YOU WANNA CALL IT, AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE, THE, THE REAL QUESTION THAT LIES UP ON THIS DISTRICT IS WHERE DO WE WANNA REALLY PUT OUR MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH IS AT BECAUSE OF WHAT, WHAT WHAT WE HAVE SEEN FROM THE EXTENDED, SOME OF THESE FROM THE SITES THAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY.

AND THE QUESTION WILL COME BECAUSE I WON'T ANSWER IT, WHETHER WE'VE SEEN PROGRESS OR WHEREVER WE'VE JUST SEEN DAYCARES, AND I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL.

WHAT, WHAT WE WILL SEE IS THAT WE, WE, WE'VE SEEN PROGRESS.

THAT'S MY BELIEF.

AND I, LIKE I SAID, THAT'S, I I I'M ONE OF 11, UM, FROM WHO GOES OUT AND WHO AND WHO LOOK CAN LOOK AT THESE SITES, BUT IN, IN TERM, IN TERMS OF THAT, THE, UH, TO GET TO THE MAIN SET OF THE, THE CORE, THE CORE, THE QUESTION IS, I BELIEVE THAT THE MAIN QUESTION IS ARE WE WILLING TO INVEST IN OUR KIDS REGARDLESS TO REV? I DON'T CARE.

I DON'T CARE IF YOU CAN, YOU CAN BUILD FOR A YEAR OR TWO OR THREE YEARS.

IF THAT'S A YEAR THAT YOU'VE HELPED KIDS, THAT'S A YEAR THAT YOU'VE HELPED BEAUTIFUL COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT.

SO WE HAVE TO BE COGNIZANT OF WHAT MESSAGES THAT WE'RE REALLY SENDING, BECAUSE I KNOW ON, ON, ON, ON MY, ON MY SIDE OF TIME FROM MY CONSTITUENTS, I'VE HAD SOME CONSTITUENTS WHO ARE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS.

AND SOME OF THEM MAY NOT KNOW WHERE THEIR FUNDING IS COMING FROM, AND SOME OF THEM MAY ARE, ARE WILLING TO GO OUT AND, AND FIGHT FOR THAT FUNDING.

SO WE HAVE TO MEET EVERYONE WHERE THEY ARE AND IN DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT SITUATIONS.

AND DIFFERENT PEOPLE HAVE THAT D DIFFERENT PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT SITUATIONS.

SO I THINK WE HAVE TO EVALUATE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS DIFFERENTLY AND SEE EITHER HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO EVEN HELP THEM OR HOW, HOW WE CAN HELP THEM TO BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN ITSELF.

TO EVEN BE ABLE TO BE FREE TO MOVE SHIFT AND MOVE MONEY TO GET OTHER SITES, OTHER SITES UP IN, UP IN ARE RUNNING WHO ARE WILLING AND ABLE TO DO THAT.

UM, TO, I WRAP THIS UP AND, AND, AND, AND, AND IN, IN TERMS OF, UH, YEAH, I MEAN THAT'S BASICALLY MY POINT.

BUT, BUT IN, IN, IN TERMS OF HAVING THEM TO SAY, HEY, WE WANT TO GET Y'ALL STARTED AND WE, AND WE WANT TO COME WITH A GUARANTEE OF CERTAIN AMOUNT OF X AMOUNT THE YEARS.

I THINK THAT COULD BE, THAT COULD BE, THAT COULD BE DANGEROUS, BUT TO, TO, I DO.

I UNDERSTAND THE POINT OF IT.

YES I DO BECAUSE YOU HAVE YOU HAVING BUY-IN, BUT WE HAVE TO BE COGNIZANT OF HOW, WHAT, WHAT, HOW WE GET THAT BUY-IN AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

AND, UH, I KNOW, UH, DR. SCOTT IS OVER THERE, UH, SAYING, UM, I'M NOT SURE I WANNA JUMP IN THIS CONVERSATION, BUT I WOULD ASK HER TO, UH, SPEAK INTO, TO, TO SPEAK TO, TO, TO SOME OF THAT DEGREE.

UH, IF, IF, IF, IF SHE WOULD EXPAND UPON THAT.

IF SHE'S WILLING.

I MEAN, THAT'S ONLY IF SHE'S WILLING SIR.

SO, AND GOOD MORNING.

SO FOR CLARIFICATION, MRS. SMITH, WITH REGARD TO THE EXTENDED LEARNING FOR NEXT YEAR, THE QUESTION AT THE TABLE IS WHERE ARE WE LOOKING FOR THE UPCOMING ACADEMIC SCHOOL YEAR? WE HAVE APPLIED FOR TWO, TWO GRANTS.

ACTUALLY, ISD HAS ALREADY COMPLETED FOUR GRANTS.

WE HAVE TWO, THREE MORE ON THE TABLE.

TWO OF THE GRANTS ARE DIRECTLY TIED TO EXTENDING LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES.

ONE IS THROUGH THE FOUNDATION, LOW COUNTRY OUT OF CHARLESTON.

WE ARE WAITING FOR THE RESPONSE OF THAT.

THAT IS A CATALYST GRANT.

SECOND GRANT THAT HAS BEEN SUBMITTED THROUGH MY DIVISION IS TO THE STATE WITH REGARD TO EXTENDED LEARNING, ACCELERATED LEARNING, BEING ABLE TO EXECUTE SATURDAY LEARNING FOR OUR STUDENTS, FOR ALL STUDENTS.

SO IF I'M IN AN A PP CLASS AND I NEED ASSISTANCE, OR IF I WANT ASSISTANCE FROM MY MUSIC EDUCATOR, THAT TYPE OF BROADNESS OF CONTENT FOR LEARNING WAS WRITTEN INTO THAT STATE GRANT.

TO DATE, I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY COMMUNICATION OF FUNDING.

I HA I DO HAVE FOUR COMMUNITY SITES OPERATING UP THROUGH JULY THAT WILL EXTEND FAMILY OP OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH JUNE, THROUGH THE DISTRICT, THROUGH JULY, WE'LL GO THROUGH OUR EXTENDED LEARNING BUDGET.

SO WE'RE STILL WORKING AND SEEKING ADDITIONAL FUNDING AND WORKING WITH FINANCE VERY CLOSELY.

THEY HAVE BEEN WONDERFUL AT BEING ABLE TO SEE WHERE I COULD EXTEND SUBSCRIPTION OF SERVICE IN ORDER TO PROVIDE SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.

DID THAT HELP A LITTLE, OR NO? THAT DID.

PILLOWS THAT THE, THAT THE, UH, BO THE, THAT YOU, YOU ELEGANTLY DISPLAYED HERE ON PAGE FOUR IN, IN, IN, IN TERMS OF NUM NUMBERS, UH, FOR, FOR, AND FOR INSTANCE, I GO TO, I BELIEVE YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE SROS BECAUSE, UH, UH, PAGE, PAGE SEVEN.

I MEAN, AND IT'S JUST AS I WAS RAISED, VERY, UH, GOOD INFORMATION THAT I'M SURE THE PUBLIC IS LOVE, LOVE, LOVE TO HEAR, KNOW THAT WE ARE WORKING AND WE'RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

UM, ALSO, I DID HAVE ANOTHER, UH, DIFFERENT QUESTION.

GO AHEAD.

UM, IN, IN, IN, IN TERMS OF THESE FOUR, UH, THESE FOUR, UH,

[02:15:01]

UM, IN, IN TERMS OF SROS, SAFETY, SECURITY, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE OF, BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T SAY OF, I KNOW THAT WE PAY HALF OF, LIKE, WE PAY, WHAT, 95, ACTUALLY MORE THAN HALF, 95% OR 90% OF THE SROS FUNDING.

I LIKE TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT THAT COST LOOK LIKE.

AND SO, SO THAT WE CAN SPELL IT OUT TO PEOPLE.

'CAUSE SOME PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ASKING ME, AND SOME PEOPLE THEY DON'T, THEY DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE'RE SPENDING THAT MUCH.

AND I'VE TOLD PEOPLE, NO, WE, WE ARE.

AND THAT WE, WE, UH, EVEN THOUGH THAT THEY WORK FOR THE SHERIFF OR THEY WORK FOR THE CHIEF, THAT WE, WE'VE PUT A LOT OF MONEY IN THOSE OFFICERS AS WELL.

SO, UH, I THINK, UH, HAVING NO, HAVING SOME OF THAT, THE, THE NUMBERS, THE CHIEF IN THOSE NUMBERS AND THE UNDERSTANDING OF THAT, I THINK THAT WOULD DEFINITELY HELP IT IN THE MORE OF A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING.

AND IT, IT, IT GIVES PEOPLE WHO ARE, WHO ARE LOOKING, WHO DOES, WHO DOES NOT KNOW THAT, WHO DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THAT, WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

APPRECIATE THAT INFORMATION MS. BOATWRIGHT.

WE'LL BRING INFORMATION BACK IN THE NEXT MEETING.

UH, AND THE PERCENTAGE IS 75% FOR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS.

FOR THE NON-STATE FUNDED ONES.

UH, THE STATE HAS BEEN BEGINNING TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR A HUNDRED PERCENT FUNDING DIRECTLY TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, UM, FOR SOME OF THE NEW SROS.

SO WE DON'T HAVE WORD YET WHAT THAT WILL LOOK LIKE FOR THE NEXT YEAR.

BUT YES, WE WILL BRING SOME DETAILED INFORMATION FOR YOU NEXT MEETING, DR. RODRIGUEZ.

AND, UH, I THINK AS YOU GET THOSE QUESTIONS IN THE MEANTIME, UNTIL YOU GET, UH, SOME OF THOSE NUMBERS, UH, ONE THING YOU CAN SHARE IS, AND I'LL ONLY SPEAK FOR 2019 TILL TODAY, UM, WHEN I GOT HERE IN 2019, WE HAD SROS AT MIDDLE SCHOOLS, AT HIGH SCHOOLS, AND WE HAD AT, UH, I THINK ONE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AT THAT TIME.

AND, UH, TODAY WE HAVE SROS AT ALL OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS, ALL OF OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS, UH, AND ALL OF OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, UH, EXCEPT I THINK, UH, WE'RE DOWN TO SIX OR SO, OR SEVEN MAYBE AT THE MOST.

AND WE HAVE ARMED SECURITY GUARDS UNTIL THEY'RE ABLE TO HIRE, UH, THOSE SIX OR SEVEN, AND THEN THEY'LL ALL HAVE, UH, SO WE ARE, UH, THAT'S ONE OF THE, I THINK, OBJECTIVES OF THE GOVERNOR IS I THINK BY LIKE 26 OR 27 THAT EVERY SCHOOL WOULD HAVE ONE.

AND I THINK, UH, WE ARE, UH, MORE THAN AHEAD OF SCHEDULE TO GET THERE.

UH, SO THAT'S SOMETHING YOU CAN SHARE WHEN YOU GET THOSE QUESTIONS.

OF, AND WHERE DO WE WANNA SPEND THE BULK OF THE MONEY? DO WE WANNA GET RID OF SOME THINGS AND INCREASE STIPENDS? WHAT'S MORE VALUABLE TO THE DISTRICT? AND WHERE DO WE GET THE BEST BANG FOR OUR BUCK? SO AFTER THAT IS DONE, THEN THAT WILL BE, WILL BE PRESENTED AND COMPARED TO OTHER DISTRICTS IN OUR AREA.

AND I SHARE MY COLLEAGUES, UM, ACCOLADES IN TERMS OF, THIS IS A VERY EASY TO UNDERSTAND, UH, AND HELPFUL BUDGET PRESENTATION.

AND I THINK THE BOLD ASPECT OF THIS BUDGET IS, UM, THE COMMITMENT TO THE EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION WITHOUT RAISING MILLAGE.

AND AS WE'VE DISCUSSED, THERE ARE A LOT OF INCREASING COSTS.

SO I THINK THE COMMUNITY BE VERY APPRECIATIVE.

THERE ARE A FEW THINGS THAT I HAVE QUESTION KIND OF ON THE EDGES.

UM, NUMBER ONE, THERE IS A, AND I WAS TRYING TO GET TO MY NOTES HERE ON THE SUMMARY OF MAJOR BUDGET CHANGES.

IT SAYS, UM, ACADEMIC AND FIND MY NOTE ACADEMIC AND STIPENDS.

SO WE ARE ON PAGE CLASSES.

UM, AND THAT'S ON THAT SUMMARY OF MAJOR BUDGET CHANGES.

PAGE THREE, I THINK, TO PROVIDE THE FUNDING NEEDED TO IMPLEMENT RECOMMENDED CHANGES TO THE CURRENT ACADEMIC ARTS AND ATHLETIC STIPEND SCHEDULES BASED ON A STIPEND STUDY.

HAVE WE SEEN THE STIPEND STUDY THAT WAS DONE? IS THAT AVAILABLE? UH, THIS ISN'T, UH, WE DIDN'T CONTRACT WITH SOMEBODY OUT THERE TO COME DO A, A STIPEND STUDY.

THIS IS OUR, OUR REVIEW OF, OF WHAT WE'RE DOING IN TERMS OF IDENTIFYING OTHER, UH, SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND, AND LOOKING AT WHAT, WHAT THEY ARE CURRENTLY SPENDING AND COMPARING THAT, UH, DOING AN ANALYSIS AS TO HOW THAT PROJECTS WITH, UH, WHAT WE'RE SPENDING.

MS. WALTON, UH, ANYTHING THAT YOU WANT TO ADD IN TERMS OF THAT REVIEW? I BELIEVE PROBABLY THE MOST CRITICAL PIECE TO THAT IS THE STUDY WILL INCLUDE, UM, ALL STAKEHOLDERS, TO INCLUDE PRINCIPALS TO INCLUDE, UM, DEPARTMENTS.

YOU HAVE THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENTS, YOU'LL HAVE TO FIND OUR DEPARTMENT.

YOU'LL HAVE DIS DISTRICT LEVEL STAFF.

AND ALL OF THAT WILL HAPPEN AFTER A FOCUS GROUP IS DONE GOING THROUGH WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE COMPARED, COMPARING TO OTHER DISTRICTS, FIGURING OUT WHAT WE WANT TO KEEP, WHAT WE WANT TO GET RID

[02:20:01]

SO WHAT I'M HEARING IS THAT'S AN ONGOING FOCUS GROUP PROCESS.

YOU'LL BRING IT TO THE BOARD AND THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY IS JUST KIND OF A PLACEHOLDER FOR THE BUDGET.

THAT'S PERFECT.

THAT'S CORRECT.

UM, THE OTHER COUPLE, DO YOU MIND IF I HAVE A COUPLE OTHER, GO AHEAD.

INTERRUPT ME.

SOMEONE ELSE NEEDS TO JUMP IN.

UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT A LOT THAT I WAS, I WANTED TO SEE, UM, SOME OF, IN THE BUDGET WAS NOT MONEYWISE, BUT PROCESS-WISE.

ESSER.

SO I KNOW THAT THERE WAS A SPECIFIC LINE ITEM THAT SAID $2.7 MILLION FOR TECHNOLOGY THAT WAS FUNDED BY ESSER.

SO MY ASSUMPTION IS THAT WAS TECHNOLOGY THAT WAS NOT ALREADY AVAILABLE UNTIL WE HAD ESSER FUNDING THAT WE'VE MOVED THAT INTO THE GENERAL FUND.

SO WE DECIDED TO KEEP GOING WITH IT.

AND MY QUESTION IS, WAS THAT ALL OF THE TECHNOLOGY AND WAS THERE ANY KIND OF ANALYSIS DONE AS TO THE IMPACT OF THIS $2.7 MILLION WORTH OF TECHNOLOGY THAT WE'RE ADDING TO THE BUDGET? UM, MS. CROSBY, ONE, ONE QUESTION BEFORE, UH, EITHER DR.

STRATOS OR, OR YOU, UH, ALSO TACKLE THAT IS THERE WAS TECHNOLOGY THAT EXISTED PRIOR TO ESSER, RIGHT? RIGHT.

ESSER PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO FUND SOME OF THAT TECHNOLOGY THROUGH THERE AS OPPOSED THROUGH, SO THIS IS JUST MORE SHIFTING THE POTS.

AND THAT THERE'S A LOT OF THAT.

I JUST NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE EXPLANATION.

I HOPE THAT HELPS.

'CAUSE THAT WE TOOK, WE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHIFT SOME OF THOSE COSTS INTO A DIFFERENT, UH, BUCKET.

AND THEN NOW IT'S, IT'S TECHNOLOGY WE UTILIZE.

IT'S JUST, AND THAT'S HELPFUL.

'CAUSE 2.7 WOULD BE A LOT TO ADD.

BUT MY OVERALL QUESTION, UM, IS OF THE THINGS THAT WE FUNDED OF ESSER, WHAT THINGS DID WE DECIDE TO ADD BECAUSE THEY WERE SUCCESSFUL? 'CAUSE THIS WAS SOMETHING WE TALKED ABOUT A LOT OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS.

WE'VE GOT THIS MONEY, WHAT ARE WE DOING? WE DID SOME PILOT PROGRAMS, WE TRIED SOME THINGS.

AND I KNOW SPECIFICALLY, UM, IN MY DISTRICT SCHOOL, BECAUSE I WAS ON SIC MEETING, UM, LIKE THERE WERE, FOR EXAMPLE, MORE INTERVENTIONISTS AND INSTRUCTIONAL COACHES THAT WERE ADDED WITH ESSER FUNDING THAT ARE NOW NOT GONNA BE ADDED OR THEY'RE STILL UNDER CONSIDERATION.

WE'RE NOT SURE IF THEY'RE GONNA BE ADDED.

SO IT'S NOT JUST TECHNOLOGY.

I'D JUST KINDA LIKE TO KNOW WE HAD ALL THIS MONEY, WE SPENT IT ON SOME STUFF.

DID WE LOOK AT WHAT WORKED AND MADE SURE WE BROUGHT THAT IN AND LOOKED AT WHAT DIDN'T WORK AND MAKE SURE WE JUST LEFT THAT BEHIND? WE DID.

AND I THINK IN TERMS OF, UM, OF SOME OF THOSE, UH, INSTRUCTIONAL COACHES COMPONENTS, RIGHT? THERE ARE ALLOCATIONS WITHIN, UH, UH, SCHOOL BUDGETS THAT ALLOW SOME DECISION MAKING, UH, AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL WITHIN SOME OF THOSE ALLOCATIONS.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, I MAY WANT TO UTILIZE, UH, THE, THIS POSITION OR THESE DOLLARS IN TERMS OF THE INSTRUCTIONAL COACH COMPONENT, RIGHT? SO AS WE, AS WE, UH, MOVE THROUGH, YOU KNOW, AND LOOK AT THE ALIGNMENT OF, UM, ALLOCATIONS, RIGHT? UH, THIS ALLOWED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR, FOR THAT DECISION MAKING THERE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

THAT'S, THAT'S ONE, ONE PIECE.

UM, I THINK, UM, NOW I LOST MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT.

UM, SO YOU SOUND, IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE SAYING THAT BASICALLY, 'CAUSE ONE THING I DO I COULDN'T FIND, AND I WAS GONNA ASK BEFORE THE MEETING, WE USED TO HAVE STAFFING FORMULAS ON THE WEBSITE.

I COULDN'T FIND THEM.

I KNOW WE'VE GOT THEM.

I'VE BEEN, IT'S HARD TO FIND IN OUR OLD DOCUMENTS.

UM, SOME BOARDS APPROVE STAFFING FORMULAS OR PERSONNEL FORMULAS.

I DON'T THINK WE DO, OR WE HAVE, I'M NOT ASKING THAT WE HAVE THAT POWER, BUT ONE THING THAT'S INTERESTING TO ME IS YOU HAVE ALL THIS VARIATION WITHIN THE STAFFING FORMULA, AND YET A LOT OF OUR BUDGET I'VE SEEN SAYS BASED ON THESE STAFFING FORMULA.

CAN COME BACK TO THE REST OF THAT OTHER QUESTION.

AND SO IT'S CONFUSING TO ME WHEN I'M TRYING TO ASSESS THE STANDARD OF, OF SERVICE.

SO THERE ARE, THERE ARE, AND, AND THERE IS A REQUIRED DIFFERENTIATED STAFFING FORMULA AT, AT, UH, AT CERTAIN SITES, UM, BY THE STATE AS WELL.

BUT IN, IN ESSENCE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A GENERAL STAFFING FORMULA OF A ONE TO HOWEVER MANY FOR, FOR STAFF.

UH, THERE'S, UH, UH, A, UH, ADMINISTRATOR STAFFING FORMULA.

THERE'S, SO THERE'S, THERE'S, UH, THOSE TYPES OF STAFFING FORMULAS THAT PROVIDE A GENERAL, UH, BASE ALLOCATION FOR, UH, FOR SCHOOL SITES.

AND THEN THE DIFFERENTIATED STAFFING FORMULA BECOMES A REQUIREMENT IN CERTAIN PLACES, UH, THAT THE STATE REQUIRES IN ORDER TO HELP, UH, INCREASE AND ELEVATE, UH, UH, PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES, IF YOU WILL.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE AROUND THAT THAT, THAT, UH, I'M STILL TRYING TO GET BACK TO MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT, BUT IF THEY PIVOT, THEN MAYBE I

[02:25:01]

'CAUSE I THINK THERE WAS A LITTLE MORE.

SO WE, WE DO AWAITED STAFFING BASED ON OUR POVERTY INDEX FOR OUR SCHOOLS.

SO SCHOOLS WILL RECEIVE A POVERTY INDEX AND ANYTHING GREATER THAN 55%, WHICH ALIGNS WITH OUR TITLE ONE, UM, THEY RECEIVE A, WE, WE DO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION CLASS SIZE RATIOS FOR THOSE STUDENTS.

SO THEY, 55 TO 75% IS CONSIDERED HIGH POVERTY.

AND THOSE, THOSE, OUR BASE SCHOOL RATIOS ARE REDUCED BY TWO FOR EACH OF THOSE CATEGORIES.

AND THEN ANYTHING 75% AND GREATER IS REDUCED, REDUCED BY ANOTHER 2%.

SO WE'RE, WE'RE DOING SOME DIFFERENTIATION IN THOSE SCHOOLS THAT HAVE GREATER POVERTY, WHICH IS GENERALLY, UM, THE SCHOOLS THAT ARE HAVING PERFORMANCE ISSUES THAT, THAT WE ARE ABLE TO BRING CLASS SIZES DOWN TO, TO TRY TO HELP WITH THAT ACHIEVEMENT THAT IS IN THE BUDGET BOOK, IF YOU THOSE.

AND I SEE, AND IT'S INTERESTING TO ME, JUST AS AN ASIDE THOUGH, BUT A LOT OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS ARE TITLE, TITLE ONE, BUT THEN BY THE TIME THEY GET TO THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL, WE ONLY HAVE ONE HIGH SCHOOL THAT'S TITLE ONE RIGHT.

OF A, OF THE SIX.

BUT I WOULD SAY THE MAJORITY, MORE THAN 50% OF OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS ARE TITLE ONE.

CORRECT.

IT'S NOT SURPRISING.

UH, BECAUSE, BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS A LOT OF TIMES IS, YOU KNOW, GENERALLY, UH, UH, THERE ARE REQUIREMENTS FOR FORMS TO BE FILLED OUT AND RETURNED AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

AND AS STUDENTS MOVE AND GET OLDER, UH, UH, AND, AND RIGHT, AND CONNECTION WITH FAMILIES, A LOT OF TIMES, UH, THEY DON'T WANT TO TO, TO DO THAT, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE IN AN AREA OF HIGH TRANSITION AND MULTILANGUAGE LEARNERS.

THAT'S ADDITIONALLY.

BUT THEN THINK ABOUT THAT.

IF WE'RE BASING OUR STAFFING FORMULA OFF POVERTY LEVELS, AND IT'S BASICALLY OUR POVERTY LEVELS BASED ON WHETHER OR NOT PARENTS ARE RETURNING PAPERWORK, WHICH, WELL, IT'S ONE OF THAT CONVERSATION FOR TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE, BUT, UM, IT'S, IT, IT'S AN INTERESTING WAY TO GO.

IT IS.

AND IT'S, IT'S MORE THAN JUST THAT TOO, BUT, BUT, UH, UH, SO I JUST, NO, BUT THAT'S WHAT I, YOU DON'T, YOU DON'T MEET THE RIGHT, THE, THE, THE, UM, PUPIL AND POVERTY CLASSIFICATION JUST SOLELY BECAUSE OF, OF, OF A FORM THAT, THAT WE'VE GIVEN YOU.

IS IT, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? SO IT'S A STATE, UM, YEAH, THERE'S A STATE SYSTEM WHERE IT BRINGS, UM, MULTIPLE PIECES OF INFORMATION, THE EBT INFORMATION, QUALIFICATIONS, UM, HOMELESS, UM, UM, YEAH, SO MIGRANT, UH, MEDICAID, THAT SORT OF THING THAT THOSE QUALIFY STUDENTS FOR PUPILS AND POVERTY.

I WANTED TO MENTION TOO, THAT, UH, WE ALSO HAVE ADDITIONAL FORMULAS, NOT JUST ONE STAFFING FORMULA.

WE HAVE ANOTHER SEPARATE STAFFING FORMULA FOR MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS AS WELL.

THERE'S A 60 TO ONE RATIO, AND THEN WE LOOK AT EACH YEAR BASED ON THE NUMBER OF MULTI MLS AT EACH SCHOOL, AND WE STAFF ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS FOR THOSE.

AND THOSE ARE NOT FEDERALLY FUNDED.

WE GET ABOUT $200,000 A YEAR FROM TITLE THREE FUNDS, AND THEY CANNOT BE USED FOR TEACHERS .

SO IT'S, IT'S A LITTLE CRAZY.

UH, BUT, UM, WE DO HAVE A NUMBER OF MLL NEW MLL TEACHERS IN THIS, SO THERE WOULD BE A HIGHER, UH, FOR THOSE SCHOOLS THAT HAD A HIGHER POPULATION OF MLS, THEY'LL HAVE ADDITIONAL STAFFING FOR THOSE AS WELL.

AND THEN SPECIAL ED IS A STEP SEPARATE STAFFING FORMULA.

UM, SO WE WOULD STAFF BASED ON THE NEEDS AT PARTICULAR NEEDS BY DISABILITY FOR THOSE SCHOOLS ALSO.

SO WE HAVE A, A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT STAFFING FORMULAS KIND OF COMBINED FOR, TO HELP SERVE STUDENTS IN VARIOUS POPULATIONS.

I THINK.

DO NOT, AND THE IDEA OF ED IS TO CAPTURE KIND OF WHAT YOU'RE GETTING AT.

IT'S DIFFERENT APPROACHES AND LAYERS BUILT IN THERE TO TRY TO CAPTURE IT, WHAT YOU'RE GETTING AT.

WELL, AND AS ADVOCATE FOR MY PARTICULAR COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, WE HAD, WE'VE SEEN TREMENDOUS GROWTH ON HILTON HEAD AT 150 ANNUAL INCOME AND UP AND TREMENDOUS GROWTH AT 25 AND BELOW.

AND THE PROBLEM YOU HAVE IS YOU'VE GOT A VERY POOR, VERY HIGH NEEDS COMMUNITY TUCKED INTO A VERY WEALTHY COMMUNITY, AND THAT CAN REALLY SKEW THE SERVICES AVAILABLE.

SO IT'S JUST INTERESTING TO TRY AND FIGURE OUT, I DON'T EVEN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THESE FORMULAS ARE.

SO AT SOME POINT MAYBE WE HAVE A BOARD MEETING ABOUT STAFFING FORMULAS AND JUST TO UNDERSTAND THEM.

ALL RIGHT, MS. GORDON? THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

UH, I JUST WANTED TO ECHO THE SENTIMENTS OF, UH, MY COLLEAGUES.

THIS WAS AN EXCELLENT REPORT.

UH, I APPRECIATE IT.

UM, THEY DO, I WAS LOOKING ON PAGE, UM, SIX STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS WHERE IT'S LISTED STIPENDS FOR CRITICAL STAFFING NEEDS, UH, AND, AND THEN DASH

[02:30:01]

SPECIAL EDUCATION.

HAVE YOU COME UP WITH THE FORMULA FOR HOW, HOW WE'RE GOING TO, UH, OR THE DOLLAR AMOUNT YES.

THAT WE'RE GONNA GIVE STIPENDS? YEAH.

SO, UM, HOW MANY THIS, REMEMBER THIS IS, UH, AND THIS, THIS IS PART OF, UH, OUR BOARD'S, UH, BUDGET PRIORITY.

I MAY MAY HAVE BEEN THE FIRST, THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IF I'M, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, BUT THEY DO HAVE, UH, A FORMULA OR AN APPROACH TO THAT STIPEND.

IT'S, IT'S NOT, AND IT'S NOT JUST A FLAT STIPEND.

UM, DO YOU WANNA THANK, UM, THAT WOULD ACTUALLY BE A 6%, UH, THE STIPEND OR THE OUT THE SUPPLEMENT I THINK WE MAY BE CALLING IT WOULD BE 6% OF THE BASE SALARY OF THE TEACHER.

SO IF IT WERE A $50,000 EMPLOYEE, WHICH, UH, WE'RE GONNA BE AT 51, SO JUST SAY ROUND NUMBERS, $50,000 TIMES 6% WOULD BE A $3,000 SUPPLEMENT TO THEIR PAY.

AND THEN THAT WOULD FOLLOW, UM, IF THAT, IF THAT, UH, SUPPLEMENT CONTINUES YEAR AFTER YEAR, THAT WOULD FOLLOW THEM TO THE NEXT STEP LEVEL OR THE NEXT EDUCATION LEVEL.

AND, UM, SO IT HAS AN ABILITY TO, UH, INCREASE EACH YEAR WITH THE, WITH THE BASE PAY AS IT INCREASES AS WELL.

THE LONGER YOU STAY, THE LARGER IT GETS.

UM, I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS, UH, OR COMMENTS TOO.

SO SLIDE 23 WHERE YOU TALKED ABOUT, OR YEAH, WORKMAN'S COMPENSATION.

SO, UM, I KNOW AS, AS A PRIVATE BUSINESS OWNER, YOU, YOU HAVE TO CARRY WORKMAN'S COMPENSATION AND YOU, YOU PAY ITS INSURANCE.

SO IS THIS, BUT WE, THESE ARE OUR OUT OF COST EXPENSES AND DON'T WE, I WOULD ASSUME WE HAVE INSURANCE.

ARE WE SELF-INSURED? CAN YOU JUST DEFINE IT BETTER? WE ARE SELF-INSURED FOR WORKERS' COMPENSATION.

THERE IS A, A, A LIMIT, I DON'T RECALL THE EXACT LIMIT, BUT WE ARE SELF-INSURED.

UH, THOSE COSTS HAVE BEEN RISING SIGNIFICANTLY.

UH, AND WE'RE SEEING MORE CLAIMS AND LA LARGER CLAIMS AS WELL.

AND SO THIS IS ACTUALLY AN INCREASE IN THAT BUDGET.

SO THAT AFFECTS THE GENERAL FUND, UM, DIRECTLY.

SO YEAH, IT SEEMED ON THE HIGH SIDE TO ME.

CONSIDERING HOW MANY THAT'S BECAUSE IT'S THE STAFFING MEMBERS WE HAVE.

UM, MS. HAMLIN MENTIONED THAT WE'RE A LITTLE, WE'VE HELD THE OPERATIONS VERY, YEAH.

UH, VERY FLAT FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS AS WE'RE TRYING TO INCREASE OUR TEACHER SALARIES TO NUMBER ONE.

SO WE'RE ACTUALLY EXPECTING TO GO OVER BUDGET THIS YEAR IN THAT CATEGORY.

SO WE HAVE TO ACCOUNT FOR THAT OVERAGE AS WELL AS AN INCREASE FOR NEXT YEAR.

THAT'S WHY YOU'RE SEEING SUCH A LARGER AMOUNT.

AND SOMEWHERE, I THINK IT WAS RETIREES INSURANCE.

OH YEAH, THAT'S SLIDE 16.

UH, ONE AND A HALF MILLION, OR THIS IS A STATE REVENUE.

SO THIS WOULD BE, THIS WOULD JUST BE HEALTH INSURANCE.

WOULD IT INCLUDE LIFE, NOT DISABILITY? 'CAUSE THESE PEOPLE AREN'T WORKING ANYMORE.

WHAT, WHAT'S IN, WHAT INSURANCE ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? UM, THOSE THAT WOULD BE HEALTH INSURANCE FOR RETIREES.

SO THE, UM, IT MIGHT HAVE A, A LIFE BENEFIT TO, UM, INCLUDED WITH THAT.

I DON'T KNOW.

WE CAN YOU JUST FIND THAT OUT.

WE ARE, WE ARE BILLED FOR ALL OF HEALTH INSURANCE, WHICH INCLUDES RETIREES AS WELL.

SO THERE ARE BILLINGS, NOT ONLY ARE OUR CURRENT EMPLOYEES, BUT THE, UH, BUT THE RETIREES, RETIREES AS WELL.

RETIREE.

AND THIS IS COVERING A PORTION OF THOSE, THOSE INCREASES ACTUALLY.

SO SAY, SAY THAT, SAY YOUR PART STATE REIMBURSEMENT OF THE COST.

BUT THIS, WE CAN, WE CAN GET SOME DETAILS ABOUT EXACTLY WHAT THAT IS FROM THE STATE LEVEL AND BRING THAT BACK TO THE NEXT MEETING SO WE HAVE CLEAR LANGUAGE FOR YOU.

UM, YEAH, THANK YOU.

THAT THESE, THERE'S SO MANY OF THESE POTS THAT IT IS HARD TO, OKAY.

KEEP, KEEP UP WITH ALL THE DETAILS OF THEM ALL.

UM, AND WE HAVE TO, ONCE AGAIN, WE ALSO HAVE TO COMPETE ON THESE, ON THESE STIPENDS TO BE ABLE TO KEEP PEOPLE WHO WE, UM, WHO WE FEEL THAT ARE BENEFITING OUR KIDS IN THIS DISTRICT.

ANYBODY WHO HAS NOT SPOKEN, WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? MR. SMITH.

AL ALSO, UH, ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES SPOKE ABOUT ON EARLIER ABOUT THE, UH, THE CO THE, THE CO THE COACHES', UM, STIPEND, RIGHT? THE CO THE COACHES' STIPEND.

UM, A WHILE BACK I WAS KIND OF, ACTUALLY, I WAS KINDA LOOKING IN, LOOKING INTO THAT BECAUSE, UM, I DID HAVE SOME, UH, I DID HAVE SOME COACHES MENTION THAT TO ME.

AND THEN I ALSO STARTED KIND OF ALSO ALSO DOING SOME HOMEWORK ON THAT.

AND TO, TO ME, UH, I DO BELIEVE THAT WE ARE POSSIBLY DOWN ON THAT, ON THAT, ON THAT, UM, ON WHAT WE'RE, WHAT WE'RE, WHAT WE'RE PAYING OUR, OUR, OUR STAFF, UH, IN TERMS OF, UH, STIPENDS AND, UH, AND IN, IN DIFFERENT, EVEN IN, IN, IN TERM IN TERMS OF, UM, BAND AND DIFFERENT THINGS OF, OF THAT, THAT NATURE.

[02:35:02]

AND, AND ALSO I LOOK AT THE GREATER, THE GREATER RETURN ON IT.

UM, I WAS TALKING TO ANOTHER ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES AND ONE OF ONE OF THE KIDS WHO ARE IN ANOTHER DISTRICT.

THOSE KIDS ACTUALLY GO OFF AND BECAUSE THEY'RE APPRECIATIVE, THEY POUR, THEY POUR BACK INTO THEIR DISTRICT.

AND EVERY YEAR IN BEAVER COUNTY RIVER, WHEREVER WE ALL KNOW IT OR NOT, BOARD MEMBERS, THEY ARE, THEY ARE, WE DO HAVE PROFESSIONAL PLAYERS WHO HAVE, UM, FREE ATHLETIC CAMPS AS WELL IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.

AND THEY CHARGE THE KIDS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO COME OUT THERE.

AND THEY HAVE A TON OF PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES THAT COME FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND THEY, AND THEY GIVE THESE KIDS, UH, TIPS AND HELP THESE KIDS GET LOOKS AT THESE KIDS PROBABLY WOULD NOT HAVE GOTTEN WITH, WITH WITHOUT THEM.

SO WHEN, AND THEN IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU PUT IN SOMETIMES IS WHAT YOU GET OUT.

SO, I MEAN, THAT'S, THAT'S JUST ONE WAY TO LOOK AT IT.

AND, AND ALL.

AND ALSO, I BELIEVE THAT ALSO, UH, SOMEONE WAS SAYING SOMETHING ABOUT SOMEONE WAS LOOKING IN TERMS OF THE, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF IT, THE, UH, ON THE ART SIDE, THE ART SIDE, SOMEONE WAS LOOKING TO DONATE A, A CAMP AS WELL TO HELP US OUT.

SO THE, SO THE MONEY IS, IS GONNA COME BACK TO US.

SO WE HAVE TO DECIDE AS WELL, HOW MUCH ARE WE WILLING TO ACTUAL PUT OUT THERE? BECAUSE IT, YOU, YOU, YOU PAY FOR WHAT YOU GET.

YOU, YOU, YOU GO TO DODGE GENERAL AND GET A OP, WHICH IS A MOP, THEN IT'S, IT'S GONNA LAST A LITTLE WHILE, BUT YOU GO AND YOU SPEND THE RIGHT MONEY FOR A MOP, A GOOD QUALITY MOP, THEN YOU HAVE, YOU HAVE A GOOD QUALITY MOP.

SO THAT, THAT'S, THAT, THAT'S JUST ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANTED TO POINT OUT TO THIS AND JUST WANTED TO O OPEN, OPEN, UH, OPEN UP JUST A LITTLE, UH, UH, UH, UM, VISUALIZING ON, ON THAT, UH, ON THAT, ON THAT SUBJECT AS WELL AS SPED.

UM, RIGHT NOW, THERE IS A, WE, WE, AS A BOARD, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS FOR A WHILE IN, IN TERMS OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE IN, UH, OUR, OUR, OUR SPED TEACHERS ARE, WHETHER THEY'RE LEAVING OR THEY'RE COMING AND GOING, SPED IS ALMOST, SPED IS ALMOST BECOMING A, A, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A ROUGH ERA IN, IN, IN TERMS OF LIKE DINOSAURS.

THEY'RE GONE.

SO, UH, THEY JUST TOLD US, BUT IN, IN, IN TERMS, AND THAT PROBABLY WAS A BAD ACKNOWLEDGING, BUT THE POINT OF IT IS, IS THAT YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR THEM.

THEY, THEY'RE ALMOST, THEY'RE ALMOST THE PRICE OF ADMINISTRATORS WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF PRO, THE AMOUNT OF PAPERWORK THAT THEY HAVE TO DO, THE AMOUNT OF LAWS THAT THEY HAVE TO KEEP UP WITH.

AND YOU TALK ABOUT THE ME AMOUNT OF MEANS THAT THEY GO TO AND THE HOURS THAT THEY'RE TAKING.

IT'S A LOT.

MS. CROSBY SAT HERE A FEW MINUTES AGO, AND SHE TAUGHT, SHE TAUGHT US ABOUT THESE THREE YEARS THAT SHE GOES THROUGH FOR THE, THE, TO GET MONEY FOR THE STORM.

IMAGINE, IMAGINE THE HOURS THAT THESE SPED, THESE SPED TEACHERS GO THROUGH, AND THE, AND THE LARGE STACKS OF PAPERWORK THAT THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH TO, UH, TO CROSS SOME OF THESE HURDLES.

SO WE HAVE TO, WE HAVE TO GIVE THE RECRUITING DEPARTMENT AND, UH, AND ALSO OUR STUDENTS ARE FAIR SHOT.

SO THAT'S ANOTHER AREA I'M CONCERNED IN TOO, THAT IN TERMS OF US PUTTING MORE, PUTTING MORE DOLLARS INTO THE BACK, INTO THE CLASSROOM IN TERMS OF THAT TEAMING GAP.

BECAUSE WHEN WE HAVE, WHEN WE HAVE HAPPY SPED TEACHERS, AND I WAS ALSO A SPED STUDENT, SO I UNDERSTAND WHAT A HAPPY TEACHER LOOKED LIKE, THEN WE WILL, WE WILL, UH, GET CLOSER TO THAT GAP AND WE WILL CLOSE THAT GAP A LITTLE BIT MORE.

SO IN TERMS OF WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PUTTING OUR, PUTTING MORE MONEY INTO THE CLASSROOMS, THESE ARE THINGS THAT I'M LOOKING TO SEE.

AND TO SEE THE, AND TO SEE HOW WE IN TURN TO INCREASE, INCREASE, INCREASE THE VALUE UPON THESE PEOPLE TO LET THEM KNOW THAT, THAT, THAT WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT, WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT WORKING, WORKING ON, ON, ON THE DISTRICT, ON DISTRICT GOALS.

SO I, I AM DEFINITELY WILL BE LOOKING TO, UH, SEE MORE STUFF LIKE THAT, UM, IN, IN TERMS OF US MOVING, UH, IN TERMS OF US MOVING FORWARD.

AND I, I'LL JUST, I'LL JUST LEAVE IT THERE.

AND ALSO, THE, WE, THERE WAS, I, I DON'T REMEMBER.

'CAUSE WE, WE HAVE A WHOLE LOT.

THERE WAS ALSO, THERE WAS SOMETHING ABOUT THE, IN TERMS OF THE, THE CON THE CONTRACTS IN TERMS OF, I KNOW THAT IN TERMS OF CUSTODIAL SERVICES, THAT WE DO CONTRACT THOSE CUSTODIAL SERVICES OUT, BUT AT SOME POINT WE DO BUY VEHICLES AND STUFF.

LIKE, WE DO BUY VEHICLES AND, AND SUPPLIES FOR THOSE CUSTODIAL.

SO, AND YOU KNOW, EVERYONE SAY, OH, IT, IT, IT COSTS, UH, IT, IT, IT, IT, IT COSTS A LOT.

IT COSTS A LOT.

UM, I, I SEE, I SEE THREE, JUST JUST FOR POINT OF CLARIFICATION FOR EVERYBODY IN THE CONTRACT, THEY BUY THEIR OWN, UH, UH, SUPPLIES AND THEIR OWN, UM, UM, MACHINES THAT THEY USE FOR CUSTODIAL SERVICES, RIGHT? THAT, THAT'S, WE DON'T PAY THAT IN ADDITION TO THE CONTRACT, WE PAY THEM, THEY GET PAID.

THEIR, THEIR CONTRACT STIPULATES THAT THEY PROVIDE THAT.

RIGHT? WELL, AND I WAS GONNA, I WAS GONNA GET TO THAT IN, IN TERMS OF EXCUSE.

I MEANT MAINTENANCE, BECAUSE I KNOW HOW I LOOK WHEN I, WHEN I COME OUT THERE, I SEE

[02:40:01]

ABOUT FOUR VANS, BRAND BRAND, BRAND NEW, BRAND NEW CON CON VANS.

AND SO I, I DO WANT TO ASK THE QUESTION IN TERMS OF, ARE WE BUYING OUTRIGHT BUYING THESE VANS? OR ARE WE RELEASING THESE VANS? HOW ARE WE, HOW, HOW, HOW, HOW ARE WE, HOW, HOW, HOW ARE WE DOING THAT? BECAUSE THAT, THAT'S THE, UH, A, A VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION BECAUSE IN, IN, IN TERMS OF HOW DO WE DISPOSE OF IT, UH, HOW DO WE GET, HOW DO WE GET OUR, OUR BEST USE OF IT? AND, AND, AND IN TERMS, IN TERMS OF, UH, LONG-TERM USE OUT OF THAT, I MEAN, WHAT, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? WE DO PURCHASE VANS FOR MAINTENANCE PURPOSES, RIGHT? AND FOR FOOD SERVICE PURPOSES, UH, MAINTENANCE ARE PURCHASED THROUGH AND OR DIS, OTHER DISTRICT VEHICLES ARE PURCHASED WITH 8% FUNDS.

UH, AND FOOD SERVICE VANS ARE PURCHASED WITH FOOD SERVICE FUNDS.

WE DO NOT LEASE VANS.

UM, UH, AS FAR AS DISPOSAL OF THEM, WE ARE REQUIRED BY STATE PROCUREMENT RULES TO, UH, AUCTION OFF ANY UNUSED ITEMS. AND SO WE WOULD GET A VALUE AND, UH, TAKE PICTURES AND SO ON.

AND WE PUT THEM ON A WEBSITE CALLED GOV DEALS, G-O-V-D-E-A-L-S, AS MANY OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS USE AS WELL.

AND THAT'S AN AREA THAT PEOPLE CAN BID, AND THE HIGHEST BIDDER WOULD BE AWARDED THE, THE EQUIPMENT.

SO THAT'S HOW WE HANDLE THE, UM, UNUSED VEHICLES.

AND, AND, AND THANKS, AND THANKS FOR, AND THANKS FOR UNDERSTANDING THAT.

AND SO WE'LL START WITH, WITH THAT, WITH THAT IN, IN IN MIND.

I KNOW WHILE BACK, WE, WE TALKED ABOUT, UH, BRINGING BACK CUSTODIANS AND THINGS AND, AND THE, UH, BRINGING BACK CUSTODIANS IN THE HOUSE.

AND, AND I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND IN THE PROCESS OF HOW, WHEN WE'RE, WHEN WE'RE BUDGETING, WHEN WE'RE BUDGETING FOR THESE THINGS, UM, I THINK THOSE, THOSE THINGS ARE, ARE VERY IMPORTANT, IMPORTANT TO KNOW AS WELL.

AND, AND, AND I CONCLUDE, I CONCLUDE WITH THIS, RIGHT? ALSO, UH, MRS. BOATWRIGHT BROUGHT UP, BROUGHT UP SOMETHING I'M JUMPING AROUND ABOUT THE ESA FUNDING.

AT THE BEGINNING OF ESA FUNDING, THERE WAS A LOT OF POSITIONS THAT THE DISTRICT CREATED IN TERMS, IN TERMS OF THE COACHES AND DIFFERENT THINGS.

AND I WON'T SAY THEY CREATED, THOSE WERE NEEDS VERSUS WANTS POSITIONS THAT THEY SAID THAT WE NEEDED.

SO IF WE WANT, IF WE WANT, ONCE WE NEEDED IT, WE, WE NEEDED THOSE, UH, POSITIONS.

AND NOW THAT DR. RODRIGUEZ AND ONE OF US WAS TALKING, THEY WERE TALKING A MINUTE AGO, AND THEY WERE, HE, I BELIEVE HE WOULD REFERRING TO SOME SCHOOLS LIKE, UH, TITLE ONE, WHO MAY BE ABLE TO, UH, KEEP THOSE POSITIONS.

AND I AM UNDER THE, I AM UNDER, I AM UNDER THE, UM, UNDERSTANDING THAT A YEAR AGO, HE DID TALK TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT COMING BACK TO THE DISTRICT.

AND THEY WERE, THEY WERE NO NOTICE ON NOTICE THAT, HEY, THESE POSITION MAY OR MAY NOT COME BACK.

BUT MY QUESTION IS, AS MRS. BOATWRIGHT MENTIONED, I'M LOOKING FOR, AND I THINK THERE'S BEEN NO BETTER TIME THAN NOW, I'M LOOKING FOR A, WHETHER IT'S A STUDY OR I'M LOOKING FOR RESULTS TO TELL US IN THE COURSE OF THESE POSITIONS THAT WE'VE CREATED, OR THE POSITIONS THAT WE HAVE THAT WE FELT THAT THAT WAS NEEDED IN THE DISTRICT, WHICH ONES THAT WE SAW THAT MADE THE MOST IMPACT, WHY AND WHY NOT? AND HOW ARE WE ABLE TO, OR I MEAN, HOW AND HOW AND IF, IF, IF WE NEED TO KEEP POSITIONS, WHICH ONE WOULD THEY NEED TO BE? I'M LOOKING FOR, I'M LOOKING FOR SOME RESULTS IN TERM OF THAT AND WHAT THAT LOOKED LIKE, UH, IN TERMS OF ALL THE POSITIONS THAT WE, THAT WE HAD THAT WE WILL NOT EVEN KEEP, OR THAT WE WILL NOT HAVE.

I'M LOOKING FOR A REPORT TO BE ABLE TO PUT SOME TEETH INTO IT TO UNDERSTAND ALSO A BETTER, A BETTER, UH, A BETTER WAY OF HOW OUR ESA FUNDS WENT IN, IN GOOD USE AS WELL.

BUT ALSO THE, UH, THE, THE, THE INFORMATION FROM, UH, FROM, FROM, FROM THE SPENDING THAT WENT ON, AND WHAT POSITIONS THAT, THAT, THAT INDIA, WE NEED TO KEEP THAT FOR, THAT WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO HAVE VERSUS THE FUNDING THAT WE HAVE NOW.

BECAUSE OUR, OUR, OUR BELT HAS GOT NO TIGHTER BECAUSE WE NO LONGER HAVE THOSE AS THE FUNDS.

THANK YOU, MS. BOATRIGHT.

THE ONE OTHER THING I WANTED TO ASK ABOUT WAS WE'RE INCREASING OUR MENTAL HEALTH SPENDING BY ABOUT A MILLION, WHICH AS I RECALL, IT'S ABOUT 2 MILLION CURRENTLY.

SO WE'RE GONNA INCREASE THAT TO 3 MILLION NEXT YEAR IN, OR IS THE 1 MILLION THE NEW BUDGET AMOUNT? IT'S AN, IT'S THE NEW BUDGET AMOUNT.

SO, SO IT'S ACTUALLY A DECREASE.

THESE ARE SERVICES, UH, COMING OVER.

WE'RE CON UH, CONTINUING THIS MENTAL HEALTH, THE EXPANSION OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, UH, BUT AT A LOWER LEVEL, THOSE ARE MOVING INTO THE GENERAL FUND, UM, TO HELP, TO INCREASE BEYOND WHAT WE ONCE WE'RE DOING IN, IN GENERAL FUND SERVICES.

WELL, THAT RENDERS MY POINT, SOMEWHAT MOOT, BUT I'M STILL GONNA MAKE IT JUST BECAUSE, UM, THAT, YOU KNOW, NOW IT'S COVERED UNDER INSURANCE, RIGHT? LIKE THEY HAVE THIS GREAT INSURANCE THEY'RE PAYING 18% FOR.

SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT PAYING FOR OUT OF POCKET FOR SOMETHING THAT'S COVERED BY OUR CREDIBLY EXPENSIVE HEALTH INSURANCE ATLAS.

ALICE CAN.

NO, NO, THAT'S, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THE POINT THAT I MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE AWARE THAT, THAT WE ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF ANY INSURANCE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE AND, AND ALSO AT THE SAME TIME SERVING STUDENTS AND STAFF

[02:45:01]

AS WELL.

BUT, UH, WE ARE UTILIZING THOSE INSURANCE SERVICES.

GOOD.

YEAH, I WAS THINKING THE SAME THING, INGRID, THAT YEAH, WE NEED TO, THE HEALTH INSURANCE IS, YOU KNOW, VERY EXPENSIVE AND, UH, REALLY GOOD , SO WE NEED TO FULLY UTILIZE IT BEFORE WE ADD IN ADDITIONAL SERVICES.

UM, SO YEAH.

GOOD.

WELL, NO, I WAS GONNA TRY TO CLARIFY THAT IF I NEEDED TO.

BUT YOU, YOU'RE GOOD WITH THE ANSWER.

YES, .

UM, I WAS THINKING THIS WOULD BE A GOOD SPOT FOR US TO TAKE A 30 MINUTE LUNCH BREAK, AS WE HAVE IDENTIFIED ON OUR AGENDA.

IT IS 1225, SO WE WILL RECONVENE AT 1255.

WE GOTTA FOLLOW OUR AGENDA PER FOIA, , AND, UH, SO THANK, THANK YOU.

AND WE'LL CONTINUE ON AFTER LUNCH.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

UM, THIS IS THE BEAUFORT COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION WORK SESSION OF APRIL 26TH, 2024.

WE ARE IN PUBLIC SESSION AND JUST RETURNED FROM OUR LUNCH BREAK.

AND NEXT ON OUR SCHEDULE IS, UH, CONTINUATION OF THE BUDGET UPDATE, TANYA CROSBY.

UM, OUR PRESENTATION ON THE BUDGET IS, UH, UH, COMPLETE.

SO IF, IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, WE'LL BE HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN THOSE, OR WE CAN MOVE TO THE, UH, BEAUFORT JASPER ACE, UH, PRESENTATION.

ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? NOPE.

MS. HAY, HIS HAND'S NOT UP.

SO THE NEXT, UH, TO BJ ACE, PLEASE.

IT'S JUST A REIMBURSEMENT.

UM, THIS IS, UH, TYPICALLY WE DO NOT, UH, BRING FORWARD TO THE FULL BOARD A PRESENTATION OF THE ACE PROPOSED BUDGET.

UH, BUT THERE WAS ONE PARTICULAR, UH, I, I BELIEVE IT'S GOOD INFORMATION ONE, AND IT LOOKS VERY SIMILAR TO OURS IN TERMS OF THE INCREASES, UH, SINCE BEAUFORT, JASPER ACE FOLLOWS BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT'S SALARY SCHEDULES.

UM, HOWEVER, THERE IS ANOTHER COMPONENT TO THIS, TO THE PRESENTATION REGARDING CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT I THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THIS BOARD.

UH, AND SO I DO, UM, WANTED TO BEGIN A CONVERSATION TODAY.

AGAIN, THERE ARE NO, UH, MOTIONS OR APPROVALS NEEDED TODAY.

UH, WE'VE, I'VE ALREADY GIVEN YOU, UH, WE'VE ALREADY GIVEN YOU A A LOT TO THINK ABOUT.

WELL, THIS WILL GIVE YOU SOME MORE TO THINK ABOUT, BUT WE HAVE, WELL, WHAT WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE IS FUNDING SOURCES TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS THAT WE HAVE.

SO I THINK THAT'S A REALLY CRITICAL PIECE OF THIS.

UM, MIKE, MIKE VECCHIO IS HERE TODAY, THE DIRECTOR OF, UM, BEAUFORT, JASPER ACE.

AND I WANNA START BY CONGRATULATING HIM, UH, FOR THE PALMETTO'S FINEST AWARD THAT WAS WON THIS WEEK.

UM, I ATTENDED, UH, I KNOW A FEW OTHER BOARD MEMBERS ATTENDED AS WELL, DREZ.

IT WAS A VERY EXCITING EVENT AND, UM, JUST MADE MY HEART WARM TO BE A PART OF IT.

AND, UM, IT MADE ME REALLY WANNA WORK EVEN HARDER TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE THE STUDENTS AT ACE SKIT, THE RESOURCES THEY DESERVE THERE AS WELL.

SO, UH, WITH THAT, WE'LL GET STARTED.

UM, SO WE, UH, ACE'S BUDGET THIS YEAR, UH, ALONG WITH BUFORD HAS A $2,500 TEACHER SALARY INCREASE, UM, AND AS WELL AS A STEP INCREASE.

AND WE'RE MOVING THEIR, UH, STEPS FROM 27 TO 28, WHICH IS THE FOURTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR OF INCREASES THAT PERFECTLY ALIGNS WITH THE STATE'S REQUIREMENT TO TAKE THIS TEACHER, THE STATE MINIMUM SALARY SCHEDULE TO 28 YEARS.

SO WE ARE RIGHT ON TRACK WITH WHERE WE NEED TO BE, AND I'M EXCITED THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE TO MOVE UP THREE STEPS OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT.

WE, WE KIND OF HAD SOME FORESIGHT ON THAT A FEW YEARS AGO.

UM, SO THE, UH, OTHER EMPLOYEES, NON-CERTIFIED EMPLOYEES, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE ADMINISTRATORS CLASSIFIED, AND ANY, UH, UM, PROFESSIONAL GROUP OF EMPLOYEES WOULD RECEIVE A 3%.

UH, THIS PROPOSED TO RECEIVE A 3% COST OF LIVING INCREASE IN THIS BUDGET, AS WELL AS A STEP INCREASE, AS WELL AS MOVING FROM 27 TO 28 STEPS.

SO, UH, THERE ALSO, UH, I DIDN'T MENTION IT ON THE BEAUFORT SIDE, BUT OUR TEACHERS ARE ALSO SEEING WITH EIA FUNDS.

SO THOSE ARE SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS, A TEACHER SALARY SUPPLY REIMBURSEMENT, THAT AMOUNT IS RISING FROM $350 THIS YEAR TO $400.

SO THAT, FOR ACE IS A COST OF $8,000.

UH, FOR BEAUFORT, IT'S SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN THAT, BUT THAT IS DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR FUNDED, UH, THROUGH EIA FUNDS.

SO THAT IS A BENEFIT TO OUR TEACHERS AS WELL.

UH, NON-TAXABLE,

[02:50:01]

UH, AGAIN, 11.7% HEALTH INSURANCE INCREASE WE'RE SEEING THERE.

SO A SIGNIFICANT COST.

UM, ACE DID SEE IN THE RECENT SENATE FINANCE PROJECTIONS AN INCREASE OF $7,000.

SO IN TURN, THAT DOESN'T, UH, FOR THE CHANGES FROM THE HOUSE VERSION TO THE SENATE VERSION, UH, I HAVEN'T MADE THOSE CHANGES IN THIS BUDGET.

THERE.

IT IS A RELATIVELY INSIGNIFICANT AMOUNT CONSIDERING THE $3.7 MILLION BUDGET.

UM, SO THE OTHER BUDGET INCREASES, MANY OF WHICH ARE DUE TO INFLATION, UH, ARE, UH, TRAVEL COSTS ARE UP.

THE, UH, IR THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, WHICH WE FOLLOW.

THE STANDARD MILEAGE RATE, UH, TYPICALLY INCREASE.

LAST YEAR IT INCREASED 2%, SO IT'S AT 67 CENTS A MILE AT THIS POINT.

UH, WE HAVE PUT IN AN EXTRA A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, UH, FOR EMERGENCY MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS.

UM, A ACES BUILDING AND FACILITIES ARE AGING, AND THEY'RE CONTINUING TO HAVE ISSUES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

SO WE'VE PUT IN DESIGNATED ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR, UH, THOSE, UH, REPAIRS THAT WILL BE ANTICIPATED 20% INCREASE IN CUSTODIAL SERVICES.

SO, AGAIN, UH, BUT JASPER EIGHT, BEAUFORT, JASPER EIGHT FOLLOWS THE, UH, CONTRACT FOR CUSTODIAL SERVICES FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

SO ANY INCREASES THAT WE'RE GONNA EXPERIENCE, THEY'LL, THEY WILL EXPERIENCE SOME INCREASE AS WELL.

UH, AS WE ACT, THOSE BIDS, UH, INCREASE IN OTHER SERVICES.

TYPICALLY, WE DO, UH, BUDGET A 3% CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR ALL OTHER SERVICES.

AND AS YOU SEE, THE INFLATION RATE IS 3.5% RIGHT NOW.

UM, WE'RE NOT SEEING COSTS AGAIN, RISE AS MUCH AS WE WERE, BUT THEY'RE STILL HOLDING HIGH AT HIGH, VERY HIGH LEVELS.

UH, THERE IS A NEED FOR COMPLETE, UM, COMPUTER REPLACEMENT REFRESH.

UM, BUT SO WHAT WE DECIDED WAS TO PUT IN PHASE ONE THIS YEAR, UH, WHICH IS A $43,000 COST, UH, INTO THIS BUDGET SO THAT THEY CAN, UH, ADDRESS IMMEDIATE NEEDS OF THE COMPUTERS THAT ARE, UM, FAILING, UH, OR DUE TO FAIL IN THE NEXT YEAR.

SO WE DO WANT TO INCREASE, UH, FOR AND TO DEAL WITH THOSE, UH, REFRESH ITEMS. UH, ANOTHER NOTE, UH, THERE'S BEEN SOME FLUCTUATION, JUST LIKE BEAUFORT, ACE IS EXPERIENCING SOME FLUCTUATION IN THEIR FUNDING SOURCES.

SO WHEN THE STATE AID CLASSROOM'S FUNDING SOURCE CHANGED LAST YEAR, WE WERE EXPECTING SOME DOLLARS TO COME INTO THE GENERAL FUND THAT DID NOT COME INTO THE GENERAL FUND.

THEY CAME INTO EIA FUNDS, EIA FUNDS.

THEY'RE RESTRICTED FOR SALARIES AND BENEFITS ONLY.

SO TWO TEACHERS HAVE BEEN MOVED IN THIS BUDGET TO, FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO THE EIA FUND IN ORDER TO MATCH UP THE REVENUES THAT ARE RESTRICTED WITH, UH, THE TEACHER'S SALARIES.

AND SO WE CAN UTILIZE AND, AND FULLY EXHAUST THOSE FUNDS.

SO IN THE CURRENT BUDGET ESTIMATES, UH, WHAT WE'RE FACING IS A, A REVENUES OF 3.8 MILLION, UM, TO REQUIRED TO BALANCE THE BUDGET.

JUST KEEP IN MIND THAT THE PROJECTED ACTUALS, AND, AND I'LL SHOW YOU THAT, UH, BRIEFLY, IS ABOUT THE, THE FUND BALANCE AT ACE IS ABOUT 8%.

SO IT IS AROUND $300,000.

SO IT HAS, UH, IT IS SIGNIFICANTLY LOW, UH, BUT THERE NEEDS CAN BE ADDRESSED, UH, BUT BY BUFORT AND JASPER'S ALLOCATIONS.

UH, SO WITH THIS BUDGET, WE DO REQUIRE INCREASES.

THERE IS AN INCREASE, A TOTAL INCREASE IN THIS BUDGET OF $427,000.

TWO THIRDS OF THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THIS OPERATING BUDGET IS BUFORT, WHICH WOULD BE AN INCREASE OF 285,000 THAT ALIGNS WITH WHAT YOU SAW IN THE BUDGET INCREASES TODAY, UH, FOR BUFORT.

AND THEN JASPER WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANOTHER $142,000.

UH, THERE IS NO USE OF FUND BALANCE IN THIS.

WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT USING FUND BALANCE BECAUSE WE ARE AT AN 8% LEVEL.

UM, AND SO, BUT WITHOUT THOSE INCREASES, WE WOULD ACTUALLY BE IN A NEGATIVE FUND BALANCE SITUATION.

SO WE DO REQUIRE, UH, IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN AND STAY WITH BUFORT SALARY SCHEDULES, WE WILL REQUIRE AN INCREASE IN THOSE COSTS.

SO, NEXT SLIDE.

UM, THIS ONE IS SMALL AND YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO SEE VERY WELL, BUT, UM, I CAN, I THINK, UH, JUST HIT SOME HIGHLIGHTS HERE.

WE DO EXPECT, UM, TO RECEIVE REVENUES, UH, JUST SLIGHTLY BELOW WHERE THE APPROVED BUDGET FELL BECAUSE OF THAT, UH, CHANGE IN THE STATE AID TO CLASSROOMS. BUT WE DO

[02:55:01]

INTEND TO, UM, SPEND THE EXPENDED TOTAL EXPENDITURE BUDGET.

WE ARE ON TARGET TO SPEND THAT.

SO WE DO EXPECT A DE DECREASE IN THE FUND BALANCE TO GET TO THE 8% PROJECTED FUND BALANCE.

UH, WE HAD 12% AT THE END OF LAST, UH, LAST BUDGET YEAR.

UM, SO THE PROJECTED BUDGET CALLS FOR A THREE, $3.8 MILLION OF REVENUE AND EXPENSE, AND HOLDING THAT, UH, FUND BALANCE LEVEL AT THE SAME AMOUNT OF 8%.

SO THE, UM, THE REAL POINT OF TODAY'S MEETING IS TO DISCUSS THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS NEEDS AT ACE.

UM, THIS IS A, AGAIN, A BRIEF SUMMARY, BUT, UH, BASICALLY A FACILITY STUDY WAS DONE BACK IN, UH, UM, A FEW YEAR, UH, I THINK 2019.

IT'S BEEN UPDATED TWO OR THREE TIMES AS RECENTLY AS OCTOBER, 2023.

UM, SO $11 MILLION WERE IDENTIFIED IN THAT STUDY.

AND THE CATEGORIES, UH, ON THE NEXT SLIDE YOU'LL SEE ARE MAJOR AREAS OF, UH, OF NEED, HVAC, ELECTRICAL SECURITY, EXTERIOR SITE WORK, CEILING LEAKS, FLOOR DRAIN REPAIRS, CASEWORK REPLACEMENTS, RAMPS FOR A DA COMPLIANCE, RESTROOMS FOR A DA COMPLIANCE, DOOR REPLACEMENTS, VENTILATION, LIGHTING, FLOORING, WINDOW GLAZING, AND REMOVING BLACKBOARDS.

AND SO, UH, AFTER OUR LAST, UH, WE HAD A JOINT, UH, ACE BOARD MEETING, MANY OF YOU ATTENDED.

AND, UH, IT WAS VERY EVIDENT THAT WE HAVE TECHNOLOGY ISSUES.

UH, THERE WAS NO INTERNET, ALTHOUGH WE HAD AN ELABORATE DISPLAY OF THE COUNTY CHANNEL COMING IN AND DID A GREAT JOB WITH THE SETUP AND THE STAFF.

UH, THE INTERNET DID NOT WORK, AND WERE NOT NOT ABLE TO BROADCAST, UH, LIVE.

WHEN I LEFT THAT MEETING, I WENT, UH, THE NEXT DAY TO OUR TECHNOLOGY FOLKS AND INQUIRED AS TO WHAT THE ISSUES WERE.

AND THE ISSUE WAS THAT OUR SYSTEMS ARE OVER 15 YEARS OLD THERE.

UH, AND YOU CAN, YOU KNOW, IN THE TECHNOLOGY WORLD, THAT THAT'S PROBABLY TRIPLE THE NUMBER OF YEARS THAT, UH, NEEDS TO BE, UH, UH, REPLACED.

AND SO THERE WERE SOME SIGNIFICANT NEEDS.

AND, UH, SO I REQUESTED MARK, UH, MR. SHOHAN AND HIS TEAM TO COME BACK WITH A PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT OF WHAT THE NEEDS WERE.

AND THEY IDENTIFIED THE ITEMS ON YOUR SCREEN HERE, UH, SWITCHES, ACCESS, WIRELESS ACCESS POINTS, SERVERS, TELEPHONES, INTERACTIVE WHITEBOARDS, CAMERAS, WIRING, FIBER, ELECTRIC, UH, ARCHITECTURE AND ENGINEER SERVICES TO DESIGN, UH, AS WELL AS DESKTOPS AND LAPTOPS.

AND THOSE TOTALED $2 MILLION.

SO THE TOTAL COST, TOTAL VALUE OF THE REPAIRS OF, OF THE MAJOR MAINTENANCE AND, AND EQUIPMENT THAT IS NEEDED AT ACE CURRENTLY IS ESTIMATED AT $13 MILLION IN STATE LAW.

UH, IT REQUIRES THAT BUFORT AND JASPER SHARE 50 50 ON CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AT ACE.

AND SO THE RESPONSIBILITY WOULD FALL AT SIX AND A HALF MILLION FOR EACH OF THESE AREAS.

NOW, UM, I CAN'T SPEAK FOR ACE, UH, I, BUT, UM, EXCUSE ME, I CAN'T SPEAK FOR JASPER, BUT, UH, WE DO HAVE SOME, A SOURCE OF FUNDING AVAILABLE.

UM, WE DO HAVE A FEW OPTIONS.

UM, AND SO THIS IS JUST SOMETHING ELSE TO THINK ABOUT.

YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE THE EXCESS FUND BALANCE, BUT WE, UH, AND HISTORICALLY HAVE USED EXCESS 8% FUNDS IN, WHEN WE DID RENOVATIONS IN 2009, 10, WHICH WAS THE LAST TIME MAJOR RENOVATIONS WERE DONE AT ACE, UH, THOSE WERE, WE USED, UH, EXCESS OPERATING, UH, EXCESS 8% FUNDS.

AND AS WE CAME ON DEBT DAY TO REPORT TO YOU, THERE IS A POT OF FUNDING OF $8 MILLION AVAILABLE IF WE CHOOSE TO USE THAT SOURCE OF FUNDS.

UM, SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT KNOWN.

UM, WE, AND SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO DR. RODRIGUEZ.

I WAS JUST GONNA SAY THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A FEW ITEMS KIND OF IN, IN HOPPER THAT ARE JUST KIND OF LIKE PERCOLATING OUT THERE.

THIS, THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF ONE, UH, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, UH, LAND POTENTIAL, LAND ACQUISITIONS AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

SO I THINK SOMETHING THAT MAY BE HELPFUL TO YOU IS AT A, AT A FUTURE BOARD MEETING TO BRING, UH, WHAT ARE THOSE ITEMS LIKE THAT, THAT ARE ON THE HOPPER OUT THERE,

[03:00:01]

AND SOME OF THE POTENTIAL FUNDING SOURCES FOR THAT.

UM, SO THAT YOU'RE EQUIPPED TO MAKE A DECISION FROM THE 30,000 FOOT LEVEL, UH, SEE HOW THAT ALL SORT OF SHAKES OUT.

UH, 'CAUSE I THINK THAT'LL BE HELPFUL TO YOU, UH, AS YOU MOVE THROUGH THAT.

UM, ON THE SAME TOPIC, UM, I TALKED, UM, WITH DEBBIE ELMORE MAYBE A MONTH OR SO AGO ASKING IF, UH, UM, SHARED KATE FACILITIES WITH DIFFERENT COUNT SCHOOL DISTRICTS, IF THERE WAS A, UH, A WAY TO ACCESS, OR DID THEY GET STATE FUNDING AT ALL? AND YES.

SO HAVE WE INVESTIGATED THAT ROUTE TOO? WHAT'S AVAILABLE? UH, FROM, FROM THE STATE? UM, I, IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING, WE HAVE CONTACTED ONE OF THE STATE SENATORS AND ARE EXPLORING TO SEE IF THERE ARE, IS THERE ANY OPTION OPPORTUNITIES FOR BEAUFORT OR JA BEAUFORT, JASPER ACE TO RECEIVE SOME CAPITAL FUNDING.

UM, SO THAT IS BEING DISCUSSED AND HOPE TO RE HEAR SOME RESULTS SOON.

YEAH, I'LL, I'LL, I'LL FOLLOW UP ON THAT SOON, BUT I'M NOT SURE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SAME THING.

OH, OKAY.

UH, THAT WAS JUST SOMETHING, AN INITIATIVE, UH, YOU KNOW, MY OWN INITIATIVE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION OR DISCUSSION.

BUT I THINK IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE YOU'RE SAYING THAT THERE IS SOME SPECIFIC ALLOCATION FOR THAT THAT'S BEEN DONE.

WELL, MAYBE I, I'M NOT SURE IT'S SPECIFIC ALLOCATION, BUT HAS THAT BEEN, UM, DEFINITELY OTHER, I GUESS, SHARED FACILITIES BETWEEN DISTRICTS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET, UH, FUNDING AT THE STATE LEVEL, AND I'M NOT SURE OKAY.

EXACTLY HOW THAT'S OCCURRED.

I'LL FOLLOW UP.

BUT I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW.

I'LL FOLLOW UP ON THAT IN THAT SHIP.

WE DO HAVE SOME STATE FUNDING, BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM TO INCREASE, UH, THAT'S THE PROBLEM.

UH, , SO, UM, SO THEY AREN'T FUNDED WELL AT ALL.

UM, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, YEAH.

SO IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE, THE BOARD WOULD NEED TO DO OR YOU WANNA JUST, YOU'RE GONNA PURSUE THAT WITH THE SENATOR? YEAH, I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA JUST PURSUE, AND THEN I'LL, I'LL GET CONNECT WITH YOU ON THAT AFTER.

PLACEMENT OF ACE, IT'S RIGHT THERE ALMOST AT THE CROSS INTERSECTION OF SOME REAL INTENSIVE GROWTH.

UM, COLONEL GEIER, UH, EARL AND CARLTON AND I WERE AT THE, THE, UH, ACE BOARD MEETING LAST NIGHT, I GUESS IT WAS.

YEAH, SEEMS LIKE JUST, JUST YESTERDAY, .

AND, AND THERE'S, UH, AN IMMEDIATE, SOME IMMEDIATE NEED OR SOME CAPITAL, UH, IMPROVEMENT.

WE'VE GOT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT A BARBER, UH, PROGRAM AND THE BUILDING WHERE THE BARBER SHOP IS HVAC'S NOT WORKING.

AND, AND THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED, UH, VERY QUICKLY.

WE, WE ALSO HAVE SOME DOORS AT, UH, DURING THE AUTO, UH, BODY SHOP THAT, UH, WON'T OPEN UP LIKE THEY SHOULD.

AND IT'S, IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF.

AND SO WHAT, WHAT WAS THE AMOUNT, UH, THAT THEY ASKED FOR EACH, UM, COUNTY TO COME UP WITH WAS 23 TOTAL, 12,000 23, 20 4,000 TOTAL, 24,000 TOTAL.

AND WE WOULD GET HALF, WE WOULD PAY HALF.

SO, UM, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, UH, WE NEED TO FIND.

WE NEED TO FIND THE FUNDS, UH, FOR SAFETY AND, AND, UH, AND CLASSROOM EXPERIENCE RELATIVELY QUICKLY.

MR. DALLAS? YEAH, I, THANKS.

THANKS, MR. SMITH.

MADAM CHAIR.

I WOULD ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT WHAT COLONEL IS SAYING.

UH, IN THE SHORT TENURE, I'VE BEEN EXPOSED TO ACE, I'VE BEEN EXTREMELY IMPRESSED BY THE COMRADERY.

THERE'S A DIFFERENT VIBE THERE IN TERMS OF THOSE KIDS.

I HAVE MADE A CHOICE TO LEAVE THEIR PRIMARY SCHOOL.

SOME OF THEM ARE TAKING AN HOUR AND 15, 20 MINUTES BUS RIDES TO GET THERE.

SO THEY'VE SELF-SELECTED AND THEY'RE VERY COMMITTED.

AND COMMITTED IS A FORCE MULTIPLIER.

AND THESE KIDS HAVE THAT.

THE, ALL THE STAFF ALSO OUT THERE IS VERY, VERY MUCH ENERGIZED AND PROUD OF WHAT THEY'RE DOING, AS IS IN BEAUFORT COUNTY, IN JASPER COUNTY.

UH, BUT BEAUFORD IN PARTICULAR, UH, SO YOU GOT TWO REAL IMPORTANT INGREDIENTS THERE.

AND I THINK SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN FUNDED GOING BACK FOR SEVERAL YEARS, I THINK IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO, TO, UH, CATCH UP, UH, EVEN FAR BEYOND, UH, WHAT THE 23 OR $24,000 WHEN YOU LOOK AT, AND THANK YOU SUPERINTENDENT RODRIGUEZ FOR HELPING ME UNDERSTAND THAT A FEW MONTHS AGO, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE

[03:05:01]

4 62 IS GOING TO BE DEVELOPED EVEN MORE.

THERE'S SOME EFFORTS TO ACTUALLY EXPAND 4 62, MAKE IT MORE OF A THOROUGH THOROUGHFARE.

BUT IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN JASPER COUNTY, THE DEVELOPMENT THAT IS THERE AND IS COMING, JASPER COUNTY ARE GONNA BE ONE OF THE MORE WEALTHIER, MORE ONE OF THE WEALTHIER COUNTIES IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE.

AND HOPEFULLY AS WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ACE, THEY TOO CAN BEGIN TO SEE WHERE THE GROWTH IS GOING AND FACTOR THAT INTO THEIR FUNDING PROCLIVITY, SO TO SPEAK.

SO I JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE IT IS ONE HECK OF AN, UH, ORGANIZATION THAT'S PRODUCING A LOT OF TALENT.

I THINK WE HAD DR.

LEVE, I THINK WE HAVE THREE OF YOUR STUDENTS GOING TO THE FINALS THIS SOMETIME IN THE NEAR FUTURE, SIR, FOR SKILLS.

SO JUST WANTED TO SAY, I HOPEFULLY ALL OF YOU'LL BE ABLE TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

AGAIN, UH, WE HAD TO COMBINE BOARD, BOARD MEETING, BUT IF YOU EVER GET A CHANCE TO VISIT, IT IS A MOTIVATING, UH, INSTITUTION AS ARE OUR INSTITUTION.

SO THANK YOU, MA'AM.

AS THE, UH, TEAM IS COMING FORWARD FOR THE NEXT ITEM, WHICH IS, UM, ON STRATEGIC PLAN AND STRATEGIC PLANNING, UH, I WANNA JUST TEE IT UP, UH, WITH RESPECT TO WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY.

AND SO I THINK WHAT IS IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF US TO NOTE IS THE FOLLOWING.

A LOT OF STRATEGIC PLANS FAIL AND FALL THROUGH THE CRACK BECAUSE, UH, THERE ISN'T AN IMPLEMENTATION STRUCTURE OR AN IMPLEMENTATION PLAN TO CARRY IT OUT AND SEE IT THROUGH.

AND WHAT, WHAT WE ARE BUILDING INTO THIS IS AN IMPLEMENTATION PLANNING COMPONENT.

UH, THAT'LL, THAT IS HERE.

WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR ANY VOTE TODAY.

UM, WE'LL BE BACK IN JUNE, RIGHT, IN JUNE FOR, UH, FOR, UH, A BOARD VOTE TO APPROVE THE LONG-TERM OUTCOMES OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN.

OKAY? AND THEN WE CAN SEND IT, AND THEN WE'LL BE READY TO SEND IT UP TO THE STATE.

UM, BUT TODAY WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE SHARE WITH YOU THE STRUCTURE OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN SO YOU CAN SEE, UH, THE IMPLEMENTATION PORTION BUILT INTO THIS AS WELL.

AND THEN, UM, SOLICITATION OF BOARD FEEDBACK, UH, AND INPUT, I SHOULD SAY, INTO THE STRATEGIC PLAN.

OKAY? SO THAT, THAT'S WHAT I WANT YOU TO KEEP IN MIND AS WE MOVE THROUGH IT TODAY.

AND I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER, UH, TO NICK AND JOAN.

SO YOU'VE BEEN, I'M GIVEN A SLIP OF PAPER.

IF YOU WOULD GO TO THE WEBSITE THAT IS LISTED ON THAT SLIP OF PAPER, AND THEN, UM, WHEN YOU GET THERE, YOU WILL ENTER IN, UM, THAT SIX DIGIT CODE INTO THE COMPUTER.

AND WE'VE GOT TWO TECH COACHES HERE THAT IF YOU NEED SOME ASSISTANCE, , I DON'T HAVE THE PAPER.

IT'S, THAT IS A PROMPT THAT IT HAPPENS AT, UM, BECAUSE WE CARE, BUT IT, IT JUST PROMPTS IT

[03:10:31]

EVERYBODY.

UH, ONE MORE.

YOU CAN SHARE THEN, UM, WHEN SHE GETS UP AND RUNNING, THEN WE CAN, UM, GO.

SO PERFECT.

THE DEVELOPMENT OF A STRATEGIC PLAN STARTS IN THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION, VISION, AND CORE BELIEFS.

ALRIGHT, SO GOOD AFTERNOON.

UM, TODAY I AM HERE TO SEEK FEEDBACK AROUND THE CORE COMPONENTS OF OUR NEW FIVE YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN.

IN ORDER FOR THE DISTRICT TO FULLY CAPTURE YOUR FEEDBACK, THE, THE STRATEGIC PLAN STEERING COMMITTEE WILL BE ENGAGING YOU THROUGH THE USE OF PEAR DECK, AN INSTRUCTIONAL TOOL THAT TEACHERS IN THE DISTRICT USE.

YOU WILL WANT TO GO, UM, TO THE WEBSITE THAT YOU'VE DONE PUT IN YOUR SIX DIGITS.

SO, UM, YOU WILL HAVE THE SCREEN UP THAT LOOKS LIKE WHAT ROBIN HAS PROJECTED FOR YOU.

YOU WILL NOT BE VOTING ON ANYTHING TODAY.

WE WILL COME BACK IN JUNE.

UM, AS DR. RODRIGUEZ SAID, UM, ALTHOUGH I'M SPEAKING BEFORE YOU TODAY, UM, THIS FEEDBACK SESSION HAS BEEN DEVELOPED THROUGH THE GUIDANCE OF DR. RODRIGUEZ AND THE HARD WORK OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN COMMITTEE.

THIS COMMITTEE HAS REPRESENTATION FROM ALL OF THE DISTRICT'S DEPARTMENTS TO CAPTURE VARIOUS VIEWPOINTS AND DIFFERENT VIEWS, UM, OF THE COMPONENTS.

MANY OF THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS ARE SITTING, UM, IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM, SO IF THEY COULD PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED FOR THOSE THAT ARE ON THE COMMITTEE, I JUST DREW THE SHORT STRAW TO GET TO THE PRESENTATION.

SO HOPEFULLY ALL THE TECHNOLOGY WORKS IN EVERYTHING, SO, ALRIGHT, UM, AS YOUR FACILITATOR, WE'RE GONNA GO THROUGH THE FEEDBACK, UM, KIND OF LOOK AT THE PLANS DEVELOPMENT AND COLLECT YOUR THOUGHTS ALONG THE WAY WITH GUIDING QUESTIONS THAT THE TEAM HAS DEVELOPED WITH THE STRATEGIC PLANS CROSS DEPARTMENTAL APPROACH.

UM, THIS WILL DRIVE THE DISTRICT'S DIRECTION FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS GOING TO 2029.

SO THE QUESTIONS ARE GONNA LOOK AT VARIOUS ASPECTS ACROSS THE DISTRICT.

THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE STRATEGIC STRATEGIC PLAN WAS KICKED OFF IN COORDINATION WITH THE REBRANDING PROCESS.

THERE HAS BEEN STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS WITH THE EXAMPLES BEING SIC CHAIRS, MEMBERS OF THE TEACHERS FORUM, AND ADMINISTRATORS, ALONG WITH QUESTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN EMBEDDED IN FOCUS GROUPS, UM, THAT WERE CONDUCTED THROUGH THE REBRANDING PROCESS.

UM, I WILL SAY THERE HAVE BEEN MANY FRUITFUL MEETINGS AND PASSIONATE CONVERSATIONS, EVEN FROM THE DISTRICT COMMITTEE OVER THE VARIOUS ASPECTS OF, UM, WHERE TO CRAFT THE, UM, COMPONENTS AND HOW TO BEST DRIVE THE DISTRICT OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

[03:15:01]

BEFORE YOU ARE THE DISTRICT'S MISSION AND VISION AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN CHANGED.

WE WOULD LIKE TO GATHER FEEDBACK ON THE PLANS FOUNDATION TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE CAPTURING THE BOARD'S FOCUS WITH THESE ITEMS. FIRST, WE WILL START WITH THE MISSION STATEMENT OF THE DISTRICT.

THE MISSION DEFINES WHAT THE DISTRICT DOES AND STANDS FOR THE MISSION OF THE BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT THROUGH A PERSONALIZED LEARNING APPROACH, WILL PREPARE GRADUATES AND COMPETE AND SUCCEED IN AN EVER-CHANGING GLOBAL SOCIETY AND CAREER MARKETPLACE.

IF YOU BREAK DOWN OUR MISSION STATEMENT, WHAT IS THE KEY ASPECT OF OUR STATEMENT THAT YOU FIND MOST COMPELLING FOR THE DISTRICT? YOU WILL SELECT ONE OF THE CHOICES.

SO IT IS A, UM, UM, PRETTY EVEN SPLIT, UM, OF THE TOP THREE THAT ARE COMING IN.

SO CURRENTLY THE, THE ONE AND, UM, HAS THE MOST WOULD BE YOUR PERSONALIZED LEARNING APPROACH HAS THREE, BUT THE OTHER TWO ARE EACH CARING TO NEXT WE WILL TRANSITION TO THE VISION OF THE DISTRICT.

THIS OUTLINES OUR DISTRICT'S ASPIRATIONS FOR THE FUTURE AND IMPACT ON THE WORLD.

OUR VISION IS TO WORK WITH FAMILIES AND OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS PERFORM AT AN INTERNATIONALLY COMPETITIVE LEVEL IN A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT THAT IS SAFE, NURTURING, AND ENGAGING.

AS YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR ASPIRATION FOR THE DISTRICT'S FUTURE, WHAT IS ONE EXAMPLE THAT WOULD SHOWCASE THE DISTRICT ACHIEVING THIS VISION FOR THE DISTRICT? YOU WILL TYPE YOUR IDEA IN THE BOX.

SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR VISION, UM, WHEN WE THINK OF THE VISION OR ASPIRATIONS FOR THE FUTURE, WHAT WOULD BE ONE EXAMPLE THAT WOULD REALLY SHOWCASE, UM, THE DISTRICT ACHIEVING THE VISION COMING IN? INCLUDE WORKING WITH, UM, ADDITIONAL PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE COMMUNITY AND REALLY LOOKING AT THE GLOBAL STAGE AND HOW TO GET RECOGNITION, UM, FROM THE INTERNATIONAL SIDE OF THINGS.

ARE SOME OF THE FEEDBACK COMING IN TO SUMMARIZE IT, THE NEXT PIECE OF IT, THIS SETS THE THIRD PART OF THE FOUNDATION AND THOSE ARE OUR CORE BELIEFS THAT THE DISTRICT FOLLOWS.

CORE BELIEFS ARE STRONG, LONG-TERM BELIEFS THAT THE DISTRICT

[03:20:01]

HAS TO ACCOMPLISH OUR VISION AND MISSION.

AS YOU THINK ABOUT THESE NINE BELIEFS, WHICH NUMBER DO YOU BELIEVE TO BE THE MOST IMPORTANT CORE BELIEF OF THE DISTRICT? AND YOU WILL TYPE YOUR NUMBER, UM, IN THAT BOX PORN.

THE NEXT PIECE YOU'LL GET TO TELL US, SO OF WHAT'S COMING IN, UM, WE'RE SHOWING FOUR AND THREE AS BEING TIED FOR THE FIRST ONE IN AND I YES.

I CAN TELL SENT IT.

THEY KEEP IT SIMPLE FOR STUDENTS, SO YES, IT'S AN AFTERSCHOOL PROJECT.

ALRIGHT, SO IT IS CLOSING WITH A TIE BETWEEN, UM, NUMBERS THREE AND FOUR OF HIGH EXPECTATIONS OF THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY.

UH, YES.

PERFECT.

SO THE ONE THAT, UM, COMES OUT AHEAD WOULD BE HIGH EXPECTATIONS OF THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY POSITIVELY IMPACT STUDENT SUCCESS.

SO THEN WITH THAT, IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE CORE BELIEFS, 'CAUSE UM, SOME OF YOU'RE PROBABLY TORN ON WHICH ONES TO USE.

UM, YOU'RE ABLE TO DRAG OVER THE NUMBERS THAT APPEAR ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF YOUR SCREEN.

YOU CAN DRAG THOSE OVER, UM, JUST CLICK AND DRAG, AND YOU CAN KIND OF ORDER YOUR TOP FIVE OF HOW YOU WOULD RANK THEM.

SO THEY DON'T NECESSARILY FIT IN THE BOX.

YOU JUST KIND OF PLOP THEM ON TOP OF THE BOX, IF YOU WILL.

OH.

UM, IF IT DOESN'T CLICK AND DRAG, I JUST CLICK THE NUMBER.

SO THAT SETS THE FOUNDATION FOR OUR CORE BELIEFS.

AND THEN CLICK WHERE YOU WANT IT TO GO.

HAS, HAS ALSO BEEN SUCCESSFUL.

[03:25:35]

THOSE ARE THE THREE PIECES.

SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT AS OUR NEW STRATEGIC PLAN IS DEVELOPED, UM, IT IS SET IN THE FOUNDATION OF WHAT THE BOARD PULLS OUT OF THOSE AREAS.

OUR STRATEGIC PLAN IS BEING BUILT WITH THE DEFINED STRUCTURE THAT WILL ENCOMPASS TIERED RESPONSIBILITIES THAT WILL HAVE DEFINED LONG-TERM OUTCOMES THAT ARE ACHIEVED THROUGH THE DEFINED STRATEGIC PILLARS.

MANY STRATEGIC PLANS STRUGGLE TO COME CLOSE TO REACHING THEIR OUTCOMES BECAUSE THERE IS GENERALLY NOT A PROCESS DESIGNED TO ACHIEVE THEM.

OUR STRATEGIC PLAN HAS DEVELOPED A PROCESS TO ALLOW THE DISTRICT TO MONITOR AND ACHIEVE OUR LONG-TERM OUTCOMES.

ONE COMPONENT OF THIS IS INCORPORATING TIERED RESPONSIBILITIES.

AS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES ARE DEVELOPED, THEY WILL HAVE A SPONSOR, OWNER, AND ACTION TEAM.

THE SPONSOR WILL CHAMPION THE STRATEGIC INITIATIVE AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK.

THE OWNER WILL OVERSEE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STRATEGIC INITIATIVE, REPORT OUT THE PROGRESS TO THE SPONSOR, AND LEAD THE ACTION TEAM.

THE ACTION TEAM WILL BE INTEGRAL IN THE IMPLEMENTATION AND EXECUTION OF THE INITIATIVE.

MEMBERS OF THE ACTION TEAM WILL BE MADE UP OF A RANGE OF STAKEHOLDERS TO TARGET SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STRATEGIC INITIATIVE.

IT WILL ALSO FLOW BY HAVING YOUR LONG-TERM OUTCOMES GOING INTO YOUR STRATEGIC PILLARS THAT THEN GO INTO YOUR STRATEGIC INITIATIVES THAT WE WILL BREAK DOWN WITH THIS TIERED STRUCTURE.

IT STARTS WITH THE LONG-TERM OUTCOMES.

THE LONG-TERM OUTCOMES ARE MEASURABLE AND SET TO STRIVE AND DRIVE THE OTHER TIERS OF THE PLAN.

THE STRATEGIC PILLARS ARE DESIGNED TO MEET THE LONG-TERM OUTCOMES OF THE PLAN.

THEN THE STRATEGIC INITIATIVES ARE ALIGNED TO THE STRATEGIC PILLARS TO ACHIEVE YOUR LONG-TERM OUTCOMES.

OUR LONG-TERM OUTCOMES ARE FOCUSED ON KEY OUTCOMES THAT THE DISTRICT SETS TO ACHIEVE OVER THE COURSE OF FIVE YEARS WITH OUR PLAN ENDING IN 2029.

SO I'LL DESCRIBE, UM, WHAT YOU'RE SEEING BEFORE, UM, YOU ANSWER ANYTHING.

SO, OUR LONG-TERM OUTCOMES HAVE BEEN FOCUSED INTO THREE DIFFERENT AREAS BEING THE GRADUATION RATE, ENGLISH, LANGUAGE, ARTS, AND MATHEMATICS.

THE OTHER AREAS THAT ENCOMPASS A COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION COME TOGETHER TO ACCOMPLISH THE TERM OUTCOMES AS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES.

ALL OF THESE AREAS COME TOGETHER TO HIGHLIGHT THE PROFILE OF A BEAUFORT GRADUATE.

WE ARE CONTINUING TO ANALYZE A VARIETY OF FACTORS THAT ENCOMPASS AND IMPACT THE LONG TERM OUTCOMES.

WE KNOW THAT THERE WILL BE AN IMPACT WITH THE STATE'S ADOPTION OF NEW ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS STANDARDS AND MATH STANDARDS.

WITH THE ADOPTION OF NEW STANDARDS, THE STATE WILL BE FIELD TESTING NEW QUESTIONS ON SC READY AND REVISING THE STATE'S ASSESSMENT TO ALIGN TO THE CHANGES IN THE STANDARDS.

IN ADDITION TO MATH, HAVING NEW STANDARDS, THE STATE HAS CHANGED THE HIGH SCHOOL COURSE PROGRESSION THAT THEY WANT STUDENTS TO FOLLOW BY HAVING GEOMETRY WITH STATISTICS FIRST FOLLOWED BY ALGEBRA ONE WITH MY OTHER HEAD OF THE JOB ON, I WANT TO NOTE THAT THE STATE HAS BEEN MAKING CHANGES TO SCHOOL ACCOUNTABILITY.

SO WE ARE CURRENTLY IN OUR THIRD VERSION OF THE ACCOUNTABILITY MANUAL WITH AN ANTICIPATION OF A FOURTH VERSION TO BE RELEASED IN JUNE, UM, FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR'S REPORT CARD.

SO, UM, IT IS CONTINUALLY CHANGING.

SO WHAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU THEN WITH THE GRADUATION RATE, ELA AND MATH, UM, THOSE WOULD BE OUR THREE TARGET AREAS.

SO THEN ALL OF THE OTHER, UM, AREAS AND PROGRAMS OPPORTUNITIES WOULD FALL, UM, INTO ACHIEVING THOSE THREE BIGGER AREAS.

SO THE GOAL BEING THAT WE WOULD HAVE THESE, UM, CORE LONG-TERM OUTCOMES THAT EVERYBODY'S GONNA KNOW AND BE ABLE TO REITERATE.

UM, SO, UM, LOOKING AT THESE THEN, UM, HOW WOULD

[03:30:01]

YOU RATE WHERE THEY ARE BEING ON TARGET, UM, OR REVISIONS NEEDED? WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT HAVING THREE TARGET AREAS BEING GRADUATION RATE, ENGLISH LANGUAGE, ARTS AND MATH WORKS A LITTLE BETTER.

AND THEN ONCE WE PUT THE, THE ARROW THERE, DO WE HAVE TO PRESS ENTER ONCE IT GOES THERE, YOU'RE GOLDEN.

WOULD BE DETERMINING.

SO WOULD YOU SAY THAT GRADUATION RATE, ELA AND MATH ARE ON TARGET TO BE THE CORE LONG-TERM OUTCOMES TO TARGET, UM, TO THE LINE FOR, WOULD YOU SAY THOUGH THAT REVISIONS NEEDED OR IS IT ON TARGET FOR, UM, THE DIRECTION OF THE DISTRICT? YEAH, , YOU CAN HIT THAT.

I'LL HIT THAT WITH THIS.

THE COMMITTEE HAS DEVELOPED FOUR STRATEGIC PILLARS THAT EMPOWERS THE DISTRICT TO CAPITALIZE ON THE MOMENTUM THAT THE DISTRICT HAS BEEN MAKING.

WITH OUR WORK, OUR STRATEGIC PILLARS PROVIDE THE DIRECT SUPPORT ON THE VISION AND LONG-TERM OUTCOMES.

THESE STRATEGIC PILLARS ENCOMPASS THE WORK OF THE DISTRICT'S REBRANDING PROCESS THAT HAD MULTIPLE LAYERS OF CROSSOVER.

AND WITH THE COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE REPRESENTATION OF MS. CASPER ON THE STRATEGIC PLAN DEVELOPMENT, ALONG WITH THE REBRANDING PROCESS, THE PILLARS ARE CONNECTED TO THE BOARD'S BUDGET PRIORITIES.

THE CONNECTIONS TO THE BOARD'S PRIORITIES HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL THROUGH THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT'S REPRESENTATION OF MS. HAMLIN AND MS. MATTSON, UM, AND THEIR WORK IN THE DEVELOPMENT.

OUR STRATEGIC PILLARS TOGETHER ALLOWS THE DISTRICT TO SEIZE THE MOMENTUM.

WITH OUR NEW FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN, OUR STRATEGIC PILLARS OF SUPPORT, ENGAGEMENT, ACHIEVEMENT AND STEWARDSHIP COME TOGETHER FOR THE DISTRICT TO ACHIEVE OUR ESTABLISHED LONG-TERM OUTCOMES.

THE STRATEGIC PILLARS HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED AND REFINED THROUGH STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT THAT ALLOWED THE COMMITTEE TO HONE IN ON THEM BEFORE YOU.

TODAY THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE REVISIONS OF THE WORDING THAT HAS LED TO WHERE WE ARE, UM, BASED ON THE INPUT THAT HAS BEEN GATHERED.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE MOMENTUM, WE HAVE A SAMPLING OF THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN HIGHLIGHTED.

UM, THESE HAVE BEEN GREAT THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN HAPPENING ACROSS THE DISTRICT IN AREAS THAT WE'RE SEEING SUCCESS.

UM, THESE WERE REALLY HIGHLIGHTED THROUGH OUR COMPREHENSIVE NEEDS ASSESSMENT AS WE REVIEWED, UH, MULTIPLE PIECES OF DATA AND INFORMATION.

SO WE'VE GOT OUR TEACHER COMPENSATION INCREASES.

UM, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DOUBLE OUR ART PERFORMANCES TO OVER 400 PERFORMANCES THIS YEAR.

UM, WITH THAT, WE'VE ALSO BEEN ABLE TO PASS TWO REFERENDUMS. UM, WE'VE INCREASED OUR INDUSTRY CERTIFICATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN EARNED BY STUDENTS, UM, FROM THE START OF THE PAST STRATEGIC PLAN.

UM, AND OUR TEACHER RETENTION LEVELS ARE HIGHER THAN PRE PANDEMIC RATES.

SO WE'VE BEEN HAVING SOME GREAT MOMENTUM THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING WITH THAT.

AND AS THE DISTRICT MOVES FORWARD, WHAT IS ONE AREA THAT YOU THINK THE DISTRICT COULD PICK UP ADDITIONAL MOMENTUM ON? NOPE.

[03:36:45]

OH YEAH.

I'M NOT ON, WELL, THIS ONE AND THE ONE WITH THE, UM, THE RED TRIANGLE ABOUT THE, THE THREE MAIN OH, COMPONENTS.

CAN SEE THE, UM, CAN YOU SEE THE RESPONSES RIGHT NOW IN FRONT OF YOU? NO.

YEAH, SAME HERE.

GRID LAYOUT, WELL, THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE.

SO WE HAVE BIRTH TO FIVE PROGRAM EXPANSION, UM, AND A HUGE INCREASE IN EXTENDED LEARNING CENTERS, UM, WITH MORE MESSAGING TO PARENTS BEING THE FIRST TEACHER, UM, EARLY CHILDHOOD TO FOR AM FROM THREE TO FIVE.

UM, ADDRESS MUSIC, EDUCATION FREQUENCY, UM, SO THAT PERFORMING ARTS MEETS EVERY DAY.

UM, INCREASE FUTURE CAREER AWARENESS AND PREPAREDNESS, UM, FINE ARTS.

UM, MORE GT ADVANCED COURSE OFFERINGS, UM, FILLING VACANCIES IN MATH AND SCIENCE CLASSES, UM, AND USE TECHNOLOGY TO AUTOMATE AND DESI DATA.

OH, YEAH.

SO IT WAS A, A COMPLETE RANGE.

UM, SO ARE YOU ABLE TO YEAH.

THAT, NO, IT JUST SHOWS US THE OKAY.

LINE WITHOUT ANY MARKS.

SO IT, IT, IT'S A COMPLETE RANGE.

SO 50% DOWN TOWARDS REVISIONS NEEDED 50% TO THE ON TARGET AREA IS WHAT'S SHOWING.

SO ALL OVER THE PLACE.

UH, WHAT IS TALENT ACQUISITION DEVELOPMENT? WHAT, WHAT DOES THAT, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? SO, TALENT ACQUISITION WOULD BE THE WORK FOR MS. WALTON'S GROUP OF RECRUITING TEACHERS.

SO JUMPING INTO OUR FIRST PILLAR OF SUPPORT.

SO THIS PILLAR, UM, CAPTURES THAT NURTURING A POSITIVE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT.

SO THIS IS GOING TO ENCOMPASS, UM, AREAS OF THE DISTRICT THINKING ABOUT TALENT ACQUISITION, DEVELOPMENT AND RETENTION.

UM, STUDENT DEVELOPMENT, SCHOOL READINESS, EARLY CHILDHOOD WILL BE CAPTURED INTO THIS AREA.

UM, SO SOME OF THE THINGS ON EARLY CHILDHOOD THAT HAVE BEEN CAPTURED, UM, WE'RE GONNA SEE THOSE KIND OF THINGS START SHOWING UP IN THIS PILLAR.

SO FOR THIS PILLAR, THEN, FLOWERS, BEFORE YOU MOVE ON, CAN YOU TELL US WHAT IS,

[03:40:01]

UM, BRINGING THEM AND FILLING OUT THE VACANCIES, UM, TEACHER OR THEN TALENT DEVELOPMENT WOULD BE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, GROWING THEM, UM, WITH THE SKILLS THAT THEY NEED TO, UM, EXCEL AND BE SUCCESSFUL.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TOUCHES MORE THAN JUST, UH, THE HR DEPARTMENT YES.

TOUCHES HR THAT TOUCHES THE, THAT TOUCHES MULTITUDE OF, OF DEPARTMENTS OR DIVISIONS.

AND I SAID, BECAUSE I JUST LEARNED WHAT TALENT ACQUISI, UH, WHAT THAT WORD MEANT, THE, UH, WHAT WHAT IT MEANT THE OTHER DAY.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE GET NEW TILES AND STUFF.

SO PEOPLE WHO ARE FOLLOWING ALONG, THEY MAY JUST NEED TO, TO KNOW THAT.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

SO THINKING ABOUT THOSE THREE AREAS, ALTHOUGH ALL THREE ARE CRITICAL, WHICH AREA WOULD YOU BELIEVE TO HAVE THE GREATEST IMPACT ON POSITIVE OUTCOMES FOR THE DISTRICT IN A STRATEGIC PLAN? SO OF THE THREE AREAS, TALENT ACQUISITION, TALENT DEVELOPMENT, AND TALENT, UM, RETENTION, WHICH ONE WOULD YOU THINK TO HAVE THE GREATEST IMPACT ON THE SUCCESS OF THE DISTRICT? SO THE WINNER WOULD BE TALENT RETENTION.

THERE WERE SIX FOR TALENT RETENTION AND ONE FOR TALENT DEVELOPMENT.

UM, SOME OF THEM ARE WELL SAID.

SO NOW WE'RE GONNA SHIFT THINKING ABOUT SCHOOL READINESS AND EARLY CHILDHOOD.

SO AS WAS ALLUDED TO, UM, IN SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT WE RECEIVED, UM, EARLY CHILDHOOD CAN HAVE AN IMPACT ON A COMMUNITY SUCCESS, A PARENT'S SUCCESS, AND A STUDENT'S SUCCESS.

SO YOU HAVE THREE AREAS.

UM, IF YOU WOULD DRAG THOSE ARROWS TO, UM, ONE ON EACH OF THE BARS OF THE LEVEL OF SUCCESS YOU WOULD RATE, UM, EARLY CHILDHOOD HAVING, SO WHAT'S THERE? UM, WHAT WE'RE FINDING IS, UM, THAT ON A COMMUNITY SUCCESS, THE MAJORITY ARE AT THE HIGH IMPACT SIDE WITH, UM, ONE KIND OF IN THE MIDDLE-ISH, UM, ON A PARENT'S SUCCESS.

IT'S KIND OF SPLIT BETWEEN THE MIDDLE TO THE HIGH IMPACT SIDE.

AND THEN ON A STUDENT SUCCESS, EVERYBODY'S AT HIGH IMPACT FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

FOR ENGAGEMENT HERE, WE ARE UNLOCKING SUCCESS THROUGH TEAMWORK AND COLLABORATION.

SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE THAT CULTURE AND CLIMATE THAT'S FOCUSED ON SYNERGY, STREAMLINED COMMUNICATION WITH OUR STAKEHOLDERS, UM, REALLY BRINGING IN THAT ENGAGEMENT, UM, KEYS TO, UM, THE DISTRICT.

SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT ENGAGEMENT, THEN HOW DO WE IMPROVE COLLABORATIONS WITH FAMILY, STAFF, AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS AND THE HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT OF STUDENTS?

[03:46:33]

SO, UM, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE TARGET INTERPERSONAL, THAT ONE-TO-ONE ONE TO 100 ENGAGEMENTS.

UM, AS WE, UH, ARE DOING MORE AND MORE DIGITAL THINGS, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE STILL MAKING THOSE HUMAN CONNECTIONS BECAUSE HUMANS ARE SOCIAL ANIMALS.

UM, MAKING SCHOOL THAT, MAKING SURE THAT SCHOOLS ARE A SYMBOL OF PRIDE, UM, THAT HAVE AN OPEN AND INVITING SPACE FOR PARENTS, UM, AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE INVITING COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO EVENTS.

UM, STANDARDIZATION, COMMUNICATION AND CREATING THAT, UM, WELCOMING AND WARM ENVIRONMENT.

UM, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING COMMUNITY MEMBERS INTO OUR SCHOOLS AND GETTING THEM TO VOLUNTEER, UM, TO ENGAGE.

UM, CONTINUING STREAMLINED COMMUNICATION, SENDING OUT INVITATIONS, BEING INVITING, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS FEEL WELCOMED, UM, AND THAT THEIR INVOLVEMENT IS MEANINGFUL.

UM, AND TO UTILIZE TALENT WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, UM, WITHIN A STUDENT'S EDUCATION SUCH AS MENTORS, COACHES, AND APPRENTICES, APPRENTICESHIPS, RIGHT NOW, ACHIEVEMENT.

SO WITH ACHIEVEMENT, THIS THINKING OF THIS SNAPSHOT HERE, THAT THIS IS WHERE WE'RE HAVING IMPACTFUL INSTRUCTION FOR ALL STUDENTS.

SO WE'RE CAPTURING THE ACADEMICS OPPORTUNITIES AND ACCESS FOR STUDENTS.

SO I'M THINKING OF IT FROM THE GIFTED AND TALENTED SIDE ALL THE WAY DOWN TO, UH, MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS AND SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMMING.

UM, SO WE'RE HITTING ALL LEVELS AND, AND ALL POPULATIONS, UM, WITHIN HERE.

SO I'M GONNA ASK YOU A HARD QUESTION.

THERE ARE SIX AREAS THROUGH STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED.

UM, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT ACHIEVEMENT.

SO WHEN WE THINK OF ACHIEVEMENT, WE WANT TO KNOW WHICH FACTOR WOULD YOU SAY HAS THE GREATEST IMPACT ON, ON ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT? THE SIX THAT WERE IDENTIFIED WERE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, CURRICULUM INSTRUCTION, PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT, STUDENT AND TEACHER, RIGHT? SO THE WINTER THERE WOULD BE, UM, PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF IT, WHICH WOULD BE THE LEAST IMPACT, THE LEAST IMPACT TO ON, ON THE, UM, AC ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT.

IF YOU HAD TO PICK THE SIX, WHICH WOULD BE NUMBER SIX FOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT.

GOTCHA.

[03:50:01]

OH, THAT COULD BE, THAT COULD DEFINITELY BE TRICKY.

THAT COULD DEFINITELY BE TRICKY.

ALL ARE IMPORTANT AND HAVE, HAVE A CRITICAL PIECE TO IT.

SO, UM, NO, THE QUESTION IS NOT ON THERE.

UM, BUT WE CAN PUT IT ON THERE.

SO, YEP.

SO HERE WE WOULD HAVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, UM, CLOSELY FOLLOWED BY CURRICULUM STEWARDSHIP.

HERE WE ARE CAPTURING, THINKING ABOUT CAREFUL AND RESPONSIBLE MANAGEMENT OF RESOURCES AND INVESTMENTS.

UM, WE'RE GETTING A SNAPSHOT OF COMMUNICATIONS, FINANCE, UM, OPERATIONS, HUMAN RESOURCES, INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES, TECHNOLOGY, ALL OF THE WAYS THAT WE COME TOGETHER TO, UM, BE CAREFUL AND RESPONSIBLE, UM, USERS AND OVERSEERS OF OUR RESOURCES AND INVESTMENTS.

WITH THAT, WHAT IS ONE SINGLE INVESTMENT? AND HERE, THINK OF INVESTMENT BEYOND MONEY, BUT JUST ONE SINGLE INVESTMENT THAT CAN MAKE THE DIS THAT CAN HELP THE DISTRICT ENSURE SUCCESS FOR ALL STUDENTS.

IT HAS TO BE ONE OF THESE, NOPE, IT, WHATEVER, WHATEVER THAT ONE INVESTMENT WOULD BE.

UM, KIND OF ONE OF THOSE HAVE YOUR BOARD PRIORITIES, UM, FOR THE BUDGET ASPECT.

BUT THIS IS JUST, IF WE THINK OF INVESTING BEYOND MONEY, WHAT WOULD THAT ONE INVESTMENT BE? WE HAVE THINGS COMING IN, UM, A, UM, A LOT ARE TALKING ABOUT PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT AND PARENTAL ENGAGEMENT.

HAVE THINGS SUCH AS LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY, UM, TO REDUCE THE ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN.

TAILORED LEARNING PLANS, UM, PROVIDING MULTI-LANGUAGE, 24 HOUR TUTORING AND IMPROVED DISCIPLINE.

IT, IT, SO I HAVE A SUSPICION WHO THAT CHARACTER IS, UM, RESPONSIBILITY OR, YEAH.

UM, AN INTENSIVE MESSAGING CAMPAIGN TO INFORM, EDUCATE THE GENERAL PUBLIC ON HOW IMPORTANT TO PARENT HOMES WITH REGARD TO ORIENTATION.

UM, BUT, UM, TO PARENTS WHO CAN SHARE THE LOAD ARE TO EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS AND TIME, UM, AND MORE AROUND ENGAGEMENT, RIGHT? SO OUR STRATEGIC PILLARS THEN, UM, LEAD US INTO DEVELOPING OUT STRATEGIC INITIATIVES.

THE THIRD PIECE TO OUR PLAN, SO THE STRATEGIC INITIATIVES ARE THOSE LONG-TERM OUTCOMES HERE ARE ACHIEVED THROUGH THEM.

UM, THEY ARE THE TACTICS TO ACCOMPLISH THAT LONG-TERM OUTCOME.

NICHOLAS, MATT? MM-HMM.

HAVING AN IMPLEMENTATION PLAN, BUT IT'S ABOUT HAVING A BUY-IN AROUND THE STRATEGIC PLAN.

SO AS YOU LOOK AT THE STRUCTURE HERE, RIGHT? I THINK WHAT'S, WHAT'S A COUPLE THINGS REALLY IMPORTANT.

NUMBER ONE, THE LONG-TERM OUTCOME IS, IS WE'RE GONNA SET TARGETS AROUND, UH, THOSE LONG-TERM OUTCOMES.

UH, AND, AND WE'LL BRING THOSE TARGETS TO THE BOARD, UH, IN JUNE, RIGHT? ALONG WITH THOSE TARGETS ARE STRATEGIC PILLARS.

ONE OF THE REALLY IMPORTANT FACTORS IN THIS IS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF, UH, THE SPECIFIC STRATEGIC INITIATIVES.

AND THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THOSE STRATEGIC INITIATIVES, WE WILL ENGAGE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF OUR SYSTEM, UH, TEACHERS, CLASSROOM TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, DISTRICT STAFF, RIGHT? SO THE OTHER KEY COMPONENT, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT

[03:55:01]

EVERYBODY IN OUR SYSTEM, RIGHT? I, I WOULD LIKE EVERYBODY IN OUR SYSTEM TO ULTIMATELY KNOW WHAT ARE THE LONG-TERM OUTCOMES OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN, AND WHAT IS THE SPECIFIC MEASURE FOR EACH OF THOSE LONG-TERM OUTCOMES.

IF IT'S, IF WE LAND WITH THREE, IF WE LAND WITH FOUR, WHATEVER WE END UP WITH, I DON'T WANNA HAVE A HUNDRED, BUT IF WE LAND WITH THREE OR WE LAND WITH FOUR, RIGHT? EVERYBODY SHOULD KNOW WHAT THAT TARGET IS FOR EACH OF THOSE LONG-TERM OUTCOMES.

AND THEN THE SECOND THING IS, EVERYBODY SHOULD BE ABLE TO REALLY RE RE BE ABLE TO RELATE TO YOU OR TO ANYONE WHAT THOSE STRATEGIC PILLARS ARE, RIGHT? SO, UH, THAT SHOULD BE AT THE TIP OF EVERYONE'S TONGUE WITH RESPECT TO OUR STRATEGIC PLAN.

THE SPECIFIC INITIATIVES MAY VARY BECAUSE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OR COMPONENTS OF THE ORGANIZATION ARE GONNA BE MORE INVOLVED WITH SOME OVER OTHERS, BUT THAT'S HOW WE'RE GONNA DRIVE OUR WORK.

AND THEN YOU HAVE, UH, UH, SPONSOR AND AN OWNER, AND WE'RE GONNA REGULARLY MONITOR OUR STRATEGIC INITIATIVES, BOARDS ACCOMPLISHING THOSE LONG-TERM OUTCOMES, IF THAT MAKES SENSE, RIGHT? SO THAT'S, THAT'S THE STRUCTURE, THAT'S THE BUILT-IN IMPLEMENTATION, AND THAT'S OUR INTERNAL BUILT-IN MONITORING.

SO I'M GONNA ASK IN JUNE FOR THE BOARD TO, UH, TO PROVIDE, UH, UH, UH, OR TO VOTE ON WHAT THOSE LONG-TERM MEASURES AND OUTCOMES ARE, THE TACTICS THAT ARE BENEATH IT IN, IN THE PILLARS AND THE STRATEGIC INITIATIVES.

THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE, WE WORK ON, WE DEVELOP, WE DESIGN, AND WE BUILD TO REACH THOSE LONG-TERM OUTCOMES.

OKAY? GO.

AS YOU FINISH TYPING ABOUT, JUST KIND OF CAPTURE WHAT YOUR COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID.

AND HERE'S WHERE YOU WILL ALSO SEE SOCIAL STUDIES, THE HISTORY PIECES, THE ARTS, THEY'LL ALL BE PART OF THOSE STRATEGIC INITIATIVES, UM, TO GET THOSE UP AND RUNNING, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE STRATEGIC INITIATIVES WILL HAVE A BLUEPRINT ACTION PLAN.

SO, IN ADDITION TO THE TIERED RESPONSIBILITIES, HERE IS WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO FIND, UM, THE STRUCTURE OF THOSE THREE THINGS, AND THEN THOSE KEY COMPONENTS.

SO THERE WILL BE AN OVERVIEW OF THE INITIATIVE AND HOW IT CONNECTS TO THE STRATEGIC PILLARS, UM, ALONG WITHIN THE ACTION STEPS THAT IT'S GONNA TAKE TO GET TO OPERATIONALIZE IT, UM, WITH THOSE MONITORING AND INDICATORS OF IMPLEMENTATION, UM, ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THEN THOSE MILESTONE DELIVERABLES THAT THE OWNER AND ACTION TEAM WILL BE GIVEN TO THE SPONSOR, UM, OF THE INITIATIVE.

ADDITIONALLY, UH, SOME OF THOSE STRATEGIC INITIATIVES HAVE TO COME BEFORE OTHER STRATEGIC STRATEGIC INITIATIVE, RIGHT? SOME OF THEM TEE UP THE SYSTEMS READINESS AND PREPARATION FOR THAT NEXT YEAR AND NEXT STEP TO GO FURTHER TOWARDS THAT GOAL, RIGHT? SO PART OF WHAT WE WILL DO IS ALSO IDENTIFY, UH, THE PACE AND CADENCE OF, UH, UH, THE VARIOUS INITIATIVES IN TERMS OF WHICH ONES COME FIRST AND THIS PILLAR AND WHICH ONES COME LATER.

OKAY? AND AS WE CLOSE THIS OUT, THIS ONE IS, IS OPTIONAL.

UM, BUT WE WANNA HIT THE NEXT STEP.

SO HERE WE ARE IN THE PROCESS NOW OF, UH, UM, GETTING THAT FINAL COMMUNITY FEEDBACK THAT WILL BE, UM, INTERCONNECTED WITH THE REBRANDING PROCESS THAT YOU'LL HEAR ABOUT, UM, WITH THEIR NEXT STEPS COMING UP, UM, IN THE NEXT PRESENTATION.

BUT THE, UM, FEEDBACK WILL BE CONNECTED TO THERE.

UM, WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO THEN, UM, FINALIZE THE INITIATIVES AND, UH, THE LONG-TERM OUTCOMES TO BRING THOSE BACK TO THE BOARD TO, UM, APPROVE THE LONG-TERM OUTCOMES.

AND THEN WE WILL, UM, FINALIZE THE PLANNING OF THE LAUNCH FOR THE STRATEGIC PLAN.

AND THEN WHEN WE COME BACK TO SCHOOL IN AUGUST, WE WILL BE LAUNCHING OUR NEW STRATEGIC PLAN.

SO THE QUESTION IS, AS YOU, UM, HAVE, HAVE DIGESTED THIS PRESENTATION AND ALL OF THAT, UM, AND THINK THROUGH IT, UM, IS THERE, UM, WHAT WOULD BE A GREAT APPROACH TO LAUNCHING THE NEW STRATEGIC PLAN TO ALL STAKEHOLDERS

[04:00:50]

UM, SOME OF THEM ARE AROUND, UM, A COMMUNITY CAMPAIGN FOR THAT COMMUNICATION PIECE, GETTING THE MESSAGING OUT, UM, AND ENGAGING THEM TO ASK FOR HELP.

UM, KIND OF MIRRORING SOME OF THE WORK THAT WAS DONE FOR THE REFERENDUM.

UM, HAVING A CALIBRATED MESSAGING PIECE, UM, THAT IS, UM, CONNECTED WITH THE LOGO REBRAND EFFORT.

UM, MAKING SURE THAT, UM, OR I'M SORRY, SENDING OUT KIND OF A NEWSLETTER, UM, TO THE COMMUNITY, UM, WITH AS MANY STAKEHOLDERS AS, UM, THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT, MANY STAKEHOLDERS, UM, ARE NOT AFFORDED, UM, TO ATTEND LENGTHY MEETINGS, UM, COMMUNITY TOWN HALLS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TIME, UM, NEEDED FOR IMPLEMENTATION, UM, AND EMPOWERING SICS IN A NUTSHELL.

SO, ALL RIGHT.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU.

THAT'S THE PRESENTATION TO CAPTURE, UM, YOUR FEEDBACK, UM, ONLINE.

AND, UM, IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE YES, YOU MAY CLOSE AND I CAN END IT.

MR. SMITH, QUICK QUESTION.

MM-HMM, .

SO IN, IN TERMS OF, UM, HAVING THIS TOOL TODAY THAT YOU, THAT YOU PROVIDED IN THE, HAVING THIS CONVERSATION, UH, WHO, WHERE, WHAT, WHEN, WHY, HOW OF THE PRESENTATION, RIGHT? OR WHAT, WHY, WHO, WHERE, WHAT, WHEN, WHY, HOW, WHAT'S, WHAT, WHAT'S, WHAT'S THE PURPOSE? WHAT'S THE PROCESS? SO WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE? THE PURPOSE IS TO TODAY TO DEMONSTRATE THE STRUCTURE TO YOU AND TO GATHER INPUT FROM YOU AS BOARD MEMBERS THAT WE CAN UTILIZE AS WE CONTINUE BUILDING THE STRATEGIC PLAN.

THERE IS A STRATEGIC PLAN TEAM, UH, AND, AND THERE'S AN ACTION TEAMS THAT ARE PUT TOGETHER TO WORK ON INITIATIVES AROUND, UH, THE VARIOUS, UH, LONG-TERM OUTCOMES, RIGHT? UH, THERE ARE SOME LONG-TERM OUTCOMES THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE AND WE HAVE TO PROVIDE 'CAUSE IT'S PART OF A REQUIREMENT FROM THE STATE, RIGHT? BUT THERE, THERE, THERE ARE, THEN THERE'S A, A COUPLE OTHERS THAT WE, WE CAN ADD INTO THE STRATEGIC PLAN THAT WE WANT TO CAPTURE ALONG THE WAY.

AND SO THERE'S A, UH, THERE'S A TEAM THAT HAS BEEN WORKING, UH, AND ENGAGING AROUND A STRATEGIC PLAN.

THEY'VE STARTED TO GATHER INPUT AND FEEDBACK, UM, AS PART OF IT TODAY IS, UH, IT'S ANOTHER PART OF THAT INPUT AND FEEDBACK FROM YOU AS BOARD MEMBERS, RIGHT? UM, SO I THINK THAT'S IT, UNLESS YOU HAVE SOMETHING ELSE AROUND THAT.

NO, WE, AND I, AND I AGREE WITH THAT, BUT THIS, THIS, THIS WAS, UH, DON'T GET ME WRONG, THIS WAS A, IT WAS A GREAT START IN THAT DIRECTION, BUT FROM MY ASPECT, FROM WHERE I SIT AND FROM GOING TO OTHERS, UM, I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN OTHER, OTHER STRATEGIC PLANS, UH, OTHER STRATEGIC PLANS, WORKSHOPS, AND WHAT THAT LOOKED LIKE.

I THINK THAT AS A STAKEHOLDER OR AS A BOARD MEMBER, I THINK IT WOULD BE, I THINK I WOULD WANT TO SAY IT WOULD TAKE LONGER THAN WHAT WE JUST TOOK, EVEN THOUGH YOU TOOK SOME THOUGHTS OUT OF MY, YOU TOOK SOME, SOME THOUGHTS AND SOME ANALOGIES TO WORK IN THIS PLAN.

BUT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A SERIOUS STRATEGIC FIVE YEAR PLAN, I THINK IT TAKES A LITTLE MORE LONGER THAN WHAT WE JUST PUT INTO THAT I, I, AND, AND, AND AS BOARD MEMBERS, I THINK THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE DIRECTION COMES FROM THE TOP.

AND I, I, I JUST THINK THAT, THAT IT TAKES HER A LITTLE MORE THAN WHAT WE DID TODAY.

AND I, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.

NOT NOT NEGATING WHAT YOU DID TODAY, BECAUSE THAT WAS A, A GREAT START.

BUT I WILL BE LOOKING FOR MORE TO, UH, INPUT IT AND, AND MORE TO FOREGO THIS PROCESS.

BECAUSE THIS PROCESS IS, IS A SERIOUS, METHODICALLY RIGOROUS THOUGHT PROCESS.

AND I, I THINK THAT, THAT WE MUST HAVE AS MUCH AS OUR INPUT, AS MUCH AS OUR BUY-IN FROM THE COMMUNITY IS POSSIBLE AND NOT, AND NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, A A UH, AN HOUR, 20 MINUTES IN HERE, WE'RE WORK AROUND TO GET THIS THING GOING.

SO TO BE CLEAR, THIS ISN'T THE ONLY INPUT THAT, RIGHT.

THAT, THAT IS

[04:05:01]

IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN, RIGHT? THERE ARE, UH, YOU HAD, YOU, YOU HAD MEETINGS WITH SIC THE OTHER DAY.

BUT THEY HAD SIC INPUT, UH, THE OTHER DAY.

TEACHER FORM.

YOU HAVE TEACHER FORUM INPUT ALREADY.

UM, WE'VE DONE BOTH OF THOSE TWICE.

UM, SO YOU'VE GOT TWICE YEP.

SHARED INPUT.

, YOU SHARED WHAT, WHAT CAME OUTTA THE FIRST SET YOU BROUGHT BACK AND YOU'VE GOT ADDITIONAL INPUT.

AND YEAH, WE'VE USED, WE'VE ENGAGED, UM, ADMINISTRATORS.

UM, I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE WITH, UH, MS. CROSBY, MS. HAMLIN FOR THE BUDGETING AND ALL OF THAT, WE'VE USED THE INFORMATION GATHERED FROM THERE.

UM, YEAH.

THAT'S, DR. RODRIGUEZ CAME BEFORE YOU.

THAT'S NOT INDEPENDENT.

I MEAN, I MEAN, THE BUDGET, UH, THE STRATEGIC PLAN, UH, COMPONENTS, UH, ALL THAT HAS TO MM-HMM.

WORK IN TANDEM BRANDING IN A FEW MINUTES.

, ALL OF THAT HAS TO WORK IN TANDEM.

AND I PURPOSELY HAD WORKED WITH, UM, WITH, UM, DR.

BRUDER AND WE EMBEDDED SOME STRATEGIC PLAN QUESTIONS INTO THOSE FOCUS GROUPS THAT THEY HAD.

SO ALL OF THOSE VARIOUS FOCUS GROUP LEVELS WE'RE GIVING FEEDBACK AROUND THERE TO INCORPORATE, UM, WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR.

SO YOU'RE GONNA SEE SOME MORE PURPOSEFUL CONNECTIONS BE MADE WHEN I COME BACK.

UM, BUT I DON'T WANNA TAKE ALL OF HER THUNDER AND SOME OF THE WORK FROM THERE.

SO, UM, YOU WILL SEE MORE CONNECTIONS OF HOW FEEDBACK WAS EVEN GATHERED THROUGH THAT WORK ALSO.

AND, AND, AND I DO, BUT I DO APPRECIATE, I DO APPRECIATE YOUR WORK, MR. F 'CAUSE I KNOW THAT YOU, YOU DO, YOU DO DO WORK HARD AND YOU ALL WANT TO, OR LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT IT, THAT IT IS WELL THOUGHT OF WHAT OF, UH, WELL THOUGHT OF AND THAT YOU PUT THE TIME THAT, THAT NECESSARY FOR EVERY PARTY THAT YOU DO.

BUT I, I JUST, I JUST DON'T WANT TO HAPPEN IS THAT WHEN WE, SOME, SOME TIME FROM NOW WHEN WE SAID, REMEMBER WHEN WE CAME TO YOU AND WE GOT THAT, THAT WAS WHAT WE WERE GETTING FIRST.

SO HERE, HERE'S THE END PRODUCT, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, AT THAT POINT YOU CAN'T, YOU, YOU CAN'T SAY, OH, WAIT, WHY, WHY WOULDN'T, SURE.

SO THAT'S WHY I WANT TO GET A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

AND SO I CAN BE, WELL THINK WELL THOUGHT AND WELL UNDERSTOOD ALONG, ALONG AS THAT PROCESS GOING.

AND ALSO THE COMMUNITY, THEY CAN KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE DOING AS A BOARD AND WHAT WE'RE DOING AS, AS A DISTRICT AND, AND WHERE, AND WHAT, WHAT, WHAT THE END GAME IS.

UNDERSTOOD.

THANK YOU COLONEL GUYER.

UM, I HAVE A CAUTION THAT I WANT TO MENTION AND YOUR LONG-TERM OUTCOMES CHART ON NUM NUMBER 12.

I FULLY AGREE THAT ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS, CLA, MATHEMATICS, WE HAVE STANDARDIZED TESTS.

WE HAVE A LOT OF DATA, UH, TO, UH, MEASURE ACHIEVEMENT.

THAT'S EASY, UH, TO GATHER GRADUATION RATES WHERE I HAVE AN ISSUE, GRADUATION RATE'S EASY TO DATA.

BUT WHAT I HAVE SEEN IN THIS DISTRICT, AND I'VE READ NATIONALLY, THE GRADUATIONS INCREASE BECAUSE WE'VE LOWERED ACADEMIC STANDARD.

WHEN I SEE GRADUATION RATES HISTORICALLY HIGH, BUT END OF COURSE EXAMS, UH, THE EXAMS FOR OUR, UH, COLLEGE CREDIT COURSES, WHEN I SEE SAT AND A CT DATA, WHEN I SEE ASFAB DATA, GRADUATION RATES AS A MEASURE TO ME ARE SUSPECT.

BECAUSE MAINLY WHAT THEY ARE IS THEY'RE MORE STUDENT RETENTION.

AND I KNOW YOU WANNA, YOU GOTTA KE KEEP TRACK OF STUDENT RETENTION, BUT BE CAREFUL BECAUSE SOMETIMES WHEN YOU PUT A GOAL, YOU ACHIEVE THAT GOAL BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY OR STANDARD.

AND I, AND I'M, I, I, I WORRY ABOUT THAT, MR. DALLAS.

UM, I, I THINK THIS WAS A VERY GOOD PROCESS.

I THINK WHAT IT DID WAS IT ELIMINATED A LOT OF THE BACK AND FORTH THAT IT SORT OF EXTENDS THE DIALOGUE WITHOUT SOMETIMES ADDING A LOT OF INCREMENTAL VALUE.

AND SO I THINK YOU, FROM EACH OF US, YOU'VE COLLECTED WHAT WE FEEL WITH US, JUST US THINKING ABOUT IT.

AND I THINK THAT'S A LEVEL OF PURITY WE MIGHT NOT GET OTHERWISE.

SO I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING TO BE SUSTAINED.

AND OF COURSE, THE ONLY OTHER CAVEAT I WOULD SUGGEST IS, CAN THIS BE DONE WITH THE LARGER COMMUNITY SO THAT YOU ACTUALLY SET IT UP IN CHURCHES, CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS, PLACES LIKE THAT, AND CAPTURE ALL THEIR, UH, FEEDBACK.

AND THEN THAT GIVES YOU AN EMPIRICAL BASE THAT YOU CAN THEN TAKE BACK OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND SAY, HERE'S WHAT YOU SAID.

AND I THINK THAT WILL BE VALUABLE.

I THINK THERE'S ALREADY A SCHEDULE THAT SAY YOU'RE GONNA BRING IT BACK

[04:10:01]

THE BOARD IN JUNE.

SO THAT'S SOME COMPRESSION TIME THERE THAT SORT OF MOTIVATES IT.

JUST A CONSIDERATION FOR YOUR, THANK YOU.

SO, GOT A QUESTION.

UM, I KNOW, I GUESS I'M THE ONLY ONE USING AN IPAD TODAY.

AND YEAH.

BUT YOU DIDN'T DO NO.

SO, UM, SO I COULDN'T DO THAT QUESTION WHERE YOU HAD TO ORDER THE THINGS, UH, ONE THROUGH FIVE.

SO IS THERE A WAY FOR ME TO SUBMIT THAT? ABSOLUTELY.

YOU DO.

CAN YOU SEND ME SOMETHING SO I CAN SUBMIT IT? YEAH.

JUST FOR CLARITY.

I WOULDN'T LET YOU.

NO, I COULDN'T GET WITH THE IPAD.

YOU COULDN'T GET THE NUMBERS TO GO, UM, YOU KNOW, THE NUMBERS WERE SITTING THERE.

AND I TRIED TO MOVE THEM IN PLACE, AND FIVE JUST KEPT POPPING UP.

AND ONE OF THE NICE LADIES BACK THERE TRIED TO HELP ME AND SAID I WOULD NEED A SEPARATE MOUSE, WHICH I DON'T NORMALLY HAVE WITH MY IPAD.

SO I THINK IT WAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THIS.

ALSO, UH, QUICK QUESTION.

UM, MS. FLA ALSO, UH, CAN WE HAVE A COPY OF THIS, UH, UH, A COPY OF THIS? UM, PO I, I KNOW WE HAVE A CO COPY OF THE, UH, YOU DID GIVE US ONE IN THE POWERPOINT, BUT OKAY.

I CAN GIVE YOU THE FULL THING, UM, WITH ALL THE QUESTIONS WITHOUT THE OPTIONS.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

AND AFTER YOU MARINATE OVER THE WEEKEND, IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL THINGS YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE ON IT, UM, WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO TAKE THOSE IN AND, UM, KIND OF WORK THROUGH ALL OF THAT AS A TEAM.

UH, IF, IF IT'S OKAY TO MOVE ON, I'VE GOT A BRANDING TEAM THAT IS ONLINE AND WE HAVE A SHORT WINDOW WITH THEM.

SO I, I WANNA MAKE SURE WE DON'T MISS, GO AHEAD, CANDACE.

I'M EXCITED TO HAVE RHODES BRANDING JOIN US HERE TODAY TO PROVIDE OUR REBRANDING UPDATE.

THEY'VE BEEN EXCELLENT PARTNERS FOR THE COMMUNICATIONS TEAM IN THIS ENDEAVOR, ESPECIALLY IN TERMS OF ENGAGING OUR KEY STAKEHOLDERS IN THE PROCESS.

AS NOTED IN MR. FLOWERS' PRESENTATION, IT WAS IMPORTANT WE WORKED THROUGH OUR REBRANDING IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE STRATEGIC PLAN PROCESS FOR CONSISTENCY IN ENGAGEMENT MESSAGING, AND ULTIMATELY OUR ROLLOUT.

AND NOW I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE OUR COLLEAGUES FROM RHODES BRANDING INTRODUCE THEMSELVES AND BEGIN THEIR PRESENTATION.

HEY, GOOD AFTERNOON.

UH, CAN EVERYONE HEAR ME? YES.

LOVELY.

UH, JUST WANNA FIRST SAY THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

IT'S A GREAT HONOR TO BE HERE WITH EACH OF YOU TODAY IN THE COMMUNITY.

UH, WHAT WE GET TO DO IS, IS A BEAUTIFUL PART OF THIS WHOLE ECOSYSTEM OF EDUCATION.

UH, AND WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO SHOW WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING BEHIND THE SCENES WITH COLLABORATION WITH YOUR COMMUNITY AND YOUR AMAZING STAFF.

UH, WE'VE BEEN FORTUNATE TO WORK WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN OVER 30 STATES IN THE US.

AND I'M NOT SAYING THIS BECAUSE I'M FROM SOUTH CAROLINA, UH, BUT THE COLLABORATION, THE ATTITUDE, THE VIBE, THE TONE, IT'S NOT THE LOGO, IT'S NOT THE NAME.

IT REALLY IS THE SMALL THINGS.

AND YOU ALL, AS THE LEADERS OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, SHOULD BE VERY PROUD.

I'M NOT SAYING THAT TO JUST BLOW HOT AIR.

UH, YOU REALLY SHOULD BE PROUD OF YOUR TEAM THAT YOU HAVE THERE.

UH, 'CAUSE WE'VE SEEN THE FULL SPECTRUM.

AND, UM, JUST PROUD TO SAY I'M FROM THE SAME STATE WHERE YOU ALL ARE, ARE LEADING THE EDUCATION OF THE YOUTH.

UH, SO WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE MICHAEL, OUR CREATIVE DIRECTOR TO CARRY THE PRESENTATION.

SO THE FIRST OPTION WILL SURROUND THE THEME OF COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE WITH THE GOAL OF THE IDENTITY, TO EVOKE A SENSE OF FAMILIARITY AND BELONGING.

AUSTIN.

HI, MY NAME'S MICHAEL HO.

I'M THE CREATIVE DIRECTOR AT RHODES BRANDING.

UM, AGAIN, TO HIT HIT HOME AUSTIN'S POINT, UM, I DO WANNA SAY BEFOR IS SUCH A HIGH ACHIEVING DISTRICT.

YOU KNOW, IT'S EXTREMELY INNOVATIVE AND THE WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING TOGETHER IS REALLY BUILDING UPON WHAT Y'ALL HAVE ALREADY BEEN DOING.

UM, SO AGAIN, KUDOS.

UM, SO WE CAN GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED WITH OUR PRESENTATION.

UH, ROBIN, IF YOU DON'T MIND SHARING THE SLIDE.

[04:15:08]

OKAY, GREAT.

UM, SO TODAY, UH, WE'RE GONNA TAKE A LOOK BACK AT OUR PROGRESS WITH BEAUFORT COUNTY, UH, SCHOOL DISTRICT.

AND WE'RE GONNA SEE HOW THE WORK INFORMED OUR CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.

AND WE'LL ALSO BE PRESENTING TWO VISUAL IDENTITY CONCEPTS.

SO IN THIS SLIDE RIGHT HERE, YOU'LL SEE OUR PROGRESS TOGETHER.

UM, SO WE KICKED OFF OUR PARTNERSHIP IN AUGUST.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH BEFORD COUNTY'S TEAM SINCE THE KICKOFF.

TO ENSURE ALIGNMENT WITH THE STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS.

WE STARTED WITH OUR RESEARCH AND DISCOVERY PHASE AND LAUNCHED A COMMUNITY SURVEY, WHICH WE'LL TOUCH ON THE RESULTS IN THE NEXT FEW SLIDES.

UM, IN AN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER, WE HELD 10 FOCUS GROUPS.

WE ALSO COMPLETED A BRAND IMMERSION WORKSHOP WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE DISTRICT AND WIDER COMMUNITY.

UH, SINCE DECEMBER, WE HAVE FOCUSED ON REFINING TWO VISUAL IDENTITIES, UH, REALLY TAKING IN ALL THE FEEDBACK FROM THE PREVIOUS MONTHS AND CREATING TWO OPTIONS FOR THE DISTRICT'S NEW BRAND.

WE ALSO STARTED PRODUCTION OF THE BRAND LAUNCH VIDEOS, AND AFTER TODAY WE'RE GONNA BE SHARING THE VISUAL IDENTITY AND TAGLINE OPTIONS WITH THE COMMUNITY FOR FEEDBACK.

AND LASTLY, WE'LL BE CONTINUED PLANNING THE BRAND LAUNCH AHEAD OF THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.

SO DIVING INTO THE NEXT SLIDE, WE'LL BE TAKING A LOOK AT THE COMMUNITY SURVEY THAT WAS LAUNCHED.

UM, THIS RAN FROM SEPTEMBER, UM, AND CLOSED EARLY OCTOBER.

IT WAS SHARED VIA PRESS RELEASE, THE WEBSITE, SOCIAL MEDIA, AS WELL AS DIRECT EMAIL OUTREACH TO PARENTS AND STAFF.

WE HAD A TOTAL OF 882 RESPONDENTS.

UM, THIS IS ACTUALLY A REALLY GREAT PARTICIPATION FROM THE COMMUNITY, UH, FOR A SCHOOL DISTRICT YOUR SIZE.

WE HAVEN'T REALLY SEEN LARGER THAN A THOUSAND RESPONDENTS.

SO IN OUR PIE CHART HERE, YOU CAN SEE PARENTS GUARDIANS ARE MAKING UP THE MAJORITY OF THE SURVEY PARTICIPANTS AT 58.4%.

SO HERE ARE SOME KEY TAKEAWAYS.

UM, MAJORITY RESPONDERS RATED THE CURRENT BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL LOGO, UM, AT SCHOOL DISTRICT LOGO AS A THREE OR LOWER ON THE SCALE OF ONE TO 5, 33 0.4%.

BELIEVE THE CURRENT TAGLINE IS NOT REPRESENTATIVE OF BUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT.

AND HERE FOR US, THE WORK IS NOT DONE.

WE WANNA FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET THIS PERCENTAGE EVEN LOWER, BECAUSE ULTIMATELY THAT IS STILL A THIRD, THAT FEEL UNDERREPRESENTED.

AND MANNY SHARED THAT THE TAGLINE IS TOO GENERIC AND VAGUE.

UM, DOESN'T REPRESENT THE DISTRICT'S UNIQUENESS OR FOCUS ON OUTCOMES.

68% ARE OPEN TO CHANGING COLORS AND 46% LISTED IMAGINATIVE AS A TOP EMOTION FOR THE NEW LOGO TO EVOKE.

GOING ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

IN OCTOBER, WE HELD TEN ONE HOUR LONG FOCUS GROUP SESSIONS WITH NEARLY A HUNDRED PARTICIPANTS RANGING FROM STAFF, PARENTS, STUDENTS, BUSINESS, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS.

AND HERE ARE SOME TAKEAWAYS THAT WE INCORPORATED WITH INDIVIDUAL IDENTITIES BEING PRESENTED TODAY.

SO NUMBER ONE, ACROSS THE BOARD, FROM SUPPORT STAFF TO SENIOR STAFF, THERE'S A CONSENSUS ON THE NEED FOR COMPREHENSIVE REBRANDING INITIATIVE.

TWO, THERE WAS A STRONG APPEAL FOR ACTIVE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN THE BRANDING PROCESS.

THREE, THERE WAS A DESIRE FOR BRAND DIRECTION TO REFLECT THE DISTRICT'S DIVERSE DEMOGRAPHICS, HERITAGE, MULTICULTURALISM, AND COMMUNITY.

FOUR PARTICIPANTS WANTED TO LOOK AT THE LOGO AND FEEL LIKE IT WAS REPRESENTATIVE OF BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT, OR EVEN SEE A PART OF THEMSELVES.

IN IT, UH, PARTICIPANTS EMPHASIZED HIGHLIGHTING THE UNIQUE ASPECTS OF THE DISTRICT'S LOCATION, THE COASTAL ENVIRONMENT, AND THE RICH CULTURAL HERITAGE OF THE COMMUNITY BE AN EMPHASIS WITHIN THE BRAND.

SO FINALLY, THERE WAS ALSO A COLLECTIVE ASPIRATION FOR THE REBRAND TO REFLECT THE DISTRICT'S MORE INNOVATIVE AND FUTURE-FOCUSED EDUCATIONAL STRATEGIES.

THE GOAL IS TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR RAPIDLY CHANGING WORLD.

SO AFTER THE FOCUS GROUPS, WE CONDUCTED A BRAND IMMERSION WORKSHOP WITH 15 PARTICIPANTS.

IN NOVEMBER, WE HAD A REPRESENTATION OF A DIVERSE GROUP FROM CANDACE CENTER TEAM, UH, THE BOARD INVOLVEMENT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, AND THE BLACK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

WITHIN THE WORKSHOP ITSELF, WE DOVE INTO FOUR ASPECTS.

ASSESS WHO, WHAT, AND WHY.

WE BUILT A BRAND DEFINITION INCLUDING PURPOSE, VALUES, AND CHARACTER TRAITS.

AND LASTLY, WE DETERMINED YOUR BRAND ARCHETYPE OR PERSONALITY TO INFORM OUR CREATIVE PROCESS FOR THE VISUAL IDENTITY.

SO, MOVING ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

UM, AS WE DIVE INTO THE VISUAL IDENTITIES AND TAGLINE OPTIONS THAT I'M GOING TO BE PRESENTING TODAY, I AGAIN WANNA THANK BEAUFORT COUNTY'S COMMUNITY FOR THEIR FEEDBACK AND PARTICIPATION.

I MEAN, FROM THE FOCUS GROUPS TO THE COMMUNITY SURVEYS, THE BRAND IMMERSION WORKSHOP, THEY ARE ULTIMATELY WHO INFORMED HOW WE SHAPE THE VISUAL IDENTITY.

SO TODAY WE'RE PRESENTING TWO VISUAL IDENTITIES AND TWO TAGLINES.

[04:20:02]

WE REALLY WANTED THIS LOGO TO, TO MAKE OTHERS FEEL LIKE THEY CAN SEE BUFORT COUNTY WITHIN THE LOGO ITSELF, WHICH IS A VERY COMMON FEEDBACK TAKEN FROM THE FOCUS GROUP AND BRAND IMMERSION WORKSHOP.

NOW, THE SECOND OPTION WILL SURROUND THE THEME OF INSPIRING WITH THE GOAL OF THE INDIVIDUAL TO FEEL INSPIRED AND EVOKE A SENSE OF PRIDE WHEN VIEWING THE IDENTITY.

AND THIS CAME FROM A SPECIFIC FOCUS GROUP WITH STUDENTS WHERE THEY EXPRESSED THEY NOT ONLY WANTED TO FEEL REPRESENTATIVE, BUT THEY ALSO WANTED TO BE INSPIRED.

SO BEFORE WE SHOW THE CONCEPTS, I DO WANT TO TOUCH ON SOME ELEMENTS THAT WILL BE RECURRING THROUGHOUT THE VISUAL IDENTITIES.

SO IN THE NEXT SLIDE, THROUGHOUT THE RESEARCH AND DISCOVERY PHASE, SPECIFICALLY THE COMMUNITY, UH, SURVEY, THE TOP THREE REFERENCE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT WERE COMMUNITY, THE LOCATION AND COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE.

AND SO THESE ARE SOME VISUAL SYMBOLS THAT YOU'LL SEE THROUGHOUT THE IDENTITIES THAT DERIVE FROM THESE THREE THEMES.

IN THE FIRST, UH, IN THE NEXT SLIDE, YOU'LL SEE THE FIRST LOGO OPTION WILL USE THE USE OF COMMUNITY COASTAL KNOWLEDGE AND PATHWAY SYMBOLS INCORPORATED FOR THE COLOR PALETTE.

IN THE NEXT SLIDE, YOU'LL SEE THAT WE DECIDED ON THE THEME OF COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE.

AGAIN, THE COMMITMENT PALETTE EVOKES, UH, A NURTURING, COMFORTABLE, AND VERY FAMILIAR PALETTE IN THE COMMUNITY.

SURVEY BLUE WAS THE NUMBER ONE COLOR CHOSEN WHEN ASKED WHAT COLOR THE RESPONSE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN THE IDENTITY.

SO BLUE TONES, THEY EVOKE A SENSE OF TRUST, DEPENDABILITY, PROFESSIONALISM, AND ADVANCEMENT, WHICH DOES ALIGN WITH YOUR BRAND AND COMMUNITY RESPONSES BEING THE TWO TOP VALUES, QUALITY, AND INNOVATION.

SO IN THE NEXT SLIDE, YOU'LL SEE THE FIRST VISUAL IDENTITY.

SO AGAIN, THIS IS THE FIRST VISUAL IDENTITY AND DRIVE.

FROM THE THEME OF COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE, THE GOAL IS TO EVOKE A SENSE OF FAMILIARITY THROUGH THE SYMBOLISM TO TO CONNECT WITH THE TARGET AUDIENCE.

AND KNOWING THE AUDIENCE IS A WIDE RANGE.

WE FELT THE USE OF SYMBOLISM IN OPTION ONE WAS THE STRONGEST CHOICE.

SO YOU'LL SEE THE VERTICAL HORIZONTAL SYMBOL AND SEAL LOGO ITERATIONS ON THIS PAGE.

THE SHAPE FOR THIS LOGO IS CIRCULAR.

TO EVOKE COMMUNITY STRENGTH, WE USED ENRO SLAB FONT TO GIVE AN ELEMENT OF BEING ROOTED IN HISTORY.

YET IT'S STILL A MORE MODERN OF SLAB FONTS.

YOU'LL SEE THE COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENT COLOR PALETTE.

THIS DRAWS AND INVITES YOU TOWARDS THE LOGO THROUGH THE BLUE AND YELLOW TONES.

SO ON THE NEXT SLIDE, YOU'RE GONNA SEE THE SEAL OPTIONS.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS LOGO IS VERY VERSATILE.

IT CAN BE USED IN MONO DUO AND TRITONE ITERATIONS.

AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF VERSATILITY IN THIS VISUAL IDENTITY, WHICH WAS DRAWN FROM ONE OF THE FOCUS GROUP TAKEAWAYS, UM, BEING FUTURE FOCUSED.

SO WE IMAGINED HOW CAN THIS VISUAL IDENTITY BE VERSATILE IN THE SENSE OF PRINT OR DIGITAL, WHETHER IT'S STATIC OR MOVING.

UM, WHICH WE'LL HAVE AN EXAMPLE LATER ON IN THESE SLIDES.

AND THIS NEXT SLIDE, WE WE'RE SHOWING AN ITERATION OF WHAT A DEPARTMENTAL LOGO LOCKUP WOULD LOOK LIKE, BUT THIS ALSO APPLIES TO OFFICES, PROGRAMS, AND CENTERS.

IN THIS NEXT SLIDE, WE'RE GONNA GO OVER THE TAGLINE OPTIONS.

SO FOR THE FIRST TAGLINE, OPTION, WE FELT RISING TO EXCELLENCE TOGETHER, REALLY ENCAPSULATE THE COMMUNITY ASPECT, WHILE ALSO HOLDING TRUE TO THE EXCELLENT STANDARD OF BEAUFORT COUNTY.

AND AGAIN, WE'RE TYING IN THE COMMUNITY SURVEY, THE TOP THREE DESCRIPTIONS OF BEAUFORT COUNTY BEING COMMUNITY COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE, AND THE LOCATION.

THE SECOND TAGLINE, OPTION, INNOVATING TODAY FOR A BRIGHTER TOMORROW, CONVEYS FORWARD THINKING AND IS AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO PREPARING STUDENTS FOR THEIR FUTURES.

SO AGAIN, BIG TAKEAWAYS FROM FOCUS GROUPS AND COMMUNITY SURVEYS BEING INNOVATION AND FORWARD THINKING.

NEXT, WE'RE GONNA SEE THE VISUAL IDENTITY IN ACTION, UH, THROUGH THE SWEATER AND PILLOW, BANNER AND PINS ID, BADGE AND BUSINESS CARDS, BILLBOARD AND VEHICLE.

AND THIS NEXT SLIDE IS GONNA BE AN EXAMPLE HOW, HOW THE VISUAL IDENTITY CAN MOVE THROUGH VIDEO.

UM,

[04:25:07]

WELL THROUGHOUT THE, UH, THE LOGO REVIEW, UM, IT WILL SHOWCASE HOW DYNAMIC THE LOAD CAN ACTUALLY BE, BE MOVING WITHIN, UH, THE VIDEO ITSELF.

SO IT WOULD BE REVEALING ITSELF AND SHOWCASING, AGAIN, THIS IS REALLY HIGHLIGHTING HOW INCREDIBLY VERSATILE AND DYNAMIC THIS VISUAL IDENTITY CAN BE.

SO THAT'S OUR FIRST VISUAL IDENTITY.

WE'RE GONNA NOW GO OVER THE SECOND VISUAL IDENTITY OPTION.

FOR OPTION TWO, WE TOOK A MORE ABSTRACT APPROACH TO INCORPORATING THE THREE SYMBOLS HERE, WHICH ARE MARSHLANDS PATHWAYS AND COASTAL OCEAN SYMBOLS.

FOR THE COLOR PALETTE, WE DECIDED ON THE THEME OF INSPIRED, AGAIN, INSPIRED PALETTE PULLED FROM THE ABUNDANT BLUE TONES OF THE COASTAL OCEAN AND GEOGRAPHY.

AND AS MENTIONED EARLIER, BLUE WAS THE NUMBER ONE COLOR CHOSEN WHEN ASKED WHAT COLOR THE RESPONSE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN THE VISUAL IDENTITY.

SO IN THE NEXT SLIDE, YOU'LL SEE THE SECOND VISUAL IDENTITY SURROUNDING THE THEME OF INSPIRING, UH, WITH THE GOAL OF THE INDIVIDUAL TO FEEL INSPIRED IN AVO SENSE OF PRIDE WHEN VIEWING THE IDENTITY.

AGAIN, THIS WAS INSPIRED BY A FOCUS GROUP SESSION FROM THE STUDENTS THEMSELVES.

THE SHAPE OF THE LOGO IS INSPIRED FROM THE WAVES AND MARSHLANDS.

WE USE THE NIF FONT TO GIVE A SHARPER EDGE.

IT ALSO EVOKES A SENSE OF ADVANCEMENT AND INNOVATION.

AGAIN, HERE WE ARE SHOWCASING THE DIFFERENT SEAL OPTIONS.

UH, ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE, THE DEPARTMENTAL LOCKUP.

ANOTHER LOOK AT TAGLINE, OPTION ONE, TAGLINE OPTION TWO, AND THE VISUAL IDENTITY IN ACTION THROUGH THE POLO AND SWEATER, BANNERS AND PINS ID, BADGE AND BUSINESS CARDS, BILLBOARD AND VEHICLE.

AND AGAIN, HERE'S A QUICK LOGO REVEAL VIDEO TO HELP SHOWCASE HOW DYNAMIC THE LOGO CAN BE.

SO THOSE ARE TWO VISUAL IDENTITIES AND TAGLINE OPTIONS.

OUR NEXT STEPS FOLLOWING THIS MEETING, UH, NEXT WEEK, WE'LL LAUNCH THE COMMUNITY FEEDBACK PROCESS, FOLLOWED BY THE BOARD APPROVAL IN EARLY MAY.

AND ONGOING IS VIDEO POST-PRODUCTION, UH, FOR THE BRAND LAUNCH VIDEO AND FINALIZING BRAND GUIDELINES AND BRAND TEMPLATES.

WE WILL ALSO BE FINALIZING THE BRAND LAUNCH COMPONENTS IN JULY AND HAVE THE BRAND LAUNCH IN AUGUST ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.

UM, IN THE NEXT SLIDE, WE'RE GONNA GO OVER THE COMMUNITY FEEDBACK PLATFORM.

SO FOR THE COMMUNITY FEEDBACK, WE'LL BE HAVING THE COMMUNITY SHARE THEIR INPUT THROUGH THE CONNECT PLATFORM.

UH, SO PARENTS, STUDENTS, TEACHERS, UH, STAFF AND COMMUNITY WILL HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THEIR PREFERENCE FOR BOTH FEE, LOGO AND TAGLINE.

YOU CAN SEE HERE WHAT THE PLATFORM LOOKS LIKE.

WE'RE PRESENTING THE FULL LOGO PACKAGE IN DIFFERENT ITERATIONS FOR VARIOUS PLACEMENTS FOR THEM TO VIEW.

SO AGAIN, UH, TO CLOSE, WE DO WANT TO THANK BEFORD COUNTY'S COMMUNITY FOR THEIR FEEDBACK AND PARTNERSHIP THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS.

UM, IT WAS AN HONOR FOR US TO BE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER TO DISCOVER AND CREATE THESE TWO VISUAL IDENTITIES.

GREAT.

THANK YOU MICHAEL AND AUSTIN, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.

MR. BOATWRIGHT, IS THAT MR. DALLAS? WE HAVE TWO TAGLINES.

PEOPLE CAN CHOOSE EITHER OR TAGLINE.

BOTH TAGLINES WERE MADE TO GO WITH EITHER LOGO.

INITIALLY, THEY WERE ATTACHED TO CERTAIN LOGOS.

HOWEVER, WE DID FEEL LIKE, AND WE WORKED THROUGH IT AS A TEAM WITH THE RHODES FOLKS, UM, THAT WE WANTED TO GIVE PEOPLE THE OPTION TO CHOOSE WHICH TAGLINE.

SO YOU HAD CHOOSE YOU'RE AN ADVENTURE.

WHEN YOU SAY THEY CAN CHOOSE, YOU'RE TALKING LIKE A DEPARTMENT A NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.

THE COMM COMMUNITY OKAY.

WILL SELECT THEIR PREFERENCE.

SO WE WILL ULTIMATELY HAVE CORRECT.

EFFECTIVE WORK HAS BEEN PUT INTO THIS.

MR. DALLAS.

THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR AS A IT TECHNOLOGY.

SO I'M SORT OF BAD AT, UH, I KNOW A LOT OF TREMENDOUSLY

[04:30:01]

I DO HAVE TWO QUESTIONS.

ONE, UM, ON A POSITIVE, VERY POSITIVE NOTE, THE RISING SUN IS SOMETHING, IS A SYMBOL THAT'S VERY MUCH HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT IN THE GULLAH COMMUNITY BECAUSE A LOT OF THE CEMETERIES OCCURRED ON WATER, LOOKING BACK TO AFRICA, SORT OF NOSTALGIC RETURN TO PLACES OF ORIGIN.

SO I CAN, I CAN INTERNALIZE THAT ONE PRETTY QUICKLY.

THE QUESTION THAT I DO HAVE THOUGH IS, IS THE PROCESS INVERTED? I'M MORE FAMILIAR WITH YOU.

DO YOUR STRATEGY FIRST.

YOU DEVELOP WHAT YOUR STRATEGY IS GOING TO BE GOING FORWARD, AND YOUR LOGO THEN BASICALLY INFORMS AND REINFORCES THAT.

SO WE GOT THE SIX PILLARS IN THE PRESENTATION WE'VE JUST SEEN EARLIER.

I DON'T SEE HOW THEY WILL BE REPRESENTED BY EITHER THE TAGLINE OR THE LOGO.

SO I GUESS THE QUESTION IS, SHOULD WE JUST SLOW IT A LITTLE BIT TO CAPTURE THE OUTPUT FROM THE STRATEGIC PLAN AND THEN MAIL THE TWO? WOULD WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO ANSWER THAT OR SOMEONE FROM THE STAFF? I WAS JUST GONNA SAY, THAT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING WE CAN, YOU KNOW, WE CAN LOOK AT, UH, IN TERMS OF THAT.

YEAH, YEAH.

TIME TIMING JUST, UH, IS ALWAYS TRICKY WITH THE, THE ENGAGEMENT, THE TIMING.

I MEAN, WE HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH REBRANDS HAPPENING MID STRATEGIC PLAN.

UM, BUT I TOTALLY, I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU.

I MEAN, THAT IS BEST PRACTICE.

UM, THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING, WE, OUR TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE DISTRICT STAFF AND THE STRATEGIC PLANNING TEAMS. UM, SO THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF LOCKSTEP IN THE PRE-DEVELOPMENT.

SO YEAH, WE CAN GROUP UP AND MESH THOSE TIMELINES.

AND MY WORDS ARE NOT NEGATIVE.

NO, NO, I GET IT.

YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE OUTCOME, ONE OF THE, UH, THE PILLARS, WELL, NOT ONE OF THE PILLARS, THE, THE PILLARS OF THE ACRONYM IS CS.

RIGHT? UH, YOU KNOW, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS, UH, THIS MIGHT JUST BE ME, BUT THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I DRAW FROM, FROM, UH, THAT ONE THAT'S UP THERE RIGHT NOW.

I'M SORRY, I'M NOT POINTING AT YOU.

I'M POINTING BEHIND YOU AT THE FROM THAT ONE THAT'S BACK THERE, YOU KNOW, AS YOU'RE, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE RISING SUN AND YOU SEE THE, UH, WATERWAY IN THE BACK, UH, AND THE, YOU KNOW, I, THAT, THAT SEAS, UH, ASPECT WAS PART OF, UH, OF A CONVERSATION.

SO, BUT, BUT TO YOUR POINT, I MEAN, I, WE CAN LOOK AT THAT.

AND THE OTHER THING IS THEMATIC LOGO.

SO BLUE.

BLUE.

UH, I MEAN, UH, OH, NO, NO, NO.

NOT AT ALL.

I MEAN, I, UH, I KIND OF WANNA SAY SOMETHING, BUT I DON'T WANNA SAY SOMETHING BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO NO, NO.

IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU.

NO, I I DON'T WANT TO INFLUENCE ANYBODY'S THOUGHTS THAT MIGHT BE LISTENING ABOUT THE LAW.

I WANT PEOPLE TO JUST KIND OF FREELY PROVIDE INPUT AROUND IT.

UH, BUT BY THE WAY, THANK YOU.

'CAUSE I LEARNED SOMETHING TODAY ABOUT THE RISING SUN AND THE GULER COMMUNITY.

I DID NOT KNOW THAT.

COLONEL GEER.

OH, I, I LIKE, UH, THE FIRST ONE.

AND, UM, I CERTAINLY LIKE IT BETTER THAN THE CURRENT ONE WITH THE BROWNIE TROOP WALKING ACROSS THE STREET, .

UM, BUT THE QUESTION IS, UH, WE GOT A LOT OF BROWNIE TROOPS WALKING ACROSS THE STREET, SIGNS ALL OVER THE PLACE.

HOW LONG IS IT GONNA TAKE TO CHANGE ALL THAT? AND WHAT'S IT GONNA COST IF, WELL, I, I WOULD SAY TOO, THAT IS GONNA, IT WILL BE A PHASED PROJECT.

AND SO BASICALLY, UM, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO, YOU KNOW, USE WHAT THEY CURRENTLY HAVE AND IT, IT, THERE'LL BE AN OVERLAP PERIOD FOR SURE.

AND, AND, AND IN ADDITION, YOU KNOW, IN INTERNALLY AS WE'RE MOVING THROUGH THIS PROCESS, WE HAVE ALSO, UM, TOLD, UH, STAFF HERE WITHIN THE BUILDING THAT AS WE GO, UH, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE SHORT ON STATIONARY, FOR EXAMPLE, DON'T GO ORDER MORE BORROW FROM THE DEPARTMENT, UH, NEXT DOOR.

SO THAT, UH, SO THAT WE CAN, WE DON'T HAVE TO EXPEND DOLLARS ON SOMETHING THAT WE KNOW IS FADING OUT AND, AND WE CAN MORE QUICKLY GET TO THE, THE NEW ONE.

THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

THAT'S ALWAYS A GOOD ONE WHEN, WHEN THESE THINGS CHANGE.

AND I'LL SAY TOO, THE GOOD NEWS IS, YOU KNOW, OUR ONLINE PRESENCE IS SUCH A PRESENCE, AND THAT'S A FREE SWITCH, WHICH IS GOOD.

THAT'S RIGHT.

[04:35:05]

I DON'T SEE ANY MORE QUESTIONS, SO THANK YOU, UH, UH, TO THE TEAM ONLINE.

APPRECIATE IT.

AND, UH, THANK YOU TO OUR BOARD MEMBERS.

THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION TODAY.

THANK YOU EVERYBODY.

THANK YOU ALL.

I, I DO HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT, UH, WHEN YOU'RE READY, DR.

GUS, FOR ME TO MAKE IT.

UM, GO AHEAD.

I JUST WANNA ANNOUNCE, UH, AND, AND REMIND ALL OF US THAT ON MAY 8TH, UH, HILTON HEAD HIGH SCHOOL, UH, GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY.

SO PLEASE, UH, LOOK AT YOUR CALENDARS AND, AND CHECK ON THAT.

AND FOR ANYBODY, UH, IN THE SYSTEM, IT'S GONNA BE THERE.

REMEMBER MAY 8TH? DO WE HAVE THE TIME? I THINK SO, BUT I GOTTA CHECK.

YOU MEET ME TO IT? YEAH.

ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS? ALL RIGHT.

IF THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS, WE WILL ADJOURN BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT.