[00:00:10]
SO WE WILL CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER.
THANKS BOTH OF YOU FOR BEING, UH, ON TIME AS IS, UH, PASTOR GORDON.
SO WE ECONOMIZE EVERYBODY'S DAYTIME HOURS.
IS THERE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA? MAKE A MOTION THAT THE AGENDA IS APPROVED.
MS. BOATWRIGHT, WOULD YOU SECOND? SECOND? YEP.
WITH THAT, JOIN US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC, BUT WHICH STANDS? ONE NATION UNTO GOD WITH LIBERTY, JUST FOR ALL.
ALRIGHT, MS. CUSHING, HAS THE MEDIA BEEN NOTIFIED? YES, SIR.
DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? NO, SIR.
IS THERE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF THE COMMITTEE MEETING? MINUTES OF MARCH 12TH AND OR 11TH? I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE COMMITTEE MEETING.
MINUTES TO APPROVE THE COMMITTEE MEETING.
LET LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE MEETING OR MARCH 12TH, 2025.
WILL YOU SECOND THAT? MA'AM? I'M GONNA LET YOU SECOND IT 'CAUSE I WASN'T AT THERE, SO I'M ABSTAINING FROM THE MINUTES.
ON THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE POSITION STATEMENT, WE SENT OUT A LIST OF PRIORITIES, I THINK IT WAS IN EARLY MARCH.
UH, COLONEL GUY HAS WEIGHED IN ON THOSE.
UM, AND WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE, UH, CONSIGLIERE HERE TODAY WITH US ATTORNEY CARTILAGE.
PARDON? AND SO SHE'S GETTING CONNECTED.
I WAS TRYING TO GET THAT PLUG IN.
SO WHAT WE SENT OUT WERE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT, UM, WE PROFFERED AS, UM, PRIORITIES.
UH, AND THEN OF COURSE WITH THAT WE ALSO SOLICITED FEEDBACK FROM NOT ONLY THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS, BUT THE ENTIRE BOARD, UH, MS. CUSHING.
BARRY, WHAT HAS, HAS RESPONSE, WHAT TYPE OF RESPONSE HAVE WE HAD? I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANYTHING ONLY FROM COLONEL GEIER AND, UH, DAVID CARR, UH, AGREED WITH COLONEL GEIER, UH, WHAT HE SAID.
SO COLONEL GEIER AGREED WITH WHAT YOU SAID.
SO WE GOT THREE MS. UH, BOATWRIGHT AND, UM, MS. FRAZIER.
DO, DID, HAVE YOU HAD A CHANCE TO READ THAT DOCUMENT AND DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR ADDITIONS, DELETIONS, ET CETERA? SO, UH, MR. DALLAS, IF I MAY, I, YOU KNOW, HAD, I MEAN, I'VE LOOKED THROUGH THAT DOCUMENT.
I, I'M PRETTY SET ON WHAT I THINK.
AND I SAID AT THE LAST MEETING I ATTENDED, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE ISSUES THAT ARE REALLY GONNA IMPACT OUR SCHOOLS ARE GONNA BE THE NEW ONE BEING THE, THE WEIGHTED FUNDING FORMULA.
I THINK THAT'S GOT, UM, A PRETTY HIGH PLACE NOW ON THE
AND THEN THE ISSUES AROUND, UM, ATHLETICS AND SCHOOL CHOICE.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT GOING ON AND THERE WAS A LOT THAT CAME OUT AND THAT DIDN'T GET DONE AT A LEGISLATIVE, UM, A SESSION THAT JUST WRAPPED UP.
SO TO ME, UM, I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHERE SCHOOL CHOICE IS.
I KNOW THAT THEY'VE PASSED IT, BUT THEY STILL AREN'T SURE IF IT'S, I THINK THAT IT'S BEEN PASSED, BUT THEY'RE NOT SURE IF IT'S GONNA GET PASSED.
UH, THE COURT CHALLENGES IS MY UNDERSTANDING.
UM, AND JUST KIND OF FROM MY POINT OF VIEW, UNDERSTANDING THAT SO THAT WE CAN ADVOCATE WOULD BE MY PRIORITY.
SO I DIDN'T GO THROUGH AND PICK OUT MY TOP 10.
I'M REALLY FOCUSED ON THOSE ISSUES.
SO WE CAN ADD THOSE THREE, UH, TO THE ONES THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN OFFERED.
UH, MS. FRAZIER, UM, I HAVE NOT SEEN THAT DOCUMENT, BUT ONE OF MY CONCERNS WOULD BE STILL WITH THE VOUCHERS AND HOW IT'S GOING TO AFFECT US.
SO THE DOCUMENT WAS SENT OUT TO THE ENTIRE BOARD, SO WE'LL RESEND THAT AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
UH, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, UH, AS AN FYI,
[00:05:02]
IS TO CAPTURE INPUT AND THEN DO A CULLING EXERCISE AS WE DID THE BOARD DID FOR THE STRATEGIES.UH, AT THE, AT THE NEXT WORK SESSION.
SO IF YOU WILL, IF YOU HAVEN'T, UH, SEEN IT, TAKE A LOOK AND WE'LL ASK MS. CUSHING TO SEND IT OUT AGAIN.
AND, UH, JUST ADD WHATEVER YOU SEE, UH, OR GIVE COMMENTARY AS, UH, MS. BOATWRIGHT WILL DO.
UH, MR. PA, PASTOR GORDON? YEAH, UM, I DID LOOK OVER IT BRIEFLY, BUT I NEED TO LOOK OVER IT AGAIN.
BUT ONE OF THE ONES THAT CAUGHT MY MIND WAS, UM, THE BILL SB 2 0 2 TEACHERS.
UM, BILL OF RIGHTS DESIGN TEACHERS IN THE CLASS WHEN IT COMES TO CHILDREN, UM, THE STUDENTS, UM, HOW THEY ACT AND, YOU KNOW, STUFF LIKE THAT.
AND I, AND I BELIEVE THAT TEACHERS, UM, THE EMPOWERMENT, THE POWER THAT THEY USED TO HAVE, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT CAME TO DISCIPLINE AND OUR KIDS, UH, IN THE SCHOOLS, HAVE DEFINITELY DIMINISHED.
AND I KNOW ONE OF THE NEEDS WE HAD, ONE OF THE EXECUTIVE ORGANIZ WE HAD WITH, UM, SUMMER TRANSPORTATION, THEY ACTUALLY, THE PROGRAM STUDENTS ON THE BUS DISCIPLINE, UM, DISCIPLINE IN THEM.
BUT I THINK IT NEEDS TO GO FURTHER THAN ON THE BUS.
IT NEEDS TO BE IN THE CLASS AND TEACHERS NEED TO BE GIVEN BACK THAT POWER AND, AND THE PROTECTION OF THINGS, BECAUSE I'VE SEEN A LOT OF STORIES AND STUFF ON FACEBOOK WHERE STUDENTS FIGHT THE TEACHERS, YOU KNOW, FOR WHATEVER REASON.
UM, AND I THINK THAT BILL NEEDS TO REALLY BE LOOKED THAT CLOSE TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF OUR TEACHERS.
AND YOU SAID THAT'S SB SIX TWO? SB 2 0 2.
ANY OTHER, SIR? UM, THAT'S THE OTHER ONE I LOOKED AT WAS, UM, THE BILL FOR BOARD MEMBERS AND INSURANCE.
I, I AGREE WITH, UM, US HAVING, UM, INSURANCE ALSO HAVING THE RIGHT TO SAY, WELL, WE'D LIKE TO TAKE ON, HAVE A, A MEDICAL INSURANCE THROUGH THE DISTRICT.
I ACTUALLY, THAT'S ONE OF MY TOP ONES RIGHT THERE.
SO WE CAN ADD THE INSURANCE BILL.
CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT BILL NUMBER THAT IS, BUT INSURANCE FOR BOARD MEMBERS.
HEALTH INSURANCE ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? YEAH, I'M SORRY.
ANY OTHER? NO, THAT'S, THAT'S THE TWO RIGHT OFF HAND.
UM, JUST AS AN FYI, UH, LOOKING THROUGH ALL THE BILLS AND THE, UM, PRE-FILE BILLS AND THE ONES THAT HAVE GONE FORWARD, IN ADDITION TO, UM, JUST USING THOSE AS A PRIORITY, WE'VE PERSONALLY CREATED TWO PROPOSED BILLS, UH, THAT WE WILL PROFFER IF THERE'S SUPPORT TO THE, UM, GENERAL ASSEMBLY, WE'LL IDENTIFY A PARTICULAR, ANY PARTICULAR ELECTED LEGISLATOR WHO'S WILLING TO SUBMIT THAT BILL SO THAT IT CAN GET INTO THE, UM, THE DISCUSSION IN JANUARY, 2026, TWO OF THOSE BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN COMPLETED AND FUNNELED OVER TO OUR LEGAL COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR REVIEW.
AND, UH, MAKING SURE THAT IT COMPORTS WITH ALL THE REQUIREMENTS OF A SUBMISSION FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY CONSIDERATION.
UH, THE FIRST ONE IS, UM, FAIRNESS AND TESTING.
AND I HAD A CONVERSATION THIS MORNING WITH THREE KEY, UH, COMMUNITY LEADERS AND THEY ARE, AND ONE'S AN ENGINEER.
ONE IS A PHD IN EDUCATION, AND THE OTHER IS A VETERAN, UH, TEACHER.
UH, AND SO THEY'RE RETIRED, THEY MOVE HERE FROM DIFFERENT PLACES.
AND THEY ALSO, WHEN I MENTION THE BILL, I DON'T GIVE SPECIFICS BECAUSE I'M NOT GOTTEN THE FEEDBACK YET, UH, FROM, FROM THE LEGAL REVIEW.
UH, BUT THAT BILL FAIRNESS AND TESTING WOULD REQUIRE ALL THREE EDUCATIONAL OPTIONS IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA WOULD BE REQUIRED TO TAKE THE SAME TEST.
THEY ALSO WOULD BE REQUIRED TO SHOW THE DELINEATION BETWEEN THE SUBGROUPS OF STUDENTS WHO TAKE THOSE TESTS SO THAT ANYBODY LOOKING AT THOSE, THOSE TESTS RESULTS COULD MAKE A FAIR COMPARISON OF PUBLIC CHARTER AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF EDITORIAL COMMENT.
AND WE BELIEVE THAT THAT WOULD HELP, UH, ALL SCHOOL PARENTS WHO ARE LOOKING AT OPTIONS TO HAVE A MORE ANALYTICAL DECISION.
AND I THINK THAT WOULD BE FAIR TO ALL.
SO THE SECOND ONE, AND THAT'S FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
THE SECOND ONE THAT'S BEEN PROPER OR LEGAL REVIEW
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IS ONE CALLED TRUTH IN MEDIA.AND THAT ONE COMES FROM THE GLOBAL ARENA.
UH, WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT ITEMS THAT ARE POSTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA, AND IT IS, IT'S GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE THEY'RE JUST, IT'S NOT, THEY'RE JUST WRONG.
IT IS, THEY INTENTIONALLY DECEIVE THE UNAWARE READER AND THAT PERSON GOES OFF AND FORMS AN OPINION ABOUT SOCIETY, ABOUT, YOU KNOW, PARTIES, POLITICAL PARTIES, PRO AND CON.
AND IT'S NOT BASED ON REALITY.
AND THAT HURTS OUR GREAT COUNTRY.
AND SO WHAT PROTECTS, LET ME BACK UP.
IN EUROPE, THE SAME POSTING WILL BE CONTESTED LEGALLY.
AND IF YOU'LL LOOK AT GOOGLE META AND OTHER BIG TECH MEDIA COMPANIES, THEY'VE LOST BILLION DOLLAR SUITS FOR SAYING SOMETHING THAT IN THE US CURRENTLY WE CANNOT EVEN CONTEST LEGALLY BECAUSE OF COMMUNICATIONS ACT 1996, SECTION 2 3 0 INDEMNIFY SOCIAL MEDIA AGAINST LEGAL REDRESS OF WHAT THEY POST.
AND WHEN I LOOK AT HOW KIDS ARE PICKING UP THEMES THAT ARE JUST TOTALLY ERRONEOUS, UH, I THINK IT HURTS OUR SOCIETY.
SO I'M NOT BEING PEJORATIVE AGAINST PEOPLE POSTING, JUST THAT IT SHOULD BE HELD TO SOME ACCOUNTABLE LEVEL OF TRUTH.
THE THIRD ONE THAT I'VE NOT COMPLETED YET IS ON DISCIPLINE AS PASTOR GORDON SPEAKING.
UM, WHEN I LOOK BACK AT DISCIPLINE IN THE SCHOOLS AND THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, I THINK ONE OF THE, THE IMPEDIMENTS IS THAT OUR TEACHERS SPEND AN INORDINATE AMOUNT OF TIME TRYING TO RESTORE ORDER IN CLASSROOMS. WE'VE SEEN PICTURES OF WHERE CLASSROOMS HAVE BEEN DESTROYED BY STUDENTS.
AND SO WHAT IS WILL BE IN THAT BILL ONCE IT'S PROPOSED BILL, ONCE IT'S COMPLETED, IS THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO IDENTIFY EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES THAT TARGET THOSE TYPES OF STUDENTS WITH ALL THE LOVE, THE CARE, THE NURTURING THAT'S NECESSARY, BUT NOT WHERE THEY CAN IMPAIR OR IMPEDE THE MUCH LARGER CLASSROOM.
SO THOSE, THOSE ARE THREE AND MS, UM, MCC CARTILAGE, WOULD YOU JUST WANNA GIVE ANY FEEDBACK THAT, I KNOW YOU HAVEN'T HAD TIME BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN OUT OF TOWN FOR THE LAST WEEK.
SO I WAS THE ONE IS A FEDERAL YES.
SO WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE SOMEBODY WHO WOULD SPONSOR.
SO WE NEED TO TALK WITH THEM AND SEND THEM OUR DRAFT AND ASK THAT THEY WOULD INTRODUCE THE LEGISLATION FOR US.
AND THEN FOR OUR OTHER BILL ABOUT THE FAIRNESS AND TESTING, DO WE HAVE, UM, WHO SOME LEGISLATORS WHO INTRODUCE, WE THINK WE HAVE SOME, RIGHT.
IT REALLY IS FAIR IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, EVEN IF YOU'RE IN A PRIVATE SCHOOL, WHICH EVERYTHING SHOULD BE TESTED SAME WAY AND SEE WHAT PROGRESS THEY'RE MAKING.
I THE BEST INTEREST OF STUDENTS BECAUSE WE NEED TO SEE HOW THEY'RE CHEATING.
AGAIN, WE'RE NOT POSITIONING STRONGLY ONE SIDE OR ANOTHER, JUST SAYING A LEVEL PLAN.
I DON'T RECALL THE SCHOOL BOARD DRAFTING ITS OWN LEGISLATION BEFORE, SO THIS IS KIND OF UNCHARTERED TERRITORY, BUT CAN YOU CLARIFY WHO WE IS? BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THE BOARD HAS DISCUSSED THIS, VOTED ON IT OR TAKEN THE OFFICIAL POSITIONS ON THESE.
SO WHEN YOU SAY WE ARE DRAFTING A BILL AND IT'S OUR LEGISLATION, WHO HAVE YOU, WHO, WHO WAS IN PART A PART OF THAT? YEAH.
WELL, I GREW UP TO TRY TO AVOID THE USE OF THE WORD I, SO SINCE YOU ASK IT IS I, I DRAFTED THAT BILL USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, WHICH GOD EVERYBODY KNOWS AMOUNT OF TECHING AND PUT THAT TOGETHER AND RUN IT THROUGH, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO HAVE SOME EXPERTISE IN THAT.
AND THAT INCLUDES OUR LEGAL, UH, STAFF.
WE'VE NEVER INTRODUCED LEGISLATION SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD.
I MEAN, NOT ON THE BOARD OF DISTRICT AND WORKED WITH THE BOARD.
UH, MS. BOATWRIGHT, LET ME AN RESPOND TO HER OR ATTORNEY CARTILAGE, IF YOU'LL RECALL.
WE'VE SAID THAT WE WANT THIS LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE TO BE PROACTIVE.
THERE'S A GAP, HASN'T BEEN DONE FOR WHATEVER REASON, UNDERSTAND AND RESPECT THAT.
BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT HOW OUR SCHOOLS ARE BEING AFFECTED, I THINK IT'S INCUMBENT UPON US TO PRESENT THINGS, ALTERNATIVES AND SOLUTIONS.
[00:15:01]
ASSOCIATION, YOU WERE, THAT WOULD BE LIKE A RESOLUTION THAT THEY WOULD BE SUPPORTING THIS TYPE OF LEGISLATION AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.BUT FIRST IS TO DISCUSS IT AT THIS COMMITTEE AND THEN WITH THE BOARD, HUH? THEN WITH THE BOARD, SO THAT AS MS. BOATRIGHT IS ALLUDING TO, WE HAVE PROPER, WE FOLLOW PROPER PROTOCOL.
AND THEN AT THAT POINT, SCHOOL, UH, BOARD ASSOCIATION IS ASKING RESOLUTIONS YEAH.
IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, BUT IN JUNE.
SO THAT WE CAN GET THE SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION TO LIST IT AS ONE OF THEIR RESOLUTIONS TO BE CONSIDERED AT OUR JUNE MEETING.
AND THEN, AND MS. SOMETHING, MS. YEAH, LET, LEMME FINISH JUST A MINUTE.
MS. BOATRIGHT, I'LL BE RIGHT WITH YOU.
SO THAT THE SCHOOL, UM, BOARD ASSOCIATION THAT CAN ALSO TAKE IT IF IT PASSES AND IF IT PASSES HERE, IF IT PASSES AT OUR BOARD AND IF IT PASSES AT THE SCHOOL BOARD.
SO HOW WE'VE DONE THIS IN THE PAST, UM, IN THE SENSE OF, YOU KNOW, I WAS GONNA ASK MS. CARTILAGE WHAT HER PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE WAS WITH THIS, OR WHAT MIGHT BE THE WAY, BEST WAY IS THAT WE HAVE VOTED ON A LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, UM, THAT THEN IS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION AND THEY DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE GONNA MAKE IT PART OF THEIR AGENDA.
SO I KNOW THAT WE HAD, THEY WEREN'T BILLS PER SE, BUT THAT WE HAD ITEMS THAT WE WANTED, UH, THE LEGISLATION TO TAKE UP.
SO I'M NOT SURE, UM, WHAT THE PROPER FLOW AND PROTOCOL IS.
AND I, I, I KNOW THAT WITH PARTICULARLY THE SECTION FIVE 30, I THINK THERE'S VERY MIXED SUPPORT ON THAT ONE, UH, RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE.
'CAUSE WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, TO JOIN A LAWSUIT, UH, WITH THIS.
AND IT IS ACTUALLY, I, I THINK AS WE'VE DISCUSSED, YOU KNOW, AT THE SUPREME COURT, SO MY QUESTION IS, I, IN MY OPINION,
BUT I FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO, IN MY OPINION, WE NEED TO NOT CROWD OUT THE ISSUES OF THE VOUCHERS THAT ARE VERY, VERY PRESCIENT.
THE ISSUES PEOPLE DON'T REALLY, YOU KNOW, EDUCATE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS ABOUT WHAT'S COMING AND HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS, FIGURE OUT WHAT THE STATUS IS, HAVE THE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE LEGISLATURES ABOUT WHERE THERE ARE, BECAUSE THE THINGS THAT ARE REALLY GONNA HIT US PRIVATE SCHOOLS, THIS WEIGHTED FUNDING FORMULA, WE'VE GOT THE COUNTY, THIS IS GONNA BE A BIG ONE FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY.
I THINK THAT YOU CAN GO TO ANY SCHOOL, YOU DON'T HAVE TO EVEN LIVE IN THAT COUNTY.
AND YOU KNOW, THERE ARE THINGS LIKE THAT THAT ARE GONNA IMPACT ENROLLMENT.
AND I FEEL LIKE TO ME, THAT'S WHAT'S ON FIRE AT THE MOMENT.
AND, AND SO I WOULD HOPE THAT WE WOULD HAVE SPACE FOR ALL THOSE THINGS, UH, THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE THAT WE CAN, IF YOU WANNA PURSUE SOME OF THIS AND HAVE SOME DISCUSSIONS ABOUT LEGISLATION YOU'RE DRAFTING, I'M FINE WITH THAT.
AND, AND THAT CAN BE A VALUABLE EXERCISE.
BUT I DON'T WANNA DISCOUNT, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROPER PROTOCOL IS IF WE TALK TO THE BOARD AND, YOU KNOW, THESE DIFFERENT THINGS.
BUT MAN, THERE'S THIS, THIS OBSESSION IN PARTICULAR WAS VERY, VERY EDUCATION HEAVY EDUCATION BILL HEAVY.
AND WE REALLY NEED TO ABSORB THAT, UM, AND, AND EDUCATE OURSELVES, EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AND, AND BUILD THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR LEGISLATURES TOO.
SO I GUESS MY FEEDBACK HERE IS I THINK THIS IS A FINE DIRECTION TO GO IN.
I'M PROBABLY NOT GONNA BE IN SUPPORT OF THE TWO 30.
UH, THERE'S A LOT OF COMPLEXITY.
I HAVEN'T SEEN THE BILL, SO THERE'S A LOT OF COMPLEXITY THERE.
UM, BUT I ALSO WANNA MAKE SURE WE DON'T TAKE OUR EYES OFF THIS OTHER, THESE OTHER BALLS THAT WE NEED TO FIELD HERE.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? ABSOLUTELY.
CAN I, UH, TRY TO GIVE A HUMBLE RESPONSE TO THAT MS. BO, PLEASE.
SO WE SENT OUT A REQUEST FOR PRIORITIES BACK IN MARCH.
AND THE ONLY TWO PEOPLE WHO'VE RESPONDED HAVE BEEN THE MYSELF AND THE CHAIR.
AND SO THE, YOU KNOW, POWER HATES A VACUUM SUCCESS MOVE, PROGRESS HATES A VACUUM.
SO WE TRY TO GET THINGS THAT WE SORT OF BELIEVE WILL SUPPLEMENT THOSE ITEMS YOU JUST MENTIONED.
AND WHAT WE'RE GOING, WE ARE DOING THIS, USING THIS MEETING FOR TODAY, IS TO GIVE EVERYBODY A CHANCE NOW THAT YOU SEE US MOVING FORWARD, TO NOW REVIEW ALL OF THOSE THINGS AND COME BACK IN.
AND WE'VE ALREADY SPOKEN WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT ABOUT HAVING THE MENTEE CULLING SESSION THAT WE DID FOR STRATEGY, WHICH SEEMED TO WORK VERY WELL.
AND SO THAT ANYTHING ANYBODY PROMOTES FROM THIS POINT FORWARD WILL BE INCLUDED IN THAT, UH, DIGESTION OF WHAT BEEN RECOMMENDED.
AND THEN WE, UH, SORT OF DECIDE IS THAT OKAY? YEAH.
AND I JUST WOULD POINT OUT TOO THAT
[00:20:01]
WE HAD A DISCUSSION, UM, IN MARCH, I THINK.AND WHERE I, I BROUGHT THESE UP IS MY PRIORITY, SO I DIDN'T RESPOND TO THAT ADDITIONAL DOCUMENT.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF SOME PEOPLE FEEL LIKE, MAYBE, MAYBE DIDN'T REALIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF ACTUALLY RESPONDING TO THE ADDITIONAL DOCUMENT.
SO JUST AS A THOUGHT OUT THERE, 'CAUSE I DID, WE DID HAVE THIS DISCUSSION, I THINK IT WAS IN MARCH, MAYBE FEBRUARY, UM, WHERE WE STARTED LOOKING AT THIS AND, AND, AND THIS VERY TOPIC CAME UP.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I AGREE POWER HATES A VACUUM, BUT I DO THINK THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS.
SO WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT AND WE'VE SENT OUT A SPECIFIC MEMO, NOT JUST TO THE COMMITTEE, BUT TO THE ENTIRE BOARD.
AND SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE IS TO ELEVATE IT SO EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS, PLEASE GET YOUR SUGGESTIONS IN SO WE CAN CODIFY AND ARCHIVE.
UH, AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE SORT OF MOVED THE MENTEE SESSION FAR FURTHER INTO THE FUTURE.
SO ALL THOSE THINGS YOU MENTIONED, PLEASE NOTE SO WE CAN COMPILE 'EM IN ONE SHEET AS WE DID FOR STRATEGY AND MOVE FORWARD.
SO, UM, MS. BOATWRIGHT IN FEBRUARY YOU ALL LISTED, UH, SOME HOUSE, UH, SOME BILLS THAT WERE HOUSED AND SENATE.
SO YEAH, THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT YOU WOULD SAY ARE YOUR PRIORITIES.
THEN I CAN TAKE THOSE AND PUT YOUR NAME ON THEM.
THOSE ONES THAT WE DISCUSSED IN FEBRUARY.
AND THEN I WOULD'VE ADDED THE WEIGHTED FUNDING FORMULA 'CAUSE WE JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THAT
SO, AND ANY OF THAT AND ANY, SO IF YOU WOULD WRITE THAT DOWN, I CAN ADD TO IT.
IS THAT A BILL? BILL? SORRY, I DON'T KNOW THE WEIGHTED.
YEAH, I THINK THAT IS, THAT'S A PROVISO THOUGH.
I KNOW THE PROVISO WAS AN AMENDMENT TO THE WEIGHTED FUNDING FORMULA, SO YEAH, I'M NOT SURE.
AND AGAIN, THE MESSAGE IS IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU WANT TO BE CONSIDERED SUBMITTED SO WE CAN CODIFY IT AND COMPILE IT AND EVERYBODY'S IDEAS ARE CAPTURED.
UM, THEY HAVE MS. GORDON ON THE PHONE, SHE'S LISTENING IN ON THE PHONE.
ANY, ANY, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT WHERE WE'RE NOW? NO.
CAN I MENTION TWO OF THEM? BILLS? I'M LOOKING AT MY NOTES.
UM, SENATE BILL 1 25 AND THAT WAS ABOUT, UM, CONSTRUCTION OF, UM, UH, THE A HUNDRED PERCENT TAX EXEMPT FOR DEVELOPERS DEVELOPING HOUSES.
AND, UM, THEY'VE BEEN GETTING AWAY WITH IT ACCORDING TO, UM, PLACES LIKE ROCKDALE OR CHARLOTTE.
AND THEY'VE BEEN GETTING AWAY WITH, UM, BUILDING 89 UNITS AND ONLY TWO, UM, THE UNITS, UM, DEDICATED TO LOW INCOME HOUSING.
AND ACCORDING TO THE BILL, OR ACCORDING TO WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN, IS THAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE DEDICATED WHERE THEY GET A HUNDRED PERCENT TAX EXEMPT
SO THE NEW BILL IS TRYING TO CHANGE THAT.
SO WHERE THEY AT LEAST, UM, GET IT CLOSE.
TOWARD LOW INCOME, THEN THEY'LL BE, YOU KNOW, THEY'LL GET TAX EXEMPT ON THAT.
BUT THEY'VE BEEN GETTING AWAY WITH THAT STUFF AND I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING IN BEAUFORT.
A LOT OF BUILDINGS GOING UP AND WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH OF THEM ARE DEDICATED TOWARD LOW INCOME.
SO I, I THINK THAT BILL, THAT'S ONE OF THE BILLS THAT WE REALLY NEED TO PASS BECAUSE DON'T ASK THOSE TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
THAT, THAT PARTICULAR TAX GOES GO TO SCHOOL DISTRICT.
SO I'M JUST SAYING THAT THAT BILL NEEDS TO BE UPFRONT.
AND IF I COULD SAY ONE MORE, SO CUSH, YOU GET THE BILL NUMBER, UM, 1 25.
SB ONE SENATE BILL 1 25, RIGHT? YES.
UM, DO YOU DO EIGHT HOUSE OR SENATE? UM, WELL, THE FIRST ONE, THE, THE FIRST BILL I MENTIONED IS BILL WAS SB YEAH.
THAT HAS PASSED IN THE SENATE AND IT'S NOW AT THE HOUSE.
ACCORDING TO WHEN WE WAS UPDATE THE LAST TIME.
UM, THE OTHER ONE WAS THE, THE BILL 3,100 RUNNING THE STOP SCHOOL BUS.
AND, UM, THEY HAVE PUT SOME REAL STRICT, UM, GOOD SITUATIONS BEHIND THAT.
UM, EVEN IF, IF A PERSON IS STOPPED FOR RUNNING A SCHOOL BUS, THEY'LL GET FINED FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, NOT FROM, UM, THE LAW ENFORCEMENT.
I MEAN, IT'S PROBABLY SPENDING SOME TIME IN THROUGH.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S ONE OF THE, THOSE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE A LONG TIME AGO.
THEY SHOULD HAVE VIS REVISED THAT ONE A LONG TIME.
WHERE'S THAT ONE NOW? UM, OH, IT'S BEEN FILED, BUT NO ACTION ON IT YET.
[00:25:01]
AND WHAT'S THAT NUMBER COME TO? AND IT PASSED THE SENATE.IT CAUSES THE 3,100 HAS THE SENATE, BUT NOT THE HOUSE.
IT HAS PASSED THE SENATE, BUT NOT THE HOUSE.
CAN I, CAN I INTERJECT SOMETHING? I, IF YOU SEE ME SMILING ONLINE AND YOU SEE ME SMILING IN HERE, IT'S BECAUSE OF THIS DIALOGUE.
I MEAN, PASTOR GORDON, KUDOS TO YOU.
KUDOS MS. BOATWRIGHT FOR HAVING SPECIFIC THINGS THAT YOU'VE READ, RESEARCHED, AND WHAT HAVE YOU.
AND YOU'RE SAYING, THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO, UM, TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT.
I'M VERY, VERY HAPPY AND VERY PROUD OF THAT.
UM, MR. SMITH? OH, NO, UH, UM, NO, JUST, UM, I, I THINK I, I THINK I'VE GOT, GIVEN MRS. BERRY, THE, THE, THE, WHEN WE FIRST, WHEN WE FIRST, WHEN WE FIRST SPOKE, WHEN WE WERE GOING ACROSS THAT LIST, I BELIEVE THAT, THAT WE HAD, THAT WE HAD, WE HAD GIVEN SOME THAT DAY.
I THOUGHT IN FEBRUARY THERE WAS, THERE WAS SOME NUMBERS, YES.
AND, AND I, AND I, AND I APOLOGIZE.
UM, IT WAS WHEN I ACTUALLY, I WAS COMING TO GIVE AN UPDATE.
UH, I WAS SUPPOSED TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON ONE, BUT MATTER, I SAY FOR THE NEXT, BECAUSE, UM, THEY MENTIONED IT AN A PRESS THAT I SAW AND I WAS, I WAS GONNA, I WAS GONNA ASK, UH, DID ANYBODY SEE, OKAY, SO LET, LET ME JUST A, UH, POSE THIS QUESTION.
MAYBE THIS WILL HELP CLEARED UP.
YOU, YOU ARE PROPOSING THAT THIS BILL BE ADDED AS A PRIORITY, RIGHT? WELL, Y YEAH, BUT ALSO I THINK THEY HAD GIVEN, I WAS GONNA ASK, DID ANYBODY SEE, BECAUSE I MISSED, I MISSED IT APPARENTLY AT, AT THE, UH, TOLD ME THAT HE HAD AN UPDATE ON ONE OF THEM THAT, THAT WE HAD SPOKE ABOUT AT THAT, AT THAT, AT THAT MEETING IN FEBRUARY.
SO APPARENTLY THE HOUSE SPOKE ABOUT ONE OF THOSE BOOKS THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT AS GROUP COLLECTIVELY.
LAST TIME WE WERE TOGETHER THAT I HAD MENTIONED.
SO LET'S PUT THAT DOWN AS SOMETHING FOR US TO RESEARCH.
AND, AND FIND OUT AND REPORT BACK.
BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO COLLECT THE WHOLE UNIVERSE OF ANYTHING ANYBODY WANTS TO COVER.
SO WHAT BILL DID YOU NUMBER, DID YOU SAY THIS S**T? I DIDN'T.
GET IT AND GIVE IT TO MS. BERRY.
SO THAT, UH, WE ARCHIVE WHAT WE WANT.
SO, UM, WHEN IS OUR NEXT MEETING? UH, JUNE 11TH IS WHAT I HAVE DOWN ON THE AGENDA.
SO IS TWO WEEKS ENOUGH FOR EVERYBODY TO REVIEW ALL THE MATERIALS AND GET ANY ADDITIONS, ADDITIONAL PRIORITIES FOR YES.
FRAZIER, MS. BOATRIGHT IS TWO WEEKS ENOUGH, UH, FOR EVERYBODY TO SORT OF COALESCE AROUND WHAT THEY WANT TO SUBMIT? YEAH, THAT'S FINE FOR ME.
DO YOU HAVE ANY FIR IT IS TWO WEEKS FROM NOW A SUFFICIENT TIME FOR YOU TO SORT OF REVIEW BILLS OR TOPICS OR PRIORITIES? YES, PLEASE.
UM, I'LL WAIT TO SEE THE DOCUMENT.
UH, YEAH, TWO WEEKS SHOULD DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY BE SUFFICIENT.
SUFFICIENT TO, TO, TO GO OVER BECAUSE, UH, AT THIS POINT, THIS, THAT WE'RE FINE TUNING IT.
YEAH, WE ALREADY HAVE SOME, UM, SOME THINGS.
UH, MS. BERG, IF YOU, UM, THAT LAST FEBRUARY MEETING, IF YOU, UH, I KNOW YOU TOOK NOTES ON, ON WHICH ONES THAT WE BROUGHT UP, IF YOU WOULD JUST KIND OF JUST SEND OUT, SEND OUT A LIST TALLY OF THOSE POINTS THAT EVERYONE BROUGHT UP SO THAT WE CAN, SO I CAN REVISIT SOME OF THE STUFF THAT GOT BEFORE.
UH, BARBARA SHOULD PUT SOME STUFF OUT THERE AS WELL AS I DID.
SO I CAN JUST REVISIT THE KIND OF SHARE.
I'LL SEND A LIST OUT OF WHAT I HAVE.
I WAS TRYING, I, I'LL JUST SEND OUT WHAT I HAVE.
ILL, AND THEN SEND OUT THE, THE WHOLE LIST AGAIN.
SO PASTOR GORDON, ANY MORE FROM YOU, SIR? NO, YOU'RE LOOKING.
AND I'M, YOU GOT TWO WEEKS IF IT'S OKAY.
YEAH, NO, ACTUALLY I WAS JUST GOING BACK TO WHAT, UM, MS.
THE VOUCHER, BUILD THAT, UM, AND THAT SHE'S RIGHT, THAT'S A REAL HIGH TOPIC.
AND THE DEMOGRAPHICS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR DISTRICT, YOU KNOW, WE REALLY NEED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW THAT'S GONNA AFFECT EVEN BOTH SIDES, NORTH, NORTH SOUTHBOROUGH, BECAUSE THAT'S, THAT'S DEFINITELY A CONVERSATION.
I'D DEFINITELY LIKE TO BE, UH, AL ALSO, I KNOW THAT THE, UH, THE, THE GOVERNOR, I'M NOT SURE WHAT IT'S, WHAT IT'S CALLED THAT TOO, WHERE, UH, THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT, UM, THE STATE WAS NO LONGER, UH, I, I THINK THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE OR SOMETHING THAT SAID THEY WERE NO LONGER, UM, PAYING, PAYING FOR CSR CSOS.
THEY'RE NOT PAYING FOR SROS FOR, UH, MIDDLE SCHOOLS, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
I MEAN, FOR, I ASK YOU FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS,
[00:30:01]
THEY DON'T WANNA PAY FOR, I I THINK THAT THAT MAY BE A LOW TWO CHECK ON, UH, FOR, FOR, FOR THIS C FOR THIS COMMITTEE.YOU MIGHT WANNA CHECK ON THAT TOO AS WELL.
ANY OTHERS? THAT'S, THAT'S JUST OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
YOU, YOU STILL GOT TWO WEEKS? YES, SIR.
ANY OTHERS? EVERYBODY GOOD? OKAY.
SO THAT TAKES THE RANKING OF TOP 10 PRIORITIZED ITEMS AND THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE.
UM, SO ANY FUTURE TOPICS, MS. BOATWRIGHT, MS. FRAZIER, PASTOR GORDON? NONE FOR ME.
I THINK WE GOT A LOT GOING ON.
YOU OKAY? I'LL GET WITH YOU AFTER THIS.
UH, NEXT MEETING IS JUNE THE 11TH.
AND JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS.
AND AGAIN, WE ARE TRYING TO BE A VERY PROACTIVE LEGISLATIVE AND ENSURE THAT, UH, TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE, WE AVOID SURPRISES THAT COME OUT OF VARIOUS LEGISLATIVE ENTITIES, FEDERAL, STATE, WHAT HAVE YOU.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS AND WE'VE GIVEN YOU BACK ABOUT AN HOUR OF YOUR TIME.
AND ALSO, UH, JUST TO GIVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT, UM, ALSO, I WAS AT THE, UH, CLIENT COUNCIL MEETING ON, UH, MONDAY AND UM, MONDAY THAT, AND, UH, TOM DAVIS WAS ACTUALLY THERE SPEAKING ABOUT SOMETHING.
SO, UM, THAT WAS INTERESTING TO SEE THAT, UH, LEGISLATOR, THE LEGISLATOR ACTUALLY, UH, CAME.
CAME, CAME THERE SPEAKING ABOUT THINGS.
SO I KNOW WE HAVE SOME TIES, WE HAVE A COUPLE ISSUES THAT WE MAY NEED TO BRING OUT.
AND I THINK THAT NOW THAT THEY'RE, I THINK THEY'RE NOT IN SESSION, UH, WE MAY NEED TO SEE IF WE CAN GET THOSE THINGS OR ALSO SEE IF WE CAN POSSIBLY HAVE A, UM, GET A B BREAKFAST OR A COFFEE WITH OUR LEGISLATORS AND MAY MAYBE BOARD MEMBERS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW, UH, COFFEE OR SOMETHING THAT'S JUST, I WANT, I JUST WANNA PUT, PUT THAT OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, UH, SO, SO THAT, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING WE COULD BE THINKING ABOUT TO SEE, YOU KNOW, SEE HOW, HOW WE, WE WANNA MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.
SO LET, LET ME, LET ME TAG ONTO THAT.
WE HAD A CONVERSATION WITH A BOARD MEMBER FROM THE UPSTATE, AND THEY HOLD A LEGISLATIVE COFFEE, WHICH IS BETWEEN THE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THE BOARD, AND IT'S AT, AND THEY TALKED ABOUT THEIR TURNOUT.
I'M LIKE, WELL, WE HAVE A MEETING WHERE WE BRING IN THE INVITE THE LEGISLATORS, RIGHT? BUT IT'S DURING THE DAY.
MAYBE THEY'RE WORKING OR WHAT HAVE YOU.
BUT THEY HOLD THEIRS AT 7:00 AM AND THEY SAY THEY GET A VERY GOOD TURNOUT TURN, THEY GET AN EXCELLENT TURNOUT, AND IT'S BEFORE PEOPLE GO TO WORK.
UH, AND THIS IS IN GREEN, WHICH HAS HORRENDOUS TRAFFIC LIKE WE HAVE IN CERTAIN AREAS OF OUR COUNTY.
UH, BUT THEY GET A GOOD SHOWING, UH, THEY GET ABOUT 90 TO 95% OF THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO SHOW.
UH, LET'S PUT THAT DOWN, UH, JUST FOR CONSIDERATION AS WE MOVE FORWARD OUT OF WHAT'S COMING OUT OF THIS MEETING, IF EVERYBODY'S OKAY WITH THAT.
AND, UM, JUST THINKING ABOUT, AND AS, AS EACH OF US MOVE THROUGH OUR NORMAL, UH, CONNECTIONS, ASK WHAT OTHERS ARE DOING AND WHAT WORKS AND WHAT CAN WE IMPORT HERE TO MAKE OUR LEGISLATIVE LEGISLATIVE EFFORT A LITTLE BIT, UH, YOU KNOW, SUPREMELY EFFECTIVE AND DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS WITH, UH, OUR KEY STAKEHOLDERS, ELECTED OFFICIALS AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT.
UNLESS THERE'S FURTHER ADO BY, WE MAY, UH, DISASSEMBLED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT.