[A. CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:06]
GOOD AFTERNOON, AND WELCOME TO THIS STUDY SESSION OF THE HENRY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION. IN ORDER TO ENSURE PRODUCTIVE MEETING, ATTENDEES AT THE MEETING HAVE AGREED TO THE DECORUM EXPECTED OF A MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. DISRUPTION TO CONDUCTING THE BUSINESS OF THE BOARD WILL RESULT IN THE BOARD MOVING TO RECESS, A VIRTUAL FORMAT OR SUSPENSION OF THE MEETING TO A LATER DATE. WE HAVE A PRODUCTIVE MEETING AHEAD AND I WILL TURN IT OVER TO THE CHAIR. THANK YOU SO MUCH AND GOOD AFTERNOON, HENRY COUNTY. IT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE YOU ALL. I WILL NOW CALL THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED STUDY SESSION OF THE HENRY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION TO ORDER ON MARCH 10TH AT 4:01 P.M, AND WE WILL BEGIN THE MEETING BY ME
[B. SUPERINTENDENT'S WELCOME]
TURNING IT OVER TO DOCTOR PACE FOR HIS WELCOME. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND TO OUR COMMUNITY. WELCOME TO THE MARCH MEETING OF THE HENRY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION. AS WE OPEN TODAY'S MEETING, PLEASE JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR THE PASSING OF A STUDENT AT EAGLE'S LANDING HIGH SCHOOL AND A STAFF MEMBER AT LOCUST GROVE MIDDLE SCHOOL. THANK YOU. GEORGIA GOVERNOR BRIAN KEMP PROCLAIMED MARCH 10TH THROUGH 14TH AS SCHOOL BOARD APPRECIATION WEEK ACROSS THE STATE OF GEORGIA. I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK THE FIVE MEMBERS OF OUR BOARD OF EDUCATION FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO UNIFIED GOVERNANCE AND UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO DOING WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR 43,000 PLUS STUDENTS AND 6000 PLUS EMPLOYEES. PLEASE JOIN ME IN A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR OUR AWARD WINNING HENRY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, WHO HAS MORE THAN 50 YEARS OF COLLECTIVE EXPERIENCE AS A BOARD.I WAS WAITING FOR YOU TO SAY. WE RECOGNIZE THAT MARCH IS WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, AND WE CELEBRATE THIS YEAR'S THEME OF MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER WOMEN EDUCATING AND INSPIRING GENERATIONS, A THEME THAT CERTAINLY RESONATES WITH THE WORK THAT IS DONE EACH AND EVERY DAY ACROSS HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS. NATIONAL SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER WEEK WAS OBSERVED MARCH 2ND THROUGH EIGHTH, AND I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO EXPRESS OUR APPRECIATION FOR THE VITAL ROLE OF OUR SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS, THE ROLE THEY PLAY IN SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS, ADMINISTRATORS, TEACHERS, EDUCATORS, PARENTS AND THE COMMUNITY. LAST WEEK WE ALSO CELEBRATED, READ ACROSS AMERICA AND READ ACROSS HENRY WEEK. I WANT TO THANK OUR BOARD MEMBERS, DISTRICT LEADERS, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO TRAVELED TO SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT HENRY COUNTY ON MARCH 5TH TO SHARE THEIR PASSION AND EXCITEMENT FOR LITERACY. I ALSO WANT TO OFFER A SPECIAL THANKS TO THE TALENTED FINE ARTS STUDENTS OF STOCKBRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL, WHO HELPED US CREATE A SPECIAL READ ALONG VIDEO THAT BROUGHT THE STORY OF A DRUM CIRCLE TITLED JAM TWO TO LIFE. WE ENDED THE WEEK WITH A READ A THON ON SATURDAY AT THE HENRY COUNTY LEARNING AND SUPPORT CENTER, SPONSORED BY RADIO PERSONALITY GREG STREET FROM B103 AND THE HENRY COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE. AND I'D LIKE TO THANK OUR FAMILY AND STUDENTS SERVICES TEAM FOR SPEARHEADING THIS EVENT, AS WELL AS ALL OF OUR HENRY COUNTY EMPLOYEES THAT PARTICIPATED TO GIVE A FANTASTIC EVENT FOR OUR FAMILY AND COMMUNITY, ALIGNING WITH OUR CORE BELIEF, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IS CRITICAL TO STUDENT SUCCESS. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM CHAIR. THAT CONCLUDES MY WELCOME AND I TURN
[C. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS]
IT BACK OVER TO YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH, DOCTOR PACE. WE WILL NOW MOVE IN OUR AGENDA TO OUR INFORMATIONAL ITEMS THIS AFTERNOON. WE WILL BEGIN WITH ITEM C1A DOCTOR PACE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. ITEM C1A IN PURSUIT OF EXCEPTIONAL. I NOW HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE 90 DAY ENTRY PLAN. AND IT'S BEEN IT'S BEEN WONDERFUL. SO AS I REFLECT ON MY FIRST 90 DAYS AS SUPERINTENDENT OF HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS, I'M FILLED WITH GRATITUDE FOR THE WARM WELCOME MY FAMILY AND I HAVE RECEIVED. THE PAST FEW MONTHS HAVE BEEN A PERIOD OF DEEP LISTENING AND LEARNING, AND I WANT TO SHARE SOME REFLECTIONS WITH YOU TODAY. I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF MEETING WITH HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE STUDENTS, EMPLOYEES, PARENTS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO UNDERSTAND OUR DISTRICT FROM THEIR DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES. WHILE I'VE GAINED A WEALTH OF INSIGHT, I'M ALSO VERY AWARE THAT THERE'S STILL SO MUCH MORE TO LEARN DURING MY VISITS TO OUR SCHOOLS, IT QUICKLY BECAME APPARENT TO EVERYONE THAT I'M A DATA PERSON. SO I'VE BEEN TOLD I[00:05:04]
BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF DATA, BUT NOT JUST AS NUMBERS, AS A TOOL TO INFORM OUR NEXT STEPS IN DRIVE IMPROVEMENT IN STUDENT OUTCOMES. FOR ME, DATA IS MUCH MORE THAN JUST NUMBERS. IT'S ABOUT THE STUDENTS, THE TEACHERS, THE NAMES, THE PEOPLE BEHIND THIS DATA. EACH OF OUR SCHOOLS, EVERY CHILD AND EVERY ADULT WHO WALKS THROUGH OUR HALLS HAS A STORY. DATA HELPS US TO ILLUMINATE THAT STORY AND TO UNDERSTAND THE NARRATIVE THAT'S UNFOLDING EVERY DAY. THE INFORMATION GATHERED DURING THESE 90 DAYS SERVE AS A FOUNDATION FOR AUTHORING OUR NEXT CHAPTERS. THESE CHAPTERS WILL BRING US CLOSER TO OUR GOAL OF ENSURING THAT EVERY HENRY COUNTY SCHOOL STUDENT HAS ACCESS TO A HIGH QUALITY, WORLD CLASS EDUCATION. DELVING INTO THE HEART OF THIS 90 DAY PLAN, THE I3 PLAN. THE VERY PURPOSE OF THE PLAN WAS TO ENSURE THAT HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS IS ACTIVELY AND PURPOSEFULLY ON THE PATH TO REALIZING ITS VISION, EXECUTING THE PLAN OVER THE 90 DAY PERIOD ENCOMPASSED TARGETED ENGAGEMENT WITH STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING STUDENTS, PARENTS, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, TEACHERS, PRINCIPALS, DISTRICT STAFF, COMMUNITY PARTNERS, BUSINESS PARTNERS, AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL OFFICIALS TO NAME MOST OF THEM. THIS UNFOLDED IN THREE PHASES. PHASE ONE INITIATE OPPORTUNITIES. PHASE TWO INTEGRATE ACCESS, AND PHASE THREE ILLUSTRATE OUTCOMES. I WILL NOW SHARE SOME KEY FINDINGS FROM THIS 90 DAY REVIEW. FIRST, OUR GOVERNANCE TEAM, THE HENRY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, EMBRACES A UNIFIED GOVERNANCE MODEL DESIGNED TO PROMOTE COHESIVENESS AND EFFICACY IN REALIZING THE DISTRICT'S VISION AND MISSION. THEY WERE RECOGNIZED AS THE 2023 GOVERNANCE TEAM OF THE YEAR BY THE GEORGIA SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION. HOWEVER, THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN BY ACCIDENT.CONNECTED BY CORE BELIEFS, THEIR DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT GO BEYOND THIS DANCE. WHETHER IT'S WHOLE BOARD TRAININGS, CONFERENCES, EVENTS ON THE WEEKENDS. THEY ARE DEDICATED TO SEEING THAT HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS SUCCEEDS. NEXT, OUR ORGANIZATIONAL ALIGNMENT IS STRUCTURED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF A RAPIDLY GROWING AND DIVERSE COMMUNITY. WE HAVE DEDICATED AND TALENTED TEAMS THAT CARE IMMENSELY ABOUT HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS, AND WILL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO SEE HENRY COUNTY AND ITS STUDENTS MEET THEIR GOALS. THE STRUCTURES FOR STUDENT LEARNING AND ACHIEVEMENT HAVE BEEN SET UP FOR SUCCESS. RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS. BEYOND THE CORE PROVIDES FOR THE WHOLE CHILD. DATA SYSTEMS TO UNDERSTAND STUDENT PERFORMANCE ARE ESTABLISHED AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE HAVE WILLING TEACHERS, LEADERS AND STAFF CAPABLE OF PRODUCING EXCELLENT RESULTS. WE HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS IN HEALTH AND WELLNESS. THE BOARD'S INVESTMENTS IN MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS FACILITATORS HAS BEEN INNOVATIVE AND INVALUABLE BOTH FOR STUDENTS AND EMPLOYEES. WE ALSO CONTINUE TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS TO PROVIDE A SECURE, SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT WHILE MEETING WITH STAKEHOLDERS, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH SUPERINTENDENT, ADVISORY GROUPS OR PRESENTING AT THE CHAMBER. ONE THING IS FOR CERTAIN EVERYONE WANTS TO SEE HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS SUCCEED. THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THEIR VOICE IS HEARD, AND THEY WANT TO HEAR OUR VOICE ABOUT WHAT THEY CAN DO TO ENSURE OUR SUCCESS. THE BOARD IS COMMITTED TO A HIGH PERFORMING OPERATIONAL CULTURE. FOR EXAMPLE, THE OPENING OF BIRCH CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AN UPCOMING CAPITAL PROJECT SUCH AS THE STEM HIGH SCHOOL DEMONSTRATE THIS COMMITMENT. THESE INITIATIVES ARE CRUCIAL FOR RESPONDING EFFECTIVELY TO THE NEEDS OF A GROWING SCHOOL DISTRICT. ALSO, HAVING A MAINTENANCE TEAM AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN AS OUR BLUE SHIRTS THAT ARE EXTREMELY RESPONSIVE TO OUR SCHOOLS, EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS.
AND WITH THE FINAL PHASE OF ERP IMPLEMENTATION COMPLETE, SHOWS THE STRENGTH AND VIABILITY OF OUR OPERATIONAL CULTURE THROUGH THE COLLABORATION OF OUR HUMAN RESOURCES, INFORMATION SERVICES AND FINANCIAL DEPARTMENTS TO MAKE GO LIVE A SUCCESS. YES, THERE IS MUCH TO CELEBRATE AND I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THE AREAS WHERE WE ARE TRULY THRIVING. FIRST AND FOREMOST, AS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, WE HAVE A UNIFIED GOVERNANCE TEAM THAT IS COMPLETELY FOCUSED ON WHAT'S BEST FOR ALL STUDENTS. WE ALSO HAVE A POWERFUL, COMMUNITY INSPIRED STRATEGIC PLAN WITH CLEAR PRIORITY STUDENT OUTCOMES. WE TRACK PROGRESS CONSISTENTLY, ENSURING WE STAY ON COURSE AND ACHIEVE OUR GOALS. WHETHER IT'S THROUGH OUR QUARTERLY REPORTS OR ANNUAL REPORTS. EVERYONE IS KEPT ABREAST OF HOW HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS IS DOING. SAFETY IS A TOP PRIORITY IN HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS. WE HAVE COMPREHENSIVE SAFETY AND SECURITY STRATEGIES THAT INCLUDE UNIFORM CAMPUS SECURITY INVESTMENTS, UNIFORM STUDENT AND STAFF SAFETY TRAINING, AND CLEAR AND CONDUCT CLEAR CONDUCT AND BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS ACROSS THE DISTRICT. WE ALSO HAVE INVESTED IN DEDICATED SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS AT ALL SECONDARY SCHOOLS, PROVIDING A SAFE AND
[00:10:04]
SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT. THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH HENRY COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE ARE DEEPLY COMMITTED TO PROVIDING A WELL-ROUNDED EDUCATION OR BEYOND THE CORE, AS WE CALL IT. THAT'S WHY WE'VE MADE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS IN BOTH STEM, FINE ARTS AND WORLD LANGUAGE TO GO ALONG WITH OUR ATHLETICS. WE ARE INCREDIBLY PROUD OF OUR STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS. OUR GRADUATION RATE IS ABOVE THE STATE AVERAGE, A TESTAMENT TO THE HARD WORK AND DEDICATION OF OUR STAFF.FURTHERMORE, 14 OF OUR SCHOOLS WERE RECOGNIZED AS LITERACY AND MATH LEADERS BY THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, HIGHLIGHTING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF OUR TEACHING AND LEARNING STRATEGIES IN SCHOOLS. TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS, WE EMPLOY INNOVATIVE TEACHER RECRUITMENT STRATEGIES, INCLUDING ATTRACTING RETIREES, INTERNATIONAL TEACHERS, AND MAINTAINING A STRONG SUBSTITUTE STAFFING PARTNERSHIP. WE ALSO PROVIDE 1 TO 1 ACCESS TO MOBILE DEVICES AND TECHNOLOGIES FOR ALL STUDENTS, EMPOWERING THEM WITH THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO SUCCEED BOTH IN AND OUT OF THE CLASSROOM. WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE STRONG FAMILY AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN OUR SCHOOLS. WE ALSO HAVE A ROBUST E-SPLOST PROGRAM THAT SUPPORTS OUR GROWTH AND EXPANSION, AND THE RECENT LAUNCH OF THE HENRY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION WILL PROVIDE VALUABLE PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT TO ENHANCE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. WHILE THERE ARE MANY SUCCESSES TO CELEBRATE HERE IN HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS, IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE AREAS WHERE WE CAN GROW. THIS ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND REFLECTION IS CRUCIAL FOR OUR CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT AND COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE. ONE OF THE AREAS WHERE WE'RE FOCUSING ON ENHANCING IS ENHANCING CROSS-DEPARTMENT COLLABORATION. EFFECTIVE TEAMWORK AMONG DEPARTMENTS CENTERED ON STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND ALIGNED TO OUR STRATEGIC PLAN WILL ENSURE WE'RE ALL WORKING COHESIVELY TOWARDS OUR GOALS. WE ALSO WANT TO BE MORE PROACTIVE IN OUR USE OF DATA. STREAMLINING OUR DATA PRACTICES WILL IMPROVE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT MODEL, ALLOWING US TO MAKE MORE INFORMED AND TIMELY DECISIONS THAT BENEFIT STUDENTS AND STAFF. WE ARE COMMITTED TO ENHANCING COMMUNICATION AND ENGAGEMENT. WE WILL EXPLORE HOW TO BETTER RESOLVE VARYING STAKEHOLDER AND ORGANIZATIONAL CONCERNS MORE EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY. CLEAR AND OPEN LINES OF COMMUNICATION ARE ESSENTIAL FOR ADDRESSING CHALLENGES AND BUILDING TRUST. PROVIDING DIFFERENTIATED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IS ANOTHER KEY AREA. EVERY TEACHER HAS DIFFERENT NEEDS AND OUR PD NEEDS TO REFLECT THIS, ENSURING OUR TEACHERS HAVE THE NECESSARY PEDAGOGICAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL TOOLS IS CRITICAL. THIS SUPPORT WILL ENHANCE INSTRUCTION, IMPROVE STUDENT ENGAGEMENT AND LEARNING, AND ULTIMATELY LEAD TO ACCELERATING ACHIEVEMENT BY FOCUSING ON THE FIDELITY OF THE STANDARDS BASED INSTRUCTION AND RIGOR IN OUR CLASSROOMS. LASTLY, WE MUST ADVANCE AND EXTEND SUPPORT FOR NEW TEACHERS ENTERING THE PROFESSION. THIS INVESTMENT WILL POSITIVELY IMPACT EMPLOYEE RETENTION AND WELLNESS, ENSURING WE HAVE A STRONG AND SUPPORTIVE WORKFORCE. AS WE LOOK AHEAD, WE ARE COMMITTED TO CONTINUING OUR PURSUIT OF EXCEPTIONAL ENSURING EVERY STUDENT IS PREPARED FOR SUCCESS IN A GLOBAL SOCIETY. WE WILL CREATE AND INNOVATE OPPORTUNITIES THAT FURTHER OUR MISSION AND VISION, REINFORCING OUR COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY. THIS PRIORITIZES ACCELERATING STUDENT LEARNING, ACHIEVEMENT AND SAFETY. A KEY STEP FORWARD IS ACCOMPLISHING THE GOALS OF OUR CURRENT FIVE YEAR COMMUNITY INSPIRED STRATEGIC PLAN. THIS PLAN IS DRIVEN BY OUR COMMUNITY'S VOICE AND GUIDES US IN CREATING THE BEST EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. WE WILL ALSO EMBARK ON A NEW FIVE YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN, ENSURING ALL STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY IN THE COMING YEARS. ADVANCING THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF ALL LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS REMAIN A TOP PRIORITY. THIS INCLUDES PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL WELLNESS. WE'LL EXPLORE MEASURES LIKE WEAPON DETECTION PROCEDURES AT HIGH SCHOOLS, LIMITATIONS ON ELECTRONIC DEVICES, AND INCREASED IMPLEMENTATION OF MENTAL HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL SUPPORT SYSTEMS. WE'RE DIVING DEEPER INTO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR TEACHERS, LEADERS AND STAFF WHO ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT DRIVERS OF STUDENT LEARNING. WE'RE COMMITTED TO MASTERING AND IMPLEMENTING HIGH YIELD, RESEARCH BASED PRACTICES. WE'RE ALSO EXPLORING THE FEASIBILITY OF A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT MODEL THAT DEVELOPS THE EFFICACY OF NOVICE TEACHERS, WHILE PROVIDING DIFFERENTIATED PROFESSIONAL LEARNING FOR CAREER TEACHERS AND STAFF. WE WILL ENSURE A CULTURE THAT EMBRACES ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING WITH A GROWTH MINDSET. WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF COMPETITIVE COMPENSATION PACKAGES TO RECRUIT, RETAIN AND REWARD OUR VALUABLE EMPLOYEES. AS MOST RECENTLY DEMONSTRATED BY
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OUR BOARD WITH THE MIDYEAR SUPPLEMENTAL SALARY ADJUSTMENT. WHERE NEEDED, WE WILL REALIGN STRUCTURES TO SUPPORT AND MEET THE NEEDS OF STUDENT LEARNING AND TEACHING DEVELOPMENT. IN CONCLUSION, WE FORGE AHEAD WITH OUR AMBITIOUS PURSUIT OF EXCEPTIONAL. I AM EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS, AND COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT EVERY STUDENT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED. OUR EXCEPTIONAL BOARD, EXCEPTIONAL TEACHERS, LEADERS AND STAFF, EXCEPTIONAL PARENTS AND COMMUNITY, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, OUR EXCEPTIONAL STUDENTS LEAVE NO DOUBT THAT OUR MISSION CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED AND VISION REALIZED. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES MY UPDATE AND I TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU AND THE BOARD FOR ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH, DOCTOR PACE. DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT AMAZING UPDATE. IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT IT'S ALREADY BEEN THAT LONG SINCE YOU'VE JOINED OUR TEAM, BUT AMAZING THINGS HAVE ALREADY BEGUN UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP AND I AM SO HOPEFUL AND EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF HENRY COUNTY UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP. SO THANK YOU. OKAY, WE WILL NOW MOVE TO INFORMATIONAL ITEM C2A. DOCTOR PACE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, FOR ITEM C TO EIGHT, I'D LIKE TO ASK MISS SUDDUTH TO COME TO THE PODIUM FOR THE SAFE AND SECURE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. CODE OF CONDUCT AND REVIEW.GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND DOCTOR PACE. THIS AFTERNOON I WILL PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE CODE OF CONDUCT ANNUAL REVIEW PROCESS. THE CODE OF CONDUCT ANNUAL REVIEW PROCESS ALIGNS WITH YOUR CORE BELIEF OF ENSURING THAT ALL LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS ARE SUPPORTIVE, SAFE, AND SECURE THROUGH THE CODE OF CONDUCT, THE BOARD SETS THE EXPECTATION FOR STUDENTS RELATED TO CONDUCT. THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF IS OUR GREATEST RESPONSIBILITY, AND WE CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON KEEPING OUR KIDS SAFE TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY. YOUR SAFETY AND SECURITY STRATEGY FOCUSES ON BOTH CONNECTIVITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE, AS OUTLINED IN THREE KEY PILLARS CAMPUS SECURITY, INVESTMENTS, STUDENT AND STAFF SAFETY AND CONDUCT AND BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS. INDEED, THIS ANNUAL REVIEW PROCESS IS AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF YOUR SAFETY AND SECURITY STRATEGY. THIS BOARD OF EDUCATION HAS A PROVEN COMMITMENT OF PROVIDING CLARITY AND CONSISTENCY OF STUDENT CONDUCT EXPECTATIONS BY ANNUALLY ANALYZING THE CODE OF CONDUCT, AND RECOMMEND AND RECOMMENDING NECESSARY CHANGES FOR IMPROVEMENT. WE BEGAN THE ANNUAL REVIEW PROCESS BY DISCUSSING THE PRIORITIES OF THIS BOARD OF EDUCATION. WE MET WITH EACH BOARD MEMBER TO REVIEW THE CURRENT CODE OF CONDUCT AND DISCUSS DESIRED IMPROVEMENTS. IT IS CLEAR THAT THIS BOARD CONTINUES TO HAVE CONSENSUS AROUND HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR STUDENT CONDUCT THAT WILL KEEP OUR STUDENTS AND SCHOOLS SAFE.
WE ALSO GATHERED FEEDBACK FROM SEVERAL STAKEHOLDER GROUPS AND ADVISORIES TO COLLECT RECOMMENDED CHANGES. FOCUS GROUPS INCLUDED THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, STUDENT ADVISORIES, AND LOCAL SCHOOL COUNCILS, WHICH INCLUDED PARENTS AND EMPLOYEES. THROUGHOUT THESE DISCUSSIONS, THERE WAS A CONSISTENT FOCUS ON UPHOLDING HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR STUDENT CONDUCT. TODAY BEGINS PHASE THREE OF THE ANNUAL REVIEW PROCESS. ALL RECOMMENDED CHANGES TO THE 2025 2026 CODE OF CONDUCT WILL BE SHARED IN THE DRAFT THAT WILL BE PLACED OUT FOR PUBLIC REVIEW AND COMMENT. PHASE FOUR WILL INCLUDE A RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT THE 2526 CODE OF CONDUCT AT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING IN APRIL. THE FINAL PHASE WILL INCLUDE COMMUNICATION TO FAMILIES AND TRAINING FOR LOCAL SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS. AS A RESULT OF THIS BOARD'S CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT EXPECTATIONS AND PREVIOUS YEAR'S MODIFICATIONS, THE PROPOSED ADJUSTMENTS ARE MINIMAL THIS YEAR. FOR THIS BOARD REPORT, I WILL HIGHLIGHT THE MORE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES INCLUDED IN THE RECOMMENDED DRAFT, BUT WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO THOROUGHLY REVIEW THE DRAFT, WHICH WILL BE PLACED ON THE DISTRICT'S WEBSITE FOR PUBLIC REVIEW AND COMMENT.
HERE YOU SEE REFERENCE TO THE MINOR CHANGES MADE IN LEVEL ONE, THREE AND FOUR VIOLATIONS.
CHANGES TO 1.5. DRESS CODE 1.23. PARKING AND DRIVING VIOLATIONS AND 3.16 PEPPER SPRAY ALL REPRESENT MINOR ADDITIONS TO THE LANGUAGE DEFINING THE INFRACTION. THERE WAS A CHANGE TO 3.1 FOR TERRORISTIC THREATS TO REMOVE LANGUAGE IN ORDER TO CREATE THE LEVEL FOUR VIOLATION.
4.6 FOR MORE SEVERE TERRORISTIC THREATS, RESULTING IN A HIGHER LEVEL CONSEQUENCE. THE CHANGES
[00:20:02]
TO 1.7 MISUSE OF PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICES REPRESENT AN IMPORTANT SHIFT THAT I WILL OUTLINE ON THE NEXT SLIDE. AS SHOWN AT THE TOP. VIOLATION 1.7 MISUSE OF PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICES IS DEFINED AS UNAUTHORIZED POSSESSION, DISPLAYING OR USING A CELL PHONE OR OTHER ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION DEVICE DURING THE SCHOOL DAY. AS IT READS, A PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICE REFERS TO ANY DEVICE UTILIZED TO ACCESS THE INTERNET. WI-FI, CELLULAR TELEPHONE SIGNALS, OR TO CAPTURE IMAGES OR VIDEO. THIS INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, CELL PHONES, SMARTWATCHES, TABLETS, GAMING DEVICES, HEADPHONES, EARPHONES, EARBUDS, AND OTHER LISTENING DEVICES. THIS ALSO INCLUDES WIRED OR WIRELESS ACCESSORIES OR WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY THAT CONNECT TO A PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICE. SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? THIS MEANS THAT STUDENTS WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM USING PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICES OR ACCESSORIES DURING THE INSTRUCTIONAL SCHOOL DAY. THE INSTRUCTIONAL SCHOOL DAY IS DEFINED AS THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL DAY THROUGH THE END OF THE SCHOOL DAY, SUCH AS 8:15 A.M. TO 3:15 P.M. FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. STUDENTS MAY POSSESS AN ELECTRONIC A PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICE, BUT IT MUST BE TURNED OFF, PLACED OUT OF SIGHT, AND NOT USED DURING THE INSTRUCTIONAL DAY. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT FOR STUDENTS, PARENTS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO ACCESS THEIR ELECTRONIC DEVICES DURING ANY TYPE OF EMERGENCY SITUATION ON CAMPUS.THE LAST CHANGE TO THE CODE OF CONDUCT THAT I WILL HIGHLIGHT IS THE CHANGE IN LANGUAGE FROM CONSEQUENCES BEING ASSIGNED AS NINE, 18, OR 27 WEEK SUSPENSIONS AND EXPULSIONS TO THE LENGTH OF LONG TERM SUSPENSION AND EXPULSION BASED ON TERMS AND SEMESTERS. FOR REFERENCE, I HAVE PROVIDED DEFINITIONS FOR LONG TERM SUSPENSION, EXPULSION, TER, AND SEMESTER. ESSENTIALLY, STUDENTS MAY BE ASSIGNED A CONSEQUENCE FOR A LONG TERM SUSPENSION OR EXPULSION FOR ONE TERM, ONE SEMESTER, ONE SEMESTER PLUS ONE TERM, AND SO FORTH, RATHER THAN NINE, 18, OR 27 WEEK SUSPENSIONS OR EXPULSIONS. WE HAVE RECEIVED EXTENSIVE FEEDBACK FROM SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, COUNSELORS, STUDENTS, AND FAMILIES RELATED TO EDUCATIONAL DISRUPTIONS THAT OCCUR WHEN STUDENTS TRANSFER BACK TO THE HOME SCHOOL FROM EXCEL ACADEMY AT ALL DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. STUDENTS ARE RETURNING TO THEIR HOME SCHOOLS AT VARIOUS POINTS IN THE GRADING PERIOD AND THE SEMESTER, WHICH OFTEN CAUSES DISRUPTION WITH CLASS SCHEDULING, GRADING, AND REQUIRED STATE ASSESSMENTS. SHIFTING TO STUDENTS. RETURNING AT THE BEGINNING OF A TERM OR SEMESTER WILL PROVIDE THE CONTINUITY AND LEARNING NECESSARY FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS.
ADDITIONALLY, STUDENTS RETURNING FROM EXCEL ACADEMY OFTEN NEED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO ENSURE A SMOOTH TRANSITION THAT RESULTS IN ACADEMIC, BEHAVIORAL, AND SOCIAL SUCCESS, PROVIDING SPECIFIC DATES WHEN STUDENTS WILL BE TRANSITIONING BACK TO THE HOME SCHOOL WILL ALLOW SCHOOL SUPPORT TEAMS TO BE BETTER PREPARED TO RECEIVE AND ONBOARD STUDENTS EFFECTIVELY.
WHILE I JUST HIGHLIGHTED A FEW KEY RECOMMENDED CHANGES RESULTING FROM STAKEHOLDER FEEDBACK, THE FULL AND COMPLETE BODY OF CHANGES WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC REVIEW AND COMMENT ON OUR WEBSITE. THE DRAFT OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION'S CODE OF CONDUCT FOR THE 2025 2026 SCHOOL YEAR CAN BE ACCESSED BY CLICKING ON COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN THE TOP RIGHT CORNER OF THE DISTRICT'S HOME PAGE, AND THEN CLICK ON FOR PUBLIC REVIEW AND COMMENT. BY FOLLOWING THESE STEPS, FAMILIES WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THE PROPOSED CODE OF CONDUCT WITH MODIFICATIONS AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK AND OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS. WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE ALL FAMILIES TO REVIEW THIS IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK BEFORE THE BOARD OF EDUCATION STUDY SESSION SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 14TH. DOCTOR PACE, THIS CONCLUDES MY REPORT.
HOWEVER, I REMAIN AVAILABLE FOR DISCUSSION. THANK YOU. MISS. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES OUR UPDATE TO THE CODE OF CONDUCT AND WE REMAIN AVAILABLE FOR ANY DISCUSSION FROM OUR BOARD. THANK YOU, DOCTOR PACE. AND THANK YOU, MRS. EDITH. DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? DOCTOR NUTT? I JUST WANT TO MAKE CLEAR OR I WANT TO BE CLEAR ON WHEN WE RECOMMEND WHEN A CHILD HAS A CELL PHONE OR SOME ELECTRONIC DEVICE DURING THE SCHOOL. AND THEY'RE IN MY CLASSROOM, AND I'VE ALREADY TOLD THEM THREE TIMES OR FOUR TIMES AS A TEACHER TO PUT IT UP. SO NOW WHAT DO I DO? WHAT WILL BE MY STEPS? DO I SEND THEM TO THE OFFICE WHICH IS OVERFLOWING WITH OTHER ISSUES? OR HOW? I GUESS WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IS THE CONSEQUENCES FOR THESE CHILDREN
[00:25:05]
THAT ARE ON THESE DEVICES WITHOUT MAKING IT. HERE IS ONE MORE THING. AS A TEACHER THAT I'M GOING TO HAVE TO DO. SO THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO SEPARATE. WHAT IS WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY? THAT'S A GOOD ONE. WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY IS THIS GOING TO BE? SO THIS IS A LEVEL ONE VIOLATION IN THE HANDBOOK, WHICH MEANS BASED ON OUR PROGRESSIVE DISCIPLINE APPROACH, THERE WILL BE, YOU KNOW, SEVERAL STEPS THAT THAT DIFFERENT PEOPLE WILL GO THROUGH IN THAT PROGRESSIVE APPROACH TO CHANGING BEHAVIOR. BUT OF COURSE, EVERY SCHOOL WILL HAVE ITS PROCESS FOR HOW A TEACHER MIGHT SUBMIT THE INFORMATION TO THE OFFICE SO THAT A SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR CAN FOLLOW UP. SO NOW I'M SEEING IT'S GOING TO DEPEND ON YOUR ADMINISTRATOR AS TO WHAT THEY DEEM. I THINK THIS IS WHAT I WAS TRYING TO GET AWAY FROM, AND IT ALMOST NEEDS TO BE ACROSS THE BOARD HERE. HERE ARE YOUR INSTRUCTIONS. OR HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO. YES. AND THERE WILL BE AGAIN, THE PROGRESSION IN THE CODE OF CONDUCT THAT ALL SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS WILL BE EXPECTED TO FOLLOW CONSISTENTLY. WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE DO TRAINING AROUND THAT. WHEN I REFERENCE PROCESS AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL, SOME SCHOOLS USE A PAPER COPY.SOME SCHOOLS HAVE TEACHERS PUT SOMETHING DIRECTLY INTO INFINITE CAMPUS. SO THAT'S MORE OF WHAT I'M REFERENCING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, SCHOOL BASED. BUT THE CONSEQUENCES THAT ARE IN THE CODE OF CONDUCT ARE SPELLED OUT AND SHOULD BE FOLLOWED AT ALL SCHOOLS. OKAY. AND THANK YOU FOR THE TERM EXPULSION INSTEAD OF BY THE WEEKS BECAUSE IT IS IT'S HARD ENOUGH TO TEACH THEM WHEN YOU HAVE THEM IN THE ROOM. BUT NOW YOU'VE GOT SOMEONE THAT'S BEEN OUT OF MY CLASSROOM FOR NINE, 18 WEEKS, AND EVEN THOUGH THEY'VE DONE THEIR WORK, THEY'RE STILL BEHIND BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT HAS GONE ON IN MY CLASSROOM. SO BELIEVE IT OR NOT, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CATCH THEM UP EVENTUALLY. AND IF WE'RE DOING FINALS OR END OF COURSE TESTS OR SOMETHING, NOW WE'VE GOT TO STOP AND MAKE SURE THIS CHILD IS ON THE SAME LEVEL. SO AT LEAST IF YOU DO IT BY SEMESTERS AT LEAST, THAT'LL HELP TREMENDOUSLY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DOCTOR KNIGHT. MR. MCDANIEL. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND I WANT TO ECHO SOME OF THE CONCERNS. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S CONCERN, BUT COMMENTS OF DOCTOR NUTT, WHICH IS MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE NOT GIVING ANOTHER THING TO OUR TEACHERS AND OUR PRINCIPALS AND ADMINISTRATORS TO DO. WHICH LEADS ME TO THIS COMMENT. IS THAT WE REALLY NEED THE HELP OF THE PARENTS. AND I'M SAYING THAT AS A PARENT. THAT WHEN WE SEND THAT WHEN YOU SEND YOUR SCHOLAR TO SCHOOL, THAT THEY ALSO UNDERSTAND THE EXPECTATION THAT YOU'RE THERE TO LEARN AS A LEARNING INSTITUTION. NOT AN INSTITUTION TO BE ON SNAPCHAT, TO BE ON FACEBOOK, TO WATCH AND RECORD VIDEOS AND HAVE IT ON TIKTOK. BY THE TIME WE GET HOME ON INSTAGRAM. THAT'S NOT WHAT HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS ARE ABOUT.
BUT WE NEED THE PARENTS TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE IN A POSITION THAT THE EDUCATING OF OUR STUDENTS IS PARAMOUNT. THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE THERE FOR, AND THAT WE HAVE TEACHERS WHO STRIVE EVERY DAY TO WAKE UP EARLY IN THE MORNING, DRIVE 30 MINUTES, 45 MINUTES, AN HOUR TO COME TO SCHOOL AND TO TEACH OUR AND EDUCATE OUR SCHOLARS. SO, PARENTS, I'M LOOKING AT YOU AND WHATEVER CAMERA I MIGHT BE ON RIGHT NOW TO SAY TO YOU ALL TO HELP US, TO HELP THE TEACHERS, TO HELP THE ADMINISTRATOR, TO BUILD A CULTURE IN EACH ONE OF THE SCHOOLS THAT IS REALLY CONDUCIVE TO LEARNING. WHICH BRINGS ME TO THIS POINT. OUR SCHOOLS IS NOT A FASHION SHOW.
WE'RE NOT THERE TO SEE WHO HAS ON THE BEST PAIR OF SHOES, OR WHO HAS ON THE NICE CLOTHES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. AGAIN, IT IS A PLACE OF LEARNING, AND WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO PUT THIS ON THE BACKS OF OUR ADMINISTRATORS AND OUR TEACHERS TO POLICE WHAT PARENTS SHOULD BE POLICING WHEN OUR KIDS EXIT THE HOME. AND AGAIN, I'M SAYING THIS AS A PARENT. SO WITH THIS CODE OF CONDUCT, I THINK IT GOES FAR. IT IT DOES GET US TO A GOOD POINT. DO I THINK THAT THERE COULD BE SOME THINGS IN THERE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO, THAT I WOULD SUGGEST TO MAYBE GO A LITTLE BIT MORE STRINGENT? YES. BECAUSE I THINK THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE A LEVEL OF SERIOUSNESS THAT OUR STUDENTS AND PARENTS NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT IF YOU DON'T WANT TO DO IT HERE, THEN YOU CAN GO TO ANOTHER SCHOOL DISTRICT. BUT HERE IN HENRY COUNTY, WE'RE GOING TO EDUCATE. WE'RE GOING TO TRAIN. WE'RE GOING TO TEACH. AND THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN HERE. SO I APPRECIATE YOUR TEAM DOING THIS. BUT AGAIN PARENTS, WE NEED YOUR HELP. WE NEED YOUR HELP. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MISTER MCDANIEL. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? I WANT TO THANK YOU, MARY ANN AND YOUR TEAM FOR ALL THE HARD WORK. THIS HAS BEEN SO AMAZING AND JUST BEING MY FIRST TIME GOING THROUGH ALL THIS.
Y'ALL HAVE DONE A REALLY GREAT JOB, AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING.
THANK YOU, MISS CARTER. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. I KNOW THAT YOUR TEAM HAS BEEN OUT IN
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SCHOOLS AND LISTENING TO SO MANY DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS FOR INPUT. SO I SO APPRECIATE OUR TEACHERS, OUR BUILDING LEADERS, OUR PARENTS, OUR STUDENTS FOR GIVING INPUT AND HOW THEY SEE WE CAN KEEP OUR STUDENTS AS SAFE AND SECURE AS POSSIBLE. AND THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THE CODE OF CONDUCT IS TO ENSURE A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE AND SECURE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. SO I AM EXCITED TO HEAR WHAT OUR COMMUNITY SAYS IN RESPONSE TO THESE CHANGES. BUT I KNOW THAT THAT WE TAKE THAT VERY SERIOUS. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF Y'ALL'S WORK. OKAY. SEEING AS THERE IS NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, WE WILL NOW. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MISS EDITH. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO INFORMATIONAL ITEM C3A DOCTOR PACE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, FOR ITEM C3A, I'D LIKE TO ASK MR. MILES TO COME UP TO PRESENT THE FEBRUARY CONSTRUCTION IN EAST PLACE REPORT. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. SUPERINTENDENT PACE, I DO BRING YOU THE FEBRUARY 2025 CONSTRUCTION REPORT, STARTING WITH THE NEW ADMINISTRATION AND RENOVATION OF THE EXISTING.WE'VE GOT THE ROOF TRIM COMPLETE NEXT DOOR TOUCH UP INTERIOR PAINT CONTINUES, PAVING AND STRIPING COMPLETE WINDOW SHADE INSTALLATION. CONTINUES. FINAL CLEANING INTERIOR SIGNAGE BOTH CONTINUE AS WELL, AND THE ELEVATOR INSPECTION IS SCHEDULED FOR THIS WEEK. NOT ON THE BOARD THERE, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS SCHEDULED FOR THIS WEEK. MOVING TO THE NEW TRANSPORTATION FACILITY AND RENOVATION OF THE EXISTING FLOOR INSTALLATION CONTINUES. INSTALLATION OF ELECTRICAL DEVICES CONTINUE HVAC STARTUP, CONNECTION OF POWER TO SHOP EQUIPMENT. CEILING INSTALLATION CONTINUES. THE GAB AND BINDER INSTALLATION CONTINUES OUTSIDE. FIRE ALARM HAS BEEN INSTALLED. LANDSCAPING CONTINUES. PLUMBING FOR BUS WASH CONTINUES. FURNITURE INSTALLATION IS COMPLETE. THE THIRD PROJECT WE'RE DISCUSSING THIS EVENING IS THE OLA MIDDLE SCHOOL ADDITION. DOOR FRAME INSTALLATION CONTINUES, THEIR LOAD BEARING WALLS CONTINUE IN IN-WALL, PLUMBING AND ELECTRICAL ROOF CONTINUES AND ROOF TRUSSES. THE INSTALLATION HAS BEGUN ON THOSE STEM HIGH SCHOOL. WE'VE GOT SITE DEMOLITION AND DEBRIS REMOVAL, CONTINUING BLOCKING AND GROUT FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GROUND. THE GYM FOUNDATION IS COMPLETE ELECTRICAL ROUGH FOR THAT SAME GYM, AND THE FOUNDATION CONTINUES. SITE STORM DRAIN INSTALLATION CONTINUES UNDERGROUND STORM DRAIN INSTALLATION CONTINUES ON THAT AND THE FINAL PROJECT IS THE DUTCHTOWN MIDDLE ADDITION. JUST GETTING STARTED. SITE WORK CONTINUING FOUNDATION WORK BEGINS. FIRE LINE THAT BEING THE HYDRANT AND THE SPRINKLER LINE AND THE STORM DRAIN RELOCATION BEGINS AND TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION FENCE CONTINUES. DOCTOR PACE, THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT. THANK YOU, MR. MILES. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES OUR REPORT AND REMAIN AVAILABLE FOR ANY FOR ANY QUESTIONS FROM OUR BOARD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DOCTOR PACE. AND THANK YOU, MR. MILES. DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? MR. MCDANIEL THANK YOU.
MR. MILES. QUICK QUESTION FOR YOU. I ACTUALLY GOT TWO WITH THE NEW TRANSPORTATION FACILITY THAT'S GOING ON BEHIND OAKLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. HOW MANY? AND I GUESS THAT WOULD THAT FACILITY WOULD HELP WITH THE TRANSPORTATION OF BUSSES ON THE WESTERN SIDE OF THE COUNTY? YES, SIR. SO PRETTY MUCH HALF OF THE BUSSES WILL GO OVER THERE. YES, SIR. THAT'S THE INTENT. AND RIGHT NOW THE BUSSES WILL RUN THEIR ROUTE. THE PLAN IS RIGHT NOW IS THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL.
WHEN THEY RUN THEIR ROUTE. THEY WILL THEN DRIVE THEIR BUS TO THAT FACILITY AND DROP IT OFF FOR THE SUMMER. OKAY. AND FOR DUTCHTOWN MIDDLE. I'VE RAISED THIS BEFORE AND I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. I GUESS WE'VE GOT TO WAIT FOR THE EXTENSION OF FLIPPING, BUT DO WE KNOW WHEN THAT MIGHT BE DONE? BECAUSE AGAIN, I KEEP GETTING EMAILS FROM PARENTS THAT LIVE IN THAT JONESBORO CORRIDOR, THAT TRAFFIC, AND I PASS BY IT EVERY MORNING. THAT TRAFFIC IS BACKED UP FROM MITCHELL PAST NORTH MOUNT CARMEL, SOMETIMES NEAR THE NEW PUBLIX. SO AND I KNOW ALL THOSE ARE NOT PARENTS, BUT HAS THERE BEEN ANY CONVERSATION TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO ALLEVIATE ANY OF THE TRAFFIC CONGESTION RIGHT THERE AT MITCHELL AND JONESBORO AND MCCULLOUGH? WE ARE IN COLLABORATION WITH THE BOARD OF COMMISSION AND THEIR EAST TEAM AND THEIR DOT TEAM. I DON'T HAVE A DATE OF SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION YET FOR THAT PROJECT. THE GRADING IS UNDERWAY. THEY'VE GOT THE RIGHT OF WAY HAS ALL BEEN TAKEN CARE OF. SO THEY ARE CLOSE TO PAVING AT THIS POINT.
SO SOONER THAN LATER. BUT I'LL I'LL SEE IF I CAN SETTLE ON A DATE FOR YOU. ALL RIGHT. AND THEN THE LAST THING FOR DUTCHTOWN HIGH SCHOOL, THERE WAS SOME DAMAGE THAT WAS DONE IN THEIR SECONDARY GYM SOME YEARS AGO, THE GYM. AND I THINK THAT IT DAMAGED THE CURTAINS THAT WERE THERE. SO IF POSSIBLE, COULD WE KIND OF LOOK INTO THAT TO SEE WHAT MIGHT NEED TO BE DONE FROM THE WATER DAMAGE THAT THAT SCHOOL SUFFERED? AND OTHER THAN THAT, I APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR TEAM. OF COURSE. YES, SIR. THANK YOU, MR. MCDANIEL. DOCTOR. NET. YES, WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE BUCKY'S ON OAKLAND ROAD. WE'RE VERY EXCITED. THE GYM, THE OLD GYM AT STOCKBRIDGE HIGH DO
[00:35:14]
WE DID WE KEEP IT DOWN IN THE AS WE CALL IT THE FLATS. ARE WE USING IT AS A STORAGE OR WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE OLD GYM OR DID WE JUST DID WE DEMO IT TO. ARE YOU REFERRING TO THE PATRICK HENRY, THE ORIGINAL STOCKBRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL? ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE CURRENT STOCKBRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL, THE OLD PATRICK HENRY? I'M SORRY. IT'S. NO, MA'AM. IT'S IN THE DUMPSTER.THE. NO. I HATED I HATED THAT GYM. THAT'S GOOD. WELL, I'M GLAD IT WENT THAT WAY, TOO. BUT YES.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. DOCTOR. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. MILES. WE APPRECIATE THE REPORT. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO ITEM C3B. DOCTOR PACE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AT THIS TIME I'D LIKE TO ASK MISS CLAY TO COME TO PRESENT ITEM C3B TO C3B, THE FEBRUARY 2025 FINANCIAL REPORT. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT PACE, TODAY I BRING A REPORT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITY FOR THE PERIOD ENDING FEBRUARY 28TH, 2025. I'LL START THE REPORT WITH A LOOK ACROSS ALL FUNDS AND LOOKING AT THE LAST COLUMN, YOU CAN SEE THAT WE'VE COLLECTED 79.97% OF PLANNED REVENUES TO DATE ACROSS ALL FUNDS, WHICH IS SHOWN IN THE YELLOW HIGHLIGHT AND HAVE EXPENDITURES TO DATE THAT TOTALED 65.58% OF BUDGETED EXPENDITURES, AS SHOWN IN THE GREEN HIGHLIGHT OBLIGATIONS OUTSTANDING AS OF THE PERIOD END TOTALED $12.4 MILLION, WITH 87% OF THESE OBLIGATIONS PERTAINING TO CAPITAL PROJECTS RELATED EXPENDITURES. ONE POINT OF NOTE IS THAT THESE OBLIGATIONS SETTLE WHEN THE WHEN THEY SETTLE, WE WILL OVERRUN OUR FORECAST FOR THE PRESENT FISCAL YEAR IN CAPITAL PROJECTS. HOWEVER, THERE IS FUNDING AVAILABLE AND THIS IS ALL ATTRIBUTABLE TO TIMING DIFFERENCES OF THE PROJECTS MOVING ALONG. WE WILL REVIEW THE GENERAL FUND ACTIVITY, WHICH IS THE HOME OF OUR DAILY OPERATIONS. WITH THE EIGHTH MONTH OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITY NOW ACCOUNTED, WE ARE 67% THROUGH THE FISCAL YEAR ON A LINEAR BASIS. TO DATE, WE HAVE COLLECTED 82.74% OF PLANNED RECEIPTS AS SHOWN IN THE YELLOW HIGHLIGHT. TURNING OUR EYE TO THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE PAGE AND LOOKING AT THE GREEN HIGHLIGHT, YOU CAN SEE WE'VE INCURRED EXPENSES REPRESENTING 63.22% OF THE BUDGET. THIS INCREASES TO 63.5% WHEN OUTSTANDING OBLIGATIONS OF $1.6 MILLION ARE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT. OVERALL, THE PACE OF EXPENDITURES ARE LAGGING THE PROGRESS OF THE FISCAL YEAR.
WE ANTICIPATE THE EXPENDITURE PACING GAP WILL SHRINK AS THE SALARY IMPROVEMENTS THE BOARD APPROVED IN DECEMBER BEGIN TO INCORPORATE INTO THE EXPENDITURE PROFILE. HOWEVER, WE ANTICIPATE THAT WE ARE ON A PATH TO USE LESS OF THE RESERVES AS OUTLINED IN THE ADOPTED BUDGET. THIS EXPENDITURE EFFICIENCY WILL SUPPORT THIS BOARD IN THE UPCOMING BUDGET CYCLE. NEXT, WE WILL REVIEW THE GENERAL FUND BALANCE SHEET. THE TOTAL VALUE OF GENERAL FUNDS ASSETS AT THE CLOSE OF FEBRUARY TOTALED $252.5 MILLION. THE NEXT SLIDE PROVIDES A VIEW OF CASH ON HAND ACROSS ALL FUNDS. THE TOTAL OF CASH AND EQUIVALENT INVESTMENTS TOTALED $447.3 MILLION FOR THE REPORTING PERIOD. MOVING TO OUR EDUCATION SIX REPORT AND LOOKING AT THE SECOND TO LAST COLUMN, EXPENDITURES FOR THE PERIOD TOTALED $8.8 MILLION, WITH 70% OF THE EXPENSES RELATING TO THE AUTHORIZED CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS. TO ADDRESS THE GROWTH IN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES NEEDS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. FINALLY, WE WILL REVIEW THE CAPITAL ACCUMULATION FINANCIAL REPORT.
THERE WERE EXPENDITURES OF $9,574.36 IN THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY, RELATING TO FURNITURE REPLACEMENT NEEDS. DOCTOR PACE, THAT CONCLUDES WHAT I'VE PREPARED AND I YIELD THE FLOOR TO YOU. THANK YOU, MRS. CLAY. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES OUR UPDATE FOR THE 2025 FINANCIAL REPORTS REMAIN AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, DOCTOR PACE. AND THANK YOU, MRS. CLAY.
DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE. WE APPRECIATE THE REPORT AND WE WILL NOW MOVE TO INFORMATIONAL ITEM. C3C DOCTOR PACE. THANK YOU. MADAM CHAIR.
I'D LIKE TO ASK MISS CLAY TO REMAIN AT THE PODIUM FOR THE ITEM. C3C FY 26 BUDGET OVERVIEW.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND DOCTOR PACE, TODAY I WILL PROVIDE A BRIEF REPORT ON THE BUDGETARY PLANNING FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR, FY 26. WE ARE STEADILY PROGRESSING THROUGH THE BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PROCESS AND ARE APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH AWAY FROM PRESENTING THE SUPERINTENDENT'S BUDGET RECOMMENDATION FOR TENTATIVE ADOPTION. WE FORMALLY LAUNCHED THE FY 26 BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PROCESS IN DECEMBER, PUBLISHING THE BUDGET CALENDAR AND REVIEWING SOME OF THE KEY BUDGET INPUTS THAT ARE REQUIRED TO
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DEVELOP THE FORECAST. IN JANUARY, EACH BOARD MEMBER PROVIDED INSIGHTS ON THEIR BUDGETARY PRIORITIES, AND IN THAT MONTH'S BOARD MEETING, WE DISCUSSED THIS BOARD'S SHARED PRIORITIES AROUND CONTINUING STRATEGIC PLAN INVESTMENTS AND EVALUATING OPPORTUNITIES TO STRENGTHEN RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION THROUGH COMPETITIVE COMPENSATION INVESTMENTS. ON JANUARY 13TH, THE GEORGIA LEGISLATURE WENT INTO SESSION, AND WE HAVE BEEN MONITORING THE ACTIVITY UNDER THE GOLD DOME. AS THIS BODY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PASSING THE STATE BUDGET, WHICH IS A CRITICAL FUNDING SOURCE FOR SCHOOL SYSTEMS. LAST MONTH, IN THE FEBRUARY MEETING OF THE BOARD, I PROVIDED A REPORT ON ACTIVITY FROM THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION IMPACTING THE UPCOMING FY 26 BUDGET. AND I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT FOR OUR COMMUNITY THAT ALL OF THE BOARD REPORTS TO DATE REGARDING THE FY 26 BUDGET DEVELOPMENT ARE AVAILABLE ON THE BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL SERVICES WEB PAGE. SO THAT BRINGS US TO TODAY'S REPORT, WHICH WILL FOCUS ON PROVIDING AN OVERVIEW OF FUNDING AVAILABILITY BASED ON KNOWN INFORMATION FROM THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND OUR CONSULTATIONS WITH LOCAL TAX REPRESENTATIVES. BEFORE I PROCEED, I WANT TO PROVIDE A REMINDER OF THE FOUR FUNDS THAT THIS BOARD TAKES ACTION ON. ANNUALLY, PER GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS. WE CREATE DISTINCT FUNDS TO ALLOW FOR THE TRACKING OF REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES. ANNUALLY, WE PRESENT THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDED BUDGET ACROSS FOUR AGGREGATE FUNDS IN ACCORDANCE WITH BOARD POLICY. DC. THE FIRST OF THE FOUR FUNDS IS THE GENERAL FUND, WHICH IS THE ACCOUNT THAT WE USE FOR OUR DAILY OPERATIONS LIKE OUR SALARIES, INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPLIES, OUR MAINTENANCE COSTS, ETC. NEXT IS THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUND. THIS FUND ACCOUNTS FOR GRANTS GIVEN TO HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS FOR SPECIFIC AND SUPPLEMENTAL PURPOSES, AS WELL AS THE FINANCIALS ASSOCIATED WITH OUR NUTRITION AND BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, WHICH ARE ENTERPRISING ACTIVITIES. NEXT IS THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND, WHICH ALLOWS FOR THE SEPARATE TRACKING OF REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES RELATED TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AUTHORIZED BY THE BOARD. AND FINALLY, THERE IS THE DEBT SERVICE FUND, WHICH CAPTURES THE REVENUE AND EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH LONG TERM DEBT THAT WE'VE INCURRED TO FINANCE THOSE CAPITAL PROJECTS. SO WITH THAT CONTEXT, TODAY'S REPORT WILL FOCUS ON THE GENERAL FUND. AT THE TOP OF THE SLIDE, YOU WILL SEE OUR CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, FY 25 ADOPTED REVENUES ALONGSIDE THE FORECAST OF REVENUES FOR FY 26, WHICH WILL GOVERN THE PERIOD OF JULY 1ST, 2025 THROUGH JUNE 30TH, 2026. AS WE MONITOR THE CURRENT LEGISLATIVE CYCLE AND SPEAK WITH OUR LOCAL, SPEAK WITH OUR LOCAL TAX REPRESENTATIVES, WE ARE FORECASTING AN INCREASE IN REVENUE OF $1.3 MILLION YEAR OVER YEAR. THIS IS A MARKEDLY DIFFERENT OUTLOOK THAN WE'VE SEEN OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS. TO START, WE ANTICIPATE A $3.6 MILLION DECLINE IN STATE FUNDING, WHICH IS DRIVEN BY A NUMBER OF FACTORS AS OUTLINED ON THE SLIDE. FIRST, THE TRS CONTRIBUTION RATE WILL INCREASE FROM 20.78% TO 21.91%, WHICH WILL GENERATE APPROXIMATELY $2.2 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL STATE FUNDING. HOWEVER, YOU'LL NOTE THAT I'M SIGNALING THAT THIS WILL HAVE SOME NEGATIVE IMPLICATIONS, AS THIS STATE MANDATE ALSO HAS AN OFFSETTING COST. WHILE WE RECEIVE SOME MONEY FOR TEACHERS, WE DO NOT RECEIVE IT FOR ALL EMPLOYEES THAT ARE ENROLLED IN TRS. ADDITIONALLY, THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE LEGISLATURE HAVE PROPOSED SIGNIFICANT INCREASES TO THE EMPLOYER PAID SHARE INCREASE FOR THE STATE HEALTH BENEFITS PROGRAM. THE GOVERNOR HAS PROPOSED THAT THE EMPLOYER PAY SHARE INCREASE BY $125 PER EMPLOYEE, PER MONTH FOR CERTIFIED, AND $305 PER EMPLOYEE PER MONTH FOR OUR CLASSIFIED.WITH BOTH OF THESE CHANGES IMPACTING A FULL YEAR FOR BOTH CATEGORIES OF STAFFING, WE ESTIMATE THAT THE STATE WILL PROVIDE $4.1 MILLION TO SUPPORT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MANDATE FOR CERTIFIED STAFF, BUT THERE IS NO STATE FUNDING PROVIDED FOR THE INCREASES RELATED TO OUR CLASSIFIED STAFF. ON A POSITIVE NOTE, WE EXPECT TO SEE INCREASES IN CATEGORICAL GRANTS RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION AND NURSING, AS WELL AS THE STATE'S SAFETY GRANT. THAT IS AN INDEPENDENT SOURCE FROM OUR QBI EARNINGS. WE ARE PRESENTLY MODELING THE COLLECTION OF THESE ITEMS AS $1.9 MILLION TO THE GOOD, BASED ON THE INFORMATION THAT WAS OUTLINED IN THE AMENDED FISCAL YEAR 25 REPORT, AS PREVIEWED IN LAST MONTH'S BUSINESS REPORT. WE HAVE A BUDGET REPORT. WE HAVE RECEIVED SIGNALS THAT WE CAN EXPECT A COMPLETE ELIMINATION OF OUR EQUALIZATION CATEGORICAL GRANT. DUE TO THE GROWTH OF OUR 2023 TAX DIGEST, WHICH IS THE REFERENCE POINT FOR THIS STATE CALCULATION. FURTHER, WE EXPECT AN INCREASE IN OUR LOCAL FIVE MIL SHARE OF $3.7 MILLION, WHICH EFFECTIVELY REDUCES STATE EARNINGS. SO, TURNING OUR ATTENTION TO THE LOCAL REVENUE SOURCES, WE ARE ANTICIPATING AN INCREASE OF $4.6 MILLION YEAR OVER YEAR, DRIVEN BY AN ASSUMPTION OF 1.5% GROWTH IN THE LOCAL TAX DIGEST AND CONTINUED STRENGTH IN OUR INTEREST EARNINGS. THE FORECASTING OF THE REVENUES WILL CONTINUE TO EVOLVE
[00:45:02]
AS MORE INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE FROM THE STATE AND OUR LOCAL ASSESSOR. UNDERSTANDING THIS REVENUE PICTURE IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT SETS THE CONSTRAINTS FOR EXPENDITURES ANNUALLY AND INFORMS THE BASIS OF WHAT INVESTMENT RECOMMENDATIONS THE SUPERINTENDENT WILL BE ABLE TO INCLUDE IN THE BUDGET PROPOSAL. SO YEAR OVER YEAR, WE ARE ANTICIPATING REVENUE GROWTH OF $1.3 MILLION. THESE FUNDS WILL BE CONSUMED AS WE ENACT PROPOSED STATE MANDATES AND ADVANCE PRIORITIES OF THE BOARD AS FOLLOWS. STARTING WITH INVESTMENTS DRIVEN BY THE PROPOSED STATE LEGISLATION, WITH THAT FIRST GROUP SHOWN ON THE SLIDE. AS WE IMPLEMENT THESE STATE MANDATES, WE ANTICIPATE INCREASED COSTS OF $14.4 MILLION YEAR OVER YEAR, ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE HEALTH CARE COST INCREASES AND THE TRS CONTRIBUTION RATE INCREASE. THE NEXT GROUPING OF EXPENDITURES OUTLINES INVESTMENTS CONNECTED WITH THIS BOARD'S PRIORITIES AROUND INVESTING IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN, AND STAFF MEMBERS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING HIGH QUALITY, WORLD CLASS EDUCATION FOR THE STUDENTS OF HENRY COUNTY. REGARDING COMPENSATION INVESTMENTS, WE ARE MODELING INVESTMENTS OF $8.7 MILLION TO EMBED AND BUILD UPON THE MIDYEAR SALARY IMPROVEMENTS, AS WELL AS OTHER STEPS IN THE AUGMENTED SCALE. ADDITIONALLY, INVESTMENTS OF $2 MILLION HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED TO PROVIDE THE STAFFING NEEDED FOR YEAR FIVE OF THE STRATEGIC ACTION PLANS. IMPLEMENTATION. THE LAST GROUPING OF EXPENDITURES IS STILL UNDER EVALUATION, BUT TO DATE, WE'VE IDENTIFIED NEEDS TO EXPAND THE INSTRUCTIONAL AND SUPPORT SERVICES CAPACITY FOR OUR EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATION STUDENT LEARNERS, AS WELL AS ENSURE OUR LARGEST ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS HAVE THE NECESSARY ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT. TOTAL PRIORITIZED INVESTMENTS IDENTIFIED TO DATE TOTALED $29.7 MILLION, WHICH EXCEEDS THE REVENUE GROWTH FORECAST OF $1.3 MILLION BY 28.4 MILLION. HOWEVER, THIS BOARD IS STILL POSITIONED TO UTILIZE ITS GENERAL FUND RESERVES TO ACCOMPLISH THE INVESTMENTS NEEDED IN ALIGNMENT WITH POLICY DCL, FAVORABLE PACING REVENUE, FAVORABLE PACING VARIANCE OF THE FY 25 BUDGET WILL BE ASSIGNED TO SUPPORT THE INVESTMENTS IN THE STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND STAFF OF HENRY COUNTY. I'LL CONCLUDE WITH A REVIEW OF SOME KEY TIMELINES WITHIN THE BUDGET CALENDAR. WE ANTICIPATE PRESENTING A TENTATIVE BUDGET AND HOLDING THE FIRST OF TWO REQUIRED BUDGET HEARINGS ON APRIL 14TH, 2025. THE SECOND BUDGET HEARING AND FINAL BUDGET ADOPTION IS PLANNED FOR MAY 12TH, 2025. DOCTOR PACE, THAT CONCLUDES WHAT I PREPARED AND I YIELD THE FLOOR TO YOU.THANK YOU, MRS. CLAY. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES OUR BUDGET OVERVIEW AND WE REMAIN AVAILABLE TO OUR BOARD FOR ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, DOCTOR PACE. AND THANK YOU, MRS. CLAY. DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THAT REPORT. AND WE WILL NOW MOVE IN OUR AGENDA TO INFORMATIONAL ITEM C3D DOCTOR PACE. THANK YOU. MADAM CHAIR. AT THIS TIME I'D LIKE TO ASK MRS. COX TO COME TO THE PODIUM FOR OUR COMPREHENSIVE POLICY REVIEW.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT PACE, THIS AFTERNOON I BRING TO YOU INFORMATION REGARDING THE ONGOING COMPREHENSIVE BOARD POLICY REVIEW. THIS BOARD BELIEVES THAT EFFECTIVE TEACHERS, LEADERS AND STAFF PRODUCE EXCELLENT RESULTS AND THOSE RESULTS SHOULD LEAD TO IMPROVED OPPORTUNITIES, EXPERIENCES AND OUTCOMES FOR STUDENTS. THIS BOARD'S COMMITMENT TO POLICY DEVELOPMENT ENSURES THAT OUR TEACHERS, LEADERS AND STAFF HAVE THE DIRECTION THAT THEY NEED TO NOT ONLY BE EFFECTIVE, BUT TO PERFORM AT HIGH LEVELS WITH CONFIDENCE IN THE CORE BELIEFS AND EXPECTATIONS OF THIS BOARD AS PRESENTED TO YOU AT PREVIOUS BOARD MEETINGS, THIS BOARD ADOPTED POLICY BD POLICY DEVELOPMENT IN OCTOBER OF 2018, WHICH PROVIDES FOR A COMPREHENSIVE POLICY REVIEW EVERY FIVE YEARS, THE FIRST OF WHICH WAS CONDUCTED DURING THE 2019 2020 SCHOOL YEAR. WE ARE MAKING OUR WAY TOWARDS THE END OF THE 2024 2025 SCHOOL YEAR AND FINALIZING THE CURRENT COMPREHENSIVE POLICY REVIEW BASED ON THE FIVE YEAR CYCLE INDICATED IN POLICY BD. THE CURRENT COMPREHENSIVE POLICY REVIEW HAS BEEN ORGANIZED TO DIVIDE ALL OF THIS BOARD'S POLICIES INTO NINE DIFFERENT GROUPS. TONIGHT, I WILL SHARE WITH YOU RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE INTERNAL REVIEW TEAM REGARDING THE SEVENTH GROUP OF POLICIES. THESE ARE MERELY RECOMMENDATIONS, AS POLICIES ARE THE WORK OF THE BOARD, AND YOU WILL MAKE THE FINAL DECISION ON EACH POLICY. THIS IS A SUMMARY OF PROPOSED ACTIONS FOR THE SEVENTH SET OF POLICIES REVIEWED DURING THIS COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW. THE POLICIES ARE ARRANGED IN THREE CATEGORIES.
THE FIRST CATEGORY IS TO RETAIN WITH NO REVISIONS, MEANING THE POLICY IS SUFFICIENT AS WRITTEN.
THE SECOND CATEGORY IS REPEAL, MEANING NOT REQUIRED, WHICH COULD BE FOR REASONS SUCH AS THE
[00:50:02]
POLICY IS OUTDATED. LAWS HAVE CHANGED OR COULD BE BETTER DISPLAYED IN A REGULATION AND OR EXHIBIT. THE THIRD CATEGORY IS REVISED TO REFLECT CHANGES IN LAWS AND OR LOCAL PRACTICES.EIGHT POLICIES ARE LISTED WITH A RECOMMENDATION TO RETAIN. NO POLICIES ARE RECOMMENDED FOR REPEAL, AND FIVE ARE RECOMMENDED FOR REVISION. THE FIVE POLICIES RECOMMENDED FOR REVISION ARE I.HA GRADING SYSTEMS IFB MEDIA PROGRAMS, IFB ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS, JD STUDENT DISCIPLINE AND JGF STUDENT SAFETY. A COPY OF ALL 13 POLICIES WERE PROVIDED TO YOU IN AGENDA REVIEW ACTIVITIES, AS WELL AS IN YOUR BOARD PACKET OF MATERIALS. THE FIVE POLICIES RECOMMENDED FOR REVISION WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC REVIEW AND COMMENT AFTER TONIGHT'S BOARD MEETING, AND WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR BOARD ACTION AT THE APRIL BOARD MEETING. AS A REMINDER, ALL POLICIES WITH RECOMMENDED REVISIONS APPROVED BY THIS BOARD AS PART OF THE COMPREHENSIVE POLICY REVIEW WILL BE EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST, 2025, TO ENSURE A SMOOTH TRANSITION FOR ANY CHANGES IN PRACTICE RELATED TO THE POLICY CHANGES. I WILL BE BACK IN APRIL TO PRESENT THE EIGHTH GROUP OF POLICIES CURRENTLY UNDER REVIEW. SUPERINTENDENT PACE, THIS CONCLUDES WHAT I HAVE PREPARED AND I TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU. THANK YOU, MRS. COX. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES OUR COMPREHENSIVE POLICY REVIEW. AND I TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU FOR ANY QUESTIONS FROM OUR BOARD. THANK YOU SO MUCH, DOCTOR PACE. AND MRS. COX, DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? MR. MCDANIEL THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION. I JUST GOT ONE QUESTION TO A PARENT OF SOMEONE THAT MIGHT LOOK AT BOARD POLICY. I F B G A ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS. AND THEY SEE THAT 95% OF IT IS GOT A LINE THROUGH IT. COULD YOU EXPLAIN JUST TO THE INQUIRING MINDS WHY THAT IS, PLEASE? YES, SIR. HOUSE BILL 351 WAS PASSED AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE LAST SPRING OF 2024, AND IT DOES REQUIRE THAT BOARDS OF EDUCATION DEVELOP AN ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY BY OCTOBER OF 2025. THAT LANGUAGE HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THIS POLICY BECAUSE IT WILL BE INCORPORATED INTO A NEW ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY. THANK YOU MA'AM. THANK YOU, MR. MCDANIEL. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? SEEING NONE. THANK YOU SO MUCH,
[D. BUSINESS ITEMS]
MRS. COX. WE WILL NOW MOVE IN OUR AGENDA TO OUR BUSINESS ITEMS, AND I WILL REMIND EVERYONE THAT THESE ITEMS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA. THIS EVENING. WE WILL BEGIN WITH ITEM D ONE. DOCTOR PACE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I'D LIKE TO INVITE MRS. COX FOR ITEM D, ONE COMPREHENSIVE POLICY REVIEW TO REMAIN AT THE PODIUM. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT PACE, THIS EVENING I PRESENT TO YOU A BUSINESS ITEM REGARDING THE COMPREHENSIVE POLICY REVIEW. AS PREVIOUSLY SHARED, IT HAS BEEN FIVE YEARS SINCE THIS BOARD'S LAST COMPREHENSIVE POLICY REVIEW AND IN ALIGNMENT WITH BOARD POLICY BD POLICY DEVELOPMENT. WE ARE CURRENTLY CONDUCTING A REVIEW OF ALL POLICIES AND MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR YOU TO RETAIN, REPEAL OR REVISE THEM WITH A SCHEDULE THAT ENSURES ALL POLICIES ARE REVIEWED BY THE END OF THE 2024 2025 SCHOOL YEAR. BOARD POLICY B-D AND ASSOCIATED REGULATION BD ONE REQUIRE FIRST READING OF PROPOSED POLICY REVISIONS AT A PUBLIC MEETING. THE FIRST READING OF PROPOSED REVISIONS TO THE FOLLOWING POLICIES OCCURRED AT THE FEBRUARY 10TH, 2025 BOARD MEETING. POLICY B, A B SCHOOL BOARD GOVERNANCE POLICY DJ PURCHASING POLICY DK STUDENT ACTIVITIES, FUNDS MANAGEMENT POLICY G A R H EMPLOYEE LEAVE AND ABSENCES AND POLICY J C D F.USE OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES BY STUDENTS. THESE POLICIES HAVE BEEN MADE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC REVIEW AND COMMENT SINCE THE FEBRUARY BOARD MEETING, WITH NO COMMENTS RECEIVED. THESE POLICIES ARE NOW ELIGIBLE FOR TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA. SUPERINTENDENT PACE, THIS CONCLUDES ALL THAT I PREPARED AND I TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU. THANK YOU, MRS. COX. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES BUSINESS ITEM D1 AND WILL REMAIN AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM OUR BOARD. THANK YOU SO MUCH, DOCTOR PACE. AND THANK YOU AGAIN. MRS. COX. DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM SEEING NONE. THIS IS ELIGIBLE FOR TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA. DOES ANYONE OBJECT? THIS WILL BE PLACED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA THIS EVENING. THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO BUSINESS. ITEM D TWO. DOCTOR PACE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. BUSINESS ITEM D2. I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE MRS. COX TO REMAIN AT THE PODIUM FOR THE HCS DELEGATE AND ALTERNATE FOR JUNE GSBA DELEGATE ASSEMBLY. GOOD AFTERNOON AGAIN, MADAM CHAIR.
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND DOCTOR PACE. EACH YEAR, THE GEORGIA SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION REQUESTS THAT LOCAL BOARDS OF EDUCATION APPOINT A DELEGATE TO SERVE ON THE LOCAL ASSOCIATION'S DELEGATE ASSEMBLY. THE DELEGATE ASSEMBLY IS THE REPRESENTATIVE DECISION MAKING BODY WHEREBY
[00:55:02]
GSBA MEMBERS ENGAGE IN A VARIETY OF PREDETERMINED ACTIVITIES. CHIEF AMONG THEM INCLUDES SETTING AND REVIEWING POLICY AND ESTABLISHING ANNUAL PRIORITIES AS MEMBERS OF THE ASSEMBLY.DELEGATES ALSO CARRY OUT A NUMBER OF DUTIES, INCLUDING ELECTING OFFICERS AND DETERMINING LEGISLATIVE POSITIONS. THIS YEAR, THE DELEGATE ASSEMBLY WILL CONVENE ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, JUNE 6TH AND SEVENTH AT THE GSBA SUMMER CONFERENCE IN SAVANNAH, GEORGIA.
PLEASE NOTE THAT ONLY DELEGATES HAVE VOTING RIGHTS, AND VOTES ARE CAST AS REPRESENTATIVE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, NOT AS INDIVIDUALS. THIS EVENING, THE BOARD IS FREE TO CHOOSE WHO WILL REPRESENT OUR DISTRICT AT THIS YEAR'S SUMMER CONFERENCE. THE BOARD WILL ALSO NEED TO IDENTIFY AN ALTERNATE SHOULD THE CHOSEN DELEGATE BE UNABLE TO PARTICIPATE. THIS ITEM IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR BOARD ACTION. DOCTOR PACE, THIS CONCLUDES ALL THAT I PREPARED AND I TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU. THANK YOU, MRS. COX. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES OUR BUSINESS ITEM AND WE TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH, DOCTOR PACE. AND THANK YOU AGAIN, MRS. COX. I WILL NOW OPEN THE FLOOR FOR NOMINATIONS FOR THE HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS DELEGATE FOR THE JUNE VSBA. DELEGATE ASSEMBLY, MRS. CARTER. YES. I'D LIKE TO NOMINATE MACKENZIE TO GO AS OUR DELEGATE, PLEASE. THANK YOU, MISS CARTER. I HAVE MR. MCDANIEL. ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS FOR DELEGATE? SEEING? NONE. CAN I HAVE A NOMINATION, PLEASE, FOR ALTERNATE FOR THE DELEGATE ASSEMBLY THIS SUMMER? MADAM CHAIR, I'D LIKE TO RECOMMEND VICE CHAIR ANNETTE EDWARDS AS OUR ALTERNATE. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND WE WILL VOTE ON THIS. WE WILL TAKE ACTION ON THIS TONIGHT IN OUR BUSINESS MEETING. OKAY. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO ITEM D THREE. DOCTOR BASS. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, FOR ITEM D THREE. I'D LIKE TO INVITE MR. MILES BACK TO THE PODIUM FOR HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS ROOF REPLACEMENT BID TABULATIONS.
GROUP A AND GROUP B. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT PACE.
ADVERTISEMENT. FOR THIS PROJECT, THE ROOF RECOVER PROJECT BEGAN JANUARY 21ST. BIDS WERE RECEIVED FEBRUARY 20TH AT 2 P.M. FOR GROUP A AND AT 3 P.M. FOR GROUP B. FIVE BIDS WERE RECEIVED. FOR GROUP A, SEVEN BIDS WERE RECEIVED FOR GROUP B, A AND B. COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION IS THE APPARENT LOW BIDDER FOR GROUP A AND GMC BLUE SERVICES IS THE APPARENT LOW BIDDER FOR GROUP B EAST BLOCK SIX FUNDS WILL BE USED FOR THIS PROJECT, AND THE PROJECT WILL BE REPORTED ON AS PART OF THE MONTHLY CONSTRUCTION FINANCIAL REPORT. THE SCOPE OF WORK INCLUDES THE REMOVAL OF THE WINDOWS ON THE CUPOLAS AT STOCKBRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL, SEALING THOSE AND RESETTING THOSE, AND THE FLAT ROOF FOR LUELLA HIGH, LUELLA MIDDLE, UNION GROVE HIGH, AND UNION GROVE MIDDLE. JUST THE FLAT ROOF CONSTRUCTION PORTION OF THIS PROJECT WILL OCCUR FROM APRIL OF 2025 THROUGH OCTOBER OF 2025. DOCTOR PACE, THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. THANK YOU, MR. MILES. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION. WE REMAIN AVAILABLE TO OUR BOARD FOR ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, DOCTOR PACE. AND THANK YOU, MR. MILES. DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM, DOCTOR NET, I JUST HAVE A QUICK QUESTION. HAVE WE USED THESE TWO COMPANIES BEFORE IN ANY OF OUR WORK THAT WE'VE DONE? NO, MA'AM. THEY'RE THEY'RE NEW TO THE COUNTY, WHICH EXCITES ME.
I LIKE I LIKE SEEING THE COMPETITIVE BIDDING PROCESS IS A WONDERFUL THING WHEN YOU SEE SEVEN AND FIVE RESPECTIVE BIDDERS, THAT'S A GOOD THING. BUT THEY COME WELL RECOMMENDED, ISN'T THEY? YES, MA'AM. BECAUSE I ALWAYS GET NERVOUS WHEN I SEE NEW PEOPLE LIKE YOU. I'M GLAD THEY'RE HERE, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE YOUR WORK STANDS UP TO YOUR THING. YES, MA'AM. ALSO, MAY I ASK, WHEN WILL WOLF CREEK? WHEN WILL WE START ON THAT? WE'RE IN THE DESIGN PHASE OF THAT PROJECT NOW. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DOCTOR KNIGHT. MR. MCDANIEL, I JUST HAVE ONE QUICK QUESTION. I KNOW YOU GOT A GROUP A AND GROUP B, IS THERE A GROUP C, D, E OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT OR JUST IS IT. THAT'S IT FOR NOW. THERE'S POTENTIAL FOR FUTURE. BUT RIGHT NOW THESE ARE THE ONLY TWO. YES, SIR. OKAY. SEEING NO FURTHER COMMENTS, THIS IS ALSO ELIGIBLE FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA.
DOES ANYONE OBJECT? NOPE. THIS WILL BE ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA THIS EVENING. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO OUR LAST BUSINESS ITEM. ITEM D FOUR. DOCTOR PACE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, ITEM D4. I'D LIKE TO INVITE MRS. MCCREARY TO THE PODIUM FOR THE INSTRUCTIONAL AND TECHNICAL INFRASTRUCTURE. MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL BAND. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT PACE IN ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC ACTION FIVE, INITIATIVE THREE, TACTIC FOUR, WHICH IS TO DESIGN AND GROWTH AND REPLACEMENT PLAN FOR EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES MATERIALS FOR PROGRAMS INCLUDING BAND. THE SUPERINTENDENT RECOMMENDS THE PURCHASE OF MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL BAND
[01:00:05]
INSTRUMENTS FROM TAYLOR, STEVE WEISS MUSIC AND EMC, AND SWEETWATER MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL BAND DIRECTORS ASSESS THEIR CURRENT INVENTORY TO IDENTIFY GROWTH AND REPLACEMENT NEEDS WITH INSTRUMENTS SUCH AS BASSOONS, CLARINETS, EUPHONIUMS, TRUMPETS, AND SEVERAL OTHERS.THE SUPERINTENDENT RECOMMENDS THIS E-SPLOST PURCHASE IN THE AMOUNT INDICATED, AND THIS PURCHASE MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS AS OUTLINED IN POLICY DJ DOCTOR PACE. THIS ITEM IS AVAILABLE FOR CONSENT AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU. THANK YOU, MRS. MCCREARY. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES OUR OUR BUSINESS ITEM D4 REMAIN AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS FROM OUR BOARD. THANK YOU, DOCTOR PACE. AND THANK YOU, MRS. MCCREARY. DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM, DOCTOR NUTT? MISS MCCREARY DID. DO WE NOT HAVE THESE ON A CYCLE LIKE WE DO THE UNIFORMS AND THE FOOTBALL AND STUFF? AND SO WOULD THIS BAND FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL? WOULD THEY NOT BE ON THE CYCLE? WELL, WHAT? IT'S A PART OF THE GROWTH AND REPLACEMENT PLAN WHERE THE FINE ARTS DEPARTMENT WORKS IN COLLABORATION WITH THE BAND DIRECTORS TO ASSESS WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE AND BASED ON WHAT THE BUDGETARY CONSTRAINTS ARE AT THE TIME. BAND DIRECTORS ARE ALLOCATED A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF FUNDS TO BE ABLE TO GROW AND REPLACE. THANK YOU DOCTOR. NET ANY OTHER DISCUSSION. THIS IS ALSO ELIGIBLE FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA THIS EVENING. DOES ANYONE OBJECT? NO. IT WILL ALSO BE PLACED ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MRS.
[E. EXECUTIVE SESSION]
MCCREARY. OKAY, WE WILL NOW MOVE TO EXECUTIVE SESSION. CAN I GET A MOTION, PLEASE, TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR LAND, LEGAL PERSONNEL AND SAFETY AND SECURITY. MAKE A MOTION. WE GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR LAND LEGAL, SAFETY AND SECURITY AND PERSONNEL. THANK YOU. MR. MCDANIEL. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? THANK YOU, DOCTOR NUTT. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. FOUR ZERO. WE ARE N CAN I GET A MOTION, PLEASE, TO COME OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION I MAKE. ABOUT AN EXECUTIVE SESSION. THANK YOU. DOCTOR NUTT. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? THANK YOU, MR. MCDANIEL. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. FOUR ZERO. WE ARE NOW OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION. CAN I GET A MOTION, PLEASE, TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS READ IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. I MAKE A MOTION. THANK YOU, DOCTOR NUTT. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? THANK YOU, MISS CARTER. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND FOUR ZERO. MINUTES ARE APPROVED AT 612. I WILL ADJOURN OUR STUDY SESSION AND WE WILL REOPEN AT 7 P.M. FOR* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.