[A. CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:07]
GOOD AFTERNOON AND WELCOME TO THIS STUDY SESSION OF THE HENRY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION.
ATTENDEES AT THE THIS MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION HAVE AGREED TO THE DECORUM EXPECTED OF A MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. ANY DISRUPTION TO THIS MEETING WILL RESULT IN A BRIEF RECESS, MOVING TO A VIRTUAL FORMAT OR RESCHEDULING OF THE MEETING. I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A PRODUCTIVE MEETING AHEAD AND I WILL TURN IT OVER TO THE CHAIR. GOOD AFTERNOON AND WELCOME, EVERYONE. WELCOME BACK FROM SPRING BREAK. I WOULD LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER NOW THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED STUDY SESSION OF THE HENRY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION ON APRIL 14TH, 2025 AT 4:02 P.M. AND I'M GOING TO BEGIN BY TURNING IT OVER TO DOCTOR PACE FOR HIS
[B. SUPERINTENDENT'S WELCOME]
WELCOME. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND TO OUR COMMUNITY. WELCOME TO THE APRIL MEETING OF THE HENRY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, NATIONAL ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS WEEK WAS OBSERVED APRIL 7TH THROUGH THE 11TH WHILE THE DISTRICT WAS CLOSED FOR SPRING BREAK.HOWEVER, WE COULD NOT MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE THESE LEADERS WHO PROVIDE VITAL SUPPORT TO OUR SCHOOLS AND COUNTLESS WAYS. WE THANK OUR ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS FOR THE IMPACT OF THEIR LEADERSHIP IN OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES, AND FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR OVERALL PURSUIT OF EXCEPTIONAL HERE IN HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS. APRIL IS CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH, AND WE ASK OUR COMMUNITY TO JOIN US IN WEARING BLUE ON FRIDAY, APRIL 25TH TO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF BANDING TOGETHER TO PREVENT CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT OF ANY KIND. APRIL IS ALSO RECOGNIZED AS THE MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD. PLEASE JOIN US IN WEARING PURPLE ON THIS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16TH TO HONOR THE SACRIFICES AND EXPERIENCES OF OUR MILITARY CONNECTED STUDENTS. THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR MILITARY FAMILIES WHO SERVE OUR COUNTRY WHILE ALSO CONTRIBUTING TO OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES. APRIL ALSO MARKS SCHOOL LIBRARY MONTH, A TIME TO CELEBRATE AND HONOR OUR MEDIA SPECIALISTS AND THE ESSENTIAL ROLE OF OUR LIBRARY MEDIA PROGRAMS IN STUDENTS ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND LITERACY DEVELOPMENT. I'D ALSO LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE MRS. JANET YOUMANS OF EAGLE'S LANDING HIGH SCHOOL, WHO WAS RECENTLY CELEBRATED AS THE DISTRICT'S LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALIST OF THE YEAR. CONGRATULATIONS, MRS. YOUMANS, AND THANK YOU TO ALL OUR DEDICATED LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALISTS. WORLD AUTISM DAY WAS ON APRIL 2ND AND THIS WEEK IS EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN'S WEEK AS WE CELEBRATE THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF OUR ESC STUDENTS AND THE MISSION OF OUR EXCEPTIONAL STUDENT EDUCATION PROGRAM TO ENSURE EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS FOR EACH STUDENT THAT MEETS THEIR NEEDS AND PREPARES THEM FOR A SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION TO COLLEGE OR CAREER PATHWAYS OF THEIR CHOICE. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE OUR EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT PERSON OF THE YEAR, MRS. CLEO CANTY, A MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS FACILITATOR FROM PLEASANT GROVE ELEMENTARY. MRS. CANTY AND 59 OTHER SPIES WERE CELEBRATED A FEW WEEKS AGO DURING A CEREMONY AT THE MCDONOUGH PERFORMING ARTS CENTER. I'D ALSO LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SEVERAL OF OUR ESP JOB FAMILIES ARE CELEBRATED IN APRIL. THEY INCLUDE PARAPROFESSIONAL APPRECIATION DAY ON APRIL 2ND, AFTER SCHOOL PROFESSIONALS WEEK ON APRIL 21ST THROUGH THE 25TH, AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS DAY ON APRIL 23RD. WE GREATLY APPRECIATE THE MANY CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUR DEDICATED SUPPORT STAFF HERE IN HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES MY WELCOME AND I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH, DOCTOR PACE, FOR THAT. WELCOME. WE WILL NOW
[C. BOARD MEMBER ITEMS]
MOVE TO SEE OUR BOARD MEMBER ITEMS, AND WE WILL BEGIN WITH MISS EDWARDS AND I GIVEN A RECAP OF OUR WHOLE BOARD TRAINING FROM MARCH 19TH. I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU, MISS EDWARDS. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, AND GOOD EVENING. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. I'M JUST GOING TO GIVE YOU A BRIEF SYNOPSIS OF A FEW ITEMS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT DURING OUR WHOLE BOARD TRAINING. AGAIN, IT WAS A GREAT TRAINING FOR US. THE FACILITATOR WAS DOCTOR DONNA HINTON FROM GSB, AND SHE ALWAYS DOES A GOOD JOB WITH US. SOME OF THE ITEMS THAT I'M GOING TO RE TALK ABOUT TODAY WOULD BE THAT WE DISCUSS WITH OUR TRAININGS. IF THE TRAINING WAS CENTERED AROUND OUR 2627 STRATEGIC PLANNING, WE'RE GETTING READY TO START ON THAT STRATEGIC PLAN FOR NEXT YEAR, BECAUSE THIS ONE IS ENDING. THE NEXT THING THAT WE TALKED ABOUT, ANOTHER THING THAT WE TALKED ABOUT WAS E SUA SEVEN.IT'S COMING UP AGAIN. IT'S TIME FOR EAST LA SEVEN. AND WE ALWAYS WANT TO. THE OTHER THING WE
[00:05:01]
TALKED ABOUT WAS ALWAYS INVOLVING OUR COMMUNITY IN OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING, BECAUSE WE ALWAYS WANT TO GET THE INPUT OF OUR COMMUNITY. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE HEAR FROM OUR COMMUNITY. SO THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT. AND NOW MRS. POPE WOULD HIGHLIGHT A FEW OTHER THINGS THAT WERE TALKED ABOUT DURING THE TRAINING SESSION. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MISS EDWARDS. IT WAS A VERY FRUITFUL TIME TOGETHER, AS IT ALWAYS IS. WE ALSO HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO OVER OUR BUDGET AND SOME POLICY DEVELOPMENT, AND WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY AS A BOARD TO REVIEW THE RESULTS OF OUR BOARD SELF-ASSESSMENT, AS WE ARE ALSO COMMITTED TO JUST A CULTURE OF CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT AS A GOVERNANCE TEAM. SO WE ARE SUPER GRATEFUL TO OUR PARTNER, DOCTOR DONNA HINTON AT GEORGIA SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION AND OUR TIME TOGETHER, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT TIME THAT WE CAN ALL MEET TOGETHER AND DO THE GOOD WORK OF THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM. I WILL NOW TURN IT OVER TO MR. MCDANIEL, AND HE CAN TELL US ABOUT THE CASBAH ANNUAL CONFERENCE. MR. MCDANIEL. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND AGAIN, GOOD EVENING TO EVERYONE. THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE ONCE AGAIN WAS A FABULOUS TIME. IT WAS ACTUALLY HELD HERE IN ATLANTA. AND ONE OF THESE SEMINARS THAT ACTUALLY I ATTENDED DEALT WITH STRATEGIC PLANNING AND THE IMPORTANCE OF AND THE INTENTIONALITY THAT A SCHOOL DISTRICT MUST HAVE IN CREATING A STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE FIVE YEARS FOR THE TRAJECTORY OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.AND SO I THINK THAT IT WAS VERY BEFITTING THAT WE HAD THAT CONVERSATION AS THE BOARD. WE'RE GETTING READY TO ACTUALLY DISCUSS THAT COMING UP AND SAID, I NEW STRAT PLAN FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. BUT AGAIN, ONE OF THE MAIN THEMES IS MAKING SURE THAT IT'S INTENTIONAL, BUT MAKE SURE THAT WE ACTUALLY, AS WE'VE DONE BEFORE, COMMUNITY VOICE, MAKING SURE THE COMMUNITY HAD OWNERSHIP, MAKING SURE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAD OWNERSHIP, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, MAKING SURE THAT THE BOARD HAD SOME LEVEL OF OWNERSHIP WITH THE STRAT PLAN IN CONCERT WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT, WHICH I THINK THAT WE'VE ALREADY DONE WITH OUR FORMER STRATEGIC PLAN. SO IT WAS VERY FITTING, VERY TIMELY. THAT WAS ONE OF THE MEETINGS THAT I ATTENDED, BUT THAT WAS THE ACTUAL ONE THAT I THOUGHT THAT BROUGHT HOME WHAT WE WERE DOING HERE IN HENRY COUNTY. AND IT WAS JUST INTERESTING THAT WE ACTUALLY HAD AN HOUR AND A HALF TO TALK ABOUT THAT AFTER WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD IT DURING THE WHOLE BOARD TRAINING. SO JUST INTENTIONALITY WITH YOUR STRAT PLAN. THAT WAS THE MAIN THING I TOOK FROM THAT. THANK YOU. AWESOME. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR.
[D. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS]
MCDANIEL, AND THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING THAT CONFERENCE. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO OUR INFORMATIONAL ITEMS, AND WE WILL BEGIN WITH ITEM D1A DOCTOR PACE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. FIRST ITEM, I'D LIKE TO INVITE OUR CHIEF OF STAFF TO THE PODIUM FOR THE STRATEGIC PLAN AND PURSUIT OF EXCEPTIONAL. THE YEAR FOR QUARTER THREE REPORT ON OUR STRATEGIC PLAN. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT PACE, TODAY, I AM PLEASED TO SHARE WITH YOU THE YEAR FOR QUARTER THREE REPORT FOR THE 2024 2025 SCHOOL YEAR. THE FULL REPORT HAS ALREADY BEEN PREPARED FOR YOU, BUT TODAY I WILL SHARE SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT OUR TEAM ACCOMPLISHED DURING THIS QUARTER. THIS REPORT HIGHLIGHTS THE PROGRESS THAT HAS BEEN MADE AS WE IMPLEMENT THIS BOARD'S FIVE YEAR, COMMUNITY INSPIRED STRATEGIC PLAN, WITH SPECIFIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR EACH OF THE FIVE STRATEGIC ACTIONS. THIS BOARD OF EDUCATION HAS ESTABLISHED A CLEAR VISION AND MISSION THAT PRIORITIZES A HIGH QUALITY, WORLD CLASS EDUCATION WITH EXCEPTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND ACCESS FOR EVERY STUDENT. THE COMMUNITY INSPIRED STRATEGIC PLAN BROUGHT TO LIFE BY THIS BOARD, SERVES AS A COMPASS FOR CONTINUING TO ACCELERATE LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR ALL STUDENTS, TO BUILD EFFECTIVE SCHOOL LEADERS AND TEACHERS, TO ENSURE COMMUNITY AND STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT, TO ADVANCE STUDENT AND EMPLOYEE WELLNESS, AND TO DEVELOP A HIGH PERFORMING OPERATIONAL CULTURE, ALL WITH A CLEAR FOCUS ON PREPARING EVERY STUDENT FOR SUCCESS FROM BIRTH TO THE TURN OF THEIR TASSEL. AND BEYOND.THIS BOARD HAS IDENTIFIED PRIORITY STUDENT OUTCOMES, OR SOS, TO FOCUS ON READINESS TO LEARN AND ACCESS TO LEARNING, LITERACY PROFICIENCY AND COLLEGE, CAREER AND LIFE READINESS AS WE ENHANCE OUR PERFORMANCE CULTURE IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CLEAR, MEASURABLE GOALS THAT ALIGN WITH ADVANCING OPPORTUNITIES, ACCESS, AND OUTCOMES FOR ALL STUDENTS, WE CONTINUE OUR COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING A HIGH QUALITY, WORLD CLASS EDUCATION THAT PREPARES STUDENTS FOR SUCCESS. AS WE CONTINUE TO IMPLEMENT IDENTIFIED PRIORITIES AND ACTIONS THROUGH TO COMPLETION, WE ARE PLEASED TO PROVIDE A HIGHLIGHT REVIEW OF SPECIFIC TACTICS. EACH TACTIC IS PROGRESSING THROUGH DIFFERENT PHASES OF IMPLEMENTATION FROM RESEARCH, DESIGN, INVEST AND IMPLEMENT TO THE FINAL PHASE OF COMPLETE. IT IS OUR GOAL THAT ALL TACTICS IN THE 2021 2026 STRATEGIC PLAN WILL REACH THE COMPLETE PHASE BY THE END OF THIS FIVE YEAR COMMUNITY INSPIRED STRATEGIC PLAN. AS I SHARE WITH YOU SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS QUARTER,
[00:10:01]
YOU WILL NOTICE A METER ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE SLIDES. FOR EACH STRATEGIC ACTION, YOU CAN SEE IN THE METERS WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE TACTICS HAVE PROGRESSED THROUGH EACH PHASE OF IMPLEMENTATION. SO LET'S REVIEW THE IMPACTFUL WORK THAT OCCURRED DURING YEAR FOUR. QUARTER THREE.STRATEGIC ACTION ONE PRIORITIZES ADVANCING LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES AND EXPERIENCES FOR ALL STUDENTS, INCLUDING CREATING MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO ACCESS ADVANCED COURSEWORK, MORE ACCESS TO STEM, AND MORE ACCESS TO FINE ARTS. THE EXCEPTIONAL STUDENT EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, IN COLLABORATION WITH OTHER DIVISIONS, PROVIDED TARGETED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO PRINCIPALS, TEACHERS, STUDENT SUPPORT FACILITATORS, AND SUPPORT STAFF IN THE AREAS OF SPECIALIZED INSTRUCTION, INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES, CO-TEACHING, AND POSITIVE BEHAVIOR STRATEGIES. THEY ALSO WORK CROSS DIVISIONALLY TO ANALYZE STUDENT DATA AND PROVIDE SUPPORTS AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL TO ENSURE EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INSTRUCTIONAL FRAMEWORK IN THE AREA OF ADVISEMENT, THE COUNSELING MODULE AND OUR STUDENT INFORMATION SYSTEM HAS BEEN UPDATED TO ALLOW TRACKING OF CLASSROOM LESSONS AND INDIVIDUAL ADVISEMENT SESSIONS. ALL HIGH SCHOOL THEATERS ARE NOW EQUIPPED WITH STATE OF THE ART LIGHTING, WHICH PROVIDES THE CAPABILITY TO FUNCTION AS BLACK BOX THEATERS. ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL SPANISH TEACHERS PARTICIPATED IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ON THE HIGHLY EFFECTIVE WORLD LANGUAGES CLASSROOM THAT FOCUSED ON INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES, ASSESSMENT PRACTICES, AND DISTRICT RESOURCES IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR THE NEW ELA STANDARDS HAS CONTINUED TO BE A PRIORITY TO ENSURE A FOCUSED AND INTEGRATED APPROACH TO EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF READING AND WRITING INSTRUCTION THROUGH THE TRAIN THE TRAINER MODEL. EVERY SCHOOL NOW HAS NOW HAS AN ON SITE FACILITATOR TO SUPPORT THE ROLLOUT OF THE NEW ELA STANDARDS. STRATEGIC ACTION TWO ENSURES THAT WE ARE ADVANCING EFFECTIVE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP AND CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION. IN ORDER TO DO SO, WE MUST PROVIDE CLEAR FRAMEWORKS AND CONDITIONS TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN THE BEST TEACHERS, LEADERS AND SUPPORT STAFF FOR OUR STUDENTS. ACCESS HCS WENT LIVE JANUARY 2025 AND CONTINUES TO SUPPORT TO OFFER SUPPORT TO DISTRICT AND BUILDING LEVEL EMPLOYEES AS WE NAVIGATE NEW STREAMLINED PROCESSES ASSOCIATED WITH ACCESS. HUMAN RESOURCES HAS BEEN RECRUITING ALL YEAR. THE MOST RECENT RECRUITMENT EVENT WAS HELD ON MARCH 15TH AT DUTCHTOWN HIGH SCHOOL, IN WHICH OVER 200 ATTENDED AND 50 PRE OFFERS WERE EXTENDED. HR IS LOOKING FORWARD TO THE SUPPORT STAFF JOB FAIR, WHICH WILL BE HELD ON JUNE 10TH AT BIRCH CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. STRATEGIC ACTION THREE FOCUSES OUR EFFORTS ON ADVANCING CONNECTIVITY AND ENGAGEMENT AMONG OUR STUDENTS, EMPLOYEES, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS. HENRY PARTNERS CONTINUES TO ROLL OUT NEW, NEWLY ESTABLISHED GUIDELINES AND NOW HAS AN UPDATED WEBSITE WITH INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. AND SPEAKING OF WEBSITES, THE HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS WEBSITE HAS BEEN UPDATED TO IMPROVE ACCESS AND FUNCTIONALITY, WHICH NOW INCLUDES THE ABILITY FOR CONTENT TO BE TRANSLATED TO SPANISH. THE HENRY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION KICKED OFF WITH ITS VERY FIRST BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING IN FEBRUARY, WHERE THEY CREATED AND AFFIRMED THEIR MISSION, VISION, AND OPERATING PROCEDURES. A KEY OPENING INITIATIVE FOR THE FOUNDATION IS TO ESTABLISH SCHOLARSHIPS TO REMOVE FINANCIAL BARRIERS TO HIGHER EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STUDENTS, AND THEY ARE IN THE DESIGN PHASE WITH COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS IN AN EFFORT TO REMOVE BARRIERS FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES. WRAPAROUND SERVICES NOW INCLUDE A REDESIGNED COMMUNITY CLOSET, SUPPORTS FOR FOOD ASSISTANCE, MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES, AND OTHER COMMUNITY RESOURCES.
ADVANCING STUDENT AND EMPLOYEE HEALTH AND WELLNESS THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF TARGETED SUPPORT STRUCTURES LEADS US TO STRATEGIC ACTION FOR EMPLOYEE WELLNESS HAS BEEN PRIORITIZED THROUGH SESSIONS FOCUSING ON EMOTIONAL HEALTH AND COMMUNITY. DONATIONS AND RELATED EMPLOYEE SUPPORTS ARE AVAILABLE WHEN NEEDED. INTEGRATION OF THE COMMON APP INTO PROFESSIONAL LEARNING AND EXPANDED OFFICE HOURS IS HELPING STUDENTS RECEIVE RELEVANT COUNSELING TO NAVIGATE THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, STRATEGIC ACTION FIVE ENSURES WE ARE PRIORITIZING A HIGH PERFORMING OPERATIONAL CULTURE THAT SETS THE CONDITIONS FOR MORE LEARNING, MORE GROWING, AND MORE WINNING. DURING THIS QUARTER, HUMAN RESOURCES CONTINUED TO RESEARCH AND IMPLEMENT STRATEGIES TO CREATE CAREER PATHWAYS THAT INCREASE RETENTION RATES. THEY ALSO BEGAN THE DESIGN OF COMPENSATION GUIDELINES TO INCLUDE A COMPENSATION PHILOSOPHY AND PROGRAM METHODOLOGY, CONTINUING TO ANALYZE MARKET TRENDS TO DESIGN IN JOB CAREER PATHWAYS. BOARD. AS I PREPARE TO CLOSE TODAY'S PRESENTATION, I'M PLEASED TO SHOWCASE THE HARD WORK AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF YEAR FOUR, QUARTER THREE OF THE COMMUNITY INSPIRED STRATEGIC PLAN. WE KNOW THAT DEVELOPMENT OF THIS PLAN BEGAN WELL BEFORE
[00:15:03]
ITS IMPLEMENTATION, AND THAT WE ARE NOW CLOSE TO ENDING YEAR FOUR AND BEGINNING YEAR FIVE.THIS BOARD'S AMBITIOUS PURSUIT OF ENSURING ALL STUDENTS ARE COLLEGE, CAREER AND LIFE READY WILL CONTINUE TO GUIDE THE WORK AS WE ENSURE THE COMMUNITY'S VISION AND EXPECTATIONS ARE REALIZED. SUPERINTENDENT PACE, THIS CONCLUDES ALL THAT I HAVE PREPARED AND I TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU. THANK YOU, MRS. COX. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES OUR UPDATE AND WE REMAIN AVAILABLE TO OUR BOARD FOR ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, DOCTOR PAYSON. THANK YOU, MRS. COX. DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? NO. SEEING NONE. I JUST WANT TO. MR. MCDANIEL. I SEE IT NOW. GO AHEAD. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND THANK YOU, MISS COX, FOR THIS PRESENTATION. I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS I FORGOT TO MENTION WAS THAT IN THE CONFERENCE, THEY TALKED ABOUT HOW STRATEGIC PLANS ARE FLUID, THAT, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO MAKE MOVES AS YOU GO THROUGHOUT THE STRATEGIC PLAN. AND THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT YOU THREE THINGS THAT YOU BROUGHT UP THAT AS I VISITED SOME SCHOOLS, EVEN THIS MORNING, THERE WAS ONE THING THAT STUCK OUT TO ME THAT I'VE HEARD FROM BUILDING LEADERS. AND REALLY FOR SOME OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND SENATORS ON WRAP AROUND SERVICES, WRAPAROUND SERVICES IS A BIG NEED, NOT ONLY HERE IN ME.
WELL, WE'LL SAY HENRY COUNTY, BUT WRAPAROUND SERVICES IS BIG. AND THEN WHEN WE LOOK AT THE STRATEGIC ACTION NUMBER THREE UP ON THE COMPLETE, IT SAYS REMOVING OBSTACLES TO STABILITY AND WELL-BEING. THE DISTRICT IS EMPOWERING FAMILIES, ENSURING THEY RECEIVE THE HOLISTIC SUPPORT THEY NEED IN HELPING STUDENTS STAY FOCUSED AND ENGAGED IN THEIR EDUCATION.
THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT, AGAIN, IN TALKING TO BUILDING LEADERS AND DOING THE SCHOOL VISITS AND TALKING TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WHAT DO WE MEAN BY THE DISTRICT IS EMPOWERING FAMILIES? WHAT DOES THAT NECESSARILY MEAN? THAT MEANS THAT WE ARE PROVIDING INFORMATION AND RESOURCES TO FAMILIES WHERE THEY HAVE ACCESS AND INFORMATION WHEN THEY NEED THOSE RESOURCES. OKAY. AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I BROUGHT UP IN THE AGENDA REVIEW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT AND I WILL CONTINUE TO BRING UP EVEN FROM HERE ON THE DAIS, IS THAT IT IS A GOOD THING FOR US TO EMPOWER FAMILIES THAT THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING. BUT I THINK THERE'S A REALISM THAT WE ALL HAVE TO LOOK AT IS THAT FOR MANY OF OUR FAMILIES, SOME THAT ARE HERE AROUND THIS BUILDING, WHEN YOU WHEN WE LOOK AT SOME OF OUR FAMILIES, IT IS HARD TO EMPOWER THE SINGLE MOM, THE SINGLE FAMILY DAD. IT'S HARD TO EMPOWER CHILDREN THAT ARE JUST ABLE TO JUST WAKE UP IN THE MORNING.
JUST GLAD TO GET TO SCHOOL. BUT KNOWING THE NIGHT BEFORE THEY HAD TO HEAR CRIME IN THEIR HOMES OR DOWN THE STREETS, IN THEIR IN THEIR HOUSES OR THINGS OF THAT NATURE. AND SO AS AGAIN, AS WE LOOK AT WRAPAROUND SERVICES AND EMPOWERING, I HOPE AND PRAY THAT WE TAKE A REAL DEEP DIVE LOOK AND UNDERSTANDING THAT IT DOES, THAT THIS THOUGHT DOES NOT FIT ALL THAT MAYBE WE MIGHT NEED TO LOOK AT SOME TYPE OF A MORE INDIVIDUALIZED APPROACH TO HELP OUR YOUNG SCHOLARS FEEL NEEDED AND WANTED HERE IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, UNDERSTANDING THAT WHEN THEY GO BACK HOME, THEY GOT TO FACE DIFFICULTIES. THEY GOT TO FACE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS WHEN THEY GO BACK TO THE HOUSE.
BUT AT LEAST HERE WE CAN HOPEFULLY GIVE THEM SOMETHING THAT STRENGTHENS THEM, THAT GUIDES THEM AND UNDERGIRDS THEM. AND WE CAN BRING IN MOM AND DAD AND HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH THEM. SO I HOPE THAT AS WE DEAL WITH THIS MORE, THAT WE REALLY DO TAKE A DEEP DIVE, LOOK INTO IT WHEN IT COMES TO THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES. AND THEN THE LAST THING IS WHEN I LOOKED AT THE PRIORITY STUDENT OUTCOMES ABOUT THE DATA POINTS, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE PARTY STUDENT OUTCOMES, SOME OF THESE DATA POINTS ARE AND I DON'T KNOW WHEN THE LAST TIME THIS WAS UPDATED, BUT THE BASELINE DATA POINT AND THE GOAL AND SOME OF THESE THE DIFFERENCE IS TEN PERCENTAGE POINTS. SOME ARE GREATER THAN THAT. SO HOW WHAT IS THE PLAN OR WHAT IS THE GOAL. OR HOW DO WE PLAN ON ACTUALLY GETTING TO ACHIEVE THOSE MARKS THAT ARE SET FORTH HERE IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN FOR, LET'S SAY, HERE ON WORLD LANGUAGE? AND I THINK WE ACTUALLY DEALT WITH WORLD LANGUAGE. IT WAS 22% AND I THINK WE PASSED 70. BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT ADVANCED COURSEWORK, WHEN WE LOOK AT KINDERGARTEN READINESS, THOSE ARE TEN, 11, 12 PERCENTAGE POINT DIFFERENCES. SO WHAT IS OUR GOAL AND PLAN TO ACTUALLY GET THOSE BENCHMARKS. SO THIS BOARD ESTABLISHED THOSE GOAL METRICS BASED ON THE BASELINES. THAT'S HOW THE PRIORITY STUDENT OUTCOMES WERE ESTABLISHED. WE DO PROVIDE PROGRESS UPDATES TOWARD MEETING THOSE GOALS DURING THE ANNUAL REPORT PROCESS EACH YEAR.
SO WE PROVIDED UPDATES ON THAT WHEN WE DID THE BOARD REPORT BACK ON ON AUGUST, SEPTEMBER.
AND WE'LL PROVIDE ANOTHER UPDATE ON THOSE PROGRESS MONITORING MARKS WHEN WE DO THE NEW ANNUAL REPORT. AFTER THE SCHOOL YEAR HAS COMPLETED, AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO SHARE THOSE UPDATES, BECAUSE SOME OF THOSE METRICS COME AT THE END OF THE YEAR AND ARE NOT NECESSARILY PROGRESS THAT WE CAN MEASURE THROUGH THE SAME METRIC. THAT'S ON THE SO THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR.
[00:20:06]
OKAY. SO WHEN OUR COMMUNITY SEES THIS, THEY NEED TO, I GUESS, UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WILL BE SOME UPDATES AFTER THE CONCLUSION OF THIS YEAR AS INTO AT THE SCHOOL YEAR, AS INTO WHERE WE'RE AT AS WE PREPARE FOR SCHOOL YEAR 2526. YES, WE PROVIDE UPDATES AT EVERY ANNUAL REPORT ON THOSE. SO SOME OF THOSE SOS WERE JUST UPDATED LAST YEAR. AND SO BASED ON THE BASELINE DATA, THE METRIC GOALS WERE ESTABLISHED. AND SO WE WILL BE PROVIDING ADDITIONAL UPDATES ON THAT AFTER THIS SCHOOL YEAR HAS CONCLUDED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MCDANIEL. ANYONE ELSE DOCTOR NUTT. AS I WAS SITTING HERE LISTENING TO YOU, I REALIZED THAT EMPOWERING MEANS DIFFERENT THINGS TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT EMPOWERING THE SINGLE, SINGLE FAMILY HOME, I CAME FROM A SINGLE FAMILY HOME AND BEING EMPOWERED AS MY MOM, MY MOM AND MYSELF AS A SINGLE FAMILY MEMBER. IT WAS UP TO ME TO TAKE THE INITIATIVE TO FIND OUT WHY MY CHILD WAS FAILING. BUT I BELIEVE HENRY COUNTY IS DOING A GREAT JOB. WE PROVIDE. WE'RE PROVIDING A VERY SAFE PLACE FOR YOUR CHILD TO LIVE, LAUGH AND LEARN. AND THAT'S THAT'S PART OF THE HEART OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, IS YOU WANT THEM TO FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE A PURPOSE. YOU WANT TO EMPOWER THE CHILD ALSO TO TAKE PART IN THEIR EDUCATION. SO I DON'T BELIEVE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT EMPOWERING EVERYONE WE CAN, WE CAN'T LEAVE ANYONE OUT. AND THE CHILD THEMSELVES, THEY HAVE TO TAKE AN INITIATIVE OF WANTING TO LEARN. AND IF NOT AS YOUR WRAPAROUND SERVICES THAT WE'VE INCREASED OVER THE YEARS, FIND OUT EXACTLY WHY AND WORK WITH THEM. AND IT'S NOT JUST WORKING WITH THAT ONE FAMILY YOU'RE WORKING WITH, BECAUSE OUR SCHOOLS ARE OUR COMMUNITY. SO IT'S IT TAKES A VILLAGE AND HENRY COUNTY, WE'RE ALL IN THE SAME VILLAGE. SO WE'VE GOT TO WORK TOGETHER TO EMPOWER EVERYONE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DOCTOR NUTT. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE TEAMS AND INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE DONE THIS INCREDIBLE WORK, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT ONE. IT FEELS LIKE AS SOON AS WE BLINK, ANOTHER ONE OF THESE UPDATES IS UPON US. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS REPORT AND ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT'S BEING DONE. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO INFORMATIONAL ITEM D2A DOCTOR PACE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.OUR NEXT INFORMATIONAL ITEM WILL BE FROM OUR CHIEF SCHOOL LEADERSHIP OFFICER FINISHING THE 2024 2025 SCHOOL YEAR STRONG. MISSUS SUTTON. REAGAN. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND DOCTOR PACE. IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE THERE ARE ONLY SIX WEEKS LEFT IN THIS SCHOOL YEAR. BUT WE ARE PREPARED TO FINISH THIS YEAR STRONG. THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR IS A VERY BUSY TIME, FILLED WITH EXCITEMENT AND CELEBRATION AS WE RECOGNIZE THE HARD WORK OF OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF. THIS BOARD'S COMPASS PROVIDES CLEAR DIRECTION AS WE FINISH THIS SCHOOL YEAR AND PLAN FOR STARTING THE 2025 2026 SCHOOL YEAR. STRONG YOUR VISION, MISSION AND CONTINUED FOCUS ON IMPLEMENTING THE COMMUNITY INSPIRED STRATEGIC PLAN. GUIDE OUR WORK ALONG WITH YOUR CORE POLICIES THAT CALL FOR AN ALIGNED SYSTEM OF TEACHING AND LEARNING, A SYSTEM OF ACCOUNTABILITY, AND A FRAMEWORK FOR CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT AS WE ADVANCE OPPORTUNITIES, ACCESS, AND OUTCOMES FOR ALL STUDENTS. OUR UTMOST FOCUS AT THIS TIME OF YEAR IS ON FOCUSING THE SCHOOL YEAR STRONG. HERE YOU SEE DATES FOR OUR UPCOMING END OF YEAR ASSESSMENTS. SCHOOLS HAVE LED THE IMPLEMENTATION OF MARCH MADNESS MEETS MARCH SCHOLASTICS AS ACTIVITIES WHICH HAVE PROVIDED RE-ENGAGEMENT AND ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS THROUGH TARGETED INTERVENTION TIME DURING THE SCHOOL DAY, BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL TUTORING AND SATURDAY SESSIONS. TO BEST PREPARE OUR STUDENTS FOR THESE UPCOMING ASSESSMENTS. THE GEORGIA MILESTONE ASSESSMENT WINDOW WILL BEGIN NEXT WEEK FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES THREE THROUGH FIVE, AND THE FOLLOWING WEEK FOR OUR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, WE WILL BE PROVIDING. WE WILL BE PROVIDING A RETEST OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES THREE, FIVE AND EIGHT THIS YEAR WHO SCORE AT THE BEGINNING LEVEL IN MATH AND READING BELOW GRADE LEVEL IN ELA. THE RETEST FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES THREE AND FIVE WILL TAKE PLACE ON MAY 19TH AND 20TH, AND ON JUNE 23RD AND 24TH FOR STUDENTS IN THE EIGHTH GRADE. AS STUDENTS FOCUS ON FINISHING STRONG, IT IS
[00:25:02]
IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT SENIORS WILL COMPLETE THEIR FINAL EXAMS, WHICH COUNT AS 20% OF THEIR FINAL COURSE GRADE ON APRIL 30TH AND MAY 1ST. FINAL GRADES FOR SENIORS WILL BE POSTED IN INFINITE CAMPUS BY MAY THE 5TH, WITH THE EXCEPTIONS EXCEPTION OF COURSES THAT ARE TAKEN THROUGH ANOTHER INSTITUTION INSTITUTION SUCH AS DUAL ENROLLMENT AND GEORGIA VIRTUAL SCHOOL. ONCE ALL GRADES HAVE BEEN RECEIVED AND FINALIZED, SCHOOLS WILL HOST THEIR SENIOR AWARDS NIGHTS AND BEGIN ANNOUNCING HONORABLE RECOGNITIONS SUCH AS VALEDICTORIAN AND SALUTATORIAN FOR ALL OTHER STUDENTS. FINAL GRADES WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE PORTAL, THE PARENT PORTAL, ON MAY 29TH, AND REPORT CARDS WILL BE MAILED HOME FOR ALL STUDENTS. AS WE AS WE PREPARE FOR THE END OF THE YEAR EVENTS, WE ARE REMINDED OF THIS BOARD'S COMMITMENT OF ENSURING A SAFE, SECURE AND SUPPORTIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. BECAUSE OF THIS COMMITMENT, WE WILL CONTINUE TO ENFORCE A CLEAR BAG REQUIREMENT FOR ALL LARGE PUBLIC EVENTS. OF COURSE, THIS WILL INCLUDE END OF THE YEAR CELEBRATIONS, AWARDS PROGRAMS AND GRADUATION CEREMONIES. WE LOOK FORWARD TO CELEBRATING THE GRADUATES OF THE CLASS OF 2025 ON THE DATES AND TIMES AS SHOWN. ALL CEREMONIES WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE AT ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF EXCEL ACADEMY, WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE MCDONOUGH PERFORMING ARTS CENTER. WHILE THE SCHOOL YEAR WILL END ON FRIDAY, MAY 23RD. WE KNOW LEARNING NEVER STOPS IN HENRY. SUMMER LEARNING PROGRAMS WILL BEGIN ON MONDAY, JUNE 2ND AND RUN THROUGH THURSDAY, JUNE 26TH. SUMMER LEARNING AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL WILL BEGIN AT 8 A.M. AND END AT 3 P.M, WITH THE OPTION OF AFTERCARE AVAILABLE UNTIL 6 P.M. FOR $40 PER WEEK. SUMMER LEARNING FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS WILL BE 9 A.M.TO 4 P.M. TRANSPORTATION AND MEALS WILL BE PROVIDED AT NO COST TO OUR FAMILIES. WE WILL ALSO PROVIDE THE STEM VERY POPULAR STEM CAMP FOR RISING THIRD THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE STUDENTS AT THE ACADEMY FOR ADVANCED STUDIES ON JUNE 2ND THROUGH THE FIFTH, AS WELL AS JUNE 9TH THROUGH THE 12TH. THE COST IS $125 PER SESSION FOR THE STEM CAMP. THE EARLY KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM WILL BE OFFERED FOR OUR RISING KINDER STUDENTS TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET ACCLIMATED TO GOING TO SCHOOL. WE WILL ALSO HOST A SUMMER LEARNING OPPORTUNITY FOR CURRENT THIRD, FOURTH AND FIFTH GRADE STUDENTS, WHICH WILL INCLUDE HANDS ON FOUNDATIONAL READING AND MATH INSTRUCTION ALIGNED TO SPECIFIC STANDARDS, ALONG WITH A PREVIEW OF NEXT YEAR'S COURSEWORK AND ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES IN FINE ARTS, WORLD LANGUAGE, HEALTH AND PE AND STEM PROGRAM LOCATIONS INCLUDE 1 OR 2 SCHOOL SITES IN EACH CLUSTER, AS SHOWN. MIDDLE SCHOOLS WILL OFFER SUMMER LEARNING FOR CURRENT SIXTH, SEVENTH, AND EIGHTH GRADE STUDENTS THAT IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE SIMILAR LEARNING EXPERIENCES. AS WITH THE ELEMENTARY PROGRAM, ALL MIDDLE SCHOOLS WILL RUN A SUMMER LEARNING PROGRAM. HOWEVER, EAGLE'S LANDING MIDDLE. THE EAGLE'S LANDING MIDDLE PROGRAM WILL BE HELD AT THE HIGH SCHOOL NEXT DOOR. DUE TO FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT TAKING PLACE AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL OVER THE SUMMER FOR OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, WE WILL CONTINUE TO OFFER GRADE REPAIR AND CREDIT RECOVERY OPTIONS, CREDIT RECOVERY OPTIONS FOR SUMMER LEARNING. THESE PROGRAMS WILL TAKE PLACE AT EACH HIGH SCHOOL SO THAT STUDENTS CAN GO AHEAD AND CHECK THEIR WEBSITE AND SPEAK TO A COUNSELOR OR GRADUATION COACH FOR DETAILS. WE WILL ALSO OFFER COURSES FOR INITIAL CREDIT THIS SUMMER. WHILE LEARNING NEVER STOPS FOR OUR STUDENTS, THE SAME CAN BE SAID FOR OUR EDUCATIONAL PROFESSIONALS. WE WILL KICK OFF OUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE SUMMER LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE AT THE END OF MAY, FOLLOWED BY THE SUMMER LITERACY SUMMIT FOR K THROUGH 12 TEACHERS AND LEADERS IN EARLY JUNE. THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER, THERE WILL BE K-12 CONTENT SPECIFIC PD RELATED TO EFFECTIVELY IMPLEMENTING THE INSTRUCTIONAL FRAMEWORK INSTRUCTION ALIGNED TO THE RIGOR OF THE STANDARD AND USING MANIPULATIVES IN MATHEMATICS. WE WILL ALSO OFFER A STUDENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS CONFERENCE, AND DISTRICT AND SCHOOL LEADERS WILL PARTICIPATE IN A POLICY AND LEGAL UPDATES. SUMMER SERIES.
EXCUSE ME, OF COURSE, AS WE FOCUS ON FINISHING THIS YEAR'S STRONG AND PLAN FOR LEARNING TO CONTINUE DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS, WE ARE ALSO. THANK YOU. WE ARE ALSO FOCUSED ON ENSURING A STRONG START TO THE 2025 2026 SCHOOL YEAR. OUR BE READY DAY ONE WEBSITE PROVIDES BACK TO SCHOOL INFORMATION AND RESOURCES, AS WELL AS REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS FOR NEW FAMILIES AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR RETURNING FAMILIES TO COMPLETE THE ANNUAL INFORMATION UPDATE AND VERIFICATION PROCESS. THIS INFORMATION UPDATE AND VERIFICATION IS REQUIRED FOR ALL STUDENTS TO BE READY FOR DAY ONE, AS THIS PROCESS ENSURES THAT WE HAVE THE MOST ACCURATE
[00:30:06]
EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION AND MEDICAL INFORMATION FOR EACH OF OUR STUDENTS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING AND ONBOARDING OUR KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS. THE CLASS OF 2038. KINDERGARTEN KICKOFF BEGAN ON MARCH 25TH, AND FAMILIES HAVE ACCESS TO REGISTER THEIR UPCOMING STUDENTS THROUGH OUR ONLINE REGISTRATION SYSTEM. RESOURCES CAN BE FOUND ON THE BE ONE BE READY DAY ONE WEBSITE, AS WELL AS ALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND THE WELCOME CENTER. THE BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL ENRICHMENT PROGRAM IS PREPARING FOR THE REGISTRATION PROCESS FOR NEXT YEAR. EARLY REGISTRATION WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THE BE READY DAY ONE WEBSITE FROM MAY THE 5TH UNTIL MAY 16TH, AND WILL REOPEN ON JULY 7TH. THE ANNUAL REGISTRATION FEE IS $25 PER STUDENT, WITH A FAMILY CAP OF $75. AS I SHARED WITH THE BOARD IN JANUARY, THERE WILL BE A TUITION INCREASE OF $10 PER STUDENT PER WEEK TO OFFSET RISING COSTS OF THE PROGRAM, WHICH IS THE FIRST INCREASE SINCE 1996. THE COST PER WEEK PER STUDENT IS $43.50 FOR OUR EMPLOYEES, AND $60 PER WEEK FOR NON EMPLOYEES. THE FREE AND REDUCED MEAL STATUS WILL REMAIN VALID THROUGH SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2025, AND THE 2526 APPLICATION WILL BE AVAILABLE STARTING IN JULY TO REMAIN IN COMPLIANCE WITH STATE AND USDA GUIDELINES, THERE IS A NEED TO INCREASE MEAL PRICES BY $0.10 TO SUSTAIN OPERATIONS NEXT YEAR. BREAKFAST WILL BE $1.50, LUNCH FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS WILL BE 275, AND LUNCH FOR SECONDARY STUDENTS WILL BE $2.85. FOR VISITORS AND EMPLOYEES, BREAKFAST WILL BE 275 AND LUNCH WILL BE $4.50. WE WILL KICK OFF THE 2526 SCHOOL YEAR WITH OUR ORIENTATION FOR NEW CERTIFIED EMPLOYEES BEGINNING JULY 17TH, FOLLOWED BY THE START OF PRE-PLANNING FOR ALL STAFF ON JULY 24TH. OPEN HOUSE IS SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY, JULY 29TH, STARTING AT 10 A.M. FOR STUDENTS ATTENDING THE ACADEMY FOR ADVANCED STUDIES, 1 P.M. FOR HIGH SCHOOL, 3 P.M. FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND 5 P.M. FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. AND IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE, IT WILL BE HERE THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS. THURSDAY, JULY 31ST. LORD, WE LOOK FORWARD TO A STRONG FINISH, TO THE SCHOOL YEAR AND TO CELEBRATING OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF FOR ALL OF THEIR AMAZING ACCOMPLISHMENTS. AND AS ALWAYS, WE REMAIN FOCUSED ON YOUR CORE BELIEFS, STRATEGIC PLAN AND PRIORITIES, STUDENT OUTCOMES. AS WE PREPARE TO BE READY FOR DAY ONE FOR NEXT YEAR.DOCTOR PRICE, THAT CONCLUDES WHAT I PREPARED AND I TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU. THANK YOU, MRS. SUDDUTH. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES OUR FINISHING STRONG 2425 SCHOOL YEAR UPDATE AND REMAIN AVAILABLE TO OUR BOARD FOR QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, DOCTOR PACE. AND THANK YOU, MISS EDITH.
DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY DISCUSSION, MISS EDWARDS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR. MRS. SUDDUTH, GO BACK. COULD YOU GO BACK TO THE PAGE FOR OUR WITH SOME SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES, PLEASE? OKAY. SOME OPPORTUNITIES. OKAY. NO, A COUPLE MORE TALKING ABOUT THE KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM. YEAH. RIGHT HERE. WOULD THERE BE A FEE FOR THIS SUMMER? FOR THE SUMMER PROGRAM? FOR THE KIDS? NO, MA'AM. THAT PROGRAM IS FREE, AS WELL AS THE PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE FOR GRADES THREE THROUGH EIGHT. THE ONLY PROGRAM THIS YEAR WITH A CHARGE IS THE STEM CAMP. OH, OKAY. OKAY. NOW THE I SEE THE LOCATIONS, AND I'M GLAD TO KNOW THAT IT'S GOING TO BE FREE, BECAUSE THAT OPENS UP THE WINDOW FOR ALL STUDENTS WHO ARE ENTERING KINDERGARTEN IN THE FALL. THAT'S GOOD. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO KNOW. AND LET ME ASK YOU THIS QUESTION.
HOW MANY STUDENTS WILL EACH CLASS BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE? EACH CLASS WILL ACCOMMODATE, I BELIEVE AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL, I DON'T HAVE THAT RIGHT WITH ME, BUT I BELIEVE AT THE ELEMENTARY WE'RE LOOKING AT 20 STUDENTS PER CLASSROOM, I BELIEVE, AND THREE CLASSROOMS PER SCHOOL. CORRECT 20 OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS EDWARDS. MISS CARTER, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF THIS. AND I'VE HEARD SUCH WONDERFUL THINGS ABOUT ALL THE SUMMER ACTIVITIES, SO I'M EXCITED TO HAVE THOSE BACK AGAIN. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MISS CARTER.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS REPORT. AND I CAN'T BELIEVE WE'RE ALREADY AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, BUT I KNOW IT'LL BE A STRONG FINISH FOR SURE. ALL RIGHT. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO ITEM D3A DOCTOR PACE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AT THIS TIME I'D LIKE TO INVITE OUR CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON THE MARCH 2025 CONSTRUCTION REPORT. MR. BARRY MILES. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. SUPERINTENDENT PACE, I DO BRING
[00:35:04]
YOU THE MARCH 2025 EAST BLAST CONSTRUCTION REPORT, STARTING WITH THE NEW ADMINISTRATION BUILDING AND RENOVATION OF THE EXISTING SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION FOR THE NEW BUILDING IS WE'VE ACHIEVED THAT RENOVATION FOR THE EXISTING CONTINUES OVER SPRING BREAK. WE HAD PAINT AND CARPET GOING ON IN THE FRONT LOBBY. THEIR PUNCH LIST WORK DOES CONTINUE IN THE NEW BUILDING, THE NEW TRANSPORTATION FACILITY AND RENOVATION OF THE EXISTING LANDSCAPING CONTINUES THERE.GATE CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES. INTERIOR PAINT TOUCH UP DOOR HARDWARE IS COMPLETE. FIRE ALARM AND NETWORK CABLING IS ALSO COMPLETE. PARKING LOT PAINT TO BEGIN, FINAL CLEANING TO BEGIN.
AND THAT TAKES US TO THE NEXT PROJECT OLD MIDDLE SCHOOL. THE ADDITIONS THERE LOAD BEARING WALL INSTALLATION IS COMPLETE. BAR JOIST INSTALLATION AS WELL. ROOF DECKING CONTINUES, PLUMBING AND ELECTRICAL ROOF CONTINUES. NEXT ON THE LIST OF PROJECTS WE'VE GOT STEM HIGH SCHOOL, THE.
THERE'S A SITE DEMOLITION AND DEBRIS REMOVAL DOES CONTINUE. THE UNDERGROUND STORM DRAIN AND RETENTION POND INSTALLATION CONTINUES. THEIR FINAL GRADING FOR THE SLABS CONTINUES.
DUTCHTOWN MIDDLE SCHOOL ADDITION. WE'VE GOT SITE WORK CONTINUING THEIR FOUNDATION WALL INSTALLATION. CONTINUE THE PERIMETER FOUNDATION WORK AND FIRE LINE AND STORM DRAIN RELOCATION CONTINUES ON THAT PROJECT AND WITH THE ROOF RECOVER PROJECT GROUP A AND B, WE ARE IN THE CONTRACT PHASE SIGNATURE PHASE OF THOSE PROJECTS. DOCTOR PACE, THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. THANK YOU, MR. MILES. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES OUR MARCH 2025 CONSTRUCTION REPORT AND REMAIN AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS FROM OUR BOARD. THANK YOU, DOCTOR PAYSON.
THANK YOU, MR. MILES. DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM SEEING NONE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE HARD WORK. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO INFORMATIONAL ITEM D3B DOCTOR PACE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AT THIS TIME I'D LIKE TO INVITE OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER FOR THE MARCH 2025 FINANCIAL REPORTS. MRS. CLAY. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT PACE. TODAY I BRING REPORT OF THE FINANCIAL ACTIVITY FOR THE PERIOD ENDING MARCH 31ST, 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 85.4% OF PLANNED REVENUES TO DATE ACROSS ALL FUNDS, WHICH IS SHOWN IN THE YELLOW HIGHLIGHT. AND WE HAVE EXPENDITURES TO DATE THAT TOTALED 73.1% OF THE BUDGETED EXPENDITURES, WHICH IS SHOWN IN THE GREEN HIGHLIGHT. OBLIGATIONS OUTSTANDING AS OF THE PERIOD END TOTALED $6.4 MILLION, WITH 84% OF THESE OBLIGATIONS PERTAINING TO THE CAPITAL PROJECTS RELATED EXPENDITURES. CONSISTENT WITH PAST YEARS, WE SEE AN OVERALL DECLINE IN OBLIGATIONS DURING THE MONTH OF MARCH AS DEPARTMENTS AND SCHOOLS MANAGE THEIR ORDERING PRACTICES TO LIMIT DELIVERIES OVER THE SPRING BREAK PERIOD. MOVING ALONG, WE WILL REVIEW THE GENERAL FUND ACTIVITY. WITH THE NINTH MONTH OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITY NOW ACCOUNTED FOR, WE ARE 75% THROUGH FY 25 ON A LINEAR BASIS. TO DATE, WE HAVE COLLECTED 88.1% OF OUR PLANNED RECEIPTS, WHICH IS SHOWN IN THE YELLOW HIGHLIGHT, AND WE ARE ON PACE TO MEET OUR REVENUE FORECAST. TURNING OUR EYE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE HALF OF THE PAGE AND LOOKING AT THAT GREEN HIGHLIGHT, YOU CAN SEE THAT WE'VE INCURRED EXPENSES REPRESENTING 71% OF BUDGETED EXPENDITURES, WHICH IS LAGGING THE PACE OF THE FISCAL YEAR AS SHARED IN A PRIOR MONTH REPORT.
WE ARE MONITORING THIS FAVORABLE BUDGETARY VARIANCE, AND WE ARE INCORPORATING THIS ANALYSIS INTO THE BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PROCESSES FOR THIS UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR. NEXT, WE WILL REVIEW THE GENERAL FUND BALANCE SHEET, THE TOTAL VALUE OF THE GENERAL FUND'S ASSETS AT THE CLOSE OF FEBRUARY TOTALED $239.8 MILLION. I'LL REMIND THE BOARD AND COMMUNITY THAT THIS BALANCE WILL CONTINUE TO DECREASE IN THE COMING MONTHS, AS THE NOVEMBER 2024, 2024, TAX COLLECTION INFLUX SUSTAINS OUR OPERATIONS. UNTIL THE NEXT CYCLE. THE NEXT SLIDE PROVIDES A VIEW OF CASH ON HAND ACROSS ALL FUNDS, AND I WOULD ASK THE BOARD TO PLEASE REFER TO YOUR BINDERS OR THE INFORMATION THAT'S PRESENTED ON THE SCREEN. AS THERE WAS AN UPDATE SINCE YOUR EARLIER REPORT THAT WAS DISTRIBUTED. SO LOOKING AT THE LAST COLUMN, THE TOTAL CASH AND EQUIVALENT INVESTMENTS TOTALED $418.9 MILLION FOR THIS REPORTING PERIOD. MOVING TO OUR EDUCATION SIX REPORT AND LOOKING AT THAT FIRST COLUMN, I WILL HIGHLIGHT THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO ALIGN THE PROJECT COSTS WITH THE NEW BUDGETARY INFORMATION THAT HAS EMERGED, AS WE'VE HAD RECENT BID TABULATIONS EXPENDITURES FOR THE PERIOD, WHICH ARE SHOWN IN THE SECOND COLUMN FROM THE LAST TO SECOND COLUMN, SECOND TO LAST COLUMN. THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY. TOTAL $2.9 MILLION.
FINALLY, WE WILL REVIEW THE CAPITAL ACCUMULATION FINANCIAL REPORT. THERE WERE NET EXPENDITURES OF $16,620. FOLLOWING THE REFUND AND CREDIT OF SOME ATHLETIC EQUIPMENT FOR THE PERIOD, WHICH WERE OFFSET TO SOME FURNITURE PURCHASING ACTIVITY FOR THAT MONTH. DOCTOR
[00:40:03]
PACE, THAT CONCLUDES THE MARCH 2025 FINANCIAL REPORT AND I YIELD THE FLOOR TO YOU. THANK YOU, MRS. CLAY. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES OUR 2025 FINANCIAL REPORTS. WE REMAIN AVAILABLE TO OUR BOARD FOR QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, DOCTOR PAYSON. THANK YOU, MRS. CLAY.DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM, MR. MCDANIEL? THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. JUST ONE QUESTION, MISS CLAY. ON THE EAST. FALSE REPORT. YOU SAID THAT THERE WAS SOME REALIGNMENT DUE TO WHAT? AGAIN, MA'AM, THE BID TABULATION. SO A GREAT EXAMPLE WOULD BE A UPCOMING ITEM FOR OLA. IT WAS FORECASTED FOUR YEARS AGO. THAT WOULD BE ONE PRICE POINT. THE BIDS CAME IN HIGHER. SO WE HAVE TO READJUST WHAT THAT BUDGETARY INFORMATION COLUMN WOULD BE TO ALIGN TO WHAT THE INCOMING BIDS ACCOMPLISH. AND DO YOU POTENTIALLY FORESEE THAT THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING WE WOULD HAVE TO DEAL WITH BIDS COMING IN A LITTLE BIT HIGHER THAN PROJECTED, AS WE LOOK AT DOING MORE OF OUR RENOVATIONS AND ADDITIONS, DO WE KIND OF ANTICIPATE THAT KIND OF GOING FORWARD A LITTLE BIT? HERE WE ARE SEEING TRENDS OF CONSTRUCTION COSTS HOLDING HIGH. WE ALSO HAVE ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS OF TARIFFS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. SO WE DO ANTICIPATE THAT THAT'S NOT UNUSUAL FOR ANY SPLOST PROGRAM. WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THAT BUDGET IS ESTABLISHED, YOU KNOW, 4 OR 5 YEARS AT A TIME. AND SO THE INTEREST THAT WE EARN ON OUR EARNINGS ACCOMMODATES AND ACCOMPLISHES THAT. OKAY. THANK YOU. MR. GO AHEAD. OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MISS CLAY. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO INFORMATIONAL ITEM D3C DOCTOR PACE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I'D LIKE TO ASK OUR CFO TO REMAIN AT THE PODIUM FOR THE FY 26 TENTATIVE BUDGET OVERVIEW. MRS. CLAY. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND DOCTOR PACE, IN THIS REPORT, I'LL PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE SUPERINTENDENT'S TENTATIVE BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026. AS HAS BECOME PRACTICE, I'LL START THIS REPORT WITH A REVIEW OF THE DISTINCT FUNDS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATION. PER POLICY, THE BOARD TAKES ACTION ON THESE AGGREGATE FUNDS ANNUALLY DURING THE BUDGET ADOPTION PROCESS. THE FIRST OF THE FOUR FUNDS IS OUR GENERAL FUND, WHICH IS THE ACCOUNT USED FOR OUR DAILY OPERATIONS LIKE SALARIES, INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPLIES, AND MAINTENANCE COSTS. NEXT IS THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUND, WHICH ACCOUNTS FOR GRANTS GIVEN TO HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS FOR DESIGNATED AND SUPPLEMENTAL PURPOSES. THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUND ALSO INCLUDES THE FINANCIALS ASSOCIATED WITH ENTERPRISING ACTIVITIES OF SCHOOL NUTRITION AND THE BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL ENRICHMENT PROGRAM. NEXT IS THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND, WHICH INCLUDES THE REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES RELATED TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AUTHORIZED BY THE BOARD. AND FINALLY, THERE IS THE DEBT SERVICE FUND, WHICH CAPTURES REVENUE AND EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH THE LONG TERM DEBT WE'VE INCURRED TO FINANCE THOSE CAPITAL PROJECTS. THESE DISCRETE FUNDS, WHICH ARE REQUIRED BY GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS, ALLOW FOR THE SEPARATE TRACKING OF REVENUES AND EXPENSES TO ENSURE PUBLIC RESOURCES ARE ALIGNED TOWARDS INTENDED PURPOSES. A MYRIAD OF EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL INPUTS HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED IN DEVELOPING THE BUDGET FOR EACH OF THESE FUNDS. THE FY 26 BUDGET CYCLE FORMALLY LAUNCHED IN DECEMBER, WITH THE PUBLISHING OF THE BUDGET CALENDAR IN JANUARY 2025. THE 2025 STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION KICKED OFF. OUR DISTRICT ENROLLMENT FORECASTING PROCESSES WERE COMPLETED AND THE BOARD'S SHARED PRIORITIES AROUND INVESTING IN COMPETITIVE COMPENSATION AND INVESTING IN THE COMMUNITY INSPIRED STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN WERE PUBLICLY DISCUSSED WITH CLARITY OF THE PRIORITIES, OUR TEAM HAS MONITORED THE STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND MET WITH LOCAL OFFICIALS TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PRELIMINARY BUDGET OUTLOOK, WHICH WAS PRESENTED IN MARCH'S STUDY SESSION. SINCE THIS TIME, THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION HAS CLOSED, WHICH INCLUDED THE ADOPTION OF THE STATE'S FY 26 BUDGET AND THE LOCAL TAX DIGEST DATA WINDOW HAS CLOSED, THOUGH THAT DATA IS STILL BEING ANALYZED. THE CONCLUSION OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND THE DIGEST DATA WINDOW POSITIONS OUR SYSTEM TO BRING FORTH A BUDGET RECOMMENDATION TODAY. THE SUPERINTENDENT'S FY 26 BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS. CONSIDER THE PRIORITIES OF THE BOARD AS WELL AS INSIGHTS FROM STUDENTS, TEACHERS, LEADERS AND FAMILIES THAT HAVE BEEN GATHERED FROM VARIOUS ADVISORIES IN CONSIDERATION OF THE NEEDS OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM AND THE VOICE OF OUR COMMUNITY. THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATIONS INCORPORATE INVESTMENTS IN COMPETITIVE COMPENSATION, ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL FOR EXPANDED INSTRUCTIONAL AND OPERATIONAL SERVICE CAPACITY, AND STRATEGIC INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORTS AND SUBSEQUENT SLIDES. I WILL REVIEW FINANCIAL DETAILS BY EACH FUND, BUT I WILL TAKE A MOMENT TO BRIEFLY PROVIDE SOME THEMATIC HIGHLIGHTS OF IMPROVEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN INCORPORATED INTO THE SUPERINTENDENT'S PROPOSED BUDGET, STARTING WITH COMPETITIVE COMPENSATION, WHICH IS A SHARED PRIORITY OF THIS GOVERNING BOARD IN SUPPORT OF OUR SYSTEM'S GOAL TO RETAIN AND RECRUIT HIGHLY QUALIFIED AND EFFECTIVE STAFF, THE SUPERINTENDENT IS RECOMMENDING TO EMBED THE MIDYEAR SUPPLEMENTS
[00:45:04]
AND TARGET ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION IMPROVEMENTS TO RESULT IN INCREASING THE CERTIFIED HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS TEACHER SCALE BY $3,000 COMPARED TO THE ADOPTED FY 25 SCALES.INCREASING CLASSIFIED AND PROFESSIONAL SCALES BY 3% COMPARED TO THE ADOPTED FY 25 SCALES, AND INCREASING ADMINISTRATIVE SCALES BY $1,300 COMPARED TO THE ADOPTED FY 25 SCALES. AND FINALLY, THE BOARD IS RECOMMENDED TO HONOR THE SERVICE OF OUR EMPLOYEES BY ADVANCING THE EMPLOYEE STEPS THAT ARE WITHIN THOSE AUGMENTED SCALES IN TERMS OF INVESTMENTS AND HIGH QUALITY INSTRUCTIONS AND SUPPORT SERVICES. THE PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES THE ADDITION OF 65 SCHOOL BASED AND DIRECT SERVICE STAFF MEMBERS AND 12 CENTRAL SUPPORT STAFF MEMBERS, AS FOLLOWS. TO RESPOND TO DISTRICT GROWTH AND SERVICES REQUIRED FOR OUR STUDENTS, THE INTENT IS TO ONBOARD 32 ADDITIONAL TEACHERS, SIX EMTS, INTERVENTIONISTS, FIVE PARAPROFESSIONALS, AND FOUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS. ADDITIONALLY, NINE TEACHING ALLOTMENTS HAVE BEEN BUDGETED TO ACHIEVE THE STRATEGIC PLAN OUTCOMES IN INCREASING ACCESS TO WORLD LANGUAGES AND ORCHESTRA. TO EXPAND CAPACITY IN SUPPORTING EXCEPTIONAL STUDENT LEARNERS. THE BUDGET CALLS FOR THE ADDITION OF TWO PSYCHOLOGISTS, FOUR INSTRUCTIONAL COACHES, AND THREE BEHAVIOR INTERVENTION COACHES. FINALLY, THE GENERAL BUDGET CALLS FOR THE ADDITION OF ONE MAINTENANCE AND FACILITY STAFF MEMBER TO IMPROVE OUR PERFORMING ARTS OPERATIONS. FIVE TRANSPORTATION STAFF MEMBERS TO SUPPORT THE NEW FACILITY COMING ONLINE, ONE STUDENT SERVICES MEMBER FOCUSED ON ATTENDANCE, WHICH IS ALSO A STATE PRIORITY TO IMPROVE OPERATING CAPACITY AND PROCESS EXCELLENCE. THE ADDITION OF TWO HUMAN RESOURCE STAFF MEMBERS, ONE LEGAL STAFF MEMBER AND TWO ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT STAFF MEMBERS IS ALSO RECOMMENDED. THE BUDGET ALSO INCLUDES INVESTMENTS TO ADVANCE OUTCOMES RELATED TO LEARNING, ACCELERATION AND LITERACY IMPROVEMENT. ADDITIONALLY, TO RESPOND TO THE HEIGHTENED NEEDS, INCREASED TEACHER DEVELOPMENT FUNDING AND SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT FUNDING WILL BE ALIGNED TO IDENTIFIED SCHOOLS. PEOPLE ARE AT THE CENTER OF OPERATING SCHOOLS TO FUNCTION. WE HIRE AND SEEK TO RETAIN STAFF THAT DEDICATE THEIR DAYS TO PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY SERVICE TO STUDENTS, WHETHER IT BE ON A BUS, THE CAFE LINE, THE CLASSROOM OR THE BOARDROOM. WE ALSO CONTRACT CRITICAL SERVICES TO ENSURE OUR STUDENTS HAVE SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS. 92% OF THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET IS RELATED TO COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS OF OUR STAFF, AS WELL AS THE SERVICE FEES FOR CONTRACTED STAFF. THE INVESTMENTS PROPOSED IN THE WORKFORCE OF HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS ARE CRITICAL AS WE CONTINUE TO PURSUE EDUCATIONAL AND OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE. NOW THAT WE REVIEWED THE HIGHLIGHTS, LET'S DIG INTO EACH FUND, STARTING WITH THE GENERAL FUND, TO UNDERSTAND THE BIG PICTURE OF CHANGES WITHIN THE REVENUE AND EXPENSE PROFILES COMPARED TO THE PRIOR YEAR. I'VE PREPARED A VISUAL WHICH WHICH IS ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THIS PAGE, AND ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, I'VE OUTLINED THE DRIVERS OF WHY THE REVENUE OR EXPENSE IS CHANGING, AND HAVE ALSO CATEGORIZED IF THE CHANGE IS DUE TO DECISIONS FROM THE STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, OR IF IT'S RELATED TO LOCAL ACTIVITY. ADDITIONALLY, YOU'LL SEE THAT THERE ARE SOME COLOR CUES OF BLUE, YELLOW, OR GRAY IN THE VISUAL ON THE LEFT HAND, AND THE SAME COLOR CODING IS ON THE RIGHT HAND. TO SHOW HOW THESE FIGURES COME TOGETHER TO IMPACT REVENUE OR EXPENSES. STARTING AT THE TOP LEFT AND FOCUSING ON THE REVENUE CHANGES, WE ARE ANTICIPATING YEAR OVER YEAR REVENUE GROWTH OF $16 MILLION, AS SHOWN IN THE FIRST BLUE HIGHLIGHT, AND THIS IS SOLELY SUPPORTED BY ANTICIPATED GROWTH AND THE LOCAL TAX DIGEST, NOW ESTIMATED AT 9% VERSUS THE 1.5% GROWTH FORECAST SHARED IN THE PRIOR MONTH, WE ARE ANTICIPATING AN OVERALL DECREASE IN STATE FUNDING YEAR OVER YEAR BECAUSE OF THE STATE'S OVERALL REDUCTION IN EQUALIZATION FUNDING, COUPLED WITH THE REDUCED STATE FUNDING DUE TO THE LOCAL FIVE MIL SHARE REQUIREMENT, WHICH WAS SHOWN IN THE THIRD AND FOURTH BLUE HIGHLIGHTS THAT ARE ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE PAGE. SHIFTING TO EXPENSES AND AGAIN LOOKING INSIDE OF THE BOX THAT'S ON THE LEFT, YOU CAN SEE THAT WE ANTICIPATE THE EXPENSE PROFILE TO INCREASE BY $24.3 MILLION.
AFTER REDISTRIBUTION OF FAVORABLE BUDGETARY VARIANCES, NEARLY 60% OF THIS INCREASE, WHICH IS THE $14.4 MILLION VALUE THAT'S HIGHLIGHTED IN YELLOW THERE, IS DRIVEN BY RATE INCREASES ESTABLISHED BY THE STATE, WHICH ARE NOT FULLY FUNDED. FOR DETAILS ON THIS, LET'S TURN OUR ATTENTION TO THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE PAGE, REVIEWING THE YELLOW HIGHLIGHTS UNDER THE STATE ACTIVITY HEADER, WE'VE DISCUSSED THE TRS EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTION RATE CHANGE FROM 20.78% TO 21.91%, AND THIS WILL COST OUR SYSTEM $3.4 MILLION TO IMPLEMENT, WHICH IS SHOWN IN THAT FIRST YELLOW HIGHLIGHT ON THE RIGHT, WHICH IS $1.2 MILLION MORE THAN THE FUNDING WE EXPECT
[00:50:01]
THE STATE WILL PROVIDE THE MAJORITY OF THE NEW COSTS WE MUST ABSORB IN THE COMING FISCAL YEAR RELATES TO CHANGES MADE TO THE STATE HEALTH BENEFITS PLAN, WHICH WILL TOTAL $11 MILLION SHOWN IN THAT SECOND YELLOW HIGHLIGHT ON THE RIGHT. WHILE WE WILL RECEIVE SOME FUNDING FROM THE STATE TO OFFSET THE $125 PER MEMBER PER MONTH INCREASE FOR CERTIFIED STAFF THAT ARE FUNDED BY THE QBE FORMULA, OUR LOCAL DOLLAR MUST SHOULDER THE FULL BURDEN OF THE $305 PER MEMBER PER MONTH INCREASE FOR PARTICIPATING CLASSIFIED STAFF, THE WORKFORCE AND INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS HIGHLIGHTED EARLIER IN THIS REPORT ARE THE PRIMARY DRIVERS OF THE NEW FY 26 COSTS THAT ARE SHOWN IN GRAY, AND IF OUR LOCAL DECISIONS WERE ALL WE HAD TO FOCUS ON, WE WOULD BE IN POSITION TO COVER THESE NEW COSTS AND BEGIN TO NARROW THE GAP BETWEEN THE ESTIMATED REVENUES AND EXPENSES OF THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR. HOWEVER, DECISIONS COMING FROM THE STATE ARE DRIVING A CHANGE IN THE EXPENSE PROFILE THAT WILL EXCEED OUR REVENUE GROWTH FOR THE FISCAL YEAR. ACCORDINGLY, WE ARE FORECAST TO USE AN ADDITIONAL $8.3 MILLION OF RESERVES ABOVE THE $20.1 MILLION RESERVE USE THAT IS EMBEDDED IN THE FY 25 AMENDED BUDGET. SET ANOTHER WAY, WE ARE ANTICIPATING TO USE $28.4 MILLION OF RESERVES TO CLOSE THE GAP BETWEEN FORECASTED REVENUES OF $568.9 MILLION AND THE ANTICIPATED EXPENDITURE NEEDS OF $597.3 MILLION. THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATION FOR GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES FOR FY 26 TOTALS THE FIVE 97.3 MILLION, WHICH RESULTS IN A PER STUDENT EXPENDITURE OF $13,892 PER STUDENT, WHICH REPRESENTS A $517 INVESTMENT INCREASE COMPARED TO THE FY 25 ADOPTED BUDGET. AS I STATED EARLIER, PEOPLE THAT STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES ARE AT THE CENTER OF A SCHOOL SYSTEM'S BUDGET. THE SUPERINTENDENT'S BUDGET RECOMMENDATION CONTINUES. OUR SYSTEM'S PERSISTENCE IN PUTTING RESOURCES CLOSE TO STUDENTS. WITH 97% OF FUNDS ALIGNED TO TEACHING, LEARNING, ENVIRONMENT, MAINTENANCE, AND DIRECT STUDENT SERVICES. FINALLY, THIS BUDGET RECOMMENDATION ALIGNS TO THE BOARD'S EXPECTATION OF INVESTMENTS IN COMPETITIVE COMPENSATION AND THE STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN, TURNING OUR ATTENTION TO THE OTHER GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS THAT WILL REQUIRE YOUR ACTION. I'LL START WITH A REVIEW OF SPECIAL REVENUES. AS A REMINDER, THE SPECIAL REVENUES FUND IS COMPRISED OF FUNDING THAT IS RELATED TO DIRECT GRANTS, WHICH MAY OPERATE ON A REIMBURSEMENT BASIS. ENTERPRISING ACTIVITY REVENUES AND SCHOOL BASED ACCOUNTING ACTIVITY. WITH THE CLOSEOUT OF PANDEMIC RELATED FUNDING AND SOME CONCERN AS TO WHAT FEDERAL FUNDING LEVELS WILL BE SUSTAINED, WE ARE PROJECTING AN OVERALL DECLINE IN SPECIAL REVENUES YEAR OVER YEAR. IF YOU LOOK AT THE COLUMN FURTHEST TO THE RIGHT, YOU CAN SEE WE ARE ANTICIPATING AVAILABILITY OF $57.5 MILLION IN FUNDING TO ADDRESS THE SPECIFIC NEEDS AND PROGRAMING THAT'S DEFINED PER EACH SOURCE OF FUNDS. EXPENDITURES ARE CLOSELY ALIGNED, TOTALING $56.2 MILLION. I'LL NOTE THAT THIS IS THE THIRD YEAR IN WHICH WE ARE ABLE TO DEDICATE FUNDING GENERATED FROM RENTAL OF OUR FACILITIES FOR ARTS PURPOSES, TO THE FURTHERANCE OF ARTS PROGRAMING WITHIN OUR DISTRICT. THE LAST TWO FUNDS WE WILL REVIEW ARE THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND AND THE DEBT SERVICE FUND. REGARDING CAPITAL PROJECTS, THE BOARD SELL A BONDS AND A PRIOR FISCAL YEAR. PROVIDE THE INCOME THAT ARE NECESSARY TO PAY FOR THE $62.3 MILLION IN COSTS THAT ARE ANTICIPATED FOR THE SIX PROJECTS THAT WILL OCCUR IN FY 26, THE REVENUE GENERATED WITHIN THE FY 26 YEAR IS RELATED TO INTEREST ON THOSE BOND PROCEEDS THAT ARE HELD IN A CONSTRUCTION ACCOUNT, THE DEBT SERVICE FUND ACCOUNT. THE DEBT SERVICE FUND ACCOUNTS FOR THE TAX PROCEEDS THAT ARE EXPLICITLY DEDICATED FOR THE REPAYMENT OF DEBT HELD BY HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS. WE FORECAST COLLECTIONS OF $94.6 MILLION, AND THE DEBT SCHEDULE REQUIRES $42.4 MILLION OF REPAYMENTS. ADDITIONALLY, IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE BOND STRUCTURE, IT IS NOTED THAT WE ANTICIPATE $43.8 MILLION OF SPLOST SIX FUNDS COLLECTED FOR PAY AS YOU GO WILL BE TRANSFERRED TO ENSURE THAT OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS FUNDS HAVE THE NECESSARY RESOURCES TO ACCOMPLISH THEIR OBJECTIVES. AND AS I CONCLUDE, I WOULD LIKE TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO THE BUDGET DOCUMENT THAT THE BOARD WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE TENTATIVE ACTION ON THIS EVENING AFTER IT HOSTS THE FIRST OF TWO REQUIRED BUDGET HEARINGS AT 6:30 P.M. TODAY. SHOULD THE BOARD TENTATIVELY ADOPT THE RECOMMENDATION, THE BUDGET SUMMARY SHOWN WILL BE POSTED TO OUR WEBSITE. THE BUDGET WILL BE TABLED AND PRESENTED TO THE BOARD FOR FINAL ADOPTION ON MAY 12TH, FOLLOWING A SECOND BUDGET HEARING, WHICH WILL ALSO OCCUR AT 6:30 P.M. DOCTOR PACE, THAT CONCLUDES WHAT I'VE PREPARED AND I YIELD THE FLOOR TO YOU. THANK YOU, MRS. CLAY. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES OUR TENTATIVE BUDGET OVERVIEW, AND WE REMAIN AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS FROM[00:55:02]
OUR BOARD. THANK YOU, DOCTOR PAYSON. THANK YOU AGAIN. MRS. CLAY. DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY DISCUSSION? MR. MCDANIEL THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU, MISS CLAY. AS ALWAYS, YOU ALL DO AN OUTSTANDING JOB IN PREPARING OUR BUDGET FOR US. SOMETHING I COULD NOT DO. BUT WE THANK YOU FOR YOU AND YOUR STAFF. I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT, I THINK IT WAS UP UNDER, I THINK IT DEALT WITH OUR POSITIONS. I THINK YOU MADE A COMMENT THAT WE HAD UNFUNDED UNFUNDED STATE POSITIONS, OR THE STATE DOESN'T FUND ALL OF OUR POSITIONS. COULD YOU EXAMPLE WHAT SOME OF THOSE POSITIONS ARE THAT THE STATE DOESN'T FUND THAT WE HAVE TO INGEST IN OUR GENERAL FUND? YES. SO THE STATE HAS FORMULAS ESTABLISHED FOR WHAT THEY WILL PROVIDE. SO A GREAT EXAMPLE IS THAT THE COUNSELOR RATIO IS LIKE ONE COUNSELOR FOR EVERY 2425 STUDENTS. I BELIEVE THE NUMBER IS. HOWEVER, WE SUPPLY MORE THAN THAT FOR OUR OUR SCHOOLS ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS ARE THE SAME THAT WE DO NOT GET THE SAME LEVEL OF FUNDING TO SUPPORT THOSE POSITIONS AS WE WOULD THAT WE ACTUALLY DEPLOY. TEACHERS ARE THE SAME. OKAY. AND I THINK YOU ALSO MENTIONED THAT THIS FISCAL YEAR WAS SLATED TO USE, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE'VE DONE SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD AT TIMES, BUT WE'RE SCHEDULED TO USE $28.4 MILLION OF OUR RESERVES THIS YEAR. AND BEING OUR CFO, I WOULD IMAGINE THAT YOU THINK THAT THIS IS SUSTAINABLE, SOMETHING THAT WE COULD DO THAT WOULD NOT PLACE US IN A BAD FINANCIAL PICTURE AS PRESENTED TO THIS BOARD AND JUST CONSISTENT WITH OUR PRACTICES, WE WILL ALWAYS DO A SUSTAINABILITY ANALYSIS. SO EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO THIS BOARD IS SUSTAINABLE WITH THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE PRESENTLY AVAILABLE TODAY. OKAY, ONE MORE QUESTION THEN I NEED TO ASK DOCTOR PACE SOMETHING THE SPECIAL REVENUE PAGE. YOU DID HIGHLIGHT THE FACT THAT IT DID. THE FEDERAL FUNDS DECREASED BY $10 MILLION EVEN UPON THE EXPENDITURES. YOU HAD THE GRANT PROGRAMS PROJECTED TO LOSE $13.3 MILLION. AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN MASS DISCUSSION ABOUT FUNDING TITLE THINGS OF THAT NATURE. IF THAT IMPACT IS REALIZED TO WHERE WE'RE LOSING $13.3 MILLION OR MAYBE THE $10 MILLION, WHAT KIND OF IMPACT WOULD THAT POTENTIALLY HAVE ON OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM? IF WE'RE SEEING TITLE FUNDS, IDA FUNDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT ACTUALLY DECREASE, WHAT KIND OF IMPACT WOULD THAT HAVE ON OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM? WE WOULD BE LOOKING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT NECESSITATES BEING SUSTAINED, AND THAT WOULD NEED TO BECOME LOCALLY FUNDED THROUGH OUR RESERVES, AS WELL AS OUR ADDITIONAL REVENUES FROM LOCALLY. AND WE'D HAVE TO LOOK AT RESTRUCTURING SUPPORT SERVICES. OKAY. AND LASTLY, DOCTOR PACE, IF YOU DON'T MIND, SIR, I KNOW THAT ONE OF THE PAGES HERE THAT MISS CLAY HAS PRESENTED IT TALKED ABOUT THE INVESTMENTS, 32 TEACHERS AND PARAPROS AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.IF YOU DON'T MIND, MADAM CHAIR AND MR. SUPERINTENDENT, IF MR. MATTOX, SINCE THIS IS A ESC HEAVY PROPOSAL ON INCREASING PERSONNEL, IF MAYBE MR. MATTOX COULD SPEAK TO THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE POSITIONS AND WHY THEY ARE NEEDED IN THIS BUDGET PROPOSAL, IF YOU DON'T MIND, SIR, THROUGH THE CHAIR. YES. I'LL TEE IT OFF AND THEN I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MR. MATTOX. AND AS YOU CLEARLY DELINEATED WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT I'M REQUESTING OF THE BOARD, MUCH OF IT IS VERY RELIANT ON ESC POSITIONS OR HEAVY ON ESC POSITIONS. WHEN YOU SEE THE 32 TEACHERS, I WOULD SAY A LITTLE LESS HALF OF THAT. 15 OF THEM ARE IN THE ESC WORLD AS WELL AS WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE EMTS INTERVENTIONIST. THAT'S DEFINITELY THE SIX IN INVESTMENT WE NEED TO MAKE. AND THEN WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PSYCHOLOGISTS, INSTRUCTIONAL COACHES, WHICH ARE DELINEATED FOR OUR EASE AND INTERVENTION COACHES. SO YES, YOU ARE SEEING AN INVESTMENT IN THE AREA FOR OUR STUDENTS OF ESC THAT IS THAT IS NEEDED FOR US HERE IN HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS. I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MR. MATTOX TO ELABORATE OR TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAIL. YES, SIR. MR. SUPERINTENDENT. DOCTOR.
SUPERINTENDENT. YES, IT'S BASED ON THE STUDENTS NEEDS, THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT ARE QUALIFYING FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION SUPPORT. AND SO IT'S INDIVIDUALIZED, IT'S BASED ON THE NEEDS OF THE STUDENTS. AND WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE ADHERING TO THOSE NEEDS AS IT RELATES TO IEA, INDIVIDUAL INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EDUCATION ACT AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE PROVIDING FAITH TO THOSE STUDENTS. SO THAT'S BEING THAT FREE, APPROPRIATE PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR OUR STUDENTS. SO WE'RE JUST PUTTING OUR ARMS AROUND THAT AND PROVIDING THAT SUPPORT THAT IS NECESSARY FOR OUR STUDENTS TO EXCEL AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE A QUALITY EDUCATION. THANK YOU. AND I BRING THAT UP BECAUSE I, I STAND TO SUPPORT THE BUDGET THIS
[01:00:01]
EVENING. AND THE REASON I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE ESC IS BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF MAYBE MISS. YOU CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG AND DOCTOR PACE, THERE'S A LOT OF LEGAL COMPLIANCE THINGS THAT FALLS WITHIN THE ESC REALM. YOU HAVE TO STAY LEGALLY COMPLIANT WHEN YOU HAVE IEPS AND 504 S AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, AND YOU HEAR A LOT OF TIMES TO WHERE OUR PRINCIPALS, OUR BUILDING LEADERS AND THOSE THAT HAVE TO DEAL WITH IEPS AND 504 ARE ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE WITHIN COMPLIANCE. AND I THINK THAT AS A BOARD, AS WE TALK ABOUT INVESTING INTO OUR COMMUNITY AND MAKING SURE THAT OUR TEACHERS AND OUR BUILDING LEADERS HAVE WHAT THEY NEED, LEGAL COMPLIANCE IS ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS THAT WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE, BECAUSE NO BOARD OR NO SUPERINTENDENT OR NO SCHOOL SYSTEM WANTS TO BE IN VIOLATION OR BE SUED BECAUSE WE ARE NOT IN COMPLIANCE. SO I STAND PREPARED TO SUPPORT THIS BUDGET THIS EVENING. I KNOW THAT THIS IS A DIFFICULT MOMENT, AS WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE ECONOMIC CLIMATE MAY BE, BUT I THINK THAT THERE'S BEEN SOME DUE DILIGENCE DONE. AND I THINK MISS CLAY, I THANK EVERYONE THAT'S BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS, IN THIS PROCESS. AND I THANK YOU FOR THIS TIME, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU, MR. MCDANIEL. MISS EDWARDS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR. MISS CLAY, WOULD YOU DEFINED M.T.S AND S FOR OUR COMMUNITY? THAT'S WATCHING BECAUSE THESE ARE A LOT OF ACRONYMS AND THEY MIGHT NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY WHAT THEY MEAN THROUGH THE CHAIR. IF YOU DON'T MIND. I'LL TAKE IT. MRS. EDWARDS, M.T.S IS MULTI-TIERED SYSTEMS OF SUPPORT AND S IS EXCEPTIONAL STUDENT EDUCATION. AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE MULTI-TIERED SYSTEM OF SUPPORT, IT BEGINS IN OUR FOR ALL STUDENTS. IT'S A TIER ONE WHICH ALL OF OUR STUDENTS ARE INCLUDED IN THE TIER ONE. HOWEVER, WHEN STUDENTS HAVE ACADEMIC OR BEHAVIOR STRUGGLES, THEY MAY REQUIRE SOME INTERVENTIONS. AND NOW THE MULTI MULTI-TIERED SYSTEMS OF SUPPORT IS ABLE TO KICK IN AND PROVIDE MORE SUPPORT TO STUDENTS, WHETHER IT'S ACADEMICALLY OR BEHAVIORALLY, TO HELP THEM MEET THE EXPECTED LEVEL THAT OUR STUDENTS SHOULD MEET, AND JUST ALIGNING WITH OUR CORE BELIEFS, WE BELIEVE ALL STUDENTS CAN PERFORM AT OR ABOVE GRADE LEVEL. OKAY. THANK YOU. I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION. THANK YOU, DOCTOR PACE. MISS CLAY, YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT. AND I HOPE I'M NOT INCORRECT. THERE'S THIS 8.1 MILLION. WE WOULD HAVE TO USE 8.1 MILLION OF OUR RESERVES TO ADDRESS THE STUDENT NEEDS, AM I CORRECT? IN ADDITION TO WHAT'S ALREADY BUILT INTO THE FY 25? SO THE TOTAL EXPECTED USE OF THE RESERVES GOING INTO FY 26 IS 28.4 MILLION. SO IN OTHER WORDS, IF THE DISTRICT NEEDS TO HIRE ADDITIONAL TEACHERS, ASIDE FROM WHAT THE STATE ASKS US TO DO, THAT MEANS SO WHERE DOES THAT OTHER MONEY COMES FROM? IF WE HAVE TO HIRE ADDITIONAL TEACHERS, IT COMES OUT OF OUR BUDGET. YES, MA'AM. SO AND EFFECTIVELY THAT MEANS IT'S LOCALLY FUNDED AND WE'RE IN YOUR LOCAL FUNDS OR YOUR EXPENDITURE PROFILE REQUIRES MORE LOCAL FUNDS THAN YOU'RE ACTUALLY BRINGING IN THAT YEAR. THEN YOU WOULD GO INTO YOUR RESERVES.OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS EDWARDS. ANYONE ELSE? DOCTOR KNIGHT? MR. MCDANIEL ALLUDED TO MY POINT ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY. I KNOW IF WE TAKE OUT $28.4 MILLION IN OUR RESERVES, WE'VE GOT TO MAKE IT UP SOMEWHERE OR OUR BALANCE JUST DECREASES. THIS BOARD'S BEEN VERY MINDFUL OF THE MONEY THAT WE SPEND, AND I HAVE WARNED US ABOUT THE STATE THAT YOU CAN'T DEPEND ON THE STATE OF GEORGIA FOR FUNDING BECAUSE THEY THEY GIVETH AND THEY TAKE IT AWAY. AND AS YOU CAN SEE, THEY'VE TAKEN A GOOD A GOOD BIT OF IT AWAY. I'M JUST VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WHEN WE START DIPPING INTO OUR RESERVES. I'M NOT SAYING THAT THESE POSITIONS ARE NOT NEEDED. THEY ARE ANYTHING AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL. ADDITIONAL APS, TEACHERS, COUNSELORS, THAT'S THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO THAT HAS A DIRECT RELATIONSHIP. ON THE GROWTH OF OUR STUDENTS. I JUST WANT TO CAUTION US. SOME OF US WHO WENT THROUGH. 00607 AND 08I DON'T WANT TO BE BACK ON. I DON'T WANT TO EVER SEE THAT AGAIN. SO I, I JUST REALLY AM VERY, EXTREMELY CAUTIOUS. AND I'M JUST GLAD WE DON'T HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION TONIGHT ON THIS BUDGET. THANK YOU, DOCTOR NUTT. MISS CARTER, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH, MISS CLAY, FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK AND YOUR TEAM. Y'ALL
[01:05:01]
WORKED REALLY HARD ON THIS, AND I'M STILL LEARNING ALL THE NUMBERS, BUT I APPRECIATE ALL THAT Y'ALL DO. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MISS CARTER. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THAT REPORT, MISSUS CLAY. AND WE APPRECIATE IT. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO INFORMATIONAL ITEM D3D DOCTOR PACE. SORRY ABOUT THAT. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I HAD TO GET MY BOOK FIXED HERE. ITEM D3D IS A LEGISLATIVE UPDATE BY OUR CHIEF OF STAFF, MRS. COX. OKAY. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND DOCTOR PACE. THE 2025 LEGISLATIVE SESSION RECENTLY CONCLUDED ITS FINAL DAY ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY OR APRIL THE 4TH, 2025. AND TODAY I WILL SHARE AN UPDATE ON KEY LEGISLATION WITH EDUCATIONAL IMPACT. EACH YEAR, THIS BOARD IDENTIFIES LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES THAT ALIGN WITH THE COMMUNITY INSPIRED STRATEGIC PLAN TO PROVIDE CLARITY AND FOCUS FOR PRIORITY AREAS THAT WOULD HAVE THE MOST IMPACT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL REGARDING STATE LEGISLATION AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE 2025 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES. THIS BOARD IDENTIFIED SAFETY AND SECURITY, MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS, EDUCATOR COMPENSATION AND TEACHER PIPELINE DEVELOPMENT, FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY, AND LEARNING AND ACCOUNTABILITY AS KEY AREAS THAT WOULD PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. AS YOU WILL SEE, SOME OF THESE AREAS WERE CONSIDERED UNDER THE GOLD DOME THIS YEAR. THIS BOARD ACTIVELY ENGAGES OUR DELEGATES AND OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN ABOUT THE IDENTIFIED LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES AND HOW RELATED LEGISLATION COULD POSITIVELY IMPACT SCHOOL SYSTEMS. STUDENTS, FAMILIES, COMMUNITIES, AND BUSINESS PARTNERS. THE 2025 LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION FOR HENRY COUNTY PROVIDES KEY PARTNERSHIP AND COLLABORATION IN UNDERSTANDING THIS BOARD'S LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES, WHILE ALSO PROVIDING INSIGHTS INTO MATTERS OF INTEREST AND LEGISLATIVE DEVELOPMENTS THROUGHOUT THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION. EACH YEAR, THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION BEGINS WITH THE GOVERNOR'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS, FOLLOWED BY THE RELEASE OF AMENDMENTS OF THE CURRENT YEAR BUDGET, WHICH INCLUDES IDENTIFIED PRIORITIES FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR. THIS YEAR'S LEGISLATIVE SESSION DREW LOTS OF ATTENTION FROM STATE LAWMAKERS, WITH CLOSE TO 150 EDUCATIONAL BILLS INTRODUCED IN TOTAL OF THE BILLS THAT PASSED THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND ARE AWAITING GOVERNOR KEMP'S SIGNATURE, SEVERAL ELEVATED THEMES HAVE EMERGED. THESE THEMES INCLUDE SAFETY AND SECURITY, STUDENT ISSUES AND SUPPORTS, LITERACY AND ASSESSMENT, STUDENT USE OF PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICES, AND THOSE BILLS WITH BUDGETARY INFLUENCES. TODAY, I WILL PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON SOME OF THE MOST IMPACTFUL BILLS THAT EMERGE FROM THIS PAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION. KEEPING IN MIND THAT GOVERNOR KEMP HAS UNTIL MAY 14TH TO EITHER SIGN THE BILLS INTO LAW, VETO THEM, OR ALLOW THEM TO BECOME LAW WITHOUT SIGNING OR VETOING. WHILE MANY OF THE TOPICS IDENTIFIED FROM THE RECENT LEGISLATIVE SESSION ARE NOT NEW TO EDUCATION, WE RECOGNIZE THAT EACH BILL, IF PASSED INTO LAW, WILL REQUIRE AN IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS OF REQUIREMENTS AND IMPLICATIONS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, AS WELL AS A DETAILED COMPARISON TO OUR CURRENT PRACTICES TO ENSURE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF LEGAL REQUIREMENTS AND HOW OUR CURRENT POLICIES, PRACTICES AND OR PROCEDURES MUST BE ADJUSTED TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE NEWLY PASSED LEGISLATION. THEREFORE, THE INFORMATION SHARED WITH YOU TODAY IS INTENDED ONLY TO HIGHLIGHT THEMES AND GENERAL REQUIREMENTS OF SELECTED LEGISLATION. IN ALIGNMENT WITH THIS BOARD'S PRIORITIES IS HOUSE BILL 268. THIS IS A MASSIVE BILL THAT ADDRESSES SCHOOL SAFETY. IT INCLUDES PROVISIONS THAT REQUIRE UPDATED SCHOOL SAFETY PLANS, REVISED PROCEDURES FOR SHARING STUDENT RECORDS WITH OTHER SCHOOL SYSTEMS AND AGENCIES, REQUIREMENTS FOR A MOBILE PANIC ALERT SYSTEM, AND FOR SCHOOL SYSTEMS TO PROCURE SCHOOL MAPPING DATA OF PHYSICAL LAYOUTS. REIMBURSEMENT GRANTS FOR QUALIFIED STUDENT ADVOCACY, SPECIALIST DEFINED CONSEQUENCES FOR TERRORISTIC THREATS, AND REQUIREMENTS FOR WRITTEN AGREEMENTS REGARDING ROLES AND STUDENT RECORDS. WHEN SCHOOL SYSTEMS PARTNER WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR SCHOOL SUPPORTS. THIS BILL IS 57 PAGES OF NEW LEGISLATION AND WILL REQUIRE EXTENSIVE REVIEW BY MULTIPLE INTERNAL TEAMS TO DETERMINE IMPACT AND NEXT STEPS. BILLS WITH DIRECT IMPACTS ON STUDENTS INCLUDED. SENATE BILL ONE, KNOWN AS THE RILEY GAINES ACT OF 2025. THIS BILL PROHIBITS BIOLOGICAL MALES AND FEMALES FROM
[01:10:06]
PARTICIPATING IN ATHLETICS OF THE OPPOSITE SEX. HOUSE BILL 81 PROVIDES AN INTERSTATE COMPACT FOR SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS, WHICH ALLOWS SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS TO A PATHWAY TO OBTAIN EQUIVALENT LICENSES IN PARTICIPATING MEMBER STATES WITHOUT HAVING TO COMPLETE DUPLICATE REQUIREMENTS, AND SENATE BILL 123 ADDRESSES STUDENT ATTENDANCE BY PREVENTING STUDENTS FROM BEING EXPELLED DUE TO ABSENTEEISM, AND REQUIRES LOCAL BOARDS OF EDUCATION TO ADOPT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR ATTENDANCE. REVIEW TEAMS AND INTERVENTION PLANS FOR CHRONICALLY ABSENT STUDENTS.INSTRUCTIONAL THEMES WERE ALSO ADDRESSED DURING THE 2025 LEGISLATIVE SESSION. HOUSE BILL 307 INCLUDES PROVISIONS FOR STUDENTS AT RISK OF NOT ACHIEVING GRADE LEVEL READING PROFICIENCY, OR WITH CHARACTERISTICS OF DYSLEXIA IN GRADES K THROUGH THREE, SUCH AS SUPPORT PLANS AND PARENT NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS. SENATE BILL 63 REQUIRES LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS TO ALLOW HOME STUDY STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN EXAMS SUCH AS THE PSAT, SAT, ACT, AND AP AND ADVANCED PLACEMENT EXAMS AT THE SAME COST AS ENROLLED STUDENTS AND INCLUDES PUBLIC NOTICE REQUIREMENTS. USE OF PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICES WAS A HOT TOPIC FROM THE START OF THIS YEAR'S LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WITH HOUSE BILL 340 RECEIVING FINAL PASSAGE AND REQUIRING LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS AND BOARDS OF EDUCATION TO DEVELOP POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR GRADES K THROUGH EIGHT THAT ADDRESS BANNING PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICES DURING THE INSTRUCTIONAL DAY, AS WELL AS STORAGE PROCEDURES AND EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION PLANS. WE ALSO SAW A FEW BILLS THAT ARE CONNECTED TO PREVIOUS LEGISLATION THAT PUT MORE REQUIREMENTS ON LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS. HOUSE BILL 92 REQUIRES ALL SCHOOL SYSTEMS THAT OPTED OUT OF THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION RELATED TO HOUSE BILL 581, TO INCLUDE A STATEMENT IN ALL PROPERTY TAX BILLS THAT THEY OPTED OUT OF PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FOR HOMEOWNERS RELATED TO HOUSE BILL 581. ALSO, SENATE BILL 82, KNOWN AS THE LOCAL CHARTER SCHOOL AUTHORIZATION AND SUPPORT ACT OF 2025, ENCOURAGES LOCAL BOARDS OF EDUCATION TO APPROVE CHARTER SCHOOL PETITIONS WITH STRENGTHENED INTERNAL REVIEW PROCEDURES. ADDITIONALLY, LOCAL BOARDS WILL HAVE TO PROVIDE DETAILED INFORMATION TO THE STATE WHEN DENIALS ARE MADE, AND WILL BE SUBJECT TO STATE REVIEW OF THEIR LOCAL PROCEDURES. WITH GOVERNOR KEMP'S DEADLINE OF MAY 14TH FOR HIM TO SIGN OR VETO NEW LEGISLATION, OUR INTERNAL TEAMS WILL GO AHEAD AND BEGIN THE PROCESS OF REVIEWING ALL NEWLY PASSED LEGISLATION TO DETERMINE ANY IMPACTS TO POLICY PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES, ANY TIMELINES THAT WILL IMPACT IMPLEMENTATION AND FINANCIAL IMPACTS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. BASED ON THIS REVIEW, TEAMS WILL DEVELOP ACTION PLANS TO ENSURE WE ARE MEETING ALL NEW REQUIREMENTS THROUGH BOARD POLICIES, OUR ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATIONS AND ANY ACCOMPANYING GUIDANCE SUCH AS THE CODE OF CONDUCT AND STUDENT AND PARENT HANDBOOK. BOARD. AS WE CONSIDER THE IMPACT OF RECENT LEGISLATION ON OUR STUDENTS, FAMILIES AND STAFF, WE VALUE THIS BOARD'S EFFORTS AND IDENTIFYING LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES THAT ARE INTENDED TO NOT ONLY IMPROVE FUNDING, RESOURCES AND OUTCOMES HERE IN HERE IN HENRY COUNTY, BUT ALSO ACROSS THE STATE AND AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL. YOUR CONTINUED LEADERSHIP IN COLLABORATING WITH OUR LEGISLATIVE PARTNERS PROVIDES AN ELEVATED VOICE FOR THE HENRY COUNTY COMMUNITY AT LARGE, AND YOUR ADVOCACY FOR THE RIGHT WORK, FOR THE RIGHT REASONS AND FOR THE RIGHT RESULTS, ENSURES WE'RE ON A PATH TO PROVIDING THAT WORLD CLASS EDUCATION TO EVERY STUDENT, EVERY DAY. DOCTOR PACE, THIS CONCLUDES ALL THAT I HAVE PREPARED AND I TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU. THANK YOU, MRS. COX.
MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES OUR LEGISLATIVE UPDATE AND REMAIN AVAILABLE TO OUR BOARD FOR ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, DOCTOR PACE. AND THANK YOU, MRS. COX. DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY DISCUSSION? MISS CARTER, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH, MISS COX, FOR JUST FOLLOWING ALL THIS STUFF GOING ON AT THE CAPITOL. I KNOW THAT WAS A LOT ON TOP OF ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT YOU DO. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE ALL YOU DO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MRS. CARTER. MR. MCDANIEL, I ECHO THE SENTIMENT OF MY COLLEAGUE. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING, BUT I. I'M SORRY, I JUST I GOT ONE QUESTION. SENATE BILL 82. SO HELP ME UNDERSTAND. I'M JUST, YOU KNOW, FIRST OF ALL, WE COME UP WITH THIS LIST THAT HAD BEEN THAT WAS REDACTED, BROUGHT BACK OUT FROM GOZA USING DATA THAT WE NO LONGER USE TO THEN SAY THAT EVERY CHILD IN THAT AREA CAN LEAVE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND WE GIVE YOU $6,500 TO DO SO. AND THEN NOW YOU'RE COMING UP WITH THIS SENATE BILL GIVING INCENTIVES TO THE LOCAL BOARD OF EDUCATION TO AUTHORIZE OR APPROVE CHARTER SCHOOLS, WHICH TAKES MORE STUDENTS OUT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS, MORE MONEY FROM LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS. AND YOU WANT TO GIVE US AN INCENTIVE TO
[01:15:07]
DO IT, ALMOST PENALIZE US FOR OKAY, I APPRECIATE IT. I JUST BECAUSE FOR ME, WHAT I'M WHAT I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IS, IS THERE'S NO BETTER PUBLIC, THERE'S BETTER NO EDUCATION THAN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. AND IT SEEMS LIKE THERE IS A CONTINUAL ATTACK ON THE PUBLIC SCHOOL APPARATUS, BECAUSE WE'RE DOING WHAT'S BEST FOR STUDENTS, AND WE KEEP POLITICS OUT OF EDUCATING OUR STUDENTS. AND I GET CONCERNED, AND I KNOW MISS CLAY IS PROBABLY GOING TO LOOK AT ME IN A MINUTE HERE, IS THAT ALL THESE BILLS HAVE A HUGE FINANCIAL IMPACT ON THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. FROM HOUSE BILL 92, PUTTING A NOTICE ABOUT HOUSE BILL 581 WITH THE PHONE CALL, A PHONE, A PHONE NUMBER TO CALL. I'M WORRIED IN THE FACT AND I HAVE TO AGREE WITH MY MISS DOCTOR ON THIS IS THAT I UNDERSTAND THE STATE GIVETH AND TAKETH AWAY, BUT THE EXACT SAME TIME, ALL THESE BILLS HAVE FINANCIAL IMPACTS ON THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. SO NOW YOU'RE REQUIRING US TO DO MORE WITH LESS. BUT I THINK MISS CLAY FOR DOING THE JOB THAT SHE'S DOING TO ALLOW US TO DO SUCH. AND I JUST LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT SOME OF THESE THINGS ARE GOING, ARE GOING TO REQUIRE US TO DO AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL. BUT THANK YOU AND YOUR STAFF. THANK YOU, MR. MCDANIEL. MISS EDWARDS, BASICALLY, THAT'S MY CONCERN AS WELL. I SHARE THE SENTIMENTS OF MR. MEDINA. I NOTICED THAT THE STATE IS ALWAYS MAKING PUTTING REQUIREMENTS ON THE DISTRICT, BUT MOST TIMES THEY'RE NOT GIVING ANY MORE MONEY. I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT. HOW CAN YOU DEMAND THE DISTRICTS TO DO SOMETHING WHEN WE'RE ALREADY SHORT OF MONEY? I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? IT'S JUST MY OPINION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS EDWARDS. DOCTOR NUTT. WELL, IF THE SCHOOL BOARD COULD RULE THE STATE OF GEORGIA, WE WOULD BE DOING PRETTY GOOD. I'M TELLING YOU, THEY GIVE US MORE TO DO, AND THEY DON'T GIVE US ANY MORE MONEY TO DO IT WITH. BUT YET THEY HAVE THEY HAVE ALL THESE GREAT IDEAS. BUT UNTIL YOU'VE ACTUALLY BEEN IN A SCHOOL AND BEEN IN CHARGE OF RUNNING A SYSTEM, A DISTRICT OR A SCHOOL, A SCHOOL, OR EVEN A PTA, YOU HAVE NO CLUE AS TO WHAT YOU'RE WALKING INTO. AND MISTER MCDANIELS, THANK YOU. ALSO, I'D LIKE TO SAY A LOT OF THESE CHARTER SCHOOLS DO NOT ACCEPT OUR SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN, AND OUR JOB IS TO TEACH EVERY CHILD AND EVERY LEVEL AND THE MONEY THEY'RE TRYING TO THROW AT US IS NOT EVEN A DROP IN THE BUCKET. SO DON'T LET THEM FOOL YOU. THEY ARE NOT OUR FRIENDS. ALRIGHT. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? NO. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MISS COX, FOR THIS REPORT. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO INFORMATIONAL ITEM D3E DOCTOR PACE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.I'LL ASK MRS. COX, OUR CHIEF OF STAFF, TO REMAIN AT THE PODIUM FOR A COMPREHENSIVE, COMPREHENSIVE POLICY REVIEW. MRS. COX. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT PACE, THIS AFTERNOON I BRING TO YOU INFORMATION REGARDING THE ONGOING, 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 AND 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 THE SPORTS POLICIES IN A NINE DIFFERENT GROUPS, WITH ABOUT A DOZEN POLICIES IN EACH GROUP. TONIGHT, I WILL SHARE WITH YOU RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE INTERNAL REVIEW TEAM REGARDING THE EIGHTH 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 EIGHTH SET OF POLICIES REVIEWED DURING THIS COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW. THE POLICIES ARE ARRANGED IN THREE CATEGORIES. THE FIRST CATEGORY IS TO RETAIN WITH NO REVISIONS. MEETING THE POLICY IS SUFFICIENT AS WRITTEN. THE SECOND CATEGORY IS REPEAL, MEANING NOT REQUIRED, WHICH
[01:20:03]
COULD BE FOR REASONS SUCH AS IT'S OUTDATED LAWS OF CHANGE, OR COULD BE BETTER DISPLAYED IN A REGULATION. THE THIRD CATEGORY IS REVISED TO REFLECT CHANGES IN LAWS AND OR LOCAL PRACTICES.SEVEN POLICIES ARE LISTED WITH THE RECOMMENDATION TO RETAIN. NO POLICIES ARE RECOMMENDED FOR REPEAL, AND FIVE POLICIES ARE RECOMMENDED FOR REVISION. THE FIVE POLICIES RECOMMENDED FOR REVISION ARE. BOARD CODE OF ETHICS. BOARD POLICY DEVELOPMENT GBCA PROFESSIONAL PERSONNEL LAYOFF, J STUDENT RECORDS, AND LEBA. PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT IN EDUCATION. A COPY OF ALL THESE 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 MAY 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'LL BE BACK IN MAY TO PRESENT THE NINTH AND FINAL GROUP OF POLICIES CURRENTLY UNDER REVIEW. I DON'T KNOW WHO'S MORE EXCITED, ME OR YOU. SUPERINTENDENT PACE, THIS CONCLUDES WHAT I HAVE PREPARED AND I TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU. THANK YOU, MRS. COX. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES THIS INFORMATIONAL ITEM, COMPREHENSIVE POLICY REVIEW AND REMAIN AVAILABLE TO THE BOARD FOR ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, DOCTOR PAYSON. THANK YOU, MRS. COX. DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? MISS EDWARDS? THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND THANK YOU, MISS, FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE WITH THESE POLICIES. I KNOW WHEN I CAME ON THE BOARD, THEY ALL NEEDED REVISING, REVISING OR REVISITING. BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE WITH THESE POLICIES. WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO MAY. YES. ME TOO, ME TOO. THANK YOU, MRS. EDWARDS. ANYONE ELSE? I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR ALL OF THIS WORK, AND ENSURING THAT ALL OF OUR POLICIES ARE UP TO DATE. IT'S SO APPRECIATED. ALL RIGHT. SEEING NO MORE COMMENTS. WE APPRECIATE IT AGAIN, MISS COX. AND WE WILL NOW MOVE TO OUR
[E. BUSINESS ITEMS]
BUSINESS ITEMS IN OUR AGENDA. I'LL REMIND EVERYONE THAT THESE ITEMS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA AND OUR BUSINESS MEETING. BUT ANY BOARD MEMBER IS WELCOME TO REMOVE AN ITEM IF THEY SO WISH. WE WILL BEGIN WITH ITEM E ONE. DOCTOR BASS. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. NOT SO FAST, MRS. COX. STILL HERE. SPEAKING OF COMPREHENSIVE POLICY REVIEW. BUSINESS ITEM. GO AHEAD, MRS. COX. THANK YOU. 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'S BEEN FIVE YEARS SINCE THIS BOARD'S LAST COMPREHENSIVE POLICY REVIEW AND IN ALIGNMENT WITH BOARD POLICY B-D 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 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 MARCH 2025 BOARD MEETING. POLICY. GRADING SYSTEMS POLICY IFBC MEDIA PROGRAMS POLICY IFMGA ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS AND POLICY JD STUDENT DISCIPLINE AND POLICY J F STUDENT SAFETY. THESE POLICIES HAVE BEEN MADE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC REVIEW AND COMMENT SINCE THE FEBRUARY BOARD MEETING, WITH THREE COMMENTS RECEIVED ON POLICY GRADING SYSTEMS, AND THOSE HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO YOU PRIOR TO TONIGHT'S BOARD MEETING. THESE POLICIES ARE NOW ELIGIBLE FOR TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA. SUPERINTENDENT PACE, THIS CONCLUDES ALL THAT I HAVE PREPARED, AND I TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU. THANK YOU, MRS. COX. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES OUR BUSINESS. ITEM E ONE COMPREHENSIVE POLICY REVIEW REMAIN AVAILABLE TO THE BOARD FOR ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH, DOCTOR PACE. AND THANK YOU AGAIN. MRS. COX. DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? MR. MCDANIEL ONE THING, MISS COX, A LOT OF WELL, TWO OUT OF THREE OTHER COMMENTS TALKED ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BLOCK AND TRADITIONAL SCHEDULING AND THE IMPACT THAT IT HAS ON. I THINK THIS ONE TALKS ABOUT GRADING AND THEN THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF GRADE REPAIR. AND THEN THIS ONE TALKS ABOUT THIS COMMENT, TALKS ABOUT BLOCK AND TRADITIONAL IN TERMS OF WELL, ACTUALLY IT SPEAKS TO GREAT REPAIR AND CLASSES FAILING CLASSES AS WELL. IS THERE ANY TRUE IMPACT ON THAT OR HOW DO THESE COMMENTS ACTUALLY RELATE TO THE POLICY AS AS DISCUSSED TODAY AND ABOUT GRADING SYSTEMS,[01:25:06]
IS THERE REALLY ANY IMPACT BETWEEN THE TWO? THE COMMENTS THEMSELVES ARE ACTUALLY MORE GEARED TO OUR REGULATION AND THE INFORMATION INCLUDED IN OUR REGULATION. NOT SO MUCH THE POLICY, BUT SO THAT ANSWERS PART OF YOUR QUESTION. AND THEN YOUR THE SECOND PART OF YOUR QUESTION, I BELIEVE, IS ABOUT THE IMPACT OF A TRADITIONAL SCHEDULE VERSUS BLOCK SCHEDULE.I WILL DEFER THAT TO DOCTOR PACE. THANK YOU, MRS. COX. AND MR. MCDANIEL, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I ASKED MRS. MCCRORY TO TAKE THAT PART OF THE QUESTION. AND SO THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
THANK YOU FOR DEFERRING THE QUESTION TO ME. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE TAKING A LOOK AT THIS SCHOOL YEAR IS WHAT ARE WHAT ARE WE SEEING AS IT RELATES TO PERFORMANCE AND ACHIEVEMENT RELATED TO STUDENTS THAT ARE ON A BLOCK SCHEDULE VERSUS STUDENTS THAT ARE ON A TRADITIONAL SCHEDULE. SO WE'LL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO SHARING THAT INFORMATION WITH YOU. WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO KNOW IS IT'S ALL ABOUT HOW YOU USE THE TIME IN THE CLASSROOM, NO MATTER WHAT SCHEDULE THAT YOU'RE ON. JUST KNOW THAT. SO WE'LL BE USING THAT INFORMATION TO INFORM ANY NEXT STEPS BASED ON THE STUDY THAT WE ENGAGE IN RELATED TO BLOCK VERSUS TRADITIONAL SCHEDULES. BUT BLOCK SCHEDULES DO PRESENT AN OPPORTUNITY FOR, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIME. AND IF TEACHERS ARE NOT VERY STRATEGIC ABOUT AND TARGETED ABOUT HOW THAT TIME IS USED, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SOME OPPORTUNITIES TO KIND OF. STRENGTHEN OR IMPROVE HOW WE USE INSTRUCTIONAL TIME. BUT WE'LL BE TAKING A LOOK AT THAT. SO IN TERMS OF GREAT REPAIR VERSUS TRADITIONAL BLOCK. AND I MAY ASK THIS THE WRONG WAY, BUT I HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND THAT IN TERMS OF GREAT REPAIR FOR TRADITIONAL AND BLOCK, DOES ONE OFFER A BETTER OPPORTUNITY FOR GREAT REPAIR OR CREDIT RECOVERY VERSUS THE OTHER? SO BECAUSE STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO TAKE OR EARN MORE CREDITS ON A BLOCK SCHEDULE, SO THEY WILL BE TAKING EIGHT CLASSES VERSUS TAKING 6 OR 7 CLASSES ON A MORE TRADITIONAL SCHEDULE. THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO MAKE UP COURSES RELATED TO THAT, BUT THAT OPPORTUNITY ALSO PRESENTS ITSELF IN THE TRADITIONAL BLOCK, WHICH YOU JUST HAVE TO BE CREATIVE AROUND HOW YOU SCHEDULE THAT. SO WHETHER YOU'RE LEVERAGING, YOU KNOW, SOME CREATIVE SCHEDULING OR RESCHEDULING KITS, IT IS POSSIBLE, BUT YOU HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT USING A BLOCK SCHEDULE. OKAY. FINALLY, I THINK THE ISSUE IS AND WE HEAR SOMETIMES IS THAT HERE IN HENRY COUNTY, COMING FROM ROME, WE ONLY HAVE THREE SCHOOLS THAT ARE ON BLOCK. IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, IT'S THE REVERSE. THE REVERSE. OKAY, I KNEW IT. THANK YOU. SO THE REVERSE WE IT'S AN UNEVEN SCALE. YOU HAVE MAJORITY THAT'S ON ONE AND LESS ON ANOTHER. AND SO IF MY IF MY STUDENTS WERE TO MOVE FROM DUTCHTOWN AND LET'S SAY GO TO OLA OR WOODLAND, WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF SCHEDULING. WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF THINGS? SO I THINK THAT THAT IS PART OF SOME OF THE DISCUSSION TOO, THAT HAS BEEN HELD OUT INSIDE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM EXTERNALLY IS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, IF I WAS TO MOVE MY KIDS FROM ONE TO ANOTHER, WHAT WOULD THAT IMPACT BE? TRADITIONAL VERSUS BLOCK. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MCDANIEL. ANYONE ELSE? NO. OKAY. THIS ITEM IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA THIS EVENING. DOES ANYONE OBJECT? NO. THIS WILL BE ON CONSENT AGENDA. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MRS. COX. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO ITEM E 1E2. THANK YOU, DOCTOR PACE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, FOR ITEM E TWO 2025 2026 CODE OF CONDUCT ADOPTION. I'D LIKE TO INVITE CHIEF LEADERSHIP SERVICES MISS SUTTER, TO THE PODIUM. GOOD AFTERNOON ONCE AGAIN, MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND DOCTOR PACE. THE CODE OF CONDUCT ANNUAL REVIEW PROCESS BEGINS IN JANUARY EACH YEAR WITH GATHERING FEEDBACK FROM VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS. THESE DISCUSSIONS RESULT IN A CODE OF CONDUCT DRAFT, INCLUDING PROPOSED REVISIONS, THAT IS PRESENTED AT THE MARCH BOARD OF EDUCATION STUDY SESSION AND PLACED OUT FOR PUBLIC REVIEW AND COMMENT ON THE DISTRICT'S WEBSITE. THE NEXT STEP OF THE REVIEW PROCESS IS TO PROPOSE THE ADOPTION OF THE CODE OF CONDUCT. AS I SHARED LAST MONTH, WE BEGAN THE CODE OF CONDUCT ANNUAL REVIEW PROCESS BY DISCUSSING THE PRIORITIES OF THIS BOARD OF EDUCATION. WE THEN MET WITH SEVERAL STAKEHOLDER GROUPS TO GATHER FEEDBACK AND RECOMMENDED CHANGES. FOCUS GROUPS INCLUDED SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, STUDENT, PARENT AND STAFF ADVISORIES, AND LOCAL SCHOOL COUNCILS COMPRISED OF PARENTS AND EMPLOYEES. WE HAVE CONTINUOUSLY GATHERED INPUT FROM JANUARY THROUGH TODAY. THIS BOARD'S CODE OF CONDUCT CONTINUES TO SET FORTH THE BOARD'S COMMITMENT TO ENSURING SUPPORTIVE, SAFE AND SECURE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS. THE CODE OF CONDUCT ESTABLISHES EXPECTATIONS FOR STUDENT CONDUCT AND CONSEQUENCES FOR INFRACTIONS, AND IT IS COUPLED WITH A MULTITUDE OF PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION STRATEGIES UTILIZED BY SCHOOL PERSONNEL, AS WELL AS SIGNIFICANT TRAINING PROVIDED TO ENSURE THE CODE OF CONDUCT IS IMPLEMENTED CONSISTENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY. THE SUPERINTENDENT IS RECOMMENDING THE ADOPTION OF THE
[01:30:03]
2025 2026 CODE OF CONDUCT AS PRESENTED. DOCTOR PACE, THIS CONCLUDES WHAT I HAVE PREPARED AND THIS ITEM IS AVAILABLE FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA. THANK YOU, MRS. SUDDERTH. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES THE CODE OF CONDUCT ADOPTION AND WE REMAIN AVAILABLE TO THE BOARD FOR ANY QUESTIONS.THANK YOU, DOCTOR PACE. AND THANK YOU, MRS. EDITH. DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, IT IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA THIS EVENING. DOES ANYONE OBJECT? NO. THIS WILL ALSO BE PLACED ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA. THANK YOU, MISS EDITH. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO BUSINESS. ITEM E THREE. DOCTOR PACE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO INVITE OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, MRS. CLAY, FOR THE FY 26 TENTATIVE BUDGET.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT PACE, IN RELATION TO THE INFORMATION THAT WAS DISCUSSED DURING ITEM D, THREE C, THE FY 26 TENTATIVE BUDGET OVERVIEW I AM FORMALLY PRESENTING THE SUPERINTENDENT'S TENTATIVE BUDGET RECOMMENDATION FOR THE 2025 2026 SCHOOL YEAR FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. THE BUDGET SUMMARY DISPLAYED ON THE SCREEN REFLECTS THE ANTICIPATED SOURCES AND USES OF FUNDING FOR OUR GENERAL FUND, SPECIAL REVENUE FUND, CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND AND DEBT SERVICE FUND. LATER THIS EVENING, WE WILL HOLD THE FIRST OF TWO REQUIRED BUDGET HEARINGS TO ALLOW FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
THE BUDGET WILL BE TABLED AND PRESENTED TO THE BOARD FOR FINAL ADOPTION ON MAY 12TH, WITH A SECOND BUDGET HEARING OCCURRING AT 6:30 P.M. FOLLOWING THE STUDY SESSION. DOCTOR PACE, THAT CONCLUDES WHAT I'VE PREPARED AND I'LL TURN IT BACK TO YOU. THANK YOU, MRS. CLAY. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES THE FY 26 TENTATIVE BUDGET AND REMAIN AVAILABLE TO THE BOARD FOR ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, DOCTOR PACE. AND THANK YOU, MRS. CLAY. DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? THIS IS ALSO ELIGIBLE FOR OUR CONSENT AGENDA THIS EVENING. DOES ANYONE OBJECT? NOPE. THIS WILL ALSO BE ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO BUSINESS ITEM E FOUR. DOCTOR PACE, SORRY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO ASK MRS. CLAY TO REMAIN AT THE PODIUM FOR BUSINESS. ITEM E FOUR, DISTRICT PRINTER LEASE RENEWAL. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT PACE. TODAY I BRING TO THE BOARD A RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE RENEWAL OF THE CONTRACTS ASSOCIATED WITH DISTRICT AND SCHOOL COPIERS. THE CONTRACT IS VALUED AT $1,224,610, AND IS RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL NOW TO SUPPORT ADVANCE ORDERING SO THAT WE HAVE AN EFFICIENT REFRESH OF THE EQUIPMENT DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS. AS PART OF THE RENEWAL TERMS, EQUIPMENT THAT HAS BEEN IN CYCLE FOR THREE YEARS WILL WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEW MACHINES. AND OF NOTE, WE WILL USE THIS REFRESH OPPORTUNITY FOR 21 OF OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS TO RECEIVE COLOR COPY UPGRADES. THE PROPOSED CONTRACT WITH RICOH, WHO IS THE EQUIPMENT PROVIDER, LEVERAGES THE OMNIA PARTNERS COOPERATIVE, SATISFYING OUR COMPETITIVE BIDDING REQUIREMENTS. DOCTOR PACE THIS ITEM IS NOW ELIGIBLE FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA. THIS CONCLUDES WHAT I PREPARED AND I TURN IT BACK TO YOU. THANK YOU, MRS. CLAY. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES BUSINESS ITEM FOUR. AND WE REMAIN AVAILABLE TO THE BOARD FOR ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, DOCTOR PACE. AND THANK YOU AGAIN. MISSUS CLAY. DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE. THIS IS ALSO ELIGIBLE FOR OUR CONSENT AGENDA THIS EVENING. DOES ANYONE OBJECT? NO. E FOUR WILL ALSO BE PLACED ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO BUSINESS ITEM E FIVE. DOCTOR PACE, THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I'D LIKE TO INVITE OUR CEO TO THE PODIUM FOR BUSINESS ITEM E5 FURNITURE, EQUIPMENT GROWTH AND REPLACEMENT. MR. MILES. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT PACE, THIS EVENING I PRESENT TO YOU A FURNITURE GROWTH AND REPLACEMENT PROJECT THROUGH THE CAPITAL RESERVES ACCUMULATION FUND. FURNITURE GROWTH AND REPLACEMENT WILL BE COMPLETED AT EXCEL ACADEMY. THIS ACTION IS IN ADDITION TO THE OTHER SCHOOLS RECEIVING FURNITURE. THIS SUMMER, THE PRINCIPAL WAS CONSULTED CONCERNING HIS EXISTING FURNITURE AND REPLACEMENT, BASED ON THE NEWLY CREATED BASIC EQUIPMENT LIST FOR SCHOOLS. WITH THIS INFORMATION, ON SITE INVENTORY ASSESSMENTS WERE COMPLETED AT THE SCHOOL.
FURNITURE WAS EVALUATED BASED ON FACTORS SUCH AS SAFETY, FUNCTIONALITY, EQUAL ACCESS, AND OPPORTUNITY. ERNIE MORRIS ENTERPRISES, INC. PROVIDED FINAL QUOTES ON MARCH 3RD. THE GOAL IS TO RECEIVE THE FURNITURE DURING THE MONTH OF JUNE, BEING READY FOR THE 2526 SCHOOL YEAR. THIS ITEM IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA. DOCTOR PACE, THIS CONCLUDES MY REPORT. THANK YOU, MR. MILES. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES OUR BUSINESS. ITEM E FIVE, AND WE REMAIN AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS FROM OUR BOARD. THANK YOU, DOCTOR PACE. AND THANK YOU, MR. MILES. DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM SEEING NONE. IT IS ALSO ELIGIBLE FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA. DOES ANYONE OBJECT? NOPE. THIS WILL BE PLACED ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA AS WELL. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO BUSINESS ITEM E SIX, DOCTOR PACE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK MR. MILES TO REMAIN AT THE PODIUM FOR BUSINESS. ITEM E SIX FURNISHINGS FOR THE OLA MIDDLE SCHOOL. SCHOOL EDITION. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT PACE. ON JANUARY 11TH OF 2021, AT THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING, BUSINESS SESSION
[01:35:04]
AND E PLUS SIX RESOLUTION WAS APPROVED WITH VOTER APPROVAL ON MARCH 16TH OF 2021 OF EAST PLUS SIX PLANNING FOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS INCLUDED WITHIN THE RESOLUTION BEGAN ON JUNE 10TH OF 2024 AT THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING BUSINESS SESSION, THE BID TABULATION FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE OLD MIDDLE SCHOOL ADDITION PROJECT WAS APPROVED. EAST PLUS SIX FUNDS WILL BE USED FOR FURNITURE PURCHASE FOR THIS PROJECT. THE ADDITIONAL FURNITURE. THE ADDITION FURNITURE PURCHASE IS IN RELATION TO STRATEGIC ACTION NUMBER FIVE INITIATIVE STATEMENT THREE. TACTIC THREE CREATE BASIC EQUIPMENT LISTS FOR EVERY CLASSROOM, SCHOOL, COMMON SPACE AND OFFICE SPACE AND DESIGN REVIEW, SOLICITATION AND REPLACEMENT SCHEDULE. ESTIMATED LIFE CYCLE WILL BE 15 YEARS FOR THE CLASSROOM FURNITURE. ERNIE MORRIS ENTERPRISE, INC PROVIDED THE FINAL QUOTE. PRODUCTION IS ESTIMATED TO BE 8 TO 10 WEEKS. THE GOAL IS TO RECEIVE THE FURNITURE FOR THE PROJECT DURING THE FALL OF 2025. TO COMPLETE THE INSTALLATION. DOCTOR PLACE.DOCTOR PACE, THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. THIS ITEM IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MILES. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES OUR UPDATE TO THE OLDER MIDDLE SCHOOL EDITION AND REMAIN AVAILABLE TO OUR BOARD FOR ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, DOCTOR PAYSON. THANK YOU AGAIN. MR. MILES. DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, IT IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA. DOES ANYONE OBJECT? NO. THIS WILL ALSO BE PLACED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA THIS EVENING. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO BUSINESS ITEM A7, DOCTOR PACE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. BUSINESS ITEM A7, ADDITION TO OLA HIGH SCHOOL BID TABULATION. I'D LIKE TO INVITE MR. MILES TO REMAIN AT THE PODIUM ONE MORE TIME. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT PACE. ADVERTISEMENT FOR THIS PROJECT BEGAN FEBRUARY 24TH AND WAS PLACED ON THE GEORGIA PROCUREMENT REGISTRY AND ON HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS WEBSITE. BIDS WERE RECEIVED ON MARCH 27TH AT 3 P.M. A TOTAL OF SIX BIDS WERE RECEIVED FOR THIS PROJECT. MAJOR CONSTRUCTION COMPANY PROVIDED THE LOW BID. THIS IS AN EAST PLUS SIX FUNDED PROJECT, AND IT WILL BE REPORTED ON AS PART OF THE MONTHLY CONSTRUCTION AND FINANCIAL REPORTS. CONSTRUCTION WILL INCLUDE EIGHT NEW REGULAR CLASSROOMS AND TWO SCIENCE LABS. ASSOCIATED WORK ROOM AND RESTROOMS WILL ALSO BE INCLUDED. CONSTRUCTION SHOULD BEGIN IN JUNE OF 2025 AND RUN THROUGH MAY OF 2027. THIS ITEM ALSO IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA. DOCTOR PACE, THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. THANK YOU, MR. MILES. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES OUR BUSINESS ITEM E SEVEN. AND WE REMAIN AVAILABLE TO OUR BOARD FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU, DOCTOR PACE. AND THANK YOU AGAIN. MR. MILES. DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY DISCUSSION? MR. MCDANIEL I GOT TWO QUICK THINGS. NUMBER ONE, WHEN I VISITED OLDER HIGH SCHOOL, THEY HAVE A VERY ROBUST ARTS PROGRAM. I THINK THEY HAVE ART PICTURES OUT IN THE HALLWAY, PROBABLY OUTSIDE THE BASEBALL FIELD BY NOW. SO WILL THIS ADDITION GIVE HELP OUT THE ART ROOM THERE AT OLA TO GIVE THEM MORE SPACE TO, YOU KNOW, FOR THEIR ART PROGRAM? BECAUSE IT'S VERY ROBUST. I SEE THE FORMER PRINCIPAL PRINCIPAL THERE SHAKING HIS HEAD. SO WOULD THAT HELP OUT OLA HIGH SCHOOL WITH THEIR ARTS ROOM TO GIVE THEM MORE SPACE TO MANEUVER THE STUDENTS AND THE TEACHER? THIS ADDITION WILL NOT PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THAT. NO, SIR. I'M SORRY. OKAY. AND THEN THE LAST QUESTION IS THIS IS THE LAST ADDITION TO OLA HIGH SCHOOL. SO ONCE WE DO THIS, WE CAN'T ADD ANY MORE SPACE TO IT OR OR OR CAN WE ADD ANOTHER WING? I'M NOT GOING TO SAY NEVER. NEVER SAY NEVER. OKAY. THAT'S WHAT I NEED, I APPRECIATE IT. YES, SIR. THANK YOU, MR. MCDANIEL. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? NOPE. THIS IS AWESOME. DOCTOR NUTT, IT'S NOT REALLY A COMMENT, BUT I WANT TO HEAR YOU SAY RED RIBBON WEEK. RED RIBBON WEEK. YOU DID GOOD ON THAT.
OKAY, WE WILL. NOW THIS IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA. THAT THREW ME OFF. I'M SORRY.
DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER OBJECT? NO. OKAY. E-7 WILL ALSO BE PLACED ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA.
ALRIGHT. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO BUSINESS ITEM E EIGHT. DOCTOR PACE, THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, FOR BUSINESS ITEM E EIGHT. I'M GOING TO SAY RED RIBBON WEEK TOO. OKAY? I'M JUST GOING TO GET IT OUT OF THERE FOR BUSINESS. ITEM E EIGHT I'D LIKE TO INVITE DOCTOR JOHNSON, CHIEF LEARNING AND PERFORMANCE OFFICER FOR CTE RESOURCE ADOPTION. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT PACE, IN ALIGNMENT WITH THIS BOARD'S MISSION TO EMPOWER ALL STUDENTS WITH EXCEPTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND ACCESS THAT LEAD TO SUCCESS IN A GLOBAL SOCIETY. THE SUPERINTENDENT RECOMMENDS THE PURCHASE OF MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL CTE TEXTBOOKS AND INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES. THIS PURCHASE WILL PROVIDE OUR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS TEXTBOOKS AND RESOURCES THAT. LEARNING AND CAREER PATHWAYS SUCH AS BIOTECH AND ANIMAL SCIENCE, WELDING, TEACHING AS A PROFESSION, PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCE, CULINARY
[01:40:04]
ARTS, COMPUTER PROGRAMING, AND SEVERAL OTHERS. THE SUPERINTENDENT RECOMMENDS THIS PURCHASE FROM THE VENDORS PROVIDED IN THE AMOUNTS INDICATED. THE PURCHASE. THIS PURCHASE MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS OUTLINED IN POLICY DJ DOCTOR PACE. THIS ITEM IS AVAILABLE FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA AND I YIELD THE FLOOR TO YOU. THANK YOU, DOCTOR JOHNSON. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES OUR BUSINESS. ITEM EIGHT AND REMAIN AVAILABLE TO THE BOARD FOR ANY QUESTIONS.THANK YOU SO MUCH, DOCTOR PAYSON. THANK YOU. DOCTOR JOHNSON, DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM SEEING NONE. THIS IS ALSO ELIGIBLE FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA THIS EVENING. DOES ANYONE OBJECT? NO. ALSO PLACED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. AND NOW WE WILL MOVE TO BUSINESS ITEM E NINE. DOCTOR PACE THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. BUSINESS ITEM E NINE. I'D LIKE TO ASK DOCTOR JOHNSON TO REMAIN AT THE PODIUM FOR E NINE COMPUTER ADAPTIVE LEARNING SOLUTIONS. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT PACE, IN ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC ACTION, ONE OF ADVANCING PRE-K THROUGH 12TH GRADE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES AND EXPERIENCES FOR ALL STUDENTS AND STRATEGIC ACTION TWO OF ADVANCING EFFECTIVE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP AND CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION. THE SUPERINTENDENT RECOMMENDS THE ACQUISITION OF COMPUTER ADAPTIVE LEARNING SOLUTIONS. THESE SOLUTIONS TAILOR INSTRUCTION TO MEET THE VARYING NEEDS OF EACH STUDENT. THIS DIFFERENTIATED APPROACH ALLOWS STUDENTS WHO NEED MORE SUPPORT TO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL GUIDED PRACTICE, WHILE MORE ADVANCED STUDENTS ARE APPROPRIATELY CHALLENGED, LEADING TO GREATER ACADEMIC GAINS FOR ALL. THE SUPERINTENDENT RECOMMENDS THIS PURCHASE FROM THE VENDORS PROVIDED IN THE AMOUNTS INDICATED. THIS PURCHASE MEETS THE INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCE CONSIDERATIONS OUTLINED IN POLICY DJ DOCTOR PACE. THIS ITEM IS AVAILABLE FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA AND I YIELD THE FLOOR TO YOU. THANK YOU DOCTOR. THANK YOU, DOCTOR JOHNSON. MADAM CHAIR, THIS CONCLUDES OUR BUSINESS ITEM E NINE AND REMAIN AVAILABLE TO OUR BOARD FOR ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH, DOCTOR PACE. AND THANK YOU AGAIN. DOCTOR JOHNSON, DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE. THIS IS ALSO ELIGIBLE FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA THIS EVENING. DOES ANYONE OBJECT? NO. THIS WILL ALSO BE PLACED ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA. AND OUR LAST BUSINESS ITEM ITEM E TEN. DOCTOR PACE, THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, FOR OUR LAST BUSINESS ITEM E TEN. I'D LIKE TO ASK THE DOCTOR JOHNSON TO REMAIN AT THE PODIUM FOR HEADPHONES FOR GEORGIA MILESTONES. TESTING.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT PACE DURING THE 2025 2026 SCHOOL YEAR, THE GEORGIA MILESTONES ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS ASSESSMENT WILL REQUIRE STUDENTS TO RESPOND TO VARIOUS TECHNOLOGY ENHANCED QUESTIONS THAT WILL INCLUDE AUDIO MAKING, THE USE OF HEADPHONES NECESSARY. ADDITIONALLY, HEADSETS PURCHASED FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS WILL ALSO BE USED FOR LITERACY SCREENINGS AS REQUIRED BY THE GEORGIA EARLY LITERACY AND DYSLEXIA ACT. FOR THIS REASON, THE SUPERINTENDENT RECOMMENDS THIS PURCHASE FROM THE VENDOR PROVIDED IN THE AMOUNT INDICATED. THE PURCHASE MEETS THE INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCE CONSIDERATIONS OUTLINED IN POLICY DJ DOCTOR PACE. THIS ITEM IS AVAILABLE FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA AND I YIELD THE FLOOR TO YOU. THANK YOU, DOCTOR JOHNSON. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES OUR BUSINESS ITEM E TEN AND WILL REMAIN AVAILABLE TO OUR BOARD FOR ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, DOCTOR BATSON. THANK YOU YET AGAIN, DOCTOR JOHNSON, DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE. THIS IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA THIS EVENING. DOES ANYONE OBJECT? THIS WILL ALSO BE PLACED ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA. THANK YOU, DOCTOR JOHNSON. THAT
[F. EXECUTIVE SESSION]
CONCLUDES OUR BUSINESS ITEMS. AND WE ARE NOW TO OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION. CAN I GET A MOTION, PLEASE, TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THE PURPOSE OF DISCIPLINE AND PERSONNEL? I HAVE A MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THE PURPOSE OF DISCIPLINE AND PERSONNEL. THANK YOU, MISS EDWARDS. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? THANK YOU, MR. MCDANIEL. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.