[A. CALL TO ORDER]
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ORDERING THE BOARD ROOM, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON AND WELCOME TO THIS STUDY SESSION OF THE HENRY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AS A REMINDER, ATTENDEES AT TODAY'S MEETING HAVE AGREED TO THE DECORUM EXPECTED OF A MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. ANY DISRUPTION TO CONDUCTING THE BUSINESS OF THE BOARD MAY RESULT IN A BRIEF RECESS, MOVING THE MEETING TO A VIRTUAL FORMAT, OR SUSPENSION OF THE MEETING TO A LATER DATE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION AND ATTENTION. I WILL TURN IT OVER TO THE CHAIR TO OPEN THE MEETING. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MISS RIDDLE, AND GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. WELCOME TO THE MARCH BOARD MEETING. I WOULD LIKE TO CALL OUR MEETING OFFICIALLY TO ORDER AT 4:00 PM ON MONDAY,
[B. SUPERINTENDENT'S WELCOME]
MARCH 9TH, AND I WILL TURN IT OVER TO DOCTOR PACE FOR HIS WELCOME THIS AFTERNOON. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, AND TO OUR COMMUNITY. WELCOME TO THE MARCH MEETING OF THE HENRY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION. BEFORE WE BEGIN, PLEASE JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR THE PASSING OF A STUDENT FROM WALNUT CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND A STAFF MEMBER FROM LUELLA HIGH SCHOOL. THANK YOU. GEORGIA GOVERNOR BRIAN KEMP PROCLAIMED MARCH 9TH THROUGH 13TH AT SCHOOL BOARD APPRECIATION WEEK ACROSS THE STATE OF GEORGIA. I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK THE FIVE MEMBERS OF OUR BOARD OF EDUCATION FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO UNIFIED GOVERNANCE AND TO DOING WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR 42,000 PLUS STUDENTS AND 6000 PLUS EMPLOYEES. PLEASE JOIN ME IN A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR OUR AWARD WINNING HENRY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, WHO IS APPROACHING 60 YEARS OF COLLECTIVE EXPERIENCE AS A BOARD. MISTER MCDANIEL, I DO NOT HAVE 60 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. WE'RE MAKING THAT AN ADDITION PROBLEM FOR OUR STUDENTS. WE RECOGNIZE THAT MARCH IS WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, AND WE CELEBRATE THIS YEAR'S THEME OF LEADING THE CHANGE WOMEN SHAPING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE. WHETHER DEVELOPING GREEN TECHNOLOGY, STRATEGIC PLANNING, EDUCATION SYSTEMS, OR IN COUNTLESS OTHER WAYS, WOMEN ARE DESIGNING BLUEPRINTS FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE. NATIONAL SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER WEEK WAS OBSERVED MARCH 1ST THROUGH THE SEVENTH, AND I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO EXPRESS OUR APPRECIATION FOR THE VITAL ROLE OUR SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS PLAY IN THE LIVES OF OUR STUDENTS, ADMINISTRATORS, TEACHERS, STAFF AND COMMUNITY. FROM SUPPORTING ATTENDANCE TO RESPONDING TO CRISIS, MENTORING STUDENTS AND PARTNERING WITH FAMILIES, THEY DO IT ALL WITH COMPASSION AND PURPOSE. IF WE HAVE ANY SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS IN THE AUDIENCE, WOULD YOU STAND TO BE RECOGNIZED? I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. AND I ALSO SAW ONE OF OUR OTHER SOCIAL WORKERS WHO DIDN'T STAND. JUST WAVE. I SEE YOU. THERE YOU GO. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. FOR WHAT? WHAT YOU DO. LAST WEEK WE ALSO CELEBRATED READ ACROSS AMERICA AND READ ACROSS HENRY. I WAS PRIVILEGED TO READ AT FLIPPEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LAST WEDNESDAY, AND I WANT TO THANK OUR BOARD MEMBERS, DISTRICT LEADERS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO TRAVELED TO SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE WEEK TO SHARE THEIR PASSION AND EXCITEMENT FOR READING. AS WE KNOW, LITERACY IS A KEY COMPONENT OF BUILDING BRIGHT FUTURES IN HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES MY WELCOME. AND I TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH,[C. BOARD MEMBER ITEMS]
DOCTOR PACE, FOR YOUR WELCOME. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO SEE OUR BOARD MEMBER ITEMS. AND WE HAVE ONE BOARD MEMBER ITEM THIS AFTERNOON, A WHOLE BOARD TRAINING RECAP, AND I WILL TURN IT OVER TO OUR VICE CHAIR TO GET US STARTED. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND AGAIN, GOOD AFTERNOON TO EVERYONE. ON FEBRUARY 12TH, THE WE WERE BLESSED TO HAVE GSBA WITH US IN MANY OF OUR HENRY COUNTY STAFF MEMBERS, INCLUDING EXECUTIVE CABINET, AS WE SPENT THE DAY TOGETHER TO GO OVER THE FUTURE OF HENRY COUNTY THROUGH OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING, DISCUSSION, BUDGET CONVERSATION, AS WELL AS ALSO GETTING AN UPDATE ON LEGISLATIVE ITEMS UP ON THE GOLD DOME. SO IT WAS VERY ENLIGHTENING, INFORMATIVE, A GREAT CONVERSATION. THERE WERE PLENTY OF NOT PERFORMERS OR PRESENTERS THAT WERE HERE THAT DAY, A COUPLE OF THEM IN THE AUDIENCE. AND SO THANK YOU FOR LEADING UP THE CONVERSATION. ONCE AGAIN, I THINK WE USE ALL THE STICKY NOTES THAT WE COULD ON THE WALLS, BUT IT WAS WELL WORTH IT. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE TIME. AND I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT HENRY COUNTY IS STILL ON A CONTINUED PATH TOWARDS EXCELLENT, WITH MANY OF OUR LEADERS HERE IN THE ROOM TODAY AT THE HELM. SO THANK YOU FOR[00:05:01]
YOUR DAY AND TIME. AND THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU, MR. MCDANIEL. AND JUST TO FOLLOW UP, WE DID HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING JOINED BY THE GEORGIA SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION. AGAIN. MISS JULIA BERNATH JOINED US FOR THE BEGINNING PART OF OUR TRAINING, AND WE HAD EXCELLENT CONVERSATION AROUND SCHOOL SAFETY. SO WE'RE ALWAYS GRATEFUL FOR OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH GSBA AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT TIME THAT WE CAN ALL[D. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS]
BE TOGETHER IN THAT SETTING. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO D OUR INFORMATIONAL ITEMS, AND WE WILL BEGIN THIS AFTERNOON WITH ITEM D1A DOCTOR PACE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, FOR INFORMATION ON ITEM D1A THE 2026 2031 STRATEGIC PLAN DEVELOPMENT UPDATE. I'D LIKE TO INVITE TO THE PODIUM DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT OF STAFF AND OPERATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS, MISSUS SUMMER COX FOR THIS INFORMATIONAL UPDATE. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT PACE, TODAY I'M EXCITED TO SHARE WITH YOU AN UPDATE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE 2026 2031 COMMUNITY INSPIRED STRATEGIC PLAN. 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. TO SUPPORT THIS UNIFYING VISION AND MISSION, THIS BOARD HAS DEVELOPED CORE POLICIES THAT PROVIDE FOR A FRAMEWORK OF CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT, WHICH IS THE UNDERLYING PURPOSE OF A STRATEGIC PLAN TO IMPROVE UPON THE GREAT WORK THAT IS TRANSFORMING THE STUDENT, FAMILY AND STAFF EXPERIENCE IN HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS. AS WE PREPARE FOR A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR HENRY COUNTY STUDENTS, FAMILIES AND STAFF, WE ARE ALSO REFLECTING ON THE CURRENT STRATEGIC PLAN THAT IS IN ITS FINAL YEAR OF IMPLEMENTATION. WITH COMMUNITY VOICE AND THE VISION OF THIS BOARD, A CLEARLY ARTICULATED STRATEGIC PLAN WAS DEVELOPED TO ALIGN DISTRICT INITIATIVES WITH FIVE KEY ACTIONS ADVANCING LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES AND EXPERIENCES FOR ALL STUDENTS. ADVANCING LEADERSHIP AND CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION. ADVANCING COMMUNITY AND STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT. ADVANCING HEALTH AND WELLNESS FOR STUDENTS AND EMPLOYEES, AND ADVANCING AS A HIGH PERFORMING OPERATIONAL CULTURE. TO DATE, THIS BOARD HAS INVESTED IN INITIATIVES TO SUPPORT THESE AREAS, WITH SOME RECENT ACTIONS ALIGNED TO STEM FINE ARTS, WORLD LANGUAGES, EARLY LEARNING. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, CONNECTIVITY WITH THE COMMUNITY, WRAPAROUND SERVICES, THE HENRY PARTNERS, THE HENRY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION COUNSELING, AND AN ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING SYSTEM. MANY OF THE INITIATIVES AND TACTICS ASSOCIATED WITH THESE STRATEGIC ACTIONS HAVE REACHED COMPLETION AND PLANNING FOR THE NEW 2026 2031 STRATEGIC PLAN IS WELL UNDERWAY. TO ASSIST WITH FACILITATION OF THE STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS, WE PARTNERED WITH THE GEORGIA SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION, ALSO KNOWN AS GSBA, AND THEY HAVE GUIDED US THROUGH THE CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT MODEL, WHERE TEAMS OF STAKEHOLDERS HAVE MET TO REVIEW PERFORMANCE DATA, FINANCIAL DATA AND COMMUNITY FEEDBACK DATA TO UNDERSTAND CURRENT DISTRICT PERFORMANCE, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES BEGAN IN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER, WITH TEN CLUSTER COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS THAT SAW OVER 600 PARTICIPANTS, THREE SUPERINTENDENT ADVISORY TEAM MEETINGS THAT INCLUDED MORE THAN 50 PARENTS, STAFF AND STUDENTS, AND 1788 RESPONSES TO AN ONLINE COMMUNITY SURVEY.THIS FEEDBACK WAS THEN EVALUATED AND SHARED WITH THIS BOARD IN PREPARATION FOR STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT MEETINGS THAT BEGAN WITH A PLANNING TEAM CONSISTING OF BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, PARENTS, STUDENTS, AND STAFF, FOLLOWED BY ACTION TEAM MEETINGS OF AN INTERNAL STAKEHOLDER GROUP. WE ARE STILL DEEPLY ENGAGED IN THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS AS WE ANTICIPATE BOARD ADOPTION OF A STRATEGY MAP NEXT MONTH AND FORMAL IMPLEMENTATION OF A NEW FIVE YEAR STRATEGIC ROADMAP GUIDED BY COMMUNITY VOICE.
ANALYSIS OF COMBINED RESULTS FROM BOTH THE COMMUNITY CLUSTER CONVERSATIONS, ADVISORY MEETINGS AND THE COMMUNITY SURVEY IDENTIFIED SEVERAL AREAS OF STRENGTH, INCLUDING OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN ADVANCED COURSEWORK AND DUAL ENROLLMENT, A CONTINUED FOCUS ON SAFE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS, AND OVERALL STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT. AND WHILE WE VALUE THE POSITIVE INPUT FROM OUR COMMUNITY, WE ALSO VALUE THEIR FEEDBACK AND IDENTIFYING AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT, RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHERS. INCREASING ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES, AND ADVANCING INSTRUCTIONAL QUALITY WERE IDENTIFIED AS PRIORITY AREAS FOR STRATEGIC FOCUS. THE STAKEHOLDER FEEDBACK WAS USED BY THE PLANNING TEAM IN JANUARY 2026 TO SET THE STRATEGIC VISION OF THE NEW STRATEGIC PLAN. THIS TEAM, CONSISTING OF ROUGHLY 60 MEMBERS, INCLUDED BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS, DISTRICT ADMINISTRATORS, PRINCIPALS, TEACHERS, STUDENTS, PARENTS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVES, AND FAITH BASED PARTNERS. IN ADDITION TO EVALUATING AND REFLECTING ON OUR CURRENT MISSION, VISION, AND CORE BELIEFS, THEY IDENTIFIED GOALS AND PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES TO GUIDE THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW STRATEGIC ACTIONS. THEIR CULMINATING ACTIVITY WAS THE DEVELOPMENT OF A DRAFT STRATEGY MAP THAT INCLUDED THE GOALS AND PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES IDENTIFIED BY THE TEAM. IN FEBRUARY 2026, THE INTERNAL ACTION TEAM, CONSISTING OF
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DISTRICT OFFICE STAFF, PRINCIPALS AND TEACHERS, EXPANDED THE INITIAL WORK OF THE PLANNING TEAM BY REVIEWING AND REVISING THE DRAFT STRATEGY MAP. THEY ALSO DEVELOPED KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS, OR KPIS, WHICH WILL BE USED TO MEASURE PROGRESS ON THE IDENTIFIED PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES. THEY ALSO ESTABLISHED THE GROUNDWORK FOR THE FIRST 12 TO 18 MONTHS OF THE NEW STRATEGIC PLAN BY DEVELOPING INITIATIVES AND CORRESPONDING ACTION STEPS. THE NEW STRATEGIC PLAN WILL INCORPORATE SOME TERMS THAT THIS BOARD AND COMMUNITY ARE FAMILIAR WITH. HOWEVER, THERE WILL BE SOME NEW TERMINOLOGY THAT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND AS WE MOVE FORWARD. FIRST, THIS BOARD'S MISSION, VISION, AND CORE BELIEFS WILL REMAIN THE SAME AND WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE AS THE COMPASS FOR STRATEGIC PLANNING PURPOSES. BUT WE WILL NOW REFER TO FIVE GOAL AREAS AS OUR BIG BUCKETS OF WORK, WITH PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES TIED TO THE GOAL AREAS. EACH PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVE WILL HAVE KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS TO MEASURE PROGRESS AND INITIATIVES, AND ACTION STEPS WILL CLEARLY ARTICULATE THE WORK AND HOW WE WILL ACCOMPLISH THE WORK. THE DRAFT STRATEGY MAP OUTLINES FIVE GOAL AREAS TO GUIDE THE WORK OF HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS FOR THE DURATION OF THE NEW FIVE YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN, GUIDED BY COMMUNITY VOICE WITH GOAL AREA ONE FOCUSING ON STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND READINESS. PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES WILL INCLUDE INCREASING MASTERY OF STANDARDS, ADVANCING ACCESS AND OUTCOMES FOR COLLEGE, CAREER AND LIFE READINESS, AND INCREASING LITERACY ACROSS ALL GRADE LEVELS. GOAL AREA TWO FOCUS FOCUSES ON ORGANIZATIONAL AND OPERATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS WITH SUSTAINING A HIGH PERFORMING AND EFFICIENT OPERATIONAL CULTURE AND MAINTAINING A HIGH LEVEL OF FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR FOR PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES.CULTURE, CLIMATE AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IS IDENTIFIED AS GOAL AREA THREE WITH STRENGTHENING OPPORTUNITIES FOR SAFE AND WELCOMING ENVIRONMENTS, ADVANCING STUDENT AND EMPLOYEE HEALTH AND WELLNESS, AND INCREASING POSITIVE COMMUNICATIONS AND CONNECTIONS FOR ALL STAKEHOLDERS IDENTIFIED AS PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES. GOAL AREA FOUR PRIORITIZES HIGH QUALITY EMPLOYEES THROUGH PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES TO RECRUIT, DEVELOP, TO RECRUIT, DEVELOP, AND SUPPORT AND RETAIN HIGHLY QUALIFIED EMPLOYEES ACROSS ALL JOB FAMILIES. AND LASTLY, THE TEAM HAS RECOMMENDED SAFETY AS GOAL AREA FIVE WITH PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES FOCUSING ON SAFE AND SECURE ENVIRONMENTS AND EFFECTIVE ALLOCATION AND UTILIZATION OF RESOURCES. AS A REMINDER, THIS IS A DRAFT OF THE NEWLY DEVELOPED STRATEGY MAP. THIS BOARD WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADOPT A FINAL VERSION OF THIS MAP AT THE APRIL BOARD MEETING. WHILE THE PLANNING AND ACTION TEAMS HAVE SET A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR THE NEW STRATEGIC VISION GUIDED BY COMMUNITY VOICE, THERE IS STILL WORK TO BE DONE. THE NEXT FEW MONTHS WILL REQUIRE FREQUENT COLLABORATION FROM ALL DIVISIONS AND DEPARTMENTS, AS THE KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS AND INITIATIVES ARE FINALIZED WITH SPECIFIC ACTION STEPS, A BALANCED SCORECARD WILL BE CREATED TO REFLECT THE IDENTIFIED KPIS, AND A STREAMLINED REPORTING STRUCTURE WILL BE ESTABLISHED. A NEW CADENCE FOR REVIEW AND REVISION OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN PLANS TO ENSURE COMMUNITY ACCESSIBILITY AND A SIMPLIFIED REPORTING PLATFORM WILL ALSO BE PRIORITY AREAS IN THE COMING MONTHS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO COMMUNICATING THESE DETAILS ONCE THEY ARE FINALIZED AND IMPLEMENTING A COLLABORATIVE STRATEGIC VISION.
BOARD. WE ARE THANKFUL FOR THE SUPPORT OF OUR STAFF, STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS AS WE CONTINUE ON THIS JOURNEY OF CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT WITH THE CLUB. WITH THE CLEAR VISION AND MISSION SET FORTH BY THIS BOARD AND THE COMBINED SUPPORT OF BOTH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS, WE ARE PREPARED TO UPHOLD THIS BOARD'S MISSION AND VISION OF A HIGH QUALITY, WORLD CLASS EDUCATION FOR EVERY STUDENT BY PROVIDING EXCEPTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND ACCESS THAT LEAD TO SUCCESS ON A GLOBAL SOCIETY. AND AS WE LOOK TO THE FUTURE, WE ARE ENGAGED IN A CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT PROCESS IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW 2026 2031 STRATEGIC PLAN THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF FIVE GOAL AREAS WITH CORRESPONDING PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES AND KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS TO MEASURE PROGRESS AND ALIGNED INITIATIVES WITH CORRESPONDING ACTION STEPS. WE WILL CONTINUE PLANNING FOR A SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH OF THE NEW COMMUNITY DRIVEN STRATEGIC PLAN, WITH AN EXPECTED IMPLEMENTATION BEGINNING BEGINNING JULY 2026. WE ARE COMMITTED TO CONTINUING A PATHWAY FOR BRIGHT FUTURES TO BEGIN IN HENRY. DOCTOR PACE, THIS CONCLUDES ALL THAT I PREPARED AND I TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU. THANK YOU, MRS. COX. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES OUR INFORMATION ON ITEM D1A. WE REMAIN AVAILABLE TO OUR BOARD FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU, DOCTOR PAYSON. THANK YOU, MRS. COX, FOR THAT REPORT. DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? MISTER MCDANIEL I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION, BUT I HAVE A A KUDOS COMMENT. AS I LOOK IN THE AUDIENCE WHEN I FIRST GOT ON THE BOARD, MANY OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SITTING HERE WERE PRINCIPALS, AND NOW YOU'RE HERE IN THE DISTRICT OFFICE, CONTINUING THE LEGACY THAT YOU STARTED WHEN YOU WERE EITHER AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, MIDDLE OR HIGH SCHOOL. WE JUST ROLLED OUT THE STRATEGIC PLAN AT THAT TIME, AND YOU TOOK IT AND YOU RAN WITH IT AND YOU TRANSFORMED LIVES. YOU TRANSFORMED SCHOLARS EVERY SINGLE DAY. AND I JUST
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WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO NOT ONLY THOSE THAT ARE SITTING HERE, BUT THANK YOU TO THOSE ONLINE, EVERY TEACHER, EVERY PARAPRO, EVERY SC MEMBER, EVERY SS, EVERY ACRONYM THAT I CAN'T RECALL RIGHT NOW, BUT A PERSON, EACH PERSON, A BUS DRIVER, A CUSTODIAN THAT TOUCHED THE LIFE OF EACH ONE OF OUR STUDENTS. YOU DID THE WORK. YOU DID THE WORK. YOU TOOK SOMETHING THAT THE COMMUNITY SAID THEY WANTED. YOU MADE IT YOUR OWN AND YOU DID THE WORK. AND SO THE CONGRATULATIONS AND THE THANKS GOES TO EACH AND EVERY PERSON IN THIS ROOM. THOSE THAT AT YOUR SCHOOL BUILDINGS, THOSE THAT DRIVE BUSSES, THE MECHANICS, THE LANDSCAPERS, EXECUTIVE CABINET. IT GOES TO YOU ALL BECAUSE WITHOUT YOU WE WOULD NOT BE WHERE WE ARE TODAY.SO THE THANKS, THE KUDOS BELONGS TO EACH AND EVERY 6000 EMPLOYEE WE HAVE IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. AND IF NO ONE ELSE HAS TOLD YOU, I WANT TO SAY WE APPRECIATE YOU. WE THANK YOU.
PAT YOURSELF ON THE BACK BECAUSE YOU HAVE DONE THE WORK. SO THANK EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING. THANK YOU, MISTER MCDANIEL. I OBVIOUSLY ECHO EVERYTHING HE JUST SAID SO ELOQUENTLY, BUT I ALSO JUST WANT TO ADD THAT I AM SO GRATEFUL TO OUR COMMUNITY FOR THEIR VOICE AND CONTINUING TO DRIVE THIS DISTRICT FORWARD. IT'S STILL SO AMAZING TO WALK INTO CLASSROOMS AND SEE THE THE DREAMS THAT'S SET ON STICKY NOTES. JUST A FEW YEARS AGO, REALIZED IN EVERY SINGLE CLASSROOM. SO I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE WORK THAT'S BEEN PUT IN AND CANNOT WAIT TO SEE WHERE THE NEXT FIVE YEARS TAKES HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS. SO I'M SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THIS, GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE WORK THAT'S ALREADY PUT IN, AND IT'S GOING TO BE A GOOD NEXT FIVE YEARS. THANK YOU, MRS. COX. ALL RIGHT. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO OUR NEXT INFORMATIONAL ITEM, WHICH IS D TO A DOCTOR PACE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. UNDER THE CORE BUSINESS OF STUDENT LEARNING, I'D LIKE TO INVITE OUR CHIEF LEARNING AND PERFORMANCE OFFICER, DOCTOR CHIP JOHNSON, TO THE PODIUM FOR AN INFORMATIONAL ITEM UPDATE ON WORLD LANGUAGES. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT PACE, TODAY I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF SHARING AN UPDATE ON THE REMARKABLE PROGRESS WITHIN WORLD LANGUAGES THROUGH QUALITY WORLD LANGUAGE EDUCATION. WE'RE NOT ONLY OPENING DOORS TO LITERACY IN MORE THAN ONE LANGUAGE, BUT CREATING SPACES WHERE OUR STUDENTS DEVELOP AN UNDERSTANDING OF CULTURAL PERSPECTIVES THAT WILL PROVIDE THEM WITH THE ABILITY TO THRIVE IN THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY. AS A BOARD, YOU HAVE CONSISTENTLY EMPHASIZED OUR DISTRICT'S VISION AND MISSION TO ENSURE A HIGH QUALITY, WORLD CLASS EDUCATION AND TO EMPOWER ALL STUDENTS WITH EXCEPTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND ACCESS THAT LEAD TO SUCCESS IN A GLOBAL SOCIETY. PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY WORLD LANGUAGE EXPERIENCES IS KEY TO OUR VISION AND MISSION.
TODAY, I WILL HIGHLIGHT HOW YOUR INVESTMENTS ARE DELIVERING WORLD CLASS LANGUAGE EXPERIENCES IN OUR CLASSROOMS. STRATEGIC ACTION ONE. INITIATIVE FIVE. TACTIC THREE CALLS FOR THE EXPANSION OF WORLD LANGUAGE PROGRAMS THROUGH THROUGH IN-PERSON AND DISTANCE TECHNOLOGY EACH YEAR SINCE 2021. AS A RESULT OF YOUR INVESTMENTS, MORE STUDENTS DISCOVERED NEW LANGUAGES AND DEVELOPED THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF CULTURES AROUND THE WORLD. BY EXPANDING WORLD LANGUAGE OFFERINGS, WE HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT STRIDES WITH ACCELERATING LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES AND EXPERIENCES. A COURSE AUDIT CONDUCTED IN THE FALL INDICATED OVER 31,000 STUDENTS ENROLLED IN WORLD LANGUAGE COURSES. BASED ON THIS DATA, OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS EXCEEDED THE PRIORITY STUDENT OUTCOME GOAL FOR THIS METRIC, WITH 72% OF STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN WORLD LANGUAGE PROGRAMS. BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO WORLD LANGUAGES, HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS SEEKS TO EMPOWER STUDENTS TO THRIVE IN AN INCREASINGLY INTERCONNECTED WORLD. OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS PROVIDE THE INTRODUCTION TO WORLD LANGUAGES BY REINFORCING LITERACY AND CULTURAL SKILLS. THE ELEMENTARY WORLD LANGUAGE EXPERIENCE PRIMARILY FOCUSES ON SPANISH AS AN EXPOSURE AND FOUNDATIONAL PROGRAM. THE GOAL IS TO BUILD CULTURAL COMPETENCE AND BASIC COMMUNICATION SKILLS BEFORE STUDENTS REACH THE MORE RIGOROUS COURSES IN MIDDLE SCHOOL. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE SINGING, ROLE PLAYING, AS WELL AS CREATING DIALOGS AND PRESENTATIONS. THIS SCHOOL YEAR, OUR DISTRICT IMPLEMENTED 29 PROGRAMS WITH OVER 17,300 STUDENTS ENROLLED IN SPANISH AND GRADES K THROUGH FIVE. OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL WORLD LANGUAGE PROGRAM SERVES AS A CRITICAL BRIDGE, TRANSITIONING STUDENTS FROM INTRODUCTORY EXPOSURE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO THE CREDIT BEARING ENVIRONMENT OF HIGH SCHOOL. MIDDLE SCHOOL COURSES INCLUDE INTRODUCTORY SPANISH HONORS, SPANISH ONE OR FRENCH LEARNING. ACTIVITIES AND PROJECTS INCLUDE PERFORMANCE BASED REAL WORLD TASKS FOCUSED ON LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT AND CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING ALIGNED TO THE STANDARDS OF COMMUNICATION, CULTURES, CONNECTIONS, COMPARISONS, AND COMMUNITIES. THE MIDDLE SCHOOL HIGH SCHOOL CREDIT COURSES PROVIDE ACCESS TO WORLD LANGUAGE PATHWAY FIRST CREDIT, AS WELL AS INTRODUCTION TO THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WORLD LANGUAGE SEAL REQUIREMENTS ENSURING ACCESS TO
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ADVANCED OPPORTUNITIES IN HIGH SCHOOL, OUR STUDENTS EXPERIENCE A WORLD CLASS EDUCATION THAT PREPARES THEM FOR COLLEGE, CAREERS AND LIFE EXPERIENCES AS THEY EXPLORE LANGUAGES, LANGUAGES, AND CULTURES WITHIN AN INTERCONNECTED COMMUNITY. THIS PROVIDES STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP IN MORE THAN ONE LANGUAGE, WHILE GAINING VALUABLE KNOWLEDGE ON VARIED PERSPECTIVES. WITH THE SUPPORT OF OUR DEDICATED WORLD LANGUAGE HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATORS, WE PROUDLY SERVE OVER 10,000 STUDENTS IN WORLD ENROLLED IN WORLD LANGUAGE COURSES. WHILE THE MAJORITY OF OUR STUDENTS ARE ENROLLED IN SPANISH AND FRENCH, A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF OUR STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN DUAL ENROLLMENT, ADVANCED PLACEMENT, AND DISTANCE, TECHNOLOGY OPPORTUNITIES, AND OTHER LANGUAGES THAT INCLUDE GERMAN, JAPANESE, CHINESE, LATIN, AND SIGN LANGUAGE. AS ACCESS TO WORLD LANGUAGES INCREASES AT THE SECONDARY LEVEL, HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS IS ALSO EXPERIENCING GROWTH IN THE NUMBER OF GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WORLD LANGUAGE SEALS AWARDED. TO ATTAIN THE SEAL OF BILITERACY, STUDENTS MUST DEMONSTRATE PROFICIENCY IN ENGLISH AS WELL AS ONE OR MORE ADDITIONAL LANGUAGES, BE THAT LANGUAGE, A NATIVE LANGUAGE OR LANGUAGE LEARNED IN SCHOOL AND EARN AN AP EXAM SCORE OR FOUR OF 4 OR 5 ON THE WORLD LANGUAGE. THE INTERNATIONAL SKILLS DIPLOMA SEAL IS AWARDED TO GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO COMPLETE AN INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION CURRICULUM AND ENGAGE IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND EXPERIENCES THAT FOSTER THE ACHIEVEMENT OF GLOBAL COMPETENCIES. THIS INCLUDES EIGHT COURSES WITH AN INTERNATIONAL FOCUS, INCLUDING AT LEAST THREE YEARS OF WORLD LANGUAGES, 20 HOURS OF SERVICE LEARNING, AND A CAPSTONE PROJECT. THESE SEALS ARE IMPACTFUL TOOLS THAT HELP STUDENTS STAND OUT IN THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS AND THE WORKFORCE, AND IDENTIFYING THEM AS INDIVIDUALS PREPARED TO ENGAGE EFFECTIVELY IN THE GLOBAL AND MULTILINGUAL ENVIRONMENTS. THIS PAST YEAR, WE WERE ESPECIALLY PROUD TO HONOR 123 OUTSTANDING 2025 GRADUATES WHO EARNED THE PRESTIGIOUS GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WORLD LANGUAGE DIPLOMA SEALS, HIGHLIGHTING THEIR TALENT, DEDICATION AND PASSION FOR LANGUAGES AND CULTURES. SINCE 2017, WE'VE HAD 689 GEORGIA DEPARTMENT WORLD LANGUAGE SEAL GRADUATES, AND WE ANTICIPATE GROWTH IN THE NUMBER OF SEALS AWARDED THIS MAY, WITH ALL HIGH SCHOOLS BEING GRANTED APPROVAL TO AWARD BOTH SEALS.WORLD LANGUAGES BRING COMMUNITIES COMMUNITIES TOGETHER BY CELEBRATING THE MANY CULTURES, PERSPECTIVES AND VOICES THAT ENRICH OUR SCHOOLS. THE 10TH ANNUAL WORLD LANGUAGES FAIR WILL TAKE PLACE SATURDAY, MARCH 28TH FROM 8:30 A.M. TO 1:30 P.M. AT THE ACADEMY FOR ADVANCED STUDIES. THE FAIR WILL HOST OVER 400 WORLD LANGUAGE STUDENTS AT THE FAIR. STUDENTS FROM ELEMENTARY THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL SHOWCASE THEIR LANGUAGE SKILLS AND CULTURAL KNOWLEDGE WHILE CELEBRATING DIVERSE CULTURES AND SERVING AS INTERNATIONAL SKILLS DIPLOMA SEAL AMBASSADORS. THE EVENT FEATURES A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES INCLUDING PERFORMANCES, ARTS AND CRAFTS, TALENT SHOWS, POETRY RECITATIONS, AS WELL AS VOCABULARY AND ACADEMIC BOWLS. THIS FAIR REFLECTS OUR COMMITMENT TO PREPARING STUDENTS FOR A GLOBALLY CONNECTED WORLD THROUGH IMMERSIVE LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL EXPERIENCES. BOARD. TODAY'S UPDATE CONFIRMS THAT YOUR STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS IN WORLD LANGUAGES EDUCATION IS DELIVERING MEASURABLE RESULTS, AS WE HAVE ALREADY SURPASSED THE DISTRICT'S WORLD LANGUAGE PETITION PARTICIPATION GOAL FOR 2026. YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF WORLD LANGUAGE PROGRAMS IS EQUIPPING STUDENTS WITH THE LANGUAGE, SKILLS AND CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING NEEDED TO THRIVE IN THE 21ST CENTURY. WORLD LANGUAGE PROGRAMS AND COURSES ARE AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF A RIGOROUS, MODERN EDUCATION THAT PREPARES STUDENTS TO ENGAGE CONFIDENTLY AND SUCCESSFULLY IN AN INCREASINGLY DIVERSE AND INTERCONNECTED WORLD. DOCTOR PACE THIS CONCLUDES THE UPDATE, AND I YIELD THE FLOOR TO YOU. THANK YOU, DOCTOR JOHNSON.
MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES OUR INFORMATIONAL ITEM. UPDATE D2A AND WE REMAIN AVAILABLE TO OUR BOARD FOR ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, DOCTOR PACE. AND THANK YOU DOCTOR JOHNSON FOR THAT PRESENTATION. DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH. I REMEMBER WHEN WE WERE SETTING THIS GOAL, IT FELT ALMOST TOO LOFTY OF A GOAL AND Y'ALL HAVE BLOWN RIGHT PAST IT. SO THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT STUDENTS ARE GETTING THROUGH WORLD LANGUAGE CLASSES AND EXPERIENCES OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM ARE TRULY JUST PHENOMENAL. AND I HAVE A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART FOR WORLD LANGUAGE EDUCATION. SO I'M REALLY, REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THIS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO OUR NEXT INFORMATIONAL ITEM, WHICH IS D2B DOCTOR PACE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, FOR OUR NEXT INFORMATIONAL ITEM. D TO BE TO THE 20 2627 CODE OF CONDUCT. I'D LIKE TO INVITE OUR CHIEF SCHOOL LEADERSHIP OFFICER, MISTER ANTONIO MATTOX, TO THE PODIUM FOR THIS INFORMATIONAL ITEM. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT PACE, THIS
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AFTERNOON I'M PLEASED TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON OUR ANNUAL CODE OF CONDUCT REVIEW PROCESS.THIS WORK IS DIRECTLY ALIGNED WITH YOUR CORE BELIEF THAT ALL LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS MUST BE SUPPORTIVE, SAFE, AND SECURE. THE BOARD SETS CLEAR EXPECTATIONS FOR STUDENT CONDUCT, AND THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF REMAINS OUR HIGHEST PRIORITY. AS A DISTRICT, WE CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON KEEPING OUR STUDENTS SAFE TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY. YOUR SAFETY AND SECURITY STRATEGY CENTERS ON BOTH CONNECTIVITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE AND IS GROUNDED IN THREE KEY PILLARS CAMPUS, SECURITY AND INVESTMENTS, STUDENT AND STAFF SAFETY, AND CLEAR CONDUCT AND BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS. THE ANNUAL CODE OF CONDUCT REVIEW IS ESSENTIAL AS AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF THAT STRATEGY. THIS BOARD HAS CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATED ITS COMMITMENT TO CLARITY AND CONSISTENCY BY ANNUALLY ANALYZING OUR CODE OF CONDUCT AND RECOMMENDING THOUGHTFUL IMPROVEMENTS WHERE NEEDED. WE BEGIN THIS YEAR'S REVIEW PROCESS BY MEETING WITH EACH BOARD MEMBER TO DISCUSS PRIORITIES AND REVIEW THE CURRENT CODE OF CONDUCT. THOSE CONVERSATIONS WERE PRODUCTIVE AND REAFFIRMED THIS BOARD'S CONSENSUS AROUND MAINTAINING HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR STUDENT CONDUCT TO ENSURE SAFE AND ORDERLY SCHOOLS. TODAY MARKS PHASE THREE OF OUR ANNUAL REVIEW PROCESS. ALL RECOMMENDED CHANGES FOR THE 20 2627 CODE OF CONDUCT WILL BE INCLUDED IN A DRAFT POSTED ON THE DISTRICT'S WEBSITE FOR PUBLIC REVIEW AND COMMENT IN APRIL. PHASE FOUR WILL INCLUDE A RECOMMENDATION FOR BOARD ADOPTION AT THE MAY BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING. THE FINAL PHASE WILL FOCUS ON COMMUNICATION TO FAMILIES AND COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING FOR THE LOCAL SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, AND ENSURE CONSISTENT IMPLEMENTATION. AS A RESULT OF THIS BOARD'S COMMITMENT TO CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT AND GIVEN THE ADJUSTMENTS MADE IN PREVIOUS YEARS, THE PROPOSED REVISIONS FOR THIS YEAR'S ARE MEAN OR MINIMAL. I WILL HIGHLIGHT THE MORE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES INCLUDED IN THE DRAFT, WHILE ENCOURAGING ALL STAKEHOLDERS TO REVIEW THE FULL DOCUMENTATION ONCE IT'S BECOME PUBLIC. PUBLIC IN APRIL. FIRST, THERE ARE MINOR REVISIONS WITHIN LEVEL ONE AND LEVEL TWO VIOLATIONS. THESE INCLUDE CLARITY AROUND LANGUAGE IN 1.8, ENGAGING PROHIBITED BEHAVIOR NOW INCLUDES LANGUAGE FOR STUDENTS, ENCOURAGING FIGHTING OR PHYSICAL HARM TO ANOTHER IN ANY FORM. 2.3 VIOLATION OF ELECTRONICS AND TECHNOLOGY NOW INCLUDES THE USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. AI GENERATED POSTS SUCH AS DEEP FAKES AND NON INSTRUCTIONAL IN A NON-INSTRUCTIONAL MANNER. 2.4 GIVEN FALSE INFORMATION, LANGUAGE HAS BEEN ADDED AND REMOVED FOR CLARITY. 2.9 INAPPROPRIATE ACTIVITY OF A SEXUAL NATURE LANGUAGE HAS BEEN ADDED AND REMOVED FOR CLARITY IN INTENTIONAL ACTIONS OF STUDENTS INAPPROPRIATELY ATTENDING IN A I'M SORRY, LET ME SAY THAT AGAIN, LANGUAGE HAS BEEN ADDED AND REMOVED TO CLARITY. INTENTIONAL ACTS OF INAPPROPRIATE SAFETY OF A SEXUAL NATURE. WE ARE ADDING THE VIOLATION OF 2.22 CELL PHONE FILMING AND POSTINGS USING AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE TO FILM AND OR POST IMAGES OF ANY VIOLATION OF A HENRY COUNTY CODE OF CONDUCT WILL BE PROHIBITED. ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO CALL OUT THE VIOLATION OF 2.18 POSSESSION OF VAPING DEVICES, ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES, TOBACCO PRODUCTS OR RELATED PRODUCTS. WE HAVE INCLUDED IN OUR DISCIPLINE PROGRESSION, PREVENTATIVE PRACTICES AND EDUCATION ON THE EFFORTS OF VAPING. FINALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT SEVERAL AREAS OF FOCUS FOR THE 20 2627 SCHOOL YEAR. BY AREA OF FOCUS, I MEAN KEY EXPECTATIONS AND PRIORITIES WHERE WE WILL PROVIDE CLEAR COMMUNICATION, CONSISTENT ENFORCEMENT, AND PROACTIVE SUPPORT TO ENSURE A SAFE AND PRODUCTIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL STUDENTS. DURING THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR, THERE WILL BE A CONTINUED EMPHASIS ON DRESS CODE, CELL PHONE USAGE, AND ADDRESSING INAPPROPRIATE PHYSICAL CONTACT AND FIGHTING.
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STUDENTS WILL BE EXPECTED TO FOLLOW THE HEARING COUNTY CODE OF STUDENT CONDUCT SO THAT OUR SCHOOLS REMAIN SAFE, ORDERLY AND CONDUCIVE TO LEARNING. WE ALSO ASK THAT WE PARTNER WITH OUR PARENTS AND GUARDIANS. PLEASE TAKE TIME TO REVIEW THE CODE OF CONDUCT WITH YOUR STUDENT AND DISCUSS THE EXPECTATIONS FOR APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR AND THE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT COME WITH BEING A HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS STUDENT. WHEN FAMILIES AND SCHOOLS WORK TOGETHER TO REINFORCE THESE EXPECTATIONS, WE CREATE A CONDITIONS NECESSARY FOR STUDENTS TO LEARN AND SUCCEED IN A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT. WHILE I HAVE HIGHLIGHTED SEVERAL KEY REVISIONS, THE FULL BODY OF PROPOSED CHANGES WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC REVIEW AND COMMENT ON THE DISTRICT'S WEBSITE. FAMILIES MAY ACCESS THE DRAFT BY SELECTING COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN THE TOP RIGHT CORNER OF THE DISTRICT'S HOME PAGE, AND THEN CLICKING ON FOR PUBLIC REVIEW AND COMMENT. THERE. THEY CAN REVIEW THE PROPOSED MODIFICATIONS AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK. WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO REVIEW THE DRAFT AND SHARE THEIR INPUT. BEFORE THE BOARD OF EDUCATION STUDY SESSION SCHEDULED FOR MAY 11TH. DOCTOR PACE, THIS CONCLUDES ALL THAT I HAVE PREPARED. I YIELD THE FLOOR TO YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MATTOX. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES OUR INFORMATIONAL ITEM D2B AND I TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO YOU FOR ANY QUESTIONS THE BOARD MAY HAVE. THANK YOU, DOCTOR PAYSON. THANK YOU, MR. MATTOX, FOR THAT REPORT. DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY DISCUSSION? DOCTOR NUTT, MAY YOU GO BACK ABOUT TWO SLIDES, PLEASE? THAT ONE? YES. THAT ONE ON THE POSSESSION OF VAPING DEVICES, ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES, TOBACCO PRODUCTS AND RELATED PRODUCTS. WOULD THIS ALSO INCLUDE THE DRINKS? THESE ENERGY DRINKS THAT HAVE THC AND OTHER. OTHER DRUGS IN THEM? SO THAT WOULD BE A DIFFERENT INFRACTION THAT WILL ACTUALLY BE A LEVEL THREE OFFENSE. SO THERE'S A SEPARATE CALL OUT ON IN OUR LEVEL THREE OF OUR CODE OF CONDUCT. BUT THESE STUDENTS NEED TO UNDERSTAND THESE THESE ARE DRUGS EVEN THOUGH YOU CAN PURCHASE THEM IN OUR CORNER STORE. THEY'RE NOT OKAY TO DRINK OR SELL THEM AT SCHOOL OR BRING THEM TO SCHOOL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DOCTOR AND MR. MCDANIEL. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND THANK YOU, MR. MATTOX, FOR THIS UPDATE.THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS I, I MAY HAVE A QUESTION, A COUPLE OF THINGS I JUST WANT TO SAY A LOT OF TIMES WE AS BOARD MEMBERS HEAR ABOUT PARENTS THAT SAY THE CODE OF CONDUCT IS GOING TOO FAR. A LOT OF TIMES WE HEAR ABOUT HOW THE CODE OF CONDUCT CAN BE, YOU KNOW, IT OVERSTEPS. ONE THING ABOUT THE CODE OF CONDUCT IS THAT WE ARE CHARGED, PRINCIPALS ARE CHARGED, TEACHERS STAFF ARE CHARGED WITH THE SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS TO BE IN A CONDUCIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK THAT PAINS ME IS WHEN I DO SCHOOL VISITS IS THAT I HEAR HOW SOME OF THE PRINCIPALS HAVE CLOTHING CLOSETS BECAUSE STUDENTS ARE COMING TO SCHOOL IN INAPPROPRIATE MANNER. IF I MAY JUST SPEAK TO ANY PARENT THAT'S LISTENING. OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM IS NOT BED, BATH AND BEYOND. IT'S NOT FASHION NOVA. IT IS NOT ANY OF THE SCHOOLS YOU FIND DOWN IN TANGER. WE ARE NOT HERE TO SIT DOWN INTO. TELL YOUR SONS OR DAUGHTERS THAT THEY'RE DRESSING, DRESSING THE WRONG WAY AND THAT WE HAVE TO CORRECT IT. THAT HAS TO START AT HOME. A TEACHER, A PRINCIPAL, SHOULD NOT HAVE TO TAKE MAJORITY OF THEIR DAY AT A BUS LANE CORRECTING. AND I GOT SOME WITNESSES IN HERE. I'M SORRY I HAD A LITTLE MOMENT THERE, BUT THERE'S SOME PEOPLE IN HERE THAT WOULD TESTIFY TO THE FACT THAT AT A BUS LANE, WE'RE HAVING TO ADDRESS CLOTHING ISSUES. PARENTS, WE NEED YOUR HELP. WE NEED YOUR HELP. AND I'M SAYING IT AS A PARENT. THE OTHER THING THAT CONCERNS ME IS ABOUT THE CELL PHONE FILMING AND POSTING OF OUR FIGHTS. AGAIN, PARENTS UNDERSTAND SOMETHING. THIS IS SCHOOL. IT'S NOT WCW, IT'S NOT WWE, WWF, THIS IS NOT WHAT HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS ARE ABOUT.
AND FOR ANY STUDENT THAT AND I'M GLAD WE HAVE THIS HERE BECAUSE WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND
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AND LEARN. YOU ARE JUST AS NEGLIGENT AS THE ONE THAT'S ACTUALLY IN THE FIGHT WHEN YOU'RE ACTUALLY HELPING TO CREATE THE FIGHT. BUT AGAIN, WE SHOULD NOT HAVE OUR PRINCIPALS A CONSUMING MAJORITY OF THEIR DAY HANDLING ISSUES THAT CAN BE AVERTED AT HOME. SO, PARENTS, I'M SPEAKING TO YOU AS A PARENT WITH FOUR KIDS IN THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM. PLEASE HELP US TO HELP MAKE SURE THAT OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM IS CONDUCIVE AND CONDUCIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.BECAUSE THE THING THAT PAINS ME ALL THE TIME IS WHEN WE HEAR PARENTS SAY, WELL, WHY DO YOU HAVE TO SEND MY SCHOOL OR MY, MY, MY STUDENT HERE? WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE CONSEQUENCE THAT GOT HIM THERE. AND I'M TALKING ABOUT EXCEL. SO I THINK YOU AND YOUR STAFF FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING. I DON'T THINK THIS IS TOO FAR. I THINK THIS IS BASED OFF OF THE CONDITIONS THAT WE HAVE THAT'S GOING ON INSIDE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. AND I'M ACTUALLY GRATEFUL THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS COME UP TO SAY THAT, IF I MAY, ABOUT THE CELL PHONES, ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT THOSE ARE BANNED INSIDE OF OUR SCHOOLS, IT'S TIME FOR THAT. SO THANK YOU AND YOUR STAFF FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING. THANK YOU, MR. MCDANIEL. MR. MATTOX, THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR ALL THE WORK AND FOR LISTENING TO ALL THE VOICES WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THESE CHANGES AND MODIFICATIONS. VERY GRATEFUL. AND AS ALWAYS, WE ARE COMMITTED TO PROVIDING A SAFE AND SECURE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT, AND THIS IS ONE WAY WE CAN DO THAT. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. ALL RIGHT.
WE WILL NOW MOVE TO OUR NEXT INFORMATIONAL ITEM WHICH IS D3A DOCTOR PACE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR FOR INFORMATIONAL ITEM D3A THE FEBRUARY 2026 CONSTRUCTION OF EAST BLOCK REPORT UNDER ENSURING OPERATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS. I'D LIKE TO INVITE OUR CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, MR. BARRY MILES, TO THE PODIUM FOR THIS INFORMATIONAL UPDATE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT PACE, THIS AFTERNOON, I'M BRINGING YOU THE FEBRUARY 2026 CONSTRUCTION REPORT, STARTING WITH OLA MIDDLE SCHOOL. YOU SEE, THE PUNCH LIST IS 95% COMPLETE AND THE NEW ROAD, ASPHALT AND CURBING IS COMPLETE. ALL THAT REMAINS IS THE TO COMPLETE THE FENCING AND THE GATE INSTALLATION ON WILSON DRIVE BEHIND OLA MIDDLE SCHOOL, STEM HIGH SCHOOL. A LOT OF WORK GOING ON OUT THERE. THE SITE WORK IN-WALL AND OVERHEAD ELECTRICAL AND PLUMBING, ROUGH OVERHEAD MECHANICAL PIPING, UNDERGROUND ELECTRICAL AND PLUMBING. ROUGH SECOND STORY DECK WORK, CMU WALLS, DUCTWORK, INSTALLATION, AND THE SCHOOL OF BIOTECH. SLAB PREPARATION CONTINUES. INTERIOR CAFETERIA DRYWALL INSTALLATION BEGINS, AS WELL AS THE THIRD STORY DECK AND STAIRWELLS BETWEEN THE SECOND AND THIRD FLOOR. MOVING TO DUTCHTOWN MIDDLE SCHOOL. WE'VE ACHIEVED SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION ON THAT PROJECT. PUNCH LIST DOES CONTINUE THERE. OLA HIGH SCHOOL EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR CMU WALLS CONTINUE AND IN-WALL AND ELECTRICAL AND PLUMBING ROUGH ALSO CONTINUE.
OVERHEAD DECKING IS TO BEGIN SOON OUT THERE AND WOLF CREEK ELEMENTARY CLEARING AND SITE WORK CONTINUES, AS I'VE REPORTED IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS. BUT UNDERGROUND STORMWATER MANAGEMENT CONTINUES AND HAPPY TO REPORT THAT GYM AND CAFETERIA FOOTINGS ARE BEGINNING OUT THERE AND WRAPPING UP THE SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM UPGRADE FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS, CAMERA INSTALLATION FOR FOUR HIGH SCHOOLS AND SIX MIDDLE SCHOOLS IS COMPLETE IN THE BUILDING, AND CAMERA INSTALLATION FOR ONE HIGH SCHOOL AND THREE MIDDLE SCHOOLS IS CURRENTLY ON TRACK. AND THAT'S THE WORK THAT'S TAKING PLACE NOW. DOCTOR PACE, THIS CONCLUDES WHAT I PREPARED AND I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MILES.
MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES INFORMATIONAL ITEM D3A WILL REMAIN AVAILABLE TO OUR BOARD FOR ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, DOCTOR PACE. AND THANK YOU, MR. MILES, FOR THAT REPORT. DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY DISCUSSION, DOCTOR NUTT? OKAY, IT'S A NEW MONTH AND I'M GOING TO TRY. CAN I HAVE MY TRAILER NOW? JUST, YOU KNOW, I'M THAT CHILD THAT KEEPS ASKING UNTIL I WEAR YOU DOWN. YES, MA'AM. THERE ARE NO CURRENT PLANS TO PROVIDE A TRAILER THAT YOU'RE REQUESTING. ALL RIGHT, I'LL TRY. THANK YOU, DOCTOR NUTT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. MILES. IT'S EXCITING TO SEE ALL THE WORK HAPPENING. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO OUR NEXT INFORMATIONAL ITEM.
D3B DOCTOR PACE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, FOR OUR NEXT INFORMATIONAL ITEM. D3B THE FEBRUARY 2026 FINANCIAL REPORTS. I'D LIKE TO INVITE OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, MRS. SHANIQUA CLAY, TO THE PODIUM FOR THIS INFORMATION. UPDATE. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR.
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT PACE, TODAY I BRING A REPORT OF THE FINANCIAL ACTIVITY FOR THE PERIOD ENDING FEBRUARY 28TH, 2026. I'LL START THE REPORT WITH A LOOK ACROSS ALL FUNDS AND LOOKING AT THE LAST COLUMN, YOU CAN SEE THAT WE'VE COLLECTED 78.36% OF PLANNED REVENUES TO DATE ACROSS ALL FUNDS, WHICH IS SHOWN IN THE YELLOW HIGHLIGHT. AND WE HAVE EXPENDITURES TO DATE THAT TOTALED 69.79% OF BUDGETED EXPENDITURES, WHICH IS SHOWN IN THE GREEN HIGHLIGHT. OBLIGATIONS OUTSTANDING AS OF THE PERIOD END TOTALED $12.5 MILLION, WITH 88% OF THESE OBLIGATIONS PERTAINING TO CAPITAL PROJECTS RELATED
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EXPENDITURES. ONE POINT OF NOTE IS THAT THESE OBLIGATIONS AS THESE OBLIGATIONS SETTLE, WE WILL OVERRUN THE FORECAST OF EXPENDITURES FOR THE FISCAL YEAR WITHIN THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND, WHICH IS PRESENTLY AT 92% OF BUDGETED EXPENDITURES. HOWEVER, THIS OVERRUN CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO TIMING DIFFERENCES OF ASSUMPTIONS USED WHEN WE ESTABLISH THE FY 26 CAPITAL FUND BUDGET AND TO INFLATION, FUNDING IS AVAILABLE TO MANAGE THE EXPECTED CAPITAL PROJECTS ACTIVITY PLANNED FOR THE DURATION OF THIS FISCAL YEAR.MOVING ALONG, WE WILL REVIEW THE GENERAL FUND ACTIVITY, WHICH IS THE HOME OF OUR DAILY OPERATIONS. WITH THE EIGHTH MONTH OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITY NOW ACCOUNTED, WE ARE 67% THROUGH FY 26 ON A LINEAR BASIS. TO DATE, WE HAVE COLLECTED 81.79% OF PLANNED RECEIPTS AS SHOWN IN THE YELLOW HIGHLIGHT. TURNING OUR EYE TO THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE PAGE AND LOOKING AT THE GREEN HIGHLIGHT, YOU CAN SEE THAT WE'VE INCURRED EXPENSES REPRESENTING 66.35% OF THE BUDGET TO DATE. THIS INCREASES TO 66.45% WHEN THE OUTSTANDING OBLIGATIONS OF $650,235.61, WHICH IS SHOWN IN THAT THIRD COLUMN FROM THE RIGHT, ARE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT. OVERALL, THE PACE OF EXPENDITURES ARE RIGHT IN LINE WITH THE PROGRESS OF THE FISCAL YEAR, AND WE ARE PROACTIVELY MANAGING OUR EXPENDITURES TO SUPPORT THE CONTINUATION OF THIS TREND AS WE PROGRESS THROUGH FY 26. NEXT, WE WILL REVIEW THE GENERAL FUND BALANCE SHEET, THE TOTAL VALUE OF GENERAL FUNDS ASSETS AT THE CLOSE OF FEBRUARY TOTALED $236.9 MILLION. THE NEXT SLIDE PROVIDES A VIEW OF CASH ON HAND ACROSS ALL FUNDS. THE TOTAL OF CASH AND THE EQUIVALENT INVESTMENTS TOTALED $414.2 MILLION FOR THE REPORTING PERIOD. MOVING TO OUR EDUCATION REPORT AND LOOKING AT THE SECOND COLUMN, SECOND TO LAST COLUMN, EXPENDITURES FOR THE PERIOD TOTALED $6.9 MILLION, WITH 50% OF THE EXPENSES RELATING TO LAND ACQUISITION COMPLETED IN FEBRUARY. OTHER DRIVERS OF EXPENSES INCURRED INCLUDE CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS REPORTED EARLIER AND TECHNOLOGY PURCHASES. FINALLY, WE WILL REVIEW THE CAPITAL ACCUMULATION FINANCIAL REPORT. THE EXPENDITURES OF $21,600 IN THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY RELATING TO SAFETY AND SECURITY RESOURCE NEEDS. DOCTOR PACE, THAT CONCLUDES WHAT I PREPARED AND I YIELD THE FLOOR TO YOU. THANK YOU, MRS. CLAY. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES OUR INFORMATIONAL ITEM D3B AND REMAIN AVAILABLE TO OUR BOARD FOR ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, DOCTOR PACE. AND THANK YOU, MRS. CLAY, FOR THAT INFORMATION. DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY DISCUSSION SEEING NONE. WE APPRECIATE YOU SO MUCH. AND WE WILL NOW MOVE TO OUR LAST INFORMATIONAL ITEM FOR THE AFTERNOON WHICH IS D3C DOCTOR PACE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, FOR INFORMATIONAL ITEM D3C THE FY 27 BUDGET OVERVIEW I WOULD LIKE TO ASK OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, MRS. CLAY, TO REMAIN AT THE PODIUM FOR THIS INFORMATIONAL UPDATE. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT PACE. WE ARE CONTINUING TO PROGRESS THROUGH THE BUDGET DEVELOPMENT SEASON, AND TODAY'S REPORT WILL HIGHLIGHT STATE ACTIVITY IMPACTING CURRENT AND FUTURE BUDGET PLANNING, AS WELL AS REVIEW LOCAL INDICATORS. WE ARE MONITORING BOARD. YOU HAVE BEEN INDEPENDENTLY BRIEFED ON LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS BEING CONSIDERED UNDER THE GOLD DOME, AND YOU ARE AWARE THAT THERE ARE MANY VARIABLES THAT MAKE THIS AN UNPRECEDENTED BUDGET SEASON. AS SUCH, IT IS THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATION TO REVISE THE FY 27 BUDGET DEVELOPMENT CALENDAR. IN TODAY'S REPORT, WE WILL PRESENT THE RATIONALE. BEFORE I PROCEED, I WANT TO PROVIDE A REMINDER OF THE FOUR FUNDS THAT THE BOARD TAKES ACTION ON ANNUALLY, PER GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS. WE CREATE DISTINCT FUNDS TO ALLOW FOR THE TRACKING OF REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES FOR SPECIFIC, SPECIFIC PURPOSES.
ANNUALLY, WE PRESENT THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDED BUDGET ACROSS FOUR AGGREGATE FUNDS IN ACCORDANCE WITH BOARD POLICY DC. THE FIRST OF THE FOUR FUNDS IS THE GENERAL FUND, WHICH IS THE ACCOUNT USED FOR DAILY OPERATIONS LIKE SALARIES, INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPLIES, MAINTENANCE COSTS, ETC. NEXT IS THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUND. THIS FUND ACCOUNTS FOR GRANTS GIVEN TO HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS FOR DESIGNATED AND SUPPLEMENTAL PURPOSES, AS WELL AS THE FINANCIALS ASSOCIATED WITH OUR NUTRITION AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM, WHICH ARE ENTERPRISING ACTIVITIES. NEXT IS THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND, WHICH ALLOWS FOR SEPARATE TRACKING OF REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES RELATED TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AUTHORIZED BY THE BOARD. AND FINALLY, THERE'S THE DEBT SERVICE FUND, WHICH CAPTURES REVENUE AND EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH THE LONG TERM DEBT INCURRED TO FINANCE THE CAPITAL PROJECTS. SO WITH THAT CONTEXT, TODAY'S REPORT WILL FOCUS ON REVIEW OF THE EXTERNAL ACTIVITIES THAT ARE INFORMING THE GENERAL FUNDS OUTLOOK TO ORIENT WHERE WE ARE IN THE BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PROCESS. LET'S REVIEW THE OUTLINE SHARED DURING THE DECEMBER 2025 MEETING OF THE BOARD, WHICH HIGHLIGHTED THE VARIOUS EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL ACTIVITIES THAT ALLOW OUR SYSTEM TO FORECAST REVENUES AND EXPENSES FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR. WITH OVER 99% OF GENERAL FUND REVENUES COMING FROM STATE AND LOCAL SOURCES, FORECASTING PROCESSES ARE HIGHLY RELIANT ON THE STATE'S BUDGETING AND LEGISLATIVE PROCESSES, AND FROM INFORMATION GATHERED FROM DISCUSSION WITH OUR LOCAL TAX ASSESSOR. THE GEORGIA LEGISLATURE WENT INTO SESSION ON JANUARY 12TH, AND WE HAVE
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BEEN MONITORING THE ACTIVITY UNDER THE GOLD DOME CLOSELY. SPECIFICALLY, WE HAVE BEEN EVALUATING AND QUANTIFYING POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF BILLS THAT ARE DEEMED TO HAVE SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS AND OPERATIONS. AS OF LAST WEEK, THERE WERE MORE THAN 200 BILLS THAT HAD BEEN INTRODUCED THAT HAD SOME RELATIONSHIP TO EDUCATION AND SEVERAL PIECES OF PROPOSED LEGISLATION SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED RISK AND VOLATILITY OF SCHOOL SYSTEM REVENUES, WHICH IN TURN INTRODUCES INCREASED RISK IN OUR INTERNAL FORECASTING PROCESSES. IN ADDITION TO THESE STATE OBSERVATIONS, THE AVAILABILITY OF LOCAL REVENUE INFORMATION IS SHIFTING TO LATER THAN WE HISTORICALLY EXPECT AS WELL. IN THE COMING SLIDES, WE WILL OUTLINE HOW STATE AND LOCAL INDICATORS ARE SHAPING THE OUTLOOK OF FY 27 FUNDING AVAILABILITY. WE WILL HIGHLIGHT THE KNOWN INFORMATION AND OUTLINE PENDING INFORMATION POINTS THAT ARE IMPACTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF A RELIABLE FORECAST. PRESENTLY, I'LL START WITH A REVIEW OF THE STATE INDICATORS. IN JANUARY, THE GOVERNOR SHARED RECOMMENDATIONS TO AMEND THE CURRENT FY 26 BUDGET AND PROPOSAL FOR FY 27 STATE BUDGET. THE STATE'S BUDGET IS SUBJECT TO REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF BOTH THE SENATE AND HOUSE CHAMBERS OF THE GEORGIA LEGISLATURE. THE AMENDED STATE BUDGET FOR FY 26 PASSED IN THE CLOSING WEEKS OF FEBRUARY, AND WE KNOW THAT THE APPROVED CHANGES IMPACT OUR CURRENT FISCAL YEAR 26, BUT THESE CHANGES DO NOT IMPACT OUR FY 27 BUDGET ASSUMPTIONS. THE STATE FY 27 BUDGET PROPOSAL IS STILL UNDER REVIEW BY BOTH CHAMBERS CHAMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE, BUT WE ARE AWARE OF AND HAVE ESTIMATED THE FISCAL IMPACTS OF PROPOSED RATE INCREASES FOR THE TEACHER RETIREMENT SYSTEM, TRS AND THE STATE HEALTH BENEFIT PLAN, WHICH IS STATE HEALTH BENEFITS LISTED ON THE SLIDE. WE'VE ALSO QUANTIFIED SHIFTS IN FTE ENROLLMENT, TENTATIVE RESTORATION OF EQUALIZATION, GRANT EARNINGS, TENTATIVE INCREASE IN SECURITY GRANT EARNINGS, AND TENTATIVE INCREASE IN LOCAL FIVE MIL SHARE CONTRIBUTION REQUIREMENTS, WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY A REDUCTION OF OUR STATE EARNINGS. OVERALL, OUR CURRENT MODEL WOULD SUGGEST AN INCREASE IN STATE REVENUE YEAR OVER YEAR. HOWEVER, SOME OF THESE GAINS AND REVENUE WOULD BE OFFSET BECAUSE OF MANDATORY EXPENSE INCREASES MANDATED BY THE STATE, SUCH AS OUR STATE HEALTH BENEFIT RATE INCREASES. ADDITIONALLY, THERE WERE SEVERAL BILLS PROPOSED DURING THE LEGISLATIVE CYCLE THAT PROPOSED FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES IN HOW SCHOOL SYSTEMS ARE FUNDED. AS OF FRIDAY, WHICH WAS CROSSOVER DAY AT THE CAPITOL, THERE WERE TWO COMPETING BILLS RELATED TO PROPERTY TAX REFORM THAT HAD CROSSED OVER FROM ONE CHAMBER TO ANOTHER. CROSSOVER DAY AT THE CAPITOL IS AN IMPORTANT MILESTONE, BECAUSE IT REPRESENTS THE MIDWAY POINT OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION. ADDITIONALLY, FOR BILLS TO REMAIN ACTIVE DURING THE REMAINDER OF THIS SESSION, THEY MUST HAVE GOTTEN ENOUGH VOTES TO PASS OUT OF THEIR ORIGINATING CHAMBER. WE ARE ACTIVELY MONITORING THE PROGRESS OF SENATE BILL 382, WHICH WILL REMOVE LOCAL AUTHORITY PREVIOUSLY GRANTED TO SCHOOL BOARDS OF EDUCATION AND MANDATE PARTICIPATION IN THE STATEWIDE FLOATING EXEMPTION.DESPITE THE VARIOUS LOCAL EXEMPTIONS THAT ARE ALREADY OFFERED HERE IN HENRY COUNTY.
WE ARE ALSO MONITORING HOUSE BILL 1116, WHICH PROPOSES INTRODUCTION OF LOCAL VOTER REFERENDUMS IF YEAR OVER YEAR BUDGETS OF SCHOOL BOARDS AND LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES EXCEED A CAPPED THRESHOLD, WE ANTICIPATE THERE WILL BE MUCH DISCUSSION, DEBATE AND CHANGES AND TO THE TO THESE BILLS AND TO ALL BILLS THAT REMAIN ACTIVE POST CROSSOVER DAY. THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION WILL CONCLUDE ON APRIL 2ND, AND BY LAW, THE LEGISLATURE MUST HAVE PASSED THE STATE'S BUDGET. GIVEN THESE CONDITIONS, UPDATING THE BUDGET CALENDAR IS RECOMMENDED TO ALLOW FOR THE PASSAGE OF THE STATE BUDGET AND TO ALLOW FOR CLARIFICATION OF LEGISLATIVE IMPACTS TO EMERGE. NOW, LET'S SHIFT TO A REVIEW OF INDICATORS THAT INFORM OUR LOCAL REVENUE OUTLOOK. IN PAST YEARS, WE WOULD BEGIN HIGH LEVEL DISCUSSIONS WITH THE TAX ASSESSOR OFFICE IN FEBRUARY, ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THEIR FORECAST WOULD TIGHTEN AND IMPROVE THE CLOSER WE WERE TO MAY. THIS TIMELINE HAS BEEN SHIFTING AS A RESULT OF STATE LEGISLATION PASSED DURING THE 2024 AND 2025 LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS. LEGISLATION FROM THESE PAST CYCLES HAS CREATED ADDITIONAL DUTIES AND NEW NOTICE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE TAX ASSESSOR'S OFFICE. THESE CHANGES HAVE HAD IMPACTS ON THE TAX ASSESSORS OVERALL TIMELINES, AND HAS INTRODUCED INCREASED VARIABILITY IN THEIR METHODOLOGY DUE TO THE EXTENSION OF THE APPEALS WINDOW. WHILE WE CONTINUE TO CLOSELY PARTNER WITH THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE AND INITIAL DIGEST FORECAST HAS NOT BEEN DISCUSSED TO DATE, THROUGH DISCUSSION, WE ARE AWARE OF A DOWNWARD PRESSURE IN THE DIGEST THAT SIGNALS THE POSSIBILITY OF FLAT OR NEGATIVE LOCAL REVENUE CHANGES. HOWEVER, ADDITIONAL TIME IS NEEDED TO ALLOW FOR CLARIFIED INFORMATION TO EMERGE. IN DISCUSSION WITH OUR COUNTY ASSESSOR, WE KNOW THAT THE DATA PERIOD THAT INFORMS THEIR PRACTICES CLOSES AT THE BEGINNING OF APRIL. THIS LOCAL OBSERVATION ALIGNS WITH THE TIME FRAME OF THE CONCLUSION OF THE STATE'S ACTIVITIES, FURTHER SUPPORTING A RECOMMENDATION TO UPDATE THE FY 27 BUDGET CALENDAR. SO, WITH AN
[00:50:05]
UNDERSTANDING OF THE STATUS OF EXTERNAL ACTIVITIES THAT ARE IMPACTING FORECAST DEVELOPMENT, I WILL NOW PRESENT A REVISION TO THE FY 27 BUDGET DEVELOPMENT CALENDAR. THIS DOCUMENT WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE BOARD MEETING. ATTACHMENTS TO ALLOW FOR FINALIZED INFORMATION TO EMERGE AND INCREASE THE RELIABILITY OF OUR BUDGETARY ASSUMPTIONS, IT IS RECOMMENDED TO SHIFT THE BUDGET CALENDAR BY APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH. AS SUCH, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE APRIL REPORT NOW PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE REVENUE CONSTRAINTS APPLICABLE TO FY 27, INSTEAD OF THE INITIALLY PLANNED TENTATIVE ADOPTION PRESENTATION OF THE TENTATIVE BUDGET FOR FY 27 AND A BUDGET HEARING ARE RECOMMENDED TO OCCUR ON MAY 11TH. FOLLOWING THE HEARING, THE BOARD WILL BE PRESENTED WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADOPT A TENTATIVE BUDGET.THE FINAL PROPOSED BUDGET WILL BE PRESENTED ON JUNE 8TH. A SECOND BUDGET HEARING WILL BE HOSTED, AND THE BOARD WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADOPT THE FINAL PROPOSED BUDGET. DOCTOR PACE, THAT CONCLUDES WHAT I'VE PREPARED AND I YIELD THE FLOOR TO YOU. THANK YOU, MRS. CLAY AND MADAM CHAIR, BEFORE I TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO YOU, I JUST WANT TO REITERATE TWO VERY IMPORTANT THINGS. FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE HENRY COUNTY DELEGATION REPRESENTATIVES AT THE STATE. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH THEM LAST WEEK, AND I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR KEEPING THE LINES OF COMMUNICATION OPEN, THE DIALOG GOING AS MISS CLAY PRESENTED, THERE ARE TWO BILLS SENATE BILL 382 AND HOUSE BILL 1116 THAT DID MAKE IT TO CROSSOVER. AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR AND DIALOG WITH OUR DELEGATION ON THE IMPACTS THIS COULD HAVE ON US HERE IN HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS. AND ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. I KNOW MANY OF YOU MADE CONTACT AND SPOKE TO PEOPLE, AND WE BELIEVE MAKING THIS ADJUSTMENT WILL ALLOW YOU ALL AS A BOARD TO DO WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO HISTORICALLY, WHICH IS MAKE THE MOST PRUDENT DECISIONS WHEN IT COMES TO OUR BUDGET. BY ADJUSTING THE CALENDAR. SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT MADAM CHAIR AND I TURN IT OVER TO OUR BOARD FOR ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH, DOCTOR PACE. AND THANK YOU, MRS. CLAY, FOR THAT PRESENTATION. DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY DISCUSSION? MISTER MCDANIEL, I JUST WANT TO SAY TO MISS CLAY AND HER STAFF, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU ALL ARE DOING IN THIS UNFORESEEN SEASON.
BUT I ALSO WANT TO SPEAK TO THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE AGAIN, BECAUSE YOU ALWAYS HEAR THAT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS THE REASON WHY THIS IS GOING UP AND THAT IS GOING UP, AND EVERYONE WANTS TO BLAME THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. BUT YET THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IN CHARGE IS IN CHARGE OF TEACHING 43,000 STUDENTS, 6000 EMPLOYEES EVERY YEAR SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD. I THINK FOR AT LEAST THE LAST FOUR YEARS, TRS HAS GONE UP THE CONTRIBUTIONS TO. YEAH, THERE YOU GO. I CAN SAY THE ACRONYM, I THINK. I'M GLAD YOU GOT IT. BUT EVERY YEAR IT HAS GONE UP EXPONENTIALLY. AND THAT IS A COST THAT THE LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS TO INCUR. AND IF IT HAD NOT BEEN FOR GOOD ECONOMIC TIMES, WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO WHAT WE DID DURING THAT SEASON WHEN OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS WERE LAYING OFF EMPLOYEES AND FURLOUGHING EMPLOYEES, NOT HERE IN HENRY COUNTY BECAUSE OF STEWARDSHIP. SO I WANT TO SAY TO THE COMMUNITY, WHEN AND I HAD THIS DISCUSSION, A LOT OF TIMES THE SCHOOL SYSTEM DOES WHAT'S RIGHT BY EVERYONE'S TAX DOLLARS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE TAUGHT TO RETAIN THE BEST TEACHERS, TO DEVELOP THE BEST TEACHERS, AND CALL HENRY COUNTY HOME. BUT I AM WORRIED IN THE FACT THAT WE HAVE THOSE THAT WANT TO TAKE AWAY THE LOCAL AUTHORITY OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. WHEN THE GRASS IS GREEN, BUT YET YOU WANT US TO NOT. IT'D BE OKAY TO KEEP THE AUTHORITY WHEN WE HAVE TO MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS SUCH AS THIS. I THINK THAT'S A LITTLE FAR REACHED. SO I WOULD ASK, AND I DO THINK MY COLLEAGUES ECHOED THE SENTIMENT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT TO CONTINUE TO TALK TO OUR DELEGATION, BECAUSE EVERYONE WANTS TO TRY TO TELL US WHAT TO DO, BUT WE DON'T GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO TELL EVERYBODY ELSE WHAT THEY SHOULD BE DOING. THE CHARGE WE HAVE IS A GREAT CHARGE. LET US DO OUR JOB. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS MCDANIEL. DOCTOR NAT. WELL, SINCE YOU THINK I'VE BEEN HERE 60 YEARS, I GOT TO ADDING IT UP. YOU KNOW WHAT? IT REALLY? 30 YEARS OF TEACHING AND 30 AND B 32 YEARS ON THE SCHOOL BOARD. SO THAT'S 62 YEARS. HATE IT WHEN HE'S RIGHT I DO I LOVE HIM THOUGH. BUT HE'S RIGHT. IF YOU WILL LET ME AS A TEACHER DO MY JOB WITH PUTTING ALL OF THESE RESTRICTIONS ON ME. AND I WROTE DOWN THAT TWO OUT OF 200 BILLS,
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HOW MANY OF THESE BILLS HAD MONETARY SUPPORT FOR OUR SYSTEM? NOW I CAN CUT YOUR TAXES. I CAN DO THAT. I CAN I CAN DO A LOT TO SAVE YOU MONEY. BUT YOU ARE THE ONE THAT WANTED THE STEM SCHOOL. YOU'RE THE ONE THAT WANTS OUR CHILDREN TO BE COMPETITIVE WITH THE COBBS AND THE GWINNETT'S, AND WE'RE DOING THAT. BUT IF YOU WANT TO PULL BACK NOW, THEN IT'S WE'VE GOT TO GIVE UP SOMETHING. SO WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO GIVE UP AS A COUNTY, AS A SCHOOL SYSTEM? AND REMEMBER TO IF OUR SCHOOLS ARE NOT PERFORMING, THEN PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO WANT TO COME HERE.THEY'RE NOT GOING TO WANT TO PAY THOSE TAXES. AND YOU MAY NOT BE INVITING THE FOLKS YOU WANT TO BE PART OF YOUR COMMUNITY. I'M JUST SAYING, WHATEVER WE DO ON ONE HAND, WE HAVE TO DO TO BALANCE IT OUT. SO THINK BEFORE YOU HOLLER AND THINK IT'S JUST A SCHOOL SYSTEM.
IT'S NOT JUST THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. WE'RE PROVIDING YOUR CHILD WITH THE VERY BEST EDUCATION. THIS PUBLIC SCHOOL, RIGHT, FOR EVERYBODY, I THINK. SO I'M A PRODUCT TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOL AND I'M VERY PROUD OF IT. ALL THREE OF MY CHILDREN WENT THROUGH PUBLIC SCHOOL AND MY GRANDCHILDREN. SO THINK REALLY HARD. IT MAY NOT BE WHERE YOU WANT US TO BE, BUT WE'RE GETTING THERE AND WE CAN ONLY GET THERE IF YOU'LL HELP US. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DOCTOR, AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU, MISS CLAY, YOU AND YOUR TEAM, FOR ALWAYS BEING SO TRANSPARENT WITH WHERE WE ARE AND WHERE YOU FORESEE US GOING. I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE FINANCIAL POSITION THAT WE ARE IN, SO THAT WE CAN MAKE RESPONSIBLE DECISIONS AND CARE FOR OUR EMPLOYEES AND OUR STUDENTS. BUT REGARDLESS OF WHAT IS HAPPENING UNDER THE GOLD DOME, OUR MISSION, VISION AND CORE BELIEFS WILL NOT CHANGE AND WE WILL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO PROVIDE AN EXCELLENT EDUCATION FOR EVERY CHILD IN HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS. SO I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THIS ADJUSTMENT IN THE CALENDAR AND REALLY, REALLY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR FORESIGHT AND HELPING US MAKE THE MOST RESPONSIBLE DECISIONS. SO THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WE WILL NOW
[E. BUSINESS ITEMS]
MOVE TO OUR BUSINESS ITEMS AND WE WILL BEGIN WITH ITEM E ONE. BEFORE WE DO, I WILL REMIND EVERYONE THESE ITEMS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA AND OUR BUSINESS MEETING THIS EVENING. BUT AS ALWAYS, ANY BOARD MEMBER IS WELCOME TO REMOVE AN ITEM IF THEY SO WISH.SO I WILL TURN IT OVER TO YOU. DOCTOR PACE FOR ITEM E ONE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR FOR BUSINESS ITEM E ONE SCHOOL NUTRITION EQUIPMENT PURCHASE. I'D LIKE TO ASK MRS. CLAY TO REMAIN AT THE PODIUM TO PRESENT THIS BUSINESS ITEM. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT PACE. BUSINESS ITEM E ONE PERTAINS TO A RECOMMENDATION TO PURCHASE 12 FREEZERS AND TWO COOLERS TO SUPPORT SCHOOL NUTRITION OPERATIONS. TO COMPLETE THE PURCHASE, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WILL UTILIZE DOUGLAS EQUIPMENT, A VENDOR IDENTIFIED IN A RECENTLY COMPLETED INVITATION TO BID SCHOOL NUTRITION FUNDS WILL BE LEVERAGED IN THE AMOUNT INDICATED. IF THE PURCHASE IS AUTHORIZED BY THE BOARD, THIS ITEM IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA. DOCTOR PACE, THAT CONCLUDES WHAT I PREPARED AND I YIELD THE FLOOR TO YOU. THANK YOU, MRS. CLAY. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES BUSINESS ITEM E ONE AND REMAIN AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS THE BOARD MAY HAVE. THANK YOU, DOCTOR PAYSON.
THANK YOU AGAIN. MRS. CLAY. DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY DISCUSSION? THIS IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA. DOES ANYONE OBJECT? NOPE. THIS WILL BE PLACED ON CONSENT THIS EVENING. THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO BUSINESS ITEM E TWO, DOCTOR PACE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. FOR BUSINESS ITEM E TWO BUSINESS INFRASTRUCTURE, ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING SYSTEM. I'D LIKE TO ASK MRS. CLAY TO PRESENT THIS BUSINESS ITEM. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT PACE. BUSINESS ITEM E TWO PERTAINS TO THE PROCUREMENT OF SUPPORT SERVICES FOR ACCESS SYSTEM ENHANCEMENTS WITH ONE YEAR OF FULL SCALE IMPLEMENTATION OF ACCESS HCC'S, COMPLETE PRIORITY ENHANCEMENTS AND SUPPORT NEEDS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED TO ADVANCE OUR SYSTEM OPERATIONS. AUTHORIZATION TO ENTER INTO A CHANGE ORDER AGREEMENT WITH HIGH STREET IS REQUESTED TO SUPPORT IMPLEMENTATION OF UPDATED CONFIGURATIONS TO RESPOND TO TAX CHANGES, STREAMLINE PAYROLL CALCULATIONS, AND IMPROVE HUMAN CAPITAL RELATED REPORTING. IF APPROVED, THE IDENTIFIED WORK WOULD BE COMPLETED BY JUNE 2026. IN SUPPORT OF STREAMLINING OUR BUSINESS PROCESSES PRIOR TO THE START OF A NEW FISCAL YEAR, DG COMPLIANCE IS ACHIEVED THROUGH COMPETITIVE BIDDING EXCEPTION NUMBER SIX, WHICH ALLOWS FOR ADDITIONAL PURCHASES OF THE SAME OR LIKE EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES PREVIOUSLY BID. THE SUPERINTENDENT RECOMMENDS THE BOARD AUTHORIZE EXPENDITURES OF THE GENERAL FUND FOR THE AMOUNT INDICATED TO SUPPORT THE IDENTIFIED ENHANCEMENTS FOR ACCESS HCS. THIS ITEM IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA. DOCTOR PACE, THAT CONCLUDES OUR
[01:00:01]
PREPARED AND I YIELD THE FLOOR TO YOU. THANK YOU, MRS. CLAY. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION OF BUSINESS ITEM E TWO AND REMAIN AVAILABLE TO OUR BOARD FOR ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, DOCTOR PACE. AND THANK YOU AGAIN. MRS. CLAY. 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 ALSO BE PLACED ON CONSENT THIS EVENING AND WE WILL NOW MOVE TO BUSINESS. ITEM E THREE. DOCTOR PACE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, FOR BUSINESS ITEM E THREE, THE FY 26 BUDGET AMENDMENT. I'D LIKE TO ASK MRS. CLAY TO PRESENT THIS ITEM. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT PACE, THIS LAST BUSINESS ITEM, E THREE THAT I WILL BRING TO YOU PERTAINS TO A RECOMMENDATION TO AMEND THE FY 26 BUDGET TO ACCOUNT FOR ONE TIME PAY SUPPLEMENTS ANNOUNCED BY GOVERNOR KEMP FOR FORMULA EARNED K THROUGH 12 STAFF, AND TO RECOMMEND EXTENSION OF THE SUPPLEMENT BEYOND THE JOB CATEGORIES FUNDED BY THE STATE. THE SUPERINTENDENTS RECOMMENDATION IS TO PROVIDE FULL TIME EMPLOYEES ACTIVELY EMPLOYED. AS OF JANUARY 15TH, 2026, THE GOVERNOR'S ANNOUNCEMENT DATE THAT HAVE DEMONSTRATED COMMITMENT TO COMPLETING THEIR ASSIGNED FY 26 WORK CALENDAR AS OF MARCH 9TH, 2026, WHICH WOULD BE THE BOARD AWARD DATE WITH A ONE TIME SUPPLEMENT IN CONSIDERATION OF DOCUMENTED WORK SCHEDULES UP TO AN AMOUNT OF $2,000.ADDITIONALLY, IT IS RECOMMENDED TO EXTEND THE SUPPLEMENT TO PART TIME EMPLOYEES SUPPORTING SAFETY AND TRANSPORTATION THAT HAVE DAILY ASSIGNMENT EXPECTATIONS EXCEEDING FIVE HOURS. LASTLY, CONSIDERATION OF TIER SUPPLEMENTS FOR SELECT FULL TIME CONTRACT STAFF SERVING IN TEACHING AND SAFETY ROLES IS INCLUDED WITHIN THE RECOMMENDATION. THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT INCREASES THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT, INCREASES STATE REVENUES FOR THE GENERAL FUND BY APPROXIMATELY $7.6 MILLION, WHICH IS THE ESTIMATE OF FUNDING TO BE RECEIVED FROM THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. WE ARE ESTIMATING THIS AMOUNT BECAUSE GUIDANCE HAS NOT YET BEEN PROVIDED. WE ARE ESTIMATING THAT THE FUNDING THAT WILL BE PROVIDED WILL COVER ROLES THAT ARE EARNED THROUGH THE QBE FUNDING FORMULA, ACCOUNTING FOR APPROXIMATELY 59% OF OUR STAFF. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WE EMPLOY MORE STAFF WITHIN THE CATEGORIES IDENTIFIED BY THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL THAN WE EARNED WITHIN THE FORMULA. FOR EXAMPLE, WE EMPLOY OVER 130 PLUS COUNSELORS, BUT WE ONLY EARN 95 COUNSELOR POSITIONS BASED ON THE STATE RATIO OF ONE COUNSELOR EARNED FOR EVERY 450 STUDENTS. LOCAL FUNDS ARE THUS REQUIRED TO FUND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EARNED VERSUS EMPLOYED STAFF, AS WELL AS TO EXTEND CONSIDERATION OF THE SUPPLEMENT TO SUPPORT POSITIONS NOT INCLUDED WITHIN THE STATE'S PROPOSAL. DISTRIBUTION OF THE PROPOSED SUPPLEMENT IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE THE FY 26 EXPENDITURE PROFILE BY $12.1 MILLION. THIS EXPECTED COST WILL BE EXCLUSIVELY CAPTURED WITHIN THE GENERAL FUND, AND EVERY FUNCTION SHOWN IN THIS FOUR COLUMN HAS BEEN ADJUSTED ACCORDINGLY, WITH COSTS EXCEEDING THE EXPECTED REVENUE. ADDITIONAL USE OF GENERAL FUND RESERVES OF APPROXIMATELY $4.5 MILLION WILL BE REQUIRED. ACCORDINGLY, YOU WILL SEE IN THE PRESENTED BUDGET AMENDMENT DOCUMENT THAT THE RESERVE USE OF THE GENERAL FUND IS NOW PROPOSED TO BE $32.8 MILLION VERSUS THE $28.3 MILLION USED, PER THE BOARD'S AMENDED BUDGET AS OF NOVEMBER 2025. IF THE RECOMMENDATION IS APPROVED BY THE BOARD, THE SUPPLEMENT WILL BE DELIVERED TO EMPLOYEES IN THE MARCH 31ST PAYCHECK AND WILL BE SUBJECT TO THE STANDARD WITHHOLDINGS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED BY THE EMPLOYEE. ADDITIONALLY, A FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION DOCUMENT WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE AND EMAILED TO ALL EMPLOYEES.
THIS ITEM IS NOW ELIGIBLE FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA. DOCTOR PACE, THAT CONCLUDES WHAT I PREPARED AND I YIELD THE FLOOR TO YOU. THANK YOU, MRS. CLAY. MADAM CHAIR, BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO YOU, IF THE BOARD DOES APPROVE THIS, WE WILL BE ONE OF THE FIRST DISTRICTS TO RELEASE SUPPLEMENTS, AS MANY OTHER DISTRICTS ARE WAITING FOR GUIDANCE. SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT POINT KNOWN, AND I TURN IT OVER TO OUR BOARD FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
THANK YOU, DOCTOR PACE. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN, MRS. CLAY, DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? NO. SEEING NONE. THIS IS ALSO ELIGIBLE FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA. DOES ANYONE OBJECT? THIS WILL BE PLACED ON CONSENT THIS EVENING. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE'LL NOW MOVE TO BUSINESS ITEM E FOR DOCTOR PACE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. FOR BUSINESS, ITEM E FOR DELEGATE AND ALTERNATE FOR GEORGIA SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION DELEGATE ASSEMBLY.
I'D LIKE TO INVITE OUR DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT TO STAFF AND OPERATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS.
MISSUS SUMMER COX TO THE PODIUM. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND DOCTOR PACE. EACH YEAR, THE GEORGIA SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION REQUESTS THAT LOCAL BOARDS OF EDUCATION APPOINT A DELEGATE TO SERVE ON THE ASSOCIATION'S DELEGATE ASSEMBLY. THE DELEGATE ASSEMBLY IS THE REPRESENTATIVE DECISION MAKING BODY WHEREBY GSBA MEMBERS ENGAGE IN A VARIETY OF PREDETERMINED ACTIVITIES. CHIEF AMONG THEM INCLUDE SETTING AND REVIEWING POLICY AND ESTABLISHING ANNUAL PRIORITIES AS MEMBERS OF THE ASSEMBLY. DELEGATES ALSO CARRY OUT A NUMBER OF DUTIES, INCLUDING ELECTING OFFICERS AND DETERMINING LEGISLATIVE POSITIONS. THIS YEAR, THE DELEGATE ASSEMBLY WILL CONVENE ON TUESDAY, JUNE 9TH AND
[01:05:01]
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10TH AT THE GSBA SUMMER CONFERENCE IN SAVANNAH, GEORGIA. PLEASE NOTE THAT ONLY DELEGATES HAVE VOTING RIGHTS, AND VOTES ARE CAST AS REPRESENTATIVE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, NOT AS INDIVIDUALS. THIS EVENING, YOU WILL SELECT A MEMBER TO REPRESENT THIS BOARD AT THIS YEAR'S SUMMER CONFERENCE. THE BOARD WILL ALSO NEED TO IDENTIFY AN ALTERNATE SHOULD THE CHOSEN DELEGATE BE UNABLE TO PARTICIPATE. THIS ITEM IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR BOARD ACTION. DOCTOR PACE, THIS CONCLUDES ALL THAT I'VE PREPARED AND I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU. THANK YOU, MRS. COX. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES OUR UPDATE ON THIS BUSINESS ITEM. E4 AND I TURN IT OVER. ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH, DOCTOR PAYSON. THANK YOU, MRS. COX. AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN THE FLOOR FOR NOMINATIONS FOR THE DELEGATE FOR THE GEORGIA SCHOOL BOARD. ASSOCIATION, FOR THE DELEGATE ASSEMBLY THIS JUNE. MADAM CHAIR, I'D LIKE TO NOMINATE MR. MCKENZIE MCDANIEL AS OUR DELEGATE FOR THE GSV INSTITUTE. THANK YOU, DOCTOR NUTT. AND AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN THE FLOOR FOR. DO YOU ACCEPT? YES. AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN THE FLOOR FOR NOMINATION FOR ALTERNATE FOR THE DELEGATE ASSEMBLY. MADAM CHAIR, I RECOMMEND YOURSELF. THERE YOU GO. I RECOMMEND THE CHAIR. MISS POPE, TO BE OUR ALTERNATE TO THE JUNE GSBA DELEGATE ASSEMBLY.THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND I ACCEPT. THANK YOU. THIS WILL BE VOTED ON TONIGHT DURING OUR BUSINESS MEETING. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ANYONE OBJECT TO THIS BEING PLACED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? OKAY, SO ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, MR. MCKENZIE MCDANIEL WILL BE OUR DELEGATE AND SOPHIE POPE WILL BE OUR ALTERNATE FOR THE GSBA DELEGATE ASSEMBLY. THANK YOU, MRS. COX.
WE WILL NOW MOVE TO BUSINESS. ITEM E5, DOCTOR PACE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, FOR BUSINESS. ITEM E5, HCB BOARD POLICY FOR NAMING FACILITIES. I'D LIKE TO ASK MRS. COX TO PRESENT THIS ITEM.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND DOCTOR PACE, AT THE FEBRUARY 9TH STUDY SESSION, I PRESENTED TO YOU BOARD POLICY FOR NAMING FACILITIES AS AN INFORMATIONAL ITEM. PROPOSED POLICY FDC STATES THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT WILL MAKE NAMING RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE BOARD BASED ON PROCESSES THAT WILL BE DEFINED IN A REGULATION, AND THE BOARD WILL HAVE THE FINAL DECISION FOR THE NAMING AND RENAMING OF ALL SCHOOL SYSTEM BUILDINGS, FACILITIES, AREAS WITHIN SYSTEM FACILITIES, SPORTS FACILITIES AND SYSTEM PROPERTY. THIS BOARD PARTICIPATED IN DISCUSSIONS RELATED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS POLICY AT WHOLE BOARD TRAINING IN OCTOBER 2025, AND A COPY OF THE DRAFT POLICY WAS RECENTLY SHARED WITH YOU AT THE JANUARY AND FEBRUARY AGENDA REVIEW SESSIONS FOR REVIEW AND FEEDBACK. IN ALIGNMENT WITH BOARD POLICY, B POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND THE ACCOMPANYING ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATION. BETA1 POLICY REVISION AND ADOPTION BY THE BOARD REQUIRES A FIRST READING OF PROPOSED POLICIES AT A PUBLIC MEETING, AND THAT DID OCCUR AT THE FEBRUARY 9TH STUDY SESSION. THIS POLICY HAS BEEN OUT FOR PUBLIC REVIEW AND COMMENT SINCE THAT TIME, AND NO PUBLIC COMMENTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED. POLICY FTC NAMING FACILITIES IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA. DOCTOR PACE, THIS CONCLUDES WHAT I HAVE PREPARED, AND I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU. THANK YOU, MRS. COX. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES OUR BUSINESS ITEM E5 AND REMAIN AVAILABLE TO OUR BOARD FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU, DOCTOR PACE. AND THANK YOU, MRS. COX. DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? THIS IS ALSO ELIGIBLE FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA. DOES ANYONE OBJECT? THIS WILL BE PLACED ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA AS WELL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO OUR LAST BUSINESS ITEM WHICH IS E SIX. DOCTOR PACE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, FOR OUR LAST BUSINESS ITEM. E SIX INSTRUCTIONAL AND TECHNICAL INFRASTRUCTURE IPAD PURCHASE. I'D LIKE TO INVITE OUR CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, MR. BARRY MILES, TO GIVE US THIS BUSINESS ITEM. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT PACE, THIS AFTERNOON I PRESENT TO YOU A PROJECT FOR THE PURCHASE OF IPADS AND ASSOCIATED ACCESSORIES AND SERVICES FOR PRE-K THROUGH FIRST GRADE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS. THIS RECOMMENDATION WAS MADE THOUGHTFULLY BASED ON THE LESSONS LEARNED FROM PREVIOUS DEVICE ROLLOUTS, RESEARCH ON EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT, TEACHER FEEDBACK, AND A COMMITMENT TO LONG TERM SUSTAINABILITY. OUR RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT IPADS ARE A SUPERIOR FIT FOR HOW OUR YOUNGEST STUDENTS LEARN AND ENGAGE WITH TECHNOLOGY. IPADS SUPPORT HANDS ON, MULTIMODAL LEARNING THAT FEELS NATURAL FOR CHILDREN UNDER SEVEN. AS THESE STUDENTS CONTINUE TO DEVELOP CRITICAL FINE MOTOR SKILLS, THE IPADS ALLOW THEM TO TRACE, DRAW, AND WRITE DIRECTLY ON THE SCREEN TO DEMONSTRATE THEIR UNDERSTANDING. BY REMOVING THE DEVELOPMENTAL HURDLE OF KEYBOARDS, WE ENSURE THAT A STUDENT'S COGNITIVE FOCUS REMAINS ENTIRELY ON LEARNING OBJECTIVES, RATHER THAN THE MECHANICS OF MANAGING A DEVICE.
[01:10:04]
THIS PROJECT WILL BE FUNDED WITH ESPLOST SIX FUNDS, AND DGA COMPLIANCE IS ACHIEVED IN THE FORM OF EXCEPTION C5 AND C7 DOCTOR PACE. THIS CONCLUDES WHAT I PREPARED AND I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MILES. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES OUR BUSINESS ITEM E SIX AND REMAIN AVAILABLE TO OUR BOARD FOR ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, DOCTOR PACE. AND THANK YOU, MR. MILES. DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY DISCUSSION? MISTER MCDANIEL THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU, MR. MILES. WHEN WILL THESE IPADS BE ASSUMING WE APPROVE THEM? BUT WHEN WOULD THEY BE READY TO BE IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM? WOULD THEY BE USED FOR THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR? WE'RE HAVING TO HAVE TIME FOR THAT. YES, SIR. THE THE SUPPLIER INDICATES THAT THEY'LL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THEM IN A MATTER OF WEEKS. WILL IT'LL TAKE US SOME TIME TO SET UP THOSE DEVICES. WE HAVE TRAINING PLAN FOR TEACHERS AND POST PLANNING AND PRE-PLANNING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE READY. AND OF COURSE, WORKING ON THE STUDENT DEVICES OVER THE SUMMER.YES, SIR. AND SO, BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING INTO THE HANDS OF OUR MOST EARLIEST LEARNERS, I'M SURE WE WILL HAVE EXTRA ON HAND, YOU KNOW, IN CASE THEY BREAK OR WHATEVER, BECAUSE I'M SURE THAT THERE MAY BE A POSSIBILITY, BUT WE WILL HAVE EXTRA THAT'S, THAT'S THERE AT THE SCHOOL.
WILL THESE BE GOING HOME EVERY DAY OR WILL THEY STAY AT SCHOOL? BUT WHAT WE DO KNOW, SIR, THESE WILL BE CLASSROOM SETS. THERE WILL THESE IPADS WILL NOT ARE NOT INTENDED TO GO HOME. IF THERE ARE STUDENTS THAT NEED SUPPORT IN THAT AREA. WHAT WE WILL WILL DO IS, IS THE CHROMEBOOKS THAT WE WOULD BE RETRIEVING. WE'LL REFURBISH THEM AND WE WILL USE THEM AS LOANER DEVICES AS NEEDED. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MCDANIEL. DOCTOR NUTT, THAT BRINGS UP ANOTHER QUESTION. ARE WE ARE WE GOING TO DO THESE PRE-K ARE JUST YES MA'AM PRE-K THROUGH FIRST GRADE. DOES THIS ALSO INCLUDE OUR SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN? YES, MA'AM. YES, MA'AM. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. DOCTOR, THIS IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA. DOES ANYONE OBJECT? NOPE. THIS WILL ALSO BE PLACED ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA. THANK YOU, MR. MILES.
[F. EXECUTIVE SESSION]
WE WILL NOW MOVE TO F EXECUTIVE SESSION. CAN I HAVE A MOTION, PLEASE, TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR DISCIPLINE, LEGAL AND PERSONNEL. MADAM CHAIR, I MAKE A MOTION. WE GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR A DISCIPLINE, LEGAL AND PERSONNEL. THANK YOU. MR. MCDANIEL. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? THANK YOU. DOCTOR. ALL IN I HAVE A MO, PLEASE.* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.