[A. CALL TO ORDER]
          [00:00:07]
          GOOD AFTERNOON, AND WELCOME TO THIS STUDY SESSION OF THE HENRY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION. IN ORDER TO ENSURE PRODUCTIVE MEETING, ATTENDEES AT THE MEETING HAVE AGREED TO THE DECORUM EXPECTING OF. EXPECTED OF A MEETING OF THE HENRY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION. 
          DISRUPTION TO CONDUCTING THE BUSINESS OF THE BOARD WILL RESULT IN THE BOARD MOVING TO RECESS. A VIRTUAL FORMAT OR SUSPENSION OF THE MEETING TO A LATER DATE. WE HAVE A PRODUCTIVE MEETING AHEAD AND I WILL TURN IT OVER TO THE CHAIR. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MISS RIDDELL, AND GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. I WOULD LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED STUDY SESSION OF THE HENRY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION ON MONDAY, APRIL 20TH AT 4:02 P.M. AND I 
          [B. SUPERINTENDENT'S WELCOME]
WILL BEGIN THIS AFTERNOON BY TURNING IT OVER TO DOCTOR PACE FOR HIS 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. BEFORE WE BEGIN, PLEASE JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR THE PASSING OF STUDENTS FROM EASTLAKE ELEMENTARY, DUTCHTOWN HIGH SCHOOL, AND A STAFF MEMBER FROM DUTCHTOWN MIDDLE SCHOOL. THANK YOU. NATIONAL ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS WEEK WAS OBSERVED APRIL 6TH THROUGH THE 10TH WHILE THE DISTRICT WAS CLOSED FOR SPRING BREAK. HOWEVER, WE COULD NOT MISS THE OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE THESE LEADERS WHO PROVIDE VITAL SUPPORT TO OUR SCHOOLS AND COUNTLESS WAYS. WE THANK OUR ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS FOR THEIR IMPACTFUL LEADERSHIP IN OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES, AND FOR THEIR MANY CONTRIBUTIONS TO BUILDING BRIGHT FUTURES ACROSS HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS. APRIL IS RECOGNIZED AS THE MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD. PLEASE JOIN US IN WEARING PURPLE ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22ND 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 IS ALSO CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH, AND WE ASK OUR COMMUNITY TO JOIN US IN WEARING BLUE ON APRIL 24TH TO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF WORKING TOGETHER TO PREVENT CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT OF ANY KIND. APRIL IS NATIONAL AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH AND LAST WEEK WAS EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN'S WEEK AS WE RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE INCREDIBLE STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND EDUCATORS WHO HELP CREATE INCLUSIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS EVERY DAY. 
          TOGETHER, WE CONTINUE TO PROMOTE, UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT ALL INDIVIDUALS ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE OUR EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT PERSON OF THE YEAR, MRS. LISA FUENTES MAUDET, A SCHOOL OFFICE ASSISTANT FROM AUSTIN ROAD MIDDLE SCHOOL. MRS. FUENTES AND 56 OTHER SPIES WERE CELEBRATED A FEW WEEKS AGO AT THE MCDONOUGH PERFORMING ARTS CENTER. CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM ALL. I'D ALSO LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SEVERAL OF OUR JOB FAMILIES ARE CELEBRATED IN THE MONTH OF APRIL. THESE INCLUDE SCHOOL LIBRARY MONTH, INCLUDING SCHOOL LIBRARIAN DAY ON APRIL 4TH AND SCHOOL LIBRARIAN WORKERS DAY ON APRIL 21ST, AS WELL AS OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY MONTH. ADDITIONALLY, PARAPROFESSIONAL APPRECIATION DAY WAS ON APRIL 1ST. ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS DAY IS ON APRIL 22ND AND SCHOOL BUS DRIVER APPRECIATION DAY IS APRIL 28TH. WE GREATLY APPRECIATE THE MANY CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUR DEDICATED STAFF HERE IN HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES MY WELCOME AND I TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU. THANK YOU 
          [C. BOARD MEMBER ITEMS]
SO MUCH, DOCTOR PACE. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO ITEM C IN OUR AGENDA, WHICH IS BOARD MEMBER ITEMS. AND WE HAVE ONE BOARD MEMBER ITEM THIS AFTERNOON. SO I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO MR. MCDANIEL TO REPORT ON THE 2026 NATIONAL CONFERENCE. MR. MCDANIEL. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, AND GOOD EVENING TO EVERYONE. I HAD THE PLEASURE OF GOING TO LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, US AND PARTICIPATING IN THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR. AND IT WAS. IT'S ALWAYS NICE TO SEE YOUR FELLOW COUNTERPARTS FROM OTHER DISTRICTS AROUND THE STATE. I GOT TO MIX AND MINGLE WITH SOME FROM GRIFFIN, SPALDING, DEKALB, FULTON, JUST TO HEAR THEIR STORIES AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON IN THEIR DISTRICTS. BUT ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS I ALWAYS LIKE TO GO TO IS A LEGAL UPDATE TO SEE HOW EACH STATE IS DOING THEIR THINGS, HOW THEY'RE COMBATING, YOU KNOW, THE ISSUES OF THE DAY WITH THEIR PUBLIC EDUCATION. BUT ALSO, ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHT MOMENTS WAS TO BE IN THE ROOM WITH MISS PHYLICIA RASHAD, JUST TO HEAR HER TALK ABOUT HER JOURNEY AND HER TALK ABOUT HER LOVE FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION AND HER CHALLENGE TO US AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, BUT REALLY HER CHALLENGE TO ALL OF US THAT TOUCH AND DEAL WITH THE SCHOLARS OF TODAY, WHICH ARE THE LEADERS OF TOMORROW, AND TOEING THE LINE TO MAKE SURE 
          [00:05:01]
THAT WE CONTINUE TO DEFEND PUBLIC EDUCATION BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING BETTER THAN A PUBLIC EDUCATION. AND SO REALLY, IT WAS A GREAT TIME IN LOUISVILLE. I LOOK FORWARD TO GOING TO DC TO ADVOCATE THERE WITH OTHER PEOPLE FROM GEORGIA. SO IT'S JUST A GREAT OPPORTUNITY JUST TO COLLABORATE, TO LISTEN, BUT ALSO TO LEARN. SO THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, MY COLLEAGUES, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY, AND THAT'S MY REPORT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. MCDANIEL, AND THANK YOU FOR REPRESENTING US SO WELL AT THE CONFERENCE. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO D AND BEGIN 
          [D. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS]
OUR INFORMATIONAL ITEMS FOR THE DAY. AND WE WILL START OFF WITH ITEM D1A DOCTOR PACE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. ITEM D1A UNDER STRATEGIC PLANNING IN PURSUIT OF EXCEPTIONAL. I'D LIKE TO INVITE OUR DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT, MRS. SUMMER COX, TO PRESENT INFORMATION ITEM D1A STRATEGIC PLAN. YEAR FIVE QUARTER THREE REPORT. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT PACE, TODAY I AM PLEASED TO SHARE WITH YOU THE YEAR FIVE QUARTER THREE REPORT FOR THE 2025 2026 SCHOOL YEAR. THE FULL REPORT HAS ALREADY BEEN PREPARED FOR YOU, BUT TODAY I WILL SHARE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT OUR TEAM ACCOMPLISHED DURING THE THIRD QUARTER OF THE FINAL YEAR OF THIS BOARD'S FIVE YEAR, COMMUNITY INSPIRED STRATEGIC PLAN, WITH SPECIFIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS IDENTIFIED 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 AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CLEAR AND 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. AND 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. 
          WHILE IT IS OUR GOAL THAT ALL TACTICS IN THE 2021 2026 STRATEGIC PLAN WILL REACH THE COMPLETE PHASE BY THE END OF THE CURRENT SCHOOL YEAR, WE KNOW THAT SOME WORK MAY BE EXTENDED INTO THE NEXT STRATEGIC PLAN, WHICH IS CURRENTLY IN THE PLANNING PHASE OF DEVELOPMENT. AS I SHARE WITH YOU SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS QUARTER, 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 FIVE. 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. 93% OF TACTICS IN THIS AREA HAVE REACHED COMPLETION, BUT EFFORTS TO PREPARE FOR A SUCCESSFUL OPENING OF THE STEM HIGH SCHOOL IN FALL 2027 ARE CONTINUING. WE HAVE COMPLETED AN INFORMATIONAL VIDEO AS WELL AS PARENT INFORMATION SESSIONS, HAVE BEGUN CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES AND ARE RESEARCHING ESPORTS AND APPROPRIATE INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES WHILE ENGAGING IN DISCUSSIONS WITH POST-SECONDARY INSTITUTIONS. ADDITIONALLY, THE HIRING TIMELINE FOR STAFF HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED. 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. 85% OF TACTICS IN THIS AREA ARE COMPLETE, AND WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR PEER TO TEACHER INITIATIVE. WE RECENTLY INVITED 600 PARAPROFESSIONALS TO PARTICIPATE IN AN INFORMATION SESSION WITH THE LOCAL COLLEGE ON THEIR EDUCATION PROGRAM, AND WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE THIS INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO OTHER INTERESTED GROUPS, SUCH AS OUR SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS. STRATEGIC ACTION THREE FOCUSES OUR EFFORTS ON ADVANCING CONNECTIVITY AND ENGAGEMENT AMONG OUR STUDENTS, EMPLOYEES, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS. THIS AREA IS 100% COMPLETE. WE NOW HAVE A CLEAR SYSTEM FOR SUPPORTING MENTOR DEVELOPMENT ACROSS THE DISTRICT. WE HAVE ALSO CONCLUDED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES FOR EXPLORING GRANT FUNDING THROUGH CORPORATE, NONPROFIT, STATE AND FEDERAL OPPORTUNITIES. THE HENRY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION CONTINUES THEIR SUPPORTIVE ROLE THROUGH THE SUPERINTENDENT'S BRIGHT FUTURES FUND, THE GEORGIA PEACH STATE TAX CREDIT, AND ACTIVELY SEEKING PHILANTHROPIC INVESTMENTS FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR. WHICH 
          [00:10:02]
BRINGS US TO STRATEGIC ACTION FOR ADVANCING STUDENT AND EMPLOYEE HEALTH AND WELLNESS TO THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF TARGETED SUPPORT STRUCTURES, WHERE THE FOUNDATION HAS ALSO SUPPORTED SEVERAL INITIATIVES BY COLLABORATING WITH HUMAN RESOURCES TO PROVIDE NEEDED SUPPORTS TO EMPLOYEES. THIS STRATEGIC ACTION IS 94% COMPLETE. 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. THIS AREA IS 82% COMPLETE, WITH WORK CONTINUING FROM OUR HR TEAM ON DEVELOPING COMPENSATION GUIDELINES FOR SUPPORT POSITIONS AND A PATHWAY FOR NONEXEMPT EMPLOYEES WHO TRANSITION TO ROLES WITH AN EXEMPT STATUS. BOARD IS A CLOSED. TODAY'S PRESENTATION. I AM PLEASED TO SHOWCASE THE HARD WORK AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF YEAR FIVE QUARTER THREE OF THE FIVE YEAR COMMUNITY INSPIRED STRATEGIC PLAN. TODAY'S REPORT IS A MILESTONE BECAUSE IT SERVES AS THE FINAL QUARTERLY REPORT FOR THE CURRENT STRATEGIC PLAN. THE NEXT REPORT WILL BE THE CULMINATING ANNUAL REPORT AND WILL BE SHARED IN CONJUNCTION WITH A KICKOFF OF THE NEW 2026 2031 STRATEGIC PLAN. 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 PREPARED AND I TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU. 
          THANK YOU, MRS. COX. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES OUR INFORMATIONAL ITEM D1A STRATEGIC PLAN YEAR FIVE QUARTER THREE REPORT AND REMAIN AVAILABLE TO OUR BOARD FOR ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH, DOCTOR PAYSON. THANK YOU, MRS. COX, FOR THAT REPORT. DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? MISS EDWARDS? THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, AND THANK YOU FOR THAT REPORT. MISS COX, JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR YOU. THE FIRST ONE IS, HOW MANY CHARTER SCHOOLS DO WE HAVE HERE IN THE COUNTY? WE HAVE NO CHARTER SCHOOLS AND PARTNERSHIP WITH HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS CURRENTLY. THAT'S IN PARTNERSHIP. SO DOES THAT MEAN THERE IS ONE STATE APPROVED CHARTER SCHOOL WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF HENRY COUNTY? OKAY. WELL, THAT I DON'T REALLY NEED TO ASK THE SECOND QUESTION, BECAUSE MY SECOND QUESTION WAS, WHO MONITORS THE SCHOOLS, THE CHARTER SCHOOLS? THE STATE APPROVED CHARTER SCHOOL IS MONITORED BY THE STATE. AND BECAUSE IT WAS APPROVED AT THAT LEVEL AND NOT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. OKAY. THANK YOU. BECAUSE THERE'S SOME MISINFORMATION BEING PUT OUT THERE, AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE IT WAS CLARIFIED IN THIS MEETING THAT WE DON'T MONITOR CHARTER SCHOOLS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS EDWARDS. MR. MCDANIEL. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND THANK YOU, MISS COX, FOR THIS. THE ONLY QUESTION I HAVE IS, AS I LOOK AT STRATEGIC ACTION NUMBER TWO AND STRATEGIC ACTION NUMBER FIVE. AND I'M SURE THAT WE WILL GET THERE. BUT WHEN I LOOK AT THE PERCENTAGE COMPLETED, NUMBER TWO IS AT 85%. NUMBER FIVE IS AT 82%. DO YOU SEE A PATHWAY THAT WE WILL ACTUALLY COMPLETE THE DELTA FOR ACTION TWO AND FIVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE PUT IN THE PLAN IS ACTUALLY COMPLETED BY THE TIME THESE THIS FIVE YEAR PLAN IS COMPLETED. YES. MANY OF THE TACTICS THAT ARE NOT LISTED IN THE COMPLETE PHASE RIGHT NOW WILL BE WILL BE COMPLETED AT THE END OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR. OKAY. AND THEN ONE IF I CAN FIND IT, IF I CAN'T FIND IT, I'LL JUST ASK YOU LATER. I JUST ASK YOU LATER. I CAN'T FIND IT. 
          NO. THERE IT IS. SORRY, SORRY, MADAM CHAIR. WHAT IT SAYS EXPAND PARTNERS IN EDUCATION. 
          BECAUSE THE THE THING IS, IS THAT WE ALWAYS HEAR IN THE COMMUNITY. I WANT TO BE A PARTNER. I WANT TO HELP OUT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. I WANT TO DO THIS. I WANT TO DO THAT. SO WE WE HAVE IN OUR THEME THAT WE'VE ACTUALLY EXPANDED PARTNERS IN EDUCATION. CAN YOU KIND OF ELABORATE ON HOW WE'VE EXPANDED THAT PROGRAM? WHAT IS THE BENEFIT OF IT AND HOW HAS IT ACTUALLY HELPED OUT OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM? BY COLLABORATING WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND WHETHER IT BE PRIVATE, WHATEVER. CAN YOU ACTUALLY EXPAND ON THAT A LITTLE BIT? YES. SO WE HAVE ESTABLISHED SOME INTERNAL PROCEDURES AND GUIDELINES AROUND HOW DO WE ONBOARD HENRY PARTNERS? AND SO THAT'S HOW WE HAVE REBRANDED IT AS HENRY PARTNERS. AND SO WE DO HAVE SCHOOL BASED PARTNERS. AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE DISTRICT LEVEL PARTNERS. AND WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THREE DIFFERENT WAYS TO PARTNER WITH HENRY COUNTY, AND THAT IS THROUGH VOLUNTEERING, MENTORING, AND THEN ALSO THROUGH FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE DISTRICT. 
          AND SO THERE ARE THREE WAYS TO CONTRIBUTE, BOTH AT THE SCHOOL AND AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL. AND SO WE HAVE ESTABLISHED INTERNAL PROCESSES TO ASSIST THOSE PARTNERS WHEN THEY COME ON BOARD TO PROVIDE THEM TRAINING. AND WE ALSO HAVE HOW TO PARTNER SEMINARS AVAILABLE FOR BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE INTERESTED IN PARTNERING WITH US IN ANY OF THOSE WAYS. AND SO CAN SOMEONE GO TO THE LOCAL SCHOOLS AND JUST GO TO THE PRINCIPAL AND SAY, HEY, I WANT TO BE A PARTNER HERE AT YOUR SCHOOL, CAN IS THAT OPTION AVAILABLE? THEY CAN ABSOLUTELY DO THAT AND INFORMATION CAN BE SHARED WITH THEM ON HOW TO GET 
          [00:15:01]
STARTED ON THAT PROCESS. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MR. MCDANIEL. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH. I CANNOT BELIEVE WE ARE AT THE FINAL QUARTERLY REPORT. IT'S REALLY BLOWS MY MIND, BUT I'M JUST IN AWE OF THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE OVER THESE LAST FIVE YEARS. 
          AND EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN THIS ROOM AND ACROSS THE DISTRICT HAS HAD A HAND IN THAT AND TRULY CHANGED THE TRAJECTORY OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM AND THE EXPERIENCE FOR EACH CHILD. SO I AM INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL AND SO EXCITED TO NOT ONLY WRAP UP SOME OF THESE INITIATIVES, BUT CONTINUE THE GREAT WORK IN THIS PLAN OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALL RIGHT. 
          WE WILL NOW MOVE TO INFORMATIONAL ITEM D2A DOCTOR PACE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. 
          INFORMATIONAL ITEM D2A AND UNDER THE CORE BUSINESS OF STUDENT LEARNING FINISHING THE 2025 2026 SCHOOL YEAR STRONG, I'D LIKE TO ASK OUR CHIEF SCHOOL LEADERSHIP OFFICER, MR. ANTONIO MADDOX, TO PLEASE PRESENT THIS ITEM. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT PACE, IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE WE ARE APPROACHING THE FINAL STRETCH OF THE 20 2526 SCHOOL YEAR. WHILE THIS TIME OF YEAR IS FILLED WITH EXCITEMENT AND CELEBRATION, IT IS ALSO A CRITICAL PERIOD WHERE OUR FOCUS REMAINS ON FINISHING STRONG AND ENSURING EVERY STUDENT IS POSITIONED FOR SUCCESS. THIS BOARD HAS PROVIDED CLEAR DIRECTION THROUGH YOUR VISION, MISSION AND STRATEGIC PRIORITIES. THAT GUIDANCE CONTINUES TO ANCHOR OUR WORK AS WE FOCUS ON STRONG ACADEMIC OUTCOMES, ALIGNING SYSTEMS OF SUPPORT, AND PREPARING FOR A SUCCESSFUL START TO THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR. AS WE ENTER THE FINAL WEEKS OF OUR SCHOOL YEAR, OUR SCHOOLS ARE FULLY ENGAGED IN END OF YEAR ASSESSMENTS. THE GEORGIA MILESTONES TESTING WINDOW BEGINS THIS MONTH ACROSS ALL GRADE BANDS, ALONG WITH ADVANCED PLACEMENT EXAMS AND END OF PATHWAY ASSESSMENTS. IN ADDITION, WE WILL PROVIDE TARGETED RETESTING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES FIVE AND EIGHT WHO SCORE IN THE BEGINNING LEARNING LEVEL OF MATHEMATICS, REINFORCING OUR COMMITMENT TO STUDENT GROWTH AND MASTERY. OUR SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN INTENTIONAL IN PREPARING STUDENTS THROUGH RE-ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIES, TARGETED INTERVENTIONS, AND EXTENDED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES TO ENSURE STUDENTS ARE CONFIDENT AND READY TO DEMONSTRATE THEIR LEARNING. FOR OUR SENIORS. 
          FINAL EXAMS WILL TAKE PLACE APRIL 29TH AND 30TH, WITH GRADES POSTED SHORTLY AFTERWARDS, ALLOWING TIME FOR GREAT REPAIR AND FINAL RECOGNITIONS FOR ALL OTHER STUDENTS. FINAL GRADES WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE PARENT PORTAL ON MAY 27TH, AND REPORT CARDS WILL BE MAILED HOME. THIS PROCESS ENSURES THAT FAMILIES ARE INFORMED AND THAT STUDENTS HAVE CLEARLY AND CLARITY AROUND THEIR TRANSITION INTO THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR. ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING MILESTONES OF THIS SEASON IS GRADUATION. WE LOOK FORWARD TO CELEBRATING OUR GRADUATES ACROSS ALL HIGH SCHOOLS BETWEEN MAY 15TH AND MAY 21ST. THESE CEREMONIES REPRESENT THE CULMINATION OF YEARS OF HARD WORK FOR OUR STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES. 
          WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO ENSURING THESE EVENTS ARE SAFE, ORGANIZED AND MEANINGFUL CELEBRATIONS OF STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT. WE WILL CONTINUE TO ENFORCE A CLEAR BAG REQUIREMENT FOR ALL LARGE PUBLIC EVENTS. THIS WILL INCLUDE END OF YEAR CELEBRATIONS, AWARD PROGRAMS AND GRADUATE AND GRADUATION CEREMONIES. WE LOOK FORWARD TO CELEBRATING THE GRADUATES OF THE CLASS OF 2026 ON THE DATES AND TIMES SHOWN. ALL CEREMONIES WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE ECHO PARK SPEEDWAY, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF IMPACT AND EXCEL ACADEMIES IMPACTS, GRADUATION WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE FAIRVIEW PARK AT 10 A.M. AND EXCELS. 
          GRADUATION WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE MCDONOUGH PARK AT 2 P.M. BOTH IMPACT AND EXCEL GRADUATIONS WILL BE ON FRIDAY, MAY 15TH. WHILE THE SCHOOL YEAR ENDS ON MAY 22ND. LEARNING DOES NOT STOP IN HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS. OUR SUMMER LEARNING PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE BOTH SUPPORT AND ENRICHMENT. SUMMER LEARNING PROGRAMS WILL BEGIN ON MONDAY, JUNE 1ST AND RUN THROUGH THURSDAY, JUNE 25TH. SUMMER LEARNING AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL WILL BEGIN AT 8 A.M. AND END AT 12 P.M. WITH THE OPTION OF AFTERCARE BEING AVAILABLE UNTIL 6 P.M. FOR $50 PER WEEK. SUMMER LEARNING FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS WILL BE FROM 9 
          [00:20:08]
A.M. TO 1 P.M. TRANSPORTATION AND MEALS WILL BE PROVIDED AT NO COST TO OUR FAMILIES. THE EARLY KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM WILL BE OFFERED FOR OUR RISING KENDALL STUDENTS TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET ACCLIMATED TO GOING TO SCHOOL. WE WILL ALSO HOST A SUMMER LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR CURRENT THIRD, FOURTH AND FIFTH GRADE STUDENTS, WHICH WILL INCLUDE HANDS ON FOUNDATIONAL READING AND MATH INSTRUCTIONS ALIGNED TO SPECIFIC STANDARDS, ALONG WITH A PREVIEW OF NEXT YEAR'S COURSEWORK, PROGRAMS. LOCATIONS INCLUDE 1 TO 2 SCHOOL SITES IN EACH CLUSTER, AS SHOWN, MIDDLE SCHOOLS WILL OFFER SUMMER LEARNING FOR GRADE CURRENT, SIXTH, SEVENTH, AND EIGHTH GRADE STUDENTS. DESIGNED TO PROVIDE LEARNING EXPERIENCES SIMILAR TO ELEMENTARY PROGRAMS. WE WILL ALSO OFFER OUR RISING THIRD THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE STUDENTS A STEM CAMP AT THE ACADEMY FOR ADVANCED STUDIES ON JUNE 1ST THROUGH FOURTH AND JUNE 8TH THROUGH 11TH. THE COST IS $150 PER SESSION FOR THE STEM CAMP. THE STEM CAMP IS A SEPARATE, ENRICHMENT FOCUSED OPPORTUNITY DESIGNED TO EXPOSE STUDENTS TO HIGH THINKING, HIGH INTEREST, REAL WORLD APPLICATIONS FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS. FOR OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, WE WILL CONTINUE TO OFFER GREAT REPAIR AND CREDIT RECOVERY OPTIONS FOR SUMMER LEARNING. THESE PROGRAMS WILL TAKE PLACE AT EACH HIGH SCHOOL. STUDENTS AND PARENTS MAY SPEAK WITH THEIR SCHOOL COUNSELOR OR GRADUATION COACH FOR DETAILS. WE WILL ALSO OFFER COURSES FOR INITIAL CREDIT AS WELL. 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 OUR SUMMER LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE AT THE END OF MAY, FOLLOWED BY THE SUMMER LEARNING SUMMIT FROM JUNE 9TH THROUGH 11. 
          THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER, THERE WILL BE K-12 CONTENT SPECIFIC PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOCUSED ON EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INSTRUCTIONAL FRAMEWORK, TIER ONE INSTRUCTION AND SMALL GROUP INSTRUCTION. AS WE FOCUS ON FINISHING THIS YEAR STRONG AND PLAN FOR LEARNING TO CONTINUE DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS, WE ARE ALSO FOCUSED ON ENSURING A STRONG START TO THE 20 2627 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 DAY ONE, AS THIS PROCESS ENSURES THAT WE HAVE THE MOST ACCURATE INFORMATION, EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION AND MEDICAL INFORMATION FOR EACH OF OUR STUDENTS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING AND ONBOARDING OUR KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS. THE CLASS OF. 2039. KINDERGARTEN KICKOFF BEGAN IN MARCH, AND FAMILIES HAVE ACCESS TO REGISTER THEIR UPCOMING STUDENTS THROUGH OUR ONLINE REGISTRATION SYSTEM. RESOURCES CAN BE FOUND ON THE BE READY DAY ONE WEBSITE, AS WELL AS ALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND OUR WELCOME CENTER. THE BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL ENRICHMENT PROGRAM IS PREPARED, IS PREPARING TO BEGIN REGISTRATION FOR NEXT YEAR. EARLY REGISTRATION WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THE BE READY DAY ONE WEBSITE FROM MAY 4TH UNTIL MAY 15TH AND WILL REOPEN ON JULY 6TH. THE ANNUAL REGISTRATION FEE IS $25 PER STUDENT, WITH A FAMILY CAP OF $75. MIL STATUS WILL REMAIN VALID THROUGH SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2026 AND THE 20 2627 APPLICATION WILL BE AVAILABLE STARTING IN JULY TO REMAIN IN COMPLIANCE WITH STATE AND USDA REGULATIONS. ALSO, THERE IS A NEED TO INCREASE MEAL PRICES BY $0.25 TO SUSTAIN OPERATIONS. NEXT YEAR. BREAKFAST WILL BE $1.75. LUNCH FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS WILL BE $3, AND LUNCH FOR SECONDARY STUDENTS WILL BE 
          [00:25:09]
$3.10 FOR VISITORS AND EMPLOYEES. BREAKFAST WILL BE $3 AND LUNCH WILL BE $5. TO ENSURE THE FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY OF OUR ATHLETIC PROGRAMS, THERE WILL BE ADJUSTMENTS TO ATHLETIC TICKET SALES AS WELL. VARSITY FOOTBALL TICKET PRICES WILL REMAIN THE SAME. THERE WILL BE AN INCREASE OF VARSITY BASKETBALL GAMES AND OTHER SPORTS AS INDICATED ON THE SCREEN. WE WILL KICK OFF THE 20 2627 SCHOOL YEAR WITH OUR ORIENTATION FOR NEW CERTIFIED EMPLOYEES BEGINNING JULY 16TH, FOLLOWED BY THE START OF PRE-PLANNING FOR ALL STAFF ON JULY 23RD. OPEN HOUSE IS SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY, JULY 30TH, STARTING AT 10 A.M. FOR STUDENTS ATTENDING THE ACADEMY FOR ADVANCED STUDIES AND 1 P.M. FOR HIGH SCHOOL, 3 P.M. FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL AND 5 P.M. FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL IS AUGUST 3RD. 
          LAST MONTH, I PROVIDED AN UPDATE OF THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO OUR CODE OF CONDUCT. THOSE REVISIONS HAVE SINCE BEEN POSTED ON THE DISTRICT'S WEBSITE FOR PUBLIC REVIEW AND COMMENT. BASED ON FEEDBACK FROM OUR STAKEHOLDER GROUPS AND UPDATED VERSION OF OUR PROPOSED CODE OF CONDUCT WILL BE POSTED ON THE DISTRICT'S WEBSITE. FAMILIES CAN ACCESS THIS UPDATED PROPOSED DRAFT BY SELECTING COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN THE TOP RIGHT CORNER OF THE DISTRICT'S WEBSITE, THEN CLICKING FOR PUBLIC REVIEW AND COMMENT. THERE. THEY MAY REVIEW THE PROPOSED MODIFICATIONS AND SUBMIT FEEDBACK UNTIL OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING ON MAY 11TH. 
          BOARD. WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO A STRONG FINISH TO THE 20 25, 26, 2526 SCHOOL YEAR AND TO CELEBRATING OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF FOR ALL THEIR GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENTS, WE REMAIN FOCUSED ON YOUR CORE BELIEFS AND PRIORITIES. STUDENT OUTCOMES. AS WE CLOSE OUT THIS SCHOOL YEAR AND PREPARING TO BE READY DAY ONE NEXT YEAR. DOCTOR PACE, THIS CONCLUDES ALL THAT I HAVE PREPARED AND I YIELD THE FLOOR TO YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MATTOX. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES OUR INFORMATIONAL ITEM D2A FINISHING THE. 2526 SCHOOL YEAR STRONG. AND WE REMAIN AVAILABLE TO OUR BOARD FOR ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, DOCTOR PACE. AND THANK YOU, MR. MATTOX, FOR THAT INFORMATION. DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY DISCUSSION? MISS EDWARDS THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. WELL, THIS IS 2026. AND WHEN IS THE THE THAT THAT GRADUATION I MEAN THAT KINDERGARTEN CLASS GRADUATING 2039. YES, MA'AM. 2039 IT'S NOT FAR AWAY, BELIEVE IT OR NOT. 
          YEAH. RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER. CAN'T WAIT TO CELEBRATE WITH THEM. JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. COULD YOU EXPLAIN TO OUR CITIZENS WHAT THE G A A TESTING IS AND WHO IS THAT TEST ADMINISTERED TO? YES, MA'AM. THE G A A IS OUR GEORGIA ALTERNATE ASSESSMENT FOR OUR STUDENTS WITH THE SEXUALITY. AND SO IT'S GEARED TOWARDS THOSE STUDENTS. OKAY. MY NEXT ONE IS A COMMENT. I'M EXCITED ABOUT OUR GRADUATION SCHEDULES BECAUSE IT CUT THE NUMBER OF GRADUATING DAYS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAD TO GO TO THE GRADUATION. AND, YOU KNOW, IT HELPS OUR, OUR STAFF AS WELL. THAT SETS UP AS WELL BECAUSE I THINK IT WAS TEN DAYS, NOW IT'S BACK DOWN TO SEVEN. SO WE STILL HAVE A LITTLE WORK TO DO. THE COST FOR THE STEM SCHOOL PER SESSION IS $150 A WEEK, RIGHT? DURING THE SUMMER SESSION. WHAT GRADES WILL BE ATTENDING THE STEM CAMPS? THE STEM IT IS GRADES THREE THROUGH EIGHT AND IT'S $150 PER SESSION PER SESSION. 
          OKAY, I LIKE THAT TAGLINE. LEARNING NEVER STOPS IN HENRY BECAUSE IT NEVER DOES. BUT DID YOU COME UP WITH THAT TAGLINE? I BELIEVE HE DID. ALRIGHT, DOCTOR, GIVE HIM THE CREDIT. 
          AND THE LAST COMMENT I'M GOING TO MAKE IS INFLATION HAS HIT THE SCHOOLS WITH THE LUNCHES. 
          SO I HOPE PARENTS CAN UNDERSTAND THAT. YOU KNOW, IT'S NOW IN THE SCHOOLS AS WELL. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT REPORT. LOTS OF WORK. I LOVE THE SCHEDULES AND LEARNING NEVER STOPS IN. 
          [00:30:02]
HENRY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MISS EDWARDS. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? NO THANK YOU. THAT WAS THAT WAS A WEALTH OF INFORMATION AND I'M SUPER GRATEFUL. AGAIN, THIS IS SO MUCH WORK GOES INTO THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR AND FINISHING STRONG. AND I KNOW SO MUCH WORK IS ALREADY UNDERWAY FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR. SO I'M SUPER GRATEFUL AND I KNOW WE WILL ALL GET OUR INFORMATION UPDATED IN TIME SO THAT WE CAN HAVE RIGHT COLLEAGUES, SO THAT WE CAN HAVE HELP THE SCHOOL SYSTEM DO THE THE WORK THAT THEY NEED TO DO TO GET STUDENTS WHERE THEY NEED TO BE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND I'M ALSO GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF THE SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES. I KNOW THIS INFORMATION WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE FOR OUR COMMUNITY ON OUR WEBSITE SO THAT THEY CAN BE UP TO SPEED. IF THEY'RE NOT WATCHING THIS MEETING, WE'LL NOW MOVE TO OUR NEXT INFORMATIONAL ITEM, WHICH IS D2B DOCTOR PACE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR FOR INFORMATIONAL ITEM D2B ATTENDANCE UPDATE. I'D LIKE TO INVITE OUR CHIEF FAMILY AND STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES OFFICER, MISSUS MEGAN SAGO, TO PRESENT THIS INFORMATION ITEM. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR. 
          MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT PACE. TODAY I'M PROUD TO HIGHLIGHT HOW YOUR LEADERSHIP AND STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS ARE PRODUCING MEASURABLE GAINS IN STUDENT ATTENDANCE. A KEY CONTRIBUTOR TO STUDENT SUCCESS, OUR ATTENDANCE WORK DIRECTLY REFLECTS THE DISTRICT'S VISION AND MISSION, FOCUSED ON WORLD CLASS, EXCEPTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL STUDENTS. PRIORITIZING ATTENDANCE IS A FOUNDATIONAL STRATEGY THAT SUPPORTS THIS, THAT SUPPORTS THIS BOARD'S BELIEFS THAT EVERY STUDENT CAN LEARN AT OR ABOVE GRADE LEVEL, AND THAT FAMILY AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT ARE CRITICAL TO STUDENT SUCCESS. 
          EACH SCHOOL DAY REPRESENTS APPROXIMATELY 420 MINUTES. WHEN A STUDENT MISSES ALL OR PART OF A SCHOOL DAY, THEY ARE MISSING VALUABLE INSTRUCTIONAL TIME WITH WITH TEACHERS, OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONCEPTS TO BE MODELED AND DEMONSTRATED, AND ACTIVE. COLLABORATION AND DIALOG WITH PEERS. A STUDENT WHO MISSES JUST TEN DAYS OVER THE COURSE OF THE SCHOOL YEAR IS MISSING 4200 MINUTES, OR 70 HOURS OF INSTRUCTION. ATTENDANCE IS ONE OF THE EARLIEST INDICATORS THAT A STUDENT MAY NEED SUPPORT, AND IT AFFECTS NOT ONLY ACADEMIC OUTCOMES BUT ALSO ENGAGEMENT AND CONNECTEDNESS. SIMPLY PUT, STUDENTS MUST BE PRESENT TO BENEFIT FROM INSTRUCTION, RELATIONSHIPS AND OPPORTUNITIES PROVIDED IN OUR SCHOOLS. OUR ATTENDANCE WORK IS GROUNDED IN BOTH STATE LAW AND DISTRICT POLICY. GEORGIA'S COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE LAW REQUIRES SCHOOL ATTENDANCE FOR ALL CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES OF SIX AND 16. 
          AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL, YOUR BOARD POLICY J, B, D AND THE HCS STUDENT AND PARENT HANDBOOK ESTABLISH CLEAR EXPECTATIONS, PROCEDURES AND RESPONSIBILITIES FOR FAMILIES AND SCHOOLS WITH THE ADOPTION OF ATTENDANCE REGULATION GDR1 LAST SUMMER, AN HCS ATTENDANCE TOOLKIT WAS DEVELOPED FOR FURTHER. TO FURTHER OUTLINE EXPECTATIONS, PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES AND GUIDE SCHOOLS IN IMPLEMENTING TIERED ATTENDANCE. SUPPORTS. AN ABSENCE IS AN INSTANCE. IS ANY INSTANCE OF NONATTENDANCE REGARDLESS OF REASON, EXCUSED ABSENCES REQUIRE APPROPRIATE DOCUMENTATION. STUDENTS MUST ATTEND AT LEAST HALF OF THE SCHOOL DAY TO BE COUNTED PRESENT, AND STUDENTS WITH FIVE OR MORE UNEXCUSED ABSENCES DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR ARE CONSIDERED TRUANT. IN ADDITION, STUDENTS MAY BE WITHDRAWN AFTER TEN CONSECUTIVE UNEXCUSED ABSENCES. THESE DEFINITIONS PROVIDE CONSISTENCY TO SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES, SO ATTENDANCE PROTOCOLS CAN BE FOLLOWED WITH FIDELITY. OUR DISTRICT WIDE STUDENT ATTENDANCE PROTOCOL OUTLINES THE ACTIONS SCHOOLS TAKE AS STUDENT ABSENCES INCREASE. OUR APPROACH IS TIERED AND INTENTIONALLY DESIGNED TO INTERVENE EARLY, COMMUNICATE CLEARLY WITH FAMILIES, AND PROVIDE SUPPORT. THIS BOARD'S INVESTMENT IN A DEDICATED ATTENDANCE FACILITATOR FOR THE DISTRICT, ALONG WITH STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS IN MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS, HAVE PROVIDED SCHOOLS WITH MEANINGFUL SUPPORT AND CONSISTENTLY IMPLEMENTING TIERED INTERVENTIONS INCLUDING ATTENDANCE LETTERS, REFERRALS TO THE SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER AND COLLABORATION WITH THE COURT SYSTEM. AND IF ABSENCES BECOME EXCESSIVE, CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM DEFINED AS MISSING 10% OR MORE OF ENROLLED SCHOOL DAYS, IS A CRITICAL METRIC IN THE STATE'S ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM. CC P I TO PUT THIS INTO PERSPECTIVE, A STUDENT ENROLLED IN A HENRY COUNTY SCHOOL FOR 40 DAYS OF SCHOOL BECOMES CHRONICALLY ABSENT AFTER JUST FOUR ABSENCES. A STUDENT WHO REMAINS ENROLLED FOR THE ENTIRE SCHOOL YEAR BECOMES CHRONICALLY ABSENT AT 18 ABSENCES. ATTENDANCE IS A KEY METRIC WITHIN THE CC P READINESS COMPONENT AND ALSO INFLUENCES SCHOOL CLIMATE RATINGS. REGULAR ATTENDANCE IS FOUNDATIONAL TO READINESS. IT REFLECTS HABITS, ROUTINES, AND MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT PATTERNS 
          [00:35:01]
THAT SUPPORT LONG TERM ACADEMIC SUCCESS. ENCOURAGINGLY, HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS HAS SEEN CONSISTENT IMPROVEMENT IN ATTENDANCE ACROSS GRADE LEVELS FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS, SURPASSING STATE SCORES IN MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS IN 2025. THESE GAINS ARE NOT ACCIDENTAL. 
          THEY REFLECT THIS BOARD'S COMMITMENT TO CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT, WITH INVESTMENTS THAT ALLOW FOR INTENTIONAL, COORDINATED DISTRICT EFFORTS. KEY INITIATIVES INCLUDE INTERNAL ATTENDANCE REVIEWS TO ENSURE CONSISTENT PROCESSES ACROSS SCHOOLS, MONTHLY TRAINING FOR ATTENDANCE AND DATA CLERKS TO SUPPORT ACCURATE REPORTING. CROSS-DEPARTMENTAL COLLABORATION BRINGING DISTRICT TEAMS TOGETHER TO MAKE THE MOST IMPACT. ATTENDANCE LETTERS AT THE THIRD, FIFTH AND EIGHTH ABSENCES TO ENGAGE FAMILIES. TIERED ATTENDANCE SUPPORT EMBEDDED WITHIN CARE TEAMS TO MONITOR AND INTERVENE STRATEGICALLY, AND COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL AGENCIES AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO ADDRESS BARRIERS SUCH AS HOUSING AND FOOD INSTABILITY. THIS WORK REFLECTS A WHOLE CHILD APPROACH, RECOGNIZING THAT ATTENDANCE CHALLENGES ARE OFTEN ROOTED IN BROADER FAMILY AND COMMUNITY NEEDS. AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL, OUR CARE TEAMS ARE AT THE HEART OF OUR ATTENDANCE STRATEGY. THESE INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAMS MEET REGULARLY TO REVIEW ATTENDANCE DATA, IDENTIFY STUDENTS AT RISK, DEVELOP TARGETED SUPPORTS, AND MONITOR PROGRESS OVER TIME. CARE TEAMS ENSURE THAT STUDENTS AND FAMILIES RECEIVE PERSONALIZED ATTENTION AND INTERVENTION GROUNDED IN POSITIVE, CARING RELATIONSHIPS. ACROSS THE DISTRICT, SCHOOLS ARE IMPLEMENTING CREATIVE AND ENGAGING STRATEGIES TO PROMOTE ATTENDANCE. EXAMPLES INCLUDE FAMILY WORKSHOPS, CLASS AND GRADE LEVEL COMPETITIONS, AND SPECIAL INCENTIVES FOR STUDENTS. OTHER EXAMPLES INCLUDE PERFECT ATTENDANCE AWARDS, PAJAMA DAYS, PARENTS NIGHT OUT FOR PARENTS OF STUDENTS WITH EXCELLENT ATTENDANCE, AND EVEN THE OCCASIONAL ATTENDANCE RECOGNITION TO RECOGNIZE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES COMMITTED TO MAKING ATTENDANCE A PRIORITY. WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE ATTENDANCE INCENTIVES AND SCHOOL BASED STRATEGIES, WE ARE SEEING MEANINGFUL, MEASURABLE RESULTS ACROSS THE DISTRICT, 51 OUT OF 53 SCHOOLS HAVE DEMONSTRATED AN IMPROVEMENT IN THEIR PERCENT PRESENT RATES. IMPORTANTLY, THIS INCLUDES ALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND ALL HIGH SCHOOLS AND ALL BUT TWO MIDDLE SCHOOLS, THE TWO MIDDLE SCHOOLS THAT HAVE NOT DEMONSTRATED YEAR OVER YEAR GAINS UP TO THIS POINT IN THE SCHOOL YEAR ARE LESS THAN ONE PERCENTAGE POINT BELOW LAST YEAR, INDICATING RELATIVE STABILITY RATHER THAN DECLINE. WHEN WE LOOK AT THE OVERALL IMPACT BY SCHOOL LEVEL, THE GAINS ARE SIGNIFICANT. AN AVERAGE INCREASE OF FIVE PERCENTAGE POINTS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, TWO PERCENTAGE POINTS IN MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND 6.5 AVERAGE INCREASE IN HIGH SCHOOLS. THESE RESULTS REINFORCE THAT CONSISTENT EXPECTATIONS, POSITIVE INCENTIVES AND EARLY TIERED INTERVENTIONS ARE MAKING A REAL DIFFERENCE IN KEEPING STUDENTS ENGAGED AND PRESENT IN SCHOOL. THE SCHOOLS THAT HAVE MADE THE GREATEST GAINS AT EACH LEVEL THIS YEAR ARE HICKORY FLAT WITH A HICKORY FLAT ELEMENTARY WITH A 13 .1. INCREASE IN THE PERCENT OF STUDENTS PRESENT SINCE MARCH OF 2025. MCDONOUGH MIDDLE SCHOOL WITH A 4.5. INCREASE, AND EXCEL HIGH SCHOOL WITH A 23 .3. INCREASE. WHILE WE CELEBRATE THESE SCHOOLS, WE ARE PROUD OF THE PROGRESS BEING MADE ACROSS ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS, REFLECTING A COLLECTIVE COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING ATTENDANCE DISTRICT WIDE. MR. MATAK SPOKE JUST BEFORE ME ABOUT FINISHING THE SCHOOL YEAR STRONG. OUR MAY MADNESS CAMPAIGN IS DESIGNED FOR JUST THAT, AIMING TO MAKE EVEN LARGER GAINS AS WE CLOSE OUT THE SCHOOL YEAR. SUPPORTED BY A GRANT FROM THE HENRY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION, THIS DISTRICT WIDE INITIATIVE WILL INCLUDE SCHOOL AND CLUSTER LEVEL COMPETITIONS, DRAWINGS FOR STUDENTS WITH PERFECT ATTENDANCE AND RECOGNITION FOR MOST IMPROVED AND HIGHEST PERFORMING SCHOOLS. LAST YEAR'S WINNERS ARE NOTED HERE. THIS CAMPAIGN UNDERSCORES THE BOARD'S STRATEGIC PRIORITIZATION OF ATTENDANCE AND SUPPORTS OUR COLLECTIVE GOAL OF FINISHING THE SCHOOL YEAR. STRONG SUPERINTENDENT PACE. THIS CONCLUDES WHAT I HAVE PREPARED AND I TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU. THANK YOU, MRS. SEGO. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES OUR INFORMATIONAL ITEM ATTENDANCE UPDATE AND REMAIN AVAILABLE TO OUR BOARD FOR ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH, DOCTOR PAYSON. THANK YOU FOR THAT UPDATE. DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY DISCUSSION? MISS CARTER, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH. MR. THIS IS SO AMAZING AND I LOVE OUR CARE TEAMS AND SEEING HOW FAR WE'VE COME WITH ALL THAT, I THINK IT'S AMAZING AND I HOPE EVERYBODY CONTINUES THROUGH WITH THE MAY MADNESS. SO I THINK THAT'S SUPER FUN TO GIVE AN INITIATIVE LIKE THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MISS CARTER. MISS EDWARDS. WHAT IS THE TIME FRAME? WHAT'S THE WHAT'S THE TIME OF DAY? THAT'S CONSIDERED A FULL DAY OR A HALF DAY. IF STUDENTS LEAVE THE CAMPUS. I'LL GET THE EXACT TIMES FOR YOU. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS 400 MINUTES AND MIDDLE AND HIGH ARE 420. SO 
          [00:40:05]
WITH A CHECK IN AT 735 FOR ELEMENTARY, THE DIFFERENT CHECK IN TIMES DICTATE THE CHECKOUT TIMES AND I CAN GET THOSE FOR YOU. I THINK IT'S AROUND 11 FOR ELEMENTARY AND IT GOES LATER FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH. I THINK THAT'S GOOD. BUT A PARENT IS NOT GOING TO COUNT THAT TIME LIKE THAT. THEY NEED AN HOUR. THEY NEED THE HOUR AND ALL THE TIME. I MEAN, IF YOU GO TO AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, INSTRUCTION STARTS AS SOON AS THE STUDENTS GET INTO THE CLASSROOM. SAME IS TRUE AT MIDDLE AND HIGH. SO WHILE WE OF COURSE WANT STUDENTS TO BE PRESENT FOR AS MUCH OF THE SCHOOL DAY AS POSSIBLE, WE ALSO WE REALLY WANT STUDENTS TO BE PRESENT FOR THE WHOLE SCHOOL DAY. YES. GOING TO WALK IN THERE AND SAY, WELL, THE CHILD HAS BEEN HERE FOR THREE HOURS AND 20 MINUTES, YOU KNOW, IS THAT IS, IS THAT A HALF A DAY? RIGHT. SO I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD TO PUT THAT TIME OUT THERE. IF IT'S 11:00 IS THE TIME FOR ELEMENTARY OR WHATEVER THE TIME IS FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL. I THINK THAT WILL BE GREAT FOR THE PARENTS. THANK YOU, KIM AND MADAM CHAIR. MISS EDWARDS, YOU ARE YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. 
          I DO BELIEVE IT IS ON OUR WEBSITE, BUT OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING WILL BE SURE TO PUT THAT TIME OUT. SO WE ARE MAKING SURE OUR PUBLIC IS AWARE. WHEN YOU DO GO TO CHECK OUT AT OUR SCHOOLS, THEY ARE VERY SURE TO TELL YOU IF YOU'RE CHECKING OUT BEFORE THAT HALF DAY TIME, THEY WILL LET OUR PARENTS KNOW THAT YOU'RE CHECKING OUT. AND IF YOU'RE BRINGING THEM BACK, YOU HAVE TO BRING THEM BACK BY A CERTAIN TIME TO MEET THAT TIME. BUT I WILL ASK IF STAFF CAN GET US THAT INFORMATION BEFORE THE BEFORE STUDY SESSION IS OVER. WE'LL MAKE SURE TO GET THAT INFORMATION OUT TO THE. THANK YOU SO MUCH, BUT I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE ON OUR SITE AS WELL, BECAUSE PARENTS NEED TO KNOW I'M NOT GOING TO WALK INTO SCHOOL AND SAY, WELL, MY CHILD HAS BEEN HERE THREE, 327 MINUTES. YOU KNOW, DID I MAKE THAT TIME FRAME FOR HALF A DAY? THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE INFORMATION. THANK YOU, MISS EDWARDS, MR. MCDANIEL. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, AND THANK YOU, MISS, FOR THIS. AND I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. ONE, THE STUDENT ATTENDANCE PROTOCOL PROCEDURES. AS IT'S PRESENTED HERE TODAY. AND I AND AGAIN, I ECHO THE SENTIMENT OF ALL MY COLLEAGUES THAT WE DO WANT OUR KIDS INSIDE OF SCHOOLS. 
          UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK A LOT OF THE REALITY IS THAT SOMETIMES THE KIDS ARE NOT THERE BECAUSE OF THEIR BECAUSE UNCONTROLLABLE EVENTS AND THINGS THAT THEY FACE, UNFORTUNATELY. SO THIS DIAGRAM THAT YOU HAVE HERE, THE STUDENT ATTENDANCE PROTOCOL AND PROCEDURES WHERE IT TALKS ABOUT ONE THROUGH FOUR, FIVE AND THEN CONTRACT VIOLATED, AND THEN REFERRAL TO JUVENILE STATE COURT INTERVENTION. IS THIS SOMETHING THAT THE PARENTS ARE AWARE OF THAT HEY, THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU'RE A STUDENT. YOU'RE A SCHOLAR RATHER IS NOT IN SCHOOL. ARE THEY MADE AWARE OR MADE KNOWN OF THESE PROCEDURES? BECAUSE I CAN'T SAY THAT EVERYONE DOES. AND I AS A PARENT, I CAN'T SAY I REMEMBER, BUT MY KIDS GO TO SCHOOL. SO THE QUESTION IS, IS, ARE PARENTS AWARE OF THIS? YES. THE DIAGRAM IS AN EXHIBIT IN OUR BOARD POLICY. SO IT IS AVAILABLE TO PARENTS IN THE PUBLIC. BUT PARENTS ARE ALSO REMINDED WITH THOSE ATTENDANCE LETTERS AT THE THIRD, FIFTH AND EIGHTH ABSENCE. AND THAT'S THE INTENTION OF THE CARE TEAM TO ENGAGE PARENTS INDIVIDUALLY AND PERSONALLY. SO THE SCHOOLS WOULDN'T BE FOLLOWING THE PROTOCOLS WITHOUT HAVING CONTACT WITH THE PARENTS, ATTEMPTING TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE PARENTS. WE CERTAINLY WOULD NOT END UP IN A SITUATION WHERE WE WERE MAKING A REFERRAL TO A COURT SYSTEM WITHOUT GOING DOWN EVERY AVENUE TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO HER TO FIND OUT WHAT'S WHAT BARRIERS ARE IN PLACE, CAN WE ENGAGE AGENCIES TO ELIMINATE THOSE BARRIERS? HOW CAN WE SOLVE THIS PROBLEM? BEFORE WE GET TO THE FINAL STEPS ON THE PROTOCOL? SO ONE THING THAT I WANT US TO KEEP IN MIND IS MANY OF US IN THIS ROOM ARE BLESSED ENOUGH TO HAVE INTERNET ACCESS, TO KNOW HOW TO GO INTO A SITE, TO LOOK UP EXHIBITS. THERE ARE SOME THAT'S IN THE HOTEL ROOM THAT DO NOT HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY. AND SO I WOULD CAUTION US RESPECTFULLY THAT ALTHOUGH IT'S THERE, DOES NOT MEAN THAT EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO IT. AND SO IF YOU KNOW, AND I AND AGAIN, I KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT THAT GOES INTO IT. BUT JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THINGS OF THIS NATURE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SENDING THE CHILD AND THE FAMILY, THE JUVENILE COURT AND COURT MEDIATION, AND IF THEY DON'T GO, YOU'RE TAKING OUT A WARRANT AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF. THAT'S THAT'S HEAVY THAT THAT IS A LOT. SO IF YOU KNOW THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO JUST MAKE SURE THAT I KNOW IT'S ON OUR WEBSITE, I KNOW THAT IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS ACCESSIBLE BY THOSE THAT HAVE THE INTERNET CAPABILITY, BUT SOME DO NOT. 
          THE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE IS AROUND THE CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM AND STATE ACCOUNTABILITY. I HEARD WHAT YOU SAID, AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I HEARD IT CLEARLY. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE CHART THAT YOU PROVIDED TO US. ELEMENTARY IS ACCORDING TO WHAT WE SEE HERE TODAY, ELEMENTARY IS A HUGE OR SHOULD BE A HUGE FOCAL POINT IN TERMS OF BRINGING UP OUR ATTENDANCE 
          [00:45:06]
LEVEL, AM I CORRECT? YES. SO I KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE BECAUSE. THE ATTENDANCE ACTIVITIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, HAVE WE SEEN OR I GUESS WE WON'T SEE IT BECAUSE OF CRP DATA IS ALREADY OUT, BUT HAVE WE SEEN ACCORDING TO THIS. BUT DO WE REALLY SEE THE IMPACT OF WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW? AND THE REASON I ASK THAT QUESTION IS BECAUSE AND I SAY THIS, DOCTOR, PACE INTO MADAM CHAIR. THERE ARE TOO MANY PEOPLE TELLING OUR STORY, AND WE'RE NOT TELLING OUR OWN SUCCESS STORIES FOR OURSELVES. THERE ARE TOO MANY PEOPLE OUT HERE IN HENRY COUNTY THAT SPEAKING FOR US. BUT WE GOT THE GENIUS RIGHT HERE IN THE ROOM TO SPEAK ABOUT THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING EVERY DAY, EVERY BOARD MEETING. SO I JUST REALLY WANT US TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT WE ARE THAT YOU ARE THAT ADMINISTRATORS ARE PUTTING THINGS IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR KIDS ARE THERE IN SCHOOL AND THAT THEY ARE LEARNING AND THEY ARE MASTERING IS THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WHAT WE'RE DOING, CORRECT? YES, ABSOLUTELY. AND WE ARE CLOSING THE GAP WHILE WE ARE BELOW THE STATE. THE STATE SCORE, WHILE WE WERE IN FOR OUR 2020 5KPI, WE WERE ABOUT 4.9 PERCENTAGE POINTS BELOW THAT. THAT SHOWS A TREND OF CLOSING THE GAP. WE WERE AT 6.3 POINTS FOR THE 23 SCHOOL YEAR BELOW THE STATE, 5.8 FOR 24. WE CLOSE THAT GAP TO 4.9 BELOW THE STATE FOR 25. AND THIS YEAR WE ARE TRENDING EITHER ABOVE OR WITHIN 2 TO 3 PERCENTAGE POINTS OF LAST YEAR'S STATE SCORE. WE HAVE TO BE WE CAN BE AS PREDICTIVE AS WE AS WE WILL BE WITH CRP, BUT ALL THE FINAL CALCULATIONS COME INTO PLAY. BUT WE ARE TRENDING HIGH IN ALL OF OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, AND ALL OF THEM HAVE SEEN A PERCENT PRESENT GAIN, ALL OF THEM SINCE MARCH OF LAST YEAR TO MARCH OF THIS YEAR. THAT'S BEEN SUSTAINED THIS SCHOOL YEAR. MY FINAL COMMENT IS, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERY ADMINISTRATOR, EVERY PERSON THAT HAD A HAND IN DOING WHAT IS NECESSARY TO GET OUR KIDS TO SCHOOL. I APPRECIATE YOUR INSIGHT. I APPRECIATE YOUR THOUGHTFULNESS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR KIDS ARE AT SCHOOL, THAT THEY ARE LEARNING, AND THAT THEY'RE NOT EITHER AT HOME OR OUT IN THE STREETS. SO I DO APPRECIATE YOUR TEAM AND EVERYONE FOR WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR KIDS ARE IN SCHOOL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MCDANIEL. DOCTOR. NET. GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR THIS REPORT. I JUST HAVE I HAVE ONE COMMENT AND ONE QUESTION. LET'S GO WITH THE QUESTION FIRST. HOW HOW ARE WE EXPLAINING CHILDREN WITH LOW ATTENDANCE. BUT THEY'RE THEY'RE STILL PASSING. WE'VE WE'VE SEEN SOME WITH 40 AND 50 DAYS ABSENT, BUT YET THEY'RE PASSING ALL THEIR CLASSES. THAT JUST DOESN'T SEEM POSSIBLE TO ME THAT THE TWO ARE DEFINITELY TIED TOGETHER. MANY OF OUR STUDENTS DO HAVE ACCESS TO ASSIGNMENTS THROUGH GOOGLE CLASSROOM, AND THEY CAN COMPLETE ASSIGNMENTS WHEN THEY ARE ABSENT. BUT THE GOAL IS TO HAVE STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOMS SO THAT THEY CAN SEE, SO THAT THEY CAN RECEIVE THE INSTRUCTION THAT THEY CAN DIALOG WITH TEACHERS AND OTHER STUDENTS. AND SO WHILE WE DON'T WANT TO INCREASE OUR FAILURE RATE, WE DO WANT OUR STUDENTS TO PASS ALL THEIR CLASSES. WE WANT THEM TO BE SUCCESSFUL BY BEING IN SCHOOL AND HAVING ACCESS TO THE INSTRUCTION WHILE THEY PASS THEIR CLASSES. I AGREE, BUT IF THE STUDENT SOMETIMES STUDENTS ARE NOT READY THAT THAT'S ALL I CAN SAY. SOMETIMES CHILDREN ARE JUST NOT READY TO BE IN WHATEVER GRADE THEY'RE IN. AND THE MORE YOU PUSH, SOMETIMES THE MORE RESISTANT THEY BECOME. AND SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING ELSE FOR THOSE CHILDREN. MY COMMENT IS WE AS THE BOARD, WHEN WE'RE DOING HEARING APPEALS AND, AND STUDENT HEARINGS, A LOT OF THE CHILDREN WE SEE HAVE A HIGH ABSENTEE. AND SO IF NOTHING ELSE, KEEPING YOUR CHILD IN SCHOOL AT LEAST GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF WHERE THEY ARE. BUT I DON'T WANT THEM TO COME TO SCHOOL AND CREATE CHAOS IN MY CLASSROOM OR IN ANYBODY'S CLASSROOM. SO I GUESS THE THE QUESTION WOULD BE, HOW CAN WE HAVE A HAPPY MEDIUM? WAY BACK WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL WHERE THE DINOSAURS WERE ROAMING, WE HAD CLASSES FOR. A LOT OF THESE KIDS ARE BORED. IT'S EITHER THEY'VE GOTTEN SO FAR BEHIND OR THEY ARE. THEY ARE GIFTED BECAUSE IT'S. A LOT OF GIFTED CHILDREN DO GET BORED VERY EASY. DO WE HAVE A WAY TO TAP INTO THAT, TO LOOK AND SEE EXACTLY WHY? WHY ARE YOU ABSENT? WHY DO YOU NOT LIKE MATH? EVERYBODY SHOULD LOVE MATH. I LOVE MATH, 
          [00:50:01]
BUT IT ARE WE LOOKING AT THAT ALSO THAT MAYBE WE CAN PROVIDE OTHER CLASSES OR SOMETHING FOR THESE CHILDREN? YES, WE DEFINITELY USE THE WORK OF THE CARE TEAM AS THE AS THE AVENUE FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT WITH FAMILIES TO FIND OUT WHAT IS THE ROOT CAUSE FOR THE EXCEEDING ABSENCES. AND THEN ALSO THE CARE TEAMS ALSO CONSIDER BEHAVIOR. AND SO BETWEEN ALL OF THE DIFFERENT SUPPORT PERSONNEL THAT THE BOARD HAS SUPPORTED HAVING IN OUR SCHOOLS, BETWEEN GRADUATION COACHES, OUR SCHOOL COUNSELORS, SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS, MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS, ETC. THEY ARE LOOKING AT THE WHOLE CHILD TO DETERMINE WHAT IS THE ROOT CAUSE FOR THE ABSENCE. AND THEN WHEN THE STUDENT IS IN SCHOOL, ARE WE ENSURING THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THE MOST APPROPRIATE PROGRAMING FOR THEM, WHETHER THAT BE GIFTED OR GENERAL CLASSROOM SERVICES? AND I KNOW WHEN I WAS TEACHING, WE HAD GRADE LEVEL MEETINGS EVERY WEEK, AND DURING THE GRADE LEVEL MEETINGS, WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT ABSENTEEISM. AND YOU KNOW, WHO'S PARENTS DO WE NEED TO CALL? WHO DO WE NEED TO CHECK ON THAT? MAYBE THEY'VE HAD A DEATH IN THIS FAMILY OR SOMETHING, REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES WERE, YOU WERE ASSIGNED TO A CHILD. AND I THINK THAT MADE A LOT OF DIFFERENCE IN THE WAY WE HANDLED OUR CHILDREN, OR AT LEAST IT DID IN NINTH GRADE. THANK YOU DOCTOR, AND ANY OTHER COMMENTS? I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. I AM REALLY IMPRESSED WITH ALL OF THE WORK AND THE INITIATIVES THAT ARE IN PLACE, BOTH DISTRICT WIDE AND AT THE INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL LEVELS. 
          I'VE EXPERIENCED THE INITIATIVES MYSELF WITH MY OWN CHILDREN AND I'M JUST SUPER IMPRESSED. THEY ARE VERY EFFECTIVE. WE GO TO GREAT LENGTHS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE AT SCHOOL BEFORE AND AFTER ANY APPOINTMENT THAT'S NECESSARY DURING THE SCHOOL WEEK. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH TO EVERYONE WHO IS REALLY, TRULY WRAPPING AROUND EACH STUDENT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE IN SCHOOL EVERY DAY. AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE IMPROVED RESULTS ON THE NEXT KPI BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THEY ARE COMING. SO I APPRECIATE THE UPDATE. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO OUR NEXT INFORMATIONAL ITEM, WHICH IS D3A DOCTOR PACE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, FOR OUR NEXT INFORMATION ITEM D3A UNDER ENSURING OPERATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS, I'D LIKE TO INVITE OUR DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT STAFF OPERATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS FOR OUR LEGISLATIVE UPDATE. MRS. SUMMER COX. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT PACE, THE 2026 LEGISLATIVE SESSION RECENTLY CONCLUDED ITS FINAL DAY ON THURSDAY, APRIL 2ND, 2026, AND TODAY, I WILL SHARE AN UPDATE ON KEY LEGISLATION WITH EDUCATIONAL IMPACT. EACH YEAR, THE BOARD IDENTIFIES LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES 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 2026 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES, THE 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 IMPACT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. AS YOU WILL SEE, MANY 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 2026 LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION FOR HENRY COUNTY PROVIDES KEY PARTNERSHIP AND COLLABORATION AND UNDERSTANDING THIS BOARD'S LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES, WHILE ALSO PROVIDING KEY INSIGHTS INTO MATTERS OF INTEREST AND LEGISLATIVE DEVELOPMENTS THROUGHOUT THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION. EACH YEAR, THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION BEGINS WITH THE GOVERNOR'S STATE OF 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 200 EDUCATION BILLS INTRODUCED IN TOTAL OF THE BILLS THAT PASSED THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND ARE AWAITING GOVERNOR KEMP SIGNATURE, SEVERAL ELEVATED THEMES HAVE EMERGED. THESE THEMES INCLUDE STUDENTS, ACADEMICS AND INSTRUCTION, FINANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY, HUMAN RESOURCES AND PROPERTY TAXES. 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 THE 12TH 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 
          [00:55:02]
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 PROCEDURES MUST BE ADJUSTED TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH NEWLY PASSED LEGISLATION. THEREFORE, THE INFORMATION SHARED WITH YOU TODAY IS INTENDED ONLY TO HIGHLIGHT THEMES AND GENERAL REQUIREMENTS OF SELECTED LEGISLATION. THERE WERE SEVERAL BILLS WITH DIRECT IMPACT ON STUDENTS OR STUDENT ISSUES. SENATE BILL 552, ALSO KNOWN AS THE TRUE PATRIOTISM AND UNIVERSAL STUDENT ACCESS ACT, ESTABLISHES EQUAL ACCESS RIGHTS FOR STUDENTS TO ENGAGE IN POLITICAL ACTIVITIES AND EXPRESSION. IN GEORGIA, PUBLIC SCHOOLS, REQUIRING SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARTIZAN AND NONPARTISAN POLITICAL GROUPS AS OTHER NON-CURRICULAR STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS. SENATE BILL 556 AMENDS GEORGIA'S HOPE SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS TO INCLUDE ADVANCED PLACEMENT, CAMBRIDGE AND INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE FINE ARTS COURSES AND GRADE POINT AVERAGE CALCULATIONS. HOUSE BILL 1009 EXPANDS LAST YEAR, RESTRICTIONS ON STUDENT USE OF PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICES DURING THE SCHOOL DAY TO INCLUDE GRADES NINE THROUGH 12 BEGINNING IN JULY OF 2027, AND REQUIRES LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS TO ESTABLISH POLICIES FOR STORAGE OF DEVICES, EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION PROTOCOLS AND ENFORCEMENT OF THOSE PROCEDURES. AND SENATE BILL 589 ALLOWS PARENTS TO ENROLL CHILDREN WHO ARE 4 OR 5 INTO PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS, ALLOWING PARENTS WHOSE CHILDREN ARE ELIGIBLE FOR INITIAL PUBLIC SCHOOL ENROLLMENT TO REQUEST THAT THEIR CHILD BE ENROLLED IN KINDERGARTEN, EVEN IF THEY ARE ELIGIBLE BY AGE TO BE ENROLLED IN FIRST GRADE. THERE WERE SEVERAL STANDALONE BILLS THIS YEAR RELATED TO ACADEMICS AND INSTRUCTION. HOUSE BILL 1193, ALSO KNOWN AS THE GEORGIA EARLY LITERACY ACT OF 2026, ESTABLISHES MANDATORY KINDERGARTEN ATTENDANCE AND REQUIRES LITERACY COACHES IN EVERY GEORGIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO BE WITH GRADES KINDERGARTEN THROUGH THIRD TO BE PAID FOR THROUGH GRANT FUNDS, WHILE ALSO CREATING A STATE OVERSIGHT STRUCTURE TO IMPLEMENT SCIENCE BASED READING INSTRUCTION AND PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS. 
          HOUSE BILL 1030 ESTABLISHES THE MATH MATTERS ACT, REQUIRING GEORGIA SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE ADVANCED MATH COURSES AND AUTOMATIC ENROLLMENT FOR HIGH PERFORMING STUDENTS. IT ALSO MANDATES MINIMUM MATH INSTRUCTIONAL TIME FOR GRADES FOUR THROUGH FIVE, AND REQUIRES TEACHER CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS TO INCLUDE EVIDENCE BASED MATH INSTRUCTION TRAINING. SENATE BILL 179 REQUIRES GEORGIA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO COMPLETE A COMPUTER SCIENCE COURSE AS A GRADUATION REQUIREMENT, BEGINNING WITH SCHOOL YEAR 2031 AND 2032. BILLS WITH FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY IMPACTS INCLUDED HOUSE BILL 328, WHICH EXPANDS ELIGIBILITY FOR STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP TAX CREDITS TO INCLUDE MILITARY FAMILIES AND STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, WHILE REMOVING SCHOLARSHIP AMOUNT CAPS FOR THESE GROUPS. AND HOUSE BILL 1164 ESTABLISHES ENHANCED OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES FOR GEORGIA'S PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM THROUGH MANDATORY AUDIT COMMITTEES, PROGRESSIVE MONITORING SYSTEMS, AND STRICTER FINANCIAL CONTROLS. AND SENATE BILL 472 ESTABLISHES NEW SUSPENSION PROCEDURES FOR LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS FOLLOWING AUDIT FINDINGS OF FINANCIAL MISMANAGEMENT OR SIGNIFICANT RISK. A FEW LEGISLATIVE ITEMS WITH IMPACTS ON THE HUMAN RESOURCES END INCLUDE SENATE BILL 148, WHICH ALLOWS SCHOOL PERSONNEL TO USE UP TO FIVE SICK DAYS FOR PERSONAL OR PROFESSIONAL REASONS. AND HOUSE BILL 1118 PROVIDES 120 HOURS OF PAID MATERNAL LEAVE FOR ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES WHO GIVE BIRTH. IT DOES REQUIRE EMPLOYEES TO WORK A CONTINUOUS SIX MONTHS BEFORE ELIGIBILITY AND LIMITS USAGE TO THE FIRST THREE WEEKS AFTER CHILDBIRTH, AND IN ALIGNMENT WITH THIS BOARD'S LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES. SENATE BILL 150 EXTENDS THE PROGRAM, ALLOWING RETIRED TEACHERS TO RETURN TO FULL TIME CLASSROOM EMPLOYMENT UNTIL JUNE 30TH, 2030 AFTER ONE FULL YEAR OF RETIREMENT. AREAS OF HIGHEST NEED WILL NOW BE DETERMINED BASED ON THE TOP THREE VACANCY AREAS IN EACH SCHOOL SYSTEM, RATHER THAN BY THE LOCAL RESA. THERE WERE SEVERAL PIECES OF LEGISLATION THIS YEAR WITH IMPACTS ON PROPERTY TAXES, BUT THE ONE WITH THE MOST IMPACT FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS SENATE BILL 33, WHICH OPTS ALL LOCAL GOVERNMENTS INTO HOUSE BILL 581 FROM THE 2024 SESSION, ESTABLISHING A PROPERTY TAX CAP OF 3% AND RAISING THE CAP ON RESERVE FUNDING FROM 15% TO 25%. 
          SOMETIMES THE LEGISLATURE DECIDES TO COMBINE SEVERAL BILLS INTO ONE LARGER BILL, AND 
          [01:00:04]
SENATE BILL 369 IS ONE SUCH EXAMPLE. THIS BILL CREATES A NEW CATEGORY OF DROPOUT RECOVERY CHARTER SCHOOLS SERVING GRADES SIX THROUGH 12, BUT THREE ADDITIONAL BILLS WERE ADDED TO IT HOUSE BILL 1257, WHICH DOES REVISE REVISE PROVISIONS FOR THE INCENTIVE GRANTS FOR LOCAL BOARDS OF EDUCATION TO APPROVE CHARTER SCHOOLS. HOUSE BILL 1206, WHICH REQUIRES LOCAL BOARDS TO CONSIDER THE TOTAL COST OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES DURING THE PURCHASE PROCESS, AND HOUSE BILL 1218, WHICH ALLOWS VIRTUAL STUDENTS IN GRADES SIX THROUGH 12 TO PARTICIPATE IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AT THEIR HOME PUBLIC SCHOOL. WHILE GOVERNOR KEMP'S DEADLINE OF MAY 12TH 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 CODE OF CONDUCT AND HANDBOOKS 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 HENRY COUNTY, BUT ALSO ACROSS THE STATE AND AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL. YOUR CONTINUED LEADERSHIP AND 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 ARE ON A PATH TO PROVIDING A WORLD CLASS EDUCATION TO EVERY STUDENT EVERY DAY. 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 INFORMATIONAL ITEM D THREE, A LEGISLATIVE UPDATE AND WE REMAIN AVAILABLE TO OUR BOARD FOR ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, DOCTOR PACE. AND THANK YOU, MRS. COX, FOR THAT UPDATE. DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY DISCUSSION, MISS EDWARDS? MISS COX, UNDER HOUSE BILL 1193. I SEE THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE GEORGIA LITERACY ACT. SO WERE THERE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT IN THE DISTRICT WITH FUNDS? YES. THE BILL ACTUALLY DOES PROVIDE GRANT FUNDS IN THE FORM OF REIMBURSEMENT FOR CERTAIN LITERACY FOR LITERACY COACHES AT EVERY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WITH GRADES K THROUGH THREE, WITH SOME VERY CLEAR CRITERIA WITHIN THE LEGISLATION ABOUT WHAT QUALIFIES AS A LITERACY COACH. SO WE ARE DEFINITELY GOING TO SPEND SOME TIME REVIEWING THAT. 
          I BELIEVE THAT PIECE OF LEGISLATION IS MORE THAN 40 PAGES LONG, SO THERE ARE QUITE A FEW COMPONENTS IN THERE AND QUITE A FEW DIFFERENT TIMELINES AND DATES FOR IMPLEMENTATION FOR DIFFERENT COMPONENTS OF THE BILL. SO REGARDING THE GRANTS, WE THE, THE DISTRICTS HAVE TO SEEK OUT GRANTS THEMSELVES. THEY WILL BE PROVIDED AS REIMBURSEMENT THROUGH THE QBI PROCESS, BUT THEY WILL ACTUALLY COME THROUGH GRANT FUNDING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS EDWARDS. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? THANK YOU SO MUCH, MISS COX. WE APPRECIATE THE UPDATE. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO OUR NEXT INFORMATIONAL ITEM WHICH IS D3B DOCTOR PACE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR FOR INFORMATION ITEM D3B, MARCH 2026 CONSTRUCTION EAST WATCH REPORT. I'D LIKE TO INVITE OUR CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER, MR. BARRY MILES, FOR THIS PRESENTATION. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT PACE, I'M BRINGING TO YOU THE MARCH CAPITAL PROJECTS REPORT FOR EAST BLOCK SIX, BEGINNING WITH OLA MIDDLE SCHOOL PUNCH LIST IS STILL AT 99% COMPLETE. THE NEW ROAD IS COMPLETE AS WELL. YOU SEE, INSTALLATION OF THE TWO GATES REMAINS. THOSE GATES HAVE BEEN INSTALLED. ALL THAT REMAINS IS PROGRAMING FOR THE MOTORIZED GATE BEHIND THE. ON THE. ON THE NEW ROAD BEHIND OLA MIDDLE SCHOOL. MOVING TO STEM HIGH SCHOOL, YOU SEE THE THIRD FLOOR SLAB POUR IS COMPLETE AND WITH SPRINKLER LINE INSTALLATION ON THE THIRD STORY SECTOR, IN-WALL AND OVERHEAD ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING AND ROUGH OVERHEAD. MECHANICAL PIPING. UNDERGROUND ELECTRICAL AND PLUMBING ROUGH IN THE BIOTECH WING. AND LASTLY, THE INTERIOR DRYWALL INSTALLATION CONTINUES WITH NOW SECOND FLOOR FRAMING AND ALUMINUM STOREFRONT INSTALLATION IN CAFETERIA AND GYM. BEGINNING AT DUTCHTOWN MIDDLE SCHOOL. WE HAVE ACHIEVED SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION THERE, AND WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF COLLECTING THE CLOSEOUT DOCUMENTS FOR THAT PROJECT. MOVING TO OLA HIGH SCHOOL, WE SEE THE ROOF DECKING AND FRAME INSTALLATION IS COMPLETE. OVERHEAD, MECHANICAL AND HVAC PIPING, IN-WALL ELECTRICAL AND PLUMBING. ROUGH EXTERIOR BRICK CONTINUES. AND WE'VE GOT FOUNDATION BRICK BEGINNING AND AIR BARRIER SPRAY HAS BEGUN AS WELL. WOLF CREEK ELEMENTARY CONTINUING TO WORK OUT THEIR PROGRESS, PROGRESSING WELL, CLEARING IN SITE WORK, 
          [01:05:03]
UNDERGROUND STORMWATER MANAGEMENT, UNDERGROUND ELECTRICAL AND PLUMBING ROUGH CONTINUE AS WELL AS GYM AND CAFETERIA SLAB PAUSE BEGINNING AND OUR CLASSROOM FOOTING. 
          PAUSE BEGINNING AS WELL OUT THERE. SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM UPGRADE, MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL. 
          WE'VE GOT SIX HIGH SCHOOL AND SEVEN MIDDLE SCHOOL INSTALLATIONS COMPLETE. WE'VE GOT STADIUM CAMERA UNDERGROUND, BORING AT TWO HIGH SCHOOLS COMPLETE. AND AS OF THIS PRESENTATION, CAMERA INSTALLATION, ONE HIGH SCHOOL AND ONE MIDDLE SCHOOL CONTINUES. 
          BOARD. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO HIGHLIGHT AND NOT HIGHLIGHT. CELEBRATE THE PROGRESS THAT WE'VE MADE AS WE APPROACH THE FINAL PHASE OF THE EAST. SIX CAPITAL PROJECTS IN CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM. OF THE 23 CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, CONSTRUCTION AND RELATED PROJECTS OUTLINED IN THIS CYCLE, 15 HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED, WITH FOUR MORE CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND THE REMAINING FOUR PROJECTS ARE IN THE FINAL STAGES OF PREPARATION. OVERALL, THIS REFLECTS A STEADY AND MEANINGFUL PROGRESS OF THE WORK, AS WELL AS THE FULFILLMENT OF YOUR VISION AND MISSION FOR OUR STUDENTS BOARD. I DO WANT TO CELEBRATE YOU THIS EVENING, AS IT IS A FULFILLMENT OF YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY. 
          WITH 100% OF THE PROJECTS TRACKING AS SCHEDULED, WE DO LOOK FORWARD TO BRINGING THE REMAINING PROJECTS TO COMPLETION. SO THANK YOU FOR HONORING YOUR COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY. DOCTOR PACE. THIS DOES CONCLUDE MY PRESENTATION. THANK YOU, MR. MILES. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES OUR MARCH 2026 CONSTRUCTION REPORT AND REMAIN AVAILABLE TO OUR BOARD FOR ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH, DOCTOR PAYSON. THANK YOU, MR. MILES, FOR THIS REPORT. 
          DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY DISCUSSION? MR. MCDANIEL THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, AND THANK YOU, MR. MILES, AND IT IS A GREAT MOMENT TO SEE US COMING TO A CULMINATING OF OF THIS AND AND GETTING READY FOR THE NEXT. I WILL JUST ASK ONE QUESTION. THERE WAS A DISCUSSION HELD RECENTLY ABOUT WHAT THE SCHOOL BOARD CAN AND CANNOT DO THAT WE CAN JUST PUT IN SIDEWALKS, WHATEVER. YOU KNOW, EVERYONE WANTS TO TELL US WHAT WE CAN AND CAN'T DO. COULD YOU TALK ABOUT THAT, PLEASE? ABOUT WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE LAND AND WHAT WE CAN, YOU KNOW, CANNOT DO AND WHAT'S WITHIN OUR RIGHT OF WAY OR OUR VARIANCE AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. CAN YOU EXPOUND UPON THAT, PLEASE? YES, SIR. WHERE YOU CAN. THANK YOU FOR ASKING THAT QUESTION. 
          SIDEWALK PROJECTS ARE GENERALLY A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECT. AND AND THEY DO FALL IN THE PURVIEW OF THE LOCAL MUNICIPALITY OR COUNTY. AND, AND BEING IN THE RIGHT OF WAY, IT'S NOT SCHOOL PROPERTY TECHNICALLY NOW. I MEAN, WE, WE CUT GRASS RIGHT UP AGAINST IT AND WE HELP MAINTAIN IT. BUT THE CONSTRUCTION OF AND MAINTENANCE OF SIDEWALKS DO REMAIN THE IN THE PURVIEW OF THE COUNTY OR MUNICIPALITY. THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE THAT. 
          THANK YOU, MR. MCDANIEL. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? MISS EDWARDS, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO HEAR HIM SAY THAT AGAIN AND SAY IT LOUD IN THE MIC. YES, MA'AM. SIDEWALKS DO FALL UNDER THE PURVIEW OF THE LOCAL MUNICIPALITY OR COUNTY. THEY ARE NOT CONSIDERED SCHOOL BOARD PROPERTY. LOCAL MUNICIPALITY. MEANING THE CITY? YES, MA'AM. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS EDWARDS. MISS CARTER, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. MILES, FOR ALL THE DETAILS YOU ALWAYS GIVE ON ALL THE BREAKDOWN OF ALL THE REMODELING AND ALL THE THINGS. I'VE ENJOYED BEING A PART OF THE LAST PART OF THAT. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR TEAM'S HARD WORK. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH, DOCTOR NUT. AND OF COURSE, I'M GOING TO CHIME IN. WE DON'T BUILD ROADS. IF ONE MORE PERSON CALLS AND TELLS ME THAT I NEED TO PUT FILL UP THOSE POTHOLES IN THEIR FRONT YARD, THAT'S NOT MY JOB. I BUILD SCHOOLS, I DO NOT BUILD ROADS. SO YES. THANK YOU, DOCTOR NET. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. MILES, FOR THE INCREDIBLE WORK. I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR KEEPING US ON SCHEDULE AND HELPING US MAINTAIN OUR INTEGRITY WITH THE EAST-WEST REFERENDUMS THAT WE PUT OUT. I HOPE THAT OUR COMMUNITY CAN SEE THAT WHAT WE SAY WE'RE GOING TO COMPLETE, WE DO COMPLETE, AND THE TIMELINE THAT WE HAVE PUT FORTH. SO THAT IS ALL THANKS TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM. SO I REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE IT. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE NEW ADDITIONS COMPLETE. AND OF COURSE, I'M JUST THRILLED ABOUT THE PROGRESS AT THE STEM HIGH SCHOOL. AND IF THE DROUGHT IS GOOD FOR ANYTHING, IT'S THE PROGRESS ON ALL OF OUR PROJECTS. THANK YOU FOR THE YES MA'AM. YES. SO AT LEAST YOU ALL HAVE HAD SOME DRY WEATHER LATELY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE APPRECIATE IT. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO OUR NEXT INFORMATIONAL ITEM WHICH IS D3C DOCTOR PACE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR FOR INFORMATION ON ITEM D3C MARCH 2026 FINANCIAL REPORTS. I'D LIKE TO INVITE OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, MRS. 
          [01:10:02]
SHANIQUA CLAY, FOR THIS PRESENTATION. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT PACE. TODAY I BRING A REPORT OF THE FINANCIAL ACTIVITY FOR THE PERIOD ENDING MARCH 31ST, 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 APPROXIMATELY 84% OF PLANNED REVENUES TO DATE ACROSS ALL FUNDS, AS SHOWN IN THAT YELLOW HIGHLIGHT. AND WE HAVE EXPENDITURES TO DATE THAT HAVE ARE TOTALING 78.3% OF BUDGETED EXPENDITURES AS SHOWN IN THE GREEN HIGHLIGHT OBLIGATIONS OUTSTANDING AS OF THE PERIOD END TOTALED $18.2 MILLION, WITH 87% OF THESE OBLIGATIONS PERTAINING TO THE CAPITAL PROJECTS WORK THAT WE WERE JUST HEARING ABOUT THE PROGRESS OF MOVING ALONG, WE WILL REVIEW FINANCIAL ACTIVITY OF THE GENERAL FUND. WITH THE NINTH MONTH OF THE FISCAL YEAR ACCOUNTED, WE WERE 75% THROUGH FY 26. ON A LINEAR BASIS. COLLECTIONS AS OF THE END OF THE PERIOD WERE APPROACHING 87% OVERALL, WITH A SLIGHT LAG IN THE PACE OBSERVED OF OUR FEDERAL REVENUE SOURCES, TURNING OUR EYE TO THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE PAGE AND LOOKING AT THE GREEN HIGHLIGHT, YOU CAN SEE WE'VE INCURRED EXPENSES REPRESENTING 75.3% OF BUDGETED EXPENDITURES, WHICH IS RIGHT ON PACE WITH THE FISCAL YEAR OBLIGATIONS OUTSTANDING AS OF THE MONTH END TOTALED $1.5 MILLION, AND THE EXPENDITURE PACING INCREASES TO 75.5%. WHEN THESE PENDING CHARGES ARE CONSIDERED. BASED ON THIS MONITORING, WE ANTICIPATE WE WILL CLOSE THE FISCAL YEAR IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AMENDED BUDGETARY PLAN, WHICH IS SHOWN IN THAT FIRST COLUMN. NEXT, WE WILL REVIEW THE GENERAL FUND BALANCE SHEET. THE TOTAL VALUE OF THE GENERAL FUND'S ASSETS AT THE CLOSE OF MARCH TOTALED $210.7 MILLION. I'LL REMIND THE BOARD AND COMMUNITY THAT THIS BALANCE WILL CONTINUE TO DECREASE IN THE COMING MONTHS AS WE OPERATE OFF OF THE FUNDS WE RECEIVE DURING THE ANNUAL TAX COLLECTION CYCLE FROM LAST YEAR. THE NEXT SLIDE PROVIDES A VIEW OF CASH ON HAND ACROSS ALL FUNDS. LOOKING AT THE LAST COLUMN, THE TOTAL OF CASH AND EQUIVALENT INVESTMENTS TOTALED $385.8 MILLION FOR THIS REPORTING PERIOD. MOVING TO OUR EDUCATION SPLOST SIX REPORT AND LOOKING AT THE FIRST COLUMN, I WILL HIGHLIGHT THAT THERE HAS BEEN AN ADJUSTMENT TO THE BUDGETARY FUNDING ALIGNED TO TECHNOLOGY FOR THE BOARD PURCHASE AUTHORIZATION APPROVED IN THE PRIOR MONTH, AND TO ENHANCE FUNDING TO EXPAND CAPACITY OF PLANNED FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS. TOTAL EXPENDITURES FOR THE PERIOD WERE $8,073,980.49, WHICH IS SHOWN IN THE SECOND TO LAST COLUMN OF THIS REPORT. FINALLY, WE REVIEW THE CAPITAL ACCUMULATION FINANCIAL REPORT. THERE WAS NO ACTIVITY FOR THE MONTH. DOCTOR PACE, THAT CONCLUDES WHAT I'VE PREPARED AND I YIELD THE FLOOR TO YOU. 
          THANK YOU, MRS. CLAY. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES OUR MARCH 2026 FINANCIAL REPORTS UPDATE AND WE REMAIN AVAILABLE TO OUR BOARD FOR ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, DOCTOR PACE. AND THANK YOU, MRS. CLAY, FOR THAT REPORT. DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM, DOCTOR? NET? NOPE. OKAY. MISS EDWARDS THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, MISS CLAY, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT A ROLLBACK, HOW DOES. OH, NOT YET. OKAY. I'M JUST ANXIOUS. THANK YOU, MISS EDWARDS. OKAY. SEEING AS THERE IS NO DISCUSSION, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT REPORT. AND WE WILL NOW MOVE TO OUR NEXT INFORMATIONAL ITEM, WHICH IS D3D DOCTOR PACE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR FOR INFORMATION ITEM D3D. I'D LIKE TO ASK MISS CLAY, OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, TO REMAIN TO PRESENT THE FY 27 BUDGET OVERVIEW. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND DOCTOR PACE. TODAY I WILL PROVIDE A BRIEF REPORT ON BUDGETARY PROGRESS OF OUR CURRENT FISCAL YEAR OF 2026 AND BUDGET DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR OF 2027, STARTING OUR REPORT WITH THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, WHICH WILL END JUNE 30TH OF 2026. ON THE SCREEN, YOU HAVE A SUMMARY OF REVENUES AND EXPENSES AS INITIALLY ADOPTED FOR FY 26 IN THE FIRST COLUMN, WHICH CALLED FOR USE OF THE FUND BALANCE RESERVES OF $27.8 MILLION. LAST MONTH, THE BOARD APPROVED AN AMENDED BUDGET IN RESPONSE TO STATE RECOMMENDATIONS TO PROVIDE A ONE TIME PAY SUPPLEMENT TO SELECT STAFF. THE REVENUE FORECAST WAS IMPROVED BY $7.6 MILLION TO ACCOUNT FOR STATE FUNDING SUPPORT, AND OUR EXPENSES WERE INCREASED BY $12.6 MILLION. AS THIS BOARD EXTENDED THE SUPPLEMENT TO QUALIFYING STAFF MEMBERS. AS A RESULT, ADDITIONAL FUND BALANCE USE OF APPROXIMATELY 5 MILLION WILL BE REQUIRED, AND OUR MONITORING OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITY DEMONSTRATES WE ARE ON TRACK TO MEET THE AMENDED BUDGET EXPECTATIONS. NOW WE WILL TRANSITION TO DISCUSSING OUR FY 27 BUDGET DEVELOPMENT. BEFORE I PROCEED, I WANT TO PROVIDE A VISUAL REMINDER OF THE FOUR FUNDS THE BOARD TAKES ACTION ON ANNUALLY. TODAY'S REPORT WILL FOCUS ON THE 
          [01:15:04]
FORECAST OF REVENUE AND EXPENDITURES ASSOCIATED WITH THE GENERAL FUND. AT THE TOP OF THE SLIDE, YOU CAN SEE OUR CURRENT FISCAL YEAR FY 26 ADOPTED REVENUES ALONGSIDE THE FORECAST OF REVENUES FOR FY 27, WHICH WILL GOVERN THE PERIOD OF JULY 1ST, 2026 THROUGH JUNE 30TH, 2027. I AM DISPLAYING THE ADOPTED REVENUES FOR FY 26 VERSUS THE AMENDED PREVIOUSLY SHOWN, BECAUSE THIS PROVIDES A BETTER COMPARISON POINT FOR OUR FY 27 ANALYSIS. WITH THE CONCLUSION OF THE LEGISLATIVE CYCLE NOW COMPLETE AND MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE FROM OUR LOCAL TAX ASSESSOR. WE ARE PRESENTLY FORECASTING YEAR OVER YEAR REVENUE GROWTH OF $3.4 MILLION, WITH GAINS IN STATE REVENUE BEING OFFSET BY REDUCTIONS IN LOCAL AND FEDERAL RESOURCES. REVENUE SOURCES. LOOKING TO THE BOTTOM LEFT, LET'S REVIEW THE FORECAST OF STATE REVENUES, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE BY $9.2 MILLION YEAR OVER YEAR, AS DRIVEN BY THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITY. FIRST, THE TRES CONTRIBUTION RATE WILL INCREASE FROM 21.91% TO 22.32%, WHICH SHOULD GENERATE ADDITIONAL STATE FUNDING. HOWEVER, YOU'LL NOTE THAT I'M SIGNALING THAT THERE WILL BE SOME NEGATIVE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS STATE MANDATE GIVEN THIS RATE IS APPLIED TO ALL EMPLOYEES THAT ENROLL IN TRS, AND WE DO NOT GET FUNDING FOR ALL. ADDITIONALLY, THE LEGISLATORS APPROVED BUDGET INCORPORATED A $50 PER MEMBER PER MONTH INCREASE FOR THE EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTION RATE TO THE STATE HEALTH BENEFIT PROGRAM. WE ESTIMATE THAT THE STATE WILL PROVIDE $4.1 MILLION TO SUPPORT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS MANDATE FOR CERTIFIED STAFF, BUT NO STATE FUNDING IS PROVIDED FOR THE INCREASES RELATED TO CLASSIFIED STAFF. ON A POSITIVE NOTE, WE EXPECT A RETURN OF THE EQUALIZATION CATEGORICAL GRANT AND THIS IS THE KEY DRIVER OF THE YEAR OVER YEAR REVENUE GROWTH THAT YOU SEE PRESENTED HERE. TURNING OUR ATTENTION TO LOCAL REVENUE SOURCES, WE'RE ANTICIPATING A DECLINE OF $5.5 MILLION YEAR OVER YEAR, DRIVEN BY AN ASSUMPTION OF A DIRECT CONTRACTION DIGEST CONTRACTION OF NO MORE THAN 2.5% IN THE OF THE LOCAL TAX DIGEST. ADDITIONALLY, WE ARE ANTICIPATING MARGINAL DECLINES IN OTHER ANCILLARY LOCAL REVENUES SUCH AS INTEREST, EARNINGS AND TITLE AD VALOREM WITH AN UNDERSTANDING OF NEW FUNDING AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT INVESTMENTS. LET'S NOW REVIEW THE INVESTMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN PRIORITIZED FOR THE UPCOMING BUDGET CYCLE. WE WILL START WITH THE INVESTMENTS DRIVEN BY PROPOSED STATE LEGISLATION, WHICH IS THE FIRST GROUP OF EXPENDITURES SHOWN ON THE SLIDE IMPLEMENTING THE STATE MANDATED INCREASES FOR HEALTH CARE COSTS, AND THE TRES CONTRIBUTION RATE IS ESTIMATED TO RESULT IN INCREASED EXPENDITURES OF $4.2 MILLION YEAR OVER YEAR. THE NEXT GROUPING OF EXPENDITURES OUTLINES INVESTMENTS CONNECTED WITH THIS BOARD'S UNITED PRIORITIES AROUND INVESTING IN STAFF AND RESOURCES. REGARDING COMPENSATION INVESTMENTS, WE ARE MODELING THE INVESTMENT OF $3.5 MILLION TO PROVIDE THE MONETARY INCREASE ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROVISION OF A STEP. ADDITIONALLY, INVESTMENTS OF $2.6 MILLION HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED TO PROVIDE THE STAFFING AND RESOURCES NECESSARY FOR STRATEGIC PLAN IMPLEMENTATION, AS WELL AS THE ANTICIPATED OPENING OF WOLF CREEK ELEMENTARY AND THE STEM HIGH SCHOOL. IN AUGUST OF 2027. THE LAST GROUPING OF EXPENDITURES RELATES TO INVESTMENTS NECESSARY TO SUSTAIN ACADEMIC ENVIRONMENTS AND OTHER GENERAL OPERATIONS. TOTAL PRIORITIZE INVESTMENTS IDENTIFIED TO DATE ARE $15.2 MILLION, WHICH EXCEEDS THE REVENUE GROWTH FORECAST OF $3.4 MILLION. TO ACCOUNT FOR THIS FACT, ACADEMIC AND OPERATIONAL ADJUSTMENTS OF $13.2 MILLION HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED TO SUPPORT THE INVESTMENTS WITHIN THESE IDENTIFIED PRIORITIES. EXAMPLES OF OPERATIONAL ADJUSTMENTS INCLUDE RIGHTSIZING THE ORGANIZATION'S PROFILE IN RESPONSE TO CURRENT ENROLLMENT, ENGAGING IN STRATEGIC CONTRACT STAFFING, MODELING, TIGHTENING CONTROLS AROUND OVERTIME, AND MANDATORY EXPENDITURE REDUCTIONS IN CONSIDERATION OF THE PRIORITIZED INVESTMENTS AND THE ADJUSTMENTS. THE ANTICIPATED FY 27 EXPENSE FORECAST TOTALS $598.7 MILLION. 
          THIS IS A FORECAST, AND WE CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR INFORMATION FROM OUR ASSESSOR AND THE FINAL LEGISLATIVE BUDGET. FORECASTED EXPENDITURES ARE EXCEEDING OUR FORECASTED REVENUES BY $26.9 MILLION, AND WILL RESULT IN USE OF OUR FUND BALANCE FOR FY 27, THE FORECASTED LANDING OF THE FUND BALANCE AT JUNE 30TH OF 2027 IS APPROXIMATELY $110 MILLION, WHICH WILL REPRESENT 18.5% OF PLANNED EXPENDITURES OF THAT YEAR. I'LL CONCLUDE WITH A REVIEW OF SOME KEY TIMELINES WITHIN THE BUDGET CALENDAR. AS A REMINDER TO THE COMMUNITY, THE BUDGET CALENDAR WAS REVISED TO AFFORD ADDITIONAL TIME FOR KEY STATE AND LOCAL INFORMATION TO BECOME AVAILABLE, AND THIS WAS PUBLICLY COMMUNICATED DURING THE MARCH BOARD MEETING. 
          BASED ON THIS ADJUSTED CALENDAR, WE ANTICIPATE PRESENTING A TENTATIVE BUDGET AND HOLDING THE FIRST OF TWO REQUIRED BUDGET HEARINGS ON MAY 11TH, 2026. THE SECOND BUDGET HEARING 
          [01:20:04]
AND THE FINAL BUDGET ADOPTION ARE PLANNED FOR JUNE 8TH OF 2026. DOCTOR PACE. THIS CONCLUDES WHAT I'VE PREPARED AND I YIELD THE FLOOR TO YOU. THANK YOU, MRS. CLAY. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES OUR FY 27 BUDGET OVERVIEW. WE REMAIN AVAILABLE TO OUR BOARD FOR ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH, DOCTOR PAYSON. THANK YOU, MRS. CLAY, FOR THAT REPORT. DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY DISCUSSION? MISTER MCDANIEL THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, AND THANK YOU, MISS CLAY, AS ALWAYS, FOR MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE WITH THE DOLLARS THAT WE RECEIVE FROM ALL OF OUR LOCAL ENTITIES. 
          THE ONE THING THAT I JUST WANT TO COMMENT ON IS NOT A QUESTION, BUT ONE THING I WANT TO COMMENT ON IS TO OUR COMMUNITY, THERE ARE MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT WE SPEND OUR FUNDS ON. THERE ARE MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW WE SPEND OUR FUNDS AND WHAT THEY GO TO. I WOULD IMPLORE OUR COMMUNITY THAT IF YOU HAVE TIME TO MAKE IT TO THE BUDGET MEETINGS THAT WILL BE HELD ON THE DAYS HIGHLIGHTED HERE MAY THE 11TH, IN JUNE, THE EIGHTH, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE YOU GET TO SEE WHAT GOES ON WITH YOUR TAX DOLLARS. AND I THINK I CAN ASK THIS QUESTION OR MAYBE SAY IT NOW. AGAIN, GOING BACK TO THE STORY, MANY TIMES, WE ALWAYS HEAR THAT IT'S THE SCHOOL SYSTEM'S FAULT FOR PEOPLE'S PROPERTY TAXES GOING UP. AND THE REALITY IS, IS THAT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS JUST ONE OF THE ENTITIES ON YOUR TAX BILL THAT ACTUALLY RECEIVES MONEY FROM YOUR PROPERTY TAXES. JUST OUT OF TRANSPARENCY, I'M A HOMEOWNER HERE, AND MY WIFE MIGHT GET ME FOR THIS AND PROBABLY WILL LATER ON, BUT MY TAX BILL WENT UP THAT ALMOST $900. BUT THEN WHEN I LOOK AT MY FOUR CHILDREN OR LOOK AT THE $41,000 HERE, AND I LOOK AT THE 6000 EMPLOYEES AND I LOOK AT THE BUS DRIVERS, I LOOK AT THE CUSTODIANS, AND I LOOK AT THOSE SITTING IN THIS ROOM. I DON'T MIND INVESTING INTO THE FUTURE. THAT'S GOING TO BE THE LEADERS. 
          I DON'T MIND INVESTING IN THOSE THAT MAKE SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS GET THERE SAFELY, MAKE SURE OUR SCHOOLS ARE CLEAN. SO WHAT I ASK THE COMMUNITY IS THIS PLEASE DON'T LET ALL YOUR ANGST TOWARDS US. AND I EVEN ASKED MY COLLEAGUES, THOSE THAT ARE ON CITY COUNCILS AND THOSE THAT ARE ON THE COUNTY COMMISSION, PLEASE STOP TELLING PEOPLE THAT IT'S A SCHOOL BOARD'S FAULT. IT IS NOT. WE DO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO BECAUSE WE HAVE A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY OF NOT ONLY TRANSPORTING, BUT FEEDING AND EDUCATING OUR STUDENTS. SO PLEASE WORK WITH US, BUT STOP SITTING DOWN AND SAYING IT'S A SCHOOL BOARD'S FAULT BECAUSE IT IS NOT. NOW, DO WE GET MOST OF THE PROPERTY TAXES? YES, WE DO, BUT IT'S NOT OUR FAULT. AND MISS CLAY, I WILL ASK YOU THIS QUESTION. I THINK YOU WOULD AGREE YOUR PROPERTY TAX BILL GOES UP OR DOWN BASED OFF OF YOUR VALUE OF YOUR HOME. IS THAT CORRECT? SO YOUR APPRAISAL CORRECT. IT'S THE APPRAISED VALUE AT THE 40% VIEW OF THAT THAT WILL DICTATE YOUR ULTIMATE BILL. THE BOARD WILL SET A MILLAGE RATE. AND THIS BOARD ACTUALLY ADOPTED A LOWER MILLAGE RATE THIS PAST YEAR. AND SO IT'S ULTIMATELY YOUR PROPERTY VALUES THAT WILL DETERMINE YOUR TAX LIABILITY. 
          OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. MCDANIEL. MISS EDWARDS YES. OH, I'M SORRY, I WAS ANXIOUS AND DIDN'T TURN MY MIC ON. THE TRS RATE GROWTH. SO FOR EVERY PARTICIPATING EMPLOYEE WITHIN TRS, HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS AS AN EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTES TO THEIR BENEFIT, THEIR PENSION ESSENTIALLY. AND SO WHEN THE RATE GOES FROM 21.91% TO 22.32%, THAT MEANS THAT WE ARE INCREASING OUR CONTRIBUTION, THAT THAT PERCENTAGE IS APPLIED TO THEIR SALARY, THAT THEN IS PAID TO THE STATE FOR THE EMPLOYEE TO GO INTO THEIR PENSION. THE TRS RATE HAS BEEN INCREASING FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS. I THINK I PRESENTED A VISUAL MAYBE LAST MONTH THAT BEGAN TO SHOW HOW MUCH THE TRS AND STATE HEALTH BENEFIT COMBINED HAVE BEEN INCREASING OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS. IF YOU LOOK AT THAT TIME FRAME, IT'S ALMOST A 99% INCREASE. THAT HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS, AS THE EMPLOYER IS PAYING COMPARED TO FOUR YEARS AGO. THANK YOU. ANOTHER QUESTION. HOW WILL OUR ROLLBACK OF OUR MILLAGE RATE AFFECT CERTIFICATION? CAN YOU REPEAT YOUR QUESTION? HOW WILL THE ROLLBACK MILLAGE ROLLBACK AFFECT CERTIFICATION? AND I WANT TO ASK YOU A COUPLE OTHER QUESTIONS. AFTER THAT. I BELIEVE YOU'RE REFERRING TO THE AGENDA ITEM FOR THE BUSINESS ITEM THAT WE'LL HAVE IN JUST A BIT, BUT AN ESTIMATED ROLLBACK 
          [01:25:05]
MILLAGE IS JUST A FORECAST OF WHAT WE MIGHT ANTICIPATE, BUT IT'S NOT A FINAL DETERMINATION OF THE MILLAGE RATE. THE FINAL MILLAGE RATE IS DETERMINED IN JULY, WHEN WE HAVE INFORMATION FROM THE TAX ASSESSOR OF WHAT MILLAGE WILL BE REQUIRED FOR THE BOARD TO MEET ITS FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS. OH, COULD YOU EXPLAIN TO US AS WELL AS THE OUR CONSTITUENTS, HOW HOW DOES THIS MILLAGE RATE, HOW WOULD THE MILLAGE ROLLBACK AFFECT OUR DISTRICT, OUR TEACHERS, OUR PROGRAMS? SO THE CONCEPT OF A MILLAGE ROLLBACK, WHICH AGAIN, I BELIEVE IS PERTAINING TO THAT BUSINESS ITEM LATER, THE FINAL DETERMINATION. ULTIMATELY, A MILLAGE ROLLBACK IS INTENDED TO HOLD REVENUE FLAT YEAR OVER YEAR. SO IN THE INSTANCE WHERE AN ENTITY HAS A ROLLBACK, BUT THERE IS A NEGATIVE DIGEST AS WE ARE FORECASTING, THAT WOULD RESULT IN LESS REVENUE CAPACITY FOR THAT ENTITY. AND IMPLICATIONS OF THAT ARE YOU HAVE TO IDENTIFY THE OPERATIONAL AND ACADEMIC ADJUSTMENTS THAT MAYBE NEED TO BE DISCONTINUED OR REPRIORITIZED, SO THAT YOU CAN SUSTAIN YOUR OPERATIONS. AND THAT IMPACT VARIES FROM WHAT HAPPENS WITHIN THE SCHOOLS. AND FOR EMPLOYEES, THAT COULD MEAN THINGS LIKE FROZEN SALARIES. 
          WE'VE SEEN SOME DISTRICTS ARE IMPLEMENTING THINGS LIKE FURLOUGH DAYS, BUT THAT'S NOT WHERE WE ARE AS A SYSTEM JUST YET. BUT THOSE ARE THE IMPLICATIONS THAT COULD HAPPEN IN A SITUATION WHERE YOU ARE RECEIVING LESS MONEY. SO IN OTHER WORDS, IT WILL AFFECT, LIKE YOU SAID, OUR HIRING FURLOUGH DAYS, IT WILL AFFECT OUR SUPPORT STAFF. SO IT AFFECTS EVERY ENTITY IN THE DISTRICT. IT COULD. YES, MA'AM. SCHOOLS ARE A PEOPLE BUSINESS. 
          YOU'VE HEARD ME SAY THAT TIME AND TIME AGAIN IN THE DIFFERENT PRESENTATIONS. OVER TIME. IT TAKES PEOPLE TO DRIVE BUSSES, FEED STUDENTS IN THE CAFETERIA, TEACH STUDENTS, ENSURE THAT WE HAVE HIGH QUALITY INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS, COACH OUR PRINCIPALS, COACH OUR TEACHERS. SO ALL OF THAT REQUIRES PEOPLE. 92% OF OUR GENERAL FUND IS SPENT FOR SALARIES AND BENEFITS, AS WELL AS THE CONTRACTED SERVICES FEES. SO ULTIMATELY, WHEN THERE'S CHALLENGES TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM'S BUDGET, IT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON PEOPLE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU, MISS EDWARDS. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? WE APPRECIATE IT, MISS CLAY. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO 
          [E. BUSINESS ITEMS]
OUR BUSINESS ITEMS FOR THE EVENING. I WILL REMIND EVERYONE THAT THESE ITEMS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA AND OUR BUSINESS MEETING TONIGHT. BUT AS ALWAYS, ANY BOARD MEMBER IS WELCOME TO REMOVE AN ITEM IF THEY SO WISH. WE WILL BEGIN WITH BUSINESS ITEM E ONE DOCTOR PACE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR FOR BUSINESS ITEM E ONE, DISTRICT COPIER LEASE RENEWAL. 
          I'LL ASK MRS. CLAY, OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, TO PRESENT THIS ITEM. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT PACE BUSINESS ITEM E ONE PERTAINS TO A RECOMMENDATION TO RENEW THE DISTRICT'S COPIER LEASES WITH THE PROVIDER RICOH. FOR THE AMOUNT INDICATED, D J E PROCEDURES WERE MET THROUGH USE OF AN OMNIA PARTNERS COOPERATIVE. IF APPROVED, THERE WILL BE A REFRESH OF 54 COPIERS AND THE ADDITION OF ONE UNIT IN THE ADDITION OF ONE UNIT FOR ONE LEASE GROUP AND THE RENEWAL OF THE OTHER TWO LEASE GROUPS THAT ARE UNDER CONTRACT. THIS ITEM IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA. DOCTOR PACE, THAT CONCLUDES OUR PREPARED AND I YIELD THE FLOOR TO YOU. THANK YOU, MRS. CLAY. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES OUR BUSINESS ITEM E ONE, DISTRICT COPY OF LEASE RENEWAL AND REMAIN AVAILABLE TO OUR BOARD FOR ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, DOCTOR PACE. AND THANK YOU, MRS. CLAY, FOR THAT REPORT. DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE AGAIN, THIS IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA. DOES ANYONE OBJECT. THIS WILL BE PLACED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA THIS EVENING. THANK YOU AGAIN. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO BUSINESS ITEM E TWO. 
          DIRECTOR PACE. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR FOR BUSINESS ITEM E TWO ESTIMATED ROLLBACK MILLAGE CERTIFICATION. I'D LIKE TO ASK OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, MRS. CLAY, TO PRESENT THIS ITEM. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT PACE BUSINESS ITEM E TWO PERTAINS TO A RECOMMENDATION TO CERTIFY AN ESTIMATED ROLLBACK MILLAGE RATE. 
          THE CONCEPT OF AN ESTIMATED ROLLBACK MILLAGE WAS CREATED THROUGH LEGISLATION HOUSE BILL 581 DURING THE 2024 LEGISLATIVE CYCLE AND TIMELINES ASSOCIATED WITH COMMUNICATING THE ROLLBACK TO THE ASSESSOR WERE DEFINED IN HOUSE BILL 92 DURING THE 2025 LEGISLATIVE CYCLE. THE INTENT OF THE ESTIMATED ROLLBACK MILLAGE IS TO PROVIDE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WITH MORE FLEXIBILITY IN PREVIEWING THAT YEAR'S MILLAGE RATE TO THE PROPERTY OWNERS ON THEIR NOTICE OF ASSESSMENT VERSUS DISPLAYING THE PRIOR YEAR MILLAGE. ACCORDINGLY, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION CERTIFY AND SUBMIT AN ESTIMATED ROLLBACK MILLAGE RATE. THE TO THE TAX COMMISSIONER AND TAX ASSESSOR'S OFFICES IN SUPPORT OF TAX NOTICE, PREPARATION AND CONSIDERATION OF THE PRELIMINARY 2026 DIGEST PROVIDED BY THE TAX ASSESSOR. 
          THAT ESTIMATES A DECLINE IN THE DIGEST VALUATION OF -2.17% COMPARED TO THE 2025 DIGEST. IT 
          [01:30:03]
IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION CERTIFY AN ESTIMATED ROLLBACK MILEAGE OF 20 MILLS. IN TAKING THIS CERTIFICATION ACTION, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION IS PROVIDING AN OUTLOOK OF THE POSSIBLE MILLAGE REQUIREMENTS THAT MITIGATE THE ESTIMATED DECLINES IN REVENUE YEAR OVER YEAR ASSOCIATED WITH THE DIGEST CONTRACTION. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS IS AN ESTIMATE BASED ON THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE TODAY, AND THE FINAL MILLAGE DETERMINATION WILL OCCUR IN JULY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE STANDARD PRACTICES THAT EXISTED PRIOR TO THE INTRODUCTION OF HOUSE BILL 581 AND HOUSE BILL 92. THE SUPERINTENDENT WILL PROVIDE A MILLAGE RECOMMENDATION TO THIS BOARD IN JULY WHEN WE HAVE UPDATED DIGEST VALUATION INFORMATION THAT IS AVAILABLE FOR THE LEGAL ROLLBACK MILLAGE RATE TO BE DETERMINED. MILLAGE HEARINGS WILL BE HELD IN JULY AND AUGUST IF THE BOARD'S INTENDED MILLAGE RATE AT THAT TIME REQUIRES HEARINGS TO BE HELD, THIS ITEM IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA. DOCTOR PACE, THAT CONCLUDES WHAT I'VE PREPARED AND I YIELD THE FLOOR TO YOU. 
          THANK YOU, MRS. CLAY. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES OUR BUSINESS ITEM E TWO ESTIMATED ROLLBACK MILLAGE CERTIFICATION 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, THIS IS ALSO ELIGIBLE FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA. DOES ANYONE OBJECT? THIS WILL ALSO BE PLACED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA THIS EVENING. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO ITEM E THREE DOCTOR PACE. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR FOR BUSINESS ITEM E THREE 2026 2031 STRATEGIC PLAN STRATEGY MAP. I'D LIKE TO INVITE OUR DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT OF STAFF AND OPERATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS, MISS MRS. SUMMER COX, TO PRESENT THIS ITEM. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT PACE, TONIGHT I PRESENT TO YOU THE PROPOSED STRATEGY MAP FOR THE 2026 2031 STRATEGIC PLAN. THIS STRATEGY MAP WAS DEVELOPED BY A TEAM OF INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING THE BOARD CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR IN JANUARY 2026, AND WAS FURTHER REFINED BY A TEAM OF INTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS IN FEBRUARY 2026. 
          THE PROPOSED STRATEGY MAP SERVE AS A VISUAL DIAGRAM THAT IDENTIFIES FIVE LONG TERM STRATEGIC PRIORITY GOAL AREAS WITH 2 TO 3 PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES FOR EACH AREA. THIS STRATEGY MAP IS NOW PRESENTED TO YOU FOR BOARD ADOPTION AND IS ELIGIBLE FOR TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA. DOCTOR PACE, THIS CONCLUDES WHAT I HAVE PREPARED AND I TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU. THANK YOU, MRS. COX. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES OUR BUSINESS ITEM E THREE 2026 2031 STRATEGIC PLAN STRATEGY MAP 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 ON THIS ITEM? MISTER MCDANIEL I THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, AND THANK YOU, MISS COX. 
          AND AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO OUR CHAIR AND OTHERS THAT WERE THERE FOR I THINK IT WAS A DAY AND A HALF AS TWO DAYS. THERE YOU GO. IT WAS TWO DAYS THAT WE WERE NEXT DOOR, YOU KNOW, ALL THE POST-ITS AND THE GROUP CONVERSATIONS TO GET US TO WHERE WE ARE NOW. AND AGAIN, I LOOK FORWARD TO THE COMMUNITY'S INPUT. AS WE SAID, IN OUR PATH FOR OUR NEXT FIVE YEARS IN HENRY COUNTY. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT HAD A HAND IN THIS. THANK YOU, MISTER MCDANIEL. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, THIS IS ALSO ELIGIBLE FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA. DOES ANYONE OBJECT? THIS WILL ALSO BE PLACED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. THANK YOU, MRS. COX. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO BUSINESS ITEM E FOUR, DOCTOR PACE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR FOR BUSINESS ITEM E FOUR SCHOOL CROSSING GUARDS. MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING. 
          I'D LIKE TO ASK MRS. COX TO PRESENT THIS ITEM, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT PACE. THIS BOARD PREVIOUSLY ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE HENRY COUNTY GOVERNMENT FOR THE SERVICE OF SCHOOL CROSSING GUARDS THROUGH A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING. TONIGHT'S AGENDA ITEM IS A NEW MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING FOR THE CURRENT SCHOOL YEAR. THIS PROPOSED MOU INCLUDES AT LEAST 55 SCHOOL CROSSING GUARD POSTS AND COMMITS THIS BOARD TO REIMBURSE THE HENRY COUNTY GOVERNMENT FOR UP TO ONE HALF OF THE ACTUAL COST OF SCHOOL CROSSING GUARD SERVICES, WITH A MAXIMUM EXPENDITURE OF $360,000. SHOULD THE ACTUAL COST EXCEED THE COUNTY'S TENTATIVE BUDGET AND THEREFORE THE EXPECTED COST. 
          MAXIMUM REIMBURSEMENT FROM THIS BOARD, THE MOU PROVIDES THAT THE HENRY COUNTY GOVERNMENT WILL NOTIFY THIS BOARD AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE DURING THE INVOICING CYCLE. THIS ITEM IS ELIGIBLE FOR TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA. DOCTOR PACE, THIS CONCLUDES WHAT I HAVE PREPARED AND I TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU. THANK YOU, MRS. COX. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES OUR BUSINESS ITEM E FOUR SCHOOL CROSSING GUARD MEMO AND REMAIN AVAILABLE TO OUR BOARD FOR ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, DOCTOR PACE. AND THANK YOU AGAIN, MISSUS COX, DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? MRS. EDWARDS THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, AND THANK YOU FOR THAT INFORMATION BECAUSE THAT WAS ONE OF MY QUESTIONS I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU. DOES THE THE CROSSING GUARDS BUDGET COME OUT OF OUR BUDGET? BUT YOU JUST EXPLAINED THAT HALF HALF OF THE 
          [01:35:06]
HALF OF IT DOES. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS EDWARDS. MISTER MCDANIEL THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. IN ARTICLE ONE ON THE AGREEMENT IN A IT SAYS THIS ENDS ON JUNE 30TH, 2026. SO I'M GUESSING WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK AGAIN AND DO THIS ALL OVER AGAIN. YES, SIR. 
          VERY SOON. AS SOON AS WE HAVE THIS ONE COMPLETED, WE WILL ENTER INTO CONVERSATIONS FOR THE ONE FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR. THANK YOU, MISTER MCDANIEL. SEEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, THIS IS ALSO ELIGIBLE FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA. DOES ANYONE OBJECT? NOPE. THIS WILL ALSO BE PLACED ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA AND OUR BUSINESS MEETING. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO BUSINESS ITEM E FIVE DOCTOR PACE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR FOR BUSINESS ITEM E FIVE HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS ADDITION TO LOCUST GROVE HIGH SCHOOL BID TABULATION. I'D LIKE TO INVITE FOR THIS BUSINESS ITEM OUR CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, MR. BARRY MILES, TO PRESENT THIS ITEM. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT PACE, I DO PRESENT TO YOU A PROJECT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A CLASSROOM ADDITION AT LOCUST GROVE HIGH SCHOOL. 
          ADVERTISEMENT FOR THIS PROJECT BEGAN MARCH 16TH AND WAS PLACED ON THE GEORGIA PROCUREMENT REGISTRY AND ON THE HENRY COUNTY SCHOOL'S WEBSITE. BIDS WERE RECEIVED ON APRIL 14TH AT 3 P.M. A TOTAL OF EIGHT BIDS WERE RECEIVED FOR THIS PROJECT. MAJOR CONSTRUCTION COMPANY PROVIDED A LOW BID. THIS IS AN E SIX FUNDED PROJECT AND WILL BE REPORTED ON AS PART OF THE MONTHLY CONSTRUCTION OF FINANCIAL REPORT. IF APPROVED, CONSTRUCTION WILL INCLUDE SEVEN NEW REGULAR CLASSROOMS AND TWO SCIENCE LABS. ASSOCIATED OFFICES. WORK ROOMS AND RESTROOMS WILL ALSO BE INCLUDED. CONSTRUCTION WILL BEGIN IN JUNE OF 2026 AND RUN THROUGH OCTOBER OF 2027. THIS ITEM IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA. DOCTOR PACE, THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. THANK YOU, MR. MILES. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES OUR HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS ADDITION TO LOCUST GROVE HIGH SCHOOL BID TABULATION AND 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? SEEING NONE, THIS IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA. DOES ANYONE OBJECT? NOPE. THIS WILL ALSO BE PLACED ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA. 
          THANK YOU AGAIN. AND WE WILL NOW MOVE TO OUR LAST BUSINESS ITEM WHICH IS ITEM E SIX DOCTOR PACE. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR FOR BUSINESS ITEM E SIX, INTERCOM AND FIRE ALARM REPLACEMENT. I'D LIKE TO ASK OUR CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, MR. MILES, REMAIN AT THE PODIUM. PRESENT THIS BUSINESS ITEM. THANK YOU AGAIN, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT PACE, I DO PRESENT TO YOU A PROJECT FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF 11 FIRE ALARMS AND 15 BUILDING INTERCOM SYSTEMS IN A TOTAL OF 22 SCHOOLS. THAT'S FOUR SCHOOLS WILL BE RECEIVING AN INTERCOM AND A FIRE ALARM. SO A TOTAL OF 22 SCHOOLS. ADVERTISEMENT FOR THIS PROJECT BEGAN IN NOVEMBER OF 25 AND WAS PLACED ON THE GEORGIA PROCUREMENT REGISTRY AND ON THE HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS WEBSITE. BIDS WERE RECEIVED ON JANUARY 22ND AT 3 P.M. CANINE COMMUNICATION PROVIDED THE LOWEST BID FOR THIS PROJECT. THIS IS ALSO AN SPLOST FUNDED PROJECT AND WILL BE REPORTED ON AS PART OF THE MONTHLY CONSTRUCTION AND FINANCIAL REPORTS. IF APPROVED, CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE REPLACEMENT OF SCHOOL BUILDING, INTERCOM AND FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS AT MULTIPLE SCHOOLS. CONSTRUCTION WILL BEGIN IN JUNE OF 2026 AND RUN THROUGH DECEMBER OF 2027. DOCTOR PACE THIS ITEM IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA AND THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. THANK YOU, MR. MILES. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES OUR BUSINESS ITEM E SIX INTERCOM AND FIRE ALARM REPLACEMENT AND REMAIN AVAILABLE TO OUR BOARD FOR ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, DOCTOR PACE. AND THANK YOU, MR. MILES, FOR THIS REPORT. DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY DISCUSSION, MISS EDWARDS? SO, MR. MILES, 11 SCHOOLS WILL RECEIVE. SO IS IT 11 SCHOOLS WILL RECEIVE INTERCOMS AND THEN 15 SCHOOLS WILL RECEIVE ALARM REPLACEMENTS. IS THAT WHAT YOU SAID? THE THE THE FLIP 11 SCHOOLS WILL RECEIVE A NEW FIRE ALARM SYSTEM AND 15 SCHOOLS WILL RECEIVE A NEW INTERCOM. OH, OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS EDWARDS. ANY MORE DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, THIS IS THE LAST ITEM ELIGIBLE FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA THIS EVENING. DOES ANYONE OBJECT? NOPE. THIS WILL ALSO BE 
          [F. EXECUTIVE SESSION]
PLACED ON CONSENT. THANK YOU, MR. MILES. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO F EXECUTIVE SESSION. CAN I HAVE A MOTION, PLEASE? TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR DISCIPLINE, LAND, LEGAL AND PERSONNEL. I MAKE A MOTION. WE GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR LAND LEGAL PERSONNEL AND DISCIPLINE. THANK YOU. DOCTOR NUTT, IS THERE A SECOND? THANK YOU, MRS. CARTER. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. FIVE ZERO. WE ARE NOW IN TAKE CLARITIN NOW, MY HEAD WILL HIT THE TOILET. I MEAN, NO, NOT THE TOILET. IT'S NOT. ALRIGHT. CAN I HAVE A MOTION, PLEASE, TO COME OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION? I MAKE A MOTION. WE COME OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION. THANK YOU, MR. MCDANIEL. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. THANK YOU DOCTOR. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. FOUR ZERO. WE ARE NOW OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION. CAN I HAVE A MOTION, PLEASE, TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS READ IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. MINUTES. SESSION. THANK YOU, MRS. CARTER, 
          [01:40:03]
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. THANK YOU, MR. MCDANIEL. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND FOR ZERO MINUTES ARE APPROVED, AND I WILL NOW ADJOURN OUR STUDY SESSION AT
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.