[A. CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:09]
AND WELCOME TO THE STUDY SESSION OF THE HENRY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION. IN ORDER TO ENSURE A PRODUCTIVE MEETING, ATTENDEES AT THE MEETING HAVE AGREED TO THE DECORUM EXPECTED OF A MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. DISRUPTION TO CONDUCTING THE BUSINESS OF THE BOARD WILL RESULT IN THE BOARD MOVING TO RECESS, A VIRTUAL FORMAT OR SUSPENSION OF THE MEETING TO A LATER DATE. WE HAVE A PRODUCTIVE MEETING AHEAD AND I WILL TURN IT OVER TO THE CHAIR. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MISS RIDDLE, AND GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. HAPPY SUMMER. I HOPE EVERYONE'S SUMMER IS OFF TO A GREAT START. I WOULD LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED STUDY SESSION OF THE HENRY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION ON MONDAY. OH, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TODAY IS. JUNE 8TH AT 4:01 P.M. AND I WILL BEGIN THIS AFTERNOON BY TURNING IT OVER TO
[B. SUPERINTENDENT'S WELCOME]
DOCTOR PACE FOR HIS WELCOME. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND TO OUR COMMUNITY. WELCOME TO THE JUNE MEETING OF THE HENRY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION. FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER THE HEARTFELT THANKS OF OUR ENTIRE GOVERNANCE TEAM AND OUR ENTIRE DISTRICT TO OUR LOCAL CITIZENS FOR CHOOSING TO RENEW THE EDUCATION SPECIAL PURPOSE LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX AT THE POLLS ON TUESDAY, MAY 19TH. YOUR APPROVAL MARKS 30 YEARS OF INVESTMENT IN OUR SCHOOLS THROUGH THIS $0.01 SALES TAX. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR OUR COMMUNITY'S ENDURING SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION. EAST BLOCK SEVEN WILL FUND SAFETY AND SECURITY UPGRADES, BUILDING RENOVATIONS, CLASSROOM TECHNOLOGY AND SCHOOL BUSSES, AMONG OTHER IMPORTANT CAPITAL PROJECTS. SO TO OUR COMMUNITY, THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR YOUR SUPPORT. MAY 15TH THROUGH 21ST, WE CELEBRATED THE CULMINATION OF A SUCCESSFUL SCHOOL YEAR WITH 12 GRADUATION CEREMONIES OVER SEVEN DAYS AT ECHO PARK SPEEDWAY AND OUR PERFORMING ARTS CENTERS. WE ARE PROUD TO HAVE GRADUATED NEARLY 3500 STUDENTS WHO HAVE RECEIVED $131 MILLION IN COUNTING IN POSTGRADUATE POSTGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS, ALONG WITH 272 GRADUATES. SELF-REPORTING ENLISTING IN THE MILITARY. PLEASE TURN YOUR ATTENTION TO THE SCREEN FOR A VIDEO HIGHLIGHTING THE CLASS OF 2026.GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK GOD. WITHOUT HIM, I WOULD NOT HAVE THE FOUNDATION AND OR THE STRENGTH TO MAKE ALL OF THIS POSSIBLE. THESE PAST FEW YEARS HAVE BEEN A JOURNEY OF HAPPINESS, HEARTBREAK, LOVE, GROWTH, AND UNFORGETTABLE MEMORIES. FROM HOMECOMING DANCES TO PEP RALLIES TO BUS RIDES HOME FROM GAMES TO OUR FINAL BUS RIDE HERE. WE SIT IN THE STADIUM SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS AND FAMILY, THOSE WHO SUPPORTED US EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, AND WHO ARE JUST AS PROUD AS WE ARE TO WITNESS ONE OF THE GREATEST MOMENTS OF OUR LIVES. BUT TODAY ISN'T JUST ABOUT RECEIVING DIPLOMA. IT'S ABOUT SO MUCH MORE. IT'S ABOUT THE LATE NIGHTS THAT WE SPENT STUDYING THE EARLY MORNINGS, THE MOMENTS THAT WE BELIEVE WE WERE GOING TO GIVE UP AND DIDN'T. IT'S ABOUT THE LESSONS WE LEARNED AND THE STRENGTHS WE DISCOVERED. TODAY IS ALL ABOUT THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS THAT WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH IN ORDER TO GET HERE TODAY.
AND NOW, AFTER EVERYTHING WE EXPERIENCED TOGETHER, WE FINALLY ARE AT THIS MOMENT, A MOMENT WE HAVE DREAMED ABOUT FOR YEARS AND A MOMENT THAT
[00:05:02]
DOES NOT JUST REPRESENT US, BUT IT REPRESENTS THE END OF ANOTHER CHAPTER. THE FUTURE IS AHEAD OF US AND FULL OF OPPORTUNITY, GROWTH, STRENGTH AND NEW JOURNEYS. WAITING TO BEGIN. CLASS OF 2026. WE DID IT.NOW, GRADUATES, PLEASE RISE AND JOIN ME AS WE COMPLETE ONE FINAL CEREMONY. CLASS OF 2026.
PLEASE MOVE YOUR TASSELS FROM THE RIGHT TO THE LEFT. AND CONGRATULATIONS, GRADS! WOO! ONCE AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS, CLASS OF 2026! NOW, LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AGO, WE HELD OUR ANNUAL SUMMER LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE AT THE MCDONOUGH PERFORMING ARTS CENTER AND ACADEMY FOR ADVANCED STUDIES. OUR SCHOOL AND DISTRICT LEADERS REFLECTED ON MAKING HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS A DESTINATION SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR EVERY. FOR WHERE EVERYONE THRIVES AND ALL STUDENTS ARE EMPOWERED TO FIND THEIR POSITIVE PURPOSE IN THE WORLD. THESE TWO DAYS WERE FILLED WITH INSPIRING STUDENT PERFORMANCES, ENLIGHTENING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SESSIONS, AND A KEYNOTE ADDRESS FROM FORMER EDUCATOR AND SCHOOL LEADER KIM STROBEL THAT INSPIRED OUR LEADERS TO UNLOCK THEIR FULL POTENTIAL THROUGH THE SCIENCE OF HAPPINESS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO HOW OUR SCHOOLS AND DISTRICT TEAMS WILL CARRY THE ENERGY AND MOMENTUM OF SLCC INTO PLANNING FOR THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR. FINALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND OUR COMMUNITY THAT THE THAT ALL DISTRICT AND SCHOOL OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED ON THURSDAY, JUNE 18TH IN OBSERVANCE OF THE JUNETEENTH FEDERAL HOLIDAY, WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE ON FRIDAY, JUNE 19TH.
ALSO DURING THE WEEK OF JUNE 29TH THROUGH JULY 3RD, DISTRICT OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED IN OBSERVANCE OF FEDERAL HOLIDAY. 4TH OF JULY. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES MY WELCOME AND I TURN
[C. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS]
IT BACK OVER TO YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH, DOCTOR PACE. WE WILL NOW MOVE IN OUR AGENDA TO SEE OUR INFORMATIONAL ITEMS, AND WE WILL BEGIN THIS AFTERNOON WITH ITEM C1A DOCTOR PACE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR FOR INFORMATIONAL ITEM C1A UNDER THE CORE BUSINESS OF STUDENT LEARNING.BACK TO SCHOOL PREPARATION, I'D LIKE TO INVITE OUR CHIEF SCHOOL LEADERSHIP OFFICER, MR. ANTONIO MATTOX, FOR THIS INFORMATIONAL UPDATE. AND GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT PACE. I'M PLEASED TO REPORT THAT WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY CONCLUDED ANOTHER OUTSTANDING SCHOOL YEAR IN HURON COUNTY SCHOOLS. WHILE WE CELEBRATE THE MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE 2020 526 SCHOOL YEAR, WE ARE ALSO ACTIVELY PREPARING FOR A STRONG AND SUCCESSFUL START OF THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR. OUR WORK CONTINUES TO BE GROUNDED IN YOUR COMMUNITY INSPIRED STRATEGIC PLAN, GUIDED BY YOUR CORE BELIEFS, POLICIES, STRATEGIC ACTIONS, AND PRIORITY OUTCOMES. WITH A STRONG FOUNDATION IN PLACE, WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO ACHIEVING EVEN GREATER RESULTS. KNOWING THAT AN EFFECTIVE TEACHERS, LEADERS, AND STAFF ARE THE KEY TO SUSTAINED EXCELLENCE. AS WE CLOSE THE SCHOOL YEAR, THERE WERE MANY CELEBRATIONS ACROSS HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS. OUR DISTRICT RETIREMENT CELEBRATION WAS TRULY EXCEPTIONAL AS WE HONORED EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE DEDICATED YEARS OF SERVICE TO OUR STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY. OUR FUTURE EDUCATORS SIGNING DAY WAS ENCOURAGING AS WE CELEBRATED STUDENTS COMMITTING TO CAREERS IN EDUCATION, AND OUR ATHLETIC AWARD CEREMONY HIGHLIGHTED THE INCREDIBLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF OUR STUDENT ATHLETES. WE ALSO CELEBRATED OUR YOUNGEST LEARNERS THROUGH PRE-K AND KINDERGARTEN CEREMONIES, AND WE RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF TRANSITIONS FROM STUDENTS MOVING FROM FIFTH TO SIXTH GRADE AND FROM EIGHTH TO NINTH GRADE. GRADUATION CEREMONIES ARE ALWAYS THE CULMINATING EVENTS FOR OUR SCHOOL YEAR, AND THIS YEAR, WE TRULY ELEVATED WHAT IT REALLY MEANS TO GRADUATE. BE A GRADUATE OF HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS, THE CLASS OF 2026. NEARLY 3500 GRADUATES DEMONSTRATED PERSEVERANCE, BRILLIANCE, DETERMINATION. THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS REFLECT
[00:10:03]
NOT ONLY THEIR HARD WORK, BUT ALSO THE UNWAVERING SUPPORT OF FAMILIES, TEACHERS, COUNSELORS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND STAFF WHO HELPED GUIDE THEM TO THIS IMPORTANT MILESTONE. OUR GRADUATION CEREMONIES WERE AMAZING THANKS TO THE DEDICATION OF OUR SCHOOL LEADERS, COUNSELORS, GRADUATION COACHES, DISTRICT TEAMS, AND OUR EXTRAORDINARY BLUE SHIRTS WHO WORK DILIGENTLY BEHIND THE SCENES. I'M THRILLED TO SHARE THAT THE CLASS OF 2026 EARNED OVER $131 MILLION IN SCHOLARSHIP OFFERED TO DATE, WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY $36 MILLION MORE THAN LAST YEAR'S GRADUATING CLASS. 71 HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS STUDENT ATHLETES HAVE SIGNED DIVISION ONE ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIPS, REPRESENTING AN ESTIMATED EDUCATIONAL VALUE OF MORE THAN $15 MILLION OVER FOUR YEARS. THIS MILESTONE HIGHLIGHTS THE OUTSTANDING ACADEMIC AND ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENTS OF HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS, STUDENT ATHLETES AND THE SIGNIFICANT OPPORTUNITIES THEY HAVE EARNED THROUGH THEIR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION. ON BEHALF OF OUR DISTRICT, I ALSO WANT TO EXTEND A PROFOUND THANK YOU TO EACH OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS FOR BEING PART OF OUR CELEBRATIONS ALONGSIDE OUR STUDENTS, OUR FAMILIES, AND HELPING MAKE THIS EVENT MEMORABLE FOR OUR STUDENTS. AS YOU KNOW, LEARNING NEVER STOPS IN HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS. ON MAY 28TH AND MAY 29TH, MORE THAN 500 SCHOOL AND DISTRICT LEADERS GATHERED FOR A SUMMER LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE. THIS YEAR'S THEME, DESTINATION HENRY WHERE EVERYONE THRIVES, SET THE TONE FOR TWO POWERFUL DAYS OF LEARNING, REFLECTION, AND INSPIRATION. WE WERE INSPIRED BY KIM STROBEL'S INCREDIBLE RESEARCH ON HAPPINESS. DOCTOR PACE ALSO REMINDED US THAT EDUCATION IS A DESTINATION, AND THE HARD WORK OF OUR EDUCATORS LEADS TO OUTSTANDING OUTCOMES FOR OUR STUDENTS. DOCTOR PACE ALSO PROVIDED SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS. ALL TEN OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS WERE RECOGNIZED AS AP HONOR SCHOOLS AND ONE OR MORE CATEGORIES. THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT RECOGNIZED 26 OF OUR ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS FOR EARNING THE STATE'S BEATING THE ODDS DESIGNATION.OLA HIGH SCHOOL WAS ONE OF FIVE HIGH SCHOOLS IN GEORGIA TO RECEIVE THIS YEAR'S GREATEST GAINS PLATINUM AWARD. 26 OF OUR SCHOOLS IMPROVED IN ALL KEY COMPONENTS. 20 SCHOOLS ENGAGED AND WERE RECOGNIZED AS LITERACY AND MATH LEADERS BY THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. SEVEN SCHOOLS EXITED THE GEORGIA PROMISE SCHOLARSHIP LIST, AND FOUR SCHOOLS EXITED FEDERAL IDENTIFICATION STATUS. I CAN SAY THAT OUR SCHOOLS HAVE TRULY BEEN DOING GREAT WORK THIS ACADEMIC YEAR WITH THIS ENERGY. THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR ALREADY BUILDING, MANY TEACHERS AND LEADERS ARE ALREADY BEGUN PARTICIPATING IN TARGETED PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES DESIGNED TO ACCELERATE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT. AND WE ARE JUST GETTING STARTED.
PROFESSIONAL LEARNING WILL CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER AND INTO THE PRE PLANNING TO ENSURE OUR STAFF IS PREPARED, EQUIPPED AND ENERGIZED FOR THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR. WE ARE COMMITTED TO DELIVERING HIGH QUALITY LEARNING EXPERIENCES TO HELP FULFILL THE PROMISE OF BRIGHT FUTURES FOR EVERY STUDENT IN HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS. WE OFFER SEVERAL SUMMER LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STUDENTS. THE EARLY KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM IS HELPING OUR YOUNGEST LEARNERS STRENGTHEN FOUNDATIONAL LITERACY, NUMERACY AND SOCIAL SKILLS TO ENSURE A SUCCESSFUL START TO THEIR EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY. ALSO, SUMMER BRIDGE PROVIDES STUDENTS IN GRADES THREE THROUGH EIGHTH WITH TARGETED LITERACY AND NUMERACY INSTRUCTION AND OFFER ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN STEM AND FINE ARTS TO CREATE A BALANCED AND ENGAGING EXPERIENCE FOR OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. CREDIT RECOVERY AND ACCELERATED OPPORTUNITIES ARE HELPING STUDENTS STAY ON TRACK FOR GRADUATION, STRENGTHEN ACADEMIC SKILLS, AND EVEN GET AHEAD IN COURSEWORK. THROUGH THESE SUMMER PROGRAMS, STUDENTS REMAIN ENGAGED, STRENGTHEN THEIR ACADEMIC FOUNDATION, AND ARE BETTER PREPARED FOR A SUCCESSFUL START TO THE SCHOOL YEAR. BE READY DAY ONE WEBSITE IS NOW LIVE AND SERVING AS A
[00:15:02]
CENTRAL RESOURCE FOR BOTH NEW AND RETURNING FAMILIES. AS WE PREPARE FOR THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR, WE ENCOURAGE RETURNING FAMILIES TO COMPLETE THE ANNUAL INFORMATION UPDATE AND VERIFICATION PROCESS TO ENSURE EMERGENCY AND MEDICAL CONTACT INFORMATION IS ACCURATE AND UP TO DATE. FAMILIES SHOULD ALSO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS IMMUNIZATIONS ARE UP TO DATE AND PREPARED FOR THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR. WHILE REGISTRATION FOR OUR BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL ENRICHMENT PROGRAM HAS TEMPORARILY CLOSED, IT WILL REOPEN JULY 6TH THROUGH OUR BE READY DAY ONE WEBSITE. KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION ALSO REMAINS OPEN AND FAMILIES CAN ACCESS REGISTRATION INFORMATION ONLINE THROUGH OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS OR AT OUR WELCOME CENTER. WE ENCOURAGE FAMILIES TO REGISTER EARLY TO AVOID THE TRADITIONAL BACK TO SCHOOL RUSH IN JULY. ENROLLMENT IN HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS PROVIDE OUR YOUNGEST LEARNERS WITH A COMPREHENSIVE FOUNDATION THAT OPENS THE DOOR TO EXTRAORDINARY OPPORTUNITIES. KINDERGARTEN IN HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS IS A LEARNING DESTINATION WHERE WONDER MEETS WORLD CLASS INSTRUCTION. ALL KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS ENGAGE IN A WORLD LANGUAGE EXPERIENCE THAT FOSTER CULTURAL AWARENESS AND GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP. WE ARE BUILDING THE LEADERS FOR TOMORROW BY GIVING THEM THE TOOLS TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE WORLD. TODAY, STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN HANDS ON STEM EXPERIENCES, DEVELOP CRITICAL THINKING AND PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS. VISUAL ARTS AND MUSIC ALLOWS OUR YOUNGEST LEARNERS TO ENGAGE IN CRITICAL THINKING, SPEAKING, AND IMAGINATION, AND IT SPARKS THE IMAGINATION AND SELF-EXPRESSION THAT LAST A LIFETIME. AND ALL OF OUR EARLY LEARNERS RECEIVE EVIDENCE BASED LITERACY INSTRUCTION, ENSURING THAT EVERY CHILD DEVELOPS THE FOUNDATIONAL READING AND WRITING SKILLS NECESSARY FOR LONG TERM ACADEMIC SUCCESS. TO FOSTER THE LOVE OF READING, EVERY ENROLLED KINDERGARTEN STUDENT IN HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS RECEIVE A WELCOME TO KINDERGARTEN BOOK TO ADD TO THEIR HOME LIBRARY. TO REMAIN IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE STATE AND USDA GUIDELINES, MEAL PRICES FOR STUDENTS WILL INCREASE NEXT YEAR. AS INDICATED ON THE SCREEN, STUDENTS WHO CURRENTLY QUALIFY FOR FREE OR REDUCED PRICE MEALS WILL MAINTAIN ELIGIBILITY THROUGH SEPTEMBER 10TH, ALLOWING CONTINUED PARTICIPATION IN OUR SUMMER MEAL PROGRAM WITHOUT INTERRUPTION. APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2020 627 SCHOOL YEAR WILL BECOME AVAILABLE IN JULY. ALSO, THROUGH OUR LINK CONNECT APP, FAMILIES CAN EASILY ADD MONEY TO MEAL ACCOUNTS AND PAY FOR SCHOOL FEES FROM THEIR PHONE. FAMILIES CAN BEGIN TO REGISTER THE REGISTRATION PROCESS BY SCANNING THE QR CODE ABOVE. TO ENSURE THE FINANCIAL STABILITY OF OUR ATHLETIC PROGRAMS, THERE WILL BE AN ADJUSTMENT TO OUR ATHLETIC TICKET SALES. VARSITY FOOTBALL TICKET PRICES WILL REMAIN THE SAME. THERE WILL BE AN INCREASE IN VARSITY BASKETBALL GAMES AND OTHER SPORTS AS INDICATED ON THE SCREEN. AS WE LOOK AHEAD, WE ARE PREPARING TO DELIVER AN OUTSTANDING OPEN HOUSE EXPERIENCE FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER. I'M SORRY. THURSDAY, JULY 30TH, THE ACADEMY FOR ADVANCED STUDIES WILL HOST OPEN HOUSE FROM 10 TO 12 HIGH SCHOOLS, FROM 1 TO 3, MIDDLE SCHOOLS FROM 3 TO 5, AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS FROM 5 TO 7. THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL FOR ALL STUDENTS IS MONDAY, AUGUST 3RD. TO SUPPORT SAFETY DURING THESE LARGE PUBLIC GATHERINGS, CLEAR BAGS WILL BE REQUIRED AT ALL OPEN HOUSE EVENTS. SCHOOLS WILL ALSO HAVE PROCEDURES IN PLACE FOR FAMILIES WISHING TO DROP OFF SCHOOL SUPPLIES DURING OPEN HOUSE. REMINDERS AND UPDATES WILL CONTINUE TO BE POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER. AGAIN, OUR WORK REMAINS ROOTED IN YOUR COMMUNITY, INSPIRE STRATEGIC PLAN AND GUIDED BY YOUR CORE BELIEFS, STRATEGIC OUT ACTIONS, AND PRIORITY OUTCOMES. BECAUSE OF THIS STRONG FOUNDATION, WE ARE WELL POSITIONED FOR ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SCHOOL YEAR, AND WE[00:20:04]
REMAIN COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS REMAIN THE DESIGNATION WHERE EVERYONE THRIVES. 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 UPDATE. BACK TO SCHOOL PREPARATIONS AND WE REMAIN AVAILABLE TO OUR BOARD FOR ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, DOCTOR PAYSON. THANK YOU, MR. MADDOX, FOR THAT UPDATE. DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY DISCUSSION? MISS CARTER, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. MADDOX, FOR GRADUATIONS. I FELT LIKE THEY WENT OFF JUST VERY WELL. JUST SUPER ORGANIZED, SUCCESSFUL. IT WAS WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE FOR ME. I KNOW THE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES PROBABLY APPRECIATED ALL YOUR HARD WORK.SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THIS INFORMATION TO ALREADY GET US READY FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR. WHICH IS KIND OF SAD BECAUSE I HAVE A SENIOR. BUT ANYWAY, JUST THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THIS. Y'ALL WORK REALLY HARD AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MISS CARTER. MISS EDWARDS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR. OH.
THANK YOU. BREATHE. THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. AND I CAN SEE THAT WE ARE ON THE RIGHT MOVE AND WE'RE GOING TO OPEN. IT'S GOING TO BE A SMOOTH OPENING FOR US, THANKS TO THE WORK THAT YOU ALL HAVE ACTUALLY DONE. I JUST WANTED TO ASK YOU, WOULD WOULD YOU MAKE THE ANNOUNCEMENT TO THE PUBLIC WHAT THE HOURS OF THE WELCOME CENTER? MAYBE SOMEONE ON YOUR TEAM. THROUGH THE CHAIR? I'LL ASK MISS SAYAGO TO GIVE US THE HOURS OF THE WELCOME CENTER DURING THE SUMMER. AND THEN, OF COURSE, WHEN WE OPEN UP FULLY IN SECOND WEEK OF JULY. MR. SAYAGO. ABSOLUTELY. THE WELCOME CENTER IS OPEN NOW MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY FROM 8 TO 4. WE'LL RESUME MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FROM 8 TO 4 ON JULY 13TH, AND THEN STARTING ON JULY 27TH THROUGH THE 31ST, WILL BE OPEN MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, 8 TO 530.
OF COURSE, ONLINE REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE 247, BUT IN IN PERSON SUPPORT 8 TO 4 MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, SWITCHING ALL THE WAY TO FRIDAY STARTING JULY 13TH AND THEN JULY 20TH 7 TO 30 FIRST, 8 TO 530. YES, MA'AM. YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MISS EDWARDS. I JUST WANT TO ECHO THE SENTIMENTS OF MY COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE HARD WORK. GRADUATIONS WERE AMAZING, AND I KNOW THAT THERE WERE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT HAD A HAND IN MAKING THAT HAPPEN. SO SPECIAL THANKS TO THE BLUE SHIRTS AND MR. ELLIS AND ALL OF THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT MADE THIS SO SUCCESSFUL. IT WAS SO WONDERFUL TO SEE THE SUCCESSES OF OUR GRADUATES DURING THOSE CEREMONIES AND BEFORE AND AFTER. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUE CELEBRATING THEM AS THEY MOVE ON TO THEIR NEXT CHAPTER. AND I AM EXCITED ABOUT THE HOPE OF A NEW SCHOOL YEAR AND WHAT THAT MEANS FOR STUDENTS AND EMPLOYEES ALIKE. SO WHILE WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR SUMMER, I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK THAT'S ALREADY BEING LAID OUT TO MAKE THAT SUCCESSFUL AS WELL. ALL RIGHT. SEEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, WE WILL NOW MOVE TO INFORMATIONAL ITEM C2A DOCTOR PACE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR FOR INFORMATIONAL ITEM C2A UNDER UNDER ENSURING OPERATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS. I'D LIKE TO INVITE OUR CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER, MR. BARRY MILES, TO PRESENT THE MAY 2026 CONSTRUCTION OF EAST BLUFFS REPORT. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT PACE. I DO PRESENT TO YOU THE MAY 2026 CONSTRUCTION AND EAST REPORT, BEGINNING WITH STEM HIGH SCHOOL IN WALL AND OVERHEAD ELECTRICAL PLUMBING ROUGH CONTINUES. AS I'VE REPORTED ON IN PREVIOUS MONTHS, OVERHEAD MECHANICAL PIPING, INTERIOR DRYWALL INSTALLATION, FRAMING ON THE SECOND AND THIRD FLOOR, AS WELL AS FIREPROOFING ON THOSE FLOORS, WINDOW AND DOOR FRAME INSTALLATION AND STRUCTURAL STEEL CONTINUES IN THE BIOTECH AND AEROSPACE WING, SPECIFICALLY, THE SLAB POUR FOR PICNIC AREA OUTSIDE THE CAFETERIA BEGINS, AS I REPORTED LAST MONTH, ON THE FOOTING PAUSE THAT TOOK PLACE. MOVING TO OLA HIGH SCHOOL, WE HAVE EXTERIOR BRICK OVERHEAD, MECHANICAL PLUMBING AND ELECTRICAL ROOFTOP HVAC BEGINNING THEIR WINDOW GLAZING INSTALLATION, EXTERIOR DOOR INSTALLATION, AND CEILING GRID INSTALLATION AS WELL AT OLA HIGH SCHOOL. MOVING NOW TO WOLF CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
CLEARING AND GRADING CONTINUES ON THAT PROJECT AS WELL AS FRONT HALL, FOUNDATION BLOCK AND VERTICAL CMU. THE BLOCK WALLS FOR THE CAFETERIA AND GYM. ALSO THE SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM UPGRADE FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS. WE'VE GOT CAMERA INSTALLATION IN SEVEN HIGH SCHOOLS AND EIGHT MIDDLE SCHOOLS, COMPLETE CAMERA INSTALLATION IN TWO HIGH SCHOOLS AND ONE MIDDLE SCHOOL BEGINS THIS MONTH AND STADIUM CAMERA UNDERGROUND, BORING AT EIGHT HIGH SCHOOLS, HAS BEEN COMPLETED. LOCUST GROVE HIGH SCHOOL AND THE INTERCOM FIRE ALARM REPLACEMENT PROJECTS ARE STILL IN THE CONTRACT PHASE. DOCTOR PACE, THAT CONCLUDES WHAT I'VE PREPARED THIS EVENING. I TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MILES. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES OUR MAY 2026 CONSTRUCTION OF EAST BLOCK REPORT AND REMAIN AVAILABLE TO
[00:25:06]
OUR BOARD FOR ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, DOCTOR PACE. AND THANK YOU, MR. MILES, FOR THAT REPORT. DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY DISCUSSION? NOPE. SEEING NONE. WE'RE SO GRATEFUL.THANKS SO MUCH. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO OUR NEXT INFORMATIONAL ITEM WHICH IS C2B DOCTOR PACE.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR FOR OUR NEXT INFORMATIONAL ITEM. C2B MAY 2026 FINANCIAL REPORTS. I'D LIKE TO INVITE OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, MRS. SHAMIKA CLAY, FOR THIS INFORMATIONAL REPORT. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT PACE. TODAY, I BRING THE REPORT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITY FOR THE PERIOD ENDING MAY 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 94.8% OF PLANNED REVENUES TO DATE ACROSS ALL FUNDS, AS SHOWN IN THE YELLOW HIGHLIGHT, AND WE HAVE EXPENDITURES TO DATE. THAT TOTAL 93.6% OF BUDGETED EXPENDITURES, AS SHOWN IN THE GREEN HIGHLIGHT OBLIGATIONS OUTSTANDING AS OF THE PERIOD END TOTALED $17.6 MILLION, WITH 83% OF THESE OBLIGATIONS PERTAINING TO CAPITAL PROJECTS, RELATED EXPENDITURES, AND 12% OF THE OBLIGATIONS PERTAINING TO THE GENERAL FUND. MOVING ALONG, WE WILL REVIEW THE GENERAL FUND ACTIVITY WITH THE 11TH MONTH OF THE OF THE FISCAL YEAR NOW ACCOUNTED FOR, WE ARE 92% THROUGH FY 26 ON A LINEAR BASIS. TO DATE, WE HAVE COLLECTED 96.9% OF OUR PLANNED RECEIPTS, AS SHOWN IN THE YELLOW HIGHLIGHT. AND BASED ON THIS MONTH'S ACTIVITY, WE ARE ON PACE TO MARGINALLY EXCEED THE TOTAL FY 26 REVENUE FORECAST, WHICH WILL REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF FUND BALANCE RESERVES REQUIRED TO BALANCE THE FY 26 BUDGET OVERALL, TURNING OUR EYE TO THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE PAGE AND LOOKING AT THE GREEN HIGHLIGHT, YOU CAN SEE THAT WE'VE INCURRED EXPENSES REPRESENTING 91.5% OF BUDGETED EXPENDITURES, WITH OBLIGATIONS CONSIDERED. 92% OF FUNDS ARE EITHER EXPENDED OR OBLIGATED.
AND THIS IS RIGHT IN PACE WITH THE FISCAL YEAR. NEXT, WE WILL REVIEW THE GENERAL FUND BALANCE SHEET. THE TOTAL VALUE OF THE GENERAL FUND'S ASSETS AT THE CLOSE OF MAY TOTALED $166.8 MILLION. THE NEXT SLIDE PROVIDES A VIEW OF CASH ON HAND ACROSS ALL FUNDS. AND LOOKING AT THAT LAST COLUMN, THE TOTAL OF CASH AND EQUIVALENT INVESTMENTS ARE APPROACHING $343 MILLION FOR THE REPORTING PERIOD. MOVING TO OUR EDUCATION REPORT, EXPENDITURES FOR THE PERIOD, WHICH ARE SHOWN IN THE SECOND TO LAST COLUMN, TOTALED $4.3 MILLION AND WERE LED BY INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCE AND TECHNOLOGY PURCHASES. FINALLY, WE WILL REVIEW THE CAPITAL ACCUMULATION FINANCIAL REPORT. THERE WERE EXPENDITURES OF $7,200 FROM $707,200 FROM THE SAFETY AND SECURITY CAPITAL ACCUMULATION FUND. DOCTOR PACE. THAT CONCLUDES WHAT ARE PREPARED, AND I YIELD THE FLOOR TO YOU. THANK YOU, MRS. CLAY. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES OUR MAY 2026 FINANCIAL REPORT, AND WE REMAIN AVAILABLE TO OUR BOARD FOR ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, DOCTOR PAYSON. THANK YOU. MRS. CLAY. DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO INFORMATIONAL ITEM C2C DOCTOR PACE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR FOR OUR NEXT INFORMATIONAL ITEM C2C AUDIT FISCAL TRANSPARENCY. I'D LIKE TO ASK OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, MRS. CLAY, TO REMAIN AT THE PODIUM TO PRESENT THIS INFORMATIONAL ITEM. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT PACE AS PUBLIC SERVANTS, MANAGING COMMUNITY RESOURCES IS ONE OF OUR HIGHEST RESPONSIBILITIES. TODAY, I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE A GENERAL OVERVIEW OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM'S FISCAL TRANSPARENCY PRACTICES AND REVIEW THE RESULTS OF OUR MOST RECENTLY CONCLUDED FISCAL YEAR'S AUDIT. THROUGH THIS REPORT, WE WILL REVIEW WHAT AN AUDIT IS, WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT, HOW THE PROCESS WORKS, AND FINALLY, SHARE THE EXCELLENT NEWS REGARDING OUR LATEST FINANCIAL EVALUATIONS. TO BEGIN, LET'S DEFINE WHAT AN AUDIT ACTUALLY IS AND WHAT AN AUDIT ACCOMPLISHES. AN AUDIT IS AN INDEPENDENT, OBJECTIVE EVALUATION OF OUR FINANCIAL RECORDS AND PRACTICES.
QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS LOOK AT OUR BOOKS TO EVALUATE THE ACCURACY AND COMPLETENESS OF THE NUMBERS REPORTED, AND THE PROFESSIONALS ASSESS OUR COMPLIANCE WITH STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS. IN CONDUCTING THEIR EVALUATION, THESE PROFESSIONALS CONSIDER IF OUR FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES AND BUSINESS PRACTICES YIELD FINANCIAL STATEMENTS THAT COMPLY WITH GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS AND MANY OTHER ACCOUNTING FRAMEWORKS AND EXPECTATIONS THAT ARE ESTABLISHED BY STATE AND FEDERAL ENTITIES. AUDITS ARE AN INTENSIVE EFFORT, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT AN AUDIT DOES NOT LOOK AT EVERY SINGLE DOLLAR OR COMMIT TO IDENTIFYING FRAUD AS A RESULT OF REVIEWS COMPLETED DURING AN AUDIT, AN OPINION IS ISSUED TO GIVE OUR STAKEHOLDERS REASONABLE ASSURANCE THAT OUR STATEMENTS ARE FREE FROM MATERIAL MISTAKES. WE UNDERGO AUDITS ANNUALLY FOR THREE REASONS THAT SERVE EXTERNAL PURPOSES. FIRST, IT MEETS LEGAL MANDATES. GEORGIA LAW REQUIRES AN ANNUAL
[00:30:03]
INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL AUDIT TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION BY MARCH EACH YEAR. SECOND, AUDITS PROMOTE PUBLIC TRUST TRUST BECAUSE IT GIVES A LEVEL OF ASSURANCE THAT PUBLIC FUNDS ARE BEING USED AS REPORTED. AND FINALLY, A POSITIVE AUDIT RESULT SUPPORTS OUR CREDIT RATING. CREDIT AGENCIES RELY ON AUDITS TO ASSESS THE FISCAL HEALTH OF ENTITIES, AND WHEN WE HAVE A STRONG RATING, OUR SYSTEM IS ABLE TO SECURE LOWER INTEREST BORROWING RATES, SAVING TAXPAYERS MONEY ON MAJOR CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.FROM AN INTERNAL PERSPECTIVE, AUDITS HELP IN ASSESSING OUR FISCAL CONTROLS. THINK OF CONTROLS AS AN ORGANIZATIONAL GUARDRAIL DESIGNED TO PREVENT OR CATCH ERRORS IN FRAUD BEFORE THEY AFFECT OUR FINANCIALS. THE AUDITORS REVIEW THESE CONTROLS TO POINT OUT ANY STRUCTURAL WEAKNESSES THAT WOULD HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO MATERIALLY IMPACT OUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. THESE REVIEWS CAN ALSO SUPPORT IDENTIFICATION OF ANY CONTROL ENVIRONMENT IMPROVEMENT OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE MIGHT HAVE, WHICH IS SUPPORTIVE OF OUR GOAL TO CONTINUALLY ADVANCE OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE. AN EFFECTIVE AUDIT RELIES ON CLEAR SEPARATION OF DUTIES ACROSS THREE TIERS. THE BOARD OF EDUCATION HANDLES GOVERNANCE. THE BOARD IS RESPONSIBLE TO ESTABLISH OVERARCHING FISCAL POLICIES, ALLOCATE FUNDS AND ULTIMATELY REVIEW THE FINANCIAL REPORTS AND ANNUAL AUDITS. MANAGEMENT AND STAFF RUN THE DAILY OPERATIONS. IT IS OUR JOB TO IMPLEMENT THE DAY TO DAY INTERNAL CONTROLS, MAINTAIN ACCURATE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXECUTE THE PROCESSES THAT MAKE BUDGETING AND OTHER FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES POSSIBLE.
THE EXTERNAL AUDITOR HANDLES THE INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT. THEY DO NOT WORK FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. THEY CONDUCT INDEPENDENT TESTING, EVALUATE OUR INTERNAL CONTROL ENVIRONMENT AND ISSUE THEIR OFFICIAL OBJECTIVE OPINION. WE ENGAGE WITH TWO FIRMS ANNUALLY FOR THESE EXTERNAL REVIEWS FOR THE ANNUAL FINANCIAL AUDIT, WHICH INCLUDES THE PREPARATION OF ACCRUAL BASED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. WE ENGAGE MAULDIN AND JENKINS BASED IN GEORGIA.
MAULDIN AND JENKINS IS HIGHLY RESPECTED, FULL SERVICE ACCOUNTING AND ADVISORY FIRM THAT SPECIALIZES IN PROVIDING INDEPENDENT ANNUAL FINANCIAL AUDITS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS. THE ANNUAL FINANCIAL AUDIT OF EDUCATION SPLOST ACTIVITY. WE ENGAGE SERRATA MADDOX AND EVANS CPA FIRM. THIS FIRM SPECIALIZES IN REVIEW OF REGULATORY COMPLIANCE ASSOCIATED WITH LOCALLY APPROVED SPECIAL PURPOSE LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX COLLECTIONS FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS AND CAPITAL OUTLAY FUNDS. HAVING THESE DISTINCT EXPERT EYES ON OUR OPERATIONS PROVIDES A COMPREHENSIVE LAYER OF ACCOUNTABILITY. SO NOW YOU MIGHT BE WONDERING WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS DURING THE COURSE OF THE AUDIT. THE TOP OF THE SLIDE GIVES A HIGH LEVEL VISUAL OF THE KEY STEPS WITHIN AN AUDIT. IT BEGINS WELL BEFORE ANYONE STEPS FOOT IN OUR OFFICES WITH AN ENGAGEMENT LETTER AND DETAILED PRE FILLED WORK, PLANNING, THE SPECIFIC PREPARATION AND AREA SUBJECTED TO TESTING WILL VARY BASED ON THE ENGAGEMENT. FOR EXAMPLE, FIELD WORK FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL AUDIT ENTAILS THE AUDITORS LOOKING AT EVERYTHING FROM STATE, LOCAL AND FEDERAL REVENUE TO SAMPLING EXPENDITURES AND PAYROLL PROCUREMENT, AND EVEN OUR SCHOOL BASED STUDENT ACTIVITY FUNDS. OUR MOST RECENT AUDITS RELATE TO FISCAL YEAR TO THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30TH, 2025. ON SITE FIELDWORK FOR THE AUDIT OCCURRED DURING OCTOBER 2025, ON SITE FIELDWORK FOR THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL AUDIT BEGAN IN DECEMBER OF 2025. DURING FIELD WORK AND THE SUBSEQUENT OFF SITE PROCEDURES, AUDITORS EXECUTE OPERATIONAL AND COMPLIANCE TESTING DURING OPERATIONAL TESTING. THEY SAMPLE TRANSACTIONS ACROSS VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS AND FOLLOW THE PAPER TRAIL ALL THE WAY FROM THE INITIAL PURCHASE ORDER TO THE FINAL CHECK TO ENSURE CONSISTENCY DURING COMPLIANCE TESTING, THEY FOCUS ON PROGRAMMATIC AREAS LIKE OUR SPENDING AND FEDERAL GRANT PROGRAMS TO ENSURE WE ARE MEETING STRICT STATE AND FEDERAL STATUTORY GUIDELINES. TESTING CAN SPAN SEVERAL WEEKS TO SEVERAL MONTHS, DEPENDING ON THE ENGAGEMENT SPECIFICS. ONCE TESTING IS FINALIZED, THE FINANCIALS OR OTHER SCHEDULES ARE PREPARED, AND THE FIRM THEN PREPARES TO ISSUE ITS FORMAL AUDIT OPINION. SO THE EXTERNAL FIRM ISSUES AN OPINION VIA A LETTER, ALONG WITH A COPY OF THE FINANCIALS OR SCHEDULES THAT THEY HAVE AUDITED. I'VE LISTED THE TYPES OF OPINIONS THAT EXIST ON THE LEFT HAND OF THE SLIDE FOR AWARENESS AND FOR EDUCATION PURPOSES, AND WE WILL QUICKLY REVIEW AN UNMODIFIED OPINION IS THE BEST POSSIBLE RESULT. IT'S OFTEN REFERRED TO AS A CLEAN OPINION, MEANING THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE PRESENTED FAIRLY AND ACCURATELY IN ACCORDANCE WITH STANDARD ACCOUNTING CONCEPTS. IT'S CALLED UNMODIFIED SIMPLY BECAUSE THE AUDITORS DIDN'T NEED TO ADD ANY WARNING LABELS OR QUALIFYING REMARKS, A MODIFIED OR QUALIFIED OPINION MEANS THINGS LOOK MOSTLY FAIR, BUT WITH A FEW SPECIFIC EXCEPTIONS, EXCEPTIONS THAT THE
[00:35:04]
AUDITOR WILL NOTE. AN ADVERSE OPINION IS A MAJOR RED FLAG, INDICATING THAT FINANCIALS ARE MATERIALLY MISREPRESENTED AND DO NOT ACCURATELY REFLECT THE SYSTEM'S ACTUAL HEALTH. A DISCLAIMER OF AN OPINION MEANS THE AUDITORS COULDN'T FINISH THEIR WORK OR TO FORM THEIR OPINION, USUALLY BECAUSE INFORMATION WAS MISSING. BEYOND THE BROAD OPINION, THE FINAL REPORT WILL ALSO DETAIL ANY SPECIFIC FINDINGS OR RECOMMENDATIONS. THESE HIGHLIGHTED AREAS WHERE INTERNAL CONTROLS CAN BE SHARPENED. IF A CONTROL ISSUE INCREASES THE RISK OF MATERIAL MISSTATEMENT IS FLAGGED, IT WILL GENERALLY FALL INTO TWO TIERS OF CLASSIFICATIONS AS EITHER A MATERIAL WEAKNESS OR A SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCY. ANY MATERIAL OR SIGNIFICANT FINDINGS MANDATE AN OFFICIAL IMMEDIATE CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN, WHICH THE AUDITORS WILL STRICTLY REEVALUATE DURING THE FOLLOWING YEAR'S AUDIT TO GUARANTEE THAT IT IS FIXED BEYOND THE OPINION ISSUED BY THE AUDITOR. WE ARE ALSO ASSESSED BY THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF AUDITS AND GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.THESE ENTITIES USE OUR TIMELINESS OF OUR SUBMISSION OF THE AUDIT AND THE RESULT OF THE AUDIT TO ASSIGN A RISK LEVEL TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. ADDITIONAL MONITORING AND REQUIREMENTS, SUCH AS TRAINING FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT AND BOARD MEMBERS, IS REQUIRED IF A SCHOOL SYSTEM IS DESIGNATED AS MODERATE OR HIGH RISK. SO WITH THAT CONTEXT, I CAN NOW SHARE THE RESULTS OF OUR MOST RECENT AUDIT OF FISCAL YEAR 2025, WHICH COVERS TRANSACTIONS AND THE FINANCIALS OCCURRING BETWEEN JULY 2024 AND JUNE 2025. I'M PLEASED TO REPORT TO THE BOARD AND THE HENRY COUNTY COMMUNITY THAT BOTH OUR ANNUAL FINANCIAL AUDIT AND OUR AUDIT WERE COMPLETED AND RECEIVED UNMODIFIED OPINIONS, WHICH IS A CLEAN AUDIT OPINION.
ADDITIONALLY, WE WERE NOT IDENTIFIED AS A MODERATE OR HIGH RISK SCHOOL SYSTEM THROUGH THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF AUDIT AND GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PROCESSES. THESE RESULTS ARE A DIRECT REFLECTION OF THE RIGOROUS DAILY DEDICATION OF OUR BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL SERVICES, TEAM MEMBERS AND SCHOOL BOOKKEEPING CORE, ALONG WITH OUR COLLEAGUES THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGING BUDGET EXPENDITURES AND TREATING OUR COMMUNITY'S TAX DOLLARS WITH THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF STEWARDSHIP IN LINE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS. AND IN A SPIRIT OF FISCAL TRANSPARENCY, OUR AUDITS ARE ALWAYS PUBLICLY POSTED TO OUR WEBSITE AND CAN BE FOUND BY NAVIGATING TO THE BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL SERVICES PAGE AND THEN SELECTING FINANCIAL INFORMATION. AS I CONCLUDE, I WANT TO EXPRESS GRATITUDE. FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE BOARD FOR YOUR OVERSIGHT AND COMMITMENT TO FISCAL STEWARDSHIP, YOUR POLICIES AND COMMITMENT TO GOVERNING, ACTIONS OF ALLOCATION AND FINANCIAL REVIEW.
CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE MANAGEMENT AND STAFF ARE EMPOWERED TO MANAGE THE DAILY OPERATIONS OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. IN ADVANCEMENT OF YOUR VISION AND MISSION. AND SECOND, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE TEAM MEMBERS OF THE BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL SERVICES DIVISION AND ALL OF OUR SCHOOL BOOKKEEPERS, IMPLEMENTING AND ENFORCING FISCAL AND OPERATIONAL CONTROLS CAN BE A THANKLESS JOB AT TIMES, BUT EVERY FOLLOW UP ON THE JUSTIFICATION OF A PURCHASE, EVERY BUDGET TRANSFER CONFIRMATION, EVERY TIME SHEET REVIEWED AND PROCESSED, EVERY TRAINING ON RECONCILIATIONS, EVERY JOURNAL ENTRY POSTED, AND COUNTLESS OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT ARE PERFORMED MATTERS. THESE FUNCTIONS HELP ENSURE WE HAVE ROBUST FISCAL CONTROLS AND POSITION OUR SYSTEM TO GARNER PUBLIC TRUST THAT FUNDS ARE EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY USED IN HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS. DOCTOR PACE, THAT CONCLUDES WHAT I'VE PREPARED AND I YIELD THE FLOOR TO YOU. THANK YOU, MRS. CLAY. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES OUR INFORMATIONAL ITEM AUDIT FISCAL TRANSPARENCY, AND WE REMAIN AVAILABLE TO OUR BOARD FOR ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, DOCTOR PAYSON. THANK YOU, MRS. CLAY, FOR THAT REPORT. DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? MR. MCDANIEL? THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, AND THANK YOU, MISS CLAY.
AND TO YOUR ENTIRE STAFF FOR WHAT YOU ALL DO. AS YOU SAY, MANY FOLKS DON'T SAY THANK YOU, BUT WE SAY THANK YOU BECAUSE OF THE REPORT THAT WE HAVE. IT'S JUST A CONTINUED TESTAMENT AND OF YOUR DEPARTMENT'S HARD WORK. BUT IT'S ALSO, AGAIN, AS YOU SAY, THE STEWARDSHIP OF WHAT OF THIS DISTRICT. SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU ALL ARE DOING. IT'S GOOD TO KNOW WE HAVE A, I GUESS, A CLEAN AUDIT. SO THAT'S GOOD TO TO SAY AND TO HEAR AND, AND IT'S GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY TO HEAR THAT. AND THE TIME THAT WE FIND OURSELVES IN RIGHT NOW IS GOOD TO HEAR SOME POSITIVE NEWS THAT THAT WE ARE DOING WHAT'S RIGHT. SO THANK YOU AND YOUR STAFF AND I REALLY DO APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU, MR. MCDANIEL. DOCTOR NET, I TO REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO AND KEEPING US UP OUT OF THE NEWSPAPERS FOR NOTHING. THAT'S NOT POSITIVE. HOW WAS I HOW DOES ALL OF THIS AFFECT OUR BOND RATING? I KNOW TO CONTINUE A GREAT BOND RATING, WE HAVE TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH EVERYTHING. SO HOW HOW DOES THAT LOOK? SO EVERY TIME WE SUBMIT THE AUDIT, IT ALSO GOES TO OUR OUR BOND RATING AGENCIES. AND SO I GET A CALL EVERY AUDIT
[00:40:06]
JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE REVIEW ANY FINDINGS. AND SO THE FISCAL HEALTH IS EVALUATED BY THE CREDIT RATING AGENCIES. AND SO THEY CONSIDER THAT AND LOCAL ECONOMIC INDICATORS. AND I ANSWER YOUR QUESTION. OR IS THERE MORE. WHAT IS. WE WOULD MAINTAIN WE'RE PRESENTLY A DOUBLE A PLUS WHICH WE'RE ON THE HIGHER END OF IT. BUT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR OTHER OTHER FACTORS THAT ARE BEYOND SOME OF OUR CONTROL AS WELL. DOUBLE A PLUS IS EXCELLENT. AND I, I KNOW I HAVE A BOARD MEMBER FRIEND THAT THEY WERE BOASTING ABOUT HAVING A, A AND I'M LIKE, IS THAT ALL? SO ANYWAY, SO I APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU DOCTOR AND I, MRS. CARTER, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH, MISS CLAY. YOU AND YOUR TEAM HAVE DONE A FABULOUS JOB WITH ALL THIS, AND IT'S A LOT OF HARD WORK. NOW YOU'RE COMING TO THE END OF YOUR YEAR. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING. YOU HAVE DONE AN AMAZING JOB. SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS CARTER. MISS EDWARDS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M JUST GOING TO ECHO WHAT EVERYONE EVERYONE MY BOARD MEMBERS HAVE SAID THIS IS PHENOMENAL. THIS IS A GREAT REPORT AND I HOPE THE COMMUNITY IS LISTENING. THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING, AND THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO APPRECIATE THE INFORMATION THAT YOU PROVIDED BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S JUST, IT'S AWESOME. YOU ALL, YOU ALL DO A GREAT WORK HERE. AND I REALLY, WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT BECAUSE TO GET AN A PLUS PLUS RATING, DOUBLE A RATING IS JUST PHENOMENAL. THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU ALL DO. THANK YOU, MISS EDWARDS. AND OF COURSE, I JUST WANT TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE AS WELL. I KNOW THAT WE'VE ALWAYS HAD A PRACTICE OF POSTING OUR AUDITS ON OUR WEBSITE, BUT I LOVE THIS PRACTICE OF SHARING IT ALOUD AT THE PUBLIC MEETING AS WELL. AND I HOPE THAT THIS CONTINUES TO GIVE OUR COMMUNITY TRUST AND OUR FINANCIAL PRACTICES AND TRANSPARENCY, BECAUSE YOU ALWAYS DO SUCH A PHENOMENAL JOB OF BRINGING THAT TO THE PUBLIC AND TO THE BOARD. SO I'M SUPER GRATEFUL. AND TO ALL OF THE MANY HANDS THAT MAKE THIS POSSIBLE, WE ARE VERY, VERY THANKFUL. ALL RIGHT. SEEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, THAT WRAPS[D. BUSINESS ITEMS]
UP OUR INFORMATIONAL ITEMS FOR THE AFTERNOON. AND WE WILL NOW MOVE TO OUR BUSINESS ITEMS. I WILL REMIND YOU THAT THESE ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA THIS EVENING. BUT OF COURSE, ANY BOARD MEMBER IS WELCOME TO PULL AN ITEM OFF IF THEY SO WISH. I WILL NOW GET STARTED WITH ITEM D ONE. DOCTOR PACE. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR FOR BUSINESS ITEM D ONE FY 27 FINAL BUDGET ADOPTION. I'D LIKE TO ASK MISS CLAY TO PRESENT THIS BUSINESS ITEM. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT PACE. I AM PRESENTING THE SUPERINTENDENTS FINAL BUDGET RECOMMENDATION FOR THE 2026 2027 SCHOOL YEAR FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. THE BUDGET SUMMARY DISPLAYED ON THE SCREEN REFLECTS THE ANTICIPATED SOURCES AND USES OF FUNDING FOR OUR GENERAL FUND, SPECIAL REVENUE FUND, CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND, AND DEBT SERVICE FUND. THERE HAVE BEEN LIMITED CHANGES TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS SINCE THE BUDGET WAS TENTATIVELY ADOPTED AND TABLED LAST MONTH. SINCE THAT TIME, THE STATE HAS SHARED HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS APPROVED REVENUE ALLOCATION, WHICH RESULTED IN AN IMPROVED REVENUE FORECAST OF THE GENERAL FUND BY $3.7 MILLION. GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES INCREASED BY $257,000. TO ENSURE ADEQUATE FUNDING IS AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT THE TRANSPORT OF STUDENTS FOR ATHLETIC AND FIELD TRIP EVENTS. ALL OTHER FUNDS ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE FIGURES PRESENTED DURING TENTATIVE ADOPTION. LATER THIS EVENING, WE WILL HOLD THE SECOND OF TWO REQUIRED BUDGET HEARINGS TO ALLOW FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET. THE BOARD WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FORMALLY ADOPT THE BUDGET AT THE BUSINESS MEETING FOLLOWING THE HEARING. DOCTOR PACE, THAT CONCLUDES OUR PREPARED AND I TURN IT BACK TO YOU. THANK YOU, MRS. CLAY. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES OUR BUSINESS ITEM D ONE FY 27 FINAL BUDGET ADOPTION AND REMAIN AVAILABLE TO OUR BOARD FOR ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH, DOCTOR PACE, AND THANK YOU AGAIN, MRS. CLAY. I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND REMOVE THIS FROM OUR CONSENT AGENDA SO THAT WE CAN VOTE INDIVIDUALLY AT THE BUSINESS MEETING THIS EVENING. DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? MR. MCDANIEL, I JUST WANTED TO SAY AGAIN, THANK YOU TO THE SUPERINTENDENT AND MISS CLAY FOR BRINGING US THIS BUDGET RECOMMENDATION. I JUST WANT TO SAY TO OUR COMMUNITY, YOU HEAR SO MUCH ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH OUR FINANCING.YOU HEAR SO MUCH ABOUT GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS, AND YOU KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND HOW THEY'RE FRIVOLOUSLY SPENDING MONEY. WELL, I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT AS I LOOK AT THIS BUDGET AND LOOK AT WHAT MISS CLAY PRESENTED EARLIER, AND MISS CLAY, IF I'M WRONG, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, THE HEARING COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION HAS USED APPROXIMATELY PROBABLY ABOUT $50 MILLION SOMEWHERE ABOUT IN GENERAL FUND DOLLARS.
[00:45:06]
I THINK RIGHT NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT 20 MILLION HERE. AND ON OUR LAST SLIDE THAT YOU HAD HERE, I THINK IT WAS AROUND 44 OR 44 MILLION. ARE YOU REFERRING TO RESERVES? RESERVES 32 MILLION IS WHAT, 32 FOR THIS YEAR. SO I WANT TO SAY TO THE COMMUNITY, THE HEARING COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION IS INTENT ON MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOM, THAT WE HAVE CERTIFIED PERSONS, THE CLASSIFIED PERSONNEL IN OUR CLASSROOM, DRIVING OUR BUSSES, MAINTENANCE WORKERS, MAKING SURE THAT OUR FACILITIES ARE TAKEN CARE OF. THERE'S NOT ONE PERSON IN HERE THAT'S IN THIS ROOM THAT ARE AT HOME, THAT THIS BOARD OF EDUCATION, THE SUPERINTENDENT AND OTHERS DO NOT CARE FOR AND CARE ABOUT EVERY 6000 EMPLOYEE, EVERY EMPLOYEE WE CARE ABOUT. AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE THINGS NECESSARY TO GO HOME AND TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. AGAIN, IF I'M WRONG, LET ME KNOW. WE'VE WE HAVE MADE THE TASK OF MAKING SURE THAT STEP INCREASES HAVE BEEN GIVEN.WE'VE MADE SURE THAT WHERE WE CAN GIVE SALARY INCREASES, WE'VE MADE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT DOING FURLOUGHS LIKE OTHER COUNTIES. I CAN GO ON AND ON AND ON, BUT THAT SPEAKS TO THE LEVEL OF PROFESSIONALISM FROM OUR CFO AND HER STAFF. BUT THAT ALSO SPEAKS TO THE CITIZENS HERE IN HENRY COUNTY. SO I AM GOING TO SUPPORT THIS BUDGET, BUT I JUST WANT TO SIT DOWN AND SAY TO THE HENRY COUNTY CITIZENS, TO THOSE THAT ARE IN THIS ROOM, TO THOSE THAT ARE WATCHING. THIS IS WHAT FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY LOOKS LIKE. THIS IS WHAT FINANCIAL WHAT GOOD GOVERNANCE LOOKS LIKE. AND WE COULD NOT DO THIS WITHOUT HAVING THE STAFF, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND THE COMMUNITY THAT WE HAVE. THERE IS NO BETTER PLACE TO SIT DOWN AND TO TRAIN A SCHOLAR TODAY FOR TOMORROW THAN THE HENRY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION. AND TO EVERYONE THAT'S IN HERE RIGHT NOW, I SAY THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS BUDGET AND PREVIOUS BUDGETS, THOSE THAT COME, ALWAYS ARE FOCUSED ON THE GREATEST COMMODITY, AND THAT IS OUR SCHOLARS. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOUR STAFF. MADAM CHAIR.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THIS, SUPPORTING THIS BUDGET. AND THANK YOU, DOCTOR PACE, FOR BRINGING THIS TO US. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. MCDANIEL. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MRS. CLAY. AND WE WILL NOW MOVE TO OUR NEXT BUSINESS ITEM, WHICH IS ITEM D TWO. DOCTOR PACE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR FOR OUR NEXT BUSINESS ITEM D TWO FY 27 CONTRACTS. I'D LIKE TO ASK MRS. CLAY TO REMAIN AT THE PODIUM FOR TO PRESENT THIS BUSINESS ITEM. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT PACE. THE BOARD HAS HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE BRIEFED ON CONTRACTS REQUIRING ITS AUTHORIZATION PER POLICY DJE THAT WERE CONTEMPLATED DURING BUDGET DEVELOPMENT. WITH THE FORTHCOMING ADOPTION OF THE FY 27 BUDGET, IT IS RECOMMENDED FOR THE BOARD TO PROVIDE PURCHASE AUTHORIZATION OF THE EMBEDDED CONTRACTS THAT WERE CONTEMPLATED, WHICH HAVE AN EXPENDITURE OUTLAY OF $61,388,464.85. USING GENERAL FUNDS, I'D E A FUNDS, SCHOOL, NUTRITION FUNDS AND ESPLOST SIX FUNDS. IN TOTAL, THERE ARE 58 CONTRACTS IN THE FY 27 CONTRACT GROUP, WITH 51 REPRESENTING RENEWALS OF EXISTING AGREEMENTS AND SEVEN CONTRACT AUTHORIZATION REQUESTS STEMMING FROM FORMAL SOLICITATIONS. THE CONTRACT SUPPORT, INSTRUCTIONAL AND OPERATIONAL OBJECTIVES OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND THE BOARD'S AUTHORIZATION OF THESE CONTRACTS. SUPPORT STREAMLINED CONTRACT EXECUTION OR RENEWAL WHEN THE ELIGIBLE TIME ARISES. DURING THE COURSE OF FY 27, THIS ITEM IS AVAILABLE 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 D TWO FY 27 CONTRACTS AND WE 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 ELIGIBLE FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA THIS EVENING.
DOES ANYONE OBJECT. THIS WILL BE PLACED ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO BUSINESS ITEM D THREE DOCTOR PACE FOR BUSINESS ITEM D THREE RESOLUTION CAPITAL ACCUMULATION COMMITMENT. I ASKED MRS. CLAY TO REMAIN AT THE PODIUM FOR THIS BUSINESS ITEM. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT PACE MY FINAL ITEM. THE SUPERINTENDENT IS RECOMMENDING THAT THE BOARD ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO EXTEND THE ALLOWABLE EXPENDITURE TIMELINE FOR FUNDS THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY COMMITTED TO A CAPITAL ACCUMULATION FUND FOR THE PURPOSE OF SAFETY AND SECURITY. INITIALLY ESTABLISHED BY THE BOARD VIA RESOLUTION IN FY 22 AND AUGMENTED DURING FY 24, THE SAFETY AND SECURITY CAPITAL ACCUMULATION FUND HAS TWO HAD TWO FUNDING COMMITMENTS TOTALING $12.5 MILLION, WITH AN ANTICIPATED EXPENDITURE TIMELINE RUNNING THROUGH THE FISCAL YEAR 2026. OVER THE PAST
[00:50:02]
FEW YEARS, OUR DISTRICT HAS RECEIVED FUNDING FROM THE STATE SPECIFICALLY FOR SAFETY, WHICH FACILITATED A SLOWER RATE OF SPIN THAN INITIALLY PLANNED. WHEN THIS FUND WAS SET UP WITH $5.3 MILLION OF FUNDING REMAINING IN THIS BOARD DESIGNATED CAPITAL ACCUMULATION FUND AS OF THE MAY 2026 FINANCIAL REPORT, IT IS RECOMMENDED TO ALLOW USE OF THIS FUNDING TO BE EXTENDED THROUGH THE 2027 THROUGH 2029 BUDGET YEARS. THIS RECOMMENDATION IS IN LINE WITH GEORGIA LAW. SECTION 20-2-167, WHICH ALLOWS FOR THE BOARD TO ESTABLISH ONE OR MORE ACCUMULATION FUNDS FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.THERE IS NO INCREMENTAL FUNDING COMMITMENT. THIS WOULD BE USE OF THE REMAINING FUNDS PREVIOUSLY COMMITTED. IF APPROVED, THE COMMITTED FUNDS WILL BE EXPENDED DURING THE 2027 THROUGH 2029 BUDGET YEARS, AND THE ACTIVITY WILL BE REPORTED IN THE CAPITAL ACCUMULATION FINANCIAL REPORT EACH MONTH. THIS ITEM IS NOW 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 D THREE RESOLUTION CAPITAL ACCUMULATION COMMITMENT AND REMAIN AVAILABLE TO OUR BOARD FOR ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, DOCTOR PACE. AND THANK YOU AGAIN. MRS. CLAY. DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM SEEING NONE. IT IS ALSO ELIGIBLE FOR CONSENT. DOES ANYONE OBJECT. THIS WILL BE PLACED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. MRS. CLAY. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO ITEM D FOUR.
DOCTOR BASS THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR FOR BUSINESS. ITEM D FOUR RESOLUTION DECLARING RESULTS OF BOND AND EDUCATION SPLOST ELECTION ON MAY 19TH, 2026. I INVITE OUR CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER, MR. BARRY MILES, TO PRESENT THIS ITEM. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT PACE, I PRESENT TO YOU THIS AFTERNOON A RESOLUTION DECLARING THE ELECTION RESULTS OF THE BOND AND EDUCATION SPLOST ELECTION ON MAY 19TH, 2026. THESE ELECTION RESULTS HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED BY HENRY COUNTY'S BOARD OF ELECTIONS, A RESOLUTION FROM THE SAME BOARD AS PRESENTED TO YOU THIS AFTERNOON AS AN EXHIBIT. YOUR ACTION TODAY ALLOWS FOR A FORMAL ACCEPTANCE OF THE ELECTION RESULTS AND AUTHORIZES THE 1% SALES TAX EXTENSION. VOTER TURNOUT DEMONSTRATES STRONG COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND BACKING, AND THIS REFERENDUM PASSED AS THIS REFERENDUM PASSED WITH A CLEAR MAJORITY.
DOCTOR PACE. THIS CONCLUDES WHAT I PREPARED AND I TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MILES. MADAM CHAIR, THIS CONCLUDES OUR BUSINESS ITEM D FOUR DECLARATION DECLARING RESULTS OF THE BOND AND EDUCATION SPLOST ELECTION ON MAY 19TH, 2026 AND REMAIN AVAILABLE TO OUR BOARD FOR ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, DOCTOR PACE, AND THANK YOU. MR. MILES.
DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE. THIS IS ALSO ELIGIBLE FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA. DOES ANYONE OBJECT? NOPE. THIS WILL BE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA THIS EVENING.
AND WE WILL MOVE TO OUR LAST BUSINESS ITEM WHICH IS D FIVE. DOCTOR PACE THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR FOR BUSINESS ITEM D 520 2627 WORKERS COMPENSATION PANEL OF PHYSICIANS. I'D LIKE TO INVITE OUR CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER, DOCTOR CARL KNOWLTON, TO PRESENT THIS BUSINESS ITEM. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT PACE.
THIS AFTERNOON I'M PRESENTING BUSINESS ITEM D FIVE, 2026 2027 WORKERS COMPENSATION PANEL PHYSICIANS. EACH YEAR WE BRING THIS ITEM BEFORE YOU FOR YOUR APPROVAL. THIS PANEL OF PHYSICIANS MEET THE REQUIREMENTS SET BY THE STATE OF GEORGIA'S WORKERS COMPENSATION BOARD. THE STATE REQUIREMENTS ARE AS FOLLOWS. AT LEAST SIX QUALIFIED PHYSICIANS OR PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS. INCLUSION OF ONE ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON. REPRESENTATION OF A MINORITY PHYSICIAN, AND NO MORE THAN TWO INDUSTRIAL CLINICS. THERE ARE NO RECOMMENDED CHANGES TO THIS PANEL AT THIS TIME. DOCTOR PACE I BELIEVE THIS ITEM IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA. THIS CONCLUDES OUR PREPARED AND I TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU. THANK YOU, DOCTOR KNOWLTON. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES OUR BUSINESS ITEM D 520 2627 WORKERS, WORKERS COMPENSATION PANEL OF PHYSICIANS. AND WE REMAIN AVAILABLE TO OUR BOARD FOR ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, DOCTOR PACE. AND THANK YOU, DOCTOR KNOWLTON FOR THAT REPORT. DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM SEEING NONE. THIS IS OUR LAST ITEM ELIGIBLE FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA. DOES ANYONE OBJECT? NOPE. THIS WILL ALSO BE ON THE CONSENT
[E. EXECUTIVE SESSION]
AGENDA IN OUR BUSINESS MEETING TONIGHT. AT THIS TIME WE WILL MOVE TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.COULD I HAVE A MOTION PLEASE TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR DISCIPLINE AND PERSONNEL. MAKE A MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR DISCIPLINE AND PERSONNEL. THANK YOU. MR. MCDANIEL. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. THANK YOU DOCTOR ANNETTE. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.