MONIGOMERY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION  MINUTES April 8, 2024  Thel Montgomery County Board of Education convened in a regular monthly meeting on Monday, April 8, 2024, at 6:30 pm in the Montgomery County Schools Boardroom. Board members present were Steve W. DeBerry - Chair, Anne Evans Vice Chair, Angela Smith, Lynn  Epps, Tommy Blake, Bryan Dozier and Cindy Taylor.  Chairman Steve DeBerry called the meeting to order. Mr. DeBerry moved to adopt the agenda as submitted. Bryan Dozier made the motion with Anne Evans seconding. The agenda  was accepted with unanimous approval from the board.  Chairman Steve DeBerry shared an opening with a reading titled "Out oft the Spotlight". Muhammad Ali and Joe Namath both were well known for the "look at me" attitudes. They both had supreme confidence in their abilities and knew their attitudes sold tickets. The idea ofthe humble athlete was on its way out. This "look at me" attitude is more prevalent in today's society where people feel the need to focus more on themselves and blow their own horn. However, this focus on ourselves comes across as self-centered. Whatever field you work in let your work ethic, attitude and skills speak for themselves and others will eventually notice. God honors humility not pride. Humility is more impressive than accomplishment and you will earn respect  without words.  Star Elementary student, Chase Lewis, led the board in the Pledge of Allegiance to the  Flag oft the United States of America.  No one signed up to speak during the public comments section.  Al Resolution of Esteem for Rebecca Garner Shiver was presented to her daughters. Ms. Shiver passed away on January 8, 2024. Chairman DeBerry read the resolution as follows:  MONTGOMERY COUNTYB BOARDO OFE EDUCATION OFE ESTEEM FOR Rebecca Samer Shiver sawfflocalhome WHEREAS, our Heavenly RebeccoGomers Father, inHs Shiver infinite onJanuary8. love andy 2024, wisdom, and iwenty- WHEREAS, three) her years dedicallon asa leacher to! Montgomery were al living Counly lestoment Schoals of her tor Integrityo andsil,and WHEREAS. herlosswilbed butalsot throughouthere fellnotonlyby" antire communilya thosey with and county. THEREFORE. regretinh Boardo ofEducalion. MONTGOMERY COUNTYB BOARD OFEDUCATION awas Slevenw.C DeBery. Chomon DoleEIs.Ed.D.5 Secrelory  thel Montgomery ofrealioss County copy oflhisn deeps sympathy:o and BcEls Toylor    A Resolution ofEsteem for Brenda Morton Johnson was presented tol her sons. Ms. Johnson passed away on. January 22, 2022. Chairman DeBerry read the resolution as follows:  MONIGOMERY COUNTYE BOARDO OFE EDUCATION RESOLUTION OFE ESTEEM FOR Brenda Morton Johnson ourH Heavenly BrendaMorton. Fother, thirty-l WHEREAS. her Molwomariolw-nwowA to! Montgomery County andski, Schools and for whomshes WHEREAS. served, butoksol throughouthere deoply entire onlyt goes  love andy 22, 2022, wisdom, and and Montgomery Counly permanent sympathyand BcEls  MONTGOMERY COUNTYB BOARDO OFE EDUCATION awaks Steveny DeBery, Choimon DaleERs.E Ed.D.. Secretary  Dr. Ellis then called upon. Janet Deaton, for the Certified and Classified Employees of the Month for Star Elementary School. Verenise Valdovinos, kccepionst/ransator was the classified winner. Danielle Hurley, 4th Grade Math Teacher was the certified winner.  Dr. Ellis at this time recognized the District Spelling Bee winner Meredith Lee from Star Dr. Ellis then recognized the Regional Science Fair winners Gage Williams (Star Elementary), Andrew Thomas (Mt. Gilead Elementary), and Bailey Arthur, (Page Street Elementary). Sawyer Ceneskie (Page Street Elementary) was unable to attend.  Elementary School.  Dr. Ellis then recognized Montgomery County Schools 2023 PTEC Signature School - Chairman DeBerry stated the next item is the consent agenda. Dr. Ellis has requested to hold the consent agenda until after the closed session. The board approved unanimously. Chairman DeBerry called upon Janet Deaton, principal at Star Elementary for their presentation "Community Engagement Strengthening Education Together". Ms. Deaton and Ms. Lisa Wood spoke on the importance of collaboration between schools and their communities. Ms. Deaton stated that she truly believes that education is a shared responsibility and the more that we can tap into those strong community resources, the more successful our students will be. Star Elementary welcomes events such as the Star Fiddler's Convention, Miss Merry Christmas Pageant, Girls on the Run 5K, and new this year our PTO will host the Cinco de Mayo Festival. Schools are evolving into central hubs where people come together tol learn, connect, and build stronger communities. By focusing on this we are able to provide our students with enhanced learning opportunities, support for student and community needs, increased parental involvement, student activism, community empowerment, and cultural diversity. One example of our enhanced learning opportunities is the outdoor classroom. The materials for this classroom  Montgomery Central High School.    were supplied by a grant that Star UMC: received to work with our afterschool program. Church members come two days a week to do enrichment activities such as planting flowers, making foods, and creating crafts. Our student council members decided they would also like to support the needs of our community by conducting a schoolwide non-perishable food drive. Star Elementary also had a big need for new playground equipment due to many safety concerns. This need was discussed with students and members of our community, and it was decided that we: needed to replace our old equipment. The student council lead a Pennies for the Playground service project and raised over $2000 to help pay for the installation of our new playground equipment. Also, our running club hosts the annual Twinkle Toes 5K fundraiser. By participating in this event, students and their families become more active and due to support from runners and sponsors the club was also able to donate towards a new piece of playground equipment. Ms. Deaton also stated that they applied for and received The Power of Good Grant from First Bank in the amount of$10,000 to help fund the purchase of new playground equipment, installation, ground cover, and border around the equipment. Between the Pennies for the Playground project, community support and this grant we will be able to complete our new playground and possibly have funds left over for an additional purchase. Our PTO: is also planning to host a Cinco De Mayo Festival in May. This festival is the first ofits kind in our county and will highlight the Hispanic Culture. We are planning to have ai mariachi band, traditional dancers, Hispanic food vendors and games. The MCHS Spanish club will also be assisting with games during the event. Wel have also invited other schools to come, and we are expecting it to be an exciting event for  our community.  Chairman DeBerry then called upon Dr. Emily Shaw for the 2024-2025 Calendar Options. The options being presented are for approval. Ms. Evans ask for clarification on the planning days that are new to the calendar. Dr. Shaw and Mr. Auman explained that this is a dedicated planning day for teachers to bei in their rooms to do nothing but prepare. Dr. Shaw noted that this is ai required day and has replaced the no day that was on previous calendars. Anne Evans made a motion to approve the calendar with Bryan Dozier seconding. The board  unanimously approved.  Chairman DeBerry called upon Matthew Woodard for the MCHS athletic fields update. Mr. Woodard stated that as directed by the Board we requested and have received an independent evaluation of the baseball/softball project. The items from this report are, estimate of costs for project under current market conditions: $577,224; costs of dugout relocation (as part ofoverall price): $219,444; costs of bull pens (as part ofc overall price): $35,521; general sitework (as part of the overall costs): $78,608. The County declined to fund the project at the original bid price of $640,000 but has offered to revisit the project int the next fiscal year 2024- 25. Therefore, we have two options. Option #1: wait for the County and rebid. Option #2: Change Design (smaller phases): relocate the softball bleachers, build bull pens for baseball and softball, and increase the height of the existing baseball backstop fencing. Wel have also received ar request to relocate the softball outfield fencing from 225ft to between 185-200ft per State guidelines. This change would allow us to: relocate the spectator bleachers from behind home plate to the right field outfield. This will allow for an unobstructed and safer view. A concrete sidewalk and bleacher pads will be poured for the new seating area, and this will be completed concurrently with the creation ofa al home bullpen down the right field line. We will also provide ad dedicated "bag chair" seating area in the right field section and the existing windscreen will be removed. Additional seating in the center field and left field section could be added later. There will be no changes to the baseball dugouts, but the existing baseball backstop chain-link fencing will be increased by 6-8'. Also, the baseball dugout relocation and soft netting projects will be pushed to al later date. None of option #2 will result in duplication ofcost/effort ifthe baseball    dugouts are moved at a later date and this project will be managed in-house. We will be able to use existing vendors for the field/landscaping and fence construction. Once completed, these updates will address the majority oft the safety concerns presented to the board. To better understand the safety concerns and what would be best to correct the issues, the board decided to visit the baseball/softball fields during the school visit to Montgomery Central on Thursday. Chairman DeBerry called upon Dr. Dale Ellis for the Superintendent's Comments. One oftl the unfortunate parts about COVID, on top of not allowing people to attend our meetings due to closures, we moved away from presenting our Resolution of Esteem. At the encouragement of the board, we have now re-started that process. We love tol have family members attend sO that we can share stories and short statements about what their loved ones meant during their career and how they influenced us and entire generations of Montgomery County citizens. We know that in that three year time period that we probably missed acknowledging some of our past employees. One ofour employees that passed away in 2022 was honored here tonight. Iwill encourage Ms. Dunn at the Montgomery Herald that when she reports on this meeting to please highlight this information from this meeting sO that anyone who may know ofaj past employee that may have been missed to please let us know sO that we may research and present a Resolution ofE Esteem to the family. This is a very positive part of our meetings and along with the students presenting the pledge of allegiance, we are very happy to be able to make this aj part ofour meetings again. Finally feels like we are getting back to normal. Weappreciate the Boards  leadership.  Mr. Dozier requested to address one final issue regarding Lowe Warner. Mr. Dozier asked the question as tol how many people on this board were taught who Lowe Warner was while they were in school? He stated that there are only six towns in) North Carolina that havea Congressional Medal ofHonor recipient from World War II. Iti is unbelievable what Lowe Warner did by himself at only twenty years old and that we are not even teaching our children anything about this man from Montgomery County. He stated that he would like to see maybe an hour presentation just to introduce who this individual was to our rising sixth graders as they enter middle: school. We should be very proud that he came from Montgomery County. Mr. Dozier stated that he attended school with Mr. Warner's nephew for twelve years and never knew until Lowe Warner Park was built. Dr. Ellis stated that the best way to start this conversation is with someone submitting a nomination for him tot the Hall of! Honor. He stated that he had been waiting for that application to come. Iti is unfortunate that it was that long ago,  and it might be good ifv we could speak with Garrett Maynard.  Chairman DeBerry then asked for a motion to go into closed session to discuss personnel and consult the board attorney. Tommy Blake made the motion, with Bryan Dozier seconding.  The board approved entering closed session unanimously.  Upon returning to open session, Chairman DeBerry asked for a motion to add an addendum to the personnel report. Bryan Dozier made a motion, with Angela Smith seconding. The motion was approved unanimously. Mr. DeBerry then called forai motion to approve the consent agenda. Bryan Dozier made a motion, with Angela Smith seconding.    The following items were approved: 1) Board Minutes from February 22, 2024 MYR 2) Board Minutes from March 4, 2024 meeting 3) Personnel and Auxiliary Report  SCHOOLS PERSONNELI REPORT Emilys Shaw. Assistant Resources superintemdentrepartst thes School Effestivel James! Resignation PT. Centrall iggs Centrall High herry 711.2024 Monig. le Montg. Centrall 6302024 ynne Temy 71.2024 theExcept Child. Program Teeter Resignation Teacher  Teacher 12024  Repling    441P Pages Sireet. .P.0. Box4 427 Troy, Noriho Carolina2 27371-0427 PROE H:010,576-201  TO: NICSBoudeffadwciinn FROM: DaleEllis. E4.D DATE: Apil8,2024 SUB):  Montgomerys Seuralllizhsshal Vamiel llinson- JohmMarciniak- Uponn recommendation, spprenalafprincipalre rcommendationf fore allosimgprohationay Justicel ML Uponr recommendation,: r---a, fore emplaymentol shalyearasprmiedlyt Generals Statutel 115C325: Abigail Anumkum, Truy Elemçmarys School. ExceptiomaiChllhemsl Teacher  oPersomnel Report  currentlys emplayedy persennelfuri thez 2023-2024 115C 325: Schoel, "GIeT Texcher currently emplayedp persaennelfort the2 2023-2024  Thel Personnel Reporis shonldbea include the following: G. Uponn recommendation,: approvale ofthef followingn aimiahrahentracts: Principal-A Annuall 12-montht terme commencing. July! 1,2024ande ending. June3 30, Rufis Samkin. Montgumery Centrall llighs School  2026    4) Budget Amendment  HIPagestreel.P.. Ber427 Troy,N Mortno Carollma2 27371-0427 PBOSE S764511. 763HI  Budget Amendment #7 Montgomery' CountyA Administration! Unit ollowi STATEFUNDS  sundayolAprk2 2024. Budget Resolutiontorthe  Budget Amendment: #7 LOCALFUNDS  557,263.00  NotChangei inLocalB ludget AmandesBudget  Expenses Not Changeins State Budget nues  $57,263.00 $57,263.00 $30,715.419.70 $57,261.00 $30,772.682.70  $7,060,316.00 $7,060,1600)  Total Amounto Total Appropriationin    Budget Amendment #7  BudgetA Amendment #7 CAPTALOUTAYFUND  FUNDS  14,18900 4770 aperss 114,18059  $14,183 1491.44240  $7A10,9  IDWUTRITONFUND  Budget Amendment: #7  nloralfumdiBudget    5) Safety Vestibule Recommendation  Dearl.  oustyloard Please  BASEBID DAYS ene      6) Resolution Authorizing Increase in Micro-Purchasing Threshold  Troy,N 441Pagest Noriho Street. Carollna2 P.0. 27371-0427 Bor4 427 PRONE  Following approval of the consent agenda, Chairman DeBerry asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Bryan Dozier made the motion with Angela Smith seconding; the meeting was duly The next regular meeting will be held on Monday, May 6, 2024, at 6:30 pm at the Montgomery  adjourned.  County Central Office.  2ic6 W. DeBerry, Chairmyan  DalEn Dale Ellis, Ed.) D., Secretary  Steven  D