MONTGOMERY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION  MINUTES March 4, 2024  The Montgomery County Board of Education convened in a regular monthly meeting on Monday, March 4, 2024, at 6:30 pm in the Montgomery County Schools Boardroom. Board members present were Steve W. DeBerry - Chair, Anne Evans Vice Chair, Tommy Blake, Angela Smith, Lynn Epps, and Bryan Dozier. Cindy Taylor was present via Zoom.  Chairman Steve DeBerry called the meeting to order. Mr. DeBerry moved to adopt the agenda as submitted. Lynn Epps made the motion with Angela Smith seconding. The agenda was  accepted with unanimous approval from the board.  Chairman Steve DeBerry shared a reading entitled Attitude Instructions. One of our last human freedoms is the ability to choose our attitude despite our given circumstances. Even though we cannot always choose our circumstances, we can always choose our attitude in the circumstances. We can realize the capacity within each of us and rise above the circumstances. Check your attitude as you do small tasks and then take on greater things. Your attitude should  be the same for both.  Green Ridge Elementary students, Israel Rodriguez Avalos and Dilan Martin Rodriguez Avalos, 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.  A Resolution of Esteem for Susan Anissa Lowe was presented to her husband and mother. Ms. Lowe passed away on January 2, 2024. Chairman DeBerry read the resolution as  follows:  MONTGOMERYC COUNTYB BOARDO Susan Anissa Lowe  aua azs    A Resolution of Esteem for Doris Yvonne McCaskill was presented tol her family. Ms. McCaskill passed away on December: 31,2023. Chairman DeBerry read the resolution as  follows:  MONIGOMERYO COUNTYE FOR Ooris Yvonne McCaskill  aw  REli  Chairman DeBerry called upon Dr. Ellis for recognitions. Dr. Ellis then called upon Emily Dunn for the Certified and Classified Employees oft the Month for Green Ridge Elementary School. Pam Maynor, Administrative Assistant/Finance, was the classified winner.  Susan Strong, EC Teacher, was the certified winner.  Dr. Ellis then recognized the National Board Certification for Susan Strong, Green Ridge Dr. Ellis at this time called upon Mitch Taylor for finance recognitions ofl bookkeepers with "No Comment Audits". The following were called for recognition: Jessica King of Montgomery Central, Shenelle Green of West Middle, Lynn Reynolds of Candor Elementary, Pam Maynor of Green Ridge Elementary, and Lynn Maness of Star Elementary. Courtney Wilson ofTroy Elementary, and Megan Braswell of Montgomery County Early College were  Elementary School.  unable to attend. Evans.  Dr. Ellis then recognized the NCSBA Certificate of Merit for board vice-chair, Anne Chairman DeBerry then asked the board for approval of the consent agenda. Bryan Dozier made the motion with Tommy Blake seconding. The board approved unanimously. Chairman DeBerry called upon Emily Dunn, principal at Green Ridge Elementary for the PACE presentation. Ms. Dunn stated that she was accompanied by Ms. Mandy Hall and Ms. Kelly Kennedy, and they would be speaking about the PACE program at Green Ridge. PACE stands for Proactive Academic Classroom Experience. The PACE classroom has one certified teacher, two teacher assistants, and eight students. Ms. Kennedy explained that the PACE classroom allows for a more flexible learning environment where each student'si individual learning, behavior, and social/emotional needs can be met. Having the smaller classroom allows for more one on one or small group support. Due to the student-to-teacher ratio, lessons tol be more tailored to meet each students' individual needs. Ms. Hall then explained that there are    various reasons why a child may be referred to the PACE program therefore we provide support for behavior, academic and socialemotional. Ifa child is having a behavior, we will stop the child sO that they can process what is going on or we may move them to another classroom, called a "calm down area" where we can talk them through whati is going on and teach them how to communicate their needs in a more positive way. There is one-on-one academic support and small group instruction with less distractions. There is more flexibility, SO ifal behavior interferes with the academic instruction we can easily go back once the behavior is corrected and complete the academic instruction. We provide team building activities in the students social/emotional support to help them learn coping and calming skills sO that they can express their emotions verbally. We teach them how to establish peer relationships and social skills. Ms. Dunn explained that as students display appropriate classroom behavior and social skills, we begin transitioning them into our grade-level classrooms in small increments and increase time as they continue to show positive behaviors. These transitions may start with small chunks of time such as going to PE with their grade level or eating lunch with their peers. This allows the student to build relationships with peers and allows them to feel more comfortable in a larger setting. Ifthis goes well, we will let the students decide what areas they like best such as reading or math and let them have a say in direction that their next steps will be. We will then meet with the parents to discuss and plan the next steps for the transition. However, ift the transition does not work, the student can return to the PACE program. We will then begin working with the student and the parent to get the student back to their home school and in the classroom with their peers. Even when a student leaves the PACE program there is al lot of communication between the schools  and parents to make sure they continue tol have the support they need.  Dr. Ellis then called upon Mr. Wade Auman for the Summer School Presentation. Mr. Auman stated that each year we: must submit our summer school plan to the state by April 15 and that this is an action item that must be approved by the board. Summer testing does count towards school proficiency but does not count towards growth. Growth can only be calculated by the first assessment that the child takes on the EOG or EOC. Summer school provides as safe place for the students for an additional three weeks as well as an additional opportunity for them tod demonstrate mastery of content. We try to make summer school fun while still maintaining the instructional impact. We are required by the State for Read to Achieve to offer 72 hours of instruction before children in third grade can take the reassessment on RTA. Therefore, we modeled our summer school plan around that requirement. Wel have twelve instructional days, with five days the first week, five days the second week, and two days the third week. We have included two additional days for retesting. We have a total oftwelve days of instruction and two days of testing for a total of fourteen days. All EOG's & EOC's will be able to be reassessed this year sO our plan is to offer that to all students that need it. We are currently working with Montgomery Community College to provide a culinary camp, a drone camp, and a photography camp this summer. We will again be running Camp Timberwolfthis: summer. We also offera one day program called Jumpstart to our rising sixth grade students. This program is to help with the transition from elementary school to middle school. On that day we provide transportation to each of our middle schools where the students can run through what a day might look likei in middle school. We are still doing K-2 and credit recovery at the high school. Ms. Epps asked if we could offer something for the children going from Pre-K to. Kindergarten. Mr. Auman stated that we would definitely look into how we could set that up. Mr. Auman then stated that he has submitted the Summer School Program Plan to thel board for approval. Chairman DeBerry asked for a motion to approve the Summer School Plan. Bryan Dozier made the motion, with Lynn  Epps seconding. The board approved unanimously.    Chairman DeBerry called upon Dr. Emily Shaw for the 2024-2025 Calendar Options for Montgomery County Schools and Montgomery County Early College. Dr. Shaw stated that the options being presented are for first read. These calendars mirror the structure oft the calendars for the current school year. We will present these calendar options to you again at our next board  meeting for approval.  Dr. Ellis then presented the Athletic Handbook documents for discussion. Dr. Ellis stated that we have had a few issues about whether coaches were following protocol and making sure that parents understand behavioral expectations ofs student athletes. Unfortunately, we have also had to deal with behavioral issues involving parents as well. The school has now developed a checklist for your review tonight and wel have also included the volleyball team's s expectations sO that you can see what parents are going to be asked to sign. We want this form to be consistent and fair as it will be used by all ofo our coaches going forward. From this point forward, no one will be allowed to be on a team until the parent has completed and signed this form. Dr. Cagle stated that the principal and athletic director are also required to sign this form and provide a copy to the Central Office. Therefore, aj parent/student athlete can no longer deny that they were not made aware ofthe consequences of their actions. Mr. Blake asked ifthe fighting referred to in the document was intended to mean during school or during an athletic event. Dr. Cagle stated that it should mean any fighting, but they will be sure to clarify the wording to make it abundantly clear. The board unanimously approved moving forward with this requirement. Chairman DeBerry called upon Dr. Dale Ellis for the Superintendent's Comments. Dr. Ellis stated that he was able to go do one of his favorite things today. He went to Troy Elementary and read to a group of first graders as this is Read Across America Week. Il had a great time getting to read to that class. Iti is wonderful to see the amazement on their faces when you read to them. When you ask them questions about the book, they are answering, and you try to connect it to their life experiences. Iti is just a wonderful experience. Wer need our kids to take that wonderment that they have and when they enter school, wei need them to keep it all the way through middle and high school. Like was said earlier, you are going to go pro in something, I would rather you be a pro reader. Ifyou are aj proi reader, everything else will take care ofi itself. I had this same discussion with that first grade at Troy today and Ip plan to have it with the fifth grade class at Page Street Elementary tomorrow. Ijust love to get the chance to go out and read to the kids and I am happy to go wherever I ami invited. When you look at the face oft those kids, you realize why you are here and why you do what you do. Sometimes it's hard to get up on Monday morning but when you walk into that classroom you sit there and think that I am sO happy Idid. Our schools are. hitting the Read Across America Week hard and trying to instill that love oft reading in our students. Any success ini math, science or social studies all come from the ability to read. Itell parents every year and in my School Connections write ups, to focus on reading. The kids need to come to kindergarten knowing their ABC's. They may not know how to read but they need to have held a book. We need to continue to encourage parents to teach their kids how to read by spending twenty minutes every day reading with or to them because  ultimately that is where their success is going to come from.  Bryan Dozier then stated that he did want to clarify something with board attorney Max Garner. He stated that he had been questioned as to why wel had not taken any legal action regarding the outstanding balance owed to Montgomery County Schools by Sandhills Cooperation Association. Mr. Garner stated that we did file a legal action against Sandhills Cooperation Association on January 18, 2024, requesting payment of funds owed. This was done at the Boards request. The funds have been paid and the action has been dismissed.    Chairman DeBerry then asked for a motion to go into closed session to discuss personnel and consult the board attorney. Bryan Dozier made the motion, with Anne Evans seconding. The  board approved entering into closed session unanimously. motion by Bryan Dozier and a second by Tommy Blake. The: following items were approved: 1) Board Minutes from February 4, 2024 2) Personnel and Auxiliary Report  Following the closed session, the board approved the following consent agenda with a    3) Budget Resolution  441Pagestreel. P.0. Bor 427 Trey.N Northo Carolina  BudgetA Amendment #6 Montgomery County Administration! Unit STATET  Budget Amendment#6    BudgetA Amendment#6 FEDE ERALEINDS  BudgetA Amendment#6  Budget  AMA  ACAES  CdRy  Following closed session, Chairman DeBerry asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Bryan Dozier made the motion with Tommy Blake seconding; the meeting was duly adjourned. The next regular meeting will be held on Monday, April 8, 2024, at 6:30 pm at the Montgomery  County Central Office.  Steven  Du2r Dale Ellis, Ed. D., Secretary  W. DeBerry,  Ax  d