MONTGOMERY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION  MINUTES June 5, 2023  The Montgomery County Board of Education convened in a regular monthly meeting on Monday, May 1, 2023, at 6:30 pm in the Montgomery County Schools Boardroom. Board members present were Steve W. DeBerry - Chair, Tommy Blake- Vice Chair, Angela Smith,  Lynn Epps, Anne Evans, Bryan Dozier, and Cindy Taylor.  Chairman Steve DeBerry called the meeting to order. Mr. DeBerry moved to adopt the agenda as submitted. Lynn Epps made the motion with Anne Evans seconding. The agenda was  accepted with unanimous approval from the board.  Asaj point of privilege Chairman Steve DeBerry requested everyone in attendance to please stand in a moment of silence ini remembrance of former Board of Education member Ms.  Ann Long. Ms. Long passed away earlier this week.  Chairman Steve DeBerry shared an opening devotional with a reading titled "Always by Your Side". Our children need tol know that we are with them, that we will help them pick up the pieces of their dreams, that we will walk with them through any painful journey and that we will help them reach their goals however we can. The way to show this is by spending time with them. By spending both quality and quantity oft time with them they know that we would choose tos spend time with them over our own interest. We may not always have the right words to say but we can always make ourselves available and being present is often all that is needed.. A child's ability to deal with hardship often depends on how the child's parents teach them to deal with it. The best way to teach a child is to walk with him or her through life.  Chairman DeBerry led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of  America.  No one signed up to speak during the public comments section.  Chairman DeBerry called upon Dr. Dale Ellis for recognitions. Dr. Ellis called upon Ms.  Casey Galloway, MCHS Fire Fighting CTE teacher, to present the MCHS SkillsUSA recognitions in Fire Fighting. Billy Hart-National Fire Fighting first place; Ethan Helms- Intermediate Fire Fighting first place; Hunter Blake-Fire Fighting Basic first place; and Dylan Gardner-Fire Fighting Basic second place. Ms. Galloway noted that Billy Hart will be competing  in the SkillsUSA Nationals competition in Atlanta later this month.  Dr. Dale Ellis then called upon Daniel Kern, MCHS Woodworking CTE teacher to present the SkillsUSA recognitions in Woodworking and Cabinetry. Preston Gilberti- Cabinetmaking Showcase second place (not present); Xander impleon.Capimetmaking  Showcase fourth place; Edgar Cano-Cabinetmaking fifth place.  Dr. Dale Ellis then called upon Jodi Cole, Health Science CTE teacher to present the SkillsUSA recognition inl Poster Competition. Tatiana olastre-siecle-SAIISUSA Poster third  place.    Dr. Dale Ellis then recognized Ms. Casey Galloway who was selected as the NCCAT Dr. Dale Ellis then presented the Teacher of the Year recognitions. Sherry Anderson- Candor, Celia Mckinney-Green Ridge, Barbie Blake-Mt. Gilead, Alicia Lineberry-Page Street, Angela Mininlwp,amiferloatinsu, Joanna Miller-East Middle, James Simpson-West Middle, Jennifer Pleczysk-Montgomery Central, Pearl Pratt-Montgomery Early College, and Elizabeth Divine-Montgomery Learning Academy. Dr. Ellis also noted that Jennifer Pieczyski was selected as Montgomery County Schools District Teacher ofthe Year and Sherry Anderson  CTE Teacher oft the Year.  was selected as runner-up.  Dr. Dale Ellis presented the Employee ofthe Year recognitions. Those in attendance were presented with a plaque. Teacher Assistant oft the Year-Naomi Drake (WMS), Data Manager oft the Year-Bobbie Jo Bruton (WMS), Bus Driver ofthe Year-Barbara Pemberton (WMS), Office Support ofthe Year-Patty Byrd (EMS), Instructional Support ofthe Year-April Parsons (EMS), Custodian oft the Year-Francisco Cortes (CES), Child Nutrition oft the Year- Cheryl Hurley (TES), and Auxiliary Services Employee of the Year-Bill Mingin (CO).  Chairman DeBerry requested to approve the consent agenda as submitted. Anne Evans made the motion with Tommy Blake seconding. The board approved unanimously, with Lynn  Epps abstaining.  Chairman DeBerry called upon Dr. Dale Ellis to present the Budget Priority Resolution. Dr. Ellis began by explaining that the way this is currently written, eveni ifa student has never attended Montgomery County Schools, meaning that we. never received any funding for that student and that student attends aj private school, we still may have to give the minimum which can sometimes be up to $7000.00. There is a fundamental problem with] how the Opportunity Scholarship has been presented. It has always been presented as ifiti is for people who have financial need, but they have now made it where it is available to anyone. This will end up harming Montgomery County Schools in the long run. We are fortunate that this board has managed this district in a way that we have a fund balance that we can combat that but when you must continually combat everything it becomes harder and harder to do year after year. Itis really concerning that we must continue to worry about the State taking away funds at the same time we are asking the Montgomery County Commissioners for more funds. This is just a never- ending cycle and that is what this resolution attempts to highlight. The Senate budget gives every state employee a: 5%1 raise over two years and gives teachers a 4.5% raise over two years while some teachers with over fourteen years' experience received $250.00 over two years. Why teachers were singled out defies logic and also defies what our Senator told me personally during our visit to Raleigh a month ago. The Pre-K and childcare issues are also addressed by this resolution. The Opportunity Scholarship is projected to be a $500,000.00 minimum hit to us over time. We have worked with the State leaders on this, and we are asking for a teacher salary increase of 18% which was what the governor proposed. We do not think this will happen, but we need to do anything to get more than the 4.5% that was proposed by the Senate. I present this resolution to you for approval. Mr. DeBerry asked where this currently stands. Dr. Ellis stated that it is currently in Conference Committee. In the past it has landed between the House and Senate budget. For teachers the House has proposed a 10% increase, with a 7.5% increase for all other state employees. A fair budget would have a 5-6% increase for state employees with an 8- 9% increase for teachers. We should know within the next two weeks as they are. looking to be done by June 30th. Once the Board approves this resolution, we will provide a copy to both    Senator Dave Craven and Representative Wayne Sasser. Tommy Blake made a motion to approve with Cindy Taylor seconding. The resolution was approved unanimously by the board. Chairman DeBerry called upon Mr. Wade Auman and Mr. Donnie Lynthacum for the Community Eligibility Provision Presentation. Mr. Auman began by saying this is an easy presentation to give because it is what is best for the kids. CEP is a four-year grant that we will complete through the USDA for free lunch and breakfast for all our students. This means that all students' breakfast and lunch costs will be paid with federal funding for the next four years. CEP utilizes "Directly Certified" student data to determine school need. This student data comes directly from our community services such as food and nutrition services (SNAP, WIC), temporary assistance for needy families, Medicaid programs, identified homeless children, foster children, and identified migrant children. This information then goes into aj percentage that will be evaluated by the grant program to determine eligibility. Mr. Lynthacum stated this report comes out on the first day of April each school year. You can see the numbers and ifyou fall into the guidelines, it will automatically tell you the schools that match up to it. Thisi is the first year all our schools have matched up. This is due to a change in the Medicaid programs student data. Once enrolled our district will remain CEP for four years and we are locked at the current rate. If our numbers remain the same it will just continue but ifo our numbers increase, we can recertify, and we will begin a new cycle of four years. Once in place, families will no longer be required to complete the free and reduced lunch applications and there will no longer be accrued fees from unpaid cafeteria meal charges therefore minimizing withholding from activities. This program should also help improve student self-esteem and participation. Students who in the past may not have been able to spend the money on lunch, will now be able to purchase lunch without worrying about the cost. Ifv we do see an increase in participation, it will in turn generate an increase in revenue which will bej placed in the fund balance for future needs. Mr. Dozier asked how we plan to get this information out to the public. Mr. Lynthacum stated that we plan toj put it out on our social media, share it at the back-to-school rally in August, and we will also providea  press release to be printed in the Montgomery Herald.  Chairman DeBerry called upon Dr. Tracy Grit for Policies for First Read. Dr. Grit stated that we. have nineteen policies up for revision. Ms. Epps noted that in the past the Health Department provided the schools with the mother/nursing rooms and wanted to knowi iftl they are still in place. Dr. Grit confirmed that we do have those inj place which put us ahead ofthe recommended policy revision for 4023/7233-Pregnant and Parenting Students and Employees. Hes stated that we were also ahead on the recommended revision for 3101-Dual Enrollment.  These policies will be brought back to the board in July for approval.  Chairman DeBerry then called upon Dr. Dale Ellis for the Superintendent's Comments. Dr. Ellis began by saying this has been a great night. The life blood ofany organization is its employees and we have had been able to celebrate a lot oft them today with our Employees oft the Year. Iti is al hard process every year because we are sO blessed with sO many great employees. You can see the great work the teachers are doing with our students who are winning awards and state championships. Just al lot of wonderful things going into the education of our students and the students are doing a great job. Ijust want to thank our employees because they do a fantastic job. The second thing I would like to highlight is the Community Eligibility Provision. I do not know how we have never qualified or what the magic number was, but I am SO glad that it happened. We will definitely make sure that we communicate with the community to let them know that the board has finally reached a point where we can offer this. The principals gave an ovation when we mentioned it to them in the Cabinet meeting on Monday. Iti isay wonderful opportunity, and we want to make sure that we manage it well because there are some concerns    when you talk about an inflationary economy, but we will make sure we have the money set aside to handle anything for that four-year period. Based upon what I am hearing it sounds like at the end oft three years we need to go through the process ofrecertifying sO that we make sure we get it for four more years. It is one ofthose things that once we latch on to it, we need to figure out how to keep it because our kids absolutely need it. We appreciate this board's constant work  with us and pushing to continue to find ways to help our community.  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 Lynn Epps seconding. The  board approved entering closed session unanimously.  The following items were approved: 1) Board Minutes from May 1,2023 2) Budget Session Minutes from May 1, 2023 3) Personnel and Auxiliary Report    AmriNrghent n Mmaida  imtpmry  Rulerins  ulnys  Tsylille    4) Budget Amendment  streel. P.0. Bor4 127 arolina  Budget Amendment#9 County STATLEUNDS    BudgetA Amendment#9  BudgotA Amondment#9  SAZIC  Budget Amendment9  Budget Amendment#9  fumdibuds  5) Interim Budget Resolution  Interim Budget Resolution    6) Occupational Therapy Services Contract Agreement  hefasary Mepeslordwx  7) MCS and Engage Speech and Language Contract Agreement  Sayage)    8) MCC Board ofTrustees Reappointment of Ms. Kerry Hensley  dasia Balllwi  9) School Nutrition Services and Rollovers 2023-2024  as  10)Child Nutrition Procurement Plan  BOARDOFE SCHOOL ONPROGRAM  chocks    Whenils            l)Independent Speech Contractor Agreement  INDEPENDENTS SPEECIICONTRACTOR AGREEMENT        Following closed session, Chairman DeBerry asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Bryan Dozier made the motion with Angela Smith seconding; the meeting was duly adjourned. The next regular meeting will be held on Monday, July 10, 2023, at 6:30 pm at the Montgomery  County Central Office.  Sotki Dale Ellis, Ed. D., Secretary  Steven W. DeBerry,  LArs