MONTGOMERY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION  END OFTHE YEAR REVIEW Thursday, September7,2023  MINUTES  Thel Montgomery County Board of Education convened the End of the Year Strategic Plan Review on Thursday, September 7, 2023, at 5:30pm. Board: members present were as follows: Steven W. DeBerry - Chair, Tommy Blake - Vice Chair, Anne Evans, Bryan Dozier, Cindy Taylor, Lynn Epps, and Angela Smith. Staff members present included Dr. Dale Ellis, Emily Shaw, Wade Auman, Jack Cagle,  Susanna Kornegay, Matthew Woodard, Mitch Taylor, and Cindy Davis.  Chairman DeBerry called the meeting to order and asked for a motion to accept the agenda as presented. With a motion by Bryan Dozier, and a second from Lynn Epps, the board unanimously approved the agenda. Chairman DeBerry turned the meeting over to Superintendent Dale Ellis. Superintendent Ellis welcomed everyone to the meeting. Dr. Ellis presented aj power point titled, "Preparing for Excellence." Thej power point reviewed strategic goals and challenges faced by Montgomery County Schools. All related performance data aligned to the Strategic Plan presented as part ofour focus on accountability, assuring the board and community that we will not hide from data. The goal is for continuous improvements, and wel have much to be proud ofi in all areas.  Wade Auman gave a review of globally competitive students, which encompasses the graduation rate, Annual Measurable Outcomes (AMO) and Ready Expected Growth. The unofficial graduation rate for Montgomery County Schools was 94.5%. College Credits increased from mid-year 59.8% for students with at least 1 credit and 53.4% for students with 2 or more credits to the end oft the year with 69.2% for students with at least 1 credit and 66.9% for students with 2 or more credits. Unofficial 2022- 2023 Grade-Level Proficiency for Montgomery County Schools was 42.2%. State results release after presentation to the State Board of Education. Mr. Auman shared data regarding ready expected growth. Composite achievement gap data showed African American and Hispanic overall achievement gap- GAP Emily Shaw gave an update of215 Century Professional/Healthy and Responsible. This section includes goals fort teacher satisfaction and attendance, ethical violations, teacher retention, pregnancy rate and Out of School (OSS) suspension rate. Teacher attendance for the 2022-2023 school year was 95.2%. Beginning teacher retention rate for 2022-2023 for first year was 83%. OSS suspension rates for 2022- 2023 reported. 570 incidents with 1515.97 days lost, and 537 saved. Although this data shows a slight increase in the number ofincidents, it also indicates an increase in the number of days saved.  at 14.7%.  Jack Cagle and Susanna Kornegay updated the Board on the Leadership Guides Innovation portion, including grants and parent contacts. Jack Cagle presented information regarding the current grants we have in place. Grants provide teachers with support in diverse ways, and we have a good variety oft them. We have sustained our grants with Sandhills Mental Health and Gear Up UNC which is a continued benefit to our teachers and students. We will continue to apply for more grants. Susanna Kornegay presented Digital Instruction. Among strengths shared was that we have two more years of IXL (Middle and High). We have instructional videos (YouTube) for continued home study support. Triple Ei is easy to understand. The use of Nearpod and Flocabulary are helpful in the classrooms. Weaknesses noted as inexperienced staff are hired more training is needed. The constant threat ofacyber attack and the many unexpected variables that presents. As well as the quick, ever-changing world oft technology. Chief Financial Officer, Mitch Taylor, and Matthew Woodard reviewed21 Century Systems, which includes audit findings, goals, maintaining adequate fund balance and adequate facilities. Mitch    Taylor shared our strengths in adequate fund balance. Wel have a strong fund balance with great staff watching overi it. The county has maintained a stable level off funding with good support from our community and donors. Continued grants and COVID relief funding have been helpful. We have been able to build and renovate facilities and still maintain fund-balance. Weaknesses shared were inflation of food, fuel costs and the continued supply chain issues. Political uncertainty at the state level and our population is declining. COVID funding will be phased out over the next 12 months. Matthew Woodard presented information for adequate facilities. Strengths shared as financial and community support. We continue to upkeep and maintain our older facilities. Weaknesses shared where funding is inadequate when compared to the need. Inflation and supply chain issues are a continued problem. Staffi is limited and grants are often restrictive. Adequate Technology strengths were all teacher and student device replacements were on schedule. GoGuardian provides internet filtering for students and alerts staffof inappropriate searches and keywords regarding safety. SchoolMessenger SafeMail services monitors student email and provides alerts to staff. Weaknesses shared were long range funding uncertainty.  Increase in the number oft threats such as cyber-attacks. Dr. Ellis opened the meeting to questions and discussions.  Dr. Ellis then stated that we had one more item on the agenda addressing employee complaints. This item was originally to be a closed session item but earlier in the day board attorney Max Garner explained that hel had received different guidance from the School Board Association. This is an employee complaint against al board member and can be presented to the board in open session. The board can then go into closed session to discuss any legal advice with the board attorney. Dr. Ellis then provided the board members with the policies and documents they had requested prior to the meeting. Thel board members then listened to at two-minute recording of the conversation in question. The board members then reviewed and discussed the recording and documents they had received. Chairman DeBerry asked for a motion to go into closed session to discuss and consult with the board attorney. Bryan Dozier made the motion with Tommy Blake seconding. The board approved entering Upon returning to open session, Chairman DeBerry asked fora a motion to adjourn the meeting. Bryan Dozier made the motion with Lynn Epps seconding. The meeting was adjourned. The next regular meeting will be Monday, September 11, 2023, at 6:30 pm.  closed session unanimously.  Qaalv  Steven W.  Dale Ellis, Ed. D., Secretary  Ary