MONTGOMERY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION  MINUTES March 6, 2023  Thel Montgomery County Board of] Education convened in a regular monthly meeting on Monday, March 6, 2023, at 6:30 pm in thel 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. Bryan Dozier made the motion with Tommy Blake seconding. The agenda  was accepted with unanimous approval from the board.  Chairman Steve DeBerry shared an opening with a reading from Energize by Failure" written by Tony Dungee. Success is not about never failing; it is about persevering through mistakes and adversity. Ifyou persist even your failures can turn into a valuable part ofy your success story. In an effort toward any worthwhile goal, failure has to be considered part oft the process. If we are afraid of failure, we will never accomplish our dreams. Successful people have learned to be comfortable when something doesn't work out. Remember, failure is not part of  your identity, it is simply aj part your your journey.  Chairman DeBerry led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag oft the United States of  America.  No one signed up to speak during the public comments section.  Chairman DeBerry called upon Dr. Ellis for the recognitions. Dr. Ellis called upon Miranda Thompson. Ms. Thompson introduced herself as the Cooperative Extension Directori in Montgomery County and she brought with her the Leadership Montgomery students. She described the requirements and duties of the Youth Leadership Montgomery program. Each  student stood and introduced themselves and the school they attend.  Dr. Ellis then called upon Dr. Erin West for Certified and Classified Employees of the Month for Green Ridge Elementary School. Laura Wilson, Teacher Assistant was the classified  winner. Angela Campbell, Fourth Grade Teacher was the certified winner. winner Michael Callicutt from Page Street Elementary School.  Dr. Ellis at this time called upon Jon LaChance to recognize the District Spelling Bee Dr. Ellis then called upon. Jon LaChance to recognize the Regional Science Fair winners Dr. Ellis at this time called upon Mitch Taylor for finance recognitions ofbookkeepers with "No Comment Audits". The following were called for recognition: Jessica King of Montgomery Central, Christy Shepherd of Page Street Elementary, Lynn Maness of Star Elementary, Courtney Sheffield ofTroy Elementary, and Megan Braswell, who was unable to  Amaya Jones and Sawyer Ceneskie both from Page Street Elementary School.  attend, ofMontgomery County Early College.    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 Dr. Erin West, principal at Green Ridge Elementary for thel Reading in Motion presentation. Dr. West was excited to share how Green Ridge Elementary is working to decrease the composite achievement gap in] ELA for first and second grade students. She then called upon Ms. Jennifer Fountain to explain in detail the Reading In Motion program they are using at Green Ridge. This program was first introduced by Celeste Henkel Elementary School and is a movement-based program to help students build their foundational reading skills. This program uses stations that use motion to build the neck reflex which ifr not developed well enough can interfere with messages to the brain. The stations combine the use of motion and visual processing to learn spelling words and to also review the tricky words for the week. Currently the program at Green Ridge consists of eight second graders and twelve first graders. There are fourteen stations for the students to use. One station usesa trampoline and while the student jumps on the trampoline they say each spelling word three times. Another station uses a tunnel which the students crawl through while looking up to read words. Two of the first-grade students, Camila Martinez and Jackson Norman, were in attendance at the board meeting to demonstrate how they use a focus stick to learn theirvowels and how they do cross lateral marching as a cross brain activity. Both students said what they love most about the program is how nice the teachers are to them andj jumping on the trampoline. Ms. Fountain stated that this program has improved the students' reading skills and confidence. Chairman DeBerry called upon Dr. Tracy Grit and Mitch Taylor for the Classified Employee Salary Compression Presentation. This issue began occurring in the last couple of years and the staff members have brought it forward. Dr. Grit stated that when the state gavea raise to our lowest-paid classified employees they erased any pay scale or incentive for staying with the district. Before the jump to $15 per hour, years on state raises existed to separate employees with greater longevity. Employees int this category would have ranged from $10-$15 based on years ofs service. However, when the minimum salary rose to $15 per hour a Custodian working for us for 25-plus years is now making the same per hour as a new hire. The problem this has created is there is no pay scale for the following employees: Custodian, Teacher Assistant, Child Nutrition, School Based Office Support, and Central Office Clerical Positions. This is a major issue for the local leaders and districts across the state have been forced to request more local funding. The internal salary study completed by the Montgomery County Schools determined it will take roughly $300,000 to correct this problem by developing a step- based salary range. Ranges would be 0-5yrs., 6-10yrs, 11-15yrs, 16-20yrs, 21-25yrs, and 25+ years. The funding for this is the issue. The funds will have to be looked at locally as they will not be funded at the state level or through federal funding. However, the funding fort this will have to be sustainable as this will be a recurring expense. Dr. Ellis stated that he will be attending the March 14 County Commissioners meeting to request this funding from the county. Chairman DeBerry called upon Dr. Tracy Grit for the 2023-2024 Calendar Options. The options being presented are for first read. We have presented you with an innovative and traditional calendar option for the traditional schools and an innovative and traditional calendar for the early college. The innovative calendar is intended to help with testing especially at the high school level. Dr. Grit and Wade Auman have worked with the calendar committee to develop an innovative type calendar. The earliest start date allowed by the state created an in balance of days on the innovative calendar particularly from the first semester to the second semester. The main difference between the traditional and innovative calendar is nine    instructional days in the first semester. Working with the innovative calendar, the committee took the nine days and moved them to after the Christmas break by pulling as many possible optional days and workdays out oft the first semester to allow more focus on instruction. By compressing the first semester it would also clean up the overlapping ofc our CTE classes. Anne Evans voiced concern about students overloading themselves with more tested subjects in the second semester. Mr. Auman stated that due to the changes they have made in the testing sequence, we have already been working towards this. Cindy Taylor asked if we have a "safety net" for students who may be behind in the first semester. Dr. Ellis responded that he reassured Ms. McLean that we will find tutoring funds and will look at Saturday school ifr needed to support the students. Dr. Ellis stated that he will be recommending the innovative calendar but  that ultimately, we are trying to do what is best for our students.  Chairman DeBerry called upon Dr. Dale Ellis for the School Sign Design options. We are looking to replace some of our school signs, in particular Mt. Gilead and West Middle which are inj particularly bad shape. Part ofo our capital request to the county will be to replace two oft these per year starting with Mt. Gilead and West Middle School. We have provided two design options for the board members' feedback. The board unanimously approved the second option which list the individual school's name on the top of the sign with the Montgomery County Schools logo  on the side.  Chairman DeBerry called upon Dr. Dale Ellis for the Superintendent's Comments. Tonight we have talked about budget concessions as we are right in the middle oft budget season. We are expecting the state to go back and address the salary issue with all state employees as there is again a significant surplus in Raleigh. So we are currently planning for that and that isa big part of our budget. It's not sO much what we, got this year but it is projecting what are cost going tol be next year. Mitch and his staff do a tremendous job oft that. We talked about one major issue we: are facing tonight and that is salary compression and of course that is going to be an ask oft the County Commissioners. We are also going to ask fori inflationary increases. We have not received an increase from the county in over five years. Idon'tthink anyone else could argue the bang for the buck this board has been able to give this county has been significant and continues to maintain more than one incentive. We continue to seek out grants and we have done aj phenomenal job, but it is like everything else, there is only sO much you can do until at some point you have to have more funds. It think everybody would tell you in the past five years what you are paying for products and goods has gone up and that's certainly our case. We will be requesting an additional increase for that. Also, we are using the last of the amount that the board approved for the $1500 retention bonus. That will go out to all employees in May. Ir made sure that we communicated with all our employees that that was at the blessing of the Montgomery County Board of] Education, and I hope that they will send you emails and thank you for that. That $1500 signing bonus will be paid in May to cover for the next year and then there are no more federal funds for that purpose. I would like to also propose to the County Commissioners that we build in a retention bonus from recurring funds from the county SO that every employee inl Montgomery County Schools can get $1000 every year. Nothing has probably done more to help our retention than that retention bonus and the increase ofthe supplement. I like the retention bonus because it goes to all employees both certified and classified. Our people have carried us through. They have done at tremendous job and we appreciate them. Iknow this board has constantly supported the work that they have done and our budget priorities this year will also reflect that. Mr. Dozier then asked ifv we had numbers on the retention bonus and the other items, not necessarily the amounts but how it has made a difference to our schools, and if we had something that Dr. Ellis could present to the County Commissioners. Dr. Ellis stated that we did not but that we will get a report put together to include as part of our budget presentation to the    County Commissioners. We will be requesting $300,00 for salary compression, $300,000 for inflationary costs and $500,000 for the $1000 retention bonus for employees. Ifwe do not getit all, the priority would probably be salary compression because we definitely need that funding. 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 Cindy Taylor seconding.  The board approved entering into closed session unanimously. motion by Bryan Dozier and a second by Cindy Taylor. The following items were approved: 1) Board Minutes from February 6, 2023 2) Board Minutes from February 23, 2023N MYR 3) Personnel and Auxiliary Report  Following closed session, the board approved the following consent agenda with a  Kevaia: Replasing    4) Budget Resolution  441P Pages Streel. P.0.E BOX4 427 Troy,N Norinc Carolina2 27371-0127 PRONE (M374SI1-ALE 010,576-2  71Qvarall. these    Budget Amendment: #6 Montgomery County Administration Unit Boxsesamsrgenae STATEFUNDS  TheMonigomeryc  2023.  BudgetA Amendment #6 LOCALFUNDS  646,016.00 $A,814.01600  $473,884.00  State State Budget  $473.864.00  fincrease TelsiApprogriationins AmendedB Budget  $473,881.00 $29,168,806.00  Budget Amendment: #6 Code FEDERALFUNDS  ExpenseCode  570904 $6.789.00 $678200  Federal Revenues Expenses  35000017  NetChangein Expenses Ne/ChangelnfadernlB Budget  $8.789.00 expenditures.  Eplanation: Adjustments  $8,789.00 $12277,471.62    Budget Amendment#6 CAPIALOUIAYFUND  ExpenseCode  NetChangalnCaplaio evenues Secuity chrgahntapliouny xpenses Net Change inc Capital OutlayB Budgel B.51404L Current AmendeBudaet Reve venu panses Net Change inc Child NutritionE Budget  3.514.04 1,405.79 210825 3,514.04  TotalA Appropriationi CurrentB Budget Total Expensec  $1,758,878.10 $1,514.04  CHLDNUTRITIONI FUND ande  Eyplanation. Adjustmentsr madefora TotalA Amount ofincrense  $0.00 $3.513.080.00  Budget Amendment#6 LOCALFUNDE  pense  $155.80282 $1585922 Change inLocalFunds Budget $158.802.82 madefora andexpenditures.  $158,8    5) Summer Program Plan  4IPages Sireel.P.0. Box. 427 Troy, Morinc Carolina 27371-0427 (S451 FL  2022-23 Summer Program Plan umnmep  620  EOG, EOC, OFNCEXTENDIa EOG, EOC,or SPIOPIMIESAAI0I 39:12 DReading ONCEXTENDI aNCMath3 6/9/2023  6/28-29/2021    6) Bond Forfeiture Resolution  441Pages Sireel. .P.0. Box4 427 Troy, Northo Carolina2 27371-0427 PHOXE:0105766511 FAEG 010,576-204  TO: BoardofEducation FROME: DaleEllis DATE: March6,2023 SUBJ: imiKaahwim/CoXsNT, AGENDAITEN) Inthen mattero ofKendrick Smith.1 16CRS50935, recommendt the proposeds setilementto resolvel thebonde curentlyi inplace. Thef funds willhep provilelionCSE from! hisp portion ofhesaleofrealp propertyi inthea amount of$5,000,1 lessa anye commons sellere expenses ussucialaly wiht thetransaction. Thisa uctionw willl forevers selilei lhemallerloaeryumes satisfactiona anda agreancnt. Iwillbeavailahlet loanswera any questions youmayh have.  7) Troy Wastewater/Sewer: Agreement  441P Pages Sireel. P.0.B Box4 427 Troy, Northo Carolina2 27371-0427 PHONE GINPHII-HEPINSIAN  TO: FRONE DaleEllis DATE: March6,2023 SLTTCT: Troy Wastewaters Sewer Agreement Pleasefindar attachedthesi signed Tmy Wastewate'Sewer Agrement. lamavailahieloamwera any questionsy youmighthave.    TROY CARGINA TERMINATINGT JUNH7 AGREEMENT TO wt CHOOI HOARDPERT WASTEWAT AGREEMENT TownofT Tray, heldin 315N. NC mFebruay6,2 .2025. resalutionw el. acopyn ofwhichhalbeeap povideltocach WHEREAS,0 ownof Troy (he" Towif)amdilhe Montgomery County! Boaal" nlerd whereinth thes School (the" acopys WIEREAS, thes thes WestMongonery! Highs nl West inthe thel Towna impect, mainkain, operale epair hes improvemer School samnealpaymenisto theT Townfor uhir operation,a andmpair. WHEREAS, operates WestMntgonsary HighSchoola ovemenisto service lationa mectthe'l Town's speificationsf orthel maintenance, operzion,p oadrepair, ScheolE Boardw wisheste thepumpstitionand aprovementstoihel Towi,a andihe Townw wishesto schdeicationa maintain, opernte, andrepairal alliheswerie improvemeris referedtinthe andihemeulyi willoutf fatkrp pymenti fiomthe School STRERT TROV, NC 2737 910-5  WHEREAS, thes SchoolB Boardh hasp proposed. thec csswionlylhepanisofa writtenT Terminationo ofJune7,1 1993, Agreement,a acopyo ofwhichisa altachediothis NOW, THEREFORE, BEITE RESOLY VEDhati thel Demd-rCommisionmof theT TownofTroya approvell theT Terminationo oflume7,1 1993A Agreement;n mtifya and approve thea actionso ofanyo ollicer,a agentorr representativeo ofihe1 Town! takenin furtheranceo ofthep purposesofthisr resolution;d declare! thatth hisresaluionsl shalltakeeflect immediatelyu uponit itspassage;a anda authorizei iisMayorto toexcautethepieposd Terminationo oflune7,1 1993A Agreement onbehalfoftheT Town. Uponm motiond dulyn madea andseconded, thef foregoingresolationy waspassedbyihe followingvote: Commissioners: AYES: Unanimens-S0 NOES:N NoVotesA Against Towno ofT TroyB Boardofcommisioners By: CAc % Cralg.ones, Maybro Attest 0hMlon athy NManess, Towno Cerk  resolution.    8) EMS & WMS Gymnasium HVAC Recommendation  441 Pages Streel. .P.0. BoX 427 Troy, North Carolina2 27371-0427 PHONE: (910)576-6511 . FAX:( (910)576-2044  Life-Ready GloballyC Competitive TO: Board ofl Education FROM: DaleEllis DATE: March6,2 2023  SUBJ: ACTIONI TTEM(Middle! School Gymnasium) HVACI Projcct) Monigomcry Counly Schools has performed then noccssary requirements! lo conduct thec cngincering andd designo ofl theN Middle School Gymnasium! HVACP project, recciveb bids froma submission ofa Requestf for Proposals andy performedt thec opening ofs sealed! bidst top performi installation ofe equipment. Thef following! breakdowni iss submittedt tot thel Boardf fora approvaltoc complete thea action of awarding  thec contracttoc completet thep project. EastN Middle School Gymnasium $197,700.00 EMS Contingency Fce WestN Middle School Gymnasium $197.700.00 WMS Contingencyl Fce Pinnaclel Eingineering Fees Total ProjectCost  $39,5-40.00 $39.540.00 $23,920.00 $498,400.00  TheN MCSI teamy workingo ont thisp projecti is: availabletoa answer: any questions youn mighthave.  An Fiqual Opportunity ffirmative Action Emplayer    Nunl    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 3, 2023, at 6:30 pm at the Montgomery  County Central Office.  Dacpx Dale Ellis, Ed. D., Secretary  Slevenw.DeBery,  Asy