April 5, 2023 at 5:15 PM - Board of Education Meeting Special Called

Discussion:  (See above)

Discussion:   - Boston led the board members in a Moment of Silence. After a moment of silence, Boston led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. 

Discussion:   (See Above)

Discussion:   (See Exhibit #1) Boston advised, next is the Approval of the Agenda.  I would entertain a motion for the Approval of the Agenda. Hamby advised, I make a motion to approve the agenda. Stull advised, second. Boston advised, okay I have a first and second. Any discussion? No one responded. A Voice Vote was taken. 

Discussion:   (See Exhibit #2) Boston advised, next on the agenda is the CCHS Auditorium Bids. Mr. Safdie, I'm going to ask this question. I'm gonna make a motion that we waive Robert's Rules of Order, so that we can discuss these prior to making a motion. Safdie replied, you would need a second. I will second that. Boston replied, okay. Safdie continued, and then you will need to vote from the board. Boston asked, any discussion? Nichols replied, tell me the benefit to that? Boston replied, we get to discuss it first before we vote. Before an official motion is made. Nichols replied, okay. Boston  continued, and I think that in this particular situations that would be beneficial to us. So we have a motion on the floor to waive Robert's Rules of Order, so that we can discuss before a motion is made. I have a second. A Voice Vote was taken. (1st Motion)

Boston  continued, thank you. Safdie advised, the eyes have it. Boston continued, the eyes have it. Let's open the floor for discussion on the auditorium bid. We've got 10, Kim I'm gonna lean on you a little bit, Kim Bray.  We got 10.3 and some change in ESSER to start with. This bid is 10 8. Bray replied, right. Boston asked, we have how much of the indirect cost? I think it was over $400. Bray replied, we dropped in $465,140. Today we have spent of that $465, $57,640. Boston replied, so give me a number. Bray replied, so we've got right at $405. Boston replied, okay. Bray continued, and I think Dr. Whittenbarger, you found approximately another? Whittenbarger replied, about a $115,000. Boston asked, so you found another $115,000. Whittenbarger replied, yes. Safdie advised, yeah but also Teresa, remember that $10.2 bid and then the $10,852, which was Lee Adcock's Construction bid quote. That did not include, as I understand Mr. Kim Chamberlin that 852 doesn't include your fee, your architectural fee? Chamberlin replied, that's correct. Safdie continued, so and your architecture fee was how much? Boston asked, doesn't that come out of another line? Whittenbarger replied, yes that comes out of another line. Boston asked, from ESSER funds? Whittenbarger replied, and that's budgeted. Safdie asked, and that's budgeted? Boston and Whittenbarger replied, yes. Safdie relied, okay so we don't have to worry about that. Boston advised, and also another thing to at least put out there. We don't like to touch it. We don't like to consider it, but we do have 500,000.00 in this particular bid as a contingency for extras, override, something we wanted to add, whatever.  Is that correct? Chamberlin replied, within the $10.8; yes ma'am. Boston continued, okay. Safdie advised, just imagine that as $250,000. Boston replied, exactly. Safdie continued, so if that were $250, then $365,000 thousand dollars. Boston advised, so we need $300. Kim how much exactly do we need from Fund Balance for the $10,852,000? Bray asked, okay so we've got $10.3 Justin? Whittenbarger replied, yes that is correct. Bray continued, well now we've got $10.3 and then plus another $100, plus $400,000. I'm talking round numbers. Boston replied, that is correct, please. Bray continued, well we've got $10.3 and if I put another $100,000 from Justin and $400,000, which is in the Fund Balance. Now we need to remember that. That puts us at $10.8. Boston replied, okay. So the $115, where is that coming, ESSER? Whittenbarger replied, yeah that was; with the architect line being separate and with South, you know ESSER is not funding South. The way it appears now. You know, because what we thought we're going to come in at. The money that was allocated for that, will be staying there. So there's a little bit of savings there in the architect line. So now that will all be covered and no further money would have to be put into that line.  Safdie asked, Mr. Chamberlin, are we firm on this, was it 7% fee or was it 6% fee? Chamberlin replied, I think our fee on this was at 6%. What we agreed to do is cap our fee based upon a $10 million dollar cost, but we're not going to invoice you on the additional eight. We are not going to invoice you on the additional $800,000. Boston asked, so you're going to cap us at 6% at the $10 million? Safdie replied, that's about a percentage, a little more than a percentage. Multiple board members replied, thank you.  Chamberlin replied, it's my community too. Safdie asked, now that was already included in the estimate or the the sheet that was given to us the other day. Boston replied, yes. Safdie continued, so is that a firm architectural fee there? It was based on $10 million okay. Boston replied, okay the way I've got it calculated if we've got $115,000 from ESSER, we've got about $405,000 from that indirect cost.That puts us short about $32,000 and would we just need to say that needs to just come out of Fund Balance? Safdie asked, what's our Fund Balance? $2 million 1 hundred thousand dollars? Boston replied, no that was what we had going in; our current Fund Balance is? Bray replied, I mean like today, if your talking about today, but I don't really like to do that. I like to talk about where we're going to end up at the end. Boston replied, okay tell me where we're going to end up. Bray replied, I think we're going to end up around 10 which is where we will start next year with. Safdie asked, $10 million? Bray replied, $10 million, but  I'm predicting or what I'm forecasting for next year, our expenditures are going to be around $74 million. So that will leave us with a Fund Balance of around $2.7 million, which is still going to put us where we need to be as far as the 3% of expenditures, but it's going to be a lot closer than it's been in many, many months. Boston replied, we may have to reevaluate some of those expenditures. Bray replied, correct and we can do that. Bray replied, and we always do. Boston replied, and we always do. As long as we don't re-evaluate the salaries, in which we are required to do. Then the $10 million we may not end up, we'll end up with more than $2.7. Bray replied, correct.  Bray replied, the salaries are, I mean like we've discussed previously. I have put in for certified, because of what the governor said 10% this year, I'm saying 10% next year and then 5% and that will get us to the $50,000 starting salary. Safdie asked, what's the matter with 7, 7, and 7? Bray replied, I just like to front in load it. Safdie replied, I am sure teachers do too. Bray replied, I like to get it out of the way. I mean we kind of know now what the revenue is going to be. I like to have a little bit better feeling of the revenue, sales tax, things like that and just do a big chunk at a time. Get it over with, get it done. Safdie asked, at what point do we have to make that final decision? Bray replied, well he will put out his minimal salary, which they always do. Probably middle of May, but the minimum is going to be for this year. I mean there's a lot of talk that is going to be at least $43.5 and this would put us above that, but it's probably middle of May when that's usually put out, because you know they had their benchmarks. Your starting salary I think it's year 5 and then year 11. Stepp replied, 6 and 11. Bray continued, yeah something like that. It's usually not until May, which makes it very inconvenient for us.  Stepp replied, it's still in the legislature too, the $50, 000. Boston replied, yeah well, but if that is the only thing, I think that as an individual board member, that I wouldn't look at negotiating. I think everything else can be reassessed and there are things that we could cut in order to get where we need to be. Bray replied, correct.  Boston replied, but if this motion were to be made that we accept the CCHS bid at $10,852 and some change and using the ESSER. Does it need to be or we recommend to the County Finance. Bray replied, yes ma'am. Boston asked, how about that? Bray replied, we're recommending. Boston continued, we're recommending to the County Finance that we. Bray replied, would like to accept this bid. Boston continued, we'd like to accept this bid at the $10,852,691. Bray replied, and we have adequate appropriations. Boston replied, and we have adequate appropriation in which to do this. Bray replied, correct. Boston asked,  is that the only or do we need to spell out where the funding is coming from? Bray replied, as long as we have adequate appropriations and that is obvious. Safdie replied, that's a good question. Boston replied, I just want to make sure that this particular CCHS. We have adequate appropriation but we do not need to define exactly what nooks and crannies this money is deriving from. Bray replied, I was not told that we had to. We just need to be able to say that we have adequate appropriations when you folks make the recommendation one way or the other. Safdie asked, Teresa, can you go over again? So are we taking $32,000 from our Fund Balance? Boston, replied, actually what we'll be doing is taking about $552.  Safdie replied, $552.  Stepp replied, this $552 is actually new money. So this was sent over, $400 was in August when it was indirect funds moved from ESSER. For just the business side of running ESSER 2 our GP and the $107 will be new money also. So it actually wasn't in the Fund Balance when y'all budgeted for this year. This 5-0, whatever she said is new money. Boston replied, it's actually the indirect cost that we moved what in November, December. Stepp replied,  August was the  $468 and the $107 will happen once we decide what we're doing with South. Boston asked, do you have to move it from the architect line? Can you keep it within the ESSER plan is what I'm asking or does it have to move to? Stepp replied, it will be moving to. Bray replied, it will be moving, but the rest of it is fine where it is. It is in Miscellaneous Refunds. Stepp replied, so it's all sitting in Fund Balance, but $107 will be, because. Boston replied, moved into the Fund Balance. Stepp replied, correct and we haven't touched that $468 except for your Salary Study and our NIET Strategic Plan. So that's why I kept it above the $400. We did that on purpose. We were trying not to spend it. So that we add it for this occasion if this happened. Boston  replied, okay, so we don't have say where the money's coming from. We just have to say that we have appropriate or adequate appropriation and we are comfortable with that. Bray replied, right. Boston asked, now when you present this to Finance, will you present it to Finance? Who presents it to Finance? Stepp replied, I will. Mrs. Kim goes with me. Boston replied, okay and they questioned you on where the money's coming from. Bray replied, I can do that. Boston continued, okay and we're comfortable. Bray replied, they're very aware of how much is in ESSER and they are aware, because I had to present that budget amendment when we took those indirect costs to them. In fact, they're going to be aware of all of this except this last $100 thousand, because I had to present that to them. We got this money and they had to prove all that. That basically we got free money from ESSER. So they're aware of that. The only thing they're not aware of is $100 thousand. King asked, will we need to do a budget resolution for that? Do we need to do that tonight? Stepp replied, my understanding was. Boston replied, we do it in April. We have time I think. Bray replied, but we'll need to present whatever you good folks decide will have to go to Finance and we'll have to ask for a Special Called Meeting. Boston asked, from Finance? Bray replied, yes; correct. Stepp replied, to accept the bids. Bray replied, to accept the bids. We only have until the 15th. Boston replied, the 15th on CCHS and the 22nd on. Chamberlin replied, more like the 14th as the absolute date, since there is 31 days in March. We don't want to wait. The 14th will be it.  Bray replied, I think Mr. Brock would be conducive to that. Chamberlin replied, he's aware. We have discussed. Bray replied, he's aware of the situation. Stepp replied, everything has been very transparent. Stout asked, so just to recap. Can you all rattle the numbers off one more time regards to this is coming from here, this is coming from here? We're stop gapping this much and then we have to pull the remainder from here. Just so we're all completely clear. Bray replied, we've got $10.3 currently in the ESSER, which is not in our Fund Balance. We have currently $405,000 from indirect costs, which is included in our Fund Balance today. That's fitting up in Miscellaneous Revenues and then Dr. Whittenbarger has found us another $115,000 that we will move, that will be available in ESSER also towards this project. Stout replied, okay so that gives us a total of $520 basically. Bray replied, so 10.3 and then 4  and then 100. Stout replied, sorry to stop gap, because we have the 10.3 sitting aside already. So the stop gap money is what I was concerned about. Where that was going to be pulled from. Boston asked,  so that only gives us 10 8 20. Bray replied, and the rest of it we will just get out of the Fund Balance. Safdie asked, where are we on the idea of the  contingency funds and if there are contingency monies left over. Then we can spend it. It goes back to the general budget. Bray replied, we're just kind of front end loading. Stepp replied, while we're talking about the bid. The alternate one remember was the tile project. You want to remind them of what that is real quick . Chamberlin replied, we had some wall tile in the public bathrooms. It's something a little bit nicer upgrade than what we normally do in schools, because this is so public oriented. That is something we can add on very late in the project. Obviously that doesn't get done for 10 or 11 months down the road. So we haven't touched a half a million contingency funds and that's something we wanted to do. We could add it back in easily and then alternate number two was for the tennis courts. That we've discussed, but that's something we again we couldn't do that for 18 months anyway, because you're going to be using the ground. We're going to be using that for lay down area. Boston asked, is the wall tile something that you can come back before the board and say you know look. We're ready for the tile.  We've got $382,000 in the contingency. I mean would you need our approval to use it for that or could we just do it? Chamberlin replied I don't think so. You've already, we keep a log of any of this happen money we happen to spend. We log it. You're always able to see it . I share with Mrs. Kington. It's always there. This isn't something we do, you know behind anybody's back. So I'm not saying I would give you a report to tell you hey it looks like we're in good shape. This is a voluntary thing we don't have to do it. You know I'll come and give you monthly updates. So somewhere 6-8 months down the road. We could come and say hey we've got this funds left. If you'd like to do this. Now's the time to do it okay. We want to do it before we paint walls, obviously. You know so we maybe get a little bit of money back it. won't be much. It should be a decent number to come back at some point. Stull advised, well I was just going to say if we could vote on it now as far as accepting that. If there is money in that contingency still left. So that you don't have to come back. We can just do it if it's if the money is there. Boston replied, I think that's what he intended. Chamberlin replied, one of the  reasons we do this. We know there's going to be little things as we move forward through the project and I hate to have to come back in front of you every now and then, say we need $500 for this. Can you give us a change order to do this? This lets the money already be there, so it sometimes a contractor will call me and say hey I've got an issue here. I need an answer today and we're able do that. So that we don't hold up a project. So it's just cleaner, but again we log all of it. It's all there. So at the right time, as a courtesy I would just come and say hey we've got this much left. Do you want to do the tile? Boston replied, you did the same thing with Crab Orchard. Chamberlin replied, yes we did the very same thing. Hamby replied, you kept us very well informed. Boston continued, you watch the contingency fund and thank you for, I mean it is there. So I'm comfortable. Chamberlin replied, and I would be shocked if we're not bringing the vast majority of it back to you. Boston replied, don't make promises you can't keep. Chamberlin replied, I said I would be surprised. I didn't promise. Boston replied, okay. Any discusson? (2nd motion) Safdie replied, I'd like to move that we accept the $10,852,691 bid from Lee Adcock Construction. Boston replied, and that we recommend to County Financed and that we have appropriate or we have adequate appropriations. Safdie replied, that's a wonderful amendment. Boston replied, we just have to use that wording. Hamby replied, I would second that. Boston asked, any further discussion? No one responded. A Roll Call Vote was taken.  
 

Discussion:   (See Exhibit #3) Boston advised, next is the South Elementary Renovation Bid for our classrooms. Again, we get to discuss this prior to making any decisions on this. I'll open the floor for discussions. Safdie asked, all right, so where's the money going to come from? Boston replied, well tell me again Kim. You said we were going to end up closer if all your predictions are correct and we're going to give you a little latitude on that, because you never know. But $10 million is what you think we will end up. Bray replied, this year. Boston continued, and that's what. Bray replied, we'll start next year with. Boston asked, and that is what the County Finance looks at. Right? Bray nodded, yes. Boston continued, so I know that during budget last year we left; Chris was it 2.1 or 2.4? King replied, I think 2.4. Boston continued, in the Fund Balance for this very reason. We said, you know we don't know what's coming up. It's better safe than sorry. So we had 2.4 of that, that we're going to end up is what we allotted or allowed, saved, whatever you want to call it. For the CCHS and South project last year. I don't like to backtrack. I would like to see us do those South classrooms. Now we don't have to do the flooring. Even though it would save, we've got some contingency funds. I think $200 in that one. Don't we? Chamberlin replied, we do and again that would be work that could be done at the very end if we don't go through that contingency fund and we get down to play in the project. That's work that needs to be done over a summer. Obviously, it wouldn't happen this summer, but that's where it could be next summer, but the only time I want to do it. So again, if the funds are there, that would be an easy thing to add back in. Boston replied, I know that if we take this out of our Fund Balance, that means that this year going into the budget season that there are a lot of things that are going to have to be reassessed. Bray replied, correct. I guess I didn't understand we'd save that money. Of course, I wasn't in this position last year, so I may have missed that. Boston replied, well Chris will tell you how much we argued about that. Stout replied, I watched it. I wasn't on the board yet, but I watched it. I mean it was quite lengthy discussions and conversations over you know, we don't know where we're going to be and we prefer having the 2.4 in Fund Balance for this very reason, because if the high school had come in at $12 million, you know, we'd be talking about the very same thing just a different project. But if we saved for that and we set aside for that. I would really like to see those classrooms added. Hamby replied, I agree. Bray replied, we would have to take money from somewhere else. Boston replied, it would have to be the Fund Balance? Bray replied, no I mean we don't have it in the Fund Balance. I mean what I did, what I said. I didn't realize that I was supposed to set aside that 2.4. So I just used the 10 that were used we're going to end with and started with this year and then I built the budget based around the departmental budgets and based on that using what you know those funds we would only have $2.777 left in Fund Balance next year. Stepp replied, and we would need 2.2 for the 3% by law, 2.2 and change. Boston asked, but that is if, are you looking Kim at the 23-24 budget that you've created? Bray replied, correct. Boston replied,  okay so that can be. Bray replied, it will have to be. Boston replied, reassess. Bray replied, right and like I said, that's my mistake. I didn't realize I was supposed to save 2.4 out of the 10. Boston replied, it wasn't like we had a savings account. That was just kind of like the purpose behind doing that. Bray replied, yes. We will have to reassess. Safdie replied, we'll have to reassess and there are two components in that. 1 is that 3% was held back and then in addition to that 3% the 2.4 million dollars was held back. So that we could spend it on emergency projects. Stout replied, and also not knowing TISA. Boston replied, exactly. The other discussion and we also have the million in the other line item, that we kind of fund ESSER. Bray replied, correct. Boston continued, in and out. We pay and then they reimburse use. Safdie replied, ESSER is not paid for any of this? Boston replied, it would not be paying for any of this. We would have to bite the bullet and reassess. I guess and fortunately for us we've not done the 23-24 budget. So we wouldn't have to reevaluate salaries. We can reevaluate other things I mean like, you had proposed to almost a 5 million dollar maintenance budget. Bray replied, correct. Boston replied, well I mean we could reassess that and use part of that and we would have the money and get those classrooms. Hamby replied, I'd like to see those classrooms completed. Boston continued, well I mean I think the money is there. We just have to make it, be there. I mean we'll have to reassess and maybe back off a little bit of the $5 million dollar maintenance. Safdie replied, there's one other thing that I was curious about and Kim you can answer this. When in 2023-24 in August. How long do we have to wait before we get reimbursed from the state for a portion? When does that state money, the first check from the state come? Bray replied, I guess with TISA it will be the same as the BEP. Safdie asked, September or October? Boston replied, yeah. Safdie continued, oh I know it's one month. We have to have enough money in our till to cover salaries. Boston replied, the expenses. Safdie continued, right expenses for that month. Do you see a problem with that? Bray replied, not at this point, no.  Stepp replied, and we don't get a BEP drop in May, correct? Maybe June is the next one. Bray replied, June. Boston replied, we don't get one in May but we get one in June. Stepp replied, correct.  Stepp advised, so some of the fund balance will take care of May expenses. Safdie asked, so if I'm understanding correctly then, what we, from where our money from the board's perspective. If we made a motion or move to approve this bid, then that for all practical purposes would have to come from our Fund Balance? Bray replied, right and one thing to keep in mind. This is food for thought, One of the big reasons that the Fund Balance is going to be where it is at the end of this year is because we had several unfilled positions. Multiple, so that is probably what's put; because we had originally projected the Fund Balance at the end of this year would be like 7 6 and basically the difference is these unfunded are these unfilled positions. Which are positions we still need. Safdie replied, yeah but with TISA hopefully that would provide us with the necessary funds to fill those positions. Boston replied, well you're also looking at, we're going from a $58 million dollar budget to roughly you said? Bray replied, 64. With ESSER we're going to get 64 total. Boston replied, from TISA. Bray continued, from TISA and local together. Boston asked, that includes the local match? Bray replied, correct. That's what the last estimate that I have said. Safdie replied, okay so the local doesn't. Boston replied, so the local is included in the TISA. It's not added too. Bray replied, it is not. Stepp replied, they decided, they predicted what the local contribution should be, but they don't nail that down until May. Boston replied, okay I still think that a $5 million dollar maintenance projected expense is pretty aggressive. Bray replied, well in some of these items up here are very high ticket. I mean the Martin electric alone $745,000. Some of those projects are smaller, but they're what the principals requested on their wish list. So we try to respect that and get quotes. Mary has been working like a little demon getting all of these quotes for concrete and gravel and electric and alarm systems. Boston replied, well I mean we may just have to, you know to reassess until we find out where we're going to be. Safdie asked, if there are any, if this board approves any; give and take this maintenance budget. I think it really needs to be made clear that the board; it's not Mary's fault. They don't need to be coming out and cussing at her. Boston replied, and I don't think anybody does. We do  the best that we can with the funds that we have and I think we do a very good job. I would really like to see those classrooms. This project has been in the making for 2 1/2 years - 3 years. I'd like to see it through. We may have to scrench just a little bit, but we've screnched before. Stout asked, how would we, at this point how do we perceive if we were to pull that money? It impacting what we would need to import towards learning. So we need tutoring, because I know ESSER funds are coming soon. So towards learning or towards security, which was the topic at the last meeting including Homestead. Boston replied, we would have to reassess once all the numbers are there, but we don't have the luxury of having that time. We've either got to accept the bid or we don't. Stout replied, so we've been making the commitment to the money now, but not really knowing how we're going to work out making sure we've got that minimum 3%. Boston replied, well I think the plan has always been; once the ESSER funds are ended. There's no way we can maintain. We just can't do it. I don't think any system could do that. Each and every year. We may have to reassess how much we're putting into tutoring. How much we're putting into or how much can we? But I don't think you can. I mean we can't pick up ESSER Funds and those expenditures. Hamby replied, there's no way. Stout replied, making sure that we're not taking away from #1 purpose of the learning. Botson replied, well if you add that thought to the mix is if you put a child in a classroom, they're learning. So those classrooms are important. Now we've got other important areas that we've got to look at and I understand that, but you also have to look, at you know where we put these kids. How many teachers do we have sharing one classroom? South is not the only one that needs classrooms and we're going to have to look at that as well. Stout replied, so I guess from the flip side of it then if we didn't approve it then what would we be doing. What would we be able to do at South to make sure we accommodate the CTE and the classrooms that are needed. Nichols asked, so have we done a study to see how many kids aren't getting a classroom and how many teachers are sharing the classrooms out there. I mean have we done that? Boston replied, this was done, this proposal was done. Stepp replied, two years ago. Boston continued, yeah two years ago, two and a half years ago and it was a need then. It's not that need has not gone away. Nichols asked, so there was like a study that was done? Boston replied, well they apparently the powers that be, thought this was the best use of the money. Hamby replied, and it will get rid of the portables right? Boston asked, Dawn are you still using one? Hall replied, I'm still using one portable. Nichols replied, one portable at South. Boston replied, and that will get rid of that. Which has been a goal for the last seven years just to get rid of all of our portables and we're still working on it. Stepp replied, well what I'm working on now and I've asked the principals for future. When we're talking about these types of projects, I've asked to create a capacity chart that shows every school's attendance, classrooms, what their actual capacity is and that kind of stuff. So I'm developing some of those parts that would help us make those decisions in the future. Stout asked, so based on the information we have now capacity wise itself. Stepp replied, we're still collecting and trying to get all that together. If you look at it and you just put them by room and all that you know, South's capacity isn't maxed out, but if you look at programs and Dawn has a good plan on what programs are going to be where. In those rooms will be used, but I don't have cleared data yet, because you got Pre-K numbers and then you got K-2 numbers and so on. The different grade bands require different numbers of kids in classroom. I don't have an exact look, but from what I have capacity wise, I don't think any of our schools are close to being maxed out yet. Boston replied, but facilities is ever changing. I don't care which school you go to, it's ever changing. Stepp replied, but if you do it by the direct numbers or just classroom. This amount of students, then it comes out to be you know whatever percentage 70-80% whatever. You have to look at starting adding programs. Then you're looking well we need; we're adding CTE this and STEM that and all this. Then you're looking at having to plan out actually using the rooms. Stout asked, so if we didn't add the rooms. Stepp replied, I think North is using two portables right now. Is that correct? Boston and Hamby replied, yes. Stepp continued, one for CTE. I think maybe. Something like that. Stout asked, and those are the only two schools using portables that are left right now. Boston replied, I think. Hamby replied, they are on list for next year renovation. Stout asked, so if we weren't able to figure out how to do the classrooms this year, would it compromise the CTE program over there? Would we not be able to develop it out or would we be able to have a workaround for it. That would be talking to Mrs. Hall and we just see what what's there and who has to move. You'd have to move a lot of stuff around and probably RTI in a closet or something. I don't know. Hamby replied, and then we lose this bid and it's going to come up higher yeah. Safdie asked, Mrs. Hall why do we need those classrooms? Hall replied, so I currently have four classrooms that are being shared by multiple occupants. I've have three teachers in one classroom. I have my RTI room houses four individuals all day long with upwards of 10 to 15 kids. I'm still using one portable for one of my CTE classes. I have some people in this room. It's used part of the day for this. For this part of the day for this. So currently we do not have space for every single person in capacity as far as the programs that he's offering. We are able to offer RTI for our children, SPED services for our children. You're looking at speech and occupational therapy. They're doing those in hallways currently, because I do not have a space to do them. So you know when you look at the numbers like you said, as we add more programs and more resources for our children. When I have someone come, when my safe schools counselors come, I have them in a closet counseling. When I have you know different people that come in to do testing for kids, we don't have a place that is quiet. We're moving them here to here. I think most schools are going to be somewhat in that range. At one time South had a 1,000 kids and had multiple classrooms that way and we had seven portables, but Mary has worked very hard, because they're weren't in good condition. We have one that's still being used for students and I I doubled up. When I started I had all of them being used when I had 5 there. Safdie asked, how's your Art Program? Hall replied, so I have a room for art. I do have a room for art. I have a room for music. All my special areas have rooms. My CTE rooms are shared part of the day. They might be, but next year they'll be full-time with the grant that we're receiving. So then my problem becomes the people that I was using those rooms in the afternoon. I don't have a spot for. So I'm thinking you know. We're going to have school and we're going to teach children. We're going to love them and we're going to be able to do, but the classrooms would be an added bonus for us.  Safdie replied, I'm sure that most of you all are aware that over the past since 2004 the Board of Education has made one of its significant priorities to get rid of portables. So I'm glad you're down to one. Let's get rid of that one. Stepp replied, you do great job Mrs. Hall. Boston replied, I think it would, it would be a pinch. I think we're going to pinch ourselves, but. Nichols asked, does Kim think we can pinch ourselves. Bray replied, as long as I don't blame Mary and I. Safdie replied, blame it on me. Boston replied, we will send out nice cards explaining. You know we've got to start somewhere and you know I don't think this board has enough money. That's okay, you're getting bathroom partitions this year and you're getting a paved; I mean we're doing the best we can do and still taking care of our facilities and if I have a child that needs braces, you know. I've got a child that needs braces and the other one gets flip-flops. I'm sorry it's just the way it is. It's the need at the time. Nichols replied, we'll get caught up. Boston replied, we will and and with such an aggressive maintenance, I don't think anybody's gonna blame you and Mary. If anybody bullies you, let me know, but I think now is the opportunity in which to get this done. We had this in mind last year when did the budget and I hate to see us go backwards. So now's the time if someone would like to make a motion that we
we recommend to the County Finance to accept the 2.2 bid and we have the adequate appropriation. Safdie replied, I move that we accept the $2,210,000.00 bid from FTM Contracting and. Boston replied, and we have adequate appropriation. Safdie continued, and we have adequate appropriations. Hamby replied, I'll second. Nichols replied, we won't blame Kim and Mary. Boston asked, any more discussion? Stout replied, just one quick question. We're doing this just with the base bid and we're going to handle the alternate one like we were for the tiles? Boston replied, for the contingency, we can do the flooring if it's not. Stout continued, just the base bid that we're recommending. Boston replied, and we've got 200 in this particular project. A Roll Call Vote was taken. 

Boston advised, we have voted to accept that and move forward with that project. Stepp advised, I'd like to thank you guys for being patient with me learning how this works. We've had several other people give us some good advice and that's why I filled out that whole Google Doc. That's just all stuff for you guys, but thanks for your patience. Boston replied, I will say this that Mrs. Bray and Mr. Stepp both have been tremendous working through. They knew their information and it's been helpful very, very helpful. Nichols replied, we appreciate you, both of you. Boston continued, I know that we don't have a full board here tonight, but I think I'm gonna throw this out, but we are going to have to seriously start looking at Homestead. Nichols replied, the safety of that concerns me greatly. Safdie asked, do you want to have Mr. Stepp explain? Stepp replied, this came on my mind after last week, but the safest way for Homestead is to be a single-entry facility. I thought about it a lot and I've mentioned it to some of you guys. I would think coming up with a wing for the, I think it's Pre-K through 3rd grade is in the new construction part. Everybody else is spread out in the different buildings, which creates a safety concern. I know all of our partners in law enforcement agree with us. That it's a huge, huge undertaking to figure out a safety way for that. So by adding a wing there to cover the other classes that are in these cottages that's connected to the new part would make it a single entry facility and that's just my thinking, initial thinking the past week and a half here. Safdie asked, Teresa where would you like to go with this, at this point? Boston replied, I just wanted to make every okay; okay we've gotten past the CCHS Auditorium and South classrooms, but Homestead is a security issue, a safety issue. So I think as everything develops and Mr. Stepp further develops this idea. Then we're already one step closer and we've been made aware that it's coming. Stepp replied, Mr. Chamberlin and I, we talked about possibly meeting in the next week or two and go out there and look at that and then give you options, report on kind of what we talked about and stuff maybe for the next board meeting. If that would satisfy. Hamby replied, that would be great. Boston replied, y'all can be ready to bring up the discussion. Safdie replied, in discussion there's lots of ways in doing that. There's significant public awareness that has to take place in the Homestead Community to guarantee that the school will maintain its historic value, but also its use. So that it the little classrooms don't deteriorate. Stepp replied, and that was my discussion with Mr. Chamberlin. We talked about placement of a new wing that would allow the historical integrity to stay intact. I've just thought out loud what some of you just thinking about we have system services that could occupy those different pods. So that would have to be maintained. We'd have somebody in those every day. So there's different options and we're growing also as a system. So our services are growing and departments are growing to match those needs. So it would be used. They wouldn't be just left there. Safdie replied, there wouldn't be really any cost savings, because the utilities would be the same. Plus more, because of that. Boston replied, it's almost like repeating the Justice Center. Chamberlin replied, been there, haven't we?  Safdie continued, been to Homestead, haven't we Mr. Chamberlin? Chamberlin replied, a couple of times. Boston replied, okay I just wanted to put that out there so everybody could kind of start thinking about that. 

Discussion:   - Boston replied, is there any old business that needs to be discussed? Safdie replied, yes. Boston replied, I am so sorry. The Crossville Chronicle produces a Cumberland Now Magazine. This last month was on some of our students. If you have not seen this, it's incredible. It highlights some of our students and it's wonderful. Stepp replied, they did a great job. Boston replied, she did a great job, plus you were kind enough to go get all the board members a copy. That we are sending home so that we can have and thank you and if you would tell Heather Mullinix we said thank you. She did a great job and we appreciate that.

Discussion:   - Boston asked if there were any questions from the media. No questions were asked. 

Discussion:   - Boston replied, if no questions from the media, I'll entertain a motion to adjourn. Hamby replied, I make a motion to adjourn. Stull replied, second. The meeting adjourned at 6:06pm.