[clears throat] One big happy family. [laughter] >> You got me. [applause] That's great. Go watch her. >> Okay. [snorts] >> All right. We also have with us a 10th grade student and very talented artist from Scott County High School, Miss Ava Kraggle. Uh each year just before Kentucky School Board Association Conference, KSBA invites schools to design a banner to represent its its conference theme and showcase their students and districts. This year, advanced art students from Scott County High School submitted several pieces to convey the theme built to last. Ava was our district winner, creating this painting of the beautiful and historic Scott County Courthouse. uh at the conference we were also um very proud to show off her work which was in my opinion the best in the state and uh Tony Thomas and our partners at Clfelter Samakar know a thing or two about quality designs themselves so in addition to the Scott County schools challenge coin as Colonel Garcia just stated that coin's nice but uh there's also a gift card for Ava as well that we will be presenting tonight um so beha on behalf of our board members um I would I'd like to express our appreciation to Ava for representing Scott County schools at the KSBA conference. Your artwork is amazing. Thank you. [applause] >> [applause] >> Miss Miss Holmes, did you say something else about the artwork too? Perhaps was >> spoke to mother. >> Yes. That would be [applause] great. >> All good. >> Okay. Wonderful. All right. Thank you very much. Number four, agenda approval. >> So move. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Those opposed? Motion carries. Number five is public comment. Tasha Williamson. Tasha, I know that you have been here with us before, but we do have another guest that will be following you. So, I just want to kind of explain to everybody just as a courtesy. Um, we will allow each of the three folks who are coming up to speak, everybody will have five minutes to speak. You're welcome to address the board. However, we won't be conversing back and forth, but we are taking into consideration what you are saying. And if there's any followup needed by any of us, we we'll we will do so after the meeting in the next, you know, coming days. >> Okay. And um Mr. Salsbury, our attorney, will be doing the timing for it. So, >> you'll have five minutes. So, please go ahead. >> Start now. >> Yes. Okay. You can start now. >> Good evening. Thank you for having me again. I would like to just briefly read from the recent statement from KASA regarding student grooming and safety, then make a request to the board. Um, this was released 3 days ago on the 23rd. Um, grooming and sexual abuse of students will not be tolerated in Kucky's public schools. Protecting children is not simply a policy priority. It is a moral obligation and a matter of public trust. Abuse most often occurs at the hands of someone a child trust. an adult with access, authority, or influence. Grooming behaviors exploit that trust, gradually breaking down boundaries and creating secret secrecy and manipulation that can make misconduct difficult to detect without proper vigilance and training. Public schools must be safe havens, places where students are protected, believed, and supported from preschool through graduation. While that is the mission of Kucky's public schools, we acknowledge the painful reality that trust has at times been broken. [snorts] Any in instance of grooming or abuse is one too many, and consequences for any such violation must be swift and unequivocal. Above all, we affirm our unwavering commitment to believe and support victims. Kentucky school leaders understand that integrity is not theoretical. It is demonstrated in action. As trusted leaders in our schools and district, we are committed to confronting this issue directly, removing and penalizing those who violate their positions of trust, and continuing to work to ensure our schools remain places of safety, dignity, and care for every student. Given the expectations align out outlined in this statement, I'm asking that this board just ensures any concerns going forward from student safety perspective or misconduct um is consistently recognized, documented, and there's transparency with the students family and whoever is involved and needs to have that transparency. um just because I think that is going to be the foundation so families trust that things are handled appropriately and that their children are safe. >> Thank you. That's it. >> All righty. Thank you, Samantha Eding. Good evening. How are you? Okay. Okay. Um, I don't know if I'll be able to read all this or not. Um, I've never been here and I don't know any of you all. I don't believe I want to, um, start out just by saying something about myself. Um, I've never made I've never made any kind of a complaint or made any kind of a suggestion to the school board. Um my >> got this. Come [laughter] on. >> Um >> you need a high ticket cuz I will do one. >> Oh no. I just I I want to make it clear that >> I love Scott County Schools in ways that I can't explain to you. Um I've never had a teacher that I did not have their personal cell phone number that they gave to me. Um, I I've never felt like my child was unsafe in any form or fashion. Um, but I have some concerns. Um, and I want to follow up with um, KSA's commitment. The policies that you all have in place right now. I'm not confident if there is one or if it's being followed. Um, I don't feel like prevention, reporting, and accountability is being done. From my perspective, um, I feel like that parents can go and do all the things that they're supposed to and there's no follow through. Um I I just want to be very transparent that um there's no documentation given. There is no plan in place. The parent is really confused about the process. Um I' I've tried very hard to find out how to educate myself and how to understand what is happening. I tried to find the policy. I contacted um everyone that I knew to contact and I went to the schools multiple times. I don't want to get off on that. But what I will say is um the only thing that I could find at all as far as filing a complaint was a title nine that was brought before me. The title N was brought to me and I was advised to not file a Title 9 um specifically because it would slow down the process. So, I guess that's my first question is why do you have a process that you would tell me not to use because it will slow down the process? Um, that's what I was told multiple times. Don't file a title N. So, I didn't um the reporting is not um I don't know how the reporting works, but the reporting is not done 100% correctly. um you're not allowed to know a lot of things. You can't ask a lot of questions. You can't find out what the policies are. You can't find out what substantiated means. You don't know any of that. Um I will say that if you have a policy, I want this what I have here. I want this to be added to your policy. I want somebody to look at this and I want them to add it to the policy because this is the only piece of paper I was ever shown was this here which is a four page map of a school and where my child it's highlighted where she would be safe and where she would not be safe. So if you have a policy I want this added to it. This was what I was given itemized with her name on it where she could go and she could not go where because she filed a complaint. The other thing is she has a 504 plan. No one ever asked me was this conducive for her 504 plan. She's missing her leg above the knee. And what you don't know about that is someone missing their leg above the knee exerts 60% more energy than someone that has both of their limbs. The only documentation I was ever given was this four-page M. It actually wasn't given to me. has given to her on this is where you're safe and this is where you're not safe requiring her to walk twice as far as she ever would just to get to class. If somebody can't add this to the policy, then somebody shouldn't have given it to me because this not this this is not okay. Um so I really want you all to look at the policy you have and reach out to KASA on what they feel is appropriate. look at the um look that look at things that are coming up that are going to be passed and see if if that's what you're doing and think if that was your child or your neighbor's child and is this what you want to do. Does it take one student to report it? I asked this question. How many does it take? Does it take one? Does it take two? Does it take 12? Give me a number. And and that's all I got. But um >> Mr. Edington, you have 30 seconds. Sorry to interrupt you. >> No, you're good. Um, in closing, I really want you all to understand how much I love this school system. And for me to have to sit here and say that someone allowed this to fall through the cracks breaks my heart in ways that I cannot explain to you. So, I don't want you to think I'm on a witch hunt because I'm not. But there's a policy in place that is not working. And I can promise you it's not working. And I just want you to look at it. Thank you. Thank you for coming. Mike Davis. >> Good evening. >> How y'all doing? >> Good. >> No snow. We're back in school. >> Don't jinx us. >> Hopefully we can hopefully we can >> Yeah, don't jinx us. >> I'm just trying to be positive. My goodness. >> I appreciate that. Thursday should be positive day. >> That's exactly [laughter] right. That's exactly right. Uh >> you timing me too, Homer? >> You're good. >> Mike, I heard an idea today. >> What's that? >> That um that we need to put our timer on the board. >> Yeah. Don't count this against him. Don't count this again. >> Yeah. >> No, never mind. I'll talk I'll talk to you [laughter] about it later. I'll talk to you about it later. >> I hear you. Uh good evening members of the board, superintendent and fellow colleagues. Thank you all for the opportunity again to speak to you all tonight on behalf of the Scott County Education Association. First and foremost, I want to begin with gratitude. Over the past several years, this board has dist de demonstrated steady leadership and willingness to move our district forward. Together with administration and superintendent, we have had have improved compens compensation, strengthen our work environments, and build a culture rooted in professionalism and mutual respect. That does not happen by accident. It happens because of intentional leadership and a shared belief that Salt County Schools can be can and should be and and should be led in a certain way. And again, as I speak to tonight, it is for appreciation in a continued partnership. We are at a point of growth. Our growth in our district, our growth in our expectations, our community's belief in us growing in in in the right way and a and with that growth comes responsibility. the responsibility to ensure that the people who make this system work each and every day are supported, valued, and retained. As we talked in January about compensation and proposal that I gave you all, uh, you know, we we want to make sure that we continue the progress that we've made already. We think that over the years, we've continued to show our people and to show our community that our teachers and our people are valued here. as I expressed in in the in the uh summary I gave each and every one of you, my thing that I look at the most is our classified employees. You know, I think that in a time where we just had a have had a huge battle with House Bill 500 that still, you know, still has to go through the Senate. Um, you know, we wouldn't have school if that passed, I can tell you, because every one of them quit. So, you know, hopefully we can we can step up to the to to where we need to as far as compensation when it goes to them. Um, our ask is real simple. We we you know, it represents the next logical step in a forward movement this board has already begun. It reflects our desire to remain competitive at the best levels to retain the highest educators and classified staff who can that we can possibly get and to protect the culture that we've worked so hard to build together. Growth requires investment and when we invest in people, we invest in student outcomes, community stability, and long-term excellence. We are thankful for the leadership that you have shown. And we are hopeful that that leadership will continue as we move to the next budget cycle, as we prepare and work on the budget for the coming years, for coming years, and the vision we have for coming years. At the same time, we cannot ignore things that are happening at the state level, just like what we've dealt with in the 202026 2026 session here so far in in Frankfurt. Across Kentucky, public education continues to face policy shifts, funding debates, and legis legislative proposals that directly impact how we operate at the local level. Decisions about funding formulas, school choice expansion, and regular regulatory changes are not abstract political conversations. They affect classrooms, staffing sta stability and long-term planning of districts like ours and we get suff we suffer sometimes a little bit more than others just because of the fact of the way that what our community looks like the seek formally changes a little bit. Uh that's why this fights fight matters. The advocacy helps shift policy and that's there's no more that shows that than what we've seen from Mr. Parker with what we've been doing with sending educators to the hill, people meeting with our legislators, Matt, Tony, and Vanessa, they've all been great to meet with us and listen to our concerns. And I think that that's that that's a partnership that started because of the advocacy that Mr. Parker made with those people by bringing them into the fold and making sure that that we were we were as important as anything else that they were fighting for. um with state decisions uh you know they create uncertainty sometimes but it's our strong local leadership that become so crucial during those times. They're the ones that that that make sure that publicly they acknowledge and understand the importance of what you do to ease the people's worries. We are grateful for that leadership. We are grateful for the fact that whenever you all step forward and you make sure that Mr. Davis, sir. >> Yeah. Okay. You make sure that there that that people understand that that our purpose is to breed success in our students. We want to continue that uh partnership. We want to make sure that we believe in growth. Let the momentum continue. Let continue investing in people and let's continue leading rather than reacting. Thank you all. >> Thank you. >> Hey, look here. I got five seconds left. LOOK AT THAT. [laughter] OKAY, THAT concludes >> basketball. >> Well, that's that's what my comment was actually pointing towards, Mr. Davis. [laughter] >> We do a shock. >> Well, if we're going to put a shot clock up there for public comment, I think we should put a superintendent report. [laughter] >> Oh, man. >> Uh oh. Uh >> oh. Does she get points on the bingo board for that one? >> She is the bingo board. >> Okay. Number six, consent agenda A through K. >> So move. Any discussion? Do um all all in favor? Excuse me. >> I >> I >> those opposed. >> Motion carries. I just do that one. Number seven is construction reports. Come join us, Tony. >> Oh, good. Good. >> Good evening. Good evening. >> Do I have a shot clock? >> Tony, [laughter] thank you for providing that um gift card for >> More than welcome. I I love the theme built to last. I mean, and the architectural courthouse. She did a great job. She did a great job. Uh so tonight of course we got Oxford going on and uh the sun made the picture not so great but I was glad to see it because we haven't had a lot of it lately and uh tried to get another one but the sun was still there. So I lucked into a good day yesterday um where there were lots of people uh on the site working. So that was really good to see. Um on the right is a concrete roof that they now have poured for the storm shelter and on the left is more typical roof. All of which will be covered in metal. Um going around to the backside, you can see again on the left is the storm shelter and the concrete roof and the beautiful sky. They had a great day for working. Um and just a closeup you can see of the storm shelter. What really goes on? I mean that is steel angles all the way around the building. So this that portion of the building is is really jacked up for lack of a better word with structure to really make it a safe place. Um as I move on around the building again you can see some of the soil drying up there but they're continuing to work on the roof. Uh the kinship cafeteria, as we know, is one of the last pieces of the puzzle that they've been working on, but they do have steel up now. They're getting ready to set steel joist. Um so, uh fortunately, I tell since the ice and the rain that we've had, I was out there yesterday and I was surprised how much they've gotten done just since uh that that time period. But I'm glad to see a lot of people on the site working. Um they've got the gym closed back in. They had some problems with the Tectum in a storm blowing off, but they've got it all closed in now. So there should be >> how much of that roof it was subject to that >> you know I don't know I don't know how many pieces they lost um and a couple of months ago they uh there was big winds that came through and they had it protected with plastic. The plastic blew off and and damaged some that's tectum deck. It's a little different than normal deck because in the gym you want the sound protection. Um it really helps the sound. Um but they had to wait eight weeks to get it to to have it remade and bring it back in. Uh, but that's what I was referring to. But now, fortunately, uh, they've been able to put it back in and they, that area should be able to get dried in. Plumbing, electrical, mechanical is all moving along. Uh, this is the, um, guess that' be the east wing of the building, but to the left, if you're facing the front of the building, it's the one that's furthest along. They've got it dried in. Um, in fact, they even some colors. And look at that Oxford orange there. That is just really nice and bright. But uh now there will be several things on that's the teaching wall. So there'll be marker boards and tack boards. It just won't be solid orange. But uh they've got several of those painted now. So it's painted. You can see the HVAC. You can see things hanging. Um once they get the windows in, uh they can continue to paint and work on finishes. Uh this is the mezzanine above there. HVAC equipment in, piping in, um electrical in. So they've they've been able to move along and any area that they can get dried in, they're able to work in. Um over in the storm shelter area, you can see that they've had some success inside getting some HVAC up, but uh weren't able to work too much during the during the ice in this area because there was still uh you know, water coming through uh the roof. This is the uh just show you a sample of the uh the wall that they had to construct, you know, in the past. And sometimes they've built us two or three options, but we brought the brick and the ceramic tile and and things of that and the the metal roof to you all through renderings and we we've had that selection process already, but they still have to build it to make sure we're okay with how they're doing it, the joinery and the insulation and and things of that nature. Um, and they've done a good job and you know, um, so that's some of the elements that you'll see in the building. Um, with all that said, of course, here we were a few I think at the last board meeting I I mentioned, you know, let's just hope for good weather and it was the next day that, >> you know, that was a Thursday night and I think Friday night's when it started snowing. Um, and like other jobs and schools, uh, everything shut down for a little while. So, I did get some pictures in there. Uh, they had an unfortunate situation. Well, there's there's the area that was good. they were able to actually get in there once they were able to access the site. Uh get in there and do a little bit of work in that area, but uh that was the only area that they were able to work in. You could see when they finally got in, I think this was a couple of weeks after um the big snow, they actually had to get in there with a a loader and scrape the snow and ice off the floor just to keep working. Um one of the things I mentioned to Mr. Parker was you can that's all the ice that stayed there and it stayed so cold for a while. Um that some of the slabs actually heaved in there. Um and you can see a crack running down the center of the the corridor there. Of course that that settled back down. They're going to be able to patch that but you know they've got a few more challenges now that they that they've got to deal with. Um but anything like that would be repaired before you know they move on. So nobody has to worry about any you know damages being left into the building. Um, but it's another little um, pocket of thing. You can see there where the the slab cracked just inside because the it it heaved up a little bit. Um, but again, all things that are going to settle back down. Now that the warm weather's there, you can even you can even see that some of those things have settled back down. Um, and wherever there is a crack or a crack in a block or something like that, they've got to take the wall out. They've got to do tuck point and it'll be fixed back to um, you know, the point where where it was supposed to be. But that just indicates how cold it got and and for how long it did get cold. Um so and here's just more when they finally >> that that slab heaving piece um that how common is that? >> Well, not common because we don't have the weather that we had for two weeks that we had a couple of but it happened elsewhere. Some of our jobs actually had the same thing happen in other parts of Kentucky. Uh so it's common when you have well unprotected areas you know I mean if you're inside because um eventually that's a protected heated and air conditioning in in a heated area and that won't happen then um but in areas where the snow and ice were just able to fall on it and like I said the same thing happened in other areas. So it's common if you have that same conditioning happening um where you have exposed slabs and soil has moisture in it and if it you know it's it's eight inches below that slab it freezes it heaves um but now all the structure and I should point out all um you know of course the structure has to go below the frost line so all the structural pieces all the columns all the structural walls um were all in great shape and and were well within the tolerance they were supposed to be. In fact, they didn't really didn't look like they had it really moved. Um, so the things that we're looking at are more cosmetic, but they can't stay that way. They're going to have to take time to repair any wall or any floor and get it back to the point where it's acceptable. >> So, you're saying like the areas that would be, you know, what 36 in like sitting on a slide or sitting on a foundation? >> Oh, you're talking about like a frost. Yeah. Yes. In fact, 36 in is every footing has to be in a commercial building or a school has to be 36 in down. So all the columns and all the structural walls are that deep. Um but the slabs and some of those slabs actually have partition walls on them. Non-loadbearing partition block walls. >> They heaved up and got little cracks in them. They settled back down now and they're just hairline cracks. But we don't want hairline cracks. They're not they're not a structural issue at all. It's Yeah. It's all aesthetic, but it has to be fixed. Right. >> It's one more thing they're going to have to deal with. Um and we're you know I was there yesterday and and we're going to monitor it and let the temperatures continue to to heat up and then go around and analyze. I mean, the structural engineers and the special inspectors all came through and identified every single location and took pictures and put it on a plan. We're going to go back to every single one of those locations um and say, "Hey, this needs fixed." And so, we'll monitor all that. But, yes, it's another little piece in the puzzle that they have to >> take a minute. >> It's going to take a fat minute. Yeah, it sure is. Um, so been something else something else for for them to deal with, you know, in addition and that's why, you know, let's see. No, that was the last one. I'll leave it on the snow picture here. But, um, so Mr. Parker and I started having some discussions. We decided, let's let's have a meeting just with with the general contractor and because I know how important it is for you all to have timeline and understand what your timeline is. So, we met with them um this week or I'm sorry, last week. Yeah, I guess it was just the end of last week um and said, "Look, you need to you need to look at all this. you need to find out how long it's going to take you to make these repairs. Uh, you know, to take into account where you are and where you're going with all your subcontractors, bring them in and give us a fixed schedule. And I talked with her again today and they're they're they're working on that fixed schedule to make sure that, you know, where are they? And they're going to they're going to report back to us probably the middle of next week um once they con construct the schedule exactly where they are. >> And then of course I'll immediately report that all back to you all. How does the um sinkhole area that we've been working on diligently, how was that any of that compromised because of the weather? >> Yes, in fact on the change order [clears throat] um that came through and that was an unfortunate situation as well that was kind of unforeseen but um on the change order the total uh they actually asked for days on that as well. So there was 33 days there um that they asked for just to extend the contract. Um and they've active on the side collected 60 days of what they call weather days which it's been an awful unfortunately. You know back in the fall I think we said you know let's just all hope for a good fall and a good winter and it's really it's it's been the worst case scenario. U but as we've had progress meetings it's not like we just went away and didn't think about it. You know we've had progress meetings. We we've asked them where they were. They you know they felt like they can make it. they feel like they can make it and they've been reporting that all along. Um, but it's really been the worst case scenario on >> But due to the weather though, nothing on that was jeopardized, >> right? Like the cracks that we've had in the concrete and what have you. >> Uh, that was then and that's totally isolated. That's a separate situation. >> No, I understand that. Yeah. I just want to make sure all that seems to be >> coming along just fine and is complete and nothing was jeopardized with the weather. So, that was my >> Oh, right. Nothing jeopardized at all. it just slowed them down. There were days that they just couldn't get on the site and work. So, but they've come, as I think everybody knows, they've been there on the weekends. They've been there on the, you know, um, so I don't and I don't have any problems with the contractor. They've been great. They've really been great to work with. Um, and I don't know that another contractor, you know, somebody could come in and say, "Hey, another contractor have been three or four days ahead." I don't know how they've been working on the and I don't know that three or four days would would help anyway at this point. U, but they've been there on the weekends. They've been there at night. I've come by late and then, you know, of course I've had Scott County people tell me they they go by there on the weekends and they're >> Yeah, I do drivebys. There's always lots of people there, too. >> Well, in fact, there's a neighbor there that I think takes pictures for him every day or something, but I've met him on the site a few times as well, which uh which is great really just more eyes. Well, Tony, that was a question I had, but I think you kind of addressed it, you know, and not to point out the elephant, but we've done >> what, six, I think seven if we count the windows and guard, >> you know, major projects with you all, and this is the first time this construction manager has worked with this. And so, I'm just wondering if you had any concerns, but I feel like you're saying no because I've heard nothing but really positive from them, but you feel like you have to ask the question or we should ask the question. Do you feel like you've got concerns with the change in management? Well, and it's a and it's a fair question. Yeah. And of course, it's all bid projects. Yeah. And and even the next people that were, you know, another million or two up. Um >> I I don't see because I know the effort that they've put forward. Um and the reputation they have with Fay, they've done a lot of schools in Faget County that I've talked to and other people. Um I don't feel like they've let it down and I know the subs and I've, you know, and we've seen them working. Um, and we've had the progress meetings and and field reports. Um, so I don't feel like it's specifically the general contractor on the job at all. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> You need to ask that question. >> Yeah. No, it's a good it's it's a fair question. It's a fair question. >> Yeah. I mean, from my perspective, just I mean, everything they've provided us has been topnotch and first class. >> Right. Right. >> Well, I mean, sinkholes aren't mistakes and weather isn't negligent. So, these are things that we >> Well said. We're all aware that what's happening isn't isn't function of what's going on, but you're the one working with them the closest. >> I did ask Tony last week if um he would consider uh working with them again. He said yes. Absolutely. So that was good enough for me. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. For sure. >> And unless there's any other questions, that is the construction report. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thanks, Tony. >> Number nine, presentation of fiscal year 2025. Financial audit completed. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Student achievement. Oh, Lord. He was like, "Okay, well, he's leaving." >> I was getting ready to say, "HOW MANY IS IT? HOW MANY?" HE WAS HE'S on one hand now. Board meetings. You were getting ready to make it one hand. >> Well, I just looked up and actually looked at him in the back of the room and I'm like, "Okay, come on up, too." >> Yeah. So, >> yeah. Just a minute. We'll be just a minute with you. Y >> Sorry. Sorry. Oops. [laughter] Give us some good news. I was going to say >> I was trying to bypass you. >> Something [laughter] good. Yeah. [gasps] >> Sorry about that. >> Oh, you're good. I didn't think about that. We were pass. That's fine. >> All right. Hello everybody. >> Hello. >> Haven't [clears throat] seen me for a while. I get to join Wendy this time. Um, so we're going to be talking about I Ready today. >> And um, do we have it loaded up? >> Okay, >> we we've got it though. >> Yeah. >> Okay. We'll go ahead. We'll go ahead and roll and then >> um you can just kind of follow along with it. Anyways, um so I'm going to just start off sorry as a reminder u this is kind of what we go over each time we talk about I ready um just starting off with effort. So this is about the midyear um administration of the diagnostic. And so one of the things we look for is rush flags on that. And so on rush flags, uh, we had very, very low occurrence of rushes, which is outstanding for us. I Ready always brags on us. We always incentivize for the kids not to get rush flags. Um, so that's always a good indicator that we have good data, right? Um, we are going to be looking at median progress growth. Oh, it is up front. Okay, there we go. Um, so we're going to be looking at median progress growth. Um just a reminder, median is that middle score for a student. So we aren't averages. It's the middle score that we look at. And what that does is help um no matter how many students who have taken it, no matter what their score is, if you look at the middle, it's a good indicator for us of where we are. And then um you also look for students and where they're going to be on kind of like those three buckets. I'm not good about talking and doing this. um as progressing, maintaining or falling behind. So when we start looking at our quadrant chart, you will see that um we have performance going across the bottom. So as you move left to right is performance. As you move from bottom to the top, that is growth. And so we are looking for students who are progressing and who are growing. Okay? And then in the middle, that dotted line is going to be the K through8 median. So that's taking all of K through eight students and where their the middle score was at. Okay. And that's the median for the national norm. Wendy's going to start off talking about some math with that for you. >> Okay. So um this chart does not look as friendly as the one with the buckets. So just [laughter] so just a reminder on the right hand side that's high performance. On the left hand side that's low performance. We're trying to be around that 50 mark to meet in the middle there. Um, so we will notice that the 50th percentile is the median for performance and the national median for typical growth is a little higher than that 50 there with the dotted line. So when we look at that with our schools, you can see that we have seven schools that were in the high performance range. Three schools were in low performance. However, they were in high growth. And then we had two schools that were in low performance, low growth. However, the growth is so close to 50. We're two and three points away from being in that high growth area. And so in math, we are all about growth um and learning the new HQIR implementation and just strengthening of that system. When we look at this with grade levels, you can see that the grades cluster around the middle. And so we're mostly falling in the high performance or right on the line. But what this did tell us is that our third and fourth grade math scores. We needed to dig deeper and see what was going on. And so we do have a plan for third and fourth because they fell below where we would want them to be. And we're going to share that plant later in this. >> So we have the same information for reading that. Um and so this is that same kind of um plot where you can see where our schools are and you can see that in reading um we are progressing much better than we were in math which is to be expected. We've been using our HQIR a little bit longer than we have our math. um but we have all schools above that 50th on growth and um we're about split even with the achievement side. So when you add in the school names in there then you can see our schools who are um at or above with the growth or the performance rather and the schools that are legging a little bit behind. But again, we're pushing toward that direction that we want to. And um yeah, and then when you look at it by grade level, you'll see that um there are a couple of outliers. When you look at the grade level one, you've got kindergarten and first grade there. And we noticed that that was an outlier as well. And so when we met with the people from I Ready, we said, "Hey, what's going on with paying one?" And they told us that that's a national trend. And I said, "That's interesting. So why is that a national trend? What's your reason for that? Have you guys dug into it and figured it out?" Because if if we were just to look at that, we would say, "Oh, there might be something wrong with kindergarten and first grade." But they said, "That's where a lot of schools are showing across the nation." And so we went back to them and asked for an explanation for that because we want to be able to use good data. And so they actually brought in one of their data experts and had a meeting with us and we talked to them and they were talking about that these norms that were set were set right at around COVID time. And so the kids who were in kindergarten and first grade were the ones who were coming into it and needed a lot of growth. And so the norm for them was much higher growth. And so when you're comparing students now who have not had that struggle of not having background knowledge, not being exposed to um preschool in the right way and all of those things, then these kids compared to those kids are not growing as quickly, but it's because they don't need to grow as quickly. >> So they're already growing at a good rate. So um so while that looks like an outlier, it is an outlier, but it's more about the norms of the the test itself. And so they are reestablishing norms and they expect that to be um changed when you come into it. >> Okay. So we're going to switch back to math now and we're going to look at growth data. And so this is growth broken into bands. It's just another way to look at this. And so it is progress toward annual typical growth. We want every student to meet their typical growth goal by the end of the year. And so K8 54% are making progress toward that which is where we should be or should have been when this test was taken. Elementary 53% and middle 57%. When we look at this from another angle, so this is the percentage of students who have met half of their typical growth. Again, here we can see that that fourth grade stands out. And so this was another point for us to say, okay, fourth grade isn't quite making the growth that everyone else is. So what do we need to do next? >> And the same thing with reading, you look at the same way. Um you can see that uh we are at 64% um as a whole with K8. We're at 61% in elementary and 71% in middle school. So making very good u growth typical growth. And when you look at again the by grade level then for students who have met the half of their typical growth um versus stretch growth um you're seeing that 50% and above is the norm for us at all grade levels. Um and stretch growth what we're really looking for those are students you know if we're looking for students who are struggling those are the ones that we want to start looking at their stretch growth and so at schools that's what they are doing. They're looking to see are those kids because that will is what will help catch them up, indicate that they're being caught up. >> All right, so this looks very familiar. This is that green to red relative placement levels. And so we have the dark striped green is that mid or above grade level. Light green is early on. Yellow is one grade level below. Light red two grade levels below. And then the darker red three or more grade levels below. And you will see over the past three years, our our numbers are there's consistency with our numbers. Um they're very much the same across the board in the three years for all relative placements. Here we can compare how we performed um compared to the national scores and to the state scores. And so our 36% in early to above grade level. Um we're slightly higher than the state and national uh reporting and then 19% in that red. We are slightly lower than the state in the red. So um Paul and I tease were like more green less red. That's where we want to be. [laughter] We can look at how we have grown from fall to winter specifically. So, in the fall, we only had 20% of our students in that early to above grade level category. Now, we have 36%. And when we look at the red, we've had 29% to start the year, and now we are down to 19. And then the next two slides, we're going to click through quickly, but you have this in your packet. This takes a more indepth look per grade level, how they change from fall to winter. >> I think just as a reminder that you know those those reds down there are two or more grade levels below. So you'll know kindergarten and first grade you can't see that level below. And so looking at the same thing with breeding again there is that consistency um for our winter to winter growth. So that is over year-to-year growth. And similarly, when we look at where our students are compared to Kentucky and national data, um we are again leading the way with 48% um early on or mid or above grade level in that green area. Um and again just 20% that are now below. We're moving good movement toward having students on grade level. And again, this is the same thing here where we are looking at um where our students are by grade level. And one of the thing I'll things that I'll point out um I meant to talk about it earlier but within reading especially with our primary students one of the things that we are seeing is a need for greater um instruction and comprehension and vocabulary. So we do great with all the phonics and phmic awareness and you know we've put a lot of effort into Orton Gillingham um and we have a reading program that we're using through I Ready and so we're doing some examination of those reading programs and seeing how we're getting the instruction around vocabulary especially and comprehension with our youngest readers as well to help help them there six seven and eight. So next steps for us as we go forward um and some of these next steps will be for somebody else to carry out. Um [laughter] >> some of those are some of those are you know just some might continue on you know um but we are continuing we've we've added additional I Ready learning for third and fourth grade math. So we are going to be supporting them on our collab day. So in the afternoon they're going to get um some additional training this year. Yes, this year. And then um we are also continuing with with learning walks. So that's something new that we implemented this year where we've had IR ready consultants go into our classrooms, examine what's happening, give feedback to them, and then they come back at the PLC day um usually within the week and then give them feedback and work with the teachers on the things that they saw. Um that also is sidebyside with instructional coaches and principles as well. So they're learning looks and doing all the ways to help support those teachers. Um we also are continuing I Ready school leader check-ins. So each month when I have my PLC and when middle school principles have their PLC um we get some time with our consultant from I Ready and kind of just reminding here are things to kind of look for what are issues that you're having or anything like that. So it's just a regular check-in for them to talk to the experts with curriculum associates. Um we are also piloting uh common lit in the middle school. Now I say pilot but GMS is already using it full boore and they are fully on board with it. Our other two middle schools are um piloting it this year and Kamela is an HQIR for reading for middle school. And then the last thing with illustrative math um at the middle school level we are continuing with the kids first coaching there and that is an outside entity that provides training for illustrative math and um they've been working closely with um middle school. They've also been in some of our high schools as well doing some work with them. They've >> been in all the high schools. Yeah. So um so those are our next steps to keep moving forward getting more green and less red >> t-shirt. What are thoughts with our kindergarten or our first grade? Um especially with I Ready at this time of year as we're heading towards the end of the year. Have we made identifications working with parents and [clears throat] students? You know, we talked about that um when we were talking about that legislature. So, >> Oh, yes. So, the K1 retention law, is that what we're talking about? Yes. Um, all of those reading plans have been put into place and the uh instructional coaches or the MTSS teachers working with principles and classroom teachers having those touch points with parents explaining the situation and then what could come. Um, we've also been talking about in our MTSS PLC about how we provide extra intervention for those kids. more time, a smaller group size, another day of the week, something extra. >> And we've been implementing that. >> Yes, ma'am. Yes. >> Okay. >> Does that seem to help? >> I believe that um students who are in such a low percentile rank, it's going to take a long time to see that growth, >> but we're putting supports in place. So, yes, small steps, small growth um that we can monitor for that. What did y'all see specifically that third and fourth grade have been struggling with? >> Yeah. So, I think this all comes down to how math switches in third grade multiplication and how in you know they've been practicing addition and subtraction up until and so now in third grade they have to do it all and it's hard to become proficient at that and kids kind of fall all over the place. I think that's what we're seeing in the third and fourth grade math because in third grade they're supposed to have mastered all their multiplication facts. Well, that takes oftentimes longer than third grade and so we also see that fourth grade struggles with that. Um, and I think with I Ready, they have the try, discuss, connect framework. And so kids are looking at math differently and exploring with math. And I think all those things just haven't translated yet into the growth. But having the I Ready rep come in u meet with those teachers specifically, kind of touch point with them about what's working and what's not and kind of um assess the problem that way I think is going to help. Do you think that teachers understand how to use the data that they're given from the assessment and the day-to-day >> to really change instruction cuz it's difficult >> and I don't well I mean I'm just saying because I use it >> and I haven't had training. I'm I'm digging in myself. >> See and I think that's extra hard because we >> it is extra hard. We do provide the I Ready support through PLC and teachers throughout the year continuously have a touch point where they can get more support and more professional learning. So, um I wish you taught Scott County. [laughter] >> Well, you know, and this is the other thing that I was going to say. Um my data is really good because I teach a song for all the >> and my kids know how to multiply and you can do it in a week. >> They just sing the song every day. So, I need to maybe get the song. >> There you go. >> I won't charge. [laughter] >> I don't think you're >> I just remember Jill [laughter] Wells taught me my multiplication tables. We used to do them in fourth grade when I was at Southern. I can still remember Miss Wells at her desk and I have to go up. >> I do. >> The bulletin board had all the multiplication tables and it was like a little race, like a horse race. >> You would have them memorized and got you run up and you tell them to at the desk and if you screwed up, you had to go back and start up. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Uh Joel's like DT's mom. Joelle's I also had Joelle D's mom. [laughter] >> I am today's your Oh, knowing that that's DT's mom. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> Uhhuh. >> I had Joelle's in this building. >> Did you really? Oh, wow. >> Yeah. >> Seriously. >> Well, that is a small >> I know. >> He gets all kinds of bingo board bonus points for all of this. [laughter] Yeah, >> it all goes to Jill. It goes to Jill. [laughter] [laughter] >> I was just reminising. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Do you guys have any questions for us? >> Any more questions? >> Good. >> No. >> Thank you. Appreciate it. >> Number nine. Now I can do the math. [laughter] Presentation of the fiscal year 2025 financial audit completed by Barn Teddy. >> I bet you're wishing you snuck up here the first time. [laughter] >> And my apologies, too. That's on me. We We maybe should have switched things around. Sorry. >> Oh, we got a new style. >> Greetings. And while he's passing this out, I just um Gina is with family in Texas this week. So um so just, you know, that's why if you're wondering where Gina's at, that's >> I know. [clears throat] >> All right. So, um I just realized >> I just handed you uh a copy of the final audit report and the uh a presentation. I'm just going to go through the presentation as a highlight of everything that went on. Um this is uh the audit report for the fiscal year 25 audit that we were engaged to do. Um the financial statements as well as the single audit which looks at federal fund compliance. um for the district. [clears throat] Uh some required communications, auditor and management responsibilities. Um the financial statements are your responsibility. We as auditors uh perform risk based auditing. So we look at the riskiest areas. We perform most testing in those areas. Um so we do not provide absolute assurance but reasonable assurance. Um we do get an understanding of the internal controls of the uh district but this is not an internal control audit. Um and then the engagement letter has additional responsibilities for management and uh us as auditors. [clears throat] The executive summary page um has the good news. Uh we issued an unmodified or clean opinion uh on both the financial statements and the major federal programs and that's the best opinion you can get. Um, we received excellent cooperation from Gina and her team. Um, Gina is is the main point person that we make requests from, but I know she's got a lot of help from a lot of different people. So, [clears throat] um, she's great to work with. Uh, no disagreements or difficulties encountered during the audit and, uh, there were no consultations with other independent accountants. Um, or else we would communicate those to you. Uh there was a new uh Gazsby standard that was implemented in the current year, Gazsby 101. Uh which deals with compensated absences. Uh it basically kind of uniformly um uh all local governments have different you know acred leaves. So they could have annual leave, sick leave, vacation, PTO and uh they were all being calculated and u measured in different ways. Okay. So this kind of uniformly um puts all that under one umbrella and this is how you calculate it and determine. So uh that is uh described in the financial statements and that impact on the financial statements as well. Um there were no internal control matters that are reportable. We were not made aware of any matters related to fraud or illegal acts or we would communicate those to you but there were none that we encountered during the audit. And then uh the management representation letter is attached. They're the last couple pages of this presentation. This is the letter that we get from management at the conclusion of the audit that basically says we cooperated during this process. We gave you all the records that you requested and um you know we're we've communicated everything that we're aware of as far as the financial statements goes. So you can peruse through that as well. And then I have a couple slides related to uh the financial statement trends. Um assets and deferred outflows have been increasing. Um liabilities did increase in 2025 related to a new bond during the year fiscal year 25. And then um your net position continues to increase consistently year-over-year um which is great. Revenues exceeding expenditures every year. On the next page, you'll see a line graph of the revenues and expenses districtwide. Um, and again, that blue line is consistently over the the orange line, um, exceeding the expenditures. This does include the impact of the pension liability, the statewide pension liability and the other post-employment benefit plan, um, which is obviously out of the district's control. But as those actuary reports determine what the li the share of the liability for the district is that impact gets reflected in the financial statements as well. [snorts] We also like to show the general fund balances. So, uh, we have the balance sheet trends again very similar to the district-wide assets increasing, liabilities remaining relatively, uh, low and consistent with prior years. And then your revenues consistently exceeding your expenditures every year. And then that, uh, revenues and expenses are on the next page. Similar trends. Um and then the last slide here is the revenues over expenses for food service. Uh past two years, so 23 and 24 expenses had uh exceeded revenues. Um in 25 that flipped. So there was more revenues and expenses for the food service uh fund uh due to more lunchroom sales and less uh contract services and materials in that fund. >> [snorts] >> And that's >> and I think that'd be an example of where we've that you're identifying a trend that we had noticed oursel and we've taken measures to rectify. So I'm excited to see what next year. So [laughter] um and then um Gina has my contact information and and we like to say we're your auditors all year round. So if there anything comes up, any issues, please feel free to contact us. And if you all read through the final report and have questions or would like to discuss anything with me directly, Gina has my contact information. So you can >> Gina and you know Gina has more direct uh engagement with with your all's firm than I do. But she speaks very highly and really appreciates the cooperation and and just uh the professionalism that your all's organization exhibits. So I just wanted to say thank you. >> Appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Amen. >> Yes. Yes, that is. [snorts] >> Yes. >> Number 10. Approve to amend the 2025 2026 school calendar. Billy, do you have any comments or >> um I hope this is the last time we have to amend it. >> Amen. [laughter] >> But anything you like to magically throw in there? Oh, just um as I recall, it was like right after uh a board meeting that Snowmageddon 2026 happened. So, we've got a lot of things that um or actually I take that back. We had we had already kind of created the agenda and then we started having some days creep in there that might have impacted some of this. So, um yeah, it's um it it tracks with where I think we've communicated we are and that is um we will finish up school um just before June 1st and then I think the last day for teachers I think is June >> 1st. Yes. Yes. So, um yes. So anyway, um and we at this point just as far as a what do we still have um at our disposal? Um I believe we still have three NI days and we have if we had to March 16th if we had to take that day away although um Paul um made a pretty strong um um and convincing argument for why I'd really hate to have to do that. So uh we we will see. We will see. I will say this too. Um we did come d we've come dangerously close this week to having to uh shutter our doors because of illness both staff and students. So um it's >> and bus drivers >> that's part of our staff. So yes. Yes. >> I just want to clarify that. >> Well, correct. Y >> you were absent today. 12. Yep. >> Uh I don't I'm not sure about today's numbers. Yeah. I'm not sure about today's numbers. Um but t Tuesday was uh Tuesday was was um significant um that was a significant day for that was staff significant day and students. So um so hopefully you know we can make it to the weekend and we can get everybody uh a few days away from each other and heal up and have your chicken noodle soup and do your high kicks or whatever it is that brings you joy and happiness and uh >> 62 and sunny tomorrow. I mean there we go. There we go. Well, [clears throat] you know, our energy manager back there, he makes sure we've got the appropriate uh appropriate clean air coming in all of our buildings, too. So, >> pressure filter, right? >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Is there any discussion from the board? >> No. Do I have a motion? >> I move. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Those opposed? Motion carries. >> Number 11, approve or ratify school bus mechanic position. Move second. >> Any discussion? >> All in favor? >> I. >> Those opposed? Motion carries. >> Approve risk comprehensive program plans fiscal year 2026 through 2028. >> So move. >> Second. >> Any discussion? All those in favor? >> I. >> All those opposed. Motion carries. Number 13. Approve addendum between goofan agreement and Scott County Board of Education from July 1st 26 through June 30th of 29th. >> So move second. >> Any discussion? All in favor? >> I. >> Those opposed? Motion carries. Number 14. Accept and award bid to replace repair existing dugouts at Lemons Mill Elementary Softball field. Second. >> Any discussions? All in favor? >> I. >> Those opposed? Motion carries. Number 15. Accept and award bid to replace existing gym sound system at Royal Spring Middle School. >> So move second. >> Any discussion? All in favor? >> Those opposed? Motion carries. Number 16. Renewal of award for depository pay for the 2026 2027 school year. >> Second. >> Any discussion? All those in favor? >> I. >> Those opposed? Motion carries. Number 17, renewal of award for bus driver and classified employee physicals and administration of the DOT substance abuse program for the 2026 2027 school year. >> Second. Any discussion? All those in favor? >> I. >> Those opposed? Motion carries. Number 18, renewal of award for drug testing services bid 2026 through 2027. Some move. >> Second. >> Any discussion? All those in favor? >> Those opposed? Motion carries. Approve surplus items as submitted. >> So move. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> Yeah, I got a question. >> Sure. What's the uh general uh lifespan on a Chromebook? Like when we're seeing these Chromebooks being um surplus, what should we assume given normal wear? How old should we assume that Chromebook is? Those Chromebooks. >> So they would usually have we have every [clears throat] four years I remember we did that >> but we still repurpose those and a lot of times we're taking out >> I was just kind of curious. I know we discussed that whatever how many years ago we went one to one but it's been a minute. So I just kind of but it can go beyond but we kind of do about >> Gotcha. Because when we you know when we the reason we give is that does no longer meets the KTS standard. I didn't know if there was something immediate about that like >> they don't have like reading anymore. [laughter] >> Sure. Right. Yeah. I just didn't know like the Windows updates if you couldn't get the Windows 95. >> No, most of them some of them some of them do. A lot of those bill 3100s they have they've met their end of flight. But we do we try to purchase things like years in advance. So that's not a lot of >> before we got into it. >> Oh yeah. Okay. Fair enough. Fair enough. Good question. >> All those in favor? >> I. >> Those opposed? Motion carries. >> Number 20 is our financial statement. >> And so again, Gene is out. So those uh the financial statement as you know that that's been provided for you. It's within there and she didn't give me a cheat sheet of all the wonderful things that that she would want to stay say. But of course you all know I mean you can read them. But not only that, too. You all know that you can reach out if you've got any questions to either me or Gina. >> Okay. Thank you. Number 21, approve current bills. >> Second. >> Any discussion? All those in favor? >> I. Those opposed? Motion carries. Number 22. Uh Josh, can you start the clock, please? [laughter] >> How much time do I get? Go get >> 30 seconds. >> He said on the clock. [laughter] >> All right. Are we ready? >> All right. Standard one, uh, strategic leadership. I went attended with GINA the UK economic outlook conference. Uh we've attended this multiple times. Uh it's it's neat because there's really not any school folks there. It's banking folks. It's uh insurance type folks. Um this topic, one of the topics that really stuck out to me this year was they looked at natural disasters and the economic impact both positive and negative that that plays into. Ironically, there was a corridor of us, Grant County, and I can't remember which other one, three counties kind of in the row that didn't experience so much significant disaster over the course of the year that they qualified for federal and state funding. There was like seven counties in the whole state. It was kind of mind-blowing to me that there was that much going on across the state and it's kind of like we dodged many bullets there. um instructional leadership. Lemons Mill had a guest speaker uh Iniola uh Shakunby, sorry. Um she this was something that was arranged by Melissa Clay. She does a fabulous job over there. This was um really to me it fit a lot with leader and me because this was a student from Connecticut that had a problem with air quality in her area. She came up with a solution. She speak to spoke to legislators and basically this was kind of an empowerment kind of thing from my perspective for students to see look you matter. You can make a difference. Um you have a voice. It was really really powerful. The fifth graders there had a chance to engage with her directly um and and we had representatives from Kentucky state government there um as well to participate. Um our 4T Academy was visited by Commissioner Fletcher a few weeks ago. he had an opportunity to uh to see that and um and we talked a little bit about JOTC that was coming that's also going to be housed in that same location. And then today, just today, the Kentucky Board of Education hosted um a special called meeting at ECS and it was for high school transformation workg group. Um and they had a number of people there from the Kentucky Chamber. Um they had uh people from all across the state, some school folks, some economic type folks. Um and anyway, just talking about ideas and ways to try and create for a more positive experience uh in those school district or in all school districts. And we did have three students that presented um about their school experience. Um they did a just a really powerful powerful presentation. They did a great job. Um cultural leadership, Stella Walters, we recognized her at the Battle of the Birds and Stella is a mainstay in Sky County schools. And uh it was that was really nice. She she pulled a Stella and grabbed the mic and told everybody what she wanted to tell them and I mean it was as it was just as authentic Stella as you could get. >> Uh human resources leadership planning for allocations meetings with principles. Those have been delayed a little bit more than uh most years because of Oxford Elementary and some of the planning with that and how that impacts open enrollment. Uh we did select the next principal of Great Crossing High School, Jenna Landacre. So that is uh that's out there. We've got that done and we've got uh we've we've also uh done some other things, but I was more directly involved in this one. So that's why I'll talk about this one. And then again, thank you all for the bus garage uh the bus I'm sorry, the bus mechanic position. Um we um we have had a really difficult time with people being on leave back in our bus garage. Uh I mean kind of unprecedented. And again, this isn't a situation like in a in a school where we have substitute teachers on call. Diesel mechanics are just very hard to find. So, um I appreciate what you all have done for us there to try and um put us in a put us in a in a good position to where we can keep our bus our buses safe and our students safe. Um school closures and facility preparations under managerial leadership. I don't really I mean not a lot to say there. It was what it was. And then under collaborative, we did have a lot of communi communication and coordination between the city, the county, and the state road departments and ourselves. Greg and his team did a phenomenal job. And I would say that some of the reasons we were able to come back as soon as we were was because our teams tackled what we could as fast as we could and therefore we didn't have the freezing and refreezing day after day that turned it into a block of ice that was impossible to move. Last but not least, influential leadership. Um, I really really appreciate Matt Nun um and um his willingness to um to carry Senate Bill uh 124, which is the um teacher choice um sick day cash out program. And um that's again just an idea that um I'll I'll just be excited to see to see where it goes. And while me and Gina were driving to the economic um outlook conference, she came up with a number of ideas of ways that if that rolls that we may be able to incentivize that for our teachers, maybe providing like if they they participate up to this much, maybe the district can kicks in a percent or 2% some way to kind of entice our people to invest. And I know when I started in 2000, I still remember in Franklin County, we had a program where if you participated, then they would give you, I think, a 1% or something that they would contribute on your behalf. And I recall um the fact that everybody was saying, well, you know, you're giving away free money if you don't participate. And so >> that was my first experience with investments. And um that's I think that might be a little bit of a nugget that I might come to you all in the future and say, "Hey, what do you all think about this?" and see if that's something that we might want to do. But again, Gina's a she is just a minefield of ideas. But um anyway, that's all I got. >> Who will that What group of teachers did you say that that would help? >> So technically any teacher, but >> so a 29 year >> Well, if if I'm Well, I'm not quite 29, but I'm I'm pretty close there. Um I I will I would not participate because tiers one and one through three we are in a spot where the value of those sick days at the end >> is more than if we were to take it out and invest it. Now if you're a tier four person the math that we've ran is if you are a tier four teacher you withdraw as many days as you can every year once you get to the point where you can and you put that into a 457 vehicle. put it in like a total stock market index fund, assume a 10% draw or a 10% um increase in in that investment every year. If you do a 4% draw at the end, essentially it'd be about five times um five times more that you'd have at the end by doing that in tier 4 than if you kept it in the system. And then >> because you get out of kick and not >> because well I mean the way it just works out is the compounding of interest or or the compounding of that investment over that time would be such that it's so much higher versus just using in the system. The other benefit to that is if they take it out and it doesn't apply towards TRS it's not impacting the the TRS burden. So they're getting more and they're getting it from somebody other than the district or um the state. So, it's a benefit taxpayers in that way. Again, it's a benefit to the individual in that way. Um, and if it incentivizes them to try and hang on to their days, it's a benefit to our students. So, >> who's considered to cheerful? >> Uh, if you were hired after January 1st, 2022. So, the babies. >> Yep. >> So, does this money, if you chose to take it out and put it in investments, go to a certain financial management firm or is it all you're all on your own? >> It's just your own. So, like for instance, um at retirement oftent times when people uh cash out their sick days, oftentimes there's an opportunity to slip that straight into an investment. Um it'd be that same kind of opportunity where they could at the time that they're withdrawing, it's a okay, do you want this directly or do you want to participate by putting it into a vehicle like a 457 or 403b. So that would be where they would make that make that call or that decision, but technically it's their money to do that with and uh there's no obligation of of necessarily how how that works. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> I'm polished on that one. I've had a lot of time speaking on that one. >> Yes, you have. Thank you. >> All right. Well, let's jump to board comments. Illinois, if you'd like to start out. >> Uh, yes, we have a new face and there she is. >> Yeah. [laughter] >> Congratulations. >> Congratulations. >> Yeah. >> Yep. Kelly Beckett's in the room. She was hired as our director of secondary schools. And that was one I didn't handle. That was one that uh Miss Emmens took care of and chaired for us. So, yes, congratulations. We're really excited. And we just got back from our school board annual conference was very interesting came up had a class on meeting on AI did. So I told her the fear is less go >> [clears throat] >> So anyway, it's very worthwhile and it was fun. Always learn about people that associated with your way from home, whether it be a surprise or anyway. >> Chuck, I thought she was talking about Chuck over there. [laughter] >> I think she was. Susan, >> avoid the flu. >> Thank you. >> Words from the wise. There you go. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Avoid the flu. >> That's the truth, Becky. >> Okay. Just a couple of quick notes of appreciation. One, tagging on to what Billy said about the the roads. I really appreciate the way the district and the community, local roads work together. I was uh having traveled into other communities surrounding I was very impressed and proud of ours and how we were able to get kids back to school just as quickly as humanly possible through that collaboration. Um, also u mentioning the school board tagging conference tagging on to Ellaner. Brena does an awful lot of work to um help us prepare and then gives us wonderful handouts to keep us organized where we need to be making sure we get the credits we get and um I don't think we can do it without her. Thanks. [applause] >> Go ahead. Well, I truly enjoyed this past weekend getting to, you know, hang out and talk and getting to know >> and take classes. >> Yeah. What did you say? >> And take classes. >> Oh, I thought you said something else. And take classes. >> Oh, yeah. I was >> I wanted you to add that. Yeah. >> Yeah. I mean, I did the three-hour AI training, so I feel like Yeah, it was it was I felt like this year was probably the best year as far as the what we learned. So, make sure you let them know. I mean, it's it was different and it was good and the leaders were good. >> The the speakers the presenters were amazing. >> One of the the presenter Renie is going to mentor my son. >> Wow, that's awesome. >> Yeah, seriously. >> He has his telephone number. Um cuz my son is a small football player and I felt like they had the same story and so he's going to mentor it. But I do want one I want to say one thing and I had to write it. Um happy Black History Month. It's ending and I have a little black history about Scott County schools that I wanted to read. So y'all just it's two pages. It won't be very long. Okay. Take my glasses off so I can read. All right. So the road the long road to the boardroom a Scott County story. Now if you're looking at this room right now, it seems very modern as a boardroom. You see the microphones, the digital agenda, the comfortable chairs. But the story of the leaders that we celebrate tonight didn't start in a boardroom like this. It started in a rented house in the spring of 1866. So let's talk about the architect during this time. Just imagine a colored school board director director's room in Scott County. They had no tax revenue. They had no um government building. The Freriedman's Bureau gave them simple and daunting challenge. find a building and then we'll help you find teachers. Our community didn't hesitate. So, they rented a house, gathered 20 students, and charged the students a $150 a month for tuition. They rented this house for these this this group of people. And even though they had called it Scott County, the heart of Scott County, it was full of orphans and families in need who went to this school that was for free. or school, the freed school. From those humble roots, um, it grew giants like Charles Steel, I'm celebrating, who led the Boston school in the Chambers Avenue for decades, and Ed Davis, whose name still rings a bell in our history books as a beacon of excellence. These pioneers weren't just educators, they were guardians of a dream. They kept the rented rooms in Rosenol in Rosenwall school in Sadieville in in New Zeal. They kept the lights on for the Peach Orchard School that burned down in 1898. And they kept the books open until the school of Scott County High finally swung its uh doors wide for integration in 1956. So, let's think about the trailblazers. Who are the trailblazers? Well, from the centuries, there were leaders inside and outside. But in 1967, about exactly 110 years after the first community board was formed, Mr. Luther Mason was made the first African-American schoolboard member in Scott County. Now, Luther didn't just break the ceiling. He solidified his place and he stood in distinction for n for 14 years. Now, I didn't I guess I just didn't know this, but his wife actually came after him. I thought she came before, but Ann Mason stepped up to the plate. >> You served after again. >> Yeah. Uhhuh. And and she didn't just, you know, seal the deal. She also was a board chair for many years. So together, the Mason showed us this what school board supervision and service is is all about. It was a family calling. And we all know now that we have a school named after Luke, I mean after an a torchbearer. The calling was Phyllis Young. And Phyllis Young was the um third African-American board member in Scott County. In 2010, she was she also remained very influential. Did was that me to say good? Uhuh. >> Sorry. [laughter] That's my phone. That's my phone. >> That's awesome. >> Okay. So, I'm almost finished. She took >> My phone went off. Sorry. she took off the value of she also was um the district atlarge Kentucky school board association member which I did not know that um she made sure that decisions that were made here in Scott County was also affected in Frankfurt and today we see that same fire and the senorita >> Wendy Young I didn't just walk into my seat I earned it um I earned this spot I I was appointed in 2022 and then I also faced voters twice. I won twice. And I want you to know that I understand that um the work of education is never finished. It requires a constant energy, a thick skin and a servant's heart. Last paragraph, our legacy. So we are celebrating Black History Month. Just I want you to remember that we're not just talking about their history, but this is our history. From teachers in 1895 who were paid $34 a month to the Masons who navigated the 70s and 80s and the young teen leading today. Our children are not children um of just Scott County. They're not the children of a zip code or a color of their skin should never be a barrier to their potential. To the pioneers who helped us get to where we are, we want to just say thank you. We are here today because of you. That was my black history. [applause] >> Thank you for that. >> You're welcome. Yeah. And so I I got a lot of this off of um Northern Kentucky. They have a lot of this information. So I learned a lot. >> Thank you for sharing. >> You're welcome. >> Thank you. Well, on a different note, number 24, move to close session pursuant to KRS61.8101F to discuss student disciplinary matters. >> So move second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Those opposed? Motion carries. >> Now it's great show.