Board Meeting - Special Meeting

Tuesday, April 28, 2026
Transcript
Video
Agenda

About this meeting

Government Body
Board Meeting
Meeting Type
Board Meeting
Location
Montgomery, AL
Meeting Date
April 28, 2026

Transcript

66 sections (from 165 segments)

7:06 – 7:440

Greetings to all of you that have joined us today, both in person and virtually. Today is April 28th, 2026. The time is now 1000 a.m. Thank you for joining us for our special called meeting. Um, I am Pamela Poris, president of the school board. We welcome all school board members. We have established a quorum today. May I hear a motion to approve the agenda as printed? Madame President, I move that we approve the agenda as printed. I second it.

7:42 – 9:410

It has been moved and second that the agenda be approved as printed. Is there any discussion on this matter? Hearing no discussion, may I see a show of hands of all those in favor? The vote is unanimous. Now we will receive his information from Dr. Ford uh the director of strategy and innovation job description as well as the director of virtual learning education technology Dr. Ford and Dr. King. Um, thank you. Uh, good morning. Good morning, uh, Superintendent Dr. Bird. Uh, board members, uh, I I wanted to, uh, present this as information. one correction that I want to make for it's the director of virtual learning uh for uh this particular uh position. So I do apologize. It says director of a virtual school but we don't have a school as of yet. So both of these job descriptions are uh being repurposed and uh consolidated to better serve the district and its capacity as well for for the virt director of virtual school learning and educational technology. That is a a a position that will provide leadership on the ver virtual school that is really coming on uh online as well as uh address some of the educational technology needs of the

9:38 – 11:040

teachers in terms of uh what teachers will need uh to meet the state guidelines regarding educational technology. So this position uh actually uh and the job duties and responsibility will show uh the leadership over the virtual learning and then whereas also the leadership of educational technology. Uh the second position is director of strategy and innovation. what that position uh does. It was originally designed uh on under Avalor tax to actually oversee uh more than just the magnet schools. It was designed to also oversee uh charter schools. And so part of uh this particular position is to uh reintroduce the position as it was intended because the funding source does uh speak to uh virtual magnet and virtual school as well as uh alignment with uh the district strategic plan and the key initiatives. Dr. King, would this be uh this repurposed uh description be for the replacement of Doc uh Match?

11:00 – 11:400

Yes, ma'am. Yes, ma'am. And let me get make this clear again for me. So, this position would cover the virtual school, the magnet schools, and the charter schools. No, that's under director of strategy and innovation is the uh magnet and charter schools under director of strategy innovation. The director of virtual learning is education. Just wanted to make sure that was clear. Okay. Yes ma'am. So it's just the one that is being re repurposed strategy for innovation job description is magnet and charter. Yes ma'am. Okay. Thank you.

11:42 – 11:540

Any more questions? It's not necessarily say a question, but the way that you guys have targeted, especially the, you know, to repurpose it. Yes, ma'am.

11:52 – 12:540

The way you guys have targeted, I think it's a reminder to the public to central office. It's it's not just a filling of somebody that's leaving. I think it's it targets just through the name only and shows how much how hard the board, Dr. Bird and the central office have have stopped and said, "Hey, let's target this. Let's pinpoint this." And just in the name itself, whoever takes this job knows exactly what they're doing. More so, what it does when you see when we had dropped enrollment through like, think about it, charter schools. Now, we're accepting the the charter schools. Not only that, we we we looked at I love how Dr. bird takes things that sometimes look negative and says, "Okay, let's work with this negative and make this negative positive."

12:51 – 13:310

And that's why, you know, on a daily basis, I look at us and I'm I'm so proud that God led us to put the right people in place because each each every board member here makes sense and is a piece of what is happening. This is going when you look at especially the virtual you look at will barfoot's uh choose act or the the choice act we have it it's here whether we liked it or not we look at as negative but now we're not we are we have now set us up as a state-ofthe-art you know on technology

13:29 – 13:580

we will I want I hope the public knows and sees our enrollment not only just dual enrollment has tripled under Dr. Bird, but now our just enrollment period with something like this. And when you add innovation to it, hey, it's a no-brainer for me and I'm just proud of the whole team that put it together. Thank you.

13:54 – 14:390

Yes, I just have one point of clarity. Give me the exact title of the job because you said something different than what's printed and we need clarity. Yes ma'am. The the and I apologize for that but it should be the director of virtual learning and educational technology and part of that is because uh we are in the initial phases of bringing a virtual school on board. It will become a virtual school when we reach 250 students and then that then will become its own cost center. So, but right now in the initial phase is it's directive early early I mean virtual learning and educational technology

14:370

and I apologize Dr. King I thought I said it I should have made it known that it was a change.

14:43 – 16:420

Yes ma'am. So that that's a good uh clarification that my apologies. Any other questions or comments? Okay. Thank you all. Our next order of business is special education and recruitment incentives by Miss Katrina Jackson. Miss Jackson, welcome. Good morning, Madame Chair, vice chair, board members, Dr. Bird. I'm here to um for you to receive as information a recruitment and retention proposal so that we can make sure that we are shoring up our vacancies in special education. We have done a comparison with Tuscaloosa City, Elmore County, and some other surrounding districts to see what incentives are making the most traction and would make the most sense for our district. So, um, we are proposing a recruitment and retention bonus for special education teachers and for PA paraprofessionals and registered behavior technicians for a period of two uh, three years 2006 to 2009. The cost would be splitfunded with special ed funds and advalorum designated for hardto staff positions. Um the potential cost would be 1.1 million. Each special ed teacher aid and RBT would have to commit to three years. We do have um defined eligibility criteria built into this proposal as well as accountability measures. um the conditional award clause that the district reserves the right to withhold or revoke under certain conditions. And

16:38 – 17:360

each um participant would have to sign a financial agreement that they understand and agree um what their requirements are in order for them to receive this supplement each year for three years. And we will also do conduct an annual review so that we can look at the effectiveness of this and to ensure that the intended goals have been met which would include um to reduce the turnover and provide continuity of services for students with disabilities. um we will be able to save right now when we are staffing through contracted services. We would ex we are spending well over the 1.1 million that this supplement would um provide for permanent teachers have any

17:31 – 18:080

Thank you so much. Any questions? Okay. one um is a question and one is a suggestion. Um I know you said you covered the part on accountability. I I totally agree with the special education. We have a special education problem across the country. It's not just Montgomery. And I love the idea that you're doing incentives. We need the incentives. But here's my first question. When will that supplement be paid? Is it paid monthly? No. Yeah.

18:06 – 18:440

Is it paid at the beginning? Because I hope not because we are losing teachers or the average teacher leaves us in three years. And let's look at it. Dr. Angie Pelton has the um has the the um residency group which needs to be expanded by the way. Um and kudos to to what she's doing. But what I'm saying here is these incentives we've got to put money in. Not I want to make sure that on an accountability issue that they're not paid. How are they paid? That's my question. How are they paid?

18:41 – 19:230

So, it would be paid twice a year in two installments in August and in June of the following year. So, at the beginning of the school year and at the end of the school year and what what if I'm just going there. So, you pay it that you pay at the beginning in August and by October they leave. Well, um, in our previous financial agreement, we do have a, um, stipulation in there from where we have done this before that if they leave the before the term is up, then they would have to return a portion. Um, and it's based on a percentage um, based on how long that they're actually staying, a percentage of that would have to be repaid to the district.

19:21 – 19:370

Okay. And the I just I'm just making sure that's me. I mean, I think it's a great idea. I'm not putting it down at all. It's just died. I just look at how many teachers are leaving. My next and I've said this before. I know you've told me, you and I have talked

19:33 – 20:340

about um programs that what I don't understand is why if we are paying dual enrollment for grades 10 through 12, you know, all the way uh you know to an associates degree, why can we not help these teachers, especially um our new teachers that you got to understand when the when the when these teachers come to our emer on emergency certificates, they went four years to college just like we did. And then we pull them in, we pay them the same thing that we pay every teacher. And then we go, "Oh, guess what? You're not certified. So, you've got to go spend literally $20,000 more to get certified in three years." And guess what? They say they're going to do it. They don't. And we're I mean, common sense, we're losing them in three years. So, why can we not somewhere sit down and come up if we're paying dual enrollment for 10 through 12? How can we not help those new teachers by paying a portion of their education?

20:32 – 21:010

Dr. Keith, is this still special education? It Well, yeah, it could go straight for special education. Okay. It I think it would get we we would gain more teachers in that, but I'm covering I don't want to do just that. I think all these emer if you stand in the shoes of these 500 plus teachers. Oh, I get it. I just want to make sure that I just want, you know, I'm expanding it out to the point

20:59 – 21:420

because I mean it I'm it's very heartfelt and what I'm saying is that we've in an incentive doesn't have to be a bonus that's paid twice a year. An incentive is hey, we're going to pay for your education just like we if we can do it for 10th through 12th graders, we can do this for our teachers that want to serve for us to serve our children. May I make a suggestion to you then? and and I I'd love your question that deserves a space for new business in May. So, think about that and and bring that back to because you're right, if they are incurring costs and we're paying them, what can we do a little bit different to offset it? So, will you do that for us?

21:41 – 22:070

Yes, I wouldn't. Thank you. Thank you. Also uh to add to that as well, I think that that's a wonderful idea and that is also something that we can look at uh we can get with federal programs to actually to see how we can make that happen. So we can definitely have some further discuss and we've got a a good guy Jason over that and um and we've been planning on a meeting. Let's let's let's do that soon. Gotcha. Got to

22:04 – 23:340

also too uh Mr. Jackson uh your presentation wasn't uploaded. Uh so the board members they need to know how much the incentive is per year. Yes, sir. So, that for special education teachers, new and existing, it would be $4,000 a year for three years only, $2,000 in two installments. Um, $2,000 in August, $2,000 in June. Um, at the end of that school year, it's a three-year commitment. For self-contained special education teachers, they would be offered the 4,000 plus an additional $1,000 um which they would be paid in two installments as well. So that would be $2500 in August and $2,500 in June for the self-contained special education teachers. So, they would get an additional supplement on top of the 4,000. Um, special education pair professionals and registered behavior technicians, new and existing, a $1,000 supplement, $500, two installments of August and June, three-year commitment as well. and the self-contained pair of professionals would be given an additional 500 on top of the 1,000 to be pl um paid 750 in August and in June.

23:35 – 24:180

Please make sure that that's uploaded uh today so board members can have it. Absolutely. Yes, sir. There any additional questions? It would be those teachers that are on a temporary special education certification. There aren't any emergency certificates for special education teachers. U Miss Okay, Miss Smith. Um it answered your question. And this would if approved, this would start this year. Yes, ma'am. Division. Okay. 26 27. Okay.

24:16 – 24:510

Any other questions or comments? Yes, I have a comment. Thank you for being innovative and being proactive because special ed educators are hard to come by. Other counties are stealing from us. And I don't blame them because I wouldn't mind stealing from them. and maybe this will help us get people in place because we are in desperate need of sped educators and aids. So, thank you for being proactive on this. Yes, ma'am.

24:49 – 26:100

Okay. Crazy. I know you think I'm pestering you and this is because I'm I'm a digger. I want to understand that. You said this is uh recruitment. Okay. I mean, if you look at the it's special education and recruitment incentives. Why why wouldn't we want to recruit some of our emergency s the five the the in that 500? Why wouldn't we want to target some of those as as a as a why can't why don't we want to recruit them that do you see what I'm saying? We if if we're just recruiting somebody that already has their their certification why are we not targeting those five those 500 and saying hey look what we have here. Okay. So that that's not exactly the um the case. So there are several alternative pathways to become certified as a special education teacher. So for the TC program for example, that's the temporary special education certificate and it's for secondary only grades 6 through 12. So if a person has a bachelor's degree, then they are eligible with of course the the required grade point average to enroll in a temporary program, a TE program.

26:09 – 26:240

Yes, ma'am. That's what you and I had spoken about. So they do have the opportunity. So this does not exclude um this is open to anyone who has a degree and who has an interest in becoming a special education.

26:22 – 26:580

Thank you for clarifying. Yes, ma'am. And and we also have um the state department offers a grant for the TC teachers because there's a requirement of six modules. And I did apply for the grant and we're waiting on the award letter that teachers are reimbursed. The TC teachers are reimbursed $600 for every module that they complete. And they also get $1,400 for passing the practice for a total of $5,000. So, we we're trying to find ways to supplement their um financial cost to go back to school. Yes, sir.

26:56 – 27:360

Thank you for explaining that further down because we have people listening and so that's important for everyone to know what's going on. So, thank you because the state's working with us now. That that is they're hearing our cries of help and we're at the job fair tomorrow. We will have the universities that offer those alternative programs there to answer questions and we'll be there as well. Our department Multiplay. Yes, ma'am. Yeah. Would you just say that out loud? Oh, yeah. Um, the NPS job fair tomorrow, April 29th, 900 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the U Crampton Bowl Multiplex.

27:36 – 27:530

Thank you so much. Yes, ma'am. Jackson. All right. Next item, our consent agenda. Um, Dr. Bird, I was

27:52 – 28:270

Thank you, Madam President. Yes, ma'am. Superintendent requests your approval of consent action items 5 A through 5C. I move that we um do the consent agenda one item at a time um because there's some need for clarity. Okay. Can I have a second on that motion? Second. I second.

28:24 – 29:060

Okay. It has been moved and second that these items be considered um separately individually. Um, so we'll Dr. Bird if we can do a Oh, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. The motion has been moved and second. Uh, any discussion on that? May I see a show of hands? Those in favor? Okay. Motion carries. We will consider them individually. Superintendent request your approval of action item 5A, non-resident enrollment policy.

29:030

Madame President, I move that we accept item A, non resident enrollment policy. I second. Second.

29:11 – 30:150

Okay. It has been moved and second that we accept the superintendent's recommendation for item A, non-resident enrollment policy. Is there any discussion on this matter at this time, Miss Brown? I know that um when we spoke about it in the meeting um there was a question that I raised the necessity of us having an annual uh enrollment for the non-residents and the suggestion was for us to not have annual or to consider not having annual but to accept the students who were approved, you know, as long as they are in, they're in. I would agree with what she's saying there. I I think um I know she's asking for clarity, but I think if we knew what she's saying, I think it's a very smart I totally agree um with that,

30:13 – 30:550

Madam Chair. Yes, ma'am. Uh I was I was just thinking that if we would keep a continuous policy for all magnets, it would be less confusion and and parents would know rather than having one rule for this and another rule for that confusion uh would take place. So a standard would be good. Okay. So back to Miss Are you okay? Yes ma'am. Yes, we can ask. Yes, ma'am. We can do that. But let me make sure I understand. So are we are you asking for their application to be approved annually?

30:51 – 31:220

No. Once they are approved and allowed to attend non-residential magnet or what have you once they're in and they are u meeting the requirements they shouldn't have to madam chair. Okay. I have no I I address the chair. Okay. Go ahead, Dr. Cole. Thank you.

31:19 – 32:000

I hear exactly what you're saying and I think we brought it up at the previous meeting and what board member district 6 stated. We want continuity and the fact that once a student is enrolled, if that student maintains the standard to be qualified to attend, he or she is not dismissed and told to reapply. So the continuity would be once accepted into the program, if that student maintains eligibility, that student should remain enrolled. Absolutely. Yes, ma'am. That's our

31:57 – 32:220

Okay. So my question would be then um with that understanding for approval of this item is that policy written like that or it is it is written like that. Okay. From her last um thing. Can we It was rewritten. Uh Dr. WS you mind speaking to that for just a moment please?

32:18 – 34:090

Okay. Thank you. Morning board members. So the policy as it is the policy the policy is general. So, the policy states uh simply that a student who is not a resident of Montgomery public schools can apply to uh be enrolled in Montgomery public schools. That it is based on the program that they are applying to and continuing to meet the eligibility criteria for that program. that um a fee not during 2627 but a fee may be assessed in upcoming years and that the district will not be responsible for transportation or providing any educational services outside of the district. Madame President Madam President I still didn't hear what what um Miss Brown asked. She she wants to make we are trying to make sure before we vote on this that they are treated these non-residents they are treated just like any other magnet student and if they're maintaining the grades and behavior and all that kind of stuff that they should not have to reapply every year. they should fit into the same group and we I didn't hear that and what we just heard our superintendent say is that there is a policy and we're seeing I'm seeing other people shake their heads going no there isn't so

34:060

the wording the wording uh if I may I'll read the wording that's in the policy that is proposed around that

34:14 – 34:560

before you do that let me let me remind the board it is in it is actually written in our connection that that was considered and it is not in the policy to state they would have to reapply. It's never been in there. It's general, but that was a procedural thing. It was mentioned. So, Miss Brown wanted to just clarify that in the public knowledge. It would these students will be treated just like our magnets and any other students going to school. Once you come to Montgomery public schools, correct me if I'm wrong, you're here. We intend on doing everything we can to keep you. Is that helping? Okay.

34:55 – 35:300

Go ahead, Miss Brown. Let me further clarify. Can we make change to the FAQs to make that statement? Yes, ma'am. Dr. You want to state the policy? Would you would that be helpful for that portion of the policy? You need to hear the policy again. I need to say what I was going to have intentions and I'm going to give you that opportunity. Just hold it just a second. Let's hear the policy.

35:28 – 36:020

All right. Yes, ma'am. Uh I won't Do you want it in its entirety or the section that addresses students returning? Okay. All all non-resident students attending Montgomery public schools pursuant to this policy must meet and maintain adherence to the same school requirements as resident students including but not limited to all academic and attendance requirements. Failure to do so may result in the revocation of the non-resident students enrollment. Very good. Very clear and concise. Miss Cloud, you have a comment.

35:58 – 37:050

Okay. I think that the concern here is that when we have asyncy days, some students don't show up and we don't want that to hurt our graduation rate because they will be coming in as MPS students. But if they don't attend, then we have the we have some policy that says you're not attending, you're not engaging. So therefore next year maybe it's that particular one or two pe uh student that doesn't do that but we need to have an avenue to go so it does not hurt our uh graduation rate because that affects us all. So the one year I can understand why they were doing it, but maybe we just need to put that in the policy that what you just said according to if something should happen, but make it a little bit clearer that the understanding is if you don't attend, if you don't give us the work we need for you in virtual school, that that would

37:05 – 37:420

I mean, you know, I think that's a great I think that's a great accountability. I mean, I I I agree with that because so many you can get those people that are lazy and they don't do it. Madam President, I'm sorry. I didn't have Well, the the non-resident enrollment, they're non-residents, but still when they come in here, they either come to school or they they they're because their attendance is going to be important and again, it will affect the graduation rate. So that's where I don't want it to hurt us to carry that student forward for two or three years. That's all

37:39 – 38:190

I understand what you're saying. Uh not sure so sure that's policy. I would just caution the board. We don't want to scare them before we get them. And so we don't want to have people so boxed in the intention to come to school is to come to school. So we need to figure out how to keep them coming. I is my understanding of it would be I think procedure I think you're right. I think there has to be maybe not policy to tie our hands so but more so procedure in Dr. Bird and his staff to have a idea of what to do when that occurs.

38:18 – 38:440

But I think when you lay out the standards and the and what's expected people will be adherent to that more so. I really truly do. Yeah. And I I think the policy covers that. I think it's if I'm a if I'm applying from out of state, Montgomery public school or out of town or wherever, it has told me what my baby needs to do to stay here. That's right.

38:41 – 39:280

To come here and to stay. And you all said they can stay using all the resources and they'll be welcomed every year unless something changes. Is that Are there any other questions pertaining to the policy? But that is but to your to to everyone's point that is outlined in the policy. We left it uh general enough so that it would apply uh and that statement actually says excessive absences or tardness may result in dismissal from the program. Regular attendance and punctuality are necessary to ensure students receive the full benefit of the program and to maintain program expectations. Very good, Dr. W.

39:26 – 40:070

And also and to you all's points uh as well, we'll make sure that we add some additional um language in there in our FAQs to make sure that it's clear for everyone. Very good. Thank you so much. And and as all of our policies, we'll review this again, see how it's working next year and and take a look at it again. All minds and hearts clear on this on item A. Okay. Excellent discussion. Thank you, Dr. W. Now that it has been motioned and second, discussion has been had. May I see a show of hands of all of those in favor to accept Dr. Bird's recommendation for item A? It is unanimous. Thank you very much, Dr. Bird.

40:05 – 40:320

Thank you. Superintendent requests your approval of action item 5B, K12 Learning Academy contract. I move that we accept the superintendence recommendation for K12 Learning Academy contract. I second it. It has been moved and second to accept the superintendent's recommendation for item BK12 learning academy contract. Any discussion on this item?

40:29 – 42:260

Yes, Madam Chair. Dr. Cole, I would like to start off by saying the K12 Learning Academy is an a wonderful step forward, but I do get a little bit of heartburn when I look at the contract that we have. And there are a couple of items with as ordered as ordered. And the concern and there's a third one. There's a a concern especially when it comes down to travel and training sessions. um when there are no guideposts as to how excessive those fees could get. Uh I'm pretty comfortable with the asordered on the synchronous sessions because it's limited to up to 30 enrolled students at $120. We can do that math. but on a couple of these others. Um, and again, especially the travel and housing and meals and so forth. We just don't want to be abused. And I will say the thing that made me feel most comfortable was this is a one-year contract, you know, but we're not looking for it for one year. We're going to come back and ask for a renewal. uh but I I think I wanted us to discuss it so that our colleagues would um remain conscious and aware of our budgets. We have been boasting that um we got out of financial trouble and we ended up with a

42:22 – 42:540

three three and a half month reserve. that if every chance we get, we dig into that reserve, we're going to find ourselves in trouble again. So, we don't want all of the we don't want many um open-ended items. Thank you. That's that that's Madame President. Well, Miss Sne is coming. Uh I'm sorry for

42:51 – 43:420

just a quick comment and and and just to add on to what you're saying uh Dr. Coleman, you know, we are in a economic we're in economic instability right now worldwide and we just want to make sure that every decision we make will ensure that we are fiscally responsible with the money that we're spending and that we're also making sure that we're saving for that rainy day because it's coming. you know, I live through proration and uh it's very it's really really tough. So, we want to dot every eye, cross every tea, make sure we have money to take care of our students.

43:400

Thank you, Dr. Keith.

43:42 – 45:080

Yeah. And I'm I'm going to say this and just, you know, to make it clear, we have and I I'm going to add one thing. We we um we have people a politician, not politicians that are, and I was going to say that, not politicians that to me have a personal agenda. Not against me, maybe against Jackson Hospital. There's personal agendas out there that are trying to take 4.5 million that threatened us, threatened our president, our former president and our former vice president, now president with saying if we didn't do or or put somebody in office that they didn't want and we and and they we stood up to that. Four women stood up to that and we're still standing. And I I listen to something. I listen to a song. I I feel very God- driven. You're walking through hell. You keep walking. And I'm going to keep walking. I'm not using names or office, but when you know that they stand in threat because you haven't signed a contract or anything yet and saying, "Hello, we're going to we if you all don't do this and using this over our head." It's almost like blackmail to me.

45:06 – 45:490

I'm not finished. And what I'm saying here, we just did textbooks. That's 4. They want 4.5 million there on textbooks. This here, Dr. Coleman just said Germaine to the motion. Dr. Keith. No, Dr. Coleman. Dr. Keith, we're in motion. You You have to Yeah, it's already been a motion on the floor. If you just address the travel or not only textbooks, but travel. She's right. We do. If when you know they're taking that money, they're following through on a threat. It's called coercion. I don't care how you do say it. It's coercion. Okay.

45:45 – 46:230

It's using an office who put undue. I looked it up. Thank Okay. Thank you, Dr. Keith, on that point because we're going to have Miss Sne speak with that. Miss Cloud, is this on the subject of this contract? Okay. Following up on what Miss board member, Miss Mitchell said, she's been in pration, but we cannot we have to be smart. We have to be conscientable what we're doing, but we can't stop doing what we need to do for the children.

46:19 – 46:430

I say it's a one-year contract. Let's keep an eye on it, but let's go forward with it because it helps our children. Thank you, Mr. CL to that point because I am sure that Missne has an answer that we need to hear because certainly we've not opened our checkbooks for travel that we have not considered.

46:42 – 47:330

And also uh Madam President before you go to Miss Need as well let me address that as well because as we talk about being fiscally uh responsible being fiscally responsible also entails forecasting of what is going to happen in the future. We cannot continue doing the same things that we've always done. our our enrollment has declined every year for many years. And so what we're doing is we're trying to be proactive. We're trying to be innovative. We're trying to be creative by addressing this by actually increasing our enrollment. We can't be physically responsible if we're going to continue to lose students every single year. the virtual school. The intention of the virtual school is not only to allow flexibility for our current students, but also to attract more students to Montgomery public schools. And so that is a part of actually being physically responsible.

47:31 – 48:350

Madame Chair, I do want to hear, but may I speak for just a brief moment? I think I started off by saying that this is an excellent step in the right direction. And I also said the the statements were made just so that my fellow board members would put it at the forefront of their minds that as we look at these various contracts that come through, we watch for things signals such as as ordered. I have no complaint about the concept, the idea. I know that we're moving in the right direction and I don't want my colleagues nor my constituents to think that I would ever do anything to stop innovation and progress.

48:330

Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair.

48:35 – 50:200

Thank you for all your comments. Uh I'm going to address the board now. Um so the question was about the asordered cost. So as we open up statewide enrollment that proposes other challenges that we will have to face as far as when it comes to state testing. And so that's one thing we have to consider is where the students will be coming from. So if we had a large population in North Alabama, say we'd had to rent a library for a day and we also have to pay a proctor to come in to do those tests. So if that became a situation where we needed that and we had people outside of the Montgomery radius where they couldn't test in-house in district, then we would rent a library. Say the library cost $250 for the day to rent. We would pay that and then it would cost $150 that day for the proctor. So those are the kinds of costs that we would incur if we had a large population in a certain area that were too far to travel to Montgomery. So that's where those costs would be incurred. Excellent explanation. And um it makes sense when you hear everything put together. It makes sense. But I because I think about fiscally or or financially if you go back and add up if you didn't have those students in North Alabama, what it cost us to lose them or be without, I bet you the cost would be greater. So um thank you for that. Any other concerns? And also and also too we will address those costs because we will use our own staff to actually to serve as proctors and so the only cost will be actually renting the facility but we will actually cover the proctors and our staff would actually provide the test before

50:17 – 51:020

madam chair if I may add um with the contract as well because there's an agreed agreed upon amount but if there are additional costs then those additional costs can be brought before the board again for approval so that you guys are aware. I'm glad you spoke up because now I have a task for you in the future with these contracts. It may be helpful and you all tell me if I'm wrong for you to provide that explanation to us on this contract. You're going to see this item, but know that this is what was included or considered in that. Would that help? I I it would help me. Yes, absolutely. Okay. And not only help us,

51:00 – 51:440

but we have people listening and it helps them understand and the our goal for this board, I truly believe as a whole, is to be as transparent as we possibly can be. That's the only way we're going to have buyin is transparency. Well, and we cover that greatly in these sessions because people that don't know what special call meetings are, it's to take care of the business of the board outside of the set dates. So that's what we do. We come here and this is not about each of any of us individually. It's about the business of the board and the direction the superintendent is taking us and our buy into that. So thank you. Thank you. You're welcome.

51:42 – 52:240

All right. Now that it has been discussed for the superintendent's recommendation on the consent agenda of item B, K12 learning academy contract. May I see a show of hands for all of those in favor? It is unanimous. You ladies thought I was going to forget what I was doing, didn't you? All right, Dr. Bird. Yes, ma'am. Thank you. Superintendent request your approval of action item 5C, virtual school policy update. Madame President, I move that we approve on the consent agenda item C, virtual school policy update. I second.

52:21 – 53:060

Okay, it has been moved and second. On item C, superintendent's recommendation for virtual school policy update. Is there any discussion on this matter? Hearing or seeing no discussion on this matter, may I see a show of hands or all of those in favor? It is unanimous. Okay. Dr. S for approval. Superintendent request your approval of action item 6A personnel report certified personnel. Madam chair, I move that we accept the superintendent recommendation for personnel report certified personnel.

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I second it. Item A has been moved and second according to the superintendent's recommendation. Any discussion on this matter hearing? No discussion. May I see a show of hands of all of those in favor for accepting this recommendation? It is unanimous. Thank you. Superintendent request your approval of action item 6B, supplemental personnel minutes. Madame Chair, I move we accept the superintendent's recommendation for uh a 6D supplemental personnel minute.

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A second. It has been moved and second to accept the superintendent's recommendation for supplemental personnel minutes. Is there any discussion on this item? Hearing and seeing no discussion, may I see a show of hands of all of those in favor? It has been passed. Thank you so much. I cannot before we It is unanimous. I'm sorry. Um I cannot tell you uh I tell you again before we adjourn how proud of um this board I am. Those questions are very on point. I thank you for the clarity so people will understand and know that their money is well spent, well-intentioned and our job is the business of the children and we uh come together collectively and do very well at doing that. So I thank you again. This meeting is now adjourned.

This transcript was automatically generated from the official public meeting video and is presented unedited. It reflects remarks made on the public record by elected officials, staff, and public commenters. Transcript accuracy may vary; view the original recording for reference.