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Regular Meeting / Work Session

Dates:

Tuesday, January 16, 2024 - 6:00pm

The Transylvania County Board of Education will hold a regular business meeting/work session on Tuesday, January 16, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. at the Morris Education Center, 225 Rosenwald Lane, Brevard. The meeting is open to the public. It will be livestreamed and may be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/user/tcsnc.

Groups audience:

I. OPENING OF MEETING

Invocation

Pledge of Allegiance

Call to Order

Welcome

Groups audience:

II. BUSINESS ITEMS (including amendments and rescissions):

Groups audience:

01. Approval of Agenda

Strategic Priority		Reason for Consideration
Graduates Prepared for Work, Higher Education and Citizenship		Action	X
Excellent Educators		Information
Healthy, Safe and Responsible Students		Discussion
Operations and Support	X

A motion is in order to approve or revise the meeting agenda January 16, 2024.

Groups audience:

02. Facilities Update

Strategic Priority		Reason for Consideration
Graduates Prepared for Work, Higher Education and Citizenship		Action	X
Excellent Educators		Information	X
Healthy, Safe and Responsible Students		Discussion	X
Operations and Support	X

Director Kerry Putnam will give an update on faciliteis.

Information on the RHS football field drainage and synthetic turf vs. natural grass are attached.

The contract with McGill Associates for on-call professional services is attached for your review and approval.

The board may take action to approve the contract with McGill Associates, PA for on-call professional services.

Rosman Elementary has been in need of a new HVAC system and has a fire code violation and does not have an appropriate fire rating roof. To bring it up to code, a sprinkler system needs to be installed prior to being able to renovate the air side system to replace all of the 1974 AHU's and create a new VAV/ Reheat zoned system. We need to eliminate code violations related to use of corridors as plenums and replace all lined ductwork, add sprinkler systems to eliminate code violations related to no- rated ceilings, plus replace existing chillers and boilers with a geothermal 4 pipe system. This includes replacing the existing oil fired water heater with a geothermal heat pump and replacement of the existing AHU's in the 1999 addition and the media center. This will allow the 1974 oil tank to be taken out of service which is not to code and needs to be replaced with a double wall tank. The engineers recommend replacing the roof at the end of the project as it is 25 years old and there will be 60 to 80 penetrations made during the HVAC renovations. A roof would include:

Replacing shingle roof B

Removing and replacing, in kind, the existing modified roof systems of C, D, E, F and G.

Roof Budget ---- $1,276,000.00 bringing total project to 6,731,497.00

An overhead view of the RES roof and a statement of probable construction cost for HVAC improvements are attached.

Public Attachments:

McGill Associates_On-Call Services Contract.pdf

Synthetic Turf vs Natural Grass.pdf

RHS Football Field Drainage.pdf

RES Satellite Photo of Roof Areas 1-10-24 (1).pdf

Option 3 - Geothermal Cost (1).pdf

Groups audience:

03. Public Comment

Strategic Priority		Reason for Consideration
Graduates Prepared for Work, Higher Education and Citizenship		Action
Excellent Educators		Information	X
Healthy, Safe and Responsible Students		Discussion
Operations and Support	X

The board of education, as an elected representative body of the school system, wishes to provide a forum for citizens to express interests and concerns related to the school system. In order that the board may conduct an orderly meeting while providing an opportunity for input, individuals or groups may be heard by the board in accordance with policy 2310, Public Participation at Board Meetings, or policy 2300, Board Meetings (subsection D.2).

Each month, the first part of at least one regularly scheduled board meeting will be set aside for citizens to address the board through public comment.

A sign-up sheet will be available 30 minutes before the meeting begins for any individual or group to indicate their desire to address the board.

Each speaker will receive 3 minutes to present comments. The public comment session will not exceed 30 minutes total except by majority vote of the board.

The board chair will recognize speakers in the order in which they signed in. Substitute speakers will not be permitted and speakers may not donate any portion of their time to another speaker. If a speaker is unable to present all of his or her information within the specified time limit, the speaker may provide the board with additional information in written form. If an unusually large number of people requests to speak, a majority of the board may decide to reduce the time for each individual or to require the designation of a spokesperson for each group of persons supporting or opposing the same positions. At any time, the board may establish additional procedures to ensure that public comment sessions proceed in an efficient and orderly manner.

Board members will not respond to individuals who address the board except to request clarification of points made by the presenter.

Issues involving individual personnel or student matters are confidential and, therefore, are not appropriate for the public comment session. Concerns related to personnel or student matters should be handled as a complaint and reported to the superintendent or designee.

Except in cases of emergency, information received during presentations will not be acted upon at the time it is received. It will take unanimous vote of the board members present to act on a presentation considered to be of an unusual or emergency nature at the time it is presented.

Disruptions by any person or persons of a public meeting will be subject to action in accordance with G.S. 143-318.17.

No solicitations will be allowed during public comment.

The board may choose to offer a second opportunity for public comment at the end of the meeting. Sign-ups will not be required for the second public comment opportunity.

If the board does not hold a regular meeting during a month, the board will not provide a time for public comment at any other meeting held during that month, unless a majority of the board votes to allow public comment at the meeting or unless the purpose of the meeting is a public hearing.

Groups audience:

04. Good News Report

Strategic Priority		Reason for Consideration
Graduates Prepared for Work, Higher Education and Citizenship	X	Action
Excellent Educators	X	Information	X
Healthy, Safe and Responsible Students		Discussion
Operations and Support	X

January is School Board Appreciation Month

January 2024 marks the 29^th anniversary of School Board Appreciation Month in North Carolina, a time recognize the important contributions that school board members make to their communities. As citizens who serve students and educators, school board members face complex and demanding challenges. In addition to attending school board meetings, crafting policies, listening to staff and student concerns, attending school events, and participating in training sessions, these dedicated individuals are called upon to make the hard decisions for their districts as they strive toward the goal of helping students grow, learn, and enjoy their educational experience. We thank them for their leadership.

MLK Day, National Day of Service – January 15, 2024

Martin Luther King Day (MLK Day) is a federal holiday that honors famed American activist and civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It is observed on the third Monday in January each year, close to Dr. King’s birthday on January 15. The holiday serves as a time for reflection, community service, and the celebration of Dr. King’s contributions to our nation’s Civil Rights Movement. Martin Luther King Day is the only federal holiday designated by Congress as a national day of service – a “day on, not a day off.” Our appreciation goes to the students, staff, and citizens who worked on January 15^th to help improve their communities and commemorate Dr. King’s legacy.

National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day – January 9, 2023

January 9^th was National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day and a time to honor the dedicated public servants who put their lives on the line daily for their communities. We are grateful for our strong partnerships with the Transylvania County Sheriff’s Department, the Brevard Police Department, the North Carolina Highway Patrol, and our School Resource Officers for all they do to keep our students, staff, and communities safe.

State Board of Education Recognition

The North Carolina State Board of Education, State Superintendent Catherine Truitt, and the Department of Public Instruction recently issued awards to the following schools for their academic performance during the 2022-2023 school year:

Brevard Elementary School – Expected Academic Growth

Rosman Elementary School – Expected Academic Growth

T. C. Henderson School of Science & Technology – Expected Academic Growth

Brevard High School – Exceeded Academic Growth

Brevard Middle School – Exceeded Academic Growth

Rosman High School – Exceeded Academic Growth

Rosman Middle School – Exceeded Academic Growth

Pisgah Forest Elementary School - Exceeded Academic Growth

Backpack Buddies

On December 12, the Transylvania County Schools Education Foundation, School Nutrition staff, BHS students, counselors and social workers, plus volunteers from Grace Baptist Church met at the Morris Education Center from 8am-12noon to fill 330 bags of food for students to take home over the Christmas break as part of the Backpack Buddies Program. Special thanks goes to Grace Baptist Church members for volunteering to help pack and deliver bags to each school.

DRS Voter Registration Drive – Jan. 11, 2024

On January 11, the Davidson River School English 11 class held a voter registration drive on the DRS campus to prepare eligible students to vote in upcoming municipal and general elections. Students were able to apply for a free Photo Identification Card as part of the Transylvania County Board of Election’s efforts to comply with the new voter identification laws. The students who created this project did so with the assistance of RootEd, a project-based learning program.

Brevard High DECA Students Excel at Competition

Brevard High School is proud of its students’ success at the recent DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) regional competition. DECA competitions test students’ academic knowledge in the areas of marketing, finance, hospitality, management and entrepreneurship. It also showcases students’ critical thinking skills, ability to communicate effectively, and ability to solve real-world business challenges. Congratulations to the following competitors for their achievements in their respective categories:

Emma Bailey - 4th Place, Top Test Score

Dean Baldrige - Top Test Score

Alyssa Brocco

Kaya Brown

Keeley Brown - 4th Place

Zia Brown

Zion Brown - Top Test Score

Ayanna Carter

Cole Cubbison

Levi Garrett

Broden Houghton

Jack Friedman

Sophia Miguel

McKinley Newton - 5th Place, Top Role Play

Luke Weaver - 3rd Place, Top Test Score

BMS Teacher Selected as a 2024 America 250 NC Freedom Fellow

Congratulations to Clay Wooldridge, 7^th grade social studies teacher at Brevard Middle School, for being selected as a 2024 America 250 NC Freedom Fellow. This unique and highly competitive professional development for K-12 educators is sponsored by the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (NCDNCR) and Carolina K-12, a program at UNC-Chapel Hill, as part the state and national initiative to mark the approaching 250^th anniversary in 2026 of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Seventeen Fellows representing each region of North Carolina have been selected. During the six-month fellowship, they will study how North Carolinians have interacted over the last three centuries with the nation’s most cherished ideal, freedom. They will visit historic sites around the state and engage in virtual learning to deepen their historical knowledge and enhance their teaching practices while networking with historians, scholars, cultural institutions and authors from around the state.

Classroom Happenings in January

1/12 – Rosman Elementary PTO Winter Formal Dance K-2

1/13 – Brevard High School Thespians travel to Enka for Regional Competition in acting, musical theater, and technical theater

1/19 – End of 2^nd Quarter

1/19 – Rosman Elementary PTO Winter Formal Dance

1/20 – Miss Bengal Pageant, 6:00pm, RHS Auditorium

1/26 – Rosman Middle School Winter Dance, 3:30-6:00pm

Jan: School Board Appreciation Month

Jan: National Mentoring Month

Jan. 15: Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Jan 21-27: National School Choice Week

For more good news from Transylvania County Schools, please visit us at:

Home Page: www.tcsnc.org ǀ Facebook: facebook.com/transylvania.schools

Twitter: twitter.com/transylvaniasch ǀ Flickr: flickr.com/tcsnc

Instagram: Instagram.com/transylvaniaschools ǀ YouTube: youtube.com/user/tcsnc

Smartphone App: Transylvania County Schools on Play Store and iTunes

SoundCloud: soundcloud.com/transylvaniacountyschools ǀ WSQL Radio: bit.ly/TCSYesRadio!

Groups audience:

05. Consent Agenda

Strategic Priority		Reason for Consideration
Graduates Prepared for Work, Higher Education and Citizenship		Action	X
Excellent Educators	X	Information
Healthy, Safe and Responsible Students		Discussion
Operations and Support	X

The following items are submitted for consent approval (see attachments):

Minutes of the November 6, 2023 meeting
Minutes of the November 20, 2023 meeting
Minutes of the November 20, 2023 closed session
Personnel report for January 16, 2024
Approval of contracts with Form & Function Architecture and MSS Solutions for on-call professional services
Resolution conveying Cathy’s Creek property

A motion is in order to approve the consent agenda item(s).

Public Attachments:

Minutes 11-06-23.pdf

Minutes 11-20-23.pdf

MSS Solutions_On-Call Services Contract.pdf

Form & Function Architecture_On-Call Services Contract.pdf

Resolution Conveying Cathey's Creek Property.pdf

TCBOE Catheys Creek Deed (00111240xBC088).pdf

CC Property Map Exhibit A (00112544xBC088) (1).pdf

Personnel Report 1-16-24.pdf

Groups audience:

06. School Calendar 2024-2025

Strategic Priority		Reason for Consideration
Graduates Prepared for Work, Higher Education and Citizenship		Action
Excellent Educators		Information	X
Healthy, Safe and Responsible Students		Discussion	X
Operations and Support	X

Dr. Brian Weaver will present the recommended calendar for the 2024-2025 school year as first-read information. Two calendar committee meetings were held with parent and staff representatives from each school. The recommended draft contains many similarities to the current school calendar. Due to North Carolina’s calendar law (see summary below) there is little flexibility for change. Our system did not meet the required threshold for a weather-related calendar waiver. Therefore, the committee based the start date and end date on current calendar legislation. The first student day will be Monday, August 26 and the last student day will be Friday, June 6.

The draft calendar is attached. Dr. Weaver will answer any questions you may have. Approval of the 2024-2025 school calendar will be requested at the next regular meeting on February 5.

Requirements and Guidance on School Calendar - S.L. 2020-3 (SB704) Updated June 30, 2020. School calendars must meet the following requirements:

Start date no earlier than the Monday closest to August 26 and end date no later than the Friday closest to June 11 (unless a weather related calendar waiver has been approved, year-round school, charter school or cooperative innovative high school.) If waiver is approved the start date can be no earlier than the Monday closest to August 19.
There are no educational purpose waivers for exemption of the opening and/or closing dates.
All schools within the district must be closed all day for purposes of determining eligibility for a weather related waiver (delayed starts or early dismissals of two or more hours no longer apply).
Covers at least nine calendar months.
Must have a minimum of 185 days OR 1,025 hours of instruction.
Must have at least nine (9) teacher workdays.
Local Boards shall designate two (2) workdays on which teachers may take accumulated vacation leave. Local Boards may designate the remaining workdays as days teachers may take accumulated vacation leave.
Have a minimum of ten (10) annual vacation leave days.
Have the same or an equivalent number of legal holidays occurring within the school calendar as those designated by the State Personnel Commission for State employees.
School shall not be held on Sunday.
Veterans Day shall be a holiday for all public school personnel and for all students enrolled in the public schools.

Public Attachments:

TCS School Calendar 2024-2025_DRAFT A.pdf

Groups audience:

07. Policy: Spring 2023 Custom Updates

Strategic Priority		Reason for Consideration
Graduates Prepared for Work, Higher Education and Citizenship	X	Action	X
Excellent Educators	X	Information	X
Healthy, Safe and Responsible Students		Discussion
Operations and Support	X

On December 4, Dr. Brian Weaver presented the remaining 12 revised policies from the NCSBA Spring 2023 PLS Custom Updates as first-read information. No changes have been made since the first read. The policies are presented for second-read approval at this time. Dr. Weaver will answer any questions you may have.

3101, Dual Enrollment. Information has been added to reference the Career and College Promise Partnership Agreement now required by SBE Policy CACP-000. Updates legal references.

4023/7233, Pregnant and Parenting Students and Employees. Adds a new Section B to address the rights of pregnant employees provided by the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act. Changes policy number and title to reflect the new expanded scope of the policy. Updates the legal and cross references.

The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) requires ADA-like accommodations for pregnant women.This law makes it unlawful for the school system to (1) fail to make reasonable accommodations to a qualified employee’s known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, unless the school system can demonstrate that the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of the school system; (2) require a qualified employee affected by pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions to accept an accommodation other than a reasonable accommodation arrived at through the interactive process; (3) deny employment opportunities to a qualified employee based on the need to make reasonable accommodations; (4) require a qualified employee to take leave, whether paid or unpaid, if another reasonable accommodation can be provided; or (5) take adverse action in terms, conditions, or privileges of employment against a qualified employee because the employee is requesting or using a reasonable accommodation.

4310, Integrity and Civility. Specifies that copying the work produced by artificial intelligence is considered plagiarism. Includes other minor editorial changes.

5008, Automated Phone and Text Messaging. Updated throughout to align with current caselaw and declaratory rulings concerning the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.

5040, News Media Relations. Moves information from the third to first paragraph and adjusts the language for consistency with policy 2220, Official School Spokesperson. Includes other minor editorial changes. Updates cross references.

6315, Drivers. Changes language to expand the scope of this policy to cover all drivers operating any vehicle in the course of carrying out their employment duties. Adds reference to policy 6305, Safety and Student Transportation Services. Adds requirements that bus drivers (1) report all accidents that occur while driving a school vehicle, and (2) comply with the requirements of policy 7241, Drug and Alcohol Testing of Commercial Motor Vehicle Operators. Includes other minor editorial changes.

6330, Insurance for Student Transportation Services. References to liability insurance have been changed to liability coverage, and the second paragraph has been deleted because it was based on an old state law that is no longer applicable. Includes minor editorial changes.

6402, Participation by Historically Underutilized Businesses. Reorganizes and rewords language for clarity and to encourage the use of small businesses in accordance with state policy. Updates the reporting requirements in Section B. Updates legal references.

6430, Purchasing Requirements for Equipment, Materials, and Supplies. Modifies language to ensure consistency with policy 6420, Contracts with the Board. Modifies subsection E.3 to reflect a change to state law on competitive bidding requirements. Fixes legal reference in E.7. Updates legal references.

7503, Teleworking. Includes references to the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PFWA). Updates legal references.

7810, Evaluation of Licensed Employees. Modifies language for clarity. Minor editorial changes.

7815, Evaluation of Non-Licensed Employees. Modifies language for clarity.

A motion is in order to approve the 12 policies listed above as presented.

Public Attachments:

Policy 3101_revised.pdf

Policy 4023-7233_revised.pdf

Policy 4310_revised.pdf

Policy 5008_revised.pdf

Policy 5040_revised.pdf

Policy 6315_revised.pdf

Policy 6330_revised.pdf

Policy 6402_revised.pdf

Policy 6430_revised.pdf

Policy 7503_revised.pdf

Policy 7810_revised.pdf

Policy 7815_revised.pdf

Groups audience:

08. Update on Capital Reserve Study

Strategic Priority		Reason for Consideration
Graduates Prepared for Work, Higher Education and Citizenship		Action
Excellent Educators		Information	X
Healthy, Safe and Responsible Students		Discussion
Operations and Support	X

Dr. Lisa Fletcher will give an update on the capital reserve study. A summary of the background and current status is attached for your review.

Public Attachments:

Education Capital Study Work Group 1-8-24 (1).pdf

Groups audience:

09. FY24 Budget Update

Strategic Priority		Reason for Consideration
Graduates Prepared for Work, Higher Education and Citizenship		Action	X
Excellent Educators		Information	X
Healthy, Safe and Responsible Students		Discussion
Operations and Support	X

Finance Officer Gabi Juba will give an update on the FY24 budget. An expenditure report is attached as information and two budget amendments are presented for approval. Ms. Juba will answer any questions you may have.

A motion is in order to approve Budget Amendment No. 1 for the State Public School Fund and the Budget Amendment No. 1 for the Federal Grants Fund as presented.

Public Attachments:

Expenditure Report 1-16-24.pdf

Budget Amendment_STATE 1-16-24.pdf

Budget Amendment _FEDERAL 1-16-24.pdf

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10. Important Dates

Strategic Priority		Reason for Consideration
Graduates Prepared for Work, Higher Education and Citizenship		Action
Excellent Educators		Information	X
Healthy, Safe and Responsible Students		Discussion
Operations and Support	X

Jan. 19	End of first semester
Jan. 20	Miss Bengal Pageant	6:00 p.m.	RHS Auditorium
Jan. 22	Teacher workday
Jan. 23	Makeup day for Jan. 9
Feb. 5	REGULAR MEETING	6:00 p.m.	MEC
Feb. 16	Students dismissed at noon
Feb. 19	WORK SESSION	6:00 p.m.	MEC
Mar. 4	REGULAR MEETING	6:00 p.m.	MEC
Mar. 18	WORK SESSION	6:00 p.m.	MEC
Mar. 25 - Apr. 1	Spring Break
Apr. 8	Makeup day for Jan. 10

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11. Other Items

Strategic Priority		Reason for Consideration
Graduates Prepared for Work, Higher Education and Citizenship		Action
Excellent Educators		Information	X
Healthy, Safe and Responsible Students		Discussion
Operations and Support	X

An opportunity will be provided for comments and/or other items from board members.

Groups audience:

12. Closed Session

Strategic Priority		Reason for Consideration
Graduates Prepared for Work, Higher Education and Citizenship		Action
Excellent Educators		Information
Healthy, Safe and Responsible Students		Discussion	X
Operations and Support	X

The board will entertain a motion to go into closed session pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 115C-318.11 subsection (a)(3) to consult with an attorney retained by the board to preserve the attorney client privilege between the attorney and the public body.

A motion is in order to go into closed session.

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III. ADJOURNMENT

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Source URL: https://aws.nc.transylvania.schoolboard.net/node/6543