Bud Cruff

The committee meeting included a discussion regarding classified staff negotiations. Further detailed discussion on this topic is scheduled for the main board meeting later in February. Communications were received from several individuals regarding this matter.

Discussions centered on two extracurricular programs. For Girls Basketball, the committee recommended continuing with a Jr. High and a JV team for at least one more year, with the goal of establishing a Varsity team for the 27-28 season, based on current participation numbers and player ages. For Track and Field, concern was raised over the lack of coaching interest in running and sprinting; if suitable coaching candidates are not found, the possibility of canceling the Track season for the current spring was mentioned.

The meeting commenced with the pledge of allegiance and subsequent approval of the agenda. The consent agenda included minutes from the regular meeting of November 12th, the special board meeting of November 26th (via Zoom), the board retreat of December 10th, and financial reports/bills. Key discussion points included administrative reports such as adding a BERT conversation to the inservice day following an impromptu fire alarm, training staff on an optimize as that grant, and Child Protections Services providing informational sessions to staff. Furthermore, documentation signing related to FEMA and state funding following a storm was discussed, requiring the Board President's signature on one specific document. Secondary reports covered handbook development training, changes to student phone procedures including spot-checking, a potential shift from quarters to semesters for grades 7-12, and the implementation planning for the Infinite Campus student information system replacing PowerSchool. Technology updates also mentioned student participation in a middle school cyber madness event and the piloting of multi-factor authentication for staff access. Committee reports addressed updates on extracurricular activities (meeting with Bell City) and building/grounds/transportation, where discussions focused on managing the transportation budget due to initial high spending on bus repairs, the need to document service records, and the status/future use of the Wimbledon bus barn, including clearing out accumulated junk. New business centered on moving forward with the Business Manager Evaluation, with members asked to complete and return the evaluation draft by January 9th.

The meeting focused on information regarding the General Fund Mill Levy Increase Proposal Community Meetings, including presentation details, fact sheets, and PowerPoint presentations, with subsequent discussion on suggested changes. Discussions also covered the absentee voting process, including distributing applications to board members and confirming attendance at community meetings. The committee decided that the fact sheet would be finalized after poll hours are approved at the January board meeting.

The board discussed the 2024-2025 audit report, internal control testing, and financial statements. They also talked about a C grant for an optimized ed instructional suite, the FEMA process, and the BGT group meeting. Additional topics included a veterans program, open enrollment, tuition waivers, and a quick reference guide for board members. The elementary principal reported on conference totals and volunteers, while the athletic director discussed volleyball awards, speech coaching, and junior high boys basketball. The board also touched on extracurricular activities, coaching salary schedules, and the possibility of little kids playing during halftime at games.