Relate. Every time I get Hey. You do sell honey. Let me do a thing. Oh, I'd like to welcome everybody to the meeting tonight. Thank you for coming. Miss Demetria, you need a roll call, please? Yes, sir. Please stay present when I call your name. Harvey Walden? Present. Shane Barnes? Present. Jason Compton? Present. Andre Darnell? Present. Debbie Gault? Present. James Johnson? Present. Andrea Givensmore? Present. And Marcia Moss? Present. Thank you. At this time, we have the, presentation of the, colors and the pledge of allegiance,
please. Please rise for the presentation of colors by the Southside High School junior ROTC. Corps cadets include Selena Jones, Rylan Crump, Paisley Jordan, James West, and Jacob Thomas. These students are under the direction of their teacher, retired Navy Commander Guy Delahoussay. I pledge allegiance to the flag of The United States Of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for
all. Right. Face. Forward. March. Thank you so much. Mister Compton, will you open a word of prayer, please? You bow and pray with me. Pray for me. Praise the father, we'll come thanking you for all your bountiful blessings. Thank you for your grace and your mercy. Pray the message you cover our school district, every child, every family, every employee. Thank you for your mercy and grace in your master, gas and protectors. Thank you, and we pray for unity, realizing there's unity to their strength. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen. Thank you, sir. I got the names mixed up.
Mister Compton, will you please do the mission statement? Yes, mister chairman. Our mission statement is providing equitable options and opportunities in a safe, caring environment to maximize student potential. Thank you, sir. Mister Greg Hammond, I believe we have some, student recognition? Yes, sir. Miss Annette Graves, local chair for the Do the Right Thing initiative, is here to introduce this year's Do the Right Thing National Ambassador. Good afternoon, everyone. Good afternoon. Good afternoon. I wanna introduce to you Desmond Maguire, the Do the Right Thing national ambassador for
2025. This summer, Desmond traveled to Washington DC at a national summit for a week of recognition. Now he is a published author, and this book is in the Library of Congress in Washington DC. Desmond is a student at Jackson Caris Technology School. His principal is mister James Walker, his teacher, miss Yeronda Lee Hicks. His mother is here today, missus Woods, and my coordinator, miss Carolyn Brown Banks, is attending this afternoon as well. Now at this time, Desmond's gonna read his exemplary his exemplary writing and make a
presentation to doctor King. How violence has affected my life. Violence has affected my life in a way I never thought it would. It has taken my brother away from me leaving a wound that would never fully heal. My brother went missing on 07/21/2022, and our family spent months searching for him, hoping and praying that he will come home safe. On 10/21/2022, we learned that his possible remains had been found. It was a moment of deep sadness and pain from my family. His remains were sent to the crime lab for identification, and on 11/26/2022, we were
finally able to bring him home. My mom laid him to rest on 12/04/2022. With my brother, which has been the hardest experience of my life. He was more than just my brother. He was my role model, someone I looked up to and wanted to be like. He made me laugh and helped me whenever I needed him. I miss him every single day. There are times when I wonder what life will be like if violence hadn't take hasn't taken him away from us. Will he still be here to teach me new things? Will we still play and joke together? These questions stay with me, and the pain of not knowing will never go away.
Violence doesn't just affect the person it happens to. It also hurts everyone who loves them. My family has changed forever. We are still healing, but it is not easy. This experience has shown me just how dangerous and painful violence is, and it's made me want to do something to help stop it. What are the causes of youth violence? I think youth violence happens for many reasons. Some kids turn to violence because they are angry or hurt. They might not know how to deal with their feelings, so they lash out at others. This is especially true if they don't have any adults in their lives who can teach them better ways to handle their emotions.
Peer pressure is another big reason for youth violence. Kids often feel like they need to act tough or join into fights to fit in with their friends. They might think that being violent will make them look cool or strong, but it only leads to more problems. Sometimes the environment where a person grows up can also lead to violence. If a neighborhood is unsafe or has a lot of crime, kids might think that violence is normal or necessary to survive. They might not see any other way to solve problems. Social media can also make youth violence worse. Some people use social media to bully others or spread hate, which can make kids
feel bad about themselves or angry at others. It can also encourage fights or bad behavior by giving it attention. Lastly, I think some kids turn to violence because they are hurt inside. They might feel ignored, unloved, or hopeless, and they don't know how to ask for help. When kids feel no one feel like no one cares about them, they might act out in ways that hurt others. Violence is often a sign of deeper pain that hasn't been addressed. What can I do to reduce youth violence? Even though I'm only 12 years old, I believe I can help reduce youth violence in my own way. One of the most important things I can do is to be kind to others.
A super act of kindness can go a long way towards making someone feel loved and valued. If someone feels seen and cared for, they might be less likely to turn to violence. Another thing I can do is stand up for people who are being bullied. If I see someone being picked on, I can let them know they are not alone until a trusted adult who can help. By standing up for others, I can show that there are better ways to solve problems than hurting someone. I can also share my story about losing my brother to violence by talking about how it has affected my life. I might be able to help others understand how much pain violence can cause.
If my story makes even one person think twice before choosing violence, it will be worth it. In addition, I could try to be a good role model for my friends and classmates By treating people with respect, solving problems peacefully, and try and staying calm in tough situations, I can show that there are better ways to handle conflicts. I I also think it's important to support programs that teach kids how to communicate and work together without fighting. If schools and communities offer mentorship programs, counseling, or activities that bring kids together, we can create a safer environment for everyone.
I want to encourage my teachers and other adults to create spaces where kids feel safe to talk about their feelings. When kids feel heard and understood, they are less likely to act in violent ways. Finally, I can I can keep learning about the causes of violence and how to prevent it? Education is a powerful tool. The more we know, the better we can help each other. If all we work if we all work together, we can make a difference and create the world a world where kids feel safe and loved. Violence has affected my life in a way I will never forget. Losing my brother has been heartbreaking and has taught me how just how much violence
how much damage violence can do. It doesn't just hurt one person. It hurts families, friends, and entire communities. But even in the face of so much pain, I believe there is hope. By being kind, standing up for others, and supporting programs to promote peace, I know we can reduce youth violence. If we all work together, we can make the world a better place where no one has to experience the kind of loss that my family and I have gone through. Violence is not the answer. Love and kindness, understanding what we need what we need to create a safer future for everyone. Thank you. Mercy. Mercy. I'm gonna take a picture of you, Jose.
I'll come to this I think I can speak for the board and say this.
This is one of the reason why we're on this board. That that was unbelievable. And I'm so sorry what you had to go through, son. But take your pain and make it into a strength and further that. Moving on, do I have a motion to approve the agenda? Mr. Chairman, I'll make a motion to approve the agenda. We have a second. I second. Any discussion? If all in favor say yes. Yes. All opposed say no. Motion carries. Do I have a motion to approve the consent agenda? Mister chairman? Yes, sir. I'd like to request that point number four, budget amendments for October work session, be
removed from the consent agenda. Alright, sir. Point of order. Do don't we need a motion first before we can? Help? Yes, please. Next to an item being on the consent agenda, goes to the regular agenda. So there's no motion necessary for that. Gotcha. Mister chairman? Yes, sir. I move to approve the consent agenda as amended. I have a second. Second. Any discussion? All in favor say yes. Yes. All opposed say no. Motion carries. Hey. Monsieur. Yes, sir.
I have a question. Mhmm. On the, budget amendments that's removed from the consent agenda, would it be, come, letter e on the board action items? Correct. Yes, sir. It will. Alright. Do I have a motion to approve the September general board meeting minutes? Mister chairman, make a motion to approve the September general board meeting minutes. Do I have a second? Second. Any discussion? All in favor say yes. Yes. Any any anyone opposed say no. Motion passes. Doctor King, do you have any comments for clarification around Stone River that you could
present to us? Yeah. I I'll be more than excited to. Daniel, I need to get on, Apple, TV for a moment. Okay. Okay. When we go Or can we pull up the Internet? Can we just pull up the Internet on this? That's all I need is Internet. First report action items and then we come we'll come back to that. Okay. The first action item we have is the piece of military elementary traffic construction project we talked about on Tuesday night. Mister Chairman. Yes, sir. I move to coordinate with the County Commission to commence and complete the East Elementary
queuing lane construction with responsibilities as follows. In keeping with state statute, the Board of Education will be responsible to approve initial plans for the project and approve any subsequent plan revisions that may be required to accomplish the goal of the project. The County Commission is funding body for the school district will be responsible for the work of the project and receive payment from the District's allotment in the Education Capital Fund, currently $700,000 and that the Commission will provide any additional funds as required to
complete the project through the Education Capital Fund. The Board of Education and the County Commission will collaborate in their respective roles through the completion of the project. Do I have a second? Second. Any discussion? All in favor say yes. Yes. Any opposed say no. Motion passes. We had several TSBA, TSBA fall, twenty twenty five convention board delegates. It's in your package on the ones who volunteered, to do that on Monday night to have a motion to approve. Mister Chairman?
Yes, sir. I move to approve the TSB Annual Convention Board Delegates as presented. Second. Second. All in favor say yes. Yes. Any opposed say no. Motion passes. Also, in a package is a transportation salary schedule that we've been working on. Do you have a motion to approve? I'll make a motion to approve. Do I have a second? Second. Alright. Any discussion? Mister chairman. Yes, sir. After the work session, miss Gau and, Andre and I sit around. I think it's one thing we absolutely need to approve this as is today, but
I also think that it's something that we need to look at amending even further as we get into next budget cycle, as I think our transportation team is very important to us, and I think we need to do everything that we can to continue to massage and make, their salary scale, even more fair moving forward. But I don't wanna hold up and relook at this for another month or two because they need their raise today rather than us continuing to massage it. So I think we approve as is, but then look to make it even better.
As we all agreed, her a student, the last the first face they see and the last face they see is a bus driver. They're so important for us to safety our children. So we already have first and second. Any more discussion? All in favor, say yes. Yes. Any opposed, say no. Motion passes. The next is a 2526 Jackson Madison County School System Board Committee assignments that was in your package. I do have a motion to approve as is. Mr. Chairman, I'll make a motion to approve the twenty twenty five-twenty six Board Committee for
Science. We have a second. We have a second. Any discussion? All in favor, say yes. Yes. Any opposed, say no. Motion carries. Doctor. King, I took up all the time I can. I'm up on you. Mr. Chairman, I do have a question. Sure. We have a sheet in our packet that's policy explanation for the policies that were presented in the work session, but I don't see the policies on the agenda or the policies themselves in the packet. Are we postponing those approvals? It's under consent. Under consent. I apologize. Yes. It's under consent. Pardon? Yeah. It was under the consent. We already voted on.
I got it clarified. Thank you. So I think, there has been a concern about the Stone River Group, consulting budget amendment. And what I want to share with the board about the consulting firm, first, before I go into, talking about, the services that are provided, I want to make sure, that I let mister Thomas, attorney Thomas, kinda give some background.
We've had a conversation about Stone River and how this partnership could work, from his space to their space. So, mister Thomas, would you kinda do that, and then I'll jump in behind you to talk more about it? I think it's important for the board to hear about this partnership from this this the school board attorney. But as I studied it a little bit, it doesn't provide the same legal sir
okay. It doesn't provide the same legal services that I'm able to provide to the board. The legal services that it provides is more of, governmental relations, which quite frankly, I'm not equipped to provide because I don't have the contacts with the state government and the federal government that this group has. It provides public relations support, which again, that's not really a legal service that I would provide, that that is outside my area.
And then the the one thing that sort of really jumped out, that it provides, that I can't provide because I don't have the national connections. But when I went and looked at their group of clients, they have a a lot of strategic connections with national companies that quite frankly, I don't have those connections. I noticed a connection with with a company that specializes in, absenteeism, you know, and some other areas that are very important to this district that I don't have those
relationships. So initially, I'll tell you, it did. It raised some concerns when I heard the legal services piece. But as I studied it more, what they provide is different than what I provide. And what I see it as being more of a complimentary service and a supplemental service to what legal services are provided locally. So I appreciate it. As we move out of the community unity initiative, that we launched probably in 2021,
we are about to go into our new initiative, which is a a very large, strategy that we're gonna put out, in November. And one of the things that I wanted to make certain is we think about taxpayer payers' dollars. We wanna make sure that we maximize as much as we can for little cost as much as possible. So between the Stone River Group and Ingram Group, I wanted to have this this opportunity and this service, that would provide us access to if you look here, it's
an award winning consulting firm, but it provides us with government government relations, public relations, and strategic communications. And so that's the first part of if you see that on this website. And then it talks about where it's based, but it also goes to talk about how it supports nonprofit organizations and also advance their public policies, regulatory, lobbying, communications, thought leadership, which is important for me because I can be able to bounce things off
to this group as we think about our district portfolio and moving that, forward as well as business development activity. So in looking at this company, this is, a company that I thought would support, my administration, would support the vision that I have for the district moving forward. What I think is really critically important is let's look at some of the partners. So when we think about ACT and we right here and what it we know where we are with this. A company that has a relationship with this with ACT nationally, I'm sure that there
could be connections made for our system in ACT and what we can do to advance, the ACT composite score for our students and for those who are wanting to attend college. I think it's important to see other partnerships, the community and school partnership. Community and school partnership, you all, community and schools, it is a, a company, we work with schools, but they have a a a mission a mission and a focus, around, if you look at that last part, to address chronic absenteeism, social services needs,
and behavior and academic challenges. Now these are the things you all tell me that y'all want me to fix. And so what I have to do is make certain that I'm going to shop for the right fit for our system. If we look further at some of the other partners, with this group, we can you see Junior Achievement. You see Ingram. So if you think about Ingram and we're thinking about we wanna do something just a little bit differently, and we don't wanna burden our county, officials, this is a,
philanthropic group right here that you go to and you talk to them, and you figure out this group is a part of this consulting firm. They the the consulting firm worked with this group. So these people will be matching us with things that we're trying to do to support us that look you all. It just can't all happen in Jackson, Tennessee. So we have to think about it statewide. We have to think about it nationally. And one last one, I think, is important is, SAS is really good.
When you look at Tennessee Charter School Center, we've had several two applications since I've been here, and I think there have been a couple applications in the past. And I think what's important as we think about our portfolio and expanding charters in our territory, we are wanting the right charter. And so you have a consulting firm. I don't think they're gonna work with charters that are not adequate, for a community.
So this is the reason that I've chosen and begun working with Stone River Group, to become thought partners, but you all see the other resources that they provide. So I just want to make sure that you all had context around this, company. And that was the purpose of even sharing it. Because it like, I I don't need a board approval for the contract, but I want to make sure that I share with the board, in complete transparency of what we're doing. So when you engage people in the community, you have context and you can tell
them what we're doing. Mister chairman, I make a motion we approve the budget amendments as presented at the work session. I second. Mister chairman Yes, sir. Do we can we ask questions before we vote? By all means. Okay. So we got a second. So now it's up for discussion. Any discussion, miss Galt. Yeah. I have a question. All of those would be add ons. That wouldn't have anything to do with the original price. Right? All these people that they're associated with No. No. No. It's one solid price. One solid price. Mhmm. Okay. So okay. So we're getting another attorney, and we're getting someone else that's kinda like, no attorney?
No. This is a consulting firm. Attorneys work in this firm. Several attorneys work in this firm. Mhmm. And so you have access to more than just one attorney, but you have access to people who can give you guidance on government relations, public relations, strategic strategies. Anything that we're thinking about improving, we have a thought partner that we can reach out to to suggest or recommend what we're recommending. And then they can vet it and say, you might not wanna do that because
that's probably not going to work. I just have a problem with using the Fast Grow money, not on that and not using it on more for something like curriculum and stuff that we would need for kids. So, you know. Money is money. It is. You know? And it's and it's green, and it's gonna be used some money is gonna be used to still help kids, but there's gonna be money that we're gonna have to use for purposes like that. And I think when we say not helping kids, I think we ought to be
careful when you think about a consulting firm that's gonna give us access and support to help us come up with what are the better ways that we can educate kids. We've been talking about reimagining public education, and we don't wanna continue to do the same things that we've been doing for the last however many years in public education. One of the things we've already launched this year is our Lyft network, which is our lean to innovation through focus, translation. What we wanna do, we have schools that are within this portfolio of struggling schools,
and what we're saying is, well, you gotta do something differently. Well, who can we go to to find out what's out there differently? And so if we don't have partners who we can go to to find out what we're doing differently, how do we change? And so I just think we have to be very mindful when we say helping children. Helping children is not always being in front of the classroom teaching children. Helping children is having the right leadership to make sure we put the right guardrails and safeguards in place to advance our agenda, and our agenda is focusing on kids
and improving outcomes like we're doing. Mister chairman? Yes, sir. I'd like to amend the motion by splitting the motion to consider the budget amendment for $776,498.53 separate from the other budget amendments. Bear with a motion on. Dale, help us on. I I think what mister Gill is doing is he's making a motion to amend the motion to pull out that one budget amendment. You think excuse me, mister chair. I think that's what I heard. I I can repeat it, mister chairman.
I moved to amend the to amend the motion by dividing the motion to consider the, budget amendment for $776,498.53 separate from the rest of the budget amendments. Okay. That would take a second and a vote, correct? That's absolutely correct. We would have to first vote on the motion to amend, after you get a second to that motion, And then, depending on the results of that motion, then you would vote on the original motion. Second. Can can I ask a question first before we go any further?
Mister Goll, what what is the purpose in our separating it? Help me to understand where you're coming from so I can choose the way I understand. I'm not open for discussion right now. Can we get a second open for discussion? Just a second, and then then we open for discussion. Do we have a second? Second. Now we have discussion. Point of information. Yes, sir. Do we not have several people working in this Stone River group on strategic planning and taking other departments and divisions and districts ideas that have failed will give us advice on things that we might be trying to do that will help you to
keep us from doing the same thing. Right. Thank you. I also have a question, doctor King. It's a flat fee. Right? Flat fee. If something come up and like you did with AC where we sued them, will we have to hire a outside attorney? Can we use them? We'll get them advice and they'll that's all the advice we need. And it's it's set up like that's that price. Good morning. Good morning, Mister chair as well, I'm, I'm a junior achievement, person. I I went to the junior achievement program. My children also attended YMCA. We know what that does for our children, both of those programs for our for
our kids. Ingram Content, I'm very aware of them. They bought out Random House. They can help us in so many ways for, getting books for our children that would be free. I'm not saying that they they've said that already, but that's what Ingram Content does. They they publish books, and they have all books from all grade levels, all, even encyclopedias, anything you can think of for children. So these are things that I can speak on that are assets for for our children, and and that's what we're in the business of with the school board, is
helping children to get their needs met. Junior achievement is highly standard all over, the country, and, we wanna make sure that we can, If we have access to these these programs and these are beneficial for our children, there would be no reason for us to be looking for somebody individually because those are extra monies. When we pay one company and we have access to all these different companies, it speaks volumes. Mister chairman. Just one second. You haven't spoke. Anybody just wanna say anything? Yeah. Point of clear. Mister chairman, point of order, please.
We have not disposed the motion to amend, so we really shouldn't be discussing this separate from the rest of the motions in this at this time? I'll call for a question. Yes, sir. Call for a question. And to clarify, a no vote on this would keep the amendments together Correct. In one motion. A yes vote would pull this out. Is that correct, Bill? That's absolutely correct. Perfect. Yes, sir. I was here. For the question. You said that yes vote is The would've against it, He has made a motion to amend.
Right. So if you vote to support the motion to amend, that's a yes vote. Okay. Everybody understand? Further clarification, mister chairman. Yes, sir. We would then have to take up the motion whether as amended or not amended. That's correct. So this is going back to the original divide the question. Correct. Then you'd go back to the original motion, which is the motion to approve the budget amendments. The question is whether that motion would be amended or not. One more time. If we if you're voting yes on this, you're saying you're wanting to pull the motion out. That's correct.
You wanna pull that amendment out. Mister Goff presented. That's correct. Okay. Mister Mitres, please roll call. No. Shane Lawrence? No. Jason Compton? No. Andre Dornell? No. Did he go? Yes. Glenn Cole? Yes. James Johnson? No. No. Marshall Moss? No. Motion fails. So now we need to motion. You vote on the original motion, which is a motion to approve all the budget amendments. Okay. Do I have a motion to be on the floor? You've already got it. Motion to Okay. So we already got first and second.
Now we have any discussion on this? Mister chairman? Yes, sir. I'd like to say that because of the grave necessity of the other budget amendments that are in question, particularly when my son has been affected by, which is we haven't moved the innovation budget money earlier and we have innovation programs and vo tech teachers waiting for that money. I'm going to vote to support the budget amendments under this blanket under this blanket
motion. However, I do have a statement to read and I'd like it entered into the minutes. I applaud the presentation of the budget amendment allocating $776,498.53. It was received at the end of the last fiscal year from TISA based on being a rapidly growing district. I only wish to say that the benefit of the public I will only wish to say for the benefit of the public that I disagree with the allotted $90,000 designated operations strategic planning support, which represents the cost of hiring a government relations firm
called Stones River Group. As a matter of principle, I'll post spending taxpayer dollars on marketinggovernment relations lobbying of another taxpayer funded government entity that being the state of Tennessee. As a matter of policy, the board has the responsibility of deliberately considering and approving unbudgeted expenditures. As a board, we agreed to budget TISA fast growth and student outcomes revenues throughout the year via budget amendments. Additionally, as expenditures arise throughout the year that were not considered in the annual budget, we have the responsibility to approve them.
My view is that unbudgeted revenue being spent toward an unbudgeted expenditure as this case presents warrants discussion and allows the board to make informed approvals considering all factors involved. In addition to my stand on principle, I believe that if we have unfunded needs in our capital budget, unreimbursed expenditures that pose a burden to our fund balance, and achievement gaps that need to be addressed with intensity, we should not consider paying a firm that duplicates many functions that are already served or should be served internally or through our membership with the TSBA. Thank you.
Thank you, sir. Any other discussions? Yes, mister chairman. I just wanna note that I think the establishment of this strategic planning group will represent the essential, next step that we need to continue to progress, for this district. And and by integrating our expertise with both within as well as out of the the district, will help this board to strengthen our ability to make informed decisions, to advocate effectively, and to sustain long term growth.
It is this initiative is aligned with our with our mission to provide the highest quality of education for every student while fostering community trust and operational excellence. And when you look at any business, once you get to a point where you are peaked out, and you're making growth and you're sustaining, you wanna look into research and development and start growing that business. And I know we are at that point. We are we are a district that is trying to be mimicked by other districts.
We're doing great things in the state of Tennessee, and this is the time for us to enhance our district and and keep growing. That's all I know. Yes, sir. Yeah. I would like for this to go on the record, miss Demetrius, that the Board of Education, passed the budget for f y twenty six with other contractor services. It's funded for other contractor services, for the school year. I also wanna make note is that we're passing, a transportation, salary schedule when we talk about unbudgeted or really not unbudgeted but undiscussed.
Make note of that. Not discussed, but it we will find it within this transportation budget. So I I do wanna make note, because I don't ever want anyone to think that this board has not budgeted funds, for other contractor services. And we will have more other contractor services throughout this probably year as we see, down the road of what we might need. And so I want to make sure that it's on the record, this this board demonstrates fiscal stewardship, in supporting all students and staff for the Jackson Madison County School
System. Superintendent Marlon King. Thank you, sir. Any other discussion before we vote? We're voting on It's Just to yes, sir. Yeah. Just to echo that. So this transportation that we just did, he was not aware of that? Doctor King? I I was away through the the through the committee process is what I'm saying. As we as we adjust the schedule, when we talk about budgeted and fund, as we that's I don't want anyone to think that this board is out just spending money recklessly without thinking about what's in the budget.
It's what I'm talking about. That's it. Thank you. Mister Compton. Mister, doctor King, how much did we come under budget the last couple years? $4,000,000. K. I just wanna make a comment that, you know, the world of education is is changing more right now and probably in the last six months and in the next six months in this country, than it ever has. Right. And, you know, I have a feeling that there's gonna be a lot of changes very, very soon at the federal level because we've been told that there's gonna be
a lot of changes at the federal level, which is going to enhance funding coming from the state. And to me, Stones River gives us an additional voice. Yes. TSBA is a voice for us at the state level, but they're a voice of every single district in the state. And I think for us, instead of being reactive, to be proactive in getting a group, to be a voice that has a direct lifeline that can that not only
can call the governor or call senator Blackburn, not but they're gonna answer the phone. And every district in the state, large districts, are going to have voices. They already have voices. A lot of people in Nashville think that Tennessee that the Tennessee River stops the state of Tennessee and forgets about us over here in West Tennessee. So I think for us to be proactive and for for $90,000, which would be the cost of a position with benefits, we get access to all of these people
with all of these, expertise that we can call, not just for lobbying, but I believe, doctor King, you have already utilized and made a phone call and within, what, thirty minutes, got more data regarding Lyft network than you could have gotten on your own or anyone in this office could have gotten in a week. Absolutely. So, you know, I mean and and like you said too, I I agree that, I mean, these things are gonna continue to come up. Things are changing, and we've got to be ahead of the curve. We can't just be reactive. We've got to be proactive in this stuff.
And it goes back to the JMCSS way not just everyone else's way. So, you know, again, I think this is a good use of funds and I think it does hit our 13,000 children and will continue to help our 13,000 kids, in the district. Well, see, I wanna make one other comment concerning, attorneys. I think, we may be on an assumption that since we have a contract with, Dale's firm that he's on a only attorney we use. That's not true. And then the contract alludes to the fact that we use we wanna use other
services if we can. The other thing is he mentions expertise. We use, other attorneys throughout the year, especially we have lawsuits, especially in special needs. And that's, not the expertise that Dale currently has, so I wanna make sure everybody's clear on that. Chair. Yes, ma'am. I also wanna commend attorney, Dale Thomas for, being honest enough. I I I kinda give Dale a run for his money, when it comes to representing the school board. And for him to come today and be able to, educate us on what this
Stone River Consulting Group, consists of and and and letting us know that they have the capabilities of doing things that's out of his realm that he cannot supply the school board or this district with, speaks volumes to you, mister Thomas. And I I I appreciate you explaining that to us because if there was a question, that would be my question. How could they benefit the school district, with these monies that's being allocated for them. And if we're saving $4,000,000, this amount here, with all that we're gonna be able
to get from this consulting group, there's nowhere that we could find a success rate. I've looked them up as well when I found out about them. I don't micromanage this because I run a restaurant, and that's the business that pays me. And I want the person that gets paid, the person that gets bonuses, doctor Marlon King, I want him to be responsible for this district. And when I swore to do what I could to support this district, I wanna make sure that's on record that I wanna support doctor King in whatever decisions he
make. He's a very intelligent man, and I cannot do his job. I cannot, take care of the employees, the children. He he knows kids from fifteen, twenty years ago. His his knowledge of what needs to be done for this district, he does that and I support him. And I don't wanna micromanage or do anything that's gonna bring a disturbance with this board, that people on the outside, can publicly see even tonight. We we we don't wanna bring disturbances because we're supposed to be one unit.
And I always say that and I'll continue to be a cheerleader for that. We're one unit and we need to stay together and stay focused because our district is on the mark for doing something extraordinary for this whole nation. People everywhere we go know doctor Marlon King and they know Jackson Madison County School System. And, I wanna tell you I appreciate you, doctor King, and what you're doing. And, I don't I don't wanna bring problems. I wanna make sure that we encourage each other to be stronger. Thank you. Thank you, ma'am. Anybody else? Yes, sir. I just wanna say that after doing some research today and some of my colleagues
brought it to my attention, I need to look at it a little bit more. After reading some things, seeing some things across the state, my only thing I wanna say is we should have already been doing this. Alright. So we are I'm gonna ask for a motion to approve the budget amended that we moved to We have a motion. We just need to vote. We already we need to vote. Okay. Do y'all have a, motion to approve? We already had it. We all get a motion approved. We just need to vote. Alright. I'm sorry. Okay. Roll call. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. This this a yes is saying that we approve the motion as is.
The budget amended. Budget amended. Okay. Miss Demetrius. Harper Walden? Yes. Shane Warren? Yes. Jason Compton? Yes. Andre Dornell? Yes. Andy Gough? Yes. Lingo? Yes. James Johnson? Yes. Andrew Gibbons Moore? Yes. And Marsha Moss? Yes. Motion passes. Any comments from superintendent? No comments. Had to fly back and talk to Greg. We got ribbon ribbon cutting at Pope in the morning at 10:00. Yeah. So we get that ribbon cutting at 10:00. Alright. Can I have a motion to adjourn? Make a motion to adjourn. Second. Second.
We adjourn.