[A. Meeting Opening - 6:30 p.m.]
[00:00:02]
GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. I'D LIKE TO CALL THE DECEMBER 14TH TWO THOUSAND TWENTY ONE SCHOOL BOARD BUSINESS MEETING TO ORDER.FIRST UP, WE HAVE THE INVOCATION BY MS. COKER. BEFORE TONIGHT'S INVOCATION, THE SCHOOL BOARD WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE WITH A MOMENT OF SILENCE THE PASSING OF MARTHA STANLEY, A DRAMA TEACHER AT ELIZABETH DAVIS MIDDLE SCHOOL, WHO JOINED CCPS ON AUGUST 24TH, 1995, AND KENNETH BRUCE BAYNE, A SECURITY OFFICER AT MONACAN HIGH SCHOOL WHO JOINED CCPS ON APRIL 3RD, 2017.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
THANK YOU. [PRAYER] DEAR LOVING AND GRACIOUS GOD.
PLEASE BE WITH US IN OUR DISCUSSIONS TONIGHT AND HELP US TO BE CLEAR IN THE DECISIONS WE MAKE FOR THE GOOD OF ALL OF THOSE WHO HAVE PLACED THEIR FAITH IN OUR LEADERSHIP.
I PRAY FOR OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF, THAT YOU WOULD GIVE THEM THE STRENGTH TO FINISH THIS WEEK OUT STRONG AND AS WE ENTER INTO WINTER BREAK.
PLEASE ALLOW US TO TRULY REST AND RECOVER AS WE PREPARE FOR THE SECOND HALF OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR. GRANT US THE HUMILITY TO ALWAYS SEE YOUR WILL AND ALL THAT WE DO AND SAY.
. THIS EVENING'S CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS INCLUDE.
[B. Consent Agenda]
AGENDA ADOPTION.APPROVAL OF MINUTES NOVEMBER NINE, 2021 WORK SESSION, NOVEMBER NINE, 2021 BUSINESS MEETING, NOVEMBER 30TH, TWENTY TWENTY ONE THE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION MEETING.
MEMO NUMBER 132-21 EMERGENCY CONNECTIVITY FUNDS APPROPRIATION INCREASED TO TECHNOLOGY.
MEMO ONE FIFTY FOUR DASH, TWENTY ONE, FY TWENTY TWENTY TWO ACCEPTANCE OF NEW GRANTS, MEMO NUMBER ONE FIFTY EIGHT DASH TWENTY ONE RECOMMENDED PERSONNEL ACTIONS.
MEMO 159-21 APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO SCHOOL BOARD ADVISORY COMMITTEES.
APPROVAL OF PARTICIPATION IN PROPOSED SETTLEMENT OF THE OPIOID RELATED CLAIMS. MEMO 162-21 APPROVAL OF REVISIONS TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP ADVISORY COMMITTEE BYLAWS. APPOINTMENT OF DEPUTY AGENT.
RESOLUTION TO BOND DEPUTY AGENT AND AUTHORIZATION OF SIGNATURES IN ABSENCE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT. ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO THE CONSENT ITEM AGENDA? MR. CHAIR, THERE ARE NO ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO THE CONSENT AGENDA THIS EVENING.
ARE THERE ANY REQUESTS FROM A BOARD MEMBER TO SEPARATE AN ITEM FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION OR INDIVIDUAL ACTION? HEARING NONE MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL ROLL ON THE MOTION? DOT HEFFRON.
AYE. RYAN HARTER. AYE. THE MOTION CARRIES.
DR. DAUGHERTY, WOULD YOU PLEASE ANNOUNCE OUR NEW ADMINISTRATORS? THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO CALL DR.
JOHN WAS APPROVED AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CONSTITUENT SERVICES FOR EDUCATION.
DOCTORATE FROM VCU AND HIS MASTER'S, ALSO, SOME FROM VCU, PREVIOUSLY WAS THE DIRECTOR OF MIDDLE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP.
WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE HIM ON HERE.
HE HIT THE GROUND RUNNING AND CONGRATULATIONS JOHN.
IS ANY FAMILY HERE TONIGHT? THEY'RE WATCHING IT. OK. [LAUGHTER] JOHN, WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING YOU ON BOARD, AND I KNOW YOU'LL DO A GREAT JOB.
THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE DR. JOE TYLUS AS THE NEW DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT.
A PH.D. FROM VCU AND HIS MASTER'S ADMINISTRATION FROM RUTGERS STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY. JOE GRACIOUSLY TOOK THE POSITION WHEN I OFFERED IT TO HIM.
MOST KNOWLEDGEABLE MAN OF CCPS.
AND HE'S GOING TO-- HE'S DOING A GREAT JOB AND WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE YOU ON BOARD, JOE.
AND WE JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR TAKING THIS NEXT LEAP OF LEADERSHIP.
[APPLAUSE] I DON'T KNOW, JOE, THEY'RE SCREAMING IN THE BACK
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FOR YOU. [LAUGHTER] I ASK DARNELLA SIMS TO COME FORWARD.SHE WAS APPROVED AS A DIRECTOR FOR SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT, HER MASTER'S IN ADMINISTRATION SUPERVISION FROM LYNCHBURG COLLEGE, AND SHE COMES TO US FROM SPOTSYLVANIA AS A LEADERSHIP IN THAT DIRECTION THERE.
WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT YOUR EXPERTISE IN THIS FIELD AND I KNOW OUR SCHOOLS HAVE ALREADY BEEN EXCITED TO MEET YOU.
AND SHE'S HIT THE GROUND RUNNING AND OUT THERE IN SCHOOLS AND WORKING WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY MEET THE NEEDS OF THE STUDENTS.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.
[APPLAUSE] AND OUR LAST ONE, DEREK WOZNIAK, THE NEW DIRECTOR FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP, DOCTORATE FROM VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY AND HIS MASTER'S FROM UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA.
AND WE'RE EXCITED THAT DEREK HAS TAKEN THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR LEADERSHIP.
HE'S GOT A GREAT DEAL OF EXPERTISE IN MIDDLE SCHOOLS, AND HE'S WELL RESPECTED AMONG HIS PEERS AND WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE HIM ON THE TEAM.
DEREK, CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR TAKING THIS OPPORTUNITY.
[APPLAUSE] MR. CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS I HAVE.
THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS.
[C. Awards and Recognitions]
DUE TO THE NUMBER OF RECOGNITIONS TONIGHT, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK STAFF TO PLEASE CLEAR THE ROOM AT THIS TIME.BELIEVE THAT'S ALREADY BEEN ACCOMPLISHED.
MR. CHAIRMAN, BOARD MEMBERS, DR.
DAUGHERTY, WE HAVE IT FOR YOU, MEMORANDUM NUMBER ONE FOUR NINE DASH TWO ONE.
IF I COULD ASK GABRIELLA GARCIA TO COME FORWARD AT THIS TIME.
[INAUDIBLE] RIGHT HERE IS GOOD.
HI. MIDLOTHIAN HIGH SENIOR GABRIELLA GARCIA WON THE GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY TITLE FOR CLASS FIVE OF THE VIRGINIA HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE, COACHED BY STAN MORGAN, GABRIELLA FINISHED A FIVE THOUSAND METER COURSE IN 18 MINUTES AND FIFTY FIVE SECONDS.
SHE WAS NUMBER ONE OUT OF ONE HUNDRED AND TWO RUNNERS.
CONGRATULATIONS TO GABRIELLA FOR HER STATE CHAMPIONSHIP WIN.
ALSO, CONGRATULATIONS TO MIDLOTHIAN GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY TEAM, WHICH FINISHED SECOND IN TEAM COMPETITION AT THE STATE LEVEL.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING GABRIELLA.
[APPLAUSE] SO I HAVE A BIAS TOWARDS RUNNERS BECAUSE I RAN CROSS COUNTRY AND I NOW HAVE A DAUGHTER RUNNING CROSS-COUNTRY, SO THIS REALLY MEANS A LOT AND COACH, I UNDERSTAND BECAUSE MY NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR, FORMERLY BETH BURGESS, WHO APPARENTLY KNOWS YOU WELL, SHE'S A DEAR FRIEND OF MINE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE AN AMAZING COACH, SO IT TAKES A TEAM AND AMAZING ATHLETIC DIRECTOR AS WELL. SO IT TAKES A TEAM AND YOU'VE WORKED HARD.
YOU'VE EARNED IT. DO YOU HAVE ANY FAMILY HERE [INAUDIBLE] TO ASK? [INAUDIBLE] CAN YOU STAND UP? YAY, DAD! [APPLAUSE] [INAUDIBLE] A LITTLE SOMETHING? YES. AND TELL ME WHY YOU LOVE RUNNING.
WELL, I KIND OF LIKE FELL IN LOVE WITH THIS-- I LIKE THE SPORT BECAUSE IT'S LIKE AN INDIVIDUAL SPORT, BUT IT'S ALSO LIKE A BIG LIKE.
YOU'RE RUNNING MORE FOR JUST YOURSELF, YOU'RE RUNNING FOR YOUR TEAM.
AND LIKE ALL THE GIRLS THEY LIKE, PUSH ONE ANOTHER AND WE'RE LIKE, WE'RE JUST A REALLY SPECIAL GROUP OF GIRLS.
THEY'VE BEEN WITH ME FOR A VERY-- LIKE THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH WITH ME FOR A LOT.
MY MOM HAD PASSED AWAY LAST YEAR, SO THEY'VE DEFINITELY BEEN WITH ME THROUGH A LOT OF MY STRUGGLES. SO I'M JUST SO THANKFUL FOR MIDLO AND HAVING THE FAMILY I HAVE BECAUSE THEY'VE DEFINITELY BEEN WITH ME THROUGH EVERYTHING SO.
[APPLAUSE] [INAUDIBLE]. SORRY.
I WILL-- [INAUDIBLE] GIVE HER YOUR HELLO.
SO AND JUST AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
NEXT UP, MR. CHAIRMAN, IS MEMORANDUM ONE FIVE ZERO DASH TWO ONE, IF I COULD ASK OUR
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DENIM DRIVE AWARD WINNERS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF GOODWILL TO COME FORWARD AT THIS TIME.THE ANNUAL DENIM DRIVE RETURNED THIS FALL WITH GOODWILL, THE CHESTERFIELD COUNTY COUNCIL PTA AND [INAUDIBLE] COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, PARTNERING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
SCHOOLS FROM ACROSS CHESTERFIELD COUNTY COLLECTED AND DONATED FORTY THREE HUNDRED PIECES OF USED DENIM CLOTHING, WHICH GOODWILL WILL REPURPOSE FOR USE BY CENTRAL VIRGINIA RESIDENTS AS AN INCENTIVE FOR SCHOOL TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT PROGRAM.
THE NINE SCHOOLS TO COLLECT THE MOST DENIM WIN CASH PRIZES.
REPRESENTATIVES OF GOODWILL [INAUDIBLE] COUNTY COUNCIL PTA ARE HERE WITH US TONIGHT, ALONG WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE FIRST PLACE SCHOOLS.
HERE ARE THE TOP SCHOOLS FOR THE TWENTY TWENTY ONE DENIM DRIVE ELEMENTARY FIRST PLACE, OLD HUNDRED ELEMENTARY.
SECOND PLACE GRANGE HALL ELEMENTARY.
THIRD PLACE PROVIDENCE ELEMENTARY.
MIDDLE SCHOOL, 1ST PLACE WITH TOMAHAWK CREEK MIDDLE.
2ND PLACE, BAILEY BRIDGE MIDDLE.
THIRD PLACE, MIDLOTHIAN MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL, 1ST PLACE COSBY HIGH SCHOOL.
SECOND PLACE, CLOVER HILL HIGH SCHOOL, THIRD PLACE, MIDLOTHIAN HIGH SCHOOL AND NOW GOODWILL REPRESENTATIVE HAS SOME CHECKS TO OFFER OUT AT THIS TIME AND THEN MS. HEFFRON. OK, SO OLD HUNDRED ELEMENTARY, YAY.
AND I KNOW EARLIER, I DON'T WANT TO TALK HALLWAY, SOMEONE HAD SAID THEY WANTED TO KNOW WHAT WERE THE AMOUNTS OF THE [LAUGHTER].
MIDDLE SCHOOL, TOMAHAWK MIDDLE SCHOOL.
TOMAHAWK YOU GUYS COLLECTED FIVE HUNDRED AND FORTY ONE PAIR.
HIGH SCHOOL, LET ME KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE IN THE SCHEME OF THE WHOLE ENTIRE [LAUGHTER] REACHING OUT TO ME SINCE TWENTY TWENTY CONSISTENTLY EVERY TWO MONTHS.
OK. AND IN THE PAST, WEEK AND A HALF SEVEN HUNDRED AND FORTY TWO TIMES.
[LAUGHTER] SO THEIR DETERMINATION TO BE THE VICTOR.
AND A CHECK MADE OUT TO COSBY [LAUGHTER].
CONGRATULATIONS, YOU ALL, THIS IS GREAT, I'M JUST GOING TO CROSS.
FOR YOU GUYS CONGRATULATIONS. THIS IS WHAT A WONDERFUL WINDFALL FOR YOUR SCHOOL.
I HATE TO DO THIS LIKE THE POP UP QUESTIONS, BUT IF YOU ALL JUST WANT TO QUICKLY SHARE WHAT HOW THIS IS GOING TO BENEFIT YOUR STUDENTS IN YOUR COMMUNITY, AND I'LL JUST ASK THE PRINCIPALS [INAUDIBLE].
OK. WELL, THE CHECK IS GOING TO OUR PTSO AND WE'VE DONE A GREAT JOB SO FAR THIS YEAR OF THINKING ABOUT SOME THINGS WE CAN DO IN THE FUTURE.
IN THE SPRING, SINCE WE HAD OUR 15TH ANNIVERSARY LAST YEAR, WE'RE LOOKING AT SOME SORT OF SWEET 16 CELEBRATION THAT WE COULD POTENTIALLY DO THIS YEAR WITH SOME POSSIBLE ADDITIONAL LIFTING OF RESTRICTIONS WITH OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
I THINK THIS IS A REBRANDING YEAR FOR TOMAHAWK CREEK.
WE, TOO HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR ALMOST 15 YEARS, SO WE HAVE SOME THINGS TO BEAUTIFY THE SCHOOL AND GET SOME DIFFERENT LOGOS IN THERE AND THIS IS REALLY GOING TO GO A LONG WAY IN HELPING WITH THAT. THAT'S EXCITING.
I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT YOU ALL COME UP WITH.
AND AT OLD HUNDRED, WE'RE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO ALWAYS BE RECOGNIZING OUR TEACHERS, BOOSTING MORALE IN THOSE WAYS.
AND SO SOME EXTRA WINDFALL WILL REALLY HELP SUPPORT THAT AND HONOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING SO HARD EACH DAY.
WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ENCOURAGING YOUR STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE AND YOUR FAMILIES, THANK YOU TO YOUR FAMILIES FOR PARTICIPATING.
[00:15:01]
AND THANK YOU TO GOODWILL FOR SPONSORING THIS FUNDRAISER.DO I NEED THE MICROPHONE? YOU'RE DOING GREAT. SO.
I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT IF YOU SEE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE COSBY CHECK VERSUS EVERYBODY ELSE FOR FIRST PLACE, COSBY ALSO BROUGHT IN THE MOST JEANS IN THE SECOND WEEKEND. SO WHAT WE DO IS WE GIVE OUT AN ADDITIONAL PRIZE TO THE SCHOOL THAT BRINGS IN THE MOST JEANS ON YOUR WEEKEND.
SO COSBY BROUGHT IN THE MOST ON THE SECOND WEEKEND, SO THEY RECEIVED THE ADDITIONAL [INAUDIBLE]. I JUST ASSUMED THAT WAS A DOLLAR PER PHONE CALL.
THANK YOU AGAIN, YOU ALL AND CONGRATULATIONS.
THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] NEXT UP, I DON'T I DON'T SEE THEM HERE THIS EVENING, BUT I DO WANT TO CALL UP HOPKINS ELEMENTARY, IF THEY'RE NOT, WE CAN RESCHEDULE THEM FOR THE NEXT MEETING.
OK, IF I CAN ASK CRESTWOOD ELEMENTARY TO COME FORWARD AT THIS TIME.
CRESTWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HAS BEEN SELECTED AS A NATIONAL ESEA DISTINGUISHED SCHOOL.
EACH YEAR, ONLY TWO SCHOOLS PER STATE RECEIVED THIS PRESTIGIOUS DESIGNATION.
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL LEADERS ANNOUNCE THE SCHOOL'S AWARD TO STUDENTS AND STAFF MEMBERS JUST BEFORE THANKSGIVING DURING OUTDOOR ASSEMBLY.
TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE NATIONAL SCHOOL AWARD, A SCHOOL MUST MEET THESE THREE CRITERIA: ONE A POVERTY RATE OF AT LEAST THIRTY FIVE PERCENT FOR THE TWO MOST CURRENT CONSECUTIVE SCHOOL YEARS, TWO DEMONSTRATE EXCEPTIONAL ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT FOR TWO OR MORE THE MOST CURRENT CONSECUTIVE SCHOOL YEARS AND THREE MET FULL STATE ACCREDITATION FOR TWO OR MORE CONSECUTIVE YEARS.
THERE ARE THREE CATEGORIES THE SCHOOL MAY BE NOMINATED UNDER CATEGORY ONE EXCEPTIONAL STUDENT PERFORMANCE FOR TWO CONSECUTIVE YEARS CATEGORY TWO CLOSING THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP BETWEEN STUDENT GROUPS OR CATEGORY THREE EXCELLENCE IN SERVING SPECIAL POPULATIONS OF STUDENTS. CRESTWOOD IS RECOGNIZED IN CATEGORY THREE FOR EXCELLENCE IN SERVING ENGLISH LEARNERS. PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING CRESTWOOD ELEMENTARY.
SO DO WE HAVE ANY CRESTWOOD FOLKS HERE? WORK. WELL, EVERYONE WANTS TO KNOW WHAT YOUR SECRET IS BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE REACHED OUT AND JUST BEEN SO IMPRESSED.
SO WHAT'S YOUR SECRET? HOW'D YOU DO IT? OH MY GOODNESS. I HAVE TO KEEP IT SECRET NOW.
[LAUGHTER] OH, I THINK IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, HARD WORK AND DEDICATION AS WELL AS IT'S A LOT OF LOVE FOR WHAT WE DO AND FINDING THAT JOY AND TEACHING AND LIFTING OUR STUDENTS AND OUR STAFF UP TO CELEBRATE ALL OF THE WONDERFUL THINGS THAT THEY DO.
AND I THINK IT JUST ALL COMES TOGETHER FOR US.
WELL, THANKS, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
IT'S A WIN FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.
[APPLAUSE] NEXT UP, MR. CHAIRMAN, WE HAVE MEMORANDUM ONE FIVE ONE DASH TWO ONE, IF I COULD ASK OUR R.E.B AWARD WINNERS TO COME FORWARD AT THIS TIME.
CHASING THE NORTHERN LIGHTS, RESEARCHING BOTTICELLI'S BIRTH OF VENUS.
EXPLORING CANALS, INVESTIGATING MANUFACTURING MARVELS.
LEARNING HOW SCOTLAND EDUCATES DEAF STUDENTS AND STUDYING CONCERT BANDS IN HAWAII.
THESE ADVENTURES AND LEARNING AWAIT SIX CHESTERFIELD COUNTY TEACHERS WHO ARE NAMED TWENTY TWENTY ONE R.E.B AWARDS FOR TEACHING EXCELLENCE WINNERS AND WILL RECEIVE ALMOST EIGHTY FIVE THOUSAND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANTS FROM THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR A GREATER
[00:20:04]
RICHMOND AND THE R.E.B FOUNDATION.THESE CHESTERFIELD COUNTY TEACHERS WON TWENTY TWENTY ONE R.E.B AWARDS FOR TEACHING EXCELLENCE. AMANDA BERNECHE OF CLOVER HILL HIGH WON 13,200 DOLLARS TO STUDY, PHOTOGRAPHY IN REMOTE LOCATIONS WHILE CHASING NORTHERN LIGHTS IN ICELAND.
BRIANNA GATCH OF CLOVER HILL HIGH WON THIRTEEN THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED DOLLARS TO STUDY JAPANESE PEDAGOGICAL TECHNIQUES AND OBSERVE THE INFLUENCES ON CONCERT BANDS IN HAWAII.
HELENE GROSSMAN OF GATES ELEMENTARY WON FOURTEEN THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED DOLLARS TO STUDY HOW SCOTLAND EDUCATES DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING STUDENTS.
PAUL LATHROP OF CHESTERFIELD CAREER TECHNICAL CENTER AT HULL ST.
WON THIRTEEN THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED DOLLARS TO EXPLORE THE HISTORY AND CURRENT MARVELS OF ENGINEERING AND MANUFACTURING ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.
HELMET THIELSCH, BIRD HIGH, WON FIFTEEN THOUSAND [INAUDIBLE] THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF SIGNIFICANT TRANSPORTATION CANALS AND GAIN A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THESE ENGINEERING ACCOMPLISHMENTS, AND DORRIE TURNER OF JAMES RIVER HIGH SCHOOL WON FOURTEEN THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS TO VISIT GREECE AND ITALY TO RESEARCH BOTTICELLI'S BIRTH OF VENUS, DISCOVERING HOW IT BECAME TO REPRESENT A COMPLEX MOMENT OF CHANGE BETWEEN OLD AND NEW WORLDS.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING THESE EDUCATORS.
[APPLAUSE] ABSOLUTELY, PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO CAN'T SEE ON TV, THEY JUST GOT A STANDING OVATION.
YOU GUYS SHOULD BE EXTREMELY PROUD OF YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
I HAD THE DISTINCT HONOR IN 2015 OF BEING AN R.E.B AWARD WINNER, AND I CAN TELL YOU, YOU'RE GETTING READY TO HAVE THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE BECAUSE YOU ARE GETTING READY TO HAVE AN EXPERIENCE THAT YOU DESIGNED THAT IS FULFILLING A PASSION OF YOURS.
AND I JUST THINK THAT YOUR SCHOOLS, YOUR FAMILIES, YOUR STUDENTS, I'M SURE, ARE EXTREMELY PROUD OF YOU AND ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DID AND YOU PUT IN ON A DAILY BASIS.
AND IT'S VERY RARE THAT TEACHERS GET TO EXPERIENCE THIS KIND OF A REWARD.
YOU ARE-- YOU SHOULD BE SO HONORED AND SO PROUD OF YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
JUST REALLY QUICKLY, BECAUSE HE RAN THROUGH THE GENERIC, NOT EVERYONE RAISED THEIR HAND TO SAY YOUR NAME AND A LITTLE BIT JUST TO BRIEF ON EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE DOING WITH ALL THAT MONEY, BECAUSE IT IS SUCH AN IMPRESSIVE ACCOMPLISHMENT THAT JUST READING AND I GOT THE PLEASURE OF ATTENDING WITH DR.
DAUGHTERY AND THE TEAM WHEN SOME OF YOU WERE AWARDED AND BECAUSE YOU'RE IN THE DALE DISTRICT AND SO SEVERAL OF YOU OR MY PEEPS AND JUST SOME REAL QUICK YOUR NAME AND WHAT IT IS YOU'RE GOING TO DO WITH YOUR AWARD.
OH [INAUDIBLE], MY CHANCE TEACHER OF THE DEAF.
I'VE BEEN TEACHING DEAF KIDS FOR 30 YEARS, ALMOST 20 HERE IN CHESTERFIELD.
I'M GOING TO GO TO SCOTLAND WHERE THEY SPEAK ENGLISH, BUT DON'T USE AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE. WE USE BRITISH SIGN LANGUAGE AND I'M GOING TO COMPARE HOW THEY TEACH THEIR DEAF KIDS TO THE WAY WE DO IT.
AND WE'RE ALREADY VIDEO CHATTING BACK AND FORTH WITH KIDS THERE AND TEACHERS THERE.
MY NAME IS DORRIE TURNER, I TEACH ENGLISH AT JAMES RIVER HIGH SCHOOL.
I HAVE BEEN TEACHING IN THE COUNTY FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS MIDDLE SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL, EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN AND I AM DOING A RESEARCH AND LITERACY BASED PROJECT THAT WILL TAKE ME TO GREECE, FLORENCE, ITALY AND A LITERACY CONFERENCE YET TO BE DETERMINED, CENTERED KIND OF AROUND THE FAMOUS PAINTING BY BOTTICELLI BIRTH OF VENUS AND HOW IT KIND OF REPRESENTS A MOMENT OF TRANSITION FROM OLD TO NEW.
SO THE GOAL OF THE PROJECT IS TO KIND OF EVENTUALLY HELP STUDENTS FIND THEIR MOMENTS THAT REPRESENT CHANGE FROM OLD TO NEW AND WRITE ABOUT IT.
SO ANYWAY, I'M JUST BEYOND EXCITED.
IT TOOK ME PROBABLY THREE WEEKS TO PROCESS IT AFTER YOU GUYS CAME IN AND SURPRISED ME IN MY CLASSROOM. STILL HASN'T COMPLETELY SUNKEN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. [APPLAUSE] I'M SORRY, I WAS CHEERING AT A SWIM MEET ALL WEEKEND.
SO MY VOICE IS ALMOST GONE, BUT MY NAME IS AMANDA BERNECHE AND I WORK AT CLOVER HILL HIGH SCHOOL AND I WILL BE CHASING THE NORTHERN LIGHTS IN ICELAND, STUDYING LOW LIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY AND LIGHT PAINTING AND LIGHT WRITING.
[APPLAUSE] HI, MY NAME IS BRIANNA GATCH, AND I AM THE BAND DIRECTOR AT CLOVER HILL HILL HIGH SCHOOL AND I WILL BE GOING TO SPEND TWO WEEKS IN JAPAN TO STUDY HOW THEY TEACH BAND IN JAPAN.
THEY HAVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLERS PERFORMING AT THE LEVEL OF COLLEGE STUDENTS HERE IN AMERICA, AND SO I WANT TO BE IN THE ROOM WHERE IT'S HAPPENING AND FIGURE OUT WHAT [INAUDIBLE] DO. THAT'S SO AMAZING WITH THEIR STUDENTS.
AND THEN I'LL BE SPENDING A WEEK IN HAWAII DIRECTLY FOLLOWING TO COMPARE THE CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE BETWEEN THE TWO.
[APPLAUSE] MY NAME IS HELMUT THIELSCH, I TEACH ENGINEERING AT THE GOVERNOR'S ACADEMY FOR
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ENGINEERING STUDIES AT LLOYD C.BIRD HIGH SCHOOL. I'LL BE GOING TO PANAMA AND TO ENGLAND TO EXAMINE THE FLUID MECHANICS OF CANAL SYSTEMS AND WATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS, AND ALSO DISCOVER AND EXPLORE THE ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF THESE TRANSPORTATION MARVELS.
[APPLAUSE] HI, MY NAME IS PAUL LATHROP.
I AM THE MECHATRONICS AND ROBOTICS INSTRUCTOR AT THE CHESTERFIELD TECH CENTER AT HULL STREET. I'LL BE GOING BASICALLY THROUGHOUT THE U.S.
AND LEARNING ABOUT ENGINEERING MARVELS, EVERYTHING FROM ENGINEERING AND MILITARY TO AEROSPACE, WHICH ARE ALL TOPICS THAT MY STUDENTS ARE ALWAYS LOOKING AT.
AND THE OTHER BIG PROJECT I'M DOING IS I'M GOING INTO SCHOOLS IN EACH OF THE CITIES AND LEARNING MORE ABOUT WHAT THEY DID TO ENGAGE VIRTUAL LEARNERS IN TERMS OF HANDS ON AND PROJECT BASED LEARNING DURING COVID 19.
[APPLAUSE] ONE MORE STANDING OVATION FOR THESE AMAZING TEACHERS.
DAUGHERTY, IT'S MY PLEASURE THIS EVENING TO PRESENT THE OUTSTANDING DRIVER PERFORMANCE RECOGNITIONS PROVIDING SAFE TRANSPORTATION FOR STUDENTS TO AND FROM SCHOOL EVERY DAY IS ESSENTIAL TO INSTRUCTION AND OUR CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS GO ABOVE AND BEYOND TO ACCOMPLISH THIS MISSION EVERY DAY.
ALTHOUGH OFTEN AN UNSUNG HERO TO MANY OF OUR STUDENTS, THEIR BUS DRIVER IS A ROLE MODEL FOR PATIENCE, HARD WORK, KINDNESS AND DEDICATION.
CCPS BUS DRIVERS ARE TO BE COMMENDED FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES WHICH THEY SERVE.
THERE ARE MANY DRIVERS WHO COULD BE RECOGNIZED THIS MONTH, BUT EACH TRANSPORTATION MANAGER HAD TO MAKE THE TOUGH DECISION OF SELECTING A SINGLE BUS DRIVER WHO EXEMPLIFIED EXCELLENCE AND DEDICATION TO REPRESENT THEIR AREA.
WE'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE FOLLOWING DRIVERS.
GORDON AINSWORTH, AREA ONE, BUS SIX TWENTY FIVE, SEVEN YEARS OF SERVICE.
LESLIE JOHNSON, AREA TWO, BUS 710, 13 YEARS OF SERVICE.
CAROL HAIRFIELD, AREA THREE, BUS 632, THREE YEARS OF SERVICE.
ASHLEY PENN, AREA FOUR, BUS 452, THREE MONTHS OF SERVICE.
ANTHONY BATES, AREA FIVE, BUS 224, FOUR MONTHS OF SERVICE.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR ALL OF THE HARD WORK AND GETTING OUR KIDS SAFELY TO SCHOOL AND HOME AGAIN.
I LOVE THAT WE GET TO DO THIS RECOGNITION EVERY MONTH.
I THINK IT IS A GREAT WAY TO SHOW OUR APPRECIATION FOR ALL THAT YOU DO, AND THIS IS A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT JOB.
OBVIOUSLY, CAN'T HAVE KIDS IN SCHOOL WITHOUT ALL GETTING THEM THERE SAFELY.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK.
I WILL PASS THE MIC HERE FOR A SECOND.
JUST A QUICK SECOND. JUST SAY YOUR NAME AND HOW LONG YOU'VE BEEN A BUS DRIVER AND JUST ONE THING THAT BRIGHTENS YOUR DAY.
I'VE BEEN WITH CHESTERFIELD FOR FOUR YEARS, I'VE BEEN A DRIVER FOR IT FOR 15.
I CAME TO CHESTERFIELD ON THE STRENGTH OF MY DAUGHTER AND I FELL IN LOVE.
I LOVE WHAT I DO AND IT'S JUST GOOD TO BE HERE.
MY NAME IS ASHLEY PENN, I STARTED IN AUGUST, AND I LOVE THE KIDS ALSO.
CAROL HAIRFIELD, THREE YEARS AND WHAT REALLY BRIGHTENS MY DAY IS EITHER IN THE MORNING WHEN THEY GET ON AND THEY SAY GOOD MORNING AND THEY RESPOND TO ME AS I SAY, GOOD MORNING.
AND IN THE AFTERNOON, WHEN I TELL THEM ALL, TO HAVE A GOOD DAY.
THEY TELL ME TO HAVE A GOOD DAY AND THAT JUST BRIGHTENS MY DAY.
LESLIE JOHNSON, I'VE BEEN DRIVING FOR 13 YEARS, AND WHAT BRIGHTENS MY DAY ARE JUST SEEING THE KIDS FACES EVERY SINGLE DAY.
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I'VE BEEN BLESSED TO HAVE THE SAME RUN FOR A VERY LONG TIME, SO I'VE GOTTEN VERY CLOSE WITH MY FAMILIES AND THEY'VE JUST BECOME FAMILY TO ME.SO I'M JUST VERY GRATEFUL FOR THEM.
IT BRINGS NORMALCY TO MY LIFE, SO I LOVE THEM VERY MUCH.
[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.
GOOD EVENING, MR. CHAIR, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, DR.
DAUGHERTY. THANK YOU, AS ALWAYS FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR SOME OF OUR OUTSTANDING FOOD NUTRITION SERVICE EMPLOYEES.
I WAS JOKING IN THE OFFICE THE OTHER DAY WITH SOME OF OUR STAFF THAT AS WE APPROACH THE HOLIDAY SEASON, A LOT OF OUR DELIVERIES RIGHT NOW ARE SOMEWHAT LIKE OPPOSITE CHRISTMAS.
WE'RE GOING OUT TO THE TRUCK AND OPENING UP THINGS TO SEE WHAT WE'RE GETTING.
AND I THINK OUR STAFF IS ALWAYS VERY FLEXIBLE, ALWAYS KIND OF WORKING TO DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO TO GET THE JOB DONE.
AND RIGHT NOW THEY ARE DOING THAT AT A HIGHER LEVEL THAN I THINK THEY'VE EVER NEEDED TO, AND WE JUST CANNOT THANK THEM ENOUGH FOR THEIR FLEXIBILITY AND ALL THEIR HARD WORK DURING THIS TIME. AS ALWAYS, WE HAVE AN OUTSTANDING TEAM IN THE FIELD AND MY FIELD SUPERVISORS HAD THE DIFFICULT TASK OF NOMINATING SOME OF THEIR STAFF MEMBERS.
SO WE DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THEM TONIGHT.
FIRST, WE HAVE LAURIE LAMBERT, MS. LAMBERT IS THE MANAGER AND TRAINING AT CHALKELY ELEMENTARY.
SHE'S BEEN WITH CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR ONE YEAR AND FEELS THE BEST PART OF HER JOB IS LEARNING NEW SKILLS.
NEXT, WE HAVE KIMBERLY PETET, MS. PETET IS THE MANAGER AND TRAINING AT THOMAS DALE HIGH, AND SHE'S BEEN WITH CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE FOOD NUTRITION DEPARTMENT FOR THREE MONTHS.
WE, UNFORTUNATELY OR FORTUNATELY, TOOK HER FROM DR.
FRYE. [LAUGHTER] SHE FEELS THAT THE BEST PART OF HER JOB IS TO SERVICE OF OTHERS FILLS MY SOUL AS MUCH AS IT FILLS THEIR BELLIES.
IT'S AN HONOR TO BE ENTRUSTED WITH FEEDING THESE STUDENTS, AND I ACTUALLY GET TO DO THIS FOR A LIVING. NEXT, WE HAVE GABRIELA TANASE.
MS. TANASE IS A FOOD SERVICE ASSOCIATE AT MANCHESTER HIGH SCHOOL.
SHE'S BEEN WITH CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR THREE YEARS AND FEELS THE BEST PART OF HER JOB IS WORKING WITH MY TEAM AND SERVING THE KIDS.
NEXT, WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE OUR TEAM AT WOOLRIDGE ELEMENTARY.
WOOLRIDGE ELEMENTARY IS A TWO PERSON TEAM THAT SERVES SEVERAL HUNDRED MEALS A DAY BETWEEN BREAKFAST AND LUNCH, WHICH IS INCREDIBLY IMPRESSIVE, SO THEIR FIELD SUPERVISOR WANTED TO HAVE A SPECIAL NOMINATION THIS EVENING FOR BOTH OF THEM.
SO FIRST, WE HAVE TREACY CLARK.
MS. CLARK IS CAFETERIA MANAGER AT WOOLRIDGE ELEMENTARY.
SHE'S BEEN EMPLOYED WITH CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR THREE YEARS AND FEELS THE BEST PART OF HER JOB IS GETTING TO WORK WITH THE KIDS.
AND WE ALSO HAVE MS. GWENDOLYN COLE.
MS. COLE IS A FOOD SERVICE ASSOCIATED AT WOOLRIDGE ELEMENTARY.
SHE'S BEEN EMPLOYED WITH CHESTERFIELD COUNTY SCHOOLS FOR THREE MONTHS AND FEELS THE BEST PART OF HER JOB IS GETTING TO WORK WITH THE CCPS TEAM.
[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. SO NOT VERY MANY PEOPLE KNOW THAT MY MOTHER WORKED IN THE CAFETERIA AT C.C. WELLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, SO I GREW UP WITH A CAFETERIA MOM, AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT I KNOW HOW HARD YOU WORK.
I KNOW HOW YOU COME HOME WITH TIRED FEET AND WANT A NEED FOR QUIET BECAUSE CAFETERIAS ARE SOMETIMES THE LOUDEST PLACES IN THE SCHOOL.
BUT I APPRECIATE SO MUCH WHAT YOU'RE DOING, ESPECIALLY NOW BECAUSE I KNOW YOU'RE VERY UNDERSTAFFED AND WE'RE DOING ALL KINDS OF JOB FAIRS AND THINGS TO TRY TO FIND MORE OF YOU SO THAT YOU CAN GET THE HELP THAT YOU NEED.
I'M STUNNED THE TWO OF YOU ARE DOING THIS TO PEOPLE IN ONE CAFETERIA.
IT'S JUST AMAZING BECAUSE IT'S A JOB THAT REQUIRES LOTS OF HANDS ON DECK AND LOTS OF HELP, AND YOU'RE DEALING WITH [INAUDIBLE] SHORTAGES AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
MS. [INAUDIBLE] NOW, TOO, AND YEAH, AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON.
AND YET I HAVE THIS FEELING THAT YOU ALL PERSEVERE BECAUSE YOU ALWAYS FIND A WAY.
I WORKED IN A MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR THIRTY FOUR YEARS, AND IT'S AMAZING HOW THEY WOULD JUST TURN ON A DIME AND FIGURE IT OUT.
WHEN FRENCH FRIES DIDN'T SHOW UP, IT BECAME SOMETHING ELSE JUST LIKE THAT.
SO CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR RECOGNITION.
IT'S OBVIOUSLY VERY WELL DESERVED.
BUT GO AHEAD REAL QUICKLY AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND JUST SAY WHATEVER YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY ABOUT YOUR JOB THAT BRINGS YOU BACK EVERY DAY.
WHAT BRINGS YOU BACK? I'M GWEN COLE, AND HONESTLY, IT'S TREACY, MY BOSS.
SHE'S AMAZING. [LAUGHTER] WITHOUT HER, IT WOULDN'T BE THE SAME.
I'M TREACY CLARK, MINE IS THE KIDS.
I LOVE BEING AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT KIDS.
IT'S JUST BRIGHTEN MY DAY WITH THEM.
[00:35:04]
HI, MY NAME IS TANASE GABRIELA AND I LOVE TO WORK WITH MY TEAM FROM MANCHESTER HIGH SCHOOL. I JUST WANT TO TELL RACHEL AND [INAUDIBLE], THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. MY NAME IS KIMBERLY PETET.I WORKED WITH JEANETTE RITTER AT THOMAS DALE AND THEN WENT TO CURTIS TO COVER SOMEONE WHO'S ABSENT. SO THAT'S PART THAT I LOVE ABOUT IT IS THAT THERE'S NEVER A DULL MOMENT AND YOU LOOK UP AT THE CLOCK AND IT'S ALMOST TWO.
[LAUGHTER] I'M LAURIE LAMBERT.
I'M CURRENTLY AT CHALKELY, BUT I'VE BEEN SHIFTED OVER TO WINTERPOCK.
[LAUGHTER] SO LET'S GIVE THEM ALL AN APPLAUSE.
[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
FOR THE NEXT RECOGNITION, I'D LIKE TO INVITE MR. DUNBRACK TO JOIN MS. BAILEY IN FRONT OF THE DAIS.
MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ THE RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE DEDICATION AND IMPORTANCE OF FOOD SERVICE EMPLOYEES? MR. CHAIR, BEFORE THE BOARD THIS EVENING, IS THE RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE DEDICATION AND IMPORTANCE OF FOOD SERVICE EMPLOYEES, WHEREAS THE CHESTERFIELD COUNTY FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES TEAM IS ESSENTIAL TO THE OPERATIONS OF THE SCHOOL DIVISION.
AND WHEREAS FOOD SERVICE EMPLOYEES PROVIDE HEALTHY MEALS WITH LOVE, KINDNESS AND FRIENDSHIP TO ALL CCPS STUDENTS, AND WHEREAS THE MEALS SERVED BY OUR FOOD SERVICE EMPLOYEES ARE TOO OFTEN THE ONLY FOOD MANY OF OUR STUDENTS EAT DURING THE WEEK.
AND WHEREAS DURING THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC, OUR FOOD SERVICE EMPLOYEES WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND TO ENSURE FOOD STABILITY FOR ALL SIXTY THREE THOUSAND CCPS STUDENTS THROUGH THE CHESTERFIELD ESSENTIAL EMPLOYEES SERVING THEIR COMMUNITY WITH HEART PROGRAM.
AND WHEREAS THE DEDICATION OF OUR SCHOOL DIVISION'S FOOD SERVICE EMPLOYEES WAS RECOGNIZED BY THE VIRGINIA SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION WHEN THEY CHOSE OUR TEAM AS THE WINNER OF THE VSBA'S ANNUAL FOOD FOR THOUGHT COMPETITION.
A STATEWIDE COMPETITION THAT RECOGNIZES THE BEST IN FOOD SERVICE INITIATIVES IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA.
IN BOTH 2020 AND 2021, IN THE MEAL ACCESS TO FIGHT HUNGER AND HEALTHY SCHOOL MEALS CATEGORIES RESPECTIVELY.
AND WHEREAS THE CHESTERFIELD COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD APPRECIATES THE HARD WORK, DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO THEIR COMMUNITY THAT FOOD SERVICE EMPLOYEES EXHIBIT EVERY DAY.
AND WHEREAS FOOD SERVICE EMPLOYEES ARE HEROES NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE CHESTERFIELD COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD RECOGNIZES THE DEDICATION AND IMPORTANCE OF FOOD SERVICE EMPLOYEES AND OFFERS ITS THANKS TO EVERY FOOD SERVICE EMPLOYEE FOR THE WORK THEY CONTINUE TO DO TO ENSURE THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE WELL FED AND READY TO LEARN.
WELL, CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS RESOLUTION.
YOUR DEPARTMENT IS A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE IN OUR ENTIRE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND AS MENTIONED IN THE RESOLUTION, THERE ARE MANY STUDENTS IN OUR SYSTEM THAT WOULD NOT EAT IF IT WERE NOT FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO AND THAT YOUR ENTIRE TEAM DOES TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE FED. AND DURING THE PANDEMIC, YOU WENT WAY ABOVE AND BEYOND TO MAKE SURE OUR STUDENTS STILL GOT FED BREAKFAST AND LUNCH AND IN SOME CASES, EVEN DINNER AND MEALS FOR THE WEEKEND. THAT IS REALLY GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND, AND YOU DESERVE THIS RESOLUTION AND RECOGNITION. YOUR TEAM HAS DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB.
[APPLAUSE] BOARD MEMBERS MAY HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION AS PRESENTED.
SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND, BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? OK. THERE'S BEEN A MOTION AND A SECOND.
MR. CLERK PLEASE CALL ROLL ON THE MOTION.
RYAN HARTER AYE. THE RESOLUTION HAS BEEN ADOPTED.
AT THIS TIME, BEFORE WE MOVE ON, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND DR.
DAUGHERTY TO PLEASE MEET ME IN FRONT OF THE DAIS.
SO I THOUGHT THIS WOULD PROBABLY BE THE MOST APPROPRIATE TIME, THE DECEMBER MEETING.
I TELL YOU THAT I'VE BEEN GOING OUT AND DOING AWARDS WITH DR.
DAUGHERTY SINCE I FIRST GOT ON THE BOARD HERE.
SO IT'S BEEN TWO YEARS AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT IT TRULY IS THE HIGHLIGHT.
I TELL EVERYBODY WHEN WE GO AROUND TO THE TEACHERS AND THE STUDENTS WERE GIVEN CITIZENSHIP AWARDS THAT IT TRULY IS ONE OF THE MOST, YOU KNOW, FUN TIMES THAT I HAVE ALL MONTH IS WHEN I GET TO GO OUT AND DO THAT.
AND THE PERSON WHO BROUGHT THAT TO CCPS IS DR.
[00:40:02]
DAUGHERTY. AND I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE'S EVER GIVEN YOU A GAME CHANGER AWARD BEFORE.[LAUGHTER] IT IS YOUR AWARD, BUT I ASKED IF IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE.
I THINK THAT YOU REALLY YOU REALLY DO DESERVE IT.
SO I'M GOING TO READ A LITTLE BIT WHAT'S ON HERE AND THEN I'LL PASS THE MIC TO YOU AND YOU COULD SAY A COUPLE WORDS.
THANKS. SO OVER THE PAST 20 MONTHS, DR.
DAUGHERTY SUCCESSFULLY LED CCPS THROUGH AN UNPRECEDENTED AND TRYING TIME WHEN WE WERE FORCED TO CLOSE OUR DOORS QUICKLY AT THE START OF THE PANDEMIC, DR.
DAUGHERTY AND STAFF QUICKLY ADAPTED A PLAN THAT WOULD KEEP OUR STUDENTS LEARNING.
HE COLLABORATED WITH VARIOUS EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATIONS, COMPANIES AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO SECURE NEEDED RESOURCES FOR OUR STUDENTS LEARNING AND TO MAKE SURE OUR STUDENTS STILL RECEIVED FOOD.
FURTHERMORE, HE CONTINUOUSLY ADVOCATES ON BEHALF OF SCHOOL EMPLOYEES TO MAKE CHESTERFIELD COUNTY THE BEST DIVISION TO WORK FOR.
HE HAS TRANSFORMED CCPS FOR THE BETTER AND IS ALWAYS LOOKING FORWARD.
[INAUDIBLE] THE MIC. YEAH, THANKS.
WE HAVE GREAT PEOPLE, WE HAVE-- I'M SURROUNDED BY UNBELIEVABLE STRONG PROFESSIONALS IN EDUCATION AND STRONG PEOPLE OF ETHICS AND CHARACTER AND FROM THE DISTRICT OFFICE DOWN INTO THE SCHOOLS AND TO THE SCHOOL BOARD.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE PART OF THIS UNBELIEVABLE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD. AND I DO APPRECIATE THIS AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO SAY.
I'M SORT OF SPEECHLESS, BUT THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT, SO I'D LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF TONIGHT'S HONOREES AT THIS TIME, WE'LL TAKE A FIVE MINUTE RECESS TO ALLOW CCPS STAFF AND THE PUBLIC TO TAKE THEIR SEATS INSIDE THE PUBLIC MEETING ROOM.
ALL RIGHT. I THINK WE'RE ALL BACK AND WE CAN GO AHEAD AND RESUME.
[D. Public Comment on Agenda Items]
NEXT, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE INTO OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS ON AGENDA ITEMS FOR THIS MEETING.CITIZENS WERE GIVEN THE OPTION OF SUBMITTING THEIR COMMENTS ONLINE OR IN PERSON.
THE BOARD RECEIVED 14 ONLINE COMMENTS.
COMMENTS SUBMITTED VIA THE ONLINE FORM WERE SENT TO THE SCHOOL BOARD PRIOR TO THE START OF TONIGHT'S MEETING, AND WE POSTED THE BOARD [INAUDIBLE] SITE [COUGH] AND WILL BE INCLUDED AS A FULL ADDENDUM TO THIS MEETING'S MINUTES.
MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE ANNOUNCE THIS EVENING'S IN-PERSON SPEAKERS ON AGENDA ITEMS? MR. CHAIR, WE HAVE FIVE SPEAKERS, FOR AGENDA ITEMS THIS EVENING.
THEY ARE [INAUDIBLE], EMILY CLINE, ANNA, NANCY DEFRANCO AND KELLY MARLIN.
EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD.
THERE IS A TIMER SET UP ON TOP OF THE PODIUM THAT WILL TURN GREEN WHEN YOU BEGIN SPEAKING YELLOW WHEN YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS REMAINING AND RED WHEN YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
AS A REMINDER, NO PERSONAL BELONGINGS OTHER THAN A CELL PHONE AND SPEAKERS NOTES ARE ALLOWED AT THE PODIUM.
WE ALSO ASK THAT SPEAKERS REFRAIN FROM TOUCHING THE MICROPHONES.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO GIVE YOUR NAME AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR COMMENTS, AND PLEASE NOTE THAT COMMENTS EQUIVALENT TO CAMPAIGNING FOR ANY PUBLIC OFFICE ARE IN VIOLATION OF SCHOOL BOARD POLICY 1110 AND ARE PROHIBITED.
GOOD EVENING. I'M HERE TO ADDRESS THE FUTURE OF CCPS AND HOW WE CAN BE THE BEST CHOICE FOR OUR STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE [INAUDIBLE].
HEARING THE ARGUMENT THAT SCHOOL CHOICE WILL UNFUND PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS MISLEADING.
IF WE TRULY BELIEVE IN OUR SCHOOLS, WE SHOULD NOT BE AFRAID OF COMPETITION.
TO MAKE CCPS THE BEST CHOICE FOR OUR STUDENTS, WE DO NEED TO TALK ABOUT IMPROVEMENT.
OUR STUDENTS RACE AND ZIP CODE DOES NOT PREDETERMINE THEIR APTITUDE OR ABILITY, SO STOP TREATING IT AS SUCH.
BRILLIANT CHILDREN ARE EVERYWHERE AND THEY SHOULD BE CHALLENGED.
LEARNING DIFFICULTIES DO NOT DISCRIMINATE, AND NEITHER SHOULD THE SUPPORT.
PUBLIC SCHOOL HAS BECOME A PRODUCTION LINE.
THIS COUNTY HAS TRIED TO FIND THE MOST EFFICIENT, COST EFFECTIVE WAY TO PRODUCE A PRODUCT, RATHER THAN FOCUSING ON THE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF A STUDENT.
ADJUSTING CURRICULUM STANDARDS DOWN TO IMPROVE PERFORMANCE ONLY COVERS UP FAILURES OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND HURTS OUR STUDENTS.
HOW WILL OUR CHILDREN COMPETE IN THE FUTURE IF THEY ARE NOT CHALLENGED ACADEMICALLY? OUR TEACHERS DID NOT ENTER THEIR PROFESSION TO BE PUPPETS.
[00:45:04]
THEY WANTED TO ENRICH THE MINDS OF OUR STUDENTS.WE SHOULD ALLOW THEM TO USE THEIR INDIVIDUAL STYLES AND EXPERIENCE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE STUDENTS WITHIN THEIR CLASSROOM.
WE MUST BACK OFF AND LET THEM TEACH.
COVER MORE THAN JUST THE SOL'S.
STUDENTS WHO SIT IN FRONT OF A VIDEO LESSON, CLICKING BOXES ON A COMPUTER TO MEMORIZE THE STANDARDS OF LEARNING, ARE SURELY NOT GAINING A LOVE OF LEARNING.
TEACHERS HAVE EXPERIENCES AND TALENTS TO BRING TO THE STUDENTS TO GIVE THEM OWNERSHIP OF THEIR CLASSROOM, CURRICULUM AND THEIR STUDENTS' PERFORMANCE.
OFFER CREATIVE ALTERNATIVE WAYS OF LEARNING AND DEMONSTRATING KNOWLEDGE.
THE ONLY WAY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR DIVERSE STUDENT BODY IS TO ALLOW THEM TO FLOURISH IN THEIR OWN WAY. THE RIGIDITY OF THIS COOKIE CUTTER STYLE EDUCATION SYSTEM IS LEAVING MANY CHILDREN BEHIND AND HINDERING THEM FROM MEETING THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.
IT ALSO CREATES NUMEROUS DISCIPLINARY CONCERNS FOR ACTIVE, FRUSTRATED AND BORED CHILDREN.
SO NOW WE MUST LOOK AT THE COMPETITION, ARE PRIVATE SCHOOLS TEACHERS PAID MORE? NO PRIVATE SCHOOL TEACHER SALARIES ARE LESS ACROSS THE BOARD.
DO THEY OFFER BETTER BENEFITS? NO. THEIR RETIREMENT IS AVERAGE OF 19 PERCENT OF THEIR SALARY, WHERE PUBLIC SCHOOL IS FORTY FIVE PERCENT.
DO THEY GET MORE TIME OFF? NO PRIVATE SCHOOL TEACHERS ON AVERAGE WORK 17 PERCENT MORE HOURS THAN PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS. BUT ARE THEY MICROMANAGED? NO, THEY LOVE THEIR JOB.
THE ENVIRONMENT THEY WORK IN AND THE FREEDOM TO TEACH.
NOW HOW IS CCPS GOING TO COMPETE? THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS. CLINE.
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY WAS NOT ABLE TO HELP ME AS A TWICE EXCEPTIONAL [INAUDIBLE].
MY MOM STARTED ASKING TO GET ME TESTED FOR LEARNING DIFFERENCES IN KINDERGARTEN.
THEY REFUSED BECAUSE I WASN'T FAILING.
I NEVER WANTED TO GO TO SCHOOL BECAUSE I FELT DIFFERENT.
WHEN THE SCHOOL DID FINALLY GET ME TESTED, I FOUND OUT I HAD DYSLEXIA, BUT THEY ALSO DECIDED I SHOULD GET PUT IN GIFTED TESTING.
THE ONLY REASON I WAS PASSING WAS BECAUSE MY STRENGTHS COULD HIDE MY WEAKNESSES.
AFTER THE TESTING, I THOUGHT IT WAS ALL GOING TO BE NORMAL, BETTER.
IT WASN'T. 30 MINUTES A DAY, I WAS TAUGHT HOW I NEEDED TO BE TAUGHT.
TEACHING FOR PEOPLE WITH DYSLEXIA LIKE ME, BUT THE OTHER SIX AND A HALF HOURS AT SCHOOL, I WAS GETTING TAUGHT NORMALLY.
SO FOR THAT SIX AND A HALF HOURS, I FELT ALONE AND ISOLATED.
SO INSTEAD OF HAVING ANOTHER CASE LIKE MINE FAILING BECAUSE I DIDN'T GET WHAT I NEEDED, WE SHOULD START GIVING WHAT WE NEED.
LIKE HOW PEOPLE WITH ADHD NEED TO WALK NEED TO MOVE.
PEOPLE WITH DYSLEXIA NEED TO BE TAUGHT DIFFERENTLY.
PEOPLE WITH DYSGRAPHIA [INAUDIBLE] CALCULUS NEED TO BE-- LEARN DIFFERENTLY.
SO WHY DON'T WE START TEACHING US THE WAY WE NEED TO BE TAUGHT? BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING TO CHANGE THE WAY WE LEARN.
GOOD EVENING. I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE EXTRA [INAUDIBLE] THREE GRANT MONEY.
WHEN I SAW ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT YOU GUYS HAD SENT OUT A SURVEY TO THE PARENTS ASKING THEM WHAT TO DO WITH THE EXTRA MONEY, I WAS A LITTLE DUMBFOUNDED, I GUESS, IS A GOOD WORD.
WE ALL KNOW OUR KIDS ARE BEING MASKED IN SCHOOL BECAUSE OF THIS MONEY.
AND WOULDN'T IT HAVE BEEN BETTER TO JUST GIVE THE MONEY BACK AND MAKE A PLAN TO UNMASK THE KIDS? AND I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF PARENTS OUT THERE, I THINK, WHO STILL DON'T REALIZE WHAT THIS ACTUALLY ENTAILS TAKING THIS MONEY.
YEAH, IT'S GREAT, BUT IT'S THE EXPENSE OF THE HEALTH OF OUR CHILDREN AND OUR TEACHERS.
AND IT'S DISAPPOINTING, AND I FELT TRULY IN MY HEART THAT IT WAS AN ACT, DONE BY YOU GUYS
[00:50:05]
TO MAKE THE PARENTS OF THIS COUNTY COMPLICIT IN TAKING THIS MONEY.AT THE END OF THE DAY, I DON'T STILL, FOUR MONTHS LATER, UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN SIT HERE AND CONTINUE TO USE THIS MONEY WHEN WE KNOW THAT IT'S BEING USED TO MASK THE KIDS.
BOTTOM LINE. SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS. DEFRANCO. KELLY MARLIN.
OOPS. GOOD EVENING, CHAIRMAN HARTER AND MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD.
TONIGHT, I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE REVISIONS PRESENTED ON THE CIP.
AFTER YEARS OF ADVOCATING FOR A REBUILD OF THE ONE HUNDRED YEAR OLD MUSTY, MOLDY MIDLOTHIAN MIDDLE SCHOOL, I WAS DISMAYED TO SEE IT FALL DOWN THE LIST ONCE AGAIN.
I UNDERSTAND THAT GROWTH IS HAPPENING EXPONENTIALLY IN THE WESTERN PART OF THE COUNTY.
HOWEVER, THAT GROWTH CANNOT TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER THE HEALTH OF THE CHILDREN IN MIDLOTHIAN. AS YOU KNOW, MIDLOTHIAN MIDDLE WAS ONE OF THE SCHOOLS THAT HAD LEGIONELLA IN THE TOWERS.
DURING THAT PROCESS OF INVESTIGATING THE TOWERS A GROUP OF PARENTS DISCOVERED PHOTOS THAT SHOW A LEVEL OF DISREPAIR MOST OF THE PUBLIC IS UNAWARE OF.
LEAKING TOILETS HAVE LEACHED THROUGH A WALL, GYM LOCKER ROOMS ARE DANK AND MOLDY.
THESE PHOTOS ARE PUBLIC RECORD, AND IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THEM, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK AT THEM BEFORE VOTING TO PUSH MIDLO MIDDLE DOWN THE ROAD YET AGAIN.
WHEN YOU SPEAK OF OVERCROWDING, I WANT YOU TO KNOW I SUPPORT YOU IN ALLEVIATING THAT EVERYWHERE IN EVERY SCHOOL.
BUT I ALSO WANT YOU TO CONSIDER THAT MIDLOTHIAN MIDDLE IS OVERCROWDED NOW, AND THERE IS AN ENTIRE HALLWAY THAT CANNOT BE UTILIZED SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN.
BECAUSE THE BUILDING IS SO OLD, THERE IS NO VENTILATION IN THE HALLWAY.
THIS HALLWAY SITS VACANT NOW, EXCEPT FOR SCIENCE CLASSES.
FOR SCIENCE, THE STUDENTS MUST USE THIS HALLWAY BECAUSE IT'S THE ONLY SET OF CLASSROOMS IN THE SCHOOL THAT HAVE LAB TABLES.
SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT NUMBERS VERSUS USABLE SPACE.
PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT THE NUMBER OF CLASSROOMS ON PAPER IS NOT WHAT CAN BE UTILIZED AT MIDLOTHIAN MIDDLE. IN ADDITION, DESPITE MULTIPLE PLEAS FROM PARENTS FOR AT LEAST 10 YEARS, THE MOLDY SMELL AT MIDLOTHIAN MIDDLE HAS NEVER BEEN SERIOUSLY ADDRESSED.
I INVITE EACH OF YOU TO SPEND A FULL DAY IN THE EIGHTH GRADE HALLWAY AND SEE WHAT YOUR SPOUSES AND CHILDREN SAY ABOUT THE SMELL THAT WOULD CLING TO YOU WHEN YOU ARRIVE HOME.
THE SMELL PERMEATES OUR KIDS CLOTHING, BACKPACKS, LUNCHBOXES, NOTEBOOKS AND EVEN THEIR HAIR WHEN WE KISS THEM GOODNIGHT.
I ASK YOU TO PLEASE SPEND SOME TIME WITH MIDLOTHIAN MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS AND TEACHERS IN THEIR ENVIRONMENT BEFORE MAKING A DECISION TO PASS THESE KIDS BY YET AGAIN.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS. MARLIN. MR. CHAIR THAT CONCLUDES THIS EVENING'S PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS. THANK YOU, MR. CLERK. NEXT, WE HAVE THIS EVENING SUPERINTENDENTS REPORT ,DR.
[E. Superintendent's Report]
DAUGHERTY. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. CALL THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS UP FROM THE SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE.GOOD EVENING, CHAIRMAN HARTER, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, AND DR.
DAUGHERTY. I'M BEFORE YOU TO PRESENT OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE CHAIR-- I'M SORRY, CHAIRPERSON, TO SHARE WITH YOU THE ANNUAL REPORT THAT WE SHARE WITH THE COMMITTEE EACH YEAR. OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE, THEY ADVISE US OF UNMET NEEDS FOR OUR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES IN OUR DISTRICT.
I'M HONORED NOT ONLY TO WORK WITH THEM.
I'M HONORED TO BE THE SPECIAL EDUCATION DIRECTOR FOR CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND WORKING WITH MS. JILL ARSENEAU, WHO WILL COME BEFORE YOU NEXT.
SHE'S A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH VERY CORDIAL, YOU KNOW, REACHING OUT TO PARENTS, TRYING TO GET ENGAGEMENT AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THE NEEDS ARE.
SO I WOULD, WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I WILL PRESENT TO YOU, MS. JILL ARSENEAU AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
I PUT THIS REPORT TOGETHER WITH MADISON WILLIAMS. I'M THE CHAIR OF SEAC.
SEACS FUNCTION IS TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PARENTS AND OTHER SCHOOL BOARD APPOINTEES TO HAVE A VOICE IN THE WAY THAT SCHOOL DIVISIONS PROVIDE SERVICES TO STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. OUR COMMITTEE MEETS IN REGULAR SESSIONS AT LEAST SIX TIMES PER CALENDAR YEAR, SCHOOL CALENDAR YEAR LAST YEAR IN 2020-2021.
WE MET IN AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, NOVEMBER, DECEMBER, FEBRUARY, MARCH AND MAY.
[00:55:05]
ALL MEETINGS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND THE PUBLIC IS OFFERED TO MAKE ANY KIND OF COMMENT THAT THEY WANT TO. PRESENTATIONS THAT WE HEARD LAST YEAR WERE ON DYSLEXIA, DYSGRAPHIA.EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, TRANSPORTATION, INCLUSION AND EQUITY, SPECIAL EDUCATION TRANSITIONS TO AND FROM PRE-K, ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY LEVELS, AND FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY.
WE HEARD CONCERNS FROM THE COMMUNITY LAST YEAR ON AUTISM SERVICES, ACCOMMODATIONS, MASK REQUIREMENTS, SOCIALIZATION IN RELATION TO VIRTUAL LEARNING, IEP REVISIONS DURING SCHOOL CLOSURE AND COMMUNICATIONS REGARDING INFORMATION ON MEETINGS, SPECIAL EDUCATION AND CCPS AND THE NEED FOR RESOURCES AND SERVICES.
AND I'LL GO IN LATER ON IN THE PRESENTATION ABOUT ENGAGEMENT IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT THE LAST ONE COMMUNICATIONS WAS A BIG FOCUS FOR US THIS YEAR.
WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE MEMBERS THAT HAVE LEFT OUR COMMITTEE.
EBONY JONES, INDIA LIPTON, GEORGANN WILKINSON AND DONNA YOUNG-WHITE FOR THEIR TIME, COMMITMENT TO AND SUPPORT OF THE COMMITTEE DURING THEIR TENURE AT SEAC.
WE ALSO WANT TO THANK DOT HEFFRON FOR ALL OF HER SUPPORT DURING HER TENURE.
WE HAVE THREE RECOMMENDATIONS TONIGHT, SEAC RECOMMENDS THAT CCPS AND SEAC SPEND MORE TIME COMMUNICATING WITH SPECIAL NEEDS PARENTS ABOUT SEAC, INCLUDING MEETING TIMES AND SUPPORT SERVICES. I HEAR A LOT OF WHAT IS SEAC? WHAT DO YOU DO? OH, WHAT IS THAT? SO WE'RE TRYING TO GET OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND AS MUCH AS WE CAN WITH COVID.
SEAC ALSO RECOMMENDS THAT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SPECIAL ED ELIGIBILITY BE SHARED ON THE CCPS/SEAC WEB PAGE.
THIS ALSO SHOULD INCLUDE UPDATES AND FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS.
WE HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW DO I GET STARTED? WHERE DO I GO? IF YOU HAVE A CHILD LIKE MINE, YOU KNOW, WE HAD NO IDEA WHERE TO START.
CCPS IS A GREAT PLACE TO START.
SO MANY GOOD RESOURCES AND PEOPLE.
OUR THIRD RECOMMENDATION IS THAT SEAC RECOMMENDS EXPANDING COMMUNICATIONS TO AND FROM CCPS AND THE SCHOOLS TO INCLUDE INFORMATION ON ACCOMMODATION SERVICES, GUIDANCE FOR EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATION FAMILIES.
WE THINK SEAC SHOULD PARTNER WITH FACE, PTAS AND SCHOOL SPECIAL ED COORDINATORS TO BE A BRIDGE BETWEEN SCHOOLS, PARENTS, THE BOARD AND CCPS LEADERSHIP.
THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS? BOARD MEMBERS, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I JUST HAVE A COMMENT, IT'S BEEN MY PLEASURE TO BE ONE OF THE LIAISONS ON SEAC FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.
IT'S, I THINK THE COMMITTEE HAS DONE AMAZING WORK.
I APPLAUD THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU HAVE PRESENTED TO US THIS EVENING AND GETTING MORE INFORMATION OUT TO THE COMMUNITY, ANSWERING THOSE QUESTIONS THAT THEY HAVE.
SO THANK YOU FOR THESE RECOMMENDATIONS.
I THINK THEY'RE DEFINITELY DOABLE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GUIDANCE TOO.
THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING ON THE COMMITTEE, IT'S A CRITICAL VOICE IN OUR DIVISION AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK OF THE PARENT VOLUNTEERS WHO PARTICIPATE AND ENGAGE IN THIS PROCESS.
AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT THE, YOU KNOW, PROMOTING SEAC WAS A PRIORITY WHEN I WAS A PARENT ON SEAC. AND I THINK WE CAN DEFINITELY, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM TO LET PARENTS KNOW ABOUT RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE.
AND I LOVE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS.
YOU KNOW, TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT THIS IS A RESOURCE THAT'S ACCESSIBLE FOR OUR PARENTS AND OUR STUDENTS. ABSOLUTELY.
I THINK THESE ARE ALL GREAT SUGGESTIONS.
[INAUDIBLE] SO I JUST WANT, I LEARNED RECENTLY THAT SEAC STARTED A FACEBOOK PAGE, SO I THINK THAT IS AMAZING.
AND I GENERALLY DO EXIT INTERVIEWS WHEN MIDLOTHIAN DISTRICT PEOPLE STEP OFF COMMITTEES AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU SAID, I USUALLY SAY, LIKE, HOW CAN WE BE BETTER? AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THEY SAID.
SO JUST, I THINK THAT SHOWS THAT YOU ARE ALL SO SPOT ON IF WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING THEY WERE GOING TO BE A PART OF THIS REPORT, YOU KNOW THAT THOSE WERE THE POINTS THAT THEY MADE.
SO BETTER COMMUNICATION IS ALWAYS, I THINK, THE KEY.
SO WE INHERITED A FACEBOOK PAGE.
I DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE CREDIT FOR THE FACEBOOK PAGE.
WE INHERITED IT, BUT WE HAVE CERTAINLY UPDATED IT AND MADE IT MORE CURRENT.
WE HAVE A GREAT COMMITTEE MEMBERS, SO I'M REALLY BLESSED TO HAVE ALL OF THEM ON THE TEAM.
[01:00:04]
SO ANYWAY, AND MS. [INAUDIBLE] AND ALL OF YOU.SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
BYE. NEXT, WE HAVE THIS EVENING'S ACTION ITEMS.
[1. Memo #148-21: FY2022 Grant Changes]
MR. MEISTER.THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DR.
DAUGHERTY. THE FIRST ACTION ITEM MEMO NUMBER ONE FORTY EIGHT DASH TWENTY ONE, FY 22 GRANT CHANGES.
IN FRONT OF YOU THIS MEMO, WE RECOMMEND THE SCHOOL BOARD CONSIDER AND THE ACCOMPANYING RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO APPROPRIATE TWO POINT FOUR MILLION DOLLARS TO THE INSTRUCTION APPROPRIATION CATEGORY DUE TO AN INCREASE IN REVENUE FROM THE TITLE ONE PART A GRANT.
ANY OF THE OTHER INFORMATION IN HERE REGARDS MINOR CHANGES TO OTHER GRANTS THAT WE BUDGETED THAT HAVE COME IN SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT.
A FAIR NUMBER ON THERE, BUT GENERALLY MINOR IN NATURE.
SORRY, MY APOLOGIES. TITLE ONE PART A, EASY FOR ME TO SAY, TO THE INSTRUCTION APPROPRIATION CATEGORY. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MR. MEISTER. BOARD MEMBERS, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT MEMO ONE FORTY EIGHT DASH TWENTY ONE. [INAUDIBLE] IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. BOARD MEMBERS IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? AND THERE'S BEEN A MOTION AND A SECOND.
MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL ROLL ON THE MOTION? DOT HEFFRON. AYE.
NEXT, WE HAVE MEMO ONE FIFTY FIVE DASH TWENTY ONE, MR.
[2. Memo #155-21: Adoption of the 2022 Legislative Program]
SMITH.MR. CHAIRMAN, BOARD MEMBERS,[INAUDIBLE] DR.
DAUGHERTY, WHILE WE PULL UP THIS PRESENTATION, I'LL NOTE FOR THE PUBLIC THE ACTUAL PRESENTATION ITSELF IS MUCH, MUCH LARGER.
I WON'T GO THROUGH EVERY SLIDE.
IT'S BUILT OUT FOR A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT AUDIENCES.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE FIRST COUPLE OF SLIDES REALLY KIND OF SPEAK TO SOME OF THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION FOR OUR SCHOOL DIVISION.
THIS PRESENTATION IS VERY SIMILAR.
I'LL TALK IN A SECOND ABOUT THE PRESENTATION WE GAVE TO THE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION AND EVEN TO THE LIAISON COMMITTEE AS WELL.
AS YOU KIND OF LOOK THROUGH THIS, THE FIRST COUPLE OF SLIDES, THOUGH, IT IS IMPORTANT WE TRY TO POINT OUT, OBVIOUSLY JUST THE UNIQUENESS OF OUR SCHOOL DIVISION, THE CHANGES THAT WE HAVE WITHIN OUR ENROLLMENT, ONE OF THE FEW SCHOOL DIVISIONS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, THERE'S ACTUALLY SEEN AN INCREASE IN STUDENT ENROLLMENT.
SOME OF THE LARGEST SCHOOL DIVISIONS ACTUALLY ARE SEEING DECREASES IN ENROLLMENTS.
SO CERTAINLY THAT BRINGS A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE FOR OUR SCHOOL DIVISION, CERTAINLY IN TALKING WITH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
THE OTHER PIECE OBVIOUSLY WE TALKED TO A LOT ABOUT IS OBVIOUSLY OUR CHANGE FROM MAJORITY- MINORITY SCHOOL DIVISION, THE CHANGES THAT COME WITH THAT, AS WELL AS CERTAINLY THE NEEDS THAT WE HAVE, NOT JUST AS A SCHOOL DIVISION, BUT THE NEEDS OF OUR FAMILY.
WE LOOK CLOSELY AT THE FEDERAL FREE AND REDUCED PRICE MEALS AND THE QUALIFIERS THAT COME WITH THAT AS WELL.
WE TALK ABOUT KIND OF OUR WORK, OBVIOUSLY, TO GET US TO THIS POINT TONIGHT REALLY HAS BEGUN OVER A SERIES OF MONTHS THAT BEGAN, OBVIOUSLY SOME INTERNAL CONVERSATIONS WE HAD WITHIN THE LEADERSHIP TEAM AND THE CABINET TEAM.
WE MET ON NOVEMBER 30TH WITH OUR LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION, HAD A VERY GOOD CONVERSATION WITH THE DELEGATION, DISCUSSING WITH THEM IMPORTANT PIECES THAT I'LL TALK ABOUT IN A SECOND BUT OBVIOUSLY HEARING FROM THEM ABOUT SOME PIECES THEY SEE THAT ARE IMPORTANT AND THEIR LEGISLATION THEY'RE [INAUDIBLE] FORWARD.
OBVIOUSLY THIS SESSION, OBVIOUSLY TONIGHT WE'LL FORMALLY DISCUSS AND THEN VOTE UPON THE DELEGATION PROGRAM WE'RE GOING TO SET FORWARD.
TOMORROW THE GOVERNOR, THE CURRENT GOVERNOR, WILL ESTABLISH HIS BUDGET PRIORITIES AND MAKE THOSE ANNOUNCEMENTS.
THAT'S REALLY CRITICAL. WE'VE HEARD SOME IMPORTANT PIECES ALREADY WITH REGARD TO TEACHER PAY RAISES SOME OTHER THINGS FOR EDUCATION AS WELL.
OBVIOUSLY, ANOTHER PIECE FOR US, OBVIOUSLY, WILL BE WHEN THE GOVERNOR ELECT TAKES OFFICE IN MID-JANUARY, HE WILL COME FORWARD WITH SOME ADDITIONAL PROPOSALS FROM THE GOVERNOR'S PERSPECTIVE, WHICH WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO KIND OF SEEING HOW THOSE RELEGATE OBVIOUSLY TO OUR BUDGET PERSPECTIVE AS WELL.
THROUGHOUT THE SESSION, OBVIOUSLY, MY PRESENCE DOWN AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, REPRESENTING THE SCHOOL DIVISION, TESTIFYING BEFORE LEGISLATION, TALKING TO LEGISLATORS ABOUT OUR POSITION WITH CHESTERFIELD SCHOOLS AND ALSO GIVING THEM HOPEFULLY AN ADVOCACY POINT FOR OUR STAFF AND OUR EMPLOYEES AND CERTAINLY UNDERSTANDING THE CONSEQUENCES OR UNINTENDED
[01:05:01]
CONSEQUENCES, IF YOU WILL, OF SOME OF THE LEGISLATION THAT COMES FORWARD.WHEN WE THINK ABOUT OBVIOUSLY THE LEGISLATION EACH AND EVERY YEAR, WE TRACK VERY CLOSELY, PROBABLY ABOUT THREE HUNDRED PIECES OF EDUCATION LEGISLATION.
AS I LOOK AT THE LEGISLATION ITSELF, OBVIOUSLY THESE ARE FOUR CORE PRINCIPLES THAT WE LOOK AND WE LOOK TO THE LEGISLATION TO SEE KIND OF WHERE IT FALLS WITHIN OUR SCHOOL DIVISION. OBVIOUSLY, EQUITIES ARE FIRST KEY PRIORITY THERE.
SUPPORTING THE MAXIMUM DISCRETION AND FLEXIBILITY, OBVIOUSLY FOR OUR SCHOOL DIVISION AND OBVIOUSLY THE OPPOSITION TO ANY NEW STATUTORY [INAUDIBLE] REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE NOT FULLY FUNDED. SO OUR BIG PIECE IS OBVIOUSLY FOR THIS CURRENT LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM REALLY CENTERS AROUND A COUPLE KEY PIECES.
THE FIRST ONE, OBVIOUSLY, IS THE ENHANCED FUNDING OF K-12 EDUCATION.
CERTAINLY, WE HAVE BEEN RECIPIENTS OF FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL FUNDING, WHICH WE PUT TO GOOD USE. WE KNOW THAT CERTAINLY AS THEY INCREASED [INAUDIBLE] SCHOOLS, OBVIOUSLY WE WILL SHOW OBVIOUSLY THE METRICS THAT COME WITH THAT, THAT WE'RE CONTINUING TO BE A GOOD INVESTMENT. WE STILL ARE OBVIOUSLY ONE OF THE LOWER PER PEOPLE COSTS.
CERTAINLY, THAT'S A GOOD AND A BAD THING.
ON THE ONE SIDE, IT IS A GREAT INVESTMENT FOR OUR TAXPAYERS.
OBVIOUSLY, WE'D LIKE TO SEE INCREASED INVESTMENT BECAUSE WE PUT THAT OBVIOUSLY TO GOOD USE. INVESTING IN THE WORKFORCE IS A KEY PRIORITY.
OBVIOUSLY, THIS BOARD, AS WELL AS THE WORK OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, MADE GREAT STRIDES WITH INVESTING IN OUR WORKFORCE AND THE COMPENSATION PIECE.
WE'RE [INAUDIBLE] TO KIND OF DO THAT WITH OUR SALARY STUDY, CERTAINLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SHARING, IF YOU WILL, IN THAT INVESTMENT AND WE'LL HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH OUR DELEGATION.
THE SECOND BIGGEST PIECE IS THE ELIMINATION OF THE SUPPORT CAP THAT'S PUT IN PLACE BACK TO THE YEAR 2006, I BELIEVE WITHIN GOVERNOR TIM KAINE.
AT THE TIME, THEY DID IT AS A WAY TO BALANCE THE STATE BUDGET.
WE'VE SEEN INCREASES, OBVIOUSLY WITHIN THE STATE BUDGET, WE SEE AN INCREASE IN THE LOCAL BUDGET. WE ESTIMATE THE ELIMINATION OF SUPPORT CAP WOULD HAVE-- WE WOULD SEE AN INCREASE OF ABOUT $23 MILLION TO OUR SCHOOL DIVISION.
THAT'S VERY CRITICAL, OBVIOUSLY UNDERSTANDING THE INVESTMENTS THEY HAVE ON THESE PARTICULAR SPECIFIC POSITIONS THEMSELVES.
OBVIOUSLY, THE OTHER PIECE, TOO, WE TALKED ABOUT IS THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE AND AUDIT REVIEW COMMITTEE, KNOW AS JLARC, IS LOOKING CLOSELY AT EDUCATION FUNDING.
WE BELIEVE THAT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY [INAUDIBLE] ESTABLISHED NOT JUST SO A MARKER FOR HOW MUCH FUNDING IS NEEDED BUT OBVIOUSLY SET THE COURSE FOR WHAT SHOULD BE AN INVESTMENT OVER TIME AND BRINGING US OBVIOUSLY FORWARD TO BEING A FULLY FUNDED SCHOOL DIVISION, MUCH LIKE OTHER SCHOOLS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH.
OBVIOUSLY, A LOT OF GREAT STRIDES WERE MADE THIS PAST SESSION WITH REGARD TO MEASURING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT. WE CONTINUE TO SEE SOME STRIDES THERE WITH [INAUDIBLE] DEPARTMENT EDUCATION IS DOING.
WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE A MARKER HERE IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY WITH SOME OF THE GROWTH ASSESSMENTS. WE CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE OUR DELEGATION AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AT WHOLE TO UNDERSTAND THE YOUTH CHESTERFIELD OBVIOUSLY AS A MARKER FOR HOW THEY LOOK TOWARDS THE GROWTH ASSESSMENTS.
SO WE'RE NOT MEASURING OUR STUDENTS JUST ON THAT ONE STANDARD SOL TEST IN THE SPRING.
OBVIOUSLY, THE COVID RELATED EXPENSES, WE'VE TAKEN A CLOSE LOOK AT THAT, OBVIOUSLY WITH THE PRESENTATION FROM MR. MEISTER ANN INVESTMENTS WE MAKE IN THERE EACH AND EVERY DAY, UNDERSTANDING THAT, THAT IS ONE TIME USE FUNDING, UNDERSTANDING WE HAVE SOME NEEDS THERE.
FLIP SIDE IS THAT WE'VE MADE SOME REALLY GREAT INVESTMENTS WITH THAT FUNDING.
ONE OF THE THINGS I KNOW IN OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR BOARD MEMBERS, OBVIOUSLY THE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS THAT WE SEE IN OUR SCHOOL DIVISION ARE A KEY PIECE OF THAT AS WELL.
AND SO WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH THE DELEGATION AS WE KNOW AS THAT FUNDING GOES [INAUDIBLE] FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
OBVIOUSLY, WE WANT TO SEE THAT FUNDING FROM THE STATE LEVEL AS WELL.
THE LAST KEY PIECE HERE, OBVIOUSLY, IT'S A COLLABORATION OF CHESTERFIELD COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND THE FOUNDATION, THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT, OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE A JOINT EFFORT EACH AND EVERY DAY, BUT CERTAINLY WITH THE DELEGATION WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THEM, NOT JUST ON OUR LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM, THEM SUPPORTING OURS AND OURS SUPPORTING THEIRS GOING FORWARD. AND OBVIOUSLY, THE PRESENTATION WE HAD WITH THE LIAISON COMMITTEE WAS OBVIOUSLY THE BEGINNING OF THAT CONVERSATION.
NOW, MR. CHAIRMAN, YOU DO HAVE A RECOMMENDATION BEFORE YOU, THE RECOMMENDATION IS OBVIOUSLY THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD ADOPT THE TWENTY TWENTY TWO LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM.
BOARD MEMBERS MAY HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE MEMO 55-21 AS PRESENTED? SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. BOARD MEMBERS IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? MS. COKER, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOU, SHAWN, FOR PUTTING THIS LEGISLATION PROGRAM TOGETHER AND BRINGING ALL OF THE STATE DELEGATES TOGETHER TO HAVE THE PROGRAM.
I'M SORRY THAT I WAS OUT OF TOWN AND MISSED IT, BUT I KNOW PREVIOUS YEAR IT WAS A SUCCESS AND GOOD COLLABORATION AND DISCUSSION, AND I WOULD ALSO JUST LIKE TO JUST PUT A SHOUT OUT TO MY DELEGATE, CARRIE COYNER, WHO DID PUT FORTH THAT BILL REGARDING THE GROWTH ASSESSMENT PLAN.
INSTEAD OF MOVING AWAY FROM, YOU KNOW, THE SOLS.
AND AS THE STATE LOOKS TO DEVELOP THAT GROWTH ASSESSMENT, TO LOOK AT PROGRAMS THAT HAVE HISTORY, THAT HAVE DATA SO THAT IT PUTS US IN THE BEST POSITION FORWARD AS WE MOVE TO
[01:10:02]
THIS NEW TYPE OF ASSESSMENT.THANK YOU. I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE TOO.
YOU AND I, PARTICULARLY THAT CONVERSATION WITH REGARDS TO GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S EFFORTS WITH REGARD TO SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION.
THAT'S OBVIOUSLY ANOTHER BIG CONVERSATION WE'RE HAVING.
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY [INAUDIBLE] SHOWN YEARS PAST RELUCTANCE TO MAKE THAT INVESTMENT, ACKNOWLEDGING THEY BELIEVE IN THEIR ESTIMATION THAT IT'S A LOCAL RESPONSIBILITY, BUT WITH SUCH GREAT NEEDS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH, VIRGINIA, THAT'S BEEN DOCUMENTED.
WE'RE HOPEFUL TO SEE SOME MOVEMENT IN THAT CONVERSATION THIS SESSION AS WELL.
THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING THAT.
AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ECHO THAT, THANK YOU FOR PUTTING IT TOGETHER, AND IT IS INTERESTING. IT'S ALWAYS ENLIGHTENING WHEN WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SIT WITH THE DELEGATION. AND EVEN THOUGH SOME OF US MAY, YOU KNOW, KNOW SOME OF THE MEMBERS OF OUR DELEGATION AND HAVE DISCUSSIONS OUTSIDE OF THIS, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT EVERYONE KNOWS THAT ESPECIALLY DOWN HERE AT OUR LEVEL, WE HAVE TO LIVE WITH THE DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE AT THAT LEVEL, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SCHOOLS.
YOU KNOW, THE FUNDING CAP IS SOMETHING THAT REALLY PROHIBITS US A LITTLE BIT, WHICH WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE REMOVED AND UNFUNDED MANDATES WHEN THE LAW CHANGES AND REQUIRES US TO DO SOMETHING AND THERE'S NO MONEY TO FOLLOW IT, IT PUTS US AND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IN A VERY TOUGH SPOT.
AND I THINK WE MADE IT QUITE CLEAR TO THEM, AS WE DO NORMALLY EVERY YEAR, THAT YOU KNOW ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU'D BE MANDATING ON SCHOOLS THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT THERE WOULD NEED TO BE FUNDING THAT FOLLOWS THAT.
SO YOU'RE SAYING THAT WE NEED TO HAVE MORE COUNSELORS IF THEY'RE STATING OR PASSING THE LEGISLATION THAT SAYS YOU NEED TO HAVE MORE PSYCHOLOGISTS.
YOU KNOW, IT REALLY DOES HELP TO HAVE THAT FUNDING.
SO I APPRECIATE THIS KIND OF DANCE WE DO EVERY YEAR WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNOW 100 PERCENT WHERE WE STAND AT.
SO THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, THERE'S BEEN A MOTION AND A SECOND.
THE MEMOS APPROVED. NEXT WE HAVE MEMO ONE FIFTY SIX DASH TWENTY ONE.
[3. Memo #156-21: Second Review and Adoption of Proposed Revisions to Current Policies and Regulations]
MR. SMITH. MR. CHAIRMAN, AS CHAIR OF THE POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE STAFF RECOMMENDS REVISIONS TO CURRENT POLICIES AND REGULATIONS AS FOLLOWS.REVISIONS POLICY 4130 REVISED ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICATION TO STUDENTS.
THIS POLICY IS UPDATED TO REFLECT THE AMENDMENT OF VIRGINIA CODE 22.1-274.2 BY HOUSE BILL TWENTY NINETEEN THAT GOES INTO EFFECT ON JANUARY ONE, TWENTY TWENTY TWO.
SECOND, REVISIONS OF POLICY 4150, REVISED PHYSICAL RESTRAINT AND SECLUSION OF STUDENTS, ANNUAL REVIEW REQUIRED. THIS WAS REVIEWED WITH NO CHANGES, REVISIONS OF POLICY 5220 REVISE VACATION LEAVE FOR 12 MONTH EMPLOYEES POLICY WAS UPDATED TO REFLECT FLEXIBILITY IF EXTRAORDINARY OR EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES EXIST.
REVISIONS OF POLICY 5240 REVISED PERSONAL LEAVE FOR 10 AND 11 MONTH EMPLOYEES.
THIS POLICY, ALSO UPDATED TO REFLECT FLEXIBILITY IF EXTRAORDINARY ORGANIZATIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES EXIST.
NEXT REVISIONS OF POLICY 5290 REVISED SHORT TERM LEAVE OF ABSENCE WITHOUT PAY POLICY UPDATE TO REFLECT DISCRETION OF SUPERINTENDENT OR DESIGNEE TO GRANT AN ADDITIONAL FIVE DAYS AND REVISION OF THE POLICY 5361 REVISED PROPER HANDLING OF PERSONAL, SENSITIVE AND CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION POLICY UPDATE REFLECT UPDATED TITLES, ETC..
PROPOSED CHANGES HAVE BEEN REVIEWED BY SCHOOL BOARD ATTORNEY.
I DO WANT TO NOTE SINCE FIRST REVIEW ON NOVEMBER THE 9TH, TWENTY TWENTY ONE, ADDITIONAL REVISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE TO POLICY 5220 AND POLICY 5361.
UP ON THE SCREEN IN POLICY 5220.
YOU'LL NOTE IN THE PURPLE IS THE NEW CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN DONE SINCE NOVEMBER THE 9TH.
YOU'LL SEE, OBVIOUSLY, THERE CHANGES WERE MADE WITH REGARD TO THE A, B AND C AND THE STRUCTURE OF LEAVE. OBVIOUSLY, THAT'S TO ACCOMMODATE THE CHANGES IN OUR CALENDAR.
LOOKING AHEAD TO THE WINTER BREAK WHERE WE WILL HAVE OFFICES OPEN NOT THIS YEAR, BUT THE FOLLOWING YEAR AND LOOKING AT THE NEXT ONE POLICY 5361.
YOU'LL NOTICE THE NEW SECTIONS IN PURPLE ARE TO INCORPORATE THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT, OBVIOUSLY OF OUR CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER OR THEIR DESIGNEE WITHIN THAT POLICY.
IF APPROVED THE REVISIONS OF THE CURRENT POLICY AND REGULATIONS WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY. HOWEVER, REVISIONS OF POLICY 5220 WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE JANUARY ONE, TWENTY TWENTY TWO. MR. CHAIRMAN, YOU HAVE RECOMMENDED ACTION.
THANK YOU, MR. SMITH. BOARD MEMBERS MAY HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE MEMO 156-21.
SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. BOARD MEMBERS ANY DISCUSSION? MR. CHAIR. GO AHEAD.
MR. SMITH, I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT SEEING THIS SOONER, AND I'M SURE THAT THIS WAS JUST AN OVERSIGHT. THERE'S SO MUCH LANGUAGE IN HERE.
THERE IS. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD THAT WE, I SUPPORT THE ADOPTION, BUT THERE'S A SOME GENDERED LANGUAGE IN HERE THAT I THINK WE WERE ON THE ATTACHMENT A 4130 SECTION I.
AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT WAS JUST A GLITCH.
SO BEFORE WE ADOPT IT, JUST THAT WE CAN.
YOU'RE LOOKING AT-- CARRY WITH HIM, AND USE SUPPLIES.
[01:15:03]
OK. I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT CATCHING UP SOONER.AND FOLLOWING DOWN TO WHERE THAT YOUR SECTION YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE SENTENCE, CARRY WITH HIM AND USE SUPPLIES, INCLUDING A REASONABLE AND APPROPRIATE.
THERE'S JUST THE GENDERED LANGUAGE THERE.
I MEAN, IT'S-- YOU FOUND THE OTHER ONE'S [LAUGHTER].
GREAT JOB. SO THAT ONE, CERTAINLY, MR. CHAIRMAN, WE CAN MAKE THAT CHANGE AND THE AMENDMENT OBVIOUSLY WITH THE RECOMMENDATION ADOPTION HERE, IF THAT'S THE WILL OF THE BOARD.
THERE'S BEEN A MOTION AND A SECOND.
MR. CLERK, PLEASE CALL ROLL ON THE MOTION.
NEXT, WE HAVE MEMO ONE FIFTY SEVEN DASH TWENTY ONE.
[4. Memo #157-21: Proposed Adoption of a New Policy, and Suspension of Rules]
MR. CHAIRMAN, THE LAST POLICY [INAUDIBLE] FOR YOU, I'LL SAY AT THE OUTSET, THIS IS BY NO MEANS THE WAY THAT WE AS A SCHOOL DIVISION [INAUDIBLE] LIKE TO SET POLICY.I WILL NOTE THAT THIS HAS BEEN SHARED WITH THE POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE AND THE STAFF DOES RECOMMEND REVISIONS [INAUDIBLE] CURRENT POLICY AND REGULATIONS AS FOLLOWS.
ADMINISTRATION OF NON STUDENT SPECIFIC ALBUTEROL.
THIS POLICY HAS BEEN DRAFTED CONSISTENT WITH GUIDELINES [INAUDIBLE] VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION THAT WERE ONLY RELEASED ON NOVEMBER THE 30TH TWENTY TWENTY ONE AND [INAUDIBLE] WERE REQUIRED BY LAW TO ADOPT THESE BY DECEMBER THIRTY ONE, TWENTY TWENTY ONE.
I WILL NOTE, OBVIOUSLY THIS IS ACTUALLY A VERY GOOD EXAMPLE OF CONVERSATION I [INAUDIBLE] DELEGATION ABOUT HOW THEY ESTABLISH POLICIES.
WE HAVE TO PUT THEM IN PLACE, OBVIOUSLY WITHIN OUR SCHOOL DIVISION AND HAVE ENOUGH TIME UNDERSTANDING THAT WHEN THEY PUT REQUIREMENTS ON THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, THEY CAN'T WAIT FOR THE LAST MINUTE TO COMPLETE THEIR PART OF THE JOB, IF YOU WILL, FOR US TO COME BACK ADOPT POLICY, TRAIN STAFF.
THAT BEING SAID, OBVIOUSLY THIS POLICY, UNFORTUNATELY IN THE DRAFTING OF THIS, OBVIOUSLY THERE'S ONE ADDITIONAL CHANGE WE WILL NEED TO MAKE AND I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT VERBALLY.
IT'S-- IF YOU DON'T MIND MR. CLERK TAKING DOWN TO SECTION SEVEN.
WANT TO ADD, AS YOU SEE THERE AT THE BOTTOM NUMBER FOUR, WHICH IS THE CLEAN MDI AND EQUIPMENT PER PROTOCOL, WE NEED TO ADD ONE ADDITIONAL SECTION AND IT WOULD READ AS FOLLOWS ANY STUDENT WHO REQUIRES THE USE OF UNDESIGNATED STOCK ALBUTEROL FOR RESPIRATORY DISTRESS SHOULD BE REFERRED TO THE HEALTH CARE PROVIDER FOR FOLLOW UP MEDICAL AND NOT-- MEDICAL-- FOR UP MEDICAL CARE AND NOT REMAIN IN SCHOOL.
THAT CERTAINLY COMES RIGHT OUT OF DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PIECE.
AGAIN, I'LL NOTE OBVIOUSLY THIS IS NOT HOW WE WANT TO ADOPT OUR POLICIES BUT APPRECIATE OBVIOUSLY THE INDULGENCE OF THE BOARD.
YOUR SCHOOL [INAUDIBLE] POLICY TWELVE HUNDRED DOES PROVIDE THAT QUOTE IF CIRCUMSTANCES WARRANT IMMEDIATE ACTION ON THE PROPOSED POLICY REGULATIONS [INAUDIBLE] MAY SUSPEND ITS RULES AND BRING THE POLICY OR REGULATION UP FOR IMMEDIATE ADOPTION FOLLOWING THE FIRST READING END QUOTE.
THEREFORE, IT IS RECOMMENDED THE SCHOOL BOARD SUSPEND ITS REGULAR RULES OF POLICY ADOPTION BY WAIVING A SECOND READING OF THE POLICIES CONTAINED IN THE MEMORANDUM AND APPROVE EACH FOLLOWING THIS FIRST READING.
PROPOSED CHANGES HAVE BEEN REVIEWED BY THE SCHOOL BOARD ATTORNEY.
IF APPROVED, THE REVISIONS OF CURRENT POLICY AND REGULATIONS BECOME EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY. MR. CHAIRMAN, YOU HAVE TWO RECOMMENDED ACTIONS.
MR. SMITH, CAN YOU READ THE PIECE ONE MORE TIME THAT IS GOING TO BE INSERTED? YES, SIR. IT WOULD BECOME UNDER SECTION SEVEN POST-EVENT ACTIONS, WE WOULD ADD A NUMBER FIVE, IT WOULD READ QUOTE ANY STUDENT WHO REQUIRES THE USE OF UNDESIGNATED STOCK ALBUTEROL FOR RESPIRATORY DISTRESS SHOULD BE REFERRED TO THEIR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER FOR FOLLOW -UP MEDICAL CARE AND NOT REMAIN IN SCHOOL END QUOTE.
BOARD MEMBERS MAY HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE MEMO ONE FIFTY SEVEN DASH TWENTY ONE.
[INAUDIBLE]. IS THERE A SECOND SECOND? SECOND. BOARD MEMBERS IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? [INAUDIBLE] CHAIR. JUST TO BE CLEAR, DO YOU NEED? DO WE NEED TO ADD THAT AMENDED LANGUAGE? I THINK WITH ANOTHER WITH ANOTHER MOTION.
YEAH, I THINK WHAT MR. CHAIRMAN CAN DO IS RECOMMEND ACTION NUMBER TWO.
YOU CAN SAY ADOPT THE POLICIES WITH THE AMENDMENT.
WITH THE PROVISIONS, OK? YES, THAT WOULD SUFFICE.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO COMMENT THAT IS THE PROTOCOL FOR AN EPIPEN USE AS WELL, IS IT NOT? IN A LOT-- YES, THAT POLICY ALIGNS VERY CLOSELY TO THE SAME CONCEPT AS AN EPIPEN USE.
OK, SO THERE HAS BEEN A MOTION AND THERE'S BEEN A SECOND.
MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL ROLL.
AYE. ANN COKER. AYE. RYAN HARTER AYE.
[01:20:01]
THE MOTION IS APPROVED FOR BOTH MOTIONS RECOMMENDED ACTIONS AS PRESENTED.[INAUDIBLE]. MR. CARSON. MEMO ONE SIXTY ONE DASH TWENTY ONE.
[5. Memo #161-21: Award of Contracts for Engineering - Geotechnical, Soils, Concrete, Masonry, Pavement, Wood, and Structural Steel Services]
MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, I HAVE ONE MEMO IN FRONT OF YOU THIS EVENING.THE AWARD OF CONTRACTS FOR ENGINEERING, GEOTECHNICAL SOILS, CONCRETE, MASONRY, PAVEMENT, WOOD AND STRUCTURAL STEEL SERVICES.
TO ASSIST WITH CURRENT AND PROJECTED NEEDS FOR GEOTECHNICAL REPORTS, ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENTS AND RELATED STUDY AND TESTING SERVICES FOR PLANNING, DESIGN AND OR CONSTRUCTION OF CHESTERFIELD COUNTY OR SCHOOL PROJECT RELATED EFFORTS.
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PROCUREMENT FORMED A COMMITTEE TO SELECT FIRMS TO PROVIDE VARIOUS ENGINEERING AND TESTING SERVICES.
THIS CONTRACT IS STRUCTURED TO MEET REQUIREMENTS OVER A ONE YEAR PERIOD WITH UP TO FOUR, ONE YEAR RENEWALS.
REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE COUNTY AND CCPS WERE SELECTED FOR THIS COMMITTEE, AND IN APRIL OF TWENTY TWENTY ONE, A RFP WAS ISSUED.
SIX FIRMS SUBMITTED PROPOSALS IN MAY OF 2021 AND BASED ON THE RESULTS OF INTERVIEWS AND NEGOTIATIONS.
FOUR FIRMS ARE RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL BY THE SCHOOL BOARD AND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOR THIS WORK, AND THEY ARE ECS MID-ATLANTIC LLC, FREEHLING AND ROBERTSON INC., SCHNABEL ENGINEERING LLC AND TIMMONS GROUP INC.
THERE IS NO FISCAL IMPACT BY SELECTING THESE FIRMS AND STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD AUTHORIZED THE DIRECTOR OF PROCUREMENT TO AWARD REQUIREMENTS CONTRACTS TO THE FOUR FIRMS MENTIONED FOR THE CONTRACT STATED ABOVE.
NO FUNDING IS REQUESTED AS PART OF THIS RECOMMENDATION.
MR. CHAIRMAN, YOU HAVE THIS STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
THANK YOU, MR. CARSON. BOARD MEMBERS MAY HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MEMO ONE SIXTY ONE DASH TWENTY ONE. [INAUDIBLE] IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? [INAUDIBLE] THERE'S BEEN A MOTION AND A SECOND.
MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL ROLL ON THE MOTION? DOT HEFFRON.
[G. Items for Board Review]
NEXT, WE HAVE ITEMS FOR BOARD REVIEW.MR. CHAIR, TONIGHT'S AGENDA INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING ITEMS FOR THE BOARD'S REVIEW MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT IMPROVEMENT FUNDS FOR FY 2022, FY 2022 OCTOBER EXPENDITURES VS.
APPROPRIATIONS, THE BUDGET CHANGE REQUESTS SUMMARY ACROSS CATEGORIES FOR OCTOBER TWENTY TWENTY ONE, BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS, THE PRE-K UPDATE FOR OCTOBER TWENTY TWENTY ONE, AND THE FY 2022 FINANCIAL REPORTS FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2021.
THANK YOU, MR. CLERK. NEXT, WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON AGENDA ITEMS.
[H. Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items]
FOR THIS MEETING, CITIZENS WERE GIVEN THE OPTION OF SUBMITTING THEIR COMMENTS ONLINE OR IN PERSON. THE BOARD RECEIVED 14 ONLINE COMMENTS.COMMENTS SUBMITTED VIA THE ONLINE FORM WERE SENT TO THE BOARD PRIOR TO THE START OF TONIGHT'S MEETING AND WILL BE POSTED TO THE BOARD DOC SITE AND WILL BE INCLUDED IN A FULL-- AS AN ADDENDUM TO THE MEETING MINUTES.
MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE ANNOUNCE THIS EVENING'S IN PERSON SPEAKERS FOR NON AGENDA ITEMS? MR. CHAIR, WE HAVE NINE SPEAKERS FOR AN ON AGENDA ITEMS THIS EVENING.
THEY ARE JENNIFER SECRETI, RICKY BODSFORD, [INAUDIBLE], NANCY DEFRANCO, MARK CHARLES, TYLER GARRETT, JASON MELENDEZ, MAUREEN [INAUDIBLE] AND KELLY MARLIN.
EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD.
THERE'S A TIMER SET UP ON TOP OF THE PODIUM THAT WILL TURN GREEN WHEN YOU BEGIN SPEAKING YELLOW, WHEN YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS REMAINING AND RED WHEN YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
AS A REMINDER, NO PERSONAL BELONGINGS OTHER THAN A CELL PHONE AND SPEAKERS NOTES ARE ALLOWED AT THE PODIUM.
WE ALSO ASK THAT SPEAKERS REFRAIN FROM TOUCHING THE MICROPHONES.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO GIVE YOUR NAME AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR COMMENTS, AND PLEASE NOTE THAT COMMENTS EQUIVALENT TO CAMPAIGNING FOR ANY PUBLIC OFFICE ARE IN VIOLATION OF SCHOOL BOARD POLICY 1110 AND ARE PROHIBITED.
YOU MAY REMEMBER ME FROM THE LAST MEETING.
SINCE THEN, IT'S BEEN BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT THIS BOOK IS IN THE HIGH SCHOOL
[01:25:04]
LIBRARIES. BEYOND MAGENTA, HARMLESS ENOUGH NAME TO START.I WAS GOING TO READ A COUPLE OF PASSAGES FROM IT, BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE IN THE ROOM, AND I WOULD BE QUITE EMBARRASSED TO READ WHAT'S WRITTEN IN THIS BOOK.
THIS IS THE STUFF THAT YOU ALL ARE ALLOWING OUR KIDS TO HAVE ACCESS TO.
AND IT'S I MEAN, I DON'T SEE HOW IT'S NOT CRIMINAL.
YOU KNOW, IT AMOUNTS TO CHILD ABUSE, SEXUAL ABUSE, PEDOPHILIA, AND IT'S ALL OK IN THIS BOOK THAT WE FIND IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY LIBRARIES.
I'M SURE YOU HAVEN'T READ IT BECAUSE IF YOU HAD, I JUST DON'T SEE HOW IT COULD BE IN A LIBRARY WHERE OUR KIDS HAVE ACCESS TO IT.
SO I'LL CHALLENGE ALL OF YOU ALL RIGHT NOW TO SIT DOWN WITH ME AND EXPLAIN TO ME WHY THIS BOOK IS OK FOR OUR KIDS TO READ.
MY SCHEDULE IS EXTREMELY FLEXIBLE.
I CAN MEET YOU ANY TIME, ANY PLACE, ANYWHERE.
I THINK THAT IT'S ALL POLITICALLY DRIVEN AND MONEY DRIVEN AND YOU KNOW, YOU ALL FOLLOW THE MONEY I GET THAT.
WE HAVE TO, TO SURVIVE, BUT YOU'VE GOT TO DRAW A LINE SOMEWHERE.
I DRAW IT HERE WITH THIS BOOK.
THIS IS ONE COPY THAT WILL NOT BE MAKING IT BACK TO JAMES RIVER HIGH SCHOOL.
THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU, MR. BODSFORD. [INAUDIBLE].
HELLO AGAIN. WHEN I SPOKE AT LAST MONTH'S MEETING, AFTER I WAS DONE SPEAKING, DR.
DAUGHERTY, YOU STOOD UP BEHIND ME TO REFUTE MY COMMENTS ON SENATE BILL 1303 AND FOLLOWING THE CDC GUIDELINES.
YOU SAID THAT YOUR GOVERNOR TOLD YOU TO WEAR A MASK.
UNLESS HE PERSONALLY CALLED YOU, THAT WAS NOT TRUE.
SORRY. ACTUALLY, THE GOVERNOR THREATENED THE SCHOOL BOARDS THAT WANTED TO GIVE PARENTS THE OPTION TO MASK WITH LEGAL ACTION.
THE HEALTH COMMISSIONER IS THE ONE WHO MADE THE MANDATE, ILLEGALLY, I MIGHT ADD.
A FEDERAL JUDGE RECENTLY RULED THAT AN APPOINTED OFFICIAL CANNOT BY LAW ISSUE A MANDATE.
SENATE BILL 1303 IS A LAW THAT VIOLATES SECTION EIGHT OF THE VIRGINIA CONSTITUTION.
AGAIN, YOU ALL HAVE THE POWER TO UNMASK THE CHILDREN.
BUT YOU ALL HAVE MONEY GOGGLES ON.
CHILDREN HAVE A 0.0002 PERCENT CHANCE OF CONTRACTING COVID 19.
AND A 99.9998 PERCENT CHANCE OF RECOVERING IF THEY DO.
THIS IS SURREAL THAT WE ARE MASKING THEM.
AND I WONDER WHERE YOU WILL STAND WHEN THEY DECIDE TO ADD THE SHOT TO THE IMMUNIZATION LIST FOR SCHOOLS, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO MANDATE IT.
AND IF YOU GO BACK AND YOU LISTEN TO FRIDAY'S STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT MEETING, YOU WILL KNOW THAT'S TRUE TOO.
WILL YOU DO YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY AND PROTECT THE CHILDREN? THERE ARE NO TWO OR THREE YEAR CLINICAL TRIALS.
NOT FOR ANYBODY, BUT ESPECIALLY FOR THE CHILDREN.
WE ARE GOING TO PUT IT SOMETHING TOXIC INTO THEIR LITTLE BODIES AND THEN WAIT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
AND IT MIGHT NOT BE YOUR KIDS, MIGHT BE YOUR GREAT GRANDKIDS OR YOUR GRANDCHILDREN.
AGAIN, GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE PICTURES OF BILL GATES VACCINES IN INDIA AND [INAUDIBLE] SEE IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT YOUR GRANDCHILDREN TO LOOK LIKE.
JESUS SAYS A HUNDRED AND ONE TIMES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT TO PROTECT THE CHILDREN.
A HUNDRED AND ONE TIMES, I WONDER WHY.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS. DEFRANCO. MARK CHARLES.
GOOD EVENING, I'M MARK CHARLES.
FIRST, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND WILLINGNESS TO REPRESENT YOUR DISTRICTS,
[01:30:03]
AS I'M SURE IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY.I HAVE TWO TOPICS I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS.
THE MANDATES WHICH WE HEARD ALREADY, AND RESTRICTIONS AND [INAUDIBLE] IMMUNITY.
WE'VE BEEN THROUGH UNPRECEDENTED TIMES WITH THIS PANDEMIC.
HOWEVER, I THINK IT'S TIME THAT WE START MOVING FORWARD AND LETTING GO OF THE FEAR THAT THIS VIRUS HAS DRIVEN INTO OUR WORLD.
OUR CHILDREN NEED TO SEE FROM OUR ACTIONS AND WORDS THAT THERE IS HOPE AND A FUTURE THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD EVEN THROUGH THIS HISTORIC PANDEMIC.
I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS AROUND THE VIRUS AND THAT WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER. HOWEVER, THIS CANNOT BE DONE THROUGH MANDATES.
WE LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
WE HAVE ALL-- WE ALL HAVE INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS, AND KNOW WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR FAMILIES.
MANDATES ARE NOT A ONE SIZE FITS ALL.
EVERYONE SHOULD DECIDE WHAT'S BEST FOR THEIR OWN FAMILY.
I ASK YOU TONIGHT, HOW DO YOU WANT TO BE REMEMBERED? WILL YOU BE A FOLLOWER OR A LEADER WHO STOOD UP FOR OUR CHILDREN? MANDATES AND RESTRICTIONS ARE NOT EFFECTIVE.
MY ENTIRE FAMILY CONTRACTED COVID 19 LAST CHRISTMAS, WEARING MASKS AND SOCIALLY DISTANCED. WHICH BRINGS ME INTO MY NEXT TOPIC OF [INAUDIBLE] IMMUNITY.
I ASK YOU TO BE A LEADER AND RECOGNIZE [INAUDIBLE] IMMUNITY AND PUT PROTECTIONS IN PLACE TO STOP DISCRIMINATING AGAINST THOSE OF US THAT HAVE ALREADY SUFFERED THROUGH THE DISEASE. MY ENTIRE FAMILY IS STILL TESTING POSITIVE FOR ANTIBODIES A YEAR LATER, NOT VACCINATED. ACCORDING TO THE CDC, THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF ACTIVE IMMUNITY AGAINST DISEASES [INAUDIBLE] IMMUNITY.
THE CDC STATES NATURAL IMMUNITY IS ACQUIRED FROM EXPOSURE TO DISEASE ORGANISMS THROUGH INFECTION WITH THE ACTUAL DISEASE.
WE HAVE A NEW YEAR AND A NEW ADMINISTRATION, AND I PRAY THAT GOD GIVES YOU CLARITY TO SEE BEYOND THE BLINDFOLD AND DO WHAT'S RIGHT, REMOVE THE MANDATES RESTRICTIONS AND RECOGNIZE NATURAL IMMUNITY. THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU, MR. CHARLES. TYLER GARRETT.
GOOD EVENING MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I'M NOT EXACTLY TO CERTAIN IF EVERYONE HERE RECOGNIZES WHAT HAPPENED LAST FRIDAY.
ON SOCIAL MEDIA, A POST WAS SHARED THAT TRIED TO INDUCE A RIOT AT SCHOOL.
WHEN I CAME HOME ON THURSDAY, I TOLD MY PARENTS THERE MAY BE A RIOT AT SCHOOL ON FRIDAY, MAY I PLEASE STAY HOME? THEY AGREED. THEY AGREED I SHOULD STAY HOME.
I WAS TALKING TO FRIENDS AFTERWARDS.
THEY HAD TOLD ME THAT IN ONE OF THEIR CLASSES, ONLY FOUR PEOPLE HAD ARRIVED.
ON AN INSTRUCTIONAL DAY AT SCHOOL.
SHOULD WE BE AFRAID TO GO TO SCHOOL? SHOULD WE? WE SHOULD NEVER BE AFRAID TO GO TO SCHOOL, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE WE ARE FORCED TO BE TO LEARN.
BUT ON THAT DAY, I WAS AFRAID.
I HONESTLY THOUGHT THAT IF THERE WAS GOING TO BE A RIOT, I MIGHT NOT GET TO SEE ONE OF MY FRIENDS AGAIN. THEY MIGHT NOT SHOW UP AT SCHOOL THE NEXT DAY.
THAT SCARED ME. IT REALLY DID.
I FEEL LIKE MORE ACTION NEEDS TO BE TAKEN TO PROPERLY ADDRESS ISSUES LIKE THIS AS AFTER IT HAPPENED. GONE.
NO ONE EVER TALKED TO US ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED.
THEY JUST PRETENDED IT DIDN'T EXIST.
WE NEED TO BE TRANSPARENT TO THESE PEOPLE.
HOW COME WE ONLY GOT TWO EMAILS ABOUT THIS, WHICH ONLY FURTHER INDUCED FEAR IN PARENTS AND CHILDREN? AND NONE OF THEM HAD EVEN A RESEMBLANCE OF HELPFULNESS OR WE HAVE THIS UNDER CONTROL TYPE FEELING [INAUDIBLE] LIKE A WARNING, LIKE THEY WERE TELLING US THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A RIOTS, THERE'S GOING TO BE AN ISSUE.
WE DON'T WANT OUR STUDENTS TO FEEL LIKE THAT, DO WE? THAT'S NOT WHAT OUR GOAL IS AT SCHOOL.
I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND IT FULLY ON HOW SOMETHING LIKE THAT WAS JUST SEEN AS SO CASUAL, NOT NEVER TO BE ADDRESSED AGAIN.
I'M BAFFLED AT THE LENGTHS PEOPLE GO TO TRY AND COVER THESE TYPES OF THINGS UP.
I'M CONFUSED AS WELL, BECAUSE ON THE DAY BEFORE THAT, OUR PRINCIPAL HAD MADE AN ANNOUNCEMENT THAT STUDENTS WOULD NO LONGER BE ALLOWED IN HALLWAYS.
NO MENTION, HOWEVER, TO THE POSSIBLE RIOT THE DAY AFTER.
[01:35:04]
WAS THAT A COINCIDENCE THAT WE ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE HALLWAYS AND IT CAN BE PUNISHABLE BY DETENTION OR SUSPENSION? FIFTEEN DETENTIONS WERE HANDED OUT THAT DAY TO STUDENTS THAT WERE IN THE HALLWAY WHEN THEY WERE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE.15. THEY'RE NOT A WASTE OF RESOURCES.
SCHOOL SHOULD BE A PLACE WE FEEL SAFE, RIGHT? TO LEARN, MAKE US LIKE SCHOOL AGAIN, NOT BE AFRAID.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU, MR. GARRETT. JASON MELENDEZ.
GOOD EVENING, [COUGH] GOOD EVENING, I'M JASON MELENDEZ, AND I'M A RESIDENT OF THE DALE DISTRICT.
THIS YEAR HAS GONE BY VERY FAST AND JUST A SIDE NOTE SINCE WE'VE ALREADY MADE IT TO DECEMBER. THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S RECENT STATE OF THE COUNTY ADDRESS SHOWS THAT THE COUNTY IS ON A TRACK FOR GROWTH AND EXPANDED DEVELOPMENT, AND HOPEFULLY THESE BENEFITS CAN BE SEEN IN THE SCHOOL DIVISION, INCLUDING THE ADDITION OF NEW OR UPGRADED FACILITIES TO OFFSET THE BURDENS ON EXISTING FACILITIES.
WE'RE ALSO APPROACHING THE ONE YEAR MARK OF AN EVENT THAT I DON'T THINK ANYONE IN THIS ROOM COULD HAVE PREDICTED OR IMAGINED EVER IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES.
AS CHAIRMAN BENNIE THOMPSON OF THE HOUSE JANUARY 6 SELECT COMMITTEE PUT IT YESTERDAY, WE CANNOT SIMPLY LET THIS UGLY DAY IN AMERICAN HISTORY BECOME A FADED MEMORY.
INSTEAD, THE COMMITTEE, LED BY REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON, IS DEDICATED TO UNCOVERING THE WHOLE TRUTH BEHIND THAT DARK DAY.
AS A STUDENT AT THAT TIME, I REMEMBER SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION URGING STAFF AND STUDENTS TO AVOID CLASSROOM DISCUSSION REGARDING THIS VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC.
PRESUMABLY, STAFF WANTED TO LIMIT WHAT COULD BE POTENTIAL ISSUES OVER THE POLITICAL DISCUSSION REGARDING JANUARY 6TH.
EXCEPT WHAT HAPPENED THAT DAY AND ITS REGULAR TRUTH EXTENDS FAR BEYOND POLITICS OR WHAT ANY NORMAL PERSON WITH THE RESPECT FOR THE CONSTITUTION WOULD THINK.
I URGE DIVISION LEADERS AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS TO ENCOURAGE THE APPROPRIATE SECONDARY LEVEL INSTRUCTION STAFF AT THEIR FACILITIES TO HAVE FAIR AND HONEST INSTRUCTION ON THE EVENTS OF JANUARY SIX, ESPECIALLY AS WE APPROACH THE ONE YEAR MARK OF THAT DAY.
AGE APPROPRIATELY, OF COURSE, STUDENTS SHOULD LEARN ABOUT THE EVENTS AND THEIR EFFECTS OF THE GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS, AND THAT SHOULD INCLUDE THE POLITICAL OBSTRUCTION TO THE CRITICAL LEGISLATIVE WORK AT THE JAN.
STUDENTS AND FUTURE VOTERS MUST BE REMINDED OF THE PAIN OF THAT DAY.
IT IS CRITICAL THAT EVERY AMERICAN STUDENT KNOWS AND REALIZES THAT THE ATTACK ON THE CAPITOL WAS NOT EMBLEMATIC OF OUR CONSTITUTIONAL VALUES AND SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN.
THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU, MR. MELENDEZ. MAUREEN [INAUDIBLE].
HELLO, THERE, MY NAME IS MAUREEN [INAUDIBLE], I AM FROM THE BERMUDA DISTRICT, THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU GUYS DO.
SOME QUICK POINTS I WANTED TO MAKE WAS ACTUALLY TO FOLLOW UP ON THE YOUNG MAN TWO PEOPLE AGO WAS, AS YOU KNOW, LAST FRIDAY WAS NOT THE MOST PRODUCTIVE DAY THAT COULD HAVE EVER BEEN HAD AT SCHOOL.
THERE IS A LOT OF STRESS ON KIDS, TEACHERS AND THE ADMINISTRATORS AT SCHOOL.
MR. SMITH EARLIER THIS EVENING ALSO TOUCHED ON MENTAL HEALTH.
PERSONALLY, I THINK IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT MORE FUNDS BE DEDICATED TO ADDRESSING MENTAL HEALTH IN OUR SCHOOLS.
I UNDERSTAND THAT COSTS MONEY.
I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST POSTPONING AND REVIEWING THE TURF FOOTBALL FIELDS, WHICH WILL COST MILLIONS AND, IN MY OPINION, ARE NOT JUSTIFIED BASED ON THE COSTS AND EVEN WITH THE ALLEGED SPORTS TOURISM DOLLARS TO POSSIBLY COME IN.
I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT WE USE THOSE FIELD FUNDS FOR MENTAL HEALTH INSTEAD.
SECONDLY, I'M NOT SURE WHETHER IT WOULD BE YOU GUYS OR THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, BUT ONE WAY OF POSSIBLY FUNDING THE TURF FIELDS IF THEY REALLY, REALLY WANT THEM IS BY PRIVATE FUNDS. THERE ARE PLENTY OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS THROUGHOUT THE NATION THAT HAVE INVITED PRIVATE FUNDS, AND YOU CAN STILL GET YOUR DESIRED TURF FIELDS, BUT NOT AT TAXPAYER COSTS, WHICH WE COULD USE FOR MENTAL HEALTH, IDEALLY.
LASTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO THROW IN MY VOTE FOR, YOU KNOW, MORE SCHOOLS, PARTICULARLY PROBABLY A HIGH SCHOOL WITHIN THE BERMUDA DISTRICT.
AS YOU GUYS UNDOUBTEDLY KNOW, THERE IS SO MUCH CONVERSATION ON NEW DEVELOPMENTS, APARTMENTS, TOWNHOUSES UP AND DOWN, YOU KNOW, EVEN THE ROUTE ONE CORRIDOR AND IT'S NOT-- I DON'T FEEL THAT DEVELOPERS ARE GIVING ENOUGH MONEY TOWARDS THE NEW SCHOOL RESPONSIBILITIES THAT WILL BE COMING IN WITH THOSE NEW DEVELOPMENTS.
[01:40:02]
SO I JUST WANT TO KIND OF PUT MY HOOD AT MY COMMENT IN FOR HOPEFULLY NEW SCHOOL WITHIN THE BERMUDA DISTRICT.AND THAT IS IT. AND I WISH YOU GUYS A HAPPY HOLIDAYS.
AS THE PARENT OF A MIDLOTHIAN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT, I HAD, EXCUSE ME, I HAD A SCARE OF MY LIFE LAST WEEK.
THE LACK OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE MIDLO HIGH ADMINISTRATION AND PARENTS REGARDING THE HOAX INSTAGRAM POST ABOUT A RIOT RESULTED IN TRAUMA FOR MANY STUDENTS AT SCHOOL THAT DAY.
ALTHOUGH WE HEARD ABOUT THE RIOT FROM PARENTS OF CHILDREN AT OTHER SCHOOLS AND KNEW IT WAS NOT A CREDIBLE THREAT, OUR KIDS HEARD NOTHING FROM THEIR PRINCIPAL OR OTHER ADMINISTRATORS. WE DISCUSSED IT WITH OUR KIDS THE NIGHT BEFORE, AND THEY THOUGHT THE IDEA OF A RANDOM RIOT WITH NO EXPLANATION OF WHY THEY SHOULD BE RIOTING WAS LAUGHABLE.
THEY HAD NO QUALMS ABOUT ATTENDING SCHOOL THE NEXT DAY.
HOWEVER, NOT EVERY PARENT KNEW IT WAS A HOAX, AND NOT EVERY STUDENT KNEW.
AS A RESULT, MAYBE AS A RESULT OF A SEPARATE THREAT THAT WAS NOT COMMUNICATED TO PARENTS OR STUDENTS, THE RUMOR MILL WAS IN FULL FORCE AT MIDLO HIGH THAT MORNING.
AT LUNCHTIME, I SAW A PARENT ASKED ON HER PERSONAL PAGE IF IT WAS TRUE THE SCHOOL WAS ON LOCKDOWN DUE TO A SHOOTER.
OTHER PARENTS QUICKLY REPLIED THAT WASN'T TRUE, BUT THE RUMORS KEPT FLYING.
AT ONE O'CLOCK, MY HUSBAND AND I RECEIVED TEXTS FROM OUR STUDENT.
HE WANTED TO LEAVE. HE WAS FRIGHTENED.
I SENT MY HUSBAND TO GET HIM IMMEDIATELY AND LOGGED BACK ONTO SOCIAL MEDIA.
I SAW PHOTOS OF MANY PARENTS PICKING UP THEIR FRIGHTENED KIDS.
MY SON TEXTED US TO PICK HIM UP AT A LOCATION AWAY FROM THE SCHOOL.
HE WAS SO TERRIFIED THERE WAS A SHOOTER IN THE BUILDING THAT HE LEFT BEFORE HE COULD BE PICKED UP. WHEN HE GOT HOME, I REVIEWED HIS TEXT MESSAGES WITH HIS FRIENDS.
ONE WAS IN A CLASS WHERE GIRLS WERE SOBBING AND CRYING AND SAYING GUNS HAD BEEN FOUND ON CAMPUS. THAT TEACHER WAS WRITING PASSES FOR ANYONE AND EVERYONE WHO WANTED TO LEAVE BECAUSE THE ENTIRE CLASS WAS SO UPSET.
A COUPLE OF KIDS WERE IN CLASSES WHERE THINGS WERE NORMAL, BUT THEY WEREN'T SURE WHY.
A COUPLE MORE WE'RE DISCUSSING WHETHER THEY SHOULD STAY OR LEAVE.
ANOTHER ONE WAS SAYING HE'S HEARD THE SHOOTER WAS PLANNING TO ARRIVE IN FOURTH PERIOD.
MY SON TOLD HIS FRIENDS HE LOVED THEM AND HOPE THEY ALL GOT OUT OK.
MY CHILD THOUGHT THAT IF HE STAYED AT SCHOOL THAT DAY, HE MIGHT DIE.
I SHARE THIS BECAUSE I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THINGS ARE NOT AT ALL BACK TO NORMAL.
OUR KIDS ARE CARRYING SO MUCH TRAUMA, FROM LOSING LOVED ONES TO COVID, FROM VIRTUAL LEARNING AND SOCIAL ISOLATION, TRAUMA FROM OUR DIVIDED POLITICAL CLIMATE, FROM MASS DEBATES, FROM OUTRAGE OVER LIBRARY BOOKS, FROM BEING TOLD THEY ARE BEHIND AND MUST CATCH UP AND FROM SO MUCH TESTING.
I REALLY WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU ALL CAN DO TO ADDRESS THE MENTAL HEALTH OF OUR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS.
MAYBE STOP PRESSURING EVERYONE TO ACHIEVE GOALS THAT IN A NORMAL TIME WOULD BE LAUGHABLE.
BUT FOR SOME REASON DURING A PANDEMIC ARE OK.
STOP TELLING THEM THEY'RE BEHIND.
STOP TELLING TEACHERS THEY HAVE TO CATCH KIDS UP RIGHT NOW.
STOP INSISTING WE TEST SO MUCH THAT TEACHERS CANNOT POSSIBLY CATCH UP BECAUSE THEIR INSTRUCTIONAL TIME IS EATEN UP BY TEST PREP.
I ASK YOU TO BE CREATIVE AND COMPASSIONATE FOR OUR KIDS INSTEAD OF THROWING UP YOUR HANDS AND SAYING, WE HAVE TO DO THIS BECAUSE YOU DON'T.
BE LEADERS, BE KIND AND BE THERE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, [APPLAUSE] MS. MARLIN. MR. CHAIR THAT CONCLUDES THIS EVENING'S PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON AGENDA ITEMS. THANK YOU, MR. CLERK. NEXT, WE HAVE THIS EVENING SUPERINTENDENT'S REMARKS, DR.
[I. Superintendent's Remarks]
DAUGHERTY. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, AND BOARD, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, AND BOARD. JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS.I WANT TO WISH EVERYONE A WONDERFUL, RELAXING HOLIDAY SEASON WELL DESERVED AND TEACHERS AND STUDENTS AND STAFF MEMBERS.
THIS FRIDAY AND THEN A COUPLE OF WEEKS OFF WILL BE GOOD AS WE START INTO THE 2022 YEAR.
THE GENTLEMAN WHO BROUGHT UP THE BOOK WE HAVE A PROCESS, A BOOK REVIEW, IT'S BEEN USED SEVERAL TIMES. HE'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
NOT EVERY BOOK IS READ THAT GOES IN THE LIBRARY.
THERE'S THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF BOOKS, AND WE HAVE A PROCESS THAT HE CAN TAKE THE BOOK TO THE SCHOOL AND THEY WILL IMMEDIATELY GO THROUGH THE PROCESS AND RUN THAT PROCESS.
IT'S NOT A BOARD PROCESS, IT'S A SCHOOL PROCESS, AND THEY'VE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL IN THAT PROCESS TO THIS POINT SEVERAL TIMES THIS YEAR.
THE TURF FIELD ISSUE IS THAT-- JUST KNOW THAT THERE IS ZERO DOLLARS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD BEING USED FOR THE TURF FIELDS.
THAT IS AN INITIATIVE FROM THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AS THEY DO OWN OUR PROPERTY AND WE ARE A BENEFIT OF THEM OWNING OUR PROPERTY.
HE'D SAY THAT WE'RE RENTERS, BUT IN ONE WAY WE ARE.
[01:45:03]
BUT THERE ARE NO EDUCATIONAL FUNDS BEING USED FOR THE TURF FIELD PROJECT.AND I'M GOING TO ASK. MR. SHAWN SMITH TO COME UP JUST TO SHARE INFORMATION THAT, YOU KNOW, I KEEP HEARING ABOUT THE MASK AND MANDATES, AND HOPEFULLY PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND OUR VIEWPOINT THAT THERE IS-- WE'RE NOT TIED TO THE MONEY, WE'RE NOT TIED TO THIS.
WE'RE TIED TO THE GUIDELINES THAT THE STATE HAS PLACED IN THAT THIS BOARD AND I AND THE MEMBERS OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO FOLLOW.
SO I'M GOING TO ASK SHAWN TO COME UP RIGHT NOW AND JUST GIVE AN EXPLANATION.
THANK YOU, DR. DAUGHERTY, BOARD MEMBERS, JUST A COUPLE OF QUICK UPDATES ON SOME OF OUR COVID EFFORTS.
OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT THIS VENTURE, WE'VE HAD STRONG PARTNERS, OBVIOUSLY WITH RISK MANAGEMENT AND CERTAINLY THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ALSO CLEARLY OUR SCHOOL NURSES HAVE [INAUDIBLE] THE BRUNT OF OBVIOUSLY THE EFFORTS THERE EACH AND EVERY DAY.
WE'VE BEEN TRANSPARENT THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS AND HAVING THE DASHBOARD THAT'S OUT THERE ON THE WEBSITE WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO SEE VERY CLEARLY WHERE THE CASES ARE IN THE SCHOOL DIVISION, THEY CAN SEE THE PERCENTAGES OF THE CASES, THEY CAN SEE ALL THE QUARANTINES THAT ARE FROM THOSE CASES AS WELL.
I FEEL LIKE THAT'S IMPORTANT, OBVIOUSLY, TO NOT JUST BE TRANSPARENT, BUT FOR PARENTS TO BE ABLE TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION ABOUT THE CARE FOR THEIR CHILDREN, AS WELL AS FOR OUR STAFF MEMBERS.
OBVIOUSLY, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT OBVIOUSLY THE SCHOOL DIVISIONS EFFORTS, EFFORTS REALLY BEGIN WITH US AS STAFF, WITH US, AS PARENTS AND OBVIOUSLY WITH EVERYBODY IN THE SCHOOL DIVISION, WITH THE SELF-ASSESSMENTS OBVIOUSLY ENTERING THE SCHOOL PROPERTY AND UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY'RE IN HEALTHY CONDITION OBVIOUSLY PROTECTS THEM AS WELL AS THEIR COLLEAGUES, AS WELL AS THEIR CLASSMATES.
IF PEOPLE ARE ELIGIBLE AND WILLING TO, OBVIOUSLY THERE IS AVAILABLE VACCINATIONS, OBVIOUSLY NOW FOR ALL AGES, AGES FIVE AND UP.
TALK ABOUT THAT IN A SECOND. AND THEN OBVIOUSLY THE BOOSTER SHOTS ARE AVAILABLE AS WELL, CERTAINLY READILY AVAILABLE, OBVIOUSLY ACROSS HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AS WELL AS THE LOCAL PHARMACIES AS WELL.
WE'VE DISCUSSED BEFORE ABOUT THE VISTA PROGRAM WITH COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA.
WE LOOK VERY CLOSELY AT THAT PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES SOME TESTING THAT'S AVAILABLE FOR ASYMPTOMATIC STAFF AND STUDENTS.
WE HAVE SOME CONCERNS WITH THE PROGRAM WITH REGARD TO THE STAFFING ASPECT, THE ABILITY TO STAFF MAINTAIN THE PROGRAM.
WE'RE NOT ENGAGED ACTIVELY IN THAT COMING ON BOARD.
CERTAINLY, WE'RE LOOKING CLOSELY.
I'LL MENTIONED IN A SECOND. OBVIOUSLY, WITH ANY CHANGE THAT MAY COME ABOUT IN MID-JANUARY, OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE A NEW GUBERNATORIAL ADMINISTRATION AND OBVIOUSLY A NEW VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND WHAT REQUIREMENTS MAY OR MAY NOT STILL EXIST AT THAT TIME. WE HAVE HAD IN PLACE AT OUR SCHOOLS TAKE HOME TESTS FOR COVID TESTS.
I WILL NOTE WE'VE ACTUALLY NOT SEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THAT, BUT WE HAVE MADE THAT AVAILABLE, OBVIOUSLY TO THE FAMILIES.
AND CERTAINLY IF THEY'RE HAVING TO TAKE A CHILD HOME FOR A CLOSE CONTACT SITUATION OR BECAUSE THEY ARE SYMPTOMATIC, THAT'S AVAILABLE TO OUR STAFF AND TO OUR STUDENTS.
ONE OF THE OTHER PIECES, OBVIOUSLY, IS WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, CERTAINLY AS THE VACCINATION FOR AGES FIVE TO 11 COME ON BOARD AND MAKING THAT READILY AVAILABLE ACROSS THE NOT JUST THE COUNTY, BUT ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH.
ONE OF THE CONVERSATIONS THEY'VE ASKED US TO CONSIDER, AND WE'RE HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM ABOUT WHETHER TO MAKE ALSO BE NOT MANDATORY TO MAKE IT AVAILABLE, POSSIBLY ON A WEEKEND TO WHERE FAMILIES COULD COME TO A SCHOOL, AGAIN NOT MANDATORY, NOT INVOLVED IN THE SCHOOL DIVISION, BUT MAKING IT AVAILABLE.
FAMILIES COULD COME GET THAT AGE FIVE TO 11 VACCINATION SHOT, AND WE'RE LOOKING AT SOME OPTIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE THERE.
ALL THAT TO KIND OF DOVETAIL A LITTLE BIT INTO THE CONVERSATION WITH REGARD TO MASK AND WITH MASKS THERE ARE SEVERAL LAYERS THAT COME WITH THAT.
FIRST AND FOREMOST IS THE PUBLIC HEALTH ORDER UNDER WHICH WE AS WELL AS ALL SCHOOL DIVISIONS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ARE UNDER.
THAT'S A REQUIREMENT WE HAVE TO ADHERE TO.
THERE'S BEEN CONVERSATIONS WITH REGARD TO HAVING GOVERNOR YOUNGKIN WHEN HE TAKES OFFICE ABOUT LOOKING TO POSSIBLY RESCIND SOME OF THOSE PIECES TO IT.
THE PUBLIC HEALTH ORDER, OBVIOUSLY, IN ORDER FOR US TO WALK AWAY FROM THAT, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE EITHER RESCINDED OR AMENDED.
UNTIL THAT HAPPENS, WE HAVE TO LOOK CLOSELY AT THAT LANGUAGE THAT COMES WITH IT.
WE SAW THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC, WE SAW A FRUSTRATION, QUITE FRANKLY, WHERE WE WOULD HAVE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT CAME FROM THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, ONLY TO BE QUOTE UNQUOTE CLARIFIED BY THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WITH ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS THAT CAME FORWARD FROM THAT.
ALL THAT TO SAY, AS THIS CONVERSATION TAKE PLACE, WE'LL WANT TO SEE THINGS THAT ARE IN WRITING AND THE REQUIREMENTS THAT KIND OF COME WITH THAT.
SO CERTAINLY THE HEALTH ORDERS, THE FIRST PIECE OF THAT, WE TALKED TONIGHT A COUPLE OF TIMES ABOUT SENATE BILL 1303.
OBVIOUSLY, THE CRUX OF THAT SENATE BILL IS REALLY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ASSURING THAT IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION REMAINS AN OPTION FOR STUDENTS.
CDC REQUIREMENTS OBVIOUSLY COME WITH THAT AS YOU HAVE IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION.
[01:50:02]
THE OTHER PIECES TO THINK ABOUT WHEN IT COMES TO MASK ARE OBVIOUSLY WITH REGARD TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THE SENSE OF OBVIOUSLY THEY DO CONTROL THEIR FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM AND OUR BUSES.THERE IS A MASK REQUIREMENT THAT'S REQUIRED BY THAT.
[INAUDIBLE] TO HAVE TO SEE SOME RESCINDING OR AMENDMENT OF THAT ORDER FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN ORDER TO ADAPT OUR PRACTICES THAT COME WITH THAT.
THE LAST TWO PIECES TO KEEP IN MIND ARE OTHER [INAUDIBLE] THAT COME FROM OSHA AND [INAUDIBLE], WHICH ARE WORKPLACE REQUIREMENTS.
WE ARE CONSIDERED A WORKPLACE AND RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THOSE REQUIREMENTS.
SO AS THE GOVERNOR TAKES OFFICE, IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY AT OSHA, OBVIOUSLY [INAUDIBLE] IS VIRGINIA'S OSHA, IF YOU WILL.
AS YOU LOOK CLOSELY AT THAT, THEY WOULD HAVE TO MAKE CHANGES WITH REGARD TO THOSE REGULATIONS.
THAT COMES FROM A SEPARATE BOARD AND ENTITY, SO OBVIOUSLY, IF THE GOVERNOR DOES MAKE STATEMENTS WITH REGARD TO THAT, WE LOOK CLOSELY TO NOT JUST THOSE STATEMENTS, BUT THE OTHER REQUIREMENTS THAT WOULD RESCIND THE CURRENT REQUIREMENT TO COME FROM [INAUDIBLE].
THE REASON WHY THAT PART IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE ALL OF THOSE REGULATIONS ARE TIED CLOSELY TO THE LOCAL TRANSMISSION LEVEL.
IF YOU RECALL, STILL IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, WE ARE IN A HIGH TRANSMISSION LEVEL WE HAVE TO COME DOWN TWO MODERATE-- DOWN TWO LEVELS, BECOME MODERATE IN TRANSMISSION TO BE ABLE TO WALK AWAY FROM THOSE MASK REQUIREMENTS.
OBVIOUSLY THERE IS GENERAL FATIGUE, IF YOU WILL, ACROSS NOT JUST CHESTERFIELD, BUT ACROSS VIRGINIA WITH REGARD TO SOME OF THESE REQUIREMENTS IN PLACE, YOU CAN LOOK CLOSELY AT THE DATA THAT WE HAVE WITH REGARD TO THE CASES THAT WE HAVE.
WE'VE SEEN OBVIOUSLY THE QUARANTINES THAT COME WITH THAT AND CLOSE CONTACTS.
IT DOES HAVE AN IMPACT ON EACH AND EVERY FAMILY, BUT [INAUDIBLE] OUR REGULATIONS OR LEGAL REQUIREMENTS WE HAVE TO ADHERE TO WITHOUT REGARD TO ANY PERSONAL INTONATION ABOUT WHAT WE MAY OR MAY NOT WANT TO SEE THOSE CHANGE, CERTAINLY AS THINGS ARE ANNOUNCED FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.
WE'LL LOOK CLOSELY WITH THOSE.
WE WILL COME BACK, OBVIOUSLY TO THE BOARD IF IT'S REQUIRED OR IF THE SUPERINTENDENT, IF THERE'S REGULATION AVAILABLE TO MAKE CHANGES.
AND CERTAINLY WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO WORK CLOSELY WITH RISK MANAGEMENT AS WITH REGARD TO OBVIOUSLY THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WITH THOSE REQUIREMENTS.
SO JUST AS WE THINK ABOUT OBVIOUSLY THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE THAT ARE REQUIRED OF US, IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO KEEP THOSE IN MIND.
OBVIOUSLY, IF THE GOVERNOR DOES BEGIN TO LOOK CLOSELY AT MAKING SOME CHANGES WITH THAT.
THANK YOU, MR. SMITH, AND JUST A IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, I GUESS, ANSWER A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, [INAUDIBLE] PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE THEM, BUT I DO KNOW THAT JUST LIKE MOST PEOPLE. WE'RE READY TO GET THE MASK OFF THE KIDS, AND WE DO KNOW ABOUT ALL THE DIFFERENT LAYERS THAT WE DO HAVE TO COMPLY WITH.
AND YOU DID A GREAT JOB OF LAYING IT OUT.
THE MULTIPLE DIFFERENT THINGS. AND YOU KNOW, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE FEDERAL LEVEL WITH THE TRANSPORTATION, I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE THAT HAPPEN ANYTIME SOON, BUT WE MAY SEE THE PUBLIC HEALTH ORDER ITSELF RATHER RESCINDED OR CHANGED, AND I THINK WE HAVE ALL SPOKEN ABOUT, WE'RE READY TO ADAPT TO THAT, WHATEVER THAT IS AS A BOARD LIKE IMMEDIATELY WHEN IT HAPPENS, WHEN THE LANGUAGE ACTUALLY FOLLOWS IN THE FOLLOW UP AND JUST A LITTLE BACKSTORY FOR THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WILL BE WONDERING AND SOMETIMES WE WOULD WATCH THE GOVERNOR COME OUT AND GIVE A PRESS CONFERENCE AND WE WOULD WALK AWAY FROM THAT AND THINKING, OK, WELL, THEY GAVE US THIS AND THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH IT THEN TO ONLY FIND, YOU KNOW, A DAY OR TWO LATER, WE DO RECEIVE FURTHER GUIDANCE, ACTUALLY WRITTEN GUIDANCE ON WHAT THE GOVERNOR ACTUALLY MEANT WHEN THEY SPOKE.
SO THOSE ARE THE CHALLENGES THAT WE DO HAVE.
THERE IS ONE THING I JUST WANT TO ASK IS THAT AT ANY TIME EVER, WAS THERE A REQUIREMENT FOR US TO MASK STUDENTS IN ORDER TO GET ANY OF THE ESSER FUNDS? THERE'S NO REQUIREMENT AS SUCH.
OK. AND THE VISTA TESTING THE TAKE HOME KITS IF STUDENTS WERE TO TAKE THOSE HOME AND THERE ARE TO TEST NEGATIVE ON IT.
ARE THEY ALLOWED TO COME BACK OR WE STILL HELD TO THE EIGHT DAYS? STILL HELD TO THE EIGHT DAYS.
I WANT TO SEPARATE VISTA FOR TWO PIECES.
VISTA PROGRAM ITSELF PROPER IS WHAT WE HAVE IN PLACE, PARTICULARLY TO HAVE REGULAR TESTING AVAILABLE FOR ASYMPTOMATIC STUDENTS.
PART OF THAT PROGRAM, THE SECONDARY PART OF THAT PROGRAM, HAS PROVIDED US TAKE HOME TEST.
OBVIOUSLY, THAT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY DOESN'T ACCESS TO THOSE TESTS, THE REQUIREMENTS THAT COME FROM THAT, OBVIOUSLY, AS WE STILL ARE TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO GET BACK TO THEIR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.
ONE OF THE THINGS I DIDN'T MENTION TIED A LITTLE BIT TO, I THINK PART OF YOUR QUESTION, TOO, IS THE COMMUNITY DOES HAVE A LOCAL COMMUNITY CENTER, WHICH IS THE ROCKWOOD COMPLEX.
WE'VE TALKED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT IT'S ACCESSIBLE OR NOT, BUT CERTAINLY IT CERTAINLY HAS OBVIOUSLY THE AVAILABILITY OF THOSE TESTS AS WELL.
SO THAT'S JUST ONE MORE ACCESS POINT WE'RE TRYING TO REVIVE TO FAMILIES.
WELL, AS I THINK WE'VE ALL STATED BEFORE, OUR NUMBER ONE GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TRY OUR HARDEST TO KEEP OUR KIDS IN SCHOOL.
I KNOW THAT A NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT EVEN CAME TO SPEAK TONIGHT, I'VE SPOKE TO BEFORE AND
[01:55:01]
I'VE EXPERIENCED IT MYSELF WITH MY KIDS WHERE THEY'RE QUARANTINED MULTIPLE TIMES AND THAT'S ALMOST MORE DETRIMENTAL THAN, YOU KNOW, REALLY FEELING THE NEED OR THE FEAR THAT YOU MAY SOMEHOW HAVE TESTED POSITIVE.SO I KNOW IT WAS A BOARD WE'VE SPOKEN BEFORE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ALL WANT TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR KIDS AND REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING UP HERE TO HELP EXPLAIN WHERE WE'RE AT AND HOW WE WILL MOVE AND PIVOT AS SOON AS WE GET SOME LEEWAY OR SOMETHING FROM THE NEW ADMINISTRATION THAT'S [INAUDIBLE]. I JUST HAVE A QUESTION.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO ME THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHEN YOU'RE QUARANTINED AND YOU'VE BEEN VACCINATED OR NATURAL IMMUNITY, HOW IS A STUDENT TREATED DIFFERENTLY? THERE'S NO TEST TO PROVE ANTIBODIES.
YOU'RE JUST EITHER VACCINATED OR NOT? IN THE SENSE OF THE CDC, THE CDC LOOKS CLOSE UP TO THE VACCINATION STATUS.
CERTAINLY THE DISTINCTION THERE TO KEEP IN MIND IS THE VACCINATION PIECE IS CERTAINLY IF YOU HAVE COVID, YOU STILL HAVE TO QUARANTINE.
BUT IF YOU HAVE BEEN A CLOSE CONTACT AND YOU'RE VACCINATED AND PROVIDED THAT YOU DON'T SHOW SYMPTOMS, THEN YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO BY THOSE GUIDELINES.
THE CDC DOESN'T RECOGNIZE ANYTHING ADDITIONAL AS FAR AS THE TESTING THAT COMES FROM SECONDARY PIECES, AND WE'RE BEHOLDEN TO FOLLOW THAT.
THE CDC, BECAUSE OF 1303 THOSE GUIDELINES? WE ARE AND CLEARLY EVERY DECISION, I THINK THIS BOARD HAS MADE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CDC AND CURRENT HEALTH HAS BEEN CONSISTENT WITH THAT.
AND I THINK FOUNDATIONALLY AND FOLLOWING THOSE GUIDELINES, IF YOU WERE TO WALK AWAY FROM ONE PIECE, YOU HAVE TO KIND OF RECONCILE THE OTHER PIECES THAT YOU STILL HAVE IN PLACE.
SO IF THE CDC WERE TO CHANGE THEIR RECOMMENDATION TO RECOGNIZE NATURAL IMMUNITY, WE COULD, BUT WE COULDN'T UNTIL THE CDC RECOGNIZED NATURAL IMMUNITY AS WELL AS BEING EQUAL TO THAT OF A VACCINATION? THAT'S CORRECT. I MEAN, I THINK IT IS SOME CONFUSION.
I THINK YOU CAN GO TO THE LOCAL PHARMACISTS AND GET THOSE TESTS AND PEOPLE ASK IF I CAN GET THAT, WHY CAN'T I SHOW THAT? AND IT'S RELEGATED TO THE FACT THAT CDC DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THAT AT THIS TIME.
IS THERE ANY PART OF THE ANTIBODIES THAT [INAUDIBLE] WEIGHS IN ON THAT? [INAUDIBLE] THEY STICK WITH CDC ON THAT PIECE.
SO. AND THAT IT'S A STEADY QUESTION WE GET AND WE ASK FOR THERE TO BE SOME LEEWAY ON BEHALF OF FAMILIES WHO HAVE MENTIONED THAT.
AND CERTAINLY, WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED THAT LEEWAY.
NO ONE HAS. BOARD MEMBERS, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? AS WE LOOK FORWARD, AS WE GO INTO JANUARY AND FEBRUARY THAT WE HEAR SOME DIFFERENT NEWS ON A DIFFERENT DIRECTION OR WAY TO GO.
I THINK SINCE VACCINES ARE READILY AVAILABLE FOR ANYONE THAT WANTS IT CAN CAN GO AND GET ACCESS TO IT AT THESE TIMES.
I MEAN, I THINK WE'RE APPROACHING A TIME WHERE.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS.
ALL RIGHT, BOARD MEMBERS, IF THERE'S NO FURTHER BUSINESS MR.
[J. Announcements, Communications, and School Board Comments]
CHAIR. YES. OVER HERE, I DO HAVE ONE ANNOUNCEMENT.THE CHESTERFIELD, THE COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOLS OF CHESTERFIELD DOES REALLY IMPORTANT WORK FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND SUPPORTS 11 SITES AT OUR SCHOOLS THAT ARE MOST IMPACTED BY STUDENTS, LOW INCOME FAMILIES.
AND IF THEY ARE NOW HOSTING THE CIS EXPRESS OR THE LIGHT TOUR, I WOULD HOPE THAT EVERYBODY HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO CIS OF CHESTERFIELD.ORG AND YOU CAN DOWNLOAD AN APP AND THEY WILL TAKE YOU ON A TOUR OF HAMPTON PARK NEIGHBORHOOD AND IT'LL BE LOTS OF FUN.
AND IF YOU GO ON SATURDAY, THERE WILL BE LIVE EVENTS.
AND THAT'S A LOT OF-- IT'S REALLY INTERESTING WE DID IT LAST YEAR.
IT'S A GREAT TIME. SO. ALL RIGHT, SO NO MORE ANNOUNCEMENTS OR COMMENTS.
THE NEXT SCHOOL BOARD MEETING WILL BE HELD HERE IN A PUBLIC MEETING ROOM AT 6:30 P.M.
IF THERE IS NO FURTHER BUSINESS, WE NEED A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
SO MOVED. MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL ROLL ON THE MOTION? DOT HEFFRON. AYE.
THE MOTION CARRIES THE DECEMBER 14 TWENTY TWENTY ONE SCHOOL BOARD OF BUSINESS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.