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LET'S TURN THE MIC ON. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.
[A. Meeting Opening]
I'D LIKE TO CALL THE JANUARY 25, 2022 SPECIAL MEETING OF THE SCHOOL BOARD TO ORDER.MS. HEFFRON HAS INVOCATION AND MS. BAILEY HAS FLAG SALUTE.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO OFFER A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR MY COLLEAGUES TO TAKE A BREATH BEFORE THIS EVENING'S SPECIAL SESSION AND TO CENTER OURSELVES AND PREPARE FOR THE WORK AHEAD OF US.
TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA INCLUDES AGENDA ADOPTION, MEMO NUMBER 010-22, DEQ PROPANE GRANT
[B. Consent Agenda]
APPLICATION APPROVAL.ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO THE CONSENT AGENDA? MADAM CHAIR, THERE ARE NO ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ARE THERE ANY REQUESTS FROM A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER TO SEPARATE AN ITEM FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION AND 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 ROLE ON THE MOTION? DEBBIE BAILEY.
NEXT, WE HAVE A COVID-19 UPDATE FOR MR.
[C. COVID-19 Update]
SMITH.THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIRMAN. BOARD MEMBERS, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE WHERE WE ARE WITH THE COVID MITIGATION STRATEGIES AND GENERAL UPDATES AS WELL.
AT THE OUTSET, I DO WANT TO ESTABLISH THAT WE ARE NOT MAKING A STAFF RECOMMENDATION BUT PROVIDING AN UPDATE TO THE BOARD.
AS WE LOOK AT THE SCHOOL YEAR 21 22, OBVIOUSLY OUR FOCUS HAS BEEN ON IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION CERTAINLY MADE AVAILABLE TO OUR STUDENTS, THE ABILITY TO HAVE THE VIRTUAL LEARNING, CERTAINLY WITHIN THE IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION, THE FOCUS HAS BEEN ON THE CONTINUED USE OF MITIGATION STRATEGIES.
WE HAVE ONGOING WORK COLLABORATION WITH DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH THROUGH DR.
SAMUEL AND OUR PARTNERS AT RISK MANAGEMENT AND CERTAINLY THROUGH THE EMPLOYEE MEDICAL CENTER AT RISK MANAGEMENT.
WE HAVE CONSTANT CONTACT WITH DAVE JOHNSON AND CAL CAMPBELL, WHO HAVE BEEN A GREAT RESOURCE TO US AS A SCHOOL DIVISION.
CERTAINLY, DR. SAMUEL IS A CONSTANT RESOURCE FOR US AND OUR QUESTIONS IN OUR MEETINGS WITH HIM TO ESTABLISH SOME UNDERSTANDINGS AND GUIDELINES ABOUT WHAT WORKS BEST IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY. OBVIOUSLY, WE TALK ABOUT MITIGATION STRATEGIES, THE TWO BIG PIECES ARE OBVIOUSLY ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE THE DAILY ASSESSMENT BY STUDENTS AND STAFF, THE ABILITY FOR EACH OF US AND FOR FAMILIES TO MAKE A DECISION TO ONLY SEND THEIR CHILD TO SCHOOL WHEN THEY'RE WELL. THE NEXT PIECE, OBVIOUSLY, IS OUR TRANSPARENCY PIECE, THE ABILITY TO REPORT AND BE TRANSPARENT WITH FAMILIES AND STAFF REGARDING COVID CASES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY AND WITHIN OUR SCHOOL DIVISION.
SO THOSE ARE REALLY IMPORTANT PIECES OF MITIGATION STRATEGIES BEGIN WITH THE IMPROVED HVAC SYSTEMS AND THE VENTILATION PIECE, THE ENHANCED CLEANING PROTOCOLS, THE FREQUENCY THAT COME WITH THAT, SOCIAL DISTANCING WHERE POSSIBLE, IF POSSIBLE, THE ABILITY FOR ISOLATION OF THOSE WHO TEST POSITIVE.
QUARANTINE OF CLOSE CONTACTS, PER THE GUIDANCE FROM CDC AND VDH AND SICK AND WELL CLINIC SPACES AS WELL.
SOME OF THE OTHER MITIGATION STRATEGIES ARE THE KN95 MASK THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE AT ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS. WE HAVE ALSO A VERY HEALTHY RESERVE OF THOSE MASKS IF THEY ARE NEEDED.
THE NEXT PIECE IS THE REFERENCE TO TEST TO STAY PROGRAM, AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT COME WITH THAT PROGRAM.
FIRST OF ALL, WE AS THE SCHOOL DIVISION, HAVE EXPRESSED AN INTEREST TO THE COMMONWEALTH IN BEING PART OF THAT PROGRAM, THAT PROGRAM IS FOR UNVACCINATED STUDENTS WHO ARE IDENTIFIED AS CLOSE CONTACTS.
THE REQUIREMENT OF THE PROGRAMS THAT STUDENTS WOULD HAVE TO BE MASKED TO PARTICIPATE.
WE HAVE REQUESTED AND HAVE ACTUALLY RECEIVED TODAY 4500 OF THE KITS THAT ARE REFERENCED HERE IN THE PRESENTATION.
WE'RE WORKING QUICKLY TO GET THOSE OUT TO SCHOOLS WORKING WITH OUR NURSES.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THESE ARE THESE KITS OBVIOUSLY ARE FOR THOSE RETURNING BACK TO SCHOOL EACH AND EVERY DAY. SO WE THINK ABOUT THE KITS ITSELF.
[00:05:01]
A STUDENT WE NEED AT A MINIMUM FIVE KITS, SO WE THINK ABOUT FORTY FIVE HUNDRED KITS.AT FIRST GLANCE, IT DOES SEEM LIKE A LOT OF KITS AND IT IS.
BUT WHEN YOU TAKE IT TO FIVE PER STUDENT, YOU'RE REALLY ONLY BEING ABLE TO SERVE ABOUT 900 STUDENTS. YOU'RE ONLY ABLE TO SERVE ABOUT 14 STUDENTS IN EACH OF OUR SCHOOLS.
SO OUR ABILITY OBVIOUSLY IS TO ADAPT TO WITH THE KITS THAT COME.
WE'VE REQUESTED MORE KITS FROM THAT.
IN ADDITION, WE'VE REQUESTED TO BE PART OF THE VISSTA PROGRAM AT THE COMMONWEALTH.
PART OF THAT, TOO, GIVES US ACCESS POTENTIALLY TO KITS.
WE'VE REQUESTED SEVEN THOUSAND KITS FROM VDH AND ARE WAITING, OBVIOUSLY THAT THAT PROCESS AS WELL. WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THOSE TWO PROGRAMS. THEY ARE VERY DIFFERENT.
WE THINK ABOUT OBVIOUSLY THE THE THE VISSTA PROGRAM REALLY IS A RANDOM TESTING OF ASYMPTOMATIC STUDENTS.
THE TEST TO STAY, OBVIOUSLY FOR THOSE WHO ARE LOOKING TO COME BACK INTO OUR SCHOOLS, OBVIOUSLY AS YOU OPT INTO THAT PROGRAM, OBVIOUSLY THE IMPORTANT PART ABOUT THAT IS THE ABILITY FOR THE KIT TO GO HOME.
IT'S NOT DONE AT SCHOOL, BUT IT'S DONE THROUGH A PROCTOR TEST.
TEST KITS HAVE BECOME AVAILABLE, OBVIOUSLY THROUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT'S BEEN OUT THERE IN THE MEDIA. THE SCHOOL DIVISION HAS TAKEN A VERY ACTIVE ROLE IN WORKING WITH THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO ESTABLISH VACCINE CLINICS IN OUR SCHOOL DIVISION.
WE HAVE UPCOMING THIS WEEKEND MIDLOTHIAN HIGH SCHOOL AND CLOVERDALE HIGH SCHOOL.
WE HAD TWO CLINICS THIS PAST WEEKEND AT MATOACA HIGH SCHOOL AND TOWNSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL.
TAKEN TOGETHER, WE SERVED ABOUT 100 FAMILIES AT THAT TIME.
WE'RE WORKING TO HAVE ADDITIONAL CLINICS THROUGHOUT CHESTERFIELD WE'LL MAKE THAT ANNOUNCEMENT NEXT WEEK.
THEY'LL BE OBVIOUSLY AVAILABLE TO THESE SAME FAMILIES TO COME BACK TO GET THEIR SECOND DOSE OR ALSO TO GET THEIR INITIAL DOSE AS WELL.
THAT'LL BE IN MID TO LATE FEBRUARY.
WE TALKED ABOUT THE TRANSPARENCY PIECE, AND OBVIOUSLY THAT COMES WITH THE DASHBOARD ITSELF, THE DASHBOARD, AS YOU'LL SEE ON THE SCREEN HERE, IS UPDATED WITH DATA FROM TODAY.
THERE HAS BEEN OBVIOUSLY A CHANGE WITH REGARD TO WHERE WE ARE AS A COMMUNITY.
THAT'S NOT NEW NEWS FOR THE COMMUNITY, BUT IT'S BEEN A CHANGE SINCE THE WINTER BREAK.
BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO SHOW, OBVIOUSLY OUR COMMUNITY WHERE THE CASES ARE.
SO OBVIOUSLY, THE DASHBOARD ESTABLISHES NOT JUST WHERE THE POSITIVE CASES ARE, ESTABLISHES THE BREAKDOWN BETWEEN STUDENTS AND STAFF AND OBVIOUSLY HAS A QUARANTINE DATA BY SCHOOL.
I DID LOOK BEFORE COMING HERE TODAY.
WE'VE SEEN A DRAMATIC DECLINE IN QUARANTINES OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS.
WE HAVE BASICALLY CUT THAT IN HALF.
WE'RE STILL AVERAGING ABOUT 2600 AS OF TODAY.
WE ANTICIPATE THAT GOING DOWN FURTHER AS WE SEE THE TRENDS IN THE COMMUNITY.
TIMELINE WISE, WE'VE HAD SOME UPDATES CLEARLY IN THE LAST WEEK AND A HALF.
JANUARY 15TH, THE GOVERNOR ESTABLISHED EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER TWO.
IMPORTANT TO NOTE TWO THINGS ONE.
FIRST OF ALL, THE EXECUTIVE ORDER DID NOT TAKE EFFECT UNTIL JANUARY TWENTY FOURTH.
ALSO PART OF THAT DIRECTIVE, WHICH I'LL TALK ABOUT IN A SECOND, WAS THAT VDOE AND VDH WOULD ESTABLISH FURTHER GUIDANCE, LAST WEEK.
OBVIOUSLY, OUR BOARD HAD A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING.
ON FRIDAY. WE RECEIVED INTERIM GUIDANCE FROM VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND VDH.
YESTERDAY. MONDAY, WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET AT THE ABILITY TO SIT DOWN WITH OUR SUPERINTENDENT OR LEADERSHIP TEAM TO DISCUSS OBVIOUSLY THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT GUIDANCE. I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT MORE IN A SECOND.
ONE THING I DO WANT TO POINT OUT AT THE OUTSET FROM THAT MEETING, ONE IMPORTANT PIECE THAT CAME FROM THAT IS THAT WE ARE STILL UNDER THE FEDERAL REQUIREMENT TO HAVE MASKS ON BUSSES, AND THAT WAS ASKED AND ANSWERED IN THAT PRESENTATION YESTERDAY.
ALSO YESTERDAY, WE MET WITH DR.
ALEX SAMUEL TO DISCUSS, OBVIOUSLY THIS CONTINUED GUIDANCE AND THE CONVERSATIONS WE'RE HAVING WITH HIM ABOUT WHAT WHAT, IF ANY, CHANGES NEED TO TAKE PLACE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AT THIS TIME, THEY'RE RECOMMENDING THAT WE STAY THE COURSE WITH REGARD TO SOME OF THE GUIDANCE THAT WE HAD IN PLACE.
I'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT IN A SECOND.
SO THE EXECUTIVE ORDER, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF KEY DIRECTIVES HERE, AND THEY'RE LISTED VERBATIM ON THE SLIDE DECK AS THEY'RE LISTED IN THE EXECUTIVE ORDER.
THE FIRST PIECE IS THE STATE HEALTH COMMISSIONER IS SHALL TERMINATE THE ORDER OF PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY ORDER 10 FROM 2021.
THE SECOND PIECE AND REALLY THE SECOND, THIRD AND FOURTH PIECE OF THE CRITICAL PIECE IS TO THIS. THE SECOND PIECE IS THE PARENTS OF ANY CHILD ENROLLED IN ELEMENTARY OR SECONDARY SCHOOL OR SCHOOL BASED EARLY CHILD CARE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM MAY ELECT FOR THEIR CHILDREN NOT TO BE SUBJECT TO ANY MASK MANDATE IN EFFECT OF THE CHILD'S SCHOOL OR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM. THE THIRD DIRECTIVE FLOWS WITH THAT.
IT SAYS NO PARENT ELECTING THAT A MASK MANDATE SHOULD NOT APPLY TO HIS OR HER CHILD SHALL BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE A REASON OR MAKE CERTIFICATION CONCERNING THEIR CHILD'S HEALTH OR EDUCATION. NUMBER FOUR A CHILD WHOSE PARENT IS ELECTED THAT HE OR SHE IS NOT SUBJECT TO A MASK MANDATE SHOULD NOT BE REQUIRED TO WEAR A MASK UNDER ANY POLICY IMPLEMENTED BY THE TEACHER, SCHOOL, SCHOOL DISTRICT, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OR ANY OTHER STATE AUTHORITY.
NUMBER FIVE, THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION SHALL RESCIND THE INTERIM GUIDANCE FOR COVID 19 PREVENTION AND VIRGINIA PRE-K TO K PRE-K TO 12 SCHOOLS ISSUED JAN.
[00:10:02]
14 2021 AND UPDATED OCT 14 2021 AND ISSUE NEW GUIDANCE FOR COVID 19 PREVENTION CONSISTENT WITH THIS ORDER. THE LAST PIECE HERE STATES SCHOOL DISTRICTS SHOULD MARSHAL ANY RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO IMPROVE INSPECTION, TESTING, MAINTENANCE, REPAIR, REPLACEMENT UPGRADES OF EQUIPMENT TO IMPROVE THE INDOOR AIR QUALITY IN SCHOOL FACILITIES, INCLUDING MECHANICAL AND NON MECHANICAL HEATING, VENTILATION AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS, FILTERING PURIFICATION FANS, CONTROL SYSTEMS AND WINDOW AND DOOR REPAIR.SO AS YOU THINK ABOUT THE GUIDANCE WE RECEIVED ON FRIDAY AND THE DISCUSSION WE HAD YESTERDAY WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
A COUPLE OF PIECES THAT CAME WITH THAT.
AND I WOULD NOTE AT THE OUTSET, OBVIOUSLY WE'RE ALREADY IN COMPLIANCE WITH THESE PIECES.
THE FIRST PIECE IS OBVIOUSLY THE CONSULTATION WITH PUBLIC HEALTH TO UNDERSTAND LOCAL TRANSMISSION DISEASE TRENDS, EMPHASIS ON THE MITIGATION MEASURES, INCLUDING THE VACCINATION, DISTANCING AND OUTBREAK AWARENESS.
THE DECISION TREE FOR PARENTS REVIEW SO THEY CAN DETERMINE HOW TO KEEP AND RETURN THEIR CHILD TO THE CLASSROOM AND ENCOURAGING THE TEST TO STAY AND OTHER STRATEGIES TO KEEP AND RETURN KIDS TO THE CLASSROOM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
SO THE QUESTION BECOMES WHAT HAPPENS TO CONTACT TRACING? THE IMPORTANT THING TO NOTE IS THAT THE CLOSE CONTACT DEFINITION HAS NOT CHANGED.
OF NOTE FROM THE GUIDANCE AND THIS IS A DIRECT QUOTE FROM THERE, VDH RECOMMENDS A 10 DAY ISOLATION OR QUARANTINE PERIOD FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT WILLING TO WEAR A MASK IN SCHOOL ON DAY SIX THROUGH 10 AFTER QUARANTINE OR ISOLATION.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT OBVIOUSLY THIS CONVERSATION DISCUSSES DIRECTLY ABOUT STUDENTS, IT DOES NOT IMPACT STAFF WITH REGARD TO THE EXECUTIVE ORDER.
HOWEVER, SOME THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND FROM THE STAFF PERSPECTIVE.
OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE IN PLACE THE VIRGINIA OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH, WHICH IS VOSHA.
WE HAVE THE FEDERAL LEVEL OSHA AND THEN OBVIOUSLY JUST REPEAT AGAIN AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL THE REQUIREMENT TO WEAR MASKS ON SCHOOL BUSSES.
AS YOU THINK THROUGH KIND OF WHERE WE ARE AS THE SCHOOL DIVISION, WE DISCUSSED THE MITIGATION STRATEGIES WE HAVE IN PLACE AND THEN CERTAINLY THE UPDATE THROUGH THE GOVERNOR. IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT CLOSELY ON.
THIS SLIDE IS REALLY WHAT IT'S IN BOLD FROM THE EXECUTIVE ORDER AND TWO THINGS THAT FLOW WITH IT. AND IT REALLY IS THE ABILITY FOR FOR PARENTS TO ELECT, FOR THEIR CHILD, NOT TO BE SUBJECT TO ANY MASK MANDATE FROM THAT.
WE KNOW FROM THE EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT A PARENT IS NOT REQUIRED TO PROVIDE A REASON OR MAKE A CERTIFICATION, AND THAT THE STUDENT SHOULD NOT BE FURTHER SUBJECTED TO ANY OTHER REQUIREMENT TO WEAR A MASK.
SO THAT, MADAM CHAIRMAN, I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU.
THANK YOU, MR. SMITH, FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER THIS EVENING.
I THINK IT IS VERY BENEFICIAL FOR THE COMMUNITY TO SEE THIS PRESENTATION.
NEXT, WE HAVE TONIGHT SCHOOL BOARD ACTION, SO BOARD MEMBERS TONIGHT WILL BE DISCUSSING STUDENT MASK USE IN SCHOOLS.
ACTUALLY, SORRY, I NEED TO BACKUP, I NEED TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY DISCUSSION.
SO BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION AND QUESTIONS FOR MR. SMITH? COULD YOU? SO WE HAVE 2600 STUDENTS TODAY IN QUARANTINE AND WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE A TEST TO STAY FOR NINE HUNDRED STUDENTS.
YES, MA'AM. WITH WHAT WE HAVE IN PLACE RIGHT NOW, NOW AGAIN, TESTS TO STAY HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND THAT THAT IS FOR UNVACCINATED STUDENTS.
SO WE DON'T KNOW ESSENTIALLY FROM THE QUARANTINE DATA DIRECTLY, THE SUB BREAKDOWN OF THAT.
SO IF WE HAVE MORE STUDENTS IN QUARANTINE THAN WE HAVE TESTS AVAILABLE, DO WE HAVE A PROCESS IN PLACE TO DECIDE WHICH STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO TO TEST TO STAY IN SCHOOL? WE'D HAVE TO WORK DIRECTLY WITH THE FAMILIES.
I THINK THE IMPORTANT THING ABOUT THAT PROGRAM IS IT REQUIRES FOR PARENTS TO BE INVOLVED TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT PROGRAM.
THERE IS ALSO THE REQUIREMENT OF SO THAT THE TEST IS PROCTORED AT HOME.
SO I THINK WE'D ALL HAVE TO SEE THE COMMUNITY INTERESTS WITH REGARD TO THOSE WHO ARE IMPACTED BY IT VERSUS THOSE WHO MAYBE HAVE AN INTEREST IN IT AS WELL.
I GUESS WHAT I'M ASKING IS HOW CAN WE GUARANTEE EQUITY, EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF THOSE TESTS TO STUDENTS IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE SOME OUT? YEAH, THAT'S REALLY THE QUESTION.
I THINK RIGHT NOW IN THE REVERSE SENSE THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE A LIMITED NUMBER OF TEST ITS ABILITY TO TRY TO GET THOSE OUT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, WHAT WE'VE DONE IS LITERALLY BY THE PALLETS THAT CAME IN THIS MORNING.
EACH WEEK, THEY SENT ONE PER SCHOOL.
SO EACH SCHOOL BOX HAS ABOUT 70 SOME KITS, SO WE'RE GOING TO DISTRIBUTE THEM THAT WAY FOR NOW BECAUSE THEY CAME PACKAGED THAT WAY AND WE WANT TO GIVE THEM OUT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
SO THAT'S OUR THAT'S OUR PROCESS AT STATE.
BUT CERTAINLY THE CONVERSATION WITH MAKING THEM ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE IS AN IMPORTANT PART. I MEAN, WE DO HAVE STUDENTS, WE HAVE MORE THAN 70 STUDENTS IN QUARANTINE AT CERTAIN SCHOOLS RIGHT NOW. SO.
AND I WOULD NOTE THAT WE HAVE REQUESTED AT THE OUTSET IF WE RECALL WE REQUESTED AND HAD IN PLACE ABOUT 3000 TAKE HOME KITS BEFORE THE WINTER BREAK.
AFTER THE WINTER BREAK, WE REQUESTED VDH SEVEN THOUSAND KITS.
WE THEN REQUESTED FROM THE TEST TO STAY PROGRAM, ADDITIONAL KITS, THE UPWARDS OF SIX,
[00:15:05]
SEVEN THOUSAND ADDITIONAL.WE RECEIVED A SHIPMENT OF 45 HUNDRED.
SO WE ARE SEEING AND CERTAINLY THE COMMONWEALTH TALKED WITH US YESTERDAY ABOUT THEY UNDERSTAND. CERTAINLY IT'S BEEN AN EMPHASIS OF THE GUIDANCE THEY PROVIDED.
THEY UNDERSTAND THE EMPHASIS UPON THEM, GETTING THOSE OUT TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
MY OTHER QUESTION IS, WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR A STUDENT OR A TEACHER TO ACCESS THE KN95 MASK? I'LL HAVE TO ASK.
WHO, WHO, WHO DO, WHO DO IS A STUDENT ASK? THEY CAN ASK ANYONE AT THE SCHOOL WE HAVE ACCESS TO.
SO THEY CAN ASK THEIR TEACHER FOR A MASK.
THEY CAN ASK THE PRINCIPAL FOR A MASK.
THEY CAN ASK THE MEDIA SPECIALIST, SOMEBODY WILL GET THAT CHILD A MASK.
AND AND DID WHO RECOMMENDED STAYING THE COURSE? IT WENT VERY QUICKLY.
OUR CONVERSATION WITH DR. SAMUEL, WE DISCUSSED STAYING THE COURSE WITH REGARD TO THE APPROACH THAT WE HAVE IN CHESTERFIELD.
WE TALKED SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE THE CLOSE CONTACT PIECE.
THE GUIDANCE HAS HASN'T CHANGED THAT THEY REALLY MEAN YOUR RECOMMENDATION TO TO CHANGE THAT RIGHT NOW. WE TALKED TO CONTINUE TO EVOLVE IN OUR PROCESS.
I WILL SAY THAT THE CONVERSATION WE HAVE, DR.
SAMUEL, WHO'S A VALID VALUE PARTNER IS, TO BE HONEST, IS REALLY MAKING SURE WE UNDERSTAND THE RELATIONSHIP.
OUR NURSES ARE SHOULDERING THE BURDEN OF THIS WHOLE PROCESS THROUGHOUT.
AND AT THE SAME RESPECT, VDH THROUGH THE CHESTERFIELD HEALTH DISTRICT DOES NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO HANDLE SOME OF THE CONTACT TRACING.
THE REALITY IS THE SCHOOL DIVISION IS HANDLING MOST OF THAT RIGHT NOW.
SO WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS FROM OTHER LOCALITIES WHO ARE LOOKING AT DIFFERENT ARRANGEMENTS, HOW THEY HANDLE THE CLOSE CONTACT TRACING, HOW THEY LOOK AT MAYBE SHIFTING SOME OF THAT GUIDANCE AS WELL.
AND SO THE CONVERSATION WE HAD WITH HIM WAS ABOUT OUR ABILITY TO ADAPT AND EVOLVE, CERTAINLY AS SOMETHING LIKE SOME OF THESE NEW GUIDELINES COME INTO PLACE.
SO WE'RE WE'VE HAD A CONVERSATION WITH HIM EVERY COUPLE OF WEEKS ABOUT THAT.
AND TRY TO ADVOCATE, OBVIOUSLY FOR OUR NURSES IN THE WORK THAT THEY DO AND ALSO LOOK AT OPPORTUNITIES WE CAN TO KIND OF EVOLVE AND FOCUS AND PRIORITIZE SOME OF THE CASEWORK THAT'S THERE. SO WE'LL KEEP THIS CONVERSATION GOING.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THE TEST TO STAY PROGRAM, YOU SAID WE RECEIVED ROUGHLY ABOUT 4500 AND WE DID PLACE THE ORDER FOR MORE AT THIS TIME? SO JUST THE NUMBERS AGAIN ON THAT ARE BIG PICTURE FROM THE THE VISSTA PROGRAM TEST TO STAY. WE REQUEST AND RECEIVE BEFORE WINTER BREAK ABOUT THREE THOUSAND KITS, WHICH WE HAD AFTER WINTER BREAK. WE REQUESTED AN ADDITIONAL 4000 KITS THROUGH VDH AT THE TIME OR 3000 KITS THROUGH VDH THROUGH THE VISSTA PROGRAM.
WE REQUESTED THROUGH TESTS TO STAY ABOUT SIX OR SEVEN THOUSAND.
WE REQUESTED ABOUT 10 PERCENT OF OUR STUDENT POPULATION OF THE KITS WE RECEIVED TODAY, 45 HUNDRED OF THE POPULATION.
IS THERE MORE IN THE PIPELINE ON THE WAY? YES, SIR. OK. AS FAR AS THE SAME THING WITH THE KN95 MASKS, I KNOW DR.
DAUGHERTY WAS MENTIONED TO ME THE OTHER DAY WE DID JUST PLACE ANOTHER PRETTY SIGNIFICANT ORDER FOR THOSE, DID WE NOT? WE PLACE A VERY SIGNIFICANT ORDER.
WE HAVE IN RESERVE ABOUT FORTY THOUSAND MASK IN ADDITION TO WHAT IS AVAILABLE AT OUR SCHOOLS. OKAY.
AND THEN REALLY QUICK, THE LAST ONE IS THE TEST TO STAY PROGRAM IF A STUDENT IS SELECTED TO DO THE TEST TO STAY.
THEY TAKE THE TEST FOR FIVE DAYS.
THEY COULD STAY EVERY DAY THAT THE TESTS COME UP NEGATIVE.
THOSE ADDITIONAL FIVE DAYS THAN AFTERWARDS WOULD THEY NEED TO MASK WHILE THEY'RE AT SCHOOL, THOSE LAST FIVE DAYS? SO THEY HAVE TO MASK THROUGHOUT, SO THE REQUIREMENTS FROM THE VDH TEST TO STAY AGAIN, IT'S NOT A CHESTERFIELD PROGRAM, BUT TO BE PART OF IT, FIRST AND FOREMOST, THE FAMILY WOULD HAVE TO EXPRESS AN INTEREST IN DOING THAT IF THEY EXPRESS AN INTEREST.
THE SCHOOL ESSENTIALLY WOULD HELP FACILITATE THAT INTEREST IN THE SENSE OF GETTING THE KITS TO THE FAMILY.
WE KNOW THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE AT LEAST FIVE KITS FOR THAT, THAT CHILD TO PARTICIPATE . IN THE EVENING, NOT ON THE WEEKEND.
WE WOULD HAVE THE WORK BACK THROUGH A DASHBOARD [INAUDIBLE] WOULD GIVE TO US.
THEY'D BE ABLE TO COME BACK IN WITH UNDERSTANDING PER THEIR CURRENT VDH, THEY'D HAVE TO BE MASKED TO COME IN THOSE THOSE FIVE DAYS.
AND THEN LAST QUESTION, SIR, I KNOW I SAID LAST.
BUT WAS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I KNOW THAT I HAD SEEN SOMETHING ABOUT IF YOU'VE HAD A POSITIVE CASE OF COVID IN 90 DAYS THAT YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO QUARANTINE.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT VDH IS STILL IN THE WORKS ON TALKING? I'VE SEEN. THAT'S BEEN LONG STANDING PRACTICE AND UNDERSTANDING.
CERTAINLY SOMEONE HAD BEEN COVID POSITIVE.
THEY WOULD HAVE THAT 90 DAYS WITHOUT REGARD TO THEIR VACCINATION STATUS.
MS. HAINES, THE ONLY QUESTION I HAVE LEFT THAT WAS NOT COVERED IS WHAT ARE WE DOING TO
[00:20:07]
NOTICE TO FAMILIES THAT WE HAVE THE KN95 MASKS AVAILABLE? I THINK I'VE SEEN A LOT OF CONCERN.AND I KNOW THERE'S PROJECT KN95, BUT I HEARD OF FRIENDS WHO HAVE TRIED TO ORDER THEM AND THEY'VE WAITED 10 DAYS AND THEY STILL HAVEN'T ARRIVED.
SO I'D LIKE US TO BE VERY PROACTIVE IN REACHING OUT TO FAMILIES SAYING WE HAVE THEM JUST LET US KNOW. ABSOLUTELY WE HAVE, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE OUR FAMILIES ARE AWARE OF THAT. I DON'T THINK I'VE RECEIVED IT.
MY PLATE'S BEEN VERY FULL, BUT I DON'T REMEMBER SEEING AN EMAIL ABOUT IT YET.
IF WE COULD HAVE DISTRICTWIDE COMMUNICATION, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
[D. School Board Action]
NEXT, WE WILL HAVE TONIGHT'S SCHOOL BOARD ACTION.BOARD MEMBERS TODAY WE'LL BE DISCUSSING STUDENT MASK USE IN SCHOOLS, AND I WOULD LIKE TO START BY MAKING A MOTION FOR THE BOARD TO AMEND ITS EXISTING COVID 19 MITIGATION PLAN TO INCLUDE PROVIDING PARENTAL CHOICE FOR FACE MASKS AND IMPLEMENTING THE NEW INTERIM GUIDANCE FOR COVID 19 PREVENTION AND VIRGINIA PRE-K 12 SCHOOLS, AS SET FORTH BY THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ON JANUARY 21ST 2022. THIS CHANGE WOULD BE EFFECTIVE THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 2022.
MAY I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? MS. HAINES.
I DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TO BE FIRST, BUT I'M ALSO NEVER SHY, SO MY REMARKS TODAY ARE NOT AS ELOQUENT. I HAD VERY LITTLE TIME TO PREPARE THIS, SO EXCUSE ME.
FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE HONORABLE AIMEE GUIDERA, THE NEW VIRGINIA SECRETARY OF EDUCATION, FOR MAKING IT VERY CLEAR AT YESTERDAY'S VIRGINIA SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION CAPITAL CONFERENCE THAT PARENTS SHOULD FOLLOW THEIR PRINCIPALS AND GIVE GRACE DURING THIS TIME OF TRANSITION AND ANSWER TO A QUESTION ABOUT THE CONFLICT BETWEEN EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER TWO AND THE BIPARTISAN SENATE BILL.
THE SECRETARY OF EDUCATION STATED HER BELIEF THAT A DECISION FROM THE COURTS IS EXPECTED SOON. THE EXPERT POLITICAL COMMENTATOR, DR.
BOB HOLSWORTH AT THAT CONFERENCE SAID HE BELIEVED THE DECISION WOULD BE THIS WEEK.
I STRONGLY BELIEVE THE PRUDENT DECISION WOULD BE TO WAIT FOR THE COURTS TO RULE ON THIS WHILE WAITING.
WE COULD EXPAND EXEMPTIONS FROM MASK WEARING THAT ARE ALLOWED BY THE CDC AND THEIR GUIDANCE FOR THE K-12 SETTING.
SECTION TWO ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR K-12 SCHOOLS UNDER THE HEADING DISABILITIES OR OTHER HEALTH CARE NEEDS. QUOTE ADJUST STRATEGIES AS NEEDED.
BE AWARE THAT PHYSICAL DISTANCING AND WEARING MASKS CAN BE DIFFICULT FOR YOUNG CHILDREN AND PEOPLE WITH CERTAIN DISABILITIES OR THOSE WITH SENSORY OR COGNITIVE ISSUES.
END QUOTE. IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT SENATE BILL 1303 IS IN CONFLICT WITH THE PARENTAL RIGHTS ACT, CODIFIED AS SECTION 1-240 OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA.
I WOULD ARGUE THE TWO LAWS ARE NOT IN CONFLICT.
THE PARENTAL RIGHTS ACT PREVENTS THE STATE FROM INTERFERING WITH HOW A PARENT EDUCATES THEIR CHILD. A PARENT CAN HOME SCHOOL, CHOOSE PRIVATE SCHOOL OR GET A RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION FROM SCHOOL PERIOD.
THE STATE HAS NO CONTROL OVER A PARENT'S RIGHT TO MONITOR THE EDUCATION OF THEIR KIDS.
THE PARENTAL RIGHTS ACT DOES NOT, HOWEVER, GIVE PARENTS THE POWER TO CONTROL THE OPERATIONS OF THE SCHOOL.
IF IT DID, A PARENT COULD GO INTO ANY SCHOOL AND DECLARE THEIR CHILD WILL NOT FOLLOW THE DRESS CODE. IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT SENATE BILL 1303 SPONSORS MAY NOT HAVE INTENDED DISTRICTS TO FOLLOW SENATE BILL 1303, TO THE QUOTE MAXIMUM EXTENT PRACTICAL END QUOTE.
BUT IN VIRGINIA, UNLIKE OTHER STATES, THERE IS NO OFFICIAL LEGISLATIVE HISTORY INFORMATION. THIS MEANS THAT WHAT THE BILL SPONSORS INTENDED FOR SENATE BILL 1303 IS NOT RELEVANT AND HAS NO LEGAL VALUE IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA.
LAST YEAR, EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND DIRECTIVES, INCLUDING DIRECTORS ISSUED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION DURING THE PANDEMIC WERE ISSUED UNDER A STATE OF EMERGENCY WHICH GAVE BROAD POWERS TO THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH, INCLUDING THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, AND THOSE DIRECTIVES PERTAINED TO ASSURING THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC.
THIS GOVERNOR HAS NOT ISSUED A STATE OF EMERGENCY GRANTING SUCH BROAD POWERS TO EXECUTIVE ORDERS. WHEN WE WERE SWORN IN, I SWORE AN OATH TO UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION OF THE
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COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA.SO WHAT DOES THE VIRGINIA CONSTITUTION SAY? WHO HAS THE AUTHORITY, THE EXECUTIVE ORDER OR THE SCHOOL BOARD WHEN NOT IN A STATE OF EMERGENCY? I WILL QUOTE QUOTE FROM THE LONG ARTICLE, AND I RECOMMEND EVERYBODY READ THIS CONSTITUTIONAL ROOTS AND SHADOW.
THE SCHOOL BOARDS MANIFEST POWER UNDER ARTICLE EIGHT, SECTION SEVEN BY ATTORNEY DOUGLAS ELGIN, PUBLISHED IN 2013 IN THE JOURNAL OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT LAW.
QUOTE ADVOCATES, INCLUDING LOCAL GOVERNMENT ATTORNEYS WHO UNDERESTIMATE THE GROUNDING AND REACH OF THE VIRGINIA CONSTITUTION'S ARTICLE EIGHT, SECTION SEVEN DO SO AT SOME CONSIDERABLE RISK, ESPECIALLY WHAT IS GIVEN, ESPECIALLY GIVEN WHAT IS THE LONG SHADOW OF VIRGINIA SUPREME COURT CASES GIVING FULL EFFECT TO THAT PROVISION? THE FEDERAL COURTS, TOO, HAVE RECOGNIZED THE UNIQUE AUTHORITY OF VIRGINIA SCHOOL BOARDS END QUOTE. SO THE POWER OF VIRGINIA SCHOOL BOARDS IS PROTECTED BY THE CONSTITUTION, BUT WE MUST FOLLOW THE LAW FROM THE SAME ARTICLE THAT I JUST REFERENCED, AND THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT STUFF IN THERE.
QUOTE VIRGINIA CODE TWENTY TWO POINT ONE DASH SEVENTY ONE.
IN ADDITION, A SCHOOL BOARD MAY ADOPT BYLAWS AND REGULATIONS NOT INCONSISTENT WITH STATE STATUTES AND REGULATIONS SORRY NOT INCONSISTENT, CONSISTENT WITH STATE STATUTES AND REGULATIONS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
SO THERE ARE TWO GOVERNING BODIES STATE STATUTES AND THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
NOWHERE DOES IT MENTION EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY.
DO I AGREE WITH THE WORDING OF SENATE BILL 1303? NO, I DO NOT.
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS TEND TO BE STRONG BELIEVERS IN LOCAL CONTROL.
WHY DID THE BILL REQUIRE US TO FOLLOW CDC GUIDANCE? IN MY OPINION, THE SPONSORS SHOULD HAVE INSERTED VDH INSTEAD OF CDC, AND WE COULD HAVE WORKED, AS WE SAID IN AUGUST WITH OUR LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENTS TO CREATE COMMON SENSE GUIDELINES TO UNMASK OUR KIDS IN A TIMELY MANNER.
BUT WE WERE NOT GIVEN THAT OPTION.
TODAY'S VOTE IS ABOUT MY DUTY TO UPHOLD MY SWORN OATH.
I SPOKE WITH MULTIPLE LAWYERS, AND NOT ONE HAS GIVEN ME LEGAL ADVICE THAT SUGGESTS THAT OUR BOARD IS EXEMPT FROM SENATE BILL 1303.
AND THAT LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT NOT FOLLOWING SENATE BILL 1303 UNLESS THE COURTS WHICH ARE CURRENTLY CONSIDERING, SAY OTHERWISE, PUTS OUR BOARD AT LEGAL AND FINANCIAL RISK.
SO WHY ARE WE IN CONFLICT? I'LL TRY AND KEEP THIS SHORT.
THIS BOARD VOTED ON AUGUST 10TH TO COMPLY WITH SENATE BILL 1303.
THE CURRENT CDC STANDARD IS UNIVERSAL MASKING.
SPECIFICALLY, THE CDC CONTINUES TO RECOMMEND UNIVERSAL MASKING BY ALL STUDENTS AGES TWO YEARS AND OLDER STAFF, TEACHERS AND VISITORS TO K-12 SCHOOLS, REGARDLESS OF VACCINATION STATUS, ALTHOUGH IT INCLUDED STANDARD EXEMPTIONS SUCH AS MEDICAL AND RELIGIOUS, OR AUGUST 10TH ACTION BROUGHT US CLOSER TO THE CDC RECOMMENDATION OF UNIVERSAL MASKING.
ANY ACTION TO MAKE MASKS OPTIONAL FOR ANY BLANKET REASON THAT YOU SO CHOOSE WOULD MOVE US AWAY FROM THE STANDARD OF UNIVERSAL MASKING.
I ALSO WANT TO TO QUOTE FROM AN AMICUS BRIEF OR AMICUS CURIAE THAT WAS JUST CAME OUT.
IT'S IN THE SUPREME COURT OF VIRGINIA RECORD 220033.
PETITIONERS VERSUS GLENN YOUNGKIN IN HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY AS GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA.
I WILL ADMIT I HAVE NOT READ THE WHOLE THING, BUT THIS THING BECAUSE IT JUST WAS RELEASED, BUT THIS QUOTE STOOD OUT.
QUOTE AUTHORIZING GOVERNORS TO ALLOW PARENTS TO OPT OUT OF STATUTORY DIRECTIVES IS UNWORKABLE. I THINK I WILL END MY COMMENTS THERE, AND I REALLY DO RECOMMEND THAT EVERYBODY LOOK UP AND READ THIS WONDERFUL ARTICLE BY DOUGLAS [INAUDIBLE].
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THANK YOU. MS. HEFFRON. THANK YOU. SO FIRST, I NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE TREMENDOUS ENGAGEMENT OF PARENTS, TEACHERS, STUDENTS AND CHESTERFIELD RESIDENTS REGARDING PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE CCPS UNIVERSAL MASKING POLICY.THE SHEER VOLUME OF PUBLIC COMMENT HAS BEEN IMPRESSIVE AND SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS, THREE EMAILS WOULD COME IN JUST AS QUICKLY AS I COULD RESPOND TO ONE AND OVERWHELMINGLY THE FEEDBACK I RECEIVED WAS CONSISTENT WITH THE TONE OF THE PUBLIC COMMENTS WE'VE WE'VE RECEIVED ON JANUARY 20.
THE VAST MAJORITY OF STAKEHOLDERS, PARENTS, TEACHERS, STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE IMPLORING US TO MAINTAIN OUR UNIVERSAL MASK POLICY, WHICH IS CONSISTENT WITH CDC RECOMMENDATIONS. I STRUGGLED TO RECONCILE THE MOTION BEFORE US WITH OUR OBLIGATION TO CREATE POLICY THAT DOES NOT CONFLICT WITH STATE OR FEDERAL LAW.
SENATE BILL, 1303 IS CLEAR THIS BOARD HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH PROVIDING FIVE DAY A WEEK IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION WHILE IMPLEMENTING COVID 19 MITIGATION STRATEGIES TO THE GREATEST EXTENT PRACTICABLE AND BY ELIMINATING UNIVERSAL MASKING.
WE ARE REMOVING A PRACTICABLE MITIGATION STRATEGY INCONSISTENT WITH SENATE BILL 1303.
NOW, AS I'VE SAID REPEATEDLY, WE ALL WANT THIS TO BE OVER.
WE LONG FOR OUR LIVES BEFORE COVID CAME AND TURNED EVERYTHING UPSIDE DOWN.
WE KNOW HOW FLEETING THE YEARS OF CHILDHOOD ARE AND WE WANT TO GIVE OUR CHILDREN EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO SOAK UP THOSE WORRY FREE TIMES BEFORE THEY'RE WEIGHED DOWN BY THE BURDENS OF ADULTHOOD. BUT WILLING COVID TO BE GONE DOESN'T MAKE IT SO BEING FED UP WITH MASKS AND SIX FOOT SPACE BUBBLES AND ZOOM CALLS DOESN'T MEAN THAT COVID ISN'T HAPPENING AND COVID IS HAPPENING NOW MORE THAN IT EVER HAS.
OUR HOSPITALS ARE OVERFLOWING.
HEALTH CARE WORKERS ARE PROBABLY THE ONLY PROFESSIONALS MORE BURNED OUT THAN EDUCATORS RIGHT NOW. NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO TAKE A BREAK.
NOW IS THE TIME, AND I KNOW WE ARE ALL TIRED, VERY TIRED, BUT NOW IS THE TIME TO RAMP UP OUR MITIGATION AND PREVENTION UNTIL WE'RE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE OMICRON WAVE.
STUDY AFTER STUDY HAS DEMONSTRATED THAT KIDS WHO ATTEND SCHOOLS WITH UNIVERSAL MASKING POLICIES ARE LESS LIKELY TO GET SICK THAN KIDS WHO ATTEND SCHOOLS THAT DON'T IMPLEMENT UNIVERSAL MASKING POLICIES.
NOW, I WON'T DEBATE THE PARENT CHOICE ARGUMENT, EXCEPT TO SAY THAT PARENTS ALREADY HAVE CHOICES WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION.
PUBLIC EDUCATION IS JUST THAT IT IS FOR THE EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC AND JUST LIKE ANY OTHER PUBLIC SPACE, THERE ARE RULES AND EXPECTATIONS THAT FOLKS WHO CHOOSE TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT PUBLIC SPACE MUST FOLLOW.
AND WHEN WE HAVE OVER A THOUSAND CHILDREN IN A BUILDING IN CLOSE PROXIMITY, FOR HOURS A DAY DURING A PANDEMIC OF AN AIRBORNE VIRUS, IT SEEMS INCONCEIVABLE THAT WE WOULD CONSIDER ALLOWING THE OPTION TO BE UNMASKED.
PARENTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL WITH THE EXPECTATION THEIR CHILDREN WILL BE KEPT SAFE.
WHILE I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT OUR FIRST PRIORITY FOR OUR SCHOOL DIVISION IS DELIVERING AN OUTSTANDING EDUCATION, WHICH I BELIEVE WE DO.
OUR FIRST PRIORITY IS THE SAFETY OF THE STUDENTS AND THE TEACHERS IN OUR BUILDINGS.
WE OWE IT TO THE FAMILIES OF THE 63000 CHILDREN ENTRUSTED TO THE CARE OF THIS SCHOOL DIVISION SEVEN HOURS A DAY, FIVE DAYS A WEEK TO MAKE THE SAFETY OF THOSE CHILDREN ARE TOP PRIORITY. NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO RESCIND OUR MASK POLICY.
FINALLY, IT USED TO BE A TIME WHEN LOOKING OUT FOR EACH OTHER WAS JUST SECOND NATURE.
KEEPING EACH OTHER HEALTHY AND SAFE IS NOT A RADICAL IDEA.
PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN IS NOT POLITICAL.
GETTING VACCINATED AND BOOSTED, WEARING A MASK INDOORS AND MAINTAINING SOCIAL DISTANCING WHEN POSSIBLE ARE THINGS EACH ONE OF US CAN DO TO HELP KEEP EACH OTHER SAFE.
I HOPE THAT WE ALL CONTINUE PUTTING THE GOOD OF OUR COMMUNITY ABOVE SELF.
I HOPE WE ALL STRIVE TO LEAVE THE WORLD A LITTLE BETTER THAN WE FOUND IT.
AND PLEASE LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER.
I JUST HAVE A VERY SHORT COMMENT, AND THAT IS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE COMMUNITY FOR THEIR PATIENCE IN OUR DELAY FROM LAST WEEK.
THANK YOU FOR WAITING FOR THE GUIDANCE THAT WE HAD ASKED FOR FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.
AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I APPRECIATE THAT PATIENCE AND THAT.
I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN DIFFICULT FOR EVERYONE, BUT HOPEFULLY WE ARE GOING TO BE BEGINNING
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MOVING OUT OF THIS PANDEMIC INTO MORE NORMALCY.THANK YOU. I DO HAVE A FEW WORDS TO SAY HERE THIS EVENING.
SO LAST THURSDAY, IT WAS MY INTENTION AND WANT TO FOLLOW THE ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE ISSUED BY THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND SUBSEQUENTLY THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH LAST THURSDAY, AS MS. BAILEY SAID, WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT GUIDANCE AND TODAY WE DO.
IT WAS A REALISTIC ASK AND EXPECTATION FOR THIS GUIDANCE TO BE PROVIDED BEFORE MAKING ANY CHANGES TO OUR PROCEDURES.
WE NEEDED TO UNDERSTAND THE LOGISTICS BEHIND THE CHANGES THAT WERE FORTHCOMING.
THE GUIDANCE WE RECEIVED STATES THAT PARENTS ARE IN CHARGE OF THEIR CHILDREN'S HEALTH, WELL-BEING AND EDUCATION.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A LOT OF MIXED EMOTIONS AND OPINIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT MASKS.
FOR CONSTITUENTS, THAT WOULD BE UNCERTAIN WITH THESE NEW GUIDELINES.
CCPS WILL CONTINUE CERTAIN MITIGATION STRATEGIES AND HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN OUR HVAC INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE HAVE KN95 MASKS AVAILABLE FOR EVERY TEACHER AND STUDENT WHO ASKED TO RECEIVE ONE.
CCPS WILL STRENGTHEN TESTING PROGRAMS LIKE TEST TO STAY, HAVING TESTING KITS AVAILABLE AS A TOP PRIORITY FOR CCPS.
MOVING FORWARD, WE'VE INVESTED OVER $50 MILLION INTO OUR HVAC SYSTEMS AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF OUR VENTILATION.
WE'VE PROCURED AND DISTRIBUTED THREE THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED AND EIGHTY AIR PURIFIERS WITH HEPA FILTRATION.
WE HAVE REPLACED MULTIPLE CHILLERS BOILERS, ROOFTOP HVAC UNITS.
ALL OF THIS HAS BEEN DONE TO BOOST OUR MITIGATION EFFORTS AND INCREASE THE QUALITY OF AIR IN OUR SCHOOLS. WE HAVE INSTALLED TOUCHLESS FIXTURES IN OUR BATHROOMS. WE'VE INSTALLED TOUCHLESS WATER FOUNTAINS IN OUR HALLWAYS.
WE WILL CONTINUE WITH OUR RIGOROUS CLEANING EFFORTS OF OUR SCHOOLS AND CAN CONSISTENTLY REINFORCE GOOD HAND HYGIENE FOR OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF.
WE WILL CONTINUE OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH VDH TO HOST VACCINATION CLINICS AND OUR SCHOOLS AFTER HOURS, SO THOSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO BE VACCINATED WILL HAVE EASIER ACCESS.
I HOPE THESE ITEMS HELP TO FIND TRUST IN WHAT YOUR SCHOOL DIVISION HAS DONE AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO.
THANK YOU. MR. CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE READ BACK, IS THERE ANY MORE DISCUSSION, LET ME ASK THAT FIRST.
OK, MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE.
MS. HAINES? I GUESS IT'S MORE OF A A COMMENT OR QUESTION OR SOMETHING FOR STAFF TO THINK ABOUT TODAY.
TODAY'S VIRGINIA SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION CAPITAL CONFERENCE, A SUPERINTENDENT FROM A COUNTY THAT VOTED TO ADOPT THE MASK OPTION, STATED THAT DUE TO THE FACT THAT VDH GUIDELINES GUIDELINES HAVE NOT CHANGED AND THEY STILL REQUIRE A MASKED CHILD TO QUARANTINE IF EXPOSED TO AN UNMASKED POSITIVE STUDENT, THAT THEIR DISTRICT WILL NEED TO COHORT STUDENTS INTO MASKED AND UNMASKED IN ORDER TO RESPECT PARENTAL CHOICE.
AND SHE FELT THAT THIS WAS A VERY DIFFICULT THING TO DO AND AND EXPRESSED HER HOPE THAT SHE WOULD GET MORE SUPPORT.
SO I JUST THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO, YOU KNOW, THAT DISTRICT, YOU KNOW, THEY FIGURED THAT OUT. I'M NOT SAYING THAT THAT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.
PARENTS SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO AVOID QUARANTINE BECAUSE THAT HAS ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS.
AND I HAVE RECEIVED SIGNIFICANT CONCERN ABOUT THIS.
IT'S NOT JUST A COUPLE OF PEOPLE.
SO GIVEN THE FACT THAT THIS CAME UP IN THE CONFERENCE TODAY, IT'S OBVIOUSLY A SHARED CONCERN ACROSS THE STATE.
MR. HARTER. MADAM CHAIR, I JUST WANT TO SAY, FOR THE RECORD, THAT I WOULD NOT BE IN FAVOR OF SEGREGATING ANY OF OUR CHILDREN BECAUSE OF THEIR DECISION.
[APPLAUSE] AGAIN, JUST EXCUSE ME, A REMINDER THAT JUST NO OUTBURST FROM THE AUDIENCE, PLEASE JUST BE RESPECTFUL.
SO, OH, SORRY, YES, MS. BAILEY. DR.
DAUGHERTY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO? WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO MAKE A COMMENT ALONG THOSE LINES AS TO HOW OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM WOULD ADDRESS SUCH A THING AND IDEAL HOW TO MAKE A COMMENT FOR SOMEONE THAT IS LOOKING FOR LEGAL INTERPRETATIONS OF THINGS? I WOULD FIND THAT THAT WOULD BE A VERY DIFFICULT THING FROM A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE, AND IT WOULD CERTAINLY NOT BE SOMETHING I WOULD SUPPORT TO SEGREGATE ANY STUDENTS ALONG ANY LINES. SEVERAL THINGS.
SEVERAL THINGS. I THINK I AM NOT GOING TO SPEAK FROM THE LEGAL ASPECT OF IT, BUT FROM THE
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OPERATIONAL ASPECT OF IT.THAT ONE, I THINK YOU WOULD PUT YOURSELF FINDING YOU FIND YOURSELF IN VERY DIFFICULT SITUATIONS WITH DECIDING WHO HAS A ONE MASK OR NOT MASK.
BUT ALSO IS ANYONE SICK OR NOT? BECAUSE. WE'VE HAD STUDENTS WEAR MASKS.
SO BY SEGREGATING KIDS, THAT GOES AGAINST EVERY PHILOSOPHY THAT WE HAVE IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, WE'VE GOT TO DEAL WITH THE PANDEMIC AND WE GOT TO TEACH OUR KIDS AND LOVE OUR LOVE OF LOVE ON OUR KIDS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
AND I THINK THAT THIS SCHOOL DIVISION IS GOING TO RUN INTO SOME DIFFICULTY AS SOON AS THEY DO THAT BECAUSE THEY ARE NOW TARGETING STUDENTS.
THAT IS MY OPINION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR OPINION, DR.
MADAM CHAIR, CAN I ADD? YES, MS. HAINES. SO THE SUPERINTENDENT DID NOT USE THE WORD SEGREGATION, I THINK THAT IS NOT APPROPRIATE HERE, ACCORDING TO VDH GUIDELINES.
THEY CALL FOR COHORTING, SO TO BE TO BE A LEADER MEANS TO HAVE TOUGH CONVERSATIONS. AND THIS HAS BEEN A VERY STRONG CONCERN THAT WILL FALL ON THE SHOULDERS OF PRINCIPALS. AND I AM SPEAKING UP NOT ONLY FOR ALL THOSE FAMILIES, BUT FOR THE PRINCIPALS WHO ARE CONCERNED.
SO I JUST MY INTENT WAS NOT TO BE DIVISIVE.
WE HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED ON A BOARD AS A BOARD, ALL OF US HAVE BEEN TREATED VERY UNKINDLY.
AND I WOULD REQUEST THAT WE TAKE COMMENTS WITH POSITIVE INTENTION.
MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ BACK THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR AND THEN CALL ROLL.
MADAM CHAIR, THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR CURRENTLY IS CCPS IS A CCPS TO IMPLEMENT THE NEW INTERIM GUIDANCE FOR COVID 19 PREVENTION IN VIRGINIA PRE-K TO 12 SCHOOLS, INCLUDING PROVIDING PARENT CHOICE FOR MASKS, AS SET FORTH BY THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ON JANUARY 21, 2022.
THIS CHANGE WILL BE EFFECTIVE THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 2022.
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, ARE THERE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS OR COMMENTS?
[E. Announcements, Communications, and School Board Comments]
I JUST HAVE A QUICK REMINDER.BULLYING OF ANY SORT IS NOT TOLERATED IN CCPS.
THE EXPECTATION OF THIS BOARD AND OUR SUPERINTENDENT IS THAT KINDNESS AND RESPECT WILL BE SHOWN TO ALL, REGARDLESS OF ANYONE'S INDIVIDUAL CHOICES.
SO PLEASE TAKE THAT TO HEART WITH THE COMMUNITY.
DAUGHERTY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS? THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. WE KNOW THAT THIS ENTIRE PANDEMIC HAS BEEN DIVISIVE AND KINDNESS AND PATIENCE AND EVERYTHING ELSE HAS BEEN LOST TREMENDOUSLY.
BUT IN OUR SCHOOLS, WE WILL NOT TOLERATE PEOPLE BEING BULLIED.
WE WILL NOT TOLERATE MEANNESS.
OUR SCHOOLS ARE WORKING VERY HARD.
YOU GO TO A LOT OF OUR SCHOOLS, THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT KINDNESS, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT RESPECTING ONE ANOTHER.
AND WE HAVE TO GET OUT OF THE POINT OF THE POLITICAL REALMS OF LIFE AND LET PEOPLE COME TO SCHOOL. AND WE HAVE A VERY DIVERSE MELTING POT OF YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN IN OUR SCHOOLS.
WE HAVE CHALLENGES EVERY DAY AND BY PEOPLE PICKING ON OTHERS BECAUSE OF MASK OR NOT A MASK IS A FORM OF BULLYING.
IT CAN BE HURTFUL AND WE WILL NOT TOLERATE THAT.
WE WILL NOT TOLERATE THEM IF THEY WERE TALKING TO THEM ABOUT ANY OTHER THING IN.
AND THAT WILL FOLLOW OUR BULLYING POLICIES.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE NEXT SCHOOL BOARD MEETING WILL BE A BUDGET WORK SESSION HELD HERE IN THE PUBLIC MEETING ROOM AT FOUR P.M.
IF THERE'S NO FURTHER BUSINESS, WE NEED A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
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SO MOVED.MR. CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL ROLE ON THE MOTION? DEBBIE BAILEY. AYE.
THE JANUARY 25TH, 2022 SPECIAL MEETING OF THE SCHOOL BOARD IS ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.