[00:00:01]
I'D LIKE TO CALL THE DECEMBER 13,
[A. Meeting Opening - 6:30 p.m.]
2022 SCHOOL BOARD BUSINESS MEETING TO ORDER.BEFORE WE BEGIN THE MEETING THIS EVENING, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE FOR ATTENDING THE DECEMBER 13TH, 2022 SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, BUSINESS MEETING, AND REMIND THE AUDIENCE THAT COMMENTS TO THIS BOARD MAY ONLY BE MADE AT THE PODIUM DURING PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE ARE PROHIBITED AND ARE IN VIOLATION OF SECTION 18.2-415 OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA, DISORDERLY CONDUCT IN PUBLIC PLACES, AND SCHOOL BOARD POLICY 6141.
I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S PATIENCE AND UNDERSTANDING SO THAT WE CAN CONDUCT THE BUSINESS MEETING IN AN ORDERLY FASHION.
WE WILL NOW HAVE INVOCATION BY MS. HEFFRON, FOLLOWED BY FLAG SALUTE BY MS. BAILEY.
>> FOR TONIGHT'S INVOCATION, THE SCHOOL BOARD WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE, WITH A MOMENT OF SILENCE, THE PASSING OF MICHAEL MCCARTHY, A FORMER ENGLISH TEACHER AT JAMES RIVER HIGH SCHOOL, WHO JOINED CCPS ON AUGUST 1, 2012.
PLEASE, JOIN US IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
>> TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA INCLUDES AGENDA ADOPTION,
[B. Consent Agenda]
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM NOVEMBER 7TH, 2022'S WORK SESSION, AND NOVEMBER 7TH, 2022'S BUSINESS MEETING, MEMO NUMBER 151-22 RECOMMENDED PERSONNEL ACTIONS, MEMO NUMBER 152-22, DEED OF GIFT FOR REPLACEMENT [INAUDIBLE] FOR ALBERTA SMITH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, MEMO NUMBER 153-22, CARVER COLLEGE AND CAREER ACADEMY ALTERNATIVE PLAN, MEMO NUMBER 154-22, DEED OF GIFT FOR ROCK CLIMBING WALL FOR OLD HUNDRED ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, MEMO NUMBER 161-22, ACCEPTANCE OF DONATIONS, AND MEMO NUMBER 162-22, APPOINTMENT OF MEMBER TO SCHOOL BOARD ADVISORY COMMITTEE.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 IN INDIVIDUAL ACTION? HEARING NONE, MAY I HAVE MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED?
>> MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
>> MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL ROLL ON THE MOTION?
>> NEXT WE HAVE AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS. MR. SMITH.
[C. Awards and Recognitions]
>> CHAIRMAN, BOARD MEMBERS, I'M GOING TO ASK OUR FRIENDS FROM THE CHESTER COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT TO COME FORWARD TO THIS TIME.
WE'RE FORTUNATE IN OUR SCHOOL DIVISION WE HAVE A STRONG WORKING PARTNERSHIP WITH CHESTER COUNTY POLICE, AND TONIGHT WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE CHESTERFIELD COUNTY POLICE ACTIVITIES LEAGUE TO MAKE A PRESENTATION TO THE BOARD.
>> GOOD EVENING. I'M OFFICER BRANDON BARR.
I'VE BEEN WITH THE CHESTER COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR JUST UNDER 10 YEARS.
AS OF LAST YEAR, I BELIEVE LAST MAY, I TOOK OVER AS THE POLICE ACTIVITIES LEAGUE COORDINATOR FOR THE DEPARTMENT.
SINCE TAKING OVER, WE HAVE HAD, AS STATED EARLIER, A GROWING PARTNERSHIP AND RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR COUNTY SCHOOLS.
IN 2021, WE HAD A TOTAL OF EIGHT OF OUR TRADEMARK GAME DAYS AT YOUR SCHOOLS.
THESE ARE EVENTS WHERE KIDS INTERACT AND HAVE POSITIVE INTERACTIONS WITH POLICE OFFICERS.
BY DOING SO, WE PLAY DODGEBALL, KICKBALL, RELAYS, AND A SLEW OF OTHER SPORTS.
[00:05:02]
WE PROVIDE SOME SNACKS HERE AND THERE.IT'S A GREAT TIME FOR EVERYBODY.
AS OF 2022, WE ALSO HAD AN ADDITIONAL EIGHT GAME DAYS IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WITH ONE MORE ON THE 28TH OF DECEMBER OF THIS YEAR.
BECAUSE OF THIS, WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE 583 INTERACTIONS WITH KIDS ON A POSITIVE LEVEL, WHICH I THINK IS A HUGE THING THAT IS NEEDED WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON.
BECAUSE OF THAT, WE WANTED TO EXPRESS OUR THANKS TO THE BOARD AND PRESENT THIS PLAQUE THANKING YOU–ALL FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE ALLOWED US TO DO AND CONTINUING TO DO WITH OUR GAME DAYS AND OTHER EVENTS IN YOUR SCHOOLS.
>> PRESENT THAT TO DR. DAUGHERTY.
I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS AND SUPPORT OUR COUNTY.
HAVING THOSE GREAT INTERACTIONS WITH OUR STUDENTS IS ONLY GOING TO BE A POSITIVE.
YOU'RE POSITIVE ROLE MODELS FOR THEM AND IT'S ONLY GOING TO MAKE OUR COUNTY BETTER.
I APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO AND ALL THAT THE DEPARTMENT DOES TO HELP CHESTERFIELD COUNTY.
>> NEXT UP, IF I COULD ASK OUR MEMBERS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET TO COME FORWARD AT THIS TIME.
WORK BY THE DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET RECENTLY WON TWO PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS.
THE CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS COMPREHENSIVE BUDGET DOCUMENT FOR THE NINTH YEAR WAS RECOGNIZED WITH THE MERITORIOUS BUDGET AWARD FROM THE ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BUSINESS OFFICIALS INTERNATIONAL.
THE MERITORIOUS BUDGET AWARD WAS GIVEN FOR EXCELLENCE IN PREPARATION ISSUANCE OF THE SCHOOL DIVISIONS FISCAL YEAR 2023 OPERATING BUDGET.
IN ADDITION, THE CCPS BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2023 ALSO WON THE DISTINGUISHED BUDGET PRESENTATION AWARD FROM THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION.
THIS AWARD REPRESENTS SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENT AND REFLECTS A COMMITMENT TO MEETING THE HIGHEST PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNMENTAL BUDGETING.
TO RECEIVE THE AWARD, THE ENTITY MUST SATISFY NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED GUIDELINES FOR EFFECTIVE BUDGET PRESENTATION THAT ASSESS HOW WELL THE BUDGET SERVES AS ONE, A POLICY DOCUMENT, TWO, A FINANCIAL PLAN, THREE, AN OPERATIONS GUIDE, AND FOUR, A COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN RECOGNIZING THE MEMBERS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET [APPLAUSE].
>> I REALIZED THIS MORNING THAT IT'S ACTUALLY BEEN FOUR YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN INTERACTING WITH THE BUDGET OFFICES AND BUDGET ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
FIRST, FOR A YEAR, I WAS NOT ON IT, AND THEN I'VE BEEN ON IT FOR ALMOST THREE YEARS.
I CAN ATTEST TO JUST THE HIGH QUALITY OF YOUR WORK.
IT REALLY IS AN HONOR TO BE SERVED BY YOU.
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK AND THANKS FOR MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THE RESOURCES WE NEED SO THAT OUR KIDS GET THE BEST.
WE HAVE A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY IN THERE.
I PUT IN ONE BAG, TO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE [LAUGHTER] DO YOU WANT TO SAY WHAT YOU LOVE ABOUT BEING IN BUDGET STAFF?
>> [LAUGHTER] I FEEL SET UP A LITTLE BIT.
I'M A NUMBERS PERSON AND I LOVE THAT I CAN MAKE NUMBERS WORK FOR EVERYBODY.
THAT DOES ACTUALLY HAVE AN IMPACT WHEN MOST PEOPLE THINK THAT NUMBERS ARE JUST A THING ON A PAGE.
>> WE ALL GET TO DO THIS. [LAUGHTER].
>> I'VE JUST ALWAYS ENJOYED BEING ABLE TO HELP THE DEPARTMENTS.
THAT'S PRETTY MUCH MY THING. [LAUGHTER]
>> NO ONE WANTS TO SEE THAT AT ALL.
I'M RELATIVELY NEW TO THE BUDGET DEPARTMENT, BUT IT'S BEEN REALLY GREAT TO HEAR SO FAR.
THINGS ARE DONE REALLY WELL HERE, SO ENJOYING IT.
>> I ALWAYS ENJOYED NUMBERS TOO, AND THIS TEAM AND ALL FEARLESS LEADERS HELPED US QUITE A BIT AND THEN MAKE IT WORK.
[00:10:06]
AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE ALL HERE FOR THE KIDS AND THE DANCE NUMBER.>> WELL, I TOO LIKE NUMBERS ALL WE WANT TO BE IN THE BUDGET DEPARTMENT.
I'M A PRODUCT OF CHESTERFIELD SCHOOL, SO I'M JUST GLAD TO CONTINUE ON MY CAREER WITH A GOOD PUBLIC SCHOOL PLACE.
>> SPEAKING OF YOUR FEARLESS LEADER, WHERE IS BOB HIDING? [LAUGHTER] HE DESERVES A ROUND OF APPLAUSE AS WELL [APPLAUSE].
>> IF I COULD ASK OUR TWO VISUAL ARTS TEACHERS COME FORWARD THIS TIME.
[BACKGROUND] [LAUGHTER] I'M NOT SURE IF DAN POLICE IS HERE, BUT I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CONTINUE.
TWO VISUAL ARTS TEACHERS RECEIVED STATE RECOGNITION AT THE VIRGINIA ART EDUCATION ASSOCIATIONS FALL CONFERENCE.
DAN POLICE OF METBOOK HIGH SCHOOL WAS RECOGNIZED AS A 2022 CENTRAL VIRGINIA HIGH-SCHOOL ART EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR.
HIS NOMINATOR WROTE THAT HE IS A, "REMARKABLE AND MULTI-TALENTED ART EDUCATOR, SERVING AS AN INSPIRATION BOTH STUDENTS AND COLLEAGUES." MEGAN AGUILAR OF MANCHESTER MIDDLE SCHOOL WAS RECOGNIZED AS THE 2022 VIRGINIA MIDDLE SCHOOL ART EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR.
HER NOMINATOR WROTE THAT SHE "TRULY EMBODIES WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AN OUTSTANDING AND DEDICATED ART EDUCATOR.
HER STUDENTS CONSISTENTLY PRODUCE QUALITY WORKS OF ART THAT EXPRESS MEANING AND DEMONSTRATE HIGHER LEVEL THINKING SKILLS." PLEASE JOIN ME IN RECOGNIZING THESE ART EDUCATORS [APPLAUSE].
>> WE HAVE SOME GOODIES FOR YOU IN HERE.
AS A FORMER MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER MYSELF, I CAN TELL YOU THAT WHAT YOU DO EVERY DAY IS CHALLENGING WHEN YOU'RE IN AN ACADEMIC CLASSROOM.
BUT IN AN ART CLASSROOM WHERE THEY GET TO HAVE SCISSORS AND BE SUPER CREATIVE WITH ALL OF THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR ROOM, YOU ARE BRAVE LADY.
BUT NOT ONLY THAT, YOU'RE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, YOU'RE IMPORTANT TO OUR CHILDREN BECAUSE I KNEW STUDENTS WHO CAME TO SCHOOL ONLY BECAUSE THEY GOT TO GO TO ART.
YOU ARE REALLY TOUCHING SO MANY HEARTS AND DEVELOPING SO MANY TALENTS AND TO BE AN EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR, IT'S JUST TREMENDOUS HONOR AND I'M SURE WELL-DESERVED, BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.
>> CONGRATULATIONS [APPLAUSE].
>> IF I COULD ASK REBEKAH AMATO TO COME FORWARD AT THIS TIME.
>> CLOVER HIGH GOVERNMENT TEACHER AND DEPARTMENT LEADER, REBEKAH AMATO, WAS ONE OF TWO VIRGINIA TEACHERS TO WIN THE JOHN MARSHALL CENTER TEACHER AWARD FOR 2022.
IN RECOGNITION OF OUTSTANDING EFFORTS EDUCATING STUDENTS ABOUT THE RULE OF LAW UNDER THE CONSTITUTION AND THE IMPORTANCE OF AN INDEPENDENT JUDICIARY, SHE RECEIVED A $25,000 PRIZE DURING THE RICHMOND BAR ASSOCIATION'S ANNUAL AWARDS LUNCHEON.
TO HELP EXCITE STUDENTS ABOUT THE US CONSTITUTION, SHE DEVELOPED A SUPREME COURT THEMED PODCAST AND SOCIAL MEDIA BASED LESSONS PLANS THAT INCLUDE STUDENTS POSTING PHOTOS OF THEIR POCKET US CONSTITUTION IN PLACES THAT REMIND THEM OF THEIR CONNECTION TO THE NATION'S FOUNDATIONAL DOCUMENT.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN RECOGNIZING REBEKAH AMATO.
I KNOW FIRSTHAND YOUR COMMITMENT TO ENGAGING YOUR STUDENTS IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THEIR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.
I'M JUST SO PROUD OF YOU [LAUGHTER] BECAUSE YOU'RE WONDERFUL.
I WAS GOING TO ASK SOMETHING LIKE WHAT COULD I ASK YOU LIKE, WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE AMENDMENT? [LAUGHTER] WELL, EVERYBODY'S GOT ONE [LAUGHTER].
>> I'LL BE THE FIRST BECAUSE THE STUDENTS LIKE TO USE IT THE MOST [LAUGHTER].
>> THAT'S FAIR. I WANT TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO PLUG YOUR PODCAST.
>> WELL, THAT'S A NEW ASSIGNMENT THAT WE'RE DOING THIS SPRING TO HELP THE KIDS GET READY FOR THEIR AP TEST.
THIS YEAR, WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON THE 15 REQUIRED COURT CASES FROM THE SUPREME COURT FOR THE AP TEST, AND THEN NEXT YEAR WE'LL PROBABLY DO AMENDMENTS ACTUALLY.
>> THANK YOU AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING FOR OUR KIDS.
[00:15:02]
IT'S GREAT.I'M WONDERFULLY HAPPY TO SEE RECOGNIZED.
>> NEXT WE HAVE RECOGNITION OF OUTSTANDING DRIVER PERFORMANCE, DR. FRYE.
>> GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR, BOARD MEMBERS, DR. DOHERTY.
IT'S MY PLEASURE THIS EVENING TO PRESENT TO YOU OUR OUTSTANDING DRIVERS FOR THE MONTH.
PROVIDING SAFE TRANSPORTATION FOR STUDENTS TO AND FROM SCHOOL EVERY DAY IS ESSENTIAL TO INSTRUCTION.
OUR CHESTERFIELD COUNTY SCHOOLS BUS DRIVERS GO ABOVE AND BEYOND TO ACCOMPLISH THIS MISSION EVERY DAY.
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 SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES WHICH THEY SERVE.
THERE ARE MANY DRIVERS WHO COULD BE RECOGNIZED THIS MONTH, BUT EACH TRANSPORTATION AREA 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.
WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, COME ON DOWN.
HELEN BRIGGS, AREA 1 BUS 687, FIVE MONTHS OF SERVICE.
CHRISTOPHER DOYLE, AREA 2, BUS 272, THREE YEARS OF SERVICE.
[APPLAUSE] TERESA GROOM, AREA 3, BUS 684, 23 YEARS OF SERVICE [APPLAUSE].
SHARON TIMMONS, AREA 4, BUS 838, NINE YEARS OF SERVICE.
ACCEPTING HER AWARD IS HER MANAGER, JENNIFER DAVIS.
[LAUGHTER] LYNN LAWRENCE, AREA 5, BUS 852, 28 YEARS OF SERVICE.
>> CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU FOR THIS HONOR.
IT'S NO SECRET THAT YOU ARE THE REAL HEROES OF PUBLIC EDUCATION.
NOT ONLY ARE YOU THE FIRST PEOPLE THAT SEE OUR STUDENTS IN THE MORNING, YOU ARE THE LAST PEOPLE THAT SEE THEM IN THE AFTERNOON.
YOU HEAR ALL OF THEIR ISSUES AS THEY'RE GETTING ON THEIR BUS FROM THEIR HOME LIVES, AND YOU PROBABLY HAVE TO CALM THEM DOWN TO GET THEM TO SCHOOL IN A HAPPY, JOYFUL MANNER.
THEN YOU GET TO HEAR ALL THEIR WOES AS THEY GET ON THE BUS IN THE AFTERNOON AND HOW THEIR SCHOOL DAY WENT.
YOU GUYS ARE REALLY TRULY THE BACKBONE OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM AND WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO ON A DAILY BASIS.
I KNOW YOUR MANAGER IS ACCEPTING FOR SOMEONE ELSE, SO WE CAN SKIP YOU. YOU DON'T WANT TO SHARE.
[LAUGHTER]I WON'T PUT YOU THROUGH THAT, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THIS AGAIN, WE APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO EVERY DAY FOR OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.
>> NEXT, WE HAVE RECOGNITION OF OUTSTANDING FOOD SERVICE EMPLOYEES, MR. DAN BROCK.
>> EVENING MADAM CHAIR, DR. DOHERTY, FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS.
AS WE APPROACHED THE COMBINATION OF ANOTHER CALENDAR YEAR, IT'S ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO LOOK BACK AND REMEMBER HOW WE ARRIVED AT THESE POINTS.
FOR SCHOOL NUTRITION DEPARTMENT, THE PAST YEAR AND REALLY THE LAST TWO AND A HALF AND ALL REALITY HAVE PRESENTED A LOT OF UNFORESEEN AND UNIQUE CHALLENGES.
AS THEY ALWAYS HAVE OUR FANTASTIC FOOD NUTRITION SERVICES MEMBERS HAVE REALLY BEEN EXCELLENT EXAMPLES OF FLEXIBILITY, EXHIBITED POSITIVE ATTITUDES, AND REALLY SHOWN AN OVERWHELMING DESIRE TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR STUDENTS ARE FED.
RECENTLY, I RECEIVED A LAST MINUTE REQUESTS FOR SOME GRAB-AND-GO FOOD AT A SCHOOL, AND I GAVE THE MANAGER OVER THERE CALL AND EXPLAINED THE SITUATION TO HER AND ASKED HER WHAT OPTIONS WE HAD AND SHE THOUGHT ABOUT IT FOR A MINUTE AND SHE STARTED TO LAY OUT HER PLAN FOR HOW SHE WAS GOING TO GET THE FOOD TOGETHER.
AFTER SHE WAS DONE, I THANKED HER FOR HER UNDERSTANDING AND
[00:20:02]
FLEXIBILITY IN SITUATION AND SHE LOUDLY TOLD ME, I'M NOT LETTING ANY OF THESE BABIES GO HUNGRY IF THERE'S ANYTHING I CAN DO ABOUT IT.TO ME THAT REALLY SUMMED UP, IT WAS A SYNOPSIS OF ALL OF OUR FOLKS OUT IN THE FIELD AND THEIR MAIN PURPOSE.
AS ALWAYS, WE JUST CANNOT BE MORE APPRECIATIVE OF THEIR EFFORTS AND THAT'S ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES.
WE ARE, HOWEVER, EXCITED TO RECOGNIZE FOUR PARTICULAR EMPLOYEES THIS EVENING.
MS. DEAL IS OUR MANAGER AT THE CHESTER EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING ACADEMY.
SHE'S BEEN WITH THE COUNTY FOR NINE YEARS AND FEELS THE BEST PART OF HER JOB IS KNOWING THAT I'M PROVIDING A MUCH NEEDED NECESSITY TO OUR CHILDREN.
I ALSO COULD NOT FOR ONE SECOND DO IT I DO WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF THE WONDERFUL FOOD SERVICE ASSOCIATES HERE.
[APPLAUSE] NEXT WE HAVE KATHY MOSER, MS. MOSER, IS OUR ASSISTANT MANAGER AT LC BIRD HIGH SCHOOL AND HAS BEEN EMPLOYED WITH CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR ONE YEAR.
SAYS THAT I LOVE THE KIDS HERE AND I LOVE THE PEOPLE THAT I WORK WITH.
I DON'T KNOW IF SHE'S HERE WITH US THIS EVENING.
MS. SMITH IS OUR ASSISTANT MANAGER, MOSELEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND HAS BEEN WITH CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR FOUR MONTHS.
[APPLAUSE] SHE SAYS, SHE LOVES HER JOB BECAUSE I LOVE MAKING SURE THE KIDS HAVE THE NUTRITION THEY DESERVE AND FUNCTION FOR THE DAY.
I ENJOY MOST OF MY COOKS SOMETHING THEY LOVE AND THEY COME BACK FOR MORE.
IT MEANS THAT I'VE TOUCHED YOUR TASTE BUDS AND IT MAKES MY DAY.
[APPLAUSE] LASTLY, WE HAVE TERESA DEMO.
MS. DEMO IS A FOOD SERVICE ASSOCIATED AT CARBON MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND HAS BEEN WITH THE COUNTY FOR FIVE YEARS AND SAYS THAT I LOVE MY JOB IN THE FRONT ENERGY THAT WE HAVE IN OUR KITCHEN.
WE HAVE A GREAT TEAM THAT CAN ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING WITH DETERMINATION AND HARD WORK.
>> LET'S GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
IF YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT, [APPLAUSE] IF HE CAN TELL, LUNCH WAS MY FAVORITE TIME OF THE DAY AS WELL AT SCHOOL.
BUT WE SAID SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT EARLIER WHEN WE HAD THE BUS DRIVERS UP HERE AND SAID ABOUT HOW THE BUS DRIVERS ARE HERE AS WELL.
OUR FOOD SERVICE WORKERS ARE ALSO HERE IN OUR SCHOOL.
THEY DO IT, THEY FEED OUR BABIES EVERY DAY WHEN THEY COME IN.
SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW IS THAT WE HAVE ABOUT 64,000 OR 24,000 STUDENTS THAT ARE ON FREE OR REDUCED LUNCH IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.
THAT'S A MONUMENTAL TASK EVERY DAY.
EVERY DAY WE HAVE, ON AVERAGE OF HOW MANY MEALS WOULD YOU SAY OR SERVED IN THE DINER AT SCHOOL?
>> BREAKFAST INCLUDED, RIGHT AROUND 45,000.
>> ABOUT 45,000 MEALS SERVED EVERYDAY IN OUR SCHOOLS.
FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.
I KNOW FROM A LOT OF PARENTS THAT ARE OUT HERE AND OTHER EMPLOYEES IN THE SCHOOL. WE WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE SOME WORDS, I'LL GO AHEAD AND PASS THE MIC.
ANYBODY LOOKING LIKE THEY WANT TO SHARE SOME WORDS? [LAUGHTER] I WON'T PUT YOU ON THE SPOT.
MERRY CHRISTMAS, AND THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH.
[D. Public Comment on Agenda Items]
>> NEXT, WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS. FOR THIS MEETING, CITIZENS WERE GIVEN THE OPTION OF SUBMITTING THEIR COMMENTS ONLINE OR IN PERSON.
COMMENTS SUBMITTED VIA THE ONLINE FORM WERE SENT TO THE BOARD PRIOR TO THE START OF TONIGHT'S MEETING AND WILL BE INCLUDED IN FULL AS AN ADDENDUM TO THE MEETING MINUTES.
MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE ANNOUNCE THIS EVENING'S IN PERSON SPEAKERS ON AGENDA ITEMS?
>> MADAM CHAIR, WE HAVE 14 SPEAKERS FOR AGENDA ITEMS THIS EVENING.
THEY ARE MELISSA SNEAKY, CANDY CUSHMAN, JANE CALDWELL, JASON SPOON, AND TITUS.
MANDY SAUDI, WENDY LITTLE, JOHN WARD, MATTHEW MCNEIL, ROBERT EVERETH, GLORIA RANDOLPH, SUSAN ROBERTSON, PEGGY TAYLOR, AND MICHAEL CARIBBEANUS.
PLEASE NOTE THAT COMMENTS ON AGENDA ITEMS MUST BE RELATE TO SPECIFIC ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
IF COMMENTS ARE DETERMINED TO BE OF A MORE GENERAL NATURE ARE NOT GERMANE TO A SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEMS, SPEAKERS WILL BE ASKED TO RESERVE THEIR COMMENTS FOR THE SECOND GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
[NOISE] EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD.
THERE'S A TIMER SETUP 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 YOUR CELL PHONE AND SPEAKER NOTES ARE ALLOWED AT THE PODIUM.
PLEASE HAVE YOUR MATERIALS ORGANIZED IN A MANNER THAT AS YOU ARRIVE AT THE PODIUM, YOU ARE PREPARED TO START SPEAKING AND REMEMBER TO GIVE YOUR NAME AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR COMMENTS, ALONG WITH WHICH AGENDA ITEM YOU WILL BE ADDRESSING.
PLEASE NOTE THAT COMMENTS EQUIVALENT TO CAMPAIGNING FOR ANY PUBLIC OFFICE OR IN VIOLATION OF SCHOOL BOARD POLICY 1110 ARE PROHIBITED.
[00:25:02]
[BACKGROUND] CANDY CUSHMAN.>> GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS CANDY CUSHMAN AND BOTH AS A RESIDENT OF THE COMMUNITY HERE LOCALLY AND ALSO AS A VICE PRESIDENT AT THE FAMILY FOUNDATION OF VIRGINIA, I'M HERE TO EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR THE FINAL ADOPTION OF POLICY 30, 35.
I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF HUNDREDS OF PARENTS AND CONCERNED CITIZENS HERE IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY THAT LOOK TO US FOR JUST HELPING HAVING A VOICE.
I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THOSE PARENTS AND ALSO MEMBERS OF THE SPEAK UP CHESTERFIELD TEAM.
THEY WANT TO SEE FINAL ADOPTION OF THE POLICY TO BRING THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND ALIGNMENT WITH THE STATE PARENTAL RIGHTS LAW AS V6,5,6, THAT REQUIRES VIRGINIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS BY JANUARY 1ST TO ALLOW PARENTS TO HAVE PRIOR NOTICE AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW SEXUALLY EXPLICIT CURRICULUM AND MATERIALS IN THE CLASSROOM, AS WELL AS BEING USED IN SCHOOL WIDE INSTRUCTION AS YOU ALL KNOW.
BUT I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR TAKING THIS KEY STEP FORWARD IN RESPECTING PARENTS RIGHTS TO BE A PART OF THE PROCESS.
I'M AWARE THERE'S MORE WORK YET TO BE DONE, BUT WE REALLY DO BELIEVE THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I ALSO WANT TO NOTE THAT WE SUPPORT IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS POLICY IN A WAY THAT DOESN'T REMAIN CONSISTENT WITH THE MODEL POLICIES PUT OUT BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO HAVING THE CLEAR DEFINITIONS OF WHAT ACTUALLY CONSTITUTES SEXUALLY EXPLICIT MATERIAL, INCLUDING CONTENT.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT ONLINE VIDEO AND PRINT MATERIALS PLANNED FOR USE DURING ANYTIME OF INSTRUCTION, INCLUDING IN THE CLASSROOM AND THE LIBRARY, AS WELL AS SCHOOL-WIDE PRESENTATIONS.
JUST WANTED TO EMPHASIZE THE FINAL POLICY WHICH I FEEL LIKE IT SHOULD ALSO ALLOW SCHOOL OFFICIALS TO HAVE A CLEAR PROCESS FOR MAKING THIS INFORMATION AVAILABLE, FOR NOT ONLY BEING ABLE TO COMPILE IT, BUT ALSO MAKING IT ACCESSIBLE TO PARENTS FOR REVIEW.
OF COURSE, GIVING PARENTS PLENTY OF ADVANCE NOTICE TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT ALL THESE MATERIAL AND HAVING LOOKED AT THE DRAFT, IT LOOKS LIKE IT DOES THAT. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
AT THE FAMILY FOUNDATION, WE'VE DOCUMENTED MULTIPLE STUDIES THAT SHOW THAT A KEY FACTOR IN STUDENT'S SUCCESS, ACADEMIC SUCCESS, AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH IS PARENTS INVOLVEMENT AT SCHOOL, FOR EXAMPLE THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION REPORTED THAT STUDENTS WHO HAVE PARENTS ENGAGED IN THEIR SCHOOL LIVES, THEY HAVE HIGHER GRADES AND HIGHER TEST SCORES.
IN ADDITION, THE CDC SAID, "STUDENTS WHO HAVE PARENTS ENGAGED IN THEIR SCHOOL LIVES ARE LESS LIKELY TO SMOKE CIGARETTES, DRINK ALCOHOL, BECOME PREGNANT, BE PHYSICALLY INACTIVE AND BE EMOTIONALLY STRESSED." CLEARLY ONE THING WE CAN ALL AGREE ON IS THAT WE REALLY WANT TO PROTECT EVERY KID AND HELP THEM THRIVE.
WE NEED TO ALSO RESPECT PARENTAL RIGHTS TO DIRECTLY BE INVOLVED IN THEIR CHILD'S EDUCATION.
WITH CHESTERFIELD BEING ONE OF THE LARGEST DISTRICTS IN THE COMMON LAW WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOU LEADING THAT TREND.
>> HI, MY NAME IS JANE CALDWELL, AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT POLICY 3035, THE PARENTAL RIGHTS POLICY.
I CURRENTLY LIVE IN DOW DISTRICT.
I'VE BEEN THERE SIX-AND-A-HALF YEARS, BUT I ALSO RAISED MY CHILDREN IN BON AIR.
THERE ARE THE PRODUCT OF JUST FILL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
FIRST OF ALL, I DO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING ON THE SCHOOL BOARD.
I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE COUNTLESS HOURS THAT YOU SPEND REGARDING OUR CHILDREN.
FOR THAT, I DO WANT TO SINCERELY THANK YOU ALL.
I'M HERE TONIGHT REGARDING POLICY 30,35, GIVING THE PARENTS THE RIGHT TO OPT THE CHILDREN OUT FOR CERTAIN SENSITIVE THINGS BEING TAUGHT TO THEM.
I'M SURPRISED THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT REQUIRES A SCHOOL BOARD TO VOTE ON, BUT I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO PLEASE APPROVE IT.
AS A MOTHER OF THREE GRANDCHILDREN WHO WERE ALL IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WITH CHESTERFIELD COUNTY.
I'D LIKE TO SHARE A SHORT STORY ABOUT ONE OF MY SONS FROM BACK WHEN HE WAS IN FIRST GRADE.
HE WAS TAUGHT SOMETHING, OR OTHER ABOUT HOW BOYS, AND GIRLS ARE DIFFERENT.
I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WAS TAUGHT THAT DAY, IT WAS OVER 20 YEARS AGO.
BUT TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, PARENTS WERE NOT INFORMED BACK THEN.
[00:30:02]
ANYWAY, ON THAT DAY, WHEN HE WAS JUST SIX YEARS OLD, HE WAS TOLD THAT BOYS, AND GIRLS ARE DIFFERENT.HE WAS CURIOUS, AND THERE IS THIS TIME, HE TOLD ONE OF THE GIRLS THAT HE'D SHOW HER HIS, AND SHE SHOULD SHOW HIM HERS.
SHE AGREED, AND THEY BOTH DROPPED THEIR PANTS AT SCHOOL YARD AT AN INNOCENT CURIOSITY.
MUCH TO THE HORROR OF THEIR TEACHER, WHO SAW THEM FROM AFAR IN THE PLAYGROUND.
NEEDLESS TO SAY, THEY WERE BOTH SENT TO THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE, AND PARENTS WERE CALLED.
HOWEVER, THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION DID NOT PUNISH THEM BECAUSE THEY REALIZED THAT THEY WERE THE ONES WHO INITIATED THEIR CURIOSITY IN THE FIRST PLACE.
IN RETROSPECT, I WISH I HAD HAD THE OPTION TO OPT IT.
AS FIRST GRADE, IS FAR TOO YOUNG TO BE TEACHING THESE CHILDREN ABOUT SUCH THINGS.
AGAIN, I PLEASE EMPLOY YOU TO VOTE FOR POLICY 30, 35 TO BE PASSED.
THE PARENTS WILL HAVE CHOICES AS TO WHEN THEIR CHILD IS TAUGHT ABOUT SUCH SENSITIVE MATTERS.
>> EXCUSE ME. GOOD EVENING SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT, CONCERNED PARENTS, AND STUDENTS.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF A GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION CALLED SPEAK UP CHESTERFIELD.
WE'RE A GROWING ORGANIZATION [APPLAUSE] THANKS.
HEY, WE'RE A GROWING ORGANIZATION.
WE'RE ALL VERY CONCERNED ABOUT PARENTAL RIGHTS, AND WHAT OUR CHILDREN ARE BEING TAUGHT IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.
IT SEEMS THAT THERE'S A PERSPECTIVE, TAHT THERE'S A DIVISION BETWEEN WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE SCHOOL, AND WHAT THE PARENTS ARE BEING TOLD.
WE'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
WE ARE VERY HAPPY TO SEE THAT YOU GUYS ARE ADOPTING THE MODEL POLICIES FOR 30, 35.
WE THINK THAT THIS IS A GREAT FIRST STEP TOWARDS REBUILDING THAT BRIDGE, AND REGAINING THE TRUST OF THE PARENTS OF CHESTERFIELD [NOISE].
ON BEHALF OF THE SPEAK UP CHESTERFIELD SUPPORTED WE ALL SUPPORT THIS.
WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE BUILDING THOSE BRIDGES, AND CONTINUE TO ADOPT POLICIES THAT ARE GOING TO JUST BRING SOME TRANSPARENCY TO WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR CHILDREN'S SCHOOLS.
ESPECIALLY HAVING TO DO WITH SEXUAL EXPLICIT CONTENT, AND THOSE TYPES OF ITEMS. WE WANT TO SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE IT DOES BRING PARENTS' CONCERNS, AND VALUES BACK TO THE EDUCATION DISCUSSION.
IT ACKNOWLEDGES THE PARENT SHOULD BE ABLE TO EXERCISE DISCRETION OVER THE MATERIAL THAT THEIR CHILDREN VIEW.
WE WANT TO SUPPORT IT FOR CLEARLY DEFINING WHAT EXPLICIT CONTENT IS, AND THE OPTION FOR PARENTS TO EXEMPT THEIR CHILDREN FROM THAT TYPE OF INSTRUCTION.
I WOULD AGREE THOUGH, JUST THE FACT THAT THIS POLICY IS NECESSARY IS TROUBLING.
I WILL JUST LEAVE THAT AT THAT.
BUT AGAIN, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THIS ENCOURAGING STEP.
YOU, AND I, THE EDUCATIONAL TEAM, THE TEACHERS, EVERYBODY THAT'S INVOLVED IN THIS.
WE NEED TO HAVE THAT TRUST RETURN INTO THE SYSTEM.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING MORE POLICIES CONCERNING PARENTAL RIGHTS, AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME [APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU, MR. SPAN, AND TITUS.
>> HEY, MY NAME IS MANDY DOWDY, A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF CHESTERFIELD, AND I LIVE IN THE BERMUDA DISTRICT.
FIRST, I WANT TO THANK THE SCHOOL BOARD FOR CONSIDERING ADOPTING POLICY 30, 35, THE PARENTAL RIGHTS POLICY.
WE KNOW THAT THIS POLICY OF COURSE IS NOT PERFECT, BUT WE KNOW THAT THIS IS A GREAT STEP TO EMPOWER US AS PARENTS.
WE THANK YOU FOR RESPECTING OUR DECISION-MAKING ON WHAT WE FEEL IS NEEDED TO BE TAUGHT TO OUR CHILDREN.
WE, AS PARENTS KNOW WHEN OUR CHILDREN SHOULD BE TAUGHT CERTAIN LIFE EXPERIENCES, AND SHOULD ANSWER ANY DIFFICULT QUESTIONS THEY MAY HAVE.
WE HAVE THE MOST INTIMATE KNOWLEDGE OF OUR CHILDREN,
[00:35:03]
AND CAN MAKE THE MOST INFORMED DECISION FOR OUR CHILDREN'S WELFARE.THE WAY WE PARENT OUR CHILD NOW WILL HAVE SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON HOW THEY TURN OUT AS ADULTS.
THEY ARE OUR FUTURE GENERATION.
PROVERBS 189 SAYS, PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO WHAT YOUR FATHER TELLS YOU, AND NEVER FORGET WHAT YOU LEARNED AT YOUR MOTHER'S FEET.
WE WANT THIS POLICY TO BE ADOPTED IN ALL CLASSROOMS, INCLUDING DRAMA CLASSES, OR EVEN ANNOUNCEMENTS OVER THE INTERCOM FROM KINDERGARTEN TO 12TH GRADE.
WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SELECT FOR OUR CHILD THE OPTION OF ALTERNATIVE INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS, AND RELATED ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES THAT DO NOT CONTAIN SEXUALLY EXPLICIT CONTENT.
NO STUDENT, OR PARENT SHOULD BE SINGLED OUT BECAUSE OF THE DECISION THAT MAKE THAT IS BEST FOR THEIR CHILD.
WE BELIEVE AS PARENTS, AND FUTURE PARENTS THAT OUR CHILDREN SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE TAUGHT THE FUNDAMENTAL SUBJECTS LIKE READING, MATH, ENGLISH, ET CETERA IN OUR SCHOOLS.
BUT SEXUAL CONTENT SHOULD BE TAUGHT ONLY BY US AS PARENTS IN THE HOMES.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORK WITH EACH ONE OF YOU, AND GIVE ANY FEEDBACK THAT WE KNOW IS THAT THE BEST INTERESTS, AND SAFETY FOR OUR CHILDREN.
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, AND ALLOWING US TO COMMUNICATE OUR THOUGHTS, AND CONCERNS HERE IN CHESTERFIELD [APPLAUSE]
I RESIDE IN THE CLOVER HILL DISTRICT, [NOISE] WHICH SEEMS TO HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS SOMETIMES WITH SPECIAL EDUCATION.
I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT SPECIAL EDUCATION.
I'D LIKE TO READ YOU SOME POLICY THIS EVENING REGARDING PARTIAL PARENTAL CONSENT TO IEPS.
IF EVERYBODY WOULD LIKE TO STICK AROUND FOR THE NEXT GO ROUND, I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU VIDEO EVIDENCE OF HOW THE SCHOOL DIVISION TREATS PEOPLE LIKE MY CHILD.
THE REGULATION DOES NOT EXPLICITLY REQUIRE THE LEA TO IMPLEMENT PORTIONS OF THE CHILD'S IEP IN THE INSTANCE WHERE THE PARENT HAS NOT CONSENTED TO THE ENTIRE DOCUMENT.
IT IS CRITICAL THAT THE STUDENT'S RECEIPT OF A FREE APPROPRIATE PUBLIC EDUCATION NOT BE INTERRUPTED.
THUS, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE DENIAL OF CONSENT TO ONE PROVISION FOR A SERVICE DOES NOT DENY ANOTHER, WHICH MAY BE ESSENTIAL TO THE STUDENT'S RECEIPT OF FAPE, WHICH IS A FREE APPROPRIATE PUBLIC EDUCATION UNDER FEDERAL LAW.
[NOISE] THE SCHOOL DIVISION MUST IMPLEMENT THOSE PROVISIONS ON WHICH THE PARTIES CLEARLY AGREE.
I GOT AN IMPOSSIBLE IEP DOCUMENT FOR MY SON A HALF A DAY BEFORE SCHOOL STARTED FOR THIS YEAR.
I CONSULTED WITH VDOE, I DID EVERYTHING I COULD WITH IT.
YOU SHOULD SEND THEM TO SCHOOL.
YOU LET YOUR SPECIAL EDUCATION DIVISION REPEATEDLY LIE TO KEEP MY SON OUT OF SCHOOL THIS IS HIGHLY PROBLEMATIC.
THE SUPERINTENDENT HAS REFUSED REPEATEDLY TO MEET WITH ME AND ANYONE ELSE TO REMEDY THIS.
THEN I GET SOMETHING IN THE MAIL DATED OCTOBER 27TH.
I DON'T KNOW WHEN I GOT IT, BUT I'VE GOT THE ENVELOPE WITH A STAMP IN OUR MAIL, SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T COME, REMINDING ME AND I MENTIONED THIS, THAT ON THE VIRGINIA CODE, MY SON MUST GO TO SCHOOL.
THEN I RECEIVED BY EMAIL ON DECEMBER 5TH THAT YOUR SCHOOL DIVISION TOTALLY DISENROLLED MY SON FROM THE COUNTY IN JULY OF 2022.
THE MOST EGREGIOUS THINGS YOU CAN DO AS A SERVICE WHO'S NUMBER 1 JOB IS EDUCATION, IS TO DENY AN EDUCATION TO A CHILD, ESPECIALLY A DISABLED CHILD AND THEN TO NOT INVOLVE
[00:40:03]
THE PARENT IN MEANINGFUL WAYS WHICH MEANS MY VOICE COUNTS FOR MY CHILD.YOU'RE THREATENING TO CHARGE ME WITH TRUANCY BECAUSE YOUR SPECIAL EDUCATION DIVISION KEEP PLAYING TRICKS INSTANCE.
>> GOOD EVENING. I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO TALK ABOUT A FEW DIFFERENT THINGS.
[NOISE] WHAT THE LADY JUST SAID PREVIOUSLY IS PRETTY HEARTFELT.
WE'VE SEEN HER MANY TIMES TALKING ABOUT HER CHILD AND HER SITUATION AND IT SEEMS TO HAVE FALLEN ON DEAF EARS.
THE LAST MEETING, I HEARD ONE OF THE MEMBERS UP THERE SAY THAT SHE DIDN'T LIKE FEELING DEMONIZED. I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT.
IF YOU DON'T WANT TO FEEL DEMONIZED, DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
STEP UP TO THE PLATE, STOP IGNORING THEM.
WE ARE HERE FOR THE CHILDREN THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US.
I DO WANT TO GIVE YOU GUYS KUDOS, AT LEAST FOR THE FUNDS THAT YOU'VE PRESENTED FOR A PSYCHOLOGIST, I BELIEVE FOR THE CHESTERFIELD COUNTY.
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT AMOUNT TRIPLE, AT LEAST FOR MORE OF THE STUDENTS THAT WE HAVE WITHIN THE COUNTY.
I'M GOING TO ALSO TALK ABOUT 3035 AND JUST READ SOME OF THE [NOISE] VIRGINIA ADMINISTRATION CODE.
SO, AVAC20-720-10 DEFINITIONS.
TEXTBOOKS MEANS PRINTS OR ELECTRONICS MEDIA FOR STUDENTS USE THAT SERVE AS THE PRIMARY CURRICULUM BASIS FOR GRADE LEVEL SUBJECT OF COURSE.
720-1060B LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD SHALL ADOPT POLICIES AND CRITERIA FOR THE SELECTION OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS THAT SHALL INCLUDE AT A MINIMUM, THE RIGHTS OF THE PARENTS TO INSPECT UPON REQUEST, ANY INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIAL USED AS PART OF THE EDUCATIONAL CURRICULUM FOR THE STUDENTS AND THE PROCEDURES FOR GRANTING A REQUEST FOR IT BY A PARENT FOR SUCH ACCESS IN ACCORDANCE WITH PROTECTION OF PUPIL RIGHTS AMENDMENT 20 US CODE 1232H AND IMPLEMENTING REGULATIONS 34CFR PART 9.
THE BASIS UPON WHICH PERSONS MAY SPEAK, RECONSIDERATION OF THE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD SELECTION OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS, INCLUDING THE NOT LIMITED TO THE MATERIALS THAT MAY BE CONSIDERED SENSITIVE OR CONTROVERSIAL AND THE PROCEDURES FOR DOING SO.
PURSUANT TO 21.1, 253.3, 137, THE CODE OF VIRGINIA CLEAR PROCEDURES FOR HANDLING THIS CHALLENGE OR CONTROVERSIAL MATERIAL, I REALLY HOPE YOU GUYS PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THAT BECAUSE IT SAYS AS PART 1, PARENTS INSPECTION, WHICH YOU GUYS HAVE CLEARLY LET US DOWN TO THAT FOR YEARS.
MOVING ON WITH THAT, I REALLY HOPE THAT WITH THE HOPEFUL ADOPTION OF 3035 THAT YOU ALL CAN ACTUALLY READ INTO THAT.
[NOISE] READING ON, PART B PROCEDURES OF SELECTION TEXTBOOKS BY LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS.
LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS SHALL ADOPT PROCEDURES FOR THE SELECTION OF TEXTBOOKS.
THESE PROCEDURES SHALL INCLUDE AT A MINIMUM, [NOISE] THE APPOINTMENT EVALUATION COMMITTEE'S BY LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD TO REVIEW AND EVALUATE TEXTBOOKS IN EACH OF THE SUBJECT AREAS.
NOTICE TO THE PARENTS THAT TEXTBOOKS UNDER CONSIDERATION FOR APPROVAL WILL BE LISTED ON THE SCHOOL DIVISION WEBSITE AND MADE AVAILABLE TO THE DESIGNATION OR VIEW BY INTERESTED CITIZEN.
I HAVE 10 SECONDS LEFT, BUT PLEASE LOOK OVER THESE CODES.
THEY'VE BEEN IN YOUR PRESENCE FOR MANY YEARS.
STOP IGNORING THE PARENTS, PLEASE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MR. WARD. [APPLAUSE]. MATTHEW MCNEIL.
>> [NOISE] HOW ARE YOU GUYS DOING? TALKING ABOUT THE 3035, IT'S A GREAT STEP FORWARD.
PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY HERE'S IN AN AGREEMENT ON THAT.
PARENTS DEFINITELY NEED TO BE INVOLVED MORE, BUT IT'S A VERY SMALL STEP.
REALLY JUST IT'S FOCUSING ON THE SEXUAL INFORMATION BOOKS, THAT THING,
[00:45:03]
BUT REALLY IT'S GOING FURTHER IN GIVING PARENTS THE HEADS UP AND INCLUSION IN REALLY THE BRAIN WASHING OF THE KIDS.THE SEXUALIZATION OF THE KIDS IS HORRIBLE, BUT THESE KIDS ARE NOT WORRYING ABOUT THE COUNTRY.
CONSERVATIVE STATES ARE FIGHTING BACK AGAINST THIS RADICAL SCHOOL AGENDA TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS RECEIVE AN EDUCATION, TO ENSURE STUDENTS KNOW AMERICAN HISTORY WITHOUT INDOCTRINATION.
IT MAXIMIZES PARENTAL EMPOWERMENT AND PROVIDES TRANSPARENCY, SO THAT TAXPAYERS CAN HOLD BUREAUCRATS RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERY DOLLAR SPENT BY OUR SCHOOLS.
OUR KIDS SHOULD GRADUATE KNOWING HOW OUR COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED AND WHAT THOSE FOUNDATIONAL ELEMENTS ARE BECAUSE IT OPENS THEIR FUTURE TO BE ACTIVELY INVOLVED LONG TERM.
JUST THE RADICALISM, THE INDOCTRINATION, WE SHOULD BE INCLUDING PARENTS ON ANY INFORMATION THAT HAS A NEGATIVE AND ANTI-AMERICAN AGENDA.
WE'D HAVE LESS RADICALS IN THE STREETS IF WE SPENT JUST A LITTLE MORE TIME ON THE POSITIVE THINGS IN THIS COUNTRY.
WHO KNOWS WHAT THAT MEAN? IF IT WASN'T FOR THE US, HOW WOULD ALL THE WORLD HAVE ENDED UP? WOULD WE ALL JUST BE SPEAKING GERMAN? WHO KNOWS? ALL I'M SAYING IS AS WE'VE DONE A LOT OF GOOD AS A COUNTRY AND WE'RE NEGLECTING TEACHING OUR KIDS THAT.
THERE IS TOO MUCH TIME ON NEGATIVE.
THERE IS GOOD AND BAD WITH EVERYTHING, BUT LET'S BE A LITTLE MORE POSITIVE.
LET'S BE A LITTLE MORE GLASS HALF FULL AND REALLY TEACH THE GREATNESS OF AMERICA AND WHAT WE'VE DONE TO ADVANCE THE WORLD AND JUST INCLUDE PARENTS ON A CHANGE OF THE AGENDA TO A MORE POSITIVE ONE.
YOU ALL HAVE A GREAT DAY. [APPLAUSE]
>> I WANT TO START OFF WISHING YOU GUYS MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, BECAUSE WE'RE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO SEE EACH OTHER UNTIL JANUARY OF NEXT YEAR.
MAYBE WE'LL EMAIL BACK AND FORTH.
I BET YOU GUYS THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO TALK ABOUT 3035.
BUT AGAIN, WE HAVE PEOPLE FOR THAT.
I CAN SAY THAT I SUPPORT 3035.
IT IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
I WISH IT WAS BLANKETED ACROSS THE WHOLE ENTIRE LIBRARY, NOT JUST ADDING THE WORD ASSIGNMENT TO MAKE IT PART OF THE CURRICULUM AND WHATNOT.
I WISH IT WAS THE ENTIRE LIBRARY, BUT HOPEFULLY WE CAN DO SOMETHING WITH THAT POLICY AND SOMETHING IN THE FUTURE WITH SOME RATING SYSTEM.
ALL RIGHT, SO THAT'S ENOUGH ON 3035, AND I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT NON-AGENDA LATER.
I'M GOING TO ACTUALLY TALK ABOUT PUBLIC PARTICIPANT AT MEETINGS.
SOME OF YOU GUYS TALKED TO ME ALREADY ABOUT THAT.
I WAS HIM AND HON, I LIKED THE TWO PUBLIC SESSIONS BECAUSE IT USUALLY THE LAST ONE THAT I HAVE SOMETHING PREPARED, IT USUALLY CHANGES DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU-ALL SAY OR WHAT SOMEBODY IN THE PUBLIC HAS SAID.
I'M MIXED MATCH AMOUNT OF FENCING THAT I DON'T LIKE TWO MINUTES CUT FOR ME, YOU KNOW, THREE MINUTES IS BAD ENOUGH, I ALREADY GOTTEN MINUTE, TWO MINUTES LEFT, SO IT'S ALREADY WAS GONE.
I WOULD LIKE TO INCREASE THAT FOUR MINUTES.
I WANT TO GO SIX, BUT I KNOW YOU ALL NOT GOING TO SIX, BUT I HOPE YOU ALL DO.
IF WE DO, LET'S WORK OUT SOME THING ON THAT.
BUT I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE BEHIND ME, IT FEELS LIKE IT'S A PERSON OR THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO SPEAK.
WE DON'T LIKE TO BE LIMITED IN OUR TIME, SO WE'D LIKE TO BE IN FRONT YOU GUYS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, I SAID THAT ALREADY.
THEN WE COME DOWN OH,ANOTHER THING TOO.
IF I CAN'T GET, IF I FORGET ABOUT EMAIL, IF I DIDN'T CALL, I'M THINKING ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO EMAIL OR PHONE OR ANY WAY OF CALLING HERE, AND THEY COME HERE TO SIGN UP TO SPEAK, AND THAT'S BEEN MARKED OUT BASED ON WHAT I'M READING HERE.
I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT OPTION BACK IN FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO COME IN BEFORE THE MEETING AND ADD THEMSELVES AS A SPEAKER.
THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO DO THAT I'D LIKE NOT GET RID OF THAT.
AS FAR AS THE STUFF THAT D WHERE IT SAYS PUBLIC SHOW ADDRESS SCHOOL BOARD, OR SOME CERTAIN STIPULATIONS THERE.
IF YOU DISOBEY THOSE EDGES REALLY BIG, BASICALLY GOT MOVED FROM THE LAST PAGE.
BUT THINGS HAVE BEEN ADDED. CONTAINS, YOU KNOW, YOU MAY BE REMOVED OR SHUT DOWN IF IT CONTAINS LEWD AND PROFANE OR OBSCENE LANGUAGE.
AGAIN, AS I WAS TOLD BEFORE ABOUT BOOKS, WHAT MAY BE OBSCENE TO YOU, MAY NOT BE OBSCENE TO ME OR ANYBODY ELSE IN HERE, SO WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT ACTUALLY MEANS.
ALSO, WAS MOVED BECAUSE YOU ADDED FCC BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED LAST MONTH, SO I GET THAT, THAT'S PROBABLY BECAUSE OF MY ORGANIZATION. YOU GUYS DID THAT.
IT'S STILL, I FEEL LIKE A SUPPRESSION OF FIRST AMENDMENT,
[00:50:01]
EVEN THOUGH I WOULDN'T SPEAK THAT WAY, I STILL FEEL LIKE IT'S A SUPPRESSION OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND IT BRIDGES AND AGAINST THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT.ALSO, INVOLVES ANY THREATS OF ANY KIND.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT MEANS. I NEED AN EXPLANATION ON THAT.
I KNOW IS THAT MEANING IF I WANT TO HOLD A LIBRARY AND ACCOUNTABLE, IS THAT CONSIDERED A THREAT? YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEAN BY THAT.
INVOLVES COMPLAINTS IDENTIFYING INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS, IS THAT MEAN A KID DECKS ON IF MY KID OR AM I ADVOCATING FOR ANOTHER CHILD?
>> THANK YOU, MR. HUBBARD. [LAUGHTER]
>> GOOD EVENING. I'M GLORIA RANDOLPH, AND I'M HERE AS A GREAT GRANDMOTHER, A CONCERNED CITIZEN OF CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, AND A CHRISTIAN LEADER WHO HAVE A LOVE FOR THE CHILDREN OF THIS GENERATION.
I WANTED TO FIRST THANK EACH OF YOU BOARD MEMBERS FOR ALLOWING AND RECOGNIZING, AND RESPONDING TO THE PARENT'S CONCERN, PUTTING THE PARENTAL RIGHTS POLICY ON THE AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION.
I STAND HERE TONIGHT TO ASK EACH OF YOU SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS OF CHESTERFIELD COUNTY TO MOVE FORWARD AND ADOPT THE NEW POLICY 3035.
I BELIEVE AS THE SCHOOLS AND PARENTS WORK TOGETHER, WE CAN EMPOWER OUR STUDENTS TO ACHIEVE ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND GREATNESS, AND FULFILL THEIR DESTINY AND BE GREAT CONTRIBUTORS TO OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR SOCIETY.
I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT ALL OF US WANT AND DESIRE.
I TRUST THAT THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING FOR US WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR CHILDREN.
WE WANT THEM TO GROW UP TO BE THOSE LEADERS THAT WE SO DESIRE TO SEE.
I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
>> GOOD EVENING SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT.
MY NAME IS SUSAN ROBERTSON, AND I AM A GREAT GRANDMOTHER OF TWO AND A GRANDMOTHER OF 10.
RIGHT NOW I HAVE ALL, FOUR OF MY GRANDCHILDREN HAVE ATTENDED THE BERMUDA AREA.
I MOVED HERE BACK IN 2011 AND I CHOSE CHESTERFIELD SCHOOLS COMING FROM WEST CHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA, WHICH IS IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY BECAUSE THE SCHOOLS, AS I HEARD AND HAVE SEEN A LINED WITH A LOT OF THINGS IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA WHERE WE CAME FROM.
FOUR OF MY GRANDCHILDREN HAVE ATTENDED THE SCHOOLS AS I'VE SAID, AND TWO HAVE ALREADY GRADUATED AND HAD A VERY SUCCESSFUL TIME HERE IN CHESTERFIELD SCHOOLS AND PLAYED FOOTBALL FOR THOMAS DALE.
I'M HERE TONIGHT TO SUPPORT POLICY 3035, AND TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO PLEASE PASS THAT POLICY.
WELL, I REMEMBER BACK IN PENNSYLVANIA WHEN I WAS A STUDENT IN A SCHOOL BRINGING HOME THE PERMISSION SLIP TO MY MOTHER ABOUT SIX EDUCATION, THAT WAS LIKE 67 YEARS AGO, AND IT'S JUST REMARKABLE HOW FAR WE'VE COME AWAY FROM SOMETHING AS SACRED AS PARENTS BEING INVOLVED IN THEIR CHILDREN'S LIVES.
AND MY MOTHER DIDN'T SIGN IT BECAUSE SHE WAS AMAZED AT WHAT WERE THEY GOING TO BE TEACHING, SO WE GOT THE PERMISSION SLIP BACK.
BUT I WOULD AS A GRANDMOTHER AND I'M SURE MY TWO GRANDCHILDREN THAT ARE STILL HERE IN CHESTERFIELD WOULD APPRECIATE THEIR MOTHER KNOWING ABOUT WHAT'S COMING DOWN THE PIKE, SO WHEN THEY COME HOME WITH DIFFERENT STORIES AND SITUATIONS, WE CAN ADDRESS THEM AND KNOW WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO SPARK IT.
I'D NOTICED THE DIFFERENCE AFTER SHE WENT TO MIDDLE SCHOOL.
I MEAN, WE WERE SO CLOSE, BUT NOW IT'S A WHOLE LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS GOING ON IN MIDDLE SCHOOL,
[00:55:04]
AND THE COMPLICATE THE MIDDLE-SCHOOL TWEEN YEARS WITH ALL OF THE STUFF THAT IS JUST PERMEATING ALL AROUND THEM IN EVERY OTHER MEDIA.I JUST THINK THAT IT COMPLICATES THEIR GROWING UP.
I'M HERE ONCE AGAIN, PLEASE GO FOR THAT BILL, 3035, AND LIKE OTHERS HAVE SAID THAT COME BEFORE ME.
WE KNOW IS JUST THE BEGINNING STEP, BUT WE KNOW IT'S A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE STEP BEYOND THIS WHEN OTHER AREAS SUCH AS THE LIBRARY BOOKS WILL BE INCLUDED IN SOME REVIEWED BY SOMEONE OTHER THAN THE CHILDREN WHEN THEY FIRST SEE THEM IN THE LIBRARY, AND WE GIVE YOU THANKS FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE.
I AM A VERY PROUD PERSON OF CHESTERFIELD SCHOOLS AND I DO TALK ABOUT YOU TOO.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH [APPLAUSE].
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS PEGGY TAYLOR AND I AM FROM THE CLOVER HILL DISTRICT.
I'M A MOM OF FOUR ADULT CHILDREN, ALL OF WHOM WENT THROUGH CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS K THROUGH 12.
I'M ALSO A FORMER TEACHER FROM SWIFT CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL IN 19 YEARS HEALTH AND PE.
NOW, 10 GRANDCHILDREN, BABIES, TODDLERS, AND ELEMENTARY STUDENTS, BUT THEY'RE NOT IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, I'M SPEAKING AS A GRANDMA.
I REGRET NOT BEING MORE INVOLVED WHEN MY CHILDREN WERE YOUNGER.
UNDERSTANDING NOW THE CHALLENGE IS YOU ALL FACE AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE I WAS,JUST SURVIVING, THAT'S WHAT I WAS DOING I FEEL AN URGENCY TO DO THAT NOW, TO STAND UP AND BECOME MORE INVOLVED.
I WANT TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR POLICY 3035, AND BRINGING OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT INTO ALIGNMENT WITH THE PARENTAL RIGHTS LAW.
I THINK BACK TO WHEN I WAS ALWAYS A TEAM APPROACH BETWEEN PARENTS, EDUCATORS, AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS FROM WHAT I REMEMBER, AND SO I ALWAYS JUST FELT THERE WAS AN UNSPOKEN TRUST THAT WE WERE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE UNTIL WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING RECENTLY, AND IT WAS LIKE I JUST WAS SHOCKED, SO THERE WAS THE OTHER URGENCY.
NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT TO A PARENT THAN TO KNOW AND TRUST THEY HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH HER SCHOOL BOARD AND DISTRICT, ESPECIALLY SINCE OUR CHILDREN'S SPEND SEVEN OR MORE HOURS A DAY IN SCHOOL AND ACTIVITIES.
SCHOOL EDUCATION HAS A VERY BIG IMPACT ON OUR KIDS.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THIS KEY FIRST STEP AND RESPECTING OUR RIGHTS AS PARENTS TO BE INVOLVED.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT STEPS TO BE TAKEN TO STRENGTHEN A TEAM APPROACH BETWEEN YOU, THE SCHOOL BOARD OR SCHOOLS AND PARENTS IN SUPPORTING AND GROWING OUR KIDS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH [APPLAUSE].
>> THANK YOU MS. TAYLOR. MICHAEL CARIBBEANUS.
>> I'M GOING TO SHOCK THE ROOM BY SAYING I AGREE WITH MR. EVERETT ABOUT SOMETHING, AND THAT IS THE COMMON POLICY, THREE PLUS 3 IS SIX NOT FOUR.
THAT SAID, I ALSO DON'T SEE ANYTHING OBJECTION ON 3035, SO I'M AGREEING WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT I DON'T USUALLY AGREE WITH ON THAT.
TWO, THERE IT'S STATING THE OBVIOUS.
MY CHILD IS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND I DID RECEIVE A LETTER AND AN OPT-OUT OPTION ALREADY FOR FAMILY LIFE.
IT'S REALLY A POLICY TO STATE WHAT WE'RE ALREADY DOING BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING NEW HAPPENING.
JUST LOT OF PEOPLE SAYING THERE'S SOMETHING NEW HAPPENING.
WHAT I REALLY CAME TONIGHT TO TALK ABOUT IS THE BUSES.
I RECEIVED A LETTER TODAY FROM THE SCHOOLS THAT BOTH MY CHILDREN ATTEND STATING THAT THEY'RE NOT RIDING THE BUS, SO THEY'VE BEEN REMOVED FROM THE ROLE.
WELL, THEY'RE NOT RIDING THE BUS BECAUSE THE BUS CANNOT BE DEPENDED ON.
WE FULLY INTENDED FOR MY SON TO BE A FULL-TIME BUS RIDER THIS YEAR, BUT HIS BUS WAS NEVER ON TIME UNTIL IT WAS MOVED, THIS IS BUS A2, IT'S WITH CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL, UNTIL IT WAS MOVED TO A 50 MINUTE EARLIEST SLOT WHICH PUTS HIM AT THE SCHOOL 35 MINUTES BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS DOING NOTHING SO WE'VE BEEN DRIVING HIM IN THE MORNING.
HAD WE BEEN ABLE TO DEPEND ON THE SCHEDULE THAT WAS PROVIDED US THE BEGINNING OF
[01:00:05]
THE YEAR THEY WOULD BE BOTH BUS STRUCK RIDERS AND NOW BEING REMOVED FROM THE ROLES, WE HAVE LOST THE BAILOUT THAT WE HAD AND HAVING THEM ON THE ROLES TO USE THOSE BUSES.QUITE HONESTLY, AT THE SAME TIME, MORNING DROP-OFF IS STILL A PROBLEM.
THE BUSES HAVE NOT WORKED RIGHT IN THIS COUNTY SINCE THE ILL-FOUNDED IDEA OF THE START TIME CHANGE WAS IMPLEMENTED.
THIS IS THE START TIME CHANGE THAT WAS BAIT AND SWITCHED WITH PARENTS YEARS AGO BY THE PREVIOUS BOARD.
THE START TIME CHANGE, AND I DON'T USUALLY CALL THINGS JUNK SCIENCE, I ACTUALLY BELIEVE SCIENCE USUALLY, UNLIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE, BUT THE START TIME CHANGE WHICH WAS BASED ON SOME VERY THIN SCIENCE.
I'VE SPOKEN ABOUT IT BEFORE WHEN IT WAS HAPPENING.
THAT START TIME CHANGE HAS UPSET OUR SCHEDULES THAT WE HAVE NEVER RECOVERED.
IT HAS ALSO PUT YOUNGER CHILDREN HOME BEFORE OLDER CHILDREN, SO THE PARENTS THAT DEPEND ON THOSE OLDER CHILDREN AS BABYSITTING WERE GIVEN ADDITIONAL ECONOMIC BURDEN.
WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THAT, THAT IS IN THE PAST.
WHAT WE CAN DO IN THE FUTURE IS WE CAN START PAYING OUR DRIVERS BETTER.
WE HAVE 25 BUS RELATED SEPARATIONS THIS MONTH ON THE AGENDA.
TWENTY FIVE LOST ON A SYSTEM THAT'S ALREADY FAILING.
PLEASE DON'T TRY TO COMPETE WITH HENRICO, TRY TO SNIPE HENRICO.
TRY TO SNIPE THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES, PAY BETTER.
EVERYBODY WATCHING THIS SHOULD GO TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING TOMORROW NIGHT TO HELP ADVOCATE A BLITZ OF FUNDS SO WE CAN HIRE AND PAY THE BUS DRIVERS WE NEED TO PUT AN END TO THIS CRISIS.
>> THANK YOU, [INAUDIBLE]. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES THIS EVENING'S PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS.
NEXT WE HAVE THIS EVENING SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT, DR. DAUGHERTY [BACKGROUND]
[E. Superintendent's Report]
>> MADAM CHAIR, TONIGHT WE HAVE ANNUAL REPORT FROM OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE, I'D LIKE TO INVITE THEM UP AT THIS TIME AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THEIR REPORT.
>> HI. HOW ARE YOU GUYS? GOOD. I'M JILL ARSENEAU.
I'M THE SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE CHAIR THIS YEAR.
MYSELF AND JENNIFER KRAJEWSKI PUT THIS REPORT TOGETHER.
THIS IS OUR ANNUAL REPORT, WE COME EVERY YEAR.
THIS IS BASED ON LAST SCHOOL YEAR AND THEN A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON THIS YEAR.
JUST TO REITERATE, SEAC'S 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.
FOR OUR MEETINGS, OUR MEETINGS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE COMMENT.
THE COMMITTEE MEETS IN REGULAR SESSIONS AT LEAST SIX TIMES A YEAR.
LAST YEAR WE HAD A VARIETY OF TOPICS THAT WE COVERED.
A VERY FIRST ONE IS ALWAYS A FOIA TRAINING.
THEN WE ALSO HAD A SPECIAL EDUCATION ELIGIBILITY FOR STUDENTS TRAINING.
THE PARENT EDUCATIONAL ADVOCACY TRAINING CENTER CAME AND THEY GAVE US A TRAINING ON DEVELOPING THE IEP.
THE AUTISM SOCIETY OF CENTRAL VIRGINIA CAME AND TALKED TO US ABOUT THEIR PROGRAMMING.
THEN THE FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OFFICE CAME AND SPOKE TO US ABOUT ENGAGING OUR PARENTS, OUR SCHOOLS, AND OUR COMMUNITY.
WE'RE ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH THE YEAR, BUT THESE ARE SOME OF OUR UPCOMING TOPICS.
WE'VE ALREADY HAD OUR ANNUAL FOIA TRAINING.
WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT SPECIAL EDUCATION STAFFING IN CCPS.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS ARE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THOSE TEACHERS IN THE AIDS AND WHETHER THERE ARE IN OUR CLASSROOMS, OR NOT.
WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF TALKING ABOUT TRANSITIONS FROM EARLY INTERVENTION TO EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION.
PARENTS ARE REALLY CONCERNED AND CONFUSED ON DIFFERENT SERVICES AND HOW THEIR THREE-YEAR-OLDS CAN GET INTO SCHOOL ON SERVICES.
WERE ALSO CONSTANTLY BUILDING A STRONGER SPED COMMUNITY IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY.
I'D LIKE TO KEEP THIS BROAD MOSTLY BECAUSE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT NEW TOPICS EVERY MONTH.
THIS PAST MONTH WE'VE TALKED ABOUT PTA AND HOW TO BE INCLUSIVE WITH OUR STUDENTS.
WE HAVE VARIETY OF PUBLIC COMMENTS.
MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY CAME AND MADE THEIR VOICES HEARD VIA PUBLIC COMMENT ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS, INCLUDING TRANSPORTATION ALWAYS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE FOR US.
RECOVERY OF LEARNING, SOLUTIONS,
[01:05:01]
MASKING, AND IEP TRAINING.SEAC WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE MEMBERS MADISON WILLIAMS, JAIME SMILEY, KENYATTA GREEN, ELLEN MAHLOY, FOR THEIR TIME AND COMMITMENT TO AND SUPPORT OF THE COMMITTEE DURING THEIR TENURE ON THE SEAC.
WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, ANN COKER, DIRECTOR OF STUDENTS SUPPORT, DR. JENNIFER RUCKER AND FORMER MANCHESTER MIDDLE SCHOOL DEAN OF STUDENTS, KAMI LOUTH, FOR THEIR SUPPORT DURING THEIR TENURES.
WE HAVE THREE RECOMMENDATIONS.
OUR VERY FIRST ONE IS TO CREATE A START HERE FLOWCHART FOR PARENTS AND GUARDIANS WHEN THEY FEEL THE NEED TO HAVE GUIDANCE ON SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES.
AS A SPECIAL NEEDS PARENTS, ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS TO DO IS TO GET STARTED TO PICK UP THE PHONE TO KNOW WHAT TO DO.
WE RECEIVE EMAILS ALL THE TIME FROM PARENTS WHO JUST DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN.
OUR SECOND RECOMMENDATION IS THAT WE RECOMMEND MORE TRANSPARENCY INTO SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES AVAILABLE FOR OUR CHILDREN.
FOR EXAMPLE IF YOUR CHILD NEEDS SPEECH SERVICES, WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GROUP SPEECH AND INDIVIDUAL SPEECH? WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? THEN OUR THIRD RECOMMENDATION, SEAC RECOMMENDS RECOVERY OF LEARNING EFFORTS AND SUMMER SCHOOL OPTIONS, MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE CLEAR AND THEY'RE AVAILABLE TO ALL STUDENTS.
LAST YEAR, OVER THE SUMMER, WE HAD A LOT OF PHONE CALLS AND EMAILS AND WE WEREN'T REALLY SURE WHO WAS ABLE TO GET ENROLLED AND IT WAS JUST REALLY CONFUSING.
THOSE ARE OUR RECOMMENDATIONS.
THANK YOU. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MS. ARSENEAU.
BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY COMMENTS, OR QUESTIONS? MS. BAILEY?
>> I WOULD JUST LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
YOU DID A GREAT JOB AND AS SOMEONE WHO SERVES ON THE COMMITTEE NOW ITS TRULY IS A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH ALL OF YOU.
YOUR HEARTS ARE SO APPARENT IN THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING AND YOUR PASSION FOR WORKING FOR OUR SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS AND YOU DO AN AMAZING JOB OF CHAIRING THIS COMMITTEE.
>> I REALLY APPRECIATE IT AND I ENJOY COMING TO YOUR MEETINGS.
YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS ARE WELL THOUGHT OUT. THANK YOU.
>> WELL, WE APPRECIATE YOU ALWAYS COMING TO THE MEETINGS AND YOU ALWAYS HAVE SUCH GREAT INSIGHT, IT'S VALUABLE TO US SO THANK YOU.
I HAD THE HONOR OF ONCE STEPPING IN FOR MS. BAILEY IN A MEETING AND I WAS SO IMPRESSED AND I WOULD SAY, I KNOW SOMETIMES OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IS CRITICIZED AND I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT THEY GO TO A SEAC MEETING BECAUSE JUST THE AUTHENTIC ENGAGEMENT AND UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE IS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT AND THE HASHING IT OUT AND CONVERSATION THAT OCCURS AT THAT COMMITTEE IS, THAT'S WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE.
YOU BRING PROBLEMS, THERE'S GOOD DISCUSSIONS, THERE'S PROBLEM-SOLVING.
I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED AND I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT EVERYBODY GO TO A SEAC MEETING AND TO SEE THAT THE MAGIC IS THERE AND IT'S WORKING.
>> I AGREE. WE HAVE A REALLY DIVERSE GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS ON THE COMMITTEE THIS YEAR, SO I THANK YOU FOR NOMINATING EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM.
THEY ALL BRING SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO THE TABLE AND I'M SO BLESSED TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WORK WITH ALL OF THEM. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATIONS THIS EVENING.
>> NEXT WE HAVE ACTION ITEMS, MR. SMITH.
>> MADAM CHAIRMAN, BOARD MEMBERS, YOU HAD BEFORE YOU MEMORANDA NUMBER 158-22.
[1. Memo #158-22: Adoption of 2023 Legislative Program]
TONIGHT I WOULD DISCUSS BRIEFLY OUR DRAFT 2023 LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM.LAST NIGHT THE BOARD HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION FROM CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, AS WELL AS MEMBERS OF THE CHESTER COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
ANDHRA REALLY HIGHLIGHT AND TALK ABOUT THE COLLABORATION ACROSS THE COUNTY, WHICH REALLY IS THE HIGHLIGHT OF A PREMIER SCHOOL DIVISION ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
OUR POINTS OF PRIDE ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO KEEP IN FRONT OF US SO OBVIOUSLY WE'RE BLESSED FOR THE HARD WORK THAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR CLASSROOMS EACH AND EVERY DAY WITH THEIR SCHOOLS BEING 100 PERCENT FULLY ACCREDITED.
WE TALKED IN OUR WORK SESSION ABOUT A PRESENTATION REGARDING CHESTERFIELD RECOVERY ACADEMY.
THE EXCITING THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING WITH THAT.
WE'VE RECENTLY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY TO THE VIRGINIA ASSEMBLY WITH REGARD TO AN UPDATE REGARDING RECOVERY HIGH SCHOOL.
LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THAT CONVERSATION.
[01:10:02]
EXPANDING OUR EFFORTS WITH REGARD TO GESTURAL VIRTUAL SCHOOL HAS BEEN A KEY COMPONENT OF THE WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING TO FACILITATE OBVIOUSLY THE NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY.RECOVERY ACADEMY, OBVIOUSLY, WAS THE FIRST RECOVERY HIGH SCHOOL IN VIRGINIA.
IT'S NOT JUST FOR STUDENTS OR FOR REGION 1 STUDENTS.
WE'VE SEEN THE GROWTH IN THAT PROGRAM AND JUST THE BEGINNING OF THE PROGRAM THAT STARTED IN AUGUST AND WORK THEY'VE DONE IN THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS.
ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS WHICH WILL BE SEEN AS A PROGRAM WE PUT TOGETHER, OBVIOUSLY HIGHLIGHTING THE EFFORTS OF RECOVERY ACADEMY, ALSO PAYING THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ABOUT THE WORK OF THE ASSISTANCE THAT'S DONE THERE IS THAT AT THE STATE LEVEL AND THE COMMUNITY LEVEL AS WELL.
WE TALKED ABOUT OUR SCHOOL DIVISION ACCORDING TO KEEP IN MIND OBVIOUSLY THE WORK AGAIN, IT'S ON THE INSTRUCTIONAL ENVIRONMENT EACH AND EVERY DAY.
BUT BEING A LARGE SCHOOL DIVISION, THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY OBVIOUSLY TO LOOK AT AS CLOSELY AS A FORTUNE 500 BUSINESS.
WE'RE RUNNING ONE OF THE LARGEST CATERING OPERATIONS, ONE OF THE LARGEST TRANSLATION SYSTEMS TRANSPLANT ALMOST EIGHT MILLION MILES EACH AND EVERY YEAR AND OBVIOUSLY LOOKING AT OUR TECHNOLOGY DEVICES ACROSS THE SCHOOL DIVISION SO REGARDS TO INVESTMENT, NOT JUST IN THE CLASSROOM, BUT INVESTMENT AND OPERATIONAL ASPECT AND OUR STAFF CLEARLY.
AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT OBVIOUSLY, OUR SCHOOL DIVISION OR ENROLLMENT CONTINUES TO GROW AND OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE CHANGING NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE ARE A MAJORITY-MINORITY SCHOOL DIVISION.
LAST TWO BULLET POINTS HERE ARE IMPORTANT TO KEEP IN MIND.
WE HAVE GREAT NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
ALMOST 40 PERCENT OF OUR FAMILIES ARE QUALIFYING FOR FEDERAL FREE REDUCED-PRICE LUNCHES AND THIS NEEDS GO ABOVE AND BEYOND EACH AND EVERY DAY IN THE CLASSROOM, BUT ALSO IN THE COMMUNITY AND CERTAINLY LOOKING AT OBVIOUSLY THE ABILITY TO SERVE THOSE STUDENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE WELL FED AND READY TO LEARN WHEN THEY WALK INTO OUR BUILDING.
WE THINK ABOUT LEGISLATIVE PRINCIPLES EACH AND EVERY YEAR ON MY TRACK, CLOSE TO 300 PIECES OF EDUCATION-RELATED LEGISLATION.
AS I LOOK AT THOSE PIECES OF LEGISLATION, I'M LOOKING CLOSELY AT THE IMPACT IT'S GOING TO HAVE ON OUR SCHOOL DIVISION AND UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES THAT MAY HAVE COME FROM NEGATIVE LEGISLATION.
BUT WE LOOK CLOSELY FOUR PRINCIPLES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT THAT, THE FIRST PIECE IS TALKING ABOUT ENSURING EQUITABLE, FAIR, AND UNBIASED ACCESS TO ALL RESOURCES.
THE SECOND PIECE IS TALKING ABOUT MAXIMUM DISCRETION, LOOKING CLOSELY AT THE SPECIAL NEEDS THAT WE MAY HAVE IN OUR SCHOOL DIVISION, OTHER SCHOOL DIVISIONS MAY NOT HAVE.
THE FLEXIBILITY, RELAXATION, OR CERTAIN MANDATES AND CERTAINLY WHERE THERE'S SOMETHING NEW THAT COMES ABOUT.
WE WANT TO ENSURE THE APPROPRIATE FUNDING IS PROVIDED FROM THE LEGISLATURE, NOT JUST ONE-TIME FUNDING, BUT LONG-TERM FUNDING AND A COMMITMENT WITH THAT.
OUR POSITION CLOSELY REFLECT WHAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT NEAREST PATH CERTAINLY BE TALKING ABOUT THE ENHANCED FUNDING FOR OUR SCHOOL DIVISION.
WE KNOW THAT CERTAINLY AS THE COMMONWEALTH INVEST, NOT JUST IN SCHOOL DIVISIONS, BUT IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, WHETHER IT'S A PILOT PROGRAM, SOMETHING SPECIFIC TO OUR SCHOOL DIVISION.
WE KNOW THERE'LL BE CAN COME BACK TO THE LEGISLATURE, COME BACK TO THE COMMUNITY, COME BACK TO TAXPAYERS, AND SHOWS INTANGIBLE MEASURABLES THAT COME FROM THAT COMMITMENT AND THEN INVESTMENT IN OUR SCHOOL DIVISION.
CERTAINLY WITH THAT, WE KNOW THAT INCREASED COSTS THAT WE SEE, NOT JUST IN GENERAL ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH, ENSURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING THAT NEEDED STATE SHARE THAT COMES WITH IT.
CERTAINLY, IT'S COMMONWEALTH INVEST IN SALARIES THAT COMES WITHOUT A CONVERSATION WITH REGARD TO THE LOCAL MATCH THAT'S REQUIRED, THE ADDITIONAL COST THAT'S PROVIDED TO US AS A SCHOOL DIVISION, OBVIOUSLY, FOR OUR ADDITIONAL EMPLOYEES ARE NOT COVERED BY THE COMMONWEALTH.
WE'VE MADE A CLEAR COMMITMENT IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY FROM THIS SCHOOL BOARD AND CERTAINLY FROM THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO INVEST IN OUR WORKFORCE.
IT'S NOT A ONE-TIME INVESTMENT.
WE MAKE STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.
WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT CONVERSATION, BUT CLOSELY PART OF THAT INVESTED IN THEM AS ATTRACTING AND RETAINING OUR EMPLOYEES, AND PART OF THAT OBVIOUSLY LEADS TO THE COLLABORATION THAT WE HAVE WITH THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
DOCTOR ALREADY SHARE WITH THE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION THE BEGINNING OF OCTOBER FIVE KEY POINTS OF OFFICER LOOKING ACTUALLY POSITIONED AS HE PRESENTED THOSE AND THE BOARDS DISCUSSED THOSE WE'VE SEEN SCHOOL DIVISIONS ACROSS COME OFF, EMBRACE AND ALSO ADOPT THESE FIVE POSITIONS.
THE FIRST ONE IS RUBLE AND SUPPORT CAP.
THE SECOND ONE DEALS WITH THE ESL STUDENT-TEACHER RATIO.
THE THIRD ONE TALKS ABOUT THE SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAMS ARE SOME SCHOOL PROGRAM IS IMPORTANT.
KEEP IN MIND, HAS ABOUT 10,000 STUDENTS.
THAT IS IN SUMMERTIME, BUT CERTAINLY, YEAR-ROUND THAT'S LOOKING AT ONE OF THE LARGER SCHOOL DIVISIONS.
RIVAL THAT KNOWING THAT WE HAVE 60,000 STUDENTS, INCORPORATE THEM WAS 10,000 OF THOSE ARE SUMMERTIME EFFORTS.
THE FOURTH BEAST TALKS ABOUT THE FUNDING FORMULAS AND SO ON.
THE FIFTH PIECE TALKS ABOUT THE FIBER SCENE, TEACHER PAY RAISE, AND ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS, WHERE I TALKED ABOUT EARLIER IN OUR PRESENTATION.
THERE'S A LOT OF CONVERSATION TALKS ABOUT THE SR FUNDING WE'VE BEEN BLESSED TO RECEIVE FROM THE FEDERAL FUNDS WITH REGARD TO SR FUNDING THAT'S ALLOWED US TO MAKE SOME INVESTMENTS.
WE KNOW CERTAINLY THAT IS FUNDING THAT'S GOING TO GO AWAY IN A COUPLE OF YEARS AND WE'RE TAKING A CLOSE LOOK IN OUR SCHOOL DIVISION ABOUT THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT TO SEE WHERE WE CAN MAKE CERTAINLY THOSE INVESTMENTS CONTINUE GOING FORWARD.
WE WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND FOR THE PUBLIC, OBVIOUSLY, HOW WE'RE SPENDING THOSE FUNDS, NOT JUST SO WE'VE ALREADY SPENT THE FONTS.
WE'VE ALLOCATED THOSE FUNDS FOR REALLY THOSE STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS.
CERTAINLY, FOR THE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION WITH A CONVERSATION WE HAD LAST NIGHT AND
[01:15:03]
THE BOARD'S CONVERSATION TONIGHT AND ADOPTION ULTIMATELY, YOUR LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM.I SPEND MY TIME DOWN TO GENERAL ASSEMBLY, BE AN ADVOCATE FOR OUR SCHOOL DIVISION, CERTAINLY COMMUNICATING DIRECTLY TO OUR LEGISLATORS AND POLICYMAKERS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW THE IMPACT THAT THEIR DECISIONS HAVE ON OUR SCHOOL DIVISION AND OUR WORKFORCE AND CERTAINLY, MADAM CHAIR OU, BACK TO YOU FOR ADOPTION OF THE PROGRAM.
BOARD MEMBERS, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE MEMO 158-22, AS PRESENTED.
>> BOARD MEMBERS IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? YES. MS. BAILEY.
>> HI, MR. SMITH, THANK YOU FOR THAT PRESENTATION AND LAST NIGHT WAS AN INTERESTING EVENING.
BUT I ACTUALLY HAD A LEGISLATIVE DELEGATE PRIVATELY ASKED ME AFTERWARD, AND I WAS A LITTLE BIT SHOCKED THAT SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT A SUPPORT CAP MEAN, SO COULD YOU TAKE A MINUTE AND EXPLAIN TO THE PUBLIC WHEN WE SAY PLEASE, WE'RE ASKING OUR LEGISLATURE TO REMOVE THE SUPPORT CAP.
SOMETIMES WE, AS EDUCATORS, GET BOGGED DOWN IN ACRONYMS AND PHRASING THAT ONLY WE UNDERSTAND SO I THINK IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL FOR THE PUBLIC TO HEAR WHAT EXACTLY DOES IT MEAN AND WHAT ARE WE ASKING FOR?
>> HISTORICALLY, THE COMMONWEALTH FUNDS, WHAT ARE CALLED STANDARDS OF QUALITY IS POSITIONED.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW UPFRONT THAT FUNDING THOSE VISIONS, THE COMMONWEALTH, YOU'D LITERALLY CANNOT RUN A SCHOOL DIVISION.
THOSE STANDARDS ARE ANTIQUATED.
SOMETHING WE TALKED ABOUT DELEGATION ABOUT EACH AND EVERY YEAR SO WE, AS A SCHOOL DIVISION, RECEIVED THAT STATE FUNDING TO ADHERE TO THOSE SOP POSITIONS, THAT DOESN'T EVEN COVER HALF OF OUR WORKFORCE SO HERE'S A LOCALITY, HAVE TO FIND ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO FUND THOSE POSITIONS, TO RUN OUR SCHOOLS, TO PROVIDE THE OPERATIONAL ASPECTS FROM THAT.
BACK IN 2008 WITHIN GOVERNMENT, GOVERNOR TIM KAINE, WHEN THE LEGISLATURE WAS FACING, WHICH WAS THEN HAPPENING, THE RECESSION AT THE TIME, THEY PUT A CAP ON SUPPORTS POSITIONED.
WHAT THAT MEANT WAS IN TERMS OF THINKING ABOUT LITERALLY THE SUPPORT POSITION SO YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT GUIDANCE COUNSELORS, SOCIAL WORKERS, SUPPORT POSITIONS TO THE CLASSROOM TEACHERS, ESSENTIALLY, HOW THE COMMONWEALTH DEFINES THAT AT THE TIME THEY PUT A CAP ON THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING THAT COULD BE PROVIDED FOR THOSE POSITIONS.
THEY ESSENTIALLY HAD TO CARVE OUT FUNDING EDUCATION BUDGET.
WE'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION WITH THE DELEGATION, NOT SUGGESTIBLE, BUT ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH SINCE THAT TIME, 2008, AS THE ECONOMY HAS GOTTEN BETTER OVER THE YEARS TO GO BACK TO FULLY FUNDING THOSE SUPPORT POSITIONS AND CRUNCH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS BECAUSE IT IS A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT TO ELIMINATE THAT CAP.
WHAT THEY'VE DONE IS THEY'VE TAKEN LITERALLY POSITIONED BY POSITION.
THEY'VE DONE A COUPLE OF NOW LOOKING AT GUIDANCE COUNSELORS, AND THEY'VE CONTINUED TO DO THAT.
WE'RE ASKING FOR THE FULL ELIMINATION SPORT CAP.
WE THINK IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY.
IN DOING SO, IT MAY YIELD US AN ADDITIONAL $15 MILLION TO FUND SUPPORT POSITIONS.
THE OTHER PIECE TO KEEP IN MIND, WE TALK ABOUT SUPPORT POSITIONS IS THE RATIOS THAT ARE ATTACHED TO THOSE POSITIONS.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO THINK ABOUT, FOR MY GOD, ITS HEALTH'S PRECISION OF SOCIAL DECOMPOSITION.
THE NOTION THAT THEY WOULD HAVE A CASELOAD WHICH COME OFF ADHERES TO HAVE ALMOST 250 STUDENTS THAT IS, LET'S JUST POLITELY SAY IT'S UP VERY HIGH CASELOAD FOR ANY ONE PERSON SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE FUNDING, THEY'RE NOT JUST LITTLE FUNNY POSITION IT, BUT ALSO THE RATIOS THAT COME WITH IT SO THE CONVERSATION WHEN SOMEBODY IS TALKING ABOUT ELIMINATING THAT SPORT CAP, FULLY FUNDING THOSE SUPPORT POSITIONS, AND EVENTUALLY ALSO LOOKING AT THE RATIOS THAT ARE ATTACHED TO THAT.
>> THANK YOU. MR. SMITH, ON ONE OF THE SLIDES, WE INDICATED THE LEGISLATIVE PRINCIPLES.
I KNOW WE'RE SPEAKING IN BROAD STROKES HERE, BUT ONE OF THE POINTS INDICATES SUPPORT FLEXIBILITY OR RELAXATION OF CERTAIN MANDATES.
COULD YOU ELABORATE ON WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT WITH THOSE CERTAIN MANDATES?
>> IT'S A BROADER CONVERSATION ABOUT THE MANDATES THAT JONESVILLE HAS PUT IN PLACE, I THINK EACH, EVERY YEAR.
I THINK ABOUT IN TERMS OF TEACHERS, LOT OF TIMES WE HEAR FROM OUR WORKFORCE AND SAYING THAT THE MANDATES ARE PUT UPON OUR SCHOOL DIVISION AND OTHER LOCALITIES.
WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE MANDATES THAT COME ABOUT, WE'LL HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH REGARD TO WHETHER IT MAY BE A TESTING MANDATE THAT COMES ABOUT.
A LOT OF TIMES OUR WORKFORCE WILL ASK US, HE TALKED TO GENERAL ASSEMBLY ABOUT THE TESTING MANDATE.
THE TESTING MANDATE MAY BE, IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE THAT WE CAN DO UNIQUE TO CHESTERFIELD TO ADHERE TO CERTAINLY THE NOTION OF THE COMMON ONES TO MEASURE OUR STUDENTS AND MEASURE THE GROWTH.
WE'VE SEEN SOME ABILITY TO DO THAT.
EXAMPLE REALLY IS THE GROWTH MEASURES.
OVER THE YEARS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ABOUT THE SOL TEST.
WE'RE SEEING A MOVEMENT AWAY FROM THOSE ONE-TIME TESTS AND FROM YEARS PAST OR ADVOCACY FOR RELAXATION OF THE MANDATES HAVE BROUGHT ABOUT
[01:20:02]
THE GROWTH MEASURES WHICH WERE IN THE FIRST YEAR IN DOING THAT.IT'S A SET OF CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAVE.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MANDATES I'M JUST RELAXING THOSE, BUT ENSURING THAT DO WE HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY ALONE TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH WHEN WE MAY APPRECIATE AND AGREE WITH A CERTAIN MANDATE, BUT ALSO THE FUNDING THAT COMES WITH IT TOO.
>> THANK YOU, AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO EXPRESS APPRECIATION FOR RECOGNIZING THE NEED FOR FUNDED MANDATES, AS WELL AS YOU'VE FORGOTTEN YOUR FOURTH BULLET POINT ON THAT SLIDE. [LAUGHTER]
>> WE'VE SEEN OVER THE YEARS, A LOT OF TIMES WHEN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WILL REACT TO WHAT MAY BE A SITUATION NOT IN CHESTERFIELD NECESSARILY, BUT TO ANOTHER SCHOOL DIVISION.
IT'S ALWAYS VERY WELL-INTENTIONED.
BUT OBVIOUSLY MAKING SURE THAT THE LEGISLATURE UNDERSTANDS OUR NEED TO FUND THAT, NOT JUST THAT ONE YEAR, BUT ONGOING TOO.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU, MR. SMITH.
WHILE WE'RE GOING THROUGH THIS, THEY'RE REITERATION BECAUSE THERE MAY BE SOME OTHER FOLKS ALSO BECAUSE WE DIDN'T BRING UP THE POINT EARLIER ABOUT PAYING PEOPLE MORE AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
WE'RE SAYING A FIVE PERCENT PAY RAISE, BUT I DON T THINK A LOT OF TIMES THAT IT'S MADE CLEAR ENOUGH THAT WHEN THE STATE SAYS WE'RE GOING TO GIVE A FIVE PERCENT PAY RAISE TO TEACHERS.
WE ACTUALLY DON'T RECEIVE THE WHOLE FIVE PERCENT FROM THE STATE TO PAY OUR TEACHERS, CORRECT? CAN YOU JUST EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT?
>> WHENEVER YOU LOOK AT THE JONESVILLE PROVIDES A FIVE PERCENT RAISE.
WHAT THEY'RE FUNDING ESSENTIALLY IS, THEY'LL SAY A TEACHER PAY RAISE.
WE KNOW IN CHESTERFIELD OBVIOUSLY OUR TEACHERS ARE THE GREAT MAJORITY OF OUR WORKFORCE, BUT LET'S JUST SAY THAT'S HALF OUR WORKFORCE.
SOON AS JONESVILLE DOES THAT, WE'VE GOT ONE LOOK AT THE TEACHER PAY RAISE.
JONESVILLE ONLY GIVES US ABOUT HALF OF THOSE FUNDS.
WE'VE GOT TO FIND A SUPPORT MATCH THAT GOES WITH THAT.
WE FIND THOSE FUNDS AND WE'VE GOT A FULLY FUND OR ADDITIONAL STAFF, THERE AND ADDITIONAL PART OF OUR WORKFORCE AS WELL.
IF YOU LOOK AT A FIVE PERCENT PAY RAISE, ESSENTIALLY OVER THAT PERIOD OF TIME, MAY ONLY BE GIVING US LESS THAN TWO PERCENT OF THE FUNDS TO FULLY FUND FOR OUR WORKFORCE, FIVE PERCENT.
>> THANK YOU. I THINK IT'S GREAT TO JUST CLARIFY THAT BECAUSE I KNOW A LOT OF TIMES THE QUESTION HAS COME UP WITH THE STATE SAYING A FIVE PERCENT PAY RAISE AND UNDERSTANDABLY, WE WOULD LOVE TO GIVE A FIVE PERCENT PAY RAISE OR ANYTHING ELSE.
BUT NOT ALL THE MONEY COMES IN THE CHECK.
THE CHECK COMES IN, IT'S ABOUT 33 PERCENT OF PROBABLY WHAT IT SHOULD BE. THANK YOU.
>> I WANTED TO ADD A FEW NUMBERS BECAUSE I THINK IT HELPS PEOPLE UNDERSTAND.
I'VE BEEN DIGGING INTO THE SUPPORT CAP A LITTLE BIT.
IT'S INTERESTING TO KNOW THAT SINCE 2008 WHEN THE CAMP WAS PLACED IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA, THE STUDENT LIVING IN POVERTY HAS INCREASED BY 40 PERCENT.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS HAS INCREASED BY 37 PERCENT, BUT I THINK IT'S MORE LIKE 70 PERCENT IN CHESTERFIELD.
STUDENTS WITH AUTISM HAS INCREASED BY 45 PERCENT.
STUDENTS WITH OTHER HEALTH IMPAIRMENT HAS INCREASED BY 10 PERCENT.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT HOW THE NEEDS OF OUR DIVISION HAS CHANGED AND THERE'S BEEN NO REASSESSMENT TO MEET THESE CHANGING NEEDS AND THERE'S THIS CAP IN PLACE.
THERE'S A LOT OF PASSION IN THIS AUDIENCE, AND IF YOU HAVE TIME TO CALL YOUR DELEGATE, I HEARD ONE SHOUT OUT TODAY TO INCREASING MORE PSYCHOLOGISTS.
IF WE COULD REMOVE THE SUPPORT CAP, WE WOULD HAVE ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO INCREASE THESE POSITIONS.
PEOPLE ALSO TALK A LOT ABOUT THE FACT THAT COUNSELORS HAVE ADDITIONAL DUTIES THAT ARE NOT COUNSELING.
WELL, AGAIN, THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE SUPPORT CAP.
BECAUSE IF WE ARE NOT FUNDED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE NEEDS, THOSE ARE SUPPORT POSITIONS, THEN COUNSELORS, TEACHERS, ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS, PRINCIPALS, EVERYBODY WORKS TOGETHER TO PICK UP THE SLACK, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS TO HIRE THE STAFF.
IT DEEPLY IMPACTS US AND I KNOW WE WOULD LOVE YOUR SUPPORT TO ASK FOR THE LIFTING OF THIS CAP.
>> THANK YOU MR. SMITH, AND I'D LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK AND TALKING WITH OUR LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION, AS WELL AS GETTING THE MEETING THAT WE HAD LAST NIGHT TOGETHER.
IT'S ENCOURAGING THAT OUR COUNTY AND SCHOOLS ARE BOTH UNITED IN THIS FRONT.
WE ARE BOTH TALKING WITH OUR RESPECTIVE LEGISLATORS TO REMOVE SOME OF THESE ITEMS OR PRINCIPLES THAT WE HAVE BEFORE US.
AGAIN, AS MS. HAINES SAID, FOR THE COMMUNITY, IF YOU GET BEHIND THIS THERE AND TALK WITH YOUR LEGISLATORS, THAT WOULD ONLY HELP THE SCHOOL DIVISION AS A WHOLE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THERE HAS BEEN A MOTION AND A SECOND.
[01:25:01]
MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL ROLL ON THE MOTION?>> NEXT, WE HAVE MEMO 159-22, MR. SMITH.
[2. Memo #159-22: Second Review and Adoption of Proposed Revisions to Current Policies and Regulations]
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIRMAN. YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU A SECOND REVIEW AND ADOPTION OF NEW POLICY AND PROPOSED REVISIONS TO CURRENT POLICIES AND REGULATIONS.
AS [INAUDIBLE] REVIEW COMMITTEE STAFF RECOMMENDS A NEW POLICY REVISIONS TO CURRENT POLICIES AND REGULATIONS AS FOLLOWS.
REVISIONS TO POLICY 1012 SCHOOL BOARD'S VISION, MISSION, AND STANDARDS OF QUALITY, REVISIONS TO POLICY 1092, AGENDA PREPARATION, DISSEMINATION ORDER.
REVISION TO POLICY 1110, PARTICIPATION AT MEETINGS.
A NEW POLICY, POLICY 3035, INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS TO SEXUALLY EXPLICIT CONTENT.
REVISION TO POLICY 3042, PROMOTION, RETENTION, AND ACADEMIC ADMINISTRATIVE PLACEMENTS.
REVISION TO POLICY 6170-R1, USE OF RENTAL OF SCHOOL FACILITIES FOR ALL SCHOOL DIVISION UTILITIES EXCEPT THOSE AT CTC AT WHOLE.
REVISION TO POLICY 6170- R2, USE OF RENTAL SCHOOL FACILITIES FOR ONLY CTC AT WHOLE.
THE APPROACH CHANGES HAVE BEEN REVIEWED BY THE SCHOOL BOARD ATTORNEY.
JUST TO HIGHLIGHT, THERE'S TWO POLICIES SINCE OUR NOVEMBER BOARD MEETING THAT HAVE HAD REVISIONS BASED ON CONVERSATIONS AT THE NOVEMBER BOARD MEETING.
THE FIRST ONE JUST TO HIGHLIGHT IS SCHOOL POLICY 1110.
THE ADDITIONAL REVISIONS THAT'S BEEN MADE IS WITH REGARD TO SECTION D, WHICH OUTLINES THE PROHIBITION OF CERTAIN PUBLIC COMMENTS.
THAT'S NEW LANGUAGE THAT'S IN THERE.
FORMER LANGUAGE IS REPEATED FROM THE ORIGINAL SECTION D, BUT THAT IS NEW LANGUAGE FROM OUR NOVEMBER MEETING.
THE OTHER PIECE TO HIGHLIGHT IS THE POLICY 3035.
THERE ARE TWO REVISIONS MADE TO THAT.
SECTION 2 DEFINITIONS C, THERE WAS LANGUAGE ADDED IN SECTION C TO IDENTIFY THE WORD ASSIGNED CONTENT, AND THEN A SENTENCE ADDED AT THE END, CONTENT LIBRARY MATERIALS AND WEBSITES VISITED BY STUDENTS WITHOUT SPECIFIC DIRECTIONS FROM THE TEACHER ARE NOT CONSIDERED, ''INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS''.
I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THOSE WERE ADDED TO THOSE TWO POLICIES SINCE THE NOVEMBER BOARD MEETING.
IT'S RECKONING THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD APPROVE THE ABOVE REFERENCE, NEW POLICY REVISION TO CURRENT POLICY AND REGULATIONS.
IT'S FURTHER RECOMMENDED THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD SCHEDULE THESE TO BECOME EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.
>> THANK YOU, MR. SMITH. BOARD MEMBERS, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE MEMO 159-22, AS PRESENTED?
>> BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? MRS. BAILEY.
>> I'D JUST LIKE TO TAKE A MINUTE TO SPEAK ABOUT POLICY 3035, AND FIRST TO SAY TO YOUR ORGANIZATION, SPEAK UP VIRGINIA, I ABSOLUTELY 100 PERCENT APPRECIATE YOUR RESPECTFUL MANNER HERE TONIGHT AND TALKING TO US SO POLITELY AND SO PASSIONATELY.
I WAS ALWAYS IDENTIFIED AS A HELICOPTER MOM.
I'M SURE YOU'VE HEARD THE TERM AND AS SOMEONE THAT WAS A TEACHER AND A HELICOPTER MOM, I CAN UNDERSTAND THE POSITION THAT PARENTS ARE PART OF WHAT I REFER TO AS THE THREE-LEGGED STOOL IN EDUCATION.
WE ALL KNOW THAT IF ONE LEG IS MISSING, THEN THE STOOL IS NOT GOING TO WORK.
WE HAVE STUDENTS, WE HAVE PARENTS, AND WE HAVE THE EDUCATIONAL STAFF TEACHERS INCLUDED IN THAT.
I'M A SUPPORTER OF 3035, AND I CERTAINLY HOPE THAT OUR BOARD MEMBERS ALL PASS IT TONIGHT.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK TO THE FACT THAT I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE ALSO TRUST OUR TEACHERS AND THAT WE TRUST THAT THEY HAVE STUDENTS' BEST INTERESTS AT HEART.
EVEN THOUGH I SUPPORT THIS POLICY WHOLEHEARTEDLY, I ALSO WOULD ENCOURAGE OUR PARENTS TO WORK WITH YOUR TEACHERS.
THAT THREE-LEGGED STOOL, THAT COLLABORATION IS CRITICAL.
I WOULD NOT USE THIS POLICY AS A WEAPON, I WOULD JUST USE IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY AND A BLESSING TO WORK WITH YOUR TEACHERS.
I HAVE TO SAY, MS. RANDOLPH YOU'RE AN INSPIRATION.
THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING TONIGHT.
YOU CERTAINLY INSPIRED ME AND YOU TOUCHED MY HEART.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING OUT TONIGHT.
>> I JUST HAVE A TECHNICAL QUESTION.
ONE OF THE COMMENTS MADE SPARKED THE QUESTION,
[01:30:04]
WE HAVE TO GIVE 30-DAY NOTIFICATION.WHEN DOES THIS POLICY GO INTO EFFECT, AND DO WE HAVE THE FULL 30 DAYS? IF NOT CAN WE INFORM PARENTS THAT THE FIRST IMPLEMENTATION WE DON'T HAVE THE 30 DAYS.
IT GOES INTO EFFECT IMMEDIATELY UPON THE BOARDS VOTE TONIGHT.
I THINK SCHOOLS WILL BE ABLE TO ADHERE TO THAT.
SO THEY CAN SEND OUT A NOTICE TO [INAUDIBLE].
A NOTICE IF THEY WERE GOING TO USE ANY INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS THAT ACTUALLY WAS SUPPOSED TO COME.
YEAH, BUT THEY NEED TO DO IT. WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GIVE THE 30-DAY AS THEY SHOULD JUST ASAP SEND SOMETHING OUT.
IF THEY'RE TEACHING SOMETHING.
MADAM CHAIR. I WOULD MISS OUT ON QUEUE.
MS. HAINES, I WOULD CERTAINLY HOPE THAT THIS POLICY IS SIMPLY AN AMPLIFICATION OF THE VALUES THAT WE ALREADY HAVE AT CCPS AND NOT SPECIFICALLY TARGETING ANY LESSON.
IF THERE IS A LESSON ON THE TABLE THAT WOULD VIOLATE THIS PROPOSED POLICY, I WOULD HOPE THAT THAT WOULD BE BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF ADMINISTRATION IMMEDIATELY.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, I THINK MS. BAILEY HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD EARLIER ABOUT POLICY 3035.
BUT I DO WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT JUST TO TALK ABOUT POLICY 1110 AND REALLY HOW WE ARRIVED AT LOOKING TO TAKE THE TWO COMMENT PERIODS AND PUT THEM INTO ONE.
LOW CONTEXT FOR EVERYONE IS LOOKING AT HENRICO AND LOOKING AT HANOVER, WHICH BOTH OF THOSE COUNTIES, ONE GIVES THREE MINUTES, ONE GIVES TWO MINUTES FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
THE REALITY IS WE HAVE SO MANY MORE PEOPLE THAT COME OUT TO PARTICIPATE IN MEETINGS NOW THAT GIVEN TWO SEPARATE TIMES AND TO TRY TO KEEP TRACK OF WHAT'S IDENTIFIED AS AGENDA AND WHAT IS NON-AGENDA.
IT DID MAKE SENSE TO JUST MAKE IT INTO ONE COMMENT PERIOD.
THE WAY WE ARRIVED AT FOUR MINUTES, OPPOSED TO ANYTHING ELSE WAS THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE THAT COME OUT NOW.
IT IS BEING RESPECTFUL OF EVERYBODY'S TIME.
JUST TONIGHT IF YOU ADD UP BOTH COMMENT PERIODS, YOU'RE TALKING ALMOST 30 PEOPLE THAT HAVE COME IN.
MULTIPLY THAT BY FOUR MINUTES AND THAT'S STILL A GOOD AMOUNT OF TIME THAT IF SOMEONE REALLY WANTED TO COME OUT AND SPEAK THEIR MIND, THAT'D BE A LONG TIME THAT THEY'D HAVE TO WAIT.
THAT WAS REALLY THE MEANING BEHIND THIS AS FAR AS THE TIME OF TO CONTACT, THIS HAS GONE RIGHT BACK TOWARDS THE SAME POLICY WAS ABOUT A YEAR-AND-A-HALF AGO.
WHEN THINGS WERE HAPPENING WITH COVID, WE HAD A LOT MORE REMOTE PARTICIPATION AND THINGS THAT'S WHEN WE CHANGED IT.
BUT IT'S REALLY BEING MORE RESPECTFUL TO THE BOARD THE CLERK TO BE ABLE TO CONSOLIDATE COMMENTS AND WHO HAS SIGNED UP FOR THINGS.
THAT'S HOW WE'VE ARRIVED AT WHERE WE DID ON THAT POLICY.
BUT FOR THE 3035, FOLLOWERS THAT DID COME OUT TO SUPPORT IT TONIGHT, THANK YOU.
BUT I DO WANT TO JUST AMPLIFY A COMMENT THAT WAS MENTIONED BEFORE IS THAT I BELIEVE IT WAS MAYBE MR. CARIBBEAN THAT SAID IT, THESE THINGS WERE ALWAYS AN EXPECTATION AS A TEACHER.
IF I WAS GOING TO TEACH ON ANY TOPIC THAT COVERED SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED CONTROVERSIAL OR WOULD CROSS THAT LINE I WOULD DEFINITELY MAKE SURE THE PARENTS WERE CONTACTED AHEAD OF TIME.
THAT WAS PROVIDED THROUGH THE SYLLABUS AND SOMETIMES EVEN THROUGH A PERMISSION IF WE'RE GOING SOMEWHERE WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE DISCUSSING SOMETHING.
I DO HOPE THAT THE NEW POLICY 3035, IT DOES HELP EASE EVERYONE'S CONCERNS ABOUT THIS.
BUT WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I THINK WE'RE ALL ROWING IN THE SAME DIRECTION ON THIS.
WE WANT PARENTS TO BE INVOLVED.
THE PARENTS HAVE TO BE INVOLVED.
ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE GOT TO THE POSITION WHERE WE'RE AT TODAY IS BECAUSE FOR A LONG TIME WE DID NOT HAVE THAT INVOLVEMENT AND I'M GUILTY OF IT AS WELL.
BUT I THINK THAT ONE THING THE SILVER LINING IF THERE EVER WAS ONE WAS THE PANDEMIC, WAS THAT PEOPLE BEGAN TO ENGAGE AGAIN ON WHAT'S GOING ON WITH PUBLIC EDUCATION.
WE GOT HERE BECAUSE PEOPLE WEREN'T ENGAGED WITH WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH OUR KIDS.
WE WERE ASKING SCHOOL DISTRICTS ANYTHING ELSE TO TEACH SOME OF THESE THINGS TO FILL THESE GAPS THAT WEREN'T NECESSARILY COMING FROM PARENTS.
I ALWAYS LIKE TO PUT IT IN CONTEXT OF WHERE WE CAME FROM AND HOW WE ARRIVED AT THIS SITUATION.
ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU, EVERYBODY FOR COMING OUT TONIGHT.
THANK YOU, MR. HARDER FOR ADDING THE BACKGROUND TO POLICY 1010.
I'M ALWAYS FOR MORE ENGAGEMENT RATHER THAN LESS SO I THINK IT WAS HARD FOR ME TO CUT IT TO FOUR.
BUT I WAS REMINDED THAT WE HAD
[01:35:01]
A CLERK AND A DEPUTY CLERK SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT.NOW WE HAVE ONLY A CLERK, SO WE ARE VERY RESPONSIBLE WITH OUR BUDGET.
BUT IF WE'RE MOVING FROM, TWO SUPPORT STAFF TO THE BOARD TO ONE, WE HAVE TO BE MINDFUL OF DUTIES AND TIME.
MADAM CHAIR, IF I COULD I THINK ALSO IMPORTANT FOR THE PUBLIC TO RECALL PART OF THE NEW PROVISIONS HERE REFLECT WHAT YOU'VE PUT IN PLACE IS ALLOWING PEOPLE TO SUBMIT COMMENTS ONLINE PRIOR.
THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TOO, THAT'S AN ENGAGEMENT MECHANISM, SO THOSE COMMENTS ARE BROUGHT TO THE BOARD AHEAD OF TIME, THEY'RE ALSO PART OF THE MINUTES TOO.
I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT ENGAGEMENT TOOL AS WELL FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T ATTEND THE MEETINGS.
[INAUDIBLE] AND WE ALSO CHANGED OUR SIGN UP.
I NOTICE I LOOKED ONLINE, IT WAS A LOT EASIER TO FIND HOW TO COMMENT SO THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR ADDING THAT, MR. SMITH, I WAS GOING TO MENTION THAT AS WELL AS THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS ARE AVAILABLE BY PHONE, ARE AVAILABLE BY E-MAILS AS WELL, SO IT'S NOT JUST THE BOARD MEETING WHERE WE'RE AVAILABLE FOR YOUR FEEDBACK AND FOR YOUR INFORMATION.
I DO ECHO WHAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID IN REGARD TO 3035, WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT THE PARENTS.
PARENTS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE INVOLVED.
THEY'RE YOUR CHILDREN, AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR INPUT, YOUR FEEDBACK.
AGAIN, WE'LL MOVE FORWARD WITH THE REST OF THE EVENING.
THAT'S THE PART I'M MOVING FORWARD TO.
[LAUGHTER] THERE HAS BEEN A MOTION AND A SECOND, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL A ROLL ON THE MOTION.
[3. Memo #160-22: Year-End Funds Allocations]
NEXT WE HAVE MEMO [APPLAUSE] 160-22. MR. MEISTER.I ASSUME THAT STANDING OVATION IS NOT FOR ME.
[LAUGHTER] RATS. MADAM CHAIR, MADAM VICE CHAIR, DR. DOHERTY, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
YOU HAVE MEMO 160-22, HERE'S THE THING, IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY.
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE YOU BACK TO FY22 FOR A LITTLE BIT TODAY TO POLISH OFF THAT FISCAL YEAR.
WE WANT TO START WITH REALIZATION OF 21.3 MILLION OF SAVINGS FROM FY22.
THIS WAS LARGELY ON THE BACK OF STAFF VACANCIES AND YEAR 1 OF SOME OF THAT SRP SAVINGS THAT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT IN THE PAST THANKS TO THE CONTRIBUTION FROM THE COUNTY ROUGHLY A YEAR AGO.
WE'VE ALSO SEEN MODEST AMOUNT OF REVENUE INCREASES, WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT AS WELL.
SO COMING OUT OF A YEAR WITHOUT FAIR AMOUNT OF VACANCIES AND A LITTLE BIT REVENUE UPSIDE LEAVES US WITH A POSITION TO REALLY FOCUS ON SOME IMPORTANT LONGER-TERM INITIATIVES AND TASKS WITH WHAT DO WE DO WITH THIS YEAR-END FUNDING.
WE TOOK A PROCESS ORIENTED APPROACH TO THAT.
THERE'S SOME GAPS WE NEEDED TO FILL AS PART OF THAT, AND WE ALSO NEEDED TO LOOK TO THE LONG TERM NEEDS OF THE DIVISION.
YOU SEE MOST OF THOSE LONG-TERM NEEDS REALLY FALLING IN THE LINES OF OPERATIONAL AREAS, WHETHER THAT BE CONSTRUCTION, BUS FLEETS, MAINTENANCE, AND THEN YOU'LL SEE A NUMBER OF ITEMS HERE THAT ARE FILLING ESSENTIALLY FUNDING GAPS.
WE'RE GETTING IN EACH OF THOSE IN TURN.
FIRST OF ALL, REALLY HIGH LEVEL, YOU CAN SEE REVENUE WE'RE ABOUT HALF A MILLION DOLLARS UP.
MOST OF THAT COMING FROM STATE AID AND SALES TAX.
THERE'S A STORY WITHIN THAT THAT I'LL GET TO IN THE NEXT PAGE, AND ON THE EXPENSE SIDE, ABOUT 20.7 MILLION BELOW FORECAST OR LESS SPEND PRIMARILY IN INSTRUCTION TRANSPORTATION, A LITTLE BIT AT OPERATIONS AND A HANDFUL IN OTHER.
ONCE AGAIN, THE EXPENSE SAVINGS ARE REALLY A VACANCY STORY.
I WON'T BEAT THAT DRUM TOO HARD, BUT THAT WAS REALLY THE STORY LAST YEAR.
AS YOU LOOK AT REVENUE, I MENTIONED THERE'S A COUPLE OF STORIES EMBEDDED IN HERE.
ONE, YOU SEE THE TOTAL LOCAL AMOUNT.
WE TOOK IT ABOUT $5.9 MILLION, LOCALLY THAT CCPS REVENUE.
WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT COUNTY HERE, WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT CCPS REVENUE.
THIS WAS SHORT PRIMARILY ON THE BACK OF STILL RECOVERING FROM COVID IF YOU WANT TO THINK ABOUT IT THAT WAY.
THESE ARE THINGS LIKE FIELD TRIPS, REIMBURSEMENTS, TUITIONS, THOSE KIND OF FUNDS THAT WE TAKE IN AND WE WERE ABOUT A MILLION AND A HALF SHORT NOW.
ON THE STATE SIDE, HOWEVER, WE CAME IN AND MADE UP BASICALLY ALL OF THAT 1.6 MILLION HIGHER.
YOU SEE THE COMBINATION THERE OF HIGHER SALES TAX BUT LOWER STATE REVENUE AS AN OFFSET.
THAT'S REALLY THE FUNCTION OF A WHOLE HARMLESS PROVISIONS WITHIN THE STATE BUDGET CALCULATION WHERE WE DON'T GET TO TAKE ALL OF THE STATE SALES TAX REVENUE TO OUR BOTTOM LINE, IT GETS OFFSET IN THE BASIC AID FORMULA.
SO WHAT YOU'RE LEFT WITH IS A NET INCREASE OF ABOUT A MILLION AND A HALF, MOSTLY AS A RESULT OF HIGHER ENROLLMENT OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR IF YOU REALLY WANT TO UNTANGLE THAT WEB.
LITTLE BIT OTHER MISCELLANEOUS REVENUE WHICH LEAVES US ABOUT 0.6 TO THE GOOD ON REVENUE.
ON THE EXPENSE SIDE, I WON'T SPEND TOO MUCH TIME ON HERE BECAUSE THIS IS A VACANCY STORY.
ONCE AGAIN, TO BEAT THAT HORSE.
YOU CAN SEE OUR BIGGEST SAVINGS AREA HERE IS INSTRUCTION AT JUST ABOUT THREE PERCENT,
[01:40:05]
16 MILLION, AND THE OTHER BIG AREAS, THE OTHER AREA YOU'VE HEARD A FAIR AMOUNT OF VACANCY, YOU HEARD IT TALKED ABOUT AGAIN TODAY, IS TRANSPORTATION ABOUT 4.6 PERCENT SAVINGS THERE.YOU PUT THOSE ALTOGETHER WITH THE REVENUE FROM THE OTHER PAGE, THAT'S 21.3.
WHAT DOES A SUPERINTENDENT RECOMMEND TO DO WITH THIS FUNDS? THAT'S LAID OUT IN THE MEMO IN FRONT OF YOU.
BUT WE WERE PROPOSING, AS I SAID, MULTIPLE GAP FILLERS AS WELL AS SOME PROACTIVE INVESTMENTS AND SOME MAINTENANCE AREAS.
WE'LL RUN THROUGH THIS LIST REALLY QUICKLY.
FIRST FIVE MILLION DOLLARS IS A REQUIRED INVESTMENT TO OFFSET RISING HEALTH CARE COSTS.
THIS IS REALLY TO LESSEN THE BURDEN ON OUR EMPLOYEES AS THE HEALTH CARE COSTS ARE INCREASING.
WE'RE GOING TO PUT ABOUT TWO MILLION TOWARD OUR BUS REPLACEMENT SCHEDULE.
THIS WOULD BUY ABOUT 16 CLEAN DIESEL BUSES, NOT ALL THE MONEY WE NEED TO GET TO A FULLY MODERNIZED FLEET, BUT DEFINITELY A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
THIS THREE MILLION DOLLARS, IF YOU RECALL, THE STATE PUT FORWARD A PROPOSAL FOR $1,000 BONUS TO ALL EMPLOYEES, WHICH ESSENTIALLY MEANS ALL SOQ EMPLOYEES BACK TO THE SUPPORT GAP CONVERSATION.
IN ORDER FOR US TO PROVIDE THE FULL $1,000 BONUS TO ALL EMPLOYEES IT WOULD REQUIRE ADDITIONAL THREE MILLION.
THIS IS THE THREE MILLION TO FUND THE ADDITIONAL BONUS.
THIS IS TO SUPPLEMENT THE FUNDS FROM THE FALLING CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL WORK REALLY TO SUPPLEMENT THE VPSA BONDS WE GOT FROM THE COUNTY NOT TOO LONG AGO AND REALLY TO HELP FILL A GAP IN ONE OF THE PREVIOUS VERSIONS OF THE STATE BUDGET.
MEGA TRAILERS CONTINUED TO BE A NEED FOR THIS ORGANIZATION.
ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS HERE TO FUND A FEW YEARS OUT FOR A.M. DAVIS AND WINTERPOCK TRAILERS.
YOU HEARD THAT IN SOME OF THE DISCUSSION EARLIER TODAY.
THE BIG BUCKET HERE, WELL, NOT THE BIGGEST NUMBER ON THE PAGE, BUT A LOT OF THINGS WITHIN IT, IS TWO MILLION DOLLARS FOR MAINTENANCE AND FACILITIES.
THE BIG PICTURE HERE IS, IF YOU REMEMBER LAST YEAR'S BUDGET, MANY OF THE LAST CUTS THAT WE HAD TO DO IN THIS AREA IN ORDER TO MAKE THE BUDGET BALANCE, AND THIS REALLY PUTS US BACK INTO PLACE AT LEAST FOR ONE YEAR IN THIS ONE YEAR FUNDING.
THIS INCLUDES THINGS LIKE VEHICLE REPLACEMENT, PAINTING, FURNITURE, FLOORING, CARPENTRY, OTHER MISCELLANEOUS OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE [INAUDIBLE] JOSH DAVIS'S SHOP TO REALLY.
CONTINUE THAT PROCESS, WE'D LOVE TO GET THIS IN THE ONGOING REVENUE STREAM FROM OUR BUDGET.
IN LIEU OF THAT, WE'LL LOOK TO ONE TIME TO FILL THE GAP IN THE NEAR-TERM.
LASTLY, YOU'VE PROBABLY HEARD OF INFLATION THAT'S CLEARLY IMPACTING US AS WELL.
OUR LAST RUN OF THIS MONTH OR SO AGO SAID WE HAD A NEED OF ABOUT SIX MILLION TO COVER THE EXTRA INFLATION ON THINGS LIKE FUEL, ENERGY, GAS, ETC.
THIS TAKES A CHIP OUT OF THAT.
THIS TAKES ABOUT HALF OF THAT OUT OF THE WAY.
ONCE AGAIN, ANOTHER LONG TERM NEED, BUT WE NEED TO FILL A GAP.
HERE WE'RE ONGOING CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COUNTY ON HOW TO CONTINUE TO PLUG THAT HOLE AS WE GO FORWARD.
SO WITH ALL THAT SAID, YOU HAVE A MEMO 160-22 IN FRONT OF YOU LOOKING FOR YOUR APPROVAL FOR BOTH THIS USE OF FUNDS AND THE ACCOMPANYING RESOLUTION TO HAND OFF TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOR THEIR MEETING TOMORROW.
WITH THAT, QUESTIONS ARE WELCOMED.
BOARD MEMBERS, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE MEMO 160-22 AS PRESENTED.
>> BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? MS. HEFFRON? [INAUDIBLE].
>> [BACKGROUND] YOU DID A GREAT JOB BOB.
THANK YOU. [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING].
>> ANYBODY ELSE APART FROM, MS. HEFFRON?
>> PLEASE, YOU KNOW WHERE TO FIND ME.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO THERE HAS BEEN A MOTION AND A SECOND, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL ROLL ON THE MOTION.
NEXT, WE HAVE ITEMS FOR BOARD REVIEW.
[G. Items for Board Review]
MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ THE ITEMS FOR THIS EVENING?>> MADAM CHAIR, TONIGHT'S AGENDA INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING ITEMS FOR THE BOARD'S REVIEW.
MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT IMPROVEMENT FUNDS, FY2023, FY2023, OCTOBER EXPENDITURES VERSE APPROPRIATIONS, BUDGET CHANGE REQUESTS SUMMARY ACROSS CATEGORIES.
OCTOBER 2022, BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS, PRE-K UPDATE OCTOBER IN 2022 AND DRAFT 2023 SCHOOL BOARD MEETING CALENDAR.
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.COMMENTS SUBMITTED VIA THE ONLINE FORM WERE SENT TO THE BOARD PRIOR TO THE START OF TONIGHT'S MEETING.
[01:45:04]
IT WILL BE INCLUDED IN FULL AS AN ADDENDUM TO THE MEETING MINUTES.MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE ANNOUNCE THIS EVENING'S IN-PERSON SPEAKERS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS.
>> MADAM CHAIR, AND WE HAVE 13 SPEAKERS FOR NON-AGENDA ITEMS THIS EVENING.
THEY SHANEI HARMON, DOROTHY RILEY, JASMINE DIAZ, LINDSEY COLLINS, DEBBIE GRAVES, BROOKE CASTRO, ANN TITUS, WENDY LITTLE, JOHN WARD, MATTHEW MCNEIL, ROBERT EVERETH, MICHAEL [INAUDIBLE], AND ELIZABETH [INAUDIBLE].
EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD.
THERE'S A TIMER SET UP ON TOP OF THE PODIUM THAT WOULD TURN GREEN WHEN YOU BEGAN SPEAKING, YELLOW WHEN YOU HAVE THIRTY-SECONDS REMAINING AND RED WHEN YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
AS A REMINDER, NO PERSONAL BELONGINGS OTHER THAN A CELL PHONE AND SPEAKER NOTES ARE ALLOWED AT THE PODIUM.
PLEASE HAVE YOUR MATERIALS ORGANIZED IN A MANNER THAT AS YOU ARRIVE AT THE PODIUM YOU ARE PREPARED TO START SPEAKING AND REMEMBER TO GIVE YOUR NAME AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR COMMENTS.
PLEASE NOTE THAT COMMENTS EQUIVALENT TO CAMPAIGNING FOR ANY PUBLIC OFFICE ARE IN VIOLATION OF SCHOOL BOARD POLICY 1110 AND ARE PROHIBITED.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS DOROTHY RILEY, I'M A TEACHER AT A.M. DAVIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FIRST OFF FOR BUILDING US A NEW SCHOOL.
WE'RE ALL VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
WE ARE ALSO HERE TO SAY THAT WE LOVE OUR DRAGON TRAIL AND WE WOULD LIKE TO JUST LET YOU KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO US.
SPEAKING OF PARENT INVOLVEMENT, WE HAVE PARENTS HERE WHO HAVE BEEN [LAUGHTER] VOLUNTEERING FOR THE NATURE BUDDIES PROGRAM FOR 12 YEARS.
WE HAVE SUSANA, MIRENA, MARIA, AND MARIA ESTHER, AND WE HAVE SOME NATURE BUDDIES HERE TOO, AND I WANT TO THANK THEM AS I THANK YOU ALSO.
AS THE SPONSOR OF THE NATURE BUDDIES, YOU CAN TELL I'M SUPPORTER OF LEARNING IN NATURE.
THAT IS THE BEST WAY FOR OUR STUDENTS TO GET A LOT OF CONCEPTS, ESPECIALLY SCIENCE CONCEPTS.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO INVITE YOU ALL TO COME ANYTIME.
AT EIGHT O'CLOCK ON FRIDAYS IS WHEN WE HAVE NATURE BUDDIES, BUT YOU WOULD FALL IN LOVE WITH IT TOO JUST THE WAY THAT THE STUDENTS ARE SO INSPIRED AND EXCITED AND THEY WILL WALK YOU AROUND.
THEY WILL SHOW YOU THE SALAMANDERS THAT WE CATCH, THE TADPOLES, THEY'LL TAKE YOU FOR A WALK AROUND THE WHOLE TRAIL, WHICH IS NOT THAT BIG.
I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO THINK ABOUT HOW YOU HAVE BEEN INSPIRED BY NATURE YOURSELVES OR HOW YOUR CHILDREN HAVE BEEN INSPIRED BY NATURE AND HOW GREAT THAT FEELS.
WELL, THAT REALLY INSPIRES LEARNING ALSO.
SOME OF THE SOLS THAT WE FOCUS ON, NOT JUST THE NATURE BUDDIES, BUT AS A SCHOOL, ALL 700 STUDENTS ARE EXPOSED TO THE NATURE TRAIL AND WE LEARN ABOUT LIFE CYCLES.
WE LEARN ABOUT THE WATERSHED AND HOW OUR ACTIONS AFFECT OUR WATERSHED IN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY AND ALL THE GOOD FOOD THAT COMES FROM IT.
WE ASK THEM TO THINK LIKE A SCIENTIST.
WE TALK ABOUT ALL OF THE LIFE CYCLES OF THE ANIMALS, THE TREES AND ECOSYSTEMS, FOOD CHAINS.
THESE ARE ALL VERY IMPORTANT SOL, STANDARDS OF LEARNING, AND ALSO THINK OF READING, WRITING, MATH.
WE MEASURE TREES, AND WE MEASURE THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF TREES.
WE COVER EVERYTHING; SOCIAL STUDIES.
[NOISE] COULD SOMEONE HOLD UP THE MAP?
>> WE HAVE A MAP OF THE DRAGON TRAIL THAT A STUDENT MADE.
>> JASMINE DIAZ? LINDSEY COLLINS?
I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF YOU IN WHAT YOU DO,
[01:50:04]
AND SO IS EVERYONE HERE BESIDE ME ON MY LEFT AND MY RIGHT.I'M GOING TO SPEAK FAIRLY QUICKLY FROM MY THREE MINUTES, BUT ONCE AGAIN, I REALLY DO APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO SERIOUSLY, AND FROM THE BOTTOM MY HEART, I REALLY DO.
AS A PARENT OF A WONDERFULLY, SCIENTIFICALLY INTERESTED KID WHO APPRECIATES NATURE, LOVES NATURE, WE HAVE A BIG HOLE IN OUR BACKYARD BECAUSE WE DIG FOR FOSSILS EVERY DAY.
[LAUGHTER] BUT BASICALLY, AS A PARENT OF A STUDENT AT A.M. DAVIS, AS A PERSON WHO LIVES IN CHESTERFIELD AND ALSO AS AN EMPLOYEE OF CHESTERFIELD AS A SCHOOL COUNSELOR, A GUIDANCE COUNSELOR.
THIS ONE YOU KNOW. [LAUGHTER] SORRY.
I DID MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNEW THAT.
BUT I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE NATURE TRAIL.
ONCE AGAIN, MY NAME IS LINDSEY COLLINS.
MY SON IS IN 1ST GRADE AT A.M. DAVIS, AND A MEMBER OF A SCHOOL CLUB CALLED THE NATURE BUDDIES. HENCE THE SHIRT.
MY SON WANTED TO SPEAK TONIGHT ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF PRESERVING NATURE TRAIL BECAUSE IT IS A TRULY WONDERFUL TRAIL THAT ENCOMPASSES SO MANY THINGS, THE CORE SUBJECTS, AS WELL AS ENGLISH SPEAKERS AND NON-ENGLISH SPEAKERS.
THAT'S ALSO VERY IMPORTANT AS OUR POPULATIONS ARE GROWING.
HE ACTUALLY CANNOT BE HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE IT'S PAST HIS BEDTIME, SO MOM'S HERE, [LAUGHTER] AND SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THIS IS IN HIS WORDS.
"MY NAME IS LUKE, AND I'M A NATURE BUDDY, AND I'M IN THE 1ST GRADE.
I SAY, WE SHOULD NOT CUT DOWN THE NATURE TRAIL BECAUSE THERE ARE TOO MANY ANIMALS LIVING THERE.
THERE ARE OWLS, RAVENS, BIRDS, AND SALAMANDERS, MAYBE EVEN TADPOLES.
SO PLEASE DON'T CUT IT DOWN, WE DEPEND ON IT.
WE WANT TO SAY AND WE LOVE IT.
PLEASE DON'T CUT IT DOWN." THANK YOU SO MUCH. BUT HE LOVES IT.
HE ENJOYS GOING EVERY FRIDAY MORNING.
I DO WISH THAT EVERYONE WOULD VISIT.
IT'S JUST AN AMAZING TEACHER, AMAZING PERSON REPRESENTING OUR STUDENTS.
ALSO, AS A PARENT, I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT THE NATURE TRAIL AT A.M. DAVIS IS NOT ONLY USED BY THE NATURE BUDDIES, BUT BY ALL 700 PLUS STUDENTS AT THE SCHOOL.
STUDENTS, KINDERGARTEN TO 5TH GRADE CAN ENHANCE THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR SCIENCE LIMIT BY OBSERVING AND DOCUMENTING, DISCUSSING WHAT THEY ALL SEE ON THE TRAIL, WHICH MY CHILD DOES EVERY SECOND OF THE DAY IN SCIENCE.
[LAUGHTER] THERE ARE A TEAM TO EXPLORE THE TRAIL ALLOW STUDENTS TO MAKE REAL MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS BETWEEN WHAT THEY LEARNED IN THE CLASSROOM AND THE WORLD AROUND THEM.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO LISTEN TO OUR CONCERNS. [OVERLAPPING]
>> DEBBIE GRAVES? BROOKE CASTRO?
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS BROOKE CASTRO, AND I'M ALSO A TEACHER AT A.M. DAVIS.
I JUST WANTED TO CHAT A LITTLE BIT IN SUPPORTIVE ALSO PRESERVING OUR NATURE TRAIL, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE DRAGON TRAIL AT A.M. DAVIS.
JUST TO PIGGYBACK OFF OF SOME OF THE THINGS ALREADY SAID.
THERE'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING TO BE SAID ABOUT THAT HANDS-ON LEARNING PIECE.
I'VE SEEN IT MYSELF OVER AND OVER.
I TEACH ENGLISH, AND THERE'S NOTHING LIKE THE HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE WITH ACTUALLY TOUCHING THE THINGS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IN CLASS.
A GOOD EXAMPLE RECENTLY IS 3RD GRADE LEARNING ABOUT SOIL.
KIDS GOING OUTSIDE AND LOOKING AT THE PIECES OF THE LEAVES AND SAYING, "OH, MY GOSH.
THEY'RE ACTUALLY BREAKING DOWN INTO THE DIRT." IT'S JUST A REALLY COOL EXPERIENCE TO SEE THEM BE ABLE TO LIVE THAT IN-PERSON.
WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF STUDENTS THAT LIVE IN APARTMENT COMPLEXES, AND THEY JUST DON'T HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE OF RUNNING AROUND IN THE WOODS, LOOKING AT THINGS IN A CREEK.
I'VE HEARD SO MANY TIMES THE PAST YEAR JUST, "I'VE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE," FROM EIGHT AND NINE-YEAR-OLDS.
THAT'S BEEN AN AMAZING THING TO SEE AS WELL.
THE OTHER POINT I WANTED TO MAKE TOO IS PRESERVING THAT TRAIL IS A GREAT WAY OF HAVING KIDS TAKE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE EARTH AND THE WORLD AROUND THEM AND THEIR SCHOOL.
THEY TAKE SO MUCH PRIDE AND SPOTTING WATER BOTTLES OR PIECES OF TRASH THAT THEY PICK UP, AND IT LEADS TO DISCUSSIONS OF HOW THINGS GET THERE, BEING CAREFUL WITH YOUR TRASH, AND PICKING UP AFTER YOURSELF AND PEOPLE AROUND YOU TOO.
THEY REALLY GET TO HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE THAT THEY WOULDN'T OTHERWISE HAVE OF TAKING PRIDE AND OWNERSHIP IN THEIR SCHOOL, JUST LIKE WE TAKE IN THE SCHOOL AS WELL.
I JUST WANTED TO REITERATE WHAT WAS ALREADY SAID,
[01:55:03]
AND THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR LISTENING.>> HI, THIS IS WENDY LITTLE AGAIN.
SORRY, I HAD A LITTLE SURGERY TODAY ON MY ELBOW BUT GUESS WHAT? I SHOWED UP BECAUSE I'M NO SISSY AND I'M NO COWARD AND I HAVE A CHILD TO FIGHT FOR IN MANY MORE WAYS THAN ONE.
ONE PRACTICAL WAY OF PROCESSING THIS INFORMATION REGARDING WHAT'S ACCEPTED AND WHAT'S NOT ACCEPTED BY UPTOWN IEP IS TO PRESENT THE PARENT WITH A CLEAN COPY OF THE PROPOSED IEP.
CONTAINING ALL THOSE PROVISIONS THAT THE LEA DETERMINES THE PARENT HAS CONVEYED CONSENT AND REQUESTING THE PARENT TO SIGN INITIAL CONSENT ON THE CLEAN IEP DOCUMENT.
I IMPLORED YOUR SCHOOL DIVISION TO DO THAT TWICE YOU FAILED.
YOUR SPECIAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT FAILED.
MY SON AND NOW HE'S MISSED THE HALF-YEAR SCHOOL.
YOU SUPERINTENDENT DOESN'T HAVE THE COURAGE OR THE INTEGRITY TO MEET WITH HIM OR ME REPEATEDLY.
THIS SCHOOL DIVISION LET HIM SIT AND FAIL.
THE IEP PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THAT IS.
WHAT'S THE DEFINITION OF ENCOPRESIS? NOBODY KNEW, IT'S BOWEL LEAKAGE.
I USED TO COME AND BE VERY KIND, VERY NICE AND POLITE AND PROFESSIONAL, AND HOPED THAT SOMETIMES YOU ALL WOULD READ OR SOMEBODY WOULD READ BEHIND THE LINE, BETWEEN THE LINES.
THOSE DAYS ARE OVER UNTIL THE SCHOOL DIVISION COMES TO THE TABLE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM.
SPEAKING OF THE SPECIAL EDUCATION ROUNDTABLE, I'M PROVIDING PROOF.
I DID SAY I WAS GOING GO ON TO A TRUTH AND HONESTY TOUR, AND I AM.
ONE OF YOUR REPORTS WALKED RIGHT INTO IT THIS WEEK.
I'M NOT GOING TO SHARE THAT VIDEO, BUT I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT LATER.
I DON'T HAVE THE ONE HAND I CAN USE TODAY.
HERE'S THE PROOF THAT I WAS THE ONLY PERSON INVITED TO THE SPECIAL EDUCATION PANDEMIC ROUNDTABLE AND IMPROVED MY ACCEPTANCE AS WELL.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE RECOVERY OF LEARNING THAT YOU CLAIM THE CCP SSI FUNDS.
YOU PUT, I BELIEVE IT'S ONE PERCENT OR LESS, MAYBE 0.1 OF [INAUDIBLE] INTO SPECIAL EDUCATION, THAT IS DEFINITELY NOT ADEQUATE.
THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE PRIORITIZED AND YOU'VE GOT A NUMBER OF STATE COMPLAINTS THAT ARE NOW GOING TO BECOME SYSTEMIC.
YOU'VE GOT OCR IS GOING TO BECOME THE SYSTEM.
THE WAY YOU ALL HAVE BEEN TREATING ME, I DON'T CARE.
I MEAN, I COULD LEAVE MY MENTAL HEALTH REPORT THAT SHOWS THAT I'M THERE BECAUSE THE SCHOOL DIVISION KEEPS REFUSING TO TALK TO ME OR MY SON ABOUT MY SON TO HELP DO ANYTHING.
BUT I'M NOT GOING TO LEAVE THAT THIS TIME.
THE VIDEO IS ON MY FACEBOOK PAGE FOR THE PUBLIC TO KNOW, WENDY GRIMMS LITTLE ON FACEBOOK.
I'LL SHARE THAT ANOTHER TIME WHEN I HAVEN'T JUST HAD A SURGERY.
I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
I WILL START BY GIVING THE SUPREME COURT RULINGS OF BREAKING THE LAW OR ATTACKS ON THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION WITH TWO RULINGS BY THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, ASK COUNSEL WHO IS SEATED TO YOUR FAR LEFT HERE ON THE BOARD.
UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT 1964, NEW YORK TIMES VERSUS SULLIVAN.
THUS, WE CONSIDER THIS CASE AGAINST THE BACKGROUND OF A PROFOUND NATIONAL COMMITMENT TO THE PRINCIPLE THAT DEBATE ON PUBLIC ISSUES SHOULD NOT BE UNINHIBITED, ROBUST, AND WIDE-OPEN, AND THEN IT MAY WELL INCLUDE VEHEMENT, CAUSTIC,
[02:00:03]
AND SOMETIMES UNPLEASANTLY SHARP ATTACKS ON GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS, WHICH YOU GUYS ARE.C TOMINA VERSUS CHICAGO AND TO JOHN VERSUS OREGON.
THE FIRST AMENDMENT IS MEANT FOR THOSE WORDS THAT MAKE US FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE.
2008 UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT VERSUS WILLIAMS UPHELD THE CRIMINALIZATION OF THE PANDERING OF CHILDHOOD PORNOGRAPHY.
DURING THE LAST MEETING I WAS FLABBERGASTED BY THE ATROCIOUS, SANCTIMONIOUS WORDS OF BOTH MS. SAFFRON AND MS. HAINES, FROM ABOUT THE ONE HOUR AND 15 MARK TO THE ONE HOUR 43 MARK WE WERE ABLE TO SEE WHAT WAS BEHIND THE CURTAIN.
TO SEE THESE TWO BOARD MEMBERS VERBALLY TRYING TO FIND LOOPHOLES TO ALLOW PORNOGRAPHIC AND SEXUALLY EXPLICIT MATERIALS WAS IN AN UNBELIEVABLE OBSCENITY.
HEFFRON STATES THAT PARENTS CHOOSE WHAT THE BOOKS THE CHILDREN READ, WHEN SHE INTERRUPTED A PARENT FROM READING THE PICTURE BOOK OF THE DESCRIPTIVE ACTS OF SEXUAL ACTIVITIES.
WHAT SHE SAID IS CONTRARY TO WHAT THE BOARD HAD PREVIOUSLY STATED, IT WAS A LIBRARIANS WHO CHOOSE THE BOOKS.
MIND YOU, THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WITHOUT PARENT INVOLVEMENT AND THEN SHE TRIES TO MAKE IT BOTH A FIRST AMENDMENT ISSUE AND A PRIVACY ISSUE.
CLEARLY, SHE HAS LITTLE TO ZERO KNOWLEDGE OF EITHER.
PRIVACY FOR A MINOR DURING THE SCHOOLS ARE OVERRULED BY EITHER THE PARENTS OR GUARDIAN OF THAT CHILD.
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT, PLEASE UTILIZE THE COUNCIL AGAIN TO YOUR LEFT.
MS. HAINES FRIGHTENED ME THE MOST WITH WHAT SHE CALLED TO HELP.
THIS INCLUDES WANTING TO CENSOR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF THE CITIZENRY OF WHAT SHE DEEMS LEWD, PROFANE LANGUAGE THAT IS INAPPROPRIATE FOR YOUNG STUDENTS, YET SHE FAILS TO SEE THE HYPOCRISY OF WANTING TO ALLOW THE PORNOGRAPHY AND SEXUALLY EXPLICIT MATERIALS THAT SHE IS PROTECTING.
IF WHAT WE VERBALLY READ TO YOU FROM YOUR BOOKS IS SO OFFENSIVE, WHY DO YOU PROTECT THEM IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL LIBRARIES? IS PULLING UP GOING TO BE THE NEXT CCPS LIBRARY SOURCE? SHE ALSO MENTIONS FALSE STATEMENTS.
IS SHE OR THE BOARD THE ARBITERS OF TRUTH? NO, YOU ARE NOT, AND SHE WOULD LIKE PEOPLE TO BE REMOVED FOR VIOLATING HER ANTI-CONSTITUTIONAL IDEAS.
PLEASE GUYS, HAVE SOME MORE THOUGHTS OF WHAT YOU'RE SAYING TO THE PARENTS AND FOR THE CHILDREN.
>> HOW ARE WE DOING AGAIN? I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT PRIVACY NOTICES THE VCDPA GRANTS CONSUMERS RIGHT TO OBTAIN A COPY OF THEIR PERSONAL DATA.
THE VCDPA EXTENDS TO BOTH ONLINE AND OFFLINE DATA COLLECTION PRACTICES, ESPECIALLY AS A CONSUMER AS A CHILD, THE CONTROLLER MUST COMPLY WITH THE FEDERAL CHILDREN'S ONLINE PRIVACY PROTECTION ACT, COPPA.
THE VCDPA CLASSIFIES PERSONAL DATA COLLECTED FROM A CHILD AS SENSITIVE DATA AND THE STATUTE PROHIBITS THE PROCESSING OF SENSITIVE DATA WITHOUT CONSENT.
BY COMPLIER PARTNERS SHOULD INCLUDE, CATEGORIES OF PERSONAL DATA COLLECTED OR PROCESSED ON THE WEBSITE, CATEGORIES OF PERSONAL DATA SHARED WITH THIRD PARTIES, CATEGORIES OF THIRD PARTIES WITH WHOM DATA IS SHARED, PURPOSE OF DATA COLLECTION AND PROCESSING, DISCLOSURE OF ANY DATA COLLECTION AND/OR PROCESSING FOR THE PURPOSE OF TARGETING ADVERTISING PURPOSES WITH CLEAR INSTRUCTIONS FOR HOW CONSUMERS CAN OPT OUT.
BUT THE VCDPA DOES FOR RESONANCE OF THE STATE THE FOLLOWING RIGHTS : TO KNOW IF THEIR PERSONAL DATA IS BEING COLLECTED OR PROCESSED, TO GET ACCESS TO THEIR PERSONAL DATA BY THE CONTROLLER COLLECTING OR PROCESSING, TO GET A COPY OF THEIR PERSONAL DATA HELD BY A CONTROLLER AND A PORTABLE AND USABLE FORMAT, TO NOT BE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST FOR EXERCISING THEIR RIGHTS.
THEY HAVE INACCURATE PERSONAL DATA COLLECTED, THEIR PERSONAL DATA DELETED, TO OPT OUT OF HAVING THEIR PERSONAL DATA COLLECTED OR PROCESSED FOR THE PURPOSES OF TARGETED ADVERTISING SALE AND PROFILING.
TOTALLY GENERAL MANAGER IS NOT DOING HIS JOB.
HE'S NOT POLICING ANYTHING, HE'S NOT OVERSEEING ANYTHING HE SAID HE WOULD, HE'S GOT, WELL [INAUDIBLE] LET'S GIVE HIM THAT CREDIT.
[02:05:01]
BUT I WOULD ADVISE THE SCHOOL BOARD TO GET OUT OF THE VASBA SINCE THEY ARE THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE PUT THEM IN JEOPARDY OF LAWSUITS THAT HAVE YET TO BE FILED BECAUSE THEY FAILED TO TEACH THEM THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY WITH A VIOLATION OF OATH OF OFFICE AND FIDUCIARY DUTY IS.THEN YOU CAN ALSO TAKE THE ADVICE TO WENDY ROBERTS AND SANDS HARRISON, ATTORNEY AND VASBA ATTORNEYS BECAUSE THEY'RE TELLING SCHOOL BOARDS THEY DON'T HAVE TO LISTEN TO THE VIRGINIA CONSUMER DATA PROTECTION ACT IF [INAUDIBLE] DOESN'T POLICE SAY.
IT'S LIKE PUTTING THEM AGAIN IN JEOPARDY BECAUSE IT'S A LAW, THEY DON'T GET TO CHOOSE WHETHER THEY FOLLOW IT OR NOT BASED ON WHAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DOES.
JUST TO LOOK OUT FOR YOU GUYS. HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.
MERRY CHRISTMAS, GUYS. [APPLAUSE]
>> DON'T WORRY, I'M NOT READING ANY OF THESE OR SHOWING ANY OF THESE.
THEY'RE JUST HERE FOR A REASON.
WHAT WE DID ABOUT A MONTH AGO, I GUESS, WAS LABELED AS SOME STUN OR SHAMEFUL THING, BUT I SAY I DIFFER FROM THAT, I DISAGREE WITH THAT.
WHAT THAT ALLOWED ME TO DO WAS I WENT AHEAD AND ALREADY RESEARCHED MY 3031R.
SOME OF YOU GUYS GOT WITH ME BEFOREHAND AND WAS TELLING ME THERE'S SOMETHING IN PLACE, NO, YOU CAN DO THIS AND THIS, AND THAT'S WHAT I WENT ON.
BUT I DID SOME MORE RESEARCH, WHICH I SHOULD'VE DONE EARLIER, AND FOUND 3031R, BOOM, FIGURED IT OUT.
BY DOING THIS, EXPOSED IT TO PRINCIPALS AND LIBRARIANS ACROSS CHESTERFIELD COUNTY. THEY WATCH THIS TOO.
IT'S MADE IT VERY EASY FOR ME TO TAKE THIS BOOK OUT OF TWO MIDDLE SCHOOLS, THIS BOOK OUT OF THREE MIDDLE SCHOOLS, THIS BOOK NEVER EVEN HIT THE SHELF, IT WAS ON DEAD ON ARRIVAL ON TWO HIGH SCHOOLS, AND THIS ONE REMOVED OUT OF TWO MIDDLE SCHOOLS.
I'M STILL WORKING ON IT AND I STILL GOT 20-30 EMAILS OUT THERE. YOU KNOW HOW EASY IT WAS? PRINCIPAL AND THE LIBRARIAN TALKED TO ME.
3031R, NO POLICY, NO NOTHING. IT'S THAT SIMPLE.
I DID IT IN EVERY ONE OF THOSE SCHOOLS MYSELF FIRST, BUT THEN I CREATED A COMMITTEE, AND I HAVE MY OWN AUDIT COMMITTEE.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OUR KICKOFF MEETING SOON, BUT THAT'S GOING TO BE A BOOK CHALLENGE COMMITTEE WITH AUDITS.
IF YOU GUYS DON'T HAVE SOMEONE IN PLACE, I'M PUTTING IT IN PLACE.
WE'RE GOING TO BE USING THE TOOLS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE PROVIDED TO US.
WE'RE GOING TO BE USING THE ONLINE TOOL AND WE'RE JUST GOING TO KEEP REMOVING THEM.
I'M GOING TO KEEP FILLING OUT THESE 3031FS AND IF THEY HAVE TO APPEAL, MS. DOLLAR TREE MIGHT HAVE ABOUT 30 APPEALS TO LOOK AT.
I'M JUST GOING TO GO THROUGH WITH THE SYSTEM.
I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE IN THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE, SO WE NEED TO WORK ON SOMETHING THAT KEEPS THEM FROM EVEN HITTING THE SHELVES IN THE FIRST PLACE.
IT'S A SUMMARY THAT WAS COMING UP THE OTHER TIME.
I COULD SEE HOW THIS BOOK RIGHT HERE COULD BE BOUGHT BY JUST SUMMARY, BUT THESE TWO PICTURE BOOKS COULD NOT.
ONE OF THEM IS 10 YEARS AND UNDER.
WHEN IT'S THAT OBVIOUS, AND WE'RE ALSO COLLECTING DATA.
WE GOT SPREADSHEETS ON EACH SCHOOL WHICH ONES ARE ACTUALLY VIOLATING IT.
OBVIOUS, THERE'S NO MISTAKING AND THAT'S WHAT'S IN THE BOOK.
WE'RE ALSO COLLECTING THAT TOO BECAUSE I STILL BELIEVE IN ACCOUNTABILITY.
I BELIEVE THAT IT DOES HAPPEN BY MISTAKE, BUT SUMMARY, BUT I DO THINK WE NEED TO START READING THESE BOOKS A LITTLE BIT CLOSER, ESPECIALLY WHEN PARENTS LIKE ME AND EVERYBODY ELSE IS COMING OUT HERE AND GIVING YOU GUYS A HARD TIME ABOUT IT.
WE GOT TO FIGURE OUT A SYSTEM THAT'S IN PLACE.
HOPEFULLY, YOU GUYS ARE STILL CONSIDERING SOMETHING IN PLACE.
I'M ALSO WORKING ON A RATING SYSTEM TOO.
NOW, I KNOW IT'S ONLY AT THE CHESTERFIELD COUNTY SCHOOL LEVEL.
I HAVE IT WITH ME, BUT WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE TRYING TO HOPEFULLY WORK ON LEGISLATION AS WELL TO GROW ACROSS THE BOARD.
I SUPPORT THE RATING AND I ALSO SUPPORT THE LAW IN PLACE BECAUSE IT [LAUGHTER] SHOULDN'T BE THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE.
WHAT ELSE DO I HAVE TO SAY? IT'S JUST I'VE BEEN TALKING ON THIS SINCE FEBRUARY.
I HOPE THAT WE CAN COME TOGETHER ON THIS.
I KNOW SOME OF YOU GUYS WEREN'T HAPPY ABOUT WHAT I DID LAST MONTH.
WELL, WE GOT TO MOVE BEYOND THAT.
WE CAN WORK ON SOMETHING STRONG.
>> IT'S REQUIRED IN THE COURT, PICO VERSUS ISLAND TREES 1982.
SCHOOL BOARD IS LIMITED IN FIRST AMENDMENT WHAT IT CAN REMOVE.
SCHOOL BOARD DISCRETION DOES NOT EXTEND INTO THE SCHOOL LIBRARY.
REMOVAL TO PRESCRIBE WHAT SHALL BE ORTHODOX VIOLATES THE CONSTITUTION.
SCHOOL OFFICIALS MAY NOT REMOVE BOOKS FROM SCHOOL LIBRARIES FOR THE PURPOSE OF RESTRICTING ACCESS TO POLITICAL IDEAS.
LAST MONTH, WE HAD A MASS SHOOTING AT A GAY CLUB IN COLORADO.
LAST WEEK, PARAMILITARY ACTIVISTS IN COLUMBUS,
[02:10:01]
OHIO SHOWED UP TO TERRORIZE THE CHILDREN'S EVENT.LAST WEEK, CULTURE WARRIORS OF HIGH-POWERED RIFLES SHOT OUT SUBSTATIONS, CAUSING 40,000 PEOPLE POWER OUTAGES IN NORTH CAROLINA.
CRT DIDN'T TURN OUT THE LIGHTS.
SCL DIDN'T TURN OUT THE LIGHTS.
DRAG QUEENS DIDN'T TURN OUT THE LIGHTS.
TRANS KIDS DID NOT TURN OUT THE LIGHTS.
BOOKS AND SCHOOL LIBRARIES DID NOT TURN OUT THE LIGHTS.
CULTURE WARRIORS TURNED OUT THE LIGHTS.
CULTURE WARRIORS WHO CRY, PARENTS RIGHTS, AND THEN WANT TO TELL ME WHAT BOOKS MY KID HAS ACCESS TO BY BANNING BOOKS.
GOING AS FAR AS TO CHERRY-PICK EXPLICIT EXCERPTS TO PAINT OUR LIBRARIES AS THE UNKNOWN WING OF AN ADULT BOOKSTORE.
THE LANGUAGE AND RHETORIC WE HEAR FROM CULTURE WARRIORS DEMANDS WE DO ALL WE CAN TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES BECAUSE THEIR RHETORIC IS ESCALATING.
CCPS IS A FANTASTIC LIBRARY STAFF.
THE FIRST AMENDMENT SHOULD BE PROTECTED.
PART OF THAT PROTECTION IS MAKING SURE ANY AND ALL PUBLIC CHALLENGES TO ANY BOOK IS TAKEN THROUGH THE COMPLETE AND FULL DOCUMENTED PROCESS, NOT A THREE-MINUTE CONVERSATION.
IF BOOK BANNERS CAN GET ONE BOOK BANNED WITH A THREE-MINUTE CONVERSATION, IT WOULD INVITE INTIMIDATION OF LIBRARY STAFF TO TRY AND BYPASS THE PROCESS AND GET THEIR ENTIRE WISH LIST OF 151 BOOKS BANNED VIA THREE-MINUTE CONVERSATIONS.
IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS, MEMBERS OF CULTURAL GROUPS IN THIS COMMUNITY HAVE GONE SO FAR AS TO BRIGADE AND INTIMIDATE AUTHORS DIRECTLY ONLINE WHILE CLAIMING TO SUPPORT THE FIRST AMENDMENT.
CULTURE WARRIORS ARE HERE, BUT THEY DO NOT REPRESENT ALL PARENTS.
THEY DO NOT REPRESENT THIS PARENT.
I BELIEVE IN PARENT RIGHTS AND PARENT ACCOUNTABILITY.
I HAVE THE RIGHT TO DECIDE WHAT BOOKS ARE APPROPRIATE FOR MY KIDS, NO ONE ELSE.
I AM ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT THAT LIBERTY ALLOWS.
SOMETIMES THAT MEANS THAT I MIGHT HAVE TO HAVE A HARD CONVERSATION WITH MY CHILD.
MY NAME IS ELIZABETH VARGAS MITTEVILLA.
I AM A STUDENT IN PROVIDENCE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
I'M IN NATURE BUDDIES FOR FIVE YEARS AND I AM CONCERNED WITH THEIR NATURE TRAIL.
IT IS VERY SPECIAL TO NOT ONLY FOR THE PEOPLE AND STUDENTS, BUT ALSO FOR THE ANIMALS TOO.
I HAVE BEEN VERY CONCERNED ABOUT HOW MUCH TRASH AND HOW MUCH POLLUTION IS IN THE NATURE TRAIL AND HOW MUCH ME AND ALL OF THE TEAM IN NATURE BUDDIES HAVE BEEN WORKING EXTREMELY HARD ALL DAY, ALL NIGHT TO TRY AND MAKE IT SAFE AND GOOD FOR ANIMALS.
I MYSELF HAS ALWAYS BEEN AND ALWAYS HAS LOVED NATURE.
WHEN I WAS SMALL, I HAVE ALWAYS DREAMT OF ONE DAY HAVING ALL NATURE AND ALL ANIMALS SAFE IN THEIR OWN HABITATS AND HAVING THEIR OWN WATER AND FRESH FOOD SO THAT WAY THEY CAN STAY NOURISHED AND REALLY GOOD EVERY SINGLE DAY.
I REALLY LOVE NATURE AND I REALLY HOPE THAT WE'LL PUT TO AN END FROM KILLING ANIMALS AND DESTROYING THEIR HOMES.
EVERY DAY I SEE ANIMALS ON THE STREETS WITHOUT NO HOME, NO FOOD, NO WATER, AND THEY HAVE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO STAY IN.
I HOPE THAT IT CHANGES SOON AND THAT ALL ANIMALS WILL BE FREE AND THEY WILL ALL HAVE A SAFE HOME.
>> MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES THIS EVENING'S PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS.
NEXT, WE HAVE THIS EVENING SUPERINTENDENT FOR MARX, DR. DAUGHERTY.
[I. Superintendent's Remarks]
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND BOARD.
JUST PARENTS THANKS FOR COMING OUT TONIGHT.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE SUPPORTING THE POLICIES.
ALSO, JUST WANT TO WISH EVERYONE A SAFE HOLIDAY.
AS THE KIDS SAY, THEY HAVE THREE WAKE-UP DAYS LEFT,
[02:15:03]
BUT 23 WILL BE HERE AND IT WILL GO LIKE A BULLET TRAIN.TO THE PARENTS, TAKE THE TIME TO SPEND WITH YOUR CHILDREN, ENJOY THE HOLIDAY SEASON, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING EVERYONE ON THE FIRST WEEK OF JANUARY, BUT TO EVERYONE, A MERRY CHRISTMAS.
>> THANK YOU. DR. DAUGHERTY. NEXT,
[J. Announcements, Communications, and School Board Comments]
WE HAVE ANNOUNCEMENTS, COMMUNICATIONS, AND SCHOOL BOARD COMMENTS.SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, ARE THERE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS OR COMMENTS THIS EVENING? MS. HAINES.
>> IF ANYBODY IS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO OVER THE HOLIDAYS ON DECEMBER 10TH THROUGH 23RD, GOOGLE CIS OF CHESTERFIELD AND YOU WILL FIND INFORMATION ON THEIR HOLIDAY, LIKE TOUR, AND THERE IS A SPECIAL EVENT THIS FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16TH, IT WOULD LIKE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH.
PLEASE LOOK IT UP. IT'S FREE, BUT RESERVE A SPOT SO THEY KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE COMING.
THERE'S GOING TO BE HOT CHOCOLATE AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND JUST A FUN, POSITIVE WAY TO HELP CIS SUPPORT OUR SCHOOLS.
>> I CAN'T GO HOME TONIGHT AND HAVE A GOOD HOLIDAY IF I DON'T THANK THE CHILD, ESPECIALLY WHO CAME OUT TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE DRAGON TRAIL AND THEN ALL THE NATURE BUDDIES.
[APPLAUSE] I DO KNOW THAT WE HAD THIS CONVERSATION AND A.M. DAVIS IS GOING TO HAVE A REBUILD AND THEY ARE GOING TO BE WORKING WITH THE SITE ENGINEERS.
I GUARANTEE YOU THE DRAGON TRAIL WILL BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION.
I CAN'T SIT HERE AND PROMISE THAT IT'S GOING TO BE PROTECTED, BUT I GUARANTEE YOU, YOU HAVE BROUGHT IT TO EVERYONE'S ATTENTION, AND THAT CIVIC ACTION IS JUST SO COMMENDABLE, AND I AM SO PROUD OF YOU FOR COMING OUT AND FIGHTING FOR IT.
NOW, AGAIN, I'M NOT A SITE ENGINEER AND I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY PLANS FOR THE REBUILD, BUT YOU CERTAINLY HAVE BROUGHT IT TO THEIR ATTENTION AND I CAN ASK FOR BETTER CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.
I'M VERY PROUD OF THE YOUNG LADY THAT CAME AND SPOKE. GOOD JOB.
>> OUR NEXT SCHOOL BOARD MEETING WILL BE HELD HERE IN THE PUBLIC MEETING ROOM AT 6:30 PM.
IF THERE'S NO FURTHER BUSINESS, WE NEED A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
>> MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL ROLL ON THE MOTION?
THE DECEMBER 13TH, 2022, SCHOOL BOARD BUSINESS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.