[00:00:01]
ANN COKER, AYE.[A. Meeting Opening - 6:30 p.m.]
I'D LIKE TO CALL THE APRIL 11TH, 2023 SCHOOL BOARD BUSINESS MEETING TO ORDER.BEFORE WE BEGIN THE MEETING THIS EVENING, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE FOR ATTENDING AND REMIND THE AUDIENCE THAT COMMENTS TO THIS BOARD MAY ONLY BE MADE AT THE PODIUM DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE ARE PROHIBITED AND ARE IN VIOLATION OF SECTION 18 .2-4 15 OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA DISORDERLY CONDUCT AND PUBLIC PLACES AND SCHOOL BOARD POLICY 60 141.
WE WILL NOW HAVE INVOCATION BY MS. HAINES FOLLOWED BY FLAG SALUTE WITH MR. HARTER. I WANTED TO SHARE A PASSAGE FROM A BOOK THAT I READ, THE CHRISTMAS BOOKSHOP BY JENNY COLGAN.
TAKE A MOMENT OF SILENCE TO LISTEN TO THE STILL SMALL VOICE WITHIN.
EVERY DAY. WE SHOULD FEEL, I HOPE, A LITTLE GRACE AND WE CAN USE IT TO BRING PEACE TO EVERYTHING WE DO TO RECONCILE AND BEAR QUIET WITNESS TO OUR COMMON HUMANITY.
[B. Consent Agenda]
TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA INCLUDES AGENDA ADOPTION, APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE MARCH 14TH, 2023 WORK SESSION AND MARCH 14TH, 2023 BUSINESS MEETING.MEMO NUMBER 039-23, RECOMMENDED PERSONNEL ACTIONS.
MEMO NUMBER 040-23 FY 2023, ACCEPTANCE OF NEW GRANTS.
ACCEPTANCE OF DONATIONS MEMO NUMBER ZERO 42-23 CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION.
MEMO NUMBER ZERO 43-23 NOMINATION FOR VSBA EXCELLENCE AND WORKFORCE READINESS AWARD MEMO NUMBER 044-23. APPROVAL OF ADJUSTMENTS TO STUDENT FEE SCHEDULE FOR THE 2023-24 SCHOOL YEAR.
MEMO NUMBER 045-23, APPROVAL OF SUMMER 2023 FEES AND CHARGES SCHEDULES.
MEMO NUMBER 046-23, ALTERNATIVE ACCREDITATION PLAN FOR CARVER COLLEGE AND CAREER ACADEMY.
MEMO NUMBER 047-23 REVISIONS TO SCHOOL BOARD GOVERNANCE HANDBOOK.
APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO ADVISORY COMMITTEES AND MEMO NUMBER 056-23 C-O-L-A COLA AND QUALITY IMPROVEMENT FUNDING APPLICATION FOR HEAD START.
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO THE CONSENT AGENDA? MADAM CHAIR, THERE ARE NO ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ARE THERE ANY REQUESTS FROM A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER TO SEPARATE AN ITEM FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION AND INDIVIDUAL ACTION? MADAM CHAIR. YES.
MS. BAILEY. I WOULD LIKE TO SEPARATE THE MEETING AGENDA FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA IN ORDER TO ADD AN ACTION ITEM TO THE AGENDA THIS EVENING FOR THE BOARD REGARDING THE SUSPENSION AND OF SPECIFIC CONSEQUENCES FOR FIRST TIME VIOLATORS OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL PROVISIONS OF THE STANDARD OF STUDENT CONDUCT.
PUSHING. ARE THERE ANY OTHER REQUESTS FROM SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS TO SEPARATE AN ITEM FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION AND INDIVIDUAL ACTION? I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEPARATE THE MEETING AGENDA FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA IN ORDER TO ADD AN ACTION ITEM REGARDING THE REVISIONS TO THE SCHOOL BOARD GOVERNANCE HANDBOOK. ARE THERE ANY OTHER REQUESTS FROM SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS TO SEPARATE AN ITEM FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION AND INDIVIDUAL ACTION? OKAY. HEARING NONE.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED? SO MOVED. MADAM.
SO MOVED. THANK YOU. MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE MOTION?
[00:05:03]
THAT'S WHERE IT WAS. YEAH.IT'S REPEATED. ALL RIGHT, MADAM CHAIR, I THINK WE DO NEED TO POINT OF ORDER.
OKAY. YEAH, I CHANGED IT TO AMEND IT AND WE VOTED.
DR. DAUGHERTY, WOULD YOU PLEASE ANNOUNCE OUR NEW ADMINISTRATORS? YES, MA'AM. I'D LIKE TO CALL.
MY PLEASURE TO CALL UP SAMMY ROBIOUS.
SAMMY. UH, SAMMY IS OUR NEW DIRECTOR OF BENEFITS, COMPENSATION, LICENSURE AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT.
MASTER'S DEGREE AND BUSINESS MANAGEMENT DEGREE FROM VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY.
AND HE GOT TO START DOING THE BREAK, SO HE'S ALL READY TO GO NOW.
CONGRATULATIONS AND GOOD LUCK.
[APPLAUSE] THAT IS ALL, MADAM CHAIR.
NEXT, WE HAVE AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS, MR.
[C. Awards and Recognitions]
SMITH. IF I COULD ASK OUR WRESTLING TEAMS FROM COSBY AND THOMAS DALE TO COME FORWARD AT THIS TIME.FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, THE VIRGINIA HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE SANCTIONED A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING MEET FOR GIRLS.
THE EVENT DREW 284 WRESTLERS IN CLASSES ONE THROUGH SIX.
TWO STUDENT ATHLETES FROM CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WON STATE TITLES.
JENNA ANDERSON OF COSBY HIGH SCHOOL WON THE 112 POUND STATE TITLE.
MIKE STEFANKO IS THE COSBY HIGH COACH.
ALISE DAVIS OF THOMASVILLE HIGH WON THE 185 POUND STATE TITLE.
ALEX BRULLEI IS THE THOMASVILLE HIGH SCHOOL COACH.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING THESE STUDENT ATHLETES.
[APPLAUSE] WELL, CONGRATULATIONS AND THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
WE WE DEFINITELY HAVE SOMETHING FOR YOU GUYS FOR THIS ACCOMPLISHMENT.
I LOVE HOW FUN AND FAST PACED IT IS.
WHAT ABOUT YOU? I LOVE THE COMMUNITY IT CREATES AND I FEEL LIKE WE'RE ALL A FAMILY.
CONGRATULATIONS. AND THIS IS A GREAT FEAT FOR YOU GUYS.
SO IF WE COULD ALL GIVE HIM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
[APPLAUSE] AND WHAT DO YOU GUYS.
IF I COULD ASK OUR MONACAN HIGH GIRLS SWIM AND DIVE TEAM TO COME FORWARD AT THIS TIME.
200 YARD MEDLEY RELAY, KASEY BAUER, PIPER PRICE, KARLEE DILLMAN AND RAGAN CANADA.
PIPER PRICE. KARLEE DILLMAN, CAMPBELL DIGGS.
CONGRATULATIONS ALSO GO TO HEAD COACH BRIAN SINGLETON, ASSISTANT COACH JESSICA BAUER, ATHLETIC TRAINER MATT SNYDER AND THE MEMBERS OF THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM, WHICH INCLUDE CASSIE BAUER, ANN FOURNIER.
CARLA SORRY, CLARA NELSON, EMERSON CALLIES, KAYLEE SINGLETON, KATHRYN GALANG, ALAINA PHILLIPS.
REAGAN CANADA, EMMA FUCA, CARLY DILLMAN, KATHRYN BROWN, SOFIA FRANCO, HANNAH WALLACE, SARAH BROWN. I HAVE ANOTHER PAGE.
JUST WANT TO KEEP YOU IN SUSPENSE.
[00:10:04]
ALEXANDER, KATHRYN MCGUFFIN, EMILY STRICKLAND, CAMPBELL DIGGS, PIPER PRICE, CADEN JONES, REECE MINER, ASHLYN BONANNO, AVA RICO AND LIVVY DYER.PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING THESE STUDENT ATHLETES.
CAN WE DO THAT AGAIN FOR THE VIRGINIA STATE STATE CHAMPS GIRLS SWIM TEAM, MONACAN HIGH SCHOOL.
THIS IS A TREMENDOUS ACCOMPLISHMENT.
YOU DON'T NEED ME TO TELL YOU THAT.
IT WAS AN ABSOLUTE JOY AND HONOR TO CELEBRATE WITH YOU ALL WITH DR.
DAUGHERTY BRINGS DONUTS TO ANY STATE CHAMP TEAM.
THIS IS STARTING TO, I SAID IT'S STARTING TO BE A HABIT WITH THEM.
I'M GOING TO HAVE TO JUST HAVE A STANDING DATE ON THE CALENDAR.
IT WAS AMAZING. AMAZING SEASON.
WE'RE PROUD OF YOU. AND I'M GOING TO PASS THE MIC, BUT JUST IT'S PAINLESS.
JUST IF YOU WANT TO JUST GIVE YOUR NAME AND YOUR FAVORITE, YOU'RE LIKE, WHAT'S YOUR SPORT? YEAH, WHAT'S YOUR NOT SPORT? I'M SO. I'M SUPER SPORTY.
YEAH. LIKE WHAT'S. YEAH. WHAT'S YOUR STROKE LIKE WHAT'S YOUR IN LIKE US AND.
YOUR SPECIALTY. I'M SOFIA FRANCO.
I'M 16 YEARS OLD, AND MY FAVORITE STROKE IS BREASTSTROKE.
MY FAVORITE STROKE IS BUTTERFLY.
MY BEST STROKE IS FLY, BUT I LIKE BREASTSTROKE.
I'M KATIE MCGUFFIN, AND MY FAVORITE SHOW IS FLY.
I'M KAYLEE SINGLETON, MY FAVORITE STROKE IS FLY.
I'M LEILA PARKER, AND MY FAVORITE STROKE IS BREASTSTROKE.
I'M KATHRYN GALANG, AND MY FAVORITE STROKE IS BACKSTROKE.
I'M CASSIE BAUER. MY FAVORITE STROKE IS BACKSTROKE.
I'M RAEGAN CANADA AND MY STROKE IS FREESTYLE.
I'M EMERSON KALLAS, AND MY FAVORITE STROKE IS BUTTERFLY.
I'M SARAH BROWN AND MY FAVORITE STROKE IS FREESTYLE.
I'M CAMPBELL DIGGS, AND MY FAVORITE STROKE IS BREASTSTROKE.
IT'S VERY INELEGANT. WAY TO GO, GIRLS.
AGAIN, CAN WE JUST HEAR IT FOR THEM ONE MORE TIME? [APPLAUSE] THANKS, YOU GUYS.
THERE YOU GO. THANKS A LOT, COACH.
CONGRATULATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS.
WELL DONE. IF I COULD ASK JOHN LOFTUS TO COME FORWARD AT THIS TIME.
EACH YEAR, THE EMPLOYER ACCOMMODATION PROGRAM OF THE VIRGINIA SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION PROVIDES SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THEIR EMPLOYERS FOR PROVIDING THE SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT THAT IS OFTEN NEEDED TO PERFORM SCHOOL BOARD DUTIES.
TODAY WE RECOGNIZE ITAC AND ITS PRESIDENT, CEO JOHN LOFTUS, FOR SUPPORTING SCHOOL BOARD CHAIR.
SO I THANK YOU, JOHN, AND THE REST OF THE ITAC TEAM.
I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE WORKING WITH ANN FOR PROBABLY GOING ON 20 PLUS YEARS AND WITH, WE WON'T SAY AGES. SHE WAS JUST A KID WHEN SHE CAME TO WORK FOR US.
BUT WE'RE SO PROUD OF WHAT ANN DOES.
BUT I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND THANK YOU FOR SERVING.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY, OUR FAMILIES, OUR KIDS, THEIR EDUCATION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO.
IT'S SOMETIMES A THANKLESS JOB.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR DOING IT.
AND I'M SURE YOU MAKE SACRIFICES TO LET HER SERVE PUBLICLY.
AND IT'S WE ALL DEEPLY APPRECIATE THAT.
SO IT'D BE GREAT TO HAVE MANY EMPLOYERS DO THAT.
[00:15:23]
GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR.DOCTOR DAUGHERTY, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.
IT'S MY PLEASURE THIS EVENING TO RECOGNIZE OUR OUTSTANDING DRIVERS FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH .
PROVIDING SAFE TRANSPORTATION FOR STUDENTS TO AND FROM SCHOOL EVERY DAY IS ESSENTIAL TO INSTRUCTION AND OUR CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS GO ABOVE AND BEYOND TO ACCOMPLISH THIS MISSION EVERY DAY.
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 DRIVER WHO EXEMPLIFIED EXCELLENCE AND DEDICATION TO REPRESENT THEIR AREA.
SAMUEL KEY, AREA TWO BUS 629, THREE YEARS OF SERVICE.
STEVE PENNY AREA FOUR, BUS 677.
BUS EIGHT 60 519 YEARS OF SERVICE WAS UNABLE TO JOIN US, BUT ACCEPTING HIS RECOGNITION IS HIS AREA MANAGER, PAM JEFFER. CONGRATULATIONS.
BUT TO BE THE BEST OF THE BEST OF A SCHOOL BUS DRIVER IS PHENOMENAL.
BUT TO DO THAT FULL OF CHILDREN, IT'S QUITE A QUITE A FEAT.
AND YOU AND YOU SHOW UP EVERY DAY.
AND TO A LOT OF THESE CHILDREN, YOU ARE THE BRIGHT SPOT IN THEIR DAY.
SO I WOULD LIKE YOU TO JUST TAKE A SECOND.
I'LL PASS THE MIC AND TELL US WHAT BRINGS YOU BACK EVERY DAY TO WORK.
WHAT MAINLY BRINGS ME BACK IS I LOVE DRIVING THAT BIG BUS AND MY AREA ONE SUPERIORS, THEY'RE VERY NICE AND THEY HANDLE SITUATIONS SO I'M SATISFIED WITH THAT.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, I LIKE TO DRIVE.
I LIKE TO DRIVE LARGE VEHICLES AND PRAYERFULLY I CAN BE A POSITIVE MALE ROLE MODEL OR IMAGE, BE A POSITIVE MALE INFLUENCE ON THE KIDS THAT RIDE MY BUS.
REALLY, I DO. ESPECIALLY MY LITTLE GUYS.
AND I DO SEEK LOVE. WHICH I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL ARE FAMILIAR WITH, BUT THE LITTLE LITTLE ONES.
AND THAT JUST IS THE BEST THING IN THE WORLD.
SO THAT WE HAVE GREAT PATIENCE AND I'VE GOT GOOD CAMARADERIE WITH ALL MY DRIVERS.
SAUL HAS BEEN DRIVING FOR 19 YEARS FOR EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATION, SO HE DRIVES THE SPECIAL NEEDS BUSSES.
THANK YOU ALL FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO EVERY DAY.
NEXT, WE HAVE RECOGNITION OF OUTSTANDING FOOD SERVICE EMPLOYEES.
[00:20:01]
BOARD MEMBERS. DR. DOHERTY, THANK YOU AS ALWAYS, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE SOME OF OUR OUTSTANDING FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES MEMBERS.WELL, I'M CONSTANTLY BLOWN AWAY BY THEIR COMMITMENT SHOWN TOWARDS THEIR STUDENTS.
I OFTEN OVERLOOK WHAT THEY ADD TO OUR DEPARTMENT AS A WHOLE.
RECENTLY, WHILE SPEAKING TO A GROUP OF MY CAFETERIA MANAGERS, I MENTIONED SOME OF MY CONCERNS WITH SOME OF THE POTENTIAL FEDERAL GUIDELINES TO NUTRITION REGULATIONS BEING UPDATED. ONE OF THE MANAGERS LOOKED AT ME, SMILED AND SAID, MR. DUNBRACK, MY BABIES ARE COMING NO MATTER WHAT THE POLICY IS.
OUR FIRST RECOGNIZED THIS EVENING IS MISS LACEY TATE.
AND SHE SAYS THAT SHE LOVES EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS JOB, INCLUDING THE PEOPLE AND THE KIDS.
I FEEL LIKE I'M HELPING TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
I ALSO LOVE THE CHESTERFIELD COUNTY DOES SO MUCH EXTRA TO HELP FEED THE KIDS.
IT'S GREAT TO BE A PART OF THAT.
NEXT, WE HAVE MISS BRENDA BRANCH.
MISS BRANCH IS A FOOD SERVICE ASSOCIATE AT MATOACA MIDDLE SCHOOL.
SHE'S BEEN WITH CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR TWO YEARS AND SAYS THE BEST PART OF MY JOB IS PREPARING THE FOOD AND THEN GREETING THE STUDENTS AS THEY COME THROUGH THE LINE TO GET THEIR FOOD.
NEXT, WE HAVE MISS SHERRI UNDERWOOD.
AND THEN SEEING THAT SAME KINDNESS AND COMPASSION COME THROUGH THEM TO OTHERS.
MISS LIZAMA IS A FOOD SERVICE ASSOCIATE AT MANCHESTER MIDDLE SCHOOL.
LASTLY, WE HAVE MISS MELISSA DUPREE.
MISS DUPREY IS THE CAFETERIA MANAGER AT C.C.
WELLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND HAS BEEN WITH CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR 19 YEARS.
AND I DON'T BELIEVE MR. PERRY IS HERE WITH US THIS EVENING.
SO FOR MANY OF US PARENTS, SCHOOL REALLY IS A HOME AWAY FROM HOME.
AND WHEN I THINK OF WHAT THAT MEANS FOR THE SERVICE THAT YOU PROVIDE, WE'RE NOT THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR KIDS TAKE A SERVING OF VEGGIES EVEN WHEN THEY WANT TO GRAB AN EXTRA COOKIE. AND YOU ARE BECAUSE YOU LOVE OUR KIDS AND YOU WOULD YOU STEP IN IN OUR PLACE.
AND SO I JUST THANK YOU FOR BEING THERE FOR OUR KIDDOS.
AND DO YOU HAVE ANY FAMILY MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE TO CHEER YOU ON TONIGHT? YOUR HUSBAND. OH, YAY.
WELL, IF YOU WANT TO SHARE, WHAT IS YOUR YOUR FAVORITE MOMENT WITH A KID IN A DAY? WELL, I LIKE TO SERVE IT TO THE KIDS.
I LIKE WORKING. EVERYBODY IS NICE.
AFTER 43 YEARS IN EDUCATION, I STILL GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET THE KIDS, GREET THE KIDS, SEE HOW THEIR DAY IS GOING, AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE GETTING WHAT THEY NEED WHEN THEY COME THROUGH THE LINE. MY FAVORITE PART OF THE DAY IS WHEN THE KIDS RUN IN AND THEY'RE SO EXCITED TO GET LUNCH AND THEY HUG YOU AND THAT'S IT.
NEXT, WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THIS MEETING.
[D. Public Comment]
CITIZENS WERE GIVEN THE OPTION OF SUBMITTING THEIR COMMENTS ONLINE OR IN PERSON.MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE ANNOUNCE THIS EVENING'S IN-PERSON SPEAKERS? MADAM CHAIR, WE HAVE 11 SPEAKERS THIS EVENING.
THEY ARE ALEXANDRIA COLAUTTI, HALEY FLORES, WENDY RHODES, LYNN TAYLOR, WENDY LITTLE, SCOTT SAWYER, AARON PARKS, EMILY KLEIN, ANNA KLEIN, DOMINIQUE CHATTERS AND ANN TITUS.
EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE FOUR MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD.
[00:25:01]
THERE'S A TIMER SET UP ON TOP OF THE PODIUM THAT WILL TURN GREEN WHEN YOU BEGIN SPEAKING YELLOW WHEN YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS REMAINING AND RED WHEN YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.MAY WE HAVE ALEXANDRIA COLARTE? GOOD AFTERNOON.
I'VE READ THE PARENT STUDENT AND TEACHER HANDBOOK.
NO. WHERE DO I SEE? I COME ACROSS.
WHAT EXACTLY ARE WE DOING FOR THE SAFETY OF CHILDREN? SAFETY FOR ALL CHILDREN IS IMPORTANT.
BUT THIS ONE IN PARTICULAR HIT HOME.
THE ELEMENTARY PLAYGROUND IS WHERE CHILDREN ARE ABLE TO HAVE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND SOCIALIZE.
BUT WHAT EXACTLY ARE THE ADULTS SUPPOSED TO BE DOING DURING THIS TIME? THERE'S ALWAYS THE 5050 CHANCE THAT SOMETHING MIGHT HAPPEN.
BUT COMING UP WITH A PLAN SUCH AS ADULTS AT ALL ANGLES OF THE PLAYGROUND TO BE ABLE TO EITHER PREVENT, REDIRECT OR QUICKLY RESPOND TO AN ACCIDENT IS A MUST.
I WAS CALLED AND MADE IT IN TIME TO GET INTO THE AMBULANCE WITH HIM.
HE WAS IN SO MUCH PAIN AND TOLD ME, MOM, I DON'T WANT TO BE IN THIS CLASS ANYMORE.
HOW MANY STUDENTS CAN TEACHERS WATCH? DID YOU KNOW I\IN OUR LOVELY CHESTERFIELD COUNTY AREA, THERE ARE ONLY TWO LOCATIONS WHERE THEY PERFORM PEDIATRIC SURGERY.
WE GOT TO THE NEARBY HOSPITAL WHERE THERE WERE NO DOCTORS AVAILABLE.
WE SPENT THE NIGHT THERE AND WERE ABLE TO LEAVE AFTER MANY ATTEMPTS OF USING CRUTCHES.
IT TOOK THE SCHOOL A MONTH TO GO THROUGH HOMEBOUND AND OFFERING IT TO HIM.
HE GOT THE OKAY TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL THIS YEAR IN JANUARY.
I REQUESTED A SWITCH FROM THE TEACHER AND FOUND OUT OTHERS DID AS WELL AFTER THE TEACHER WROTE AN EMAIL STATING SHE'S MENTALLY UNSTABLE TO CARE FOR HER STUDENTS, SPEAKING ON TOPICS SUCH AS WHAT SHE BELIEVES IN RELIGION, GENDER CHANGE AND ADVERTISING, HER SIDE HUSTLE.
BUT ONE THING SHE SAID STUCK TO ME.
SHE SAID, THERE'S MANY PEOPLE WORKING IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT DO NOT CARE ABOUT THE CHILDREN.
MY SON IS AN ALL STAR AND HAS ALWAYS DREAMT OF BEING A BASEBALL PLAYER SINCE HE WAS THREE YEARS OLD.
MY HEART ACHES FOR THESE CHILDREN AND THEIR SAFETY.
THEY ARE OUR FUTURE AND WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ONE OF THEIR SAFE PLACES.
THIS IS MY SON'S BROKEN FEMUR.
THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE AFTERWARDS WITH SCREWS AND PLATES AND WE GOT IT REMOVED.
AND GOD WILLING, EVERYTHING IS GOING TO CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.
GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS HAILEY FLORES.
I'M A JUNIOR AT JAMES RIVER HIGH SCHOOL AND I AM ALSO A MEMBER OF Y STREET.
[00:30:03]
UNDERSTANDING THE BEHAVIOR CHANGE IS COMPLEX.OUR MISSION IS TO TACKLE LARGE HEALTH ISSUES THROUGH STATEWIDE CAMPAIGNS.
HYDRATION IS VITAL TO THE SUCCESS OF STUDENTS AND CAN IMPROVE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCES.
AS A STUDENT, I FIND IT EASIER TO CONCENTRATE AND PERFORM WHEN I AM ADEQUATELY HYDRATED.
FOR MANY STUDENTS, SCHOOLS ARE THEIR ONLY RELIABLE SOURCE OF WATER AND MEALS.
REVERE BEV HAS BEEN HOSTING EVENTS FOR SEVERAL YEARS AROUND THE STATE, AND I HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND HAND JUST HOW EXCITED STUDENTS GET ABOUT HAVING WATER READILY AVAILABLE FOR THEM.
I LIKE TO THANK OUR Y STREET MEMBERS FOR WORKING SO HARD TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF DRINKING WATER AND OUR LEADERS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO HEAR STUDENTS AND WORK WITH US TO MAKE OUR WELLNESS POLICY STRONGER.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND FOR ALL THAT YOU DO IN THE STUDENT IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY.
I HOPE THAT YOU WILL VOTE YES TO UPDATE OUR WELLNESS POLICY TO INCLUDE COMPREHENSIVE LANGUAGE.
I'M SPEAKING FOR MYSELF AND MY SON, LOGAN, WHO IS THE UNFORTUNATE RECIPIENT OF THIS EXCESSIVE PUNISHMENT DUE TO A FIRST OFFENSE ALCOHOL POSSESSION WHERE HE HAD TWO BEERS IN HIS TRUNK.
SO I'D VENTURE TO SAY I'M ALSO SPEAKING FOR MOST OF THE CCPS COMMUNITY.
HOPEFULLY YOU'VE READ EVERYONE.
THE POINTS WE'D LIKE TO FOCUS ON ARE THIS JUST THE FACT THAT THE THE POLICY IS DETRIMENTAL? THE EXTREME TIME AND NATURE OF 45 DAY BAN FROM HEALTHY ACTIVITY FOR STUDENTS FOR A FIRST OFFENSE, MOST OF US FIND VERY EXTREME. THE FACT THAT STUDENTS ARE INVOLVED IN THESE ACTIVITIES THAT ARE INVOLVED IN SCHOOL AND SPORTS AND EXTRACURRICULARS ARE RECEIVING DOUBLE PUNISHMENT COMPARED TO THEIR UNINVOLVED PEERS WHO JUST GET THE TEN DAY SUSPENSION.
NOT TO MENTION THE ADDITIONAL 40, 45 OR 35 DAY SCHOOL DAYS.
ALSO, YOU'RE TAKING AWAY A HEALTHY, STRUCTURED ACTIVITY FROM A STUDENT.
I UNDERSTAND THAT MY SON IS JUST ONE OF 64,000 STUDENTS.
I DO KNOW THAT WHAT IT'S DONE FOR LOGAN.
I'VE NEVER WORRIED ABOUT LOGAN WITH REGARDS TO DRUGS OR ALCOHOL.
HE'S NOT THE SAME KID HE WAS FIVE WEEKS AGO.
HE REALLY FEELS LIKE HE'S BEEN UNJUSTLY AND UNFAIRLY TREATED AND HASN'T BEEN GIVEN A SECOND CHANCE.
I KNOW THAT OTHER KIDS ARE FEELING THIS WAY.
I DON'T WANT OTHER KIDS TO FEEL THIS WAY.
I UNDERSTAND THE POLICY CHANGE IN THE MIDDLE OF A SCHOOL YEAR IS UNPRECEDENTED.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT HERE TO NECESSARILY DO ANYTHING, BUT MAYBE SET A PRECEDENT.
I APPRECIATE RULES AND POLICIES, BELIEVE ME.
MY POINT IS, WHY WOULD YOU REALLY KEEP A POLICY THAT YOU KNOW IS REALLY AFFECTING CHILDREN NEGATIVELY? I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE OTHER 64,000, LIKE I SAID, BUT IF YOU COULD SPARE MINE THE PAIN THAT IT'S CAUSED, I URGE YOU TO DO THAT MOVING FORWARD.
AND TODAY, ANOTHER WORD THAT CAME UP AND I KNOW I DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME IS CONSISTENCY.
CONSISTENTLY HOLDING A POLICY THAT'S WRONG IS ALMOST WORSE THAN THE POLICY BEING WRONG ITSELF.
SO I JUST URGE YOU GUYS TO, YOU KNOW, MAKE A CHANGE.
YOU KNOW, I WAS ABLE TO ADVOCATE FOR LOGAN.
I KNOW OTHER PEOPLE HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND GONE THROUGH THE ENTIRE PUNISHMENT, NOT ME.
[00:35:06]
YOU KNOW, I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR LOGAN AND FOR ANYBODY IN THE FUTURE.EACH OF THE FIVE OF YOU HAVE A CHANCE TODAY TO LISTEN TO WHAT YOUR PARENTS ARE ASKING FOR YOU TO DO.
WE'VE ALL COME TOGETHER, AND IF I HAD MORE TIME, I'D PROBABLY GET MORE TO COME.
I HAVEN'T TALKED TO ONE THAT DISAGREES.
SO YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
IF ONE MORE STUDENT IS NEGATIVELY AFFECTED BY THIS, I THINK IT'S TWO TOO MANY.
ADDING LOGAN INTO THAT SECOND ONE.
SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH.
AND I REALLY URGE YOU GUYS TO CONSIDER WITHDRAWING YOU MS. WORDS. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE.
I'VE BEEN CONTACTED BY SEVERAL OF YOUR CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PARENTS WHO ARE VERY, VERY CONCERNED.
THAT'S WHY THEY'VE ASKED ME TO BE HERE TONIGHT.
I DO REPRESENT A NATIONAL MEDIA COMPANY.
I AM THEIR EDUCATION RESEARCH EXPERT.
THIS EXPERTISE SPANS ABOUT 20 YEARS.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY WANTED ME TO POINT OUT WAS THAT ARTICLE OR AURORA INSTITUTE HAS BEEN A PARTNER OF CHESTERFIELD COUNTY SCHOOLS FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
GLOBAL DATA MINING IS SOMETHING THAT THEY ARE PERFECT AT.
THIS MEANS TRACKING THIS SHOULD BE A GRAVE CONCERN TO YOUR LOCAL TAXPAYERS AND RESIDENTS.
FURTHER, THE EVERY STUDENT SUCCEEDS ACT MANDATED THAT ALL EDUCATION HAD TO BE ALIGNED TO THE SAME POST-SECONDARY READINESS STANDARDS AS LAID OUT IN THE WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT, WHICH MEANS THAT ACADEMICS, AS WE KNEW IT, WAS PLACED ON THE BACK BURNER FOR ECONOMIC GAIN FOR YOUR STATE.
FASCISM VIOLATES THE US CONSTITUTION AS WELL AS THE VIRGINIA STATE CONSTITUTION.
VIRGINIA IS LEGALLY BOUND JUST LIKE THE REST OF THE STATES TO HONOR THE US CONSTITUTION FIRST, HOWEVER, VIRGINIA CODE EIGHT VA SIX EXCUSE ME C20131140 FROM 2013 USED THE PHRASE COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS.
NOW COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS IS A REBRAND OF THE COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS AND NOTHING LESS.
VIRGINIA WAS SADDLED WITH COMMON CORE WHEN IT ACCEPTED THE PREDECESSOR WAS GRANT MONEY BACK IN 1997.
RECENT FEDERAL FUNDING EARMARKED FOR VIRGINIA ALONE TO ACHIEVE COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS, WAS AWARDED 31 PLUS MILLION DOLLARS. I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT THE WHAT IS GOING ON IS ABSOLUTELY EGREGIOUS TO NOT ONLY OUR CHILDREN BY PUTTING THEM INTO A HUMAN CAPITAL PIPELINE, AS VIRGINIA HAS CALLED IT, IT'S ALSO ALIGNING WITH UNITED NATIONS AND THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS BECAUSE IT'S PART OF THE GLOBAL WORKFORCE.
I WOULD URGE YOU AS A BOARD TO LOOK TOGETHER AT WHAT YOU'RE DOING WITH YOUR CHILDREN TO INSTEAD OF GOING WITH THE STATUS QUO, TO DIVORCE YOURSELF FROM THE CORRUPTION AND THE COLLUSION THAT COMES FROM ALL THIS, AND TAKE BACK YOUR FAMILIES, TAKE BACK YOUR STUDENTS, TAKE BACK EDUCATION, AND MAKE VIRGINIA STUDENTS GREAT AMERICANS, NOT FUTURE GLOBALIST MINIONS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS TAYLOR.
HI, I'M WENDY LITTLE, CLOVER HILL DISTRICT, AND I WANTED TO START THIS EVENING WITH SOME CONCERN ABOUT THE BOARD GOVERNANCE. THE BOARD GOVERNANCE SAYS I WILL REFRAIN FROM USING BOARD POSITION FOR PERSONAL OR PARTIZAN GAIN AND AVOID ANY CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
[00:40:07]
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS ARE NONPARTISAN OFFICE HOLDERS.I NOTICED THAT THERE IS SOMETHING THAT BEGAN IN MARCH CALLED WE THE PEOPLE FOR EDUCATION.
IT CLAIMS TO BE A NONPARTISAN, BUT IT'S CLEARLY A FAR LEFT AGENDA ORGANIZATION.
IT INCLUDES MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION WHO ARE WHO ARE TERMS ARE EXPIRING.
IT INCLUDES OUR VERY OWN KATHRYN HAINES.
AND IT IS DEFINITELY A POLITICAL AGENDA GROUP.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH DEFINITIONS THESE DAYS, BUT I HAVE A BIG CONCERN ABOUT THAT.
SPEAKING OF COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS, YOU GOT A CITATION AND YOU SEND IT TO ONE ATTORNEY.
DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THAT COSTS YOU.
DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THAT COST YOU TO FIGHT US.
YOU GOT A CITATION ON COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS.
AND IN THE MEANTIME, YOU ARE INFLICTING.
EDUCATIONAL DEMISE ON OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION KIDS.
YOU'VE LEFT THEM OUT IN THE DUST THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC, BEFORE AND SINCE.
AND YOU MADE MY SON THE POSTER CHILD.
I SIGNED THE IEP AND READ I CONSENT TO SWIFT CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL.
THAT'S WHAT YOUR SCHOOL DIVISION GOT.
AND ALL YOU DO IS KEEP CIRCLING ME BACK TO THE SAME BRUTAL, BULLYING, LYING SPECIAL EDUCATION DIVISION WHO DOESN'T WORK FOR YOU OR ANYBODY ELSE? THEY WORK FOR SOMEONE ELSE.
AND THE VIRGINIA SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION IS MISLEADING YOU ALL.
SO I WANT TO BRING TO THE ATTENTION OF CHAPLIN VERSUS FAIRFAX AND VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
THIS EXPOSES CORRUPTION AND SPECIAL EDUCATION IN VIRGINIA.
THERE'S NOBODY ELSE BUT ME STANDING UP FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION.
BECAUSE OF THE WAY YOU HAVE TREATED MY SON AND MANY OTHER KIDS.
AND YOU'VE GOT ONE MORE NEW KID WHO HAS NO ACCESS TO EDUCATION IN THE LAST SIX WEEKS.
ANOTHER ONE. WHAT ARE YOU ALL DOING? I MEAN, WHAT ARE YOUR PEOPLE DOING? OKAY. THREE VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION INVOKE VIRGINIA CODE EDUCATION POLICY 22.1-214E ON CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO PROPERLY EDUCATE OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION KIDS, WE WILL GLADLY TAKE THE MONEY AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO IT OURSELVES.
YOU'RE DENYING MY SON ACCESS TO HIS LOCAL MIDDLE SCHOOL? I HAVEN'T COME HERE.
I HAVEN'T BEEN HERE THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS BECAUSE I'VE BEEN WAY TOO SICK.
WE. I'VE BEEN AT EVERY SCHOOL BOARD MEETING ASKING FOR HELP.
YOU'RE DENYING HIM AN EDUCATION? WHERE'S MY REFUND FOR THE MONEYS THAT YOU RECEIVE TO EDUCATE HIM? AND YOU'RE NOT SENDING HIM TO SCHOOL AND YOU'RE BLAMING ME, NOT YOU, BUT YOUR SPECIAL EDUCATION PEOPLE.
PEREZ VERSUS STURGIS, US SUPREME COURT MARCH 21ST, 2023, 9-0.
THIS IS OUR WIN AND WE ARE GOING TO TAKE CONTROL OF WHAT WE NEED TO AND SEEK LAW.
ARE WE PROTECTING OUR KIDS FIRST? DO YOU HAVE SPECIAL EDUCATION CAMERAS IN THE CLASSROOMS? PLEASE DIRECT YOUR SUPERINTENDENT TO MAKE SURE THEIR SPECIAL EDUCATION CAMERAS IN EVERY SPECIAL EDUCATION.
HELLO. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TONIGHT.
FIRST, I'D LIKE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE ALCOHOL POLICY, AND I'D LIKE TO READ INTO THE RECORD.
SO WHAT THIS THERAPIST HAS TO SAY IS POLICIES ARE PUT INTO PLACE FOR A REASON, WHETHER IT'S TO HOLD SOMEONE ACCOUNTABLE, TO HAVE CLEAR EXPECTATIONS OR TO ENSURE EQUALITY AND CONSEQUENCES.
HOWEVER, HOW DO WE ASSESS THESE NEEDS AND HOW DO WE KNOW WHEN POLICIES CAUSE MORE HARM THAN GOOD? IT IS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER THIS WHEN POLICIES APPLY TO OUR YOUTH CAN HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THEIR STABILITY, SENSE OF BELONGING AND WORLD OUTLOOK.
[00:45:09]
IS CAUSING HARM TO A YOUTH, THEN I QUESTION AND I QUESTION WHOSE NEEDS IS THIS POLICY SERVING BY KEEPING IT IN PLACE? IT IS NO LONGER THE YOUTH'S NEEDS.IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY AND REQUIRES FLEXIBILITY, BUT IT IS DOABLE.
THE OUTCOME RESULTING IN ALL NEEDS MET AND NO ONE LEFT.
FEELING HARMED, DISRESPECTED, OVERLOOKED, MINIMIZED, UNHEARD OR CYNICAL.
IF ENFORCING THIS POLICY NO LONGER MEETS THE NEEDS OF THE YOUTH AND THE ADULTS, THEN WHY WOULD THE SOLUTION BE TO CONTINUE TO ENFORCE IT? HAS THIS YOUTH ALREADY LEARNED THE LESSONS INTENDED? HAVE THEY ALREADY BEEN HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND UNDERSTOOD THE CONSEQUENCES? IF YES, THEN WHO IS THIS SERVING AND IS THAT REASON ENOUGH? WHAT IS THE HARM OF NOW AS OPPOSED TO LATER? SO AGAIN, THAT'S FROM A LICENSED THERAPIST THAT'S WORKED WITH THE STUDENT.
WHAT I'D LIKE TO SAY IS THIS POLICY IS COMPLETELY NONSENSICAL AND DOES NOT APPLY EQUAL JUSTICE.
HOW FAIR IS IT TO GIVE A STUDENT 45 DAYS SUSPENSION OF EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES IF HE OR SHE DOES NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES VERSUS A STUDENT THAT PARTICIPATED IN MULTIPLE ACTIVITIES? DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO GIVE THE SAME PENALTY TO A CHRONICALLY DISRUPTIVE STUDENT VERSUS A STRAIGHT A STUDENT ATHLETE THAT HAS GIVEN BACK TO THE SCHOOL AND HAS NEVER BEEN IN TROUBLE WITH THE ADMINISTRATION? WHEN FORMING THIS POLICY, DID ANYONE CONSIDER THE STUDENT'S MENTAL HEALTH AND FUTURE COLLEGE PLANS? WOULDN'T IT MAKE MORE SENSE TO KEEP THIS CHILD AROUND HIS COACHES AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT TEAM AND TEAMMATES AND FRIENDS? SHOULDN'T WE TRY TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR STUDENTS AND NOT APPLY OVERREACHING, DRACONIAN AND ARBITRARY PUNISHMENTS? SO I THINK THAT THE TEACHERS, IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO A TEACHER IN SCHOOL, THEY HAVE THEIR TEACHERS UNION OR A PRINCIPAL OR ANYBODY ELSE, THEY CAN GO TO THE THEIR UNION AND ASK FOR HELP AND PLEAD THEIR CASE.
WHO DOES THE STUDENT HAVE AT THIS POINT? THEY HAVE YOU GUYS.
SO I ASK THAT YOU LOOK AT THAT AND THINK ABOUT THAT.
SO THEY'RE GOING TO MISS THE PROM THEIR ENTIRE LACROSSE SEASON.
AND I THINK THEY'VE BEEN PUNISHED ENOUGH.
SO I HOPE I HOPE YOU GUYS WILL TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. SAWYER. AARON PARKS.
HELLO. HELLO. GOOD TO SEE YOU.
AARON PARKS. I LIVE IN MOSELEY.
LUCKILY, I KNOW THREE OF YOU ON THE BOARD.
I'M PROUD. GRADUATE OF CHESTER MIDDLE SCHOOL.
WE ALREADY SAID WE'RE NOT GOING TO SAY DATES.
I'M NOT GOING TO SAY ANYTHING.
I'VE HAD THREE CHILDREN, GRADUATE FROM COSBY.
I HAVE A FOURTH WHO WILL BE AT COSBY NEXT YEAR OR THIS FALL.
ALL OF THEM HAD EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES.
AND LAST YEAR MY SON NOAH, WAS A FOUR YEAR SWIMMER AT AT COSBY.
AND I CANNOT IMAGINE IF SOMEHOW HE HAD A SEARCH OF HIS VEHICLE THAT HE HAD NOT ANY KNOWLEDGE OF, THAT THERE WAS A DUFFLE BAG THAT HAD A BEER, UNOPENED BEER IN HIS CAR THAT HE WOULD BE SUBJECTED TO NOT JUST A TEN DAY SUSPENSION, BUT THEN 45 DAYS TOTAL, I GUESS.
SO I SAID 35 MORE DAYS OF NO EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES.
HE WOULD HAVE MISSED HIS ENTIRE SWIM SEASON.
HE COULD HAVE MISSED GRADUATION POTENTIALLY, DEPENDING ON THE TIMING OF IT.
AND THIS JUST SEEMS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUSLY PUNITIVE FOR A FIRST OFFENSE.
HE CAN'T EVEN GO SEE FRIENDS IN ANOTHER SCHOOL DO SOMETHING.
I THINK WE'RE WE'RE WE'RE BEATING A DEAD HORSE HERE.
WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE A CHANGE IMMEDIATELY.
SO AGAIN, I HAVE THE UTMOST CONFIDENCE IN THIS BOARD.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AS PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND WE HOPEFULLY WILL HAVE YOU ON OUR SIDE HERE.
[00:50:02]
PARKS. EMILY KLEIN.HELLO, I'M EMILY KLEIN, CLOVERHILL DISTRICT.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON THE STUDENT WELLNESS PLAN.
IN 2011, I BECAME THE MOM OF A CHILD WITH A LIFE THREATENING FOOD ALLERGY.
AFTER MARIA'S DEATH, EAR WAS EVEN FURTHER DOWN TO THE GROUND.
WE CHANGED POLICY IN THAT SCHOOL.
THERE WAS NO MORE FOOD TO BE WITHIN THE CLASSROOM FOR ANY KIND OF ACTIVITY.
ON THE OFF OCCASION THAT THERE WAS SOME SOME ACTIVITY, THE PARENT WAS NOTIFIED IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO HAD TO SIGN OFF ON EVERY SINGLE INGREDIENT, EVERY SINGLE BRAND OF WHAT WAS GOING TO BE PROVIDED, EVEN TO WHEN THEY GAVE GUM FOR SOLS.
SO SHE WHOLEHEARTEDLY LOOKED OUT FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE ENTIRE SCHOOL.
BECAUSE ONE CHILD'S LIFE IS NOT WORTH ANY PARTY OR ANY EASTER GIFT OR ANY VALENTINE.
SO CURRENTLY, CHESTERFIELD COUNTY DOES NOT HAVE A POLICY PREVENTING THE USE OF FOOD IN CLASSROOMS, AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY SPECIFIC MITIGATION STRATEGIES FOR THIS.
THE CURRENT POLICY ACTUALLY ENCOURAGES IT.
THE CURRENT POLICY SAYS THAT IT ENCOURAGES THE TEACHERS AND OTHER SCHOOL STAFF ARE ENCOURAGED TO GIVE STUDENTS ONLY HEALTHY SNACKS DURING THE SCHOOL DAY LATER ON IT TELLS.
FURTHERMORE, WHILE IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO PREVENT ALL FOOD SHARING, THEY ARE ENCOURAGED TO USE TO TALK TO PARENTS ABOUT THE FOOD THAT THEY WILL BE BRINGING INTO THE CLASSROOM.
OKAY. RECENTLY, A STUDENT WAS EXPOSED DIRECTLY TO A KNOWN FOOD ALLERGEN BY A TEACHER.
THIS CHILD WENT INTO ANAPHYLAXIS.
THE SCHOOL THEN FAILED TO FOLLOW PROTOCOL, DID NOT ADMINISTER THE EPIPEN.
THE CHILD ENDED UP IN THE E.R., A SERIES OF FAILURES BY CHESTERFIELD COUNTY.
BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A POLICY IN PLACE, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN ANOTHER STUDENT'S LIFE.
THE SHAB BACK IN SEPTEMBER ALREADY SAT DOWN AND SPENT A LOT OF TIME CREATING A NEW POLICY.
AND WHILE WE CAN'T GET RID OF ALL RISK, WE CAN PUT IN NEW STRATEGIES AND MITIGATION STRATEGIES.
AND I THINK THAT WHAT THE SHAB WROTE IS WONDERFUL.
ALL IT'S STARTING TO LIMIT, RIGHT? THAT THAT RISK THAT'S INVOLVED.
RIGHT? SO WE CAN'T LIMIT SHARING, BUT LET'S GET RID OF SOME OF IT.
THAT LIABILITY TO THE TEACHER, THE LOSS OF A POTENTIAL CLASSMATE WOULD BE GONE.
SO YOU GUYS, I'VE GOT THE COPY OF WHAT THE SHAB WROTE.
HOPEFULLY YOU GUYS HAVE THIS, BUT I WOULD ABSOLUTELY LEAVE IT FOR YOU BECAUSE I THINK WHAT THEY PUT IN PLACE WAS SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE WORKED VERY HARD FOR FOR A REASON. SO I'LL LEAVE THAT THERE.
SHE WAS GOING TO SPEAK BECAUSE SHE IS MY CHILD WITH A FOOD ALLERGY.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY A LITTLE PIECE OF HER LOOKING OUT FOR THE WHOLE CHILD.
THANK YOU, MS.. KLEIN. IT CAUSES A LOT OF ANXIETY.
IT AFFECTS THEIR ENTIRE LIVES.
AND SO IT REALLY AFFECTS THEIR SCHOOLING AS.
FIRST, I WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL THE WORK FOR THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
[00:55:01]
ALL THE TOWN HALLS, ALL THE FIELDING OF.I'LL SAY MY QUESTIONS BECAUSE I KNOW I HAD PLENTY TO GIVE BACK TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE GETTING THE RIGHT RESPONSES, OR AT LEAST THE ATTEMPT AT A RIGHT RESPONSE FROM THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. SO I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT WENT INTO THAT.
THERE WERE TWO LINGERING THINGS FROM THE BUDGET THAT I'M SENDING.
I'LL SEND AN EMAIL ABOUT TO SEE IF THERE'S AN ANSWER FOR IT.
BUT THE FIRST ONE IS IF THE IN THE EVENT THAT THE STATE DOES NOT COVER THE SHORTFALL, WHAT IS THE WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? I KNOW THAT QUESTION CAME UP AT A TOWN HALL AND THE ANSWER WAS LIKE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE WE'RE NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT IT RIGHT THIS MOMENT, LINE BY LINE, WHAT'S GOING TO GET CUT OR WHAT WON'T GET FUNDED.
BUT THAT CONVERSATION NEEDS TO BE HAD IN A PUBLIC SESSION LIKE THIS.
AND THE SECOND THING WAS THE LINGERING QUESTION ABOUT THE DEFINITION OF FULLY FUNDED.
SO AT A BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING, THE QUESTION CAME UP OF WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF FULLY FUNDED? SO I'LL JUST SEND AN EMAIL ASKING FOR CLARITY ON THAT DEFINITION SO THAT WHEN WE ARE ADVOCATING FOR 100% OF THE BUDGET TO BE APPROVED, WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR.
SO THE DEFINITION OF THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
I HAVE A KINDERGARTNER AND A SECOND GRADER, AND THE NUMBER OF STANDARDS THAT IT INCREASES TO IS TOO MUCH FOR FOR THAT AGE LEVEL, RIGHT? YOU CAN TELL THAT THAT DOCUMENT WAS WRITTEN BY PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT TEACHERS, PEOPLE WHO DON'T SIT IN A CLASSROOM, PEOPLE WHO PROBABLY ARE NOT PARENTS LIKE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY WANT A FIRST GRADER TO KNOW WAS ABOUT INDIGENOUS SOVEREIGNTY.
DOES ANYBODY LIKE I CAN'T ANSWER INDIGENOUS SOVEREIGNTY.
I HAVE A MASTER'S DEGREE. SO A FIRST GRADER, LIKE, SERIOUSLY, WE JUST NEED TO KEEP OUR EYES ON IT.
AND IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT HERE ON THAT, IF YOU HAVE THE TIME IN YOUR AGENDA, I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE US HAVING THAT CONVERSATION AGAIN BEFORE THE VDOE MAKES A DECISION.
AND FINALLY, WE ARE IN THE HOME STRETCH FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR.
I BELIEVED IN GIVING SECOND CHANCES AND THE HOLISTIC APPROACH TO PUNISHMENT OR REMEDIATION.
BUT ACCOUNTABILITY IS ABSOLUTELY A MUST.
I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE STUDENT WELLNESS NEW POLICY REVISION 4190.
SO WHERE IT USED TO SAY THE SCHOOL BOARD BELIEVES THAT FOR STUDENTS TO ACHIEVE PERSONAL, ACADEMIC, DEVELOPMENTAL AND SOCIAL SUCCESS, THE SCHOOL DIVISION NEEDS TO CREATE A POSITIVE, SAFE AND HEALTH PROMOTING LEARNING ENVIRONMENT AT EVERY LEVEL IN EVERY SETTING THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR.
NOW IT SAYS THIS FRAMEWORK INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING TEN COMPONENTS.
LAW IS FAMILY LIFE, ABSTINENCE EDUCATION.
SO UNFORTUNATELY FOR EVERYBODY, WHEN YOU REWROTE THIS, YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THESE TEN COMPONENTS BEING PHYSICAL ADD AND ACTIVITY LIMITING 20 MINUTES TO 15 MINUTES FOR KINDERGARTNERS, FIVE YEAR OLDS, THAT'S CERTAINLY GOING TO PART OF A WELLNESS PLAN.
IF YOU HAVE A FIVE OR EVER HAD A 5 OR 6 YEAR OLD.
NUTRITION, ENVIRONMENT AND SERVICES, HEALTH, EDUCATION, THAT BROAD TERM SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL CLIMATE, PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH SERVICES, THAT'S WHERE IT IS.
OKAY. IF YOU READ THE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL STANDARDS OF LEARNING, HOW DOES COMPREHENSIVE SEXUALITY EDUCATION COME INTO VIRGINIA THROUGH SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING? IT'S CALLED GET REAL.
IT'S A CASTLE PROGRAM BY PLANNED PARENTHOOD.
AND THE SAME WOMAN THAT WROTE THAT BOOK THAT THAT WAS IN OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS.
LET'S TALK ABOUT IT WITH THE GRAPHIC CARTOONS OF ADULTS DOING IT IN DIFFERENT POSITIONS.
AND THAT'S HOW IT'S COMING IN.
[01:00:02]
AND WE DON'T HAVE LAW REQUIRING IT THAT OTHER STATES HAVE FOUGHT SO IT'S NOT DON'T CALIFORNIA MY VIRGINIA VIRGINIA IS CALIFORNIA.SO AND THEN SO UNDER ALL THIS COUNSELING, PSYCHOLOGY, SOCIAL SERVICES, I'M GOING TO READ YOU THE LAW THAT I HAD TO WRITE COMPREHENSIVELY. THIS IS WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE FOLLOWING THAT NONE OF YOU KNOW EXISTS.
I SAT IN THE SENATE SUB COMMITTEE AND HAD THE REPRESENTATIVE THE LOBBYIST FOR THE COUNSELORS ASSOCIATION GO, SO WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO NOTIFY PARENTS EVERY TIME WE COUNSEL THEIR CHILD? WELL, YES, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE LAW STATES.
BUT THE LAW ALSO STATES IS THAT IT HAS TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN AFFIRMATIVE AND THERE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE AFFIRMATIVE PARENTAL CONSENT FOR SHORT DURATION, PERSONAL AND SOCIAL COUNSELING.
IT'S NOT LIMITED BASED ON A CERTAIN SPECIFIC TIME.
AND THEN I WILL ALSO, JUST IN CLOSING, NOTIFY YOU HAVE GIVEN ALL AUTHORITY, YOU REMOVED YOUR ROLE, ALL FIVE THINGS OF WHAT THE SCHOOL BOARD DOES AND YOU HANDED ALL OF IT OVER TO SCHWAB.
SO NOW YOU HAND YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY TO THE SUPERINTENDENT.
YES, WE'LL DO THAT. NOW, YOU'RE HANDING IT TO PEOPLE THAT YOU APPLY FOR A POSITION ON A COMMITTEE.
NOBODY EVER GETS ON IT UNLESS YOU PICK WHO THEY ARE.
AND NOW THEY'RE GOING TO DETERMINE WHAT GOES ON IN THE STUDENT HEALTH ADVISORY BOARD.
SO YOU DON'T HAND OFF YOUR DUTY TO A COMMITTEE THAT'S APPOINTED.
WE ELECTED YOU TO DO YOUR JOB.
WE DIDN'T ELECT THE SCHWAB WHO YOU HIDE AND DON'T TELL US ANYTHING ABOUT.
WE ELECTED YOU TO DO YOUR JOB.
THANK YOU, MERCEDES. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES THIS EVENING'S PUBLIC COMMENT.
NEXT, WE HAVE THIS EVENING SUPERINTENDENTS REPORT.
[E. Superintendent's Report]
DR. DAUGHTERY. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.TONIGHT, WE HAVE AN UPDATE OF THE 2023 GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION.
AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO INVITE MISTER SHAWN SMITH TO COME UP AND GIVE HIS PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIRMAN AND BOARD MEMBERS.
AS YOU KNOW, IT STILL CONTINUES.
IT IS OUTSIDE THE GENERAL BOUNDS WE DO FOR OUR PRESENTATIONS ON PURPOSE, MAINLY TO PROVIDE THE PUBLIC AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF LEGISLATION THAT HAS PASSED THE IMPACTS IT HAS ON OUR SCHOOL DIVISION.
AS WE LOOK AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION, IT'S IMPORTANT TO KIND OF TO BRING US BACK TO WHERE WE STARTED REALLY IS OUR LEGISLATIVE PRINCIPLES, LOOKING CLOSELY AT THE EQUITABLE, FAIR AND UNBIASED ACCESS TO ALL RESOURCES OPPORTUNITIES, MAXIMUM DISCRETION FOR OUR DECISIONS AND FLEXIBILITY, RELAXATION OF CERTAIN MANDATES AND OPPOSITION TO ANY NEW OR STATUTORY UNFUNDED REQUIREMENTS.
EQUITY CLEARLY IS AN IMPACT TO WHICH WE LOOK CLOSELY TO ALL THE DIFFERENT BUDGET INITIATIVES AND LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES THROUGHOUT, NOT JUST THE GENERAL SESSION, BUT THROUGH OUR WORK IN THE SCHOOL DIVISION.
WE'VE CONSISTENTLY SAID TO GENERAL ASSEMBLY THAT WE CAN SERVE AS A PILOT FOR SCHOOL DIVISIONS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH TO INVEST THE MONEY FROM THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO SEE KIND OF SOME OF THE BEST PRACTICES THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE IN OUR SCHOOL DIVISION.
ALSO INVESTING IN THE WORKFORCE.
AND AS YOU TALK ABOUT THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT, CERTAINLY THE COLLABORATION, WE'VE WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT, THEY AS WELL WITH US AND CERTAINLY PUSHING THROUGH OUR DIFFERENT PRIORITIES AND ENSURING THAT YOU SEE THE COLLABORATION WHICH WE ARE KNOWN FOR IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY.
ONE OF THE THINGS RECENTLY THAT THE BOARD SHARED WAS DIRECTLY WITH GOVERNOR YOUNGKIN AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEMBERS THROUGH OUR CHESTERFIELD DELEGATION, REALLY REINFORCING SOME OF THE PIECES THAT WE REALLY PUT IN PLACE GOING BACK TO LAST OCTOBER.
THERE'S FIVE KEY PRIORITIES THAT ARE HERE TO WE REALLY EMPHASIZE THOSE AGAIN FOR THE GOVERNOR AS HE MAKES DECISIONS WITH THE BUDGET AS WELL AS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, THE TOP TWO PIECES THERE CERTAINLY ARE WITH REGARD TO THE FIRST ONE, THE SUPPORT CAP, WE KNOW THAT HAS A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT ADDED TO OUR SCHOOL DIVISION UPWARDS OF $15 MILLION.
[01:05:08]
AND CERTAINLY LOOKING AT THE LAST ONE THERE, NUMBER FIVE, THE COVERING OF THE FULL 7% PAY RAISE.AND WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT IN A SECOND AS WELL.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THERE IS A BUDGET IN PLACE.
THEY'RE LOOKING TO ADD AMENDMENTS TO THAT.
FOR US AS A SCHOOL DIVISION, SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS THAT COULD COME FROM THAT.
SOME SPEAKERS HAVE ALLUDED TO THAT TONIGHT.
CERTAINLY THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT HAS PASSED THEIR BUDGET.
WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR ADDITIONAL ACTION FROM THE STATE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
BUT CERTAINLY IN THIS KIND OF STATE THAT THEY'RE IN RIGHT NOW, IT'S KIND OF A CLEAN SLATE IN THE SENSE THAT THEY'RE LOOKING CLOSELY AT THE THE REVENUES THEY HAVE IN PLACE AND HOW THEY'LL KIND OF INVEST THOSE.
WE ARE DOING SOME OF THESE THINGS.
THE FIRST ONE HERE DEALS WITH THE AED REQUIREMENTS.
THAT IS A NEW REQUIREMENT FOR SCHOOL DIVISIONS.
THERE'S A LOT OF CONVERSATION.
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DISCUSSING AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION TO PARENTS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAME FROM THAT OBVIOUSLY WAS ENSURING THAT PARENTS HAVE PRETTY QUICK ACCESS WHICH WE PROVIDE TO THEM IN OUR SCHOOL DIVISION FOR STUDENT ASSESSMENT RESULTS ALIGNED, OBVIOUSLY WITH PARENTAL INFORMATION.
THERE WAS LEGISLATION PASSED THAT REQUIRES US TO HAVE IN PLACE AT BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHTS INFORMATION REGARDING FREE AND REDUCED PRICE MEALS FOR STUDENTS, AND WE WILL CERTAINLY BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THAT.
BUS DRIVER TRAINING, WE CONTINUE TO TALK TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ABOUT SOME OF THE THE CONCERNS WE HAVE WITH RECRUITMENT OF BUS DRIVERS, NOT JUST IN CHESTERFIELD BUT ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH. THEY DID TAKE A LOOK CLOSELY AT THAT.
THEY CAME BACK WITH A FEW THINGS.
THEY'RE LOOKING CLOSELY AT SOME OF THE REMOTE ONLINE ACCESS TO SOME OF THE TRAINING MATERIALS AS WELL AS MAKING THE INSTRUCTION AVAILABLE IN SPANISH, CAREER AND TECH. SOME STRIDES WERE MADE WITH THAT TOPIC.
ONE OF THE EXCITING THINGS CERTAINLY IS WITH REGARD TO H.R.
475, THAT REALLY KIND OF DOES A UNIFICATION, SOMETHING WE ALREADY DO IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY.
AND IT'S WE'RE EXCITED TO SEE THAT PEOPLE TAKING THAT WHAT WE'VE DONE IN CHESTERFIELD ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH HIRING A LICENSURE CERTAINLY IS A BIG FOCUS FOR US IN EACH AND EVERY DAY, RECRUITING AND RETAINING EMPLOYEES.
ONE OF SOMETHING SIGNIFICANT THAT GENERAL ASSEMBLY DID DID WAS WITH HOUSE BILL 1630 AND SENATE BILL 1479, AND THAT'S REDUCING FROM 12 TO 6 THE NUMBER OF MONTHS THAT THE REQUIRED BREAK IN SERVICE.
THERE WAS CONVERSATION REDUCING THAT FROM 12 TO 1 MONTH.
THEY COMPROMISE THERE IN THE MIDDLE AT SIX.
THERE CERTAINLY IS ALSO A SUNSET DATE OF 2028.
I THINK THEY WANTED TO ALLOW THE CHANCE TO CONTINUE TO REEVALUATE THAT PROPOSAL.
THAT MAY SEEM MINOR AT SURFACE, BUT I WILL TELL YOU, SOMEONE WHO'S WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR WELL OVER 20 YEARS, THAT IS SIGNIFICANT MOVEMENT FROM VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEM.
IN YEARS PAST, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN UNHEARD OF TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.
THAT'S A CATALYST CERTAINLY OF THE WORK WE'VE DONE IN CHESTERFIELD WITH OUR DELEGATION, BUT ALSO RECOGNITION CERTAINLY OF THE ISSUES THAT WE FACE IN EDUCATION WITH REGARD TO RECRUITING AND RETAINING TEACHERS IN PARTICULAR.
MENTAL HEALTH. WE'VE TALKED A LOT.
AND WHAT IT WILL REQUIRE US IS THAT WE HAVE ON THOSE ID CARDS THE 988 SUICIDE AND CRISIS LIFELINE.
IT USED TO BE KNOWN AS THE NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE.
THAT'LL BE PRINTED ON THE BACK OF THE STUDENT ID CARDS.
SPECIAL EDUCATION CERTAINLY WAS A KEY TOPIC, MORE SO REALLY ON THE BUDGET PERSPECTIVE.
[01:10:03]
BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE LEGISLATIVE PERSPECTIVE, A LOT OF IMPORTANT PIECES WERE IN PLAY THERE.LOOKING AT THE SECOND ONE THERE, IT'S AN IMPORTANT RESOURCE IN WHICH WE ARE ALREADY WORKING ON.
OUR SCHOOL DIVISION IS MAKING SURE THAT PARENTS HAVE READY ACCESS TO INFORMATION THEY NEED DIRECTLY AT THEIR SCHOOL WITH REGARD TO CONTACT INFORMATION FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION, TRANSITION PLANNING AND COORDINATION.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'LL HAVE OUT THERE ON OUR WEBSITE AS WELL.
NOT A LOT OF SIGNIFICANT CHANGES WITH REGARD TO THIS SESSION.
THE FIRST BULLET POINT THERE IS VERY SIGNIFICANT.
THEY'RE KIND OF GONE BACK TO THE WAY THE PROCESS USED TO BE SEVERAL YEARS AGO.
AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WILL WE HAVE BEEN DOING IN OUR SCHOOL DIVISION.
IT USED TO HAVE A LONGER REQUIREMENT, UPWARDS OF FIVE DAYS TO DO THAT.
SO THEY'VE BROUGHT THAT BACK TO TO 24 HOURS.
THERE WERE TWO PIECES OF LEGISLATION, HOUSE BILL 1526 AND SENATE BILL 1175.
THEY MADE DIFFERENT STRIDES WITH REGARDS TO RATIOS.
AND SO WE'LL SEE KIND OF HOW THEY FUND THOSE RATIOS.
I DID INCLUDE IN THE DECK JUST SOME LEGISLATION THAT DID NOT PASS IN THE SESSION.
MAINLY, THIS IS A RECOGNITION THAT SOME THINGS YOU MAY HAVE HEARD ABOUT THAT WERE DISCUSSED JUST TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT ONE WAS A DISCUSSION, IT COULD COME BACK IN ANOTHER SESSION, BUT ALSO TO SEE KIND OF WHERE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DID LAND ON DIFFERENT PIECES OF LEGISLATION.
ELECTION DAY IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE WILL SEE A VERY DIFFERENT CHESTERFIELD LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION.
WE WILL SEE A DIFFERENT SCHOOL BOARD AND CERTAINLY WE WILL WE WILL WORK CLOSELY WITH THE CURRENT BOARD, THE INCOMING BOARDS, AS WELL AS THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO ENSURE THAT WE KIND OF PRESENT AND COLLABORATE HEADING INTO THE UPCOMING 24 SESSION.
WITH THAT, THAT'S A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT I'VE COVERED VERY QUICKLY.
I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? MR. HARTER. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
A FEW THINGS, BECAUSE IT WENT THROUGH KIND OF QUICK.
I UNDERSTAND THE EXPEDIENCE OF IT, BUT ONE PART THAT I WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT I'VE SEEN THAT I, THAT I REALLY DID LIKE WAS THAT THE PARENTS HAVE AN ACCESS TO THEIR CHILDREN'S ASSESSMENTS.
SO RIGHT NOW, IF I, IF I'M CORRECT ON THIS, DO THEY DO THAT THROUGH THE FOIA PROCESS OR CAN THEY ACTUALLY GO DIRECTLY TO THE SCHOOL FOR THAT? WE PROVIDE THAT IN CHESTERFIELD, SO IT'S NOT REALLY SOMETHING THAT WILL IMPACT US ASSUREDLY.
I THINK IT WAS THERE'S A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT DIFFERENT INFORMATION THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WANTED PARENTS HAVE ACCESS TO VERY QUICKLY AND PROBABLY SOME NEWS REPORTS THAT DIDN'T INVOLVE OUR SCHOOL DIVISION WITH REGARD TO NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARS AND SOME OF THOSE PIECES, THE LEGISLATION ITSELF, I THINK THEY WANTED TO PUT IN PLACE OBVIOUSLY AN EXPECTATION THEY USED THE WORDS AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE.
AND CERTAINLY THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DO IN OUR SCHOOL DIVISION.
OKAY. AND THEN THE OTHER PIECE THAT YOU HIT ON WAS THE SPECIAL EDUCATION, THE INFORMATION ON HOW A PARENT THAT'S GOING TO A NEW SCHOOL SO THAT THEY KNOW WHAT THE COURSE OF ACTION THEY ARE TO TAKE FOR THEIR FOR THEIR CHILD TO TO RECEIVE THOSE SERVICES.
I KNOW THAT WE'VE BEEN KIND OF IN THE PROCESS OR TALKING ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT.
DO WE HAVE A TIMELINE WHEN WE THINK SOMETHING LIKE THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE? PRESENTATION SPECIFICALLY, THE ONE I WAS REFERENCING IS THE REQUIREMENT THAT WE IDENTIFY ON THE WEBSITES, THE FACULTY MEMBER RESPONSIBLE FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION AND TRANSITION PLANNING. AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ACTUALLY IT'S SOMETHING I WORKED WITH ON OUR TEAM ACTUALLY, WHEN THE LAW FIRST CAME ABOUT IN THE CONVERSATION BACK IN JANUARY, QUITE FRANKLY, WE KNEW IT WAS GOING TO PASS AND IT'S A GOOD IDEA.
AND SO EVEN OUR COMMUNICATIONS TEAMS HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THAT ALREADY.
[01:15:01]
AND SO I THINK WHAT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE TOO, IS FOR WE FEEL LIKE WE HAVE GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR OUR SCHOOLS.SO CERTAINLY SOMETHING WE THINK WILL BE ADDITIVE FOR OUR PARENTS AS WELL.
YES, SIR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. SMITH. NEXT, WE HAVE ACTION ITEMS, MR.
[F. Action Items]
DAVIS.MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. DR. DAUGHERTY, I BRING TO YOU CCPS MEMORANDUM 0-53-23.
THIS IS A BIG MILESTONE IN OUR NEW CIP MEMORANDUM.
EXCUSE ME, REFERENDUM SUPPORT.
WE ARE GOING TO BUILD A NEW HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER A DECADE.
IN JUNE OF 22, WE RECEIVED PROPOSALS FROM THREE ARCHITECTURAL FIRMS THAT RESPONDED TO THE RFP THAT WAS PUT OUT BY CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PROCUREMENT.
WE HAD A HIGHLY QUALIFIED COMMITTEE OF FIVE CCPS INDIVIDUALS THAT WORKED THIS ISSUE IN CONFIDENCE.
WE INTERVIEWED ALL THREE OF THOSE FIRMS. WE SELECTED TWO TO GO AND VISIT SEVERAL OF THEIR SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
AND WE COME TONIGHT TO RECOMMEND TO YOU FOR YOUR APPROVAL.
THEIR ESTIMATED FEE FOR THIS EFFORT IS JUST OVER $8 MILLION.
WE RECOMMEND THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD AUTHORIZE THE DIRECTOR OF PROCUREMENT TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH STANTEC ARCHITECTURE TO PROVIDE ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR A HIGH SCHOOL PROTOTYPE, PLANNING, DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION RELATED EFFORTS.
NO FUNDING IS REQUESTED AS A PART OF THIS RECOMMENDATION.
DOES THE BOARD HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, MR. DAVIS.
BOARD MEMBERS. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE MEMO NUMBER 53-23 AS PRESENTED.
SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? THERE HAS BEEN A MOTION AND A SECOND.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL ROLL ON THE MOTION.
NEXT, WE HAVE MEMO NUMBER 54-23.
THE SUBJECT IS WEST AREA MIDDLE SCHOOL BUILDING CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT AWARD.
THE NEW WEST AREA MIDDLE SCHOOL BUILDING AND SITE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT WENT TO BID IN FEBRUARY VIA AN INVITATION FOR BID AGAIN FROM THE CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PROCUREMENT OFFICE. TWO BIDS WERE RECEIVED ON MARCH 28TH.
WE RECEIVED THE BIDS AND OPENED AND RECEIVED EACH OF THESE BIDS FROM TWO QUALIFIED FIRMS. KENBRIDGE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, 82,944,000.
GULF SEABOARD GENERAL CONTRACTORS AT $80,554,500.
GULF SEABOARD GENERAL CONTRACTORS HAS BEEN DETERMINED TO BE THE LOWEST RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE BIDDER FOR THE WEST AREA MIDDLE SCHOOL BUILDING AND SITE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT WITH AN AWARD RECOMMENDATION PROVIDED BY THE PROJECT ARCHITECT.
WE HAVE A SCHEDULE OUTLINED IN THE MEMORANDUM.
THERE'S A FEW MORE ADMINISTRATIVE THINGS THAT WILL TAKE PLACE AFTER YOUR APPROVAL THIS EVENING, AND WE EXPECT THE CONTRACTOR TO MOBILIZE FOR CONSTRUCTION APPROXIMATELY MAY 8TH. OUR RECOMMENDATION IS TO THE SCHOOL BOARD TO AUTHORIZE THE PROCUREMENT DIRECTOR TO ENTER INTO A CONSTRUCTION AGREEMENT WITH GULF SEABOARD GENERAL CONTRACTORS FOR WEST AREA MIDDLE SCHOOL BUILDING AND SITE CONSTRUCTION IN THE AMOUNT OF $80,554,500.
AND TO APPROVE ANY NECESSARY CHANGE ORDERS THAT DO NOT EXCEED 10% OF THE VALUE OF THE BASE CONTRACT.
DOES THE BOARD HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, MR. DAVIS.
BOARD MEMBERS, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE MEMO NUMBER 54-23 AS PRESENTED? SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. BOARD MEMBERS.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? MR.. MADAM CHAIR. MS. HEFFRON. MR. DAVIS. I CANNOT EXPRESS HOW EXCITED THE FOLKS IN TOMAHAWK CREEK COMMUNITY AND THE SWIFT CREEK COMMUNITY ARE TO SEE
[01:20:06]
THIS GET ONLINE.THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK IN GETTING THIS BACKGROUND GOING.
APPRECIATE IT. WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO A GROUNDBREAKING.
THERE HAS BEEN A MOTION AND A SECOND.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE MOTION.
NEXT, WE WILL DISCUSS THE ITEM THAT WAS ADDED TO THE AGENDA BY MRS. BAILEY.
I MOVE THAT THE BOARD SUSPEND FOR THE BALANCE OF THE 2022-23 SCHOOL YEAR THE PROVISION OF STANDARDS FOR STUDENT CONDUCT THAT PRECLUDES A FIRST TIME OFFENDER OF THE PROHIBITION OF ALCOHOL CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES, IMITATION CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES, MARIJUANA OR SYNTHETIC CANNABINOIDS FROM PARTICIPATING OR ATTENDING ALL AFTER SCHOOL OR SCHOOL SPONSORED ACTIVITIES FOR 45 SCHOOL DAYS AND MODIFY THE PROVISION TO ALLOW THE OFFENDER TO RESUME SUCH PARTICIPATION AND ATTENDANCE AFTER HAVING COMPLETED THEIR TEN DAY OUT OF SCHOOL SUSPENSION.
IS THERE A SECOND? I SECOND IT. BOARD MEMBERS.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? YES, MADAM CHAIR. I HAVE A COMMENT.
MS. BAILEY. SO I'M GOING TO MAKE EVERYONE IN THE ROOM UNCOMFORTABLE FOR A MINUTE BECAUSE I'M GOING TO SHARE A DEEPLY PERSONAL STORY, SOMETHING I SWORE I WOULD NEVER DO FROM THIS DAIS.
BUT I THINK WHEN I'M DONE, YOU'LL UNDERSTAND WHY.
MY SISTER WAS A PHENOMENAL GYMNAST.
AT AGE 12, SHE WAS RANKED FOURTH IN THE STATE.
SHE WAS A STRAIGHT A STUDENT WITH A FEARLESS, OUTGOING PERSONALITY.
SHE BROKE HER ARM AND WAS SIDELINED FOR EIGHT WEEKS.
AND INSTEAD OF GOING TO THE GYM WITH ME EVERY AFTERNOON, SHE WENT HOME TO AN EMPTY HOUSE.
SHE STARTED HANGING OUT WITH A GIRL DOWN THE STREET AND STARTED SMOKING POT.
THAT IDLE TIME AND THOSE EIGHT WEEKS TOTALLY CHANGED THE TRAJECTORY OF HER LIFE.
I BURIED MY SISTER LAST THURSDAY.
SHE LOST THE BATTLE SHE HAD BEEN WAGING WITH HER LIFELONG DRUG ADDICTION.
AND FOR HER IT ALL STARTED BECAUSE SHE COULDN'T GO TO PRACTICE.
WE SUSPEND KIDS FROM SCHOOL FOR TEN DAYS FOR THEIR FIRST OFFENSE WITH DRUGS OR ALCOHOL.
BUT WE ALSO ADD TO THAT A BAN FROM EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES FOR 45 SCHOOL DAYS.
WHY? WHY IS THIS THE ONLY TEN DAY SUSPENSION WITH THIS ADDITIONAL CONSEQUENCE? I COULD NOT FIND ANYONE WHO COULD TELL ME THE REASON FOR THIS CONSEQUENCE OR THE JUSTIFICATION FOR ITS EXISTENCE.
80% OF THOSE STUDIES HAVE FOUND SPORTS PARTICIPATION IS ASSOCIATED WITH A DECREASE IN DRUG USE.
FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT PARTICIPATION IN SPORTS REDUCED THE RISK OF OVERALL DRUG USE, BUT PARTICULARLY DURING HIGH SCHOOL, SUGGESTING THAT THIS MAY BE A CRITICAL PERIOD TO REDUCE OR PREVENT THE USE OF DRUGS THROUGH SPORTS AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES.
CHILDREN. AFTER RETURNING FROM A TEN DAY OUT-OF-SCHOOL SUSPENSION FOR DRUGS OR ALCOHOL ARE BEING DENIED ACCESS TO HEALTHY, SAFE, SUPERVISED, ENGAGING EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES.
THIS FLIES IN THE FACE OF REASON.
IF OUR GOAL IS TO ENCOURAGE THE ACTIVE PARTICIPATION OF STUDENTS IN SCHOOL, IT IS THOSE STUDENTS WHO MAY BE BATTLING AN ALCOHOL OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUE THAT WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE THE MOST TO PARTICIPATE IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES.
I UNDERSTAND AND RESPECT MY COLLEAGUES DESIRE TO TAKE OUR TIME AND DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE TO STUDY THIS POLICY AND ALL THE WAYS THAT WE CAN IMPROVE UPON IT. BUT WHAT I FAIL TO UNDERSTAND IS HOW ONCE WE HAVE RECOGNIZED THAT SOMETHING IS HARMFUL, AND IT IS HARMFUL TO STUDENTS SUCCESS, POTENTIALLY HARMFUL TO THEIR MENTAL AND PHYSICAL WELL-BEING, THAT WE DON'T ACT IMMEDIATELY TO END IT.
[01:25:03]
MY MOTION IS ONLY REQUESTING THAT WE PUT A MORATORIUM ON THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE 45 DAY BAN ON EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES WHILE WE TAKE OUR TIME TO REWRITE THIS POLICY SO THAT IT REFLECTS OUR GOALS FOR STUDENT SUCCESS, OPTICS, PROCESS, PRECEDENT, CONVENIENCE AND EVEN FAIRNESS ARE NOT REASONS TO CONTINUE THIS POLICY.FAIRNESS TO THOSE WHO WERE PUNISHED ALREADY UNDER THIS POLICY SHOULD NOT BE USED AS A REASON TO CONTINUE TO PUNISH STUDENTS AS A RESULT OF A BAD POLICY. ADDITIONALLY, THIS POLICY IS NOT EQUITABLE AND HOW IT IMPACTS STUDENTS.
THOSE WHO PARTICIPATE IN A SPORT BAND, SHOW CHOIR OR OTHER ACTIVITIES ARE BEING PUNISHED TO A GREATER DEGREE THAN THOSE STUDENTS WHO MAY NOT PARTICIPATE IN AN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY AT ALL.
FOR SOME STUDENTS, THIS IS A DOUBLE PUNISHMENT THAT WE MUST ELIMINATE.
THEY NEED CONSEQUENCES FOR POOR CHOICES, AND THEY NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
THIS POLICY TAKES AWAY ALL OF THESE THINGS AT A PIVOTAL MOMENT IN THEIR LIFE.
THERE ARE MULTIPLE RESTORATIVE ACTIONS THAT WE CAN TAKE THAT WILL HOLD STUDENTS ACCOUNTABLE AND ACCOMPLISH OUR GOAL OF PREPARING THEM FOR SUCCESSFUL FUTURES. WE WILL EXPLORE THOSE OPTIONS AND REWRITE THIS POLICY.
BUT WE ALSO NEED TO TAKE ACTION NOW TO PREVENT ANY STUDENT FROM BEING DENIED ACCESS TO THE ONE THING THAT MAY BE THE DIFFERENCE IN WHETHER THEY WALK ACROSS THE STAGE AT GRADUATION OR BATTLE A LIFE OF ADDICTION.
SADLY, I KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE, 45 DAYS, NINE WEEKS IS ENOUGH TIME TO ALTER A PERSON'S LIFE.
MR. HARTER. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT STORY WITH US MS. BAILEY. AND MY CONDOLENCES.
AND I THINK I'VE TOLD YOU THAT BEFORE AND I'LL BE A BIT MORE BRIEF WITH MY COMMENTS, BUT I THINK ALL OF US HAVE REALIZED THAT, ESPECIALLY OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS OF ALL OF US BEING TOGETHER THROUGH SOME VERY DIFFICULT, DIFFICULT AND CHALLENGING TIMES.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD TO MAKE SOME OF THESE DIFFICULT DECISIONS.
AND WE DON'T REALLY HAVE THAT MUCH OF AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO TOO MUCH ON.
BUT BUT FOR THIS ONE, THIS IS ONE OF OUR POLICIES.
IT ISN'T VIRGINIA HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE'S.
IT ISN'T THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
AND, YOU KNOW, ONE PRINCIPLE THAT I THINK ALL OF US HAVE ALWAYS STUCK TO AND THIS IS HOW I LAID MY HEAD DOWN AT NIGHT AND KNOW THAT WE ALWAYS TRY TO DO WHAT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST. WE THINK ABOUT WHAT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF EVERY STUDENT.
AND THE MORE I REFLECTED ON THIS, I'M GOING TO BE HONEST.
I HAVEN'T EVEN SPOKE TO THE FAMILY.
I'VE GONE THROUGH THIS BOOK WITH CHILDREN IN CLASS, AND I'VE NEVER REALLY HONED IN ON THE ONE PART THAT SAYS 45 DAYS TO BE SUSPENDED FROM EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES.
AND AND TO ME, THAT'S OBSESSIVE.
I'M IN AGREEANCE THAT A STUDENT THAT WAS TO COMMIT TO HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN TO BE TO BE CAUGHT WITH WITH DRUGS OR ALCOHOL AND VIOLATION TO LOSE THE DRIVING PRIVILEGES FOR THE YEAR.
I WOULD SUPPORT MS. BAILEY'S MOTION ON THIS.
ALL SHADES OF PERSONAL TONIGHT.
AH MS. BAILEY, I KNOW THAT YOU AND I, YOU KNOW THAT WE SHARE A LOT IN COMMON WITH OUR STORIES.
AND I UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE THE SPIRIT OF YOUR MOTION.
AND I THINK THIS WE WOULD BE HARD, I THINK IT WOULD BE HARD TO FIND ANYBODY WHO
[01:30:07]
WHENEVER THIS POLICY WAS THAT 45 DAYS WAS PUT INTO PLACE, THAT WOULDN'T RECOGNIZE THAT AS JUST ALMOST JUST PURELY RETALIATORY.I MEAN, IT'S JUST AND WE KNOW BETTER.
BOTH PARENTS AND STUDENTS I'VE SIGNED IT 100 TIMES.
YOU KNOW, SIGN THIS AND AGREE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE'VE RECEIVED AND REVIEWED THE BOOKLET.
SO EVERY FALL WE HAVE ABOUT 64,000 KIDS AND THEIR FAMILIES RECEIVE THE DOCUMENT OUTLINING THE CODE OF CONDUCT POLICY BEHAVIORS THAT CONSTITUTE AN INFRACTION AND THE SUBSEQUENT CONSEQUENCE OF VIOLATING THE CODE.
AND SUSPENDING THIS ONE ELEMENT OF THE POLICY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FINAL QUARTER OF THE SCHOOL YEAR IS NOT FAIR OR CONSISTENT, AND I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD ALL LISTEN TO OUR HEARTS IN MOST ASPECTS OF OUR LIVES.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE POLICY MAKING IS THE PLACE FOR SUBJECTIVITY.
SCHOOL BOARD POLICY 4010 AND I GUESS THAT I AGREE THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL AREAS THAT DESERVE VERY CLOSE ATTENTION, NOT JUST THIS 45 DAY.
I THINK THERE ARE THERE IS A LOT OF ROOM FOR UPDATING AND IMPROVEMENT IN THAT POLICY.
ANOTHER CRITICAL ELEMENT IN POLICY MAKING.
MY GOAL IS TO SEE A STANDARDS OF STUDENT CONDUCT THAT INCORPORATES RESTORATIVE PRACTICES.
AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO UNDERSTAND THE FEASIBILITY OF LEVERAGING THE ASSET OF CHESTERFIELD RECOVERY HIGH SCHOOL AS A RESOURCE FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE SERVING CONSEQUENCES FOR DRUG OR ALCOHOL POLICY VIOLATIONS.
SO THOSE TEN DAYS AREN'T SPENT AT HOME WATCHING THE CLOCK, WAITING FOR THE PAINT TO DRY.
THERE'S AN ACTIVE INTERVENTION HAPPENING FOR THOSE TEN DAYS.
SO MY CHARGE TO YOU AND YOUR STAFF IS HOW DO WE KEEP STUDENTS ENGAGED AND SUPPORTED WHILE ALSO HOLDING OUR STUDENTS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR BEHAVIOR? AND I THINK, I THINK WE ARE UP FOR THE CHALLENGE.
AND I HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT IF WE CAN KEEP FAIR AND CONSISTENT POLICY ADOPTION PROCEDURES.
WE ARE ONLY PROVING THAT WE ARE TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY.
MS.. HAINES. I THINK THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF THE HEAVIEST MOMENTS FOR ME ON THE BOARD AND MS. BAILEY THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR STORY.
YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE MY CONDOLENCES.
I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH.
AND I TEND TO BE SOMEONE WHO LEADS WITH EMOTION.
SO THIS ISN'T EASY FOR ME TO DO, TO SLOW MYSELF DOWN AND DO WHAT I BELIEVE IS THE RIGHT THING.
ONCE MY EMOTIONS ARE REMOVED TO THE SIDE, IT'S A HARD PILL TO SWALLOW.
TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS BOARD REVIEWED AND PASSED THIS CODE OF CONDUCT IN AUGUST OF 2020.
AUGUST 20TH, 21 AND AUGUST 2022.
BOTH STAFF AND THIS BOARD CHOSE THE STATUS QUO DURING THOSE REVIEWS.
BUT WE BELIEVE IN A GROWTH MINDSET.
AND SO AS MY COLLEAGUE MS. HEFFRON POINTED OUT, WE HAVE THE CHANCE TO DO THIS RIGHT AND DO THIS REALLY RIGHT.
[01:35:05]
AND I SEE REVISING THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT AS A FANTASTIC WAY TO EXERCISE OUR POLICY MAKING AUTHORITY.AND THE SECTION THAT YOU WERE REFERRING TO, MS. BAILEY MUST BE REVISED.
IN PLACE. IN PLACE OF SUSPENDING THIS PART OF THE POLICY, I WOULD LIKE TO REVISE THE ENTIRE POLICY AND BEGIN BY ASKING FOR STAFF, PRINCIPALS, TEACHERS, RECOMMENDED EDITS, AND THEN AS A BOARD, WE CAN AMEND AND ADD OUR OWN.
AT OUR WORK SESSION THIS AFTERNOON, WE DISCUSSED OUR EQUITY WORK, INCLUDING OUR EQUITY DESIGN TEAM.
I WOULD LIKE THE EQUITY DESIGN TEAM TO REVIEW POLICY 4010 AND GIVE US THEIR SUGGESTIONS TO CONSIDER.
A GOAL OF DISCIPLINE WHEN IT COMES TO ALCOHOL.
SUBSTANCE ABUSE SHOULD BE TO PREVENT ADDICTION.
SO WHAT ADDICTION EXPERTS CAN WE CONSULT? AND I LOVE MS. HEFFRON'S IDEA OF THE RECOVERY ACADEMY.
WE HAVE ADDICTION EXPERTS BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT EDITS I WANT TO SEE.
AND HERE I'M DREAMING FOR A SECOND AS WE TRULY ARE DIVING IN TO PURSUE A ZERO THE END OF ZERO TOLERANCE POLICIES IN OUR DISTRICT.
THIS IS WHAT THE FIRST PARAGRAPH OF OUR NEW POLICY MIGHT LOOK LIKE.
THE BOARD BELIEVES THAT SETTING HIGH STANDARDS FOR STUDENT CONDUCT, IMPLEMENTING EFFECTIVE SCHOOL AND CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES, OFFERING APPROPRIATE INTERVENTIONS AND SUPPORT AND INVOLVING PARENTS, CAN MINIMIZE THE NEED FOR EXCLUSIONARY DISCIPLINARY MEASURES.
EXCLUSIONARY DISCIPLINE SHALL BE AVOIDED WHENEVER POSSIBLE, EXCEPT WHEN LEGALLY REQUIRED IN FAVOR OF A CONSTRUCTIVE, RELATIONSHIP BASED, PROBLEM SOLVING APPROACH TO DISCIPLINE.
THE DISTRICT SHALL TEACH STUDENTS TO DEVELOP SUCCESSFUL BEHAVIORS THROUGH SOCIO EMOTIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, LOGICAL CONSEQUENCES TO MISBEHAVIOR, RESTORATIVE APPROACHES AS MS., MS., BAILEY AND MS. HEFFRON MENTIONED TO ADDRESS WRONGDOINGS AND POSITIVE BEHAVIOR SYSTEMS AND REWARDS.
WE HAVE EIGHT WEEKS LEFT THIS SCHOOL YEAR AND A HARSH POLICY.
I WOULD ALSO ASK THAT WE SEND OUT NOTICES WITH PROM APPROACHING.
IT'S A TIME OF RISK IN WAYS THAT KIDS WILL HEAR THEM.
SOCIAL MEDIA, MAYBE POSTERS ON BATHROOM DOORS, I DON'T KNOW.
SO THAT KIDS ARE MORE AWARE OF THE THE POLICY IN THIS TIME WHERE WE ARE WORKING HARD TO AMEND IT AS QUICKLY AND AS THOUGHTFULLY AND AS EVIDENCE BASED AS POSSIBLE.
I GUESS THE LAST THOUGHT I HAVE SITTING HERE WITH OFFICERS TO MY LEFT AND MY RIGHT, I CAN IMAGINE THAT THERE ARE MANY TIMES THAT THEY ARE OUT ON THE STREET ENGAGING IN A SITUATION AND THEY MIGHT THINK, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THIS POLICY OR PROCEDURE IS IS WRONG, BUT WE HAVE LAWS AND PROCESSES FOR A REASON.
AND. I WOULD IMAGINE THEY WOULD GO BACK TO THEIR SUPERVISOR AND START THAT PROCESS OF WHICH IS SOMETIMES MUCH LONGER THAN WE WOULD LIKE TO ADMIT.
AND IN OUR CASE, I THINK WE CAN DO IT PRETTY QUICKLY.
BUT IT JUST IT'S A PROCESS AND IT'S EMOTIONAL.
IT'S IT'S A STRUGGLE FOR ME TO REALIZE.
BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT PROCESSES KEEP ORDER.
THEY ARE THE BACKBONE OF A STRONG DEMOCRACY.
SO THERE HAVE BEEN VERY MOVING, VERY POIGNANT COMMENTS ON BOTH SIDES.
[01:40:02]
THIS IS THIS IS I WOULD SAY, IS UP THERE WITH SOME OF OUR COVID DECISIONS.THIS ONE HAS NOT BEEN AN EASY ONE.
AS I'VE LISTENED TO BOTH SIDES.
I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT IT ON MY YOU KNOW, MY HEART IS RESTING IN.
I DO UNDERSTAND THE ADVOCACY AND I UNDERSTAND WHERE MS., BAILEY AND MR. HARTER ARE COMING FROM.
I AM NOT AGAINST MAKING ANY CHANGES TO THE SECTION OF THE POLICY, BUT THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT GIVE ME PAUSE TO DOING SOMETHING RIGHT THIS VERY MINUTE.
AND WE NEED TO DO RIGHT BY THIS AND NOT BE RUSHED.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE WORDS, THE CORRECT WORDS ARE FOR THIS POLICY AT THIS POINT.
I DON'T THINK THROWING IT OUT AT THIS POINT IS THE RIGHT PLAN OF ACTION.
AND IT IS OUR DUTY AS THIS BOARD TO REVIEW POLICY THOROUGHLY.
THAT IS OUR NUMBER ONE JOB IS POLICY.
SO AGAIN, I THINK THAT WE SHOULD REVIEW THIS AND MORE THOROUGHLY.
I AGREE WITH MS. HEFFRON AND MS. HAINES THAT WE NEED TO ENGAGE OUR STAKEHOLDERS.
WE NEED TO TALK WITH OUR PRINCIPALS.
WE NEED TO TALK WITH OUR OUR POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE, OUR CENTRAL OFFICE STAFF AND DISCUSS IF THERE ARE OTHER AREAS OF OUR STANDARD STUDENT CONDUCT THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE WHATEVER CHANGES COME OF THIS POLICY THAT WE HIGHLIGHT THOSE CHANGES FOR OUR FAMILIES IN THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR SO THAT THEY KNOW WHAT HAS BEEN MODIFIED.
UM, I THINK THAT WOULD BE BE HELPFUL AS WELL.
WE BRING THAT FORTH TO THE BOARD IN MAY AND WE VOTE IN JUNE FOR FINAL.
THERE HAS BEEN A MOTION AND A SECOND.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE MOTION.
NEXT WE HAVE A REVISION TO OUR SCHOOL BOARD GOVERNANCE HANDBOOK.
I MOVE THAT WE STRIKE THROUGH THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT, WHICH IS FOUND IN SECTION FOUR.
COMMUNICATION BETWEEN STAFF AND BOARD IS ENCOURAGED.
DO I HAVE ANOTHER SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER THAT WOULD LIKE TO SECOND THE EMOTION? SECOND.
BOARD MEMBERS IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? I'LL GIVE YOU MY COMMENTS AS TO WHY TO STRIKE THAT PARTICULAR PIECE.
I FEEL LIKE THAT IS MORE PROCEDURAL BASED VERSUS A POLICY GOVERNANCE BASED ACTION.
MADAM CHAIR, I WOULD I MEAN, I WOULD AGREE THAT IT'S MEMORIALIZING THAT IN POLICY, I THINK IS UNNECESSARY FOR US TO GET THE ACTION DONE.
RIGHT. THERE HAS BEEN A MOTION AND A SECOND.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE MOTION.
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE ANOTHER MOTION THAT WE STRIKE THROUGH THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT AND SECTION 11A, BOARD MEMBER USE OF EMAIL THE STATEMENT THAT READS WHEN EMAILS ARE SENT TO THE ENTIRE BOARD, THE VICE CHAIR WILL TOUCH BASE WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER THAT IS DISTRICT SPECIFIC TO THE REQUEST TO SEE IF THEY HAVE RESPONDED.
[01:45:07]
DO I HAVE ANOTHER SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER WHO WOULD LIKE TO SECOND THE EMOTION? SECOND.BOARD MEMBERS IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? AGAIN, I WILL GIVE MY REASONING BEHIND STRIKING THAT.
I DO FEEL LIKE THIS IS A VERY BURDENSOME, TASK TO PUT ON TO A ROLE OF VICE CHAIR.
IS THERE LANGUAGE THAT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT I GUESS I CAN BE.
DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO PUT IN THAT BOARD MEMBERS ARE REQUIRED TO RESPOND OR THAT THAT'S JUST KIND OF A GIVEN. WHEN AN EMAIL IS SENT ON, WHEN AN EMAIL IS SENT TO THE ENTIRE BOARD, THAT IT IS THE BOARD MEMBERS RESPONSIBILITY TO FIGURE OUT WHOSE DISTRICT IT IS AND TO RESPOND.
SO, YES, I THINK THAT THAT IS A PROCEDURAL AND KIND OF A KNOWN THING TO DO.
THANKS. THERE HAS BEEN A MOTION AND A SECOND.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE MOTION.
NEXT, WE HAVE THIS EVENING'S DISCUSSION AGENDA.
[G. Discussion Agenda]
MR. SMITH.THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIRMAN, BOARD MEMBERS.
DR. DAUGHERTY YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU MEMORANDUM NUMBER 55-23.
REVISIONS TO POLICY 4190, REVISE STUDENT WELLNESS.
HAVE UP ON THE SCREEN THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PROPOSED REVISIONS.
AS WE KNOW, THE ADVISORY COMMITTEES MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE BOARD.
ULTIMATELY, YOU HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE YOUR OWN RECOMMENDATIONS AND YOU FINALLY WILL VOTE ON YOUR POLICIES AS THEY DO REST AS A SCHOOL BOARD POLICY. FROM THE SHAB RECOMMENDATIONS, THERE WAS CONVERSATIONS WITH REGARDS TO THE SCHOOLS, TO THE PRINCIPALS ABOUT SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND THE IMPACTS THAT IT WOULD HAVE ON THE SCHOOLS, KNOWING THAT OUR PRINCIPALS CERTAINLY WOULD BE THE ONES WHO WOULD BE ADHERING TO PUTTING THESE IN PLACE DAY TO DAY. WALK YOU THROUGH VERY BRIEFLY.
AND I'M HAPPY TO PAUSE ALONG THE WAY, BUT JUST SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
WHAT DO YOU SEE HERE IS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM SHAB, NOT ALL THE RECOMMENDATIONS ALONG THE WAY IN THE FIRST SECTION, SECTION A GENERALLY, THERE WERE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS WITH REGARDS TO THE FRAMEWORK, LOOKING AT THE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS THAT ARE INVOLVED WITH REGARDS TO WELLNESS.
FURTHER DOWN, THERE WERE SOME ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS WITH REGARDS TO THE ROLE OF SHAB AND ASSISTING WITH THIS PARTICULAR POLICY AND THAT'S REFLECTED IN THE REVISIONS THAT ARE THERE.
IN SCHOOL MEALS, THERE WAS A REVISION TO TAKE OUT THAT LINK SIMPLY JUST BECAUSE LINKS AND POLICIES DON'T TYPICALLY WITHSTAND THE TEST OF TIME.
THAT'S ALL THAT WAS RELATED THERE.
FURTHER ON WITH IN REGARD TO SCHOOL MEALS, THERE WAS TWO LINE REVISIONS, ADDITIONS, IF YOU WILL, WITH REGARDS TO DRINKING WATER, CERTAINLY MAKING SURE THEY'RE ACCESSIBLE AT HIGH TRAFFIC AREAS WITH REGARDS TO ALSO SCHOOLS PROMOTING HEALTHY HYDRATION.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT COMPETITIVE FOODS AND BEVERAGES IN THIS SECTION AND THEN WE TALK ABOUT FUNDRAISERS AND SECTION, THIS POLICY DOES REFLECT A LOT OF THE USDA REQUIREMENTS.
HOWEVER, IT IS REFLECTIVE OF THE USDA REQUIREMENTS.
THE SECOND REVISION THERE IS REFLECTIVE OF CHANGING FROM SHOULD TO IS ALLOWED TOO.
[01:50:09]
AND THAT INCLUDES ALL THE INGREDIENT LIST.GOING TO FUNDRAISERS, THE REVISIONS HERE TRACK WITH USDA REQUIREMENTS.
THAT IS THE ALLOWANCE OF 30 SCHOOL SPONSOR FUNDRAISERS PER SITE AND CERTAINLY THE LATTER TWO SENTENCES THERE DISCUSS THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SCHOOL TO APPROVE, TRACK AND MONITOR THESE FUNDRAISERS AND MAINTAIN THAT FUNDRAISING TRACKING DOCUMENT.
GOING TO PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, TALKING ABOUT, OBVIOUSLY THE CONSISTENT RESEARCH THAT'S DONE WITH REGARDS TO PHYSICAL ACTIVITY.
LADDER DOWN THERE IN SECTION L, WELLNESS COUNCILS.
THERE WERE REVISIONS MADE TO THAT SECTION AS WELL AS ALSO THE TRIENNIAL ASSESSMENT.
AND SURE ENOUGH THAT WE'RE CONSISTENT AND OBVIOUSLY WHAT IT'S DONE WITH REGARDS TO THE WELLNESS POLICY, THE LAST PIECE THAT'S IN THERE IS SECTION N, THE POLICY COMPLIANCE AND NOTIFICATION.
AGAIN, JUST ESTABLISHING OBVIOUSLY THE AUTHORITY MECHANISM BY WHICH YOU RECEIVE RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT ULTIMATELY WITHHOLD OBVIOUSLY THE AUTHORITY TO VOTE AND APPROVE CHANGES TO YOUR SCHOOL POLICIES WITH THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS.
CERTAINLY THESE CHANGES HAVE BEEN REVIEWED BY OUR SCHOOL BOARD ATTORNEY.
IF APPROVED, THE REVISIONS, CURRENT POLICY AND REGULATIONS WILL BE.
BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? MS. HAINES.
AS THE SCHOOL BOARD LIAISON TO THE SCHOOL HEALTH ADVISORY BOARD, I WANTED TO YOU KNOW, WHEN I'M IN THOSE COMMITTEE MEETINGS, I KIND OF LOOK AT THEIR SUGGESTIONS, THINK OF, YOU KNOW, PRINCIPAL STAFF SUGGESTIONS, AND THEN SEE IF THERE'S ANY POSSIBLE AREA FOR COMPROMISE I GUESS RIGHT, BECAUSE THERE ARE DIFFERENT WHAT COULD BE THE BOARD'S LOOK.
SO JUST A COUPLE OF POINTS THAT I WOULD ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO ENTERTAIN AND GIVE FEEDBACK ON POSSIBLE WAYS TO EDIT OR TO CONSIDER.
AND THE FIRST ONE AND FIRST REALLY WANTED TO ALSO APPRECIATE STAFF'S WORK ON THIS.
IT'S NOT EASY AH SHEPHERDING A POLICY PROCESS.
SO SECTION G, FOOD GIVEN TO STUDENTS AND CLASSROOM CELEBRATIONS.
SHAB HAD A CONCERN ABOUT STUDENTS WITH ALLERGIES, AND I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT WE DO HAVE A POLICY 4133 TO PROTECT KIDS THAT HAVE LIFE THREATENING ALLERGIES, THAT SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS CAN BE ADDED TO 504 PLAN, AND THAT THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT I KNEW.
BUT AS I WAS KIND OF TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, KEEP SHAB'S INTENT, WE DO HAVE A POLICY FOR THAT PIECE.
HOWEVER, SHAB DID BRING UP THE IDEA OF PERMISSION SLIPS, NOT JUST FOR ALLERGY REASONS BUT FOR CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS REASONS, BECAUSE AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I LEARNED, THERE ARE GELATIN PRODUCTS IN FOODS WHICH WOULD NOT BE PART OF ACCEPTED DIETARY REQUIREMENTS FOR MANY JEWISH AND MUSLIM FAMILIES.
SO WHEN YOU HAVE PERMISSION SLIPS, THEN IT DOES ALLOW FOR DISCLOSURE OF INGREDIENTS.
SO I WOULD ASK THAT WE CONSIDER, I THINK, SHAB SUGGESTION THAT IT BE AT EVERY LEVEL IS NOT WORKABLE, BUT PERHAPS CONSIDER THAT AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL THAT PERMISSION SLIPS ARE USED WHEN FOOD IS USED IN THE CLASSROOM.
AND ALSO THE LANGUAGE TO PROVIDE CONTEXT ABOUT ACKNOWLEDGING THE RESEARCH USING FOOD AS PUNISHMENT.
THAT WAS A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE PHYSICIANS ON THE SHAB COMMITTEE.
[01:55:05]
JUST IT DOESN'T MEAN NO FOOD, BUT JUST IT'S IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A LINK BETWEEN OBESITY AND RELATED COMORBIDITIES AND UNHEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS WITH FOOD AND A PAUSE IN CASE ANYBODY HAS ANY FEEDBACK THEY WANT TO GIVE ON THAT OR QUESTIONS.RIGHT. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THIS IS A FIRST READ.
OH, YEAH. NO, I'M NOT. I'M JUST.
YEP. ANY COMMENTS RELATED TO WHAT KATHRYN SAID? OKAY.
FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND WHY STAFF WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE STRIKE, ENCOURAGE TO DESIGN AND UTILIZE OUTDOOR EDUCATION SPACES, BECAUSE THAT SOUNDS LIKE AN UNFUNDED MANDATE, BUT I AM WONDERING IF THERE IS A WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT SHAB'S POINT ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THE OUTDOORS IS NOT LOST.
MAYBE ADD THAT GIVEN THE GROWING BODY OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ON THE BENEFITS OF OUTDOOR LEARNING THAT SCHOOLS ARE ENCOURAGED TO TAKE LEARNING OUTSIDE INTO THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. SO JUST SOME SOME ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT WE ARE DO REALLY DUE TO COVID.
AND SO NOW FOR THE FIRST TIME, YOU HAVE THIS EXPLODING BODY OF RESEARCH, RIGHT? KIDS WERE LEARNING OUTSIDE.
NOW WE CAN STUDY THE EFFECTS OF THE BENEFICIAL EFFECTS OF THAT.
UM, AND THEN MY FINAL COMMENT, OF COURSE, I HAVE TO BRING UP A RECESS, WHICH IS UNDERSTANDING THAT AT THIS POINT I KNOW SHAB WAS APPOINTED TO, TO SEE THE REMOVAL, BUT WE JUST WE DON'T EVEN HAVE THE PLAYGROUNDS.
BUT I DON'T WANT TO, I GUESS, ACKNOWLEDGE IT IS THEIR EXPERT ADVICE THAT THAT IS A GOAL.
I THINK THAT EVERYONE DID A GOOD JOB WEIGHING IN ON SHAB'S INPUTS AND AND AND INCORPORATING MANY OF THEM.
NEXT, WE HAVE ITEMS FOR BOARD REVIEW.
[H. Items for Board Review]
MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ THE LIST FOR THIS EVENING? MADAM CHAIR, TONIGHT'S AGENDA INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING ITEMS FOR BOARD REVIEW.NUMBER ONE MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT IMPROVEMENT FUNDS, FY 2023.
FEBRUARY EXPENDITURES VERSUS APPROPRIATIONS.
NUMBER THREE, BUDGET CHANGE REQUEST SUMMARY ACROSS CATEGORIES FEBRUARY 20 23.
NUMBER FOUR, BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS AND NUMBER FIVE PRE-K UPDATE FEBRUARY 2023.
NEXT, WE HAVE THIS EVENING SUPERINTENDENTS REMARKS.
[I. Superintendent's Remarks]
DR. DAUGHERTY. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS. ONE, STARTING THIS FRIDAY OR THIS WEEKEND, OUR PROMS BEGIN.
IT'S I THINK IT'S BECOMING A SHOCK TO OUR SENIORS THAT THEY HAVEN'T GRADUATED ALREADY.
SO, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO PULL ACROSS AND SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO PUSH.
AND WE'RE DRAGGING RIGHT NOW TO GET THEM THERE.
THANK YOU, DR. DAUGHERTY. NEXT, WE HAVE ANNOUNCEMENTS, COMMUNICATIONS AND SCHOOL BOARD COMMENTS.
[J. Announcements, Communications, and School Board Comments]
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, ARE THERE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS OR COMMENTS? THE SCHOOL BOARD WILL HOLD A WORK SESSION ON TUESDAY, MAY 9TH, 2023, AT 4 P.M.HERE IN THE PUBLIC MEETING ROOM.
IT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A BUSINESS MEETING AT 6:30.
IF THERE'S NO FURTHER BUSINESS, WE NEED A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
SO MOVED. MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL ROLL ON THE MOTION.
[02:00:11]
THE APRIL 11TH, 2023 SCHOOL BOARD BUSINESS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.