[00:00:01]
[A. Meeting Opening - 6:30 p.m.]
I'D LIKE TO CALL THE OCTOBER 10TH, 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 18.2-415 OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA DISORDERLY CONDUCT AND PUBLIC PLACES.
THE SCHOOL BOARD AND SCHOOL BOARD POLICY 6141.
WE'LL NOW HAVE AN INVOCATION BY MRS. BAILEY, FOLLOWED BY A FLAG SALUTE BY MRS. HEFFRON.
THANK YOU. BEFORE TONIGHT'S INVOCATION, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE WITH A MOMENT OF SILENCE THE PASSING OF KIMBERLY BLILEY, A COORDINATOR OF SPECIAL EDUCATION AT SALEM CHURCH MIDDLE SCHOOL, WHO JOINED CCPS ON DECEMBER 18TH, 2006.
PLEASE JOIN US IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
LOVING AND GRACIOUS GOD, YOU ARE INDEED THE GIVER OF ALL GOOD GIFTS.
AND WE THANK YOU TODAY FOR ALL YOUR BLESSINGS FOR THE SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES OF OUR SCHOOL EVENTS AND FOR ALL OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS, BOTH TEACHING AND SUPPORT MEMBERS. WE ASK THAT YOU BLESS THEM ABUNDANTLY AND WE CONTINUE TO SEEK YOUR WISDOM, GUIDANCE, COURAGE AND STRENGTH.
GIVE US INSIGHT TO LEAD WITH INTEGRITY THAT OUR DECISIONS MAY REFLECT WHAT IS RIGHT AND GOOD.
HELP US TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT ARE FOR THE GOOD OF ALL.
[B. Consent Agenda]
THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR TONIGHT INCLUDES AGENDA ADOPTION APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM OUR SEPTEMBER 12TH, 2023 WORK SESSION SEPTEMBER 12TH, 2023 BUSINESS MEETING MEMO NUMBER 134- 23, RECOMMENDED PERSONNEL ACTIONS.MEMO NUMBER 135-23, FY 2024 ACCEPTANCE OF NEW GRANTS.
MEMO NUMBER 136-23, 2023-24 SCHOOL CALENDAR.
MARCH 5TH VIRGINIA 2024 PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY.
ASYNCHRONOUS LEARNING DAY, MEMO NUMBER 137-23.
DEED OF GIFT FOR NEW PLAYGROUND AT CLOVER HILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
DEED OF GIFT FOR PLAY SHADE ADDITION TO OLD 100 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
MEMO NUMBER 144-23, APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO SCHOOL BOARD ADVISORY COMMITTEES.
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO THE CONSENT AGENDA? MADAM CHAIR, THERE ARE NO ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ARE THERE ANY REQUESTS FROM A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER TO SEPARATE AN ITEM FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION AND INDIVIDUAL ACTION? HEARING NONE, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED? SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL ROLL ON THE MOTION.
[C. Awards and Recognitions]
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIRMAN. IF I COULD ASK SHANNON TOOLE AND ANN SAUNDERS TO COME FORWARD THIS TIME.[00:05:04]
THIS PARTNERSHIP INCREASES NETWORKING AND OPENS ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS.ONE OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES IS THE SHELF PROGRAM, WHICH ACCEPTS APPLICATIONS FROM VCU STUDENTS, ALUMNI AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO WANT TO TEST THEIR PRODUCTS ON THE SHELF AT SHIFT RETAIL LAB, WHICH IS A STOREFRONT LOCATED ON THE VCU CAMPUS, ANN SAUNDERS, A JUNIOR AT MEADOWBROOK HIGH, IS THE ONLY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT WAS ACCEPTED INTO THE SHELF PROGRAM THIS FALL, AND STARTUP GLASS MEMORIES OFFERS PAINTING KITS FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS AS PART OF THE SHELF PROGRAM AND SET UP AS AN INTERACTIVE DISPLAY AT SHIFT RETAIL LAB.
ATTENDED SHELF BOOT CAMP PRACTICE OR BUSINESS PITCH AND EARN MICRO-CREDENTIALS IN BUSINESS.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING ANNE SAUNDERS.
AND YOU SHOULD BE EXCEPTIONALLY PROUD OF WHAT YOU'VE ACCOMPLISHED.
TO BE THE ONLY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT ACCEPTED INTO THAT PROGRAM AT VCU IS PHENOMENAL.
I KNOW YOU'RE YOU'RE COMPETING WITH STUDENTS IN THE BRAND CENTER.
AND AS A JUNIOR FROM MEADOWBROOK HIGH SCHOOL.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT SHE DID AND TELL US JUST A BIT MORE DETAIL AND THEN IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT, YOU'RE WELCOME TO BECAUSE YOU DID YOU SEE HOW SHE DID THAT GIVE HER.
AND WE HAVE HAD OUR GRADUATE STUDENTS INTO MEADOWBROOK, AND WE'VE ALSO GONE DOWN TO THE DA VINCI CENTER TO PARTICIPATE IN DIFFERENT ENTREPRENEURIAL SESSIONS WHERE THEY TEACH THEM ABOUT DESIGN THINKING, PRICING, STARTING YOUR BUSINESS.
AND SO ANN HAD THE OPPORTUNITY.
THE MEADOWBROOK STUDENTS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY FOR THE SHELFY PROGRAM, AND DOWN THERE THEY WENT THROUGH A BOOT CAMP YOU WENT THROUGH ON A SATURDAY RIGHT BEFORE HOMECOMING. SO THAT'S DEDICATION, RIGHT? AND SO THEY WENT THROUGH THE BOOT CAMP AND THEN THEY GO DOWN AND THEY SET UP THEIR DISPLAY ON THE SHELF.
SO WE'RE VERY, VERY, VERY PROUD OF ANN.
CONGRATULATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS.
MS. HEFFRON. FOR A RECOGNITION OF SCHOOL SUCCESS.
WE HAVE TWO DIFFERENT TOPICS TO COVER.
THE FIRST WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH AND CHESTERFIELD SCHOOLS.
HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH RUNS SEPTEMBER THE 15TH THROUGH OCTOBER 15TH.
HERE ARE SOME OF JUST A FEW WAYS THAT CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE CELEBRATING .
AN UPCOMING CELEBRATION THAT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC IS THE OLA FESTIVAL AT THOMASVILLE HIGH.
ELIZABETH SCOTT ELEMENTARY, HOME OF THE SPANISH DUAL IMMERSION PROGRAM, KICKED OFF HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH BY WELCOMING STUDENTS WITH MUSIC AND TEACHERS WEARING HERITAGE ATTIRE. CREATIVE DISPLAYS BY STUDENTS ARE PART OF THE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH AT MIDLOTHIAN HIGH.
COMMUNITY RESOURCE FAIRS AT PROVIDENCE MIDDLE AND AT MANCHESTER MIDDLE.
TODAY THE INTRO TO CULINARY CLASS IS TEAMING UP WITH THE HISPANIC HERITAGE SPEAKERS CLASS, AND TOGETHER THEY'RE WORKING TO MAKE PUPUSAS WITH JUST A NORMAL CHEESE FILLING ON THE INSIDE.
AND THEN THEY'VE GOT A NICE TOMATO SALSA TO GO WITH IT AND A LITTLE BIT OF CORTITO AS WELL.
WELL, THE PARTNERSHIP WITH ME AND CHEF WHO WHO'S OUR CULINARY TEACHER STARTED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
AND IT TURNS OUT THAT OUR STUDENTS, MOST OF OUR POPULATION HERE IS EL SALVADORAN AND GUATEMALAN.
SO THEY STARTED MAKING PUPUSAS ANYWAYS.
SO THAT GAVE US THE IDEA OF, OH, NEXT YEAR WE'RE GOING TO MAKE PUPUSAS BECAUSE THAT ACTUALLY IS MORE REPRESENTATIVE OF OUR ACTUAL STUDENTS HERE AT MATOACA.
JUST BEING PRESENT WITH EACH OTHER.
[00:10:02]
I HAD NOTICED PRETTY QUICKLY THAT MR. ZABALA IS EXCITED ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS THAT GO BEYOND JUST THE TRADITIONAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT, WHICH ALSO LENDS ITSELF VERY WELL TO THIS CLASSROOM. SO THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BRING TOGETHER TWO GROUPS OF STUDENTS THAT DON'T HAVE THE SAME CLASS BUT HAVE KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY CAN SHARE WITH EACH OTHER WAS JUST REALLY EXCITING.ALSO THE INDEPENDENCE DAY OF GUATEMALA, EL SALVADOR AND HONDURAS.
I HAVE BEEN MAKING PUPUSAS FOR SPANISH HERITAGE MONTH.
MY ROLE WAS JUST WASHING DISHES AND HELPING ROLL OUT THE PUPUSAS.
IT'S BEEN FUN, YOU KNOW, LEARNING HOW TO MAKE THE PUPUSAS AND STUFF.
CONOCEMOS MA PERSONAS PORQUE SOBRE NUESTRA CULTURA Y TRADITIONS ASI SE PUEDE HACER LAS PUPUSAS PORQUE LA LA VERDAD.
I HOPE THAT OUR STUDENTS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO JUST BE ABLE TO MEET PEOPLE THAT THEY HAVEN'T TALKED TO BEFORE IN THE HALLWAY SO THAT THEY CAN FEEL MORE OF A SENSE OF COMMUNITY HERE AT MATOACA.
THAT'S MY THAT'S MY BIGGEST HOPE.
WELL, I REALLY LOVE SHARING MUSIC, SHARING FOOD.
I MEAN, THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT BRINGS US TOGETHER, YOU KNOW? AND I THINK THAT BY SHARING OUR CULTURE AND STUFF, IT'S GOING TO OPEN THE MINDS OF OUR GENERAL ED STUDENTS.
WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE MANY THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN OUR SCHOOLS.
WE HAVE ONE LAST RECOGNITION AT THIS TIME.
IF I COULD ASK OUR REPRESENTATIVES FROM CHESTERFIELD RECOVERY ACADEMY TO COME FORWARD AT THIS TIME.
CHESTERFIELD RECOVERY ACADEMY WAS FRONT AND CENTER AT THE WHITE HOUSE SUMMIT ON RECOVERY.
THE TOP AWARD FROM THE VIRGINIA ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES, RECEIVED A NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES ACHIEVEMENT AWARD AND BEEN SPOTLIGHTED BY NATIONAL AND LOCAL NEWS MEDIA DURING A PANEL DISCUSSION AT THE WHITE HOUSE SUMMIT.
RECOVERY ACADEMY COORDINATOR JUSTIN SAVOY, STUDENT ZAKIYA KIERNEY AND MICHAEL SPAIN SHARED THEIR STORIES, INCLUDING HOW THE PROGRAM HAS CHANGED THEIR LIVES AND PUT THEM ON PATHS SUCCESSFUL FUTURES AFTER GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL.
ZAKIYA PLANS TO ATTEND LAW SCHOOL AND MICHAEL WILL ENTER THE MILITARY.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN RECOGNIZING MICHAEL AND JUSTIN.
DAUGHERTY WAS TELLING ME ABOUT YOUR TRIP.
THERE WAS A LOT OF FOOD INVOLVED, I HEAR.
AND WE'RE THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR STORY AND YOUR COURAGEOUS LEADERSHIP HERE WITH US.
WE'RE VERY PROUD OF YOU AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CELEBRATING YOU ALONG YOUR JOURNEY.
AND IT'S ONE STEP, ONE DAY AND ONE SUCCESS AT A TIME.
AND I ADMIRE YOU FOR FOR LIVING THAT FOR ALL OF US.
SO CONGRATULATIONS. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE YOUR PLANS FOR AFTER GRADUATION? I KNOW WE HEARD IF YOU'RE GOING TO LAW SCHOOL OR THE MILITARY.
I PLANNED ON GOING INTO THE MILITARY BEFORE I ATTENDED THE ACADEMY.
PASSING A DRUG TEST WAS NEVER REALLY AN OPTION, AND IT WASN'T REALLY GOING TO BE EASY.
[00:15:04]
I ALWAYS WANTED TO DO IT, AND NOW I GET TO GO.CONGRATULATIONS. AND WE'RE VERY, VERY PROUD OF YOU.
WE WISH YOU CONTINUED SUCCESS ALONG YOUR JOURNEY.
AND LIKE I SAID AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING A LEADER HERE FOR US TONIGHT.
THESE ARE FOR YOU AND OUR MISSING.
I'M SO PROUD OF YOU. THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NOW WE'RE GOING TO RECOGNIZE OUR OUTSTANDING DRIVERS, DR.
IT'S MY PLEASURE THIS EVENING TO PRESENT TO YOU OUR DRIVERS OF THE MONTH.
PROVIDING SAFE TRANSPORTATION FOR STUDENTS TO AND FROM SCHOOL EVERY DAY IS ESSENTIAL TO INSTRUCTION.
ALTHOUGH OFTEN AN UNSUNG HERO TO MANY OF OUR STUDENTS, THEIR BUS DRIVER IS A ROLE MODEL FOR PATIENCE, HARD WORK, KINDNESS AND DEDICATION. KPS BUS DRIVERS ARE TO BE COMMENDED FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES WHICH THEY SERVE.
THERE WERE 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.
SHAQUAN RANDOLPH AREA TWO, BUS 580, 1 MONTH OF SERVICE.
SHAQUAN SAYS SHE WANTS TO BE THE CHANGE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION, LIKE HER BUS DRIVER WAS FOR HER.
DOYLE SAYS THAT HE REALLY ENJOYS WORKING WITH THE AREA FIVE TEAM.
ALL RIGHT. LET'S GIVE HIM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
AND I SEE THAT SOMEONE REALLY DOES WANT TO SPEAK.
AND FIRST OFF, YOU GUYS HAVE A SUPERPOWER THAT I, I CAN NEVER POSSESS.
IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SAY NOTHING, JUST PASS IT ALONG.
I ENJOY CONNECTING WITH THE KIDS.
FREI CCPS MY AREA SUPERVISOR, JACQUELYN ROACH.
[00:20:03]
SHE DOES SO MUCH FOR ME BY PUTTING OUT WITH ME EVERY MORNING WHEN I COME IN AND DANCE, BUT I GET UP IN THE MORNING BECAUSE WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN ALL THE KIDS LIVES.THAT MEANS WE GET THE KIDS TO SCHOOL ON TIME.
DESPITE THE LITTLE ALARMS, YOU GET THE BUSSES RUNNING LATE.
THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT YOU TO THINK.
AND I ALSO WANT TO JUST THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU GUYS.
4:00 IN THE MORNING AND WE MAKE GRAVEL RAVEL? OH, I'M SO SORRY.
I DIDN'T MEAN TO OVERLOOK YOU.
I WANT TO TALK. WHY? HOW DO YOU TOP THAT? OKAY, SO, AS YOU KNOW, I'M ONLY A MONTH IN.
AND THIS. RIGHT? I'M ONLY A MONTH IN.
I AM. AND I HAVE TO SAY, IT'S BEEN THE BEST, CRAZIEST ROCK.
RIDE EVER. BUT I WAS TRAINED FOR THIS.
MY TRAINERS, YOU KNOW, I HAVE EXCELLENT.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, RON, FOR THIS RECOGNITION.
AND I'M HAPPY, LIKE, YOU KNOW.
IT'S A LOT OF ATTITUDES I HAD TO PUT UP WITH.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.
NEXT, WE HAVE RECOGNITION OF OUTSTANDING FOOD SERVICE EMPLOYEES.
GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR. BOARD MEMBERS.
THIS WEEK WE ARE CELEBRATING NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH WEEK AND THE SCHOOL NUTRITION WORLD.
OUR THEME NATIONALLY THIS YEAR IS LEVEL UP WITH SCHOOL LUNCH.
I HAVE TO ADMIT A FAIR AMOUNT OF NOSTALGIC FEELINGS.
WHEN WE WERE SENDING OUT PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS LAST WEEK AND THERE WERE A LARGE CARDBOARD CUTOUTS OF NINTENDO GAME BOYS BEING DISTRIBUTED TO 6 TO 8 SCHOOL CAFETERIAS, WHICH I WAS VERY PLEASED TO SEE.
I ALSO WANT TO ADD THAT THE WONDERFUL STUDENTS AT MANCHESTER HIGH SCHOOL PUT TOGETHER SOME VIDEOS FOR US AGAIN THIS YEAR WITH THE THEMES OF MARIO KART AND PAC-MAN, WHICH WERE EXCELLENT.
AND AGAIN, GET SOME OF THE NOSTALGIC FEELINGS GOING, PARTICULARLY THE PAC-MAN, AS WE KIND OF GET THROUGH THIS WEEK AND GET INTO THE MEAT OF OUR SCHOOL YEAR.
AND I HOPE I GET THIS NAME RIGHT.
SHE SAYS GROWING UP, I WAS A CHILDREN OF THE SYSTEM.
MY SIBLINGS AND I WERE WARDS OF THE STATE AND WERE SEPARATED AND PUT INTO DIFFERENT HOMES.
THE ONLY THING I WANTED WAS TO FEEL LOVED.
[00:25:04]
NEXT WE HAVE DELANTE COOK.MS.. HAWKINS IS AN ASSISTANT MANAGER AT JAMES RIVER HIGH SCHOOL.
SHE'S BEEN WITH CHESTERFIELD COUNTY FOR SEVEN YEARS.
MISS COOK IS OUR CAFETERIA MANAGER AT CURTIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
SHE SAYS WHAT I LOVE MOST ABOUT MY JOB IS THE CULTURE THAT WE HAVE CREATED HERE.
WE HAVE A COMMON GOAL AND ALL WORK TOGETHER TO ENSURE THE STUDENTS EAT NUTRITIOUS MEAL.
IT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE OUR WORK HERE HAS A PURPOSE.
CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS HONOR.
AND IT TRULY IS AN HONOR TO BE AWARDED HERE ON OUR SCHOOL BOARD EVENING.
IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, HOW MANY HUNDREDS OF EMPLOYEES WE HAVE THAT GO TO WORK IN FOOD, NUTRITION.
BUT LORD, THEY LOVE IT, RIGHT? AND IT'S A WONDERFUL THING.
AND THAT WAS USUALLY THE FIRST QUESTION I WAS ASKED IN THE MORNING WAS WHAT WAS FOR LUNCH AND WHAT TIME DO WE GET TO GO TO LUNCH AND ARE WE GOING TO LUNCH NOW, MISS BAILEY? WHEN ARE WE GOING TO LUNCH? SO YOU GUYS PERFORM A CRITICAL ROLE AND SOMETIMES YOU'RE THE ONLY MEAL THAT THOSE KIDS GET.
SO WE REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION.
IF YOU WANT TO TAKE THE MIC AND SHARE WHAT BRINGS YOU BACK EVERY SINGLE DAY.
OBVIOUSLY THE KIDS, WE DO IT FOR THE KIDS.
LIKE YOU SAID, SOME OF THEM, IT'S THE ONLY TWO MEALS THEY GET FOR THAT DAY.
SO I TRY TO REMIND MY TEAM ABOUT THAT.
AND I JUST WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO BERKELEY AND THE WHOLE TEAM OVER AT CENTRAL OFFICE.
I MEAN, WITHOUT THEM, YOU KNOW, WE WOULDN'T HAVE SUCH A SUCH A POSITIVE WORK ENVIRONMENT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CONGRATULATIONS.
NEXT, WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THIS EVENING.
[D. Public Comment]
CITIZENS WERE GIVEN THE OPTION OF SUBMITTING THEIR COMMENTS ONLINE OR IN PERSON.MINUTES. MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE ANNOUNCE THIS EVENING'S IN-PERSON SPEAKERS? MADAM CHAIR, WE HAVE 23 SPEAKERS THIS EVENING.
THEY ARE. SHERRI MARTZ, JACOB WEATHERFORD, WINTER BROWN, ASHLEY ALBANO, WENDY LITTLE, MARNIE PILAFIAN, TRACY ROBERTSON, SHELLY MURRAY, JERRY COWAN, KATHRYN PATTERSON, LAURA BERG JONES, BRIAN HOBBS, CAMILLE CURRY, JONAH COCHRAN, CAMERON FRANCIS, TIARA JOSEPH, IMANI SCOTT, JASON SPOON, LAITH CHEVALIER, LAURENS BACON, MICHAEL KARABINOS, ROBERT EBERTH AND CLAY THOMAS.
EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE FOUR MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD.
THERE IS A TIMER SET UP ON TOP OF THE PODIUM THAT WILL TURN GREEN WHEN YOU BEGIN SPEAKING.
LET YELLOW WHEN YOU HAVE 30S REMAINING AND RED WHEN YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
OKAY, I'M JUST GOING TO REPEAT THE FIRST FIVE SPEAKERS.
SHERRY MARTS, JACOB WEATHERFORD, WINTER BROWN, ASHLEY BURNETTE AND WENDY LITTLE.
[00:30:05]
SO MAY WE HAVE SHERRY MARTS? GOOD EVENING.MY NAME IS SHERRY MARTS AND I'M A SPANISH TEACHER IN THE WORLD LANGUAGE.
DEPARTMENT CHAIR AT DAVIS MIDDLE HERE IN CHESTERFIELD.
I HAVE 36 YEARS EXPERIENCE OVER 30 HERE IN CHESTERFIELD.
AFTER ALL THIS TIME, I STILL LOVE WHAT I DO.
I STILL LOVE BEING IN THE CLASSROOM.
FIVE YEARS AGO, CHESTERFIELD MADE SOME CHANGES AT MY ESTEEMED COLLEAGUE ARIEL MERGENS ADDRESSED IT LAST MONTH'S SCHOOL BOARD MEETING PERTAINING TO ELIMINATING LEVELS ONE A AND ONE B IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS.
THIS CREATED A SITUATION WHERE WORLD LANGUAGE TEACHERS TEACHING GRADES SIX THROUGH 12 WERE TEACHING THE EXACT SAME HIGH SCHOOL CURRICULUM, GIVING THE SAME FINAL EXAMS AND HAVING THE SAME EXPECTATIONS OF PREPARING STUDENTS FROM ONE ACTUAL LEVEL TO THE NEXT.
IN ESSENCE, CCPS CREATED HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS WHO HAPPENED TO BE BASED IN MIDDLE SCHOOLS.
BUT WHEN THE DISTRICT CREATED THIS SITUATION, SOME KEY POINTS WERE NOT ADDRESSED.
FIRST, TEACHERS TEACHING IN THE HIGH SCHOOLS ONLY TEACH FIVE CLASSES.
TEACHERS BASED IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS ARE REQUIRED TO TEACH.
LET ME REPEAT THAT 20% MORE SECOND WORLD LANGUAGE TEACHERS IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS HAVE ON AVERAGE ABOUT 20 FEWER HOURS TO TEACH THE SAME HIGH SCHOOL CURRICULUM, PARTLY BECAUSE OF THIS EXTRA CLASS THAT WE TEACH.
SO ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO, I STARTED A CONVERSATION TO SEE ABOUT RECTIFYING THIS SITUATION.
BUT YOU SEE, I AM A HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER BECAUSE THIS IS THE MODEL THAT HAS PUT INTO PLACE.
I JUST HAPPEN TO BE BASED IN A MIDDLE SCHOOL, SHE CONTINUED.
QUOTE. ALSO, HIGH SCHOOL COURSES TAUGHT IN MIDDLE SCHOOL ARE TYPICALLY FOR ADVANCED STUDENTS, WHICH PRESUMABLY REQUIRES LESS TIME TO CONVEY THE CURRICULUM THAN GENERAL OR COMPREHENSIVE STUDENTS IN HIGH SCHOOL KNOW.
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF CBG AND SOME HONORS STUDENTS, THIS IS NO LONGER THE CASE BECAUSE CCP MADE IT CLEAR THAT ANY STUDENT WHO WANTED TO TAKE A HIGH SCHOOL LANGUAGE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL WAS ABLE TO DO SO WITH NO PREREQUISITE.
LAST YEAR, I ALSO SUBMITTED A QUESTION FOR DR.
DAUGHERTY SECONDARY VIRTUAL MEETING ONLY TO HAVE MY QUESTION UNANSWERED AS PROMISED.
SO I SET UP A I SENT A FOLLOW UP EMAIL AND NEVER RECEIVED A RESPONSE.
AND LET ME TELL YOU HOW THE INEQUITIES DIRECTLY AND PERSONALLY AFFECT REAL PEOPLE LIKE ME.
FOR MUCH OF MY CAREER, AS I SAID, THIS IS YEAR 36.
I HAVE HAD TO TAKE ON A SECOND, SOMETIMES A THIRD JOB.
I NEVER SEE YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE ALWAYS WORKING.
NOW SHE'S AWAY AT SCHOOL AND I WILL NEVER GET THAT TIME BACK WITH MY CHILD.
I WOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO WORK TWO JOBS OR THREE JOBS.
I WOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO MISS PRECIOUS TIME WITH MY CHILDREN.
I'LL NEVER GET BACK. I WOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO LIE AWAKE AT NIGHT WONDERING HOW AM I TO PAY FOR MY TWO KIDS COLLEGE TUITION OR TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD THE MEDICATION FOR MY ELDERLY PETS? OR HOW MUCH LONGER I'M GOING TO HAVE TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE WITH OVER 300,000 MILES ON IT BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD A CAR PAYMENT.
NOW WE HAVE JACOB WEATHERFORD.
[00:35:03]
MY NAME IS WINTER BROWN.RETALIATION TOWARDS MY DAUGHTER.
MY HUSBAND AND I FOCUS ON THE LIFE SKILLS KIDS GAIN FROM SPORTS VERSUS THE WINS AND LOSSES.
WE TEACH OUR KIDS THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING THE COURAGE TO COMPETE.
WINNING ISN'T WHAT MAKES US PROUD OF OUR DAUGHTERS.
IT'S THE CONTENT OF THEIR CHARACTER AND HOW THEY CHOOSE TO ACT WHEN WE'RE NOT WATCHING.
IF YOU DO NOT STAND FOR SOMETHING, YOU WILL FALL FOR ANYTHING.
WHICH IS WHY I'M SHEDDING LIGHT ON THE NEGLECT, INTIMIDATION AND RETALIATION.
THERE WERE THREE ASSISTANT COACHES.
COACH BROWN QUIT AFTER THE THIRD GAME.
COACH SIMON STATED HE AND THE OTHER ASSISTANTS WERE INSTRUCTED NOT TO SPEAK TO ME BY THE HEAD COACH.
COACH ALEX. ALEX HAS BEEN RESPONSIVE AND ADDRESSING SAFETY CONCERNS, BUT UP UNTIL OUR RECENT MEETING WITH THE PRINCIPAL, SHE FAILED TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST THE HEAD COACH'S ACTIONS. WHEN YOU FAIL TO SPEAK OUT, ESPECIALLY IN THE INTEREST OF CHILDREN, YOU PERPETUATE THE TOXIC BEHAVIOR AND THEREFORE ARE JUST AS GUILTY.
THE PHYSICAL FORM STATES WHEN PARTICIPATING IN SPORTS COMES A RISK OF INJURY.
I UNDERSTAND THIS GETTING HURT IS A PART OF BEING AN ATHLETE.
WHAT I WASN'T PREPARED FOR WAS WANDA'S NEGLIGENCE.
BEFORE TWO GAMES, I HAD TO ASK RANDOM TEACHERS TO SWEEP IT WHILE THE OPPOSING TEAM WAS ALREADY ON THE FLOOR WARMING UP, ALSO PUTTING THE OTHER GIRLS ON THE OPPOSING TEAM AT RISK. WANDA CLAIMS THE FLOOR AT FALLING CREEK IS ALWAYS CLEAN.
NO FIRST AID KITS DURING PRACTICES IN NUMEROUS GAMES.
DURING THE MIDLOTHIAN GAME, A PLAYER AT FALLING CREEK GOT HURT.
NO WATER AVAILABLE TO THE TEAM DURING TIME OUT FOR GAMES.
SCHOOL BOARD POLICY 4135 STATES FOLLOWING A HEAD INJURY.
WANDA EMAILED ME ON SEPTEMBER 20TH.
IT STATED ON SEPTEMBER 26TH, KIRA IS EXPECTED TO RETURN IN FULL CAPACITY.
YOUR POLICY STATES A CLEARANCE IS REQUIRED WHEN A PLAYER HAS A HEAD INJURY.
NEVERTHELESS, WE COMPLY UNTIL KIRA, MY DAUGHTER.
SHE COULD RETURN TO PLAY ON THE 26TH OF SEPTEMBER.
ON SEPTEMBER 21ST, SHE WAS PULLED FROM CLASS.
THEY RIPPED HER FROM CLASS AND DELIVERED THE NEWS, WHICH SHOWS A LACK OF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE.
NO COACH NOTIFIED ME OR MY HUSBAND.
HER YOUNGER SIXTH GRADE SISTER HAD TO DELIVER THE NEWS.
WANDA REQUIRED KIRA GET A DOCTOR'S CLEARANCE FOR A BROKEN ANKLE.
WE COMPLY. SHE THEN TOOK IT UPON HERSELF TO OVERRIDE THE DOCTOR'S ORDERS.
I CONFRONTED HER ABOUT EXCESSIVE RUNNING.
THIS IS HOW PEOPLE ARE COACHED IN NEW YORK, WHICH IS WHERE SHE IS FROM.
IT'S TEACHING THEM AT A YOUNG AGE TO IGNORE THEIR BODY'S EARLY WARNING SIGNS.
I WANT EACH OF YOU TO ASK YOURSELVES IF WANDA WINSLOW, COACH ALEX AND SIMON WERE COACHES AT YOUR DAUGHTER'S MIDDLE SCHOOLS, WHICH ARE PREDOMINANTLY WHITE AND CHESTERFIELD WHAT THEIR NEGLIGENT BEHAVIOR AND INTIMIDATION BE TOLERATED? OR IS THIS ONLY ACCEPTABLE AT FALLING CREEK MIDDLE? THANK YOU.
MAY WE HAVE ASHLEY ALBANO? GOOD EVENING. I'M ASHLEY APLIN.
I'M HERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE CONTINUED STUDENT SAFETY SURROUNDING OUR, LET ME BACK UP.
YOU MAY RECALL A YEAR AGO THIS MONTH, I ACTUALLY CAME HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE CONCERNS WITH A PLANNED WALKOUT AT MIDLOTHIAN MIDDLE SCHOOL, WHICH WAS PUBLICIZED ALL OVER THE MIDLOTHIAN COMMUNITY IN THE SO CALLED EVENT, WHICH WAS NOT A SCHOOL SPONSORED ACTIVITY.
IT WAS REGARDING THE SAME ISSUE.
AGAIN, AS IT IS VERY CLEAR IN THE CODE, EACH SCHOOL BOARD SHALL ADOPT POLICIES THAT ARE CONSISTENT WITH, BUT MAY BE MORE COMPREHENSIVE THAN THE MODEL POLICIES DEVELOPED BY THE VDOE PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION A IN THE CODE OF VIRGINIA PASSED IN 2021.
LET'S COMPARE THE TWO MODELS POLICIES THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN PLACE.
[00:40:03]
WE HAVE 2021 AND THE BIGGEST, AND THAT'S CURRENTLY IN EFFECT.AND IT STATES THAT ALL SCHOOL PERSONNEL SHALL ADHERE TO LEGAL STANDARDS OF CONFIDENTIALITY RELATING TO INFORMATION ABOUT A STUDENT'S GENDER IDENTITY, LEGAL NAME OR SEX ASSIGNED AT BIRTH EVEN TO THE PARENTS SCHOOLS SHALL ELIMINATE THE PRACTICE OF SEGREGATING STUDENTS BY GENDER.
WHY? FOR ANY SCHOOL PROGRAM, EVENT, OR ACTIVITY THAT ARE SEGREGATED BY GENDER.
WHY ACCESS TO FACILITIES SUCH AS RESTROOMS AND LOCKER ROOMS CORRESPOND TO A STUDENT'S GENDER IDENTITY? WHY 2022.
DISCUSSED LAST YEAR PUT INTO EFFECT AND OFFERED TO SCHOOL BOARDS THROUGHOUT VIRGINIA IN JULY OF THIS YEAR, 2023 JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO. THE DIFFERENCE SCHOOLS SHALL RESPECT PARENTS, VALUES AND BELIEFS.
SCHOOLS SHALL DEFER TO PARENTS TO MAKE THE BEST DECISION WITH RESPECT TO THEIR CHILDREN.
THE WORD SEX MEANS BIOLOGICAL SEX.
FOR ANY SCHOOL PROGRAM, EVENT OR ACTIVITY.
PARTICIPATION OF STUDENTS SHALL BE DETERMINED BY SEX.
IT PROTECTS MY CHILD, MY 14 YEAR OLD GIRL.
DO YOU KNOW HOW WEIRD IT WAS TO SEE A PUMPED UP DUDE WALKING OUT OF THE STALL LOOKING AT ME? AND CAN YOU IMAGINE MY GIRL IF SHE WERE EXPOSED TO A COMPLETELY INTACT MALE? BIOLOGY. THIS IS.
WE NEED TO BEGIN PASSING THE POLICIES THAT VIRGINIANS VOTED FOR.
OF OUR COMMENTS IN THE SHE'S NOT HERE TODAY BECAUSE HER SON I HEARD HER CONCERNS IN MINUTES.
YES. YOU CAN BRING THEM UP HERE TO ELKIE.
AND CALL THE NEXT FIVE SPEAKERS MARTY PILAFIAN, TRACY ROBERTSON, SHELLEY MURRAY, JERRY COWAN AND KATHRYN PATERSON.
I'M HERE TO DISCUSS THE TWO BILLS OF RIGHTS OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION THAT HAVE TO DO WITH THE PREVENTION OF BANNING BOOKS.
AND ONE OF THEM IS THE FIRST AMENDMENT, THE RIGHT OF FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION.
AND THAT NOT ONLY ENTAILS SPEAKING IN PUBLIC, BUT IT ALSO ENTAILS LISTENING TO TAPES AND TELEVISION AND MOVIES.
HENCE, THE LIBRARIES ARE A PRIME TARGET OF BOOK BANNING.
I JUST LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU A HISTORICAL VIGNETTE THAT MAKES SENSE, AND THAT IS THERE WAS A YOUNG AFRICAN AMERICAN BOY, NINE YEARS OLD, IN SOUTH CAROLINA IN 1959, AND HE WENT TO THE LIBRARY TO CHECK OUT BOOKS ON AVIATION AND THE LIBRARIAN.
THIS IS BEFORE THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT.
AND THE LIBRARIAN SAID, NO, WE DON'T.
THIS IS NOT A LIBRARY FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS.
YOU CANNOT CHECK OUT A BOOK HERE.
SO SHE CALLED THE POLICE AND SHE CALLED HIS MOTHER.
[00:45:01]
AND THE POLICE ARRIVED AND THEY SAID, WHAT'S THE PROBLEM HERE? AND WHEN THEY FOUND OUT, THEY SAID, WELL, WE DON'T SEE A PROBLEM HERE.AND SAID TO THE LIBRARIAN, PLEASE LET THEM CHECK OUT THE BOOK.
AND SADLY, HE DID DIE YEARS LATER IN THE CHALLENGER ACCIDENT.
BUT MY POINT IS, IT WAS THE BOOKS THAT TURNED HIS LIFE AROUND.
OKAY. HE WAS A VERY SHY YOUNG MAN IN CLASS, BUT OUT OF CLASS IN THAT LIBRARY WHERE HE WASN'T SUPPOSED TO BE, HE DISCOVERED THAT HE COULD LEARN ON HIS OWN ABOUT SPACE, AND THAT'S WHAT HE DID.
NOW, THE OTHER AMENDMENT OF THE BILL OF RIGHTS IS THE 14TH AMENDMENT, AS YOU KNOW.
MR. ROBERTS. AND THAT AMENDMENT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH CLASSIFYING GROUPS OF PEOPLE.
IT'S THE EQUAL PROTECTION CLAUSE.
AND THE 14TH AMENDMENT STATES THAT ALL GROUPS OF PEOPLE SHOULD BE TREATED EQUALLY.
NOW, THAT MEANS THAT PEOPLE THAT DO NOT LOOK LIKE US SHOULD BE TREATED THE SAME AS WE'RE TREATED.
AND THAT'S NOT REALLY HAPPENING HERE.
AND I DON'T MEAN HERE IN THIS ROOM.
I MEAN IN IN THE UNITED STATES RIGHT NOW.
SO MY POINT OF BRINGING THIS UP IS THAT EVERY STUDENT IN SCHOOL HAS THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS NEED TO BE REMINDED THAT THE CONSTITUTION STILL PROTECTS ALL GROUPS OF PEOPLE.
AND FOR THAT REASON, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT RIGHTS DO NOT STOP AT THE LIBRARY DOOR.
AND GOD BLESS THE LIBRARIANS WHO UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION AND ALLOW MR. MCNAIR TO HAVE CHECKED OUT THOSE BOOKS ON SPACE.
GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT DAUGHERTY AND GUESTS.
I LIVE AND VOTE IN THE CLOVERHILL DISTRICT.
I SPENT THE FINAL 15 YEARS OF MY CAREER AT THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, WHERE I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR K 12 ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS INSTRUCTION FOR THE COMMONWEALTH. I WROTE THE ENGLISH STANDARDS OF LEARNING TWICE IN 2010 AND AGAIN IN 2017.
THE VERSION CURRENTLY BEING TAUGHT.
MY MESSAGE TO YOU THIS EVENING IS SIMPLE.
IT'S ONE OF ANTI-BOOK BANNING.
THE ENGLISH TEACHERS AND THE SCHOOL LIBRARIANS UPON EXAMINING THE ENGLISH STANDARDS.
WHAT? WHICH DEFINE WHAT EVERY TEACHER WILL TEACH AND WHAT EVERY STUDENT WILL LEARN.
YOU WILL SEE THAT THERE ARE ABSOLUTELY NO SUGGESTED TEXTS OR READING LISTS IN EITHER DOCUMENT, EITHER THE STANDARDS OR THE CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK. THE REASON IS STRAIGHTFORWARD.
IT IS SO THAT ENGLISH TEACHERS HAVE THE ACADEMIC FREEDOM TO DESIGN THEIR OWN AGE RELEVANT CURRICULA TO BEST MEET THE NEEDS OF THEIR OWN STUDENTS WHILE ACHIEVING THE EDUCATIONAL GOALS SET BY THE STANDARDS.
EACH OF THE 132 SCHOOL DIVISIONS IN VIRGINIA HAS A POLICY THAT ADDRESSES A PARENT'S RIGHT TO CHALLENGE ANY INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS THEIR OWN CHILD MAY READ OR USE.
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY POLICIES NUMBER 3031 ARE OUTLINES THE PROCESS TO BE FOLLOWED TO CHALLENGE ANY INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS AND DELINEATES THE THREE LEVELS OF RESPONSIBILITY.
[00:50:07]
THIS WOMAN IS PART OF A SMALL ARMY OF BOOK OBJECTORS.AN ANALYSIS THE POSTED OF THOUSANDS OF CHALLENGES FOUND THAT 60% OF ALL THE CHALLENGES WERE DONE BY 11 PEOPLE.
LET ME REPEAT THAT 60% OF ALL THE BOOK CHALLENGES IN 20 2122 WERE DONE BY 11 PEOPLE WHO EACH CHALLENGED HUNDREDS OF BOOKS IN THEIR OWN SCHOOL DIVISIONS.
MOST OF THOSE CHALLENGES WERE WERE TARGETING BOOKS WRITTEN ABOUT OR BY A PERSON OF COLOR OR A MEMBER OF THE LGBTQ ONE PLUS COMMUNITY.
STUDENTS SHOULD BE ABLE TO EXPLORE AND ENGAGE WITH WHATEVER TEXTS THEY CHOOSE.
THE DIRECTOR OF THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION OFFICE FOR INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM STATES THESE ATTACKS ON OUR FREEDOM TO READ SHOULD TROUBLE EVERY PERSON WHO VALUES LIBERTY AND OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS POLICY FOR CHALLENGING INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS IS A GOOD ONE.
I URGE YOU, URGE YOU TO FOLLOW YOU.
DAUGHERTY. I'M SHELLEY MURRAY.
I LIVE AND VOTE IN THE CLOVERHILL DISTRICT.
I'M A RETIRED CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL LIBRARIAN WITH 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE AS A LIBRARIAN, WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE CHARACTER FROM A BOOK? I'M BETTING THAT, LIKE ME, YOUR FAVORITE CHARACTER LOOKS A LOT LIKE YOU.
ONE OF MINE IS ANNE ELLIOT, A JANE AUSTEN HEROINE WHO IS WHITE AND STRAIGHT AND PROTESTANT AND GREW UP WITH TRADITIONAL PARENTS HERE IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY.
AND YET THESE STUDENTS LIKE TO READ AND THEY WANT TO READ ABOUT PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE THEM.
THE WORLD OF YOUNG ADULT LITERATURE IS RICH WITH THOSE KINDS OF DIVERSE AND MARGINALIZED CHARACTERS.
TRAGICALLY, BOOKS ABOUT MARGINALIZED PEOPLE ARE NOW TARGETS OF THE FOLKS WHO DO NOT HAVE LIBRARY DEGREES BUT WHO THINK THEY SHOULD CONTROL WHAT THE REST OF US READ. HERE'S A TRUE STORY.
AN EXTREMELY RELUCTANT READER.
A NINTH GRADER, WAS IN MY LIBRARY WITH HIS CLASS TO CHOOSE BOOKS FOR HIS OWN ENJOYMENT.
HE WAS NOT HAPPY. HE WAS VERY LOUD ABOUT IT.
AND HE SHARED WITH ALL OF US THAT HE WAS NOT GOING TO CHECK OUT A BOOK.
AND I SAID TO HIM, I THINK IF YOU HATE READING, YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE RIGHT BOOK.
I KNEW EXACTLY WHICH BOOKS TO PRESENT TO HIM.
I PICKED ONE AND READ A COUPLE OF SENTENCES AND HIS EYES LIT UP AND HE SAID, CAN I CHECK THAT OUT? THAT'S A.
AND I CAN THINK OF NO EXCEPTIONS.
THE MAIN CHARACTERS EITHER MAKE GOOD CHOICES OR CHOOSE THE LESSER OF TWO EVILS.
OR IF THEY MAKE THE WRONG CHOICE, THEY SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES AND THEY LEARN FROM IT.
THAT IS WHAT QUALITY YOUNG ADULT LITERATURE IS ALL ABOUT AND MAYBE EVEN ALL LITERATURE.
A PARENT CALLED ME ONCE TO SAY THAT SHE DIDN'T WANT HER SON TO READ MOUSE ANYMORE.
HE WAS OBSESSED WITH IT, TALKED ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME.
I EASILY PUT A NOTE IN HIS RECORD BECAUSE THE SOFTWARE ALLOWS US TO DO THAT.
[00:55:01]
THE POINT OF THESE STORIES.LIBRARIANS ARE HIGHLY TRAINED.
WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING IN THIS COUNTY.
MOST OF WHICH HAVE BEEN IN PLACE FOR 20 YEARS.
THEY WORK. TRUST THE LIBRARIANS.
WHEN THE POLITICAL CLIMATE HAS COOLED.
AND THE ANGER HAS MATURED INTO A CONCERN FOR WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR STUDENTS.
WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO UNDO THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY LIMITING OUR CHILDREN'S CHOICES.
AGAIN, I SAY TRUST THE LIBRARIANS.
I'M GERRY COWAN AND I'M A RESIDENT OF MIDLOTHIAN AND I AM JUST AN ORDINARY CITIZEN.
AND I'M JUST I'D LIKE TO ASK IF YOU COULD PERHAPS ADDRESS THIS IN SOME WAY.
IT HAS NOT BEEN ADOPTED BY THIS SCHOOL BOARD.
I AM JUST INTERESTED TO KNOW THE REASONS THAT IT HASN'T BEEN ADOPTED.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU PLAN TO PUBLISH THOSE REASONS OR I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOME KNOWLEDGE OF WHERE YOU ARE ON THE REASONS, AND IF YOU HAVEN'T MADE A DECISION, PERHAPS AN INTERIM REPORT OF SOME TYPE ABOUT THAT SUBJECT, BECAUSE AS YOU CAN TELL, THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF INTENSE INTEREST IN THE SUBJECT IN READING THEM.
ONE OF THE CRITICAL FEATURES I NOTICED WAS IT HAD TO DO WITH PARENTAL RIGHTS.
PARENTAL RIGHTS AS IT RELATES TO DECIDING WHAT'S APPROPRIATE REGARDING RAISING THE PARENTS CHILDREN.
A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS THERE AND THEN I'LL BE THROUGH.
I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW FROM THIS BODY THE AREAS IN A STUDENT'S LIFE WHERE THIS BOARD BELIEVES THAT THE PARENTS SHOULD HAVE NO INPUT OR CONTROL.
I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THOSE AREAS ARE.
I'M JUST CURIOUS ABOUT WHERE THE SCHOOL BOARD STANDS ON THAT.
AND ANOTHER POINT OF CLARIFICATION.
THIS BOOK BANNING THE SUBJECT THAT WAS JUST RAISED A FEW MINUTES AGO.
I'M HEARING THAT AT AT BUS STOPS AND WHATNOT.
WHO IS BANNING BOOKS? IS THE SCHOOL BOARD BANNING BOOKS? I MEAN, I READ THE MODEL POLICY.
DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THE MODEL POLICY BANS BOOKS? WHERE IS THIS COMING FROM? I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT.
I THINK THAT, QUITE FRANKLY, THE ISSUE IS FOR PARENTS, AT LEAST THE PARENTS THAT I'VE BEEN SPEAKING WITH, IT HAS TO DO MORE WITH AGE APPROPRIATE LITERATURE AND THE PARENTS HAVING SOME SAY AND CONTROL OVER WHAT THEY BELIEVE OR THEIR CHILD IS AGE APPROPRIATE LITERATURE.
I'VE BEEN A TEACHER IN THE VIRGINIA PUBLIC.
I BEGAN MY CAREER IN 1977, BECAME TEACHER OF THE YEAR FOR MY SCHOOL IN 2010, RETIRED IN 2015, AND CAME BACK THE VERY NEXT YEAR AS A READING INTERVENTIONIST THIS SUMMER AFTER TEACHING SUMMER SCHOOL.
BUT FIRST, I WANT TO THANK EACH ONE OF YOU FOR ALL THE HOURS YOU SPEND GIVING YOUR PERSONAL TIME TO ENSURE OUR SCHOOLS PROVIDE THE BEST LEARNING ENVIRONMENT POSSIBLE FOR OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL CHILDREN.
[01:00:02]
I KNOW WHAT A SACRIFICE IT IS BECAUSE YOU, LIKE ME, KNOW OUR SCHOOLS ARE MORE THAN ACADEMICS.I SPEND A LOT OF MY OWN PERSONAL TIME WITH MY STUDENTS OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL HOURS.
ONE OF THESE WAS THE GAME CHANGER AWARD THAT SHE PERSONALLY PRESENTED TO ME AT MY SCHOOL.
AND THAT MADE A BETTER, BIGGER DIFFERENCE TO ME THAN ACTUALLY TEACHER OF THE YEAR, BECAUSE THIS IS WHY I CAME INTO TEACHING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OUR CHILDREN. SO THE TRANSGENDER POLICIES THAT ARE IN PLACE NOW HAVE TAKEN AWAY MY TRUST IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, AS WELL AS MANY OF THE PARENTS THAT I KNOW. WE ARE HARMING OUR STUDENTS ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS ISSUE.
THE ONES WHO ARE NOT TRANSGENDER ARE BEING PUT IN HARM'S WAY, AND THE ONES THAT ARE ARE BEING DECEIVED THAT IT IS OKAY TO CHANGE THEIR BIOLOGICAL SEX, WHICH IS LEADING TO CONFUSION IN THEIR LIVES AND THE LIVES OF THEIR FAMILY.
AND IN THE WORST CASE SCENARIO LEADING TO HARMFUL, IRREVERSIBLE SURGERIES.
SHE CAME OUT OF THIS CONFUSION, BUT SHE CANNOT CHANGE THE DAMAGE IT DID TO HER BODY.
I FEEL LIKE THE PUBLIC SCHOOL WHICH I WAS ATTENDING FAILED ME.
WHEN I WAS A SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL, I BEGAN AN INAPPROPRIATE RELATIONSHIP WITH ONE OF THE TEACHERS.
I KEPT THIS A SECRET FROM MY PARENTS AND EVEN MY FRIENDS BECAUSE I KNEW IT WAS WRONG.
WHEN I LOOK BACK, IT'S AS IF A POWER TO CONTROL ME THAT I COULD NOT STOP.
I WAS CONFUSED. I NEEDED HELP, BUT I DID NOT KNOW IT.
HOWEVER, THERE WAS ONE PERSON WHO DID KNOW MY SCHOOL PRINCIPAL.
HE WAS FULLY AWARE AND DID NOT NOTIFY MY PARENTS OR TRY TO STOP IT.
THIS LED TO AN IRREVERSIBLE DECISION I MADE.
A DECISION I WOULD COME TO REGRET FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.
MY COUNSELOR FRIEND AT ONE OF OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS SAYS BEING TRANS IS A FAD NOW.
IT'S POPULAR, LIKE GETTING YOUR EARS PIERCED.
I THINK THIS IS BECAUSE WE AS A SCHOOL SYSTEM HAVE EMBRACED IT, BUT I THINK WE AS A SCHOOL SYSTEM ARE ENCOURAGING OUR CHILDREN TO MAKE THE WORST MISTAKE OF THEIR LIVES LIKE I DID.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LISTENING.
THE NEXT THE NEXT FIVE SPEAKERS ARE LAURA BURGESS, JONES, BRIAN HOBBS, CAMILLE CURRY, JONAH CORCORAN AND CAMERON FRANCIS. MAY WE HAVE LAURA BURGESS JONES.
MY NAME IS LAURA BURGY JONES, AND I'M A PROUD SUPPORTER OF PUBLIC EDUCATION.
FOR YEARS, I'VE SHOWN THIS SUPPORT, QUIETLY DOING MY BEST TO PROVIDE FOR AND ENCOURAGE MY CHILDREN, MEET AND APPRECIATE THEIR TEACHERS AND VOLUNTEER ONCE IN A WHILE AS MY WORK SCHEDULE ALLOWS.
BUT BEING QUIET IS NO LONGER AN OPTION.
I'M ALSO HERE BECAUSE I'M CONVINCED THAT AS A COMMUNITY, WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.
I HAVE BEEN TALKING WITH MY NEIGHBORS ABOUT EDUCATION IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
ALL OF US WANT THE BEST FOR OUR KIDS.
RHETORIC THAT ULTIMATELY THREATENS THE SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN.
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS SHOULD BE A PLACE WHERE STUDENTS ARE WELCOME TO SHOW UP AS THEIR AUTHENTIC SELVES, WHERE THEY ARE NOT TAUGHT WHAT TO THINK, BUT HOW TO THINK, WHERE THEY ARE SAFE TO LEARN AND GROW, AND WHERE THEY ARE SHOWN.
[01:05:04]
HOW TO SHARE A COMMON PUBLIC SPACE WITH OTHERS WHO ARE LEARNING AND GROWING TOO.EVERY STUDENT DESERVES TO FEEL WELCOME AT SCHOOL.
ALL OF OUR STUDENTS, INCLUDING THOSE WHO IDENTIFY AS TRANS AND LGBTQ, ARE FULL HUMANS WHO DESERVE TO FEEL SAFE AND TO BE SEEN, HEARD, RESPECTED AND VALUED BY THEIR TEACHERS AND THEIR COMMUNITY.
ANYTHING LESS IS DISCRIMINATORY, DISMISSIVE, DIVISIVE AND HARMFUL.
WHEN STUDENTS FEEL SEEN, HEARD, RESPECTED AND VALUED, THEY FEEL SAFE.
THEY ENJOY LEARNING AND ARE ABLE TO FULLY PARTICIPATE IN THEIR EDUCATION BECAUSE THEY FEEL THAT THEY BELONG AND THAT THEY HAVE SOMETHING TO CONTRIBUTE.
WHEN OUR KIDS EXPERIENCE THAT SENSE OF EMPOWERMENT AND POSSIBILITY, THEN THEY THRIVE IN SCHOOL AND THEY GROW INTO ADULTS WHO ARE COMPASSIONATE, CURIOUS AND LEAD WITH COURAGE.
I'M SPEAKING HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE THE VALUES OF KINDNESS, WELCOME, BELONGING, COMMUNITY AND INCLUSION ARE DEEPLY IMPORTANT TO ME.
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TRULY WELCOMING FOR ALL STUDENTS.
DOING SO WILL PROMOTE THE SAFETY AND WELL BEING OF STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES, AS WELL AS TEACHERS AND WILL BENEFIT OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.
DOCTOR DAUGHERTY AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
MY NAME IS BRIAN HOBBS, AND I'M FROM THE BERMUDA DISTRICT, ATTENDING THOMASVILLE AS A SENIOR.
THE ASPECT OF BLACKLISTING BOOK MATERIAL FOR THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS PER YEAR.
JUST BECAUSE YOUR OPINION REGARDING THESE NOVELS REVOLVE AROUND NOT FEELING COMFORTABLE ENOUGH TO ALLOW YOUR CHILD TO READ OR FEELING UNEASY BECAUSE YOU CAN'T STAND THE COMING GENERATIONS. TO BE EXPOSED TO GENDER AND SEXUAL EXPRESSION DOES NOT GIVE YOU THE RIGHT IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM TO DISMISS ANYONE'S ABILITY TO READ OR ATTAIN ANY OF THIS KNOWLEDGE. THE ORGANIZED EFFORTS TO BAN THESE BOOKS WILL JUST CONTINUE TO LIMIT THE ARRAY OF LITERATURE THAT CAN IN FACT AFFECT STUDENTS IN OPTIMISTIC AND MEANINGFUL WAYS.
ABOUT 1 IN 4 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IDENTIFY AS LGBTQ, ACCORDING TO A REPORT PUT TOGETHER BY THE CDC IN 2021, 75.5% OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IDENTIFIED AS HETEROSEXUAL, 12.2% IDENTIFIED AS BISEXUAL, 5.2% IDENTIFIED AS QUESTIONING, AND 3.9% AS OTHER LGBTQ RELATED BOOKS ARE PRESENT AND MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL LIBRARIES NOT TO BRAINWASH STUDENTS, NOR IS IT PRESENT TO CONFUSE OR PUSH ANY LIFESTYLE ON ANYONE.
MANY KIDS WHO WALK THE HALLS AT MY VERY SCHOOL FEEL LOST AT THEIR YEARS AND YEARS OF SEEING MANY HETEROSEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH SEX BOOKS, SEX ED CLASSES AND EVERYDAY LIFE, YET FEW EXAMPLES OF LGBTQ LIFESTYLES.
FOR THEM TO WALK TO THE LOCAL LIBRARIES AND SCHOOL LIBRARIES AND FIND COUNTLESS BOOKS TELLING STORIES AND AUTOBIOGRAPHIES ABOUT PEOPLE WHO GREW UP WITH TWO MOMS OR PEOPLE WHO GREW UP WITH TWO DADS, OR EVEN PEOPLE WHO FELT ALONE COMING OUT TO THEIR LOVED ONES BUT FELT EMBRACED ONCE THEY HAD THE COURAGE TO.
THESE TOPICS MAKE THEM FEEL LIKE THEY'RE NOT THE ONLY ONE.
BOOKS GIVE VOICES TO THOSE IN NEED.
BOOKS ESTABLISH PLATFORMS OF CREATIVITY TO SPREAD AWARENESS TO MANY WAYS OF LIFE AROUND THE GLOBE.
BOOKS ARE FOR THE YOUTH, SO PLEASE ALLOW THESE PEOPLE TO FIND THEMSELVES WITHIN ONE.
[01:10:10]
GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR.DOCTOR DAUGHERTY AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
WITH THIS WIDE VARIETY OF BOOKS, STUDENTS CAN NOT ONLY READ FOR ENTERTAINMENT, BUT ALSO FOR KNOWLEDGE AND CAN USE BOOKS AS A WAY TO UNDERSTAND THE WORLD PEOPLE AND GET TO UNDERSTAND THEMSELVES BETTER.
THIS IS WHY WE SHOULD KEEP ALL BOOKS IN OUR LIBRARY SO THEY CAN BE USED AS A GATEWAY TO UNDERSTAND CULTURE AND COMMUNITY AROUND US AND TO LET THE YOUNGER AND EVEN THE OLDER GENERATION UNDERSTAND THE MENTALITY OF THESE NEW COMMUNITIES AND TO BETTER ACCEPT THEIR MOTIVES.
THESE BOOKS CAN GIVE THE PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT RACES, RELIGION AND SEXUALITY THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE TO BE ACCEPTED INTO OUR COMMUNITY SO THEY CAN THRIVE IN MORE DIVERSE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT, TO GROW A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE AND IMAGINATION, TO HELP BRING US TOGETHER AND GIVE US A BETTER AND MORE EFFECTIVE IDEAS ON TO PUSH US AS PEOPLE AND TO HELP PAVE THE WAY INTO A BRIGHTER FUTURE.
DOCTOR DUARTE AND MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD.
I'M A STUDENT AND A RESIDENT IN THE BERMUDA DISTRICT.
AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON THE ISSUE OF BANNING BOOKS IN OUR SCHOOLS.
IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY HAVE PUSHED TO REMOVE BOOKS WITH CERTAIN MATERIALS FROM SCHOOLS, CITING PERSONAL VALUES OR DESIRE TO SHIELD THE SHIELD THEIR CHILDREN FROM THEIR CONTENTS.
TO THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT FOR YEARS BEFORE THE RISING NUMBER OF BOOK BANS IN 2021 AND 2020, TWO LIBRARIANS, PARENTS AND STUDENTS ALIKE HAVE USED THEIR DISCRETION AND HANDLED SENSITIVE MATERIAL IN BOOKS WITH EASE.
WHILE I AM SYMPATHETIC TO PARENTS WANTING TO MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS ON THEIR CHILD'S EDUCATION AND WHAT THEY ARE CONSUMING, I ALSO BELIEVE THAT IT IS ULTIMATELY UP TO THE PARENTS ALONE, AND ONE FAMILY'S DESIRE SHOULD NOT INFRINGE ON THE RIGHTS OF OTHER PARENTS AND STUDENTS TO DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES WHAT THEY WANT.
THINGS ARE SENSITIVE, MESSY AND UPSETTING.
IT HEAVILY DISCOURAGES CRITICAL THINKING THAT IS MORE THAN NECESSARY IN THE REAL WORLD.
GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR, DOCTOR DAUGHERTY AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
MY NAME IS CAMERON FRANCIS AND I'M A RESIDENT AND STUDENT IN THE BERMUDA DISTRICT.
THIS IS 100% UNFAIR TO THE STUDENTS OF OUR SCHOOL.
JUST BECAUSE SOME PARENTS BELIEVE SOMETHING IS TOO SENSITIVE OR INAPPROPRIATE FOR THEIR CHILDREN.
I BELIEVE THIS HAS TAKEN AWAY FROM OTHERS DUE TO A FEW PARENTS IN THEIR OPINION.
SOME OF THE MORE SPIRITUALLY WOKE BOOKS CAN ACTUALLY TEACH STUDENTS A LOT OF NEW KNOWLEDGE.
DURING MY LIFE I HAVE READ MANY BOOKS THAT HAVE CHANGED MY MINDSET FOR THE BETTER, AND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE BOOKS HAD A DEEP, SENSITIVE TOPIC THAT MADE ME TAKE THE TIME TO ACTUALLY THINK THAT'S HOW BOOKS SHOULD BE.
[01:15:03]
FOR EXAMPLE, DEAR MARTIN IS MY ALL TIME FAVORITE BOOK TO THIS DAY, AND WITHIN THAT BOOK THERE ARE GROWN ADULT SITUATIONS THAT OUR NEW GENERATION SHOULD BE EXPOSED TO BECAUSE THINGS LIKE THIS HAPPEN EVERY DAY.PARENTS ARE NOT ALWAYS GOING TO BE ABLE TO PROTECT THEIR CHILDREN FROM THE WORLD.
IT'S A PART OF GROWING UP AND WITH GROWING UP, THERE'S GOING TO BE GROWING UP TOPICS.
IF THAT IS HOW PEOPLE WANT TO RAISE THEIR CHILDREN, THEN BY ALL MEANS GO FOR IT.
BUT THIS DOES NOT MEAN BOOKS NEED TO BE REMOVED FROM LIBRARIES.
SIMPLY JUST MAKE SURE YOUR KID DOES NOT READ IT.
IF IT'S EVEN IF IT'S DIFFERENT, IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT IT'S NOT INSPIRATIONAL.
PARENTS ARE WORRYING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT REALLY ISN'T BOTHERING THEM.
BOOKS SHOULDN'T JUST BE LIMITED TO WHAT SOME PARENTS BELIEVE SHOULD BE DEEMED OKAY.
MAYBE THEY SHOULD LET KIDS FIGURE OUT THEIR OWN PATH.
MAYBE THEY'LL ACTUALLY ENJOY READING IT.
TAKE THE TIME TO THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH YOU COULD BE TAKING AWAY FROM THESE STUDENTS.
I TRUST THAT YOU ALL WILL MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION, AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
DR. DAUGHERTY AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
MY NAME IS TIARA JOSEPH AND I AM A STUDENT IN RESIDENT OF THE DISTRICT.
TODAY I COME TO ENCOURAGE ALL WHO UNDERSTAND THE POWER OF KNOWLEDGE AND VISIBILITY TO DETACH YOUR PERSONAL BELIEFS AND EMOTIONS AND THINK HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR KIDS TO SEE THEIR IDENTITY REPRESENTED IN BOOKS.
ASK FOR EVERYONE HERE TODAY TO STEP OUT OF THEIR COMFORT ZONES AND LISTEN.
TO REMOVE BOOKS THAT INTRODUCE SOCIAL ISSUES TO STUDENTS IS TO REMOVE THE RIGHT TO LEARN.
THE RIGHT TO BE CURIOUS AND THE RIGHT TO EXPLORE THEMSELVES.
AVAILABILITY AND ACCESS TO ALL STUDENTS IS CRUCIAL.
DOCTOR DAUGHERTY AND MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD.
MY NAME IS IMANI SCOTT AND I AM A STUDENT AND RESIDENT WITHIN THE BERMUDA DISTRICT.
I'M STANDING BEFORE YOU ALL TODAY TO SPEAK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE THREAT OF BANNING BOOKS.
WHY? BECAUSE EVERY STUDENT'S LIFE IS DIFFERENT.
TO PROHIBIT SOMEONE FROM READING SOMETHING THEY MAY FIND RELATABLE OR ENLIGHTENING IS TO BLOCK THEM FROM KNOWING THAT THEY ARE SEEN AND HEARD THAT THEY ARE NOT ALONE IN WHAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH. FOR EXAMPLE, BOOKS LIKE THE HATE U GIVE THAT I'VE PERSONALLY READ SPEAKS ON THE ISSUE OF POLICE OF POLICE BRUTALITY IN MY OWN.
MY OWN COMMUNITY FACES THE HATE U GIVE.
FOR THAT REASON, YOU CANNOT TELL ANOTHER PARENTS CHILD WHAT THEY CAN OR CANNOT READ.
MOREOVER, BANNING BOOKS PROMOTES LIMITED IDEAS.
BOOKS INSPIRES MILLIONS OF PEOPLE.
IT HAS LED TO SOME OF THE MOST POPULAR AND PROLIFIC PIECES OF LITERATURE AND PURSUITS.
TO TAKE AWAY BOOKS IS TO TAKE AWAY FUTURE GENERATIONS ENDEAVORS.
BANNING BOOKS IS TO WITHHOLD BRIGHT IDEAS THAT WILL MAKE THIS WORLD BETTER.
FAR AFTER YOU ALL HAVE GONE, READING LEADS TO PROLIFIC FORMS OF ART.
LASTLY, IT CREATES AN INCREASE IN UNEDUCATED AND CLOSED MINDED CHILDREN.
[01:20:04]
THESE BOOKS THAT ARE CONTROVERSIAL HOLD INFORMATION AND ACCOUNTS THAT ARE NOT TALKED ABOUT ENOUGH.ACCORDING TO STATISTICS, MOST OF THE BOOKS BEING BANNED IN OTHER STATES ARE TARGETED TOWARDS 13 TO 17 YEAR OLDS, WHICH IS ONE OF THE MOST VITAL AGES FOR HUMAN BEINGS AND WHO THEY CHOOSE TO BECOME SENDING A CHILD INTO A WORLD THAT THEY ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH CAN DAMAGE THEM AND THE PEOPLE AROUND THEM.
KIDS CAN BE PREPARED FOR THE REAL WORLD.
THAT IS HOW POWERFUL ONE BOOK CAN BE TODAY.
I HAVE LAID OUT THESE REASONS THAT STEM FROM RATIONAL AND LOGICAL THINKING.
TRUST THE LIBRARIANS AND FOLLOW THE POLICY.
AND A LOT OF TALK ABOUT BOOK BANNING TODAY.
I DON'T KNOW MANY FOLKS WHO WANT TO ACTUALLY BAN BOOKS.
IN VIRGINIA, PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE FINALLY BEEN RELEASED.
IN FACT, THERE SEEMS TO BE NO SENSE OF URGENCY AT ALL TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN.
I WONDER WHY THE DELAY? IS IT LEGAL CONCERNS? I MEAN, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE ADDRESSES THAT IN HIS MEMO DATED AUGUST OF THIS YEAR.
YOU KNOW, IS IT THE GRIMM DECISION? YOU KNOW, MANY LEGAL FOUNDATIONS HAVE SUGGESTED THAT THAT APPLIES TO A VERY NARROW POPULATION AND SHOULDN'T BE APPLIED AS A BROAD UMBRELLA.
SO WHY WHY THE DELAY? AGAIN, PROTECTING CHILDREN SHOULDN'T BE A CAN THAT WE KICK IT TILL JANUARY? THERE SHOULD THERE ARE CHILDREN WHO ARE IN HARM'S WAY RIGHT NOW.
I'LL BE THE FIRST TO ADMIT THE MODEL POLICIES AREN'T PERFECT AND THEY HAVE ROOM TO BE STRONGER.
THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED NOW, NOT MONTHS FROM NOW.
WE THINK IT'S PAST TIME TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN, ALL OF OUR CHILDREN.
AND ADOPTING THESE MODEL POLICIES WILL BE A STRONG STEP FORWARD TO THAT GOAL.
WE THINK IT'S PAST TIME TO REBUILD THE TRUST THAT'S BEEN LOST WITH PARENTS.
HELLO, MY NAME IS LILITH CHEVALIER.
I'M A PRODUCT OF THE CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.
[01:25:01]
I GRADUATED FROM CRESTWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, PROVIDENCE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND MONACAN HIGH SCHOOL.THERE WAS NO EQUITY CRITICAL RACE THEORY, NOR SEXUALITY OR GENDER POSTURING BACK IN THE 80S AND 90S.
AS AN IMMIGRANT CHILD, MY PARENTS PUT THEIR FULL TRUST IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM AS THEY FOCUSED ON PROVIDING A STABLE HOME AND FOOD ON THE TABLE FOR ME AND MY THREE SIBLINGS. HAD I BEEN RAISED IN CURRENT TIMES, THERE IS NO TELLING WHERE I WOULD BE MENTALLY AND PERHAPS PHYSICALLY WITH EVERYTHING KIDS ARE KIDS TODAY ARE EXPOSED TO. I BLAME OUR FIRST WORLD PROBLEMS ON THE INCREDIBLY TOXIC CULTURE THAT THRIVES ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE INDOCTRINATION THAT IS QUIETLY BUT AGGRESSIVELY TAKING PLACE IN OUR SOCIETY, INCLUDING OUR SCHOOLS.
TO BE HONEST, HOW IS IT THAT SEX TALK IN THE WORKPLACE IS NOT ACCEPTABLE AND CONSIDERED SEXUAL HARASSMENT? YET SEX TALK IN SCHOOLS AND QUESTIONABLE BOOKS IN THE LIBRARIES ARE ACCEPTABLE AND PUT ON SHELVES BEFORE THEY ARE EVEN CAREFULLY REVIEWED FOR CONTENT.
I HAVE AN 18 YEAR OLD WHO JUST GRADUATED FROM CLOVER HILL HIGH SCHOOL AND A 10TH GRADER CURRENTLY ENROLLED AND WITNESSING INAPPROPRIATE BOOKS ON SCHOOL SHELVES THAT HAVE NO PLACE AT ANY PUBLIC SCHOOL.
I'M HEARING FIRSTHAND STORIES OF STUDENTS PRETENDING TO BE THE OPPOSITE GENDER OR TAKE ON PRONOUNS JUST SO THEY CAN BE, SO THEY CANNOT BE BULLIED, BUT BE ACCEPTED AND TO FIT IN.
I'M WITNESSING TOMBOYS WHO TRULY BELIEVE THEY ARE BOYS IN THE WRONG BODY.
IN REALITY, THEY ARE CONFUSED GIRLS WHO JUST NEED TIME TO FEEL OUT WHO THEY ARE WITHOUT THE PRESSURE OF OTHERS TELLING THEM WHAT THEY NEED TO DO RIGHT NOW. THE BRAIN OF A YOUNG PERSON IS NOT FULLY DEVELOPED UNTIL THEY ARE 25.
PLEASE BE A SCHOOL BOARD THAT NOT ONLY LOOKS AFTER THEIR STUDENTS IN THE PRESENT, BUT ALSO PUTS THEM IN A POSITION TO THRIVE LONG INTO ADULTHOOD, MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY.
I STRONGLY URGE THE SCHOOL BOARD TO TAKE A POSITION AND SUPPORT GOVERNOR YOUNGKIN'S MODEL POLICIES.
THAT IS ALSO THE OFFICIAL GUIDANCE OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.
THESE POLICIES PUT POWER BACK IN THE HANDS OF PARENTS TO PROTECT ALL KIDS.
THE REAL LIFE STORY OF SAGE, A HORRIFIC STORY OF BEING SEX TRAFFICKED NOT ONCE, BUT TWICE.
ALL RESULTED BECAUSE THE SCHOOL REFUSED TO INCLUDE THE PARENT IN THE DISCUSSION.
SAGE WAS TERRIBLY BULLIED IN SCHOOL AND FOUND HERSELF CAUGHT UP IN THE TRANSGENDER IDEOLOGY.
SHE DID NOT TELL HER MOTHER, AND THE SCHOOL CHOSE NOT TO TELL HER EITHER.
SAGE ENDED UP RUNNING AWAY FROM HOME BECAUSE OF ISSUES SHE WAS HAVING AT SCHOOL.
SHE WAS LURED ONLINE AND SEX TRAFFICKED IN DC AND IN MARYLAND.
PARENTS SHOULD NEVER HAVE TO CO-PARENT WITH THE GOVERNMENT, NOR SHOULD IT BE EVER BE UP FOR DEBATE.
PLEASE TAKE A STAND TODAY SO THAT NO OTHER CHILD CAN BE HURT BY THESE CURRENT MODEL POLICIES.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND TIME.
THE NEXT AND LAST THREE SPEAKERS THAT WE HAVE ARE MICHAEL KARABINOS, ROBERT EVERETT AND CLAY THOMAS.
AND WE HAVE MICHAEL KARABINOS.
I'M GOING TO START MY COMMENTS WITH SOME FACT CHECKED.
BEING TRANS IS IN NO WAY COMPARABLE TO THE STATUTORY RAPE BY A TEACHER.
COMPARING THE TWO STORIES IS DISGUSTING.
PUBLIC COMMENT IN THE 30 DAY PERIOD ABOUT YOUNGKIN'S MODEL POLICY HAD 70,000 COMMENTS OVERWHELMINGLY AGAINST THE YOUNGIN 2023 POLICY.
EVERY ANTI-TRANS BILL IN THE LEGISLATURE IN THIS SESSION WAS DEFEATED.
[01:30:04]
THERE IS NO NEED TO ADOPT A POLICY WHEN WE ALREADY HAVE A POLICY IN PLACE THAT MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAW.CHILDREN ARE NOT THE PROPERTY OF THE PARENT.
LESS THAN 3% OF THOSE WHO SEEK GENDER AFFIRMING MEDICAL CARE.
ACTUALLY DETRANSITIONED PERMANENTLY LESS THAN 3%.
THAT'S A RATE THAT'S BETTER THAN CHEMOTHERAPY.
THAT'S A RATE THAT IS BETTER THAN LASIK REGRET.
NO CHILD CAN SEEK CARE WITHOUT A PARENT, A THERAPIST AND A DOCTOR.
SO THAT WEEDS OUT THE WHOLE FAD IDEA.
AND LASTLY, BECAUSE I LOVE TO TRACK MONEY AND SOURCES.
SPEAK UP CHESTERFIELD IS A PROJECT OF THE FAMILY FOUNDATION AND THEIR SPEAK UP VIRGINIA GROUP.
FOR ADOPTING THE INCLUSIVE MODEL POLICY THAT WAS DISCUSSED WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS, CAREGIVERS AND PARENTS TWO YEARS AGO. TWO BOOKS ARE A PARENTS RIGHTS ISSUE.
I DO NOT CO-PARENT WITH RADICAL RIGHT WING MEMBERS OF MY COMMUNITY.
THEREFORE, THOSE MEMBERS DO NOT HAVE A RIGHT TO TELL MY KID WHAT THEY CAN READ.
BECAUSE YOU DISAGREE WITH IT DOES NOT MAKE IT PORN.
LOOK AT ISSUES THAT DOES NOT MAKE IT PORN.
SPOTSYLVANIA JUST BANNED A NUMBER OF BOOKS, INCLUDING THE HANDMAID'S TALE.
CALLING IT PORN SEXUALLY EXPLICIT IS A PLAUSIBLE DENIABILITY PHRASE USED TO GET THE FOOT IN THE DOOR TO THEN GO AFTER BOOKS BY AND ABOUT MEMBERS OF THE QUEER AND BIPOC COMMUNITY.
DO NOT LOSE SIGHT OF THE FACT THAT THERE IS A NATIONWIDE COORDINATED EFFORT TO DISCREDIT OUR SCHOOLS, SABOTAGE OUR SCHOOLS.
GET OUR LIBRARIES. THANK YOU, MR. KARABINOS. ALL TOGETHER.
EVERY TIME I GET GLASS, IT ALWAYS CHANGES EVERYTHING I'M ABOUT TO DO.
SO WELCOME TO THE AD LIB CLUB.
SO I'M CURIOUS, WHY IS THE CAMERA NOT ON MY FACE? IT'S ON MY BACK. WHAT HAPPENED THERE? THAT'S A LITTLE WEIRD TO ME.
I WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE THAT BECAUSE IT'S NOT MR. HARTER, NO DISRESPECT TO YOU.
IT'S NOT EVEN SHOWING MY REPRESENTATIVE.
IT'S THE PURPOSE OF THAT CAMERA INSTEAD OF SHOWING OUR FACES.
AND SO I'LL GET TO THAT IN A MINUTE.
AND SO ON THE BOOKS, YOU KNOW, NOBODY IS GOING AFTER TRANSGENDER BOOKS.
EXCUSE ME, I'M GOING TO SAY IT.
AND I HAVE PULLED THOSE BOOKS OUT OF THE SCHOOL USING THE CHESTERFIELD COUNTY POLICY IN PLACE.
THE SCHOOL HAS A POLICY IN PLACE THAT ALLOWS YOU TO TAKE THOSE BOOKS OUT.
THESE PARENTS AREN'T TAKING THEM OUT.
THEY'RE USING POLICY IN PLACE.
SO LET'S PUT THAT ON RECORD RIGHT NOW.
SECOND, I'M JUST NOT IN THE MOOD FOR THIS TODAY.
THE STRAIGHT PRIDE FLAG, THE FAMILY PRIDE FLAG RIGHT HERE THAT I PRESENTED THE OTHER WEEK.
AND THERE'S NOTHING ATROCIOUS ABOUT THAT.
IT'S JUST A FLAG. I MEAN, IF I BROUGHT THE LGBTQ FLAG OUT, THEN YOU WOULDN'T HAVE CHANGED THE FLAG.
NOBODY CARED. THIS IS NONE OF THIS STUFF SHOULD BE IN OUR SCHOOLS.
I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR TWO YEARS WITH ABSOLUTELY FEELS LIKE NO SUCCESS.
[01:35:01]
AND I HAVE BEEN SO POLITE TO YOU GUYS AND THINGS ARE GOING TO CHANGE.WHAT I WANT WHEN I WANT TO DO NOW IS DO THE AUTO OPT IN THAT WE TALKED ABOUT A LONG TIME AGO.
YOU GUYS ALREADY HAVE AN OPT IN FOR THE PARENTAL NOTIFICATION OF CHECKING OUT BOOKS.
AND SO I GET A RECEIPT WHEN MY KID CHECKS IT OUT.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO ADD ONE MORE THING.
LET'S CHANGE THAT TO AUTO OPT IN INSTEAD OF PARENT.
NO ONE HAS TO GO THROUGH THREE PAGES OF WEB PAGES TO EVEN FIND OUT HOW TO OPT IN IN THE FIRST PLACE.
DOES IT CONTAIN SEX? DOES IT CONTAIN RAPE? DOES IT CONTAIN MURDER? DOES IT CONTAIN INCEST? DOES IT CONTAIN BESTIALITY? WHATEVER IT IS, PUT THAT IN THE RECEIPT AS WELL.
SO THEY KNOW THE PARENTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW THE CHILDREN ARE BELONG TO THE PARENTS.
SO LET'S JUST PUT THAT TO BED.
AND ANOTHER THING, YOU KNOW, OH, MAN, I RUN A YOUNG POLICY.
I GOT A MINUTE AND A HALF. THAT'S AWESOME.
SO I WISH THESE THINGS WERE HIGHER.
THERE WE GO. SO THE PROBLEM I HAVE WITH THAT AND YOU GUYS KNOW IT IS THE OPT OUT.
YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH A PROCESS THROUGH THE STATE TO CHANGE YOUR GENDER MARKER.
AND WHEN YOU CHANGE YOUR GENDER MARKER, THEN YOU HAVE TO DO IT FROM A HEALTH PROFESSIONAL.
THERE'S A WHOLE PROCESS THERE.
AND THE SCHOOLS SAY, WELL, THEY'VE CHANGED THAT, THEN YOU'RE GOOD.
AND YOU KNOW, THEY GET A LETTER FROM THE PARENT, THEY'RE GOOD AND THEY'RE TRANSGENDER.
HOW DO YOU KNOW? ARE THEY GOING TO WEAR A BRACELET? ARE THEY GOING TO WEAR A MARKER OF SOME KIND SAYING, HEY, LOOK, I'M TRANSGENDER, IT'S OKAY, I CAN WALK IN THAT BATHROOM.
AND IF JOHNNY OR SUSIE FEELS UNCOMFORTABLE, THEY HAVE TO GET AN OPT OUT.
IF THEY KNOW ABOUT THE OPT OUT, THE PARENT HAS TO FIND IT.
SO THAT'S THE PROBLEM I HAVE WITH THAT POLICY.
SO IF, SAY, THEY DO FILL OUT THE OPT OUT, THEN GUESS WHAT? THEY'RE SEGREGATED AND HAVE TO GO TO A SEPARATE BATHROOM.
AND SECOND, IF THE PARENTS DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE OPT OUT AND THEY DON'T OPT OUT, THIS LITTLE SUSIE AND JOHNNY GET TO GO TO THE SEGREGATED BATHROOM IF THEY DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT, OR ARE THEY FORCED TO BE IN THAT POSITION TO WHERE THEY'RE EXPOSED TO THE OPPOSITE SEX? TO ME, I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT'S GOING TO BE ENFORCED, THAT PORTION OF IT.
AND I DO NOT THINK THAT TO ME, I UNDERSTAND THE GOOD THINGS ABOUT THAT POLICY.
I SEE IT, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE STRENGTHENED.
I AGREE WITH. YEAH, AGREED, JASON.
I AGREE WITH THAT. IT NEEDS TO BE STRENGTHENED.
YOU GUYS HAVE THE POWER TO DO THAT.
SO WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS THIS IS IT.
AND ANOTHER THING TOO, I THINK YOU GUYS NEED TO BREAK YOUR SILENCE, BREAK THE RULES.
PEOPLE FEEL DISENGAGED WITH YOU GUYS.
THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO EMAIL YOU SOMETIMES.
AND SO I'M TRYING TO EDUCATE THEM.
SO MAYBE CHANGE THE RULES LIKE THAT BECAUSE I'VE BEEN OTHER SCHOOL BOARDS WHERE THEY DO THAT.
SO ANYWAYS, ROBERT ELDRIDGE, VIRGINIA FIRST, THANK YOU.
AND DR. DAUGHERTY AND THE REST OF THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
BEFORE I SPEAK, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT WHAT A GREAT THING TO FOLLOW TO TWO THINGS OFF OF ONE OF THE TWO VERY CONTRASTING OPINIONS TO FOLLOW UP WITH. AND SO TO BRING THINGS BACK TO JUST A BIT OF FACTS AND STATISTICS, I WOULD LIKE TO JUST BRING UP A CONCERN I HAVE CONCERNING THE I'VE HEARD PLENTY OF THINGS BEING THROWN AROUND TONIGHT ABOUT PROTECTION AND DEFENSE.
THAT'S AN INTERESTING POINT TO ME BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT THE STATISTICS FOR IN THE TREVOR PROJECT, IT SAYS APPROXIMATELY 45% OF ALL LGBTQ PLUS RELATED MEMBERS SERIOUSLY CONSIDER SUICIDE.
THAT'S A FIRM STATISTIC WITH 45%.
AND WE HEARD FROM A PREVIOUS SPEAKER TONIGHT THAT APPROXIMATELY 1 IN 4 STUDENTS PER SURVEY FEEL LIKE THEY ARE PART OF THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY.
ACCORDING TO THE 2022 CENSUS, THERE IS 31,328,131 PEOPLE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 10 TO 24, WHICH IS WHAT THE 45% STATISTIC IS FOR.
NOW, WITH THAT IN MIND, IF YOU GO AHEAD AND ADD UP THE 45%, THEN THAT BRINGS YOU TO 14 MILLION, 97,609 AND 59 CHILDREN IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WHO SERIOUSLY CONSIDER SUICIDE EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
HOW MANY OF THOSE STUDENTS END UP GOING THROUGH WITH THAT? THAT WAS NOT A STATISTIC I LOOKED UP BECAUSE I DID NOT WANT TO BRING MYSELF TO TEARS FOR TALKING TO YOU ALL TODAY.
HOW MANY FAMILIES HAVE LOST LOVED ONES? HOW MANY BROTHERS HAVE LOST SISTERS HAVE LOST COUSINS HAVE LOST FAMILY DUE TO A LACK OF EQUITY ? SO WITH TWO MINUTES LEFT, I DON'T HAVE MUCH MORE TO SAY OTHER THAN THERE'S A VERY SIMPLE CHOICE, A CHOICE TO PROTECT THE CHILDREN OR A CHOICE TO PROTECT THE STATUS QUO.
THANK YOU, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE BOARD.
[01:40:09]
MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES THIS EVENING'S PUBLIC COMMENT.IF IT PLEASES THE BOARD, CAN WE TAKE, LIKE, A THREE MINUTE BREAK? THANK YOU. OKAY. THREE MINUTES BREAK.
EVERYONE CAN PLEASE TAKE YOUR SEATS AGAIN.
[E. Superintendent's Report]
WE HAVE THIS EVENING SUPERINTENDENTS REPORT.AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE SEAN SMITH, THE CHIEF OF COMMUNICATIONS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OFFICER, TO GIVE PRESENTATIONS, ESPECIALLY ABOUT FACE.
THANK YOU, DR. DAUGHERTY, BOARD MEMBERS, TO KICK OFF KIND OF SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT THIS EVENING.
WE WANTED TO START SOMETHING NEW FOR SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT AND REALLY TALK ABOUT SOME MEANINGFUL MOMENTS THAT REALLY FOCUS ON INTEGRITY, EQUITY, TEAMWORK AND INGENUITY IN OUR SCHOOLS. TONIGHT, WHAT WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IS A BRIEF VIDEO.
THIS ACTUALLY IS A CONCEPT, AN IDEA THAT DR.
AND SO WE WANT TO TAKE THEIR PICTURE WITH THEIR CAP AND GOWN.
THAT DIPLOMA IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY AT THIS TIME IN HISTORY.
AND THE OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE IS FOR KIDS TO KNOW THAT WE WANT THEM TO MOVE FORWARD AND THEY SEE THEIR PICTURE, YOU KNOW, THE FRESHMAN YEAR AND THEN THEIR SENIOR YEAR AND HOW MUCH THEY'VE CHANGED, BUT ALSO THAT WE MADE A COMMITMENT TO THEM.
AND I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE GREATEST THINGS WE CAN DO FOR OUR OUR ADOLESCENTS COMING INTO SCHOOL.
I'M GOING TO PRESENT, ALONG WITH AMY BARTOLOTTI, WHO IS OUR COORDINATOR FOR THE OFFICE AND.
WE'RE REALLY GOING TO FOCUS ON TWO ASPECTS.
ONE IS TALKING KIND OF A DEEPER DIVE, TYPICALLY, WE COME TO THE BOARD, REALLY UPDATE YOU ON SOME OF THE PROGRAMMATIC PIECES THAT WE DO THROUGH THE OFFICE, BUT ALSO WANT TO TAKE A DEEPER DIVE TO REALLY WALK YOU THROUGH SOME THINGS WE'RE DOING STRATEGICALLY FOR REALIGNMENT AS WELL AS PROGRAMMATIC REALIGNMENT.
THIS IN 2020 WE ADDED A THIRD POSITION AT THAT TIME, THE MULTICULTURAL OUTREACH SPECIALIST.
AND WHAT YOU'LL SEE OBVIOUSLY THROUGH OUR PRESENTATION THIS EVENING IS REALLY SPREADING THAT ACROSS ALL THOSE POSITIONS, KNOWING THAT REALLY THAT IS KIND OF THE CHANGING DEMOGRAPHIC OF OUR SCHOOL DIVISION.
SO WE REALLY WANT TO DO FROM THE STRATEGIC REALIGNMENT IS FOCUSING ON THREE ASPECTS.
THE SECOND PIECE IS COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, AND THE THIRD IS BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS.
[01:45:06]
PREVENTION. THE OTHER PIECES THAT COME WITH THAT OBVIOUSLY IS WORKING CLOSELY WITH SCHOOL BASED STAFF AND OBVIOUSLY BUILDING THAT PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR FAMILIES.THEY'RE ALSO GOING TO BE FOCUSED ON REPRESENTING THE SCHOOL DIVISION, LARGELY ON THE REGIONAL AND LOCAL WORKGROUPS, AS WELL AS BOARDS AND COALITIONS THAT REALLY FOCUS OBVIOUSLY, ON FAMILIES AND SUPPORT EDUCATION.
THE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP SPECIALISTS, THE GOAL THERE OBVIOUSLY IS BUILDING AND MAINTAINING STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE LOCAL NONPROFITS AND AGENCIES WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE NONPROFIT COMMUNITY.
THE SECOND PIECE THERE IS REALLY BUILDING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT PARTNERS SEE THOSE LARGELY THROUGH PREVENTION SERVICES, THROUGH SAFE AND THROUGH THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
IT COULD BE THAT THEY DON'T HAVE A CHILD IN THE SCHOOL DIVISION, BUT CERTAINLY HAVING THE INTENTIONAL ENGAGEMENT TOUCH POINTS FOR SENIOR RESIDENTS AND MEMBERS OF THE MULTICULTURAL COMMUNITY. AMY'S GOING TO TALK ABOUT SOME NEW PROGRAMS WE'RE LOOKING AT, OBVIOUSLY, TO FOCUS MORE CLOSELY ON THAT, THAT PIECE FOR THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.
THE BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP SPECIALIST IS REALLY BUILDING THOSE STRONG RELATIONSHIPS AND REALLY AND CONTINUING TO ENGAGE AND REENGAGE THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AS WELL AS FOSTERING THE STRONG BUSINESS AND SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS.
CERTAINLY AS THE COMMUNITY GROWS AND EXPANDS.
AND AMY IS GOING TO WALK US THROUGH THE PROGRAMMATIC REALIGNMENT PIECES.
GOOD EVENING. SO WHAT DOES THIS THEN LOOK LIKE FROM A PROGRAMMATIC STANDPOINT? FIRST AND FOREMOST, THE SHIFT IS RELATED TO POSITION.
WHILE THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING FOCUS FOR OUR TEAM, THIS IS ACTUALLY GOING TO TO BE VERY HELPFUL AND FORMALIZING THAT OUR FLAGSHIP PROGRAMS THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE USED TO ARE STILL GOING TO CONTINUE.
AND THOSE WILL BE ALIGNED UNDERNEATH THE SPECIFIC POSITIONS WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS THEY SERVE.
IN ADDITION TO THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES THAT OUR SPECIALISTS PLAY WITHIN THE SCHOOL DIVISION, THEY ALSO, AS SEAN SAID, REPRESENT OUR SCHOOL DIVISION ON LOCAL, REGIONAL, STATE BOARDS AND ORGANIZATIONS.
AND THIS REALLY NOT ONLY DOES THIS INVOLVEMENT IN THESE ORGANIZATIONS, WHICH TYPICALLY ARE ALIGNED AROUND SUPPORTING ISSUES THAT IMPACT EDUCATION AND OR FAMILIES AND STUDENTS, IT NOT ONLY ENSURES THAT WE HAVE A VOICE AT THE TABLE AND ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, BUT OUR ROLES IN THESE ORGANIZATIONS REALLY HELP SHOWCASE THE EXCELLENT WORK THAT WE AS A SCHOOL DIVISION ARE DOING WITHIN THE GREATER REGION.
ONE OF THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES IN FAMILY ENGAGEMENT, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT A STAFF PERSON AND 65,000 VERY DIVERSE STUDENTS ACROSS THAT IS WHERE DO YOU KIND OF FIND AND ALIGN THAT PROGRAMING? AND SO, AS SEAN SAID, WE HAVE PICKED SOME OF THOSE KEY TARGET AREAS.
SO AS WE'RE GOING FORWARD THIS YEAR, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE SOME OF THOSE KEY THEMES EMERGE.
ONE OF THESE THINGS ARE AROUND MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS.
BUT YOU KNOW, FROM A VARIETY OF STANDPOINTS, THIS IS A SHAMELESS PLUG.
WE DO HAVE AN EVENT ON THURSDAY EVENING AT THOMAS DALE.
EVERYONE IS MORE THAN WELCOME TO ATTEND.
SO IT STANDS TO REASON THAT OUR FOCUS WOULD BE ALIGNED TO THE WORK OF THE SCHOOL DIVISION.
WHILE WE'VE ALWAYS WORKED TO ENGAGE OUR FAMILIES AROUND ISSUES THAT IMPACT FAMILY ENGAGEMENT, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THIS YEAR MUCH MORE OF A FOCUS AROUND CHRONIC ATTENDANCE AND SUPPORTING POSITIVE ATTENDANCE HABITS, LITERACY.
AND SO WE ARE WORKING WITH DIVISION LEVEL STAFF IN COLLABORATION TO PROVIDE RESOURCES AND PROGRAMING THAT SUPPORT THOSE INITIATIVES, AS WELL AS WORKING SPECIFICALLY AT SCHOOL BASED WITH TEAMS TO HELP THEM KIND OF FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT WORK WITH FAMILIES LOOKS LIKE IN THEIR OWN SCHOOLS.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT.
AND WE WE HAVE THEM IN OUR SCHOOL DIVISION.
[01:50:05]
ATTEND SPORTING EVENTS AND OTHER SCHOOL BASED PROGRAMING, BUT IT'S REALLY GOING TO INTENTIONALLY ENGAGE OUR CARDHOLDERS IN OPPORTUNITIES TO TAKE A DEEPER DIVE IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.SO REALLY KIND OF HELPING THEM CONNECT.
AND THEY'VE EXPRESSED TIME AND TIME AGAIN A DESIRE TO KEEP UP WITH WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR SCHOOLS, TO CONNECT AND TO WITH OUR STUDENTS AND SHARE THEIR TALENTS AND SO WE FEEL LIKE CONFIDENT THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE A MOVE TOWARDS ENSURING THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE ABLE TO DO THAT IN AN ONGOING WAY. WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY AS WE BENEFIT FROM HAVING A CHAMPION, BUT ALSO PEOPLE BENEFIT FROM BEING CHAMPIONS.
AND YOU KNOW, THIS IS KIND OF IN THE SAME VEIN.
WE ARE REALLY FORTUNATE TO HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE VERY WILLING TO SUPPORT OUR SCHOOLS, OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY, AND THEY NOT ONLY SUPPORT OUR SCHOOLS THROUGH PARTNERSHIP, BUT OUR BUSINESS IS BY AND LARGE VALUE THE IMPACT THAT OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, WHICH IS VERY STRONG, IS IT PLAYS AS AN ECONOMIC DRIVER IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WE'RE GOING TO BE BRINGING BACK OUR ANNUAL BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP LUNCHEON THAT WE'VE HAD THAT STOPPED PRE-COVID, BUT REALLY MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE INTENTIONALLY SHOWCASING THOSE PARTNERS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, TELLING THE STORY OF THE ROLES THAT OUR PARTNERS CAN PLAY AND WORKING WITH THE STAFF IN DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS WHO RELY ON BUSINESS PARTNERS TO PROVIDE KIND OF AN ONGOING CONDUIT TO MEET THEIR NEEDS AT THE TIME.
THANK YOU BOTH FOR THE UPDATE.
BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS? YEAH, JUST. THANK YOU.
YEAH. NEXT, WE HAVE ITEMS FOR BOARD REVIEW.
[F. 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 BOARD REVIEW.NUMBER ONE, MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT IMPROVEMENT FUNDS.
NUMBER TWO FY 2024, AUGUST EXPENDITURES VERSUS APPROPRIATIONS.
NUMBER THREE, BUDGET CHANGE REQUEST SUMMARY ACROSS CATEGORIES AUGUST 2023.
NUMBER FOUR, BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS.
NUMBER FIVE, PRE-K UPDATE AUGUST 2023.
NUMBER SIX, HEAD START ANNUAL REPORT.
NUMBER SEVEN, SUMMARY OF EXPENDITURES AND BALANCES.
[G. Superintendent's Remarks]
THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.NEXT, WE HAVE THIS EVENING SUPERINTENDENTS REMARKS.
JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS. ONE, RIGHT NOW, IN THE NEXT TWO DAYS, WE HAVE MISSIONS TOMORROW OUT AT THE RICHMOND RACEWAY, AND EACH DAY WE'LL HAVE FOUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS ATTEND. THEY HAVE ABOUT 25,000 STUDENTS GOING THROUGH THIS WELL-ORGANIZED SIX STATIONS.
THE KIDS, AS THEY GO THROUGH THE STATIONS.
I MEAN, THE ENGAGEMENT OF THE STUDENTS FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS.
YOU'VE BEEN AROUND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS.
IT'S ALWAYS INTERESTING, BUT THEY WERE UNBELIEVABLY ENGAGED.
THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY DID A PHENOMENAL JOB.
AMY DID MENTION I GAVE A PLUG FOR THE THOMAS DALE EVENT ON ON THURSDAY.
WE ALSO HAVE AN EVENT TOMORROW AT THOMAS DALE CELEBRATING HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH.
BUT WE DO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO COME OUT.
WE HAVE EVENTS. VAPING IS A PROBLEM NOT ONLY IN OUR SCHOOLS BUT IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND THE SPEAKER HAS A GREAT DEAL OF INFORMATION.
WE DO NOT HAVE A BOOK BANNING POLICY.
WE HAVE A PROCEDURE THAT IS REVIEWED EXTENSIVELY BY OUR LIBRARIANS AND OUR SCHOOLS DEAL WITH THAT.
SO VERY PLEASED WITH THE POLICY THAT WE HAVE.
AND FINALLY, WE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE IN THE BEGINNING, AND THEN WE HAVE A FEW PEOPLE HERE.
AND BUT I APPRECIATE THE PEOPLE COMING TO SPEAK TONIGHT.
EVERYBODY HAS A DIFFERENT OPINION.
[01:55:02]
YOU'RE GOING TO LIKE THINGS WE DO.YOU'RE GOING TO NOT LIKE THINGS WE DO.
BUT NEVER FORGET YOUR THE KIDS COME FIRST.
AND IF YOU DON'T THINK THAT YOU CAN COME TALK TO ME BECAUSE I'LL SHOW YOU.
BUT WE OUR KIDS COME FIRST ALL THE TIME.
SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND STAYING PAST 8:30.
[H. Announcements, Communications, and School Board Comments]
THANK YOU, DR. DAUGHERTY.NEXT, WE HAVE ANNOUNCEMENTS, COMMUNICATIONS AND SCHOOL BOARD COMMENTS.
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, ARE THERE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS OR COMMENTS THIS EVENING? DONE.
ADULT OR TEENAGER? IT'S NEVER EASY TO STAND AT THE PODIUM, BUT I KNOW THAT WHEN I WAS 16, I DID NOT HAVE NEARLY THAT LEVEL OF POISE.
DAUGHERTY SAID, ARE OUR PRIMARY STAKEHOLDERS, AND IT WAS JUST VERY MEANINGFUL TO HEAR FROM THEM.
I DO APOLOGIZE TO THE LAST SPEAKER.
BUT I DO ADMIRE THEIR THEIR COURAGE AND I HOPE THAT THEY CONTINUE TO TO ENGAGE CIVICALLY.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.