[A. Meeting Opening - 6:30 p.m.]
[00:00:03]
GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.I'D LIKE TO CALL THE NOVEMBER 14TH, 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.
DISORDERLY CONDUCT AND PUBLIC PLACES IN SCHOOL BOARD POLICY, 60 141.
WE WILL NOW HAVE INVOCATION BY MISTER HARTER FOLLOWED BY FLAG SALUTE LED BY MRS. HAINES. LET US PRAY.
MAY WE APPRECIATE AND USE EACH DAY THAT COMES TO US.
WE PRAY FOR STRENGTH AND GUIDANCE FOR EACH DAY AS IT COMES TO US.
EACH DAY'S DUTIES AND EACH DAY'S PROBLEMS. MAY WE BE CHALLENGED TO GIVE OUR BEST ALWAYS.
AND MAY WE BE ASSURED OF YOUR PRESENCE WITH US.
[B. Consent Agenda]
2023 BUSINESS MEETING.MEMO NUMBER 145-23 RECOMMENDED PERSONNEL ACTIONS.
MEMO NUMBER 146-23 FY 2024, ACCEPTANCE OF NEW GRANTS.
MEMO NUMBER 147-23 FY 24, GRANT CHANGES.
MEMO NUMBER 148-23, APPROVAL OF PROGRAM OF STUDIES.
MEMO NUMBER 149-23, APPROVAL OF THE CLASS OF 2024 GRADUATION SCHEDULE.
MEMO NUMBER 150-23, APPROVAL OF REVISIONS TO THE SCHOOL HEALTH ADVISORY BOARD BYLAWS.
MEMO NUMBER 151-23, APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO SCHOOL BOARD ADVISORY COMMITTEES.
MEMO NUMBER 160-23, APPROVAL OF REVISIONS TO THE GIFTED EDUCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE BYLAWS AND MEMO NUMBER 163-23.
AWARD OF CONTRACTS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TEMPORARY NURSING SERVICES.
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO THE CONSENT AGENDA? MADAM CHAIR, THERE ARE NO ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ACTUALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A STATEMENT TO EVERYONE REAL QUICK THAT EARLIER TODAY AT OUR WORK SESSION, WE HEARD A PRESENTATION ABOUT EXTENDING THE SCHOOL DAY FOR ALL SCHOOLS.
I KNOW WE HAVE MANY PEOPLE WHO FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT THIS AND WANT TO SHARE THAT.
BEING EXTENDED EXCUSE ME YES, BEING EXTENDED.
AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO AT THIS MOMENT PULL FROM OUR DISCUSSION AGENDA MEMO NUMBER 162-23.
OKAY. ARE THERE ANY OTHER REQUESTS FROM A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER TO SEPARATE AN ITEM FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA OR DISCUSSION AND INDIVIDUAL ACTION? HEARING NONE, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED? SO MOVED CONSENT AGENDA AS AMENDED.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL? ROLL ON THE MOTION.
NEXT WE HAVE AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS, MR.
[C. Awards and Recognitions]
SMITH. IF I COULD ASK JANINE DELIA TO COME FORWARD THIS TIME.[00:05:06]
JAMES RIVER AND CONNECT PEOPLE TO IT AS THE SCHOOL SYSTEM'S SECONDARY SCIENCE SPECIALIST.JANINE SUPPORTS ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION THROUGH CLASSROOM LESSONS, COORDINATING PADDLE TRIPS FOR HIGH SCHOOLS, AND OVERSEEING A GRANT THAT COVERS WATERSHED EDUCATION FOR THREE MIDDLE SCHOOLS. PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING JANINE.
SO, JANINE, I WAS REALLY EXCITED BY YOUR PROJECT.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW THAT, BUT THIS BOARD BEGAN A COMMITTEE CALLED THE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE, AND ONE OF OUR EARLIER MEMBERS WANTED TO SEE A PROGRAM LIKE YOU JUST MENTIONED AND ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS.
SO THE FACT THAT YOU STARTED ONE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO ONE DAY SUPPORTED ONE.
YEAH, SORRY, SUPPORTED ONE AND HOPEFULLY WITH MORE GRANTS.
SO I'D LOVE FOR YOU TO TALK TO THE [INAUDIBLE] LEAD.
MAYBE YOU CAN TALK GRANTS AND STUFF.
THANK YOU. AND TELL ME PLEASE YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT THIS PROGRAM.
I'M VERY NERVOUS ABOUT IT. AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD GO BACK.
SO GETTING A KID ON THE RIVER AND EXPERIENCING IT IS A JOY.
YAY! IF I COULD ASK OUR SCHOOL PR REPS TO COME FORWARD THIS TIME.
THERE'S A LOT OF JOY IN SHARING GOOD STORIES, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF GOOD STORIES TO SHARE IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THE CREATIVE, CREATIVE AND MEDIA SERVICES DEPARTMENT WORKS TO SPREAD GOOD NEWS IN MULTIPLE WAYS, INCLUDING WEBSITES, VIDEO, SOCIAL MEDIA, NEWSLETTERS, PUBLICATION AND THE NEWS MEDIA.
MANY OF THE GREAT STORIES SHARED FROM EACH OF OUR 67 SCHOOLS START WITH THAT SCHOOL'S PR REP.
WHAT'S A PR REP, YOU MAY ASK? THEY ARE MEMBERS OF TEAM CHESTERFIELD AND EACH SCHOOL WHO VOLUNTEER TO COMMUNICATE THE INNOVATIVE WORK, SUCCESSES, AND OTHER GOOD NEWS TAKING PLACE EVERY DAY.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING OUR SCHOOL PR REPS.
I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO EACH AND EVERY DAY.
WE HAVE 64,000 STUDENTS AND DOES EVERY CHILD HAVE A PERFECT DAY EVERY DAY? NO. AND DO WE HAVE SOME MISTAKES OR BUMPS ALONG THE WAY? OF COURSE. BUT IT'S SO NICE TO HEAR THE WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL THINGS THAT WE DO IN OUR SCHOOLS, BECAUSE THERE ARE PLENTY AND THERE ARE LOTS OF SUCCESSES. AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR TAKING ON THE TASK OF HELPING ENLIGHTEN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS THAT GO ON WITHIN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, IF I COULD ASK OUR DENIM DRIVE SCHOOLS TO COME FORWARD, AS WELL AS OUR PARTNERS AT GOODWILL.
YEAH. THERE YOU GO. PERFECT, PERFECT.
RIGHT. THE ANNUAL DENIM DRIVE IS A PARTNERSHIP AMONG GOODWILL, THE CHESTERFIELD COUNTY COUNCIL PTAS AND CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT TURNS JEANS INTO JOBS WHILE HELPING SCHOOLS.
SCHOOLS FROM ACROSS THE DISTRICT COLLECTED AND DONATED 4202 PIECES OF USED DENIM CLOTHING, WHICH GOODWILL WILL REPURPOSE FOR USE BY CENTRAL VIRGINIA RESIDENTS. THAT'S A 56% INCREASE FROM THE 2688 PIECES DONATED IN 2022.
AS AN INCENTIVE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ANNUAL COMMUNITY SUPPORT PROGRAM.
[00:10:07]
REPRESENTATIVES OF GOODWILL ARE HERE TONIGHT, ALONG WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF OUR FIRST PLACE SCHOOLS.HERE ARE THE TOP SCHOOLS IN THE 2023 DENIM DRIVE.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, FIRST PLACE OLD HUNDRED ELEMENTARY, 480 PIECES.
SECOND PLACE GRANGE HALL ELEMENTARY, THIRD PLACE SWIFT CREEK ELEMENTARY.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OLD HUNDRED ELEMENTARY.
FOR OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND FIRST PLACE, TOMAHAWK CREEK MIDDLE WITH 326 PIECES.
SECOND PLACE, MIDLOTHIAN AND THIRD PLACE ROBIOUS.
CONGRATULATIONS TOMAHAWK CREEK.
AND OUR HIGH SCHOOLS, IN FIRST PLACE MIDLOTHIAN HIGH SCHOOL WITH 593 PIECES, IN SECOND PLACE COSBY HIGH SCHOOL AND IN THIRD PLACE, MANCHESTER HIGH SCHOOL. CONGRATULATIONS, MIDLOTHIAN HIGH SCHOOL.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO YOUR PTAS FOR COORDINATING.
AND LIKE I SAID, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
IT'S NOT A PARTY UNTIL THE BIG CHECKS GET HERE.
AND THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR SCHOOLS.
SO I'M GOING TO ASK, I'M GOING TO ASK, IT'S EASIER THIS YEAR.
SKINNY JEANS, FLARED, DENIM JACKET OR HEAD TO TOE.
HEAD TO TOE. JUST A FULL TUXEDO.
LIKE TODAY. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO? HEAD TO TOE RIGHT.
YES. OH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP.
HERE YOU GO, REBECCA. THAT'S FOR YOU.
GOOD CALL, GOOD CALL. JEAN JACKET.
DRESS IT UP. DRESS IT DOWN. YOU CAN DO ANYTHING.
YEAH, RIGHT. DEFINITELY HEAD TO TOE DURING THE DENIM DRIVE.
I LOVE IT. HEAD TO TOE DENIM DRIVE.
YOU'RE JUST IN IT. YOU'RE IN IT TO WIN IT.
THANK YOU. MY HIGH SCHOOL WOULD TELL ME THAT SKINNY JEANS ARE OUT, SO I WOULD HAVE TO GO WITH FLARE.
THAT'S YOUR HIGH SCHOOL IS WRONG.
WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH TO YOU ALL FOR YOUR WONDERFUL ENTHUSIASM FOR THIS PROJECT.
AND THANK YOU AGAIN TO GOODWILL FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
YES. ON BEHALF OF GOODWILL CENTRAL AND COASTAL VIRGINIA, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT THE DENIM DRIVE IS ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL ONES THAT WE'VE HAD OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEARS, AND ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING THINGS THAT I LOOK FORWARD TO AROUND THIS TIME OF THE YEAR.
I WILL SAY THIS YEAR, THE DONORS AND THE REPRESENTATIVES FOR EACH SCHOOLS, THEY WERE A LITTLE BIT MORE RELAXED AND SOME CAME OUT IN THE RAIN.
ON THE FIRST DAY IT WAS RAINING REAL, REAL HARD, BUT EVERYBODY HAD A SMILE.
ALSO, OUR SECOND ONE IS OUR BOOK COLLECTIONS THAT WE HAVE WITH CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
AND I'M NOT SURE THAT EVERYONE KNOWS THAT THE LIBRARIANS, EDUCATORS, THEY ARE ALLOWED TO COME TO OUR WAREHOUSE AT 6301 AND COLLECT BOOKS TO TAKE BACK TO THE SCHOOLS, AND THEY ARE ALLOWED TO TAKE AS MANY AS THEY CAN CARRY.
SO FROM THE START OF THE PROGRAM, I WANT TO SAY CHESTERFIELD STARTED IN 2018, YOU GUYS HAVE COLLECTED OVER 64,000 BOOKS THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT BACK TO THE SCHOOLS TO GIVE OUT TO THE KIDS.
SO WITH THAT, I SAY THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING AND I'M HERE WHENEVER.
CONTINUED. NOW, WHO DO WE GIVE THE BIG BUCKS TO? I THINK YOU GIVE THOSE TO THE PRINCIPAL.
I MEAN, I CAN HOLD THEM IF YOU WANT.
SHE HAS A SECOND AND THIRD PLACE.
AT THIS TIME, IF I COULD ASK OUR LEARNING WITH YOU PARTICIPANTS, COME FORWARD.
[00:15:18]
LEARNING WITH YOU IS DESIGNED TO HELP MEMBERS OF THE MULTICULTURAL COMMUNITY CONNECT WITH CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.THE LATEST ROUND OF THIS FREE PROGRAM TOOK PLACE THIS FALL, OFFERING PARTICIPANTS INFORMATION ABOUT THE SCHOOL DIVISION, INCLUDING RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES, BY HELPING TCPS LEADERS CONNECT WITH AND LEARN MORE ABOUT MULTICULTURAL COMMUNITIES.
AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO JUAN SANTA COLOMA.
OKAY, GUYS, GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.
AND THIS IS THE LIST OF THE PEOPLE, THE PARTICIPANTS WHO GRADUATE TODAY.
ELIZABETH CASTELLANOS ROMERO, FRANCISCA ESCOBAR, VIVANCO, IT IS YOSHIRA HILL.
AND WE MISS TWO LADIES WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO ATTEND TODAY.
GUYS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ATTENDING LEARNING WITH YOU.
AND REMEMBER, EVERYTHING YOU LEARN DURING THE ACADEMY IS TO SHARE WITH OUR COMMUNITY.
APPRECIATE IT. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO TAKE A SECOND TO THANK JUAN AND AMELIA FOR REALLY STANDING THIS PROGRAM UP AND THE OUTREACH IN OUR COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE MADE AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM AND WHERE THEY CAN GO TO FIND SUPPORT.
SO IF WE CAN, CAN WE GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO AMELIA AND ALSO TO JUAN? AND I KNOW AMELIA WANTS TO SAY A FEW WORDS, SO I'LL LET HER TAKE OVER.
AND IN THAT SAME VEIN, WE ARE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO HOST THIS PROGRAM TWICE A YEAR, AND TO HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS PROGRAM WITH WE ARE NOW AT 120 INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THIS PROGRAM OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, BUT THIS COULD NOT BE DONE WITHOUT THOSE IN OUR SCHOOL DIVISION WHO PRESENT AND PARTICIPATE. AND I'M SITTING AND LOOKING AT MANY OF YOU WHO SPEND YOUR EVENINGS DOING THAT.
SO IF YOU'RE IN THE AUDIENCE AND YOU HAVE PARTICIPATED AS A PRESENTER IN LEARNING WITH YOU, I'M LOOKING AT OUR BOSS HERE, MR. SHAWN SMITH, BUT THEN A SLEW OF OTHER FOLKS PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED BECAUSE IT REALLY IS SUCH A VALUABLE PROGRAM.
AND THIS TIME, AND I KNOW THAT I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO BE TALKING, BUT RON REACHED OUT TO THE 120 PARTICIPANTS AND SAID, YOU KNOW, GIVE ME SOME FEEDBACK, SHARE WHAT THIS PROGRAM MEANT TO YOU.
AND SO AND WE REALLY WANT TO THANK OUR BOARD FOR THIS SUPPORT.
AND SO CHENEY MENDEZ WROTE, THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THING THAT REALLY CAPTURED THAT.
AND SO WE ACTUALLY HAD OUR COMMUNICATIONS TEAM PREPARE IT.
THAT REALLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE.
AND SO IF YOU GUYS WOULD LIKE TO PASS THE MICROPHONE AROUND.
SURE. DO YOU WANT ME TO PASS IT AROUND TO THE BOARD MEMBERS OR PASS IT AROUND UP HERE? ALL RIGHT. IF YOU KNOW THAT PARTICIPANT NOBODY WANTS TO HEAR.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING, I'LL GIVE YOU THE MICROPHONE.
[00:20:01]
IF NOT, YOU COULD JUST PASS IT TO THE NEXT PERSON.THANK YOU SO MUCH, TO BE HERE IT'S A PLEASURE FOR ME.
THIS MOMENT IS AMAZING BECAUSE I HAD NEVER IMAGINED TO BE WITH YOU.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH, EVERYONE, BECAUSE THAT YOU DO FOR YOUTH IN YOUR SCHOOLS IS FANTASTIC FOR OUR CHILDREN'S.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY A LOT THINGS.
HOWEVER, MY TIME IS NOT ENOUGH.
YOURS I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH EVERYONE.
THANK YOU ALL TEACHERS, ALL EDUCATIONS IN THE SCHOOL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
THIS IS A VERY GOOD EFFORT AND A GOOD TOOL FOR SHARED WITH OUR HISPANIC COMMUNITY.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WELL, I FIGURED I'D ASK.
WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING OUT THIS EVENING.
YOU WANT ME TO READ IT OUT LOUD? WE ABANDON OUR LAND, BELONGINGS AND HOMES.
WE'RE NOT JUST A CROWD OF PEOPLE.
WE ARE MORE. WE'RE HUMAN BEINGS, PROFESSIONALS.
PEOPLE WHO HAVE A LOT TO CONTRIBUTE TO SOCIETY ECONOMICALLY, INTELLECTUALLY, AND EMOTIONALLY.
IF I COULD ASK LAURA EARLY, EARLY TO COME FORWARD THIS TIME.
NATIONAL SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY WEEK WAS NOVEMBER 6TH THROUGH 10TH.
SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS SUPPORT STUDENT LEARNING AND MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, PROMOTE POSITIVE, INCLUSIVE SCHOOL CLIMATES, SERVE ON SCHOOL SAFETY AND CRITICAL INCIDENT TEAMS, AND COLLABORATE WITH FAMILIES, TEACHERS, AND ADMINISTRATORS TO IMPROVE STUDENT OUTCOMES.
TONIGHT, THE SCHOOL BOARD HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING NATIONAL SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY WEEK AND HONORING OUR DISTRICT'S 33 FULL TIME SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS, TWO PART TIME SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS, AND THE COORDINATOR OF PSYCHOLOGICAL AND DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES.
MADAM CLERK. FOR OUR NEXT RECOGNITION.
I'D LIKE TO, WELL, WE HAVE INVITED MS..
EARLY UP AND HER TEAM TO JOIN MS..
SO, MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ THE RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING OCTOBER 6TH? SORRY. NOVEMBER 6TH THROUGH 10TH, 2023 AS SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY WEEK.
RECOGNIZING NOVEMBER 6TH THROUGH 10TH, 2023 AS SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY WEEK.
WHEREAS CHILDREN AND YOUTH LEARN BEST WHEN THEY ARE A HEALTHY, SUPPORTED AND RECEIVING AN EDUCATION THAT ENABLES THEM TO THRIVE ACADEMICALLY, SOCIALLY AND EMOTIONALLY. AND WHEREAS, SCHOOLS CAN MORE EFFECTIVELY ENSURE THAT ALL STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO LEARN WHEN THEY MEET THE NEEDS OF THE WHOLE CHILD AND PROVIDE INTEGRATED MULTITIERED SUPPORTS.
AND WHEREAS CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH IS DIRECTLY LINKED TO THEIR LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT, AND THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT PROVIDES AN OPTIMAL CONTEXT TO PROMOTE GOOD MENTAL HEALTH THROUGH CONNECTEDNESS WITHIN THE SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY.
AND WHEREAS SOUND PSYCHOLOGICAL PRINCIPALS ARE INTEGRAL TO INSTRUCTION AND LEARNING, SCHOOL SAFETY, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT, PREVENTION, EARLY INTERVENTION, AND SUPPORT OF CULTURALLY DIVERSE STUDENT POPULATIONS.
[00:25:03]
AND WHEREAS SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY HAS MORE THAN 60 YEARS OF WELL ESTABLISHED, WIDELY RECOGNIZED, AND HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PRACTICE AND STANDARDS THAT ARE CLEARLY ARTICULATED IN THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS MODEL FOR COMPREHENSIVE AND INTEGRATED SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES.AND WHEREAS SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS ARE SPECIALLY TRAINED TO FOSTER AND DELIVER IN THE SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY A CONTINUUM OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND ACADEMIC SUPPORTS THAT LOWER BARRIERS TO TEACHING AND LEARNING.
AND WHEREAS CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS RECOGNIZES THE VITAL ROLE THAT OUR 35 DEDICATED SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS PLAY IN THE PERSONAL AND ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY'S CHILDREN.
AND WHEREAS, SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS ARE TRAINED TO ASSESS STUDENT AND SCHOOL BASED BARRIERS TO LEARNING AND INDIVIDUAL STRENGTHS, USE DATA BASED DECISION MAKING, IMPLEMENT RESEARCH DRIVEN PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION STRATEGIES, AND EVALUATE OUTCOMES AND IMPROVE ACCOUNTABILITY.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE CHESTERFIELD COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD HEREBY PROCLAIMS NOVEMBER 6TH THROUGH 10TH, 2023 AS SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY WEEK AND CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND COMMENCE OBSERVANCE TO ALL OF OUR CITIZENS.
BOARD MEMBERS, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION AS PRESENTED? SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ARE THERE ANY OTHER SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS TO JOIN US AT THE DAIS IN THE AUDIENCE TONIGHT? THAT'S MY DISCUSSION POINT.
NO. OKAY. THERE HAS BEEN A MOTION.
I THINK SO. THERE HAS BEEN A MOTION AND A SECOND.
I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS HONOR.
I'M VERY HONORED TO ACCEPT IT ON THEIR BEHALF.
NEXT WE HAVE RECOGNITION OF OUTSTANDING DRIVER PERFORMANCE.
DR. FREY. MADAM CHAIR, BOARD MEMBERS, DR.
DAUGHERTY AND MR. ROBERTS, 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, AND OUR CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS GO ABOVE AND BEYOND TO ACCOMPLISH THIS MISSION EVERY DAY.
THERE ARE MANY BUS 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.
CURTIS JACKSON, AREA ONE BUS 796 YEARS OF SERVICE.
WITNESS. STAND UP THERE FOR A MINUTE.
MR. CURTIS ALWAYS COMES TO WORK WITH A SMILE ON HIS FACE AND A POSITIVE ATTITUDE.
HIS GOAL IS TO CONNECT WITH AND POSITIVELY IMPACT HIS STUDENTS ON A DAILY BASIS.
THANK YOU. JIM SWARE, AREA TWO, BUS 727, 13 YEARS OF SERVICE. THANK YOU MA'AM.
JIM SAYS HE ENJOYS DRIVING, INTERACTING WITH THE KIDS AND KEEPING THEM SAFE.
MARCIA MALDOON, AREA THREE, BUS 582, THREE MONTHS OF SERVICE.
JOCELYN GINYARD, AREA FOUR, BUS 843, FIVE YEARS OF SERVICE.
[00:30:11]
JOCELYN SAYS SHE LOVES BEING A SCHOOL BUS DRIVER BECAUSE SHE LIKES BEING ABLE TO CONNECT WITH THE STUDENTS AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN CHILDREN'S LIVES.SHE LOVES THAT WHAT SHE DOES MATTERS.
AREA FIVE, BUS 89, ONE YEAR OF SERVICE.
AWARD BEING ACCEPTED BY HER AREA MANAGER, PAM JEFFER.
CONGRATULATIONS, AND I'M HONORED TO STAND HERE AND TELL YOU THAT YOU ARE THE BEST OF THE BEST, AND THAT WE ARE THRILLED TO BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE YOU AS PART OF OUR TRANSPORTATION TEAM, AND TO RECOGNIZE THE SIGNIFICANT IMPACT YOU MAKE ON A DAILY BASIS WITH OUR STUDENTS.
AND SO YOU GUYS TRULY ARE A CRITICAL, CRITICAL PART OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO FOR US.
THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE RECOGNITION OF OUTSTANDING FOOD SERVICE EMPLOYEES, MR. DUNBRACK.
FOR THE FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES DEPARTMENT, SOME OF THOSE THINGS INCLUDE THE COMPLETION OF THE RENOVATIONS AT OUR FOOD DISTRIBUTION FACILITY, WHICH ARE SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETED THIS WEEK.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE AMAZING INDIVIDUALS WHO DEDICATE THEIR TIME AND EFFORTS TO MAKING SURE THAT THE STUDENTS IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY HAVE A BREAKFAST AND LUNCH READY FOR THEM WHEN THEY'RE HUNGRY.
WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE SO MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR HERE.
WE HAVE TWO NOMINEES THAT WERE UNABLE TO JOIN US THIS EVENING.
FIRST, WE HAVE MISS WILLIE JOINER.
MISS JOINER IS A FOOD SERVICE ASSOCIATE AT CLOVER HILL HIGH SCHOOL, AND HAS BEEN WITH CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR 19 YEARS, AND SAYS THAT SHE ENJOYS WORKING IN THE CAFETERIA AND SEEING THE SMILING FACES OF THE STUDENTS WHEN WE SERVE THEM A GREAT MEAL.
THE COMPLIMENTS AND THANK YOUS ARE VERY WELCOMED AND ENCOURAGE ME TO STAY AT CCPS EVEN LONGER.
ALSO UNABLE TO JOIN US THIS EVENING.
MAYFIELD IS OUR CAFETERIA MANAGER AT THE CHESTERFIELD CAREER AND TECHNICAL CENTER AT COURTHOUSE.
BECOMING A LUNCH LADY WAS THE PERFECT FIT WITH YOUNG CHILDREN.
I WAS IN FOOD SERVICE IN LAWRENCEBURG, TENNESSEE FOR 16 YEARS BEFORE COMING HERE.
I STILL GET NERVOUS AND EXCITED EVERY DAY.
DEFINITELY THE BEST PART OF MY DAY.
ALL RIGHT WITH US THIS EVENING.
IT'S SO REWARDING TO BE A PIECE OF THE PUZZLE THAT SERVES OUR DISTRICT EACH DAY.
SHE SAYS THE BEST PART OF MY JOB IS WHEN I CAN PUT A SMILE ON A KID'S FACE.
MISS DEAN IS OUR ASSISTANT MANAGER AT WINTERPOCK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
SHE'S BEEN WITH CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR ONE YEAR.
SHE SAYS, I LOVE MY JOB BECAUSE OF THE PEOPLE I WORK WITH AND ESPECIALLY THE CHILDREN.
I GET TO WATCH THEM GROW AND PUT A SMILE ON MY FACE AND THEY HELP ME HEAL.
[00:35:04]
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.THANK YOU SO MUCH AND CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND TO YOUR COLLEAGUES WHO ARE MISSING TONIGHT.
BUT WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT YOU DO, AND VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
AND I KNOW YOU ALL SPOKE TO IT.
YOU KNOW, TO MAKE THOSE CONNECTIONS WITH YOUR STUDENTS.
I'LL PASS THE MIC ALONG IF YOU WANT TO.
ANYBODY INTERESTED IN ME PASSING THE MIC ALONG OR I'LL.
I DON'T DON'T WANT TO TAKE AWAY YOUR MOMENTS.
IS ANYBODY INSPIRED? HAS THE SPIRIT MOVED YOU? WELL.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
[D. Public Comment]
NEXT, WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT.FOR THIS MEETING, 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. MADAM CHAIR, WE HAVE 30 SPEAKERS THIS EVENING.
STACY. SMITH, ASHTON CRUMP, LUCRETIA LUCRETIA BLACK.
VAUGHN, JERRY. JONES, DOMINIQUE.
FRANDSEN, SHANNON MCCAULEY, KEVIN NELSON, ROBERT EBERTH, AND MIKE KARABINOS.
EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE FOUR MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD.
I'M GOING TO CALL THE FIRST FIVE SPEAKERS AGAIN.
THEY ARE CATHERINE CLARK, STACY SMITH, ASHTON CRUMP, LUCRETIA BLACK, AND SHAWN ZIOBRO.
MAY WE HAVE KATHERINE CLARK? DO I WAIT FOR THE GREEN LIGHT? OH, NO. YOU GO AHEAD.
OKAY. GOOD EVENING CHESTERFIELD COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD AND LEADERSHIP TEAM.
FIRST OFF, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR SERVING CHESTERFIELD COUNTY AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER.
I IMAGINE IT'S A HEAVY DUTY AND ONE THAT DOES NOT COME WITH THE MOST POSITIVE OF COMMUNICATIONS.
I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE CHALLENGE YOU ALL MUST FACE, HAVING TO SORT THROUGH THE WANTS AND NEEDS OF LEADERSHIP, FACULTY, STUDENTS, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS WHEN MAKING ALL OF YOUR DECISIONS.
SINCE 2005, I'VE HELD MANY TITLES IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, SPECIFICALLY AT LC BYRD HIGH SCHOOL.
I HAVE SUPPORTED THE SCHOOL THROUGH MANY DIFFERENT PHASES AND I AM A SKYHAWK TO MY ABSOLUTE CORE.
IN AN EFFORT TO CONTINUE THE POSITIVE TRAJECTORY OF OUR REQUESTS.
ON OCTOBER 25TH, WE REQUESTED THE FOLLOWING FOUR THINGS.
NUMBER ONE, A SECOND FULL TIME SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER.
NUMBER TWO, A SECOND FULL TIME SCHOOL SECURITY OFFICER.
NUMBER THREE, CHESTERFIELD COUNTY POLICE WILL INCREASE ROUTINELY DAILY SCHEDULED PATROLS IN THE PARKING LOTS AND NUMBER FOUR, FUNCTIONING CAMERAS IN THE PARKING LOTS AND SCHOOL EXTERIOR.
NEXT ARE THE RESPONSES WE RECEIVED FROM CCPS LEADERSHIP.
[00:40:02]
IN REGARDS TO THE SRL.AN ADDITIONAL FLOATING SRL HAS BEEN ASSIGNED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
THEY HAVE COMMITTED TO FINDING US A SECOND SRL.
IN REGARDS TO THE SSL, THE JOB HAS BEEN POSTED AS OF NOVEMBER 1ST.
A NEW CAMERA SYSTEM IS SET TO BE INSTALLED JUNE 2023.
OUR CONCERNS WE'VE BEEN TOLD THE ADDITIONAL SRO IS A MANPOWER ISSUE.
WE FEAR WE MAY NOT GET A SECOND SRO.
WE'VE BEEN TOLD THE ADDITIONAL SSO IS A MANPOWER ISSUE.
WE FEAR WE MAY NOT GET A SECOND.
SO WE'VE BEEN TOLD THE INCREASE POLICE PATROL HAS AN EXPIRATION OF 3 TO 4 WEEKS.
WE FEAR WE MAY NOT CONTINUE TO GET THIS ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
WITHOUT FIXING OUR BROKEN CAMERAS ON THE LIGHT POLES AND ONLY INSTALLING EXTERIOR CAMERAS ON THE BUILDING, WE FEAR WE WILL NEVER HAVE THE PROPER SECURITY SUPPORT THAT'S NEEDED IN OUR PARKING LOTS.
MY COMMENTARY AND TAKE AWAY WHEN PEOPLE IN POWER DECIDE SOMETHING IS IMPORTANT, IT CAN GET DONE.
DESPITE THE BIG PICTURE REASONS WE ARE TOLD AS TO WHY SOMETHING CANNOT HAPPEN.
WE LACKED BUS DRIVERS SO WE PAID THEM MORE AND HELD RECRUITMENT EVENTS.
WE LACKED SUBSTITUTES, SO WE DOUBLED THEIR PAY ON HIGH NEEDS DAYS AND HELD RECRUITMENT EVENTS.
SCHOOLS ARE OVERCROWDED SO CHESTERFIELD BUILDS MEGA TRAILERS.
THESE ARE ALL IMPORTANT NEEDS THAT LEADERS FOUND IMPORTANT.
THE SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF IS IMPORTANT.
PLEASE SHOW LC BYRD, THE FACULTY, STAFF, STUDENTS AND FAMILIES THAT WE ARE IMPORTANT TO JUST AS IMPORTANT AS ANY OTHER HIGH SCHOOL IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY THAT IS NEWLY BUILT, RECENTLY RENOVATED WITH NEW CAMERA SYSTEMS, MULTIPLE SROS AND MULTIPLE SOS ON STAFF.
OUR HIGH SCHOOL OF ONE SRO, ONE CSO AND NON-WORKING CAMERAS DESERVES BETTER.
OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, WE WILL BE AWAITING THE PERMANENT IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE SOLUTIONS.
I WILL LEAVE YOU WITH THE WORDS OF ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES, MRS. GIBSON. I UNDERSTAND THAT EVERYONE HAS A DIFFERENT FEELING OF BEING SAFE.
I DO FEEL SAFE AT BYRD, BUT I KNOW THAT THERE ARE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS THAT CAN BE TAKEN TO BETTER ENSURE SAFE MR. CLERK. LET'S LEAD TO BE PROACTIVE RATHER THAN REACTIVE.
HELLO. MY NAME IS MICHONNE ZERO, AND I'M HERE AS A CONCERNED CITIZEN OF CHESTERFIELD COUNTY CONCERNING THE LACK OF MORAL GOVERNING IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS HERE LOCALLY AND NATIONWIDE.
I HAVE LIVED IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY FOR OVER 25 YEARS AND HAVE HEARD FROM MY NEIGHBORS, MY FRIENDS, MY COWORKERS, AND MY FAMILY OF THEIR GROWING CONCERNS OF OUR DETERIORATING EDUCATION SYSTEM FOR OUR CHILDREN HERE IN CHESTERFIELD THAT IS AFFECTING THEM EMOTIONALLY, PHYSICALLY, AND EDUCATIONALLY.
SHE VERY MUCH ENJOYED SCHOOL IN HER ELEMENTARY YEARS, MADE STRAIGHT A'S UP UNTIL THE SIXTH GRADE, WHERE SHE STARTED LEARNING ABOUT SOME VERY CONFUSING IDEAS. IDEAS LIKE MAYBE SHE WASN'T OKAY AS A GIRL AND SHOULD CONSIDER BECOMING A BOY.
SHE WAS TOLD NOT TO TALK ABOUT THESE SENSITIVE ISSUES AT HOME, AND BY HER MIDDLE SCHOOL YEARS BECAME WITHDRAWN, DEPRESSED, AND STARTED TO SELF-HARM HERSELF BY CUTTING AND HAVING THOUGHTS OF SUICIDE.
THIS YOUNG, BRIGHT LITTLE GIRL NOW HATES GOING TO SCHOOL AND HAS BEEN FILLED WITH SO MUCH STRESS AND ANXIETY, TO THE POINT WHERE SHE HAS NEEDED PSYCHIATRIC CARE AND HOSPITALIZATION FROM WHAT SHE WAS BEING EXPOSED TO.
[00:45:02]
I RECENTLY HEARD OUR ATTORNEY GENERAL, JASON MIYARES, TALK ABOUT THE RAPE OF A YOUNG GIRL BY A TRANSGENDER MALE THAT OCCURRED IN LOUDON COUNTY SCHOOL BATHROOM THAT RECEIVED NATIONWIDE ATTENTION.WHEN HE WAS INVESTIGATING THE CASE, HE SAID THE MOST DISTURBING FACT THAT WAS DISCOVERED WAS WHEN THE RAPE WAS OCCURRING, A SCHOOL TEACHER WITNESSED IT AND STOOD BY IN THE BATHROOM WITHOUT INTERVENING TO HELP THE YOUNG GIRL.
THAT ANSWER WAS AS SHOCKING AS THE RAPE ITSELF.
THIS IS THE TYPE OF CHAOS THAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR VIRGINIA SCHOOLS BY NOT UPHOLDING THE MODEL POLICY, WHICH IS WRITTEN THAT STUDENTS SHALL USE BATHROOMS THAT CORRESPOND TO HIS OR HER SEX, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THAT THE FEDERAL LAW OTHERWISE REQUIRES.
THE UPDATED MODEL POLICY STATES THAT THE SCHOOL DIVISION PERSONNEL SHALL REFER TO EACH STUDENT USING ONLY THE PRONOUNS APPROPRIATE TO THE SEX APPEARING IN THE STUDENT'S OFFICIAL RECORD, THAT IS, MALE PRONOUNS FOR A STUDENT WHOSE SEX IS MALE, AND FEMALE PRONOUNS FOR A STUDENT WHOSE SEX IS FEMALE.
I BELIEVE AND HAVE EXPERIENCED FIRSTHAND THAT BY NOT ENFORCING ALL TEACHERS IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY TO ABIDE BY THIS POLICY, YOU ARE PUTTING CHILDREN AT RISK FOR A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS BY CONFUSING THEM OF THEIR GOD GIVEN BIOLOGICAL SEX, WHICH CAN LEAD TO THOUGHTS OF SELF-HATRED, SELF-REJECTION, SELF-MUTILATION, DEPRESSION, AND ULTIMATELY SUICIDAL THOUGHTS OR ACTIONS.
THIS IS NOT PART OF THE EDUCATION CURRICULUM THAT PARENTS IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY EXPECT OR WANT.
IN FACT, THIS IS NOT EDUCATION AT ALL.
IT IS SEXUALLY GROOMING CHILDREN AND INDOCTRINATING THEM WITH CONFUSING THOUGHTS ABOUT WHO THEY WERE CREATED TO BE BY GOD, IN WHICH HE TELLS US THAT WE ARE FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE BY HIM.
OVER THE WEEKEND AND EARLY THIS WEEK, KIA SOLICITED COMMENTS FROM TEACHERS ON THE POLICY EARLIER REFERENCE THAT HAS BEEN PULLED FROM THE AGENDA, REFERRING TO EXTENDING THE SCHOOL DAY 15 MINUTES.
WE APPLAUD THE BOARD ASKING THE SCHOOLS TO LOOK FOR ALTERNATIVES.
CEA RECEIVED ABOUT OVER 100 RESPONSES.
I DID WANT TO READ THOSE NOT IN THE SPIRIT OF COMPLAINING, BUT IN THE SPIRIT OF AFFIRMING THE GOOD DECISION THAT WAS MADE BY THIS BOARD EARLIER TO LET THE BOARD AND THE SCHOOL DIVISION HEAR THE VOICES OF TEACHERS AND LISTEN TO WHAT I THINK ARE SOME EXCELLENT IDEAS FROM THE TEACHERS THAT SHARED RESPONSES WITH CEA.
AS A 12 YEAR TEACHER, THIS PROPOSAL DOES NOT SEEM NECESSARY AS IT WILL ONLY ADD WASTED MINUTES.
MANY STUDENTS ALREADY HAVE LOTS OF COMMITMENTS OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL OR AFTER SCHOOL COMMITMENTS.
[00:50:04]
PROS COULD BE MORE FLEXIBILITY IN THE DAY AND MORE INSTRUCTIONAL TIME, MORE TIME FOR CLASS CHANGES OR LUNCH.BUT THERE IS ALREADY PLENTY OF TIME.
I DO NOT SUPPORT EXTENDING THE SCHOOL DAY FOR 15 MINUTES.
AS A HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER WITH FIVE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, I BELIEVE THAT THE CURRENT 95 MINUTE BLOCKS AT MY HIGH SCHOOL ARE ALREADY TOO LONG AND STUDENTS LOSE INTEREST IN THIS LARGE AMOUNT OF TIME.
IN MY FIVE YEARS OF TEACHING, I HAVE ALWAYS WITNESSED STUDENTS RUSHING TO GET FOOD FROM THE LINE OR SKIPPING THE MEAL ENTIRELY, SINCE THEY FEEL LIKE THEY WILL NOT HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO EAT DURING THEIR LUNCH PERIOD.
I DO NOT NEED, I SEE NO NEED TO EXTEND THE SCHOOL DAY BY 15 MINUTES.
PLEASE RECONSIDER THIS PROPOSAL.
I HAVE BEEN TEACHING AT THE SECONDARY LEVEL FOR 25 YEARS.
I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THE LONGER DAY IF IT LEADS TO MORE REGULAR DAYS OFF ALONG THE WAY.
I ENCOURAGE CCPS TO ADOPT HENRICO'S CONCEPT OF WELLNESS DAYS.
I WOULD PREFER BREAKS, BUT IF THAT IS NOT AN OPTION, THEN WE SHOULD BE PAID FOR THE INCREASE.
THANK YOU. SEAN STRETCHLY . LAURA ABBOTT.
HELLO, MY NAME IS LAURA ABBOTT AND I AM A CEA MEMBER AND BOARD MEMBER.
AND I AM HERE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF CHANGING THE START TIME.
I THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME TO CONSIDER IT.
AS TODD STARKWEATHER SAID, WE HAD 108 PEOPLE SUBMIT COMMENTS IN 24 HOURS, AND MOST PEOPLE FELT REALLY CAUGHT OFF GUARD AND LIKE THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND.
WELL, NOBODY HAD EVER ACTUALLY HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
SO DEFINITELY CAUGHT OFF GUARD.
SMALLER CLASS SIZES WOULD ALLOW US AS TEACHERS TO INDIVIDUALIZE INSTRUCTION FOR OUR STUDENTS AND ALSO GET TO KNOW OUR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR PARTICULAR NEEDS.
EVERY FAMILY, EVERY STUDENT IS DIFFERENT.
WE ALL HAVE OUR NEEDS, AND WITH SMALLER CLASS SIZES, WE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT STUDENTS ACTUALLY NEED.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO REEXAMINE THE ADOPTION OF TEXTBOOKS.
STUDENTS NEED TEXTBOOKS SO THEY CAN LEARN HOW TO READ, WRITE, COMPREHEND, YOU CAN'T THROW STUDENTS INTO A CLASSROOM WITHOUT A TEXTBOOK, HOW ARE THEY GOING TO READ? IT'S BEEN A HUGE PROBLEM SINCE WE GOT RID OF THEM.
ALL RIGHT, AT THIS POINT, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND READ MORE OF THE CEA COMMENTS.
LET'S SEE. MY ONLY CONCERN IS THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY OF THIS ISSUE.
I'M A TEACHER AND A PARENT IN CCPS AND I FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS THROUGH FACEBOOK.
[00:55:01]
ABOUT IT. NEXT COMMENT.TIMES ARE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS RECOMMENDATIONS.
THIS WILL CAUSE MANY ADJUSTMENTS TO FAMILIES OUT OF SCHOOL SCHEDULES.
THIS WAS NOT PRESENTED TO ANY STAKEHOLDERS PRIOR TO THIS MEETING.
SUGGESTION, TABLE THIS UNTIL THE NEW BOARD STARTS.
SO THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING TO DELAY THIS.
NO NO NO, MIDDLE SCHOOL ALREADY STARTS AT 7:10 A.M.
PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT BECAUSE OF SOFT PARENTING AND CELL PHONE ADDICTION WITHIN AMERICAN SOCIETY, KIDS DON'T GO TO BED AND STAY ASLEEP, COMPARED TO MANY YEARS AGO, KIDS ARE SLEEPY AND NOT FULLY ENGAGED UNTIL CLOSER TO SECOND BLOCK, WHICH IS AT 9:30 A.M.
IN ALL HONESTY, WHAT IN THE WORLD IS 15 EXTRA MINUTES GOING TO ACCOMPLISH, AND AT WHAT POINT ARE WE GOING TO STOP PUTTING THE BLAME FOR COVID LEARNING LOSSES ON EDUCATORS? PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT IS A LOT MORE THAN JUST TELLING TEACHERS WHAT BOOKS THEY CAN READ.
IT ALSO INVOLVES READING WITH YOUR CHILD AT HOME AND REINFORCING CONCEPTS TAUGHT IN CLASS.
THAT IS WHERE THE LEARNING LOSS IS, I AM NOT IN FAVOR OF THIS PROPOSAL.
I DO NOT AGREE WITH ADDING 15 MINUTES MORE, ESPECIALLY WITHOUT ADDITIONAL PAY.
I HAVE BEEN IN ELEMENTARY SPECIAL EDUCATION FOR 16 YEARS.
WE ARE TEACHERS, COUNSELORS, THERAPISTS, BEHAVIORAL SPECIALISTS ALL TOGETHER.
THANK YOU, MISS ABBOTT. THANK YOU.
THE NEXT FIVE SPEAKERS NATE BALL, CARROLL STEELE, JOHN CHANDLER, MONICA VAUGHN, AND JERRY JONES.
MAY WE HAVE NATE BALL? CAROL STEELE.
MAY IT PLEASE FELLOW PARENTS, PROBABLY HALF OF YOU.
FDR STATED THAT THE ONLY THING WE HAVE TO FEAR IS FEAR ITSELF, RIGHT? SOME PEOPLE THINK HE SAID THAT ABOUT WORLD WAR TWO, BUT HE'S ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT THE GREAT DEPRESSION.
SO FIRST OF ALL, LET ME ASSERT MY FIRM BELIEF THAT THE ONLY THING WE HAVE TO FEAR IS FEAR ITSELF NAMELESS, UNREASONING, UNJUSTIFIED TERROR WHICH PARALYZES NEEDED EFFORTS TO CONVERT RETREAT INTO ADVANCE.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE ALLOWING FEAR TO PREVENT PROGRESS.
AND LET'S BE HONEST, FEAR IS A POWERFUL MOTIVATOR.
BUT IT'S ALSO A POWERFUL MOTIVATOR TO REVERT TO TIMES LESS ENLIGHTENED AND REGRESSIVE.
THE DOLPHINS, JAGUARS AND LIONS ARE ALL LEADING THEIR DIVISIONS RIGHT NOW.
PROOF POSITIVE. SO FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD, I DO NEED TO WARN YOU AND MY FELLOW PARENTS OUT HERE THAT ABOUT LETTING FEAR TAKE HOLD? BECAUSE YODA FAMOUSLY SAID FEAR LEADS TO ANGER, ANGER LEADS TO HATE, AND HATE LEADS TO SUFFERING.
WHILE WE HAVE SOME PARENTS WHO ARE FEARFUL, WE HAVE OTHERS WHO HAVE GOTTEN THEMSELVES MANIPULATED INTO ANGER AND HATE, SO MUCH SO THAT THEY ARE TARGETING AN ALREADY MARGINALIZED GROUP OF PEOPLE, SPECIFICALLY TRANS CHILDREN, WHO MAKE UP ROUGHLY 1% OF THE US STUDENT POPULATION, AND THE BRAVERY IT MUST TAKE TO MARGINALIZE, REJECT, AND DAMAGE A CHILD.
THESE PARENTS HAVE CREATED GROUPS WITH VAGUE, SEEMINGLY PURPOSELESS MISSION STATEMENTS.
BECAUSE, LET'S BE HONEST, HATE CAN BE DIFFICULT TO NAIL DOWN INTO A CONCISE, LOGICAL EXPLANATION.
SO PLEASE, MY FELLOW PARENTS AND SCHOOL BOARD, DON'T FALL FOR THIS LINE OF HATE.
IF THE ONLY GOT ONLY GOT FOUR MINUTES.
[01:00:03]
GUNS OR ATTEMPTING TO DEMAND ACTION FROM THEIR CONGREGATIONS, PRIESTS AND PASTORS TO REPORT SEXUAL MISCONDUCT PERPETUATED AGAINST CHILDREN WHERE IT'S STILL FAR MORE PREVALENT THAN DRAG SHOWS.BUT INSTEAD, WE SEE MANY OF THESE GROUPS FOCUSING SOLELY ON ONLY 1% OF OUR CHILDREN.
A GROUP OF GROWN PEOPLE WILLING TO WORK AGAINST OTHER ADULTS AND SCHOOL CHILDREN WHO ARE JUST TRYING TO SURVIVE IN THE WORLD, YET THERE ARE TOO SCARED TO HAVE MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS WITH THEIR OWN CHILDREN.
SO PARENTS, DO NOT ALLOW YOUR FEAR TO HINDER YOUR CHILDREN'S GROWTH.
DO NOT ALLOW IT TO HINDER YOUR GROWTH.
TRY TO TURN YOUR FEAR INTO EMPATHY.
AND ON A PRACTICAL SIDE, TRY TO DETERMINE WHO IS TRYING TO BUILD THAT FEAR IN YOU AND WHY.
IS IT TO SERVE YOU IN YOUR COMMUNITY AND YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS, OR IN SOME OTHER, LIKELY MORE SINISTER PURPOSE? BECAUSE THESE SAME GROUPS ARE THE SAME SORT OF PEOPLE WHO LED THE NOW DEBUNKED SATANIC PANIC IN THE 80S AND 90S.
THEY'RE THE SAME PEOPLE WHO USED BIBLICAL VALUES TO PREVENT INTERRACIAL MARRIAGES.
SCHOOL BOARD MEETING SESSIONS ARE RECORDED AND MANY POSTED ON THE INTERNET.
SO THESE KIDS, THE GRANDKIDS AND SO ON AND SO FORTH WILL SEE ALL OF THIS IN POSTERITY.
SO LET'S LEAD OUR KIDS INTO A MORE COURAGEOUS SOCIETY.
HELLO, MY NAME IS CAROL STEELE.
I'M GOING TO TAKE YOU BACK TO YOUR FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
REMEMBER THE EXCITEMENT BEFORE YOU WENT TO BED? YOUR CLOTHES ARE ALL SET OUT FOR THE MORNING.
MOST LIKELY A NEW OUTFIT, NEW SHOES.
YOU POP OUT OF BED, YOU GET DRESSED, AND YOU ENJOY A GOOD BREAKFAST.
YOUR MOM WALKS YOU TO THE BUS STOP.
SHE WATCHES YOU GET ON THE BUS AND SHE SMILES AS SHE WAVES GOODBYE TO YOU.
WAITING FOR YOU AT THE BUS STOP.
THE FIRST WORDS OUT OF YOUR MOUTH IS MOM, I WANT TO GO TO SCHOOL ON THE WEEKENDS.
YOUR CHILD GOES TO BED ANXIOUS ABOUT HER FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.
WHY? SHE IS WORRIED ABOUT USING THE BATHROOM.
WOULD A BOY BE IN THE GIRLS BATHROOM? WHAT WOULD HE SAY OR DO TO ME? YOU SEE, THERE ARE STORIES LOOMING AROUND THE SCHOOL ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IN THE BATHROOMS. YOUR CHILD CONTINUES HER DAY DIFFICULTY FOCUSING ON HER WORK BECAUSE SHE'S MILDLY DEHYDRATED FROM NO LIQUIDS ALL DAY.
MOM GREETS HER AT THE BUS STOP.
HER LITTLE GIRL LOOKS TIRED FROM THE STRESS OF THE DAY.
OVERWHELMING. THERE WAS NO EXCITEMENT OF LEARNING, ONLY ANXIETY ABOUT GETTING THROUGH THE NEXT DAY.
THE FIRST STORY IS A IS A TRUE STORY OF MY DAUGHTER'S JOURNEY THROUGH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
SHE CONTINUED HER EDUCATION WITH ADVANCED DEGREES AND TODAY SHE IS A LIFETIME LEARNER.
MY QUESTION TO ALL OF YOU WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO OUR CHILDREN? WHY ARE YOU ALLOWING THIS TO HAPPEN TO OUR CHILDREN? IT MAKES ME WONDER WHAT ARE YOU THINKING? MAYBE YOU'RE AFRAID IF YOU DO NOT COMPLY WITH THESE UPSIDE DOWN RULES, YOU'LL LOSE YOUR JOB.
I PERSONALLY HAVE FRIENDS THAT SLIDE INTO THIS CATEGORY.
AS FAR AS A TEACHER IS CONCERNED, I'M WONDERING WHAT MIGHT BE THINKING.
WELL, MAYBE YOU WON'T GET A RAISE IF YOU DON'T COMPLY.
BY NOT COMPLYING TO THE MODEL POLICY.
YOU HAVE STOLEN NOT ONLY OUR CHILD'S SAFETY BUT THE LOVE OF LEARNING.
IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO TURN BACK AND RESTORE WHAT IS BROKEN.
YOU SEE, THE MODEL POLICY IS REALLY OLD TIME POLICY AND IT WORKS.
[01:05:09]
CHANDLER.THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.
MY NAME IS JOHN CHANDLER AND I'M A PARENT OF A BETTY WEAVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENT.
I HAVE BEEN TO TWO FUNERALS, WHERE A CHILD'S LIFE WAS BEING CELEBRATED.
UNFORTUNATELY, NOTHING COULD BE DONE IN THOSE CASES WITH ILLNESSES AT HAND.
BUT WITNESSING THOSE EVENTS ARE THINGS I'LL NEVER FORGET.
WHAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS NOT HERE.
I'M NOT HERE TO CREATE A NEW DIVISION.
IF THE COUNTY CHOOSES TO FACE SOME NEW UNFORTUNATE REALITIES OF OUR WORLD AND HAVE HARD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT MAKING CHANGES, EVEN IF IT MEANS DRASTIC AND MAYBE WHAT SOME WOULD DESCRIBE AS UNPOPULAR CHANGE AND HANDLING CERTAIN THREATS OF VIOLENCE AT THE COUNTY SCHOOLS.
AND MAYBE THAT AFFECTS CHANGES AT THE COUNTY LEADERSHIP LEVELS.
I'M HOPEFUL THAT OTHER BOARDS BESIDES MRS. HAINES HAVE HEARD ABOUT OTHER BOARD MEMBERS BESIDES MRS. HAINES HAVE HEARD ABOUT THIS BOARD SUPERVISOR MARK MILLER KNOWS ABOUT THIS, AND SOME SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE AT THE COUNTY LEVEL DO KNOW ABOUT THIS.
COMMUNITY OF THE AFFECTED FAMILIES IS OBVIOUSLY TALKING ABOUT IT.
SO I DON'T THINK IT'S ANYTHING THAT'S GOING TO GO AWAY QUIETLY.
THERE WAS AN EMERGENCY MEETING HELD AT THE HALL STREET SCHOOL BUILDING JUST LAST WEEK, I BELIEVE, NOVEMBER THE 3RD AND AS OF TODAY, PROCEDURES FOR THE THREAT ASSESSMENT THAT WAS IMPLEMENTED DURING THE SITUATION AT BETTY WEAVER STILL HAVE NOT BEEN SHARED.
AND WE I THINK THAT'S INEXCUSABLE.
AND WHILE THAT IS GREAT TO ACCEPT FAULT, PEOPLE DO MAKE MISTAKES.
AND IT'S BEEN AWFULLY QUIET SINCE ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO BE DONE AND WHEN.
THERE'S BEEN DIFFERENCES OF TIMELINES BETWEEN WHEN QUESTIONS WERE ASKED OF SCHOOL LEADERSHIP PERSONNEL AND WHEN THINGS WERE ADDRESSED AT THE EMERGENCY MEETING.
THEY WERE CONTRARY TO WHAT WE HEARD AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL.
SO WE FIND THAT TO BE VERY FRUSTRATING.
I DO WANT TO MAKE IT VERY WELL KNOWN THAT I AM NOT HERE TO CALL OUT CHILDREN THAT MAY BE, YOU KNOW, DEMONSTRATE CERTAIN BEHAVIORS THAT WOULD MAYBE BE ALARMING TO CERTAIN PEOPLE.
I WANT TO HELP HOLD OUR LEADERS ACCOUNTABLE.
I'M CERTAINLY NOT A TEACHER, BUT I AM A CONCERNED PARENT.
THIS IS AN UNFORTUNATE OPPORTUNITY TO SHINE A LIGHT ON A BAD SITUATION.
I AM A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER AND I CAN RELATE TO THE TRAIN OF THOUGHT OF NEEDING TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT, BUT IN THIS INSTANCE, I TRULY BELIEVE THAT THE COUNTY OFFICIALS AT ALL LEVELS NOW SHARE AN UNFORTUNATE BURDEN OF HAVING TO ADDRESS THIS THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE UGLY, EVEN IF IT MEANS CHANGES IN ROLES AND PROCESSES THAT WE'VE BEEN ASSURED WERE FOLLOWED.
SOME WOULD SAY NOTHING HAPPENED THIS TIME.
BUT WHAT ABOUT NEXT TIME? I THINK THAT CHESTERFIELD OWES IT TO ITSELF AND ITS CONSTITUENTS TO GET IN FRONT OF THIS AND ACCEPT FAILURES FOR WHAT HAPPENED.
[01:10:16]
I'M WONDERING IF I NEED A STEP STOOL.OKAY. CAN YOU HEAR ME? OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU.
WE THANK ALL OF YOU FOR SERVING ON CHESTERFIELD COUNTY SCHOOL BOARDS.
FOR THOSE THAT HAVE, FOR THOSE WHOSE TERM HAS ENDED.
AND WE WELCOME THOSE WHO ARE SERVING FOR THE FIRST TIME BEGINNING IN JANUARY 2024.
WE DO NOT WALK IN YOUR SHOES AND WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE INNER WORKINGS OF THIS BOARD.
THE ONE THING WE DO AGREE ON IS THIS BOARD IS THE LIFELINE TO OUR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION.
WE ARE GRATEFUL TO THE TEACHERS LABOR OF LOVE IN THE BEST OF TIMES AND IN THE WORST OF TIMES.
AND FOR THIS BOARD, WE'VE COVERED 64,000 CHILDREN IN PRAYER.
AND BEFORE JOINING YOU IN THIS MEETING TODAY, WE STOOD OUTSIDE THE GROUNDS OF THIS COURTHOUSE.
NUMEROUS CONCERNED PARENTS HAVE COME BEFORE THIS BOARD.
TIME AND TIME AGAIN, THESE PARENTS HAVE VOICED THEIR OPINIONS, PRESENTED AND CITED DIFFERENCES OF THE LAWS THAT HAVE BEEN VIOLATED, BUT NO CORRECTIVE ACTION HAS TAKEN PLACE IN REALITY.
TODAY'S WORLD IS AN UNLAWFUL SOCIETY THAT DOESN'T OBEY THE RULE OF LAW, AND MANY TIMES NO CONSEQUENCES FOR THE ACTIONS FOR THE LAWS THAT HAVE BEEN BROKEN. THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND THE BOARD HAS FALLEN VICTIM TO HAVING A WISHBONE, BUT NO BACKBONE TO MAKE CHANGES, TO FOLLOW THROUGH AND PRESERVE THE LAW AND PROTECT THE CHILDREN.
IN SOME OF THE SCHOOLS, THE RESULTS HAVE BEEN THE TEACHERS TURNING A BLIND EYE TO ENFORCING THIS LAW, BECAUSE THERE'S NO CONSEQUENCES FOR THE STUDENT WHO VIOLATES THE POLICY. A PARENT SHARED WITH ME THAT THERE WAS ONE BATHROOM WITH ONLY ONE TOILET AND A SINK.
THIS IS WHY I'M HERE, TO BRING THE ATTENTION THAT WE NEED TO ENFORCE THE YOUNGKIN MODEL POLICY.
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY BOARD MEMBERS, I ASK YOU TO CONSIDER YOUR LEGACY WHILE SERVING ON THIS BOARD.
WILL IT BE BASED ON NOT ENFORCING THE MODEL POLICY TO PROTECT CHILDREN, FEELING SAFE AND IN A PRIVATE USE OF A SCHOOL BATHROOM AND OR LOCKER ROOM? OR WILL YOUR LEGACY BE BASED ON ENFORCING THE MODEL POLICY TO RESTORE DIGNITY, MORALITY, PRIVACY AND SAFETY TO ALL STUDENTS IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY? WE ARE COUNTING ON YOU, AND WE EXPECT YOU TO DO WHAT IS BEST IN OUR STUDENTS INTEREST.
GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JERRY JONES.
I HAVE 15 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE TEACHING IN CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY AT FORT BRAGG, ADAMS. I ALSO HAVE A THIRD GRADER WHO'S IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY SCHOOLS.
AND I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE PROFOUND IMPACT THAT IT HAS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR STUDENTS.
AND I'M GOING TO TALK TO YOU FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF BEING AN ADULT EDUCATOR AND WHAT IT LEADS TO.
RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE A DEFICIT IN ADULTS WHO DO NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO CREATIVE OR CRITICALLY THINK.
ALL RIGHT. THAT'S THE END RESULT OF TAKING BOOKS OUT OF LIBRARIES.
[01:15:02]
IT'S INSIGHTS INTO DIFFERENT CULTURES, PERSPECTIVE, IDEAS.EDUCATION IS NOT ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION OF FACTS ALONE.
IT'S MORE THAN THAT. IT'S THE JOURNEY.
IT'S THE STORIES THAT THESE BOOKS TELL.
NOW SERVING AS CRITICAL TOOLS FOR FOSTERING EMPATHY AND UNDERSTANDING, BOOKS EXPOSED STUDENTS TO A DIVERSE RANGE OF CHARACTERS AND EXPERIENCES THROUGH INSIGHTS INTO DIFFERENT CULTURES. PERSPECTIVES ON IDEAS.
ALL RIGHT. NOTICE I DIDN'T SAY THE WORDS ACCEPTANCE, AGREEANCE OR CONFORMANCE.
IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS. NOW, TAKING THAT A STEP FURTHER.
ALL RIGHT. LET'S LET FEAR RULE THE DAY.
ALL RIGHT. BOOK BANNING CERTAINLY DENIES STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE IN STORIES THAT CHALLENGE THEIR PRECONCEPTIONS, ENCOURAGES THEM TO SEE THE WORLD FROM DIFFERENT ANGLES. IT NOT ONLY RESTRICTS ACCESS TO KNOWLEDGE RIGHT WITH BOOK BANNING, BUT IT ALSO STIFLES INTELLECTUAL GROWTH AND CRITICAL THINKING AMONG OUR YOUNG MINDS IN TODAY'S WORLD.
I WANT MY CHILD EXPOSED TO THE FACTS ALL RIGHT.
WE'RE NOT A HOMOGENEOUS SOCIETY.
WE HAVE NO CULTURAL IDENTITY THAT IS SINGULAR.
AND THAT'S COMING FROM SOMEBODY WHO HAS A RUSSIAN WIFE.
WHO'S HALF GERMAN BUT A US CITIZEN.
I GREW UP IN THE MILITARY SYSTEM.
I'M A PRODUCT OF THE DOD SCHOOL SYSTEM.
I MOVED TO CHESTERFIELD, WHAT, 2010? BUT I'VE LIVED IN VIRGINIA SINCE, WHAT, 1998? RIGHT. I WENT TO RICHARD BLAND COLLEGE.
I STAYED WORKING HERE AT FORT GREG ADAMS. ALL RIGHT. NOW, I'M GOING TO GET BACK TO THIS REAL QUICK.
UM, WHEN MY DAUGHTER DEALS WITH TOPICS THAT SHE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND, ALL RIGHT, OR ANYTHING THAT CHALLENGES HER, EVEN AS A THIRD GRADER, I WANT HER TO COME TO ME.
THAT'S THE PARENTS RIGHT? TO HELP SHAPE THAT CONVERSATION IN SUPPORT OF THE TEACHER AND THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
THE ABILITY TO EVALUATE RISK, TO PROMOTE SINGULAR NARRATIVE IS LIMITING EXPOSURE TO DIVERSE VOICES, CREATING A PATHWAY TO SATISFY THE FRINGE AND, FRANKLY, IRRATIONAL.
SPONSORS OF BOOK CENSORSHIP IS A WEAK RESPONSE TO THE ISSUE AT HAND.
AT SOME POINT, RIGHT? OPPRESSION AND IGNORANCE SHOULD NOT ALLOW TO BE SORRY, SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO WIN THIS BATTLE.
AND I ASK YOU ONE FINAL QUESTION.
IF WE WERE TO ALLOW THIS TODAY, RIGHT, WHAT WILL WE ALLOW TOMORROW? THANK YOU. NEXT FIVE SPEAKERS.
DOMINIC CHATTERS, CHRISTINE MELENDEZ AND TITUS.
ROB HAMILL AND EDITH GALEN DAUM.
MAY WE HAVE DOMINIC CHATTERS? OH. REAL CLOSE.
I WOULD ASK THAT WE TAKE A COUPLE OF THINGS INTO CONSIDERATION.
CAN WE START BY SAFEGUARDING LUNCHES? MS.. BAILEY ALREADY MENTIONED THAT TEACHER PLANNING TIME.
AND THEN THE TRANSPORTATION CONCERNS, WE ALREADY HAVE SOME LATE BUS SITUATIONS GOING ON.
IT'S NOT TOTALLY TERRIBLE, BUT WE DON'T WANT IT TO GET WORSE BY ADDING MORE TIME TO THE DAY.
THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO MENTION IS ALL IN VIRGINIA.
I UNDERSTAND THAT GOVERNOR YOUNGKIN AND THE VDOE HAVE PUSHED THIS ALL IN VIRGINIA ON ALL SCHOOLS, AND I COMMEND THE STAFF FOR DEVELOPING A PLAN TO EXECUTE IN LESS THAN 90 DAYS.
IT WAS AN AMAZING PLAN WITH THE SHORT NOTICE THEY WERE GIVEN.
HOWEVER, I DO THINK WE CAN DO BETTER.
DIGITAL TOOLS TO ME ARE NOT TUTORING TOOLS, RIGHT?
[01:20:04]
WE I WOULD PREFER I WOULD PREFER THAT WE START PARTNERING BACK WITH THE YMCA AND GET THEM BACK INTO OUR SCHOOLS FOR AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS. MATHNASIUM USED TO BE IN OUR SCHOOLS.THOSE TYPES OF PROGRAMS WERE BENEFICIAL, RIGHT? AND IT DIDN'T BURDEN THE TEACHER.
SO THAT SOL PASSING SCORE BEFORE.
NOW FOR THEM TO SEE THAT THEY ARE AT RISK WITH THE PASSING SCORE IS DEMORALIZING, RIGHT? THEY ARE TAKING ADVANCED MATH IN THEIR MIDDLE SCHOOL.
I GOT AN A STUDENT IN MATH AND A B PLUS STUDENT IN MATH.
MOMMY, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM IN MATH.
WHY AM I AT RISK? NOT YOUR DOING.
IT IS BEING PUSHED ON YOU AND YOU'RE FORCED TO REACT.
I DON'T APPRECIATE GOVERNOR YOUNGKIN USING OUR CHILDREN TO PUSH HIS AGENDA.
SO ALL THIS WE'RE GOING TO GET BETTER WITH ALL THIS.
ALL IN VIRGINIA IS JUST A PLOY BY OUR GOVERNOR, NOT ON YOU.
I SUPPORT HAVING SMALLER CLASSROOMS. I SUPPORT HAVING MORE SCHOOLS BUILT IN MY DISTRICT SO THAT WE CAN LIMIT OVERCROWDING.
FINALLY, I'D LIKE TO SAY I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT THIS CURRENT BOARD HAS DONE TO BE TRANSPARENT.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID NOT KNOW BEFORE THE WORK SESSION IS THAT SOME OF THE INFORMATION BEING PRESENTED, ONCE IT GETS POSTED TO BOARD DOCS, IS THE FIRST TIME YOU SEE IT. THE FIRST TIME THE SCHOOL BOARD GETS TO SEE THE PROPOSALS ARE WHEN THEY'RE POSTED TO BOARD DOCS, WHICH ALSO HAPPENS TO BE THE FIRST TIME WE GET TO SEE IT.
LITTLE KNOWN FACT THAT I DIDN'T KNOW.
SO THE PERCEPTION THAT YOU GUYS ARE CONSPIRING BEHIND OUR BACKS IS NOT TRUE.
AND I APPRECIATE FINDING OUT THAT THAT'S NOT TRUE.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE MORE SESSIONS, TO LISTEN TO TEACHERS, TO LISTEN TO PARENTS IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, BEFORE MAKING A DECISION ON THE START TIMES, BECAUSE I THINK THAT WILL BE BENEFICIAL FOR EVERYONE TO BE INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS.
THANK YOU. CHRISTINE MELENDEZ.
GOOD EVENING, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND SCHOOL DIVISION LEADERS.
MY NAME IS CHRISTINE MELENDEZ, AND I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE CHESTERFIELD EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.
I THANK YOU FOR RECONSIDERING THE ALLOTTED TIME TO SCHOOL DAYS AND INSTRUCTIONAL HOURS.
I DO THINK IT IS A GREAT DECISION TO REALLY HAVE MORE ROBUST CONVERSATIONS WITH STAKEHOLDERS, WITH THE SCHOOL DIVISION, AND SEE IF THERE ARE WAYS TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE WITHOUT HAVING TO ADD MORE TIME TO OUR SCHEDULES, TO OUR SCHOOL BUS DRIVER SCHEDULES, TO OUR TEACHER SCHEDULES.
ADDITIONALLY, I DO ENCOURAGE THIS BOARD AND THE BOARD THAT IS COMING IN JANUARY TO REVISIT THE LANGUAGE IN MEMO 162 DASH 23 THAT STATES, EACH ELEMENTARY CLASSROOM TEACHER SHALL BE PROVIDED AT LEAST AN AVERAGE OF 30 MINUTES PER DAY DURING THE STUDENT'S SCHOOL WEEK AS PLANNING TIME.
I THINK THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHERS, UNFORTUNATELY, ARE SUFFERING A SEVERE LACK IN THIS PLANNING TIME AS THEIR SCHEDULES CURRENTLY STAND, AND I DO BELIEVE THAT THAT IS SOMETHING, IF PLACED IN POLICY, WOULD GREATLY LESSEN THE BURDEN OF OTHER THINGS OCCURRING DURING THAT TIME.
ADDITIONALLY, I WOULD LOVE TO ENCOURAGE THE EMPLOYEES OF CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS, AS WELL AS ANY OTHER POLICY CHANGES THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT IN THE SCHOOL BOARD AGENDA THIS EVENING ARE ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY POSSIBLE CONTRACT ISSUES.
IF WE HAD A COLLECTIVELY BARGAINED CONTRACT HERE IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY SCHOOLS.
THEY DO NOT HAVE TO BE MEMBERS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE IN SUPPORT OF A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT.
[01:25:04]
THAT WOULD THEN ALLOW FOR US TO NEGOTIATE CONTRACT LANGUAGE WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD AND SCHOOL DIVISION LEADERS.CONSIDERING HIGH SCHOOLS HAVE FOUR BLOCKS PER DAY, WHAT MEANINGFUL ACTIVITY CAN STUDENTS DO IN UNDER THREE MINUTES? I'M SURE IF YOU ASK THE BIGWIGS, THEY WOULD SPEW OUT A BUNCH OF THINGS WITH PEDAGOGICAL BUZZWORDS.
HOWEVER, THOSE OF US IN THE TRENCHES WOULD HAVE A DIFFERENT ANSWER.
AN EXTRA 15 MINUTES A DAY ADDS VERY LITTLE VALUE.
NOR ARE STUDENTS GOING TO BENEFIT LONGITUDINALLY FROM AN ADDITIONAL THREE MINUTES PER CLASS.
I ALREADY DO NOT GET PAID FOR THE MANY WORK, MANY HOURS OF WORK I DO OUTSIDE OF CONTRACT HOURS, AND THIS PROPOSAL WANTS ME TO WORK AN EXTRA WEEK JUST BECAUSE OF A CONTRACTUAL TECHNICALITY.
HAVE A GOOD EVENING. ANN TITUS.
ANDY RESIDENT AND TAXPAYER THAT YOU ARE NO LONGER FILMING MY FACE WHEN I COME UP HERE TO SPEAK.
THIS IS NEW FOR THE NEWS CAMERAS NOW THEY'RE FILMING US FROM BEHIND.
WHEN I COME UP AND SPEAK TO YOU.
YOU NEED TO SEE MY FACE SO THAT YOU CAN SEE WHO I'M TALKING TO.
AND THAT I AM ON RECORD AS A RESIDENT OF THIS COUNTY FOR WHAT I'M SAYING.
DO NOT ADOPT GOVERNOR YOUNGKIN'S POLICY.
THAT WHEN HE CAME TO THE MODEL POLICIES FOR TRANSGENDER CHILDREN, THE GOVERNOR IS TO RIGHT MODEL.
MODEL POLICIES AND SCHOOL BOARDS ARE TO ADOPT POLICIES CONSISTENT WITH THE MODEL POLICY.
THAT'S LIKE SAYING, OH, WELL, IT'S THE CONSTITUTION.
IT READS LOGICALLY UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT THAT CHARACTERIZED PARENTAL RIGHTS.
BUT THEN, HE ADDS, IN VIRGINIA CODE, EXCEPT IN CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE CHILDREN PROHIBIT CONTACT, WHERE STUDENT IS AT IMMINENT RISK OF SUICIDE RELATED TO PARENTAL ABUSE AND NEGLECT.
NO VIRGINIA LAW CAN OVERRIDE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT CONSTITUTIONALLY FOUNDED FUNDAMENTAL GOD-GIVEN NATURAL RIGHTS, WHICH IS A PARENT'S RIGHTS.
GLENN, I WILL SEE YOU AT THE SUPREME COURT TO GLENN YOUNGKIN.
I WILL, JASON, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM.
THIS IS AMERICA, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
WE DO THINGS THE AMERICAN WAY.
AND I DON'T CARE IF YOU'RE REPUBLICAN.
I DON'T CARE IF YOU'RE A LIBERAL OR DEMOCRAT, I DON'T CARE.
AND WE ARE GOING TO DO THINGS THE AMERICAN WAY.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME? FIRST OF ALL, LET ME UNDERSTAND IF YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT PARENTAL RIGHTS ARE.
A CHILD'S CORRESPONDING RIGHT TO PROTECTION FROM INTERFERENCE IN THAT RELATIONSHIP DERIVES FROM THE PSYCHIC IMPORTANCE OF HIM BEING RAISED BY A LOVING AND RESPONSIBLE, RELIABLE ADULT.
[01:30:01]
FRANCE V US, 1983.14TH AMENDMENT. DO YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE IN A CIVIL RIGHTS 19 SECTION, 1983? THAT THERE'S A THREE YEAR STATUTE OF LIMITATION? WE CAN COME, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN LEAVE THE BOARD.
OKAY. THIS IS [INAUDIBLE] 1983.
ONE OF THE PRIMARY MEANS BY WHICH A PLAINTIFF MAY ASSERT FEDERAL CIVIL RIGHTS CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES AGAINST SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS PROVIDES A CONDUIT FOR ASSERTING RIGHTS FOUND IN THE CONSTITUTION AND OTHER FEDERAL STATUTES.
ANY CITIZEN WHO HAS THEIR RIGHTS TAKEN FROM THEM.
THIS WOULD BE CONSPIRACY AGAINST RIGHTS, DEPRIVATION OF RIGHTS.
CIVIL RIGHTS 1983, SECTION 1983.
EVERY PERSON, IT INCLUDES YOU.
YOU ARE PERSONALLY LIABLE FOR REVOKING THE PARENTAL RIGHTS DUE PROCESS.
14TH AMENDMENT FOR THE PARENTS OF 64,000 CHILDREN.
I AM A TEACHER AT OB GATES ELEMENTARY AND I AM A MEMBER OF THE CHESTERFIELD EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.
I'M A BOARD MEMBER, A MEMBER AT LARGE FOR THE DALE DISTRICT.
I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO READ SOME OF THE COMMENTS FROM OUR MEMBERS.
LOTS OF PEOPLE SAID THAT THEY WANTED TO BE COMPENSATED.
THEY DON'T WANT TO BE PAID, IF WE WERE GOING TO WORK 15 MINUTES MORE.
THERE WERE A LOT OF COMMENTS ABOUT THAT.
THERE WERE ALSO SEVERAL COMMENTS ABOUT HOW THIS MIGHT NOT BE.
THIS MIGHT NOT ACHIEVE SOME OF THE GOALS THAT THAT WERE INTENDED.
SO I'D LIKE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT.
THERE WERE SEVERAL REALLY GOOD COMMENTS HERE ABOUT KIND OF UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.
SO AGAIN, KIND OF HONORING THE CONTRIBUTION THAT THESE TEACHERS AND STAFF MEMBERS MADE.
I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO READ A COUPLE OF THESE.
SO THE ADDITIONAL TIME IS NOT THE SOLUTION TO POORER STUDENT TEST SCORES.
DOES THE COUNTY WANT TO CHECK ANOTHER HYPOTHETICAL RED TAPE BOX INSTEAD OF VOTING ON REAL SOLUTIONS THAT WORK FOR EVERYONE? CCPS HAD OVER 350 VACANT UNFILLED TEACHER AND BUS DRIVER POSITIONS IN QUARTER ONE, A CRISIS THAT HAS INCREASING VACANCIES EVERY YEAR.
THE SCHEDULE IS GROSSLY DISRESPECTFUL OF WHAT ELEMENTARY STUDENTS NEED APPROPRIATE TIME TO GET HOME SAFELY TO EAT, REST, AND SOCIALIZE IN EXTRACURRICULAR ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES.
THE ADDED TIME VIOLATES OUR RIGHTS FOR FAIR COMPENSATION AS WELL.
EDUCATORS ALREADY WORK BEYOND CONTRACT HOURS BECAUSE OF BUS DRIVER SHORTAGES.
CCPS FACULTY WILL RALLY FOR NEGOTIATION RIGHTS.
I UNDERSTAND THE REASON BEHIND ADDING 15 MINUTES TO THE DAY, AND I KNOW THAT CCPS IS CLOSE TO BEING OUT OF COMPLIANCE IN REGARDS TO THE NUMBER OF HOURS STUDENTS SPEND IN CLASS. THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES HAVE LONGER SCHOOL DAYS THAN CHESTERFIELD.
MY MAIN ISSUE IS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO BE ADEQUATELY PAID FOR MY TIME.
ALL RIGHT. NEXT COMMENT. FIRST, MY CONCERN IS FOR THE STUDENTS.
AND THEY HAVE A SHORTER LUNCH TO BOOT.
KIDS NEED TO HAVE LIVES OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL AND SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO BE KIDS.
NOT EVEN INCLUDING TRYING TO PLAN OUR INSTRUCTION TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS.
I THINK THE SCHOOL BOARD SHOULD TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE EXISTING HIGH SCHOOL SCHEDULE TO FIND WAYS TO REALLOCATE TIME, PERHAPS CONSIDER GETTING RID OF OR TRUNCATING ACADEMIC REVIEW PERIODS, CALLED MAP AT MIDLOTHIAN HIGH SCHOOL, BUT CALLED DIFFERENT THINGS AT DIFFERENT MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTY INSTEAD OF ADDING 15 MINUTES.
ABSENTEEISM IS ALREADY A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE IN THE COUNTY.
WHY EXACERBATE THAT ISSUE BY ADDING TIME TO AN ALREADY LENGTHY SCHOOL DAY? AND I'LL SHARE ONE MORE.
[01:35:02]
ADDING 15 MINUTES PER DAY IS NOT A LOT DAILY, BUT OVER A FIVE DAY WEEK THAT'S AN EXTRA HOUR AND 15 MINUTES OVER THE COURSE OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.THAT'S ABOUT AN EXTRA 50 OR SO HOURS.
ARE WE GOING TO BE COMPENSATED FOR THIS EXTRA TIME IN SOME WAY? IT DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT TO ADD EXTRA TIME, BUT NOT TO COMPENSATE EVERYONE FOR THAT TIME.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR ALLOWING THOSE TEACHERS VOICES TO BE HEARD.
YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN AT THIS SINCE 3:30 THIS AFTERNOON, AND I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE YOU SERVING THE COMMUNITY AND ALLOWING ME TIME TO SPEAK. MY NAME IS EDITH GALINDORM.
I AM THE PARENT OF A STUDENT IN THE CLOVERHILL DISTRICT.
IN 2020, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DIRECTED THE VIDEO TO CREATE EVIDENCE BASED BEST PRACTICES.
MODEL POLICIES REGARDING THE TREATMENT AND INCLUSION OF OUR TRANSGENDER AND NON-BINARY STUDENTS.
THIS DOCUMENT WAS CREATED BY A WIDE VARIETY OF STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING STUDENTS, PSYCHIATRISTS, PSYCHOLOGISTS AND EXPERTS IN THAT AREA OF GENDER STUDIES, AND THEY WERE ALSO CITED AND CLEARLY LISTED IN THE DOCUMENT AS REFERENCES. IN 2021.
VA PUBLIC SCHOOLS WERE REQUIRED BY LAW TO ADOPT THESE BASIC GUIDELINES OR COME UP WITH A MORE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN BY THE END OF 20 21-22 SCHOOL YEAR. SO HERE WE ARE IN 2023, LESS THAN TWO YEARS INTO THIS PLAN, BARELY GIVING IT A CHANCE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
AND THERE IS A POLITICAL URGE TO WHIPLASH OUR SCHOOLS, TEACHERS, PARENTS AND STUDENTS WITH NEW POLICIES THAT HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED UNILATERALLY WITHOUT ANY CLARITY ON WHO AUTHORED THESE POLICIES.
THE NOW PROPOSED POLICY HAS NO CLEAR EVIDENCE OR REFERENCES REGARDING TRANSGENDER OR NON-BINARY STUDENTS, AND IS IN OPPOSITION OF THE GUIDANCE BY VHSL.
THIS NEW POLICY IS VAGUE AT BEST AND VIOLATES FEDERAL ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LAWS AT WORST.
HAVING TWO VERY TALL CHILDREN HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE DRESS CODE.
SO IN REVIEWING THIS POLICY, I WENT AND SAW SECTION 22.1.
22.3 TREATMENT OF TRANSGENDER STUDENTS.
WHERE SEX IS DEFINED AS BIOLOGICAL SEX.
THIS ITEM STATES THAT ENFORCEMENT OF SEX BASED DRESS CODES.
THIS IS WHAT WE'RE THINKING ABOUT.
WHILE OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE DEVELOPED GENDER NEUTRAL DRESS CODES, WHICH IN 1960 I MIGHT BE KICKED OUT OF CLASS BECAUSE I'M WEARING PANTS.
THERE'S A PLAN IN VIRGINIA THAT WOULD STRATEGICALLY ATTACK OUR STUDENTS.
IN THE LAST TIME I CHECKED, CLOTHING IS AN ITEM.
STUDENTS, MANY OF WHOM ARE ALREADY DEALING WITH HOUSING, FOOD, INSECURITIES, UNSTABLE HOME LIFE FIND THEIR STABILITY IN SCHOOL AMONG THEIR PEERS, AND IF THEY ARE LUCKY, THEY FIND THE SUPPORT OF A TEACHER THAT SEES THEIR POTENTIAL ACADEMICALLY WITHOUT JUDGMENT OF THEIR APPEARANCE.
STUDENTS MENTAL HEALTH SUFFERS EVERY TIME THEY WORK.
THANK YOU, MISS ELEANOR. THAT THEY WILL BE OUTED.
THANK YOU. NEXT FIVE SPEAKERS ARE LISA MANSFIELD, LINDSEY DAUGHERTY, LAURA JONES.
[01:40:10]
. LINDSAY DAUGHERTY.GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS LINDSAY DAUGHERTY.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON ADDRESSING LEARNING LOSS IN OUR STUDENTS.
WE NEED THE FOLLOWING NOT ONLY BECAUSE THEY MAKE SENSE FOR OUR STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND COMMUNITY, BUT BECAUSE THEY ARE BACKED BY DATA AND ARE PROVEN TO IMPROVE LEARNING OUTCOMES. WE NEED SMALLER CLASS SIZES.
THIS IS GOING TO MEAN THAT WE NEED ADDITIONAL BRICK AND MORTAR BUILDINGS, THOUGH NOT ONLY ADDRESS THE OVERCROWDING ISSUES THAT WE FACE, BUT REDUCED CLASS SIZES WILL ALLOW OUR TEACHERS TO DO WHAT THEY DO BEST, WHICH IS TO TEACH OUR STUDENTS IN THE WAYS THAT THEY KNOW HOW TO LEARN.
THE SECOND OUR TEXTBOOKS, IT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER, I AM MOM TO A DYSLEXIC CHILD WHO JUST CAN'T LEARN ON ELECTRONIC DEVICES, AND THAT IS PRETTY MUCH THE ONLY THING THAT HE IS GIVEN OUTSIDE OF COPIES OF COPIES OF COPIES OF PIECES OF PAPER THAT ARE ALSO VERY DIFFICULT TO READ.
I KNOW IT IS NOT A PROBLEM JUST FOR HIM.
STUDIES AND DATA FIRMLY SUPPORT THE BENEFITS THAT YEAR ROUND SCHOOLS PROVIDE NOT ONLY FOR HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED YOUTH, BUT THE BENEFITS OF YEAR ROUND SCHEDULING ALSO POSITIVELY IMPACT ALL OF THEIR STUDENTS.
THE NEXT ITEM IS TUTORING TIMES AND ACCESSIBILITY FOR FAMILIES.
AND THIS IS GOING TO TIE INTO MY FINAL POINT.
HE LIVES IN A HOUSEHOLD WITH TWO WORKING PARENTS OUTSIDE OF THE HOME WHO WORK IN RICHMOND.
AND SO IF TRANSPORTATION IS NOT PROVIDED AFTER TUTORING IS GIVEN, THEN MY CHILD CAN'T ACCESS THAT.
AND I KNOW THAT WE'RE NOT THE ONLY FAMILY WHERE THAT'S A PROBLEM.
AND SO WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT TUTORING OPTIONS THAT ARE CURRENTLY PROVIDED BY THE COUNTY THAT ACTUALLY FIT INTO WORKING FAMILIES AND THEREFORE THEIR STUDENTS SCHEDULES.
AND I KNOW THAT THAT PUTS A GREATER BURDEN ON A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE.
BUT IF KIDS THAT NEED IT CAN'T ACCESS IT FOR A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT REASONS, THEN IT DOESN'T MATTER.
RIGHT. AND SO WHAT ARE WE DOING? THE FINAL THING THAT I'D LIKE TO MENTION IS JUST THE SCHOOLS PROPOSAL OF HIGH INTENSITY ACADEMIC TUTORING THAT WAS PROPOSED. I DID RECEIVE A LETTER FROM MY SON.
I DON'T KNOW IF OTHER PARENTS THAT ARE IN THE AUDIENCE RECEIVED THE LETTER.
SO I'M GOING TO SPEAK TO SOME OF THE ITEMS THAT WERE IN IN THAT.
BUT IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION TODAY BY MY SCHOOL BOARD REPRESENTATIVE, MS..
COKER, THAT THIS WAS THE ONLY PLAN THAT CPS SUBMITTED TO VDOE.
AND THAT WAS PRETTY CONCERNING TO ME, BECAUSE THE BULLET POINTS IN THE LETTER SPECIFICALLY TALK ABOUT REVIEWING THIS TUTORING COACH WILL REVIEW MY CHILD'S USE OF DIGITAL LEARNING TOOLS ONLY.
WE'LL THEN ADDRESS ANY DIGITAL TOOL USE SET UP OR CHILD TRAINING NEEDED FOR MY CHILD TO SUCCESSFULLY USE THE TOOLS OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL HOURS. SERVE AS A COACH TO ENCOURAGE AND MONITOR WEEKLY MY CHILD'S TOOL USE.
NOTIFY ME IF THE TOOL USE IF HE'S NOT MEETING THE RECOMMENDED HOUR USAGE OF DIGITAL LEARNING TOOLS.
SHARE WITH CLASSROOM TEACHERS AREAS OF PERSISTENT UNFINISHED LEARNING AND THEN AT THAT POINT, CONNECTING MY CHILD WITH AN ONLINE TUTOR WHEN LEARNING MASTERY THROUGH THESE DIGITAL TOOLS ARE NOT OCCURRING.
MY CHILD HAS ALREADY BEEN IDENTIFIED AS HIGH RISK.
HE WAS HIGH RISK IN KINDERGARTEN AND CONTINUED TO BE HIGH RISK BECAUSE WE HAD A REALLY LACKLUSTER PROCESS THROUGH IEPS, AND WE NEED TO IMPROVE ALL OF THE PROCESSES AND DIGITAL LEARNING.
GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS LAURA BURGY JONES.
I'M A PARENT IN THE MIDLOTHIAN DISTRICT, AND I'M HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE OF MY GROWING CONCERN FOR THE HEALTH, WELLNESS AND SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES.
[01:45:08]
THE HEARTBREAKING REALITY IS THAT ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, SELF-HARM AND DEATH BY SUICIDE AMONG TEENAGERS ARE DRAMATICALLY ON THE RISE.ACCORDING TO THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION MENTAL HEALTH AMERICA, VIRGINIA IS ONE OF THE LOWEST RANKING STATES, 48TH IN THE COUNTRY IN TERMS OF YOUTH WHO HAVE HIGHER RATES OF MENTAL ILLNESS AND LOWER RATES OF ACCESS TO CARE. AMERICAN YOUTH AND CLEARLY VIRGINIA YOUTH ARE FACING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.
AND WHILE PARENTS ARE DOING OUR BEST.
NOT EVERY FAMILY CAN TAKE WORK OFF TO GET THEIR KIDS TO SEE A THERAPIST.
TEACHERS ARE ALSO DOING THEIR BEST.
I'VE TALKED WITH TEACHERS HERE IN CHESTERFIELD.
WE'VE HEARD FROM MANY OF THEM TONIGHT.
I'VE TALKED WITH TEACHERS IN SURROUNDING COUNTIES, I'VE TALKED WITH PROFESSORS AT VCU, AND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM, IN ADDITION TO THEIR INTENSE CLASSROOM RESPONSIBILITIES, ARE ALL INVESTING TIME IN LISTENING TO THEIR STUDENTS CONCERNS AND OFFERING ENCOURAGEMENT WHERE THEY CAN. NONE OF THEM FEEL EQUIPPED FOR THE TYPES OF STRUGGLES THEIR STUDENTS ARE FACING.
LAST WEEK IN BLACKSBURG, TWO DAYS BEFORE HER 18TH BIRTHDAY, A HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR WAS SHOT AND KILLED BY HER EX-BOYFRIEND, WHO THEN TOOK HIS OWN LIFE.
THIS LOSS IS TRAGIC AND DEVASTATING, AND I CANNOT IMAGINE THE HORROR AND GRIEF FOR THOSE TWO FAMILIES AND THE ENTIRE BLACKSBURG COMMUNITY.
I WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS THE SCHOOL BOARD DOING TO PREVENT INCIDENTS LIKE THIS FROM HAPPENING IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY? INVESTING IN INNOVATIVE AND EXPANDED SCHOOL BASED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES SHOULD BE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE CCPS'S BUDGET, STAFFING AND RESOURCE ALLOCATION.
KIDS TODAY ARE FACING UNPRECEDENTED PRESSURES.
FROM WHAT THEY'RE EXPOSED TO IN THE PALMS OF THEIR HANDS, TO WHAT THEY'RE ABSORBING FROM ALL THAT'S GOING ON AROUND THEM AND IN THE WIDER WORLD.
ALL OF OUR STUDENTS DESERVE TO HAVE ACCESS TO SYSTEMS OF CARE SO THAT WHEN THEY'RE FEELING OVERWHELMED, THEY HAVE SUPPORT TO WORK THROUGH THE FEARS AND EMOTIONS AND STRESSES OF LIFE TO DEVELOP RESILIENCE, RATHER THAN FEELING HOPELESSLY STUCK OR LASHING OUT BY HARMING THEMSELVES OR OTHERS.
I HOPE THIS BOARD AND THE NEXT ONE WILL MAKE INNOVATIVE AND EXPANDED MENTAL HEALTH SCHOOL BASED SERVICES A PRIORITY IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY.
DOING SO WILL BENEFIT STUDENTS AND FAMILIES, PREVENT TRAGEDY, AND PROMOTE THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.
I'M AN EDUCATOR IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR MY 10TH YEAR, THIS YEAR I CAME MOSTLY TO SPEAK ABOUT MEMO 162-23 BECAUSE I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT SOME OF THE KNOCK ON EFFECTS THAT MIGHT OCCUR FROM LENGTHENING THE SCHOOL DAY BY 15 MINUTES.
EVEN SOME OF MY BEST STUDENTS.
MY CLASSES ON EVEN AND ODD DAYS ARE 95 MINUTES LONG.
[01:50:03]
AND I NOTICED THAT EVEN WHEN PROVIDING MULTIPLE BREAKS THROUGHOUT THE CLASS PERIOD, IT'S A LARGE STRUGGLE FOR STUDENTS TO MANAGE TO MAINTAIN ATTENTION ON TASKS THROUGH THAT ENTIRE TIME, ESPECIALLY AS WE GET LATER IN THE DAY AFTER 2 OR 3 OF THOSE CLASSES.IT'S A LOT MORE DIFFICULT WHEN YOU'RE A LOT YOUNGER.
HAVING 130 PLUS STUDENTS CAN BE REALLY DIFFICULT SOMETIMES.
SO THAT'S ALSO KIND OF LEANING INTO CLASS SIZE DISCUSSION.
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE SMALLER CLASSES.
MY HIGH SCHOOL CLASSES WERE SOMEWHERE IN THE RANGE OF 20 STUDENTS APIECE, AND WHILE THAT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE AN INCREDIBLY SMALL NUMBER, IT IS SIGNIFICANTLY SMALLER THAN THE 26 TO 27 THAT I'M SEEING NOW.
I DISAGREE WITH THIS PROPOSAL DUE TO THE OUTSIDE FACTORS THAT AFFECT SCHOOLS, SUCH AS STUDENT SPORTS, WORK FOR STUDENTS, HOMEBOUND FOR STUDENTS NOT IN SCHOOL, AND THE EFFECT OF HUNGER IN MANY STUDENTS.
SORRY, I KNOW THAT 15 MINUTES DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A LOT, BUT TO A HUNGRY CHILD, THAT'S AN ETERNITY.
THE NEXT COMMENT TIER ONE WOULD BE TOO EARLY FOR STUDENTS TO BE AT SCHOOL.
GRADE FLOORS FOR STUDENTS ARE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE APPEARANCE OF LEARNING.
AND THEN I WILL LEAVE ONE MORE AND THEN I WILL GO AHEAD AND STEP DOWN.
WE'RE ALREADY IN AN EDUCATIONAL CRISIS WHERE MANY STUDENTS HAVE A LONG TERM SUB FOR A TEACHER BECAUSE THEIR STRUGGLE TO FILL POSITIONS, WHICH LEADS TO EXACERBATING LEARNING LOSS, NOT SOLVING IT.
WE SHOULD BE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO KEEP THE TEACHERS WHO HAVE STAYED THROUGH COVID VIRTUAL LEARNING, KIDS COMING BACK WITH LEARNING AND BEHAVIORAL DEFICITS DUE TO BEING HOME FOR SO LONG, AND NUMEROUS OTHER FACTORS.
ULTIMATELY, RETAINING TEACHERS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING RIGHT NOW.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
MAY WE HAVE TRACY FRANSON? HI THERE, I AM TRACY FRANSON AND I'M A RESIDENT OF THE MATOACA DISTRICT AND I AM COMING FORWARD TONIGHT TO.
THAT I THINK THE COMMUNITY SHOULD BE AWARE OF AS WELL, SO THAT THEY CAN BRING THEIR CONCERNS TO YOU AND HAVE EVERYBODY BRING FULL TRANSPARENCY FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
BUT THROUGH THE FOIA PROCESS, WE'VE KNOWN THAT IT'S ACTUALLY ALREADY IN PROCESS.
AND WHAT I'M SPEAKING OF IS THE PROPOSAL TO INCREASE SCHOOL SPENDING BY $3.1 MILLION, INITIALLY TO INSTALL SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS IN ALL OF OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
THAT MONEY COULD BE BETTER SPENT ON COUNSELORS, SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS, MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS.
[01:55:04]
RIGHT? WE HEARD FROM A HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER TONIGHT WHO SAID THAT THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DOES WANT A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER.WE HAVE NOT HEARD THAT SAME CONCERN FROM ANY ELEMENTARY TEACHERS.
THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS.
SO BRINGING THESE PROPOSALS FORWARD TO SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY BEFORE THEY ARE ACTED ON BEHIND THE CURTAIN IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR OUR STRENGTHENING THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, FOR OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR SERVICE AND EVERYONE HAVE A GOOD EVENING.
GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SCHOOL BOARD ATTORNEY ROBERTS.
I HOPE TO MAKE YOUR JOB A LITTLE BIT EASIER.
I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.
I THANK YOU FOR THE TEACHERS THAT HAVE HELPED MY CHILDREN.
I'VE HAD FOUR GO THROUGH HERE.
WANT TO GIVE YOU JUST A BRIEF LITTLE BACKGROUND BESIDES HAVING THE FOUR CHILDREN.
I WAS AN ORANGE COUNTY MARSHAL.
I WAS A CHILD VISITATION MONITOR.
WHEN I SAY THAT OUR COUNTRY IS HAVING A RISE IN TRANSGENDER ISSUES, IT IS A MAJOR RISE.
BEFORE 2014, THERE WERE NO STUDIES FOR GIRLS IN TRANSGENDER TRANSITIONING PERIODS, NONE WHATSOEVER.
WITH THE GUYS, IT'S TYPICALLY BETWEEN 2 AND 4 YEARS OF AGE BEFORE THEY START TO SAY, OH, THEY WISH THEY WERE THE OPPOSITE SEX TO BE A GIRL FOR.
I HAVE SEEN I HAVE SEEN NIECES, I'VE SEEN RELATIVES, I HAVE SEEN MY DAUGHTER'S BEST FRIEND AT CLOVER HILL DECIDED TO MAKE A TRANSITION. IT'S A GREAT HONEYMOON PERIOD FOR THE FIRST FIVE YEARS FOR THE KIDS, BUT AFTER THAT IT IS DOWNHILL.
AND IT'S LABELED THAT BY THE AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION.
IT'S LABELED FOR A REASON FOR THE GENDER DYSPHORIA.
THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE THAT ON THE NEWS, THEY COME ACROSS AS IF THEY HAVE INTELLIGENCE.
THEY'RE DOING A GREAT JOB, AND ALL THEY WANT TO DO IS JUST BE ACCEPTED.
THEY HAVE A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER THINGS THAT THEY'RE INTO AS WELL, WHICH IS NOT HEALTHY FOR US.
I HAVE BEEN OVER TO MIDLOTHIAN HIGH SCHOOL WHEN WE USED TO HAVE A STAFF MEN'S RESTROOM STARTED TO OPEN UP THE DOOR AND OUT WALKED ONE OF THE TEACHERS WHO WAS TRANSITIONING.
MY GUT, I KNEW THAT I SHOULDN'T GO IN THERE AND I KNEW WHY.
INSIDE THE BATHROOM WAS A STAND UP URINAL.
AND THEN THERE'S A TOILET THAT ALSO IS BEHIND A PETITION.
I WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN WHO WAS BACK THERE UNLESS I HAPPENED TO SEE HIGH HEELS OR SOMETHING.
IN THIS CASE, SHE WAS NOT WEARING HIGH HEELS, SO I MIGHT NOT HAVE EVEN NOTICED.
IT WOULD HAVE PUT ME IN A VERY BAD POSITION.
AND I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD DO THAT TO STAFF, TEACHERS OR STUDENTS.
AS I HAVE EXAMINED MANY OF THE SCHOOLS, I'VE NOTICED THAT THE RESTROOMS ARE ONE OF THE AREAS THAT ARE NOT MONITORED.
I CAME FROM A LAW ENFORCEMENT BACKGROUND.
THEY DON'T WANT TO NECESSARILY GO INTO THE RESTROOMS. THE GUYS ARE DEFINITELY NOT GOING TO GO INTO THE GIRLS RESTROOMS FOR OBVIOUS REASONS, WHICH SHOULD BE COMMON SENSE.
IF YOU'VE HAD GUYS OR GIRLS, YOU KNOW THAT THERE'S A HUGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEM.
THE SUPREME COURT, JUSTICE JACKSON WAS ASKED THE QUESTION, WHAT IS A WOMAN? AND YET SHE COULDN'T ANSWER.
A SUPREME COURT JUSTICE, SOMEBODY IS SUPPOSED TO BE VERY SMART.
BIDEN SAID THAT I WILL ONLY HIRE A BLACK WOMAN, AND HE CHOSE MRS.
[02:00:03]
JACKSON. OBVIOUSLY.I WOULD SAY THAT YOU SAVED THE BEST FOR LAST, BUT THAT'S NOT THE CASE TONIGHT.
I'M JUST KIDDING. HE KNOWS I AM, SO THAT'S JUST A JOKE.
I'M GOING TO SAY I NOTICED THE CAMERA ANGLES GOT WIDER, INCLUDED MY REPRESENTATIVE AS WELL.
I SEE THAT WE TOOK THAT SUGGESTION.
MAYBE IT WAS JUST A FIRST MOVE.
I DO DO NOT AGREE WITH IT NOT BEING ON MY FACE, BUT WE ALL KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT THAT.
SECOND, WITH THE AGENDA, I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO SPEAK TO SOMETHING THAT'S ON THE AGENDA FOR ONCE.
AGENDA, THE POLICY 1092 DEALING WITH THE AGENDA ORGANIZATION.
BASICALLY, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS ADVOCATE FOR WHEN PUBLIC COMMENT HAPPENS.
THE VERY NEXT ITEM THAT HAPPENS IS YOU GUYS RESPOND TO THE PUBLIC, BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS TO A LOT OF TIMES IS THE CITIZENS THAT SPEAK LEAVE OR THEY THEY IT LASTS SO LONG THEY DON'T HEAR WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE TO SAY AFTER THEY HAVE SPOKEN.
A LOT OF TIMES THEY DON'T GO ON AND WATCH IT LIVE.
AND YOU GUYS KNOW THAT I SENT YOU AN EMAIL.
OKAY. FLAG DISPLAY POLICY, I DIDN'T SEE IT ON THE AGENDA WHERE IT WENT.
IF ANYBODY WANTS TO CALL A MOTION ON THAT TONIGHT, I'D BE IN FAVOR OF THAT.
I'D BE SECOND. BUT I DON'T HAVE THAT POWER.
BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE I SEE THAT IT WASN'T ON THE AGENDA ALSO, SO THAT THE YOUNGKIN POLICY WASN'T ON THE AGENDA EITHER, WHICH I CAN ONLY ASSUME BECAUSE OF THE 30 DAY REVIEW THAT IT'S MOST LIKELY GOING TO BE NEXT YEAR, POSSIBLY REVIEWED NEXT YEAR.
AND I DO NOT SUPPORT THE POLICY AT ALL.
I DO THINK THAT WE NEED TO START LOOKING IN.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO ADVOCATE FOR THAT.
I KNOW IT'S EXPENSIVE, BUT MAYBE LOOK INTO MAYBE SOME RFPS FOR THAT.
AS FAR AS WHAT? OH, SPECIAL NEEDS KIDS, HERE WE GO.
I LEFT MYSELF SOME TIME, SO I'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF REVIEW ON SOME OF THE PARENTS IN CHESTERFIELD.
I'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF YOU AND OTHER COUNTIES AS WELL.
I'M TRYING TO EDUCATE MYSELF ON WHAT'S GOING ON WITH SOME OF THESE LOCALITIES THAT ARE SPENDING $500,000 TO $1 MILLION DOLLARS TO KEEP THEIR CHILD OUT OF SCHOOL FOR LITIGATION ISSUES, AND THE PARENT CAN'T AFFORD AND THE LOCALITY KNOWS THAT THE PARENTS CAN'T AFFORD TO THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY.
SO WHAT DO THEY DO? THEY GIVE UP.
RIGHT? AND SO THEIR KIDS ARE NO LONGER IN SCHOOL.
AND I KNOW EVERY SITUATION IS DIFFERENT.
I'M NOT SAYING THEY'RE ALL THE SAME.
I'M NOT SAYING CHESTERFIELD ALWAYS AT FAULT, I'M JUST SAYING THAT CERTAIN LOCALITIES WILL BE EITHER.
AND AGAIN, I KNOW THAT THERE ARE SEPARATE INSTANCES.
AND SO A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANT TO END ON THIS, I WILL CLOSE ON THIS.
AND I'M GOING TO I'M GOING TO CONTINUE THIS ON THE NEXT MEETING.
THERE ARE A LOT OF COUPLE THINGS THAT I WANTED TO GET DONE.
THE LIBRARY PERMIT PROCESS TO FLAG DISPLAY, THE WALKOUTS PROTEST, AND THE STUDENT CONDUCT DRESS CODE FOR THE EMPLOYEES, THE RATING SYSTEM FOR THE BOOKS, AND THE AUTO OPT IN FOR THE LIBRARY RECEIPTS.
OH, AND BY THE WAY, NOBODY IS BANNING BOOKS.
THEY'RE USING POLICIES IN PLACE AND LAWS IN PLACE.
SO NO ONE'S BANNING BOOKS, THEY'RE JUST USING THE POLICIES IN PLACE.
AND THE SCHOOL OFFICIALS ARE THE ONES THAT ARE REMOVING IT, NOT THE PARENTS.
SO THANK YOU, ROBERT EVERETT, VIRGINIA, TO THEM FIRST.
MIKE KARABINOS. YOU KNOW, INTERESTING FUN FACT IN THE 1930 THERE WAS A HUGE INCREASE IN LEFT HANDEDNESS DUE TO RADICAL LEFT HAND IDEOLOGY.
OH NO, THAT'S WHEN THEY STOPPED OPPRESSING LEFT HANDED PEOPLE.
BY NOW, WE SHOULD KNOW THAT WHAT IS RIGHT AND WRONG WITHOUT THE MANUFACTURED PANICS.
[02:05:06]
I CAN'T BE DISTRACTED WITH THAT TONIGHT BECAUSE I'M HERE ABOUT A SAFETY ISSUE.FRIDAY NIGHT, MY DAUGHTER WAS STRUCK BY A CAR ON VILLAGE SQUARE PARKWAY BEHIND COSBY HIGH SCHOOL.
THERE'S NOT ENOUGH PARKING AT CROSBY HIGH SCHOOL TO ACCOMMODATE THE STUDENT BODY.
EITHER THERE IS NOT ENOUGH SPACES FOR THE STUDENTS OR THE SPACES THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
SO STUDENTS END UP PARKING ALONG COSBY ROAD AND VILLAGE SQUARE PARKWAY.
MY WIFE AND I DROVE DOWN THOSE ROADS YESTERDAY, COUNTED 99 STUDENT CARS DURING THE SCHOOL DAY, PARKED ALONG THOSE TWO ROADS AND THEY DON'T HAVE A CHOICE. I'M NOT SAYING THEY SHOULDN'T BE ALLOWED TO PARK THERE.
OUR BUSSING ISSUE AND THE FACT THAT OUR OUR COUNTY IS NOT WALKABLE MEANS THAT THERE'S LITTLE.
OTHER OPTIONS FOR KIDS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES.
AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES THAT ARE GETTING OUT AFTER DARK NOW.
I SPENT FRIDAY NIGHT IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM WITH HER.
I'VE HAD A CHANGE. WOUND DRESSINGS EVERY DAY SINCE THEN.
NOW BY SOME MIRACLE BUMPS AND BRUISES, SCRAPES, A CONCUSSION, SOME ROAD RASH.
SHE'S BACK AT SCHOOL THIS WEEK.
BUT BACK ROAD LIKE THAT HAS NO LIGHTS ON IT.
THERE IS AN ABANDONED SPORT COMPLEX ACROSS THE STREET FROM COSBY HIGH SCHOOL.
EITHER ONE OF THOSE COULD PROVIDE MORE PARKING.
I AM SURE THAT THIS PROBLEM IS NOT ISOLATED TO COSBY HIGH SCHOOL.
SO HALF THIS CONVERSATION IS TO YOU GUYS.
THE OTHER HALF IS TO THE CURRENT AND THE INCOMING BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
SO THAT NOBODY HAS TO GET THAT PHONE CALL AGAIN AND GO THROUGH THE WEEK THAT I'VE HAD TO GO THROUGH.
THANK YOU. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES THIS EVENING'S PUBLIC COMMENT. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.
NEXT WE HAVE THIS EVENING SUPERINTENDENTS REPORT, DR.
[E. Superintendent's Report]
DAUGHERTY. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.FIRST, I'D LIKE TO SHARE A VIDEO WITH THE MISSION TOMORROW.
AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO INVITE SEAN SMITH UP TO PRESENT.
MADAM CHAIRMAN, BOARD MEMBERS, AS YOU KNOW, AS PART OF SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT, EACH EACH BOARD MEETING, WE WANT TO TAKE THE MOMENT TO TALK ABOUT SOME EXCITING THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING, AND OUR SCHOOL DIVISION, AS WE HAVE A PRESENTATION COMING AFTER THIS, WE WANT TO SHOWCASE A VIDEO WITH REGARD TO MISSION TOMORROW, AN EXCITING CAREER EXPLORATION PROGRAM THAT OUR STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO.
MISSION TOMORROW IS AN EVENT THE CHAMBER RVA DOES ACROSS THE ENTIRE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA FOR ALL OF THE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO COME AND BRING OUR EIGHTH GRADE STUDENTS TOGETHER TO LEARN ABOUT DIFFERENT CAREERS THAT THEY CAN EXPLORE WHILE THEY'RE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL, TO HELP THEM REALLY AFFIRM THEIR CAREER PATHWAYS.
THERE'S PEOPLE IN BACK OF ME CLIMBING UP A TELEPHONE POLE.
EVERYTHING HERE IS AN INTERESTING AND EXCITING PATHWAY FOR ALL OF OUR KIDS.
PREMIER CLUSTER IS A GROUP THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH HEALTH CARE SCIENCES.
[02:10:05]
SO LIKE ANYTHING THAT WOULD BE HEALTH SCIENCE RELATED WOULD BE IN THAT CLUSTER.ALL OF THAT WOULD FALL UNDER THAT CLUSTER.
WE'RE ACTUALLY KIND OF SPECIAL IN VIRGINIA.
NORMALLY THERE ARE 16, BUT VIRGINIA FEELS SO PASSIONATE ABOUT ENERGY.
WE OPENED A 17TH CAREER CLUSTER.
THEY DO A GREAT JOB OF MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE ALL 17 CAREER CLUSTERS REPRESENTED IN VIRGINIA, SO THAT STUDENTS ARE GETTING A WIDE EXPERIENCE OF ALL THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS THAT ARE OUT THERE AND AVAILABLE TO THEM.
WE REALLY WANT TO FOCUS MISSION TOMORROW ON EIGHTH GRADE STUDENTS, BECAUSE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, OUR STUDENTS HAVE CAREER INVESTIGATIONS, AND THAT'S A COMMON COURSE THAT ALL STUDENTS TAKE ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH BETWEEN SIX AND EIGHTH GRADE.
AND WE REALLY FEEL THAT MISSION TOMORROW KIND OF BRINGS THAT TO A HUGE EVENT FOR US TO KIND OF CELEBRATE WHAT THE STUDENTS HAVE BEEN LEARNING IN THOSE CLASSES, TO HELP THEM AFFIRM WHAT CAREERS THEY WANT TO LOOK AT IN THE FUTURE, AND THEN HELP MAKE THEM MORE INFORMED AND BETTER CHOICES ABOUT THE COURSES THEY CAN TAKE IN HIGH SCHOOL THAT ALIGN TO THOSE CAREER PATHWAYS.
THEY GET TO SEE AND EXPERIENCE CAREER PATHWAYS THAT THEY OTHERWISE MIGHT NOT EXPERIENCE.
RIGHT. SO, I MEAN, THEY MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO SEE WHY A CAREER IN LOGISTICS IS SOMETHING THAT THEY MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN, BUT YET THEY COME HERE, YOU KNOW, THEY TALK TO A REPRESENTATIVE AT THE BOOTH, OR THEY GET TO EXPERIMENT WITH SOME, SOME LITTLE MANIPULATIVES OR SOMETHING.
AND IT'S AN EXCITING EXPERIENCE.
SO WE WANT THIS EVENT TO BE AN OPPORTUNITY WHERE THEY CAN COME AND LEARN ABOUT ALL THE DIFFERENT CAREER CLUSTERS THAT ARE OUT THERE AND BE EXPOSED TO WHAT'S AWARE TO MAKE THOSE NEXT CHOICES ABOUT NOW, I WANT TO GO SEE IT FIRSTHAND.
I'VE GOTTEN TO EXPERIENCE IT A LITTLE BIT HERE AND NOW.
I SEE IT. THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS.
SO WE'RE GOING TO START WITH THE COLLEGE READINESS MONTH CELEBRATION.
AND WE AS WE ALWAYS DO, WE START WITH YOU AND YOUR DAWN SOME SPECIAL ATTIRE TONIGHT.
SO LET'S GO. AND AND WHAT BRINGS YOUR COLLEGE AND CAREER PASSION TONIGHT.
WELL, I'LL TELL YOU, I'M WEARING THIS BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE MY MONEY'S GOING.
BECAUSE MY SON IS IN HIS SOPHOMORE YEAR AT OLD DOMINION.
WELL, ANYONE THAT KNOWS ME KNOWS I BLEED BLACK AND GOLD.
AND I AM REPRESENTING CAREER SO NOT ONLY FOR CONSTRUCTION BUT ALSO ENGINEERING AS WELL.
UH, SO I CHOSE A FOUR YEAR PATH.
AND THE FIRST YEAR I WAS WAKE FOREST BECAUSE THAT'S MY SCHOOL.
SECOND YEAR, I WEAR MY DAD'S ARMY FATIGUES TO REPRESENT THE MILITARY.
THIRD YEAR, I WORE AN AUTO MECHANIC BECAUSE ONE OF MY KIDS MIGHT END UP IN THAT.
AND I TYPICALLY FORGET TO WEAR COLLEGE GEAR ON COLLEGE AND CAREER NIGHT.
BUT I WENT OUT SPECIFICALLY BOUGHT THE TOP, THE GOLD TOP.
I GRADUATED FROM VCU VERY PROUDLY.
AND I'M REPRESENTING NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW.
VERY GOOD. AND SO I'M DONNING ALDERMAN UNIVERSITY.
YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT I'M GOING TO COME UP WITH.
SOMETIMES IT'S TOOL BELTS AND WHATNOT.
SO WE'RE GOING TO START TONIGHT WITH CELEBRATE.
WHAT A GREAT VIDEO THAT WAS ON MISSION TOMORROW RIGHT? WHAT A FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE.
BUT IN TONIGHT'S PRESENTATION WE'LL SPEND A MINUTE LOOKING AT OUR CAREER, EXPLORATION ACTIVITIES, HOW WE ALIGN WITH IMAGINE TOMORROW WHAT WE'RE DOING ABOUT COLLEGE AND CAREER AWARENESS ACROSS THE THE YEAR, AND THEN WHAT OUR OUTREACH AND OPEN HOUSES ARE IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE.
SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THIS CONVERSATION.
BUT WHAT GUIDES THIS IS KIND OF THIS MANTRA HERE OF HOW DO WE HELP? AND WHEN I SAY WE, IT'S EVERYBODY, IT'S TEACHERS, IT'S SCHOOL COUNSELORS, IT'S EVERYBODY.
[02:15:02]
BECAUSE THEY CAN'T BE WHAT THEY CAN'T SEE.THEY ONLY KNOW WHAT IS IN THEIR NEAR SURROUNDING.
AND SO THINGS LIKE MISSION TOMORROW HELP BROADEN A STUDENT'S PERSPECTIVE AND AWARENESS OF WHAT OPPORTUNITIES THEY MAY BE ABLE TO OR CONNECT WITH THINGS LIKE CAREER INVESTIGATION, EXPOSE THEM TO CAREERS THAT OTHERWISE THEY HADN'T THOUGHT OF OR BEEN EXPOSED TO, BUT A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HELP STUDENTS SEE THEMSELVES INTO THEIR FUTURE. SO WE'VE GOT ANOTHER SHORT VIDEO THAT WE'RE GOING TO SHOW HERE THAT SHOWCASES SOMETHING THAT WE'LL TALK ABOUT BRIEFLY.
I WANT TO BE AN NFL FOOTBALL PLAYER.
I WANT TO BE AN ARTIST WHEN I GROW UP.
SO WORK BASED LEARNING IS A CONTINUUM OF STUDENTS LEARNING WHAT THEY'VE DONE IN THE CLASSROOM, AND THEN CONNECTING IT TO REAL WORLD EXPERIENCES OUT WITH THEIR COMMUNITY PARTNERS. SO IN CHESTERFIELD, WORK BASED LEARNING REALLY IS A CONTINUUM ACROSS ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL FOR US.
BUT IN CHESTERFIELD IT LOOKS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY BECAUSE WE ARE DOING IT AT ALL THREE LEVELS.
AND SO WE REALLY TRY TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS ALL LEVELS FOR STUDENTS TO EXPERIENCE IT.
IT GOES ANYWHERE FROM GUEST SPEAKING ALL THE WAY UP TO YOUTH REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP.
SO IT'S A WIDE BERTH OF INFORMATION AND EXPERIENCES THAT WE OFFER.
SO IT'S A CONTINUUM OF HAVING DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES.
SO I HAD THAT IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
HAVING THIS INTERNSHIP HAS REALLY HELPED ME LIKE REALIZE THAT THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO DO BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THERE IS ALWAYS THE UNSURENESS OF IT, BUT ACTUALLY BEING ABLE TO BE HERE AND GET MORE EXPERIENCE, IT JUST MAKES ME LOVE IT EVEN MORE.
I REALLY ENJOY JUST THE HANDS ON ASPECTS OF THE JOB.
I'VE ALWAYS JUST LOVED DOING THINGS WITH MY HANDS.
A LOT OF IT IS LIKE DOING BREAK JOBS, BUT I DO A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING.
WHATEVER THE GUYS ARE WORKING ON, I ASSIST WITH THESE INTERNS IN HERE AND HAVING THEM ACTUALLY SEE WHAT WE DO HOPEFULLY BOOST THE INTEREST IN THIS INDUSTRY.
AND IT'S GOOD FOR THEM TO BE HERE TO SEE WHAT WE DO.
I KNOW IN HIGH SCHOOL IT'S LIKE HARD TO FIND OUT WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.
THE BENEFIT OF HAVING INTERNS AT THE ZOO HAS BEEN STAFFING.
AND THAT'S REALLY BENEFICIAL BECAUSE THEY'RE SMILING AND THEY'RE ENGAGING AND THEY'RE WORKING HARD.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE IN THE CHESTERFIELD COMMUNITY TO PARTNER WITH THESE HIGH SCHOOLS, BECAUSE IT GIVES STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIND OUT WHAT THEY DO OR DON'T ENJOY. WHEN I WAS COMING THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL, I HAD NO IDEA WHAT I WANTED TO DO.
I THOUGHT I WANTED TO BE A TEACHER.
THIS IS NOT THE LIFE OF A TEACHER.
IF I HAD THIS OPPORTUNITY, MAYBE IN A SCHOOL SYSTEM, I WOULD HAVE SEEN THAT'S NOT WHAT I WANTED, AND IT WOULD HAVE LED ME TO A DIFFERENT PATH SO THAT I COULD HAVE PLANNED COLLEGE A LITTLE MORE ACCORDINGLY.
SO THIS GIVES THEM THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO SEE, IS THIS WHAT I LIKE? IS THIS NOT WHAT I LIKE? DO I WANT TO GO TO SCHOOL FOR THIS OR CAN I MAKE THIS MY JOB STARTING NOW? SO CHESTERFIELD IS REALLY TAKING THIS MODEL AND BRANCHING IT AND PUSHING IT OUT THERE.
LAST YEAR WE HAD OVER 11,000 WORK-BASED LEARNING EXPERIENCES IN CHESTERFIELD.
THAT'S A LITTLE DATED ON THAT STANDPOINT.
THAT WAS A TWO YEAR OLD DATA POINT.
SO IT'S HARD TO MAKE THAT CONNECTION.
BUT IT'S SO TRUE. I WANTED TO BE, AND THIS ISN'T THE LIFE OF US.
SO HERE'S SOME JUST QUICK DATA POINTS ON HERE.
WE'LL START WITH WORK BASED LEARNING.
[02:20:02]
SHE REFERENCED 11,000.IT'S ACTUALLY 23,000 EXPERIENCES WE HAD LAST YEAR IN ONE YEAR.
THAT'S NOT A CUMULATIVE NUMBER.
CURRICULUMS, THAT MAY BE I'M IN JOURNALISM AND I WANT TO BE A JOURNALIST, RIGHT.
I'M IN CHEMISTRY AND I WANT TO BE A CHEMIST.
THEY WANT TO BE WE WANT TO HELP THEM HAVE A CONNECTION.
BUT THEN WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF THE LAST BULLET POINT THERE FOR OUR STUDENT JOB FAIR OVER TWO YEARS, THE SUPERINTENDENTS INITIATIVE HERE, 513 STUDENTS HAVE RECEIVED FULL TIME JOBS UPON THEIR GRADUATION.
SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT YOU'RE HIRING, YOU'RE HIRING AT A RATE FOR AN 18 YEAR OLD AT THAT.
AND WE HAVE A LOT OF STUDENTS WITH CREDENTIALS THAT ARE EARNING THOSE CREDENTIALS.
SO THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING.
AND IT STARTS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND IT'S MIDDLE SCHOOL AND IT'S HIGH SCHOOL.
HELPING KIDS CONNECT TO WHATEVER THEIR CAREER FUTURES MAY BE.
THE GUIDE FOR THIS IS CLEARLY WE HAVE SOME GOAL ONE ABOUT THE EMBODYING THE INFINITE LEARNER MINDSET AND HELPING OUR STUDENTS AND OUR TEACHERS SEE THAT BECAUSE THAT ENGLISH TEACHER HELPING THEM THINK THEY'RE NO LONGER JUST AN ENGLISH TEACHER.
THEY'RE A CHAMPION FOR CAREERS IN ENGLISH AND HELPING KIDS MAKE THOSE CONNECTIONS.
LIKEWISE, 1.3 ARE COLLEGE AND CAREER READY FOR PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS DRIVES THAT.
BUT AS WE CELEBRATE COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS MONTH OF NOVEMBER, WE DO THIS ALL YEAR LONG.
AND THIS THIS SLIDE HERE KIND OF SHOWS THAT IT'S NOT JUST ONE AND DONE.
IT'S WE MAY CELEBRATE IT THIS MONTH, BUT IT'S ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
IT WAS FANTASTIC. WE HAD OVER 1500 STUDENTS AND PARENTS COME OUT NOT JUST LEARNING ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES AT COLLEGES, BUT ALSO CAREERS, AND WE HAVE PLANS TO EXPAND THAT, BUT A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW HOW WE'RE WORKING ON COLLEGE AND CAREER AWARENESS EVERY MONTH, THE SCHOOL COUNSELING OFFICE, THE CT OFFICE AS WELL.
WE DO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY COMING UP.
OUR OPPORTUNITY TO STAY AT THE TECH CENTER IS THIS THURSDAY AND FRIDAY.
WE HAVE OVER 2200 STUDENTS, SOPHOMORES LEAVING THE HIGH SCHOOLS AND COMING OVER AND TRYING OUT A COUPLE OF THE CTC PROGRAMS. THEN WE OPEN UP SATURDAY FOR AN OPEN HOUSE FOR PARENTS AND FAMILIES TO COME IN.
WE ALSO HAVE AN L INFORMATION SESSION IN THE MORNING WHERE WE'LL HAVE TRANSLATORS ON SITE TO COMMUNICATE WITH, HELP COMMUNICATE WITH PARENTS AND STUDENTS ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL. SO THAT'S JUST AROUND THE CORNER.
IN ALL, WE WORK TO HELP STUDENTS FIND THEIR CAREER PATHS, THEIR CAREER FUTURES AND MAKE CONNECTIONS.
AND WE'RE DOING THIS CTE WITH THE SCHOOL COUNSELING OFFICE AND ALL OF OUR TEACHERS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL, MAKING CONNECTIONS FOR KIDS FOR THE WHY AND THE WHERE, WHERE I'M GOING TO GO.
SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AROUND HELPING KIDS FIND THEIR CAREER FUTURES.
BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? I JUST WANT TO SHARE, MY SON IS IN THE CULINARY ARTS PROGRAM AND THE CTE.
THIS IS HIS FIRST YEAR AND HE IS THOROUGHLY LOVING IT.
SORRY, I TRIED TO GET IT ON, BUT YOU GOT ME FIRST.
BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, CHAD.
AND I TOLD THEM THIS MORNING AT MY LAST CTE MEETING THAT I'LL BE ATTENDING.
I'VE BEEN ABLE TO SEE IT FIRSTHAND.
THREE OF MY KIDS HAVE GONE THROUGH A CTE PROGRAM, AND IT'S VERY VALUABLE.
AND NO MATTER WHO FILLS THESE SEATS UP HERE, IT REALLY IS ESSENTIAL THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ALWAYS TRYING TO EXPAND AND SUPPORT CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION, BECAUSE IT IS WHAT EMPLOYERS ARE LOOKING FOR NOW.
IT ISN'T NECESSARILY JUST A COLLEGE DEGREE AND WE'LL MOLD YOU INTO SOMETHING ELSE.
SO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU AND YOUR STAFF HAVE PROVIDED FOR OUR CHILDREN.
WE HOPE YOU'VE ENJOYED DINNER TONIGHT, PREPARED BY THE TECH CENTER STUDENTS.
YOU'VE GOT SOME COOKIES THERE TO ENJOY AT HOME.
WE'RE NOT TELLING ANYBODY HOW MANY COOKIES YOU GOT, BUT THAT'S OKAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT.
[F. Action Items]
MR. MEISTER.MADAM CHAIR. MADAM VICE CHAIR, DR.
[02:25:08]
THEY HAD RECENTLY ADOPTED A SKINNY BUDGET, WHICH WAS WELL BELOW ANY OF THE PREVIOUS ITERATIONS OF THE BUDGET, WHETHER IT BE THE GOVERNOR OR THE LEGISLATURE.WE MADE SOME EDUCATED GUESSES ON WHERE WE EXPECTED THE STATE BUDGET TO ULTIMATELY LAND.
AS PART OF THAT BUDGET, IF YOU REMEMBER, BACK IN THE SPRING, WE PROPOSED A BUDGET AND LANDED ON A BUDGET THAT OFFERED OUR STAFF AND TEACHERS A 7% PAY INCREASE.
THE STATE BUDGET AT THAT TIME WAS 5% BASED ON THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL.
THERE WERE NOTES IN THE LEGISLATOR THAT THEY WANTED TO MOVE THAT TO.
SEVEN. WE TOOK A PROACTIVE STEP TO MOVE THE PAY TO 7% AT THE START OF THIS FISCAL YEAR IN JULY.
THIS RECENTLY PASSED BUDGET DID ADD IN THAT EXTRA 2%.
BUT HOWEVER, THE STATE ONLY IS FUNDING THAT STARTING IN JANUARY.
SO IT DID CREATE A LITTLE BIT OF A GAP IN THE BUDGET.
HOWEVER, THERE HAS BEEN AN ADDITIONAL PIECE TO THAT BUDGET WITH WITH WHICH DR.
POPE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS AFTERNOON.
I TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS AFTERNOON, WHICH IS ALL IN FUNDING AND ABOUT 22.6 MILLION DEDICATED TO CHESTERFIELD COUNTY TO SUPPORT LITERACY, ABSENTEEISM AND ADDITIONAL TUTORING FOR OUR STAFF.
YOU'VE HEARD MANY COMMENTS ON THAT.
KEEP IN MIND THAT 22.6 MILLION HAS A LONGER LIFE SPAN THAN JUST ONE FISCAL YEAR.
WE'RE THANKFUL FOR THAT HAS A LIFE OUT THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 2026.
YOU SEE IT IN HERE TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES OVER THAT TIME PERIOD.
THE ONE PIECE OF NEW INFORMATION I BROUGHT TO THE BOARD TODAY WAS THAT THE ENROLLMENT, AFTER SEVERAL YEARS OF GROWTH, STUDENT GROWTH OF 1000 OR MORE, WE'VE HAD SEEN AT LEAST THIS YEAR A SLOWING OF GROWTH.
WE'RE LOOKING AT ROUGHLY ABOUT 100 STUDENT GROWTH PER ANNUM FALL TO FALL NUMBERS.
THAT REDUCED GROWTH FROM WHAT WE EXPECTED DOES COME WITH REVENUE CONSEQUENCES.
IT WOULD REDUCE OUR REVENUE BY ABOUT $6 MILLION.
I PROPOSE SOME CHANGES IN THIS MEMO TO LOWER OUR ONGOING OPERATING FUND ACCORDINGLY, LARGELY WITH ITEMS THAT WILL NOT IMPACT THE ONGOING SCHOOL OPERATIONS, THINGS LIKE LOWERING THE EXPECTATION FOR INFLATION.
WE CAME OUT OF A PERIOD WHERE INFLATION WAS 7 TO 10%.
THAT CREATES SOME SAVING OPPORTUNITIES.
THE TIMING OF OUR DEBT SERVICE BILLS ARE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.
THAT CREATED SOME SAVINGS OPPORTUNITIES.
AND OTHER CHANGES LIKE THAT REALLY ALLOW US TO BALANCE THE BUDGET HERE WITHOUT ANY ADDITIONAL IMPACT TO THE STUDENT AND TEACHERS IN THE DISTRICT.
AND LASTLY, WHAT WE HAVE FOR YOU TODAY IS SUMMARIZED IN THIS MEMO FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
IT WINDS UP BEING ABOUT A $907 MILLION OPERATING BUDGET.
WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT $22 MILLION OF ALL IN FUNDING PRESENTED IN MEMO 158-23 WHICH ALSO INCLUDES ABOUT $21,000 OF INCREMENTAL REVENUE FOR JUST FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AS WELL AS THE ACCOMPANYING RESOLUTION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
WITH THAT SAID, I OPEN FOR QUESTIONS OR THOUGHTS.
BOARD MEMBERS, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE MEMO 158-2023 AS PRESENTED? SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? I JUST HAVE A COMMENT THAT I THINK IT WAS A LOT MORE THAN JUST A LUCKY GUESS.
I THINK YOU DID A GREAT JOB WITH PREPARING OUR BUDGET, GIVEN THAT THE STATE WAS REALLY WONKY AND NO, GOOD JOB. MY ONLY QUESTION IS THIS THE LATEST WE'VE EVER APPROVED NOVEMBER? AND PLEASE, LET US NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN.
I DON'T HAVE ALL THE HISTORY, BUT I HAVE TO BELIEVE IT IS.
THERE HAS BEEN A MOTION AND A SECOND.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE MOTION.
NEXT WE HAVE MEMO 159-23, MR. DAVIS. MR. THUMA. AS YOU CAN TELL, I'M NOT MR.
[02:30:04]
DAVIS. UNFORTUNATE FOR YOU ALL.I'M HERE TOO, GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR.
D, I'M HERE TONIGHT TO DISCUSS BOARD MEMO 15923.
THIS IS THE NEW CUSTODIAL CONTRACT.
EXCEL SERVICES WILL GET 17 BUILDINGS.
THIS WILL ALLOW US GREATER DIVERSITY AND HOPEFULLY ALLOW US FOR MORE SUCCESS.
THE TOTAL CONTRACT VALUE OF THIS CONTRACT ANNUALLY WILL BE $18,828,710.
ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, MR. THUMA. BOARD MEMBERS, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE MEMO NUMBER 159 -23, AS PRESENTED.
SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? I JUST HAVE JUST REALLY QUICK ALL THE CONTRACTORS WE HAVE.
MS.. BAILEY, I THINK IT'S SMART TO DIVIDE UP THE CONTRACTS THE WAY THAT YOU HAVE.
AND IN LOOKING AT YOUR PLAN, EVEN GIVING THE NEW CONTRACTOR A VERY SMALL TASTE OF THE PIE.
I THINK IT GARNERS PROBABLY THE BEST SUCCESS.
I REMEMBER THE DAYS WHEN IT WAS ONE CUSTODIAL CONTRACT AND THEY WERE NOT GOOD.
AS I JUST MENTIONED, KNOWING WHERE WE'VE COME FROM AND WHERE WE ARE NOW, IT'D BE FUN TO PUT A SLIDE UP WITH OUR AP SCORES FIVE YEARS AGO, AND RIGHT NOW JUST JUST NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND COMMEND YOU FOR THE INCREDIBLE WORK YOU'VE DONE WITH THE WHOLE DEPARTMENT.
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.MADAM CHAIRMAN, BOARD MEMBERS, DR.
DAUGHERTY, YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU MEMORANDUM NUMBER 161-23.
I WOULD NOTE AGAIN THE BOARD DID PULL MEMORANDUM 162-23.
STAFF RECOMMENDS REVISIONS TO CURRENT POLICIES AND REGULATIONS AS FOLLOWS.
REVISIONS TO POLICY 1092 REVISED, AGENDA PREPARATION, DISSEMINATION AND ORDER.
THAT IS, SIMPLY TO ALIGN YOUR POLICY WITH THE CURRENT FLOW OF YOUR AGENDA ITEMS. THE SECOND ONE IS REVISIONS TO POLICY 2170, REVISE, INTERNAL AUDIT FUNCTION DUTY TO REPORT FRAUD.
REVISION THERE TO CORRECT A REFERENCE POINT OF A POLICY THAT NO LONGER EXISTS.
NUMBER THREE, REVISIONS OF POLICY 3040-R REVISED, UNIFORM GRADING STANDARDS.
THAT'S TO ALIGN WITH YOUR CURRENT PRACTICE AS DISTINGUISHED IN THE PARENT HANDBOOK.
THAT IS, WITH REGARD TO A REFERENCE POINT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POLICY.
AND THE LAST TWO POLICIES ARE CHANGES THAT ARE REQUIRED BY FEDERAL LAW.
REVISED LACTATION SUPPORT AND REVISIONS OF POLICY 5230 REVISED SICK LEAVE.
PROPOSED CHANGES HAVE BEEN REVIEWED BY THE SCHOOL BOARD ATTORNEY.
IF APPROVED, REVISIONS TO CURRENT POLICIES AND REGULATIONS WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.
BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION?
[H. Items for Board Review]
ALL RIGHT. NEXT WE HAVE 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'S REVIEW.
NUMBER ONE MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT IMPROVEMENT FUNDS, FY 2024.
NUMBER TWO, FY 2024 SEPTEMBER EXPENDITURES VERSUS APPROPRIATIONS.
NUMBER THREE, BUDGET CHANGE REQUEST SUMMARY ACROSS CATEGORIES, SEPTEMBER 2023.
NUMBER FOUR, BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS.
NUMBER FIVE, PRE-K UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2023.
NUMBER SIX, DRAFT 2024 SCHOOL BOARD MEETING CALENDAR.
NUMBER SEVEN, FY 2024 FINANCIAL REPORTS FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2023.
[02:35:08]
AND NUMBER EIGHT, FY 2025 BUDGET CALENDAR.NEXT WE HAVE THIS EVENING SUPERINTENDENTS REMARKS, DR.
[I. Superintendent's Remarks]
DAUGHERTY. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.FIRST OF ALL, MICHAEL, I AM GLAD TO HEAR YOUR DAUGHTER'S OKAY.
I'M SORRY TO HEAR WHAT HAPPENED.
EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T HAVE ANY CONTROL OF THE ROADS, I'M GOING TO DIRECT MR. DAVIS'S TEAM TO GET WITH THE COUNTY, SEE WHAT WE CAN DO WITH THE LIGHTS OUT.
AND YOU'RE RIGHT. SOME I DRIVE ON SOME OF THE ROADS, AND THAT'S JUST ONLY THAT ROAD.
BUT A LOT OF ROADS AROUND WHICH I'M JUST GLAD MY HEADLIGHTS ARE GOOD.
BUT I'M GLAD TO HEAR YOUR DAUGHTER'S OKAY, AND WE WILL JUMP ON THAT IMMEDIATELY.
SO JUST SOME CLARIFICATIONS, MADAM CHAIR AND BOARD.
THERE WAS A DISCUSSION ABOUT SROS IN OUR BUILDINGS, AND IT'S NOT SROS, IT'S THOSE IN OUR ELEMENTARY THAT WILL BE FULLY TRANSPARENT WHEN WE WHEN I SUBMIT THE BUDGET IN JANUARY.
SO THIS WASN'T TRANSPARENT YET BECAUSE I HAVEN'T SUBMITTED THE BUDGET YET FOR 25.
AND EVERYTHING THAT WE PUT IN THE BUDGET IS TRANSPARENT, SO I DON'T KNOW MUCH MORE WE CAN DO, BUT HAVE MEETINGS AND MAKE SURE IT'S ONLINE EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR. A COUPLE OTHER THINGS.
THE BETTY WEAVER, I KNOW THAT WAS NOT MENTIONED, THAT OUR TEAM IS MEETING MEMBERS OF MY TEAM WILL BE MEETING WITH THIS PARENT WITHIN THE WEEK THAT WAS ALREADY SCHEDULED. IT JUST WASN'T MENTIONED.
THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT PLANNING TIME FOR ELEMENTARY.
WE DO NOT WANT TO BE IN VIOLATION OF POLICY.
AND IF WE ARE, WE WILL CORRECT THAT.
I APPRECIATE THE CONCERN ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH REPORT.
AND WE HAD THAT GREAT CONCERN AS WELL.
WE COULD HAVE ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD, THERE'S NO ONE OUT THERE TO HELP.
WE ALREADY REPORTED THAT SEVERAL MONTHS AGO.
AND JUST ONE MORE THING AND I APPRECIATE THE PEOPLE THAT STAYED.
I REALLY DO THANK YOU FOR HEARING THE REST OF OUR BUSINESS.
A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL COME AND THEN LEAVE AND WELL, SHAME ON THEM, BUT I WILL.
THIS BOARD TAKES A LOT OF HEAT ON A LOT OF THINGS.
AND TONIGHT THEY TOOK HEAT ON SOMETHING THAT I DID.
AND SO I OWN THE SCHOOL DAY, 15 MINUTES.
THAT'S ON ME. WASN'T ON THE BOARD.
AND I WILL TRULY, TRULY TELL YOU.
WE WILL GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD.
WE WILL LOOK AT IT. THE TEAM WILL LOOK AT IT.
WE WILL DO NOTHING WITHOUT FULL TRANSPARENCY.
BUT SOMETIMES I BLAME THE BOARD ON A LOT OF THINGS.
THIS ONE, THIS ONE, THEY DON'T THEY DON'T GET IT.
IT'S ON ME. AND AND LIKE I HAVE THE MODEL WHAT I PREACH.
SO TO MY STAFF, I APOLOGIZE TO THE BOARD I APOLOGIZE AND TO THE TEACHERS OF THIS COUNTY, IT WAS NO DISRESPECT TO YOU AT ALL, AND I HOPE YOU KNOW THAT, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN FIGHTING FOR YOU SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE.
MADAM CHAIR, THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
AND AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SPEAK UP, I APPRECIATE THAT A LOT.
[J. Announcements, Communications, and School Board Comments]
NEXT WE HAVE ANNOUNCEMENTS, COMMUNICATIONS, AND SCHOOL BOARD COMMENTS.SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, ARE THERE ANY ANNOUNCEMENT OR COMMENTS THIS EVENING? I JUST HAVE A COMMENT TO DR.
WE'D LOVE TO REDUCE CLASS SIZES.
AND EVERYONE KNOWS THAT WOULD BE THE BEST EDUCATIONAL PRACTICE.
BUT WE ALSO KNOW WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS DEFICIT IN TEACHERS.
I MEAN, WE DON'T HAVE A SURPLUS OF TEACHERS.
WE CAN BARELY FILL THE POSITIONS THAT ARE THERE.
TO DECREASE CLASS SIZES, TAKES MORE THAN JUST MONEY BELIEVE IT OR NOT, IT TAKES ACTUALLY CERTIFIED BODIES TO FILL THOSE CLASSROOMS.
[02:40:03]
SO AS MUCH AS WE WOULD LOVE TO SAY YES, LET'S NO ONE UP HERE WANTS TO MAKE CLASSES.THAT'S JUST NOT WHAT WE WANT TO DO.
BUT YES, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL.
AND THEN BACK TO THE EXTENDED DAY, 15 MINUTES AND THE COMMENTS ABOUT US NOT BEING TRANSPARENT.
YOU HEARD WHAT HE JUST SAID, BUT BUT EVEN THOUGH DOCTOR D'S OWNED THIS, WHATEVER HE HE CHARGED, STAFF WAS TRYING TO ADDRESS A PROBLEM THAT THE STATE SAYS WE DO NOT MEET SEAT TIME.
OH, YOU'RE JUST TRYING TO CHECK THE BOX? WELL, YEAH, BUT IT'S A BOX THAT KIND OF LIKE, HAS TO BE CHECKED.
YOU DON'T GET A CHOICE TO MEET SEAT TIME.
YOU HAVE TO MEET SEAT TIME REQUIREMENTS.
OR OUR KIDDOS DON'T GET CREDIT FOR THE COURSES THEY'RE TAKING.
SO IT'S NOT ABOUT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM GETTING CREDIT.
IT'S ABOUT THE CHILD SITTING IN THE COURSE.
NOW, WHAT WE DID AS A BOARD IS WE JUST ASKED THEM TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT MAYBE SOME OTHER OPTIONS TO ADDRESS MEETING SEAT TIME BESIDES EXTENDING THE DAY 15 MINUTES. JUST GIVE US A ARRAY OF SOLUTIONS, AND POSSIBLY ONE THAT ISN'T AS BITTER OF A PILL AS THE 15 MINUTES SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN.
BUT LET ME. I JUST WOULD LIKE THE COMMUNITY TO ASK THEMSELVES THIS.
THAT'S TRANSPARENT, THAT'S BEING TRANSPARENT.
WE WOULD BE VOTING IN DECEMBER ON THIS ISSUE AFTER A MONTH OF COMMUNITY DISCOURSE.
SO I GET A LITTLE MY FUR GETS UP A LITTLE BIT WHEN THEY SAY WE'RE NOT BEING TRANSPARENT.
WELL, I'M NOT REAL SURE HOW MUCH MORE TRANSPARENT WE CAN BE THAN DOING WHAT WE HAVE JUST DONE.
SO THOSE ARE THE JUST TWO OTHER THINGS I WANTED TO BRING UP.
WE HAVE TO TAKE ONE OF THESE PILLS AND WE JUST GOT TO PICK WHICH ONE WE WANT TO TAKE.
THAT WAS A LOT OF STUFF TO THROW OUT.
I JUST WANTED TO CONGRATULATE THE MONICAN GIRLS ON THEIR STAY.
THEY MADE IT TO THE STATE FINALS, BUT THEY GOT IN THE FINALS.
AND LAST WEEKEND, TWO WEEKENDS AGO, I DON'T KNOW.
THE LAST WEEK HAS BEEN A BLUR, BUT YES, CONGRATULATIONS TO.
THE MONACAN COMPETITIVE CHEER TEAM.
MS.. HAINES. WELL, SINCE WE'RE ALL COMMENTING AND SINCE WE HAVE A NEW BOARD LISTENING, AND SO SOME OF THE BEHIND THE SCENES STUFF, YOU KNOW, YOU GOT A LITTLE BIT OF THAT TONIGHT FROM ALL OF US.
HEFFRON MAYBE SHE'S STILL THINKING ABOUT IT.
AND THAT ONE THING THAT I THINK WE'VE ALL ALL TRIED TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT IT'S NOT JUST THE VOICES IN THIS ROOM THAT ARE HEARD, BUT IT'S THE VOICES OF THE ENTIRE COUNTY. AND TO TO SPEAK ON THE BYRD HIGH SCHOOL ISSUE, THEY'RE LUCKY THAT THEY HAD A COMMUNITY THAT RALLIED AROUND THE ISSUE AND MADE IT PUBLIC.
I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT WE HAVE OTHER HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTY THAT WOULD LIKE ONE FULL TIME SRO THAT IS ALWAYS PRESENT AND IS NOT PULLED AWAY. SO I THINK IF WE ARE IF WE ARE PAUSING AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT BYRD, IT'S BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT NOT EVERY HIGH SCHOOL HAS SOMEBODY HERE TO COME AND SPEAK.
AND SO OTHER HIGH SCHOOLS HAVE MIGHT HAVE CAMERA ISSUES.
IT DOESN'T TAKE AWAY FROM BYRD'S NEEDS.
[02:45:07]
AT THAT HIGH SCHOOL? AND HOW DO WE SUPPORT? OUR SHERIFF AND POLICE DEPARTMENT SAID THEY ARE FUNDED APPROPRIATELY, SO THAT'S POSSIBLE.I JUST WANT TO DO A SIMILAR SHOUT OUT JUST AS FAR AS OUR BOYS VOLLEYBALL TEAM.
JUST GOOD LUCK AS THEY APPROACH STATES.
IT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A BUSINESS MEETING AT 6:30.
IF THERE'S NO FURTHER BUSINESS, WE NEED A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL ROLL ON THE MOTION.
2023 SCHOOL BOARD BUSINESS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.