>> AYE. THE MOTION CARRIES. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. 
          [A. Meeting Opening - 6:30 p.m.]
          [00:00:05]
I'D LIKE TO CALL THE MARCH 11, 2025 SCHOOL BOARD BUSINESS MEETING TO ORDER. 
          BEFORE WE BEGIN THE MEETING THIS EVENING, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE FOR ATTENDING THE MARCH 11 SCHOOL BOARD BUSINESS MEETING AND REMIND THE AUDIENCE THAT COMMENTS TO THIS BOARD MAY ONLY BE MADE AT THE PODIUM DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. 
          COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE ARE PROHIBITED AND ARE IN VIOLATION OF SECTION 18.2-415 OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA, DISORDERLY CONDUCT IN PUBLIC PLACES, AND SCHOOL BOARD POLICY 6141. 
          I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S PATIENCE AND UNDERSTANDING SO THAT WE CAN CONDUCT THE BUSINESS MEETING IN AN ORDERLY FASHION. 
          WE WILL NOW HAVE AN INVOCATION BY MRS. HUDGINS FOLLOWED BY A FLAG SALUTE LED BY MRS. HEFFRON. 
          >> BEFORE TONIGHT'S INVOCATION, WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF DR. BOB LOWRY, WHO SERVED AS THE DIRECTOR OF MAGGIE L. WALKER GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL. 
          DR. LOWRY MADE AN INDELIBLE IMPACT ON THE EDUCATION COMMUNITY, SHAPING THE LIVES OF COUNTLESS STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES THROUGHOUT HIS TENURE. 
          DR. LOWRY WAS APPOINTED AS DIRECTOR OF MAGGIE L. WALKER GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL IN 2017. 
          HIS JOYFUL, FUN LOVING PERSONALITY, HIS FAITH, AND HIS PASSIONATE DEDICATION TO STUDENTS ARE NOT ONLY EVIDENT BY HIS CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS, BUT BY THE VOID THAT MANY NOW HAVE IN THEIR HEARTS AT HIS PASSING. 
          HE WILL TRULY BE REMEMBERED BY ALL WHO HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH HIM. 
          WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US IN A BRIEF MOMENT OF SILENCE TO REFLECT ON DR. 
          LOWRY'S CONTRIBUTIONS AND TO HONOR HIS MEMORY AND HIS FAMILY. 
          THANK YOU. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO HONOR THE LIFE OF DR. MARGARET DABNEY, A LIFELONG EDUCATOR WHO RECENTLY PASSED AT THE AGE OF 104 ON FEBRUARY 3, 2025. 
          DR. DABNEY WAS A PIONEER IN HER ENDEAVORS TO IDENTIFY AND TEACH CHILDREN WITH A BROAD SPECTRUM OF ABILITIES AND TALENTS WHO MIGHT OTHERWISE GO UNRECOGNIZED, WITHOUT HER, LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF TALENTED, PRIMARILY MINORITY YOUNGSTERS IN RICHMOND AND MANY SURROUNDING COUNTIES WOULD NOT HAVE ACHIEVED TO THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL. 
          A FORMER DEAN OF EDUCATION AT VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY. 
          HER CAREER WAS MARKED BY SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS, INCLUDING THE FOUNDING OF RICHMOND COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL AND APPOMATTOX REGIONAL GOVERNOR SCHOOL, WHERE HER IMPACT HAS BEEN FELT BY MANY CHESTERFIELD STUDENTS WHO HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND. 
          WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US IN A BRIEF MOMENT OF SILENCE TO REFLECT ON DR. MARGARET DABNEY'S CONTRIBUTIONS AND TO HONOR HER MEMORY AND HER FAMILY. 
          DEAR LORD, WE COME BEFORE YOU TODAY WITH GRATEFUL HEARTS, SEEKING YOUR WISDOM AND GUIDANCE AS WE GATHER TO MAKE DECISIONS FOR OUR SCHOOLS, STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND COMMUNITY. 
          THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AND FOR THE TRUST PLACED IN US TO SHAPE THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION. 
          LORD GIVE US DISCERNMENT TO MAKE CHOICES THAT ARE JUST, FAIR, AND BENEFICIAL TO ALL. 
          FILL US WITH PATIENCE, UNDERSTANDING, AND A SPIRIT OF COLLABORATION, SO WE MAY WORK TOGETHER IN UNITY FOR THE GOOD OF EVERY CHILD IN OUR CARE. 
          MAY OUR WORDS AND ACTIONS REFLECT YOUR LOVE, GRACE, AND INTEGRITY. 
          HELP US TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE EVERY STUDENT IS VALUED, INSPIRED, AND EMPOWERED TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. 
          LORD, LET THIS MEETING BE FILLED WITH YOUR PEACE AND PURPOSE. AMEN. 
          >> PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. 
          >> 
          >> TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA INCLUDES AGENDA ADOPTION, 
          [B. Consent Agenda]
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM OUR FEBRUARY 25, 2025 BUDGET WORK SESSION, OUR FEBRUARY 25, 
          [00:05:02]
2025 BUSINESS MEETING, OUR FEBRUARY 27, 2025 SPECIAL MEETING. 
          MEMO NUMBER 029-25, RECOMMENDED PERSONNEL ACTIONS, MEMO NUMBER 030-25, ACCEPTANCE OF DONATIONS, RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING MARCH 2025 AS EQUITY AND EDUCATION MONTH. 
          MEMO NUMBER 031-25 VSBA BUSINESS HONOR ROLL, MEMO NUMBER 032-25, FY 2025 TRANSFER ACROSS APPROPRIATION CATEGORIES FROM INSTRUCTION TO TECHNOLOGY, AND MEMO NUMBER 040-25, FY 2025 APPLICATION FOR AND ACCEPTANCE OF A NEW GRANT FROM THE VDOE. 
          ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO THE CONSENT AGENDA? 
          >> MADAM CHAIR, THERE ARE NO ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. 
          >> ARE THERE ANY REQUESTS FROM A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER TO SEPARATE AN ITEM FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION AND INDIVIDUAL ACTION? HEARING NONE, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED. 
          >> MOVED. 
          >> IS THERE A SECOND? 
          >> SECOND. 
          >> MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL ROLL ON THE MOTION? 
          >> DOT HEFFRON. 
          >> AYE. 
          >> DOMINE CHATTERS. 
          >> AYE. 
          >> STEVEN PARANTO. 
          >> AYE. 
          >> LISA HUDGINS? 
          >> AYE. 
          >> ANN COKER. 
          >> AYE. THE MOTION CARRIES. 
          MR. SMITH, WOULD YOU PLEASE ANNOUNCE OUR NEW ADMINISTRATORS? 
          >> IF I COULD ASK COURTNEY JONES AND KIMBERLY PARNELL TO COME FORWARD THIS TIME? BOARD MEMBERS, WITH YOUR ACTION THIS EVENING, YOU'VE APPROVED COURTNEY JONES AS THE PRINCIPAL OF THE WESTERN AREA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025. 
          COURTNEY RECEIVED HER DOCTOR OF EDUCATION EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND POLICY STUDIES FROM VIRGINIA TECH. 
          SHE CURRENTLY SERVES AS THE PRINCIPAL AT GRANDE ELEMENTARY. 
          YOU ALSO APPROVED KIMBERLY PARNELL AS THE PRINCIPAL FOR MOSELEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, EFFECTIVE MARCH 5, 2025. 
          KIMBERLY RECEIVED HER MASTERS OF EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION AND SUPERVISION FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA. 
          SHE CURRENTLY SERVES AS THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT MOSELEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. 
          PLEASE JOIN ME GRADUATING THESE TWO ADMINISTRATORS. [APPLAUSE] 
          >> NEXT, WE HAVE AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS. 
          [C. Awards and Recognitions]
FOR OUR FIRST AWARD AND RECOGNITION, I'D LIKE TO CALL UP DR. YO AND MR. HERD TO PRESENT. 
          >> [BACKGROUND] WELL, GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR COKER, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DR. MURRAY, DOCTOR YOHE, WE'D LIKE TO BEGIN BY THANKING YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF OUR FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND FOR TAKING THE TIME DURING THIS IMPORTANT MONTHS TO CELEBRATE OUR TALENTED STUDENTS HERE IN CCPS. 
          [APPLAUSE] OUR AGENDA THIS EVENING INCLUDES STUDENT PERFORMANCES, AS WELL AS INFORMATION ABOUT ARTS FEST 2025, AND A SPECIAL ARTWORK UNVEILING LED BY OUR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS. 
          THROUGHOUT MARCH, OUR CCPS ART FEST OFFERS A VARIETY OF OPPORTUNITIES TO SEE AND HEAR THE TALENTS OF CHESTERFIELD COUNTY STUDENTS IN 13 DIFFERENT LOCATIONS ACROSS OUR ENTIRE COUNTY. 
          STARTING NOW, THE COMMUNITY CAN VIEW ART EXHIBITIONS FROM EACH OF OUR 41 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, ON DISPLAY IN ALL 10 OF OUR CHESTERFIELD PUBLIC LIBRARY BRANCHES, AS WELL AS THE BAXTER PERKINSON CENTER FOR THE ARTS AND EDUCATION THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE MONTH OF MARCH. 
          IN ADDITION, STUDENT ARTWORK FROM OUR VIRTUAL ART MUSIC PROGRAMS IS POSTED ON A SPECIAL ONLINE GALLERY ON THE DIVISION'S WEBSITE. 
          THE CULMINATION OF OUR ARTS FESTIVAL WILL TAKE PLACE VERY SOON ON MARCH 22 AND 23RD, NEXT WEEKEND, DURING THE SECONDARY FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS SHOWCASE AT TOMASDALE HIGH SCHOOL, FEATURING ART EXHIBITIONS FROM ALL OF OUR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS AS WELL AS PERFORMING ARTS EVENTS AS WELL. 
          AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND ENTHUSIASM AROUND THE ARTS AND OUR SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY, AND WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE. 
          >> THANK YOU, MR. HERD. 
          IN JUST A MOMENT, YOU'LL HEAR FROM THE METABROOK MARNOCH CORRAL. 
          [00:10:04]
UNDER THE DIRECTION OF MR. JAMES BARRICK, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THESE TALENTED STUDENTS AND THEIR TEACHER FOR OFFICIALLY KICKING OFF OUR CELEBRATIONS FOR MUSIC IN OUR SCHOOLS MONTH. 
          OUR OFFICIAL THEME THIS YEAR FOR MUSIC IN OUR SCHOOLS MONTH IS, UNITED THROUGH MUSIC. 
          FOR 40 YEARS, MARCH HAS BEEN DESIGNATED BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE MUSIC EDUCATION FOR MUSIC IN OUR SCHOOLS MONTH. 
          THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF MUSIC EDUCATION IN THE LIVES OF STUDENTS LASTS A LIFETIME. 
          EVERY DAY IN CLASSROOMS AND REHEARSAL ROOMS, MUSIC EDUCATORS DEDICATE THEMSELVES TO REACHING ALL STUDENTS WITH LIFE CHANGING MUSICAL EXPERIENCES ALL OVER OUR COUNTY. 
          WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 300 PERFORMANCES SCHEDULED IN OUR SCHOOLS ANNUALLY. 
          IN OCTOBER, OUR STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN MARCHING BAND NIGHT, AS WELL AS A VARIETY OF ORS AND ORCHESTRA EVENTS AT THE MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL LEVELS. 
          IN NOVEMBER, WE HAD SEVERAL STUDENTS SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN ALL STATE ENSEMBLES DURING THE VMEA CONFERENCE, AND JANUARY BROUGHT OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCES BY OUR THEATER STUDENTS IN THE ONE AT PLAY COMPETITIONS AND BY THE ALL COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL SYMPHONIC BAND. 
          AS WE START THE MONTH OF MARCH, DISTRICT PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENTS FOR BAND, FOR GUITAR, ORCHESTRA, AND OUR CHORAL GROUPS, AND ADDITIONALLY, OUR SHOW CHOIR COMPETITIONS HAVE BEEN UNDERWAY. 
          WE LOOK FORWARD TO MARCH 22 AND 23RD WHEN WE WILL HEAR PERFORMANCES BY OUR ALL COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL BANDS, JAZZ BANDS, ALL COUNTY GUITAR ENSEMBLE, AND FIDDLE FEST ON SATURDAY. 
          SUNDAY AFTERNOON IS FILLED WITH ADDITIONAL PERFORMANCES BY THE SPECIALTY CENTER FOR THE ART STUDENTS, WHICH INCLUDE DANCE, JAZZ BAND, MUSICIAN STUDIO SINGERS, AND THE THOMAS DALE HIGH SCHOOL PERFORMING ARTS DEPARTMENT, SHARING THEIR MUSICAL MATINEE PERFORMANCE OF INTO THE WOODS. 
          THE PRECISE SCHEDULE OF PERFORMANCES FOR MARCH 22 AND 23RD WILL BE FORTHCOMING, AND APRIL AND MAY WILL ALSO BRING AN ABUNDANCE OF WONDERFUL MUSICAL AND THEATRICAL PERFORMANCES IN OUR SCHOOLS. 
          PLEASE CHECK YOUR INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL WEBSITES FOR UP TO DATE INFORMATION AND DETAILS. 
          YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS ALL THIS EXCITEMENT. 
          I WOULD NOW ASK OUR BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT TO JOIN US IN THE AUDIENCE FOR A SPECIAL PERFORMANCE AND PRESENTATION. 
          [00:16:37]
          >> [MUSIC] [APPLAUSE] 
          >> CAN WE GIVE IT UP ONE MORE TIME FOR THE MONIC AND CARL GROUP? [APPLAUSE] IT'S REALLY EXCITING TO SEE OUR CHILDREN PERFORM. 
          WE DIDN'T HAVE TO WAIT IN LINE. 
          WE DIDN'T HAVE TO BUY TICKETS. 
          WE GOT A FREE CONCERT, AND I APPRECIATE THAT SO MUCH. 
          I WANT TO HAVE SOME TRINKETS IN HERE ON BEHALF OF THE SCHOOL BOARD FOR YOU TO PASS OUT. 
          I WON'T ASK EVERYBODY THAT WOULD BE TOO MUCH, BUT I'LL ASK YOU WHAT IS IT LIKE WITH THESE GROUP OF YOUNG LADIES PERFORMING? [LAUGHTER] 
          >> THIS IS MY 30TH YEAR OF TEACHING, AND IT NEVER GETS OLD. 
          [APPLAUSE] BEFORE, I WAS THE COORDINATOR AT THE SPECIALTY CENTER FOR THE ARTS, BUT I DECIDED TO END MY CAREER TO GO BACK INTO THE CLASSROOM. 
          IT IS ABSOLUTELY THE BEST DECISION THAT I HAVE EVER MADE. 
          I LOVE THESE GIRLS, AND I'M GLAD THEY SHOWED YOU HOW WE DO [APPLAUSE] TONIGHT, AND SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY THOUGH GETTING SUPER EMOTIONAL, BUT THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]. 
          >> HERE YOU GO. 
          [BACKGROUND] [LAUGHTER] 
          >> WE WERE GOING TO TRY AND RECOGNIZE ROBIN. 
          IT'S A SURPRISE, BUT I GUESS JIMMY, YOU MIGHT BE UP. HERE WE GO. 
          NO, ROBIN, WHY DON'T TO WALK UP TO HERE. 
          MADAM CHAIR AND BOARD MEMBERS, BEFORE WE RECOGNIZE OUR REMARKABLE ART STUDENTS, WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE THIS EVENING OF HONORING DR. ROBIN YO, WHO IS RETIRING AFTER AN EX EXTRAORDINARY 31 YEARS OF SERVICE IN CCPS, 
          [00:20:03]
13 OF WHICH IN HER CURRENT ROLE, AND 39 TOTAL YEARS IN PUBLIC EDUCATION. 
          THROUGHOUT HER CAREER, DOCTOR ROBIN YO HAS BEEN A PASSIONATE ADVOCATE FOR THE ARTS, SHAPING THE PERFORMING ARTS CURRICULUM ACROSS OUR DISTRICT, AND TOUCHING THE LIVES OF COUNTLESS STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS. 
          PERSONALLY, I'VE KNOWN ROBIN SINCE I WAS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL. 
          I COULDN'T CALL HER THAT THEN, BUT I CAN NOW, AND [LAUGHTER] WHEN SHE AND MY MOTHER WERE COLLEAGUES AT MANCHESTER HIGH SCHOOL. 
          FROM HER TIME AS A TEACHER TO ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, TO HER ROLE AS PERFORMING ARTS CURRICULUM SPECIALIST, DR. YO HAS WORKED TIRELESSLY TO ENSURE THAT EVERY STUDENT HAS ACCESS TO THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF THE PERFORMING ARTS. 
          HER DEDICATION, LEADERSHIP, AND VISION HAVE LEFT A LASTING LEGACY THAT WILL CONTINUE TO INSPIRE FUTURE GENERATIONS. 
          SHE IS WELL KNOWN FOR HER VISIONARY LEADERSHIP, HER ABILITY TO INSPIRE BOTH STUDENTS AND STAFF, AND HER DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THE PERFORMING ARTS CAN FOSTER CREATIVITY, CRITICAL THINKING, AND EMOTIONAL EXPRESSION, WHICH IS ON FULL DISPLAY RIGHT NOW. 
          [LAUGHTER] HER WORK AS A SPECIALIST EXPANDED THAT VISION AS SHE WORKED TIRELESSLY TO CREATE A CURRICULUM THAT NOT ONLY CELEBRATES THE PERFORMING ARTS, BUT ALSO INTEGRATES THEM INTO THE HEART OF OUR EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE. 
          HER EXPERTISE, PASSION, AND ADVOCACY FOR THE ARTS HAVE SET THE STANDARD FOR WHAT A HIGH QUALITY ARTS EDUCATION LOOKS LIKE. 
          ON BEHALF OF THE SCHOOL BOARD AND OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY, WE THANK YOU, ROBIN FOR YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE AND WISH YOU ALL THE BEST IN YOUR RETIREMENT. JOB WELL DONE. 
          [APPLAUSE] CAN WE GET ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR MADAM BROOKE AND DR. YO. 
          [APPLAUSE] MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, WE WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU A SPECIAL PRESENTATION TONIGHT FROM FIVE OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS TO UNVEIL A NEW PERMANENT ART DISPLAY HERE IN THE PUBLIC MEETING ROOM TO BE INSTALLED THIS SPRING, COMPLETE WITH PLAQUES COMMEMORATING THE TEACHERS AND STUDENTS, AS WELL AS AN ARTIST STATEMENT THE STUDENTS WROTE ABOUT THE CREATIVE PROCESS OF THIS PROJECT. 
          EACH ARTWORK YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE REPRESENTS ONE OF OUR FIVE MAGISTERIAL DISTRICTS AND IS A PROJECT OF MONTHS OF PLANNING, RESEARCH, AND CREATIVITY, LED BY OUR ART STUDENTS. 
          AFTER EACH SCHOOL UNVEILS THE WORK, ONE OF OUR STUDENTS WILL BE SPEAKING TO YOU ABOUT THEIR VISION AND APPROACH TO THE CREATIVE PROCESS THAT THE ENTIRE TEAM OF STUDENTS COLLABORATED TO CREATE THESE MASTERPIECES. 
          FIRST, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE KIARA VICENTE OF THOMAS DALE HIGH SCHOOL, WHO WILL BE SHARING DETAILS ABOUT OUR BERMUDA DISTRICT ARTWORK. 
          [APPLAUSE] 
          [00:25:04]
          >> ALL THE STUDENTS THAT PARTICIPATED IN THIS, PLEASE COME UP AND STAND WITH YOUR PANEL. 
          [BACKGROUND] 
          >> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. 
          GOOD EVENING. OUR ARTWORK IS A TRIBUTE TO THE BERMUDA DISTRICT, A PLACE WOVEN TOGETHER BY HISTORY, INDUSTRY, AND NATURE. 
          FRAMED WITHIN THE BORDERS OF A POSTAGE STAMP, THIS PIECE SYMBOLIZES CONNECTION BETWEEN PAST AND PRESENT, LAND AND WATER, TRADITION AND PROGRESS. 
          THROUGH VIBRANT COLORS AND FLOWING COMPOSITIONS, WE HAVE CAPTURED THE ESSENCE OF OUR DISTRICT WHERE MOVEMENT, GROWTH, AND LEGACY SHAPE THE COMMUNITY. 
          AT THE HEART OF THE COMPOSITION, A WINDING ROAD TAKES VIEWERS ON A JOURNEY THROUGH BERMUDA'S LANDMARKS. 
          SNAKE ROAD, A NICKNAME FOR RUFFIN MILL ROAD, CURVES THROUGH THE LANDSCAPE, PASSING SUNSET MEMORIAL CEMETERY, WHERE THE DESCENDING SUN AND WARM COLOR PALETTE HONOR THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE US. 
          THE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE DISTRICT IS FURTHER HIGHLIGHTED BY HENRICUS HISTORICAL PARK WITH THE ARCHITECTURAL FORM OF MOUNT MALADY SUBTLY HIDING A SINGLE LEGO, A NOD TO CHESTER'S EVOLVING LANDSCAPE, NOW HOME TO A NEW LEGO PRODUCTION FACILITY. 
          RISING BEHIND THOMAS DALE HIGH SCHOOL, THE WATER TOWER STANDS AS A FAMILIAR BEACON. 
          BELOW THE FLOWING WATERS OF THE JAMES AND APPOMATTOX RIVERS MIRROR THE MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE AND TIME. 
          JUST AS THE I95 SIGN MARKS BERMUDA AS THE ONLY DISTRICT WITH AN INTERSTATE BRINGING TRAVELERS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY. 
          THE LAND ITSELF TELLS A STORY OF CULTIVATION AND INNOVATION. 
          A BUDDING TOBACCO PLANT PAYS HOMAGE TO THE CROP THAT ESTABLISHED THE DISTRICT'S EARLY ECONOMY, WHILE A SPIRALING STRAWBERRY PLANT REPRESENTS THE PLENTY RICHMOND FARM. 
          THE FIRST IN THE WORLD TO GROW INDOOR VERTICALLY FARMED, REIN BERRIES AT A LARGE SCALE. 
          HIGH ABOVE IT ALL, A TRAIN'S WINDING SMOKE AND THE DISTANT VARINA-ENON BRIDGE, REINFORCE THE THEME OF CONNECTION, LINKING PAST TO PRESENT, INDUSTRY IN NATURE, AND GENERATIONS OF FAMILIES TO THE LAND THEY CALL HOME. 
          THROUGH THIS PIECE, WE CELEBRATE BERMUDA'S RICH TAPESTRY, A DISTRICT DEFINED BY MOVEMENT, LEGACY, AND AN ENDURING SENSE OF PLACE. 
          [LAUGHTER] I'D NOW LIKE TO INTRODUCE ELIZABETH VARGOSKI OF CLOVER HILL HIGH SCHOOL, WHO WILL BE SHARING DETAILS ABOUT OUR CLOVER HILL DISTRICT ARTWORK. 
          [APPLAUSE]. 
          >> MY NAME IS LIBBY VARGOSKI, AND I'M A SENIOR AT CLOVER HILL HIGH SCHOOL AND A MEMBER OF OUR NATIONAL ART HONOR SOCIETY. 
          WHEN OUR NAHS CHAPTER WAS ASKED TO CREATE AN ARTWORK THAT VISUALLY REPRESENTED THE CLOVER HILL DISTRICT, WE DECIDED TO REALLY DIG INTO THE HISTORY OF THIS AREA. 
          WE DID SOME RESEARCH ON HISTORICAL INDUSTRIES THAT ORIGINATED HERE, SUCH AS COAL MINING, AS WELL AS HISTORICAL LANDMARKS SUCH AS ROCKWOOD PARK, ORIGINALLY A PLANTATION, NOW A 171 ACRE PARK. 
          WE PLAYED AROUND WITH INCORPORATING AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, EVEN INITIALLY USING THE SHAPE OF THE MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT TO GUIDE OUR NEGATIVE SPACE IN THE PIECE. 
          AFTER SEVERAL DRAFTS, WE CAME UP WITH THIS FINAL WORK THAT HIGHLIGHTS THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTS OF OUR DISTRICT, THE PARKS. 
          IN OUR SKETCH, WE INCORPORATED THE RIVER CITY SPORTS COMPLEX, ROCKWOOD PARK, AS WELL AS THE SWIFT CREEK RESERVOIR, AS THESE AREAS ARE SPACES THAT HOLD NATURAL BEAUTY AND PROMOTE HEALTH. 
          WE CHOSE TO CONNECT ALL OF THESE SPACES WITH A TRAIL TO DIRECT THE VIEWER THROUGHOUT THE IMAGE. 
          WE PLACE THE NOTABLE ROCKWOOD GAZEBO TO REPRESENT ROCKWOOD PARK, A FISHERMAN RELAXING ON A PIER TO REPRESENT THE RESERVOIR, AND SOME YOUTH ENGAGING IN A SOCCER MATCH TO REPRESENT THE SPORTS COMPLEX. 
          WE WANTED TO CREATE A BIT MORE TEXTURE, SO WE ADDED SOME ROCKS TO LINE THE RESERVOIR BANK, AND WE SCULPTED SOME DOGWOOD BLOOMS TO CREATE SOME MORE DIMENSION AND CREATE A BORDER THAT ENCOMPASSES THE STATE OF VIRGINIA. 
          AS A WHOLE, OUR SELECTION OF NOTABLE AREAS ARE MEANT TO EMPHASIZE OUR INTERACTIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF THE DISTRICT AND HOW THIS DISTRICT CELEBRATES AND ENHANCES THE NATURAL SPACES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THE CULTURE AND HISTORY OF THE AREA. 
          I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE ISAAC VENTURA OF MEADOWBROOK HIGH SCHOOL, WHO WILL BE SHARING DETAILS ABOUT OUR DALE DISTRICT ARTWORK. 
          [APPLAUSE] 
          >> GOOD EVENING. I AM ISAAC VENTURA. 
          AS A STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE WITHIN THE DALE DISTRICT OF CCPS, I AM HERE TO PRESENT THIS WORK OF THE DALE DISTRICT. 
          THIS PAINTING CREATED IN COLLABORATION WITH THE MEADOWBROOK HIGH SCHOOL ART CLUB, THE ART DEPARTMENT, AND THE STUDENTS OF MVK, REPRESENTS THE MOST PROMINENT LANDMARKS WITHIN THE DALE DISTRICT OF CCPS. 
          THESE LANDMARKS ARE AS FOLLOWS. 
          A SPIRAL SLIDE REPRESENTING HARRY G DANIEL PARK, 
          [00:30:03]
AN AIRPLANE REPRESENTING THE MANY PLANES FADING INTO THE SKIES FROM THE CHESTERFIELD AIRPORT, AND A METAL BRIDGE PORTRAYING THE STRUCTURES IN POCAHONTAS STATE PARK, AND THE CHESTERFIELD COURTHOUSE. 
          THIS ART PIECE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF BOTH THE MEADOWBROOK ART CLUB HOSTED BY MS. LANE AND MR. FERRERO, AND THE STUDENTS OF MS. LANE'S CLASS. 
          THE STUDENTS, BOTH IN ART CLUB AND IN MS. LANE'S CLASS ORIGINALLY BEGAN THIS PAINTING WITH A SIMPLE GRADATED BACKGROUND OF A COMBINATION BETWEEN BLUE AND WHITE, TAKING MUCH INSPIRATION FROM THE COLORS OF MEADOWBROOK AND LC BIRD HIGH SCHOOL, WHICH ARE NAVY BLUE AND GOLD AND NAVY BLUE AND WHITE RESPECTIVELY. 
          AFTERWARDS, THE STUDENTS IN THE ART CLUB AND, MS. LANE'S CLASS BEGAN PAINTING THE LANDMARKS BY SKETCHING ROUGH OUTLINES AND PENCIL, AND THEN BEGAN OUTLINING THE LANDMARKS WITH THE USAGE OF WHITE PAINT. 
          THESE OUTLINES WERE FURTHER REFINED TO CREATE UNIFORMITY. 
          AFTERWARDS, SOME STUDENTS BEGAN TO CREATE MULTIPLE ZENTANGLE PATTERNS AS A WAY TO CONTINUE FILLING IN THE SPACE THAT WAS LEFT BEHIND BY THE PAINTING OF THE LANDMARKS. 
          AS A RESULT, THE STUDENTS WERE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY CREATE A SIMPLE, MAGNIFICENT PIECE OF ART IN COMMEMORATION OF THE MULTIPLE LANDMARKS WITHIN THE DALE DISTRICT OF CCPS. 
          AT FIRST GLANCE, THIS PAINTING MAY JUST BE A SIMPLE, WONDERROUS ILLUSTRATION OF THE LANDMARKS OF THE DALE DISTRICT. 
          HOWEVER, I'D ARGUE THAT THIS PAINTING REPRESENTS SOMETHING MUCH GREATER. 
          THE FOSTERING OF CREATIVITY AMONGST STUDENTS. 
          THIS IS PERFECTLY SHOWN BY THE COLLECTIVE EFFORT THAT INVOLVED THE CREATIVE MINDS OF THE STUDENTS IN BOTH THE ART CLUB AND MS. LANE'S CLASS, WHICH HELPED WITH SOLVING MANY OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WERE FACED DURING THE ART PROCESS ITSELF. 
          WITH THE COLLABORATION OF THESE STUDENTS, COMPLEX PROBLEMS WERE SOLVED WITH CREATIVE SOLUTIONS. 
          FOR THAT, I SINCERELY THANK THE STUDENTS OF THE MBK ART CLUB, THE TEACHERS OF THE ART DEPARTMENT, AND THE STUDENTS FOR CONTINUING TO FOSTER HUMAN EXPRESSION WITH ART. 
          THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE PASSY HATCHER OF MATOACA HIGH SCHOOL, WHO WILL BE SHARING DETAILS ABOUT OUR MATOACA DISTRICT ARTWORK. 
          THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] 
          >> WHEN MATOACA HIGH SCHOOL WAS ASKED TO CREATE A PIECE OF ART THAT REPRESENTS OUR DISTRICT, WE DECIDED TO FOCUS ON THE BEAUTY OF POCAHONTAS STATE PARK. 
          FIRST, WE RESEARCHED THE HISTORY OF THE AREA, DETERMINING THAT THE PARK WAS NAMED AFTER CHIEF POWHATAN'S DAUGHTER, POCAHONTAS, ALSO REFERRED TO AS MATOACA. 
          THE SCENE WE BUILT ENCOMPASSES THE FEATURES OF THE PARK, THE SYMBOLISM OF VIRGINIA, AND THE HISTORY OF OUR COMMUNITY. 
          WE DECIDED TO COMPLETE OUR PIECE USING MULTIMEDIA SO THAT THE VIEWER CAN GET A TRUE SENSE OF THE ENVIRONMENT. 
          THE RIVER WAS PAINTED WITH WATERCOLOR, THE STONES ARE MADE OF CLAY, AND THE TREE TRUNK WAS TEXTURED WITH REAL BARK. 
          LEAVES AND MOSS WERE COLLAGED TOGETHER TO MAKE UP A FOLIAGE, AND THE BRIDGE WAS CONSTRUCTED FROM TINY TWIGS. 
          THE CANOE WAS MADE OF LEATHER, HAS A RED, COMMON NATIVE AMERICAN SYMBOL FOR THE SUN ON THE SIDE, AND SITTING ATOP ITS EDGE, A RED CARDINAL SHOWING HOMAGE TO OUR STATE, VIRGINIA. 
          I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE BRINKLEY PORTER OF JAMES RIVER HIGH SCHOOL, WHO WILL BE SHARING DETAILS ABOUT OUR [INAUDIBLE] DISTRICT ARTWORK. 
          >> I GRADED THIS PIECE WITH THE HISTORY AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS OF THE MIDLOTHIAN DISTRICT IN MIND. 
          I USE PLACES LIKE THE MIDLOTHIAN MINES AND THE OLD BON AIR STRUCTURES TO SHOW THE CULTURE OF OUR COUNTY. 
          THE JANE RIVER FLOWS THROUGH THIS PIECE, BRINGING THE VIEWER'S EYE TO THE UNIQUE QUALITIES THE DISTRICT HAS TO OFFER. 
          ALTHOUGH THE JANE RIVER IS JUST AT THE TIP OF OUR DISTRICT, IT PLAYS A HUGE PART IN CREATING A COMMUNITY FOR THE MIDLOTHIAN DISTRICT. 
          IT GETS OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR SCHOOLS TO EXPLORE NEW SPORTS LIKE CREWING AND FISHING. 
          THIS PLAYFUL ENERGY AND GREENERY SHOWS THE NATURE THAT THE COUNTY HAS TO OFFER AND THE EFFECTS THAT IT PUTS ON EVERYONE TO FEEL INCLUDED. 
          I AM VERY THANKFUL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A PIECE THAT REPRESENTS THE AREA I GREW UP IN AND WHAT IS TO COME. 
          [APPLAUSE] 
          >> WOW. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AGAIN TO ALL THE PARTICIPATING STUDENTS, TEACHERS, FOR YOUR CREATIVITY THAT WILL LAST A LIFETIME HERE IN THE PUBLIC MEETING ROOM. 
          THANK YOU AGAIN. AWESOME JOB, AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE BOARD AGAIN FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT. 
          >> ABSOLUTELY. [APPLAUSE] THERE ARE NO WORDS TO YOUR TALENTS. 
          THERE REALLY IS NOT. THE TEXTURE, THE 3D, THE COLOR, THE TIME THAT YOU HAVE SPENT ON THIS, 
          [00:35:04]
AND I KNOW SOME OF YOU HAVE CALLED OUT OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE HELPED YOU REALLY SYMBOLIZES WHAT CHESTERFIELD COUNTY IS ABOUT, WHICH IS NO ONE PERSON, BUT ALL OF US TOGETHER, MAKE ALL OF THIS COME TO FRUITION AND COME TO LIFE. 
          WE CAN SEE IT VERY CLEARLY, AND CONGRATULATIONS TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, AND THANK YOU TO YOUR PRINCIPALS, TO YOUR TEACHERS, TO THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT HELP OUT TO CHAMPION THIS AND TO MAKE THIS REALLY COME TO LIFE. 
          THE FACT THAT IT'S GOING TO BE HANGING OUT HERE, SO ANY VISITOR THAT COMES THROUGH OR CITIZEN THAT WALKS THROUGH, THERE'S A SIGN AND STORY IN EACH OF THESE PICTURES ABOUT THE DISTRICTS THAT WE HAVE THE HONOR OF REPRESENTING, BUT THAT WE ALSO HAVE THE HONOR OF CALLING CHESTERFIELD COUNTY. 
          WE CAN BE INDIVIDUALS. 
          BUT TOGETHER WE MAKE THE COUNTY AND TOGETHER WE MAKE CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS EVEN BETTER, AND THAT'S BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU ALL ARE DOING RIGHT HERE. 
          THANK YOU. CAN WE PLEASE GIVE THEM ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE. 
          [APPLAUSE] CAN WE JUST LEAVE THEM UP HERE FOR THE REST OF THE BOARD MEETING? WE DON'T HAVE TO TAKE THEM DOWN, DO WE? WE CAN LEAVE THEM UP HERE SOMEWHERE. 
          BUT NO, SERIOUSLY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          AS YOU COME BY THIS WAY, THERE'S A LITTLE SOMETHING IN HERE FOR YOU ALL. 
          WE'D LOVE YOU TO HAVE THAT. 
          AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS. 
          THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] 
          >> TAKE SOME. [BACKGROUND] 
          >> THANK YOU AGAIN TO ALL OF OUR WONDERFUL PERFORMERS AND ARTISTS WHO HELPED CELEBRATE THIS EVENING. 
          IT IS ALWAYS A GREAT TIME TO SEE WHAT OUR TALENTED STUDENTS DO AND TO BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE THEM. 
          BOARD MEMBERS, IN RECOGNITION OF YOUTH ART AND MUSIC IN OUR SCHOOLS MONTH, WE HAVE TWO RESOLUTIONS BEFORE US THIS EVENING. 
          MR. HERD AND DR. YO, PLEASE JOIN ME OR MS. HUDGINS IN FRONT OF THE DIAS FOR THE READING AND PRESENTATION. 
          MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ THE RESOLUTIONS? 
          >> RECOGNIZING MARCH 2025 AS MUSIC IN OUR SCHOOLS MONTH. 
          WHEREAS THE STUDY OF MUSIC HELPS YOUNG PEOPLE IMPROVE THEIR SKILLS IN LISTENING, READING, SELF EXPRESSION, AND CREATIVITY, AND WHEREAS MUSIC EDUCATION IN THE SCHOOLS INCLUDES 
          [00:40:03]
A BROAD RANGE OF MUSIC AND ACTIVE MUSIC EXPERIENCES, AND WHEREAS MUSIC IN THE OTHER ART SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCE THE MORALE AND QUALITY OF THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT, AND WHEREAS PUBLIC SCHOOLS PREPARE CHILDREN FOR A PRODUCTIVE ROLE IN SOCIETY, AND WHEREAS THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR MUSIC EDUCATION HAS DESIGNATED MARCH AS MUSIC IN OUR SCHOOLS MONTH. 
          NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE CHESTERFIELD COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD ENDORSES THE OBSERVANCE OF MUSIC IN OUR SCHOOLS MONTH AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT THE PURPOSES AND PRACTICES OF MUSIC EDUCATION AND ENCOURAGES TEACHERS, PARENTS, STUDENTS, AND ALL CITIZENS TO PARTICIPATE. 
          THE CHESTERFIELD COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD REDEDICATES ITSELF TO THE MAINTENANCE OF A MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAM THAT POSITIVELY INFLUENCES EACH CHILD PLACE IN ITS CARE. 
          >> BOARD MEMBERS. 
          >> I GOT AN ART ONE. 
          >> I'M SORRY. 
          >> RECOGNIZING MARCH 2025 AS YOUTH ART MONTH, WHEREAS ART EDUCATION CONTRIBUTES POWERFUL EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS TO ALL ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY STUDENTS, INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING. 
          ART EDUCATION DEVELOPS CRITICAL AND CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS. 
          ART EDUCATION TEACHES DESIGN, THINKING, AND REINFORCES THE CONCEPT OF CRAFTSMANSHIP. 
          ART EDUCATION TEACHES SENSITIVITY TO BEAUTY, ORDER, AND OTHER EXPRESSIVE QUALITIES. 
          ART EDUCATION GIVES STUDENTS A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF CULTURES, VALUES, AND BELIEFS. 
          ART EDUCATION REINFORCES AND BRINGS TO LIFE WHAT STUDENTS LEARN IN OTHER SUBJECTS. 
          ART EDUCATION USES STUDENT LEARNING IN ART, PRODUCTION, ART HISTORY, ART CRITICISM, AESTHETICS TO CREATE NEW MEANING AND LEARNING FOR EACH STUDENT. 
          WHEREAS OUR NATIONAL LEADERS HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THE NECESSITY OF INCLUDING ART EXPERIENCES IN EACH STUDENT'S EDUCATION. 
          NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE MEMBERS OF CHESTERFIELD COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZE MARCH AS YOUTH ART MONTH, ENDORSE THE OBSERVANCE OF YOUTH ART MONTH AND ENCOURAGE THE SUPPORT OF QUALITY SCHOOL ART PROGRAMS FOR OUR CHILDREN AND YOUTH. 
          [APPLAUSE] 
          >> CONGRATULATIONS. ONE MOMENT. 
          >> BOARD MEMBERS. YOU'VE HEARD THE TWO RESOLUTIONS BEFORE US. 
          MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTIONS AS READ. 
          >> SO MOVED. 
          >> IS THERE A SECOND? 
          >> SECOND. 
          >> BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? 
          >> I JUST WANT TO SAY I'LL LEAVE IT TO MRS. HUDGINS FOR THE COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD. 
          >> PERFECT. THERE HAS BEEN A SECOND. 
          ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. 
          >> AYE. [LAUGHTER] 
          >> I'LL READ THAT AGAIN. 
          THERE HAS BEEN A MOTION IN A SECOND. 
          ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. 
          >> AYE. 
          >> OPPOSED. THE RESOLUTIONS HAVE BEEN ADOPTED. IT BETTER BE GOOD. 
          FIRST OF ALL, THAT DISPLAY OF BOTH THE ART, BUT THE MUSIC WAS WONDERFUL. 
          FOR THAT, WE WERE REALLY JUST HONORED TO HEAR AND YOU GUYS DID SUCH A GREAT JOB. 
          MR. BARRICK WAS ALSO MY DAUGHTER'S MUSIC TEACHER FOR FOUR YEARS, AND IT'S GREAT TO SEE HIM DOING WHAT HE DOES BEST. 
          WELL DONE YOU, YOU JUST TOLD ME THAT YOU PLUCKED HIM FROM HERE TO HERE TO HERE. 
          ART AND MUSIC. 
          WHAT IT DOES FOR STUDENTS IS UNMATCHED. 
          IT FINDS PLACES FOR KIDS THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE ANOTHER PLACE. 
          IT TEACHES THEM THAT, WAIT, YOU'RE ACTUALLY GOOD AT SOMETHING. 
          THAT YOU CAN'T PUT INTO WORDS. 
          WHAT YOU DO, YOU MAY NEVER KNOW THE IMPACT THAT YOU HAVE MADE, BUT YOU ARE MAKING AN IMPACT AND YOU HAVE MADE AN IMPACT. 
          FOR THAT, WE ARE ETERNALLY GRATEFUL. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU AGAIN. 
          CONGRATULATIONS. 
          [APPLAUSE] DO YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING? WE'RE DONE. FANTASTIC. 
          >> THANK YOU AGAIN TO ALL OF OUR PERFORMERS AND TO MR. HERD, AND TO DR. YO. 
          NEXT, WE HAVE RECOGNITION OF STUDENT SUCCESS. MR. SMITH. 
          >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. IF I COULD ASK OUR NATIONAL MERITS AND MY FINALISTS TO COME FORWARD THIS TIME. 
          IN OCTOBER, WE CELEBRATED STUDENTS WHO ARE NAMED NATIONAL MERIT SEMI FINALISTS. 
          TONIGHT, WE CELEBRATE SEMIFINALISTS WHO ADVANCED TO BECOME NATIONAL MERIT FINALISTS. 
          [00:45:02]
CONGRATULATIONS TO THESE STUDENTS WHO ARE NOW ELIGIBLE FOR NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS. 
          KARTIKIA GOEL FROM BIRD HIGH SCHOOL, SABRINA GERNHART, FROM LOTHIAN HIGH SCHOOL. 
          I THINK SABRINA HAS ACTUALLY HAD AN EVENT THIS EVENING. 
          AGES KALA, HOPE I GOT THAT CORRECT. 
          AINSLIE OGLEV FROM APPOMATTOX REGIONAL GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL, MICHAEL KLAUSNER, SAMANTHA SCHRAPERT, BRENDAN SCHRIMLER, RES WU FROM MAGGIE L. WALKER GOVERNOR SCHOOL. 
          PLEASE SHOW ME CONGRATULATING THIS NATIONAL MERIT FINALISTS. 
          [APPLAUSE] 
          >> CONGRATULATIONS. 
          THIS GROUP WAS UP HERE TWO MONTHS AGO AS SEMIFINALIST. 
          NOW WE'RE FINALISTS. 
          I'M GOING TO TELL YOU WHAT THAT MEANS, AND Y'ALL CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG. 
          THE PSAT, Y'ALL HIT IT OUT OF THE PARK AND YOU'RE IN THE TOP 1% OF THE NATION. THAT'S FINE. 
          FANTASTIC. THAT'S JUST SEMIFINALIST. 
          THEN THEY WRITE AN ESSAY, AND THEIR PRINCIPAL WRITES A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION. 
          THEN YOU HAVE TO TAKE YOUR SAT OR YOUR ACT, JUST TO MAKE SURE THE PSAT SCORE WAS NOT A FLUKE. 
          CLEARLY IT WASN'T. WELL DONE, YOU GUYS ARE SHINING STARS. 
          WE ARE REALLY PROUD OF YOU, CONGRATULATIONS. 
          GOOD LUCK IN THE NEXT ROUND. 
          CONGRATULATIONS, GUYS. 
          [APPLAUSE] WOULD YOU GUYS LIKE TO SAY A LITTLE SOMETHING? YOU HAVE THE MIC. LITTLE SOMETHING. 
          [LAUGHTER] THANKS. 
          CONGRATULATIONS, GUYS. 
          WELL DONE. [APPLAUSE] 
          >> GOOD JOB. 
          >> IF I COULD ASK OUR REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE PAST OF CLOVER LITERARY MAGAZINE TO COME FORWARD AT THIS TIME? ALL OF THE REPRESENTATIVES. 
          PATHS OF CLOVER LITERARY MAGAZINE FROM CLOVER HIGH WAS RECOGNIZED AS A REALM FIRST-CLASS MAGAZINE BY THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF TEACHERS OF ENGLISH. 
          RECOGNIZING EXCELLENCE IN ART AND LITERARY MAGAZINES, REALM RECEIVED 422 MAGAZINE NOMINATIONS FROM 46 STATES IN FIVE COUNTRIES, AND BESTOWED ITS TOP AWARD ON JUST 125 PUBLICATIONS. 
          IN ADDITION TO WINNING THIS TOP AWARD, CLOVER HIGH'S 2024 EDITION OF PATHS OF CLOVER PREVIOUSLY WON BHSL TROPHY CLASS DESIGNATION IN THE MAGAZINE DIVISION, AND WON FIRST PLACE IN THE AMERICAN SCHOLASTIC PRESS ASSOCIATION COMPETITION. 
          ENGLISH TEACHER DAN WILOCH IS EFFECTIVELY REPRESENTATIVE. 
          PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING DAN. 
          [APPLAUSE] 
          >> YES, CONGRATULATIONS. 
          WE'VE BEEN APPRECIATING THE WORK THAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING HELPING YOUR STUDENTS FIND SUCCESS IN THE LITERARY WORLD. 
          NOBODY CAN TOP IT. CLEARLY. DO YOU WANT TO SHARE ANYTHING ABOUT THE LITERARY MAGAZINE OR YOUR WORK WITH THE STUDENTS? 
          >> THE PUNK ROCK THING TO DO WOULD BE TO COME UP AND SAY, FUN PUBLICATIONS NOW. 
          GIVE US MONEY. [LAUGHTER] 
          >> I HAD THE EASIEST JOB IN THE WORLD. 
          I GO TO SHOW UP TO A ROOMFUL OF GREAT KIDS AND JUST BELIEVE IN THEM AND THEY DO ALL THE WORK, AND THEN I GET TO COME UP HERE AND GET AWARDS. IT'S GREAT. 
          WE DIDN'T PUBLISH DURING THE PANDEMIC. 
          I'VE TOLD THE STORY. I TOTALLY DERAILED PASS OF CLOVER. 
          ONE OF MY GOALS WHEN I CAME ON INTO THE SCHOOL AT THAT TIME, I WANTED TO REBUILD IT AND I TOLD THE KIDS THAT AND THEY JUST RAN WITH IT. 
          HERE WE ARE. WE'RE DOING REALLY WELL. 
          SOME OF YOU OUT THERE ARE USING AI TO SEND EMAILS. 
          SOME OF YOU OUT THERE ARE CUTTING CORNERS, AND I WON'T CALL HOME. 
          I'M NOT GOING TO CALL YOUR PARENTS. 
          I MIGHT GIVE YOU THE DISAPPOINTED NOT MAD, BUT DISAPPOINTED SPEECH. 
          I SPEND MY DAY WITH KIDS WHO REJECT THAT, WHO REJECT PEOPLE TELLING THEM TO TAKE THE EASY WAY TO CUT CORNERS, TO LET THE MACHINE DO IT FOR YOU. 
          THEY HAVE HEARTS, AND THEY HAVE MINDS, AND THEY WANT TO MAKE SOMETHING WITH IT. 
          SOME OF THE STUDENTS FROM CLOVER HILL, THE ART STUDENTS ARE FEATURED IN OUR MAGAZINE, SO IT'S EASY TO WIN WHEN YOU HAVE THAT SHINE. 
          LET'S BET ON THE KIDS WHO WANT TO MAKE THINGS. 
          LET'S BET ON THE KIDS WHO WANT TO PUT THEMSELVES OUT THERE WHO DON'T WANT THE COMPUTER TO DO IT, WHO WANT TO TRULY WRITE AND CREATE. 
          THAT'S THE POINT. THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE. 
          THAT'S ALL I'M GOING TO SAY IS I GO TO SPEND MY DAYS WITH SOME OF THE COOLEST KIDS, AND THE BEST STUDENTS, AND IT'S JUST THE BEST JOB IN THE WORLD. 
          [00:50:05]
          >> WE HAVE A BACK AS WELL, BUT CONGRATULATIONS. 
          THANKS SO MUCH. ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR CLOVER HILL. C. 
          >> IF I COULD ASK OUR FRIENDS AT CECLA TO COME FORWARD THIS TIME. 
          THE OFFICE OF SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY NUTRITION PROGRAMS WITHIN THE VIRGINIA PART OF EDUCATION RECOGNIZED THREE SCHOOLS STATEWIDE DURING NATIONAL SCHOOL BREAKFAST WEEK, WHICH WAS MARCH 3-7. 
          CECLA WAS ONE OF THE TOP SCHOOLS, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS CHESTER EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING ACADEMY. 
          THE AWARD RECOGNIZES SCHOOLS THAT DEMONSTRATE EXCELLENCE AND FOLLOW BREAKFAST PRACTICES LIKE INCREASING PROTEIN OPTIONS AND LOWERING SUGAR AND SODIUM CONTENT. 
          ON MARCH 6TH, A DELEGATION OF STATE AND LOCAL LEADERS VISITED CECLA TO DELIVER THE AWARD AND CONGRATULATE THE SCHOOL IN THE SUCCESS. 
          PLEASE JOIN IN CONGRATULATING THEM. 
          >> WHAT AN HONOR. 
          ONE OUT OF THREE IN THE STATE. 
          THAT IS AMAZING, BUT NOT SURPRISED. 
          CECLA IS A SPECIAL GYM IN THE BERMUDA DISTRICT, AND DR. HARRIS NOW DOES A FABULOUS JOB. 
          I KNOW IT DOESN'T SURPRISE ME THAT YOUR FOOD SERVICE IS ALSO KNOCKING IT OUT OF THE PARK AND UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP, BERKELEY AS WELL. 
          CONGRATULATIONS, AND I, OF COURSE, NEED TO GIVE YOU THE MIC. 
          JUST BRAG ABOUT CECLA. 
          >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL TO RECEIVE THE RECOGNITION FROM VDOE, AND I'M HERE TO ACCEPT THIS RECOGNITION ON BEHALF OF JENNY DEAL, OUR CAFETERIA MANAGER. 
          THIS REALLY GOES TO HER AND HER TEAM FOR JUST COLLABORATING WITH ME AND HER ABILITY TO BE WILLING TO FIND WAYS THAT WE CAN PROVIDE A VERY NUTRITIOUS BREAKFAST OPTION FOR OUR STUDENTS AT CECLA. 
          THE YOUNGEST SCHOLARS IN THE BERMUDA DISTRICT NEED A GREAT BREAKFAST TO LEARN THROUGH PLAY, WHICH IS WHAT WE BELIEVE AT CECLA, AND JENNY DEAL IS ALWAYS OPEN TO JUST COLLABORATING WITH ME TO MAKING SURE OUR BREAKFAST PROGRAM RUNS SMOOTHLY. 
          I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR HER SUPPORT AND GRATEFUL FOR THE COLLABORATION WITH THE NUTRITION SERVICES DEPARTMENT. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING? 
          >> I WAS JUST GOING TO ECHO DR. HARRIS AND THANK MRS. DEAL AND TEAM AT CECLA. 
          THEY DO A FANTASTIC JOB SERVING THE STUDENTS THERE. 
          ALSO WANT TO THANK IN MY DEPARTMENT, CASEY DICKINSON AND RONNIE LAPEL FOR WORKING WITH THE VDOE TO NOMINATE, AND I THINK IT'S A WELL DESERVED AWARD. 
          >> I AGREE. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. 
          >> IF I COULD ASK NICOLE WINTER TO COME FORWARD AT THIS TIME. 
          COSBY HIGH HISTORY TEACHER NICOLE WINTER IS ONE OF JUST 55 EDUCATORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO IS SELECTED BY THE NATIONAL HISTORY DAY FOR ITS SILENT HEROES RESEARCH PROJECT. 
          IN ORDER TO HONOR THE SERVICE AND SACRIFICE OF MEMBERS OF THE US MILITARY, THIS INITIATIVE INVOLVES RESEARCHING AND CREATING PROFILES OF US MEN AND WOMEN WHO DIED IN WORLD WAR I, WORLD WAR II, THE KOREAN WAR, OR THE VIETNAM WAR. 
          NICOLE WINTER'S RESEARCH FOCUSES ON FLY FIRST CLASS ANTHONY JOHN PEPPER, WHO GRADUATED THOMAS DALE HIGH SCHOOL IN 1966, ENLISTED IN THE MARINES AND WAS KILLED IN 1968. 
          WHEN COMPLETE, THE RESEARCH WILL BE SHARED ON THE SILENT HEROES WEBSITE AND USING EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS OF THE AMERICAN BATTLE MONUMENTS COMMISSION. 
          PLEASE SHOW ME CONGRATULATING NICOLE. 
          >> THIS IS FOR YOU. 
          >> WHEN I WAS LOOKING AT THE ORDER TONIGHT, AND I FOUND IT VERY COINCIDENTAL THAT ONE, YOU'RE STUDYING A CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL GRADUATE, BUT ALSO A FELLOW MARINE. 
          THERE WE GO. IT RUNS DEEP IN THE MARINE CORPS. 
          BUT THE THING THAT REALLY STOOD OUT TO ME WAS YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO DO THIS AND YOU'RE ONE OF 55 IN THE ENTIRE NATION THAT WAS SELECTED TO BRING LIKE TO AND HONOR A CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL GRADUATE 
          [00:55:01]
WHO MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE FOR ALL OF US. 
          THAT HAS TO BE SO MOVING, AND I WOULD IMAGINE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND GETTING THAT STORY OUT AND UNDERSTANDING MORE. 
          I'D LOVE TO KNOW MORE, AND I'M SURE THERE'S OTHERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO AS WELL. 
          WOULD YOU PLEASE SHARE WITH US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR PASSION BEHIND THAT? ALSO, WHERE HAS THIS LED YOU THAT YOU DIDN'T REALIZE IT WOULD TAKE YOU? 
          >> LET ME START BY SAYING I'M THE DAUGHTER OF A MARINE VIETNAM VETERAN. 
          THE DAUGHTER IN LAW OF AN ARMY VETERAN FROM VIETNAM AS WELL, VIETNAM WAR. 
          I AM PLEASED TO SHARE THIS RECOGNITION WITH CHESTERFIELD STUDENTS PAST AND PRESENT. 
          MY CURRENT HISTORICAL RESEARCH CLASS IS THE ONE DOING THE RESEARCH BEHIND THIS. 
          THEY HAVE TRACKED THE LIFE OF PRIVATE FIRST CLASS. 
          REALLY, HE WENT BY TONY PEPPER, THOMAS DALE GRADUATE. 
          FROM HIS CHILDHOOD, HIS FAMILY DYNAMICS, HIS SCHOOLING, GOING THROUGH OLD YEARBOOKS, REALLY PIECING TOGETHER HIS LIFE STORY IN HIS SHORT 20 YEARS, AND THEN HIS EXPERIENCE IN THE VIETNAM CONFLICT AND ULTIMATELY AT KHE SANH. 
          IT HAS BEEN DELIGHTFUL TO HEAR THEM REALLY TAKE OWNERSHIP OF TONY'S LIFE AND SHARE AMONGST THEMSELVES THE BREAKTHROUGH MOMENTS AND THE DETAILS AND THE MOMENTS OF HIS LIFE WITH EACH OTHER. 
          AT THE SAME TIME, OF COURSE, WE'RE CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF TONY, AND OUR PARTNER, AND THIS IS THE NICE SURPRISE THAT I FOUND, IS HIS YOUNGER SISTER, A MEADOWBROOK GRADUATE OF '74, WHO HAS PENNED, IF YOU WILL, HELP ME HOLD THIS AGAIN, HER MEMOIR OF HER BROTHER. 
          I HAVE BEEN LUCKY ENOUGH TO CORRESPOND WITH HER AND WE'VE TALKED BY PHONE AND I HAD TO EXPLAIN TO HER WHAT COSBY HIGH SCHOOL WAS BECAUSE IT'S BEEN A WHILE. 
          BUT NOW WE WILL BE IN TOUCH STUDENTS AND CARRIE PEPPER. 
          IT'S REALLY FULL CIRCLE. 
          SHE'S DELIGHTED TO HAVE OUR STUDENTS JUST TAKING ON THE LIFE OF HER BROTHER, AND WE ARE DELIGHTED TO BE ADDING TO HER RESEARCH AS WELL. YES. THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          >> IF I COULD ASK THE TEAM FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET TO COME FORWARD THIS TIME. 
          THE DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET CONTINUES ITS STRENGTH OF WINNING TOP AWARDS FOR BUDGET DOCUMENTS. 
          CHESTER COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS COMPREHENSIVE BUDGET DOCUMENT FOR THE 11TH YEAR WAS RECOGNIZED WITH THE MERITORIOUS BUDGET AWARD FROM THE ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BUSINESS OFFICIALS INTERNATIONAL. 
          THIS MERITORIOUS BUDGET AWARD WAS GIVEN FOR EXCELLENCE, PREPARATION AND ISSUANCE OF THE SCHOOL DIVISIONS FISCAL YEAR 2025 OPERATING BUDGET. 
          THE CCPS BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025 ALSO WON THE DISTINGUISHED BUDGET PRESENTATION AWARD FROM THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION ALSO FOR THE 11TH YEAR. 
          THIS AWARD REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENT AND REFLECTS THE COMMITMENT TO MEETING THE HIGHEST PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNMENTAL BUDGETING. 
          PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING THE DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT BUDGET. 
          >> I THINK I KNOW WHY I GET PICKED FOR THIS RECOGNITION EVERY YEAR, BEING IN THE ACCOUNTING AND BUDGET WORLD AND MY OTHER JOB. 
          I KNOW THE LONG HOURS AND THE HARD WORK THAT YOU PUT INTO HANDLING ALL OF THE MONEY THAT RUNS THROUGH CCPS AND GETTING OUR BUDGET RECOGNIZED FOR THE 11TH YEAR, WHICH IS AMAZING. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU DO, ALL THE HOURS THAT YOU PUT IN, AND ALL THE HARD WORK IN KEEPING OUR MONEY STRAIGHT AND FLOWING THROUGH. 
          THANK YOU. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT WHAT MAKES BUDGETING FUN FOR YOU? 
          >> WELL, ACTUALLY, I CAN'T TAKE ANY OF THE CREDIT FOR THIS AWARD BECAUSE I JUST STARTED, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THIS HARD WORKING, SMALL BUT MIGHTY TEAM IN THEIR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION EVERY YEAR. 
          WE HAVE FUN. WE DO WITH NUMBERS. 
          ESPECIALLY THIS TIME OF YEAR WHEN IT'S IN QUIET WE'LL WORK ON THE NEW BUDGET BOOKS. 
          >> THERE YOU GO. WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU DO. 
          [01:00:10]
          >> IF I COULD ASK JAMIE BARRICK AND CAROLYN GLIDER TO COME FORWARD AT THIS TIME. 
          VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY RECENTLY HONORED TWO MUSIC TEACHERS IN CHESTER COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 
          VCU SELECTED JAMIE BARRICK AS A 2024 OUTSTANDING MUSIC EDUCATOR AND VCU ALSO SELECTED CAROLYN GLIDER FOR THE 2024 VCU OUTSTANDING MUSIC EDUCATOR YOUNG ALUMNI AWARD. 
          PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING THEM. 
          >> I'M A GLEE CLUB CHORUS KID, SO THIS IS SPECIAL FOR ME. 
          WHAT I APPRECIATE MOST ABOUT MUSIC, AND I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION TOO IS FOR ME, IT GAVE ME A PLACE TO BELONG. 
          SOME OF US ARE EXPLORING EVERY OPTION WE CAN HAVE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN I FIRST JOINED GLEE CLUB. 
          A LITTLE BIT AWKWARD, A LITTLE BIT TALLER THAN THE BOYS. 
          NOT NECESSARILY THE BEST ATHLETE AT THE TIME. 
          GLEE CLUB EMBRACED ME AND THE CHORUS EMBRACED ME, AND THEN I FOUND MY VOICE THERE FOR THIS. 
          IT EMPOWERED ME AND I WANT TO KNOW WHAT DID MUSIC DO FOR YOU. 
          >> WELL, MUSIC HAS BEEN IN MY LIFE EVER SINCE I CAN REMEMBER, AND MUSIC WAS MY SAFE PLACE AND WHERE I FELT LIKE MYSELF. 
          I WANTED TO PROVIDE THAT SPACE FOR ALL OTHER KIDS. 
          JAMIE BARRICK, ALSO, WHO WON THE OUTSTANDING AWARD WAS ACTUALLY MY COURSE TEACHER AND DIRECTOR IN HIGH SCHOOL. 
          HE WAS A HUGE MENTOR AND HELPED ME THROUGH SO MANY THINGS THAT MUSIC COMES WITH PERFORMING AND I DON'T LIKE PERFORMING. 
          BUT HE HELPED ME REALIZE THAT SHARING THAT WITH OTHERS IS SUCH A SPECIAL THING, AND IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT HOW YOU SOUND. 
          IT'S JUST SHARING A PASSION THAT CAN'T BE SEEN AND THAT CAN ONLY BE FELT. 
          I LOVE BEING ABLE TO SHARE THAT WITH THE KIDS EVERY SINGLE DAY. THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> JAMIE HAD TO TAKE THE GIRLS BACK ON THE BUS AND SO HE HAD TO LEAVE, AND OF COURSE, I CAN SAY THAT IN 1996, I WAS TEACHING AT JAMES RIVER HIGH SCHOOL, AND I GOT TO HIRE A SECOND TEACHER. 
          JAMIE WAS FRESH OUT OF COLLEGE, AND I GOT TO HIRE HIM AS MY SECOND TEACHER, AND WE HAVE BEEN THICK AS THIEVES, BEST FRIENDS EVER SINCE, AND HE TRULY IS A WONDERFUL EDUCATOR. 
          ON HIS BEHALF, I'M ACCEPTING THIS, BUT WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS. THANK YOU, JAMIE. 
          >> I CAN ASK THE REPRESENTATIVES FROM ITAC AND THE JEWISH COMMUNITY FEDERATION OF RICHMOND TO COME FORWARD THIS TIME. 
          >> EACH YEAR, THE EMPLOYER ACCOMMODATION PROGRAM OF THE VIRGINIA SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION PROVIDES SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THEIR EMPLOYERS FOR PROVIDING THE SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT THAT IS OFTEN NEEDED TO PERFORM THEIR SCHOOL BOARD DUTIES. 
          THEIR CONNECTION IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF PUBLIC EDUCATION, WHICH IS THE CORNERSTONE OF THIS COMMUNITY. 
          WE RECOGNIZE ITAC FOR SUPPORTING SCHOOL BOARD CHAIR ANN COKER, WHO IS IN HER SECOND TERM REPRESENTING THE BERMUDA DISTRICT. 
          WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THE JEWISH COMMUNITY FEDERATION OF RICHMOND FOR SUPPORTING SCHOOL MEMBER, DOT HEFFRON, WHO IS ALSO IN HER SECOND TERM REPRESENTING THE CLOVER HILL DISTRICT. 
          PLEASE HELP ME CONGRATULATE IN THESE COMMUNITY PARTNERS. 
          [APPLAUSE] 
          >> I JUST PERSONALLY WANT TO THANK YOU, BRUCE AND ITAC FOR ALL THE SUPPORT THAT YOU'VE GIVEN ME THROUGHOUT MY 25 YEARS AT ITAC, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, WHEN I DECIDED TO RUN FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD AND JUST SUPPORTING ME IN THIS PASSION THAT I HAVE. 
          I THANK YOU AND ITAC FOR JUST BEING THERE FOR ME, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING. 
          A LITTLE GIFT IN CERTIFICATE. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU. 
          >> I TOLD MY CEO TO TAKE THE NIGHT OFF TONIGHT, SO HE'S NOT HERE. 
          [01:05:04]
BUT THE JEWISH COMMUNITY FEDERATION OF RICHMOND DOES A LOT OF REALLY GREAT WORK AND IN OUR COMMUNITY AND OVERSEAS AND IN ISRAEL, AND I'M JUST VERY FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE BOTH OF MY JOBS GIVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO PUT BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY THAT HAS GIVEN ME SO MUCH, AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY, AND I'M GLAD FOR THE RECOGNITION FOR MY EMPLOYER. 
          [APPLAUSE] [BACKGROUND] 
          >> WE JUST GOT WORD THAT WE HAD A RECOGNITION PLAN FOR ONE OF OUR PARTNERS, PC AND THEY CAN ATTEND THIS EVENING SO WE'LL BRING THEM BACK AT A FUTURE BOARD MEETING. 
          AT THIS TIME, THOUGH, WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE REB AWARDS WINNERS. 
          IF I GOT TO ASK BRIAN RUSSELL TO COME FORWARD AT THIS TIME, AS WELL AS NICHOLSON. 
          THE REB WARDS FOR DISTINGUISHED EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP HONOR CENTRAL VIRGINIA PRINCIPALS WHO GO BEYOND DAY TO DAY DEMANDS TO CREATE AN EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT. 
          ONE PRINCIPAL FROM EACH LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEM, CHESTERFIELD, HENRICO, HANOVER, AND RICHMOND IS HONORED ANNUALLY WITH EACH WINNER RECEIVING A $10,000 GRANT FOR INDIVIDUAL USE AND AN ADDITIONAL $20,000 FOR SCHOOL PROJECTS. 
          THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR GREATER RICHMOND AND THE REB FOUND OVERSEE THE AWARDS. 
          NOMINATIONS COME FROM MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. 
          ESHEL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS PRINCIPALS WHO ARE FINALS THIS YEAR, INCLUDE BRIAN RUSSELL, PRINCIPAL OF THE CAREER AND TECHNICAL CENTER, NICHOLSON, PRINCIPAL OF SALEM CHURCH MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND MJ RODDY PRINCIPAL PROVINCE MIDDLE SCHOOL. MS. SHADERS. 
          >> BEFORE I GIVE MY REMARKS ABOUT THEM, I WANTED TO GIVE THEM BOTH AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THE PROJECT THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE WORKING ON, SO I'LL START WITH BRIAN. 
          >> YES. THE REB AWARD PROJECT THAT I CHOSE IS THAT FOR TECH CENTERS, WE HAVE A UNIQUE BREED OF TEACHERS. 
          THEY LOVE WHAT THEY DO, BUT THEY ALSO COME STRAIGHT FROM INDUSTRY, AND SO 95% OF OUR STAFF, THEY'RE PUTTING DOWN THEIR TOOLS, THEY'RE PUTTING DOWN THEIR TOOL BELTS TO RETURN TO WORK AS TEACHERS, AND SO THAT'S A BIG TRANSITION FOR OUR STAFF. 
          AGAIN, THEY LOVE WHAT THEY DO, BUT HONING THOSE SKILLS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN UNDERSTAND PEDAGOGY. 
          IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO IMPROVE ON FOR OUR SCHOOLS. 
          THAT'S ONE THING THAT WE DISCUSSED AS OUR REB AWARD. 
          THE SECOND PIECE IS ALSO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WANT TO GIVE BACK AND ALSO SUPPORT THE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS. 
          WHETHER IT BE OUR BUSINESS ADVISORS, OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, WE WANT TO CREATE AN ALUMNI FOUNDATION FOR THOSE WHO HAVE EITHER SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS OR WHO WERE FORMER STUDENTS WHO ARE NOW IN A BUSINESS THAT WILL COME BACK AND SUPPORT OUR CURRENT STUDENTS. 
          THAT'S JUST TWO OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE HONING ON TO MAKE OUR SCHOOL BETTER. 
          >> AT SALEM, THERE'S PROBABLY NO MORE IMPORTANT PLACE THAN OUR LIBRARY. 
          I DON'T THINK IT'S JUST AT SALEM. 
          I THINK THE PUBLIC LIBRARY IS THE UNSUNG HERO IN ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES. 
          WE'VE WORKED TO MAKE OUR LIBRARY MOVE FROM A PLACE WHERE STUDENTS ARE SHUSHED AND TOLD TO FIND INFORMATION IN A REFERENCE BOOK AND TO WHERE THEY'RE NOW ALLOWED TO EXCLAIM WOW, BECAUSE OF THE THINGS THEY'RE LEARNING. 
          SO THIS PRIZE MONEY IS REALLY COOL BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO TURBOCHARGE THAT EFFORT. 
          EVERY STUDENT DESERVES A PLACE THAT THEY CAN BOTH PRACTICE THEIR LITERACY SKILLS, BUT ALSO SEE WHO THEY CAN BECOME AND WHAT THE WORLD COULD BECOME, AND THAT'S WHAT THE MAGIC OF BOOKS DOES FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF OUR KIDS. 
          THIS MONEY WILL GO TO DIVERSIFYING OUR BOOKS. 
          IT WILL GO TO DIVERSIFYING OUR LIBRARY PROGRAMMING, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT WILL ALLOW US TO DO THINGS LIKE THE LIBRARY OF THINGS, WHICH PAIRS A BOOK WITH AN ACTUAL THING THAT STUDENTS CAN TAKE HOME AND EXTEND LEARNING WITH THEIR FAMILIES, LIKE A WAFFLE MAKER OR UKELELE, OR CROCHET SET. 
          AND IT WILL ALSO ALLOW US TO CONTINUE TO TRANSFORM OUR DURING THE DAY CLUBS EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES. 
          EVERY STUDENT DESERVES A CHANCE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CLUB OR ACTIVITY, BUT NOT EVERY STUDENT HAS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE THEY CAN'T HAVE A RIDE FROM SCHOOL TO HOME AFTER THE BUS LEAVES. 
          ONCE A MONTH AT SALEM, WE REORGANIZE OUR DAY TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY ONE OF OUR STUDENTS HAS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A STUDENT LED CLUB. 
          THIS YEAR, WE HAD 27 OPPORTUNITIES. 
          THIS GRANT WILL JUST ALLOW US TO OFFER SO MANY MORE. 
          WE'RE REALLY EXCITED AND HONORED TO BE ABLE TO BRING THIS HOME TO THE FAMILIES OF SALEM. 
          >> SOUND LIKE SOME AWESOME PROGRAMS, RIGHT? SO I GET THE HONOR OF ANNOUNCING WHO THE WINNER IS, 
          [01:10:04]
AND THE WINNER THIS YEAR BECAUSE THEY'RE BOTH IN MY DISTRICT, SO THAT'S WHY I GET TO DO THIS. 
          I'M A WINNER REGARDLESS. 
          SALEM MIDDLE SCHOOL, NICK OLSON. 
          [APPLAUSE] I DON'T GET TO GIVE YOU THE MONEY. 
          JOHN GETS TO GIVE YOU THE CHECK. 
          OUR RUNNER UP IS ALSO BRIAN RUSSELL, SO HE'S ALSO GETTING A CHECK TO DO WITH HIS PROGRAM AS WELL. 
          [APPLAUSE] I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT FOR NICK, WINNING THIS AWARD THIS YEAR IS SUPER SPECIAL TO ME. 
          IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR, WHAT HAPPENS AT SALEM MIDDLE, YOU'RE MISSING OUT, BECAUSE NICK'S HEART BLEEDS SALEM. 
          EVERYTHING HE'S DOING IN THAT BUILDING AND THE TEACHERS AND THE STAFF IN THAT BUILDING, POURING LOVE INTO OUR CHILDREN, AND IT'S BEAUTIFUL TO SEE WHEN YOU WALK THROUGH THE BUILDING, YOU CAN FEEL THAT. 
          FOR YOU TO GET THIS RECOGNITION NOW, I YELPED. 
          I'M GLAD I DIDN'T DO IT HERE. 
          BUT I'M SO EXCITED FOR WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO, AND THE LIBRARY OF THINGS AND THE CLUBS. 
          THAT IS THE THING THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT AS A BOARD ABOUT EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES FOR OUR CHILDREN AND GIVING THEM OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE. 
          UNTIL WE CAN COME UP WITH A PLAN, THEY HAVE A PLAN. 
          ONCE A MONTH, THEY GET TO DO ALL THE THINGS, VOLLEYBALL, POKEMON, SORRY, NOT COMIC BOOK. 
          POKEMON. THEY GET TO DO ALL THE THINGS, SO THEY GET OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE THE CLUB LIFE DURING SCHOOL HOURS. 
          THAT IS VERY CREATIVE ON OUR TEACHERS TO ADJUST THEIR SCHEDULES TO DO BUT THEY'RE ALL POURING INTO OUR CHILDREN THERE. 
          I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING THERE, AND IT'S SO APPRECIATED. 
          I AM SO PROUD OF YOU. 
          LET'S GIVE THEM ANOTHER HAND TO REB AWARD WINNER AND RUNNER UP. 
          [APPLAUSE] 
          >> NEXT, WE HAVE RECOGNITION OF OUTSTANDING DRIVER PERFORMANCE WITH MS. DREW. 
          >> GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS. 
          I'M EXCITED AGAIN TO BE HERE TO RECOGNIZE OUR DRIVERS THAT WE HAVE CHOSEN FOR DRIVERS OF THE MONTH. 
          THERE ARE MANY DRIVERS THAT WE COULD HAVE RECOGNIZED AND MY TEAM HAD THE TASK OF CHOOSING JUST ONE WHO EXEMPLIFY EXCELLENCE AND DEDICATION TO REPRESENT THEIR AREA. 
          OUR FEBRUARY 2025 DRIVERS OF THE MONTH THAT ARE BEING RECOGNIZED FOR OUTSTANDING DRIVER PERFORMANCE IS FOR AREA 1 TRACY HUBBARD. 
          SHE DRIVES BUS 686. 
          TRACY HAS 6.5 YEARS OF SERVICE. 
          HER MANAGERS SAY THAT SHE IS A TRUE EXAMPLE OF A TEAM PLAYER. 
          SHE STEPS UP IN A CHALLENGING SITUATION AND HELPS OUT WHENEVER NEEDED. 
          YOU CAN TELL THAT SHE TRULY LOVES HER ROLE HERE WITH CCPS BECAUSE WHENEVER YOU ARE AROUND HER, SHE RADIATES LOVE FOR HER STUDENTS, THE COORDINATORS, AND THE SCHOOL STAFF. 
          SHE HAS A GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR TOO. THAT'S FROM ME. 
          [LAUGHTER] WE ARE GRATEFUL TO HAVE SUCH A WONDERFUL PERSON ON OUR TEAM. 
          FOR AREA 2, WE HAVE VICTOR WINN. 
          HE DRIVES BUS 500. 
          VICTOR HAS FOUR MONTHS OF SERVICE. 
          VICTOR IS ALWAYS WILLING TO HELP OUT WHENEVER HE IS NEEDED AND IN SUCH A SHORT TIME HE IS ABLE TO COVER ANY ROUTE WITH EASE AND WITHOUT HESITATION. 
          AREA 3 VIRGINIA WILFAG. 
          SHE DRIVES BUS 645. 
          SHE HAS TWO YEARS OF SERVICE. 
          VIRGINIA SAYS THAT I LOVE GETTING TO SEE THE EXCITEMENT ON THE KIDS' FACES EVERY DAY AS THEY GET ON THE BUS. 
          AREA 4, KAREN HAM, BUS 768, 17 YEARS OF SERVICE. 
          WHEN FACED WITH A DIFFICULT AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION, KAREN HANDLED IT AS A TRAINED PROFESSIONAL WOULD. 
          SHE KEPT HER STUDENTS SAFE AND WAITED FOR THE PROPER ASSISTANCE TO ARRIVE, AND WE ARE VERY PROUD OF HER. 
          AREA FIVE IS BEING REPRESENTED BY AMBER HOLT, WHO IS THE AREA FIVE MANAGER. 
          HER DRIVER IS ATORIA RANSOM, BUS 954. 
          ATORIA HAS THREE YEARS OF SERVICE. 
          ATORIA SAYS BEING A BUS DRIVER IS SIMILAR TO BEING A SUPERHERO. 
          EVERY DAY WE GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF LIVES. 
          LET'S CONTINUE TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF. 
          >> CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING THE BEST DRIVERS THAT WE HAVE OUT THERE THIS MONTH. 
          THAT IS A BIG DEAL CONGRATULATING YOU, TOO. 
          [01:15:04]
IT IS A BIG DEAL. 
          NOT EVERYBODY CAN DO THIS. 
          YOUR ACCOLADE WAS PRETTY IMPRESSIVE. 
          YOU JUST GOT RIGHT, JUST CAN DO EVERYTHING REALLY FAST. IT'S AMAZING. 
          I I THINK I'M A GREAT DRIVER, BUT PEOPLE WHO RIDE WITH ME DON'T. 
          NOT EVERYONE CAN DO THIS. 
          WELL DONE YOU. 
          YOU'RE THE FIRST FACE THAT THEY SEE IN THE MORNING, LAST FACE THEY SEE IN THE AFTERNOON. 
          WHAT YOU DO MATTERS, IT CAN SET THE TONE FOR THEIR DAY, AND THEN IT CAN MAKE A BAD DAY GOOD. 
          IT IS A BIG DEAL. 
          THANK YOU FOR DOING ALL OF THAT AND KEEPING THEM SAFE. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          I'M REPRESENTING ATORIA, AND SHE IS A TRUE SUPERHERO FOR AREA 5. 
          SHE SHOWS UP FOR OUR STUDENTS EVERY DAY, AND SHE JUST TAKES THE GREATEST CARE OF OUR CHILDREN. 
          [LAUGHTER] [FOREIGN] THANK YOU AGAIN. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> NEXT, WE HAVE RECOGNITION OF OUTSTANDING FOOD SERVICE EMPLOYEES, MR. DUNBRACK. 
          >> MADAM CHAIR, BOARD MEMBERS, DOCTOR MURRAY, MR. ROBERTS. 
          THANK YOU AS ALWAYS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE OF OUTSTANDING FOOD NUTRITION SERVICES TEAM MEMBERS. 
          OKAY. LAST WEEK, OUR DEPARTMENT CELEBRATED NATIONAL SCHOOL BREAKFAST WEEK WITH A THEME OF CLUE INTO SCHOOL BREAKFAST. 
          AS ALWAYS, OUR TEAM WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND, DECORATING THEIR SERVICE LINES AND DRESSING LIKE DETECTIVES, WHICH INCLUDED A SURPRISING AMOUNT OF TRENCH COATS AND FIDORAS BEING WORN IN CAFETERIAS LAST WEEK. 
          WE ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ONCE AGAIN COLLABORATE WITH SOME OF OUR GRAPHIC DESIGN STUDENTS AT MANCHESTER HIGH SCHOOL TO CREATE SOME OUTSTANDING POSTERS TO HELP SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT BREAKFAST. 
          NOT ONLY DOES THIS MEAL GIVE OUR TEAM THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS SOME CREATIVITY, BUT ALLOWS FOR THEM TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT IS ARGUABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT MEAL OF THE DAY FOR GROWING STUDENTS. 
          ALSO DURING NATIONAL SCHOOL BREAKFAST WEEK OUR DEPARTMENT HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF HONORING DOCTOR LESLIE HARRIS FROM CHESTER EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING ACADEMY AS THE CCPS BREAKFAST CHAMPION FOR 2425 DUE TO YOUR UNWAVERING SUPPORT FOR BREAKFAST AT OUR SCHOOL. 
          WE ARE INCREDIBLY THANKFUL FOR THE SUPPORT WE RECEIVED NOT ONLY FROM DR. HARRIS, BUT ALL THE OTHER ADMINISTRATORS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. 
          FEEDING.. LL OF OUR STUDENTS IS A TEAM EFFORT AND WE HAVE AN OUTSTANDING ONE TO WORK WITH. 
          EVENING OUR HONOREES THIS EVENING, OUR THOMAS JENKINS. 
          MR. JENKINS IS A FOOD SERVICE ASSOCIATE AT MATOACA MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND HE'S BEEN WITH THE COUNTY FOR FIVE YEARS. 
          HE SAYS THE BEST PART OF MY JOB IS KNOWING THAT BY ENSURING THAT NO CHILD GROWS HUNGRY, I GET TO HELP THEM SUCCEED ACADEMICALLY. 
          NEXT, WE HAVE WOOD WHITE. 
          MR. WHITE IS A FOOD SERVICE ASSOCIATE AT RUBY MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND HE'S BEEN WITH THE COUNTY FOR ONE YEAR. 
          HE SAYS, THE REASON I LOVE MY JOB IS THAT IT'S ONE OF THE BEST JOBS I'VE EVER HAD AND THE STUDENTS AND STAFF ARE AMAZING. 
          NEXT, WE HAVE DARLENE BOLTON. 
          M.S BOLTON IS A FOOD SERVICE ASSOCIATE AT BAILEY BRIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOL. 
          SHE'S BEEN WITH THE COUNTY FOR FIVE YEARS. 
          SHE SAYS THE BEST PART OF MY JOB IS FEEDING THE STUDENTS AND MAKING SURE THEY ENJOY THEIR LUNCHES. 
          IT MEANS A LOT TO WORK WITH GOOD PEOPLE. 
          NEXT WE HAVE ZITA SMITH. 
          MISS SMITH IS A FOOD SERVICE ASSOCIATE AT SALEM CHURCH MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND SHE'S BEEN WITH THE COUNTY FOR SIX YEARS. 
          SHE SAYS IT'S A PRIVILEGE AND HONOR TO SERVE THE STUDENTS, MY COLLEAGUES, MY MANAGERS. 
          THIS IS WHAT I LOVE DOING TO BE OF SERVICE, TO SUPPORT, AND TO ENCOURAGE ALL. 
          AND FINALLY, WE HAVE LISA THURSTON. 
          MISS THURSTON IS A FOOD SERVICE ASSOCIATE AT HENNING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. 
          SHE'S BEEN WITH THE COUNTY FOR SEVEN YEARS. 
          SHE SAYS THE MOST REWARDING ASPECT OF BEING A FOOD NUTRITION SERVICES EMPLOYEE IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH AND POSITIVELY IMPACT STUDENTS EVERY DAY BY PROVIDING HEALTHY, NOURISHING MEALS, A FRIENDLY FACE, AND A LISTENING EAR. [APPLAUSE] 
          >> LET'S GIVE OUR FOOD NUTRITION TEACHERS A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. 
          [APPLAUSE] I'M READY GET IN THE GIVE ME THE MICROPHONE. DON'T GIVE ME. 
          WELL, I JUST WANT TO SAY ON BEHALF OF THE SCHOOL BOARD, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU DO. 
          YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW THE WORK THAT YOU DO, AND YOU KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS. 
          BUT I HOPE THAT OUR WHOLE COMMUNITY RECOGNIZES THAT YOUR COMMITMENT TO MAKING SURE THAT EACH CHILD IS FED, READY TO LEARN, READY TO START THEIR DAY AND GET THE MOST OUT OF THEIR EDUCATION IS A CRITICAL ROLE IN OUR SCHOOLS. 
          AND WE APPRECIATE YOU SO. 
          I PASS I WON'T PASS THAT. 
          WANT TO BUT I WANT TO SAY ANYTHING. 
          YOU'RE A BIG FAN. I AM GRATEFUL TO SERVE IN THE FOOD SERVICE DEPARTMENT. 
          >> I'M THANKFUL FOR THIS RECOGNITION, AND I ALSO LIKE TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO MY SUPERVISOR, SHANE LOGAN, WHO NOMINATED ME. THANK YOU. 
          [NOISE]. 
          >> AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO KAREN FOR NOMINATING ME AND CHOOSING ME, 
          [01:20:04]
AND I LOVE MY JOB, AND I LOVE WORKING WITH THE STUDENTS. THEY'RE VERY FUN. 
          >> THANK YOU AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO FOR OUR KIDS. CONGRATULATIONS. 
          >> THANK YOU, AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF TONIGHT'S HONOREES. 
          NEXT, WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT. 
          FOR THIS MEETING, CITIZENS WERE GIVEN THE OPTION OF SUBMITTING THEIR COMMENTS ONLINE OR IN PERSON. 
          COMMENTS SUBMITTED VIA THE ONLINE FORM WERE SENT TO THE BOARD PRIOR TO THE START OF TONIGHT'S MEETING, POSTED TO BOARD DOC SITE, AND WILL BE INCLUDED IN FULL AS AN ADDENDUM TO THE MEETING MINUTES. 
          IN PERSON COMMENTS WILL BE SUMMARIZED BY THE BOARD CLERK AND INCLUDED IN THE OFFICIAL MEETING MINUTES. 
          DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED ALONG WITH IN PERSON COMMENTS WILL UPON REQUEST BE DISTRIBUTED TO THE BOARD, BUT NOT INCLUDED AS PART OF THE BOARD'S OFFICIAL MINUTES. 
          MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE ANNOUNCE THIS EVENING'S IN PERSON SPEAKERS? 
          >> MADAM CHAIR, WE DID NOT HAVE ANY SPEAKERS SIGN UP IN ADVANCE. 
          >> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. 
          NEXT, WE HAVE THIS EVENING SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT FROM DR. MURRAY. 
          [E. Superintendent's Report]
          >> FIRST OFF, I WANT TO SAY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE DID TO NOT HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT. 
          MY REAL REPORT, THE FIRST OF THREE, THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. 
          FOR THIS EVENING, THE FIRST PRESENTATION IS SOMETHING TRULY SPECIAL. 
          IT IS ABOUT THE MONARCH MARKET WHERE THE PRODUCTS ARE CREATED BY THE STUDENTS THEMSELVES AND REQUIRE A GREAT DEAL OF RESEARCH, WHICH THE STUDENTS CONDUCT VIA THE INTERNET AS WELL AS TRIAL AND ERROR. 
          FOR MANY, IT CAN TAKE MONTHS OF WORK TO HAVE A PRODUCT THAT IS SUITABLE FOR SALE. 
          TO BUILD A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS, IT NOT ONLY TAKES A GOOD IDEA, IT TAKES MONEY. 
          THANKS TO THE CHESTERFIELD EDUCATION FOUNDATION, WHICH PROVIDED $5,000 TOWARD THE ACADEMY FOR DEVELOPING ENTREPRENEURS THROUGH AN INNOVATION GRANT. 
          THESE YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS WERE ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO FUNDS TO PURCHASE SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT OR RESOURCES, THEY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD ON THEIR OWN. 
          PLEASE ENJOY THIS MEANINGFUL MOMENT. 
          [MUSIC] 
          >> TODAY, WE'RE HAVING OUR GRAND OPENING OF THE MONARCH MARKET, WHERE WE'LL SHOWCASE ALL OF OUR SCHOOL SPIRIT ITEMS THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING SO HARD ON, AS WELL AS OUR STUDENT BUSINESSES THAT HAVE ALSO BEEN WORKING VERY HARD TO PREPARE FOR TODAY. 
          IT'S CRAZY TO BELIEVE THAT TODAY IS ACTUALLY FINALLY COME. 
          WE SPENT MONTHS AND MONTHS PLANNING TRYING TO MAKE SURE THE DESIGNS ARE CORRECT. 
          JUST ALL IN ALL, IT'S JUST GREAT. 
          >> THIS IS ALL STUDENT-CENTERED. 
          THE STUDENTS HAVE MADE EVERY DECISION. 
          WE STARTED IN APRIL/MAY, BRAINSTORMING SOME IDEAS. 
          THE KIDS GOT TOGETHER OVER THE SUMMER. 
          OUR STUDENTS HAVE HAD A SAY IN EVERY SINGLE THING WE'VE PURCHASED, EVERYTHING THAT'S OUT THERE ON THE KIOSKS, THE EMPLOYEE MANUAL ON HOW TO RUN IT, EVERYTHING IS DONE BY THE STUDENTS. 
          WE'VE COLLABORATED WITH THE CHESTERFIELD EDUCATION FOUNDATION. 
          WE RECEIVED A $5,000 INNOVATION GRANT FROM THEM, AND SO THAT HELPED WITH THE PURCHASE OF THE KIOSKS. 
          IT GIVES THE STUDENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE SCHOOL SPIRIT ACROSS THE CAMPUS, AS WELL AS MAKING THESE ITEMS AFFORDABLE FOR OUR SPECIFIC DEMOGRAPHIC. 
          WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY STUDENT CAN PARTICIPATE SO WE'VE KEPT ALL OF OUR PRICES AT A REASONABLE PRICE POINT SO THAT THEY CAN DO THAT. 
          >> WE HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MIXED BUSINESS. 
          WE HAVE POPCORN, WE HAVE THREE DIFFERENT FLAVORS. 
          WE HAVE CINNAMON COMPOUND, CHILI LIME, AND BUFFALO SPICE, AND WE'VE BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR ABOUT 1.5 YEARS. 
          IN ORDER TO DO THE BEST WE CAN TO PROVIDE PRODUCTS THAT REACH OUR GOAL TARGET MARKET, WE'RE JUST GETTING IDEA OF HOW MANY CUSTOMERS FALL INTO THE SALTY MIX, SPICY, SWEET, SOUR, WHAT HAVE YOU. 
          WITH THAT MARKET RESEARCH, WE'LL BE ABLE TO COMBINE NEW FLAVORS FOR OUR CUSTOMERS. 
          IT REALLY GIVES YOU AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT IT'S LIKE IN THE REAL WORLD. 
          A LOT OF US HAVE NEVER BEEN TO MARKETS OR HAVE NEVER SOLD A PRODUCT A DAY IN OUR LIVES AND SO JUST TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR FREE, IS JUST A GREAT EXPERIENCE, AND SO THIS HELPS A LOT. 
          >> THANK YOU, DR. MURRAY. BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION OR COMMENTS? MRS. CHATTERS? 
          [01:25:01]
          >> I WOULD JUST SAY THAT DR. MURRAY AND I WERE THE FIRST PEOPLE TO PURCHASE FROM THE MEADOWBROOK MARKET. 
          SO I HAVE MY RECEIPT AS A MEMORABILIA THAT I WAS THE FIRST CUSTOMER. 
          I DID HAVE SOME SWAG NOW. APPRECIATE THAT. 
          IF YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE OR DROP BY WHEN THEY DO HAVE THE MARKET OPEN, YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE IT. 
          THE JERKY IS AMAZING. 
          ONE OF THEM WAS A LITTLE BIT SPICIER, HE LED ME TO BELIEVE THAT IT WASN'T GOING TO BE THAT SPICY AND I HAD TO GIVE IT TO MY HUSBAND. 
          SAME. BUT THE OTHER ONES ARE SWEET AND SAVORY. 
          THOSE OF US ON KETO UP HERE, WE CAN EAT JERKY ALL DAY. 
          PLEASE TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO BY THERE AND PARTICIPATE, AND I LOVE WHAT MS. TUAL IS DOING WITH THE STUDENTS AND BUILDING THEIR CONFIDENCE IN THE PROCESS. 
          IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS, YOU SHOULD HEAR THEM OUT. THEY'RE DOING GREAT THINGS. 
          >> THAT'S AWESOME. 
          >> INDEED. TRULY REMARKABLE WORK. 
          BEFORE I MOVE ON TO THE NEXT PRESENTATION, I THINK MY FAVORITE PRESENTER WHEN YOU AND I WERE OUT THERE, MRS. CHATTERS, WERE THE TWO YOUNG LADIES TRYING TO PITCH ME TO BUY HAIR PRODUCTS. 
          [LAUGHTER] THEY GAVE ME THEIR BUSINESS CARD AND EVERYTHING. 
          >> THEY WERE TRYING TO HELP YOU GROW IT BACK. 
          THAT'S WHAT THEY WERE WORKING ON. 
          >> I PROMISED THEM MY CHILDREN HAVE GREAT HAIR AND I WOULD LOOK INTO IT. 
          ON THAT NOTE, GREAT SEGUE INTO OUR NEXT PRESENTATION IS AN UPDATE ON COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOLS WITH ASHLEY HALL. 
          >> HELLO. GOOD EVENING. 
          WELL, YOU GUYS KNOW, TYPICALLY, I'M HERE TALKING ABOUT COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOLS, GIVING OVERVIEWS AND UPDATES, AND DON'T WORRY, I'LL BE BACK NEXT MONTH FOR THAT. 
          BUT TONIGHT, I'M REALLY, REALLY EXCITED TO HIGHLIGHT ONE OF OUR AMAZING SITE COORDINATORS AND HER INCREDIBLE STUDENTS AND ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON. 
          YOU ALL HAVE HEARD ME TALK ABOUT HOW DIFFERENT CIS SERVICES ARE ACROSS OUR SCHOOLS, REALLY BASED ON NEED. 
          BUT THE COMMON THREAD THAT WE TALK ABOUT IS THAT THEY ARE GROUNDED IN WHAT WE CALL THE FIVE BASICS. 
          THOSE ESSENTIALS THAT WE BELIEVE EVERY KID, EVERY STUDENT NEEDS TO BE SUCCESSFUL. 
          TODAY, WE'RE REALLY GOING TO HONE IN ON THAT FIFTH BASIC, A CHANCE TO GIVE BACK TO PEERS IN THE COMMUNITY. 
          STEPHANIE MARDIG, ONE OF OUR SITE COORDINATORS AT BIRD, IS GOING TO SHARE HOW SHE HAS GUIDED A SMALL GROUP OF STUDENTS IN IDENTIFYING SCHOOL NEEDS AND TAKING MEANINGFUL ACTION TO CREATE POSITIVE CHANGE. 
          >> GOOD EVENING. IT IS A PLEASURE TO GET TO SPEAK TO YOU ALL THIS EVENING. 
          SIX YEARS AGO, CIS OF CHESTERFIELD BEGAN INCORPORATING THE ASSET-BASE EMBRACE MODEL IN SOME OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS. 
          IN THAT TIME, STUDENTS IDENTIFIED NEEDS AND WORKED ON PROJECTS CONNECTED TO PEER-TO-PEER MENTORING, STUDENT ENGAGEMENT, AND IGNITING SENIOR PRIDE. 
          IT IS IMPORTANT THAT OUR STUDENTS KNOW THAT THEIR VOICES MATTER AND DESERVE TO BE HEARD BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, NO MATTER HOW GREAT OR SMALL. 
          EMBRACE GIVES STUDENTS A PLATFORM TO ADVOCATE AND HELP DRIVE CHANGE TO BETTER THEIR SCHOOL COMMUNITY. 
          I TAKE GRADE PRIDE IN MY ROLE AS A CIS SITE COORDINATOR TO HELP STUDENTS DISCOVER HOW THEY USE THEIR STRENGTH TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. 
          I'M SO PROUD TO HAVE A FEW OF OUR STUDENT LEADERS SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCE OF EMBRACE AT BIRD THIS YEAR. 
          >> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS ZOE. 
          I AM A JUNIOR AT BIRD AND THIS IS IN FACT MY FIRST YEAR IN EMBRACE. 
          WHEN WE FIRST STARTED MEETING THIS YEAR, WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME IDENTIFYING OUR OWN ASSETS AND WAYS WE COULD USE THEM. 
          WE TALKED ABOUT POTENTIAL THINGS IN OUR SCHOOL THAT WE FELT NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED. 
          SOME OF THESE AREAS INCLUDED HALLWAY CONGESTION, SCHOOL SAFETY, AND AFTERSCHOOL CLUBS. 
          THESE CONVERSATIONS HELPED US DESIGN A SURVEY THAT CAPTURED A WIDE RANGE OF STUDENTS OPINIONS. 
          WE DISTRIBUTED THE SURVEY IN MANY WAYS. 
          STUDENTS COULD ACCESS IT THROUGH A QR CODE DURING LUNCH OR THROUGH THEIR CANVAS. 
          WE MADE SURE IT WAS AVAILABLE IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH BECAUSE WE WANTED TO REACH AS MANY STUDENTS AS POSSIBLE. 
          SURPRISINGLY, WE HAD OVER 300 RESPONSES. 
          MANY STUDENTS TOLD US THAT THEY WERE EXCITED TO SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS ON THE CHANGES THAT THEY WANTED TO SEE AT BIRD. 
          >> GOOD EVENING. HOW ARE Y'ALL FEELING TODAY? GOOD. THAT'S GREAT. GOOD EVENING. 
          MY NAME IS MIKAEL ALI AND I'M CURRENTLY FINISHING UP MY SENIOR YEAR AT LLOYD C BIRD HIGH SCHOOL. 
          [01:30:04]
THIS IS ACTUALLY MY FIRST YEAR PARTICIPATING IN EMBRACE. 
          JUST LIKE MY COLLEAGUE SAID OR MY FRIENDS SAID, AFTER GATHERING RESPONSES FROM 333 STUDENTS, WE REVIEWED THE RESULTS WITH THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION TO GET THEIR FEEDBACK BEFORE WE SELECTED THE AREA THAT EMBRACE COULD HAVE THE GREATEST IMPACT. 
          OUR PRINCIPAL, MRS. BLANTON, WAS VERY SUPPORTIVE OF OUR EFFORTS, AND SHE WAS VERY GLAD THAT SO MANY STUDENTS WANTED TO BE A PART OF IT. 
          WE CHOSE TO FOCUS OUR EFFORTS ON BIRD BLOCK, WHICH IS BIRD'S VERSION OF A STUDY HALL. 
          BIRD BLOCK IS A 30-MINUTE BLOCK OF TIME GIVEN TO STUDENTS AT THE END OF EACH CLASS TWICE A WEEK, WHICH IS TUESDAYS AND WEDNESDAYS. 
          IT IS DESIGNED FOR STUDENTS TO CATCH UP ON MISSING WORK, CHECK AND RESPOND TO CANVAS MESSAGES, GET HELP FROM TEACHERS AND CHECK STUDENT VIEW FOR UPDATED GRADES AND SEAT TIME. 
          GIVEN ALL THAT TEACHERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR, BIRD BLOCK SOMETIMES TAKES A BACKSEAT. 
          AS A RESULT, TEACHERS MAY CONTINUE TEACHING UNTIL THE END OF THE CLASS PERIOD, LEAVING LESS TIME FOR US TO USE THAT BLOCK AS IT WAS ORIGINALLY INTENDED. 
          >> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS TINAYA. 
          I'M A JUNIOR AT BIRD, AND THIS IS MY FIRST YEAR IN EMBRACE. 
          >> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS AIDEN, AND I AM A FRESHMAN AT BIRD, AND THIS IS ALSO MY FIRST YEAR IN EMBRACE. 
          >> ONCE WE DECIDED TO FOCUS ON BIRD BLOCK, THE FIRST THING WE WANT TO DO WAS INTERVIEW A FEW TEACHERS TO GET THEIR PERSPECTIVE ON HOW THEY USE IT. 
          AFTER TALKING TO THEM, WE DECIDED TO CREATE THE BIRD BLOCK FOCUS SLIP. 
          THIS SLIP ENCOURAGES STUDENTS TO SET A GOAL FOR EACH BLOCK AND FOLLOW UP ON WHETHER THEY MET THEIR GOAL. 
          IT ALSO GIVE SUGGESTIONS FOR OTHER PRODUCTIVE WAYS TO USE THEIR TIME. 
          WE CREATED A GOOGLE FORM VERSION OF THE BIRD BLOCK SLIP AS DIGITAL ALTERNATIVE TO HELP STUDENTS. 
          >> IN FEBRUARY, WE PRESENTED THIS TO ALMOST 200 STAFF MEMBERS AND SHARE HOW IMPORTANT THIS TIME IS FOR US. 
          OUR HOPE IS THAT THE BIRD BLOCK WILL HELP ENCOURAGE TEACHERS TO USE THE TIME AS IT IS INTENDED TO HELP STUDENTS STAY ON TRACK AND BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. 
          >> I WANT TO CLOSE WITH A THANK YOU TO MRS. BLANTON FOR HER WILLINGNESS TO LISTEN AND EMPOWER OUR STUDENTS. 
          I'M SO GRATEFUL TO BE A PART OF CIS AS THE WORK TO LIFT UP STUDENTS ASSETS AND CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR KIDS TO REALLY SHINE. 
          THANK YOU TO THE SCHOOL BOARD FOR GIVING US THIS TIME AND THIS PLATFORM TO SHOWCASE HOW THESE STUDENTS USE THEIR STRENGTHS TO MAKE AN IMPACT AT BIRD. 
          I HAVE BEEN IMPRESSED BY THEIR COMMITMENT TO ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF THEIR PEERS TO HELP ENHANCE THEIR SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT. 
          TO ME, THIS SPEAKS TO THEIR POTENTIAL AS FUTURE LEADERS AND CHANGE MAKERS. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. [APPLAUSE] 
          >> THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR COMING. 
          BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? MRS. CHATTERS. 
          >> OF COURSE, THESE ARE MY SKYHAWKS IN FRONT OF ME, AND YOU GUYS DID AMAZING. 
          VERY WELL DONE, VERY WELL PRESENTED. 
          I LOVE THE IDEA OF KEEPING ACCOUNTABILITY BOTH WAYS. 
          YOU WANT TO KEEP IT WHAT IT WAS INTENDED, SO THAT'S THE TEACHERS PART, AND THEN YOU MADE YOUR STUDENTS ACCOUNTABLE FOR ACTUALLY DOING SOMETHING PRODUCTIVE DURING BIRD BLOCK. 
          I APPRECIATE THE EFFORT THAT WENT INTO IT AND GREAT JOB. 
          >> SERGEANT. 
          >> YOU GUYS DID A GREAT JOB. 
          THAT WAS FANTASTIC. 
          I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE EVER SPOKEN IN PUBLIC BEFORE, BUT YOU DID REALLY GREAT JOB. 
          I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF RIDING ON THE BUS. 
          THE CIS BUS THE OTHER DAY, I HAVE NEW FRIEND OVER HERE STEPHANIE, AND OF COURSE, THE WHOLE TEAM. 
          WHAT YOU GUYS DO IS UNMATCHED. 
          ISN'T IT REALLY IMPORTANT CIS? IT'S INCREDIBLE. 
          DO YOU HAVE THAT REALLY COOL ZEN ROOM? IT'S COMING, I GUESS. NEVER MIND. 
          ANYWAY, IT'S SO SWEET. 
          IT'S SO SPECIAL, WHAT THEY DO AND THE WAY THAT YOU GUYS ARE GIVING BACK. 
          THAT'S INCREDIBLE. 
          HAVE YOU ALL HEARD ANY POSITIVE COMMENT FROM OTHER CLASSMATES, OTHER KIDS IN THE SCHOOL? ARE THEY LIKE YES. THAT'S AWESOME. 
          THANK YOU GUYS FOR DOING THAT. 
          WELL DONE YOU. MS. ASHLEY, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU GUYS DO IS SUCH A GREAT JOB. THANK YOU. 
          >> MR. PARANTO. 
          >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. FUTURE LEADERS STANDING RIGHT HERE IN FRONT OF THE BOARD. 
          [01:35:01]
THERE ARE ADULTS THAT WILL COME UP HERE. 
          THERE MIGHT BE PUBLIC SPEAKING AND THEY'RE JUST NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THAT. 
          THAT'S FINE. WE UNDERSTAND THAT. 
          BUT YOU SPOKE CONFIDENTLY AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT YOUR PASSION WAS AND WHAT YOU WANTED TO RELAY. 
          I WANT TO COMMEND YOU FOR THAT. 
          I HOPE THROUGH THIS EXPERIENCE AND HOPEFULLY MANY MORE FOR YOU IN THE DAYS, WEEKS AND YEARS TO COME, NOT ONLY IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, BUT WHEREVER LIFE TAKES YOU. 
          IT'S THESE MOMENTS HERE THAT YOU LOOK BACK UPON. 
          IF YOU EVER DOUBT YOUR ABILITY TO BE A LEADER. 
          THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU HAVE DONE WITH THIS. 
          BECAUSE NOT EVERYONE IS GOING TO STAND UP HERE AND PRESENT TO THE BOARD, AND NOT EVERYONE IS GOING TO PUT A PASSION OF THEIRS INTO MOTION TO SEE THE FAVORABLE RESULTS, AND THEN THEY GET THE FEEDBACK FROM YOUR PEERS IN REGARDS TO THAT. 
          THAT CAN BE SCARY TO HEAR THINGS THAT MAYBE YOU DIDN'T WANT TO HEAR. 
          BUT IF THERE'S POSITIVE STUFF, OBVIOUSLY, EVERYONE WANTS TO HEAR THAT. 
          I JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO KEEP DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING. 
          CONGRATULATIONS. 
          >> MRS. HEFFRON. 
          >> I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION. 
          A QUICK SHOW OF HANDS. 
          HOW MANY OF YOU PLAN TO GO INTO POLICY MAKING WHEN YOU'RE AN ADULT BECAUSE YOU'RE DOING IT? YOU'RE LISTENING TO YOUR CONSTITUENCY, AND YOU'RE MAKING THINGS HAPPEN, YOU'RE AMAZING, AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT YOU DO NEXT. 
          >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          [APPLAUSE] 
          >> BEFORE OUR LAST PRESENTATION, I JUST WANT TO ECHO THE COMMENTS THAT YOU ALL SHARED. THANK YOU. 
          I WANT TO THANK OUR CHILDREN FOR REMAINING FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF TO HAVE THEIR TIME TO SHINE. 
          THIS EVENING JUST FEELS LIKE IT CONTINUES TO GIVE BECAUSE KIDS HAVE BEEN ON FULL DISPLAY IN THEIR TALENTS. 
          I LOVE MY JOB MORE THAN WHEN I WALKED IN THIS EVENING. 
          IT'S BECAUSE OF KIDS LIKE THAT, BUT I THINK YOU CAN ALSO SEE WHY WE COMMIT IN OUR BUDGET EACH YEAR TO MATCHING ASHLEY'S SITE EXPANSION VISION BECAUSE WE NEED MORE CIS PROGRAMS, POSITIVELY INFLUENCING OUR STUDENTS IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 
          THANK YOU TO HER AND ALL OF OUR CIS COORDINATORS AND STAFF. 
          MADAM CHAIR, THE LAST PRESENTATION, WELL, I GUESS YOU'RE ABOUT TO KILL THE MOOCH SHON ON OUR 2025 LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM. 
          >> TRYING TO SOAK IN THAT RECOGNITION FROM DR. MURRAY HERE FOR A SECOND. 
          WHERE DID I GO FROM HERE? MADAM CHAIR BOARD MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE YOU ANOTHER UPDATE ON THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION. 
          AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS REGARDING THE WORK FROM THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 
          WHAT I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT TONIGHT IS LEGISLATIVE DRIVEN WITH THAT. 
          WITH THIS SHORT SESSION, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, IT WAS A SHORT SESSION. 
          WE TRACKED CLOSE TO ALMOST 300 BILLS EDUCATION RELATED. 
          AS YOU KNOW PUT TOGETHER AN EXCEL DRIVEN TRACKER FOR THE LEGISLATION, WHICH I THINK WAS A GOOD CHANGE OBVIOUSLY FOR OUR EFFORTS THIS YEAR. 
          WHAT I'VE DONE TODAY AND COMPLETED, AND YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU AND WE POSTED ON BOARD DOCS LATE THIS MORNING IS AN ACTUAL PUBLICATION. 
          WE SHARED THIS TODAY WITH OUR PRINCIPALS AS WELL. 
          WE POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE, MAKE IT AVAILABLE TO THE COMMUNITY TO SEE NOT JUST THE IMPACTS ON OUR SCHOOL DIVISION, BUT SOME LARGER EMPHASIS FROM THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FROM THIS SESSION. 
          THE GOVERNOR HAS, AS YOU KNOW, UNTIL MARCH 25 TO ACT ON LEGISLATION, ACTION MEETING, SIGNING, AMENDING OR VETOING LEGISLATION. 
          THAT DOES INCLUDE THE BUDGET. 
          THE VETO SESSION IS APRIL 2. 
          FROM THAT SESSION, I'LL PREPARE AN ADDITIONAL UPDATE TO THIS PUBLICATION WITH REGARDS TO ACTIONS THAT THE GOVERNOR MAY TAKE. 
          FROM THERE, OBVIOUSLY, THE WORK THE BOARD WILL TAKE IS LOOKING CLOSELY AT OUR POLICIES WE HAVE IN PLACE. 
          A LOT OF LEGISLATION IS DRIVEN FOR JULY IMPLEMENTATION, NOT ALL OF THAT IS, BUT MOST OF IT IS, AND WE'LL HAVE TO ADAPT OUR POLICIES WHERE IT IS REQUIRED. 
          LOOKING THOUGH AT THIS PUBLICATION, I'LL WALK YOU THROUGH SOME HIGHLIGHTS WITH THAT. 
          FIRST OF ALL, IN THE BEGINNING OF THE PUBLICATION, REALLY TALKS ABOUT THE BUDGET DEAL, AND OBVIOUSLY, THAT'S PART OF THE GOVERNOR'S ACTIONS HE MUST TAKE. 
          AGAIN, AS WE RECALL, A COUPLE OF HIGHLIGHTS FROM THAT ARE THE THOUSAND DOLLAR BONUS. 
          I WILL SAY THAT GENERAL ASSEMBLY DID HERE FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME IN QUITE SOME TIME THE CALL FROM LOCALITIES THAT THERE WAS NO LOCAL MATCH THAT WAS REQUIRED. 
          OBVIOUSLY, WE DO KNOW FROM OUR LOCALITY, THOUGH IT'S JUST PROVIDING FUNDING FOR THE INSTRUCTIONAL POSITIONS. 
          THE BOARD HAS TAKEN A LARGER APPROACH AND LOOKING AT THOSE FUNDS IMPACTS IT HAS ON ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES, BUT WE ARE THANKFUL THAT JONES DID NOT REQUIRE A LOCAL MATCH FOR THAT. 
          [01:40:03]
ANOTHER BIG SUCCESS WAS THE FUNDING OF THE SUPPORT CAP THAT'S BEEN IN PLACE SINCE THE RECESSION OF 2008. 
          WE'VE ADVOCATED FOR THAT CONSISTENTLY, AND WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE THAT IN PLACE. 
          ONE OTHER HIGHLIGHT IS RECOGNITION THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MAY IN FACT HAVE A SPECIAL SESSION AT SOME POINT IN TIME TO DEAL WITH WHICH IS THE UNKNOWN FROM MANY IMPACTS ON THE BUDGET FROM WHAT'S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON, DC AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. 
          WE DON'T HAVE ANY SPECIAL INFORMATION WITH REGARDS TO IMPACTS ON OUR BUDGET. 
          THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS PUT IN PLACE TWO DIFFERENT COMMITTEES FROM THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES AND THEN FROM THE SENATE AS WELL THAT WILL LOOK AT ANYTHING THAT'S COMING FORWARD. 
          RIGHT NOW THEY'VE HAD ONE MEETING, BUT IT'S LARGELY BEEN FOUNDATIONAL ABOUT THE IMPACTS REALLY FROM THE WORKFORCE IMPACTS IT WOULD HAVE FROM WASHINGTON, DC AS THERE'S BEEN SOME CUTS PUT IN PLACE AND WHAT IMPACTS THOSE THINGS WOULD HAVE ON THE VIRGINIA'S ECONOMY. 
          NOTHING SPECIFIC EDUCATION WISE JUST YET, BUT CERTAINLY THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'LL BE TRACKING ALONG THE WAY. 
          AS I MENTIONED AT THE LAST MEETING, ANOTHER SECTION WAS WITH REGARD TO LEGISLATION FROM ASSESSMENTS. 
          THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION HAS PUT IN PLACE AN ASSESSMENT SYSTEM. 
          THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS SHOWN FROM TIME TO TIME DIFFERENCE OF OPINION ON SOME OF THE EFFORTS THERE, AND WE'LL WAIT TO SEE WHAT THE GOVERNOR DOES WITH SOME OF THE LEGISLATION. 
          SOME OF IT HAS DELAYED ENACTMENTS IN THERE, AND CERTAINLY THE GOVERNOR WILL HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT TO RECONCILE. 
          WE ASSUME RECONCILE IT IN FAVOR OF WHAT HIS STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION HAS DONE, AND LARGELY THE WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING IN OUR DIVISION TO PUT THOSE THINGS IN PLACE BECAUSE THEY ARE TIMELINE DRIVEN, AND WE'VE HAD TO PUT THOSE THINGS IN PLACE IMMEDIATELY. 
          THERE'S TOPICS IN THERE WITH REGARDS TO KOREAN TYPE OF EDUCATION. 
          CHAD MACKLIN HAS DONE A WONDERFUL JOB AND ALREADY TRACKING A LOT OF THINGS. 
          WHEN I WENT TO CHAD TO SHOW HIM SOME OF THE BILLS, HE SAID HE HAD THOSE THINGS ON HIS LIST, WHICH HE ALWAYS DOES. 
          COLLECTIVE BARGAINING HAS NOT BEEN A TOPIC NECESSARILY IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PROPER. 
          BUT THE GENERAL CONTINUES TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS WITH REGARDS TO THAT. 
          WE WILL WAIT TO SEE IF THE GOVERNOR DOES ON THAT LEGISLATION. 
          FREEDOM INFORMATION ACT CONTINUES TO BE A TOPIC OF CONVERSATION KNOWING THAT OBVIOUSLY OUR LEGAL TEAM HANDLES THAT FOR OUR SCHOOL DIVISION. 
          CERTAINLY UNDERSTANDING, A LOT OF LEGISLATION THAT PASSED THERE IS DEALING WITH TRAINING. 
          BUT ALSO CERTAINLY THERE'S THAT BALANCE, WE ALWAYS TRY TO STRIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE BEING TRANSPARENT AS A SCHOOL DIVISION AS A LOCALITY. 
          UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE ARE SOME COSTS THAT ARE INVOLVED WITH REGARDS TO CALLING THOSE RECORDS. 
          LARGELY FOR OUR SCHOOL DIVISION, A LOT OF INVOLVES REDACTION WITH REGARDS TO STUDENT RECORDS AND THE REQUIREMENTS WE HAVE UPON US FOR THAT. 
          IN THE HEALTH SECTION, THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT HEALTH LEGISLATION THAT WAS PASSED THIS YEAR. 
          I'LL END IN THIS SECTION WITH A HIGHLIGHT. 
          A COUPLE OF THINGS TO NOTE IS THERE IS LEGISLATION WITH REGARDS TO HEAT ILLNESS. 
          THAT'S LARGELY REQUIRED UPON US TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO FAMILIES AND TO COACHES. 
          THERE'S ALSO LEGISLATION WITH REGARDS TO CARDIAC EMERGENCY OR EMERGENCY ACTION PLANS THAT ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE IN PLACE. 
          THE THIRD PIECE IS HOUSE BILL 1,700 WHICH DEALS WITH BLEEDING CONTROL PROGRAMS, WHICH ESSENTIALLY BLEEDING CONTROL KITS, WHICH ARE REQUIRED UPON OUR SCHOOL DIVISION. 
          WE ALREADY STARTED TO WORK CLOSELY WITH HEATHER SNYDER AND OUR NURSES IMPLEMENTING THOSE PIECES. 
          I WOULD NOTE THERE WAS SENATE BILL 799, WHICH IS WITH REGARD TO THE SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICES COMMITTEE. 
          THAT'S A COMMITTEE I'VE REFERENCED A LOT, OBVIOUSLY IN MY PRESENTATIONS TO THE SCHOOL BOARD. 
          THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DID A PRETTY GOOD JOB, SAVE A COUPLE OF BILLS, BUT A PRETTY GOOD JOB IN USING THIS COMMITTEE, WE'VE ADVOCATED IN THE PAST TO UTILIZE THAT COMMITTEE WHEN THERE IS HEALTH RELATED LEGISLATION, THAT IT GOES TO THIS COMMITTEE THAT IT LOOKS TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPACTS ON SCHOOL DIVISION, LARGELY THE IMPACTS FINANCIALLY. 
          THERE WAS A LEGISLATION TO CONTINUE THAT FOR ANOTHER THREE YEARS, THAT COMMITTEE AND WE'RE EXCITED TO FOLLOW THAT COMMITTEE AND THEIR WORK, THEY DO HAVE A NUMBER OF BILLS THAT REFERRED TO THEM FROM THIS SESSION, LOOKING AT THE IMPACTS IT'S GOING TO HAVE ON SCHOOL DIVISIONS, AND WE ANTICIPATE CERTAINLY THAT WE'LL HAVE A PRESENCE FROM OUR SCHOOL DIVISION IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS. 
          ANOTHER HIGHLIGHTS WITH REGARDS TO NOTIFICATIONS THAT ARE REQUIRED. 
          THE NOTIFICATION PIECES THAT ARE REQUIRED UPON US ALREADY, SOME NEW ONES THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS SOUGHT TO PUT UPON US. 
          ONE I WOULD NOTE IS THAT THERE'S ONE BILL WITH REGARDS TO PARENT NOTIFICATION WITH REGARDS TO FIREARMS WITHIN THE HOUSEHOLD. 
          YOU MAY RECALL THAT LAST SESSION, SIMILAR BILL PASSED, THE GOVERNOR VETOED THAT BILL, SO WE'LL BE TRACKING THAT PIECE. 
          TWO OTHER THINGS TO NOTE WITH REGARDS TO NOTIFICATION FOR IMMINENT RISK OF SUICIDE. 
          ANECDOTALA, WILL SAY THERE'S THINGS THAT WERE ALREADY DOING IN OUR SCHOOL DIVISION. 
          THE NEXT PIECE IS WITH REGARDS TO OVERDOSE NOTIFICATIONS PARENT NOTIFICATIONS. 
          THERE WILL HAVE TO BE SOME RECONCILIATION WITH REGARDS TO THE LEGISLATION THAT'S PASSED, 
          [01:45:01]
WHAT'S ALREADY REQUIRED UPON US. 
          ESSENTIALLY, BIG PICTURE, WHAT'S REQUIRED UPON US IS A NOTIFICATION TO EVERYONE IN OUR SCHOOL DIVISION. 
          ACTUALLY, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY PASSED LEGISLATION NARROWING THAT NOTIFICATION SO IT WOULD JUST BE TO A PARTICULAR SCHOOL THAT'S IMPACTED. 
          AGAIN, THAT'S CERTAINLY ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF SOMETHING WE'RE LOOKING TO SEE SOME RECONCILIATION FROM THE GOVERNOR. 
          I WOULD NOTE THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF RESOLUTIONS PASSED THIS GENERAL SUM SESSION. 
          WE CONTINUALLY HAVE AN ACTIVE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION. 
          A HIGHLIGHT OF THAT REALLY WAS SOME WORK DONE WITH REGARD TO COMMITTING BONAIRE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN THE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY. 
          THEY HAVE A CELEBRATION COMING UP, AND I THINK MS. HUDGINS PLANED TO ATTEND AS WELL AS MAYBE DR. HI AND THAT CELEBRATION AT THE END OF MARCH, AND THAT WE ANTICIPATE BOTH DELEGATE JONES AND SENATOR SERVANT MAY BE THERE TO PRESENT THAT RESOLUTION. 
          ON THE FRONT OF SAFETY REQUIREMENTS. 
          A COUPLE OF THINGS TO PASS. 
          I WOULD NOTE ANECDOTALLY, THERE IS ONE THING THAT WE'VE ACTUALLY ADVOCATED FOR FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND CERTAINLY THROUGH THE WORK OF ERNIE LONGWORTH. 
          SENATE BILL 1,124, IT DEALS WITH DRIVER EDUCATION PROGRAMS. WE'VE ADVOCATED THAT THERE BE AN ONLINE PROVISION WITH REGARD TO DRIVER EDUCATION CLASSROOM TRAINING. 
          FOR THE FIRST TIME THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DID PASS THAT LEGISLATION. 
          WE'RE ANXIOUS TO SEE THAT SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR. 
          WE THINK THAT WILL ALLOW OUR FAMILIES AN ADDITIONAL AVENUE TO COMPLETE THAT REQUIREMENT. 
          UNDERNEATH SCHOOL BUILDING FACILITIES, I WOULD NOTE THAT SENATE BILL 1,307 IS A BILL THAT'S BEEN PASSED. 
          IT DEALS WITH LOCAL SALES AND USE TAX. 
          OBVIOUSLY, OUR SCHOOL BOARD DOESN'T HAVE THAT CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY TO PASS THAT. 
          BUT WHAT IT DOES ALLOW IS IT AUTHORIZES COUNTIES AND CITIES TO IMPOSE AN ADDITIONAL LOCAL SALES AND USE TAX AT A RATE NOT TO EXCEED 1%, AND THAT WOULD GO TOWARDS SCHOOL CAPITAL PROJECTS. 
          LAST YEAR, THIS BILL DID PASS THE GOVERNOR VETOED. 
          LOCALITIES GENERALLY HAVE ASKED FOR THAT THEY HAVE A TOOL AND TOOLBOX. 
          THEY'VE NOT COMMITTED TO UTILIZING THAT IF THEY NEED TO, BUT CERTAINLY WE'LL BE TRACKING THAT PIECE, UNDERSTANDING THAT COULD POTENTIALLY PROVIDE NOTWITHSTANDING THE REQUIREMENTS UPON THE LOCALITY FOR THE REFERENDUM, BUT CERTAINLY THAT MAY PROVIDE US SOME ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR SCHOOL CAPITAL PROJECTS. 
          A COUPLE OF QUICK THINGS JUST TO HIGHLIGHT IS STAFFING AND TRAINING. 
          A COUPLE OF THINGS WERE PASSED. 
          I WOULD NOTE THAT ONE OF THE TOP BILLS THERE IS HOUSE BILL 1626, WHICH DEALS WITH TRAININGS THAT ARE REQUIRED FOR NON ACADEMIC TRAINING ACTIVITIES. 
          THAT'S FOR TEACHERS THAT ANYTHING THAT'S REQUIRED NON ACADEMIC TRAINING. 
          THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAD A PERSPECTIVE, WHICH WE STRONGLY SUPPORTED AND THAT WE LOOKED CLOSELY AT ALL THE TRAININGS ARE REQUIRED UPON OUR EMPLOYEES AND THEY SUPPORTED THAT PIECE. 
          I WILL NOTE THAT IN LOOKING AT THE LEGISLATION THEY DID PASS, THERE ARE SOME CONCERNS WITH SOME OF THE LANGUAGE THAT'S INVOLVED IN THE TRAINING PIECES AND WHETHER OR NOT ACTUALLY WILL DO WHAT THEY STRIVE TO HAVE DONE. 
          I KNOW THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE IS LOOKING AT THAT LEGISLATION TO SEE HOW THEY CAN RECONCILE BOTH THE INTENT OF THAT AND ALSO WHAT'S WRITTEN DOWN OBVIOUSLY ON PAPER, WHICH DIDN'T GO AS FAR AS WE THOUGHT IT WOULD. 
          ONE OTHER HIGHLIGHT IS ACTUALLY A LITTLE BIT RANDOM, BUT ALSO IN A POSITIVE WAY, AND IT'S HOUSE BILL 1993, WHICH PROVIDES FOR THE FIRST TIME, AND I SAY THE FIRST TIME, THIS BILL HAS BEEN INTRODUCED YEAR AFTER YEAR AND IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN KILLED, BUT IT ALLOWS FOR THE DISPLAY OF ADVERTISING ON SCHOOL BUSES. 
          ESSENTIALLY, IT ALLOW YOU ESSENTIALLY TO HAVE AN ADVERTISEMENT. 
          NOW I'LL TELL YOU UP FRONT, IT'S A PRETTY NOMINAL PIECE. 
          IT'S LIKE A TEN BY TEN PIECE. 
          BUT CERTAINLY I THINK YOU'D HAVE TO BE RIGHT UP ON THE BUS TO SEE IT. 
          BUT CERTAINLY IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE'D WANT TO PURSUE, OBVIOUSLY, TO HAVE ANOTHER POTENTIAL ASSET TO OBVIOUSLY ADVERTISE TO THOSE WHO MAY SEEK EMPLOYMENT WITH OUR SCHOOL DIVISION. 
          THE LAST PIECE THAT I'LL HIGHLIGHT, WHICH I MENTIONED IN OUR LAST BOARD PRESENTATION IS THE HOUSE BILL 2201 AND SENATE BILL 1230, WHICH DEALS WITH THE EXTENSION OF 90-180 TEACHING DAYS FOR THOSE WHO MAY BE ABLE TO TEMPORARILY EMPLOYED IN A SCHOOL DIVISION. 
          AS I MENTIONED LAST TIME WHEN I PRESENTED, WE'RE LOOKING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THAT LEGISLATION. 
          OUR LARGEST PIECE, AS YOU KNOW, IS THAT WE DO HAVE A QUALIFIED PERSON IN FRONT OF EACH OF OUR STUDENTS. 
          THIS IS CERTAINLY A LAST RESORT FOR OUR SCHOOL DIVISION. 
          WE DO HAVE SOME WELL QUALIFIED FOLKS WHO ARE FILLING THOSE ROLES, BUT WE WANT TO SEE THIS AT LEAST EXTENDED FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. 
          THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT THEY PUT IN PLACE BACK INTO THE COVID DAYS. 
          BUT CERTAINLY AS WE STILL HAVE A NEED FOR TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOM. 
          OBVIOUSLY, IF THAT WAS TO GO AWAY IMMEDIATELY, 
          [01:50:02]
WE'D HAVE A VERY IMMEDIATE IMPACT TO THE TUNE OF 200 POSITIONS THAT WOULD IMPACT US THAT WOULD GO AWAY. 
          WE'RE CONTINUED TO ADVOCATE FOR THAT LEGISLATION TO PASS. 
          THE LAST PIECE IS WITH REGARDS TO STUDENT CONDUCT. 
          AS I MENTIONED LAST TIME, WE'RE GOING TO LOOK CLOSELY AT OUR CELL PHONE POLICY, DEPENDING ON HOW THE GOVERNOR DOES ACT ON THE LEGISLATION THERE, AND WE'LL BRING THAT BACK OBVIOUSLY TO THE BOARD, AND THAT'LL BE AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION. 
          I'LL PAUSE THERE AND SAY I'VE COVERED A LOT OF GROUND VERY QUICKLY ABOUT SOME GENERAL HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE LEGISLATION PIECE. 
          AGAIN, FROM THIS PRESENTATION, I'LL COME BACK IN APRIL, GIVE HIGHLIGHTS FROM WHAT'S HAPPENED TO VETO SESSION. 
          WE'VE PUT THIS ALREADY IN FRONT OF OUR PRINCIPALS TODAY. 
          THEY CAN BEGIN TO DIGESTING SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT'S THERE. 
          OBVIOUSLY, I'LL COME BACK TO YOU THROUGH MY WORK IN THE POLICY FRONT IN YOUR JUNE MEETING TO ADOPT ANY POLICIES THAT WE NEED TO HAVE IN PLACE FOR JULY 1 AND CERTAINLY CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF OUR SCHOOL DIVISION. 
          I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. 
          >> THANK YOU, MR. SMITH. 
          BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? MS. HEFFRON. 
          >> I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THIS. 
          I KNOW YOU WERE JOKING, BUT THIS IS A PHENOMENAL TOOL FOR ME AND I SUPPOSE FOR ANYBODY ELSE. 
          THIS IS GREAT TO HAVE. 
          THE EXCEL SHEET IS HELPFUL, BUT THIS REALLY HELPS CONTEXTUALIZE IT. 
          YOU SAID THERE 300 PROPOSED BILLS THAT JUST IN THE SESSION SO THIS IS WONDERFUL, AND I APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR TEAM THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS PUT INTO THIS. 
          I'M GOING TO READ THIS AND I'M GOING TO STUDY IT. 
          I'M GOING TO COMPLETELY WALK OUT ON IT. 
          IT'S GOOD. THANKS. 
          >> THANK YOU. I WOULD NOTE THE ONLINE VERSION. 
          THEY HAVE LINKS THERE FOR THE LEGISLATION SO IF YOU CLICK ON THAT, IT TAKES YOU RIGHT TO THE BILL TOO, SO IT'S A GOOD RESOURCE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          >> OH, SORRY, MS. HUDGINS. 
          >> I JUST WANT TO SAY, I LOVE THE WAY THIS IS STRUCTURED. 
          IT IS EASILY ACCESSIBLE. 
          I DON'T WANT TO EXACTLY SAY WHAT MS. HEFFRON SAID, BUT IT IS VERY WELL STRUCTURED. 
          SOMETIMES I FORGET TO READ TITLES AND THINGS AND YOU WERE ABLE TO NAVIGATE ME THROUGH IT EVEN DESPITE MYSELF SO THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. 
          >> NEXT, WE HAVE ACTION ITEMS. MR. CARSON. 
          [F. Action Items]
          >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DR. MURRAY. 
          YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU MEMO NUMBER 039-25? THIS IS FOR THE THREE SCHOOL ELECTRICAL GEAR REPLACEMENT CONTRACT AWARD. 
          THE THREE SCHOOLS ARE SALEM CHURCH MIDDLE SCHOOL, RUBY MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND CARVER CAREER ACADEMY. 
          TWO BIDS WERE RECEIVED BY THE CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PROCUREMENT DEPARTMENT ON JANUARY 30TH OF THIS YEAR FOR THIS PROJECT. 
          THE LOW BID OF THE TWO WAS FOR 1.64, ONE MILLION DOLLARS TO TRIAD ELECTRICAL SOLUTIONS FOR THIS EFFORT. 
          THEY HAVE BEEN DETERMINED TO BE THE LOWEST RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE BIDDER FOR THIS EFFORT, AND AN AWARD RECOMMENDATION HAS BEEN MADE FOR TRIAD BY THE SCHOOLS ARCHITECT ENGINEER, DEWBERRY ENGINEERS. 
          THERE IS NO FISCAL IMPACT TO THE OVERALL MAJOR MAINTENANCE PROJECT OR EFFORT BY AWARDING THIS PROJECT TO TRIAD. 
          THERE ARE AMPLE FUNDS AVAILABLE IN THE MAJOR MAINTENANCE KEY FOR THIS EFFORT. 
          WITH YOUR PASSAGE THIS EVENING, WE HOPE TO GET TO WORK ON THIS PROJECT IN THE SUMMER OF 2026. 
          YOU MAY ASK WHY 2026. 
          EQUIVALENT OF THIS TYPE IS VERY LONG LEAD, GENERALLY TAKES BETWEEN 12-18 MONTHS TO PROCURE AND GET ON SITE. 
          WE TEND TO PLAN FOR THESE PROJECTS ROUGHLY 18-24 MONTHS IN ADVANCE. 
          WE'VE GOT A LOT MORE COMING. 
          STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR TO AWARD THIS CONTRACT TO TRIAD ELECTRICAL SOLUTIONS FOR SID PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,641,103 AND TO APPROVE ANY NECESSARY CHANGE ORDERS UP TO THE FULL BUDGETED AMOUNT FOR THIS PROJECT, AND SO END IF THE MEMO. 
          >> THANK YOU, MR. CARSON. 
          BOARD MEMBERS, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE MEMO NUMBER 039-25 AS PRESENTED. 
          [01:55:01]
          >> SO MOVED. 
          >> IS THERE A SECOND? 
          >> SECOND. 
          >> BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? THERE HAS BEEN A MOTION IN A SECOND. 
          MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL ROLL ON THE MOTION. 
          >> DOT HEFFRON. 
          >> AYE. 
          >> DOMINIQUE CHATTERS. 
          >> AYE. 
          >> STEVEN PARANTO. 
          >> AYE. 
          >> LISA HUDGINS. 
          >> ANN COKER. 
          >> AYE. 
          >> MEMO NUMBER 039-25 IS APPROVED. 
          NEXT, WE HAVE ITEMS FOR BOARD REVIEW. 
          [G. Items for Board Review]
MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ THE ITEMS FOR THIS EVENING? 
          >> MADAM CHAIR TONIGHT'S AGENDA INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING ITEMS FOR BOARD REVIEW. 
          NUMBER 1, MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT IMPROVEMENT FUNDS, FY-2025. 
          NUMBER 2, FY-2025, JANUARY EXPENDITURES VERSUS APPROPRIATIONS. 
          NUMBER 3, BUDGET CHANGE REQUEST, SUMMARY ACROSS CATEGORIES, JANUARY 20, 2025. 
          NUMBER 4, BUDGET COMMITTEE REPORTS, AND NUMBER 5, PRE K UPDATE, JANUARY 2025, AND NUMBER 6, FY-2025 QUARTERLY BUDGET REVIEW MID YEAR. 
          >> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. NEXT, WE HAVE THIS EVENING SUPERINTENDENT'S REMARKS, DR. MURRAY. 
          [H. Superintendent's Remarks]
          >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. 
          JUST A HANDFUL OF ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND UPDATES. 
          FIRST OF ALL, TO THE COMMUNITY THAT'S TUNING IN, A REMINDER THAT WE ARE MOVING, CONSOLIDATING BOTH OF OUR CENTRAL OFFICE SPACES TO THE SPRING LINE DRIVE SITE, A VERY EXTENSIVE AND COMPREHENSIVE EFFORT THAT BEGAN THE MOVE PROPER YESTERDAY. 
          I WANT TO THANK JOSH AND SCOTT AND THE REST OF THE TEAM THAT'S HELPING OUT FOR THAT VERY COORDINATED EFFORT. 
          TO THE COMMUNITY, HOWEVER, OUR PHONE NUMBERS WILL BE CHANGING IF YOU'RE USED TO CONTACTING SOME CENTRAL OFFICE PERSONNEL, FOR INSTANCE, AT KRAUS ROAD, YOU WILL BE GREETED WITH A VOICEMAIL THAT WILL GIVE YOU THE NEW PHONE NUMBER TO MAKE ANY SUCH TRANSITIONS A LITTLE MORE PAINLESS FOR THE COMMUNITY. 
          WORTH A BIG FOOTNOTE HERE. 
          PROBABLY THE ACTUAL HEADLINE OF US MOVING IS IT WILL GIVE WAY TO A RENOVATION OF THE UPSTAIRS AT CTC AT HOLE, WHICH WILL ALLOW 650 NEW SEATS TO SUPPORT OUR AWARD WINNING PROGRAM THERE, SO WE'RE CERTAINLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. 
          KIM WOULD WANT ME TO MENTION THAT WE'RE ALSO HIRING FOR BASICALLY ANY AND ALL POSITIONS. 
          WE'VE GOT SEVERAL UPCOMING JOB FAIRS, SO PLEASE CONSIDER OR REFER. 
          THE VDOE RECENTLY SHARED THEIR MEMO OR PERTAINING TO FLEXIBLE LEARNING. 
          THIS ALLOWS US TO RECLAIM ABSENCES IN EXCHANGE FOR IN PERSON LEARNING. 
          THREE HOURS OF MAKEUP TIME, EQUALS ONE LESS ABSENCE ON A STUDENT'S RECORD THIS YEAR. 
          AS WE CONSIDER CHRONO CAPS AND TISM AND HOW WE COMBAT IT, THIS IS ONE SUCH WAY THAT WE'VE ASKED SCHOOLS TO BEGIN PLANNING. 
          FAMILIES BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR HOW WE CAN MORE INTENTIONALLY THAN A REMOTE LEARNING DAY, MAKE UP SOME INSTRUCTIONAL TIME WHILE REMOVING ABSENCES ALONG THE WAY. 
          MR. MESSER AND I WILL PRESENT TOMORROW AT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING, OUR BUDGET TO THEM, ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THEY MAY HAVE. 
          I THINK WE THOUGHT WE MIGHT BE OFF THE PRESENTATION CAROUSEL, BUT ALAS, WE ARE NOT, BUT EXCITED TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH OUR COUNTY FRIENDS TOMORROW. 
          EXCITING NEWS, PROBABLY STEALING SOME THUNDER HERE. 
          BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? I DON'T CARE TONIGHT. 
          I'M GOING TO REGRET THAT I SAID THAT, BUT I'LL LEAD OFF WITH MONKAN SWIM & DIVE. 
          NOW COMPLETED THE FOUR P, SIX OUT OF SEVEN YEARS. 
          THEIR SWIM & DIVE TEAM ARE THE STATE CHAMPIONS FOR CLASS 4, WHICH MEANS ANY SENIOR THAT PARTICIPATED SINCE THEIR FRESHMAN YEAR DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO COMPETE WITHOUT WINNING A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP. 
          IT'S PRETTY IMPRESSIVE. ALONG THE WAY, WE HAD SEVERAL STUDENTS COMPETING IN INDOOR TRACK OR WRESTLING, WHERE THEY EARNED INDIVIDUAL STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS, TOO MANY TO MENTION. 
          BUT WE ARE STILL IN CONTENTION FOR ANOTHER TEAM STATE CHAMPIONSHIP ON FRIDAY, MID AFTERNOON, MANCHESTER, THEIR GIRLS WILL DEFEND THEIR STATE CHAMPIONSHIP BASKETBALL TITLE. 
          [02:00:06]
WE'RE EXCITED FOR THEM. 
          THEN FINALLY, IN THE SPIRIT OF WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT REPRESENTATION AND LEADERSHIP MATTERS, AND 80% OF THIS BOARD ARE WONDERFUL PHENOMENAL LEADERS THAT ARE CREATING A LEGACY RIPPLE THAT WILL OUTLIVE YOUR LIFETIME. 
          THANK YOU FOR THE IMPACTFUL WORK YOU DO. 
          STEVE, I'M SURE I'LL FIND SOME TIME LATER IN ANOTHER MONTH TO RECOGNIZE YOU. 
          BUT TONIGHT, THANK YOU, DOT, LISA, ANN AND DOMINIQUE. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. 
          >> THANK YOU, DR. MURRAY. NEXT, WE HAVE ANNOUNCEMENTS, 
          [I. Announcements, Communications, and School Board Comments]
COMMUNICATIONS AND SCHOOL BOARD COMMENTS. 
          SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS. ARE THERE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS OR COMMENTS THIS EVENING? MS. SHADERS. 
          >> JUST WANTED TO REMIND THOSE WHO ARE STILL LISTENING THAT THE TOWN HALL WITH OUR BOARD OF SUPERVISED REPRESENTATIVE IS ON MARCH 17TH AT 6:30 AT THE BULA REC CENTER, PLEASE COME AND ADVOCATE THERE FOR THE LOCAL DOLLARS BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE WE NEED YOUR VOICE. 
          THEN MY CALL TO ACTION FOR ANYBODY WHO IS STILL LISTENING IF YOU WANTED TO DO SOMETHING TO HELP GET OUR SCHOOLS FULLY FUNDED HERE IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, E MAIL YOUR GOVERNOR BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE ALL THESE BILLS ARE GOING NEXT. 
          JUST LET HIM KNOW THAT YOU SUPPORT PUBLIC EDUCATION AND YOU HOPE THAT HE CONTINUES TO DO THE SAME SO THAT WE CAN GET THE FUNDING THAT WE NEED IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO EXCELLENT WORK THAT OUR STAFF IS DOING WITH NOT THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF RESOURCES. 
          LET'S CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR THAT AND THAT IS ALL I HAVE. 
          >> HUDGINS. 
          >> IN SIMILAR VEIN, WE HAVE TOMORROW NIGHT AT 6:30 AT MANCHESTER MIDDLE SCHOOL. 
          IT IS THE MID LOTHIAN DISTRICT TOWN HALL FOR THE COUNTY BUDGET. 
          IF YOU HAVE ANY WORDS TO SAY, PLEASE COME AND SAY THEM, AND ALSO LISTEN. 
          IT'LL BE GREAT. THANK YOU. 
          >> MR. PARANTO. 
          >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MARCH 18TH AT 6:30, WILL BE THE MATOACA BUDGET TOWN HALL AT CTC AT THE WHOLE CAMPUS. 
          ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO COME OUT. 
          TO THAT, ALSO, I KNOW WE SPOKE ABOUT IT EARLIER, BUT I GOT TO BRAG BECAUSE MATOACA DISTRICT IS JUST DOING PHENOMENAL THINGS, AND WE'RE HIRING PHENOMENAL PEOPLE. 
          WHEN YOU CAN TAKE SOMEBODY FROM ONE SCHOOL, KNOWING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO WELL AND PUT THEM IN A BRAND NEW SCHOOL WITH ALL THE CONFIDENCE THAT WE HAVE. 
          I'M NOT SURE THAT CAN BE SAID JUST FOR ANYBODY. 
          DR. JONES HAS DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB AT GRANGE HALL. 
          WE LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT SHE'S GOING TO DO AT THE WESTERN AREA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO BE NAMED, AND ALSO AT MOSELEY ELEMENTARY WITH MS. PARNELL, REPLACING, AGAIN, ANOTHER PROMOTION FROM THE MATOACA DISTRICT, DR. DUBO WHO WAS PROMOTED INTO LEADERSHIP FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. 
          GREAT THINGS THERE, MATOACA I BELIEVE WE ALSO HAD SOME REALLY EXCITING THINGS GOING ON AT COSBY. 
          WE HAD A STATE WINNER IN COSBY AS WELL. 
          I DIDN'T HEAR YOU MENTION HER NAME, DR. MURRAY. 
          I'M GOING TO PUT YOU BACK ON THE SPOT. 
          >> YES, SIR. WHEN I MENTIONED THAT THERE WERE TOO MANY INDIVIDUAL STATE CHAMPIONS , ROLLED INTO THAT. [LAUGHTER] 
          >> I'LL LET THAT GO. WE'LL SAY THAT FOR ANOTHER TIME. 
          BUT JUST GREATLY APPRECIATE THE CONCERNED CITIZENS OF ERICH ATTENDED THEIR MEETING LAST NIGHT, AND THEY ARE EXCITED ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING AT SCL, BUT ARE ALSO LOOKING TO SEE HOW WE CAN MAKE THAT WORK IN THE MATOACA DISTRICT FOR OUR ERICH AND MATOACA COMMUNITIES. 
          MORE CONVERSATION WITH THIS BOARD TO HAVE ON THAT BECAUSE WE KNOW IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM AND WE WANT TO STRETCH THAT AS FAR AND AS WIDE AS WE CAN. 
          WITH THAT BEING SAID, THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. 
          >> MS. HEFFRON. 
          >> THANK YOU. UNSURPRISINGLY, CLOVER HILL IS ALSO HAVING A BUDGET TOWN HALL MEETING. 
          THAT'S ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19TH. 
          I WILL BE THERE ALONG WITH JESSICA SCHNEIDER, OUR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE CLOVER HILL DISTRICT. 
          I ALSO WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY, IF YOU ARE I WOULD SAY A CHESTERFIELD RESIDENT WITH MORE EXPERIENCE THAT YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET YOUR CHESTERFIELD CHAMPION CARD. 
          VERY EXCITING STUFF. 
          IT'S YOUR TICKET IN TO ALL OF THE WONDERFUL STUFF THAT YOU SAW TONIGHT THAT YOU SAW OUR STUDENTS DO. 
          THAT'S YOUR TICKET TO ENJOY THAT LIVE AND IN PERSON. 
          IN CASE YOU MISSED IT EARLIER, MATOACA HIGH SCHOOL, SWIM AND DIVE STAY CHAMPS. 
          [02:05:03]
          >> LAST, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST. 
          THE BERMUDA DISTRICT COUNTY TOWN HALL IS ON THURSDAY AT 6:00 PM AT THE CHESTER LIBRARY. 
          >> YES, DR. MURRAY. 
          >> I APOLOGIZE. MS. HUDGINS, YOU MENTIONED YOUR TOWN OR MID LOTHIAN TOWN HALL IS TOMORROW. 
          IT'S THURSDAY. 
          I KNOW IT FELT LIKE A LAWN DAY, BUT I DIDN'T WANT ANYBODY SHOWING UP AND YOU GETTING EMAILS THAT JOHN PHILLIPS WOULD BE RESPONDING TO. IT'S THURSDAY. 
          >> THURSDAY. 
          >> THE 13TH. 
          >> [INAUDIBLE] THOMAS DALE OR BERMUDA DISTRICT IS THE FOLLOWING THURSDAY ON MARCH 20TH, AND IT'S AT THE CHESTER LIBRARY, NOT AT THOMAS DALE. 
          SORRY. THEN I JUST WANT TO DO A SHOUT OUT TO THOMAS DALE'S SHOW CHOIR. 
          THEY WALKED AWAY WITH LOTS OF BLING FROM THE LATEST COMPETITION, VERY PROUD OF OUR NIGHTINGALES AT THOMAS DALE. 
          IN THAT AWESOME. GO AHEAD, MS. SHADERS. 
          >> I'M SORRY. I HAD ONE OTHER ALIBI. 
          FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVE RISING NINTH GRADERS, THIS IS THE WINDOW OF SPECIALTY CENTER ACCEPTANCE. 
          FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE GOING THROUGH IT FOR THE FIRST TIME OR NOT THE FIRST TIME, JUST SO THAT YOU'RE CALM. 
          YOU'RE GOING TO BE ON THE WAIT LIST, AND THAT'S OKAY. 
          THAT IS NOT A DENIAL. 
          YOU STILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET INTO THE SPECIALTY CENTER OF YOUR CHOICE. 
          THE DEADLINE TO ACCEPT IS MARCH 17TH. 
          WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IS IF YOUR CHILD HAS A WAIT LIST OPTION AND IT TURNS INTO AN ACCEPTANCE, THEY HAVE UNTIL MARCH 17TH TO SAY YES OR NO TO THAT PARTICULAR SCHOOL, AND ALSO THEY NEED TO BE SAYING YES OR NO TO THE WAIT LIST AS WELL. 
          THEN ONCE THAT PERIOD IS OVER, AS PEOPLE ROLL OFF OF THE WAIT LIST, THEN OPENINGS IF AFTER YOU SAY YES OR NO, THEN THAT'S WHEN OPENINGS OPEN UP. 
          JUST A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. 
          MY SON, WHO ONLY APPLIED TO ONE PLACE TO GIVE HIS MOTHER A HEART ATTACK. 
          HE GOT WAIT LISTED AND THEN HE GOT INTO HIS SCHOOL. 
          IT DOES HAPPEN. JUST RELAX. 
          IF YOU DON'T GET WHAT YOU WANT, JUST KNOW THAT WE HAVE A FABULOUS CTC THAT CAN GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE SOME OF THOSE CLASSES THAT YOU WANTED A SPECIALTY CENTER FOR. 
          PLEASE KEEP THAT IN MIND AS AN OPTION. 
          ALL OF MY PARENTS WHO ARE GOING INTO THE EIGHTH GRADE, START PAYING ATTENTION NOW TO WHAT THOSE THINGS ARE SO YOU CAN HELP BETTER LEVEL SET YOUR CHILD ON WHAT TO DO WHEN THEY GET TO THAT POSITION. 
          THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. 
          >> THE SCHOOL BOARD WILL HOLD A WORK SESSION ON TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 2025 AT 4:00 PM HERE IN THE PUBLIC MEETING ROOM. 
          IT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A BUSINESS MEETING AT 6:30 PM. 
          IF THERE'S NO FURTHER BUSINESS, WE NEED A MOTION TO ADJOURN. 
          >> SO MOVED. 
          >> MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL ROLL IN THE MOTION? 
          >> DOT HEFFRON. 
          >> AYE. 
          >> DOMINIQUE CHATTERS. 
          >> AYE. 
          >> STEVEN PARANTO. 
          >> AYE. 
          >> LISA HUDGINS. 
          >> AYE. 
          >> ANN COKER. 
          >> AYE. 
          >> THE MOTION CARRIES. 
          THE MARCH 11TH, 2025 SCHOOL BOARD BUSINESS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.