MOTION CARRIES. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. I'D LIKE TO CALL THE OCTOBER 14TH,
2025 SCHOOL BOARD BUSINESS MEETING TO 
          [A. Meeting Opening - 6:30 p.m.]
          [00:00:09]
ORDER. BEFORE WE BEGIN THE MEETING THIS EVENING,
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE FOR ATTENDING THE OCTOBER 14TH 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 INVOCATION BY MRS. CHATTERS FOLLOWED BY FLAG SALUTE LED BY MRS. HUDGINS. I'LL BE READING A POEM CALLED THE SLIP AND THE RISE. 
          "I MISSED A STEP. THE NOTE WENT WRONG. THE SILENT CUT,
THOUGH BRIEF, NOT LONG. 
          THE CROWD LOOKED ON THEIR BROWS, A FROWN AS IF MY SHINE HAD TUMBLED DOWN. 
          YET EVEN STARS WILL DIM. THEN BLAZE A FLICKER CANNOT END THEIR DAYS. 
          A STUMBLE SHOWS THE PATH I TAKE TO RISE AGAIN FROM ONE MISTAKE. 
          I BREATHE, I MOVE, I FIND MY PLACE. THE RHYTHM LIFTS,
I MATCH ITS PACE. 
          FOR GREATNESS ISN'T FLAWLESS ART. IT'S COURAGE BEATING IN THE HEART. 
          SO WHEN THE CURTAINS CLOSE, THEY'LL SEE INSTEAD. 
          NOT WHERE I SLIPPED, BUT WHERE I LED. A SPARK THAT TURNED MY FLAWS TO FLAME. 
          AND LIT THE STAGE WITH A BRIGHTER NAME. PLEASE JOIN US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. 
          [B. Consent Agenda]
TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA INCLUDES AGENDA ADOPTION APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM OUR
SEPTEMBER 9TH, 2025 WORK SESSION, SEPTEMBER 9TH, 2025 BUSINESS MEETING,
SEPTEMBER 19TH, 2025 SPECIAL MEETING, AND SEPTEMBER 23RD, 2025 SPECIAL MEETING. MEMO #135-25,
RECOMMENDED PERSONNEL ACTIONS. 
          MEMO #136-25, ACCEPTANCE OF DONATIONS. MEMO #137-25,
DEED OF GIFT FOR STORAGE SHED AT MIDLOTHIAN HIGH SCHOOL. MEMO #138-25,
APPROVAL OF THE CHESTERFIELD COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD - CHESTERFIELD COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING. 
          MEMO #139-25. CORRECTION TO CCPS MEMORANDUM #103-25,
APROVED ON AUGUST 12TH, 2025. REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF FY 2026 TUITION RATES FOR NONRESIDENT STUDENTS. 
          IN MEMO #148-25. APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO SCHOOL BOARD ADVISORY COMMITTEES. 
          ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO THE CONSENT AGENDA? MADAM CHAIR, THERE ARE NO ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. 
          ARE THERE ANY REQUESTS FROM A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER TO SEPARATE AN ITEM FROM THE CONSENT
AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION AND INDIVIDUAL ACTION? HEARING NONE. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED? I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED. 
          IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE MOTION? DOMINIQUE CHATTERS. AYE. STEVEN PARANTO. AYE. 
          LISA HUDGINS. AYE. ANN COKER. AYE. THE MOTION CARRIES. 
          [C. Awards and Recognitions]
NEXT WE HAVE AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS, MR. SMITH. 
          THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND BOARD MEMBERS. IF I COULD FIRST CALL UP THE MANCHESTER HIGH
SCHOOL STUDENTS. 
          MANCHESTER HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WON TOP AWARDS IN THE VIRGINIA HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE FILM
FESTIVAL THAT TOOK PLACE AT THE END OF THE 24-25 SCHOOL YEAR. 
          FIRST PLACE IN EXPERIMENTAL FILMS FOR "MESH",
DIRECTED BY CHLOE LAWSON AND SIERRA LACKERT. 
          FIRST PLACE IN NARRATIVE FILMS FOR "TO ALL ENDS",
DIRECTED BY BEN ARMSTRONG AND GIDEON BRADNER. 
          SECOND PLACE PLUS AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD AND PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR "MEMORIES",
DIRECTED BY VALENTINO MARGARITINI-TOSCANO. 
          [00:05:07]
CHRISTOPHER OKAMURO TEACHES VIDEO PRODUCTION AT MANCHESTER HIGH,
WHICH HAD A TOTAL OF SEVEN FILMS SELECTED FOR THE STATEWIDE FILM COMPETITION. 
          "FLOOD" WON SECOND PLACE IN EXPERIMENTAL FILMS. "CATALYST" WON THIRD IN NARRATIVE FILMS. "PAUL BRAWL" WON SIXTH PLACE IN ANIMATION;
AND "YEARBOOK" WON SIXTH IN PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS. 
          PLEASE JOIN ME CONGRATULATING THESE STUDENTS [APPLAUSE]. 
          WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I HAVE TO SAY YOU MAKE ALL OF US PROUD. 
          SO CONGRATULATIONS. ESPECIALLY WITH MANCHESTER HIGH SCHOOL. 
          NOT SURPRISED COMING OUT OF MANCHESTER. FANTASTIC NEWS. 
          TO HEAR OF YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND WHAT YOU DO,
THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT GOES INTO THAT. 
          THERE'S A LOT OF BEHIND THE SCENES STUFF THAT WE SEE THE FINISHED PRODUCT,
RIGHT, WHICH ONLY LASTS SO LONG, BUT THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT YOU SPENT CREATING THAT TO ME IS REALLY WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS
THE ROAD. 
          AND SO I'D LIKE TO FIND OUT FROM EACH OF YOU IF YOU WANT WHAT IS THAT PASSION THAT DRIVES
YOU TO PUT THAT WORK IN SO THAT YOU HAVE THE FINISHED PRODUCT THAT YOU HAVE? OKAY. WAIT. WHAT? WHATEVER. OKAY. MY BAD. I REALLY CAN'T PUT A WORD TO IT. I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IT IS. I THINK IT'S JUST UNBRIDLED CREATIVITY THAT
KEEPS ME GOING. 
          AND I LIKED IT SO MUCH THAT I'M. RIGHT NOW I'M PURSUING CINEMA AT VCU,
AND I DEFINITELY WOULDN'T HAVE HAD THAT WITHOUT ALL THE STUFF THAT I GOT FROM MR. O AND ALL THE OTHER TEACHERS THAT HELPED ME IN MANCHESTER. 
          MASS COMM, ANYTHING LIKE THAT. YES. FOR ME, I AM A STORYTELLER AT HEART. 
          I'VE BEEN MAKING VIDEOS FOR AS LONG AS I CAN THINK OF. 
          SO FILMMAKING WITH SHORT FILMS IS JUST THE NEW MEDIUM THAT I'M ABLE TO EXPRESS MY STORIES, THE IDEAS I WANT TO SHARE WITH PEOPLE IN. AND IT IS THANKS TO MASS COMMUNICATION
SPECIALIST CENTERS AT MANCHESTER AND ALSO THE FILM TEAM THAT I'M ABLE TO HAVE AN AVENUE TO PURSUE MY DREAMS AND HOPES. 
          FOR ME, IT'S STEMMING FROM A PASSION FOR PHOTOGRAPHY. 
          IT'S SOMETHING THAT I WANT TO PURSUE IN THE UPCOMING FUTURE. 
          AND THANKS TO MASS COMMUNICATION AND MR. OKAMURA I'M ABLE TO PURSUE THAT THROUGH THE FILM
TEAM AND CREATE SHORT FILMS THAT I'M PROUD TO CALL MY OWN. YEAH. I MEAN, I PERSONALLY WANT TO THANK MR. O ESPECIALLY. RIGHT. BUT I MEAN, I THINK I JUST REALLY LOVE PUTTING WORK OUT THERE FOR
PEOPLE TO ENJOY, AND IT DRIVES ME TO MAKE MORE AND MORE. AND THAT'S REALLY WHY I DO IT IS FOR YOU GUYS TO
HAVE YOU ENJOY WHAT YOU DO AND TO WATCH ME AND YEAH. THANK YOU [APPLAUSE]. CONGRATULATIONS. 
          NOW, BEFORE YOU GO, I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THE REASON WE ASK THE QUESTIONS,
ESPECIALLY OF OUR STUDENTS, IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO HEAR SOMETHING THAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW THAT'S GOING ON AND TO
HEAR IT STRAIGHT FROM THEM. 
          AND THEIR PASSION, I THINK, IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AND MOTIVATING FOR OTHERS AS WELL. 
          I'M NOT A BETTING PERSON, BUT IF I WAS, I WOULD SAY PROBABLY IN THE NEXT FIVE SIX,
IF NOT THAT SHORTER TIME. 
          AND WHEN WE SEE CREDITS AFTER A MOVIE, WE'LL PROBABLY SEE YOUR NAME. 
          WE'LL PROBABLY SEE YOUR NAME. CONGRATULATIONS [APPLAUSE]. 
          NEXT UP, WE HAVE OUR RECOGNITION FOR THE NATIONAL PTA SCHOOLS OF EXCELLENCE. 
          MOSELEY ELEMENTARY, SPRING RUN ELEMENTARY, AND SALEM CHURCH MIDDLE HAVE BEEN NAMED
NATIONAL PTA SCHOOLS OF EXCELLENCE FOR 24-26. 
          THIS DESIGNATION CELEBRATES STRONG PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN LOCAL PTAS AND THEIR SCHOOLS THAT
ENRICH THE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE AND OVERALL WELL-BEING FOR ALL STUDENTS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. ONLY 330 PTA SCHOOLS ACHIEVED THIS DESIGNATION FOR 24 TO 26. 
          [00:10:04]
PLEASE JOIN ME CONGRATULATING THESE SCHOOLS AND THESE PTAS [APPLAUSE]. SO I GET TO GIVE OUT THIS AWARD BECAUSE I THINK I'M THE PTA MOM ON THE BOARD,
RIGHT? I AM I. I STARTED PTA AND MY HEART IS ALWAYS WITH PTAS. 
          AND SO I UNDERSTAND THE WORK, THE VOLUNTEER WORK,
THE UNPAID VOLUNTEER WORK THAT GOES INTO MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE TAKING CARE OF OUR STUDENTS AND OUR FACULTY AND OUR STAFF AND LOVING ON THEM EVERY DAY. 
          AND I KNOW IT'S A THANKLESS JOB. SO THIS RIGHT HERE MEANS THAT WE ARE BEYOND STELLAR AND I
AM SUPER PROUD. 
          SPECIAL NOD TO ONE OF MY SCHOOLS ON THE LIST. 
          SALEM, THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND I WANT IMMA GIVE THE BAG TO THE PRINCIPAL. 
          THE PTA PRESIDENTS ARE HERE. IF YOU RAISE YOUR HAND. YES. 
          OKAY. OTHER PTA PRESIDENT. OKAY. THANK YOU. OH,
PTA PRESIDENT NUMBER THREE. 
          SO I'LL START OVER HERE. I DO A SHAMELESS PLUG ABOUT PTA. 
          EVERY TIME I GO SPEAK. RIGHT. SO YOU CAN DO THE PLUG FOR ME AND TELL THEM WHY THEY SHOULD
BE PART OF PTA. 
          OH, OKAY. SO, PTSA, WE'RE A SPECIAL IN THAT WE'RE A PTSA. 
          SO THE STUDENTS HOLD MEMBERSHIP IN OUR ORGANIZATION. 
          IT'S SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT FOSTERS A SENSE OF COMMUNITY BETWEEN THE SCHOOL,
THE FAMILIES, THE STUDENTS. WE ALSO HAVE STUDENT AMBASSADORS AT OUR SCHOOL WHICH REPRESENT THE PTSA AND
GET TO SPEAK TO THEIR PEERS AND ADVOCATE ON THEIR BEHALF. 
          AND IT'S A WONDERFUL THING TO JOIN JUST BECAUSE THE MONEY THAT YOU PUT IN THROUGH
MEMBERSHIP GOES 100% BACK INTO THE SCHOOL, INTO THE COMMUNITY, INTO EVENTS, INTO SUPPORTING OUR TEACHERS. 
          AND THAT'S WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO. WE LOVE IT SO MUCH. 
          AND WE THINK YOU SHOULD ALWAYS JOIN THE PTSA. 
          THANK YOU. YES. HI. HI. SPRING RUN ELEMENTARY. 
          SHE PRETTY MUCH TOOK MY ANSWER. WHY SHOULD YOU JOIN THE PTA? PERSONALLY, I BELIEVE THAT AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE FOR OUR CHILDREN IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THEIR
PARENTS TO BE INVOLVED. 
          IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO SEE THEIR PARENTS BE INVOLVED IN THE SCHOOL. 
          I BELIEVE THAT IF A PARENT IS INVOLVED WITH THE SCHOOL,
THEIR CHILD WILL SUCCEED. 
          WILL SUCCEED. SO. YEAH, THAT'S MY ANSWER. HELLO,
I WILL SAY DITTO AND DITTO. AND THEN I ALSO WILL SPEAK. I FEEL OUR PTA. 
          WE GO A STEP ABOVE WITH OUR STAFF. I KNOW TEACHERS AND STAFF IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY ARE
THE TOP, IN MY OPINION, IN THE WORLD. BUT ALSO IT'S A THANKLESS JOB. 
          A LOT OF DAYS. AND JUST WHEN WE BRING A LITTLE SNACK CART,
WE BRING, YOU KNOW, JUST A LITTLE TREAT EVERY MONTH. 
          THINGS LIKE THAT JUST MAKE THEIR DAY AND, YOU KNOW,
THEY WALK AROUND HAPPY AND THEN THEY THAT GOES BACK TO OUR KIDS. 
          SO THAT'S WHAT WE LIKE TO DO AT MOSLEY. THANK YOU. 
          YOU CAN GO THERE, AND I'LL MAKE ONE SHAMELESS PLUG THAT THEY DIDN'T MENTION. 
          YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A PARENT AT THE SCHOOL TO JOIN THE PTSA OR PTA. 
          SO IF YOU HAVE FREE TIME ON YOUR HANDS, YOU LIKE HELPING CHILDREN. 
          YOU WANT TO DONATE BACK TO THE SCHOOL. YOU CAN JOIN AS A COMMUNITY PARTNER. 
          AND THAT'S EVEN MORE IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE NEED THOSE AS WELL. 
          SO YOU CAN REACH OUT TO COUNTY COUNCIL PTA TO GET YOUR WAY IN,
OR REACH OUT TO THE SCHOOL CLOSEST TO YOU. 
          THAT IS MY PLUG. NEXT UP WE HAVE OUR MIRROR ME PROGRAM RECOGNITION. 
          CONGRATULATIONS. HELLO. OKAY. THANK YOU. GOOD TO SEE YOU. 
          CONGRATULATIONS. TO YOU. 
          THE MIRROR ME PROGRAM RECRUITS AND SUPPORTS A DIVERSE FUTURE TEACHING WORKFORCE BY
INCREASING THE NUMBER OF MINORITY EDUCATORS, RESHAPING PERCEPTIONS OF HIRING PRACTICES, AND ELEVATING THE VALUE OF THE TEACHING
PROFESSION. 
          FUNDED BY THE CHESTERFIELD EDUCATION FOUNDATION AND OFFERED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
BRIGHTPOINT COMMUNITY COLLEGE, VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY, AND VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY. MIRROR ME PROVIDES CCPS
JUNIORS AND SENIORS WITH A PATHWAY TO EDUCATION DEGREES, 
          [00:15:02]
AND SUPPORTS COLLEGE STUDENTS AT THESE INSTITUTIONS WHO ARE COMMITTED TO TEACHING CHESTER
COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 
          MIRROR ME RECENTLY ACCEPTED ITS FOURTH COHORT OF STUDENTS. 
          ESPERANZA ALVARADO GUMECINDO. MEADOWBROOK HIGH SCHOOL. 
          ASHLEY BUTLER AND JAMES OLIVER. BRIGHTPOINT COMMUNITY COLLEGE,
AND SIDNEY NUTTER, VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY. 
          ADDITIONALLY, MIRROR ME PROGRAM GRADUATE EBONY MOORE WAS HIRED AT REAMS ROAD ELEMENTARY
THIS YEAR, AND TWO OTHER PARTICIPANTS ARE ON TRACK TO GRADUATE AND EARN THEIR TEACHING CREDENTIALS BY
FALL OF 2026. 
          THIS WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE. OUR PARTNERING ORGANIZATIONS AT THE CHESTERFILD EDUCATION
FOUNDATION, VIRGINIA SCHOOL FOR VCU SCHOOL FOR EDUCATION, VSU COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, AND BRIGHTPOINT DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. 
          PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING THESE PARTICIPANTS AND THE PROGRAM [APPLAUSE]. 
          OKAY, I CAN'T DO THIS AND HAND THIS OUT. SO. OH THANK YOU DARLING. 
          CONGRATULATIONS. THIS IS INCREDIBLE. THIS PROGRAM IS IMPACTFUL ON SO MANY LEVELS. 
          YOU GUYS ARE. I SEE ALL THESE SMILING STARS. YOU ALL ARE AMAZING. 
          I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE EVERYONE SAY SOMETHING,
BUT IN PARTICULAR THE STUDENTS, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE TEACHERS TO BE OR ALREADY TEACHERS. TELL US WHAT DREW YOU TO IT AND WHAT YOU,
I DON'T KNOW, WHAT YOU EXPECT TO, WHAT YOU EXPECT, BUT GO AHEAD. 
          WHAT WOULD DO ME TO THE PROGRAM WAS MY LOVE FOR CHILDREN. 
          I CURRENTLY WORK FOR CCPS AS AN IA IN ONE OF THE SPECIAL EDUCATION CLASSROOMS,
EARLY CHILDHOOD, SECLA, AND SO DOING THAT HAS REALLY GROWN MY LOVE FOR THE CHILDREN AND I LOVE WORKING FOR
THE COUNTY. 
          THIS IS MY SECOND YEAR AND I LOVE IT, AND I LOVE WORKING AT SECLA,
AND I HOPE TO BE A TEACHER THERE IN A FEW. 
          AWESOME. HI, I'M HERE REPRESENTING ACTUALLY ONE OF THE MENTORS,
AND WHAT DREW ME IS THAT THIS IS MY 29TH YEAR IN THIS WONDERFUL COUNTY, AND I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO SEE AN INCREASE IN MINORITY REPRESENTATION IN OUR TEACHING
STAFF, SO I'M COMMITTED TO IT ALL THE WAY. HI. WHAT DREW ME INTO MIRROR ME WAS MY DESIRE TO MAKE
A MEANINGFUL CHANGE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN. 
          DO HOWEVER WAY I CAN, AS MEANINGFUL AS TEACHERS ARE. 
          AND YEAH. SOMETHING THAT DREW ME TO MIRROR ME WAS DEFINITELY WANTING TO SEE MORE TEACHERS
THAT LOOK LIKE ME IN THE CLASSROOM, BECAUSE GROWING UP, I ALWAYS I DIDN'T REALLY HAVE MINORITY TEACHERS. 
          AND ALSO MY LOVE FOR CHILDREN AND MY PASSION FOR TEACHING. 
          AND I WANT TO BRING MY PASSION BACK INTO THE CLASSROOM. I'M A TEACHER OF THE TEACHER,
OF THE STUDENTS. 
          ACTUALLY, I, I TEACH AT THE COURTHOUSE LOCATION AND I TEACH TEACHERS FOR TOMORROW. 
          WHEN MR. RUSSELL ASKED ME TO BE THE TEACHER FOR TEACHERS TOMORROW DURING COVID,
I RETURNED BACK TO MY PASSION. 
          I'M MAKING A LONG STORY SHORT, BUT IT'S A POIGNANT STORY. 
          WHEN I RETURNED BACK TO THE TECH CENTER, WHICH WAS MY FIRST CAREER IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY
AS A CAREER SWITCHER 20 PLUS YEARS AGO, I DID NOT KNOW HOW TO BE A TEACHER. I WAS AT MONACAN HIGH SCHOOL AND THE STUDENTS THERE
TOOK ME UNDER THEIR WING AND CULTIVATED ME ON BECOMING A TEACHER. 
          THEY SAID, MISS K, YOU GOT THIS. WE'RE GOING TO TEACH YOU HOW TO BE A TEACHER. 
          AND FROM THAT POINT, I BECAME A GOOD TEACHER. 
          THEY KICKED ME OUT. THE STUDENTS FROM MONACAN HIGH SCHOOL. 
          THEY SAID, MISS K, IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO GO ON TO SOMETHING ELSE IN CHESTERFIELD. 
          I SAID, WELL, WHAT SHOULD I DO NEXT? YOU NEED TO BE A GUIDANCE COUNSELOR. 
          I SAID, WHY DO I NEED TO BE A GUIDANCE COUNSELOR? BECAUSE YOU'RE ALWAYS GIVING US SO MUCH GUIDANCE AND DIRECTION OF WHAT TO DO AFTER WE
GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL. 
          I LISTENED TO THEM. I WENT BACK. I GAINED MY ENDORSEMENT. 
          I WENT DOWN TO MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR A WHILE SO THAT I CAN LEARN THE GAMBIT OF MIDDLE SCHOOL,
WHICH I PASSIONATELY LOVED. 
          AND THEN I GOT A PHONE CALL FROM HR, SAID, MISS K,
WE NEED YOU TO GO BACK TO HIGH SCHOOL. 
          I SAID, NO, PLEASE. AND SO THEY GAVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO RETURN BACK TO HIGH SCHOOL AT
ONE OF MY SCHOOLS THAT I'M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT, THOMAS DALE. AT THOMAS DALE, I SERVED AS A SCHOOL COUNSELOR FOR YEARS THERE. 
          AND ONE DAY MY STUDENTS CAME INTO MY OFFICE IN VARIABLE DEGREES AND THEY SAID,
MISS KATE, IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO LEAVE. AND I SAID, ARE YOU KICKING ME OUT? THEY SAID, YES, IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO GO AGAIN. 
          AND I SAID, WELL, WHERE AM I GOING NOW? THEY SAID,
IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO RETURN BACK TO CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION. 
          SO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT. I THEN WENT BACK TO THE TECH CENTER. 
          MR. RUSSELL ASKED ME DURING COVID, WOULD YOU MIND TEACHING TEACHERS FOR TOMORROW? 
          [00:20:03]
I WAS ECSTATIC BECAUSE AT THIS VENTURE IN MY CAREER,
IT'S THE COUP DE GRAS OF GIVING BACK EVERYTHING THAT THE STUDENTS GAVE ME SO THAT I CAN PASS THE BATON SO THAT THEY BECOME THE NEXT TEACHERS FOR TOMORROW. 
          SO SAVANNAH IS ONE OF MY LAMP SHOPS. AND IF YOU HEAR STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY SAY,
I WAS MISS KAY'S LAMB CHOP. 
          THAT IS CORRECT. AND FOREVER WILL THEY ALWAYS BE MY LAMB CHOPS BECAUSE I AM THEIR SHEPHERD
TO TAKE CARE OF THEM. 
          HI. I'M EBONY. I JUST RECENTLY GRADUATED FROM VCU AS OF MAY 2025,
AND I'M CURRENTLY TEACHING AT REAMS ROAD ELEMENTARY AT THIRD GRADE. 
          WHAT DREW ME INTO THE PROGRAM IS THAT I WANTED TO SEE MORE PEOPLE OF COLOR IN CHESTERFIELD
COUNTY SCHOOLS. 
          I'M A THIRD GENERATION TEACHER, SO THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT'S IN MY BLOOD. 
          I'M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT, AND I AM SO HAPPY. 
          AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO DR. WEATHERFORD AND DR. 
          HILL FOR SUPPORTING ME THROUGHOUT THIS JOURNEY. IT'S BEEN AMAZING. THANK YOU. 
          EBONY IS A SUPERSTAR. EVERY TIME SHE SPEAKS,
I DON'T WANT THE MIC, BUT HERE I AM. 
          SO I THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING US AND FOR RECOGNIZING MIRROR ME HERE TODAY. 
          I JUST WANT TO SHARE THAT MIRROR ME IS MORE THAN A PIPELINE. 
          IT'S A REFLECTION OF OUR VALUES IN CCPS. WHEN OUR STUDENTS SEE TEACHERS WHO REFLECT OUR
IDENTITIES, LANGUAGE, AND THEIR LIFE EXPERIENCES, THEY SEE NEW POSSIBILITIES IN THEMSELVES. 
          RESEARCH TELLS US THAT HAVING EVEN ONE TEACHER OF COLOR CAN INCREASE A STUDENT'S
ENGAGEMENT, CONFIDENCE, AND LIKELIHOOD OF GRADUATING. THAT'S THE KIND OF LASTING IMPACT WE AIM TO
MULTIPLY THROUGH MIRROR ME. 
          THE PROGRAM'S POTENTIAL REACHES BEYOND INDIVIDUAL CLASSROOMS. IT STRENGTHENS OUR PROFESSION BY NURTURING EDUCATORS WHO ARE DEEPLY ROOTED IN THEIR
COMMUNITIES, COMMITTED TO EQUITY AND BELONGING AND EXCELLENCE FOR EVERY CHILD. 
          IT ALSO STRENGTHENS OUR SCHOOL DIVISION BY ENSURING THAT OUR WORKFORCE REFLECTS THE
DIVERSITY, CREATIVITY AND THE PROMISE OF THE STUDENTS WE SERVE. 
          WITH THE CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE CHESTERFIELD EDUCATION FOUNDATION,
OUR HIGHER EDUCATION PARTNERS IN THIS BOARD, MIRROR ME, HOPES TO CONTINUE TO GROW EACH YEAR,
TRANSFORMING OPPORTUNITY INTO ACTION AND INSPIRATION INTO IMPACT. 
          BECAUSE WHEN OUR STUDENTS CAN SEE THEMSELVES IN THEIR TEACHERS,
THEY CAN BEGIN TO SEE THEMSELVES ANYWHERE. 
          THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD JOB. GOOD JOB. 
          THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. 
          IF I COULD ASK OUR REPRESENTATIVES FROM CORNERSTONE ASSEMBLY OF GOD,
THE GREATER RICHMOND YMCA, CHESTER COUNTY COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT RESOURCES,
AND CHESTER COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY TO COME FORWARD THIS TIME. 
          THE WORK OF CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TEACHERS AND STAFF MEMBERS DEMONSTRATES THE
UPLIFTING POWER OF EDUCATION IN OUR COMMUNITY. BUT OUR SCHOOL DIVISION CANNOT DO THIS ALONE, AND WE DO NOT OPERATE IN ISOLATION AS WE WORK TO EDUCATE 64,000 PLUS STUDENTS AND
HELP THEM FIND THEIR PATH TO SUCCESS. 
          OUR SCHOOLS ARE ROBUSTLY SUPPORTED BY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS,
BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS WHO SUPPORT US AND WORK WITH US IN PARTNERSHIP. 
          TONIGHT, WE RECOGNIZE FOUR LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS FOR THEIR GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR
PARTICIPANT LEARNING TEACHERS, CORNERSTONE ASSEMBLY OF GOD, GREATER RICHMOND YMCA,
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND RESOURCES, AND THE CHESTER COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY. THIS IS THE THIRD YEAR THAT PARTICIPANT LEARNING
TEACHERS HAVE TRAVELED ACROSS THE GLOBE TO WORK IN OUR SCHOOL DIVISION AND LIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY. DURING THE TEACHERS FIRST DAYS IN CHESTERFIELD,
THESE FOUR ORGANIZATIONS OPENED THEIR DOORS TO HOST WELCOMING DINNERS, AND THESE GATHERINGS PROVIDE A FRIENDSHIP, RESOURCES,
AND MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS BY SURROUNDING OUR TEACHERS WITH HOSPITALITY AND CARE. 
          THESE ORGANIZATIONS HELP EASE THE CHALLENGES OF RELOCATION AND AFFIRM THE VALUE OF OUR
COMMUNITY. 
          PLEASE JOIN ME IN THANKING AND CONGRATULATING THESE FOUR ORGANIZATIONS [APPLAUSE]. 
          THE CHESTERFIELD COUNTY COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND RESOURCES. CAN YOU RAISE YOUR HAND,
PLEASE? THAT'S FOR YOU. THANK YOU [APPLAUSE]. CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH [APPLAUSE]. YMCA OF GREATER RICHMOND,
ALL THREE OF YOU [APPLAUSE]. 
          THANK YOU. AND LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST,
CORNERSTONE ASSEMBLY OF GOD [APPLAUSE]. 
          THERE'S A SAYING THAT IT TAKES A VILLAGE, RIGHT TO RAISE A CHILD. 
          [00:25:02]
AND WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS THAT VERY THING, AND YOU'RE LIVING IT OUT. 
          AND YOU'RE LEADING OTHERS TO LIVE THAT OUT AS WELL,
BECAUSE WITHOUT OUR COMMUNITY, WE WOULD NOT BE AS GREAT AS WE ARE AND GETTING BETTER IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY. IF WE DO NOT HAVE THE SUPPORT FROM OUR LIBRARY,
FROM OUR CHURCHES, FROM ORGANIZATIONS, FROM NON-PROFITS, WITHOUT YOU, WE CAN'T BE WHO WE ARE. 
          AND SO, ON BEHALF OF CHESTERFIELD COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD,
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR US, FOR OUR TEACHERS AND FOR OUR STUDENTS. SMALL TOKEN APPRECIATION,
RIGHT? YOU DESERVE THAT. THE HAND CLAPS AND MUCH MORE. 
          WE JUST GREATLY APPRECIATE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU AND YOUR ORGANIZATION. 
          SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AND REAL QUICK,
REAL QUICK. 
          I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, WHAT IS IT ABOUT WHAT YOU DO THAT DRIVES YOU TO HELP CHESTERFIELD
COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS? IF YOU'D LIKE TO. WELL, BEING A PARTICIPATE TEACHER MYSELF,
I DEARLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR US BECAUSE COMING FROM A COUNTRY AND LEAVING ALL YOUR
THINGS, YOUR FAMILY AND EVERYTHING BEHIND AND COME TO A NEW PLACE WHERE YOU DON'T KNOW ANYBODY. 
          AND THEN THEY OPEN YOUR THEIR ARMS AND WELCOME YOU INTO THEIR COMMUNITY. 
          REALLY, REALLY MAKE US FEEL AT HOME. AND CERTAINLY CORNERSTONE AND DANIELLE WITH THE YMCA, THEY MAKE US FEEL LIKE HOME. THANK YOU [APPLAUSE]. 
          BEING WITH THE PUBLIC LIBRARY WE GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH LEARNERS FROM BIRTH TO
99 PLUS. 
          THE SCHOOLS GET STUDENTS FROM K TO 12TH GRADE. 
          BUT HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH THE SCHOOLS HELPS ENSURE THAT WE MAINTAIN
CONNECTIONS WITH STUDENTS AFTER THEY LEAVE SCHOOL AND HELP COMMIT THEM TO BEING LIFELONG LEARNERS. WELL, FROM THE YMCA OUR MISSION STATEMENT IS TO PUT CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES INTO ACTION TO CREATE
PROGRAMS THAT CREATE HEALTHY SPIRIT, MINDS AND BODIES FOR ALL. I'M PROUD OF THAT. AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE DO,
RIGHT? WE TRY TO WE TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY THAT COMES TO OUR COMMUNITY FEELS LIKE THEY
BELONG. 
          AND SO THIS RECOGNITION IS FOR THE WHOLE ENTIRE ASSOCIATION. 
          AND ON BEHALF OF THE ASSOCIATION, WE REALLY WANTED TO SAY THAT WE'RE GRATEFUL TO BE HERE. 
          WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK. AND THEN THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS JUST BEGINNING
AND WE CAN'T WAIT. 
          WE WORK WITH CORNERSTONE. I'M SO HAPPY TO HAVE MY FRIENDS HERE AND WE CAN ALL GET TO BE
RECOGNIZED IN A WAY. 
          BUT ALSO REMINDS ME, AS I WAS SITTING THERE BEING GRATEFUL AND ALSO TO THE BOARD YOU GUYS
ARE DOING A GREAT JOB, AND I KNOW THE WORK IS IS TOUGH, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE MAY NOT SEE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT
GO ON, BUT I THINK THAT BEING ABLE TO INTERACT WITH THE TEACHERS,
THE PEOPLE THAT COME FROM OTHER PLACES OF THE WORLD AND TO BE HERE. 
          IT'S A LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE FOR A LOT OF THEM,
AND YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO REALIZE THAT, BUT THE WORK THAT THE COUNTY IS DOING, THE WORK THAT THE THE SCHOOL BOARD IS DOING,
AND EVERYONE ELSE, JUAN AND AMY AND EVERYBODY THAT'S PART OF THAT. 
          IT'S LIFE CHANGING FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE. AND I COULD SIT HERE AND TELL YOU HUNDREDS OF
STORIES, BUT I'M GOING TO LEAVE IT AT THAT [APPLAUSE]. I'M HERE REPRESENTING CHESTERFIELD COUNTY
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND RESOURCES, AND I WANT TO BEGIN BY THANKING AMY BARTILOTTI FOR BRINGING US INTO THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE
A WELCOMING SPACE TO OUR INTERNATIONAL TEACHERS. 
          AND I WILL JUST KEEP IT SHORT AND SAY THAT WHAT INSPIRES ME TO DO THIS WORK IS YOU KNOW,
I'M A PROUD GRADUATE OF CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 
          I GRADUATED FROM THE MEADOWBROOK HIGH SCHOOL,
WHICH IS ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE HIGH SCHOOLS. 
          AND SO WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO JUST PROVIDE A WELCOMING DINNER,
A WELCOMING SPACE, KNOWING THAT THESE ARE THE TEACHERS THAT BRING A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE TO OUR CLASSROOM. 
          SO THANK YOU SO MUCH TO AMY BARTILOTTI AND THE ENTIRE CHESTERFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS TEAM FOR
INVITING US INTO YOUR WORK [APPLAUSE]. 
          WELL, ON BEHALF OF CORNERSTONE, WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR THE LEADERSHIP OF OUR SCHOOL
SYSTEM, AND WE APPLAUD AND APPRECIATE THE VISION TO BRING THE RICHNESS OF THE NATIONS INTO OUR
COMMUNITY. 
          AND WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT SPEAKS OVER [INAUDIBLE] LANGUAGES IN THEIR HOMES. 
          WHAT A JOY TO BRING DIFFERENT TEACHERS TO CULTURE,
FROM AROUND THE WORLD TO OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, TO MAKE EVEN BETTER CITIZENS FOR THE FUTURE. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          IT'S OUR JOY TO SUPPORT YOUR VISION AND WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR IT [APPLAUSE]. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR COMING OUT. 
          [00:30:06]
GREATLY APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU. THANKS. 
          NEXT WE HAVE THE RECOGNITION OF OUTSTANDING DRIVERS. 
          DR. FRYE. 
          THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR. BOARD MEMBERS. 
          MISTER ROBERTS, IT'S MY PLEASURE THIS EVENING TO PRESENT TO YOU OUR DRIVERS OF THE MONTH. 
          THERE ARE MANY BUS DRIVERS THAT COULD BE RECOGNIZED THIS MONTH,
BUT EACH TRANSPORTATION AREA MANAGER HAD TO MAKE THE TOUGH DECISION OF SELECTING A SINGLE BUS DRIVER WHO EXEMPLIFIED EXCELLENCE AND DEDICATION TO REPRESENT THEIR AREA. 
          WE'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE FOLLOWING DRIVERS. 
          DANIELLE KEE, AREA 1, BUS 735, 1 YEAR OF SERVICE [APPLAUSE]. 
          DANIELLE IS NOT ABLE TO BE HERE THIS EVENING AND ACCEPT AN AWARD FOR HER AS HER MANAGER
MISS HARRIS. 
          DANIELLE HAS WORKED HARD OVER THE YEARS, LEARNING HER WAY AROUND THE COUNTY AND LEARNING
TO CONNECT WITH HER STUDENTS. 
          SHE'S DONE A GREAT JOB THIS YEAR AND WE APPRECIATE HER HARD WORK. 
          CHRISTOPHER TURNER, AREA 2, BUS 481, 1 YEAR OF SERVICE [APPLAUSE]. 
          CHRIS ENJOYS HIS POSITION AS A BUS DRIVER, AND THAT IS CONVEYED THROUGH HIS BIG SMILE AND
WARM, FRIENDLY GREETING TO EVERYONE HE MEETS DURING HIS DAY. 
          HIS POSITIVE ATTITUDE IS CONTAGIOUS TO STUDENTS,
STAFF, AND TEAM MEMBERS ALIKE. 
          CHRIS ALWAYS OFFERS TO ASSIST AND IS EAGER TO TAKE ON NEW CHALLENGES. 
          HE ALSO SETS UP A POSITIVE EXAMPLE FOR HIS FELLOW DRIVERS AND LOVES TO WORK WITH STUDENTS. 
          MARC MCWILLIAMS, AREA 3, BUS 34, 3 YEARS OF SERVICE. 
          MARC SAYS HE TRULY BELIEVES THAT EDUCATION IS THE CURRENCY OF THE 21ST CENTURY,
AND HE IS PROUD TO BE PART OF AN AMAZING TEAM THAT TRANSPORTS OUR STUDENTS TO SCHOOL DAILY TO ACHIEVE THEIR LEARNING GOALS. 
          AND I'D LIKE TO THANK MARC FOR BEING PART OF MY DRIVERS COUNCIL FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF
YEARS. 
          YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB. SHARON TIMMONS, AREA 4,
BUS 838, 12 YEARS OF SERVICE [APPLAUSE]. 
          SHE'S UNABLE TO JOIN US THIS EVENING AND HER MANAGER IS COMING TO,
JENNIFER DAVIS IS COMING TO ACCEPT HER AWARD. 
          SHARON IS A WONDERFUL TRANSPORTATION TEAM PLAYER. 
          SHE IS ALWAYS LOOKING OUT FOR HER STUDENTS AND HER COWORKERS,
AND OFTEN BRING SUGGESTIONS TO HER AREA OFFICE TO BOOST DRIVER EFFICIENCY, MORALE, AND RETENTION. WE RECENTLY HAD A BACK TO SCHOOL PICNIC AND SHARON. 
          SHARON WAS AN INTEGRAL PART OF MAKING SURE THE EVENT WAS A SUCCESS. 
          SHARONETTE SPENCER MITCHELL, AREA 5, BUS 853,
26 YEARS OF SERVICE [APPLAUSE]. 
          SHARONETTE SAYS WHAT I LIKE ABOUT WORKING FOR CCPS IS THE CONNECTION WITH THE KIDS. 
          YOU GET TO KNOW THEM, WATCH THEM GROW AND BE A SMALL PART OF THEIR DAY. 
          SOMETIMES THAT GOOD MORNING OR HAVE A GOOD DAY MEANS MORE THAN WE REALIZE. 
          IT'S A JOB THAT TAKES RESPONSIBILITY, BUT IT'S ALSO FULL OF HEART. 
          THANK YOU EVERYONE. SO I HAVE FOUR CHILDREN THAT RIDE THE BUS. 
          AND SO I HEAR THE STORIES AND AND I APPRECIATE THE LOVE THAT BUS DRIVERS ARE SHARING WITH
OUR CHILDREN EVERY DAY. 
          YOU'RE THE FIRST ONES TO SEE THEM AND THE LAST ONES TO DROP THEM OFF. 
          AND I KNOW YOU KNOW ALL OF OUR SECRETS, AND I APPRECIATE YOU KEEPING IT TO YOURSELF,
BECAUSE THEY JUST LIKE TO TALK, ESPECIALLY ON THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BUS. SO I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU GUYS DO EVERY DAY. 
          I KNOW IN BAD WEATHER WHEN THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT ROWDY,
YOU'RE THE ONES THAT ARE CALMING THEM DOWN BEFORE THEY GET OFF THE BUS. 
          YOU'RE TAKING CARE OF ISSUES SOMETIMES THAT WE DON'T EVEN KNOW EXIST. 
          FRENEMIES TODAY, FRIENDS. YOU KNOW HOW IT GOES ON THE BUS. 
          AND I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING TO GET OUR KIDS TO AND FROM SAFELY. 
          AND I WOULD LIKE TO ASK, WHAT'S THE BEST THING ABOUT DRIVING THE BUS 26 YEARS? WE'RE GOING TO GO AROUND. YEAH. 26 YEARS OF DRIVING THE BUS IS JUST BEING THERE WITH ALL THE BABIES FROM PRE-K ALL THE WAY UP TO 12 YEARS. 
          SO I'M GOING TO PUT MY FELLOW DRIVERS TO THE TEST. 
          [00:35:04]
I, YOU KNOW, I'M HONORED TO BE HERE WITH THEM EVERY MORNING. 
          I'M WATCHING THEM FIRE UP THEIR BUSSES AND MAKE SURE THEY'RE SAFE. 
          SO I'M HONORED TO BE A PART OF Y'ALL'S TEAM. YES,
I WOULD SAY, I DON'T HAVE ANY KIDS. 
          BUT NOW I HAVE HUNDREDS OF KIDS, AND I LOVE THEM ALL. 
          AND IT'S. YOU GROW A RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM,
AND IT'S JUST, IT'S DIFFERENT EVERY DAY. 
          AND I WANT TO THANK AREA 2, PAM. I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE IN THE OFFICE OF AREA 2. 
          THEY'RE GREAT. THEY'RE AWESOME. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING ME. 
          THANK YOU. SO I'LL TELL A STORY. A BUS DRIVER'S STORY. 3434. AREA 3. SO LAST MAY I WAS WALKING THROUGH THE PARKING LOT, HEADING TO MY BUS,
AND A CIVILIAN APPROACHED ME AND SAID, YOU'RE A BUS DRIVER. I SAID, YES, SIR, I AM. YOU SERVED IN THE AIR FORCE? I SAID, YEAH, I DID. HE SAID, WELL, WHAT A THANKLESS AND UNAPPRECIATED JOB YOU MUST HAVE. 
          AND I WAS LIKE, I CAN'T LET THAT GO. SO I THOUGHT ABOUT IT. 
          PRE-K TO GRADUATION, RIGHT? MAYTIME, RIGHT. MAY TIME FRAME. 
          IF A CHILD RIDES A BUS FROM PRE-K THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL,
THAT'S 2500 DAYS. 
          DR. FREY. OVER 5000 TRIPS. IF THEY DO MORNING AND EVENING. 
          AND A BUS DRIVER HAS TO SHOW UP IN PRE-K. THAT'S THE FIRST PERSON,
YOU KNOW, THE CHILD SEES IN THE MORNING AND PROBABLY THE LAST PERSON HE SEES BEFORE HE LEAVES TO GO RECEIVE HIS PARENTS. SO WE'RE CAREGIVERS. 
          AND I SHARED THAT STORY WITH HIM. I SAID, TODAY,
YOU KNOW, WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO GRADUATION. 
          THOUSANDS OF KIDS ARE GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL IN CHESTERFIELD OVER THE NEXT TWO WEEKS. 
          I SAID SOMEBODY HAD TO BE WITH THEM PRE-K TO GET THEM TO SCHOOL SAFELY,
TO BE THEIR NURSE ON THE BUS. 
          I CAN TELL YOU SOME STORIES ABOUT THAT. ESPECIALLY WITH KINDERGARTNERS,
YOU HAVE TO BE THERE TO HELP THEM GET THROUGH THEIR DAY, BECAUSE SOMETIMES THEY CAN EAT LITTLE, TOO MANY SWEETS. 
          YOU KNOW, TO ENCOURAGE THEM. WE HAVE TRIVIA ON OUR BUS AS WELL,
AND TO TELL THEM THEY'RE GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT, RIGHT. WE'RE CAREGIVERS, I SAID, AND YOU HAVE TO DO THAT. 
          AND WHEN YOU DO IT, PRE-K THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL,
GRADUATION DAY IS THE CULMINATING EVENT. 
          SO TO THINK ABOUT THAT BEING THANKLESS OR UNAPPRECIATED. 
          I SERVED IN THE AIR FORCE, AND I CAN'T THINK OF A JOB THAT'S MORE APPRECIATED OR THANKFUL
IN ANY CAREER. 
          AND HE SAID, WELL, I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT IT THAT WAY. 
          I SAID, WELL, THAT'S HOW I THINK ABOUT IT TODAY,
JUST BY THINKING ABOUT IT. 
          BUT WHEN YOU HAVE GOOD PROCEDURES, GOOD LEADERS AND GREAT BUSSES EQUIPMENT,
IT MAKES IT SO, SO, SO SO NICE. RIGHT. SO SO. AND WE DO HAVE GREAT I HAVE,
I HAVE A, I HAVE A REALLY NICE BUS. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AFTER THREE YEARS IT'S A 2025. 
          THANK YOU DR.. IT'S REALLY NICE BUT IT MAKES IT SO MUCH EASIER TO BE CAREGIVERS. 
          AND I THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU GUYS. 
          WELL, I DEFINITELY CAN'T FOLLOW UP WITH THAT BECAUSE THAT WAS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. 
          BUT SHARON IS ONE OF OUR VETERAN DRIVERS IN AREA 4,
AND SHE COMES TO WORK WITH A SMILE. 
          SHE MIGHT HAVE HAD THE ROUGHEST DAY EVER. AND SHE'LL COME IN AND SHE'LL BE LIKE,
ALL RIGHT, WHAT CAN I DO NEXT? WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP? WHERE CAN I GO? AND THOSE ARE THE DRIVERS THAT MAKE CHESTERFIELD RUN. 
          THEY'RE HERE AND THEY SHOW UP AND THEY'RE WILLING TO GO FROM CHESTER TO MIDLOTHIAN TO
RICHMOND, WHEREVER THEY NEED TO GO. AND OUR JOB DEFINITELY GOES OUTSIDE OF CHESTERFIELD EVERY SINGLE
DAY. 
          AND WE GET A LOT OF TIME ON THE BUSSES WITH THESE KIDDOS. 
          AND SHARON IS ONE OF OUR PEOPLE THAT PICKS UP OUR KIDS AT 5:30 IN THE EVENING,
AND SHE'S ONE OF THE VERY FIRST ONES ON HER BUS AT 5:30 IN THE MORNING. 
          SO WE DEFINITELY APPRECIATE HER A LOT [APPLAUSE]. 
          THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE RECOGNITION OF OUTSTANDING FOOD SERVICE EMPLOYEES. MR. DUNBRACK. 
          GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR. BOARD MEMBERS, DR. 
          MURRAY. MR. ROBERTS, THANK YOU, AS ALWAYS, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE SOME OF OUR
OUTSTANDING FOOD NUTRITION SERVICES TEAM MEMBERS. 
          [00:40:06]
I'M PARTICULARLY HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT TO YOU THIS WEEK DURING NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH
WEEK, A WEEK WHERE WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF A HEALTHY LUNCH IS TO A STUDENT'S SCHOOL DAY. NUTRITIOUS SCHOOL MEALS HAVE BEEN SHOWN IN
STUDIES TO IMPROVE A STUDENT'S ABILITY TO FOCUS IN THE CLASSROOM, IMPROVE THEIR COGNITIVE FUNCTIONS AND THEIR OVERALL ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE,
WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY REDUCING ABSENTEEISM AND IMPROVING THEIR MENTAL HEALTH. 
          WE ARE SO FORTUNATE IN CHESTERFIELD TO HAVE DEDICATED INDIVIDUALS THAT UNDERSTAND THE
IMPORTANCE OF EVERY LUNCH THAT THEY SERVE. 
          UNFORTUNATELY, AS IS OFTEN THE CASE WITH A FOOD SERVICE ENVIRONMENT,
BOTH OF OUR HONOREES WERE UNABLE TO JOIN US THIS EVENING DUE TO UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES. 
          WHILE THEY ARE UNABLE TO JOIN US THIS EVENING,
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO HIGHLIGHT THE EFFORTS THAT RESULTED IN THEIR NOMINATIONS. FIRST, WE HAVE KAREN SUAREZ. MISS SUAREZ IS A FOOD SERVICE ASSOCIATE AT
MANCHESTER HIGH SCHOOL AND HAS BEEN WITH THE COUNTY FOR 15 YEARS. 
          MISS SUAREZ IS NOMINATION INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING. 
          WE ARE NOMINATING KAREN BECAUSE SHE HAS COME EVERY DAY SINCE THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL WITH
A POSITIVE ATTITUDE AND A GREAT WORK ETHIC. 
          SHE'S ALWAYS WILLING TO HELP OTHERS. SHE EVEN WENT TO HELP AT DEEP CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR
OVER A WEEK AS THEY GOT INTO THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR. 
          SHE WAS EAGER TO GET BACK HERE AND SUPPORT HER MANCHESTER FAMILY. 
          MISS SUAREZ SAYS, I LOVE MY JOB BECAUSE I GET TO MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE EVERY DAY AND
WORK ALONGSIDE SUCH SUPPORTIVE COWORKERS. 
          I LOVE BEING A PART OF A TEAM WHERE WE ALL HELP AND ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER,
WHICH MAKES MY JOB TRULY MEANINGFUL AND REWARDING. 
          THEN WE HAVE NICOLE BENNETT. MISS BENNETT IS OUR ASSISTANT MANAGER AT MEADOWBROOK HIGH
SCHOOL AND HAS BEEN WITH THE COUNTY FOR SIX YEARS. MR. BIDEN'S NOMINATION INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING NICOLE COMES TO WORK EVERY DAY IN A WONDERFUL
MOOD. 
          SHE'S FRIENDLY TO EVERYONE AND SHE COOKS HER TAIL OFF,
MAKING BEAUTIFUL FOOD. 
          SHE IS ALSO AN AMAZING ASSISTANT MANAGER WHO IS ALWAYS WILLING TO LEARN AND IMPROVE
HERSELF. 
          MISS BENNETT SAYS WHAT I LOVE MOST ABOUT MY JOB IS BEING IN THE KITCHEN,
WHERE THE HEART OF THE SCHOOL REALLY BEATS COOKING FOR THE STUDENTS EVERY DAY MAKES ME FEEL CONNECTED TO THEM, KNOWING I'M HELPING THEM FEEL CARED FOR AND READY TO TAKE ON THEIR
DAY. 
          MAKES ME FEEL PROUD. SO I APPRECIATE THE TIME THIS EVENING [APPLAUSE]. 
          NEXT, WE WILL PROCEED WITH THE PRESENTATION OF THE INTERIM APPLICATION SUBMITTED FOR THE
CLOVER HILL DISTRICT. 
          [D. Presentation of Clover Hill District Interim Applications]
MR. SMITH. ON OCTOBER 1ST, 2025, THE SCHOOL BOARD ANNOUNCED A PROCESS TO IDENTIFY A
REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE CLOVER HILL DISTRICT, WHO WILL BEGIN SERVING ON JANUARY 1ST, 2026. FOR INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN SERVING THIS
INTERIM CAPACITY. 
          A TEN DAY APPLICATION PERIOD WAS OPEN FROM OCTOBER 1ST UNTIL 5 P.M. 
          OCTOBER 10TH, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 24.2228A OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA. 
          THE BOARD MUST HOLD A PUBLIC MEETING IN ACCORDANCE WITH 2.2-3707,
AT WHICH THE BODY OR BOARD SHALL ANNOUNCE THE NAMES OF ALL PERSONS BEING PROPOSED FOR THE INTERIM APPOINTMENT, AND SHALL MAKE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION EACH PERSON'S RESUME AND ANY
OTHER MATERIALS REQUIRED BY THE BODY OR BOARD. 
          AS SUCH, ALL THESE DOCUMENTS ARE LISTED ON BOARD DOCS. 
          UNDER THIS AGENDA ITEM, THE BOARD WILL CONSIDER THESE APPLICATIONS AND NAME THE DISTRICT
INTERIM BOARD REPRESENTATIVE AT A MEETING TO BE HELD ON A LATER DATE. 
          THANK YOU, MR. SMITH. BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? MR. PARANTO? THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. FOR THE CITIZENS THAT PUT IN TO BE THE INTERIM BOARD
MEMBER, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT IS A
COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY, TO OUR SCHOOLS, AND TO OUR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS. 
          AND SO I JUST WANTED TO THANK TAKE JUST TAKE A MINUTE,
MR. SMITH, AND THANK THOSE INDIVIDUALS FOR PUTTING THEIR NAME OUT THERE AND TAKING A BIG STEP
FOR CONSIDERATION FROM THIS BOARD. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. PARANTO. I DO WANT TO ALSO THANK THE CLOVER HILL RESIDENTS FOR
THOSE THAT HAVE PUT THEIR APPLICATIONS IN. 
          IT IS AS MR. PARANTO SAID, IT IS A COMMITMENT AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE
PROCESS. 
          SO THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THIS MEETING. 
          [E. Public Comment]
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 DOCS SITE AND WILL BE INCLUDED IN FULL AS AN AMENDMENT 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 A PART OF THE BOARD'S OFFICIAL MINUTES. 
          MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE ANNOUNCE THIS EVENING'S IN-PERSON SPEAKERS. 
          MADAM CHAIR, WE HAVE 27 SPEAKERS THIS EVENING. 
          [00:45:03]
THEY ARE BRITT HOLLAND, BRIAN EROMENOK, TAMARA ELLETT,
STACY WOLFORD, SARAH TOSTENSON, JENN DUNNING, ANDREA TORRES, HEATHER MITCHELL, PAMELA MATASSA,
CHRISTINA CARPENTER, GARY RIZICH, PHILIP WHITAKER, CHRIS GRUBB, DONALD PAYTON JR.,
KRIS FUGATE, LYN JONES, SHANNON MURRAY, CODY PORTER, CHRIS NEW, ROB HAMMEL, AMY TOWNE, JACOB WEATHERFORD,
JASON SPOON, LORI JOHNSON, JOE MALTEMPI, ROBERT EBERTH, AND MIKE KARABINOS. EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE FOUR MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE
BOARD. 
          THERE'S A TIMER SET UP ON TOP OF THE PODIUM THAT WILL TURN GREEN WHEN YOU BEGIN SPEAKING. 
          YELLOW WHEN YOU HAVE 30S REMAINING, AND RED WHEN YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
          AS A REMINDER, NO PERSONAL BELONGINGS OTHER THAN A CELL PHONE AND SPEAKER NOTES ARE
ALLOWED AT THE PODIUM. 
          PLEASE HAVE YOUR MATERIALS ORGANIZED IN A MANNER THAT,
AS YOU ARRIVE AT THE PODIUM, YOU ARE PREPARED TO START SPEAKING. 
          PLEASE NOTE THAT COMMENTS EQUIVALENT TO CAMPAIGNING FOR ANY PUBLIC OFFICE ARE IN VIOLATION
OF SCHOOL BOARD POLICY 1110 ARE PROHIBITED. 
          I'M GOING TO CALL THE FIRST FIVE SPEAKERS UP,
AND I ALSO HAVE A POWERPOINT TO HELP. 
          I'LL CALL THE FIRST FIVE SPEAKERS AGAIN IF YOU WOULD LINE UP ON ON EITHER SIDE OF THE WALL
SO YOU CAN BE PREPARED TO START SPEAKING. 
          MAY WE HAVE BRITT HOLLAND, BRIAN EROMENOK, TAMARA ELLETT,
STACY WOLFORD AND SARAH TOSTENSON. 
          BRITT HOLLAND IS FIRST. BRIAN EROMENOK. 
          ALL RIGHT, MOVE ME UP TO THE NUMBER ONE SLOT. 
          GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. I WANTED TO THANK THE SCHOOL BOARD SPECIFICALLY FOR TAKING SWIFT
AND DECISIVE ACTION AND ACCEPTING DOT HEFFRON RESIGNATION. ESPECIALLY YOU, MISS CHATTERS. YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING THAT MOST DEMOCRATS
NOWADAYS CAN'T DO, AND THAT'S DENOUNCE POLITICAL VIOLENCE. SO YOU HAD THE MOST COMMENDABLE PERSON UP HERE ON
THE BOARD THUS FAR. 
          IT'S REASSURING TO KNOW THAT AT LEAST FOUR OUT OF THE FIVE BOARD MEMBERS HAVE OUR BEST
INTERESTS OF OUR PUPILS AND PARENTS IN MIND. 
          AND IT'S A SHIFTING ENVIRONMENT OUT THERE. AND DOING THE BEST FOR WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR KIDS
IS TO EDUCATE AND NOT INDOCTRINATE. 
          I DO WANT TO ASK ANYBODY LIKE THAT'S STANDING BEHIND ME AND SITTING IN THE GALLERY. 
          IF YOU HEAR SOMETHING YOU LIKE, FEEL FREE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS CLASS. 
          AND THANKS TO EVERYBODY THAT WORE RED FOR CHARLIE KIRK'S 32ND BIRTHDAY. 
          HE RECEIVED THE PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM TODAY FROM OUR PRESIDENT. 
          AND TO ME, THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT A NAZI WOULD RECEIVE. 
          AND CALL ME OLD FASHIONED, BUT I REMEMBER WHEN ALL MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD DENOUNCE
SCHOOL SHOOTINGS. YOU KNOW, BEFORE TV AND SOCIAL MEDIA, TOWN HALL MEETINGS WERE THE HEIGHT OF OUR SOCIAL ACTIVITY IN
THESE COMMUNITIES. 
          DOT HEFFRON APOLOGY WAS DISINGENUOUS AT BEST,
AND I FEEL LIKE SHE WAS MORE SORRY THAT SHE GOT CAUGHT FOR RATHER THAN WHAT SHE SAID. 
          YOU KNOW WHAT? THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF CHARLIE KIRK IN EACH ONE OF US. 
          WE WANT SAFE COMMUNITIES. WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO STAND UP TO THESE PODIUMS AND SPEAK WHAT'S
ON OUR MIND. 
          AND WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO ENGAGE IN CIVIL DISCOURSE,
YOU KNOW, BASED IN LOGIC, REASONING AND FACTS. 
          AND IF THAT'S NOT WHAT PUBLIC EDUCATION IS FOR,
THEN THEN WHAT IS IT FOR? ELECTED OFFICIALS SUCH AS YOURSELVES ARE HELD TO A MUCH HIGHER STANDARD THAN YOUR AVERAGE
CITIZEN. 
          AND YOU CAN'T JUST HAVE BLATANT DISREGARD AND,
YOU KNOW, SPEAK OUT OF TURN. 
          AND WHEN YOU CROSS THAT LINE INTO LIBEL AND SLANDER,
YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT PROTECTED. 
          THAT'S NOT FREE SPEECH. SO THEREFORE, THE FACT THAT MISS DOT HEFFRON IS NOT EVEN SEATED IN
THIS CHAIR TONIGHT, I'M GLAD THAT AT LEAST SHE HAS SOME INTEGRITY AND NOT TO SHOW UP. 
          I WOULD ASK THAT SHE EVEN RESIGNS AS OF TODAY AND NOT RECEIVE A PAYCHECK. 
          THE FACT THAT THAT SEAT IS EMPTY. I THINK IS PROBABLY THE BEST FOR THE RESIDENTS OF CLOVER
HILL. 
          THERE WAS A GENTLEMAN, I THINK, THAT SPOKE AT THE LAST MEETING,
AND HE SPOKE OF IRRATIONAL FEARS, AND HE GAVE A LONG LIST OF IRRATIONAL FEARS. WELL,
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT THERE IS A RATIONAL FEAR THAT GRIPS MANY OF US, AND MAYBE SOME PEOPLE AREN'T COURAGEOUS ENOUGH TO SPEAK UP AGAINST IT,
BUT IT'S THE CLEAR AND OBVIOUS MARXISM THAT'S TAKING OVER OUR SOCIETY. 
          IT'S INFECTING OUR POLITICS ALL THE WAY UP TO THE FEDERAL LEVEL. 
          I MEAN, RIGHT NOW, OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS CLOSED BECAUSE WE CAN'T FIND 7 DEMOCRATS TO
OPEN UP AND VOTE FOR A CONTINUING RESOLUTION THAT WAS THAT ADOPTED BIDEN ERA POLICIES. 
          [00:50:09]
COME ON, GUYS. I MEAN, WE'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, BEDLAM AND BOARD OF ED MEETINGS,
LIKE IN OUR COUNTIES IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA AND LOUDOUN AND ARLINGTON COUNTY. 
          SO WHEN I SAW ON THE NEWS, LIKE THOSE REMARKS THAT DOT HEFFRON MADE THAT WAS UNACCEPTABLE
BECAUSE CCPS IS BETTER THAN THAT. 
          THIS IS A GREAT COMMUNITY. THIS IS A GREAT SCHOOL SYSTEM. 
          MY SON'S ENROLLED HERE IN CVG. HE RIDES THE BUSSES,
AND IT'S A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT. 
          YOU GUYS INVEST IN YOUR INFRASTRUCTURE, AND IT'S CLEAR THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING A GREAT JOB
OF INVESTING IN THESE CHILDREN'S FUTURES. 
          SO KEEP THAT UP. BUT DON'T FORGET THAT YOU DO WORK FOR THE PEOPLE. 
          AND I JUST WANT TO SAY IN THE LAST 10S, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. 
          GOD BLESS YOU. GOD BLESS CHARLIE KIRK AND GOD BLESS AMERICA. 
          THANK YOU EVERYBODY. TAMARA ELLET. 
          TAMARA ELLET. STACY WOLFORD. 
          SARAH TOSTENSON. 
          THE NEXT FIVE SPEAKERS JENN DUNNING, ANDREA TORRES,
HEATHER MITCHELL, PAMELA MATASSA, AND CHRISTINA CARPENTER. 
          JENN DUNNING. ANDREA TORRES. 
          GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ALLOW ME TO SPEAK IN THIS BOARD. 
          AND I'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE, AND I WANTED TO BRING MY INPUT JUST AS AN IMMIGRANT. 
          BASED UPON THE THE REASON AND THE RECENT SITUATION THAT THE COUNTRY IS FACING,
I CAN SEE THAT THIS IS GETTING SIMILAR TO MY COUNTRY. I'M COMING FROM A,
I'M A VICTIM OF A COMMUNIST COUNTRY, WHICH IS THE MOST VIOLENT COUNTRY IN SOUTH AMERICA WHERE MY FAMILY WAS GOING TO BE KILLED. 
          ALL OF THIS BECAUSE OF THE CHAOS THAT STARTED,
THERE WAS NOT A DONALD TRUMP 50 YEARS AGO. 
          IT WAS THE, IT WAS STARTED JUST LIKE THIS DIVISION. 
          WORDS, FLAMMABLE WORDS THAT BROUGHT A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT I WAS ABLE TO ESCAPE WITH MY
FAMILY. 
          AND I CAME TO THIS BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY BECAUSE I BELIEVED THERE WAS A DREAM. 
          I BELIEVED THERE WAS A SECOND CHANCE. MY CHILD IS,
I HAVE THREE CHILDREN AND WE WERE GOING TO BE KILLED. 
          WE WERE GOING TO BE, THERE WAS GOING TO BE A BOMB THREAT IN MY HOUSE WITH MY CHILDREN,
BECAUSE MY HUSBAND WAS A JOURNALIST AND THEY WANTED TO SHUT HIM UP. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS. AND IT'S SCARY WHEN WE HAVE LEADERS THAT ARE USING
WORDS IN A VERY UNWISE WAY. SO I THANK YOU. THIS NEVER HAPPENS IN MY COUNTRY. 
          AND LIKE I SAID, THERE ARE, BECAUSE I LOVE THIS COUNTRY. 
          AND I'M THANKFUL FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE FOR EMBRACING MY FAMILY,
WHICH I CAME WITH NOTHING. 
          NOW I HAVE A HOME. I'VE BEEN HERE. I'VE BEEN LIVING IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY. 
          MY THREE CHILDREN WENT TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS. MY YOUNGEST ONE GOT IN THE GIFTED PROGRAM
BECAUSE A TEACHER BELIEVED IN HER. SHE ENDED UP WITH A 44.28 GPA. AND NOW SHE'S GOT A FULL RIDE IN WILLIAM AND MARY. 
          SO KEEP THAT BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY, KEEP THAT BEAUTIFUL DREAM. 
          AND PLEASE DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN AGAIN BECAUSE IT'S SCARY. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. MAY WE HAVE HEATHER MITCHELL? PAMELA MATASSA. 
          [00:55:19]
CHRISTINA CARPENTER. 
          NEXT WE HAVE GARY RIZICH, PHILIP WHITAKER, CHRIS GRUBB,
DONALD PAYTON JR., AND KRIS FUGATE. 
          GARY RIZICH. 
          PHILIP WHITAKER. MADAM CHAIR, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK HERE TONIGHT, TO THE BOARD. I AM IN AWE AT THE ENCOURAGEMENT AND THE SUPPORT THAT I SEE FROM THE BOARD, FROM TEACHERS. I HAVE BEEN A TEACHER FOR MUCH OF MY LIFE. 
          I'M NOW WORKING SINCE, I'M SUPPOSED TO BE RETIRED. 
          I'M WORKING IS A DAY TO DAY SUBSTITUTE IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY,
AND I MEET A LOT OF TEACHERS, BUT I'M WORKING IN AREAS NOW. WELL, FIRST OF ALL,
I'VE GOT PREPARED REMARKS HERE. 
          I'M GOING TO ABRIDGE MOST OF THEM SIMPLY BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO SAY OR DO ANYTHING THAT
WOULD SUBTRACT ANYTHING FROM THE ENCOURAGEMENT AND THE SUPPORT AND THE INTEGRITY THAT I'VE SEEN DISPLAYED HERE TONIGHT,
AND THE RECOGNITION OF THE FINE PEOPLE THAT WORK IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY SCHOOLS AND SUPPORTING AGENCIES. I AM TRULY GRATEFUL FOR THAT. 
          I KNOW THAT, I SPEAK TO A LOT OF AUDIENCES WHERE THIS KIND OF ATTITUDE IS NOT SEEN. 
          I SPEAK TO A LOT OF AUDIENCES AROUND THE COMMONWEALTH IN THE WORK THAT I DO IN PUBLIC
POLICY, WHERE ALL PEOPLE WANT TO DO IS FIGHT. WE SEE TOO MANY PEOPLE YELL AT EACH OTHER,
AND IT'S BEEN MY EXPERIENCE THAT FAR TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE INVOLVED WITH JUST YELLING AT EACH OTHER RATHER THAN TALKING TO ONE ANOTHER. 
          I BELIEVE MY TASK AS A CITIZEN IS TO SEEK TO UNDERSTAND MORE THAN TO BE UNDERSTOOD. 
          AND I FOUND ACCEPTANCE AMONG THAT. AND TALKING TO PEOPLE THAT POLITICALLY DISAGREE WITH
ME, BECAUSE MY VIEW IS THAT IF YOU DON'T TALK TO SOMEONE YOU DISAGREE WITH,
YOU WON'T LEARN ANYTHING NEW. 
          I ENJOY HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE THAT WE DISAGREE WITH. 
          MY EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN THAT IN THIS COUNTRY,
THIS REPUBLIC WAS FOUNDED BY MEN WHO GATHERED TO WRITE THE CONSTITUTION, AND THEY DISAGREED WITH ALMOST EVERY POLICY THEY WERE ASSIGNED TO DEBATE,
AND THEY COULD NOT COME TO AGREEMENT ON IT. 
          BUT THEY WERE ABLE TO SET ASIDE THOSE POLICY DISAGREEMENTS AND DEAL WITH PRINCIPLES
UNDERLYING THEM THAT THEY ALREADY AGREED ON. 
          AND I BELIEVE IT IS OUR TASK AS PUBLIC SERVANTS TO FIND PLACES WHERE YOU AGREE ON
PRINCIPLE. 
          AND MY EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN THERE'S A VERY BROAD AGREEMENT OF PRINCIPLE AMONG THE PEOPLE
WHO ARE, NO MATTER WHICH POLITICAL PARTY THEY'RE IN, NO MATTER WHAT POSITION THEY MAY TAKE ON A
PARTICULAR ISSUE. 
          THERE'S A BROAD AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE, AND I BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO FIND THOSE
PRINCIPLES, START WITH WHAT WE AGREE ON AND TO LEARN TO GROW FROM THERE. 
          I DO BELIEVE ONE OF MY PASSIONS IS TO, IT'S REALLY CONCERNING ME IS THAT THERE IS A VERY
LARGE DICHOTOMY IN EDUCATION, PUBLIC EDUCATION BETWEEN THE FUNDING AND THE REGULATION. 
          YOU ALL KNOW VERY WELL THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF FUNDING IS LOCAL AND A LITTLE BIT MORE
STATE, AND VERY LITTLE IS FEDERAL, BUT THE REGULATION BURDENING TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS AND
PARENTS IS EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE. 
          THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE REGULATION IS FEDERAL,
DONE BY PEOPLE WHO NEVER SEE, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THEY EVEN KNOW OR CARE ABOUT THE STUDENTS THAT OUR TEACHERS SEE EVERY DAY. WE NEED TO ADDRESS THAT DICHOTOMY. 
          WE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO WORK AROUND SOME OF THAT. 
          I BELIEVE THERE ARE SOME SOLUTIONS THAT MIGHT BE AVAILABLE. 
          I BELIEVE YOU HAVE A CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE. 
          I AM HAPPY TO OFFER WHAT EXPERIENCE AND I HAVE IN THAT CAPACITY OR TO TO THE COMMITTEE,
TO THE BOARD, IF THERE'S ANY WAY WE CAN DO THAT. BECAUSE I'M SPENDING MY LIFE. 
          WHAT TIME GOD GIVES ME NOW TO SEEK COMMON GROUND,
TO SEEK IMPROVEMENT. 
          WE'VE HAD ENOUGH COMPLAINING. WE'VE HAD ENOUGH FIGHTING. 
          AND WE DON'T WANT COMPROMISE. WE WANT COMMON GROUND. 
          THANK YOU, MR. WHITAKER. THANK YOU. CHRIS GRUBB. 
          [01:00:14]
GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS CHRIS GRUBB, AND I'M A HOMEOWNER IN THE FOXFIELD NEIGHBORHOOD AND
A PARENT OF A SOON TO BE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENT. 
          PREVIOUSLY SPOKE TO THE BOARD ABOUT THE DISTRICT FOR THE NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BUILT IN
OUR AREA. 
          AND NOW THAT WE HAVE THOSE OPTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED TO US,
I'M BACK TO ADVOCATE FOR OPTION ONE, WHICH INCLUDES OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE ZONE FOR THE NEW DEEP CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. 
          I DO WANT TO START BY ACKNOWLEDGING THE PARENTS WHO ARE HESITANT TO SUPPORT AN OPTION THAT
WOULD MOVE THEIR CHILD TO A NEW SCHOOL, AND I EMPATHIZE WITH THAT AND KNOW THAT ULTIMATELY,
OPTION ONE FOR THEM MIGHT NOT FEEL LIKE THE BEST FIT. 
          HOWEVER, I'M ASKING THE BOARD TO CONSIDER THE LONG TERM IMPACTS OF THIS DECISION BEYOND
JUST THE CURRENT STUDENTS. 
          AND LOOK AT WHAT IS BEST FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE STUDENTS FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS. 
          SWIFT FOX DRIVE IS THE ROAD THAT CURRENTLY SERVES AS A DIVIDER IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. 
          MY FAMILY LIVES ON THE CORNER OF THE STREET,
MEETING OUR NEIGHBORS WHO ARE LITERALLY A FEW FEET AWAY THAT WE TAILGATE WITH ON SATURDAYS AND AND HANG OUT WITH IN THE AFTERNOONS. OUR KIDS WILL BE GOING TO DIFFERENT SCHOOLS. 
          AND IT'S IT'S FUNNY, WE WERE OUT THERE THE OTHER DAY AND I TOOK A PICTURE AND YOU CAN SEE
THE TWO BUSSES THAT GO TO TWO DIFFERENT SCHOOLS DROPPING OFF THE KIDS AT THE SAME TIME. 
          SO IT'S KIND OF WILD. BUT WE WOULD LOVE FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD TO BE UNIFIED SHARING ONE
SCHOOL INSTEAD OF BEING SPLIT DOWN THE MIDDLE. 
          THIS WOULD FINALLY UNITE FOX HILL AND WYNWOOD AND WOULD HELP EASE THAT BUS TRAFFIC DOWN
THIS SMALL STREET SINCE CHESTERFIELD WOULD NO LONGER HAVE TO RUN THOSE TWO SEPARATE SCHOOL BUSSES FOR THIS ONE AREA. SO THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING OPTION ONE AND YOUR TIME THIS
EVENING. 
          APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU, MR. GRUBB. DONALD PAYTON JR. 
          GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS DONALD PAYTON JR. I GO TO SALEM CHURCH MIDDLE SCHOOL. 
          I'M IN SEVENTH GRADE. TODAY I WANT TO ADDRESS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE MANY STUDENTS FACE DAILY
WAITING IN LONG LINES TO GO THROUGH METAL DETECTORS. 
          AS A STUDENT, I HAVE PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED THE FRUSTRATION OF STANDING OUTSIDE IN THE
RAIN WHILE WAITING FOR MY TURN ON DAYS WHEN THE WEATHER IS BAD. 
          THIS CAN BE UNCOMFORTABLE AND EVEN UNHEALTHY. 
          IT'S NOT JUST ME. MY FRIEND TYLER, WHO ATTENDS CARVER MIDDLE SCHOOL HAS SHARED HOW HE HAD
HOW HE HAS MISSED BREAKFAST SIMPLY BECAUSE HE WAS STUCK IN LINE. 
          WHILE I UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR SAFETY IN OUR SCHOOLS,
WE NEED TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO THESE UNEXPECTED PROBLEMS. I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST A FEW IDEAS THAT COULD HELP. 
          01, CANOPY OUR TENT. THIS WILL PROTECT STUDENTS WHEN THEY'RE WHEN THE RAIN IS BAD. 
          DESIGN INDOOR WAITING AREA. HAVE AN INDOOR WAITING AREA AND MOVE THE METAL DETECTORS WHEN
WE HAVE BAD WEATHER. 
          THIS COULD ENSURE THAT WE ARE SHELTERED WHILE STILL FOLLOWING SAFETY PROTOCOLS. 
          03, INCREASING STAFF. HAVING MORE STAFF CAN HELP SPEED UP THE PROCESS,
REDUCE OUR WAIT TIMES TO PREVENT MISSING BREAKFAST AND BEING TARDY. IN CONCLUSION, I AM ASKING SUPPORT FROM YOU TO CONSIDER THESE SUGGESTIONS. 
          WE APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS TO KEEP US SAFE, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO ADDRESS ISSUES OF WAIT TIME
AND WEATHER PROTECTION SO STUDENTS CAN HAVE A COMFORTABLE START TO THEIR DAY. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]. 
          MAY WE HAVE KRIS FUGATE? GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. MY NAME IS CHRIS FUGATE. 
          I'M A LIFELONG CHESTERFIELD COUNTY RESIDENT,
A COMBAT VETERAN, AND A FATHER OF TWO CRENSHAW ELEMENTARY STUDENTS. 
          ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30TH, CRENSHAW ELEMENTARY RECEIVED A THREAT TO SHOOT UP THE SCHOOL. 
          I CAME TO THE SCHOOL THAT MORNING AND SAW THE POLICE RESPONSE FIRST HAND. 
          [01:05:02]
THERE WERE 4 OR 5 POLICE CARS, BUT THE OFFICERS STOOD TOGETHER IN CONVERSATION. 
          I SAW NO ACTIVE PATROLLING AND THE CHURCH LOT BEHIND THE SCHOOL. 
          A VULNERABLE ACCESS POINT REMAINED UNSECURED. 
          WITHIN AN HOUR, MOST OF THE OFFICERS HAD DISPERSED. 
          AS SOMEONE WHO HAS RESPONDED TO REAL THREATS IN COMBAT,
I CAN TELL YOU THIS POSTURE DID NOT LOOK LIKE DETERRENCE OR SECURITY. 
          THEN ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1ST, ANOTHER THREAT CAME IN BEFORE 7:30 A.M. 
          I DIDN'T HEAR ABOUT IT FROM THE SCHOOL. I HEARD IT FROM A TEACHER IN THE PARKING LOT AS I
DROPPED OFF MY KIDS. 
          THE OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION FROM THE SCHOOL DIDN'T ARRIVE UNTIL NEARLY 9 A.M. 
          OVER 90 MINUTES LATER. PARENTS DESERVE BETTER THAN TO BE LEFT IN THE DARK WHILE STUDENTS
ARE STILL ENTERING THE BUILDING. 
          EVEN A SHORT INITIAL MESSAGE LIKE WE'VE RECEIVED A THREAT. 
          POLICE ARE ON SITE. MORE DETAILS TO COME. WOULD HAVE GIVEN US THE CHANCE TO MAKE INFORMED
DECISIONS ABOUT OUR CHILDREN'S SAFETY. 
          HERE'S SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN WEIGHING ON ME SINCE THAT MORNING. THERE ARE 12 OTHER PUBLIC
SCHOOLS WITHIN A FIVE MILE RADIUS OF CRENSHAW. 
          I WANT TO KNOW, WERE ANY OF THOSE NEARBY SCHOOLS NOTIFIED DURING EITHER OF THESE
INCIDENTS? BECAUSE IF THEY WEREN'T, THAT'S AN ENORMOUS GAP IN OUR SAFETY PROTOCOL. 
          IF A PERSON TRULY INTENDED HARM, THEY COULD HAVE SEEN THE POLICE PRESENCE AT CRENSHAW AND
SIMPLY DRIVEN TO ANOTHER NEARBY SCHOOL THAT HAD NO WARNING AT ALL. 
          THEN THERE'S WHAT CAME NEXT. POLICE SAID THE SUSPECT,
A CHESTERFIELD STUDENT, WOULD NOT FACE CHARGES BECAUSE THE THREATS WEREN'T CREDIBLE AND THE STUDENT HAD NO MEANS TO CARRY THEM OUT. SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? HE GETS A PASS. JUST BECAUSE THE THREATS WERE DEEMED NOT CREDIBLE DOESN'T MEAN THEY
WEREN'T CRIMINAL. 
          HAS A MENTAL HEALTH EVALUATION BEEN DONE? IS ANY INTERVENTION HAPPENING WHILE THEY
DETERMINE WHETHER TO PURSUE CHARGES? BECAUSE TO PARENTS LIKE ME, THAT READS AS NO ACCOUNTABILITY AND NO PREVENTION. 
          LAST WEEK, I MET WITH JOHN PHILLIPS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CONSTITUENT SERVICES,
AND SAMANTHA WADE, PRINCIPAL OF CRENSHAW ELEMENTARY. I APPRECIATE THEIR TIME AND THE STEPS THEY'VE COMMITTED
TO, INCLUDING REVIEWING NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES,
STRENGTHENING CROSS SCHOOL COMMUNICATION, AND REEVALUATING HOW POLICE AND SCHOOLS COORDINATE DURING ACTIVE THREATS. THAT'S PROGRESS,
BUT PROMISES MEAN LITTLE WITHOUT FOLLOW THROUGH. 
          SINCE THEN, I'VE ALSO HEARD FROM DELEGATE MARK EARLEY AND MAJOR MARK HAINES WITH THE
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT. 
          I'M GRATEFUL THEY TOOK THE TIME TO RESPOND. DELEGATE EARLEY EXPRESSED HIS SUPPORT FOR
STRENGTHENING PARENTAL NOTIFICATION LAWS THROUGH LEGISLATIVE MEASURES AND MAJOR HAINES PROVIDED CLARITY ABOUT WHY CHARGES HAVE NOT YET BEEN FILED IN THIS
PARTICULAR CASE. 
          I APPRECIATE THOSE RESPONSES, BUT PARENTS STILL DESERVE GREATER TRANSPARENCY,
VISIBLE PREPAREDNESS FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND DOCUMENTED ACCOUNTABILITY WHEN THREATS ARE MADE. 
          MY GOAL ISN'T TO ASSIGN BLAME, IT'S TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN OR IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN,
EVERY MINUTE COUNTS AND EVERY PARENT KNOWS WHAT'S HAPPENING. 
          WHEN WE TELL OUR CHILDREN THAT SCHOOL IS A SAFE PLACE,
THAT HAS TO BE TRUE, NOT JUST SOMETHING WE HOPE FOR, OUR CHILDREN DESERVE BETTER. I'M ASKING THIS BOARD TO ACT IMMEDIATELY TO FIX 4 THINGS,
FASTER AND EARLIER PARENTAL NOTIFICATION, STRONGER AND SUSTAINED POLICE POSTURE, REAL COORDINATION AND ALERTS TO NEARBY SCHOOLS,
AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND INTERVENTION FOR EVERY THREAT, CREDIBLE OR NOT. I ENTRUST MY CHILDREN'S SAFETY TO THE SYSTEM EVERY SINGLE DAY. 
          I NEED TO SEE PROOF, AND I THINK EVERY PARENT IN THIS COUNTY DESERVES TO SEE PROOF THAT
THEIR CHILDREN'S SAFETY IS YOUR TOP PRIORITY. 
          THANK YOU. THE NEXT GROUP OF 5 ARE LYN JONES, SHANNON MURRAY, CODY PORTER, CHRIS NEW, AND ROB HAMMEL. 
          MAY WE HAVE LYN JONES? GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS LYN JONES. 
          I'M A STUDENT AT MATOACA HIGH SCHOOL AND THE OLDER SISTER OF THREE AMAZING SECOND GRADERS
AT ECOFF ELEMENTARY, LOCATED IN THE BERMUDA DISTRICT. MRS COKER IN YOUR BOARD ELECTION CAMPAIGN,
YOU SAY THAT YOU ARE A MOM AND A LEADER WHO LISTENS. 
          ALTHOUGH I AM NOT A MOM, I AM SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MY MOMS WHO ARE TOO EMOTIONAL TO DO SO
THEMSELVES AND ASKING THAT YOU PLEASE LISTEN. 
          MY FAMILY MOVED FROM TEXAS TO CHESTERFIELD IN 2024,
WITH THE PROMISE OF TOP NOTCH SCHOOL SYSTEMS AND MORE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, BUT WE CAN UNFORTUNATELY SAY THAT HAS NOT BEEN OUR CASE. 
          DURING MY BROTHER'S FIRST AND NOW SECOND GRADE YEARS AT ECOFF ELEMENTARY,
ALL THREE HAVE BEEN PHYSICALLY ASSAULTED BY THE SAME STUDENT WHO HAS BEEN MOVED THROUGH ALL THREE OF THEIR CLASSES AT SOME POINT DUE TO BEHAVIORAL DISRUPTIONS,
THROWN CHAIRS, DESKS AND OTHER OBJECTS, SCRATCHES CORNERED AND BLOCKED IN CLASSROOMS,
AND DESTROYING OTHERS CLASSWORK. 
          YET THE ADMINISTRATION HAS NEGLECTED TO PROPERLY HANDLE IT. 
          I WILL NOT BE NAMING SAID STUDENT TODAY BECAUSE WE CARE ABOUT THEIR PRIVACY AND THE ISSUE
AT HAND IS NOT THE CHILD HIMSELF, 
          [01:10:02]
BUT RATHER THE ACTIONS ARE NOT BEING TAKEN TO PROTECT THE SAFETY AND LEARNING OF OTHERS. 
          THIS YEAR WE CELEBRATED MY BROTHER CREDENCE BEING PLACED IN THE GIFTED AND TALENTED CLASS, A DIRECT RESULT OF HIS DEDICATION AND LOVE FOR LEARNING IN SCHOOL. 
          BUT THE SAID STUDENT WAS ALSO PLACED IN CLASS WITH HIM. 
          TURNING MULTIPLE DAYS AT CREED SHOULD HAVE SPENT LEARNING AND TODAY,
STAYING HOME OUT OF INTENSE FEAR AND ANXIETY FROM HIS CLASSMATES, LEAVING HIM PHYSICALLY ILL. ADDITIONALLY, EVEN WHEN HE IS IN CLASS,
THE STUDENTS OUTBURSTS MEAN THE CLASSROOM IS FREQUENTLY DISRUPTED BY ADMINISTRATORS BEING CALLED DOWN TO ASSIST WITH HIS BEHAVIORAL DISRUPTIONS,
WHICH OFTEN TURN VIOLENT. 
          MY MOMS HAVE HAD COUNTLESS MEETINGS WITH TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATION TO TRY AND RESOLVE
THIS MATTER, BUT HAVE BEEN MET WITH INACTION THAT IS NOW TAKING A SEVERE IMPACT ON NOT ONLY THE
EDUCATION OF MY BROTHERS, BUT THE EDUCATION OF OTHERS. THE CURRENT PLAN FOR WHEN SAID CLASSMATE BEGINS HIS OUTRAGES
IS FOR MY BROTHER TO GO TO THE CLASSROOM OF HIS OLD TEACHER, WHO HE KNOWS AND TRUSTS CAN BE A SAFE SPACE FOR HIM,
WHICH IS NOT ONLY DISRUPTIVE TO HIS OWN LEARNING DUE TO TIME MISSED IN HIS CLASS, BUT ALSO DISTRACTS SAID TEACHER FROM TENDING TO HER OWN STUDENTS. 
          MOREOVER, TRIPS TO HER CLASSROOM HAVE BECOME A PART OF HIS DAILY ROUTINE,
A SOLUTION THAT HAS BEEN THE ONLY THING TO PERSUADE HIM TO GO TO SCHOOL AMID HIS ANXIETY ABOUT HIS OWN CLASSROOM. EVEN TODAY, I HEARD ON,
THIS IS NOT ON MY SCRIPT, BUT MY MOM INFORMED ME THAT HE SPENT SOME TIME IN THE NURSE'S OFFICE BECAUSE SAID TEACHER WAS NOT HERE FOR HIM TO BE ABLE TO EVACUATE TO THAT CLASS,
AND THERE WAS ANOTHER INCIDENT WITH THE SAME STUDENT. 
          ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. MY FAMILY IS TIRED OF CHOOSING BETWEEN PEACE AND SAFETY OR MY BROTHER'S
EDUCATIONS, AND WE WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP THE BOARD CAN OFFER IN FINDING A REAL SOLUTION TO THIS
ISSUE AND DEMANDING ACCOUNTABILITY FROM ECOFF ELEMENTARY ADMINISTRATION. 
          THANK YOU. SHANNON MURRAY. 
          GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS SHANNON MURRAY, PARENT OF TWO CHILDREN IN THE DISTRICT,
A SENIOR AT MIDLOTHIAN HIGH SCHOOL AND A THIRD GRADER AT OLD HUNDRED ELEMENTARY. 
          I'M HERE BECAUSE WHAT'S CALLED PRANK WEEK, ORGANIZED BY STUDENTS BEFORE HOMECOMING,
HAS BECOME SOMETHING ELSE ENTIRELY. 
          THIS WHAT HAPPENED TO MY FAMILY WAS NOT A PRANK. 
          IT WAS HATE. IT WAS CRIMINAL, AND IT WAS DANGEROUS. 
          AT 1:45 A.M. ON SEPTEMBER 22ND, 6 TO 8 MASKED INDIVIDUALS,
GROWN BODIES IN HOODIES, STOOD IN OUR YARD THROWING JARS OF MAYONNAISE AND IN CANS OF SOUP. THEY SPRINKLED FLOUR ON OUR PORCH. 
          HURLED TOILET PAPER, STUFFED SARDINES UNDER MY SON'S CAR HOOD AND WROTE THE N WORD ACROSS
IT. 
          FROM OUR WINDOW WE WATCHED THEM MOVING WITHOUT FEAR,
NOT HIDING FROM WHO WAS INSIDE OR WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN NEXT. 
          ANY HOMEOWNER COULD HAVE JUSTIFIABLY DEFENDED THEIR FAMILY. 
          THAT'S HOW CLOSE THESE PRANKS COME TO TRAGEDY. 
          THIS WASN'T THE FIRST TIME, OUR HOME WAS HIT LAST YEAR. 
          FECES IN THE DRIVEWAY. RAW POULTRY IN THE MAILBOX. 
          PARENTS CALL EVERY YEAR BECAUSE THIS IS A PATTERN. 
          EVEN PRINCIPAL SHAWN ABEL ADMITS HE DREADS THIS WEEK EVERY YEAR. 
          AS FAMILIES REPORT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN DAMAGES. 
          THAT DREAD IS PROOF THAT THIS IS A KNOWN SCHOOL COMMUNITY THREAT,
NOT AN OFF CAMPUS EXCUSE. 
          THIS WASN'T THE FIRST TIME. I'M SORRY. YES. YET WHEN I ASKED FOR A PUBLIC STATEMENT
CONDEMNING WHAT HAPPENED, I WAS DENIED. THE TWO STUDENTS WHO CONFESSED STILL ATTENDED HOMECOMING. 
          EVEN AFTER ONE PROVIDED ALL EIGHT NAMES INVOLVED. 
          NO FOLLOW UP, NO ESCALATION, NO ACCOUNTABILITY. 
          AND THAT'S MORE THAN MORAL FAILURE. IT'S A POLICY FAILURE. 
          POLICY 4010-R REQUIRES PRINCIPALS TO REFER INCIDENTS INVOLVING VIOLENCE,
DANGER, OR UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES TO THE SUPERINTENDENT AND LAW ENFORCEMENT. 
          IT ALLOWS DISCIPLINE FOR OFF CAMPUS ACTS THAT ENDANGER OTHERS OR DISRUPT THE LEARNING
ENVIRONMENT. 
          IT FORBIDS RACIAL INTIMIDATION AND BULLYING,
EVEN BETWEEN STUDENTS OUTSIDE SCHOOL HOURS. 
          IT AUTHORIZES REMOVAL FROM EXTRACURRICULARS DURING INVESTIGATIONS. 
          EVERY TOOL WAS THERE, EVERY DUTY WRITTEN IN BLACK AND WHITE. 
          AND STILL NOTHING. THIS WAS AN ATTACK ON MY BIRACIAL FAMILY. 
          MY HUSBAND IS BLACK. MY DAUGHTER IS BIRACIAL. 
          LAST YEAR, TWO CLASSMATES IN HER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TOLD HER TO FINISH THE SECOND SYLLABLE
OF THE WORD VINEGAR. 
          SHE THOUGHT SHE DIDN'T KNOW THE WORD, BUT FELT IT WAS WRONG. 
          LATER THAT DAY, I HAD TO TEACH MY EIGHT YEAR OLD WHAT THAT N WORD MEANT AND WHY IT'S BEEN
USED TO WOUND PEOPLE LIKE HER AND HER FATHER. 
          SHE CRIED, ASKING WHY ANYONE WOULD SAY SOMETHING SO CRUEL. 
          [01:15:02]
NO CHILD SHOULD HAVE TO LEARN ABOUT HATE THAT WAY. 
          NOT IN A DISTRICT THAT CLAIMS HAVE TO VALUE INCLUSION YET HIDES FROM THE TRUTH. 
          I'VE SEEN A VIDEO OF STUDENTS USING THE SAME WORD CASUALLY AS AS IF IT CARRIES NO HISTORY
AT ALL. 
          THIS IS NOT THE WORD RECLAIMED IN MUSIC. IT'S THE ONE STILL USED TO DEMEAN,
AND OUR SILENCE IS WHAT KEEPS IT ALIVE. 
          IF EIGHT BLACK STUDENTS HAD DONE THIS TO A WHITE FAMILY IN HORSLEY,
WE WOULDN'T BE DEBATING THIS POLICY AND WE ALL KNOW IT. 
          THE BOARD MOVED WITHIN 48 HOURS WHEN A MEMBER MADE AN INAPPROPRIATE SOCIAL MEDIA POST OFF
CAMPUS, HARMING NO ONE. BUT WHEN FAMILIES WERE TARGETED WITH HATE TIED TO A SCHOOL EVENT,
THERE WAS SILENCE. 
          THAT SILENCE TEACHES THAT SOME FAMILIES MATTER AND OTHERS ARE LEFT TO FIGHT ALONE. 
          SO TONIGHT I'M ASKING FOR ACTION, NOT SYMPATHY. 
          CONDEMN WHAT HAPPENED. MAKE IT CLEAR THAT PRANK WEEK,
THE CULTURE OF SANCTIONED CHAOS HAS NO PLACE IN OUR SCHOOLS. 
          ENFORCE YOUR CODE OF CONDUCT. TEACH THE TRUTH ABOUT HATE AND HOLD ACCOUNTABILITY. 
          THE LEADERSHIP THAT FAILED TO PROTECT. CODY PORTER. 
          GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD. MY NAME IS CODY PORTER,
AND FOR THE PAST SEVEN YEARS I'VE WORKED IN POLITICS, STARTING WHILE I WAS STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL. MOST OF THAT WORK HAS BEEN BEHIND THE SCENES
BETWEEN ORGANIZING CAMPUSES, TRAINING ACTIVISTS, KNOCKING ON DOORS AND REGISTERING VOTERS. 
          BUT THIS MOMENT FEELS TOO IMPORTANT FOR ME TO STAY EXCLUSIVELY BEHIND THE SCENES. 
          I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF MEETING CHARLIE KIRK ON TWO OCCASIONS DURING POLITICAL EVENTS THAT
HE SPOKE AT. 
          SO THIS IS CERTAINLY PERSONAL FOR ME. TO ME,
CHARLIE KIRK IS NOT JUST SOMEONE WHOSE VIDEOS POPPED UP IN MY FACEBOOK OR MY INSTAGRAM FEED. HE WAS A REAL PERSON. WHEN CHARLIE WAS MURDERED. 
          EVEN THOSE WHO HADN'T KNOWN HIM, INCLUDING MANY IN THIS ROOM,
I'M SURE FELT THAT LOSS DEEPLY AS WELL. 
          CHARLIE WOULD HAVE BEEN 32 YEARS OLD TODAY. SO WHEN WE SEE,
OF COURSE, THAT A MEMBER OF CHESTERFIELD SCHOOL BOARD WHO HAS DIRECT CONTROL OVER THE DECISION MAKINGS THAT'S IMPACTING THOUSANDS OF KIDS EDUCATION MADE THE
FOLLOWING COMMENT THAT I NOW QUOTE DIRECTLY IN THE WAKE OF HIS DEATH. 
          CALL ME OLD FASHIONED, BUT I REMEMBER WHEN WE USED TO BE OKAY WITH SHOOTING NAZIS. 
          WE SHOULD CALL THIS WHAT THIS IS HATEFUL, OFFENSIVE,
AND ULTIMATELY DANGEROUS. 
          THIS RHETORIC IS NOT NORMAL IN ANY WAY, AND WE CAN'T ALLOW IT TO BECOME NORMAL. 
          NOW, I WANT TO BE CLEAR. I PERSONALLY FORGIVE HER COMPLETELY. 
          I TRULY DO. AND I'M SURE THAT MANY OTHERS DO. 
          AS WELL AS CHARLIE KIRK ONCE QUOTED FROM C.S. 
          LEWIS ON HIS OWN SOCIAL MEDIA PAGE, TO BE A CHRISTIAN MEANS TO FORGIVE THE INEXCUSABLE
BECAUSE GOD HAS FORGIVEN THE INEXCUSABLE IN YOU. 
          I'M THANKFUL THAT THAT GRACE EXTENDS TO ALL OF US. 
          BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT, THE NEED FOR FORGIVENESS IS EVIDENCE OF THE FACT THAT AN
OFFENSE WAS INDEED COMMITTED. 
          ACCOUNTABILITY FOR ACTIONS IS A MANDATE OF THE GOVERNMENT,
AND IT STANDS TO REASON THAT ANYONE IN A POSITION OF PUBLIC TRUST WHO USES THEIR PLATFORM TO JUSTIFY VIOLENCE IS FORFEITING THEIR RIGHT TO CONTINUE IN THAT ROLE. 
          I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU ON THE SCHOOL BOARD FOR TAKING ACTION ON THIS. 
          I DO TRULY BELIEVE THAT THERE HAS BEEN A GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO MAKE THIS RIGHT. 
          ON BEHALF OF ALL RESIDENTS OF CHESTERFIELD. MY ONLY REQUEST AT THIS TIME IS FOR MISS
HEFFRON TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND STEP DOWN IMMEDIATELY. 
          THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR YOUR SERVICE. 
          CHRIS NEW. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE TIME THAT I'VE BEEN GIVEN TO SPEAK THIS EVENING. I'M GOING TO
JUMP RIGHT INTO IT. TODAY IS CHARLIE KIRK'S BIRTHDAY. 
          HOW APPROPRIATE. HOW POETIC EVEN IT IS FOR US TO DISCUSS SPEECH AND SAFETY HERE TONIGHT. 
          I'M HERE TO BRING ATTENTION ONCE AGAIN TO THE WORDS THAT MISS HEFFRON EXPRESSED ON HER
INSTAGRAM PAGE, WHERE SHE STATED, AND I QUOTE. CALL ME OLD FASHIONED,
BUT I REMEMBER WHEN WE USED TO BE OKAY WITH SHOOTING NAZIS. 
          SO MAYBE WE SHOULD DEFINE NAZI. A NAZI WAS AN INDIVIDUAL WITH TIES TO THE NOW DEFUNCT
NATIONAL SOCIALIST GERMAN WORKERS PARTY, WHICH WAS OUTLAWED IN GERMANY FOLLOWING WORLD WAR TWO. 
          SO TO LABEL ANYONE AS A NAZI IS ANACHRONISTIC AND EVEN LAZY AT BEST. 
          [01:20:06]
DO NAZIS SIT UNDER A TENT WITH A SIGN THAT SAYS PROVE ME WRONG,
AND THEN HAND THEIR OPPONENTS A MICROPHONE? THIS ISN'T EXACTLY A HALLMARK OF FASCISM TO INVITE DIALOG. 
          USUALLY THEIR REGIMES ARE CENTERED ON AUTOCRACY,
NOT PRODUCTIVE AND MEANINGFUL CONVERSATION. 
          I PERSONALLY HAD A GRANDFATHER WHO FOUGHT ACTUAL FASCISTS AND KNEW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
A PATRIOTIC AMERICAN AND A TRUE FASCIST. 
          IT WAS THE FASCISTS WHO SHOT AT HIM AGAIN. IT WAS THE FASCISTS WHO SHOT AT HIM. 
          APPROXIMATELY 64,000 CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE IMPACTED BY THE RECKLESS,
CARELESS WORDS FROM MRS HEFFRON, WHOSE ABSENCE IS NOTABLE TONIGHT. HOW MANY OF THE FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN IN CCPS WOULD
FALL UNDER MRS HEFFRON TERRIFYINGLY BROAD DEFINITION OF NAZI? HOW CAN THEY EXPECT TO BELIEVE THEIR CHILDREN WILL BE SAFE ON CCPS
PROPERTY OR AT CCP'S FUNCTIONS? MANY OF THESE FAMILIES HAVE VIEWS MIRRORING KIRK'S. 
          SHOULD THEY BE COUNTED AS NAZIS AS WELL AND SUFFER A SIMILAR FATE? HER WORDS IN THE WAKE OF KIRK'S PASSING ARE YET ANOTHER REASON WHY SO MANY FAMILIES DECIDE
TO HOMESCHOOL RATHER THAN ENTRUST THEIR CHILDREN TO GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT. 
          FREEDOM OF SPEECH ALLOWS INDIVIDUALS TO EXPRESS THEIR OPINIONS WITHOUT GOVERNMENT
INTERFERENCE, BUT IT CAN COME WITH SOCIAL CONSEQUENCES SUCH AS CRITICISM,
OSTRACISM, LOSS OF EMPLOYMENT. 
          WHILE THE FIRST AMENDMENT PROTECTS THE RIGHT,
IT DOES NOT SHIELD INDIVIDUALS FROM THE REACTIONS THEIR SPEECH MAY PROVOKE IN SOCIETY. 
          I SAY THAT TO ASK THIS WHY SHOULD MRS HEFFRON BE ABLE TO DEFINE HER OWN TERMS OF DEPARTURE
JUST BECAUSE SHE WAS ELECTED BEFORE SHE REVEALED HER HATRED WHEN OTHERS WHO THINK THE WAY SHE DOES WERE DISMISSED THAT VERY DAY FROM THEIR
PRIVATE SECTOR EMPLOYERS. 
          SO TONIGHT I CALL ON MRS HEFFRON TO NOT JUST DO THE RIGHT THING,
BUT ALSO DO THE BETTER THING. 
          NOT TO WAIT FOR DECEMBER 31ST AND RESIGN TONIGHT BEFORE THIS AUDIENCE. 
          THIS WILL ENSURE NO FURTHER DAMAGE TO CHESTERFIELD'S CHESTERFIELD PRESTIGE IS INCURRED AND
IT WILL ALLOW FOR A REPLACEMENT TO BE CHOSEN THAT MUCH FASTER. 
          ANYTHING LESS JUST LOOKS LIKE SHE IS BUYING TIME,
HOPING PEOPLE WILL FORGET WHAT SHE SAID SO SHE CAN WITHDRAW HER RESIGNATION AND SLIDE BACK INTO HER ROLE ON THE BOARD. BUT AS WE KNOW, THE INTERNET IS FOREVER AND WE WILL NOT
FORGET. 
          IF MRS HEFFRON IS UNFIT TO REMAIN IN HER POST COME JANUARY 1ST,
WHY IS SHE STILL FIT TO OCCUPY IT ON OCTOBER 14TH? I LEAVE YOU WITH ONE LINE THAT IMPACTED ME FROM CHARLIE KIRK HIMSELF. 
          THE BEST POLITICAL IDEA IS TO STICK TO WHAT MADE THIS COUNTRY UNIQUELY SUCCESSFUL FROM THE
BEGINNING. 
          AND IT WASN'T SOCIALISM OR FASCISM. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. 
          ROB HAMILL. 
          HELLO CHESTERFIELD. IT'S ALWAYS WONDERFUL TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ABOUT THE GOOD
WORK OUR STAFF IS DOING. 
          IN THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER CEA VISITED SEVERAL SCHOOLS AND TALKED TO MEMBERS ABOUT THEIR
WORK. 
          WE HAPPEN TO BE IN BENSLEY ELEMENTARY ON SEPTEMBER 26TH WHEN THE AREA UNEXPECTEDLY LOST
POWER. 
          I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES I HEARD LOWER GRADE TEACHERS CALL OUT,
WE'RE GOING ON AN ADVENTURE! AS THEY LED THEIR CLASS DOWN A DARK HALLWAY BY THE LIGHT OF THEIR CELL PHONES. 
          WE ALSO SAW THE FRONT OFFICE TEAM SKILLFULLY MANAGING REQUESTS FROM ANXIOUS PARENTS. 
          DOMINION ENERGY KEEPS ADMINISTRATION AND THEIR OWN STAFF ALL AT THE SAME TIME. 
          OUR LOVE FOR OUR STUDENTS AND OUR TEAMWORK SKILLS WERE PROMINENTLY DISPLAYED AT BENSLEY
THAT FRIDAY. 
          WE ALSO MET A NUMBER OF TEACHERS FROM THE PARTICIPATE LEARNING PROGRAM,
AND IT WAS GREAT TO SEE THEIR ENTHUSIASM FOR TEACHING AND HEAR SOME OF THE UNIQUE PERSPECTIVES THEY BROUGHT FROM A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT CULTURES. 
          WE VISITED THE NEW DEEP CREEK MIDDLE LAST WEEK AND WE WERE VERY IMPRESSED. 
          EVERY STAFF MEMBER WE TALKED TO WAS EXCITED ABOUT THEIR NEW FACILITIES AND THE START OF
THE NEW YEAR. 
          THEIR POSITIVE ENERGY WAS INFECTIOUS. SO IN THE LAST MONTH,
WE'VE HEARD FROM SOME MEMBERS AT BENSLEY AND ALSO AT BELLWOOD THAT THEIR SCHOOLS HAVE LACKED LUNCH COVERAGE IN THE CAFETERIA FOR A NUMBER OF DAYS THIS YEAR. 
          TEACHERS SAY THIS CAN RESULT IN THEM WORKING THROUGH LUNCH TO COVER THE GAP IN STAFFING. 
          ON DAYS WHEN THEY ALSO HAVE MEETINGS DURING PLANNING TIME,
THEY MAY END UP WORKING SEVEN HOURS OR MORE WITHOUT ANY TIME FOR A BREAK. 
          WE HOPE TO DETERMINE IF THESE ARE. I'M SORRY. 
          WE HAVE ASKED STAFF TO DOCUMENT THESE OCCURRENCES DURING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER,
AND WE HOPE TO DETERMINE IF THESE ARE ISOLATED INCIDENTS OR PART OF A MORE SERIOUS PATTERN. IF THERE IS A PATTERN OF CONTINUED LOSS OF BREAK TIME IN SOME OF OUR BUILDINGS,
WE HOPE THAT WE CAN ALL WORK TOGETHER TO FIND SOME COVERAGE SOLUTIONS. 
          [01:25:08]
I KNOW THAT WE ALL WANT TO BE ABLE TO OFFER OUR STAFF A GREAT WORKING ENVIRONMENT,
AND I'LL UPDATE YOU WITH OUR FINDINGS NEXT MONTH. 
          FINALLY, I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT THE FIRST CPR CLASS OFFERED AT OUR OFFICE WAS A ROUSING
SUCCESS. 
          REGISTRATION FOR THE CLASS FILLED UP IN LESS THAN 24 HOURS. 
          BOTH MEMBERS AND NONMEMBERS OF CEA GATHERED WITH US LAST THURSDAY AND RECEIVED THEIR
CERTIFICATIONS. 
          WE HAVE ALREADY SET NOVEMBER 13TH AS THE DATE FOR THE NEXT CLASS,
AND REGISTRATION WILL OPEN NEXT WEEK. 
          GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF INTEREST SHOWN SO FAR, WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO PARTNER WITH THE DISTRICT
AND USING OUR MEETING ROOM FOR FUTURE CLASSES OR IN SCHEDULING CLASSES WITH OUR INSTRUCTOR. WE WOULD LOVE TO HELP PROVIDE THIS LICENSING REQUIREMENT FOR OUR STAFF ACROSS
THE DISTRICT. 
          THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF YOUR
CHESTERFIELD EDUCATION ASSOCIATION. 
          THE NEXT GROUP OF FIVE AMY TOWNE, JACOB WEATHERFORD,
JASON SPOON, LORI JOHNSON, AND JOE MALTEMPI. 
          MAY WE HAVE AMY TOWNE? JACOB WEATHERFORD. JASON SPOON. 
          GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS. SUPERINTENDENT. I'M JASON SPOON. 
          I'M THE DIRECTOR OF CHESTERFIELD. RESIDENT OF CLOVER HILL AND FATHER OF THREE SCHOOL AGED
DAUGHTERS. 
          TONIGHT I'M HERE WITH, SOUNDS LIKE MOST OF THESE FOLKS TO SPEAK ABOUT DOT HEFFRON AND ASK
FOR SOME ASSURANCES FROM THE BOARD. 
          FIRST, I WANT TO THANK THE BOARD FOR THEIR SWIFT ACTION AND CALLING OUT MISS HEFFRON
RESIGNATION. 
          YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN PRETTY REGULARLY REQUESTING INFORMATION,
AND WE'VE RECEIVED IT FOR THE MOST PART. 
          AND WE THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, THIS IS A TRICKY SITUATION,
AND WE THINK YOU'VE DONE VERY WELL IN NAVIGATING IT. 
          YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE THE SITUATION. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU REALLY
HAVE NO FURTHER POWER TO KIND OF REMOVE HER FROM FROM THE POSITION OF REPRESENTING CLOVER HILL. THE PROBLEM IS, SHE HASN'T BEEN REPRESENTING CLOVER HILL. 
          WELL. MRS. HEFFRON VIOLENT COMMENTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA PROVED TO EVERYONE THAT SHE SHOULD NOT
BE IN A POSITION THAT INFLUENCES OR INSPIRES OTHER PEOPLE'S CHILDREN. 
          I'M HAPPY TO HEAR THAT SHE'S NOT TRIED TO PARTICIPATE IN BOARD PROCEEDINGS,
AND I'M HAPPY TO SEE THAT SHE'S NOT HERE TODAY. 
          BUT IT DOES, LIKE SOME OTHER FOLKS HAVE POINTED OUT. 
          IT DOES BEG THE QUESTION, THOUGH, YOU KNOW, WHY LINGER UNTIL THE END OF DECEMBER? IF MRS HEFFRON IS REMOVED FROM THE BOARD, IS AS REMOVED FROM THE BOARD AS IT APPEARS. 
          WHY WOULDN'T SHE STEP DOWN NOW, SO WE CAN CHOOSE A REPLACEMENT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE? WE CAN ONLY SPECULATE ON THE ACTUAL REASONS SHE WANTS TO WAIT UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR,
AND I CAN'T THINK OF MANY POSITIVE REASONS WHY SHE WOULD DO SO. 
          IT SEEMS THAT THE PEOPLE OF CLOVER HILL WOULD BE BETTER SERVED IF SHE RESIGNED
IMMEDIATELY. 
          SO I'M HERE TO ASK, PLEASE. MRS HEFFRON, IF YOU'RE LISTENING,
RESIGN IMMEDIATELY AND LET OUR COMMUNITY START TO HEAL. 
          WE'D ALSO LIKE TO ASK FOR ASSURANCES FROM THE REST OF THE BOARD MEMBERS THAT MRS. HEFFRON WILL NOT BE VOTING, ADVISING, OR OTHERWISE INVOLVED IN POLICY MAKING FOR THE
SCHOOL DIVISION. 
          WE'D ALSO LIKE FURTHER ASSURANCES THAT SHE'LL HAVE NO INFLUENCE OVER THE SELECTION PROCESS
TO HIRE THE INTERIM BOARD MEMBER AND THAT ANYONE THAT SHE HAS KIND OF PROPPED UP OR ENDORSED IS NOT CONSIDERED AS A VALID CANDIDATE. 
          WE'RE HAPPY TO SEE THE RESUMES OF THE INTERIM BOARD MEMBERS APPLICANTS WE,
OR THE INTERIM BOARD MEMBER APPLICANTS, WE LOOK FORWARD TO GOING THROUGH THEM WITH BETTER SCRUTINY. 
          BUT WE, OR I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST SOME KIND OF CHARACTER RECOMMENDATIONS. 
          WE'D LIKE TO SEE IN THE IN THE NOMINEES. YOU KNOW,
I HOPE THAT THEY'LL BE MORE FRIENDLY TO THE CONCERNS OF PARENTS. 
          LESS POLITICAL, LESS OF A POLITICAL ACTIVIST SOMEONE WHO WOULD PUT COMMON SENSE OVER
POLITICS AND EVEN CURRENT POLICY. 
          SOMEONE WHO WILL WILL INSPIRE ALL THE STUDENTS OF CLOVER HILL. 
          WE LOOK FORWARD TO OFFERING INPUT ON THE APPLICANTS AS WE GO THROUGH THEM. 
          AND HEY, THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME OUT. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING YOUR ASSURANCES
ABOUT MRS HEFFRON. 
          THANK YOU. LORI JOHNSON. 
          GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS LORI JOHNSON. I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MY HUSBAND,
BOB, AND MYSELF. I'D LIKE TO GIVE A HEARTFELT THANKS TO THE MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD WHO
RESPONDED PROFESSIONALLY TO MY EMAIL. 
          [01:30:09]
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTENTIONAL AND APPROPRIATE ACTIONS REGARDING DODD HEFFRON. 
          THERE ARE CODES OF CONDUCT FOR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS. 
          CCPS CODE OF CONDUCT FOR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS. 
          NUMBER ONE, I WILL HAVE INTEGRITY IN ALL MATTERS AND SUPPORT THE FULL DEVELOPMENT OF ALL
CHILDREN AND THE WELFARE OF THE COMMONWEALTH, COMMUNITY AND NATION. FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS,
I'VE HEARD GOVERNMENT LEADERS AND NOW ONE OF OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS CALL ANYONE WHO DISAGREES WITH THEM, RELIGIOUSLY OR POLITICALLY,
A FASCIST OR NAZI. 
          IS THAT ETHICAL CONDUCT OR HAS IT HAD A DISASTROUS IMPACT ON OUR NATION? HAVE WE TAUGHT OUR CHILDREN THE EXACT DEFINITION AND HISTORY OF NAZISM AND FASCISM? IS IT ETHICAL TO PROMOTE VIOLENCE AGAINST ANYONE FOR THEIR VIEWS. 
          I SAY THESE THINGS WITH LOVE AND DEEP CONCERN FOR OUR CHILDREN. 
          THERE CAN BE FORGIVENESS FOR MRS HEFFRON. THERE SHOULD ALSO BE JUSTICE FOR OUR
IMPRESSIONABLE STUDENTS. 
          THIS IS WHY I AM ASKING HER TO STEP DOWN IMMEDIATELY AND NOT WAIT UNTIL THE END OF THE
YEAR. 
          AND FOR YOU TO ENCOURAGE HER AGAIN TO IMMEDIATELY LEAVE HER POSITION ON THE SCHOOL BOARD. 
          AS YOU INTERVIEW FOR THE INTERIM SCHOOL BOARD POSITION,
PLEASE LOOK FOR A CANDIDATE WHO WILL NOT HAVE A POLITICAL AGENDA IN SCHOOL AND WHO WILL PUT THE WELFARE OF OUR STUDENTS FIRST. WE NEED SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN
GIVING OUR STUDENTS THE HIGHEST QUALITY EDUCATION IN READING, MATH, SCIENCE, CIVICS, HISTORY, AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. 
          THANK YOU. CHAIR. 
          GOOD EVENING. SCHOOL BOARD. MY NAME IS JOE MALTEMPI. I'M A FATHER OF THREE AND A
CHESTERFIELD RESIDENT, FORMER DALE GRADUATE. I JUST WANTED TO COME TO THE BOARD TONIGHT REPRESENTING FATHERS IN
CHESTERFIELD. 
          REALLY TO TALK TO GENERALLY ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT WE PUT OVER IN POSITIONS OF AUTHORITY
FOR OVER OUR CHILDREN. 
          THAT'S MY MAIN CONCERN FOR TONIGHT STARTING WITH DODD HEFFRON. 
          AND THANK YOU FOR FOR PUSHING FOR HER REMOVAL FROM THE BOARD. 
          THAT'S VERY MUCH APPRECIATED AND WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. 
          I WANT TO GO AHEAD AND TALK TO HER REPLACEMENTS,
POTENTIALLY. 
          AFTER REVIEW OF THOSE CANDIDATES SELECTED I WOULD JUST LIKE TO PUT OUT THERE THAT MISS
PHILLIPS, MISS FROMAN AND MISS OR MR. KANNAN DO NOT APPEAR TO BE SUITABLE REPLACEMENTS BASED ON THE
RESUMES THAT WERE SUBMITTED. 
          AND THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING THOSE. THAT'S VERY BENEFICIAL. 
          THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO GENERALLY THAT ARE ARE GENERALLY OVER IN
POSITIONS OF AUTHORITY OVER OUR CHILDREN ARE THOSE THAT EITHER IDENTIFY AS TRANS OR HAVE TRANS CHILDREN. 
          AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, THAT THAT IS BEEN THE PERPETRATORS OF THOSE MANY POLITICAL VIOLENCE
OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS. AND IT APPEARS TO BE A MENTAL ILLNESS THAT IS COMBING THROUGH MUCH OF OUR
SOCIETY. 
          PREVIOUSLY THE TIME SPEAKING ABOUT THE THE POLICY 1015 SITUATION THAT WAS LAST YEAR. 
          MANY OF THOSE THAT CAME OUT IN SUPPORT OF IT WERE TEACHERS,
COUNSELORS AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS IN CHESTERFIELD. 
          AND BRINGS A LOT OF CONCERN. AS FAR AS MAKING REAL CHANGE IN OUR,
IN OUR COUNTY IF WE CHANGE THE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT, IT MAKES A LITTLE BIT OF CHANGE IF WE CHANGE,
THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS LIKE MISS DODD HEFFRON WILL APPARENTLY BE BRINGS A LOT MORE CHANGE. BUT REALLY, TO GET SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE THAT GETS DOWN TO REPLACING FACULTY,
INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS. 
          AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK WE NEED TO EVALUATE HERE GOING FORWARD DUE TO THE THE
INCREASE IN VIOLENCE THAT'S BEEN SEEN FROM THOSE THAT ARE TRANS ALIGNED. 
          SO I WANT TO JUST TAKE THAT TIME TO, TO SAY THAT AND ALSO I WANT TO GO BACK TO ONE TOPIC
IN REGARDS TO MISS DODD HEFFRON REPLACEMENT. 
          I WANT TO SEE THAT BE SOMEONE WHO WILL NOT TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER AN INVOCATION,
WHICH IS USUALLY SUPPOSED TO BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PRAYER, AND REPLACE IT WITH A POEM. SO IN CLOSING, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE
MORE POSITIVE STEPS FROM THE COUNTY AND ONLY INSTILL THOSE IN AUTHORITY OVER OUR CHILDREN WHO WILL HELP THEM STRIVE FOR A GREATER PURPOSE THAN
THEMSELVES. 
          THANK YOU. THE LAST TWO SPEAKERS ARE ROBERT EBERTH AND MIKE 
          [01:35:05]
KARABINOS. MAY WE HAVE ROBERT EBERTH? ALL RIGHT. IT'S BEEN A HOT MINUTE SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE. HOW YOU GUYS DOING THIS EVENING? SO
FIRST I WANT TO SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO CHARLIE KIRK. HE WOULD HAVE BEEN 32 YEARS OLD TODAY. 
          NO ONE SHOULD BE KILLED FOR THEIR FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND IDEALISM ON IDEALISM SHOULD BE
ABLE TO SPEAK FOR THEIR OWN OPINIONS AND NOT BEING SNIPED OUT BY PEOPLE THAT DISAGREE. 
          ANYWAY, WITH THAT BEING SAID, I KNOW EVERYBODY'S BEEN MIND IF I MOVE THESE UP? SORRY,
I'M KIND OF TALL. DODD HEFFRON. 
          WELL, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED. 
          SOME OF YOU GUYS WERE HERE BEFORE, TWO YEARS AGO. 
          I BROUGHT THIS UP. AND SHE BROUGHT SOMETHING ON HER FACEBOOK PAGE,
WHICH I DON'T, I BELIEVE IS PRIVATE. 
          NOW, IT SAYS FOR MANY YEARS I HAVE STRUGGLED WITH THE ABSOLUTE BRUTALITY OF THE GAME IN
NFL. 
          AND IT CANNOT BE IGNORED THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE PLAYERS IN THE NFL ARE BLACK AND BROWN,
AND THE MAJORITY OF TEAM OWNERS ARE NOT. 
          TEAMS ARE OWNED BY WHITE PEOPLE. MINORITY MONETIZING OF MINORITY LIVES,
BRAINS AND BODIES BY WEALTHY WHITE MEN MUST BE CALLED OUT. 
          THE NFL INDUSTRY WAS CREATED A SYSTEM WHERE THE MINDS AND BODIES OF BLACK MEN ARE
LEVERAGED FOR WHITE PEOPLE. 
          THAT DOESN'T SOUND VERY UNIFYING TO ME. IT SOUNDS VERY DIVIDING. 
          SO THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT WE'VE DEALT WITH THIS. 
          TWO YEARS AGO I BROUGHT THIS UP, BUT NOTHING WENT DOWN. 
          I AM GLAD THAT THOUGH THAT SHE IS FINALLY THAT KARMA HAS FINALLY GOTTEN THIS PARTICULAR
SITUATION. 
          AND I'M ACTUALLY SHOCKED THAT THE ACTUAL FOUR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD ACTUALLY VOTED OR ASKED
FOR HER RESIGNATION. 
          I'M VERY IMPRESSED WITH THAT. SO THAT'S A GOOD THING. 
          SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, SOMETHING'S GETTING BEING LOOKED OVER RIGHT NOW. THE DEAN OF
STUDENTS ALSO SAID THAT WORKS WITH CHESTERFIELD COUNTY. 
          WHEN YOU PROMOTE VIOLENCE AND ADVOCATE FOR A PERCENTAGE OF TEACHERS AND STUDENTS TO BE
SACRIFICED TO SCHOOL SHOOTINGS. 
          YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW. IF YOU AREN'T IN A SCHOOL AND YOU AREN'T RESPONSIBLE FOR KIDS,
YOU'LL NEVER GET IT. 
          ONCE AGAIN, CHARLIE KIRK. YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW. 
          THIS IS ACTUALLY AFTER HE GOT SHOT IN THE NECK. 
          DEAN I'M NOT GOING TO MENTION HER NAME BECAUSE SHE WAS AN EMPLOYEE,
AND I THINK THAT'S AGAINST POLICY. BUT I THINK EVERYBODY KNOWS WHO I'M TALKING ABOUT. ALL RIGHT. I'M GOING TO SPEND THE LAST TWO MINUTES TALKING ABOUT CRENSHAW ELEMENTARY. SO MY
GRANDCHILDREN ACTUALLY I'M EXPOSED MYSELF NOW. 
          CRENSHAW ELEMENTARY. SO THIS IS A LITTLE SPECIAL HEART FOR ME. 
          I GOT A MESSAGE FROM MY DAUGHTER SAYING THAT SHE GOT AN EMAIL STATING THAT THERE WAS A
SHOOTING, ANONYMOUS CALLER SHOOTING THREAT. SO I WAS LIKE AN EMAIL. 
          IS THAT IT? YEAH. AND THEN SHE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT HER EMAIL. SOME FRIEND OF HERS HAD
TO TELL HER, GO LOOK AT YOUR EMAIL. I SAID, THAT'S NOT SUFFICIENT AT ALL. AT FIRST I SAID,
OKAY, WELL, AT LEAST YOU KNOW HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO DO NEXT. 
          MESSAGE YOUR PRINCIPAL, MESSAGE YOUR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER MESSAGE SUPERINTENDENT AND GIVE
THEM YOUR CONCERNS. THAT'S YOUR FIRST STEP. AND SHE DID. AND SHE GOT AN ANSWER. AND THAT'S FINE. BUT IT WASN'T UNTIL THE SECOND DAY IT HAPPENED AGAIN. 
          IMMEDIATELY. THE SECOND DAY, ALMOST AT THE SAME TIME. 
          DAY TWO I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING. I DIDN'T TALK TO MY PEOPLE. 
          I DIDN'T SAY NOTHING. I DIDN'T MAKE IT PUBLIC. 
          I JUST KEPT IT INTERNALLY. WELL, THAT WAS TOO MUCH. 
          SHE DIDN'T GET ANYTHING. SHE GOT AN EMAIL AGAIN. 
          NOT A PHONE CALL, NOT A TEXT MESSAGE. NO PARENT THAT I SPOKE TO,
IN FACT, THAT WAS THE MAJOR COMPLAINT. 
          NO TEXT. WE CAN TEXT MESSAGE WHEN THE BUSSES ARE GOING TO BE LATE. 
          THE WEATHER, EVERYTHING ELSE. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. 
          NOW, I UNDERSTAND THERE'S SOME POLICE MATTERS THERE THAT MAYBE YOU DON'T WANT THE PERP TO
KNOW THAT YOU'RE DOING THIS, BUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS THE SAFETY OF CHILDREN. I KNOW ALL OF YOU ALL AGREE THAT THAT THERE'S NO ONE ON THERE THAT DISAGREES WITH ME,
THAT SAFETY IS NUMBER ONE. 
          SO EVERY SCHOOL, I DON'T KNOW IF EVERYBODY KNOWS EVERY SCHOOL DEVELOPS THEIR OWN SECURITY
PLAN ALONGSIDE A LAW ENFORCEMENT MEDICAL. 
          I READ UP ON THIS. AND SO WHAT I'VE DONE IS I FORWARD THREE SCHOOLS THAT ARE INTEREST TO
ME. 
          I WANT TO SEE WHAT THEIR PLAN IS. I WANT TO SEE THE AUDIT THAT WAS SENT TO THE
SUPERINTENDENT AND EVERYBODY ELSE HERE. SO I'M HOPING TO GET THAT SOON. THE POINT IS, IS LIKE THE COMMUNICATION IS KEY TO THE PARENTS. 
          A LOT OF THEM I TALKED TO FELT LIKE THEY WERE LEFT OUT OF THIS,
LIKE IT WAS BEING COVERED UP. 
          AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT. I JUST THINK THAT THE COMMUNICATION,
THE METHOD OF COMMUNICATION DROPPED AND I THINK WE CAN DO BETTER. 
          WE NEED TO SEND A TEXT MESSAGE. URGENT. EVEN IF IT'S THROUGH JUST THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. 
          I'M NOT SURE HOW I THINK BLANKETLY YOU SEND OUT STUFF,
BUT THEY CAN TELL YOU THE BUS IS GOING TO BE 15 MINUTES LATE. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR PARENTS TO KNOW. LET THE PARENTS DECIDE WHAT'S SAFE FOR THE CHILDREN AND NOT THE SCHOOL
SYSTEM THEMSELVES. SO THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT. SO ANYWAYS, THANK YOU AGAIN ROBERT. HAVE A GREAT NIGHT. MIKE KARABINOS. 
          I'M GOING TO START MY USUAL FACT CHECK BECAUSE I HEARD SOME FALSEHOOD SPOKEN TONIGHT. 
          SINCE 2018, THERE'S BEEN OVER 400 MASS SHOOTINGS IN THE UNITED STATES,
AND ONLY FOUR OF THOSE SHOOTERS HAVE BEEN TRANS. 
          I REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME I RECEIVED A CREDIBLE THREAT TO MY OWN LIFE. 
          IT WAS 2015. I HAD WRITTEN A LETTER TO A CATHOLIC PAPER ADVOCATING THAT FAMILIES ACCEPT
SYRIAN REFUGEES. THE ARTICLE IN THE PAPER DID NOT LIST MY ADDRESS,
DID NOT EVEN LIST MY LAST NAME. 
          [01:40:06]
AND YET I RECEIVED A LETTER TO MY HOME. OUR DISCOURSE IS TOXIC AND IT HAS BEEN FOR SOME
TIME, SO I WELCOME ANY GOOD FAITH ATTEMPTS TO LOWER THAT TEMPERATURE. 
          AFTER ALL, JUST TODAY THERE WAS A MASSIVE RELEASE OF TEXT MESSAGES BETWEEN YOUNG MEMBERS
OF A POLITICAL PARTY USING RACIST, TOXIC, AND HATE FILLED SPEECH. I HAVE BEEN CALLED A COMMIE,
A TERRORIST, A MARXIST AND A GROOMER. SOMETIMES IN THIS VERY ROOM. 
          AT THE SAME TIME, WE MUST BE WARY OF THOSE WHO WOULD USE AND WEAPONIZE A TRAGEDY TO ADVANCE A POLITICAL AGENDA AND SILENCE THEIR OPPONENTS. 
          A PUBLIC SERVANT SHOULD ALWAYS BE CAUTIOUS WITH THEIR USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA,
AND IT IS NEVER A GOOD THING TO CELEBRATE OR MOCK A TRAGEDY. BUT I WOULD HATE FOR ALL OF US TO BE JUDGED BY THE WORST CLICK IN THE HEAT OF
OUR EMOTION, IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR TOXIC DISCOURSE IN THIS COUNTRY. 
          I TALK OFTEN ABOUT MORAL PANICS, AND ONE OF THE TOOLS OF THAT MORAL PANIC IS THE APPEAL TO
EMOTION. 
          YOU SEE EXAMPLES OF THIS ALL THE TIME. IT'S A TOOL THAT IS DEVOID OF FACT. 
          WE HEAR WORDS LIKE GROOMER, NAZI, MARXIST BEING THROWN AROUND RIGHT AND LEFT BECAUSE IT
HITS THE EMOTIONAL CORDS. 
          BE WARY OF THOSE WHO USE THOSE TERMS. OFTEN THOSE WHO SPEAK THEM USUALLY MEAN SOMETHING
ELSE. 
          AND OFTEN THE INTENT THEY HAVE WHEN THEY USE THEM IS TO TRY TO FRIGHTEN,
COW AND SILENCE THE ONES THEY'RE USING THAT WITH. AND I DO AGREE THAT IT IS A TRAGEDY WHAT HAPPENED TO CHARLIE KIRK. 
          I WOULD MUCH RATHER HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEBATE HIM AND DEFEAT HIM IN PUBLIC,
BECAUSE WHILE HE DID SAY SOME THINGS THAT WERE LAUDED IN HERE, HE'S ALSO THE SAME PERSON THAT CALLED GEORGE FLOYD A SCUMBAG. 
          HE MOCKED AND LAUGHED WHEN PAUL PELOSI WAS ATTACKED AND HE HELPED BUS PEOPLE TO JANUARY
6TH. 
          SO AGAIN, I MUST SAY I HONOR ANY ATTEMPT TO MAKE OUR DISCOURSE MORE CIVIL. 
          BUT BEWARE THOSE WHO WOULD USE THIS TO SILENCE. 
          MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES THIS EVENING'S PUBLIC COMMENT. 
          THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. NEXT WE HAVE THIS EVENING SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT,
DR. 
          [F. Superintendent's Report]
MURRAY. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. 
          CCPS ASSIGNMENT CLASSROOM PROJECTS. THEY EXPLORED THE WONDERS BEYOND EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE
AND EVEN HAD THE CHANCE TO MEET A SPECIAL GUEST ASTRONAUT. 
          THIS VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS THE EXCITEMENT AND CURIOSITY SPARKED WHEN LEARNING IS BROUGHT TO
LIFE, AND IT SHOWS HOW OUR SCHOOLS INSPIRE STUDENTS TO DREAM BIG AND REACH FOR THE STARS. 
          ENJOY! AS WE'VE BEEN LEARNING ABOUT THE PLANETS, WE'VE BEEN KIND OF ADDING THINGS AROUND OUR
ROOM. 
          THE KIDS HAVE BEEN MAKING MODELS. KIND OF EXPLORING ALL THE PARTS OF OUTER SPACE,
KIND OF PLANETS, BRINGING IT BACK DOWN TO EARTH. SO OUR ROOM HAS KIND OF BEEN GOING UNDER LIKE A
METAMORPHOSIS THE WHOLE TIME. 
          SO THIS IS KIND OF LIKE A CELEBRATION OF BEING DONE WITH OUR UNIT,
JUST KIND OF WANTING TO LEAVE A LASTING IMPRESSION FOR WHEN THOSE KIDS HAVE TO TAKE THE 
          [01:45:01]
SOL IN FIFTH GRADE, THAT THEY REMEMBER THEIR SPACE MATERIAL. 
          SO WHEN THE KIDS SHOWED UP TODAY HAD DIFFERENT CENTERS. 
          ROCKET BUILDING. MAKE YOUR OWN CRATER ON THE MOON. 
          AND THEN WE HAD ASTRONAUT FOOD TASTING, AND NOW THEY ARE WORKING ON BUILDING THEIR
ROCKETS. 
          KIND OF LIKE A STEM ACTIVITY THAT THEY STARTED YESTERDAY. 
          THEY GOT TO NAME THEIR ROCKET, DECIDE WHERE IT'S GOING,
AND WE ARE ABOUT TO DO A LAUNCH. 
          SO THEY'RE GOING TO TEST THEIR ROCKET TO SEE IF THEY CAN REACH OUTER SPACE. 
          I WAS IN CONTACT WITH DOUG HURLEY, AND HE'S WORKED FOR NASA AND SPACEX. 
          SO AT 2:00 THIS AFTERNOON, HE'S GOING TO ACTUALLY ZOOM CALL US. 
          AND YESTERDAY THE KIDS WROTE QUESTIONS TO ASK HIM. 
          SO THEY'RE REALLY EXCITED TO HEAR WHAT HE HAS TO SAY AND TALK TO A REAL LIFE ASTRONAUT. 
          USUALLY IT PROMPTS MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF QUESTIONS. 
          WE EVEN HAVE A QUESTION BOX IN OUR ROOM THAT IS CONSTANTLY FILLED WITH QUESTIONS I CAN'T
EVEN GET TO THROUGHOUT THE DAY, BUT IT REALLY GETS THEM THINKING AND APPLYING THOSE SKILLS AND MAKING THOSE REAL WORLD
CONNECTIONS. 
          FAITH. WE CAN'T REACH IT AND NOT MANY PEOPLE CAN. 
          BUT JUST KIND OF HAVING THE KIDS LIVE IT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE IF THEY'RE DOING IT AND
ACTUALLY A PART OF WHAT THEY'RE LEARNING. 
          DEFINITELY. I'VE SEEN IT HAS KIND OF MORE STUCK AND BEEN MORE MEANINGFUL TO THE KIDS. 
          THANK YOU, DR. MURRAY, BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? BESIDES THAT WAS JUST AMAZING. AND WHAT A GREAT WAY TO ENGAGE OUR STUDENTS IN OUTER SPACE
AND HOW CREATIVE DO WE HAVE? WE HAVE AMAZING CREATIVE TEACHERS. JUST AMAZING TEACHERS. 
          SO GREAT JOB BELLWOOD. NEXT WE HAVE ACTION ITEMS. 
          [G. Action Items]
DR. WODICKA. GOT IT. WITH THE VERY EXCITING OPENING OF THE NEW DEEP CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN THE WESTERN SIDE OF THE
COUNTY, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY NOW TO ESTABLISH A NEW ELEMENTARY ATTENDANCE ZONE IN THAT AREA,
CONSISTENT WITH PRIOR SCHOOL BOARD ACTIONS IN PREVIOUS YEARS, WE HAVE ATTACHED THE PROPOSED OPTIONS FOR SCHOOL BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENTS THAT WILL IMPACT
THREE ESTABLISHED EXISTING SCHOOL ZONES FROM GRANGE HALL, MOSELEY AND WOOLRIDGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. BOTH OPTIONS RESULT IN THE REDUCTION IN
ENROLLMENT IN EACH OF THESE SCHOOLS TO THE POINT WHERE WE WILL HAVE ALL SCHOOLS WITHIN PROGRAM CAPACITY AT THIS TIME. 
          THOUGH WE KNOW THAT FUTURE DEVELOPMENT MAY IMPACT THOSE ENROLLMENTS OVER TIME. 
          ADDITIONALLY, BOTH PROPOSALS WILL REDUCE THE REDUCE UP TO 20 CLASSROOM TRAILERS,
AND THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD'S STRATEGIC PLAN OBJECTIVE 2.1 D. IN ADDITION, BECAUSE BOTH OPTIONS POTENTIALLY RESULT IN SUBSTANTIAL REDUCTIONS IN
ENROLLMENT AT GRANGE HALL THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONSOLIDATE PROGRAMS IN THE WESTERN PART OF THE COUNTY,
AS YOU HEARD ABOUT EARLIER THIS EVENING. 
          SO FOLLOWING OUR OVERVIEW THAT WE PROVIDED IN SEPTEMBER AT THE SCHOOL BOARD WORK SESSION,
WE HELD A PUBLIC MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 30TH AT DEEP CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR THE COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE INPUT. AND WE HAD A NUMBER OF FOLKS BE THERE AS WELL. 
          SO TONIGHT'S RECOMMENDATION IS THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD ADOPT ONE OF THE PROPOSED DEEP CREEK
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE ZONES. 
          THANK YOU, DR. WODICKA. BOARD MEMBERS, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE MEMO NUMBER 146-25
AS PRESENTED. 
          SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. BOARD MEMBERS,
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? MRS. CHATTERS. SO JUST FOR THE COMMUNITY'S UNDERSTANDING,
WE KNOW THAT BOTH OPTION ONE AND TWO IN A FIVE YEAR WINDOW PUT OUR SCHOOL AT 100%. WE UNDERSTAND THAT. AND I WANT TO HELP THE COMMUNITY ADVOCATE PROPERLY OR
NOT PROPERLY, BUT ADVOCATE TO WHO YOU NEED TO MAKE THAT ISSUE TO. 
          YOU, RIGHT? IT IS NOT OUR DECISION ON WHERE NEW HOMES GO OR APARTMENTS GO AND THINGS OF
THAT NATURE, AND WE ARE DOING A BETTER JOB WORKING WITH OUR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO
SLOW IT DOWN A LITTLE BIT, BUT IT HELPS TO HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY. SO IF AN OVERCROWDED SCHOOL IN FIVE YEARS IS A
PROBLEM FOR YOU, THEN YOU CAN'T JUST TELL US BECAUSE WE'RE NOT THE ONES WHO CONTROL THAT PART. 
          RIGHT. SO NONE OF US UP HERE WANT A SCHOOL AT 100% CAPACITY OR 100% CAPACITY IN FIVE
YEARS. 
          THAT'S NOT THE GOAL. BUT WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING. 
          [01:50:03]
AND ALTHOUGH BOTH OPTIONS DO PUT US AT OVER 100%,
IT IS THE BEST WE CAN DO IN THE MOMENT. 
          RIGHT. AND WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING TO TO PROVIDE A SCHOOL FOR THE CHILDREN THAT ARE COMING
THAT ARE ALREADY THEY'RE NOT EVEN COMING, THE CHILDREN THAT ARE ALREADY THERE. AND I WOULD SAY YOUR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND YOUR
STATE LEGISLATORS, BECAUSE THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO PUT PROFITS BACK IN SO THAT WE CAN GET
COMPENSATED. 
          THE COUNTY CAN GET COMPENSATED FOR EVERY UNIT THAT GETS OPENED THAT COULD HELP US BUILD
MORE SCHOOLS. 
          SO WE HEAR YOU WHEN YOU'RE WHEN YOU'RE WHEN YOU'RE MAKING THE ISSUE ABOUT THE SIZE OR THE
THE CAPACITY OF OUR SCHOOLS. 
          BUT PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT THAT IS OUTSIDE OF THE SCOPE OF WHAT WE CAN DO BASED ON WHERE
THIS PARTICULAR SCHOOL IS GOING TO BE. 
          WE'RE NOT IGNORING YOU. WE ARE LISTENING. IT IS JUST OUT OF OUR BANDWIDTH OF CONTROL. 
          THANK YOU. CHAIR. MISTER PARANTO THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. 
          IN REGARDS TO WHAT MRS. CHATTERS HAD SAID I DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THE BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS REPRESENTATIVE FROM ATOKA, KEVIN CARROLL, WORKED WITH DELEGATE MARK EARLY ON A BILL THAT
WOULD ALLOW A COUNTY TO DENY ZONING DEVELOPMENT IF THE SCHOOLS WERE NOT PREPARED TO HANDLE THE VOLUME AND IT DIDN'T
MAKE IT OUT OF COMMITTEE. AND SO I DO ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. 
          BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT THAT IS THAT ACTION IS ALREADY ON THEIR PLATE,
AND THEY ARE TALKING WITH OUR STATE DELEGATES AND SENATORS. 
          BUT WE DO NEED TO HAVE THAT DEEPER CONVERSATION SO THAT WE'RE NOT ASKING YOU TO PICK AN
OPTION THAT'S GOING TO PUT A SCHOOL AT 100 PLUS PERCENT PROJECTED IN FIVE YEARS TO THEN HAVE TO HAVE ANOTHER BOND REFERENDUM IN 6
TO 7 YEARS. 
          THAT'S GOING TO COST MORE MONEY, MORE TAXES. THAT'S THAT'S THE ROAD WE'RE HEADING DOWN. 
          BUT WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE ALL THE ADVOCACY FROM OUR COMMUNITY TO REACH OUT TO THE STATE
SENATORS AND DELEGATES. 
          THANK YOU. SO BEFORE US THIS EVENING IS WE'VE GOT TO HAVE A MOTION FOR ONE OF THE OPTIONS, WHETHER THAT'S OPTION ONE OR OPTION TWO. SO I OPEN THE FLOOR TO THE BOARD. 
          MR. PARANTO. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I WOULD MOVE TO MOTION THAT THE BOARD VOTE ON OPTION
ONE. 
          IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. THERE HAS BEEN A MOTION FOR OPTION ONE AND A SECOND. 
          MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE MOTION. 
          DOMINIQUE CHATTERS. AYE. STEVEN PARANTO AYE. LISA HUDGINS. 
          AYE. ANN COKER. AYE. THE MOTION CARRIES. NEXT WE HAVE MEMO NUMBER 147-25 FROM MR. SMITH. MADAM CHAIR, BOARD MEMBERS STAFF RECOMMENDS A NEW POLICY. POLICY 5150-F STATEMENT OF GRIEVANCE FORM. 
          THIS IS A NEW POLICY TO REFLECT A FORM CURRENTLY IN USE. 
          SCHOOL POLICY 1200 PROVIDES THAT QUOTE, IF CIRCUMSTANCES WARRANT IMMEDIATE ACTION ON
PROPOSED POLICY REGULATION, THE SCHOOL BOARD MAY SUSPEND ITS RULES AND BRING UP THE POLICY OR REGULATION UP FOR
IMMEDIATE ADOPTION FOLLOWING THE FIRST READING. END QUOTE. 
          THEREFORE, IT'S RECOMMENDED THE SCHOOL BOARD SUSPEND ITS REGULAR RULES OF POLICY ADOPTION
BY WAIVING A SECOND READING OF THE POLICY CONTAINED IN ITS MEMORANDUM AND APPROVED FOLLOWING THE FIRST READING. PROPOSED CHANGES HAVE BEEN REVIEWED BY THE SCHOOL BOARD
ATTORNEY. IF APPROVED, THE REVISION WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY. MADAM CHAIR, YOU HAVE TWO RECOMMENDED ACTIONS. THANK YOU, MR. SMITH. 
          BOARD MEMBERS, MAY I HAVE A MOTION FOR THE BOARD TO SUSPEND ITS RULES AND WAIVE SECOND
READING? SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? BOARD MEMBERS,
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? THERE HAS BEEN A MOTION AND A SECOND. MADAM CLERK,
PLEASE CALL. 
          ROLE IN THE MOTION. DOMINIQUE CHATTERS. AYE. STEVEN PARANTO. 
          AYE. LISA HUDGINS. AYE. ANN COKER. AYE. THE MOTION CARRIES. 
          BOARD MEMBERS. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE POLICIES TO BECOME EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY? SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? BOARD MEMBERS IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? THERE HAS BEEN A MOTION AND A SECOND. MADAM CLERK,
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE MOTION. DOMINIQUE CHATTERS. AYE. 
          STEVEN PARANTO. AYE. LISA HUDGINS. AYE. ANN COKER. 
          AYE. THE MOTION CARRIES. NEXT WE HAVE ITEMS FOR BOARD REVIEW. 
          [H. Items for Board Review]
MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ THE ITEMS FOR THIS EVENING? MADAM CHAIR, TONIGHT'S AGENDA INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING ITEMS FOR BOARD REVIEW. 
          NUMBER ONE, MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT IMPROVEMENT FUNDS FY 2026. 
          [01:55:01]
NUMBER TWO, FY 2026 AUGUST EXPENDITURES VERSUS APPROPRIATIONS. 
          NUMBER THREE, BUDGET CHANGE REQUEST SUMMARY ACROSS CATEGORIES AUGUST 2025. 
          NUMBER FOUR, BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS. NUMBER FIVE,
PRE-K UPDATE, AUGUST 2025. 
          AND NUMBER SIX, SUMMARY OF EXPENDITURES AND BALANCES FY 2025. 
          THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. NEXT WE HAVE THIS EVENING SUPERINTENDENTS REMARKS. 
          [I. Superintendent's Remarks]
DR. MURRAY. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AS ALWAYS,
I'D LIKE TO THANK OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR COMING OUT AND OFFERING THEIR COMMENTS TO THE BOARD THIS EVENING. IN PARTICULAR I, LIKE EACH OF YOU,
ARE ALWAYS IMPRESSED WHEN OUR STUDENTS COME OUT AND HAVE THE COURAGE TO PUBLICLY SPEAK. SO TO DONALD AND LYNN I LOOK FORWARD TO VISITING BOTH ECKHOFF AND SALEM
MIDDLE SCHOOL TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH LYNN'S SIBLINGS AND WITH DONALD. IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THE FIRST NINE WEEKS
IS COMING TO A CLOSE. AND THAT IS THE PERFECT TIME FOR OUR PARENTS TO BE CHECKING GRADES,
MAKING SURE THAT ANY MISSING ASSIGNMENTS ARE GETTING TURNED IN, BUT THAT WE CONTINUE TO SHOW UP AND CONTRIBUTE EACH AND EVERY DAY. 
          THIS ISN'T THE TIME TO SIT BACK ON OUR LAURELS,
SO TO SPEAK. 
          WE HAVE SEVERAL EXCITING THINGS COMING UP IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS AND EVEN WEEK AND A HALF
TOMORROW EVENING. 
          WE LOOK FORWARD TO CELEBRATING OUR TEACHERS OF THE YEAR AT OUR ANNUAL GALA. 
          THE LAST WEEK OF THIS MONTH IS A TRADITION. I GUESS WE CAN'T CALL IT THAT UNTIL YEAR THREE
NEXT YEAR. 
          BUT SOMETHING WE STARTED LAST YEAR WAS NOT WAITING UNTIL THE SPRING TO APPRECIATE FOLKS. 
          SO THANK YOU. TEAM CHESTERFIELD STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK IS AT THE END OF THIS MONTH. 
          FOR FOLKS INTERESTED IN HOW THEY CAN MAYBE HELP BE A PART OF THE EXCITEMENT OR FESTIVITIES
AT THEIR CHILD'S SCHOOL, PLEASE BE LOOKING AT THOSE PRINCIPAL WEEKLY MEMOS OUR EIGHTH GRADERS WILL BE PARTICIPATING
IN MISSION TOMORROW. 
          I BELIEVE NEXT WEEK. BUT IF CHAD MACKLIN'S NOT HERE NEXT WEEK,
WE'RE GOING WITH NEXT WEEK. 
          IT'S THIS MONTH. WHERE OUR KIDS GET TO REALLY EXPLORE WHAT MAY BE INTERESTING TO THEM. 
          WHEN THEY GET TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE GRADUATION FINISH LINE OR AFTER COLLEGE. 
          AND THEN THURSDAY, AS ELKIE UPSTAGED ME AGAIN IS BOSS'S DAY,
SO I WILL TAKE THIS TIME TO JUST THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING NOT JUST PARTNERS IN THE WORK, BUT VISIONARIES AND SUPPORTERS OF THE WORK THAT I AND
THE REST OF US ARE COMMITTED TO EACH AND EVERY DAY. 
          IT IS VERY HELPFUL TO HAVE SUPPORTIVE BOARD MEMBERS IN THE WORK. 
          THE DEEP CREEK ELEMENTARY REDISTRICTING WITH THE ACTION YOU'VE TAKEN TONIGHT. 
          SEAN'S TEAM WILL SEND OUT A COMMUNICATION TO THOSE THAT WILL IMPACT TO INCLUDE INFORMATION
REGARDING CENTER BASED. 
          GIFTED. AND AS I SAID, THAT COMMUNICATION WILL GO OUT LATER THIS EVENING. 
          AND THEN IF YOU HAVE BEEN TO THE TUCKED AWAY CORNER OF MOSELEY,
OUT IN DEEP IN THE MATOACA DISTRICT YOU WILL SEE OFF OF DUVAL ROAD THE PRESET OF I BELIEVE IT'S PROBABLY THE GYMNASIUM THAT IS STARTED TO GO UP ON THE NEW
HIGH SCHOOL. 
          SO IMPRESSIVE THINGS ARE, ARE HAPPENING. AND THEN LASTLY,
AND I SAVED IT FOR THE END BECAUSE IT'S PERSONAL. 
          IT'S PERSONAL TO TO EACH OF US. AND IT IS WITH A HEAVY HEART THAT I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE'VE
LOST A FRIEND, A COMMUNITY LEADER, AN ADVOCATE, A PIONEER,
FRANKLY, A CCPS OR A CHESTERFIELD, EXCUSE ME, GIANT. AND JUST AN ALL AROUND WONDERFUL HUMAN BEING. 
          IN THE PASSING OF OUR BOARD OF SUPERVISOR FROM THE DALE DISTRICT JIM HOLLAND AND I'M GOING
TO READ SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE FORMAL. EACH TIME JIM HOLLAND SPOKE AT AN EVENT,
HE WOULD START WITH IT'S A GREAT DAY IN THE DALE DISTRICT. 
          THANKS TO HIM. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY GREAT DAYS IN THE DALE DISTRICT AND ACROSS
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY. 
          HIS DEATH LEAVES A RIP IN THE FABRIC OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT WILL NOT EASILY BE MENDED. 
          EVEN BEFORE HE WAS ELECTED TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS,
JIM WAS A STRONG SUPPORTER OF CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 
          HE LIVED HIS BELIEF IN THE POWER OF PUBLIC EDUCATION BY VOLUNTEERING AND PTAS AND BOOSTERS
AND OTHER SCHOOL GROUPS. 
          [02:00:08]
DURING ALMOST TWO DECADES ON THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS,
JIM CONSISTENTLY SPOKE UP FOR OUR COMMUNITY'S STUDENTS, OUR TEACHERS, AND SCHOOLS TO MAKE SURE CHESTERFIELD LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS AND
OPPORTUNITIES WERE SECOND TO NONE. 
          PERSONALLY, I WILL MISS JIM'S FRIENDLY OUTLOOK,
APPROACHABLE PERSONALITY, AND ABILITY TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER TO RESOLVE PROBLEMS. PLEASE JOIN ME IN KEEPING JIM'S WIFE, HIS CHILDREN,
HIS FRIENDS AND HIS COLLEAGUES IN YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS. 
          THAT'S ALL I HAVE, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU, DR. 
          MURRAY. NEXT WE HAVE ANNOUNCEMENTS, COMMUNICATIONS AND SCHOOL BOARD COMMENTS. 
          [J. Announcements, Communications, and School Board Comments]
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS. ARE THERE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS OR COMMENTS THIS EVENING? MRS. CHATTERS. FIRST, I ALSO WANTED TO ECHO THE CHILDREN THAT CAME TO SPEAK TODAY. 
          THAT WAS ON MY LIST OF THINGS. THANK YOU TO BOTH OF THEM FOR TAKING THE COURAGE TO COME
OUT HERE AND TO SPEAK. 
          DONALD IS A MEMBER OF THE TRANSFORMATIVE TRI-CITIES PROVISIONAL CHAPTER,
AND WE ALSO HAD THE MIGHTY MIDLOTHIAN CHAPTER OF JACK AND JILL. THE PACESETTERS WERE HERE THIS AFTERNOON TO SEE
CIVICS IN ACTION. 
          SO WHEN OUR CHILDREN PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS,
IT IT VALIDATES WHAT WE'RE DOING BECAUSE THEY'RE LEARNING GOOD, BAD OR INDIFFERENT, THEY'RE SEEING THE DISCOURSE. 
          AND THEN ABOUT MR. HOLLAND WE WHEN I WAS SITTING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS, WE HAD OUR TOUGH CONVERSATIONS. AND THROUGHOUT ALL OF THEM,
EVEN WHEN I DISAGREED OR I WANTED SOMETHING DIFFERENT, HE WOULD LISTEN. AND BE COMFORTING IN HIS DISAGREEMENT. 
          AND HE SAYS, AND HE WOULD JUST HE HAD A WAY TO MAKE IT OKAY,
EVEN THOUGH I DIDN'T GET WHAT I WANTED. 
          HE MADE IT OKAY THAT I DIDN'T GET WHAT I WANTED. 
          AND HE WAS VERY AN INFORMAL MENTOR ON BEING A CANDIDATE,
RIGHT, AND HOW THIS NAVIGATING THIS THIS SPACE. SINCE HE WAS THE FIRST BLACK MAN ELECTED TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS,
HE WAS THE BEST PERSON TO ADVISE ME ON HOW I WOULD NAVIGATE THIS SPACE. 
          AND IT IS A TREMENDOUS LOSS TO THE DALE DISTRICT BECAUSE HE IS MR. DALE DISTRICT. I MEAN, EVERYBODY KNOWS WHO MR. HOLLAND IS, AND HIS PRESENCE WILL BE MISSED,
AND I WILL KEEP HIS FAMILY IN MY PRAYERS. 
          THANKS. MRS. HUDGINS. SIMILARLY TO MY COLLEAGUE. I WANTED TO CONGRATULATE THE TWO STUDENTS. 
          BOTH OF THEM SPOKE IN DIFFERENT WAYS. BUT EACH ADVOCATED FOR OTHERS. 
          AND I LOVE THAT HEART. AND I LOVE THAT SPIRIT. 
          AND THEY DID IT WITH COURAGE. AND LITTLE DONALD. 
          ABSOLUTELY THE CUTEST THING EVER. AND I THINK WE COULD ALL TAKE A PAGE FROM HIS BOOK WHEN
HE HAS A COMPLAINT. 
          WHAT DOES HE DO? HE COMES AND HE HAS A SOLUTION. 
          AND THAT WAS WELL DONE. AND HE JUST DID SUCH A GOOD JOB. 
          BOTH OF THEM DID. AND SO BUT ALSO MR. HOLLAND,
I DID NOT KNOW HIM LONG. 
          BUT EVERY TIME I INTERACTED WITH HIM, HIS SPIRIT WAS SO PRECIOUS. 
          AND HE JUST ENVELOPED ME. I DIDN'T KNOW HIM AT ALL. 
          AND HE JUST. EVERY TIME I SAW HIM, HE REMEMBERED ME. 
          EVEN IN THE VERY BEGINNING AND WAS JUST WELCOMING. 
          AND IT WAS REMARKABLE. AND HE WAS REMARKABLE. 
          AND I RECENTLY MET HIS PRECIOUS, PRECIOUS WIFE,
AND SHE WAS ADORABLE. 
          AND MY HEART IS BREAKING FOR HER AND THE FAMILY. 
          AND HE WILL BE MISSED. THANK YOU. MR. PARANTO. 
          THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I ALSO ADD MY JUST CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR STUDENT SPEAKERS THAT
CAME OUT TONIGHT. 
          VERY IMPRESSIVE. FOR THOSE THAT SAY THAT CCPS SCHOOLS ARE GOING DOWN THE DRAIN. 
          LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE PRODUCING. ALL THE KIDS THAT WE HAD UP HERE TODAY. 
          LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE PRODUCING. DO WE GET THINGS RIGHT? NO, WE DO NOT. DO WE HAVE OUR DIFFICULTIES? YES WE DO. 
          [02:05:06]
WE MEET OUR CHALLENGES AS BEST WE CAN WITH GUIDANCE FROM OUR COMMUNITY,
WITH DEBATE AMONGST EACH OTHER. 
          BUT ALL OF THAT DOES NOT SUPERSEDE THE BEST INTEREST OF THE EDUCATION OF OUR CHILDREN. 
          ABRAHAM LINCOLN WAS CREDITED WITH THIS, BUT IT REALLY COMES OUT OF MATTHEW 12:25. 
          A HOUSE DIVIDED CANNOT STAND. A LOT OF WHAT WAS SAID TONIGHT AND WAS TALKED ABOUT WAS
DIVISION. 
          SHE SAID HE SAID. FOLKS, THIS IS NOT A CAMPAIGN SPEECH. 
          LIKE MRS CHATTERS. I'M A VETERAN. I FOUGHT FOR THIS COUNTRY BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN IT. 
          WE CANNOT CONTINUE DOWN THIS ROAD. IT'S OKAY TO DISAGREE. 
          BUT IT'S NOT OKAY TO ESCALATE IT TO VIOLENCE OR TO CONDONE IT. 
          WE MUST MEET EACH OTHER HALFWAY TO HAVE A MEANINGFUL CONVERSATION. 
          WE'RE A REPUBLIC. BUT IF WE STOP DOING THAT,
WHAT COMES NEXT? TO THE CONSTITUENT FROM MATOACA THAT CAME UP HERE,
SHE MENTIONED THAT SHE WAS FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY, BUT SHE ALSO MENTIONED THAT SHE LIVES AND IS A CITIZEN OF THIS COUNTRY. 
          SHE IS AN AMERICAN. IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I LOVE ABOUT THIS COUNTRY. 
          IF I MOVED TO GERMANY AND I BECOME A GERMAN CITIZEN BUT I'M NOT GERMAN. 
          IF I GO TO ITALY AND BECOME AN ITALIAN CITIZEN,
I'M NOT ITALIAN. 
          BUT IF ANYBODY COMES TO THIS COUNTRY AND BECOMES A CITIZEN. 
          THEY ARE AN AMERICAN. WE MUST WORK WITH ONE ANOTHER. 
          MISS MURRAY, SHE LEFT. WHAT HAPPENED TO HER FAMILY IS ABHORRENT AND SHOULD NEVER BE
TOLERATED. 
          NEVER CONDONED. WE MUST PUT A STOP TO THAT. I CALL ON OUR PARENTS. 
          KNOW WHERE YOUR CHILDREN ARE. CALL THEM. KEEP TABS ON THEM. 
          I DON'T CARE IF THEY CAN DRIVE. AND THEY'RE GOING TO COLLEGE NEXT YEAR. 
          THEY'RE STILL KIDS. THEY'RE STILL FIGURING THINGS OUT. 
          AND SOMETIMES THEY DON'T MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS,
ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE AROUND LIKE MINDED INDIVIDUALS. 
          THAT THING THAT WE'VE ALWAYS WRESTLED WITH CALLED PEER PRESSURE. 
          WE HAVE TO DO BETTER. WE SHOULD NEVER HAVE A STUDENT WRITING A SLUR WORD ABOUT ANOTHER
STUDENT ON THEIR VEHICLE. 
          WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN. 
          BUT IT IS THE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH WE LIVE. I APPRECIATE THE SPEAKERS THAT CAME OUT
TONIGHT AND OFFERED SUGGESTIONS AS TO HOW WE CAN DO THINGS BETTER. 
          I APPRECIATE DR. MURRAY. AS YOU WERE TALKING. 
          DR. MURRAY I COULD SEE WAS WRITING. MORE FOLLOW UP TO COME. 
          WE HAVE GOT TO TONE DOWN THE RHETORIC. TO SAY I'M JUST A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER OR YOU'RE
JUST A CITIZEN. 
          DON'T SAY THAT. YOU'RE PART OF THE SOLUTION. BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION. 
          HAVE THE CONVERSATION AND COME TOGETHER. OTHER. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO. THANK YOU TO ALL MY COLLEAGUES THIS EVENING. THESE STATEMENTS ARE PROFOUND AND IMPORTANT. 
          AND THIS NIGHT, I THINK, IS IMPORTANT TO HEAR ALL OF THE COMMENTS THAT WE HEARD FROM THE
PUBLIC, AS WELL AS WHAT YOU JUST HEARD FROM UP HERE FROM THE DAIS. 
          AND FOR MR. HOLLAND AND HIS FAMILY WORKING WITH HIM FOR THE LAST SIX YEARS,
MY HEART IS BREAKING FOR THEM. 
          HE LOVED EDUCATION AND HE LOVED CCPS. AND HE IS GOING TO BE MISSED. 
          THAT IS FOR CERTAIN. TAKE THESE WORDS THIS EVENING. 
          TAKE THEM TO HEART. SPREAD THEM. SPREAD THEM WIDE. 
          WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER AND WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY. 
          THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MR. PARANTO, I DO APOLOGIZE IF I CAN CALL FOR A MULLIGAN. 
          ABSOLUTELY. I DO WANT TO COMMENT ON MR. HOLLAND. 
          WHEN I MENTIONED ABOUT COMING TOGETHER MR. HOLLAND AND I DID NOT AGREE ON A LOT OF THINGS, 
          [02:10:05]
BUT WHAT WE DID AGREE ON WAS OUR SCHOOLS. WHEN I BECAME ELECTED,
I RECEIVED SEVERAL PHONE CALLS THAT NIGHT, ALL FROM INDIVIDUALS THAT I RECOGNIZED THEIR VOICE. 
          BUT THERE WAS ONE PHONE CALL I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE. 
          AND THAT WAS MR. HOLLAND. TO PUT POLITICS ASIDE AND TO REACH OUT TO ANOTHER REPRESENTATIVE
AND TO CONGRATULATE THEM ON THEIR VICTORY. 
          AND THEY LEFT ME WITH THESE WORDS. LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. 
          CONGRATULATIONS. MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH MRS. HOLLAND, HIS FAMILY, AND ALL THAT LOVED HIM. WE DEFINITELY LOST A GREAT HUMAN BEING IN
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY. 
          THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SCHOOL BOARD OR THE SCHOOL BOARD WILL HOLD A WORK SESSION ON
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12TH, 2025 AT 4 P.M. HERE IN THE PUBLIC MEETING ROOM. 
          NOTE THAT IS DIFFERENT THAN OUR TUESDAY NIGHT. 
          TUESDAY IS VETERAN'S DAY, SO WE WILL BE MEETING ON WEDNESDAY,
NOVEMBER 12TH, 2025 AT 4:00 HERE IN THE PUBLIC MEETING ROOM. 
          IT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A BUSINESS MEETING AT 6:30 P.M.. 
          IF THERE'S NO FURTHER BUSINESS, WE NEED A MOTION TO ADJOURN. 
          I MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE MOTION? DOMINIQUE CHATTERS. AYE. STEVEN PARANTO. AYE. 
          LISA HUDGINS. AYE. ANN COKER. AYE. THE MOTION CARRIES THE OCTOBER 14TH,
2025 SCHOOL BOARD BUSINESS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.