[00:00:01] GOOD EVENING. I'D LIKE TO CALL THE SEPTEMBER 8TH, 2026, SCHOOL BOARD BUSINESS MEETING TO ORDER. BEFORE WE BEGIN THE MEETING THIS EVENING, I'D LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE FOR ATTENDING THIS EVENING AND REMIND THE AUDIENCE THAT COMMENTS TO THIS BOARD MAY ONLY BE MADE AT THE PODIUM DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE ARE PROHIBITED AND ARE IN VIOLATION OF SECTION 18.2-415 OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA, DISORDERLY CONDUCT IN PUBLIC PLACES, AND SCHOOL BOARD POLICY 6141. I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S PATIENCE AND UNDERSTANDING SO THAT WE CAN CONDUCT THE BUSINESS MEETING IN AN ORDERLY FASHION. WE WILL NOW HAVE AN INVOCATION BY DOCTOR DARBY, FOLLOWED BY THE FLAG SALUTE LED BY MRS. CHATTERS. GOOD EVENING. BEFORE TONIGHT'S INVOCATION, WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO HONOR AND REMEMBER A STUDENT AND A MEMBER OF OUR CCPS FAMILY WHO RECENTLY PASSED AWAY. FOLLOWING THESE REMEMBRANCES, WE WILL ASK THAT YOU JOIN US IN OBSERVING A MOMENT OF SILENCE IN THEIR MEMORY. MRS MARGARET FLANAGAN BEGAN HER TEACHING CAREER IN TEXAS IN 1958, SHORTLY AFTER EMIGRATING FROM IRELAND. SHE FOUND HER TRUE HOME AT CLOVER HILL HIGH SCHOOL IN 1983 AS AN ENGLISH LITERATURE TEACHER. THROUGHOUT HER DECADES AT CLOVER HILL MRS. FLANAGAN TAUGHT EVERY GRADE AND ACADEMIC LEVEL, SERVING AS A TIRELESS ADVOCATE FOR COUNTLESS CALVES AND HELPING THEM CROSS THE GRADUATION STAGE. HER PASSION FOR SERVING OTHERS EXTENDED FAR BEYOND THE CLASSROOM. SHE CO-FOUNDED FEED 23112, A COMMUNITY FOOD BANK THAT HAS NOURISHED THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES ACROSS THE CLOVER HILL COMMUNITY AND BEYOND. MRS. FLANAGAN RETIRED IN 2020 AFTER MORE THAN SIX DECADES OF DEDICATED SERVICE IN EDUCATION. FOLLOWING HER PASSION ON SEPTEMBER. FOLLOWING HER PASSING ON SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2026, THE CLOVER HILL COMMUNITY REMAINS COMMITTED TO HONORING AND CONTINUING HER LEGACY OF EXTRAORDINARY CARE AND GENEROSITY. MARKELL AHMAD PITTMAN, A MEMBER OF CARVER ACADEMY'S CLASS OF 2028, PASSED AWAY ON JULY 14TH FOLLOWING A BRIEF ILLNESS. A FORMER STUDENT OF ETTRICK ELEMENTARY, MATOACA MIDDLE SCHOOL AND THOMAS DALE HIGH SCHOOL, MARKELL WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR HIS KIND SPIRIT, THOUGHTFUL NATURE, COURAGEOUS HEART AND INFECTIOUS SMILE AND JOYFUL LAUGHTER. THE CARVER ACADEMY MOURNS THE LOSS OF ONE OF THEIR OWN. MARKELL WAS A BRIGHT AND LOVING YOUNG MAN WHOSE GENTLE SPIRIT TOUCHED EVERYONE WHO KNEW HIM. HE ENJOYED PLAYING VIDEO GAMES, DRAWING, WATCHING ANIME, AND SPENDING QUALITY TIME WITH HIS FAMILY AND LOVED ONES. HE ALSO LOVED TRAVELING, WHETHER EXPLORING THE BEAUTY OF THE MOUNTAINS OR RELAXING BY THE BEACH. MARKELL APPRECIATED ALL GENRES OF MUSIC, BUT HIS SPECIAL FONDNESS FOR CLASSICAL SOUL EARNED HIM THE AFFECTIONATE NICKNAME OLD SOUL. MARKLE HAD A DEEP PASSION FOR ASTRONOMY AND A REMARKABLE INTELLECT. WHILE HE SOMETIMES STRUGGLED WITH ATTENDANCE, THIS SHOULD NEVER BE MISTAKEN FOR A LACK OF ABILITY OR AMBITION. HE WAS HIGHLY INTELLIGENT, SELF-EDUCATED AND POSSESSED AN IMPRESSIVE DEPTH OF KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING. HIS CURIOSITY ABOUT THE WORLD AND EAGERNESS TO LEARN WERE EVIDENT TO THOSE WHO KNEW HIM BEST. MARKELL WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR HIS KINDNESS, THOUGHTFUL NATURE, DEEP INTELLECT, COURAGEOUS HEART, INFECTIOUS SMILE, AND JOYFUL LAUGHTER. THOUGH HIS TIME ON EARTH WAS FAR TOO SHORT, THE LOVE HE SHARED, THE WISDOM HE CARRIED, AND THE GENTLE SPIRIT HE EMBODIED WILL REMAIN FOREVER IN THE HEARTS OF HIS FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND ALL WHO ARE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO KNOW AND LOVE HIM. PLEASE JOIN US IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE. HEAVENLY FATHER, THANK YOU FOR THE GIFT OF EDUCATION AND FOR YOUR GUIDANCE AND GRACE. I ASK YOU TO GRANT US WISDOM, HUMILITY, INTEGRITY, AND COMPASSION AS WE SERVE OUR STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY. MAY OUR DECISIONS HONOR YOU AND BENEFIT THOSE ENTRUSTED TO OUR CARE. IN JESUS NAME, AMEN. PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. [B. Consent Agenda] THE CONSENT AGENDA INCLUDES AGENDA, ADOPTION, APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES, AUGUST 11TH, 2026, WORK SESSION. AUGUST 11TH, 2026, BUSINESS MEETING. MEMO NUMBER 107-26, RECOMMENDED PERSONNEL ACTIONS. [00:05:03] MEMO NUMBER 108-26, ACCEPTANCE OF DONATIONS. MEMO NUMBER 109-26, ADOPTION OF ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR THE APPOMATTOX REGIONAL GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL. MEMO NUMBER 110-26, FY 2027 TRANSFER OF BUDGET FROM INSTRUCTION TO TECHNOLOGY. MEMO NUMBER 115-26, APPOINTMENT OF A MEMBER TO A SCHOOL BOARD ADVISORY COMMITTEE. ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO THE CONSENT AGENDA? MADAM CHAIR, THERE ARE NO ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. ARE THERE ANY REQUESTS FROM A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER TO SEPARATE AN ITEM FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION AND INDIVIDUAL ACTION? MADAM CHAIR, I REQUEST THAT MEMO 107-26, RECOMMENDED PERSONNEL ACTIONS BE SEPARATED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION AND INDIVIDUAL ACTION. OKAY. MEMO NUMBER 107-26 HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS AMENDED? SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE MOTION? JENNIFER DARBY? AYE. DOMINIQUE CHATTERS? AYE. STEVEN PARANTO? AYE. LISA HUDGINS? AYE. THE CONSENT AGENDA HAS BEEN APPROVED. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE MEMO NUMBER 107-26. DOCTOR DARBY. MADAM CHAIR, PURSUANT TO THE VIRGINIA CONFLICTS OF INTEREST ACT, I AM DISCLOSING THAT MY SPOUSE IS EMPLOYED BY THE SCHOOL DIVISION. THIS MEMO APPROVES MY SPOUSE'S APPOINTMENT TO AN INTERIM POSITION. THUS, I WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY DISCUSSION OR THE VOTE ON THIS ITEM, AND I REQUEST THAT THIS DISCLOSURE BE REFLECTED IN THE MINUTES. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE AMENDMENT NUMBER 107-26? I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE MEMO 107-26. IS THERE A SECOND? I SECOND THE MOTION. MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL? ROLL ON THE MOTION. DOMINIQUE CHATTERS? AYE. STEVEN PARANTO? AYE. LISA HUDGINS? AYE. THE MOTION CARRIES. MR. SMITH, WOULD YOU PLEASE ANNOUNCE OUR NEW ADMINISTRATORS? IF I COULD ASK BETH MORRIS TO COME FORWARD THIS TIME. MADAM CHAIR, BOARD MEMBERS, WITH YOUR ACTION THIS EVENING, YOU'VE APPROVED AS PRINCIPAL OF SALEM CHURCH MIDDLE SCHOOL, BETH MORRIS, EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER THE 10TH, 2026. BETH HAS HER DOCTOR OF EDUCATION AND EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP FROM VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY AND MOST RECENTLY SERVED AS THE ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL FOR SWIFT CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL. PLEASE JOIN ME IN ME CONGRATULATING BETH MORRIS. [APPLAUSE]. [C. Awards and Recognitions] NEXT ON THE AGENDA OUR AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS. WE WILL BEGIN WITH RECOGNITION OF CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION PRESENTED BY MR. SMITH. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. BOARD MEMBERS, FOR THIS MEMO. RECOGNITION. WE HAVE THREE DIFFERENT PARTS TO THIS. FOR OUR FIRST PART, I'D LIKE TO CALL TO THE STAGE THE DAIS FROM COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS CENTER, SHANNON WHITE AND MARY BOWMAN AND FROM DOMINION ENERGY, MATT CULLEN TO COME FORWARD, PLEASE. THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS RECOGNIZE INNOVATIVE COUNTY GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS IN THE COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AWARD CATEGORY IN 2026. CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WON TWO AWARDS RELATED TO CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION. NACO RECOGNIZED A COLLABORATIVE INITIATIVE BETWEEN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, CHESTERFIELD COUNTY TO ADDRESS A CRITICAL WORKFORCE NEED AND EMERGING TELECOMMUNICATIONS. CCPS LAUNCHED VIRGINIA'S FIRST OF ITS KIND EMERGENCY TELECOMMUNICATIONS COURSE, TAUGHT BY A CERTIFIED CHESTER COUNTY 911 DISPATCH TRAINER. DURING THE PROGRAM'S INAUGURAL YEAR, 18 OF THE 19 STUDENTS EARNED THE NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED EMERGENCY TELECOMMUNICATIONS CERTIFICATION. NACO ALSO RECOGNIZED THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN DOMINION ENERGY AND CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO PREPARE THE NEXT GENERATION OF VIRGINIA'S ENERGY WORKFORCE. DOMINION ENERGY ENGAGES STUDENTS FROM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, FROM HIGH SCHOOL THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL WITH MEANINGFUL, WORK-BASED LEARNING EXPERIENCES THROUGH INITIATIVES SUCH AS TOUCH A TRUCK EVENTS, CLASSROOM ENGAGEMENT, CAREER EXPLORATION, JOB SHADOWING, INTERNSHIPS, APPRENTICESHIPS AND MENTORSHIP. DOMINION PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPLORE CAREERS IN THE ENERGY SECTOR. PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING THESE COMMUNITY PARTNERS. [APPLAUSE]. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. I LOVE THAT BOTH OF THESE REPRESENT PARTNERSHIPS WITH BUSINESSES AND THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT. [00:10:07] AND THROUGH THOSE PARTNERSHIPS, IT MEANS WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO DO INCREDIBLE THINGS POST HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION. AND WHILE THEY ARE IN HIGH SCHOOL. AND THAT IS JUST AN INCREDIBLE TESTIMONY TO THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE AND THE TEAMS THAT YOU REPRESENT BY BEING HERE TONIGHT. I WILL PASS THE MIC TO YOU IF YOU WANT TO SHARE ANY SUCCESS STORIES OR WHAT THIS HAS MEANT FOR YOU THROUGH THIS PARTNERSHIP. THANK YOU. SO, WE HAD OUR FIRST CLASS THIS LAST SEMESTER, AND WE ACTUALLY GOT TWO OF OUR APPLICANTS AND THEY ARE STARTING THEIR OJT NOW. SO, THEY'RE ACTUALLY ON THE FLOOR LEARNING TO TAKE 911 CALLS. AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE GREAT ASSETS FOR CHESTERFIELD COUNTY. [APPLAUSE]. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, FRANKLY, TO ALL OF CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE'VE BEEN, DOMINION ENERGY'S BEEN PARTNERING FOR A LONG TIME, BUT I THINK WE'RE STARTING TO FINALLY SEE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS THE RESULTS AND EVERYTHING COMING TO FRUITION. BUT THANKS TO CHAD MACLIN AND KATIE STOKES AND ALL OF THEIR TEAM. WE HAVE DEFINITELY NOT ONLY HAD THE OPPORTUNITIES TO GET IN FRONT OF A LOT OF THE CTE STUDENTS AND THEIR AND THEIR EDUCATORS, BUT ALSO SOME OF THE ENGINEERING PROGRAMS. SO, IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST THINK THAT THEY FLIP THE SWITCH AND THE LIGHTS COME ON, BUT THERE'S A LOT THAT GOES ON BEHIND THE SCENES. SO, TO HAVE THE TALENT FROM THE SCHOOLS AND FROM THE COUNTY IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO US. AND WE'VE HAD A HANDFUL OF SUCCESSES OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING MORE. SO, THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]. I'M GOING TO ASK SHANNON AND MARY BOWMAN TO STAY HERE THIS TIME. AND I COULD ASK NOW LISA BEARD, MARCIE ECROYD AND YVONNE MULLINS COME FORWARD. [APPLAUSE]. SO, FOR THIS RECOGNITION, WE HAVE TWO DIFFERENT PARTS HERE. ONE IS THE VIRGINIA AWARDS. AND THE SECOND PIECE IS TEACHER SUCCESS FOR THE VIRGINIA AWARDS FOR THE SIXTH YEAR IN A ROW, CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS WITHIN THE SCHOOL DIVISION EARNED RECOGNITION, AND THE CTE CREATING EXCELLENCE AWARDS PRESENTED BY THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR THE RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM AT CTC@COURTHOUSE IS THE TOP ADVISORY COMMITTEE IN VIRGINIA, AS WELL AS A TOP ADVISORY COMMITTEE IN REGION 1. LISA BEARD HOLDS HEADS THE RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM HAS ASSEMBLED A ROSTER OF INDUSTRY LEADERS FROM BON SECOURS, VCU HEALTH, HCA HEALTHCARE, ORTHOVIRGINIA AND KIDMED TO SERVE ON THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE. IN ADDITION TO THE NACO AWARD, VDOE, IN THE CATEGORY OF BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIP AWARD FOR REGION 1 RECOGNIZES THE IMPACT OF CHESTERFIELD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS CENTER HAS HAD ON THE TOP BUSINESS PARTNER IN REGION 1. THE COLLABORATIVE INITIATIVE IS THE CENTER BETWEEN THE CENTER AND THE CHESTERFIELD COUNTY SCHOOL DIVISION. AND FOR TEACHER SUCCESS, MARCY ECROYD OF MONACAN HIGH SCHOOL RECEIVED THE INTERNATIONAL 2026 HOSA EXTRAORDINARY LEADERSHIP AWARD, ONE OF ONLY TWO RECIPIENTS INTERNATIONALLY. THIS AWARD HONORS EXTRAORDINARY LEADERSHIP AND COLLABORATION WITH HOSA TO CREATE PATHWAYS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO HEALTH PROFESSIONS. AND YVONNE MULLINS, NO STRANGER TO THIS BOARD, OF MIDLOTHIAN HIGH SCHOOL, WAS RECOGNIZED AS A VIRGINIA BUSINESS EDUCATION ASSOCIATION 2026 BUSINESS TEACHER OF THE YEAR. THIS STATEWIDE AWARD RECOGNIZES OUTSTANDING BUSINESS EDUCATORS WHO DEMONSTRATE EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING, LEADERSHIP, INNOVATION, AND SERVICE PROFESSION. PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING THESE SCREENING PARTNERS AND SCHOOL DIVISION EMPLOYEES. [APPLAUSE]. SO, JUST IN CASE YOU DIDN'T KNOW, WE ARE REGIONALLY RECOGNIZED ALL THE TIME. SEE, WE ARE SETTING THE STANDARD ACROSS VIRGINIA ON WHAT WE DO AT OUR CTC AND WHAT OUR CHILDREN ARE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH. I CAN PERSONALLY SPEAK FOR WHAT'S HAPPENING AT MONACAN HIGH SCHOOL, SINCE MISS ECROYD HAS BOTH OF MY CHILDREN THERE IN THE HPT PROGRAM AND THE EXCITEMENT THEY COME HOME WITH FROM BEING ABLE TO DO THE THINGS THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO DO IN A SPECIAL PLACE WHERE YOU CAN ACTUALLY TOUCH THE MANNEQUIN AND DO THE THINGS AND WORK ON THE ACTUAL EQUIPMENT, IT MEANS A LOT. SO, I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING ALL OF YOU ARE DOING. AND SINCE YOU ALL GOT TO SPEAK, I'M GONNA LET ANOTHER GROUP LADIES TALK ABOUT WHAT'S THE BEST PART OF YOUR PROGRAM. THANK YOU. I WOULD JUST SAY IT'S JUST THE EXCITEMENT FROM THE CHILDREN. I MEAN, THEY MOTIVATE ME. I MEAN, HOSA AS ANYBODY KNOWS, WITH ANY TYPE OF CTSO, IT ABSORBS SO MUCH OF YOUR TIME. BUT SEEING THE KIDS EXCITED ABOUT IT AND WANTING TO DO EVERYTHING AND ACTUALLY TAKEN APART TO DO SOMETHING ON THE SIDE, ASIDE FROM THEIR APS AND DUAL ENROLLMENTS AND HONOR CLASSES, LIKE THEY'RE STILL DOING SOMETHING SO PHENOMENAL OUTSIDE. [00:15:06] SO, IF YOU EVER GET A CHANCE TO HAVE SEE IT IN PERSON WITH STUDENTS, IT'S WELL WORTH IT. FOR ME, THE BEST PART IS SEEING THEM BE ABLE TO ENVISION THEIR DREAM, TO BE ABLE TO KNOW THAT THEY CAN REACH THE PEAK THAT THEY WANT TO. TO BE ABLE TO FIND A WAY TO PAY FOR SCHOOL. TO FIND A WAY TO GET THAT PATH TO SCHOOL. THIS PAST YEAR, WE HAD FIVE OF OUR STUDENTS THAT ARE NOW TAKING X-RAYS AS LIMITED LICENSURE TEXTS. SO, 4 KIDMED AND ONE AT BON SECOUR. AND WE STARTED THE PROGRAM, THIS IS OUR THIRD YEAR. OUR FIRST YEAR WE HAD ONE. SECOND YEAR FIVE. SO, WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS YEAR. I LOVE COMING BECAUSE I LOVE TO BRAG ABOUT MY STUDENTS. AT MIDLOTHIAN HIGH SCHOOL, WE HAVE GONE JUST TEN YEARS AGO FROM 20 KIDS IN ACCOUNTING TO THIS YEAR WE HAVE 210. WE HAVE NINE CLASSES OF ACCOUNTING. IT HAS TAKEN OFF. AND WITH THOSE 210 KIDS, WE HAVE OVER 400 IN OUR FUTURE BUSINESS LEADERS OF AMERICA. SO AS MISS ECROY SAID, A CTSO IS ANOTHER FULL-TIME JOB. AND WHEN YOU HAVE 400 MEMBERS, IT'S A LOT. SO MY HUSBAND'S HERE TONIGHT WITHOUT HIS SUPPORT, I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO WORK TEN HOURS A DAY THAT I WORK DOING TWO JOBS. BUT I LOVE IT. I LOVE MY KIDS THAT ARE HERE, THAT ARE FIRST PLACE STATE WINNERS. IT IS SO GRATIFYING, AS MARCIE SAID, THAT YOUR KIDS COME BACK AND TELL YOU, YOU KNOW, I'M TAKING ACCOUNTING NOW. I'M GOING TO BE A CPA, AND I SEE THEM ON LINKEDIN AND THEY'RE SO SUCCESSFUL. AND MASON CAPTAIN, WHO WAS NUMBER ONE IN THE NATION JUST TWO YEARS AGO, SAID, WE DID THE DEBIT AND CREDIT SONG, AND I KNEW IT AT UVA, AND I'M SHOWING THEM THE DANCE MOVES. AND IT'S EXCITING BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT I'M DOING MAKES A DIFFERENCE. SO, THANK YOU, DOCTOR ABEL AND CHAD FOR HELPING ME MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE KIDS WITH MY STUDENTS. [APPLAUSE]. I TRIED. FOR THE THIRD PART OF RECOGNITION, IF I COULD ASK OUR CAREER AND TECHNICAL STUDENT ORGANIZATION WINNERS, TEACHERS AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS TO COME FORWARD THIS TIME. YOU WANT ME TO READ THESE? CAREER AND TECHNICAL STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDE STUDENTS AND CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION COURSES WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO APPLY ACADEMIC, TECHNICAL AND EMPLOYABILITY KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS. CHESTERFIELD STUDENTS CONSISTENTLY WIN AWARDS AND COMPETITIONS ORGANIZED BY CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS. FROM SKILLSUSA AT CTC@COURTHOUSE, RYAN DEVLIN IS HERE FOR ADAM SCHMAHL FIRST PLACE STATEWIDE AND FIRST PLACE IN THE NATION IN AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE TECHNOLOGY. [APPLAUSE]. FOR FUTURE BUSINESS. FOR FUTURE BUSINESS LEADERS OF AMERICA AT CTC@COURTHOUSE. PRESTON DAVIS AND HIS TEACHER, PEYTON CHICHESTER. FIRST PLACE STATEWIDE AND THIRD PLACE IN THE NATION AND NETWORKING INFRASTRUCTURE. [APPLAUSE]. FROM FUTURE BUSINESS LEADERS OF AMERICA AT MIDLOTHIAN HIGH SCHOOL. O'NEIL, SPEAKMAN, PORTER BOYLES AND THEIR TEACHER, YVONNE MULLINS. O'NEIL PLACED FIRST IN THE STATE FOR INTRO TO BUSINESS CONCEPTS, AND PORTER PLACED FIRST IN THE STATE FOR INTRO TO FBLA. [APPLAUSE]. FROM THE TECHNOLOGY STUDENT ASSOCIATION AT BIRD HIGH SCHOOL. KELLAN MILES, LUCCA HARRIS AND THEIR TEACHER, KELLEN AND LUCCA PLACED FIRST IN THE STATE IN THE HS SYSTEM CONTROL TECHNOLOGY. [APPLAUSE]. AND FOR HOSA FUTURE HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AT CTC@HULL. BRIAN RUSSELL IS HERE FOR ERICA FIEGE. FIRST PLACE IN THE STATE IN SPORTS MEDICINE. [APPLAUSE]. PLEASE JOIN ME CONGRATULATING THESE STUDENTS AND STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS. [APPLAUSE]. SO AGAIN, WE JUST KEEP WINNING. IF YOU NOTICE A TREND HERE, WE JUST KEEP WINNING AND WINNING AND WINNING IN MY NEMO VOICE THERE. BUT I WANT TO ASK THE STUDENTS A QUESTION SINCE I SPOKE TO THE ADULTS ALREADY. [00:20:01] TELL ME THE BEST PART ABOUT BEING IN THIS ORGANIZATION. ONLY ONE OF YOU I WON'T. THANK YOU. THERE YOU GO. SO I THINK THE BEST PART IS REALLY JUST BEING ABLE TO LEARN ALL THESE NEW SKILLS AND THINGS THAT WILL HELP ME FURTHER IN MY LIFE. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]. I BELIEVE THAT THE BEST PART TO FBLA IS THE DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES IT GIVES YOU AS YOU CONTINUE DOWN ALONG THE ROAD OF LIFE. AND ADVISOR HERE HAS BEEN ABLE TO HELP US GET THROUGH OUR MANY ACHIEVEMENTS. [APPLAUSE]. IN MY OPINION, THE BEST PART OF FBLA IS THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT IT PROVIDES. I LEARNED SO MUCH BEING IN FBLA AND I'LL BE ABLE TO APPLY THAT IN THE BUSINESS WORLD, IN COLLEGE AND IN MY FUTURE. YEAH. [APPLAUSE]. LET'S GIVE THEM ONE MORE HAND. THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN AND LADIES. PLEASE. NEXT WE HAVE CELEBRATING OUR PARTNERS FROM MR. SMITH. IF I COULD ASK OUR FRIENDS FROM SUPER RADIATOR COILS TO COME FORWARD THIS TIME. TONIGHT WE RECOGNIZE SUPER RADIATOR COILS, DEMONSTRATING OUTSTANDING COMMITMENT TO PREPARING STUDENTS FOR FUTURE CAREERS. THE COMPANY PROVIDES WORKPLACE TOURS FOR STUDENTS IN ENGINEERING AND MECHATRONICS PROGRAMS, OFFERS JOB SHADOWING OPPORTUNITIES, AND PARTICIPATES IN MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL CAREER FAIRS. IT SUPPORT EXTENDS THROUGHOUT OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY, INCLUDING PROVIDING SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS AND HOSTING WORKPLACE TOURS FOR TEACHERS AND STAFF MEMBERS. IN ADDITION TO SUPPORTING CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION, THE BUSINESS IS A VALUED PARTNER OF THE COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOLS OF CHESTERFIELD, PROVIDING FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO STRENGTHEN RESOURCES AND CONNECTIONS AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS AND FAMILIES. PLEASE JOIN ME IN THANKING SUPER RADIATOR COILS. [APPLAUSE]. I'M NOT GOING TO GET IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT. BUT ON BEHALF OF THE CHESTERFIELD COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD, THANK YOU FOR BEING A BUSINESS PARTNER WITH US. I'VE SAID THIS TIME AND TIME AGAIN WE WOULD NOT BE AS GOOD AS WE ARE, AND OUR STUDENTS WOULD NOT BE AS GOOD AS THEY ARE AND WELL EQUIPPED IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THE COMMUNITY BUSINESSES COMING INTO THE SCHOOLS, SENDING OUR KIDS TO YOUR BUSINESSES, TEACHER INVOLVEMENT, PARENT INVOLVEMENT SO THAT WE CAN MOVE THE NEEDLE FORWARD FOR THEM. AND YOU'RE PREPARING THEM AS WELL. AND THEY'RE GETTING TO SEE REAL WORLD EXPERIENCES AND UNDERSTANDING, NOT JUST SITTING IN A CLASSROOM, BUT ACTUALLY PUTTING THEIR HANDS ON AND BEING TAUGHT BY SOMEONE WHO'S IN THAT FIELD, IN THAT INDUSTRY. SO WE GREATLY APPRECIATE YOU PARTNERING WITH US. THE ONE THING, THE QUESTION I ALWAYS ASK, AND I'D LIKE TO KNOW IS, WHAT IS IT ABOUT YOUR PARTNERSHIP WITH US THAT MAKES YOU WANT TO COME BACK? GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JARED SILVERMAN. I'M THE GENERAL COUNSEL HERE AT THE COMPANY. AND WE LIKE TO SAY IT'S SUPER RADIATOR COILS THAT WE'RE SUPER BECAUSE WE MEASURE SUCCESS BY THE POSITIVE IMPACT WE HAVE ON PEOPLE. AND SO, WE MAKE A GREAT PRODUCT. WE MAKE A PRODUCT THAT'S NEEDED. OUR CUSTOMERS ARE TERRIFIC. BUT REALLY IT COMES DOWN TO THE IMPACT THAT WE HAVE ON EACH OTHER, OUR EMPLOYEES, OUR CUSTOMERS, OUR SUPPLIERS AND OUR COMMUNITY. AND WE GET SUCH A JOLT OF JOY AND ENTHUSIASM BY PARTICIPATING IN SCHOOL EVENTS, BY BEING PRESENT IN THE COMMUNITY. WE LOVE CIS. AND I SEE ASHLEY RIGHT THERE AND IT'S AN AMAZING PARTNERSHIP. WE LOVE BEING IN THE SCHOOLS. WE LOVE SPENDING TIME WITH STUDENTS. WE LOVE INSPIRING THE FUTURE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE RECOGNITION OF OUTSTANDING DRIVER PERFORMANCE FROM DOCTOR FRYE. PLEASE LET HER DO. GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR, BOARD MEMBERS, MR. ROBERTS. IT'S MY PLEASURE THIS EVENING TO PRESENT TO YOU OUR OUTSTANDING DRIVERS FROM THE SUMMER SCHOOL MONTHS. [00:25:06] THERE ARE MANY DRIVERS WHO COULD BE RECOGNIZED THIS SUMMER, BUT EACH TRANSPORTATION AREA MANAGER HAD TO MAKE THE TOUGH DECISION OF SELECTING A SINGLE DRIVER WHO EXEMPLIFIED EXCELLENCE AND DEDICATION TO REPRESENT THEIR AREAS. WE WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE FOLLOWING DRIVERS. GORDON AINSWORTH, AREA 1, BUS 148, 12 YEARS OF SERVICE. MISS HARRIS ACCEPTING HIS AWARD. GORDON'S MANAGER, MANAGERS CONSIDER HIM TO BE STRONG AND DEPENDABLE AS A TEAM MEMBER IN AREA 1. HE DOES AN EXCELLENT JOB MANAGING THE COMPLEXITY OF SPECIALTY CENTER ROUTES AND NEW ROUTES ON DAYS WHEN CCPS IS CLOSED. GORDON ALSO TAKES THE TIME TO MENTOR NEW DRIVERS AND HELP PREPARE THEM TO WORK INDEPENDENTLY. KENNETH KEATON, AREA 2, BUS 984, 10 YEARS OF SERVICE. MISS JEFFER ACCEPTING HIS AWARD. KENNY ALWAYS HAS AN EXCEPTIONAL ATTITUDE WHEN RUNNING HIS ROUTES AND COMMUNICATING WITH CCPS STAFF. HE ALSO IS THE FIRST PERSON TO VOLUNTEER TO ASSIST WHENEVER EXTRA HELP IS NEEDED, INCLUDING PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO OTHER DRIVERS DURING THE SUMMER SCHOOL SESSIONS. ANDREW PFEIL, AREA 3, BUS 477, 1 YEAR OF SERVICE. ANDREW SAYS HE FEELS HE MAKES A DIFFERENCE EVERY DAY, KNOWING HE IS TRUSTED BY FAMILIES AND STUDENTS TO GET THEM TO AND FROM SCHOOL SAFELY. ANDREW ALSO LIKES BEING PART OF THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY AND PLAYING A SMALL BUT IMPORTANT ROLE IN STUDENTS SCHOOL EXPERIENCE, WHICH HE FINDS ESPECIALLY REWARDING. ANGELA BURTON, AREA 4, BUS 946, THREE YEARS OF SERVICE. MISS DAVIS ACCEPTING HER AWARD. ANGELA'S AREA 4 TEAM SHARED THAT SHE IS A ROCK STAR DURING THE SUMMER. ANGELA IS ALWAYS WILLING TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND TO ASSIST ANYONE IN NEED. ONCE SHE COMPLETES A TASK, SHE'S ALWAYS THE FIRST TO ASK WHAT'S NEXT? HER POSITIVE ATTITUDE, STRONG WORK ETHIC, AND WILLINGNESS TO JUMP IN WHEREVER NEEDED HAS MADE A TREMENDOUS DIFFERENCE. JOE WOLZ, AREA 5, BUS 765, 5 YEARS OF SERVICE. SCOTT ACCEPTING HIS AWARD. JOE'S MANAGER STATE THAT HE GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND IN HIS ROLE BY DEMONSTRATING DEDICATION, PROFESSIONALISM, AND A GENUINE COMMITMENT TO THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF THE STUDENTS HE TRANSPORTS. HIS WILLINGNESS TO ASSIST OTHERS, TAKE THE INITIATIVE AND HANDLE RESPONSIBILITIES WITH A POSITIVE ATTITUDE MAKES HIM A VALUABLE MEMBER OF THE TRANSPORTATION TEAM. ADDITIONALLY, THE DRIVER OF THE YEAR FOR THE 25-26 SCHOOL YEAR WAS ANNOUNCED AT IN SERVICE IN AUGUST. WE ARE PROUD TO RECOGNIZE HIM TONIGHT. QUENTIN WILLIAMS, AREA 1, BUS 83, 3 YEARS OF SERVICE. QUENTIN MANAGER DESCRIBES HIM AS A RELIABLE TEAM PLAYER WHO CONSISTENTLY GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND TO SUPPORT STUDENTS AND THE ORGANIZATION. QUENTIN'S DEDICATION AND RELIABILITY ARE FURTHER DEMONSTRATED BY HIS PERFECT ATTENDANCE THROUGHOUT THE 25-26 SCHOOL YEAR. AND HIS CONSISTENT PRESENCE HELPS ENSURE STUDENTS RECEIVE DEPENDABLE AND SAFE TRANSPORTATION EACH DAY. QUENTIN'S PROFESSIONALISM, SOUND JUDGMENT, RELIABILITY, AND GENUINE COMMITMENT TO STUDENTS SAFETY MAKE HIM A VALUABLE MEMBER OF THE TEAM AND EXEMPLIFY THE QUALITIES WE'RE PROUD TO RECOGNIZE HERE TONIGHT. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]. SO, ANDREW, I DON'T WANT TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT, RIGHT? I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU SOME TIME TO THINK ABOUT IT. SO, WE JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR BUS DRIVERS. I KNOW SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE A PROBABLY LIKE A THANKLESS JOB, BUT YOU HAVE THE MOST PRECIOUS CARGO THAT WE THAT WE HAVE, AND YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEM IN THE MORNING AND TO BRING THEM HOME SAFELY. AND I KNOW YOU HOLD ALL THE SECRETS BECAUSE THEY TALK SO MUCH TO ALL OF YOU. SO, ANDREW, DO YOU HAVE A STORY THAT YOU WANT TO SHARE ABOUT WHY YOU LIKE DRIVING OUR BUSSES? [LAUGHTER]. OKAY. PLEASE PROTECT. PLEASE PROTECT THE INNOCENT PARENTS. OKAY, SO JUST NO NAMES, PLEASE. JUST WHEN I, WHEN I TRANSPORTED THE ELEMENTARY KIDS TO THEIR DESTINATION JUST LISTENING TO THEM TALK AMONG EACH OTHER IS WONDERFUL. AND JUST GETTING TO SEE THEM SMILE EVERY DAY AND GET ON THE BUS. [00:30:06] AND IT'S A BIG EXPERIENCE. SO, I TEND TO SMILE TO THEM AND WELCOME THEM, GREET THEM, AND THEN SEND THEM ABOUT THEIR DAY. SO, THAT'S A BIG THING FOR MY EXPERIENCE BUS DRIVING. [APPLAUSE]. THANK YOU EVERYONE. THANK YOU. OKAY, THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF TONIGHT'S HONOREES. NEXT WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THIS MEETING. [D. 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 THE BOARD DOCS SITE AND WILL BE INCLUDED IN FULL AS AN ADDENDUM TO THE MEETING MINUTES. IN-PERSON COMMENTS WILL BE SUMMARIZED BY THE BOARD CLERK AND INCLUDED IN THE OFFICIAL MEETING MINUTES. DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED ALONG WITH IN-PERSON COMMENTS WILL, UPON REQUEST, BE DISTRIBUTED TO THE BOARD, BUT NOT INCLUDED AS PART OF THE BOARD'S OFFICIAL MINUTES. MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE ANNOUNCE THIS EVENING'S IN-PERSON SPEAKERS? MADAM CHAIR, WE HAVE 11 SPEAKERS THIS EVENING. THEY ARE ASHLEY CORSON, JASON RODRIGUEZ, ROB HAMEL, JASON WOODBY. EMILIANA GENTRY, CHARLIE SCHMIDT, KIANA MITCHELL, ANDREA BRYANT, SARAH WHITE, LAURA WOODARD, AND JESSICA ROMERO. 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 IN RED WHEN YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. AS A REMINDER, A REMINDER. NO PERSONAL BELONGINGS OTHER THAN A CELL PHONE AND SPEAKER NOTES ARE ALLOWED AT THE PODIUM. PLEASE ENSURE ALL MATERIALS ARE ORGANIZED BEFORE APPROACHING THE PODIUM. YOUR SPEAKING TIME WILL BEGIN AS SOON AS YOU ARRIVE AT THE PODIUM, SO YOU SHOULD BE PREPARED TO BEGIN YOUR REMARKS IMMEDIATELY. PLEASE NOTE THAT COMMENTS EQUIVALENT TO CAMPAIGNING FOR ANY PUBLIC OFFICE OR IN VIOLATION OF SCHOOL BOARD POLICY 1110 ARE PROHIBITED. MAY WE HAVE ASHLEY CORSON. JASON RODRIGUEZ. GOOD EVENING, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT MURRAY. MY NAME IS JASON RODRIGUEZ, AND I AM THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE CHESTERFIELD EDUCATION ASSOCIATION. I'M HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE I WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT IS BIGGER THAN A CONTRACT AND BIGGER THAN A PAYCHECK. IT'S ABOUT WHETHER THE PEOPLE WHO DEDICATE THEIR LIVES TO OUR SCHOOLS HAVE A MEANINGFUL CHOICE AND DECISIONS THAT AFFECT THEIR LIVES. THAT ISSUE IS COLLECTIVE BARGAINING. TOO OFTEN WHEN WE HEAR PEOPLE SPEAK COLLECTIVE BARGAINING, THEY IMMEDIATELY THINK ABOUT TEACHERS ASKING FOR MORE MONEY. OF COURSE, FAIR COMPENSATION DOES MATTER. BUT IF THAT IS ALL THAT'S THOUGHT ABOUT COLLECTIVE BARGAINING, THEN YOU'RE MISSING THE BIGGER PICTURE. COLLECTIVE BARGAINING IS ABOUT QUALITY OF LIFE. IT'S ABOUT WHETHER A TEACHER HAS ENOUGH PLANNING TIME TO ACTUALLY PLAN, WHETHER CLASS SIZES ALLOW TEACHERS TO GIVE THE STUDENTS THE ATTENTION THAT THEY DESERVE, WHETHER THEY THERE ARE ENOUGH ADULTS IN THE BUILDING TO SAFELY SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS. IT IS ABOUT THE WORKLOAD, SAFETY, STAFFING, LEAVE PROFESSIONAL RESPECT AND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN EMPLOYEES RAISE LEGITIMATE CONCERNS AND WHO LISTENS AND DOES SOMETHING ABOUT IT. YOU CANNOT TELL SOMEONE THAT YOU VALUE THEM WHILE CONSISTENTLY MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR JOB AND THEIR LIFE HARDER. WE ASK EDUCATORS TO CARE FOR OUR CHILDREN, DIFFERENTIATE INSTRUCTION, MANAGE CLASSROOMS, COMMUNICATE WITH PARENTS, COMPLETE PAPERWORK, ATTEND MEETINGS, SUPERVISE ACTIVITIES, MENTOR STUDENTS, COVER CLASSES, AND TAKE ON RESPONSES. EXCUSE ME. RESPONSIBILITIES THAT SEEM TO GROW EVERY YEAR AND WEATHER. AND THEN WE WONDER WHY WE GET EXHAUSTED. WE WONDER WHY EXPERIENCED EDUCATORS LEAVE. WE WONDER WHY IT IS BECOMING HARDER TO RECRUIT PEOPLE INTO EDUCATION. AT SOME POINT, WE HAVE TO STOP ASKING WHY CAN'T WE KEEP PEOPLE AND START ASKING, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO THAT IS GOING TO MAKE PEOPLE WANT TO STAY? THAT IS WHY COLLECTIVE BARGAINING MATTERS. EMPLOYEES SHOULD NOT HAVE TO RELY ON WHETHER THE PERSON SITTING IN A PARTICULAR ADMINISTRATION OFFICE HAPPENS TO LISTEN TO THEM. THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE TO HOPE THAT THE NEXT SCHOOL BOARD WILL BE MORE RECEPTIVE TO THEIR CONCERNS. THEY DESERVE A VOICE THAT IS RECOGNIZED AND PROTECTED. COLLECTIVE BARGAINING CREATES A PROCESS. IT BRINGS EMPLOYEES AND THE SCHOOL DIVISION TO THE SAME TABLE. [00:35:02] BOTH SIDES NEGOTIATE, LISTEN, COMPROMISE AND WORK TOWARDS AN AGREEMENT. COLLECTIVE BARGAINING DOES NOT MEAN EMPLOYEES GET EVERYTHING THEY WANT. IT MEANS THAT EMPLOYEES HAVE A MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITY TO HELP SHAPE THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHERE THEY WORK. THE PEOPLE STANDING IN FRONT OF STUDENTS EVERY DAY KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN CLASSROOMS HAVE TOO MANY STUDENTS, WHEN THERE AREN'T ENOUGH STAFF, WHEN BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS GO UNADDRESSED, AND WHEN TEACHERS DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO DO THE JOB THAT THEY ARE HIRED TO DO. THOSE ARE NOT JUST EMPLOYMENT ISSUES, THOSE ARE EDUCATION ISSUES. WHEN WE LOSE AN EXPERIENCED TEACHER, STUDENTS LOSE. WHEN STAFF ARE BURNED OUT, STUDENTS LOSE. WHEN STUDENTS CANNOT RETAIN QUALIFIED EMPLOYEES, STUDENTS LOSE. AND WHEN EMPLOYEES FEEL POWERLESS, THE ENTIRE SCHOOL COMMUNITY LOSES. SO TONIGHT I AM ASKING THE SCHOOL BOARD TO THINK UPON BEYOND THE TRADITIONAL ARGUMENT ABOUT SALARIES. THIS IS ABOUT DIGNITY. THIS IS ABOUT RESPECT. THIS IS ABOUT HAVING A VOICE. WE CANNOT CONTINUE TELLING EMPLOYEES YOU ARE OUR MOST VALUABLE RESOURCE WHILE TELLING THEM IN PRACTICE, BUT YOU DON'T GET A MEANINGFUL SEAT AT THE TABLE. IF YOU TRULY BELIEVE EMPLOYEES ARE OUR MOST VALUABLE RESOURCE, GIVE US A VOICE. IF YOU TRULY BELIEVE IN COLLABORATION, SIT DOWN WITH US AND NEGOTIATE. IF YOU TRULY BELIEVE YOU ARE RETAINING GREAT EDUCATORS, LISTEN TO WHAT THOSE EDUCATORS ARE TELLING YOU. AND IF YOU TRULY BELIEVE OUR STUDENTS DESERVE THE BEST SCHOOLS POSSIBLE, RECOGNIZE THAT THE ADULTS IN THOSE SCHOOLS DESERVE A SYSTEM THAT WORKS FOR THEM, TOO. COLLECTIVE BARGAINING ISN'T ABOUT CHOOSING EMPLOYEES OVER MANAGEMENT. IT ISN'T ABOUT CHOOSING LEADERS OVER TEACHERS, OVER STUDENTS. IT IS ABOUT BUILDING A STRONGER SCHOOL DIVISION BY GIVING EVERYONE A VOICE AND MAKING IT BETTER. IT IS A BUILDING. EXCUSE ME. OUR EDUCATORS GIVE THEIR TIME, THEIR ENERGY, AND THEY GIVE THEIR PIECES OF THEIR PERSONAL LIVES EVERY DAY. THEY GIVE OUR CHILDREN THE VERY BEST. THEY DESERVE A VOICE THE REST OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. THANK YOU, MR. RODRIGUEZ. MAY WE HAVE ROB HAMILL? HELLO, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS. MY NAME IS ROB HAMILL, AND I AM THE PRESIDENT OF YOUR CHESTERFIELD EDUCATION ASSOCIATION. THE FIRST FEW WEEKS OF SCHOOL HAVE BEEN BUSY FOR EVERYONE. I HAVE DRIVEN TO OVER 40 OF OUR BUILDINGS IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS. AS I SET UP OUR VISITS FOR THE FALL. ONE THING I LEARNED THIS YEAR EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR PARKING LOTS IS DIFFERENT. EVEN WHEN THE BUILDINGS ARE IDENTICAL, THE PARKING LOT LAYOUTS ARE NOT. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR SECURITY OFFICERS WHO POINTED ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AS I REPEATEDLY MADE WRONG TURNS. THIS MONTH, CEA WILL BEGIN OUR YEAR LONG SERIES OF DISCUSSIONS ABOUT COLLECTIVE BARGAINING. I WOULD LIKE TO FOCUS ON SOMETHING THAT MANY STAFF MEMBERS HAVE BROUGHT TO ME IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, A LACK OF STANDARD POLICIES ACROSS BUILDINGS. AS OUR PEOPLE CREATED THEIR SCHEDULES OVER THE SUMMER, AND AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, WE RECEIVED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS AND CONCERNS ABOUT THE PROCESS. AND THAT'S NORMAL FOR US IN AUGUST, SCHEDULING IS COMPLICATED. ONE PROBLEM BECAME CLEAR, THOUGH, AS WE LISTENED TO OUR MEMBERS. EVERY SCHOOL CREATES THEIR SCHEDULE IN A DIFFERENT WAY. NOW, OF COURSE, IT'S NECESSARY FOR SUPERVISORS TO HAVE SOME LEEWAY IN CRAFTING SCHEDULES THAT BEST FIT THEIR SPECIFIC BUILDINGS, BUT IT IS ALSO NECESSARY FOR THE DISTRICT TO ESTABLISH CLEAR STANDARDS ON WORKLOADS AND SCHEDULING EXPECTATIONS. SUCH POLICIES OR PROCEDURES MAY INDEED EXIST IN CCPS, BUT OUR MEMBERS HAVE NOT HAD CONSISTENT ACCESS TO THEM. WITHOUT A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF HOW MANY CLASSES OR PREPS, HOW MANY STUDENTS, OR HOW MANY DUTIES EACH PRINCIPAL MAY ASSIGN TO EACH STAFF MEMBER, WE WILL HAVE TOTALLY DIFFERENT WORKING CONDITIONS IN EACH BUILDING. OUR TEACHERS WOULD DEFINITELY LIKE TO BARGAIN FOR CLEAR, CONSISTENT STANDARDS ON NUMBERS OF STUDENTS, NUMBERS OF PREPS AND DUTY EXPECTATIONS. THIS KIND OF INCONSISTENCY ACROSS BUILDINGS AFFECTS OUR SUPPORT STAFF AS WELL. WE SOMETIMES CALL ON OUR NUTRITION WORKERS TO MOVE FROM BUILDING TO BUILDING TO COVER ABSENCES. AND EVEN THOUGH OUR KITCHENS MAY RECEIVE WORKERS COMING IN FOR THE DAY, THERE IS NO STANDARD WAY TO DISPLAY INFORMATION FOR PEOPLE FILLING IN. SO, IF I WORK AT HOPKINS, FOR EXAMPLE, AND I GO TO FILL IN AT REIMS, I MIGHT NOT HAVE ANYWHERE TO LOOK TO SEE TODAY'S SCHEDULE. I MIGHT HAVE TO WRITE IT DOWN. I MIGHT KEEP ASKING MY COLLEAGUES. NONE OF THOSE OPTIONS WORK VERY WELL AS I TRY TO FINISH MY TIME SENSITIVE JOB. THAT REQUIRES ME TO USE BOTH OF MY HANDS. INSTEAD, OUR KITCHENS COULD HAVE UNIVERSALLY FORMATTED SCHEDULES FOR THE DAY'S SERVICE POSTED IN THE SAME LOCATIONS ACROSS THE DISTRICT. THERE COULD BE A BINDER FOR SAFETY INFORMATION IN THE SAME PLACE IN EVERY KITCHEN. A FEW ADJUSTMENTS LIKE THIS COULD MAKE THE JOBS OF OUR NUTRITION TEAM MUCH EASIER. THESE TYPES OF CHANGES ARE INTUITIVE FOR OUR STAFF ON THE FRONT LINES, BUT THEY CAN BE DIFFICULT FOR MANAGEMENT TO SEE OR UNDERSTAND. THAT'S PART OF THE BEAUTY OF NEGOTIATING A CONTRACT. YOU GET REAL INPUT ON WHAT MAKES ANY GIVEN ASPECT OF THE JOB WORKABLE. THAT'S WHY STATES WITH STRONG COLLECTIVE BARGAINING LAWS LIKE MASSACHUSETTS, PENNSYLVANIA AND NEW JERSEY CONSISTENTLY HAVE THE BEST OUTCOMES FOR STUDENTS. OUR WORKING CONDITIONS ARE STUDENT LEARNING CONDITIONS, AND WHEN YOU IMPROVE ONE, YOU IMPROVE THE OTHER. WE HAVE MANY YEARS OF DATA SHOWING THIS. WE DO KNOW THAT EVEN IF WE BARGAINED ENTIRELY FOR CHANGES IN POLICY AND PROCEDURE THAT DID NOT AFFECT PAY, [00:40:04] COLLECTIVE BARGAINING WOULD STILL COME WITH SOME COST. THE DISTRICT WOULD NEED TO CREATE NEW HUMAN RESOURCES POSITIONS TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE STAFF UNIONS AND OVERSEE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGREEMENTS. CEA WOULD LOVE ANY OPPORTUNITY TO PARTNER WITH MEMBERS OF THIS BODY ON LOBBYING FOR MORE FUNDING FROM THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OR THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. I THINK WE ALL AGREE THAT WE NEED TO PUT MORE INTO THE CCPS BUDGET. WE'RE OPEN TO ANY CONVERSATIONS ON WAYS TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. WE LOOK FORWARD TO TALKING SOON. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE CHESTERFIELD EDUCATION ASSOCIATION. THANK YOU, MR. HAMMILL. MAY WE HAVE JASON WOODBY. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JASON WOODBY. I'M A RESIDENT OF THE BERMUDA DISTRICT. I ALSO TEACH HERE IN THE COUNTY. I'M CURRENTLY TEACHING BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY JUST UP THE ROAD AT CARVER ACADEMY. I'M ALSO HERE TONIGHT TO TALK ABOUT COLLECTIVE BARGAINING. MOST OF THE CONVERSATION I'VE HEARD ABOUT COLLECTIVE BARGAINING SO FAR HAS REVOLVED AROUND TEACHER PAY, AND I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT COLLECTIVE BARGAINING IS ABOUT MUCH MORE THAN JUST HOW MUCH MONEY TEACHERS TAKE HOME. AS TEACHERS, WE TAKE ON MULTIPLE ROLES WHILE AT WORK. WE ARE NOT ONLY TEACHERS, WE ARE ALSO MENTORS. WE ARE CARETAKERS. WE'RE A COMMUNICATION LINE BETWEEN THE SCHOOL DIVISION AND PARENTS. WE OFTEN RUN STUDENT INTEREST CLUBS, COACH OR DO OTHER AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES. PEOPLE TEACHING TODAY HAVE MANY MORE RESPONSIBILITIES THAN TEACHERS MAY HAVE HAD IN THE PAST. I DOUBT MOST TEACHERS FROM THE 1970S KNEW WHAT AN ACCOMMODATION TRACKER WAS. TEACHERS FROM THE 80S PROBABLY DIDN'T THINK ABOUT DIFFERENTIATION VERY MUCH. TEACHERS FROM THOSE TIME PERIODS PROBABLY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT AN SEL LESSON WAS. TEACHERS ARE ALSO SOME OF THE LOUDEST ADVOCATES FOR OUR STUDENTS. WHEN WE ARE ALLOWED TO COLLECTIVELY BARGAIN, NOT ONLY DO OUR LIVES IMPROVE, BUT SO DO THE LIVES OF THE CHILDREN WE WORK WITH. IT BENEFITS STUDENTS WHEN TEACHERS PLANNING PERIODS ARE PROTECTED AND TEACHERS HAVE TIME TO PLAN MEANINGFUL LEARNING EXPERIENCES. IT BENEFITS STUDENTS TO HAVE TEACHERS WHO AREN'T BURNT OUT BY THE END OF THE FIRST NINE WEEKS. IT BENEFITS STUDENTS WHEN TEACHERS ARE PAID ENOUGH TO NOT HAVE TO HAVE THAT SECOND JOB. STUDENTS BENEFIT FROM HAVING TEACHERS THAT ARE WILLING TO COACH, WHO ARE WILLING TO BUILD AN ESPORTS TEAM, OR TO RUN A GARDEN CLUB. MANY TEACHERS WOULD BE WILLING TO TAKE ON THINGS LIKE COACHING OR RUNNING A CLUB IF THEY DIDN'T FEEL LIKE THEY WERE ALREADY GETTING THE SHORT END OF THE STICK AND ALREADY DOING WORK THEY AREN'T BEING COMPENSATED FOR. IT BENEFITS STUDENTS WHEN THEIR TEACHERS TRULY HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE. COLLECTIVE BARGAINING CAN ALSO INCREASE TEACHER RETENTION. MOST OF THE REASONS TEACHERS CITE WHEN THEY LEAVE ONE DISTRICT FOR ANOTHER ARE THINGS THAT COULD BE ADDRESSED OR IMPROVED BY COLLECTIVE BARGAINING. THAT, OF COURSE, INCLUDES THINGS LIKE INCREASE PAY, BUT ALSO INCLUDES SAFETY CONCERNS, BEHAVIORAL ISSUES IN THE CLASSROOMS, UNSUPPORTIVE ADMINISTRATORS, REASONABLE CLASS SIZES, BEING ASKED TO DO MORE WITHOUT MORE COMPENSATION, GENERALLY NOT FEELING LISTENED TO OR NOT FEELING LIKE YOU HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE. THESE ARE ALL ISSUES THAT COULD BE DIRECTLY IMPROVED THROUGH COLLECTIVE BARGAINING. SOME TEACHERS ARE EVEN MOVING TO DISTRICTS BECAUSE THOSE DISTRICTS HAVE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING. IT'S WELL KNOWN THAT PEOPLE ARE GENERALLY HAPPIER WORKING SOMEWHERE THEY FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE SOME OWNERSHIP OR A STAKE IN. THE WORKERS ARE HAPPIER WHEN THEY FEEL INVOLVED IN DECISION MAKING, WHEN THEY FEEL LISTENED TO, WHEN THEY FEEL LIKE THEY'RE PART OF A TEAM WORKING TOWARDS A COMMON GOAL. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR BY APPROVING COLLECTIVE BARGAINING NOW. CHESTERFIELD MAY BE ABLE TO LURE IN QUALIFIED TEACHERS WHO HAVE A SAY, WHO WANT TO HAVE A SAY IN THEIR WORKPLACE, OR HAVE BECOME FRUSTRATED BECAUSE THEY DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE ANY CONTROL, OR SAY IN HOW THE SCHOOLS THEY CURRENTLY WORK AT ARE RUN. IF THE SCHOOL BOARD CONTINUES REFUSING TO ALLOW COLLECTIVE BARGAINING, WE WILL DEFINITELY LOSE QUALITY EDUCATORS AS MORE SURROUNDING LOCALITIES BEGIN ADOPTING COLLECTIVE BARGAINING. MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION. TEACHERS IN THIS COUNTY DESERVE TO HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE. TEACHERS DESERVE THE RIGHT TO COLLECTIVELY BARGAIN. DO THE RIGHT THING. IT WILL HELP OUR STUDENTS, OUR TEACHERS, AND OUR SCHOOLS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. WOODBY. MAY WE HAVE EMILIANA GENTRY? I HAVE SHORT LEGS. IT TAKES ME SOME TIME TO GET PLACES. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. ONE MOMENT. I AM DOUBLE BOOKED THIS EVENING, SO I AM ON AN IMMIGRANT SOLIDARITY CALL WITH MY CHURCH AT THE SAME TIME BUT THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE THIS EVENING. MY NAME IS EMILIANA GRACE GENTRY. I AM A LEAP TEACHER WITH RICHMOND PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND ALSO A MEMBER OF RICHMOND EDUCATION ASSOCIATION AND FIRST UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH. BUT MY REMARKS AND MY OPINIONS ARE MY OWN. AND SO, I'M SPEAKING TO YOU TONIGHT [00:45:04] BECAUSE I WORK AT RIVER CITY MIDDLE SCHOOL, WHICH IS A NEAR NEIGHBOR TO YOUR OWN MANCHESTER MIDDLE, JUST DOWN THE STREET ON HALL STREET ROAD. AND I'M SPEAKING TO YOU ABOUT THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT AND RPS. I WANT TO SAY THIS IS MY FIFTH YEAR AS A TEACHER IN RPS. AND I REMEMBER THE NIGHT AND DAY DIFFERENCE FROM THE FIRST YEAR THAT I WAS AN EDUCATOR AT RIVER CITY TO MY SECOND YEAR THERE, WHERE WE HAD OUR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT IN PLACE. THAT LED TO OUR PROTECTED PLANNING AND THAT WE COULD NOT BE PULLED INTO COVERING A CLASS OR HAVING KIDS SPLIT INTO OUR CLASSES WITHOUT COMPENSATION AND WITHOUT SOME FORETHOUGHT FROM OUR ADMINISTRATORS. IT WAS CHAOS MY FIRST YEAR AT RIVER CITY, OF COURSE, WE WERE TWO YEARS OUT OF THE PANDEMIC. BUT ALSO, IT WAS JUST CONSTANT, WE HAD LONG TERM SUBS THAT WOULDN'T SHOW UP. WE HAD TEACHERS THAT WOULDN'T SHOW UP. AND SO, WE WERE SPLITTING KIDS INTO OTHER CLASSES OR ASKING TEACHERS TO COVER CLASSES ON THEIR PLANNING WITHOUT COMPENSATION AND WITHOUT MAKING SURE, ENSURING THAT THERE IS THE PROTECTED PLANNING PERIODS, WHICH I BELIEVE ARE ALSO CODIFIED INTO VIRGINIA STATE LAW. ALSO, THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT PUT LIMITS AND RESTRICTIONS ON MEETINGS OUTSIDE OF CONTRACT HOURS, WHICH MADE AN ENORMOUS DIFFERENCE AS WELL, SO THAT ADMINISTRATORS HAD TO THOUGHTFULLY SCHEDULE THEIR MEETINGS DURING THE SCHOOL DAY AND AFTER THE SCHOOL DAY AND MAKE SURE THAT TEACHERS TIME WAS BEING RESPECTED. I REMEMBER MY PRINCIPAL, THE FIRST YEAR THAT I WAS TEACHING WAITING UNTIL THE CLOCK TURNED OVER VERSUS NOW, WE ARE RELEASED EARLY. IF A MEETING ENDS EARLY, THERE IS NOT THE LIKE POWER DYNAMIC OF KEEPING US UNTIL A PARTICULAR TIME BECAUSE SHE COULD. SO THAT IS ALSO A MATTER OF PROFESSIONAL RESPECT. AND THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT CREATED AN ADDITIONAL GRIEVANCE PROCESS AND A COLLECTIVE VOICE FOR OUR MOST VALUABLE RESOURCE TEACHERS, BECAUSE OTHERWISE YOU HAVE A WAREHOUSE FULL OF CHILDREN AND YOU NEED TEACHERS WHO ARE RESPECTED AND FEEL LIKE THEIR TIME IS RESPECTED AND THAT THEIR VOICES ARE HEARD IN ORDER TO RETAIN YOUR STAFF AND ACTUALLY TEACH YOUR STUDENTS. SO, SUPPORT OUR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING EFFORTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS GENTRY. MAY WE HAVE CHARLIE SCHMIDT? KIANA MITCHELL. ANDREA BRYANT. HELLO. HELLO, EVERYONE. I AM ANDREA BRYANT. I AM A 12-YEAR TEACHER IN RICHMOND PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I ALSO SERVE AS THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THE RICHMOND EDUCATION ASSOCIATION. I COME TODAY TO JUST KIND OF SHARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE LEARNED IN OUR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING JOURNEY. I WILL SAY THAT OVER THE PAST 12 YEARS, MY INTERACTIONS WITH OUR ADMINISTRATION WITH ADMINISTRATORS HAS BEEN GREATLY ENHANCED BY COLLECTIVE BARGAINING. COLLECTIVE BARGAINING IS NOT SIMPLY AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD A COUPLE PEOPLE SAY IT BEFORE, BUT IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT INCREASING PAY. THINGS THAT WE HAVE FOUGHT FOR ARE AIR QUALITY STANDARDS AND EXPECTATIONS IN OUR BUILDINGS. WE HAVE DISCUSSED, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, TEACHER PLANNING TIME LUNCH TIME, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS. BUT ALSO, JUST USING IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE ADMINISTRATION. LEARNING ABOUT HOW THE DOWNTOWN OR CENTRAL OFFICE JOBS WORK, WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THOSE DEPARTMENTS WHEN THERE'S A SHORTAGE IN ONE AREA, IT AFFECTS ALL OF US. SO IF OUR TALENT OFFICE IS SHORT, IF OUR SNS DEPARTMENT IS SHORT, WHICH IS OUR SCHOOL NUTRITION SERVICES, BECAUSE WE DON'T JUST SERVE TEACHERS, THE ALL THE AFFILIATES OF THE NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, WE SERVE OUR SPS, OUR CSAS, SECURITY OFFICERS, CAFETERIA STAFF, IAS, TEACHERS, BUS DRIVERS, [00:50:02] ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO JOIN, EVEN IF WE DON'T REPRESENT THEM AT THE BARGAINING TABLE, WE STILL SERVE EVERYONE'S BEST INTERESTS. AND IT'S NOT ABOUT BEING ADVERSARIAL TO THE SCHOOL BOARD OR TO THE ADMINISTRATION. IT'S ABOUT HAVING A SEAT AT THE TABLE WHERE OUR PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENTS ARE VALUED. I CAN'T SPEAK FOR ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES. WE ALL KNOW THAT EVERY PROFESSION HAS ITS EXPERTS, EVERY PROFESSION HAS ITS NEWBIES, AND EVERY PROFESSIONAL, PROFESSION HAS THOSE PEOPLE WHO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE LOOPHOLES. AS SOMEONE WHO IS NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFIED, I AM CONSTANTLY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN AND GROW. I TRY TO BRING IN MORE PEOPLE INTO RPS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. AND COLLECTIVE BARGAINING HAS BEEN A CORNERSTONE OF BEING ABLE TO BRING PEOPLE IN AND KEEP THEM IN, GETTING THEM INVOLVED, GETTING THEM ASKING QUESTIONS, AND NOT JUST GOING ALONG WITH THE CHAIN OF, HEY, I WANT TO BE A TEACHER FOR A FEW YEARS. SO, THEN I CAN BECOME AN ADMINISTRATOR, AND THEN I CAN GO UP AND UP AND UP. SOME OF US, WE WANT TO STAY ON THIS LEVEL AND BUILD A BETTER RESPECT AND OUTLOOK FOR THE TEACHING PROFESSION. AND COLLECTIVE BARGAINING ALLOWS US TO DO THAT. WE FOCUS ON EQUITY. EQUITY IS MAJORLY IMPORTANT. I AM AN AUDHD AND ADULT LATE DIAGNOSED, AND IT GIVES ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK FOR MYSELF AND SPEAK FOR COLLEAGUES LIKE MYSELF WHO MAY NOT BE COMFORTABLE DISCLOSING THEIR DIAGNOSES OR THEIR DIFFERENCES. AND I THINK COLLECTIVE BARGAINING ALLOWS ALL OF THOSE THINGS TO HAPPEN IN A BETTER LIGHT, WHILE ALSO RESPECTING THE WORK AND THE DEDICATION THAT ALL THE WORKERS PUT IN TO, YOU KNOW, OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM. AND I THINK THAT CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WOULD BENEFIT FROM THAT AS WELL. YOU DON'T HAVE TO ALWAYS AGREE AT THE TABLE. LIKE CURRENTLY IN RICHMOND, WE'RE STILL IN NEGOTIATIONS. WE'RE AT AN IMPASSE. WE'RE MEDIATING. BUT I THINK THAT THE EFFORT, IT MEANS SO MUCH MORE THAN, YOU KNOW, JUST SAYING, NO, WE'RE NOT EVEN GOING TO GIVE IT A TRY. GOOD FAITH IS ALWAYS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR. MAY WE HAVE SARAH WHITE? GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TONIGHT. MY NAME IS SARAH WHITE, AND MY SON JUST STARTED KINDERGARTEN AT SWIFT CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU GUYS HAVE DONE BY KEEPING THE CHROMEBOOKS AT HOME FOR THE YOUNGER STUDENTS. TONIGHT, THOUGH, I'M REQUESTING SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE. I REQUEST THE REMOVAL OF CHROMEBOOKS IN THE CLASSROOMS FOR OUR YOUNGEST LEARNERS, K-2. YOUNG CHILDREN BENEFIT FROM PEER TO PEER LEARNING AND LEARNING THROUGH PLAY. THEY NEED TO LEARN CRUCIAL SOCIAL SKILLS AT THIS AGE FOR FURTHER SUCCESS LATER IN LIFE. THE EXCESSIVE SCREEN USE IS TAKING AWAY FROM THESE CRITICAL PARTS OF EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING, AND I FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO GO BACK TO THE BASICS. THE DATA IS OUT THERE THAT SHOWS OUR CHILDREN ARE STRUGGLING IN LITERACY AND MATH. ON GOOD MORNING AMERICA JUST THIS MORNING, THEY ACTUALLY HAD A SEGMENT ABOUT THE RECENT GLOBAL REPORT THAT SHOWED 15 YEAR OLDS IN THE U.S. HAD A 14 POINT DROP ON READING SCORES SINCE 2022. I CAN'T HELP BUT WONDER WHAT THE ROLE OF THE LITERACY APPS PLAY IN THIS. I FEEL THAT WE NEED TO GET AHEAD OF THIS BY REMOVING THE PERSONAL LAPTOPS FOR THE CHILDREN WHO ARE JUST LEARNING HOW TO READ. I AM ALSO HERE TO REQUEST THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD SUPPLY GUIDANCE ON THE SMART BOARD USAGE IN THE CLASSROOMS. I LEARNED THAT THIS PAST WEEK, MY SON AND HIS PEERS IN OTHER KINDERGARTEN CLASSROOMS ARE WATCHING A NETFLIX SHOW DURING THE SCHOOL DAY. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS WAS FOR 5 MINUTES OR 10 MINUTES. 20 MINUTES, I DON'T KNOW. THE TERM I'VE LEARNED IS THAT THE TEACHERS ARE USING THESE FOR BRAIN BREAKS FOR THE KIDS, BUT I'M NOT SURE WHY THERE CAN'T BE ANOTHER OPTION FOR A BRAIN BREAK THAN MORE SCREEN TIME. SO TONIGHT I'M REQUESTING A POLICY FOR ALL EDUCATORS TO FOLLOW. IT SHOULD NOT BE DOWN TO WHICH PRINCIPAL OR WHICH TEACHER A CHILD HAS AS TO HOW MUCH SCREEN TIME OR CHROMEBOOK USAGE THEY WILL BE EXPOSED TO. HENRICO TOOK A STANCE AND I THINK WE CAN AS WELL. SO I ASK YOU TODAY TO TAKE SOME ACTION FOR OUR YOUNGEST LEARNERS AND INVEST IN THEIR FUTURE BY ELIMINATING THE DAILY 1 TO 1 CHROMEBOOK USAGE FOR K-2 AND SETTING STRICT GUIDELINES FOR SMARTBOARD USAGE IN CLASSROOMS. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]. THANK YOU, MISS WHITE. MAY WE HAVE LAURA WOODARD? GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH ALL OF YOU. I'M HERE BEFORE YOU AS A MIDLOTHIAN RESIDENT, SPECIFICALLY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD HALLSLEY. [00:55:05] AND I JUST BECAME AWARE THAT WE ARE IN CONSIDERATION FOR REZONING INTO THE NEW WEST RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL. SO, I'M ASKING THAT YOU PLEASE VOTE FOR OPTION ONE THAT WOULD KEEP OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IN MIDLOTHIAN HIGH. THIS REZONING WOULD IMPACT THREE OF MY CHILDREN. I HAVE A FOURTH GRADER AT OLD HUNDRED. AND 8TH GRADER AT MIDLOTHIAN MIDDLE AND A 10TH GRADER AT MIDLOTHIAN HIGH SCHOOL. OF THE THREE OPTIONS UNDER REVIEW, OPTION ONE OFFERS THE MOST BALANCED ENROLLMENT ACROSS THE SCHOOLS. IT LEAVES ROOM AT WEST RIDGE FOR THE GROWING RESIDENTIAL AREAS. AND IT ALSO KEEPS THINGS RELATIVELY EVEN, WHEREAS OPTION TWO AND THREE WOULD HAVE MIDLOTHIAN AT ABOUT 70% ENROLLMENT WITHIN FIVE YEARS. IN ADDITION TO A MORE BALANCED ENROLLMENT OPTION, I HOPE YOU WOULD ALSO CONSIDER THE SAFETY CONCERNS WITH THE NEW DRIVERS DRIVING SPECIFICALLY FROM HALLSLEY TO THE NEW SCHOOL. THREE ROUNDABOUTS, WHICH I MEAN, I'VE SEEN ADULTS NAVIGATE ROUNDABOUTS TO THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, NEW 16-YEAR-OLD DRIVERS DOING THAT. AND LIKE A VERY WINDY SECTION OF OTTER TAIL IS VERY CONCERNING. AND THE WAY IT FEEDS RIGHT NOW IS REALLY THE ONLY NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WOULD HAVE TO NAVIGATE THAT LONG, FULL COURSE OF OTTER TAIL. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE REZONING WOULD HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON MY CHILDREN, WHICH IS THE REASON THAT WE'RE ALL HERE. MY SON CARTER IS A SOPHOMORE AT MIDLOTHIAN MIDDLE SCHOOL. HE'S THRIVING ACADEMICALLY AND SOCIALLY, AND IT WASN'T AN EASY ROAD TO GET HIM TO THAT POINT. HE'S GOT A GREAT GROUP OF FRIENDS AND NOT EVERYONE WILL BE REZONED TO THIS NEW SCHOOL. SO, IT WOULD JUST BE A REALLY DIFFICULT TIME TO HAVE TO SPLIT PEOPLE APART. AND MY DAUGHTER WHO IS HERE WITH ME WILL BE A FRESHMAN NEXT YEAR. HER AND HER BROTHER BOTH EXPERIENCE REZONING WHEN THEY WERE IN THEIR EARLY ELEMENTARY YEARS FROM WATKINS TO OLD HUNDRED. AND THEN RIGHT ON THE HEELS OF THAT COVID CAME IN. SO, THERE WAS JUST A LOT OF DISRUPTION IN THAT PART OF LIFE. AND THINKING ABOUT HAVING TO DO THAT AGAIN IS STRESSFUL FOR BOTH OF THEM. STARTING A NEW HIGH SCHOOL WITHOUT THE PEERS THAT MY DAUGHTER HAS GROWN UP WITH WOULD BE AN UNNECESSARY CHALLENGE. AND SO I BROUGHT HER WITH ME TONIGHT BECAUSE SHE WOULD LIKE TO SHARE HER PERSPECTIVE PERSONALLY. SO I'LL TURN THE MIC OVER TO HER. HI, MY NAME IS KIRA. I'LL BE A FRESHMAN NEXT YEAR AND I'M ASKING YOU TO KEEP HALLSLEY AT MIDLOTHIAN. I'VE ALREADY BEEN REZONED ONCE AND IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT. I WANT TO BEGIN HIGH SCHOOL WITH FRIENDS I'VE GROWN UP WITH AND STAY AT THE SAME SCHOOL AS MY BROTHER. HE'S DOING REALLY WELL AT MIDLO AND ALL OF HIS CLOSEST FRIENDS ARE THERE. MOVING BOTH OF US TO A BRAND-NEW SCHOOL WOULD BE A BIG CHANGE AT A REALLY IMPORTANT TIME. I KNOW CHANGE IS A PART OF LIFE, BUT I JUST WANT A STABLE START TO HIGH SCHOOL. PLEASE CHOOSE OPTION ONE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MAY WE HAVE JESSICA ROMERO? GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JESSICA ROMERO, AND I'M HERE THIS EVENING TO SHARE MY PERSPECTIVE ON TECHNOLOGY IN CLASSROOMS AS A FOLLOW UP TO THE AUGUST CONVERSATION. MY FAMILY HAS LIVED IN MIDLOTHIAN SINCE 2019. I HAVE A SON IN SEVENTH GRADE AT MIDLOTHIAN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND A DAUGHTER IN NINTH GRADE AT MIDLOTHIAN HIGH. THEY RECEIVED CHROMEBOOKS IN KINDERGARTEN AND SECOND GRADE WHEN COVID SENT THEM HOME FROM SCHOOL. AND AT THE TIME, I WAS HOPEFUL THAT A RETURN TO IN-PERSON LEARNING WOULD ALSO MEAN A RETURN TO PENCILS AND PAPER AND BOOKS. THAT'S NOT WHAT HAPPENED. INSTEAD, CHROMEBOOKS HAVE BECOME THE FOCAL POINT OF THEIR EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE, AND THAT CHANGE HAS BEEN ESPECIALLY DISMAYING, SINCE WE KNOW THAT GOOGLE AND YOUTUBE KNOWINGLY CREATE HARMFUL, ADDICTIVE CONTENT AND USE THE CHROMEBOOKS AS A GATEWAY, WHICH WAS DOCUMENTED IN A RECENT WALL STREET JOURNAL INVESTIGATION. MY KIDS HAVE NEVER OPENED A TEXTBOOK, AND THEY'VE NEVER HAD TO LEARN TO TAKE NOTES OR FIGURE OUT HOW TO STUDY FOR A TEST, BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS ON GOOGLE SLIDES OR IN A VIDEO. EVEN THE BOOKS THEY READ FOR BOOK REPORTS ARE ELECTRONIC VERSIONS ON THE CHROMEBOOK. AND ONCE THEY HAVE THE COMPUTER OPEN, IT'S ALL TOO EASY TO OPEN A NEW TAB WHERE THEY CAN ACCESS ESSENTIALLY ANY CONTENT THEY WANT. IT'S EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING AS A PARENT TO TRY TO LIMIT SCREEN TIME AT HOME. THEN I SEND MY KIDS OFF TO SCHOOL, WHERE THEY'RE SPENDING MULTIPLE HOURS OF THE DAY STARING AT A COMPUTER. AND THEN WHEN THEY GET HOME, THEY STILL HAVE TO BE ON A COMPUTER BECAUSE DOING THEIR HOMEWORK IS COMPLETING AN ONLINE GAME OR DRAGGING BOXES AROUND ON A SLIDE DECK. THEY'RE NOT DOING WORK THAT REQUIRES THEM TO CONCENTRATE OR ENGAGE WITH THE MATERIAL AND LEARN HOW TO ACTUALLY ABSORB INFORMATION. I'M NOT ANTI-TECHNOLOGY. OF COURSE, I REALIZE THAT THERE ARE WONDERFUL EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES ONLINE, AND LEARNING HOW TO USE TECHNOLOGY IS ESSENTIAL TO FUTURE SUCCESS IN THE WORKFORCE. BUT OUR KIDS NEED BALANCE. YOU'VE ALREADY TAKEN SOME STEPS TO RESTORE IT FOR OUR YOUNGEST STUDENTS, [01:00:04] WHICH I'M THANKFUL FOR. BUT THE ACTIONS FROM YOUR AUGUST MEETING DON'T DO ENOUGH, PARTICULARLY FOR OLDER STUDENTS LIKE MINE. I URGE YOU TO, AT A MINIMUM, ESTABLISH ENFORCEABLE SCREEN TIME LIMITS BY GRADE AND EFFECTIVELY BLOCK SOCIAL MEDIA AND STREAMING AND GAMING PLATFORMS. AND IF YOU TOLD ME THAT YOU WERE ALSO MOVING TO A COMPUTER LAB MODEL FOR ALL GRADES, OF COURSE, WITH EXCEPTIONS FOR KIDS WHO DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO COMPUTERS AT HOME, MY NEIGHBORS AND I WOULD BE THRILLED. HENRICO HAS MADE CONCRETE CHANGES RECENTLY. PLEASE DO THE SAME FOR OUR COUNTY'S KIDS TO PROTECT THEIR EDUCATION AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS ROMERO. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES THIS EVENING'S PUBLIC COMMENT. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. NEXT WE HAVE THIS EVENING SUPERINTENDENTS REPORT FROM DOCTOR MURRAY. [E. Superintendent's Report] THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THE FIRST WEEKS OF SCHOOL BRING A LOT OF ENERGY AND A LOT TO LOOK FORWARD TO. INDEED, HAS BEEN A REMARKABLE OPENING THIS YEAR. THIS WEEK WE ASKED STUDENTS WHAT THEY ARE MOST EXCITED ABOUT FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR, AND THEIR ANSWERS REMINDED US OF ALL THE POSSIBILITIES AHEAD AND THE MEANINGFUL WORK WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF DOING EACH DAY. SO PLEASE ENJOY TONIGHT'S MEANINGFUL MOMENTS. OOH. PROBABLY GETTING TO SEE MY FRIENDS MORE OFTEN BECAUSE I DIDN'T SEE THEM A LOT DURING THE SUMMER AND YEAR-ROUND DRAMA, BECAUSE I REALLY LIKE ACTING AND I'M EXCITED FOR THE PLAY. I'M MOST EXCITED ABOUT DOING DIFFERENT RESOURCES, AND I LOVE MUSIC BECAUSE I LOVE TO MAKE SONGS. IT WOULD HAVE TO BE SOCIAL STUDIES. I'M REALLY INTO HISTORY. I'M EXCITED TO WRITE LIKE STORIES IN ENGLISH CLASS. DO SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS. I'M EXCITED TO DO THE SUBJECT MATH. AND I, MMM, I'M EXCITED TO LEARN, AND I'M EXCITED FOR THE FOURTH GRADE. I'M EXCITED TO, YOU KNOW, TO GRADUATE AND ALSO PLAY SPORTS LIKE BASKETBALL. PROBABLY DO WRESTLING, TRY SOMETHING NEW. MAKING MORE FRIENDS AND LIKE GOING TO SCHOOL DANCES. I'M EXCITED FOR MY CLASSES THIS YEAR. I AM EXCITED TO LEARN NEW THINGS. THANK YOU, DOCTOR MURRAY. BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY, THAT WAS THE CUTEST THING I'VE EVER SEEN. [F. Items for Board Review] NEXT WE HAVE ITEMS FOR BOARD REVIEW. MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ THE ITEMS FOR THIS EVENING? MADAM CHAIR, TONIGHT'S AGENDA INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING ITEMS FOR BOARD REVIEW. NUMBER 1, MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT IMPROVEMENT FUNDS FY 2027. NUMBER 2, BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS. NUMBER 3, MEMO NUMBER 116-26 PREK UPDATE AUGUST 2026. NUMBER 4, MEMO NUMBER 114-26, AWARENESS OF TECHNICAL EDITS TO THE 2026-27 PROGRAM OF STUDIES. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. NEXT WE HAVE THIS EVENING SUPERINTENDENTS REMARKS. [G. Superintendent's Remarks] DOCTOR MURRAY. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AS YOU JUST SAW BRIEFLY IN THAT VIDEO IT'S BEEN A VERY WARM AND JOYFUL OPENING TO THE 26-27 SCHOOL YEAR. I WANT TO THANK EACH OF YOU FOR BEING SO VISIBLE AND PRESENT AS WE WELCOME STUDENTS AND STAFF BACK INTO OUR BUILDINGS OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS. BUT I ALSO WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO MADE THE OPENING SUCH A SMASHING SUCCESS. AND THAT STARTS AT THE, THE GROUND LEVEL. SO, OUR BUILDING ADMINISTRATORS, THE TEACHERS WHO ARE PERFORMING THE MAGIC, MAKING THE MAGIC HAPPEN, AS WE LIKE TO SAY IN EACH AND EVERY CLASSROOM, WORKING ALONGSIDE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND GETTING THEM EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY THAT EXISTS WITHIN LEARNING AND GROWING OUR BRAINS BIGGER AND BRIGHTER EACH AND EVERY DAY. I ALSO WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK ALL OF OUR CENTRAL OFFICE STAFF WHO SERVE AS AMBASSADORS. THEY WERE AT THEIR SITES THE FIRST COUPLE OF WEEKS, HELPING OUT WHEREVER NEEDED, AND THAT ALL HANDS ON DECK APPROACH REALLY GIVES WAY TO GREATER EFFICIENCY, REMOVING ANXIETY AND REPLACING IT WITH CONFIDENCE. SO I JUST WANT TO THANK OUR TEAM ACROSS THE BOARD. AND SPEAKING OF TEAMS, IT WAS VERY WARMING TO SEE IN MY VISITS TO MANY OF OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS ON THE FIRST DAY WHEN HIGH SCHOOLERS. WELL, 10TH THROUGH 12TH DID NOT NEED TO BE AT SCHOOL. WE'RE SHOWING UP TO WELCOME THE ELEMENTARY STUDENTS IN THEIR JERSEYS, THEIR CHEER UNIFORMS, AND JUST ALLOWING OUR YOUNGEST LEARNERS TO SEE WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO GROW INTO AND HAVING ROLE MODELS WITHIN THEIR FEEDER PATTERN TO, [01:05:07] YOU KNOW, WANT TO BE. SO, JUST AN ALL-AROUND GREAT OPENING. I WANT TO GIVE A PLUG FOR THE FEW COMMUNITY MEETINGS THAT WE HAVE LEFT REGARDING THE ONE FOR SCHOOLS INITIATIVE, THAT'S THE 1% SALES TAX. VOTE THAT WILL BE ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT. I SEE TWO FOLKS WHO ARE JOINING US TONIGHT, JERRY AND WANDA, WHO'VE BEEN AT THE FIRST TWO MEETINGS, AND THEY'LL PROBABLY BE JOINING ME TOMORROW NIGHT AT MIDLOTHIAN AS WELL. ALL RIGHT. GOOD. I SEE THE HEADLIGHTS. BUT THEY WOULD SAY IF THEY HAD THE MIC THAT THE ATTENDANCE HAS BEEN SMALL AND THERE'S A VERY UNINFORMED PUBLIC OUT THERE. SO COME OUT, GET THE INFORMATION. IT'S NOT TELLING YOU HOW TO VOTE. IT'S TELLING YOU. IF IT PASSED HOW THE SCHOOL DIVISION WOULD USE THE FUNDS TO ENHANCE OUR BUILDINGS AND FUTURE CAPITAL PROJECTS. THERE IS ONE TOMORROW NIGHT AT MIDLOTHIAN HIGH SCHOOL AT 6:30 AND THEN A FEW MORE NEXT WEEK AS WELL. BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHTS ARE QUICKLY APPROACHING. SO JUST AGAIN, ANOTHER PLUG FOR OUR, OUR PARENTS TO PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO ANY COMMUNICATIONS COMING OUT FROM THEIR SCHOOL AND SCHOOL PRINCIPALS SO THAT THEY CAN BE VERY ENGAGED ON THOSE VERY IMPORTANT EVENINGS. I ALSO WANT TO CELEBRATE AND HIGHLIGHT SOMETHING THAT IS COMING TO CHESTERFIELD. WE ARE EXCITED TO HOST A REGIONAL GENERATIVE AI SUMMIT CENTERED AROUND COMING TOGETHER TO GROW TOGETHER ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26TH, FROM 8 A.M. TO 3 P.M. AT THE THOMAS FULGHUM CENTER, WHICH IS ATTACHED FOR THOSE UNAWARE TO OUR CTC HULL STREET CAMPUS. FOLKS WILL REALIZE MORE ABOUT HOW GENERATIVE AI IS TRANSFORMING EDUCATION, THE WORKPLACE, AND THE SKILLS OUR STUDENTS WILL NEED FOR THE FUTURE. SO, WHAT OUR STUDENTS CAN EXPECT WHO ARE SIGNED UP TO ATTEND. OUR STUDENTS WILL DEMONSTRATE AND PRESENT HOW THEY ARE USING GENERATIVE AI FOR LEARNING, CREATIVITY, PROBLEM SOLVING, AND CAREER PREPARATION. OUR TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS WILL SHOWCASE HOW THEY ARE CREATIVELY USING THESE EMERGING TOOLS TO ENHANCE INSTRUCTION, SUPPORT STUDENTS, AND IMPROVE THE WORK OF OUR SCHOOLS. AND THEN MEMBERS OF OUR EMPLOYER COMMUNITY WILL DEMONSTRATE HOW THEY ARE USING GEN AI IN THE WORKPLACE AND GIVE INSIGHTS INTO THE SKILLS AND CAPABILITIES THEY BELIEVE WILL BE ESSENTIAL FOR FUTURE EMPLOYEES. AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR. AI IS NOT REPLACING GOOD CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION IN CHESTERFIELD. WE ARE APPLYING BOUNDARIES, NOT BARRIERS, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT COMPETENCY IN THIS SPACE AND USING IT WITH ETHICS IS PARAMOUNT AND IT AWAITS THEM IN THEIR FUTURE LIFE OUT BEYOND THE HIGH SCHOOL FINISH LINE. SO, I WANT TO THANK SHARON POPE AND HER TEAM FOR THIS REGIONAL LIFT. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO INVITING A GREAT SWELL OF FOLKS OUT TO CTC AT THE THOMAS FULGHAM CENTER ON SEPTEMBER 26TH. AT WORK SESSION EARLIER, WE DID HEAR FROM DOCTOR WODICKA ON THREE OPTIONS THAT ARE UP FOR PROPOSAL AND CONSIDERATION FOR ESTABLISHING OF THE WEST RIDGE BOUNDARIES. SO, TO THAT I WANT TO INVITE ANY FOLKS WHO MIGHT RECEIVE A MESSAGE FROM CHESTERFIELD COUNTY THIS EVENING. RIGHT? YEP. IT'S GOING OUT SOON TO A COMMUNITY MEETING WHERE REED WILL WALK THROUGH THAT PRESENTATION AGAIN, BUT WE'LL HAVE STAFF ON HAND TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AND HEAR FROM OUR COMMUNITY MORE DIRECTLY AND DELIBERATELY. AND THAT, I BELIEVE, IS SEPTEMBER THE 29TH? STEVE? 28TH. EXCUSE ME. WEST RIDGE, WEST RIDGE ON SEPTEMBER 28TH AT DEEP CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL. AND THEN ON THE 29TH, THERE'LL BE AN ADMINISTRATIVE MEETING REGARDING MANCHESTER AND CLOVER HILL AT COSBY HIGH SCHOOL. AND THEN LASTLY, I JUST WANT TO EXTEND A MOMENT OF REVERENCE AS WE APPROACH THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11 THIS FRIDAY. I JUST I HOPE THAT OUR COMMUNITY APPRECIATES WHAT OUR SCHOOLS ARE GOING TO BE DOING WITH OUR KIDS. ESPECIALLY SINCE NONE OF THEM WERE ALIVE WHEN WE ENDURED SUCH A NATIONAL TRAGEDY. BUT I WANT TO THANK OUR, OUR TEACHERS AND OUR BUILDING LEADERS FOR CONTINUING TO COMMIT THAT WE WILL NEVER FORGET. [01:10:06] THAT'S ALL I HAVE, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU, DOCTOR MURRAY. NEXT, WE HAVE ANNOUNCEMENTS, COMMUNICATIONS AND SCHOOL BOARD COMMENTS. [H. Announcements, Communications, and School Board Comments] SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS. ARE THERE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS OR COMMENTS? MR. PARANTO. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I THINK MISS WOODARD AND HER DAUGHTER JUST EXITED, BUT I WANTED TO COMMEND HER DAUGHTER WHO STOOD UP HERE AND SPOKE SO CLEARLY AND PROFESSIONALLY AND VERY WELL POLISHED. JUST GOES TO THE CALIBER OF STUDENTS THAT WE HAVE IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. AND I GREATLY APPRECIATED HER MESSAGE AND THE WAY IN WHICH IT WAS DELIVERED FROM SUCH A YOUNG PERSON. SO KUDOS TO HER. AND AS I MENTIONED AT THE WORK SESSION OPTION ONE IS FOR ME, THE ONE THAT MAKES THE MOST SENSE AS FAR AS EVENING OUT THE SCHOOL'S POPULATION TO START OFF WITH. AND THEN THE FIVE YEAR PLAN THAT WE HAVE FROM THE COUNTY FOLLOWING UP. AND SO I GREATLY APPRECIATE THE EMAILS FROM THE COMMUNITY FROM BOTH MIDLOTHIAN AND MATOACA. BUT OPTION ONE SEEMS TO BE THE FRONTRUNNER IN REGARDS TO THOSE THAT ARE SPEAKING OUT. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEPTEMBER 28TH. WE'LL BE AT DEEP CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL AS DOCTOR MURRAY MENTIONED TO TALK ABOUT THE WESTBRIDGE REDISTRICTING. AND THEN THE FOLLOWING EVENING AT COSBY HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE ADMIN REDISTRICTING THAT IMPACTS MANCHESTER AND CLOVER HILL AS WELL. SO LOOK FORWARD TO BOTH OF THOSE EVENTS AND TALKING WITH FOLKS AND HAVING THEIR QUESTIONS ANSWERED GREATLY APPRECIATE STAFF'S TIME, THAT'LL BE THERE. LIKEWISE, THE 1%. WE DID A PRESENTATION DOWN IN MATOACA. THERE'S ANOTHER ONE FOR MATOACA AT MANCHESTER HIGH SCHOOL IN THE 17TH, AND I BELIEVE THAT STARTS AT 6:00. 06, 6:30? 6:00? 6, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 6 P.M. ON THE 17TH AT MANCHESTER. AND IT WAS MATOACA WAS NOT WELL ATTENDED, SO I'M HOPING THAT THESE ARE AND TO DOCTOR MURRAY'S POINT I'M NOT THERE AT ALL TO SWAY FOLKS ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. IT REALLY IS AN INFORMATIVE AND KUDOS TO OUR COO DOCTOR WODICKA AND HIS TEAM WHO HAVE PUT TOGETHER AN EXTENSIVE LIST. IT'S ON BOARD DOCS AND I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU GO AND CHECK IT OUT. YOU CAN LOOK UP YOUR SCHOOL, AND YOU CAN SEE ALL THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN LISTED TO WHAT THE NEEDS ARE FROM A FINANCIAL CIP AND MAJOR MAINTENANCE PROJECT THAT IT'S UPCOMING. THAT SHOULD THE 1% PASS WHERE THESE FUNDS WOULD GO. AND SO, THERE WAS A LOT OF UNDERTAKING TO DO FROM NEARLY 70 SCHOOLS. SO, I GREATLY APPRECIATE THAT FROM HIS TEAM PUTTING THAT TOGETHER. AND FINALLY, ALSO ON FRIDAY IS 9/11. AND IT, ANYONE THAT WAS AROUND THAT DAY, I THINK WOULD REMEMBER EXACTLY WHERE THEY WERE AND WHAT WAS GOING ON AND WHAT THEY WERE DOING, WHO THEY WERE WITH AND HOW THEY FELT IN THAT MOMENT. AND I DON'T WISH A 9/11 ON ANYBODY, BUT I DO WISH A 9/12. AND 9/12 OUR COMMUNITY CAME TOGETHER LIKE I HAD NEVER SEEN BEFORE. AND I THINK IN TODAY'S SOCIETY, WITH A COUNTRY SO DIVIDED ON MANY DIFFERENT TOPICS HAVING THE 9/12 SPIRIT OF WHO WE ARE AS, AS A NATION WOULD DO EVERYONE GOOD, IN MY OPINION. AND I JUST GREATLY APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT WE AS A SCHOOL DIVISION ARE STANDING UP AND SAYING THAT WE WILL NOT FORGET, AND I DO APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. MISS CHATTERS. I JUST WANTED TO THANK OUR SUPERINTENDENT AND THE ADMINISTRATORS FOR CONTINUING TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T FORGET. AS SOMEONE WHO SERVED DURING THAT TIME FRAME AND WHOSE FAMILY WAS IMPACTED BY THOSE TOWERS GOING DOWN, I KNOW MY FAMILY WILL NEVER FORGET, AND I APPRECIATE THAT WE ARE DOING THE SAME HERE. AND TO ECHO MR. PARANTO SENTIMENT ABOUT JUST THE CAMARADERIE THAT CAME FROM THE TRAGEDY WAS VERY IMPACTFUL. AND I WOULD ALSO JUST WANT TO ADD THAT FOR EVERYONE WHO CAME OUT TO SPEAK TODAY REGARDING EITHER COLLECTIVE BARGAINING OR REDISTRICTING, THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT AND SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS. THE RICHMOND CONTINGENT IS GONE BUT THANK YOU FOR THEM FOR COMING OUT AND SHARING YOUR PERSPECTIVE AND HOW IT'S WORKING FOR YOU. ALL INSIGHT IS GOOD INSIGHT. SO I APPRECIATE THE PERSPECTIVES THAT WERE SHARED TODAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO END BY SAYING THAT WE'VE HAD A REALLY JUST PRECIOUS OPENING TO SCHOOL. WE WERE DOCTOR MURRAY MENTIONED WE WERE ABLE TO GO INTO THE SCHOOLS AND THE FIRST WEEK, [01:15:07] TWO WEEKS AND JUST GO INTO THE CLASSROOMS. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING WE ARE ON THE BOARD, BUT WE DON'T DO IT THAT I MEAN, WE'RE NOT ALWAYS DOING IT. AND SO IT'S JUST PRECIOUS TO GO IN TO SEE THE STUDENTS. DAY ONE, DAY TWO, DAY THREE, IMMEDIATELY ALREADY LEARNING. KIDS JUST, YOU COULD SEE VERY QUICKLY THE WAY THAT THE TEACHERS WERE. I SAW RESPECT FROM TEACHERS TO STUDENTS AND STUDENTS TO TEACHERS AT EVERY LEVEL, AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN. AND AS SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN IN THE CLASSROOM, THAT IS, YOU KNOW, THAT IF THERE'S THAT MUTUAL RESPECT, THAT THAT'S WHERE LEARNING STARTS. AND SO IT, I JUST WALKED AWAY FROM, YOU KNOW, I SAW ALL KINDS OF CLASSES AT ALL LEVELS. AND IT WAS A COMMON THEME. AND IT JUST HEARTENED ME. I JUST, I WALKED AWAY SO INSPIRED AND PROUD OF OUR COUNTY AND PROUD OF WHAT WE'VE DONE AND WHAT IS BEING BUILT. WE HAVE INCREDIBLE YOU KNOW, ADMINISTRATION TEACHERS, STUDENTS, AND IT'S JUST A GREAT VIBE. EVERYWHERE I WENT WAS A GREAT VIBE. I HAD A BLAST. AND YEAH, SO KUDOS TO EVERYONE AND YOU KNOW, REALLY, REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO A REALLY GREAT YEAR. SO, DID YOU. OKAY. SO, THE SCHOOL BOARD WILL HOLD A WORK SESSION AND THE COUNTY PUBLIC MEETING ROOM AT 4 P.M. ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER THE 13TH, 2026, FOLLOWED BY BUSINESS MEETING AT 6:30 P.M.. IF THERE'S NO FURTHER BUSINESS, WE NEED A MOTION TO ADJOURN. MADAM CLERK. SORRY, THAT WAS MY BAD. I DIDN'T TURN THE PAGE. MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE WAIT? SO MOVED. OKAY. MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE MOTION? JENNIFER DARBY? AYE. DOMINIQUE CHATTERS? AYE. STEVEN PARANTO? AYE. LISA HUDGINS? AYE. THE MOTION CARRIES. THE SEPTEMBER 8TH, 2026, SCHOOL BOARD BUSINESS MEETING IS ADJOURNED. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.