[00:00:01]
CLOSED MEETING] RECONVENE IN OPEN MEETING] WE ARE GOING TO RECONVENE IN OUR CLOSED MEETING.
THAT TO THE BEST OF CERTIFICATION] LAWFULLY EXEMPTED FROM OPEN MEETING WERE DISCUSSED IN THE CLOSED MEETING TO WHICH THI MEASURE APPLIES AND ONLY SUCH PUBLIC BUSINESS MATTERS AS WERE IDENTIFIED IN THE MOTION CONVENING THE CLOSED MEETING WERE HEARD, DISCUSSED OR CONSIDERED BY THE GOOCHLAND COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD.
EACH BOARD MEMBER RESPONDS I SO CERTIFY WHEN CALLED.
>> THANK YOU TO OUR STAFF AND STUDENTS WHO ARE SPREADING THE WORD THROUGHOUT THIS MONTH THAT UNITY AND KINDNESS MAKE FOR STRONGER RELATIONSHIPS AND COMMUNITIES OVER BULLYING AND SELF PROMOTION.
IT IS NOT MORE BIGNESS THAT SHOULD BE OUR GOAL.
WE MUST ATTEMPT, RATHER, TO BRING PEOPLE BACK TO THE WARMTH OF COMMUNITY, TO THE WORTH OF INDIVIDUAL EFFORT AND RESPONSIBILITY AND OF INDIVIDUALS WORKING TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY TO BETTER THEIR LIVES AND THEIR CHILDREN'S FUTURE.
WE WILL NOW HAVE A MOMENT OF MOMENT OF SILENCE] SILENCE.
PLEASE STAND, IF YOU ARE ABLE, AND MR. T., WOULD YOU LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE, PLEASE, SIR MANY 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.
ADDITIONS/AMENDMENTS/ADOPTIO N OF PROPOSED AGENDA] >> RIGHT.
I WILL ENTERTAIN ADDITIONS, AMENDMENTS FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE PROPOSED AGENDA.
>> I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
[00:06:39]
[2. CLOSED MEETING]
[00:10:22]
THAT'S EVERYONE SO, SO MOVED.[00:19:38]
SO APPROVED.[00:23:20]
SO LET'S GET STARTED.[00:31:03]
GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE, IN PERSON AND JOINING US VIRTUALLY.[3. RECONVENE IN OPEN MEETING]
[00:31:05]
THANK YOU TO ALL OUR STAFF WHO ARE TAKING ONE FOR THE TEAM WITH THE VERY LONG DAY THIS EVENING.[4. CERTIFICATION]
THANK YOU, MS. BENNETT, FOR ALL YOUR WORK PREPARING OUR AGENDA THIS EVENING.THANK YOU, MR. CARATACHEA FOR KEEPING OUR VIRTUAL PARTICIPANTS ENGAGED THROUGH THE POWER OF TECHNOLOGY AND ARE USING THAT SPECIAL FILTER TO MAKE ME LOOK 10 YEARS YOUNGER? AWESOME.
DR. RALEY HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO BE HERE.
BUT WE ARE GRATEFUL EVERY DAY THAT HE IS THE SUPERINTENDENT.
FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS IT'S AN HONOR TO WORK TOGETHER FOR THE GOOCHLAND COMMUNITY TO
[5. MOMENT OF SILENCE]
MAXIMIZE THE POTENTIAL OF EVERY LEARNER FOR BRIGHTER FUTURES AND AN EVEN STRONGER[6. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
[7. ADDITIONS/AMENDMENTS/ADOPTION OF PROPOSED AGENDA]
COMMUNITY.CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR AMAZING STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE FOR BEING RECOGNIZED BY HIS PEERS AS THE 2021 HOMECOMING KING.
AND, SPEAKING OF OUR AMAZING STUDENTS, WE ARE GOING TO BEGIN.
DR. RALEY WOULD YOU LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR STUDENTS?
THIS WEEKEND WE HAVE THE OPENING PERFORMED BY OUR VERY OWN GOOCHLAND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.
[00:35:03]
IT WILL BE GREAT TO HAVE THEM BACK ON THE STAGE SHOWCASING TALENT AGAIN THIS WEEKEND WE HAVE THREE PERFORMANCES.FRIDAY NIGHT AT 7 P.M., SATURDAY NIGHT AT 7 P.M.
[8. PERFORMANCE: GOOCHLAND HIGH SCHOOL]
AND SUNDAY AT PERFORMANCE: GOOCHLAND HIGH SCHOOL] 2:00 P.M.SO, DO YOU WANT TO BRING THEM ON IN?
>> WHEN I WAS A BOY I WISHED I COULD FLY.
>> OPEN THE WINDOW AND OVER THE TREES.
I DREAMED ABOUT FLYING ALL THE TIME.
ĆĀĀŖ >> THIS WEEKEND, GOOCHLAND DRAMA DEPARTMENT WILL REOPEN ITS DOORS FOR THE FIRST LIVE PERFORMANCE IN ALMOST TWO YEARS.
>> THIS YEAR'S SHOW WILL BE PETER AND THE STAR CATCHER, A COMEDY THAT TELLS THE ORIGIN STORY OF HOW AN ORPHAN BOY WHO BECAME "PETER PAN" AND HOW HE DID BIG THINGS TO PROTECT THE ONES AROUND HIM.
>> THOUGH PETER JUST WISHES TO BE A BOY FOR A WHILE, HE LEARNS HOW TO GROW UP BY LEARNING WHAT TO DO IN CHILDHOOD FOR THE FUTURE.
>> THIS FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, 7 P.M.
>> TICKETS ARE $8 FOR STUDENTS.
$10 FOR ADULTS AND FREE FOR GOOCHLAND COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS EMPLOYEES.
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND ONLINE TICKET SALES PLEASE VISIT DRAMA .
>> WOULD YOU ALL COME OVER HERE TO THE MICROPHONE AND INTRODUCE YOURSELVES?
I HAVE BEEN WITH THIS DEPARTMENT FOR A VERY LONG TIME AND I'M ALSO ON O THESPIAN BOARD.
>> I'M A NANNY IN THIS SHOW AND THIS IS A REALLY GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO FINALLY OPEN OUR DOORS BACK OPEN FOR THE FIRST TIME IN TWO YEARS.
>> HI, MY NAME IS GEORGIA WENTZEL, PLAYING THE ROLE OF MOLLY ESTA.
ALSO LIKE KATE, I HAVE BEEN IN THIS DEPARTMENT FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
ALSO A PART OF THE THESPIAN BOARD.
[LAUGHTER] I FORGOT WHAT I WAS SUPPOSED TO SAY.
I HAVE BEEN IN THE DEPARTMENT SINCE 7TH GRADE WHEN I TRANSFERRED TO GOOCHLAND.
I PLAY THE ROLE OF TED IN THE PLAY.
I HAVE BEEN IN THE DRAMA DEPARTMENT FOR A LONG WHILE AS WELL.
I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT ELSE TO SAY.
I HAVE BEEN IN THE DRAMA DEPARTMENT FOR A WHILE.
I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW MANY YEARS.
I AM REALLY EXCITED TO GET BACK OUT THERE IN FRONT OF A LIVE AUDIENCE AGAIN.
I'M SURE EVERY SINGLE CAST MEMBER WILL TELL YOU THE EXACT SAME THING.
>> WE ARE ALL AT RIGHT SCHOOL REHEARSING FOR TECH WEEK.
>> THANK YOU [APPLAUSE] GREAT JOB.
>> WE HOPE THAT OUR COMMUNITY WILL COME OUT AND SUPPORT YOU, FILL OUT THAT AUDITORIUM.
IT'S A GREAT WAY TO SPEND THE WEEKEND.
IT'S LIKE HOLLYWOOD COMES TO, OR BROADWAY, EXCUSE ME, BROADWAY COMES TO GOOCHLAND.
RECOGNITIONS] SO N TO RECOGNITIONS.
[9. RECOGNITIONS]
THE SO DR. RALEY?>> YEAH BOARD MEMBERS IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR WHERE WE CELEBRATE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUR EMPLOYEES.
WE HAVE SOME STUDENTS THAT WE ARE GOING TO CELEBRATE AS WELL.
FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE AUDIENCE OUR CORE VALUES ARE EXCELLENCE, COURAGE, CREATIVITY, HONOR AND OPTIMISM.
SO WE CELEBRATE THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE EXEMPLIFIED OUR SCHOOL DIVISION'S CORE VALUES THROUGHOUT THE FIRST PORTION OF OUR SCHOOL YEAR.
SO DR. ARMSTRONG WILL COME FORWARD AND INTRODUCE OUR ECCHO AWARD WINNERS FOR THE FIRST FALL AWARD SESSION.
MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, THIS IS AMONG MY FAVORITE TO RECOGNIZE ECCHO AWARD WINNERS.
LET'S START IT OFF WITH OUR FIRST NOMINEE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF
[00:40:08]
TRANSPORTATION, OUR DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION, MS. ROSEY HOLMAN.[APPLAUSE] SHE WAS NOMINATED BY THREE DIFFERENT PEOPLE THIS MONTH.
COURTNEY LYNN AND AMY POWERS FOR EXCELLENCE AND CREATIVITY.
SHE'S A COMPASSION AT PERSON LOOKING OUT FOR DRIVERS EMPLOYEES AND EVERY STUDENT TRANSPORTED IN THE COUNTY.
SHE HAS CARRIED HERSELF WITH POISE IN SOME OF THE MOST STRESSFUL SITUATIONS.
SHE'S A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE TO OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY AND I APPLAUD HER HARD WORK.
ROSEY HAS SHOWN LEADERSHIP SKILLS SINCE THE DAY I MET HER, PROVIDED A FRESH PERSPECTIVE AND NEEDED CHANGES TO THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT FOR GCPS.
THE DEPARTMENT CONTINUES TO FLOURISH DUE TO HER ABILITIES.
I AM SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE HER IN THIS POSITION TO CONTINUE TO MAKE OUR DEPARTMENT THE BEST IT CAN BE.
SHE HAS MADE A BIG IMPACT AND THOSE ARE THE WORDS FROM HER NOMINATORS.
[APPLAUSE] >> OUR NEXT NOMINEE IS MISS BETH KIRK LAND, SCHOOL COUNSELOR GOOCHLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL.
SHE WAS NOMINATED BY HER CO-WORKER LINDSEY SHOEMAKER.
IS LINDSEY HERE FOR HER COURAGE.
THE BEST RESILIENCE DURING ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT YEARS IN MENTAL HEALTH IN MODERN HISTORY HAS BEEN AWE INSPIRING.
SHE NEVER STOPS ADVOCATING FOR STUDENTS WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY KEEPING TEACHERS AND STAFF AT THE FOREFRONT OF DECISION MAKING AND EVERYONE AT GMS BENEFITS FROM HER THOUGHTFULNESS.
SHE HAS BROUGHT CLASSROOM LESSONS IN A WAY WE HAVE NOT HAD IN MANY YEARS IF EVER.
SHE'S A TEAM PLAYER AND UNDENIABLE ASSET.
>> OUR NEXT NOMINEE ALSO FROM GMS, OUR STUDENT NOMINEE THIS EVENING IS MR. TUCKER SMITHSON.
IS MR. TUCKER HERE? COME ON UP, TUCKER SMITHSON.
[APPLAUSE] HE WAS NOMINATED BY KAREN BALDER SON FOR HIS EXCELLENCE.
TUCKER IS A GREAT ADDITION TO GOOCHLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL NOT ONLY IS HE EARNING PERFECT GRADES, HE'S TAKING TIME TO BETTER HIMSELF THROUGH AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES SUCH AS WORKOUT CLASSES, SCOUTS AND YOUTH GROUP.
TUCKER HAS LEARNED TO ADVOCATE FOR NEEDS AND IS A PHENOMENAL EXAMPLE OF EXCELLENCE IN GOOCHLAND COUNTY.
[APPLAUSE] >> OUR NEXT NOMINEE FROM BYRD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, MS. JEN KELLY.
JEN HAS A FRIEND WITH HER THIS EVENING I HEARD ABOUT THERE.
JEN WAS NOMINATED BY HER CO-WORKER KELLY TOOMEY FOR HER OPTIMISM.
JEN KELLY HAS FAITH IN THE CHILDREN SHE WORKS WITH.
SHE HAS SO MUCH HOPE AND AN OPTIMISTIC OUTLOOK FOR EACH CHILD AND HER DAUGHTER LOVES HER.
SHE SHOWS INCREDIBLE DEDICATION TO HER STUDENTS AND WORKS TIRELESSLY TO ENSURE THAT THEY AREN'T ONLY PROGRESSING BUT ARE THRIVING BOTH ACADEMICALLY AND SOCIALLY.
SHE HAS STUDENTS WITH CHALLENGING BEHAVIORS AND WORKS COLLABORATIVELY WITH OTHERS TO COME UP WITH CREATIVE WAYS TO ADDRESS THE CHALLENGING BEHAVIORS.
HER STUDENTS ARE HAPPY BECAUSE OF THE WORK SHE PUTS IN.
>> THANK YOU [APPLAUSE] [LAUGHTER] >> THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT NOMINEES ARE GOING TO BE REPRESENTED BY TWO GENTLEMEN WHO I BELIEVE ARE HERE TONIGHT AND THAT IS OUR MAINTENANCE AND MECHANIC TEAM.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT THE MAINTENANCE TEAM WAS NOMINATED BY MR. MICHAEL TREPANI, OUR SHOP
[00:45:01]
I WILL MAKE A GAME DAY DECISION, AND MAKE DAVID FRITH, MIKE FRANKLIN AND MARK THOMPSON, BECAUSE THEY HAVE PROBABLY BEEN UP SINCE ABOUT 4:30 THIS MORNING THEY ARE AT HOME THIS EVENING.WHICH IS COMPLETELY UNDERSTANDABLE BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO DO IT AGAIN IN THE MORNING.
I SAID EARLIER THAT WE HAVE WELL OVER A CENTURY OF EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE IN THAT TEAM.
PROBABLY MORE THAN THAT WHEN YOU THROW IN THE FOLKS WORKING AT THE BUS SHOP AS WELL.
I WAS TOLD THE SHOP WAS LIKE THIS FROM THE START AND NONE OF THIS COULD BE DONE.
WITH OPTIMISM FROM THIS GROUP IT WAS DONE AND DONE WITH GREAT CREATIVITY.
COURAGE WAS USED TO DO WHAT WAS THOUGHT COULD NOT HAPPEN AND IT WAS ALL DONE WITH HONOR AND AN EXCELLENT MANNER TO MAKE SURE IT WAS DONE RIGHT THE FIRST TIME.
WHEN I CAME TO THE BUS SHOP IN JULY 2020 AS FORMAN, I QUICKLY IDENTIFIED SEVERAL ITEMS THAT NEEDED TO TAKE PRIORITY TO RUN A MORE EFFICIENT AND SAFE SHOP.
SOME PROJECTS COMPLETED WITH THE TEAM INCLUDING RELOCATING AN AIR COMPRESSOR AMONG OTHER THINGS.
I AM HONORED TO WORK WITH A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO NEVER HESITATE TO STEP UP AND GO BEYOND THE SCOPE OF DUTYS TO DO THE RIGHT THING FOR THE BETTERMENT OF ALL.
TRUE EXAMPLES OF DEDICATION AND TEAM EFFORT.
I CAN'T ECHO THAT -- NO PUN INTENDED -- ECHO THAT MORE.
A GREAT EXAMPLE LAST WEEK'S HOMECOMING ACTIVITIES.
THIS TEAM, WHETHER IT WAS MR. TERPANI WHO HELPED TABS PORT ITEMS, TODD AND HIS TEAM GETTING SINGS SET UP, NEVER DRAWING ATTENTION TO THEMSELVES, GET THAT DONE DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
ON SNOW DAYS WHEN THEY ARE OUT THERE AT 4:00 IN THE MORNING OR CATCHING A BUS THAT MAY HAVE BROKEN DOWN IN THE COUNTRY ON THE WAY BACK FROM A FOOTBALL GAME, THESE ARE THE GUYS WHO ARE DOING IT.
I WANT TO SHOW MY APPRECIATION TO THEM IF THEY ARE WATCHING TONIGHT AND ASK MR. STEELY AND MR. TERPANI TO GET YOUR PLAQUES.
WE WILL MAKE SURE THOSE GUYS GET THOSE.
CONGRATULATIONS [APPLAUSE] >> BACK TO GOOCHLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL.
THE IS SHE HERE THIS EVENING? NO, WELL THAT'S A SHAME.
NOMINATED BY JAY PSYCHS, OUR BAND DIRECTOR AT G.M.S.
FOR HER EXCELLENCE, HONOR AND OPTIMISM.
HE HAS BEEN INSPIRED BY WATCHING HER INTERACT WITH HER STUDENTS FOR YEARS.
SHE'S KIND, RESPECTFUL TO EACH STUDENT TAKING TIME TO MAKE SURE KIDS DON'T GET LOST IN THE SHUFFLE.
YOU CAN TELL THAT THE STUDENTS SHE ASSISTS ON A DAILY BASIS HAVE ABSOLUTE TRUST WITH HER.
WORKING WITH SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS IS A GIFT AS WELL A AS A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY.
THE PARENTS PUT THEIR ABSOLUTE FAITH IN US TO KEEP THEM SAFE AND HELP THEM THROUGH THE DAY WHEREVER THEY MAY NEED IT.
THE OTHER DAY I STOPPED IN THE HALL ON HER KNEE TIEING A STUDENT'S SHOE.
IT'S SOMETHING I HAVE SEEN HER DO SEVERAL TIMES AND I PAUSED AND THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT A FINE EXAMPLE SHE IS TO ALL OF US EACH DAY.
GMS WOULD NOT BE THE SAME WITHOUT HER.
LET'S GIVE MISS FUSIMORE A BIG HAND [APPLAUSE] AND GOING BACK TO BIRD FOR OUR FINAL NOMINEE IS MISS JENNIFER MATTING.
IS MISS MATTING HERE THIS EVENING? NO? SHE WAS NOMINATED BY LISA CREASY, A TEACHER AT BIRD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR EXCELLENCE, CREATIVITY HONOR AND OPTIMISM.
JEN WORKS SELFLESSLY ON BEHALF OF STUDENTS TO FIND DIFFERENT WAYS TO ENCOURAGE LEARNING.
AS SHE MOVES THROUGHOUT THE DAY FROM MS. KELLY'S CLASS TO MY KINDERGARTEN CLASS SHE DEMONSTRATES SO MANY OF THE GCPS CORE VALUES.
USING CREATIVITY SHE DISCOVERED LOVED THE LION KING AND FOUND A SIMBA AND PUMBA TOY TO ENCOURAGE THE STUDENT THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
I HAVE SEEN HER DEMONSTRATE OPTIMISM BY CONSTANTLY SEEKING WAYS TO HELP HER STUDENT MEET HIS GOALS.
WHEN THE STUDENT IS NEGATIVE, SHE LIFTS HIM UP WITH POSITIVE WORDS.
JEN DEMONSTRATES HONOR IN THE WAY SHE TALKS WITH THE STUDENT, LISTENS TO SHOW HIM HE'S VALUED AND RESPECTED.
LET'S GIVE MISS MATTING A BIG HAND.
[APPLAUSE] I WILL MAKE SURE THEY GET THEIR PLAQUES AND I WANT TO THANK THOSE EMPLOYEES.
>> THE NEXT RECOGNITION IS ONE THAT I ALWAYS ENJOY SHARING WHEN ONE OF OUR STAFF EARN A DOCTORAL DEGREE.
OUR EMPLOYEES WORK EXTREMELY HARD DAY IN AND DAY OUT MULTIPLE HOURS, TREMENDOUS SACRIFICES TO SUPPORT OUR SCHOOL DIVISION.
WHEN YOU COUPLE THAT WITH TAKING CLASSES AS A WORKIN ACCOMPLISHING, YOU KNOW, A TERMINAL DEGREE IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.
[00:50:04]
IT'S BEEN MY PLEASURE PROBABLY AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR TO STAND IN FRONT OF YOU AND RECOGNIZE ONE OF OUR EMPLOYEES WHO HAS EARNED EITHER AN EDD OR PH.D.IT'S A TREMENDOUS SACRIFICE, HARD WORK AND EFFORT.
AND SO IT'S MY PLEASURE THIS EVENING TO PUBLICLY RECOGNIZE ONE OF OUR VERY OWN WHO JUST YESTERDAY SUCCESSFULLY DEFENDED HIS DISSERTATION AND HAS EARNED HIMSELF A PH.D.
IN EDUCATION THROUGH VCU AND IT IS MY PLEASURE TO PUBLICLY RECOGNIZE MR. MATT CARATACHEA, OUR VERY OWN DR. MATT CARATACHEA.
[APPLAUSE] >> NEXT ON OUR AGENDA, AYE-AYE WANT TO CELEBRATE OUR COMMUNITY.
THE IF YOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY OF THE HOMECOMING ACTIVITIES LAST WEEK, IT WAS PRETTY SPECIAL.
AND I WENT TO SCHOOL IN A COMMUNITY THAT CELEBRATED HOMECOMING IN AN AMAZING WAY.
WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, I THOUGHT THERE WAS ONLY ONE WAY TO DO HOMECOMING AND THAT WAS THE WAY THAT FORT HILL HIGH SCHOOL DID AT HOMECOMING.
SO I HAVE BEEN AT OTHER COMMUNITIES DURING MY CAREER WHERE THEY SAY THEY HAVE HOMECOMING AND I'VE ALWAYS COMPARED IT TO MY EXPERIENCE GROWING UP AND LIKE -- EHH Y'ALL AREN'T DOING HOMECOMING.
IT WAS A THURSDAY NIGHT MY VERY FIRST YEAR AS SUPERINTENDENT.
THEY SAID YOU NEED TO CHECK OUT THE HALLWAY AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.
I THOUGHT OK, THERE WILL BE A FEW PIECES OF PAPER AND STREAMERS.
I WALK IN THERE AND SEE THE HALLWAYS THAT ARE FLOOR TO CEILING PAPER, BALLOONS, GLITTER, YOU NAME IT.
AND I BELIEVE THAT WE DO IT RIGHT HERE AND I KNOW THAT WE DO IT RIGHT HERE AND IT WAS SO REWARDING TO SEE WHAT OUR SCHOOL DIVISION DID LAST WEEK WITH THE PEP RALLY, FOOTBALL GAME, PARADE AND DANCE.
AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THAT DOESN'T JUST HAPPEN WITH A SNAP OF FINGERS.
THAT TOOK A WHOLE LOT OF WORK TO DO THAT.
OUR STUDENTS DEDICATED A TON OF TIME AND EFFORT INTO THAT.
OUR HOMECOMING WEEK EVENTS WERE TRULY A COMMUNITY EVENT SUPPORTED BY SO MANY PEOPLE THAT MAKE THIS PLACE GOOCHLAND AND MAKE THIS PLACE SPECIAL.
SO I JUST WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY PERSON WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE ACTIVITIES, SUPPORTED OUR STUDENTS AND GAVE THEM A ONCE IN A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE.
A HUGE THANKS TO OUR COMMUNITY FOR HANGING THAT POSSIBLE.
WITH MATT'S HELP WE WERE ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER A BRIEF VIDEO OF HIGHLIGHTS OF WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK.
WE WILL SEE IF WE CAN SHOW THAT FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR AUDIENCE THIS EVENING.
>> I DON'T WANT TO HEAR GRAMMARLY.
>> PRESS PAUSE -- >> I'LL GO BACK AND GET THIS STARTED.
[00:55:14]
KIDS HAVING FUN, HAVING A GREAT TIME AND BEING KIDS.
AND SO -- AGAIN, A HUGE THANKS TO EVERYBODY FOR MAKING THAT POSSIBLE.
LAST RECOGNITION THIS EVENING BOARD MEMBERS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE CELEBRATED FORTUNATELY FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS IN A ROW.
THERE'S NOT A SCHOOL DIVISION THAT BORDERS US THAT CAN SAY THEY WERE THE NUMBER ONE SCHOOL DIVISION IN THE RICHMOND METRO REGION.
NOT ONE, NOT TWO, NOT THREE, BUT FOUR YEARS IN A ROW.
AND SO AGAIN, IT'S AN EXAMPLE OF THE EXCELLENCE THAT HAPPENS DAY IN AND DAY OUT IN OUR CLASSROOMS, SPORT WE RECEIVE FROM OUR COMMUNITY, AND JUST THE AMAZING THINGS THAT MAKE GOOCHLAND COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS SPECIAL.
WE HAVE CELEBRATED THAT THIS EVENING.
TONIGHT IS JUST KIND OF A GLIMPSE AND REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE OF THE WONDERFUL THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN OUR SCHOOL DIVISION ON A DAILY BASIS.
SO FOR THE FIRST TIME, NICHE ALSO RATED TEACHERS AND LOCAL SCHOOL DIVISIONS AND OUR GOOCHLAND COUNTY SCHOOL TEACHERS ARE NUMBER ONE IN THE RICH MANNED REGION.
IN OTHER METRICS WE WERE RATED IN THE TOP 10% OF SCHOOL DIVISIONS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH RELATED TO SAFETY AND OVERALL RATINGS.
IT'S NICE TO BE RECOGNIZED FROM A THIRD PARTY WHO ANALYZES A VARIETY OF DATA SOURCES, RECEIVES COMMENTS THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE, AND SO, IT'S JUST NICE THAT THE WORK THAT OUR TEAM IS DOING IT RECOGNIZED ON A NATIONAL WEBSITE.
SO, PROUD TO BE THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE NUMBER ONE RATED SCHOOL DIVISION IN THE RICHMOND METRO REGION AND THE HOME OF THE BEST TEACHERS IN THE REGION.
THAT CONCLUDES MY REMARKS FOR TONIGHT.
[APPLAUSE] >> KEEPING DR. RALEY BUSY TONIGHT.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO THE ANNOUNCEMENTS/REMINDERS] ANNOUNCEMENTS, SIR?
[10. ANNOUNCEMENTS/REMINDERS]
THERE IS A LOT HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I BELIEVE THERE ARE SEVERAL EVENTS HAPPENING EACH NIGHT OF THE WEEK.
WE HAVE COMING UP A TOWN HALL THAT WILL TAKE PLACE THIS THURSDAY AT CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL.
THE TOWN HALL THAT WILL HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM BOTH DISTRICTS 1, 2 AND 3 THERE.
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND BOARD OF SUPERVISOR MEMBERS, SCHOOL STAFF AND COUNTY STAFF WILL BE THERE.
EXPENT CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE BOND REFERENDUM THERE.
NEXT MONDAY, ALL OF THESE MEETINGS ARE IMPORTANT BUT I ENCOURAGE OUR COMMUNITY TO COME OUT AND GIVE US FEEDBACK ON THE NEW GOOCHLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DESIGN.
ON MONDAY WE WILL BE TALKING BOND REFERENDUM, TALKING BALANCED CALENDAR BUT WE WILL START THE NIGHT WITH TALKING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE NEW DESIGN OF THE SCHOOL.
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM OUR COMMUNITY.
WE WANT THOUGHTS AND FEEDBACK ABOUT WHAT OUR CITIZENS FEEL SHOULD BE IMPORTANT FOR US AS WE GO TO DESIGN THAT SCHOOL.
SHOULD WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT WORK.
SO THAT'S REALLY AN IMPORTANT MEETING.
ANOTHER TOWN HALL THAT WILL TAKE PLACE ON THE 19TH THE VERY NEXT DAY.
WE HAVE SOME FOLLOW-UP MEETINGS, THE SCHOOL DIVISION IS HOSTING RELATED TO THE BOND REFERENDUM AND CONCEPT OF A BALANCED INSTRUCTIONAL CALENDAR ONE OF THOSE BEING VIRTUAL ON OCTOBER 28 WE HAVE FOUND THAT WE HAVE HAD SOME PRETTY GOOD ATTENDANCE IN THOSE SETTINGS.
WE WILL BE BACK HERE AGAIN NEXT MONTH ON NOVEMBER 9.
AND WE HEARD FROM THE GOOCHLAND HIGH SCHOOL THAT THERE'S A PERFORMANCE THIS WEEKEND.
SO THAT IS ALSO ON OUR AGENDA.
WE ARE TO OUR PUBLIC COMMENT PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD (KD/BDDH) (KD-R/BDDH-R)] PERIOD.
[11. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD (KD/BDDH) (KD-R/BDDH-R)]
THIS AGENDA INCLUDES THE LINKS TO THE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AS SCHOOL BOARD MEETING POLICIES THAT ARE LOCATED ON THE DIVISION SCHOOL BOARD POLICY SITE.I WILL REPEAT SOME OF MY SEPTEMBER STATEMENTS IN SUPPORT OF THE PURPOSE AND VALUE OF IMPROVING PUBLIC COMMENT.
AS NOTED IN THE POLICY, A REASONABLE PERIOD OF TIME AS DETERMINED BY THE SCHOOL BOARD CHAIR WILL BE ALLOCATED AT EACH REGULAR MEETING FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO PRESENT MATTERS OF CONCERN RELATED TO THE GOOCHLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
WE HAVE NO SHORTAGE OF MATTERS OF CONCERN TO RESOLVE IN 2021.
EVERY CITIZEN WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK THIS EVENING WILL NEED TO COMPLY WITH THE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION DURING BOARD MEETING POLICY.
ADDITIONALLY, WE WILL USE THE THREE-MINUTE LIGHT SYSTEM ESTABLISHED FOR THIS PUBLIC BUSINESS BOARDROOM LOCATED AT THE PODIUM TO ASSIST WITH TIMING YOUR COMMENTS.
WE ASK THAT YOU REMAIN QUIET, NO APPLAUSE, OR VERBAL FEEDBACK DURING AND FOLLOWING EACH PUBLIC COMMENT TO PREVENT STATIC ON OUR OPEN COMMUNICATION FREQUENCY.
IF YOU ARE NOT PREPARED THIS EVENING TO SUPPORT OUR POLICY, WE REMIND YOU THAT STAFF, DR. RALEY, AND SCHOOL BOARD
[01:00:05]
AND WORK TOGETHER TO CREATE SOLUTIONS TO YOUR SPECIFICALLY -- EXCUSE ME -- SPECIFIC AND POSSIBLY VERY PERSONAL ISSUES.WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO SEEK THESE OPPORTUNITIES TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK THROUGH EFFECTIVE DIALOGUE, INTERACTIONS AND YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR MISSION.
IN SUMMARY THIS EVENING, WE WELCOME YOU TO THE PODIUM TO SHARE YOUR PERSPECTIVE, KNOWLEDGE, AND EXPERIENCES SPECIFIC TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOL EXPERIENCE IN GOOCHLAND COUNTY.
WE ENCOURAGE ALL SPEAKERS TO CONSIDER THE AUDIENCE AND COMMUNICATE IN A MANNER WHERE EVERYONE IS ON EQUAL FOOTING AND EVERYONE FEELS THEY CAN PARTICIPATE.
WE KNOW THAT YOU MAY HAVE VERY STRONG EMOTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH YOUR CHILD OR OUR CHILDREN.
I REMIND YOU THAT WHAT YOU SAY IS BEING RECORDED.
WHO YOU SPEAK OF BECOMES A PART OF THE SEARCHABLE RECORDING.
LET'S MODEL CIVIC CIVIL PUBLIC DISCOURSE SO THOSE THAT HEAR US WILL KNOW WE LIVE IN A SPECIAL COMMUNITY ESTABLISHED IN 1728 KNOWN AS GOOCHLAND COUNTY.
LET'S MODEL EFFECTIVE COMMUNITY COLLABORATION THROUGH IMPROVED COMMUNICATION FOR OUR CHILDREN.
WE ALL PROSPER WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER.
WE WILL TAKE A FIVE-MINUTE BREAK FOR CITIZENS TO COME TO THE DAIS TO SIGN UP TO SPEAK WITH MS. BENNETT IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY DONE SO.
IT ALSO GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY HELLO TO ALL OF THOSE WHO CAME THIS EVENING.
SO BOARD MEMBERS IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO JOIN ME AS WE GREET OUR GUESTS AND IF YOU HAVE NOT SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, PLEASE COME TO THE DAIS AND SIGN UP WITH MSN AT 6:35.
[01:06:30]
WE WILL HAVE FOUR PEOPLE.YOU WILL SEE A LIGHT WITH A MINUTE LEFT TO WRAP UP YOUR COMMENTS.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR RESPECT OF OUR POLICY.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TONIGHT.
I WANTED TO SAY THAT THERE'S BEEN PROGRESS WITH THE IMDB, THE INTERNET MOVIE DATA BASE BEING TAKEN DOWN WHICH IS WONDERFUL THAT THE KIDS DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO MOVIE TRAILERS ANYMORE THAT WERE INAPPROPRIATE.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU THAT WE ARE HAVING A COMMITTEE MOMMED TO SCREEN BOOKS THAT SHOULDN'T BE IN THE SCHOOL LIBRARY.
TONIGHT, GENDER QUEER, ONE OF THE BOOKS ON THE NEWS, THAT HAS PORNOGRAPHIC MATERIAL IN THERE FOR MIDDLE SCHOOLERS TO SEE, WAS STILL IN OUR LIBRARY AND IS MARKED AVAILABLE TO BE CHECKED OUT.
PRIOR TO THAT, IT WAS MARKED OUT THAT SOMEBODY HAD IT CHECKED OUT BUT IT IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS.
SO IF THAT COULD BE REMOVED THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL.
THERE IS STILL A CONCERN OF ACCESS TO THE HIGH SCHOOL MEDIA LINK ON THE MIDDLE SCHOOL MEDIA PAGE.
SO WHEN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL KIDS GO ONTO THE MEDIA PAGE TO USE THE CARD CATALOGUE THEY HAVE AN OPTION OF USING MIDDLE SCHOOL OR HIGH SCHOOL LINK AND I WAS TOLD THAT IS BECAUSE WE HAVE ABOVE GRADE-LEVEL READERS WHICH IS WONDERFUL BUT AT THE SAME TIME MAKING SURE ABOVE GRADE LEVEL MATERIAL IS AGE APPROPRIATE FOR CHILDREN AND IT DOESN'T INCLUDE CONTENT THAT THEY ARE NOT READY TO PROCESS.
AND AS WE SPOKE ABOUT MISS KERFEN WINNING THAT AWARD AND HER WORK WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH OF STUDENTS WHICH I APPLAUD HER FOR DOING THAT, I FEEL THE RISE IN ISSUES WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES IS BECAUSE WE ARE PUTTING ADULT CONTENT AND ISSUES ON CHILDREN BEFORE THEY ARE READY FOR IT.
AND AGES 10, AS YOUNG AS 10 WHEN THEY START, ALL THE WAY TO 14, SHOULDN'T BE SEEING PORNOGRAPHIC MATERIAL OR LANGUAGE THAT IS APPALLING.
I ALSO WANTED TO TALK ABOUT A CONCERN ABOUT THE TRANS GENDER POLICIES IN SCHOOLS AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT STUDENTS MAY CHOOSE THE BATHROOM OF THEIR CHOICE AND THE LOCKER ROOM OF THEIR CHOICE AT THIS TIME.
I KNOW THAT THERE ARE OTHER ALTERNATIVES THAT ARE BEING OFFERED TO THEM AND OF COURSE WE DON'T KNOW WHICH ONES THEY ARE CHOOSING BUT I FEEL PARENTS NEED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE KNOWLEDGE THAT AT ANY TIME THERE COULD BE STUDENTS THAT ARE IDENTIFYING AS EITHER GENDER USING THE SAME RESTROOM AS THEIR CHILD AND THAT CREATES PRIVACY ISSUES AND THE -- I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE HEARD, THAT THERE WAS A STUDENT, 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL THAT WAS RAPED BY A TRANS GENDER STUDENT IN LOUDEN COUNTY.
SO, IT IS GOING TO BRING OTHER ISSUES TO THE FOREFRONT BY ALLOWING THESE POLICIES.
AND AGAIN, IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, ARE OUR CHILDREN REALLY READY FOR THIS KIND OF, THINGS THAT THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH.
MIDDLE SCHOOL IS ALREADY HARD ENOUGH AS IT IS.
AND ALSO TO SOME MIGHT NOT KNOW GENDER FLUIDITY MEANS THAT THEY
[01:10:01]
IDENTIFY WITH EITHER GENDER ANYTIME THEY CHOOSE.THEY CAN COME TO SCHOOL ONE DAY AND DECIDE THEY ARE GOING TO BE THEIR BIOLOGICAL SEX, ANOTHER DAY COME IN AND DECIDE THEY WANT TO BE FEMALE AND VICE VERSEAND THAT'S -- THAT CAN BE A CONCERN.
AND PARENTS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT TEACHERS ARE ASKED NOT TO STOP STUDENTS AND ASK THEM WHAT BATHROOM THEY ARE USING.
LOCKER ROOMS. OVERNIGHT TRIPS.
WILL PARENTS KNOW IF THEIR CHILD IS SHARING ACCOMMODATIONS WITH A CHILD OF THE SAME SEX? I ALSO WANTED TO TOUCH ON A SURVEY BEING PUT OUT.
MY CHILD HAD TO LET ME KNOW THAT SHE WAS ASKED HER PRONOUNS ON A SURVEY AND THIS GOES AGAINST THE PROTECTION OF PUPIL RIGHTS AND VIRGINIA LAW 22.179.3 WHICH STATES THE PPRA, WHICH IS PROTECTION OF PUPIL RIGHTS -- DID IT GO OFF ALREADY?
>> I DON'T THINK IT'S WORKING.
WELL I WILL FINISH WITH THIS BECAUSE I COULD GO ON.
BUT, THOSE EIGHT PROTECTED AREAS NUMBER ONE SEX BEHAVIOR OR ATTITUDES, ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE ASKED OF STUDENTS.
AND ALSO NUMBER TWO, MENTAL OR PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS OF THE STUDENT OR STUDENT'S FAMILY.
IT'S ONE THING FOR PARENTS OR STUDENTS TO OFFER UP INFORMATION TO COME TO THE SCHOOL AND SAY HEY, WE WANT TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF THIS.
IT'S ANOTHER THING WHEN THE SCHOOL IS TELLING STUDENTS THEY HAVE TO FILL OUT A SURVEY AND EVEN ON THE SURVEY IT SAYS PLEASE ANSWER THE QUESTIONS TO YOUR -- WE WANT YOU TO ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS AND ANSWER TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY.
10, 11-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN FEEL OBLIGATED TO ANSWER OF COURSE ADULTS WHEN THEY ARE ASKING QUESTIONS.
SHOULDN'T BE ASKING SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THEY ARE ASKING.
BUT MAKING THEMSELVES AVAILABLE TO HELP CHILDREN IF THEY SO NEED IT.
SO, THAT'S A CONCERN ABOUT THAT SURVEY AND ALSO THE LINKS, HAVING ACCESS TO HIGH SCHOOL LINKS.
I WOULD RATHER PARENTS BE ABLE TO SAY HEY MY CHILD'S READING ON AN ABOVE GRADE LEVEL.
COULD SOMEONE HELP SUPERVISE THEM GETTING BOOKS INSTEAD OF THEM HAVING FREE ACCESS TO INTERNET SITES.
NEXT I HAVE MR. BERRY SCHWEITZER.
>> MY NAME IS BARRY SCHWEITZER.
LIKE THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER I'LL HAVE A HARD TIME TO GET DONE IN THREE MINUTES.
I PLAN TO FOLLOW UP WITH WRITTEN COMMENT TO ADDRESS THINGS I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR TONIGHT.
THE FIRST IS A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY ON A LOT OF DIFFERENT TOPICS.
ONE BEING WHAT IS THE POLICY ON MASKS? WE HAVE DIFFERENT VIEWS ON FROM DR. RALEY'S VIEW OF WHAT THE POLICY IS TO WHAT PRINCIPALS AT SOME OF THE SCHOOLS BELIEVE THE POLICY IS AND THERE'S A LOT OF CONFUSION THAT NEEDS TO BE STRAIGHTENED OUT BECAUSE WE HAVE DIFFERENT VIEWS AND DIFFERENT THINGS BEING ENFORCED.
THE OTHER ISSUES AROUND TRANSPARENCY IS I THINK THERE'S A GENERAL -- THERE ARE MANY IN THE COMMUNITY WHO DON'T SHOW UP AND SPEAK AND I WISH MORE PEOPLE DID.
OF I REGRET THAT I DIDN'T DO IT SOONER.
BUT I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF REASONS WHY PEOPLE DON'T.
THEY HAVE OTHER OBLIGATIONS, CHILD CARE OBLIGATIONS, WORK OBLIGATION, SOME AREN'T PUBLIC SPEAKERS.
JUST AREN'T COMFORTABLE DOING IT.
BUT I THINK ONE OF THE REASONS THEY DON'T DO IT IS THEY DON'T THINK IT MATTERS.
THEY DON'T THINK THEIR VOICE IS HEARD.
MY WIFE WAS PART OF A COMMITTEE LAST YEAR THAT PARTICIPATED IN ADVISING ON THE GIFTED PROGRAM.
SHE WAS VERY OUTSPOKEN THAT SHE DIDN'T THINK THE CHANGES THAT WERE BEING MADE TO THE GIFTED PROGRAM WERE GOING TO BE THE RIGHT PATH FOR OUR STUDENTS.
BUT IT WAS IMPLEMENTED ANYWAY.
THINK THE SAME THING IS BEING DONE WITH THE BALANCED SCHEDULE.
I THINK YOU ARE GOING TO FIND A LOT OF PARENTS ARE OPPOSED TO IT.
THEY AREN'T HERE SPEAKING ABOUT IT, BUT YOU ARE GOING TO FIND THEY ARE OPPOSED TO IT.
AND A LOT OF THEM ARE IN THE DARK ABOUT IT.
BUT ONCE IT'S IMPLEMENTED, WHICH IS LOOKS LIKE IT'S BEING STREAMROLLED AHEAD.
ONCE IT'S IMPLEMENTED YOU WILL HAVE BACKLASH.
[01:15:02]
THE THERE WILL BE HIGH SCHOOL KIDS NOT BEING ABLE TO HAVE SUMMER JOBS, CASES WHERE PARENTS HAVE SHARED CUSTODY.MAYBE A CHILD LIVES IN GOOCHLAND WITH ONE PARENT THROUGH THE SCHOOL YEAR.
AN OUT OF STATE PARENT HAS CUSTODY IN THE SUMMER MONTHS.
THEY HAVE TO GO BACK TO COURT, REVISIT CUSTODY RELATIONS.
THE MASKS I TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, IT SEEMS ILLOGICAL.
OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL KIDS IN MASKS, SIT AT THE SAME SEATS WITHOUT THEIR MASK AND PUT IT BACK ON.
MY FOURTH GRADER ASKED WHY HER TEACHERS ARE SO STUPID.
I SAID I DON'T HAVE A GOOD ANSWER FOR IT.
THEY WON'T STAND UP TO THE SYSTEM THAT'S DONE THIS TO YOU.
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL SHUT DOWN CAMPUSES FOR 30,000 GRADUATES DUE TO AN INCREASE IN SUICIDES ON THEIR CAMPUS.
WE ARE HAVING MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS WITH OUR KIDS AND I THINK SOME OF THEM ARE DIRECTLY ATTRIBUTABLE TO TO THE MASKS.
BUT SO IS RIDING A BICYCLE GOING TO A SWIMMING POOL.
THINGS HAPPEN TRAGICALLY TO KIDS.
BUT WE DON'T SHACKLE THEM TO A CHAIR SO THEY DON'T HAVE A BIKE ACCIDENT.
BUT WE HAVE SHACKLED THEM IN THE CLASSROOM.
SHACKLED THEIR SPIRIT, SHACKLED THEIR EXPRESSION AND THEIR VOICES WITH THE MASKS.
AND IT'S A SHAME THAT WE HAVE DONE THAT.
PLEASE DO SHARE YOUR COMMENTS WITH US.
THAT IS PART OF THE POLICY AND WE APPRECIATE IT.
>> I DID NOT REALIZE THE GENDER BATHROOM POLICY PASSED.
I WOULD LOVE TO COMMENT ON THAT.
THAT'S AN ABSOLUTE DISGRACE THAT YOU HAVE MADE THAT MOVE.
YOU CAN FIGHT GOVERNOR -- THE GOVERNOR -- YOU CAN FIGHT.
>> I HAVE WRITTEN ALL MY STATEMENT SO - YOU.
>> FORGIVE ME FOR JUST READING OFF THE SHEET.
I HAVE TWO CHILDREN IN THE GOOCHLAND COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.
AND I AM HERE TO BRIEFLY STATE A CONCERN ABOUT THE PUSH FOR SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING SPECIFICALLY IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
A SURVEY WAS ADMINISTERED TO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29.
THE ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT THE SURVEY WAS FIRST SHARED IN A WEEKLY UPDATE ON SEPTEMBER 19.
I REQUESTED A COPY OF THE SURVEY WHICH I RECEIVED AND REQUESTED MY CHILD BE ALLOWED TO OPT OUT WHICH I WAS GRANTED.
MY REASON WAS THAT I FELT THE QUESTIONS WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE APPROPRIATELY ASKED BY OUR FAMILY PHYSICIAN OR PERHAPS A PSYCHOLOGIST.
WHAT WAS NOT SHARED WITH ME AT MY INITIAL REQUEST WAS WHAT THE COUNSELOR REFERRED TO AS THE INFORMAL ASSESSMENT WHICH WERE FIVE QUESTIONS ONE OF WHICH WAS CONCERNING AND THAT WAS -- WHAT PRONOUNS DO YOU USE? I REACHED BACK OUT TO THE COUNSELOR FOR CLARIFICATION AS TO WHY THESE QUESTIONS HAD NOT BEEN PREVIOUSLY SHARED WITH ME AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE QUESTION REGARDING PRONOUNS WAS PART OF AN INFORMAL ASSESSMENT DESIGNED TO GET AN IDEA OF HOW MANY GOOCHLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS IDENTIFY AS SOMETHING OTHER THAN THE PRONOUN THAT THEY HAVE USED SINCE BIRTH.
I AM CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT IS BEING DONE WITH THIS INFORMATION AND ALSO CURIOUS TO KNOW IF THE DATA IS ACCURATE.
THIS QUESTION WAS ASKED TO 11, 12 AND 13-YEAR-OLDS, SOME OF WHOM MAY NOT KNOW HOW TO ANSWER A QUESTION OF THAT NATURE MUCH THE COUNSELOR ALSO SHARED THAT THE FORMAL ASSESSMENT OR THE 25-QUESTION SURVEY WHICH CAN BE FOUND UNDER THE EAGLE SUPPORT TAB ON SCHOOLOGY WILL HELP THE GMS MENTAL HEALTH TEAM DESIGN A PROGRAM BASED ON THE CASEL GUIDELINES TO SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING.
THE PROGRAM WILL BE IMPLEMENTED SCHOOL WIDE PRIMARILY THROUGH LESSONS GIVEN OUT DURING EAGLE BLOCK.
THE LESSONS WILL ALSO BE INCORPORATED INTO OTHER CLASSES WITH THE HELP OF TEACHERS WHO ARE PARTNERING WITH THE COUNSELORS TO IMPLEMENT THIS PROGRAM.
I HAVE ONLY JUST BEGUN TO RESEARCH SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING OR SEL AS IT'S CALLED.
BUT WHAT I HAVE DISCOVERED SO FAR FROM A FEW ARTICLES THAT I HAVE READ IS THAT WHEN SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING PROGRAMS ARE IMPLEMENTED IN SCHOOLS, THE FOCUS IS TAKEN OFF ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION, FOR EXAMPLE READING AND MATH, WHICH ALL OF OUR STUDENTS SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON, AND REDIRECTS TO TEACHING CORRECT ATTITUDES, BELIEFS, OPINIONS AND BEHAVIORS, OR SOME WRITERS WOULD HAVE DESCRIBED IT IN-SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAINING FOR CHILDREN.
ANOTHER CONCERN REGARDING SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING IS THAT THERE SEEM TO BE SIMILAR ASPECTS TO CRITICAL RACE THEORY.
MY HUSBAND AND I WERE TOLD PRIOR TO THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR THAT CRITICAL RACE THEORY WAS NOT GOING TO BE ADOPTED BY THE GOOCHLAND SCHOOL SYSTEM.
TO GIVE THE MIDDLE SCHOOL CREDIT, THEY HAVE BEEN FORTHCOMING WITH INFORMATION AND ARE POSTING THE LESSONS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROGRAM ON SCHOOLOGY UNDER THE EAGLE SUPPORT TAB.
I PLAN ON CONTINUING TO REVIEW THESE LESSONS, RESEARCH SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING AND HOPEFULLY I WILL COME BEFORE THE BOARD AGAIN IN THE FUTURE WITH MY FINDINGS.
DID YOU GIVE MS. BENNETT A COPY OF YOUR QUESTION?
>> YOU CAN SEND IT TO HER ELECTRONICALLY IF YOU WOULD LIKE.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.
[01:20:05]
SO -- I'LL TRY TO KEEP THIS BRIEF.
I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF REITERATE SOME OF THE TOPICS THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP.
THE FIRST ONE I GUESS I'LL GO OVER SINCE IT WAS KIND OF TWO PRECEDING ME.
THE COUNSELING SURVEYS WHICH I AGREE THAT I DON'T THINK THEY ARE APPROPRIATE.
THINK THEY ARE KIND OF SKEWING THE LINE BETWEEN SCHOOL, DOCTORS AND PARENTS.
I THINK THAT THEY REALLY DON'T HAVE A PLACE.
UNLESS THE STUDENTS NEED THE HELP AND ASK FOR IT AND IT'S PRESENTED TO THEM.
MY CONCERN WITH THIS IS WHO IS GOING TO MAINTAIN A DATA BASE AND HOW IS THIS DATA BASE GOING TO BE USED? WHO'S MINING THIS DATA? IS IT HELD LOCALLY? HELD NATIONALLY? IS THAT GALLUP LOCAL COMPANY SCHOOL, WHO IS HOLDING THE DATA AND HOW WILL IT BE ANALYZED? BALANCED CALENDAR I WANTED TO TOUCH ON THAT REAL QUICK.
OUR SUMMERS ARE PRETTY SPECIAL.
WE HAVE TIME, WE HAVE IT ALLOCATED, SUMMER JOBS ARE COMING UP FOR THE KIDS.
AND SINCE OUR SCHOOL IS PARTICIPATING IN SPORTS AND BAND, IF THERE ARE OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN OUR AREA THAT WE ARE COMPETING AGAINST AND THEY AREN'T PART OF THIS, THE TWO WEEKS THAT WE ARE GIVEN POST THE MARKING PERIODS REALLY WE AREN'T GOING TO HAVE ANY TIME TO SCHEDULE ANY FREE TIME IN THAT BECAUSE WE WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN SCHOOL EVENTS ANYWAY.
SO WE REALLY DON'T -- I DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT MOVE FORWARD.
SOME PIECES THAT KIND OF LEND INTO THAT WHERE I DON'T WANT MY CHILDREN REALLY IN SCHOOL MUCH LONGER THAN THEY HAVE TO BE, AND THIS ISN'T ON THE BOARD.
THIS ISN'T REALLY ON THE TEACHERS.
THIS IS MORE DISCIPLINE THAT I HAVE HEARD HERE RECENTLY.
AT SOME OF THE SPORTING EVENTS AND AROUND THE PARKING LOTS WHERE I AM, I AM HEARING PRETTY ATROCIOUS LANGUAGE.
STUFF THAT WILL MAKE A SAILOR BLUSH FROM THE STUDENTS AND I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHERE THE CRACK DOWN COMES WITH THAT, BUT FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES BEING IN THE PARKING LOT, I AM HEARING SOME PRETTY ROUGH LANGUAGE.
MUSIC CHOICE THAT I HAVE HEARD AT SOME OF THE DANCES, THE DANCE WAS GREAT, KIDS HAD FUN.
SONGS THAT WERE CHOSEN THERE, PRETTY ROUGH.
EVEN IF YOU (BLEEP) OUT THE WORDS, THE VULGARITIES THAT WERE IN THE SONG, THEY ARE ROUGH.
SO I ENCOURAGE YOU GUYS TO LISTEN AND PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT'S GOING ON THERE.
THE KIDS ARE HAVING A GOOD YEAR.
THEY ARE HAPPY THEY ARE BACK, TEACHERS ARE DOING A GOOD JOB.
I JUST FEEL LIKE I NEED TO VOICE MY OPINIONS AND THOUGHTS GOING FORWARD.
SO EVERYBODY KNOWS WHERE EVERYBODY STANDS.
THAT IS EVERYONE THAT HAS SIGNED UP THIS EVENING.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONCERNS.
AND BY SUBMITTING YOUR QUESTIONS, WE WILL BE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT IF WE NEED TO SET TIMES TO MEET WITH PEOPLE TO TALK OR IF IT IS SOMETHING THAT COULD BE ANSWERED THROUGH A PHONE CALL.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ALONG ON THE AGENDA AND I BELIEVE WE ARE
[12. SUPERINTENDENT'S COMMENTS]
SUPERINTENDENT'S COMMENTS] BACK TO DR. RALEY.A FEW THINGS JUST FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC.
OCTOBER IS DESIGNATED BY THE VIRGINIA SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION AS BULLYING PREVENTION MONTH.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR STUDENTS ARE IN A SAFE SPACE AND FREE OF ANY SORT OF HARASSMENT OR DISCRIMINATION OR ANYTHING THAT'S GOING TO PROVIDE A NEGATIVE EXPERIENCE FOR THEM IN SCHOOL.
SO THERE ARE A VARIETY OF THINGS WE ARE DOING TO ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO MAKE GOOD CHOICES, TO TREAT ONE ANOTHER WITH KINDNESS AND JUST, YOU KNOW, MAKE GOOD CHOICES INSIDE OF OUR SCHOOL SO IT'S A SAFE SPACE FOR EVERYBODY.
SO YOU HAVE A LINK TO THAT IN THE AGENDA.
A LOT OF THINGS ARE HAPPENING AT EVERY SCHOOL TO SUPPORT THE ENVIRONMENT THAT WE WANT TO CREATE FOR OUR STUDENTS.
AND SO A LOT OF THINGS HAPPENING THIS MONTH.
JUST, NOT JUST THIS MONTH AS WELL BUT AN ONGOING ENVIRONMENT THAT WE WANT TO CREATE FOR OUR STUDENTS.
SECOND ON THE AGENDA IS A LINK TO OUR ANNUAL REPORT.
AND WE WERE NOT ABLE TO PUBLISH THIS ANNUAL REPORT LAST YEAR BECAUSE OF THE COMPLEXITIES OF EVERYTHING WE WERE, WOULDING ON.
DEDICATION OF STAFF TIME TO SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS BUT WE IT AGAIN THIS YEAR.
IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE THE WORK OF OUR SCHOOL DIVISION.
[01:25:02]
THIS ANNUAL REPORT WILL COME TO ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS THROUGH THEIR MAILBOXES IN PRINTED FORM.I WOULD EXPECT BY MID MONTH WE WILL HAVE THOSE IN OUR MAILBOXES.
BUT IT'S REALLY A HIGH LEVEL HIGH QUALITY REPORT THAT SHOWCASES ALL THE GREAT THINGS THAT OUR SCHOOL DIVISION IS DOING.
AND THEN LAST ON THE AGENDA IS JUST ANOTHER HIGHLIGHT AND ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE BOND REFERENDUM THAT IS IMPACTING OUR COMMUNITY.
AND ULTIMATELY VOTERS WILL CHOOSE WHEN THEY WALK INTO THE BALLOT BOX REGARDING THEIR THOUGHTS ON THE FINANCING ASSOCIATED WITH SCHOOL PROJECTS, AS WELL AS COUNTY PROJECTS.
WE HAVE, AS I SAID EARLIER TONIGHT, MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE WITH OUR PUBLIC ON THIS TOPIC.
SO WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS ON NOVEMBER 2 AND GO FROM THERE, DEPENDING WHAT OUR VOTERS CHOOSE AND SO AGAIN, SCHOOL PROJECTS INCLUDE GOOCHLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, RENOVATIONS AND ADDITIONS TO OUR HIGH SCHOOL MIDDLE SCHOOL AS WELL AS SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS ON BULLDOG WAY AND THE NEW PARKING LOT THAT WE HOPE TO BUILD POTENTIALLY IN FRONT OF THE SCHOOL.
COUNTY PROJECTS INCLUDE A NEW FIRE STATION, AS WELL AS A NEW COURTHOUSE.
SO ALL OF THESE PROJECTS, IF APPROVED BY OUR VOTERS, COULD BE FINANCED WITH GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS WHICH ARE ULTIMATELY THE LEAST EXPENSIVE FORM OF FINANCING WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC PROJECTS.
VOTERS WILL CHOOSE WHETHER OR NOT THEY SUPPORT OUR COUNTY MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT FINANCING.
>> THANK YOU FOR BRINGING ATTENTION TO THOSE VERY IMPORTANT ITEMS. THE ANNUAL REPORT, IT'S GREAT THAT IT'S COMING OUT AGAIN.
THERE'S A GREAT BEGINNING TO THAT "DEAR COMMUNITY." THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THAT.
PAGE 23 IS TITLED "CHOOSING A CAREER" RATHER THAN JUST "FINDING A JOB." THE WORK-BASED LEARNING PROGRAM WILL ENHANCE OTHER WORK BEING DONE TO SUPPORT STUDENTS AS THEY DISCOVER THEIR "WHY." THIS IS TRULY MORE THAN TO GRADUATE.
IT INCLUDES LEARNING THAT MATTERS TO GRADUATION WITH A PLAN FOR THEIR FUTURE.
WE WANT THIS FOR ALL OUR STUDENTS.
I LOVE THAT THAT'S HIGHLIGHTED IN THIS BOOK.
BOARD MEMBERS, THERE ARE THREE GREAT TOPICS HERE BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD.
ANYONE HAVE A COMMENT? EVERYBODY GOOD? ALL RIGHT.
SO, WE ARE NOW TO THE CONSENT ITEMS. WE HAVE A LIST OF ITEMS.
[13. CONSENT ITEMS]
CONSENT ITEMS] THESE ARE STANDARD ITEMS THAT ARE ON OUR AGENDA EACH MONTH TO INCLUDE PERSONNEL ACTION, BILLS AND PAYROLL, A COMPLETE TRANSPARENCY BY OUR FINANCE, OUR AMAZING FINANCE DEPARTMENT.CREDIT CARDS AND CHECK REGISTER.
WE HAVE OUR MINUTES FROM OUR LAST MEETING, ANOTHER REPORT FROM OUR FINANCIAL DEPARTMENT THAT INCLUDE AS VERY THOROUGH DOCUMENT ON BUDGET TRANSFERS.
WE WILL BE APPROVING ADVISORY COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS.
WE HAVE A RESOLUTION THAT MR. TEG AN WILL READ AFTER WE APPROVE THE ITEMS AND WE HAVE A REQUEST FOR OVERNIGHT FIELD TRIPS.
I PERSONALLY WOULD LIKE TO PULL OUT ITEM E.
IS THERE A MOTION THAT SOMEONE WISHES TO MAKE THAT INCLUDES THAT ITEM?
>> MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE ITEMS 13A, B, C, D AND G AS A SLATE RIGHT NOW.
ALL OF THOSE IN FAVOR PLACE SAY AYE.
SO WE HAVE APPROVED THE MAJORITY OF THE CONSENT ITEMS. I ASKED FOR E TO BE PULLED OUT.
THE REASON FOR THAT IS KIND OF A THEME TONIGHT IS OUR COMMUNITY.
THESE ADVISORY COMMITTEES, AS WELL AS THE NEW COMMITTEE IDENTIFIED TO ASSIST WITH LIBRARY RESOURCES ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTRIBUTE TO OUR MISSION.
SO PEOPLE HAVE BEEN COMING, THEY HAVE BEEN EXPRESSING THEIR CONCERNS.
THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT E-MAIL AND CALL.
THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT REALLY, REALLY CARE ABOUT EDUCATION IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND THIS IS A LIST OF SOME OF THE OPPORTUNITIES PERHAPS THAT YOU ARE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING.
DR. RALEY, FOR THE PUBLIC, CAN CITIZENS STILL JOIN IN THE GOOD WORK OF THESE COMMITTEES?
YOU ARE GOING TO APPROVE THIS EVENING A LIST TO GET US STARTED.
WE WELCOME FEEDBACK IN THE PROCESS AND CERTAINLY VIEWPOINTS AND PERSPECTIVES.
IF ANYBODY IS INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING ON ANY OF THESE ADVISORY COMMITTEES THEY CAN CONTACT ME OR CONTACT THE STAFF MEMBER THAT LEADS THEM BUT PROBABLY BEST TO CONTACT ME AND I CAN GET THEM TO THE APPROPRIATE STAFF MEMBER WHO SUPPORTS THESE COMMITTEES.
BOARD MEMBERS, ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM? WE ALL SERVE AS BOARD REPRESENTATIVE ADVISING ON THESE BOARDS.
SO WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THE PEOPLE IN THESE COMMITTEES
[01:30:04]
AND LOOK FORWARD TO DOING SO.THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE YEAR.
SO, WE ALSO PULLED OUT "F" WHICH IS A RESOLUTION FOR OUR BULLYING PREVENTION MONTH.
MR. TEAGUE, WOULD YOU PLEASE JOIN ME IN READING -- THE TITLE IS VSBA, THE VIRGINIA SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION, BULLYING PREVENTION MONTH RESOLUTION.
>> WHEREAS SCHOOL BULLYING HAS BECOME A SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASING PROBLEM IN UNITED STATES AND VIRGINIA AND OVER 20% OF YOUTH IN THE UNITED STATES ARE ESTIMATED TO BE INVOLVED IN BULLYING EACH YEAR EITHER AS A BULLY OR AS A VICTIM AND WHEREAS AN ESTIMATED 160,000 STUDENTS IN K-12 MISS SCHOOL EVERY DAY DUE TO A FEAR OF BEING BULLIED, AND IN CYBER SPACE, AND CAN HAPPEN IN MANY PLACES ON AND OFF SCHOOL GROUNDS.
WHEREAS IT IS IMPORTANT FOR VIRGINIA PARENTS, STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS TO BE AWARE OF BULLYING AND TO ENCOURAG DISCUSSION OF THE PROBLEM AS A SCHOOL COMMUNITY,.
>> AND WHEREAS THE VSBA HAS DEVELOPED A MODEL POLICY ON ANTIBULLYING TO ENCOURAGE POSITIVE BEHAVIORS AND TO ELIMINATE BULLYING BEHAVIORS AND GCPS HAS DEVELOPED IN SCHOOL PRACTICES PROMOTING A CULTURE OF KINDNESS, CELEBRATING CORE VALUES, PRIORITIZING HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP BUILDING, REFLECTING ON ONE'S OWN ACTIONS AND IMPLEMENTING AN ANNUAL BULLYING PREVENTION CAMPAIGN.
NOW THEREFORE THE GOOCHLAND COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD SUPPORTS THE VIRGINIA SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION RECOGNITION OF THE MONTH OF OCTOBER 2021 AS VSBA BULLYING PREVENTION MONTH WITH THE ATTENTION THAT THE ISSUE OF BULLYING AND ITS PREVENTION BE DISCUSSED IN THE GOOCHLAND COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND CLASSROOM DURING THAT TIME AS ONE STEP TOWARD BUILDING A CULTURE OF ANTIBULLYING EACH DAY IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SIGNED THIS 14TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2021.
>> MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE ITEMS 13E AND F AS PRESENTED.
HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ITEMS E AND F.
ALL OF THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE SAY AYE.
I'VE BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS NEXT ITEM.
DR. RALEY, I KNOW YOU HAVE ANOTHER ONE OF OUR AMAZING STUDENTS TO INTRODUCE.
I AM GOING TO ASK MISS ANNE-MARIE, OUR ACTING PRINCIPAL AT GOOCHLAND TO COME FORWARD.
WE HAVE HAD A STRONG TECHNICAL CAREER EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR MANY YEARS WHERE WE PROVIDED STUDENTS EXPERIENCES OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM.
WE DID RECONFIGURATION INSIDE LAST YEAR TO PROVIDE MORE EXPERIENCES.
WE WILL HIGHLIGHT ONE OF THOSE EXPERIENCES THIS EVENING.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY.
IT IS WITH GREAT PLEASURE THAT I INTRODUCE YOU TO ADDISON WINSTON.
ADDISON WINSTON IS A SENIOR AT GOOCHLAND HIGH SCHOOL ENROLLED IN BOTH THE ADVANCED COLLEGE ACADEMY AND BLUE RIDGE VIRTUAL GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL.
SHE IS THE TREASURER OF THE INTERACT CLUB, SECRETARY OF BOTH THE SEA OR, OR OF THE SEA, MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY, NATIONAL ENGLISH HONOR SOCIETY, NATIONAL THESPIAN SOCIETY AND BEST BUDDIES ASSOCIATION.
NEEDLESS TO SAY SHE'S A VERY TALENTED AND BUSY YOUNG LADY.
AFTER GRADUATION THIS SPRING FROM GOOCHLAND HIGH SCHOOL AND JAY SERGEANT REYNOLDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE WITH AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE IN SOCIAL SCIENCES, SHE PLANS TO ATTEND A FOUR-YEAR UNIVERSITY TO STUDY BIOLOGICAL ENGINEERING OR ANIMAL STUDIES.
THIS PAST SUMMER AS PART OF HER BLUE RIDGE EXPERIENCE, SHE PARTICIPATED IN AN INTERNSHIP AT GREENSVILLE GROWERS, A MAJOR BUSINESS PARTNER WITH OUR CTE PROGRAM.
GREENSVILLE GROWERS IS A NEW STATE OF THE ART HYDROPONICS PLANT LOCATED IN GOOCHLAND ON HOCKETT ROAD.
CARL GUP AT ANY PRESIDENT OF GREENSVILLE GROWERS WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN COMPLETING HER INTERNSHIP.
WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THOSE AT GREENSWELL GROWERS AND A VERY SPECIAL THANKS TO ADDISON FOR MAKING US PROUD.
GUS YOU ARE WELCOME TO COME UP WITH ADDISON AS SHE COMES TO TALK ABOUT HER EXPERIENCES.
[01:35:38]
MY NAME, AS SHE SAID, I AM SCHOOL.
FOR THE PAST FIVE MONTHS I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF INTERNING AT GREENSWELL GROWERS, A REALLY AMAZING COMPANY WITH A LOT OF NEW TECHNOLOGY AND A LOT OF NEW IDEAS AND I AM SO HAPPY THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO COME TO GOOCHLAND TO MY SMALL TOWN AND BRING ALL OF THEIR NEW IDEAS ABOUT TECHNOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE TO MY FOREFRONT AND TO SOMEWHERE LOCAL WHICH I REALLY LOVE.
SO -- GREENSWELL GROWERS IS A HYDROPONIC PLANT.
IF YOU HAVE EVER BEEN DOWN HOCKETT ROAD, IT'S ALL THAT CONSTRUCTION THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING DOWN THERE.
THEY ARE A LARGE-SCALE GROWING FACILITY ALL INDOORS ABLE IT PRODUCE CROPS IN AS SHORT AS 21 DAYS.
THEIR SYSTEMS ARE EXTREMELY AUTOMATED AND THEY DON'T EVEN REQUIRE THE TOUCH OF HUMAN HANDS AT ALL.
IT'S REALLY AMAZING WHAT THEY ARE DOING BECAUSE THEY ARE FINDING NEW WAYS TO INTEGRATE AGRICULTURE WITH MODERN TECHNOLOGY.
AND I WILL SHOW YOU HERE ON THE NEXT SLIDE, THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT THE FACILITY WILL LOOK LIKE THE PICTURE ON THE LEFT IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN THE PLANTS HAVE REACHED ABOUT THE END OF THEIR GROWING PERIOD AND THEY ARE READY TO BE TRANSFERRED OVER TO THE PACKAGING SYSTEM.
THE CROPS GROW IN GUTTERS AND THEY SIT ON CONVEYER BELTS.
ACTUALLY THEY MOVE THROUGHOUT THE GREENHOUSE.
AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE TOP, YOU CAN SEE MISTERS AND LIGHTS AND SHADES.
THESE ARE ALL FACTORS THAT THEY USE TO CONTROL ALL OF THE GROWING FACTORS THAT GO INTO MAKING THE PLANTS, WHICH IS A REASON WHY THEY HAVE SUCH A LOW CHANCE OF CONTAMINATION OR TAKING LONG PERIODS TO GROW AS COMPARED TO OUTDOOR GROWING.
SO, WHEN THEY REACH THIS PERIOD WHEN THEY ARE ABOUT DONE GROWING THEY GO OVER TO THIS MACHINE THAT YOU SEE ON THE RIGHT, WHICH IS CALLED THE YAZA MACHINE WHERE IT LITERALLY GOES THROUGH A CUTTER MACHINE, MIXING AND, AS YOU CAN SEE THE DARK BLUE LITTLE PART RIGHT THERE, A LITTLE KIND OF LIKE A -- THAT TAKES IT UP TO THE PACKAGING MACHINE, ALL DONE WITHOUT HUMAN HANDS AT ALL WHICH IS REALLY, REALLY COOL TO WATCHES ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE ACTUALLY IN THERE AND YOU ARE IN THE FACILITY.
THE REASON WHY I WANT TO -- WELL WHY I WANTED TO INTERN WITH GREENSWELL IS BECAUSE I HAVE A PASSION FOR SUSTAINABILITY.
I LEARNED A LOT THROUGH WORKING WITH THE GOVERNOR'S HIGH SCHOOL THROUGHOUT MY FOUR YEARS.
SUSTAINABILITY IS WHAT WE LEARN ABOUT.
A LOT OF OUR PROJECTS GO INTO NOT JUST LEARNING CONTENT BUT HOW WE CAN CONNECT IT TO REAL-WORLD ISSUES.
SO, ONE OF MY SUSTAINABILITY PROJECTS I DID ON AGRICULTURE, BECAUSE AS SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW, FOOD CRISIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE UPON US VERY SOON.
SOMETIMES AS SOON AS 2050, WHICH IS NOT GREAT.
ON THE GRAPH, YOU CAN SEE FROM THE USDA, IT'S A GRAPH OF CORN YIELD IN THE UNITED STATES AND, AS YOU CAN SEE IN 2012, CORN
[14. INSTRUCTIONAL REPORT]
INSTRUCTIONAL REPORT] YIELDS DROPPED ABOUT 140% DUE TO A MAJOR DROUGHT.SO, THIS IS ALL OUTDOOR AS WELL WHICH IS A REASON WHY THINGS IT LIKE THIS ARE AFFECTED BY MAJOR STORMS, NATURAL DISASTERS, WHICH IS WHY I BELIEVE GREENHOUSE FARMING IS A GREAT WAY TO GO ABOUT AGRICULTURE IN THE FUTURE SO WE DON'T WORRY ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE AFFECTING OUR CROPS SENDING US INTO FAMINE, FOOD CRISIS.
WHICH IS WHAT I WANT TO STUDY WHEN I GO INTO COLLEGE.
SO THIS IS WHAT OUR FACILITY LOOKS LIKE.
THESE -- THIS IS THE GREENHOUSE SPECIFICALLY.
AND YOU CAN GET A BETTER LOOK AT THE SHADING, THE LIGHTS USED AND THE GROWING CHANNELS.
GUS DID YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT A LITTLE?
>> I THINK YOU ARE DOING A FANTASTIC JOB.
AND YOU CAN SEE THE GUTTERS ON THE CONVEYER SYSTEM RIGHT OVER HERE.
MOVING ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE, SO -- WORKING.
I KNOW THIS PICTURE IS VERY BAD, BUT IT'S VERY SHADY IN THE GREENHOUSE SOMETIMES.
THE WORK THAT I DID WITH MY INTERNSHIP, I WORKED A LOT WITH NICOLE, THE HEAD OF FOOD AND SAFETY.
[01:40:03]
CREATING STANDARD OPERATION PROCEDURES, TRAINING PROCEDURES FOR ANY EMPLOYEES THAT ARE COMING TO THIS COMPANY BECAUSE MIND YOU THIS IS A VERY NEW COMPANY AND I THINK WE JUST FINISHED CONSTRUCTION.>> WE HAVE TO GET READY FOR EMPLOYEES COMING INTO THIS KIND OF FACILITY.
MIND YOU, VIRGINIA DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF GREENHOUSES LIKE THIS THAT ARE SO AUTOMATED.
SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO LITERALLY MAKE OUR OWN RULES.
SO I WORKED A LOT WITH HER IN THAT AND WE DID A LOT OF HAZARD ASSESSMENTS AS WELL WHICH KIND OF SHOWED ME HOW FOOD AND SAFETY AND A LOT OF SAFETY PROGRAMS DELVE INTO EVERY DEPARTMENT OF ANY KIND OF JOB, REALLY, WHICH HELPED ME A LOT IN THAT.
AND WITH GUS, I DID THE HARD WORK SO -- THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE AFTER WE SWEPT AND POWER WASHED THE GREENHOUSE.
AND, IT REALLY SHOWED ME HOW AS THE HEAD OF THE COMPANY, GUS DIDN'T WORRY ABOUT JUST GROWING AND THAT'S IT.
THEY ALL WORKED TOGETHER IN HELPING EACH OTHER AND ANYWAY POSSIBLE WERE THAT BE SWEEPING, GROWING, CLEANING BATHROOMS WHATEVER IS IT, THEY WERE WILLING TO STEP IN ANYWHERE WHICH TAUGHT ME A LESSON ABOUT HOW, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER JOB YOU DO HAVE, IF YOU ARE WORKING IN A GROUP, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE PROBABLY MULTIPLE JOBS AND THAT'S HOW YOU SHARE WORK.
GROUPS SHARE WORK TOGETHER IN THAT WAY.
SO -- THIS IS A VIDEO OF A LITTLE PACKAGING UNIT THAT I CLEANED WITH GUS AND IT TOOK A LONG TIME AND IT WAS REALLY HOT BUT TAUGHT ME A LOT ABOUT HARD WORK AND A LOT ABOUT HOW YOU MAY BE EXPECTED TO DO OTHER JOBS BUT WHEN YOU HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF BEING THE HEAD OF THE COMPANY, YOU HAVE TO TAKE ON THAT RESPONSIBILITY ANYWHERE YOU SEE FIT.
SO -- OH, -- IT'S PLAYING AGAIN.
SO -- I JUST VERY, VERY, VERY MUCH ENJOYED THE PAST FIVE MONTHS AND I WILL BE WORKING WITH THEM MORE PROBABLY UNTIL I GRADUATE HONESTLY BECAUSE I LOVE IT SO MUCH.
AND MY DREAM IS THAT SOMEONE YOUNGER THAN ME, A STUDENT MAYBE A JUNIOR OR SOPHOMORE, WILL LOOK AT WHAT I HAVE DONE AND WANT TO INTERN FOR THE COMPANY, AS WELL, BECAUSE THIS IS A REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS IN GOOCHLAND BECAUSE I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF STUDENTS INTERESTED INNI AGNATHARY CULTURE AND A LOT OF STUDENTS INTERESTED IN ENVIRONMENTAL STUFF.
AGRICULTURE IS BIG IN GOOCHLAND HIGH SCHOOL.
IT'S A GOOD LOOK AT AGRICULTURE AND ALSO A GOOD LOOK AT THE FUTURE OF AGRICULTURE INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON TRADITIONAL FARMING METHODS.
IT'S LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN INTRODUCE A LOT OF STEM AND TECHNOLOGY INTO WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE AND LOOKING AT THE FUTURE OF WHAT COULD BE AGRICULTURE, IN MY OPINION.
BUT THAT IS WHAT I HAVE FOR YOU GUYS TODAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME TO PRESENT AND THANK YOU TO GUS AND MR. GUPTAN AND MR. WATSON FOR ALLOWING ME TO ORCHESTRATE AND WORK WITH COMPANIES OUTSIDE OF GOOCHLAND HIGH SCHOOL.
[APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR EXPERIENCE.
I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT THE LIGHT.
YOU THINK ABOUT FARMING, YOU NEED SUNGLASSES BECAUSE -- SO -- BECAUSE THE LIGHT IS CONTROLLED, I GUESS, WAS IT CONFUSING TO GO FROM THAT CONTROLLED LIGHTING OUTSIDE? WAS IT LIKE A -- BIOLOGICAL CLOCK KIND OF THING? OR DID YOU GET USED TO IT?
>> SO, UM, I HAVE NOT SEEN THE LIGHTS ON.
IF I DID, I WOULD PROBABLY GO BLIND.
>> NOT THAT BRIGHT BUT -- >> YEAH.
BUT YEAH, THE LIGHT WASN'T REALLY THE PROBLEM IN THE GREENHOUSE.
MORE SO THE HEAT BECAUSE IT HAS TO STAY SO HOT IN THE GREENHOUSE TO HAVE A GOOD GROWING ENVIRONMENT FOR THE PLANTS.
IT MAY BE 70 OUTSIDE AND YOU WALK INTO THE GREENHOUSE AND IT'S 90 AND VERY HUMID.
WE DIDN'T STAY IN THERE TOO LONG, THOUGH.
BOARD MEMBERS ANY QUESTIONS FOR MISS WINSTON?
>> MADAM CHAIR, ADDISON GREAT JOB IN YOUR PRESENTATION.
I HAVE DRIVEN BY THIS SITE, BUT I DON'T KNOW ANY MORE THAN YOU JUST SHARED.
AND I FEEL CERTAIN THAT YOUR COLLEGE PURSUITS BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL WOULD BE WHAT THEY ARE WITHOUT THIS EXPERIENCE, BUT CAN YOU JUST COMMENT ON HOW THE INTERNSHIP HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE FOR YOU ON YOUR FOCUS BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL?
UM -- MY INTERNSHIP HAS HELPED ME A LOT IN MY COLLEGE PURSUITS BECAUSE, UM, FOR A WHILE I HAVE ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT COLLEGE WAS, YOU KNOW, YOU GO WHEREVER FOR YOUR UNDERGRAD AND THEN YOU START TO REALLY FOCUS IN YOUR GRADUATE SCHOOL.
HOWEVER, THE PEOPLE THAT I HAVE INTERNED FOR ARE ACTUALLY, WELL, NICOLE SALINAS WHO I WORKED A LOT UNDER, SHE ACTUALLY JUS
[01:45:01]
GRADUATED COLLEGE AND I WAS ABLE TO TALK TO HER ABOUT HOW COLLEGE ISN'T ALWAYS ABOUT JUST GOING TO GET YOUR GEN-EDS AND GOING FORWARD.IT'S A LOT ABOUT NETWORKING YOUR WAY THROUGH COLLEGE.
AND THINK THIS INTERNSHIP AND OTHER INTERNSHIPS HELPS STUDENTS THAT WORK A LOT WHEN IT COMES TO SPEAKING TO PEOPLE WHO MAYBE KNOW PEOPLE IN CERTAIN PROGRAMS OR KNOW CERTAIN COMPANIES THAT ARE LOOKING FOR INTERNS OR YOUNG EMPLOYEES.
THAT'S PERSONALLY HOW THEY HAVE HELPED ME WITH MY COLLEGE PURSUITS.
AND THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS.
I HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT REST OF THE WEEK.
BOARD MEMBERS I AM GOING TO ASK OUR CHIEF FINANCE OFFICER TO COME FORWARD FOR THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM.
AS YOU KNOW, EVERY YEAR WE MUST COMPLETE SOME ANNUAL STATE REPORTING SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO OUR FINANCES.
IT'S CALLED THE ANNUAL SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
THERE ARE A VARIETY OF QUESTIONS ASKED, EXPENDITURES AND REVENUES ANALYZED.
TYPICALLY AT THIS POINT IN TIME OF THE YEAR WE SHARE WITH YOU A PRELIMINARY RESULT OF THAT FROM A PER-PUPIL EXPENDITURE STANDPOINT AS WELL AS THE AMOUNT OR THE PERCENTAGE OF OUR OVERALL BUDGET THAT IS SPENT ON INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES AS DEFINED BY THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
MS. WHITE IS HERE TO HIT SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS FOR US THIS EVENING.
>> SO DEAR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND DR. RALEY, THIS REPORT IS A VERY COMPLICATED AND VERY COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL REPORT THAT WE HAVE TO SUBMIT BY SEPTEMBER 30.
AND, IT'S NOT 'TIL THE END THAT YOU GET SOME OF THESE NUMBERS SHOWN TO YOU.
SO, YOU ARE JUST ENTERING DATA, DATA, DATA.
AND THEN THESE RESULTS COME OUT.
THE TWO IMPORTANT REPORTS THAT I LOOK AT EVERY YEAR JUST TO SEE HOW WE ARE -- HOW WE CAN JUDGE OURSELVES, IS THE SCHEDULE K THAT COMES OUT GOES THROUGH A LOT OF ITERATIONS, INS IT AND OUTS.
BUT IT COMES DOWN TO WHAT IS OUR PER-PUPIL AMOUNT.
AND WE DID HAVE A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN OUR PER-PUPIL AMOUNT YEAR OVER YEAR.
PART OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT WE HAD FEWER PUP I WILLS.
SOME SCHOOL DIVISIONS REALLY HAD A DROP IN MEMBERSHIP AND WE DID NOT.
BUT THE OTHER ONE IS JUST SO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE HAD JUST A REAL INFLUX OF FEDERAL FUNDING.
AND SO THAT COMES INTO THAT CALCULATION.
THE YEAR OVER YEAR AMOUNT WE HAVE GIVEN PER PUPIL ON STANDARD STATE REVENUE MONEY ACTUALLY DROPPED A LITTLE BIT.
SO SALES TAX AND FEDERAL INCOME TAX WENT UP A LOT MORE THAN USUAL.
SO THAT HAS LED TO THAT PER-PUPIL INCREASE.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? THIS WILL BE PUT ON OUR WEBSITE.
AS INFORMATION THAT THE PUBLIC CAN SEE.
AND THEN THE OTHER REPORT THAT I ALWAYS LOOK AT IS THE SCHEDULE M.
AND, THE STATE DICTATES WHAT IS AN INSTRUCTIONAL EXPENSE OR SO WHAT'S ON THE TOP LINE AND THE BOTTOM LINE OF THE EQUATION.
BUT, WE DON'T ALWAYS AGREE WITH THAT.
BUT EVERY SCHOOL DIVISION IN THE STATE IS JUDGED THE SAME WAY.
SO IT'S A GOOD NUMBER TO COMPARE.
THIS IS CALLED THE INSTRUCTIONAL PERCENTAGE.
A STATE GOAL THAT'S NEVER BEEN MANDATED, IT WAS A RECOMMENDED GOAL, AT 65%.
65% OF OUR EXPENSES GO INTO WHAT THE SCHOOL -- THE STATE DICTATES AS AN INSTRUCTIONAL EXPENSE.
SO WE DID MAKE THAT GOAL LAST YEAR.
BUT WE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY ON THINGS OTHER THAN WHAT THE STATE CONSIDERED AN INSTRUCTION TRYING TO GET OUR FACILITIES MAXED OUT TO THE BEST OF ITS ABILITY.
THEY DIDN'T COUNT THE BONUSES.
THEY DIDN'T COUNT OUR BONUSES.
THEY DIDN'T COUNT ALL THOSE CACHEETS TO EVERY STUDENT THAT WANTED ONE.
THEY DIDN'T COUNT THAT AS INSTRUCTIONAL.
I AM PLEASED THAT EVEN THOUGH WE THINK WE SHOULD HAVE GOT A HIGHER PERCENTAGE, WE STILL MADE THAT STATE GOAL OF 65%.
SO THESE ARE TWO THINGS AGAIN THAT SCHOOL DIVISIONS JUDGE ON.
[01:50:01]
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? BOARD N MEMBERS ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?>> I AM BAFFLED ABOUT THE CAJEET? HOW COULD THAT NOT BE AN INSTRUCTIONAL ITEM? THERE WAS QUITE A BIT SPENT ON THAT.
>> THAT WAS SO EVERY STUDENT COULD RECEIVE INSTRUCTION.
BUT THEY SET THOSE RULES AND PERHAPS THEY WILL REVISIT THAT.
THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THAT WORK.
ALL RIGHT BOARD MEMBERS, THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS A VERY TIMELY TOPIC AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HAD SOME DISCUSSIONS WITH WITH OUR CITIZENS, I HAD SOME MEETINGS THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THIS FALL WAS THE SELECTION OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS AND RESOURCES AND WE HEARD SOME COMMENTS CERTAINLY ABOUT THAT THIS EVENING.
SO AS A SCHOOL DIVISION, WE ULTIMATELY WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE SELECTING INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS AND RESOURCES THAT ARE ALIGNED WITH WHAT WE BELIEVE IN AS A SCHOOL DIVISION AND OUR COMMUNITY EXPECTS OF US.
OUR SCHOOL DIVISION HAS ALWAYS HAD POLICIES RELATED TO THE PRIMARY INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES.
THEY HAVE GONE THROUGH A PUBLIC SELECTION PROCESS ULTIMATELY APPROVED BY THE BOARD.
WE HAVE A COPY OF THAT POLICY IN THE AGENDA THIS EVENING.
THE SCHOOL BOARD ALSO HAS AFUL SEE ON WHAT ARE DEFINED AS SUPPLEMENTAL RESOURCES.
THAT'S ESSENTIALLY A SCHOOL-LEVEL FUNCTION AND YOU HAVE A COPY OF THE POLICY THERE.
ULTIMATELY THAT'S A DECISION MADE AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL WITH THE PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE MAKING THOSE CHOICES.
BUT WHAT WE HAVE COME TO FIND, RECENTLY, IS WE NEED TO HAVE AN ADDITIONAL PROCESS RELATED TO THE SELECTION OF OUR LIBRARY RESOURCES.
AND SO, DR. GYERS IS GOING TO SHARE SOME OF THAT INFORMATION WITH YOU THIS EVENING AND ULTIMATELY AS WE SHARED THIS EVENING, WE REPRESENT THIS COMMUNITY MUCH LIKE ADVISORY COMMITTEES THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY APPROVED, WE ARE SEEKING AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE WHO WILL SUPPORT THE WORK OF SELECTION OF LIBRARY MATERIALS AND RESOURCES.
SO WE CERTAINLY WANT TO HEAR FROM OUR COMMUNITY REGARDING THIS PROCESS AND ENGAGE IN THAT CONVERSATION SO WE WILL ADD AN ADDITIONAL LAYER OF REVIEW INTO THE SELECTION OF LIBRARY MATERIALS AND RESOURCES.
SO DR. GYER WILL HIT SOME OF HEIGHT LIGHTS THIS EVENING.
, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, HONESTLY DR. RALEY COVERED A LOT OF GROUND THERE AND A LOT OF IT IS WHAT I WAS GOING TO SPEAK TO THIS EVENING.
CERTAINLY CAPTURED IN THE MEMO THAT'S ATTACHED TO YOUR AGENDA.
DR. RALEY ALSO REFERENCED THE POLICIES THAT YOU ARE CERTAINLY WELL AWARE OF.
THAT GUIDES OUR SELECTION OF PRIMARY RESOURCES AND SUPPLEMENTARY RESOURCES.
AND THERE ARE A LOT OF DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN THE TWO AND I WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE TO ILLUMINATE SOME OF THOSE.
BECAUSE THEY FUNCTION DIFFERENTLY AND THE SCOPE OF THE REVIEW IS SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT.
THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT TAKES FROM BEGINNING TO END IS SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT.
THE PRIMARY, TEXT BOOKS, CURRICULA, OFTEN THOSE ARE 100,000 FOR THAT.
THAT PROCESS IS GUIDE BY REQUIREMENTS FROM V DOE.
WE HAVE OUR OWN POLICY OBVIOUSLY THAT GUIDES THAT.
IT INCLUDES A PUBLIC REVIEW PERIOD.
AND I CAN SAY WITHOUT FAIL IN THE TIME THAT I'VE BEEN HERE, WE HAVE FOLLOWED THAT POLICY TO A T.
AND IT TAKES EVERY BIT OF NINE MONTHS FROM START TO FINISH THAT INCLUDES OUR OWN IN-HOUSE COMMITTEE.
AGAIN THE PUBLIC REVIEW PERIOD, RIGOROUS RUBRIC TO REVIEW THOSE RESOURCES AND THEN ULTIMATELY RECOMMENDATIONS MADE FOR PURCHASE MADE BY ME.
SO THAT GUIDES THAT PROCESS AND AGAIN, IT'S ARDUOUS AND IT'S LONG AND IT'S NOT NIMBLE.
THE SUPPLEMENTARY -- THE SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCE POLICY IS NIMBLE.
ON THE OTHER END OF THE CONTINUUM.
IT'S A SCHOOL-LEVEL FUNCTION ALLOWING FOR DECISIONS TO BE MADE AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL WITHOUT ALL OF THOSE STEPS RELATED TO THE PRIMARY INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCE PROCESS.
AND SO AS DR. RALEY HAS MENTIONED, AND YOU ARE ALL WELL AWARE, WE HAVE FOUND THAT THERE IS A NEED FOR ADDITIONAL INPUT RELATED TO LIBRARY RESOURCES.
AND SO, THE MEMO OUTLINES OUR PLANS FOR HOW WE ARE GOING TO ACCOMPLISH THAT, HOW WE ARE GOING TO CONSTITUTE THAT ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
IT WILL BE MADE UP OF PARENTS THAT REPRESENT EACH ONE OF OUR FIVE SCHOOLS.
IT WILL BE MADE UP OF TEACHERS, LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALISTS, AND RIGHT NOW, THE PLAN IS PROBABLY DR. FOWLER WILL FACILITATE THE PROCESS BUT I WANT TO TALK A THIS IS OUT AND IT'S OUR COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION.
IT'S GOING TO BE CONSTITUTED AS A COLLECTION OF INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS WHO ARE GOING TO WEIGH IN ON THEIR PERSPECTIVE RELATED TO WHATEVER RESOURCE MIGHT BE BEING REVIEWED.
AND SO COLLECTIVELY, THAT GROUP WILL GIVE THEIR INDIVIDUAL FEEDBACK RELATED TO EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN RECOMMENDED BY THE LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALISTS, IT WILL GO BACK TO THE SCHOOL WITH THAT ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK WHICH IS A NEW LAYER OF DATA TO CONSIDER BEFORE AN ULTIMATE RECOMMENDATION IS MADE AND A PURCHASE IS MADE.
AND SO THE COMMITTEE'S INPUT MAY OR MAY NOT CHANGE THE ULTIMATE RECOMMENDATION OF THE LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALIST.
I SUSPECT WHEN THERE ARE CONCERNS, THAT IT WILL CHANGE THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE LION MEDIA SPECIALIST.
SO ULTIMATELY IT WILL REMAIN AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL.
PRINCIPALS HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO APPROVE OR NOT APPROVE THOSE BUDGETARY ITEMS WHEN THEIR SCHOOL LEVEL MATERIALS LIKE LIBRARY BOOKS AND RESOURCES FOR THE LIBRARY, SO THAT WILL REMAIN A SCHOOL-LEVEL FUNCTION.
BUT WE WILL HAVE THIS ADDITIONAL LAYER OF REVIEW VOICE OF OUR COMMUNITY, WE
[01:55:04]
HAVE ALREADY TAPPED PRINCIPALS TO BEGIN THINKING ABOUT WHO MAY BE INTERESTED IN SERVING.IT WILL BE TIME CONSUMING CERTAINLY.
AND SO, THE REALITY IS IT WILL SLOW DOWN THAT PROCESS.
IT WILL NOT BE AS NIMBLE RELATED TO THOSE MATERIALS AS IT ONCE WAS.
AT THIS POINT, WE HAVE ASKED THE LIBRARY SPECIALISTS TO HOLD UNTIL WE GET THE PROCESS UP AND RUNNING.
I EXPECT IN THE NEXT MONTH OR TWO WE WILL HAVE EVERYTHING WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE AND THIS ADDITIONAL LAYER OF REVIEW AND PERSPECTIVE THAT OUR LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALISTS CAN CONSIDER AS THEY MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS MOVING FORWARD.
AND I DID WANT TO REPORT, TOO, THAT THE CROSS COUNTRY TEAMS PERFORMED VERY WELL THIS EVENING.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO WATCH.
BOARD MEMBERS, COMMENTS, QUESTIONS?
>> DR. GEYER, IT WOULD SEEM IT ME THAT IN THIS NEW PROCESS, THERE MAY BE, YOU KNOW, SUBJECT MATTERS THAT COMPANY'S I WIL THROUGH THIS PROCESS QUICKER THAN OTHERS.
>> IS THAT THE -- THAT'S THE PLAN.
>> WE ARE LOOKING AT A PHYSICS BOOK THAT MAY NOT HAVE THE SAME DANGERS AS SOMETHING THAT'S IN THE LITERATURE FIELD OR WHATEVER CONCERNS, NOT DANGERS, I WOULD SAY.
IS THAT SORT OF THE THOUGHT THAT THERE MAY BE SOME THINGS THAT CAN BE A LITTLE MORE FAST TRACKED, IF YOU WILL THROUGH THE PROCESS?
THINK THOSE ARE DETAILS -- GREAT POINT -- THOSE ARE DETAILS AND I HAVE ALREADY MET WITH OUR LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALIST TO TALK ABOUT THOSE NEXT STEPS.
THOSE ARE THE DETAILS WE WILL WORK THROUGH.
THIS IS A TERRIBLE ANALOGY BUT WE HAVE PROBABLY ALL BEEN TO THEME PARKS.
THE FAST PASS VERSUS THE TRADITIONAL LINE WE STAND IN, IT WILL STILL GO THROUGH THE SAME PROCESS BUT I DO THINK THAT GIVING THE COMMITTEE THE HEADS UP THAT, HEY, WE THINK THIS BATCH OF RECOMMENDATIONS IS PRETTY BENIGN, WE THINK THIS BATCH OF RECOMMENDATIONS MAY HAVE SOME MATERIAL THAT WE WANT TO DIG IN A LITTLE BIT MORE.
I CAN SEE US GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE WE DO SEPARATE THAT ON THE FRONT END.
AGAIN, THEY WOULD HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND AS MUCH TIME AS IS NEEDED TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION.
BUT I DO THINK WE WILL PROBABLY MOVE TO A SYSTEM THAT'SING OR NAZID THE WAY YOU ARE -- ORGANIZED THE WAY YOU ARE DESCRIBING.
THE REALITY IS, 99% OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE LIKELY NOT GOING TO CAUSE CONCERN.
BUT WHAT WE WANT TO AVOID IS THE ONE PERCENT THAT ENDS UP IN OUR SCHOOLS THAT'S NOT APPROPRIATE FOR STUDENTS.
AND SO, THIS WILL HELP ENSURE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.
>> IF I MAY FOLLOW UP, IS THERE A MEANS BY WHICH YOU COULD SAY, HAVE A DIGITAL COPY OF A PHYSICAL BOOK SO THAT YOU CAN MOVE THROUGH THAT REVIEW PROCESS IN A MORE EFFICIENT MANNER?
>> YEAH SO, I TALKED ABOUT THAT FOR QUITE A BIT WITH THE LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALIST, REALLY GETTING DOWN TO THE LOGISTICS OF WHAT IS THIS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.
THE REALITY IS THAT A TYPICAL RECOMMENDATION FROM THE LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALIST MIGHT BE A HUNDRED TITLES FOR PURCHASE.
AND CERTAINLY, MY ASSUMPTION IS THAT EACH COMMITTEE MEMBER WILL NOT READ 150 INDIVIDUAL BOOKS.
AND SO, I THINK THERE WILL BE DIFFERENT APPROACHES DEPENDING ON, AGAIN, AND THIS IS WHY WE AREN'T -- WE AREN'T ORGANIZING THIS AS A CONSENSUS-BUILDING COMMITTEE BECAUSE I THINK THAT WOULD PRESENT A WHOLE NEW SET O BUT ALLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO WEIGH IN ON THEIR OWN PERSPECTIVE.
AND SO, I THINK SOME FOLKS WILL -- AND I'M JUST ASSUMING THAT SOME FOLKS WILL FLAG CERTAIN BOOKS BASED ON TITLE.
SOME FOLKS MAY NOT DIG IN ON CERTAIN BOOKS BASED ON TITLE.
HOPEFULLY THEY WILL TAKE A DEEPER DIVE THAN JUST THAT.
SOME FOLKS WILL GOOGLE BOOKS AND AUTHORS.
DO SOME RESEARCH ON SPECIFIC BOOKS AND AUTHORS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT RAISE RED FLAGS AND THEN SOME FOLKS, WHEN THEY GET TO THAT POINT MAY SAY I WOULD LIKE A COPY OF THE BOOK, I WANT TO READ THE ENTIRE BOOK.
SOME FOLKS MAY START THERE AT THE BEGINNING TO WANT A COPY OF THE BOOK.
AND SO, WE ARE GOING TO ALLOW FOR THAT LEVEL OF SCRUTINY WITH EACH RECOMMENDATION WE MAKE.
BUT REALLY LEAVE IT UP TO THE INDIVIDUAL.
WE WILL GIVE OUR RECOMMENDATIONS OF HERE ARE SOME WAYS TO DO THIS AS EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE.
BUT CERTAINLY WE ARE GOING TO MAKE AVAILABLE THE BOOKS THAT ARE COMING THROUGH THAT PROCESS AND SO, I THINK IT WILL TAKE THE TACT OF EACH INDIVIDUAL, THEIR APPROACH.
WE AREN'T GOING TO MANDATE ANYTHING, BECAUSE THE REALITY IS, THEY ARE GOING TO GET THOSE LISTS, THEY ARE GOING TO GET THOSE SUMMARIES AND BE ABLE TO MAKE REQUESTS FOR THE ACTUAL BOOKS.
[02:00:01]
BUT EACH INDIVIDUAL WILL MAKE THEIR OWN DETERMINATION ABOUT HOW MUCH THEY WANT TO DIVE INTO THE MATERIAL ITSELF AND WE AREN'T GOING TO DICTATE THAT.>> AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT AGAIN, TRANSPARENCY THAT THE LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALISTS HAVE RAISED THAT I HADN'T EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT IS -- TRIED AND TRUE AUTHORS AND WHEN THEY HAVE A NEW RELEASE.
MAKING THOSE PURCHASES, TRYING TO GET THOSE BOOKS IN THE HANDS OF KIDS UPON RELEASE.
WE WILL HAVE TO SLOW THAT DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
WHEREAS BEFORE -- AND I'M -- THE LIGHTNING THIEF SERIES.
WHEN THE NEXT BOOK KIM OUT, KIDS WERE CLAM ORING FOR THAT NEW TITLE.
THAT WILL BE THE ONE AREA WHERE I CAN SEE WE AREN'T GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET TO MARKET AS QUICKLY AS WE WERE BEFORE WHEN NEW RELEASES COME OUT.
BUT THAT'S A SMALL PRICE TO PAY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DECISIONS BEING MADE ARE THE RIGHT DECISIONS FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
SO -- I DID WANT TO MENTION THAT.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE PROCESS OF SELECTING THE PARENT AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT ARE GOING TO SERVE ON THE COMMITTEE.
IF YOU COULD ELABORATE ON THAT FORMA.
>> IN TERMS IT OF PARENT REPRESENTATION, WE HAVE ASKED PRINCIPALS TO BEGIN TO THINK ABOUT WHO MIGHT WANT TO SERVE.
SOME OF THAT WILL BE WHO HAS ALREADY DEMONSTRATED AN INTEREST IN THE TOPIC AND SO WE ARE LIKELY TO REACH OUT TO FOLKS WHO DEMONSTRATED AN INTEREST IN THE TOPIC.
AND THEN IN TERMS OF NUMBERS, THE PLAN RIGHT NOW IS ONE PARENT REP PER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR A TOTAL OF THREE ELEMENTARY REPS.
TWO AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND TWO AT THE HIGH SCHOOL.
SO, SEVEN PARENT REPRESENTATIVES.
HANDFUL OF TEACHERS, HANDFUL OF LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALISTS.
SO WE ARE TRYING TO KEEP THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AT BETWEEN 10 AND 12.
SO IT WILL END UP PROBABLY BEING AROUND 12.
AND A TOTAL OF SEVEN PARENT REPRESENTATIVES.
>> DR. GEYER I AM LOOKING AT THE FIRST PARAGRAPH WHERE IT SAYS SELECTION OF SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES LIKE WORKBOOKS AND SO FORTH ARE A SCHOOL LEVEL FUNCTION.
AND IN THIS TEXT BOOKS ARE ALSO REFERENCED.
AND THE LINK THAT WE HAD TO TAKE A LOOK AT IS A VIRGINIA TEXTBOOK REVIEW PROCESS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION THAT'S APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
IT'S A LOT ABOUT TEXT BOOKS BEFORE IT GETS TO THE DIVISION LEVEL ABOUT HANDLING THAT.
I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THAT PROCESS FOR YEARS.
BUT I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT LIBRARY SELECTION.
THE SELECTION OF LIBRARY MATERIALS.
THE IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU ARE AWARE OF THAT'S PUT OUT BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION THAT ADDRESSES SELECTION OF LIBRARY BOOKS OR SOURCES FOR SELECTION OF LIBRARY BOOKS?
WHAT I AM AWARE OF ARE SIMILAR TO OUR POLICY RELATED TO SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES, IS GUIDANCE AT THE STATE LEVEL AROUND THOSE TYPES OF RESOURCES.
AND I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN UNDER THE ASSUMPTION, SIMILAR TO OUR POLICY, THAT LIBRARY BOOKS ARE PART OF THAT SUPPLEMENTAL RESOURCE.
BECAUSE YOU AREN'T -- YOU AREN'T MAKING AN ADOPTION ON THE WHOLE LIKE YOU ARE WITH A TEXT BOOK FOR A COURSE OR FOR A GRADE LEVEL.
OUR LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALISTS COULD SPEAK MORE INTELLIGENTLY THAN I CAN TO THE PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROMPT CONSIDERATIONS FOR SCHOOL LIBRARIANS AND THERE ARE SEVERAL.
AND SOME OF IT IS THROUGH THEIR PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, SOME
[02:05:06]
150 BOOKS FOR THE FALL 2021 THAT YOU SHOULD CONSIDER FOR YOUR HIGH SCHOOL LIBRARY.>> AND OFTENTIMES THAT'S WHAT PROMPTS THE INITIAL CONSIDERATION BY LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALISTS.
AND I DIDN'T MENTION, IT'S IN THE -- OBVIOUSLY IN THE MEMO, BUT ALONG WITH LIBRARY BOOKS, BECAUSE IT'S BECOME REALLY A FUNCTION OF OUR LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALIST, CLASS SETS OF NOVELS FOR ENGLISH CLASSES ARE GOING TO FOLLOW THE SAME PROCESS.
SO, LIBRARY BOOKS, CLASS SETS OF NOVELS FOR ENGLISH CLASSES ARE REALLY ALL CAPTURED WITHIN OUR NEW PROCESS.
>> DON'T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER.
A WHOLE DIFFERENT MEANING NOW?
>> I WAS THINKING ABOUT, WE ARE GOING TO FIND A PATTERN IN AUTHORS AND PUBLISHERS OF BOOKS THAT OUR COMMUNITY DOES NOT SEE A GOOD FIT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
SO I THINK THAT THAT WILL BE A LIST THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO CREATE AS THESE BOOKS ARE FOUND TO BE OFFENSIVE OR INAPPROPRIATE FOR THE AGE LEVEL OF OUR CHILDREN.
AND I WAS ALSO THINKING ABOUT THE PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS.
LIBRARIANS ARE ALSO GOING TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THROUGH THEIR PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION, HEY, THIS -- YOU KNOW, WATCH OUT FOR THIS TITLE.
THIS TITLE SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT BOOK FOR OUR KIDS BUT, READ IT WORD FOR WORD.
SOME OF THESE BOOKS ARE FRESH OFF THE PUBLISHER, FROM THE PUBLISHERS.
AND SOME OF THESE COMPANIES WE ALSO SEE THAT THERE'S LISTS THAT ARE COMING FROM SOME OF THESE BIGGER COMPANIES WHO SELL MULTIPLE BOOKS FROM MULTIPLE PUBLISHERS.
THOSE LISTS WILL ALSO BE VERY IMPORTANT TO BE WATCHFUL OF.
SO MAYBE THEY AREN'T AS CONSERVATIVE AND PERHAPS THERE IS A COMPANY THAT IS MORE CONSERVATIVE IN THOUGHT THAT WOULD BETTER SUIT OUR COMMUNITY.
SO I THINK THERE ARE SOME BIGGER LISTS.
SOME PATTERNS THAT WILL HELP THE COMMITTEE TO NARROW DOWN THOSE BOOKS THAT THEY HAVE TO REALLY, REALLY DIG INTO TO BE CAREFUL OF.
AND YOU MADE ME THINK, TOO, THERE ARE ALSO TOOLS OUT THERE, I MEAN I CAN SPEAK TO MY OWN EXPERIENCE AS A PARENT.
I THINK IT'S CALLED COMMON SENSE MEDIA.
BUT THERE ARE TOOLS OUT THERE THAT YOU CAN RUN A TITLE AND AUTHOR THROUGH AND IT WILL FLAG, YOU KNOW, HEY OUR RECOMMENDATION IS THIS IS THE AGE GROUP IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR AND HERE ARE THE REASONS WHY WE IDENTIFIED IT AND YOU AS THE PARENT CAN MAKE THE DECISION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT YOU THINK THAT'S APPROPRIATE.
I THINK THERE ARE SOME TOOLS OUT THERE, TOO, THAT WE CAN LEVERAGE ON THE FRONT END TO A GREATER DEGREE MAYBE THAN WE HAVE IN THE PAST.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S THE RIGHT NAME.
BUT I KNOW THERE ARE SEVERAL OUT THERE THAT DO HAVE SOME PRETTY CONSERVATIVE APPROACHES THAT MAY BE A BETTER FIT IN A PLACE FOR US TO START WHEN WE MAKE THESE INITIAL RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND YOU KIND OF LOOK AT IT LIKE THE, YOU KNOW, MARKETING.
SO IN THE PAST, THE COMPANIES LIKE TOBACCO COMPANIES REALLY WORKED HARD TO MARKET THINGS FOR KIDS AND ALCOHOL AND LOTS OF OTHER, CLOTHING MARKET FOR KIDS.
SO -- THESE BOOKS THAT ARE WRITTEN AND MAYBE THE COVERS THAT ARE CONSIDERED ATTRACTIVE TO KIDS, YOU KNOW, IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THEY ARE INTERESTED IN.
IS THAT A HOOK THAT THEY ARE USING TO SELL THEIR BOOK OR TO PROMOTE THEIR IDEAS.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT YOU HAVE BEEN -- AND THE DIVISION HAS BEEN RESPONSIVE TO THE COMMUNITY WITH THESE CONCERNS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THE WORK THAT THIS COMMITTEE WILL DO IN SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS.
BOARD MEMBERS NEXT WE HAVE OUR INFORMATION ITEMS AND SO, AS YOU KNOW, THIS IS I THINK THE THIRD MONTH IN A ROW THAT WE HAVE PRESENTED OUR POTENTIAL POLICIES IN THIS MANNER.
[15. INFORMATION ITEMS]
INFORMATION ITEMS] BENEFIT OF OUR PUBLIC, THESE POLICIES HAVE BEEN REVIEWED INITIALLY BY STAFF AND THEN WITH STAFF AND THE SCHOOL BOARD'S POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE.THEY ARE BEING PRESENTED THIS EVENING FOR FIRST READING, AS A MATTER OF INFORMATION ONLY.
PENDING ANY SORT OF DISCUSSION.
THEY WILL BE ON THIS AGENDA FOR ONE MONTH AND SHOW UP NEXT MONTH AS AN ACTION ITEM.
SO THAT GIVES A MONTH OF REVIEW BY OUR COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE US WITH ANY SORT OF FEEDBACK.
BUT THEY HAVE BEEN REVIEWED EXTENSIVELY BEFORE ENDING UP ON THE AGENDA THIS EVENING.
[02:10:05]
THE POLICIES AS WELL AS RED LINE VERSIONS FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO SEE WHAT THE CHANGES ARE BEING PROPOSED IN THESE POLICIES.SO WE HAVE MS. EAST HERE, WHO IS THE LEADER OF OUR POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE, HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT THE BOARD MAY HAVE THIS EVENING.
>> MS. EAST, DO YOU MIND COMING FORWARD? THANK YOU.
>> MY FIRST QUESTION IS WITH POLICY GCBE, WE FOUND WITH OUR ADVISORY COMMITTEE AS WE WERE REVIEWING THIS POLICY, THAT THAT ONE HAD TO DO WITH FLIGHT CREWS.
WERE YOU ABLE TO GET AN ANSWER FROM MS. EWING?
SHE WAS ON VACATION ALL WEEK SO I HAD TO WAIT AND I CALLED HER EARLY THIS MORNING.
SHE SAID IT WAS DEFINITELY A TYPO ON HER PART.
SHE DID NOT MEAN TO HAVE IT ON THERE.
SO WE COULD STRIKE IT AND KEEP THE VSPA COPYRIGHT.
I'M NOT AWARE OF FLIGHT CREWS IN GOOCHLAND COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
THANK YOU FOR FOLLOWING UP ON THAT.
TWO OF THE POLICIES THAT WE DID NOT HAVE AVAILABLE TO US BECAUSE YOU HAD STAFF WORKING ON THEM FROM THE TIME THAT WE WERE HAVING THE MEETING, SO THANK YOU FOR STAFF THAT WERE SUPPORTING POLICIES G CPA AND G CPA -- R.
SO, I NOTED IN G CPA THAT YOU CHANGED THE TITLE.
>> WHAT WAS THE REASONING FOR THAT?
AND THE FIRST SENTENCE IN THE SECOND PARAGRAPH I BELIEVE THAT VERB SHOULD BE "ARE" INSTEAD OF IT'S A COMPOUND SUBJECT.
>> IT'S FUNNY, TOO, BECAUSE IT WAS A COPY/PASTE FROM VSPA.
WELL -- I WILL SEND YOU THE NOTES ON THAT SO THERE MAY BE A CHANGE FROM FIRST READING.
SO AGAIN, THIS IS KIND OF OUR FIRST READING OF THIS FIRST READING.
AND KIND OF CURIOUS WHY THAT WAS ALL UNDERLINED IN THE FORCED -- IT'S SORT OF NOT THE WHOLE WORD, NOT THE WHOLE TITLE.
WAS THAT UNDERLINE NECESSARY IN G CPA?
>> AND WHERE EXACTLY -- SECOND PARAGRAPH.
FORCE RIF GUIDELINES ESTABLISHED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE BOARD, THE GUIDELINES -- NOT SURE WHY THAT WAS UNDERLINED.
>> SO THE SECOND UNDERLINED -- THE RED LINE PARAGRAPH OR THE STRICKEN PARAGRAPH -- I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU ARE.
>> I'LL SEND YOU THE NOTES ON THAT, AS WELL.
BUT ALL THE REFERENCES CHECK OUT ON THAT ONE.
G CPA-R WAS ANOTHER ONE THAT YOU SEE ON THE SHEET THAT THIS IS NEW.
THIS NEW REGULATION WILL MAKE IT EASIER TO REVISE WITHOUT TOUCHING THE LEGAL ASPECTS OF POLICY G CPA.
FOR THE AUDIENCE, CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT? BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT DESIGNATION WITH POLICIES AND REGULATIONS.
POLICIES USUALLY REPRESENT JUST WHAT IS, BY LAW, WE HAVE TO DO.
AND REGULATIONS ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN CHANGE AND NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT -- IT'S BASICALLY A PROCEDURE THAT WE WILL FOLLOW.
WE WANTED TO SEPARATE THAT OUT BECAUSE VSPA WILL BE CHANGING G CPA.
WE CAN COMPLETELY MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S THE LAW.
WE ARE GOING TO FOLLOW WHAT'S IN G CPA BUT WE CAN CHANGE THE PROCEDURES WHICH ARE THOSE REGULATIONS.
SO THE REGULATIONS BASICALLY, WHAT YOU HAVE IS G CPA-R.
WHAT HE TOOK GSPA WHICH WAS NOT A VSPA POLICY.
AND WE -- THOSE TWO PARAGRAPHS THAT YOU SEE THERE THAT ARE UNDERLINED, THAT IS VSPA LANGUAGE.
THAT'S GOING TO BE THE LEGAL PART OF IT.
AND ALL OF THE REST WAS WHAT WE HAD, OUR LANGUAGE, GOOCHLAND LANGUAGE, AND WE MOVED IT TO A REGULATION.
SO NOW WE HAVE GCPA JUST WITH THAT LEGAL LANGUAGE THAT YOU SEE THERE WITH THE RED LINE.
AND THEN THE GCPA -- BASICALLY THE REGULATION TO GCPA.
AND THAT'S GOING TO BE THE PROCEDURE.
THE BOARD MEMBERS PLEASE JUMP IN IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, AS WELL.
>> YEAH, FOR CLARITY BOARD MEMBERS IF I MAY, ULTIMATELY GCPA-R IS A REGULATION, BUT
[02:15:03]
YOU REGULATION.SO ULTIMATELY ANY CHANGES TO EITHER OF THOSE POLICIES WOULD BE THROUGH YOU.
SO ANOTHER REGULATION, GCBC-R FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.
YOU HAVE NOTED THAT THE REGULATION IS NOT REQUIRED BY LAW AND APPEARS IN THE EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK.
SO, THIS POLICY -- EVEN THOUGH, TO ENSURE EITHER REVISION, WE ARE REPEALING
THIS REGULATION -- >> THE REGULATION.
>> BUT THE INFORMATION IS HOUSED IN -- >> IN THE HANDBOOK.
AND THE REASON WHY WE WANTED TO REPEAL THAT, BECAUSE THIS ONE WILL BE CHANGING A LOT.
SO INSTEAD OF COMING THROUGH -- YOU WILL BE LOOKING AT THE HANDBOOK SO YOU WILL BE ABLE TO PUT YOUR THUMB ON THAT.
BUT INSTEAD OF DOING THIS EVERY TIME WE NEED TO MAKE EVEN THE SLIGHTEST CHANGE IT WOULD MAKE IT EASIER FOR US.
GCDA IS IN REGARDS TO EFFECT OF CRIMINAL CONVICTION.
DO WE HAVE AN IDEA ON THE TIME ON BACKGROUND CHECKS NOW? THIS REFERENCES BACKGROUND CHECKS.
>> WE HAVE NOT HAD THAT, BUT I HAVE MS. HARRIS HERE.
>> MS. HARRIS, DO YOU KNOW THE TIME ON THE BACKGROUND CHECKS?
>> THE CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS COME BACK WITHIN A DAY OR TWO AS LONG AS -- CRIMINAL HISTORY IN THE CHECK.
THE SOCIAL SERVICES CHECK CAN TAKE FIVE OR SIX BUSINESS DAYS TO COME BACK.
OF COURSE THAT COULD BE -- IT COULD TAKE LONGER IN THE SPRING OR SUMMER WHEN EVERYONE IS HIRING TOGETHER.
>> THAT WAS REFERENCED IN THIS POLICY.
I THINK THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS.
BOARD MEMBERS, DID YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THESE POLICIES?
SO THAT WAS OUR INFORMATION ITEMS. SO, WE DO NOT NEED TO DO ANY VOTING ON THAT.
SO THAT TAKES US TO AHH, THE VERY PEOPLE I WAS JUST TALKING WITH.
HAPPY TO BRING DR. ANDY ARMSTRONG AND MISS DEMITRI HARRIS TO THE PODIUM TO TALK ABOUT OUR EMPLOYEES.
WE HAVE CELEBRATED OUR EMPLOYEES A GREAT DEAL.
THEY ARE THE REASON OUR SCHOOL DIVISION IS SO SUCCESSFUL.
WE HAVE AMAZING FOLKS DOING EXCEPTIONAL WORK FOR THE SCHOOL DIVISION.
IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRESS PAUSE FOR A MOMENT, CHECK IN ON OUR WORKFORCE, GET SOME DATA REGARDING OUR RECRUITMENT EFFORTS AND THEN ALSO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME WORK MS. HARRIS HAS BEEN DOING IN RELATION TO OUR STIPENDS AND ADDITIONAL PAY FOR EMPLOYEES, SPECIFICALLY COACHES.
>> I DIDN'T MEAN TO NOT THANK YOU FOR BRINGING ALL OF THAT INFORMATION THIS EVENING.
>> MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DR. RALEY, AMONG OUR STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES IS TO EMPLOY A DIVERSE DYNAMIC AND -- AND I MAY BE A BIT BIASED IN MY THINKING BUT I FEEL THAT IS OUR MOST IMPORTANT OBJECTIVE.
I DON'T THINK WE DO THE WORK THAT WE DO ON BEHALF OF OUR STUDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY WITHOUT THE HIGH QUALITY EMPLOYEES THAT WE HAVE.
SO REALLY THE STATE OF THE WORKFORCE PRESENTATION THAT I GIVE IN OCTOBER WHICH IS NORMALLY FOLLOWED BY A SALARY STUDY IN NOVEMBER ARE KIND OF THE FIRST VOLLEYS IN THE MARCH TOWARD A BUDGET THAT MS. WHITE ENJOYS SO MUCH.
AND WE WILL BEGIN IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A LOOK AT SOME BIG-PICTURE METRICS AROUND OUR EMPLOYMENT FLOW THIS YEAR BETWEEN 2020 AND 2021.
THEN I WILL ALLOW MS. HARRIS, OUR SUPERVISOR TOWN SERVICES, CERTIFIED TO COME AND GIVE SOME RECOMMENDATIATIONS ABOUT THE STIPEND STUDY.
WE EMPLOY MEMBERS WHO DO AN EXCELLENT JOB IN REALLY MEETING ALL OF THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS EVERY DAY.
WE TRANSPORT THEM, WE FEED THEM, WE TEACH THEM, WE COACH THEM, WE COUNSEL THEM, WE KEEP THEM COMFORTABLE, SAFE AND HEALTHY.
AND THE WORK THAT WE DO I THINK IS FANTASTIC WORKDAY IN AND DAY OUT IN EVERY OFFICE, EVERY SCHOOL, ON OUR BUSES AND OUR CAFETERIAS AND EVERY CORNER OF OUR SCHOOL DIVISION AND THEY REALLY DO.
THEY ARE THE ONES WHO GIVE US THE REPUTATION WE HAVE IN OUR REGION AND IN THE STATE.
WE ARE NOT A TOP-HEAVY ORGANIZATION BY ANY STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION.
WE ARE AND ALWAYS HAVE BEEN LEAN.
WE WEAR A LOT OF HATS IN OUR CENTRAL OFFICE AS YOU CAN SEE HERE.
THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR PERSONNEL RESOURCES ARE DEDICATED TO WHAT IS HAPPENING IN SCHOOLS, WHETHER IT'S THE FORM OF DIRECT TEACHING OF STUDENTS OR SUPPORT FOR THOSE STUDENTS IN CLINGS AND IN INSTRUCTIONAL COACHES AND
[02:20:02]
BUS AND REVOLVE AROUND THE NUCLEUS OF TEACHING EVERY DAY.OUR OUTGOING STAFF IN 2021 THIS PAST SPRING WE LOST 28 TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS.
THE METRICS AROUND OUR EXITING STAFF ARE RELATIVELY CONSISTENT TO WHAT WE SEE MOST YEARS.
THIS IS NOT TOO FAR OFF FROM WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE SEEN IN 2020 WHEN I TALKED ABOUT THIS LAST YEAR, THE YEAR BEFORE.
BUT ONE PIECE THAT I WILL NOTE IS THAT WE DID HAVE FIVE PEOPLE LEAVE THE PROFESSION.
AND THAT IS NOTABLE, I FEEL, BECAUSE OF, AGAIN, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT RECRUITMENT RIGHT NOW IN THE YEAR 2021 AND WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT AS WE APPROACH 2022 AND ASSEMBLING OUR STAFF FOR NEXT YEAR, THE DEMANDS FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION THE DEMANDS AND SCRUTINY THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW T IS AFFECTING SOME OF THOSE METRICS AND DIVISIONS NATIONWIDE.
AND WE AREN'T IMMUNE TO THAT HERE IN GOOCHLAND.
WE DID SOME DIGGING AS A HUMAN RESOURCES STAFF TO GET MORE QUALITATIVE DATA AROUND WHY THAT HAPPENS.
OTHER THAN THAT FOR THE MOST PART, DESPITE SOME KIND OF DOOMSDAY PREDICTIONS LAST YEAR AT THIS TIME AROUND HOW MANY TEACHERS MIGHT BE LEAVING IN OTHER DIVISIONS, WE ACTUALLY LOST FEWER TEACHERS IN 2021 THAN WE DID IN 2020.
I KNOW WHEN COVID HIT, THERE WAS TALK OF A MASS EXODUS FROM PUBLIC EDUCATION.
THEY MAY BE SEEING IT SOME OTHER DIVISIONS.
THINK THAT'S A CREDIT TO THE WORK WE DO IN OUR DIVISION.
WE HAVE ADMINISTERED THE EXIT SURVEY THROUGH MERCK MANY.
THE REASON WAS BECAUSE OF THE OBJECTIVE NATURE OF THAT.
HAVING A THIRD PARTY COLLECT THAT DATA LENDS ITSELF TO MORE CANDID ANSWERS ON THAT SURVEY.
AND THEY DO A GREAT JOB OF DISSECTING THAT DATA AND DISSEMINATING THAT SO WE CAN DIGEST THAT.
IT DID LOSE A LITTLE BIT OF LUSTER THIS YEAR.
WE ONLY HAD 39% OF OUR STAFF COMPLETE THE SURVEY.
IT'S NOT A KNOCK ON THE SURVEY ITSELF BUT WE SAW A LOWER RATE OF RESPONSE ON THAT.
I WILL SAY THAT LAST BULLET POINT, THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE IN-PERSON EXIT INTERVIEWS, WE FELT REALLY GAVE US GREAT INFORMATION THIS YEAR.
WE SAT DOWN, WE DIDN'T REQUIRE IT, BUT WE DID SIT DOWN WITH FOUR EMPLOYEES TO TALK TO THEM FACE-TO-FACE AND GO THROUGH THE QUESTIONS, GIVING THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO ELABORATE ON THEIR DECISIONS WHAT THEY WERE DOING THE NEXT STEPS.
THAT'S GUIDING WHAT WE ARE PLANNING TO DO IN HR.
THAT WAS VALUABLE, SOMETHING WE WANT TO CONTINUE WITH GREATER FREQUENCY IN THE YEARS TO COME.
THERE'S 11 RESPONDENTS WHO DID COMPLETE THE EXIT SURVEY.
NOT SURPRISING TO THOSE WHO HAVE STUDIED STATISTICS AROUND TEACHER EMPLOYMENT, WELL OVER A THIRD OF THOSE RESPONDENTS WERE BETWEEN TWO AND THREE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
MOST TEACHERS LEAVE IN THE FIRST THREE YEARS.
MOST OF THEM CAME THROUGH A STANDARD COLLEGE PREP PATHWAY.
SOME PEOPLE THINK THAT THOSE WHO GET INTO TEACHING THROUGH A CAREER SWITCH OR PATHWAY MAY BE MORE LIKELY TO LEAVE THE PROFESSION.
WE AREN'T SEEING THAT NECESSARILY HERE.
AND THEN HALF OF THOSE RESPONDENTS LEFT FOR PERSONAL REASONS, WHICH IS WHAT WE SEE IN MOST CASES FOR THOSE WHO LEAVE OUR DIVISION.
I KNOW THE FIRST QUESTION IS -- WAIT A MINUTE, WE LOST 28, WE HAVE 38.
THAT'S INCLUDING OUR EIGHT INTERVENTIONISTS.
THE BOARD APPROVED THEM LAST YEAR AND ADDITIONAL SOCIAL WORKER AND ADDED INSTRUCTIONAL POSITIONS AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
YOU CAN SEE THERE, WE HAVE THAT PICTURE OF ALL OF THE BRIGHT SMILING FACES FROM OUR FIRST DAY OF NEW TEACHER ACADEMY.
PRETTY CONSISTENT STAFFING ACROSS OUR SCHOOLS.
THOSE ARE A FEW HIGHLIGHTS OF AREAS THAT WE TRADITIONALLY LOOK LIKE.
RECRUITING EXCEPTIONAL ED TEACHERS IN EVERY DIVISION.
ELEMENTARY MIDDLE AND HIGH ARE VERY CONSISTENT.
WE ADDED SUPPORT STAFF MEMBERS, SOCIAL WORKER, INTERVENTIONIST, PSYCHOLOGISTS, COUNSELORS AND WE DID REPLACE ONE OF OUR INSTRUCTIONAL COACHES WITH OUR NEW INSTRUCTIONAL COACH WHO SERVES OUR ENTIRE DIVISION.
OUR NEW TEAM MEMBERS COME WITH AN AVERAGE OF SEVEN AND A HALF YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WHICH WE FIND THAT'S PRETTY CONSISTENT HERE IN GOOCHLAND.
OUR TEACHERS I FEEL SOMETIMES YOU CAN SEE THERE IN THE STATS, COME FROM WHERE THEY HAVE SPENT A FEW YEARS, HEAR ABOUT GOOCHLAND, THE GREAT THINGS WE ARE DOING AND THEY JUMP OVER AFTER A FEW YEARS.
WE ARE STILL ABLE TO NOT POACH, THAT'S NOT THE RIGHT WORD, BUT WE ARE OBVIOUSLY ATTRACTIVE.
WE DON'T DID OUT BUT THEY COME TO US.
SIX FROM ENRICO AND SEVERAL FROM DIFFERENT ASSORTED DIVISIONS IN THE AREA AS FAR AS OUT AS WILLIAMSBURG, BRUNSWICK, COLONIAL HEIGHTS, PRINCE GEORGE.
ONE FROM LAST AGOS HAVE, ONE FROM TEXAS.
[02:25:03]
ONE, WHICH IS SOMETHING ELSE WE ARE VERY PROUD OF IN OUR HUMAN RESOURCES WORK.OUR NEXT STEPS WE WANT TO CONTINUE THOSE INITIATIVES THAT I THINK THOUGH COVID FORCED US TO DO, WE PENCILED IN AN ON-SITE DATE FOR THE CALL ME MISTER PROGRAM.
WHILE LONGWOOD IS ON THEIR WINTER BREAK, WE COMMUNICATED THAT TO THEM AND WE WILL BE GIVING THEM MORE INFORMATION ON DAYS TO COME.
WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO BE THAT LEADER IN OVERALL CONVERSATION.
THAT'S GOING TO BE MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER THIS YEAR AND I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT THE SALARY STUDY SAYS NEXT MONTH.
DEDICATED RESOURCES AND PLAYING THE WELL-BEING OF STAFF, YOU SEE THE PICTURE OF OUR EMPLOYEE TAILGATE THAT WE HELD BEFORE THE GAME A FEW WEEKS AGO.
SOMETHING LIKE THAT DOESN'T REQUIRE TOO MUCH EFFORT, TOO MUCH MONEY, BUT I THINK IT GO AS LONG WAY TO BUILDING THE MARCH RALPH -- THE MORALE OF OUR STAFF.
WE ARE PLANNING TO O OUR GOOCHLAND DRIVE IN EMPLOYEE NIGHT COMING UP ON A SUNDAY EVENING BEFORE THE CONFERENCE DAY AND WE HOPE AGAIN THOSE LITTLE THINGS CAN GO A LONG WAY IN MAKING IT SPECIAL AND DISTINGUISHING US HERE IN GOOCHLAND.
AND CONTINUING TO LOOK AT PATHWAYS, WE HAVE TEACHERS WHO ARE YOU LOOK AT THAT PROMOTION STATISTIC ON THE OUTGOING STAFF WHO TAKE JOBS TO BE INSTRUCTIONAL COACHES OR LEADERS IN OTHER DIVISIONS AND HOW CAN WE CONTINUE TO SEE HOW WE CAN REALLY INCENTIVIZE AND CREATE PATHWAYS FOR STAFF MEMBERS TO STAY HERE AND CONTINUE TO GIVE THEIR TALENTS TO US HERE IN GOOCHLAND.
I'LL LET MS. HARRIS TAKE IT FROM HERE.
>> BOARD MEMBERS ANY QUESTIONS?
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR GREAT WORK.
>> I DO WANT TO THANK MS. HARRIS BEFORE SHE COMES UP HERE.
SHE HAS DONE -- THIS HAS BEEN SIX MONDAYS OF WORK.
IT STARTED WITH THE EVERGREEN STUDY THAT WE DID BACK IN 2018.
AND SHE'S BEEN TAKING THAT AND DIGESTING IT AND NOW HAS SOME REALLY GOOD RECOMMENDATIONS FOR STEPS AROUND STIVERS.
>> THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR LETTING US PRESENT TONIGHT.
SO I DO WANT TO FIRST JUST SAY THANK YOU TO JOE FOWLER AND DAN SUMMIT WHO HAVE MET WITH ME SO MANY TIMES AND EXPLAINED SO MANY THINGS THAT I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND BEFORE WE STARTED DOING THIS WORK.
SO, WE PICKED UP WITH THE STIPEND WORK FROM THE CONCLUSION OF THE EVERGREEN STUDY.
AND OUR MAIN GOALS WERE TO CREATE CONSISTENCY BETWEEN THE MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STIPEND PROCESS TO MAKE SURE WE HAD GOOD ACCURATE JOB DESCRIPTIONS FOR COACHES AND OPINION SORES TO MAKE SURE WE HAD A STANDARDIZED PROCESS THAT WE FOLLOWED FOR EVERY SINGLE THING WHEN WE WERE LOOKING TO HIRE AND APPOINT PEOPLE.
AND ALSO TO DEVELOP A WAY TO KIND OF RATE COACHING POSITIONS TO MAKE SURE WE COULD ACCURATELY PLACE THEM ON A SALARY SCALE.
AND SO TO DATE, WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED MOST OF THESE THINGS.
WE HAVE GREAT JOB -- A BASE JOB DESCRIPTION THAT WE CAN CUSTOMIZE PER SPORT OR PER ACTIVITY.
THE STANDARDIZED HIRING PROCESS, EVERYONE HAS TO APPLY.
MUCH HAS TO HAVE A REFERENCE CHECK.
YOUR HIRING MANAGER HAS TO COMPLETE A HIRING RECOMMENDATION FORM.
AND WE GO THROUGH OUR PREEMPLOYMENT BACKGROUND CHECK PROCESS AND THEN YOU ARE APPOINTED.
AND THAT HAPPENS FOR EVERY PERSON WHO IS NOT ALREADY AN EMPLOYEE HERE.
THE MAIN RECOMMENDATIONS THAT CAME OUT OF OUR STIPEND WERE TO MOVE THE MIDDLE SCHOOL STIPENDS TO A PERCENTAGE-BASED STRUCTURE TO BETTER ALIGN WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL STIPEND SCALE.
RIGHT NOW MIDDLE SCHOOL COACHES ARE PAID A FLAT DOLLAR AMOUNT.
WHERE HIGH SCHOOL STIPENDS ARE PAID ON A PERCENT OF A TEACHER SALARY SCALE AND EVERY TIME THE SALARY SCALE CHANGES, THEIR SALARIES INCREASE.
AND SO, WE HAD TO LOOK AT THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT.
AND SO THIS IS JUST LIKE A LITTLE SCREEN GRAB OF SOME OF THE WORK WE HAVE DONE WHERE WE ARE TRYING TO DEVELOP A POINT FACTOR SYSTEM TO EVALUATE POSITIONS TO SEE WHAT THEY ARE WORTH.
WE LOOKED AT WHAT CRITERIA THEY ALL HAVE IN COMMON.
AND THAT'S NUMBER OF STUDENTS, WHETHER THE SPORT IS INSIDE OR OUTSIDE, PREP WORK OR PRE-SEASON WORK.
AND SO, YOU PUT ALL OF THOSE TOGETHER AND YOU COME UP WITH A POINT VALUE FOR EACH OF THE POSITIONS AND THE GOAL IS TO A DOLLAR PER POINT NUMBER.
[02:30:02]
RIGHT NOW WE ARE PLAYING AROUND WITH 140, 145 AND 150 DOLLARS PER POINT TO COME OUT WITH A TOTAL AND YOU BACK THAT TOTAL INTO THE PERCENTAGE OF THE TEACHER SCALE.AND SO FOR EXAMPLE, MAYBE SOMETHING WITH A POINT THAT IS WORTH 12 OR 13 POINTS WOULD BE WORTH 4% OF STEP ZERO OF A TEACHER'S SCALE.
THAT'S KIND OF THE WORK WE ARE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW TO SEE WHAT WE CAN COME UP WITH, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S OBJECTIVE AND CONSISTENT SO THAT WE CAN CLEARLY ARTICULATE HOW WE ARE COMING UP WITH WHAT WE ARE PAYING THESE COACHES.
ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? OH, DO I HAVE ANOTHER SLIDE?
>> MS. HARRIS, I AM JUST THRILLED TO HEAR THIS, BECAUSE I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY COACHES, COACHING INTERVIEWS, THAT I HAVE HELD OVER THE YEAR WITH NO REAL BASIS FOR MAKING A DECISION AND NOW, I WISH COULD I GO THROUGH IT ALL AGAIN.
BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO HELP SO.
>> NOT REALLY, BUT IT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
HAVING THIS BE A PERCENTAGE, COULD AT LEAST IN MY MIND, CREATE SOME SITUATIONS SO LET'S SAY THAT WE HAVE A TEACHER WHO FILLS A STAFF POSITION, MAKING MORE THAN MAYBE SOME OF THEIR PEERS WHO MAY BE APPLYING FOR THAT SAME COACHING POSITION.
NATURALLY, I TEND TO THINK, IS THAT GOING TO BE A FACTOR IN WHO WE CHOOSE? BECAUSE ULTIMATELY EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE TO DO WILL NEED TO FIT WITHIN OUR BUDGET.
AND SO, COULD WE LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, ME AS A CANDIDATE DIFFERENT THAN DR. RALEY, EVEN THOUGH SHORT OF SALARY, ITSELF, IT MAY BE A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD.
UM, SO I THINK WHEN WE HIRE PEOPLE FOR HARD TO STAFF POSITIONS WE ARE KIND OF TIEING THAT HARD TO STAFF TO AN ADDITIONAL PART OF THEIR COMPENSATION, NOT THEIR BASE SO I SEE THESE PERCENTAGES AS PART OF THE BASE TEACHER SCALE.
AND WE WOULD ALWAYS PLACE A PERSON BASED ON THE APPROPRIATE YEARS OF COACHING EXPERIENCE.
SO WHILE YOU MAY BE A BRAND-NEW TEACHER HERE, MAYBE YOU COACHED IN A PRIVATE SCHOOL, A VERY PROMINENT PRIVATE SCHOOL FOR FIVE YEARS WHICH WOULD PUT YOU HIGHER ON THE COACHING STIPEND SCALE IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
YOU HAVE EXPLAINED IT PERFECTLY.
>> SO I DIDN'T DO THE LAST ONE, BUT -- THE NEXT STEPS ARE TO REALLY TRY AND TAKE THIS PROCESS AND MAKE SURE WE CAN APPLY IT TO OTHER THINGS LIKE CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES INSTRUCTIONAL ACTIVITIES AND HOPEFULLY BE ABLE TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION THAT WILL IMPACT THIS YEAR'S BUDGET AND NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET ON HOW WE CAN MAKE IT ALL WORK.
>> QUESTION -- THE COACHING LEADS TO ANOTHER CONTRACT.
AND THAT'S WHERE YOU IDENTIFY THE SALARY, AS WELL.
AND AS YOU HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT YOUR FORMULA, WHICH IS VERY CLEVER, AND CERTAINLY PROVIDES GOOD CONSISTENCY AND YOU HAVE SOME SOLID REASONING BEHIND IT, THAT'S REALLY -- THAT'S GREAT WORK.
ARE YOU LOOKING AT HOW THOSE NUMBERS COMPARE TO OTHER DIVISION STIPEND SHEET AND SAY HEY MY FORMULA REALLY IS MARKET DRIVEN?
>> SO I CAN TELL YOU THAT ALL OF THE RESEARCH WE HAVE DONE, SAYS THAT WE ARE IN LINE OR ABOVE MARKET RANGE FOR ALL HIGH SCHOOL STIPENDS.
SO WE ARE ON A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD WITH EVERY DIVISION IN OUR AREA.
THE MIDDLE SCHOOL ONE IS HARDER TO COMPARE BECAUSE NOT ALL SCHOOL DIVISIONS OFFER MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE COACHING STAFF TO DO IT OR DON'T HAVE THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS INTERESTED.
AND SO, IT WOULD BE A REALLY GOOD EXERCISE FOR US TO TRY AND BACK INTO THE HIGH SCHOOL NUMBERS USING SOME TYPE OF SCORING SYSTEM BUT EVEN IN THE EVERGREEN SURVEY, IT JUST STIPENDS CAME TO BE.
[02:35:02]
IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN PASSED DOWN FROM BOARD TO BOARD TO BOARD.SO THIS IS A GOOD CHANCE FOR US TO MAKE IT OUR OWN PROCESS AND REALLY IDENTIFY WHAT WE WANT IT LIKE.
>> SO IF YOU HAD AN INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS NOT A TEACHER, WHO WAS SELECTED AS A COACH, WHAT WOULD BE THEIR BASE SALARY THAT YOU WOULD USE? WOULD IT BE ZERO.
STEP ZERO OF THE TEACHING SCALE.
>> BUT THEN LET'S SAY THEY, LIKE YOU SAID, HAD FIVE YEARS OF COACHING.
SO THAT WOULDN'T FACTOR INTO THAT AND -- >> THEN THEY WOULD BE PLACED HIGHER ON THE SCALE.
SO IF THEY CAME IN WITH VERIFIED FIVE YEARS OF HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COACH EXPERIENCE, WE COULD VERY WELL PLACE THEM ON, YOU KNOW, STEP FIVE WHICH WOULD BE, WHATEVER PERCENTAGE OF STEP FIVE OF A TEACHER'S SCALE.
SO YOU ARE RECOGNIZING BOTH THEIR TEACHING EXPERIENCE, BUT THEIR COACHING, BECAUSE YOU ARE HIRING THEM TO COACH.
>> REALLY, REALLY GREAT TO ADD SOME SORT OF LOGICAL APPROACH TO EVERYTHING AND I APPLAUD EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE DONE.
NO DOUBT YOU WILL CONTINUE IT TWEAK ON IT AS YOU NAVIGATE THE NEXT YEAR OR SO.
>> WE SEE THIS BECOMING PART OF OUR COMPENSATION PLAN AT SOME POINT.
THAT'S WHERE WE WOULD MEMORIALIZE THAT DOWN THE ROAD.
BUT YES, SHE'S DONE FANTASTIC WORK.
>> NEXT ON OUR AGENDA, WE HAVE OUR IN-HOUSE EXPERTS, WE HAVE DEBBIE WHITE AND TODD STEELY.
I WILL PROVIDE A GENERAL OVERVIEW AND THEY MIGHT WANT TO HIT HIGHLIGHTS THAT I DON'T HIT IN MY INTRODUCTION BUT IF YOU GO BACK IN HISTORY TO 2017 OUR SCHOOL DIVISION WENT THROUGH A LONG-TERM FACILITY MASTER PLAN.
WE WORKED WITH THE ARCHITECTURAL FIRM OF H.B.A.
THEY DID AN OVERALL ANALYSIS OF OUR FACILITIES, GAVE US A FACILITY CONDITION INDEX AND SAID HERE ARE THE FACILITIES IN GOOD SHAPE, OTHERS THAT ARE NOT.
AND HERE'S THE USEFUL LIFE OF SOME OF THESE ROOF SYSTEMS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS AND GAVE EACH A GRADE.
USUALLY ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS LAST X AMOUNT OF YEARS, ROOF LASTS X AMOUNT OF YEARS.
NOW USE THAT TO DEVELOP YOUR CAPITAL PLAN.
PRETTY GOOD GUIDANCE AT THE TIME.
WE TOOK OUR KNOWLEDGE AND DEVELOPED OUR CAPITAL PLAN BASED ON THAT INFORMATION.
THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN APPROACHING FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.
SO, WE SPENT SOME MONEY RECENTLY ON HEATING, VENTILATION AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS. WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE WERE USING THOSE DOLLARS APPROPRIATELY NOW AND WELL INTO THE FUTURE BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME OPPORTUNITIES TO SPEND SOME ADDITIONAL FEDERAL MONEY ON THOSE SYSTEMS. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DO IT RIGHT.
SO, WHAT WE DID IS COMMISSION A SURVEYOR A STUDY THROUGH DUBERRY ENGINEERING.
YOU HAVE ACCESS TO THAT IN HARD COPY AND ELECTRONIC COPY.
MS. WHITE IS SCROLLING THROUGH THAT AS WE SPEAK.
IT'S MUCH MORE DETAILED THAN WHAT WE RECEIVED IN 2017.
THIS LOOKS AT EVERY SCHOOL FACILITY IN THEIR SYSTEMS, IT LOOKS AT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WHAT YEAR THOSE SYSTEMS SHOULD BE REPLACED.
PROVIDES US WITH A BUDGET COST AND SO THIS IS EXCEPTIONAL INFORMATION THAT WE CAN USE TO DEVELOP FUTURE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLANS.
SOME OF THESE PROJECTS MAY NOT NECESSARILY NEED GENERAL CONTRACT.
IT MIGHT BE ABLE IT USE OUR OWN IN-HOUSE STAFF.
WE EXPECT THERE MIGHT BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR REDUCTIONS POTENTIALLY.
BUT GENERALLY THIS IS SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT WOULD ULTIMATELY INFORM SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE WOULD BE RECOMMENDING TO YOU LIKELY AT YOUR NOVEMBER MEETING NEXT MONTH.
>> I DO WANT TO GIVE ONE INTRODUCTION.
OF AS TODD AND I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED, WE WERE INVOLVED ALL LAST YEAR FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC THROUGH A YEAR LATER, WE WERE INVOLVED WITH A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION.
A FIRM THAT WAS TALKING TO LEADERS OF -- FACILITY LEADERS AROUND THE COUNTRY.
AND WE GLEANED A LOT OF KNOWLEDGE FROM THAT.
WE ACTUALLY PRESENTED A YEAR AGO JULY.
OUR PLANS AT HOW WE WERE REOPENING AS A SMALL SCHOOL DIVISION.
ONE OF THE KEY THINGS THAT WE LEARNED FROM THAT WAS HOW IMPORTANT A FACILITY ASSESSMENT WAS.
SO, IF YOU REALLY DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU NEED FOR THE NEAR AND THE DISTANT FUTURE, YOU CAN'T -- YOU CAN'T STAY AHEAD OF YOUR PROBLEMS.
[02:40:10]
THE BEST TYPE OF REPORT FOR OUR SCHOOL DIVISION 'TIS.SO, THIS IS NOT A BOILERPLATE TYPE OF REPORT.
WE ASKED FOR SOMETHING THAT WOULD GIVE US PRIORITIES IN THE VENTILATION AREA, THE MECHANICAL VENTILATION, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE FEDERAL MONEY COMING IN.
WE WANTED TO KNOW HOW TO PRIORITIZE TO MAKE THE BEST USE OF THAT FUNDING FOR OUR SCHOOL DIVISION.
AND SO, UM, TODD AND HIS CREW WENT AROUND WITH HOW MANY OPENING NEARS DID WE HAVE INVOLVED? ABOUT IN EVERY FIELD.
CIVIL, STRUCTURAL, MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL.
>> AND SO, TODD'S GROUP WENT WITH US ENGINEERS AND HELPED THEM MOVE THROUGH THE SCHOOL AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
HELP POINT OUT A FEW OF WHAT THEY SAW AS PROBLEM AREAS AND THE ENGINEERS FOUND AREAS THAT WE WEREN'T PAYING ATTENTION TO.
>> SO THE OUTGROWTH OF THAT WAS A FAIRLY COMPREHENSIVE LIST.
IT'S VERY HEAVY ON THE FRONT END BECAUSE WE HAVE DEFERRED PROJECTS.
AND SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE WEREN'T PAYING AS CLOSE ATTENTION TO AND ARE GOING LIKE -- YOU REALLY NEED TO WORK ON THAT.
THE HIGH SCHOOL HAS THE BIGGEST GROUP OF EXPENSIVE PROJECTS BECAUSE STAY 20-YEAR-OLD BUILDING.
AND NOW ALL THE HVAC SYSTEMS ARE -- NEED TO BE REPLACED.
AND THEIR EVALUATION SHOWED THAT WE HAD NOT PROPERLY ANTICIPATED THE FUNDING FOR THAT.
SO, WE MIGHT HAVE SEEN ALL THOSE CLASSROOM HEAT PUMPS NEEDING REPLACEMENT BUT MAYBE NOT THE HEAT RECOVERY UNITS OR ROOF TOP AIR HANDLING REPLACEMENTS.
SO THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF STICKER SHOCK FOR US.
WHEN WE FIRST GOT THIS REPORT.
BUT WHAT WE FOUND OUT IS THE UNDERLYING, AS DR. RALEY EXPLAINED, THERE'S A NUMBER OF PARTS THAT GO INTO THE COST THAT BUILD UP TO THIS PARTICULAR VALUE.
AND THESE ARE SORT OF THE TOP EXPENSE.
IF WE WERE TO GET, YOU KNOW, IT NEEDED TO BE ENGINEERED AND NEEDED A GENERAL CONTRACTOR TO COME IN, WENT THROUGH A BID PROCESS.
SO THESE ARE THE HIGH LEVEL OF THESE COSTS.
THESE ARE NOT ESCALATED AT ALL.
SO TODD AND I ALREADY BEGAN TODAY STARTING THAT COMPREHENSIVE PROCESS LOOKING AT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE IN DETERMINING WHAT COULD BE IN HOUSE WHAT WOULD NOT HAVE TO GO OUT TO BID, THAT TYPE OF THING.
WHEN WE COME TO YOU WITH THAT CIP, IN A MONTH, SORT OF SCARY, WE ARE -- WE WILL HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS WHOLE LIST AND BROUGHT SOME OF THESE COSTS DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE LOOKED AT THE INTAKE EXHAUST AND KITCHEN FANS REPLACEMENTS.
TODD FEELS THAT HIS STAFF CAN DO THAT IN HOUSE AND IT BROUGHT THE COSTS DOWN CONSIDERABLY.
IT CAME DOWN TO ABOUT A $12,000 COST IF WE COULD DO OUR OWN LABOR, WE BOUGHT SOMETHING FROM OUR VENDORS OFF THE SHELF.
SO WE FELT WE COULD DO THAT TYPE OF PROJECT OVER A YEAR OR SO.
AND JUST ABSORB THAT WITHIN THE WORK PROCESS.
IT REALLY DOES HELP IN THE CIP PROCESS TO HAVE SOMETHING AS COMPREHENSIVE AS THIS TO SORT OF GUIDE US AND TELL US WHERE WE SHOULD BE SPENDING THOSE MONEYS.
BOARD MEMBERS, DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS? I KNOW I HAVE A COUPLE.
THIS LIST IS INDEED EXTENSIVE.
BUT WHAT YOU SEE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PROJECT NAME DESCRIPTION, YOU REALIZE THAT MANY OF THESE NEW UNITS, THE LIGHTING, ALL OF THAT IS GOING TO ALSO SAVE MONEY IN THE FUTURE IN ENERGY BECAUSE PRODUCTS NOW HAVE GREATER ENERGY EFFICIENCY FROM THE GET-GO.
THINGS LIKE LIGHTBULBS -- THE TECHNOLOGY THAT IS IN PLACE NOW THAT WAS NOT 20 YEARS AGO.
[02:45:06]
SO THESE REPAIRS, WHEREAS THEY ARE COSTLY, WILL ACTUALLY BE SAVING IN THE FUTURE.AND THESE ARE ALSO REMINDERS AS WE LOOK TO OUR NEW SCHOOL BUILDING, MAKING SURE THAT WE DO HAVE THE BEST, THE MOST EFFICIENT UNITS FOR ALL THESE -- THESE MECHANICAL AND HEATING AND COOLING AND KITCHEN, ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT HAVE TO BE PART OF A BUILDING, YOU KNOW.
WE NEED TO MAKE REALLY GOOD CHOICES ON THAT, TOO.
TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE ITEMS THAT WILL LAST LONGER AND WILL BE COST EFFICIENT.
AND, AS WE GET TO THE END OF THE LEASURE, YOU WILL SEE THAT WE HAVE SOME BIRD AND RANDOLPH PROJECTS.
WE ARE HOPING THAT WE WILL BE IN A NEW SCHOOL BY THEN.
SO, SOME OF THESE PROJECTS EXTEND INTO THE TIME PERIOD WHEN WE ARE WORKING ON REPLACING THOSE BUILDINGS.
SO WE WILL DEFINITELY, YOU KNOW, KNOCK THOSE OUT OF -- NOT HAVE THEM AS PART OF THE CIP.
SO -- WE ARE EXCITED WITH SOME OF OUR FEDERAL FUNDING THAT WE CAN TAKE CARE OF SOME OF THE TOP PROJECTS.
THE VENTILATION TYPE PROJECTS WITH SOME OF OUR CURRENT FEDERAL FUNDING.
SO WE ARE ALREADY IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING VDOE APPROVAL FOR THE REPLACEMENT AT BIRD AND RANDOLPH AND WE ARE WORKING ON AN APPLICATION FOR THE COOLING TOWER REPLACEMENT AT THE HIGH SCHOOL WITH SOME OF OUR NEW FUNDING.
>> ARE THESE ITEMS THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO GET? ARE THEY AVAILABLE?
OR IS THIS -- ITEMS THAT ARE -- >> I CAN SPEAK TO THAT.
>> BUT IF WE CAN GET AT THE TOP OF THE LIST.
SO WE ARE -- IF WE GIVE OURSELVES ENOUGH TIME, COMMIT A CONTRACTOR, TO A COST, AND GIVE THEM PLENTY OF TIME TO GET IT IN.
NOT -- NOT GIVE THEM TOO STRICT A TIME PERIOD OR THEY WILL -- WE WON'T GET RESPONSE.
EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT IT'S HARD TO GET SOME OF THE STUFF IN RIGHT NOW.
BOARD MEMBERS, ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTION? ALL RIGHT.
BOARD MEMBERS NEXT ON THE AGENDA WE HAVE A PROPOSED BUDGET CALENDAR FOR YOU AND YES, IT IS OCTOBER AND YES WE ARE TALKING ABOUT OUR BUDGET AS WE KNOW THE BUDGET PROCESS IS A SIX-MONTH PROCESS, MAYBE SEVEN MONTHS.
ANYWAY, IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT PROCESS THAT WE GO THROUGH TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ALL OF OUR FINANCIAL RESOURCES ALIGNED WITH OUR CORE INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES, OUR MISSION, OUR VISION, AND WHAT WE FEEL IS IMPORTANT AS A SCHOOL DIVISION.
THIS PROPOSED BUDGET CALENDAR ALIGNS WITH WHAT YOU HAVE GONE THROUGH IN THE PAST.
YOU CAN SEE REFERENCES TO THE CIP THAT MS. WHITE JUST DISCUSSED.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO GET FEEDBACK FROM OUR COMMUNITY REGARDING WHAT OUR COMMUNITY FEELS SHOULD BE IMPORTANT IN OUR BUDGET DEVELOPMENT, IT THERE WILL BE A SURVEY GOING OUT SOON.
ULTIMATELY WE SHARE THOSE RESULTS WITH YOU AS A BOARD TYPICALLY AROUND DECEMBER OR JANUARY.
YOU CAN SEE TOWN HALLS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER THIS EVENING LINKED TO THE AGENDA.
ALSO YOU HAVE POLICY DB-R WHICH THE BOARD ADOPTED PROBABLY THREE YEARS AGO NOW, I BELIEVE.
ULTIMATELY THAT SETS THE PHILOSOPHICAL APPROACH FOR WHAT THE BOARD BELIEVES IS IMPORTANT AS WE GO TO DEVELOP OUR BUDGET.
SO WE ASK YOU TO REVIEW THAT AS WE GO THROUGH THE PROCESS AND IF YOU HAVE ANY ALTERNATIVE CHANGES TO THAT, IF YOU HAVE OTHER IDEAS AND PERSPECTIVES THAT WOULD INFORM THAT POLICY IN OUR APPROACH TO DEVELOPING THE BUDGET, WE CERTAINLY ENTERTAIN THOSE.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS BUDGET IS REFLECTIVE OF YOUR THOUGHTS AS WE GO FORWARD.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE THIS EVENING.
BOARD MEMBERS? ANY QUESTIONS ON THE CALENDAR?
>> IN THE PAST AT TIMES, ONCE WE GET INTO JANUARY AND WE'VE GOT THE STATE BUDGET NUMBERS AND YOU BEGIN TO WORK THROUGH YOURS AND WE ARE GOING THROUGH SOME PRELIMINARY NUMBERS BEFORE YOUR ULTIMATE SUBMITTAL FOR APPROVAL.
WE HAVE GONE THROUGH PROCESSES WHERE WE HAVE TAKEN OUT, PULLED OUT AND LOOKED AT SECTIONS OF THE BUDGET OR THAT SORT OF THING.
IS THE THOUGHT THAT SOME OF THESE MEETINGS MAY B THAT MANNER?
[02:50:01]
OR -- >> WE HAVE AT THIS POINTLY HAD WORK SESSIONS IN THAT JANUARY TIME FRAME AND THEY TRULY ARE WORK SESSIONS.
WE ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES, WE LOOK AT BUDGET LINES, WE LOOK AT REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES AND WE TALK ABOUT PRIORITIES IN THAT SETTING.
SO, YOU KNOW, THIS BUDGET ESPECIALLY THIS YEAR IS GOING TO BE QUITE COMPLEX.
AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THE SITTING GOVERNOR WILL PRESENT A BUDGET IN DECEMBER.
DEPENDING, YOU KNOW, WE WILL HAVE A NEW GOVERNOR.
DEPENDING WHAT HAPPENS, YOU KNOW, NEW GOVERNOR'S GOING TO PRESENT THEIR IDEAS IN EARLY JANUARY.
WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS THERE.
THERE'S SO MUCH IN A STATE OF FLUX WHEN IT COMES TO THE ELECTIONS THAT WE WILL HAVE NOVEMBER 2 THAT WILL HAVE A TRUE IMPACT ON OUR BUDGET DEVELOPMENT.
WE WILL KEEP OUR EARS TO THE GROUND AND CERTAINLY CAN IMPACT DECISIONS ALONG THE WAY.
>> YEAH, WE HAVE THREE WORK SESSIONS BAKED INTO THE CALENDAR.
I JUST WAS ASKING WHAT -- I MEAN -- WORK SESSION IS -- VAGUE ENOUGH TO CAUSE A QUESTION.
THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
>> NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS A PROJECT THAT OUR TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING ON INTERNALLY FOR I DON'T KNOW MAYBE TWO YEARS.
I THINK IT GOES BACK TO VIRGINIA SCHOOL BOARD'S ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE WHERE WE WERE FIRST MADE AWARE OF THE CONCEPT AND TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF REVIEW WAS DONE RELATED TO THE CONCEPT INCLUDING PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS IN THIS ROOM AND SOME ANALYSIS BY OUR FACILITIES TEAM CHAIRED BY DR. ARMSTRONG.
SO WE HAVE BEEN STUDYING THIS AT GREAT LENGTHS TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT MOVING FORWARD WITH THE INSTALLATION OF SOLAR ON THE ROOF OF OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL COMPLEX WOULD BE IN OUR BEST INTEREST.
SO WE HAVE EXHAUSTED A LOT OF RESOURCES BUT ULTIMATELY AT THIS POINT IN TIME, WE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT MOVING FORWARD WITH SOLAR INSTALLATION AT THE COMPLEX IS IN OUR BEST INTEREST WITH THE SIZE OF THAT PROJECT AND THE COST OF ELECTRICITY AND COST OF SOLAR PANELS AND ALL THE THINGS THAT GO INTO THAT DECISION, WE DO NOT SEE THAT THAT INVESTMENT WOULD BE PROVIDING THE RETURN THAT WE NEED AS A SCHOOL DIVISION ON THAT INVESTMENT.
SO, AT THIS POINT IN TIME WE AREN'T RECOMMENDING MOVING FORWARD.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR CONDITIONS AND HAVE OUR STUDENTS IN THE ENERGY ACADEMY PARTICIPATE IN ONGOING CONVERSATIONS AS WE THINK ABOUT DESIGN A NEW GES.
WE HAVE THAT CONVERSATION TO DETERMINE AGAIN IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO INCLUDE IN THAT CONSTRUCTION.
BUT A CURRENT RETRO FIT RIGHT NOW IS NOT RECOMMENDED.
>> THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THAT GOING GREEN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT MUST BE BALANCED WITH SPENDING OUR CITIZENS' GREEN.
SO, SOMETHING EVERYONE, I KNOW THAT THERE WERE A LOT OF STUDENTS THAT WERE EXCITED BECAUSE THEY ARE GROWING UP IN A WORLD WHERE SUSTAINABILITY AND GREEN IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO THEM.
BUT WE DO HAVE TO BE VERY CONSCIOUS OF WHAT IS THEIR ACTUAL RETURN.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE RESEARCH THAT WAS DONE ON THIS.
AND THAT IS MUCH APPRECIATED BY THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
>> NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA BOARD MEMBERS IS YOUR DISCUSSION ABOUT THE VIRGINIA SCHOOL BOARD'S ASSOCIATION LEGISLATIVE POSITIONS.
YOU HAVE REPRESENTATIVES WHO WILL BE ATTENDING THAT ITEM AT THE ANNUAL CONVENTION.
ACTUALLY PRIOR TO THE ANNUAL CONVENTION.
SO THERE ARE SOME LEGISLATIVE POSITIONS PRESENTED FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION THIS EVENING.
LET ME ADDRESS THIS JUST A LITTLE BIT TO EXPLAIN TO THE AUDIENCE WHAT THIS ACTUALLY MEANS.
FIRST OF ALL, THE MISSION STATEMENT OF THE VIRGINIA SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION VSBA IS A VOLUNTARY NONPARTISAN ORGANIZATION OF VIRGINIA SCHOOL BOARDS THAT PROMOTES EXCELLENCE IN PUBLIC EDUCATION THROUGH ADVOCACY TRAINING AND SERVICES.
THE 2016 TO 2023 VSBA STRATEGIC PLAN INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING GOAL.
TOD A VERY KATE EFFECTIVELY FOR VIRGINIA'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND CHILDREN BEFORE ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC.
SO THROUGHOUT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AS WELL AS A LOT THAT'S HAPPENING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, WE DO RECEIVE INFORMATION, WE DO RECEIVE REQUESTS THAT HEY THIS WOULD BE A REALLY GOOD IDEA TO WRITE TO YOUR DELEGATE.
SO WE DO GET A LOT OF SUPPORT AND WE HAVE -- THERE ARE LOBBYISTS IN THIS ORGANIZATION WHO SUPPORT, AS I READ, CHILDREN'S -- VIRGINIA'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE CHILDREN.
SO THIS DELEGATE ASSEMBLY IS IN
[02:55:03]
IT WILL BE VIRTUAL THIS YEAR.I WILL BE REPRESENTING US AND EACH SCHOOL DIVISION GETS A VOTE FOR THESE LEGISLATIVE POSITIONS.
AND I ASK THAT THEY BE PRESENTED ON THIS AGENDA SO THAT WE COULD GET SOME FEEDBACK FROM THE PUBLIC.
WE HAVE ALREADY GOTTEN SOME GREAT SUPPORT FROM DR. WAGNER REGARDING THE LEGISLATIVE POSITION NUMBER ONE.
I HAVE ASKED THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR, TO LOOK AT COUPLE OF THE POSITIONS THAT INCLUDED LCI.
AND CERTAINLY ANYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH HOW WE PAY FOR OUR SCHOOLS.
AND HOW THAT FORMULA IS ACCOUNTED FOR AND IN A COMMUNITY THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I BELIEVE IS IMPORTANT FOR THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO DEFINITELY TAKE A LOOK AT AND MAKE ANY KIND OF COMMENTS TO ASSIST US.
SO -- WITH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY COMING UP, ONE NOTE IS THAT EDUCATION LEGISLATION BILLS USUALLY COMPRISE A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF MORE THAN 1,000 BILLS INTRODUCED ANNUALLY RELATED TO EDUCATION AND SO, PLEASE WATCH FOR ACTION AFTER THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY CROSS EVERY DAY ESPECIALLY.
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT RESOURCES FOR ME IS THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WEBSITE.
IF YOU TYPE IN LEGISLATION, YOU WILL SEE A LOT OF THE BILLS.
SO THESE POSITIONS WILL BE POSITIONS THAT THE VSBA IS WATCHING FOR US BUT NO SCHOOL BOARD IN VIRGINIA IS BOUND BY ANY OF THESE LEGISLATIVE POSITIONS.
WOULD HE WOULD ONLY BE BOUND IF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MADE THEM INTO LAW SO AS YOU READ THEM, YOU WILL SEE THAT SOME ARE PERHAPS RELATED TO COMMUNITIES THAT ARE DIFFERENT THAN GOOCHLAND, BUT CERTAINLY EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY AND FUNDING IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US.
AS IS THE SCHOOL BOARD'S CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY.
AND AGAIN, THESE ARE ALL ATTACHED HERE.
SO, ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON ANY OF THESE IS WELCOME.
WE WILL BE VOTING ON THESE NEXT MONTH TO DECIDE HOW.
I WILL PRESENT EITHER YES OR NO AS WE VOTE DURING THE ASSEMBLY.
AND I BELIEVE THAT THERE WERE SOME QUESTIONS FROM OTHER BOARD MEMBERS.
>> THERE IS A SECTION HERE THAT SAID THERE WAS SOME OF THESE POSITIONS WERE SET ASIDE OR I DON'T REMEMBER THE EXACT LANGUAGE HERE.
SO, ON PAGE 93, BOARD MEMBERS, THERE'S A STATEMENT THE FOLLOWING PROPOSALS WERE REMOVED FROM THE BLOCK.
AND RECOMMENDED BY THE COMMITTEE FOR SUBMISSION TO THE VSBA BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
MUCH LIKE WE DID IN OUR CONSENT AGENDA THIS EVENING, THIS COMMITTEE THAT WAS WORKING THROUGH THESE REVISIONS OR AMENDMENTS OR EVEN NEW LEGISLATIVE POSITIONS, WHICH THERE ARE NINE, THEY SORT OF ALREADY DECIDED THAT, YEP, THIS BLOCK WE CAN ALL AGREE WILL WORK FOR ALL OF US AND SO THEY VOTED ON POSITIONS 1 THROUGH 6 AS A SET.
SO ALL OF THOSE IN FAVOR, AYE.
THEY PULLED OUT 7, 8 AND 9 INDIVIDUALLY AND HAD MORE DISCUSSION AND SO, YOU CAN SEE MORE ABOUT HOW PEOPLE VOTED AS WELL WITH THAT.
THAT WAS JUST CONFUSING RANGE LARGE.
>> I KNOW THAT WE HAD TO INQUIRE ABOUT THAT.
KESSLAR TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS WHAT THEY WERE SAYING.
AND ALSO FOUND OUT THAT IN POSITION 9, WHERE IT SAYS CURRENTLY ONLY NINE LOCALITIES HAVE THIS AUTHORITY, THOSE LOCALITIES ARE CHARLOTTE COUNTY GLAUS TERRI COUNTY, HALL I FASHION MECHLENBURG, NORTH HAMPTON, PATRICK, PENS VEINY AND THE CITY OF DANVILLE.
SO THAT IS THE NINE THAT IS REFERENCED IN THIS PARTICULAR WAY TO FUND SCHOOL FACILITIES.
SO I WILL LOOK FORWARD TO ANY COMMENTS THAT BOARD MEMBERS HAVE BEFORE WE MEET AGAIN AND THEN I WILL BE ABLE TO REPRESENT THE BOARD IN THIS COMMUNITY DURING THIS LEGISLATIVE MEETING WITH THE VIRGINIA SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION.
>> MADAM CHAIR, IF I MIGHT, THE LEGISLATIVE NUMBER 4, RECOMMENDING INCREASED
[03:00:07]
STUDENT ACCESS FOR INTERNSHIPS AND APPRENTICESHIP.I SEE THE HUGE VALUE IN THAT, BUT EVEN MORE SO AFTER THE PRESENTATION TONIGHT AND THE ASSOCIATION WITH A LOCAL COMPANY OR OTHERS THAT CAN PROVIDE SOME BENEFIT TO STUDENTS' EXPERIENCE.
BOARD MEMBERS WE ARE NOW IN THE ACTION ITEMS] ACTION ITEM AGENDA STARTING WITH NUMBER 16A AND SO BOARD MEMBERS YOU
[16. ACTION ITEMS]
HEARD A PRESENTATION AT YOUR PUBLIC JULY WORK SESSION ON POTENTIAL GOALS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.YOUR POLICY GBAA/JFHB INDICATES THAT YOU WILL IDENTIFY GOALS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS REGARDING EQUITY AND SO THOSE GOALS WERE REVIEWED INITIALLY IN JULY, BROUGHT BACK TO YOU AGAIN AT YOUR SEPTEMBER MEETING AS A MATTER OF INFORMATION FOR YOUR REVIEW.
AND SO, THEY ARE NOW PRESENTED TO YOU THIS EVENING AS A MATTER OF ACTION AND, SHOULD THE BOARD CONSIDER THESE THIS EVENING AND APPROVE THESE, THESE WILL BE, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE, AS STAFF, WILL ALIGN OURSELVES WITH FOR THIS YEAR.
>> MS. BENNETT, COULD YOU OPEN THAT DOCUMENT, PLEASE? ALL RIGHT.
SO FOR THE PUBLIC, REMINDER, THESE ARE THE THREE GOALS.
SO, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
>> MADAM CHAIR, MOVE THAT WE APPROVE POLICY GBAA/JFHB WHICH ITSELF INCLUDES THE GOALS AS PRESENTED.
I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION FURTHER? ALL RIGHT.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
>> YEAH NEXT ON THE AGENDA WE HAVE A LIST OF RECOMMENDED BUDGET SUPPLEMENTS AND BOARD MEMBERS JUST FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE END THE FISCAL YEAR ON JUNE 30, ANY MONEY THAT IS REMAINING IN OUR ACCOUNTS ULTIMATELY IS THE MONEY THAT IS IN THE COUNTY COFFERS.
SO THAT IS WHAT WE CALL TURNBACK.
AND SO TYPICALLY, AROUND THIS TIME OF YEAR, AFTER WE COMPLETE OUR ANNUAL AUDIT, WE ARE GIVEN A FIRM FIGURE BY OUR AUDITORS WHAT OUR TURNBACK EXNUMBER IS.
YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU THIS EVENING A LIST OF PROPOSED USES OF OUR TURNBACK.
YOU CAN SEE HOW WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT WE USE THOSE FUNDS STARTING WITH $300,000 TO BE SET ASIDE FOR SCHOOL CONTINGENCY RELATED TO THE NEW GOOCHLAND ELEMENT TREE SCHOOL PROJECT AND ONE-TIME EXPENDITURES FOR ONE-TIME PROJECTS OR PILOT PROJECTS RELATED TO THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS.
YOU HAVE A LIST OF ALL OF THOSE IN YOUR AGENDA THIS EVENING.
THE OTHER ASK IS FOR THE USE OF $230,675 TO USE FEDERAL DOLLARS IN ORDER TO SUPPORT HOTSPOT PURCHASES, BUS WIFI AND STUDENT IPADS SO SOME TECHNOLOGY EXPENDITURES BUT MS. WHITE IS HERE TO ANSWER ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.
>> BOARD MEMBERS ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
AND I KNOW THAT THE CONTINGENCY DOLLARS WAS VERY FAVORABLE ITEM TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN IN PRACTICE, I BELIEVE.
>> WE HAVE A VERY STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR SUPERVISORS AS YOU KNOW AND THE HISTORICAL PRACTICE IS THAT RECOGNITION OF SCHOOL BOARDS' STRONG STEWARDSHIP OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS THAT THESE FUNDS ARE RETURNED BACK TO THE SCHOOL DIVISION FOR USE IN ONE-TIME PROJECTS AND SO THAT'S A STRONG RELATIONSHIP THAT WE HAVE IN MANY COMMUNITIES THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.
SO THAT'S SYMBOLIC OF THE RELATIONSHIP THAT WE HAVE AND CERTAINLY WANT TO CONTINUE THAT IN THE FUTURE.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE DETAIL ON THIS DOCUMENT.
SO, DR. RALEY INDICATED PROPOSED USE.
SO, THESE HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS VERY SPECIFIC PROJECTS.
>> WE HAVE SOMETIMES WE HAVE QUOTES ALREADY IN HAND.
[03:05:07]
SUBDIVISION CONSULTANTS.SO THESE ARE THE PROJECTS THAT WE EXPECT TO QUICKLY, ONCE APPROVED, THAT WE WILL MOVE FORWARD ON ALL OF THESE PROJECTS.
AND THEY COVER A GREAT DEAL OF NEEDS IN OUR SCHOOLS AND ACROSS SCHOOL LEVELS.
>> MANY AGES WILL BE BENEFITING FROM THESE FUNDS.
>> THE -- I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE FISCAL YEAR 21 BUDGET SUPPLEMENT AS PRESENTED.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE SAY AYE.
>> AND BOARD MEMBERS YOUR LAST ACTION ITEM ON THE AGENDA THIS EVENING IS A REQUEST TO APPROVE THE POLICIES THAT ARE LISTED.
THESE POLICIES OF COURSE WERE PRESENTED AS FIRST READS AT LAST MONTH.
THEY HAVE BEEN ON THE AGENDA FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW.
TYPICALLY BETWEEN FIRST READ AND SECOND READ THERE ARE NO CHANGES.
I SENT TO YOU TODAY VIA E-MAIL A COPY OF SOME CHANGES TO POLICY EFB.
THERE'S A STRIKE THROUGH ON YOUR AGENDA AS WELL.
A VERY, VERY MINOR CHANGE AS IT RELATES TO THE SPECIAL MILK PROGRAM AND SO WE DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN THAT SPECIAL MILK PROGRAM AND ARE ASKING THAT WE STRIKE THAT THROUGH AND APPROVE IT AS PRESENTED THIS EVENING.
>> THERE'S ALSO A SECOND CHANGE.
THERE'S A PUNCTUATION CHANGE THAT YOU WILL FIND IN POLICY IGAJ.
IT WAS JUST A SIMPLE CHANGE OF A COMMA AND A SEMICOLON.
SO OTHER THAN THAT, THESE POLICIES FOR SECOND READING ARE AS ARE REVISIONS WERE PRESENTED LAST MONTH.
SO, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO COVER THE POLICIES' SECOND READING.
>> MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THIS SLATE OF POLICIES UNDER ACTION ITEM 16C AS PRESENTED ON SECOND READING TONIGHT.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF MR. WRIGHT'S MOTION TO INCLUDE ALL THESE POLICIES AS SECOND READING PLEASE SAY AYE.
OK THAT IS ALL OF OUR ACTION ITEMS DR. RALEY? ITEMS FOR BOARD REVIEW?
>> YEAH, FEW THINGS THERE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BOARD AND FOR THE PUBLIC AS A WHOLE.
THE STRATEGIC AND TACTICAL PLAN REPORT PROVIDE AS NICE SUMMARY OF THE WORK THAT HAPPENS MONTH TO MONTH IN OUR SCHOOL DIVISION SEPARATED BY GOAL AREA RELATED TO THE STRATEGIC PLAN.
I WANT TO THANK THE STAFF WHO INFORMED THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE VERY WELL-WRITTEN DOCUMENT THAT REFERENCES A LOT OF THINGS THAT HAPPEN DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
YOU CAN READ THAT AND KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING.
THE SECOND ITEM FOR BOARD REVIEW IS OUR ATTENDANCE AND ENROLLMENT UPDATE.
SO TYPICALLY WE ARE IN LINE WITH THE WAY WE HAVE BEEN IN THE PAST.
BUT IN PURE TRANSPARENCY, THIS YEAR'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT WHEN IT COMES TO OUR SEPTEMBER NUMBERS.
WE ARE DOWN JUST A LITTLE BIT.
WE ARE TYPICALLY IN THE 96% AREA.
AND SO, WE BELIEVE THAT THAT IS THE DIRECT RESULT OF THE FACT THAT STUDENTS WHO ARE CLOSE CONTACTS ARE STILL CONSIDERED ABSENT.
IT'S NOT HELD AGAINST THEM IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM, BECAUSE THEY ARE STILL PERFORMING ACADEMIC WORK.
BUT IS IT CONSIDERED AN ABSENCE SO WE SEE THAT'S A REASON WHY WE SAW A LITTLE BIT OF A DECREASE FROM YEAR OVER YEAR BECAUSE HISTORICALLY WE ARE AT ABOUT 96%.
BUT NOTHING TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT.
JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE ARE WORKING THROUGH RIGHT NOW IN THE CURRENT PANDEMIC.
BOARD MEMBERS ANY COMMENTS ON THESE ITEMS FOR BOARD REVIEW?
>> I JUST WANT TO ADD THANKS AGAIN TO EVERYONE WHO HAS WORKED ON THAT STRATEGIC AND TACTICAL PLAN REPORT.
WE THINK ABOUT GOING TO SCHOOL, GOING TO CLASS, GOING HOME, FINISHING HOMEWORK, COMING BACK THE NEXT DAY, THAT KIND OF THING.
BUT THIS CLEARLY OUTLINES SO MUCH MORE THAT IS GOING ON THAT MAKES THE INSTRUCTIONAL SIDE POSSIBLE AND THE DEPTH OF THE REPORT MONTH TO MONTH SEEMS LIKE -- YOU SAW THIS -- BUT IT'S NEW WORK AND IT'S GREAT WORK AND I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
I KNOW WE ALL REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT THEY ARE DOING TO SHARE THIS WITH US.
[03:10:03]
AND I APPRECIATE -- I'M SORRY THAT MS. HARRIS IS GONE, BUT ON PAGE 7, OBJECTIVE 2, GOAL 3, DIMITRI HARRIS IS WORKING WITH THE DIVISION'S INSURANCE PROVIDER TO DEVELOP A FORM TO ENSURE ALL PARTIES ARE AWARE OF THE INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS APPROPRIATE TO EACH WORK-BASED LEARNING EXPERIENCE.SO, WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT AGAIN THIS WORK-BASED Ć- LEARNING, THESE OPPORTUNITIES ARE, SO TO BE THAT PRO ACTIVE AND TO PROVIDE THIS INFORMATION UP FRONT, THAT WILL REALLY ASSIST US IN RECRUITING MORE OPPORTUNITIES, BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL HAVE THOSE QUESTIONS ANSWERED THAT MIGHT SEEM A LITTLE ITCHY.
I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT'S GOING TO INVOLVE, BUT TO PROVIDE THIS UP FRONT, THAT'S GOING TO REALLY HELP EXPAND THAT WORK-BASED LEARNING.
AND I WAS GOING TO ASK MS. WHITE ABOUT GASB -- UN -- [LAUGHTER] >> YOU DON'T WANT TO DO THAT.
COMMITTEE BOARD REPORTS AND COMMENTS.
MR. TEAGUE, WE WERE NOT IGNORING YOU THIS EVENING.
I AM SO GRATEFUL THAT YOU ARE HERE.
THANK YOU FOR HELPING READ THE RESOLUTION AND I KNOW YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE SOME WONDERFUL WORDS TO SHARE WITH US.
I THINK LAST WEEK IS SUCH A GREAT OPPORTUNITY JUST TO SEE SO MANY DIFFERENT MOVING PIECES OF SCHOOLS.
THAT WAS A BLESSING IN ITSELF.
I THINK IT WAS -- IT WAS NORMALCY AND IT WAS FUN AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK YOU MISS IN DIFFERENT WAYS THAT YOU DON'T REALIZE UNTIL YOU ARE BACK DOING IT IN LITTLE DETAILS LIKE THAT.
THAT'S MY PERSONAL FAVORITE WEEK OF THE YEAR AND I DON'T THINK IT COULD HAVE GONE BETTER WITH INVOLVEMENT AND EXCITEMENT SURROUNDING THAT.
SECONDLY, MS. WHITE ACTUALLY CAME INTO OUR CLASSROOM TO EDUCATE ABOUT THE BOND, WHICH WAS REALLY COOL.
AND, KIND OF, WE JUST TALKED ABOUT BONDS IN TOTALITY AND THAT WAS REALLY, REALLY NEAT BECAUSE NOW YOU HAVE SENIORS IN GOOCHLAND WHO ARE REALLY EDUCATED ABOUT THAT AND NOW CAN GO EDUCATE WHETHER IT IS THEIR PARENTS, AUNTS, FAMILIES, JUST RANDOM COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT WHAT THIS IS BECAUSE IF YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS YOU ARE PROBABLY GOING TO VOTE ONE WAY OF THE SO IT'S JUST REALLY EXCITING TO HAVE THAT.
YOU SAW ADDISON WINSTON COME IN AND GIVE HER PRESENTATION.
THERE ARE SO MANY PRESENTATIONS AND INTERNSHIPS GOING ON LIKE THAT AND SO MANY CONVERSATION WAS BLUE RIDGE STUDENTS AND NONBLUE RIDGE STUDENTS WHO HAVE JUST STARTED THEIR SENIOR PROJECT ACTIVITIES THAT IS EXCITING.
THERE ARE SOME SHOE DONATIONS HAPPENING, DIFFERENT THINGS ARE HAPPENING, YOU CAN LOOK AROUND AND SEEING THINGS MOVING IN A REALLY GREAT DIRECTION.
THE DRAMA DEPARTMENT CAME WITH PETER AND THE STAR CATCHER, REALLY EXCITING AND EXCITING THAT PEOPLE WILL COME FOR IN-PERSON LIVE THEATER WHICH IS SUPER GREAT.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF REALLY AMAZING THINGS I COULD GO ON AND ON.
LAST WEEK WAS REALLY SPECIAL AND WE WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS AND JUST FOR EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING.
I HOPE YOU ARE HAVING A GOOD WEEK.
IT'S NOT HOMECOMING WEEK SO I GUESS -- WHAT DO THE HALLS LOOK LIKE NOW? ARE YOU GUYS IN SHOCK?
NO, IT'S DEFINITELY DIFFERENT.
BUT -- AND THERE'S A COUPLE PIECES OF TAPE STILL AROUND.
IT'S NOT PAINT RIPPED OFF THE WALL.
CHECK MARKS THE SPOT, I DID IT.
>> SO WE WILL MEET AGAIN FOR THE -- SAFETY WEEK FROM TOMORROW AND -- ALSO GOT TO ATTEND THE -- EDUCATION FOUNDATION MEETING WITH MR. NEWMAN.
A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT NEW MEMBER RECRUITMENT FOR THE BOARD.
PRESENTATION ARE GOING TO SUPPORT US IN OUR GOOCHLAND DRIVE-IN EMPLOYEE NIGHT.
MR. NEWMAN, OTHER NOTES THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE HAD -- IT'S MY FIRST CHANCE TO -- APPRECIATE THEIR HOSPITALITY WITH ME AND THE WORK - GREAT.
>> MADAM CHAIR, A QUICK UPDATE FROM THE REYNOLDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD.
OUR NEXT COLLEGE BOARD MEETING IS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4.
BUT I DID WANT TO LET THE BOARD AND THE PUBLIC KNOW BOARD IS PROBABLY WELL AWARE, DR. PANDO VISITS EACH BOARD OF SUPERVISOR TEAM WITHIN THE SERVICE AREA THAT REYNOLDS SERVES ON AN ANNUAL BASIS TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE.
SHE IS SCHEDULED TO PRESENT TO OUR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 3.
HAPPENS TO BE THE DAY BEFORE THE NEXT COLLEGE BOARD MEETING.
[03:15:02]
I DID WANT TO MAKE SURE THE BOARD WAS AWARE OF THAT, PUBLIC'S AWARE OF THAT.CERTAINLY A PUBLIC MEETING, EVERYONE'S WELCOME.
SHE PLANS TO ADDRESS THE BOARD AND UPDATE THE BOARD WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 3 AT 2 P.M.
LOOKING FORWARD TO WHATEVER SHE HAS TO SAY, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF WORK GOING ON REYNOLDS MEANS TO GOOCHLAND COUNTY.
>> I WAS PROVEN TO PARTICIPATE IN THE GIFTED ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING AND IT WAS WELL ATTENDED.
THE RANDOLPH PROGRAM HAS IMPLEMENTED A PROJECT WHERE THEY ARE USING GIFTED ADVISOR REPRESENTATIVE VET SCHOOL TO ALSO HELP WITH ENGLISH AND MATH CLASSES AND IT'S GIVEN HER ADDITIONAL TIME TO PRESENT THIS PROGRAM AND WORK WITH STUDENTS IN THEIR PROGRAM.
THEY ARE WORKING, WORKING ON, TO BE MORE VISIBLE THIS YEAR AND WE ARE GOING TO BE -- ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT PRESENTING A PROGRAM WHERE THEY WILL -- THE STUDENTS WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE VARIOUS COLLEGES THAT WILL HELP THE PARENTS WITH INFORMATIVE INFORMATION SETTING.
SO I THINK THAT'S EXCITING COMING UP.
ALSO WITH THE TESTING, IT'S FROM THE SECOND TO FIFTH GRADE.
THIS YEAR THEY ARE ALSO GOING TO TEST THE STUDENTS THAT WILL BE IN THE THIRD GRADE BUT WERE IN THE SECOND GRADE LAST YEAR.
SO I GUESS BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY INCORPORATED THEM AND GAVE THEM ANOTHER CHANCE FOR A BETTER ATMOSPHERE FOR TESTING.
WE ARE ASKING THE PARENTS TO LOOK OUT FOR THE APPLICATION DEADLINES SO THAT THEY CAN MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE -- GET THEIR APPLICATIONS IN ON TIME.
I THINK IT WAS VERY INFORMATIVE MEETING AND I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT ONE.
>> WELL AS DR. ARMSTRONG SAID, THE GOOCHLAND EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION MEETING TOOK PLACE ON THE 21ST OF SEPTEMBER.
IT WAS THE FIRST IN-PERSON MEETING IN OVER A YEAR AND A HALF.
SO IT WAS QUITE NICE TO SEE PEOPLE IN PERSON.
THE STRATEGIC INNOVATION GRANT APPLICATION PROCESS HAS BEEN LAUNCHED.
IT WAS REPORTED, BUT THE BEGINNING DATE WILL BE IN JANUARY OF 2022.
SO THERE WILL BE SOME DETAILS TO COME FROM THAT.
THE STUDENTS WHO HAD ENTERED THE ESSAY CONTEST AND WERE RECOGNIZED WERE MENTIONED AGAIN.
THEY PRESENTED HERE LAST MONTH AND ON AUGUST 6 AT THE ROTARY CLUB SO THEY WERE HAPPY TO SEE THE STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN THAT.
IN ADDITION TO LOOKING -- ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE GOOCHLAND EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION HAVE A LENGTH OF TIME THAT THEY SERVED.
SOME OF THEM ARE COMING UP ON THE END OF THEIR TERM AS A MEMBER OF THE FOUNDATION.
SO AS DR. ARMSTRONG MENTIONED, THERE WAS SOME CONSIDERABLE DISCUSSION ABOUT OTHERS WHO MIGHT JOIN THE EDUCATION FOUNDATION AND I WOULD JUST SAY IF YOU HAVE AN INTEREST, I THINK THERE'S A WAY TO LET THEM KNOW THAT YOU ARE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT GOT MENTIONED, TWO THINGS ACTUALLY, WAS A COMMENT MADE BY THE FOUNDATION DIRECTOR THAT EVERYTHING THAT THE EDUCATION FOUNDATION IS TRYING TO DO, THEY ARE TRYING TO BE VERY CERTAIN THAT THE PROGRAM IDEAS ALIGN WITH WHAT SCHOOLS NEED AND WITH THE MISSION AND VISION OF THE SCHOOL.
SO I REALLY APPRECIATED HEARING THAT.
THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO MENTION IS THAT THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT SCHOLARSHIPS AND MR. TEAGUE, YOU CAN PASS THIS WORD AROUND.
THE EDUCATION FO FOUNDATION HAS SEVERAL SCHOLARSHIPS.
WHEN THAT TIME COMES AND I CAN SAY FROM WHAT I KNOW, THERE ARE MANY SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO APPLY AS WE COME TO THAT TIME OF THE YEAR AND SO OFTEN THERE ARE ONE OR TWO APPLICATIONS SOS GAF HAS SCHOLARSHIPS THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE.
WE WILL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO TALK ABOUT NOW BECAUSE IT CAN OFTEN BE OVERLOOKED.
>> THE SCHOLARSHIP THING IS A FULL-TIME JOB.
>> SO, UM -- WHEN WE LAST SPOKE, THE MAGGIE WALKER REGIONAL SCHOOL BOARD WAS ABOUT TO GO INTO A SESSION THAT WAS LARGELY CENTERED AROUND THE IDEA OF ADMISSIONS, WHICH HAS CAUGHT THE THEY RAN A COUPLE OF ARTICLES.
I WOULD SAY THAT THERE'S NOTHING IN THOSE ARTICLES THAT IS FALSE.
[03:20:04]
THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF INFORMATION MISSING FROM THOSE ARTICLES.AND SO THOSE WHO JUST CASUALLY READ THE TIMES DISGRACE HAVE SOME BEGINNING OF UNDERSTANDING OF THE SUBJECT AT HAND.
ULTIMATELY WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS WE PASSED ON FIRST READING, THE CHANGE IN THE ADMISSIONS PROCESS WHICH I EXPLAINED LAST TIME WILL NOW REMOVE SOME ACHIEVEMENT TESTING, HIGH STAKES ACHIEVEMENT TESTING WHICH THERE WAS A LOT OF INFORMATION PRESENTED ABOUT THAT.
GOING TO REMOVE THAT AND GOING TO PUT INTO IT A SECOND ESSAY THAT IS PART OF THIS THAT WILL ALLOW THE STUDENT TO ESSENTIALLY EXPRESS THEMSELVES SO THERE WILL BE TWO ESSAYS.
ONE OF WHICH WILL BE SUBJECT MATTER AND LET'S SAY, YOU KNOW, SHOULD ALL REGISTERED VOTERS BE REQUIRED TO VOTE.
SO THAT MIGHT BE AN ESSAY PROMPT AS A GOOD EXAMPLE.
THEN THE SECOND MIGHT BE EXPLAIN TO US WHY YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ATTENDING MAGGIE WALKER AND WHAT YOU CAN ADD TO THE ATMOSPHERE.
SO, AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES IN WRITING AND THE FEELING OF EVERYBODY WHICH, WHO CREATED THIS ADMISSIONS PROCESS, WHICH, BY THE WAY, WAS THE GIFTED ADVISORS FROM EACH OF THE 14 DIVISIONS, YOU KNOW, WITH OBVIOUS INPUT FROM SUPERINTENDENTS AND THE BOARD MEMBERS ALONG THE WAY.
BUT IT WAS, YOU KNOW, RECOMMENDED THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE THE RIGHT THING.
THERE'S NO INDICATION THAT THE TEST THAT THEY HAVE ELIMINATED HAS EVER CHANGED ANYTHING FOR ANYONE.
AND SO, THIS IS A NEW LOOK AT IT AND WE WILL VOTE THIS THURSDAY, IS THAT RIGHT? NO, NEXT THURSDAY.
FOR A SECOND READING OF THAT POLICY.
AND SO THAT'S -- THAT'S THEIR MAIN THRUST OF THE MEETING THAT'S COMING UP.
COUPLE OF OTHER ITEMS THEY HAVE DONE QUITE WELL WITH THEIR BACK TO SCHOOL WHICH I MENTIONED LAST TIME BUT THEY ARE REALLY SEEING THE BENEFIT OF BEING BACK IN SCHOOL THERE, COMING TOWARD JUST OVER THE HALFWAY POINT IN THEIR FIRST GRADING PERIOD.
THEY CAN SEE A REAL DIFFERENCE BECAUSE THEY WERE VIRTUAL FOR ALL BUT ONE GRADING PERIOD LAST YEAR.
THIS IS A BIG DIFFERENCE AND YOU CAN SEE IT IN THE MENTAL HEALTH OF THE STUDENTS AND IN THEIR PERFORMANCE AS WELL.
THE WHOLE POINT OF BEING AT MAGGIE WALKER IS THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING WITH THE OTHER STUDENTS SO -- THAT, I AM SURE IT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT ATMOSPHERE.
AND LAST YEAR WAS DIFFICULT BECAUSE OF THE PARTICIPATING SCHOOL DIVISIONS.
RICHMOND WAS THE ONLY SCHOOL DIVISION IN THE STATE THAT DIDN'T GO TO IN-PERSON LEARNING FOR EVEN ONE DAY LAST YEAR.
SO THEY ARE A BIG PART OF THIS REGIONAL SCHOOL BOARD AND OTHERS WERE AT DIFFERENT TIMING WHEN THEY WERE DOING THINGS.
SO IT'S REALLY JUST CREATED A DIFFICULT ENVIRONMENT FOR THEM TO BRING EVERYBODY BACK BECAUSE OF THE NEED FOR TRANSPORTATION AND ALL OF THE OTHER SUPPORTS THAT GO WITH IT.
SO -- YOU KNOW, THIS REALLY IS A MUCH DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT THAN LAST YEAR.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK WITH THAT IMPORTANT BOARD.
THE SPECIAL ADVISORY MEETING HELD THEIR MEETING ON OCTOBER 6.
DR. WAGNER CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AT 5:30.
AND WE HAD ABOUT 20 PEOPLE ONLINE.
MOST WERE SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS AND DR. WAGNER AND WE HAD ONE PARENT.
SO THEIR BIG GOAL WAS TO PROMOTE GETTING MORE PARENTS INVOLVED ON THE SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
THEY HAVE COME UP WITH SOME BROCHURES THAT ARE VERY GOOD.
AND THEY ARE PROMOTING PARENT INTEREST IN ALL AREAS OF SPECIAL EDUCATION AND ENCOURAGING THEM TO JOIN THE COMMITTEE.
AND I AM HOPING THAT THAT WILL BE SUCCESSFUL.
THEY WERE ALSO SUPPORTIVE OF THE WORK-STUDY PROGRAM THAT IS IN THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW.
AND FOR THEIR SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS, AND THAT IS JUST THE BOTTOM LINE WAS THAT WE HAVE NO -- NOTHING ELSE WAS SAID EXCEPT TRYING TO GENERATE MORE INTEREST BY THE PARENTS.
DR. RALEY, DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER
[03:25:01]
>> YEAH, JUST REAL QUICK, THE FIRST THING IS WE HAVE OUR ADVANCED PROGRAMS INFORMATION NIGHT.
WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT BLUE RIDGE THIS EVENING AND MAGGIE WALKER.
ALSO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT OUR ADVANCED COLLEGE ACADEMY.
THAT IS ON THE 25TH OF OCTOBER AT 6:00 IN THE EVENING IN THE GOOCHLAND HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM.
LAST YEAR WE STREAMED THAT LIVE AS WELL FOR FAMILIES THAT COULD NOT ATTEND IN PERSON.
WE HAVE A VERY, VERY -- WE ARE VERY PROUD OF OUR ADVANCED PROGRAMS THAT WE OFFER HERE IN GOOCHLAND AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN HAVE A LOT OF STUDENTS WHO SIGN UP AND WANT TO FILL OUT THE APPLICATIONS FOR THOSE AMAZING PROGRAMS. THE SECOND THING I WANTED TO SHARE JUST FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BOARD AND THE PUBLIC IS THAT WE HAVE SOME STUDENTS INVOLVED IN OUR WORK THAT IT'S REALLY GETTING SOME ATTENTION RELATED TO THE BOND REFERENDUM AND THE NEW GES DESIGN.
SO IT'S BEEN REALLY COOL TO HAVE STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN THAT WORK.
IT'S KIND OF BEEN A THEME ABOUT HOW WE CAN INVOLVE STUDENTS IN OUR WORK.
WE HAVE CALEB HARRIS WHO IS JOINING ME IN SOME OF THESE BOND REFERENDUM MEETINGS.
I BELIEVE HE'S ALSO GOING TO GIVE PRESENTATIONS TO SENIORS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL AS WELL.
IT'S KIND OF BEEN COOL TO HAVE HIM PARTICIPATE.
HE WITH AS IN THIS ROOM WITH A CITIZEN ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO AND I SAID HEY I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO PRESENT.
MAN I TELL YOU WHAT, HE NAILED IT.
HE WAS ON A ZOOM CALL THAT WE HAD IN THIS ROOM LAST WEEK AS WELL.
PRETTY COOL TO SEE OUR KIDS DOING THINGS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WE HAVE MANY SOME STUDENTS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN THE WORK THAT WE ARE DOING WITH OUR ARCHITECTURAL TEAM FOR THE NEW GES DESIGN AS WELL.
IT'S GREAT TO HAVE OUR STUDENTS IN THE PROCESS.
FOR MY COMMITTEE MEETINGS ON SEPTEMBER 20, I ATTENDED THE BLUE RIDGE VIRTUAL GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL QUARTERLY MEETING AND WE WERE IN PERSON.
DR. ARMSTRONG WAS ABLE TO JOIN ME AND BECAUSE DR. RALEY HAD ANOTHER COMMITMENT THAT DAY.
THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS MEETING INCLUDED THE BUDGET AND ENROLLMENT UPDATES AND APPROVAL OF THE BUDGET FOR THE 21-22 SCHOOL YEAR WITH A TOTAL PROJECTED ENROLLMENT OF 651 STUDENTS ACROSS THE MEMBER SCHOOL DIVISION DIGGSS.
STUDENT LEADERSHIP, WELLNESS INITIATIVES AND THE APPROVAL OF THE BLUE RIDGE VIRTUAL GOVERNOR SCHOOL TEACHER CONTRACT AND STIPENDS.
PARTICIPATED VIRTUALLY IN THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR EQUITY AND EDUCATIONS MEETING LED BY CHAIRMAN MICHAEL ALLEN.
DR. FOWLER AND DR. ARMSTRONG, BUSY PERSON, PRESENTED IMPORTANT UPDATES ON THE EQUITY GOALS.
A DISCUSSION ON NEW OFFICER ELECTIONS FOLLOWED BY BRAINSTORMING ON COMMUNITY NEEDS THAT THIS, WE COULD -- THAT WOULD HELP SUPPORT THIS COMMUNITY BETTER, CLOSED OUT THE MEETING.
ON SEPTEMBER 23, I ATTENDED THE VSBA LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY CONFERENCE HELD AT THE HILTON RICHMOND HOTEL.
THE MOST IMPORTANT DISCUSSION OF THE EVENT WAS A LOOK AHEAD TO THE 2022 VIRGINIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
REMINDER TO ALL CITIZENS THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WILL CONVENE ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2022 FOR A 60-DAY SESSION THIS YEAR.
THE RESULTS OF THE NOVEMBER 2 ELECTION WILL IMPACT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
LIKELY ISSUES OF DEBATE WERE IDENTIFIED AS -- THE GOVERNOR'S BIANNUAL BUDGET, LASTING ISSUES RELATED TO COVID-19, AND SCHOOL ENROLLMENT.
SCHOOL MONITORRIZATION AND RENOVATION, STANDARDS OF QUALITY, LEGISLATIVE MANDATES AND LABOR RELATIONS.
TRAINING WAS PROVIDED BY ONE OF THE LAWYERS FOR THE VIRGINIA CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND ADVISORY COUNCIL ON THE STATEMENT OF ECONOMIC INTEREST REPORTING.
I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT I HAVE HAD TO ENJOY TO ASSIST AND PARTICIPATE IN THE UNIQUE ACTIVITIES TAKING PLACE AT ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS.
STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES ARE INDEED WORKING TO MAKE THIS THE BEST YEAR EVER.
SO, THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR YOUR REPORT, FOR YOUR ADDITIONAL SUPPORT IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND SO -- WE ARE TO NEW BUSINESS.
BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY NEW BUSINESS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE NEW BUSINESS] INTRODUCED THIS EVENING?
[19. NEW BUSINESS]
ALL RIGHT.WELL, THAT BEING SAID -- WE ARE TO NUMBER 20, ADJOURNMENT.
BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE A MOTION?
ADJOURNMENT] IS THERE A SECOND?
[20. ADJOURNMENT]
>> THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN PER OUR PUBLISHED SCHEDULE.
THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR ATTENDING.
* THIS TRANSCRIPT WAS COMPILED FROM UNCORRECTED CLOSED CAPTIONING.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.