Feb 13, 2024 School Board Meeting - February 13, 2024

[1. Meeting Opening]

[A. Closed Session]

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PLEASE STAND BY FOR REALTIME CAPTIONS.

[B. Reconvene in Open Session / Certification]

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CALLED BY THE CLERK. >> I SO CERTIFY.

>> ISO CERTIFIED. >> ISO CERTIFY. I SO CERTIFY.

>> THANK YOU. WILL YOU PLEASE JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE.

[C. Moment of Silence]

[D. Pledge of Allegiance]

>> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC , FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

[E. Additions/Amendments/Adoption of Proposed Agenda]

>> I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR ADOPTIONS OF THE PROPOSED

AGENDA. >> MADAM CHAIR, I HAVE TWO ADDITIONS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO PUT UNDER NEW BUSINESS. I WOULD LIKE TO ADD ONE THAT DEALS WITH SCHOOL BOARD DUES AND A SECOND ONE THAT WILL DEAL WITH LEGAL COUNSEL.

>> THANK YOU, MADAM VICE CHAIR. >> I SECOND THAT MOTION.

>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED TO ADD TWO ITEMS TO NEW BUSINESS. ONE RELATED TO SCHOOL BOARD DUES AND THE OTHER RELATED TO LEGAL COUNSEL. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION OR ARE YOU READY FOR THE QUESTION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION SAY I. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAY NO. VERY WELL, THE MOTION IS ADOPTED. I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE

SOME RECOGNITIONS THIS EVENING. >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. WE HAVE A WEALTH OF RECOGNITIONS. AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO

[A. MCJROTC Scholarship Awards - Megan Reid, Landon Schroder, Aubrey Strong]

WATSON. >> ] WITH THE CT APPRECIATION MONTH, ONE OF OUR COMMANDERS WHO HAS TAKEN THE COURAGE TO ENLIST IN THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS AND HIS JOB WILL BE AIRFRAME MECHANIC. THIS TIME NEXT YEAR THIS YOUNG MAN WILL BE PART OF THE LESS THAN 1.1% OF THE POPULATION THAT WILL STAND AND REPRESENT OUR CONSTITUTION AND OUR FREEDOM ALONG -- AROUND THE WORLD. I HAVE KNOWN THIS YOUNG MAN FOR ABOUT FOUR YEARS. GOOCHLAND IS SENDING ONE OF OUR BEST AND BRIGHTEST TO UNITED STATES DRINK OR. IF IT WASN'T FOR THE WONDERFUL TEACHERS AND THE SUPPORT THAT WE HAVE WITH THE ADMINISTRATION IS GOING TO ELEVATE HIM WHERE HE IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO WONDERFUL THINGS WITH THE MARINE CORPS.

[00:35:06]

>> PEOPLE ARE TAKING THE OTHER TRUCK TO SERVE OUR NATION. THIS IS CADET CAPTAIN, AUBREY STRONG . MEGAN REID IS OUR CADET FIRST SERGEANT . AND LANDON SCHRODER, HE IS SMART. HE IS OUR EXECUTIVE OFFICER. THEY REPRESENT OUR COMMAND TEAM .

THEY ARE OUR TOP CADETS. THEY ALL PUT IN FOR THE VERY PRESTIGIOUS AND HARD TO GET ROTC SCHOLARSHIP. LANDON AND MEGAN PUT IN AND RECEIVED THE MARINE OPTION NAVY SCHOLARSHIP AND AUBREY RECENTLY WAS AWARDED, THE NAVY ROTC SCHOLARSHIP. ALL THREE OF THESE YOUNG PEOPLE WILL GO TO SCHOOL FOR FREE. THAT IS GOING TO SEPARATE THEM FROM THEIR PEERS RIGHT AWAY. ABOVE AND BEYOND THAT, THEY WILL BE PAID A TAX FREE LIVING STIPEND EVERY MONTH THAT THEY ARE AT SCHOOL. EACH SUMMER PAID INTERNSHIPS WILL BEGIN THIS SUMMER BEFORE THEY EVEN GET TO SCHOOL. THAT SEPARATES THEM FROM THEIR PEERS, THEY WILL GRADUATE WITHOUT DEBT. MOST COLLEGE GRADUATES HAVE CLOSE TO $30,000 OF DEBT. WHEN THEY COMPLETE THEIR ROTC CURRICULUM AND THEY EARNED HER UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE, THEY WILL BE COMMISSIONED AS SECOND LIEUTENANTS IN THE MARINE CORPS. THIS VERY PRESTIGIOUS AND LUCRATIVE POSITION, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE UNDEREMPLOYED. THEY WILL BE SERVING THIS NATION. PEOPLE LIKE KAYDEN ARE GOING TO LOOK TO THEM TO GET THE JOB DONE. IT IS A BIG DEAL. IF THEY CHOOSE TO STAY IN THE MILITARY FOR 20 YEARS OR 30 YEARS, THEY WILL BE PAID FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES. IF THEY CHOOSE TO GET OUT AFTER FOUR YEARS, HORDES OF DISSENT HUNTERS WILL GET AFTER THEM LIKE PLAGUES OF LOCUSTS.

AT 17 AND 18 YEARS OLD, THESE YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE MADE A DECISION THAT WILL PUT THEM ON THE TRAJECTORY OF SUCCESS, I SAY THEIR PEERS, THEY HAVE NO PEERS. THEY ARE PEERLESS AS THEY ARE ON THIS TRAJECTORY OF SUCCESS FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES. WE ALL OWE THEM A DEBT OF GRATITUDE FOR WHAT TO -- THEY ARE GOING TO DO . THEY ARE GOING TO DO WHAT OTHERS ARE UNWILLING TO DO, IT IS REMARKABLE. CONGRATULATIONS FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO, I AM PROUD TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO KNOW YOU, TO LEAD

THROUGH YOUR STORIES. >> BEFORE THESE TWO FINE GENTLEMEN TAKE A SEAT, I NEED TO SAY THAT THIS IS THE 10TH YEAR OF THIS PROGRAM. ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I WAS ASKED TO DO WHEN I CAME TO GOOCHLAND COUNTY WAS TO START AN ROTC UNIT . YOU SAW THREE YOUNG PEOPLE APPEAR RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR SCHOLARSHIPS. EACH OF THOSE SCHOLARSHIPS IS WORTH AT LEAST $175,000 OR MORE. IT IS HIGHLY UNUSUAL FOR A UNIT TO GET ONE SCHOLARSHIP A YEAR. IT IS EXTRAORDINARY FOR A UNIT TO GET TWO SCHOLARSHIPS A YEAR. ABSOLUTELY UNHEARD OF FOR AN ROTC UNIT TO GET THREE SCHOLARSHIPS PER YEAR. IT IS DUE TO THE HARD WORK AND DEDICATION OF THESE TWO FINE

[00:40:06]

GENTLEMEN. >>

>> NEXT, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK MALACHI MONTGOMERY TO JOIN ME

APPEAR . >> EACH YEAR 32 SCHOOL DIVISIONS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO NOMINATE THREE STUDENTS.

THERE ARE 40 SLOTS GIVEN TO 32 DIFFERENT SCHOOL DIVISIONS.

STUDENTS HAVE TO APPLY TO THAT. RISING JUNIORS AND SENIORS CAN APPLY TO THE ACADEMY AND DEVELOP THEIR WORKFORCE READINESS AND ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS. MALACHI IS A JUNIOR, HE HAS A 4.77 GPA AS OF WHEN I CHECKED THIS MORNING, I HOPE

THAT IS CORRECT >> I HOPE IT IS TOO.

>> HE IS RANKED 40TH IN A CLASS OF 148. HE IS A SECOND LIEUTENANT IN A PLATOON COMMANDER. HE HAS TAKEN THE VIDEO AND MEDIA PRODUCTION CLASSES, HE WAS A FINE REPRESENTATIVE FOR GOOCHLAND HIGH SCHOOL LAST SUMMER WHEN HE ATTENDED THE REGIONAL GOVERNOR SCHOOL. CONGRATULATIONS AND

THANK YOU . >>

>> EVERY YEAR THE STUDENTS IN THE ECON AND PERSONAL-FINANCE CLASS TAKE THE WISE TEST . WE ARE PRIVILEGED TO DO THE HARD WORK OF THE THREE TEACHERS TO BE AWARDED THE COVETED BLUE STAR AWARD AND TO EARN THIS AWARD, THE STUDENTS HAVE TO ACHIEVE, WE HAD TO HAVE 80% OF THE STUDENTS PASSED THE TEST.

AGAIN THROUGH THEIR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION, WE WERE ABLE TO ACHIEVE THE BLUE STAR AWARD AND IT'S THE FIRST TIME IN SEVERAL YEARS, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY, THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED THIS AWARD. THINKS FOR THEM WORKING WITH OUR STUDENTS TO EARN THIS RECOGNITION FOR THE SCHOOL AND FOR THEIR STUDENTS. THANK YOU.

THE BLUE STAR AWARD, MISS EYP AND MISS G WERE AWARDED THE GOLD STAR AWARD. TO EARN THIS AWARD, 92%, 93% OF THEIR STUDENTS HAD TO PASS THIS TEST ON THE FIRST ROUND . AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH OF THESE TEACHERS FOR ACHIEVING THE GOLD STAR AWARD GIVEN BY THE WISE TESTING FOUNDATION. A

CONGRATULATIONS. >>

>> WITH THAT, I THANK YOU SO MUCH.

[E. ECCHO Awards]

>> THANK YOU MR. WATSON, BRAVO TO ALL OF OUR RECOGNIZED STUDENTS TONIGHT. AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE DR.

JENNIFER WAGNER AND MISS DEMETRIUS HARRIS WHO ARE GOING TO SHARE ABOUT OUR ECCHO AWARD RECIPIENTS.

>> GOOD EVENING, MATTER CHAIR -- MADAM CHAIR. THIS MAY BE THE FIRST MEETING THAT ALL OF YOU HAVE ATTENDED WHERE WE HAVE HAD ECCHO AWARDS. CORE VALUES OF EXCELLENCE, CREATIVITY, HONOR AND OPTIMISM. WE TRY TO RECOGNIZE SOME EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS WHO HAVE DEMONSTRATED THOSE VALUES BASED ON NOMINEES FOR THEIR COLLEAGUES. IF MISS HANNAH JONES, GOOCHLAND HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR COULD JOIN ME UP FRONT . SO, HANNAH WAS

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SHE TOOK IT UPON HERSELF TO SEEK A CONVERSATION WITH THE BOARD MEMBER IMMEDIATELY AND EXPRESSED IMMEDIATELY BEING A PART OF THIS IMPORTANT WORK. SINCE JOINING ACE, HANNAH HAS EXHIBITED COURAGE AND WHAT CAN BE SEEN TOO MANY STUDENTS LIKE AN INTIMIDATING GROUP OF ADULTS. HER OPTIMISM AND DESIRE TO HELP ACHIEVE EXCELLENCE FOR ALL STUDENTS SHINE THROUGH AND EVERY COMMENT. SHE HAS MOST RECENTLY CONTRIBUTED MANY CREATIVE IDEAS OF HOW TO INVOLVE OTHER STUDENTS IN THESE IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS BY INCENTIVIZING THEIR PARTICIPATION AT AN UPCOMING COMMUNITY CONVERSATION EVENT.

OR STUDENT PERSPECTIVE PAIRED WITH THE MATURITY TO ENGAGE ALONGSIDE ADULTS ON THE ACE COMMITTEE HAVE PROVEN INVALUABLE TO THE WORK OF THE SCHOOL BOARD ADVISORY COMMITTEE. WE'RE SUPER PROUD OF HANNAH AND CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT SHE PUSHES -- ACCOMPLISHES IN THE FUTURE. AND

THERE IS YOUR AWARD. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK

YOU. >>

>> IS MR. BRAGGS, GOOCHLAND HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR YEAR SO, MR. BRAGGS WAS NOMINATED BY HIS SPANISH TEACHER RECENTLY RESIGNS, BUT NEVERTHELESS WE WANT TO TELL YOU WHAT MR. REYES LOPEZ SAID ABOUT YOU. IT IS PRETTY SPECIAL. HIS COMMITMENT TO ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE HAS NOT GONE UNNOTICED. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE POSITIVE CHANGES I HAVE OBSERVED IN HIS MANNERS AND MILLING THIS -- WILLINGNESS TO BE A RESPECTFUL MEMBER OF OUR SCHOOL COMMITTEE -- COMMUNITY. HIS OVERALL CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT. HIS GROWTH AND PROGRESS HAVE NOT ONLY IMPRESSED ME, BUT THEY HAVE ALSO HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT ON OUR ENVIRONMENT. WE'RE SUPER PROUD OF HIM AND CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT HE ACCOMPLISHES IN THE FUTURE.

>> SCHOOL TEACHER HERE? SO, POTTER IS AN ENGLISH TEACHER AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL. SHE WAS NOMINATED BY TWO COLLEAGUES, ASHBY POND AND CHRISTINA WHITFIELD. THEY WRITE, AS A COLLEAGUE, DANIELLE HAS THE BIGGEST HEART. IS ALWAYS WILLING TO COLLABORATE, ENCOURAGE OPEN AND HONEST MEDICATION, LEAD PLCS AND JOIN VARIOUS SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

THROUGH HER METICULOUS PLANNING AND DELIVERY OF INSTRUCTION, SHE IS CONSISTENTLY ABLE TO MEET THE EVER-CHANGING NEEDS OF HER STUDENTS. SHE MODELS OUR CORE VALUES UP -- OF COURAGE FOR OUR STUDENTS. DANIELLE IS THE EPITOME OF OPTIMISM AND WE ARE SO HAPPY TO HAVE HER HERE AT GOOCHLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL.

CONGRATULATIONS. >>

>> MR. SYKES, IS MR. SYKES HERE? SO, MR. SYKES WAS NOMINATED BY MULTIPLE TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS AND A PARENT. SO, LAUREN SIMMONS OF THE HIGH SCHOOL, AND A PARENT, ALL NOMINATED MR. SYKES. I'M GOING TO TELL YOU ABOUT WHY.

MR. SYKES CONTINUOUSLY DEMONSTRATES THE QUALITIES OF AN EXCELLENT CREATIVE, OPTIMISTIC, PASSIONATE EDUCATOR. ALWAYS LIFTING UP AND ENCOURAGING HIS STUDENTS. MANY STAFF MEMBERS, PARENTS AND STUDENTS HAVE ALL SPOKEN ABOUT HOW MR. SYKES REVIVED THE BAND PROGRAM. WHEN YOU WATCH THE STUDENTS PERFORM, YOU CAN TELL THEY ARE EXCITED TO BE A PART OF IT. HIS LOVE FOR MUSIC SHOWS UP IN THE QUALITY OF PERFORMANCE HIS STUDENTS PRODUCE WHEN THEY ARE ENGAGED IN THEIR BAND ACTIVITIES. I ENJOY WATCHING THE STUDENTS SING THE SCHOOLS FIGHT SONG WHILE MR. SYKES ENCOURAGES HIGH

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HE SUPPORTS THE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF BY HOLDING HIS STUDENTS TO HIGH STANDARDS AND EXPECTATIONS. WE'RE SUPER GRATEFUL TO HAVE HIM AS A PART OF OUR TEAM. CONGRATULATIONS,

MR. SYKES. >> I SAW MR. JOSH ROQUE IN THE CROWD MR. ROQUE WAS NOMINATED HE IS AN INCREDIBLY BRAVE HONORABLE AND OPTIMISTIC IN THE WAY THAT HE IS CARING AND EVERYTHING THAT HE DOES. HE HAS CONTINUED TO OFFER MINDFULNESS WITH HIS STUDENTS . THEY MEET ONCE A WEEK AND STUDENTS BRING UP WHAT IS ON THEIR MINDS, THEY HAVE DISCUSSED TOPICS FROM STRESS MANAGEMENT TO PERSONAL AND FAMILY ISSUES TO ACADEMIC PLANS AND MORE. THEY SHARE WITH OTHER STUDENTS STRENGTHENING THEIR EMPATHY, LISTENING SKILLS, AND PEER TO PEER RELATIONSHIPS. LEARNING TO MANSION -- MANAGE THEIR OWN STRESS. HE DOES A LOT OF PLANNING AND FOLLOW-UP FOR THIS. HE ALSO INCORPORATES THESE TECHNIQUES INTO HIS REGULAR CLASSES. ALL OF US CARE ABOUT OUR STUDENTS AND COLLEAGUES BUT JOSH GOES MANY EXTRA MILE TO SHOW THAT AND TO HELP EVERYONE CARE ABOUT EACH OTHER. CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THAT IS GETTING READY TO,. MR. TURNER, MISS JENKINS, MS. TIMBERLAKE, I THINK THAT IS THE WHOLE CREW. THIS LOVELY TEAM WAS NOMINATED BY A HOST OF PEOPLE INCLUDING MR. HAHN, MS. HUDAK AS WELL AS RENEE FARRELL, THE DIRECTOR OF COUNSELING AT GOOCHLAND HIGH SCHOOL WE HAVE SUMMARIZED ALL OF THE COMMENTS TOGETHER BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY LOVELY THINGS THAT WERE SAID. MS. PARKER AND HER INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANTS HAVE BEEN SUCH A POSITIVE LIGHT. ON A DAILY BASIS THEY MAXIMIZE THE POTENTIAL OF ALL OF THEIR LEARNERS IN THE CLASSROOM. THE COMPASSION AND LOVE FOR THEIR STUDENTS IS NOTICEABLE IN THEIR DAILY WORK. OUR ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM CANNOT BE MORE PROUD OF THE WORK THAT THEY DO FOR ALL OF THEIR STUDENTS. THAT WAS ONE SET OF COMMENTS. THERE ARE MORE. ALL THAT STUDENTS -- ALL THE STUDENTS ARE DOING AMAZING IN MS. PARKER'S CRAP -- CLASS . IT IS NOT ONLY A DELIGHT TO STAFF, BUT VALUABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR WORKPLACE LEARNING COUPLED WITH THE GENUINE CARE THAT THEY EXHIBIT TOWARD THEIR STUDENTS FURTHER SOLIDIFY THE CONTRIBUTIONS FOR BOTH THE CLASSROOM AND THE BROADER SCHOOL COMMUNITY.

CONGRATULATIONS. >> CONGRATULATIONS MS. PARKER.

LEAST, MISS DONNA DICKERSON. COULD YOU PLEASE COME FORWARD?

>> ABSOLUTELY LOVES THE SPOTLIGHT WAS NOMINATED BY MS. PATRICIA HARRIS AND MISS MARGARET JOYNER . I HAVE ALSO ATTEMPTED TO SUMMARIZE THESE COMMENTS AS WELL BECAUSE THERE WERE SO MANY LOVELY THINGS TO SAY ABOUT YOU. MISS JOYNER SAID, I AM ABSOLUTELY THRILLED TO NOMINATE MS. DICKERSON FOR THE ECHO AWARD. SHE IS NOT ONLY AN AMAZING PRESCHOOL SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER, SHE IS A SUPERHERO TO THE LITTLE ONES IN OUR SCHOOL. MISS DICKERSON IS A MARVEL AT WHAT SHE DOES. HER DEDICATION TO EACH CHILD'S GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT IS UNPARALLELED . SHE DOESN'T JUST TEACH, SHE INSPIRES AND EMPOWERS THESE YOUNG MINDS TO HELP THEM SUCCEED EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. WHAT MAKES HER EXCEPTIONAL IS HER UNWAVERING COMMITMENT. MISS DICKERSON NEVER SETTLES, SHE IS ALWAYS EXPLORING NEW TECHNIQUES AND METHODS TAILORED TO EACH CHILD'S UNIQUE NEEDS. HER PASSION FOR HELPING KIDS REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL IS EVIDENT . IN THE CLASSROOM, HER ENERGY

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>>

>> THANK YOU TO DR. WAGNER, MISS HARRIS FOR CELEBRATING ALL THE EXCELLENT THINGS HAPPENING FOR OUR STUDENT AND OUR STAFF.

THERE SOMEONE ELSE WE WANT TO CELEBRATE TONIGHT. SOMEONE ELSE WAS KIND OF IN THE BACKGROUND. YOU MAY NOT BE AWARE OF ALL OF THE THINGS THAT SHE DOES FOR US. THIS WELL OILED MACHINE IS NOT BY ACCIDENT. DIANE BENNETT IS OUR SCHOOL BOARD CLERK.

THIS WEEK IS SCHOOL BOARD CLERK APPRECIATION WEEK. WE WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PUBLICLY RECOGNIZE HER FOR HER THOUGHTFUL, DILIGENT, AND PROFESSIONAL PARTNERSHIP TO MAKE WHAT WE DO LOOK EASY TO YOU. SO TO YOU MISS BENNETT, WE SAID THANK YOU.

[A. Announcements]

BUSINESS OF THE EVENING . >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

SEVERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS THIS EVENING. FIRST, WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF FEBRUARY WHICH AS WE ALL KNOW IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH. I'M VERY PROUD OF THE INSTRUCTIONAL ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS THAT ARE GOING ON IN OUR SCHOOL AS OUR STUDENT CELEBRATE THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR COUNTRY. AS WE LEARNED EARLIER, IN CELEBRATION OF ALL OF OUR WONDERFUL STUDENTS WHO ARE RECEIVING ACCOLADES, FEBRUARY IS ALSO CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION. NATIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELING WEEK WAS FEBRUARY 9TH, FEBRUARY 5TH THROUGH THE NINTH, EXCUSE ME. WE ENJOYED CELEBRATING ALL OF OUR SCHOOL COUNSELORS. SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER APPRECIATION DAY IS ON FEBRUARY 15TH. FEBRUARY IS A BUSY MONTH. THE GOOCHLAND COUNTY PLANNING COUNTY COMMISSION WILL MEET TO DISCUSS DIGITAL SIGNING FOR THE NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ON FEBRUARY THE 15TH AT 6:30 AT THE GOOCHLAND ADMINISTRATION BUILDING RIGHT HERE IN THIS HALL . AS WE JUST FOUND OUT, AND MOST RECENTLY KNOWLEDGE, THIS IS ALSO SCHOOL BOARD CLERK APPRECIATION WEEK. WE WILL HAVE TEXTBOOK RESOURCE MATERIALS ON DISPLAY FOR PUBLIC VIEWING FROM FEBRUARY 20TH THROUGH MARCH THE FIRST. THAT WILL BE AT OUR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION BUILDING.

CONUNDRUM DAY FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES PRE-K THROUGH EIGHTH

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[A. New GES Construction Update]

ANNOUNCEMENTS . >> THERE IS CERTAINLY NEVER A DULL MOMENT, IS THERE? AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE OUR OWNERS REPRESENTATIVES MR. RYAN TO GIVE US AN UPDATE ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF OUR NEW GOOCHLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL .

GOOD EVENING. >> MADAM CHAIR, BOARD MEMBERS, AS WE MENTIONED, MY NAME IS RYAN WALDROP THEY WILL BE GOING OVER SOME OF THE KEY STAKEHOLDERS UPDATING YOU GUYS WHO IS INVOLVED IN THE TEAM AND MOVING ON TO THE PROGRAM TIMELINES, SOME OF THE STUFF THAT IS HAPPENED, WE WILL MOVE INTO THE CONSTRUCTION STATUS. DISCUSS SOME OF THE LAYOUT, STARTING CONSTRUCTION. UPCOMING CONSTRUCTION TO ACTUALLY OPENING THE BUILDING. FOR THE PROJECT TEAM, WE FIRST HAVE TO START WITH A PROJECT OWNER. THE SCHOOL BOARD, YOU ARE THE PROJECT OWNER FOR THE NEW SCHOOL ITSELF. WITH THAT, YOU HAVE A CONSTRUCTION MANAGER CONSTRUCTION MANAGER FOR THE PROJECT TO HELP THE SYSTEM WITH THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT PORTION. WITH THAT, YOU ALSO HAVE TO HAVE AN ARCHITECT TO DESIGN THE SITE AND THE BUILDING AND PUT OUT THE PLANS FOR THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR. TO ROUNDED OUT, THE FOURTH TEAM MEMBER, THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR FOR CONSTRUCTION THAT IS ACTUALLY BUILDING THE NEW SCHOOL. MOVING ON TO THE PROGRAM TIMELINE, WE CONSIDER THIS A PROGRAM, IT IS NOT JUST A PROJECT. STARTING OFF WITH THE DESIGN PHASE, THAT IS WHEN WE ARE BROUGHT ON FOR JUNE 2021. THAT LED ALL THE WAY TO DECEMBER OF 2022 THROUGH THE ACTUAL PRE-DESIGN AND DESIGN PHASE OF THE PROJECT. MOVING INTO THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE WHICH WE ARE CURRENTLY IN NOW, THAT STARTED RIGHT AROUND 400 DAYS AGO, JANUARY 2023. WE ARE GETTING TO THE END. THAT WILL BE CLOSING UP OF MAY OF 2024. THE SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION OF THE BUILDING. THAT IS ALL OF YOUR TECHNOLOGY EQUIPMENT. WE ARE ALL EXCITED FOR AND HOPING FOR THE OPENING THIS IS PERTAINING JUST TO THE CONTRACT. ON THE LEFT, YOU HAVE YOUR TIME STATUS. AS YOU CAN SEE IN BOLD, OUR COMPLETION DATE IS MAY 21ST, 2024. TIME COMPLETED, RIGHT NOW WE ARE AT 78% FOR THE PROJECT . MOVING ON TO THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE, WE ARE CURRENTLY AT PAY APPLICATION NUMBER 12, THAT SHOWS WHERE WE ARE AT THE FINANCE PORTION OF IT. HE USUALLY DOESN'T LINE UP

[01:05:02]

>> STARTING WITH THE SITE ITSELF, THE ENTIRE PROPERTY IS AROUND 19 ACRES. THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS GOING TO BE LOCATED ON. 176 CARS CAN PARK ON THE FACILITY AND YOU HAVE MORE AREA THAT'S KIND OF TIES INTO YOUR DROP OFF AND PICK UP LANE, IT'S OVER 2000 FEET FOR DOUBLE STACKING. YOU WON'T HAVE CARS BACKING UP ON BULLDOG LANE. SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW THE GROSS VOLUME IS 104,000 SQUARE FEET. YOUR MAX CAPACITY WILL BE AT 700 STUDENTS, THAT IS BROKEN OUT INTO 650, KINDERGARTEN THROUGH FIFTH GRADE AND THEN PRE-K IS ANOTHER 50 STUDENTS WITHIN THAT . WITHIN THE BUILDING ITSELF, YOUR 44 DIFFERENT CLASSROOMS, SOME OF THE MODERN FEATURES YOU HAVE AND THERE ARE SECURITY AND ENERGY FEATURES.

>> WILL GO OVER SOME OF THE KEY FEATURES, PURSES -- FIRST IS THE FACULTY PARKING LOT LOCATED ON THE NORTHWEST SIDE. MOVING ON TO PLAYGROUNDS AND FIELDS, IT'S BROKEN OUT INTO A COUPLE DIFFERENT AREAS. THE FIRST ONE BEING THE MULTIPURPOSE FIELD IN THE BACK, THAT WILL BE THE GREEN AREA FOR KIDS TO PLAY.

SUCKER, YOU HAVE YOUR PLAYGROUND, YOU HAVE A PORT IN PLACE RUBBER AS WELL AS A MULCH AREA AS WELL. YOUR SECONDARY TWO PLAYGROUNDS, YOU WILL HAVE ONE PLAYGROUND FOR THE MIDDLE EDUCATION AND THEN YOUR SECONDARY PLAYGROUND WILL BE FOR YOUR AREA THAT GOES DIRECTLY OUT TO THEIR CLASSROOMS. PARKING LOT LOCATED UP FRONT. THAT IS ALSO, AROUND THE PARKING LOT YOU HAVE YOUR STUDENT DROP OFF, COMING UP DOUBLE LANE MAKING A LOOP AND EXITING THROUGH THE SITE. A WORK IN PROGRESS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO GET GRANT FOR, THAT IS BEING CONSIDERED. YOUR BUS LOOP IS LOCATED ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIGHT. THAT BACKS UP TO SOME OF YOUR MECHANICAL KITCHEN AREA. MOVING ON TO SITE PROGRESSION. WE WILL GO THROUGH A COUPLE OF PHOTOS STARTING BACK IN FEBRUARY 2023. THIS IS RIGHT WHERE WE WERE BREAKING GROUND FOR THE ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION SITE . MOVING IN TO APRIL, ONLY A COUPLE OF MONTHS, THE SITE IS COMPLETELY CLEARED. THAT IS THE BUILDING PAD THAT WE ARE ESTABLISHING FOR THE BUILDING. NEXT SLIDE WE MOVE ON TO JULY 2023. NOW YOU CAN START TO SEE THE GYMNASIUM COMING UP. YOU ALSO START TO SEE THE PERIMETER OF THE BUILDING FOR THE FOUNDATIONS. ON THE RIGHT, IT'S GOING INTO THE ACADEMIC AREA THAT IS TWO-STORY CONSTRUCTION WITH STRUCTURAL STEAL. MOVING ONTO THE NEXT ONE COMING YOU CAN START TO SEE THE CRANE IN THE BACK, THE DECKING FOR THE SECOND FLOOR IS GOING ON. THIS IS RIGHT AROUND A MONTH OR TWO RIGHT BEFORE THE CEREMONY THAT WE HAD FOR THE BUILDING. THIS IS TAKEN LATE JANUARY . YOU HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS FINISHED, ASPHALT, SIDEWALK AND EVERYTHING IT IS PRETTY MUCH ESTABLISHED FOR THE BUILDING AND ITS WATERTIGHT. WE WILL GO OVER TO THE DRONE FLYOVER SO RIGHT NOW WE ARE ABOUT OVER BULLDOG WAY, YOU HAVE THE BUS LOOP THAT HAS ITS OWN ENTRANCE . VISITOR PARKING LOT IS COMING TO THE CENTER RIGHT. RIGHT NOW IN THE BOTTOM SECTION OF THE SCREEN THERE FINISHING ALL OF THE VENEER . WITHIN THE PLAYFIELD AREA, YOU ALSO HAVE A STONE TRACK THAT WILL GO AROUND THE PERIMETER. YOU START TO SEE THE HIGH SCHOOL AND THE MIDDLE SCHOOL TOP RIGHT AND THEN OVER

[01:10:15]

THIS IS WHERE WE START TO GET INTO THE TWO STORY CONSTRUCTION. YOU HAVE YOUR KINDERGARTEN ON YOUR SOUTHSIDE.

HECTOR C1, YOU HAVE FIRST GRADE ON EITHER SIDE AND THE LEFT YOU HAVE THE MUSIC AREA IN THE CENTER. SECOND FLOOR, ONLY SECTOR B AND SECTOR C, THAT'S WHEN YOU GET TO YOUR SECOND, THIRD, FOURTH AND FIFTH GRADE. SOME OF YOUR SHOEBOXES THAT WILL MAKE UP SOME OF YOUR SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS. THIS IS AN INTERIOR PHOTO THAT WAS TAKEN LAST WEEK RIGHT NOW YOU CAN SEE THE SKYLIGHTS, THIS IS VERY MINIMAL LIGHTING WITHIN THE BUILDING. A COUPLE OF STAFF WALK THROUGH DURING A POWER SHUTDOWN AND EVERYTHING, YOU CAN SEE A LOT OF LIGHTING THAT YOU WILL HAVE IN CASE SOMETHING DOES HAPPEN. FOR FINISHED PRODUCT AND EVERYTHING, YOU WILL HAVE WALL PANELS. THAT WILL DAMPEN A BIT OF THE SOUNDPROOFING WITHIN THE ROOM.

YOU WILL HAVE YOUR SCOREBOARD ON TWO SIDES OF THE WALL. THE VOLLEYBALL STRUCTURE FOR THE FOUR. MOVING IN THE CAFETERIA, IN TWO SEPARATE HALVES, YOU HAVE CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS ON THE LEFT. AND THEN YOUR RENDERING ON THE RIGHT, YOU CAN KIND OF SEE HOW CONSTRUCTION IS TAKING PLACE, WHERE THE FINAL PRODUCT IS GOING TO BE FOR THE CAFETERIA AREA, ON THE TOP LEFT YOU HAVE YOUR OVERHANG THAT IS LOOKING INTO THE ACADEMIC AREA.

ON THE RIGHT, YOU HAVE PART OF YOUR CASEWORK AND YOU ALSO HAVE YOUR SECURITY GRILL IN CASE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES. MOVING ON TO THE PERFORMANCE LARGE GROUP AREA . THE CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS IS LOOKING DOWN FROM THE SECOND FLOOR. YOU HAVE YOUR SHOEBOX, YOUR CENTER POD AREA. IT'S NOT CONNECTING TO THE EXTERIOR OF THE BUILDING. YOU HAVE YOUR PERFORMANCE AREA, YOUR GIFTED RESOURCE AREA ABOVE, THAT WILL CREATE THE AREA. MOVING ON TO YOUR LIBRARY AREA. THE LEFT IS CONSTRUCTION PHOTOS WITH YOUR RENDERING ON THE RIGHT FOR THE CENTER, SOME OF THE CENTER SECTIONS WE HAVE A TREE HOUSE THAT ACTUALLY OVERHANGS OVER THE FIRST FLOOR FROM THE SECOND FLOOR WITH STRUCTURAL POLES UNDERNEATH THAT WILL HAVE GLASS AROUND TWO PERIMETERS OF IT YOU CAN ACTUALLY LOOK DOWN IN THE LIBRARY SECTION . UPCOMING CONSTRUCTION WE BROKE THE CELL IN TWO DIFFERENT SECTIONS FOR THE BUILDING. A LOT OF WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE INTERIOR NOW WITH 108 DAYS REMAINING, IS GOING TO BE A LOT OF FINISHES FOR THE PLUMBING. HALLWAY FLOORING, WE ACTUALLY HAD OUR FLOORING CONTRACTOR HERE TODAY DOING A SITE WALK AND EVERYTHING. WE'RE WORKING ON FINAL PAINT, IT'S ACTUALLY TAKING PLACE IN ADMIN. WE'RE ACTUALLY GETTING READY, WE HAVE WEEKLY MEETINGS WITH TECHNOLOGY FROM GOOCHLAND COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS GET READY FOR SUMMER .

WE'RE GOING TO FINALIZE TOP SOIL WAS SEATED AND EVERYTHING.

MOVING ON TO YOUR CONCRETE SIDEWALKS, YOUR ASPHALT DRIVE LANES. YOUR LIGHTING AND SECURITY FOR THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR OF THE BUILDING. ALSO PLAYGROUND PREP THAT IS GOING TO TAKE PLACE BY ANOTHER VENDOR. THAT IS IT FOR THE

[01:15:01]

UPDATE, THANK YOU . >> YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR HIM ABOUT THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT? SO, I ASK YOU THIS EACH TIME YOU PRESENT, WE ARE CURRENTLY UNDER BUDGET AND ON SCHEDULE . OTHER THAN WEATHER BECAUSE THAT WAS THE ANSWER HE GAVE ME BEFORE, WHAT ARE ANY RISK TO OUR TIMELINE IN THE

NEXT EIGHT MONTHS? >> RIGHT NOW WE ARE TRACKING PROCUREMENT. IT HASN'T BEEN AN ISSUE, BUT SCHEDULING APPROPRIATELY FOR THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.

>> WE ARE VERY EXCITED . >> I DO HAVE A QUESTION, SO, WHEN WILL YOU BE DONE? BLAKE OKAY, YOU CAN WALK IN?

>> RIGHT NOW WE ARE GOING THROUGH ALL THE PRE-FINAL INSPECTIONS FOR ALL OF THE TRAITS THAT WE HAVE WITH THE COUNTY AND EVERYTHING . ONCE WE GET THE MAJORITY OF THE BUILDING DONE, WE WILL TRANSFER OVER TO FINAL INSPECTIONS.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING PRE-FINAL INSPECTIONS FOR THE ENTIRE BUILDING. THAT WILL BE BASED ON COUNTY APPROVAL.

>> WILL YOU HAVE TIME FOR PEOPLE TO GIVE IT A RUN THROUGH BEFORE THE STUDENTS ACTUALLY GET THERE? LIKE BREAK THINGS

THAT CAN BE BROKEN? >> WE'RE WORKING ON A SUMMER SCHEDULE OF HOW THINGS ARE GOING TO LAY OUT WHERE SHE CAN COME IN FOR THE NEXT DAY , ALSO THE RIBBON-CUTTING FOR THE SCHOOL AND TRANSITIONING TO AN OWNER PERIOD. WE WILL GO THROUGH OWNER TRAINING WITH HER STAFF ON HOW TO OPERATE. IF ANYTHING DOES BREAK, IT GOES TO THE CONTRACTOR

>> LET'S SAY THE PLUMBING JUST GOES YOU DON'T ENVISION

ANYTHING LIKE THAT? >> THAT'S WHY WE HAVE SO MANY CHECKS AND BALANCES. WE'RE DOING CHECKS FOR EACH LEVEL ONE

AND TWO. >> WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING

YOU IN TWO WEEKS. >> WE ARE NOW GOING TO SHARE

[A. Public Hearing on the Proposed FY25 Budget]

>> THANK YOU. >> AGAIN, GOOD EVENING TO THE CITIZENS OF GOOCHLAND COUNTY, THOSE WHO ARE IN ATTENDANCE AS WELL AS THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING AND/OR LISTENING . MADAM CHAIR, MADAM VICE CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD, I'M VERY PROUD TONIGHT FOR PRESENTATION OF PUBLIC HEARING FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025. TONIGHT WILL BE A CELEBRATION OF OUR SUCCESSES. A COUPLE OF THE CHALLENGES AHEAD, WE WILL ALSO TAKE A COMPREHENSIVE LOOK OF OUR FINANCIAL OUTLAY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2025. AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK OUR DIVISION AND SCHOOL-BASED LEADERS AND BUDGET MEMBERS, I'M SORRY, BUDGET MANAGERS FOR THEIR COMMITTED WORK FOR THIS PROCESS. AS A FORMALITY, IT IS CALLED THE SUPERINTENDENT'S PROPOSED BUDGET. IT COULD NOT HAPPEN WITHOUT A DEDICATED TEAM. FOR THEM I SAY BRAVO, AND THANK YOU. YOU SAW A LOT OF THIS NIGHT REPRESENTED THROUGH THE RECIPIENTS OF THE ECHO AWARDS AND THE STUDENTS THAT WE CELEBRATED. CREATIVITY, COURAGE, HONOR AND OPTIMISM.

AND OUR KOHLER -- CORE GOALS. WE AIM TO MAXIMIZE EACH OF OUR STUDENTS POTENTIAL. WE AIM TO MAXIMIZE RESOURCES FOR INSTRUCTION. WE AIM TO IMPROVE THE CLIMATE OF OUR ORGANIZATION. OUR VISION IS TO INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT, IT IS SUPPORTED BY OUR MISSION TO MAXIMIZE THE POTENTIAL OF EVERY LEARNER. I WANT TO GIVE AN

[01:20:08]

>> IS ONE OF 10 OF 132. NOT JUST THIS YEAR, 10 YEARS RUNNING.

GOOCHLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS BEEN A LEADER IN MONITORING STUDENT GROWTH. FOR 11 YEARS NOW, THROUGH THE MATH TESTING, WE HAVE ASSESSED STUDENT GROWTH IN GRADES TWO THROUGH AN EIGHT.

AHEAD OF YOU ARE FRUITS OF THAT LABOR. THE PINK LINE INDICATES THE NATIONAL AVERAGE . EACH BAR GRAPH BY GRADE, GRADES TWO THROUGH 11 REPRESENT THE PERCENTAGE OF OUR STUDENTS WHO MET OR EXCEEDED THEIR PROJECTED GROWTH GOAL. AS YOU CAN SEE, OUR STUDENTS AND OUR SCHOOLS WELL OUTPACE NATIONAL AVERAGES IN STUDENT GROWTH FOR READING. IN MATH, THE STORY IS ALMOST IDENTICAL . WE HAVE WORK TO DO WITH SIXTH GRADE

[01:25:07]

[01:30:08]

IF YOU LOOK AT OUR SALARIES BASED ON A SEVEN-YEAR TREND, THIS IS VERY COMPELLING DATA. IN 2017, WE RANKED THIRD IN THE REGION. WE CURRENTLY SLIPPED THREE SLOTS TO FOURTH. AT FIVE YEARS WE RANKED THIRD IN THE REGION, WE ARE FIFTH. AT 10 YEARS, WE WERE THIRD IN THE REGION. WE ARE FIFTH. THAT STORY GOES FOR 15 YEARS, 20 YEARS, AND 25 YEARS. THE CHALLENGE THERE IS, THAT IS NOT TO IMPLY THAT WE HAVE NOT TAKEN CARE OF OUR EMPLOYEES ANNUALLY WITH ANNUAL COMPENSATION INCREASES, WE CERTAINLY HAVE THE CHALLENGE WITH CLOSING A GAP OF THIS SIZE IS IF WE ARE DOING A PERCENTAGE IN OUR SURROUNDING NEIGHBORS ARE DOING AN EQUAL PERCENTAGE, THEN THE DISPARITY REMAINS. I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR, WE'VE DONE A GOOD JOB. THEY HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB WITH COMPENSATION INCREASES, THE CHALLENGE COMES THAT EVERYBODY AROUND US IS COMPENSATING OR INCREASING COMPENSATION AT SIMILAR RATES.

OUR MIDYEAR RESIGNATIONS ARE UP 120%. FOLKS, THAT IS NOT BECAUSE THEY HATE MY GUTS. THAT IS NOT . FOLKS ARE LEAVING US TO TAKE PRIVATE SECTOR JOBS IT INCREASES THAT WE CAN'T ARGUE NOR BLAME THEM FOR TAKING ADVANTAGE OF. WE'VE HAD STAFF MEMBERS WHO HAVE LEFT US TO TAKE OPPORTUNITIES AT PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND ACADEMIES. HISTORICALLY, THAT NEVER HAPPENED. PUBLIC EDUCATION ALWAYS OUTPACE PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN TERMS OF TEACHER COMPENSATION AND PAY. OUR MIDYEAR RESIGNATIONS ARE UP 120%. WE HAVE BEEN VERY BLESSED. WHEN WE LOSE PEOPLE WE CAN OFTEN BACKFILL THOSE POSITIONS OR COME UP WITH OTHER WAYS TO PROVIDE INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES TO KIDS SO THAT WE DON'T MISS A BEAT. THIS IS SLOWLY BECOMING A HEMORRHAGE. MY CONCERN IS WITH EVERY ACCUMULATING RESIGNATION, THE PROBABILITY OF LANDING ON OUR FEET IS DECREASED. WE HAVE LOTS OF ADVANTAGES. I'M GOING TO IMAGINE THAT FIVE YEARS AGO, THE SAME SEESAW WITH THE SAME LEVERAGES WOULD'VE TILTED IN THE OTHER DIRECTION. PEOPLE LOVE OUR AVERAGE CLASS SIZE IN GOOCHLAND COUNTY SCHOOLS. OUR TEACHERS LOVE THAT WE TRUST THEM TO PRACTICE THEIR CRAFT AND THAT THEY HAVE AUTONOMY TO DO SO. SUPPORTIVE LEADERSHIP

[01:35:07]

TONIGHT OUR PROPOSED BUDGET PROPOSES A 5% PAY INCREASE FOR ALL EMPLOYEES. ALL EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE MET A SATISFACTORY EVALUATION. EMPLOYEES WITH UNSATISFACTORY OR NEEDS IMPROVEMENT WILL REMAIN AT THEIR CURRENT SCALE PLACEMENT PER OUR POLICY. STAFF AT THE TOP OF THE SCALE WILL RECEIVE LESS THAN 5%. HERE'S A SUMMARY OF OUR REQUESTED INVESTMENTS. ADVANCING INCLUSIVE ENGAGING CULTURE. IT COMES IN AT AN ESTIMATED $1,327,683. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT A POTENTIAL 9% HEALTH INSURANCE INCREASE. THAT IS A PROJECTED INCREASE BASED ON THE INFORMATION WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO US AT THIS TIME. IF IT IS 9% OR LESS, THIS BUDGET INCLUDES FUNDING TO ABSORB INCREASES FOR OUR STAFF. A COST OF $411,000, I'M SORRY 411 $389. WE HAVE SALARY CHANGES SINCE THE BUDGET WAS ADOPTED. SPECIFICALLY DECREASES , THIS WILL, AT A SAVINGS OF $392,762. WE ARE PROPOSING TO INCREASE OUR SUBSTITUTE PAY CONVERSATION TO MAKE IT EASIER SO THAT WE CAN SECURE SUBS WHEN OUR TEACHERS ARE AWAY AND CAN PERFORM THEIR DUTIES. THIS INVESTMENT COMES AT AN ASK OF $50,278. WE HAVE HR INITIATIVES. BONUSES, STIPENDS, AND OTHER TRAININGS FOR WHICH WE SEEK AN INVESTMENT OF $59,340 . AND COMMUNICATION INITIATIVES SO THAT WE CAN KEEP OUR FAMILIES WELL-CONNECTED TO OUR SCHOOLS AND WELL INFORMED OF WHAT WE HAD GOING ON IN THE DIVISION. THIS COMES AT A REQUESTED INVESTMENT OF $20,870. OUR TOTAL REQUESTED INVESTMENT FOR INCLUSIVE CULTURE . STRATEGIC GOAL THREE. TO ENHANCE AND SUPPORT THE INSTRUCTIONAL LEARNING NEEDS OF ALL STUDENTS AND STAFF. ALL OF OUR ENVIRONMENTS ARE INVITING . STUDENT STAFF AND VISITORS WITH A SAFE ENVIRONMENT AT ALL TIMES. THEY WILL USE APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY AND NETWORK SERVICES. ALL RESOURCES ARE ALLOCATED WITH TRANSPARENCY, EQUITY, EFFICIENCY AND COMPLIANCE. OUR SUMMARY OF INVESTMENTS TO ADVANCE OUR GOAL FOR FACILITIES RESOURCES AND TECHNOLOGY. IT REQUIRES EXTRA MANPOWER TO KEEP THE FACILITY AS PRISTINE AS IS THE STANDARD OF OUR SCHOOLS. TO DO THAT, WE ARE REQUESTING FOR CUSTODIANS, ALL OF THESE THINGS TOTAL WHEN YOU TAKE INTO ACCOUNT INSURANCES, WHEN YOU TAKE INTO ACCOUNT EXTRA MANPOWER . FUEL COSTS ARE GOING UP AND OUR OTHER FACILITIES AS WELL. PROJECTING INCREASES. FACILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION,

[01:40:16]

FOR GOAL THREE. >> WE HAVE TAKEN ON STRATEGIC ABANDONMENT. IT HAS BEEN A LONG-STANDING TRADITION HERE.

THAT'S WHEN WE TAKE A CRITICAL LOOK AT THOSE THINGS THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY INVESTING AND DECIDE WHICH OF THOSE THINGS EITHER PROVIDE REPLICABLE SERVICE OR PROVIDE SERVICES THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET THROUGH OTHER PERHAPS CHEAPER MEANS . SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE DECIDED WOULD BE ADEQUATE REDUCTIONS UNDER STRATEGIC ABANDONMENT. STAFFING CHANGES.

A .5 FTE FOR HIGH SCHOOL SPANISH. SECONDARY EXTRA SESSIONS. COSTS OR SAVINGS. WE'VE TAKEN A LOOK AT SOME OF OUR SOFTWARE PROGRAMS AND ABANDON THOSE THAT WE CAN FUNCTION WITHOUT. THEY HAD A SAVINGS OF $44,500 . WE HAVE ELIMINATED OR REMOVED ANY UNUSED STAFF STIPENDS AT A SAVINGS OF $5500. WE HAVE REMOVED CLASSROOM AND MAINTENANCE TRAILERS FOR WHICH WE WERE PAYING RENT AND REDUCE THE NUMBERS OF DEVICE LEASES AND GIVEN UP A LEASE THAT WE HAVE ON A BUS PARKING LOT. THAT COMES OUT OF SAVINGS OF $104,328 . WE HAVE HAD A REDUCTION IN SERVICES FOR UNIFORMS, TESTING, PRINTING, THIRD-PARTY SUPPORT SYSTEMS OUT OF SAVINGS ESTIMATED TO BE $55,530 AND A REDUCTION IN SPECIFIC I.T. EQUIPMENT SAVINGS IS PROJECTED TO BE $13,000. WE WERE ABLE TO REDUCE BY 1.8 FULL-TIME TEACHING EQUIPMENTS AND A TOTAL SAVINGS OF ALL OF THESE INITIATIVES TOTALING $278,000 $620 -- 278 $620 . I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER A SUMMARY OF OUR TOTAL INVESTMENTS UNDER GOALS. THE TOTAL ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT FOR ALL THREE GOALS INDICATES A NEED -- THIS TAKES INTO ACCOUNT, $2,000,630 IN STATE AND LOCAL FUNDING.

REGRETTABLY A REDUCTION OF $303,017 FROM OUR FEDERAL BUDGET ALLOCATION. A 5.7 INCREASE, OUR NEW TOTAL INVESTMENTS EQUAL $43,497,804. A CELEBRATION TO BE HAD OVER THAT . WHEN WE TAKE A LOOK AT HOW OUR PROPOSED DOLLARS IN BUDGET INVESTMENTS BY STATE CATEGORIES ARE ALLOCATED, I'M VERY PROUD TO SHARE WITH OUR BOARD AND OUR PUBLIC THAT OVER 77% OF OUR FUNDING IS DEDICATED TO INSTRUCTION AND TECHNOLOGY AND INSTRUCTIONAL GOALS. THAT IS OUTSTANDING . WE ALSO HAVE A 6.6 OR 7% CONTRIBUTION TO TECHNOLOGY. AND 9% CONTRIBUTION TO MAINTENANCE, ABOUT 7% GOES TO KEEPING OUR BUSES WELL-MAINTAINED. 7% GOES TO ADMINISTRATION AND HEALTH.

[01:45:08]

SO, HOW DO WE PAY FOR IT ALL? WE BASE OUR BUDGET ON A PROJECTED ADM NOW THE NUMBERS THAT I SHARED WITH YOU A BIT AGO, WE BASED OUR AVERAGE DAILY MEMBERSHIP ON THE END OF MARCH.

IT REFLECTS THE DECEMBER 2023 GOVERNOR'S BUDGET. DOESN'T INCLUDE ANY HOUSE PROPOSED BUDGET CHANGES. THERE ARE A FEW REMAINING. SEVERAL I'D SAY. FEDERAL FUNDING IS THE SAME AS OCTOBER 2023. PLUS AND ANTICIPATED CARRYOVER FOR OUR TITLE FUNDS. THE FINAL YEAR OF OUR COVID RELATED MONIES. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DO NOT KNOW, THE COVID RELATED DOLLARS HAVE EXHAUSTED . WE HAVE PRETTY MUCH GOT UNTIL SEPTEMBER TO RECONCILE ALL OF THOSE COSTS AND FUNDS. HERE IS WHERE THE DOLLARS COME IN. SALES TAX PROJECTED AT 97 1/2% OF STATE NUMBERS. $4,181,735 WHICH IS A 2.6% REDUCTION OVER THE PRIOR FISCAL YEAR. ALL OTHER STATE AID I AM PROUD TO SHARE HAS GROWN A LITTLE BIT OVER HALF PERCENT. AND OUR FEDERAL AID IS MENTIONED BECAUSE OF THE EXHAUSTION OF COVID DOLLARS OR THE EXPIRATION OF COVID DOLLARS DOWN 11.3%. IT'S DOWN FROM $2,666,584 IN THE PREVIOUS BUDGET. IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THIS GRAPH, AND THE GRAPHS THAT I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU SUBSEQUENT TO THIS ONE, IT TELLS A STORY. IF YOU TAKE OUT 2023 WHICH IS AN OUTLIER, FOR THE PURCHASES OF THIS EXAMPLE, IT EVEN STILL WORKS. FOLKS WILL SAY, WELL THIS ILLUSTRATES THAT EVERY YEAR THERE HAS BEEN RECORD INVESTMENTS IN PUBLIC EDUCATION. FOLKS, THAT IS TRUE AND UNDENIABLE. WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SAY THAT, EVERY SINGLE YEAR. NEXT YEAR, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SAY, NOT AS A POINT OF PRIDE BUT A POINT OF EXPECTATION THAT THIS IS A RECORD YEAR IN FUNDING OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THIS IS WHERE THE REVENUE COMES. WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR FOR A COUNTY TRANSFER RECOMMENDED IN CREASE OF $2.122 MILLION OVER FISCAL YEAR 2024 ALLOCATIONS. THIS REPRESENTS AN INCREASE OF OUR TOTAL BUDGET. 3% OF OUR BUDGET WILL BE ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE CATEGORY OF OTHER, THIS INCLUDES FACILITY RENTALS, STUDENTS WHO PASS TUITION 4% OF OUR BUDGET TO SUPPORT AT THE FEDERAL GRANTS, ABOUT 14% OF OUR BUDGET IS FUNDED THROUGH STATE GRANTS. ABOUT 10% FUNDED THROUGH STATE SALE PROCEEDS. AGAIN, THIS IS A 10 YEAR TREND OF ALL REVENUE SOURCES. AND AGAIN, THIS NUMBER TRENDS NORTHWARD AS IT SHOULD. ADDITIONAL REVENUE MATCHES FOR ADDITIONAL EXPENSES. THIS IS WHAT YOU CALL A BALANCED BUDGET. OUR TOTAL ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS COME IN AT -- PAY

[01:50:03]

ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS AT EVERY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO SHARE THE DUTY OF SCHOOL LEADERSHIP IN 2024. INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY COACHES AT EVERY SCHOOL. ADVANCE FROM A WORK BASED LEARNING COORDINATOR. MORE DISCRETIONARY FUNDING FOR OUR SCHOOLS. WE WOULD LOVE FOR THAT NUMBER TO BE SEVEN, 10%.

THIRD-PARTY AFTERNOON PROGRAMS FOR SUMMER SCHOOL. PERMANENT SUBSTITUTES, ONE PER SCHOOL. FIVE ALLOCATIONS. CLERICAL SUPPORT FOR FACILITIES. A DRIVER TRAINER . THE MIDDLE SCHOOL HAVE THEIR ATHLETIC COACHES PAID ON A PERCENTAGE BASED ON THEIR SALARY. SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DO AT THE UPPER SECONDARY SCHOOL. LESS THAN CONVENTIONAL NEEDS. IN BY LESS THAN CONVENTIONAL, I MEAN THAT THERE ARE FOLKS WHO ARE DEGREED BUT DIDN'T TRAINED TO BE TEACHERS, DIDN'T STUDY TO BE TEACHERS. THEY COME TO US WITH DEGREES IN THEIR PARTICULAR CONTENT AREA BUT WHILE THERE ACTUALLY TEACHING, THEY ARE ENROLLED GAINING THE EDUCATIONAL COURSES FOR CERTIFICATION. A LEAVE COORDINATOR.

>> WE LIKE TO HAVE THIS BUDGET INCLUDED, AND ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR TRANSPORTATION OPERATIONS. ESPECIALLY FOR COSTS AND UNKNOWN INCREASES. THESE ARE THINGS THAT ARE ESSENTIAL FUN PARTS OF OUR FUNCTION. AN IDEAL BUDGET THAT REFLECTED OUR NEEDS, ALL OF THESE THINGS WOULD'VE BEEN INCLUDED . THERE ARE OTHER UNFUNDED ITEMS THAT WE WILL POTENTIALLY USE END OF YOUR FUNDING FROM THIS CURRENT FISCAL TO ADDRESS. HEAVY EQUIPMENT PURCHASE, RUBBER TIRE LOADER, AND ESTIMATE COST OF $60,000. WE START OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLERS IN COMPETITIVE WRESTLING. THEY NEED A MAN TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. THAT COST $15,000. VEHICLE REPLACEMENTS WHICH WE SO DESPERATELY NEED. FOUR MAINTENANCE MECHANICS TRUCKS, ESTIMATED COST, $220,000. RANDOLPH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL , THESE DIGITAL DISPLAY BOARDS, FIVE OF THOSE TO HELP ADVANCE THEIR STUDENT CITIZENSHIP AND INFORMATION PROGRAMS, $2500. SCHOOL BUS SEAT REPAIRS, $10,000 . I WANT

[01:55:08]

SECURITY CAMERA REPLACEMENTS AT $15,000. CLASSROOM BOARDS AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $40,000. THESE ITEMS WERE NOT FUNDED FROM THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR 2024 SCHOOL BOARD REQUEST .

WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN DISCUSS SOME OF THESE ISSUES IF NOT ALL OF THEM WITH SURPLUS FUNDS AT THE END OF THIS YEAR.

WE ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF BUILDING BRIGHTER FUTURES.

PARTS OF ME WISH THAT IT WERE CHEAPER TO DO IT. IT IS NOT, THESE ARE MODEST ASKS AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR OUR FAITH IN US TO GET THIS JOB DONE AND I'M VERY PROUD OF THE BUDGET THAT WE BROUGHT FORTH TONIGHT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. THANK YOU

ALL. >> THANK YOU.

>> IT FOR PUBLIC HEARING, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? WE HAVE BEEN OVER THIS CONTENT IN GREAT DETAIL SO THERE SHOULDN'T BE ANY SURPRISES FROM THE SIDE BUT LET ME GIVE YOU THE

OPPORTUNITY. >> I HAVE A QUESTION.

>> YES MA'AM. >> WE TALKED ABOUT THIS EARLIER, IF YOU'RE GIVING A 5% INCREASE ACROSS THE BOARD, WHAT ARE THE OTHER REGIONAL SCHOOLS GIVING?

>> I WOULD SAY THE MEDIUM NUMBER -- MEDIAN NUMBER WAS 4%, WE HAD A CONVERSATION THAT WHAT WOULD'VE BEEN JANUARY MEETING WHERE EVERYBODY THOUGHT WE WOULD BE DOING GREAT IF WE COULD DO 3%. I WENT IN A LITTLE RESERVED BECAUSE I THOUGHT A LITTLE OUTSIDE OF WHAT WE SAID, BUT I'M PROUD OF IT AND IT'S GOOD FOR OUR PEOPLE. I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW WE GOT TO 5% IN THE SCENARIO THAT IS UNIQUE TO GOOCHLAND . ALL OF OUR COUNTIES WILL REALIZE A 5% PAY INCREASE. EVERYBODY WHO WORKS FOR THE COUNTY WILL REALIZE A HIGH PERCENT PAY INCREASE. IT'S ONLY RIGHT THAT THEY RECEIVE THAT EQUITABLE

BUMP. A >> IT'S NOT GOING TO HELP KEEP THE TEACHERS HERE, 5% THERE IS LESS THAN 5% THERE.

>> THE GAP THAT WE ARE OFFERING IS GOING TO BE INSIGNIFICANT TO ADDRESS THE DISCREPANCIES, DISPARITIES RIGHT NOW WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO HOLD POWER IN THE REGION.

>> AND ASK RELATED TO A MARKET ADJUSTMENT FOR OUR TEACHING

PROFESSIONALS >> THAT BALL REMAINS IN THE COURT, HE AND I HAVE A MEETING THAT IS GOING TO BE COMING UP NEXT WEEK WHERE I HOPE TO ASK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT IT. FOR THE BENEFIT OF PEOPLE WHO MIGHT NOT HAVE HEARD ABOUT THAT MARKET ADJUSTMENT INCREASE LAST MONTH, ACTUALLY IT WASN'T LAST MONTH, IT WAS A COUPLE WEEKS BACK, TIME IS FLOATING BY. WE ESSENTIALLY TOOK A LOOK AT OUR EMPLOYEES WHO WERE CLASSIFIED AS TEACHERS. OF THEM WE HAVE 234, 226 OF THEM ARE ACTUAL CLASSROOM TEACHERS, EIGHT OF THEM HOLD OTHER POSITIONS THAT ARE PAID ON THE TEACHERS SCALE. NOBODY BUT THOSE FOLKS CLASSIFIED IN THAT CATEGORY. IT WILL BE AN INVESTMENT OF ABOUT $1.4 MILLION TO DO THAT. I SUGGEST WE DO IT NOW. I SUGGEST WE DO IT NOW. IT WILL HELP US IN WAYS THAT ARE ALMOST INDESCRIBABLE. YOU SEE THE NUMBERS, 120% JOB, FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AGO YOU WERE COASTING SEVERAL YEARS WITHOUT A SINGLE ONE. NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE THAT INVESTMENT IN OUR SCHOOLS.

[02:00:02]

>> THANK YOU. >> FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR PUBLIC AT THIS TIME, WE WILL HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 25 BUDGET. ONLY COMMENTS ABOUT THE BUDGET WILL NOW BE HEARD. ONCE THE COMMENT HAS BEEN CLOSED, WE WILL HAVE A SEPARATE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ON OTHER MATTERS. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ON THE PROPOSED FISCAL

YEAR 25 BUDGET IS NOW OPEN. >> GOOD EVENING MADAME CHAIR, GOOD EVENING BOARD. WELL DOWN -- IT DONE, SIR. IT ALWAYS SEES ME PROUD TO SEE YOU WORKING EVERY DAY. THE BUDGET REFLECTS THE WORK THAT GOES INTO THE BUDGET REFLECTS AN INTERESTING MIND-SET THAT EVERY DAY THE PEOPLE THAT CELEBRATED FOR THE WORK OF THIS BUDGET, EVERY DAY THEY ARE WORKING TO CREATE AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE. THERE'S ALSO THAT PART OF THEM GOING, WHAT DO I NEED FOR NEXT YEAR. A HUGE MIND OF WORK FOR THE FOLKS THAT ARE CREATING THESE NUMBERS, CREATING, RECOGNIZING THESE NEEDS, I APPRECIATE IT SO MUCH. THERE WAS AN ITEM ABOUT MOVING THE RATIO OF SCHOOL COUNSELORS, IF YOU FOLLOW LEGISLATION , THOSE BILLS WERE CONTINUED TO 2025 FOR APPROPRIATIONS. IS THAT A GOOD THING, OR A BAD THING? WE KNOW THAT MENTAL HEALTH IS HUGE, A HUGE NEED AND THAT SCHOOL COUNSELORS CARRY AN AMAZING WEIGHT EVERY SINGLE DAY TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS. IT IS KIND OF A WIN LOSS THING. FOR THE BUDGET, WE KNOW IT IS ONE LESS HIT ON OUR BUDGET. THE LEGISLATION FOR MOVING TEACHER COMPENSATION TO THE NATIONAL AVERAGE IS STILL MOVING FORWARD. WE DO STILL HAVE MORE CONVERSATION TO TAKE PLACE ABOUT THAT PERCENTAGE INCREASE.

THAT WILL BE INTERESTING. WHEN WE LOOK AT THE ITEMS THAT WERE STILL ON OUR LIST OF NEEDS, I THINK IT IS SO INTERESTING THAT IT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE. THIS IS A HUMAN BUSINESS SERVING HUMANS AND IT'S OUR PEOPLE WHO MAKE SUCH A HUGE DIFFERENCE. AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND WE FIND ADDITIONAL FUNDING, WE APPROPRIATE ADDITIONAL FUNDING THE PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING TODAY AND FOR TOMORROW WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE GREAT DECISIONS , THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU FOR THE WORK.

DISTRICT 2. I JUST WANT TO THANK FOR HIS PRESENTATION ON THIS BUDGET. ONE THING THAT IS FOR SURE, HE USED THE TERM INVESTMENT A LOT. THAT MEANS THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE OUR BIGGEST INVESTMENT. THE THINGS THAT HE HAS REQUESTED IN THIS BUDGET SUPPORT THOSE STUDENTS. AS A CITIZEN, I DO ASK THIS BOARD TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THESE EFFORTS AS WELL AS WHEN YOU GO BEFORE THE BOARD SUPERVISOR TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO SUPPORT THE EFFORTS OF OUR STUDENTS AND OUR TEACHERS.

THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE AGAINST US IN THIS COUNTY WHEN IT COMES TO RETAINING STAFF. MUCH OF WHAT YOU DON'T HAVE CONTROL OVER, WE STILL NEED TO TRY TO EMPLOY AND RETAIN TEACHERS THAT ARE GOING TO LOOK OUT FOR THE BEST FOR OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF. I ASK AGAIN THAT YOU SUPPORT THIS BUDGET, YOU WERE AT MY CHURCH A COUPLE WEEKS AGO AND TALK TO ABOUT 25 CITIZENS WHO ARE FULLY SUPPORTING THE SCHOOL BUDGET

SO, THANK YOU. >> IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET? SEEING NONE,

[02:05:08]

[A. Public Comment]

WITH THAT SAID, THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW OPEN. WE HAVE SOMEONE SIGNED UP AND THAT IS MISS SAMANTHA FROM THE VS

P.A. >> MADAME CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD, GREAT TO SEE YOU ALL IN PERSON, IT IS WONDERFUL TO SEE THE WORK THAT YOU DO AND YOU HAD SUCH A GREAT REPRESENTATION OF YOUR SCHOOL DIVISION HERE TODAY. I'M GLAD I GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THAT AND BE A PART OF THAT WITH YOU. I'M THE DEPUTY EXECUTIVE FOR THE VIRGINIA SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION. ONE OF THE RECOGNITIONS THAT IS ALSO IN FEBRUARY, SCHOOLBOARD APPRECIATION MONTH. MY SOUL ROLE HERE IS TO APPRECIATE YOU FIVE FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO EVERY SINGLE DAY ON BEHALF OF YOUR STUDENTS IN GOOCHLAND COUNTY I DO HAVE RECOGNITION THAT IF I CAN READ FOR YOU, THIS IS GIVEN BY GOVERNOR GLENN. I WILL READ THIS FOR YOU AT THE END. SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS ARE ELECTED TO REPRESENT THE INTEREST OF STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND PARENTS . SCHOOL BOARDS PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN ENSURING THAT STUDENTS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH HAVE ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY RIGOROUS EDUCATION AND WHEREAS SCHOOL BOARDS OF THE GOVERNING BODIES RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OVERSIGHT, SUCCESS AND EFFECTIVENESS OF SCHOOL SYSTEMS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS WORK WITH PARENTS, BUSINESSES, EDUCATIONAL PROFESSIONALS AND OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO CREATE A SHARED VISION OF SUCCESS FOR STUDENTS. WHEREAS THESE DECISIONS AFFECT THE PRESENT AND FUTURE LIVES OF CHILDREN AND CHART A PATH FOR ALL STUDENTS TO BE COMPETITIVE IN A LOCAL STATE AND NATIONAL ECONOMY. WHEREAS SCHOOLBOARD APPRECIATION MONTH ACKNOWLEDGES THE CONTRIBUTIONS DEDICATION AND SERVICE OF VIRGINIA'S LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD LEADERS. NOW THEREFORE, I DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE FEBRUARY 2024 AS SCHOOLBOARD APPRECIATION MONTH IN OUR COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA AND I CALL THIS OBSERVANCE TO THE ATTENTION OF ALL OF OUR STUDENTS. I WANT TO REITERATE, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR WORK THAT YOU DO. WE KNOW YOU ARE NOT IN IT FOR THE LONG HOURS, YOU'RE IN IT FOR THE STUDENTS AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK.

WHO IS THE NEW CHAIRPERSON? ALL RIGHT, GOOD AFTERNOON MADAME CHAIR. I AM HERE AGAIN AND I WANT EVERYBODY TO LOOK, I MEAN BUSINESS WHEN I SAY I AM ADVOCATING FOR MY GRANDKIDS, I MEAN I AM ADVOCATING. I'M NOT PLAYING ANY GAMES. I SHOULD'VE GOT A PEER FOR THE BUDGET, I'M NOT SURE THAT WAS THE TIME I SHOULD'VE SPOKE. ANYWAY, THANK YOU ALL FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK YOU WILL SEE A LOT OF ME, I WISH I COULD'VE BEEN HERE LAST MONTH BUT I'M DEALING WITH A LOT OF HEALTH ISSUES.

CHERYL, I WOULD'VE BEEN HERE LAST MONTH, BUT I'M HAVING MAJOR HEALTH ISSUES SO I REALLY HAD TO GET MYSELF TOGETHER TO GET HERE TODAY. I'M SUPPOSED BE ON THE OPERATING TABLE TODAY BUT PRAISE GOD THAT THINGS HAVE SHIFTED. SO, WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'M COMING FIRST WITH THE WORD OF GOD. IN ISAIAH

[02:10:02]

GOOCHLAND COUNTY HAS PAID THEM OVER $250,000 AND FOUR MONTHS TIME NOT TO EDUCATE MY GRANDCHILDREN . I AM FILING EVERY COMPLAINT I POSSIBLY CAN AND I WILL CONTINUE, $250,000, GOOCHLAND COUNTY COULD'VE EDUCATED THESE KIDS BUT YET THEY ARE AT HOME REGRESSING AND THEY HAVE NO BUSINESS IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL BECAUSE WE TRIED THAT AND IT DIDN'T WORK SO, AS ALBERT EINSTEIN SAYS, IF YOU KEEP DOING THE SAME THING YOU'RE GOING TO, WITH THE SAME RESULTS . IT IS THE DEFINITION OF INSANITY. WHY ARE WE DOING THAT? WHY WON'T WE SEND THESE CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN TRAUMATIZED TO THE MAX, SOME OF THE WORST CASE, AND THE ADMINISTRATION SAID IT WHEN I BROUGHT THE KIDS HERE, THE STAFF SAID IT, THEY SAID THIS IS THE WORST CASE THEY'VE EVER SEEN OF CHILDREN HAVE BEEN TRAUMATIZED LIKE THESE KIDS, THEY WITNESSED THEIR MOTHER DYING AND THEY TALK ABOUT IT EVERY DAY. THEY TALK ABOUT IT EVERY DAY. THEY ARE DISABLED, THE DISABILITY LIST GOES ON FOR MILES. GOOCHLAND IS NOT TEACHING THESE KIDS, EDUCATING.

THERE WAS AN ACT IN PLACE THAT SAYS NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND. I AM ALMOST FINISHED. NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND, THAT WAS THE ACT, NOW IT IS EVERY CHILD SUCCEED. THEY HAVE BEEN AT HOME FOR OVER A YEAR. THERE NOT SUCCEEDING, THEIR FAILING, DROWNING, AND DYING. JUSTICE, I'M LOOKING TO EACH ONE OF THEM I WILL HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE AND I WILL PUT TOGETHER A PETITION FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER TO HELP ME GET WHAT I NEED FOR THESE CHILDREN, WILL YOU HELP ME? I'VE BEEN BEGGING AND PLEADING WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, HELP THESE CHILDREN.

THEY ARE DYING, THEY ARE LOSING WEIGHT LIKE CRAZY, THEY ARE REGRESSING, THEY NEED HELP, HELP THEM. I'M DONE.

>> HOW ARE YOU DOING, I'M FROM OVER THERE I AM SAYING THE MOST IMPORTANT POLICY BY FAR THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE COMING UP THE NEXT FOUR YEARS HOPEFULLY, SURELY YOU'RE GOING TO EXTEND A, LITTLE BONUS TIME, MAYBE HAVE A LITTLE PULVER WHO HAD THE BEST PUBLIC COMMENT LAST MONTH, GIVE THEM A LITTLE EXTRA TIME. LITTLE THINGS LIKE THAT, I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO THAT. I WILL SAY, I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE THAT WE ARE GOING TO FACE HIS TREATING PEOPLE AS INDIVIDUALS.

I THINK THE OLD SCHOOL BOARD HAVE FAILED IN THAT REGARD, WHO YOU HIRE SHOULD NOT BE BASED UPON WHAT GROUP THEY'RE IN, WHETHER THEY ARE LEFT OR RIGHT HANDED, THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN, WHAT THEY DO OR DON'T DO, THESE KIND OF THINGS. I THINK THEY SHOULD BE TREATED AS INDIVIDUALS. THEY ARE EXTREMELY LIMITED TO CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE YOU CAN GET TO KNOW PEOPLE. YOU ONLY HAVE A FEW MINUTES MAYBE IN THOSE EXTREMELY RARE CIRCUMSTANCES THINGS ARE DIFFERENT. EVEN IN THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES, I JUST DON'T BELIEVE WE SHOULD EVER BE

[02:15:01]

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, I CAN SEE WITHOUT MY READING GLASSES ON. DISTRICT 3, MADAM CHAIR, BOARD MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. MY NAME IS JENNIFER, OIL BILL DISTRICT 3. I AM A MEMBER OF THE GOOCHLAND NAACP. I APPRECIATE ALL THE TEACHERS AND STAFF DO TO CELEBRATE PEOPLE WHO WORK SO HARD AND CONTRIBUTED SO MUCH AND WAITED SO LONG TO BE RECOGNIZED AS CITIZENS. JUST ACROSS THE RIVER, THE FATHER OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH WAS BORN IN 1875. IN TWO WEEKS, WE WILL CELEBRATE THE BLACK STUDENTS WHO INTEGRATED GOOCHLAND SCHOOLS A LITTLE OVER 50 YEARS AGO I'M ALSO A BOARD MEMBER OF GLISSON. WE ENVISION A WORLD IN WHICH EVERY CHILD LEARNS TO RESPECT AND ACCEPT ALL PEOPLE REGARDLESS OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY, OR EXPRESSION. HISTORICALLY, GCPS WORKS ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS. YOU ARE TAKING TIME TO WORK ON A POLICY THAT MARGINALIZES A HANDFUL OF STUDENTS AND POTENTIALLY OPENS OUR COUNTY UP TO LAWSUITS. THIS IS TIME AND MONEY FOR ALL STUDENTS . I LISTENED TODAY TO THE SCHOOL BOARD WORK SHOPPING THE EXACT SAME POLICY. IT WAS PAINFUL, OVER AN HOUR WAS SPENT ON POLICIES REGARDING A TINY HANDFUL OF STUDENTS. AT ONE POINT THEY DECIDED THAT PRONOUNS WOULD NOT BE RECOGNIZED AND LATER THAT COUNSELORS MUST CALL PARENTS IMMEDIATELY IF ANY CHILD DISCUSSES THEIR GENDER OR SEXUALITY . PLEASE BE MINDFUL THAT YOU ARE DISCUSSING REAL HUMAN BEINGS TODAY. YOUNG CHILDREN WERE SENSITIVE AND NEED TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE LOVED, RESPECTED, AND WANTED IN OUR COMMUNITY. THEY HEAR YOU, IF NOT ON THE LIVE STREAM, THEY WILL HEAR THE ECHO OF HOW YOU SPEAK OF THEM. BE KIND, BE SURE THAT EVERYTHING YOU SAY HERE TODAY IS SOMETHING YOU WOULD WANT TO BE HEARD BY THE YOUNGEST MOST VULNERABLE YEARS.

IT IS THE SINGLE BEST THAT CAN LEAD TO SUICIDE, LEAVE ROOM FOR THE IDEA THAT INTERRACIAL AND MARRIAGE SHUNNED AND VILLAINS IN THE COURTS. SOMEDAY SOON TRENT PEOPLE WILL LIKEWISE BE EMBRACED IN OUR LAWS. YOU CAN BE ON THE RIGHT OR THE WRONG SIDE OF THAT. THEY CONTINUE THE TRADITION OF RESPECTING EVERY CHILD, MEETING THEM WHERE THEY ARE AND HELPING THEM THROUGH THEIR PUBLIC SCHOOL YEARS WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT AND LOVE.

OUR COUNTY CAN AFFORD IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> I AM IN DISTRICT TWO, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS AND THAT IS THAT YOU ALL WERE ELECTED AND EVERYONE DIDN'T VOTE FOR YOU, BUT YOU ARE CHARGED WITH LOOKING OUT FOR THE BEST INTEREST OF EVERY CITIZEN IN THE COUNTY. YOU TOOK AN OATH OF OFFICE THAT SAYS THAT I WILL DO MY DUE DILIGENCE

[02:20:03]

>> THANK YOU. >> GOOD EVENING, I AM A GOOCHLAND PARENT . BOTH OF WHICH WOULD HAPPEN IF THE PROPOSED POLICIES FOR DISCUSSING TONIGHT , THE TITLE SOUNDS NICE BUT THE TITLE IS FALSE. IT TAKES THEM AWAY FROM THEM. NAMING IT THAT DOES NOT PROTECT IT BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY FOR THE PEOPLE WHO MADE THAT POLICY, THEY CAN READ VERY WELL. WE CAN CLEARLY SEE THAT IT VIOLATES THE PROTECTION LAWS OF THE CONSTITUTION, VIOLATES TITLE IX IT WILL CAUSE IRREPARABLE HARM TO OUR STUDENT BODY. IT WILL WASTE COUNTLESS HOURS IN TAX DOLLARS JUST TO EVENTUALLY UNDO IT ANYWAY. THEY JUST COME TO THE SAME CONCLUSION, FORCING A TRANSGENDER CHILD, FORCIBLY OUTING THEM OR REPEATEDLY MISSED RENDERING THEM, ALL ACCOUNT IS BASED ON GENDER IDENTITY WHICH IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL. YOU CAN LOOK WITHIN VIRGINIA IN WHICH THE SUPREME COURT RULED THE SAME AMENDMENTS BEING PROPOSED TODAY AS UNCONSTITUTIONAL. THEY HAVE ALREADY TRIED THIS POLICY AND IT FAILED. YOU ARE OBLIGATED TO WORK FOR THE SAFETY AND SUCCESS OF ALL CHILDREN. PUBLIC MEANS ON THE MATTER WHO THEY ARE OR WHAT THEY CHOOSE. PUTTING PHRASES LIKE ALL STUDENTS ARE ALL PARENTS DOES NOT MAKE IT A POLICY FOR ALL ESPECIALLY WHEN PEOPLE OF A PARTICULAR IDENTITY WOULD BE HARMED BY IT. THAT IS DEFINITION DISCRIMINATION. IT IS NOT CRIMINAL FOR THE CHILD TO WANT TO SAFELY USE THE RESTROOM WITHOUT HARASSMENT . IT IS A CRIME HOWEVER TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST THOSE CHILDREN BASED ON THEIR IDENTITY . RESEARCH EVIDENCE HAS SHOWN THAT IT IS. ON THE REASON SOMEONE WOULD LOOK AT THAT EVIDENCE AND STILL PUSH FOR THAT POLICY IS SPECIFICALLY TO HARM LGBT KIDS. THEY WANTED SO BADLY THAT THEY ARE WILLING TO VIOLATE THE CONSTITUTION TO DO IT. IF YOU MOVE FORWARD WITH IT, WE WILL KNOW MORE ABOUT

YOU. THANK YOU. >> GOOD EVENING.

>> I FIRST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, SHE DID RESPOND TO MY EMAILS AND EVEN RETURN MY PHONE CALL BY AFTERNOON. THAT IS HUGE.

[02:25:04]

THIS POLICY SEEMS TO BE SCHOOL BOARDS . I'D LIKE TO FINISH WITH THE WHY, WHY ARE YOU BRINGING THIS POLICY NOW? THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE TO THE LAWS. I WANT TO ASK YOU ALL TO REFLECT ON THAT. THERE IS NO VIOLATION OF POLICIES FOR THE REST OF THE STUDENTS WHEN STUDENTS MAINTAIN LGBTQ POLICIES. THEY DO HAVE THE DATA THAT IT INDICATES THE RISK OF HARM. I DO WANT TO MENTION THAT IT DOES NOT TRUMP THEM TO BE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST. I WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE NOT EXECUTING THIS, PUTTING EVERY STUDENT FIRST, PLEASE DO NOT ADOPT THESE HARMFUL OR DISCRIMINATORY POLICIES THAT WILL CREATE A HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT. THANK YOU.

I AM A RESIDENT OF GOOCHLAND COUNTY, I AM A FORMER COLLEGE PROFESSOR AND TEACHER. WE WHO ARE PRIVILEGED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ENJOY MANY FREEDOMS. ONE OF WHICH IS THE FREEDOM TO ACCESS INFORMATION. MOST PEOPLE TODAY USE THE INTERNET TO DO SO BUT WE STILL WANT THE OLD-FASHIONED METHODS OF LOOKING UP INFORMATION IN BOOKS. WE DESERVE AND RESERVE THE RIGHT TO SEEK EDUCATION AND ENJOYMENT. LIBRARIES WERE CREATED TO GIVE ACCESS TO KNOWLEDGE. THE PUBLIC LIBRARY, BEFORE THAT THE 1600S ESTABLISH THE FIRST FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY. 60 MEN FOUNDED THE LIBRARY COMPANY OF BURLINGTON NEW JERSEY, IT IS STILL IN OPERATION TODAY. 267 YEARS LATER. THEY ASSISTED BENJAMIN FRANKLIN WHO OPENED THE COMPANY IN 1731. THOMAS JEFFERSON'S VAST COLLECTION OF BOOKS ON EVERY TOPIC WAS PURCHASED IN 1815 TO REBUILD THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS AFTER THE BRITISH BURNED IT DOWN IN 1812.

CARNEGIE HELPED BUILD MORE THAN 1700 PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN THE UNITED STATES BETWEEN 1881 AND 1919. THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF

[02:30:03]

INSTEAD, I ENCOURAGE THE BOARD TO ENGAGE IN A MORE INCLUSIVE AND EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH POLICY MAKING EDUCATOR SCIENTISTS IN A DIVERSE ASSORTMENT WITH MEDIA MEMBERS WILL HELP ENSURE THAT ALL OF OUR POLICIES ALIGN WITH BOTH THE SPIRIT ACROSS EVERY ISSUE. THE GCPS WEBSITE STATES THE RECOGNITION OF EACH STUDENT'S INDIVIDUALITY. THE MODEL POLICIES ARE A BREACH OF OUR MISSION AND VALUES THE INDIVIDUALITY AND THE SAFETY OF THEIR SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT.

LACKING THE SENSE OF SAFETY NEGATIVELY IMPACTS THE QUALITY OF THEIR EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES. I STRONGLY URGE THE SCHOOL BOARD TO RECONSIDER IMPLEMENTING THESE POLICIES. IT IS CRUCIAL THAT OUR SCHOOLS PRIORITIZE THE WELL-BEING AND RIGHTS OF ALL STUDENTS INCLUDING TRANSGENDER STUDENTS WHO WOULD BE DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED. NO ONE WANTS THEIR CHILD TO BE TARGETED. DO NOT MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON MISUNDERSTANDING, AT BEST, OR PREJUDICE AT WORST. UNLESS YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONE FIND YOURSELF ON THE RECEIVING END OF UNJUST AND DISCRIMINATION. THE BELIEFS YOU CARRY IN YOUR PERSONAL LIVES HAVE NO PLACE IN YOUR LIFE AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER IF THEY HARM THE WELL-BEING OF ANY STUDENT. IF YOU ARE TRULY DEDICATED TO PROVIDING THE BEST POSSIBLE EDUCATION FOR ALL STUDENTS IN GOOCHLAND YOU MUST UPHOLD YOUR ABILITY TO MAXIMIZE EVERY LEARNER. INCLUDING OUR TRANSGENDER STUDENTS, IT IS A JOB REQUIREMENT YOU ARE OBLIGATED TO HONOR. THANK YOU.

>> GOOD EVENING, I AM FROM DOUBLE BROOK ROAD, THIS IS KIND THIS WEEK, I'M GOING TO START WITH TWO VERY NICE STATEMENTS ABOUT ITEMS ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT. THANK YOU TO DR.

FALLER FOR WORKING ON THIS PROGRAM , WE HAVE LONG HEARD THAT OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS WANT MORE GIFTED EDUCATION PROGRAMS IT SHINES A REALLY NICE LIGHT ON WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR CLASSROOM AND TECHNOLOGY USE. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO WORKED ON THOSE. THE PREVIOUS SCHOOL BOARD DID NOT ADOPT

[02:35:09]

CONSTITUTION'S EQUAL PROTECTION LAWS AND IT DISCRIMINATES BASED ON SEX, A VIOLATION IN TITLE IX. LASTLY, FROM THE JUDGES IN THOSE CASES, HOW SHALLOW A PROMISE OF EQUAL PROTECTION THAT WOULD NOT PROTECT GRAHAM FROM THE FANTASTICAL FEARS AND UNFOUNDED PREJUDICES OF HIS ADULT COMMUNITY. IT IS TIME TO MOVE FORWARD. DISCRIMINATION LIKE THAT HAS REARED ITS UGLY HEAD THROUGHOUT AMERICAN HISTORY.

FOR MOST AMERICANS, TIME HAS RENDERED IT AN EMBARRASSMENT TO THE LEGACIES OF THE INDIVIDUALS INFLICTING IT. WITH THAT OBSERVATION, I JOIN IN THE THOROUGH AND WELL REASONED OPINION OF MY COLLEAGUE, JUDGE FLOYD. THANK YOU. PLEASE DO NOT

SUPPORT JA. >> I WANT TO SAY THAT I HAVE HATE IN MY HEART FOR A LOT OF THINGS. BUT IT DOESN'T INCLUDE PEOPLE IT INCLUDES THE ACTIONS OF PEOPLE IF THOSE ACTIONS GO AGAINST GOD AND GO AGAINST THE THINGS OF GOD SIN IS TO BE HATED. IT IS NOT TO BE LOVED. IT'S NOT TO BE CODDLED, IT'S NOT TO BE CELEBRATED IT'S NOT MADE TO BE LOOK LIKE IT IS GOOD, IT IS NOT GOOD TO TELL SOMEBODY THAT IS A BOY THAT THINKS HE IS A GIRL THAT YOU ARE A GIRL, YOU ARE LYING TO THAT PERSON YOU'RE NOT HELPING THAT PERSON YOU ARE NOT LOVING THAT PERSON THE SO CALL EXPERTS THAT SAY WELL HE IS A GIRL, THEY ARE LYING TOO THESE THINGS NEED TO BE WORKED OUT WITH A PSYCHIATRIST. I'D SAY A GODLY PSYCHIATRIST, SOMEBODY THAT IS GOING TO TELL THEM THE TRUTH. NOT CODDLE THEM AND SAY OH, YOU ARE OKAY, AND ANOTHER THING, AS FAR AS THESE BATHROOMS, WE HAVE A POLICY HERE IN GOOCHLAND COUNTY IN THE SCHOOLS , NO BULLYING. SO THAT CHILD GOES INTO A GIRLS

[02:40:04]

CONCERNED ABOUT. >> GOOD EVENING, CONGRATULATIONS I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO SAY THAT TO YOU LAST JANUARY . I AM IN SUPPORT OF MODEL POLICIES, I READ THEM, I CONSIDER THEM REASONABLE. I AM A FORMER EDUCATOR AND I HAVE HAD RELATIONSHIPS WITH MANY CHILDREN OVER THE YEARS INDIVIDUALLY, I KNEW MY STUDENTS AND I KNEW WHAT THEY NEEDED. I SEE YOU ALL AS PEOPLE WHO WOULD WORK INDIVIDUALLY WITH A CHILD, WITH THE PARENTS, AND NOT JUST AS A BLANKET POLICY, IT WOULD BE INDIVIDUAL BECAUSE YOU DO CARE ABOUT THE CHILDREN. I'VE SEEN YOU CARE ABOUT THE CHILDREN AND I WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR SERVICE. MONETARILY IT IS NOT A LOT, BUT I DO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THAT YOU ARE GOING TO GIFT TO OUR KIDS AND FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF THIS

POLICY, THANK YOU. >> HI, THIS WILL BE SHORT. I DO APPROVE OF GOVERNORS POLICY AND I'M ASKING YOU TO VOTE FOR IT. I AM THINKING ABOUT THE GIRLS, THE YOUNG GIRLS THAT GO INTO A BATHROOM AND A BOYS AND THEIR AND IT IS LIKE THEY ARE NOT EVEN BEING CONSIDERED ABOUT THEIR FEELINGS FOR THIS. I AM ASKING YOU TO SUPPORT THE POLICY.

>> THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? SEEING NONE, THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED. OKAY. NOW WE HAVE A REPORT FROM

[A. Report of the Student Representative]

HEARING FROM YOU. >> HELLO, EVERYONE. TODAY I WILL BE ANNOUNCING SOME OF THE AMAZING EVENTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS THAT HAVE HAPPENED SINCE THE LAST YEAR. BEFORE I DISCUSSED THOSE, I JUST WANT TO SAY HOW GRATEFUL AND EXCITED I AM TO WORK ALONGSIDE THE BOARD MEMBERS AND GET A CHANCE TO REPRESENT OUR MEMBERS AT GHS AND GMS IN THE CAFETERIA. THEY COULD ASK ANY QUESTIONS THAT THEY MAY HAVE HAD. ON THE 25TH, AHS TOOK PICTURES FOR THE SCHOOL'S YEARBOOK . WE HAD A PEP RALLY TO CELEBRATE OUR WINTER ATHLETES. DURING OUR VERY SPIRITED PEP RALLY, THE SENIORS OF EACH SPORT WERE ANNOUNCED AND THEY PLAYED A SERIES OF ENTERTAINING GAMES .

FEBRUARY 5TH THROUGH THE NINTH WAS A COUNSELOR APPRECIATION WEEK. RECENTLY COUNSELORS HAVE BEEN GOING INTO CLASSES AND TALKING TO STUDENTS ABOUT NEXT YEAR'S COURSES AND WILL BE MEETING WITH EVERY STUDENT TO DISCUSS THEIR ACADEMIC AND CAREER PLANS. WE SHOULD RECOGNIZE ALL OF THEIR HARD WORK AND BE APPRECIATIVE BECAUSE WITHOUT THEIR GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT, OUR SCHOOLS WOULD NOT BE THE SAME. FEBRUARY 6TH THROUGH THE 13TH, THE DEAD POETS SOCIETY CONTINUED THEIR TRADITION WHERE STUDENTS CAN PURCHASE ROSES AND COOKIES AND GIVE TO THE PERSON OF THEIR CHOOSING. BUSINESS PARTNERS HAD TABLES SET UP TO SHOWCASE DIFFERENT CAREER OPTIONS AND TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT STUDENTS MAY HAVE HAD

[02:45:02]

WE ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO BRING IN TREATS, TOYS, BEDS, CLOROX WIPES, LITTER, CANNED DOG AND CAT FOOD AND MORE. AS OUR WINTER SPORTS SEASON BEGINS TO COME FROM IN AND, WE ARE PROUD OF ALL OF OUR STUDENTS AND THEIR MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT THEY HAVE MADE THE SEASON. I HAVE SOME SPECIAL MENTIONS, THEY BROUGHT HOME THE FIRST REGIONAL TITLE. IN ADDITION, PERRY BELCHER, PHIL BELCHER AND CHARLIE HARRINGTON ALL BROUGHT HOME INDIVIDUAL GOLD MEDALS. THAT IS MY UPDATE FOR FEBRUARY AND I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING ABLE TO GET ONE NEXT MONTH,

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, AMAYA, BOARD MEMBERS DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR AMAYA?

>> FIRST OFF, THAT'S AWESOME. GOLD MEDALS. COULD YOU TELL ME

AGAIN WHEN THE PET DRIVE IS? >> THE PET FOOD DRIVE, LET ME SEE, IT IS FROM FEBRUARY 12TH THROUGH THE 16TH.

>> GREAT, THANK YOU. >> WONDERFUL, THANK YOU SO MUCH

[A. Superintendent's Comments]

FORWARD TO YOUR COMMENTS SIR. >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

SCHOOL BOARD NIGHT RINGS MANY CHALLENGES FOR A SUPERINTENDENT. ONE OF MY GREATEST CHALLENGES IS HAVING TO OFFER REMARKS AFTER A STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE. SHE DID A WONDERFUL JOB. I WANT TO BRING TO THE ATTENTION OF OUR PUBLICS THAT MARCH 5TH IS PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY DAY WHICH YOU ALL LIKELY NO. WHAT WE FOUND OUT RECENTLY IS THAT TWO OF OUR SCHOOLS, RANDOLPH ELEMENTARY AND BIRD ELEMENTARY ARE GOING TO BE USED AS POLLING PLACES. BEING A NEWBIE TO THE COMMUNITY I'VE LEARNED THAT IT IS A RELATIVELY NEW ARRANGEMENT FOR US . IN OUR PREPARATION FIGURE OUT WHAT TEACHING AND LEARNING WOULD LOOK LIKE THAT DAY, WE'VE CONSIDERED EVERY POSSIBILITY TO MAINTAIN NORMALCY. WE TALKED ABOUT WHAT IT MIGHT LOOK LIKE TO CONTAIN POLLING IN THE GYMNASIUM AT BYRD AND MAINTAIN INSTRUCTION THROUGHOUT THE REMAINDER OF THE BUILDING. SEVERAL CHALLENGES WERE PRESENTED. THE FIRST IS INADEQUATE PARKING. THE SECOND IS HAVING A THROUGH FLOW OF CITIZENS THROUGH OUR SCHOOL WHILE WE ARE HOUSING STUDENTS, THEY DIDN'T LIKE THE IDEA OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SOME POTENTIALS OF THINGS TO GO AWRY THERE. THEN WE CONSIDERED WHAT MIGHT IT LOOK LIKE IF WE JUST DID SOMETHING ALTERNATIVE FOR ELEMENTARY AGE STUDENTS AND KEPT THE SECONDARY KIDS IN NORMAL SESSION. CLEARLY THAT REQUIRES YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE HOME DURING THE DAY, FAMILIES ARE GOING TO RELY NATURALLY ON OLDER SIBLINGS TO LOOK AFTER YOUNGER CHILDREN SO THAT DIDN'T FLY IN THE FACE OF BEING RIGHT. WHAT I AM PROPOSING TO THE BOARD TONIGHT IS GOING TO BE A CALENDAR AMENDMENT TO THE 2023, 2024 CALENDAR TO ALLOW US THE OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER MARCH THE FIFTH AS A VIRTUAL ASYNCHRONOUS DAY FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF. THE SCHOOL DIVISION HAS A HISTORY WITH SUCH DAYS. ON THAT DAY THERE BE NO NEW INSTRUCTION .

ASSIGNMENTS FOR THAT DAY, PROJECTS FOR THAT THEY WILL BE IN PROGRESS AND THERE WILL BE NO GRADING. PRESCHOOLERS TO SECOND GRADERS WILL BE ENCOURAGED TO WORK ON ENGAGING ACTIVITIES SUCH AS CHOICE BOARDS AND STUDENTS IN GRADES THREE THROUGH 12 WILL BE EXPECTED TO ADVANCE THEIR READING AND STUDYING FOR UPCOMING TESTS. THIS WILL BE PART OF OUR RECOMMENDATION FOR THE BOARD TONIGHT AS A CALENDAR AMENDMENT. ALSO WHEN WE MAKE AMENDMENTS TO THE CALENDAR THAT REQUIRED FOLKS TO POTENTIALLY -- PROVIDING CHILDCARE LIKE THE YMCA AND PARKS AND RECREATION. I AM PLEASED TO REPORT THAT THE YMCA HAS OFFERED FULL-DAY CHILDCARE TO THE FAMILIES WHO

[02:50:02]

ACTIONS THAT FAMILIES HAVE CARE FOR THAT DAY I THINK ALL OF OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES AND STAFF I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR'S BOOK. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT A LETTER, THE SUPERINTENDENT FOR INSTRUCTION MAKING WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A CLEAR AND INSIGHTFUL DELINEATION BETWEEN OUR MEASURES OF ACADEMIC PROGRESS ASSESSMENTS WHICH I TALKED ABOUT EARLIER DURING OUR BUDGET AND THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION GROWTH ASSESSMENTS. THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HAS RELEASED REPORTS THAT GO TO STUDENTS FAMILIES BASED ON STUDENT PERFORMANCE ON THEIR GROWTH ASSESSMENT WHICH IS STILL VERY MUCH -- THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR OF THE ASSESSMENT. WE FEEL THAT BECAUSE WE'VE GOT FIDELITY WITH MEASURES OF ACADEMIC PROGRESS ASSESSMENT, THESE ASSESSMENTS, WE'VE GOT 10 YEARS THAT THEY ARE RELIABLE.

THEY CAN MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS , THE RESPONSE IS OVERWHELMINGLY POSITIVE. I WANT TO PUBLICLY THANK HIM FOR HIS INSIGHT AND I WANT TO THANK HIM AND OUR COMMUNITY FOR YOUR TRUST AND YOUR WILLINGNESS TO TAKE TWO THINGS, ONE OF WHICH WE'VE GOT A DEMONSTRATED HISTORY SPANNING OVER A DECADE WITH AND ONE WHICH IS VERY NEW AND MAKE GOOD ASSESSMENTS AS TO HOW YOUR CHILDREN ARE GROWING WHEN IN OUR CARE. THERE ARE COUPLE OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT WILL BE CELEBRATING IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS . AGENCIES SUCH AS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATION AND THE SCHOOL CELEBRATE MEMBERS WITH EXEMPLARY SERVICE TO GOOCHLAND COUNTY YOU. ALSO THE GOOCHLAND FOUNDATION IS A LONG-STANDING PARTNER OF OUR SCHOOLS, MORE INFORMATION ON THE GALA , IT CAN BE FOUND ON THE GOOCHLAND EDUCATION FOUNDATION'S WEBSITE . LASTLY, WHEN I CAME TO GOOCHLAND, I PROMISED TO DO A LOT OF THINGS . ONE OF THE THINGS I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IS A LAUNCHING A STUDENT ADVISORY COUNCIL. NEXT WEEK I WILL MEET WITH STUDENTS TO TALK ABOUT THOSE ISSUES THAT ARE OF INTEREST TO THEM. THEY ARE OUR MOST IMPORTANT CLIENTELE.

STUDENTS AND THEIR PARENTS, THE FAMILIES THAT THEY REPRESENT REPRESENT THE MOST IMPORTANT CLIENTELE TO US. I'M VERY EAGER TO ENGAGE IN THEM. I'M VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT PROCESS. WE WILL MEET MONTHLY THEREAFTER UNTIL APRIL WHEN ASSESSMENTS START. BASICALLY WE WILL TAKE A LOOK AT FEBRUARY. BASED ON WHERE THE DIALOGUE GOES WE WILL LIKELY HAVE MORE WHEN SCHOOL GETS OUT IN JUNE. MADAM CHAIR, THAT

CONCLUDES MY COMMENTS. >> BOARD MEMBERS, DO YOU HAVE

ANY QUESTIONS? >> DOES THAT SOUND GOOD TO YOU?

>> VERY GOOD, GLAD TO HEAR IT. ALL RIGHT WE'RE MOVING TO THE

[G. Approval of Consent Agenda]

[02:55:05]

>> MADAM CHAIR, I SECOND. >> GREAT, IT IS BEEN MOVED TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS AND PROPERLY SECONDED, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, I WILL CALL THE QUESTION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE SLATE OF CONSENT AGENDA

ITEMS, SAY I. >> I.

>> ANY OPPOSED? THE CONSENT ITEMS ARE APPROVED.

>> WOULD YOU LIKE TO TF OUR INSTRUCTIONAL REPORT?

>> YES MA'AM, I WILL DO THAT. I THINK THAT DR. BETH FOWLER IS BACK THERE AND MR. MATTHEW MASON ARE GOING TO COME FORTH

TO TALK TO US ABOUT QUEST. >> OKAY, SO THIS ONLY HAS THE

[A. GMS Gifted-specific Course Pathway]

CHAIR, SCHOOL BOARD, FIRST I WANT TO TELL YOU THANK YOU, WE WANTED TO PRESENT A NEW IDEA AT GOOCHLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL .

WHATEVER IT TAKES, IT MEANS EVERY SINGLE STUDENT, EVERY PERSON WHO WALKS INTO THE BUILDING THE MATTER WHAT YOU BELIEVE, WHO YOU ARE, OUR JOB IS TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE SUCCESSFUL AS WE PREPARE YOU FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL. I WANT TO PRESENT TO A CLASS, WE WILL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT IN A MINUTE. IT IS CALLED QUEST. IT STANDS FOR QUALITY USE -- AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL, THE GIFTED STUDENTS THAT WE WANT TO IMPROVE AND GIVING THEM THE SUPPORTS THAT THEY NEED, THIS IS WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO HERE. I AM ACCOMPANIED BY AN INCREDIBLE INDIVIDUAL, I SAY THAT BECAUSE SIX YEARS AGO I STARTED AT GOOCHLAND HIGH SCHOOL AS AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL. I WILL TELL YOU SHE IS ONE OF THE BEST PEOPLE TO WORK WITH, I APPRECIATE HER, I ENJOY HER INPUT. THAT IS DR.

FOWLER AND DR. FOWLER IS GOING TO SPEAK A LITTLE BIT .

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, THAT WAS SO VERY KIND. IT IS BEEN A LONG JOURNEY AND A WONDERFUL ONE WITH YOU. WE ARE SO HAPPY TO HAVE YOU BACK. BACK WHEN MATTHEW AND I FIRST STARTED WORKING TOGETHER AS THE DIRECTOR OF SCHOOL OF COUNSELING, NOW I STAND BEFORE YOU AS THE COORDINATOR STUDENT ADVANCEMENT. I'M VERY PLEASED IN THAT ROLE TO SUPPORT GRADES K-12. WE HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE GIFTED PLAN FOR GOOCHLAND COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT BOTH ALLOWS FOR INDIVIDUALITY OF OUR STUDENT NEEDS AND ALSO ALIGNS TO STATE MANDATES . THAT INCLUDES THE EXCERPTS THAT YOU SEE HERE ABOUT OUR PHILOSOPHY OF GIFTED EDUCATION WITHIN GOOCHLAND SCHOOLS. I AM SO PLEASED TONIGHT TWO PRESENT WITH MR. MASON ABOUT THIS NEW COURSE THAT WE ARE PROPOSING BECAUSE IT IS SO CLOSELY ALIGNING WITH THE PHILOSOPHY AND MOVES IT INTO PRACTICE WHICH IS ALWAYS THE DIFFICULT PART. IT IS A CLASS THAT WILL SHOW OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR GIFTED STUDENTS TO INTERACT WITH OTHER GIFTED STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL DAY. IT WILL ALLOW THEM TO PURSUE THEIR AREAS OF PARTICULAR INTEREST INTENSELY TO SHARE THE RESULTS OF THOSE PURSUITS WITH THE REAL AUDIENCES AND HAVE PRODUCTS OF THEIR LEARNING AT THE END OF THIS JOURNEY CRITIQUED. IT WILL ALLOW THEM TO SHOW THAT THERE ARE FLUENT AND ORIGINAL THINKERS AND TO SET AND ACHIEVE LONG-TERM GOALS. AS I SAID, OUR GIFTED PLAN NOT ONLY INCLUDES OUR INDIVIDUAL PHILOSOPHY AS A DISTRICT OF GIFTED EDUCATION, BUT WE ARE ALSO MANDATED BY THE STATE TO PROVIDE CERTAIN ELEMENTS WITHIN OUR GIFTED SERVICE OPTIONS. THOSE OPTIONS

[03:00:03]

THIS COURSE QUEST IS GOING TO BE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BRIDGE A MUCH NEEDED OFFERING FOR OUR GIFTED LEARNERS TO INDULGE IN AN INTEREST DRIVEN RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY.

>> SO, JUST KIND OF GETTING US TOWARD THE END OF OUR PRESENTATION, JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT QUEST. IT IS AN ELECTIVE OPPORTUNITY FOR SIXTH GRADE STUDENTS. IT STARTS THE SIXTH GRADE, WE WANT TO BEGIN THERE. IT IS OPTIONAL. WE ARE NOT FORCING A STUDENT TO BE A PART OF THAT . IT IS A PART OF THE SERIES TALKED ABOUT EARLIER. IT IS HUGE FOR OUR STUDENTS, WE WANT THEM TO HAVE THE SKILLS AND FURTHER THE EDUCATION. A DEEPER DIVE INTO THE CURRICULUM, IN-DEPTH RESEARCH CONNECTING WITH ADULT MENTORS CREATING MEANINGFUL FINAL PRODUCT SHARED WITH AN AUTHENTIC AUDIENCE. IT ALSO NURTURES ACADEMIC INDEPENDENCE AND ADVANCED MEDICATIONS. WE DON'T WANT TO TELL HER STUDENTS WHAT TO DO, OUR STUDENTS HAVE TO BE ABLE TO THINK ON THE FLY TO CONTINUE TO ADVANCE WHEREVER THEY ARE. WHO WOULD TEACH IT TO, IT FITS FLEXIBLY INTO ANY DEPARTMENT. FIVE CURRENT GMS TEACHERS, IT WOULD NOT REQUIRE -- WE DO FEEL LIKE WE CAN MAKE THIS

HAPPEN >> HE HAS DONE A LOT OF WORK TRYING TO SEE HOW THIS WOULD WORK. ON OUR CURRICULUM NIGHT HE WAS AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS. HE SPOKE TO ABOUT 16 PARENTS.

ALL OF THEM BEING OFFERED TO THEIR STUDENTS. DONE A LOT OF THE LEGWORK TO SEE IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT STUDENTS WOULD LIKE TO BE A PART OF. WHAT IN THIS COMIC IS THE SCHEDULE? NO, IT WOULD NOT. YOU WOULD ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO OTHER SEMESTER LONG OPTIONS. THIS COULD BE A YEAR-LONG OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS. THIS WOULD GIVE OUR SCHOOL COUNSELORS THE

[03:05:02]

TO FIX THAT ONE. >> THANK YOU, DR. FOWLER, BOARD

MEMBERS, ANY QUESTIONS? >> I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION: THE LAST FIVE YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT IT IS A SEMESTER LONG PROGRAM FOR THE CLASS, WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY DON'T LIKE IT, DON'T SUCCEED, CAN THEY TRANSFER INTO ANOTHER CLASS AND NOT BE AT A

DISADVANTAGE? >> KIND OF LIKE MANY OF OUR ELECTIVES , IF THEY'RE NOT, WE'RE GOING TO PUT THEM IN THE POSITION WHERE THEY CAN GO, ALSO, THIS IS THE TYPE OF CLASS WHERE WE ARE LOOKING AT FAILURE, THE WHOLE GOAL IS TO IN SOME WAYS, WE WANT YOU TO TRY, NOT SUCCEED, LEARN FROM IT, GET BETTER. THE WHOLE POINT IS TO GET YOU AND UP VISION, THAT IS LIFE, YOU'RE GOING TO FAIL, CAN YOU LEARN FROM THAT AND GROW FROM THAT. THE HOPE AND THE GOAL IS THAT A STUDENT IS GOING TO WANT TO BE IN THEIR. HOW CAN YOU DO THIS

BETTER? >> I WAS GOING TO SAY PRODUCTIVE STRUGGLE IS SUCH A PART OF BEING THE GIFTED RESOURCE TEACHER AND IT WOULD BE A GIFTED CERTIFIED TEACHER LIKELY HE WAS TEACHING THIS. THERE DESIGNING SOMETHING THAT IS MANAGEABLE AND ACHIEVING THIS. I WILL ALSO ADD THAT WITHIN THE SIXTH GRADE CURRICULAR OPTIONS, THERE ARE SEMESTER LONG OPTIONS, ART 6 IS A SEMESTER LONG ELECTIVE.

OFFERING THIS WOULD BE THAT STUDENTS DIDN'T HAVE TO CHOOSE. THEY COULD STILL HAVE ART AND DO THIS OR IF THEY JUST REALLY LOVE THE IDEA OF QUEST, THEY COULD DO TWO QUEST COURSES

AND MAKE IT YEAR-LONG . >> I WAS JUST CURIOUS AS TO WHEN YOU ARE GOING TO START THIS ?

>> IT IS A COURSE THAT IS PROPOSED FOR THE 25 OF 26 SCHOOL YEAR, JUST NEEDED A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION AND CONTEXT AROUND IT FOR YOU GUYS.

>> IS THERE AN IDEA OF MAYBE EXPANDING THAT TO SEVENTH AND

EIGHTH GRADE? >> IF IT WORKS , LET ME REPHRASE THAT, WHEN IT WORKS, WE WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE THAT.

ALLUDED TO EARLIER IN A PUBLIC COMMENT , WE HEAR A LOT OF CONCERNS FROM STUDENTS AND PARENTS AS THEY TRANSITION FROM FIFTH-GRADE IN THE GIFTED PROGRAM WHEN THEY BONDED REALLY CLOSELY WITH THAT GIFTED RESOURCE TEACHER. IN MANY CASES THEY'VE HAD THAT TEACHER IT SEEMS LIKE THE NEXT PROGRESSION BUT ALSO IS GOING WITH THAT BRIDGE METAPHOR, A NICE BRIDGE FROM THE ELEMENTARY TO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL CURRICULUM AS

WELL. >> WE ALREADY MEET THE STATE CRITERIA BECAUSE WE OFFER LEVELING.

>> WE OFFER THE OPPORTUNITY FOR INDIVIDUAL RESEARCH, THIS IS JUST A MORE ROBUST OFFERING OF THAT.

>> THANK YOU. >> HOW MANY STUDENTS ARE IN

THIS PROGRAM TO BEGIN WITH? >> I'M SO GLAD YOU ASKED THAT QUESTION, I WAS WELL PREPARED FOR IT. WE DO UNIVERSAL SCREENING IN TWO GRADE LEVELS, ONE OF THOSE IS FIFTH-GRADE.

THAT SCREENING IS TAKING PLACE IN SPRING. WE HAVE 25 OR 20 STUDENTS THAT ARE MONITORED AND IT WILL GROW EXPONENTIALLY IN THE REFERRAL WINDOW JUST AS AN EXAMPLE, WE HAVE ABOUT 50 SIXTH-GRADERS WHO WOULD'VE BEEN ELIGIBLE FOR THIS CLASS.

>> THAT WAS GOING TO BE MY NEXT QUESTION, THANK YOU.

>> MY QUESTIONS OR MAYBE A LITTLE DIFFERENT. ARE THERE ANY

[03:10:04]

>> GREAT QUESTION. WEIGHTED GPAS ONLY COME INTO PLAY FOR HIGH SCHOOL CREDIT. THIS WOULD NOT BE OFFERED FOR HIGH SCHOOL

CREDIT. >> AND HOW WILL YOU ASSESS FOR GRADE ASSIGNMENT, THE CRITERIA? WHAT DOES A A LOOK LIKE VERSUS

WHAT IS A B LOOK LIKE? >> I THINK THE ANSWER LIES IN THE SKILLS CURRICULUM. THE CONTENT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS TESTABLE. IT IS GOING TO BE THE REAL-LIFE PRODUCT THAT WILL BE LARGELY OF THE STUDENTS DESIGN. IT WILL SHOW THEM THAT THEY HAVE MASTERED THESE RESEARCH SKILLS, THE PRESENTATION SKILLS COMING UP WITH A RESEARCH QUESTION AND DEVELOPING IT INTO A FULL PRODUCT, IT IS ABSOLUTELY SOME CURRICULUM WORK TO BE DONE THERE. WE ARE EXCITED TO HAVE THOSE FIVE GIFTED ENDORSED TEACHERS AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL THAT I TALKED ABOUT. WE WANT TO GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE, WE HAVE ONE GIFTED LICENSE TEACHER AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL PRIOR TO THE BOARD HAVING ENDORSED AND SUPPORTED FINANCIALLY THOSE CLASSES BEING OFFERED TO OUR TEACHERS ON SITE AT THE SECONDARY COMPLEX AND IT'S ONLY BECAUSE OF THAT EFFORT, WE ARE ABLE TO OFFER THAT THIS YEAR AND HAVE SUCH A

ROBUST NUMBER TO TEACH IT. >> HISTORY, SCIENCE, MATHEMATICS ARE THE -- WHAT ABOUT STUDENTS THAT ARE GIFTED IN DRAMA OR IN LANGUAGE, OTHER SUBJECT AREAS ?

>> THAT IDENTIFICATION BEYOND THE ACADEMIC AREAS ACTUALLY DOES NOT START UNTIL SEVENTH OR EIGHTH GRADE. IT COULD BE BUILT INTO FUTURE LEVELS OF QUEST ADDED ON THAT WAY.

>> SO, WHEN THEY DO TESTING IN SEVENTH AND EIGHTH GRADE, THAT IS PUT OUT TO THE PUBLIC AS PARENTS ARE ALLOWED TO REFER THEIR CHILD WITHOUT A TEACHERS REFERRAL SO THAT GIVES OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR WHOLE COMMUNITY.

>> THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING THAT, WE ADVERTISE THAT OPPORTUNITY. WE WILL TAKE A REFERRAL AND POUND THE PAVEMENT FOR THEM, IF THERE IS ANYONE WATCHING AT HOME AND YOU ARE INTERESTED IN KNOWING MORE ABOUT THIS GIFTED REFERRAL PROCESS, FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO ME OR TO YOUR SCHOOL'S

GIFTED ADVISER . >> I JUST WANT TO FOLLOW-UP, IT IS YOUR EXPECTATION THAT THIS WILL BE A PART OF THE COURSE OFFERING FOR THE 25-26 SCHOOL YEAR, THIS WILL COME BACK AROUND -- 24-25, I APOLOGIZE IF I MISSPOKE. NEXT FALL.

>> TO BE SEE THAT IN THE COURSE CATALOG?

>> NO MA'AM. >> THE COURSE RECOMMENDATIONS

-- >> FANTASTIC, THAT IS WHY I WAS STILL LITTLE BIT LIKE I HADN'T SEEN IT BEFORE .

>> THIS IS ALSO A TARGETED AUDIENCE SO IT WILL BE VERY EASY TO GET THAT INFORMATION OUT.

>> THANK YOU BOTH VERY MUCH THIS IS VERY INFORMATIVE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH IT.

>> THANK YOU. >> OKAY, AS PART OF OUR INFORMATION ITEMS THEY SEE NEXT UP WE HAVE -- TO SPEAK TO US ABOUT OUR YOUNGER LEARNERS . I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE MS. ROBINSON FOR SUGGESTING THAT WE HAVE HIM SHARE THIS CONTENT

[A. Instructional Innovation with Younger Learners]

FORWARD TO LEARNING FROM YOU. >> GOOD EVENING, I NOTICED THAT I WAS ON THE SAME -- I HAVE THE SECOND BEST THING, SUSPENSE. PICTURES OF OUR KIDS. I KNOW IT'S WEIRD I AM

[03:15:10]

THERE ACTUALLY PROGRAMMING AND MAKING A COMPUTER PROGRAM USING CODING. I THINK THIS WAS IN THE LIBRARY AT GES WITH MISSES SMITH, THEY READ A BOOK AND THEY ARE KIND OF LIKE RETELLING THE STORY USING CODING. I THINK THIS IS THE BEST PICTURE I'VE EVER TAKEN. THIS IS AMAZING. I FEEL LIKE THIS WAS MISS ROBINSON'S FACE WHEN SHE CAME AND VISITED. AND WE BALANCE DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES WITH ALSO UNPLUGGED INNOVATION. WE DON'T ONLY FOCUS ON SCREENS. THIS IS MY JOB , BUT I KNOW THAT SCREENS AREN'T GREAT FOR US ALL THE TIME, WE NEED TO BE OUTSIDE BUT ALSO, LET'S FIGURE OUT WAYS TO INCORPORATE, THIS LESSON ADDRESSED FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS INCREDIBLE FOR PRESCHOOL WHICH IS ALSO A LANGUAGE ARTS STANDARD.

FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS, CAUSE AND EFFECT, COLORS AND THEY CAN ALSO WORK ON SPELLING. I'M SURE THEY HAVE PLAYED WITH SOME OF THE STORIES AS WELL. THEY HAVE EVIDENCE OF LEARNING, ARTIFACTS OF LEARNING SO, THAT APP SEASIDE TALKED ABOUT CREATES A JOURNAL FOR THEM. THIRD GRADE IS A TRANSITION

[03:20:06]

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE LEVERAGE AFFORDED SAYS. HOW DO WE DO THAT? HOW DO WE GET TEACHERS TO ACTUALLY MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE FOCUSED ON THE PROFILE OF THE GRADUATE, WHERE FOCUS ON COMPUTER SCIENCE STANDARDS AND THEY'VE GOT A LAUNDRY LIST OF THINGS TO DO, WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE TEAM, WE HAVE FOUR INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY COACHES AND GOOCHLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, SHE WAS AT THE PRESCHOOL VISIT, NEXT YEAR SHE IS JUST GOING TO BE AT GOOCHLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL . WE HAVE A NEW ONE STARTING, WE ACTUALLY FINISHED UP THE SECOND INTERVIEWS TODAY, I'M VERY EXCITED TO SHARE THAT IS BUT I CAN'T DO THAT YET. IT'S TOP-SECRET AND THAT ELEMENTARY WILL BE AT RANDOLPH AND BIRD. MAYBE ONE DAY WE WILL HAVE FUN. THEN WE HAVE JADE MILLER WHO ALSO JUST STARTED WITH US LAST WEEK BECAUSE WE HAD TWO ITC'S LEAVE. ONE IS USING HER CREATIVE TECHNOLOGY SKILLS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, THAT IS HALF THE TEAM BUT WE ARE SO EXCITED ABOUT JADE MILLER, SHE IS CERTIFIED IN CODE VA. SHE IS A CERTIFIED COACH, SHE HAS LED GIRLS WHO CODE CLUB. SHE IS EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED FOR THIS ROBUST COMPUTER SCIENCE EXPERIENCE .

CATHERINE RICHARDS, ALL-AROUND ROCKSTAR. IF YOU HAVEN'T MET HER YET, YOU WILL AND YOU ARE GOING TO LOVE HER, I PROMISE.

THEY USE MANY THINGS TO GUIDE THEIR USE INTEGRATING WITH TECHNOLOGY. THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE MODELS, IT DOESN'T PUT TECHNOLOGY ON A PEDESTAL, TECHNOLOGIES IN THE GOAL, THE GOAL IS TEACHING AND LEARNING. HOW DID THEY INTEGRATE, IS IT WHOLE GROUP OR SMALL GROUP, STUDENTS COMMUNICATIVE ARE COLLABORATING AND THEN THE CONTENT KNOWLEDGE, THE STANDARDS THAT WE HAVE TO TEACH SCIENCE AND SOCIAL STUDIES BUT ALSO COMPUTER SCIENCE AND THE DIGITAL LEARNING STANDARDS.

SO, AS HE STATED, WE ARE AN APPLE DISTINGUISHED SCHOOL. ALL FIVE OF OUR SCHOOLS ARE APPLE DISTINGUISHED SCHOOLS WHICH IS A HUGE DEAL BECAUSE THERE ARE VERY FEW SCHOOLS IN THE WORLD WHO ARE APPLE DISTINGUISHED SCHOOLS. IT'S NOT OFFICIAL AND WE HAVE ONLY BEEN NOMINATED FOR IT BUT WE ARE THE FIRST DISTRICT TO BE NOMINATED FOR THE FIRST APPLE DISTINGUISHED DISTRICT WHICH IS PRETTY AMAZING. I HOPE WE GET IT, HOPEFULLY PUTTING IT OUT TO THE UNIVERSE LETS THAT HAPPEN BUT AS SOON AS I KNOW I WILL DEFINITELY BE SHARING WITH YOU THAT IS A HUGE DEAL. THE FIRST EVER IN THE WHOLE WORLD , IT'S NOT THAT WE CHOSE APPLE BECAUSE IT'S AMAZING, AND I DO LOVE IT, IT'S NOT BECAUSE OF THE TOOL, IT'S BECAUSE THEIR EGOS ALIGNS WITH OUR EGOS. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THEIR HOPES FOR EDUCATION IN THE WAY THAT THEY SUPPORT EDUCATION, IT ALIGNS SO WELL WITH OUR PROFILE , THEY WANT TO EMPOWER STUDENTS THE SAME WAY WE WANT TO EMPOWER STUDENTS. THEY ALSO HAVE A TEAM, THEY HAVE THREE MEMBERS OF THE TEAM THAT'S COME AND VISIT WITH US. WE HAVE A CONSULTANT TO COMES, I BUG HIM ALL THE TIME. HE PROBABLY DOES NOT LOVE WHEN I EMAIL HIM, HE PROBABLY DOES. I BET HE DOES RIGHT NOW I'M ALL THE TIME AND I AM LIKE HEY, THIS IS WHAT WE ARE PLANNING ON DOING. COME AND VISIT AND TAKE A LOOK. I WOULD LOVE TO BOUNCE SOME IDEAS OFF OF YOU AND HE IS ALL ABOUT IT. AND THEN WE HAVE SOMEBODY ON THE OPERATIONS SIDE. HE HELPS WITH ANY ISSUES WE ARE HAVING BUT ALSO FORECASTING FIVE, 10 YEARS INTO THE FUTURE AND HOW CAN WE SUPPORT STUDENTS EVEN BETTER. THAT COMES ALONG WITH OUR PURCHASE, EVEN THOUGH YOU SEE THE HIGH-PRICED HEAVENLY TALK ABOUT COMPUTERS AND IPODS, IT ALSO COMES WITH A TEAM THAT SUPPORTS US TO DO AMAZING THINGS. WE DON'T TALK ABOUT THEM THAT MUCH BUT I THINK WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT THEM. I'M

[03:25:01]

THIS IS WHAT WE WANT TO DO WITH TECHNOLOGY. WE ARE TRYING TO CREATE LABS OF KIDS WHERE THEY JUST STARE AT A SCREEN ALL DAY, THERE -- WE WANT KIDS TO BE CREATING, COMMUNICATING. THEY HAVE LOTS OF GOOD IDEAS, THEY HAVE SO MUCH TO SHARE I WOULD ALSO LOVE, I KNOW THIS IS UNCONVENTIONAL, BUT I WOULD LOVE TO ASSISTED OUR PRESCHOOL AND I KNOW WE HAVE ANOTHER

VISIT COMING UP. >> OKAY. SO, HE IS CHANGING IT BACK TO US. THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY

QUESTIONS? >> FIRST OFF, THE VISIT WAS WONDERFUL. ROUGHLY HOW MANY HOURS A DAY TO YOUR STUDENTS FROM PRESCHOOL -- WHO IS WHAT WE SAW.

>> HOW MUCH TIME A DAY AVERAGE?

>> BEFORE I WAS HERE, I STARTED MY EDUCATION CAREER AS A PRESCHOOL TEACHER, NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT, AND THEN I TAUGHT THIRD GRADE FOR A WHILE I FEEL LIKE KIDS NEED EXPOSURE, THEY NEED A TOOL TO CREATE, BUT THEY ALSO NEED BALANCE. THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO EXPLORE IN MANY WAYS. NOT JUST SCREENS. IT IS NOT ALL DAY

>> IT IS NICE TO BE ABLE TO CODE TO BUILD SOMETHING, WHO IS

GOING TO BUILD IT? >> DO YOU MEAN CODING LIKE ON

THE IPAD, THE COMPUTER? >> LET'S SAY YOU WANTED TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING SEE DESIGN IT ON THE IPAD, WHATEVER, YOU DO EVERYTHING ON THE IPAD AND THEN WELL, YOU CAN DO THAT ON THE IPAD BUT YOU CAN'T GET A JOB BUILDING

ANYTHING. >> IT SEEMS LIKE I PAID YOU TO ASK THAT QUESTION. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ASKING THAT QUESTION.

I AGREE THAT THERE ARE JOBS , I DON'T REMEMBER THE NUMBER, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF JOBS OPEN IN VIRGINIA RIGHT NOW THAT INVOLVE THE CODING ASPECT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT , GIVING THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES IN DIFFERENT WAYS. I DON'T GET IS OUR JOB TO RAISE 2600 COMPUTER SCIENTISTS . WE WANT PEOPLE TO BECOME DOCTORS AND NURSES AND TEACHERS. IT DOESN'T JUST STOP THERE. I THINK ON THE VISIT THAT YOU WENT WITH HE WAS THE ROCKSTAR IN GOOCHLAND, NOT FIRST YEAR TEACHING BUT FIRST HEARING ONE, HE TALKED ABOUT HIS SHARK TAKE IDEA, WHAT THE KIDS DID, THEY

[03:30:06]

QUESTION . >> ANYONE ELSE?

>> YOU ARE SO ENTERTAINING AND WE NEEDED THAT. MY TOUR AFTER BEING A TEACHER AND A PRESCHOOL DIRECTOR AND SEEING WHAT I OBSERVED ON OUR TOUR WAS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING AND I DON'T GIVE A LOT OF COMPLEMENTS, BUT THAT, THE THING THAT IMPRESSED ME THE MOST WAS ALL OF THOSE CHILDREN, SOMEONE COMPUTERS , AND I LOVED WHERE THEY WERE ACTUALLY TAKING THE ROBOT CARS AND DESIGNING THE ROADS, EVERY CHILD WAS ENGAGED. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO NEED FOR ANY DISCIPLINE, THEY ARE CHILDREN NOW, ANYTHING COULD BURST OUT BUT IT DID NOT.

BECAUSE I THINK THEY WERE SO ENGAGED. WE THANK YOU FOR THAT FOR MAKING THOSE KINDS OF THINGS HAPPEN AND FOR A PRESCHOOL, I COULDN'T GO FOR FIRST GRADE, BUT THOSE KIDS AND SOMEWHAT DISABILITY IT WAS JUST BEYOND, PROBABLY THE BEST TOUR I'VE HAD, THEY'VE GOT TO BE GREAT BECAUSE I AM ALL INTO THE CHILDREN. I THANK YOU FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SAYING THAT. THAT WAS DEFINITELY THE HIGHLIGHT OF MY YEAR, IT WAS AMAZING. I CAN'T TAKE ALL OF THE CREDIT FOR IT. THIS TEAM RIGHT HERE, THEY MAKE MAGIC HAPPEN. AND SAID THIS IS A STORY THAT I TELL, I TOLD ONCE BEFORE AND I PROMISE I'M GOING TO END SOON, WHEN I FIRST STARTED DOING THIS JOB, THE INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY COACH JOB, IT WAS MY FIRST DAY AND I WENT INTO A FOURTH GRADE CLASSROOM WITH THE TEACHER THAT I JUST MET AND SHE INTRODUCED ME TO THE KIDS AND SHE SAID OH YOUR LAST NAME IS CRAZY HOW YOU SAY IT, AND I SAID THEY CAN CALL ME DR. C. HE HAS A BEST JOB IN THE WORLD, HE HELPS TEACHERS DREAMS COME TRUE AND I WAS LIKE OH MY GOSH I'M PUTTING THAT ON MY RESUME. THAT IS THE

[03:35:02]

>> HOW DID YOU CHOOSE THAT? >> THAT WAS BEFORE ME, BUT WE DID HAVE IT WHERE HE CAME FROM BEFORE, YOU PROBABLY HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF EXPERIENCE WITH IT AND I LOVE THAT APP BECAUSE IT'S A PREDATOR -- PRETTY POPULAR APP. THERE SAYING THAT UPPER GRADES USE IT TOO. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE UPGRADES USE IT. I THINK THAT WOULD BE TOO EXPENSIVE. WE WILL STICK WITH CANVAS. BUT IT IS SO POPULAR BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH IT . THERE IS ZERO BARRIER TO ENTRY. KIDS CAN OPEN IT UP AND START MAKING THEY CAN TAKE PICTURES, AND THEN THEY CAN TAKE THOSE AND SHARE THEM OUT . WE DON'T WANT IT JUST TO STAY LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT IT IN THE SANDBOX WHERE NOBODY CAN SEE IT, WE WANT TO ENGAGE WITH AN AUTHENTIC AUDIENCE AND THAT'S AN APP THAT ALLOWS THAT. IT TOOK ME FOREVER TO FIGURE OUT WHY THEY CALL THAT SEESAW, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS WHY, BUT I IMAGINE A KID THAT MADE DID YOU SEE THAT APP, I THOUGHT THAT'S WHY THEY CALL IT SEESAW, IT IS A GREAT APP, I

LOVE THAT APP. >> I WAS JUST GOING TO THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. IS NICE TO SEE WHAT THEY'RE WORKING ON AND I THINK THE THING THAT I JUST APPRECIATE THE MOST IS BALANCE. AS A TEACHER OF YOUNG CHILDREN, I SEE SO MANY THAT DON'T HAVE THE GRIP STRENGTH AND THE FINGER STRENGTH WHEN THEY ARE WRITING OR EVEN JUST OPENING UP THINGS WERE BUILDING AND SO THERE HAS TO BE A BALANCE WHERE THEY ARE DOING BOTH. WONDERFUL THINGS WITH TECHNOLOGY THEY NEED TO HAVE THAT PLAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> OKAY, THIS WAS VERY TIMELY. HE'S GONE, COME BACK. WE HAVE APPLE DEVICE PURCHASE ON THE ACTION ITEMS FOR LATER SO THAT

WAS GOOD TIMING ON YOUR PART. >> SO MAYBE I WAS PUT IN THE

RIGHT MEETING . >> I WILL TELL YOU MY OBSERVATIONS AND THEN I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM AMAYA BECAUSE AS A STUDENT IN OUR SCHOOLS, I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW HER TAKE IS ON THE RATIO OF ANALOG AND DIGITAL LEARNING AND HOW IT HAS BENEFITED HER. I SEE APPLIED LEARNING, I SEE INTERACTIVE LEARNING ICY CONCEPTUAL LEARNING EVEN IN A DIGITAL WORLD. I SEE AN INVESTMENT, WE DIDN'T BECOME AN APPLE DISTINGUISHED SCHOOL DIVISION. WELL, IT IS DIVISION . THEY CAN DECIDE LATER IF THEY WANT TO GIVE US THE AWARD. WE DIDN'T REACH THAT WITHOUT A SIGNIFICANT DOLLAR INVESTMENT FROM OUR CITIZENS. WE NEED TO LIKE PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THIS WAS A SHARED INVESTMENT AND THANK THEM FOR THAT. THE LAST THING BEFORE I GET AMAYA TO SHARE HER THOUGHTS, YOUR ENTHUSIASM IS UTTERLY CONTAGIOUS. I LOVE IT, DON'T EVER LET ANYBODY TAKE THAT FROM YOU. THE KIDS ARE GOING TO LOVE THAT. YOU WILL RELATE TO THEM AND BUILD BONDS. I JUST WANT TO APPLAUD YOU, MANY YEARS AGO SOMEONE TOLD ME I NEEDED TO TEMPER MY ENTHUSIASM AND I WOULD LIKE TO JUST GO BACK TO RETRACT THOSE WORDS NOW, I DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD EVER

TEMPER YOUR ENTHUSIASM. >> I AGREE, THANK YOU.

>> MISS AMAYA, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I THINK IT'S AWESOME, I THINK THE MORE INTO THE FUTURE WE GET, I THINK THAT A LOT MORE THINGS ARE GOING TO BE, YOU HAVE TO USE TECHNOLOGY SO WE CAN'T JUST RELY ON, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT LIKE YOU SAID TO HAVE BALANCE BETWEEN THESE THINGS BUT I ALSO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE LEARN THESE WHILE WE ARE YOUNG BEFORE WE ARE OLDER AND WE STRUGGLE LEARNING HOW TO DO THESE CERTAIN THINGS AND I KNOW YOU MENTIONED CANVA, WHEN YOU ARE MAKING PRESENTATIONS AND VIDEOS, I THINK IT IS A LOT OF TRIAL AND ERROR SO I THINK

[03:40:02]

>> I COULD NOT HAVE SAID THAT BETTER. I KNOW WE TALKED A LITTLE AROUND, WE MIGHT HAVE A PRESENTATION COMING UP IN ANOTHER MONTH , BUT WE CAN'T EXPECT KIDS GOING INTO NINTH GRADE TO BE SUCCESSFUL AT A PLACE LIKE THAT WITHOUT EXACTLY LIKE YOU SAID, STARTING AT DAY ONE. PERFECT.

>> I UNDERSTAND IN THE ABSENCE OF DR. EAST, YOU ARE GOING TO TEE UP OUR FIRST READING OF POLICY UPDATES?

>> YES MA'AM, I'M GOING TO REITERATE WHAT YOU MAY HAVE SAID EARLIER IN THE MEETING AND THAT IS THAT THE POLICY TONIGHT IS UP FOR DISCUSSION UNDER FIRST READING AND NOT A VOTE FOR ADOPTION. JUST TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF THE BRIEF HISTORY OF THE POLICY DRAFT , THIS IS A NEW POLICY THAT IS BEING PROPOSED. THERE IS NO PRE-EXISTING OR CORRELATING POLICY THAT EXISTS BY THE VIRGINIA SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION. THIS POLICY IS PROPOSED IN REFERENCE TO 22.1 DASH 23.3 . WE PRESENT IT NOW FOR CONVERSATION ABOUT THE

POLICY. >> THANK YOU. BOARD MEMBERS, NO ACTION TONIGHT, WOULD WELCOME ANY DISCUSSION, YOU'VE ALL HAD AN OPPORTUNITY ALONG WITH THE PUBLIC TO REVIEW THE POLICY.

I'M CERTAIN THE POLICY ADVISORY COMMITTEE WOULD LIKE YOUR FEEDBACK AND INPUT . FEEL FREE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LET

[B. Policy Update: First Reading]

ME SHARE. >> MADAM CHAIR. WE FEEL THAT, I FEEL AND I BELIEVE THAT, I'M NOT GOING TO SPEAK FOR ANYONE ELSE. I FEEL THAT THE PLAN IS A GOOD PLAN, I THINK THAT WE NEED TO HAVE SOMETHING IN THE POLICY TO KEEP US FROM GETTING IN TROUBLE, BEING SUED , TO KEEP ALL OF THE STUDENTS SAFE, NOT 99% OF THEM, NOT 1% OF THEM, BUT 100% OF THEM, IT MAY NEED SOME TWEAKING, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT, WE WILL SEE AND I HAVE HEARD SOME CRITICISMS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE A NEW GOVERNOR IN A COUPLE OF YEARS IN WHICH CASE IF THEY CHANGE THE POLICY THEN WE WILL, I WOULD VOTE FOR ABIDING BY THE STATE RULES.

>> THANK YOU. >> I BELIEVE THAT WHEN LOOKING AT THE POLICY THAT IT REALLY PUTS THE PARENTS IN THE DRIVER SEAT FOR THEIR CHILD AND IT GIVES THEM THE ABILITY TO ADVOCATE FOR THEIR CHILD IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. FOR ME IT GIVES ALL PARENTS THE ABILITY TO MAKE DECISIONS AND BE AWARE OF WHAT

IS HAPPENING TO THEIR CHILD. >> MISS MAXWELL?

>> WHEN I WAS RUNNING FOR OFFICE, A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT I MET WITH IN MY DIVISION WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THINGS AND BOTTOM LINE THEY JUST FELT LIKE THERE NEEDED TO BE SOMETHING DEFINITIVE, DEFINITIVE POLICY REGARDING THESE ISSUES . I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY FELT NECESSARILY ONE WAY OR ANOTHER BUT THEY FELT LIKE IT SHOULD BE A DEFINITIVE POLICY REGARDING THE ISSUES OF BATHROOMS. THAT WAS THEIR MAIN CONCERN TO BE

HONEST. >> MISS MOSES?

>> ONE THING THAT I DO LIKE ABOUT IT THAT I REALLY LIKE ABOUT IT IS THAT THE, IT GIVES THE PARENTS AN OPTION TO SAY YES, I WANT MY STUDENTS TO BE TREATED LIKE THIS. ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS IS IN ORDER FOR THEM TO HAVE A NAME CHANGE OR PRONOUNS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THEY HAVE TO HAVE, LACK

[03:45:01]

ON, THANKS. >> THANK YOU, MISS MOSES.

>> OKAY, MY TURN. IT IS NO SURPRISE TO ANY OF YOU THAT THIS IS BEEN A VERY CLOSE TO MY HEART ISSUE NOT SINCE LAST JANUARY, BUT SINCE JULY OF 2021 . FOR NEARLY THREE YEARS I HAVE STUDIED THIS ISSUE, I HAVE FOLLOWED THE LEGISLATION, I HAVE FOLLOWED THE ATTITUDES OF THE DAY TOWARDS DIVISIONS AND I WANT TO DIRECT SOME OF THE MISINFORMATION THAT HAS BEEN SPOKEN HERE TONIGHT. FIRST OF ALL, VIRGINIA CODE, SECTION 22 ¿ 23 EXPLICITLY STATES THAT PUTTING THAT LEGAL REFERENCE IN THE 19 NONDISCRIMINATION POLICIES THAT WE HAVE AT GOOCHLAND SAYS WE WILL FOLLOW THE POLICIES ADOPTED BY THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. LAST SUMMER, THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ADOPTED A GOVERNORS POLICY. ALREADY TODAY WE COULD ALL JUST GO HOME AND SAY, WE ARE ALREADY FOLLOWING THE MODEL POLICY SIMPLY BASED ON THE LETTER OF THE LAW. NOW, LIKE MISS MAXWELL, I HEARD EXTENSIVE FEEDBACK FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT THEY DID NOT LIKE THE VAGUENESS, WE SHOULD NOT BE ASKING OUR PARENTS, STUDENTS, AND STAFF TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT THE WEB OF ILLEGAL CROSS-REFERENCES ABOUT WHAT THE EXPECTATIONS ARE IN OUR SCHOOLS. PUTTING FORTH THE POLICY PROVIDES CLARITY AROUND THAT ISSUE AND ENSURES THAT EVERYONE IS ON THE SAME PAGE.

ALSO TO MISS MOSES HIS POINT, MAKE SURE THAT THE STAFF UNDERSTAND A PROCEDURAL AND OPERATIONAL PRACTICES POINT OF VIEW WHAT THE EXPECTATIONS ARE. IT WAS MENTIONED DURING PUBLIC COMMENT TONIGHT THAT YOU CAN'T DENY A STUDENT WITH A GENDER IDENTITY DIFFERENT FROM -- ACCESS TO THE BATHROOM OF THEIR CHOICE. ACCOMMODATIONS WILL BE MADE TO SUPPORT THAT STUDENT.

BY THE WAY, FROM EVERYONE WHO SPOKE TONIGHT IS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE ARE ALREADY DOING AND WOULD NOT BE A CHANGE THERE HAS BEEN EXPRESS CONCERN ABOUT YOU CAN'T OUT A CHILD AND THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS TO THEM, THAT IS NOT THE ROLE OF THE SCHOOLS, THAT IS THE ROLE OF SOCIAL SERVICES. IF THAT CHILD IS IN DANGER, THE SCHOOL DIVISION HAS A LEGAL OBLIGATION TO REPORT THAT TO SOCIAL SERVICES. WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS NOW? THIS SHOULD'VE BEEN DONE LAST AUGUST. SIX MORE ARE PENDING ADOPTION IN SEVERAL SCHOOL DIVISIONS HAVE TAKEN PIECES OF THE POLICY AND INTEGRATED INTO OTHER AREAS OF THE POLICY. THOSE INCLUDE HANOVER, VIRGINIA BEACH SCHOOLS ALIKE. EVEN IF NONE OF THE SCHOOL DIVISIONS HAD TAKEN ACTION, I EARNESTLY BELIEVE THAT WHAT GOVERNOR YOUNG CAN, THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAVE DETERMINED BY LEGAL REVIEW TO MEET THE NEEDS OF ALL STUDENTS. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY STUDENTS IDENTIFY AS TRANSGENDER BECAUSE GUESS WHAT, THAT'S NOT RELEVANT TO ME, THAT IS A PRIVATE PERSONAL MATTER TO THEIR WELL-BEING.

WHAT I DO KNOW IS BOTH TRANSGENDER STUDENTS AND NON-TRANSGENDER STUDENTS ALIKE DESERVE PRIVACY, PROTECTION, AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR SERVICES FROM OUR ADMINISTRATION AND OUR GUIDANCE COUNSELORS. THERE IS NOTHING IN THIS DRAFT POLICY THAT SAYS THAT THAT WOULD NOT BE

[03:50:02]

YOUR PLEASURE? >> I THINK WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT THE APPLE DEVICE DIVIDE FOR THE APPLE DEVICE PURCHASE TO BE

SEPARATE -- >> I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO SEPARATE THE SECTION OF THE APPLE DEVICE PURCHASE FROM THE INSTRUCTIONAL CALENDAR TOPICS AND ALL OF THOSE IN FAVOR, ANY DISCUSSION? GREAT, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I. ANY OPPOSED?

[A. Apple Device Purchase]

>> THANK YOU. SO, THIS IS A REQUEST THAT YOU WILL GET EVERY YEAR. EVERY YEAR WE RENEW OUR THIRD, SIXTH, AND NINTH GRADE DEVICES. THE IPADS LAST FOR THREE YEARS EACH AND ARE -- OUR MACBOOKS LAST FOR -- THEY GET A NEW LAPTOP AND IT WILL LAST FOR THEIR HIGH SCHOOL CAREER . SO, AS YOU CAN SEE, THE CURRENT COST FOR AN IPAD IS $429, THAT IS A DISCOUNTED RATE FOR THE SCHOOL DIVISION AND THE LAPTOPS ARE $849 EACH. WE ARE LOOKING TO BUY A 570 DEVICES AND WHAT WE'VE DONE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS IS WE HAVE SLOWLY INCREASED THE BUDGET SO THAT WE NO LONGER HAVE TO LEASE THOSE ITEMS, WE CAN OUTRIGHT PURCHASE THEM. WHAT HAPPENS IS AT THE END OF THAT TIME, THEY CAN EITHER PASS IT ALONG TO STAFF, OR THE IPADS TO OUR YOUNGER STUDENTS THAT DON'T USE THEM QUITE AS OFTEN, DON'T TAKE THEM HOME SO THEY HAVE A LITTLE BIT LONGER OF AN AFTERLIFE. WE EVENTUALLY SELL THEM ON GOT DEALS. WE GET FAIRLY DECENT MONEY FOR THOSE DEVICES BECAUSE WE TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF THEM.

IS SO, WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR YOU TODAY IS, YOU SEE A PURCHASE HERE FOR $328,000 WHICH IS WITHIN OUR BUDGET, WE USE BPS A GRANT MONEY AS WELL AS OUR OWN OPERATING BUDGET FOR THAT AND I ALSO ASK THAT YOU AGREED TO LET US SOURCE APPLE AND WE WILL POST THAT, AND ON OUR WEBSITE . THAT IS MY ASKED

[03:55:04]

>> DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? >> I'M JUST CURIOUS, SO, THIRD, SIXTH, AND NINTH GRADE YOU REPLACE THEM. SO, IS THIS TYPICALLY THE SAME AMOUNT EVERY TIME? THE AMOUNT OF --

>> SO, EVERY COHORT HAS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT NUMBERS OF STUDENTS BUT OUR COHORTS ARE TYPICALLY 200 STUDENTS PER GRADE. WE HAVE A SMALLER THAN 200 COHORT .

>> HAVE YOU NOTICED A HUGE INCREASE IN COST?

>> NO. WE HAVE HAD PRETTY STEADY PRICING FOR THE IPADS AND MACBOOKS OVER THE 12 YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE.

>> THEY ONLY LAST YOU THREE TO FOUR YEARS?

>> YES. THERE ARE DIFFERENT GENERATIONS AS YOU KNOW OF IPADS AND MACBOOKS. AT A CERTAIN POINT, EVEN IF THE DEVICE ITSELF IS IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE, ALTHOUGH THINK ABOUT KIDS TAKING THIS BACK AND FORTH TO SCHOOL ALL OF THE TIME, THEY DO GET BANGED UP A LITTLE BIT. THE PLATFORM THAT THEY RUN ON, AT A CERTAIN POINT OUR TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT DOESN'T GET THE SUPPORT AND SO EVERYTHING THAT THEY DO ON THESE DEVICES ARE DONE REMOTELY SO THEY TRIED TO KEEP THEM ALL ABOUT THE SAME LEVEL OF THE PLATFORM THAT THEY RUN ON SO THAT THEY CAN BE FEEDING INFORMATION OUT TO THESE COMPUTERS AND UPDATING THEM REGULARLY REMOTELY ON A COMMON

PLATFORM. >> BOARD MEMBERS, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MS. WHITE? ALL RIGHT, BOARD MEMBERS, WE HAVE AN APPLE DEVICE PURCHASE REQUEST BEFORE US, I WILL

ENTERTAIN A MOTION. >> THE MOTION IS WRITTEN THERE, IT'S VERY SPECIFIC BECAUSE IT'S GOT THE APPLE SOLE-SOURCE

LANGUAGE. >> MADAM TERRY MOVED TO APPROVE THE PURCHASE OF IPADS AND MACBOOK ERRORS FOR 328,530 AND THAT THERE IS ONLY ONE SOURCE PRACTICALLY AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE THE APPLE IPADS AND MACBOOK ERRORS AND THAT SOURCE

IS APPLE. >> I HAVE A MOTION, DO I HAVE A

SECOND? >> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED TO APPROVE THE PURCHASE OF THE APPLE DEVICES. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, OR ARE YOU READY FOR THE QUESTION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION SAY I? THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO. IT IS APPROVED MISS WHITE, THANK YOU

VERY MUCH. >> OUR STUDENTS WILL BE VERY HAPPY WITH SHINY NEW DEVICES THIS FALL . BOARD MEMBERS, JUST REMINDING YOU THAT YOUR ORIGINAL MOTION FOR ACTION ITEMS WAS TO DEAL WITH THE APPLE DEVICE PURCHASE AND TO DEAL WITH THE INSTRUCTIONAL CALENDAR SEPARATELY. WITH THAT

[B. Instructional Calendar SY2024-2025]

PLEASE. A >> WE WILL START WITH THE CALENDAR FOR THE UPCOMING ACADEMIC YEAR, 2024-2025. A LITTLE HISTORY, WE REALLY WORK TO MODIFY OUR CALENDARS SO THAT THEY ARE BETTER ALIGNED WITH THE REST OF OUR REGION AS PREVIOUSLY PRESENTED TONIGHT AND OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT OUR STAFF HAS BEEN VERY DESIROUS OF AND IT WOULD CERTAINLY HELP US WITH OUR RETENTION EFFORTS. WE MADE SOME MODIFICATIONS AND HAD THIS CALENDAR UP FOR CONSIDERATIONS IN DECEMBER, I PULLED THAT'S BECAUSE I WANTED TO HAVE THE NEW BOARD HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN ON THE CALENDAR. SOME OF THE MOST, SOME OF THE

[04:00:02]

TRADITIONALLY THANKSGIVING BREAK IN GOOCHLAND HAS BEEN INCLUSIVE , THIS WOULD GIVE STAFF AND STUDENTS THE HOLIDAY FOR THE ENTIRETY FOR THE ENTIRE WEEK OF THANKSGIVING. ALLOWING OUR TEACHERS GREATER EXTENDED OPPORTUNITY TO RECHARGE THEIR BATTERIES. MADAM CHAIR, THOSE ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NEWLY

PROPOSED CALENDAR. >> THANK YOU AND CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG, BUT I BELIEVE THAT THIS INSTRUCTIONAL CALENDAR MAY HAVE EIGHT FEWER TEACHING DAYS THAN OUR CURRENT CALENDAR WHICH GIVES OUR HARD-WORKING STAFF SOME MUCH-NEEDED TIME BACK.

>> THOSE DAYS COME IN AS MENTIONED ONE WEEK LATER AND CONCLUDING ONE WEEK EARLY. THIS DOES INCLUDE 176 DAYS AS OPPOSED TO THE 180 THAT LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE ACCUSTOMED TO. AGAIN I WILL REMIND YOU THAT THE CODE PRESCRIBES 180 DAYS OR 990 INSTRUCTIONAL HOURS. OUR SCHOOL DAY IS LONGER THAN THE AVERAGE SCHOOL DAY OF THE COMMONWEALTH BY 30 MINUTES. WE ARE GOING TO MAKE THE HOURS EASILY AND HAVE ROOM FOR ADVERSE FOR IMPLEMENT

WEATHER. >> JUST RECALLING OUR CONVERSATIONS, THIS ALSO RETAINS TO ALIGN WITH THE PRE-CHRISTMAS WINDOW. A VERY NATURAL SEQUENCE .

>> THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT I WOULD'VE HIGHLIGHTED BUT ADMITTEDLY I AM IN MY 16TH HOUR OF WORK. YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT IN THAT THIS WILL MAINTAIN OUR TRADITION OF ENDING THE SEMESTER AT WINTER BREAK. THE FIRST SEMESTER WILL START ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL AUGUST 19TH AND CONCLUDE

ON THAT DAY. >> BOARD MEMBERS, DO YOU HAVE, NO, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

>> MADAM CHAIR? >> I MOVE THAT THE 2024, 2025 CALENDAR BE APPROVED AS WRITTEN.

>> MOTION? >> I WILL SECOND.

>> AND A SECOND, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT THE CALENDAR? HAVE HEARD FROM A NUMBER OF TEACHERS THAT THE DAY AFTER THE SUPER BOWL WOULD BE A GOOD DAY TO HAVE OFF.

>> FOR THE FAN OF THE LOSING TEAM, IT IS CERTAINLY A GOOD DAY TO HAVE OFF. AND IF I DIDN'T HAVE MY TWO BY TWOS YESTERDAY, I SWEAR I WOULD'VE TAKEN IT. I THINK I AM MORE DOWN NOW THAN I WAS THEN. IT NEVER GETS EASIER WHEN YOU ARE

A FAN. >> OKAY, BOARD MEMBERS IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED TO ADOPT THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE 24-25 SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR AS PRESENTED BY -- HEARING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, I WILL CALL THE VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I. ANY OPPOSED SAY NO. YOU HAVE

[04:05:09]

YOUR CALENDAR. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM CHAIR. THIS WILL CERTAINLY MAKE OUR STAFF AND STUDENTS AND

[C. Instructional Calendar SY2023-2024]

>> THIS REALLY JUST PERTAINS TO THE FIFTH

>> BOARD MEMBERS, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

>> I MOVE THAT IT BE APPROVED AS WRITTEN.

>> I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE 2024 SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR TO MAKE MARCH 5TH AN ASYNCHRONOUS LEARNING DAY FOR ALL STUDENTS ACROSS THE DIVISION. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING ON, ALL OF THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE, ANY OPPOSED, SAY NO. DR. CROMARTIE? FANTASTIC, MOVING

[14. Items for Board Review]

IT IS TIME FOR US TO DO THAT IN THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY. THE NEXT TIME THAT WE COME FORTH, IT WILL BE THE MONTH OF APRIL. THE ATTENDANCE UPDATES ARE PRETTY MUCH STANDARD.

>> BOARD MEMBERS, NO ACTION HERE FOR US, DO YOU HAVE ANY

QUESTIONS OR ANY COMMENTS? >> HEARING ON, WE WILL MOVE TO ANY NEW BUSINESS. THAT IS JUST PART OF ITEMS FOR REVIEW BUT IF

[15. New Business]

>> OKAY, I MOVED TO HAVE MS. BENNETT AS SCHOOL BOARD CLERK PAY DUES FOR PERSONAL SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER DUES.

>> I SECOND. PAYMENT GREAT, IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECOND TO HAVE THE SCHOOL BOARD CLERK PAY FOR ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? GREAT. IS, IF ANY MEMBER HAS ALREADY PAID THEIR DUES PERSONALLY, COULD YOU PLEASE MAKE THAT KNOWN SO THAT THERE ARE NOT DUPLICATE L.E.A.P. PAID -- PAID MORE THAN ONCE. ARE THERE ANY MEMBERS THAT HAVE PAID FOR THE YEAR 2024 ? MISS MOSES HAS PAID THE DUES SEE YOU CAN TAKE THAT FROM THE INVOICE TOTAL PLEASE. OKAY, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF HAVING THE ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP

DUES PAID, SAY I. >> I.

>> ANY OPPOSED, SAY NO. YOUR MOTION CARRIES MISS MOSES.

>> THANK YOU, I ALSO HAVE ANOTHER MOTION THAT WE LOOK INTO ALTERNATE LEGAL COUNSEL FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD.

>> DO I HAVE A SECOND? >> I SECOND THAT.

>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED TO EXPLORE LEGAL COUNSEL OPTIONS FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, I WILL CALL THE QUESTION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAY NO. AND AGAIN, MISS MOSES, YOUR MOTION CARRIES. THINK YOU. -- THANK

[04:10:02]

[16. Adjournment]