Jan 14, 2025 School Board Meeting - January 14, 2025

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>>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO THE 2025 ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING OF THE GOOCHLAND COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD. OUR FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS TONIGHT IS THE ELECTION OF A CHAIR. AT THIS TIME I'LL OPEN THE FLOOR FOR NOMINATIONS.

>> DR. KOM CROMARTIE, I NOMINATE MEREDITH MOSES AS

CHAIR. >> I SECOND THAT

MOTION. >> WE HAVE A NOMINATION AND A SECOND FOR MS. MOSES, ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? SEEING THAT THERE ARE NO OTHER NOMINATIONS, I WOULD LIKE TO PUT IT TO THE BOARD FOR VOTE FOR MEREDITH MOSES AS CHAIR, PLEASE SHOW YOUR SUPPORT BY VOTE OF

AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? MADAME CHAIR.

>> THANK YOU, DR. CROMARTIE. FIRST OFF, GOOD EVENING TO THOSE ATTENDING IN PERSON AND ONLINE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. WE ARE GOING TO BE STARTING WITH THE, WELL, CONTINUING WITH THE ANNUAL ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING. THEN WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION, AND THEN WE'LL START THE BUSINESS MEETING AT 7:00,

CORRECT? >> THERE'S A PRESENTATION.

>> I'M SORRY.

RIGHT. THE BUDGET PRESENTATION, THEN GO INTO CLOSED SESSION, AND THEN START THE BUSINESS MEETING AT 7:00 P.M.

OKAY. SO NOW WE NEED TO HAVE AN ELECTION FOR THE VICE CHAIR, IS THERE A MOTION FOR NOMINATION OF VICE CHAIR? MADAME CHAIR, I NOMINATE KAREN

WIRSING. >> I SECOND.

>> THERE'S BEEN A MOTION TO NOMINATE MS. WIRSING AS VICE CHAIR, PROPERLY MOVED AND SECONDED.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

>> ALL THOSE AGAINST, ANY ABSTAINS, THE AYES HAVE IT AND THE MOTION PASSES. CONGRATULATIONS, MS. WIRSING.

WE NEED TO APPOINT THE CLERK AND THE FOYA OFFICER IS THERE A MOTION FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD CLERK AND

FOYA. >> I MOVE TO APPOINT ROBIN ANDERSON AS SCHOOL BOARD CLERK, AND FOYA OFFICER FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2025.

>> MS. MAXWELL SECONDS, THE MOTION TO APPOINT MS. ANDERSON HAS BEEN PROPERLY MOVED AND SECONDED. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPOINTING MS. ANDERSON AS THE SCHOOL BOARD CLERK AND FOYA OFFICER FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2025, SAY AYE. OPPOSED NO.

ABSTAINS, THE MOTION PASSES, CONGRATULATIONS, MS. ANDERSON.

OKAY. NOW, THE APPROVAL FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT'S DESIGNEES, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE STEPHEN GEYER, JENNIFER WAGGENER, AND STEPHANIE WYCHE AS DESIGNEES TO ATTEND MEETINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD AND BE AUTHORIZED TO SIGN REPORTS, RECK RECK SIGSS AND OTHER CORRESPOND DANCE AS RECOMMENDED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT? SFL SO MOVED.

>> SECOND.

>> OKAY. THAT WAS MOVED BY MS. ROBINSON, AND SECONDED BY MS. WIRSING. OKAY.

THE MOTION HAS BEEN PROPERLY MOVED AND SECONDED.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING STEPHEN GEYER, JENNIFER WAGGENER, AND STEPHANIE WYCHE AS DESIGNEES TO ATTEND MEETINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD AND BE AUTHORIZED TO SIGN REPORTS, REQUISITIONS AND OTHER OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE FROM JANUARY 1ST, 2025, TO DECEMBER 31ST, 2025, SAY AYE. OPPOSED NO, ABSTAINS, THE MOTION PASSES. AND RELATED IS THERE A MOTION TO APPOINT STEPHANIE WYCHE AS AGENT AND STEPHEN GEYER AND JENNIFER WAGGENER AS DEPUTY AGENTS AUTHORIZED TO SIGN CONTRACTS AND DELEGATED AUTHORITY TO EXAMINE AND APPROVE CLAIMS FOR ALL FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD, FOR THE PERIOD OF JANUARY 1ST, 2025, TO DECEMBER 31ST, 2025?

>> SO MOVED.

>> SECOND. >> MS. ROBINSON. OKAY. THE MOTION HAS BEEN PROPERLY MOVED AND SECONDED. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPOINTING STEPHANIE WYCHE AS AGENT AND STEPHEN GEYER AND JENNIFER WAGGENER AS DEPUTY AGENTS AUTHORIZED TO SIGN CONTRACTS AND DELEGATED AUTHORITY TO EXAMINE AND APPROVE CLAIMS FOR ALL FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS FOR THE

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>> SO MOVED.

>> MS. MAXWELL. IS THERE A SECOND?

>> SECOND.

>> OKAY. THE MOTION HAS BEEN PROPERLY MOVED AND SECONDED.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVALING THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING SCHEDULE FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2025 SAY AYE.

OPPOSED NO, ABSTAINS. OKAY, WE HAVE A SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS. NOW WE'RE GOING TO GET TO THE DIFFERENT REPRESENTATIVES AND COMMITTEES. SO FOR THE ELECTION TO THE -- SORRY ELECTION OF THE REPRESENTATIVE TO THE MAGGIE L. WALKER GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL BOARD, I WILL HEAR NOMINATIONS FOR THE REPRESENTATIVE TO THE MAGGIE L.

WALKER GOVERNOR SCHOOL BOARD BUT AS A PERSONAL REQUEST SINCE I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR THE LAST YEAR, I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE DOING THAT, IF SOMEONE WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE AND IF IT'S OKAY.

>> SO MOVED TO CONTINUE HAVING MS. MOSES SERVE ON THE MAGGIE L. WALKER GOVERNOR'S BOARD SCHOOL BOARD.

>> IS THERE A SECOND?

>> I SECOND THAT.

>> MS. MAXWELL, THANK YOU.

>> IT'S BEEN PROPERLY MOVED AND SECONDED THAT MS. MOSES IS APPROVED AS THE REPRESENTATIVE TO THE MAGGIE L.

WALKER GOVERNOR SCHOOL BOARD. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION, HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE, OPPOSED NO, ABSTAINS, AND THE AYE'S HAVE IT.

NOW, WE NEED THE ALTERNATE REPRESENTATIVE.

SO I WILL HEAR NOMINATIONS FOR THE ALTERNATE REPRESENTATIVE TO THE MAGGIE L. WALKER GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL BOARD.

>> I MOVE THAT ELLA ROBINSON BE APPOINTED AS THE ALTERNATE REPRESENTATIVE TO THE MAGGIE L.

WALKER SCHOOL BOARD.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO DECLINE BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO STAY WITH MY SAME THREE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE BLUE RIDGE GOVERNORS AND MY OTHER TWO POLICY OR NOT MY OTHER TWO POLICIES, MY OTHER TWO COMMITTEES, BUT THANK YOU.

>> IS THERE ANOTHER NOMINATION? I NOMINATE MS. ALLEN.

>> I SECOND THAT.

>> MS. MAXWELL. OKAY, IT HAS BEEN PROPERLY MOVED THAT MS. ALLEN IS APPROVED AS THE ALTERNATE REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE MAGGIE L. WALKER SCHOOL BOARD.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

>> AYE, OPPOSED NO, ABSTAINS, THE MOTION PASSES.

I WILL HEAR NOMINATIONS FOR THE REPRESENTATIVE TO THE BLUE RIDGE VIRGINIA GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL

BOARD. >> I NOMINATE ELLEN ROBINSON.

>> MS. MAXWELL.

>> I SECOND THAT.

>> MS. ALLEN. IT HAS BEEN PROPERLY MOVED AND SECONDED THAT ELLEN ROBINSON BE APPOINTED TO THE BLUE RIDGE, VIRGINIA, GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL BOARD, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION, HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED NO, ABSTAINS, AND THE MOTION PASSES. ELECTION OF TWO REPRESENTATIVES TO SERVE ON THE POLICY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

I WOULD LIKE TO DO THESE ONE AT A TIME.

SO I WILL HEAR NOMINATIONS FOR THE FIRST OF TWO SCHOOL BOARD REPRESENTATIVES TO THE POLICY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

>> I MOVE THAT KAREN WIRSING BE APPOINTED AS ONE OF THE REPRESENTATIVES TO SERVE ON THE POLICY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

>> I SECOND IT.

>> THAT WAS MS. MAXWELL.

>> MM-HMM.

>> OKAY. IT HAS BEEN PROPERLY MOVED AND SECONDED THAT MS. WIRSING BE ONE OF THE SCHOOL BOARD REPRESENTATIVES TO SERVE ON THE POLICY ADVISORY COMMITTEE, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION. HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

>> OPPOSED SAY NO? ABSTAINS? OKAY. CONGRATULATIONS, MS. WIRSING, YOU GET TO BE ON THE POLICY COMMITTEE. I WILL HEAR NOMINATIONS FOR THE SECOND OF TWO SCHOOL BOARD REPRESENTATIVES TO THE POLICY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

>> I MOVE TO NOMINATE MS. MOSES TO SERVE ON THE POLICY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

>> IS THERE A SECOND?

>> I SECOND THAT.

>> OKAY. MOVED BY MS. ALLEN, SECONDED BY MS. MAXWELL. IT HAS BEEN PROPERLY MOVED AND SECONDED THAT MEREDITH MOSES BE THE SECOND OF THE TWO SCHOOL BOARD REPRESENTATIVES TO

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IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

>> AYE. >> ALL OPPOSED, NO, ABSTAINS? OKAY. THE MOTION PASSES.

NOW, FOR THE ADVISORY COMMITTEES, WE HAVE A FAIR AMOUNT OF THEM. AND AS OF RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE THE FACILITIES AND SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WHICH HAS TWO MEMBERS, THE GIFTED ADVISORY COMMITTEE, THE SCHOOL HEALTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE, ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR EQUITY IN EDUCATION, CTE INVENTORY, GOOCHLAND EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AND SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS TO FIRST OFF, ARE THERE ANY CHANGES TO THESE? WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD ANY COMMITTEES? DELETE ANY COMMITTEE? CHANGE THE NAME OF ANY

COMMITTEES? >> I MOVE TO CREATE A NEW COMMITTEE, THE SCHOOL FINANCE COMMITTEE, AND HAVE TWO SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS SERVE ON THAT

COMMITTEE. >> I SECOND THAT.

>> OKAY. MS. ALLEN MOVED THAT THERE BE A SCHOOL FINANCE COMMITTEE FORMED WITH TWO MEMBERS, AND MS. ROBINSON SECONDED IT.

THE MOTION TO FORM A SCHOOL FINANCE COMMITTEE WITH TWO COMMITTEE MEMBERS, I'M SORRY, WITH TWO SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS ON IT HAS BEEN PROPERLY MOVED AND SECONDED, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

>> AYE. OPPOSED, NO.

ABSTAINS. OKAY.

WE HAVE A NEW COMMITTEE, FINANCE COMMITTEE.

ANY OTHER MOTIONS FOR CHANGES, ADDITIONS, DILUTIONS? OKAY. HEARING NONE, THEN I RECOMMEND THAT WE FILL THE SLATE AND THEN VOTE ON THE NOMINEES AS A SLATE.

OKAY. DO WE HAVE A MOTION FOR THAT?

>> SO MOVED. >> I SECOND IT.

>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED BY MS. ALLEN, SECONDED BY MS. MAXWELL. OKAY. SO FOR THE FACILITIES AND SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WHO WOULD LIKE TO BE ON THAT? CAN WE GET SOME NOMINATIONS OR JUST CHIME IN?

>> I'LL VOLUNTEER.

>> OKAY. MS. MAXWELL.

>> I'LL THROW MY HAT IN THE

RING. >> WELL, IT'S NOT LIKE YOU HAVE TO BUILD A NEW SCHOOL. OKAY.

THE GIFTED ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

>> I HAVE BEEN SERVING ON THAT COMMITTEE FOR SEVERAL YEARS, BUT I'M OPEN TO ANOTHER MEMBER HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO STEP INTO THAT SPACE.

>> I DON'T MIND SERVING ON THAT COMMITTEE.

>> SCHOOL HEALTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE?

>> I'LL VOLUNTEER.

>> ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR EQUITY IN EDUCATION.

>> I'LL VOLUNTEER.

>> MS. MAXWELL.

CTE? WHO SERVED ON THAT COMMITTEE THIS PAST YEAR?

>> I DID.

>> I WOULDN'T MIND SERVING ON THAT COMMITTEE.

>> MS. WIRSING.

>> I CAN SERVE ON THAT

COMMITTEE. >> OKAY.

THANK YOU.

>> GOOCHLAND EDUCATION

FOUNDATION. >> I WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT AGAIN.

>> AND SPECIAL ED ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

>> I'D BE GLAD TO DO THAT AGAIN.

>> LET ME GO BACK HERE. YEAH, OKAY.

WE DID THAT. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. FINANCE.

>> AS I SUGGESTED WE CREATE THE COMMITTEE, I WILL VOLUNTEER TO SERVE ON IT.

>> I'LL VOLUNTEER AS WELL.

>> WONDERFUL.

>> MS. ALLEN AND MS. MAXWELL.

>> THANK YOU.

>> OKAY. ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT ANYTHING? OKAY.

THEN LET'S MAKE THIS OFFICIAL. IS THERE A -- OKAY.

LET ME READ THEM FIRST JUST TO REMIND EVERYBODY.

OKAY. FACILITIES AND SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE, MS. MAXWELL AND MS. ALLEN.

GIFTED ADVISORY COMMITTEE, MS. WIRSING.

SCHOOL HEALTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE, MS. MAXWELL.

ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR EQUITY IN EDUCATION, MS. MAXWELL, CTE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, MS. WIRSING.

GOOCHLAND EDUCATION FOUNDATION, MS. ROBINSON.

SPECIAL EDUCATION COMMITTEE MS. ROBINSON, FINANCE, MS. ALLEN AND MS. MAXWELL.

I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE SLATE

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AS A WHOLE. >> SO MOVED.

>> MS. WIRSING MOVED. >> I'LL SECOND IT.

>> MS. ALLEN SECONDED IT.

>> THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE NAMED ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS HAS BEEN PROPERLY MOVED AND SECONDED. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

OPPOSED SAY NO. ABSTAINS, THE MOTION PASSES AND WE HAVE OUR COMMITTEES. OKAY.

EACH OF YOU HAVE A CODE OF ETHICS IN FRONT OF YOU.

EMPLOYEES TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO JUST REFRESH YOUR MEMORY OF THE CODE OF ETHICS FOR GOOCHLAND COUNTY VIRGINIA SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS 2025.

AND THEN WE WILL SIGN THIS OFFICIAL ONE ON THE NICE PAPER.

TODAY THE 14TH? >> YES.

>> OKAY.

>>> BEFORE WE DO THE BUDGET PRESENTATION, THEN WE'RE GOING TO DO THE PRELIMINARY THINGS FOR THE BUSINESS MEETING, SO FIRST OFF, PLEASE JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE.

>> THANK YOU. MS. WIRSING.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE?

>> BE HAPPY TO. 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.

>> AND BEFORE WE HAVE ANY AMENDMENTS OR CHANGES, I'M SORRY, BEFORE WE HAVE THE BUDGET PRESENTATION, ARE THERE ANY CHANGES TO THE AGENDA? OKAY. CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA

AS WRITTEN? >> MADAME CHAIR, I MOVE TO ADOPT THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED.

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>> I SECOND THAT MOTION.

>> THAT'S MS. WIRSING. OKAY.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, I'M SORRY, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

OPPOSED? NO. OKAY.

WE HAVE THE AGENDA. MR. CROMARTIE, DR.

CROMARTIE, GO

AHEAD. >> THANK YOU.

MADAME CHAIR, MADAME VICE CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD, THOSE ASSEMBLED HERE TONIGHT, AND THOSE LISTENING WHEREVER YOU ARE, IT'S MY PLEASURE TO PRESENT TO YOU TONIGHT THE FIRST AND MANY PUBLIC CONVERSATIONS ON OUR FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET. I'D LIKE TO START BY BRINGING ALL WHO ARE LISTENING UP TO SPEED ON THOSE ACTIVITIES THAT WE'VE TAKEN PROCESSING TO DATE AS WELL AS THOSE EVENTS THAT ARE UPCOMING IN THE BUDGET PROCESS. THUS FAR, WE SOLICITED INPUT FROM OUR PRINCIPALS AND DEPARTMENT HEADS TO INCLUDE PERSONNEL, PROGRAMMATIC AND CAPITAL NEEDS. THESE ARE OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH BUDGET MANAGERS. WE ARE CONSIDERING IDEAS FOR STRATEGIC ABANDONMENT. WE HAVE CONDUCTED COMMUNITY SURVEYS FOR PUBLIC INPUT.

WE HAVE WELCOMED PUBLIC COMMENT DURING TOWN HALL MEETINGS THIS PAST FALL AND IN DECEMBER WE MET WITH A SCHOOL BOARD CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR FOR A BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. UPCOMING ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE BUDGET WORKSHOPS FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS MONTH.

WE'LL MEET NEXT WEEK ON THE 21ST, AND SUBSEQUENTLY ON THE 28TH. THAT WILL TURN INTO A SUPERINTENDENT'S PROPOSED BUDGET PRESENTATION ON FEBRUARY THE 4TH.

A PUBLIC HEARING A WEEK AFTER ON THE 11TH.

THE BOARD APPROVAL OF THE REQUEST OF SUPERVISORS ON FEBRUARY 25TH AND A PRESENTATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE 4TH OF MARCH. JUST TO REMIND EVERYONE, WE'RE GUIDED IN OUR POLICY MAKING BY SCHOOL BOARD POLICY DBR.

THAT SUGGESTS THAT WE TAKE THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS IN THE SPIRIT OF PRODUCING A BUDGET.

OUR BUDGET WILL BE DESIGNED TO ACCOMPLISH THETHE GOALS AND PRIORITIES ESTABLISHED IN OUR STRATEGIC PLAN. ALL DECISIONS ARE BASED IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF OUR STUDENTS.

THROUGH ITS SPENDING THE DIVISION SEEKS TO CONTINUE TO MAXIMIZE THE VALUE OF PUBLIC FUNDING RECEIVED FT THE OPERATING BUDGET WILL BE STRUCTURALLY BALANCED. IN OTHER WORDS, WE WON'T USE A NONRECURRING REVENUES FOR THINGS THAT REOCCUR. THE DIVISION WILL TAKE A LONG-TERM PERSPECTIVE AS ALLOWED UNDER THE VIRGINIA CODE. AND WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT DECISIONS CARRY FUTURE IMPLICATIONS.

THE BUDGET PROCESS WILL BE TRANSPARENT AND THE DIVISION WILL REMAIN IN A POSITION TO STRATEGICALLY REACT IN THE EVENT OF EMERGENCIES.

OUR VISION IS TO INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT. FOSTERED BY OUR MISSION TO MAXIMIZE THE POTENTIAL OF EVERY LEARNER. AT OUR CORE, WE HOLD THE FOLLOWING VALUES, EXCELLENCE, CREATIVITY, COURAGE, HONOR, AND OPTIMISM. ALIGNED WITH OUR STRATEGICSTRATEGIC PLAN, FINANCIAL RESOURCES, THAT ARE ALIGNED TO OUR VISION, MISSION AND VALUES, AS PREVIOUSLY SHAREHOLDER TO SUPPORT A BUDGET ALLOCATION. ADVANCING INSTRUCTION, EYE LEVELS OF GROWTH, ENGAGEMENT, AND INDIVIDUAL PERSONALIZATION. BALANCED INSTRUCTION AND ASSESSMENTS, COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR STAFF. BUSINESS OPERATIONS, CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY, SUPPORTIVE CULTURE FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF, RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF HIGH PERFORMANCE STAFF AND THE MAINTENANCE OF SUSTAINABLE AND FLEXIBLEFLEXIBLE ENVIRONMENTS. JUST A SNAPSHOT OF OUR FISCAL 2025 SOURCES OF REVENUE. WE HAD A COUNTY TRANSFER OF $29,745,698. THIS ACCOUNTS FOR ABOUT 70% OF OUR OPERATING BUDGET. A LITTLE OVER 9%, $4,053,716 ACCOUNT FOR STATE SALES TAX.

15.1% REPRESENTING $6,533,483 FROM STATE GRANTS.

A LITTLE UNDER 4%. $1,682,067 FROM FEDERAL GRANTS.

WE HAVE CHARGES FOR SERVICES AT 2.7%.

ACCOUNTING FOR $1,157,251 TO CREATE A TOTAL OPERATING BUDGET OF÷÷ $43,172,215.

OUR CAFETERIA FUND, WHICH I'LL REMIND EVERYONE IS SELF- SUSTAINING, 1.6% OF THAT FUNDING, $22,457 FROM STATE GRANTS. 48.6%, $682,000 FROM FEDERAL

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INDICATING A TOTAL OF $1,402,218 IN OUR SELF- SUSTAINING CAFETERIA FUND.

NOW, I'D LIKE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT GOVERNOR YOUNGKIN'S INTRODUCED BUDGET. ANYBODY WHO HAS BEEN LISTENING TO ME SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, UNDERSTANDS THAT GOOCHLAND'S HOLDS ITS . 8 LOCAL COMPOSITE INDEX, AND THAT'S THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE LOCAL COMPOSITE INDEX. THIS IS A NUMBER THAT THE STATE USES TO DETERMINE OUR FUNDING FOR SOQ- FUNDED POSITIONS. I'M GOING TO REITERATE THAT.

SOQ- FUNDED POSITIONS ARE FUNDED 80% AT THE LOW CAL, 20% BY THE STATE.

THAT IS NOT AN IN ANY WAY ALL OF OUR POSITIONS OR THE POSITIONS THAT ARE REQUIRED TO EFFECTIVELY RUN THE SCHOOL DIVISION.

THOSE ARE ONLY THE POSITIONS INDICATED BY THE STANDARDS OF QUALITY.

THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR OF A BIENNIUM, AND TYPICALLY IN THE SECOND YEAR OF THE BIENNIUM, ADJUSTMENTS ARE SMALL AS THEY PERTAIN TO THE BUDGET AND RELATE TO OUR AVERAGE DAILY MEMBERSHIP PROJECTIONS OR OTHER TECHNICAL ADJUSTMENTS. THE GOVERNOR IS MAINTAINING A CONSERVATIVE REVENUE FORECAST DESPITE FOUR STRAIGHT YEARS OF SURPLUS IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

BASED ON THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET, THIS IS HOW IT SHAKES OUT FOR GOOCHLAND COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THERE SHOULD BE AN INCREASE IN SALES TAX. WHICH WILL BE OFFSET BY A DECREASE IN BASIC AID.

THERE SHOULD BE INCREASES IN FUNDING FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNER TEACHERS, A COMPENSATION SUPPLEMENT FOR 3% INCREASES FOR SOQ-FUNDED SOQ-FUNDED POSITIONS ONLY, AND IF IT HOLDINGS A PRESCHOOL INITIATIVE THAT WILL AGAIN BE REMOVED. YOU MAY RECALL A YEAR AGO THIS PROPOSAL WAS ALSO INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET THE LCI CAP OF .5 WAS GOING TO BE RAISED TO OUR LOCAL INDEX OF .8. AS A .5, THE STATE IS OUR PARTNER 50/50 FOR PRESCHOOL SERVICES.

THE BUDGET CURRENTLY REMOVES THAT CAP, BY THE TIME THE BUDGET IS PASSED, I'M HOPEFUL THAT LIKE LAST YEAR, THAT CAP WILL BE REINSTATED.

OUR FISCAL YEAR 2026 REVENUE PROJECTED CHANGES, OUR COUNTY TRANSFER IS STILL TO BE DETERMINED. WE'RE VERY EARLY IN THAT PROCESS, THOUGH I AM OPTIMISTIC IN OUR CONVERSATIONS OR MY CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.

OUR INDIRECT COST REVENUE FROM FEDERAL GRANTS, THESE ARE GRANTS THAT WE HAD LAST YEAR THAT YIELDED PROCEEDS OF DOLLARS THAT WE NO LONGER HAVE, $254,560 REPRESENTING A LOSS THERE.

THE SALES TAX INCREASE, WE BUDGET CONSERVATIVELY AT 97.

5%, LEAVING THE REMAINING 2.5% FOR WIGGLE ROOM.

THAT'S PROJECTED $235,496. WE ALWAYS BUDGET CONSERVATIVELY. THIS YEAR'S BUDGET OR LAST YEAR'S BUDGET WAS BASED ON AN ENROLLMENT OF 2,480 STUDENTS.

WE CERTAINLY EXCEED THAT ENROLLMENT THIS YEAR.

THAT'S GOING TO BE OFFSET A LITTLE BIT AS MENTIONED BY THE HIGHER SALES TAX. WE'RE HOPING THAT'S GOING TO YIELD A PROCEED OF $7,752. THE STATE COMPENSATION ADJUSTMENT THAT I JUST MENTIONED, 3% FOR SOQ POSITIONS, $141,215, AND IF THE CAP FOR THE VIRGINIA PRESCHOOL INITIATIVE IS LOST, THAT WILL BE A SETBACK OF $143,539. ALL OTHER STATE REVENUE, EXCUSE ME, REPRESENTING A LOSS OF $6,852. OUR TOTAL ANTICIPATED DECREASE TODAY, $10,488. I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT OUR BUDGET CONCERNS.

AS PART OF PROVIDING THE MARKET ADJUSTMENT FOR ALL TEACHING STAFF LAST YEAR, WE TOOK ON SOME TECHNOLOGY OBLIGATIONS THAT WE PROCURED THE PREVIOUS YEAR OR THE PREVIOUS FISCAL. THOSE AMOUNT TO $270,000.

TO PROVIDE A 3% COST OF LIVING INCREASE FOR ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES WOULD COME AT AN ENCUMBRANCE OF $885,000.

AND WE HAVE BEEN TASKED TO MOVE CAPITAL EXPENSES FROM THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN TO THE OPERATING BUDGET, REPRESENTING $500,000 IN THAT TRANSFER.

[00:30:03]

SO I COME FORTH TONIGHT WITH AN EARNEST SUPERINTENDENT ESTIMATE AND PROPOSAL OF NEEDS. I'M GOING TO OUTLINE THOSE THINGS BEGINNING WITH OUR IDENTIFIED NEEDS FOR SALARY AND BENEFITS FOR STAFF. I HAD CONVERSATIONS AND HAVE BEEN HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH THE REGION'S SUPERINTENDENT AS RECENT AS THIS MORNING, AND THE GENERAL ASSESSMENT IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO ALL BE SEEKING COST OF LIVING INCREASES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 3%. THIS IS A TABLE THAT WE'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH. I'VE SHARED IT A NUMBER OF TIMES. THIS SHOWS THE POWER OF OUR EFFORTS LAST SPRING.

UNIFIED SCHOOL BOARD AND BOARD OF SUPERVISOR EFFORTS TO BRING OUR TEACHERS TO COMPETITIVE COMPENSATION WITHIN THE REGION. THE COLUMN ON THE LEFT REPRESENTS WHERE OUR TEACHERS WOULD HAVE RANKED HAD WE ONLY DONE THE 5% COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT. THE COLUMN ON THE RIGHT INDICATES WHERE WE ARE WITH THAT MARKET ADJUSTMENT THAT WE INVESTED IN OUR TEACHERS, AND AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'RE IN THE TOP THREE IN THE REGION AT ALL LEVELS OF TEACHER TENURE. WHEN WE SURVEY, SIX IN TEN OF OUR TEACHERS INDICATED THAT THAT MARKET ADJUSTMENT PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THEIR DECISION TO RETURN TO GOOCHLAND COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO INVEST IN OUR EMPLOYEES. UNDER CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION, I'M PROPOSING EARNEST NEEDS OF SEVERAL POSITIONS, THREE INTERVENTIONISTS THAT ARE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, ONE PER, AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL FOR GOOCHLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, STIPENDS FOR 5004 CASE ANAGERS, AND FOR THOSE WHO ARE LISTENING, THESE ARE NOT POSITIONS, THESE ARE STIPENDS TO SUPPLEMENTSUPPL EMENT TEACHERS WHO TAKE THAT ON AS AN EXTRA DUTY. FROM . 75 TO .1, AND THAT'S CURRENT. A SHARED WORK BASED LEARNING POSITION WITH THE COUNTY WHERE THEY WOULD PICK UP ONE- THIRD OF THE COMPENSATION FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL AND THE SCHOOL DIVISION WOULD CARRY THE REMAINING TWO-THIRDS. I TALKED ABOUT AN INCREASE OF OUR CURRENT FTE FOR AN ESL TEACHER, NOW I'M TALKING ABOUT SERVICES FROM AN ADDITIONAL ESOL TEACHER, A FULL- TIME TEACHER EQUIVALENT.

OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL COACHES ARE PAID A FLAT STIPEND.

IN CONTRAST, OUR HIGH SCHOOL COACH STIPENDS ARE A PERCENTAGE OF THEIR SALARY. WE WOULD LIKE TO BUILD SOME CONSISTENCY THERE FOR COACHES ACROSS THE BOARD, WHETHER THEY COACH AT YOU ARE O MIDDLE SCHOOL OR AT OUR HIGH SCHOOL. THIS WOULD IMPACT 26 COACHES.

AND WOULD MOVE THEIR STIPENDS FROM A SET RATE TO A PERCENTAGE BASE, CONSISTENT WITH HIGH SCHOOL. AN ASSISTANT ROBOTICS COACH FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL MOVING OUR EMT, FULL- TIME TEACHER EQUIVALENCY FROM . 25 TO A .5, AND THEN AN AGRICULTURAL TEACHER AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE NEED FOR THE INTERVENTIONIST.

WE'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH THE VIRGINIA LITERACY ACT AND THE MANDATES THAT THAT IS PLACED FOR ECONOMIC SUPPORT AND READING FOR STUDENTS WHO QUALIFY.

THIS YEAR, SCHOOL YEAR '24/'25, THAT IS EXTRA SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES KINDERGARTEN, FIRST, AND SECOND GRADE ONLY.

FOR THE UPCOMING ACADEMIC YEAR, '25/'26, THIS IS GOING TO INCLUDE STUDENTS IN ALL GRADES, KINDERGARTEN THROUGH FIFTH GRADE. SO WE'RE GOING TO BE TAKING ON TWO ADDITIONAL COHORTS OF STUDENTS FOR THIS ADDITIONAL SUPPORT. THE CURRENT CAPACITY OF OUR READING SPECIALISTS AND ACADEMIC INTERVENTIONISTS WHICH WE HAVE TWO, MEANS THAT THEY SPEND 100% OF THEIR SKILL AND TIME ADVANCING LITERACY INITIATIVES SO THAT YOU OUR STUDENTS MEET THE DEMANDS OF THE LITERACY ACT.

THAT'S FOOD. I'LL ACKNOWLEDGE THAT. THE SHORTCOMING OF THAT MODEL IS IT RUNS THE RISK OF US FALLING BEHIND IN NUMEROUS MATHEMATICS.

THESE INTERVENTIONISTS WOULD BE PEOPLE WHO WOULD HELP US SPECIALIZE AND KEEP AN EMPHASIS ON MATHEMATICS PROFICIENCY.

WE HAVE PRIORITIZED THE ACADEMIC INTERVENTIONISTS AS THESE POSITIONS WILL INCLUDE GREATER FLEXIBILITY IN READING AND

[00:35:01]

64 AT RANDOLPH, 86 AT GOOCHLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, 1 TO 19 AT BYRD 1 TO 43 AT RANDOLPH, AND 1 TO 43 AT GOOCHLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. NEXT YEAR WHEN WE ADD GRADES 4 AND 5 AND THOSE STUDENTS WHO ARE IDENTIFIED AS NEEDING ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM THOSE GRADES, WE'RE PROJECTING THAT THE NUMBERS WILL YIELD 70 STUDENTS AT BYRD, 96 AT RANDOLPH, AND 129 AT GOOCHLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. IF WE DON'T DO ANYTHING, AND WE WORK UNDER CURRENT STAFF, THOSE RATIOS JUMP TO 1 TO 28 AT BYRD, 1 TO 64 AT RANDOLPH, AND 1 TO 65 AT GOOCHLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. AS THE PERINTENDENT, TO ME THAT IS UNIMAGINABLE, AND I CANNOT IMAGINE IT TO BE FRUITFUL FOR OUR STUDENTS.

BECAUSE BYRD IS A TITLE 1 SCHOOL, IT'S EASY TO SAY OR SOMEONE MAY CONCLUDE, WELL THE NUMBERS SUGGEST THAT BYRD HAS A MATH SPECIALIST. WHY THEN AREN'T YOU ASKING FOR TWO INTERVENTIONISTS TO SERVE AS RANDOLPH AND GOOCHLAND ELEMENT, WHY ARE YOU ASKING FOR THREE? BYRD IS A TITLE 1 SCHOOL.

AND ANY INITIATIVES THAT WE TAKE HAVE TO SUPPLEMENT BYRD, NOT SUPPLANT IT, OR SUPPLANT STAFF THERE. SO IN OTHER WORDS, BYRD'S ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE ONE MORE OF THE THINGS THAT ARE REMITTED PRESENTED AT THE OTHER TWO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, BASED ENTIRELY ON ITS TITLE 1 STATUS. IF WE WERE TO ADD THESE THREE INTERVENTIONISTS, THOSE RATIOS THAT I JUST SHARED WITH YOU THAT I DO DEEM UNIMAGINABLE WOULD CHANGE IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS.

WE WOULD GO FROM 1 TO 28 TO 1 TO 20 AT BYRD, KEEPING IN MIND THEY'D HAVE DOUBLE SUPPORT. WE'D GO FROM 1 TO 64 TO 1 TO 38 AT RANDOLPH AND FROM 1 TO 65 TO 1 TO 43 AT GOOCHLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

ANY QUESTIONS ON THE INTERVENTIONISTS BEFORE I PIVOT TO TALK ABOUT THE ASSISTANT

PRINCIPAL? >> MADAME CHAIR, I DO HAVE QUESTIONS.

>> OKAY. WE TARGET K THROUGH 2 BECAUSE WHEN YOU HAVE KIDS WHO CAN READ BY THE TIME THEY LEAVE SECOND GRADE, THEY'RE GOING TO BE MORE SUCCESSFUL IN THE UPPER GRADES BECAUSE THEY'RE READING ALL OF THEIR TEXT IN ALL OF THEIR CONTENT AREAS.

THAT'S WHY WE TARGET USUALLY K THROUGH 2 TO GET OUR KIDS READING. AND I KNOW THAT WHEN WE HAVE SAT THROUGH DATA ANALYSIS OF OUR SCORES, WE HAVE EXCELLENT SCORES.

SO WHY ALL OF A SUDDEN, I GUESS, WHAT WOULD JUSTIFY IF WE HAVE REALLY EXCELLENT SCORES IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM AND TEACHERS ARE TRAINED TO TEACH READING, EVEN NEW CURRICULUMS, WHICH PROVIDE A LOT MORE SUPPORT, WHAT WOULD JUSTIFY THE NEED, AGAIN, FOR ADDING POSITIONS WHEN WE ALREADY SHOW THAT WE ARE ABLE TO DO FAR ABOVE AND BEYOND WITH THE SUPPORT THAT WE HAVE NOW?

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. THE ASSESSMENT THAT WE HAVE TRADITIONALLY PLACED THAT GREATER LITERACY EMPHASIS IN GRADES KINDERGARTEN, FIRST AND SECOND IS TRUE.

BUT UNDER THE VIRGINIA LITERACY ACT, KIDS WHO ARE CURRENTLY FOURTH GRADERS WOULD HAVE ALREADY HAD THAT EXPERIENCE BUT IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN UNDER THE MODEL OF THE VIRGINIA LITERACY ACT, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.

THE VIRGINIA LITERACY ACT IS IN ITS FIRST YEAR OF IMPLEMENTATION. IT'S NOT THAT WE'VE DONE AN INADEQUATE JOB OF PREPARING OUR STUDENTS WITH LITERACY PROFICIENCIES, ALL OF THE DATA SUGGESTS THAT THAT IS NOT TRUE.

THE REALITY IS THE MODEL HAS CHANGED.

THE METHODS HAVE CHANGED AND THE MATERIALS HAVE CHANGED.

SO WHEN THOSE STUDENTS WHO ARE CURRENTLY PLANNING TO BE RISING FIFTH GRADERS NEXT EAR FOR THE SAKE OF THIS EXAMPLE WERE IN KINDERGARTEN, FIRST AND SECOND GRADE, GETTING THAT FUNDAMENTAL FOUNDATION FOR LITERACY, IT WAS UNDER A DIFFERENT MODEL, WITH DIFFERENT CONCEPTS, DIFFERENT CURRICULUM, AND DIFFERENT MATERIALS. NOW THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT THE PROFICIENCY IS ANY LESS. THAT IS TO SAY THAT THE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT HAVE CERTAINLY CHANGED REGARDING LITERACY IN VIRGINIA'S ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

>> HOW IS THAT IMPACT, I MEAN, IF THE STUDENTS WERE ABLE TO -- AND I GET WHAT YOU'RE SAYING THAT THE CURRICULUM HAS CHANGED.

>> YES.

>> BUT IF THE STUDENTS WERE ABLE TO, THOSE RISING FIFTH

[00:40:05]

READ. >> I'LL FOLLOW BY REITERATING THAT STUDENTS WHO ARE IDENTIFIED FOR NEEDING ADDITIONAL SUPPORT NOW WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED FOR NEEDING ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PREVIOUSLY. WE'RE IDENTIFYING MORE KIDS NOW WITH THE SAME YIELDS FOR NEEDING ADDITIONAL SUPPORT.

AND THAT'S ACROSS THE STATE. THAT'S NOT GOOCHLAND. THAT'S FACTUAL.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO E SOME OF THAT INFORMATION, JUST AS A TEACHER MYSELF USING THE NEW CURRICULUM, AND SEEING WHAT I'M TESTING THEM ON NOW VERSUS WHAT I'VE TESTED THEM LAST YEAR. YOU KNOW, WHEN I DON'T SEE IT PERSONALLY, IT WOULD BE NICE TO SEE THE NUMBERS AND WHAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY, WHAT THE TEST IS TESTING FOR I KNOW IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

>> SURE.

>> BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT JUST BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT THOSE THINGS.

>> YEAH. >> WHEN WE WANT NEW THINGS OR WE WANT THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO COST US, THE COUNTY, A

BIT. >> AND I IMAGINE YOU PROBABLY WON'T SEE VERY MUCH DIFFERENCE IN WHAT WE'RE TEACHING AND HOW WE'RE SAYS ASSESSING IT.

MY POINT IS STUDENTS ARE BEING MORE GRATELY OR IN LARGER NUMBER IDENTIFIED FOR GREATER HELP WITH THE SAME YIELDS OR COMPARABLE YIELDS, WE'LL SAY, THAN THEY HAVE BEEN IN PREVIOUS YEARS.

>> YEAH, MADAME CHAIR, DR. CROMARTIE, I WANT TO PULL ON THAT THREAD JUST FOR A MOMENT.

STUDENTS ARE BEING IDENTIFIED NEEDING ADDITIONAL INTERVENTION SUPPORT SERVICES IN GREATER YIELDS.

IS THAT DUE TO THE ACADEMICACADEMIC NATURE, THE CHANGES WITH THE NEW VLA CURRICULUM THAT IS SHOWING US SOMETHING DIFFERENT, OR DO YOU THINK THERE'S ANOTHER CAUSATION THERE?

>> I TRY NOT TO OPINE ON IT PERSONALLY.

I WILL DOUBLE DOWN ON WHAT I'VE

SAID. >> OKAY.

>> MORE KIDS ARE BEING TARGETED FOR ADDITIONAL SUPPORT IN LITERACY NOW THAN WOULD HAVE BEEN OR THAN WERE

PREVIOUSLY. >> SO MAYBE THE BENCHMARKS, IF YOU WILL, HAVE CHANGED.

>> QUITE POSSIBLY.

>> VERY GOOD. AND THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO GET A LITTLE CLARIFICATION, IF WE KNEW THERE WERE SOME OTHER FACTORS THAT WE COULD POTENTIALLY INFLUENCE FOR THE

BETTER. >> SURE.

>> EXPLORING THOSE AS WELL.

>> THANK YOU, GOOD QUESTIONS. I APPRECIATE THAT.

>> IF I COULD ASK, OKAY, SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE DOING K THROUGH TWO.

>> RIGHT NOW WE'RE DOING K THROUGH THREE.

>> K THROUGH THREE. WE HAVE THE INTERVENTIONISTS FOR THEM, WHAT YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT IS NEXT YEAR FOUR AND FIVE IS GOING TO BE ADDING ON AND THEY MAY NOT HAVE GOTTEN THE EXTRA HELP TO GET THEM UP TO WHERE FOUR AND FIVE SHOULD

BE. >> RIGHT.

AND I JUST WANT TO SHOW YOU OUR PROJECTIONS, AND THESE ARE PROJECTIONS. THESE ARE THE -- NEXT TO THE BOTTOM, THESE ARE THE PROJECTED NUMBER OF STUDENTS ACROSS THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, KINDERGARTEN THROUGH FIFTH GRADE, THAT WE ANTICIPATE WILL NEED SUPPORT UNDER THE NEW MODEL.

70 FROM 47. 96 FROM 64, AND 129 FROM 86.

>> OKAY. BUT WHEN -- OKAY.

LET'S SAY YOU GET A COUPLE OF -- TWO OR THREE NEW INTERVENTIONISTS AND THEY CAN HELP WITH THE FOUR AND FIVE, TO GET THEM --

>> THE NEW INTERVENTIONISTS THAT WE'RE SEEKING WOULD HELP K THROUGH 5 MATHEMATICS EMPHASIS.

>> BUT AS THEY GET STARTED IN K THROUGH K 1-2, THEY'RE GETTING THE SKILLS, THEY'RE LEARNING HOW TO DO IT, SO BY THE TIME THEY GET UP TO THE HIGHER GRADES, YOU WOULDN'T NEED AS MANY INTERVENTIONISTS?

>> THAT COULD QUITE POSSIBLY BE THE OUTCOME, BUT TODAY IS OUR FOUNDATION WHEN WE

START. >> I UNDERSTAND TODAY, BUT COULD THIS BE A TEMPORARY, TWO OR YEAR THING, AND THEN WE CAN CUT BACK.

>> IF THE DATA DELIVER US TO THAT POINT, THAT'S CERTAINLY A CONVERSATION THAT'S WELL WORTH HAVING AT THAT

TIME. >> OKAY.

THANK YOU. >> YES, MA'AM.

>> I JUST HAVE A QUICK QUESTION.

I REMEMBER WHEN WE GOT THE OVERALL VIEW OF THE NEW READING SERIES AND THE BLA AND ALL OF THIS, THAT WE MAY NOT SEE THE TRUE IMPACT OF THE SCIENCE OF READING, AND THE NEW CURRICULUM FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS.

>> AT LEAST.

>> OKAY. >> CAN YOU ADDRESS THAT COMPARISON?

>> SO I'LL TALK MORE GENERALLY, AND IF I DON'T ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, I'LL GIVE IT ANOTHER STAB.

TYPICALLY THERE'S AN IMPLEMENTATION DIP, NO MATTER WHAT THE TREATMENT IS.

>> RIGHT.

>> NO MATTER WHAT THE PROGRAM THAT'S IMPLEMENTED IS,

[00:45:05]

AS DR. GEYER SHARED IN HIS PRESENTATION LAST MONTH, A PLUG AND PLAY IN OUR NUMBERS, ON THE SCHOOL ACCREDITATION RATINGS, HE MENTIONED, NOT NECESSARILY RELATIVE TO THIS, BUT WE CAN ANTICIPATE SOME OF THOSE THINGS TO HAPPEN.

THIS IS NOT EXEMPT FROM THAT. I WISH I HAD A MAGIC BALL, AND COULD TELL YOU HOW OUR KIDS ARE GOING TO FARE ON THEIR READING ASSESSMENTS IN THE SPRING. MY HOPE AND HOPE IS NOT A STRATEGY, BUT MY PE IS THEY'RE GOING TO FARE AS WELL AS THEY DID LAST YEAR OR BETTER. BUT HAVING BEEN AROUND LONG ENOUGH TO KNOW WHEN WE CHANGE OUR PRACTICES WITH KIDS, ESPECIALLY WITH TEACHERS GETTING THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THAT PERTAINS TO THE INSTRUCTION ALONG THE WAY, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY FOR SOME IMPLEMENTATION DIPS.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT ANSWERS YOUR SPECIFIC QUESTION.

THANK YOU.

>> SURE. SORRY TO KEEP -- THIS IS REALLY GOOD CONVERSATION.

>> THAT'S WHY I'M HERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.

>> I RECALL WHEN WE IMPLEMENTED THE MULTI- TIERED SYSTEMS OF SUPPORT, ANY EDUCATIONAL STRATEGY IS NOT GOING TO SHOW

RESULTS IMMEDIATELY. >> RIGHT.

>> THESE ARE LONG- TERM INVESTMENTS IN MOST CASES.

HOW DO WE FEEL THAT THE ORIGINAL IMPLEMENTATION OF MTSS HAS BENEFITTED THE SCHOOL DIVISION, AND WOULD WE DOUBLE DOWN ON THAT? WOULD OUR TEACHERS SAYING THAT, YES, IT'S MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOMS, ARE WE SEEING IMPROVEMENTS IN STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, SO FORTH AND

SO ON? >> ARE WE TALKING ABOUT THE VLA?

>> NO JUST MTSS AT LARGE, AND I'M THINKING ABOUT IT FROM THE VIEWPOINT OF INTERVENTIONISTS AS A CATEGORY.

>> I UNDERSTAND. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE NATURE OF THESE THREE POSITIONS.

I DON'T KNOW IF I'VE DONE A GOOD JOB AT CLARIFYING.

THE EMPHASIS HAS BEEN ON LITERACY.

AND THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT WE'RE BATTING IT OUT OF THE PARK OR DEFICIENT.

IT'S TO STATE AS A MATTER OF FACT BECAUSE OF THIS NEW LEGISLATION, THE VIRGINIA LITERACY ACT, WE'VE HAD TO INVEST THE LION'S SHARE OF OUR CURRENT STAFF TIME IN ADVANCING THESE LITERATURES. THAT'S THAT STATEMENT OF FACT. WHAT CONCERNS ME AND WHAT CONCERNS SENIOR LEADERSHIP AND PRINCIPALS IS THAT BY DOING THAT THE TIME THAT WOULD HAVE ORDINARILY BEEN SPLIT, THE DUTY THAT WOULD HAVE ORDINARILY BEEN SPLIT BETWEEN ADVANCING LITERACY AND ADVANCING E WE MAY SEE DECLINE ON THE MATHEMATICS FRONT. THESE THREE POSITIONS WOULD BE CALLED IN TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE CAN HOLD PAR IN MATHEMATICS PROFICIENCY. NOT NECESSARILY FURTHER ADVANCE THE INITIATIVES OF VLA, ALTHOUGH THAT MAY BE A BY- PRODUCT, THE EMPHASIS WOULD BE TO KEEP US AFLOAT WITH MATHEMATICS PROFICIENCY.

>> THANK YOU! YES, MA'AM.

GOOD QUESTIONS, THANK YOU. GOOCHLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HAS ENROLLMENT OF 518. THAT NUMBER HAS HELD STEADY. IT'S A DIFFERENT 518. THAT NUMBER HAS HELD STEADY SINCE I MADE THE PRESENTATION ON THE 16TH OF DECEMBER, I VERIFIED IF AS RECENT AS THIS MORNING. MRS. MCKAY SHARED SHE'LL LOSE TWO AND GAIN TWO. THE NUMBER IS HOLDING STEADY AT 518 STUDENTS. I HAVE PLACED FOR COMPARISON'S SAKE JUST YOUR STAFF THAT REQUIRES A VALUATION BY NUMBER, YOUR INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF AT SCHOOL.

AND I WANT TO BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO GS WITH 53 INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANTS AND TEACHERS THAT REQUIRE EVALUATION AND COMPARE IT TO 53 STUDENTS, THE SAME NUMBER AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL WHERE THERE'S AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, AL ALBEIT, THERE'S 130 MORE STUDENTS AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND FIVE MORE SUCH PERSONNEL AT THE HIGH SCHOOL WHERE THERE ARE TWO ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS, ALBEIT, THERE ARE 300 PLUS ADDITIONAL STUDENTS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL. I SHARED WITH THE SUPERVISORS AND SCHOOL BOARD ON THE 16TH AND WOULD JUST LIKE TO EMPHASIZE SOME OF THE KEY POINTS TO THIS. SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION HAS EVOLVED. IT'S SO MUCH MORE THAN WHAT IT USED TO BE. HANDING OUT THE SKIES AND MAKING SURE EVERYBODY'S GOT THE RIGHT SET, A LEDGER FOR GRADES AND COMPUTERS, THE BUSES ROLL ON TIME AND THE MEALS ARE HOT. SO MUCH OF WHAT WE DO NOW IS PERSONNEL DEVELOPMENT. NOW MORE THAN EVER IN THE HISTORY OF PUBLIC EDUCATION WE

[00:50:02]

FIRST, THAT'S PATENTLY FALSE. EVEN IF THEY COME IN AND HAVE DEFICIENCIES, WE WANT THEM TO PERFORM OPTIMALLY.

THEY GET THE SAME CONTRACT TO SOMEONE WHO'S FULLY LICENSED. THEY'RE PLACED ON THE PAY SCALE EQUITABLY AS SOMEONE WHO WOULD BE FULLY LICENSE. THEY DRAW THE SAME INCOME AS SOMEONE AT THAT LEVEL OF PRACTICE WHO'S FULLY LICENSED. BUT WE RELY ON PRINCIPLES MORE THAN EVER TO DEVELOP AND COACH THESE FOLKS, BUILD THEM, GIVE THEM FORMATIVE FEEDBACK. THAT REQUIRES TIME.

IN ORDER TO GIVE FORMATIVE FEEDBACK THAT MOVES THE PRACTICE, I HAVE TO INVEST THE TIME PRIOR TO ENTERING YOUR CLASSROOM TO TALK ABOUT YOUR ANTICIPATIONS, YOUR APPREHENSIONINGS.

IT REQUIRES THAT I GO INTO YOUR CLASSROOM AND CONDUCT FORMAL OBSERVATIONS MORE THAN ONCE AND A SUITABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO INVEST IN THAT IS A MINIMUM OF 45 MINUTES EACH TIME, AND SUBSEQUENTLY WE'VE GOT TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS ALONG THE WAY WHERE I OFFER YOU RICH, FORMATIVE FEEDBACK THAT MOVES THE NEEDLE AND DEVELOPS YOUR CRAFT. WE RELY ON PRINCIPALS TO HELP US BUILD AND MAINTAIN HEALTHY SCHOOL CLIMATES THAT KEEP THE EMPHASIS ON ACADEMICS AND KEEP COLLECTIVE TEACHER EFFICACY HIGH, THE GENUINE BELIEF THAT THE TIME THEY SPEND WITH STUDENTS IS VALUABLE. AND THE STUDENTS ARE GOING TO BE BETTER OFF AS HUMAN BEINGS BY VIRTUE OF THE TIME THEY SPENT WITH THEM IN THEIR CLASSROOMS. IT'S HUMAN RESOURCES LEADERSHIP, PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT AS I MENTIONED, OBSERVATION, AND EVALUATION, AND THEN IT'S OWNERSHIP OF THE OUTCOMES.

IT DOESN'T MATTER IF -- TINA MCKAY IS GOING TO OWN HER OUTCOMES WITH 518 STUDENTS AS WILL ANDY MILER WITH 220 STUDENTS AT BYRD. THAT PART DOESN'T SHIFT.

ANY QUESTIONS ON THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL BEFORE WE PIVOT?

>> MADAME CHAIR.

>> THANK YOU DR. CROMARTIE, ON ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, THERE'S TWO LENSES AT WHICH WE CAN LOOK AT THIS, AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING THE DATA ON THE NUMBER OF STAFF THAT THE SCHOOLS HAVE SUPPORTED BY THE VARIOUS PRINCIPALS. IS ONE LENS THE STAFF? OR IS ONE LENS THE STUDENT COUNT? BECAUSE IF I HAVE TO MEASURE STAFF PERFORMANCE, IT SEEMS AS IF WE MIGHT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOAD BALANCE AND SHIFT ONE OF THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL TO GES BECAUSE THEIR STAFF RATIOS ARE COMPARABLE. IT'S NOT AN IDEAL

SOLUTION. >> RIGHT.

>> IT'S JUST AN OPTION.

>> WELL, I'LL START ANSWERING THAT BY SAYING THAT THERE IS A DIRECT CORRELATION BETWEEN NUMBER OF STUDENTS AND NUMBER OF STAFF. WE STAFF THE BUILDING BASED ON THE STUDENT ENROLLMENT.

YOU GET MORE TEACHER ALLOCATIONS AS YOUR ENROLLMENT INCREASES. THAT WAS THE NATURE OF THE TRANSFERS THAT WE HAD TO DO FROM RANDOLPH WHEN THEIR NUMBERS DECREASED FOR THIS COMING SCHOOL YEAR TO GOOCHLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. I WILL SAY THIS ABOUT THE HIGH SCHOOL AND MOVING A PERSON FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL.

AND ALL THINGS, ALL IDEAS ARE VERY MUCH ON THE TABLE.

BUT I WILL TELL YOU AS A FORMER HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, THE CHALLENGE THAT COMES IN THAT.

HIGH SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS ARE A REALLY DIFFERENT ANIMAL.

AND IT'S BECAUSE THEIR BALL GAMES, THEIR DRAMA PRODUCTIONS, THEIR BAND PRODUCTIONS, THERE'S THIS, THERE'S THAT, THAT'S GOING ON AT NIGHT, AND YOU DON'T HAVE THAT TYPICALLY ON THE ELEMENTARY SCENE. YOU MIGHT HAVE BACK-TO- SCHOOL NIGHT IN SEPTEMBER. YOU MIGHT HAVE A PLAY.

YOU MIGHT HAVE A WINTER CONCERT, BUT BY AND LARGE, WHEN YOU SHUT IT DOWN IN ELEMENTARY ADMINISTRATION, YOU CAN GO HOME AND SLIP INTO FAMILY MODE WITH YOUR FOLKS. HIGH SCHOOL IS A DIFFERENT CHALLENGE. THERE'S SOMETHING -- IF WE WERE TO SNAP OUR FINGERS AND LAND AT THE HIGH SCHOOL RIGHT NOW, I WOULD GUARANTEE YOU, IT'S A TUESDAY NIGHT. THERE'S BASKETBALL GOING ON. THERE'S SOMETHING GOING ON, AND IT'S EVERY NIGHT, AND IT'S CONSTANT. SO TO SHARE THE LOAD OF THAT LABOR, YOU NEED MORE HANDS, OTHERWISE IT'S BRIAN HAHN, AND MS. UDACK, PAPER ROCK SCISSORS, WHO'S GOING TO COVER THE EVENTS.

THAT'S WHY I WOULD DISCOURAGE THAT SCENARIO.

[00:55:03]

THE 504 CASE MANAGER STIPENDS, THIS WOULD BE A SET AMOUNT STIPEND THAT WE WOULD HOPE TO GIVE TO TEACHERS, GENERAL EDUCATION TEACHERS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL, AND THIS IS WHY. CURRENTLY OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS ARE MANAGING, AS CASE MANAGERS FOR BOTH STUDENTS WITH IEPS AND STUDENTS WHO ARE SERVICED UNDER SECTION 504 PLANS. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE. MANAGING THESE 504 PLANS REALLY DOESN'T REQUIRE A WHOLE LOT OF EXPERTISE OR AT LEAST NOT THE EXPERTISE THAT OUR SPECIAL EDUCATORS BRING TO THE TABLE. THE EXPERTISE THAT'S REQUIRED TO CASE MANAGE AN IEP,'ONS ABOVE. WE CAN TRAIN GENERAL EDUCATION TEACHERS TO SERVICE US IN THIS WAY, AND HELP US MANAGE SOME OF THESE 504S. GHS HAS SEEN A DRASTIC INCREASE IN NUMBER OF STUDENT SERVICES UNDER SECTION 504, AND IT HAS MOVED OUR CASE LOADS FOR OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS FROM 15 TO IN SOME CASES, OVER 25. WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT? IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE IF WE HAVE A SPECIAL EDUCATION OPENING, AND WE HAVE CANDIDATES COME IN AND WANT TO FILL THE OPENING, ONE OF THE FIRST QUESTIONS THAT HE EY WANT TO KNOW THE ANSWER TO IS WHAT ARE YOUR CASE LOADS? THAT'S IMPORTANT IN THE WORLD OF SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS, AND IF WE SAY THAT OUR CASE LOADS ARE 25, 26, 27, AND AND GOT OFFERS OR ARE IN A PLACE WHERE CASE LOADS ARE 14, 18, 20, THAT COULD BE A DECISION MAKER. RIGHT NOW, THIS SLIDE INDICATES THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS SERVICED UNDER 504, AT 110 AT THE HIGH SCHOOL, COMPARED TO 102 STUDENTS WHO ARE SERVED WITH IEPS.

52% OF SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS CASE LOAD CURRENTLY IS MADE UP OF STUDENTS WITH 504 PLANS. AND THERE ARE COMPLIANCE ISSUES, MAJOR COMPLIANCE ISSUES WITH 504 PLANS. WE HAVE TO KEEP OUR THUMB ON THOSE. ANY QUESTIONS ON THE STIPENDS TO SUPPLEMENT STAFF EARNINGS TO HELP US IN THIS WAY?

>> MADAME CHAIR?

>> IS IT ENOUGH? COUNTER TO ALL OF MY OTHER QUESTIONS THIS EVENING, I'M NOT GOING TO ASK YOU IS A STIPEND ENOUGH OR DO WE NEED ADDITIONAL HEAD COUNT HERE?

>> I WOULD ANSWER THAT QUESTION BY SAYING A STIPEND WOULD GO A LONG WAY IN GOOD FAITH TO ASK PEOPLE WHO ORDINARILY WOULDN'T TAKE THIS ON AS A DUTY TO TAKE THIS ON AS A DUTY.

I THINK COLLEGIALITY WOULD DICTATE THEY KNOW THEIR COLLEAGUES WHO TEACH SPECIAL EDUCATION ARE UNDER WATER WITH CASE MANAGEMENT.

I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANY PROBLEM FINDING PEOPLE WHO WILL DO IT FOR A PROPOSED

STIPEND. >> OKAY.

THANK YOU.

>> AND I DO BELIEVE WE'RE LOOKING FOR A TOTAL OF SEVEN. IS SEVEN THE

NUMBER? >> IT WOULD JUST DEPEND ON THE

STIPEND. >> SO IT WOULD BE FEWER THAN TEN, I HAVE NOT HEARD A NUMBER GREATER THAN TEN EVER ATTACHED TO THIS.

>> OKAY.

>> THANK YOU, MS. FRANKLIN-MURRAY.

I'M GOING TO COMBINE THE OTHER REPRESENT IT DIFFERENTLY ON THE INSTRUCTIONAL NEEDS SLIDE.

THE REASON FOR NEEDING THE ADDITIONAL . 25 AND THE ADDITIONAL FULL FTE ARE ROOTED IN THE SAME RATIONALS.

I WANT TO START BY TALKING ABOUT THE STANDARDS OF QUALITY STAFFING RATIOS TO SERVICE ENGLISH SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES OR ESOL STUDENTS.

THAT STAFFING RATIO SHOULD BE ONE TO 20 FOR LEVEL ONE STUDENTS. WE CURRENTLY HAVE 26 LEVEL ONE STUDENTS IN OUR SCHOOLS.

THE NUMBER OF TEACHERS REQUIRED BY THIS FORMULA WOULD BE ABOUT ONE AND A THIRD.

THE STAFF FOR LEVEL TWO STUDENTS, ONE STAFF TO 30 STUDENTS. WE CURRENTLY HAVE 22 LEVEL TWO STUDENTS. ABOUT A . 7 TEACHING EQUIVALENCY. ONE TO 40.

24 STUDENTS, A .6. ONE STAFF TO 50 LEVEL FOUR, AND AS YOU SEE, AS THESE STUDENTS GET MORE AND MORE PROFICIENT THEORETICALLY, THE NUMBERS GET HIGHER AND THE NUMBER OF STAFF REQUIRED TO FOSTER THOSE LANGUAGE ACQUISITION SKILLS LOWERS.

WE HAVE NINE OF THOSE STUDENTS. THAT'S A .2.

ONE STAFF PER 100 OF ALL OTHER LEVEL OF STUDENTS.

WE HAVE 18 STUDENTS IN THAT CATEGORY REPRESENTING ANOTHER .2. NOW, THIS IS TODAY.

THIS IS LIKE RIGHT NOW. SO THAT WOULD REQUIRE A MINIMUM OF 3FTE. AND LET ME CLARIFY THAT.

[01:00:03]

THESE ARE SOME ADDITIONAL CONCERNS. OUR ELO NUMBERS HAVE GROWN AND MAY CONTINUE TO GROW. WE HAD AN INCREASE OF 20 PLUS STUDENTS THIS SCHOOL YEAR ALONE.

THE NEW SCHOOL PERFORMANCE FRAMEWORK INDICATES THAT PROGRESS IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY IS GOING TO BE 20% OF A SCHOOL'S OVERALL MASTERY SCORE. 10%.

10%. WE CURRENTLY HAVE 2.

75 TEACHERS SERVING FIVE SCHOOLS.

WE LOSE A MINIMUM OF THREE INSTRUCTIONAL SESSIONS EVERY DAY DUE TO THAT ITINERANT TRAVEL.

ITINERANT TRAVEL IS WHEN THEY HAVE TO LEAVE ONE SCHOOL AND TRAVEL TO THE OTHER SCHOOL, THE TIME THAT THEY SPEND ON THE ROAD. ANY QUESTIONS ON OUR CHALLENGES WITH PROVIDING SOQ SERVICES FOR ESOL STUDENTS? THANK YOU. THIS WORK BASED LEARNING COORDINATOR IS A POSITION THAT I THOUGHT WISE TO TALK WITH FOLKS IN OUR OFFICE OF WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE THAT IF WE BRING SOMEONE IN AND THEY WORK THIS POSITION TO FULL FIDELITY, IT WOULD BE AS BENEFICIAL TO THE COUNTY AS IT WOULD BE TO THE SCHOOL DIVISION.

SO THANKFULLY, THERE HAS BEEN A COMMITMENT TO FUND THIS POSITION, . 33 FROM THE OFFICE OF WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT, THE REMAINING, . 67 THE SCHOOL POSITION WOULD PICK UP. THIS WOULD BE A POSITION THAT WOULD HELP STUDENTS APPLY CLASSROOM KNOWLEDGE TO REAL WORLD SITUATIONS AND DEVELOP THE TRANSFERABLE SKILLS OR SOFT SKILLS TO THE WORLD OF WORK. WE ANTICIPATE IT WILL HELP EMPLOYEES SHAPE THEIR WORK FORCE, HOPEFULLY LOCAL EMPLOYEES. WE DO A BUSINESS ROUND TABLE EACH SPRING, AND THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FOLKS FROM SOME OF OUR LOCAL COMPANIES AND PRIVATE BUSINESSES TO COME AND TELL US WHAT TYPES OF EMPLOYEES THEY'RE SEEKING, WHAT SKILLS THEY NEED OUR GRADUATES TO HAVE SO THAT ON DAY ONE, THEY'RE READY TO START SERVICEABLE POSITIONS WITHIN THOSE COMPANIES.

AND EVALUATE POTENTIAL EMPLOYEES AND REDUCE RECRUITING COSTS. WE DO SEE THIS AS A WORTHWHILE VENTURE. AND THEN WE HAVE TO CONSIDER INFLATIONARY PRESSURES AND OTHER OPERATIONAL NEEDS.

I WANT TO SHOW YOU THIS. THIS IS A LONGITUDINAL LOOK AT INFLATION OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST TEN YEARS.

AND THE SCHOOL DIVISION DID NOT BUDGET FOR INFLATION FOR FISCAL YEARS '21, '22, AND '23, AS A RESULT OF THAT ARE STILL CATCHING UP A LITTLE BIT.

THIS IS OUR YEAR OVER YEAR INFLATION REPORT.

AND IT SHOWS THAT LAST YEAR, 2024, WE END IT WITH INFLATION AT 2.7%. IN THE RECENT PAST, IT'S BEEN AS HIGH AS 7%, AND WHEN YOU GO FROM 2020, WHEN INFLATION WAS 1.4%, AND YOU BASE THE BUDGET ON CURRENT INFLATION AND THEN YOU ARE MET WITH THE CHALLENGES OF SUPER HIGH INFLATION, BUT YOU'VE GOT A BUDGET THAT'S IN FORCE, YOU PAY THE BILLS.

SO IF WE ANTICIPATED THAT FUEL WAS -- DIESEL WAS GOING TO BE $3. 40 A GALLON, AND THEN IT ENDED UP BEING $4. 80 A GALLON, AND IT HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF A FISCAL YEAR, WHEN WE BUDGETED FOR $3. 40 A GALLON.

YOU'VE GOT TO FIGURE A WAY TO CLOSE THE GAP.

AND LASTLY, OTHER OPERATIONAL NEEDS: I MENTIONED EARLIER IN THIS PRESENTATION, MOVING HALF A MILLION DOLLARS OF CAPITAL PROJECTS FROM THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN TO THE OPERATIONAL BUDGET FOR THIS UPCOMING FISCAL. THE INCREASED COST OF UTILITIES BASED ON RATE CHANGES, MAINLY ELECTRICITY AND IN THAT REGARD, WE'RE VERY OPTIMISTIC THAT DIESEL IS GOING TO BE A LITTLE FRIENDLIER IN COST THAN IT HAS BEEN. INCREASED COSTS FOR FOOD. FOR OUR CAFETERIAS, AND PAPER SUPPLIES. AND ADDING AN ADDITIONAL POSITION FOR A PART- TIME SCHOOL BOARD CLERK.

I SHARED WITH THE BOARD, AND HAVE BEEN SHARING WITH THE BOARD, AND I HOPE THIS WON'T BE NEWS TO ANYONE, WE'RE GOING TO BE UP AGAINST SOME VERY DIFFICULT SCENARIOS AND CHALLENGES REGARDING BUDGET, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SOME TOUGH DECISIONS. THE

[01:05:07]

AND WE ALL ARE AWARE OF WHAT THE CAPITAL OUTLAY IS. IT IS THE DUTY OF A SUPERINTENDENT TO BRING FORTH THE ESTIMATE OF NEEDS, AND I WOULD PROMISE I WOULD DO THAT AT THE TIME I WAS SELECTED FOR THIS JOB, AND I REITERATED A YEAR AGO WHEN I OFFERED A PRESENTATION SIMILAR TO THIS. I HOLD TRUE TO THAT TODAY.

I'M A REALIST ALSOALSO KNOW THAT I'M LIKELY, WE'RE LIKELY NOT GOING TO GET FUNDING FOR ALL OF THESE THINGS. I THINK IT WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL IF WE DID. IMAGINE THE POWER OF THAT.

BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT CIRCUMSTANCES AND RESOURCES MAY DICTATE THAT WE WILL NOT.

AND THAT'S WHEN THE DUTY COMES TO BE ABLE TO MAKE DIFFICULT DECISIONS. TO DETERMINE WHAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO SACRIFICE FOR THE BENEFIT OF HAVING SOMETHING THAT MOVES THE NEEDLE AND CHANGES OUR BOTTOM LINE. I AM OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THIS WORK. AND ENTHUSIASTIC TO DO THIS ALONG WITH YOU, AND THIS CONCLUDES OUR FIRST PRESENTATION, AND I'LL GLADLY WELCOME ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE PERTAINING TO.

>> I KNOW I'M JUST ASKING YOU TO COME UP WITH THIS OUT OF THIN

AIR. >> I'M GOOD AT

THAT. >> OKAY.

HOW MUCH MORE OF FUNDS FROM THE COUNTY WOULD WE BE TO GET --

>> EVERYTHING?

>> WELL.

>> THE WHOLE ENCHILADA?

>> WELL, OKAY.

>> SO I SHOWED YOU A COUPLE OF SLIDES THAT SHOWED MINUS POSITIONS, JUST -- AND I HAVE THE ANSWER TO THAT, BUT I WANT TO SET IT UP. SO PRELIMINARY NEEDS RIGHT NOW, AS OF TODAY, NOT COUNTING POSITIONS, $1,000,655.

WE WOULD ADD ABOUT ANOTHER BETWEEN 700 AND $800,000 TO THAT TO FUND ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT WOULD BE REALLY REALLY NICE TO HAVE. AND THAT WOULD PUT US AT AN ASK SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 2.5, $2.6 MILLION.

>> OKAY.

>> WHICH IS ABOUT 9% INCREASE YEAR OVER YEAR.

>> NOTED.

>> MADAME CHAIR, CAN I?

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS PRESENTATION AND ALL THE INFORMATION YOU INCLUDED. I ESPECIALLY APPRECIATE, BEFORE WE ASKED ABOUT GETTING THE TOTAL JOB DESCRIPTION OF AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AND WHAT SHE'S HAVING TO TAKE ON RIGHT NOW, AND I APPRECIATE YOU REALLY BEING DISTRIBUTIVE THERE AND SHOWING THAT THERE'S A REAL NEED .

>> THANK YOU, MRS. WIRSING, I APPRECIATE THAT.

>> DR. CROMARTIE, I DO NOT EXPECT YOU TO HAVE THIS ANSWER, DR. GEYER, I EXPECT YOU TO HAVE THIS ANSWER. IN THE 2021 YEAR WHEN WE FACED 7% INFLATION AND THE SUBSEQUENT YEAR WHEN WE FACED 6 1/2% INFLATION, BUT WE HAD ALREADY PASSED BUDGETS THAT DID NOT ACCOUNT FOR THAT, WHAT DID WE TAKE OFF THE TABLE? BECAUSE IF WE HAVE A 9% GAP TO CLOSE TO REALIZE OUR DREAMS, WHAT CAN WE TAKE AWAY? AND I KNOW YOUR TEAM IS EXPLORING OPTIONS FOR STRATEGIC ABANDONMENT, WHICH I ALWAYS APPRECIATE. I THINK FINDING 9% OF STRATEGIC ABANDONMENT IS UNREALISTIC.

>> RIGHT. >> BUT I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW, DOCTOR, AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO GIVE US AN ANSWER TODAY.

MAYBE NEXT WEEK.

>> CAN I INTERJECT, BEFORE DR.

DR. DR. GEYER TAKES A STAB AT THAT.

THE CHALLENGE IS ONCE IT'S TAKEN AWAY, IT'S TAKEN AWAY.

WHATEVER WE DID TO CLOSE THE GAPS, UNLESS WE BROUGHT THOSE THINGS BACK, THAT'S THE NATURE OF IT BEING CUT TO THE BONE. I WASN'T HERE IN 2021.

I WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT AS A POINT OF CLARITY.

WHATEVER THEY DID AT THAT TIME WAS DONE, AND UNLESS THE THINGS THAT THEY CUT MANAGED TO MAKE ITS WAY BACK, THOSE THINGS ARE GONE.

>> LOOKS LIKE MS. WEISS HAS AN ANSWER.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE THE ANSWER FOR EVERYTHING, BUT I THINK THE MOST OBVIOUS ANSWER IS THE PANDEMIC RELIEF GRANTS.

FILLED THE GAP BETWEEN FISCAL YEAR '21 AND FISCAL YEAR '24, A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FUND WERE FUNDED THROUGH THOSE RELIEF FUNDS.

>> THAT IS NOT A SURPRISE. AND I'LL TELL YOU THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN YOU SHARED THERE DR. CROMARTIE, ONCE SOMETHING IS TAKEN AWAY, IT'S NOT TAKEN BACK. ONCE SOMETHING IS HERE, IT'S HARD TO GET RID

[01:10:02]

>> YOU SHARED THE STEWARDSHIP RESPONSIBILITY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND I WANT TO ADD TO WHAT MS. WEISS JUST SHARED.

YEAH, THERE WAS A WEALTH, PUN TOTALLY INTENDED, OF FEDERAL RESOURCES DURING THOSE TIMES.

BUT SCHOOL FINANCE 101 DICTATES NONE OF THOSE DOLLARS WERE INVESTED IN ANYTHING THAT WAS NEEDED TO BE SUSTAINED TOWARD THE FUTURE.

TYPICALLY POSITIONS, SO IT WOULD HAVE BEEN RECKLESS TO FUND A POSITION, ESPECIALLY IF IT WAS A NEEDED POSITION, TO ENSURE WE HAD REVENUE TO SUSTAIN THAT.

THAT DID NOT HAPPEN IN GOOCHLAND.

I WAS NOT HERE, BUT I KNOW THAT DID NOT HAPPEN HERE.

THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A CHALLENGE.

ALL RIGHT. I THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR

ATTENTION. >> THANK YOU.

>> AND WELCOME ENGAGEMENT AS WE HAVE PHASE 2 OF THIS NEXT TUESDAY. THANK YOU.

>> OKAY. MADAME VICE CHAIR.

MS. WIRSING. DO YOU HAVE A MOTION?

>> HOLD ON ONE SECOND.

>> I MOVE THAT THE GOOCHLAND COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD CONVENE IN A CLOSED MEETING UNDER THE VIRGINIA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT IN ORDER TO DISCUSS PERSONNEL MATTERS INVOLVING THE ASSIGNMENT, APPOINTMENT, PROMOTION, PERFORMANCE, SALARY, DISCIPLINE OR RESIGNATION OF EMPLOYEES OF GOOCHLAND COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL UNDER VIRGINIA CODE 2.2-3711.

>> IS THERE A SECOND?

>> I SECOND THAT.

>> MS. MAXWELL SECONDS. IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION. ARE THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION SAY AYE. OPPOSED? ABSTAIN? OKAY. WE ARE NOW GOING INTO CLOSED SESSION.

[02:00:09]

>> WE ARE BACK IN OPEN SESSION. THERE WE GO. OKAY. DON'T MAKE

[02:00:19]

[02:00:26]

[02:00:29]

[02:00:32]

>> SO MOVED. >> I SECOND IT.

[02:00:36]

>> OKAY. I HEREBY RECONVENE THE JANUARY 14TH, 2025 MEETING OF

[02:00:50]

[02:00:52]

[02:00:55]

[02:00:56]

PULL THE MEMBERS? I SO CERTIFY. >>

>> I SO CERTIFY. >>

>> I SO CERTIFY. >>

>> I SO CERTIFY. >>

>> I SO CERTIFY. >> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE, WHO WAS NOT HERE FOR THE BUDGET PRESENTATION IN THE PRELIMINARY ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING. FOR THOSE JUST JOINING ONLINE AS WELL. WE DID HAVE ELITE AMENDMENT TO THE AGENDA.

>> MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE THAT WE INSERT AN AGENDA ITEM TO HAVE A CIP PRESENTATION BY MR. FORD FOLLOWING THE PUBLIC, PERIOD.

>> IS THERE A SECOND? >> I WILL SECOND.

>> IT HAS BEEN PROPERLY MOVED AND SECONDED. ALL THOSE IN

FAVOR, SAY AYE? >> AYE.

>> AYE. >> AYE.

>> ANY OPPOSED? SNOW? AND ABSTAINED? OKAY. WE HAVE THE ADJUSTED AGENDA. THANK YOU. DR. CROMARTIE?

>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. WE WILL START WITH RECOGNITIONS.

HOW ARE YOU ALL THIS EVENING? GOOD. GOOD. I AM HAPPY TO HEAR THAT AREA I WILL START BY PERSONALLY RECOGNIZING THE ROBOTICS TEAM AT EACH OF OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. JUST TO PUT IT SHORT, THESE GUYS HAVE REALLY RACKED UP QUITE A FEW ACCOLADES FOR THEIR PROFICIENCIES AND ROBOTICS, AND I AM NOT CERTAIN THAT WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE TEAM WANT TO COME UP AND TALK MORE EXTENSIVELY ABOUT IT. WE DO? WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME UP AND INTRODUCE THOSE FOLKS, MR.

WATSON? THANK YOU, SIR. >> MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DR. CROMARTIE, THANK YOU. IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE OUR ROBOTICS TEAM FROM ALL THREE OF OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A FUN FANTASTIC ROBOTICS PROGRAM ACROSS THE COUNTY. FIRST LEGO LEAGUE, AND FIRST ROBOTICS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL. SO, WE HAD A FANTASTIC ELEMENTARY SEASON, SO I WILL CALL THEM UP. I THINK BYRD ELEMENTARY IS FIRST ON THE LIST. SO, IF YOU WOULD COME UP AND BRING YOUR TEAM MEMBERS UP AND BRAG ON YOUR TEAM? WELL THEY ARE ON THEIR WAY APPEAR, JUST ONE PERSON I WOULD LIKE TO -- I WILL DO IT IN A MOMENT.

>> HELLO, COULD EVENING, EVERYBODY. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. WE ARE SO PROUD OF OUR TWO TEAMS FROM BYRD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THIS YEAR. BOTH WHICH WON AWARDS AT THE FIRST DIVISION THAT WE WENT TO. WE HAD THE EAGLES A WHOLE A TEAM, WHICH ARE MISSING A FEW MEMBERS , BUT THEY HAD SEVEN, AND AT OUR DIVISIONAL TOURNAMENT, THEY WON THE JUDGES CHOICE AWARD FOR HAVING AN AMAZING INNOVATIVE PROJECT. THEN, WE HAVE THE SEQUEL BOTS WHO RECEIVED FIRST PLACE FOR CORE VALUES AT THE FIRST DIVISION ALT AND THEY WENT ON TO THE STATE TOURNAMENT. AND THEN AT THE STATE TOURNAMENT, THEY RECEIVED SECOND PLACE FOR CORE VALUES. SO, SECOND PLACE IN THE WHOLE STATE FOR OUR TEAM! SO, WE HAD TWO AWARD-WINNING TEAMS THIS YEAR. WE WANT TO SAY A BIG THANK YOU TO A FEW VERY IMPORTANT PEOPLE. FIRST OF ALL, WE CALL RICHARD VERY AFFECTIONATELY OUR TEAM SCIENTIST. HE WAS AT EVERY

[02:05:01]

RIGHT BACK UP NEXT YEAR. >> I JUST WANT TO QUICKLY GET KNOWLEDGE ALL OF THE ARTWORK THESE KIDS PUT IN THROUGHOUT THE SEASON. IT WAS THE FIRST EXPERIENCE FOR A LOT OF THEM WITH CODING, THE FIRST EXPERIENCE TALKING IN FRONT OF LARGE GROUPS, AND THEY DO CITY REALLY GOOD JOB. I'M SUPER PROUD OF THEM FOR THE SUCCESS THEY HAD THE SEASON.

>> FOR ME, THIS WAS AN UNUSUAL EXPERIENCE. THEY HAD TWO TEAMS AT THE SAME TIME . ONE TEACHER DID ONE PART, AND ANOTHER TEACHER DID ANOTHER PART. I JUST NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE THAT BEFORE. AND THERE WERE SOME INTERESTING CHARACTERS. FORTUNATELY FOR THEM, I COULD NOT MAKE THE TOURNAMENTS , SO, THEY HAD MY FACE ON A STICK WHICH THEY PARADED AROUND , AND THEY RENAMED ONE OF THEIR INNOVATION DEVICES AFTER ME. BUT, THIS FELLOW HERE TODAY VIDEO OF MAKING BELIEVE IT WAS ME WITH ALL OF MY BIZARRE MANNERISMS .

SO, I APPLAUD HIM. HOPEFULLY THIS HAS NOT SCARRED HIM IN ANY PERMANENT WAY, BUT THANK YOU, ALL, FOR SUPPORTING THIS PROGRAM. MOST OF ALL, I THINK THESE KIDS. THEY ARE JUST ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE. ALL OF THEM. THANK

YOU. >> WOULD YOU STAY RIGHT THERE?

>> WHY? >> BECAUSE I SAID SO. SPEAKING OF INTERESTING CHARACTERS , -- HE HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN OUR STEM PROGRAM , HE WAS INCIDENTAL IN STARTING STEM CAMP . HE AND HIS WIFE MENTOR AND READ AT BYRD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. HE HAS BEEN SO INVOLVED IN ONE OF OUR PROGRAMS SINCE 2012 SINCE I JOINED. BUT, WE YOU HUGE DEBTS OF GRATITUDE.

>> NO, IT'S THE OTHER WAY AROUND! IF IT WASN'T FOR THE SCHOOL , THE PREDECESSORS, THE SCHOOL BOARD, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS , IT HAS BEEN, FOR ME, THE MOST REWARDING EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE . WE HAVE A GREAT SCHOOL SYSTEM. KEEP IT

GOING. >> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, GUYS. GOOD JOB.

>> MAY WE SEE YOUR TROPHIES? >> SURE!

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE VIDEO!

>> THANK YOU. NEXT, I WOULD LIKE TO CALL UP MISS POTTER FROM GOOCHLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. SHE IS A FIRST-YEAR COACH AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND THEY HAVE DONE AN AMAZING JOB OVER THERE. SO, MISS POTTER AND TEAM?

>> HELLO, COULD EVENING. WE ARE THRILLED TO BE HERE TODAY. WE, MR. MELTON AND MYSELF, ARE THE COACHES. VETERAN COACH, FIRST-YEAR COACH RAY HERE. WE HAVE OUR TEAM CAPTAIN, KERA,

[02:10:01]

OKAY? >> I WILL TRY TO BE QUICK ABOUT IT. LIKE YOU SAID, IS MY FIRST YOU'RE DOING IT. THE FIRST COUPLE OF YEARS I WAS AT RANDOLPH. SO, I HAVE JUST GOT TO TELL YOU , EVERYONE HAS BEEN AMAZING FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS TEACHING ME HOW TO BE SUCCESSFUL WITH A GROUP OF KIDS AT RANDOLPH. THEY DESERVE A BIG PLUS FOR EVERYTHING THEY DO NOT ONLY FOR RANDOLPH, BEFORE THE WHOLE COUNTY. THEY ARE AMAZING FOLKS. I WANT TO TAKE AWAY FROM WHAT MISS POTTER HAS DONE THIS YEAR. IS A NEW COACH, SHE HAD TO LEARN ALL OF THE ACCOLADE THINGS, ALL THE PARTS AND PIECES THAT MAKE THIS THING SUCCESSFUL , AND THEN FIGURE OUT HOW TO APPLY IT IN A VERY SHORT TIMELINE. SHE HAD A VERY SHORT TIMELINE TO DO THIS, LEARN IT, TEACH IT TO THEM, AND GET THEM TO BE SUCCESSFUL. HER FIRST YOU'RE OUT, SHE HELPED THEM WIN . SHE WALKED THEM THROUGH THE PROCESS. THEY PICKED IT UP. THEY GOT EXCITED.

THEY GOT THE NAMES. THEY WORKED HARD, AND SHE GUIDED THEM THE WHOLE WAY , LEARNING HERSELF ALONG THE WAY. IN THE RESOURCES SHE HAD TO GET IN THE SCHEDULE SHE HAD TO KEEP TO KEEP IT ALL TOGETHER, INCLUDING KEEPING ME ON TRACK WAS AMAZING. I HAVE NEVER SEEN SOMEBODY PUT IT TOGETHER SO QUICKLY AND SO FAST. NOW, LET ME SAY SOME THING ABOUT THE KIDS. THIS IS MY SECOND TIME DEALING WITH KIDS WHO HAVE NEVER DONE ROBOTICS BEFORE. THEY WERE CHAMPIONS. WE TOOK A GROUP OF FOLKS WHO HAD TO LEARN HOW TO BE 18, HAD TO LEARN HOW TO RESPECT EACH OTHER, GO OUTSIDE AND TALK IN FRONT OF STRANGERS , PERFORM, AND JUST TELL THEM EVERYTHING THEY NEEDED TO KNOW AND ORGANIZE IN A PROFESSIONAL WAY. THEY WERE AMAZING. JUST TO SIT THERE, YOUR JAW WOULD DROP JUST TO SEE WHAT A WONDERFUL JOB THE DID IN FRONT OF THESE FOLKS. I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT IT. THEY WERE GREAT. AND THEIR DEDICATION TO KEEPING IT GOING RIGHT UP UNTIL THE END GOT THEM SECOND PLACE OUT OF THIS FIRST YEAR FOR THEM . AND THEY TIED FOR SECOND PLACE. THE ONLY THING THAT CHANGED THAT WAS SOMEBODY ELSE HAD A HIGHER SCORE AND THEY HAD TO COMPARE THAT TO THE SECOND HIGHEST SCORE EACH OF THEM HAD GOTTEN. OTHERWISE THEY WOULD HAVE GOTTEN SECOND PLACE AND WOULD HAVE GONE TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

SO, THEIR EFFORTS DURING THAT DAY AND WRITE UP TO THAT TIME WITH LITERALLY JUST A VERY SHORT WINDOW , I'VE NEVER WORKED WITH KIDS LIKE THIS BEFORE. THEY GOT A SECOND PLACE OUT OF THIS GROUP. THIS IS THE LARGEST GROUP I HAVE EVER WORKED WITH. SO, THEY DID A GREAT JOB.

>> ALL RIGHT. SO, I KNOW WE DON'T HAVE VERY MUCH TIME, BUT DO WE WANT TO TELL THEM WHAT THE INNOVATION RESEARCH PROJECT WAS? OKAY, STEP FORWARD HERE. OKAY?

>> OUR PROJECT WAS ABOUT HOW CLAMS AND MUSSELS HELP FILTER

THE WATER. >> PRETTY MUCH, OUR IDEA WAS TO CREATE A ROBOT, ACTUALLY TWO . ONE OF THEM WOULD TEST THE WATER AND THEN FIND WHERE IT IS POLLUTED, AND THEN THE NEXT ONE WOULD BE CONNECTED TO THAT. WHEREVER THE WATER WAS POLLUTED , IT WOULD COME THERE AND DROP OFF CLAMS TO HELP CLEAN THE

WATER. >> SO, WE DO WANT TO THANK JAMES. WE HAD TWO FIELD TRIPS WITH HIM THAT FIFTH GRADE DOES.

THEY WERE PHENOMENAL IN OUR HANDS ON RESEARCH . ESPECIALLY WITH THAT WATER FILTRATION. WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT HANDS-ON .

SO, I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR LOVELY RANDOLPH CREW OVER HERE.

WHEN THE PROGRAM STARTED, I CALLED THEM UP, AND SAID WHAT DO I DO? WHAT DO I DO? BUT, IT WAS FANTASTIC. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE. WE CANNOT WAIT TO SEE WHAT IS TO COME WHEN THEY TAKE THIS INTO MIDDLE SCHOOL. IS JUST FANTASTIC. WOULD YOU LIKE

[02:15:02]

TO SHOW THEM THE ROBOT? >> YEAH.

>> OKAY, SO, OUR ATTACHMENTS BUILDER , HE IS NOT HERE , BUT HE BUILT ALL OF THESE PIECES BY SCRATCH BY HIMSELF. SO, YEAH.

>> THIS ONE THAT IS ON HERE RIGHT NOW , I AM NOT SURE IF ANY OF YOU HAVE SEEN THE ROBOTICS TABLE , BUT IT HAS THE SUBMARINE ONE THAT YOU TRY TO SET THIS UP TO THE OTHER SIDE.

THIS ONE WOULD LIFTED UP, AND IF IT HIT THE GEARS, IT WOULD HIT THIS PART AND LIFTED UP AS WELL , WHICH WOULD GIVE US A POINT. IF IT WAS ON THE OTHER TEAMS SIDE, WE WOULD GET MORE

POINTS. >> I AM SO IMPRESSED WITH THEM.

SO IMPRESSED. THANK YOU, EVERYONE.

>> CERTAINLY NOT LEAST , THE ROADRUNNERS FROM RANDOLPH .

SEAN AND HIS MOTHER, AND . THEY HAVE DONE SO MUCH TO MENTOR THE

OTHER TEAM. ROADRUNNERS? >> OUR TEAM THIS YEAR WAS MADE UP OF 8/4 AND FIFTH GRADERS. ONLY TWO FOURTH-GRADERS. SO, WE WILL HAVE REAL TEAM BUILDING TO DO FOR NEXT YEAR, BECAUSE THESE GUYS WERE AMAZING. WE WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR SUPPORTING US IN THIS , BECAUSE WE COULD NEVER HAVE GOTTEN WHERE WE GOT WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF GOOCHLAND COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THE BOYS WOULD LIKE TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT

THEIR PROJECT. >> THE GOAL OF OUR PROJECT WAS TO NOT JUST TAKE TRASH OUT OF THE WATER , BUT TO STOP IT -- WELL, TO TAKE IT OUT OF THE RIVER BEFORE HE COULD EVEN GET TO THE OCEAN. BECAUSE EVEN IF WE TAKE ALL OF THE TRASH OUT OF THE OCEAN, IF HE CAN STILL GET THROUGH RIVERS , WHAT'S THE POINT? SO, WE DESIGNED A GREAT THAT WOULD NOT TO SLIP BOATS THROUGH, BUT ALSO PICK UP ALL TRASH IN THE RIVER , WHETHER IT IS ON THE SURFACE OR BELOW THE SURFACE. IT EVEN LETS FISH

THROUGH. >> DOES ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SAY

ANYTHING? >> WE COULD NOT SOLVE MICRO PLASTICS. THEY ARE TOO SMALL, AND WE CAN'T DO THAT. WE ARE NOT FAR ENOUGH AND TECHNOLOGY YET TO DO THAT.

>> I'M REALLY PROUD OF THE TEAM THIS YEAR. THEY GOT FIRST PLACE FOR THEIR INNOVATION PROJECT AT THE REGIONAL -- WELL, THE SMALLER TOURNAMENT. THEY WENT ON TO STATE, WHERE THEY GOT SECOND PLACE IN THE PROJECT. AND FOR BOTH BYRD AND RANDOLPH, IT'S NOT JUST VIRGINIA, IT IS VIRGINIA AND D.C. FOR THAT STATE TOURNAMENT. WE DISCARD STATES.

>> I SEE AS MUCH ENTHUSIASM IN THE ADULT IS A TO THE KIDS.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF THE COACHES WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED, AND THE NUMBER OF HOURS YOU PUT INTO THIS. THE

[02:20:01]

SUPPORT. THANK YOU. >> I HAVE A QUESTION FOR ALL OF THEM. ALL OF THE STUDENTS AND COACHES. ARE YOU GOING TO DO IT AGAIN NEXT YEAR? YEAH. COME ON! YEAH!

>> THANK YOU. NEXT, WE WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE OUR TEACHERS OF THE YEAR FOR EACH OF OUR SCHOOLS. AND THEN UNVEIL TONIGHT FOR YOU ALL THERE DIVISION WHITE TEACHER OF THE YEAR. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE WATCHED TEACHER OF THE YOUR PRESENTATIONS OVER THE YEARS , YOU WILL PROBABLY THINK ISN'T IT A LITTLE EARLY FOR US TO BE DOING THIS? I THOUGHT THIS WAS IN APRIL WITH UNISON WITH NATIONAL TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK? THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SEVERAL YEARS BACK CHANGED IT'S TIME FOR NOMINATING A STATEWIDE TEACHER OF THE YEAR, AND WE CERTAINLY WANT OUR TEACHERS OF THE YEAR TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THAT SELECTION, SO WE CHANGE THE CADENCE AND ARE GOING TO DO THAT NOW. SO, WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK DR. GEYER AND DR. WAGNER TO COME UP . THEY HAVE FLOWERS. AS A READ THE BIO OF EACH TEACHER OF THE YEAR, IF YOU HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE HERE, THEY'RE WELCOME TO COME UP AND BE SEEN WITH YOU. IF YOU DON'T HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER BUT YOU HAVE A COLLEAGUE WHO HAS COME TO SUPPORT YOU, WE CERTAINLY WELCOME THEM TO JOIN YOU UP AS WELL. BYRD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. CHRISTINA THOMPSON. CHRISTINA HAS DISPLAYED A STRONG COMMITMENT TO GOOCHLAND SCHOOLS. SHE IS A GRADUATE OF GOOCHLAND HIGH SCHOOL, AND AFTER COLLEGE, SHE RETURNED TO GOOCHLAND AND HAS BEEN A STATEMENT AT BYRD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR 15 YEARS. SHE IS HIGHLY RESPECTED FOR THE WAY SHE GOES ABOUT HER WORK WITH PROFESSIONALISM AND CLASS. SHE MAKES SINCERE RELATIONSHIPS, SHE MOLDS HER CHILDREN INTO A COMMUNITY OF HARD WORKERS, RESPECTFUL CITIZENS, AND SUCCESSFUL STUDENTS. CHRISTINA HAS TAUGHT A VARIETY OF GRADE LEVELS , AND ALWAYS SETTING MAINTAINS THE SAME HIGH EXPECTATIONS REGARDLESS OF AGE.

OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM, CHRISTINA GIVES TIME TO MULTIPLE SCHOOL COMMITTEES , HAS LED GIRLS ON THE RUN PROGRAMS FOR SEVERAL YEARS, AND IS A GO TO PERSON FOR TECHNOLOGY ADVICE AND SUPPORT, BILINGUAL ASSISTANCE, AND BEING A CREATOR OF SPIRIT WEEK. THANK YOU. SHE DOES IT ALL! MS. THOMPSON IS JUST AS GOOD A PERSON IT IS A WELL-DESERVED RECIPIENT OF THE BYRD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER OF THE YEAR AWARD. CONGRATULATIONS. IN BETWEEN, WE WILL GO OVER FOR QUICK PHOTOS.

>> THANK YOU. LIBBY ROUTSON, GOOCHLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

>> SEE, I MESSED THAT UP, BECAUSE THERE'S ONLY ONE BOUQUET OF FLOWERS. I ASSUMED THERE WOULD BE SEVERAL. THAT'S OKAY. YOU CAN BORROW THEM FOR THE DURATION OF THIS PRESENTATION. I AM CLEAR ON THAT NOW. WITH OVER 15 YEARS OF ITS PERIODS AND EDUCATION, LIBBY ROUTSON HAS DEDICATED HER CAREER TO CULTIVATING THE LOVE OF LEARNING , AND PROVIDING THE JOYFUL FOUNDATION FOR STUDENTS IN THEIR MOST FORMATIVE YEARS.

SINCE JOINING GOOCHLAND COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN 2007, SHE HAS SERVED IN VARIOUS ROLES. HOWEVER, HER HEART HAS ALWAYS BELONGED TO KINDERGARTEN. LIBBY ROUTSON IS DEEPLY COMMITTED TO BUILDING STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH HER STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND THE COMMITTEE. EVERYTHING SHE DOES IS GUIDED BY THE PHILOSOPHY THAT WE LEARNING SHOULD BE JOYFUL. SHE SHARES THERE IS NOTHING MORE FULFILLING THAN WITNESSING THE EXCITEMENT AND CURIOSITY OF STUDENTS EXPERIENCING SCHOOL FOR THE FIRST TIME. SHE EMBODIES A TRUE TEAM PLAYER, -- IS A TRUE TEAM LEADER, EXCUSE ME, AND LEADER AT GOOCHLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WHEN THERE IS A NEED, WHETHER VOLUNTEERING IS A NEW BROWNBAG LIAISON, LEADING THE YEARBOOK COMMITTEE, OR

[02:25:02]

I WILL KEEP IT BY SCHOOL LEVEL AND GO TO KATELIN NOLAN, TEACHER OF THE YEAR, RANDOLPH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. KATELIN NOLAN EMBODIES A QUIET CONFIDENCE THAT SETS HER APART FROM HER PEERS. SHE APPROACHES CHALLENGES WITH GRACE AND DETERMINATION, INSPIRING THOSE AROUND HER TO STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE. HER LEADERSHIP SKILLS ARE EVIDENT IN HER ABILITY TO BRING HER TEAMMATES TOGETHER, FOSTERING AN ENVIRONMENT OF COLLABORATION AND SUPPORT. SHE CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATES HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR HERSELF AND HER STUDENTS, GREETING A CULTURE OF HIGH ACHIEVEMENT IN THE CLASSROOM.

HER STUDENT CENTER APPROACH ENSURES THAT EVERYONE FEELS VALUED AND INCLUDED, MAKING HER CLASSROOM A WARM AND WELCOMING PLACE. SHE IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR SCHOOL FAMILY, AND WE ARE SO PROUD OF HER FOR BEING A TEACHER OF THE YEAR FOR RANDOLPH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. CONGRATULATIONS, KATELIN NOLAN.

BRYAN TATE, GOOCHLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER OF THE YEAR. MR. TATE HAS A HEART FOR KIDS. PERIOD. HE IS THE PRODUCT OF GOOCHLAND COUNTY PRODUCT SCHOOLS, AND GIVES 110% FOR HIS KIDS EVERY SINGLE DAY. BRIAN TEACHES INVENTIONS AND INNOVATIONS, AS WELL AS COMPUTER SOLUTIONS AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL. BRIAN ALSO TOOK ON THE ROLE OF SPONSORING OUR ROBOTICS TEAM, AND HAS A REVIVED DORMANT PROGRAM WITH PASSION AND ENERGY. HIS KNOWLEDGE ON THE SUBJECT MATTER IS CLEARLY SEEN IN EVERY CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION, YET IT IS INTERWOVEN WITH FIRM EXPECTATIONS AND CARE. HIS CLASSROOM FEELS MORE LIKE A MASTERMIND THAN A LECTURE. HIS STUDENTS LOVE HIM, AND HE IS REFLECTED PROFUSELY BY HIS COLLEAGUES . HE WAS ALWAYS READY TO STEP UP AT A MOMENTS NOTICE, AND NO MATTER HOW YOU FEEL, HE CAN GIVE YOU SOMETHING TO LAUGH ABOUT. HE IS TRULY AN EXAMPLE OF AN EXEMPLARY TEACHER. CONGRATULATIONS, MR. TATE.

[02:30:03]

HISTORY, SPONSOR WORK WITH 10TH GRADE STUDENTS , PLANNING ON THE HOMECOMING FESTIVITIES, AND SPONSOR OF THE EVER-GROWING VETERANS PROJECT. SHE HANDLES ALL OF THESE JOBS WITH A SMILE ON HER FACE. MRS. TATE IS ONE OF THE MOST DEDICATED TEACHERS I HAVE EVER MET. SHE IS OFTEN THE FIRST TEACHER IN THE BUILDING IN THE MORNING AND THE LAST ONE TO LEAVE IN THE EVENING. MOST OF HER DAYS ARE FILLED WITH STUDENT TUTORING, EXTRA REMEDIATION, AND SCHOOL EVENT PLANNING TO IMPROVE THE BULLDOG EXPERIENCE EACH YEAR. HER KIND PERSONALITY, LOVE FOR TEACHING, AND PASSION FOR STUDENT LEARNING MAKE HER A VALUED TEAM MEMBER, AND WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE YOU AS PART OF THE BULLDOG FAMILY. RACHEL TATE. AND NOW THAT I FINALLY GET THE ASSIGNMENT , I WOULD LIKE TO FORMALLY INTRODUCE THE TEACHER OF THE YEAR FOR GOOCHLAND COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS SCHOOL YOUR 2024-2025, MRS. RACHEL TATE , GOOCHLAND HIGH SCHOOL.

>>

>> MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES TONIGHT'S RECOGNITIONS.

>> THANK YOU. DO YOU HAVE SOME ANNOUNCEMENTS?

[02:35:03]

>> WE DO HAVE AN INSTRUCTIONAL REPORT .

>> NO, THE ANNOUNCEMENTS. >>

>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I WOULD LIKE TO BRING THE PRINCIPLE OF BYRD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL UP TO INTRODUCE THE INSTRUCTIONAL REPORT.

>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE.

WHAT IS A REALLY QUICK ABOUT LONGEVITY. I TAUGHT BRYAN TATE ALBERTO MENTORS GO. I TAKE A LITTLE CREDIT FOR HIM BEING SUCCESSFUL AS AN ADULT. SHE DID TOO. GOT IT? THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT'S AWESOME. I LOVE HAVING ALL THE BYRD REPRESENTATION HERE TONIGHT. WE ARE VERY PROUD OF OUR SCHOOL AND ALL OF THE STUDENTS AND STAFF THAT ARE HERE. TONIGHT'S INSTRUCTIONAL REPORT I WILL TURN OVER TO STUDENTS, WHICH I THINK IS APPROPRIATE. WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO TONIGHT, SO, WE HAVE AN EXCELLENT SCHOOL NEWSPAPER , AND IT IS COMPLETELY STUDENT RUN, AND YOU HAVE THE STUDENTS COME UP AND TALK ABOUT THE SCHOOL NEWSPAPER THAT THEY HAVE IN THE THINGS THAT THEY DO. PRETTY MUCH EVERYONE IS HERE.

THINK WE HAVE TWO STUDENT ACADEMIC AT TONIGHT, BUT EVERYONE ELSE IS HERE. SO, NEWSPAPER FRIENDS, COME ON UP.

AND THEY HAVE A SCRIPT, SO THEY SHOULD BE READY TO ROLL.

>> GOOD EVENING, SCHOOL BOARD. WE ARE EXCITED TO TELL YOU ALL ABOUT OUR BYRD STUDENT NEWSPAPER CLUB. AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. THE NEWSPAPER STAFF IS MADE UP OF FIFTH-GRADERS WHO MEET ONCE A WEEK. WE CREATE A MONTHLY ADDITION OF OUR SCHOOL NEWSPAPER, TITLED "SOARING THROUGH THE BYRD NEWS". WE WORK REALLY HARD AND ALSO HAVING A

LOT OF FUN. >> TO CREATE -- TO CREATE EACH NEWSPAPER ADDITION, WE GET TOGETHER TO TALK ABOUT IDEAS FOR OUR NEWSPAPER AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH MONTH. WE THINK ABOUT THINGS HAPPENING AT SCHOOL AND IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WORLD. LIKE A FENCE, CLUBS, SPORTS , PERFORMANCE, AND EVEN FUN STUFF LIKE JOKES. WE MAKE SURE TO PICK TOPICS THAT EVERYONE WILL WANT TO READ ABOUT.

>> AFTER WE PICK OUR ARTICLE TOPICS , WE THEN SPEND THE NEXT TWO WEEKS WRITING OUR ARTICLES , INTERVIEWING PEOPLE, AND TAKING PICTURES. WE LOVE TO TALK TO THE TEACHERS AND STUDENTS, AND HEAR THEIR STORIES. WE HAVE PRESS PASSES THAT ALLOW US SPECIAL ACCESS AROUND THE SCHOOL TO DO

REPORTING WORK. >> WHEN OUR ARTICLES ARE READY, WE HELP EACH OTHER EDIT THEM. THIS MEANS WE CHECK FOR SPELLING MISTAKES , MAKE SURE OUR SENTENCES SOUND RIGHT , AND SOMETIMES GIVE SUGGESTIONS TO ADD EXTRA DETAILS TO MAKE THE ARTICLES EVEN BETTER. ONCE ALL THE WRITING HAS BEEN EDITED MULTIPLE TIMES, WE PUT THE ARTICLES TOGETHER IN A NEWSPAPER TEMPLATE. AS A FUN BONUS FOR OUR READERS, WE ADD QUESTIONS FROM THE ARTICLES ON THE LAST PAGE OF THE PAPER SO THAT STUDENTS CONCERNING CORRECT ANSWERS AND GET A PRIZE. IT'S ALSO SEEING ALL OF OUR WORK COME TOGETHER.

>> BEFORE YOU PRINT NEWSPAPERS -- SORRY. BEFORE YOU PRINT NEWSPAPERS , WE REVIEW OUR ROUGH DRAFT TO MAKE SURE IT IS PERFECT. THEN, WE PRINT IT AND HANDED OUT TO EVERYONE AT SCHOOL. WE LOVE DELIVERING NEWSPAPERS TO CLASSROOMS AND PUTTING THEM IN TEACHER MAILBOXES. IT SUCH A GREAT FEELING WHEN PEOPLE READ WHAT WE HAVE WORKED SO HARD ON.

>> AFTER EVERY NEWSPAPER DISTRIBUTION DATE , WE SIT DOWN AS A GROUP AND TALK ABOUT WHAT WE LIKED AND WHAT WE CAN DO BETTER ON NEXT TIME. THIS HELPS US IMPROVE AND GET EVEN MORE CREATIVE. WE OFTEN HEAR FROM TEACHERS AND CLASSMATES ABOUT HOW MUCH THEY LIKE THE PAPER. BEING IN THE NEWSPAPER CLUB IS REALLY FUN , BECAUSE WE GET TO WRITE ABOUT THINGS WE CARE ABOUT AND SHARE THEM WITH EVERYONE. WE ALSO LEARN IMPORTANT STUFF LIKE RATING, TEAMWORK , AND HOW TO MEET DEADLINES, WHICH IS NOT ALWAYS EASY. PLUS, WE LOVE HEARING FROM OUR FRIENDS AND TEACHERS ABOUT HOW MUCH THEY ENJOY READING IT. WE ARE SO PROUD OF OUR STUDENT NEWSPAPER TEAM , AND CAN'T WAIT TO CONTINUE MAKING FUTURE NEWSPAPERS FOR

[02:40:03]

>> THEY HAVE COPIES OF THE NEWSPAPER FOR YOU.

>> THANK YOU! >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THEY DO

A GREAT JOB. THANK YOU, LADIES. >> THANK YOU, ALL.

>> THANK YOU. >> DR. CROMARTIE,

ANNOUNCEMENTS? >> YES, MA'AM. JANUARY 20TH IS MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY, AND ALL SCHOOLS WILL BE CLOSED IN OBSERVANCE. WE WILL HAVE OUR SECOND BUDGET WORKSHOP A WEEK FROM TONIGHT AT 5:30 ON JANUARY 21ST, AND THAT WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION BUILDING LOCATED AT 2938 HIGH RIVER ROAD WEST. ON JANUARY 28TH, IF NECESSARY, WILL HAVE THE THIRD AND FINAL BUDGET WORKSHOP, AND THAT WILL TAKE PLACE HERE IN THIS CHAMBER , 1800 SANDY HOOK ROAD. I WILL START AT 5:30 ON JANUARY 28TH. I WILL PRESENT THE SUPERINTENDENT PROPOSED BUDGET ON FEBRUARY THE FOURTH , AND THAT IS OPEN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AT 5:30 RIGHT HERE IN THE SPACE. WE ARE VERY HAPPY THAT WE WILL HOST AN IN-PERSON JOB FAIR ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY THE FIRST FROM 10:00 UNTIL 12:00 AT GOOCHLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL , 2000 BULLDOG WAY. WE WILL ALSO BE VIRTUAL COMPONENT FOR PEOPLE WHO CANNOT JOIN US IN PERSON. A VIRTUAL INTERVIEW WILL BE HELD FEBRUARY 3RD THROUGH THE SEVENTH. FEBRUARY IS SCHOOL BOARD APPRECIATION MONTH , AND THE REGULAR MEETING PUBLIC HEARING ON FEBRUARY THE 11TH AT 5:30, THAT IS FOR THE BUDGET HERE AT 1800 SANDY HOOK ROAD.

MADAM CHAIR, THAT COMPLETES OUR ANNOUNCEMENTS.

>> THANK YOU. OKAY. IT IS TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. PUBLIC COMMENT IS WELCOME TO MATTERS RELEVANT FOR THE BUSINESS BEING CONDUCTED. SPEAKER COMMENTS ARE LIMITED TO THREE, THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE CHAIR. IF YOU WOULD LIKE A RESPONSE FROM YOUR SCHOOL BOARD REPRESENTATIVE, PLEASE LEAVE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD CLERK, MS. ANDERSON. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW OPEN, AND WE HAVE SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIGNED UP IN ADVANCE. MR. SCOTT

TURNER? SCOTT TURNER ? >> SCOTT TURNER , COLUMBIA VIRGINIA, 02038. MS. ALLEN, AFTER LISTENING TO YOUR COMMENTS FROM THE DECEMBER MEETING, I CAN ONLY QUOTE RONALD REAGAN. "THERE YOU GO AGAIN". WHY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT BATHROOMS INSTEAD OF CLASSROOMS? THIS VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION MODEL POLICY THAT YOU SEEM TO BE SO PROUD OF SOUNDS LIKE A GAY OR . YOU FEEL LIKE THE WHOLE WORLD IS AGAINST YOU? WELL, THINK OF -- I DO WHAT THAT WOULD DO FOR YOU, BUT THAT IS SOMETHING PEOPLE SAY. ALSO, WHO ARE ALL OF THESE PARENTS AND CHILDREN YOU ARE COMMUNICATING WITH? WHY IS THERE NO RECORD? A FREEDOM OF INFORMATION INQUIRY SHOWS THERE HAS NEVER BEEN, NOT ONCE, A COMMUNICATION REGARDING WHERE KIDS SHOULD USE THE BATHROOM. NOW BACK TO THE POLICY. I HOPE THAT KID SURVIVES. PLEASE DO, TRANS KID. IGNORE THEIR PROBLEM. WITH THIS POLICY, WE PROTECT ALL CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY THE TRANSGENDER STUDENTS. THE HYPOCRISY. WERE

[02:45:02]

>> THANK YOU, MR. TURNER. >> YES?

>> IS A THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>> SURE. I DO, HOWEVER, REQUEST THAT THE COMMENTS BE DIRECTED TO THE CHAIR AND NOT ANY OF THE BOARD MEMBERS.

>> AND MISUNDERSTOOD WHO WAS CHAIR. THAT IS ALL. THANK YOU.

>> ROAD , VIRGINIA. MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD , MR. SUPERINTENDENT, MEMBERS OF THE ADMINISTRATION WHO ARE PRESENT , MY NAME IS LINDA . I'M A LONGTIME RESIDENT OF GOOCHLAND COUNTY, ANY CITIZEN OF THE THIRD DISTRICT. THANK YOU FOR THE TIME TO ADDRESS YOU THIS EVENING. MY MESSAGE TONIGHT IS VERY SIMPLE. I HAVE COME TO INTRODUCE MYSELF . TO YOU, I AM A 40 YEAR NOW RETIRED SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHER. I TAUGHT IN TWO DIVISIONS IN VIRGINIA. I WAS HEAD OF THE SECONDARY GIFTED PROGRAM , AND A SPECIALIST IN ADVANCED PLACEMENT. EXPERIENCE ALSO INCLUDES BEING ELECTED AS THE PRESIDENT OF MY PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION OF 2500 EDUCATORS , AND AS CHAIRPERSON OF SEVERAL STATE COMMITTEES BOTH THROUGH THE VEA AND THROUGH THE STATE A PERMIT OF EDUCATION. THIS EXPERIENCE IS NOT BEING DETAILED TO YOU, BECAUSE I AM LOOKING FOR A JOB, BUT LET ME TELL YOU WHY I AM HERE . I AM HERE BECAUSE I WILL BE REPRESENTING A RECENTLY FORMED GOOCHLAND COUNTY CITIZEN GROUP . WE ARE INTERESTED IN THE FUTURE OF OUR GOOCHLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE COME FROM THE POPULATION AS PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS , EDUCATORS, LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS , THE FAITH COMMUNITY, AND SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS. WE ARE ALL STAKEHOLDERS IN THE CONTINUED SUCCESS OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THESE ARE COMPLICATED AND DYNAMIC TIMES. YOUR TASKS AS THE SELECTED OR PROFESSIONAL LEADERS -- IT'S A CRITICAL AND IMPORTANT TASK. GOOCHLAND STUDENTS INDEED DESERVE THE BEST . AS A GROUP, WE HOPE TO BE HELPFUL IN PROVIDING INPUT INTO MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE THAT WILL ASSIST YOU IN YOUR LEADERSHIP DECISIONS . WE LOOK FORWARD TO BEING PARTNERS AND POSITIVE COMMUNICATION IN EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION. NOW, WE ARE AWARE THAT OTHER GROUPS EXIST. I HAVE BEEN A MEMBER OF PTA FOR MY ENTIRE LIFE AND OTHERS. BUT, WE FEEL LIKE THERE IS A SPECIAL NEED NOW IN GOOCHLAND, AND WE WANT TO BE A PART OF IT. SO, WE WILL BE VOLUNTEERING, AND YOU WILL SEE US. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AT FUTURE MEETINGS . YOU HAVE A TOUGH JOB, AND I APPRECIATE THAT. WE WILL KEEP UP WITH YOU.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. BETH TOLLEY?

>> HI. I AM IN AVERY POINT RESIDENT AND A GRANDPARENT OF KIDS AND A PARENT OF KIDS WHO DID NOT FIT THE MOLD. I WANT TO SPEAK FIRST TO THE STUDENTS , SUPPORT STAFF, AND A MINISTRATION OF GOOCHLAND COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I MOVED HERE TWO YEARS AGO AFTER LIVING IN -- FOR 49 YEARS. I WAS SURPRISED AND DELIGHTED TO LEARN THAT DESPITE BEING SUCH A SMALL COUNTY, THIS SYSTEM EXCELS . THE STUDENTS EXCEL.

THE TEACHERS AND THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE SUPPORT FOR THE STUDENTS IS SPECTACULAR. AND I AM GRATEFUL FOR THAT. BUT MY HAT IS OFF TO ALL OF YOU. THE PARENTS AS WELL. I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE OUT THE PARENTS. PLEASE KNOW THAT YOU HAVE A COMMUNITY BEYOND YOUR IMMEDIATE ACQUAINTANCES WHO SUPPORT YOU AND CARE ABOUT YOU. MY NEXT

[02:50:05]

I LISTEN TO THE RECORDING OF THE DECEMBER SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, AND WAS SHOCKED TO HEAR THE CHAIR'S COMMENTS ABOUT REPORTED INFRACTIONS OF THE TRANSGENDER POLICY.

GOOCHLAND SCHOOL BOARD ADOPTED A VIRGINIA D.O.E. POLICY THAT TELLS TRANSGENDER STUDENTS THAT THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BE WHO THEY ARE UNTIL AND UNLESS THEY JUMP THROUGH MULTIPLE HOOPS. IT GIVES TEACHERS AND OTHERS PERMISSION TO DISRESPECT THE STUDENTS. IS DIVISIVE AND UNNECESSARY . IN DECEMBER, THE CHAIR PRESENTED UNFOUNDED RUMORS AS THOUGH THEY WERE TRUE . REQUESTS HAVE DOCUMENTED NO EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE ALLEGATIONS , AND THE SCHOOL BOARD IS POISED TO VOTE ON CHANGES TO THE ALREADY DISCRIMINATORY POLICY BASED ON UNFOUNDED ALLEGATIONS. IT'S NOT OKAY! IN CONTRAST TO THE CHAIR STATEMENT THAT SHE IS LOOKING OUT FOR ALL STUDENTS , TARGETING VULNERABLE STUDENTS HURTS ALL STUDENTS. ALL STUDENTS AND STAFF CAN FEEL THE DISTRESS , THE DISTRUST, AND LACK OF RESPECT IN THE TONE OF THE COMMENTS, AND IN THE PROPOSED ACTIONS. SCHOOLS SHOULD BE A SAFE HAVEN FOR STUDENTS. BEING TREATED WITH DISTRESS AND DISRESPECT MAKES SCHOOL UNSAFE, NOT ONLY FOR THE TARGETED STUDENTS , BUT FOR ALL STUDENTS. TRAUMA RESEARCH IS CLEAR ABOUT THE HARMFUL IMPACT OF VICARIOUS TRAUMA, AND ON A PERSONAL LEVEL , I HAVE LIVED MY WHOLE LIFE WITH THE HARMFUL IMPACT OF TRAUMA I EXPERIENCED IN A CLASS WHERE MY CLASSMATES WERE TARGETED, THOUGH I WAS NOT. PLEASE DON'T DO THIS TO OUR PRECIOUS STUDENTS.

>> THANK YOU. MARION GILMORE? >> MY NAME IS MARION GILMORE , AND I LIVE AT 9000 AVERY POINT WAY. RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, 23233.

I AM A FORMER COMMUNITY COLLEGE LIBRARIAN OF 24 YEARS IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA. MY TWO CHILDREN, WHO ARE IN VIRGINIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES -- NOW, IN ADDITION TO MY TWO LOVELY CHILDREN , I HAVE THREE GRANDCHILDREN . I'M ONLY SHOWING THIS TO SHOW THAT I AM VERY INTERESTED IN THEM, VERY PROUD OF THEM , BUT I AM REALLY INTERESTED IN ALL CHILDREN IN OUR SCHOOLS. WHETHER IT IS GOOCHLAND COUNTY , WHATEVER.

PUBLIC EDUCATION IN ALL OF ITS ASPECTS IS AVAILABLE TO ALL STUDENTS. OUR STUDENTS ARE OUR FUTURE . NONE SHOULD EVER BE MADE TO FEEL INFERIOR BECAUSE THEY ARE VIEWS ARE DIFFERENT. I AM SPEAKING OF LGBTQ STUDENTS. THEY MAKE THE SAME POSITIVE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THEIR SCHOOL AS TO OTHER STUDENTS. THEY NEED AND DESERVE TO BE RESPECTED AS HUMAN BEINGS. HATE AND BULLYING SHOULD HAVE NO PLACE IN OUR SCHOOLS , NO MATTER WHERE THE HATE IS COMING FROM. I THINK THE STUDENTS FEEL THAT HATE.

THERE SHOULD BE NO POLICY IS OR RULINGS AGAINST OF THESE STUDENTS . NO ONE'S SHOULD INSTILL FEAR IN THE STUDENTS.

THEY ARE NOT CAUSING A PROBLEM IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM. THEY ARE IN SCHOOL TO LEARN AND TO BE EDUCATED , AND TO LATER CONTRIBUTE TO OUR SOCIETY. WE NEED TO HAVE TRUTH AND TRUST AND ETHICAL DECISIONS IN ALL POLICIES DEALING WITH LGBTQ STUDENTS . TRUTH AND TRUST AND ETHICAL DECISIONS ARE ALL INTERTWINED, WHETHER THEY ARE IN OUR SCHOOLS, OR IN OUR GOVERNMENT. THE PURPOSE OF EDUCATION IS TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE FOR ALL OF US. THANK YOU.

[02:55:03]

>> THANK YOU, MISS GILMORE. MS. POTTS?

>> GOOD EVENING. GREETINGS TO DR. CROMARTIE AND THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS DR. POTTS, AND I MAY GOOCHLAND COUNTY RESIDENT ALSO AT AVERY POINT. I AM A FORMER TEACHER, A COLLEGE PROFESSOR, AND A RESEARCHER. I COME BEFORE YOU TONIGHT BECAUSE I CARE ABOUT ALL OF OUR STUDENTS. EVERY STUDENT IN GOOCHLAND COUNTY AND ELSEWHERE. EVEN THE VERY FEW OF THOSE WHO ARE CURRENTLY SUFFERING INTIMIDATION BECAUSE OF THEIR TRANSGENDER IDENTITIES. TRANSGENDER CARE IS A HEALTH ISSUE . NOT JUST A SOCIAL ISSUE. AND CERTAINLY NOT AN ISSUE TO BE BATTLED ABOUT BY SCHOOL BOARDS WHOSE UNFOUNDED FEARS HAVE CREATED UPHEAVAL AS A WEAPON I IS THIS ISSUE IN AN EXTREME AND DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO GAIN POWER BY ATTACKING THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY. TO RALLY SUPPORT AROUND THEIR DISCRIMINATORY BELIEFS AND PRACTICES. IN CASE YOU'RE UNAWARE, THERE IS A COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS BACKED BY THE U.S.

MISSION TO THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES. IN THAT CHARTER, THE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF DEMOCRACY ARE DEFINED.

INCLUDING THE RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS, INCLUDING THE FREEDOM TO BE WHO WE ARE. OUR SCHOOLS FALL WITHIN THOSE BOUNDARIES . DECADES OF RESEARCH SUPPORTED BY EVERY MAJOR MEDICAL ASSOCIATION REPRESENTING OVER 1.3 MILLION UNITED STATES DOCTORS RECOMMEND MEDICALLY NECESSARY , AGE-APPROPRIATE, AND SAFE HEALTHCARE FOR GENDER AFFIRMING STUDENTS. HERE ARE ONLY A FEW OF THOSE ACADEMIC GENDER CENTERS. CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, AMERICAN FAMILY CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL , THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN , AND HERE IS A SURPRISE . THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF RICHMOND AT VCU. STATE LEGISLATURES, GOVERNORS, AND ADMINISTRATION OF AGENCIES AND HATE GROUPS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE TAKING STEPS TO ELIMINATE ACCESS TO THIS SAFE HEALTHCARE.

SHAME ON US! AND SHAME ON SCHOOL BOARDS WHO ARE TRYING TO TAKE AWAY SCHOOLCHILDREN'S RIGHTS! BECAUSE OF UNFOUNDED AND UNPROVEN FEARS ABOUT ACCESS TO BATHROOMS. SHOULDN'T WE BE IN FAVOR OF CREATING SAFE AND WELCOMING SCHOOLS FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS? I FEAR THAT INSTEAD, WE ARE CREATING BIAS BASED , BULLYING, AND UNSAFE CONDITIONS FOR CHILDREN. WHERE IS THE PROOF THAT TRANSGENDER CHILDREN ARE MAKING ON TRANSGENDER CHILDREN FEEL UNSAFE? HAVE WE CREATED A PLASTIC CRISIS WHERE NONE EXISTS? IS THERE PROOF THAT GENDER SPECIFIC BATHROOMS ARE BEING INVADED BY STUDENTS OF THE OPPOSITE GENDER? ARE THERE COMPLAINTS FROM PARENTS OR STUDENTS THAT DEFINE OR LIST THE INCLUSION OF TRANS STUDENTS AND UNQUALIFIED RESTROOMS? OUR RESEARCH CONCLUDES THAT NO COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN REGISTERED IN THE SCHOOL YEAR 2024-2025.

ARE WE SO SHORT OF EXCITEMENT AND STIMULATION THAT WE NEED TO CREATE A CRISIS WHERE NONE EXISTS? IF SO, WE ARE INDEED SURROUNDED BY INTIMIDATION. WHEN OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS ENGAGE IN BIAS AND BULLYING BEHAVIORS , WE CANNOT DISENGAGE. WE CANNOT BE BYSTANDERS. WE, AS MEMBERS OF THIS COMMUNITY, MUST BECOME ALLIES IN A CARING SOCIETY THAT ENCOURAGES DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES AND ORDER THAT RESPECTS HUMAN RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS. THANK

YOU. >> THANK YOU.

[03:00:03]

>> GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU, CHAIR. I WILL CHANGE THE SUBJECT A LITTLE, ALTHOUGH, -- ON THAT SUBJECT -- EXCUSE ME? ON THAT SUBJECT , EVEN WHEN YOU DON'T BAR A BATHROOM FOR ME TRANSGENDER STUDENTS WHO HAS DONE ALL OF THE PAPERWORK, JUMPED THROUGH ALL OF THE HOOPS , IF YOU GET UP ON THE DAIS AND CLAIM THAT BOYS ARE INVADING GIRLS BATHROOMS , YOU'RE PUTTING A TARGET ON TRANSGENDER STUDENTS. WHEN I WAS A KID, POISED TO SNEAK IN AND OUT OF PORT GIRLS BATHROOMS ALL THE TIME. THEY ARE TWO DIFFERENT ISSUES, AND TO CONFLATE THEM IS NOT OKAY. BECAUSE IT DOES PUT A TARGET ON THEIR BACK. CHANGING THE SUBJECT, AND DECEMBER, I WAS NOT AT THE MEETING, BUT I DID HEAR IT. MEMBER WIRSING WANTED TO CHANGE, AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT WILL HAPPEN TONIGHT WITHOUT ANY PUBLIC HEARING OR INPUT , THE WORDING ON THE APPLICATION FOR GIFTED STUDENTS TO REMOVE RACE. THERE IS NO WAY TO TRACK RACE IN OUR GIFTED PROGRAM IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANY RECORDS. THIS IS A BOOK WRITTEN BY GENEVIEVE SEAGULL. SHE IS AN EXPERT ON INTEGRATION IN OUR SCHOOLS , AND I WILL JUST READ SOMETHING FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. I RECOMMEND YOU ALL READ THIS, ESPECIALLY ANYBODY WHO PURPORTS TO ADVOCATE FOR GIFTED EDUCATION OR FOR RACE RELATIONS OR IS INTERESTED IN EQUALITY IN OUR SCHOOLS. I'M ALSO OBVIOUSLY COMPLETELY OPPOSED TO REMOVING RACE FROM THE GIFTED APPLICATION. OH, NO! HERE WE GO. SORRY. AND I THINK MANY PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE KNOW FAMILIES OF BLACK STUDENTS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN APPROACHED WITH THEIR INCREDIBLY INTELLIGENT KIDS TO BE PART OF THE GIFTED PROGRAM. IT'S PART OF INHERENT BIAS WHERE WE DON'T ASSUME THAT SOME PARTS OF OUR POPULATION QUALIFY FOR THESE. THIS IS FROM JUSTICE MARSHALL, "A DISSENTED OPINION IN MILLIGAN VERSUS BRADLEY", WHICH WAS A JUDGMENT THAT SHRUNK THE OUTCOME OF BROWN VERSUS BOARD OF EDUCATION, AND LIMITED THE GOOD THAT I WAS DOING. WE DEAL HERE WITH THE RIGHT OF ALL OF OUR CHILDREN.

WHATEVER THEIR RACE, TO AN EQUAL START IN LIFE , AND TO AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AS CITIZENS. THOSE CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN DENIED THAT RIGHT IN THE PAST DESERVED BETTER THAN TO SEE FENCES THROWN UP TO DENY THEM OUT RIGHT IN THE FUTURE. OUR NATION, I FEAR, WILL BE ILL-SERVED BY THE COURT'S REFUSAL TO REMEDY SEPARATE AND UNEQUAL EDUCATION, FOR LESS OUR CHILDREN BEGIN TO THEM TOGETHER, THERE IS LITTLE HOPE FOR OUR PEOPLE TO EVER LEARN TO LIVE TOGETHER. THAT CAN BE WITH ANY SCHOOL SYSTEM , WITHIN AN INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL . ALSO, I KNOW WE ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE BUDGET. YOU ALL HAVE ADDED ABOUT 20,000.00 TO THE BUDGET BY REMOVING MISS DIANE BENNETT AS AN OFFICER, SOMEONE WHO IS EXPERIENCED IN THAT , AND WAS A CLERK OF THE COURT. THAT IS ADDED EXPENSE. YOU WILL HAVE TO TALK TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ABOUT THAT, TALK TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS ABOUT THAT ADDED EXPENSE WHEN YOU REMOVED SOMEONE WHO WAS SO HIGHLY QUALIFIED, KNEW THE RULES . IT'S INTERESTING THAT IT COMES ON THE HEELS OF ALL OF THESE REQUESTS THAT DON'T LOOK KINDLY ON SOME OF THE DECISIONS YOU HAVE MADE THAT YOU WOULD REPLACE THE OFFICER. INTERESTING. I DON'T KNOW.

ALSO, I KNOW WHENEVER I COMPLAIN ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA ACTIVITY, I HEAR BACK THAT THEY ARE ALLOWED TO DO IT, THE PARENTS NEED TO KNOW, THE BELIEF OF PEOPLE ON THIS DAY IS, AND HOW IT IMPACTS POLICY. SO, WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT DON'T BELIEVE THAT A PRESIDENT IS DULY ELECTED, WHO THINKS THAT PEOPLE ARE EXTRACTING THINGS FROM KIDS, WHO IS ANTI-VACCINATION , THAT INFLUENCES THE POLICY THAT THEY

MAKE FOR ALL OF US. >> THE LIGHTS ARE WORKING, BUT

YOUR TIME IS UP. >> SORRY I RAN OVER! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOU DO. OH, I NEED MY PEN.

>> THANK YOU. >> I AM DAVID , FROM VIRGINIA.

I HAVEN'T HEARD ANY OF THESE PEOPLE TALK ABOUT WHAT GOD SAYS.

[03:07:34]

>> YOUR TIME IS EXPIRED. THANK YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT. I HOPE MY LIES GOT ACROSS.

>> LAUREN, I'M SORRY MY LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING. THAT'S WHY MY LITTLE BUZZER WENT OFF. I AM DOING MY BEST.

>> GOOD EVENING, SCHOOL BOARD. I AM LAUREN COMSTOCK . FIRST OF ALL, I DO WANT TO ADDRESS THE CASE OF A STRAIGHT MALE A GIRL, AND HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH TRANSGENDER POLICIES. SO, POINT WAS TO BRING THAT UP WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TRANSGENDER PEOPLE. LAST JANUARY, I REMITTED YOU OF YOUR DUTY OF THE WELL BE WILLING WELL-BEING OF ALL OF THE STUDENTS FOR THE ETHIC THAT YOU ALL SCORE ON. OUR STUDENT BODY INCLUDES BLACK AND LGBTQ STUDENTS. HOWEVER, YOUR FOCUS HAS BEEN TO TARGET THE STUDENTS WHILE ELIMINATING TRANSPARENCY WITH THE PUBLIC.

INSTEAD OF ADDRESSING ANY OF THE ACTUAL ISSUES THAT NEED ADDRESSING, LIKE BULLYING OR INCREASED TEACHER RESIGNATION.

LAST MONTH DURING CHAIR COMMENTS, MEMBER ALLEN BULLIED STUDENTS WITH THE THEATRICAL PERFORMANCE. SHE SPREAD LIES THAT THERE IS BEING CARTE BLANCHE ACCESS TO BATHROOMS, AND ATTACKED OUR STAFF AND ADMINISTRATION. SUSPECTING THIS IS A REPEAT OF THE POLITICAL STUNT HER AND MEMBER WIRSING KICK STARTED WITH THEIR CAMPAIGNS IN 2023, WE SUBMITTED A REQUEST. ETHICS ÷, THERE HAS BEEN NO INCIDENTS OF CARTE BLANCHE ACCESS TO BOYS AND GIRLS BATHROOMS. YOUR JOB IS TO ENSURE STUDENTS ARE NOT BEING SUBJECTED TO BULLYING AND HARASSMENT IN OUR SCHOOLS, AND YET, HERE YOU ARE BEING VERBALLY. YOU'RE ONCE AGAIN CREATING HOSTILE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR THEM ALL SPREADING LIES AND SIMULTANEOUSLY UNDERMINING OUR MINISTRATION AND STAFF. WAS THE SMOKE AND MIRRORS A DISTRACTION TO REMOVE RACE FROM THE GIFTED APPLICATION FROM MEMBER WIRSING'S REQUEST? DOES MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE IF THE MAKEUP OF OUR GIFTED PROGRAM MAKES OF THE STUDENT BODY, WHICH THERE IS ALREADY UNDERREPRESENTATION. OR IS IT TO DISTRACT FROM YOU SEEKING A POLICY REVISION AGAIN WITHOUT ALLOWING PUBLIC REVIEW OR INPUT? THIS IS BECOMING A PATTERN OF LACK OF TRANSPARENCY TO PASS POLICY WITHOUT DOING A PROPER FIRST AND SECOND READING. THROWING REVISIONS ON THE AGENDA DAYS BEFORE THE

[03:10:02]

COULD THIS BE A DEFLECT FROM THE EXCESS OF HARPING ON TRYING TO BAN BOOKS? YOUR INCESSANT TARGETING OF BLACK AND ULTRA BBQ STUDENTS IS UNACCEPTABLE. YOUR DISHONESTY AND LACK OF TRANSPARENCY IS UNETHICAL. I ASK YOU TO SIMPLY DO YOUR JOB AND RESPECT THE OFFICE YOU HOLD. RESPECT YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND OUR ADMINISTRATION AND STAFF. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. MR. FLEMING? >> MADAM CHAIR, ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD , I DON'T HAVE A PREPARED SPEECH, BUT MY POSITION IS I WANT THIS BOARD TO BE ENGAGED WITH THE COMMUNITY. I HAVE BEEN IN THE COMMUNITY FOR A WHILE , EXCEPT FOR MAYBE MISS MARGARET ROBINSON ON A FEW OCCASIONS, I HAVE NOT SEE YOU AT KEY EVENTS THAT I TEND TO ATTEND ACROSS THE BOARD. A LOT OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN EVENTS THAT I AM A PART OF, I HAVE NOT SEEN YOU. IF YOU HAVE BEEN THERE, THE MY APOLOGIES. BUT I ENCOURAGE YOU TO ENGAGE THE COMMITTEE. PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME TO SPEAK IN THE PRESENT PROBABLY A SMALL PORTION, BUT ENCOURAGE YOU IF YOU GO TO COMMITTED EVENTS, GO TO SOME BLACK CHURCHES. TALK TO SOME PARENTS OR GRANDPARENTS AND FIND OUT HOW THEY REALLY FEEL ABOUT THEIR KIDS IN THE SCHOOL, HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND WHAT IT IS THAT THEY NEED FROM YOU. THERE IS A MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY EVENT ON MONDAY AT JERUSALEM BAPTIST CHURCH. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO BE THERE IF AT ALL POSSIBLE. THERE ARE OTHER EVENTS THAT OCCUR. ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY. TALK TO THE PARENTS. FIND OUT HOW THEY TRULY FEEL ABOUT WHAT THEY WANT THEIR STUDENTS TO WANT. WILL HAVE OUR PERSONAL VALUES AND OPINIONS . IT WILL CHANGE HOW I FEEL, AND I DON'T THINK I CAN CHANGE HOW YOU FEEL, BUT YOU REPRESENT THE CONSTITUENTS OF THIS COMMUNITY. TALK TO THEM, LISTEN TO THEM. MOST PARENTS WILL NOT BE HERE. THEY ARE EITHER INTIMIDATED BY YOU ALL BEING IN THIS ENVIRONMENT , AND YOU NEED TO COME TO WHERE THEY ARE. THAT IS IN THE CHURCHES, THE EVENTS THAT OCCUR. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW ABOUT THEM, BUT MEET THEM, TALK TO THEM, AND FIND OUT WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO THEM. I ASK YOU TO DO THAT,

AND THANK YOU FOR MY TIME. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THOSE ARE REALLY THE NAMES THAT I HAVE. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE?

>> GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR, AND BOARD MEMBERS, DR.

CROMARTIE , OUR STUDENT NEW STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES, AND THE CLERK. I AM KAREN HORAN, AND THEY LIVE IN DISTRICT 2.

WHAT IS GREAT ABOUT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS? WELL, WE SAW SEVERAL EXAMPLES TONIGHT. SOMEWHERE EXAMPLE AT THE BEGINNING OF MEETINGS , AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO SEE THAT. BUT THE ACTIVITIES THAT TAKE PLACE YOU SEE IN OUR CLASSROOMS AND AFTER SCHOOL ON STAGES, FIELDS, TRUCKS, GYMS, ALWAYS, EVEN OLD CAFETERIAS , EXCUSE ME, AND CLASSROOMS LED BY AMAZING TEACHERS LIKE THIS YEARS TEACHERS OF THE YEAR THAT WE CELEBRATED THIS EVENING. THIS DIVISION'S LEADERSHIP HAVE LONG SUPPORTED GROWTH OVER ACHIEVEMENT, WHICH MEANS THEY ARE SUPPORTING TEACHING STUDENTS AS THEY DEVELOP THEIR CRITICAL AND CREATIVE THINKING, THEIR COMMUNICATION SKILLS, AND ABILITY TO COLLABORATE WITH OTHERS, THEIR TOOLS FOR GOOD CITIZENSHIP, WHICH IS MODELED BY THE CARING FACULTY AND STAFF THEY ARE SURROUNDED BY EACH DAY. WE CAN ADD ANOTHER C, CURIOSITY, WHICH IS PART OF A HEALTHY HUMAN BEINGS LIFE AS THEY SEEK TO UNDERSTAND THE NATURAL WORLD, HISTORY, OTHER PEOPLE, YES, THE CONTENT THAT TEACHES THEIR BRAINS NEW TRICKS, ALL FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO LIVE, WORK, LOVE, AND THRIVE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL. WHAT WE HEARD TONIGHT WAS SOME BUDGET ITEMS AND OVER THE PAST YEAR WITH SOME OF YOUR ACTIONS WERE OFFICIAL REPUBLICANS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE. WE ARE SEEING ACTIONS BY THIS BOARD THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH OUR EDUCATIONAL GOALS , AND THEY ARE NOT BEST FOR OUR STUDENTS.

A SEPARATE SCHOOL BOARD ATTORNEY HAS BEEN HIRED . THIS IS REDUNDANT! TO SORT OF QUOTE, I DO NOT GET ALL OF YOUR WORDS , BUT MEMBER WIRSING TONIGHT SAID WHAT WOULD JUSTIFY THE NEED TO ADD POSITIONS? WE ALREADY HAVE SOMEONE WHO IS FILLING THAT NEED. EXACTLY! WHY ARE WE SPENDING ADDITIONAL TAX MONEY MID BUDGET YEAR WHEN THAT SHOULD BE USED FOR POSITIONS SUCH AS WHEN A SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN GROUP COMES INTO THE COUNTY, AND WE NEED TO HIRE AN INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANT. THAT IS WHAT THOSE FUNDS ARE FOR. WHAT WOULD WE THINK OF PROFESSION OR PLACING A PROFESSIONAL WITH 19 YEARS OF IT. HE WAS ONE OF THE MOST TRAINED OFFICERS IN THE STATE AT A COST OF 4000 A YEAR STIPEND WITH AN INEXPERIENCED BUT VERY NICE PART-TIME? WITH LITTLE TO NO EXPERIENCE AT THE

[03:15:02]

>> IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WANTED TO SAY ANYTHING? OKAY.

>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS CHASE.

>> COULD YOU SEE LAST NAME AGAIN?

>> I DID. >> THANK YOU.

>> I COME HERE TODAY AS A STUDENT OF GOOCHLAND HIGH SCHOOL TO ASK PRESS MY OPINION ABOUT THE KNOW-HOW TO RULE. I WOULD LIKE TO START PRESSING MY FATHER SPOKE WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, DISTRICT 2 MEMBER , ABOUT THE SUBJECT. THEY INFORMED US OF THEIR UNDERSTANDING ABOUT THE RULE TO BE IN CLASSROOMS ONLY, AND WOULD ALLOW STUDENTS TO WEAR THEIR HATS AND ALWAYS. I HAVE BEEN AN HONOR ROLL STUDENT , THREE DAYS FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS. DURING MY TIME IN MIDDLE SCHOOL , I WAS EXCITED TO GET INTO HIGH SCHOOL SO I CAN WEAR MY HAT AND FEEL LIKE I FIT IN. I NEVER HAD ANY OTHER OFFENSES LIKE FIGHTS OR ANYTHING IN APPROVE THE, ET CETERA , BUT MY FIRST OFFENSE WAS ON NOVEMBER 4TH, 2024 . I HAD BEEN SUSPENDED FOR WEARING MY HAT IN THE HALLWAY. IT WAS ALSO FORCED TO LEAVE SCHOOL EARLY FOR THE DAY. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO MENTION THAT I CAN GO TO JUST ABOUT ANY OTHER BUILDING AND WHERE MY HAT. IF I GET TOLD TO LEAVE , I JUST SIMPLY TAKE IT OFF. I LEAVE AND TAKE MY BUSINESS ELSEWHERE. THE ONLY PROBLEM IS I CAN'T DO THAT IN SCHOOL. SO, I STAND HERE TODAY FOR MYSELF AND FOR OTHER STUDENTS TO STAND UP FOR THEM.

AFTER I WAS SUSPENDED , I STARTED AN ONLINE PETITION, AND THEY HAVE GATHERED 109 VERIFIED SIGNATURES. I BELIEVE HE HAD RULE, ALLOWING YOU TO WEAR IT IN THE HALLWAY, WOULD LET OTHER STUDENTS BE CONFIDENT AND COMFORTABLE IN THE HALLWAYS .

ADDITIONALLY, IT WOULD REDUCE SMALL AND A NECESSARY DRESS CODE ISSUES . THAT IS ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU. I ALSO HAVE FIVE COPIES OF A FURTHER IN-DEPTH REASONING IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE. I CAN LEAVE THEM HERE. GOOD

EVENING. >> THANK YOU.

>> IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? OKAY. PUBLIC COMMENT IS THEN CLOSED.

I BELIEVE WE NOW HAVE A PRESENTATION? THANK YOU.

[03:20:01]

>> GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD , DR.

CROMARTIE . I WANT THIS TO POP UP.

THIS DOES NOT COUNT TOWARDS MY TIME.

>> ALL RIGHT. MUST BE NICE TO BE SMART. SO, SINCE OUR LAST MEETING , WE WERE ASKED TO ADJUST THE BUDGET LINE AND SOME OF OUR NEEDS AND REQUESTS WITH IT. THESE ARE THE SAME NEEDS AND SAME REQUESTS, THEY WILL JUST HIT A DIFFERENT LINE. SO, LET'S START WITH BYRD. -- WE HAVE GROUPED 27 THROUGH 30 CIP IN THE OPERATION BUDGET CATEGORIES. YOU CAN SEE ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT BOTH OF THOSE. FOR GOOCHLAND ELEMENTARY, IT IS A NEW SCHOOL. 2026, THERE IS NOTHING IN THE CIP. WE DO PLAN ON ADDING SOLAR PANELS AFTER THE ROOF WARRANTY EXPIRES IN TWO YEARS. SO, YOU CAN SEE THAT OUR OPERATING BUDGET IN 27 THROUGH 30. FOR RANDOLPH, AGAIN, NOTHING IN THE 26 CIP.

27 THROUGH 30 CIP, WE HAVE MORE ROOF ISSUES AND A BATHROOM UPGRADE. WENDY SIX OPERATING BUDGETS, CAFETERIA SERVING LINE IS NEEDED. THE SERVING LINE HAS OUTLIVED ITS LIFE BACK TO SEE AND IS FAILING ON A LOT OF OCCASIONS. UNDER THAT IS 27 THROUGH 30 OPERATING BUDGET. WE HAVE GOT SOME TYPICAL ITEMS ON THESE OLDER SCHOOL BUILDINGS. BYRD AND RANDOLPH. WINDOWS, TABLES, LOGICAL PANELS, LIGHTING UPGRADES , CCT, AND MORE ROOF REPAIRS AND REPLACES. WE ARE OTHER ALSO COMING UP ON SCHOOL REPAINTING ON MOST OF OUR BUILDINGS. SO, THOSE ESTIMATES ARE BEING DETERMINED NOW. GOOCHLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL , WE HAVE A CHILLER THAT IS SHARED WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL .

WE WILL GET TO THAT ON THE NEXT SLIDE. 27 THROUGH 30 CIP, WE HAVE A ROOF REPLACEMENT WITH OUR ROOFTOP UNITS . MECHANICAL CLEMENTS, LIGHTING UPGRADES . THERE HAS BEEN TALKS OF A WRESTLING ROOM ADDITION AND AN AUXILIARY GYM OVER PREVIOUS YEARS. I PUT THOSE IN THE CIP FOR 27 THROUGH 30. THE OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE SAME YEAR IS CARPET . THESE FIRE PANELS NEED TO BE UPGRADED BECAUSE THEY GET OLDER, AND THE PARTS BECOME OBSOLETE. SO, WE NEED TO UPGRADE THE PANELS. THE HIGH SCHOOL, THIS IS WHERE HE MENTIONED THE CHILLER FOR THE MIDDLE SCHOOL. THIS IS THE BIG ASK FOR 2026 CIP. AND THE CTE IS ASKING FOR THE CIP 2026. 2027 THROUGH 30 IS THE CTE ADDITION , WHICH IS REFLECTIVE OF THE CTE ASK FOR 2026.

OPERATING BUDGET FOR 2026 , WE HAS A MAJOR YOU REBUILD THAT WE NEED TO DO TO SEAL THE ASPHALT STUDENT PARKING LOT AT THE BACK

[03:25:04]

THAT'S PRETTY SELF EXCITATORY. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS?

>> I DO HAVE A QUESTION. IF YOU GO BACK TO THE PREVIOUS LIGHT, THE CTE, IS ECHOING THROUGH ? SIGN OF THE THE REFERENDUM WENT THROUGH YEARS AGO , BUT IS THAT NOW COMING UP ?

>> THE BOND WAS APPROVED, SO WE ARE ASKING FOR THAT MONEY TO

START THE PROCESS. >> OKAY. SO WE WILL BE GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS? OKAY. GREAT. THANK YOU.

>> MADAM CHAIR? THANK YOU, MR. FORBES. I'M CURIOUS, DO YOU KNOW IF THERE MAY BE ANY POTENTIAL FOR US TO SECURE A GRANT FUNDING ON THE SOLAR PANELS FOR THE NEW GES?

>> WE ARE LOOKING INTO THAT. >> THAT WOULD BE FANTASTIC.

>> YES. >> ALSO, THERE IS A LITTLE STICKER SHOP ON THE WRESTLING GROUP ACCIDENT -- ARE THERE

SOME OPTIONS? >> WE USE THE COUNTY'S POLICY FOR A BUILDING POLICY. USES NUMBERS TO REFLECT THE PRICE

PER SQUARE FOOT. >> I REMEMBER WHEN WE WERE LOOKING FOR THE NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL , NOT KINDLY, BUT POINTEDLY, ONE OF THE SUPERVISORS SAID , WELL, CAN WE JUST PUT UP A GENERAL STABLE BUILDING? WE RECOGNIZE THAT WOULD NOT BE SUSTAINABLE FOR 75 YEARS OF STUDENT EDUCATION , BUT I WONDER FOR A WRESTLING PROGRAM, DOES IT NEED TO BE THE SAME GRANDEUR IS WHAT A SCHOOL BUILDING MIGHT BE ? IS THERE A

MORE AFFORDABLE SOLUTION ? >> WE CAN DEFTLY LOOK INTO THAT. THAT'S ON THE 27 THROUGH 2030 CIP, SO WE WILL LOOK INTO

THAT. >> THAT WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

THANK YOU. >> YOU ARE WELCOME. ANY MORE

QUESTIONS? >> EXCELLENT PRESENTATION.

>> THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. >> AS MR. FORBES IS GETTING EVERYTHING DISCONNECTED THERE , I JUST WANT TO ASK A SUPERINTENDENT NEARBY WHO OPENED UP WITH A CALL A MENTAL GYM . I ASKED HIM THE COST OF THAT , BECAUSE IT WAS EXPORTING THAT IS A POSSIBILITY FOR US, AND HE SHARED THAT THAT COST

WAS STILL $750,000.00 IN 2013. >> OH!

>> SO, IT SEEMS LIKE THAT WOULD BE A CHEAPER ROUTE TO GO LOGISTICALLY , BUT BASED ON THAT CONVERSATION , THOSE

DETAILS INDICATE NOT SO MUCH. >> IS THE FLOOR DIFFERENT ON THOSE ? ARE THEY JUST WOOD FLOORS? THEY ARE NOT DIFFERENT

FLOORS . >> I DON'T THINK FLOORING MATTERS A WHOLE LOT. THERE IS A MATTER THAT GOES OVER THE TOP OF THE FLOORING. I HAVE HEARD THAT IT IS BETTER THAT IT BE ON

[03:30:04]

A SLAB FOUNDATION. >> MR. VARGAS?

>> THANK YOU. THERE HAS BEEN A LOT HAPPENING IN ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS ALL OVER THE COUNTY. I WOULD FIRST LIKE TO TALK ABOUT ALL OF THE SUCCESSES AT THE HIGH SCHOOL. I WANT TO CONGRATULATE ALL OF OUR HIGH SCHOOL FALL ATHLETES WERE NOMINATED FOR THE REGIONAL COMPETITION , AND EIGHT ATHLETES NOMINATED.

THE GOLF TEAM HAD TWO ATHLETES NOMINATED. BOTH OF THEM MADE SECOND TEAM ALL DISTRICT. THE VOLLEYBALL TEAM HAD FIVE ATHLETES NOMINATED. AVERY WAS THE OLDEST PLAYER OF THE YEAR.

SHE MADE SECOND TEAM ALL STATE.

ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE TWO ATHLETES FOR WINNING THE DECEMBER STUDENT ATHLETE AWARD . BOTH STUDENTS PLAY BASKETBALL FOR OUR HIGH SCHOOL, AND THEY ARE AMAZING STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM. ANOTHER AWARD GIVEN THE DECEMBER WAS THE KINDNESS AWARD, WHICH WAS TEACHER RECOGNIZE. THE AWARD IS GIVEN TO A STUDENT THAT THEY HAVE SEEN DO A KIND ACT. JOSIAS SMALLS WAS NOMINATED FOR THIS AWARD. THIS AMAZING STUDENT WAS SEEN INVITED A NEW STUDENT TO HIS LUNCH TABLE. WE ALSO HAVE TWO TEACHERS NOMINATED FOR AWARDS. ON JANUARY 5TH, MISS HELEN BROWN WAS NOMINATED FOR THE ART AWARD. OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF AGREE THAT THIS AWARD WAS WELL-DESERVED. GOOCHLAND HIGH SCHOOL ALSO HAD A LOT OF EVENTS THE WEEK BEFORE THE BREAK .

STUDENTS SHOWED THEIR SCHOOL SPIRIT BY PARTICIPATING IN OUR WINTER SPIRIT WEEK. MONDAY WAS GRINCH VERSUS SANTA DAY WHERE THEY -- WE WERE ALSO THE ONLY SCHOOL WITH A STUDENT DIRECTOR . ON DECEMBER 12TH , PERFORM THEIR HOLIDAY DANCE RECITAL .

THEY DID A FANTASTIC JOB. ON DECEMBER 13TH , THE COURSES PUT ON AN AMAZING SHOW . THEY PARTICIPATED IN THE NATIONAL EVENT ACROSS AMERICA. ON DECEMBER 17TH, -- TRENT FOR OTHER SCHOOLS. THERE WAS A COMPETITION AT GLENALLEN BEFORE WINTER BREAK. THEY DID AN AMAZING JOB WINNING ONE OF THEIR QUALIFYING MATCHES FOR EACH ROUND. THE NEXT COMPETITION IS THAT HARRISBURG HIGH SCHOOL ON JANUARY 18TH.

THE GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM IS 3-1, AND DOING A GREAT JOB.

THERE WAS A HOT CHOCOLATE EVENT PUT ON FOR ALL STUDENTS . THE WRESTLING TEAM IS UP AND RUNNING, AND THEY HAVE OVER 25 STUDENTS ON THE TEAM, AND AT THEIR FIRST HOME MATCH, THEY DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH ROOM FOR PARENTS TO ATTEND. THIS IS A FOUNDATION OF A POWERFUL SUPPORT FOR OUR SCHOOLS. WE ALSO HAD 327,000 MINUTES OF THE SCHOOL , AND 85% OF STUDENTS

[03:35:05]

THEY HAD A SUCCESSFUL WINTER THEMED DAY. AT BYRD, THERE THIRD-GRADE STUDENTS CREATED LESSONS -- AFTER SIX LESSONS, STUDENTS FINISH WITH A FIELD TRIP . FOURTH-GRADERS HAD SPACE DAY. THEY WORKED WITH THE TECHNOLOGY TEACHER TO USE BLACK LIGHTS AND GLOW-IN-THE-DARK ITEMS , AND PARTICIPATED IN VARIOUS OTHER HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES . FIFTH GRADE STUDENTS COMPLETED THEIR ANNUAL -- TO DISCUSS MAKING GOOD CHOICES AS THEY GROW UP. THEY FINISHED THE PROGRAM WITH A GREAT GRADUATION CEREMONY . ALL SCHOOLS WERE THEN CLOSED FOR DECEMBER 28TH THROUGH JANUARY 5TH, AND THE JANUARY 6 THROUGH THE 10TH, ALL SCHOOLS WERE CLOSED , WHICH EXTENDED THE HARD-EARNED WINTER BREAK. FINALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE ALL HIGH SCHOOLERS AND THEIR PARENTS TO JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT FOR GOOCHLAND HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL CURRICULUM NIGHT FROM 5:30 TO 7:00 P.M. WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE. THIS EVENT GIVES PARENTS AND GUIDANCE FOR CHOOSING CLASSES NEXT YEAR.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. I AM SO SORRY THAT YOU HAD TO HAVE THAT EXTRA WEEK. DR. CROMARTIE? NO, I AM SORRY. IT IS ME NEXT. OKAY. I AM STILL LEARNING HERE. FIRST OFF, IT IS GREAT TO BE BACK. WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO A GOOD YEAR. I AM EXCITED ABOUT BEING CHAIR. BUT, I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANT TO SAY IN RESPONSE TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT.

JUST TO SET SOMETHING STRAIGHT, BECAUSE THERE IS A RUMOR GOING AROUND THAT THE POLICY COMMITTEE AND THE BOARD IS TRYING TO SLIDE THE TRANSGENDER POLICY THROUGH, AND WE ARE NOT.

IT HAS BEEN ON THE AGENDA -- ACTUALLY, FIRST READING WAS TWO MONTHS AGO. LAST MONTH WAS SECOND READING. WE MADE A LITTLE MISTAKE AND DID NOT ACTUALLY DO THE VOTE ON THE POLICY CHANGES . THERE WERE 2230 THINGS . THE FACT THAT IT WAS IN THERE IS NOT AS TRYING TO SLIDE IT THROUGH. IN THE CHANGES THERE WERE NOT SUBSTANTIAL. A COUPLE OF WORDS WERE CHANGED. I THINK SHALL WAS CHANGED TO SHOULD OR SHOULD TOO SHALLOW. I DON'T REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS. I MEAN, IT IS UP HERE. BUT THE OLD ONE IS THREE MONTHS OLD, SO IT'S HER TO GO BACK AND SEE EXACTLY WHAT THE EDITS WERE. BUT I DON'T THINK THAT IT WAS ANYTHING VERY SUBSTANTIAL. AS FAR AS A STUDENT INFORMATION FORM IS CONCERNED FOR THE GIFTED PROGRAM , THE RACE AND ETHNICITY, THINGS LIKE THAT FOR THE STUDENTS ARE IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT PLACES. THE FACT THAT IT WILL NOT BE ON THE NEW FORUM DOES NOT MEAN THAT NO ONE HAS THAT INFORMATION . IT IS JUST THAT IT SHOULD NOT BE USED FOR ACTUALLY, WHAT IS THE WORD? BIASING. THAT'S ACTUALLY ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU. DR. CROMARTIE?

>> THANK YOU. I WILL TALK ABOUT A CHALLENGE TONIGHT THAT I JUST CANNOT SIMPLY GET TO GO AWAY COMPLETELY. AND THAT IS SNOW AND COLD. IT IS VERY EASY FOR A SUPERINTENDENT TO MAKE THE INITIAL DECISION TO CLOSE SCHOOL ON THAT FIRST DAY. IT'S ALWAYS EASIER WHEN THERE IS A STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARED BY

[03:40:03]

THE SECOND DAY, PEOPLE WERE UNDERSTANDING. BY THE TIME WE GOT TO THE THIRD DAY, I STARTED TO SEE SOME UGLY EMAILS, AND I DARED TO VENTURE INTO THE COMMENTS UNDERNEATH THE CLOSURE ANNOUNCEMENTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA, WHERE I SAW ALL TYPES OF THINGS. THE GEOGRAPHIC OUTLAY OF OUR COUNTY IS SUCH THAT WE ARE A VERY EXPENSIVE NORTHWEST TO SOUTHEAST. WE TYPICALLY HAVE LARGE SNOWSTORMS THAT COME IN FROM THE WEST LIKE THIS ONE DID, IT'S THE NORTHWEST NORTHWEST END OF THE COUNTY THAN IT DOES THE REST OF THE COUNTY, WE HAVE TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS BASED ON ACCESSIBILITY AND PASSAGES OF THE INTEGRITY OF THE COUNTY. IT'S CONCEIVABLE THAT CERTAIN RESIDENCIES MAY LOOK AT THE ROADS AND SAY , WHAT IS HE THINKING? THERE IS NO SNOW OUT THERE. WHY ARE WE CLOSE? I WILL SHARE THAT INFORMATION. BUT SOME FOLKS IN THE NORTHWEST END OR CENTRAL END OF THE COUNTY MAY BE EXPERIENCING A VERY, VERY DIFFERENT REALITY. SO, I WANT TO ALIGN THE PRACTICE OF WHAT GOES INTO MAKING THE DECISION TO CLOSE SCHOOLS, AND THAT IT WILL DIVIDEND TALKING ABOUT HOW WE ACCOUNT FOR TIME LOST. OUR CAVITATION DEPARTMENT IS OUR FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING AN ASSESSMENT DUE TO INCREMENT WEATHER. THEY ARE OUT THERE DRIVING THE ROADS ALL OVER THE COUNTY. THEY SPLIT THE COUNTY UP SO THAT IT IS NOT JUST ONE PERSON, IT IS A NUMBER OF FOLKS , AND ONCE WE GOT INTO DAYS THREE AND FOUR, I JOINED AND WAS DRIVING OUT THERE TRYING TO MAKE THE BEST POSSIBLE DECISIONS FOR STUDENTS. ANOTHER BIG COMPONENT IS CONVERSATION WITH SUPERINTENDENTS FROM NEIGHBORHOOD COUNTIES. I TALKED TO SUPERINTENDENTS FROM LUISA, AND OVER, ON AND ON AND ON . MORE THAN IT WOULD ON A TYPICAL DAY. I WAS VERY PLEASED WITH THIS PARTICULAR TIME DUE TO A NUMBER OF VARIABLES, WE OPTED TO MAKE THE CLOSURE FOR THE FIVE CONSECUTIVE DAYS. NOW, I WANT TO PIVOT TO TALKING ABOUT MAKEUP TIME. UNDER THE CODE OF VIRGINIA , WE ARE PRESCRIBED TO HAVE 180 DAYS OF STUDENT ATTENDANCE , OR 990 HOURS. 180 DAYS OPERATES UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT EVERY SCHOOL DAY IS 5 1/2 HOURS. OUR SCHOOL DAY, AND I SHARE THIS INFORMATION BEFORE, IS SIX HOURS. THAT INCLUDES RECESS AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND TO INCLUDE TRANSITION TIMES AT THE SECONDARY SCHOOL. TO EXCLUDE LUNCH AT ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS. WE HAVE SIX HOURS OF NET INSTRUCTION TIME EVERY SINGLE DAY. SO, THE MATH! WE BEGAN THE YEAR WITH A 176 DAY CALENDAR. IF WE TAKE THAT 176 AND MULTIPLY IT BY SIX HOURS A DAY, THAT GIVES US 1056 HOURS , WELL IN EXCESS OF THE 990 OUR REQUIREMENT. IF WE HOLD AND DON'T HAVE ANY FURTHER CLOSURES DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER, WE NOW HAVE A 171 DAY RECORD ATTENDANCE FOR OUR CALENDAR. FACTOR IN SIX HOURS A DAY , THE GIVES US A TOTAL OF 1026 HOURS , AGAIN, WELL EXCEEDING THE 990 OUR MINIMUM REQUIREMENT. SO, AT THIS POINT, AS SURPRISING AS IT MAY SEEM , THERE IS NO NEED TO HAVE CONSIDERATION ON ALTERING OUR REMAINING CALENDAR FOR THE YEAR TO ACCOUNT FOR DAYS LOST LAST WEEK. WITH THE 1026 HOURS AWAY SO HAVE BANKED, WE STILL HAVE GOT SOME TIME, AND I HOPE WE DON'T HAVE TO USE IT. I MUCH RATHER HAVE THAT TIME SPENT WITH KIDS IN CLASS, BUT WE STILL HAVE THE TIME WE CAN USE TO ACCOUNT IN THE EVENT THAT WE HAVE A FUTURE OUTAGE DUE TO INCREMENT WEATHER. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SHOW THAT THIS WEEK IS PRINCIPLES APPRECIATION WEEK. JANUARY THE 12TH OR THE 18TH OFFICIALLY HAD SOME OF THE BEST YEARS IN MY CAREER I SPENT OF THE HEISKELL PRINCIPAL. I UNDERSTAND THE WORK, I UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGES OF THE PRINCIPALSHIP, AND I AM EVER GRATEFUL FOR OUR SCHOOL LEADERS HERE IN GOOCHLAND COUNTY. I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE THEM PUBLICLY AS I DID PRIVATELY YESTERDAY , AND SHARE MY APPRECIATION TO THEM BY NAME. MR. MILO AT BYRD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, MRS. MCKAY , DR. GREEN'S AT RANDOLPH, MR. HAHN AT GHS, THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, MR. GORDON AT GMS . I AM EVER GRATEFUL FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS . THIS CANNOT WORK WITHOUT SCHOOL PRINCIPALS, AND I THINK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND COMMITMENT TO US. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES MY COMMENTS.

>> THANK YOU, DR. CROMARTIE. WE ARE NOW DOWN TO THE CONSENT ITEMS. BOARD MEMBERS, WE HAVE A LIST OF CONSENT ITEMS BEFORE US. I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE AS A SLATE OR APPROVE SPECIFIC ITEMS AND PULL OUT OTHERS FOR DISCUSSION. WHAT

IS YOUR PLEASURE? >> MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE CONSENT ITEMS AS A SLATE .

>> I SECOND THAT. >> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND

[03:45:09]

>> AYE. >> AYE.

>> AYE. >> OPPOSED? ABSTAINED? THE AYE HAVE IT, AND I HAVE AN IMPROVED SLATE OF CONSENT ITEMS. WE HAVE

SOME INFORMATION ITEMS. >> YES, MA'AM. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SARAH FRANKLIN MARIE COME UP AND PRESENT OUR SCHOOL

ATTENDANCE REPORT. >> OH, GOODNESS. GOOD EVENING.

I HAVE THE TINIEST LITTLE REASON TATIAN FOR YOU GUYS TONIGHT , SO FEEL FREE TO ASK QUESTIONS AS YOU HAVE THEM. I AM SARAH FRANKLIN MARIE, AND THEY INCORPORATED BUDGET PROGRAMS. I WILL TRY TO SHOW YOU SOME OF THEM HERE TONIGHT.

I WILL TALK TO YOU ABOUT SPECIAL EDUCATION ANNUALLY. WE ASKED LOCAL SCHOOL DIVISIONS TO REPORT OUT WHAT IS ESSENTIALLY A CENSUS OF THEIR COUNT OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AS OF THE SNAPSHOT OF DECEMBER 1ST . SO, YOU WILL SEE SOME HISTORICAL INFORMATION HERE. THIS YEAR, THAT ENROLLMENT OF 2643 IS BASED ON OUR FALL SRC. IT IS A NUMBER THAT MOST OF US ARE FAMILIAR WITH RAY NOW. OUR DECEMBER COUNTY STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES WITH 374 STUDENTS. YOU WILL SEE IT IS PRETTY TYPICAL THROUGHOUT THE YEARS. THE STATE AVERAGE OF THE PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS WHO WERE PRESENT STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES IN A GIVEN SCHOOL DIVISION IS RIGHT AROUND 14% , SO, WE ARE RIGHT IN LINE WITH THAT. THE NUMBER HAS GROWN OVER MY CAREER, BUT RIGHT NOW LOCALLY , I'M SORRY, IN VIRGINIA, IS 14%. THIS IS SORT OF THE LAY OF THE LAND FOR US.

MANY OF OUR STUDENTS HAVE DISABILITIES OR LEARNING AND PARENTS. THAT IS WERE INTENTION DISORDER LIVES. THAT IS WHERE IT SPEECH LINKAGE IMPAIRMENTS, MOSTLY FROM AGENDA STUDENTS, THE GROUP OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, THEY ARE MUCH YOUNGER KIDS. THEY ALSO ASKED US TO REPORT OUT WHERE THE STUDENT SPEND THEIR DAY. SO, THE REGULATIONS EXIST TO ENSURE THAT THE STUDENTS ARE GETTING EDUCATED AMONG THEIR NONDISABLED PEERS. I THINK IT IS 80% OR SO OF OUR STUDENT SPEND THE MAJORITY OF OUR DAY AND OUR GENERAL EDUCATION CLASSROOMS. THAT IS WHY IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE HIGH-QUALITY TIER ONE INSTRUCTION, WE HAVE HIGH-QUALITY TEACHERS, YOU KNOW, AND ALL OF OUR CLASSROOMS . THAT PRETTY MUCH OUTLINES ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT DECEMBER 1ST ASKED FOR US TO REPORT OUT , AND THAT I HAVE AN INSTRUCTIONAL PIECE TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL. WE HEARD A LOT ABOUT OPEN COURT READING PROGRAMS. WE ADOPTED THAT THIS YEAR. TEACHERS ARE DOING A CRIPPLE JOB WITH IT. IS A GREAT PROGRAM. WE ARE WATCHING STUDENTS GROW AND GROW AND GROW, AND WE HAVE ADDED TO THAT. THIS YEAR, WE ARE PILOTING A SPECIFIC READING PROGRAM INTENDED FOR STUDENTS DISABILITIES WHOSE DISABILITIES IMPACT THEIR READING SKILLS. WE WERE ABLE TO GET SOME MATERIALS FOR FREE , WE BOUGHT SOME CONSUMABLES. WE HAD A LITTLE SKIN IN THE GAME, BUT WE SEE GREAT RESULTS YOUR MIDYEAR. I JUST WANTED TO SHARE A TINY LITTLE BIT OF THAT WITH YOU. ONE IS A FACEBOOK POST THAT A PARENT MADE SAYING IT WAS JUST SO COOL THAT HER KID WAS ACTUALLY WILLINGLY READING A BOOK AND ENJOYING IT , YOU KNOW, AND DECIDED TO SHARE THAT WITH OUR GOOCHLAND COMMUNITY.

IN THE OTHER PIECE OF THAT IS THE TEACHER'S SIDE OF THAT.

THE STUDENT GROWTH PIECE . EACH OF THOSE YELLOW AND BLUE BARS REPRESENT JUST ONE STUDENT, AND I JUST PULLED OUT FIVE. I GET THESE EVERY DAY. I LOVE THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE KIDS ARE DOING SO GREAT ON IT. THIS REPRESENTS A FALL AND WINTER MAP SCORE.

THE FIRST THREE KIDS, I BELIEVE THERE THEY ARE THIRD AND FOURTH GRADE STUDENTS. THEY ARE STARTING A LITTLE BIT BEHIND, BUT THE STUDENTS HAVE GROWN 17 OR MORE POINTS FROM FALL TO WINTER, AND THE AVERAGE FROM EACH STUDENT IS TO GROW SEVEN POINTS AT THAT GRADE LEVEL. JUST LIKE WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT

[03:50:03]

HAVE QUESTIONS FOR ME? >> MADAM CHAIR? THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT PRESENTATION. THE PROGRAM YOU GUYS ARE USING,

DOES THAT INCORPORATE -- >> IT IS A MULTISENSORY APPROACH TO INSTRUCTION. KILLING HIM IS SORT OF ITS OWN THING, BUT IT IS A SENSORY APPROACH. ANSWER THE CALL TO WORK WITH STUDENTS ON PHONICS AND DECODING.

>> RAY, THAT'S AWESOME. THANK YOU.

>> REAL QUICK, WHAT GRADES WERE USING IT?

>> IT IS BEING USED KINDERGARTEN THROUGH, I MEAN, HONESTLY UP INTO HIGH SCHOOL. WE HAVE A HISTORY TEACHER WHO HAS ACCESS TO IT AND HAS STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.

ENTERAL STUDENTS AREN'T ACCESSING THIS TOOL. IT SPECIFICALLY FOR STUDENTS WITH READING DISABILITIES OR DISABILITIES THAT IMPACT THEM IN READING. WE MOSTLY SEE IT USING OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. SO, THE STUDENTS GET ACCESS TO OCR. THAT IS PART OF THEIR PROGRAMMING. AND THEN, THEY GET THESE DOSES OF THESE MORE SPECIALIZED INSTRUCTIONS.

>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, ALL.

>> AND WE HAVE A BREAKDOWN, LAKE, WITH A.D.D. OR ADHD, FOR EXAMPLE, HOW MANY ARE AT THE HIGH SCHOOL? HOW MANY ARE AT

THE MIDDLE SCHOOL? >> WE DO HAVE THAT. AS PART OF THE REPORT. HE DID NOT INCLUDED IN THIS, BUT IT IS PART OF OUR STATE REPORTING AND I AM HAPPY TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU.

>> I'M JUST CURIOUS. >> YEP.

>> YOU WANT TO SAY, MADAM CHAIR, DO YOU MIND? WHAT IS AN HOUR PRESENTATION THAT WE HEARD THAT DR. CROMARTIE DID SHARE NUMBERS WITH US PER SCHOOL OF THE TOTAL --

>> OH, I'M SORRY. >> AND WHAT IS A WAS 105 THAT

HAD 504? OR 102? >>

>> YEAH, I HAVE THAT. BUT I DON'T HAVE THE BREAKDOWN.

>> BEFORE YOU GO, I DID WANT TO SAY THAT YOU MENTIONED THAT IT TAKES THE TEACHER, BUT IT TAKES ALL OF THE PEOPLE INVOLVED TO HELP THE STUDENTS IN PICKING THE RIGHT CURRICULUM AND DOING THE TRAINING. SO, THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN HELPING OUR STUDENTS ACHIEVE THAT GROWTH.

>> THANK YOU. YEAH, WE HAVE A PRETTY ORDINARY TEAM.

>> THE PARENTS, TOO. WHEN YOU REACH YOUR KIDS AT HOME, IT

HELPS. >> ABSOLUTELY. YEAH. THANK YOU,

ALL. I APPRECIATE IT. >>

>> IT IS. THE HARDCOPIES ARE READY, AND WE'LL MAKE SURE YOU

WILL GET A COPY. YEP. >> THANK YOU.

>>

>> ACTION ITEMS. OKAY. CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE THE SAS NAME

UPDATE FORM? AS REVISED? >> MADAM CHAIR, I MAKE A MOTION TO MAKE THE UPDATED -- TO APPROVE THE UPDATED SAS NAME

UPDATE FORM . >> CAN I GET A SECOND?

>> I SECOND THAT. >> OKAY. IT HAS BEEN PROPERLY MOVED AND SECONDED. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THE EXCEPTION OF THE SAS UPDATE FORM? OR UPDATED FORM? I AM HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE UPDATED FORM, SAY AYE?

>> AYE. >> AYE.

>> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? STAINED? OKAY.

WE HAVE PASSED THAT ONE. NOW, WHAT ABOUT THE UNIVERSAL PARENT GIFTED REFERRAL AND PERMISSION FORM? CAN I GET A MOTION TO

APPROVE THE FORM? >> SO MOVED.

>> MOVED BY MEMBER WIRSING. >> I SECOND THAT.

[03:55:02]

>> SECONDED BY MEMBER MAXWELL. ANY DISCUSSION?

>> MADAM CHAIR? I THINK IT IS AS IMPORTANT, AGAIN, TO RELAY THAT THE RACE AND ETHNICITY IS DOCUMENTED, AND THAT IS GATHERED FROM DIFFERENT STUDENT FILES. IT IS PURPOSELY NOT ON THE REFERRAL PROCESS AS THAT IS NOT HOW WE MAKE SELECTIONS . I APPRECIATE YOU MAKING THAT COMMENTS, AND I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT THERE AGAIN THAT WE DO DOCUMENTS AND COUNT TO

THOSE NUMBERS. >> OKAY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? I AM HEARING NONE. ALL OF THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE UNIVERSAL PARENT GIFTED PARENT PERMISSION FORM, SAY AYE?

>> AYE. >> AYE.

>> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? NO? SUBSTANCE? AYE HAVE IT. WE HAVE THE UNIVERSAL REFERRAL FOR GIFTED EVALUATION FORM. CAN I GET A MOTION FOR SOMEONE TO APPROVE

THAT? >> SO MOVED.

>> I SECOND THAT. >> OKAY. MOVED BY MEMBER WIRSING, APPROVED BY -- SECONDED BY MEMBER MAXWELL. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY. I AM HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN

FAVOR, SAY AYE? >> AYE.

>> AYE. >> AYE.

>> ALL THOSE OPPOSED? ABSTAINED? THE AYE HAVE IT. WE HAVE PASSED ALL ACTION ITEMS. THANK YOU. WE ARE DOWN TO ITEMS FOR BOARD REVIEW. ATTENDANCE AND ENROLLMENT.

>> YES, MA'AM. REALLY? , I AM JUST VERY PROUD TO SHARE THAT WE POSTED AND ATTENDANCE RING LAST MONTH OF OVER 95%. THAT IS HUGE , BECAUSE IT IS OVER A THREE-POINT DIFFERENCE FROM LAST DECEMBER. WHEN YOU CAN SEE IS A LARGER PORTION OF A LARGER A MOMENT, IS REALLY EXEMPLARY. KUDOS TO ALL OF OUR KIDS COMING TO SCHOOL. I DIDN'T KNOW IT CAN BE DIFFICULT SOMETIMES, BUT YOU DID IT, AND WE THANK YOU FOR THAT.

>> IN THAT CASE, I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN.

>> SO MOVED. >> MEMBER MAXWELL MOVED.

>> SECOND. >> MEMBER WIRSING SECONDED IT.

THE SCHOOL BOARD WILL RECONVENE FOR A BUDGET MEETING ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 21ST AT 5:30 IN THE ANNEX BUILDING, BUILDING I , 2938 RIVER ROAD. SORRY, AT THIS WRITTEN DOWN OVER HERE.

THEN ON THE 28TH, IF NECESSARY, WE WILL HAVE A BUDGET WORKSHOP AT 5:30 HERE IN THIS ROOM , AND THEN ON FEBRUARY 4TH , WE HAVE THE PRESENTATION WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT BUDGET AT 5:30 AT THE -- IN THIS ROOM , AT OUR NEXT BUSINESS MEETING WILL BE FEBRUARY THE 11TH IN THIS ROOM AT 5:30.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.