Mar 11, 2025 School Board Meeting - March 11, 2024

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>>> I NOW CALL THIS GOOCHLAND COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD

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>> I SO CERTIFY. >> I SO CERTIFY.

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>> THANK YOU. MISS ROBINSON, WOULD YOU LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE,

PLEASE? >> 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. >> BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE A MOTION TO ADD AMEND , OR APPROVE THE PROPOSED AGENDA?

>> MADAM CHAIR, I MOVED TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED.

>> THANK YOU. >> I SECOND THAT.

>> OKAY, IT HAS BEEN MOVED BY MS. ALLEN AND SECONDED BY MS. MAXWELL , TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY, HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

NO? ABSTAINS? OKAY, THANK YOU, THEN WE HAVE AN APPROVED AGENDA, THANK YOU. I BELIEVE THERE IS A PERFORMANCE ?

>> YES, MA'AM, THERE IS. MR. MYLER, IF WE COULD BRING YOU UP.

>> YES, HELLO. OUR FIFTH GRADE COURSE IS GOING TO PERFORM

TONIGHT, COME ON DOWN. >>

>> SO, BEFORE THEY START, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I WANT TO COMMEND MS. OVER ACKER, SHE IS NEW TO GOOCHLAND COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS THIS YEAR, SHE DOES THREE DAYS AT BYRD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND THREE DAYS AT RANDOLPH, AND HAS TAKEN THE SCHOOL BY STORM, HAS DONE A GREAT JOB, HAS REALLY TAKEN ON THIS GROUP, THEY PERFORMED AT THE WINTER CONCERT AND WILL BE DOING SOME THINGS IN THE SPRING, BUT I AM REALLY IMPRESSED BY GAIL, SHE HASN'T MISSED A BEAT, AND I AM GLAD SHE IS A BYRD. SHE MIGHT SAY A LITTLE THING BEFORE WE GET STARTED.

>> HI, I AM GAIL OVER ACKER. LIKE YOU SAID, I AM NEW TO GOOCHLAND. I TEACH AT BYRD AND ACTUALLY AT RANDOLPH, SO THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE. WE HAVE BEEN DILIGENTLY WORKING ON MUSIC FOR OUR FINE ARTS FESTIVAL ON APRIL 11TH, SO WE ARE GOING TO PERFORM A LITTLE SNEAK PEEK OF WHAT YOU WILL BE HEARING NEXT MONTH. SO, GUYS, YOU ARE GOING TO BE LIKE REALLY LOUD, LET'S FACE THE OTHER WAY. YEAH, THAT MIGHT BE -- YEAH, THERE YOU GO.

OKAY. OKAY, FRONT ROW, TAKE SOME STEPS THIS WAY. THIS IS FOR YOUR PITCH. EYES ON ME, FOCUS. HEY, EYEBALLS. OKAY. READY?

>>

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HIM AND I THOUGHT ALL WAS LOST. UNTIL THE MUSIC CARRIED ME THROUGH. SO, I SING TO REMEMBER, I SING TO FORGET, FOREVER, THE MUSIC, MY FRIEND.

IS TRUE, THROUGH.

SOMEONE LIKE YOU IS SO RARE TO FIND. SO, , AND DRY YOUR EYES.

WE ARE MOVING ON ARE THE ONE I WILL NEVER FORGET . SO, I SING TO REMEMBER, AND I SING TO FORGET, SOMETHING THAT STAYS FOREVER IS A MUSIC, MY FRIEND. AND WE GO ON OUR WAY, KNOW THIS ONE THING IS TRUE, THAT THE LOVE OF FRIENDS AND MUSIC WILL CARRY, WILL CARRY, SO I SING TO REMEMBER AND I SING TO FORGET, BUT THE THING THAT STAYS FOREVER IS MUSIC, MY FRIEND. AND WE GO ON OUR WAY, KNOW THIS ONE THING IS TRUE, THAT THE LOVE OF FRIENDS AND MUSIC WILL CARRY, WILL CARRY ME THROUGH . THAT THE LOVE OF FRIENDS AND MUSIC WILL

CARRY, WILL CARRY ME THROUGH. >>

>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> GOOD JOB, GUYS. >>

>> OKAY, DR., DID YOU WANT TO GO THROUGH THE RECOGNITIONS?

>> YES, MA'AM, FOR OUR FIRST RECOGNITION, LET ME GET MY LAPTOP UP, I WAS CAUGHT UP IN THE MUSIC, WE HAVE MR. WATSON WHO IS GOING TO COME UP AND INTRODUCE MIDDLE SCHOOL

ROBOTICS. MR. WATSON? >> GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AS THE TEAM MAKES ITS WAY UP, DON'T BE SHY, JUST WANTED TO TALK ABOUT OUR OVERALL ROBOTICS PROGRAM. WE HAVE A VERY STRONG ROBOTICS PROGRAM, FROM THE FIRST LEGO LEAGUE AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO THE FIRST TECH COMMENTS AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND OUR FIRST ROBOTICS CHALLENGE AT THE HIGH SCHOOL, AND THEY ARE KNOCKING IT OUT OF THE PARK THIS SPRING. BUT ROBOTICS IS MORE THAN JUST NUTS AND BOLTS AND PUTTING THINGS TOGETHER TO BUILD A ROBOT, IT IS ABOUT TEAMWORK AND CREATIVITY, PROBLEM-SOLVING, CREATIVE THINKING, RESILIENCE, PERSISTENCE, AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO EARN SCHOLARSHIPS AT THE END OF THEIR CAREER. SO, THERE IS A LOT TO THE ROBOTICS PROGRAM, OTHER THAN JUST BUILDING THIS ROBOT. SO, IT IS MY DISTINCT PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE MR. TATE WHO REVIVED THE MIDDLE SCHOOL ROBOTICS PROGRAM LAST YEAR. AND HAS VIRTUALLY DOUBLED THE SIZE

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TATE. >>

>> SO, THEY ACTUALLY PREPARED EVERYTHING THAT THEY WANT TO SAY TODAY, BUT BEFORE THEY DO THAT, I DO WANT TO COMPLEMENT THE HECK OUT OF THEM, BECAUSE THEY HAD WORKED SO HARD THROUGHOUT THIS YEAR AND I'M GOING TO HAVE THEM SAY EVERYTHING THAT THEY WANT TO SAY TO YOU, BUT I'M TREMENDOUSLY PROUD OF THEM, AND I AM UNBELIEVABLY THANKFUL TO MR. WATSON AND ALL THE SUPPORT THAT HE HAS GIVEN THIS TEAM, AS WELL AS THE PARENTS AND THE TIME THAT THEY HAVE INVESTED IN THEIR LIVES. SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU. GO

AHEAD. >> GOOD EVENING, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS. WE ARE THE JUNKYARD

MIDDLE SCHOOL FTC ROBOTICS TEAM. >> WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR INVITING US TO THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING TODAY.

>> WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK OUR COACH, MR. TATE, AND OUR

MENTOR FROM HIGH SCHOOL, ISAAC. >> WE HAVE , BASED OFF THE JUDGES FEEDBACK FROM BOTH COMPETITIONS, WE HAVE IMPROVED 18 OUT OF 25 JUDGES CATEGORIES. WE GOT ONE EXEMPLARY, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST GRADE YOU CAN GET OUT OF ALL OF THEM, AND THAT WAS IN

>> WE WERE INSPIRED BY YOUTUBE, WEBSITES, AND OTHER TEAMS FOR

INSPIRATION ON OUR ROBOT. >> OVER THE YEAR, WE HAVE MADE MANY IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR ROBOT. BEFORE, WE HAD A VIPER SLIDER, WHICH IS BASICALLY AN ELEVATOR LIFT, BUT IT WAS TOO HEAVY, SO WE COULDN'T USE IT. AND WE CHANGED IT TO A STATIONARY ARM, BUT WE CHANGED TO A FLEXIBLE WRIST THAT ALLOWS IT TO MANEUVER THE FRONT OF THE INTAKE, WHICH PICKS UP WHAT WE NEED TO SCORE.

AND WE WERE ABLE TO SAVE MONEY , USING FREELY PRINTED PARTS.

>> WE DECIDED OUR ROBOT NEEDS TO HAVE FIVE FINGERS, WE ALSO HAVE A WRIST THAT CAN PICK UP THESE THINGS.

CALL SAMPLES. WE ALSO HAVE MECHANICAL NAILS THAT CAN MOVE LIKE BASICALLY ANYWHERE, AND

COOL. >> SO, WHEN THE COMPETITION STARTS, THE ROBOT FLIPS AROUND AND FLIPS THE ARM BACKWARDS , WHICH THEN STRAIGHTENS THE WRIST, WHICH THEN GOES OVER TO THE RECTANGULAR PRISM, A.K.A. THE SAMPLE, TO PICK IT UP.

>> BASKET AND DEPOSITS IT, WHICH WILL GET POINTS. THE COMPETITION IS ALSO CALLED INTO THE DEEP, WHICH IS RELATED TO SOME STUFF

UNDERWATER. >>

>> THE INTAKE, THE WHEELS THEY ARE USING TO PICK UP THE SAMPLES ARE ALSO CALLED THE GECKO WHEELS, WHICH ARE MADE OUT OF RUBBER, WHICH WOULD BASICALLY STRETCH APART, LIKE STRETCH OUT TO BE ABLE TO MATCH THE SIZE OF WHERE THE LITTLE INDENT OF THE

SAMPLE IS TO PICK IT UP. >> WOW.

>> YEAH. >> AGAIN, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR HAVING US IN THIS SCHOOL BOARD

MEETING TODAY. >>

>> ONE, TWO, THREE,

>> THANK YOU ALL, VERY IMPRESSIVE.

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>> AND MADAM CHAIR, WE HAVE YET ANOTHER FULL SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT AT THE HIGH SCHOOL. BY MY COUNT, THAT IS FOUR IN TWO YEARS, SO I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE COLONEL WILLIAMS COME UP AND

TELL US ALL ABOUT IT. >> MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DR., THANK YOU FOR HAVING US, I AM COLONEL WILLIAMS , I REMAIN. THIS IS CADET CAPTAIN MALACHITE MONTGOMERY. THIS ONE IS SPECIAL FOR US. IN 2020, CONGRESS PASSED A NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT AND THEY CHANGED SOMETHING ABOUT GR OTC, AND IT ALLOWED UNDER VERY UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES EIGHTH-GRADERS TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM.

MALACHI WAS THE FIRST GROUP OF EIGHTH-GRADERS THAT WE HAD JOINED UP WITH OUR GROTC. IF YOU RECALL, THAT WAS A PRETTY ROUGH YEAR. HE IS THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS SURVIVED TO THIS POINT, AND THERE IS A REASON THAT MALACHITE DISPLAYED THAT FORTITUDE AND THAT DISCIPLINE AND THAT DRIVE AND THAT DETERMINATION, BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN A MAN ON A MISSION FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. HE COMES FROM A FAMILY OF SERVICE. HIS FATHER CAN'T BE WITH US TONIGHT BECAUSE HE IS FORWARD DEPLOYED ON THE FORWARD LINE OF OUR NATION'S DEFENSE RIGHT NOW. SO, IT'S PERSONAL AND IT'S REAL FOR MALACHI. AND LAST YEAR, WHEN WE WERE UP HERE, TALKING ABOUT SOME HEROES THAT HAVE GONE ON TO DO BIGGER AND BETTER THINGS, WE LOOKED OVER AT MALACHITE AND SAID, YOU ARE NEXT. OKAY, OKAY.

WELL, TODAY, WE GET TO CELEBRATE THAT HE HAS BEEN AWARDED A FULL FOUR YEAR MARINE OPS AND NAVY ROTC SCHOLARSHIP THAT HE CAN USE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HIS CHOOSING.

>> AND HE IS LIKE MAYBE AT UVA, WE WILL SEE. THIS SCHOLARSHIP IS VALUED AT $180,000, BUT IT JUST PAYS FOR EVERYTHING. IT PAYS FOR HIS TUITION, IT PAYS FOR HIS UNIFORM, HE PAYS FOR HIS VIEWS, HE PAYS FOR HIS BOOK SPRINT DOESN'T OUTRIGHT PAY FOR ROOM AND BOARD, BUT IT GIVES HIM A TAX-FREE COST-OF-LIVING ALLOWANCE MONTHLY. PROGRAMMED INTO THE SCHOLARSHIP ARE PAID INTERNSHIPS IN THE SUMMER WHERE HE IS PAID AS IF HE WERE AN E- FIVE, WHICH IS A GUY THAT HAS BEEN IN THE SERVICE FOR SIX YEARS OR SO. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, WHEN HE COMPLETES THIS PROGRAM, HE WILL HAVE SET HIS LIFE UP FOR A FUTURE OF SUCCESS , WHEN HIS PEERS ARE LOOKING TO FIND JOBS, HE WILL COMMISSION INTO THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS, THE FINEST FIGHTING FORCE THAT HAS EVER WALKED ON THIS PLANET. HE IS MARKED. THERE ARE COMPANIES THAT MAKE THEIR ENTIRE LIVELIHOOD OUT OF FINDING PEOPLE LIKE HIM TO BRIBE THEM TO LEAD SERVICE WITH LOTS AND LOTS OF MONEY. SO, WHEN HE WANTS TO GET OUT, HE WILL GET -- HE WILL GET PEOPLE TO PAY HIM TO DO IT. AND WE ARE REMINDING HIM THAT WE TAKE NO NATIONS IN GROTC. YOU'VE GOT ALL THAT MONEY. SO, WE REALLY APPRECIATE MALACHI AND THE FIVE YEARS THAT WE HAVE HAD HIM NOW. HE HAS ESTABLISHED HIMSELF AS A CONSUMMATE PROFESSIONAL AND LEADER AMONGST HIS PEERS. WE ACTUALLY CREATED OUR FIRST FIFTH-YEAR CADET , A UNIQUE LEADERSHIP POSITION, SO THAT WE COULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF HIS LEADERSHIP, HIS EXPERIENCE, HIS EXPERTISE AS A MENTOR FOR THE OTHER CADETS THAT ARE HIS SAME AGE. BUT HE HAS BEEN DOING IT JUST A LITTLE BIT LONGER, SO I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT THAT YOU GUYS HAVE GIVEN US, SO THAT WE CAN HELP MALACHITE MAXIMIZES POTENTIAL AND LEAD. CONGRATULATIONS, MALACHI. YOU WANT TO SAY

SOMETHING? >>

>> I JUST WANTED TO SAY A FEW THINGS. SO, FIRST OFF, PARENTS, I STRONGLY CONSIDER SENDING YOUR KIDS TO DO GROTC AT THE HIGH

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>> HAS BEEN AMAZING, WONDERFUL, I HAVE RECEIVED MORE SUPPORT THAN THE PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY, AND I AM FOREVER GRATEFUL, THIS IS TRULY A BLESSING, THANK YOU ALL.

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CONGRATULATIONS, MALACHI. >> IF WE COULD JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS WITH MALACHI? FIRST OFF, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE, YOUR FAMILY'S SERVICE, AND YOUR DAD'S SERVICE. WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT PEOPLE LIKE Y'ALL. AND ARE YOU GOING TO BE ABLE TO SEND THE STREAM TO YOUR

DAD? >> HE IS WATCHING RIGHT NOW.

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>> LIEUTENANT COLONEL, STAFF SERGEANT, WE WANT YOU TO COME UP, PLEASE. AND MOM, DOES MOM WANT TO COME APPEAR?

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>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. WILL YOU COME UP AND BRING SOME GOOD NEWS ABOUT OUR ATHLETIC PROGRAMS, I HEAR WE HAVE SOME STATE CHAMPIONS AGAIN.

>> WE DO, WE DO, GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR, BOARD MEMBERS, THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING ME THIS EVENING. BEFORE I JUMP INTO MY SPIEL FOR TONIGHT, JUST KUDOS TO MALACHI, THE CYP, COULDN'T GO TO A MORE AWESOME STUDENT, A HARD WORKER. I KNOW ALL OF YOU ALSO MENTIONED, DR. HINTED AT THIS, WE ARE HERE EVERY YEAR WITH STUDENTS THAT ARE GETTING THESE TYPES OF SCHOLARSHIPS. IF YOU ARE AWARE, ALSO, OUR GROTC PROGRAM HAS THE HIGHEST NUMBERS THEY HAVE EVER HAD THIS YEAR. AS OF NEXT YEAR, WE ARE SITTING AT

147 KIDS INVOLVED. SO -- >>

>> AND THAT IS A HUGE TRIBUTE TO LIEUTENANT COLONEL AND STAFF SERGEANT FOR THE WORK THAT THEY HAVE DONE TO REALLY BUILD THIS PROGRAM AT RECRUIT KIDS, AND THEY ARE TEACHING A LOT, BUT THEY'RE ALSO BUILDING A TON OF RELATIONSHIPS AND MOLDING KIDS THE WAY THAT WE WANT TO SEE THEM BE MOLDED, SO THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, THE REASON WHY I AM HERE, I HAVE THE DISTINCT PLEASURE TO RECOGNIZE TWO AMAZING ATHLETES, BULLDOGS FROM GOOCHLAND HIGH SCHOOL. SO -- SENIORS AT GHS. FACE THAT WAY. ON SATURDAY, MARCH 1ST, IN LYNCHBURG, THIS GUY RIGHT HERE, PATRICK HARLOW, WAS CROWNED WRESTLING STATE CHAMPION IN THE 285 POUND WEIGHT CLASS.

>> STATE TITLE. YES, I SAID SECOND. AFTER WINNING LAST YEAR AS A JUNIOR AT 215. PATRICK ENDED HIS CAREER WITH A RECORD OF 109 WINS

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>> LETTER WINNER AND HE IS ALSO A STARTER IN BOTH FOOTBALL AND LACROSSE. NOT ONLY IS HE AN AMAZING ATHLETE, HE ALSO CARRIES A 4.7 GPA AND IS A LEADER WITHIN OUR SCHOOL BUILDING. LET'S ALL GIVE PATRICK A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

>> OUR WRESTLING COACHES ARE HERE TONIGHT, IF YOU GUYS WANT TO

STAND. >>

>> SECONDLY, ON TUESDAY, THE SAME WEEK, WE HAD A BUSY WEEK AT GHS. ON TUESDAY, MARCH 4TH, AT THE SWIM AUDITORIUM, SENIOR BILL BELCHER SECURED THE STATE TITLE IN THE 500 YARD FREESTYLE WITH A THRILLING LAST 100 YARDS TO PASS AND PULL AWAY FROM HIS COMPETITORS. NOT ONLY DID HE WIN AN INDIVIDUAL STATE TITLE IN THE 500, HE ALSO PLACED THIRD IN THE 200 YARD FREESTYLE AND ANCHORED TWO STATE METAL WINNING RELAY TEAMS, INCLUDING A THIRD-PLACE FINISH IN THE 400 YARD FREESTYLE RELAY. BILL LED THE TEAM TO A 10TH PLACE FINISH OVERALL IN THE STATE PATRICK, BILL IS ALSO HIGHLY INVOLVED AT GHS. A LONG SWIMMING COMPETITIONS ALONG THE ENTIRE EAST COAST. HE WILL BE COMPETING AND NCSA NATIONAL JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA ALL NEXT WEEK. HE ALSO CARRIES A 4.5 GPA AT GHS.

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>> SO I WILL LEAVE WITH US. COACHES, I KNOW THE SWIM TEAM IS NOT HERE. THIS IS WHAT YOU GUYS DO IT FOR. THE RESULTS. THE RELATIONSHIPS. THE TIME SPENT. VERY THANKFUL AND THANKLESS, OFTENTIMES . IT SOMETIMES GOES UNNOTICED. THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALL THE SUPPORT YOU HAVE DONE AND IF ANYBODY IS WRESTLING,

THANK YOU GUYS AS WELL. >> PHOTOS. WRESTLING COACHES,

PHOTOS. >> OKAY. THANK YOU.

>> AND WHILE THEY ARE DOING THAT, I WOULD LOVE FOR THE COACHES TO TELL US HOW RARE IT IS FOR A STUDENT TO MOVE UP 70

POUNDS IN ONE YEAR. >> IS THAT A RHETORICAL

QUESTION? >> HE DOES NOT LOOK LIKE 285

POUNDS. >> AND HE IS NOT. PATRICK, I AM NOT GOING TO TRY TO SAY TOO MUCH, BUT AT THE START OF THE YEAR ALMOST MADE THE BASKETBALL TEAM. HE WAS ALL ABOUT TRYING SOME NEW THINGS THIS YEAR AND BEING A PART OF THIS JOURNEY WITH HIM IS REALLY COOL. AND TO THE END OF THE YEAR, I KNOW THERE WERE A FEW SLEEPLESS NIGHTS THERE. YEAH . THERE WERE A FEW SLEEPLESS NIGHTS THERE. IT IS FUNNY THE WAY IT WORKED OUT.

WE ALL KIND OF WOKE UP ONE MONDAY IN PARTICULAR AND A DECISION NEEDED TO BE MADE. WE KIND OF LOOKED AT EACH OTHER AND SAID IT'S HEAVY WEIGHT. AND FOR THE POSTSEASON, WE ARE ABLE TO BUMP HIM UP ONE WEIGHT CLASS AND THROUGHOUT THE SEASON, TOO.

THERE HAVE BEEN MOMENTS IN THE PAST COUPLE YEARS WE HAVE HANDLED HIM TO CALL SOME BIG DIE -- I BUSINESS AND SLOTTED SOMEONE ELSE IN. SO PATRICK WANTED TO CLIMB A NEW MOUNTAIN THIS YEAR AND HE MADE THAT JUMP. AND HE DID GREAT. DO YOU WANT TO

SAY ANYTHING? >> CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU BOTH.

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WAGNER, WILL YOU BE JOINING? DR. JENNIFER WAGNER, AND HER -- OUR

SUPERINTENDENT OF OPERATIONS. >> GOOD EVENING. I WOULD SAY THIS IS THE MOST FUN PART OF THE NIGHT, HOWEVER WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN OUT STAGE SEVERAL TIMES. SO WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE JUST A FEW MINUTES TO RECOGNIZE SOME OF OUR STAFF. AND WE WOULD LIKE TO START WITH MRS. RANDOLPH. CECELIA, YOU WILL HAVE TO TURN AROUND SO YOUR MOM CAN FILM THIS. MRS. CECELIA RANDOLPH WAS RECOGNIZED FOR OR CURRENT VALUE OF EXCELLENCE. AND SHE WAS NOMINATED BY MS. ROSIE HOLMAN IS HER SUPERVISOR. MS. COLEMAN SAID, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE MRS. CECELIA RANDOLPH FOR HER CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT.

ALWAYS RESPONDS TO OUR LAST-MINUTE CALL OUTS. NOT ONCE HOW SHE COMPLAINED ABOUT DRIVING AND SOMETIMES VOLUNTEERS TO DRIVE IN THE AFTERNOONS. SHE TOGGLES HER ASSIGNMENTS WITH A POSITIVE ATTITUDE AND SHE SEEKS TO FIND NEW WAYS TO LEARN NEW THINGS. RECENTLY SHE HAS BECOME A SCHOOL BUS DISPATCHER THROUGH THE PEOPLE TRANSPORTATION SAFETY INSTITUTE. CECELIA IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SCHOOL DIVISION'S COORDINATION AND PAYROLL. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, BEING ABLE TO SWITCH FROM OFFICE WORK TO DRIVING A BUS AT A MOMENT'S MOMENT IS NOT AN EASY TASK. MS. CECELIA EXEMPLIFIES EXCELLENCE IN EVERYTHING SHE DOES, AND WE ARE SO LUCKY TO HAVE HER. CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THAT MS. ROSIE HOLMAN COME TO THE PODIUM. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DO NOT KNOW, MS. COLEMAN IS OUR DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION, AND SHE WAS LORD HERE THINKING SHE WAS JUST HERE FOR MS. RANDOLPH'S RECOGNITION. SHE WAS NOMINATED FOR AN ECHO AWARD BY OUR SUPERINTENDENT, DR. MICHAEL. AND SO I WILL READ WHAT DR.

KRUMARDI WROTE. HER UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO G PCS, HER COLLABORATIVE SPIRIT, AND HER OVERALL COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE MAKE HER TRULY DESERVING OF THIS RECOGNITION. ROSIE CONSISTENTLY GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND HER DUTIES TO ENSURE THE SMOOTH AND SAFE OPERATION OF OUR TRANSPORTATION SERVICES. AND A VERY TOUGH WEATHER SEASON. SHE AND HER TEAM WERE OUR BOOTS ON THE GROUND AS WE WORKED TO MAKE OUR VERY BEST SAFE DECISIONS. FURTHERMORE, ROSIE WORKS TIRELESSLY TO ADDRESS CHALLENGES. HER PROACTIVE APPROACH AND WILLINGNESS TO STEP IN WHEREVER NEEDED EXEMPLIFIES HER SELFLESSNESS AND HER LEADERSHIP.

A TRUE TEAM PLAYER, MS. HOLMAN FOSTERS OUR DIVISION'S COLLABORATION AND RESPECT. SHE WORKS CLOSELY WITH DRIVERS, MECHANICS, PARENTS, SCHOOL STAFF, AND LEADERS TO FIND INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS, STREAMLINE OPERATIONS, AND ENHANCE SERVICE QUALITY. HER ABILITY TO LISTEN, COMMUNICATE, AND BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN CREATING A COHESIVE AND MOTIVATED TRANSPORTATION TEAM. BE ON HER OPERATIONAL EXPERTISE, ROSIE DEMONSTRATES HEARTFELT CARE FOR THE COMMUNITY, WHETHER COORDINATING LAST-MINUTE ROUTE CHANGES TO ACCOMMODATE STUDENT NEEDS ORGANIZING TRAINING, SHE APPROACHES EVERY TASK WITH COMPASSION AND PROFESSIONALISM. IN RECOGNITION OF HER EXTRAORDINARY SERVICE AND THE POSITIVE IMPACT SHE HAS MADE, I FULL HEARTEDLY RECOMMEND MS. ROSIE HOLMAN FOR THIS AWARD.

CONGRATULATIONS.

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>> MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. EMERSON DR. KRUMARDI. I'M GOING TO HANDLE THE INSTRUCTIONAL SIDE OF OUR ECHO PRESENTATIONS. SO I'M GOING TO ASK ANDY MYLER TO COME UP FOR THE PERSON WHO COULD NOT BE HERE TONIGHT, WHICH IS MRS. KELLY BURTON.

>> SO FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, MS. BURTON HAS BATTLED CANCER, NOT ONCE -- THIS IS PROBABLY THE SECOND OR THIRD TIME SHE HAS BATTLED CANCER. MS. BURTON DISPLAYS COURAGE AND OPTIMISM AND IN ALL CAPS ALL THE TIME. SHE IS THE POSTER CHILD OF THE THREE VALUES. KELLY HAS OVER COME AN EXTENDED SERIES OF OBSTACLES AND HAS MAINTAINED A HIGH LEVEL OF EXCELLENCE IN THE CLASSROOM. SHE USES EVERY MINUTE OF HER CLASSROOM TIME TO WORK WITH HER STUDENTS AND SHE IS ALWAYS THINKING OF WAYS TO IMPROVE HER CRAFT. KELLY NEVER MAKES ANY EXCUSES AND ONLY WANTS TO BE THE BEST TEACHER THAT SHE CAN BE. I HAVE ACTUALLY WORKED WITH KELLY ON SOME DIFFERENT THINGS REGARDING HER CONDITION, AND SHE NEVER COMPLAINS. YOU WILL NEVER HEAR HER SAY SHE IS SAD OR NOT FEELING WELL. SO I CAN ECHO WHAT HE SAID. SHE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE HERE THIS AFTERNOON, BUT I AM GOING TO GIVE THE AWARD TO MR. MYLER TO HAND OFF WHEN SHE COMES BACK.

>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT. NEXT UP, MADDY

BAIN AND AMANDA PALMER. >> SO MADDY AND AMANDA WORK AT THE HIGH SCHOOL. ARROW -- OUR LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALIST AT THE HIGH SCHOOL. AND THEY WERE NOMINATED COLLECTIVELY BY ALL OF THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALIST, AND THIS IS WHAT THEY SAY. YOU WERE NOMINATED FOR YOUR CREATIVITY.

WE WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE PHENOMENAL ACT EFFORTS OF MADDY BAIN AND HER ASSISTANT FOR THEIR EXCEPTIONAL WORK PROMOTING LITERACY ACROSS OUR DISTRICT. BY CREATING THE BOOKWORM'S WEBSITE, THEY HAVE BRILLIANTLY CONNECTED OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS THROUGH READ ALOUD'S.

THEY HAVE RECRUITED TO REACH FOR OUR MARCH MADNESS BOOK DEPARTMENT. THEIR MISSION HAS NOT ONLY PROVIDED OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH ENGAGING STORY EXPERIENCES BUT ALSO CREATED LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.

ARSONS EAGERLY ANTICIPATE THESE RECORDINGS AND MADDY'S PASSION HAS TRULY ENRICHED OUR HIGH SCHOOL COMMUNITY.

CONGRATULATIONS, MADDIE AND MANDA .

>> I JUST WANT TO SAY REALLY QUICK THAT THIS WAS MADDY'S IDEA. LIKE, SHE CAME UP AND SHE WAS LIKE, HEY, BY THE WAY, I HAVE THIS IDEA. AND SHE WAS JUST LIKE THIS WAS WHAT AND THIS WAS HOW AND BOOM. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? SHE CAME UP WITH IT SO QUICKLY. AND SHE FIGURED IT ALL OUT. SHE HAD ALL OF IT LAID OUT.

OH, MY GOD. YES. THIS SOUNDS SO FUN. SO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO HELP YOU WITH THIS BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN SO FUN. THIS HAS

BEEN AWESOME. >> I HAVE TO ADD THAT WE SHARED THAT PROGRAM TONIGHT WITH THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. YEAH.

THANK YOU. >> I AM A BULLDOG BOOKWORM, AND IT IS THE BEST CLUB. THESE WOMEN ARE AMAZING AND THEY COMPLETELY DESERVE THIS. I AM SO HAPPY. IT IS SUCH A FUN CLUB. I LOVE INTERACTING WITH THOSE KIDS. YES.

>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU. >> AND LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, COULD SHAWN DEAREST PLEASE COME UP? SEAN DEAREST RECEIVED AND NOT ONE BUT TWO ECHO AWARD RECOGNITIONS THIS MONTH SO I WILL READ BOTH OF THEM. THE FIRST ONE WAS FROM ZOE PERISHING?. WE WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE SEAN DIEAREST WHO HAS MADE AN INCREDIBLE IMPACT. SEAN GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND, NOT ONLY LEADING HIS OWN TEAM BUT ALSO SERVING AS A MENTOR TO ALL. HIS WILLINGNESS TO SUPPORT OTHER COACHES AND ROOKIE TEAMS IS

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WITH A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE AND FIRST-HAND EXPERIENCE IN FLL, SEAN IS THE BACKBONE OF OUR ROBOTICS TEAM. HE NEVER HESITATES TO STEP IN WHEN HE IS NEEDED. HIS SELFLESS DEDICATION AND UNWAVERING SUPPORT HAVE SHAPED THE SUCCESS OF SO MANY TEAMS, AND WE TRULY DO NOT KNOW WHAT WE WOULD DO WITHOUT HIM.

THANK YOU, SEAN, FOR BEING AN INCREDIBLE MENTOR, LEADER, AND INSPIRATION FOR ALL OF US. THAT WAS THE FIRST RECOGNITION. THE SECOND RECOGNITION WAS BY OUR DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY PETER MARTIN AND HE SAYS ABOUT SEAN, IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC WE HAD A MEMBER OF OUR TECH TEAM LEAVE AND WE WERE TASKED WITH FINDING A REPLACEMENT. REMEMBER, DURING THIS TIME, I.T. PEOPLE WERE IN SUPER HIGH DEMAND AND FINDING A CAPABLE ONE WAS A DAUNTING CHALLENGE. BOY, DID WE GET LUCKY. THIS IS PETER TALKING. I AGREE THOUGH. WE NOT ONLY FOUND A CAPABLE ONE BUT A GREAT ONE. I AM NOT ABLE TO TELL YOU HOW HAPPY I AM THAT SEAN DIEAREST HAS PUT HIS HAT IN THE RING. HE NOT ONLY SOLVES PROBLEMS, HE ATTACKS THEM, DISSECTS THEM, AND SQUASHES THEM. HE IS GREAT WITH CUSTOMERS. SEAN IS ALSO A PRODUCT OF G CPS CLASS OF 2009. WE ARE FORTUNATE HE DECIDED TO COME HOME AND FORTUNE AND THAT HE IS HERE. CONGRATULATIONS, SEAN.

>> WE DO HAVE SEVERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS THIS MONTH. THE MONTH OF MARCH IS ARTS AND EDUCATION MONTH. IT IS ALSO MUSIC IN OUR SCHOOLS MONTH AND OF COURSE WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH. I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT MARCH THE 21ST, WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY A PROFESSIONAL LEARNING DAY FOR STAFF AND THE NONSCHOOL DAY FOR STUDENTS IS NOW A FULL SCHOOL DAY AS PART OF OUR EFFORTS TO MAKE UP FOR INCLEMENT WEATHER., MARCH 21ST IS NOW A REGULAR SCHEDULED SCHOOL DAY FOR STUDENTS. IT IS TOWNHALL SEASON AND WE WILL BEGIN IN DISTRICT 1 ON MARCH 24TH AT 6:00 P.M. THAT TOWNHALL IS GOING TO BE HELD A BYRD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, 2704 HADENSVILLE-FIFE ROAD, GOOCHLAND. DISTRICT 4 AND 5 WILL HAVE UNIFIED TOWNHALL AT MARCH 27TH AT 6:00 P.M. AT RESIDENCE INN AT THE NOT, 2800 WILKES RIDGE CIRCLE, RICHMOND. DISTRICT 2 AND 3 WILL COMBINE HERE AT MARCH 31ST AT 6:00 P.M. THIS IS ROOM 250. THE NEXT REGULAR SCHEDULED MEETING ON THE SCHOOL BOARD WILL TAKE PLACE ON APRIL THE EIGHTH AT 5:30. EXCUSE ME.

AT 5:30 HERE IN THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING. AND OF COURSE GRADUATION WILL BE ON MAY 31ST AT 7:30 AT BULLDOG STADIUM.

WE WILL REMIND EVERYONE BETWEEN NOW AND THEN BUT THE TIME IS FASTLY APPROACHING. VERY EXCITED ABOUT CELEBRATING THE CLASS OF 2025. MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS.

>> THANK YOU, DR. CROMARTIE. IT IS NOW TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

I DO WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD DISCOURAGES PUBLIC COMMENTS INVOLVING A COMPLAINT ABOUT INDIVIDUAL, PERSONAL

[01:45:01]

>> DR. LAURA CASLER WAS NOT ABLE TO BE HERE TONIGHT BUT SAID A STATEMENT THAT SHE REQUESTED SOMEONE READ. GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND DOCTORS CROMARTIE, WAGNER, AND CRYER. I REGRET NOT BEING ABLE TO ATTEND AS PARENTING DUTIES HAVE ME SPOKEN FOR BUT I WISH FOR THIS EMAIL TO BE READ DURING PUBLIC COMMENT. IN LOOKING AT THE AGENDA FOR TONIGHT'S MEETING, IT APPEARS THERE WILL BE DISCUSSION AND POTENTIALLY ACTION ON OUR POLICIES RELATED TO TITLE 6 AND TITLE 9, BOTH U.S. LAWS THAT PROHIBIT THIS CLINICIAN BASED ON RACE, COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGIN, AND SEX RESPECTIVELY. I WILL SAY AGAIN, U.S. LAWS. WHILE THE SCHOOL BOARD SHOULD BE NONPARTISAN, OUR CURRENT BOARD HAS NOT DEMONSTRATED A CURRENT COMMITMENT TO PUTTING KIDS BEFORE POLITICS. IN FACT, QUITE THE OPPOSITE. AMERICA'S CURRENT PRESIDENT HAS ISSUED MANY SYMBOLIC AND EMPTY EXECUTIVE ORDER SEEMINGLY IN LINE WITH OUR SCHOOL BOARD'S PERSONAL VIEWS AIMED AT TARGETING AND DISCRIMINATING AGAINST SOME AMERICANS. I EMPHASIZE THE FACT THAT TITLE 6 AND TITLE 9 OUR LAWS FOR VERY IMPORTANT REASON.

WE WOULD BE VERY FOOLISH AND INVITE LEGAL RISK TO AMEND OUR POLICIES AND PRACTICES TO ALIGN WITH EXECUTIVE ORDERS THAT WILL BE CHALLENGED IN COURTS AND ARE NOT LAWS OF THE LAND. EXECUTIVE ORDERS ARE NOTHING MORE THAN WISHES, AND WE HERE LOCALLY DO NOT WANT WASHINGTON'S HATEFUL AND DISCRIMINATORY WISHES TO IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY. BEYOND THE LEGAL RISK FOLLOWING THESE EXECUTIVE ORDERS, THERE IS THE MORAL AN IMPERATIVE OF PUTTING THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS IN OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY FIRST AND DOING WHAT IS BEST FOR THEM. THIS IS YOUR DUTY AS SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, AS CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS, AND AS SIGNERS OF THE CODE OF ETHICS. AS A TAXPAYER AND CONSTITUENT, I WARN YOU THAT AMENDING POLICIES IN WAYS THAT DO NOT ALIGN WITH TITLE 6 AND 9 PROTECTIONS IS RISKY AND I DO NOT WANT TO SEE MORE TAX MONEY SPENT ON LAWSUITS, BUT RATHER WANT TO SEE IT DIRECTED TO CLASSROOMS. AS AN EDUCATOR, PARENT, AND COMMUNITY MEMBER, REMIND YOU OF YOUR OATH. PLEASE ACT RESPONSIBLY AND SOBERLY.

THANK YOU. DR. LAURA CASLER. >> THANK YOU, MS. HARRIS.

>> DR. METAH POTTS? >> GOOD EVENING. IT IS ME, AGAIN. I THINK THAT IS A LINE OUT OF A MOVIE. GOOD EVENING, DR. CROMARTIE, AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF GOESSLING COUNTY SCHOOLS. MY NAME IS DR. METAH POTTS AND I AM A RESIDENT OF GOOCHLAND COUNTY, FORMER TEACHER, COLLEGE PROFESSOR, RESEARCHER, AND ALWAYS A FRIEND OF EDUCATION. WHEN I WAS SEVEN YEARS OLD, I JOINED THE BLUEBIRDS, A DIVISION OF THE CAMPFIRE GIRLS OF AMERICA. ALL GIRLS IN MY CLASS WERE WELCOME AND ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE. ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WE LEARNED WAS A SONG THAT SAID HATE DREW A CIRCLE AND LEFT ME OUT BUT LOVE DREW A CIRCLE AND BROUGHT ME IN. NO MATTER WHAT COLOR, WHAT STRENGTHS, WHAT WEAKNESSES, WHAT TALENTS, APTITUDES, OR ABILITIES, WE WERE WELCOMED INTO THE GROUP. I THOUGHT THAT WAS TRUE EVERYWHERE. AND IN EVERY GROUP.

BUT SAD TO SAY NOT. NOT EVEN HERE IN GOOCHLAND COUNTY WHERE DIVERSITY SHOULD BE A STRENGTH AND VARIOUS APTITUDES SHOULD BE CONSIDERED GIFTS. HOW SAD TO REALIZE THAT WE ARE DRAWING CIRCLES TO EXCLUDE WHEN WE SHOULD BE DRAWING HUGE CIRCLES TO INCLUDE SOCIAL JUSTICE, THE VIEW THAT EVERYONE DESERVES EQUAL ECONOMIC, POLITICAL, AND SOCIAL RIGHTS AND OPPORTUNITIES.

ARE WE WILLING TO CLOSE DOORS TO ACCESS OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYONE? PROTECT THOSE IN GREATEST NEED? MANY, MANY STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES ARE HARMED BY THE LACK OF SOCIAL JUSTICE, WHICH IS A VIEW THAT EVERYONE DESERVES EQUAL SOCIAL OPPORTUNITIES AND RIGHTS. WE SHOULD BE OPENING THE DOORS OF

[01:50:01]

EQUAL RIGHTS. EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES. AND EQUAL TREATMENTS ARE DENIED, WHETHER IT IS UNFAIR TREATMENT BECAUSE OF RACE, GENDER, ORIENTATION, ABILITY OR SOCIAL ECONOMIC STATUS, WE LOSE. WE SHOULD BE WORKING TO ACCELERATE ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR SCHOOLS RATHER THAN TO LIMIT THEM, TO REMOVE BARRIERS THAT HAVE HISTORICALLY STOOD IN THE PATH OF INCLUSION. CALLED UPON TO MAKE SUCH A DECISION. POUR ME.

POOR CHILDREN AND PARENTS OF THE GENERATION IN WHICH EQUITY AND JUSTICE ARE FORBIDDEN. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, DR. POTTS. >> MY NAME IS BETT TALLEY. I AM A GOOCHLAND RESIDENT. I WORE MY T-SHIRT. DIVERSITY IS A FACT.

INCLUSION IS AN ACT. THANKS TO THE GOESSLING COMMUNITY, PARENTS/TEACHERS SUPPORT STUDENTS IN WAYS THAT HONOR DIVERSITY, PROMOTE EQUITY AND VALUE, INCLUSION, AND BELONGING.

THROUGH THIS YOU DEMONSTRATE THE VALUE OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION. OUR DIVERSITY IS OUR STRENGTH. IT IS SOMETHING TO BE VALUED AND APPRECIATED, NOT DENIGRATED. EQUITY MEANS THAT EACH PERSON'S UNIQUE STRENGTHS AND NEEDS ARE RECOGNIZED. SO I THINK THIS DEMONSTRATES THIS BEST. THIS IS THE TOP PANEL . A SERIES OF FOUR PEOPLE, ALL WITH THE SAME-SIZED BICYCLE. AND ONLY ONE OF THEM CAN RIDE IT BECAUSE IT DOES NOT MEET THE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS. THE BOTTOM PANEL HAS MOBILITY AIDS THAT ARE EQUITABLE FOR THE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS. THAT IS WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT EQUITY. INCLUSION WELCOMES EACH AND EVERY STUDENT TO THE TABLE. BELONGING IS THE INTERNAL SENSE OF FEELING INCLUDED. THE INDIVIDUAL FEELS SEEN, HEARD, VALUED, AND SAFE. I HAVE REVIEWED GOOCHLAND'S POLICY ON EQUITY, AND I SEE NOTHING IN THERE THAT IS NEFARIOUS. NOTHING TO INDICATE A NEED TO DEMOLISH IT. NOTHING THAT SAYS A CHILD MUST BE GIVEN SPECIAL PRIVILEGES BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN OR THEIR GENDER. IN CONTRAST, IT IS ABOUT SUPPORTING ALL STUDENTS AND IT IS ABOUT COMMUNITY, AND I PARTICIPATED THIS FALL IN A COMMUNITY EVENT THAT WAS PART OF THIS POLICY.

PLEASE DON'T FALL FOR THE DELIBERATE MISINFORMATION THAT IS BEING PROMOTED ABOUT DE I. DE I POLICIES AND PRACTICES HELP US REMEMBER THAT WE ARE EACH UNIQUE AND WE ARE BETTER TOGETHER. THE ABSENCE OF SUCH POLICIES ALLOW US TO FALL INTO PATTERNS OF CLICKS, FAVORITISM, LABELING, AND EXCLUSION. PLEASE RETAIN

YOUR EQUITY POLICY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MS. TALLEY.

>> JEN SHROZER. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. MY GLASSES. I AM TALKING ABOUT THE SAME ISSUES. THE EQUITY POLICY, WHICH IS NO LONGER. IT'S EVERY WORD IS SCRATCHED OUT. OKAY. HERE WE GO. THE SCHOOL BOARD HAS MADE IT CLEAR THAT THEY WOULD NOT PROMOTE THE LOVING COMMUNITY VALUES OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND ACCESSIBILITY.

AND THIS IS MORE TO PARENTS AND STUDENTS OUT THERE, TEACHERS, ET CETERA. SOMETIMES THE FOLKS IN CHARGE AREN'T THE RIGHT ONES FOR THE JOB. SOMETIMES POWER IS GIVEN TO PEOPLE WHO DON'T DESERVE IT AND MAY MISUSE IT. WE DON'T NEED THEIR PERMISSION TO BE DECENT AND WE CAN SEE DEI AS THE DIRTY WORD THEY MAKE IT OUT TO BE. EACH OF US CAN BE CURIOUS AND KIND AND BRAVE. IF WE ARE

[01:55:01]

DIVERSITY IS BEAUTIFUL AND RICH. MAKES EVERY GROUP STRONGER. MORE ABLE TO SOLVE PROBLEMS. WE WANT DIVERSITY IN OUR STUDENT BODY.

IN THE BLUE RIDGE PROGRAM. IN THE GIFTED PROGRAM. IN OUR SPORTS. IN OUR CLUBS. EVERYWHERE IN SCHOOL. EQUITY ENSURES WE ALL HAVE WHAT WE NEED TO SUCCEED. AND SURE EVERY STUDENT IS FED IN SCHOOL IF NOT AT HOME. IT MEANS ADDRESSING LEARNING DISABILITIES. IT MEANS A RAMP FOR A KID IN A WHEELCHAIR OR A COUNSELOR FOR A KID GRIEVING THE LOSS OF A SIBLING, PARENT, OR FELLOW STUDENT. EQUALITY MEANS THAT ALL STUDENTS ARE TREATED THE SAME. EQUITY MEANS THAT ALL STUDENTS HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUCCESS. ISN'T OUR GOAL STUDENT SUCCESS? LASTLY, INCLUSION. INCLUSION IS ABOUT COMMUNITY. AND THE SPORT HAS NO NEED FOR THAT. NO WISH FOR THAT. NO BACKBONE TO SUPPORT IT. INCLUSIVITY IS BEING CURIOUS ABOUT AND KIND AND WELCOMING TO YOUR NEIGHBOR. THAT'S ALL. SIMPLE. EASY. STUDENTS AND PARENTS AND TEACHERS AND ALL OF US CAN LIVE THESE VALUES. HELP YOUR NEIGHBOR. SHOW YOUR SNACKS. INVITE THE NEW KIT TO EAT LUNCH.

STAND UP. BE BRAVE WHEN YOU HEAR SOMEONE BEING MADE FUN OF OR BULLIED. STAND UP TO THE BULLY. IF THAT MEANS PUNISHMENT, TAKE THE PUNISHMENT. BE BRAVE AND CURIOUS AND KIND. THIS BOARD DID NOT HAVE TO DELETE DIVERSITY AND EQUITY AND INCLUSION. OTHER SCHOOL BOARDS CHOSE TO KEEP DEI AS A POLICY. CHOOSE TO VALUE OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY AND ENSURE THE STUDENTS WHO NEEDED A LITTLE HELP IN ONE AREA IN ORDER TO EXCEL IN ANOTHER GOT THAT HELP.

CHOSE TO INCLUDE ALL CHILDREN NO MATTER THEIR RACE, CREED, RELIGION, OR GENDER. AND IN 2027, WE WILL BE ABLE TO VOTE THIS BOARD OUT AND ELECT ONE THAT VALUES OUR STUDENTS, PUBLIC EDUCATION, OPPORTUNITY, AND A DIVERSE WORLD. NUMBER FEARFULLY CUTTING BOOKS OUT OF THE LIBRARY OR THREATENING COUNSELORS WHO REACH OUT TO KIDS IN NEED. DELETING DEI FROM POLICY IS A CHOICE. THIS BOARD COULD AND CAN AND SHOULD DO BETTER. THE REST OF US CAN BE BRAVELY CURIOUS AND KIND TO TRY TO OFFSET THE DAMAGE BY THIS BOARD'S FILL FULL DESTRUCTION OF VALUES WE HOLD DEAR. THIS BOARD'S ACTIONS WILL BE CHALLENGED IN THE COURTS BECAUSE THEY ARE DISCRIMINATORY, NOT TO MENTION PETTY AND MEAN, AND ONCE AGAIN OUR SCHOOL BOARD WILL SADDLE TAXPAYERS WITH THE

BILL. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>> ADLEY ALLEN. >> GOOD EVENING. MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DR. CROMARTIE , THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO HAVE A FEW MOMENTS TO DISCUSS MY CONCERNS.

THAT NICHE RESEARCH, GOOCHLAND COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE TOP RATED SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN VIRGINIA.

THAT IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE VERY PROUD OF. RESEARCH ALSO RANKS IN THE NUMBER ONE SCHOOL DIVISION IN THE RICHLAND METRO AREA. IT IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD REALLY BE PROUD OF. CONSISTENTLY RECEIVING -- GOOCHLAND COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS CONSISTENTLY RECEIVING HIGH MARKS FOR BOTH ACADEMICS AND TEACHER QUALITY.

SOMETHING WE REALLY SHOULD BE PROUD OF. AND WE ACCOMPLISH ALL OF THAT BY HAVING OUR DEI PROGRAM. BY HAVING A DEI POLICY.

SO I CAN'T SEE HOW THE DEI POLICY CAN HINDER BEING THE TOP RATED PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM IN VIRGINIA FOR THE TOP RATED SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE METROPOLITAN AREA. I DON'T SEE HOW THE DEI PROGRAM ARE DEI POLICY CAN TAKE AWAY FROM THE RANKING OF THE NUMBER ONE SCHOOL DIVISION IN THE RICHLAND METRO AREA BECAUSE WE HAVE A DEI POLICY OF OUR OWN. CONSISTENTLY RECEIVING HIGH MARKS FOR BOTH ACADEMICS AND TEACHER QUALITY.

ALL OF THAT OVER DEI POLICY. SO, TO ME, HELP ME, I CAN'T SEE HOW REMOVING IT WILL DIMINISH THE STANDARDS OF THE GOOCHLAND COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE CORNERSTONE PUBLIC CHURCH AND ALSO ON BEHALF OF OF THE VICINITY. IF YOU DO DECIDE TO CHANGE YOUR DEI POLICY, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

STATE YOUR PURPOSE SO WHEN PARENTS AND STUDENTS COME TO ME

[02:00:02]

ANSWER. THANK YOU, VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU. NO ONE ELSE IS SIGNED UP. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? THAT IS OKAY. PLEASE GIVE YOUR NAME AND DISTRICT.

>> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS CARRIE MONGER. I LIVE IN CREWE SURE. IN MY DAUGHTER LAURA IS A SENIOR BULLDOG. I AM HERE BECAUSE I SEE DEI. THE DEI ORDER RECENTLY CASCADED BY OUR PRESIDENT IS ON THE AGENDA. OUR PRESIDENT HAS NO WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF BRINGING UP A CHILD WITH SPECIAL NEEDS IN A PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM BUT YOU ALL, OUR ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD, IS COMPRISED OF MOMS AND CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTY AND I ASK YOU TO PLEASE USE YOUR DECISION-MAKING KINDLY WHEN MOVING FORWARD. SHE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER IN THIRD GRADE. IT MADE SENSE BUT IT WAS INCOMPLETE. MY DAUGHTER CONSISTENTLY SWIMS UPSTREAM WHEN OTHERS ARE GOING DOWN. COMMENTS FROM TEACHERS ARE CONSISTENT. SHE IS BRIGHT BUT EMOTIONAL. SHE WAS RULES ORIENTED. FOR THAT TEACHERS LOVED HER BUT HER CLASSMATES SEEMED RESENTFUL. SHE RAN CIRCLES AGAINST MOST OF THE BOYS AND ADVANCED MATH LESSONS. THIS MADE HER AN UNWELCOME COMPETITOR IN A GAME SHE DID NOT KNOW SHE WAS COMPETING IN. FAST FORWARD TO THE SUMMER OF HER 12TH GRADE YEAR. SHE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH AUTISM. BEING UNDERDIAGNOSED IN THIRD GRADE, WE NAVIGATED ON OUR OWN AND PRAYED CLASSMATES WOULD HEED THE LESSONS OF SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSONS BY SHOWING KINDNESS AND LOVE TO THEIR CLASSMATES WAS CLEARLY JUST A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. THIS WAS NOT OUR EXPERIENCE. IN NINTH GRADE, LAURA WAS NAMED HER CLASS HOMECOMING PRINCESS. WE WERE STUNNED . MAYBE THIS WAS A TURNING POINT FOR OUR GIRL. AS IT TURNS OUT, THE WHOLE THING WAS A JOKE. SHE IS NOMINATED AS A JOKE AND IN ROUND AFTER ROUND OF VOTING IS JUST A JOKE. FRESHMAN YEAR, SHE WALKED TO THE HALLS OF SCHOOL TENNIS BALLS THROWN AT HER HEAD. IN SOPHOMORE YEAR, THEY MODIFIED HER WALK -- WORKING GOOGLE DOCS. THEN MAKUR.

LAURA, IS THAT GOING TO MAKE YOU CRY? THEY CREATED A FAKE INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT WITH MESSAGES LIKE YOUR PARENTS ARE GETTING DIVORCED BECAUSE YOU ARE GAY. THIS IS THE PG VERSION BECAUSE I CANNOT PUBLICLY USE THE LANGUAGE THEY USE. WHO WERE THESE BULLIES? TEACHER SHOWED THE MAJORITY SHE WITNESSED WHEREBY ATHLETES, BOYS AND GIRLS ALIKE. THE LESSON I HAVE TAKEN AWAY AFTER 13 YEARS AS ANY PARENT WHOSE CHILD SHOWS SIGNS OF SPECIAL LEARNING NEEDS TO LOOK ELSEWHERE THAN GOOCHLAND. HERE, WE PROTECT, CELEBRATE, AND PROTECT FROM CONSEQUENCE THE CHILDREN OF OUR TEAMS WHILE WE MARGINALIZE THE TALENTS OF KIDS WERE NOT FOUND IN A FOOTBALL FIELD. YOU KNOW WHAT THOUGH? LAURA HAS THRIVED, NOT TO THE CREDIT OF, BUT IN SPITE OF OUR SCHOOLS. HER ART IS CURRENTLY ON DISPLAY. WHAT IS WRONG WITH EMBRACING ALL STUDENTS? EVEN THOSE WHO LEARN A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY? THEY JUST WANT TO LEARN IN SAFETY AND FEEL LIKE THEY BELONG. SCHOOL BOARD, YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN A TREMENDOUS GIFT. THE GIFT OF HELPING STUDENTS IN YOUR COMMUNITY BECOME CITIZENS OF THE WORLD WHO CAN THINK, ACT, AND LEAD COURAGEOUSLY. AS A FELLOW MOM AND CITIZEN OF GOOCHLAND, WE JUST ASK THAT YOU WILL THINK, LEAD, AND ACT COURAGEOUSLY BY NOT FURTHER MARGINALIZING ALREADY MARGINALIZED STUDENTS.

>> IF I CAN RESPOND.

>> GOOD EVENING. DR. CROMARTIE, SCHOOL BOARD, I AM LAUREN AND I LIVE IN SANDY HOOK. WHEN YOU ALL RAN FOR SCHOOL BOARD YOU ARE REQUIRED TO RUN AS INDEPENDENT FOR THIS NONPARTISAN POSITION.

WHEN YOU WERE SWORN IN, YOU SWORE TO UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS AND NOT TO FAVOR PARTICULAR POLITICAL PARTIES OR DISTRICTS. THE MAKEUP OF OUR THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT AND ITS CHECKS AND BALANCES GIVES AUTHORITY TO THE JUDICIAL BRANCH. TO INTERPRET LAWS. EXECUTIVE ORDERS DO NOT CREATE OR CHANGE LAWS. THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH DOES. THE JUDICIAL BRANCH HAS ALREADY INTERPRETED TITLE 9. IT DOES NOT MATTER HOW MANY EXECUTIVE ORDERS TRUMP SIGNS. IT DOES NOT CHANGE WHAT IS SETTLED LAW. NOT ONLY IS THE EXECUTIVE ORDER ON GENDER SCIENTIFICALLY INACCURATE, BUT THE DECISION REALIZED THAT THE EQUAL PROTECTION CLAUSE OF OUR AMENDMENT IN OUR CONSTITUTION

[02:05:06]

YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>> HI. CHRISTINA PAGE. DISTRICT 2. SANDY LEVEL, VIRGINIA. I AM GOING TO REPEAT A LOT OF WHAT I THINK YOU HAVE ALREADY HEARD THIS EVENING. I SAW ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA THAT THE BOARD IS GOING TO BE DISCUSSING AND POTENTIALLY TAKING ACTION ON GIVING THE HISTORY AFTER PRESSING THINGS ACCURATELY ONE READING. OUR DISTRICT'S POLICIES RELATED TO TITLE 6 AND TITLE 9. TITLE 9 DISCRIMINANT BASED ON SEX. CANNOT BE CHANGED BASED ON THE WHIMS OUT OF THE CURRENT EXECUTIVE ORDERS IN WASHINGTON. THIS BOARD HAS REPEATEDLY DEMONSTRATED A TROUBLING PATTERN OF PUTTING POLITICS AHEAD OF THE WELL-BEING OF OUR STUDENTS. YOU HAVE CHOSEN TO ALIGN YOURSELVES WITH DIVISIVE, DISCRIMINATORY AGENDAS RATHER THAN STANDING UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT. THESE EXECUTIVE ORDERS TARGET AND DISCRIMINATE AGAINST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES, AND THEY ARE NOT LAWS. I EMPHASIZED THE FACT THAT TITLE 6 AND TITLE 9 ARE BINDING LAWS FOR A CRITICAL REASON FOR TO AMEND OUR DISTRICT WAS POLICIES IN WAYS THAT CONFLICT WITH THESE ESTABLISHED PROTECTIONS WOULD BE BOTH RECKLESS AND UNLAWFUL. THE HARM DONE BY POLICIES THAT UNDERMINE PROTECTIONS BASED ON RACE, COLOR, AND SEX CANNOT BE OVERSTATED. SUCH POLICIES CREATE HOSTILE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS FOR STUDENTS FEEL UNSAFE, UNWELCOME, AND UNABLE TO THRIVE.

MARGINALIZED STUDENTS FACED INCREASED BULLYING, HARASSMENT, AND EXCLUSION. EXPERIENCES THAT SEVERELY IMPACT MENTAL HEALTH, ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, AND LONG-TERM SUCCESS. MOREOVER, THESE POLICIES DONE BY COMMUNITIES FOSTERING RESENTMENT AND TENSION RATHER THAN PROMOTING UNITY AND RESPECT.

SCHOOLS SHOULD BE PLACES OF LEARNING AND GROWTH. NOT BATTLEGROUNDS FOR POLITICAL IDEOLOGIES THAT HURT THE VERY PEOPLE THEY ARE MEANT TO SERVE. IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT CLAIMS OF THE SO-CALLED REVERSE DISCRIMINATION THAT THESE POLICY CHANGES TARGET ARE NOT SUPPORTED BY DATA.

STUDIES CONSISTENTLY SHOW THAT WHITE AMERICANS ARE NOT SYSTEMATICALLY DISADVANTAGED IN EDUCATION OR EMPLOYMENT COMPARED TO HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED GROUPS. IN FACT, DATA FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYMENT COMMISSION SHOW THAT INCIDENTS OF RACIAL DISCOLORATION OVERWHELMINGLY AFFECT BLACK, HISPANIC, AND OTHER GROUPS.

DESIGNED TO ENSURE THAT FAIR TREATMENT FOR ALL STUDENTS. THEY DO NOT TARGET OR DISADVANTAGE WHITE STUDENTS. THIS BOARD HAS A MORAL OBLIGATION TO PUT OUR STUDENTS FIRST. AND LET ME BE CLEAR. THAT MEANS ALL STUDENTS. NOT JUST THE ONES WHO LOOK LIKE YOU, SOUND LIKE YOU, OR ATTEND THE SAME CHURCHES AS YOU DO.

BEYOND THE FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCES, DIDN'T THIS BOARD LEARNED THE LESSON AFTER MS. ALLEN'S FRIVOLOUS ATTEMPT AT SUING THE PREVIOUS BOARD MEMBERS? OUR RESOURCES SHOULD BE SUPPORTING STUDENTS. NOT ON LEGAL FEES CAUSED BY RECKLESS

[02:10:02]

>> THANK YOU, MS. PAGE.

>> DAVE HARDAWAY. SPRINGS. I SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE THAT ARE MISINFORMED, AND KIND OF MISGUIDED. THE BIBLE SAYS ONE MAN, ONE WOMAN. TITLE 9 SAYS ONE MAN, ONE WOMAN. TITLE 9 IS ABOUT DISCRIMINATION ON SEX. IF A MAN IS SAYING THEY ARE A WOMAN AND THEY CAN SAY, WELL, I NEED PROTECTION AS A WOMAN , IT IS A MIXED UP SITUATION. AND IT IS A SITUATION THAT IS DANGEROUS FOR WOMEN. I WAS HERE A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO. AND I SAID SOMETHING ABOUT LOUDOUN COUNTY. AND SOMEBODY CAME UP AFTER ME AND SAID, WELL, LOUDOUN COUNTY WAS A STRAIGHT, STRAIGHT MALE. BUT HE WAS NOT ACTING LIKE A STRAIGHT MALE. HE SAID HE WAS A GIRL . HE WAS DRESSING IN A SKIRT AND GOING IN THE GIRLS BATHROOM. SO YOU CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS. AND YOU CAN'T HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT, TOO. YOU HAVE GOT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS TRANSGENDER THING IS HURTING WOMEN AND HURTING GIRLS. AND JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE A MINORITY DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU HAVE EXTRA PROTECTION. JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE A MINORITY DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU'RE IN THE RIGHT. YOU COULD TOTALLY BE IN THE WRONG, AND THEN YOU ARE ASKING FOR EXTRA PROTECTION. THIS COUNTRY AND SET UP AS A MAJORITY WINS. THE MAJORITY GETS TO CHOOSE WHAT LAWS GET ON THE BOOKS. THAT MIGHT NOT BE THE BEST LAWS. BUT JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE A MINORITY DOES NOT MEAN YOU GET TO OVERSTEP THE MAJORITY AND GET THE LOSS YOU WANT IN PLACE. WE NEED TO GET BACK TO GOD. WE HAVE GONE STRAIGHT, TOTALLY AWAY FROM HIM, AND, THE FURTHER YOU GO AWAY FROM HIM, THE FURTHER YOUR MIND GETS MIXED UP. I THINK YOU ALL FOR LISTENING TO ME.

>> THANK YOU, MR. HARDAWAY. >> DR. CROMARTIE AND THE BOARD, MY NAME IS BARBARA SLOAN. I AM IN DISTRICT 3 AND I WILL KEEP THIS BRIEF. I WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. I KNOW IT IS A THANKLESS JOB. I KNOW THAT YOU GET THE VERBAL LASHINGS . YOU HAVE TAKEN TONIGHT. THEY ARE PART OF THE JOB, AND IT IS NOT A PLEASANT PART OF THE JOB. BUT I ALSO KNOW EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU WOULD DO ANYTHING IN YOUR POWER FOR ANY STUDENT IN THIS SCHOOL AND I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMON SENSE. I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING, AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE BEHIND YOU SO DO NOT BE SWAYED BY THE FACT THAT THE SPEAKERS ARE SLANTED ALL TO ONE SIDE TO COME HERE AND ABSOLUTELY RIP YOU A NEW ONE BECAUSE YOU

HAVE A LOT OF SUPPORT. >> THANK YOU, MS. SLOAN.

>> THIS IS UNCHARACTERISTIC OF ME. MY NAME IS MICHAEL. QUITE OBVIOUSLY, I AM A 52-YEAR-OLD WHITE MAN. I HAVE SEEN ALL SIDES OF THIS DIVERSITY SITUATION. I AM ALSO THE FATHER OF ASIAN KIDS. SO I MAYBE HAVE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE HERE. I JUST LEAVE YOU WITH ONE LAST THOUGHT. IF IT WASN'T FOR DEI POLICIES, NOT A SINGLE PERSON WOULD BE UP TONIGHT. JUST

REMEMBER THAT. >> THANK YOU, MR. SEXTON. IS

[02:15:08]

>> MS. MCCORMICK? >> GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY. I AM EMERSON MCCORMICK. I AM GOING TO GIVE MY MARCH REPORT. STARTING OFF WITH GOOCHLAND HIGH SCHOOL. WE HAVE RECOGNIZED A FEW REALLY AWESOME STUDENTS EACH WEEK , JUST BECAUSE THEY WERE FOUND DOING KIND OF THINGS. WE START OFF WITH CARTER ELEKO. CARTER'S FAVORITE CLASSES UNIFIED PE, WHICH MAKES SENSE AS HE IS A FOOTBALL PLAYER AND A MEMBER OF THE FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETES. CARTER WENT TO BE AN ARCHITECT AND IS CONSIDERING NC STATE FOR COLLEGE WHEN HE GRADUATES. GREAT WORK, CARTER.

ALLISON KROGER IS A SENIOR NOMINATED. AUSTIN'S FAVORITE CLASSES ALSO UNIFIED PE. SHE LOVES TO PLAY SOFTBALL IN HER FREE TIME. LOOK ON THE FIELD FOR HER. SHE IS NUMBER ONE. SO GREAT JOB BEING KIND, ALLISON. WE KIND OF ALREADY WENT OVER THIS WITH SWIM BUT I GO TO REPEAT IT BECAUSE AS WELL AS BILL GETTING AMAZING THINGS HAPPENING AT STATE, WE HAVE SOME AMAZING ATHLETES AT REGIONAL. I WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS ON THE SWIM TEAM ON THE REGIONAL MEET ON FEBRUARY 10TH. OLIVIA SPOONER, BILL BELCHER, CONNOR DAVIS, AND HARRINGTON ARE BROUGHT REGIONAL TITLES BACK TO GOOCHLAND, AND ALSO THE NEXT LAST TUESDAY BILL BELCHER BROUGHT HOME THE STATE TITLE IN THE 500 YARD FREESTYLE.

ALSO, OLIVIA SPOONER LED THE GIRLS FOR THE PODIUM FINISH IN BOTH THE 50 YARD FREESTYLE IN THE 100 YARD FREESTYLE. AND WE ALSO HAD MANY BULLDOGS PARTICIPATE IN RELAY RACES.

OVERALL, THE GIRLS FINISHED 10TH WHILE THE GIRLS FINISH SEVENTH.

THE WEEKEND IF EVERY 16TH, DHS COURT STUDENTS TRAVEL TO PRINCE GEORGE HIGH SCHOOL TO REPRESENT HER SCHOOL IN THE ALL DISTRICT COURSE EVENT. THIS EVENT IS OPEN TO STUDENTS BY EDITION ONLY.

SOME OF OUR TOP SINGERS FROM OUR SCHOOL WERE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO SING ALONGSIDE OTHER TALENTED INDIVIDUALS FROM OTHER SCHOOLS IN OUR DISTRICT. WE ARE SO PROUD OF THE STUDENTS REPRESENTING GOOCHLAND HIGH SCHOOL SO WELL. CONGRATULATIONS.

AC JUNIORS TRAVEL TO WASHINGTON, D.C. ON FEBRUARY 25TH WITH HER AMAZING HISTORY TEACHER, MRS. TATE AND WE WERE GIVEN A PERSONAL TOUR OF THE WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL AND THE FAMOUS HISTORIAN ALEX KERSHAW. AFTERWARDS, WE EXPLORE MANY MEMORIALS AND FINISHED THE DAY AT THE SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICAN HISTORY. AND WE GOT REALLY NICE CHARTER BUSES. LIKE REALLY NICE. IT WAS REALLY ENJOYABLE. THEY HAD FOOT RESTS AND EVERYTHING. A WEEK LATER ON MARCH 3RD, ALEX KERSHAW CAME TO GOOCHLAND HIGH SCHOOL TO SPEAK WITH JUNIORS. WE WERE GIVEN THE PRIVILEGE OF LISTENING TO HIM SPEAK ABOUT HIS BOOK, THE LIBERATOR. WE ALREADY WENT OVER THE ROBOTICS TEAM AND HOW AMAZING THEY ARE, SO I AM GOING TO GIVE A LITTLE SHOUT OUT ON THE JUNKYARD DOGS. THEY DID AMAZING. SO WAY TO GO, GUYS. ON FRIDAY FAIRBURY 28, DUSTIN BROWN, ALINA DEWEY, MATTHEW FRANCO, AND JOHNSON GUESS -- SINGAS COMPETED IN THE NATIONAL CHALLENGE, A SCHOLARSHIP CHALLENGE PRESENTED BY THE SOCIETY OF INDUSTRIAL AND APPLIED MATHEMATICS. THIS IS A PRESTIGIOUS INTERNET-BASED COMPETITION THE CHALLENGES HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE U.S. AND UK TO USE MATHEMATICAL MODELING TO SOLVE A REAL-WORLD ISSUE. TEAMS HAD 40 -- NOT 40 -- 14 CONSECUTIVE HOURS TO DEVELOP A SOLUTION AND SUBMIT A WELL STRUCTURED REPORT. THESE FIVE BULLDOGS. I WALKED BY THE ROOM AND THERE WERE SNACKS EVERYWHERE. THEY WERE WORKING SO HARD I WAS LIKE WOW . I CANNOT EVEN SIT THERE IMAGINE DOING MATH FOR 14 HOURS. IMPRESSIVE. A DIFFERENT LEVEL OF SMART.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ISAAC FOR WINNING THE MR. GHS PAGEANT. HE DONATED TO THE SENIOR PROJECT. JAKE TICKLE WAS CROWDED MR. GHS.

OUR SPECIAL OLYMPICS BASKETBALL ATHLETES COMPETED AT THE STATE GAMES. THE TEAM WON THE BRONZE IN THEIR DIVISION AND TOOK HOME THE SILVER MEDAL IN THE INDIVIDUAL SKILLS COMPETITIONS.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR AMAZING BULLDOG WRESTLERS, ALLEN EDISON AND ARLO. ARLO WAS THE FIRST GIRL TO QUALIFY AND FINISH IN

[02:20:03]

SAM FERGUS, JERRY FREY, AND MICHAEL CORBETT PLACED 18TH IN THE FOUR BY 200. JERRY FREY JUMPED 5'10". THAT IS LIKE THE HEIGHT OF JERRY. I CANNOT IMAGINE. AND CORBETT RAN THE 30 METER DASH. GREAT JOB, BULLDOGS. THAT IS AMAZING. I KNOW THERE IS LOTS OF SPORTS. WINTER IS AMAZING. BECAUSE WE'RE GOING ONTO SPRING NOW . THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY INDUCTION CEREMONY TOOK PLACE ON FAIRBURY FIFTH. THIS IS A VERY LARGE GROUP. THIS IS AWESOME. I TALKED TO THIS BOARD. VERY EXCITED. THE GOOCHLAND PORTFOLIO OF WRITING WILL BE GIVEN ON MARCH 4TH AND TODAY, MARCH 11TH. STUDENTS IN ENGLISH AND WHEN I WILL BE COMPLETING A PERSUASIVE ESSAY WHILE STUDENT IN ENGLISH 10 WILL BE DOING AN ANALYTIC ESSAY. THIS HELP STUDENTS IN A VERIFIED CREDIT. IDENTIFIED SPORTS TEAM AT GOOCHLAND HIGH SCHOOL REPRESENTED VIRGINIA SPECIAL OLYMPICS HOSTED BY THE UNITED STATES BOWLING CONGRESS IN BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA. ATHLETES OWEN POWER'S, DEANDRE HOPKINS, AND PARTNERS CHARLIE DORA, SAM FERGUS, ELLA PILLSBURY, AND AVA FREEMAN COMPETED OVER THE COURSE OF TWO DAYS IN DOUBLES AND TEAM DIVISIONS. THE BULLDOGS REPRESENTED VIRGINIA WELL AND KNOCKED DOWN A LOT OF PENS.

ALONG WITH BOWLING, ALL INVOLVED WERE ABLE TO MAKE LASTING FRIENDSHIPS AND MEMORIES WITH PEOPLE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. IN HONOR OF NATIONAL ATHLETIC TRAINING MONTH, WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK MRS. BLACK, ATHLETIC TRAINER. SHE IS SUCH AN AWESOME PERSON AND ALSO SHE DOES SO, SO MUCH FOR OUR PROGRAM AND HER COMMITMENT TO GOOCHLAND. SOME REALLY EXCITING EVENTS THAT GOOCHLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. ON FEBRUARY 14TH, VERY FIRST BOOSTER GLOW FUNDRAISER. IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE SUCCESS. THE EVENT BROUGHT TOGETHER STUDENTS AND TEACHERS AND FAMILIES FOR AN EXCITING HIGH-ENERGY EXPERIENCE IN NOT ONLY PROMOTED PHYSICAL ACTIVITY BUT ALSO HELP RAISE FUNDS TO SUPPORT THE SCHOOLS.

THE GYM WAS TRANSFORMED INTO A GLOWING SPACE WITH BLACK LIGHTS, DECORATIONS, AND UPBEAT MUSIC. CREATING AN ELECTRIFYING ATMOSPHERE THAT HAD ALL STUDENTS EAGERLY RUNNING LAPS AROUND THEIR CLASSMATES. SECOND GRADE STUDENTS HAVE BEEN PARTICIPATING IN THE LEARN TO SWIM CLASSES AT THE YMCA. AN EXCITING AND VIABLE PROGRAM DESIGNED TO TEACH ESSENTIAL WATER SAFETY SKILLS AND SWIMMING SKILLS. THIS PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH STRUCTURED LESSONS LED BY CERTIFIED INSTRUCTORS HELPING THEM BUILD CONFIDENCE IN THE WATER WHILE DEVELOPING FUNDAMENTAL SWIMMING TECHNIQUES. ON THURSDAY MARCH 6, HOSTED THE MARCH MADNESS TOURNAMENT OF BOOKS. PARENTS AND STUDENTS GOT TO TRAVEL AROUND THE SCHOOL AND CHECK OUT COMPETITION IN THIS YEAR'S BOOK TOURNAMENT. PARTICIPATED IN ARRANGING ACTIVITIES FROM BUILDING BRIDGES FOR BILLY GOATS TO DRAWING DRAGONS AND MAKING FOOD AND KEY CHAINS. STUDENTS ALSO GOT TO DUNK THEIR NAME INTO A RAFFLE FOR GREAT BOOKS. WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHICH BOOK WILL HAVE ITS ONE SHINING MOMENT. WE HAD A VERY EXCITING MONTH AT GCPS SCHOOLS AND I AM EXCITED TO SHARE MORE EVENTS FOR THE FOLLOWING MONTH, SO THANK YOU,

GUYS. >> MISSES MCCORMICK , THAT WAS A

SLAMDUNK. >> I APPRECIATE IT. I HAVE BEEN

PRACTICING. >> I THINK YOU HAD A GREAT TRAINER OR COACH. YEAH. DR. CROMARTIE? IT IS GOING TO BE

HARD TO FOLLOW UP. >> YEAH . THANKS, MADAM CHAIR. I THINK YOU AND I ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT REORGANIZING THE AGENDA BECAUSE THAT OF ENERGY AT THIS HOUR OF THE EVENING, I CERTAINLY CANNOT CONTEND WITH. I JUST WANTED TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THE FOLKS WHO REALLY MAKE THIS SCHOOL DIVISION WHAT IT IS AND I HAVE WRITTEN SOME REMARKS BECAUSE, AGAIN, THAT OF ENERGY AT THIS TIME OF THE EVENING I CANNOT CONTEND WITH AND CERTAINLY DIDN'T WANT AN OMISSION OF THE BRAIN TO BE CHARGED TO MY HEART. SO THIS EVENING I AM FILLED WITH GRATITUDE AND ADMIRATION FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THE DEDICATED STAFF TO MAKE OUR SCHOOL PLACES WERE ALL STUDENTS CAN THRIVE. YOUR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO OUR STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY IS NOTHING SHORT OF EXTRAORDINARY. EVERY DAY YOU SHOW UP, NOT JUST AS EDUCATORS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND SUPPORT STAFF, BUT AS MENTORS, GUIDES, AND CHAMPIONS OF OUR CHILDREN'S POTENTIAL. WHETHER TEACHING CLASSROOMS OR KEEPING SAFE AND WELCOMING OR PREPARING OR SERVING MEALS AND BRINGING CHILDREN TO AND FROM SCHOOL OR SUPPORTING LEARNING BEHIND THE SCENES, YOUR COLLECTIVE EFFORTS SHAPE THE FUTURE OF THIS COMMUNITY. TO OUR TEACHER'S. YOUR PASSION FOR LEARNING AND

[02:25:03]

>> THANK YOU, DR. CROMARTIE. NOW FOR THE CHAIR'S COMMENTS, I HATE TO HAVE TO DO THIS BUT I WANT TO DO THIS. YEAH . I AM SORRY THAT I HAVE TO. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS THE BOARD AND MY CONDOLENCES TO THE FRIENDS, FAMILIES, TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND ALL THOSE WHO KNEW THE TWO STUDENTS THAT WE LOST THIS YEAR. I KNOW THAT IT IS HARD. BUT KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT ALONE AND THAT THERE IS HELP AND FRIENDSHIP ALL AROUND YOU. OKAY. SORRY. WE ARE NOW TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. AND, BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT ITEMS AS A SLATE OR A MOTION TO DIVIDE THE

CONSENT ITEMS? >> MADAM CHAIR, I VOTE -- I MOVED TO APPROVE THE CONSENT ITEMS AS A SLATE.

>> THANK YOU. IS THERE A SECOND?

>> I SECOND THEM. >> OKAY. IT HAS BEEN PROPERLY MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE THE CONSENT ITEMS AS A SLATE. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, I AM SORRY. I AM SORRY.

OKAY. HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

>> AYE. >> ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAY NO.

ABSTAINS? IN THAT CASE, THEY ARE APPROVED. AND THE INSTRUCTIONAL REPORT IS NOT THERE ANYMORE. OKAY. SO INFORMATIONAL ITEMS.

DR. EAST? >> GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR, BOARD MEMBERS, STUDENT REP. YOU DID A GOOD JOB. WE DO HAVE A FEW POLICIES ON THE AGENDA BUT I WANT TO POINT YOUR ATTENTION TO TWO SISTER POLICIES. THE EQUITY POLICIES. I WANTED TO PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND FOR THE RECOMMENDATION TO APPEAL.

PRESIDENT TRUMP'S EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER 14151 SIGNED JANUARY 20TH, 2025, AND THE DEAR COLLEAGUE LETTER RELATING TO THE TITLE 6 ISSUED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OFFICE OF THE REWRITES ON FEBRUARY 14TH, 2025, WERE USED AS GUIDANCE TO DISCUSS ACTIONS THE BOARD SHOULD TAKE DURING THE POLICY COMMITTEE MEETING. THE DEAR COLLEAGUE LETTER INCLUDED THE SUPREME COURT WAS HOLDING IN THE 2023 CASE STUDENTS FOR FAIR ADMISSION VERSUS HARVARD. IN THAT CASE, THE SUPREME COURT RECOGNIZED ONLY TWO INTERESTS AS COMPELLING IN THE INTEREST OF

[02:30:02]

HAVE TONIGHT. >> THANK YOU, DR. EAST.

>> MADAM CHAIR? MAY I ASK A QUESTION, DR. EAST? NOT BEING AN ATTORNEY MYSELF, I WOULD LIKE TO BE SURE I AM UNDERSTANDING YOUR COMMENTS CLEARLY. THE ATTORNEY FOR THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS THEN MADE CHANGES TO SAID LAWS IN RESPONSE TO PRESIDENT TRUMP'S EXECUTIVE ORDER. DID I HEAR THAT CORRECTLY?

>> NO. THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS I GUESS RELAYED THE INFORMATION TO THE SCHOOL DIVISIONS THROUGH THE DEAR

COLLEAGUE LETTER. >> OKAY. OKAY. HAVE LAW CHANGES

BEEN MADE? >> NO.

>> AGAIN, I AM TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW FULLY THIS IS.

THANK YOU. >> GOOD NIGHT.

>> DR. CROMARTIE, DO WE HAVE AN UPDATE ON THE OLD GCPS? ANYTHING

WITHOUT? >> YES, MADAM CHAIR. I JUST WANT TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT I KNOW ABOUT THAT PROCESS THAT REMAINED IN LEGAL. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE UNAWARE AND WANT TO KNOW, ON JANUARY 1 THERE HAS BEEN SOME CHALLENGES AND THERE HAVE BEEN DRAFTS PAST BACK-AND-FORTH. OF COURSE, THE LEGAL AGENT. BUT RIGHT NOW. THE DOCUMENT IS BEING PASSED BETWEEN ATTORNEYS REPRESENTING THE INTEREST OF THE SCHOOL DIVISION WITH SANDS ANDERSON AND THE COUNCIL REPRESENTED THE COUNTY

FROM THE SAME FIRM. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. AND ANY

UPDATE ON THE NEW CTE? >> BEFORE OUR MEETING THAT WE HAD PRIOR TO THIS ONE, I THOUGHT I HAD AN UPDATE ON THE NEW CTE.

I REGRETTABLY DO NOT AT THIS TIME.

>> OKAY. AND WRESTLING SPACE? >> YEAH. THE WRESTLING SPACE THAT IS CURRENTLY BEING USED HAS BEEN PROMISED TO US ESSENTIALLY, I HATE TO SAY IN PERPETUITY, BUT IT HAS BEEN PROMISED AS LONG AS THAT SPACE REMAINS WITH THE COUNTY THAT A WRESTLING PROGRAM CAN CONTINUE TO EXIST IN THE CAFETERIA OF THE OLD GES. THAT BEING SAID COME THE COUNTY'S PLANS FOR GES HAVE NOT BEEN FULLY IRONED OUT. IF THAT IS TURNED INTO COMMERCIAL PROPERTY BECAUSE A DEVELOPER SEES FIT TO DO THAT, THEN PRIVATE SECTOR MOVES ENTIRELY FASTER THAN PUBLIC SECTOR AND THAT COULD HAPPEN IN A MATTER OF WEEKS AND MONTHS AND WE WOULD HAVE TO PIVOT. BUT, UNTIL THAT HAPPENS, WE HAVE SAVE SPACE IN THE CAFETERIA AND A WRESTLING PROGRAM CAN CONTINUE TO USE IT

THAT WAY. >> THAT IS GREAT. THANK YOU FOR THAT UPDATE. ALL RIGHT, BOARD MEMBERS. UNDER ACTION ITEMS, WE HAVE ONE ACTION ITEM. 2025 SURPLUS. DID YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT IT OR -- OKAY. IN THAT CASE, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE SURPLUS PROPOSITION IS GIVEN?

>> SO MOVED. >> OKAY. I HAVE GOT MS.'S MAXWELL. OKAY. IT HAS BEEN PROPERLY MOVED AND SECONDED THAT THE SURPLUS PROPOSITION BE APPROVED AS GIVEN. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

>> AYE. >> CAN YOU POSE SAY NO. ANY ABSTAINS? OKAY. GREAT. AND ITEMS FOR BOARD REVIEW.

>> SO INCLUDING THE ITEMS FOR BOARD REVIEW IS THE STRATEGIC AND TACTICAL PLAN. THIS IS A PLAN THAT WE SUBMIT QUARTERLY TO KEEP THE BOARD NOTIFIED OF WHAT IS GOING ON IN RESPECTIVE DEPARTMENTS THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL DIVISION. I DON'T SEE AN ATTACHMENT FOR OUR ATTENDANCE AND ENROLLMENT UPDATE. HOWEVER, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT MONTH AS IT PERTAINS TO ENROLLMENT BECAUSE OUR FUNDING IS BASED ON HOW WE RECONCILE OUR AVERAGE DAILY MEMBERSHIP ON THE LAST BUSINESS DAY OF MARCH. SO THAT IS

[02:35:02]

BOARD REVIEW. >> THANK YOU, DR. CROMARTIE. ARE THERE ANY COMMITTEE OR BOARD THAT ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO

VERBALLY GIVE? >> IS VERY QUICK. I JUST HAVE TO SAY THAT THIS EVENING HAS BEEN OVERWHELMINGLY EXCITING. I MEAN, WHEN I HEARD SO MANY SHOUT OUTS FOR THESE CHILDREN, OUR CHILDREN, OUR COMMUNITY, IT JUST PUTS YOU IN A GOOD PLACE. I ALSO FELT STRONGLY MOTION FOR SOME PEOPLE. BLUE RIDGE GOVERNORS SCHOOL HAD A GREAT BOARD MEETING WITH THEM. THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS OF PLANNING GREAT FIELD TRIPS, ONGOING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, AND THEY ARE GETTING READY FOR THEIR YEAR AND PRESENTATION, WHICH IS FUN TO JUDGE AND JUST BE A PART OF THAT YOUTH AND EXCITEMENT AND THEIR EXCITEMENT IS OBVIOUSLY RIGHT IN THERE WITH THEM. THAT GEF BOARD WAS OBVIOUSLY VERY PROVIDE -- OVER THE GALA. OF COURSE, EVERYONE IS INVITED WHO WOULD LIKE TO GO SUPPORT THEM FINANCIALLY. AND THEY ARE BEGINNING TO ADVERTISE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR STUDENTS THIS FALL. ALSO, THIS WEEK, I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF GOING TO RANDOLPH ELEMENTARY AND I HOLD UP THE BOOK OF THIS AMELIA HOOVER WHO WROTE EMMA AND THE PAINBRUSH MYSTERY. I AM DOING A LITTLE PLUG FOR HER. HER PARENTS SUPPORTED HER. HER AUNT DID THE GRAPHICS. AMAZING, AMAZING FAMILY. JUST TO BE A PART OF A YOUNG AUTHOR IS ONLY ENCOURAGING TO THOSE STUDENTS WHO WANT TO PRODUCE AND WANT TO WRITE A BOOK. IT CAN BE DONE. AND I APPLAUD HER AND SHE WAS SO PROFESSIONAL. AND I ASKED HER TO AUTOGRAPH IT FOR MY TWO GRANDCHILDREN AND I GAVE HER AN IDEA OF WHAT TO SAY, AND SHE SAID I WOULD BE GLAD TO DO THAT BUT I DO KIND OF HAVE MY OWN WAY OF HOW I AUTOGRAPH. I THOUGHT THAT WAS FABULOUS. SO IT WAS A GREAT MORNING WITH THEM AND I APPLAUD HER. IT JUST HAS BEEN A GOOD, GOOD FEELING ALL AROUND IN THE SCHOOL BOARD EXPERIENCES. AND I AM GLAD TO BE ON YOUR

BOARD. >> MS. ROBINSON, I DO HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THAT. WEARS THE BOOK AVAILABLE?

>> IT IS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON. I THINK IT IS $10. NOT MORE. SHE

IS TRYING TO SELL 100. >> MADAM CHAIR, MAKE A COMMENT FOR POLICY COMMITTEE. I TOO WANT TO SECOND MS. ROBINSON'S COMMENTS ABOUT SUCH HIGHLIGHTS WE HEARD TONIGHT AND CELEBRATIONS, AND DR. CROMARTIE'S REPORT ON JUST THINKING OUR SCHOOL TEAM , TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, STAFF, STUDENTS, AND OUR STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE. YOUR REPORT WAS JUST AMAZING TONIGHT, TOO. I DID WANT TO COMMENT WITH, ABOUT POLICY COMMITTEE. GOING THROUGH THE POLICIES AND KNOWING THAT WE HAD A LOT OF HEARTFELT PUBLIC COMMENT TONIGHT, I DO WANT TO JUST NOTE TWO THINGS. AND ONE AS WE HAVE -- WE HAVE A POLICY JA.

I AM GOING TO GO AHEAD AND READ IT. A NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY THAT HAS BEEN THERE AND CONTINUES TO BE THERE. THIS GOBERT SUPPORTS EFFORTS BY ALL EMPLOYEES TO PROTECT AND ENCOURAGE RESPECT FOR ALL STUDENTS, ALL CHILDREN IN GCPS HAVE A RIGHT TO LEARN FREE FROM DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT.

THE GOODS AND POLICIES WILL COMMIT TO PROVIDING A SCHOOL EXPERIENCE WERE NO STUDENT IS DISCRIMINATED AGAINST OR HARASSED WITH REGARD TO SEX, GENDER, GENDER IDENTITY, RACE, COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGIN, DISABILITY, RELIGION, ANCESTRY, AGE, MARITAL STATUS, PREGNANCY, CHILD BIRTH, MILITARY

[02:40:06]

SO WE DO HAVE A NONDISCRIMINATIO N POLICY THAT IS IN PLACE. THE EQUITY POLICY WAS ADOPTED IN MAY 14TH, 2021. AND I AM JUST STATING THAT DATE BECAUSE I THINK IT CAN BE MISCONSTRUED THAT THIS HAS BROUGHT SO MUCH TO OUR COUNTY AS FAR AS WHERE SOME BELIEVE THAT THE EQUITY POLICY THAT FOCUSES ON GROUPS CAN CAUSE DIVISION AND DIVISIVENESS, WHERE WE DO HAVE A NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY IN PLACE, STILL INTACT THAT IS IN SECTION POLICY JA.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. WE ARE NOW -- ARE THERE ANY OTHER REPORTS? WE ARE NOW TWO NEW BUSINESS. YOU WANT

TO TAKE THIS ONE? >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY OF OPT OUT MATERIALS FOR FAMILIES. NOT ONLY WHEN I WAS RUNNING FOR SCHOOL BOARD, BUT SINCE I HAVE BEEN ON THE SCHOOL BOARD I HAVE HAD DIFFERENT CONSTITUENTS HAVING DIFFICULTY FINDING OPT OUT FORMS AND KNOWING WHAT TO TURN IN FOR AN OPT OUT IF IT IS IN REGARDS TO FAMILY LIFE OR THE BOOK LIBRARY POLICIES OR EVEN VACCINATIONS. SO I FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD JUST START DISCUSSING.

JUST TO PUT IT IN YOUR MIND. SOMETHING TO DO SOME RESEARCH ON OR HAVE SOME MORE UNDERSTANDING ABOUT POSSIBLY MAKING A TAB THAT WOULD MAKE ALL ON ONE PAGE. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT WE COULD TALK TO THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION TO SEE WHAT WOULD BE FEASIBLE FOR NEXT YEAR WHERE A PARENT COULD ACTUALLY GO TO A GOOGLE FORM THEY COULD ACTUALLY JUST CLICK, SEE WHAT IS AVAILABLE TO THEM SO PARENTS COULD HAVE SOME CHOICE AS TO WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE THEIR CHILD PARTICIPATING IN, AND WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO OPT THEIR CHILD OUT OF. I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE SOMEWHERE THAT IT CAN BE EASILY FOUND THAT THEY ARE NOT HAVING TO GO THROUGH THE SCHOOL WEBSITE TO TRY TO FIND EACH AND EVERY AREA. AN OPT OUT FORM.

>> OKAY. SO YOU WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS THIS FURTHER NEXT MONTH?

>> I WOULD. I WOULD LIKE FOR EACH BOARD MEMBER -- I WOULD LIKE TO PUT IT ON YOUR LIST OF THINGS TO MAYBE THINK ABOUT AND CONSIDER SO WE CAN HAVE MORE DISCUSSION ON IT.

>> THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. IS THERE ANY OTHER NEW BUSINESS? OKAY. IN THAT CASE, IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN?

>> SO MOVED. >> IS THERE A SECOND? IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY. IN THAT CASE, THE GOOCHLAND COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD IS HEREBY ADJOURNED UNTIL TUESDAY APRIL 8TH, 2025, AT 5:30 P.M. HERE IN THIS ROOM FOR A CLOSED SESSION AND 6:00 P.M. FOR AN OPEN SESSION. THAT IS ROOM 250, 1800 SANDY HOOK ROAD, GOOCHLAND, VIRGINIA.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.