May 05, 2021 Board Meeting

[00:00:04]

GOOD

[1.A. Call to Order - Pledge of Allegiance and Moment of Silence - School Board Chairman]

AND THE ORDER.

FIRST ITEM IS BUDGET BELIEVING IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE, PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG ONE NATION.

[1.B. Accept or Modify the Agenda - School Board]

THE FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS ACCEPT OR MODIFY THE AGENDA IS WRITTEN AGENDA.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, AYE.

POST HEARING, NONE MOTION CARRIES,

[1.C. Community Participation]

COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IS A TIME AND TENANT FOR THE PUBLIC TO GIVE INPUT ON RELEVANT SCHOOL ISSUES AND NOT INTENDED TO BE A QUESTION AND ANSWER, PERIOD.

THIS MAY BE THE FIRST TIME THE BOARD HAS HEARD THIS INFORMATION.

PLEASE DO NOT EXPECT INDIVIDUAL RESPONSES OR COMMENTS BY THE BOARD AT THIS TIME, BUT BE ASSURED THAT ANY CONCERNS WILL BE REVIEWED.

PLEASE PRINT YOUR NAME ON THE SHEET AT THE PODIUM.

STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES.

ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK? COME ON UP, SIR.

LET ME JOT DOWN MY INFORMATION RIGHT QUICK HERE.

ALRIGHTY, CHECK, CHECK, CHECK, CHECK.

A SLOVAKIA.

THESE THINGS ARE ALWAYS TRICKY.

GOOD EVENING.

ELECTED MEMBERS OF THE WARREN COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD AND FELLOW LOWLY COMMONERS IN ATTENDANCE.

MY NAME IS MIKE MAYER AND I ADMITTEDLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN AT ONE OF THESE MEETINGS A LONG TIME AGO.

LIKE SO MANY OTHERS I'VE SPOKEN TO RECENTLY.

I SHOULD HAVE BEEN HERE ALL ALONG, BUT PARTICIPATING IN THIS AND OTHER PROCESSES IN LOCAL GOVERNANCE IS AN INCONVENIENCE AND QUITE HONESTLY, DEEPLY UNENJOYABLE.

WE WERE AT A POINT THOUGH, WHERE SITTING ON THE SIDELINES AND COMPLAINING ABOUT IT IS NO LONGER A VIABLE OPTION.

THE DAYS OF COUNTING ON ELECTED OFFICIALS LIKE YOU TO GET THE JOB DONE WITHOUT THE OVERSIGHT OF WE, THE PEOPLE ARE GONE MUCH LIKE THE AURA OF TEACHERS BEING HEROES OF UNQUESTIONABLE DEDICATION AND VIRTUE.

FOR THE LAST YEAR, OUR CHILDREN HAVE BEEN HELD HOSTAGE BY TEACHER UNIONS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS AT EVERY LEVEL.

MOST OF WHOM HAVE SHOWN BLATANT DISREGARD FOR THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR CHILDREN.

AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY.

THIS SCHOOL YEAR HAS BEEN A JOKE, A SHAM, AN EMBARRASSMENT, AND A SLAP IN THE FACE, ALL ROLLED INTO ONE NEAT LITTLE PACKAGE.

ANYONE ATTEMPTING TO STATE ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY WOULD RIGHTLY BE LAUGHED OUT OF THE BUILDING BY ANYONE WITH A MODICUM OF INTELLECTUAL HONESTY, COMMON SENSE, AND SPINE THE DAMAGE DONE TO OUR CHILDREN, BOTH IN TERMS OF THEIR EDUCATION AND SOCIAL GROWTH WILL NOT BE FULLY REALIZED FOR YEARS, BUT HOPEFULLY IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO CLAW OUT OF OUR HOLE THAT WE'VE DUG OURSELVES INTO.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT IT APPEARS THAT WE WILL BE GETTING BACK TO FULL TIME IN PERSON SCHOOLING NEXT YEAR.

HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE MINUS ALL OF THE NONSENSICAL PLEXIGLASS PANELING, DEHUMANIZING AND MISERY INDUCING FACE COVERINGS, WEIRD MARKINGS ON FLOORS, TELLING YOU WHERE TO BE SOCIAL DISTANCING AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

THIS YEAR IS INTRODUCED.

IT IS REDUCED OUR VIBRANT AND ENTHUSIASTIC CHILDREN INTO SOMETHING MORE CLOSELY RESEMBLING THE SHEEP.

WHO'VE IMPLEMENTED THESE THEATRICALS INTO OUR CLASSROOMS. NONE OF THESE SYMBOLS OF COMPLIANCE, CONFORMITY AND SUBMISSION HAVE DONE ANYTHING QUANTIFIABLE TO BETTER THE LIVES OF OUR CHILDREN.

QUITE THE OPPOSITE.

IN FACT, AND I WILL TELL YOU, PEOPLE ARE GETTING FED UP WITH IT.

I WOULD LIKE TO URGE YOU ALL TO CONSIDER THE PATH FORWARD VERY CAREFULLY.

AND WITH LASER FOCUS, CLARITY, IF YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO TAKE THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR CHILDREN AS YOUR TOP PRIORITY AND ONLY TRUE FOCUS, WE WILL REMOVE YOU FROM YOUR POSITIONS AND VOTE IN PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO DO SO.

I THANK YOU ALL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOICE MY THOUGHTS.

I WISH YOU THE BEST IN CHARTING THE COURSE FORWARD, AND GOD BLESS AMERICA.

AND IT'S MIKE PEBBLE LANE.

ANYONE ELSE?

[00:05:02]

I AM KIM OAKLAND.

I AM NOT THE PRESIDENT OF ANY EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION.

I AM A TEACHER AT RESI JEFFERY'S ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND I GUESS I'M GOING TO BE, UM, THIS IS TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK AS THE TEACHER.

I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT I APPRECIATE.

UM, I APPRECIATE THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS PROVIDES FUNDING FOR OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.

I APPRECIATE THAT AS THE, THE SCHOOL BOARD, YOU MAKE THE HARD CHOICES AND LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE AND REGARDLESS OF, OF WHAT IS ON FACEBOOK OR OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA, YOU DO PUT OUR CHILDREN FIRST.

YOU CAN ONLY DO WHAT THE LAW AND GUIDELINES ALLOW YOU TO DO.

I APPRECIATE DR.

BALLENGER AND MELODY SHEPHERD FOR THE HARD JOB THEY HAVE DONE THIS YEAR TO KEEP THE SCHOOLS GOING.

AND YES, THERE HAVE BEEN LOTS OF CHANGES AND LOTS OF HAVING TO, UH, CHANGE MID-STRIDE AND I APPRECIATE THAT THEY ARE PRIMED TO DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO KEEP OUR CHILDREN IN SCHOOL.

I WOULD REMIND EVERYONE THAT OUR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS HAVE BEEN IN SCHOOL FROM THE BEGINNING FOR FOUR DAYS A WEEK, WHICH WAS WHAT WE WERE ALLOWED TO DO.

I APPRECIATE THE PEOPLE AT CENTRAL OFFICE WHO HAVE TRIED SO HARD THIS YEAR TO KEEP EVERYTHING MOVING AND TO SUPPORT THE TEACHERS.

I APPRECIATE MY PRINCIPAL AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, NINA HELMICK AND MATT HOPPEL.

THEY HAVE REALLY MADE US, THEY'VE ALWAYS MADE US FEEL SUPPORTED AND HAVE HELPED US WHEN WE NEED TO MAKE CHANGES TO WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

I'M A LITTLE BIT OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE RIGHT NOW, AS YOU CAN TELL, UM, I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE MAINTENANCE PEOPLE, GREG LIPSEY, AND HIS TEAM FOR EVERYTHING THEY'VE HAD TO DO THIS.

RIGHT.

I APPRECIATE IT.

UH, OUR NURSES, OH MY GOSH, WHAT THEY HAVE HAD, WHAT THEY HAVE HAD TO DO THIS YEAR.

THAT'S THAT'S JUST INCREDIBLE.

UM, SO, AND I APPRECIATE THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH MY COLLEAGUES AND MOST OF ALL, I APPRECIATE IT.

PARENTS AND STUDENTS.

I APPRECIATE PARENTS FOR LETTING US BORROW YOUR STUDENTS.

THAT'S THAT IS TRULY THE JOY OF TEACHING.

AND WE ALL DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN DO.

SO I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY AND LET EVERY ONE IN THE COMMUNITY KNOW THAT IT'S NOT JUST TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK IT'S WE TEACHERS APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU AS WELL.

AND THAT'S JUST FROM ME, KIM OAKLAND MUSIC TEACHER AT RESI JEFFREY'S ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK, MR. CHAIRMAN? I'VE RECEIVED CORRESPONDENCE FROM A COMMUNITY MEMBER WHO IS UNABLE TO BE HERE TONIGHT, BUT I ASKED THAT HIS CONCERNS AND SUGGESTIONS BE READ DURING THE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION, UM, WITH YOUR PERMISSION, I WILL DO THAT.

GO AHEAD, MR. BALAGIN.

THIS IS FROM COMMUNITY MEMBER, BILLY ROBINSON, AND HE WRITES THAT HE IS WRITING TO EXPRESS HIS OBJECTIONS ABOUT CONTINUING TO MAKE OUR CHILDREN WEAR MASKS OUTSIDE DURING RECESS.

IN HIS WORDS, I THINK I SPEAK FOR MANY PARENTS WHEN I SAY THAT IT IS RIDICULOUS FOR OUR CHILDREN TO WEAR MASKS WHILE HAVING TO RECESS OUTSIDE.

AND ESPECIALLY NOW THAT THE TEMPERATURES GO PAST 80 DEGREES ON A REGULAR BASIS, NOT ONLY IS THIS WRONG, BUT I THINK IT IS CHILD ABUSE, PERSONAL OPINIONS ASIDE

[00:10:01]

WHERE IS THE SCIENCE BEHIND IT BEING A GOOD IDEA FOR YOUNG CHILDREN TO WEAR MASKS OUTSIDE DURING RECESS CHILDREN AREN'T SUPER SPREADERS.

LIKE WHAT WE WERE INITIALLY TOLD WHEN ALL THIS FIRST STARTED, NOR HAVE THEY CONTRACTED OR SUFFERED GREATLY FROM THIS VIRUS IN ANY SIZABLE NUMBERS.

MANY STATES HAVE NO MASK MANDATES AND SOME NEVER HAVE HAD ANY YET.

MOST ADULTS AND CHILDREN ARE STILL ALIVE TODAY.

WHAT SEEMS TO BE GOING ON IN OUR STATE IS NOTHING MORE THAN POLITICS.

NOT BACKED UP BY ANY FACTS OR SCIENCE.

WHY CAN'T PARENTS HAVE A CHOICE, WHETHER THEY WANT THEIR CHILD TO WEAR A MASK OUTSIDE OR ANYWHERE FOR THAT MATTER.

I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE EXERCISE SOME COMMON SENSE AND GET RID OF THE MASK MANDATE FOR OUR CHILDREN WHILE HAVING RECESS OUTSIDE.

WOULD ANYONE ON THE BOARD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE HAD, WHO WOULD LIKE TO HAVE BEEN A YOUNG CHILD AND WEAR A MASK OVER THEIR MOUTH AND NOSE WHILE PLAYING WHEN IT'S 85 DEGREES OUTSIDE? I DON'T THINK SO.

PLEASE STOP THIS MADNESS.

THANK YOU, BILLY ROBINSON.

THANKS.

ANYONE ELSE?

[2. Consent Agenda]

WE HAVE A MOTION, MR. CHAIRMAN.

I MOVE THAT.

WE ACCEPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.

MOTION CARRIES

[3.A. Superintendent]

DR.

BALLENGER.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

YES, SIR.

WELL, WHERE'S THIS OAKLAND, UM, MENTIONED THAT THIS IS TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK.

AND SO WE KNOW THAT OUR TEACHERS, OUR EDUCATORS HAVE, HAVE BEEN THROUGH A LOT THIS YEAR.

EVERYBODY HAS BEEN A LOT THIS YEAR AND WE ARE THANKFUL FOR EVERYTHING THAT THEY DO ON A DAILY BASIS.

WE'RE THANKFUL IN THE, DURING THE PANDEMIC, OUTSIDE OF THE PANDEMIC, BECAUSE AS A TEACHER, A TEACHER IS SOMEONE THAT IT'S, IT'S A JOB THAT COMES FROM THE HEART.

AND WHEN YOU GO INTO EDUCATION, IT IS A PASSION.

AND I APPRECIATE EVERY SINGLE TEACHER THAT OKAY, HAS BEEN OUT THERE ON THE FRONT LINES THIS YEAR AND MAKING SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE GETTING THE BEST THAT THEY CAN UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WE ARE IN.

THEY HAVE GROWN LEAPS AND BOUNDS THIS YEAR.

AND MANY TEACHERS HAVE HAD TO TRY A LOT OF THINGS THAT THEY WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT THEY WOULD'VE NEVER BEEN FORCED TO DO IN THEIR LIFE, BUT IT'S THOSE PHONE CALLS.

IT'S THOSE CONTACTS.

IT'S BUILDING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS.

AND I APPRECIATE EVERY TEACHER IN WARREN COUNTY, PUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT, I MEAN, THEY HAVE DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB THIS YEAR.

AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THEM FOR WORKING WITH OUR STUDENTS AND BEING THERE FOR OUR STUDENTS THIS YEAR.

WANT TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON OUR COVID 19 NUMBERS.

CURRENTLY WE HAVE 19 ACTIVE STUDENTS.

WE HAVE 59 STUDENTS, QUARANTINED STAFF.

WE HAVE TWO ACTIVE STAFF CASES AND TWO, UM, STAFF MEMBERS QUARANTINED TODAY.

WE OFFERED A CLINIC FOR STUDENTS 16 AND OVER AND A, AND ANY FAMILY MEMBER OF A WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENT THAT WAS HELD AT SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL.

I WAS INFORMED TODAY WHEN I WAS THERE, THAT WE HAD OVER 280, UM, STUDENTS AND PARENTS SIGN UP FOR THAT, THAT CLINIC, WHICH WAS GOOD NUMBERS FOR, FOR A SCHOOL CLINIC.

UM, SO, UH, IT LOOKS LIKE THE PFIZER WILL BE APPROVED EARLY NEXT WEEK FOR CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 12 AND UP.

AND I WAS IN CONVERSATION TODAY ABOUT POSSIBLY DOING ANOTHER CLINIC ONCE THAT VACCINE IS AVAILABLE.

AND THAT IS FOR FAMILIES THAT WANT IT, THAT IT'S NOT A, YOU HAVE TO HAVE IT TO COME IN OR, OR TO COME TO SCHOOL.

IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE FAMILY MEMBERS THAT WANT TO GET IT.

THEN THEY, WE WILL TRY TO PROVIDE THAT FOR THEM.

SO AS SOON AS WE, WE FIND OUT ABOUT THAT, WE WILL PROBABLY SCHEDULE, WE'LL BE HAVING A SECOND CLINIC.

THE SCHOOLS SELECTED THEIR TEACHERS OF THE YEAR OVER THE PAST MONTH.

THIS YEAR, WE'RE DOING SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

WE ARE, WE ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THE STATE TEACHER OF THE YEAR AND GOING THROUGH THAT PROCESS.

UM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE RECOGNIZE OUR GREAT EDUCATORS AND WARREN COUNTY AND PUT THEM ON THE STATE AND NATIONAL LEVEL BECAUSE WE HAVE GREAT EDUCATORS AND WE HAVE A LOT OF TALENT WITHIN THIS COMMUNITY AND WITHIN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO SHOWCASE THAT TALENT.

SO I WILL RUN THROUGH THE SCHOOL TEACHER OF

[00:15:01]

SO AT SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL, RUTH FOSTER, E WILSON MORRISON, FELICIA WARNER, BLUE RIDGE TECH, KELLY RACY, RESI, JESS RESI JEFFRIES, JULIE, THE SEEKER WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL, ASHLEY HASTINGS A A A S ROADS, JULIE LANE SMITH, L F K MARGARET SILVERTHORNE SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL, SARAH GRIFFITH, WARREN COUNTY, MIDDLE SCHOOL, LUKE KEETER, UH, BRIGHTER FUTURES, DIVERSIFIED MINDS, WHITNEY KRIGGER AND HILDA J BARBER, LAURIE COCKRELL.

AND WE PUT A COMMITTEE TOGETHER OF RETIRED EDUCATORS OF WARREN COUNTY EDUCATORS.

AND I WANTED TO MENTION THEM REAL QUICK.

SO OUR COMMITTEE WAS COMPOSED OF JOEY WATERS, GARY HOOTS, JOYCE JENKINS, WIMMER, AND DENISE NELSON.

THEY CAME IN AND THEY INTERVIEWED EACH OF THOSE CANDIDATES FROM EACH SCHOOL TO MAKE A SELECTION FOR THE TEACHER OF THE YEAR, THIS YEAR.

AND SO TODAY WE WENT DOWN EARLY THIS MORNING TO BLUE RIDGE TECH CENTER, AND WE HONORED MS. KELLY RACY AS THE WARREN COUNTY TEACHER OF THE YEAR.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO READ A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MS. RACY, UH, HER EXPERIENCE 2015 TO PRESENT.

SHE'S BEEN THE BLUE RIDGE TECHNICAL CENTER, GRADES NINE THROUGH 12 PROJECT LEAD THE WAY PRINCIPALS, UM, OF BIOMED, BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE AND HUMAN BODY SYSTEMS. SHE'S ALSO TAUGHT EARTH SCIENCE AT SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL AT WARREN COUNTY JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL AND WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL.

HER PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS ARE HOSA FUTURE HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, 2016 TO PRESENT THE NATIONAL SCIENCE TEACHER ASSOCIATION, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BIOLOGY TEACHERS, NEA VEA, AND WCEA.

SHE IS INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE WARREN CHARGE, FOOD PANTRY, JDRF, JUVENILE DIABETES, AND RESEARCH FUND VOLUNTEER.

AND THE WARREN COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY VOLUNTEER.

HER LEADERSHIP INCLUDES, AND SHE'S BEEN AN INDUCTION COACH, A MENTOR, A SCIENCE DEPARTMENT CHAIR, AND A TEAM LEADER.

SO SHE WILL NOW GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF COMPLETING THE APPLICATION FOR THE STATE TEACHER OF THE YEAR AND HER DOCUMENTATION WILL BE SENT TO THE STATE.

AND, UH, YOU KNOW, SHE, SHE IS A GREAT EDUCATOR AND I THINK WE HAVE A GREAT REPRESENTATIVE THAT WILL REPRESENT ALL OF OUR FACULTY THIS YEAR AT THE STATE LEVEL.

SO, UH, WE'RE EXCITED TOO, TO BRING HER NAME FORWARD.

NOW, AT THE END OF THE, OR AT THE BEGINNING OF NEXT YEAR CONVOCATION, WE WILL HAVE A TEACHER OF THE YEAR LUNCHEON WHERE WE WILL HONOR ALL OF THE, THE SITE TEACHERS OF THE YEAR AND THE TEACHER OF THE YEAR FOR THE COUNTY.

SO, UH, WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR, TO MISS RACY FOR THE JOB THAT SHE DOES AND CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING TEACHER OF THE YEAR WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL OR NATIONAL AND METRO AREA RANKINGS FOR BEST HIGH SCHOOLS IN US NEWS RELEASED THIS, UM, THE, UH, THE PAST WEEK AND BY EARNING A NATIONAL RANKING IN THE TOP 40% WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL ACHIEVED THE STATUS AS A U S NEWS BEST HIGH SCHOOL AND GAIN ELIGIBILITY TO DISPLAY AT U S NEWS TRADEMARK 21 BEST HIGH SCHOOLS AWARD BADGE.

UH, THEY CAN, YOU KNOW, TH THEY'RE DOING A GREAT JOB AND WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL, AND I WILL WANT TO APPRECIATE THE JOB THAT THAT MRS. JORDAN HAS DONE, AND THE LEADERSHIP THAT SHE HAS BESTOWED, AS WE ALL KNOW THAT SHE IS RETIRING.

AND ONE IS TO RECOGNIZE ANOTHER ACCOMPLISHMENT THAT SHE HAS BEEN THE LEADERSHIP THAT SHE HAS BROUGHT TO THAT SCHOOL.

SO THAT ENDS MY REPORT, SIR.

THANK YOU, DR.

BAL

[3.B. School Board]

PENCE BRIEF UPDATE FROM MOUNTAIN VISTA GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL THERE, UM, WRAPPING UP THE YEAR, UM, DOING THEIR CELEBRATIONS OF SENIORS THAT ARE MOVING ON TO COLLEGES.

UM, THEY'VE BEEN DOING SOME ONLINE, BASICALLY SHOWCASING EACH SENIOR WHERE THEY'RE GOING YESTERDAY.

MOUNTAIN VISTA GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL FOUNDATION PARTICIPATED IN, UM, THE GIVE LOCAL PIEDMONT, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO RAISE JUST OVER $3,700, WHICH WILL HELP TO SUPPORT NON VISTA GOVERNOR SCHOOL MOVING FORWARD.

UM, BESIDES THAT, I, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ECHO DR.

BELLINGER AND MS. OAKLAND ON JUST REALLY APPRECIATING EVERYONE WITHIN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM THIS WEEK.

AND THIS YEAR THROUGH THIS YEAR OF COVID

[00:20:01]

BOUNDARY SAID.

I WAS, UH, ONE OF THE VACCINATORS AT THE CLINIC AT THE SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL TODAY, AND I WANT TO APPRECIATE OUR SCHOOL NURSES WHO ALL CAME OVER AND VOLUNTEERED THEIR SERVICES TO HELP ASSIST AND TO ALL THE STAFF, UH, PARTICULARLY THE CUSTODIAL STAFF AT SKY HIGH SCHOOL WHO HELPED TO GET EVERYBODY IN AND GET THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH FOLKS THERE AND GET THEM ALL SET UP.

AND, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO ANNOUNCE TO THE FOLKS OF HAPPY CREEK THAT, UH, I WILL NOT BE RUNNING FOR REELECTION IN THE NOVEMBER ELECTION THIS YEAR.

WE FINISHED IT UP 20 YEARS ON DECEMBER 31ST OF THIS YEAR.

AND, UH, I'M A FIRM BELIEVER IN TERM LIMITS, AND I PROBABLY SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN HERE FOR 20 YEARS.

ANYHOW, IT'S TIME.

WE'VE GOT A NEW SUPERINTENDENT WHO'S LEADING US ON OUR WAY VERY SHORTLY.

WE'LL HAVE NEW PRINCIPALS AT SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL AND AT WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL.

AND, UH, WE, WE ARE READY TO TAKE THAT NEXT STEP FORWARD.

AND I THINK IT'S TIME FOR A NEW GENERATION, A NEW GROUP OF FOLKS TO TAKE OVER.

SO I WANTED TO ANNOUNCE TONIGHT SO THAT, UH, ANYONE THAT WANTED TO RUN HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO THANK YOU, MR. WELLS.

I TOLD YOU I WOULDN'T HAVE, BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, YOU KNOW, AND, UM, YOU'LL BE, YOU'LL BE NOTICED BY ALL, UH, TEACHER APPRECIATION.

UH, I KNOW IT'S THE WEEK, BUT I THINK THAT THOSE EVERY DAY AND MS. OAKLAND, IT'S REALLY GOOD TO SEE YOUR SMILING FACE AGAIN, EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVE THAT MASK ON.

SO, YOU KNOW, UH, AS A BOARD, I THINK I CAN SAY THAT WE APPRECIATE EVERYBODY IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, NO MATTER WHAT YOUR JOB TITLE IS, YOU ALL HAVE FOUGHT THE FIGHT THIS YEAR.

AND, UH, I CAN'T WAIT TO NEXT YEAR WHEN THINGS ARE BACK TO NORMAL AND KIDS CAN BE KIDS AND ADULTS CAN BE ADULTS AND WE'LL SEE, OR BY SMILING FACE, EITHER TEETH, UH, YOU KNOW, PUT A FACE WITH THE NAME TOGETHER AGAIN.

SO WITH THAT SAID, LET'S MOVE ON

[4.A. Introduction and Appointment of the Skyline High School Principal - Dr. Ballenger]

DR.

BAUER.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

THANK YOU.

I PROBABLY FORGOT TO LEAVE THESE ON.

I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE AND RECOMMEND MS. DANIELLE SPERLING AS THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL AT SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL.

MRS. SPARLING HAS A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE IN AND OUT OF EDUCATION AND HAS SERVED IN VARIOUS POSITIONS IN GEORGIA, OHIO, NEW JERSEY, AND VIRGINIA.

SHE HAS COMING TO SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL FROM HER CURRENT POSITION AT LESLIE FOX KAISER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WHERE SHE HAS SERVED AS THE PRINCIPAL FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS.

MRS. SPURLING'S PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE AS A HIGH SCHOOL ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, MIDDLE SCHOOL, SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER AND CHAIR MUSIC, THERAPIST, WRITER, AND EDITOR FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF THE FENCE AND A GROUP HOME AND PROGRAM MANAGER HAS PROVIDED HER WITH AN EXTENSIVE PREPARATION NEEDED FOR THIS POSITION.

MRS. BERLIN IS A DEDICATED PROFESSIONAL AND DEDICATED THE COMMUNITY AND A DEDICATED COMMUNITY MEMBER.

SHE HAS BEEN A RESIDENT OF WARREN COUNTY FOR 14 YEARS.

HER CHILDREN ATTEND ASMR ROADS, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL.

SHE AND HER FAMILY ARE EXCITED ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY TO HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE OF ALL SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.

AND IT IS MY PLEASURE TO RECOMMEND THAT DANIELLE SPERLING BE APPOINTED AS THE PRINCIPAL OF SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST, 2021, MS. CHAIRMAN CHAIRMAN, JUST TO MAKE IT OFFICIAL.

I WOULD MOVE THE WARREN COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD PREVIEW APPOINTMENT OF DANIEL SPERLING AS THE PRINCIPAL OF SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL.

WE'RE GETTING JULY 1ST, 2020 SECOND.

MR. BALLANTINE, DO A ROLL CALL PLEASE.

KAREN AYE.

MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

[00:25:01]

I WAS THE PRINCIPAL AT LESLIE FOX KAISER.

I'VE BEEN TRULY, TRULY BLESSED FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS TO WORK WITH THE MOST AMAZING FACULTY STAFF, STUDENTS AND FAMILIES.

AND IT'S AN EXPERIENCE THAT I WILL FOREVER BE GRATEFUL FOR.

UM, AND I'M ALSO VERY GRATEFUL FOR THIS NEW OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE MY COMMUNITY COMMUNITY, TO CONTINUE TO SERVE MY COMMUNITY IN THIS NEW ROLE.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH

[4.B. Approval of 2021-2022 Warren County Public Schools Budget and 2021-2022 Salary Scales- Dr. Ballenger]

DR.

BOUNDER.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

I'LL TRY TO GET THROUGH THIS QUICK.

I KNOW WE HAVE COVERED THIS BUDGET MANY TIMES.

UM, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS AS I GO INTO THIS BUDGET.

ONE, I WANT TO SAY I APPRECIATE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND THEIR CONFIDENCE AND ALLOWING US TO BE ABLE TO DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO FOR, FOR OUR STAFF MEMBERS AND GIVING US THE SUPPORT THROUGH FINDING US AT OUR REQUEST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN TACKLE OUR NEEDS WHEN IT COMES TO SALARY SCALES AND SALARY ADJUSTMENTS, AND JUST MAKING OURSELVES MORE COMPETITIVE AND GIVING OUR, OUR STAFF THIRD DUDE.

AND SO I THANK THEM FOR HELPING US IN, IN THAT ASPECT.

THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS AS WE LOOK INTO THIS THAT I WANT TO TOUCH BASE ON REAL QUICK.

UH, WE KNOW THAT WHEN WE, WHEN WE ADOPTED THIS BUDGET AND WHEN WE LOOKED AT THIS THROUGH THE, UH, SUPERINTENDENT'S PROPOSED BUDGET AND SUBMITTED THAT TO THE COUNTY, AND, UH, THERE IS AN AREA THAT A COUPLE OF THINGS HAVE HAPPENED SINCE THEN, THAT, THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO, THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ABSORB WITHIN OUR CURRENT BUDGET.

AND WE CAN DO THAT WITH, WITH STAFF TURNOVER, BUT A COUPLE OF THINGS ARE WITH THE COUNTY HAVING THE TECHNICAL ISSUES THAT THEY'VE HAD OVER THE PAST MONTH OR SO, AND THE SUPPORT OF OUR TEAM, THEY, UM, THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE THEIR OWN TECH DEPARTMENT AND, AND LOOK AT HIRING THREE PEOPLE.

AND SO WE WILL NOT BE PROVIDING THEM A, A FULL-TIME AND A PART-TIME.

AND SO OUT OF THAT, YES, WE WILL NOT RECEIVE THAT REVENUE, BUT WE STILL WILL KEEP, WE WILL HAVE TO ABSORB THAT OTHER PART TIME SO THAT WE CAN KEEP THAT ONE FULL TIME EMPLOYEE.

SO THAT IS ONE THING THAT WE CAN DO WITHIN OUR, OUR CURRENT BUDGET, BECAUSE WE KNOW WHERE WE ARE.

WE WILL HAVE SOME TURNOVER.

THE OTHER THING IS THAT THE MINIMUM WAGE IN VIRGINIA IS SUPPOSED TO INCREASE OR SET TO INCREASE JANUARY ONE OF 2022.

WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND IMPLEMENT THAT RIGHT NOW.

UH, WE JUST FELT THAT IT WAS FAIR TO OUR STAFF MEMBERS THAT ARE IN THOSE POSITIONS, THAT THEY GO AHEAD AND DO THAT.

THE COST OF THAT IS AROUND 20,000, $27,000.

AND SO THAT, AGAIN IS SOMETHING THAT WE FEEL THAT WE, ONE WE SHOULD DO, IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO, AND THAT WE CAN MANAGE THAT.

SO WHEN WE LOOK INTO OUR BUDGET, THERE ARE JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I WANTED HIGHLIGHT HERE ON PAGE EIGHT IN OUR BUDGET DOCUMENT, THE HIGHLIGHTS ARE A 2% SALARY INCREASE FOR TEACHERS.

PLUS A STEP WE GET TO ADJUST, UH, A MAJORITY OF OUR SALARY SCALES AND PLACE ALL EMPLOYEES ON THEIR APPROPRIATE STEPS, ACCORDING TO THEIR YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.

SO THIS ALSO THIS BUDGET HELPS US IN PROVIDING STABILITY FOR OUR HEALTH INSURANCE.

SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO TAKE THE SAVINGS FROM MOVING CARRIERS T TO AETNA AND PUT THAT IN OUR ACCOUNT SO THAT IT'LL HELP OFFSET ANY INCREASES THAT WE SEE IN FUTURE YEARS, WE ARE ADDING ADDITIONAL STAFF TO ACTIVITY DRIVERS.

THE ACTIVITY DRIVERS WILL HELP US IN GETTING THOSE STUDENTS HOME AFTER SCHOOL PRACTICES OR EVENTS OR, OR SOMETHING THAT, THAT MAYBE THEY DON'T HAVE THE TRANSPORTATION THEY'D LIKE TO PARTICIPATE.

AND, AND THESE, THE ACTIVITY DRIVERS WILL BE THERE TO HELP TRANSPORT THOSE STUDENTS HOME ONE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, TEACHER, TWO GIFTED AND TALENTED TEACHERS AND HALFTIME CRIMINAL JUSTICE TEACHER, WHICH IS A NEW PROGRAM THAT WE'RE ABOUT AT BLUE RIDGE TECH CENTER.

ONE HISTORY TEACHER, A SPECIAL EDUCATION ASSISTANT, A SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETER, AND A DUAL ENROLLMENT ENGLISH TEACHER.

AND THEN OF COURSE, THIS BUDGET IS, IS SET TO HELP US WITH AN INCREASE OF A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS TO OUR MAINTENANCE SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FROM

[00:30:01]

WE WANT TO SCHEDULE MORE OF OUR, THE WORK INSTEAD OF ALWAYS RUNNING AROUND AND TRYING TO FIX WHAT'S BROKEN LET'S, LET'S GO AHEAD AND GET IN FRONT OF THIS.

AND SO THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WILL HELP US MOVE INTO THAT AREA, BUT ALSO WE DO HAVE SOME FEDERAL FUNDS, THE CRSA AND THE AR PA, WHICH THAT'S THE, UH, CORONAVIRUS RELIEF STABILIZATION.

UH, AND THEN WE HAVE THE AMERICAN RECOVERY PLAN ACT.

AND BETWEEN THOSE WE PLAN ON LOOKING AT UTILIZING THOSE FUNDS TO HELP WITH HPAC RENOVATION AT LF K, AND THEN ALSO AN HPAC RENOVATE RENOVATION AT, UH, BLUE RIDGE TECH.

SO WE KNOW THAT LOOKING AT THOSE, WE ALSO HAVE GOALS OF REPLACING THE ROOFS AT BOTH OF THOSE FACILITIES AS WELL.

AGAIN, WE WANT TO LOOK AT PURCHASING EIGHT BUSES, AND WE WANT TO, AGAIN, THANK THE COUNTY FOR ALLOWING US TO HAVE TO PUT THE, THE CARRY OVER INTO A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT AND INTO A TRANSPORTATION ACCOUNT FOR US TO USE, TO HELP US TAKE CARE OF THOSE ROOFS AND THOSE BUSES.

WE ALSO PLAN ON LOOKING AT ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND TEXTBOOKS AND SCIENCE FOREIGN LANGUAGE AND, AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE.

SO, AS WE LOOK THROUGH THIS, WE KNOW THAT IF YOU TURN ON PAGE 15, PAGE 15 IS A COMPARISON BETWEEN AND YOU CAN SEE THAT AT THE STATE RESOURCE, FROM THE STATE LEVEL.

AND AGAIN, ON THIS ONE, WE SEPARATE STATE AND STATE SALES TAX.

SO YOU HAVE TO COMBINE THOSE TOGETHER TO GET YOUR COMBINED STATE REVENUE, BUT YOU CAN SEE THAT THAT'S AN INCREASE AROUND $2.1 MILLION FROM, FROM THE STATE SIDE.

AND THEN ON THE LOCAL SIDE, YOU CAN SEE WHERE WE RECEIVED OUR $763,677 INCREASE FROM, FROM OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THEN OUR FEDERAL FUNDS.

AND THAT'S REALLY WE'LL MOVE OUR BUDGET FROM 60 MILLION, 810, SIX 77 TO THIS YEAR, OUR APPROPRIATION BEING $63,944,829.

AND I'M NOT GOING TO TOUCH MUCH MORE ON THIS BUDGET BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY OUR, OUR OVERALL, WE ARE GETTING WE'RE, WE'RE ABLE TO ATTACK ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO ATTACK THIS YEAR AND ADDRESS.

UM, AND THAT IS TAKING CARE OF OUR, OUR STAFF MEMBERS AND ADDRESSING OUR SALARY, OUR SALARY SCALES.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR SALARY SCALES, WE DID HAVE A FEW THAT OF COURSE WERE NOT ADJUSTED.

SO OUR MAINTENANCE JOURNEYMEN, OUR MAINTENANCE BEST DRIVER ADMIN, ONE, TWO, AND FIVE, OR A THREE AND FIVE LEVEL, ONE SPECIALIST SYSTEM TECH SOCIAL WORKER, A PSYCHOLOGIST, THAT'S ONE THAT WE SEPARATED.

IT WAS IN WITH ADMINISTRATORS.

WE SEPARATED THAT ONE OUT.

UM, SO THOSE SKILLS WEREN'T ADJUSTED, BUT WE WILL ACTUALLY TAKE THOSE PEOPLE AND MOVE THEM TO THE PROPER STEP OF THE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.

SO, BUT THE OTHER SKILLS WERE, SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SKILLS AT THE BACK, WE DID PROVIDE THIS.

SO THIS IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN WHAT'S BEEN DONE IN THE PAST.

THIS IS ONE DOCUMENT.

IT HAS THE OUTLINE OF THE BUDGET, WHAT WE'RE HIGHLIGHTING, AND THEN IT ALSO HAS THE SALARY SCALES IN THERE AS WELL.

SO I'M GOING TO STOP THERE AND ASK IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

IT'S NOT REALLY A QUESTION, DR.

BOUNDARY, BUT MORE OF A COMMENT.

I THINK FINALLY, THIS YEAR, WE FINALLY GOT EVERYONE THAT WORKS FOR WARREN COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM TO THEIR CORRECT GRADE.

MEANING IF YOU'VE BEEN HERE 20 YEARS, YOU REFLECT 20 YEARS INSTEAD OF 10 OR EIGHT OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE BECAUSE THAT PROVERBIAL CAN WAS KICKED FOR MANY YEARS.

SO IT'S REALLY NICE TO SEE THAT, THAT WE CAN TAKE CARE OF AS A COMMUNITY, OUR TEACHERS THAT ARE LEADING OUR CHILDREN.

IS THAT A CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.

YES, SIR.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THAT'S ALL.

I, WHAT ELSE HAVE ANYTHING FOR DR.

BALLENGER

[00:35:09]

I MOVE THAT THE FISCAL YEAR OF 2021, 2022 OPERATING FUND BUDGET, THE AMOUNT OF $63,944,829 AND THE CAFETERIA FUND BUDGET AND THE AMOUNT OF $2,896,000 BE APPROVED AS DETAILED IN THE ATTACHED FISCAL YEAR, 2022 BUDGET BOOK, AND THAT THE DRAFT 2021, 2022 SALARY SCALES ALSO CONTAINED IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2022 BUDGET BOOK BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED.

SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? LET'S DO A ROLL CALL, MR. BALLANTINE PLEASE.

DR.

PENCE.

AYE.

MR. WELLS, MRS. BAUER, MR. CHAIRMAN, AYE.

MOTION CARRIES NEXT

[4.C. Approval of 2021-2022 Support Staff appointments and New Hires- Mr. Smith]

THANK YOU.

AND GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING.

SOMETIMES THAT, UH, AS WE'RE GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS, SOME THINGS HAVE TO HAPPEN BEFORE SOMETHING ELSE HAS TO HAPPEN.

AND THAT'S THE CASE HERE THAT THE, THE BUDGET THAT YOU JUST APPROVED HAS TO HAPPEN BEFORE I CAN GO TO THE, UH, TO THIS, UM, PRESENTATION.

AND THAT IS WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE, UH, 2021, 2022 BUDGET.

IT'S NOW POSSIBLE TO APPOINT SUPPORT STAFF AT NEW HIRES THUS FAR FOR THIS UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR.

LOOKS LIKE Y'ALL HAVE BEEN BUSY.

YEAH.

ARE YOU PRETTY WELL STAFFED FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR OR, UM, RIGHT NOW WITH LICENSE, UH, PERSONNEL, UH, WE HAVE, UH, SEVEN RETIREES AND 20 RESIGNATIONS.

SO IT'S A, IT'S KIND OF AN ONGOING, UH, PROCESS.

AND THIS JUST, UH, STARTS THE PROCESS OF JUST WHAT WE'VE DONE THUS FAR.

SO I I'D SAY FOR A, WHERE WE'VE BEEN IN THE PAST, THIS IS ACTUALLY A, A GOOD START.

AND, UM, AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT THE RESIGNATION NUMBERS AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, UH, REMAIN LOW.

SO THIS IS OUR STARTING POINT OF THEIR NEW HIRES FOR THIS UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR.

OKAY.

YOU GOT A FEW RETIREMENTS? YES, WE DO.

WE HAVE, UH, UM, WE'RE GONNA MOST LIKELY HAVE DOUBLE DIGIT, UH, RETIREMENT.

WOW.

UH, FOR THIS UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR, WE'RE STILL ON THE BEST.

YES.

MR. SMITH.

NO, I MOVED THE WARREN COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD APPROVES THE 2021 2022, A NEW APPOINTMENTS AND FULL-TIME SUPPORT STAFF AS PRESENTED ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.

AYE.

OPPOSED MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, SIR.

UH,

[4.D. Award Contract for Elementary ESL Materials - Dr. Ballenger]

BALLENGER.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

YOU'RE WELL, W CPS THERE'S 99 ELEMENTARY ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE STUDENTS.

AGAIN, THIS ALSO WILL TIE INTO, YOU KNOW, IN OUR BUDGET, WE ASKED FOR AN INCREASE IN ESL AND AN ADDITIONAL ESL TEACHER.

SO REALLY WE, WE NEED TO ENHANCE OUR, OUR ENGLISH ESL PROGRAM.

AND SO WE DID HAVE A COMMITTEE THAT WENT THROUGH REVIEWED AND FOLLOWED THE STEPS, ACCORDING TO OUR POLICY AND HAVE S THEY HAVE SELECTED NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC AS THE PROGRAM THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO USE AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL.

AND SO I'M GOING TO ASK THAT NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC BE AWARDED AS THE, AS THE ESL CURRICULUM MOVING FORWARD.

WHAT ARE WE CURRENTLY USING? UM, I THINK IT'S A COMBINATION OF RESOURCES THAT TEACHERS HAVE.

SO THERE'S NO PARTICULAR, THERE IS NO SET CURRICULUM, SOME OF OUR CURRICULUM MATERIALS.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, OUR ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS SERIES CONTAINS MATERIAL.

AND WITHIN IT, THAT HELPS BUILD LANGUAGE FOR OUR ENGLISH LEARNERS, BUT WE HAVEN'T BEFORE HAD A PRIMARY CURRICULUM FOR TEACHERS

[00:40:01]

AND THIS ONE WILL ADDRESS ALL 16 DIFFERENT LANGUAGES THAT WE'RE SEEING IN THE COUNTY.

IT'S REALLY NOT ABOUT TEACHING THE LANGUAGE IT'S ABOUT TEACHING LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT.

SO IT ADDRESSES THE BASIS OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT THAT REGARDLESS OF THE LANGUAGE, THE CHILD CURRENTLY SPEAKS YOUR IT'S ABOUT TEACHING THEM THE CONSTRUCT OF THAT YOU WOULD FIND.

OKAY.

SO YES, IN SHORT, I STRUGGLE WITH THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE.

I JUST CAN'T IMAGINE, UH, ALL THESE DIFFERENT, I MEAN, 99 STUDENTS, DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THE GROWTH, IS THERE AN EXPECTED GROWTH, OR IS THERE ANY WAY WE CAN GAUGE THAT? IF ANY, IF THE GROWTH WE'VE HAD RECENTLY IS ANY INDICATION OF WHAT THE GROWTH WILL CONTINUE TO BE.

I MEAN, IT'S BEEN, IT'S BEEN RELATIVELY SIGNIFICANT OVER THE PAST TWO TO THREE YEARS BECAUSE WE'VE ADDED, UM, ADDED TEACHERS FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, I BELIEVE.

AND WE'RE HAPPY WE HAVE THIS IN ALL FIVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

WELL, YEAH, IT IS.

YEAH.

THIS CURRICULUM WILL BE IN ALL FIVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

YES.

WE HAVE ELL TEACHERS WHO SERVED UP BETWEEN ALL NINE SCHOOLS, UM, AND OUR TEACHER, SOME OF OUR TEACHERS GO BETWEEN MOST OF OUR ELL TEACHERS GO BETWEEN.

SO THIS CURRICULUM IS NOT JUST FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

THIS ONE IS FOR WHAT, WHAT THEY CURRENTLY GOT WITH THIS PARTICULAR APPROVAL IS FOR THE ELEMENTARY CURRICULUM.

THEY'RE LOOKING AT SECONDARY AS WELL.

ELL TEACHERS HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER AS A COMMITTEE TO LOOK AS WELL.

OKAY.

THEY JUST HAVEN'T MADE THEIR DECISION.

OKAY.

ANYTHING ELSE FOR DR.

BOUNDER OR MISERY OR THE SALE? YOUR PLEASURE.

SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.

MOTION CARRIES

[4.E. Acceptance of Donation - Dr. Ballenger]

DR.

BALLENGER, I MOVE THE DONATION OF $707 TO THE SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL FFA BY MISS ANNA S TIMMINS BE ACCEPTED WITH GRATITUDE.

SORRY.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.

MOTION CARRIES

[4.F. Approval of February 2021 VSBA School Board Policy Updates - Mrs. Sheppard]

UH, FEBRUARY, 2021, BS BA SCHOOL BOARD POLICY UPDATES.

MISS SHOPPER.

THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

SORRY.

2021 VIRGINIA SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION SUBMITTED 38 POLICIES FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE WARREN COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD.

A CHART SHOWING THE UPDATED POLICIES HAS BEEN PREPARED BY STAFF MEMBERS NOTING THE PROPOSED CHANGES AND ADDITIONAL 12 POLICIES ARE PRESENTED FOR REVIEW, BUT HAVE NO RECOMMENDED REVISIONS.

WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO RECOMMEND POLICY IKA FD ALTERNATIVE PATHS TO ATTAINING STANDARDS, STANDARD UNITS OF CREDIT FOR CONSIDERATION I K F D WAS DEVELOPED BY VSBA IS AN OPTIONAL POLICY IN MAY, 2017.

THE FIRST READING OF THE PROPOSED CHANGES WAS APRIL 7TH AT THE APRIL 21ST WORK SESSION.

THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR DISCUSSION.

THE RECOMMENDATION AT THIS TIME IS FOR APPROVAL OF THE POLICIES.

BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU WANT TO HAVE ANY QUESTIONS I'VE HAD.

MY QUESTIONS ANSWERED ALREADY.

UM, I'M GOOD SHEPHERDS.

I MOVED THE FEBRUARY, 2021 VSBA POLICY UPDATES BE APPROVED FOR INCLUSION IN THE MORGAN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

POLICY MANUAL IS RECOMMENDED PISTACHIO.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR MOTION CARRIES,

[4.G. Discussion of Proposed Changes to 2021-2022 School Calendar and First Reading of 2022-2023 School Calendar -Mrs. Sheppard]

MS. SHEPHERD, THANK YOU.

THE CALENDAR COMMITTEE RECONVENED TO DISCUSS POSSIBLE REVISIONS TO THE 2021, 2022 CALENDAR DUE TO CONCERNS FROM PARENTS AND STAFF ALIKE.

WE WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST REVISIONS TO THIS CALENDAR.

THE REQUEST INCLUDES MOVING THE START OF THE SCHOOL FROM TUESDAY, AUGUST THE 10TH TO CHOOSE THE AUGUST 17TH.

THE RECOMMENDATIONS, THE RECOMMENDED CHANGES INCLUDE CHANGING THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, CHANGING OCTOBER 11TH FROM A PROFESSIONAL DAY TO A SCHOOL DAY, CHANGING NOVEMBER 23RD AND 22ND, 23RD FROM HOLIDAYS TO SCHOOL DAYS.

[00:45:01]

WE WILL SCHEDULE HER SCHEDULE.

WEATHER DAYS IS VIRTUAL LEARNING DAYS.

IF WE MISS MORE THAN ONE DAY DUE TO WEATHER, WE WILL USE CLOCK HOURS TO COVER THEM AS TIME.

ALSO, THE CALENDAR COMMITTEE CREATED A DRAFT 2223 SCHOOL CALENDAR FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, THAT DRAFT 2223 SCHOOL CALENDAR INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING AUGUST.

SECOND TEACHERS RETURN AUGUST 9TH, 2022 IS THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.

SEPTEMBER 5TH WOULD BE A HOLIDAY NOVEMBER.

THE 11TH WOULD BE A HOLIDAY NOVEMBER 21ST THROUGH THE 25TH WOULD BE FALL BREAK.

WINTER BREAK WOULD BE DECEMBER 22ND THROUGH, UM, DECEMBER 30TH FOR STUDENTS, UH, OR FOR STAFF.

AND THEN JANUARY 2ND AND THIRD WOULD BE PROFESSIONAL DAYS.

JANUARY 16TH WOULD BE A HOLIDAY.

FEBRUARY 20TH WOULD BE A HOLIDAY APRIL 7TH, APRIL 3RD THROUGH THE SEVENTH WOULD BE SPRING BREAK.

APRIL 10TH WOULD BE A WEATHER MAKEUP DAY.

IF NEEDED.

THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL WOULD BE MAY 25TH, 2023, A PROFESSIONAL DAY ON MAY 26.

THERE ARE NO DAYS BUILT INTO THIS CALENDAR FOR WEATHER.

WE HAVE DESIGNATED ONE DAY AS A WEATHER MAKEUP DAY, AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE WE WOULD SCHEDULE WHETHER MAKEUP DAYS IS VIRTUAL LEARNING DAYS.

WEATHER DAYS IS VIRTUAL LEARNING DAYS.

AND IF WE MISS MORE THAN ONE DAY DUE TO WEATHER, WE WILL USE CLOCK HOURS TO COVER THE MISS TIME.

THIS IS THE FIRST READING OF THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE 2122 SCHOOL CALENDAR AND THE PROPOSED 2223 SCHOOL CALENDAR.

THE RECOMMENDATION A RECOMMENDATION IS TO REQUEST APPROVAL OF BOTH CALENDARS AT THE WORK SESSION ON MAY THE 19TH BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

ABSOLUTELY.

AND I'VE SENT BOTH CALENDARS TO STAFF AND RECEIVE LITTLE, UM, CONCERN ABOUT EITHER ONE OF THE CALENDARS.

SO REALLY WITH THE REVISION OF NEXT YEAR'S CALENDAR, I'M MOVING IT BACK A WEEK.

IT'LL GIVE US AN ADDITIONAL WEEK DURING THE SUMMER.

IT WILL ALSO ALLOW FOR THE CONSTRUCTION ON HAPPY CREEK TO HOPEFULLY CULMINATE AND BE COMPLETED BY, BY THE TIME OF THE SORT OF SCHOOL.

AND THEN, UM, THEN I'VE RECEIVED A LOT OF POSITIVE COMMENTS ABOUT THE 2223 SCHOOL CALENDAR.

THIS WILL PROBABLY BE THE FIRST TIME AND AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER, AND I'VE BEEN HERE ABOUT 23 YEARS, THAT WE'VE, THAT WE'VE GOTTEN OUT THAT, UM, SCHOOL WAS ENDED PRIOR TO MEMORIAL DAY.

AND I THINK THAT'S BEEN A REAL POSITIVE FOR OUR TEACHERS.

AND I'D BE INTERESTED TO HEAR PARENT COMMENTS AS WELL.

SO STARTING BACK SOONER IN AUGUST.

YEAH, BUT THAT'S TYPICALLY THE WEEK WE START.

UM, YES.

UM, DURING A NORMAL SCHOOL YEAR, NOT THIS YEAR OR NEXT YEAR, BUT DURING PREVIOUS YEARS, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE WEEK THAT WE STARTED AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO END THE FIRST SEMESTER BY THE END OF, UM, BEFORE WINTER BREAK AND THEN START TO SECOND MES SEMESTER THERE IN JANUARY.

SO THE, UH, THANKSGIVING WEEK THAT'S A WHOLE WEEK OFF, THAT WOULD BE A WHOLE WEEK OFF.

YES.

AND THAT CONSISTS OR ALSO ENTAILS FALL BREAK OR, UM, YEAH.

YEP.

WE'RE CALLING IT FALL BREAK.

YEAH.

BUT IT WOULD BE, WOULD INCLUDE THANKSGIVING, THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY, MS. SHEPHERD, HAVE YOU HAD ANY COMMUNICATION ON HAPPY CREEK FROM THE STATE OR ANYTHING? NOT SINCE OUR LAST MEETING WHEN THEY PRESENTED.

YEAH.

SO NOT SURE WHERE THEY'RE, I'M NOT SURE WHEN THE FINAL COMPLETION DATE IS GOING TO BE, BUT WE'RE READY.

WE, WE CAN, UM, WE CAN WORK AROUND THAT SPACE, BUT WE WOULD RATHER NOT IF WE DON'T HAVE TO.

YEAH.

AND MAYBE, MAYBE BY MOVING IT A FEW DAYS LATER, START TIME.

WELL, WE'LL MAYBE GET US WHERE WE NEED TO BE.

RIGHT, RIGHT.

AND I'LL MAKE SURE THAT MS. MR. MITCHELL COMMUNICATES THIS WITH THE, UM, WITH THE PEOPLE FROM V.SO THAT THEY KNOW, AND MAYBE THEY CAN MAKE IT WORK.

OKAY.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE SHELF WE DO? AND, UM, I, YEAH, IF I'M, I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU THE DATES, BUT MISS RUDA SILL AND MR. FOX ARE OUT HERE.

AND I THINK IT STARTS THE WEEK AFTER SCHOOL IS OUT AND THEN IT ENDS MIDDLE OF JULY, BUT THEY ARE MORE INVOLVED IN THAT, UM, THAT CONVERSATION AND CAN GIVE YOU, UM, BUT WE DO HAVE SUMMER SCHOOL SET UP FOR, UM,

[00:50:01]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[4.H. Adoption and Purchase of Preschool Curriculum--Ms. Rudacille]

GOOD.

A COMMITTEE OF TEACHERS, BUILDING LEVEL ADMINISTRATORS AND PARENTS REVIEWED SEVERAL PRESCHOOL CURRICULUM FOR CONSIDERATION FOR THE 2021, 2022 SCHOOL YEAR.

THE PRESCHOOL CURRICULUM REVIEW COMMITTEE IS RECOMMENDING THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD APPROVE AND ALLOW FOR PURCHASE THE THREE CHEERS FOR PRE-K CURRICULUM AND THE AMOUNT OF $33,349 AND 73 CENTS.

THIS CURRICULUM HAS BEEN VETTED AND APPROVED BY THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND WILL BE USED IN OUR PRESCHOOL CLASSROOMS, SERVING THREE AND FOUR YEAR OLD STUDENTS.

I WILL ANSWER WHATEVER QUESTIONS.

10.

I HAVE TWO, UM, HOW MANY STUDENTS DO WE HAVE IN PRE-K? WE SERVE 158 STUDENTS, 158.

OKAY.

AND WHAT CURRICULUM ARE WE CURRENTLY USING? UH, WE ARE CURRENTLY USING A CURRICULUM CALLED BIG DAY IN PRE-K AND THE COMPANY AND NO LONGER WE, WE USE THE SAME COMPANY THAT WE USE OUR, THAT WE HAVE FOR OUR KINDERGARTEN THROUGH FIFTH GRADE ENGLISH LANGUAGE CURRICULUM, AND THEY HAVE STOPPED PRINTING OR, OR PRODUCING ANY PRESCHOOL CURRICULUM.

SO WE WEREN'T ABLE TO GET WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY USING TO RESTOCK OUR CLASSROOMS. AND IS THIS COMPARABLE TO THE ONE WE'RE CURRENTLY USING? YES.

YES.

VERY MUCH SO, UM, ALLOWS FOR A LOT OF CREATIVITY AS WELL FOR THE PRESCHOOL TEACHERS, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY OF HUGE IMPORTANCE WHEN, BECAUSE PRESCHOOL ISN'T KINDERGARTEN AND THERE STILL NEEDS TO BE THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR PLAY AND EXPLORATION IN THIS CURRICULUM DEFINITELY, UM, FITS THAT THE PRE-K PROGRAM HAS GROWN TREMENDOUSLY OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.

IF I REMEMBER RIGHT, TWO YEARS AGO, IT WAS LIKE SIX KIDS.

THERE WERE NOT VERY MANY, SO, SO I MEAN, IT'S DEFINITELY MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND OBVIOUSLY IT'S DONE WELL.

IT GROWS EVERY YEAR.

UM, AND THIS, THIS WAS BETTER BY OUR TEACHERS.

YES.

WE HAD ALL OF THE PRESCHOOL TEACHERS.

WE HAD, UM, TWO BUILDING LEVEL PRINCIPALS SAT ON IT AND WE HAD SEVERAL, WE HAD CENTRAL OFFICE, JENNY DONOVAN FACILITATED THE PROCESS AND THEN PARENTS AS WELL, WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE REVIEW OF THE CURRICULUM THAT THEY, THEY LOOK OKAY.

GOOD.

SO A LOT OF EYES ON IT.

THAT'S GOOD.

THAT'S GOOD.

YEAH.

HOW MUCH, UM, HOW MUCH DOES THE PRE K PROGRAM RELY ON DEVICES? UM, IT DOES NOT RELY ON DEVICES.

IT HAS A DIGITAL, THIS IS A, UM, THE LICE.

WHAT WE'RE GETTING HERE ARE, IS A DIGITAL LAST CURRICULUM, BUT THAT MEANS THE RESOURCES COME IN DIGITAL FORM FOR THE TEACHERS MORE THAN IT MEANS THAT THERE IS, UM, THAT IT'S DIGITAL DIGITALLY FOCUSED FOR STUDENTS, BUT THERE IS THAT COMPONENT.