Feb 02, 2022 Board Meeting

AND I'M SORRY, OUR SCREEN'S NOT WORKING.

I'M JUST GOING TO HAVE A TIMER UP HERE TONIGHT.

SO YOU'LL HEAR KIND OF AN OBNOXIOUS BEEP WHEN THE TIME'S UP.

MR. VALENTINE.

MADAM CHAIR, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF SPEAKERS SIGNED UP FOR THE EVENING.

I DO HAVE TWO LETTERS THAT HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED BY RESIDENTS THAT COULD NOT BE PRESENT.

UH, WOULD IT BE APPROPRIATE TO READ THOSE FIRST? YES, PLEASE.

DOJO MESSAGE, EMAIL OR A PHONE CALL, AND I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONNECT AND COMMUNICATE WITH THE STAFF AT MY CHILDREN'S SCHOOL TO HELP ANSWER MY QUESTIONS.

UM, THE FIRST LETTER IS FROM KATE D BOARD, PETER, A FORK DISTRICT, RESIDENT, AND MOTHER OF TWO WARREN COUNTY ELEMENTARY STUDENTS.

SHE WRITES, I AM WRITING THESE COMMENTS FOR THE BOARD MEETING WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY.

THE SECOND I WAS HOPING TO BE THERE IN PERSON.

HOWEVER, MY FAMILY NOW HAS COVID IRONICALLY AFTER THE FIRST WEEK OF OUR MASKS OPTIONAL APPROACH.

SO WE ARE ISOLATING AT HOME.

I HOPE THAT MY STATEMENT MAY BE READ IF THERE'S TIME TO DO SO.

I AM A RESIDENT OF THE FORK DISTRICT AND I AM A PARENT OF TWO WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, ELEMENTARY STUDENTS.

MY MAIN REASON FOR WRITING THIS STATEMENT IS TO SHOW MY SUPPORT FOR OUR SCHOOL GUIDANCE PROGRAMS AND OUR SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING CURRICULUM.

CHILDREN NEED THESE SERVICES NOW MORE THAN EVER OUR CHILDREN ATTENDEE WILSON MORRISON HAVE EXPRESSED JUST HOW MEANINGFUL THESE EXPERIENCES AND LESSONS AT SCHOOL ARE FOR THEM, BOTH THE TEACHERS AND THE GUIDANCE COUNSELORS HAVE WORKED WITH ME TO ENSURE THAT MY CHILDREN ARE GETTING THE SUPPORT THEY NEED.

WHILE AT SCHOOL, I HAVE ONLY HAD TO ASK THROUGH A CLASS

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IT SADDENS ME THAT DURING A TIME WHEN OUR CHILDREN ALREADY FACED SO MANY HARDSHIPS AND STRUGGLES, WE ARE HAVING A D HAVING TO DEFEND A PROGRAM THAT HELPS OUR STUDENTS, COPING STRATEGIES, HELP SOLIDIFY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS OF KINDNESS AND ACCOUNTABILITY REINFORCES PROBLEM SOLVING CAPABILITIES, EMPOWERS CHILDREN'S TO ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES.

AND THEIR PEERS GIVES THEM CONFIDENCE TO STAND UP TO BULLYING AND HELPS THEM LEARN COPING STRATEGIES FOR EVERY, FOR EVERYTHING.

FROM THE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE TO FOSTERING A GROWTH MINDSET IN WHICH THEY ARE NOT LIMITED IN WHAT THEY CAN ACCOMPLISH.

IT IS CONCERNING THAT A COUPLE OF PARENTS WHO HAVE FALL, EITHER FALLEN VICTIM TO MISINFORMATION AND EXAGGERATION, OR WHO ARE PURPOSEFULLY PUSHING A NARRATIVE TO SCORE SOME POLITICAL POINTS, SEEM ABLE TO DICTATE WHAT SCHOOL PROGRAM IS.

AND ISN'T OFFERED TO OUR STUDENTS.

I URGE YOU TO NOT STRIP CHILDREN OF BENEFICIAL RESOURCES, LIKE OUR SEL PROGRAM.

AS A RESULT OF A FEW PEOPLE WHO SEEM MOTIVATED BY THEIR POLITICAL IDEOLOGICAL AGENDA, FOR WHICH THEY ARE SEEKING ATTENTION.

THIS IS NOT THE TIME OR PLACE FOR THAT.

AND OUR CHILDREN SHOULD NOT SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES OF IT.

I ENCOURAGE PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO LEAP TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS PROGRAM, THIS IMPORTANT PROGRAM, AND THE INCREDIBLE WORK OUR TEACHERS AND STAFF ARE DOING ON BEHALF OF OUR CHILDREN AND COMMUNITY AND STAND UP TO THIS OTHERWISE, WHAT WILL BE NEXT? IF A FEW WHOSE MOTIVES ARE QUESTIONABLE, HAVE THE POWER TO HALT CURRICULUM, WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO ATTACK NEXT? AND WHY ARE THEIR INTERESTS MORE IMPORTANT THAN OUR CHILDREN'S? IT IS ONE THING TO HAVE CONCERNS OR QUESTIONS TO REACH OUT TO YOUR CHILD'S TEACHER AND ADMINISTRATORS, AND TO WORK TOGETHER, TO MAKE APPROPRIATE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR YOUR CHILD'S INDIVIDUAL, YOUR INDIVIDUAL CHILD, CHILDREN, IF NEEDED.

IT IS EASY TO DO.

I HAVE DONE IT.

IT'S ANOTHER THING TO COMPLETELY STOP IMPLEMENTATION OF A PROGRAM THAT BENEFITS SO MANY CHILDREN BECAUSE OF THE CONCERNS OF A FEW, SOME OF WHOM DO NOT EVEN HAVE CHILDREN IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

WHY ARE WE ALLOWING A FEW PEOPLE HAD TO COME UP FOR AIR THERE FOR A MINUTE? UM, I REALIZED THESE ARE PROBABLY LONGER THAN THREE MINUTES AND I'M DOING MY BEST TO GET THEIR WORDS, UH, SHARED.

THE SECOND LETTER TONIGHT, THIS BEING READ IS FROM THE REVEREND CARRIE EVANS.

UH, THE FRONT ROW PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

SHE WRITES, I'D LIKE TO BEGIN MY BY THANKING THE COMMUNITY PARENTS, TEACHERS, AND THE SCHOOL BOARD FOR TAKING CARE IN OUR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION AND WELLBEING AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH EITHER SIDE I'M PLEASED, PEOPLE ARE PAYING ATTENTION.

I AM THE PASTOR AT THE FRONT ROW PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH YET A FEW YEARS AGO, I SERVED AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF A NONPROFIT STAFFORD JUNCTION.

STAFFORD JUNCTION BEGAN AS A COMMUNITY, RESPONDING TO THE EXTREME POVERTY, VIOLENCE, AND HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUT RATES IN ONE SPECIFIC NEIGHBORHOOD, OLD FORGE IN FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA, AND HAS GROWN TO SERVE OVER 450 ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH A REALIZATION THAT WE WERE NOT CAPABLE OF CHANGING THE PARENTS.

WE DID HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE THE LIVES OF THE CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY, THROUGH AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS, SPORTS DAY CAMPS, HEALTHY LIVING CLASSES, EMERGENCY RELEASE EFFORTS, AND MUCH MORE.

WE WERE ABLE TO DRASTICALLY INCREASE THE GRADUATION RATES IN OLD FORGE AND DRAMATICALLY REDUCE THE VIOLENT BEHAVIOR AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE THAT PLED PLAGUED THE COMMUNITY.

ONE CRITICAL PIECE OF THE PROGRAM WAS THE SECOND STEP CURRICULUM THAT WAS IMPLEMENTED IN THE NINE DIFFERENT SCHOOLS WE SERVED.

THE SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS LONG BEEN THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF SOCIALIZATION FOR STUDENTS AND FOREMOST OF THE, AND FOR MOST OF THE STUDENTS, STUDENTS, THE SCHOOL AND THE TEACHERS ARE IN FACT, THE GREATEST INFLUENCE IN THEIR FORMATIVE YEARS.

THE, THE FAMILY SYSTEM DUE TO MANY FACTORS IS NOT ALWAYS A SOURCE FOR DISCIPLINE, GOOD MENTAL HEALTH, SOCIAL BEHAVIOR, AND A HEALTHY RESPECT FOR OTHERS.

THESE FACTORS INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO SUBSTANCE ABUSE, WHICH IS A DISPROPORTIONATELY HIGHER THAN SURROUNDING NATE COUNTIES, INCARCERATED PARENTS, ABSENT PARENTS, MULTILINGUAL FAMILIES IN EXTREME POVERTY.

AND THIS IS NOT TRUE FOR ALL STUDENTS.

IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT ALL STUDENTS ARE TREATED WITH EQUITY.

THE SECOND STEP CURRICULUM PROVIDES A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO BUILDING, SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES FOR EVERY CHILD THROUGH SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL LEARNING, SECOND STEP WEBSITE WITH EVERY CURRICULUM, THERE WILL BE THOSE WHO DISAGREE WITH THE FORMAT, TEACHING STYLE OR INTENT OF THE PROGRAM.

I UNDERSTAND THAT IS WHAT THE SCHOOL BOARD IS DISCUSSING.

NOW.

I APPLAUD PARENTS FOR THEIR INVOLVEMENT AND I TRUST THAT THE LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY DO INDEED HAVE THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE STUDENTS OF WARREN COUNTY.

TO THAT END.

MY OWN EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE WITH THE CURRICULUM IS WHEN USED CORRECTLY.

IT OFFERS STUDENTS A PATH TOWARDS BETTER

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MENTAL HEALTH SCHOOL COMMUNITIES WITHOUT BULLYING A DECLINE IN SUBSTANCE ABUSE, INCREASE IN SCHOOL ATTENDANCE, FEWER AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIORS AND LEADS TO DECREASING THE LEVEL OF VIOLENCE, BOTH IN SCHOOL, AS WELL AS IN THE COMMUNITY AND AT HOME BY OFFERING A POSITIVE SOLUTION TO AN EVER-GROWING PROBLEM WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES, IT TEACHES CHILDREN, EMPATHY, PROBLEM, SOLVING TECHNIQUES, SELF-CONTROL ANGER, MANAGING MANAGEMENT THAT TIES INTO REDUCING DISCIPLINARY ACTION WHILE INCREASING POSITIVE VALENTINE.

I THINK THE FIRST SPEAKER SIGNED UP FOR THIS EVENING IS TOM MCFADDEN, SENIOR.

HELLO EVERYBODY.

MY NAME IS TOM MCFADDEN.

I LIVE ON VIRGINIA AVENUE IN FRONT OF OIL, AND I'M THE SPOKESPERSON FOR CATHOLICS CIVIC EDUCATION GROUP.

WE ARE AFFILIATED WITH ST.

JOHN THE BAPTIST CHURCH, WHICH IS ON WEST MAIN STREET, UH, AS THE SPOKESMAN FOR MEMBERS OF OUR FAITH COMMUNITY.

I SENT AN EMAIL LETTER TO EACH MEMBER OF THIS BOARD ON JANUARY 20TH.

AND THEN THAT LETTER I TOLD YOU THAT MEMBERS OF ST JOHN'S CHURCH HAD ORGANIZED A STUDY GROUP TO REVIEW THE PROPOSED SEL CURRICULUM.

BUT WHAT WE HAD LEARNED AS A VET POINT JANUARY 20TH, WAS THAT THE FULL CURRICULUM WAS NOT GOING TO BE AVAILABLE FOR CITIZENS REVIEW.

AND I EMPHASIZED THE WORD FULL CURRICULUM.

I EXPLAINED THAT A MEMBER OF OUR STUDY GROUP DURING A MEETING THE PREVIOUS WEEK WITH DR.

BALLENGER ASKED HIM HOW THE PUBLIC COULD GET THIS FULL CURRICULUM.

AND OUR MEMBER UNDERSTOOD FROM DR.

BOUNDERS REPLIED THAT PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE FULL CURRICULUM WAS IMPOSSIBLE.

ONE OF OUR STUDY TEAM MEMBERS ATTENDED THIS BOARD'S WORK SESSION ON THE 19TH, BUT HE HEARD NOTHING DURING THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION'S BRIEFING TO THE BOARD ABOUT HOW THE BOARD'S DECISION THAT THE PUBLIC REVIEW WITH A FULL CURRICULUM WAS GOING TO BE MADE POSSIBLE.

SO THE FINAL LINE OF MY EMAIL TO THE BOARD, UH, FROM MY LETTER OF THE 20TH WAS THIS QUESTION, MAY WE BE TOLD IF THE ENTIRE CURRICULUM WILL OR WILL NOT BE MADE AVAILABLE TO CITIZEN PARENT GROUPS SUCH AS OURS SO THAT WE MAY PROVIDE THE BOARD WITH OUR PERSPECTIVE.

I DID NOT RECEIVE ANY REPLY FROM THE BOARD TO MY QUESTIONS.

SO THAT IS A QUESTION I ASK YOU TO DECIDE DURING YOUR DELIBERATIONS HERE TONIGHT, WILL THE ENTIRE CURRICULUM BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC REVIEW OR WILL IT NOT? OUR STUDY GROUP IS READY TO GIVE THE BOARD THE THOROUGH VETTING THAT THE PROGRAM, UH, FOR THE PROGRAM THAT WE UNDERSTOOD THE BOARD WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE.

AND ALL WE REQUIRE IS ACCESS TO THE ENTIRE PROGRAM AND A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO COMPLETE THE REVIEW.

I UNDERSTAND THAT THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION IS HOT.

TEMPLEMENT THIS PROGRAM AND FROM THE LETTERS THAT WE'VE JUST HEARD TONIGHT, I SAY THERE'S A, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE JUST AS ANXIOUS, BUT WHAT EVIDENCE HAS THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION PROVIDED TO THIS BOARD THAT GREAT NUMBERS OF PARENTS ARE ASKING FOR SCHOOL PERSONNEL TO PROVIDE THEIR CHILDREN WITH PSYCHOLOGICAL OPINIONS ABOUT ANY SOCIAL OR EMOTIONAL ISSUES IN THEIR CHILD'S LIFE.

FURTHER.

HOW COULD A PACKAGE PROGRAM POSSIBLY ACCOUNT FOR THE ENORMOUS DIVERSITY IN THE RELIGIOUS AND CULTURAL BACKGROUND OF THE STUDENTS? BECAUSE ONE SIZE DOESN'T FIT ALL.

SO THE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL ISSUES AND RESPONSES OF CHILDREN ARE HIGHLY INDIVIDUALIZED AND NEED TO BE IN HARMONY WITH THE PARENTS VALUES.

MR. MCFADDEN, I APPRECIATE IT.

MR. VALENTINE, THE NEXT SPEAKER IS JOHN LUNDBERG.

MY NAME IS JOHN LUNDBERG.

I'M A RESIDENT OF FRONT ROYAL.

I'D LIKE TO TAKE MY THREE MINUTES IN THE SPOTLIGHT HERE.

THIS EVENINGS TO MAKE THREE POINTS, POINT NUMBER ONE, DELAY THE BOAT ON THE LATEST VERSION OF THE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING.

SECOND STEP PROGRAM IS EVENING.

SO THE TAXPAYERS AND PARENTS HAVE MORE TIME TO BE BETTER INFORMED ON THIS CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE.

MY SECOND POINT, THE BEST DESCRIPTION I CAN MAKE US SEL.

SECOND STEP THAT CAN BE MADE IS THAT IT IS AN EDUCATIONAL FAD, NO DIFFERENT THAN EDUCATIONAL FADS THAT HAVE BEEN TRIED AND FAILED IN THE UNITED STATES FOR THE PAST HUNDRED YEARS.

THESE FADS ARE A KEY REASON.

INCREASING NUMBERS OF PARENTS ARE FLEEING THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM TODAY AMONG THESE FAILED EDUCATION PADS ARE COMMON CORE GOALS.

2000 NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND RACE TO THE TOP OUTCOME-BASED EDUCATION.

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AND THE LIST GOES ON.

ALL THESE ADS ARE EXPENSIVE.

THEY DETRACT FROM TRADITIONAL ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION IN THE CLASSROOM AND HAD BEEN PUSHED FOR YEARS BY EDUCATION.

PROGRESSIVE'S STARTING WITH THE ATHEIST, JOHN DEWEY IN THE 1920S, MANY PREDICT SEL STEP TWO WILL FAIL JUST LIKE COMMON CORE.

MY THIRD AND FINAL POINT THIS EVENING IS A WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS DID A POOR JOB OF COMMUNICATING WELL WITH PARENTS ANNOUNCING THE OPEN HOUSES HELD ON JANUARY 26, SUPPOSEDLY TO REVIEW THE CONTRACT, THE CONTROVERSIAL MATERIAL OF THIS PROGRAM, A MOTHER IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WHO BELONGS TO OUR CHURCH AND HAS A SEVENTH GRADER AND A SECOND GRADER IN WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM ONE OF HER CHILDREN'S SCHOOLS, INVITING HER TO ATTEND QUOTE OUR SCHOOL COUNSELING CURRICULUM, OPEN HOUSE UNQUOTE ON WEDNESDAY, THE 26TH OF JANUARY FROM SIX TO SEVEN, THERE WAS NOTHING ABOUT SEL AND THE EMAIL.

IN FACT, THE NAME WASN'T EVEN MENTIONED NOR DID THE EMAIL SAY ONE THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD VOTED UNANIMOUSLY LAST MONTH TO SUSPEND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONTROVERSIAL PROGRAM, PENDING COMMUNITY APPROVAL TO THAT THERE'S MIXED OR NEGATIVE RESULTS ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF SEL AND THREE.

THERE IS NO QUOTE EXPERT CONSENSUS ON WHAT THE HECK SEL REALLY IS.

SO AS A RESULT OF MOTHER, DIDN'T ATTEND THE OPEN HOUSE THE NEXT WEEK, SHE READ IN OUR CHURCH BULLET IN THE FOLLOWING UNDER A TITLE THAT SAID PARENTS OF PUBLIC SCHOOL CHILDREN, QUOTE, YOU ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE EVALUATION OF A NEW SOCIAL ENGINEERING CURRICULUM CALLED SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING.

SECOND STEP THAT'S BEEN LAUNCHED BY THE WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

SEL SECOND STEP IS EXTREMELY DETRIMENTAL TO THE MORAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH OF OUR CHILDREN.

THE FRONT ROYAL CATHOLICS CIVIC EDUCATION GROUP HAS FORMED A STUDY TEAM TO EXAMINE IN DETAIL AND THEN ADVISE A PARENTS IN OUR PARISH AND B THE WARREN COUNTY SCHOOL, PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD, HOW DANGEROUS THIS PROGRAM IS.

IF YOU ARE WILLING TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM, PLEASE CONTACT ME, GAVE CONTACT DATA ON THE PARISH.

THIS MOTHER CONTACTED US.

I GOT ONE TO TWO SENTENCES.

THIS MOTHER CONTACTED US.

IT'S NOT A MEMBER OF OUR STUDY GROUP.

PARDON ME? YOU'RE READY FOR OUR NEXT SPEAKER.

GAP WITH THEIR OWN RESOURCES AND PLEASE DO TRUST YOUR TEACHERS.

THE NEXT SPEAKER IS INGRID CHENOWITH.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

SO MY NAME IS INGRID CHENOWITH AND I'M A MEMBER OF OUR LOCAL CLERGY.

I'M PASTOR OF GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH.

AND I'M ALSO A TEACHER AT THE BLUE RIDGE EDUCATION CENTER, WHICH IS A SCHOOL THAT SUPPORTS OUR WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL AND SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, AS WELL AS STUDENTS FROM SURROUNDING COUNTIES.

UM, I HAVE NINE YEARS OF TEACHING EXPERIENCE.

MOST OF WHICH WAS AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LEVEL.

AND I KNOW IT'S BEEN A REALLY TOUGH TIME FOR TEACHERS LATELY, BETWEEN COVID AND STAFFING SHORTAGES, LEARNING TO TEACH VIRTUALLY AND KEEPING UP WITH STUDENTS WHO ARE OFTEN ABSENT.

IT'S BEEN A REALLY DIFFICULT TIME FOR OUR TEACHERS.

THERE WAS A RECENT SURVEY BY THE NEA, THE NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, THAT 55% OF TEACHERS IN THE COUNTRY ARE CONSIDERING QUITTING OR RETIRING EARLY.

AND I KNOW THAT OUR COUNTY HAS A HARD TIME ALSO RETAINING TEACHERS BECAUSE OF THESE PROBLEMS AND OTHER STRESSORS.

AND ALSO BECAUSE OF OUR HIGH COST OF LIVING IN WARREN COUNTY AND THE RELATIVELY HIGHER SALARIES THAT ARE PAID BY SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORING COUNTIES.

AND WHAT I'VE LEARNED AS A TEACHER IS THAT STUDENTS LEARN BEST FROM TEACHERS WHO FEEL THAT THEY CARE ABOUT THEM AND WHO'S IN WHOSE CLASSROOMS THEY FEEL SAFE.

EVERY TEACHER MUST TEACH THEIR STUDENTS HOW TO BE A GOOD CITIZEN WITHIN THE CLASSROOM AND THE SCHOOL.

IT'S AN ESSENTIAL PART OF GOOD CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT.

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO BE AN EFFECTIVE TEACHER WITHOUT TEACHING STUDENTS, HOW TO BE KIND, HOW TO RESPECT THEIR FELLOW STUDENTS AND THEIR EDUCATORS AND WHAT TO DO IF THEY FEEL OVERWHELMED, OR IF THEY FEEL BULLIED.

TEACHERS ALREADY SPEND HOURS OF EACH DAY OF THEIR OWN TIME, UNREIMBURSED CREATING AND ADAPTING CURRICULUM FOR THE ACADEMIC SUBJECTS IN WHICH THEY TEACH.

THEY ALREADY SPEND THEIR OWN MONEY ON ADDITIONAL MATERIALS FOR CLASSROOMS. EVERY TEACHER I HAVE EVER KNOWN DOES THIS.

THEY GIVE HOURS AND THEY GIVE MANY HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO THE SCHOOLS IN WHICH THEY TEACH.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU MEMBERS OF THE WARREN COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD, PLEASE DON'T TAKE THIS RESOURCE SECOND STEP AWAY FROM YOUR TEACHERS, OR AT LEAST DON'T TAKE IT AWAY WITHOUT REPLACING IT WITH SOMETHING JUST AS GOOD.

PLEASE DON'T FORCE YOUR TEACHERS TO CREATE ANOTHER PIECE OF CURRICULUM FROM SCRATCH OR TO FIND ONE AND PAY FOR IT OUT OF THEIR OWN POCKETS.

BECAUSE EVERY TEACHER MUST TEACH THESE SKILLS IN ORDER TO BE AN EFFECTIVE TEACHER.

PLEASE DON'T ASK THEM TO FILL THIS

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THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

THEY CAN BE TRUSTED TO USE CURRICULUM CORRECTLY AND NOT TO USE CURRICULUM TO SUPPORT THEIR OWN POLITICAL VIEWS.

I'M SURE THAT YOU'LL AGREE THAT THEY ARE ALREADY QUITE BUSY ENOUGH TEACHING, READING, AND MATH AND TECHNOLOGY AND TEACHING THEIR STUDENTS THAT THEY MATTER AND THAT SOMEONE CARES AND THAT THEY CAN HAVE A FUTURE IN THE WORLD.

THANK YOU, ANGIE ROBINSON, THE TIMER'S WORKING MR. VALENTINE.

YES, IT IS.

CONTINUING TO SPREAD THROUGHOUT.

I'M ANDY ROBINSON, NORTH RIVER DISTRICT.

UM, WHEN I BEGAN MY CAREER IN 1999, I CANNOT NOT WAIT TO JUST BE WITH MY CHILDREN.

I WENT TO THE CONFERENCES, TOOK THE CLASSES AND POURED MY HEART AND SOUL INTO MY LOVE OF TEACHING COME 2020.

AS I SIT ON MY COUCH, WATCHING THE GOVERNOR STATE THAT OUR SCHOOLS WOULD BE CLOSED FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR.

I LITERALLY SOBBED.

I LOOKED AT MY HUSBAND AND JUST SAID, WHAT AM I GOING TO DO? I DIDN'T GET TO SAY GOODBYE TO MY KIDS.

THIS IS WHAT TEACHING IS.

YOUR CHILDREN BECOME OUR CHILDREN, NOT JUST FOR A YEAR, BUT FOR A LIFETIME.

THIS IS WHY WE GO INTO THIS PROFESSION TO LOVE, EDUCATE, AND SIMPLY BE A PART OF MAKING A YOUNG PERSON WHO THEY WANT TO BE.

THESE LAST TWO YEARS HAVE BEEN THE HARDEST OF MY CAREER.

WE HAVE GONE FROM HEROES TO VILLAINS AND I'M SHOCKED, APPALLED, AND QUITE FRANKLY, ANGRY.

HOW COULD OUR LOVE OF TEACHING AND HELPING STUDENTS COME UNDER FIRE WITH MISINFORMATION AND FALSE CLAIMS OF INDOCTRINATION? HOW CAN PEOPLE HAVE GAVE MANY YEARS TO BECOME AN EDUCATOR FOR VERY LITTLE SALARY, UNPAID OVERTIME AND UNEXPLAINABLE STRESS BE COMPLETELY SHUT OUT AND TREATED AS ENEMIES.

I AM TIRED OF SITTING AND JUST WATCHING THE BASHING AND MISGUIDED INFORMATION THAT IS COUNT.

TEACHERS ARE NOT ONLY QUALIFIED TO EDUCATE YOUR CHILDREN, BUT ALSO MANY ARE PARENTS AS WELL.

THEY WANT AND NEED TO HAVE OUR SCHOOLS BE SUCCESSFUL.

WHEN IS THE BOARD GOING TO START WORKING FOR OUR CHILDREN TO HAVE THE BEST EDUCATION POSSIBLE WITH HELPING OUR TEACHERS BECOME MORE SUCCESSFUL? WHEN IS OUR BOARD GOING TO LOOK AT WHAT WE CAN DO TO IMPROVE INSTEAD OF WHAT WE ARE SUPPOSEDLY DOING WRONG EACH AND EVERY DAY? HOW IS WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE LAST MONTH? BEEN BENEFITED FOR ANYONE IN THIS COMMUNITY? I AM NOTHING BUT ON BOARD FOR BEING TRANSPARENT.

EACH TEACHER, PRINCIPALS, STAFF MEMBER, AND THE SCHOOL BOARD OF WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS NEED TO BE OPEN AND HONEST WITH OUR PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

WE WANT EVERYONE TO WORK TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD OF THE CHILDREN.

IT NEEDS TO START HERE BY LEADING AN EXAMPLE FOR ALL OF US TO FOLLOW RIGHT, BY BEING OPEN AND HONEST WITH ALL MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, BY TELLING THE TRUTH TO ALL OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE INVESTED IN OUR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION, OUR BOARD NEEDS TO FOCUS ON WHAT IS BENEFICIAL AND WHAT IS GOING TO MAKE WARREN COUNTY, THE BEST SCHOOL SYSTEM IN VIRGINIA, NOT FALSE CLAIMS AND PROPAGANDA.

I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

AND I HOPE FROM THIS MOMENT FORWARD, EACH MEMBER WILL BE HONEST AND OPEN TO OUR COMMUNITY AND FOCUS ON OUR CHILDREN, NOT POLITICAL THEATER.

YEAR OLD CAME WITH ME AND WHEN HE LOOKED AT IT, HE SAID, WELL, YOU ALREADY TEACH US ALL THIS AT HOME.

THANK YOU, BRUNEL.

I GUESS I SHOULD BE HERE SAYING GOOD EVENING.

I'M FENELLA.

I AM A PARENT TOO, FOR CHILDREN THAT HAVE BEEN IN THE WARREN COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE LAST 25 YEARS ON AND OFF.

SO I'VE BEEN AROUND FOR AWHILE.

UH, I COME TO YOU AS A LONG-TIME PARENT OF THIS COUNTY.

MY CHILDREN HAVE ATTENDED SCHOOL HERE FOR, LIKE I SAID, 25 YEARS.

OUR FAMILY HAVE HOMESCHOOLED FOR PART OF THE TIME.

ONE OF MY CHILDREN ENDED UP GOING TO PRIVATE SCHOOL BECAUSE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM DIDN'T REALLY WORK FOR THEM.

BUT AT SOME POINT THEY WERE ALL IN THE WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

I AM HERE TO GIVE YOU MY 2 CENTS ABOUT THE SECOND STEP PROGRAM.

I WENT TO WARREN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL THE OTHER NIGHT.

AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT I GOT LOTS OF NOTICE.

I KNEW EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS I WAS GOING THERE FOR.

SO I DID GET THE EMAIL THAT WAS VERY CLEAR.

UM, AND I REVIEWED THE PROGRAM.

I THINK WE MIGHT HAVE BEEN EIGHT OR 10 PEOPLE THERE OF THE COMMUNITY THAT WAS THERE.

UM, A PERSON WHO HAD VOICE ISSUES WITH THE PROGRAM ON FACEBOOK LIKED IT THAT NIGHT.

AND, UH, REALLY MOST OF THE PEOPLE WERE POSITIVE.

I DID NOTICE TWO PEOPLE THAT WEREN'T HAPPY AND THEY MADE THAT VERY, VERY CLEAR.

I'M NOT SURE HOW MUCH THEY ACTUALLY LOOKED AT THE PROGRAM AT THE TIME OF THE MEETING.

CAUSE THEY WERE BUSY COMPLAINING.

UM, MY 11

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AND YES I DO.

WE HAVE HARD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT REAL STUFF FOR BREAKFAST AND FOR DINNER AND IN-BETWEEN AND I MEAN HARD STUFF.

I ASKED HIM IF HE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE GOOD TO ALSO HAVE THIS TAUGHT IN SCHOOL.

AND HE SAID, WELL, IT WOULD HELP US ALL BE BETTER SINCE EVERYONE DOES NOT GET THIS AT HOME.

MY CHILDREN, MY CHILD CAME TO ME.

ONE OF MY CHILDREN CAME TO ME WHEN HE WAS TWO AND A HALF.

MY OTHER CHILD CAME TO ME RIGHT BEFORE HE TURNED FOUR.

THEY'RE BOTH ADOPTED FROM FOSTER CARE.

UM, HIS BEGINNING, BOTH OF THEIR BEGINNINGS WERE TRAUMA FILLED AND THEY ARE STILL DEALING WITH SOME OF THAT TRAUMA AT 16 AND AT 11, IT LINGERS ON.

THAT'S WHY THIS PROGRAM IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

THIS IS A KID WHO FINDS A COAT FOR THE KID WITH A COAT THAT IS TORN AND HE BRINGS AN EXTRA COAT TO THEM BECAUSE HE FINDS ONE.

WE HAVE IN OUR CLOSET THAT NOBODY HAS WORN YET, OR HE PACKS THE NEXT TO ORANGE BECAUSE SOMEONE MIGHT JUST NEED A SMACK.

THIS IS A KID FULL OF COMPASSION.

EVERY SINGLE DAY, I REVIEWED ALL THE LESSONS AVAILABLE FOR ALL THREE GRADES.

AND I WAS SURPRISED THAT ANYONE WOULD HAVE ISSUES WITH ANY OF THE LESSONS ABOUT STANDING UP FOR OTHERS, HAVING EMPATHY AND SETTING GOALS FOR YOURSELF.

I TRUST THAT THE TEACHERS AND THE ADMINISTRATORS AT THE SCHOOLS WILL LOOK AT THE LESSONS AND DECIDE WHAT IS A GOOD LARGE GROUP LESSON AND SKIP THE ONES THAT MIGHT BE BETTER USED IN GUIDANCE IN SMALL GROUP SETTINGS.

MY SIXTH GRADER HAVE MISSED OUT ON ALMOST FIVE WEEKS OF THIS PROGRAM.

I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

OKAY, AMY FLORA.

GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS AMY FLORA AND I AM SPEAKING TODAY AS THE PRESIDENT OF SECONDARY EDUCATION FOR THE WARREN COUNTY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.

AND WE REPRESENT NEARLY 150 TEACHERS AND STAFF IN WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

I AM ALSO A MATHEMATICS TEACHER AT WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL.

THE PREVIOUS WCA PRESIDENT OFTEN SPOKE AT THESE MEETINGS AND IT'S BEEN SOMETHING I'VE BEEN MEANING TO DO FOR SOME TIME.

UH, I GUESS I'VE BEEN BUILDING SOME COURAGE.

IT IS SO MUCH EASIER TO JUST TALK ABOUT NUMBERS, BUT GIVEN THE CURRENT CLIMATE OF EDUCATION ACROSS THE ENTIRE NATION, I HAVE BEEN MOVED TO VOICE ON BEHALF OF THE MEMBERS.

THE WCEA REPRESENTS.

WE ARE IN UNPRECEDENTED AND INCREDIBLY FRAGILE TIMES WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATION, THE CHANGING AND GROWING CULTURES, THE PANDEMIC POLITICAL VIEWS, BUDGETS.

THESE ARE ALL CAUSING GREAT DIVISION ACROSS EVERY COMMUNITY.

THIS IS ESPECIALLY FELT IN THE CLASSROOM WHERE TEACHERS OFTEN FEEL THEIR INPUT, SAFETY NEEDS AND EXPERIENCE ARE MINIMIZED.

IF NOT ENTIRELY DISMISSED BECAUSE OF THIS SYSTEMS EVERYWHERE AND INCLUDING WARREN COUNTY ARE FACING SEVERE TEACHER SHORTAGES.

I WISH I COULD TELL YOU THAT AS I SPEAK TO OTHER TEACHERS, I SEE A CHANGE IN THE NEAR FUTURE, BUT I CANNOT.

EVERY ONE HERE IS DEDICATED TO PROVIDING THE BEST EDUCATION AND LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR THE YOUTH OF YOUTH OF WARREN COUNTY, THOUGH BELIEFS AND ACTIONS MAY DIFFER.

I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT WHAT WE WANT IS WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR STUDENTS.

TEACHERS ARE NO EXCEPTION TO THAT, BUT THE ENVIRONMENT HAS BECOME SO STRESSFUL AND SUBJECT TO CRITICISM AND POLITICS THAT THE ACTUAL PROCESS OF TEACHING AND SUBSEQUENTLY LEARNING IS BEING NEGATIVELY IMPACTED.

AND STILL TEACHERS ARE ASKED TO DO MORE AND MORE EVERY YEAR TEACHERS FROM ANOTHER COUNTY IN VIRGINIA, DECIDED TO PROTEST BY SIMPLY WORKING THEIR CONTRACTED HOURS.

CONSIDER THAT FOR A MOMENT, A PROTEST IS TO SIMPLY WORK THE HOURS YOU ARE PAID FOR.

I WOULD LIKE TO PUT THIS IN TERMS OF AN HOURLY POSITION, IF YOU WERE PAID BY THE HOUR AND YOUR BOSS SAID YOU HAD TO ROUTINELY WORK 3, 4, 5 EXTRA HOURS A DAY AND GIVE UP PARTS OF YOUR WEEKENDS AS WELL.

BUT NO, THAT WOULD NOT BE PART OF YOUR PAYCHECK.

HOW MANY PEOPLE WOULD STAY IN THAT JOB YEAR AFTER YEAR, BUT MANY TEACHERS DO AND THEY DESERVE THE RESPECT AND THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FOR DOING SO, BUT MANY ARE NOW TAKING THEIR TALENTS AND THEIR EXPERIENCE ELSEWHERE.

WE CANNOT CONTINUE DOWN THIS PATH AND BELIEVE WE WILL ARRIVE AT A SUSTAINABLE AND EFFECTIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.

RETAINING VALUABLE TEACHING STAFF IS IMPERATIVE.

SO AS YOU MAKE DECISIONS ON POLICIES, PLEASE CONSIDER THOSE THAT ARE AFFECTED MOST CONSIDER WHAT TEACHERS ARE SAYING, CONSIDER WHAT TEACHERS NEED, CONSIDER WHAT TEACHERS SUGGEST.

THEY KNOW TRUST THAT WE ARE IN THIS BECAUSE WE ARE COMMITTED

[00:30:01]

TO DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN FOR THE CHILDREN AND THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.

I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME, YOUR ATTENTION AND ALL OF YOUR EFFORTS.

THANK YOU, MICHAEL WILLIAMS. GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS MICHAEL WILLIAMS. I LIVE AT 1405 JEFFERSON AVENUE IN FRONT ROYAL.

I AM ALSO AN EMPLOYEE OF WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

I RECENTLY READ WHERE VIRGINIA GOVERNOR YUNCKEN HAS SET UP A HOTLINE FOR PARENTS TO REPORT CONCERNS AS THEY PERTAIN TO THEIR CHILDREN'S PUBLIC EDUCATION.

I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE ANY AND ALL PARENTS OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL CHILDREN TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES POSITIVE AS WELL AS NEGATIVE WITH OUR GOVERNOR.

HE SHOULD HEAR AND CONSIDER ALL SIDES AS SHOULD WE ALL PERSPECTIVE AS GOOD, SO LONG AS PEOPLE ARE HONEST, NOT USING HALF-TRUTHS MANIPULATED STATISTICS, NARRATIVE DRIVEN RHETORIC, OR DARE I SAY, MADE UP JIBBERISH JUST TO MAKE THEMSELVES FEEL GOOD ABOUT THEIR NARRATIVE AND OR TO SIMPLY GET OTHERS.

NEEDLESSLY RUNG UP THE EMAIL TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK.

IT'S HELPED EDUCATION@GOVERNORDOTVIRGINIA.GOV.

I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE PARENTS TO CITE ANY INSTANCE OF ONE OF OUR TEACHERS OR COUNSELORS FINDING THE TIME TO TEACH ANYTHING OTHER THAN PRE-APPROVED AND RESPECT THE CURRICULUMS TO INCLUDE AGE APPROPRIATE PORTIONS OF SECOND STEP SEL.

THIS PROGRAM IS ONLY CONTROVERSIAL BECAUSE OF THE MISINFORMATION CURRENTLY BEING SPREAD ABOUT IT.

OUR COUNSELORS AND ADMINISTRATORS HAVE GONE TO GREAT STRIDES TO ENSURE THAT ANY HINT OF DIVISIVE RHETORIC WILL NOT BE TOLERATED NOR BE PART OF THIS CURRICULUM AND THAT ALL PARENTS MAINTAIN THE RIGHT TO OPT THEIR CHILD OUT.

IF THEY SO CHOOSE, I WOULD ONLY RESPECTFULLY AND KINDLY ENCOURAGE PARENTS TO ACTUALLY FAMILIARIZE THEMSELVES WITH THE CURRICULUM, ASK THEIR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS AND COUNSELORS QUESTIONS ABOUT WHICH AREAS THEY HAVE CONCERNS AND THEN FORM THEIR OWN OPINION AS OPPOSED TO EMOTIONALLY DRIVEN ONES BASED UPON MISINFORMATION PROVIDED BY THOSE WITH A POLITICAL AGENDA.

ONCE YOU HUMBLY AND GRACIOUSLY COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT ALL THAT OUR WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC EDUCATORS TO INCLUDE, OUR AMAZING COUNSELORS ARE DOING IS ENCOURAGING OUR CHILDREN TO RESPECT ONE ANOTHER, TO INCLUDE THEMSELVES AND TO TRY TO HAVE A CIVIL CONVERSATION WITH SOMETHING OTHER THAN THEIR THUMBS, THEN PERHAPS YOU WILL GRACIOUSLY CONSIDER USING THE TIP LIE TO REPORT THE TRUTH ABOUT WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AS OPPOSED TO CONTINUING TO BELIEVE IN USE CONFUSED AND MISGUIDED DIVISIVE RHETORIC AGAINST OUR CARING AND COMPASSIONATE PROFESSIONALS.

IF WE HAPPEN TO HAVE THE LUXURY, TO SHARE AND ENCOURAGE KINDNESS, COMPASSION, AND TREATING OTHERS WITH THE SAME LEVEL OF GRACE AND DIGNITY WITH WHICH THEY WOULD WANT TO BE TREATED THEMSELVES, YOU KNOW, THAT DO UNTO OTHERS THING AND USE A WELL-RESPECTED TO DO SUCH, PLEASE KINDLY SUPPORT US IN THESE EFFORTS AS WELL.

AND PLEASE HUMBLY UNDERSTAND THAT NOT ALL CHILDREN IN OUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTY HAVE THE LUXURIES, WHICH SO MANY OF US, INCLUDING MYSELF, MYSELF, TAKE SO EASILY FOR GRANTED, ESPECIALLY AS IT PERTAINS TO A WHOLESOME AND FAMILY ENVIRONMENT.

AND WHILE WE'RE AT IT, PLEASE CONSIDER USING THE RESOURCE HASHTAG THANK A TEACHER AND YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS WHILE WE ARE FAR FROM PERFECT.

WE ACTUALLY ADMIT THIS WHILE WE DON'T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS.

WE ACTUALLY ADMIT THIS LIKE YOU, WE LOVE AND CARE VERY MUCH ABOUT YOUR CHILDREN.

JUST LIKE WE DO OUR OWN.

I STAND HERE TODAY AS THE PROUD PARENT OF AN E WILSON MORRISON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GRADUATE, WHO IS NOW BEEN DOING VERY SUCCESSFUL IN COLLEGE.

WE WANT AND DESIRE YOUR INVOLVEMENT IN YOUR CHILD'S EDUCATION AND WANT THEM TO LEARN AS MUCH READING, WRITING, AND ARITHMETIC AS POSSIBLE WHILE ALSO BEING SOCIALLY SOMETHING OTHER THAN SOCIALLY INEPT.

ARE QUESTIONED AT EVERY TURN, WHEN TEACHERS FEEL UNSUPPORTED, WHEN WHAT HAPPENS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS BECOMES POLITICAL AS IT HAS IN OUR BOARD.

NO GOLFING, PLEASE.

THE REVEREND KRISTY MCMELLON GOODWIN.

HI.

I AM REVEREND CHRISTY MACMILLAN GOODWIN.

I LIVE AT SIX MASSEY STREET HERE IN FRONT ROYAL, WHICH IS IN THE FORT DISTRICT.

AND I'M THE PASTOR AT THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH HERE IN FRONT ROYAL.

OUR SON RAY GRADUATED FROM SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL IN 2020.

BOTH OF OUR CHILDREN ARE PRODUCTS OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS, EITHER IN SOUTH CAROLINA, WHERE WE MOVED FROM OR HERE IN FRONT ROYAL.

MY HUSBAND SHANE HAS BEEN A PUBLIC SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR OR TEACHER, UM, FOR OVER 26 YEARS.

AND I AM A PROUD PROPONENT OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

I HAVE SERVED ON DIFFERENT COMMITTEES IN SOUTH CAROLINA TO HELP CHOOSE THE SEX ED CURRICULUM.

I'M ALSO SERVED AS THE CHAIR OF THE STATE MANDATED SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT COUNCIL AT OUR CHILDREN'S SCHOOL.

AND ALSO AS AN OFFICER IN THE PTO.

AND WHEN OUR SON WAS IN THE BAND AT SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL, I WAS VICE CHAIR OF THE BAND BOOSTERS.

SO I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU THIS DAY AS A BOARD TO SEE YOUR WORK AS SUPPORTING THE HARD WORK OF OUR TEACHERS AND THEIR ADMINISTRATORS DO EACH DAY.

RECENTLY, AS INGRID SAID, THERE WAS A NATIONAL STUDY THAT SAID THAT OVER 50%, 5% OF OUR PUBLIC EDUCATORS ARE CONSIDERING LEAVING THE PROFESSION EARLIER THAN THEY HAD PLANNED.

AND AS ONE WHO IS MARRIED TO THE PERSON WHO HAS TO FILL ALL OF THIS POSITIONS, LET'S DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO PREVENT OUR STAFF AND OUR TEACHERS FROM LEAVING WHEN SCHOOL BOARDS FIGHT, WHEN TEACHERS

[00:35:01]

MEETINGS IS NO WONDER THAT OUR TEACHERS AND OUR PUBLIC STAFF WANT TO LEAVE.

AND THAT IS NOT GOOD FOR THE GUY THAT I'M MARRIED TO AND ESPECIALLY FOR OUR STUDENTS.

SO I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL LET'S WORK TOGETHER AS PRESIDENT OF THE WARREN COUNTY FRONT ROYAL MINISTERIAL ASSOCIATION.

ONE OF OUR MAIN GOALS IS TO SUPPORT OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

WE'RE PROVIDING LUNCHES NEXT WEEK FOR THE TEACHERS AND STAFF AT EAGLESON MORRISON AS ONE EXAMPLE.

SO I WANT TO ENCOURAGE EACH OF YOU IN YOUR IMPORTANT WORK.

PLEASE DON'T MAKE THE JOB OF OUR TEACHERS ANY HARDER.

PLEASE KEEP POLITICS OUT OF OUR MEETINGS AND PLEASE DO WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR CHILDREN, NOT JUST YOUR INDIVIDUAL CHILDREN, BUT ALL OF OUR CHILDREN.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU, REVEREND VALERIE HAYES.

GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS VALERIE HAYES.

I'M THE RECTOR OF CALVARY EPISCOPAL CHURCH HERE IN FRONT ROYAL.

I'M A RESIDENT OF WARREN COUNTY AT 78 SUMMIT MANOR DRIVE.

UM, I TOO, AS A MEMBER OF OUR MINISTERIAL ASSOCIATION AND, UM, AND THE PASTOR OF A CHURCH AM HERE TO SUPPORT, UM, OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION, UM, OUR TEACHERS AND OUR STUDENTS.

UM, I HAVE RETIRED TEACHERS AND COUNSELORS AND MY PARISH.

UM, WE ALL KNOW HOW DIFFICULT THESE TWO YEARS HAVE BEEN.

UM, LAST WEEK, TUESDAY, I WAS AT THE MEMORIAL, UM, FOR THE YOUNG MEN, UM, FOR ALLEN AND NATE, WHO'S STILL MISSING.

I SPEAK TONIGHT, ALSO IN SUPPORT OF THIS CURRICULUM FOR OUR SCHOOL COUNSELORS AND OUR TEACHERS.

I, UM, AM PRODUCT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

MY TWO SONS ARE NOW OLDER, BUT THEY WERE A PRODUCT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

WHEN I WAS A STUDENT IN MY PARENTS.

UH, WE EXPERIENCED DIVORCE SCHOOLS WERE THE SAFE PLACE.

TEACHERS AND COUNSELORS WERE THE SAFE PEOPLE COMING HERE TO WARREN COUNTY, UM, AND BEING WHERE OUR CHURCHES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW THIS SUMMER.

UM, I CAN STAND AND I CAN SEE TWO OF OUR APARTMENT BUILDINGS AND GOT TO KNOW THOSE CHILDREN, THE SUMMERS, THEY CAME IN AND SPENT TIME AND COLORED AND HAD SNACKS, UM, OF THE CHILDREN I MET.

THEY ALL WERE FROM BROKEN HOMES.

UM, ONE OF THEM WHO WAS STILL IN MIDDLE SCHOOL HAD ALREADY EXPERIENCED SEXUAL ASSAULT, OUR STUDENTS, REGARDLESS OF THE RELIGIOUS TRADITION OF THEIR FAMILIES, WHICH MAY BE NONE, THE MAKEUP OF THEIR FAMILIES, THEIR SOCIOECONOMIC STANDING, THEY ALL NEED THE SUPPORT OF OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR COUNSELORS AND THIS CURRICULUM, THIS CURRICULUM, IS IT NEW? IT IS WELL VETTED.

IT IS PUT TOGETHER BY PROFESSIONALS.

IT ADDRESSES BASIC ACROSS THE BOARD SKILLS AND LIFE SKILLS FOR OUR STUDENTS.

BECAUSE AS WE'VE ALREADY HEARD TONIGHT, NOT ALL OF OUR FAMILIES COME FROM HEALTHY NUCLEAR FAMILIES.

IF OUR CHILDREN AREN'T ABLE TO LEARN THIS AT HOME, WHICH MANY AREN'T BECAUSE THEIR PARENTS ALSO HAVEN'T LEARNED IT.

SO I ALSO COME FORWARD TO THE SCHOOL BOARD TO LEAVE PARTISAN POLITICS.

AND I STAND HERE AS A PERSON OF FAITH AND AN ORDAINED MINISTER SAYING MY PARTICULAR VIEWS ARE APPROPRIATE.

MY CHURCH, THEY ARE NOT APPROPRIATE TO BE IMPOSED UPON A PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.

AND IF THEY AGREED THAT ANY PARENT AT ANY TIME CAN OPT THEIR CHILDREN OUT OF SOMETHING, UM, THAT IS NOT PART OF WHAT THEY BELIEVE.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR GOOD WORK.

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR TEACHERS AND OUR COUNSELORS AND OUR STUDENTS.

THANK YOU, SAM BENDER.

GOOD EVENING BOARD.

THANKS FOR, UH, GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

UM, AND I'LL ALSO SAY, UH, YES, GO CHECK ON THE TEACHERS.

THEY'RE NOT OKAY.

THEY WORK ALL REALLY HARD.

SO CHECK IN AND MAKE SURE THEY GOT WHAT THEY NEED AND STUFF.

SO, UM, WHAT I REALLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS THERE'S THE MASS THING I KNOW IS, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S BEEN, UH, UP IN THE AIR, UH, BACK WHEN WE HAD A, UH, GOVERNOR MADE THE EXECUTIVE ORDER WILL BE ALL BOW DOWN TO THE MASS THING, WHICH IS FINE.

UM, BUT NOW WE'VE GOT NEW EXECUTIVE OLDER AND NOBODY WANTS TO SEEM TO, UH, LISTEN TO THAT ONE.

UM, IF YOU ALL WANT TO WEAR A MASK WEAR MASKS, BUT DON'T

[00:40:01]

MAKE THE PEOPLE THAT WON'T WANT TO WEAR A MASK, ESPECIALLY THE KIDS.

I DON'T, I FEEL LIKE, UM, DON'T, DON'T LET ARE CALLING ANIMALS ON CAPITOL HILL, USE OUR KIDS AS A WEAPON BECAUSE THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON AND LET OUR KIDS BREEZE.

IF YOU DON'T WANT TO WEAR A MASK, WEAR A MASK, BUT DON'T MAKE US WEAR A MASK.

IF WE DON'T WANT TO, UM, THEY DON'T SEEM TO WORK.

THEY'RE STILL GETTING POSITIVE CASES AND STUFF.

SO IT'S NOT WHAT IT'S ALL RACKED UP TO BE.

I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH THIS.

IF THIS CONTINUES FROM AFTER A NIGHT THAT WE HAVE TO WEAR A MASK, I'M GOING TO FIGHT IT AS HARD AS I CAN FIGHT IT, INCLUDING COURT.

IT THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES.

AND IF THIS GOES INTO NEXT YEAR, UH, I'LL CONSIDER NOT PUTTING MY KIDS IN PUBLIC SCHOOL ANYMORE BECAUSE IT IS PRETTY SAD THAT WE ARE TREATING OUR KIDS THIS WAY, JUST SO THAT US ADULTS CAN FIGHT.

AND I HOPE, UM, I HOPE THE DECISIONS MADE TONIGHT THAT WE CAN ALL BREEZE.

SHANNON FOLDER.

MY NAME IS SHANNON FELLER AND I'M A MOM OF FIVE CHILDREN IN THE COUNTY.

WELL, THREE ARE IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM TO HAVE YET TO GET THERE.

I CONSIDERED STANDING BEFORE YOU AND PONTIFICATING ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE THAT OUR CHILDREN HAVE HAD WITH SECOND STEP OR EVEN EXPRESSING THE DESPERATE NEED THAT OUR COMMUNITY HAS FOR A SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL LEARNING PROGRAM.

WE'RE PERHAPS EVEN REFERENCING THE NUMBER OF TIMES OUR SON'S OT AND COUNSELOR HAVE UTILIZED SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL LEARNING, MUCH TO HIS AND HIS PEERS BENEFIT.

BUT THEN I PAUSED AND I THOUGHT ABOUT EXACTLY WHAT WE ARE DISCUSSING HERE.

EDUCATION.

MY DEGREE IS IN THE CULINARY ARTS.

I'M NOT AN EDUCATOR.

I DON'T PRETEND TO BE ONE.

I CAN TELL YOU EXACTLY WHY YOU'RE CREME BRULEE, WON'T SET, BUT I DO NOT HAVE THE EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND TO TRULY EXPRESS WHAT SEL DOES FOR STUDENTS.

ASIDE FROM MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS AND EXPERIENCE, WE REQUIRE OUR EDUCATORS TO HOLD DEGREES CERTIFICATIONS, AND TO PARTICIPATE IN CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR A REASON.

SO I SPENT MY AFTERNOON TODAY, READING SCHOLARLY ARTICLES ABOUT ACTUAL STUDIES THAT WERE DONE IN REGARDS TO SEL ARTICLES WITH CITATIONS REFERENCES THAT WERE WRITTEN BY TEAMS OF PEOPLE AT PLACES LIKE HARVARD, NOT YOUTUBE, ACTUAL STUDIES AND THEIR RESULTS.

IN FACT, IN AN ARTICLE WRITTEN BY JONATHAN COHEN, FROM HARVARD, HE ARGUES THAT THE GOALS OF EDUCATION NEED TO BE REFRAMED TO PRIORITIZE NOT ONLY ACADEMIC LEARNING, BUT ALSO SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL COMPETENCIES, SERVING THE CURRENT STATE OF RESEARCH IN THE FIELDS OF SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL EDUCATION, CHARACTER EDUCATION, AND SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH IN THE UNITED STATES.

COHEN SUGGESTS THAT THE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE PROVIDE THE FOUNDATION FOR PARTICIPATION IN A DEMOCRACY AND AS WELL AS AN IMPROVED QUALITY OF LIFE, COHEN, DISCUSSES, CONTEMPORARY BEST PRACTICES AND POLICY IN RELATION TO CREATING SELF AND CARING SCHOOL CLIMATES, AS WELL AS HOMESCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS.

IT WAS ALSO PARTICULARLY INTRIGUED BY AN ARTICLE DISCUSSING A STUDY FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.

THIS ARTICLE PRESENTS FINDINGS FROM A META ANALYSIS OF 213 SCHOOL-BASED SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL LEARNING PROGRAMS INVOLVING MORE THAN 270,000 KINDERGARTEN THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS COMPARED TO THE CONTROLS.

THE SEL PARTICIPANTS DEMONSTRATED SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL SKILLS, ATTITUDES, BEHAVIOR, AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE THAT REFLECTED A 16% POINT GAIN AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT FINDINGS IN THIS ARTICLE ADD TO THE GROWING EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE REGARDING THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF SEL PROGRAMS, POLICYMAKERS, EDUCATORS, SCHOOL, BOARD MEMBERS, SUCH AS YOURSELF AND THE P IN THE PUBLIC CAN CONTRIBUTE TO HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT OF OUR CHILDREN BY SUPPORTING THE INCORPORATION OF EVIDENCE-BASED SEL PROGRAMMING.

WHAT I DID NOT FIND IN ANY OF THE 18 ARTICLES FROM THE WILEY LIBRARY THAT ALL CAME FROM HIGHER EDUCATION FACILITIES WAS A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY OR CHILDREN PARTICIPATING IN THESE STUDIES, NOT A SINGLE MENTION OF ANYTHING THAT COULD EVEN BE CONSIDERED BAD, LET ALONE DETRIMENTAL.

WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY CURRENTLY IS THE WORST EXAMPLE OF POLITICS AND POLITICAL POLITICAL BUZZWORDS, INFILTRATING A SPACE THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE SACRED POLITICS AND DIVISION DO NOT BELONG IN THE ROOM WHEN DISCOVER.

AND THANK YOU, EVERYONE KIND OF KEEPING EVERYONE'S BEING GREAT WITH KIND OF STAYING SILENT.

JUST IF YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE, IF WE CAN JUST BE QUIET AND RESPECTFUL.

THAT'S PERFECT.

AND THE BOARD AND CITIZEN.

JANET BROWN THANK YOU.

AND MADAM CHAIRMAN, THANK YOU.

[00:45:01]

UM, MY NAME IS JANET BROWN.

I LIVE IN BENTONVILLE ACTUALLY IN LIMINGTON.

UM, AND I TAUGHT IN WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

IN FACT, KRISTEN WAS ONE OF MY STUDENTS.

UM, I DO BELIEVE THAT WE ARE ALL SUFFERING IN THIS TIME OF COVID.

WE'VE ALL HAD TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS, THINK OF HEALTHCARE WORKERS.

MY GOODNESS, YOU KNOW, THERE WE, THE PUBLIC HAD SHOWN ITS APPRECIATION FOR THEM OFTEN.

UH, BUT THEN LOOK AT TEACHERS.

I CAN'T IMAGINE TEACHING RIGHT NOW.

UH, YOU HAVE TO ALL OF A SUDDEN BE A TECHNOLOGY EXPERT AND TEACH VIRTUALLY, WHICH IS NOT WHAT YOU SIGNED UP TO DO, OR THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU'RE BACK TEACHING IN THE CLASSROOM OR YOU'RE DOING BOTH.

I THINK IT'S VERY, VERY DIFFICULT FOR THEM, BUT NOW THEY AND OUR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS ARE BEING ASKED OVER AND OVER AGAIN TO DEFEND MINOR DECISIONS.

ACTUALLY, UH, I DIGRESS HERE.

THE, UH, SECOND STEP PROGRAM IS NOT USED BY EVERY COUNSELOR OR EVERY SCHOOL THEY PICK AND CHOOSE WHAT THEY WANT TO USE.

SO WE ARE DEPENDING UPON THE COUNSELORS, THIS IS A SMALL PIECE OF THE PROGRAM.

UH, SO ANYWAY, UH, I THINK WE NEED TO STOP QUESTIONING OUR PROFESSIONALS DECISIONS IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, RATHER THAN SPEND OUR TIME AND ENERGY LOOKING FOR THINGS WE CAN CRITICIZE.

WE SHOULD BE ASKING, HOW CAN WE HELP? AND WE SHOULD BE DOING ANYTHING WE CAN TO BE SURE THAT TEACHERS AND STUDENTS ARE NOT EXPOSED TO COVID AND ARE SAFE.

KNOWN AS THE GOVERNMENT EDUCATION MONOPOLY IN AMERICA.

THANK YOU, MIKE MAYER, CHICK CHICK CHICK CHICK CHICK, MIKE MAYER, 1 0 8 PEBBLE LANE FROM RURAL VIRGINIA.

GOOD EVENING BOARD LOWLY COMMONERS OF WARREN COUNTY IN ANY FILTHY RHETT FEDERAL AGENTS TASKED WITH MONITORING THIS MEETING TO AVOID GETTING THE TIME LIMIT BUZZER.

AGAIN, LET'S GET RIGHT INTO THIS WITH SOME RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 2022 WCP S RESOLUTIONS, ONE REVERSED THE REVERSAL AND TRANSGENDER POLICY AND ELIMINATE ALL CELEBRATION OF MENTAL ILLNESS DISGUISED AS INDIVIDUALITY IN OUR SCHOOLS, ELIMINATE AND BAN EXPLICITLY PROMOTION OF IDEOLOGY THAT IS ANTITHETICAL TO SCIENCE.

AND THE SIMPLE CONCEPT THE BOYS HAVE A PENIS AND GIRLS HAVE A VAGINA EMBRACED SANITY TO ELIMINATE ALL EMPLOYEES WHOSE JOB FUNCTION FALLS WITHIN THE REALM OF DIVERSITY EQUITY, INCLUSION, OR ANY OTHER RIDICULOUS CONCEPT.

THEY CAN CERTAINLY USE EVERY BIT OF HELP THEY CAN GET IN TERMS OF EQUIPMENT AND PERSONNEL THAT IS ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THREE, MAKE PHYSICAL EDUCATION.

GREAT.

AGAIN, CLIMB SOME ROPES AND DO SOME MILD CONCUSSION OR TWO WITH A RED RUBBER BALL.

MAKE THESE KIDS BREAK A SWEAT, AND LET'S PUT A DENT IN THE EPIDEMIC OF OBESITY IN GENERAL, LETHARGY IN OUR CHILDREN FOR, AT A MINIMUM, BRING BACK PARENTS BEING ALLOWED TO VISIT CLASSROOMS MORE, PREFERABLY PROMOTE IN-PERSON PARENTAL PARTICIPATION IN OUR SCHOOLS.

STOP GIVING US A REASON TO BELIEVE YOU'RE BEING SNEAKY AND HIDING SOMETHING FROM US.

FIVE.

I THINK BEGIN EACH DAY WITH THE NATIONAL ANTHEM BLARING OVER THE PA SYSTEM TO BE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY ALL CLASSES, PERFORMING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE IN PATRIOTIC UNISON, PROMOTE SOCIAL COHESION THROUGH A SHARED NATIONAL PRIDE LAST BUT NOT LEAST MAKE A PROMISE THAT YOU AS A SCHOOL BOARD WILL WORK TIRELESSLY TO PUT THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR CHILDREN.

FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD, NOT THAT OF TEACHERS UNIONS, STATE AFFILIATED ENTITIES OR ANY OTHER GROUP.

THERE CAN BE NO OBJECTIVE, BUT TO DO WHAT IS FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE EDUCATION OF OUR CHILDREN IN THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM.

ANY ARGUMENT TO THE CONTRARY IS AN INSULT TO EVERY TAXPAYER WHOSE HARD EARNED DOLLARS ARE FORCIBLY EXTRACTED AND APPLIED TO THIS OVERFUNDED AND UNDERPERFORMING DISASTER

[00:50:01]

I'D GO ON, BUT TIME IS CLEARLY OF THE ESSENCE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH AS ALWAYS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK MINE.

GOD BLESS AMERICA.

GOD BLESS WARREN COUNTY.

AND A QUICK ADDENDUM.

SEL IS A TROJAN HORSE PROGRAM, ASKED THE PARENTS IN LATIN AND FAIRFAX WHERE THEY'VE BEEN PITY PIGGYBACKING ON THE CURRICULUM.

MAYBE LEAVE THE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING UP TO THE PARENTS.

WHAT A CONCEPT THAT IS.

AND, UH, NOT ALL TEACHERS ARE HEROES.

SO GET AHOLD OF YOURSELVES FOLKS.

WE ALL WORK OVERTIME AND YOU WOULDN'T DO SO WELL IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR, AS YOU MIGHT THINK YOU WOULD.

THE FINAL SPEAKER SIGNED UP IN ADVANCE IS HEATHER SPENCER HI, I'M HEATHER SPENCER, UM, SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT.

I HAVE THREE CHILDREN AND WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

I'M A WARREN COUNTY GRADUATE MYSELF.

MY CHILDREN HAVE BEEN ATTENDING WARREN COUNTY SCHOOLS FOR 12 YEARS.

I THINK NOW MORE THAN EVER IN THE AGE OF SOCIAL MEDIA WHERE CHILDREN THINK THEY CAN SAY WHATEVER THEY WANT BEHIND A SCREEN WITHOUT RECOURSE.

SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL LEARNING IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT THEY LEARN THAT EVERY CHILD IS EQUAL AND DESERVES FAIR TREATMENT.

CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY NEED THIS CURRICULUM.

IT'S A VERY FOOD INSECURE COMMUNITY, POVERTY STRICKEN COMMUNITY AND CHILDREN.

DON'T ALWAYS GET TO GO HOME TO A WARM BED.

TEACHERS DON'T GO INTO TEACHING FOR THE MONEY OR THE ACCOLADES.

AND THEY CERTAINLY DON'T ACCEPT POSITIONS IN WARREN COUNTY FOR THE SALARY.

THESE TEACHERS ARE HERE BECAUSE THEY LOVE TEACHING AND THEY LOVE OUR CHILDREN AND THEY WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

AND I FEAR WE'RE REALLY GONNA PUSH OUT THE ONES WHO ARE DEDICATED BY PLACING THIS BURDEN ON THEM.

AND IT'S NOTHING MORE THAN A POLITICAL SHOW BASED ON CONSPIRACIES RATHER THAN ACTUAL RESEARCH OF SCHOLARLY, PEER REVIEWED JOURNALS AND ARTICLES, WHICH ARE EASILY AVAILABLE.

MY YOUNGEST UPON REENTERING THE CLASSROOM AFTER GOING VIRTUAL BEGAN HAVING PANIC ATTACKS AND HIS TEACHER REALLY GUIDED THEM THROUGH IT.

SHE HELPED, SHE REACHED OUT TO ME AND I REALLY APPRECIATED IT.

AND I ALSO HAVE A CHILD WITH AUTISM WHO IS PRONE TO BULLYING DUE TO HIS LACK OF SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL ABILITIES, WHICH WE DO WORK ON AT HOME.

BUT I'M AFRAID THAT NOT EVERY CHILDREN IS TAUGHT THAT THESE BEHAVIORS THAT SOME CHILDREN DISPLAY ARE OKAY, THAT NOT EVERYBODY IS BUBBLY OR SOCIAL, THAT SOME CHILDREN JUST WANT TO BE QUIET.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT NEURO-TYPICAL CHILDREN UNDERSTAND THAT ALL CHILDREN DESERVE EQUALITY.

AND I HOPE THAT YOU'LL CONSIDER KEEPING THIS CURRICULUM IN WARREN COUNTY AS IT SEEMS THAT MOST OF US DO.

THAT'S IT FROM YOUR LIST, MR. VALENTINE, THAT WAS THE LAST SPEAKER THAT SIGNED UP.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK THIS EVENING? OKAY.

TO HIGHER LEVEL OR HIGHER ORDER OR ON THE MASLOW TREE, UH, HIGHER COGNITIVE FUNCTIONS.

UH, MY NAME IS ALGON.

I'M A TEACHER, A DIFFERENT COUNTY, BUT FATHER OF A SEVEN YEAR OLD AND A SOMEONE WHO HAS SOME EXPERIENCE USING SECOND STEP AND SOME OF THE OTHER SEL PROGRAMS. I THINK THAT, UH, THE, UM, THE, THE CAREFUL CONSIDERATION, ESPECIALLY BY THE COMMUNITY WITH, UH, THE STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED, THE GREATEST DEGREE POSSIBLE IS VERY NECESSARY FROM WHAT I HEAR FROM A LOT OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE DRESSED YOU IS THAT THE TEACHERS KNOW WHAT'S IN IT AND THEY ARE IN FAVOR OF IT.

THIS IS NOT TRUE IN FAIRFAX COUNTY WHERE I TEACH.

IT'S NOT TRUE IN LOUD CATTY.

THESE WERE PUT OUT THERE BEFORE ANYBODY GOT A GOOD LOOK AT THEM.

AND, UH, I CAN SAY FROM MY PART, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE COME TO LIGHT, FOR EXAMPLE, THE SURVEYS THAT ARE GIVEN TO THE STUDENTS WITHOUT PARENTS' KNOWLEDGE OR CONSENT, REALLY, BUT EVEN IF THEY DO CONSENT, THE TEACHERS ALL HAVE ACCESS TO THAT INFORMATION, INDISCRIMINATELY SUCH AS I DO.

AND, UH, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE PARENTS MAY OR MAY NOT DIDN'T EVEN CONSIDER WHEN THEY GAVE CONSENT TO THESE THINGS.

IN ADDITION, UM, SOME OF THE EMOTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE EDUCATION, FOR EXAMPLE, THE PSYCHOLOGICAL UNDERPINNINGS, THE THEORIES THAT UNDERGIRD THE PSYCHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS ARE NOT THINGS THAT THERE IS COMMON AGREEMENT ON.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE CAME OFF IN A LESSON THAT I HAD TO ADMINISTER WAS THAT, UM, UH, THAT STUDENTS SHOULD EMBRACE, UM, AUTHENTIC EMOTIONS INSTEAD OF TRYING TO CONTROL AND HARNESS THEIR EMOTIONS

[00:55:01]

AND THIS IS JUST PRESENTED INDISCRIMINATELY.

UM, I WOULD SAY WITHOUT A LOT OF RESEARCH BEHIND IT, BUT, UH, NONETHELESS, UH, THAT PARENTS SHOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO CAREFULLY CONSIDER ALL THAT STUFF TO THE BEST, TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITY.

BECAUSE, UH, EVEN AS A TEACHER, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS GETTING INTO, SHOWED SOME OF THE VIDEOS.

AND, UH, AND, AND THEN, AND THEN WAS LIKE, WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO TELL YOU EXACTLY ABOUT THAT, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT YOU SHOULD REALLY HARNESS YOUR EMOTIONAL DRIVE TO FURTHER YOUR, YOU KNOW, YOUR, YOUR, YOUR HIGHER LEVEL FUNCTIONS, YOUR WILL, YOUR, SOME OF THOSE THINGS.

SO I, I WOULD, UH, ENDORSE THE VIEW THAT MORE CAREFUL CONSIDERATION IS NEEDED, ESPECIALLY BY STAKEHOLDERS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT PARENTS SHOULD REALLY BE BROUGHT IN.

AND, UH, AND, AND EVEN FRANKLY, THE TEACHERS SHOULD, SHOULD HAVE A FULLER ACCESS TO THE, TO THE FULL PROGRAM.

AND I SAY THIS AS SOMEBODY WHO USES A PANORAMA EDUCATION AND, UH, AND HAS SEEN THE SECOND STEP LESSONS.

AND, UH, I MEAN, I HAVEN'T DONE AN EXHAUSTIVE SURVEY, BUT I THINK THERE'S RE THERE ARE REASONS FOR, FOR, UH, FOR, FOR CAREFUL CONSIDERATION OF ALL OF THIS.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THIS EVENING? OKAY.

HELLO.

MY NAME IS JEAN MCGURK.

I LIVE IN FRONT ROYAL AND, UM, SOME OF THE TERMS THAT BEEN USED TONIGHT, LIKE POLITICAL, ET CETERA, I THINK ARE A LITTLE OFF.

I THINK EVERYONE HERE IS CONCERNED THAT ALL THE STUDENTS IN WARREN COUNTY GET THE BEST EDUCATION.

UM, I FIRST BECAME AWARE OF THIS WHOLE, UH, C L SYSTEM IN AN ARTICLE THAT I SAW, UH, IN A, IN A NON NATIONAL PUBLICATION ABOUT THIS TEACHER IN UTAH, WHO WAS A MUSIC TEACHER WHO RESIGNED AND HIS RESIGNATION WAS VERY PUBLIC.

AND HE GAVE MANY REASONS WHY HE FOUND THIS PROGRAM TO BE A PROBLEM THAT HE HAD TO RESIGN HIS JOB AND HIS CAREER.

UM, BECAUSE HE SAID THERE WERE DANGEROUS THINGS IN HERE, AND HE COULDN'T TEACH THAT TO THE CHILDREN IN HIS CARE.

SO I THINK THOSE OF US THAT HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS ARE ONLY LOOKING FOR WHAT YOU, I THINK I HEARD PROMISED A WEEK OR TWO AGO THAT YOU WOULD GIVE ENOUGH TIME FOR THE PARENTS AND THE COMMUNITY TO ACTUALLY LOOK AT THIS STUFF AND SEE IF THEY AGREE THAT THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG OR THERE'S NOTHING WRONG.

CAUSE I WENT TO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL MEETING LAST WEEK.

IT WAS AN HOUR, BUT THEY HAD A, UM, PRESENTATION AT THE BEGINNING.

SO SAY YOU HAD 45 MINUTES AND THIS PROGRAM IS SO DEEP.

YOU CAN'T LOOK AT ANYTHING.

YOU'RE JUST GETTING USED TO HOW TO FLIP THE BOOK IN 45 MINUTES.

SO I THINK WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR IS MORE TIME AND MORE AVAILABILITY FOR THE PROGRAM SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY LOOK AT IT AND THEN DECIDE WHETHER SAM CROWLEY IN UTAH WAS WRONG OR WHETHER HE WAS RIGHT.

AND WE NEED TO LOOK FURTHER AT THIS SYSTEM.

ANYONE ELSE THIS EVENING? UH, I HAVE ONE PERSON IN FRONT OF YOU.

WE HAVE TO PROVIDE THEM A SAFE SPACE WHERE THEY CAN GROW AND THEY CAN FLOURISH AND PROGRAMS LIKE THESE DON'T HAVE, THEY'RE NOT DESIGNED TO INDOCTRINATE OUR CHILDREN.

YOU HELLO? STEVIE HUBBARD, 1169 ELM STREET.

I HAVE A DAUGHTER AT SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL.

UM, I WASN'T GOING TO SPEAK TONIGHT, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A FEW BRIEF POINTS, UM, AS SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN AN ACTIVE VOLUNTEER, UM, AND SERVED ON THE PTO AND BEEN VERY INVOLVED IN OUR SCHOOLS SINCE, UH, I GUESS I CAME BACK HERE IN 2011 OR 12.

UM, I CAN TELL YOU, UM, I'M REALLY GLAD TO SEE PEOPLE GETTING INVOLVED, BUT EVEN AS WE WERE REVIEWING THESE PROGRAMS THAT ARE IN QUESTION TONIGHT, UM, THE TURNOUT TO TRY TO FIND OUT MORE WITH DISMAL, UM, WORKING WITH THESE CHILDREN, WHICH MANY OF OUR CHILDREN HAVE HOME ISSUES THAT THE AVERAGE FAMILY COULDN'T EVEN BEGIN TO FATHOM.

AND WE HAVE A QUITE, I MEAN, WE HAVE A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF CHILDREN THAT ARE DEALING WITH THESE ISSUES.

UM, THEY NEED THESE PROGRAMS, THEY NEED THEM, THEY NEED THE SUPPORT OF THEIR FAMILY.

WE'RE NOT IN A TIME WE CAN, THE FAMILY UNIT IS DETERIORATING AT HOME AND WE CAN ALL AGREE ON THAT.

AND WE PROBABLY WILL DISAGREE ON HOW WE GOT THERE, RIGHT.

BUT IT IS HAPPENING.

AND SO WHAT DO WE DO FOR THOSE CHILDREN THAT ARE VICTIMS OF THAT AT THEIR HOME,

[01:00:01]

I MEAN, IF YOU'VE TALKED TO ANY ONE OF OUR TEACHERS, THEY ARE NOT TRYING TO ADOPT OR IN OUR CHILDREN, THEY ARE JUST TRYING TO TEACH THEM HOW TO BE SUCCESSFUL HUMAN BEINGS ON THIS EARTH.

AND TO BE KIND ONES, IF WE CAN GET THAT IN.

AND SOME PEOPLE MIGHT NOT THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT, THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT.

I CAN PROMISE YOU.

AND FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, KINDNESS WILL CARRY YOUR CHILDREN THROUGH.

BUT ANYWAY, I JUST WANTED TO URGE YOU TO STOP PUTTING OUR TEACHERS THROUGH THE RINGER, GO ON WITH THIS PROGRAM, AS MANY OF OUR CHILDREN NEED IT.

AND, YOU KNOW, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT CAN'T UNDERSTAND OR DON'T UNDERSTAND, YOU PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE COME TO THE MEETING TO LEARN ABOUT THE CURRICULUM AND THEN YOU WOULD HAVE COVERED ADDRESS.

I'M A, I'M LIVING IN THE, I LIVE IN THE SHANNON DWIGHT DISTRICT.

AND I'M SPEAKING AS A, UM, A FORMER STUDENT OF THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM.

I GREW UP IN THIS AREA.

I'M, MULTI-GENERATIONAL NATIVE TO THE VALLEY.

AND AS AN LGBTQ STUDENT, UH, MY SCHOOL EXPERIENCE WAS MISERABLE.

AND BACK IN THAT TIME, THERE WAS NO SEL PROGRAM THAT I'M AWARE OF TO PREPARE TEACHERS FOR HOW TO EVEN DEAL WITH BULLYING IN THE CLASSROOM.

UH, SO, UH, MY FAMILY, MY MOM, YOU KNOW, WORKED HARD.

MY DAD COMMUTED, I DIDN'T HAVE THE RESOURCES AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE POINT OF VIEW.

I DON'T THINK IT'S INDOCTRINATION TO TELL ONE STUDENT STOP CALLING KIDS NAMES OR TO REDIRECT THEIR EMOTIONS OR HELP THEM HAVE BETTER EMOTIONAL UNDERSTANDING SO THAT THEY'RE NOT EVEN AS INTERESTED IN BULLYING OR CALLING PEOPLE NAMES.

UM, I REMEMBER, UH, DR.

BLANTON, I THINK HIS NAME WAS, WAS MY PRINCIPAL AND HE USED TO HAVE TO COME AND GET ME TAKE UP HIS TIME BECAUSE THE IDEA OF GOING TO SCHOOL WAS SO, UM, TERRIFYING TO ME AND BEING BULLIED LIKE THAT, THAT I WOULD GO DOWN TO THE, UH, TO THE BUS STOP AND THEN HIDE IN THE WOODS UNTIL THE BUS WAS GONE AND SPEND THE WHOLE DAY IN THE WOODS, NOT VERY HEALTHY OR FUNCTIONAL.

RIGHT.

BUT IF I HAD HAD ACCESS TO THE RIGHT KIND OF INFORMATION, AND IF MY CLASS MATES HAD THAT ACCESS, I MIGHT'VE FORGED FRIENDSHIPS THAT I STILL HAVE TODAY INSTEAD OF LEAVING THE SCHOOL SYSTEM TO GO TO A PRIVATE SCHOOL.

AND THAT'S HOW I WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO YOU.

ANYONE ELSE'S EVENING.

EXCUSE ME.

MY NAME IS EILEEN HILARY.

I LIVE IN THE SHORES AND WE'VE LIVED HERE ONLY A FEW YEARS, BUT I AM A FORMER TEACHER.

AND I THINK THE UNFORTUNATE THING IS THAT THERE'S BEEN A CONFUSION ABOUT QUESTIONING A PROGRAM, NOT SAYING THE COMPLETE PROGRAM, WHICH SOMEONE MENTIONED YOU HAD 45 MINUTES TO REVIEW IT.

WELL, I ASSUME THIS PROGRAM IS SOMETHING THAT'S PROVIDED WEEKLY TO THE CHILDREN, MAYBE AT A MINIMUM, THAT'S GOING TO TAKE MORE THAN 45 MINUTES TO REVIEW A PROGRAM OF THAT SIZE.

AND I UNDERSTAND TOO, THAT THE COMPLETE PROGRAM WAS NOT EVEN AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE.

SO AS A TEACHER, AS A FORMER TEACHER, I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD TAKE ISSUE THAT PEOPLE ARE QUESTIONING.

ONCE YOU GET SOMETHING IN, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO EXTRICATE IT, YOU GET SOMETHING IN AND YOU SAY THIS ISN'T WORKING.

THEN YOU GO TO TAKE IT OUT.

IT'S MUCH BETTER TO TAKE YOUR TIME, DO A THOROUGH REVIEW, MAKE SURE YOU'VE LOOKED AT ALL THE MATERIALS.

AND I HAVE REVIEWED MATERIALS BEFORE AND LOOKING AT WHAT THE TEACHER'S DOCUMENTS ARE VERSUS WHAT THE PARENTS SAY CAN BE GREATLY DIFFERENT.

AND SO I'M JUST SAYING, GIVE IT, GIVE, GIVE PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THE COMPLETE PROGRAM, NOT TAKE ISSUE, OR THINK THAT IT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH OUR TEACHERS WHO I HAVE NO DOUBT, REALLY HAVE THE BEST INTEREST IN LOVE OF THE CHILDREN.

I MEAN, I KNOW THAT FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCE, BUT AS ONE OF THE TEACHERS THAT I FORGOT HIS NAME, I'LL DON RATHER, HE SAID HE DIDN'T KNOW UNTIL HE LOOKED AT THE PROGRAM AND WAS KIND OF SURPRISED BY SOME OF THE STUFF WE DON'T WANT TO GET CAUGHT OFF GUARD.

THAT'S WE'RE NOT IN A RUSH TO DO THIS.

AND I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE A LOT OF BROKEN HOMES AND IT'S REALLY UNFORTUNATE, BUT I THINK WE, WE, WE BEST TAKE A MEASURED LOOK AT THIS PROGRAM AND I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU ALL ARE DOING.

I APPRECIATE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAD GOT UP AND SPOKE, EVERYONE HERE WAS SPEAKING FROM THEIR HEART.

AND I THINK WE ALL WANT WHAT'S BEST FOR THESE CHILDREN.

WE LOVE THEM.

THEY'RE PRECIOUS.

ANYONE ELSE? LET'S SEE EVENING.

[2A. School Board Appreciation Month - Dr. Ballenger ]

SCHOOL BOARD APPRECIATION MONTH, DOCTOR.

[01:05:01]

NEXT IS PUBLIC HEARING ON THE FISCAL YEAR 2023 BUDGET, DR.

MADAM CHAIR.

THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY MARKS THE ANNUAL OBSERVANCE OF SCHOOL BOARD APPRECIATION MONTH.

THE TIME TO SALUTE THE WORK OF SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND CELEBRATE PUBLIC EDUCATION.

THIS YEAR'S THEME BUILDING THE FUTURE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION REFLECTS THE PARTNERSHIPS OF THE VIRGINIA BOARDS ASSOCIATION WITH LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, AS THEY SERVE THEIR LOCAL DIVISIONS AND ADVANCE FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION WITH LOCAL STATE AND FEDERAL LEADERS.

ON BEHALF OF ALL STUDENTS IN WARREN COUNTY SCHOOL IN WARREN COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS DEVELOP POLICIES AND MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS ON COMPLEX EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIAL ISSUES IMPACTING THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

THEY BEAR RESPONSIBILITY FOR AN ANNUAL BUDGET OF OVER 66 MILLION, 5,000 STUDENTS.

AND OVER 800 EMPLOYEES AND 11 SCHOOLS TONIGHT, WE RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE DEDICATION OF OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.

AND IF I COULD, UM, COULD I ASK EVERYBODY TO COME DOWN TO THE BOTTOM? SO MR. GOODWIN COULD TAKE A PICTURE SINCE, UH, SO WE CAN GET THIS OUT IF THAT WOULD BE OKAY.

[3A. Public Hearing on the Fiscal Year 2023 Budget - Dr. Ballenger/School Board Chair ]

BALLENGER, THE SCHOOL BOARD AND STAFF HAVE BEGUN THE PROCESS OF BUILDING PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR OF 23, JULY 1ST, 2020 THROUGH TWO THROUGH JUNE 30TH, 2023 TO ASSIST WITH PRIORITIZING THE NEEDS OF THE SCHOOL DIVISION MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE INVITED TO SHARE INPUT ON THEIR PRIORITIES AND IDEAS FOR THE PROPOSED 23 SCHOOL BUDGET.

NOTICE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS ADVERTISED IN THE JANUARY 21ST AND JANUARY 22ND, 2022 ADDITIONS OF THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA DAILY.

NEXT UP IS THE CONSENT AGENDA.

NOW I THINK AT THIS POINT IN TIME, MA'AM YOU NEED TO OPEN UP, OPEN UP THE FLOOR FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT THE BUDGET THIS EVENING? OKAY.

IS THE CONCEPTION JUST GO AHEAD AND CLOSE IF THERE'S NO, IF THERE'S NO COMMENTS, THAT'S OKAY.

IF YOU JUST WANT TO BE

[4. Consent Agenda ]

COULD JUST LOOK AT ONE MORE WEEK, UH, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO AS FAR AS TO STAY IN PHASE TWO.

SO NEXT UP IS THE CONSENT AGENDA.

IS THERE A MOTION UM, IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND DISCUSSION ALL IN FAVOR.

[5A. Superintendent ]

UM, WELL PUNXSUTAWNEY FIELD, DIDN'T GIVE US THE NEWS THAT WE WANTED TO TODAY.

SO IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SIX MORE WEEKS OF, UH, POSSIBLY, UH, BAD WEATHER.

SO, UH, ANYWAY, UH, MOVING ON, UH, JUST TO GIVE AN UPDATE RIGHT NOW WITH OUR COVID NUMBERS, UH, CURRENTLY, UH, AS OF TODAY THERE WERE 27 ACTIVE STUDENT CASES, 43 STUDENTS QUARANTINED FOUR ACTIVE STAFF CASES TO QUARANTINE CASES HAVE BEEN DROPPING, UM, FROM A SEVEN DAY AVERAGE HIGH OF 87 CASES PER DAY ON JANUARY 13TH, UH, TO A SEVEN-DAY AVERAGE OF 28 CASES PER DAY.

AS OF TODAY, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE, UH, CONTINUE IN PHASE TWO FOR, UM, ONE MORE WEEK JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CASE HAS CONTINUED TO DROP BECAUSE WE ARE SEEING THAT TREND.

AND I JUST WOULD NOT WANT US TO GET INTO A POSITION TO WHERE IT GOES THE OPPOSITE WAY.

SO IF WE

[01:10:01]

UM, I'D ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE AT THIS POINT IN TIME NATIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELING WEEK, FEBRUARY 7TH THROUGH 11TH, UM, WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELORS DURING THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 7TH THROUGH THE 11TH 2022, AS WE CELEBRATE NATIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELING WEEK SCHOOL COUNSELORS, OR SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WITH A MASTER'S DEGREE IN SCHOOL COUNSELING, THE COMBINATION OF THEIR TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE MAKES THEM A UNIQUE AND INTEGRAL PART OF THE TOTAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE DATA INFORMED SCHOOL COUNSELING PROGRAMS, SCHOOL COUNSELORS ARE IMPROVING A RANGE OF STUDENTS' LEARNING AND BEHAVIORAL OUTCOMES.

THEY SUPPORT BOTH THE CLOSING OF ACHIEVEMENT GAPS AND HELP MAXIMIZE STUDENT SUCCESS BY PROVIDING COUNSELING, ACADEMIC AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT, INTERVENTIONS AND MENTAL HEALTH.

AND I KNOW, YOU KNOW, WE, WE DID HAVE OUR, UH, UH, DISPLAY OF, OF THE PROFESSIONALISM OF OUR COUNSELORS THAT AT THE LAST WORK SESSION.

SO, UH, DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 7TH THROUGH THE 11TH IS NATIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELING WEEK.

UM, ALSO WANTED TO INFORM THE BOARD NATIONAL CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION MONTH.

UH, CURRENTLY WE HAD, UH, 3,185 ENROLLED IN CTE CLASSES THIS SCHOOL YEAR.

SO THAT'S, THAT'S A POSITIVE THERE FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER.

WE HAD 100% 35 STUDENT PASS RATE ON THE PROJECT LEAD THE WAY INTRO TO BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE CREDENTIAL TEST.

UH, WE ACTUALLY HAD ONE STUDENT SCORE, A PERFECT 619 STUDENTS WERE DESIGNATED AS DISTINGUISHED ELECTRICITY TO ALSO HAD 100% PASS RATE AND RESIDENTIAL WIRING SKILL COMP, UH, CREDENTIAL THE STAFF AT HILDA J UH, BARBER COLLECTED $400 TO DONATE TO THE THERMAL SHELTER.

WE ALSO HAVE 12 DECA STUDENTS, UH, THAT WERE EITHER DISTRICT WINNERS AND THEY QUALIFY FOR INDIVIDUAL COMPETITIONS AT THE STATE CONFERENCE IN MARCH.

UM, ANTHONY CARTER, PERSONAL FINANCE, HALEY COCKRUM, QUICK SERVE RESTAURANT MANAGEMENT, ALEXANDRIA CRUISE, SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING, DELANEY HALL, BUSINESS MANAGEMENT, EMILY MAWSON, UM, MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS, SYDNEY KNOWLES, PERSONAL FINANCE MAYA'S ANTILLEAN AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES, KIERSTEN STYLES, HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM, OLIVIA TURNER, HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM, SARAH WALLER, ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND LUCAS WEBER, HOTEL MANAGEMENT.

UH, SO THEY WILL BE GOING DOWN TO THE STATE MEET IN MARCH.

SO, UH, AND YOU GUYS HAVE HAD THE PRESENTATION HERE BEFORE FROM THE WARREN COUNTY DECA PROGRAM.

UH, SO THEY, THEY DO A LOT OF STUFF WITHIN OUR COUNTY AND, AND THAT PROGRAM IS JUST CONTINUING TO GO TO GROW.

SO WE'RE PROUD OF OUR, OUR DECA PROGRAM THERE AT WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL ALSO SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING TEAM SWEPT OR QUAD LAST WEEK AT THE NORTHWESTERN DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIPS, UH, FOR THE THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR.

IN ADDITION TO BEING THE 100TH DAY OF SCHOOL AND GROUNDHOG DAY, FEBRUARY 2ND IS ALSO A WORLD READ ALOUD DAY.

SO THAT IS MY UPDATE.

THANK YOU, DR.

BALLENGER.

[5B. School Board ]

SCHOOL BOARD REPORTS.

WE'LL START WITH YOU, MS. .

UM, SO I GOT TO SPEND LAST WEEK FOR THE FIRST HALF OF LAST WEEK DOWN IN RICHMOND AT THE VIRGINIA SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION.

UM, I ATTENDED BOTH THE CAPITOL CONFERENCE, WHICH THE CAPITOL CONFERENCE IS.

UM, THE VIRGINIA SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION PRESENTS THE BILLS THAT ARE COMING UP FOR A VOTE IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN THE STATE SENATE.

UM, AND THEN I ALSO ATTENDED THE, UM, SCHOOL NEW SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER TRAINING.

UM, WE GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT IN, UM, IN THE CAPITOL AND WATCH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND IT WAS, UH, IT WAS REALLY NICE EXPERIENCE.

FREETHINKING RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS.

MR. RENALDI ATTENDED THE SEMINAR ON VIRGINIA SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION OR NEW VICE CHAIRS AND CHAIRMAN.

UH, WE GOT THREE ON OUR LEGAL ISSUES.

WE ALSO GOT BRIEFED ON ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER AND, UH, DEALING WITH THE MEDIA.

AND, UH, THAT WAS, UH, QUITE, UH, THE ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER WAS PRETTY COOL BECAUSE THE SPEAKER HAD US ENGAGED.

WHENEVER YOU HAD A QUESTION, YOU HAD TO SAY MADAM CHAIR.

SO WE DID ALL OF THAT.

IT WAS A LOT OF FUN LEARNED A LOT.

UM, FIRST I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOU WHO ARE ATTENDING THE MEETING THIS EVENING.

UM, I APPRECIATE THE INTEREST THAT YOU'RE TAKING IN THESE ISSUES AND THANK YOU TO THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE SPOKEN AND SHARED WITH US, YOUR THOUGHTS.

UM, I

[01:15:01]

APPRECIATE IT.

UM, I DID WANT TO TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO TALK ABOUT THE GUIDANCE CURRICULUM, WHICH HAS BEEN ON MY MIND FOR THIS PAST MONTH AS MAYBE MANY OF YOU IN THIS ROOM AS WELL.

UM, I'VE HEARD FROM SOME MEMBERS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WOULD LIKE US TO COMPLETELY HALT ALL SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL LEARNING IN OUR SCHOOLS.

UM, AND PERSONALLY, WHENEVER I'VE TRIED TO LOOK UP, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE EMPLOYERS LOOKING FOR? WHAT DO YOU, WHAT JOB SKILLS DO YOU NEED? WHAT I SEE ARE COMMUNICATION, TEAMWORK, COLLABORATION, LEADERSHIP, THESE ARE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SKILLS.

AND IF WE DO NOT TALK, TAKE THE TIME TO GIVE OUR STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT THESE SKILLS, DISCUSS THEM, PRACTICE THEM IN CLASS, WE'RE DOING THEM A DISSERVICE, AND WE'RE NOT PREPARING THEM FOR THE WORLD OF WORK.

NOW THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN EVERY CURRICULUM IS RIGHT, RIGHT.

BUT I DO THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ADDRESS THIS IN SOME FASHION WITH OUR STUDENTS.

UM, I HAVE LOOKED OVER MANY OF THE GUIDANCE MATERIALS THAT WE HAVE USED OVER THIS PAST MONTH.

I'VE LOOKED OVER THEM IN THE PAST MONTH.

UM, BASED ON MY OWN REVIEW OF THESE MATERIALS, I HAVE NOT FOUND ANY EVIDENCE THAT THEY ARE INDOCTRINATING OUR STUDENTS.

I'M FAR FROM IT.

I HAVE SEEN THAT THESE ARE TEACHING OUR STUDENTS TO ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES TO STAND UP FOR THEMSELVES, UM, TO SHARE THEIR BELIEFS AND OPINIONS, TO DEVELOP THEIR OWN BELIEFS AND OPINIONS.

AND IF ANYTHING, THIS IS IMPLICATING THEM FROM INDOCTRINATION.

THIS IS HELPING THEM LEARN TO EXPRESS WHO THEY ARE, UM, SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL LEARNING EDUCATION.

AND SECOND STEP ARE NOT NEW TO THIS DISTRICT.

OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN USING THE SECOND STEP CLASSROOM KITS CONTINUOUSLY FOR MANY YEARS WITH NO COMPLAINTS OR PUBLIC OUTCRY THAT I'M AWARE OF.

UM, I HAVE NOT HEARD ANY SPECIFIC CONCERNS OR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE ELEMENTARY CURRICULUM.

UM, AND I ABSOLUTELY AGREE THAT PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS SHOULD BE INFORMED ABOUT WHAT IS BEING TAUGHT IN OUR SCHOOLS.

OUR CURRICULUM IS NOT, AND SHOULD NOT BE A SECRET.

UM, TO THIS END, THIS BOARD REQUESTED THAT OUR GUIDANCE COUNSELORS AND PRINCIPALS CREATE A PRESENTATION FOR US AND FOR THE COMMUNITY OF WHAT IS, UH, KIND OF GOING ON IN THESE GUIDANCE LESSONS THAT PRESENTATION TOOK PLACE AT OUR WORK SESSION TWO WEEKS AGO.

AND IT IS AVAILABLE ONLINE, UM, ON THE ROYAL EXAMINER PAGE FOR ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT NEXT, AS SEVERAL OF YOU HAVE MENTIONED, UM, OUR SCHOOLS DID ORGANIZE OPEN HOUSES SO THAT PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS COULD COME IN AND SEE THE FULL CURRICULUM ASK QUESTIONS.

UM, AND THEN FINALLY, AND THIS OFFER STILL STANDS.

ANYONE WHO COULDN'T ATTEND THAT, UM, OPEN HOUSE OR WHO STILL HAVE MORE QUESTIONS OR WANTED TO SEE MORE AFTERWARDS, CAN STILL NOW CONTACT THE SCHOOLS, GO IN AND SEE ALL THE CURRICULUM, ALL THE TEACHER'S MATERIALS, ALL THE VIDEOS, WHATEVER THEY WANT TO SEE.

SO I FEEL THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS DONE A GOOD JOB OF ADDRESSING THE CONCERNS ABOUT PARENT ACCESS TO THE CURRICULUM.

AND I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK THE STAFF AND TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS WHO HAVE WORKED SO HARD ON THOSE THINGS ON HELPING TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS EDUCATED ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING AND ANSWERING THESE QUESTIONS.

UM, AND THEN FINALLY, AS MANY OF YOU HAVE NOTED TONIGHT, ALL OF US IN THIS COMMUNITY, ALL OF US IN THIS ROOM REALLY DO WANT THE SAME THING, WHICH IS FOR OUR STUDENTS TO GROW UP INTO UNIQUE.

I HOPE MOVING FORWARD, WE CONTINUE TO KEEP THE LINES OF COMMUNICATION OPEN AND I'LL DO WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR STUDENTS.

THIS IS LOW CAUSE YOU, YOU DEFINITELY SPOKE WELL THERE.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

UM, SO I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND, UM, WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT, UH, DECCA AND WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL.

I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY THE PAST PROBABLY TWO YEARS TO, UM, BE A PARENT VOLUNTEER FOR THE, UH, WARREN WILDCAT ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION.

AND THEY HAVE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH, UM, MR. GARDNER, UH, HE HELPED SUPPORT, UH, THAT PROGRAM AND, UM, I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK WITH HIM AND HE DOES A GREAT JOB WITH OUR STUDENTS THERE IN THE DECA PROGRAM.

UM, SO, UH, CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THOSE STUDENTS, UM, IT IS NEVER EASY FOR ANY STUDENT, WHETHER YOU'RE IN THE CLASSROOM OR IN YOUR SCHOOL TO, TO GET UP AND PRESENT AND COMPETE AND DO ANY OF THAT.

SO, UM, KUDOS TO ALL THE STUDENTS INTO THAT PROGRAM.

UM, I DID ATTEND THE, UM, H J B AND THE WARREN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL OPEN HOUSES TO, UM, VISIT WHEN THE CURRICULUM NIGHTS WERE OPEN.

UM, AND I BELIEVE AS A BOARD, WE AND IN A SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS LET PARENTS KNOW AND COMMUNICATED THAT YOU HAVE THESE OPPORTUNITIES TO COME IN AND BE AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN YOUR CHILD'S EDUCATION.

UM, I WAS DISAPPOINTED IN THE TURNOUT FOR, UM, YOU KNOW, I, WASN'T OBVIOUSLY ABLE TO PHYSICALLY MAKE IT TO ALL OF THE, UM, OPEN HOUSES.

I TRULY THOUGHT I COULD ZOOM, ZOOM, ZOOM, AND GET THERE, BUT YOU GET TO TALKING AND, AND EVERYTHING.

UM, BUT WHEN THE NUMBERS CAME IN, I WAS DISAPPOINTED THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE MORE

[01:20:01]

PARENT PARTICIPATION OR COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION.

UM, I THOUGHT THE NUMBERS WERE FAIRLY, UM, BUT I AM HAPPY TO REPORT LIKE MY COLLEAGUE HERE THAT I HAVE SEEN IN MULTIPLE EMAILS THAT WHEN PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ABOUT IT, THEY HAVE BEEN DIRECTED TO CONTACT YOUR CHILD'S SCHOOL, CONTACT THAT COMMUNITY SCHOOL, SET UP AN APPOINTMENT, UM, AND GO IN AND TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.

AND I ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO DO THAT.

I WANT PARENTS TO DO THAT.

I WANT THEM TO BE INVOLVED, WHETHER IT'S THE MATH, UH, PAPER THAT THEIR CHILD BROUGHT HOME LAST NIGHT, OR, YOU KNOW, THE PE ACTIVITY THAT THEY DID.

I WANT PARENTS TO BE INVOLVED.

I WANT THEM TO HAVE THAT POSITIVE, OPEN COMMUNICATION WITH OUR SCHOOLS.

UM, YOU KNOW, IF YOU REACH OUT TO YOUR SCHOOL AND YOU DON'T GET THAT, UM, COMMUNICATION BACK, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

I'M HAPPY.

I'M HAPPY TO HELP FACILITATE THAT.

UM, A RULE OF THUMB, I ALWAYS TRY TO USE AS A 24 TO 48 HOUR RESPONSE.

YOU KNOW, WE LIVE IN A DAY AND AGE WHERE WE DO WANT IMMEDIATE ANSWERS.

NOW, THERE ARE TIMES WHEN WE'RE NOT WORKING, WE'RE NOT IN THE OFFICE, BUT I THINK IT'S COMMON COURTESY TO REPLY BACK AND GIVE EVERYBODY THAT RESPONSE.

SO I DO HOPE THAT, UM, IF YOU DID NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THOSE OPEN HOUSES, OR IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW, UH, THE CURRICULUM, ANY CURRICULUM THAT YOU HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THAT YOU EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT TO CONTACT YOUR CHILD'S TEACHER, TO CONTACT YOUR CHILD'S ADMINISTRATOR AND GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLAIN AND SHOW THAT TO YOU.

I THINK THAT, UM, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR PARENTS TO BE INVOLVED AT ALL LEVELS, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE CONTINUE THAT OPEN COMMUNICATION.

UM, I DON'T KNOW THAT I HAVE TOO MUCH MORE TO ADD.

I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING MORE ABOUT WHAT YOU GUYS LEARNED IN RICHMOND LAST WEEK, AND THANK YOU TO BOTH OF YOU FOR YOUR, UM, INSIGHT INTO THE OPEN HOUSE EVENTS.

UM, I DO APPRECIATE THE COMMUNICATIONS THAT I'VE GOTTEN OVER THIS PAST MONTH FROM PARENTS, TEACHERS, COUNSELORS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

UM, IT IS ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THAT EVERYONE'S GOAL IS ULTIMATELY THE SAME AND IT'S GOING TO BE WHAT'S BEST FOR THE STUDENTS IN THIS COMMUNITY.

UM, I APPRECIATE EVERYONE THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE WORK SESSION TWO WEEKS AGO.

IT HELPED ME GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF JUST SORT OF WHAT GUIDANCE AND THOSE PROGRAMS LOOK LIKE IN THE SCHOOL DAY ACROSS ALL OF OUR DIFFERENT SCHOOLS, BECAUSE EACH SCHOOL IS DOING IT A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

UM, I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL E WILSON LSK AND HILDA, UM, ON THE OPEN HOUSE NIGHTS.

UH, THAT WAS ACTUALLY THE FIRST TIME THAT I HAD MET SOME OF THOSE ADMINISTRATORS AND COUNSELORS, UM, JUST BECAUSE I HAVEN'T BEEN IN THE SCHOOLS AS MUCH BECAUSE OF COVID.

SO, UM, I HOPE THAT PARENTS DID TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.

UM, I KNOW AS DR FUNK SAID THE NUMBERS WERE WERE LOW, BUT THOSE ARE ALL VERY WELCOMING AND READY TO MEET WITH YOU ABOUT YOUR INDIVIDUAL STUDENT.

UM, AND WHAT'S GOING ON AT THAT SCHOOL.

I DID VIEW THE SECOND STEP CURRICULUM, UM, AT RESI ON A SEPARATE DAY WITH MS. FRANKEL.

UM, I THOUGHT THAT THAT PROGRAM WAS, WAS REALLY GREAT.

UM, AND IT SEEMS LIKE SHE, SHE IS MORE THAN WILLING AGAIN, TO GO THROUGH HOW SHE TEACHES THOSE LESSONS TO THE STUDENTS IN HER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

SO I REALLY APPRECIATE, UM, THE EFFORT THAT EVERYBODY PUT INTO THOSE OPEN HOUSES AND, UM, HOPEFULLY THROUGH ALL OF THIS, WE HAVE IDENTIFIED WAYS THAT WE CAN IMPROVE COMMUNICATION, UH, REGARDING OUR CURRICULUM AND, AND ALSO HOW WE CAN DO OUR PARENT NOTIFICATIONS AND KEEP PARENTS IN THE LOOP WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS.

I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE A CONTINUED WORK IN PROGRESS.

UM, AND IT'S SOMETHING CERTAINLY THAT WE, AS A BOARD WILL CONTINUE TO DISCUSS THAT FUTURE WORK SESSIONS.

UM, I THINK WITH THAT BEING SAID, UM, I'M ALSO ON THE MOUNTAIN VISTA GOVERNOR SCHOOL BOARD, BUT, UM, WE DID NOT HAVE A MEETING IN JANUARY, SO NOTHING TO REPORT ON THAT.

SO OUR FIRST ITEM ON THE ACTION AGENDA IS ACCEPTANCE OF ECF FUNDS, SCHOOL, BUS WIFI, AND THAT'S MR. GRANT GOOD EVENING.

ALL RIGHT.

[6A. Acceptance of ECF funds - School Bus Wifi - Mr. Grant ]

UM, WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS BEEN AWARDED $140,000 AND $476 FROM THE EMERGENCY CONNECTIVITY FUND ALSO CALLED ECF.

UM, WE WOULD LIKE TO ACCEPT THESE FUNDS TO INSTALL WIFI ROUTERS ON OUR SCHOOL BUSES.

UH, THERE ARE TWO GOALS WITH THIS GOAL.

NUMBER ONE IS IT WILL BENEFIT STUDENTS

[01:25:01]

FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS THE INTERNET WITH THEIR CHROMEBOOKS ON SCHOOL TRIPS, INTERNET WILL STILL BE, UM, IT WILL STILL BE FILTERED AND MANAGED JUST THE WAY WE DO THEM IN SCHOOL.

SO THERE WILL BE NO DIFFERENCE THERE.

AND THE OTHER ADVANTAGE IS, UH, IT'S GONNA ALLOW, UM, TRANSPORTATION TO UTILIZE THAT EQUIPMENT SO THEY CAN UPGRADE THEIR COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS, WHICH CURRENTLY IS ABOUT 30 YEARS OLD.

UM, SO, UH, TRANSPORTATION WILL COVER INSTALLATION AND SERVICES FOR THE, UM, THE INTERNET YOU'LL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA ABOUT THE NUMBERS WITH THE DIFFERENCE IN WHAT THE COST WILL BE WITH THE RECURRENT? SURE.

UH, SO I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH, UM, AND, UH, LOOK JUST ON STATE CONTRACTS OUT OF FAIRFAX COUNTY HAS A CONTRACT.

UM, IT'S ABOUT $30 PER BUS, UM, UH, FOR, UM, FOR JUST THE CARD TOO, YOU KNOW, AND THEN THAT'S, THAT'S UNLIMITED INTERNET.

UM, AND, UH, SO, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE LOOKING BETWEEN 20 AND $30 PER BUS.

UM, I AM NOT SURE WHAT, UH, THE COST CURRENTLY FOR THE RADIO SYSTEM IS, UM, THAT AARON WOULD, IS HE HERE? NO.

AND THAT'S PER, PER BUS PER MONTH, PER MONTH, PER MONTH? YES, MA'AM.

AND THE TOTAL NUMBER OF BUSES TOTAL NUMBER OF BUSES IS 30, 40, 58 56.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. GRANT? IS THERE A MOTION? I MOVED AT WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS EXCEPT THE GRANT AND THE AMOUNT OF $140,476 FROM THE EMERGENCY CONNECTIVITY FUNDS IN ORDER TO PURCHASE THE EQUIPMENT TO INSTALL WIFI ON THE WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

BUT IS THERE A SECOND, A SECOND? IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.

AYE OPPOSED? NO.

MOTION PASSES.

[6B. Purchase of Equipment for Wifi on School Buses - Mr. Grant ]

UH, FOR THESE BUSES, THE EQUIPMENT WILL BE INSTALLED BY THE, UH, BY THE TRANSPORTATION, UH, TO PROVIDE WIFI TO THE STUDENTS.

UM, AND ALSO FOR COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS. UH, THE INSTALLATION OF THESE DEVICES WILL BE PERFORMED BY WARREN COUNTY, PUBLIC SCHOOLS, TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT.

UM, THE FUNDING COMES COMPLETELY OUT OF THE ECF FUNDS.

SO THERE IT'S A FULLY FUNDED FOR THE EQUIPMENT.

UM, SO WE DON'T HAVE A MATCH OR ANYTHING.

A LOT OF TIMES WHEN WE GET GRANTS, WE HAVE TO MATCH AT 20% OR ANYTHING.

SO THERE'S NO MATCH.

THIS IS BASICALLY, UH, FREE MONEY.

SO, UM, NOT FREE, BUT YOU KNOW HOW IT, IT'S NOT OUT OF A, IT'S NOT A LOCAL BUDGET.

UM, SO, UH, I HAVE INCLUDED THE, UH, THE, THE QUOTES AND THE, UM, FUNDING COMMITMENT DECISION LETTER FROM THE ECF.

UM, Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, NO QUESTIONS.

IS THERE A MOTION? I MOVED AT WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS BE GIVEN AUTHORIZATION TO PURCHASE WIFI EQUIPMENT FOR ALL WCP S BUSES FROM SHI IN THE AMOUNT OF $140,476.

IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

OPPOSED? NO MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU, MR. GRANT.

[6C. Continuance of Counseling and School Based Supplementary Materials - Dr. Ballenger ]

CONTINUANCE OF COUNSELING AND SCHOOL-BASED SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS.

THAT'S DR.

BELL.

TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS ALSO PROVIDED A PARENT ACCESS CODE TO FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO REVIEW THE MATERIALS AT HOME.

MADAM CHAIR AT THE MEETING ON JANUARY 5TH, 2022, THE BOARD VOTED TO SUSPEND THE USE OF SECOND STEP PENDING FURTHER REVIEW SINCE ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS UTILIZE VARIOUS SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS AND NOT ALL SCHOOLS UTILIZE.

SECOND STEP.

THE USE OF ALL SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS WAS THEREFORE SUSPENDED PENDING REVIEW AT THE WORK SESSION HELD ON JANUARY 19TH, 2022, A PRESENTATION PREVIEWING.

THE MATERIALS WAS PROVIDED TO THE BOARD MEMBERS AND A SUBSEQUENT DATE WAS IDENTIFIED FOR PARENT AND COMMUNITY REVIEW EACH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND BOTH MIDDLE SCHOOLS HAD PARENT NIGHTS ON JANUARY 26TH, 2022, IN ORDER TO PROVIDE PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH ACCESS TO MATERIALS THAT ARE BEING USED AT EACH PARTICULAR SCHOOL PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WERE ABLE TO ACCESS THE TEACHER RESOURCES USED AT THAT AT EACH SCHOOL SCHOOLS THAT HAD DIGITAL ACCESS

[01:30:01]

PARENTS WERE ALSO PROVIDED OPT-OUT FORMS AT EACH SITE AND CAN REQUEST AN OPT OUT FORM FROM THEIR CHILD'S PRINCIPAL IF THEY CHOOSE NOT TO HAVE THEIR CHILD PARTICIPATE IN ANY OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL PROGRAMS OFFERED AT THEIR CHILD'S SCHOOL.

I DID LIST THE, UM, THE ATTENDANCE AT S ROADS.

WE HAD, UM, EIGHT PARENTS OR COMMUNITY MEMBERS THERE AT E WILSON MORRISON.

THERE WERE FOUR RESI JEFFRIES.

THERE WERE FOUR, UH, LESLIE FOX KAISER NINE HILDA, J BARBER, FOUR SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL, EIGHT AND WARREN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL, 10 FOR A TOTAL OF 47.

UM, INDIVIDUALS NOW, UH, AS FAR AS PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WHEN I ASKED SCHOOLS TO SEND THOSE NUMBERS, I TOLD THEM NOT TO INCLUDE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS OR SCHOOL STAFF.

ARE THERE QUESTIONS FOR DR.

BALLENGER? UM, I HAVE A QUESTION IN, IN READING THIS, MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL LEARNING WASN'T SUSPENDED AT ALL THE SCHOOLS BECAUSE LMK CONTINUED WITH, WITH THEIRS BECAUSE THEY DON'T USE SECOND, CORRECT? NO, WE, I TOLD ALL OF THE, BECAUSE WE HAD THE PRESENTATION WITH MINDUP AND SOME OF THOSE OTHER SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS.

AND SO IF THERE WERE QUESTIONS CONCERNING, UM, CONCERNING SECOND STEP, THEN I INSTRUCTED THE SCHOOLS TO DISCONTINUE ALL OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS UNTIL WE COULD HAVE PARENTS COULD HAVE REVIEWS OF ALL OF THEIR MATERIALS, BUT THEY WEREN'T THAT THE, I MEAN, I KNOW FOR A FACT, THE KINDNESS, THE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL, IT CONTINUED AT AT LMK, WHICH I'M FINE WITH.

AND THAT WAS CERTAINLY THE INTENT WAS THAT ONLY, UM, THE, THE NEW VIRTUAL, OR SHALL I SAY, DIGITAL 20, 20, 20, 21, THAT THERE WAS ONLY SECOND THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE POLLED, NOT ALL OF SEL.

SO, WELL, IF THERE'S QUESTIONS ABOUT ONE, THERE COULD BE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE, AND THEN THE VOTE WAS ON, ON SECOND STEP, NOT SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL LEARNING.

AND I THINK THAT IS WHAT'S CAUSING A LOT OF THIS CONFUSION.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO CLARIFY IS, UM, SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL LEARNING IS ESSENTIALLY THE SUBJECT MATERIAL.

SECOND STEP IS THE BRAND SPECIFICALLY, OUR CONCERN WAS RAISED ORIGINALLY WITH THE FACT THAT THE DAY BEFORE THE END OF WINTER BREAK, THE MIDDLE SCHOOL SENT OUT AN EMAIL AT 3 36.

I BELIEVE IT WAS PM SAYING THAT EXTRA LEARNING TIME IS GOING TO BE REPLACED WITH THIS NEW SECOND STEP CURRICULUM.

UM, WHEN WE STARTED ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT SPECIFICALLY WAS TAUGHT AT EACH SCHOOL, NOBODY KNEW.

SO JUST FOR THE RECORD, UM, WE NOW KNOW THAT THE OLD SECOND STEP KIT VERSIONS FOR EACH WILSON MORRISON WERE PURCHASED IN 2011 ONLY PORTIONS OF THIS PROGRAM HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED BY THE SCHOOL COUNSELOR AND CAT CLASSROOM GUIDANCE LESSONS.

UH, AND THEN WE'VE GOT HILDA J BARBER WHO DOES NOT USE SECOND STEP AT ALL.

WE HAVE LMK WHO IS LISTED AS NOT USING SECOND STEP AT ALL, RESI JEFFRIES.

UH, THE RESPONSE WAS I CANNOT SPEAK TO THE USE OF SECOND STEP IN OUR SECONDARY SCHOOLS, EXCEPT THAT IT WAS NOT USED WHEN I WORKED IN THE COUNTY'S ONLY MIDDLE SCHOOL FROM 2009 TO 2015.

SECOND STEP CLASSROOM KITS WERE MADE AVAILABLE BY THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN 2015 VIA A GRANT FROM THE WARREN COUNTY COALITION FOUR OUT OF THE FIVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS ACCEPTED THE CURRICULUM.

HILDA JAY BARBER HAS NEVER HAD SECOND STEP AND STILL DOES NOT.

THE CURRICULUM IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS HAS NOT CHANGED SINCE WE RECEIVED IT IN 2015, EXCEPT TO PLACE THE SCRIPTS ONLINE.

WHEN SCHOOLS WENT VIRTUAL IN 2020 SKYLINE, MIDDLE SCHOOL IMPLEMENTED IN 2015 THROUGH A WARREN GORAN COALITION GRANT SCHOOL FUNDS WERE NOT USED.

IT WAS IMPLEMENTED IN A 30 MINUTE PERIODS AND HAS NOT BEEN SYSTEMATICALLY SYSTEM SYSTEMATICALLY USED SINCE 2018 TO 2019.

AND THEN WARREN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL WAS THE PROPOSED IMPLEMENTATION.

NOW IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT SINCE WE VOTED TO SUSPEND SECOND STEP WARREN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL HAS SINCE DECIDED THAT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE USING IT THIS YEAR AT ALL, IT WILL START IN THE FALL.

IS THAT CORRECT? SO THEY, THERE HAS BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF DISCUSSION THAT MS. GUBLER SAID THAT SHE MAY LOOK TO SEE IF SHE CAN SQUEEZE ANYTHING IN WITHIN THE SIXTH GRADE, BUT SHE DOES NOT SEE THAT SHE WOULD BE ABLE TO SQUEEZE, UH, UTILIZE THAT WITH THE SEVENTH AND EIGHTH GRADE AT THIS TIME, BUT SHE HAS NOT MADE THAT FINAL DECISION.

EMOTIONAL LESSONS TAUGHT BY THE SCHOOLS.

SO TO BE CLEAR, THE NEW VERSION OF SECOND STEP, THE ONE IN THEIR OWN PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL STATES, THAT IT IS POLITICALLY

[01:35:01]

CONTROVERSIAL.

THAT IS THE CURRICULUM THAT WE ARE SPEAKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW, THE SAME CURRICULUM THAT IN THEIR OWN PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL STATES, THAT PARENTS DESERVE TO KNOW WHAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE BEING TAUGHT.

WE GET IT.

WE'RE PARENTS TOO.

YOU CAN VISIT.

THEY GIVE THEIR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS AND SAMPLE LESSONS.

AS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, PROVIDING COPYRIGHTED, DIGITALLY DELIVERED RESOURCES AND PROGRAMS. WE CANNOT ALLOW DOWNLOADING REFORMATTING OR SHARING OF OUR MATERIALS.

IT'S NOT IN ALIGNMENT WITH OUR LICENSING OR TERMS OF AGREEMENT.

HOWEVER, WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON AN IMPROVED FAMILY RESOURCES HUB THAT WILL CENTRALIZE RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES AND ALLOW EASY, TRANSPARENT ACCESS TO OUR PROGRAMS. SO THEY ARE STILL BY THEIR OWN WORDS, WORKING ON A WAY IN WHICH THEY CAN ALLOW FAMILIES FULL ACCESS.

RIGHT NOW, AS I SIT HERE ARE PARENTS IN THIS COUNTY STILL DO NOT HAVE FULL ACCESS TO THIS PROGRAM ONLINE VIRTUALLY THEY DON'T.

I HAVE FULL ACCESS AS DOES THE REST OF THE SPORT.

THE PARENTS WERE GIVEN A PAPER, THEY WERE GIVEN A PARENT LOGIN.

I CREATED MYSELF A PARENT LOGIN SO THAT I COULD SEE EXACTLY WHAT THE DIFFERENCE WAS.

THEY GET TO SEE 50%, THEY GET TO SEE HALF OF THE PROGRAM.

SO THEY STILL DO NOT HAVE ACCESS THE ISSUE AT HAND HERE.

ISN'T THE LESSONS.

THE ISSUE AT HAND HERE IS TRUE INFORMED CONSENT.

PARENTS CAN NOT CONSENT TO WHAT THEY DO NOT HAVE FULL ACCESS TO.

THAT'S THE ISSUE HERE.

AND I, LET ME REWIND FOR A MINUTE AND I WANT TO SAY, THANK, OH, NO COMMENTS OUT THERE, PLEASE.

I DO WANT TO THANK THE STAFF FOR ALL OF THE TIME THAT THEY PUT IN.

THEY HAVE SHOWN UP TO THE WORK SESSION.

THEY SHOWED UP FOR THE OPEN HOUSE, THE SIMPLE THING TO DO, W WE, WE MADE OUR STAFF JUMP THROUGH ALL THESE HOOPS AND PRESENT ALL OF THESE THINGS, WHICH IS GREAT.

I LOVE THAT PARENTS HAD A CHANCE TO, TO COME IN AND SEE ALL OF THIS, BUT ALL PARENTS WERE EVER ASKING FOR WAS A LOGIN AND A PASSWORD.

SO WE'VE PUT OUR STAFF THROUGH ALL THIS UNDUE EXCESS WORK, AND YET WE STILL REFUSE TO GIVE THEM ACCESS TO THE ACTUAL CURRICULUM SO THAT THEY CAN, CAN READ IT AND KNOW WHAT SPECIFICALLY THEIR KIDS ARE GOING TO BE LEARNING.

UM, I KNOW FOR ME, I, I, I, EVERY, EVERYONE UP HERE IS DIFFERENT AND IT'S GOING TO HAVE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE.

AND THE 16 HOURS THAT I SPENT REVIEWING EVERY SINGLE LESSON OF THE SECOND STEP CURRICULUM, THEY TALKED ABOUT POINT OF VIEW AND PERSPECTIVE AND HOW EVERYONE HAS A DIFFERENT POINT OF VIEW AND PERSPECTIVE.

AND YOU SHOULDN'T BE SHAMING OTHERS FOR THEIR POINT OF VIEW AND PERSPECTIVE.

YOU SHOULD BE UNDERSTANDING THAT WE ALL COME FROM A DIFFERENT POINT OF VIEW AND PERSPECTIVE AND PARENTS WHO DO NOT HAVE TRUE, TRUE ACCESS TO THE FULL PROGRAM.

THEY CAN'T EVEN BEGIN TO MAKE, UH, AN INFORMED CONSENT.

AND SO WHAT WAS LACKING FOR ME AT THE WORK SESSION, I EXPECTED THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE UP ON THE BIG PROJECTOR SCREEN, THE ACTUAL SECOND STEP CURRICULUM.

AND WE WERE GOING TO GO THROUGH IT LESSON BY LESSON UNIT, BY UNIT.

WE WERE GOING TO ALL LEARN THIS TOGETHER.

UM, THAT THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

UM, AT THE SCHOOLS I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED THE SAME, BUT THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

UM, THE SCHEDULING TO, I MEAN, YES, THE NUMBERS ARE ABSOLUTELY ABYSMAL, BUT THE SCHEDULING IT'S AGAIN, I COME BACK TO MY, MY PRESENTATION ON A TRASH CAN LID.

UM, IT, I WOULD HAVE HAPPILY GONE TO THOSE NIGHTS, BUT IT WAS SCHEDULED FOR A TIME WHEN I WAS ALREADY PREARRANGED TO BE OUT OF TOWN FOR A VSBA CONFERENCE.

THERE WAS SHORT SCHEDULING NOTICE, NOTICE.

UM, IRONICALLY THE, THE MIDDLE SCHOOL TIMES WERE SET FOR A TIME WHEN MOST PARENTS ARE JUST GETTING OFF WORK, UM, TIMES WERE PUBLISHED WRONG IN THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA DAILY, THERE WAS A BROKEN RSVP LINK TO ONE OF THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

UM, IT WENT UNRESOLVED ALL WEEK.

THE BOTTOM LINE, HOWEVER, IS THAT I WAS AFFORDED THE ABILITY TO REVIEW THIS PROGRAM IN THE COMFORT OF MY OWN HOME AT MY LEISURE.

AND PARENTS HAVE STILL NOT BEEN GIVEN THAT.

SO NEXT, I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE PARENTS WHO HAVE SENT IN THEIR THOUGHTS, BOTH FOR AND AGAINST SECOND STEP.

I APPRECIATE HEARING THE SPEAKERS TONIGHT AND THAT EVERYBODY CARED ENOUGH TO, TO HAVE AN OPINION.

SOME PARENTS VERY MUCH WANT THESE SOCIAL AND

[01:40:01]

THEY TRUST THE SCHOOLS WITH TEACHING MORALITY, OTHER PARENTS VERY MUCH DO NOT.

AND THAT'S OKAY.

THAT IS OKAY.

THAT WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT WAYS THAT WE WISH TO PARENT OUR CHILDREN.

I WILL SAY CERTAIN THINGS THAT MAKE PARENTS NERVOUS ARE THINGS LIKE HEARING YOUR CHILDREN BECOME OUR CHILDREN.

NO, THEY DON'T.

MY CHILDREN ARE MY CHILDREN.

I WILL ENTRUST THEM TO TEACHERS AND COACHES AND PEOPLE THAT I DECIDE THAT I WISH TO, BUT THEY DON'T BECOME SOMEBODY ELSE'S CHILDREN AND THEY ARE NEVER OUR CHILDREN.

AND THAT IS A TONE THAT IS CONCERNING PARENTS.

IT ALSO CONCERNS PARENTS WHEN THEY SEE STAFF MEMBERS OF OUR SCHOOLS, POST THINGS ON SOCIAL MEDIA, LIKE, UM, CATHOLICS OR CULT MEMBERS.

SO IT IS NOT OKAY TO SOMEHOW DEEM PARENTS WHO JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE LEARNING.

AND THEY WANT TO, TO REVIEW THE ENTIRE PROGRAM.

THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT.

THIS ISN'T MEANT AS A SLAM AGAINST WARREN COUNTY TEACHERS.

IT'S A DEEPLY HELD BELIEF ABOUT HOW THEY WISH TO RAISE THEIR CHILDREN.

I'M NOT GOING TO SIT UP HE'S OUT THERE.

I'M SORRY.

THE BEST ANALOGY TO USE, BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, UM, YES, WE NEED TO BE TRANSPARENT.

I AM NOT GOING TO SIT UP HERE AND TELL EITHER SIDE THAT THEIR PARENTING BELIEFS ARE WRONG.

EVERY CHILD IS IN A DIFFERENT SITUATION.

EVERY PARENT HAS A DIFFERENT VIEW.

THAT IS THE BEAUTY OF PARENTAL CHOICE.

AND THAT IS THE HOT TOPIC OF OUR TIME IS PARENTAL CHOICE.

PARENTS ARE FEELING PUSHED OUT.

PARENTS ARE LITERALLY LOCKED OUT OF OUR SCHOOLS RIGHT NOW, DIFFERING PERSPECTIVE AND RESPECTING DIFFERENT VIEWS.

THIS IS ACTUALLY TAUGHT IN SECOND STEP.

SO WE SHOULD ALL BE ABLE TO RESPECT THAT.

NOW THESE ARE MY OPINIONS.

I TAKE SERIOUS ISSUE WITH THE SECOND STEP BULLYING CURRICULUM.

AND HERE, HERE IN LIES THE PROBLEM WITH, UM, JUST GIVING PARENTS BROUGHT OVERVIEWS MOST ANYBODY, 99.9% OF PEOPLE.

IF YOU TOLD THEM YOUR CHILD IS GOING TO LEARN AN ANTI-BULLYING CURRICULUM, THEY'RE GOING TO BE FINE WITH THAT.

OF COURSE, WHO WANTS THEIR CHILD TO BE A BULLY? NOBODY WANTS THEIR CHILD TO BE A BULLY.

NOW, IF YOU DELVE INTO SECOND STEPS CURRICULUM, THE NEW VERSION, THE 20 20, 20 21 VERSION, THEY TEACH THAT BULLIES ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE PRIVILEGED.

THEY TEACH IT FROM A PERSPECTIVE OF THEIR RACE, THEIR GENDER, AND THEIR ECONOMIC STANDING GIVES THEM PRIVILEGE TO BE A BULLY.

THIS WAS A HUGE CHANGE FROM WHAT I WAS TAUGHT WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL.

AND IT'S A HUGE DIFFERENCE FROM WHAT I TEACH MY CHILDREN.

I TEACH MY CHILDREN THAT HURT PEOPLE, HURT PEOPLE, AND WE TRY TO HAVE EMPATHY FOR ALL PEOPLE.

AND SO I THOUGHT, WELL, MAYBE, MAYBE THIS IS JUST THE NEW NORMAL IS THAT APPARENTLY BULLIES ARE ALL PEOPLE OF PRIVILEGE.

UM, NOW MIND YOU, I DO FIND THAT TO BE A DIVISIVE CONCEPT THAT'S BEING TAUGHT, WHICH WOULD IN FACT, VIOLATE EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER ONE, WHICH IS ON THE BOOKS RIGHT NOW.

BUT, UM, SO I DECIDED TO INVESTIGATE IT FURTHER.

UM, I WENT TO BULLYING.GOV.

SO THE OFFICIAL STANCE BY OUR GOVERNMENT ABOUT BULLIES IS THAT THERE IS NOT A SINGLE PROFILE OF A YOUNG PERSON INVOLVED IN BULLYING, YOUTH WHO BULLY CAN BE EITHER WELL CONNECTED SOCIALLY OR MARGINALIZED, AND MAY BE BULLIED BY OTHERS AS WELL.

OUR SCHOOLS ARE NOT FOSTERING RESPECT.

WE ARE PERMITTING STUDENTS TO TREAT TEACHERS HORRIBLY IN THIS COMMUNITY, AND I'M SICK OF IT.

TEACHERS DESERVE TO BE RESPECTED BY THEIR STUDENTS AND THEY NEED TO BE BACKED UP BY THE ADMINISTRATION.

UM, WE'RE NOT CREATING A CULTURE OF RESPECT IN OUR SCHOOLS WHEN BULLIES ARE NOT ADEQUATELY PUNISHED.

I MEAN, TH THE ON SOCIAL MEDIA, IT'S IT'S EVERY DAY NOW, WHERE IT'S JUST BEING SWEPT UNDER THE RUG, CREATING A CULTURE OF RESPECT IS TO ASSIST STATISTICALLY THE BEST WAY TO COMBAT BULLYING.

MAYBE WE NEED TO WORK ON THAT FIRST BEFORE WE TEACH CHILDREN, THAT THE REASON THEY'RE BEING BULLIED IS BECAUSE THE PERSON BEING MEAN TO THEM IS IN SOME WAY PRIVILEGED BECAUSE OF THEIR GENDER, RACE OR ECONOMIC STANDING.

BECAUSE I SEE THAT AS A REAL SLIPPERY SLOPE TO MAKE CHILDREN EVEN MORE ANGRY AT EACH OTHER AND SEPARATED AND

[01:45:01]

DIVIDED AND FIGHTING.

AND THEN OF COURSE, WE MOVE ON TO, IN THAT SAME LESSON ABOUT BULLYING, WHERE WE'VE ENCOURAGED THE STUDENTS TO QUOTE UNQUOTE DISRUPT LET'S CAUSE A DISRUPTION LET'S SOCIALLY, THEY'RE TEACHING SOCIAL JUSTICE, WHICH AGAIN, SLIPPERY SLOPE, BUT ADULTS MODELING KINDNESS.

AND THEN FROM HEALTHY KIDS.ORG, SOME BUILT SOME BULLY BECAUSE THEY FEEL INSECURE IN OTHER CASES, KIDS BULLY, BECAUSE THEY SIMPLY DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S NOT OKAY TO PICK ON OTHERS.

IN SOME CASES, BULLYING IS A PART OF A PATTERN OF DEFIANT OR AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR.

THESE KIDS ARE LIKELY TO NEED LEARNING, TO MANAGE ANGER, HURT, FRUSTRATION, OTHER STRONG EMOTIONS THROUGH THERAPY.

THERE ARE SOME EMAILS WE GOT FROM PARENTS WHO LOVE THIS PROGRAM, BUT I DON'T WANT PARENTS TO THINK THIS PROGRAM TAKES THE PLACE OF THERAPY.

OUR TEACHERS CAN NOT BE EXPECTED TO BE THERAPISTS AND CONDUCT UNLICENSED.

THESE ARE SLIPPERY SLOPES TO ASK A TEACHER TO SET AND RUN GROUP THERAPY.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WAS TOLD IS THAT I SUGGESTED WE KEEP THE PROGRAM, BUT THAT WE OPT IN AND I WAS TOLD OPTING IN DOESN'T WORK BECAUSE PARENTS DON'T PAY ATTENTION.

WELL, IF YOU FOLLOW THAT LOGIC, THEN THE REVERSE IS TRUE.

THE REVERSE LOGIC IS TRUE, WHICH MEANS THAT OPTING OUT DOESN'T WORK BECAUSE PARENTS DON'T PAY ATTENTION.

I FOR ONE WOULD NEVER WANT TO TEACH A CHILD SOMETHING THAT THEIR PARENTS WOULDN'T WANT ME TEACHING.

SO WHY DON'T WE FIND A COMPROMISE HERE? WHY DON'T WE, THERE WERE, UM, A LOT OF THESE LESSONS IN HERE, LET ME TURNS MY PAGES.

SOMEONE HAD SAID A PARENT WAS TOLD AT THE OPEN HOUSE THAT, THAT SOME OF THE LESSONS WERE REMOVED DUE TO BEING TOO CONTROVERSIAL.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S NECESSARILY TRUE TO THE LESSONS THAT WERE REMOVED FOR THE MOST PART ARE ALL JUST THE REVIEW LESSONS AT THE END OF EACH CHAPTER.

ONE LESSON THAT I WAS CONCERNED THAT WAS REMOVED WAS LET'S SEE HERE SEVENTH GRADE.

IT WAS THE DEESCALATION LESSON.

AND I'LL TRY AND FIND FOR YOU EXACTLY WHICH UNIT THAT WAS IN, UM, UNIT FOUR EIGHTH, I'M SORRY, SIXTH GRADE UNIT FOUR, LESSON 21.

WHY CONFLICT ESCALATES? I'M NOT SURE WHY THAT ONE WAS REMOVED.

UM, BECAUSE I BELIEVE OUR STUDENTS CERTAINLY NEED TO LEARN DEESCALATION.

MOST OF THESE LESSONS THE PARENTS WOULD LOOK THROUGH, I ASSUME THEY WOULD PROBABLY BE PERFECTLY FINE WITH THE, THE BULLYING BY PRIVILEGE.

ONE IS ONE THAT I CAN'T GET BEHIND.

SO MAYBE WE, UM, ACTUALLY GIVE PARENTS A CHOICE HERE, TRUE PARENTAL CHOICE WE'VE GOT IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL, APPARENTLY A CHOICE BETWEEN SEL OR SECOND STEP AND ELT, EXTRA LEARNING TIME.

ONE OF THE OTHER CONCERNS WE WERE GETTING FROM PARENTS WAS CHILDREN THAT HAVE IEP STUDENTS THAT NEED THAT EXTRA TUTORING TIME.

UM, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE DEFINITELY HEARD FROM THE TEACHERS IS THAT THE REMEDIAL EDUCATION THAT NEEDS TO BE HAPPENING, IT NEEDS TO BE HAPPENING.

UM, WHY ARE WE NOT JUST GIVING PARENTS THE CHOICE? JUST ASK THEM JUST LIKE THEY WOULD SIGN UP FOR AN ELECTIVE.

DO YOU WANT YOUR CHILD PARTICIPATING IN EXTRA LEARNING TIME OR DO YOU WANT YOUR CHILD PROTECT, UH, PARTICIPATING IN SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL LEARNING CHILDREN DO NOT ALL FIT IN ONE BOX.

THERE ARE CERTAIN CHILDREN THAT I WOULD PROBABLY PUT ONE OF MY CHILDREN IN ONE OF THESE POSSIBLY IF WE REMOVED PRIVILEGED BULLYING, BUT THE OTHER ONE, I WOULDN'T NEED IT.

SO WHY NOT GIVE PARENTS A CHOICE? CAN WE NOT GIVE PARENTS THE CHOICE OF WHAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE LEARNING? I THINK PARENTS DO HAVE A CHOICE BECAUSE ANY PARENT CAN REVIEW THE CURRICULUM AT THE CHILD'S SCHOOL AND THEN OPT OUT IF THEY DON'T LIKE IT.

PART OF THE CURRICULUM, THEY DO NOT HAVE THE LOGINS AND PASSWORDS.

THEY CAN GO TO THE SCHOOL AND REVIEW THE CURRICULUM.

WHY IS IT? AND UNDER THE CLOAK OF SECRECY OF DOING THAT, WHY SHOULD A PARENT HAVE TO TAKE OFF WORK TO GO IN AND REVIEW THAT? I DON'T THINK IT'S UNDER THE CLOAK OF SECRECY.

UM, I DO DISAGREE WITH THAT.

I THINK THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST LIKE A, YOU KNOW, A BANKER OR A, A DOCTOR, THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT ARE WITHIN YOUR PROFESSION THAT ARE ONLY FOR THE PROFESSIONALS.

I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S

[01:50:01]

WE WANT ALL PARENTS TO BE INVOLVED.

UM, I'M AN EDUCATOR, I'M AN EDUCATOR, I'M IN THE BUILDINGS EVERY DAY.

AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED WHERE I HAVE TRYING TO REACH PARENTS AND I CAN NEVER REACH THEM.

I HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED WHERE, UM, YOU KNOW, THE COMPLETE OPPOSITE WHERE I HAVE PARENTS ALL THE TIME.

I LOVE IT WHEN WE CAN HAVE THOSE, YOU KNOW, I HAVE THAT COMMUNICATION BECAUSE THOSE CHILDREN KNOW THAT WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER TO SUPPORT THEM.

UM, THAT'S KIND OF OFF TRACK, BUT I DO THINK THAT, AND I WOULD HOPE VERY MUCH SO THAT ANY PARENT THAT HAS A QUESTION, UM, YOU KNOW, TO A TEACHER, YOU KNOW, YOU WORK WITH THE TEACHER FIRST, IF IT'S NOT ADDRESSED, GO TO THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR, IF IT'S NOT ADDRESSED, YOU KNOW, GO FARTHER.

EVERY PARENT DESERVES AN ANSWER FOR WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THEIR CHILD'S EDUCATION.

EVERY PARENT, THEY MIGHT NOT AGREE, UM, WITH MAYBE WHAT THE POLICIES ARE OR WHAT THE CONSEQUENCES HAVE TO BE AT THAT TIME.

BUT AS A SCHOOL SYSTEM, WE HAVE TO HAVE POLICIES.

WE HAVE TO HAVE THINGS IN PLACE.

UM, SO I DO THINK THAT ANY PARENT THAT IS CURRENTLY CONCERNED CAN AND SHOULD, AND AGAIN, I'LL STATE, IF YOU, YOU KNOW, IF YOU CALL UP YOUR TEACHER, IF YOU CALL UP YOUR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR AND YOU SAY, HEY, I'D LIKE TO SET UP A TIME AND THAT ADMINISTRATOR DOESN'T RESPOND TO YOU OR SAYS, YOU KNOW, I CAN, I CAN SEE YOU THREE MONTHS FROM NOW ON A TUESDAY AT FOUR O'CLOCK, OBVIOUSLY THAT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE.

UM, PLEASE CONTACT ME.

I WILL HELP FACILITATE THAT MEETING WITH YOU.

UM, SO I UNDERSTAND WHY WE CAN'T JUST GIVE OUT ALL OF THE CODES.

I DO UNDERSTAND THAT.

UM, BUT I DON'T SEE THAT THERE'S ANY, I DON'T SEE WHERE ANYBODY'S BEING BLOCKED FROM, FROM VISITING THAT IF THEY SO CHOOSE, UM, THEY HAVE THOSE OPTIONS.

IT'S A, YOU KNOW, WE WANT THAT TO WORK TOGETHER.

UM, I HAD ANOTHER THOUGHT, BUT I CAN'T THINK OF WHAT IT WAS.

I'LL COME BACK TO IT, I GUESS.

BUT, BUT I DO.

I DO THINK OUR PARENTS CAN, CAN IF THEY CHOSE, IF THEY SO CHOOSE TO PARTICIPATE, HAVE THAT OPTION TO, TO PARTICIPATE.

I WILL SAY THAT.

SO THE ISSUE WITH THIS CURRICULUM IS THAT IT IS NOT LIKE OTHER CURRICULUMS IN THAT IS YOUR GROUP SESSIONS.

CIRCLE TIME LED BY A TEACHER READING A SCRIPT.

THAT'S 50% OF THE CURRICULUM.

WHY WOULD A PARENT, WHY WOULD TEACHERS NOT WANT PARENTS KNOWING WHAT, WHAT THE TEACHER IS SAYING TO THEIR CHILD IN THESE GROUP COUNSELING SESSIONS? I CALLED SECOND STEP TO ASK THEM, UH, THEY HAVEN'T, THEY, THEY PROMISED ME A CALL BACK.

I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ONE.

SO I'M HAVING A GOOD CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE HERE.

UM, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU SAID, I'M JUST ASKING, YOU'RE SAYING TEACHERS ARE SAYING THEY DON'T WANT PARENTS TO KNOW.

I'VE NOT HEARD THAT I'VE NOT HEARD, I'VE NOT HAD ONE CONCERN OF A PARENT THAT SAID, I'VE ASKED THIS AND THE TEACHER ISN'T RESPONDING.

UM, IF THAT'S HAPPENING, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

AND I KNOW THAT CAN OPEN UP A WHOLE OTHER CAN OF WORMS BECAUSE SOMEBODY IS AFRAID TO, YOU KNOW, UM, THEY DON'T WANT TO SPEAK UP, BUT THAT IS HOW HAVING POSITIVE, SUCCESSFUL DIALOGUE.

WE, WE CAN DO THAT.

WE CAN MAKE THINGS WORK TOGETHER.

UM, SO I, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M NOT SURE THAT I QUITE AGREE WITH THAT.

YOU KNOW, UM, SOME OF THE, THE OVERALL STATEMENTS, UM, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS I'VE HAD WITH PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD CONCERNS WAS PLEASE SHOW ME THE SPECIFIC, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THE SPECIFIC LESSON THAT YOU VIEWED THAT YOU HAVE CONCERNS WITH? CAUSE I WANT TO VIEW IT.

I MEAN, I CAN TELL YOU FROM MY OWN RESEARCH, THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS FLOATING AROUND OUT THERE.

AND WHEN I FIRST HEARD OF IT, BOY, MY EYEBROWS RAISED.

AND THEN WHEN I LOOKED AT IT, I FOUND IT, IT WAS NOT FACTUAL.

UM, YOU KNOW, WE, WE JUST, WE ARE, WE ARE IN A, IT'S A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MUCH INFORMATION IN FRONT OF US, BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE AND LOOK AT THE FACTS AS WELL.

WELL, AND IT'S NOT THE TEACHERS THAT ARE TELLING THE PARENTS THAT THEY CAN'T HAVE IT BECAUSE TECHNICALLY OUR TEACHERS DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THESE SCRIPTS RIGHT NOW, EITHER BECAUSE IT'S PAUSED AND THEIR LOGINS AND PASSWORDS WERE FROZEN, SO THEY CAN'T GET INTO IT.

UM, THERE DEFINITELY ARE TEACHERS.

WHAT IS THAT?

[01:55:01]

GO AHEAD, HEATHER.

UM, HEATHER BRIDE ON THE CURRICULUMS, UM, SUPERVISOR FOR THE COUNTY, UM, THE TEACHER LOG INS OR NOT FROZEN, UM, THE SUSPENSION OF THE SECOND STEP CURRICULUM AT WARREN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL, WHERE THEY WOULDN'T HAVE DIGITAL ACCESS.

THOSE THAT HAVE A USERNAME AND PASSWORD TEACHERS JUST LIKE THE BOARD MEMBERS ARE ABLE TO ACCESS THE PROGRAM, BUT THEY ARE NOT IMPLEMENTING IT AGAIN, THEY'RE IN A CLASS GONE.

UM, BUT IF, IF THE ID HAS BEEN CREATED, THE TEACHERS WOULD ACCESS TO THAT AT OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS WHERE THE SECOND STEP IS IN THE FORM OF PAPER COPY CLASSROOM KITS, THE TEACHERS AND COUNSELORS TO PRIMARILY USE THAT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE LESSONS, BUT THEY ARE NOT CURRENTLY BEING USED IN THOSE SCHOOLS THAT HAVE IDENTIFIED AS USING A SECOND STEP OF THE TREE AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL.

SO, YOU KNOW, OUR TEACHERS DO HAVE ACCESS, BUT THEY'RE NOT CURRENTLY USING IT WITH OUR STUDENTS SINCE THE, UH, JANUARY 5TH.

THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT FOR US.

UM, I'M CONFUSED.

ARE WE, WE'RE NOT IN PUBLIC COMMENTS.

WE JUST ASK FOR SOME CLARIFICATION FROM OUR CURRICULUM ADVISOR.

I JUST, I SEE OTHERS.

I'M SORRY.

MA'AM UM, W OH, I'M SORRY.

CAN I SPEAK TO YOU AFTERWARDS? I'M SO SORRY.

WELL, MA'AM, I'M S I'M SORRY.

I'LL TALK TO YOU AFTER THE MEETING.

OKAY, MR. MR. HERSH, CAN YOU PLEASE ASK HER TO LEAVE SOMEONE? THANK YOU, PAUL.

NO, ACTUALLY, NO, MA'AM, I'M SORRY.

WE'LL TALK TO YOU AFTERWARDS.

WE DO GIVE TEACHER ACCESS.

OFFICER, CAN YOU HELP HER OUT AND THE SCHOOL? OKAY.

I UNDERSTAND.

THAT'S YOUR OPINION, RIGHT? OH, OKAY.

IT'S OKAY.

CAN YOU PLEASE JUST SHOW HER OUT? THANK YOU.

WOW.

SO T TO CLARIFY WHAT SHE WAS SPEAKING ABOUT, THE ONLY SECOND STEP THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THAT HAS BEEN DEEMED BY THEM, THEIR OWN WORDS AS POLITICALLY CONTROVERSIAL IS THE NEW DIGITAL 20, 20, 20, 21 COPYRIGHTED SECOND STEP.

THEY DID ALSO TELL ME WHEN I SPOKE WITH THEM, THAT IT CHANGES EVERY YEAR.

SO THEY'RE THERE, EVEN THOUGH OUR PARENTS MAY HAVE REVIEWED THIS ONE, THEY'RE GONNA REVAMP IT AND CHANGE IT FOR NEXT YEAR.

SO AGAIN, PARENTS NEED TO HAVE FULL ACCESS AND YOU WILL, I WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND WHY THE SCHOOLS WOULD NOT WANT TO JUST GIVE PARENTS FULL ACCESS IF IT'S SUCH A GREAT PROGRAM.

WOULDN'T THAT SMOOTH IT OVER.

IF PARENTS JUST GOT TO SEE THE FULL PROGRAM, ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR DR.

BELLINGER, UM, DR.

BALLENGER, AS FAR AS THE FULL ACCESS, CAN YOU CLARIFY FOR US, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING IT'S, IT'S NOT THAT THE SCHOOLS ARE NOT ALLOWING FULL ACCESS, AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN GIVE OUT THERE'S 5,000 STUDENTS, NO 5,000 ACCESS CODES.

IT IS A PART OF THAT LEGAL COPYRIGHT AGREEMENT WHEN YOU PURCHASE THAT PROGRAM.

CAN YOU MAYBE JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT AND THAT MIGHT HELP CLARIFY HOW THAT, SO, YES, I MEAN, THERE, THERE IS A, A COPYRIGHT AGREEMENT AND A LEGAL AGREEMENT THAT WE, WE HAD TO SIGN IN ORDER AND DOING THAT PROGRAM, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT DOES IDENTIFY WHAT CAN BE AND WHAT CAN NOT BE SHARED.

UM, YOU KNOW, IT ALSO TALKS ABOUT THAT IF ACCESS CODES GET OUT, THEN THEY WOULD HAVE TO, UM, STOP THOSE ACCESS CODES AND THEN REISSUE NEW ACCESS CODES FOR THE SCHOOL BECAUSE OF, YOU KNOW, IS IT THE MATERIAL THAT IS COPYRIGHTED OR IS IT THE PLATFORM THAT IS COPYRIGHTED? UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT IS IT THAT IS DEEMED, UH, FOR THE COPYRIGHT ISSUE THERE? UH, BUT YOU KNOW, WE,

[02:00:01]

WE GAVE TEACHER ACCESS AT THE PARENT NIGHT, UH, THAT, THAT THE COMMUNITY NIGHT, AND, AND WE WILL GIVE TEACHER ACCESS AT THE SCHOOLS.

IT'S JUST THAT WE CANNOT GIVE THEM.

AND IT'S LIKE, WE CAN NOT GIVE THAT.

ACCORDING TO THAT AGREEMENT, WE CAN GIVE THE PARENT ACCESS TO FOR HOME.

AND SO WE'RE FOLLOWING THAT.

UM, AS FAR AS THE GUIDELINES FROM THAT COMPANY, THEN MAYBE THE QUESTION IS WHY WOULD WE NOT CHOOSE TO USE A CURRICULUM THAT IS WILLING TO GIVE FULL TRANSPARENCY TO PARENTS? WELL, I THINK WE ARE GIVING FULL TRANSPARENCY.

THEY DO NOT HAVE FULL ACCESS, AND YOU CAN SET TIME LIMITS ON HOW LONG THOSE CODES WORK, THAT PAPER THAT YOU SENT OUT WITH THE PARENTS, WHERE THEY HAVE THEIR ACTIVATION CODE, YOU CAN SET A TIME LIMIT FOR THAT.

SO MAYBE IF WE'RE LOOKING AT PUTTING THIS INTO PLACE AT THE START OF THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR, MAYBE WE SAY, YOU KNOW, FOR THE, FOR THE TWO WEEKS BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS, OR THE HOWEVER LONG, THE THREE WEEKS THE MONTH, WE ALLOW THIS, THIS ACTIVATION CODE, SO THAT PARENTS HAVE TIME TO REVIEW IT AT THEIR LEISURE.

SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO TAKE OFF WORK AND CHOOSE BETWEEN FEEDING THEIR FAMILIES AND READING CURRICULUM FOR THEIR CHILDREN, GIVE THEM THE CODE, LET THEM LOOK INTO IT, HAVE THE CUTOFF DATE, WHAT DO THEY THINK PARENTS ARE GOING TO DO COPY DOWN THE TEACHER SCRIPTS AND SELL IT ON THE BLACK MARKET.

I MEAN, THEY JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS BEING TAUGHT TO THEIR, TO THEIR CHILDREN.

AND I WILL NEVER THINK THAT THAT IS ASKING TOO MUCH, AND I RESPECT YOUR VIEWPOINT ON THAT, BUT I'M JUST SAYING THAT THAT IS WHAT THE AGREEMENT IS WITH THE COMPANY.

SO, UH, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE WE HAVE TO FOLLOW WHAT THE AGREEMENT IS WITH THE COMPANY.

AND, UH, YOU KNOW, IT IS LOOKING AT WHATEVER THAT IS.

WE, WE WILL, WE WILL ADHERE TO THAT.

AND WE WILL ALSO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO PUT US IN ANY LEGAL ISSUE ON DOWN THE ROAD WITH THAT, WITH THAT ENTITY.

BUT WE WILL, AT THE SAME POINT IN TIME, WE DO ALLOW, AND WE ARE ALLOWING THE ACCESS AT THE SCHOOL AS IT SAYS THAT WE COULD DO THAT.

SO THAT, THAT OPPORTUNITY IS THERE JUST LIKE WITH ANY CURRICULUM, WITH OUR MATH, MATH TEXTBOOKS, WITH OUR SCIENCE TEXTBOOKS, WITH ANYTHING, WITH ANY CURRICULUM, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE WERE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHY COULDN'T WE TAKE, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, ONE OF THE, UH, ONE OF THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, ONE OF THE, THE CURRICULUM BOOKS THAT THE, THE TEACHER WAS USING WELL, THAT IS THE MATERIAL THAT THEY ACTUALLY USE TO TEACH.

SO, NO, YOU CAN'T TAKE THAT HOME THAT HAS TO STAY HERE.

UM, SO, SO YES, THIS IS THE DIGITAL, BUT AGAIN, THAT'S, THAT'S A LEGAL QUESTION.

AND, AND WHEN TALKING TO OUR ATTORNEY, UM, CONCERNING THAT AND SEEKING THE GUIDANCE ON THAT, UH, THE ATTORNEY SAID TO BE SHARED THAT WE GAVE COMMUNITIES THE SAME ACCESS THAT, THAT THE PARENTS HAD WITH THE PARENT ACCESS.

AND IF WE ARE GIVING A FULL TEACHER ACCESS AT THE SCHOOLS AND TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAD FULL TEACHER ACCESS AT THE SCHOOL.

AND SO THAT'S THE GUIDANCE THAT WE'RE FOLLOWING.

SO THEN MY QUESTION BECOMES WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS COMPANY THAT, THAT THAT'S THEIR POLICY THAT WHY DID WE CLIMB IN BED WITH A COMPANY THAT HAS THIS POLICY? IS THIS FROM POLICY THAN WE HAVE WITH OTHER DIGITAL ACCESS QUIRKY? WELL, I MEAN, YOU'RE, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE, UM, AND MR. GRANT COULD PROBABLY TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT COPYRIGHTS AND I CAN, AND THEN ABOUT, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT AGREEMENTS DEPENDING UPON WHAT IS WHAT IT IS THAT THAT COMPANY HAS.

SO, YOU KNOW, IF IT IS THE PLATFORM, IT IS THE PLATFORM THAT YOU DON'T WANT THAT PLATFORM OUT THERE.

UM, YOU KNOW, IF IT IS THE CR, IF IT IS THE CONTENT, THEN, THEN THAT CONTENT IS PROPRIETARY.

UH, SO, BUT IT'S NOT SAYING THAT WE'RE NOT LETTING PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO IT.

THEY HAVE ACCESS TO IT.

UM, IT'S JUST NOT ACCESS OUTSIDE OF THAT CONTROLLED SETTING, UM, AT THE SCHOOL 'CAUSE, YOU KNOW, THAT PARENTS WOULD HAVE TO MAKE MAJOR SACRIFICES.

THEY'D HAVE TO FIND A BABYSITTER, THEY'D HAVE TO TAKE TIME OFF WORK SO THAT THEY CAN THEN COME INTO THE SCHOOL.

SO, LIKE I SAID, I SPENT 16 HOURS.

I MEAN, MY HUSBAND CAN ATTEST TO IT.

I HAD TO PUT THIS IN TWO, BROKEN UP TIMES HERE AND THERE LATE AT NIGHT.

I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE MAKING DEALS WITH COMPANIES THAT BELIEVE THAT IT'S OKAY TO HIDE INFORMATION FROM PARENTS THAT, OR THE OTHER ALTERNATIVE IS WE LET THE PARENTS CHOOSE THIS AS, AS AN ELECTIVE, YOUR ELT OR YOUR SEL CHOOSE.

THEN EVERYONE IS HAPPY.

THAT IS, THAT IS WHAT TRUE PARENTAL CHOICE IS ABOUT, IS ALLOWING ALL PARENTS TO CHOOSE WHAT

[02:05:01]

IS BEST FOR THEIR CHILDREN.

THEN, THEN LITERALLY EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM GETS WHAT THEY WANT EVERYBODY.

NO, I HEARD A NO, IS IT BECAUSE WE WANT IT FORCED UPON OTHER, IS IT THAT WE WANT TO FORCE THIS ON OTHER PARENTS, CHILDREN THAT MIGHT NOT WANT IT? WHAT IF I THINK WE'RE ALL, WE'VE ALL TALKED IT OUT.

WE'RE NOT EVEN, WE DON'T HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.

IF THERE IS A MOTION, I'D LOVE TO HEAR IT.

NOW.

I MOVED THAT THE USE OF ALL SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS TO INCLUDE SECOND STEP, BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE AS PLANNED IN EACH SCHOOL.

IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND THAT, IS THERE ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION? UH, YES.

MADAM CHAIR.

I, UM, UH, TO HAVE, UH, RESEARCHED, UM, WENT ON THE, UM, A TEACHER, UM, OUTLOOK ON SECOND STEP.

UM, I DIDN'T SPEND THE AMOUNT OF TIME ON THERE THAT, UH, THAT MS SALEN SPENT.

AND I APPRECIATE HER TIME.

UM, I DID SKIM THROUGH IT.

UM, I WOULD GO BACK AND IF SOMETHING STOOD OUT, I WOULD GO BACK AND DOUBLE-CHECK IT.

I THOUGHT THE LESSON PLANS AS A FORMER TEACHER, THE LESSON PLANS WERE, UH, WERE GOOD.

UH, YOU CAN ALWAYS TAKE ANYTHING AND CHANGE IT AROUND OR PICK IT APART, HOWEVER YOU WANT TO SAY IT.

UM, AND I DID SEE A COUPLE OF LITTLE THINGS THAT COULD BE TAKEN THE WRONG WAY, BUT I ALSO HAVE TRUST IN OUR GUIDANCE FOLKS AND ANY TEACHER THAT'S INVOLVED IN THIS PROGRAM TO USE WHAT I CALL TEACHER COMMON SENSE, AND THAT'S A BIG THING.

UM, AND I BELIEVE IN MY HEART, THE TEACHERS THAT I'VE BEEN AROUND, UM, WHERE I USED TO TEACH AND AT WARRENTON MIDDLE SCHOOL, UM, THEY WOULD ALSO FOLLOW THAT PROGRAM.

AND I BELIEVE THE TEACHERS AND GUIDANCE PEOPLE THAT I HAVE MET HERE WOULD ALSO FOLLOW THE TEACHER COMMON SENSE RULE.

I USED TO TEACH A FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION, AND, UM, BELIEVE ME TEACHING THAT TO A MIDDLE SCHOOL KIDS WAS A REAL, REAL INTERESTING THING.

UM, WE HAD THE, THE BOOK IN THE SCHOOL, THE BOOK DID NOT LEAVE THE SCHOOL SO TEACH, UH, PARENTS COULD COME IN AND REVIEW THE BOOK.

UM, THEY COULD OPT THEIR CHILDREN OUT AND WE GAVE THEM EXTRA ASSIGNMENTS FOR EXTRA CREDIT WHILE THEY WERE OPT OUT.

THEY JUST WEREN'T SITTING AROUND DOING NOTHING.

SO, BUT I DO HAVE CONFIDENCE IN A PROFESSIONAL STAFF THAT WE HAVE, UH, REALLY BELIEVE THAT.

UM, AND I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE STAFF THAT PUT TOGETHER ALL OF THIS.

UM, AND WITH THAT, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SUPPORT DR.

BALLENGER IN PAUSING OR, UH, HOLDING OFF ON THE REST OF THE PROGRAM SIMILAR TO SECOND STEP.

ALTHOUGH I MADE THAT MOTION AND I PUT SECOND STEP IN THERE, I DIDN'T PUT ANY OTHER GUIDANCE PROGRAM I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE.

SO I THINK WITH HIS LEADERSHIP AND PUTTING A PAUSE ON EVERYTHING THAT WAS SIMILAR WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

UM, SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, UM, I GOT A COFFEE CUP FROM MY PRINCIPAL WHEN I RETIRED AND IT SAID A GOOD TEACHER IS REMEMBERED A LIFETIME.

AND THAT'S TRUE.

YOU CAN THINK ABOUT SOME OF YOUR TEACHERS, EACH ONE OF YOU PROBABLY HAD A TEACHER THAT YOU REMEMBER, UH, YOU REMEMBER THE GOOD ONES AND YOU REMEMBER THE, THE, UH, POOR ONES.

SO WE CAN ALL GO TO SCHOOL OFF OF THAT.

UM, SO WITH THAT, I'LL SECOND.

THE MOTION, IF I HAVEN'T ALREADY, I CAN'T REMEMBER.

AND I TRULY BELIEVE THAT OUR EDUCATORS ARE PROFESSIONALS AND THEY WILL MAKE POSITIVE AND GOOD PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENTS.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? YEAH.

I JUST WANT TO ALSO STAY, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF EMOTION WHEN IT COMES TO OUR KIDS.

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOU STAND OUR KIDS, NO MATTER WHAT I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE OUR, OUR FUTURE.

AND I APPRECIATE THE COMMUNICATION THAT I HAVE BEEN RECEIVING, YOU KNOW, SINCE JANUARY ONE, FROM OUR PUBLIC ART, FROM OUR COMMUNITY, FROM OUR PARENTS, IT IS IMPORTANT TO ME THAT EVERYONE TAKES AN ACTIVE ROLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND IN PARTICULARLY IN YOUR CHILD'S EDUCATION, UM, LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, I DID SPEND HOURS LOOKING AT, UM, EACH OF THE SECTIONS I LOOKED THROUGH IT

[02:10:01]

I BELIEVE ALSO THAT IF OUR PARENTS ARE ENGAGED AND THERE IS A QUESTION, AND THERE'S A CONCERN THAT WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS IT AND I WILL HELP TO SUPPORT ANY KIND OF COMMUNICATION THERE, UM, THAT I CAN BECAUSE OUR PARENTS HAVE THAT.

RIGHT.

AND I, AND YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL ADULTS AND WE CAN WORK THROUGH THOSE SITUATIONS.

SO IF THERE'S EVER ANY QUESTIONS, IT DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND DISCUSSED.

UM, BUT I TRUST OUR GUIDANCE COUNSELORS.

UM, I TRUST OUR TEACHERS AND, UM, I THINK THIS IS A GREAT RESOURCE THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, WILL ULTIMATELY BENEFIT THOSE INVOLVED.

AND OUR PARENTS DO HAVE THE OPTION TO OPT OUT.

SO THERE ARE OPTIONS.

SO I THINK, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NEVER GONNA PROBABLY COME TO A FULL, CONSISTENT CONSENSUS IN EVERY SINGLE PARENT OF OUR 5,000 STUDENTS ARE GOING TO BE A HUNDRED PERCENT ON BOARD WITH ANYTHING WE DO.

BUT WHEN WE GIVE OPTIONS AND WE GIVE CHOICES, WE CAN MEET STUDENTS WHERE THEY ARE.

SO THANK YOU ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION.

I JUST, I RESPECT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, I APPRECIATE THE CIVIL DISCOURSE THAT WE WILL AGREE TO DISAGREE AND CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER AS A, AS A BOARD.

NEXT UP IS APPROVED WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A PHONE.

WE WILL, WE WILL DISAGREE ON SOME THINGS AND TO DO IT, AND THE AUDIENCE IS GREAT TODAY.

PEOPLE HERE, YOUR CONSIDERATION ON THE AGENDA IS FANTASTIC AND I APPLAUD YOU FOR THAT.

COOL.

ALL RIGHT.

CAN YOU, UM, DO A ROLL CALL PLEASE? DR.

FUNK, MRS. LOEB.

HI, MADAM CHAIR, MR. RENALDI.

[6D. Approve Warren County Public Schools COVID-19 Mitigation Health Plan Revisions - Mr. Hirsch ]

COVID 19 MITIGATION HEALTH PLAN REVISIONS.

MR. HIRSCH, MADAM CHAIR, MR. SUPERINTENDENT, UH, THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THE COVID 19 MITIGATION PLAN.

I KNOW YOU, UM, YOU ALL LOOK VERY CLOSELY AT THAT AT THE WORK SESSION AND HAVE THE HIGHLIGHTED, UM, CHANGES OR ADDITIONS TO THE PLAN, UM, IN YOUR PACKET SINCE MARCH, 2020, UM, WE'VE THIS, THIS DOCUMENT AND, AND IT HAS BEEN VERY FLUID.

I MEAN, THE SITUATION HAS BEEN VERY FLUID, UM, WITH REGARDS TO COVID 19 AND OUR MITIGATION STRATEGIES, UM, TO HELP KEEP STUDENTS AND STAFF SAFE.

SO I WILL, UM, GLOSS, GLOSS, BUT BRIEFLY TALK ABOUT THE CHANGES IN THE PLAN, WHICH ARE NOT THAT MANY.

THE FIRST BIG ITEM IN THE PLAN THAT WAS ADDED IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PARENTS TO, TO GET, GET, UH, COVID TESTS THROUGH OUR, THROUGH THE SCHOOL NURSES.

UM, THAT HAPPENED AT THE SAME TIME AS OUR COUNTY AND THE COMMUNITY COMING UP WITH A LARGE NUMBER OF TESTS AS WELL.

SO THERE IS, UM, A LOT OF COVID TESTS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, BUT, UH, PARENTS CAN ASK THE SCHOOL NURSES OR THEIR ADMINISTRATORS IF THEY CAN, UM, HAVE SOME TESTS THAT HAD COME IN ADDITION, UM, IN FOLLOWING WITH, UH, THE GUIDANCE BY THE CDC, UH, WE LOOKED AT THE DEFINITIONS OF, UH, OF QUARANTINE AND ISOLATION AND THERE WERE A FEW, UM, UPDATES.

UM, SO IF, IF A PERSON IS FOUND POSITIVE FOR COVID-19, UH, IN THE PAST, UH, THEY WERE QUARANTINED FOR FOR 10 DAYS.

AND THEN THERE WAS A THING CALLED, UH, I'LL GET THE HOUSE IN CONTEXT IN A BIT.

UM, RIGHT NOW STUDENTS ARE QUARANTINED IF, IF THEY ARE POSITIVE FOR FIVE DAYS, UM, IF THEY'RE SYMPTOM-FREE, THEY CAN COME BACK TO SCHOOL AND THEN WEAR A FACE COVERING FOR FIVE ADDITIONAL DAYS.

IF A STUDENT IS EXPOSED TO SOMEONE WITH COVID-19, UM, AND THEY'RE IDENTIFIED AS A DIRECT CONTACT, UH, THEN A STUDENT, UM, DOES NOT NEED THE QUARANTINE.

IF THEY HAVE RECEIVED THE BOOSTER SHOT, OR THEY HAVE ALL OF THEIR VACCINES VACCINATIONS,

[02:15:01]

THEN THEY NEED TO, IF THEY'RE SYMPTOM FREE, THEY NEED TO WEAR A FACE COVERING FOR 10 DAYS.

IF THE STUDENTS, UM, DID NOT GET THE, THE BOOST, THE BOOSTED SHOT, UM, OR THEY DID NOT GET VACCINATED, THEN THEY'RE TO STAY HOME FOR FIVE DAYS.

UM, IF THEY'RE SYMPTOM-FREE, THEY COULD, THEY COULD COME INTO SCHOOL, WEARING A FACE COVERING FOR FIVE ADDITIONAL DAYS.

UM, IF, IF A STUDENT OR A STAFF MEMBER CANNOT QUARANTINE FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, UM, NOT IF THEY WERE POSITIVE, BUT THEY WERE EXPOSED.

WE TRIED, WE, WHAT WE DO IS WE LAYER MITIGATION STRATEGIES, FACE COVERINGS, OR JUST ONE, UM, MITIGATION STRATEGY THAT'S BEING USED.

SO IF THEY CANNOT QUARANTINE, WE'LL LOOK AT OTHER STRATEGIES THAT WE CAN DO TO HELP STUDENTS, UM, UH, COME TO SCHOOL AND NOT, NOT TO GUARANTEE.

UM, AND THAT IS THE CHANGES, UM, FOR THE UPDATES, NOT NECESSARILY CHANGES, BUT THE UPDATES TO THE PLAN, UH, WHICH REFLECTS THE CURRENT GUIDANCE FROM THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT AND THE CDC.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. HIRSCH? I JUST WANTED TO ADDRESS THAT THE GENTLEMEN WHO SPOKE EARLIER ABOUT THE MASKS, UM, THEY'RE OPTIONAL RIGHT NOW.

SO WE ARE HONORING THE EXECUTIVE ORDER.

UM, YOU JUST HAVE TO FILL OUT THE FORM OR WRITE A NOTE AND SEND IT TO THE SCHOOL SO THAT THE SCHOOL KNOWS THAT THAT AS THE PARENT ARE OKAY WITH YOUR CHILD, NOT WEARING A MASK.

SO WE ARE FOLLOWING THAT EXECUTIVE ORDER.

ABSOLUTELY.

UH, YES.

MR. HERSCH, UM, WE'RE CURRENTLY IN PHASE ONE, CORRECT BASE PHASE TWO.

NOW ON PHASE TWO, IT SAYS PHASE COVERINGS FOR CARD FOR ALL STUDENTS AND STAFF WENT INDOORS, BUT IF THEY BRING THE SLIP, THEY DON'T HAVE TO WEAR THE MASK.

THAT IS CORRECT.

NOW, IT'S IT? THIS IS WHERE IT GETS A LITTLE BIT, COULD BE CONFUSING.

WE ARE IN PHASE TWO DUE TO THE METRICS AND THE DECISION AND THE GUIDANCE FROM, FROM OUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS AND FOR THE BOARD.

AND, BUT THE EXECUTIVE ORDER KIND OF, IT TAKES IT.

WHAT'S THE WORD I'M LOOKING FOR WHEN YOU'RE PLAYING.

IT ALLOWS PARENTS TO MAKE THAT DECISION.

IT ALLOWS PARENTS TO MAKE THAT DECISION.

SO WE ARE IN PHASE TWO, BUT THE EXECUTIVE ORDER SAYS, EVEN THOUGH OUR MITIGATION STRATEGY SAID, ALL STUDENTS WEAR, WEAR A FACE, COVERING THE EXECUTIVE ORDER, SAYS IT'S PARENT CHOICE.

NOW WHAT HAPPENS IF WE GO INTO PHASE THREE? WHY IS IT STILL, WE WON'T BE IN PHASE THREE.

I MEAN, WE JUST ARE GOING ON A DOWNTURN FROM THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF CASES AND IN THE COUNTY.

SO SOMEONE HAS TO RUN ALL DAY.

I DON'T THINK WE WOULD BE MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION.

IF ANYTHING, WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO, WE SHOULD BE MOVING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION TO A FULL PHASE ONE AS OUR NUMBERS CONTINUE TO DECLINE.

EVEN IF WE DID, I, I MEAN, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT I BELIEVE THE EXECUTIVE ORDER WOULD STILL REQUIRE US TO ALLOW THAT'S WHAT I WAS TRYING TO GET TO.

YEAH, NO, NOT EVEN IF WE DID MOVE TO PHASE THREE, YOU ARE CORRECT.

MA'AM AND THE BIG CHANGE, IF WE WENT TO PHASE ONE, THE BIG CHANGE WILL BE FOR STAFF AND FACE COVERINGS.

SO THEN STAFF WILL HAVE A CHOICE TO WEAR FACE COVERINGS IN PHASE ONE.

SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, ANY PARENT THAT WANTS TO OPT THEIR CHILD OUT OF WEARING A MASK, SIMPLY FILLS OUT THE FORM TO THE SCHOOL OR WRITES A LITTLE NOTE OR WHATEVER, OR CALLS THE ADMINISTRATOR.

AND WE COULD DOCUMENT IT THE PHONE CALL.

WE WANT TO MAKE IT AS EASY AS POSSIBLE FOR OUR PARENTS TO COMMUNICATE WITH, WITH, WITH US SO THEY CAN, UM, HAVE THAT CHOICE MORE QUESTION, AND THEN I'LL STOP.

WHAT PERCENTAGE OF KIDS WERE NOT MASKED PRIOR TO THE NEW EXECUTIVE ORDER, OTHERWISE FOR RELIGIOUS OR MEDICAL REASON? JUST AN AVERAGE PERCENTED DIVISION-WIDE I DON'T KNOW THE NUMBER EXACTLY, BUT IT WAS A, IT WAS A RELATIVELY SMALL PERCENTAGE THAT THAT SHOWS WHAT SHOWS TO EXERCISE THAT, RIGHT.

MAYBE AROUND 5% OR LESS.

UH, WELL, 10% OF 5,000 IS 500 TO 50 LESS IS LESS THAN THE TWO 50.

THE SCHOOL THEN I'LL MENTION WHETHER IT WAS A RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION, A MEDICAL EXEMPTION OR AN EO, TWO EXEMPTION.

AND WHAT PERCENTAGE, INCLUDING THAT THE, THE, UH, KIDS THAT WERE, UH, MEDICAL AND RELIGIOUS EXEMPTIONS, WHAT'S THE TOTAL NOW, NOW THE TOTAL IS PROBABLY GETTING UP, UH, I THINK, AND SOME SCHOOLS MR. RINALDO, AND I DID SHARE SOME INFORMATION AND I CAN COVER THAT INFORMATION IF, IF THE BOARD WOULD LIKE, BUT, UM, AS FAR AS WHEN WE LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF, AND LET ME JUST PULL THIS UP HERE REAL QUICK, AND YOU, YOU CAN DO SOME, SOME QUICK ADDITION HERE, BUT, UM, AND I'LL JUST RUN THROUGH EACH SCHOOL.

SO PREVIOUSLY, UM, YOU KNOW, I'LL MENTION

[02:20:01]

AND SO IN THAT ORDER, YOU HAVE M A S ROADS.

THEY HAD ONE MED, UH, ONE RE ONE RELIGIOUS, TWO MEDICAL AND 103 EO, TWO, UM, HE, WILSON MORRISON, 11 ZERO AND 1 0 6, UH, RESI JEFFRIES, 13, SIX, AND 1 58, UH, HILDA J SEVEN, THREE AND ONE 12 LF, K 13, 0 1 42, SKYLINE, MIDDLE FOUR, FOUR AND 99, WARREN COUNTY, MIDDLE SCHOOL, SEVEN FIVE, AND ONE 12, UH, WARREN COUNTY, HIGH SCHOOL, 12, SIX, AND ONE 15 AND SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL, EIGHT ZERO AND 1 0 2.

AND SO THOSE ARE THE CURRENT NUMBERS.

AS OF TODAY, WE WERE JUST DOING MATH UP HERE.

WE THINK IT'S SOMEWHERE AROUND 23, 20 3%.

I CALCULATE IT'S A NUMBERS BEFORE THIS EVENING.

AND I HAD WITH, WITH ALL THE CURRENT, UM, EXEMPTIONS, JUST BASED ON MY LITTLE MATH HERE, ABOUT 23% PREVIOUS TO THAT, IF YOU TOOK OUT AND WHAT WAS, WHAT DID WE HAVE? WE HAD ABOUT, UM, 0.0, 2%.

IT LOOKS LIKE THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT.

NOW, ONE MORE THING.

THE KIDS THAT YOU SEE WALKING AROUND IN THE HALLS AND THE MASK IS LIKE, THIS THEY'RE INCLUDED IN THE, UM, LIKE IN THE LAST ONE WAS 102 THEY'RE INCLUDED IN THAT.

NO, NO.

IF THE KID WEARING HIS MASK LIKE THIS, WE'RE TELLING THEM TO DO THIS.

RIGHT.

BUT SOME OF THOSE WOULD HAVE OPTED OUT OF WEARING THE MASK.

CORRECT.

SO IT MAKES IT A LITTLE BIT EASIER.

YOU'RE NOT TELLING THEM TO PULL IT UP BECAUSE NOW THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORK.

YES, YES, SIR.

THEY WEREN'T REALLY WEARING A MASK ANYWAY, CORRECT? YES, SIR.

YOU ARE CORRECT.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. HIRSCH? THANK YOU.

IS THERE A MOTION? I MOVE THAT THE WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS COVID-19 MITIGATION HEALTH PLAN REVISIONS DATED JANUARY 19TH, 2020, TO BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED SECOND.

ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.

AYE.

OPPOSED? NO MOTION CARRIES.