Feb 01, 2023 Board Meeting

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

[00:00:05]

ACCORDING TO THE VOTES RECORDED BY THE CLERK, THE SCHOOL BOARD OF WARREN COUNTY DOES HEREBY CERTIFY THAT TO THE BEST OF EACH MEMBER'S KNOWLEDGE, ONE, ONLY PUBLIC BUSINESS MATTERS, LAWFULLY EXEMPTED FROM OPEN MEETING REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE VIRGINIA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT WERE DISCUSSED IN THE CLOSED MEETING TO WHICH THE CERTIFICATION APPLIES AND TO ONLY SUCH PUBLIC BUSINESS MATTERS AS WERE IDENTIFIED IN THE MOTION BY WHICH THE CLOSED MEETING WAS CONVENED, WERE HEARD, DISCUSSED, OR CONSIDERED BY THE SCHOOL BOARD.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND, MR. GRANT, COULD YOU DO ROLL CALL PLEASE? CERTAINLY.

UM, THIS IS LOWS.

AYE.

WHO? AYE.

DR.

AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

THANK YOU.

THAT BRINGS US OUT OF CLOSED SESSION AND WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.

IF YOU WILL, PLEASE STAND AND JOIN ME FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, FOLLOWED BY A MOMENT OF SILENCE, ALLEG TO THE NATION.

LIBERTY JUSTICE.

IS

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

MADAM CHAIR, I'D LIKE TO MODIFY THE AGENDA TO ADD AN ACTION ITEM, THE REAUTHORIZATION OF REQUEST REQUEST TO APPROPRIATE $360,365 OF FISCAL YEAR 2020 SURPLUS TO THE SCHOOL TEXTBOOK FUND.

IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.

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

AYE.

AYE.

OPPOSE? NO.

THANK YOU.

NEXT

[2.C. Attendance Award Presentation - Dr. Ballenger]

MS. LOGAN, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

I JUST HAVE A FEW SLIDES.

UM, I'M TERRAN LOGAN, DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR FOR WARREN COUNTY.

UM, JUST A SECOND.

UM, SOME LEASE HIGHLIGHTS.

I'M NOT SURE, UM, WHAT ALL EVERYBODY HAS READ ABOUT THE LEASE, BUT, UM, IN 2011, THE COUNTY ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT TO LEASE 59,000, UM, IN 10 SQUARE FEET AT THE FORMER 15TH STREET MIDDLE SCHOOL FACILITY, WHICH IS NOW THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMPLEX.

THE TERM OF THAT LEASE WAS TO BEGIN OCTOBER 18TH, 2011 FOR 30 YEARS, AND IT AUTOMATICALLY IS RENEWED FOR AN ADDITIONAL 10 YEAR PERIODS.

FACILITY USE FOR THAT IS GOVERNMENT RELATED USES THE FACILITY CAN BE SUBLET BY THE COUNTY TO THE WARREN COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT, A WARREN COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES AND THE SHANDOR AREA AGENCY ON AGE AGING, WHICH IS NOW SENIORS FIRST.

EXTERIOR RENOVATIONS SHALL BE APPROVED IN ADVANCE IN WRITING BY THE WARREN COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD, WHICH IS WHY I'M HERE.

THIS WAS THE LEASE AREA, WHICH WAS INCLUDED WITH THE LEASE.

UM, THE DARK GRAY IS THE COUNTY SPACE AND THEN THE, UM, WHITE GRAY WAS THE SCHOOL BOARD SPACE.

AND THIS WAS THE OCCUPANT LAYOUT, THE ORIGINAL LAYOUT THAT WAS WITH THE LEASE.

AS YOU CAN SEE, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, UM, IS CURRENTLY THERE.

THE COMMUNITY CENTER IS THE GEM AREA.

THE SENIOR CENTER IS THE BLUE AREA, UM, WHICH IS WHAT THE COUNTY IS WORKING ON, UM, RENOVATING RIGHT NOW IT'S THE OLD CAFETERIA SPACE.

AND THEN WHERE WE'RE LOOKING TO PUT THIS PATIO THAT I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT IS KIND OF RIGHT THERE, RIGHT IN BETWEEN THE GYM AREA AND THEN THE CAFETERIA DOOR.

SO WE'RE CURRENTLY, UM, MAKING IMPROVEMENTS TO THE CAFETERIA SPACE TO MOVE THE SENIOR CENTER FROM ITS CURRENT LOCATION, WHICH IS BY CHIMNEY FIELDS TO THIS LOCATION, WE WOULD SUBLEASE THIS AREA TO SENIORS FIRST.

UM, THERE IS A GRASS AREA, THIS GRASS AREA RIGHT OUTSIDE OF THE SIDE CAFETERIA DOOR, WHICH I TOOK THIS PICTURE OF TODAY.

BUT, UM, IT WE'RE PROPOSING FOR AN EXTERIOR PATIO AREA.

AND ACCORDING TO THIS, THE LEASE WE NEED TO GET, UM, PERMISSION FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD TO DO SO, TO MAKE ANY IMPROVEMENTS.

WE'RE LOOKING AT, WE CAN HOPE YOU CAN SEE THIS, OKAY, A STONE SIGN THAT'S GONNA SAY WARREN COUNTY SENIOR CENTER, AND THERE'S GOING TO BE THIS, UM, METAL FENCE THAT'S GONNA GO AROUND THE AREA.

AND THEN THIS IS KIND OF LOOKING DOWN AT IT.

UM, THIS IS GONNA BE THE, THIS IS THE CAFETERIA DOOR, THIS SIDE DOOR.

AND THEN

[00:05:01]

SO THE SIGN AND THEN THE FENCE IN AREA.

AND THEN WE'LL HAVE LITTLE PLANTERS IN THE AREA AND THE PATIO.

SO WE THINK IT'LL BE A NICE LITTLE AREA FOR THE SENIORS TO ENJOY OUTSIDE.

IT'S NOT BEING USED FOR ANYTHING RIGHT NOW.

IT'S JUST A GRASS SPOT.

AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE .

SO WE WOULD NEED WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD TO DO THE EXTERIOR RENOVATIONS THAT WE'RE PROPOSING.

THANK YOU.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS. LOGAN ON THIS? THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

AND SO MADAM CHAIR, WE DO HAVE THAT AS AN ACTION, ACTION ITEM ON DOWN FOR THE BOARD TO TAKE ACTION ON THAT.

AND I DO WANT TO JUST MAKE NOTE THAT IT'S NOT THE COURTYARD THAT WE THOUGHT IT WAS BEHIND.

SO AS YOU GUYS CAN SEE THAT IS OUT FRONT.

WE DO NOT AS A SCHOOL USE THAT SPACE.

SO, UM, JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

NEXT UP WE HAVE ATTENDANCE AWARD PRESENTATIONS.

DR.

BALLINGER.

THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR.

UM, SO WE KNOW THAT ATTENDANCE IS, IS VERY IMPORTANT.

UM, WE HAVE BEEN GIVING ATTENDANCE AWARDS, UH, THIS SCHOOL YEAR, UH, STARTING IN SEPTEMBER WHEN WE GAVE OUR OUR FIRST ATTENDANCE AWARDS.

AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT THE SCHOOLS REALLY WORK HARD AT, UM, MAKING SURE THAT THEIR STUDENTS ARE, ARE THERE.

UM, WE KNOW THAT IF THE STUDENTS ARE ABSENT, THEN THEY'RE, THEY, THEY, YOU KNOW, THERE IS A LEARNING GAP THAT OCCURS.

UM, I WILL SAY THAT A LOT OF OUR PRINCIPALS ARE, ARE PRETTY COMPETITIVE WHEN IT COMES TO, TO WANTING TO MAKE SURE AND DOING VARIOUS THINGS FOR THEIR STUDENTS AND, AND OFFERING, YOU KNOW, INCENTIVES AND, AND RECOGNIZING CLASSES.

AND SO, UM, IT HAS BEEN FUN, UM, THIS YEAR JUST TO, TO HEAR THE, THE, UH, PRINCIPALS TALK AND, AND HOW THEY, THEY INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER.

AND, AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE FOR, FOR THIS MONTH, OUR ELEMENTARY WINNER, UM, IS AS ROADS.

UH, THEY HAD AN ATTENDANCE RATE FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY OF 95.38%.

SO, AND I THINK WE HAVE MRS. SMITH COMING UP FOR US TODAY.

THANK YOU FOR YOU GET TO LEARN AND EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE OVER, OVER TIME.

SO THEN, LIKE, WHEN YOU GO INTO UNUSUAL AND WHEN YOU ASK YOU REALLY COMPLICATED QUESTION, THEN YOU CAN, AND BASICALLY, AND YOU CAN HELP OTHER STUDENTS IF THEY HAVE, IF THEY DON'T NOTICE, LIKE SAY WHAT A STUDENT DO THEN CAN HELP ANOTHER STUDENT IF THEY SAY THANK YOU.

UM, SOME OF OUR INCENTIVES THAT WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED IN THE PAST ARE ARTS AND CLASS RELATED.

WE HAD EXTRA GYM TIME WHEN WHICH THEY COULD PLAY GAMES.

WE DID COOKIE DECORATING FOODS, EVERYTHING THAT THE STUDENTS ARE INTERESTED IN THAT WE TRY TO DO.

THIS NEXT INCENTIVE MATERIAL THAT WE'RE GONNA BE DOING, WE DECIDED TO DO IT MORE OF A CLASS OPTION CHOICE.

SO SOME OF OUR OPTIONS ARE LIKE THOSE LITTLE DANCE PARTIES HAVING LUNCH IN THE CLASSROOM.

OUR STUDENTS ESPECIALLY REALLY MISS THAT FROM LAST YEAR.

THEY REALLY ENJOY HAVING LUNCH IN THE CLASSROOM WITH THEIR TEACHER.

UM, SO JUST SOME DIFFERENT THINGS THAT THE KIDS ARE INTERESTED IN.

AND THEN WE ALSO DECIDED TO KIND OF MIX IT UP A LITTLE BIT.

THE TOP THREE CLASSROOMS THAT HAVE THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE GRADE OF PERFECT ATTENDANCE WILL GET A TROPHY TO KEEP IN THEIR CLASSROOM FOR BAD ADVISORY.

SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU .

[00:10:05]

THEY HAD AN ATTENDANCE RATE FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY, 92.21%.

GOOD EVENING, AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

UM, TONIGHT I WANTED TO BRING OUR ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM HERE WITH ME AND MR. MOSHER IS OUR ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, AND MRS. DEANER IS OUR DEAN OF STUDENTS.

BOTH OF THEM ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN THE ATTENDANCE COMMITTEE FOR OUR SCHOOL.

I'M NOT A PART OF THAT COMMITTEE SOMETIMES AS I POP IN, BUT THEY'RE DOING THE HARD WORK FOR OUR SCHOOL.

AND MR. MOSER ALSO IS THE REPRESENTATIVE AT THE COUNTY LEVEL.

SO HE DOES RUNS THE ATTENDANCE COMMITTEE AT OUR SCHOOL, BUT ALSO GOES OUT WITH THE ONE WITH DR.

BALLINGER.

UM, ON DIS IN DECEMBER, OUR ATTENDANCE INCENTIVE WAS BASED ON A HUNDRED PERCENT ATTENDANCE THAT THEIR KIDS HAD TO COME FOR 18 DAYS OF SCHOOL AND THEN THEY GOT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SNOWBALL FIGHT.

WELL, WE KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT MIDDLE SCHOOLERS.

UM, THEY HAVE LOTS OF OPINIONS.

SO THEY TOLD ME THAT THAT WASN'T FAIR, THAT OUR SCHOOL GOAL IS 95%.

SO FOR JANUARY, OUR GOAL WAS IF YOU WERE HERE FOR 95% OF THE DAYS THAT YOU GET INVITED TO THE EVENT, AND THAT'S GONNA BE ON FRIDAY.

UM, SO, UM, IN ORDER TO BE INVITED, THEY HAVE TO BE IN SCHOOL 95% OF THE TIME FROM JANUARY 9TH TO FEBRUARY 3RD, AND THEN THEY'RE GONNA BE INVITED TO THE STUDENT COMMONS, UH, TO WATCH A MOVIE WITH THEIR FRIENDS.

AND AT THIS POINT, WE HAVE 227 CHILDREN ELIGIBLE.

SO WE HAVE A COUPLE MORE DAYS.

UM, BUT OUR SCHOOL GOAL IS 95% ATTENDANCE.

WE TALK ABOUT IT EVERY DAY IN MORNING ANNOUNCEMENTS.

I'M SURE THE PARENTS ARE TIRED OF HEARING IT, BUT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR OUR KIDS TO BE THERE.

YESTERDAY WE HIT 93%.

WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

UM, BUT WHEN WE HIT 95%, WE DO PLAN TO CELEBRATE WITH ALL OF OUR STUDENTS.

WE'RE STILL TALKING ABOUT SOME IDEAS FOR, FOR WHAT TO DO WITH THAT.

UM, BUT I ALSO WANTED TO GIVE MS. DEANER, MR. MOSER A CHANCE, IF THEY HAVE ANYTHING THAT YOU WANT TO ADD.

UM, UM, IT'S FUN TO SEE THE KIDS COMPETE WITH EACH OTHER.

SO THEY'LL HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT, HEY, WE NEED TO DO THIS SO THAT WE CAN BE HERE AND GO THE INCENTIVE TOGETHER KINDA THING.

SO I LIKE HEARING THAT.

I LIKE HEARING THE KIDS TALK ABOUT IT, AND IT REALLY IS A TEAM EFFORT.

I MEAN, WE HAVE A WONDERFUL STAFF.

EVERYBODY WORKS EXTREMELY HARD AND AS YOU ALL KNOW, IT'S ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS.

AND OUR, OUR STAFF WORKS SO HARD EVERY DAY TO, UM, FOSTER THOSE RELATIONSHIPS THAT KIDS WANT COME TO SCHOOL.

SO IT'S JUST A GREAT PLACE TO WORK AND, UH, WE HOPE TO, TO KEEP YOU IMPROVING OUR ATTENDANCE.

DO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

OKAY.

AND ARE MOST IMPROVED THIS MONTH WITH, UH, INCREASE OF 2.84%, UH, WHICH GAVE THEM A 93.1% ATTENDANCE.

UM, AVERAGE FOR, UH, THIS MONTH IS HILDA J BARBER.

GOOD EVENING.

UM, .

SO AS MR. MOSER JUST MENTIONED, IT IS ALWAYS ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIPS FIRST BECAUSE THE STUDENTS HAVE TO WANNA BE THERE.

SO WE ALWAYS ENCOURAGE THE TEACHERS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO MAKE THEM WANNA BE THERE.

UM, LIKE MS. GOOGLER SAID, WE ALSO HAD A SNOWBALL FIGHT INCENTIVE BACK BEFORE OUR CHRISTMAS BREAK.

WE HAVE, UM, BEEN GIVING FOR A COUPLE YEARS NOW, THE PERFECT ATTENDANCE WHERE THEY DO EARN THE TROPHIES PER GRADE LEVEL.

AND THEN WE HAVE ONE PERSON FOR THE ENTIRE SCHOOL THAT HAS THE BEST, UM, PERFECT ATTENDANCE, GETS THE BIG TRO.

SO THEY'RE ALL EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

WE HAVE STARTED IMPLEMENTING A MONTHLY, UM, POPSICLES WITH THE PRINCIPAL, UM, INCENTIVE.

SO THE, THE, UH, CLASSROOM AT EACH GRADE LEVEL THAT HAS THE BEST AT ATTEND.

LIKE I WILL PICK A RANDOM DAY AND THE, THE CLASS THAT HAS THE BEST ATTENDANCE ON THAT DAY, THEY GET POPSICLES WITH THE PRINCIPALS.

UM, INTERESTING ENOUGH THAT ONE OF THE GRADE LEVELS ARE SECOND GRADE THREE OUT OF THE FOUR TIED.

SO IT'S GONNA BE, I'M GONNA BE EATEN A LOT OF POPSICLES, , , BUT THAT'S GOOD.

THAT'S A PROBLEM I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A LOT OF.

AND, UM, AND WE'RE DOING, OF COURSE, THE CHALLENGE 10, LIKE THE OTHER SCHOOLS ARE ALSO DOING.

SO, UM, MS. SHEPHERD, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD?

[00:15:01]

AND I'M LIKE, KEEP THEM HOME.

THAT TYPE OF THING.

SO THAT'S ANOTHER SIDE VIEW THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS TRY TO BUILD WITH THE PARENTS.

WE'RE NOT TRYING TO MAKE YOU UPSET BY CALLING YOU ABOUT A, SENDING ME LETTERS, BUT JUST TRYING TO GET YOU TO UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS THAT WE GO THROUGH WITH IT.

SO I THINK IT'S HELPED ME MEET A LOT MORE PARENTS THIS YEAR JUST AND DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS WITH THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGAIN TO ALL OF OUR WINNERS THIS MONTH.

AND NEXT

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

BALLINGER.

THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR.

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

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

BOARD MEMBERS CONTRIBUTE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF HOURS EACH YEAR LEADING THEIR DIVISIONS, WHETHER IT IS CRAFTING POLICIES, HIRING A TOP-NOTCH STAFF, LISTENING TO STAFF, STUDENTS, PARENTS, OR RECOGNIZING OUTSTANDING PROGRAMS. BOARD MEMBERS ALWAYS KEEP THEIR EYES ON THE GOAL OF STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT.

THEIR DECISIONS AND ACTIONS AFFECT THE PRESENT AND FUTURE LIVES OF OUR COMMUNITY'S CHILDREN.

IN RECOGNITION OF, OF THE DEDICATED SERVICE, THIS IS THE TIME TO SHOW OUR RECOGNITION AND TO INCREASE OUR UNDERSTANDING OF HOW LOCAL BOARD MEMBERS WORK TOGETHER TO PROVIDE A BETTER FUTURE FOR OUR CHILDREN.

I WOULD LIKE EVERYBODY TO JOIN US, WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN CELEBRATING OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS FOR SCHOOL BOARD APPRECIATION MONTH.

I NOTICED THAT WE DO HAVE YOU, YOU DID RECEIVE YOUR GIFT BAGS AND, AND THE GREEN GIFT BAGS WERE FROM E WILSON MORRISON.

ALSO, I AM GOING TO ASSUME THAT THESE NICE LITTLE, UM, BINDERS HERE ARE FROM BLUE RIDGE TECH.

SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I DID ASK EACH OF THE SCHOOLS TO TRY TO, UH, REACH OUT TO BOARD MEMBERS AND, AND TO RECOGNIZE EACH OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS.

I ALSO HAVE SOME CERTIFICATES THAT I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE EACH BOARD MEMBER, BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY PERSONALLY THANK YOU AS NOT JUST THE SUPERINTENDENT, BUT AS A PARENT OF A CHILD IN WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR THE JOB THAT YOU DO.

UM, I UNDERSTAND THE JOB THAT YOU DO ON A DAILY BASIS.

UM, A LOT OF TIMES IT IS A THANKLESS JOB.

AND I SEE THE DEDICATION THAT EACH ONE OF YOU HAVE IN, IN, IN FULFILLING THE ROLE OF SERVING AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER.

AND AGAIN, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, DR.

SO I WILL STAND UP AND I WILL GIVE YOU A HAND.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MR. IS IT? OKAY, NEXT UP WE'RE GONNA HAVE NATIONAL CTE MONTH, MS. BAKER, AND, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE REALLY SPECIAL WHEN YOU'RE RECOGNIZED THE SAME MONTH AS CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION IS, RIGHT.

THIS YEAR'S THEME IS CELEBRATE TODAY, OWN TOMORROW, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION IS ALL ABOUT.

THIS MONTH REALLY FOCUSES ON WHAT WE REFER TO AS THE CTSOS.

THOSE ARE THE, UM, CAREER AND TECHNICAL STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS.

AND HERE IN WARREN COUNTY WE HAVE EDUCATORS RISING, WHICH AT ONE POINT WAS NAMED TEACHERS FOR TOMORROW WE HAVE DECA FFA SKILLS

[00:20:01]

SO SOMETIMES WE GET SO CAUGHT UP IN A LOT OF THE OTHER ACTIVITIES AND THE OTHER, UM, COURSEWORK AND DEMANDS THAT GO ON IN A SCHOOL THAT WE SOMETIMES LOSE FOCUS OF THE ABILITY LEVEL OF STUDENTS WHO CHOOSE TO ENGAGE IN CTE CLASSWORK.

AND I HAVE BEHIND ME, FIRST OF ALL, THE TEACHER OF PROJECT LEADWAY BIOMEDICAL IS MS. KELLY REY.

AND MS. RACY WILL BE SPEAKING TO YOU IN JUST A MINUTE, AND SHE HAS WITH HER SOME OUTSTANDING STUDENTS THAT SHE WOULD LIKE TO ALSO INTRODUCE TO YOU AND JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS.

SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING.

UM, I AM ONE OF THE TWO INSTRUCTORS THAT TEACH PROJECT LEAD THE WAY BIOMEDICAL, UM, SCIENCE CURRICULUM AT BLUE RIDGE TECHNICAL CENTER.

AND WE ARE HERE TONIGHT TO CELEBRATE CTE MONTH, BUT WE'RE ALSO HERE TONIGHT TO CELEBRATE SOME OF MY STUDENTS WHO HAD GREAT SUCCESS FIRST SEMESTER.

AND, UM, I'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU WHAT PROJECT LEE THE WAY IS BECAUSE IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT PEOPLE SORT OF WALK IN AND THEY REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON.

UM, I'D LIKE TO THANK THESE STUDENTS FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT AND ALSO THANK THEIR PARENTS.

UM, BUT PROJECT LEE, THE WAY IS A CURRICULUM, UM, THAT CONSISTS OF FOUR CLASSES.

UM, THE FIRST SEMESTER WE HAD THE PRINCIPALS OF BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE, UM, WHICH IS OPEN TO NINTH THROUGH 11TH GRADE.

UM, I'M PRESENTLY TEACHING THE SECOND YEAR, WHICH IS HUMAN BODY SYSTEMS, AND MRS. WHITE IS TEACHING MEDICAL INTERVENTIONS.

AND THEN WE'RE NOT OFFERING THE FOURTH CLASS THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF THE COVID, UM, SCHEDULING THE KIDS SORT OF GOT JUMBLED AROUND AND WE JUST DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH KIDS TO OFFER IT.

BUT IT'S SOMETHING I HOPE WE CAN GET BACK ON THE, UH, ON SCHEDULE BECAUSE, UM, IT OFFERS THE KIDS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ALL THREE YEARS OF, UM, KNOWLEDGE AND, UH, DO A CAPSTONE, UH, PROJECT, WHICH COULD BE A RESEARCH PROJECT OR AN EXPERIMENT THROUGH A WHOLE SEMESTER.

AND IT'S ALL INDEPENDENTLY DONE AND SORT OF FACILITATED BY THE TEACHER AND THEN THEY PRESENT TO THE COMMUNITY.

AND SO I THINK IT'S REALLY BENEFICIAL WE BRING THAT BACK.

LET ME TALK ABOUT MY KIDS IN MY CLASS A LITTLE BIT.

ALL RIGHT.

UM, FIRST SEMESTER WE HAD 54 KIDS ENROLLED IN THE PBS CLASS.

IN THIS COURSE, THE STUDENTS EXPLORE CONCEPTS IN BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE AS THEY TAKE ON ROLES OF DIFFERENT MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS.

STUDENTS, UM, ARE EXPOSED OVER 60 MEDICAL CAREERS AS THEY COMPLETE, UH, PROJECT-BASED ACTIVITIES.

ALL RIGHT, UM, OVER THE COURSE OF THE SEMESTER, STUDENTS ARE CHALLENGED IN VARIOUS SCENARIOS TO DEAL WITH REAL WORLD PROBLEMS. SO IT'S A PROJECT BASED LEARNING SYSTEM.

ON DAY ONE, THE STUDENTS WALK INTO CLASS WHERE THEY'RE ASKED TO INVESTIGATE A CRIME SCENE TO SOLVE A MYSTERY OF A DEAD WOMAN.

IT'S STAGED WOMAN IN MY CLASS.

UM, JUST LETTING PEOPLE KNOW THAT.

ALL RIGHT.

UM, IN THE FORENSIC SCIENCE UNIT, STUDENTS COLLECT EVIDENCE, FINGERPRINTS, HAIR, INSECTS, DIGITAL PHONE EVIDENCE, BLOOD DNA.

UH, STUDENTS HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK WITH THE SAME EQUIPMENT AND TOOLS USED BY LAB PROFESSIONALS.

EVERYTHING FROM HOSPITAL GRADE MICROSCOPES, MICRO PIPETTES, DISSECTION EQUIPMENT, BLOOD TYPING EQUIPMENT, PHLEBOTOMY, ARMS, DNA, ELECTROPHERESIS.

AND I ALWAYS THINK IN NINTH GRADE DOING DNA ELECTROPHERESIS IS, UH, PRETTY SPECIAL.

UH, THEY EVEN MADE, UH, THEIR OWN LIE DETECTOR TEST AND INTERROGATE PEOPLE WITH, UM, UH, HEART RATE MONITORS AND RESPIRATORY BELTS, WHICH WAS PRETTY NEAT.

UM, ONCE THEY GET OUTTA THE FORENSIC SCIENCE UNIT, WE GO RIGHT INTO THE MEDICINE PART AND EXPLORE, UM, WHY THIS WOMAN DIED.

THEY DO HISTOLOGY OF BRAIN TISSUE.

THEY EXAMINE, UM, HEARTS, THEY DISSECT HEARTS.

THEY KNOW A LOT ABOUT THE HEART, UH, REALLY A LOT.

UH, THE NEXT UNIT, THEY DIAGNOSE AND TREAT FICTIONAL PATIENTS BY LEARNING TO TAKE VITAL SIGNS MANUALLY AND WITH PROB WEAR EVERYTHING FROM HEART RATE, BLOOD PRESSURE, RESPIRATORY RATE, EVEN EKGS.

UM, THEY'RE INTRODUCED TO HIPAA BECAUSE WE EXPLORE SOME REAL SENSITIVE TOPICS OF MEDICINE, LIKE GENETIC MUTATIONS.

UM, THEN THEY GO ON AND THEY LEARN ABOUT PROTEIN SYNTHESIS AND KARYOTYPES AND PEDIGREES, AND THEY, THEY DIAGNOSE AND THEY PREDICT HOW THESE MUTATIONS ARE GONNA BE PASSED ON THE FAMILIES.

THE COURSE IS PACKED WITH HANDS ON OPPORTUNITIES AND MS.

[00:25:01]

I'M, UH, IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM FOR THESE KIDS AND THESE KIDS ARE GREAT.

UM, IN THE PROGRAM ON YOUR LITTLE BINDERS, THERE IS A P B S, IT'S CALLED A P B S RESUME.

AND I'D LIKELY YOU JUST GLANCE AT THAT.

UM, IT HAS THE PROFESSIONAL SKILLS, THE LAB SKILLS, THE CONTENT KNOWLEDGE, AND THIS IS ALL IN A SEMESTER.

AND THIS IS ONLY ONE OF THE COURSES.

UM, IF WE, YOU KNOW, WE COULD HAVE HAD A WHOLE PACK FOR ALL FOUR COURSES.

UM, SAYING THAT AS YOU LOOK AT THAT, THESE KIDS WERE REQUIRED TO TAKE A NATIONAL PROJECT LEAD THE WAY INTO COURSE TEST.

AND IT'S A NATIONAL TEST.

I ALWAYS SAY IT'S AN ODD TEST.

UM, IT'S NOT MULTIPLE CHOICE.

THEY DO SOME, UH, SIMULATIONS ON IT WHERE THEY HAVE TO SIMULATE ALL THESE LAB EXPERIMENTS AND COME UP WITH DATA AND, UM, IT'S MATCHING AND LABELING BODY PARTS.

AND, UH, TO ME, THE HARDEST QUESTIONS IS SELECT ALL THAT APPLY BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT THE TOPIC.

AND THIS IS A NATIONAL TEST THAT'S GRADED WITH A STAIN END SCORE FROM 100 TO 600.

ALL RIGHT? AND SO 52% OF OUR STUDENTS IN PBS, UH, SCORED A DISTINGUISHED CATEGORY, WHICH MEANS THAT THEY WERE IN THE TOP 10% OF THE COUNTRY.

OKAY? 54% OF THE KIDS WALKED IN THAT CLASS.

ALRIGHT? NOW, THESE KIDS SAT IN HERE, THEY WERE IN THAT CATEGORY, BUT THEY DID A LITTLE MORE, THEY SCORED THE 600.

AND SO WE HAD EIGHT STUDENTS SCORE A 600, WHICH I, I DON'T ON PROJECT DO WAY TODAY AND MAKE SURE I WOULDN'T LIE TO YOU.

UM, THAT MEANS THEY SCORED IN THE TOP 1% IN THE COUNTRY, OKAY? AND, UM, IT'S SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF, BUT HONESTLY, IT'S NOT THE TEST SCORE OF WHY I'M PROUD OF THESE KIDS.

UM, THEY WORK HARD.

THEY, YOU KNOW, I, I ALWAYS USE THE WORD EVEN WITH THEM, YOU PLAY ALONG.

UM, THEY, THEY DO WITH THEIR ASS, BUT THE CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS, THE WORK ETHIC IS JUST WONDERFUL.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THEM IF YOU'D LET ME AND CALL THEIR NAMES OUT.

AND, UH, WE CAN CELEBRATE THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENT, NOT ONLY WITH THE 600, BUT JUST, UM, JUST BEING GOOD PEOPLE AND GREAT STUDENTS.

UM, FOR SURE.

SO, UM, CATHERINE HOS, IF YOU'D STAND, UH, 10TH GRADE FROM WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL.

UH, SCOUT BROADBAND, 11TH GRADE FROM SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL.

RENEE BADEN, 10TH GRADE, WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL, ALEXANDRA HEMINGWAY, 11TH GRADE SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL.

SADIE COMSTOCK, NINTH GRADE FROM SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL, AND WE HAD THREE, I BELIEVE THAT COULDN'T MAKE IT.

UH, ELIZABETH DUNNET, NINTH GRADE FROM WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL.

CALEB ZALIN, 10TH GRADE FROM WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL, AND LUCA LEE, NINTH GRADE FROM WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL.

UM, THESE KIDS, UM, I, YOU KNOW, I THINK ABOUT KAT HERE.

UM, SHE'S INTENSE QUIET.

SHE, SHE JUST IS UNBELIEVABLE WITH HER WORK ETHIC SCOUT BACK THERE.

UM, I CAN TAKE HER WORK AND CALL IT THE PROJECT LEAD THE WAY KEY.

UM, SHE'S SO COMPLETE IN HER ANSWERS.

IT'S UNBELIEVABLE.

RENEE JUMPS INTO THE ACTIVITIES WITH FEET FIRST, HEAD FIRST, AND SHE'S EXCITED EVERY DAY AND SHE DOES GREAT WORK.

ALEX IS UNBELIEVABLE.

UM, HOLLY INTELLIGENT, ONE OF THE BE BEST WORTH, ETHIC, ETHICS I'VE EVER ENCOUNTERED, UH, SADIE AS A NINTH GRADER, SOME OF THE HIGHEST LEVEL QUESTIONING SKILLS I HAVE EVER, UH, ENCOUNTERED.

SHE ASKED THE BEST QUESTIONS EVER.

UM, SO I FEEL BLESSED TO TEACH THESE'S KIDS.

UM, AND, YOU KNOW, UM, I THINK OUR KIDS CAN STAND UP TO ANYBODY IN THE COUNTRY IN SCIENCE.

DO Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME OR THE STUDENTS? WOULD ANY OF OUR STUDENTS LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING? I'M NOT GONNA PUT YOU ON THE SPOT, BUT IF YOU WANNA COMMENT ABOUT IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE ALL DOING SO AMAZING AND AWESOME.

ANYONE WANNA TALK ABOUT THE CLASS? OH, THANK YOU.

OKAY.

, THEY PRO THEY ASKED ME IF THEY'D HAVE TO TALK AND THEY WOULDN'T COME IF I SAID YES.

NOT MANDATORY.

JUST YES.

WELL, IT'S EASY

[00:30:04]

ANYBODY ELSE THAT WELL, UM, PARENTS, THANK YOU.

AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR RAISING GREAT KIDS AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TEACH THOSE KIDS.

THANK YOU GUYS FOR COMING AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR HARD WORK.

AND IF ANYONE WAS HERE FOR THAT PORTION OF OUR EVENING, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO GO AT THIS POINT.

OKAY, NEXT

[2.E. Community Participation]

IT IS THE DUTY OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE SCHOOL BOARD WITH ASSISTANCE FROM THE COUNTY SHERIFF AS NECESSARY TO CONDUCT THE MEETING IN AN ORDERLY MANNER AND TO LIMIT DISCUSSION TO TOPICS RELEVANT TO THE ISSUE BEFORE THE BOARD FOR CONSIDERATION.

PERSONS ADDRESSING THE SCHOOL BOARD ARE ADVISED TO LIMIT THEIR REMARKS TO THOSE RELEVANT TO THE PENDING ITEMS. NO PERSONS IN ATTENDANCE SHALL BE ALLOWED TO VOICE REMARKS EXCEPT AS RECOGNIZED BY THE CHAIRPERSON OR THE CLERK OF THE BOARD AFTER AUDIBLY STATING THEIR NAME AND WHOM THEY REPRESENT.

IF APPLICABLE, NO PERSON SHALL BRING INTO THE BOARDROOM ANY SIGN, BANNER, OR OTHER SUCH ITEM WHICH WOULD INTERFERE WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN SEEING, HEARING OR OTHERWISE PARTICIPATING IN THE MEETING.

PROVIDED THAT MODELS, PHOTOS, MAPS, CHARTS, DRAWINGS, AND OTHER SUCH DEMONSTRATED MATERIALS INTENDED FOR USE IN A PRESENTATION BY A SPECIFIC PERSON SHALL BE PERMITTED UPON RECOGNITION BY THE CHAIR OR THE CLERK OF THE BOARD.

THE SPEAKER SHALL ADJUST THE SCHOOL BOARD CHAIR CONFINE THEIR COMMENTS TO ISSUES OF PUBLIC CONCERN RELATING TO THE OPERATION OF WARREN COUNTY.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS REFRAIN FROM WORDS OR STATEMENTS, WHICH FROM THEIR USUAL CONSTRUCTION, COMMON ACCEPTANCE ARE DEFAMATORY TO SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS OR TEND TO VIOLENCE OR BREACH OF THE PEACE.

REFRAIN FROM OBSCENITY AND VULGARITY.

STAY WITHIN ALLOTTED TIME AND STOP SPEAKING WHEN DIRECTED BY THE CHAIRPERSON.

GROUPS ARE INDIVIDUALS IN THE AUDIENCE CREATING AN ATMOSPHERE DETRIMENTAL TO OR DISTURBING.

THE ORDERLY CONDUCT OF THE MEETING WILL BE ASKED TO REFRAIN FROM SUCH CONDUCT ONCE ANY ADDITIONAL DISTURBANCE AFTER THE WARNING WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.

AND THE CHAIRPERSON WILL ASK THE COUNTY SHERIFF TO REMOVE THE INDIVIDUAL GROUP, INDIVIDUAL GROUP OR CLEAR THE BOARDROOM SO THAT THE BOARD CAN CONDUCT THE BUSINESS OF THE SCHOOL DIVISION WHEN RECOGNIZED.

PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, WHETHER YOU'RE A COUNTY RESIDENT, PARENT OF WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENT, OR AN EMPLOYEE OF THE SCHOOL DIVISION.

AND LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES.

MR. GRANT, WE'LL START WITH THE LIST.

YES, WE HAVE LESLIE MATTHEWS.

GOOD EVENING.

I'M LESLIE MATTHEWS AND I RESIDE IN BENTONVILLE, VIRGINIA.

AND I THINK I'D LOVE TO BE IN MS. BAKER'S CLASS.

.

THAT SOUNDS VERY, VERY FUN.

AND, UM, ANYWAY, I KNOW TONIGHT THE PUBLIC HEARING'S ABOUT THE BUDGET AND THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.

BUT I HAVE ANOTHER ISSUE THAT, UM, HAS JUST COME ABOUT THAT I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT.

SO I'M GONNA SHARE THAT.

UM, IT'S IN REGARDS TO OUR 2023 VIRGINIA SCHOOL SURVEY AND CLIMATE WORKING CONDITIONS THAT ARE BEING PRESENTED TO OUR SIXTH THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE STUDENTS.

I AM THE GRANDMOTHER OF A SIXTH GRADER, UM, THAT ATTENDS WARREN COUNTY, UM, PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

AND I AM CONFIDENT THAT THIS BOARD IS AWARE OF THIS SURVEY AND I WANNA EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE FOR RECEIVING THE PARENT'S LETTER IN DECEMBER FROM INTERIM DIRECTOR SHAMIKA MCDONALD AND THE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL PROVIDING THE SURVEY LINK AND INFORMING THAT WE WILL NOT HAVE ACCESS TO OUR CHILD'S ANSWERS EVEN AS PARENTS.

AND WE WERE GIVEN THE OPT-OUT OPTION.

BUT AFTER REVIEWING THE SURVEY QUESTIONS, I BEGAN A THOROUGH ONLINE SEARCH AND I FOUND THE SUPERINTENDENT'S MEMO, THE NUMBER 1 91 DASH 22 FROM THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

IT WAS DATED AUGUST 26, 22.

AND THROUGH THAT IT STATES THAT THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES, ARE IN PARTNERSHIP TO COORDINATE THE SURVEY WHICH MEETS BOTH BDO E'S LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENT AND BD C G A S'S MANDATE.

BUT THROUGH READING THE LEGISLATIVE ITEM AND THE VIRGINIA STATE

[00:35:01]

IN FACT, IT, IT MAKES NO MENTION OF STUDENTS ONLY LICENSED PERSONNEL, THE VIRGINIA CODE 22 OR 22.1 DASH 2 79 0.8 B, THAT THE V D O AND THE VD CJS ARE USING TO BACK.

THE MANDATE OF THIS SURVEY IS ABOUT THE VIRGINIA SCHOOL AND CAMPUS SAFETY.

IT SAYS THE VIRGINIA CENTER FOR SCHOOL AND CAMPUS SAFETY AND CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SHALL DEVELOP A LIST OF ITEMS TO BE REVIEWED AND EVALUATED, INCLUDING INCIDENTS REPORTED TO SCHOOL AUTHORITIES, SCHOOL INSPECTION WALKTHROUGHS CHECKLIST.

EACH SCHOOL BOARD REQUIRES ALL SCHOOLS TO ANNUALLY CONDUCT SCHOOL SAFETY AUDITS AND COLLABORATION WITH THE CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OF THE LOCALITY REQUIRING A FLOOR PLAN AND THAT THE BUILDING SUFFICIENTLY IS DETAILED AND ACCURATE.

SO THEN I GO ON TO READ THE VIRGINIA CODE 22.127 9.9 C, WHICH IS NOT LISTED ON THE MEMO, BUT IT'S THE NEXT IN LINE IN THE VIRGINIA CODES.

AND THAT STATES THE SUPERINTENDENT SHALL ESTABLISH A SCHOOL SAFETY AUDIT COMMITTEE TO INCLUDE REPRESENTATIVES OF PARENTS, TEACHERS, LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, EMERGENCY SERVICE AGENCIES, LOCAL COMMUNITY SERVICE BOARDS, AND JUDICIAL AND PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL TO REVIEW THE COMPLETED SAFETY AUDITS AND SUBMIT PLANS AS NEEDED TO IMPROVE OUR SCHOOL SAFETY.

I'M SORRY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU MS. MATTHEWS.

OKAY, WELL I DIDN'T EVEN GET TO THE DAG ON IMPORTANT PART.

CAN I PLEASE HAVE ONE MORE MINUTE CUZ I'M THE ONLY PERSON THAT SIGNED UP.

CAN YOU PLEASE, COULD YOU SEND IT TO US IN AN EMAIL? I ALREADY PREPARED THAT.

PERFECT.

THAT'LL BE GREAT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, DAD.

BOY, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK THIS EVENING? OKAY, NEXT UP WE HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

CAN I SPEAK AGAIN THEN FOR THREE MORE MINUTES ON THE, SO I'M OPENING UP, SIGNED UP.

I JUST WANNA GET TO ONE MAIN PART.

SO NO, I I JUST KEEP IT ACROSS THE BOARD.

IT'S THREE MINUTES BECAUSE OTHERWISE WHEN WE DO HAVE MULTIPLE PEOPLE HERE, THEN IT BECOMES CHAOTIC AND I CAN'T LET ONE PERSON SPEAK OVER BECAUSE THEN I HAVE TO DO THE SAME FOR EVERYONE.

OKAY.

SO AT

[3.A. Public Hearing on the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget - Dr. Ballenger/School Board Chair]

THE SCHOOL BOARD AND STAFF HAVE BEGUN THE PROCESS OF BUILDING A PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024, JULY 1ST, 2023 TO JUNE 30TH, 2024.

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 FISCAL YEAR 2024 SCHOOL BUDGET.

NOTICE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS ADVERTISED IN THE JANUARY 19TH AND JANUARY 20TH, 2023 ADDITIONS OF THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA DAILY.

ARE THERE ANY MEMBERS OF OUR PUBLIC AT THIS TIME THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME AND SPEAK ON THE BUDGET? OKAY, THIS TIME I'M GONNA CLOSE THAT PART OF THE PUBLIC HEARING AND WE'RE GONNA MOVE

[4. Consent Agenda]

IS THERE A MOTION I MOVE THAT THE CONSENT AGENDA BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED? IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

OPPOSE? NO.

THANK YOU.

NEXT UP WE HAVE SUPERINTENDENT'S

[5.A. Superintendent]

THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR.

NATIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELING WEEK IS, IS WELL QUICKLY APPROACHING.

IT SAYS FEBRUARY, IT'S ACTUALLY NEXT WEEK.

UM, SCHOOL COUNSELORS USE THIS ANNUAL WEEK TO FOCUS PUBLIC ATTENTION ON THEIR UNIQUE CONTRIBUTION.

THIS YEAR'S THEME IS SCHOOL COUNSELORS HELPING STUDENTS DREAM BIG.

AND WE KNOW THAT MENTAL HEALTH HAS BECOME ONE OF THE MAJOR ISSUES FACING STUDENTS AS WE HAVE COME OUT OF THE PANDEMIC.

I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE BOARD TO RECOGNIZE SCHOOL COUNSELING WEEK BY AFFIRMING WITH THE PROCLAMATION IF THE BOARD WOULD BE SO INCLINED.

DR.

FUNK, IF YOU DON'T MIND READING THAT FOR US, JUST SO I'M GONNA READ THE, UH, PROCLAMATION.

WHEREAS SCHOOL COUNSELORS ARE EMPLOYED IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS TO HELP STUDENTS REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.

AND WHEREAS SCHOOL COUNSELORS ARE ACTIVELY COMMITTED TO HELPING STUDENTS EXPLORE

[00:40:01]

AND WHEREAS SCHOOL COUNSELORS HELP PARENTS FOCUS ON WAYS TO FURTHER THE EDUCATION, PERSONAL AND SOCIAL GROWTH OF THEIR CHILDREN.

AND WHEREAS SCHOOL COUNSELORS WORK WITH TEACHERS AND OTHER EDUCATORS TO HELP STUDENTS EXPLORE THEIR POTENTIAL AND SET REALISTIC GOALS FOR THEMSELVES.

AND WHEREAS SCHOOL COUNSELORS SEEK TO IDENTIFY AND UTILIZE COMMUNITY RESOURCES THAT CAN ENHANCE AND COMPLEMENT COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL COUNSELING PROGRAMS AND HELP STUDENTS BECOME PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY.

AND WHEREAS COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT SCHOOL COUNSELING PROGRAMS ARE CONSIDERED AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS THAT ENABLES ALL STUDENTS TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS IN SCHOOL.

SO THEREFORE, WE DO HEREBY PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 6TH THROUGH 10TH OF 2023 AS NATIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELING WEEK.

THANK YOU DR.

BUNK.

THANK YOU DR.

FUNK, MADAM CHAIR.

UM, ALSO CONTINUE WITH MY REPORT, UH, FEBRUARY 20TH.

THAT IS A HOLIDAY, SO THERE WILL BE NO SCHOOL ON FEBRUARY 20TH.

JUST REMIND PARENTS OF THAT.

UH, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL.

DECA STUDENTS WILL BE COMPETING IN THE VIRGINIA DECA CONFERENCE MARCH 3RD THROUGH THE FIFTH AT VIRGINIA BEACH.

ALSO, RESSY JEFFRIES ALL KIDS BIKE PROGRAM IS HAPPENING IN KINDERGARTEN.

UH, THEY INVITE ANYBODY.

I WENT OUT THERE TODAY, UH, MR. UL WAS OUT THERE.

UH, THE RURAL EXAMINER WAS OUT THERE TO, TO DO A STORY ON THE BIKE AND YOU SHOULD, SHOULD JUST SEE ALL THESE KINDERGARTNERS RIDING AROUND THE GYM ON THEIR BIKE, UH, WITH THEIR HELMETS.

SO IT'S, IT'S A PRETTY NEAT PROGRAM.

I WAS, I WAS EXCITED, UM, WHEN I WAS OUT THERE AND I, I DID GET ALMOST HIT A COUPLE OF TIMES.

, UH, YOU GOTTA WATCH SOME OF THE DRIVERS, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, HEY, THEY'RE, THEY'RE IN TRAINING, BUT NO, REALLY, THERE WERE SOME OF 'EM THAT WERE JUST SCOOTING AROUND THAT GYM ON THEIR BIKE.

UH, THEY, THERE'S A PROCESS WITH IT, SO THEY DO NOT HAVE PEDALS ON 'EM YET.

SO THEY ARE USING THEIR FEET TO LEARN THEIR BALANCE AND GET THE MOTION AND, AND COASTING ALONG AS THEY GO AROUND IN THE CIRCLE AROUND THE GYM AND, AND THROUGH VARIOUS, UM, DIFFERENT THINGS.

BUT I, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO, TO GO OUT AT THE, AROUND 12 O'CLOCK, UM, IS WHEN THIS HAPPENS AT RUSTY JEFFRIES, UM, WITH THE, THE KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS.

SO IT, IT WAS FUN TO SEE THAT.

UH, YOU WILL ALSO SEE IT ON THE, THE ROYAL EXAMINER AS A STORY WILL BE COMING UP ON IT.

ALSO, FEBRUARY'S NATIONAL CTE MONTH.

WE HAD A GREAT PRESENTATION, UH, FROM BLUE RIDGE TECH, UH, CTE STUDENTS PROJECT LEAD THE WAY.

DECA SKILLS USA AS RHODE IS WORKING WITH THE WARREN COALITION TO HOST A RESILIENCE BINGO AND FAMILY DINNER EVENT ON FEBRUARY 16TH.

FROM FIVE TO SEVEN WEATHER MAKEUP DATES WILL BE FEBRUARY 23RD.

HILDA TODAY, HILDA J BAR BARBER EARLY ACT CLUB RAISED ENOUGH MONEY TO BUY 33 LAP DESKS FOR STUDENTS IN AFRICA.

LF K CELEBRATED KINDNESS WEEK, JANUARY 23RD THROUGH THE 27TH AND RECEIVED A CERTIFICATE ACKNOWLEDGED, ACKNOWLEDGING THAT IT IS A KINDNESS CERTIFIED SCHOOL.

SO ALSO I DID WANNA SHARE SOME INFORMATION THAT, UM, HERE RECENTLY, YOU KNOW, AT WARREN COUNTY, WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN OPEN TO ALLOW OUR, OUR HOME INSTRUCTION STUDENTS TO COME IN AND, AND BE A PART OF OUR SCHOOLS AND, AND DO VARIOUS THINGS.

AND, AND A LOT OF 'EM DO COME IN AND, AND ACTUALLY WILL PARTICIPATE IN SOME OF OUR DUAL ENROLLMENT.

UM, BUT WHAT I DID NOT KNOW IS THAT IF THEY ARE A WARREN COUNTY STUDENT AND THEY ARE IN A PROGRAM OR WORKING TOWARDS A DEGREE AT LAUREL RIDGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE A WARREN COUNTY STUDENT, THEY WOULD STILL THEN GET THE DISCOUNT AT LAUREL RIDGE BY GOING THROUGH THAT CERTIFICATION PROGRAM AND OR TO GET THEIR DEGREE.

SO, UM, THAT WAS, THAT WAS SOMETHING INTERESTING TO ME AND I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO THROW THAT OUT THERE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE, WE ARE ALWAYS TRYING TO REACH OUT TO, TO THOSE FAMILIES AND, AND TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS AVAILABLE AND OPPORTUNITIES HERE TO HELP THEM, UM, IN THE FUTURE.

SO, OTHERWISE, THAT IS ALL I HAVE, MA'AM.

THANK YOU DR.

BALLINGER.

[5.B. School Board]

UM, AND I DID WANT TO COMMENT, UM, ABOUT MISS MRS. RAE'S CLASS.

I THINK THAT, UM, WHEN I VISITED YOUR SCHOOL LAST YEAR, THEY WERE SETTING UP A CLASS ALL ABOUT, UM, ANALYZING URINE SAMPLES.

AND THERE WERE LITTLE, LIKE LITTLE CUPS OF URINE ALL OVER THE ROOM.

AND I DIDN'T WANNA ASK IF IT WAS REAL URINE OR LIKE YELLOW CHEMICALS, AND I STILL DON'T WANNA KNOW, BUT IT DOES LOOK LIKE A VERY INTERESTING CLASS AND I KNOW THEY'RE DOING A LOT OF HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES THERE.

SO IT WAS GREAT TO, UM, SEE THE STUDENTS HERE WHO HAVE BEEN ACHIEVING SO HIGHLY THERE.

UM, I ALSO JUST WANNA SAY, I, I KNOW THAT OUR SPEAKER THIS EVENING HAS LEFT ALREADY, BUT I, I'VE HEARD FROM DIFFERENT PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE PAST YEAR OR SO THAT, UM, SEEM TO FEEL LIKE THE ONLY WAY THAT THEY CAN GET TO US IS BY SPEAKING HERE AT OUR MEETINGS FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS.

SO I JUST WANNA SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, I ABSOLUTELY WILL READ THE MATERIAL THAT

[00:45:01]

UM, AND I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN'T MAKE IT TO OUR MEETINGS BECAUSE OF THE TIMING OR THEY'RE NOT COMFORTABLE SPEAKING PUBLICLY.

UM, AND ANY OF THEM CAN EMAIL ANY OF US THEIR CONCERNS AND WE ALL ARE HAPPY TO HEAR FROM PARENTS, MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND SO ON.

AND WE'LL TAKE THOSE EMAILS VERY SERIOUSLY.

UM, IF YOU GO TO OUR WEBSITE, THE WARREN COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD WEBSITE, YOU CAN JUST GO UNDER DISTRICT INFORMATION SCHOOL BOARD AND THERE'S LITTLE ENVELOPES WHERE YOU CAN EMAIL ANY OF US.

SO IF ANYONE IS LISTENING AND HAVE SOMETHING THEY'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH US AND ARE NOT ABLE TO COME UP AND SPEAK OR RAN OUT OF TIME OR DON'T WANT TO COME UP AND SPEAK, PLEASE REACH OUT TO US BY EMAIL.

SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

THANK YOU.

AND SEE IF DR.

FUNK.

UM, THANK YOU.

I DON'T HAVE A, UM, REALLY, UH, A LOT TO SHARE AT THIS POINT.

UM, WE ARE, YOU KNOW, STILL, UH, BEGINNING STAGES OF OUR BUDGET, SO I'M, UH, LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT NEW BUDGET SEASON AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANNA THANK ALL THE STUDENTS.

I KNOW THEY'RE NOT HERE AND THEIR PARENTS FOR BEING HERE, BUT IT TAKES A LOT FOR THEM TO COME AND TO BE RECOGNIZED AND TO, TO SPEAK LIKE OUR, UH, YOUNG ELEMENTARY STUDENT DID.

AND THEY ALL DID A GREAT JOB.

AND I'M JUST REALLY PROUD OF ALL THEIR EFFORTS.

AND, UM, AND I KNOW YOU'VE GOT SOME GREAT PROGRAMS. I TOO WAS ABLE TO VISIT AND I REMEMBER THAT CLASS SPECIFICALLY, DON'T REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT THEY WERE DOING.

UM, BUT I JUST REMEMBER THE ENERGY.

I MEAN, YOU CAN JUST SEE THE ENERGY, YOU CAN SEE IT FROM THE HALLWAY, AND WHEN YOU WALK IN THE ROOM, IT'S, IT'S GREAT.

SO, UM, IF YOU'VE NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY, MAKE SURE YOU GO VISIT.

UM, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, JUST TO REITERATE, UM, WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT CONTACTING US, YOU KNOW, WE ARE HUMANS.

WE'RE HERE.

IF YOU CAN'T BE HERE AND TALK, YOU CAN REACH OUT TO US VIA EMAIL.

UM, WE'RE ALL, WE'RE ALL HERE TO, TO LISTEN AND TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.

SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, DR.

FUNK.

MR. RONDI.

I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, MEET A WARREN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER OVER THE WEEKEND.

UM, AND WHENEVER I, WHENEVER I HAVE THE, THE, THE TIME TO LISTEN TO A, A TEACHER TO FIND OUT, UM, HOW THEY'RE DOING, HOW THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS SUPPORTING THEM, ET CETERA.

AND, UM, THIS PARTICULAR TEACHER IS IN HIS THIRD YEAR, HIS FIRST YEAR, HE HAD PROBLEMS WITH CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT.

HE SOUGHT HELP AND HE GOT THE HELP AND IT MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THE WAY HE IS ABLE TO WORK WITH, UH, OUR STUDENTS.

IN TALKING WITH HIM, HE'S A NATURAL AND YOU, YOU DON'T FIND THAT TOO OFTEN, BUT THERE WAS SOMETHING DISTURBING THAT HE SAID THAT HE WAS THINKING THAT THIS MIGHT BE HIS LAST YEAR.

I ASKED HIM TO REACH OUT TO MR. GOODWIN, HIS PRINCIPAL, AND I GAVE HIM MY CONTACT INFORMATION AND ASKED HIM TO CONTACT US PRIOR TO MAKING THAT DECISION BECAUSE I FELT, BECAUSE HE WAS A NATURAL AT IT, IT'D BE A SHAME FOR THE SCHOOL DIVISION TO LOSE THAT, THAT PARTICULAR GUY.

UM, HE HAD A LITTLE COMEBACK SAYING FOR EVERYTHING CUZ WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WHEN I USED TO TEACH AND WHAT KIDS WOULD SAY, AND HE WOULD SAY, WELL, I WOULD SAY THIS ABOUT THAT.

AND, UH, THAT'S WHY I SAY HE'S A NATURAL.

SO, UM, I THINK THE SCHOOL SYSTEM NEEDS TO LISTEN TO TEACHERS LIKE THAT TO FIND OUT WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE THEIR PROFESSIONAL, UH, THEIR PROFESSION SUCCESSFUL FOR NOT ONLY THEM, BUT OUR KIDS, BECAUSE THAT'S THE END GAME HERE.

UM, SO I REALLY FEEL HE'S A GIFTED INDIVIDUAL TO BE IN FRONT OF OUR KIDS.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO DEFINITELY, UH, AND I WILL FOLLOW UP WITH HIM.

I, I KNOW HOW TO FIND HIM .

SO ANYWAY, UM, ON A DIFFERENT NOTE, UM, I WILL BE SEEKING TO GET REELECTED TO THE SCHOOL BOARD IN THIS UPCOMING ELECTION.

UH, WE HAVE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS AS A SCHOOL BOARD HERE FOR THE STUDENTS OF WARREN COUNTY AND THE STAFF OF WARREN COUNTY.

AND I'M COMMITTED TO FOLLOWING UP ON THAT PROCESS AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

AND, UM, THANK YOU.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

THANK YOU MR. RANALDI.

MS. SALEMS. UM, FIRST I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE GIFTS THAT WERE GIVEN TO US THAT WAS VERY THOUGHTFUL AND I ALSO REALLY AM ENJOYING SEEING ALL OF THE PRESENTATIONS WHERE WE'RE CELEBRATING THE WINS.