May 03, 2023 Board Meeting

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

[00:00:03]

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 CERTIFICATE CERTIFICATION APPLIES AND TO ONLY SUCH BUSINESS, 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? THIS IS SAILOR AYE.

THIS IS AYE.

MR. ALDI.

AYE.

AYE.

DR.

AYE.

OKAY.

AND WITH THAT WE'LL BE OUT OF CLOSED SESSION.

IF YOU ALL WILL PLEASE JOIN ME WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, FOLLOWED BY A MOMENT OF SILENCE PLEDGE.

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

IS THERE A SECOND? A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

OPPOSE? NO.

THANK YOU.

[2.C. Special Recognition - VSBA Art Contest Winner]

BELLINGER.

THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR.

THE V S B A REGIONAL ART CONTEST WAS HOSTED ON APRIL 11TH, 2023 IN STANTON SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, DR.

KRISTEN PENCE AND ANDREA LOWE ATTENDED THE EVENT AND DELIVERED THE ARTWORK TO THE SOCIAL HOUR.

INFORMATION FOR THIS EVENT WAS SHARED WITH EACH SCHOOL, AND PARTICIPATION WAS ENCOURAGED FOR THIS YEAR'S EVENT.

THREE WERE SUBMITTED FROM AS ROADS ONE FROM SKYLINE MIDDLE AND FROM SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL.

THREE WERE SELECTED FROM EACH CATEGORY FOR ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOL FOR NEXT YEAR'S EVENT.

THE ART CONTEST WILL BEGIN IN AUGUST OF 2024 AND WILL ALIGN WITH THE BLUE RIDGE ART COUNCIL EVENT TO EXPAND THE SELECTION PROCESS.

THREE STUDENTS THAT ADVANCED TO THE FINALS WERE ELEMENTARY, ASHLAND MILLER AS ROADS MIDDLE RILEY, ROB FROM SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND THEN HIGH SCHOOL, BRITTANY ART INFO TO THE STUDENTS.

UM, SO DURING THE EVENT, UM, IT WAS WHAT HAPPENS AT THE REGIONAL EVENTS OF THE ARTWORKS DISPLAYED.

THERE ARE JUDGES THAT GO AROUND AND JUDGE FOR A REGIONAL FIRST PLACE, REGIONAL SECOND PLACE AND REGIONAL THIRD PLACE.

UM, AND BRITTANY ARP, UH, SHE WAS HER, HER COLLECTION WAS SELECTED AS A THIRD PLACE.

UM, THE TITLE OF THE ARTWORK IS FALLEN AND SO WE HAVE BRITTANY HERE TONIGHT TO ACCEPT HER THIRD PLACE RIBBON AND WE WANTED TO DISPLAY HER ARTWORK SO THAT EVERYBODY COULD SEE.

AND THEN IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR HER, SO BRITTANY, DO YOU MIND COMING UP? SO JUST TO SHOW, KEEP THIS THIS CENTRAL OFFICE OR DO YOU YOU WANNA HOLD MR. PLACE? THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

YOU GUYS HAVE ANYTHING? I SHOW YOU GUYS A, UM, I ACTUALLY, UM, THE CONCEPT SUPPORT STARTED ALL THE WAY BACK, UM, LAST SUMMER, UH, CUZ OF PAVON, WHICH IS, UH, A LOCAL OPPORTUNITY.

[00:05:01]

SO MY GOAL FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR WAS AT SOME POINT TOO.

AND THAT IS, UM, THE BASIS OF IT.

AND THEN, YEAH, KIND OF JUST HOLD ON FROM THERE.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT WITH US, AND THANK YOU FOR COMING TONIGHT.

IT'S REALLY GREAT.

NEXT

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

BALLINGER.

THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR.

AND AS YOU KNOW, THIS WILL BE OUR LAST ATTENDANCE AWARD FOR THE YEAR BECAUSE WE CAN, WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GIVE AN ATTENDANCE AWARDS FOR THE MONTH OF MAY BECAUSE WE ARE OUTTA SCHOOL.

UM, YOU KNOW, WE'LL SEE IF THE BOARD CHANGES THAT TONIGHT OR NOT, BUT, UH, THE LAST WEEK IN MAY.

AND, UM, I DID WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAD EACH, EACH GOAL, EXCEPT FOR TWO, AT LEAST WIN A AWARD ONCE THIS YEAR.

UM, I DID WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAD SOME STAPLES EACH MONTH, UM, AS FAR AS WINNERS.

UM, AND OUT OF THE AWARDS THAT WE HAVE, HAVE GIVEN, UH, FOR THE ELEMENTARY AS ROADS WAS OUR ELEMENTARY SELECTION, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 TIMES.

THIS MAKES THEIR SIXTH TIME TONIGHT.

SO, UH, THEY WORK HARD, ALTHOUGH TONIGHT THEY ALMOST DID NOT GET IT.

UM, I WILL TELL YOU THAT REY JEFFRIES, SO THE ATTENDANCE, THE ATTENDANCE, UH, NUMBERS FOR THIS MONTH AS ROADS WAS AT 94.98 AND REY'S WAS AT 94.91 .

SO SEVEN 100TH OF, OF, OF A POINT TO GET US TO WHO WAS GONNA BE FIRST OR SECOND.

UM, ALSO I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL.

SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL HAS BEEN A STAPLE HERE.

UM, THEY HAVE ACTUALLY WON THE AWARD FOR THE SECONDARY ONE, TWO, UM, THREE, FOUR.

AND TONIGHT MAKES THE FIFTH TIME THAT THEY HAVE WON THE AWARD FOR, UH, THE SECONDARY SCHOOLS.

SO I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS, BUT I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE A COUPLE THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY CONTINUE TO DO A GOOD JOB.

AND I KNOW IT'S A COMPETITION BETWEEN EVERYONE, AS YOU SAW, UM, MS. HELMICK THERE GETTING .

UH, SO, SO, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO MAKE THIS A FOCUS NEXT YEAR.

UH, CONTINUE LOOKING AT OUR ATTENDANCE AND CONTINUE TO BRING OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR STUDENTS IN BECAUSE THEY ARE WHAT THEY'RE THE REASON WE'RE HERE.

AND SO TONIGHT, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE AS ROADS, UH, BEING THE WINNER OF THIS, OF THE MONTH OF APRIL FOR THE ELEMENTARY ATTENDANCE AWARD.

THANK YOU.

TALK FIRST AND MAKES IT KINDA EASY ON ME.

I JUST CALL BOY AND SAY, HEY, CAN WE BRING TO THE MEETING? GREAT JOB.

GREAT JOB.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

AND I JUST WANTED TO THANK ALSO, I KNOW, YOU KNOW, TUESDAY WAS TEACHER APPRECIATION DAY AND OBVIOUSLY WITHOUT OUR TEACHERS CREATING A CLIMATE IN THEIR CLASSROOMS WHERE STUDENTS WANT TO BE AT SCHOOL, THIS WOULDN'T BE POSSIBLE.

SO FIRST OF ALL, YOU KNOW, THANKS TO THEM ALSO, ALL OF OUR STAFF WORKS TOGETHER WHEN WE'RE DOING OUR P B I S INCENTIVE.

SO EVERYONE IS THERE PLAYING A PART IN IT, WHETHER IT IS, YOU KNOW, CELEBRATING THE STUDENTS WHO DO HAVE OUTSTANDING ATTENDANCE OR JUST KIND OF TRYING TO, UM, MOTIVATE STUDENTS THAT ARE STRUGGLING TO GET THERE MORE OFTEN.

AND I THINK WHAT HELPED US, UM, WIN AGAINST RESI THIS TIME WAS THE DAY AFTER SPRING BREAK, WE ONLY HAD TWO ABSENCES FOR OUR ENTIRE SCHOOL.

SO I THINK THAT LITTLE BIT OF TIME OFF, UM, SOME FRESH AIR FOR EVERYONE HELPED US, YOU KNOW, KIND OF GET AWAY FROM SOME OF THOSE ILLNESSES WE WERE PASSING AROUND.

SO, UM, AGAIN, THANKS TO OUR STAFF, OUR FAMILIES, OUR STUDENTS, UM, BECAUSE THEY'RE THE REASON THIS HAPPENED.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND THEN I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE OUR SECONDARY WINNER FOR THE MONTH, AND THAT IS SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL.

[00:10:43]

BOTH OF THEM HAVE, UH, EITHER MISSED ZERO OR ONE DAYS THIS YEAR, SO VERY GOOD ATTENDANCE.

I WANTED TO ASK THEM TODAY.

COUPLE QUESTIONS, UH, TO SHARE WITH YOU.

JEREMY, UH, SAYS HE BELIEVES COMING TO SCHOOL INCREASES HIS OPPORTUNITIES TO BE SUCCESSFUL, AND HE'S ENCOURAGED BY HIS PARENTS AND HE REALLY ENJOYS MRS. HALL'S MATH CLASS.

SHE'S ONE OF OUR SIXTH GRADE MATH TEACHERS.

CALEB WITHERSPOON BELIEVES COMING TO SCHOOL REGULARLY HELPS HIM BECOME A BETTER PERSON.

HIS PARENTS TELL HIM, IT PREPARES HIM FOR THE REAL WOR REAL WORLD.

HE ENJOYS LEARNING FROM ALL HIS TEACHERS.

AND THERE WAS ANOTHER, UH, STUDENT THAT WE INVITED THAT COULDN'T MAKE IT.

UH, THAT STUDENT SAYS, UH, THAT THEY DON'T LIKE SCHOOL, BUT THEIR MOTHER MAKES THEM COME EVERY DAY.

SO, , THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING .

AND THEN OUR MOST IMPROVED FOR THE MONTH IS RUSTY JEFFRIES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

GOOD EVENING.

UM, I JUST WANTED TO TAKE, UH, SAY THANK YOU FOR, UH, ALLOWING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOWCASE OUR EFFORTS AND IMPROVING OUR ATTENDANCE AT RESI.

WE WORK REALLY HARD.

UM, BUT THE, THE, THE GROUP I WANNA THANK TONIGHT IS OUR PARENTS, BECAUSE WITHOUT THEM, OUR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS WOULDN'T BE AT SCHOOL EVERY DAY.

SO TONIGHT I'D LIKE TO SHOUT, SHOUT OUT TO OUR PARENTS.

SO THANK YOU ALL AND IF ANY OF OUR STUDENTS WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE AT THIS POINT, THAT'S FINE.

UM, YOU DON'T HAVE TO SIT THROUGH THE REST, SO PLEASE FEEL FREE.

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE THOUGH.

NEXT UP, WE

[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 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 SIGNED 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 OF THE CLERK OR THE CLERK OF THE BOARD.

THE SPEAKER SHALL ADDRESS 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 AND 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 OR INDIVIDUALS IN THE AUDIENCE, CREATING AN ATMOSPHERE DETRIMENTAL TO OR DISTURBING THE OR 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 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 ARE 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, DO WE HAVE, HAVEN'T EVEN SIGNED UP THIS EVENING? WE HAVE ONE THAT'S SIGNED UP.

UH, MR. BRAD P*****K.

GOOD EVENING.

CHAIR PENCE, VICE CHAIRMAN ALI MEMBERS, FUNK LO AND SALAN.

[00:15:01]

UM, I AM NONE OF THOSE.

I I LIVE IN SHENANDOAH COUNTY.

I'M A MEMBER OF THE SHENDO COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

I DON'T LIVE IN WARREN.

UM, I'M A RETIRED UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS LIEUTENANT COLONEL, MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND A CANDIDATE FOR THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION FOR THE NEW SENATE DISTRICT MADE UP OF WARREN CLARK, FREDERICK WINCHESTER AND SHENANDOAH.

THESE FIVE LOCALITIES WERE REPRESENTED BY GEORGE WASHINGTON IN THE HOUSE OF VIRGINIA, HOUSE OF BURGS FROM 1758 TO 1765.

I APPEAR, UH, THIS EVENING FOR ONE REASON AND OH ONE REASON ONLY.

AND THAT IS TO COMMEND YOU FOR KEEPING, UH, SCHOOL EXPENDITURES WITHIN REASON.

YOU ARE SPENDING $11,298 PER PUPIL.

SHENANDOAH IS SPENDING $14,053 PER PUPIL, OR 24% MORE.

FREDERICK COUNTY IS SPENDING 20,000 FOR $479 PER PUPIL, OR 81% MORE THAN WARREN COUNTY.

SO I THINK THAT'S TO BE RECOGNIZED AND CONGRATULATED, PARTICULARLY WHEN I'M RUNNING FOR OFFICE IN FIVE DIFFERENT DISTRICTS.

IT'S, UH, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S INTERESTING THE CONTRAST THAT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT, THAT YOU ALL WERE AWARE OF WHAT I FOUND AND I ACTUALLY USED, UM, YOUR, YOUR, UH, EFFICIENCY AND ECONOMY LAST YEAR DURING BUDGET DISCUSSIONS WITH YOUR FORMER, UM, MELODY SHEPHERD.

UM, NOW ALL I HAVE NOW IS A FAVORITE OLD PRAYER OF GEORGE WASHINGTON ALMIGHTY GOD.

WE MAKE OUR EARNEST PRAYER THAT THOU WILL KEEP THE UNITED STATES IN MY HOLY PROTECTION, THAT THAT WILL INCLINE THE HEARTS OF THE CITIZENS TO CULTIVATE A SPIRIT OF SUBORDINATION AND OBEDIENCE TO GOVERNMENT AND ENTERTAIN A BROTHERLY AFFECTION AND LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER AND FOR THEIR FELLOW CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES AT LARGE.

AND FINALLY, THAT THOU WILL MOST GRACIOUSLY BE PLEASED TO DISPOSE US ALL TO DO JUSTICE, TO LOVE MERCY, AND TO DEMEAN OURSELVES WITH THAT CHARITY HUMILITY AND PACIFIC TEMPER OF MIND, WHICH WERE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE DIVINE AUTHOR OF OUR BLESSED RELIGION.

WITHOUT A HUMBLE IMITATION OF OF WHOSE EXAMPLE IN THESE THINGS, WE CAN NEVER HOPE TO BE A HAPPY WITHOUT A HUMBLE IMITATION OF WHOSE EXAMPLE IN THESE THINGS WE CAN NEVER HOPE TO BE A HAPPY NATION.

GRANT OUR SUPPLICATION, WE BESEECH THE THROUGH JESUS CLARK CHRIST, OUR LORD.

AMEN.

THANK YOU ALL.

THANK YOU, MR. PAUL.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK THIS EVENING? I'M SHANE GOODWIN.

I'M ONE OF YOUR EMPLOYEES.

I'M ALSO A CITIZEN OF WARREN COUNTY, FORMER PARENTS SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT.

I JUST WANTED TO STAND BEFORE YOU TONIGHT AND SAY THANK YOU FOR, UH, SO MANY THINGS.

AND THANK YOU FOR PUTTING KIDS FIRST AND FOR BELIEVING IN ME, UH, AND FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

AND WHILE I LOOK FORWARD TO NEW THINGS, I'M REALLY THANKFUL FOR THE OLDER ONES.

THANK YOU, DR.

BALLINGER AND BOARD.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MR. GOODWIN.

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

[3. Consent Agenda]

IS THERE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE TO ACCEPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.

IS THERE A SECOND? YES, MADAM CHAIR.

I'LL SECOND THAT.

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

AYE.

AYE.

OPPOSE? NO.

GREAT.

THANK YOU.

NEXT UP THIS EVENING, WE HAVE REPORTS STARTING

[4.A. Superintendent]

BALLINGER.

THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR.

I'M JUST GONNA HIGHLIGHT A FEW THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON THIS MONTH.

AS YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE LAST MONTH OF SCHOOL.

THERE ARE MANY ACTIVITIES AND WE COULD GO ON FOR PROBABLY A COUPLE HOURS WITH ALL THE ACTIVITIES THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE BETWEEN NOW AND THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL.

SO WHAT I WANT TO DO IS ENCOURAGE PARENTS AND FAMILIES TO VISIT YOUR CHILD'S WEBSITE, SEE WHAT THE ACTIVITIES ARE ON THE CALENDAR.

COME AND JOIN US.

WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE YOU.

UM, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR MOTTO THIS, OUR THEME THIS YEAR HAS BEEN FAMILY ENGAGEMENT.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE OPENED OUR DOORS TO PARENTS AND FAMILIES WHERE WE CAME OUT OF, UH, MANY SCHOOLS HAVE KEPT THE, THE PARENTS STILL OUTSIDE THE DOORS FROM COVID.

BUT WE HAVE OPENED OUR DOORS TO ALLOW OUR FAMILIES IN.

SO WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO COME ON OUT, JOIN US IN OUR ACTIVITIES.

WE, WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT

[00:20:01]

SO CHECK THE WEBSITES, SEE WHAT ACTIVITIES GOING ON, AND WE ARE EXCITED TO HAVE YOU JOIN US.

BUT THE ONES I WILL MENTION, UH, THERE'S AN AWARDS ASSEMBLY ON MAY 4TH, BLUE RIDGE TECH CENTER THAT'S AT SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL.

UH, WE HAVE THE WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL FFA AWARDS ASSEMBLY.

UH, ONE I MISSED THE SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL.

THEY HAD THEIR, UM, THEIR, THEIR SCHOLARSHIP NIGHT WAS MONDAY, MAY 1ST.

SO I ATTENDED THAT.

UH, THEN MOVING ON DOWN, UH, SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL, THERE'S A BAND CONCERT ON THE 11TH.

UH, WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL ON THE 11TH ALSO HAS THEIR SENIOR SCHOLARSHIP NIGHT.

SO SCHOLARSHIP NIGHT AT SEVEN O'CLOCK AT, ON THE 11TH AT WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL.

UM, SENIOR AWARDS AT SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL ON THE 16TH.

ON THE 17TH AT SEVEN O'CLOCK.

THAT'S THE NIGHT WE HAVE, UH, A WORK SESSION THAT IS ALSO, UH, BACCALAUREATE THAT IS PUT ON BY THE, UH, MINISTERIAL ASSOCIATION.

AND THAT IS OPEN TO OUR STUDENTS IF THEY, THEY WANT TO ATTEND.

AND SO THAT IS MAY 17TH, UH, STARTING AT SEVEN O'CLOCK AS WELL.

UH, THEN WE CONCLUDE WITH OUR HIGH SCHOOLS, WITH THE GRADUATION AT WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL ON MAY 18TH AT SEVEN O'CLOCK.

AND THEN THE GRADUATION AT SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL ON MAY 19TH AT SEVEN O'CLOCK.

AND SO IT'S RAIN OR SHINE, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE IT.

UM, SO WE'RE, WE'RE READY FOR THAT SEVEN O'CLOCK GRADUATION.

UM, ON THOSE TWO NIGHTS, I DO ENCOURAGE, UM, YOU KNOW, I WOULD LIKE IF, IF BOARD MEMBERS CAN ATTEND, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT WAY WE KNOW, IF YOU CAN LET ME KNOW SO I CAN LET THE SCHOOLS KNOW HOW MANY CHAIRS TO PUT, UM, OUT ON THE STAGE.

UM, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE THE BOARD TO, TO ATTEND OUR GRADUATIONS AND BE A PART OF OUR GRADUATION.

I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT.

AND SO I DO WANT TO EXTEND THAT INVITATION.

I UNDERSTAND IF WE HAVE OTHER PREVIOUS ENGAGEMENTS, AND SOME OF US MAY BE OUT OF TOWN, SOME OF US MAY HAVE OTHER OBLIGATIONS, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT.

UM, BUT I DO ASK, YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, YOU WANNA COME, COME JOIN US.

WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU, WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU.

SO THAT IS MY REPORT.

THANK YOU DR.

BALLINGER.

NEXT UP

[4.B. School Board]

WE'LL START WITH, UM, MS. LOWE, I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS.

UM, I DID ATTEND THE VSBA REGIONAL MEETING LAST MONTH, UM, AND WE GOT TO BRING, UM, OUR STUDENTS ART UP THERE.

AND IT WAS REALLY EXCITING TO BE ABLE TO BE LIKE, OH, THAT'S US.

WE'RE THE WINNERS.

COME LET US HAVE THE RIBBON.

SO THAT WAS FUN.

IT'S A REALLY BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF ARTWORK IF Y'ALL HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO CHECK THAT OUT AS WE'RE, UM, OUR OTHER SUBMISSIONS FROM OUR COUNTY AND A LOT OF, UM, FROM AROUND OUR REGION AS WELL.

UM, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF AND FACULTY AS THE YEAR IS WINDING DOWN.

UM, IT'S AN EXCITING TIME OF YEAR WITH A LOT OF EVENTS GOING ON.

I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF EVENTS AT MY CHILDREN'S SCHOOL THAT THEY'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT.

UM, I KNOW WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF SOLS, SO THAT CAN BE NERVE WRACKING TOO.

AND EVERYBODY, ALL THE KIDS, ALL THE, UM, EMPLOYEES ARE ALL WORKING REALLY HARD RIGHT NOW.

UM, IT CAN BE A BITTERSWEET TIME OF YEAR.

UM, I WENT TO THE RETIREES DINNER, UM, AND SAYING GOODBYE TO MR. GOODWIN AND OTHER GREAT EMPLOYEES WHO ARE JUST MOVING ON TO SOMETHING ELSE AT THE END OF THIS YEAR.

UM, SO WE ESPECIALLY THANK THOSE FOLKS FOR THEIR, UM, SERVICE STORE DISTRICT.

THANK YOU, MS. LOWE, DR.

FUNK.

THANK YOU.

UM, JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS.

I DO WANNA THANK MR. GOODWIN FOR HIS SERVICE HERE WITH, UM, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND SPECIFICALLY FOR YOUR WORK WITH, UH, MRS. SALEING AND MYSELF WITH SOME OF THE, UM, ESS QUESTIONS THAT WE'VE HAD AND THAT WE'VE CONTINUED TO, TO WORK THROUGH.

AND I APPRECIATE YOUR DILIGENCE IN LOOKING INTO, UM, THOSE SPECIFICS FOR US.

AND I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST MOVING FORWARD.

UM, I DID HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND AND, AND WITNESS, UM, I THINK IT WAS A, A QUICK HOT SIX MINUTES, OR MAYBE NOT SIX MINUTES, BUT IT WAS THE SECOND CHANCE BREAKFAST AT WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL.

AND IT WAS JUST FABULOUS TO SEE.

UM, IT WAS SET UP VERY EFFICIENTLY.

THE AMOUNT OF KIDS THAT WERE SERVED IN PROBABLY A, I THINK IS IT SIX MINUTES BETWEEN THE BELL TIME, MAYBE FIVE.

UM, IT WAS, IT WAS A REAL QUICK TIME, BUT IT WAS GREAT.

UM, THE KIDS, UM, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE ALL COMING IN, TAKING THAT FOOD GOING AND, UM, YOU COULD KIND OF TELL WHAT THEY LIKED AND WHAT THEY DIDN'T FROM WHAT THEY PICKED.

UM, BUT IT WAS A REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITY.

UM, AND THE, THE STAFF WAS JUST, YOU KNOW, AND I WAS SITTING WAY BACK IN THE BACK AND, YOU KNOW, THE STAFF, THEY WERE SO ENGAGED WITH THE STUDENTS AND, AND THAT IS, UM, A VERY IMPORTANT TIME.

YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT ALWAYS WHEN YOU'RE UP IN FRONT OF THE CLASSROOM IN THOSE, UH, LECTURES AND DISCUSSIONS, BUT IT'S THOSE IMPROMPTU TIMES WHERE YOU CAN MAKE THOSE CONNECTIONS WITH THE KIDS.

SO IT WAS REALLY GREAT TO SEE, UM, AND I'M GLAD THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY THAT WE CAN DO THAT FOR OUR STUDENTS.

UM, SOMEBODY MENTIONED EARLIER, UM, IT IS TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK, ALTHOUGH I THINK IT'S DEBATABLE SOME

[00:25:01]

SOME COUNTIES ARE CELEBRATING THIS WEEK.

UM, AS A SITTING PRINCIPAL, I KNOW WE ARE CELEBRATING NEXT WEEK, BUT I DO WANNA TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY.

I ALWAYS LIKE TO LOOK AT IT AS STAFF APPRECIATION.

UM, I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT STARTED WITH TEACHER, BUT IT'S REALLY STAFF APPRECIATION CUZ IT TAKES EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN THAT BUILDING.

I KNOW YOU'VE HEARD ME SAY THAT BEFORE, BUT IT TAKES OUR CUSTODIANS, OUR CAFETERIA, OUR TEACHING ASSISTANTS, UM, EVERY SINGLE PERSON.

SO THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR WARREN COUNTY EMPLOYEES, UM, FOR DOING WHAT YOU DO EVERY DAY AND THE BUDGET.

UM, I FEEL LIKE WE'RE IN A GOOD PLACE FOR WHERE WE ARE WITH OUR BUDGET RIGHT NOW.

UM, YOU KNOW, UM, SO THAT'S, THAT'S A GOOD THING.

WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH EVERYTHING.

UM, AND, UH, DR.

BALLINGER, YOU HAD SAID, UH, YOU KNOW, PARENTS ARE WELCOME.

THAT HAS BEEN THE THEME ALL YEAR, OBVIOUSLY WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT.

UM, I FEEL LIKE THERE'S, SOMETIMES I'VE HEARD THAT THEY AREN'T, AND I, I DON'T WANT, YOU KNOW, DON'T WANT TO HEAR THAT BECAUSE PARENTS ARE WELCOME.

UM, YOU JUST HAVE TO BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, GO TO YOUR CHILD'S WEBSITE, THE SCHOOL WEBSITE, CHECK OUT WHAT'S HAPPENING, WHAT, YOU KNOW, READ THOSE NEWSLETTERS.

UM, I KNOW YOU GET IN INUNDATED WITH A LOT OF THINGS.

YOU KNOW, I, I DID TOO.

I STILL DO WITH, WITH, UM, MY KIDDO AND EMAILS AND NEWSLETTERS.

BUT IT'S IMPORTANT, UM, YOU KNOW, TO, TO PARTICIPATE WHERE YOU CAN BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES.

AND I WANNA THANK ALSO, UH, MRS. SALEENS AND DR.

PENCE FOR SPEAKING AT THE TOWN MEETING, UM, ON THE EASEMENT, UM, ISSUE THAT WE HAVE, UH, CURRENTLY BEFORE.

SO I THINK THAT HITS ABOUT EVERYTHING.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, DR.

FUNK.

NEXT UP WE'RE GONNA HAVE MS. SALEMS. I TOO ALSO WANTED TO SAY A HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR TEACHERS.

THEY'RE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.

UM, ON APRIL 24TH, UM, DR.

PENCE AND I, UH, SPOKE AT THE TOWN'S PUBLIC HEARING ON THE MATTER OF A DEVELOPER WHO HAS REQUESTED TO CHANGE HIS PROFFER AGREEMENT TO REDUCE HIS CONTRIBUTION TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

I EXPRESSED MY CONCERNS ABOUT OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS BEING AT CAPACITY AND THE POTENTIAL TAX INCREASES TO FUND BUILDING A NEW SCHOOL.

THE VOTE WAS THANKFULLY DELAYED, AND ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING WAS SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 26TH.

SO IF CITIZENS HAVE FEELINGS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND THEY WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THEM, PLEASE BE SURE TO CONTACT TOWN COUNCIL AND SHOW UP ON JUNE 26TH TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF OUR SCHOOLS.

UM, ON APRIL 26TH, I ATTENDED OUR BUILDING COMMITTEE MEETING WITH MR. RONDI.

I WAS PLEASED TO SEE THAT THE L FK RENOVATION IS COMING ALONG BEAUTIFULLY AND ON SCHEDULE AND ON BUDGET.

AND I WAS QUITE IMPRESSED WITH THE, UH, ORGANIZATION OF THE, THE MOVING, THE COLOR CODED PLAN THAT, THAT MS. VACA PUT TOGETHER.

UM, AND THEN WE ATTENDED THE RETIREMENT DINNER, WHICH WAS ALSO VERY WELL PUT TOGETHER EVENT, AND OUR RETIRING STAFF WILL CERTAINLY BE MISSED.

UM, APRIL 27TH, I PARTICIPATED IN THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FORUM AND RECEIVED THE REPUBLICAN ENDORSEMENT AS I WILL BE RUNNING FOR REELECTION FOR THIS SEAT IN THE FALL.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MS. ALLENS.

MR. ALDI.

OH, YES.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

UM, I TOO ATTENDED THE LF K CONSTRUCTION, UH, MEETING, UH, WAS REALLY IMPRESSED WITH THE PLAN THAT OUR ACTING PRINCIPAL HAS ON GETTING BACK TO MOVING KIDS OUT OF ONE SECTION INTO ANOTHER.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, IT'S LIKE, OKAY, KIDS GO OVER THERE.

BUT THE DETAIL THAT WENT INTO THAT WAS AMAZING.

ANOTHER THING I WANT TO COMMENT ABOUT THAT IS THE CONSTRUCTION TEAM THAT WAS THERE, WE, WE WOULD BRING UP A CONCERN AND THE ANSWER WAS, WE ALREADY GOT THAT TAKEN CARE OF.

AND, AND THAT WAS KIND OF THE WHOLE MEETING.

AND IT WAS LIKE, THIS CROWD IS REALLY GOOD.

IN MY YEARS IN CONSTRUCTION, I'VE DEPENDED OR ATTENDED RATHER MANY MEETINGS FOR CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS.

AND TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, NONE OF 'EM COMPARED TO THE MEETING THAT WE HAD LAST, UM, A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.

SO CONGRATULATIONS FOR THAT.

YOU DID A HECK OF A JOB FOR THAT TEAM.

AND YOU, YOU WERE THERE, BRIAN AND MS. MAY WAS THERE.

SO WITH ALL THAT BEING SAID, UM, YOU'RE, I'D LIKE TO TELL THE CITIZENS OF WARREN COUNTY, UH, YOU'RE IN GOOD HANDS WITH THIS CONSTRUCTION CROWD THAT'S UP THERE.

YOU REALLY ARE.

UH, THE SECOND THING IS I ATTENDED THE RETIREMENT DINNER.

AND, UH, THAT WAS GOOD TO SEE PEOPLE THAT HAD SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

I FORGET HOW MANY TOTAL YEARS, DR.

BOWZER, DO YOU REMEMBER? BELIEVE IT WAS 360 8, HOW MUCH? THREE, THREE HUNDRED AND SIXTY EIGHT YEARS OF EXPERIENCE HAS LEFT THIS SYSTEM.

[00:30:01]

AND, UM, OF COURSE, SHANE IS LEAVING US.

SO THAT PUTS US IN A REAL BIND.

.

UM, I HAVE MORE TO SAY ABOUT SHANE IN A SECOND.

UM, THE HIGH SCHOOL, UM, UH, GRADUATION, IF, IF, IF YOU GUYS HAVEN'T BEEN YET, IT, IT'S A GREAT EXPERIENCE TO STAND UP THERE AND SEE THESE KIDS COME THROUGH, BECAUSE THE THINGS YOU SEE THAT THEY KIND OF TELL YOU AND THEIR ACTIONS ARE THINGS THE CROWD CAN'T SEE.

AND IT'S, IT'S REALLY QUITE AMUSING.

WE HAD ONE KID DO A FLIP ON THE STAGE, AND IT WAS JUST KIND OF EXCITING TO SEE THAT EXUBERANCE FROM YOUNG PEOPLE.

SO, UM, AND I BELIEVE THAT'S IT.

OH YEAH, SHANE, I FORGOT ABOUT THAT.

UM, I FIRST MET SHANE GOODWIN AT, UM, AT, UH, E WILSON.

AND, UM, WE, WE WENT IN THERE AND I WAS WITH, UH, MS. BOWER WHO USED TO BE ON THE BOARD.

AND OF COURSE, UH, WE WENT IN THERE, WE COULDN'T FIND SHANE.

UH, SHANE WAS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND.

WELL, APPARENTLY HE WAS OUT PATROLLING THE HALLWAYS, WHICH IS A, A BIG PART OF A PRINCIPAL'S JOB.

SO THEN HE, HE TOOK US DOWN AND SHOWED US AROUND, AND THEN HE TOOK US TO THE CAFETERIA AND, UM, HE SAID, UH, LUNCH IS ON ME.

AND WE HAD SOME KIND OF CHICKEN CASSEROLE THING.

IT WAS , IT WAS PRETTY GOOD.

AND WE GOT TO MEET A LOT OF THE TEACHERS, AND SHANE WAS REALLY MADE US FEEL COMFORTABLE IN A BUILDING LIKE THAT.

SO I WANTED TO THANK HIM FOR THAT.

AND, UH, I GUESS I'LL HAVE TO TAKE A TRIP UP TO FREDERICK COUNTY TO GET THAT COFFEE YOU OWE ME.

SO I'LL, I'LL CERTAINLY DO THAT.

AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

THANK YOU, MR. ALDI.

UM, WELL, THE THING ABOUT GOING LAST IS MOST EVERYTHING I THINK'S BEEN TALKED ABOUT ALREADY, BUT, UM, I WILL TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY.

I PARTICIPATED, UM, IN THE JOB FAIR THAT, UM, WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAD, UH, LAST MONTH.

AND SENIORS FROM BOTH WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL AND SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL CAME, WE HAD 26 BUSINESSES THAT WERE THERE, UM, READY TO TALK TO OUR STUDENTS AS THEY'RE GETTING READY TO GRADUATE.

THEY MAY NOT BE GOING TO COLLEGE, THEY MAY NOT KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING NEXT.

AND SO THERE WAS, THERE WAS JUST A HUGE VARIETY OF BUSINESSES, UM, THAT DAY.

AND THERE WERE ABOUT 120, 130 STUDENTS THAT CAME THROUGH AND ALL THE STUDENTS, UM, I SAW EVERYBODY JUST KIND OF INTERACTING AND GOING BACK AND FORTH AND HAVING GOOD CONVERSATION IF NOTHING ELSE.

SO THAT, UM, I THINK SPEAKS TO OUR COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND SUPPORT FROM BUSINESSES.

AND THANKS TO THE SCHOOL FOR PUTTING THAT TOGETHER FOR OUR STUDENTS.

UM, I DID ATTEND THE, THE REGIONAL, THE VSBA REGIONAL NETWORKING MEETING.

UM, IT WAS GREAT TO MEET SOME OF OUR OTHER LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS THAT EVENING, BUT REALLY, I MEAN, I THINK THE ARTWORK WAS WAS THE HIGHLIGHT OF IT FOR SURE.

SO THAT WAS, THAT WAS FUN TO SEE.

LIKE MY OTHER BOARD MEMBERS, WE ALL PARTICIPATED IN THE RETIREMENT DINNER.

UM, THERE WERE JUST SO MANY INCREDIBLE YEARS OF SERVICE AND DEDICATION RECOGNIZED THAT NIGHT.

UM, SEVERAL OF MY TEACHERS FROM WHEN I WAS HERE IN WARREN COUNTY, UM, RETIRED.

SO THAT WAS, UM, THAT WAS FUN TO SEE.

GOOD TO SEE THEM.

UM, NEXT I'D LIKE TO THANK, UM, THE ROTARY CLUB OF WARREN COUNTY FOR, UH, REALLY GETTING BEHIND, UM, A VISION IN SUPPORTING GETTING, UM, BOOK VENDING MACHINES FOR OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

SO, UM, L FK WAS OUR ONLY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THAT HAD ONE.

I SAW IT, UM, EARLY IN 2022, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS LIKE THE COOLEST THING EVER TO GET KIDS REALLY INTERESTED IN BOOKS JUST ONE MORE WAY, UM, TO CAPTURE THEIR ATTENTION.

AND SO, UM, MY FRIENDS AT ROTARY CLUB OF HORN COUNTY REALLY KIND OF GOT BEHIND THAT AS OUR MAIN FUNDRAISING EVENT THIS FALL.

AND SO, UM, THE, THE VENDING MACHINES WERE ABLE TO BE PURCHASED FOR BOTH E WILSON AND RUSTY.

SO WE'LL BE DEDICATING THOSE, UM, THIS THUR TOMORROW AND THEN THE NEXT THURSDAY AT THOSE SCHOOLS.

AND THEN ACTUALLY KIWANIS JUMPED ON BOARD, UM, WITH A GREAT PROGRAM AND DECIDED, UM, THAT THEY WOULD TRY TO FUND VENDING MACHINES FOR AS ROADS AND HILDA.

AND SO THEY WERE ABLE TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN THROUGH GRANTS AND DONATIONS AS WELL.

SO, YET ANOTHER, UM, REALLY GREAT EXAMPLE OF COLLABORATION WITH CLUBS, SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS, AND JUST THE PEOPLE OF OUR COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT OUR SCHOOLS TOMORROW AT REI IS COMMUNITY HELPER DAY.

I THINK, UM, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF COVID, UH, I'VE DONE IT EVERY YEAR, UM, SINCE, SINCE I GRADUATED, UH, LAST YEAR, I GOT A PICTURE FROM A PARENT WHOSE DAUGHTER WAS GRADUATING, AND SO SHE SENT ME A PICTURE OF, UM, ME AND HER DAUGHTER IN THE KINDERGARTEN CLASS WITH THE DOG.

AND SO THAT WAS KIND OF FUN TO SEE THAT MANY YEARS LATER, UM, FROM MOUNTAIN VISTA

[00:35:01]

UM, LOOKS LIKE THE ENROLLMENT NUMBERS ARE GONNA BE GREAT FOR 23.

FOR THE 2324 SCHOOL YEAR ON MAY 9TH.

UM, THE GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN THE GIVE LOCAL PIEDMONT, AND THE GOAL WILL BE TO RAISE $9,000 THROUGH DONATIONS THAT DAY.

THOSE FUNDS WILL BE APPLIED TOWARD UPGRADING TECHNOLOGY FOR ALL CLASSES AND ALSO PROVIDING DUAL ENROLLMENT TUITION SUPPORT FOR OUR ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS.

SO, UM, ON MAY 9TH, IF YOU START SEEING THAT SHARED ALL AROUND FACEBOOK, THAT'S A GOOD TIME TO DONATE.

THERE'S AN EARLY RISER, IF YOU DONATE BETWEEN SIX AND SEVEN, THEY'RE MATCHED FUNDS SO THE SCHOOL GETS EVEN MORE MONEY.

UM, SO THAT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY.

AND THEN, UM, PRINCIPAL'S APPRECIATION DAY WAS EARLIER THIS WEEK.

I SEE LOTS OF PRINCIPALS OUT IN OUR AUDIENCE TONIGHT, SO WE APPRECIATE YOU.

AND THEN NEXT WEEK, OF COURSE, TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK.

I KNOW, UM, NO SPOILERS, ALL KINDS OF THINGS PLANNED, UM, THROUGH IT, I'M SURE VARIOUS PTOS AND, AND PRINCIPALS FOR ALL THE TEACHERS AND ALL THE STAFF THROUGHOUT ALL OF OUR, OUR SCHOOLS.

UM, SHOWING OUR APPRECIATION FOR EVERYTHING THAT, THAT YOU ALL DO EVERY DAY.

AND, UM, I THINK THAT JUST ABOUT WRAPS IT UP.

BUT OTHERWISE, JUST CONGRATULATIONS AND GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF OUR GRADUATING SENIORS.

NEXT, NEXT UP WE HAVE THE

[5.A. Introduction and Appointment of the E. Wilson Morrison Elementary School Principal- Dr. Ballenger]

NEXT UP, WE HAVE THE ACTION AGENDA THIS EVENING.

THE FIRST UP IS GONNA BE THE INTRODUCTION AND APPOINTMENT OF THE E WILSON MORRISON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, DR.

BALLINGER.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

SO, JENNIFER KNOX, OR MS. JENNIFER KNOX HAS BEEN AN, ED HAS BEEN AN EDUCATOR FOR 13 YEARS.

DURING THOSE 13 YEARS, SHE HAS SPENT TIME AS A CLASSROOM TEACHER, READING SPECIALIST, READING COACH, AND INTERVENTIONIST ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, AND A PRINCIPAL.

PRIOR TO SETTLING HER ROOTS IN VIRGINIA TWO YEARS AGO, THE MILITARY TOOK HER AND HER TWO SONS TO ALASKA, NEW MEXICO, AND NEVADA.

THEY MOVED TO FRONT ROYAL FROM LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, AND ARE THRILLED TO BE A PART OF THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY COMMUNITY AND TO CALL IT HOME, IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU AND RECOMMEND MS. JENNIFER KNOX TO BE APPOINTED AS THE PRINCIPAL AT E WILSON MORRISON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, STARTING JULY 1ST, 2023.

IS THERE A MOTION THIS EVENING I MOVE THAT MS. JENNIFER KNOX, BE APPOINTED TO THE PRINCIPAL AT E WILSON MORRISON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STARTING JULY 1ST, 2023? IS THERE A SECOND? UH, YES MA'AM.

CHAIR SECOND THAT.

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

OPPOSE? NO.

THANK YOU.

WELCOME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

YES.

HELLO? GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS JENNIFER.

GOOD EVENING, MADAME CHAIR, BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT BALLINGER.

UM, I AM VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE.

FORT ROYAL WAS THE FIRST PLACE THAT MY SONS AND I CAME TO IN VIRGINIA, AND IT FELT HOLLY COMB IF WAS WELCOMING.

AND I DID GO TO FREDERICK COUNTY TO TEACH.

HOWEVER, I'M VERY EXCITED TO BE BACK AND TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY AND THE ROLE OF PRINCIPAL OF E WILSON MORRISON.

AND, UM, I'M EXCITED TO GET STARTED, AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME AND FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

THANK YOU, MS. MAX.

THANK YOU.

[5.B. Introduction and Appointment of the Leslie Fox Keyser Elementary School Principal - Dr. Ballenger]

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

I AM PLEASED TO INTRODUCE OUR NEW L FK PRINCIPAL, MS. JESSICA VAKA.

MS. VAKA GRADUATED FROM CLARION UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA WITH A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN ELEMENTARY EDUCATION.

MS. VAKA STARTED TO, STARTED HER CAREER AS AN EDUCATOR IN 2007 WHEN SHE MOVED TO WARREN COUNTY AS A FIRST GRADE TEACHER AT E WILSON MORRISON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

AFTER TEACHING SIX YEARS AT E WILSON MORRISON EL ELEMENTARY, SHE CONTINUED HER CAREER AT AS RHODE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR FIVE YEARS.

SHE THEN TAUGHT IN FREDERICK COUNTY, BUT RETURNED TO WARREN COUNTY AS AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT HILDA J BARBER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

SHE THEN MOVED TO LESLIE FOX, KAISER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AS THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL.

AND THEN, AS YOU GUYS ARE AWARE, IN NOVEMBER, WE ASKED HER TO DO THE, UM, THE INTERIM PRINCIPAL ROLE.

AND SHE HAS DONE A FABULOUS JOB WITH THAT.

UH, THROUGHOUT HER CAREER, SHE HAS BEEN COMMITTED TO CREATING A SAFE AND INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT WHERE STUDENTS CAN FLOURISH.

SHE'S EXCITED TO CONTINUE TO COLLABORATE WITH STAFF, PARENTS, AND STAKEHOLDERS

[00:40:01]

AND IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU AND RECOMMEND MS. JESSICA VACA TO BE APPOINTED AS THE PRINCIPAL OF LESLIE FOX KAISER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STARTING JULY 1ST, 2023.

THANK YOU, DR.

BALLINGER.

IS THERE A MOTION I MOVE THAT MS. JESSICA VACA BE APPOINTED AS THE PRINCIPAL AT LESLIE FOX KAISER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STARTING JULY 1ST, 2023? IS THERE A SECOND? A SECOND? ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

OPPOSED? NO.

GREAT.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

I WROTE A FEW THINGS.

UM, I WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO EXPRESS MY HEARTFELT GRATITUDE FOR YOUR DECISION TO ENTRUST IN ME THE POSITION OF PRINCIPAL OF LESLIE FOX, KAISER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

I'VE BEEN SERVING WARREN COUNTY FOR 15 YEARS NOW.

I ALSO HAVE TWO CHILDREN THAT GO TO WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND I FULLY BELIEVE IN THE SCHOOL DIVISION AND ITS MISSION.

I WANNA ALSO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK THE LF K PRINCIPLES WHO SERVED BEFORE ME.

THEY HAVE CULTIVATED A CULTURE OF, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE FOSTERED INNOVATIVENESS COLLABORATION, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, KINDNESS IS A BIG FACTOR AT LF.

K I DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND THIS IS A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY, AND I WANT TO ASSURE YOU THAT I'M COMMITTED TO ENSURING THE ACHIEVEMENT OF ALL STUDENTS AT L F K.

I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AND MAKING SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE ACHIEVING FROM HERE ON OUT.

THANK YOU.

WELCOME, MS. VODKA.

[5.C. FY2024 Superintendent's Proposed Budget - Dr. Ballenger]

DR.

THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR.

I GUESS I CAN DO IT UP HERE JUST AS WELL AS I DID DOWN THERE LAST TIME.

SO, A LOT OF THIS IS GONNA BE SIMILAR TO WHAT WE SAW BEFORE, EXCEPT WITH THE FEW CHANGES OF COURSE, BY CODE WE'RE REQUIRED.

UM, I AM AS THE SUPERINTENDENT TO PROVIDE, UH, A PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE NEEDS OF THE DIVISION FOR THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR.

UM, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO ADOPT A, A PROPOSED BUDGET TO SEND TO THE COUNTY.

THEN YOU GUYS KNOW THE PROCESS.

UH, OUR BUDGET PROCESS STARTS IN NOVEMBER, AND THEN AGAIN, IT SEEMS LIKE FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW, WE'RE GONNA PUSH THIS ALL THE WAY TO THE LAST DAY OF JUNE.

UH, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE DO HAVE A BUDGET, AND THO THAT'S WHAT OUR NUMBERS ARE BASED OFF OF, OFF OF.

BUT I DO HEAR THAT WE MAY NOT HAVE A FINAL BUDGET UNTIL JUNE 20 OR JUNE 25TH, SOMEWHERE AROUND THAT TIMEFRAME.

UM, AND OF COURSE, SO THIS BUDGET MAY CHANGE DEPENDING UPON WHAT THE OUTCOME IS FROM THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

SO THIS IS AN UPDATE AS A, OF OUR GRADE BREAKDOWNS AS A PERCENTAGE OF OUR BUDGET.

AND THAT TAKES FROM TEACHERS AND COVERS EVERY POSITION THAT WE HAVE WITHIN THE DIVISION.

THEN WE ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS THE NON-LABOR.

OF COURSE, THE NON-LABOR IS NOT A SALARY.

THAT, THAT, THAT'S WHAT IT COSTS FOR US TO DO BUSINESS.

UM, WE DID REDUCE THAT NUMBER.

I BELIEVE, IF YOU CAN REMEMBER WHEN I FIRST PRESENTED THIS, THAT WAS AROUND 11 5 11 SOMETHING.

UH, WE, WE TOOK OFF.

WE SHAVED OFF ALMOST $600,000 OFF OF OUR, OUR NON-LABOR BUDGET.

UH, SO, SO THAT NUMBER HAS DROPPED JUST BELOW THE 11, THE, UH, 11 MILLION FOR OUR NON-LABOR.

UM, WE DID UPDATE SOME OF OUR, UM, POSITIONS, MAKE SURE WE HAD ALL THE NUMBERS.

AGAIN, IT'S ALWAYS MASSAGING US AND MAKING SURE WE HAVE THE RIGHT NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE PLACES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GOOD AND SOLID FOR THAT NEXT YEAR.

AGAIN, THIS YEAR WE'RE BUDGETING ON 4,998 STUDENTS.

UH, THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT AS FAR AS THIS, THIS YEAR WE WERE AT 4,989, AND WE'RE GOING TO 4,009, UH, 98.

BUT WHEN WE, WE LOOK AT THAT, AND I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT LATER ABOUT SOME, UM, SOME OF OUR NUMBERS AND WHAT OUR TOTAL STUDENT POPULATION IS.

ONE THING I WANTED TO ADD WAS, YOU KNOW, WE DO HEAR A LOT ABOUT WHAT IS YOUR LOCAL CONTRIBUTION AND WHAT IS THAT AS A PERCENTAGE ABOVE REQUIRED LOCAL EFFORT, AS, YOU KNOW, LRE OR REQUIRED LOCAL EFFORT, UM, THAT, THAT IS A NUMBER THAT THE STATE GIVES YOU THAT IS A BARE MINIMUM, WHICH IS NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO, TO RUN A SCHOOL DIVISION.

AND SO A LOT OF OF COUNTIES HAVE TO GO OVER THE REQUIRED LOCAL EFFORT.

ACTUALLY, MOST COUNTIES GO OVER REQUIRED LOCAL EFFORT.

I BELIEVE THERE'S ONLY ONE THAT DOES NOT.

AND ACTUALLY THEY RECEIVE MORE STATE AID BECAUSE THEY'RE, THEY'RE REQUIRED LOCAL EFFORT, THEY'RE JUST NOT ABLE TO MEET IT.

AND THAT IS A, A, UH, COUNTY OUT IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA.

BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR CONTRIBUTIONS AND, AND THIS IS A 10 YEAR AVERAGE, YOU

[00:45:01]

THAT MEANS WE MET IT, AND THEN WE WENT ANOTHER 59% ABOVE THAT.

AND YOU CAN SEE THE NUMBER JUMPED UP TO 84, ALMOST 85%.

AND WE'VE, YOU KNOW, THE WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS, HAS BEEN IN THAT 60 TO 70 RANGE ABOVE REQUIRED LOCAL EFFORT.

BUT YOU CAN SEE THE LAST TWO YEARS, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE, THAT NUMBER HAS, HAS GOTTEN DOWN TO ABOUT 46, 42, 40 6%.

SO OUR NUMBER, THAT MEANS OUR LOCALITY IS HAVING TO PUT LESS MONEY INTO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, UH, WHICH THAT IS THE PERCENT ABOVE REQUIRED LOCAL EFFORT.

SO BY THE NUMBERS, UH, AGAIN, I MENTIONED 4,998, BUT YOU CAN SEE THAT OUR TOTAL SCHOOL POPULATION IS ACTUALLY 5,224.

THAT WOULD INCLUDE OUR PRESCHOOL AND OUR PART-TIME.

SO WE HAVE 5,602 OR 5,206 FULL-TIME STUDENTS, 18 PART-TIME.

BUT THAT DOES INCLUDE PRE-K.

THE NUMBER WE BUDGET ON IS ONLY, UH, E EXCLUDES PRE-K BECAUSE PRE-K IS BROUGHT IN AN UNDER A DIFFERENT FUNDING FORMULA.

SO WE GET A DIFFERENT FUNDING FOR THAT, AND YOU DON'T ADD THEM TO THE OVERALL WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT BUDGETING FOR, FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR.

SO WE START OFF WITH OUR STATE REVENUE, AND REMEMBER WE HAD THAT $668,000 REDUCTION BY THE STATE AID CALCULATION ERROR.

UH, SO WE STILL HAVE THAT IN EFFECT RIGHT NOW.

SO THAT DOES GIVE US AN INCREASE OF ABOUT 1.2 MILLION FROM THE STATE REVENUE.

FEDERAL REVENUE IS KIND OF HOLDING, UH, 4.9, ACTUALLY, THAT'S PROBABLY WENT DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

UM, AS WE CONTINUE TO EXPEND THOSE FUNDS, WE'RE NOT REPLACING THOSE, UM, THOSE DOLLARS WITH LOCAL MONEY, UM, OR WITH STATE.

AND THEN WE HAVE TRANSFER FROM THE HEALTHCARE THAT'S TO HOLD OUR, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE HOLDING OUR EMPLOYEES HARMLESS AND, AND WE DIDN'T WANT TO BE ABLE, WE DIDN'T WANT TO GIVE A RAISE, BUT THEN ALSO SEE A PREMIUM INCREASE IN THEIR, THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE.