Aug 02, 2023 Board Meeting

STILL READY? WE FEEL GOOD?

[00:00:01]

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

WELCOME EVERYBODY.

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

OH, FIRST WE NEED TO READ OURSELVES OUT OF CLOSED SESSION.

THANK YOU, MR. GRANT.

MM-HMM.

, CAN WE DO THAT? 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 THIS CERTIFICATION APPLIES.

AND TWO, 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? A SECOND.

CAN YOU DO A ROLL CALL, MR. GRANT? CERTAINLY.

UH, MRS. SALAN AYE.

MR. RINALDI? AYE.

DR.

PENCE? AYE.

DR.

FUNK? AYE.

MRS. LOWE? AYE.

GREAT.

NOW WELCOME.

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

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE REPUBLIC.

IS THERE A MOTION TO ACCEPT OR MODIFY

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

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

OPPOSED? NO.

THANK YOU.

FIRST UP THIS

[ 2.C. Presentation of New WCPS Logo ]

.

THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR.

I WOULD LIKE TO ASK MS. HOPE PETTY TO COME UP TO THE PODIUM.

UM, WHEN THE BOARD, MY FIRST YEAR HERE, THE BOARD ASKED ME TO, TO LOOK INTO THE LOGO AND, UM, THEN OF COURSE WE WERE GOING THROUGH COVID AND THERE WAS JUST A LOT OF TURMOIL AND JUST, IT, IT WAS A DIFFERENT TIME THEN.

UM, AND SO I TASKED HOPE WITH, UM, TAKING THE LEAD ON LOOKING AT REDESIGNING OUR LOGO.

AND SO I'VE ASKED HER HERE TONIGHT TO, TO DO THE PRESENTATION ON THE PROCESS AND THEN TO RECOGNIZE, UM, OUR STUDENTS AND, AND FACULTY AND, AND PARENTS OF, OF THE, THE ONES THAT HELP THAT WERE OUR TOP THREE.

SO THIS HAS BEEN A A YEAR LONG PROCESS AND I'M NOT GONNA STEAL ANY MORE OF HOPE'S, THUNDER, AND I'M GONNA LET HER ROLL WITH IT.

THANK YOU.

DR.

BROWN DESIGNED, LATER USED AS THE CONCEPT FOR WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL'S NEW LOGO.

A VARIETY OF COMMITTEES WERE YOU WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK AND MAKE SELECTIONS.

ONCE THE FINAL THREE WERE SELECTED, THE STUDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY WERE ABLE TO VOTE FOR THEIR TOP CHOICE.

I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT TO YOU THE STUDENTS BEHIND THE ART.

GIVE THEM A MOMENT TO SPEAK ABOUT THEIR INSPIRATION, AS WELL AS REVEAL THE FINAL PROPOSED DESIGN.

SO FIRST WE HAVE JJ B BORGO FROM WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL.

UM, THEIR ART TEACHER WAS GWEN JONES.

WITH JJ WE HAVE THEIR PARENTS AS WELL AS THEIR PRINCIPAL, KEN KUSH.

THE NEXT ARTWORK WAS LUKE NATALIE FROM SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL, ART TEACHER LAURA WALTHALL WITH LUKE.

NATALIE IS HIS PARENTS, AS WELL AS HIS PRINCIPAL, BOBBY JOHNSTON.

THE NEXT ARTWORK WAS A COMBINATION I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE CAMIE KING FROM SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL, WHO CREATED THE MOUNTAINS FOR THE ARTWORK.

AND THEN THE INSPIRATION WAS FROM THE, FOR THE BOOKS CAME FROM JILL SEY AT WARREN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL.

SORRY FOR THAT ERROR.

UM, WITH CAMIE ARE HER PARENTS AS WELL AS HER PRINCIPAL, BOBBY JOHNSTON.

SO THE PROCESS TOWARDS THE END WAS WE GAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY AND PARENTS AS WELL AS STUDENTS TO VOTE ON, UH, THE NEXT LOGO THROUGH A GOOGLE FORM.

EACH ENTRY RECEIVED HAD ABOUT 2,476 VOTES.

TOTAL ENTRY ONE HAD ABOUT 50% OF THE VOTES.

THAT WAS J'S ARTWORK.

ENTRY TWO HAD 19% OF THE VOTES.

THAT WAS LUKE'S ARTWORK, AND 30% OF THE VOTES WENT TO CAMMIE.

THIS IS OUR REDESIGNED ART CONCEPT WITH 1,248 VOTES.

NUMBER TWO HAD 479 VOTES,

[00:05:03]

I'D LIKE TO, UM, PRESENT THE SCHOLARSHIPS TO EACH OF THESE, UH, CONTEST, NOT CONTESTANTS, FINALISTS.

SO THE FIRST ONE UP, IF I COULD PLEASE HAVE JJ COME UP AND BRIEFLY TALK ABOUT THEIR INSPIRATION FOR THE ART, IF THEY'RE INTERESTED.

UM, MY INSPIRATION WAS FOR THE LOGO WAS THE TWO HIGH SCHOOLS IN THIS AREA, SKYLINE AND WARREN COUNTY.

I KNEW THAT I WANTED THEIR MASCOTS, THE HAWK AND THE WILDCAT TO BE THE FOCAL POINT, HENCE WHY THEY'RE SILHOUETTED AND THEY'RE IN BLACK.

THE MOUNTAINS IN THE BACKGROUND AND THE BUSHES IN THE FOREGROUND SHOWCASE THE BEAUTY OF OUR AREA AND TOWN AND AS WELL AS OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.

I AM EXTREMELY GRATEFUL THAT I WAS EVEN CONSIDERED FOR THIS AND I AM VERY, VERY THANKFUL TO BE GIVEN THIS OPPORTUNITY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THE NEXT SECOND PLACE WAS CAMIE KING, IF SHE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT HER ART.

ALRIGHT.

WELL, SHE DID AN INCREDIBLE JOB.

THE THIRD PLACE WAS LUKE, NATALIE, IF YOU'D LIKE A MOMENT TO SPEAK ABOUT HIS ARTWORK.

SO MY ARTWORK WAS, UH, I BELIEVE IN ALL OF BRANCH, WHICH WOULD REPRESENT, UH, PEACE, UH, SUN, WHICH WOULD REPRESENT EACH NEW DAY AND A APPLE, WHICH REPRESENTS EDUCATION.

THANK YOU, LUKE.

UM, IF JJ COULD PLEASE COME FORWARD AND I'D LIKE TO INVITE DR.

BALLINGER AND OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS TO COME FOR A PHOTO OPPORTUNITY AS WE REVEAL THE NEXT PROPOSED LOGO FOR WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

SO THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT JJ HAS ALSO SEEN THE ARTWORK IN FULL COLOR AND IN GRAY SCALE.

, CONGRATULATIONS.

IF J'S FAMILY WOULD LIKE TO JOIN AS WELL AS THEIR ART TEACHER AND PRINCIPAL, YOU WANNA GET IN THERE? NO.

SURE.

OKAY.

I WILL.

I'M GONNA A VERY GOOD PRESENTATION.

YES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

SO IF I COULD PLEASE HAVE CAMMIE KING COME UP, HAVE A PICTURE WITH OUR SUPERINTENDENT AND BOARD MEMBERS, AND FOLLOWING THIS PICTURE, IF, UH, CAMMY'S FAMILY COULD PLEASE COME UP FOR A PICTURE AS WELL AS HER ART TEACHER AND PRINCIPAL.

AND IF OUR THIRD PLACE WINNER, LUKE NATALIE, COULD COME UP FOR A PICTURE WITH OUR SUPERINTENDENT AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, FOLLOWED BY A PICTURE WITH HIS FAMILY.

[00:10:17]

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL OF THE HARD WORK OF OUR ART TEACHERS, OUR STUDENTS, OUR FIRST PLACE WINNER.

JJ HAS RECEIVED A $500 SCHOLARSHIP TO USE UPON GRADUATION.

CAMMIE HAS RECEIVED A $250 SCHOLARSHIP TO USE UPON GRADUATION, AND LUKE HAS RECEIVED A HUNDRED SCHOLARSHIP TO USE UPON GRADUATION.

AND OUR NEXT PROPOSED LOGO, IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE ONE MORE OF YOU, WE HAVE IT IN FULL COLOR AND GRAY SCALE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU TO ALL THE FAMILIES AND KIDS THAT CAME TO SHARE THEIR ARTWORK WITH US TONIGHT.

AND CONGRATULATIONS.

THIS WAS A REALLY FUN EXPERIENCE FOR US, AND I THINK AS A COMMUNITY AS WELL, WE LOOK FORWARD TO THIS NEW LOGO.

AND IF ANYBODY WANTS TO LEAVE AT THIS POINT, YOU'RE WELCOME TO.

WE'RE GETTING READY TO GO INTO COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION, SO FEEL FREE TO GO .

SO NEXT UP THIS EVENING, WE HAVE COMMUNITY

[ 2.D. 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 DEMONSTRATIVE 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 ADDRESS THE SCHOOL BOARD CHAIR, FIND 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 PIECE.

REFRAIN FROM OBSCENITY OR VULGAR 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 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'RE A COUNTY RESIDENT, PARENT OF A WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENT OR AN EMPLOYEE OF THE SCHOOL DIVISION.

AND LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES.

MR. GRANT, HAS ANYBODY SIGNED UP TODAY? WE DO.

UH, WE HAVE JACKIE STOCKER.

HELLO, I AM JACKIE STALKER.

I AM A WARREN COUNTY RESIDENT AND A PARENT OF A CHILD IN WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

UM, I'M ALSO A MOTHER OF A TRANSGENDER CHILD ATTENDING WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

AS WE ALL KNOW, GOVERNOR YOUNG KIN'S NEW POLICIES REGARDING L G B T Q.

INDIVIDUALS AND RIGHTS IN THE SCHOOL MUST BE ADOPTED AND SCHOOLS MUST CREATE A POLICY OF ITS OWN AND ITS LIKENESS.

I'M HERE TODAY TO DISCUSS THE DANGER THESE NEW POLICIES CAN PLACE CHILDREN IN BY REQUIRING PARENTS SIGNATURES FOR STUDENTS TO UTILIZE THEIR TRUE SELF PRONOUNS AND NAMES, YOU'LL BE OUTING THEM TO THEIR PARENTS.

L G B T Q YOUTH ARE OFTEN THE SUBJECT OF UNJUST, BI UNJUST BIASES, EXCLUSION IN SOME CASES VIOLENCE.

KEEPING THIS IN MIND, IT'S PARAMOUNT THAT WE TREAD CAREFULLY, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO REVEALING THEIR IDENTITY TO OTHERS.

OUTING SOMEONE'S NOT JUST A BREACH OF TRUST, IT CAN LEAD TO DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES FOR THE CHILD.

SUPPOSE AN L G B T Q CHILD IS ADDED WITHOUT THEIR CONSENT IN THAT CASE, IT SUBJUGATES THEM TO THE RISK OF REJECTION OR PUNISHMENT BY THEIR FAMILY, PARTICULARLY IF THAT FAMILY HOLDS HOMOPHOBIC OR TRANSPHOBIC VIEWS.

A SUPPORTIVE FAMILY ENVIRONMENT IS A CRITICAL

[00:15:01]

WHEN THAT SUPPORT IS THREATENED THE CHILD TO MORE LIKELY TO BE SUBJECT TO DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, AND AN ALARMINGLY SUICIDAL IDEATION, THE ISSUE OF SAFETY CANNOT BE OVERLOOKED.

OUTING L G B T Q CHILDREN CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL ABUSE.

THEY CAN POTENTIALLY BE DENIED FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS INCLUDING PRIVACY, SAFETY, AND FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION.

I URGE YOU TO THINK OF THESE GRAVE REPERCUSSIONS OF FORCED OUTINGS.

THE FOLLOWING DATE ON L G B T Q.

TEENAGERS COME FROM THE YOUTH RISK BEHAVIOR SURVEY.

10% WERE THREATENED OR INJURED WITH A WEAPON ON SCHOOL PROPERTY.

34% WERE BULLIED ON SCHOOL PROPERTY.

28% EXPERIENCED CYBER BULLYING, NEARLY ONE IN THREE L G B T Q.

YOUNG PEOPLE SAID THEIR MENTAL HEALTH WAS POOR OR ALMOST ALWAYS BAD.

DUE TO ANTI L G B T Q POLICIES AND LEGISLATION, L G B T KIDS LIVES MATTER.

THEY MATTER.

THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO EXIST THE SAME AS YOU ARE.

AND I, IF WE ADOPT THIS AND YOU REQUIRE THIS, YOU'LL BE PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR INCREASED RISKS OF SUICIDE.

EARLIER I HEARD THE WORD GOD USED.

WE USED IT IN OUR PLEDGE OF ALLE ALLEGIANCE.

THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS IN THIS ROOM TONIGHT.

MOMS OF LIBERTY, CONSERVATIVES, INDEPENDENCE, BUT I'M NOT SEEING GOD AS ONE OF THEM BECAUSE HE WOULD NEVER SUBJECT HIS CHILDREN TO THIS KIND OF HATRED AND UGLINESS FOUND WITHIN THIS POLICY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, MADAME CHAIR.

THANK YOU, MR. GRANT, CONNOR, TREVOR.

HELLO, I'M CONNOR TREVOR, AND I AM A RESIDENT OF WARREN COUNTY AND AN EX-STUDENT OF WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THAT MEANS HELLO ALL IN LATIN.

SOMETHING I LEARNED FROM A SCHOOL I WAS FORCED TO TRANSFER TO AFTER BULLYING AND POOR EDUCATION FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE.

FIRST FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY STUDENT LIFE, I MET AN UNDERSTANDING TEACHER THAT SUPPORTED ME FOR WHO I WAS, WHICH IS SOMETHING I HAD NEVER HAD IN WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL.

I STAND BEFORE YOU TO ADDRESS A CRUCIAL MATTER THAT TOUCHES UPON THE VERY ESSENCE OF COMPASSION, DIGNITY, AND INCLUSIVITY IN YOUR EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.

I IMPLORE YOUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY TO RECONSIDER THE I IMPLEMENTATION OF A POLICY THAT WOULD DISCLOSE THE TRANSGENDER IDENTITY OF STUDENTS WITHOUT THEIR PA, WHICH PARENTS WITHOUT THEIR CONSENT.

TRANSGENDER KIDS, LIKE ALL STUDENTS, DESERVE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY CAN FEEL SAFE, RESPECTED, AND SUPPORTED IN THEIR PERSONAL JOURNEYS.

YOU MUST RECOGNIZE THAT DISCLOSING THEIR GENDERED IDENTITY TO THEIR PARENTS MIGHT NOT ALWAYS BE SAFE OR AFFIRMING TO THEM.

MANY TRANSGENDER YOUTH GRAPPLE WITH THE FEAR OF REJECTION, MISUNDERSTANDING, OR EVEN HARM FROM THEIR FAMILIES, WHICH CAN NEGATIVELY IMPACT THEIR MENTAL HEALTH AND OVERALL WELLBEING.

BY MAINTAINING CONFIDENTIALITY FOR TRANSGENDER STUDENTS, YOU CREATE A HAVEN WHERE THEY CAN FREELY EXPRESS THEMSELVES WITHOUT FEAR OF REPERCUSSIONS.

THIS ENVIRONMENT FOSTERS TRUST BETWEEN THE STUDENT AND SCHOOL STAFF, ENABLING THEM TO OPEN UP ABOUT THEIR STRUGGLES AND SEEK APPROPRIATE SUPPORT WHEN NEEDED.

RESPECTING THE PRIVACY OF TRANSGENDER KIDS ALIGNS WITH THE PRINCIPLES OF AUTONOMY AND SELF-DETERMINATION.

AS EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, YOU OUGHT TO EMPOWER STUDENTS TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR PERSONAL LIVES, INCLUDING THE TIMING AND MANNER OF DISCLOSING THEIR GENDER IDENTITY TO THEIR PARENTS.

SUCH RESPECT FOR AUTONOMY MIGHT NOT ONLY ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR INDIVIDUALITY, BUT ALSO PREPARES THEM FOR FUTURE DECISION MAKING RESPONSIBILITIES.

MOREOVER, THIS POLICY SERVES AS AN IMPORTANT ALLY IN THE FIGHT AGAINST DISCRIMINATION AND MARGINALIZATION.

INCLUSIVE PRACTICES ARE A VITAL ASPECT OF A THRIVING LEARNING ENVIRONMENT WHERE ALL STUDENTS CAN THRIVE, LEARN FROM A DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES, AND BUILD EMPATHY FOR ONE ANOTHER.

BY SAFEGUARDING THE PRIVACY OF TRANSGENDER STUDENTS, YOU DEMONSTRATE A COMMITMENT TO VALUING EACH STUDENTS FOR WHO THEY ARE, CONTRIBUTING TO A MORE COMPASSIONATE AND ACCEPTING SOCIETY.

IN CONCLUSION, REMEMBER THAT YOUR PRIMARY MISSION AS EDUCATORS IS TO NURTURE THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF EVERY CHILD ENTRUSTING IN YOUR CARE.

A POLICY THAT RESPECTS THE PRIVACY OF TRANSGENDER KIDS, NOT ONLY PROMOTES THEIR EMOTIONAL WELLBEING, BUT ALSO REFLECTS THE VALUES OF COMPASSION, INCLUSIVITY IN RESPECT THAT YOU HOLD DEAR AS A SCHOOL COMMUNITY.

TOGETHER LET US STAND IN UNITED IN CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE ALL STUDENTS CAN FLOURISH AND FULFILL THEIR POTENTIAL.

AND IF YOU EVER ASK YOURSELF, WHAT WOULD JESUS DO, FLIPPING TABLES IS NOT OUTSIDE THE REALM OF POSSIBILITY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU, MR. GRANT.

THERE IS NO ONE ELSE ON THE LIST.

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

[00:20:01]

I HAVE TWO WARREN COUNTY GRADUATES NOW.

SO Y'ALL WON'T BE SEEING YOU QUITE AS MUCH, I DON'T THINK.

UM, BUT I DID WANNA COME DOWN HERE BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS LIKE A REALLY COMPLEX ISSUE.

UM, AND I'M SPEAKING ABOUT THE NEW TRANSGENDER POLICIES AND, AND, AND I ACTUALLY ALSO FEEL TORN WITH IT BECAUSE AS A PARENT, I WOULD WANT TO BE ABLE TO GUIDE MY CHILDREN THROUGH ANYTHING.

UM, BUT ALSO AS A PARENT, THERE'S NOTHING THAT MY CHILDREN COULD REVEAL TO ME ABOUT THEMSELVES THAT WOULD MAKE ME LOVE THEM MANY LESS.

AND SO WHEN I THINK ABOUT OTHER PARENTS, I SEE THEM THROUGH MY LENS, YOU KNOW, WHO I AM BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE DO.

WE THINK PEOPLE ARE GENERALLY LIKE US, BUT WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE PARENTS OUT HERE AND ESPECIALLY IN THIS COMMUNITY, UM, THAT AREN'T QUITE LIKE THAT.

AND THAT PROPOSES A BIG DANGER TO STUDENTS THAT ARE HAVING THESE CONFLICTS.

AND THAT'S MY CONCERN.

UM, WE'VE BEEN HAVING THIS WHOLE BOOK ORDEAL.

I'M SURE SOME OF Y'ALL HAVE SEEN THAT, UM, RIGHT NOW WITH PEOPLE TRYING TO BE IN L G B T Q BOOKS OUT OF THE LIBRARY.

AND, UM, WE'VE HEARD SOME PRETTY REPUGNANT THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN SAID AT THOSE MEETINGS AND AROUND THOSE KIDS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

AND SO IT'S, IT'S A TOUGH WORLD TO HAVE.

I DON'T WANNA CALL IT THE ISSUE, BUT IT IS AN ISSUE FOR THEM.

THIS ISSUE OF POSSIBLY BEING L G B T Q AND HAVING TO NAVIGATE THAT AND, UM, TO DEFINE THAT.

SO I I, I DO UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, UM, 'CAUSE I WOULD BE OFFENDED AS A PARENT IF YOU DIDN'T TELL ME SOMETHING, RIGHT? SO I GET THAT.

UM, BUT I DO THINK THAT, UM, WE HAVE TO BE VERY CRAFTY WITH WHATEVER POLICY WE DECIDE TO ADOPT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF A KID ISN'T BEING LISTENED TO, IF THEY AREN'T BEING HEARD, THAT WE ARE PROVIDING SOME KIND OF SHIELD OF PROTECTION FOR THEM AS WELL.

UM, AND SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT LOOKS LIKE, YOU KNOW, A COUNSELOR WORKING WITH THEM TO TALK TO THEIR PARENTS ABOUT IT OR, YOU KNOW, HOW THAT LOOKS.

UM, BUT I I DO HOPE THAT YOU ALL PUT A LOT OF THOUGHT INTO THAT POLICY BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF PARENTS AROUND HERE THAT DON'T LOVE THEIR CHILDREN REGARDLESS OF WHAT'S REVEALED TO THEM.

UM, AND WE'VE SEEN IT FIRSTHAND, RIGHT, IN THIS MEETING HALL WITH A DIFFERENT BOARD, RIGHT? SO, UM, WE'VE, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE MANY SUICIDES THAT HAVE HAPPENED RIGHT HERE IN THIS COMMUNITY BECAUSE PEOPLE WEREN'T ACCEPTING PEOPLE FOR WHO THEY BELIEVED THEMSELVES TO BE.

UM, AND, AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S SOMETHING TO REALLY, UH, BE CONCERNED ABOUT AS WELL.

SO, UM, I DON'T ENVY YOU ONCE AGAIN, I THINK I SAY THAT EVERY TIME I COME UP HERE, BUT I DON'T, I HOPE THAT, UM, THERE'S A LOT OF THOUGHT PUT INTO THIS AND THAT IT IS A CHILD-FOCUSED POLICY THAT YOU GUYS DO COME UP WITH THAT IS GOING TO PUT THAT CHILD'S PROTECTION FIRST OVER THE ADULTS.

THANK YOU, MS. HUBBARD.

THANK YOU.

WOULD ANYONE ELSE OUT THERE LIKE TO SPEAK THIS EVENING? .

HI, MY NAME IS CHARLES STEWART.

I'M A, UH, UH, WARREN COUNTY RESIDENT, AN ATTORNEY AND THE PARENT OF TWO, UH, WARREN COUNTY, UH, STUDENTS.

I, I HATE PUBLIC SPEAKING.

I WASN'T PLANNING ON GETTING UP HERE TONIGHT, BUT I READ A REALLY GOOD LETTER IN THE, UH, RICHMOND TIMES DISPATCH, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY RELEVANT.

AND IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'LL, I'LL, UH, GO AHEAD AND READ IT HERE.

IT'S ENTITLED, UH, STATE POLICY FAILS TO PROTECT, UH, TRANS STUDENTS ON JULY 18TH, THE RICHMOND TIMES DISPATCH REPORTED ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION K THROUGH 12 MODEL OF TRANSGENDER POLICY.

WHILE THE NEW POLICY PROMOTES PARENTS' RIGHTS, IT ELIMINATES IMPORTANT PROTECTIONS FOR TRANSGENDER STUDENTS WHO MAY NOT FEEL SUPPORTED AND SAFE AT HOME.

TRANSGENDER STUDENTS NOW NEED TO SECURE PARENTAL APPROVAL PRIOR TO TAKING, USING NAMES AND PRONOUNS THAT ARE INCONSISTENT WITH THEIR OFFICIAL SCHOOL RECORD.

AND WHEN SPEAKING WITH A SCHOOL COUNSELOR ABOUT TRANS, UH, ABOUT GENDER RELATED CONCERNS, OOPS, JUMPING, JUMPING AROUND.

HOLD ON A SECOND.

UH, THESE REQUIREMENTS MAY RESULT IN THE FORCED OUTING OF TRANSGENDER STUDENTS TO THEIR PARENTS, WHO, ACCORDING TO A 2021 STUDY, ARE LIKELY TO HAVE A NEGATIVE REACTION.

UH, THIS MAY ALSO LEAD TO STUDENTS VOLUNTARY OR FORCED HOMELESSNESS.

THE 2021 TREVOR PROJECT,

[00:25:02]

ADDITIONALLY, A C D C REPORT BASED ON 2019 DATA FOUND THAT TRANSGENDER YOUTH ARE NEARLY 10 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS THAN THEIR CISGENDER PEERS, WHICH CAN LEAD TO SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ATTEMPTED SUICIDES FOR THIS VULNERABLE POPULATION.

WHAT CAN BE DONE? THE 2021 TREVOR PROJECT ALSO REPORTED THAT TRANSGENDER STUDENTS WHO HAVE GENDER AFFIRMING SPACE SUCH AS SCHOOL ARE LESS LIKELY TO ATTEMPT SUICIDE, ALLOWING THESE STUDENTS TO CHOOSE UNFI UNOFFICIAL NAMES THEY WISH TO BE CALLED, WHETHER OR NOT THEY RECEIVE PARENTAL PERMISSION.

IS GENDER AFFIRMING UNRESTRICTED ACCESS TO SCHOOL COUNSELORS CAN ALSO HELP TRANSGENDER STUDENTS.

A 2023 STUDY ON THE JOURNAL OF NURSING SCHOLARSHIP REPORTED THAT THESE STUDENTS CAN THRIVE EVEN WHEN REJECTED BY THEIR PARENTS.

IF THEY HAVE A SUPPORTIVE ADULT IN THEIR LIVES.

TRANSGENDER STUDENTS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS WITH SCHOOL COUNSELORS AND DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO INCLUDE PARENTS IN THEIR COUNSELING CONVERSATIONS.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MR. STEWART.

WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK THIS EVENING? OKAY, THANK YOU ALL.

NEXT, WE'RE GONNA MOVE TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.

[ 3. Consent Agenda]

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

A AYE.

AYE.

OPPOSED? NO.

GREAT.

THANK YOU.

MOVING ON TO REPORTS.

DR.

BALLINGER.

[4.A. Superintendent]

UM, I WOULD FIRST LIKE TO WELCOME EVERYONE HERE TONIGHT.

UM, I'D ALSO LIKE TO WELCOME ALL THOSE THAT ARE JOINING US ONLINE.

UM, AND SO TODAY I'M HERE TO JUST TALK ABOUT A COUPLE THINGS.

UH, AS WE ALL KNOW, SCHOOL STARTS NEXT WEDNESDAY.

UM, BUT THERE ARE A FEW OTHER THINGS THAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

SO I DID WANNA GIVE AN UPDATE THAT NEW TEACHERS, THEY REPORTED ON JULY 26TH AND THEY'VE BEEN ATTENDING NEW TEACHER ORIENTATION.

UM, IT, YOU KNOW, WE, WE HOPE, AND, AND, AND HEATHER AND THE TEAM HAS DONE A GREAT JOB IN, IN WELCOMING OUR NEW TEACHERS THAT COMING IN.

AND SO IT'S BEEN GREAT TO SEE THAT, UM, ALL STAFF REPORTED TODAY.

SO TODAY WAS THE FIRST DAY, UH, FOR ALL STAFF.

I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT OUT TO A FEW, FEW SCHOOLS TO VISIT, UM, STAFF MEMBERS.

UM, I MADE STOPS AT E WILSON MORRISON, LESLIE FOX, KAISER, WARREN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL, HILDE J BARBER, AND WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL.

I PLAN ON MAKING STOPS TOMORROW AT AS ROADS NON-TRADITIONAL BLUE RIDGE TECHNICAL CENTER, SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL, SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL, AND RESTY JEFFRIES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

UH, JUST WANTED TO ALSO GIVE A REMINDER THAT AS THE WEEK ENDS, UH, CONVOCATION IS AT SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL, FRIDAY, AUGUST THE FOURTH, UH, THAT STARTS AT EIGHT 30 IN THE MORNING.

UM, WE WILL HAVE A, UH, UH, SPEAKER THERE, UH, DR.

MARTIN.

SO LOOKING FORWARD TO, TO HAVING HIM THERE.

UH, AGAIN, I INVITE ALL BOARD MEMBERS TO, TO COME TO THE CONVOCATION IF YOU WOULD LIKE.

UM, YOU KNOW, NOW, RALPH, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, DR.

MARTIN IS REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO YOU BEING THERE.

SO JUST REMEMBER THAT MR. RINALDI.

UM, ALSO ON THAT DAY AFTER CONVOCATION, WE WILL, UH, TRANSITION OUT TO THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY GOLF CLUB, UH, FOR OUR TEACHER AND SUPPORT PERSON OF THE YEAR AWARDS AND LUNCHEON.

SO, UH, HOPE EVERYBODY COULD JOIN US FOR THAT AS WELL.

UH, ON SATURDAY, AUGUST THE FIFTH, UH, WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL HOLD OUR FIRST COMMUNITY DAY BACK TO SCHOOL KICKOFF.

THAT'S GONNA BE AT WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL.

BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 10 AND FOUR O'CLOCK, ALL SCHOOLS WILL BE INVOLVED.

UM, AND IN ATTENDANCE, WE WOULD LIKE TO INVITE ALL OF OUR FAMILIES, THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, UH, TO COME OUT AND JOIN US AS WE GET READY FOR THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL ON AUGUST THE NINTH.

AND I KNOW THAT TWO PEOPLE UP HERE WERE SCHEDULED FOR THE DUNK TANK.

I DIDN'T SEE NAMES OF ANY OF THE OTHER PEOPLE, BUT I DO KNOW THAT TWO ON THIS UP HERE ARE SCHEDULED FOR THE DUNK TANK.

UM, SO COME OUT AND JOIN US AND, AND HELP TO, TO KICK OFF THE, THE SCHOOL YEAR.

SO, , WHO'S THE OTHER ONE? .

SO, SO, YEAH, SO MYSELF AND DR.

PENCE .

UM, SO LOOKING FORWARD TO, TO GETTING OUT.

AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WE WILL, WE WILL HAVE OUR BOOTH THERE FOR, FOR CENTRAL OFFICE AND ALONG WITH ALL THE OTHER SCHOOLS AND JUST THERE TO VISIT WITH FAMILIES.

AND, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY WE CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF THEY HAVE ANY.

AND JUST ENJOY COMING BACK TOGETHER AS, AS A SCHOOL COMMUNITY.

UM, THEN FOLLOWING THAT ON MONDAY,

[00:30:01]

SO FOUR O'CLOCK TO TO SEVEN O'CLOCK ON MONDAY, AUGUST THE SEVENTH IS OPEN HOUSE.

UH, SCHOOLS WILL NOT OPEN THAT DAY UNTIL 12 O'CLOCK BECAUSE WE'RE EXTENDING OUR HOURS TILL SEVEN THAT EVENING.

SO SCHOOL DOORS WILL NOT OPEN UNTIL 12 O'CLOCK.

NOW, WE DO HAVE SOMETHING SPECIAL GOING ON AT L F K, UH, BECAUSE OF THE CONSTRUCTION AND BECAUSE OF LIMITED PARKING, UH, KINDERGARTEN THROUGH FOURTH GRADE, UH, MS. VA HAS MODIFIED TIMES AND COMMUNICATED WITH PARENTS TO EASE SOME CONGESTION BECAUSE WE'RE LIMITED WITH PARKING SPACES.

UH, SO THEY ARE ACTUALLY AT L F K GOING TO BE OPEN FROM TWO TO SEVEN FOR KINDERGARTEN THROUGH FOURTH GRADE.

THAT WAY IF PARENTS CAN GET THERE EARLIER AND, AND BEAT THE RUSH OR, OR THE EVENING, THAT WILL LESSEN THE FLOW OF, OF, OF TRAFFIC AND EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON OUT THERE AT L F K.

NOW FOR THE, UM, FIFTH GRADE AND PRE-KINDERGARTEN, SO FIFTH GRADE EVERYBODY KNOWS IS AT WARREN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL.

THAT WILL STAY AT FROM FOUR TO SEVEN, AND THEN THE PRE-K IS AT BLUE RIDGE TECH.

THAT WILL ALSO STAY FOUR TO SEVEN, BUT WE ARE MODIFYING AT L F K ITSELF DUE TO THE LIMITED PARKING SPACE AND, AND ALL THE OTHER STUFF THAT WE HAVE GOING ON.

UM, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO REMIND OUR COMMUNITY THAT STARTING WEDNESDAY, AUGUST THE NINTH, 2023, THE SCHOOL ZONES WILL BE ACTIVE.

UH, STUDENTS MAY BE WALKING TO SCHOOL, BUSES WILL BE ON THE ROAD.

SAFETY IS A PRIORITY.

AND PLEASE BE COGNIZANT OF CHILDREN EITHER WALKING TO SCHOOL OR WAITING AT A BUS STOP.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO REMIND THE COMMUNITY THAT WHEN THE STOPLIGHTS ARE FLASHING AND THE STOP SIGN IS OUT, PLEASE KNOW THAT STATE LAW REQUIRES DRIVERS TO STOP.

UM, YOU KNOW, AT THIS POINT IN TIME, WE WILL HAVE STUDENTS LOADING OR UNLOADING THE BUS.

THEY COULD BE CROSSING THE STREETS.

SO FOR SAFETY REASONS, YOU KNOW, HELP US YOUR AWARE, YOUR AWARENESS WILL HELP TO ENSURE STUDENTS GET HOME, UH, GET HOME SAFELY AND GET TO SCHOOL SAFELY.

SO, JUST, I KNOW THAT WE'VE HAD A SUMMER BREAK HERE.

YOU DON'T SEE THE YELLOW BUSES ON THE ROAD, YOU DON'T SEE THE STUDENTS ON THE ROAD.

AND NEXT WEDNESDAY, THEY'RE ALL GOING TO HIT.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT DOES TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF ADJUSTMENTS TO GET THROUGH AS, AS WE'RE JUST HUMAN, THAT HAPPENS.

SO, AND FINALLY, I'M EXCITED FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR TO BEGIN.

EACH YEAR BRINGS ITS OWN SUCCESSES AND FAILURES AS WE PREPARE TO WELCOME STUDENTS FOR THE UPCOMING 2324 SCHOOL YEAR.

I WANT TO EXPRESS MY HEARTFELT GRATITUDE TO EACH AND EVERY PARENT THAT IS CHOOSING WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

DESPITE THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE FACED OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, OUR COMMITMENT REMAINS THE SAME.

I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH STUDENTS, PARENTS, AND OUR DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS AS WE CONTINUE TO MEET THE EVOLVING NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

ENGAGING FAMILIES AND THEIR CHILD'S EDUCATION IS CRUCIAL TO FOSTERING A SUCCESSFUL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.

WE WELCOME, WE, WE WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD UPON LAST YEAR, AND I ENCOURAGE PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO REACH OUT TO OUR SCHOOLS TO SEE HOW YOU CAN HELP US IN OUR MISSION OF LEARNING THROUGH INSPIRATION, ENGAGEMENT, EMPOWERMENT AND INNOVATION.

EVERY STUDENT EVERY DAY.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

THANK YOU, DR.

FUNK.

UM,

[ 4.B. School Board]

I FEEL LIKE IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, BUT I DO JUST WANNA, UM, REITERATE EVERYTHING THAT DR.

BALLINGER SAID ABOUT THE START OF THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR.

I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE NEW LOGO, AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK IN ORGANIZING THAT.

UM, MS. PETTY FOR, UM, FOR DOING THAT.

AND THEN TO OUR STUDENTS AND, AND OUR STAFF THAT WORKED ON THAT.

UM, IT'S, YOU KNOW, AMAZING TALENT.

I CAN'T DRAW A STICK FIGURE.

SO SEEING ALL THAT AND AND SEEING, UM, THEIR EXPRESSIONS WHEN THEY'RE LOOKING AT THEIR ARTWORK IS, IS A PRETTY NEAT THING.

SO I KNOW THOSE ARE A LOT OF, LOT OF PROUD PARENTS, UH, THIS EVENING.

UM, BUT JUST, YOU KNOW, UM, WANNA REITERATE AS WELL THAT OUR SCHOOLS ARE OPEN.

THEY'RE GONNA BE HAVING A LOT OF DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES.

I'M EXCITED ABOUT, UM, SATURDAY, I'M CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR THE REPORT OUT ON THE DUNKING BOOTH.

UM, SO, UM, YOU KNOW, FAMILIES COME ON OUT.

UM, BE INVOLVED IN YOUR CHILD'S EDUCATION.

DON'T BE AFRAID TO, TO REACH OUT TO THE CLASSROOM TEACHERS, TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE, UM, ADMINISTRATION.

YOU KNOW, THEY ARE THERE TO HELP SUPPORT YOU.

SO, UM, LOOKING FORWARD TO A GREAT YEAR.

THANK YOU, MS. LOWE.

YEAH, I'M KIND OF THE SAME THING.

WE'RE JUST GETTING READY FOR THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR IN OUR HOUSE.

WE'VE DONE ALL OF OUR BACK TO SCHOOL SHOPPING.

SO BETWEEN MY KIDS, WE HAVE WELL OVER 100 WRITING IMPLEMENTS IN OUR HOUSE RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE READY TO GO WITH OUR NOTEBOOKS, OUR FOLDERS, UM, SO IT'S EXCITING.

UM, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THOSE EVENTS COMING UP THIS SATURDAY AS WELL AS ON MONDAY.

UM, ONE OF MY KIDS HAS AN EVENT ON TUESDAY AS WELL, AND THEN THE START OF CLASS IS ON WEDNESDAY, SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

THANK YOU, MS.

[00:35:01]

UM, SO SINCE WE LAST MET, I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THE V S B A LEGISLATIVE POSITIONS PROPOSAL MEETING AND PRESENT THE POSITIONS, UM, THAT WARREN COUNTY HAD VOTED IN, UH, TO BE PRESENTED TO THE DELEGATES AND ALL BUT ONE WERE REJECTED.

UM, AND THE ONE THAT THEY DID ALLOW TO GO THROUGH TO A VOTE ARE THE, UM, IS THE SAME ONE THAT I ARGUED LAST YEAR, WHICH WAS ALSO SHOT DOWN, UM, FOR SCHOOL SAFETY.

AND, UM, SO I, I'M HOPING WE CAN ADD THAT TO OUR NEXT WORK SESSION SO THAT WE CAN DISCUSS HOW TO PROCEED FORWARD FROM THERE.

UM, I ATTENDED AN S B M A POLICY TRAINING CLASS, WHICH WAS AIMED AT TEACHING SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS HOW TO WRITE OUR OWN POLICIES AND TIPS AND TRICKS FOR MAKING EFFECTIVE POLICY WRITING.

UM, AND THEN ALSO ATTENDED THE BUILDING COMMITTEE MEETING FOR THE, WE RECEIVED A PROGRESS UPDATE ON WHERE WE STAND WITH THE E WILSON MORRISON AUDITORIUM RENOVATION PROJECT.

IT'S, IT'S TRUCKING ALONG THROUGH THE, THE, YOU KNOW, THE A AND E, THE DESIGN PHASE AND, AND, AND WHATNOT.

SO IT IS BEING WORKED UPON BEHIND THE SCENES.

UM, WE ALSO GOT TO TOUR THE L F K RENOVATION, AND I AM SO THRILLED TO REPORT THAT THEY ARE AHEAD OF SCHEDULE AND WE'RE STILL UNDER BUDGET.

SO, UM, I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

AND THAT IS ALL I HAVE FOR THIS WEEK.

MR. AL.

YES.

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, IS THERE A FEE BEING CHARGED FOR THE DUNK TANK ? OTHERWISE, HOW MUCH MONEY DO I NEED TO BRING? IS, IS, IS THAT, WHAT'S THE DEAL WITH THAT? JUST COME BETWEEN 10 30, 11 AND JUST THROW ALL YOUR MONEY AT IT THAT YOU WANT TO.

MR. RINALDO? I'LL TAKE IT ALL.

OKAY.

I WAS JUST, I WAS, I WAS JUST CURIOUS AS TO, UH, HOW I COULD WORK THAT.

UM, I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO THANK, UH, SIRIUS MINOR, THE, UH, STUDENTS THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL'S LOGO.

UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN, WHEN, WHENEVER YOU GET THAT TYPE OF PARTICIPATION, PEOPLE, UM, TAKE OWNERSHIP, AND THAT'S WHAT THESE STUDENTS DID.

THEY STEPPED UP AND THEY TOOK OWNERSHIP, AND THEY WERE SUCCESSFUL, ALL OF THEM.

AND THAT GOES, ONE OF THE REASONS THEY WERE SUCCESSFUL IS BECAUSE OF THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION STEPPING IN AND KIND OF GUIDING THE PROCESS.

SO I THOUGHT YOUR REPORT TONIGHT WAS JUST FANTASTIC.

SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THOSE STUDENTS.

I'M SORRY THEY LEFT, BUT THEY, OR MAYBE THEY'LL WATCH THE VIDEO.

UM, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK, UH, THE, THE, THE STUDENT THAT SPOKE TONIGHT ON THE TRANSGENDER SITUATION AND, AND THE PARENTS THAT, UH, SPOKE ABOUT THAT.

BE ASSURED, I WILL ALWAYS TRY AND DO THE BEST I CAN FOR ALL STUDENTS IN WARREN COUNTY.

IT'S, IT'S JUST NOT A SPECIFIC GROUP, WHETHER A KID'S, A BALL PLAYER, AND, UM, THEY NEED ASSISTANCE IN THAT OR A TRANSGENDER KID.

UM, SO I WILL TRY MY BEST TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE KIDS ARE PROTECTED WITHIN WHATEVER, WHATEVER WE CAN DO.

UM, THE OTHER, UH, THING IS I VISITED WARREN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND, UM, IT SEEMS LIKE THE NEW PRINCIPAL IS, UH, SQUARED AWAY IN THERE AND, UM, IS, UM, BEEN WELL RECEIVED.

SO THAT'S A GOOD THING.

UM, THE BUILDING COMMITTEE MET ON THE L F K PROJECT AS MS. SALE'S REPORTED.

AND, UH, UM, E WILSON, UH, UM, UH, FUTURE GYM IN THE CAFETERIA.

UH, THAT'LL BE AN INTERESTING PROJECT.

AND HOPEFULLY, UH, WE GET SOMETHING STARTED IN THERE IN THE SPRING OF THE YEAR.

MOST OF THE CONSTRUCTION WE ARE HOPING TO DO DURING THE SUMMER WHEN THE KIDS AREN'T THERE.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO PLAN AHEAD FOR THAT.

THAT'S GOING VERY WELL.

I AM TOTALLY IMPRESSED WITH THE SCHEDULE AND THE CONSTRUCTION AT, UH, L F K, THE, UM, BETWEEN THE CONSTRUCTION CREW AND THE ADMINISTRATION OF THAT BUILDING.

WE ARE AHEAD OF THE GAME, AND THAT DEFINITELY, UM, IS VERY IMPORTANT.

UM, IT'S BETTER THAN NOT BEING AHEAD OF THE GAME.

I'LL PUT IT TO YOU THAT WAY.

SO DON'T SEE ANY PROBLEMS THERE.

THE CAFETERIA WILL BE OPEN.

SO WE'RE NOT, UH, THAT WAS MY BIGGEST FEAR AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PROJECT.

UH, BUT THAT'S, THAT'S BEEN TAKEN CARE OF.

AND, UM, THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO REPORT MADAM

[00:40:01]

THANK YOU.

UM, I DON'T THINK I HAVE MUCH TO ADD TO ANY OF THAT.

UM, JUST A HUGE WELCOME BACK TO OUR RETURNING TEACHERS AND OUR NEW TEACHERS AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THE START OF A GREAT SCHOOL YEAR NEXT WEDNESDAY.

UM, I THINK THE, THE ONLY OTHER THING TO ADD, I KNOW MS. LOWE MENTIONED SHOPPING FOR SCHOOL SUPPLIES.

I'VE SEEN SO MANY TEACHERS POSTING THEIR CLASSROOM WISHLISTS ONLINE.

I'VE SEEN LOTS OF COMMUNITY SUPPLY DRIVES HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

I'VE SEEN THE FLIP SIDE OF THAT, OF PARENTS ASKING FOR HELP.

SO I GUESS I WOULD JUST SAY THERE ARE SUPPLIES AVAILABLE AND THERE ARE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE CERTAINLY DONATING AND TRYING TO GET OUR KIDS EVERYTHING THAT THEY NEED COMING BACK TO SCHOOL.

SO HOPEFULLY EVERYONE IS ABLE TO CONNECT IN SOME WAY AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY HAS A SUCCESSFUL FIRST START, UM, OF THE YEAR HERE.

OKAY.

AND MY DUNK TANK IS 1230 TO ONE RALPH .

PARDON ME, 1230 TO ONE FOR ME IN THE DUNK TANK.

.

I'LL BE THERE ALL MORNING, BELIEVE ME.

ALL RIGHT, .

ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE ACTION AGENDA.

UM, FIRST UP WE HAVE THE

[5.A. Updates to IGA-R Instructional Priority Objectives (Grading Policy) - Ms. Bragg]

I, GOOD EVENING.

SO AS WE INITIALLY PRESENTED AT THE LAST WORK SESSION, SOME CHANGES TO OUR INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES AND GRADING POLICY.

PRIMARILY THE LARGEST CHANGES COME TO AT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, REMOVING THE WORK HABITS AND SOCIAL GROWTH GRADES FROM THE REPORT CARD.

AND THEN, UM, AT MIDDLE SCHOOL, IT'S CLARIFYING THE COMPUTATION OF A YEAR LONG COURSE GRADE AND ALSO, UH, MIDDLE SCHOOL RETENTION SPECIFICALLY.

I'VE ALSO, AS I'VE WORKED THROUGH THE POLICY THAT WAS ATTACHED TO, UH, THE AGENDA IN DRAFT, I WANTED TO JUST KIND OF WALK THROUGH SOME OF THE CHANGES.

THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS THAT ARE IN ADDITION TO WHAT WE DISCUSSED AT THE WORK SESSION, BUT NOTHING MAJOR.

THOSE ARE STILL THE MAJOR CHANGES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

UM, I DID ON THIS NEW DRAFT REWORK, THE TITLE OF THE POLICY INSTRUCTIONAL PRIORITY OBJECTIVES, JUST SOUNDS KIND OF LIKE A MOUTHFUL.

I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY IF WE ARE ALLOWED TO CHANGE THE TITLES OF OUR POLICIES, BUT I THROW IT OUT THERE AS AN OPTION.

AND ALSO WHEN, WHEN PARENTS AND EVEN STAFF MEMBERS ARE SEARCHING FOR THE GRADING POLICY, IT DOESN'T SAY THAT IN THE TITLE.

AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT IT'S ABOUT IS THE GRADING POLICY.

SO THAT'S, UH, THE SUGGESTION THERE.

UM, MOVING DOWN THROUGH THE PAGES ON PAGE ONE, THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR PLACEMENT STATEMENT HAS JUST BEEN MOVED TO THE SECTION ON PROMOTION AND RETENTION.

SO SOME OF THIS IS ORGANIZATIONAL, UM, SUGGESTIONS, LITTLE THINGS HERE AND THERE.

UM, ON THE MIDDLE SCHOOL GRADING POLICY ON PAGE THREE, TAKING OUT EXPLAINED OR UNEXPLAINED ABSENCE AND REPLACING WITH EXCUSED OR UNEXCUSED TO COME INTO ALIGNMENT WITH THE NEW, UM, ATTENDANCE POLICY THAT THE BOARD THAT THE BOARD, UH, ADOPTED.

AND THEN IF YOU MOVE OVER TO THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GRADING POLICY, THAT'S WHERE YOU SEE THAT MOST SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE WITH REMOVING THE SOCIAL GROWTH AND WORK HABITS GRADE AND THE, UM, O SS P N LETTER GRADES THAT CORRESPONDED TO THAT.

AND THEN JUST MOVING ON THROUGH THE POLICY UNDER, UH, MIDDLE SCHOOL, YOU'LL SEE THAT SWITCH TO COMPUTING, UH, THE FINAL GRADE FOR SEMESTER LONG COURSES.

AND THEN THE SECTION THAT'S BEEN ADDED COMPUTING, THE FINAL GRADE FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL YEAR LONG COURSES.

SO AT MIDDLE SCHOOL WE HAVE COURSES THAT ARE RUNNING ALL YEAR LONG, AND THEN WE HAVE SOME COURSES THAT ARE RUNNING FOR SEMESTER.

SO WE NEED BOTH, BOTH SECTIONS.

UM, ONE ADDITIONAL AD AFTER TALKING WITH MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, UM, WAS TO CHANGE THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF POINTS THAT A STUDENT MUST EARN IN A YEAR LONG CLASS FROM TWO TO THREE.

AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS, IS IF WE KEEP IT AT TWO, A STUDENT COULD EARN TWO POINTS IN THE FIRST SEMESTER AND THEN NOT DO ANYTHING THE SECOND SEMESTER AND STILL TECHNICALLY BE ABLE TO PASS THE COURSE.

SO IF WE ADD THAT ADDITIONAL THIRD POINT FOR A YEAR LONG COURSE, IT HOLDS THE STUDENT ACCOUNTABLE FOR SOME PRODUCTIVITY THROUGHOUT THAT SECOND SEMESTER OF, OF THE COURSE.

THAT'S WHY THAT CHANGES THERE.

AND THAT, UM, AND I JUST CAUGHT THE FACT THAT MY NUMBERS, UM, THEY REPEATED US SIX, SEVEN, AND EIGHT.

I'LL FIX THOSE TO ONE, TWO, AND THREE .

UM, AND JUST A LITTLE BIT OF CLEANING UP IN THOSE, UH, CHARTS THAT

[00:45:01]

UM, YOU'LL NOTICE UNDER WEIGHTED GRADES FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL, UM, WE ARE SUGGESTING THAT WE STRIKE THAT LAUREL RIDGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE DUAL ENROLLED COURSES THAT MET THE PASSPORT OR THE UNIFORM CERTIFICATE, A GENERAL STUDIES REQUIREMENT STRIKING THE PASSPORT AND THE U C G S REQUIREMENT.

THE REASON FOR THAT SUGGESTION IS BECAUSE OUR STUDENTS, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT MAY BE TAKING LIKE A C T E COURSE FOR DUAL ENROLLED CREDIT, THOSE COURSES ARE NOT IN THE PASSPORT OR THE U C G S.

SO FOR THE PURPOSES OF, YOU KNOW, HAVING, UM, RECOGNIZING THOSE COURSES AS COLLEGE LEVEL DUAL ENROLLED COURSES AND ALLOWING THOSE COURSES TO RECEIVE WEIGHTED CREDIT AS WELL.

AND THEN LITTLE BIT ON, UM, MIDDLE SCHOOL RETENTION.

WE STARTED THIS PAST SCHOOL YEAR WHEN THE GRADING POLICY WAS UPDATED THAT STUDENTS MUST PASS ALL FOUR CORE CLASSES AT MIDDLE SCHOOL IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO MOVE TO THE NEXT GRADE LEVEL.

AND AFTER HAVING IMPLEMENTED THAT POLICY THIS SCHOOL YEAR, THAT LANGUAGE JUST CLEANS UP A FEW THINGS AND MAKES A LITTLE BIT MORE CLEAR SOME OF THE WAYS THAT STUDENTS CAN RECOVER THAT CREDIT, UM, THROUGH SUMMER SCHOOL OR RETAKING THE COURSE.

IT IS JUST, UH, PUT IN THERE TO SUPPORT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE RAN INTO THIS YEAR WITH HAVING IMPLEMENTED IT THAT WAY FOR THE FIRST TIME.

UM, SO THAT'S THE CHANGES.

YOU'LL ALSO NOTICE THAT A POSTED TO THE ITEM WAS A SECOND OPTION, WHICH IS THAT LEVELED OPTION THAT YOU ALL REQUESTED FROM THE WORK SESSION WHERE IT'S A SECTION ON ELEMENTARY AND IT RUNS THE GRADING POLICY, RETENTION MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND THEN HIGH SCHOOL.

SO, UM, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER 'EM.

DID YOU END UP LIKING THE ONE WHERE IT FLOWS ALL WHERE IT'S LEVEL, THE SECOND ONE MM-HMM.

, OR, NO, THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF REPETITION IN IT, BUT I PREFER IT BECAUSE IF I HAVE A STUDENT THAT'S AN ELEMENTARY STUDENT, I'M NOT TRYING TO SORT THROUGH ALL THE PIECES TO FIND THE FULL EXPLANATION OF WHAT ELEMENTARY GRADING, RETENTION PROMOTION LOOKS LIKE.

AND SO IN BETWEEN MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL, YOU START TO GET A LITTLE BIT OF REPETITION WITH SOME OF THE GRADING.

BUT I DO THINK THAT FOR FAMILIES AND FOR, UM, YOU KNOW, THOSE OF, THOSE OF US THAT ARE REFERRING TO THE POLICY, LAYING IT OUT BY THE GRADE LEVEL, UM, DOES SUPPORT IT.

UH, LIKE I SAY, YOU JUST DON'T HAVE TO READ THROUGH THE WHOLE THING LOOKING FOR DIFFERENT PIECES AND THAT SORT OF THING.

SO IT'S JUST ORGANIZATIONAL.

BUT YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK I PREFERRED IT THAT WAY.

AND ALL OF THESE SAME CHANGES ARE IN THAT DRAFT COPY OF THAT LEVELED .

I PREFERRED, I PREFERRED THE LEVELED AS WELL AS A PARENT, IT'S JUST SO MUCH EASIER TO JUST FOLLOW ALONG.

YEAH.

AND WE WANT PARENTS TO BE ABLE TO FOLLOW ALONG SO THEY CAN WATCH THOSE GRADES.

YEAH.

AND I SAY THERE'S JUST SO MUCH TO SORT THROUGH WHEN IT WAS, YOU KNOW, IN, IN THE PREVIOUS VERSION.

YEAH.

YOU CAN MISS STUFF EASILY.

MM-HMM.

.

AND I DO LIKE THE IDEA OF THE, OF THE NAME CHANGE OF THE POLICY AS WELL, BECAUSE I KNOW WHEN I USE BOARD DOCS, I'M TRYING TO LOOK SOMETHING UP.

YOU DO, YOU'VE GOTTA FIND THE MAGIC WORDS IN ORDER TO, TO FIND IT ON, ON BOARD DOCS.

AND WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING FOR GRADING, THAT'S THE FIRST WORD, YOU'RE GONNA TYPE IN THE SEARCH FEATURE AND IT DOESN'T PULL WHEN IT'S CALLED INSTRUCTIONAL PRIORITY OBJECTIVES.

RIGHT, RIGHT.

, I'VE JUST BOOKMARKED IT SO I CAN FIND IT.

.

SO WE HAVE THIS JUST AS LISTED AS THE SECOND READING TONIGHT, BUT IS THIS, ARE HANDBOOKS GOING OUT TO PARENTS WITHOUT A GRADING POLICY IN IT? OR IS THAT NOT TYPICALLY? SO I THINK IT JUST REFERENCES IT, BUT, YOU KNOW, SCHOOL HASN'T STARTED.