[00:00:05]
FOREIGN COUNTY DOES HEREBY CERTIFY THAT TO THE BEST OF
[2.A. Call to Order - Pledge of Allegiance and Moment of Silence - School Board Chair]
EACH MEMBER'S KNOWLEDGE.NUMBER 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 CONSIDERED BY THE SCHOOL BOARD.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND, MR. GRANT, COULD YOU DO ROLL CALL PLEASE? CERTAINLY.
WELCOME EVERYONE THIS EVENING IF YOU'LL PLEASE RISE AND JOIN ME FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, FOLLOWED BY A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
UNITED STATES, AMERICA AND THE REPUBLIC AGAINST ONE NATION UNDER GOD IN LIBERTY.
AND IS THERE A MOTION TO ACCEPT OR
[2.B. Accept or Modify the Agenda - School Board]
MODIFY THE AGENDA? YES.I MOVE THAT THE AGENDA BE MODIFIED TO REMOVE ITEM C FROM THE MEETING OPENING SECTION.
IS THERE A SECOND? THAT PRESENTER IS NOT HERE.
THAT INDIVIDUAL IS NOT HERE TO PRESENT ON THAT ITEM.
IS THERE A SECOND ON THAT? UH, YES, I SECOND THAT.
THAT INDIVIDUAL'S NOT HERE TO PRESENT THE ITEM.
AND THAT WAS THE MARKER? CORRECT.
[2.D. Attendance Awards Presentation]
THE ATTENDANCE AWARDS PRESENTATION.SCHOOL ATTENDANCE IS ESSENTIAL TO ACADEMIC SUCCESS.
RESEARCH SHOWS THAT MISSING AS LITTLE AS TWO DAYS EVERY MONTH OR 10% OF THE SCHOOL YEAR CAN HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON STUDENTS.
AT THE, AT EACH OF OUR MEETINGS LAST YEAR WE HAD, UM, OUR AWARDS PROVIDED, OR, OR WE PRESENTED OUR WARDS TO THE SCHOOLS THAT WON ELEMENTARY THAT HAD THE HIGHEST ATTENDANCE.
UM, THEN WE ALSO HAD A SECONDARY THAT HAD THE HIGHEST ATTENDANCE, AND THEN WE HAD A MOST IMPROVED AFTER THE FIRST MONTH.
SO SINCE WE STARTED SCHOOL, AUGUST THE NINTH, HERE WE ARE.
SO THE ATTENDANCE AWARDS FOR THIS MONTH, UH, WE WILL ONLY BE RECOGNIZING TWO ATTENDANCE AWARDS.
THAT WILL BE THE ELEMENTARY ATTENDANCE AWARD AND THE SECONDARY ATTENDANCE AWARD.
AND FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST, THE ELEMENTARY ATTENDANCE AWARD GOES TO, UM, AS ROADS.
THEY HAD 97.56% ATTENDANCE AS ROSE.
IT'S NICE TO SEE EVERYONE AGAIN AFTER THAT SUMMER BREAK.
UM, WE WANT TO THANK OUR FAMILIES AND STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO ATTENDANCE AND BEING IN SCHOOL EVERY DAY.
UM, IT'S GREAT TO SEE ALL THESE SMILING FACES BACK WITH US.
WE DO HAVE A FEW GUESTS WITH US THIS EVENING, AND MRS. O WADE IS OUR SCHOOL COUNSELOR.
SHE IS KIND OF LEADING UP ALL OF THE ATTENDANCE INITIATIVES AND WITH HER GREAT EFFORTS LAST YEAR, WE DID COME IN AROUND 12% FOR OUR CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM RATE.
UM, SO THE OFFICIAL NUMBERS AREN'T QUITE OUT YET, SO WE THINK WE DID MAKE IT UNDER 15.
UM, SO I WANTED TO THANK HER AND SHE'S GONNA SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE'VE DONE SO FAR THIS YEAR.
LIKE SHE SAID, I'M MRS. O WADE, AND EVEN THOUGH WE'RE A SMALL SCHOOL, IT'S STILL IMPORTANT TO GET THE KIDS COMING EVERY DAY.
SO I HAVE ON THE ANNOUNCEMENTS, UM, THE CLASSES WHO HAVE THE HIGHEST ATTENDANCE, AND WE ALSO HAVE WHEEL OF ATTENDANCE AND THE, THE CLASSES THAT HAVE THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE GET
[00:05:01]
SPUN AND THEN THE WINNERS GET TO COME DOWN TO MY OFFICE AND GET A, A PRIZE.THEY CAN PICK FROM SCHOOL SUPPLIES OR LITTLE TRINKETS OR KEY CHAINS, AND THEY GET REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
SO, UM, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.
AND WHAT, WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO COME TO SCHOOL GUYS? SO YOU COULD BE SMART FOR LEARNING.
UM, SO IF YOU WANNA, UM, BE AN ARCHEOLOGIST OR A SCIENTIST WHEN YOU GROW UP, YOU HAVE TO COME EVERY DAY.
AND FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST, THE SECONDARY ATTENDANCE AWARD WILL GO TO WARREN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE DR.
UM, I JUST WANNA THANK ALL OF OUR FAMILIES AND STUDENTS WHO ARE COMING TO SCHOOL EVERY DAY, AND CERTAINLY OUR TEACHERS, UH, WHO ARE WORKING HARD TO MAKE IT A, A WELCOMING PLACE FOR KIDS WHERE THEY FEEL SUPPORTED AND COMING TO SCHOOL EVERY DAY.
WE'RE HOPING TO HOLD ONTO OUR BANNER FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR,
AND SO SINCE WARREN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL WON IT LAST YEAR, I DID NOT GET OUT THERE TO GET IT TODAY.
SO I WILL GO OUT THERE AND TAKE A PICTURE WITH, UH, DR.
JOHNSTON TOMORROW, IF THAT WOULD BE OKAY WITH YOU.
[2.E. School Reports]
WE HAVE SCHOOL REPORTS THIS EVENING, SO THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR.SO THIS YEAR, EACH MONTH, UM, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SPOTLIGHTS FROM EACH SCHOOL.
UM, I'VE ALSO INVITED PRINCIPALS THAT THEY CAN COME AND SPEAK WHEN IT'S NOT THEIR TIME, BUT, UH, IF THEY WANT TO HIGHLIGHT SOMETHING THAT IS GOING ON AT THEIR SCHOOL, UM, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO, TO COME TO TONIGHT.
SO THE ONE THAT WAS SCHEDULED FOR TONIGHT IS E WILSON MORRISON, AND I WOULD LIKE TO ASK MS. JENNIFER KNOX, PRINCIPAL TO PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM.
ALRIGHT, GOOD EVENING, SUPERINTENDENT BALLINGER, CHAIRWOMAN PENCE AND BOARD MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS JENNIFER KNOX AND I'M THE PRINCIPAL OF E WILSON MORRISON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
I AM HERE TONIGHT TO HIGHLIGHT OUR SCHOOL AND THE GREAT THINGS OUR STUDENTS ARE ACCOMPLISHING.
AT E WILSON MORRISON, WE STRIVE TO CREATE A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT WHERE ALL STUDENTS WANT TO COME TO SCHOOL, THEY WANT TO LEARN, AND THEY CONSIDER THOSE AROUND THEM WHEN MAKING PERSONAL CHOICES.
FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, MICHAEL WILLIAMS, OUR STUDENT SUPPORT COACH, HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN STARTING AND GROWING OUR EARLY ACT CLUB.
EARLY ACT IS A COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM.
OUR STUDENTS IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH FIFTH GRADE ARE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN AND IS SPONSORED BY THE ROTARY CLUB OF WARREN COUNTY.
IN THE EARLY ACT CLUB, STUDENTS FOCUS ON HOW THEY CAN HELP THEIR SCHOOL COMMUNITY THROUGH SERVICE PROJECTS.
SOME PROJECTS THEY HAVE WORKED ON IN THE PAST INCLUDE RECYCLING, COLLECTING CANNED GOODS FOR THE SALVATION ARMY, UPKEEP OF OUR BLESSING BOX, AND SCHOOL GROUNDS BEAUTIFICATION PROJECTS.
MR. WILLIAMS ALSO OFFERS OCCASIONAL WEEKEND OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN ALONG WITH THE ROTARY CLUB.
SOME OF THOSE PROJECTS INCLUDE THE SHENANDOAH RIVER CLEANUP, UH, RINGING THE BELL AT CHRISTMAS FOR THE SALVATION ARMY AND OTHER COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS.
THE OVERALL MISSION OF EARLY ACT IS TO IMPRESS UPON OUR YOUTH A MENTALITY OF SERVICE ABOVE SELF.
MR. WILLIAMS TEACHES THE STUDENTS THE ROTARY FOUR-WAY TEST OF THE THINGS WE THINK, SAY AND DO.
IS IT THE TRUTH? IS IT FAIR TO ALL CONCERNED? WILL IT BUILD GOODWILL AND BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? WILL IT BE BENEFICIAL FOR ALL CONCERNED? IT'S OKAY.
[00:10:01]
THINGS AND I CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR WHAT SHE HAS TO SAY.MR. WILLIAMS IS AN INVALUABLE MEMBER OF OUR EVILS AND MORRISON STAFF.
HE IS THE SELF-PROCLAIMED CAPTAIN CHAOS AND HE WEARS THE CAPE TO PROVE IT.
THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, I'M GONNA GO OFF SCRIPT HERE.
THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, HE CAME IN WITH HIS CAPE AND I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BEST THING EVER.
THE KIDS WERE SO EXCITED TO SEE HIM.
SO HE'S AN INSTRUMENTAL PART OF OUR SCHOOL.
THE EARLY ACT CLUB HAS GROWN FROM 40 STUDENTS IN YEAR ONE TO 70 STUDENTS IN YEAR TWO.
AND NOW YEAR THREE, WE ARE STARTING WITH 125 STUDENTS.
OUR STUDENTS ARE LEARNING THE MENTALITY OF SERVICE ABOVE SELF AND MR. WILLIAMS HAS DONE A WONDERFUL JOB OF MODELING THAT MENTALITY FOR ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
TONIGHT, MR. WILLIAMS, OUR VERY OWN CAPTAIN CHAOS, IS HERE WITH SOME OF OUR STUDENTS TO TELL YOU IN THEIR OWN WORDS WHY EARLY ACT IS IMPORTANT TO THEM.
HI, MY NAME IS CAITLYN DARA, BUT MY FRIENDS CALL ME KATIE.
I AM HERE TO TELL YOU HOW MUCH I ENJOY BEING AN EARLY ACT.
I ENJOY EARLY ACT BECAUSE WE ARE VERY SUPPORTIVE TO OTHER PEOPLE AT ALL COSTS.
WE ARE NEVER MEAN OR RUDE TO OTHER PEOPLE BECAUSE YOU ALWAYS TREAT OTHERS HOW YOU WANNA BE TREATED.
EARLY ACT IS AN AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM WHERE YOU ARE ALWAYS HAVING FUN WHILE HELPING AND SUPPORTING OTHERS.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE RAISED OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR VETERANS WHO COULDN'T AFFORD TO GET PRESENTS OR EVEN A TREE FOR CHRISTMAS.
WE MAKE BANNERS ALL THE TIME, WAIT TILL YOU SEE OUR CAFETERIA.
WE ARE ALWAYS MAKING SURE WE ARE KIND BECAUSE WE HAVE A QUOTE THAT WE SAY AT THE END OF EVERY MEETING, THE FOUR WAY TEST OF THE THINGS WE THINK, SAY OR DO FIRST, IS IT THE TRUTH? SECOND, IS IT FAIR TO ALL CONCERNED? THIRD, WILL BILL GOOD WILL, AND BETTER FRIENDSHIPS.
FOURTH WILL BE BENEFICIAL TO ALL CONCERNED IF ONE OF THOSE QUESTIONS ARE NO, THAT'S WRONG.
I AM A VERY ACTIVE GIRL, SO THIS AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM IS MY JAM.
I LOVE IT WHEN I MAKE SOMEONE SMILE.
IT MAKES ME FEEL BETTER ABOUT MYSELF.
I THINK THIS PROGRAM IS GREAT IN GENERAL.
WE EVEN GET YUMMY HEALTHY SNACKS.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING MR. WILLIAMS DO THIS.
MY NAME IS MASON PETTY AND I LIKE EARLY ACT WHEN WE RAISE MONEY FOR THE VETERANS.
HE WON'T COME UP, BUT I JUST WANNA SAY HE'S PHENOMENAL AND WE'RE JUST SO VERY BLESSED TO HAVE HIM AT YOU.
WELCOME AND MADAM CHAIR ALSO HERE TONIGHT.
UM, I THINK HE'S GOING TO TAKE THIS AS A PERSONAL CHALLENGE.
SO, UH, MR. KINE FROM WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME A FEW MINUTES TO SPEAK ABOUT THE POSITIVE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING AT WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL.
I HAVE HERE WITH ME TONIGHT OUR ATHLETIC DIRECTOR COACH BILL HALL, TO TALK ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY BUILDING BLOCK PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM.
BUT BEFORE I TURN OVER THE MICROPHONE TO COACH HALL, I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL HAS ONCE AGAIN BEEN RECOGNIZED BY US NEWS AND WORLD REPORT AS A US NEWS BEST HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE 2023 2024 SCHOOL YEAR.
IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THIS RECOGNITION, A SCHOOL MUST RANK HIGHER THAN 60% AMONG NEARLY 25,000 HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTRY.
WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL PLACED 6,356 NATIONALLY.
THAT'S OUT OF 25,000 SCHOOLS AND 138TH IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA.
THIS IS THE THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR THAT WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL HAS EARNED THIS RECOGNITION.
I WANT TO THANK THE STAFF AND STUDENTS OF WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION TO ACADEMICS AND OUR PARENTS FOR ALL THEIR SUPPORT.
THANK YOU ALL AS WELL FOR PLAYING SUCH A BIG PART IN OUR SUCCESS.
I WOULD NOW LIKE TO INVITE COACH HALL TO SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY BUILDING BLOCK PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM.
COACH HALL HAS DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB SINCE BECOMING OUR ATHLETIC DIRECTOR AND I AM HONORED TO WORK BESIDE HIM ON A DAILY BASIS.
WELL, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
BALLINGER AND MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD.
THANK YOU GUYS FOR, UM, WHENEVER WE SAID A CHANCE TO SHARE POSITIVE NEWS.
SO, UM, THE WARREN COUNTY BUILDING BLOCK COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP, WHICH DR.
PENCE AND WARREN COUNTY VETERINARY MEDICINE PARTICIPATED IN THAT INITIATIVE, GOES TOWARDS PAYING FOR ALL
[00:15:01]
OUR KIDS TO GET INTO SCHOOL EVENTS FOR FREE.SO THAT TIES INTO THE INITIATIVE FOR ATTENDANCE, THEIR EXPERIENCE IN SCHOOL, AND, UH, JUST SOME EARLY RETURNS ON THAT.
UH, VOLLEYBALL GAME LAST WEEK, WE HAD OVER A HUNDRED STUDENTS PARTICIPATE, SO THEY SIGN IN WHEN THEY COME.
AND THEN AT THE FOOTBALL GAME ON FRIDAY NIGHT, WE HAD OVER 225 STUDENTS PARTICIPATE THERE.
SO AGAIN, THIS, WE'RE EARLY IN THIS PROCESS.
WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY, UM, I JUST HAD A COMMUNITY.
I JUST HAD ANOTHER PARTNER WHEN I LEFT TODAY.
SO WE'RE AT 27 BUILDING BLOCK COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND IT TAKES THEIR EFFORT TO PAY FOR OUR KIDS TO COME INTO SCHOOL.
SO WE APPRECIATE OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, THERE IS SOMETHING UP, THINK UP ON THE SCREEN RIGHT NOW.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO PARTICIPATE, FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO ME.
BUT IT TAKES ALL OF US IN THIS COMMUNITY ALLOW OUR KIDS TO BE FULLY INVESTED IN SCHOOL.
THEIR INVESTMENT IN SCHOOL ALLOWS THEM TO BE A GREATER EXPERIENCE BOTH ATHLETICALLY AND ACADEMICALLY.
SO THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
WE HAVE TO HEAD TO THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY INDUCTION CEREMONY, WHICH STARTED AT SIX 30.
MY DAUGHTER'S BEING INDUCTED, SO I NEED TO GET HERE.
AND I DO NOT KNOW IF WE HAVE ANY OTHER ADMINISTRATORS FROM ANY OTHER SCHOOLS.
UM, I THINK WE'RE GOOD THERE, DR.
OKAY, BEFORE WE START COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION, I WANTED GIVE THE OPPORTUNITY FIRST THANK OUR STUDENTS FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT, BUT GIVE THE OPPORTUNITY IF YOU GUYS WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE, UM, AT THIS TIME.
[2.F. Community Participation]
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 THE 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 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 OR THE CLERK OF THE BOARD.
THE SPEAKER SHALL ADDRESS THE SCHOOL BOARD CHAIR, COMBINE 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 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 WARREN COUNTY RESIDENT, PARENT OF WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENT, OR AN EMPLOYEE OF THE SCHOOL DIVISION.
AND LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES.
FIRST UP IS JENNIFER MULLIGAN.
I, MY NAME IS JENNIFER MULLIGAN.
I AM A RESIDENT OF WARREN COUNTY AND I'M A PARENT.
I'D LIKE TO REVISIT A TOPIC I BROUGHT UP EARLIER THIS SUMMER.
SINCE THEN, YOU'VE TAKEN THE COMMENDABLE STEPS TO PURCHASING CAMERAS AND CONDUCTING SURVEYS AMONG PARENTS AND STAFF.
AFTER A THOROUGH REVIEW OF THE SURVEY RESULTS, DISCUSSION WITH PARENTS AND EDUCATORS AND AN IN-DEPTH EXAMINATION OF RELEVANT NEWS ARTICLES, I AM FIRMLY CONVINCED THAT THE TIME IS NOW FOR THE INSTALLATION OF CAMERAS IN ALL AREAS SHARED BY STUDENTS AND SCHOOL PERSONNEL.
I WANT TO ADDRESS THE VALID CONCERNS RAISED BY SOME OF THE STAFF REGARDING PRIVACY.
THIS BEING STRAIGHTFORWARD, WE SHOULD CONSIDER WHAT LEVEL OF PERSONAL PRIVACY CAN REASONABLY BE EXPECTED WITHIN A PUBLIC INSTITUTION.
MATTERS SUCH AS PERSONAL PHONE CALLS AND SIMILAR ACTIVITIES SHOULD OCCUR DURING PERSONAL TIME, NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF TAXPAYERS.
ACTIVITIES LIKE PUMPING SHOULD TAKE PLACE IN AREAS INACCESSIBLE TO STUDENTS.
WE MUST RECOGNIZE THAT THE WORKPLACE PRIMARILY SERVES A VENUE FOR PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES WHERE PERSONAL PRIVACY MUST TAKE A SEAT BACK.
ADDITIONALLY, THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT HOW SURVEILLANCE MIGHT BE AFFECTED OR MIGHT AFFECT THE NATURAL FLOW OF TEACHING.
IT IS ESSENTIAL TO EMPHASIZE THAT TEACHERS, TEACHER TEACHING METHODS SHOULD REMAIN CONSISTENT WHETHER OR NOT THERE ARE CAMERAS PRESENT.
WE'VE ALREADY EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR SITUATION DURING COVID WHEN TEACHERS AND STUDENTS WERE BEING RECORDED.
SURVEILLANCE IS A PART OF OUR DAILY LIVES, WHETHER WE'RE AT BANKS, GROCERY STORES, GAS STATIONS, OR TRAFFIC LIGHTS.
MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS HAVE EMBRACED MULTIPLE OUTDOOR CAMERAS AND EVEN OUR SCHOOL BUSES ARE EQUIPPED WITH THEM.
SURVEILLANCE IS AN UNDENIABLE PART OF OUR MODERN EXISTENCE.
[00:20:01]
PREPARED A PACKET FOR ALL BOARD MEMBERS AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO REVIEW IT.PAYING PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE HIGHLIGHTED SECTIONS IN THE PETITION I PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED TO THE BOARD.
THESE SECTION CONTAINS STORIES BY PARENTS WHO FEEL THEIR CHILD HAVE BEEN MISTREATED BY STAFF.
I'VE INCLUDED TWO STORIES FROM LOCAL FACEBOOK GROUPS REGARDING THE SAME ISSUES.
ADDITIONALLY, I'VE INCLUDED TWO NEWS REPORTS HIGHLIGHTING INCIDENTS OF PAST ABUSE WITHIN OUR COUNTY INVOLVING EDUCATORS.
AND IF ANY DOUBT REMAINS ABOUT THE NECESSITY OF THESE CAMERAS, I FIRMLY BELIEVE IT WOULD BE DE DETRIMENTAL TO OUR CHILDREN.
INSTALLING THESE CAMERAS ISN'T JUST ABOUT SURVEILLANCE.
IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVISE, DEFINE, AND DEFINE OUR POLICIES, TO ENSURE THE SAFETY AND WELFARE OF OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF.
THESE CAMERAS WILL SERVE AS TOOLS TO PROMOTE ACCOUNTABILITY, ADDRESSING BOTH POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE BEHA BEHAVIORS.
FURTHERMORE, THEY WILL ENABLE THE BOARD TO ACCESS STAFF AND ADMINISTRATIVE CONDUCT DURING SPECIFIC SITUATIONS.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE CONCERNS RAISED BY SOME STAFF MEMBERS ACTUALLY REINFORCE MY BELIEF IN THE URGENCY OF THIS INITIATIVE.
WHILE THEY MAY NOT REALIZE IT NOW, APPROVING THE PROGRAM COULD ULTIMATELY PROTECT THE CAREERS OF VERY DEDICATED EDUCATORS AND STAFF MEMBERS.
I URGE YOU TO CONSIDER THE COMPELLING REASONS BEHIND THIS PROPOSAL.
DO NOT TAKE A STEP BACK, KEEP MOVING FORWARD AND EMBRACE THESE CAMERAS AS A TOOL THAT WILL NOT ONLY PROTECT OUR CHILDREN, BUT ALSO UPHOLD THE EXCELLENCE OF OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM.
CAN I COME UP AND GIVE YOU GUYS THESE? MM-HMM.
I'M A PARENT AND I LIVE IN WARREN COUNTY.
UM, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO REVISIT THAT SAME ISSUE.
UH, IT GOES BACK TO THE COMMUNICATION GUIDES.
I MEAN, WE HAD A HUGE COMMUNICATION FAILURE LAST TIME.
YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS HAD A UPROAR.
AND WE HAVE DRUG OVERDOSES HAPPENING IN THE SCHOOLS.
WE HAVE GUN THREATS HAPPENING IN THE SCHOOLS AND YOU GUYS ARE STILL FAILING.
I, I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IT TAKES FOR YOU GUYS TO LEARN.
UM, I THINK SINCE THE LAST MEETING, THE ONLY PERSON UP THERE THAT HAS REALLY, TRULY CARED IS MELANIE.
AND HONESTLY, I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH.
'CAUSE WITHOUT YOU, I MEAN THE REST OF THE, THE REST OF YOU GUYS HAVE DONE NOTHING.
YOU COULDN'T EVEN MS. ANDREW, YOU COULDN'T EVEN RESPOND TO MY EMAIL, A GROUP EMAIL THAT EVERYBODY WAS IN AND YOU DIDN'T EVEN RESPOND.
SO WHAT'S THE POINT IN YOU BEING UP THERE ON THAT BOARD? ARE YOU TRYING TO GET RECOGNITION FOR SOMETHING OR ARE YOU, WHAT ARE YOU, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
I, I JUST, I THINK THAT YOU GUYS GOT ELECTED FOR A REASON.
I TRULY BELIEVE THAT SOMEONE SAW GOOD IN WHAT YOU GUYS WERE CAMPAIGNING FOR, BUT YOU NEED TO HOLD UP TO THAT.
THESE ARE OUR KIDS, RIGHT? YOU GUYS, MOST OF YOU HAVE KIDS.
PUT YOURSELF IN OUR SHOES AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS THE BEST ROUTE TO PROTECT NOT ONLY THE KIDS, BUT THE TEACHERS AS WELL.
THE CAMERAS ARE A GREAT IDEA, BUT POLICIES CAN BE PUT INTO PLACE TO PROTECT TEACHERS AS WELL, RIGHT? IT'S NOT JUST ALL ABOUT, IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT THE KIDS.
TEACHERS ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT TO US.
BUT AS FAR AS I'M TRYING TO, AS FAR AS YOU GUYS GO, I THINK YOU'VE COMPLETELY FAILED ONCE AGAIN.
YOU KNOW, AND THIS WAS SHORT COUPLE MONTHS AGO THAT THIS ALL HAPPENED.
AND NONE OF YOU GUYS HAVE AN ANSWER.
MELANIE AGAIN, IS THE ONLY ONE.
SO I HOPE, I HOPE AND PRAY THAT YOU GUYS CAN GET YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOUR BEHIND AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
OTHERWISE, WE'D BE IN THE SAME SITUATION WE WERE IN JUST DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT REASONS.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF SECONDARY EDUCATION AND THE TREASURER FOR THE WARREN COUNTY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.
I'M ALSO A MATH TEACHER AT WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL, A LOCAL RESIDENT AND A PARENT OF WARREN COUNTY STUDENTS.
I THINK I KIND OF HIT ALL THE CATEGORIES.
THE PREVIOUS W C E A PRESIDENT TRADITIONALLY SPOKE AT THE SCHOOL BOARD AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH SCHOOL YEAR BECAUSE OF VARIOUS CHAOS.
IN RECENT YEARS, I HAVE NOT KEPT UP THAT TRADITION.
THE FACT THAT I CAN DO SO NOW IS POSITIVE INDICATION OF WHERE WE CURRENTLY STAND.
DURING MY TIME AS A MEMBER AND EVENTUAL BOARD MEMBER OF THE W C E A, I HAVE HEARD ALL SORTS OF COMPLAINTS, CONCERNS, AND REQUESTS FROM MEMBERS.
SOMETIMES JUST HAVING THE TIME TO VENT FRUSTRATIONS IN A MEETING WOULD TAKE OVER TWO HOURS.
[00:25:01]
HAVE SEEN THAT PHENOMENON STEADILY DECREASE OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS TO THE POINT THAT RECENTLY I RARELY HEAR SUCH NEGATIVITY.THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT THERE ARE NOT INDIVIDUAL CASES OF SERIOUS AND VALID CONCERN, AND SOME ADJUSTMENTS MAY NEED TO BE MADE, BUT WHEN LOOKING AT THE ENTIRETY, IT IS INCREDIBLY POSITIVE.
MY PURPOSE HERE IS TO SAY THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR DEALING WITH ALL THE CHAOS.
THANK YOU FOR HEARING US AS PROFESSIONAL EDUCATORS AND VALUING OUR VIEWS AND CONCERNS.
THANK YOU FOR LOOKING AT THE BIG PICTURE AND NOT GIVING UP WHEN THINGS WENT SIDEWAYS.
TRUE STORY, I DID NOT CONSIDER THE BIG PICTURE MYSELF.
THIS YEAR, THE SUMMER STARTED NICE AND RAINY.
AND CONSIDERING ONLY THAT BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME, I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE THE PERFECT SUMMER TO PLANT GRASS.
WELL, AS THE DROUGHT PROVES IT WAS NOT THE PERFECT SUMMER TO PLANT GRASS, BUT I DID NOT GO TO AN EXTREME AND DECIDE TO CREATE A YARD OF ROCKS.
INSTEAD, I'VE WATERED WHAT I CAN AND WILL TAKE, TAKE THIS EXPERIENCE INTO NEXT YEAR AND ADJUST MY ACTIONS.
IN DOING SO, I'M SURE THAT BEFORE LONG MY SON WILL BE GETTING HALF MY PAYCHECK TO MOW THE STUFF.
EVEN THROUGH TIMES OF DISAGREEMENT AND ADVERSITY, YOU HAVE NOT GIVEN UP ON THE SEEDS THAT WERE PLANTED.
AND THE GRASS AT WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS GROWING.
YOU'VE HEARD EXAMPLES OF THAT TONIGHT.
YOU SEE THAT IN OUR ABILITY TO KEEP MORE OF OUR VALUED TEACHERS, YOU SEE THAT IN OUR ABILITY TO HIRE FOR MUCH NEEDED POSITIONS.
IN FACT, MY DEPARTMENT IS FULLY STAFFED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YEARS.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU SPEAKING JUST FOR MYSELF.
IT IS BECAUSE OF THE VALUED COLLABORATION OF THIS SCHOOL BOARD AND THE SUPERINTENDENT AND MY ADMINISTRATION THAT I'M BOTH HAPPY AND PROUD TO RETURN TO WARD COUNTY EVERY YEAR.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO DOING SO FOR MANY MORE.
SO ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
AND HERE'S TO CONTINUING THE TREND IN THE 20 23 24 SCHOOL YEAR.
MY NAME IS VIRGINIA CRAM AND I AM A PARENT.
I COME HERE BEFORE THE BOARD TODAY AS A FIRST TIME VISITOR.
I SIT HERE AND I LISTEN TO DISCUSSIONS OF POLICY AND UNDER AND OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES.
I ABIDE MY TIME TO SPEAK TO YOU ALL FACE TO FACE ABOUT A PRESSING MATTER WITHIN THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, SPECIFICALLY WITHIN SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
I AM A MOTHER OF THREE CHILDREN EACH AT A DIFFERENT SCHOOL, WARREN MIDDLE, SKYLINE MIDDLE, AND AS RHODES ELEMENTARY, EVERY DAY I SEND MY CHILDREN OFF TO BE EDUCATED, AND I EXPECT THAT MY CHILDREN ARE SAFE WITHIN THE WALLS OF THEIR SCHOOLS.
UNFORTUNATELY, MY CHILD, AIDEN, AGE 12, FOUND OUT THE HARD WAY THAT HE WAS NOT GOING TO BE PROTECTED.
ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 24TH, AIDEN CAME TO SCHOOL EXPECTING TO HAVE A NORMAL DAY TO BE WITH HIS FRIENDS, TO LISTEN TO HIS TEACHERS AND TO COMPLETE HIS SCHOOLWORK.
AIDEN WENT TO HIS GYM CLASS AND WAS BRUTALLY ASSAULTED BY ANOTHER STUDENT IN HIS GRADE.
I WAS CALLED BY THE SCHOOL AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED TO BE AT THE SCHOOL IN THE NEXT 10 MINUTES, OR THEY NEEDED TO CALL 9 1 1 BECAUSE MY SON WAS SO HURT, I PANICKED, AND THE WOMAN WHOM I WAS SPEAKING TO STILL HAD NOT PUT EYES ON HIM.
I PANICKED, PACKED UP MY YOUNGEST CHILD AND RUSHED TO THE SCHOOL AS FAST AS I COULD GET THERE.
I SPOKE ON THE PHONE IN THE MEANTIME AND ASKED TO BE TRANSFERRED BACK TO MR. JOHNSON, THE PRINCIPAL.
HE DID NOT CALL ME HIMSELF, AND HE COULD NOT RELAY TO ME THE CONDITION THAT MY CHILD WAS IN AT THIS POINT.
THE PRINCIPAL INFORMED ME THAT ANOTHER CHILD HAD SHOVED AIDEN TWICE.
AND WHEN AIDEN PUSHED BACK, AIDEN WAS PUNCHED.
THIS IS ALMOST ALL I CAN REMEMBER OF THIS CALL, AS I WAS GIVEN SUCH LITTLE INFORMATION AS TO WHAT I WAS GOING TO DO WITH MY OWN CHILD, OR IF HE WAS EVEN OKAY.
WHEN I ARRIVED TO THE SCHOOL AND BYPASSED THE PICKUP LINE, AS I WAS INSTRUCTED THE SCHOOL NURSE AND THE FRONT OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR RUSHED MY CHILD OUT TO MY CAR AND SAID THAT THEY WERE JUST ABLE TO STOP THE BLEEDING AND THAT SHE THOUGHT MY CHILD'S JAW WAS BROKEN.
MY SON WAS PUNCHED IN THE FACE WITH SUCH MALICE AND DISREGARD BY ANOTHER STUDENT AT THAT SCHOOL THAT HE WAS RUSHED TO EMERGENCY SURGERY TO FIX HIS BROKEN JAW.
HE LOST AT LEAST TWO ADULT TEETH, AND THE ORAL SURGEON IS DOING EVERYTHING HE CAN TO SAVE THE THIRD ADULT TOOTH.
AIDEN WILL BE ON A LIQUID DIET FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER MONTH, AND WE'RE ON WEEK TWO.
SINCE THE ASSAULT, HE HAS TRAUMATIZED, HIS FATHER AND I ARE TRAUMATIZED.
WHEN WE MET WITH THE PRINCIPAL AND SUPERINTENDENT ASSISTANT BUCK SMITH, WE WERE MET WITH BUREAUCRATIC ANSWERS THAT GAVE ABSOLUTELY NO REASSURANCE THAT IF MY CHILD STEPPED BACK INTO THE HALLWAYS
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OF SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL, THAT HE WOULD BE PROTECTED.WHEN WE BROUGHT UP THAT PERHAPS AIDEN WOULD NEED TO BE ON HOME BOUND, IT SEEMED THAT THERE WAS A SIGH OF RELIEF FROM THE SCHOOL REPRESENTATIVES BECAUSE IT MEANT THAT THERE WAS ONE LESS THING THEY WOULD HAVE TO WORRY, WORRY ABOUT.
AND PERHAPS THEY WERE EVEN GRATEFUL THAT IT MEANT THERE WAS ONE LESS VIGILANT PARENT THAT WOULD HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS OR LACK THEREOF.
THEY WERE WRONG BASED ON REPORTS FROM OTHER STUDENTS.
IT IS OUR BELIEF THAT THE CHILD WHO BROKE AIDEN'S JAW WAS ON SCHOOL GROUNDS THE VERY NEXT DAY, AUGUST 25TH.
IF THAT IS THE CASE, THEN THE SCHOOL HAS VIOLATED ITS OWN CODE OF CONDUCT, AND IT HAS VIOLATED THE TRUST OF EVERY PARENT IN THIS COMMUNITY, THAT THE SCHOOL IS A SAFE PLACE FOR THEIR CHILD.
WE HAVE BEEN INFORMED TO DIRECT ALL OF OUR QUESTIONS TO THE SCHOOL LEGAL COUNSEL, AND OUR ATTORNEY HAS BEEN CONTACTING THEM FOR TWO WEEKS, AND WE ARE STILL WAITING ON A RESPONSE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THE SCHOOL CANNOT GIVE OUT INFORMATION ABOUT THE OTHER CHILD, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THIS.
I HAVE SEEN THE VIDEO AND I WILL DESCRIBE IT TO YOU.
AIDEN WAS LINING UP WITH OTHER STUDENTS IN GYM CLASS TO GET READY TO PLAY MAT BALL.
THE OTHER CHILD WHO WAS MORE THAN A HEAD TALLER THAN MY SON, WHO RUNS ABOUT A BUCK 20, THE OTHER CHILD WHO IS MORE THAN A HEAD TALLER THAN AIDEN WAS IN FRONT OF HIM, TURNED AND SHOVED AIDEN BACKWARDS.
AIDEN DID NOTHING TO INSTIGATE IT.
HE THREW HIS HANDS UP AND AIDEN DID NOTHING TO RETALIATE.
MERE SECONDS LATER, THE CHILD SHOVED AIDEN A SECOND TIME.
AND AGAIN, MY CHILD ROSE ABOVE THE SITUATION AND DID NOTHING.
A FEW MORE SECONDS PASS, AND THE OTHER CHILD GRABS AIDEN BY THE SHIRT AND BEGAN WALKING HIM BACKWARDS.
WHEN AIDEN TRIED TO SHOVE THE OTHER CHILD'S HANDS OFF OF HIM, HE GETS PUNCHED WITH SUCH MALICE THAT HE IMMEDIATELY STARTED BLEEDING.
I WON'T LIE, AIDEN EVEN TRIED TO PROTECT HIMSELF AFTER THAT.
BUT HE WAS IN SUCH A STATE THAT HE COULD NOT DO SO.
THAT OTHER CHILD, HE DIDN'T EVEN MOVE.
WHEN AIDEN WENT TO GO PROTECT HIMSELF, HE DIDN'T FLINCH.
IT WAS AS IF HE STOOD THERE WAITING FOR AIDEN TO LAND A PUNCH BACK SO HE COULD CONTINUE TO BEAT MY CHILD WHO WAS ALREADY BLEEDING.
I FEEL THAT IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY AS A MEMBER OF THIS COMMUNITY, AS A PARENT AND A FIERCE PROTECTOR OF MY CHILDREN AND HIS SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF ALL OF THE OTHER CHILDREN AT THAT SCHOOL.
TO INFORM YOU THAT THIS WILL NOT STAND WITH ME.
THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED REPORTS THAT AIDEN WAS BEING BULLIED AT SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
AND DURING THAT OCCASION, WE ARE WERE INFORMED BY MR. JOHNSON THAT IT WOULD BE HANDLED.
BUT HERE WE ARE WITH A CHILD WHO STOOD, WHO TRIED TO REMOVE A CHILD'S HANDS FROM HIM, AND WHAT WAS HIS REWARD? MISSING TEETH, A BROKEN JAW SURGERY, A LIQUID DIET AND TRAUMA THAT HASN'T EVEN BEEN ABLE TO BE BEGUN TO BE PROCESSED YET.
MY FIRST QUESTION TO YOU IS, WERE YOU AWARE OF THIS BEFORE TODAY? MY NEXT QUESTION, IF YOU WERE, WHAT HAS BEEN DONE TO REMOVE THE STUDENT FROM THE SCHOOL? BECAUSE BASED ON EVEN THE 15 SECONDS OF VIDEO, I WAS ALLOWED TO SEE THAT CHILD HAD MAL IN HIS EYES AND WAS WAITING FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTACK MY SON AGAIN.
I ALSO ASK WHAT, IF ANYTHING, HAVE YOU OR SKYLINE MIDDLE OR ANYONE ELSE DONE TO ADDRESS THE SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS THAT WE PLACE IN YOUR CARE EVERY DAY? ALSO, IF THE SCHOOL NURSE THOUGHT THAT AIDEN'S JAW HAD BEEN BROKEN, WHY DIDN'T SKYLINE CALL 9 1 1? WHY DIDN'T THE PRINCIPAL CALL ME? WHY DID THEY HAVE AN ADMINISTRATOR CALL ME AND TELL ME TO GET IN THE CAR BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO CALL 9 1 1 IF I DON'T GET THERE.
BUT HER EYES HAD NOT BEEN PLACED ON MY BABY.
I DROVE IN THAT CAR, THREW MY YOUNGEST KID IN THE CAR, AND DROVE AS FAST AS I COULD TO THE SCHOOL WITH NOBODY TO TELL ME WHAT WAS GOING ON.
I WAS INFORMED THAT IF I HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET THERE IN 10 MINUTES, THEN THEY WOULD'VE CALLED 9 1 1 10 MINUTES FOR A 12 YEAR OLD AND A BROKEN JAW.
HAVE ANY OF YOU HAD YOUR JAW BROKEN? CAN ANY OF YOU EVEN BEGIN TO IMAGINE THAT PAIN? HOW ABOUT IF YOU WERE A CHILD WHO DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG TO BRING SUCH PAIN ON YOURSELF AND THE SCHOOL FAILED HIM AGAIN AND AGAIN? 9 1 1 POLICY IS A POLICY THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
THE POLICIES THAT ARE IN PLACE TO PROTECT THE SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.
THE POLICIES ABOUT PROTECTING STUDENTS WHO ARE INTENTIONALLY CAUSING HARMS TO OTHER STUDENTS FOR NO REASON NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
THE POLICIES REGARDING ANY POTENTIAL HEARINGS FOR STUDENTS' EXPULSION NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
ANY CHILD WHO IS A VICTIM OF A STUDENT AND WHOSE CHILDREN'S PARENTS SHOULD HAVE A RIGHT TO MAKE A STATEMENT TO ANY DECISION MAKERS REGARDING THE DISCIPLINARY DECISIONS FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE ACTING WITH MALICIOUS INTENT, IT IS THE ONLY WAY WE CAN TRULY PROTECT OUR STUDENTS IF THEIR VOICES AND THEIR PARENTS' VOICES ARE HEARD.
AND I WILL NOT REST UNTIL THEY ARE.
THIS IS NOT THE LAST TIME YOU WILL SEE ME AT THESE MEETINGS, AND THIS IS NOT THE LAST TIME YOU OR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S ATTORNEY WILL HEAR FROM MY ATTORNEY.
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EXPECTING ANSWERS TO OUR QUESTIONS AND WE'RE EXPECTING THEM LAST WEEK.MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE STUDENT HAS BEEN CRIMINALLY CHARGED.
BUT WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO PROTECT MY SON AND THE OTHER CHILDREN AT SKYLINE MIDDLE FROM THIS CHILD WHO HAS NO SELF-CONTROL AND APPARENTLY ENOUGH POWER TO BREAK A CHILD'S JAW? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE AND WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? THANK YOU.
SO FOR EVERYONE OUT THERE, I REALIZE THAT, UM, OBVIOUSLY WE WENT WAY OVER.
THAT WAS AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR DISCUSSION COMING UP THIS EVENING WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT DISCIPLINE DISCUSSIONS AND POLICIES.
SO I APPRECIATE YOU SHARING YOUR STORY THIS EVENING.
MR. GRANT, WHO'S THE NEXT? KELLY CLARK.
UM, I THOUGHT TODAY WOULD BE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT BULLYING THAT PERSIST IN SCHOOL, UH, WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL.
UM, AND MY PERSONAL EXAMPLE, SEVEN YEARS AGO, UH, MY SON, WHO HE JUST GRADUATED LAST YEAR, UH, SEVEN YEARS AGO, HE IS BULLIED SO MUCH AND I THINK IT WAS IN SEVENTH GRADE, NOT PHYSICALLY, BUT JUST BULLIED.
UH, WE HAD TO GO SO FAR AS TO GET A NO CONTACT CONTRACT, UH, WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THAT FAMILY AND THE PARENTS TO LET THAT CHILD KNOW IT WOULD BE CRIMINAL THE NEXT TIME THEY TALKED TO MY CHILD.
AND THAT SOLVED THE PROBLEM IS GREAT.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S STILL OFFERED HERE, BUT THAT'S CERTAINLY BE SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT.
UM, FAST FORWARD TO LAST YEAR.
UM, MY SON JUST STARTED MIDDLE SCHOOL.
HE WAS IN THE SIXTH GRADE THEN.
SO HE IS IN THE SEVENTH GRADE NOW.
UH, HE'S IN GT OFF THE CHART IN MATH.
UM, IN THE FIRST QUARTER HE WA EVERYBODY HAS A FEW ISSUES WITH PUSH.
UM, AND HE WAS REALLY OVERWHELMED WITH, WITH THE EXPERIENCE.
HE WAS WALKING IN THE HALLWAY, UM, IN BETWEEN CLASSES.
A CH A CHILD APPROACHED HIM, PUNCHED HIM THREE TIMES SQUARE IN THE FACE AND ONCE IN THE STOMACH IT WAS IN THE HALLWAY.
AND HE ACTUALLY DIDN'T FIGHT BACK BECAUSE HE THOUGHT HE'D GET IN TROUBLE.
UM, SO WE FOUND OUT ABOUT IT, AND I CAN'T REMEMBER THE SPECIFICS, BUT I DO REMEMBER IT WAS ON A TUESDAY.
THE KID WAS OFF FOR THREE DAYS AND WAS BACK IN SCHOOL MONDAY AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED.
UM, I EVEN ASKED, YOU KNOW, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE BECAUSE THERE'S A TROUBLE AT LUNCH.
YOU KNOW, THEY'RE SITTING TOGETHER.
AND SO NOW ALL OF MY SON'S FRIENDS IS GOING TO SIT WITH THIS KID'S FRIENDS.
HIS FRIENDS CHOOSING FRIENDS AND ALL BECAUSE THIS KID WAS JUST THREE DAYS IN.
HE PUNCHED HIM IN THE FACE THREE TIMES.
HOW WOULD YOU ALL FEEL?
THIS BULLYING PROBLEM PERSISTS.
THIS BULLYING MENTALITY I THINK IS A PROBLEM AND IT'S INFECTING THE COUNTY, UH, ALONG WITH BULLYING.
AND ALONG WITH LAST YEAR, UH, A SMALL GROUP OF KIDS HAD A WALKOUT WITH PERMISSION FROM EVERYONE THEY NEEDED TO WAS AT SKYLINE SENIOR, UH, SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL.
THERE WERE A BUNCH OF SENIORS, JUNIORS.
MY SON WAS WITH THEM, UH, STANDING IN SUPPORT WITH HIS FRIENDS.
UM, AGAIN, THEY HAD ALL THE PERMISSION.
I THINK THE SHERIFF WAS THERE, PRETTY PEACEFUL.
IT WAS ABOUT FIVE OR SIX OF 'EM.
UM, I THOUGHT IT WAS COOL THAT THEY WERE PRACTICING THEIR CIVIL THANK YOU MR. CLARK.
I'M LESLIE MATTHEWS AND I AM A PARENT AND I AM A GRANDPARENT.
AND HAD I KNOWN ABOUT MR. AND MRS. CRA'S ISSUE, I WOULD'VE
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ADDED THAT IN HERE.BUT I'M COMING TO TONIGHT TO TELL YOU.
I I HAVE TWO GRANDCHILDREN WHO ARE CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
I AM VERY INVOLVED IN THEIR LIVES.
I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE LACK OF DISCIPLINE OCCURRING IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.
I CARE DEEPLY FOR MY GRANDCHILDREN AS WELL AS FOR THEIR FRIENDS AND OTHER CLASSMATES.
I CAME HERE TO TELL YOU HOW VERY IMPORTANT IT IS THAT WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS BE OPERATED WITH A FIRM DISCIPLINE POLICY.
YOUNG PEOPLE THRIVE WHEN DISCIPLINE AND STRUCTURE ARE IN PLACE.
THIS BOARD SHOULD NOT BE TOLERATING MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS ENGAGING IN SEXUAL ACTIVITIES UNDER THE BLEACHERS, OVERDOSING IN THE BATHROOMS, USING PROFANE LANGUAGE DIRECTED AT THEIR TEACHERS AND COACHES, BULLYING OTHERS TO DESPAIR, CAUSING PARENTS TO REMOVE THEIR CHILDREN AND SEEK ALTERNATIVE EDUCATIONAL OPTIONS.
HIGH SCHOOLERS BEING ALLOWED TO WALK OUT OF THEIR CLASSES DURING INSTRUCTIONAL TIME TO PROTEST AGAINST GOVERNOR YOUNGIN'S POLICIES.
ALL THIS IS HAPPENING IN WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND IT'S HAPPENING BECAUSE DISCIPLINE IS NOT BEING CARRIED OUT APPROPRIATELY.
IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH A DRIVE WHERE THEY WILL TAKE AND EMBRACE THEIR EDUCATION SERIOUSLY, WHERE THEY UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EQUIPPED WITH AND OBTAIN MARKETABLE SKILLS TO MAKE A GOOD LIVING.
RAISE THE BAR ON THE STANDARDS OF DISCIPLINE AND IN CORE AND VOCATIONAL CLASSES GIVE OUR STUDENTS SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO.
SO THEY WANT TO BE IN THEIR CLASSROOMS, BUILD OUR STUDENTS, GIVE THEM HOPE AND THEIR FUTURES WHEN THEY GRADUATE.
SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL AND WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL.
IT IS UNJUST TO OUR CHILDREN AND TO THEIR FAMILIES TO PROVIDE A PUBLIC EDUCATION THAT IS GREATLY LACKING IN DISCIPLINE AND ACADEMIC STANDARDS.
IT IS UNJUST FOR THE STUDENTS WHO WANT TO LEARN TO HAVE THEIR EDUCATIONAL INSTRUCTION TIME STOLEN.
DUE TO THE LACK OF DISCIPLINE IN WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, IT IS UNJUST TO OUR TEACHERS WHO ARE WORKING HARD TO PROVIDE AN EDUCATION TO OUR CHILDREN TO BE TREATED WITH DISRESPECT DUE TO THE LACK OF DISCIPLINE IN WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
AND IT'S TOTALLY ABSURD THAT WHEN A TEACHER REPORTS SMOKING IN THE BATHROOMS, THEY ARE QUESTIONED, WHETHER IT'S POT OR VAPES WHO CARESS.
BOTH ARE ILLEGAL AND BOTH ARE HAPPENING ALL BECAUSE THE LACK OF DISCIPLINE IN WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
SO I ASK THIS BOARD, REVO, REEVALUATE YOUR DISCIPLINE POLICIES AND MAKE CERTAIN THAT YOU ENFORCE THEM.
BALLINGER, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
UH, I'VE LIVED IN WARREN COUNTY FOR 44 YEARS.
SO IN THE SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT, UM, I DON'T SEE IT ON THE AGENDA THAT'S PRINTED OUT BUT ONLINE, UH, I SAW THAT ON THE AGENDA WAS YOUR VOTE, UM, ON WHETHER OR NOT YOU CONTINUE MEMBERSHIP WITH V SS B A.
AND I WANT TO URGE YOU TO DO THAT.
UM, IT HAS BEEN SAID SORT OF NEGATIVELY IN THESE CHAMBERS THAT THE V SS B A IS A LOBBYING ORGANIZATION.
IT LOBBIES FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
UM, THE VAST, VAST MAJORITY OF VIRGINIA'S SCHOOLS, INCLUDING THEIR RURAL SCHOOLS, ARE MEMBERS OF THIS ORGANIZATION.
IT IS, THERE IS A GOOD REASON FOR THIS.
THEY PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES TO SCHOOL BOARDS, TRAINING, HELP WITH DEVELOPING POLICIES AND, UM, OTHER SERVICES.
IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE TO ME THAT YOU WOULD CUT TIES WITH THIS ORGANIZATION.
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TO CONTINUE AS MEMBERS OF THE V SS B A THANK YOU JOSHUA GREEN.I'M A PARENT OF A STUDENT, FIRST TIME STUDENT THIS YEAR.
SO HE IS BEEN IN YOUR SCHOOLS FOR ABOUT THREE WEEKS NOW.
UH, HE'S 14 YEARS OLD AND UH, YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS HAVE HAD A, A TOUGH YEAR SO FAR.
SO I HOPE YOU GUYS ARE REALIZING THAT AND GETTING YOURSELVES INTO GEAR BECAUSE, UH, I HAVEN'T EVEN HEARD ABOUT THINGS HAPPENING IN OTHER PLACES THAT ARE HAPPENING HERE IN THE FIRST THREE WEEKS.
ALRIGHT, SO MY CHILD WAS ONE OF THE ONES THAT WAS IN THE CLASSROOM WITH THIS, UH, SCHOOL SHOOTER SCARE THAT OCCURRED LAST WEEK.
SO A YOUNG STUDENT, HE HAS SOME ISSUES.
UM, HE'S OBVIOUSLY GOT SOME ANTISOCIAL KIND OF ISSUES AND BEHAVIOR AND HE GETS AN ARGUMENT WITH SOME OTHER KIDS AT ANOTHER TABLE AND THEN, UH, GOES AND PROCEEDS TO TELL THEM THAT HE'S GOT A GUN IN HIS BAG.
HE PICKS UP THE BAG AND APPROACHES THE GROUP.
ONE YOUNG GIRL DIVES BEHIND A CHAIR AND THE OTHER BOYS TRY TO ACT LIKE THEY'RE NOT SCARED.
THIS BOY THEN JUST SORT OF WALKS BY, GOES TO THE TRASH CAN NEXT TO HIM, AND THEN GOES BACK TO HIS SEAT.
LIKE HE'S, HE WAS TRYING TO INTIMIDATE THEM LIKE HE HAD A GUN IN HIS BAG AND HE WAS GONNA SHOOT THEM PRIOR TO GETTING UP AND DOING THAT.
HE TOLD THEM HE HAS A GUN IN HIS BAG AND HE'S GOING TO SHOOT THEM.
OKAY? SO NOBODY, NOBODY CALLED ME SCHOOL.
SCHOOL DIDN'T MENTION ANYTHING TO ME AT ALL.
IT JUST SO HAPPENED TO BE TALKING TO MY KID AND HE CASUALLY MENTIONS THE SITUATION.
THAT'S, THAT'S THE ONLY WAY I FOUND OUT.
SO I QUESTIONED THE KID WE HAD THERE.
THE SHERIFF WAS ALREADY INVOLVED.
THE SCHOOL WAS ALREADY WELL AWARE.
THE TEACHER WAS INVOLVED RIGHT AWAY AND HAD TO SEARCH THE KIDS' BACKPACK.
THERE WAS A NOTION OF A KILL LIST FOUND IN THE BACKPACK AIMED AT MY SON'S LITTLE GROUP THAT HE WAS SITTING WAS SITTING WITH.
HE DOESN'T REALLY KNOW THESE KIDS.
HE'S ONLY BEEN TO SCHOOL FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS.
HE JUST HAPPENED TO BE AT THAT SAME TABLE, UH, WITH THE TARGET GROUP.
SO HERE'S, HERE'S MY CONCERNS.
THE NEXT DAY, I STILL DIDN'T KNOW THERE WAS TWO KIDS INVOLVED WITH THIS.
ONE APPARENTLY WAS THE PRIMARY GUY.
AND THEN THERE WAS A SECONDARY KID, HIS FRIEND THAT WAS BACKING HIM UP.
ONE OF THE KIDS WAS ON SITE AT THE SCHOOL THE NEXT DAY.
I'VE HEARD THAT HE'S SINCE BEEN REMOVED.
UH, THE POLICE HAD COME IN AND TALKED TO 'EM AND VERIFIED THAT THIS WAS ALL CORRECT, THAT THE BOY ADMITTED THAT.
YES, YES, HE DID MAKE THESE STATEMENTS.
AND YES, HE HAD PLANNED ON FOLLOWING THROUGH ON IT.
NOBODY'S CONFIRMED THE KILL LIST YET, WHICH I'M TRYING TO FIND OUT IF MY SON IS ON.
SO TWO THINGS I WANNA HAVE ADDRESSED IS, THESE ARE OBVIOUS THINGS.
ALRIGHT, YOU GUYS, I'M SURE YOU'RE HAVING THE EXACT SAME THOUGHTS.
A IF THERE'S ANYTHING LIKE THIS THAT HAPPENS IN MY SON'S CLASS, SOMEBODY NEEDS TO TELL ME THAT BY THE END OF THE DAY I NEED TO GET A PHONE CALL.
SOMEBODY NEEDS TO EXPLAIN THAT TO ME AND MY WIFE IN A NICE WAY.
ALL RIGHT? SO WE CAN DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT OUR KID IS SAFE TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL THE NEXT DAY.
AND SECOND, ONCE IT'S VERIFIED, I BELIEVE IT'S IN THE POLICY THAT YOU MENTIONED HAVING A GUN OR GOING TO DO A SHOOTING OF A, YOU KNOW, THIS IS, THIS IS A MASS SHOOTER, RIGHT? THE MENTALITY LIKE IN EVERY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM, EXCEPT FOR HIM PERFORMING THE ACT, UH, THAT SHOULD BE EXPULSION, RIGHT? ANY, ANY KID THAT SAYS HE'S GONNA COME IN AND SHOOT OTHER CLASSMATES AND CREATE A KILL LIST, THAT'S IT.
THERE'S, THERE'S NO SECOND CHANCES FOR THAT, RIGHT? YOU'RE NOT GONNA HAVE A WEEK LATER HE COMES BACK IN.
THE SAME KID HAS RUMORED TO HAVE DONE THE SAME THING LAST YEAR.
SO I, I'M LOOKING AT YOU GUYS, RIGHT? YOU GUYS RUN THIS THING.
UH, WHO, WHO'S IN CHARGE IS THE SUPERINTENDENT? IS THAT YOU? ARE YOU IN CHARGE? THAT IS DR.
I'M ASKING YOU IF YOU'RE IN CHARGE.
THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING.
'CAUSE YOU SENT TO BE A LITTLE DISCONNECTED THIS WHOLE EVENT WHEN YOU'RE HEARING ABOUT ALL THESE OTHER THINGS.
DON'T SEEM TO BE VERY CONCERNED.
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PASSED, UH, STEVIE HUBBARD.I GOT MY, MY DAUGHTER FINALLY GRADUATED.
SO, BUT I DO WANNA SAY SOMETHING, UM, ON BEHALF OF THESE PARENTS, UM, THAT I FEEL YOUR PAIN.
I'M SO SORRY FOR WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR KIDS.
AND, UM, I ACTUALLY AGREE WITH THE VIDEO CAMERAS.
I THINK THAT IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO HELP NAVIGATE REALLY TOUGH SITUATIONS.
UM, AND I THINK IT ALSO PROTECTS TEACHERS TOO.
UM, CHILDREN LEARN TO GASLIGHT AT A REALLY YOUNG AGE THESE DAYS.
SO, UM, I KNOW MY DAUGHTER COULD REALLY DO IT.
SO
UM, AND I ALSO WANNA SAY THAT, UM, FOR MANY YEARS I CAME TO THE SCHOOL BOARD AND IT WAS DIFFERENT MEMBERS OVER THE YEARS.
AND MY DAUGHTER DEALT WITH A LOT OF RACIAL ISSUES.
SHE WAS TOLD SHE WOULD BE SHOT BECAUSE SHE WAS AN UPPITY N WORD.
AND I WAS ASKED TO HAVE COMPASSION FOR THE OTHER KID AFTER THAT HAPPENED.
BALLINGER CAME THAT WE ACTUALLY GOT A POLICY THAT, UM, WOULD HELP REMEDY THAT SITUATION.
SO I'M GRATEFUL TO YOU FOR THAT.
UM, AND I KNOW THAT YOU DO HAVE SOME, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HOLDING BACK THE SITUATION THERE, BUT IN MY CONVERSATIONS WITH DR.
BALLINGER, I THINK THAT GIVEN WHATEVER'S HOLDING HIM BACK, THAT HE WILL BE HAPPY TO ENFORCE A STRICT DISCIPLINE POLICY.
WE NEED ONE THAT'S FAIR AND EQUITABLE.
AND WHEN CHILDREN ARE GETTING THREATENED CONSTANTLY.
CAMERON HAD AN INCIDENT ONE TIME AT SCHOOL WHERE I HAD BEEN TO THE SCHOOL SIX TIMES IN TWO WEEKS BECAUSE A GIRL THAT WAS A SENIOR, SHE WAS A FRESHMAN, KEPT THREATENING HER.
I CALLED THE PARENTS 'CAUSE I KNOW EVERYBODY, AND I KNEW HER MOM.
I WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL WITH HER.
SO I WAS LIKE, WELL, I'M JUST GONNA CALL YOU.
AND SHE WAS LIKE, I CAN'T DO NOTHING WITH HER.
AND I SAID, MY GOD, I'M TIRED OF CAMERON COMING TO SCHOOL.
SHE'S NOT COMING TO SCHOOL TO HAVE THINGS THROWN AT HER.
THIS ISN'T LIKE A NEW PHENOMENON.
KIDS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BE MEAN TO EACH OTHER FOR A REALLY LONG TIME, BUT THEY DIDN'T WANNA SUSPEND THIS CHILD BECAUSE IT HADN'T GOTTEN PHYSICAL YET.
BUT SHE WAS THROWING FOOD AT MY DAUGHTER WHEN SHE PASSED THROUGH THE CAFETERIA.
SHE WAS CUSSING HER, BERATING HER.
I REMEMBER GIRLS DOING THAT TO ME TO A POINT WHERE I FELT LIKE SUICIDAL WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL.
AND, UM, THE REASON THE GIRL GOT IT, I MEAN, THEY WOULD THROW CONDOMS ON ME, PUT BLOODY PADS ON MY LOCKER.
SO I DIDN'T HAVE MUCH OF A HELP WHEN I NEEDED IT.
SO THE ONLY WAY THAT I REMEMBER ONE DAY I SAID, I'M GONNA GO HOME AND I'M JUST GONNA KILL MYSELF.
BUT THEN A LITTLE VOICE IN MY HEAD SAID, BEAT HER UP BEFORE YOU GO HOME AND DO.
RIGHT? SO, UM, THANK YOU MS. YOU KNOW WHEN THIS HAPPENED WITH CAMIE? UM, THANK YOU.
SORRY, I JUST WANNA FINISH THIS ONE THING.
WHEN THIS HAPPENED WITH CAMIE, I HAD TO INSTRUCT HER TO DO THE SAME THING FINALLY.
SO YOU DEFINITELY NEED TO HAVE A POLICY THAT INCLUDES VERBAL ABUSE AND PHYSICAL.
MARCELLA, I'M ACTUALLY NOT HERE TO TALK ABOUT TRANSGENDER STUFF, SO YOU GUYS ARE IN LUCK TONIGHT.
UM, I'M ACTUALLY, I'M SO SORRY FOR YOUR, FOR YOUR CHILD.
UM, I, MY CHILD ALSO WENT TO SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
MY CHILD ALSO WAS BULLIED AT SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL,
I ACTUALLY DIDN'T PUT MY YOUNGER SON IN WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS BECAUSE OF THAT.
UM, MY OLDEST GOES TO SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL.
UM, AND THE ONLY THING I'M MERGING YOU GUYS THIS CONTRACT, THE NO CONTACT CONTRACT DOESN'T WORK.
GRAYSON GOT KICKED IN THE KNEE LAST YEAR.
SO
AND THEIR ONLY RESPONSE WAS JUST A, OKAY, WE'RE GONNA DO A NO CONTACT.
YOU DON'T TALK AND YOU DON'T TALK.
SO THAT'S MY ONLY THING THAT I'M SAYING IS MAYBE SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT STRONGER.
UM, BUT I WILL SAY, UM, MS. SPERLING DID TALK
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TO ME, SO DON'T, PLEASE DON'T THINK SHE DIDN'T DO WHAT SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO.SHE CALLED ME AND SHE TALKED TO ME ABOUT IT, BUT I THINK SHE WAS SAYING HER HANDS WERE TIED.
THERE WASN'T A CAMERA
SO, UM, JUST THAT, JUST SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.
UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GUYS ARE DISCUSSING POLICIES AND STUFF, UM, BUT OUTSIDE OF THAT, THE SCHOOL YEAR HAS DONE BETTER.
UM, I THANK YOU ALL FOR AT LEAST WE'RE HONORING THE, UM, PIECES OF PAPER THAT THE KIDS ARE FALLING OUT.
MY KID HAS NOT BEEN DEAD NAMED BESIDES THE FIRST DAY, BUT IT'S THE FIRST DAY.
UM, SO I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO THAT TOO.
I'VE HAD A COUPLE DAUGHTERS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM HERE.
MY YOUNGEST IS STILL IN THE HIGH SCHOOL.
I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AND I APPRECIATE YOU ALL LISTENING.
I HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS WHO HAVE ATTENDED WARREN COUNTY SCHOOLS.
EACH CHILD HAS PRESENTED WITH ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN DEALT WITH TO THE BEST OF THE ABILITY OF THE DIFFERENT SCHOOLS TO ENSURE THEIR SUCCESS.
I AM HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ON MY YOUNGEST.
SHE HAS BEEN AT WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL.
THROUGHOUT THE LAST THREE YEARS, WE HAVE DEALT WITH THE ISSUE OF VAPES IN THE SCHOOL.
I HAVE BEEN IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH THE PRINCIPAL AND ADMINS REGARDING KEEPING HER IN CLASS VERSUS HANGING OUT, HIDING OUT IN THE BATHROOM.
UM, LAST YEAR WAS VERY TOUGH WITH VAPES.
EVERY WEEK THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR, I WAS FINDING AT LEAST TWO TO THREE OR SIX OR MORE A WEEK, ALL OF WHICH SHE ACQUIRED AT THE SCHOOL.
I HAVE SPOKEN FREQUENTLY WITH THE ADMINS AND THE PRINCIPAL ABOUT OTHER OPTIONS TO KEEP MY KID IN CLASS.
AFTER THREE YEARS, I WOULD'VE EXPECTED MORE TO BE DONE.
MORE DOES NEED TO BE DONE TO KEEP THE KIDS FROM GATHERING IN THE BATHROOMS AND VAPING.
THE DETECTORS AND OTHER LITTLE THINGS YOU HAVE ATTEMPTED TO DO ARE NOT ENOUGH.
IT IS MY SUGGESTION THAT WE NEED TO STOP ALLOWING THE STUDENTS TO GATHER IN THE BATHROOMS. THEY NEED TO BE OUT IN THE OPEN.
THEY NEED WHERE THE ADULTS CAN SEE WHAT THEY ARE UP TO.
THE NUMBER OF KIDS IN THE BATHROOM AT ONE TIME NEEDS TO BE REDUCED, AND TEACHERS OR AIDES NEED TO BE PRESENT BEFORE CLASSES IN THE MORNING, DURING CLASS CHANGES, CLASS CHANGES, AND AFTER CLASSES LET OUT.
MONITORING ALL THE BATHROOMS. EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE SOMEBODY STANDING THERE CHARGING THE CHILDREN FOR VAPES THAT ARE READILY AVAILABLE WHEN IT'S UP TO THE ADULTS AT THE SCHOOL.
TO PUT THINGS IN PLACE TO TRY AND KEEP THIS FROM HAPPENING IS WHAT'S NEEDED.
CHARGING THE CHILDREN, SENDING 'EM THROUGH THE SYSTEM, DOING ALL THAT STUFF.
AND IT'S UP TO US ADULTS TO DO IT.
WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE PROTECTING THEM AND WE ALL NEED TO STEP UP.
AND THOSE AT THE TOP NEED TO GIVE BETTER GUIDELINES TO OUR PRINCIPALS, TEACHERS AND THE ADMINS AS TO HOW TO BETTER HANDLE THIS SITUATION AND ACTUALLY NIP IT IN THE BUD.
THERE ARE OTHER SCHOOLS IN OTHER COUNTIES THAT ARE DOING MORE THINGS THAN WHAT THIS COUNTY'S DOING, AND WE NEED TO CHANGE IT UP.
UM, AND THEN FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, HE WAS ENROLLED IN WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
AND THE TRANSITION TO WHAT WOULD'VE BEEN SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL WAS LOOMING.
SO WE CONVENED AN I E P MEETING TO DETERMINE HIS BEST PLACEMENT.
UM, DURING THAT TIME, FOR THE FIRST TIME, I HEARD THE WORDS BULLYING FROM A SPECIAL ED TEACHER THAT APPARENTLY THIS HAD BEEN HAPPENING TO HIM OVER THE LAST YEAR OR SO, BUT I HAD NEVER BEEN TOLD ABOUT IT.
BUT AS WE WERE TRANSITIONING HIM OUT OF WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THEN THAT STARTED COMING OUT TO CONFIRM THIS DECISION THAT YES, IT WOULD PROBABLY BE GOOD FOR US TO MOVE HIM ELSEWHERE.
THE SCHOOL HE WOULD'VE GONE TO IS SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
AND NOW HEARING THESE STORIES, I'M UNDERSTANDING WHY SHE VERY UNDERSTANDABLY CARED ENOUGH ABOUT HIS SAFETY, THAT SHE WAS VERY RELIEVED AND VERY MUCH SUPPORTED OUR MOVING HIM OUT OF WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
UM, OF COURSE HE DIDN'T ENDURE WHAT, WHAT OTHER PARENTS HAVE TALKED ABOUT TONIGHT, AND THAT'S JUST ABSOLUTELY HORRIFYING TO HEAR THAT THAT, YOU KNOW, COULD HAVE BEEN SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED TO HIM AT THAT SCHOOL.
UM, CLEARLY THERE'S A HUGE DISCIPLINE AND PARENTAL NOTIFICATION PROBLEM HERE,
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AND OUR SCHOOL BOARD NEEDS TO DO BETTER.OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, WHATEVER YOU ALL ARE DOING TO HELP WITH IT, ESPECIALLY MELANIE ASIDE, OBVIOUSLY THERE'S SOME PRETTY HUGE ISSUES HERE.
ANY STUDENT WHO HAS HURT ANOTHER CHILD OR THREATENED A SHOOTING, BROUGHT DRUGS TO SCHOOL OR OTHERWISE BROKEN SCHOOL RULES REGARDING SAFETY SHOULD RECEIVE THE APPROPRIATE DISCIPLINE EVEN UP TO EXPULSION FOREVER.
PARENTAL NOTIFICATION NEEDS TO BE MAXIMIZED.
WE'RE GETTING, WE GET SIX NOTIFICATIONS IF YOU KNOW THIS, THE PICKUP TIME CHANGES, BUT WE'RE NOT HEARING, YOU KNOW, DURING THE SCHOOL LOCKDOWN WHEN THERE WAS A SHOOTER NEAR EE JEFFRIES.
A COUPLE YEAR KNOW, A YEAR OR TWO AGO, I WAS LEARNING MORE ON FACEBOOK AND FROM TEXT MESSAGES FROM PARENTS IN LINE OR MY, MY DAUGHTER WHO WAS IN LINE AT THE LIBRARY GETTING THE SCOOP THERE THAN I WAS FROM THE SCHOOLS.
AND I THINK THAT'S PROBLEMATIC.
UM, AND NOT TO PUT, UM, I MEAN THAT'S REALLY THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE, BUT I DON'T WANT TO NOT ADDRESS THE V S B A MEMBERSHIP.
I'M ASKING YOU AS THE BOARD TO VOTE NO TO THE MEMBERSHIP AND THE V S B A, WHICH IS ON THE DOCKET TONIGHT.
UM, I'M GRATEFUL TO MS. SELLS FOR HER REPORTS FROM THE, UM, V S B A WORKSHOP SHE ATTENDED, AS WELL AS HER RESEARCH ALONG THE WAY.
A FEW REASONS NOT TO RENEW THE V SS B A MEMBERSHIP IS THAT, AND THIS, YOU KNOW, REALLY PERTAINS TO SOME OF THESE ISSUES, BUT THE V S B A HAS SCARED SCHOOL BOARDS INTO SILENCE ON VERY IMPORTANT INCIDENTS, INCLUDING THAT BRUTAL RAPE IN ALEXANDRIA SCHOOL, UM, WHERE THE SUPERINTENDENT AND THE, THE, THE V S B A REALLY ENCOURAGED, YOU KNOW, KEEP IT ON THE DL V SS B A, WHICH IS PAID FOR FROM OUR TAX DOLLARS AS RESIDENTS.
WHETHER WE SEND OUR KIDS TO SCHOOL OR NOT, UM, IS, IS ALSO FUNDING LOBBY LOBBYING