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ACCORDING TO THE VOTES RECORDED BY THE CLERK, THE SCHOOL BOARD OF WARREN[2. A. Call to Order - Pledge of Allegiance and Moment of Silence - School Board Chair]
COUNTY DOES HEREBY CERTIFY THAT TO THE BEST OF 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 WERE CONVENED, WERE HEARD, DISCUSSED, OR CONSIDERED BY THE SCHOOL BOARD.
MR. VALENTINE, COULD YOU DO A ROLL CALL, PLEASE? MR. RINALDI? AYE.
WITH THAT WE'LL OPEN THIS EVENING.
IF YOU COULD PLEASE JOIN ME FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, FOLLOWED BY A MOMENT OF SILENCE PLEDGE ALL UNITED TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND REPUBLIC FOR OR NATION UNDER GOD AND INDIVIDUAL WITH LIBERTY OF JUSTICE FOR, IS THERE A MOTION TO ACCEPT OR MODIFY THE AGENDA THIS EVENING?
[2. B. Accept or Modify the Agenda - School Board]
I MOVE THAT THE AGENDA BE ACCEPTED AS PRESENTED.IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.
[2. C. Attendance Awards Presentation]
FIRST UP THIS EVENING, WE HAVE THE SEPTEMBER, 2023 ATTENDANCE AWARDS, DR.SO, AS WE ALL KNOW THAT ATTENDANCE IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT A LOT OF OUR SCHOOLS HAVE HAVE STRUGGLED WITH AND, AND MANY OF OUR SCHOOLS THAT IF IT WASN'T FOR ATTENDANCE, WOULD BE FULLY ACCREDITED.
AND SO OUR SCHOOLS ARE, ARE CHALLENGING, UM, THE STUDENTS AND, AND WITHIN CLASSES.
AND, AND ACTUALLY IT'S A HEALTHY COMPETITION BETWEEN EVEN THE SCHOOLS, UM, TO DETERMINE WHO'S GOING TO GET THE ATTENDANCE AWARD.
UM, I KNOW THAT, UM, MS. LAYMAN, SHE'S NOT HERE WITH US TONIGHT, BUT SHE HAD A HARD TIME LETTING GO OF THAT ATTENDANCE FLAG THIS MONTH.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE OUR ATTENDANCE AWARDS, UH, FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER.
AND I WILL START WITH OUR ELEMENTARY.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT RESI JEFFRIES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THAT HAD A 94.5 PER FIVE 6% ATTENDANCE RATE FOR THE MONTH.
AND, UH, WE HAD TO ASK THE RHINO TO HAVE A SEAT THIS WEEK,
UM, I JUST HAD, I ASKED A FEW KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS IF THEY COULD TELL ME WHY IT WAS IMPORTANT TO COME TO SCHOOL.
AND I JUST WANTED TO SHARE SOME OF THE IN INNOCENCE OF OUR YOUNG MINDS AT RESI.
AND IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, IT, IT'S BECAUSE MOM WANTS ME TO, BECAUSE I LOVE MY TEACHERS BECAUSE WE HAVE TO GO EVERY DAY EXCEPT SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS BECAUSE, WELL, IT'S IMPORTANT TO COME TO SCHOOL BECAUSE I LOVE LEARNING.
AND THEN WHY I LIKE COMING TO SCHOOL AT RESCUE JEFFRIES.
WELL, WE GET TO PLAY AND WORK AND STUFF BECAUSE I LOVE MY TEACHER AND I LOVE LEARNING.
AND I GET TO SEE MY SISTER AT PE.
UM, WE JUST, WE LOVE OUR STUDENTS.
WE WORK REALLY HARD TO MAKE LEARNING FUN AND TO OUR TEACHERS.
SHE'S GONNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE DO ON THE BACKSIDE TO GET OUR ATTENDANCE.
SO WE DO WEEKLY AND MONTHLY ATTENDANCE COMPETITIONS.
WE, UM, ALSO HAVE REALLY PUT PARENT INVOLVEMENT WITH ATTENDANCE UPFRONT INVOLVING THE PARENTS HAS REALLY HELPED.
UM, THOSE ATTENDANCE MEETINGS, WHETHER IT'S VIRTUAL BY PHONE IN PERSON, HAS REALLY HELPED TO GET THE KIDDOS THERE AND FOR PARENTS TO SEE THE IMPORTANCE OF ATTENDANCE.
WE'VE ALSO TALKED TO OUR TEACHERS WHEN WE CREATE, WE'RE REALLY WORKING HARD, CREATING A POSITIVE WORKPLACE.
TEACHERS WANNA COME TO SCHOOL, KIDS WANNA COME TO SCHOOL.
SO WE'VE WORKED REALLY HARD AT TRYING TO CREATE A POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR THEM AS WELL.
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AND I THINK THAT'S IT.JUST THE PARENT TEACHER COMMUNICATION.
WE HAVE OUR TEACHERS CALL IN MAKING SURE, CHECKING IN WITH THE KIDDOS THAT MISS A DAY, YOU KNOW, LET 'EM KNOW WE MISSED THEM AND HOW IMPORTANT IT'S TO COME BACK.
AND WE ALSO WOULD LIKE TO INVITE YOU GUYS TO COME VISIT US AT RESTY JEFFRIES.
AROUND
UH, IT'S AGAIN, MY PLEASURE, UH, TO REPRESENT THE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES AT WARREN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL THAT MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO RECEIVE THE SECONDARY ATTENDANCE AWARD FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE MONTH.
I KNOW I SAID LAST TIME, I DON'T PLAN ON GIVING IT BACK AND I STILL DON'T GET PLAN ON GIVING IT BACK, BUT I DO SEE DR.
JOHNSON BACK THERE
UH, I WAS VERY NERVOUS THIS MONTH.
WE HAD A COLD FLU THING GO AROUND.
WE HAD SOME STUDENTS OUT ON VACATION.
UM, SO I WAS A LITTLE NERVOUS, BUT I AM GLAD TO BE HERE AGAIN.
I THINK OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES KNOW THAT ATTENDANCE IS IMPORTANT TO US.
OUR SCHOOL STAFF IS PROMOTING A POSITIVE ATMOSPHERE, MAKING SURE WARREN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL AS A PLACE STUDENTS WANT TO BE.
UH, WE'RE RECOGNIZING STUDENTS AND WHILE I DON'T GET TO HAVE THOSE CUTE THINGS THAT KINDERGARTNERS SAY, UH, MY FAVORITE STORY SO FAR WITH ATTENDANCE, I HAVE A YOUNG MAN THAT I KNOW STRUGGLES WITH ATTENDANCE.
AND ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, HE ASKED IF HE COULD HELP WITH THE MORNING ANNOUNCEMENTS.
AND I SAID, IF YOU COME TO SCHOOL EVERY DAY FOR TWO WEEKS, YOU CAN HELP WITH THE MORNING ANNOUNCEMENTS.
I THINK ON FRIDAY I'LL BE READING THE MORNING ANNOUNCEMENTS.
UH, SO, YOU KNOW, I'LL TAKE ANY OPPORTUNITY I CAN GET.
UH, OUR STUDENTS MATTER TO US.
WE WANT THEM THERE AT SCHOOL EVERY DAY.
UH, SO I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE.
UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WORK YOU DO, AND CERTAINLY THANK THE FAMILIES AND STUDENTS AT WARREN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR BEING AT SCHOOL EVERY DAY.
AND SO, WITH THIS MONTH FOR OUR MOST IMPROVED, UM, WE DIDN'T REALLY HAVE A SCHOOL THAT WE, WE SAW A LOT OF DECLINES IN ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS.
UM, AND SO THERE WASN'T ONE THAT ACTUALLY DID IMPROVE FROM THE MONTH BEFORE.
SO WHAT WE DECIDED TO DO WAS WE WERE GOING TO GIVE IT TO THE THIRD HIGHEST SCHOOL.
AND I, YOU KNOW HOW COMPETITIVE THIS IS.
UM, MS. HELME, THEY DID WIN BECAUSE THEY HAD A 94.59%, BUT L F K HAD A 94.34%.
SO THEY WEREN'T VERY FAR BEHIND.
IT MIGHT'VE BEEN A HALF A DAY, UM, OR ONE STUDENT.
SO, UM, WE ARE RECOGNIZING L F K TONIGHT FOR THE MOST IMPROVED.
WE ACTUALLY BROUGHT SOME GUESTS WITH US.
UH, WE WANT TO DEFINITELY THANK ALL OF OUR DEDICATED STAFF, OUR WONDERFUL STUDENTS, AND OUR SUPPORTIVE FAMILIES.
IT WAS DEFINITELY A COLLECTIVE EFFORT TO HELP IMPROVE OUR ATTENDANCE.
UM, IF WE WANT ANY STUDENTS, YOU WANNA TELL US WHY YOU LIKE ATTENDING L F K? I LOVE L F K AND I HAVE THE BEST PRINCIPALS EVER.
AND MS. WALL IS THE BEST TEACHER.
AND WE ALSO HAVE, UM, AFTERSCHOOL CLUBS THAT WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF THAT OUR STAFF SPONSOR THAT.
WE HAVE FOUR K THROUGH TWO AND THIRD THROUGH FIFTH.
WE HAVE MONTHLY INCENTIVES FOR STUDENTS, MONTHLY INCENTIVES FOR CLASSROOMS. WE HAVE A QUARTERLY INCENTIVE.
WE'VE WORKED WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS, THANKS WITH MR. LOGAN, UM, TO HELP US WITH THAT.
UH, DONATED ITEMS SUCH AS BICYCLES AND OTHER BIG INCENTIVES THAT
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WE CAN HELP.AND FAMILY INCENTIVES AS WELL, LIKE MOVIE PASSES.
SO DEFINITELY A COLLECTIVE EFFORT.
YOU WANNA GET YOUR PICTURE TAKEN? ALRIGHT, MR. LOGAN, DID YOU WANNA ADD ANYTHING? I DO.
ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS I HEARD OUR FRIENDS FROM RESI BACK THERE SAY THAT THEY ARE JAGUARS AND WE ARE JUST LITTLE CATS.
SO SINCE THIS IS A HEALTHY COMPETITION, I WOULD JUST SAY THAT IT'S NOT THE SIZE OF THE CAT IN THE FIGHT, IT'S THE SIZE OF THE FIGHT IN THE CAT.
AND IF ANYONE WANTS TO LEAVE FROM OUR SCHOOL ATTENDANCE AWARDS THIS EVENING, YOU'RE WELCOME TO DO SO NOW.
[2. D. School Reports]
NEXT UP THIS EVENING.UM, TONIGHT WE HAVE SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL HERE TO PRESENT, UM, THE REPORT FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER.
AND I ALSO SEE THAT WE HAVE, UH, MR. KSH BACK THERE IN THE BACK AS WELL.
SO AT THIS POINT IN TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK DR.
JOHNSTON TO COME UP TO THE PODIUM MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND DR.
I'M, I'M THANKFUL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, TO COME IN TONIGHT.
I'M, I'M HERE WITH MY STAFF, UH, MR. BAILEY, MS. UH, MEREDITH, THE LIBRARIAN, MR. BAILEY'S SCIENCE TEACHER.
MS. CAMPBELL, UH, IS A ENGLISH TEACHER.
MS, UM, SORRY, I JUST WENT BLANK, MS. CONNOR.
MS. CONNOR, MATH TEACHER, MS. SASSER, AND I KNOW MS. DON IS IN THE BACK.
UH, MS. KENNY IS BACK IN THE BACK AS WELL AS A MATH TEACHER.
MS. DON IS OUR AP, UH, AND MS. JONES IS IN THE BACK AS WELL.
AND I THINK THAT'S, I THINK THAT'S ALL WE HAVE BACK THERE.
SO I DO APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY.
UH, AT SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL, WE, WE DO GREAT THINGS FOR KIDS.
UM, I DO WANT TO JUST TAKE A SECOND TO ADDRESS, UM, THE FOCUS, UM, HERE IT GOES,
UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE AN AREA OF FOCUS AS, AS HAS BEEN IN THE PUBLIC EYE AND IN THE PUBLIC SQUARE.
WE KNOW WE HAVE CHALLENGES AT SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL, UM, AND, UH, AS YOU ALL KNOW, IT'S BEHAVIORS AND WE HAVE ACADEMIC STRUGGLES AS WELL.
UH, THERE'S NO OTHER WAY TO SAY IT.
UM, BUT WE ARE WORKING WITH COMMUNITY SUPPORT, DEFINITE COMMUNITY SUPPORT, STAFF SUPPORT AND SUPPORT FROM DR.
BALLINGER AND HIS CENTRAL OFFICE STAFF.
UH, SO WE HAVE WORKED THROUGH WITH STAFF TRAININGS, UH, STUDENT SAFETY TRAININGS, UH, VAPE AND DRUG.
UH, WE'RE FOCUSING ON VAPE, VAPES AND DRUGS AS WELL AS, AND NOT DOING THEM AS WELL AS, UH, THREATENING BEHAVIOR AND STUDENT DEFIANCE AND OTHER BEHAVIORS AS WELL.
SO, WITH REGARDS TO, UH, STAFF TRAINING, UM, AS OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH AIR, AS I'VE TALKED WITH THE BOARD SEVERAL TIMES WITH REGARDS TO THE AMERICAN INSTITUTES ON RESEARCH, THE TEACHERS HAVE GONE THROUGH FOUR HOURS OF TRAININGS THIS, THIS YEAR SO FAR.
UM, AND THEY HAVE FOCUSED, UH, BROUGHT DOWN THEIR FOCUS ON SCAFFOLDING AND SYSTEMATICALLY DESIGNED INSTRUCTION TOWARDS A GOAL.
SO THAT IS GONNA BE OUR FOCUS MOVING FORWARD.
WE'RE STILL IN THE BEGINNINGS OF STAGES OF THE THIS, UM, UH, THIS PROCESS.
AND WE KNOW THAT WORKING WITH MS. BRAGG AND, UM, DR.
RUSH, WHO IS FROM THE AMERICAN INSTITUTES ON RESEARCH, THAT THAT'S GONNA BE A CONTINUED ELEMENT FOR, UH, OUR BUILDING THIS YEAR.
UH, ALSO WE ARE WORKING ON INSTRUCTIONAL ALIGNMENT AND OUR STUDENT CO INSTRUCTIONAL COACHES HAVE BEEN A REALLY INTEGRAL PART TO THAT.
THEY ARE, UH, YOU'LL HEAR A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THEIR PRO THE PROCESS THAT THEY'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH THIS YEAR AND THE NUMBER OF HOURS THAT THEY HAVE WORKED WITH STAFF, BUT THEY HAVE BEEN REALLY INTEGRAL IN, UM, HELPING TO BUILD STAFF CAPACITY, UM, WITH, ESPECIALLY WITH COACHING CYCLES IN, IN MEETINGS.
SO WE, UM, THAT'S AN AREA THERE IN TERMS OF, UH, VAPING AND, UH, DRUG FOCUS.
UH, SO WE HAVE WORKED TO EDUCATE STUDENTS AND STAFF.
WE'VE DONE LESSONS, WE'VE PUT OUT RESOURCES TO PARENTS AND FAMILIES WITH REGARDS
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TO THE DANGERS OF VAPING.UM, THOSE GO OUT IN OUR, UH, BIMONTHLY NEWSLETTER.
UM, OUR STAFF, UH, STUDENT, OR EXCUSE ME, OUR TEACHERS PROVIDE, UH, STAFF LENS LESSONS ON, ON THE DANGERS OF VAPING.
AND THE NEXT LESSON SHOULD BE COMING OUT NEXT WEEK.
AND THAT WILL BE ON THE, UM, THAT ONE'S GONNA BE ON, SORRY, LOST MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT THERE ON, UH, WHAT DOES, WHAT TO DO WHEN SOMEBODY OFFERS YOU A VAPE OR HOW TO HANDLE THAT SITUATION? UM, WITH THAT? SO WE'VE HAD, UM, A BEEFED UP, UM, UH, WELL, FIRST OFF, STEERED STRAIGHT PROGRAM THAT'S COMING IN ON THE 26TH THAT FOCUSES ON REAL LIFE SITUATIONS WHERE WE HAVE A FORMER, UM, THROUGH THE STEERED STRAIGHT PROGRAM, A FORMER INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS A SUBSTANCE ABUSER COME IN AND TALK ABOUT THE DANGERS, UH, THAT DRUG ABUSE AND VAPE USE HAS THE, THEY'VE COME INTO THE COUNTY BEFORE, I WANNA SAY IT WAS PROBABLY FIVE OR SIX YEARS AGO.
AND THERE WERE JUST VAPES DUMPED INTO TOILETS BECAUSE IT, IT STEERED THE KIDS INTO THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
SO WE UNDERSTOOD THAT THAT WAS GONNA BE A POWERFUL IMPACT FOR OUR STUDENTS.
AND WE ACTUALLY STARTED PLANNING THAT IN THE SUMMER.
WE ALSO, ONCE, UM, WE HAD, UH, THE INCIDENT AT SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL, AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, WE PARTNERED WITH THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION TO DO A KICKOFF, TO DO SOME EDUCATIONAL THINGS, MORE EDUCATIONAL THINGS FOR OUR KIDS IN TERMS OF, UM, YOU KNOW, HEART, HEART HEALTH, AS WELL AS THE DANGERS OF VAPING.
SO WE'RE GETTING RESOURCES FOR THOSE, UH, FOR THOSE THINGS AS WELL AS PROVIDING, UM, RESOURCES LIKE POSTERS, FREE POSTERS, AND THINGS THAT GO UP, UH, AROUND THE BUILDING AS WELL IN TERMS OF, UH, VIGILANCE IN OUR HALLWAYS WITH THE HELP, UH, FROM DR.
BALLINGER AND CENTRAL OFFICE STAFF, UM, THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO BEEF UP OUR, UH, VIGILANCE IN OUR HALLWAYS AND IN OUR BATHROOMS. UH, WE ARE WORKING ON GETTING MORE VAPE DETECTORS IN OUR RESTROOMS. UH, WE JUST GOT THE QUOTE IN, UH, FROM TECH TO YESTERDAY, I THINK IT WAS.
SO THAT, THAT'S GONNA BE, WE'RE GONNA HAVE MORE VAPE DETECTORS IN OUR, IN OUR BUILDINGS TO HELP KEEP KIDS SAFE, UH, THERE AS WELL.
UH, WE DO HAVE OUR, OUR, UM, UH, ALERT, SEE SOMETHING SAFE, SOMETHING DO SOMETHING THAT IS AVAILABLE TO PARENTS THAT'S ON OUR WEBSITE AS WELL.
UH, SO PARENTS CAN CLICK ON THAT, A STUDENT CAN CLICK ON THAT, THAT'S IN THEIR BOOKMARKS IF THEY SEE SOMETHING THAT COULD BE, THAT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE VAPES, THAT COULD BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT'S IN OUR HALLWAYS, THAT COULD BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT THEY SAW IN, UM, IN THE BATHROOM.
THEY CAN REPORT THAT TO ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF ANONYMOUSLY, AND THAT WAY WE CAN GO AND ADDRESS THAT.
UM, SO THIS HAS BEEN SHARED, AGAIN WITH, WITH PARENTS AS WELL.
UM, OUR STUDENT SUPPORT COACHES, WE HAVE HAVE, UH, FOUR TWO STUDENTS SUPPORT COACHES AND TWO STUDENT SUPPORT COACH AIDES THAT WE'VE USED WITH CARES FUNDS.
THOSE, THOSE FOUR INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN CRITICAL IN HELPING TO MONITOR OUR HALLS AS WELL.
THEY HAVE WORKED, UH, SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR WITH OVER 420 DIFFERENT STUDENT SITUATIONS.
UM, AND THEY ARE AMAZING, UM, WHEN, WHEN IT COMES TO WORKING, UM, WORKING WITH KIDS IN TERMS OF THREATENING BEHAVIOR, WE'VE WORKED TO RETRAIN, UM, STAFF WITH REGARDS TO THREAT THREATS AND THREAT ASSESSMENTS.
UH, ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF, AT LEAST HALF OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF THUS FAR ATTENDED, UH, AS WELL AS COUNSELORS ATTENDED THE AUGUST 30TH THREAT ASSESSMENT TRAINING.
UH, I ATTENDED, UH, PERSONALLY, I ATTENDED THE D UH, D C J S, UH, SCHOOL SAFETY TRAINING OVER THE SUMMER AND BROUGHT A LOT OF RESOURCES BACK TO TRY TO HELP, UM, WITH REUNIFICATION PLANS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, HOW TO BEST KEEP KIDS SAFE, UH, IF, UH, HEAVEN FORBID, A CRISIS SUCH AS THAT WERE TO EVER OCCUR.
UM, ADMINISTRATION WE'VE BEEN FOCUSING ON, UH, AND WE JUST WORKED ON TRAINING STAFF TODAY ABOUT DISCIPLINARY CONSEQUENCES AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE FOLLOWING POLICY, INCLUDING THE COMMON DISCIPLINARY, UH, CODES THAT ARE NOT CODES, BUT THE COMMON DISCIPLINARY, UH, CONSEQUENCES THAT HAVE BEEN PUT OUT BY CENTRAL OFFICE.
UH, AND OUR INSTRUCTIONAL COACHES, AGAIN, HAVE BEEN A, UH, CRITICAL PIECE IN DOING THAT AS WELL.
UM, I KNOW YOU ALL HAVE NOTICED, UM, NOT JUST FROM OUR SCHOOL, BUT FROM OTHER SCHOOLS.
UM, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON GREATER COMMUNICATION WITH PARENTS AND GREATER COMMUNICATION WITH BOARD MEMBERS REGARDING VAPES, DRUGS AND THREATS.
SO WE DO WORK TO PUT THOSE OUT, UH, ANYTIME WE, WE HAVE THAT SITUA THOSE SITUATIONS IN TERMS OF STUDENT DEFIANCE AND OTHER BEHAVIORS.
TODAY, WE STARTED AN EXPECTATIONS RESET, WHICH ACTUALLY STARTS TOMORROW.
WE TRAINED THE STAFF THIS MORNING.
OUR COACHES PUT THAT ON, UH, ON THERE.
UM, BASICALLY WE, UH, WITH THE HELP OF, UH, AND DATA FROM CENTRAL OFFICE AND WORKING THROUGH THE PROCESS WITH THEM, WE'VE CREATED FIVE, UH,
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VERY CLEAR FOCAL POINTS, UH, INCLUDING FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS, BEING ON TIME, UM, DOING WHAT A, UH, DOING WHAT YOU'RE ASKED TO DO, UM, AS JUST, JUST SOME OF THOSE.AND WE PUT THOSE OUT WITH VERY CLEAR EXPECTATIONS TO THE STUDENTS.
UM, THE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF, ALONG WITH DR.
BALLINGER CAME IN AND HELPED US ADDRESS ALL THE STUDENTS IN THE BUILDING.
AND WE ARE WORKING ON PLANS FOR TOMORROW TO ADDRESS THE STUDENTS WHO WERE NOT HERE TODAY, SO THAT THEY GET TO HEAR THE SAME MESSAGE.
UH, AND THAT WAY WE CAN BE CONSISTENT ACROSS OUR BUILDING WITH REGARDS TO OUR EXPECTATIONS.
UM, ALSO, THERE'S A TRAINING NEXT WEEK ON LIFE SKILLS, UH, WHICH IS A PROGRAM THROUGH THE WARREN COALITION, WHICH HELPS BUILD RESILIENCY AND EMPATHY IN OUR STUDENTS.
THAT IS ONE THING THAT WE ARE REALLY SEEING A, HAVE REALLY SEEN A DROP, UM, NOT IN ONLY OUR STUDENTS, BUT WE'VE SEEN A DROP ACROSS SOCIETY WITH, UH, THE AMOUNT OF EMPATHY THAT INDIVIDUALS HAVE FOR EACH OTHER.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I TOLD MY STAFF THIS MORNING, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I TOLD MY STUDENTS IS THAT I LEARNED AT A TRAINING, UM, THIS MORNING WITH REGARDS TO IT, UM, WITH REGARDS TO RESPECT.
UM, RESPECT IS FROM THE TRAINING THAT I GOT, UH, LAST WEEK, WAS RESPECT IS LOOKING TWICE AND SEEING THE INDIVIDUAL THAT IS IN FRONT OF YOU AND UNDERSTANDING THAT THE INDIVIDUAL THAT YOU ARE COMMUNICATING WITH IS A PERSON.
THEY HAVE HUMAN FEELINGS, AND THEY NEED TO BE TREATED WITH RESPECT AND DIGNITY.
AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S A BIG POINT THAT I REALLY WORKED TO DRIVE HOME WITH THE STUDENTS.
BALLINGER TRIED TO WORK TO DRIVE HOME WITH THE STUDENTS TODAY ABOUT RESPECT AND RESPONSIBILITY AND BUILDING A KIND AND CARING SCHOOL AS, AS WELL.
UM, IN TERMS OF SUPERVISION, I KNOW I'VE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, CENTRAL OFFICE STAFF SUPPORTING PLANNING LESSONS, REBUILDING, UH, US REBUILDING GAPS FROM, FROM, UH, THE PANDEMIC.
BALLINGER HAS BEEN INTEGRAL IN, UM, PROVIDING NEW CHROMEBOOKS FOR OUR SCHOOL THIS YEAR.
UM, ALL I NEEDED TO DO IS SAY, I NEED THESE, AND THEY, THEY WERE THERE IN TWO WEEKS.
UM, AND A PROMISE, OF COURSE, AS YOU SAW IN THE AGENDA FOR THIS EVENING, THE PROMISE OF ADDITIONAL STAFF IS NOTED IN THE BOARD'S AGENDA WITH THE TWO ADDITIONAL, UM, SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS.
SO I KNOW THAT THAT HAS NOT BEEN PASSED YET, BUT I KNOW THAT THAT'S THROUGH HIS LEADERSHIP, SO I APPRECIATE THAT SUPPORT.
IN TERMS OF OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION, UH, DEPARTMENT, OUR, UM, MR. ADAMS HEADS UP OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.
UM, THEY ARE FOCUSED ON THE ACADEMIC SUCCESS OF ALL STUDENTS, UH, WITH DISABILITIES.
WE HAVE ENRICHMENT PERIODS THAT WE SUPPORT KIDS THERE.
WE HAVE BEHAVIORAL MANAGEMENT SUPPORT THERE.
WE TALK ABOUT SELF-DETERMINATION STRATEGIES.
UH, AND OF COURSE WE HAVE THE LEARNING CENTER, WHICH IS BEING ADAPTED TO NOT ONLY HELP STUDENTS WITH, UM, BEHA UH, DISABILITIES DISSOLVES, BUT ALSO BEHAVIOR ISSUES AS WELL.
UH, MS. DEAVERS HEADS UP OUR F F A IN OUR AGRICULTURAL PROGRAM.
UM, WE HAVE A HUNDRED PERCENT MEMBERSHIP IN ALL OF, FROM ALL OF OUR, UH, STUDENTS.
AND, UM, SHE'S BEEN INTEGRAL IN HELPING OUT WITH THE BIG BUCK CONTEST THAT A LOT OF OUR KIDS WERE REALLY EXCITED.
UH, SO THEY, UM, THEY PUT IN, UH, $10 AND THEN WHOEVER GETS, UM, UH, THE BIGGEST BUCK AT THE END OF THE HUNTING SEASON, UH, GETS, GETS A PRIZE FOR THAT.
SO, UH, THEY ALSO HAVE A VERA BRADLEY BINGO, AND THEY ATTEND THE STATE COMPETITION IN, UH, STATE CONVENTION IN JUNE.
SO MS. DEAVERS IS NEW TO US THIS YEAR, BUT SHE IS VERY ENERGETIC IN IN THE WORK THAT SHE DOES.
AND THERE'S SOME, SOME OF THE PICTURES FROM THE, THE, UM, HER CLASS AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT SHE, UH, SHE WORKS ON IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, THE DAIRYMEN'S CARPENTRY PROJECTS, UH, A LOT OF DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT THINGS THAT, THAT BUILD LEADERSHIP IN IN OUR KIDS AT SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
UH, I'M GONNA KICK IT OVER TO MS. MEREDITH WHO IS GONNA TALK ABOUT S M S LIBRARY.
SO THERE IS A LOT OF READING GOING ON IN THE LIBRARY THIS WEEK.
UM, WE KICKED OFF A NEW READING INCENTIVE CALLED DUCK DUCK GHOST, AND YOU WOULD NOT THINK THE LITTLE RUBBER DUCK WOULD MAKE KIDS WANNA READ BOOKS, BUT OUR HORROR SECTION IS COMPLETELY EMPTY.
I HAVE HAD TO EXPAND THE RANDOM BOOKS THAT I HAVE CHOSEN INTO OTHER GENRES, OTHER AREAS OF THE LIBRARY, BECAUSE KIDS ARE CHECKING OUT BOOKS BECAUSE THEY WANNA DUCK
UM, OUR OTHER READING INCENTIVE IS THE GENRE PASSPORT, AND SO IT, IT KIND OF LOOKS LIKE A REGULAR PASSPORT.
ALL THE DIFFERENT GENRES IN THE LIBRARY ARE REPRESENTED, AND WE ENCOURAGE KIDS TO TRY SOMETHING OUT OF THEIR COMFORT ZONE, CHECK OUT DIFFERENT KINDS OF BOOKS.
AND SO FOR THE FIRST QUARTER, OUR INCENTIVE WAS TO READ THREE DIFFERENT GENRES, AND YOU GET TO COME TO A PARTY AND YOU GET TO EAT IN THE LIBRARY.
AND APPARENTLY THAT'S VERY EXCITING.
UM, SO WE HAVE A PRETTY LENGTHY
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LIST OF KIDS WHO ARE COMING.SOME OF THE KIDS HAVE READ ALL OF THE BOOKS THEY HAVE TO READ FOR THE WHOLE YEAR AS FAR AS GENRES GO.
SO THAT'S A PRETTY SUCCESSFUL READING INCENTIVE AS WELL.
UM, WE HAVE A SCHOOL STORE THAT WE OPERATE OUT OF THE LIBRARY.
UM, LAST YEAR WITH MS. MOORE, SOME KIDS APPLIED AFTER DOING A LESSON ON RESUMES.
THEY WERE CHOSEN TO WORK IN THE LIBRARY AT THE END OF THE YEAR AS FAR AS THE SCHOOL STORE GOES, LEARNING HOW TO USE THE P O S SYSTEM, CUSTOMER SERVICE SKILLS AND ALL THOSE GOOD THINGS.
AND SO ON TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS, KIDS GET TO COME IN AND SHOP, AND WE HAVE ITEMS FROM 20 CENTS ON UP TO, UM, TWO BUCKS FOR SOME FUZZY LITTLE PENCILS.
UM, SO THAT'S BEEN REALLY SUCCESSFUL AND WE'LL USE THOSE FUNDS TO PAY FOR THE ITEMS THAT THEY GET TO EAT AT THE GENRE PASSPORT.
AND AS FAR AS SKILLS LESSONS, I'VE BEEN HAVING CLASSES COME IN AND WE'VE WORKED ON PLAGIARISM, CITING SOURCES, EXPLORING DIFFERENT GENRES TO FIND OUT WHAT YOU'D LIKE, UM, CREDIBLE SOURCES AND HOW TO USE THE DESTINY CATALOG SYSTEM.
AND THEN THE OTHER EVENT THAT WE HAVE COMING UP IS OUR BOOK FAIR.
SO WE'LL HAVE A WEEK WHERE KIDS COME IN AND PREVIEW WHAT'S GOING TO BE AT THE BOOK FAIR.
WE'RE HAVING A FAMILY NIGHT THAT WILL COINCIDE WITH THE TRICK OR TREAT NIGHT THAT WE'RE HAVING AT SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
AND I'VE BEEN CONTACTING COMMUNITY BUSINESSES TO GET THEM INVOLVED BECAUSE WE WANT EVERY CHILD TO BE ABLE TO GET A BOOK AT THE BOOK FAIR.
SO WE'RE HOPING TO GET SOME COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THAT.
ALRIGHT, UH, WITH REGARDS TO, UM, SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL, PE MS. UM, HODSON WAS UNABLE TO BE HERE WITH US, UM, THIS EVENING, BUT SHE DID ASK ME TO SPEAK WITH REGARDS TO THE ACTIVITIES THAT THEY DO IN PE.
WE DO HAVE AN ADAPTIVE PE CLUB AND AFTER SCHOOL INTRAMURALS THAT THE KIDS REALLY, REALLY GET INTO.
BUT IN TERMS OF DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES THAT THEY HAVE, YOU KNOW, WE DO FOOTBALL, SOCCER, UM, MAT BALL, UH, KICKBALL, HOCKEY, ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT, UH, INTERACTIVE ACTIVITIES,
UM, AND, AND SO A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE FAVORITES OF COURSES IS ADAPTIVE PE.
SO, UM, YOU CAN SEE IMAGES OF THE STUDENTS INTERACTING, UM, UH, THEY'RE PLAYING FOR HOCKEY.
SO, UM, I KNOW THAT THE PE DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE A YOUNG PE DEPARTMENT, BUT THEY ARE WORKING, UM, TO MEET THE NEEDS OF, OF STUDENTS.
NEXT, I'M GONNA INVITE MS. CAMPBELL UP TO TALK ABOUT ENGLISH.
SO I THINK EVERY TEACHER FACES THE SAME STRUGGLE OF ENGAGING KIDS, RIGHT? WE HAVE SO MANY THINGS TO COMPETE WITH, AND SOMETIMES IT SEEMS LIKE KIDS WOULD RATHER WATCH PAINT DRY THAN LEARN ABOUT FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE.
SO, UM, WHEN THEY LOOK AT THESE SKILLS OR WHEN THEY SEE THESE SKILLS, THE READING SKILLS, THE RESEARCH SKILLS, THE WRITING SKILLS, ALL THE SKILLS THAT WE HAVE TO TEACH, YOU KNOW, DOING JUST NOTES AND SLIDESHOWS DOESN'T CUT IT ANYMORE.
SO, UM, IN ORDER TO, IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THE HIGHER LEVEL ENGAGEMENT, UM, THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE THINGS I'VE SEEN FROM OTHER TEACHERS, I'VE SEEN FROM MYSELF, UM, IN TRYING TO ENGAGE THE STUDENTS WITH THINGS LIKE ESCAPE ROOMS, WALK AROUND ACTIVITIES, SCAVENGER HUNTS, UM, WE DO JEOPARDY INTERACTIVE SLIDESHOWS WHERE THEY LIKE DO, YOU KNOW, RESPONSIVE THINGS, GROUP PROJECTS, PRESENTATIONS, UM, THINGS LIKE THAT IN ORDER TO ENGAGE THE STUDENTS BETTER.
UM, WE ARE HEADED IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION THAN WE HAVE BEEN BEFORE, UM, ESPECIALLY WITH THE NEW WRITING TEST, UM, BEING, YOU KNOW, AN INTEGRATIVE ONE IN BETWEEN, UM, READING AND WRITING.
SO THE ACADEMIC INTERVENTION TEAM HAS COME UP WITH A READING AND WRITING PLAN WHERE, UM, IT KIND OF FOSTERS A COLLABORATION AND CONNECTIVENESS BETWEEN ALL THE DEPARTMENTS.
UM, ENGLISH SCIENCE AND HISTORY ARE TRYING TO INTEGRATE MATH SOON, BUT RIGHT NOW WE ARE FOCUSING ON ENGLISH, SCIENCE AND HISTORY.
SO BASICALLY IT'S GONNA FOCUS ON PUTTING, UM, A COMMON GROUP OF NON-FICTION TEXTS IN BETWEEN THE ENGLISH, SCIENCE AND HISTORY CLASSES SO THAT THE KIDS CAN SEE THAT THESE THINGS DO CONNECT.
THAT, UM, THERE IS A CROSS-CURRICULAR CONNECTION BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES THE KIDS WILL SEE ENGLISH AS SOMETHING COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM SCIENCE AS SOMETHING COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM HISTORY.
SO IF WE USE THESE COMMON TEXTS, IF WE CAN TALK ABOUT THEM IN THE DIFFERENT CLASSES, THEN THE KIDS ARE ABLE TO SEE THE CONNECTEDNESS BETWEEN THEM.
UM, WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON, YOU KNOW, FIGURING OUT EVERYTHING FOR IT, GETTING IT OUT, AND THEN, UM, COLLABORATING WITH ALL THE DEPARTMENTS TOGETHER IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THIS PLAN HAPPENS.
UM, MS. LENNON IS OUR FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCE, UH, IN, UH, TEACHER, AGAIN, SHE'S UNABLE TO BE HERE THIS EVENING, BUT I DID WANT TO JUST SHARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT SHE DOES IN HER, UM, UH, CONSUMER SCIENCE CLASSES IN TERMS OF DECISION MAKING AND GOAL SETTING, ADVERTISING, UH, KITCHEN SAFETY, SANITATION, JOB APPLICATIONS,
[00:30:01]
AND RESUME, UM, WRITING, UH, TO NAME A FEW.SHE ALSO, THEY ALSO DO A LOT OF GREAT HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES, UH, INCLUDING INTERIOR DECORATING AND, AND DESIGN, UH, AS WELL AS SEWING.
SO THOSE, THOSE, UH, PICTURES THAT YOU SEE ON THE, ON THE CORNERS, THE TOP, UH, TOP RIGHT AND, AND BOTTOM LEFT, UH, THOSE ARE ACTUALLY, UH, VERY, THEY'RE, THEY'RE MINIATURES.
AND SO THE, THE, THEY'RE MADE TO LOOK, UH, BIGGER THAN WHAT THEY ARE.
SO, UM, UH, THROUGH THE PHOTOGRAPHY.
SO THEY DO A GREAT JOB, UH, WITH THAT.
THEY DO, OF COURSE, TABLE SETTING AND FOOD PREPARATION AND SAFETY, UH, AND HOW TO, HOW TO SET FOOD UP AND OF COURSE, LOOK AT CHILDCARE AND BUDGETING AND FINANCE, UM, ITEMS THROUGH, THROUGH THERE.
SO, UM, THEY DO A GREAT, GREAT JOB WITH THAT.
MS. MILL BRANDT IS OUR DEPARTMENT CHAIR FOR, UH, HISTORY.
AND THE HISTORY DEPARTMENT, OF COURSE, FOCUSES ON ANALYTICAL SKILLS AND, AND GAINING DIFFERENT APPRECIATION, UM, FOR, UH, AMERICAN HISTORY.
AS A, AS A FORMER HISTORY TEACHER MYSELF, WE REALLY TALK, UH, ABOUT, UM, RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES THAT WE HAVE AND DUTIES THAT WE HAVE AS CITIZENS.
AND AS YOU START TO GET INTO MIDDLE SCHOOL AND YOU START TO SEE AND EXPAND, UH, THOSE ITEMS WITH THAT, UM, WE REALLY, WE REALLY WANNA HONE IN ON THE RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES, UM, WITH OUR STUDENTS BECAUSE, UH, AS WE TALKED ABOUT IN OUR EXPECTATIONS RESET TODAY, UM, WE HAVE TO WORK ON BECOMING RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS.
AND SO THERE'S SOME OF THE PRO, UH, PROJECTS THAT THE HISTORY DEPARTMENT, UM, PUT OUT IN TERMS OF CHOIR.
UH, THE STUDENTS, UH, WORK ON DEVELOPING WHAT ARE KNOWN AS LISTENING EARS, MATCHING PITCH, AND DEVELOPING A SINGLE VOICE, UH, IN A HEALTHY TONE.
THEY HAVE SOFE THAT THEY WORK ON, UM, WHICH IS, UH, DIFFERENT IN INTERVALS OF NOTES, UH, AND TRAINING THEIR EAR TO MATCH, MATCH THAT, UH, PITCH AND THE NOTES ON THE PAGE.
SO, UH, UH, TAIMI IS ALSO THOSE RHYTHMIC SYMBOLS THAT THEY WORK, UH, ON, UH, HITTING AS THEY, UH, DEVELOP, UH, THEIR MUSICAL SKILLS.
UM, THEY ARE PREPARING A SOLO SECTION, WHICH IS KNOWN AS, UH, AMERICA, MY COUNTRY, TIZ OF THEE.
AND THAT, UH, FOR DISTRICT 14 COURSE, AND ONLY ALL BUT TWO OF OUR STUDENTS HAVE, UH, IN ALL THREE GRADES HAVE SIGNED UP TO PARTICIPATE.
UM, IN TERMS OF SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL BAND, LEMME SEE, I THINK I, I DID SKIP ONE.
UM, SO THE SINGERS, UH, ARE GONNA COMBINE FOR THEIR, FOR THEIR, UH, CHORAL CONCERT HERE, UH, IN, IN DECEMBER OVER AT WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL.
UH, THAT'S A GREAT WAY FOR, FOR ALL THE KIDS TO GET TOGETHER AND, UH, GET MENTORED FROM HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.
UM, AND THEY'RE, THEY'VE ACTUALLY PROGRESSED A LOT QUICKER THAN THEY HAVE IN YEARS, UH, BECAUSE OF THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT THEY'VE WORKED TOGETHER.
THEY ALREADY HAVE TWO FULL SONGS MASTERED ALREADY, UM, FOR THEIR WINTER CONCERT IN TERMS OF, UH, BEGINNING BAND BECAUSE OF THE ADJUSTMENT THAT WE MADE TO OUR SCHEDULE.
UM, YOU CAN SEE THERE, OUR BAND STUDENTS HAVE 240 MINUTES OF REHEARSAL TIME A WEEK, AS OPPOSED TO 195.
UM, SO THEY ARE AS WELL, UH, FURTHER ALONG THAN THEY HAD BEEN.
UM, SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL HAS A GREAT STOCK COLLECTION OF, UH, PRE, UH, SCHOOL OWNED INSTRUMENTS, SO THEY ARE ABLE TO LOAN OUT ANY INSTRUMENTS TO THE STUDENTS WHO ARE IN NEED.
AND WE WERE ABLE TO MEET EVERY SINGLE NEED BECAUSE OF THAT THIS YEAR.
UH, AND AGAIN, IT'S BECAUSE OF THE, THE DEDICATION OF THIS, UH, OF THE BOARD IN CENTRAL OFFICE TO PROVIDE THAT IN TERMS OF SEVENTH AND EIGHTH GRADE STUDENTS AND, AND, UH, THEIR, SORRY, THEIR BAND.
UM, SO CONCERT AND SYMPHONIC BAND AGAIN, ALL OF THE STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO SIGN UP FOR DISTRICT ENSEMBLE.
AND WITH THE EIGHTH GRADE, UH, NIGHT AT SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL, MARCHING BAND, THE SKYLINE HAWKS, UH, THEY'RE ENCOURAGED TO COME OUT NEXT FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13TH.
UM, THESE TRANSITIONS AND THESE PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE CREATE WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL HELP TO BUILD, UM, A POSITIVE PROGRAM THAT GOES THE WHOLE WAY UP TO THE HIGH SCHOOL.
SO IT, WE HOPE TO KEEP KIDS IN THAT PROGRAM FROM SIXTH GRADE THE WHOLE WAY TO 12TH GRADE.
AND BY DOING THAT, UM, UH, BY PARTNERING WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL, WE, WE HOPE TO CONTINUE THAT TREND.
UH, OF COURSE, UH, A PLUG FOR OUR CONCERT, PLEASE COME ON OUT, UH, ON DECEMBER 13TH, UM, AT 6:00 PM IN TERMS OF MS. BEDOYA, MS. BEDOYA DOES AN EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT JOB WITH OUR SPANISH EXPLORATORY CLASSES, SIXTH AND SEVENTH.
THEY GET INTRODUCED TO SOME OF THOSE, UM, SOME OF THOSE EARLY SKILLS, UH, INCLUDING LATIN DANCES AND, AND ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT.
MS. BEDOYA IS ONE OF OUR VETERAN TEACHERS, AND OF COURSE, WE OFFER EIGHTH GRADE.
UM, IN EIGHTH GRADE, WE OFFER SPANISH ONE FOR CREDIT.
UM, SO, AND MS. BEDOYA IS ALSO
[00:35:01]
A WONDERFUL OUTREACH INTO OUR COMMUNITY.UM, SHE REACHES OUT AND HAS A, UM, HISPANIC DINNER ONCE A MONTH.
AND SO SHE INVITES, UM, FAMILIES OF HISPANIC OR, UH, NATIONALITY TO COME IN AND, UM, UH, WORK TOGETHER AND, AND THEY HAVE A POTLUCK AND THEY BRING, BRING THOSE MEALS WITH THEM.
UM, AGAIN, MS. JAMES, UH, IS ONE OF OUR TECH COACHES AS WELL AS MS. HALL.
I BRIEFED YOU ON, UH, OUR HIRING OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS.
UM, LAST, UH, LAST TIME I SPOKE WITH YOU ALL IN THE SPRING.
THEY'VE DONE 119 HOURS OF COACHING.
THEY PROVIDED THE TRAINING THIS MORNING TO OUR STAFF.
SO THEY ARE A WONDERFUL SUPPORT TO OUR TEACHERS AND, UH, TO THE ADMINISTRATORS.
UH, AS YOU KNOW, ADMINISTRATORS CAN'T ALWAYS BE EVERYWHERE AND CAN'T ALWAYS COACH EVERY, EVERY SINGLE TEACHER.
26 OF OUR TEACHERS HAVE, UH, THREE OR LESS YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
SO WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO HAVE COACHES GO IN AND PROVIDE INSTRUCTION ON A CONSISTENT BASIS, THAT DEFINITELY HELPS THEM OUT.
UM, THEY'VE COME UP WITH SOME PRETTY, PRETTY COOL TRAINING IDEAS, INCLUDING LEARNING IN THE LOO.
UH, SO IT'S, IT'S, UH, IN ALL THE FACULTY RESTROOMS, UM, THEY HAVE, UH, QR CODES AND THINGS THAT TE UH, TEACHERS CAN CHECK OUT.
UM, THEY HAVE WORKED WITH, UH, TEACHERS TO PLAN, UH, UH, AND HAVE RESOURCES FOR OUR EXTENSION PERIODS, AS WELL AS, AS WELL AS PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCE GUIDES, UH, INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY, UH, AND, AND INTEGRATED COACHING.
THEY CREATED, AGAIN, THE BEHAVIOR, UH, MANAGING DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIORS TRAINING THIS MORNING.
AND THEY ALSO DID, UH, SOME THINGS FOR TEACHERS TO KIND OF, UH, TO RAISE MORALE, UH, AS WELL.
SO, I'M SURE YOU'RE TIRED OF HEARING FROM ME A LITTLE BIT.
LET'S HAVE MR. BAILEY, COME ON UP.
I'M BEN BAILEY, SCIENCE DEPARTMENT CHAIR AT KELLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL.
UM, STARTING OFF, UH, JUST KIND OF WANT TO ECHO WHAT MS. CAMPBELL SAID ABOUT THE CROSS-CURRICULAR CONNECTION.
WE'RE WORKING HARD TO INCORPORATE MORE READING AND WRITING IN OUR SCIENCE CURRICULUM.
IN ADDITION TO UTILIZING GRAPHS AND KEEPING THAT IN FRONT OF OUR STUDENTS.
IT'S A MAJOR COMPONENT OF OUR EIGHTH GRADE S O L TEST.
UH, SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CONTINUING TO BRING THAT TO OUR STUDENTS, MAKING SURE THEY'RE ABLE TO INTERPRET THAT DATA CORRECTLY AS WELL.
SO, UM, WE USE THE FIVE E MODEL OF SCIENCE INSTRUCTION.
UH, A FEW OF YOU WERE ABLE TO STOP IN, UH, MY CLASSROOM, SO GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN, AND YOU SAW PARTS OF THIS.
AND SO WE STRUCTURE OUR LESSONS IN THIS FASHION WHERE WE TRIED TO GET INITIAL ACTIVITY BASED ON A CONCEPT OR A UNIT HERE TO ENGAGE THEM, GRAB THEIR ATTENTION, AND THEN GET THEM TO EXPLORE, UH, GIVE THEM A TASK OR A LAB TO DO, UH, REALLY TO BUILD THAT BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE.
AND WE STARTED THIS FIVE E MODEL, UH, LAST YEAR.
WE DID A P L C WITH WARREN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL AND OFFERED IT THERE AS WELL.
UM, THAT WAS SPONSORED AND, AND KIND OF PUT TOGETHER, UH, THROUGH OUR CENTRAL OFFICE STAFF, MS. BRAGG, MR. STEFANSKI, UH, MS. PETTY AS WELL.
UM, COORDINATED THAT COLLABORATION, WHICH I'LL, I'LL TALK ABOUT A LITTLE BIT MORE, UH, IN A FEW SLIDES COMING UP.
BUT THE EXPLORERS, TO GIVE THAT BACKGROUND, COMMON BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE.
AND THAT'S WHAT REALLY SOLD ME ON THE FIVE G MODEL OF SCIENCE INSTRUCTION.
UH, THERE ARE SO MANY TIMES THAT WE MAY TAKE FOR GRANTED THAT STUDENTS KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, OR THEY'VE HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCES THAT, UM, LIKE MY CHILDREN WOULD'VE HAD OR OTHER CHILDREN WOULD'VE HAD.
I'M SITTING AT A SCHOOL EVENT ON A SATURDAY AND I HEAR SOMEONE JUST OVERHEARING, YOU KNOW, TEACHER EARS.
THEY'RE OPEN, AND YOU OVERHEAR A STUDENT SAY, I'VE NEVER BEEN OUT OF VIRGINIA.
SO WHEN WE BRING CONCEPTS THAT ARE VERY FOREIGN TO OUR STUDENTS, THEY HAVE NO IDEA INITIALLY.
SO TO GIVE THEM DIRECT INSTRUCTION IS A VERY FOREIGN CONCEPT.
THEY MAY NOT HAVE ANY CLUE OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
SO THAT'S WHY WE BRING IN THAT COMMON BACKGROUND.
WE WANT TO GIVE THEM AN EXPERIENCE THAT THEN WE CAN RELATE ALL OF OUR INSTRUCTION TOWARDS.
UM, SO IT JUST PUTS ALL STUDENTS ON A, ON A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN OUR INSTRUCTION.
SO THAT'S WHY, UM, WE LOVE AND INTEGRATE THE THE FIVE E MODEL OF INSTRUCTION.
AND THEN ONCE WE GET THROUGH THAT EXPLORE, WE SET THAT BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE, THEN WE CAN BRING IN OUR DIRECT INSTRUCTIONS, SOME NOTES AND THINGS LIKE THAT WHOLE GROUP, SMALL GROUP.
WE TAKE AND EXTEND AND MAKE THEM APPLY THOSE CONCEPTS IN A REAL WORLD SETTING AS OFTEN AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.
OR ANALYZE THAT IN A REAL WORLD EXAMPLE.
AND THEN AT THE TAIL END OF THAT WAS, UH, EVALUATE.
SO THAT'S WHEN WE ASSESS AT THE END OF OUR, OUR UNIT AND SEE HOW WE'RE DOING.
WE ASSESS FORMATIVE ALONG THE WAY, BUT THAT'S KIND OF OUR MAJOR STYLE, AND THAT'S BASED ON UNITS OR CONCEPTS OVERALL.
AND THEN, UM, OUR NEXT ONE, SO TRYING TO GIVE MORE EXPERIENCES.
SO THESE ARE SOME OF THE EXPERIENCES THAT WE'VE SET UP FOR OUR KIDS OVER THE PAST COUPLE YEARS.
GO TO LERAY CAVERNS FIELD TRIPS AT THE RIVER STATE PARK, UH, VIRTUAL
[00:40:01]
VISITS WITH SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK, UM, ON THEIR SALAMANDERS.AND WE JUST SPOKE TO, UH, MR. WAYNE PENCE OVER AT, HE'S THE HATCHERY MANAGER HERE IN TOWN, AND LOOKING TO SET UP SOMETHING IN THE SPRING FOR OUR STUDENTS, UM, AS WELL.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO GIVE THEM EXPERIENCES BOTH INSIDE THE CLASSROOM AND OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM.
UH, WE HAVE, HAVE A PLETHORA OF RESOURCES FOR SCIENCE, UM, AROUND OUR AREA, AND WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE FOR THAT.
UM, SO OUR NEXT SLIDE THERE IS DIVISION COLLABORATION.
WE STARTED WITH THE P L C, UM, AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL ON THE FIVE E INSTRUCTION AS WELL.
UH, OVER THE SUMMER, WE'VE DEVELOPED SOME COMMON ASSESSMENTS TO FILL SOME GAPS, UH, WITHIN OUR ASSESSMENT PRACTICES THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR.
UH, WE NORMALLY HAVE, UH, MID-YEAR AND END OF THE YEAR BENCHMARKS.
WE'VE CREATED FIRST QUARTER AND THIRD QUARTER BENCHMARKS AS WELL, JUST AS A MAJOR CHECK-IN POINT OF HOW WE'RE DOING INSTRUCTIONALLY WITH OUR STUDENTS.
UH, AND THEN WE'LL JUST JUMP DOWN TO ASSESSMENT ANALYSIS AND FOUR, AND IS GETTING THE TIME TO COLLABORATE, UH, WITH OUR PARTNERS OVER AT WARREN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL AND TALK TO THEM ABOUT WHAT'S WORKING FOR THEM, WHAT'S WORKING FOR US, AND JUST GROWING TOGETHER AS WELL.
UM, AND THEN WE, WE KNOW EACH OTHER AND WE SHARE RESOURCES AS OFTEN AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.
SO, UM, THAT'S OUR DIVISION COLLABORATION.
AND THEN WE HAVE TRIED TO ESTABLISH AS MANY PARTNERSHIPS AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.
AND, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE HAD OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS.
THE NATIONAL PARK DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY, R D W R, UH, TROUT UNLIMITED.
UH, I WANNA DEFINITELY GIVE A, A BIG PLUG TO THE W C E E, UH, FOR SPONSORING THAT WE HAVE TROUT IN THE CLASSROOM BECAUSE OF THE GRANTS THAT THEY'VE PROVIDED TO US AT SCHOOL, UH, THE STATE PARKS, AND THEN REWILD.
UM, REWILD IS ANOTHER THING, UH, THAT WE'RE PARTNERING WITH IN SKYPING WITH THE SCIENTIST.
UH, I KNOW EVERYBODY'S USING ZOOM OR GOOGLE MEETS NOW, AND SKYPE'S KIND OF OUT OF IT.
BUT, UM, THE OLD PHRASE IS SKYPE WITH THE SCIENTIST, WHERE WE CAN GO AND VIDEO CHAT WITH SCIENTISTS.
AND I WAS ABLE TO CONNECT WITH, WITH ONE THROUGH THE RILED PROJECT, AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT CONSERVATION 'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT HIS JOB IS IN, IN THE SPRING.
SO WE'RE JUST TRYING TO, ONCE AGAIN, GIVE OUR KIDS AS MANY EXPERIENCES AS POSSIBLE, UM, CROSS COLLABORATE WITH, WITH SCIENCE OR WITH ENGLISH AS WELL.
UH, MS. CONLEY IS, UH, AGAIN, UH, ONE OF OUR C T E TEACHERS.
SHE TEACHES, UH, A VARIETY OF COURSES AND JUST QUICKLY TO GO THROUGH HER COURSES, HER SIXTH AND SEVENTH GRADE COURSES, CAREER INVESTIGATIONS, UH, REALLY IS AN INTRODUCTION INTO CAREERS, UM, 17 CAREER CLUSTERS THAT EXIST, WORKING TO GET KIDS INTO THAT CAREER BACKGROUND, MAKE IT YOUR BUSINESS AS A, AS A CLASS THAT WE STARTED AT SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL HERE, MAYBE JUST THE YEAR BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.
AND IT'S DESIGNED TO HELP THEM, UH, BECOME YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS AND CREATE, UM, A BUSINESS.
SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE LOGOS THAT, UM, THE STUDENTS HAVE CREATED THEMSELVES.
UH, YEARBOOK, OF COURSE, 24 KARAT MEMORIES IS OUR YEARBOOK PHOTO FOR THIS, FOR THIS YEAR.
THAT'S THE THEME THAT THE STUDENTS PICKED.
SO THEY ARE BUSY MOVING AROUND THE BUILDING, TAKING PICTURES OF OUR CLASSROOMS AND OUR STUDENTS' HARD AT WORK DOING, UM, WHAT STUDENTS, UM, WHAT STUDENTS DO.
AND THEN A NEW COURSE THAT WE HAVE THIS YEAR IS CODING AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY.
UM, WE'RE ACTUALLY USING A PROGRAM FOR THAT CALLED CODE COMBAT AND, UM, THE, SORRY, THE, UM, THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO GET KIDS TO THINK CRITICALLY AND TEACH, TEACH THEM CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS BY CREATING CODE AND GAMES, UH, AND WHATNOT FOR, UM, FOR THEIR, UM, SO THEY CAN, SO, SO THEY CAN MOVE INTO A, A DIGITAL CODING ENVIRONMENT.
UM, IN TERMS OF SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL COUNSELING, MS. SASSER, MS. SASSER ASKED ME TO TALK FOR HER.
SHE'S HERE, AND I DON'T MIND TALKING FOR
UM, BUT SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL COUNSELING DOES A LOT FOR OUR STUDENTS.
THEY HAVE 582 KIDS ON THEIR CASELOADS, UM, MS. WHITAKER AND, AND MS. SASSER'S, THE 12 MONTH COUNSELOR, THEY DO, THEY DO A NUMBER OF, OF PROGRAMS FOR OUR KIDS, UM, INCLUDING INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING, SMALL GROUPS, UH, CLASSROOM GUIDANCE SESSIONS, CRISIS COUNSELING, UM, APPRAISALS AND ASSESSMENTS NEEDS, NEEDS ASSESSMENTS.
THERE'S PROGRAM PLANNING AND SUPPORT IN TERMS OF THE INDIRECT COUNSELING SERVICES.
UM, THEY DO, UH, UM, LEMME SEE WHAT ELSE.
THE MS. SASSER IS INTEGRAL IN HELPING TO PLAN, UM, VARIOUS ACTIVITIES AND THINGS FOR OUR KIDS, SUCH AS HANGING WITH THE HAWKS EVENT, UH, RED RIBBON WEEK, WHICH IS COMING UP HERE AT THE END OF THE END OF THE MONTH, UH, CAREER IN ACADEMIC PLANNING THROUGH MAJOR CLARITY.
UM, SHE'S INTEGRAL IN HELPING OUT WITH, UH, TRICK OR TREAT, WHICH IS OUR KICKOFF TO OUR FOOD DONATION PROGRAM.
SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL FEEDS UP TO 40 FAMILIES IN, UM, IN, IN A YEAR, UH, OVER THE COURSE OF THE HOLIDAYS.
AND THAT'S JUST NOT LIKE ONE MEAL FOR A STUDENT ON THANKSGIVING.
THAT'S A MEAL FOR ACROSS THE WEEK FOR THEIR WHOLE FAMILY.
[00:45:01]
WE REALLY WORK TO FEED AND OUTREACH TO FAMILIES, UM, THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS GONE ON, AND THAT'S A TRADITION THAT WE'VE KEPT FOR PROBABLY 39 YEARS AT THIS POINT.UM, IT DID NOT START UNDER ME, BUT WE HAVE CONTINUED, UH, CONTINUED THAT.
UM, SO THERE'S A LOT OF, A LOT OF THINGS THAT, THAT GO ON WITH THAT.
UM, AS, AS WE MOVE THROUGH, UH, THE HAWK BLOCK PARTY AT THE END OF THE YEAR AND THE END OF THE YEAR STUDENT AWARDS IN MAY, UM, UM, SHE HELPS WITH AS WELL.
SO, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANNA ADD, MS. SASSER? I DON'T THINK SO.
UM, JUST THAT NOW THAT THE LAW HAS, HAS CHANGED, WE ARE DOING 80 20, WHICH THAT BASICALLY MEANS THAT, UM, THAT 80% OF OUR TIME IS DIRECT WITH STUDENTS, AND SO WE'RE SPENDING A LOT MORE TIME WITH STUDENTS DOING GROUPS AND, AND DOING CLASSROOM LESSONS AND DOING, UM, JUST ALL KINDS OF THINGS TO HELP STUDENTS DURING THE SCHOOL DAY.
UM, AND THEN EIGHT, AND THEN 20% IS GEARED TOWARDS PLANNING OUR EVENTS AND STUFF.
UM, IT BASICALLY MAKES SCHOOL COUNSELING A LOT MORE EFFICIENT, UM, SO THAT WE CAN, UM, HELP OUR STUDENTS ON A DAILY BASIS.
UH, IN TERMS OF OUR ART PROGRAM, UM, SCULPTING, UH, THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE DONE BY ONE OF OUR EIGHTH GRADE BOYS.
UM, AND HE, UH, OBVIOUSLY VERY CREATIVE.
MISS WAAL, UM, IS A, IS A VETERAN TEACHER AND, AND GETS ENGAGED WITH HER KIDS.
AND THERE'S, UM, MORE EXAMPLES OF THE GREAT, UM, GREAT ART PROJECTS THAT, UH, OUR KIDS DO AND, AND SHOWS OFF THEIR TALENT.
SHE, UM, MS. WALTHALL DID HAVE A, A STUDENT THAT, UM, WAS ONE OF THE FINALISTS, UH, FOR THE NEW, UM, LOGO FOR THE, FOR THE SCHOOL, WHICH IS, OR FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, WHICH IS REALLY, REALLY COOL.
UM, LAST, I WANNA KICK IT OVER TO MISS CONNOR, WON'T FORGET YOUR NAME THIS TIME.
UM, SO I'M THE MATH DEPARTMENT CHAIR.
I HAVE A CO-CHAIR THAT'S IN SIXTH GRADE, OR NOT IN SIXTH GRADE.
SHE TEACHES SIXTH GRADE, UM,
SO, UM, I'M THE PARTNER CHAIR FOR MATH.
I'M ALSO THE EIGHTH GRADE TEAM LEAD, THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, AND I'M ON THE BOARD OF REACHING OUT NOW.
SO WE HAVE A PRETTY BUSY WORLD WE LIVE IN.
UM, I WORK WITH SOME GREAT MATH TEACHERS.
WE ALL REALLY LOVE MATH, AND THAT REALLY HELPS.
UH, MS. KENNY AND I BOTH WORKED TOGETHER IN THE SUMMERTIME TO REDO ALL THE OBJECTIVES FOR EACH MATH FOR SIXTH, SEVENTH, AND EIGHTH GRADE MATH.
WE KNEW THAT WE WERE, WE BATTLED THE PANDEMIC FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS, SO NOW WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THEY ALL THE CHILDREN CAN SUCCEED, UM, AND THEY CAN BE ENGAGED.
YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY HARD TO BE ENGAGED WITH MATH.
UM, PYTHAGOREAN THEOREM STUDENTS CAN EXPECT MS. DYER TO HAVE A HUGE MILE 'CAUSE IT IS HER FAVORITE, ABSOLUTE FAVORITE TOPIC.
UM, WITH SLOPE YOU MIGHT HEAR OF ME COMES SOME COMMOTION COMING FROM MY ROOM, TWO DOTS THAT EVERYBODY, WE ALWAYS SAY, I MIGHT BE ON MY DESK.
UH, MS. KENNY LEARNED ALL ABOUT, UH, MS. KENNY'S CLASS.
LEARNED ALL ABOUT RATIOS WITH HER FRUIT LOOP ACTIVITY.
UM, MS. ANTONIO ALWAYS PROVIDES A COMFORTABLE LEARNING SPACE.
I TRY TO GET A PICTURE OF HER CLASSROOM, BUT SHE WAS NOT IN THERE TODAY.
UH, BUT SHE HAS LIKE PILLOWS AND COUCHES AND, UM, THEY DO MATH ON CLIPBOARDS AND THEY REALLY LOVE IT.
UH, MR. DIVELLO USES SPORTS TO CONNECT WITH THE, THE REAL WORLD WITH MATH.
UM, WE ALL HAVE MEETINGS, WE ALL PLAN, UM, WITH MRS. DO ON THURSDAYS, I WOULD, EIGHTH GRADE DOES AND, UM, SIXTH AND SEVENTH GRADE ALL HAVE, UH, ONE WEEKLY MEETINGS WITH HER AS WELL.
AND WITH OUR EIGHTH GRADE, OR SEVENTH GRADE OR SIXTH GRADE CO-PART, WE HAVE DAILY PLANNING SESSIONS.
WE BREAK DOWN ALL THE OBJECTIVES, WE BREAK DOWN ALL OF THE, UM, SOLS AND WE TRY TO ALIGN IT EXACTLY WITH WHAT WE NEED.
WE DO KNOW THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE STRUGGLE WITH MATH, BUT WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE IT'S FUN AND ENGAGING AND CORRECT.
SO I HAD AN EIGHTH GRADE STUDENT TELL ME YESTERDAY, HE KIND OF JUST GOT THIS IDEA OF, UH, MATH AND HE SAID, MAN, I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW MATH WAS SO MUCH FUN.
SO WE HAVE MATH IS, WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE IT AS FUN AS POSSIBLE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S FUN TO ME, DOESN'T MEAN IT'S FUN TO EVERYBODY.
SO, AND THERE'S MS. DYER TEACHING DOWN THERE AND YOU CAN SEE, UH, HER FRUIT, UH, MS. KENNY'S FRUIT LOOP ACTIVITY MADE ME HUNGRY.
I THANK YOU TO, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK WITH YOU TONIGHT.
[00:50:01]
UM, I THANK YOU FOR MY STAFF FOR BEING HERE IN SUPPORT AND PRESENTING, AND DR.BALLINGER FOR, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO, TO SPEAK WITH YOU.
I KNOW I WAS A LITTLE, WE WERE A LITTLE LONG-WINDED, BUT WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SHARED ALL THE GREAT THINGS THAT WE DO AT SKYLINE.
THIS EVENING I WANTED TO SHARE A, A SMALL PART OF OUR WILDCAT FAMILY, BUT A GIANT PIECE OF MY HEART.
SO THIS IS OUR PATHWAYS AND CONNECTIONS.
I HAVE, UH, BRIAN HERE, STACY HERE, MARIO DOWN THERE.
I HAVE MS. KELLY AND MS. TRUEX, WHO ARE THE TEACHERS AND OUR INSTRUCTIONAL AIDES.
MS. WALKER GOT COACH FORD BACK THERE.
AND WHERE'S MS. PULLEY? THERE SHE IS.
SO THEY'RE GONNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THEIR PROGRAM.
ANYTIME I STOP IN SEVERAL TIMES A DAY, IT IS THE SUNSHINE OF MY DAY GOING INTO THESE CLASSES AND BEING WITH THESE KIDS.
IT'S THE HIGHLIGHT OF MY DAY TOO.
I AM A PATHWAYS AND CONNECTIONS TEACHER AT WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL.
UM, AND THE MAIN FOCUS OF MY CLASSROOM IS TRANSITION.
AND THAT WHAT THAT MEANS BASICALLY IS THAT WE HAVE A STRONGER FUNCTION FOCUS ON FUNCTIONAL LIFE SKILLS, COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, SOCIAL SKILLS, AND EMPLOYABLE SKILLS.
AND I HAVE STACY HERE, AND SHE WOULD LIKE TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT I WROTE ABOUT OUR CLASSROOM AND WHAT WE DO.
OUR CLASSROOM HAS HAD AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A CLASSROOM BUSINESS.
THIS BUSINESS RUNS EVERY OTHER WEEK.
ON S WE OFFER HEALTHY SNACK BOXES FOR TEACHERS TO RESEARCH.
SO STUDENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR INVENTORY, GROCERY LISTS, SHOPPING, CLEANING AND PREPARING FOODS, MAKING ITEMS SUCH AS PROTEIN BARS AND DIPS, FILLING ORDERS, DELIVERING ORDERS, AND COLLECTING PAYMENTS.
THANKS TO THE ELEMENTS PROGRAM AND A W C F EE GRANT, MY STUDENTS EXCEL IN THESE TASKS BECAUSE WE HAVE WORK BOXES IN THE CLASSROOM, THE SIMULATE FILLING ORDERS.
LAST SCHOOL YEAR WITH THE GRANT THAT WE RECEIVED FROM W C E E, WE WERE ABLE TO CREATE 20 PLUS WORK BOXES TO HELP SIMULATE WORK RELATED SKILLS THAT COULD BENEFIT OUR STUDENTS IN THE WORK ENVIRONMENT.
SOME OF THE TASKS IN THE BOXES ARE ROLLING NAPKINS, LIKE IN A RESTAURANT, IN A RESTAURANT, FOLLOWING STEP-BY-STEP DIRECTIONS, BY PUTTING LEGO SETS TOGETHER, USING PRINTED FOOD TO FILL ORDERS LIKE THEY WOULD ALSO FIND IN A RESTAURANT.
AND MUCH MORE STUDENTS IN OUR CLASS HAVE EVEN BEEN GIVEN, GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THE, TO DO DIFFERENT JOBS AROUND THE SCHOOL.
AND ONE OF OUR FAVORITES THAT WE LOVE THE MOST IS STOCKING FOR THE GYM CONCESSION AND THE TRACK CONCESSION BEFORE THE GAMES.
AND THAT'S A YEAR ROUND JOB FOR US.
THE KIDS LOVE IT, IT'S ROUTINE AND IT'S JUST SO MUCH FUN THAT WE GET TO DO.
WE ALSO COMPLETE TASKS THAT ARE LIFE SKILL RELATED, SUCH AS THE DOLLAR UP SYSTEM WHERE STUDENTS READ ABOUT SCENARIOS AND USE THE TOTAL CHANGE TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH TO GIVE THE CASHIER.
WE ALSO HAVE WILDCAT DOLLARS IN OUR CLASS, SO WE GET REINFORCING THINGS LIKE MINI SODAS.
YES, MINI, UM, AND THEY CAN PURCHASE THEM FOR A DOLLAR.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, TODAY I HAD A STUDENT COME UP TO ME, GIVE ME A $5 BILL, SO THEY WERE ABLE TO GET THEIR CHANGE OUT OF IT.
AND IT WORKS SIMILAR TO THE DOLLAR UP SYSTEM, SO THERE'S A LOT OF FUN IN PLACE THERE AND THEY ENJOY IT.
ANOTHER LIFE SKILL WORK BOX HAS STUDENTS ADDRESSING ENVELOPES.
WE LEARN HOW TO FOLLOW TASKS TO COOK, AND ONE OF OUR FAVORITE WAYS TO DO THIS IS FAMILY MEALS.
WE USED TO HAVE THEM MONTHLY, BUT THEN C O V I D AND MANY OTHER THINGS,
SO WE'RE EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT OUR FIRST FAMILY MEAL IS GOING TO BE THIS COMING MONDAY THE NINTH, UM, AFTER SCHOOL FOR OUR FAMILIES.
AND WE USUALLY END UP FEEDING UPWARDS OF 40 PEOPLE, STUDENTS, THEIR SIBLINGS, THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, AND OFTENTIMES THE PEER MENTORS THAT WORK IN THE CLASSROOM WITH THE STUDENTS WILL JOIN US AS WELL.
AND THE STUDENT STUDENTS GET TO RESEARCH WHAT MEALS THEY WANNA COOK FOR THEIR FAMILY THEY GET TO SHOP FOR AND COOK FOR THEIR FAMILIES AFTER SCHOOL.
[00:55:01]
AND, OH, SORRY, I LOST MY PLACE.UM, SO WE'RE PARTNERING, PARTNERING WITH THE WARREN COUNTY, UM, HIGH SCHOOL, OTHER PATHWAYS AND CONNECTIONS CLASS, WHICH IS MORE FOCUSED ON ACADEMICS AND WE'RE GONNA BE DOING THAT ALTOGETHER ON THE NINTH.
OUR CLASS IS DOING MANY GREAT THINGS AND THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THEM AND WE'VE BEEN HONORED TO HAVE YOUR SUPPORT AND TO BE HERE TO PRESENT ABOUT IT TODAY.
HELLO, MY NAME IS SHERRY TRUAX AND I'M A PATHWAYS AND CONNECTIONS TEACHER AS WELL AT WARREN COUNTY.
I AM ALSO AN ALUMNI OF WARREN COUNTY FROM THE GRADUATING CLASS OF 1984.
IT'S A TRUE HONOR TO TEACH AT THE SAME HIGH SCHOOL THAT I GRADUATED WITH AS A PATHWAYS AND CONNECTIONS ACADEMIC TEACHER.
WE HAVE SEVERAL AREAS THAT WE FOCUS ON THE MAIN FOCUS IN MY FIRST BLOCK CLASS IS ACADEMICS.
IN ACADEMICS WE WORK ON READING, READING COMPREHENSION, WRITING, SPELLING, ENGLISH AND MATH.
OUR READING AND READING COMPREHENSION ALSO COVERS A LOT OF OUR SCIENCE AND, UM, HISTORY.
MY SECOND AND FOURTH BLOCK CLASS CLASSES FOCUS ON ACTIVELY CONTRIBUTING TO OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY, AIMING TO INSTILL ENTREPRENEURIAL AND LIFE SKILLS REGARDLESS OF THEIR LEARNING LEVELS AND ABILITIES.
WE ARE KNOWN AS TRUE ACCESS TROOPS IN OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY.
UM, WE ARE, OUR PROGRAMS INCLUDE PAPER SHREDDING, UH, A SHARE CLOSET PROGRAM, AND OUR COFFEE CART BUSINESS PROGRAM.
WITH THE SHREDDING PROGRAM, STUDENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR COLLECTING AND SHREDDING CONFIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS THAT CAN BE, THAT CANNOT BE THROWN OUT OR RECYCLED.
THE SHARED CLOSET PROGRAM BENEFITS ANY AND ALL STUDENTS SCHOOL-WIDE WHO ARE IN NEED OF CLOTHING.
WHEN CLOTHES ARE DONATED, MY STUDENTS WASH DRY FOLD AND FOLD THE CLOTHING FOR THE CLOSET, AND WE MAKE SURE THE CLOSET IS NEAT AND TIDY AND ORGANIZED DAILY.
OUR PRIMARY PROGRAM IS OUR COFFEE CART.
THIS PROGRAM ALLOWS US TO OFFER ITEMS SUCH AS FLAVORED TEAS AND COFFEES AND HOMEMADE BAKED GOODS TO OUR FACULTY AND STAFF EVERY FRIDAY AT JUST A MINIMAL COST.
UM, WE GOT OUR STUDENT STUDENTS THROUGH THE ENTIRE PROCESS FROM PLANNING THE SNACKS AND BAKED GOODS TO COLLECTING ORDERS VIA GOOGLE FORMS TO PRODUCT DELIVERY AND THE BUSINESS ASPECT OF IT AS WELL, WHICH INCLUDES BUDGETING AND BUSINESS MANAGEMENT.
WE ALSO LOOK FORWARD TO THE START OF OUR FAMILY MEALS.
FAMILY MEALS IS ANOTHER VITAL ASPECT OF OUR PROGRAM, WHICH BRINGS TOGETHER PARENTS, FAMILY, ME, MEMBERS, STAFF, AND STUDENTS FOR, UH, A MEAL PREPARED BY OUR STUDENTS.
THIS EVENT UNDERSCORES OUR COMMITMENT TO FOSTERING STRONG RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN FAMILIES AND OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES.
LASTLY, I JUST WANNA SAY HOW PROUD I AM TO BE A PART OF WARREN COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEMS AND THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY.
I THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE OUR SUCCESSES WITH YOU ALL TONIGHT.
YEAH, YOU GUYS ARE SHY NOW WE'LL START PUBLIC COMMENT IN ABOUT FIVE MINUTES.
JUST IF EVERYBODY THAT WAS HERE VISITING THIS EVENING WANTS TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO LEAVE.
[01:00:33]
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, 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 SCHOOL BOARD CHAIR CONFINE THEIR COMMENTS TO ISSUES OF CON 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.
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 DISRUPTION 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. BALLANTINE FIRST SPEAKER IS ANGIE ROBINSON.
DO YOU HAVE THE TIMER TONIGHT? MR. VALENTINE, AT THE TIME SHE SAID, MY NAME IS ANGIE ROBINSON.
I'M A STEPMOTHER OF A WONDERFUL SI UH, STEPSON AT SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL.
UM, I'M HERE TO SHARE SOME THOUGHTS FROM A TEACHER AT RUSTY JEFFRIES.
SHE'S UNABLE TO BE HERE BEING A SINGLE PARENT.
SHE IS HERE, OH, WELL, LET ME READ IT AS SHE WROTE IT.
THIS IS MY 19TH YEAR AS AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER, AND 18 OF THOSE YEARS HAVE BEEN SERVED HERE IN WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
I ATTENDED WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT MY EDUCATIONAL CAREER AND GRADUATED FROM WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL.
WHEN I WENT TO COLLEGE TO FULFILL MY DREAM OF BECOMING A TEACHER, I WANTED NOTHING MORE THAN TO RETURN TO WARREN COUNTY AND GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY THAT SHAPED ME SO MUCH.
WITHIN MY CAREER HERE AS AN EDUCATOR, I HAVE WORKED WITH THREE SUPERINTENDENTS AND ONE INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT.
ONLY ONE OF THOSE HAS PERSONALLY TAKEN THE TIME TO RESPOND TO AN EMAIL AND SIT WITH ME IN PERSON TO HEAR MY IDEAS.
THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN MANY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS DURING MY TIME, AND AGAIN, ONLY ONE HAS TAKEN THE TIME TO RESPOND TO MY EMAILS PERSONALLY, AND THAT IS DR.
PENCE AT SO MANY COMMUNITY EVENTS AND SCHOOL FUNCTIONS.
SHE HAS BEEN A PROFESSIONAL DURING MEETINGS, AND I BELIEVE THAT SHE TRULY HAS THE BEST INTEREST OF THE STUDENTS OF WARREN COUNTY AT HEART.
THE BIGGEST CONCERN THAT I HAVE SEEN WITH WARREN COUNTY IS THE LACK OF FUNDING AND COMMUNITY INVESTMENT.
IN RECENT YEARS, THE WARREN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAS LESSENED THE AMOUNT THEY ARE WILLING TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT IS THE BARE MINIMUM REQUIRED BY THE STATE OF VIRGINIA.
PENCE HAVE DONE THEIR VERY BEST TO KEEP SALARIES COMPETITIVE, BUT WITH AN EVER SHRINKING CONTRIBUTION FROM THE SUPERVISORS, IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO DO.
NOT ONLY ARE SALARIES SUFFERING FROM THIS LACK OF FUNDING, BUT THIS ALSO AFFECTS THE AMOUNT OF POSITIONS AND SERVICES THAT WE CAN OFFER TO BEST SERVE THE STUDENTS OF WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
ANOTHER CONCERN THAT I SEE IN WARREN COUNTY HAS BEEN A CONCERN FOR MANY YEARS, AND THAT IS ZONING OF THE SCHOOLS.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ZONES ARE FAR FROM EQUAL AND HAVE LED TO OVERCROWDING AND TRANSPORTATION ISSUES WITHIN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
WE ALSO HAVE A FAIRLY LAX POLICY FOR ZONE TRANSFER OR REQUESTS WITHIN THE COUNTY.
AND MANY CHILDREN ATTEND SCHOOLS OUT OF THEIR ZONE DISTRICT, WHICH ALSO LEADS TO OVERCROWDING TRANSPORTATION AND ATTENDANCE ISSUES.
BEFORE WE PLACE THE BLAME ON ONE PERSON OR ONE BOARD MEMBER, WE NEED TO ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS THAT AFFECT THE ENTIRE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
WARREN COUNTY NEEDS TO COME TOGETHER AND PUT OUR STUDENTS FIRST PUBLIC.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE ALWAYS BE, WILL BE THE BEST INVESTMENT A COMMUNITY CAN MAKE.
WITHOUT THEM, A COMMUNITY WILL NOT THRIVE.
I FEAR THERE IS AN ULTERIOR MOTIVE TO UNDERMINE THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM WITH THESE MEETINGS AND THE LOCAL ELECTIONS.
[01:05:01]
PLEASE DO NOT LET THE STUDENTS OF WARREN COUNTY FALL VICTIM TO POLITICAL SCHEMES AND AGENDAS.THEY NEED ALL OF US TO SUCCEED.
AND SO, IN MY OWN WORDS, UM, WITH MEMBERS OF THE BOARD SHARING IN ONE OF THE MEETINGS ABOUT TEACHERS CRYING THROUGHOUT CLASS AND SAYING THEY'RE ON SURVIVAL MODE AND CHROMEBOOKS BEING BROKEN, ET CETERA, BEING A, UH, INSTRUCTIONAL COACH WITH MANY TEACHERS, I SEE IT ON A DAILY, THIS ISN'T JUST WARREN COUNTY'S ISSUE, THIS IS A PUBLIC EDUCATION ISSUE.
EDUCATORS HAVE BEEN BELITTLED, BADGERED, AND DISRESPECTED.
THANK YOU, MS. ROBINSON IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, MR. VALENTINE.
I'M A PARENT TO THREE WONDERFUL KIDS WHO ATTEND YOUR SCHOOLS.
LAST TIME I WAS HERE, I GAVE YOU GUYS A YELLOW FOLDER TO, UM, I UNDERSTAND THAT VERBAL RESPONSES ARE NOT POSSIBLE, BUT I'D LIKE TO ASK FOR A SHOW OF HANDS OF HOW MANY OF YOU ACTUALLY FULLY REVIEWED THAT FOLDER.
TODAY, I'M HERE TO ONCE AGAIN DISCUSS THE PRESSING NEED FOR CAMERAS IN OUR CLASSROOMS. I SEE THAT THE CAMERA POLICY IS BEING SHAPED AND IS ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA.
I RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE TEACHERS WHO MAY NOT YET SEE THE BENEFITS OF THIS RESOURCE.
CHANGE CAN BE CHALLENGING, BUT WITHOUT IT, THINGS STAY THE SAME.
TECHNOLOGY AND SURVEILLANCE HAVE BECOME AN ESSENTIAL ASPECT OF OUR MODERN EXISTENCE.
A REFLECTION OF CHANGING TIMES.
CAMERAS IN OUR CLASSROOMS REPRESENT THE FUTURE DIRECTION, AND IT IS VITAL FOR WARREN COUNTY TO REMAIN AT THE FOREFRONT RATHER THAN FALLING BEHIND.
ENSURE THE SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS AND OUR STAFF AND KEEP MOVING FORWARD WITH THE CAMERAS IN THE CLASSROOM.
I HAVE THREE CHILDREN IN WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT THE FRONT ROW IS TAPED OFF.
'CAUSE LAST TIME I SPOKE HERE, I WAS CHARGED AT THE PODIUM.
THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM IS TO PROVIDE A FORMAL EDUCATION TO CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS, COVERING A WIDE RANGE OF SUBJECTS AND SKILLS NECESSARY FOR PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT AND FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES.
AS A CONSERVATIVE PARENT WHO CHOOSES TO SEND MY KIDS TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THEY DESERVE QUALITY, SAFE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
A STRONG PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM SERVES OUR COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE, EVEN TO INCLUDE THOSE WHO DON'T SEND THEIR KIDS TO THE WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
IT INCREASES AND RETAINS PROPERTY VALUES FOR THOSE SEEKING TO CHOOSE OUR AREA.
BECAUSE WE ALREADY HAVE A LOW CRIME RATE HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY, WITHOUT PROPER DISCIPLINING IN OUR SCHOOLS, THIS IS GOING TO LEAD TO A HIGHER CRIME RATE.
AS A LOCALITY, WE ALL WANT THE SAME COMMON GOAL, I DO BELIEVE, WHICH IS TO SEND OUR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL KNOWING THAT THEY'RE SAFE AND THEIR NEEDS ARE BEING MET.
CORE SUBJECTS ARE BEING TAUGHT AT A PASSING RATE TO ENSURE THAT THEY'RE RECEIVING THE NECESSARY TOOLS TO MAKE THEM SUCCESSFUL IN LIFE.
ENGLISH, MATH, SCIENCE, AND HISTORY.
AS A KNOWN REPUBLICAN, I'M HERE NOT TO ASK YOU TO BAN BOOKS OR ISOLATE ANY PARTICULAR GROUPS OR INDIVIDUALS.
RATHER, FOCUS ON THE SAFETY AND EDUCATION OF OUR YOUTH, WHICH IS YOUR JOB.
FOCUSING ON THE FUTURE OF THE WARREN COUNTY EDUCATION SYSTEM, LIKE ADDRESSING THE SCHOOL'S OVERFLOWING THAT COULD NOT TAKE ON THE NEARLY 1000 HOMESCHOOLED STUDENTS WHO LIVE HERE IN WARREN COUNTY.
IF THEY DECIDED TO ENROLL TOMORROW MORNING, THE GOVERNOR OF OUR STATE WON AN ELECTION ON THIS TOPIC ALONE, AND THAT'S PARENTAL RIGHTS.
IT DOESN'T TAKE A MAGA REPUBLICAN BIGOT AS I WAS CALLED HERE AT THE LAST MEETING, TO KNOW THAT WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN.
PARENTS HAVE RIGHTS WITHIN THE PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM, WHICH IS APPARENTLY, UM, SOMETHING THAT'S NEWLY KNOWN TO A LOT OF PEOPLE.
UM, THEY HAVE THIS RIGHT THAT IS DESIGNED TO ENSURE, UH, THAT THEY HAVE A VOICE IN THEIR CHILD'S EDUCATION.
AND THESE RIGHTS CAN VARY DEPENDING ON JURISDICTION, AND THAT'S WHERE IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT THIS BOARD STANDS ON THEIR DECISION TO CONTINUE ENSURING AND SUPPORTING POLICIES AND COMMUNICATIONS WITH PARENTS.
CHRISTOPHER JOHNSON FOR THE JOB THAT HE HAS DONE AT WARREN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL, COMMUNICATING WITH PARENTS.
SOME BELIEVE THAT IT'S OVERSHARING OR MAYBE THAT THERE'S NEW INFORMATION BEING BROUGHT TO LIGHT, BUT THAT'S NOT IT.
DON'T SHOOT THE MESSENGER, WHICH IS ONE BOARD MEMBER WHO'S BROUGHT TO LIGHT MANY ISSUES THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.
BEING A PUBLIC SERVANT AND CHOOSING TO SERVE ON THIS BOARD IS A THANKLESS JOB, BUT I THANK EACH OF YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE YOU, YOUR FAMILY, AND YOUR LOVED ONES BECOME A TARGET.
YET HERE YOU ARE SHOWING UP AND DOING THE JOB THAT NOBODY ELSE WAS ELECTED TO DO.
BUT YOU GUYS, THERE HAVE BEEN MANY PEOPLE FOR MANY DECADES WHO HAVE SERVED ON THE WARREN COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD WHO EITHER DIDN'T HAVE CHILDREN IN WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THEY DIDN'T HAVE CHILDREN AT ALL.
THEY HAD NEVER BIRTHED A CHILD OR PARENTED A CHILD.
AND FOR THIS, WE'VE ALSO HAD RETIREES WITH NO RELEVANT INTEREST OR EXPERIENCE IN PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM OR EDUCATION AT ALL.
AND NOBODY HAS EVER BATTED AN EYE.
THOSE WHO ARE A REGISTERED VOTER CAN QUALIFY TO RUN FOR THIS OFFICE.
YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO BE A TAXPAYER IN WARREN COUNTY TO BE ELECTED TO THIS SYSTEM AND THE SEATS IN WHICH YOU'RE SITTING.
I'VE MET EACH OF YOU INDIVIDUALLY, AND I DON'T BELIEVE ANY ONE PERSON SITTING UP THERE IS SEATED THERE TO DESTROY OR DISMANTLE
[01:10:01]
OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM, THE VERY SYSTEM THAT I HAVE ENTRUSTED WITH MY CHILDREN.WE SIT HERE AND TALK ABOUT MS. MORRIS, NOT DISCRIMINATING.
LET'S NOT BE THE BULLIES THAT WE ASK OUR CHILDREN NOT TO BE.
I'M A PARENT AND A RESIDENT OF THE HAPPY CREEK DISTRICT.
THANK YOU CHAIRWOMAN PENCE FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
THE RECENT NEWS OF A STUDENT'S VIOLENT ATTACK BY ANOTHER STUDENT AND OTHER SIGNIFICANT STUDENT AND STAFF DISCIPLINARY MATTERS IS DISTRESSING.
IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS OUTRAGED BY THESE ACTS, AS THEY SHOULD JUSTIFIABLY BE.
I'M DISMAYED THAT THESE EGREGIOUS INCIDENTS OVERSHADOW THE MANY POSITIVE THINGS HAPPENING IN OUR SCHOOLS.
WHILE I SUPPORT THIS BOARD'S EFFORT TO ADDRESS DISCIPLINARY CONCERNS, IT DOES THE SCHOOL SYSTEM A DISSERVICE IF WE DON'T ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT GREAT THINGS ARE HAPPENING EVERY DAY.
THOUGH I HAVE NOT COLLECT, EXCUSE ME, THOUGH I HAVE NOT COLLECTED HARD DATA.
I WOULD HAZARD A GUESS AND A SINCERE HOPE THAT MOST OF THE 5,000 PLUS WARREN COUNTY STUDENTS GO TO AND FROM SCHOOL EACH DAY WITHOUT INCIDENT.
MY OWN CHILD ATTENDS THE BLUE RIDGE TECH CENTER FOR ENGAGING HANDS-ON LEARNING AS THE ONLY GIRL IN HER AUTO TECH AND PROGRAMMING CLASSES, WHILE ALSO EARNING COLLEGE CREDIT FOR HER DUAL ENROLLMENT MATH COURSE WITH AN EYE TOWARD A FUTURE CAREER IN ENGINEERING.
SHE WAS ABLE TO TAKE MR. SEARS' INTRO TO ENGINEERING COURSE LAST YEAR, AND SHE WILL AGAIN, BENEFIT FROM HIS AWESOME INSTRUCTION IN ANOTHER COURSE NEXT SEMESTER.
WE HAVE BEEN SO IMPRESSED BY HER TEACHERS FROM MRS. BAKER IN THE FIRST GRADE TO MRS. FLORA, MRS. VASHTA, AND RA LOGAN IN NINTH GRADE.
IT HASN'T ALWAYS BEEN SMOOTH SAILING AS WE DEALT WITH BULLYING IN ELEMENTARY, BUT THERE WERE STAFF MEMBERS WHO WERE IN TUNE WITH HER SENSITIVE NATURE AND MADE SURE SHE WAS CARED FOR AND SUPPORTED.
I COUNTED ON THE SCHOOL COUNSELOR AND THE NURSE TO COMFORT HER WHENEVER SOMETHING OR SOMEONE MADE HER FEEL BADLY.
ULTIMATELY, I FELT LISTENED TO WHEN I ADVOCATED FOR HER TO BE PLACED IN A CLASS WITH A FRIEND WHO WOULD HAVE HER BACK AND MAKE HER FEEL SAFE.
I'VE NEVER FELT DISCOUNTED WHEN I'VE CONTACTED A SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR TO EXPRESS A CONCERN, I'VE ALWAYS FELT WELCOME TO BRING ANYTHING TO SCHOOL STAFF ATTENTION.
I BELIEVE THAT STAFF WANNA PARTNER WITH FAMILIES TO ENSURE THE BEST POSSIBLE EXPERIENCES FOR OUR CHILDREN.
DOES WARREN COUNTY HAVE ITS ISSUES? OF COURSE, STUDENT BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS ARE A GROWING CONCERN HERE AS THEY ARE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
THE PANDEMIC PUT STUDENTS BEHIND ACADEMICALLY AND DEVELOPMENTALLY.
WE SEE THEM ACTING OUT IF THEY'RE STRUGGLING WITH A CONCEPT THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND, OR IF THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO APPROPRIATELY INTERACT WITH THEIR TEACHERS OR PEERS.
I WORRY ABOUT MY CHILD'S MENTAL HEALTH, AND I KNOW I'M NOT THE ONLY PARENT WHO DOES.
OUR STUDENTS NEED MORE RESOURCES TO SUPPORT THEIR MENTAL AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING.
OUR TEACHERS NEED MORE SUPPORT AND TRAINING TO ADDRESS STUDENT BEHAVIOR.
AND ALL STAFF MEMBERS FROM ADMINISTRATORS DOWN THE LINE NEED TO KNOW THEY WILL BE BACKED UP BY THIS BOARD.
WHEN IT COMES TO ADDRESSING DISCIPLINARY CHALLENGES.
FAMILIES SHOULD BE CONFIDENT THAT WHEN THEY SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL, THEY WILL RETURN HOME.
AT THE END OF THE DAY IN ONE PIECE, FAMILIES SHOULD FEEL WELCOME TO BRING CONCERNS TO THE ATTENTION OF SCHOOL STAFF, AND KNOW THAT THESE CONCERNS WILL BE ADDRESSED SWIFTLY.
ULTIMATELY, WE SHOULD ALL BE WORKING TOGETHER TOWARD A COMMON GOAL, ENSURING THAT EVERY WARREN COUNTY STUDENT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND AND SAFE AND ENRICHING SCHOOL.
WE MUST ALL BE CHAMPIONS OF WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS CELEBRATING ITS ACHIEVEMENTS AND WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE IT THE BEST POSSIBLE EDUCATION SYSTEM FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
WHERE EACH OF OUR STUDENTS' UNIQUE IDENTITIES ARE EMBRACED, THEIR ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL NEEDS ARE MET, AND THEY'RE PREPARED TO CONTRIBUTE POSITIVELY TO THEIR COMMUNITIES, COMMUNITIES UPON GRADUATION.
UH, I WANT TO FIRST OF ALL SAY I'M REALLY THANKFUL FOR MY CHILDREN'S SCHOOL.
WARREN COUNTY HAS BEEN EXCELLENT.
THE STAFF HAS BEEN SO WELCOME AND AN EXCELLENT, UM, THE AMOUNT OF SUPPORT THAT MY, UH, THE KIDS RECEIVE AT SCHOOL IS, IS WONDERFUL.
I SEE TEACHERS GOING OUT THEIR WAY TO HELP THEM OUT.
UM, ALSO AS A, A PRE-K, A FORMER PRE-K TA, UM, I UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO HAVE QUALITY STAFF IN THESE SCHOOLS.
AND I BELIEVE YOU DO HAVE MUCH QUALITY STAFF IN THESE SCHOOLS.
PEOPLE THAT ARE REALLY HEARTFELT AND REALLY PUT, YOU KNOW, THEIR, THEIR LIVES OUT THERE, THEIR SECURITY, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING THAT THEY CAN EACH DAY FOR THESE CHILDREN.
UM, I DO KNOW, AND YOU KNOW, THINK THAT THERE IS A BULLYING PROBLEM.
UM, YOU KNOW, TEACHERS, WE, WE CAN'T, TEACHERS CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH.
UH, THEY NEED SUPPORT, I BELIEVE, UM, FROM PARENTS.
PARENTS NEED TO BE MORE INVOLVED IN HOW THEY ARE RAISING THEIR CHILDREN.
I THINK IT'S GONE PAST THE, THE IDEA OF WHO'S RIGHT AND WHO'S WRONG, WHICH IDEA IS RIGHT, WHICH IDEA IS WRONG? NO, THIS IS MORE OF A SAFETY ISSUE FOR OUR CHILDREN IN OUR SCHOOLS.
OUR CHILDREN, ALL CHILDREN SHOULD
[01:15:01]
HAVE THE RIGHT, SHOULD HAVE THE, THE, THE BLESSING TO BE ABLE TO GO TO SCHOOL AND FEEL LIKE THEY WILL BE WELCOMED OR THEY WILL NOT GET BULLIED.THEY, THEY HAVE THAT RIGHT? WHY SHOULDN'T THEY? THEY'RE PEOPLE THAT ARE FORMING.
UM, YOU KNOW, I HAVE MET PEOPLE THAT HAVE STATED THAT THEY HAVE BEEN BULLIED REALLY BAD, UM, IN SCHOOL WHEN THEY WERE IN HIGH SCHOOL JUST BECAUSE OF, OF THE FACT THAT THEY WERE DIFFERENT.
NOW WE HAVE TO ASK OURSELVES WHY THIS IS, UH, I KNOW BULLYING IS NOT BEING TAUGHT IN SCHOOL.
YOU KNOW, OUR TEACHERS ARE DOING A GREAT JOB TEACHING, YOU KNOW, ALL THE SKILLS THAT ARE NEEDED FOR OUR FORMING ADULTS TO BE PROSPEROUS.
UM, SO I THINK DISCIPLINARY ACTION SHOULD BE IN PLACE FOR THOSE BULLIES.
THEIR PARENTS SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
THEY SHOULD, UH, ATTEND A WORKSHOP MAYBE ON HOW TO PREVENT BULLYING SO THAT THEY, SO THAT THE PARENTS AND THE STUDENTS CAN BOTH ATTEND AND WORK ON THIS PROBLEM TOGETHER.
UH, YOU KNOW, WE WE'RE NOT SAYING THIS IS RIGHT, THIS IS WRONG.
WE ARE SIMPLY SAYING THAT PARENTS SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT THEY TEACH THEIR CHILDREN.
THEY ARE SENDING THESE INDIVIDUALS OUT TO SCHOOL.
NOW, TEACHERS CAN ONLY, CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH, AND STAFF CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH NO MATTER HOW MUCH SECURITY YOU PUT IN SCHOOL.
AND NO MATTER, NO MATTER HOW, HOW MANY GUARDS YOU HAVE, IT, IT, IT HAS TO BE, IT, IT'S FOR MORE PROFOUND THAN THAT.
UM, I THINK BY, YOU KNOW, PARENTS BEING A LITTLE BIT MORE ACCEPTANT, UM, THAT CAN HELP THESE INDIVIDUALS BE BETTER INDIVIDUALS FOR THE FUTURE.
UM, YOU KNOW, I, I HAVE MORE, YOU KNOW, IT.
I JUST THINK THAT THERE SHOULD BE MORE.
THANK YOU MS. RODRIGUEZ FOR SCHOOL.
WE CAN, WE CAN SKIP AND IF HE COMES BACK IN, WE'LL CIRCLE BACK AROUND.
MAY I APPROACH? I HAVE SOMETHING FOR YOU GUYS.
YOU, MY SON WAS DELIVERED TO ME, WALKED OUT TO ME AS TWO ADMINISTRATORS, HAND IN HAND WITHOUT 9 1 1 BEING CALLED.
THIS IS HOW MY SON WAS DELIVERED TO ME WHEN THE SCHOOL DID NOT CALL 9 1 1.
I AM OFFENDED THAT YOU GUYS JUST LET THAT PRESENTATION HAPPEN AS IF WHAT JUST TOOK PLACE WITH MY SON NEVER HAPPENED.
HOW DARE YOU? I JUST HEARD TALK ABOUT RESPECT, RESPECT, DR.
I HAVE NOT ONE PHONE CALL, MR. JOHNSON.
LET ME GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON MY SON.
WE HAVE TO GO SEE AN ENDODONTIST AND A PERIODONTIST BECAUSE THE THIRD ADULT TOOTH IS DYING.
HE CANNOT GET FAKE TOOTH, FAKE TEETH UNTIL HIS MID TWENTIES.
HOW DARE EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM? I HAVE NEVER SAT IN A ROOM WITH SO MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE FAILED MY CHILD.
AND IT IS HARD TO JUST SIT HERE AND LISTEN TO PEOPLE GO ON AND ON ABOUT RESPECT AND RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITY.
AIDEN HAD A RIGHT TO FEEL SAFE IN YOUR SCHOOL, AND IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT.
I HAVE HEARD NOBODY TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR NOT BEING AN ADVOCATE FOR MY SON.
YOU ALL ARE FAILING MY SON JUST AS MUCH AS THE SCHOOL DID FOR ALLOWING THAT TO HAPPEN.
I PRAY TO GOD WHEN AIDEN'S NOT, WHEN AIDEN'S OLDER, AND THIS IS CIRCULATING ONLINE, THAT HE DOES NOT HAVE TO SIT AND WATCH THAT JUST BOGUS.
I DIDN'T HEAR 9 1 1 POLICY 9 1 1 POLICY.
HOW IS AN ADMINISTRATOR GOING TO KNOW TO CALL 9 1 1? BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T KNOW BEFORE.
THIS IS HOW MY SON WAS DELIVERED TO ME.
HIS PHASE ONE OF TREATMENT WAS TWO AND A HALF YEARS.
MY HUSBAND AND I ARE FACING TWO AND A HALF YEARS FOR AIDAN'S MOUTH TO BEGIN BEING RECONSTRUCTED.
DID YOU HEAR ME? DO I NEED TO SAY THAT LOUDER? DID WE HEAR ME IN THE BACK? HOW DARE YOU.
YOU ALL SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES.
[01:20:01]
YOU ALL NEED TO DO SO MUCH BETTER.HAVEN'T HEARD FROM YOU, HAVEN'T HEARD FROM YOU.
NOBODY'S CALLING, BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ALL THESE GOOD THINGS THAT WE'RE PUTTING IN PLACE.
NOBODY DID THE RIGHT THING FOR MY SON.
AND I WILL NOT STOP SHOWING UP.
I WILL NOT BE SCARED OUT OF THIS.
AIDEN DESERVES SO MUCH MORE THAN ANY OF YOU HAVE GIVEN HIM.
AND I WILL NOT STOP UNTIL THERE'S POLICY CHANGE.
TALKING ABOUT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITY.
MY SON WAS IN WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL, AND THAT'S THE SCHOOL HE WOULD'VE GONE TO NEXT.
SORRY, DIDN'T WANNA GO AFTER YOU.
UM, OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS OF SCHOOLING MY CHILDREN, THEY'VE BEEN IN A COMBINATION OF HOME SCHOOLS, PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS, ALL HERE IN WARREN COUNTY PRIMARILY.
SOMETIMES YOU GET CO-OPS IN, IN, UH, WINCHESTER.
UM, MY CONCERN TONIGHT, UM, IS ABOUT THE INCREASING ANTI-CATHOLIC, ANTI TRADITIONAL CHRISTIAN ANTI HOMESCHOOL RHETORIC, MORE OF WHICH WE HEARD LAST NIGHT AT THE SPECIAL MEETING.
AND WHILE YOU CERTAINLY CAN'T CONTROL WHAT IS SAID, YOU CAN USE YOUR POSITIONS TO EDUCATE AND REMIND CITIZENS OF WHAT THE REQUIREMENTS ARE FOR SCHOOL BOARD SEATS AND WHAT ACTUALLY GOES INTO THAT POSITION WHEN IT IS DONE.
WELL, I'VE ONLY SEEN ONE BOARD MEMBER SPEAK OUT OR EVEN TRY TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THIS.
UM, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, ONLY TWO OF OUR CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS HAVE CHILDREN IN WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
AND THAT SHOULD PROBABLY, UM, BE BETTER EXPLAINED TO THE PUBLIC BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE SEEM TO THINK THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE CHILDREN IN WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN ORDER TO HAVE A SEAT ON THE BOARD.
UM, AND NONE OF YOU SHOULD BE TOLERATING THE, ANY, ANY ANTI-CATHOLIC OR ANTI HOMESCHOOL OR RHETORIC, WHETHER OUT OF FEAR OR POLITICAL ASPIRATIONS.
IF WE WANT OUR CHILDREN IN OUR SCHOOLS NOT TO BULLY OTHERS BASED ON THEIR DIFFERENCES.
YOU CAN START THAT EXAMPLE IN YOUR PUBLIC SPHERE, IN YOUR PUBLIC, UM, SERVICE HERE.
UM, PRIVATE SCHOOL BOARDS ARE TYPICALLY COMPRISED OF BOARD MEMBERS, LARGELY NOT WITH STUDENTS INSIDE THOSE PRIVATE SCHOOLS.
UM, THIS ALLOWS FOR OBJECTIVITY, A WIDE RANGE OF TALENTS AND LIFE EXPERIENCES.
A CANDIDATE, CANDIDATE'S MARRIAGE SHOULD BE WEIGHED ON THEIR OWN EXPERIENCES, THEIR SUCCESS IN THE CIVILIAN WORLD, POSSIBLY PRE UM, PREVIOUS, UM, BOARD POSITIONS AND, AND OTHER THINGS OF THAT NATURE, NOT THEIR RELIGION OR THEIR EDUCATIONAL CHOICES FOR THEIR CHILDREN.
AND, UM, JUST ALL OF YOU COULD USE YOUR EXPERIENCE AND YOUR PLATFORMS TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THAT AND TO NOT TOLERATE IT, WHETHER IT'S ABOUT A FELLOW BOARD MEMBER OR A POTENTIAL FUTURE CANDIDATE, BECAUSE ALL OF US, WHETHER WE'RE HOMESCHOOLERS, HAVE CHILDREN IN PRIVATE SCHOOL, HAVE KIDS IN PUBLIC SCHOOL, OR SOME COMBINATION THEREOF, WHICH IS MORE PEOPLE THAN YOU WOULD THINK IN WARREN COUNTY AT ANY MOMENT, THOSE CHILDREN COULD COME INTO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
SO WHY NOT HAVE THE BE A PLACE WHERE THESE HOMESCHOOLERS ARE WELCOME? I KNOW WHEN, WHEN THAT, WHEN WE WERE FACED WITH THAT, WE WOUND UP HAVING AN EXCELLENT RELATIONSHIP WITH, UM, THE PRINCIPAL AND, UM, STAFF AT, UM, IT WAS RUSTY JEFFRIES.
AND THAT'S REALLY, I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
AND I THINK THAT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT ALL OF YOU ENCOURAGE, UM, THE SCHOOLS TO HAVE THOSE GOOD RELATIONSHIPS WITH HOMESCHOOLERS AND TO BE VERY AWARE OF THIS, UM, PROBLEM.
UNLESS MR. MAYOR IS PRESENT, THAT WAS THE LAST, UH, PERSON TO SIGN UP.
WELL, IF ANYONE ELSE WANTS TO SPEAK, YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE BEEN SIGNED UP.
WAS TEXTING, UH, KRISTEN ABOUT THE LOUD FRONT ROW? I'M SURE YOU WERE.
IS THERE SOMEONE ELSE WHO WANTS TO SPEAK? I WANT NO COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE.
HELLO, MY NAME IS SARAH DOWNS.
[01:25:02]
I AM A PARENT AND I'M A PARENT WITH A CHILD WHO'S CURRENTLY NOT IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.AND THE REASON I'M SO PASSIONATE ABOUT OUR SCHOOL BOARD RIGHT NOW AND MAKING SURE THAT OUR SCHOOLS ARE RUN PROPERLY TO THE EXCELLENCY THAT I KNOW CAN BE CAPABLE OF IS BECAUSE I KNOW FOR A FACT I WILL BE SENDING MY SON TO PUBLIC SCHOOL.
PUBLIC SCHOOL PROVIDES THE DIVERSITY OF LIFE EXPERIENCES, IT PROVIDES DIVERSITY OF MINDS, DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, DIFFERENT PEOPLE, AND I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT ENSURING THAT HIS SAFETY IS YOUR UTMOST IMPORTANCE.
WHEN I HAVE TO DROP MY SON OFF ON THE FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN, I APPRECIATE THE SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL TEAM FOR PRESENTING TO US TODAY ON EVERYTHING THEY'VE BEEN WORKING ON, UM, TO IMPROVE THEIR SCHOOLS.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO CALL FOR THE RESIGNATION OF THE PRINCIPAL AT SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
I HAVE HEARD FROM MANY PEOPLE, PARENTS, STUDENTS, TEACHERS, THAT THEY FEEL AS THOUGH HE IS NOT AS WELL SUPPORTED, THAT THEY FEEL THAT THEY'RE NOT AS WELL SUPPORTED BY HIM AS THEY SHOULD BE.
I HAVE HEARD THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL INCIDENCES, NOT JUST THIS YEAR ALONE, BUT IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS OF ISSUES AT THAT SCHOOL WHERE THE PRINCIPAL HAS NOT BEEN AS RESPONSIVE AS HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY THAT I AM DONE WITH THE POLITICS AND THE POLITICAL POSTURING OF CERTAIN BOARD MEMBERS.
WE HAVE GOT TO CARE ABOUT OUR CHILDREN AND ACTUALLY PRESENT CONCRETE SOLUTIONS INSTEAD OF LIKENING OUR SCHOOLS TO PRISONS.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, DEFENSIVE DEMOCRACY IS CREATING AN ACTION PLAN.
OUR FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS TO CALL FOR THE EXPULSION AND THE REMOVAL OF THE PRINCIPAL AT SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
OUR SECOND ACTION ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS TO CREATE A COMMUNITY SUPPORT GROUP WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS, PARENTS, STUDENTS WHO ARE ALL GOING TO BE MEETING FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR, TO CREATE BETTER SOLUTIONS, AND TO ACTUALLY ASK PARENTS AND STUDENTS WHAT THEY WANT THOSE SOLUTIONS TO BE AND NOT JUST TO ASSUME WHAT OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS AND MY LAST SCHOOL WILL BE TO CONTINUE TO PROTECT OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS FROM THE INFLUENCE OF EXTREME RELIGION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FROM HEARING FROM ME TODAY.
IS THERE ANY, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK THIS EVENING? GOOD EVENING.
I JUST WENT TO, UM, MY NAME'S STEVIE HUBBARD.
I WANNA CLEAR UP A COUPLE OF THINGS.
UM, EVERYONE HAS A CHOICE ON WHETHER THEY ARE GOING TO PUBLICLY SCHOOL THEIR CHILDREN OR HOMESCHOOL THEIR CHILDREN.
AND SOME PEOPLE ARE EXCELLENT HOMESCHOOL PARENTS.
I HAPPEN TO KNOW MELANIE STALIN IS AN EXCELLENT HOMESCHOOL PARENT.
UM, I THINK THAT THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE IS THAT WE WANT FOLKS ON HERE TO BELIEVE IN THE SYSTEM THAT THEY ARE GOVERNING.
WE THINK THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT.
WE THINK THAT IT IS ALSO VERY IMPORTANT THAT EVERYONE IS WORKING IN GOOD FAITH TO REACH A COMMON GOAL.
AND SO IF THERE'S ONE OF US THAT IS ALWAYS SUSPICIOUS OF THE OTHER, THAT'S NOT REALLY GOOD FAITH, RIGHT? SO WE WANT PEOPLE TO CARE ENOUGH ABOUT OUR CHILDREN TO PUT THEIR PERSONAL DIFFERENCES ASIDE AND TO WORK TOGETHER AS A WHOLE UNIT TO PROVIDE THE MOST EXCELLENT EXPERIENCE OUR CHILDREN CAN POSSIBLY HAVE IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.
AND I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE A MAJORITY OF PEOPLE DOING THAT ON THIS BOARD.
HOWEVER, IT IS HIGHLY UNPROFESSIONAL TO DO THINGS FROM YOUR SEAT ON THE BOARD AND STATE THEM AS FACT.
WHEN YOU HAVE NO VERIFIABLE EVIDENCE THAT IT IS FACT, YOU, YOU, YOU, YOU HAVE TO KNOW IT IS FACT.
AND, AND IT'S JUST UNPROFESSIONAL TO DO THAT FROM THE BOARD AND TO THROW YOUR OTHER BOARD MEMBERS UNDER THE BUS WHILE YOU'RE DOING IT.
IT, IT DOES NOTHING FOR OUR CHILDREN.
[01:30:01]
DIRECT TO ME, HUH? IT DOES NOTHING FOR OUR CHILDREN.SO WHAT WE NEED TO HAVE HAPPEN HERE IS PEOPLE THAT ARE COHESIVELY WANTING TO WORK WITH ONE ANOTHER IN ORDER TO HAVE A COMMON GOAL.
THERE CAN BE DIFFERENCES ON HOW YOU GET THERE, AS LONG AS THE GOAL IS IN COMMON.
BUT IF THE GOAL IS NOT IN COMMON, THEN IT MAKES FOR AN UNCOHESIVE BOARD THAT CAN'T GET MUCH OF ANYTHING DONE.
IT MAKES THE SUPERINTENDENT'S JOB HARDER.
IT MAKES THE STAFF'S JOB HARDER.
IT MAKES EVERYBODY'S JOB HARDER THAT IS INVOLVED.
AND I WANT TO REITERATE THAT POLICIES THAT ARE FOLLOWED AT THE SCHOOLS ARE DEVELOPED AT THE SCHOOL BOARD LEVEL.
AND SO THEREFORE, IF SOMEONE IS FOLLOWING THE POLICY THAT IS GIVEN TO THEM, THEY ARE INDEED DOING THEIR JOB.
NOT EVERYTHING CAN BE SPOKEN TO IN A PUBLIC MANNER BY PEOPLE SITTING ON THESE BOARDS.
AND I'M NOT SURE WHY PEOPLE THAT ARE CHOOSING TO DO IT ANYWAY ARE NOT PUT IN ORDER AND THAT SHOULD BE DONE.
SO THAT IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY THIS EVENING.
THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING, AND I URGE YOU TO GET ORDER OF THE BOARD.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK? YEAH, GO AHEAD.
SO I WANT TO BRING THIS BACK TO REALITY A LITTLE BIT AND, AND PUSH BACK ON SOME OF THIS DOUBLESPEAK THAT THESE LAST COUPLE OF SPEAKERS HAVE BEEN BEEN USING.
WE HAVE A LITERAL MOTHER WHOSE SON IS GOING TO BE PERMANENTLY DAMAGED BECAUSE OF THE INCOMPETENCY OF VARIOUS ADMINISTRATORS WITHIN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND HOW SERIOUS THAT IS? IT, IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THAT, THAT AT ALL WHAT WE HAVE HERE THIS EVENING IS PRETTY, PRETTY RIDICULOUS.
IT'S EVERYONE ATTACKED, MELANIE, BECAUSE SHE'S CALLING OUT THE ABSOLUTE ABSURDITY OF WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE SCHOOLS, WHICH NEEDS TO BE DONE.
THIS IS NOT A POLITICAL ISSUE, BUT YOU KNOW, WHAT IS POLITICAL DEFENSE OF DEMOCRACY? THIS IS THE DOUBLESPEAK YOU'RE, YOU'RE HEARING RIGHT NOW.
THEY'RE LIKE, OH, WE DON'T WANT IT TO BE POLITICAL.
SO LET'S COME IN WITH AN ORGANIZATION THAT'S FOUNDED IN NEW YORK FOR POLITICAL ACTION AND, AND START LOBBYING OUR SCHOOL BOARD WITH POLITICAL SHIRTS ON.
HASN'T NOPE, UHUH, YOU'LL HAVE TO GO.
THIS, THIS IS, THIS IS, IT'S RIDICULOUS.
AND, AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, I DON'T HAVE KIDS IN, IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM HERE.
I LOVE FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS, AND I THINK MORE KIDS NEED TO GET INTO SHOP CLASS AND, AND START WELDING AND, AND DOING GOOD THINGS TO REVITALIZE OUR COUNTRY.
THIS PARTISAN POLITICAL HACKERY THAT'S USING A SMOKE SCREEN TO COVER UP THE LEGITIMATE BULLYING ISSUES THAT ARE GOING ON IN THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM IS ABSOLUTE RIDICULOUS.
SO DON'T LISTEN TO PEOPLE WHO ARE LITERALLY FROM A POLITICAL ORGANIZATION AND TELL YOU TO GET THE POLITICS OUT OF IT.
IT'S A LIE AND IT'S RIDICULOUS.
AND, AND THE ANTI HOMESCHOOL BIG BIGOTRY IS, IS ALSO RIDICULOUS.
I WAS NOT HOMESCHOOLED AGAIN, I WENT TO PUBLIC SCHOOL.
BUT A LOT OF HOMESCHOOLERS LIVE IN THIS COUNTY, AND THEY'RE CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS TO THE SOCIETY BUSINESS OWNERS.
THEY ARE THE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE WORKING IN MANUFACTURING.
THEY'RE WORKING IN DC AND THIS LEVEL OF BIGOTRY, THEY PAY TAXES AND DON'T SEND THEIR KIDS TO THE SCHOOLS.
SO THEY'RE ACTUALLY CONTRIBUTING MORE TO THE PE THAN THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SENDING THEIR KIDS TO THE SCHOOLS WHO ARE USING THOSE TAX DOLLARS.
I WANT WELL-FUNDED PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
WE NEED TO GET THIS, THIS, THIS POLITICAL GARBAGE OUT, CLEAN THE BULLYING UP STOP WITH THE WOKE GARBAGE, GET THE KIDS INTO SHOP CLASS AND FIX THIS STUFF.
SO STOP BEING CRAZY AND ATTACKING PEOPLE.
AND, AND CHAIRMAN PENCE, AND DO YOUR JOB.
GET RID OF THIS, THIS SUPERINTENDENT WHO'S WATCHING PARENTS CRY AS THEIR CHILDREN GO THROUGH LIFE PERMANENTLY DAMAGE IT.
UM, I WASN'T PLANNING ON SPEAKING TONIGHT, BUT I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADDRESS WHAT WAS JUST SAID.
I'M NOT PART OF A POLITICAL PARTY.
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE POLITICS TAKEN OUT OF OUR SCHOOLS.
I WOULD LOVE TO SEND MY CHILDREN TO A SCHOOL WHERE I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT TEACHERS INFLICTING THEIR POLITICAL BELIEFS ON MY CHILDREN.
UM, I I WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
[01:35:01]
THAT KIDS ARE BEING BULLIED.MY CHILD HAS BEEN BULLIED, MY CHILD HAS BEEN BULLIED, AND I DID NOT APPRECIATE THE WAY THAT THE SCHOOL HANDLED IT.
BUT I BELIEVE THAT THIS BOARD IS TRYING TO TAKE ACTION IN ORDER TO ELIMINATE THAT OR MAKE IT BETTER.
I'M SORRY FOR EVERY SINGLE CHILD THAT HAS BEEN HURT, BUT WE HAD TO COME TOGETHER TO STAND UP HERE AND SAY THAT WE ARE ANTI-CATHOLIC, ANTI HOMESCHOOL.
THAT'S ABSOLUTELY NOT THE TRUTH.
I DO NOT CARE WHAT GOD YOUR CHILDREN BELIEVE IN.
I WANT TO SEND MY KIDS TO SCHOOL AND KNOW THAT THEY'RE GONNA BE TAKEN CARE OF.
GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT BE INVOLVED IN THESE SCHOOLS.
I'M A RESIDENT OF WARREN COUNTY.
I WANTED TO A COUPLE MINUTES TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER OF MELANIE SEANCE AT A FORUM THAT I ATTENDED LAST NIGHT.
AND TONIGHT, THERE WERE SOME PEOPLE WHO SPOKE THEIR DISSATISFACTION WITH MELANIE, AND MUCH OF THIS DISSATISFACTION SEEMED TO STEM FROM HER STATUS AS A HOMESCHOOLING MOM.
AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, I'M THE ONLY CANDIDATE FOR THE SHENANDOAH DISTRICT ON THE BALLOT THIS NOVEMBER, RUNNING TO FILL THE SEED OF RALPH RINALDI TO PREPARE FOR THIS IMPORTANT JOB.
I SPENT THE PAST SIX MONTHS COMING TO THE MONTHLY REGULAR MEETINGS.
I'VE WATCHED RECORDINGS OF EVERY SCHOOL BOARD MEETING FROM THE PAST TWO YEARS TO FURTHER MY UNDERSTANDING AND TO GIVE MYSELF THE BACKGROUNDS ON WHAT'S GOING ON IN WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
I'VE WITNESSED MELANIE ASK SOME VERY DEEP QUESTIONS AND TRY TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF SOME VERY IMPORTANT TOPICS.
SHE'S DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH ON TOPICS THAT OTHERS MAY NOT HAVE SPENT EQUAL TIME TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF.
AS AN EXAMPLE, MOST RECENTLY, THE V SS B A AND THE FACT THAT SHE PURSUED THIS TOPIC FOR A YEAR TO BRING IT TO A CLOSE.
THIS IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE, AND THERE ARE MANY, MANY MORE I SAW BY WATCHING HOURS AND HOURS OF RECORDINGS.
TIME AND TIME AGAIN, PEOPLE COME TO THESE MEETINGS, EXPRESS GRATITUDE FROM MELANIE AS BEING ONE OF THE ONLY ONES THAT COMMUNICATE TO THEM OR LISTEN TO THE GRIEVANCES.
I'M SURE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS ALSO DO THIS, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE MELANIE HAS A NATURAL ABILITY TO DRAW PEOPLE OUT AND TO SHOW A LISTENING EAR.
PERHAPS IT IS ONE OF HER GREATEST STRENGTHS.
SHE'S AN ADVOCATE FOR THE STUDENTS AND THEIR PARENTS.
AGAIN, NOT TO THE EXCLUSION OF OTHER BOARD MEMBERS, BUT IT IS HER FORTE.
SHE GIVES MANY, MANY HOURS OF MONTH SACRIFICING FOR THE FAMILIES OF WARREN COUNTY, EVEN THOUGH SHE'S A HOMESCHOOLING MOM WITH HER OWN FAMILY, TO RAISE SOME HOLD THAT AGAINST HER.
I DO NOT, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, I'M ALSO A HOMESCHOOLING PARENT TO MY CHILDREN.
AND I DON'T SEE THAT EDUCATIONAL CHOICE AS A HINDRANCE TO ME OR MELANIE SERVING ON THE BOARD.
AS THE SCHOOL BOARD POLICY READS, QUOTE, AT THE TIME OF APPOINTMENT OR ELECTION TO OFFICE, EACH MEMBER OF THE SCHOOL BOARD MUST BE QUALIFIED VOTER AND A BONAFIDE, A RESIDENT OF THE SCHOOL DIVISION AND DISTRICT, IF ANY, WHICH THE MEMBER REPRESENTS AND MEET ANY OTHER CRITERIA SET FORTH IN STATE LAW.
NOTHING IN THERE ABOUT WHETHER THE CANDIDATE MUST HAVE CHILDREN IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
I'M SURE THAT MELANIE AND I MEET THESE STANDARDS AND ARE THEREFORE QUALIFIED TO BE ON THE BOARD AND TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF WARREN COUNTY AS WELL AS ANY OTHER IN THE SAME POSITION.
BY SITTING HERE IN THIS ROOM OF THE PAST SIX MONTHS READING REPORTS AND WATCHING PAST MEETING RECORDINGS, I HAVE A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF SOME OF THE MAJOR PROBLEMS THAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON IN THE FUTURE.
I DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A CHILD ENROLLED AND BEATEN UP TO KNOW THAT IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED.
I DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A CHILD ENROLLED AND BULLIED TO KNOW THAT IT IS WRONG AND NEEDS TO STOP.
I DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A CHILD ENROLLED AND NEARLY DIE FROM VAPING TO UNDERSTAND THE FRAGILITY OF LIFE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF HELPING STUDENTS STAY SAFE WHILE IN SCHOOL.
I'VE BEND THE FIELD FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS.
I UNDERSTAND RECRUITING, MARKETING, COMMUNICATION, CAREER DEVELOPMENT, COLLEGE PREP, ENROLLMENT GROWTH, STRATEGIC PLANNING, DISCIPLINE AND ACTING POLICY AND ENFORCING IT.
I MOST ESPECIALLY KNOW HOW TO WORK WITH A GROUP OF PEOPLE TO ACHIEVE SET GOALS.
THAT'S WHAT I DO FOR A LIVING.
AND THIS IS WHAT I WANNA BRING WITH ME TO THE SCHOOL BOARD.
SHOULD I GET ELECTED IN NOVEMBER? AND I HOPE TO MODEL MUCH OF MELANIE'S MODE OF OPERATION.
AND FOR THOSE WHO ARE WORRIED OR AFRAID OUT THERE, I AM NOT MY FATHER.
SOUNDS, UH, FIRST OFF, MY HEART GOES AFTER YOU GUYS.
UM, I WANTED TO PERSONALLY THANK THE ENTIRE BOARD AND ALL THE STAFF, UM, LAW ENFORCEMENT, EVERYBODY THAT SHOWED UP LAST NIGHT CLEARED THEIR SCHEDULE, UH, TO BASICALLY JUST ADDRESS CONCERNS AND ISSUES WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS IN AN EFFORT TO CREATE A WAY FORWARD.
WHAT I WITNESSED WAS VERY LITTLE DISCUSSION REGARDING THE ISSUES THAT WE ALL GATHERED FOR.
AND INSTEAD LISTENED TO PEOPLE TRASHING MY WIFE BY DOING EXACTLY WHAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE TRYING TO RESOLVE IN OUR SCHOOLS, WHICH IS BULLYING, BEHAVIOR AND AGGRESSION.
I HAD TO SIT THERE LISTENING TO PEOPLE STATE THAT MY WIFE MELANIE, IS TRYING TO DESTROY, UH, DESTROY THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, IS FEAR MONGERING IS FULL OF HATRED AND VARIOUS OTHER LIES.
IT'S HARD TO HEAR BECAUSE IF THOSE TRULY WERE HER GOALS, SHE'S DOING A TERRIBLE JOB.
[01:40:01]
SHE SPENDS MORE TIME THAN YOU CAN IMAGINE, RESPONDING TO PARENTS AND TEACHERS' EMAILS AND CALLS AND TRY TO ADDRESS EVERY CONCERN THAT THEY HAVE.SHE GIVES THEM HER COMPLETE ATTENTION.
UM, ASK ANY PERSON WHO'S REACHED OUT TO MELANIE FOR HELP IF THEY'VE ACTUALLY BEEN HELPED OR TREATED WITH HATE.
I CAN'T EVEN BEGIN TO TELL YOU HOW MANY PARENTS SHE'S CONVINCED TO KEEP THEIR KIDS IN PUBLIC SCHOOL WHEN THEY WERE READY TO REMOVE THEM.
THEY STILL TALK ABOUT LCL L BEING REMOVED.
IT'S STILL BEING TAUGHT WITH LITTLE TO NO POSITIVE OUTCOMES AS THE DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS CONTINUE AND HAVE SEEMINGLY GOTTEN WORSE.
I SAID IT LAST NIGHT, I'LL SAY IT AGAIN.
I URGE YOU ALL TO WATCH THESE MEETINGS REGULARLY.
DON'T LISTEN TO RUMORS BEING TOLD AROUND TOWN.
IF YOU'RE CURIOUS ABOUT ANYTHING YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT HER, REACH OUT AND ASK HER BEFORE YOU SPREAD MORE FALSE NONSENSE.
THAT'S WHAT SHE DOES WHEN SHE ASKS QUESTIONS.
IF MORE PEOPLE HAD TO DRIVE IN PERSISTENCE TO GET TRUTHFUL ANSWERS, I THINK WE WOULD BE FURTHER ALONG.
I HEARD HER CALLED A DISRUPTOR LAST NIGHT BY AN OLD FRIEND OF OURS, AND IT'S, IT'S REAL EASY TO TAKE OFFENSE TO THAT STATEMENT.
BUT AFTER SOME TIME, I TAKE IT DIFFERENTLY.
SHE'S DISRUPTING THE COMPLACENCY AND STATUS QUO THAT'S GOTTEN OUR SCHOOLS TO THIS POINT, TOS HOLDING PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE TO THOSE WHO CAME OUT LAST NIGHT AND SPOKE ABOUT THE ACTUAL ISSUES.
I GRACIOUSLY THANK YOU TO THOSE THAT ONLY SHOWED UP TO TRASH MY WIFE, OTHER CANDIDATES, OR JUST BE NEGATIVE.
I CHALLENGE YOU TO LOOK IN THE MIRROR AND ASK WHAT YOU'RE DOING TO BRING POSITIVE SOLUTIONS TO THE TABLE.
AND BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF SAYING THAT THE ISSUES WE HAVE IN OUR SCHOOLS AREN'T UNIQUE AND ARE HAPPENING ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
WARREN COUNTY IS BETTER THAN THAT.
AND I URGE ALL OF YOU LISTENING TO PUT YOUR HATE ASIDE, TO GET THE FACTS TO BE A BETTER EXAMPLE FOR OUR YOUTH.
UH, GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE WARD.
I LIVE AT 4 0 6 WARREN AVENUE HERE IN FRONT ROYAL.
AND I COME UP, UH, TO YOU, UH, AS A VOICE THAT YOU PROBABLY HAVEN'T HEARD FROM.
I HAVE NO KIDS IN WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
UH, I DON'T HAVE ANY KIDS, PERIOD.
UH, BUT I JUST, I'M, I'M COMING AT YOU GUYS WITH, I WOULDN'T EVEN PLAN ON SPEAKING TONIGHT, BUT THIS LADY BEHIND ME, UH, HEARING HER SPEAK AGAIN, THAT KIND OF PUSHED ME OVER THE EDGE BECAUSE I, I, I FEEL FOR HER, IF I WOULD'VE HAPPENED, AND I'M JUST KINDA USING MYSELF AS AN EXAMPLE HERE, OKAY? I GREW UP, FOR THOSE OF YOU KNOW ME, I GREW UP OUTTA STATE IN WEST VIRGINIA.
I GREW UP IN A VERY, VERY, UM, ECONOMICALLY CHALLENGED REGION OF THE COUNTRY.
I MEAN, I GET, I GREW UP GOING PLACES, GETTING POKED FUN AT FOR MY ACCENT.
YOU KNOW, HERE'S DONE ANOTHER DUMB HILL BUILDING AND WHATNOT.
WELL, I, UM, I'M A PRODUCT OF WHERE I'M, WHERE I'M FROM, AND I'M PROUD OF THAT.
AND I GREW UP WITH A VERY STRONG, UH, UH, UM, SCHOOL TEACHING OR SCHOOL SCHOOL TEACHERS.
I'VE GOT TEACHERS THAT, UH, UM, I STILL KEEP IN TOUCH WITH AND I'VE GROWN UP WITH SINCE, YOU KNOW, SINCE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
UH, THEY'VE ALL PLAYED A ROLE IN GETTING ME WHERE I AM TODAY.
UH, BUT I LOOK BACK AS, AS TO WHAT MADE ME WHO I AM TODAY WHEN IT COMES TO SCHOOLS.
AND I, AND I SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY.
AND A LOT OF IT, YOU KNOW, HAS TO DO WITH THE WORLD'S GOTTEN A LOT SMALLER THAN WHAT IT WAS, AT LEAST WHEN I WAS THERE.
UH, MOST KIDS TODAY HAVE THE WHOLE WORLD AT THEIR WHOLE FINGERTIPS.
UH, WHAT WE DID HAVE WAS A VERY STRONG DISCIPLINARY SYSTEM ALL THE WAY FROM, FROM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ALL THE WAY UP THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL.
AND IT, IT WAS A, A COLLECTIVE EFFORT BETWEEN PARENTS AND SCHOOLS.
WE HAD VERY STRONG, UH, PARENT TEACHER ORGANIZATIONS, WHICH I SURPRISINGLY JUST, I DON'T HEAR MUCH ABOUT THAT BEING DISCUSSED.
BUT, UH, THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS PRESSED QUITE OFTEN AND IT WAS HIGHLY, UH, ENCOURAGED FOR, FOR, YOU KNOW, UH, COLLABORATION BETWEEN PARENTS AND, AND, UH, AND TEACHERS.
AND, UH, LIKE I SAID, IT'S JUST, UM, YOU KNOW, I NEVER WAS POLITICALLY INDOCTRINATED WHERE I GREW UP.
MATTER OF FACT, I GREW UP, UM, IS, IS PRETTY MUCH ON THE OTHER END OF THE SPECTRUM OF WHAT I BELIEVE IN NOW.
BUT I LEARNED WHAT NOT TO DO JUST AS MUCH IN THAT REGARD AS I DID WHAT TO DO.
BUT AGAIN, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT MADE ME, MADE ME WHO I AM.
BUT I JUST, I JUST COME FROM A, FROM A PERSPECTIVE OF LOOKING AT GOING BACK AND LOOKING INTO WHAT WORKED, SIMPLIFYING YOUR, YOUR, UH, CURRICULUM, YOUR JUST SIMPLE, SIMPLIFY THE APPROACH AND, AND KEEP IT SIMPLE.
YOU KNOW, SCHOOLS SHOULD BE, UH, A OF A PATHWAY FOR, FOR STUDENTS TO COME INTO SOCIETY.
IT SHOULDN'T BE MUCH MORE THAN THAT.
SO WITH THAT, UM, TIME, UH, LEFT, UH, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU AND, UH, GOOD LUCK TO ALL YOU GUYS.
[01:45:01]
THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK THIS EVENING? OKAY, WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA THIS EVENING.IS THERE A MOTION I MOVE THAT THE CONSENT AGENDA BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED? IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT? ALL IS IN FAVOR? AYE.
[4. A. Superintendent]
NEXT UP WE HAVE REPORTS.UM, I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME EVERYBODY TONIGHT AND THOSE THAT ARE JOINING US ONLINE.
UM, I DO APPRECIATE THE, UH, COMMENTS FROM EVERYBODY, UM, AS I DO UNDERSTAND AND, AND WANT TO TAKE NOTES SO THAT WE CAN MAKE MEANINGFUL CHANGE WITHIN OUR DIVISION.
SO I DO APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR WORDS AND YOUR THOUGHTS AND YOUR CONCERNS.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO ADDRESS THAT THERE, YOU KNOW, WE, WE HAVE HAD SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL AS, AS ONE OF OUR TOPICS, UM, OVER THE PAST COUPLE, OVER THE LAST MONTH CONCERNING SOME OF THE, THE ISSUES OR CONCERNS THAT, THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT FORTH.
AND I DID WANT TO, TO SHARE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE, WE HAVE BEEN SPENDING A LOT OF TIME, ME, MYSELF, UM, MY TEAM, UM, OVER THERE TO ADDRESS AND TO LOOK AT THE CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT FORTH, UH, WORKING WITH STAFF MEMBERS TO MONITOR AND REVIEW THOSE CONCERNS.
AND, AND THROUGH CONVERSATIONS WITH STAFF AND, AND, UH, JUST BEING IN THE BUILDING AND, AND LOOKING AT THINGS, WE, WE DID PUT TOGETHER A PLAN TO ADDRESS AND ADJUST SOME GOALS AND TO FOCUS ON DISRUPTIONS AND DISCIPLINES AND EXPECTATIONS.
UM, AND THERE WERE MEETINGS HELD TODAY WITH STAFF.
THERE WERE MEETINGS HELD WITH STUDENTS TODAY, UM, TO, TO OUTLINE THOSE EXPECTATIONS IN THE CLASSROOM AND CONSEQUENCES FOR, FOR ACTIONS THAT, THAT ARE, THAT DO HAPPEN OR, OR WILL OCCUR, UM, EXPECTATIONS FOR TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS, THEY, THEY'VE BEEN SET TO, TO ENSURE THAT THAT PROPER ACTION SUPPORTS AND, AND PROCEDURES, UM, ARE BEING FOLLOWED.
UH, YOU KNOW, WE, WE MODIFIED A LOT OF DIFFERENT CHARTS AND BEHAVIOR CHARTS TO STREAMLINE, UM, THOSE DIFFERENT THINGS ON HOW THEY'RE HANDLED WHEN THEY'RE REPORTED.
UM, WE'RE, WE'RE LOOKING AT PROVIDING CLASSROOM SUPPORT FOR THE TEACHERS.
UM, SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL, THE, THE STAFF THERE, I BELIEVE IT'S, UM, 50, OH, OVER 50% IS LESS THAN, UH, THREE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
AND I THINK HEATHER CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG ON THAT.
UM, AND, AND SO WE KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, TO, TO HELP, WE ARE, WE ARE LOOKING AT COACHING CYCLES THAT THAT CAN HELP UTILIZE TO, TO REINFORCE THOSE EXPECTED EXPECTATIONS AND, AND HOW WE, WE EXPECT OUR CLASSROOMS TO BE.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GIVING IT 100% TO ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS AND, AND TO PROVIDE SOME POSITIVE CHANGE, UM, AT THE SCHOOL.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALSO, WHAT I'D ALSO LIKE TO ADDRESS TONIGHT IS THAT OCTOBER IS BULLYING PREVENTION MONTH.
AND, YOU KNOW, AS WE, AS WE GO INTO BULLYING PREVENTION MONTH, THERE, IT, IT'S TIME TO, TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND KEEP THOSE CONVERSATIONS GOING BECAUSE BULLYING IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.
AND LAST YEAR I ISSUED THE, THE FIVE 10 EXPULSION, UM, THAT HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED, THAT HAS BEEN PUSHED OUT, THAT HAS BEEN UTILIZED.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON POSITIVE BEHAVIORS IN OUR CLASSROOMS. WE WANNA CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR TEACHERS THAT TO WHERE THEY CAN, CAN MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNOW THEY HAVE THE STRENGTH BEHIND THEM AND, AND IN THEM TO, TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS.
UM, ALSO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS, YOU KNOW, MY EXPECTATIONS IS THAT THE CODE OF CONDUCT IS, IS FOLLOWED FROM START TO FINISH.
I MEAN, IF IT'S, IF IT'S IN THERE, WE, WE NEED TO FOLLOW THAT.
AND, AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I HAVE STRESSED TO, TO, TO ADMINISTRATORS AND TO PRINCIPALS THAT, YOU KNOW, CODE OF CONDUCT IS NOT THERE JUST TO BE READ IT, IT'S THERE TO BE FOLLOWED.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE, THE CODE OF CONDUCT, YOU KNOW, WE, WE ARE ADDRESSING A LOT OF THINGS AND, AND, YOU KNOW, CAN WE ADDRESS MORE? THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM TO ADDRESS MORE.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE CONTINUE TO, TO ADDRESS THE VAPING ISSUE AND, AND THE T H C AND, UH, THAT'S BEING BROUGHT INTO SCHOOLS.
UM, YOU KNOW, AT OUR SECONDARY LEVELS, UM, YOU KNOW, WE CONTINUE TO, TO ADDRESS
[01:50:01]
A LOT OF OTHER ISSUES THAT, THAT ARE, ARE PROBLEMS IN PLAGUING, YOU KNOW, JUST, NOT JUST WARREN COUNTY, BUT, BUT SCHOOLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.AND SO, UM, WE KNOW THAT THIS COMING OUT OF THIS PANDEMIC CREATED A LOT OF ISSUES FOR SCHOOLS, FOR CHILDREN, FOR FAMILIES, FOR, UM, AND, AND FINDING THOSE SUPPORTS AND FINDING THE RIGHT THINGS.
BUT ALSO THERE'S A TIME TO BE A, HAVE A HEAVY HAND WHEN YOU NEED TO HAVE A HEAVY HAND.
AND, AND, YOU KNOW, SO LOOKING AT THOSE AND MAKING SURE THAT THOSE, THOSE ACTIONS ARE, ARE BEING TAKEN, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, THAT'S THE THING THAT, THAT I WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE ALSO DOING WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS.
SO THAT'S MY REPORT FOR TONIGHT.
AND AGAIN, I APPRECIATE ALL THE SPEAKERS THAT, THAT SPOKE.
[4. B. School Board]
UP, WE HAVE SCHOOL BOARD REPORTS.THIS EVENING, WE'LL START WITH, UM, DR.
FUNK, MY TURN TO GO FIRST,
I WANNA START WITH THE, UM, THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY WHO COMES OUT EVERY MEETING AND WHO TALKS.
I, YOU MIGHT NOT HEAR A DIRECT RESPONSE FROM US WHEN YOU SPEAK, BUT WE HEAR YOU, I HEAR YOU.
UM, AND I KNOW IT'S HARD, NUMBER ONE TO GET UP AND SPEAK IT'S NUMBER, YOU KNOW, TO, TO TALK TO US.
BUT I HEAR YOU AND I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.
UM, I WANT TO ALSO THANK ALL OF OUR GUESTS THAT WE HAD TONIGHT.
UM, YOU KNOW, OUR KIDS THAT ARE HERE THAT COME UP AND THAT WE HEAR ARE MAKING THE, THE COMMENTS OF, I LOVE MY TEACHER AND, YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHY I COME TO SCHOOL.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE IS FOR THE KIDS.
UM, I'M AN EDUCATOR, AND I'M GONNA TAKE A FEW MINUTES HERE.
I'M AN EDUCATOR, BORN AND RAISED IN WEST VIRGINIA FROM A FAMILY OF EDUCATORS.
MY DAD IS 55 YEARS STILL WORKING, RUNNING AN ALTERNATIVE ED PROGRAM THAT HE FOUNDED AND WAS THE MODEL FOR WEST VIRGINIA.
MY MOM, 35 YEARS AS A MIDDLE SCHOOL ENGLISH TEACHER, SEVENTH, SIXTH, SEVENTH AND EIGHTH.
MY SISTER DIDN'T BECOME AN EDUCATOR, BUT I DID, STARTING MY 25TH YEAR IN EDUCATION, 18 YEARS AS AN ADMINISTRATOR.
AND IF YOU WANNA TALK TO ME ABOUT MY HISTORY, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO TALK TO YOU PRIVATELY ABOUT MY HISTORY.
I WORKED FOR WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
I WORKED UNDER SUPERINTENDENTS, CURRENTLY WORK UNDER A SUPERINTENDENT.
I'VE WORKED UNDER, I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW MANY SUPERINTENDENTS.
I'VE BEEN IN A BUILDING FOR 25 YEARS WORKING WITH KIDS AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL, PRE-K TO FIVE.
I WILL SAY I HAVE NOT BEEN IN SECONDARY.
I DID NOT CHOOSE THE PATH THAT MY PARENTS CHOSE.
SO I CAME TO THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE ON THE BOARD WHEN IT WAS PRESENTED TO ME, YOU KNOW, I WAS LIKE, WHOA, LET ME THINK ABOUT THAT.
AND THEN I THOUGHT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHY DO I, WHY ALL OF US, AS SOME OF YOU SAID, WHEN YOU CHOOSE TO DO ANY KIND OF PUBLIC, UM, REPRESENTATION, PUBLIC BOARD, YOU PUT NOT ONLY YOURSELF, BUT YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY OUT THERE.
AND THERE WERE A COUPLE OF THINGS.
I DECIDED WHEN I WANTED TO BE ON THE BOARD, I WENT TO MY FAMILY AND I TALKED ABOUT MY FAMILY, UH, TO MY FAMILY ABOUT THIS.
AND THEN I PRAYED TO MAKE A GOOD CHOICE.
SO THE REASON I DID THIS, BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN EDUCATION.
I AM AN EDUCATOR AND I BELIEVE IN OPTIONS.
I BELIEVE IN PARENTS HAVING OPTIONS.
[01:55:01]
I HAVE A, NOW A SOPHOMORE IN COLLEGE.I HAVE A YOUNGER STUDENT WHO, UM, IS A JUNIOR IN, IN SCHOOL AND I HAVE HOMESCHOOLED, I HAVE PRIVATE SCHOOLED, I HAVE A SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD THAT HAS MULTIPLE NEEDS.
I HAVE BEEN ON AT THE TABLE ADVOCATING AND, AND ARGUING, QUITE FRANKLY, YOU KNOW, EXACTLY.
I'VE STOPPED MEETINGS TO ADVOCATE FOR MY CHILD IN MY ROLE EVERY DAY.
THE ONE THING I TELL PARENTS IS, DO NOT EVER APOLOGIZE FOR ADVOCATING FOR YOUR CHILD.
AND I DON'T ALWAYS AGREE WITH EVERYBODY.
THEY DON'T ALWAYS AGREE WITH ME.
BUT I NEVER EVER WILL DENY ANYBODY THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE RIGHT TO ADVOCATE FOR YOUR CHILD, FOR YOUR BELIEFS.
SO THAT'S JUST A QUICK LITTLE BACKGROUND.
I KNOW YOU DIDN'T WANNA HEAR THAT, BUT I WANNA MAKE THAT CLEAR OF MY EXPERIENCE AND WHAT I BRING TO THE TABLE.
AND I, QUITE FRANKLY, THEY'RE PROBABLY TIRED OF HEARING ME TALKING ABOUT BEING AN EDUCATOR.
THEY ARE VERY GOOD LISTENERS WHEN WE HAD CONVERSATIONS, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
UM, SO LET'S TALK ABOUT A COUPLE OF THINGS.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW WE GOT TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
YOU KNOW, I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY WE DO, BUT WE'VE GOT TO, WE'VE GOT TO COME TO A POINT WHERE WE HAVE GOT TO WORK TOGETHER AND WE'RE NOT, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY HAS THEIR OPINION.
THEY COME FROM YOUR, YOUR PASSION, YOUR EXPERIENCE.
I WILL NEVER DISMISS WHAT YOU'VE EXPERIENCED AND WHAT YOU BRING TO THE TABLE.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT YOU TO QUESTION MY FEELINGS, MY EXPERIENCES, WHAT I'VE EXPERIENCED.
'CAUSE THAT SHAPES HOW I THINK JUST AS IT SHOULD.
AND IT DOES SHAPE HOW YOU THINK.
BUT AT SOME POINT, I MEAN, I CAN TELL YOU WHAT MY PERSONAL FEELINGS ARE.
I THINK COVID DID IT FOR EVERYBODY.
NOT JUST PUBLIC SCHOOLS, PRIVATE BUSINESSES, NURSES, DOCTORS, COMMUNITIES, C O TORE COMMUNITIES APART.
WE HAVE TO BE BETTER AND REBUILD SOME POINT, YOU KNOW, COVID AND SOCIAL MEDIA.
AT SOME POINT WE HAVE, I FEEL LIKE EVERY, NOT, YOU KNOW, JUST SOMEWHERE WE'VE LOST SOME OF OUR OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS AND GO BACK TO THE UNDERSTANDING THAT SOMETIMES IT'S OKAY TO DISAGREE.
DOESN'T MAKE ME A BAD PERSON BECAUSE I'VE COME TO THIS CONCLUSION VERSUS YOU HAVE THIS CONCLUSION.
SO I WOULD LIKE FOR US AS A COMMUNITY AND AS A CONTINUED BOARD TO, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY I AGREE WITH, THERE'S SOMETHING EVERYBODY SAID TONIGHT THAT I ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH YOU,
YOU ALL BRING IMPORTANT PIECES OF INFORMATION.
BUT WE HAVE TO STOP THE RHETORIC AND GET TO BUSINESS.
WE CANNOT SIT IN JUST THAT CIRCLE, IN THAT CIRCLE, IN THAT CIRCLE, IN THAT CIRCLE.
WE KNOW WE HAVE TO MAKE CHANGE.
CHANGE ISN'T GONNA HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.
CHANGE TAKES, YOU KNOW, WE, AND YOU KNOW, WE ARE BOUND BY PROCEDURES.
WE ARE BOUND BY THE RULES THAT GOVERN OUR SEATS.
WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT STUDENTS, WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT TEACHER PERSONNEL ONE-ON-ONE.
THOSE ARE JUST THINGS THAT WE ARE BOUND BY.
AND I KNOW IT STINKS BECAUSE THE PUBLIC PARENTS, THEY WANNA HEAR US.
YOU KNOW, HAVING THOSE ONE-ON-ONE DEEP CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SPECIFIC EVENTS, SITUATIONS, PEOPLE, AND WE ARE NOT ALWAYS AT LIBERTY TO DO THAT.
IT'S NOT THAT WE AREN'T TALKING, IT'S NOT THAT WE AREN'T COMMUNICATING.
IT'S THAT WE WANT TO, WE, WE ARE REQUIRED TO COMMUNICATE WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF OUR GUIDELINES.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE WAY I MAKE MY DECISIONS, THE WAY I CHOOSE
[02:00:01]
TO, TO TAKE MY ACTIONS IS BASED ON FACTS.IF YOU COME TO ME AS A PARENT, A STUDENT, AND YOU TELL ME A SITUATION HAS HAPPENED, I'M GONNA ASK QUESTIONS.
I WANNA KNOW WHO, WHEN, WHAT, WHERE.
THEN I'M GONNA TAKE THAT AND I'M GONNA GIVE IT TO THE PEOPLE WHO CAN INVESTIGATE BECAUSE THAT'S THEIR JOB.
AND I EXPECT THEM TO INVESTIGATE.
I, YOU KNOW, WE, WE, WE HAVE THESE PROCEDURES, WE HAVE POLICIES IN PLACE.
NOW, IF WE FIND OUT, IF I FIND OUT THAT THE SYSTEM ISN'T WORKING, THEN I'M GONNA ADDRESS IT.
AND ANYBODY WHO'S EVER WORKED WITH ME KNOWS EXACTLY HOW I, HOW, HOW I GO WITH THINGS.
LET'S MAKE CHANGE WHERE CHANGE IS NEEDED.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT IS ABOUT ALL OF OUR CHILDREN.
THE BOTTOM LINE, ONE WORD, IT'S ABOUT CHILDREN.
YOU KNOW, I'M A FIRM BELIEVER.
CHILDREN'S BRAINS ARE NOT FULLY DEVELOPED UNTIL THEY'RE 25.
I'VE READ THE LITERATURE, I'VE SEEN IT IN ACTION.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO BE THERE AS ROLE MODELS.
WE HAVE TO BE THERE AS SUPPORTS BECAUSE I AM SO HAPPY THAT WE HAVE PARENTS HERE TONIGHT.
BUT WE HAVE A LITTLE UNDER 5,000 IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.
WE DON'T HAVE 5,000 PARENTS THAT ARE INVOLVED.
I WISH EVERY PARENT WAS INVOLVED.
I HAVE BEEN THE PERSON WHO'S AT THE DOORSTEP AT SEVEN O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.
WHY IS JOHNNY NOT IN SCHOOL TODAY? WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP? I HAVE BEEN THE PERSON THAT'S THERE AT SIX O'CLOCK AT NIGHT WAITING WITH JOHNNY.
I'VE BEEN THE PERSON TO TEACH JOHNNY HOW TO READ.
I'VE BEEN THE PERSON THAT'S BEEN THE END OF, OF THE, UM, OUTBURSTS BECAUSE JOHNNY DOESN'T HAVE THOSE SKILLS THAT WE WORK TOWARDS DEVELOPING.
I'M HAPPY TO SHARE ANY OF 'EM WITH YOU PERSONALLY.
BUT WE HAVE TO KEEP OUR CHILDREN THE FOCUS PERIOD, THE END.
WHAT IS THE IMPACT ON OUR CHILDREN, OUR STUDENTS, YOU KNOW, BUDGETING.
WE HAVE TO TAKE WHAT WE'RE GIVEN AND WE HAVE TO SAY, WHAT IS THE GREATEST IMPACT WE CAN MAKE ON OUR KIDS? IF I GOT A BUCK, HOW CAN I MAKE THAT BUCK GO FOR 10? YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT US TO GET BACK TO THE ROOTS OF WHY WE ARE ALL HERE.
WHY ARE WE ALL FIGHTING SO HARD? YOU ALL HAVE VALID REASON.
WE ALL CAME HERE AND, AND, YOU KNOW, PUT OUR ALL, PUT OURSELVES OUT EVERY TIME TO GET BACK TO THE ROOTS OF WHAT WE'RE DOING AND WHY WE DO IT.
AND, YOU KNOW, I WANT US IN THREE MONTHS, 'CAUSE POLICY HAS TO TAKE THREE POLICY READINGS.
I WANT US TO, YOU KNOW, THE THINGS WE TALK ABOUT IN CLOSED SESSION, WE CAN'T SPEAK PUBLICLY ABOUT, BUT I WANT US IN THREE MONTHS TO KNOW WE'VE DONE THIS, THIS, THIS, AND THIS.
AND CHANGE IN SYSTEMS DOES TAKE TIME.
BUT CHANGE TAKES TIME BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO EARN TRUST.
AND RIGHT NOW IT'S OBVIOUS WE'VE LOST TRUST.
SO WE'VE GOT TO WORK TO EARN TRUST.
WE'VE GOT TO WORK TO MAKE SURE WE ARE DISPLAYING TRUST.
OUR ACTIONS NEED TO SHOW TRUST.
AND WE, ALL OF US ON HERE WANT THAT TO HAPPEN.
AND WE ARE, I FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE, EVERY TIME WE ARE HERE, WE GET TOGETHER.
WE NEED TO BE HERE FOR OUR STUDENTS FIRST AND FOREMOST.
IF IT'S NOT HAPPENING, WE NEED TO ADDRESS IT.
SET THOSE HIGH EXPECTATIONS, ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT ARE THOSE KEY CATCH PHRASES.
[02:05:01]
WHAT? THEY WORK WHEN THEY ARE IMPLEMENTED AND MONITORED.SO I'VE KIND OF GONE A LITTLE BIT AROUND EVERY LITTLE THING.
UM, YOU KNOW, I'VE SAID EVERY, WE SAY, REACH OUT TO ME.
I DON'T HAVE A MASS OF PEOPLE REACHING OUT TO ME.
ACTUALLY, I DID HAVE A GREAT CONVERSATION WITH A, UM, A CONSTITUENT ON THE WAY TODAY.
UM, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE SHE HAD REACHED OUT TO ME AND, AND, AND I, I WILL CALL YOU.
I CAN'T PROMISE YOU, I'M GONNA CALL YOU DURING THE DAY, BUT YOU WANNA HAVE A CONVERSATION.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE A CONVERSATION.
AND YOU KNOW, I'M RAISING KIDS TOO.
I HAVE A FAMILY AND WE ALL, AS WE ALL DO, UM, BUT ANY OF US WILL TALK WITH YOU.
I'M HAPPY TO MEET STARBUCKS, MEET YOU AT STARBUCKS, HAVE A COFFEE, AND WE'LL TALK, YOU KNOW, TALK TO YOU OVER THE PHONE.
ALL OF US HAVE SAID THAT, BUT IT'S NOT HAPPENING IN THE, IN, IN MASSIVE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T HAVE A MASSIVE PEOPLE COMMUNICATING WITH ME.
UM, YOU'RE WELCOME TO, YOU'RE WELCOME TO.
SO, YOU KNOW, JUST FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, WHAT I SAID, I, YOU KNOW, WE ALL NEED TO BE ABLE TO BE THAT MODEL FOR OUR KIDS.
WHEN OUR KIDS ARE LOOKING AT THESE VIDEOS 20 YEARS BACK, 20 YEARS FROM NOW.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE EVERYTHING IN PLACE.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE RECOGNIZING AND MAKING CHANGES AND I'M GONNA CONTINUE TO DO THAT AND I'M GONNA CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR OUR STUDENTS.
SO I THINK, AGAIN, I THINK ALL OF OUR PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE, LET'S CONTINUE TO HAVE THE POSITIVE CONVERSATIONS THAT MAKE THE CHANGE.
LET'S STOP DOING THE CIRCLES BACK AND BACK AND BACK AND LET'S MAKE THE CHANGE.
SO, UM, I DO I HAVE, I THINK I'M, I AM, UH, THE ONLY ONE AT THIS POINT IN THE YEAR.
I, I VISITED SCHOOLS LAST YEAR.
I HAVEN'T BEEN OUT YET DUE TO SCHEDULING, BUT I DO HAVE, UM, SOME, UM, SCHEDULINGS PLANNED AND HOPEFULLY, UH, IN NOVEMBER, I SHOULD HAVE SOME REPORTS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT I'VE, UH, BEING AT THE SCHOOLS, UM, GETTING OUT THERE, UH, IN HERE.
SO, UM, I THINK THAT'S EVERYTHING.
UM, AND THANK YOU TO THOSE OF US WHO CAME TO, UM, CAME OUT TO SPEAK WITH US LAST NIGHT AND TODAY.
AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU WHO REACH OUT TO US AND EMAIL US AND SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH US.
UM, I ALWAYS APPRECIATE HEARING FROM YOU, UM, AND IT GIVES US SOME GUIDANCE AS TO WHAT WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT.
UM, ONE THING THAT I WANTED TO DO TONIGHT IS, UM, RESPOND TO THE COMMENTS MADE BY MRS. SALAN AT OUR LAST MEETING WHEN SHE CALLED FOR A VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE AGAINST DR.
UM, SHE SET OUT A SET OF POINTS, UM, IN THAT MEETING, AND A LOT OF IT IS FOCUSED AROUND A LOT OF THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT AS A COMMUNITY.
UM, SO I FELT LIKE IT WAS MY DUTY AS A BOARD MEMBER TO LOOK INTO THESE POINTS, UM, AND LET YOU ALL KNOW WHAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO FIND OUT.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I'VE DONE SINCE OUR LAST MEETING.
I'VE SPENT TIME VISITING SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL, AND TALKING WITH TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND OTHER STAFF THERE.
UM, I'VE LISTENED CAREFULLY LAST NIGHT AT OUR PUBLIC MEETING, UM, BOTH TO PEOPLE WHO SPOKE PUBLICLY AND, YOU KNOW, AFTERWARDS TO ANYONE WHO WANTED TO SPEAK WITH ME ONE-ON-ONE.
UM, WE'VE BEEN RECEIVING EMAILS FROM VARIOUS DIFFERENT PEOPLE, TEACHERS, UM, PARENTS, UH, EMPLOYEES OF THE SCHOOLS, AND I'VE BEEN REVIEWING THOSE AS I'M SURE MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS HAVE BEEN TO.
UM, I'M ALSO THE PARENT OF TWO WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS.
I HAVE A DAUGHTER AT SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND A DAUGHTER AT RUSSY JEFFRIES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
UM, AND I ASK THEM ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON AND WHAT THEY'RE SEEING.
AND, UM, I'VE BEEN ASKING MY DAUGHTER, WHO'S AT SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL EVERY DAY, WHAT HAPPENED TODAY? DID YOU HAVE AN ASSEMBLY TODAY? UM, WHAT'S THE HALLS BEEN LIKE? WHAT'S THE TARDY POLICY LIKE? SO I'VE BEEN HEARING THAT FROM A CHILD'S POINT OF VIEW AS WELL, UM, BECAUSE I WANTED TO GET A BALANCED VIEW OF WHAT'S HAPPENING.
UM, BECAUSE AS I'M SURE YOU ALL HAVE OBSERVED FROM LISTENING TO THE COMMENTS, UM, THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE BEING SAID.
SOME PEOPLE ARE SAYING THINGS ARE TERRIBLE, SOME THINGS PEOPLE ARE SAYING, THINGS ARE GREAT.
IT IS HARD TO KNOW WHAT TO BELIEVE.
UM, I DO THINK, YOU KNOW, I WOULD, I WOULD ASSUME THAT EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO HAS SPOKEN TO US IS SPEAKING THEIR TRUTH.
AND IF THEY SAY IT'S HORRIBLE, THEN THEY BELIEVE IT'S HORRIBLE.
AND IF THEY SAY THAT IT'S GREAT AND THEIR KIDS' TEACHERS ARE GREAT, THEN THEY BELIEVE THAT TOO.
UM, I THINK THOSE THINGS CAN BOTH BE TRUE AT ONCE.
THERE ARE A LOT OF CLASSROOMS, A LOT OF KIDS, A LOT OF EMPLOYEES, AND THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON.
UM, SOME ARE GOOD AND SOME ARE NOT GOOD.
UM, MY HOPE IS THAT BY ADDRESSING THESE OBSERVATIONS THAT WERE RELATED TO THE ISSUES THAT WERE RAISED, I CAN DO MY PART TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVING COMMUNICATION IN OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY.
[02:10:01]
THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO.UM, FIRST I WANNA SAY THAT I AND THE REST OF THE BOARD ARE AWARE OF SOME TERRIBLE EVENTS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS.
UM, I TRULY, MY HEART TRULY GOES OUT TO THOSE STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THOSE, UM, ISSUES AND HAVE HAD NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON THEM FROM OUR SCHOOLS.
UM, I HATE THAT THAT'S THE CASE, AND I, I WILL DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO ADDRESS THAT.
UM, SO I'M NOT GONNA PAPER OVER ANYTHING OR SUGARCOAT THINGS.
WE DO HAVE ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.
UM, SO GETTING TO THE POINTS THAT MRS. SALAN RAISED FIRST, UM, SHE STATED THAT DR.
AINGER FAILED TO NOTIFY PARENTS OF SERIOUS ISSUES IN A TIMELY MANNER.
UM, COMMUNICATION, I THINK, HAS BEEN AN ISSUE IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM SINCE BEFORE I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD.
UM, THAT IS A PROBLEM THAT I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE BEEN FACING.
ONE WAY TO ADDRESS THAT, THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US DO IS TO HIRE SOMEONE WHO WOULD BE A COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST FOR THE DISTRICT, WHO WOULD BE ABLE TO, UM, BE ON THE SCENE WHEN THERE ARE CRISISES.
AND THEIR SOLE ROLE WOULD BE TO COMMUNICATE THAT OUT TO PARENTS, TO THE COMMUNITY.
THAT PERSON WOULD HAVE TRAINING AND WOULD KNOW WHAT CAN THEY SAY AND WHAT CAN THEY NOT SAY.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I STRUGGLE WITH PERSONALLY AS A BOARD MEMBER, BECAUSE THERE ARE CONFIDENTIALITY ISSUES, AND IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, I'M A PRIVATE CITIZEN, THAT'S NOT MY AREA OF EXPERTISE.
I WOULD LOVE IT IF WE COULD HIRE SOMEONE WHO COULD DO THAT.
UM, UP UNTIL NOW, WE HAVE NOT FOUND ROOM FOR THAT IN OUR BUDGET.
UM, SO THAT HASN'T HAPPENED, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I WOULD, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT I THINK WOULD HELP.
UM, OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF SEVERAL WEEKS, COUPLE OF MONTHS NOW, DR.
MALLINGER HAS INSTRUCTED ADMINISTRATORS TO INCREASE COMMUNICATION HOME ABOUT VARIOUS ISSUES, EXCUSE ME, INCLUDING VAPES, UM, AND, UM, THREATS AND ANYTHING HAPPENING IN THE SCHOOLS.
UM, AS A PARENT, I HAVE NOTICED AND APPRECIATE THAT UPTICK IN COMMUNICATIONS THIS YEAR.
SO THAT'S ONE AREA WHERE I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE TAKEN A STEP FORWARD.
UM, I'VE ALSO LOOKED INTO SOME SPECIFIC ISSUES THAT I'VE HEARD ABOUT, UM, WHERE PEOPLE THOUGHT THAT COMMUNICATION WAS LACKING.
UM, AND AS A SPECIFIC ISSUE, I'M NOT GONNA GET INTO THE DETAILS HERE, BUT I WILL SAY THAT IN THOSE CASES THAT I'VE HEARD, I'VE BEEN, UM, CONVINCED THAT IF THAT COMMUNICATION DIDN'T GO OUT OR DIDN'T GO OUT A CERTAIN WAY, THERE WAS A REASON BEHIND THAT.
UM, THE SECOND POINT WAS THAT, UH, DR.
BALLINGER FAILED TO NOTIFY BOARD MEMBERS OF SERIOUS ISSUES OR, OR IMPORTANT DETAILS, EITHER AT ALL OR IN A TIMELY MANNER.
SO AT THIS POINT, I FEEL LIKE GETS INTO THE ROLE OF THE BOARD AND THE STRUCTURE OF THE SCHOOLS.
UM, GENERALLY, IT'S NOT OUR ROLE TO RESPOND TO INDIVIDUAL STUDENT ISSUES OR INDIVIDUAL PERSONNEL ISSUES.
THAT IS THE DUTY OF OUR PAID EMPLOYEES, UM, WHO HAVE TRAINING IN THAT AREA, WHO HAVE EXPERIENCE IN THAT AREA.
UM, SO ONE OF THE REASONS, WELL, THERE'S A FEW DIFFERENT REASONS THAT WE DON'T PERSONALLY USUALLY BE THE FIRST IN LINE TO RESPOND TO THOSE.
ANOTHER REASON IS THAT OUR BOARD PLAYS A ROLE, UM, IF THERE NEEDS TO BE AN ESCALATION WHERE SOMEONE IS NOT SATISFIED WITH WHAT'S HAPPENED.
SO TYPICALLY WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN IS THERE'S A STUDENT ISSUE, UM, OR, OR A PERSONNEL ISSUE THAT SHOULD GO FIRST TO THE BUILDING ADMINISTRATOR FOR THAT PERSON TO HANDLE IT.
IF THE PERSON FEELS THAT WAS NOT HANDLED WELL, THEN THEY CAN APPEAL THAT UP TO THE SUPERINTENDENT WHO WOULD TAKE A LOOK AND REVIEW IT AND SEE IF HE WANTS TO TAKE A DIFFERENT ACTION.
AND THEN IF THE PERSON IS STILL NOT SATISFIED, THEY CAN APPEAL THAT TO US AS A BOARD.
UM, AT WHICH POINT WE WILL HAVE, UM, AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THAT AND MAKE OUR OWN DECISION, BECAUSE WE HAVE THAT LAST LINE.
IT'S A FINE LINE AS TO HOW MUCH WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THOSE ISSUES UP FRONT.
UM, BECAUSE IF WE'RE BEING TOLD DETAILS ABOUT THAT, ESPECIALLY COMING FROM THE SCHOOL, WHICH IS WHERE IT WOULD OFTEN COME FROM, IT COULD CREATE THE PERCEPTION THAT THERE'S A BIAS THEN WHEN WE HEAR THAT AS THAT LAST LINE.
UM, SO IT DOESN'T MEAN, I'M NOT SAYING THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS SHOULD NEVER BE NOTIFIED, I'M JUST EXPLAINING THAT IN CASE THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME REASONS WHY IT MIGHT NOT ALWAYS BE THE BEST IDEA TO INCLUDE US SO INTIMATELY ON EVERY SINGLE LITTLE DETAIL.
UM, SO, UM, I AM, AS I'VE SAID, I AM THANKFUL TO THE PARENTS AND THE TEACHERS AND STAFF WHO REACH OUT TO US.
I DON'T WANT EVERYTHING THAT I JUST SAID TO MAKE IT SOUND LIKE THAT SHOULD STOP OR THAT YOU SHOULDN'T REACH OUT TO US.
UM, IT'S JUST A, A WAY THAT I'M TRYING TO EXPLAIN THAT WE SHOULDN'T BE THE ONES WHO ARE HANDLING EVERYTHING IN A VERY DETAILED MANNER RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING, SO THAT WE HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY, UM, IF IT SHOULD COME UP TO IT DOWN THE LINE.
UM, ONE THING THAT I HAVE HEARD SOMETIMES IS FROM PARENTS OR FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS, IS THEY WANNA KNOW, WAS THE BOARD TOLD ABOUT THIS? UM, AND THE IMPLICATION THAT I GET IS THAT IT'S A FAILING OF THE ADMINISTRATION OR OF DR.
UM, BUT THAT'S NOT ALWAYS THE CASE, AS, AS I'VE JUST SAID.
SO WE NEED TO KNOW GENERALLY WHAT'S HAPPENING SO THAT WE CAN SET POLICIES.
[02:15:01]
SAID, IT'S FINE TO HEAR ABOUT SOME THINGS, BUT THERE, THERE IS SOME TENSION THERE WITH NOT BEING TOTALLY INVOLVED IN ALL THE DETAILS.ALL OF THAT BEING SAID, I DO FEEL THE BOARD GENERALLY HAS BEEN, UM, INFORMED OF SERIOUS ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON.
UM, AND I ALSO FEEL THAT COMMUNICATION TO BOARD MEMBERS HAS INCREASED OVER THE PAST MONTH OR SO.
SO THAT'S AN AREA ALSO WHERE I'VE SEEN AN IMPROVEMENT, UM, RECENTLY.
BALLINGER FAILED TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT SUPPORT TO STAFF TO ENSURE POLICIES, PROCEDURES, LAWS, AND REQUIREMENTS ARE FOLLOWED.
BALLINGER DOES WORK TO SUPPORT HIS STAFF, INCLUDING ADVOCATING FOR HIRING ADDITIONAL STAFF WHEN INDICATED.
UM, ONE EXAMPLE BEING ON OUR AGENDA TONIGHT, THERE IS AN ITEM TO HIRE TWO MORE, UM, SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS AT SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
AND THAT IS ONE EXAMPLE OF A WAY THAT WE ARE TRYING TO PUT MORE RESOURCES INTO THAT SCHOOL THAT, UM, WE HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT.
BALLINGER WALKED INTO A DIFFICULT SITUATION, UM, TAKING HIS POSITION DURING C O V I D.
HE HAS NOT BEEN WITH OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR VERY LONG.
HE HAS BEEN WORKING ON ISSUES, UM, MOVING FORWARD WITH GOALS.
UM, WE ARE A LARGE ORGANIZATION.
UM, AND OUR BUDGET SITUATION IS ALSO, WE DON'T HAVE UNLIMITED FUNDS, AS MOST ORGANIZATIONS DON'T.
BALLINGER AND US ON THE BUDGET COMMITTEE, WE'RE DOING THE BEST THAT WE CAN WITH THESE LIMITED FUNDS.
THERE ARE OTHER POSITIONS, AS I'VE MENTIONED, ONE, JUST AS AN EXAMPLE, THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO HIRE THAT WE HAVEN'T HAD THE FUNDING TO DO.
UM, SO WE'RE LOOKING AT OTHER WAYS TO TRY TO ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE ISSUES, EVEN IF WE CAN'T GET OUR TOP CHOICE, WHICH MIGHT BE A STAFF POSITION.
THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO DO.
UM, FOR EXAMPLE, INCREASING CAMERA COVERAGE.
SO FAR, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO INCREASE IT IN PUBLIC PLACES LIKE HALLWAYS AND STAIRWELLS WITHOUT CHANGING OUR POLICY.
WE'RE ALSO, AS ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT, LOOKING AT CHANGING OUR POLICY.
SO WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO PUT CAMERAS IN OTHER PLACES AS WELL.
UM, ONE THING THAT WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT, UM, IS IF TEACHERS ARE WILLING TO HAVE A CAMERA IN THEIR ROOM, MAYBE WE START THERE AND SEE HOW IT GOES AND, AND ROLL OUT, UM, FROM THERE.
UM, ANOTHER EXAMPLE WOULD BE, UM, THE VAPE ALARMS THAT WE HAVE IN THE BATHROOMS. THERE ARE METAL DETECTORS THAT ARE, UM, ADMINISTRATORS ARE USING.
UM, THEY'RE JUST USING LIKE FOLDING METAL SCREENS TO BLOCK OFF CERTAIN AREAS OF THE BUILDING WHERE STUDENTS DON'T NEED TO BE SO THAT THEY CAN REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF HALL SPACE THAT THEY NEED TO MONITOR WITH OUR STAFF.
UM, SO OUR, OUR EMPLOYEES ARE REALLY BEING CREATIVE.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS THE SMART PASS SYSTEM THAT IS USED IN A FEW OF OUR DIFFERENT SCHOOLS, WHICH HELPS US ELECTRONICALLY TRACK HOW MANY STUDENTS ARE IN THE HALLWAY AT ONCE AND KIND OF TAMP DOWN.
'CAUSE AN INDIVIDUAL TEACHER CAN'T KNOW, YOU KNOW, THIS STUDENT WENT TO THE BATHROOM THEIR FIRST THREE CLASSES, AND NOW THEY'RE WITH ME ASKING TO GO TO THE BATHROOM.
BUT THIS, UM, ELECTRONIC SYSTEM CAN TRACK THAT.
UM, IN MY OBSERVATIONS AT SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL, I SAW AN ALL HANDS ON DECK APPROACH TO ENSURING STUDENTS WERE IN THEIR CLASSROOM AND LEARNING.
I SAW TEACHERS WERE IN THEIR DOORWAYS.
THEY WERE MOVING STUDENTS ALONG SAYING, WHERE DO YOU NEED TO BE? HURRY UP.
UM, THEY HAD LESSONS INSIDE THEIR CLASSROOMS. SO AS THE STUDENTS COME IN, THE STUDENTS KNOW WHAT THEY NEED TO DO.
THEY LOOK UP, THEY SEE WHAT'S ON THE BOARD, THEY KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT.
THEY HAVE THOSE ROUTINES IN PLACE, WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY WHAT THEY SHOULD BE DOING.
UM, AND THE FACT THAT I SAW ALL OF OUR TEACHERS DOING THAT IN BOTH OF THOSE SCHOOLS IS NOT A COINCIDENCE.
SO IT'S NOT THAT EVERY SINGLE TEACHER JUST DECIDED ON THEIR OWN THAT THEY WOULD DO THIS.
THAT SHOWS ME THAT THERE IS LEADERSHIP THAT IS ASKING THEM TO DO THAT, AND THAT OUR ADMINISTRATORS ARE ENCOURAGING THEM TO HAVE THESE BEHAVIORS THAT ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT WILL HELP OUR STUDENTS BE WHERE THEY NEED TO BE.
ALL OF THE EMPLOYEES THAT I HAVE TALKED TO HAVE SAID THAT THEY RECEIVE A CLEAR MESSAGE FROM DR.
BALLINGER AND THEIR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS THAT THEY ARE EXPECTED TO ENSURE THE POLICIES, PROCEDURES, LAWS, AND REQUIREMENTS ARE FOLLOWED.
IF THERE IS AN EMPLOYEE WHO FEELS DIFFERENTLY, I HAVEN'T HEARD THAT PERSONALLY, I WOULD URGE YOU TO REACH OUT TO DR.
BALLINGER IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOUR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION IS ASKING YOU NOT TO FOLLOW POLICIES AND REACH OUT TO US.
UM, THE FIVE OF US, IF YOU FEEL LIKE DR.
BALLINGER IS THE ONE TELLING YOU NOT TO FOLLOW THOSE POLICIES, BECAUSE THAT IS ABSOLUTELY SOMETHING WE WOULD BE INTERESTED TO HEAR.
BALLINGER FAILED TO ENSURE PROPER HIRING PRACTICES ARE FOLLOWED.
UM, THIS IS ANOTHER AREA WHERE I FEEL LIMITED IN WHAT I CAN SAY BECAUSE I CANNOT SPEAK ABOUT ANY PARTICULAR PERSONNEL ISSUES.
BALLINGER HAS HIRED A NEW DIRECTOR OF HR THIS YEAR, AND AN ADDITIONAL SUPPORT STAFF IN THAT DEPARTMENT, UM, SO THAT WE HAVE MORE STAFF DEVOTED TO THIS, UM, AREA OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.
UM, HE HAS BEEN TRYING TO RUN A LEAN CENTRAL OFFICE STAFF, WHICH I APPRECIATE, UM, SO THAT WE CAN SPEND MORE OF OUR DOLLARS IN OUR CLASSROOMS. BUT THERE ARE CERTAIN AREAS WHERE MAYBE WE DO NEED THAT SUPPORT IN THE CENTRAL OFFICE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS BEING HANDLED PROPERLY.
UM, OUR PROCEDURE AT THE SCHOOL BOARD LEVEL HAS ALSO CHANGED RECENTLY WITH REGARD TO HIRING.
UM, WE'RE HAVING GREATER SCRUTINY AND COMMUNICATION WITH OUR HR DIRECTOR ABOUT NEW HIRES.
WE'RE HAVING MORE OPPORTUNITY TO,
[02:20:01]
UM, REVIEW THOSE AND DISCUSS THEM, UM, BEFORE WE APPROVE, UM, HR DECISIONS.BALLINGER HAS PARTICIPATED IN RETALIATION BEHAVIOR.
I'VE SPECIFICALLY HEARD FROM MULTIPLE TEACHERS ON THIS ISSUE WHO CONSIDER DR.
BALLINGER TO BE EXCEPTIONALLY OPEN TO FEEDBACK.
UM, AND MANY OF YOU HAVE HEARD THAT IF YOU'VE BEEN AT OUR MEETINGS AS WELL, I HAVE HEARD MANY DIFFERENT TEACHERS UP AND DOWN THE BOARD SAY THAT HE IS MORE OPEN AND MORE WILLING TO HEAR FEEDBACK AND TO LISTEN TO IDEAS AND TO TALK TO OUR EMPLOYEES, TO TALK TO OUR STUDENTS THAN A TYPICAL SUPERINTENDENT OR COMPARED TO OTHER SUPERINTENDENTS THEY'VE WORKED WITH IN THE PAST.
I HAVE NOT HEARD ONE TEACHER OR ADMINISTRATOR SAY TO ME THAT THEY'RE AFRAID OF RETALIATION FROM DR.
AGAIN, THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT NO ONE FEELS THAT WAY, UM, BUT I HAVE NOT HEARD IT.
AND THAT'S ANOTHER AREA WHERE IF THAT IS HOW YOU FEEL, I HOPE THAT YOU WOULD REACH OUT, UM, AND SHARE THAT WITH US.
UM, ON THE OTHER HAND, I HAVE HEARD A FEW EMPLOYEES EXPRESS THAT THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THEY FEEL THE SCHOOLS ARE BEING PORTRAYED IN OUR COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW.
AND I THINK THIS GETS TO WHAT DR.
FUNK WAS SAYING ABOUT, I REALLY HOPE THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY, UM, AND SUPPORT EACH OTHER.
AND INSTEAD OF SLINGING MUD AND LAYING BLAME, THAT WE CAN REALIZE WE ARE ALL WORKING TOGETHER.
UM, TEACHERS SOMETIMES HAVE SAID THAT THEY ARE AFRAID, OR THEY, MAYBE NOT THE WORD AFRAID.
THEY HAVE SAID THAT THEY DON'T WANNA SPEAK PUBLICLY.
THEY WOULD RATHER EMAIL US BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO GET EMBROILED IN THAT NEGATIVE ATTENTION.
THEY DON'T WANNA HAVE A NEGATIVE SPOTLIGHT SHOWN ON THEM IF THEY SAY THE WRONG THING.
UM, SO ONE THING THAT I HEARD SAID AT OUR SEPTEMBER MEETING WAS THAT, UH, MRS. SALAN SAID THAT SHE GENUINELY WANTS TO HEAR ABOUT ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING SO HORRIBLY WRONG IN THE SCHOOLS.
NOW I THINK I UNDERSTAND WHERE SHE'S COMING FROM IN THAT STATEMENT.
I THINK THAT SHE WANTS TO FIX THE ISSUES THAT WE FACE.
UM, I AGREE WITH MR. SALANS THAT I THINK THAT SHE DOES SPEND HOURS AND HOURS LISTENING TO PARENTS AND TO TEACHERS WHO REACH OUT TO HER AND, UM, RESPONDING TO THEIR CONCERNS.
I AGREE WITH MR. MCFADDEN WHO IDENTIFIED THAT AS A PARTICULAR STRENGTH OF MRS. ALAN'S.
UM, AND AS I SAID, WE DO FACE ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.
I I THINK ALL OF US WHO ARE UP HERE ALL AGREE ON THAT.
UM, I DO THINK THAT WE ON THE BOARD THOUGH, NEED TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT OUR PHRASING.
WE DON'T WANNA GIVE THE IMPRESSION THAT WE ARE ONLY LOOKING FOR NEGATIVES.
UM, IF WE'RE ONLY LOOKING FOR NEGATIVES AND HORRIBLE THINGS, THEN WE'RE NOT GONNA HEAR THE POSITIVE THINGS.
UM, SO WHEN I GO OUT INTO THE SCHOOLS, WHEN I TALK TO TEACHERS, I TELL THEM, PLEASE TELL ME THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY.
IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE PROUD OF, I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR ABOUT THAT.
IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT, I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR ABOUT THAT.
IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE AS A SCHOOL BOARD COULD BE DOING BETTER, PLEASE TELL ME THAT.
UM, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET THAT BALANCED APPROACH.
AND I HOPE THAT THAT BALANCED APPROACH CAN ALSO BE SEEN IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO WE CAN, AT THE SAME TIME, HAVE ISSUES THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS AND FACE AND FIX, AND ALSO HAVE GOOD THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN OUR SCHOOLS THAT SHOULD BE CELEBRATED.
UM, I'VE HEARD A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE SAID LAST NIGHT, AND, UM, THIS EVENING ESPECIALLY, BUT ALSO IN THE PAST THAT WE SHOULD BE WORKING TOGETHER.
WE SHOULDN'T BE POINTING FINGERS.
WE NEED TO KEEP POLITICS OUT OF THIS.
WE'RE PARENTS, WE'RE TEACHERS, WE'RE COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
WE DO ALL HAVE THE SAME GOALS.
WE ALL CARE ABOUT THESE CHILDREN, AND WE WILL SERVE THEM BETTER IF WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER RATHER THAN TEARING EACH OTHER DOWN.
BALLINGER AND HIS TEAM HAVE FAITHFULLY WORKED TO RESPOND TO THE NEGATIVE SETBACKS THAT WE FACED OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS.
THIS INCLUDES CHANGES TO POLICIES, PROCEDURES, TRAINING, STAFFING, AND MORE.
WE SAW SOME EXAMPLES GIVEN TONIGHT, UM, ABOUT SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
BALLINGER AND OTHER CENTRAL OFFICE STAFF HAVE BEEN THERE, UM, ALMOST EVERY DAY FOR THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS.
THEY'RE, EXCUSE ME, THEY'RE ASSISTING IN HALLWAYS.
THEY'RE, UH, RESPONDING TO STUDENT BEHAVIOR.
THEY'RE ALSO SITTING IN TEACHERS CLASSROOMS OFFERING SUPPORT, OFFERING TRAINING, SOME OF THOSE THINGS THAT, THAT YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD.
UM, SO WE NEED TO ADDRESS OUR PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES.
UM, AND WE ALSO NEED TO TALK ABOUT AND IDENTIFY OUR SUCCESSES AND SOLUTIONS, NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF MORALE, BUT ALSO IF WE DON'T TALK ABOUT THE THINGS THAT WE ARE DOING WELL AND IDENTIFY THOSE, WE RISK LOSING ALL THOSE THINGS.
IF WE'RE ONLY FOCUSED ON THE NEGATIVE, WE CAN'T BUILD ON THE POSITIVE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN OUR SCHOOLS.
UM, AND FINALLY ON THAT, I, I THINK THAT A NEGATIVE FOCUS ON OUR SY SCHOOL SYSTEM IS NOT ONLY DEMORALIZING TO THE STAFF AND THE ADMINISTRATORS THAT WE HAVE NOW, BUT I VERY MUCH WORRY THAT IT WILL, UH, CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE WITH RETAINING AND ATTRACTING GOOD STAFF.
I MEAN, UM, FOR ADMINISTRATORS TO LOOK AND SEE, DO I WANNA WORK IN WARREN COUNTY? IF THEY SEE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE BEING SAID, IT MAKES ME WORRY THAT THEY MIGHT SAY THEY WOULD RATHER WORK IN A DIFFERENT PLACE, AND NONE OF US WANT THAT.
ALL RIGHT, I WILL TRY TO GET THROUGH THESE.
BALLINGER, UM, FAILED TO FOLLOW POLICY.
BALLINGER IS QUITE WILLING TO FOLLOW AND ENFORCE THE BOARD'S POLICIES.
[02:25:01]
UM, THERE ARE CASES THAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED WHERE THE POLICY IS CONTRADICTORY, WHERE IT SAYS TWO DIFFERENT THINGS IN TWO DIFFERENT PLACES.THAT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS A BOARD.
AND, AND WE HAVE ALL, UM, IDENTIFIED THAT WE NEED TO WORK ON THAT, AND WE HAVE STARTED THAT PROCESS.
THE NEXT ONE WAS THAT HE FAILED TO IMPLEMENT THE CHANGES THAT, UM, MRSS ALAN HAD PERSONALLY REQUESTED OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
UM, FIRST I'LL SAY THAT MRS. SALAN IS ONE BOARD MEMBER.
ROWER'S RESPONSIBILITY IS TO, UM, IMPLEMENT THE CHANGES THAT WE AS A BOARD VOTE ON AND AGREE TO AND DECIDE.
UM, THAT BEING SAID, I HAVE SEEN HIM IMPLEMENT MANY THINGS THAT SHE HAS REQUESTED AS AN INDIVIDUAL, THAT I HAVE REQUESTED AS AN INDIVIDUAL.
SO I DO BELIEVE THAT HE MAKES A GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO CARRY OUT OUR REQUESTS, UM, EVEN IF IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT THE WHOLE BOARD VOTED ON TOGETHER.
I WILL SAY A LOT OF THE TIME HE AND HIS ADMINISTRATORS AS CENTRAL OFFICE STAFF ARE DEALING WITH MULTIPLE ISSUES AT ONCE.
UM, AND THEY CANNOT ALWAYS RESPOND TO EVERYTHING WE ASK FOR PROMPTLY OR RIGHT AWAY.
I KNOW I'VE GOTTEN EMAILS FROM SOME OF OUR, UM, CENTRAL OFFICE STAFF, UM, AFTER HOURS ON WEEKENDS, BECAUSE THAT IS WHEN THEY HAVE TIME TO FINALLY CATCH UP AND GET BACK TO US.
UM, SO IT PROBABLY IS TRUE THAT NOT EVERYTHING HAS BEEN CAUGHT.
THERE PROBABLY ARE THINGS THAT HAVE FALLEN THROUGH THE CRACKS, UM, BUT I FEEL LIKE I UNDERSTAND THE REASONS WHY THAT'S HAPPENED.
AND THE LAST POINT WAS THAT HE IS NOT SERVING AT THE WILL OF THE BOARD.
UM, I FEEL LIKE THAT IS CLEARLY NOT TRUE, AS NONE OF THE OTHERS OF US SECONDED THAT MOTION.
UM, AND I'LL JUST KIND OF SAY FOR MYSELF, FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN, DR.
BALLINGER HAS WORKED HARD TO TRY AND IMPLEMENT THE THINGS THAT WE DIRECT 'EM TO DO.
UM, CONSISTENCY IS THE KEY IN DISCIPLINE.
IT IS ALSO THE KEY IN ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP.
A LOT OF TEACHERS WILL TELL YOU THAT IT TAKES THREE TO FIVE YEARS OR SO FOR THEM TO REALLY, UM, GAIN THEIR FEET IN THE CLASSROOM AND KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
AND I BELIEVE THE SAME IS TRUE FOR AN ADMINISTRATION.
THE SAME IS TRUE FOR A NEW SUPERINTENDENT COMING IN.
IT TAKES SEVERAL YEARS, UM, TO GET THOSE PROCESSES IN PLACE THE WAY THAT YOU WANT THEM.
WHAT WE WANNA SEE IS ARE WE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION? AND FROM MY CONVERSATIONS WITH TEACHERS AND STAFF OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS, UM, INCLUDING AT SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL, I HEAR FROM MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT THEY FEEL LIKE THIS YEAR IS BETTER THAN LAST YEAR, AND THEY FEEL LIKE THINGS ARE GOING BETTER NOW THAN THEY WERE IN AUGUST.
SO I FEEL LIKE WE ARE SEEING SOME CHANGE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
UM, WE NEED TO KEEP AN EYE ON THAT, BUT SO FAR I DO FEEL HOPEFUL ABOUT THAT.
UM, DESPITE ALL THE NEGATIVE RHETORIC, OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT IS NOT DOING ABNORMALLY POOR BY OBJECTIVE STANDARDS.
AND I WENT ONTO THE V D O E, UM, WEBSITE.
I'M KIND OF A DATA EMPIRICAL PERSON, AND I LOOKED UP SOME STATISTICS TO TRY TO SEE WHERE WE ARE, UM, COMPARED WITH OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN OUR REGION, WHICH IS REGION FOUR, KIND OF THE TOP OF VIRGINIA.
UM, WARREN COUNTY'S TEACHER VACANCY RATE IS AVERAGE FOR OUR REGION.
AND WE HAVE A LOWER THAN AVERAGE VACANCY RATE FOR ADMINISTRATORS, AIDES, PARAS, AND NON-LICENSED STAFF.
SO ALTHOUGH WE HAVE ISSUES WITH HIRING, WE'RE DOING BETTER THAN OUR PEERS IN OUR AREA.
UM, I ALSO WANTED TO COMPARE OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT TO OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN VIRGINIA THAT ARE SIMILAR.
SO I FOUND NINE TO OTHER DISTRICTS IN VIRGINIA THAT HAVE A SIMILAR ENROLLMENT SIZE THAN AS US.
AND THEY ALSO HAVE A SIMILAR PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS WHO ARE DISADVANTAGED.
AND ALL THAT IS AVAILABLE ON THE V D O E WEBSITE.
SO OUT OF THOSE 10 SCHOOL DISTRICTS, UM, I LOOKED AT A FEW DIFFERENT MEASURES THAT THEY HAVE AVAILABLE.
WARREN COUNTY IS IN THE TOP HALF OF THOSE 10 ECONOMICALLY.
UM, WE'RE THE FOURTH HIGHEST IN TERMS OF OUR PROPERTY VALUES AMONG THOSE 10 AREAS.
UM, AND FOURTH HIGHEST AND ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME, AND THIRD HIGHEST IN REQUIRED LOCAL EFFORT.
UM, REQUIRED LOCAL EFFORT IS A STATE FUNDING FORMULA THAT THE STATE USES TO TRY TO DETERMINE DISTRICT'S RELATIVE ABILITY TO, UM, SUPPORT THEIR SCHOOLS FINANCIALLY.
SO DESPITE THAT, WE'RE A LITTLE BIT ABOVE AVERAGE IN TERMS OF OUR WEALTH AS A COMMUNITY COMPARED TO THESE NINE OTHER DISTRICTS THAT I CHOSE.
UM, BUT WE'RE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE IN PER PUPIL FUNDING, SO WE'RE SIX OUT OF 10 IN PER PUPIL FUNDING.
SO IN OTHER WORDS, COMPARED TO SIMILAR DISTRICTS, OUR SCHOOLS ARE FUNDED A LITTLE BIT LOWER THAN SOME OF THOSE ARE.
DESPITE THAT, UM, OUR S O L PASS RATES FOR ENGLISH, MATH, AND SCIENCE ARE COMPETITIVE, EITHER AVERAGE OR ABOVE AVERAGE IN THIS GROUP, IN EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE AREAS.
IN OUR COMPARISON, UH, GROUP, WE HAVE, WELL, LESS THAN THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF BEHAVIORAL ISSUES.
UM, SO THE OTHER DISTRICTS THAT I LOOKED AT HAD MANY MORE BEHAVIORAL ISSUES THAN OUR SCHOOL DID SIGNIFICANTLY MORE.
UM, ALTHOUGH OUR DISTRICT HAS EXPERIENCED SOME INEXCUSABLE INCIDENTS OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, UM, UNFORTUNATELY WE'RE NOT THE ONLY DISTRICT WHO HAS EXPERIENCED ISSUES LIKE THAT.
I DON'T THINK IT'S PRACTICAL FOR US TO EXPECT THAT WE CAN ELIMINATE EVERY NEGATIVE BEHAVIOR.
WHAT WE SHOULD BE LOOKING FOR IS AN ADMINISTRATION WHO TAKES THOSE ISSUES SERIOUSLY AND TAKES CONCRETE STEPS TO ADDRESS THEM WHEN THEY DO ARISE.
AND THAT IS WHAT I'VE SEEN FROM DR.
UM, THE ONE AREA THAT I WILL SAY THAT I DID SEE THAT OUR DISTRICT STRUGGLES WITH COMPARED TO THOSE
[02:30:01]
OTHER NINE SCHOOLS IN THOSE 10 SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT I LOOKED AT, WE WERE THE LOWEST, UM, OR RANKED THE WORST IN TERMS OF CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM.SO WE HAD THE HIGHEST CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM.
UM, SO THAT IS A REAL ISSUE THAT OUR DISTRICT FACES THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS.
UM, HE AND HIS STAFF ARE WELL AWARE OF THIS.
HE, UM, DEVELOPED, UM, A GROUP IN ORDER TO LOOK AT, UH, ATTENDANCE OVER THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF, AT LEAST THE PAST YEAR.
UM, THEY DEVELOPED AN ATTENDANCE POLICY THAT THEY RECOMMENDED TO OUR BOARD, WHICH WE RECENTLY ADOPTED, AND WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO PUBLICIZE THAT OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.
UM, HE'S ALSO DONE, UM, POSITIVE THINGS LIKE YOU ALL HAVE SEEN WITH THE ATTENDANCE AWARDS.
UM, THE DIFFERENT SCHOOLS ARE DOING POSITIVE ATTENDANCE INCENTIVES.
YOU HEARD ABOUT THEY'RE GETTING, YOU KNOW, BIKES AS PRIZES OR TIME IN, UM, THE ARCADE AS PRIZES, THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, AND WE HAVE JUST RECENTLY, JUST TONIGHT SEEN SOME DATA THAT IS PROMISING THAT IT LOOKS LIKE PERHAPS OUR ATTENDANCE IS DOING A LITTLE BIT BETTER THIS YEAR COMPARED TO LAST YEAR.
AGAIN, IT'S ONLY UP THROUGH SEPTEMBER.
UM, IT'S TOO EARLY TO REALLY DO ANY VICTORY LAPSE.
BUT AGAIN, I'M HOPEFUL THAT SOME OF THOSE CHANGES MIGHT BE STARTING TO HAVE AN IMPACT.
SO TO SUM THAT UP, EVEN WITH LOWER ATTENDANCE RATES AND SLIGHTLY LOWER FUNDING, OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT IS STILL MATCHING OR EXCEEDING THE AVERAGE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT OF OUR PEER INSTITUTIONS IN TERMS OF ENGLISH, MATH AND SCIENCE SOLS.
AND WE'RE MATCHING THEM IN BEHAVIOR ISSUES AS WELL, OR DOING BETTER THAN MOST OF THEM IN BEHAVIOR ISSUES.
UM, JUST A COUPLE MORE THINGS I'VE SEE.
I'VE HEARD FROM SOME PARENTS THAT THEY'VE MADE COMMENTS THAT THEY FEEL LIKE WE AREN'T LISTENING OR THAT WE DON'T CARE.
I HATE TO HEAR THIS, AND I'M TRULY SORRY IF I HAVE IN SOME WAY CONTRIBUTED TO YOUR FEELING LIKE THAT.
UM, NONE OF US UP HERE, NONE OF OUR EMPLOYEES WOULD BE DOING THIS IF WE DIDN'T CARE.
NONE OF US ARE IN THIS FOR THE MONEY.
UM, WE'RE HERE BECAUSE WE CARE ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY.
WE WANNA DO BETTER FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, AND IT IS HEARTBREAKING TO HEAR SOME OF THOSE THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED.
SO IN CLOSING, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO VOICE MY SUPPORT AND APPRECIATION FOR THE WORK DR.
BALLINGER DOES DAY IN AND DAY OUT FOR OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.
HAVING A STRONG SUPERINTENDENT DOESN'T MEAN WE WILL NOT EXPERIENCE ISSUES OF INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR BY STAFF AND STUDENTS, BUT IT DOES MEAN THAT WHEN THESE THINGS INEVITABLY HAPPEN, THEY SHOULD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY.
AND THOUGHTFUL CHANGES WILL TAKE PLACE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES.
WE HAVE MS. SALANS, MR. AND MRS. CRAM.
I AM GOING TO REARRANGE WHAT I WAS GONNA TALK ABOUT BECAUSE YOU DESERVE TO BE SPOKEN TO FIRST.
UM, AFTER WATCHING THE PRESENTATION EARLIER THIS EVENING, SOME WORDS STUCK OUT TO ME.
AND I HONESTLY, GENUINELY EMPATHIZE AND HAVE SHED TEARS OVER YOUR SON.
YOU ARE ALSO HUMAN, AND YOU DESERVE TO BE TREATED AS HUMAN BEINGS WHO GET RESPONSES.
I BELIEVE YOU DESERVE ANSWERS.
I'VE TRIED TO GET YOU THE INFORMATION THAT YOU'VE REQUESTED.
I I CAN'T GET IT UNTIL I'VE GOT ALL FOUR ON MY SIDE.
I CAN'T GET YOU THE ANSWERS BECAUSE AS WAS POINTED OUT TO ME, I AM ONLY ONE BOARD MEMBER.
BALLINGER SAID, THERE IS TIME TO HAVE A HEAVY HAND.
I FELT STRONGLY THAT WE NEEDED TO PROVIDE, AT THE VERY LEAST, WRITTEN DIRECTIVES TO CERTAIN ADMINISTRATORS TO ENSURE POLICIES WOULD BE FOLLOWED AND STUDENTS AND STAFF WOULD BE SAFE.
I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE ASKING FOR SOME WRITTEN DOWN GOALS TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE THINGS NEVER HAPPENED AGAIN.
I REPEATEDLY MADE THIS REQUEST, AND ONCE I FELT LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE WAS EXHAUSTED, YES, I LOST CONFIDENCE AND I REQUESTED A VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE.
AND THAT EVENING I HAD WITH ME AN ENTIRE BEACH BAG FULL OF BINDERS WITH SPECIFIC DATES AND TIMES AND INSTANCES THAT I COULD HAVE EASILY DISCUSSED THIS WITH THE ENTIRE BOARD.
BUT I WASN'T GIVEN THAT OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE NOBODY EVEN HUMORED LISTENING TO WHAT I HAD TO HAD TO SAY ABOUT THIS.
I DON'T HATE THE MAN, BUT YOU GUYS DESERVED BETTER.
I CAN'T HELP BUT THINK OF, UM, THIS, THIS SAYING, THIS MEME THAT GOES AROUND ON FACEBOOK ABOUT, UM, IF I BAKED A TRAY OF BROWNIES AND I PUT JUST A LITTLE BIT OF POISON IN ONE SECTION,
[02:35:02]
SHOULD WE SIT AROUND AND CELEBRATE THE WINDS OF HOW DELICIOUS THOSE BROWNIES ARE? OR SHOULD WE RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT SOMEBODY'S LIFE WAS ENDANGERED AND THEIR LIFE HAS BEEN ALTERED? I WOULD FIND IT TO BE IF I WERE IN YOUR SHOES ABSOLUTELY, TOTALLY AND UTTERLY INSULTING TO HAVE PRAISE SUNG FROM THE ROOFTOPS WHILE YOU SAT THERE NOT EVEN ABLE TO GET A SIMPLE ANSWER.I BELIEVE YOU SAID YESTERDAY THAT IT WAS 40 DAYS.
THAT, THAT YOU'VE GONE WITHOUT AN ANSWER.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO OFFER YOU GUYS.
UM, AS FOR THE RETALIATION, I THINK WE ALL SAW THE RETALIATION IN ACTION LAST NIGHT, AND I AM PROUD TO HAVE TAKEN THE BEATING FOR YOUR SON LAST NIGHT.
I AM PROUD, I BELIEVE 9 1 1 SHOULD HAVE BEEN CALLED IMMEDIATELY.
I CAN'T LOOK AT THIS PICTURE AND THINK FOR ONE SECOND THAT 9 1 1 SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN CALLED.
I CAN'T SEEM TO GET THAT ANSWER.
I ABSOLUTELY BELIEVE THAT WE NEED BETTER ACCESS FOR REHABILITATIVE SER REHABILITATION SERVICES AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE STRUGGLING.
UNDER 25, YOUR BRAIN IS STILL FORMING YOU.
WE HAVE TO LEARN WHAT IS APPROPRIATE AND WHAT IS NOT.
QUITE FRANKLY, I THINK OUR BOARD NEEDS TO CONSIDER GETTING NEW LEGAL COUNSEL IF OURS BELIEFS THAT PARENTS SHOULD BE KEPT IN THE DARK SAME AS THEY WERE DURING HILDA, BECAUSE THE TRUTH BE TOLD, THIS IS NOT A NEW ISSUE.
MAY MARKED THE STAGE WHERE WE HAD ACCUSATIONS AND NOW FELONY CHARGES PENDING AGAINST A TEACHER.
MAY IS WHEN I HAD STARTED ASKING FOR VERY SPECIFIC GOALS AND DIRECTIVES AND POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, BECAUSE I SWORE IN MAY THAT NO MORE CHILDREN WERE GONNA BE HURT UNDER MY WATCH.
AND I CAN'T SAY THAT BECAUSE THIS YEAR HAS BEEN A TOTAL AND UTTER DISASTER.
I, I WAS GOING TO START WITH SOME WINS FOR THE EVENING, UM, BUT I FELT LIKE YOU DESERVE TO BE ADDRESSED FIRST.
UM, MOST OF THE TIME WHEN I HAVE THESE, THESE MOMENTS TO SPEAK, I DO START WITH, WITH THE WINS AND THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING, GOING WELL IN THE SCHOOLS.
BUT IT WOULD, I I WAS NOT GOING TO INSULT YOU BY MAKING YOU LISTEN TO THAT BEFORE ADDRESSING YOU DIRECTLY.
I ATTENDED THE BUILDING COMMITTEE MEETING LAST WEEK.
I'M PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE L F K RENOVATION IS ON BUDGET AND HEAD OF SCHEDULE.
I GIVE ALL CREDIT TO LANCE CONSTRUCTION AND OUR FABULOUS FACILITIES DEPARTMENT FOR MAKING THIS POSSIBLE.
UM, I DON'T THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE FULLY APPRECIATE WHAT THESE GUYS IN THE FACILITIES DEPARTMENT DO, BUT THEY KEEP THE ROOFS OVER OUR HEADS FUNCTIONING AND, UM,
AND YOU GUYS JUST TAKE IT IN STRIDE AND YOU FIX IT.
AND I APPRECIATE THAT SO MUCH AND I'VE ENJOYED MY TIME WORKING WITH YOU.
UM, I'M ALSO PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT E WILSON MORRISON, THE JIM PROJECT HAS BEEN DESIGNED AND IS GOING OUT TO BID.
UM, THAT WAS A MAJOR GOAL OF MINE FOR A LONG TIME, AND I AM VERY GLAD TO SEE THAT HAPPENING.
MOVING ON, I'M GONNA READ THE PEACE PRAYER OF ST.
LORD, MAKE ME AN INSTRUMENT OF YOUR PEACE WHERE THERE IS HATRED.
LET ME SO LOVE WHERE THERE IS INJURY.
PARDON? WHERE THERE IS DOUBT FAITH, WHERE THERE IS DESPAIR.
HOPE WHERE THERE IS DARKNESS LIGHT WHERE THERE IS SADNESS, JOY, OH, DIVINE MASTER GRANT THAT I MAY NOT SO MUCH SEEK TO BE CONSOLED, BUT TO CONSOLE, TO UNDERSTA, TO BE UNDERSTOOD AS TO UNDERSTAND, TO BE LOVED AS TO LOVE FOR IT IS IN GIVING THAT WE RECEIVE.
IT IS IN PARDONING THAT WE ARE PARDONED AND IT IS IN DYING.
THAT WE ARE BORN TO ETERNAL LIFE.
THOSE WHO CALLED FOR SEPARATION
[02:40:01]
OF CHURCH AND STATE LAST NIGHT AND THEN IN THE NEXT BREATH STARTED ATTACKING ME FOR BEING CATHOLIC.I WANT YOU TO HEAR YOUR HYPOCRISY.
I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE DOES NOT MEAN WHAT YOU THINK IT MEANS.
THE PROVISION PREVENTS THE GOVERNMENT FROM ESTABLISHING A STATE RELIGION.
IT DOES NOT PROHIBIT OTHERS FROM THE FREEDOM TO PRACTICE THEIRS.
IF I HAVE TO ADMIT IT, I'M A BAD CATHOLIC.
AND IT'S HONESTLY BEEN TOO LONG SINCE I'VE BEEN TO CHURCH.
BUT I'LL ABSOLUTELY DEFEND CATHOLICS AS I WOULD DEFEND ANY OTHER RELIGION WHEN THEY'RE BEING SUBJECTED TO THE HATE SPEECH.
IN TERMS LIKE CATHOLIC CULT, I AM ALSO OUTRAGED BY THE ONLINE PUSH AND RECOMMENDATION TO BOYCOTT BUSINESSES AFFILIATED WITH ANY OF OUR LOCAL RELIGIONS OF ALL DENOMINATIONS.
THESE ARE PEOPLE'S LIVELIHOODS.
WITH THAT SAID, I DEFEND THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NOT RELIGIOUS AND WHO CHOOSE A SECULAR PATH.
I BELIEVE IN FREEDOM ACROSS THE BOARD.
ALLOW ME TO CORRECT SOME OF THE LIES FROM LAST NIGHT.
BECAUSE LET ME JUST TELL YOU, IT WAS THE PERFECT SCENARIO.
THE ENTIRE GOAL OF THE EVENING WAS TO HAVE A TOWN HALL AND BRING TOGETHER PARENTS AND STAFF MEMBERS AND TO MAKE THAT EVENING ABOUT THE CHILDREN.
AND INSTEAD, SOME SELECT FEW DECIDED TO MAKE LAST NIGHT ABOUT ME.
THEY COULD HAVE MADE TONIGHT ABOUT ME IF THEY REALLY WANTED TO BE HATEFUL.
HOWEVER, THE DIFFERENCE WAS LAST NIGHT DID NOT ALLOW PUBLIC PART, UH, PARTIC PUBLIC COMMENT FROM OUR BOARD.
SO THEY KNEW THEY HAD ME SMART.
WELL, TONIGHT WE'RE GONNA DISCUSS IT.
I WILL DEFEND MYSELF, NUMBER ONE.
I WAS MADE FUN OF SAYING I DON'T CO-PARENT WITH THE GOVERNMENT.
THE BEST WAY TO DEAL WITH BULLIES IS TO CONFRONT THEM HEAD ON.
YOU DO NOT INTIMIDATE ME, AND I WILL NOT SHUT UP AND I WILL NOT STOP DEFENDING CHILDREN LIKE YOUR CHILD.
SECOND STEP HAS BEEN TAUGHT IN OUR SCHOOLS FOR MANY YEARS NOW, HAD PEOPLE ATTENDED THE BOARD MEETINGS INSTEAD OF LISTENING TO THE RUMORS, THEY WOULD BE AWARE OF THIS.
WHEN WARREN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL SWITCHED OVER TO A NEW ONLINE VERSION OF SECOND STEP WITHOUT PARENTAL NOTICE GIVEN, THAT'S THE KEY.
AND THIS WAS TWO YEARS AGO, BY THE WAY.
SO WE'RE BRINGING UP THINGS FROM TWO YEARS AGO.
OUR BOARD VOTED TO PAUSE IT FOR ONE MONTH AT THAT ONE SCHOOL.
THE REASON FOR THIS WAS BECAUSE SOME OF THE LESSONS ENCOURAGED STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN POLITICAL DISRUPTIONS INSIDE THE SCHOOL.
CLEARLY, ADULTS STRUGGLE WITH CIVIL POLITICAL DISCORD.
SO HOW COULD WE EXPECT OUR CHILDREN TO, IT WOULD INCREASE THE BULLYING AND THE PICKING ON THE CHILDREN OF ONE ANOTHER.
AFTER A MONTH, IT WAS STARTED BACK UP.
SO I GUESS REALLY THE QUESTION IS WHY ISN'T IT WORKING? EVERYBODY WHO SUNG THE PRAISES OF IT, WHY ISN'T IT WORKING? NOW? LET'S ADDRESS ALL THE HATE THAT WAS THROWN AT ME AND MY CHILDREN LAST NIGHT ABOUT HOMESCHOOLING THE EPITOME OF BULLYING.
CONGRATULATIONS ON MODELING THE EXACT BEHAVIOR WE WANT OUR CHILDREN NOT TO PARTICIPATE IN.
THERE ARE 830 HOMESCHOOLERS IN THIS COUNTY, AND THAT NUMBER IS GROWING.
AFTER THE MEETING, I HAD MULTIPLE FAMILIES APPROACH ME WHO ARE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS, ARE SCARED, AND, AND THEY ARE WANTING TO PULL THEIR CHILDREN OUT OF SCHOOL TO HOMESCHOOL.
AND, AND I, AND I TALKED THEM OUT OF IT.
I TRIED TO TALK THEM OUT OF IT AND TELL THEM TO STAY IN FOR A LITTLE
[02:45:01]
BIT LONGER.THE FACT THAT ANYBODY WOULD SAY THAT I AM AGAINST PUBLIC EDUCATION.
WHEN I DEVOTE THE AMOUNT OF TIME AND EFFORT INTO WHAT I DO, IT'S, IT'S UTTERLY ABSURD.
MY MOTHER WAS A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER.
MY FATHER BUILDS PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR A SCHOOL DISTRICT.
MY MOTHER-IN-LAW WORKED FOR FAIRFAX COUNTY SCHOOL'S TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT FOR YEARS UNTIL HER RECENT RETIREMENT.
MY STEPMOTHER HAS A DOCTORATE IN EDUCATION AND HAS TAUGHT NOT ONLY IN PUBLIC SCHOOL, BUT IN MULTIPLE COLLEGES AS WELL.
I WENT TO PUBLIC SCHOOL, I COACHED IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
MY FOSTER CHILDREN WENT TO PUBLIC SCHOOL.
BUT I GUESS MY FOSTER CHILDREN, WHAT THEY DON'T COUNT AS REAL CHILDREN TO YOU GUYS.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO DON'T KNOW YOU.
IT'S MS. SALE'S TURN TO SPEAK.
I ACTUALLY NEVER INTENDED TO HOMESCHOOL MY DAUGHTER, HER BIRTHDATE.
SHE TURNED FIVE AFTER THE CUTOFF FOR KINDERGARTEN ENROLLMENT.
AND SHE'S A VERY BRIGHT CHILD.
AND SHE WAS, SHE WAS READY TO START SCHOOL.
SO I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW WHAT, I'M GONNA GIVE IT A GO.
I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA TRY AND HOMESCHOOL HER AT HOME.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT? I FOUND OUT? I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT.
AND I STILL CONTINUE TO LOVE IT.
AND I ASSESS EVERY YEAR, YEAR AFTER YEAR, WHAT IS BEST FOR MY CHILDREN.
BECAUSE AS A PARENT, THAT IS MY FIRST PRIORITY.
THAT'S EVERY PARENT'S FIRST PRIORITY.
WHAT IS BEST FOR YOUR CHILD? I DON'T THINK PEOPLE EVEN HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT HOMESCHOOLING LOOKS LIKE THESE DAYS, SAYING THAT MY CHILDREN ARE BEING SOCIALLY ISOLATED AND AREN'T GONNA, THAT'S JUST, IT'S RIDICULOUS.
THEY ARE BOTH AT OR AHEAD OF GRADE LEVEL, EDUCATIONALLY SPEAKING.
AND ANYBODY WHO KNOWS MY KIDS AND YOU KNOW MY KIDS AND THEY'RE HEARTBROKEN BY HOW YOU'VE TREATED ME.
THEY ABSOLUTELY ARE SWEET CHILDREN.
YOU WANT WE ARE NOT FOR ME THAN HER.
I, I I JUST WANT US TO GET THROUGH THIS.
I'VE TAUGHT AT SOME OF THOSE CO-OPS.
I'VE TAUGHT AT MANY OF THOSE CO-OPS.
I VOLUNTEER TO CLEAN THE SCHOOL EVERY WEEK FOR THE PARENT PARTICIPATION FOR OUR CURRENT CO-OP.
THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT FLAVORS OF SCHOOLING THESE DAYS.
THERE, THERE'S DIVERSITY IN EDUCATION.
WE NEED TO BE CELEBRATING THAT AND, AND MAKING SURE THAT EVERY CHILD IS ENCOURAGED TO REACH WHATEVER THAT SCHOOL THAT IS BEST FOR THEM.
WHATEVER SCHOOLING STYLE THAT IS.
THEY, THEY NEED TO, TO HAVE THAT.
I'M GONNA POINT OUT A GOOD THING.
BALLINGER AND I HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH HERE IS THAT A MAJOR GOAL OF MINE WHEN I, WHEN I JOINED THIS BOARD, WAS TO ACTUALLY BRIDGE THIS GAP AND END THIS HATRED TOWARDS THE HOMESCHOOLING COMMUNITY OUT HERE.
WE, LIKE, WE DO NOT NEED TO LOOK AT REASONS THAT SEPARATE US AND ARE, AND DIVIDE US AND MAKE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN US.
WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT WHAT BRINGS US TOGETHER.
WE ALL HAVE THE SAME GOAL THAT WE WANT TO RAISE HAPPY, HEALTHY, EDUCATED HUMANS TO ADULTHOOD TO BE SUCCESSFUL ADULTS.
AND WHEN I SAW THE OPPORTUNITY THAT I HAD SOMETHING TO CONTRIBUTE, YES, I WAS NOT ONLY APPOINTED, I HAD TO APPLY AND WAS APPOINTED TO THIS BOARD AND THEN RUN AN ELECTION AND WAS ALSO ELECTED TO THIS BOARD.
SO I WOULD SAY THAT I'VE EARNED MY SEAT ON THIS BOARD AND I'VE CONTINUED TO WORK HARD TO EARN MY SEAT ON THIS BOARD EVER SINCE.
ER'S HELP, WE HAVE WORKED ON THESE, THE PUBLIC PRIVATE WORKING TOGETHER.
WE, WE HAVE HOMESCHOOLERS IN THIS COMMUNITY WHO ARE ALLOWED TO TAKE PART-TIME SCHOOLING IN SCHOOL.
IF, IF YOUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT IS STRUGGLING AT, AT, WITH, AT HOME WITH MATH, THEY CAN COME IN AND TAKE A MATH CLASS IN OUR SCHOOL.
HOW ARE THOSE CHILDREN GONNA FEEL WHEN, WHEN THEY'RE BEING TOLD AND, AND HEARING THE, THE THINGS THAT WERE SAID LAST NIGHT THAT I SHOULD BE KICKED OFF, LOSE MY SEAT ON THIS BOARD, SHOULDN'T BE ALLOWED ON THIS BOARD.
WHY ARE WE TRYING TO MAKE CHILDREN FEEL LESS THAN? AND WHY IS THAT SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE ALL OF A SUDDEN
[02:50:01]
TO, TO HATE CERTAIN CHILDREN BECAUSE OF THEIR, THEIR EDUCATION CHOICES? NOW MY MY BIG ISSUE WHEN I CAME ONTO THIS BOARD, IT WAS, IT WAS DURING COVID.AND WHAT REALLY OPENED MY EYES WAS WHEN SO MANY PARENTS WERE FORCED TO HOMESCHOOL.
AND SO I SAW, I SAW SO MANY COMMENTS ONLINE AND, AND MOTHERS WHO WERE JUST, THEY WERE TRYING THEIR BEST TO FIGURE OUT HOW THEY WERE GOING TO MAKE THIS WORK.
AND SO I STARTED DOING THIS THING WHERE ANY, ANY MOM I SAW THAT WAS STRUGGLING WITH HOMESCHOOLING, I REACHED OUT TO THEM PERSONALLY AND I INVITED THEM TO COME TO MY HOUSE.
AND, AND I CALL IT PORCH SITTING.
AND I WOULD INVITE THEM TO COME OVER AND SIT ON MY PORCH AND LET THEIR KIDS PLAY AND LET THEM GO THROUGH THE BOXES AND BOXES OF CURRICULUM THAT I HAVE AND GIVE ANY ADVICE THAT I POSSIBLY COULD.
AND I HAD A LOT OF MOTHERS WHO, WHO REALLY EMBRACED IT.
THEY ENDED UP STICKING WITH HOMESCHOOLING.
BUT THEN I HAD SOME MOMS WHO CRIED WHO DID NOT WANT TO DO THIS.
AND THEY FELT FORCED INTO DOING THIS.
AND IT REALLY OPENED MY EYES AND IT GAVE ME TRUE EMPATHY FOR HOW THAT, THAT FELT FOR THEM.
AND IT MADE ME RECOGNIZE THE TRUE IMPORTANCE FOR A QUALITY, SAFE PUBLIC SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT.
SO I, I WANT TO SEE THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM SUCCEED ALSO AS A PUBLIC SCHOOL, AS A HOME, AS A HOMESCHOOLER.
I'M STILL BEHOLDEN TO THIS BOARD.
SO EVERY YEAR AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, I TURN IN A, A LETTER THAT, THAT DETAILS MY CURRICULUM AND WHAT I'M GONNA BE TEACHING MY CHILDREN.
AND THEN AT THE END OF THE YEAR, MY CHILDREN HAVE TO TAKE TESTING AND I HAVE TO TURN THE TESTING INTO THIS BOARD.
YOU'LL SEE ON OUR AGENDA AT TIMES, THERE ARE, UH, AND THERE'S AN AREA, THERE'S A SECTION IN OUR CONSENT AGENDA THAT LITERALLY THIS BOARD VOTES WHETHER OR NOT TO ALLOW A RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION FOR PEOPLE TO HOMESCHOOL.
SO IF THIS BOARD HAS SAY OVER MY HOMESCHOOLING, THEN I DESERVE TO HAVE A SEAT ON THIS BOARD.
NOT TO MENTION THE FACT THAT I AM ALSO A TAXPAYER.
NEXT UP, THERE WERE A LOT OF ACCUSATIONS LAST NIGHT AND WE'RE GONNA ADDRESS 'EM ALL.
THE ACCUSATION THAT I WANT TO DEFUND THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS.
YOU'LL SEE THAT ACTUALLY SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THIS BOARD.
AND I'M SURE YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE WILL HATE ME FOR THIS ONE TOO.
THE PRICE FOR PUPIL HAS ACTUALLY GONE UP.
UM, I HAVE ARGUED EVERY YEAR TO GIVE TEACHERS AND SUPPORT STAFF RAISES.
I'VE COMPLAINED THAT THE RAISES WEREN'T HIGH ENOUGH.
I HAVE ABSOLUTELY FOUGHT FOR OUR TEACHING STAFF.
UH, I'M GONNA CORRECT THIS LIE AS WELL.
NO, I DO NOT GET MONEY IN VOUCHERS AS SOMEONE HAS SAID, NO, I DO NOT GET TO VOTE MYSELF IN VOUCHERS.
SO THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ME BEING ON THIS BOARD VOUCHERS.
NUMBER ONE, IT'S NOT A THING IN VIRGINIA.
NUMBER TWO, IF IT WAS EVER GOING TO BE A THING IN VIRGINIA, IT WOULD BE VOTED IN AT THE STATE LEVEL.
I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO INFLUENCE OVER THAT AT ALL WHATSOEVER.
AND THE TRUTH BE TOLD, I DON'T NEED VOUCHERS.
MY DAUGHTER'S IN EIGHTH GRADE BEEN DOING THIS FOR NINE YEARS NOW.
I HAVEN'T ONCE ASKED FOR A VOUCHER.
THE TRUTH IS, I AM ALREADY BLESSED TO HAVE CHOICE TO HAVE SCHOOL CHOICE.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS EDUCATIONAL EQUALITY FOR FAMILIES WHO DO NOT YET HAVE THE ABILITY TO CHOOSE FOR FAMILIES WHO MAY FIND THEMSELVES IN THE POSITION WHERE OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS FAILED THEM, WHERE THEIR CHILD IS NOT SAFE, WHERE THEIR CHILD IS NOT GETTING THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED.
I WANNA SEE THOSE FAMILIES WHO MIGHT NOT HAVE THAT CHOICE HAVE THAT CHOICE.
BUT AGAIN, THAT'S A STATE ISSUE AND NOTHING I CAN DO ABOUT IT IN THIS SEAT.
I KEPT HEARING THAT THIS IS NOT JUST WARREN COUNTY VIOLENCE IS HAPPENING EVERYWHERE.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT I'M GONNA TELL YOU THE SAME THING I TELL MY KIDS WHEN THEY TELL ME, OH, WELL SO-AND-SO'S ALLOWED TO DO THIS, OR SO-AND-SO DOES THAT TOO.
I DON'T CARE WHAT SO AND SO DOES.
I CARE WHAT HAPPENS UNDER MY ROOF WITH MY CHILDREN.
I'M ON THE WARREN COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD.
[02:55:01]
THEREFORE THE THINGS THAT I CARE ABOUT ARE THE THINGS THAT I HAVE SOME SAY OVER THE THINGS THAT I CAN TRY TO FIX.AND YEP, I'VE GOT HIGH EXPECTATIONS.
AND GUESS WHAT? I'M NOT LOWERING THEM AT ANY POINT IN TIME BECAUSE I WILL NEVER ADMIT THAT WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR CHILD OR THE MANY OTHER CHILDREN IS NORMAL.
AND I AM NOT GOING TO SHUT UP ABOUT IT UNTIL IT HAS CHANGED.
I THINK THAT JUST ABOUT COVERS IT.
AND IN CASE WE'RE NOT CLEAR, I SEE A VIDEOING ME.
I WASN'T, I WASN'T TALKING TO YOU.
UH, I'D LIKE TO SAY, UM, THAT I AGREE WITH THE BOARD MEMBERS THAT HAVE SPOKE.
FUNK, MS. LOWE, AND MY COLLEAGUE HERE, MS. NCE.
UM, UM, AND I'M GOING TO, BECAUSE I AGREE WITH MOST OF WHAT THEY ALL SAID.
THERE WAS A COUPLE POINTS THAT I DISAGREE WITH.
BUT, UM, I WANT TO MOVE FORWARD AND SAY, UM, I MET A TEACHER LAST NIGHT AT OUR MEETING, AND HE IS A RETURN, HE IS A, UM, A CAREER CHANGER.
OKAY? HE LEFT THE CAREER HE WAS IN AND, UM, STARTED TEACHING.
AND I'M SORRY, I FEEL FOR YOU, I I SHOULD HAVE SAID THAT FIRST.
BUT SOMETIMES I, MY NOTES ARE A LITTLE JABBED, SO I'M SORRY THAT I DIDN'T ADDRESS THAT FIRST.
AND THE, THE PICTURE HERE IS, UH, PRETTY EYE-OPENING TO SAY THE LEAST.
SO, UM, BUT ANYWAY, TALKING TO THIS CAREER SWEET, UH, SWITCHER TEACHER, HE'S TEACHING HISTORY AT, UM, AT SKYLINE MIDDLE.
AND, UM, HE WAS, UM, HE WAS STILL IN HIS, HE WAS STARTING HIS SECOND YEAR.
STILL EXCITED ABOUT TEACHING IN ALL OF THAT.
WELL, AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, I WAS A RETURNING TEACHER.
UM, AND THEN AFTER I RETIRED FROM THE CONCRETE INDUSTRY, I WENT BACK TO TEACHING.
AND I TAUGHT AT WARRENTON MIDDLE SCHOOL.
UM, IN FACT, I HAD THE, THE, THE HONOR OF, OF MR. JOHNSTON AT, UH, WARREN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL, WAS OUR VICE PRINCIPAL THERE.
HE WILL AMAZE YOU, AS YOU WILL SEE.
BUT MOVING ON AND, AND SPEAKING WITH THIS TEACHER, HE WAS KIND OF, UH, SAYING, I KIND OF GOT THE IMPRESSION THAT IT, HE WAS A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT HE WAS DOING AND, AND WHETHER HE WAS EFFECTIVE OR NOT.
HE'S STILL LEARNING THE ROPES OF A NEW TEACHER.
WHEN I WAS A RETURNING TEACHER, I WENT TO THE BUILDING FOR TWO WEEKS AND I HAD NEGOTIATED, UH, A VACATION TIME.
'CAUSE WE ALREADY HAD IT SCHEDULED ON THE WAY TO CLEVELAND.
MY WIFE AND I WERE, WERE DRIVING ON THE, THE TURNPIKE.
UM, AND MY WIFE SAYS TO ME, YOU'RE NOT TALKING TOO MUCH.
WHAT'S WRONG? AND I SAID, EDNA, I DON'T THINK I WANT TO GO BACK TO THAT BUILDING, BECAUSE IT WAS SO MUCH DIFFERENT FROM WHEN I TAUGHT IN THE SEVENTIES.
AND SHE LOOKED AT ME AND SHE SAID, YOU'RE GOING BACK.
UM, I WAS ONLY GONNA STAY FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS ONCE I GOT INTO THE ROUTINE.
AND THAT'S WHAT I WAS TELLING THIS, THIS CAREER SWITCHER LAST NIGHT.
ONCE YOU GET INTO THE ROUTINE, YOU'LL LOVE IT.
OKAY? AND SO THAT'S KIND OF MY BACKGROUND.
WHY DID I SAY I WAS ONLY GONNA STAY FOR TWO YEARS AND STAYED FOR EIGHT? BECAUSE I ENJOYED THE CHALLENGES AND THE REWARDS OF WORKING WITH MIDDLE SCHOOL KIDS.
AND IT, BELIEVE ME, IT IS A CHALLENGE.
OKAY? ON ANOTHER ISSUE THAT WAS BROUGHT UP FOR A COMMUNICATIONS ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, IN THE CONCRETE BUSINESS, I HAD A REPUTATION TO GO INTO STRUGGLING BUSINESSES AND GET 'EM SQUARED AWAY ALMOST.
THERE WAS TWO THINGS THAT COULD OCCUR.
THEY WERE HEAVY ON OVERHEAD OR THEY WERE
[03:00:01]
TOO LIGHT ON OVERHEAD.AND I HAD TO GO IN THERE AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO GET THAT SQUARED AWAY.
WHAT I SEE WITH WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS WERE A LITTLE LIGHT.
A COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR CAN BE A TREMENDOUS ASSET FOR THE EVERYDAY STUFF, EARLY CLOSINGS, SCHOOL, UH, SNOW SITUATIONS, WEATHER SITUATIONS, ET CETERA, WILL BE A BIG HELP.
AND THAT WILL FREE UP OUR, OUR, UM, OTHER ADMINISTRATORS, FOR EXAMPLE, WAS TALKING WITH AN ADMINISTRATOR ABOUT THE FOIA REQUEST.
THE, THE MAN, THE, THE AMOUNT OF MAN HOURS SPENT ON FOIA REQUEST IS PART OF WHAT A COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR OR POSITION WOULD BE ABLE TO HANDLE.
SO I WILL PUSH FOR THAT IN MY LAST 90 DAYS.
UM, ALSO, I WILL ALSO MAKE A COMMITMENT AND I HAD SOME PRETTY STRONG DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PRINCIPAL OVER AT SKYLINE ABOUT THE PE DEPARTMENT AS A FORMER PE TEACHER AND FOOTBALL COACH.
I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH WHAT I SAW OVER THERE.
AND I HAD PRETTY FRANK DISCUSSION WITH HIM ABOUT THIS.
UM, AND I WILL ALSO, UH, ASK DR.
BALLINGER FOR THE, THE ABILITY TO GO DO THAT.
AND I WILL CONTINUE THAT AFTER MY TERM EXPIRES END OF DECEMBER IF IT'S SO DESIRED BECAUSE I, WHAT I SAW OVER THERE DIDN'T MAKE TOO MUCH SENSE.
SO I, I WILL DEFINITELY DO THAT AS A VOLUNTEER AFTER I'M OFF THIS BOARD.
UM, AND I'M SORRY, TOM JUST WALKED OUT BECAUSE THIS WAS ADDRESSED TO HIM.
WHOEVER WINS THE SHENANDOAH DISTRICT, UH, SCHOOL BOARD CONTEST, I WILL WORK WITH THEM AND BRING THEM UP TO SPEED AS BEST I CAN.
I'VE BEEN SAVING DOCUMENTS TO GIVE TO THOSE FOLKS, WHOEVER WINS THAT CONTEST.
SO I WILL CONT I WILL DO THAT.
UM, I MISSED THE BUILDING COMMITTEE MEETING 'CAUSE MY WIFE WAS IN THE HOSPITAL LAST WEEK, SO, AND I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING ME UP TO SPEED ON THAT.
SO, AND I TOO ALSO WOULD LIKE TO COMPLIMENT BRIAN AND HIS GUYS ABOUT, UM, THE WORK THAT THEY DO IN THESE SCHOOLS.
WHEN, WHEN, WHEN A MECHANIC GOES INTO A SCHOOL BUILDING TO FIX SOMETHING, HE IS ALSO AROUND KIDS.
AND SOME OF THOSE KIDS CAN BE POLITE.
SOME OF THOSE KIDS CAN BE NOT POLITE.
SO THEY, THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO GO IN AND DO WHAT THEIR JOB IS.
AND THAT'S CAN BE TOUGH AS FAR AS THE CAMERAS ARE CONCERNED.
I, I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT THE REPORTS FROM VARIOUS, UH, UH, POLICE ORGANIZATIONS THAT STARTED UP WITH CAMERAS AT FIRST DEPUTIES AND POLICE OFFICERS DIDN'T WANT THE CAMERAS, UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S GONNA BE, UH, A, A, A BAD SITUATION.
BUT AFTER A WHILE AND THEY GOT USED TO THE CAMERAS, THEY LOVED IT BECAUSE IT PROTECTED THEM ALSO.
SO, AND IT ALSO MADE THEM A LITTLE BIT MORE CAREFUL ON HOW THEY DID THINGS.
SO, UH, THE CAMERAS, UH, COULD BE PHASED IN WITH WARREN COUNTY SCHOOLS, UM, MAYBE AS A, A, A PILOT PROGRAM WITH SOME TEACHERS AND SEE HOW THAT IS ACCEPTED OR REJECTED AND THEN TAKE THE NEXT STEP.
UM, AND I BELIEVE THAT'S MY REPORT, DR.
WELL, I DON'T KNOW, THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT GOING LAST, I GUESS.
I FEEL LIKE SORT OF EVERYTHING'S ALREADY BEEN SAID THIS EVENING.
UM, MS. CRAM, I KNOW WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ON THE PHONE.
NOTHING THAT I CAN SAY TO YOU IS ENOUGH.
NO ANSWER THAT I CAN GIVE TO YOU IS ENOUGH.
YOUR QUESTION ABOUT WHY THE NINE ONE ONE CALL WASN'T ADDRESSED THIS EVENING.
I CAN'T GIVE YOU AN EXCUSE OR AN EXPLANATION FOR YOUR SON, AND I'M SORRY FOR THAT, THAT I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER FOR YOU.
UM, THE BEST WE CAN DO IS HOPEFULLY DO BETTER IN THE FUTURE.
UM, UNFORTUNATELY IT'S TOO LATE IN AIDEN'S CASE.
UM, BUT, BUT THIS IS WHERE WE ARE.
UM, I'LL ALSO TAKE OWNERSHIP AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL SPEAKING THIS EVENING.
BALLINGER SETS THE SCHEDULE MONTHS IN ADVANCE AND SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL, WERE ON THE DOCKET FOR TONIGHT.
SO WHEN HE REACHED OUT TO ME AND ASKED, YOU KNOW, HEY, THEY'RE ON HERE.
I SAID, DO ALL THE OTHER PRINCIPALS KNOW THAT KELLEN MIDDLES TO GO TONIGHT? AND THEY DID.
[03:05:01]
ONLY FAIR.THEY'RE UP HERE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THEIR SCHOOL WAS DOING.
AND SO THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE DID.
SO IT WAS NOT MEANT TO BE DISRESPECTFUL TO YOU, YOUR FAMILY, IN ANY WAY.
IT WAS AN UNFORTUNATE TIMELINE AND IT, I SAID TO GO WITH WHAT WAS ALREADY SCHEDULED.
UM, MOVING ON FROM THERE, UM, OUR JOB AS SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS OF THE MAIN ONES CERTAINLY BESIDES SETTING POLICY, IS TO HIRE OUR SUPERINTENDENT, EVALUATE OUR SUPERINTENDENT.
SO OVER THE PAST MONTH, I'VE REACHED OUT TO MULTIPLE TEACHERS.
I'VE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS WITH TEACHERS IN OUR, ALL OF OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES.
UM, THEY HAVE ALL RESPONDED POSITIVELY TO THE WORK THAT DR.
BALLINGER IS DOING, UM, IN OUR SCHOOLS.
I'VE ALSO REACHED OUT TO A LOT OF TEACHERS, PARENTS IN OUR SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL COMMUNITY AND STARTED TO HEAR, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THEIR CONCERNS AND HOW CAN WE ALL WORK TOGETHER MOVING FORWARD? I'VE HEARD VERY SPECIFIC EXAMPLES OF THE SUPPORTS THAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR AND THE SUPPORTS THAT THEY NEED.
I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE LOOKED AT SOME OF OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR PROGRAMS THAT ARE WORKING, UM, LAST, LAST MEETING, I DIDN'T TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE POSITIVES THAT WE HAD HERE BECAUSE THERE, THERE DIDN'T SEEM TO BE ANYTHING POSITIVE, UM, TO COME OUT OF THAT.
BUT WE HAD WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL HERE, AND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT THE COM COMMUNITY PARTNER BUILDING BLOCKS PROGRAM THAT'S ALLOWING THOSE STUDENTS TO HAVE THAT SCHOOL SPIRIT TO ALLOW EVERY STUDENT TO COME TO THOSE GAMES FOR FREE AND PARTICIPATE IN THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY AND HOPEFULLY SHOW SUPPORT FOR EACH OTHER AND CHEER EACH OTHER ON.
WE HAD MR. WILLIAMS HERE FROM THE E EON MORRISON EARLY ACT CLUB.
HE'S GROWN THAT PROGRAM AT THAT SCHOOL OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, FROM 30 STUDENTS TO 130 STUDENTS.
THAT'S A PROGRAM FOR THOSE NOT FAMILIAR, THAT TEACH CHILDREN FROM AN EARLY AGE JUST HOW TO BE KIND TO EACH OTHER AND HOW TO HELP EACH OTHER.
AND JUST THE FOUR-WAY TEST OF ROTARY IS TEACHING THEM TO REALIZE, IS IT THE TRUTH? IS IT GONNA BE BENEFICIAL TO EVERYBODY? AND IF WE CAN START OUR KIDS AT THAT EARLY ELEMENTARY AGE, HOPEFULLY SOME OF THAT WILL CARRY ON WHEN THEY GET TO THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS.
WE STARTED AN EARLY ACT CLUB AT RUSSI JUST THIS PAST MONTH, AND THAT'S ALREADY GROWN BY ANOTHER EIGHT STUDENTS.
AND IT'S SMALL AND IT'S A SMALL START, BUT YOU, IT'S TRYING TO COMBAT THE BULLYING ISSUES THAT WE SEE IS GONNA START WITH THESE SMALL GROUPS OF KIDS THAT HOPEFULLY SEED OUT THROUGHOUT THEIR SCHOOL COMMUNITY.
AND THEY ARE, THEY'RE THE LEADERS THEN OF THEIR SCHOOL.
THOSE KIDS ARE GOING TO BE THE ONES THAT ARE GOING TO STAND UP FOR OTHER KIDS.
THEY'RE GONNA BE THE ONES TO TRY TO SHOW THE KIDS WHAT POSITIVE BEHAVIORS ARE ALL ABOUT.
AND THEY'RE GOING TO HOPEFULLY START TO NEGATE SOME OF THAT BULLYING BEHAVIOR THAT WE'RE SEEING.
I KNOW MS. KENNY HELD OUT HERE AS LONG AS SHE COULD, BUT SHE HAS AN INTERACT CLUB AT SKYLINE MIDDLE.
WHEN I TALKED TO HER LAST NIGHT, SHE ONLY HAD TWO STUDENTS THAT HAD SIGNED UP.
SO, YOU KNOW, AS PARENTS, UM, IN OUR COMMUNITY, I HOPE THAT WE'RE ENCOURAGING OUR KIDS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE KIND OF PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR SCHOOLS, AND THOSE TEACHERS THAT ARE WILLING TO GO THAT EXTRA MILE FOR THOSE KIDS AND TRY TO TRY TO HELP THEM, TRY TO SUPPORT THEM.
AGAIN, IT'S ONLY ONE SMALL CLUB, BUT MR. WILLIAMS GREW HIS CLUB FROM 30 TO 130.
SO, YOU KNOW, WHAT DIFFERENCE COULD THAT MAKE AT SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL? IF WE HAD 130 STUDENTS THAT ARE NOW GOING TO BE THE LEADERS OF KINDNESS IN THAT SCHOOL, AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE COMMUNITY SERVICE ORIENTED, COMMUNITY MINDED, AND THEY'RE GONNA BE THERE TO HELP THEIR FELLOW STUDENTS, I THINK THAT WOULD BE A HUGE START.
AND THAT WOULD GO SUCH A LONG WAY.
UM, JUST, UM, THIS EVENING I OPENED A LETTER, AND WE HAVEN'T REALLY SHARED IT AS A BOARD YET, BUT WE HAVE THE WARREN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE REQUESTING US TO FORM A JOINT COMMITTEE FOR ADDRESSING STUDENT BEHAVIOR CONCERNS.
WE HAD PHOENIX PROJECT AT OUR MEETING LAST NIGHT.
WE'VE HAD CONTACTS WITH D SS SS, WE HAVE WARREN COALITION.
WE HAVE SO MANY COMMUNITY SUPPORTS AROUND US IN THIS SMALL COMMUNITY.
UM, BUT SO MANY PEOPLE WILLING TO HELP.
AND I THINK IF WE COULD REALLY ALL JUST JOIN TOGETHER, WORK TOGETHER WITH THESE GROUPS, THEY HAVE A LOT TO OFFER.
THEY HAVE A LOT OF NEW IDEAS AND THEY HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT IDEAS.
SO WE HAVE A HUGE DIVERSE STUDENT POPULATION.
SO IN ORDER TO SORT OF HIT EVERY, EVERY KID WITH SOMETHING THAT INTERESTS THEM OR SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE FACING IN THEIR LIFE, WE HAVE TO HAVE A DIVERSE GROUP OF PROGRAMS AS WELL.
SO I THINK STARTING TO REACH OUT TO THOSE GROUPS, UM, IS GONNA BE ANOTHER GREAT FIRST STEP FOR US.
UM, SINCE WE'VE HAD THIS COMMUNICATION WITH THE BOARD AND WITH DR.
BALLINGER PUTTING OUT THE RELEASES OF THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING
[03:10:01]
IN THE SCHOOLS, I THINK THAT THAT IS A GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO SHOW OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES THIS IS, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE SEEING.UM, WE'RE SEEING AN INCREASE IN VAPING.
WE'RE SEEING AN INCREASE IN THESE BEHAVIORS.
I HAVE ALSO HEARD A LOT OF FEEDBACK THAT JUST HEARING ALL THE NEGATIVE IS GONNA MAKE OUR SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS' MORALE JUST REALLY GO DOWN.
SO I THINK ONE THING THAT WE CAN IMPROVE FOR ALL OF OUR BUILDING ADMINS IS DON'T JUST PUSH OUT THE NEGATIVE WE WANT.
WE NEED TO KNOW THAT IT, LIKE, IT LETS PARENTS HAVE GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR DISCUSSION.
MY CHILD'S ONLY IN SECOND GRADE, BUT WHEN I, NOW WE GET, ALL OF US, GET ALL OF THE EMAILS THAT COME FROM ALL 11 BUILDINGS.
SO YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW MANY WE GET, UM, WITH THE NOTIFICATIONS.
BUT I USE THAT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EVEN AT THE SECOND GRADE LEVEL, TO TALK TO HER ABOUT, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY'S TRYING TO HAND YOU SOME RANDOM GUMMY OR SOME VAPING SITUATION.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT, WE'RE GONNA HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.
BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO ALSO FOLLOW THAT UP WITH WHAT IS HAPPENING POSITIVE IN OUR SCHOOLS AS WELL, BECAUSE OUR TEACHERS' MORALE, OUR STUDENT MORALE AND JUST REALLY THE OVERALL COMMUNITY PERCEPTION OF OUR SCHOOL, JUST, IT'S GONNA GET CAUGHT IN THIS NEGATIVE SPIRAL.
WE, WE WANNA RECOGNIZE WHAT'S WRONG AND WORK TO FIX IT.
UM, BUT WE ALSO WANNA CELEBRATE ALL THE POSITIVES THAT WE'RE SEEING.
SO I DON'T THINK I HAVE ANYTHING ELSE FOR THIS EVENING.
I KNOW WE HAVEN'T EVEN MADE IT TO OUR ACTION AGENDA YET.
SO I'M GONNA ASK FOR A FIVE MINUTE RECESS BEFORE WE DO THAT, I THINK.
[5. A. First Reading of Policy JOAA]
NOW WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO OUR ACTION AGENDA.THE FIRST READING OF POLICY J O A A.
UM, AS PART OF YOUR PACKET HERE, YOU'D HAVE THE FIRST READING OF POLICY J O A A.
UM, AND THIS IS IN REGARDS TO THE, UM, UH, CLASSROOM VIDEO SURVEILLANCE, UH, AND THE EXPLANATION AND SUMMARY.
UH, IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF STUDENTS, EMPLOYEES AND AUTHORIZED VISITORS IN CERTAIN SCHOOL, UH, DIVISION CLASSROOMS, THE SCHOOL BOARD MAY REQUIRE VIDEO CAMERA SURVEILLANCE IN ALL OR SELECTIVE CLASSROOMS. UH, THE POLICY, THE PRESENTED POLICY THAT YOU, THAT YOU HAVE HERE FOR A FIRST READING, IT OUTLINES MULTIPLE DIFFERENT THINGS.
THERE'S NINE ITEMS HERE THAT WE'VE, UH, IDENTIFIED.
UH, ONE IS THE TYPE OF MONITORING, UH, TWO WHERE MONITORING CAN OCCUR.
UH, ALSO THE LENGTH OF TIME THAT RECORDINGS, UH, SHOULD BE STORED.
UH, WHO WOULD BE THE CUSTODIAN OF THE VIDEO FOOTAGE, UH, WHEN VIDEOS CAN BE VIEWED.
UM, WHO CAN, UM, THE VIDEO REVIEW THEM AND WHEN, UH, PROTECTION OF STUDENT IDENTITIES AS PART OF VIEWING VIDEOS.
UH, ALSO IDENTIFY WHEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SOCIAL SERVICES MAY ACCESS THE VIDEO FOOTAGE.
AND THEN WE ALSO IDENTIFIED, UH, TERMS SUCH AS INCIDENT, UH, SELF-CONTAINED SPECIAL EDUCATION CLASSROOMS AND A CLASSROOM.
SO THIS IS THE, THE FIRST READING.
UH, WE NORMALLY DO THIS OFF OF, UH, THREE READINGS WITH THE FINAL READING, BEING THAT OF THE APPROVAL.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. SMITH THIS EVENING ON THIS POLICY? I HAVE A QUESTION.
I'M LOOKING IN THE, UM, INTRODUCTION PARAGRAPH AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVEN'T, UM, DECIDED YET WHAT TO PUT IN HERE.
IT'S SAYING ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THAT PARTICULAR FACTUAL CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE POSITION OR POSITION.
UM, HAVE WE THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT WE WANT TO FILL IN THERE? UH, WE HAVE NOT.
SO THAT WOULD, THAT YOU'D NEED TO LOOK AT THAT AS THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR OR, UM, YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING PARTICULAR FACTUAL CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD BE DIRECTED.
SO I GUESS WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE WOULD BE THE CUSTODIAL PERSON OF THAT VIDEO AT THAT TIME IS HOW I WOULD SEE THAT.
WOULD THAT BE THE TECH PERSON OR THE ADMINISTRATOR? A CUS THE CUSTODIAL PERSON OF THAT VIDEO WOULD BE THE PRINCIPAL WOULD PARTICULAR SCHOOL PRINCIP OR THE DESIGNEE OF THAT PRINCIPAL? MM-HMM.
SO IS THAT WHAT WE'LL SAY, PRINCIPAL OR DESIGNEE THERE? UH, YES.
IF WE IDENTIFY THAT AS BEING, UM, THE CUSTODIAN OF THAT RECORD, OUR POL THIS PARTICULAR POLICY IS WRITTEN AS THE CUSTODIAN OF THE VIDEO WOULD BE THE PRINCIPAL OR THE DESIGNEE OF THE PRINCIPAL.
AND I JUST WANNA CLEAR ACTUALLY, ACTUALLY AS I, 'CAUSE 'CAUSE THIS IS, DOES GET A LITTLE CONFUSING.
SO I GUESS WE NEED TO DECIDE IF,
[03:15:01]
BECAUSE REALLY THE PRINCIPAL IS THE CUSTODIAL, YOU KNOW, HAVE, HAS CUSTODY OVER THAT VIDEO.BUT I THINK WHAT IT'S ALSO TALKING ABOUT THERE, IF YOU READ THE, THE SENTENCE IN FRONT OF THAT, UM, TO ASSIST SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS IN DETERMINING WHEN VIDEO FOOTAGE MAY BE SHARED WITH OTHERS, INCLUDING PARENTS, GUARDIANS, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND OTHERS.
ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS FACTUAL CIRCUMSTANCE SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE SUPERINTENDENT OR SUPERINTENDENT DESIGNEE.
SO, SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, IF, IF WE'RE, YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT WAYS YOU CAN GO THERE, BUT I THINK IF, IF WE'RE LOOKING AT DISTRIBUTION AND DISSEMINATION OF THE VIDEO, THEN THAT SHOULD GO THROUGH MY OFFICE, BUCK HEATHER, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY IN THAT, AT THAT LEVEL TO DETERMINE IF, IF IT SHOULD BE RELEASED OR NOT.
SO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS THERE SHOULD BE AT MINIMUM TWO PEOPLE THAT MAKE THAT DECISION AS TO WHAT? OR, OR JUST THE PRINCIPAL WILL MAKE IT? NO, SO WHEN IT SAYS SUPERINTENDENT OR SUPERINTENDENT DESIGNEE, SO A LOT OF TIMES, FOR INSTANCE, MR. SMITH IS THE SUPERINTENDENT'S DESIGNEE WHEN IT COMES TO FOIA.
AND SO ANYTIME THERE IS A REQUEST TO VIEW A VIDEO, MR. SMITH IS THE ONE THAT IS WORKING THROUGH THAT BECAUSE THAT IS OPERATIONS AND THAT FALLS UNDER HIM.
AND SO IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS, IF FOR INSTANCE, THERE WAS SOMEBODY THAT FOIAED VIDEO, THEN IT WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH MR. SMITH OR SUPERINTENDENT OR SUPERINTENDENT DESIGNEE IN ORDER TO, TO SEE IF THAT IS ALLOWED OR IS NOT ALLOWED ACCORDING TO POLICY AND WHAT IS BEING REQUESTED.
I, I GUESS WHERE I WAS GOING WITH, UH, DR.
BALLINGER ON THAT QUESTION WAS SHOULD, THE FOIA EXAMPLE IS PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD HERE TO PULL YOU GUY FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
SO IF THE PRINCIPAL IS THE CUSTODIAN OF THE VIDEO, SHOULD THE PRINCIPAL AND ONE OTHER ADMINISTRATOR AT THE CENTRAL OFFICE, YOUR DESIGNEE MAKE THAT DECISION SO THAT THERE'S TWO PEOPLE MAKING THAT DECISION? UM, YOU KNOW, IF A PARENT WANTED TO SEE A VIDEO THAT TWO PEOPLE MAKE THAT DECISION RATHER THAN THE THE PRINCIPAL ONLY.
THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE I'M GOING.
AND I UNDERSTAND AS FAR AS WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR PRINCIPLES, YOUR PRINCIPLES ARE GONNA CALL US AND SAY, WHAT DO WE DO? AND WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS WHEN WE GET THOSE FOIAS, ALL OF OUR FOIAS, WE WILL RUN THROUGH OUR ATTORNEYS, UM, BECAUSE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE GIVING WHAT THE FOIA IS ASKING FOR AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE MEETING THAT FOIA TO THE FULLEST EXTENT THAT WE HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION AND EVERYTHING'S THERE.
AND YOU KNOW, IF, IF THERE'S INFORMATION THAT HAS TO BE REDACTED, THEY GO THROUGH THAT, YOU KNOW, WE GO THROUGH THAT.
MR. SMITH WILL SPEND ALL WEEKEND GOING THROUGH FOIA AND REDACTING THINGS THAT NEED TO BE REDACTED, THEN WE SEND IT TO THE ATTORNEYS AND THEY WILL STILL FIND THINGS THAT NEED TO BE REDACTED.
SO, SO WHEN IT COMES TO THAT, IF IT'S LIKE A FOIA REQUEST, IT WILL COME TO ME, MR. SMITH, WE WILL THEN SEND THAT TO THE ATTORNEYS AS WELL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE ARE LEGALLY COVERED WITH WHAT IS BEING REQUESTED AND WHAT WE ARE PROVIDING.
SO THE PRINCIPLE REALLY WOULDN'T PLAY, UH, PLAY INTO THE DECISION MAKING PART BECAUSE THEY ARE THE CUSTODIAN OF IT.
'CAUSE IT'S AT THEIR BUILDING.
BUT AS FAR AS WHEN IT COMES TO THE DISSEMINATION OF IT, THAT'S GONNA LAND ON RIGHT HERE.
SO BY CUSTODIAN THEY ARE THE KEEPER OF THE VIDEO ONLY.
AND SO IF THAT CAME THROUGH, BUCK WOULD THEN ASK THE PRINCIPAL, I NEED THAT CLIP, OR I NEED THIS VIDEO, SEND IT TO ME IN THIS FILE, IT GOES TO BUCK, THEN BUCK WILL SEND IT TO THE ATTORNEY, OR BUCK WILL SEND IT.
HOWEVER, YOU KNOW WHAT, WHATEVER, HOWEVER THAT WOULD HAPPEN.
SO, BUT, BUT YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT MAKING THAT DECISION.
SO IT WOULD BE MR. SMITH OR MYSELF OR MAYBE EVEN MS. BRAGG IF, IF MR. SMITH IS OUT AT SOME POINT OR SOMETHING.
BUT, UH, ANYWAY, SO, UM, WE WOULD BE MAKING THIS, SO I THINK THAT SHOULD BE SUPERINTENDENT OR SUPERINTENDENT'S DESIGNEE RIGHT THERE.
UM, ON BULLET E ON NUMBER ON PAGE ONE UNDER SECTION A, I THINK THERE'S,
[03:20:01]
I'M JUST READING THAT THE SCHOOL DIVISION SHALL PROVIDE WRITTEN NOTICE OF THE PLACEMENT OF THE CAMERAS ANNUALLY TO THE PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN OF A STUDENT WHO IS PLACED IN THE, AND THE SCHOOL EMPLOYEES ASSIGNED, I THINK IS THAT JUST TOO MANY WORDS IN THERE SHOULD BE, IS PLACED IN THE CLASSROOM AND THE SCHOOL EMPLOYEES ASSIGNED TO ANY CLASSROOM? YEAH.EDIT THAT UP A LITTLE BIT AND THEN, UM, I CAN TELL I'M A TEACHER ON THE VERY, VERY LAST PAGE, THE DAILY IS MISSING A Y UNDER THE EX, UM, CLASSROOM WHEN YOU DEFINITION OF CLASSROOM.
ON THE VERY LAST PAGE UNDER THE DEFINITION OF CLASSROOM OCCURS ON A REGULAR OR DAILY BASIS.
UM, ON THE SECOND PAGE, UNDER PART B, UM, A SAYS, EXCEPT IT'S REQUIRED BY STATE OR FEDERAL LAW, A VIDEO RECORDING MADE KNOWN TO THIS POLICY SHALL NOT BE RELEASED OR VIEWED BY ANYONE EXCEPT THE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL.
OTHER SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION DESIGNEE OR DIVISION SUPERINTENDENT.
BUT THEN DOWN IN C IT'S SAYING WITHIN FIVE DAYS OF RECEIVING A REQUEST, THE SCHOOL DIVISION WILL ALLOW A VIEWING OF A VIDEO RECORDING BY THE SPECIFIC PEOPLE IN THESE SPECIFIC EXAMPLES.
SO I DON'T THINK THAT WE CAN SAY IN A THAT NO ONE WILL SEE IT EXCEPT THE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL.
MAYBE IT NEEDS TO SAY EXCEPT AS REQUIRED BY STATE OR FEDERAL LAW OR OUTLINED BELOW.
I'LL LET YOU WRITE THAT FIRST.
I RIGHT BELOW THAT IN PART B, UM, IT'S SAYING THE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL SHALL VIEW NO LESS THAN 15 MINUTES OF THE VIDEO OF EACH PRE-K OR SELF-CONTAINED SPECIAL EDU CLASS EDUCATION CLASSROOM AT THE SCHOOL NO LESS THAN EVERY 90 DAYS.
UM, I DON'T THINK THAT WE'VE DETERMINED YET THAT THE CAMERA WILL BE IN ALL OF THOSE CLASSROOMS YET.
SO MAYBE WE SHOULD SAY SOMETHING LIKE IN THE KINDERGARTEN SELF-CONTAINED CLASSROOM THAT HAS A CAMERA.
OR LIKE IN ANY, IN THE CLASSROOM THAT HAS A CAMERA.
I THINK BECAUSE THAT WAS GONNA BE MY QUESTION.
I UNDERSTAND WE'RE REVIEWING THIS POLICY, BUT IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING AS OF RIGHT NOW, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT MAKING IT VOLUNTARY BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL TEACHERS THAT HAVE REACHED OUT THAT WOULD WANT TO HAVE A CAMERA.
SO I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT AS WELL.
AND YES, I AGREE THAT WORDING IS NOT GONNA BE CORRECT.
UM, WAS THE INTENT WITH JUST HAVING IT BE THE REQUIREMENT TO WATCH 15 MINUTES OF VIDEO EVERY 90 DAYS FOR THOSE SPECIFIC CLASSROOMS? JUST BECAUSE THOSE CHILDREN CAN'T SPEAK UP FOR THEMSELVES.
WHEREAS I FEEL LIKE IN THE, IN THE HIGHER IN, IN SECONDARY, I, I, I DON'T KNOW.
I FEEL LIKE THOSE KIDS ARE GONNA SAY, HEY, SOMETHING HA SOMEBODY'S GONNA SAY SOMETHING.
I DON'T WANNA PUT AN UNDUE BURDEN ON THE PRINCIPAL'S.
I THINK IT MIGHT BE CARRYOVER FROM THE ORIGINAL POLICY.
SO, SO A LOT OF IT IS, AND I, AND I DID MODIFY A LOT OF IT, BUT I WOULD AGREE WITH YOU, MS. ALENS, IS THAT IT NEEDS TO PROBABLY, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT IT STAYS IN THERE IN CASE THERE IS A PRE-K TEACHER THAT SAYS, HEY, I DO WANT THIS IN THERE.
AND THEN THAT WAY YOU HAVE IT ALREADY IN POLICY JUST BECAUSE IT'S IN POLICY.
IF IF IT'S NOT IN THE CLASSROOM, IT DOESN'T AFFECT.
BUT IF YOU DO PUT ONE IN A CLASSROOM, THEN WE WOULD WANT THAT TO BE VIEWED OR MONITORED.
IS THAT NOT CORRECT? WELL, SO THEN IT JUST NEEDS TO ADD, ADD A LITTLE THING THAT SAYS IF THERE'S A CAMERA, LIKE THE WAY THIS READS RIGHT NOW, IT SOUNDS LIKE, OKAY, I GUESS I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED BECAUSE IF WE ARE GONNA, BECAUSE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT MAKING IT VOLUNTARY AT FIRST, THAT COULD BE A 10TH GRADE ENGLISH TEACHER THAT WANTS IT MM-HMM.
SO WE DON'T WANNA, I MEAN, WHAT LIST EVERY, I MEAN WE HAVE SO MANY OPTIONS, IT COULD BE A, UM, YOU KNOW, SO DO WE JUST TAKE OUT WHAT KIND OF CLASSROOM? JUST SAY NO LESS THAN 15 MINUTES OF THE VIDEO OF, YOU KNOW, ANY CLASSROOM THAT HAS ONE? WELL, I DON'T KNOW THAT, I DON'T THINK YOU WOULD, WOULD SPEND A LOT OF TIME FOR THOSE PRINCIPALS TO BE SPENT WATCHING THIS.
I THOUGHT THERE WOULD BE A LOT OF TIME FOR THE OLD, FOR THE OLDER KIDS.
I, I FEEL COMFORTABLE LEAVING IT WITH THE PRE-K KINDERGARTEN OR, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THOSE SMALLER CLASSROOMS. I, I, I MEAN YOU CAN ADD THE WORD, YOU KNOW, IF THERE IS A CAMERA PLACED, THEN THIS, SO WE'RE NOT, IT'S, WE'RE NOT LIKE IF IT'S A 10TH GRADE TEACHER THAT CHOOSES TO HAVE ONE, THAT ONE WHERE WE'RE NOT, THAT ONE WON'T HAVE TO NECESSARILY BE MONITORED 50 MINUTES.
JUST THOSE ONES THAT WHERE THEY DON'T SPEAK THOSE CHILDREN.
JUST MAKE SURE WE'RE, ARE YOU GUYS GOOD? ARE YOU GUYS GOOD WITH THAT? I JUST DON'T WANNA BURDEN THE PRINCIPALS WITH WATCHING TOO MUCH.
ANYTHING ELSE ON THE FIRST READING THIS EVENING? DO WE NEED SOMETHING IN HERE TO ALLOW OUR BOARD TO VIEW VIDEO WHEN, WHEN REQUESTED? I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY IT'S
[03:25:01]
A RARITY THAT WE DO ASK TO SEE VIDEO, BUT I KNOW WE HAVE CERTAINLY ASKED TO SEE VIDEO ENCLOSED BEFORE.DO WE NEED TO SPECIFY THAT IN ORDER TO BE ALLOWED TO DO THAT? I MEAN, YOU, YOU CAN.
I MEAN, IF, IF YOU WANNA PUT THAT IN THERE, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THE ONE THING WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU LOOK AT, AT THE RECORDINGS, THEN YOU KNOW, THOSE, THOSE ARE IDENTIFIED AS STUDENT RECORDS.
SO, SO LOOKING AT IT FROM A STUDENT RECORD PERSPECTIVE FOR A DECISION THAT THE BOARD HAS TO MAKE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU, IF SOMETHING IS BROUGHT TO YOU TO BE MAKING THAT DECISION ON, THEN YOU'RE GONNA HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO TO REVIEW THAT.
UM, BECAUSE IT'S A STUDENT RECORD.
BUT I MEAN, IF YOU, IF IF YOU GUYS FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE IN PUTTING SOMETHING IN THERE, THEN PUT IT IN THERE.
I MEAN IT'S, IT'S WHATEVER YOU AS A BOARD FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH.
SO IF YOU WANT US TO PUT SOMETHING IN THERE, WE'LL PUT IT IN THERE.
I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH, WITH THAT AT ALL.
I THINK LIKE JUST IN, IN THE EVENT OF AN, OF AN INCIDENT UPON BOARD REQUEST OR SOMETHING TO THAT NATURE, BECAUSE WE DON'T, WE DON'T NEED TO SEE ALL OF IT.
IT'S, I MEAN, LIKE I SAID, IT'S A RARITY, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY BEEN HELPFUL OH YEAH.
CONTEXT, YOU KNOW, WITH CONTEXT AT TIMES.
SO WITH THAT ADDITION, SO, SO CAN I, I JUST WANNA CLARIFY SOMETHING REAL QUICK BECAUSE I WANNA GO BACK TO, TO YOUR QUESTION MS. LOWE, UM, ABOUT THE CONFLICT, YOU KNOW, THE CONFLICT BETWEEN A AND C WITH, WITH THAT, THE WAY I SEE THIS IS THAT BASICALLY THIS IS THE LEGAL SIDE SAYING YOU NOBODY CAN JUST FOIA VIDEO CLIPS WITHOUT, CAUSE THAT'S WHY THEY'RE SAYING EXCEPT AS REQUIRED BY STATE OR FEDERAL LAW, A RECORDING MADE UNDER THIS POLICY POLICY SHALL NOT BE RELEASED OR VIEWED BY ANYONE EXCEPT SCHOOL PRINCIPAL ADMINISTRATOR OR DIVISION SUPERINTENDENT.
I THINK THAT'S THEIR WAY OF SAYING THAT'S A STUDENT RECORD.
THAT'S NOT GONNA BE FOIBLE FOR SOMEBODY THAT'S OUT THERE WANTING TO FOIA UH, YOU KNOW, THAT VIDEO OF A CLASSROOM OR SOMETHING AND YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE AN ACCESS TO IT.
THE WAY I SEE WHEN IT COMES INTO SEE IS THAT IF A TEACHER BRINGS SOMETHING UP OR THE PARENT BRINGS SOMETHING UP, THEN WE AS A SCHOOL DIVISION WILL, 'CAUSE WE DO THAT ALREADY.
SO MR. SMITH WILL, WILL HAVE THOSE MEETINGS WHERE HE GOES TO THE SCHOOL, THEY, THE PARENTS COME IN, THEY WATCH THE BUS VIDEO OR THEY WATCH THE RECORDING OF THE, YOU KNOW, OF THE HALLWAY OR SOMETHING.
SO THAT PIECE, I THINK THAT TOP PIECE IS PROBABLY TO SAY THESE ARE STUDENT RECORDS.
YOU, YOU KNOW, SOME OUTSIDE ENTITY CANNOT FOIA THEM.
AND, AND THAT'S WHY I THINK THAT THAT'S PUT THAT WAY IN, IN, IN THE POLICY IN TWO DIFFERENT PLACES BECAUSE THEN SEE OUTLINES AS A, AS AN EDUCATOR, HEY, SOMETHING WENT ON IN MY ROOM, I WANT YOU TO CHECK IT.
OR AS A PARENT, THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED, I WANT YOU TO CHECK IT.
OR AS A SCHOOL DIVISION EMPLOYEE AS PART OF AN INVESTIGATION, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO REVIEW THAT AS WELL.
SO, SO I THINK THAT'S THOSE, YOU KNOW, IT, IT OUTLINES AND MINIMIZES WHO WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO THAT BECAUSE I THINK THAT IS A LOT OF CONCERN, UM, WITH PARENTS AND, AND, AND TEACHERS WHO HAS ACCESS.
AND SO I THINK IF YOU REMOVE SOME OF THAT, YOU MAY BE OPENING THE BOARD UP OR TO THE SCHOOL DIVISION OR THE CLASSROOM UP TO ALLOWING ACCESSIBILITY TO THAT.
WELL, I'M NOT, I'M NOT SAYING TO REMOVE A, I JUST, YOU KNOW, I'M THINKING ABOUT THESE OTHER TIMES THAT WE'VE SEEN POLICY THAT CONFLICTS AND I FEEL LIKE THIS IS MAKING A STATEMENT, IT WILL NOT BE RELEASED AND THEN LATER, BUT WE CAN RELEASE IT HERE.
SO I THINK JUST SAYING AS REQUIRED BY STATE OR FEDERAL LAW OR OUTLINED IN THIS POLICY OR SOMETHING.
OR WOULD IT HELP TO MAYBE ADD WITHIN FIVE DAYS OF RECEIVING AN INCIDENT REQUEST? LIKE JUST ADDING THAT IN BECAUSE IT KIND OF MAKES IT MORE SPECIFIC THAT IT'S NOT JUST ME WANTING TO REQUEST TO VIEW IT.
THERE'S A REASONING BEHIND IT.
SO MAYBE WOULD THAT HELP TO ADD IN THAT WITHIN FIVE DAYS OF RECEIVING AN INCIDENT REQUEST BECAUSE IT NARROWS IT DOWN A LITTLE BIT? MAYBE.
'CAUSE THEY USED THE WORD ALLEGED
[03:30:01]
INCIDENT IN FURTHER DOWN SUBSECTIONS.SO LEAVE SMITH, LEAVE, LEAVE A THE WAY IT IS AND JUST ADD THE, THE INCIDENT THEN.
I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT I WOULDN'T, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON IT FOR THIS READING? ONE OTHER THING I'M SEEING JUST ON PAGE THREE WITH FORMATTING UNDER C, IT GOES 1, 2, 1 2.
SO YOU WANNA LOOK AT THAT MM-HMM.
I WAS TAKING IT FROM A WORD DOCUMENT AND PUTTING IT INTO A GOOGLE DOCUMENT AND THEN TRYING TO FORMAT AND GET EVERYTHING CORRECTED.
AND SO I'LL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FORMATTING
I'M JUST SAYING LET'S FIX IT,
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SO WE'LL HAVE SECOND READING AT, UM, OUR WORK SESSION LATER THIS MONTH, AND THEN WE WILL VOTE AT THE BEGINNING OF NOVEMBER.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THIS EVENING ON IT? OKAY.
[5. B. Additional special education teachers for Skyline Middle School]
UP WE HAVE THE APPROVAL OF TWO ADDITIONAL SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS FOR SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL, MR. LEE.AS YOU KNOW, OUR SPECIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAS, UM, DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB THROUGH THEIR RESTRUCTURING.
UM, AND UM, THROUGH THAT PROCESS THEY, THEY'VE LOOKED AT A LOT OF DATA AND, UM, THE DATA DOES SUPPORT THE NEED FOR TWO ADDITIONAL SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS AT SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
THESE TEACHERS WILL BE USED TO SUPPORT STUDENTS WITH SIGNIFICANT ACADEMIC AND BEHAVIORAL NEEDS.
UH, THIS WOULD ALSO MAKE THE SPECIAL EDUCATION CASE LOADS AT SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL, MORE EQUITABLE TO THE OTHER CASE LOADS IN OUR COUNTY, UH, SCHOOLS.
I JUST WANNA SAY THAT, UM, I NEGLECTED TO REPORT ON THIS EARLIER, BUT OUR BUDGET COMMITTEE DID MEET, UM, TWICE SINCE OUR LAST MEETING.
UM, AND WE HAVE DISCUSSED THIS AS WELL.
UM, AND SO WE'VE GONE THROUGH THAT IN OUR COMMITTEE, UM, AND WITH MR. VALENTINE AND, UM, I ENDORSED THIS PERSONALLY.
WASN'T THIS, THIS WAS ALSO THE SCHOOL THAT WE HAD THE ISSUE WITH THE, UM, THE STAFF MEMBER THAT LIKE OVERWORKED IN THAT DEPARTMENT TOO, RIGHT? CORRECT.
SO THIS IS DEFINITELY NEED, CORRECT? DEFINITELY, YES MA'AM.
AND, AND I JUST WANTED DITTO WHAT SHE SAID 'CAUSE UM, I DID TOTALLY, UM, DIDN'T SHARE THAT ALL OUT.
SO WE'VE, WE KNOW THERE'S THAT NEED THERE.
IS THERE A MOTION I MOVE THAT THE WARREN COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD APPROVED TWO ADDITIONAL SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS FOR SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL? IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.
[5. C. Additional Maintenance Position]
AND THEN WE HAVE APPROVAL OF AN ADDITIONAL MAINTENANCE POSITION, MR. LEE? YES, MA'AM.UM, AS OUR, OUR COMMU OUR OUR COUNTY BUILDINGS, UH, HAVE, HAVE GROWN, UM, OUR MAINTENANCE STAFF HAS NOT.
AND I, I THINK, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE'S, MR. HELMICK HAS DONE A, A REALLY GOOD JOB OF, OF KIND OF THINKING AHEAD AND, AND, AND, UM, LOOKING AT SOME OF THOSE, UH, STAFF MEMBERS THAT HE HAS THAT HAVE BEEN, UM, TREMENDOUS ASSETS.
THEY'VE, THEY'VE DEDICATED, UH, NUMBER OF YEARS, UM, TO OUR, TO OUR, OUR, OUR COUNTY AND OUR OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS. UM, AND SOME OF THOSE FOLKS ARE GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE THEY'RE, THEY'RE ELIGIBLE TO RETIRE IN THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO.
UM, SO OUR MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT HAD, HAS ASKED FOR AN ADDITIONAL POSITION TO HELP MAINTAIN OUR COUNTY FACILITIES.
WE ALSO ANTICIPATE, UM, TWO OF OUR CURRENT MAINTENANCE WORKERS, UM, THAT WILL RE WILL BE RETIRING IN THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO.
LIKE I SAID, WITH THAT, WITH THIS POSITION, WE'D LIKE TO SET UP AN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM, UM, AS AN HVAC TECHNICIAN.
THIS INDIVIDUAL WOULD ATTEND THE HVAC CERTIFICATION CLASSES THROUGH LAUREL RIDGE IN THE EVENINGS AND WORK AS A WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS EMPLOYEE DURING THE DAY.
ONCE THIS FOUR YEAR APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM IS COMPLETE, WE WOULD MOVE THIS HVAC CERTIFIED EMPLOYEE TO THE GRADE 12 SALARY SCALE, WHICH IS THE JOURNEYMAN SALARY SCALE.
UM, SO THEY WOULD, THEY WOULD ORIGINALLY START ON THE, ON THE GRADE 13, JUST THE REGULAR MAINTENANCE, UM, SALARY SCALE.
UM, AND THEN WE WOULD, YOU KNOW, INCLUDE THOSE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE THAT THEY HAVE GIVEN US FOR THOSE FOUR YEARS AT IN THAT APPRENTICESHIP.
[03:35:01]
AND THEN WE WOULD ALSO REQUEST THAT WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS COVER THE COST OF THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM, UM, THAT WOULDN'T BE COVERED BY THE TUITION ASSISTANCE.SO OUR EMPLOYEES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR A $600 AMOUNT, UH, PER YEAR, UH, TOWARDS TUITION ASSISTANCE.
SO OVER FOUR YEARS, THAT WOULD BE $2,400.
UM, I REACHED OUT TO, TO LAURA REG AND, AND TALKED TO, UH, THE FOLKS OVER THERE.
UM, THE TOTAL COST OF THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM IS, UH, THE, THE $3,798 AMOUNT THERE.
UM, SO IF YOU TAKE THE $2,400 AWAY FROM THAT, UM, IT WOULD BE THE, THE, THE TOTAL COST, UH, FOR THAT, THAT APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM, UH, WOULD BE THE, THE $1,398.
AND AGAIN, UM, YOU KNOW, JUST THINKING AHEAD, TRYING TO BE CREATIVE WITH, WITH RECRUITING LONG, UM, TERM EMPLOYEES, UM, THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, ARE GONNA, ARE OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM'S GONNA BENEFIT FROM.
AND I WANNA SAY WE DID ALSO TALK ABOUT THIS POSITION, UM, IN OUR MEETINGS.
UM, AND MY UNDERSTANDING, AND YOU ALL CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG ON ANY OF THIS, BUT I, I THINK THAT WE'VE HAD A NEED FOR THIS HVAC POSITION FOR A WHILE AND HAVE A LOT OF TROUBLE FILLING THAT POSITION.
UM, SO I THINK YOU ALL, UM, FOR THE CREATIVITY AND COMING UP WITH THIS WAY THAT WE CAN FILL THAT NEED AND ALSO DEVELOP OUR STAFF AT THE SAME TIME.
UM, I DO THINK, JUST SO THE BOARD KNOWS THAT, UM, THIS DEPARTMENT DOES STILL HAVE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL STAFFING BEYOND THIS ONE POSITION.
UM, BUT JUST WHERE WE ARE IN THE BUDGET CYCLE WITH THE YEAR ALREADY GOING ON, UM, WE WERE ABLE TO FIND, I THINK, FUNDING FOR THIS POSITION.
SO AT WE, AT LEAST WE GET STARTED ON THAT, UM, IN THIS DEPARTMENT.
AND, AND I THINK THAT ONE OF THE THINGS I KNOW THAT MR. HELMICK AND I HAVE TALKED ALONG WITH MR. SMITH AND, AND MR. LEE IS THAT FINDING AN H V A C PERSON TO COME IN IS, I MEAN, IT, IT, YOU, IT'S ALMOST, IT'S NOT THERE.
I MEAN, IT'S KIND OF LIKE GOING OUT AND FINDING A MATH TEACHER RIGHT NOW.
UH, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE, YOU JUST FOR, FOR THE SALARY SCALE, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN DRIVE THAT WAY AND MAKE 20, 30,000.
UM, SO IF WE BRING THEM IN THROUGH OUR GROW YOUR OWN AND WE HELP GET THEM THERE, THEN MAYBE THEY WILL STAY IN OUR SYSTEM.
UM, ONCE THEY GET, YOU KNOW, THE SALARIES, THEY START, THEY START GETTING INTO THE, THE RETIREMENT AND THE BENEFITS AND BUILDING THEIR LIFE HERE AND, AND, AND DECIDE, HEY, THIS IS WHERE WE WANNA STAY.
THIS IS WHERE I'M GONNA FINISH OUT MY CAREER.
AND, AND WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT.
SO I APPRECIATE THE TEAM FOR PUTTING THAT TOGETHER AND, AND BRINGING THAT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR MR. LEE? IS THERE A MOTION? YES, I, I WOULD BE MY PLEASURE TO MAKE THIS MOTION.
UM, I MOVE THAT THE WARREN COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD APPROVE THE ADDITIONAL MAINTENANCE EMPLOYEE POSITION AS DESCRIBED.
IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.
[6. A. Approval of October 4, 2023 Personnel Report - Mr. Lee]
THE LAST ITEM THAT I HAVE THIS EVENING IS FOR THE PERSONNEL REPORT.IS THERE A MOTION I MOVE THAT THE OCTOBER 4TH, 2023 PERSONNEL REPORT AND PERSONNEL ADDENDUM BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED? IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.
ANYTHING ELSE THIS EVENING? NOPE.