[00:01:03]
[1. Closed Meeting- 5:30 p.m]
MOTION IS MADE THAT THIS OPEN PUBLIC MEETING OF THE WARREN COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD BECOME A CLOSED MEETING PURSUANT TO VIRGINIA CODE SECTION 2.2 DASH 3 7 1 1.THIS SCHOOL BOARD DESIRES TO DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING MATTER IN A CLOSED MEETING SECTION 2.2 DASH 3 7 1 A ONE, DISCUSSION, CONSIDERATION, OR INTERVIEWS OF PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATES FOR EMPLOYMENT ASSIGNMENT, APPOINTMENT PROMOTION, PERFORMANCE DEMO MOTION, SALARIES, DISCIPLINING, OR RESIGNATION OF EMPLOYEES OF THE SCHOOL BOARD, SPECIFICALLY THE PERSONNEL REPORT AND UPDATE ON SMS SUBSTITUTE NUMBER 2 0 2 4 0 6 0 5 DASH ONE.
FOLLOW UP ON EMPLOYEE GRIEVANCE NUMBER 2 0 2 4 0 5 0 1 DASH ONE, THE SUPERINTENDENT'S EVALUATION EMPLOYEE NON-RENEWAL NUMBER 2 0 2 4 0 6 0 5 DASH OH THREE AND EMPLOYEE NUMBER 2 0 4 0 6 0 5 0 4.
DISCUSSION OR CONSIDERATION OF ADMISSION OR DISCIPLINARY MATTERS OR ANY MATTERS THAT WOULD INVOLVE THE DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION CONTAINED IN A SCHOLASTIC RECORD CONCERNING ANY STUDENT IN WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, SPECIFICALLY STUDENT NUMBER 2 0 2 4 0 6 0 5 DASH TWO AND SECTION 2.2 DASH 3 7 1 A SEVEN.
CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL AND BRIEFINGS BY STAFF MEMBERS OR CONSULTANTS PERTAINING TO ACTUAL OR PROBABLE LITIGATION WHERE SUCH CONSULTATION OR BRIEFING AN OPEN MEETING WOULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE NEGOTIATING OR LIT LITIGATING POSTURE OF THE PUBLIC BODY AND CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL EMPLOYED OR RETAINED BY THE PUBLIC BODY REGARDING SPECIFIC LEGAL MATTERS REQUIRING THE PROVISION OF LEGAL ADVICE BY SUCH COUNSEL, SPECIFICALLY THE SWAN FARM LLC EASEMENT AGREEMENT.
IS THERE A SECOND? I SECOND IT.
ACCORDING TO THE VOTES RECORDED BY THE CLERK, THE SCHOOL BOARD OF WARREN COUNTY DOES HEREBY CERTIFY THAT TO THE BEST OF EACH MEMBER'S KNOWLEDGE, ONE, ONLY PUBLIC BUSINESS MATTERS, LAWFULLY EXEMPTED FROM OPEN MEETING REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE VIRGINIA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT WERE DISCUSSED IN THE CLOSED MEETING TO WHICH THE CERTIFY CER CERTIFICATION APPLIES.
AND TWO, ONLY SUCH PUBLIC BUSINESS MATTERS AS WERE IDENTIFIED IN THE MOTION BY WHICH THE CLOSED MEETING WAS CONVENED, WERE HEARD, DISCUSSED OR CONSIDERED BY THE SCHOOL BOARD.
IS THERE A SECOND? LEMME SECOND IT.
MR. VALENTINE, COULD YOU DO ROLL
[2.A. Call to Order - Pledge of Allegiance and Moment of Silence - School Board Chair]
CALL PLEASE? MRS. LOWE? AYE.AND WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.
IF YOU WILL PLEASE STAND WITH ME FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, FOLLOWED BY A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
[00:05:01]
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.[2.B. Accept or Modify the Agenda - School Board]
ACCEPT OR MODIFY THE AGENDA? I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO MODIFY THE AGENDA TO MOVE ACTION AGENDA ITEM H, WHICH IS TALKING ABOUT THE INSURANCE RATES TO, UM, THE WORK SESSION SEVEN, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE BUDGET.IS THERE A SECOND ON THAT? I'LL SECOND ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT? MY ONLY QUESTION IS, ARE WE ABLE THEN TO HAVE AN ACTION ON THAT AFTER THE BUDGET? LIKE SHOULD WE HAVE MOVED THE BUDGET THE OTHER WAY AROUND THE BUDGET DISCUSSION UP OR, IT'S FINE EITHER WAY.
THEY JUST GO HAND IN HAND AND WE CAN'T, RIGHT.
I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET FIRST.
I UNDERSTAND WHAT THE GOAL IS.
[2.C. Attendance Award Presentation - Dr. Ballenger]
PRESENTATION DR.I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME EVERYBODY HERE TONIGHT.
UH, THIS JOINED US IN PERSON AND THOSE THAT ARE JOINING US ONLINE, UH, TONIGHT.
UH, THIS IS OUR, UH, THESE OUR FINAL ATTENDANCE AWARDS, UH, FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THE SCHOOLS REALLY WORK HARD ON THIS ON A DAILY BASIS.
UM, CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN A FOCUS, UH, NOT JUST HERE IN WARREN COUNTY, BUT ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH AND, AND EVEN IN OTHER, OTHER STATES.
AND, AND IT IS, IT IS SOMETHING THAT, THAT WE CONTINUE TO WORK ON AND, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WE DO A GREAT JOB WITH, WITH, IN OUR SCHOOLS, OUR STAFF MEMBERS, OUR ADMINISTRATORS, AND, AND WORKING WITH FAMILIES AND STUDENTS TO, TO MAKE THINGS ENJOYABLE AND FUN.
AND SO I DO APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK THAT GOES INTO, UH, THAT EVERY SINGLE DAY.
SO FOR THIS MONTH, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE OUR ELEMENTARY WINNER WITH A 93.48%, AND THAT WOULD BE AS ROADS.
HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING THIS EVENING? FINE, THANK YOU.
UM, THANKS AGAIN FOR, YOU KNOW, TAKING THE TIME DURING YOUR MEETINGS TO RECOGNIZE THE SCHOOLS EACH MONTH.
UM, WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE THAT.
UM, WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WORKED HARD THIS YEAR AS HAVE ALL OF THE SCHOOLS IN OUR COUNTY, SO I DO HOPE THAT THEY'RE ALSO RECOGNIZED.
I LOOKED AT THE NUMBERS, UM, ON THE SPREADSHEETS AND THEY WERE VERY CLOSE.
SO I THINK E WILSON WAS VERY CLOSE TO US.
UM, THIS THIS YEAR, OR I'M SORRY, THIS MONTH, WE ALSO DID A LOT OF THINGS THAT LAST MONTH OF SCHOOL THAT CAN BE PRETTY TRICKY TO TRY AND, YOU KNOW, STILL HAVE STUDENTS INTERESTED IN BEING IN SCHOOL WHEN WE'RE GETTING SO CLOSE TO THE END.
SO, YOU KNOW, SCHEDULING OUR DARE DAY ON THAT LAST MONDAY FOR THOSE FIFTH GRADERS, I DO BELIEVE THAT HELPED FOR THEM AS WELL.
HAVING HOUR FIELD DAYS LATER IN THE MONTH AND DOING OUR AWARDS THOSE LAST WEEKS AND KIND OF SPREADING THOSE THINGS OUT.
AND THEN JUST HAVING SOME FUN ACTIVITIES FOR STUDENTS DEFINITELY HELPED US THIS YEAR.
WE DEFINITELY THANK OUR STUDENTS, OUR FAMILIES, OUR STAFF FOR THEIR SUPPORT, UM, AND MAKING SURE THAT STUDENTS WANT TO BE AT OUR SCHOOL AND, UM, BE THERE TO LEARN.
THIS SUMMER, WE ARE DOING A SUMMER LEARNING CHALLENGE FOR OUR STUDENTS.
UM, OUR PTO HAS DONATED A FAMILY POOL PASS FROM SKYLINE RANCH RESORT FOR FOUR PEOPLE.
AND SO FOR THE MONTH, THIS MONTH, UM, EVERY DAY THAT THEY READ OR DO MATH TYPE OF TASKS FOR 15 MINUTES A DAY, THEY SUBMIT FOR AN ENTRY INTO THE DRAWING.
AND WE'LL DRAW THAT AT THE END OF JUNE.
SO WE HOPE THAT OUR FAMILIES, UM, ARE EXCITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THEM BACK AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.
[00:10:08]
OKAY.OUR SECONDARY WINNER FOR THIS MONTH, UM, HAD AN ATTENDANCE RATE OF 90.79%.
UH, THEY WON BY THREE ONE HUNDREDS OF A PERCENT.
SO, UH, WARREN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL, UH, THANK YOU.
UH, I DON'T KNOW THAT I'VE BEEN AS EXCITED TO WIN BY THREE, ONE HUNDREDS OF A PERCENT, UH, BUT I'M GLAD TO HEAR IT.
UH, I LOVE ATTENDING OUR BOARD MEETINGS, UH, TO ACCEPT THE MONTHLY ATTENDANCE AWARD, UH, FOR THE SECONDARY SCHOOL.
UH, OUR ATTENDANCE IS IMPROVING.
WE DID A LOT OF THINGS AT THE END OF THE YEAR AS WELL, UH, TO HELP, UH, BOOST OUR ATTENDANCE.
UH, AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, UH, AND I KNOW IT'S BEEN CLOSED WITH ALL THE SCHOOLS, UM, WE DID, UH, REDUCE OUR CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM RATE THIS YEAR, UH, WAS 29% LAST YEAR.
WE REDUCED THAT A THIRD TO 19%.
AND, UH, AND THESE ARE ALL PRELIMINARY CALCULATIONS.
I WAS NOT A MATH TEACHER, SO JUST KEEP THAT IN MIND.
UH, AND OUR AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE WENT FROM 87% TO I BELIEVE 92.8% THIS YEAR.
UM, AND I JUST WANNA TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY.
I KNOW IT'S BEEN ABOUT A YEAR SINCE I WAS APPOINTED TO BE THE PRINCIPAL AT WARREN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL.
UM, AND I LOVE BEING THE PRINCIPAL AT WARREN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL.
UH, I LOVE SEEING OUR STUDENTS EVERY DAY.
I LOVE TALKING TO OUR FAMILIES.
UH, I LOVE WORKING WITH, UH, MY COLLEAGUES AT THE OTHER SCHOOLS, THE CENTRAL OFFICE, THE SCHOOL BOARD.
UH, I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE THE BEST GROUP OF EDUCATORS AT WARREN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL THAT I'VE EVER WORKED WITH IN, UH, THE LAST 25 YEARS IN EDUCATION.
UH, I WANT WARREN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL TO BE A GREAT PLACE TO LEARN AND A GREAT PLACE TO WORK FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.
UM, I FEEL LIKE WE'RE ON THE, THE RIGHT PATH.
UM, AND BECAUSE OF THAT, THIS PROBABLY HAS BEEN THE MOST PERSONALLY REWARDING, UH, YEAR OF MY LIFE IN EDUCATION.
UM, SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO ALL THAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE WARREN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL A GREAT PLACE.
UH, AND I'M EXCITED FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.
AND FOR OUR MOST IMPROVED, MS. LEHMAN WAS CORRECT.
UM, SHE WON BY ONLY, UH, ABOUT TWO TENTHS OF A POINT, UM, OVER, UM, E WILSON MORRISON.
SO E WILSON MORRISON, OUR MOST IMPROVED FOR THE MONTH OF MAY.
ON BEHALF OF E WILSON MORRISON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STAFF AND STUDENTS, I WOULD LIKE TO ACCEPT THIS AWARD WITH GREAT GRATITUDE AND PRIDE.
WE HAVE WORKED INCREDIBLY HARD TO IMPROVE OUR ATTENDANCE THIS YEAR, AND WE ARE THANKFUL TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR THAT HARD WORK.
HOW DO WE APPROACH ATTENDANCE AT E WILSON MORRISON? WE FIRST WORK TO CREATE A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT THAT STUDENTS WANT TO BE A PART OF.
WE FOCUS ON DESIGNING ENGAGING LESSONS THAT GET ITS, EXCUSE ME, THAT GET STUDENTS EXCITED ABOUT LEARNING.
AND WE ENSURE EACH OF OUR STUDENTS KNOWS WE ARE SO HAPPY TO SEE THEM EACH DAY.
WE HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR OUR STUDENTS SOCIALLY, ACADEMICALLY, AND BEHAVIORALLY.
AND OUR STUDENTS WORK HARD TO RISE TO THOSE EXPECTATIONS.
WE DO MONTHLY POPUP PRIZES, WEEKLY CLASSROOM AND GRADE LEVEL ATTENDANCE AWARDS, AND OUR TEACHERS AND STAFF COMMUNICATE WITH PARENTS OFTEN.
WE HAVE MADE A LARGE AMOUNT OF PROGRESS IN BRINGING DOWN OUR CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM RATE.
I ALSO HAVE PRELIMINARY NUMBERS, AND IT LOOKS TO BE FROM 32 OR 31.8 TO 19.
SO WE'VE MADE A HUGE, AGAIN, IT'S PRELIMINARY, BUT I FEEL LIKE WE'VE MADE A HUGE IMPROVEMENT IN THAT AREA.
AND WE WOULD, UM, IT IS BECAUSE OF THE HARD WORK OF OUR ENTIRE E WILSON MORRISON COMMUNITY.
AND I HOPE THAT WE ARE UP HERE ACCEPTING MORE ATTENDANCE AWARDS NEXT YEAR AND MAYBE BEAT OUT ICE ROADS.
SO MY CHEF AND HER MOM ARE RUNNING 12 MINUTES LATE BECAUSE THEIR CAR BATTERY DIED.
SO I WAS WONDERING IF, UH, THE SCHOOL
[2.E. School Resource Officer Report and Update]
RESOURCE OFFICER COULD GO FIRST.[00:15:10]
ON THE SPOT,SINCE I WASN'T HERE LAST MONTH, I ALSO HAVE EMAILS AS WELL, SO I'LL THANK YOU.
SO, UM, FIRST OFF, I WANTED TO SAY THAT THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS HAVE, I FEEL THAT HAVE BEEN A GREAT IMPROVEMENT OF JUST KIND OF WHERE WE'VE BEEN, UM, IN TERMS OF CALLS FOR SERVICE AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE INSIDE THE CO INSIDE THE SCHOOLS.
UM, SO OVERALL, UM, I, I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT IN APRIL WE HAD A TOTAL OF 42 INCIDENCES COMPARED TO ONLY 26 IN MAY.
SO WE REALLY DROPPED THAT DOWN IN HALF.
YES, IT WAS A SHORTER TIMEFRAME, BUT I THINK WITH THE MORE ENGAGEMENT WE WERE OUT THERE, I THINK THAT REALLY HELPED, HOPEFULLY BRING THOSE NUMBERS DOWN.
UM, SO YOU CAN SEE BETWEEN APRIL AND MAY, UM, STILL SEEING THE SAME TYPES OF THINGS.
UM, VAPING HAS GONE DOWN A LOT, UM, AND HOPEFULLY, UNFORTUNATELY WITH MAYBE THEM SEEING THE SERIOUSNESS OF IT AND KIND OF IT BEING MORE BROADCAST.
AND I'M HOPING THAT MAYBE THAT'S BEEN MORE OF A DETERRENT FOR THEM.
UM, WE ARE ALSO HOPING TO, OVER THE SUMMER, PUSH OUT MORE INFORMATION AND HOLD MORE CLASSES IN REFERENCE TO VAPING.
UM, AND NOT JUST REGULAR VAPES, BUT THE THC VAPES AS WELL.
UM, SO NOW THAT SCHOOL'S OUT, UM, THE SROS ARE MAINLY WORKING ON COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT EVENTS TO TRY TO GET THE YOUTH ENGAGED AND KEEP THEM BUSY AND HOPEFULLY OUT OF TROUBLE OVER THE SUMMER.
UM, SO YESTERDAY WE DID OUR FIRST BIKE WITH THE COP EVENT AT ROCKLAND PARK.
UM, WE'RE HOPING IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS WE HAVE EVEN MORE PEOPLE SHOW UP.
UM, SO WE WANNA KIND OF PROMOTE THAT, UH, BUT ALSO CONTINUE WITH COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT TO GET OUR YOUTH MORE ENGAGED, UM, THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER SO THAT THEY BUILD A BETTER RELATIONSHIP WITH US AND HOPEFULLY TRY TO KEEP THEM OUT OF THE SYSTEM AND WORK BETTER TO DO THAT.
SO THAT'S KIND OF ALL WE HAVE TONIGHT.
UM, I ALWAYS LOVE THESE HANDOUTS, UHHUH, THAT YOU GIVE US.
AS WE MOVE INTO THE, UM, THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR, WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE FOR US TO, TO GET THESE TO BE UPLOADED ONTO THE AGENDA SO THAT THE PUBLIC COULD SEE AS WELL? OR MAYBE YEAH, I CAN SEND THOSE UP TO BE ATTACHED SO THAT WE CAN, UM, HAVE THEM ADDED TO BOARD DOCS AS WELL.
UM, AND IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS AS TO KIND OF LIKE WAYS TO IMPROVE AND LOOK AT IT, UM, THAT'S ALSO BENEFICIAL AS WELL.
UM, AND THEN I WANTED TO MAKE NOTE, YOU KNOW, THAT SOMETIMES, AND I, I TYPICALLY NOTE IT IN THE MORE DETAILED POINT IS SOME OF THE CALLS FOR SERVICES AREN'T NECESSARILY OCCURRING ON SCHOOL PROPERTY.
SOME OF THEM ARE REPORTED TO THE SRO OR COME THROUGH US THAT WAY.
SO, UM, FOR INSTANCE, YOU'LL SEE A SHOPLIFTING AT WARREN COUNTY MIDDLE THIS YEAR.
IT WASN'T ON SCHOOL PROPERTY, IT'S JUST THE WAY THAT IT CAME TO US.
SO UNFORTUNATELY, TO KEEP THE REPORTS AS TRUE AND ACCURATE AS THEY ARE, I DON'T WANT TO REMOVE ANYTHING FROM THERE TO KIND OF BLOODY MUDDY THE WATERS.
SO WE DO LEAVE THAT ON THERE AND MAKE THAT NOTE THAT IT'S NOT, NOT OCCURRING AT SCHOOL PROPERTY.
ANYTHING ELSE? MAYBE JUST THE, THE DAYS THAT KIDS WERE ACTUALLY IN SCHOOL OKAY.
'CAUSE APRIL HAD SPRING BREAK AND THEN MAY WAS A SHORT MONTH.
I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW, JUST TO SEE LIKE, JUST RIGHT.
AND THIS WAS A, YOU KNOW, JUST A TEMPLATE THAT WE HAD STARTED.
SO WE'RE UP FOR ANY SUGGESTIONS TO KIND OF IMPROVE AND, UM, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT IT KIND OF SIDE BY SIDE WITH THE DISCIPLINE TOO, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE, YOU KNOW, ACCURATELY REPORTING AS MUCH AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.
SO ANY FEEDBACK, WE'RE HAPPY TO HELP ADJUST TO.
SORRY, THAT WASN'T LONG ENOUGH.
WELL, DO YOU WANNA UPDATE US ON
[2.D. Recognition of Sodexo Future Chefs Challenge National Champion- Ms. Nickole Kinsey]
THE FOOD SERVICES? YEAH.SO BEFORE WE START WITH AIRLY, I WILL TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE SUMMER FEEDING PROGRAM.
WE ARE IN OUR SECOND WEEK OF OUR CURBSIDE AND DISTRIBUTION SERVICE.
[00:20:03]
AND I HAD, BEFORE I LEFT THAT MORNING, TOLD MY FIANCE I WOULD BE HAPPY IF WE SERVED SCI 500.SO THAT DAY I WAS JUST DRIVING AROUND THE COUNTY, PULLING FOOD OUT OF EVERY FREEZER AND MILK OUT OF EVERY COOLER.
AND, UM, SO WE PREPPED, WE ENDED UP SERVING 993 LAST WEEK.
EVERY, EVERY MEAL BAG WE HAVE HAS SEVEN DAYS WORTH OF BREAKFAST AND SEVEN DAYS WORTH OF LUNCH IN THE BAG.
WE'RE ALSO GIVING HALF GALLONS OF MILK.
UM, RIGHT NOW WE'RE SUPPLEMENTING WITH PINTS WHEN WE RUN OUT OF HALF GALLONS, WHICH HAS HAPPENED BOTH WEEKS, WHICH JUST HAPPENED ALSO TONIGHT TOO.
SO, BUT WE'RE LEARNING THE NUMBERS.
YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GONNA GET AND HOW MANY PARTICIPANTS YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE.
AND YOU DO EXPECT YOUR FIRST WEEK TO BE YOUR SLOWEST WEEK AND EACH WEEK THEREAFTER TO GROW A LITTLE BIT.
SO THIS WEEK I ASSUMED WE WOULD HAVE ABOUT A THOUSAND.
SO TODAY ALREADY THE FIRST SERVICE WE HAD OVER 1300.
AND THEN THIS EVENING WE'RE ALREADY AT 1 67.
SO WE'RE GONNA PLAN FOR MORE THAN THAT AND PROBABLY HAVE TO HAVE TWO SCHOOLS WORTH OF FREEZER SPACE BEING USED.
'CAUSE RIGHT NOW, SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL CAN ONLY HOLD SO MUCH, BUT WE CAN HAVE A BACKUP SCHOOL WITH FOOD AND MILK THERE, THEN WE'LL JUST TRANSPORT FOR THE EVENING SERVICE.
SO WE HAVE A GOOD PLAN GOING FORWARD, BUT I THINK WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO PLAN FOR ABOUT 1800 FOR NEXT WEEK.
AND WE'RE, WE'RE REACHING A LOT OF PEOPLE.
THE THING WITH THE SUMMER, UH, SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM IS LAST YEAR, UH, USDA DID NOT CONSIDER WARREN COUNTY AS RURAL.
IT WAS JUST THE THING THAT USDA, UH, DID NATIONWIDE WHERE THEY HAD CERTAIN AREAS THAT WERE CONSIDERED RURAL AND WE WERE NOT IN THAT DESIGNATED AREA.
AND THEN OVER LAST SUMMER, NATIONWIDE, USDA SAW A HUGE DECLINE IN SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PARTICIPATION.
AND THEN THEY SENT OUT ALL THESE SURVEYS THROUGHOUT NA THE NATION, ASKING REASONS WHY.
AND FOOD SERVICE DIRECTORS WERE ABLE TO GIVE ALL THEIR FEEDBACK.
AND IT'S BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO COME FROM BLUE MOUNTAIN OR LINDEN CHESTER GAP HIGH KNOB TO EAT ONE BREAKFAST ON SITE, WHICH WAS WHAT THEY WERE REQUIRED TO DO, THEN GO HOME AND THEN DRIVE BACK DOWN TO EAT A LUNCH ON SITE AND THEN GO BACK HOME.
THAT'S WHAT THEY WERE REQUIRED TO DO LAST YEAR.
AND SO WE REALLY DIDN'T SEE VERY MUCH PARTICIPATION.
WE PRETTY MUCH ONLY FED SUMMER SCHOOL CHILDREN, AND THEN WE WOULD TRY TO GO OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND FEED AT PARKS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW, BUT IT JUST REALLY WASN'T VERY SUCCESSFUL.
AND THEY SAW THAT NATIONWIDE WHERE PEOPLE WERE, HAD NEEDS, BUT THEY COULDN'T REALLY AFFORD TO SPEND THE GAS TO COME INTO TOWN TWICE A DAY IN THEIR AREAS.
AND A MAJORITY OF WARREN COUNTY IS NOW CONSIDERED RURAL THROUGH USDA.
UM, THEREFORE THE SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM IS ABLE TO SERVE BULK MEALS, WHICH IS WHAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS AND WANTS.
UM, AND SO WE'RE JUST SEEING SUCH A WONDERFUL TURNOUT.
PEOPLE ARE SO GRACIOUS AND THANKFUL.
THE ECONOMY'S REALLY HIT THE COMMUNITIES HARD.
UM, ESPECIALLY THE, THOSE MIDDLE PEOPLE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT SEVERAL TIMES.
YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE WHO STRUGGLE TO PAY THEIR BILLS, THEY WORK, THEY CAN'T GET ANY HELP, YOU KNOW, FINANCIALLY, BUT THEY, THEY PAY THEIR BILLS AND THEY, YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T GET ANY HELP ANYWHERE.
AND THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE REALLY HELPING.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND JUST THEY'RE, IT'S SO, SO NICE OF A FEELING TO SEE THOSE PEOPLE COME THROUGH AND JUST HOW THANKFUL THEY ARE.
AND THE LITTLE ONES THAT DO COME THROUGH THIS EVENING, EVEN THERE WERE TWO LITTLE BOYS AND THEY JUST RAN ACROSS THE PARKING LOT AND THEY GOT THEIR BAGS AND THEY JUST RAN BACK ACROSS.
THEY CAN'T WAIT TO RIP THE BAG OPEN AND SEE WHAT'S IN IT.
AND THEY'RE REALLY JUST EXCITED.
IT, IT IS REALLY A GOOD FEELING.
IT GIVES ME CHILLS, UM, 'CAUSE I WAS ONE OF THOSE POOR KIDS WHEN I WAS LITTLE, AND I JUST, JUST, IT JUST BE ABLE TO RIP INTO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
YOU KNOW? I DIDN'T REALLY EVER HAVE ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
IT WAS LIKE, WE WEREN'T STARVING, BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT.
AND IT WAS, IT'S JUST SO NICE TO SEE THEM BE SO EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO GET INTO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SO ANYWAY, IT JUST, IT JUST WARMS MY HEART UP SO MUCH.
SO CAN YOU SHARE AGAIN HOW EVERYBODY CAN ACCESS THAT REAL QUICK? YES.
IT'S, IT, IT IS WEDNESDAYS EXCEPT FOR THE WEEK OF JUNE 19TH.
SO WE ARE DOING JUNE 20TH THAT WEEK.
SO THERE'S ONE WEEK WHERE IT IS A THURSDAY WHERE THE MEAL PICKUP FOR CURBSIDE IS AT SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL FROM 9:00 AM
[00:25:01]
TO 1:00 PM.THEN THERE IS A BREAK, AND THEN THERE IS A SECOND, UH, CURBSIDE FROM FIVE 30 TO SEVEN 30.
THOSE OPTIONS ARE BOTH AT SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL.
YOU CAN GO TO WCP S.ORG AND YOU CAN SEE THE BUS ROUTE THERE.
IT'S POSTED IN THE ANNOUNCEMENTS THERE.
UM, I DON'T KNOW THAT BY HEART.
AND DOES THE CHILD OR CHILDREN NEED TO BE PRESENT TO GET THE FOOD, OR CAN A PARENT PICK IT UP? THAT'S, THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.
THE, THEY DO NOT NEED TO BE PRESENT.
UM, RIGHT NOW THEY JUST HAVE TO TELL US HOW MANY CHILDREN THEY ARE, AND THEY JUST HAVE TO CONFIRM THE CHILDREN ARE BETWEEN ONE AND 18 AND THEY CAN BE 18.
UM, THE VERY FIRST WEEK WE COLLECTED EVERYONE'S NAMES AND AGES.
UH, WE ARE REQUESTING THE CHILDREN BE WITH THEM, BUT IT'S NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE.
A LOT OF PEOPLE COME ON THEIR LUNCH BREAK OR ARE PICKING UP FOR A NEIGHBOR WHO'S WORKING.
UM, AND SO THE STATE SAYS THAT'S ALLOWABLE.
SO RIGHT NOW, THEY DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE THEIR CHILDREN WITH THEM.
UM, WE'RE DOING OUR BEST TO JUST, JUST DO THAT ONCE A WEEK, PICK UP AND ACCOMMODATE THE TWO DIFFERENT TIMES.
UM, SO AS NOT TO HAVE DUPLICATION, THE STATE DOES ONLY WANT ONE MEAL BAG PER CHILD.
UM, AND SO FAR WE'RE, WE'RE NOT SEEING, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T, WE DON'T FEEL LIKE WE'RE SEEING ANY DUPLICATION AT THIS POINT.
UM, YOU KNOW, IF YOU DO START FEELING LIKE YOU SEE DUPLICATION, THEY DO WANT YOU TO START CHECKING NAMES OF, OF STUDENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT RIGHT NOW, FROM WHAT WE CAN TELL, AND OUR, OUR STAFF IS ACTUALLY PRETTY GOOD AT KIND OF RECOGNIZING PEOPLE AS THEY COME THROUGH AND THEY START MAKING CONNECTIONS WITH PEOPLE AND TALKING TO PEOPLE, AND THEY DON'T USUALLY, THEY'LL BE LIKE, OH, I, YOU KNOW, IF THEY'VE SEEN SOMEONE BEFORE I SAW THIS PERSON BEFORE, DID YOU COME EARLIER TODAY? THEY'LL ASK.
IT'S LIKE, OH, YOU KNOW, IF THEY DID, USUALLY PEOPLE WILL SAY, OH, I DID, BUT THEN I NEED TO PICK UP FOR SO AND SO.
AND IF, IF THEY'RE TELLING A FIB, THEY'LL, THEY WON'T DO IT AGAIN.
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE PRETTY HONEST.
UM, BUT YEAH, SO NO, THEY DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE THEIR CHILDREN WITH THEM.
WE DO ENCOURAGE THEM TO HAVE 'EM AND THE KIDS LIKE SEEING US.
AND SOME WEEKS WE'LL DO THINGS LIKE IF WE HAVE LEFTOVER ICE CREAM OR SOMETHING, WE'LL HAND OUT AN ICE CREAM, UM, TO THE CURBSIDE KIDS AND STUFF.
WE CAN'T SEND IT OUT ON BUSES AT THE, IT WOULD MELT, BUT WE DO THAT AS WELL SOMETIMES.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SUMMER REPEAT? NOPE.
UM, WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, UH, WE'RE SO EXCITED BECAUSE AIRLY, THIS IS THE CRAZIEST THING.
I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS HAPPENED.
UM, WE PUSHED OUT THE NATIONAL VOTING, AND I, I'M LIKE, I AM SOCIAL MEDIA CRAZY SOMETIMES I THINK HER MOM IS A LITTLE SOCIAL MEDIA CRAZY TOO, BY THE WAY.
OH, MATT WAS WAY AND MAYBE HER DAD TOO,
ANYWAY, WE REALLY PUSHED IT OUT THERE AND AIRLY WON THE ACTUAL NATIONAL SODEXO COMPETITION.
I THINK I CROAKED IN THE OFFICE FOR LIKE A HOT MINUTE.
WHEN I READ THE EMO I'M LIKE, OH MY GOSH.
UM, I WOULD LOVE TO SHOW THE VIDEO IN CASE ANYONE DIDN'T GET TO WATCH IT.
AND, UM, JESSE WAS GONNA PLAY THE VIDEO FOR US REALLY QUICK, BUT I DON'T, HE SAID HE CAN SEE ME OR HE GOES, IF WE CAN WATCH IT.
YOU WANNA SAY, HI, MY NAME'S LEIGH KIMON.
I'M A FIFTH GRADER AT HJB ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
TODAY I'LL BE MAKING THE BREAKFAST DELAY WITH TWO EGGS AND PEANUT BUTTER AND BANANA TOAST.
I PICKED THIS RECIPE BECAUSE IT'S SO EASY.
IT'S EASY FOR MAKING ON THE GO.
BUT FIRST, ANYTIME YOU'RE PREPARING FOOD, YOU SHOULD ALWAYS WASH YOUR HANDS JUST FOR THAT LITTLE BIT MORE SAFETY.
SO RIGHT NOW I'M JUST GONNA PUT ON MY GLOVES AND THEN I'M GONNA START PREPARING MY DELOITTE.
SO FIRST I'M GOING TO TAKE MY COOKING SPRING AND MAKE SURE THAT NOTHING STICKS IN MY CUP.
I WILL BE CRACKING MY SECOND EGG.
NOW I WILL TAKE MY FORK AND EAT THE EGGS.
[00:30:01]
DURING THIS PART.AND AT THE END AND AFTER I ADD MY SEASONINGS, THEN I WILL PUT IT IN THE MICROWAVE AND LET THAT COOK FOR ONE MINUTE.
I LIKE TO ADD SALT, PEPPER AND EVERYTHING THEY WILL SEASON.
NOW I'M JUST GONNA PUT THIS IN THE MICROWAVE FOR ONE MINUTE.
AND AS THAT'S COOKING, I'M GOING TO START ON MY TOAST.
FIRST I'M GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF THE PEANUT BUTTER AND JUST SMEAR IT ON THERE.
SO I'M JUST GONNA FINISH SMEARING THIS, AND THEN I CAN GO AHEAD AND CUT MY BANANAS AND PLACE THEM HOW I WOULD LIKE ON MY TOAST.
SO NOW I'M JUST GOING TO CUT MY BANANA AND I LIKE TO CUT THE ENDS OFF.
AND THEN AS I CUT THEM, I'M JUST GOING TO PUT THEM IN A PATTERN WHERE YOU CAN FIT THE MOST OFF FOR THE MOST FLAVOR.
NOW THAT I HAVE PUT MY BANANAS IN MY PEANUT BUTTER TOAST IN A PATTERN WHERE I CAN FIT AS MUCH AS I CAN, I'M GONNA GO OVER TO THE MICROWAVE AND TAKE MY EGGS OUT.
I AM JUST GONNA LET THIS SIT OUT FOR A WHILE SO THAT WAY THAT CANNOT EXPLODE IN THE MICROWAVE.
SO DURING THIS TIME, I NORMALLY LIKE TO CLEAN UP WHAT I'M DOING AND JUST MAKE SURE MY SPACE IS TIDY ENOUGH FOR, UM, AFTERWARDS.
SO NOW I'M JUST GONNA PUT THIS BACK IN THE MICROWAVE FOR 30 SECONDS.
SO FOR BARNES, I NORMALLY LIKE TO ADD A PLANT OR GRAPES OR FRUIT OR REALLY ANYTHING.
JUST IT NEEDS TO HAVE THE LOOK, APPEAL AND THE TASTE
SO NOW MY EGGS ARE DONE FOR THE 30 SECONDS AND I'M GOING TO TAKE THEM OUT.
AND LIKE I HAVE SAID BEFORE, UM, I LIKE ADDING A LITTLE MORE SEASONING AFTER.
IT DEPENDS LIKE ON WHO THE PERSON IS AND IT'S HEALTHY AND IT'S JUST AN OVERALL DELICIOUS MEAL.
SO, UM, I LIKE CUTTING MY EGGS BEFORE JUST SO THAT WAY I CAN LET OFF THE STEAM.
AND WHILE THAT'S HAPPENING, I, UM, JUST ADD A LITTLE MORE SEASONING, LIKE THE TEENIEST BIT, AND THEN I ADD A LITTLE MORE GRAPES OR WHATEVER YOU'RE GARNISHING IS JUST TO FILL IN THE HOLES TO MAKE IT LOOK PRETTY.
AND HERE YOU HAVE MY BREAKFAST DELIGHT.
SO WHAT WE HAVE, WE HAVE A WHOLE PRIZE BASKET OVER HERE.
SO INSIDE WE HAVE, UM, A SET OF CUTTING BOARDS, UH, A, A FIRE HD, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS.
UM, A MASTER CHEF COOKBOOK, A HAND BLENDER, AN AIR FRYER, AND A SET OF CHEF KNIVES FOR AIRLY TO TAKE HOME.
AND JUST A BIG CONGRATULATIONS.
AND DOES ANYONE WANNA ASK ANY QUESTIONS OR SAY ANYTHING ELSE TO HER? DO YOU WANNA SAY ANYTHING? UM, SO I AM JUST VERY THANKFUL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY IN GENERAL, BUT I'M ALSO THANKFUL FOR NICOLE FOR BEING SO SUPPORTIVE THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS AND, UM, MY BEST FRIENDS FOR BEING SUPPORTIVE WITH ME.
[00:35:01]
VIDEO OF ME FINDING OUT THAT I WON THE NATIONAL COMPETITION, MY BEST FRIEND AVERY WAS PROBABLY MORE EXCITED THAN I WAS.UM, AND I JUST WANNA THANK HER BECAUSE SHE LIGHTENS MY DAY ALL THE TIME.
BUT I, UH, I WAS SO SHOCKED THAT I EVEN MADE IT TO NATIONALS.
UM, BUT I, I MEAN LIKE THERE WAS SO MANY OTHER BIG COUNTRIES AND TOWNS THAT OTHER PEOPLE WERE FROM IN THE NATIONALS.
I THOUGHT I HAD NO SHOT OF WINNING.
I'M IN, I'M IN FRONT ROYAL VIRGINIA
IT WAS JUST MIND BLOWING FOR ME.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR SHOWING THEM WHAT WARREN COUNTY CAN DO.
I'M GONNA SLIP OUT AND GET BACK TO OUR CURBSIDE SO OUR LADIES DON'T THINK I ABANDONED THEM.
[2.F. Community Participation]
WE HAVE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION.IT IS THE DUTY OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE SCHOOL BOARD WITH ASSISTANCE FROM THE COUNTY SHERIFF AS NECESSARY TO CONDUCT THE MEETING IN AN ORDERLY MANNER AND TO LIMIT DISCUSSION TO TOPICS RELEVANT TO THE ISSUE BEFORE THE BOARD FOR CONSIDERATION, PERSONS ADDRESSING THE SCHOOL BOARD ARE ADVISED TO LIMIT THEIR REMARKS TO THOSE RELEVANT TO THE PENDING ITEMS. NO PERSONS IN ATTENDANCE SHALL BE ALLOWED TO VOICE REMARKS EXCEPT AS RECOGNIZED BY THE CHAIRPERSON OR THE CLERK OF THE BOARD AFTER AUDIBLY STATING THEIR NAME AND WHOM THEY REPRESENT.
IF APPLICABLE, NO PERSON SHALL BRING INTO THE BOARDROOM ANY SIGN, BANNER, OR OTHER SUCH ITEM WHICH WOULD INTERFERE WITH OTHER MEMBERS IN THE OF THE PUBLIC IN SEEING, HEARING OR OTHERWISE PARTICIPATING IN THE MEETING.
PROVIDED THAT MODELS, PHOTOS, MAPS, CHARTS, DRAWINGS, AND OTHER SUCH DEMONSTRATIVE MATERIALS INTENDED FOR USE IN A PRESENTATION BY A SPECIFIC PERSON SHALL BE PERMITTED UPON RECOGNITION BY THE CHAIR OR THE CLERK OF THE BOARD.
THE SPEAKER SHALL ADDRESS THE SCHOOL BOARD CHAIR CONFINE THEIR COMMENTS TO ISSUES OF PUBLIC CONCERN RELATING TO THE OPERATION OF WARREN COUNTY.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS REFRAIN FROM WORDS OR STATEMENTS, WHICH FROM THEIR USUAL CONSTRUCTION AND COMMON ACCEPTANCE ARE DEFAMATORY TO SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS OR TEND TO VIOLENCE OR BREACH OF THE PEACE.
REFRAIN FROM OBSCENITY AND VULGARITY.
STAY WITHIN ALLOTTED TIME AND STOP SPEAKING.
WHEN DIRECTED BY THE CHAIRPERSON GROUPS OR INDIVIDUALS IN THE AUDIENCE CREATING AN ATMOSPHERE DETRIMENTAL TO OR DISTURBING, THE ORDERLY CONDUCT OF THE MEETING WILL BE ASKED TO REFRAIN FROM SUCH CONDUCT ONCE ANY ADDITIONAL DISTURBANCE AFTER THE WARNING WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.
AND THE CHAIRPERSON WILL ASK THE COUNTY SHERIFF TO REMOVE THE INDIVIDUAL GROUP OR CLEAR THE BOARDROOM SO THE BOARD CAN CONDUCT THE BUSINESS OF THE SCHOOL DIVISION WHEN RECOGNIZED.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, WHETHER YOU'RE A COUNTY RESIDENT, PARENT OF WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENT, OR AN EMPLOYEE OF THE SCHOOL DIVISION.
AND LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES.
THE FIRST SPEAKER IS ELISA BRADFORD.
I'M A WARREN COUNTY RESIDENT, A WARREN COUNTY TEACHER, AND THE WCEA PRESIDENT OF SECONDARY EDUCATION.
TONIGHT I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE CONTRACTING OF OUR SUBS.
I WAS ONE OF THE TEACHERS THAT SERVED ON THE COMMITTEE THAT READ THROUGH PAGES OF PROPOSALS FROM SIX COMPANIES.
THE COMMITTEE NARROWED IT DOWN TO THREE AND MET WITH EACH ONE.
AFTER CONSIDERATION, THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION WAS TO STAY WITH ESS.
THERE HAS BEEN TALK ABOUT BRINGING THIS BACK IN HOUSE LIKE WE DID YEARS AGO.
THIS WAS NOT A ONE PERSON JOB.
MULTIPLE PEOPLE HANDLED DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE PROCESS.
YOU HAD INTERVIEWS, YOU HAD BACKGROUND CHECKS, MAKING SURE THE PAPERWORK WAS FILLED OUT, TRAINING DAILY REPORTS, RECRUITING MARKETING, AND THAT'S JUST TO NAME A FEW.
UM, YES, IT WAS GREAT HAVING THAT ONE PERSON, BUT ALL SHE DID WAS CALL AND GET THAT PERSON TO COVER A JOB.
WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE BIGGER PICTURE TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION FOR WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
PLEASE TAKE THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE COMMITTEE AND STAY WITH ESS.
I AM AN EMPLOYEE OF WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND A RESIDENT OF WARREN COUNTY.
I AM ALSO THE PRESIDENT OF THE WARREN COUNTY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION FOR ELEMENTARY EDUCATION.
I AM HERE TO EXPRESS THE CONCERNS OF OUR MEMBERS REGARDING THE CHANGES TO THE HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS. THE RATES THAT WERE UP FOR APPROVAL ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA WOULD'VE BEEN DETRIMENTAL TO MANY WARREN
[00:40:01]
COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYEES.THE NEW STRUCTURE OF THE INSURANCE COSTS WILL HURT EMPLOYEES WITH CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, THE MOST DUAL EMPLOYEES FAMILIES WHERE BOTH ADULTS WORK FOR WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL ALSO BE GREATLY IMPACTED.
MANY WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYEES STAND TO SEE A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THEY CAN EXPECT FROM THEIR PAYCHECKS.
FOR MANY, THE SALARY INCREASE THEY WERE EXPECTING WILL BE NEARLY ELIMINATED.
IT IS ALSO LIKELY EMPLOYEES WHO NEED COVERAGE FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WILL SEE A REDUCTION IN THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THEY TAKE HOME NEXT YEAR.
THESE CHANGES ARE HAPPENING WHILE MOST OF THE RETURNING WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL STAFF HAVE ALREADY SIGNED THEIR CONTRACTS WITHOUT KNOWING THEY WOULD SEE SUCH AN INCREASE IN THEIR INSURANCE CONTRIBUTIONS.
CHANGES LIKE THESE WILL ONLY GIVE WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYEES A REASON TO LOOK FOR EMPLOYMENT IN ANOTHER COUNTY.
WHILE WE UNDERSTAND THE BOARD IS FACED WITH VERY DIFFICULT BUDGET DECISIONS BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF FUNDING FROM THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, ADJUSTING INSURANCE CONTRIBUTIONS IN THIS WAY WILL BE HARMFUL TO MANY EMPLOYEES.
WE, THE WCEA URGE YOU NOT TO ADOPT THESE PROPOSED INSURANCE RATES TONIGHT AND TO LOOK FOR ANOTHER WAY TO ADJUST THE BUDGET THAT WILL BE LESS HARMFUL TO THE EMPLOYEES OF WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
HELLO, I'M LEE MEADOWS AND I TEACH IN WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND LIVE IN WARREN COUNTY.
UH, IN THE PAST EIGHT YEARS, UH, THE AGRICULTURAL OFFERING IN WARREN COUNTY HAS SEEN EXPONENTIAL GROWTH.
IT STARTED WITH ONE TEACHER SPLIT BETWEEN TWO SCHOOLS, AND NOW HAS GROWN TO FOUR FULL-TIME TEACHERS AT FOUR SCHOOLS, AND HOPEFULLY FIVE FULL-TIME TEACHERS, UH, NEXT YEAR.
THIS GROWTH IS NOT JUST HAPPENING IN WARREN COUNTY AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO HAPPEN FOR SEVERAL REASONS.
FIRST IS BECAUSE OF THE PROGRAMS WE OFFER.
WE TEACH A RANGE OF CLASSES AND WORKPLACE SKILLS TO OUR STUDENTS, WHICH ALIGN WITH CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES THROUGH FFA.
THE THREE CIRCLE MODEL OF AG EDUCATION INVOLVES CLASSROOM AND LABORATORY INSTRUCTION, FFA, AND THEN SOMETHING WE CALL SAE.
IT'S SUPERVISED AGRICULTURAL EXPERIENCES.
AND THIS MODEL OF AG EDUCATION INCORPORATES ALL FACETS OF STEM PLUS LOTS MORE.
AG ED ALLOWS STUDENTS TO CHART PATHS FOR CAREERS BASED ON THEIR INTERESTS AND GOALS.
UM, IT PROVIDES A SPACE FOR STUDENTS TO TRY OUT ALL DIFFERENT POSSIBLE PATHS, INCLUDING AG, POWER, STRUCTURAL SYSTEMS, BIOTECHNOLOGY, ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES.
UM, THE AG ED MODEL ISN'T JUST PLANTS AND ANIMALS.
UH, IT GOES FAR BEYOND THE 10 MONTHS OF CLASSROOM AND LAB INSTRUCTION WHEN STUDENTS START THEIR OWN SAE PROJECTS.
THESE ARE SELF-SELECTED PROJECTS WHERE THE STUDENT MAY CONDUCT A SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENT, DO RESEARCH, WORK, A JOB, UM, RELATED TO AGRICULTURE, RUN THEIR OWN AG SERVICE OR BUSINESS.
AND ONCE IMPLEMENTED FULLY, MANY OF THESE PROJECTS CARRY OVER FROM ONE SEMESTER TO THE NEXT, OR EVEN FROM ONE YEAR TO THE NEXT.
AS TEACHERS ON 10 MONTH CONTRACTS, WE'RE NOT ABLE TO FULLY SUPPORT AND SUPERVISE THESE PROJECTS THAT CARRY BEYOND MAY INTO JUNE, JULY, AND AUGUST.
THIS IS JUST ONE REASON WHY THE AG TEACHERS NEED TO HAVE EXTENDED CONTRACTS.
ADDITIONAL REASONS, UH, FOR SHIFTING IS OUR INVOLVEMENT IN INTRA CURRICULAR FFA ACTIVITIES, UH, LIKE TAKING TEAMS TO STATE CONVENTION.
UH, WE GO IN JUNE IN JUST A COUPLE WEEKS.
UH, WE'VE BEEN HOSTING PRACTICES WITH THOSE KIDS LEADING UP TO IT.
UM, AND WE PARTICIPATE IN ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES LEADING UP TO FAIR.
UM, WE ALSO ATTEND SUMMER TRAINING AND UPDATE OUR OWN INDUSTRY CREDENTIALS THROUGH THE VIRGINIA ASSOCIATION OF AG EDUCATORS, UM, WHICH HOSTS A CONFERENCE FOR US IN JULY.
UM, AND BEING PRESENT WHEN WE HAVE FAIR WEEK, UH, HERE IN THE COUNTY.
WE HOST A BOOTH AND HOPE TO HAVE MORE OF A ROLE WITH FFA MEMBERS ABLE TO EXHIBIT AND SHOW.
THERE ARE A MULTITUDE OF REASONS TO MAKE THE SHIFT.
AND AN ADDITIONAL ONE IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF LAND LABS AT SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL AND POTENTIALLY WARREN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL.
AS YOU KNOW, I SENT AN EMAIL TO THE BOARD, UM, THAT MENTIONED A NEED FOR AT LEAST ONE OF THE AG TEACHERS TO BE ON A 12 MONTH CONTRACT TO OVERSEE THE ONGOING DEVELOPMENT IMPLE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LAND LABS.
I HOPE THAT YOU WILL APPROVE CHANGING THE 10 MONTH CONTRACT TO 11
[00:45:01]
MONTHS FOR OUR SCHOOLS AND GO EVEN A STEP FURTHER BY CHANGING THE EXISTING SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL 10 MONTH POSITION TO A 12 MONTH POSITION TO OVERSEE THAT SHARED LAND LAB.HELLO, MY NAME IS LYNN PHILLIPS.
I'M THE MIDDLE SCHOOL WARREN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL AG TEACHER.
I'M ALSO A WARREN COUNTY RESIDENT AND A BUSINESS OWNER.
SO ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF, TWO YEARS AGO, I DECIDED, HEY, WHY NOT BECOME AN AG TEACHER? 'CAUSE I HAVE ALL THIS KNOWLEDGE FROM MY LANDSCAPING AND GARDEN CENTER BUSINESSES THAT WHY DON'T WE COME HERE AND TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS.
SO, I'M COMING TO YOU TO ADVOCATE FOR THE EXTENDED CONTRACTS FOR THE COUNTY AG TEACHERS.
SO YOU HEARD A LOT FROM LEE ABOUT THE THINGS THAT WE DO.
I'M GONNA TAKE IT A STEP FURTHER AND TELL YOU A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL KIDS HAVE DONE THIS PAST YEAR.
SO WE PARTNER WITH THE OTHER FFA CHAPTERS IN THE COUNTY AND OUT OF THE COUNTY.
ONE OF THE CHAPTERS THAT WE PARTNER WITH IS IN S STRASSBURG AT SIGNAL KNOB MIDDLE SCHOOL.
THIS PAST YEAR, UH, MR. STROUD AND MYSELF TOOK THREE FIELD TRIPS TO VIRGINIA TECH AND VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY.
UH, WE, UH, WHILE ON THOSE TRIPS, THE KIDS GOT TO EXPLORE CAREER OPPORTUNITIES, WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE A COLLEGE STUDENT, AND WHAT IT'S LIKE TO ATTEND THE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT IT PRESENTS.
UM, WE ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THE LAST FIELD TRIP.
I THINK WE TOOK 160 KIDS BETWEEN THE TWO SCHOOLS.
UH, THIS PAST YEAR, THE AG STUDENTS GOT TO DO SOME AMAZING THINGS LIKE MAKE BUTTER CARE FOR BUNNY RABBITS IN THE CLASSROOM.
UH, USE THE WOOD SHOP EQUIPMENT THAT'S IN OUR WOOD SHOP TO BUILD WOOD ITEMS LIKE WOOD CRATES AND, UH, WOOD, UM, RING TOSS GAMES, ALL KINDS OF THINGS.
THEY GOT TO TAKE THOSE PROJECTS HOME AND SHARE THEM WITH THEIR FAMILIES.
UH, WE HAVE A FLOWER AND VEGETABLE GARDEN THAT THE STUDENTS MAINTAIN.
WE HATCH AND RAISE BABY CHICKS.
THESE BABY CHICKS WENT ON TO ONE OF OUR FFA MEMBERS' HOMES AND THEY ARE NOW PRODUCING EGGS.
OUR HOPE FOR THE STUDENT IS THAT THEY WILL TAKE THIS PROJECT ONTO THE WARREN COUNTY FAIR, AND THIS WILL BE PART OF THEIR SAE PROJECT THAT MS. MEADOWS TALKED ABOUT.
WE HAVE, UH, CURRENTLY SIX CLASSROOM BUNNIES.
WE'VE ADOPTED OUT FOUR MORE BEYOND THAT TO, UM, AG STUDENTS, UH, WITH THE HOPE THAT THEY WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE WARREN COUNTY FAIR.
WE ARE VERY ACTIVE WITH OUR FUNDRAISING EFFORTS IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE MONEY THAT THE STUDENTS ARE, UM, PUTTING OUT TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR ORGANIZATION THROUGH INTER CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES.
AND FFA, WE ARE INVOLVED WITH, FOR EXAMPLE, SKILL AON LIVESTOCK JUDGING, UM, ADVOCATING FOR AGRICULTURE AT THE CAPITOL FOR FFA DAY.
UH, WE TOOK 10 MEMBERS TO, UM, RICHMOND, UH, WHERE THEY HAD MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS WITH IMPORTANT PEOPLE TO ADVOCATE FOR AGRICULTURE.
UM, THE AG TEACHERS ATTEND VAE UH, WINTER, SUMMER CONFERENCE.
I'M ACTUALLY PRESENTING THERE THIS SUMMER TO TEACH THEM HOW TO BUILD A LAMP AND, UM, USE PLUMBING PARTS.
WE ARE AIMING FOR NATIONAL FFA CONVENTION THIS FALL.
OUR HOPE AT WCMS IS TO GET A LAND LAB TOGETHER SO THAT THE STUDENTS CAN EXPERIENCE WHAT IT'S LIKE TO OWN AND RAISE THEIR OWN ANIMALS.
WE HAVE THE SUPPORT OF OUR PRINCIPAL, DR. JOHNSTON, AND WE ALSO HOPE WE WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE THESE OPPORTUNITIES TO THE HIGH SCHOOLS AS WELL.
THIS REQUIRES A STAFF MEMBER TO SUPERVISE THE LAND LAB, UH, THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER, WHICH IS ANOTHER REASON WHY WE NEED THE 11 MONTH CONTRACT.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO CONSIDER THE EXTENDED MONTH CONTRACTS FOR THE COUNTY AG TEACHERS.
I AM JENNIFER KNOX, THE PRINCIPAL OF E WILSON MORRISON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
I SPEAK TONIGHT HOPING YOU'LL VOTE YES TO CONTINUING THE CONTRACT WITH ESS, OUR SUBSTITUTE OUTSOURCING PROVIDER.
I HAVE WORKED WITH ESS IN TWO SEPARATE DISTRICTS, AND I HAVE APPRECIATED THE SERVICE THEY PROVIDE.
HAVING ESS MANAGE THE LARGE AMOUNT OF LOGISTICAL WORK TO FILL OUR DAILY AND LONG-TERM VACANCIES ALLOWS ME AND THE STAFF OF E WILSON MORRISON TO FOCUS ON INSTRUCTION FOR OUR STUDENTS.
THIS YEAR, WE HAVE SEEN SUCCESSFUL FILL RATES AT OUR BUILDING.
WE NEEDED TWO LONG-TERM SUBSTITUTES DUE TO STAFF MATERNITY LEAVE, AND WE WERE GRATEFUL TO WORK WITH ESS TO FIND HIGH QUALITY SUBSTITUTES FOR THESE POSITIONS.
IN MY EXPERIENCE WITH IN-HOUSE SUBSTITUTE PROGRAMS, THE INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL SITES WERE BOGGED DOWN IN THE MORNING TRYING TO FIND COVERAGE FOR OUR CLASSROOMS BEFORE THE SCHOOL START SCHOOL.
MANY TIMES THOSE SUBSTITUTES HAD TAKEN JOBS ALREADY OR WERE UNAVAILABLE.
THIS LEFT US WITH HAVING TO COVER CLASSROOMS
[00:50:01]
WITH OUR TEACHERS.THOSE TEACHERS HAD TO SELL THEIR PREPARATORY PERIOD, AND THAT LED TO LOWER TEACHER MORALE.
LOWER TEACHER MORALE CAN LEAD TO INCREASED TEACHER ABSENCES, TURNOVER AND REDUCED ENERGY FOR OUR STUDENTS.
WE ARE ABOUT TWO MONTHS AWAY FROM WELCOMING STUDENTS BACK INTO OUR CLASSROOMS, AND I WORRY THAT WE WILL NOT BE READY TO EFFECTIVELY IMPLEMENT AN IN-HOUSE SUBSTITUTE PROGRAM IN TIME FOR THE FIRST DAYS OF SCHOOL.
IF YOU DECIDE TO BRING THE SUBSTITUTES IN-HOUSE, I ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER GIVING THE SCHOOL SCHOOL DISTRICT THE 20 24 20 25 SCHOOL YEAR TO PROPERLY PLAN AND PREPARE FOR THIS INCREDIBLE UNDERTAKING.
PLEASE VOTE YES TO CONTINUING THE CONTRACT WITH ESS TO ENSURE WE CAN START THIS SCHOOL YEAR READY TO TEACH STUDENTS AND FOCUS ON QUALITY INSTRUCTION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
THAT WAS THE LAST SPEAKER TO SIGN UP IN ADVANCE.
ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK THIS EVENING? I AM HERE TO URGE YOU TO REJOIN THE VIRGINIA SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION.
I'M SORRY, COULD YOU STATE YOUR NAME PLEASE? YEP.
MY NAME IS KELSEY LAWRENCE AND I LIVE IN THE FORK DISTRICT.
AND I'M HERE TO URGE YOU TO REJOIN THE VIRGINIA SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION AND TO STEER CLEAR OF THE POLICY WRITING SERVICES OFFERED BY THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER ALLIANCE.
WHEN WE LEFT THE VSBA, WE ESSENTIALLY TRADED A TRUSTED SEASONED ORGANIZATION FOR A VERY EXPENSIVE ALTERNATIVE.
AND NOW WE ARE CONSIDERING A NEWLY FORMED GROUP WITH NO TRACK RECORD IN EDUCATIONAL GOVERNANCE.
THE VSBA IS STAFFED WITH TRAINED EDUCATION AND SPECIAL EDUCATION LAWYERS WHO PROVIDE INVALUABLE SUPPORT AND POLICY IN ACCORDANCE WITH VIRGINIA LAW.
IN CONTRAST, THE SBMA LACKS SUCH EXPERTISE PUTTING OUR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION AND OUR COUNTY'S FINANCIAL HEALTH AT SIGNIFICANT RISK.
THIS YEAR ALONE, OUR COUNTY HAS ALREADY FACED THREE LAWSUITS.
ADDING MORE POTENTIAL LEGAL VULNERABILITIES BY RELYING ON AN UNPROVEN ORGANIZATION COULD BE DISASTROUS.
CAN WE REALLY AFFORD MORE LAWSUITS FINANCIALLY? PULLING OUT OF THE VSBA WAS A MISTAKE, AND WE HAVE BEEN PAYING THE PRICE SINCE THEN.
HOWEVER WE HAVE THE CHANCE TO CORRECT IT TODAY.
OUR STUDENTS IN WARREN COUNTY DESERVE THE STABILITY AND PROVEN SUPPORT OF AN ASSOCIATION THAT HAS BEEN TESTED AND VETTED OVER TIME.
THE POLICIES FUNNELED THROUGH THE SBMA ARE NOT ONLY RISKY, BUT COULD ALSO CREATE FURTHER DIVISIVENESS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.
THE SBMA WAS STARTED BY A LOBBYIST AND INDIVIDUALS WITH PERSONAL AGENDAS.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS SHOULD BE FREE FROM SUCH POLITICAL INTERFERENCE.
NOTABLY, ONE OF ITS FOUNDERS COULDN'T EVEN EFFECTIVELY SERVE HER OWN SCHOOL SYSTEM.
WHY WOULD WE TRUST THEM TO GUIDE OURS? AND THEY ARE GUIDING OURS EVEN IF WE HAVEN'T OFFICIALLY USED THEM AS A POLICY SERVICE.
WE KNOW THAT TWO BOARD MEMBERS HAVE JOINED OUR ATTENDING MEETINGS AND ENSURE LOVE TO TALK ABOUT SBMA.
THEY HAVE ALREADY HAD AN INFLUENCE.
FOR EXAMPLE, I WOULD EVEN ARGUE IT IS THEIR INFLUENCE THAT HAS PUSHED ONE MEMBER OF THIS BOARD TO LOBBY THE OTHERS TO LEAVE THE VSBA, JUST AS THEY ARE DOING IN OTHER COUNTIES.
AND WE KNOW HOW MUCH WE HAVE BEEN PAYING FOR THAT ALREADY.
THEY HAVE GIVEN US POOR ADVICE.
WHILE YOU BOARD MEMBERS MAY CONTINUE WITH YOUR LIVES, THE DECISIONS PROFOUNDLY IMPACT YOUR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS.
OUR STUDENTS DESERVE POLICIES THAT PROTECT EACH ONE OF THEM EQUALLY.
IT DOES NOT SEEM THAT THE SBMA HAS A SPECIAL EDUCATION, HAS SPECIAL EDUCATION LAWYERS ON STAFF.
THIS WILL UNDOUBTEDLY AFFECT THE, THE POLICIES THAT COME FROM THIS ORGANIZATION, PUTTING OUR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AT RISK.
AND WE HAVE A DUTY TO ENSURE THAT ALL STUDENTS ARE PROTECTED BY LAWFUL POLICY.
REJOINING THE VSBA DOESN'T PRECLUDE MRS. SA, MRS. SALAN AND MR. MCFADDEN FROM MAINTAINING THEIR SBA MEMBERSHIP IF THEY WISH.
IT SIMPLY ENSURES THAT OUR DISTRICT IS BACKED BY AN ORGANIZATION WITH THE NECESSARY EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE TO GUIDE US ON POLICY AND PROVIDE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD TRAINING SHOULD THEY WISH TO UTILIZE IT.
IT SEEMS UNFAIR TO ME AS WELL THAT THE ONLY PEOPLE ON THIS BOARD RECEIVING TRAINING ARE THE ONES WHO HAVE INDIVIDUALLY JOINED SBMA.
LET ME SHARE A PERSONAL STORY TO ILLUSTRATE MY POINT.
WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE, I BOUGHT MY FIRST CAR A, A BLUE VW BEETLE.
HOWEVER, ITS MAINTENANCE WAS COMPLICATED AND REQUIRED REMOVING PARTS JUST TO CHANGE THE OIL.
REALIZING THAT THIS WASN'T SUSTAINABLE, I SOLD MY BELOVED BEETLE FOR A REFURBISHED NISSAN SENTRA.
ALMOST IMMEDIATELY PROBLEMS AROSE.
THE PAINT STARTED PEELING IN THE TRUNK WOULDN'T CLOSE PROPERLY, BUT AS A POOR COLLEGE STUDENT, I WAS STUCK WITH IT.
I WISH I COULD HAVE JUST STUCK WITH MY BEETLE.
SHE WAS BEAUTIFUL AND RELIABLE, BUT MORE COMPLEX.
THE DIFFERENCE HERE IS THAT OUR SCHOOL BOARD ISN'T STUCK WITH THE SENTRA.
WE HAVE THE RESOURCES TO CHOOSE A RELIABLE 30 VEHICLE FOR OUR SCHOOL POLICIES.
LET'S NOT SETTLE FOR SOMETHING UNPROVEN AND UNRELIABLE WHEN WE HAVE TRUSTED A TRUSTED OPTION AVAILABLE.
SORRY, I WAS LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY ON THE LIST.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? NO ONE ELSE.
[00:55:04]
ALL RIGHT.[3. Consent Agenda]
A MOTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? I MOVE THAT THE CONSENT AGENDA BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED.IS THERE A SECOND? I SECOND IT.
OPPOSED? NO THANK YOU REPORTS THIS EVENING.
[ 4.A. Superintendent]
DR.UH, DON'T HAVE A LOT TO REPORT.
UH, ONE I WANNA THANK, UH, MS. UH, KINZIE FOR GIVING US THE UPDATE ON OUR MEAL SERVICE PROGRAM.
THE NUMBER OF OF FAMILIES THAT WE'RE ABLE TO HELP OUT IN, STUDENTS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO FEED AND OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, YOU CAN TELL THAT THERE IS THE THE NEED FOR THAT AND I'M GLAD THAT WE CAN HELP SUPPORT THAT.
I DID WANT TO UPDATE THAT, UH, SUMMER SCHOOL AND ESY.
UH, WILL, WILL HIT FULL SWING STARTING ON MONDAY, UH, JUNE 10TH.
UH, ESY AND SUMMER SCHOOL FOR ELEMENTARY WILL BE AT HILDA J BARBER.
UH, MIDDLE SCHOOL WILL BE AT WARREN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL.
AND THEN HIGH SCHOOL IS AT WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL THIS YEAR.
SO, UH, WE WILL HAVE, UH, STUDENTS COMING IN.
WE ALSO HAVE OUR, UM, BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB IS AT SY JEFFRIES.
UM, AND SO THAT PROGRAM IS GOING ON THERE AS WELL.
SO, UH, WE GOT HAVE A LOT OF ACTIVITY GOING ON WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS AND JUST, WE WILL HAVE A FEW BUSES OUT ON THE ROADS.
UM, MAYBE PICKING UP STUDENTS ON ROUTES AND BRINGING THEM TO SUMMER SCHOOL AND TAKING THEM HOME.
[ 4.B. School Board]
MS. LOW.UM, I FEEL LIKE WE DID SO MUCH IN MAY.
IT FELT LIKE ALMOST EVERY DAY THERE WAS SOMETHING.
UM, SO THERE WERE A LOT OF END OF THE YEAR THINGS, A LOT OF MEETINGS.
UM, AND I'LL JUST SAY THE HIGHLIGHT FOR ME WAS BEING ABLE TO ATTEND THE WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION.
IT IS ALWAYS, UM, SO HEARTWARMING TO SEE ALL OF THE STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES CELEBRATING AND GET TO SEE THEM WALK ACROSS THE STAGE.
SO, UM, I REALLY APPRECIATED BEING ABLE TO ATTEND THAT EVENT IN PARTICULAR.
VERY LITTLE TO REPORT I WAS, UH, UH, OUT ON, OUT OF THE COUNTRY FOR, FOR A WHILE.
UM, BUT I DID MISS THE GRADUATIONS, UNFORTUNATELY.
UM, I I WILL MAKE AN A POINT TO BE THERE FOR FUTURE.
UH, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON OUR BOARD SELF-EVALUATION THAT WE, WE TURNED IN TODAY.
AND WE'LL HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE NEXT MEETING.
UM, LOOKING AT THE SUPERINTENDENT EVALUATION, WE, WE HAVE SOME ASPECTS TO THAT THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
THIS IS ALL NEW TO ME, SO TRYING TO DO SOME RESEARCH ON WHAT'S, WHAT'S REQUIRED OF THE WHOLE SITUATION.
AND THEN, UM, HOPEFULLY THROUGH ALL THESE EVALUATIONS, WE CAN SET SOME GOOD GOALS FOR THE, FOR THE NEW YEAR.
AND START WITH, UM, SINCE THE BOARD HAD HALF A YEAR WITH, UH, MR. RINALDI LAST, LAST YEAR, AND HALF THE YEAR WITH ME THIS YEAR, HOPE WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH HAVING SOME, UM, GOOD JOINT GOALS AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
UM, AND I HAD TO WRITE A FEW THINGS DOWN HERE.
'CAUSE I, I, I DO FEEL LIKE IT WENT BY REALLY QUICKLY.
UM, I WAS NOT ABLE TO ATTEND ANY OF THE GRADUATIONS THIS YEAR.
I HAVE PREVIOUSLY DONE THAT THE LAST TWO YEARS.
SO, UM, AS I HAD SAID, I THINK AT THE BEGINNING OF OUR MAY MEETING, UM, AND I, I WISH THEM A, A FAREWELL AND, UM, HOPEFULLY ALL OF OUR GRADUATES ARE ON TO ALL THEIR NEW ADVENTURES IN LIFE NOW.
BUT, UM, UM, IN MAY THOUGH, I WAS ABLE TO VISIT, UM, I SPENT SOME TIME, UM, I, I WAS AT A CAC MEETING, UH, ONE EVENING WHERE THE ELEMENTS PROGRAM THAT WE OFFER HERE IN THE COUNTY WAS HIGHLIGHTED.
IT'S A PROGRAM FOR OUR 18 TO 22 YEAR OLDS.
UM, I WAS ANOTHER DAY I SPENT, UM, THE MORNING AT THE, UH, DIVERSIFIED MINDS, BRIGHTER FUTURE AND SPECIAL SERVICES PROGRAMS. I WAS ABLE TO TOUR ALL OF THOSE, UM, SEE, SEE THAT IN ACTION, THOSE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, TALK TO DIFFERENT, UM, SPECIAL SERVICES, UM, STAFF MEMBERS.
AND, UM, REALLY GOT TO SEE SOME OF THE FUNCTIONALITIES OF THOSE PROGRAMS. UM, I ALSO WAS AT WARREN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL.
UM, YOU WERE NOT THERE THAT DAY,
AND SO, UM, I DO APOLOGIZE THAT I JUMPED IN ON YOUR LUNCH, BUT THEY WERE GREAT AND THEY SPOKE TO ME, UM, IN THEIR WORK ROOM.
THEY WERE ALL, IT WAS GREAT TO SEE THEM ALL TOGETHER.
UH, YOU KNOW, UM, JUST HAVING CONVERSATIONS.
UM, YOU KNOW, LOTS OF TIMES, UH, YOU WALK THROUGH AND WHEN IT'S LUNCH, PEOPLE ARE HERE, THERE EVERYWHERE.
BUT THEY WERE CONGREGATING TOGETHER AS A TEAM.
SO WE HAD SOME GOOD CONVERSATIONS THERE.
AND, UM, UM, OH, I ALSO, UH, HAD A MEETING WITH, UH, MY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, HAPPY CREEK DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE.
UM, WE DID, UH, HAD A MEETING AND HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE BUDGET IN MAY.
UM, AND, UH, SO THAT'S WHAT TOOK PLACE IN MAY.
[01:00:01]
A LOT ON OUR ACTION AGENDA TONIGHT AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE JUST GONNA CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD FROM THERE.UM, SO IN THE MONTH OF MAY, I COMPLETED MY TRAINING ON DYSLEXIA AND EQUITY AND EDUCATION.
UM, A TRAINING WHICH I OBTAINED NOT THROUGH THE VSBA OR THE SBMA.
UM, WE ACTUALLY, AS BOARD MEMBERS HAVE LOTS OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS WHEN WE, WHEN WE LOOK FOR TRAININGS, UM, WE LEARNED ABOUT CHANGES THAT ARE BEING MADE IN VIRGINIA AND IN THE WAY THAT READING IS GOING TO BE TAUGHT.
AND NOT ONLY TO THE STUDENTS IN THE SCHOOLS, BUT ALSO HOW THEY'RE GOING TO BE TEACHING OUR TEACHERS HOW TO TEACH IN THE COLLEGES.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY BROUGHT UP IN THIS TRAINING THAT I WAS VERY INTERESTED TO LEARN ABOUT WAS, UM, UNFUNDED MANDATES.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS ONLY FUNDING AT ABOUT 14% OF WHAT THEY HAD ORIGINALLY PROMISED TO FUND US.
SO A LOT OF THE, UM, BUDGETING ISSUES AND CONSTRAINTS THAT WE'RE FINDING THAT ARE, THAT ARE REALLY SHORT CHANGING OUR, OUR STUDENTS.
UM, IT'S UNFORTUNATELY COMING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I DO INTEND TO TALK TO OUR REPRESENTATIVES ABOUT, UM, BECAUSE DYSLEXIA IS INCREDIBLY MORE PREVALENT THAN THAN ANYBODY RECOGNIZES.
AND, UM, AND THOSE STUDENTS DESERVE THE EXTRA ASSISTANCE THAT THEY NEED.
UM, I ALSO ATTENDED THE BUILDING COMMITTEE MEETING.
THE LFK RENOVATION IS ALMOST COMPLETE.
THEY ARE WAY AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.
UM, I'M EXCITED FOR THOSE KIDDOS TO GET TO START THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR WITH A FULLY FINISHED SCHOOL.
UM, THE E WILSON MORRISON GYMATORIUM PROJECT IS ALSO AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.
AND, UM, I WANT TO YET AGAIN, THANK LANCE CONSTRUCTION OF WINCHESTER FOR DOING AN AMAZING JOB ON BOTH PROJECTS.
UM, ALSO OUR FACILITIES DEPARTMENT, THEY, THEY JUST, THEY NEVER CEASE TO AMAZE ME.
THEY DO A FABULOUS JOB OF FINDING WAYS TO SAVE THE DIVISION MONEY.
UH, MR. HELMICK EXPLAINED TO OUR COMMITTEE THAT HE WAS ABLE TO SAVE US TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS BY, UM, REBUILDING THE HB HJB COOLING TOWER INSTEAD OF JUST REPLACING THE WHOLE UNIT.
UM, THAT WAS HIS TRADE, AND HE KNEW EXACTLY HOW TO GET THAT JOB DONE.
UM, WE, UH, WERE BRIEFED ON THE FACT THAT WE CAN HAVE OUR FACILITIES DEPARTMENT START THE CONSTRUCTION ON BUILDING THE, THE PARTITION WALL THAT WE HAD DISCUSSED AT, UH, DIVERSIFIED MINES.
UM, THEY'RE ABLE TO DO THAT FOR A VERY AFFORDABLE AMOUNT OF MONEY, AND THEY HAVE MONEY IN THEIR, IN THEIR BUDGET FROM ALL THE COST SAVINGS THAT THEY'VE FOUND ELSEWHERE TO DO THAT.
UM, FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW, WE'VE HAD SOME ISSUES.
WE HAD HAD A WEAPONS ISSUE THERE RECENTLY, AND THAT SCHOOL IS JUST NOT SECURE IN THE, THE WAY THAT IT IS.
SO WE HOPE THAT THIS PARTITION WALL WILL HELP WITH THE SECURITY OF OUR STUDENTS INSIDE THAT, THAT BUILDING.
UM, ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WAS BROUGHT UP IN THE BUILDING COMMITTEE MEETING WAS THAT WE ARE CONTINUING TO EXPERIENCE VANDALISM IN OUR SCHOOLS BY STUDENTS.
AND, AND THESE ARE VERY COSTLY TIME CONSUMING ISSUES.
THESE STUDENTS ARE CRAMMING THINGS DOWN THE TOILETS AND INTENTIONALLY DESTROYING OUR PLUMBING.
AND, UM, PART OF OUR, OUR BUILDING COMMITTEE IS THAT WE MEET WITH TWO OF THE COUNTY SUPERVISORS AS WELL, AND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT THE VANDALISM THAT THEY'VE EXPERIENCED IN THEIR PARKS BATHROOMS, AND THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S BEEN VERY HELPFUL FOR THEM WAS THEY ACTUALLY PUBLISHED THE PHOTOS OF THE VANDALISM THAT TOOK PLACE TO MAKE THE COMMUNITY AWARE.
BECAUSE I KNOW COME BUDGET SEASON, IT, IT'S REALLY EASY TO NOT TAKE FULL NOTE OF, UM, OF SOME OF THE DAMAGES THAT CAN BE DONE IF YOU'RE JUST HEARING ABOUT, OH, WELL, SOMEBODY VANDALIZED THE BATHROOM.
BUT IF YOU'RE SEEING WHAT THEY ARE HAVING TO DO TO CORRECT THESE PROBLEMS, UM, I THINK THAT WOULD HELP US NOT ONLY COME BUDGET SEASON, BUT ALSO TO HELP PARENTS SEE AND, AND TALK TO THEIR KIDS ABOUT THE FACT THAT THEY NEED TO START RESPECTING OUR SCHOOL FACILITIES, BECAUSE THESE ARE THE TYPES OF PROBLEMS THAT, THAT CREATE BUDGETARY ISSUES AND, AND THE TAXPAYERS HAVE TO PAY TO FIX THIS.
UM, SO WITH OUR FULL BOARD'S PERMISSION, I, I WOULD LIKE TO, FOR US TO, TO TALK ABOUT, UM, GIVING THE GO AHEAD THAT THEY CAN START TO PUBLISH SOME OF THOSE PHOTOS OF THE DISRUPTION.
UM, THE NEXT THING THAT I WANTED TO ADDRESS, BECAUSE I DO USUALLY ADDRESS, UM, ITEMS THAT COME UP DURING THE, THE COMMUNITY
[01:05:01]
PRESENTATION PORTION.I WAS DISAPPOINTED TO VIEW A VIDEO THIS MORNING OF A WARREN COUNTY RESIDENT WHO DROVE ALL THE WAY OUT TO ORANGE COUNTY LAST NIGHT TO MAKE A POLITICAL STATEMENT IN WHICH SHE DEFAMED NOT ONLY WARREN COUNTY AND OUR BOARD AND OUR STAFF, BUT ALSO THE CREATOR OF THE SBMA, THE OUTLANDISH LIES THAT WERE STATED ON PUBLIC RECORD, AND WERE DEFINITELY NOT STATED HERE BECAUSE I WOULD'VE CORRECTED THEM, UM, WERE QUITE FRANKLY, UNCALLED FOR AND QUITE HATEFUL.
THERE IS NO NEED TO TRASH A COMPETING BUSINESS.
ORGANIZATIONS SHOULD STAND ON THEIR OWN MERITS AND NOT REDUCE THEMSELVES TO CLASSLESS TACTICS AND SMEAR CAMPAIGNS.
THIS SPEAKER DRAGGED A 22 YEAR VETERAN TEACHER'S NAME THROUGH THE MUD.
IT'S BOARD PUBLIC SCHOOLS, NO INTERRUPTION.
PLEASE STICK TO BUSINESS AND NOT BE PAYING THE PUBLIC.
YOU ARE A PUBLIC OFFICIAL IN CONTROL OF YOUR BOARD.
YOU'RE GONNA MS. HUBBARD, I CAN LEAVE, BUT NO, THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO.
SHE'S GONNA FINISH HER REPORT.
SO, AS I WAS SAYING, A 22 YEAR VETERAN TEACHER WAS PUBLICLY DEFAMED.
AND YES, IT WILL LIKELY END IN A LAWSUIT.
SHE'S A GRANDMOTHER, RETIRED AT 66 YEARS OF AGE FROM THE TEACHING PROFESSION TO LATER GO ON AND WIN A SEAT AT HER LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD WHERE SHE MADE IT HER MISSION TO FIGHT FOR GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY.
UH, THIS PERSON WAS ACTUALLY AWARDED THREE GOLD STARS IN RECOGNITION OF HER EXEMPLARY PERFORMANCE WHILE ON THAT SCHOOL BOARD.
UM, SHE WON THE SUFFOLK COUNTY BEST CITY ELECTED OFFICIAL THREE TIMES HAD NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE.
UM, SHE OBJECTED TO WHAT SHE WITNESSED IN HER LOCAL GOVERNMENT AS THEY ATTEMPTED TO SKIRT FOIA LAWS AND HIDE INFORMATION FROM THE CITIZENS.
SHE SUED HER OWN BOARD TWICE FOR VIOLATING FOIA LAW AND WON.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO THE CITIZENS? IT MEANS SHE WAS WILLING TO FIGHT FOR THE CONSTITUENTS AND STAND UP TO HER OWN LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
THIS IS SOMETHING BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE SHOULD SUPPORT.
WE GET FOIAS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE, AND I KNOW EVERY PERSON WHO SUBMITS A FOIA WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THOSE THINGS FULFILLED.
SHE CREATED THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER ALLIANCE TO EMPOWER OTHER SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND EDUCATE THEM ABOUT THE RIGHTS THEY HAVE AS BOARD MEMBERS.
SHERRY'S STORY IS A VERY SCARY PERSON TO THE ESTABLISHMENT AND TO CORRUPT GOVERNMENT ENTITIES AS THEY DON'T WANT POWER GIVEN BACK TO THE PEOPLE.
IF YOU ARE A TEACHER OR A STAFF MEMBER WATCHING FROM HOME TONIGHT, ASK YOURSELF IF YOU'VE EVER FELT UNHEARD OR UNSUPPORTED BY YOUR ADMINISTRATION OR YOUR SCHOOL BOARD.
AND I KNOW YOU HAVE BECAUSE I READ THE RESIGNATION LETTERS.
ASK YOURSELF IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN RETALIATED AGAINST OR FEARED BEING RETALIATED AGAINST OR SPEAKING UP.
IF YOU ANSWERED YES TO EITHER OF THESE QUESTIONS, THEN SHERRY'S STORY IN THIS.
SBMA IS SOMEONE YOU WANNA SUPPORT.
IF YOU ARE A TAXPAYER SITTING AT HOME WATCHING THIS TONIGHT, ASK YOURSELF IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THAT YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE PROPERLY TRACKING SPENDING.
IF YOU ANSWERED YES TO THIS QUESTION, THEN YOU TOO SHOULD BE IN FAVOR OF SERVICES THE SBMA PROVIDES.
IF YOU ARE A PARENT WHO IS WATCHING THIS, ASK YOURSELF IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHO IS TEACHING YOUR CHILD IF VACANCIES ARE BEING TRACKED.
KNOW IF YOUR CHILD HAS A LONG-TERM SUB OR A LICENSED TEACHER, IF YOU LIKE TO HAVE SCHOOL BOARD TRACKING, THE EDUCATIONAL PERFORMANCE OF SCHOOLS AND HAVING QUARTERLY PRESENTATIONS GIVEN ABOUT THOSE TEST SCORES.
IF YOU ANSWERED YES TO ANY THESE QUESTIONS, THEN YOU TOO SHOULD SUPPORT THE SBMA.
YOU EMPOWER THE VOTERS BY EMPOWERING THOSE THEY ELECT TO SUCCESSFULLY DO THEIR JOB.
YOU DON'T WANT WEAK LEADERSHIP WHO IS ESSENTIALLY NEUTERED BY BEING UNINFORMED AND ILL-INFORMED AS TO HOW TO DO THEIR JOB THAT YOU ELECTED THEM TO DO.
SO WE TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, I'LL, I WILL WAIT AND PUT THE REST OF THIS AND CORRECT THE, THE LIES THAT WERE PUT OUT THERE YESTERDAY WHEN WE GET TO THAT SECTION OF THE AGENDA.
SO, AS EVERYONE ELSE HAS SAID, UM, MAY WAS A REALLY BUSY MONTH.
UM, I WANTED TO THANK NICOLE FOR BEING HERE AND ALL THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING WITH THE FEEDING PROGRAM THIS SUMMER.
UM, JUST TODAY, UM, I'VE HAD SO MANY POSITIVE, UM, JUST COMMENTS FROM OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
I KNOW IT WAS REALLY A BIG DEAL DURING COVID, BUT I THINK, UM, EVEN JUST THIS WEEK, I'VE HEARD A LOT MORE OUTPOURING FROM OUR COMMUNITY, UM, THAN EVEN BACK THEN FOR PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT JUST REALLY NEED THAT EXTRA FOOD AND EXTRA HELP FOR THEIR KIDS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
UM, CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE GRADUATES.
[01:10:01]
HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HANG OUT WITH SOME OF MS. MEADOW'S AND MS. BUCKLAND'S, UM, VETERINARY SCIENCE STUDENTS.UM, AND IT WAS REALLY GREAT TO SEE THEM.
I HOPE THAT IN A FALL WORK SESSION WE CAN SEE SOME OF, UM, THEIR STUDENTS AND FFA MEMBERS COME TO ONE OF OUR WORK SESSIONS AND TALK ABOUT IN PERSON SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY'RE DOING BECAUSE THEY'RE REALLY AMAZING STUDENTS.
I THINK BEYOND ALL OF THAT, I JUST REALLY HOPE THAT EVERYONE HAS SOME TIME THIS SUMMER TO HAVE SOME RELAXING TIME WITH THEIR FAMILIES.
I KNOW THAT EVERYONE HAS HAD A VERY STRESSFUL SCHOOL YEAR, A VERY BUSY SCHOOL YEAR, AND SO HOPEFULLY THERE'S JUST SOME DOWNTIME FOR EVERYONE IN ALL OF OUR BUILDINGS, FAMILIES AND STUDENTS, TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS TO JUST BE ABLE TO ENJOY LIFE A LITTLE BIT.
UM, I KNOW MS SALE'S ALREADY SAID THIS, I JUST WANTED TO FOLLOW UP THAT.
UM, YES, REGARDLESS OF WE'RE MEMBERS OF SBMA OR VSBA, WE CAN RECEIVE TRAINING FROM ANY OTHER OPPORTUNITY THAT WE CHOOSE AS BOARD MEMBERS.
AND AS FAR AS BOARD DISCUSSION ITEMS, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT SECTION IS FOR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS TO DO THEIR REPORTS.
WE DON'T HAVE, UM, WE HAVE NOT PUT ANY SORT OF TIME LIMIT ON BOARD DISCUSSIONS.
WE HAVEN'T PUT ANY PARAMETERS ON BOARD DISCUSSIONS.
UM, YOU KNOW, THAT IS SOMETHING FOR THE BOARD TO DECIDE, BUT, YOU KNOW, AT THIS MOMENT, UM, THIS IS, THIS IS A BOARD MEMBER'S TIME TO SPEAK, AND SO THAT'S WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
[5.A. Introduction and Appointment of the Director of Technology - Dr. Ballenger]
ON TO THE ACTION AGENDA.THE FIRST ITEM IS THE INTRODUCTION AND APPOINTMENT OF THE DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY.
UH, MR. STEFANSKI HAS BEEN AN INTEGRAL PART OF WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SINCE 2006.
INITIALLY STARTING AS A BIOLOGY TEACHER, MR. STEFANSKI JOURNEY HAS BEEN ONE OF CONTINUOUS GROWTH AND AN ADAPTATION TO THE EVOLVING L LANDSCAPE OF EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY.
WITH A DEC DECADE OF TEACHING EXPERIENCE UNDER HIS BELT, MR. STEFANSKI TRANSITIONED SEAMLESSLY INTO HIS ROLES OF TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION COACH AND INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY COORDINATOR, DEMONSTRATING A KEEN UNDERSTANDING OF TECHNOLOGY, UH, HOW TECHNOLOGY CAN ENHANCE LEARNING EXPERIENCE.
HIS JOURNEY HAS NOW LED HIM TO SERVE AS THE INTERIM DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY, UH, FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS YEAR.
AND SO, IT IS MY PLEASURE, AND I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THAT THE BOARD, UM, APPROVE MR. DOUGLAS STEFANSKI AS THE, UH, DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY.
IS THERE A MOTION FROM OUR BOARD I MOVE THAT DOUG STEFANSKI BE APPOINTED AS THE WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST, 2024.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? ANY DISCUSSION OR COMMENTS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.
I WON'T TAKE TOO MUCH OF YOUR TIME, BUT I DO.
I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
UM, I FEEL LIKE ANYTIME WE HAVE THESE MOMENTS WHERE WE HAVE CHANGES IN OUR POSITION, UH, IT'S A TIME WHERE WE DO A LOT OF ASSESSING OURSELVES, TRYING TO SELL OUR STRENGTHS FOR WHAT WE CAN, UH, DO FOR THE ORGANIZATION THAT WE'RE WORKING FOR.
UM, WHETHER IT'S GONNA BE THE PROPER CHALLENGE FOR OURSELVES AND HOW IT'S GONNA AFFECT OUR OURSELVES AND OUR FAMILIES.
UM, SO AS I WAS REFLECTING, I WAS REMEMBERING MY FIRST YEAR TEACHING AT WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL, AND ALL THE EXCITEMENT AND THE OPTIMISM AND THE, UH, THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES THAT COME WITH BEING NEW TO ANY POSITION.
UM, BUT I WORKED VERY HARD TO MAKE MY CLASSROOM A GREAT PLACE FOR MY STUDENTS.
AND AS I TRANSITION INTO THIS ROLE, I'M GONNA CONTINUE TO WORK HARD TO MAKE THIS A GREAT PLACE FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS.
UM, BUT I WOULDN'T BE HERE WITHOUT THE UNWAVERING SUPPORT I'VE RECEIVED FROM SO MANY REMARKABLE PEOPLE.
I WANT TO THANK MY PREVIOUS STUDENTS AND THE TEACHERS THAT I WORKED WITH FOR PUSHING ME TO BE A BETTER TEACHER EVERY DAY, UH, TO LEARN FROM OUR MISTAKES AND TO CELEBRATE OUR SUCCESSES.
I WANT TO THANK MY AMAZING COWORKERS, UH, THE INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCE TEAM.
UH, THE TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION COACHES AND OUR TECHNICIANS, THEIR KNOWLEDGE, COLLABORATION, AND RELENTLESS COMMITMENT HAVE ALLOWED ME TO GROW PROFESSIONALLY AND PERSONALLY AND HAVE BEEN A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION IN MY TIME HERE.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK MY FAMILY FOR ALWAYS SUPPORTING MY PATH HERE.
UH, IN PARTICULAR, I WANNA RECOGNIZE MY FATHER, WHOSE HARD WORK ETHIC HAS ALWAYS DRIVEN ME TO DO MY BEST.
[01:15:01]
UH, HIS EXAMPLE TAUGHT ME THE VALUE OF PERSEVERANCE AND PROBLEM SOLVING, AND I CARRY THOSE LESSONS WITH ME EVERY DAY.SO I JUST WANNA THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR THIS INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY.
I KNOW THERE WILL BE CHALLENGES, UM, BUT I'M EAGER TO EMBARK ON THIS NEW CHAPTER WITH ALL OF YOU, AND I'M DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR TRUST AND SUPPORT.
[5.B. Acceptance of Donation - Ms. Knox/Mr. Smith]
OF DONATION, MS. KNOX AND MR. SMITH.UH, E WILSON MORRISON ELEMENTARY RESPECTFULLY REQUESTS THE APPROVAL OF A GENEROUS DONATION OF A BUDDY BENCH FROM THE ROTARY CLUB OF WARREN COUNTY.
THE BENCH WILL SERVE AS A SPOT WHERE STUDENTS CAN MEET NEW FRIENDS, OR INCLUDE SOMEONE WHO MAY NOT HAVE A FRIEND TO PLAY WITH OR TALK TO ON ANY GIVEN DAY.
DO I SAY ANYTHING ELSE? OKAY, GREAT.
IS THERE A MOTION I MOVE THAT THE WARREN COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD ACCEPTS THE DONATION AS PRESENTED TO E WILSON MORRISON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WITH GRATITUDE? IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
[5.C. Approval of Food Management Services Contract - Mr. Smith]
APPROVAL OF FOOD MANAGEMENT SERVICES CONTRACT.ON MARCH 21ST, 2024, WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ADVERTISED THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR A FOOD MANAGEMENT SERVICE COMPANY FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENTERING INTO CONTRACT FOR THE OPERATIONS OF A FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM FOR OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.
ON APRIL 9TH, 2024, THREE FIRMS, SODEXO SOUTHWEST FOOD SERVICE EXCELLENCE AND WHITSON CULINARY GROUP ATTENDED THE MANDATORY PRE-PROPOSAL CONFERENCE ON APRIL 17TH OF THIS YEAR, 2024, WARRING COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS RECEIVED THREE PROPOSALS IN RESPONSE TO THE RFP FROM THE PREVIOUS MENTIONED, THE RFP COMMITTEE REVIEWED AND UNANIMOUSLY SELECTED SODEXO AS THE PREFERRED PROPOSAL.
THE COMMITTEE USED THE RFPS EVALUATION TO EVALUATE EACH PROPOSAL.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS THERE? MOTION, I MOVE THAT THE WARREN COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD APPROVES THE CONTRACT WITH SODEXO FOR OUR FOOD MANAGEMENT SERVICES COMPANY, WHICH INCLUDES FOOD SERVICE EMPLOYEES ACCEPT THE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST, 2024.
I FURTHER MOVE THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT BE AUTHORIZED TO SIGN THE PROPOSED SODEXO FOOD SERVICE MANAGEMENT CONTRACT FOR THE 20 24 20 25 SCHOOL YEAR, AND ACCEPT ANY ADMINISTRATIVE NON-MATERIAL CHANGES AS REQUIRED BY THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, IF APPLICABLE.
ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.
[5.D. Facilities Use MOU with County of Warren - First Reading - Mr. Smith]
FACILITIES USE MOU WITH COUNTY OF WARREN FIRST READING.UM, WE HAVE OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MEETINGS AND SO FORTH HAVE LOOKED AT, UM, AN MOU BETWEEN THE COUNTY, UH, OF WARREN, AS WELL AS OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.
WHAT YOU HAVE HERE TONIGHT IS THE, UH, DOCUMENT THAT WE HAVE USED PROBABLY SINCE ABOUT 2011.
UM, HOWEVER, I WANNA SAY SOMEWHERE AROUND 2017 OR 19 WAS THE LAST TIME THIS DOCUMENT WAS REVISED AND ACTUALLY BROUGHT BEFORE, UH, THE BOARDS.
SO WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTY OF WARREN HAS A STRONG HISTORY OF FACILITY USE.
THIS AGREEMENT WAS ESTABLISHED MANY YEARS AGO, AS I MENTIONED, BUT HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED IN RECENT YEARS.
STAFF HAS MET WITH THE ASSISTANT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR ALONG WITH PARKS AND RECREATION STAFF TO UPDATE THE FACILITY USE AGREEMENT.
THIS AGREEMENT IS FOR THE GENERAL FACILITY USE AND NOT MEANT TO BE SPECIFIC TO ANY PARTICULAR FACILITY.
THIS WOULD BE THE FIRST READING, UM, AT OUR SECOND READING.
UM, AND I'M, I'M, I'M FINE TO TAKE WHATEVER QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE HERE AT THE FIRST READING, UM, OR SUGGESTIONS AND THOSE TYPE OF THINGS.
UH, WE WOULD HAVE OUR NEXT READING AT THE WORK SESSION ON THE 26TH OF JUNE.
ANY QUESTIONS AT THE FIRST READING? UM, SO I TOUCHED ON THIS AT THE WORK SESSION.
UM, THE ONLY THING THAT I WOULD HOPE THAT WE COULD ADD TO IT IS JUST
[01:20:01]
SOME MENTION OF THE REASON THAT WE USE THE BING AS OUR HOME FIELD IS BECAUSE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS WHO FULLY FUNDED ITS RENOVATION BACK IN, WHAT WAS IT, 2003? THREE? I THINK IT, I'VE GOT THE NOTES SOMEWHERE, BUT IT WAS PRIOR TO OH SEVEN MM-HMM.I JUST DON'T REMEMBER THE EXACT YEAR.
YEAH, I'VE GOT THE NOTES YEARS GOING BY.
BUT POINT BEING JUST THAT, THAT WE FUNDED THAT AND SO WE, FOR PERPETUITY, I WAS LOOKING AT THIS AND, AND IT LOOKED LIKE, UH, SECTION ROMAN, ROMAN NUMERAL FOUR, MAYBE IN THAT NUMBER ONE AREA, OR I'M NOT GONNA BE PICKY ABOUT IT.
YOU FIT IT IN WHEREVER YOU WOULD LIKE TO.
BUT JUST JUST TO NOTE THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, WE USE THE BING AS AS OUR HOME FIELD BECAUSE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS WHO FUNDED THOSE RENOVATIONS.
THAT WAY AS BOARDS CHANGE OVER THE YEARS, WHEN, WHEN WE'RE ALL GONE, IT'S RIGHT.
IT'LL BE, IT'LL BE DOCUMENTED.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? AS YOU ALL REVIEWED THIS, WERE THERE ANY MAJOR CHANGES THAT YOU CAME ACROSS OR THINGS THAT ARE DIFFERENT NOW COMPARED TO HOW IT WAS? NO, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF, UH, DIFFERENT CHANGES.
WE CHANGED SOME DATES IN THE, UH, MOU IN REGARDS TO WHEN SCHEDULES WERE DUE TO, UH, FROM, UH, OUR HIGH SCHOOLS FOR BASEBALL, AS WELL AS WHEN SOME SCHEDULES WOULD BE DUE FROM PARKS AND RECS TO OUR FOLKS TO BE ABLE TO RESERVE THE GYMNASIUMS. AND WE JUST HAVE TO REMIND OURSELVES TOO, THAT AT ONE TIME, PRIOR TO 2007, ONCE WE WERE ABLE TO BUILD THE TWO HIGH SCHOOLS AS WELL AS TO BUILD THE NEW BING, PRIOR TO THAT, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WE USED, UH, ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY FOR OUR ATHLETIC PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITY PROGRAMS, MOST OF THE COUNTY FACILITIES.
SO THEIR INVESTMENT IN US HAS ALSO ASSISTED THEM IN HAVING MORE, UH, PLACES TO PLAY IN THOSE TYPE OF THINGS.
BUT, UM, BUT OUR RELIANCE UPON THEM YEARS AGO WAS MUCH GREATER BECAUSE WE DID NOT HAVE THE FACILITIES AT OUR, UH, TWO HIGH SCHOOLS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE.
BUT EVERYTHING STILL SORT OF WORKS THE SAME.
IT'S A REALLY GOOD RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND THE SCHOOL SYSTEM TOMORROW, I BELIEVE, UH, THE ATHLETIC DIRECTORS AND THE BASEBALL COACHES MEET WITH, UM, THE PUBLIC WORKS AND PARKS AND RECS TO GO OVER NEXT YEAR'S PLANNING FOR THE USE OF THE BEAN.
WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO IS TO BE ABLE TO USE A LOT OF OUR STUDENT ATHLETES, OUR BASEBALL PLAYERS, TO HELP WITH THE MANAGEMENT OF THE FIELD.
UM, AND I KNOW THAT THEY'RE, THEY BEING PUBLIC WORKS AND PARKS AND RECS ARE RESPONSIBLE TO GET IT TOGETHER, BUT IF I'M A PITCHER ON THE MOUND, I WANNA WORK ON MY MOUND.
'CAUSE I'M THE ONE PLACING MY FOOT COMING OFF THAT MOUND.
I, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.
AND PLUS, AS I MENTIONED IN A PREVIOUS MEETING, BASEBALL'S UNIQUE IN THE SENSE OF, IT IS A SPORT WHERE, UH, THERE'S A LOT TO DO WITH THE GAME AND HOW IT'S PLAYED BASED UPON THE FIELD.
AND BASEBALL IS ONE OF THOSE SPORTS WHERE THE, THE FIELD MATTERS.
AND IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS TOO.
WE HAVE LOTS OF, I KNOW WE HAVE LOTS OF FOOTBALL TEAMS, BUT WE HAVE LOTS OF BASEBALL TEAMS JUST BECAUSE OF THE DUE AMOUNT OF NUMBERS.
SO BASEBALL AS WELL AS SOFTBALL, BUT IN THIS CASE BASEBALL THAT A LOT OF THESE GUYS AND GAL, THEY'RE GONNA GO ON TO BECOME LITTLE LEAGUE COACHES AND THOSE TYPE OF THINGS DOWN THE ROAD.
SO TO HAVE THOSE GUYS BACK INTO, UM, HELPING TO PREP FIELDS AND THOSE TYPE OF THINGS ISN'T A BURDEN.
IT'S MORE OF AN EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE.
UM, AND TO ME AS A FORMER ATHLETIC PERSON, UH, I'D LIKE TO KNOW EVERYTHING I CAN ABOUT MY FIELD.
ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FOR MR. SMITH? THANK YOU, MR. SMITH.
[5.E. Policy Review and Update - Third Reading - Mr. Smith]
POLICY REVIEW AND UPDATE.THIS IS THE THIRD READING FOR REGULATIONS LBD DASH R AND POLICY GJEG POLICY, LBD AND REGULATIONS JEGR ARE ALSO INCLUDED FOR REVIEW.
THE CHANGES PROVIDED ALIGNED WITH THE, WITH OTHER SCHOOL BOARD POLICIES IN THE CODE OF VIRGINIA.
YOU'RE GONNA NOTICE HERE ON THIS PARTICULAR DOCUMENT, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE LOTS OF, UH, DOCUMENTS AND THERE ARE MORE HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS.
THE FIRST SET ARE BASICALLY WHAT WE STARTED WITH, AND THEN SOME ARE LABELED THE DATE OF WHICH ADJUSTMENTS WERE MADE.
AND THEN I TOOK OUR LAST, UM, SET
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OF MAY 10TH DOCUMENTS AND JUST SORT OF CLEANED THEM UP INTO OUR DOCUMENTS, WHICH STATE? JUNE 5TH, JUST SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF EASIER READING.UM, THEY START TO, SOME THINGS START TO BECOME LIKE LANDSCAPE AS FAR AS IN THEIR FORMATS, AND SOME ARE PORTRAITS.
AND AFTER A WHILE IT'S JUST CONFUSING.
SO THIS IS YOUR THIRD READING OF YOUR, UH, POLICIES.
UM, SO I JUST ASK FOR YOUR, UH, APPROVAL AND OR QUESTIONS.
ANY FINAL QUESTIONS FOR MR. SMITH ON THIS ONE? I HAVE A COUPLE, A COUPLE LITTLE UPDATES.
THEY'RE MORE TYPOS THAN ANYTHING ELSE.
ON, UH, LBD, LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU GET THERE.
UM, WE NEED TO ADD UNDER LAST REVISED TODAY'S DATE, OR MAY 1ST OR WHATEVER YOU WANNA PUT ON IT.
SOME OF 'EM SAY MAY 1ST, 2024.
UH, RIGHT NOW IT SAYS MAY 6TH, 2020.
ON PAGE, WHAT WE WOULD NORMALLY DO, I'M SORRY, SIR.
WHAT WE WOULD NORMALLY DO IS THE DATE OF WHICH WE APPROVED IT, LIKE TONIGHT, THIS WOULD BE THE, THE FINAL APPROVAL OR THE RE SO I WOULD PROB I WOULD PUT, I WOULD PUT JUNE 5TH.
JUST SO YOU'RE AWARE IF YOU SEE IT, BECAUSE, UH, THAT'S, WE STARTED IT IN MAY, BUT WE'RE GONNA, WE, WE FINISHED IT IN, SO I'M GONNA HAVE JUNE 5TH, IS THAT DATE.
JUST SO, BECAUSE SOME OF 'EM HAVE MAY 1ST AS THE DATE LAST REVISED.
SO AS LONG AS THEY'RE ALL UPDATED TO JUNE 5TH.
ON PAGE TWO OF THAT, UM, POLICY OR THE, I DON'T IF THE PAGE UNDER EVIDENCE OF PROGRESS, THERE'S SORT OF A TYPO THAT, UM, THIRD OR FOURTH LINE DOWN.
IT SAYS, EVIDENCE OF THE CHILD HAS OBTAINED A COMPOSITE SCORE IN OR ABOVE THE FOURTH STAIN NINE AND SAYS, OR ANY NATIONALLY NORMALIZED TEST NORM TEST.
IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE OF, UH, ON STAINING ON ANY NATIONALLY NAMED NORM STANDARDIZED TEST.
MINE SAYS, OR I THINK IT'S SUPPOSED TO SAY ON, AND THEN A COUPLE LINES DOWN WHERE THE BLUE SECTION SAYS, ANY PARTY AGREED BY A DECISION.
UH, THE SECOND LINE SAYS THE INDEPENDENT HEARING OFFICER SHALL BE CHOSEN FROM THE LIST OF MAINTAINED BY THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY.
OR YOU JUST SAY, UH, CHOSEN FROM THE LIST MAINTAINED BY THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY.
SO TAKE OUT THE WORD OF, I THINK THAT HAS BEEN TAKEN OUT.
THE ONE I WAS LOOKING AT TODAY, THE INDEPENDENT HEARING OFFICER SHALL BE CHOSEN FROM THE LIST MAINTAINED BY THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF THE SUPREME COURT.
IT'S ON THE ONE I'M LOOKING AT FOR JUNE.
I MEAN, IT'S LIKE, IT'S LIKE MR. MCFADDEN IS SAYING ON THE ONE I'M LOOKING AT THAT SAYS JUNE 20TH.
YEAH, I JUST PRINTED THIS OUT TODAY.
AND BOARD DOCS HAS BEEN KIND OF, I'M IN A MAY 6TH, 2021.
MAY, WHAT DO YOU HAVE? I'M ON A MAY 6TH, 2020.
MINE DOESN'T HAVE A, I'M ON THE, ON THE, UH, THE PDF THAT WAS UP THERE, THE JUNE FIVE FOR JUNE FIVE.
ISN'T THAT THE MOST UP TO DATE? I'M ON THE REVISED MAY 10.
WELL, SO YEAH, I PRINT THESE OUT TODAY.
SO THESE ARE FROM THE JUNE 5TH ONE.
UM, SHOULD BE THE WORD OF FROM THE LIST MAINTAINED BY THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY.
THE WORD OF SHOULD BE TAKEN OUT.
AND THEN AT THE BOTTOM OF THAT PAGE, NOTIFICATION TO PARENTS, WE HAVE A, UH, BY INSERT DATE.
I, I THINK WE NEED TO INSERT THE DATE.
SO WHAT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE DATE IS, BUT WE SHOULD PROBABLY INSERT A DATE.
AND THAT'S ALL I SAW ON THAT ONE.
AND THEN ON LBD DASH R THERE WAS JUST, UH, TWO, TWO THINGS.
THE ONE IS IN THE FIRST PARAGRAPH.
UM, IT, IT JUST, IT'S AGAINST A GRAMMATICAL THING.
IT, IT TALKS ABOUT THE OFFICE OF ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR ADMINISTRATION WILL PROVIDE THE PARENTS WITH, AND IT SAYS A NOTICE OF INTENT FORM AND A COPY OF THE LAWS.
NOTICE OF INTENT FORM AND A COPY OF THE LAWS REGULATING, HOMESCHOOLING.
AND THEN ON THE VERY, UH, SECOND TO LAST PAGE, PAGE THREE, UNDER HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL, IT TALKS ABOUT PROCEDURES FOR, UH, HOMESCHOOL STUDENTS, ELEMENTARY LEVEL, MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL, HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL.
THE SAME WORDS ARE USED UNDER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL.
BUT THEN WHEN IT GETS TO HIGH SCHOOL ON POINT NUMBER THREE, IT SHOULD JUST REITERATE EXACTLY WHAT IS SAID ON POINT FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL AND ELEMENTARY LEVEL THAT IT ADDS A LITTLE SECTION SAYING, UM, THE ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR ADMINISTRATION WILL NOTIFY THIS IS 0.3 UNDER HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL.
IT SAYS AT THE END, OR COMPLETED THE NOTICE OF INTENT FORM AND MET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE HOMESCHOOL LAW.
NONE OF THE OTHER ONE SAY THAT.
SO JUST TO MAKE IT ALL THE SAME.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON IT? I JUST WANTED TO THANK, UH, PATRICIA BEAR WITH HE FOR, FOR REALLY TAKING THIS ON AND PROVIDING US WITH A LOT OF WORK,
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UM, TO, TO TAKE CARE OF THIS.AND I, I REALLY LIKED HOW THIS POLICY REVISION TOOK PLACE BECAUSE WE REALLY ENGAGED THE, THE STAKEHOLDERS IN IT AND WE DIDN'T HAVE TO PAY EVE TO DO THIS WORK.
SO THAT WAS, WAS VERY GENEROUS OF THEM TO, TO DONATE THEIR TIME.
IS THERE A MOTION? DO YOU WANNA DO THE HONORS? GO AHEAD.
I MOVE THAT THE WARREN COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD APPROVES POLICIES.
LBD HOME INSTRUCTION, LBD DASH R, INFORMATION ON HOMESCHOOLING IN WARREN COUNTY, JEG EXCLUSIONS AND EXEMPTIONS FROM SCHOOL ATTENDANCE AND JEG DASH R RELEASE FROM COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE, RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AS PRESENTED.
IS THERE A SECOND? WELL AS AMENDED.
ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.
[5.F. First Reading of Discipline Policies - Mr. Smith]
HAVE THE FIRST READING OF DISCIPLINE POLICIES.UH, SCHOOL BOARD POLICIES, JFC STUDENT CONDUCT JFCD WEAPONS IN SCHOOL, JFCF DRUGS IN SCHOOL, JFCH DASH R-J-F-C-I-R, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, J-G-D-J-G-E.
STUDENT SUSPENSION AND EXPULSIONS ARE PREPARED FOR FIRST READINGS.
UH, THE SCHOOL BOARD POLICIES, UM, THE, THE DISCIPLINE WITH THE STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, J-G-G-D-B, UM, FOR INFLICTION OF SERIOUSLY BODY, UH, BODILY HARM INJURY.
UM, THAT ONE HAS NOT BEEN THAT THIS, THE JGDB HAS NOT BEEN REDLINED THIS AFTERNOON.
AS I UPDATED THE, THE BOARD DOCS, I BELIEVE IT WAS JGDA DISCIPLINING STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, UM, WAS REDLINED.
AND THIS WAS JUST THE FIRST READING.
CAN YOU DISCUSS WHAT ARE SOME OF THE UPDATES OR JUST SHARE KIND OF WITH OUR COMMUNITY, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE REASONS WE'VE LOOKED AT THIS OR SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT ARE BEING MADE? JUST GENERALLY, YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH EVERY SINGLE ONE.
UH, WELL, I, I THINK, WELL, SEVERAL THINGS.
ONE IS JUST TO MAKE SURE OUR POLICIES ARE UPDATED.
TWO, JUST TO, UH, AS WE'RE ADDRESSING CONDUCT AND THOSE TYPE OF THINGS WITHIN THE SCHOOL TO MAKE SURE OUR POLICIES ALIGN WITH THE ACTIONS THAT WE'RE TAKING.
SO JUST AS A, AS A PROCEDURAL NOTE WITH THIS, I KNOW I'VE ALREADY MADE MY THOUGHTS CLEAR, UM, EMAIL BEFORE THIS, BECAUSE WE DIDN'T RECEIVE A LOT OF THIS UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE.
I REALLY DO NOT LIKE HAVING THIS BEING COUNTED AS THE FIRST READING.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THE RUSH IS TO GET ALL OF THIS APPROVED AND CHANGED SO THAT WE HAVE IT READY FOR THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
HOWEVER, IT WAS MARCH THAT OUR BOARD FIRST STARTED MAKING NOTES AND COMMENTS ON, UM, SOME, SOME OF THE AREAS THAT OUR POLICIES CONFLICT.
FOR INSTANCE, WHAT WHAT SIZE KNIFE IS IS MORE ACCEPTABLE THAN ANOTHER, UH, TWO AND A HALF INCHES OR THREE INCHES.
THEY, THEY CONFLICTED EACH OTHER ALL OVER THE PLACE.
UM, SO WE STARTED HAVING THESE, UM, YOU KNOW, WORKING THROUGH THESE, THESE POLICIES BACK IN MARCH.
I KNOW ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAD DISCUSSED IS THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF, OF GOOD THINGS IN THE POLICIES, BUT THAT THE CARRYING OUT OF THE POLICIES AND FOLLOW THROUGH INSIDE OF THE SCHOOL LEFT A LOT TO BE DESIRED.
SO WE WANTED TO LOOK AT SOME REGULATIONS AND, AND THE ACTUAL CODE OF CONDUCT AND HOW THINGS WERE BEING CARRIED OUT.
UM, THESE WERE SENT OFF TO THE LAWYER.
WE DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING BACK UNTIL ALL OF A SUDDEN RIGHT BEFORE THIS MEETING.
UM, I KNOW AT LEAST FOR ME, SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT THE LAWYER GAVE TO US DIDN'T REALLY ADDRESS QUESTIONS TO THE DEGREE IN WHICH I FEEL COMFORTABLE AT ALL.
UM, I ALSO HAVE CONCERNS THAT WE'RE, WE'RE PRESENTING REALLY KIND OF, THEY FEEL LIKE DRAFTS TO ME AT THIS POINT.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE NOT, UM, FULLY FORMED ENOUGH THAT I WOULD CONSIDER THIS TO BE A FIRST READING.
BUT AGAIN, I WANT TO ENGAGE THE, THE STAKEHOLDERS IN OUR COMMUNITY ON THIS.
UM, I WOULD LIKE INPUT FROM, FROM OUR SROS, UM, WHERE ARE THEY SEEING ISSUES AND HOW IN, IN POLICY AND HOW WE CAN CORRECT IT AND REGULATION
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AND THE CODE OF CONDUCT AND THE CARRYING OUT OF THESE THINGS.ENGAGE OUR, OUR PRINCIPLES, ENGAGE OUR STAFF MEMBERS.
UM, I KNOW WE JUST SAT AND READ THROUGH PAGES AND PAGES OF RESIGNATION LETTERS DUE TO DISCIPLINE PROBLEMS. AND WE, I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM, FROM THOSE TEACHERS WHAT POLICY CHANGES SPECIFICALLY.
EVEN, EVEN THOUGH THEY'VE ALREADY RESIGNED AND THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT IT NOW.
WHAT CAN WE, WHAT KNOWLEDGE CAN WE GAIN FROM THEM? WHAT MADE THEM SO FRUSTRATED WITH THE DISCIPLINE IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT, THAT THEY ARE LEAVING? I JUST, I, I KNOW THAT WE'VE GOT THIS, THIS DEADLINE OF THE START OF SCHOOL, BUT THIS FEELS RUSHED TO ME AND THIS FEELS LIKE A VERY IMPORTANT TASK TO BE RUSHING LIKE THIS.
I DON'T THINK IT'S GOOD GOVERNANCE FOR US TO, TO RUSH THIS.
SO I THINK JUST BECAUSE THIS IS THE FIRST READING DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THAT THREE READING PROCESS.
UM, WE'VE CERTAINLY HAD LOTS OF TIMES WHEN WE'VE EXTENDED THAT ON MANY MEETINGS.
UM, BUT I DO THINK THIS IS A GOOD WAY TO GET THIS INFORMATION OUT TO THE PUBLIC SO WE CAN GET SOME OF THAT FEEDBACK.
SO PEOPLE HOPEFULLY ARE READING THESE DRAFTS AND THESE UPDATES, AND THEN THEY HAVE IT AVAILABLE ALL AT THE SAME TIME TO LOOK AT.
AND SO HOPEFULLY EVERYONE WILL TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VIEW THIS FOR WHAT IT IS THE FIRST READING.
THIS IS THE TIME TO START GIVING THE FEEDBACK NOT AT THE THIRD MEETING OR, YOU KNOW, THE FOURTH OR THE FIFTH, WHENEVER WE'RE ACTUALLY GONNA VOTE ON IT.
THAT'S NOT THE TIME TO HEAR FROM TEACHERS AND SROS AND ADMIN AND PARENTS.
LIKE, NOW IS THE TIME TO START READING IT AND START EMAILING IN WHAT THE CONCERNS ARE.
START COMING TO SPEAK ABOUT WHAT THE CONCERNS ARE SO THAT THAT DOES GIVE THE BOARD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK FOR THOSE REVIEWS AND SUGGESTIONS.
AND HOW CAN WE MOLD IT? MAYBE WE CAN'T, BUT IF IT CAN BE WITHIN THE LAW, THEN CERTAINLY THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN DO AT THAT TIME.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. SMITH COMMENTS? THANK YOU.
[5.G. Substitute Outsourcing RFP Completion]
UM, SUBSTITUTE OUTSOURCING RFP COMPLETION.MR. LEE, THE SUB SUBSTITUTE OUTSOURCING REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL OR RFP PROCESS WAS COMPLETED ON, UH, MAY 13TH, 2024.
THE RESULTS OF THAT PROCESS WERE DISCUSSED AT THE WORK SESSION ON MAY 15TH, 2024.
THE RFP COMMITTEE SELECTED ESS AS THE OUTSOURCING PROVIDER THAT WOULD BE BEST, THAT WOULD BEST SERVE OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT MOVING FORWARD.
WE ARE ASKING THE BOARD TO APPROVE THE PARTNERSHIP AND ALLOW HUMAN RESOURCES, THE HUMAN RESOURCES TEAM TO CLOSELY MONITOR THIS PROVIDER WITH MONTHLY REPORTS AT EACH WORK SESSION BY THE ONSITE MANAGER, AS WELL AS QUARTERLY REVIEWS TO DETERMINE IF EXPECT EXPECTATIONS ARE BEING MET.
A MID-YEAR REVIEW COULD DETERMINE IF THIS PARTNERSHIP WOULD CONTINUE OR IF OTHER OPTIONS WOULD NEED TO BE EXPLORED.
QUESTIONS FOR MR. LEE? UM, I KNOW WHEN WE'VE SPOKEN IN THE PAST ABOUT, ABOUT PUTTING TOGETHER THESE COMMITTEES TO REVIEW THINGS OF THIS MAGNITUDE, UM, I HAVE ASKED THAT OUR BOARD GET TO HAVE SOME INPUT AS TO WHO SITS ON, ON THOSE COMMITTEES.
AND I WAS ASSURED THAT THAT WOULD BE TAKING PLACE GOING FORWARD.
AND THAT DID NOT TAKE PLACE IN THIS INSTANCE.
UM, I STILL AT THIS MOMENT DON'T KNOW WHO ELSE WAS ON THE BOARD.
I THINK THE, THE PERSON WHO ATTENDED AND, AND SAID THAT THEY PARTICIPATED.
BUT OTHERWISE, UM, THE, THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD COUNTLESS MEETINGS AT THIS POINT WITH MYSELF, AND I KNOW DR.
FUNK, YOU WERE INVOLVED IN A LOT OF THOSE MEETINGS AS WELL.
UM, WHICH GRANTED IT DATED BACK TO, TO MR. GOODWIN, WHICH WAS BEFORE YOUR TIME.
BUT THE, UM, THE PROBLEMS WITH ESS HAVE BEEN ASTRONOMICAL AND HAVE BEEN GOING ON SINCE THE MOMENT I STARTED ON THIS BOARD.
AND I AM, I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW IF ANY OF THOSE ESS STAFF MEMBERS WHO CAME FORWARD AND HAD THESE MEETINGS, WERE ANY OF THEM INCLUDED ON THIS, UM, COMMITTEE? THERE WAS NO SUBSTITUTES ON THE, ON THE COMMITTEE, NO.
SO WOULDN'T THAT HAVE BEEN FRUITFUL TO HEAR FROM THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTUALLY EMPLOYED
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BY THE, THE COMPANY WHO YOU'RE FAVORING ON THIS? SO I, I THINK WHAT WE TRIED TO DO WAS CREATE A COMMITTEE OF THE, THE, THE USERS, UM, FROM OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR, AND OUR, AND OUR, OUR PRINCIPALS, OUR, OUR SECRETARIES, OUR BOOKKEEPERS, OUR FOLKS THAT, THAT DEALT WITH HOW TO MANAGE THEIR BUILDING WITH THE, UH, SUBSTITUTE REQUIREMENTS THAT THEY ENDURED EACH AND EVERY DAY.UM, SO THAT'S, THAT'S HOW WE SELECTED THAT PROCESS.
SO THAT, THAT, THAT COMMITTEE WAS MADE UP OF TEACHERS, PRINCIPALS, UM, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS, BOOKKEEPERS, UM, BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEIR BUILDING BEST AND, AND THEY KNOW HOW THEY, THEY NEED TO MANAGE THOSE THINGS BEST.
SO THAT, THAT WAS, THAT WAS THE PROCESS THAT WE, WE USED TO SELECT THOSE FOLKS.
DID WE INCLUDE ALL OF THE PRINCIPALS, THE PRINCIPALS FROM ALL THE SCHOOLS? NO MA'AM.
DID WE EVER RECTIFY THE ACCIDENTAL OVERPAYMENT TO ESS? HAVE THEY EVER REFUNDED OUR MONEY FOR THAT OR WE JUST DECIDED TO MOVE ON AND LET THAT I'M NOT, I'M NOT SURE WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO.
WELL, WE HAD DISCUSSED IT, UM, THAT YOU WERE IN THE MEETING WITH US AND, AND MS. POE WITH, UM, REGARD TO THE ACCIDENTAL OVERPAYMENT WHERE SUBS WERE WORKING ONLY A QUARTER DAY, BUT THEY WERE GETTING PAID FOR HALF DAY.
WE WERE GETTING BILLED FOR, FOR HALF DAYS.
AND THAT WAS PART OF THE MANAGEMENT ISSUE ON OUR SIDE.
SO ESS NEVER REFUNDED THAT OVERCHARGE MEANT OVERCHARGING.
WELL THEY DON'T OFFER QUARTER DAY SUBS.
WAS THAT WHAT THE ISSUE WAS? CORRECT.
AND NOW IT'S BEEN RECTIFIED IN THE SCHOOLS CORRECT.
THAT THEY'RE NOT TO ASK FOR QUARTER DAY.
AND SO THE SURROUNDING SCHOOL DISTRICTS, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, DO NOT USE ANY TYPE OF OUTSOURCING OF SUBS.
ESS HAS, HAS ONLY ONE OTHER PERSON.
THEY'RE USING APPS AT THE OTHER OKAY.
SO I, THE WAY I TOOK THE DIRECTION OF THIS BOARD WAS TO, OUR BOARD WAS LEANING TOWARDS BRINGING SUBS BACK IN-HOUSE.
AND WE LISTENED TO THE COMMENTS FROM, FROM CENTRAL OFFICE AND, AND FROM, UM, PRINCIPALS.
AND WE WERE WILLING TO CONSIDER PUTTING IT OUT TO BID TO OTHER OUTSOURCING COMPANIES FOR AN OPTION.
UM, NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS DID I THINK THAT WE WOULD BE SELECTING THE SAME COMPANY THAT HAS PLAGUED US WITH NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS FOR THE LAST WHO KNOWS HOW MANY YEARS, UM, ALL OF THE PROBLEMS THAT THEY ARE SAYING THAT THEY ARE GOING TO RECTIFY.
WE'VE BEEN TOLD MULTIPLE TIMES NOW WE'RE GOING TO BE FIXED.
WHAT ASSURANCES HAVE THEY PUT IN PLACE THIS TIME TO DO SO? WELL, I'M ASSURING YOU AS YOUR HR DIRECTOR THAT I WOULD LIKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION.
I THINK I'VE ESTABLISHED GREAT RELATIONSHIPS WITH, WITH THE ESS, UH, HIGHER UPS AND, AND I THINK THEY'RE WILLING TO WORK WITH US.
I I, YOU KNOW, LIKE I I'VE TOLD YOU YOU ALL BEFORE, I GREATLY APPRECIATE THE, THE NEED THAT YOU ALL SAW WITH OUR HR STAFF AND, AND THAT EXTRA POSITION THAT WAS NEEDED WITH THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR.
SO I THINK BETWEEN KENDALL, THERESA, AND MYSELF, AS WELL AS, AS WELL AS OUR PRINCIPALS AND OUR, OUR, OUR, OUR BOOKKEEPERS AND SECRETARIES THAT, THAT MANAGE THOSE THINGS, I, I THINK WE CAN, WE CAN DEFINITELY RECTIFY AND, AND, AND SHOW, SHOW YOU WHAT WE CAN, WE CAN DO WITH, WITH THAT PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SS MOVING FORWARD.
WHAT'S THE TOTAL THAT WE'VE PAID THEM FOR THE YEAR? UH, WE DON'T HAVE THAT TOTAL YET.
WHAT'S THE RUNNING TOTAL AS OF RIGHT NOW? UM, I THINK IT'S CLOSE TO A MILLION DOLLARS.
IS IT, IS IT, HAVE WE TOPPED A MILLION DOLLARS AT THIS POINT? YES.
WE'VE TOPPED A MILLION DOLLARS.
AND WHAT, WHAT WERE WE BUDGETED FOR? UM, I THINK IT WAS LIKE 7 28 OR SEVEN 30? SEVEN 80, SOMEWHERE IN THERE.
BECAUSE I KNOW DURING MY TIME ON THIS BOARD, ESS HAS BLOWN OUR BUDGET OUT OF THE WATER BY AT LEAST, UH, 25% EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
SO AS WE'RE ABOUT, AS WE'RE APPROACHING THE BUDGET CONVERSATIONS, AND, AND I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE WE SHOULD, SHOULD DELAY THIS VOTE UNTIL WE DO THE BUDGET CONVERSATION AND THEN WE CAN VOTE ON THIS AT THE SAME TIME AS WE VOTE ON THE HEALTH INSURANCE.
BUT WHAT I WANT THE EMPLOYEES TO RECOGNIZE IS THAT, UM, ESS CHARGES WHAT 30 THEY'RE PROMISING THIS TIME TO WHAT? 31%? I KNOW WE'VE 30 POINT, WE PLED 'EM DOWN FROM 30.9, 30.9%.
[01:45:01]
PLED 'EM DOWN FROM 35%.BUT THAT THE SUB OVERAGES ARE PART OF WHAT IS STRAINING OUR BUDGET.
AND IT IS A VERY REAL REALITY THAT IF WE CHOOSE TO STICK WITH THEM, THIS MIGHT BE THE RAISES, THIS MIGHT BE THE, THE HEALTH INSURANCE.
I WOULD RATHER PLACE PRIORITY ON OUR STAFF AND COVER THE HEALTH INSURANCE INCREASE, COVER THE INCREASE IN RAISES, AND NOT CONTINUE TO FEED A COMPANY THAT HAS NEVER DONE A GOOD JOB FOR US SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THIS BOARD.
WELL, WELL, AGAIN, AS AS MENTIONED BEFORE IN THE WORK SESSION, THEY'RE WILLING TO WORK TO A BUDGET.
WE CAN GIVE THEM A BUDGET OF WHAT WE WOULD ESTIMATE, YOU KNOW, THE COST THAT WHATEVER, YOU KNOW, THE 7 25 OR WHATEVER, YOU KNOW, WAS, WAS BUDGETED LAST YEAR THAT I HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH.
UH, I WOULD LOVE TO SIT DOWN AND TALK WITH YOU ALL AND, AND COME UP WITH THAT NUMBER AND GIVE THAT TO ESS AND SAY, LOOK, THIS IS THE NUMBER THAT, THAT WE WANNA WORK, WORK THROUGH SO WE CAN PROVIDE THOSE, THOSE INSURANCE COVERAGES AND THOSE RAISES FOR OUR TEACHERS.
'CAUSE THAT, THAT IS, THAT IS A NUMBER ONE PRIORITY FOR ME.
I JUST, WHEN I'VE EXPERIENCED SUCH HORRIBLE SERVICE FROM A COMPANY FOR THIS MANY YEARS, I MEAN, OUR SUB BUDGET STARTED OFF AT $300,000 AND THEY BLEW THAT OUTTA THE WATER AND THEN THEY BLEW IT OUTTA THE WATER.
AGAIN, IT'S JUST BEEN INCREMENTALLY GOING UP AND GOING UP AND GOING UP.
BUT AS A WORD, AREN'T WE RESPONS RESPONSIBLE FOR LOOKING AT THOSE POLICIES THAT, THAT OUR, OUR OUR STAFF ATTENDANCE POLICIES AND MAKING THOSE ADJUSTMENTS AND, AND BECAUSE IT'S TOO EASY TO TAKE A DAY OFF AND, AND, AND THAT, THAT WE ALREADY DID, THAT AFFECTS THOSE, THOSE THOSE ISSUES AND, AND, AND, YOU KNOW, THOSE RISING RATES.
AND, AND LIKE I SAID BEFORE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK WE COULD, WE COULD AFFORD, YOU KNOW, COVERING A HUNDRED PERCENT OF OUR, OUR ABSENCE RATES RIGHT NOW BASED ON, BASED ON OUR CURRENTLY OUR CURRENT POLICIES.
WELL, AND AS A BOARD, IN ALL FAIRNESS, WE, WE DID LOOK AT THAT AND THIS BOARD VOTED TO CHANGE POLICY TO GIVE A, A TRUE FAIR PAYOUT FOR UNUSED SICK DAYS.
THAT'S NOT, THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY A CHANGE TO THE CURRENT POLICY THAT IT, THAT ADDRESSES OUR, OUR STAFF ATTENDANCE.
ARE YOU SUGGESTING THAT WE REDUCE THE NUMBER OF SICK DAYS THAT WE GIVE TO? I'M SUGGESTING WE REVISIT OUR ATTENDANCE POLICY FOR OUR STAFF AND, AND MAKE IT NOT SO EASY TO TAKE TIME OFF.
I, I MEAN, I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR THAT, THAT FEEDBACK AND THOSE IDEAS.
'CAUSE WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT ATTENDANCE FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR.
SO WHAT, WHAT DOES THAT, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? REVISE THE, I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S, TO ME, THAT'S A DISCUSSION THAT, YOU KNOW, I'M WILLING TO HAVE.
UM, I'M, I'M, I'M A NEW HR DIRECTOR.
I'VE, I'VE TRIED TO TAKE ON A LOT THIS YEAR AND, AND, YOU KNOW, I I'VE TRIED TO PRIORITIZE THE THINGS THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, NEED TO BE DONE, BUT, UM, I THINK THIS IS THE NEXT PRIORITY ON THE LIST THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT.
WOULD THAT BE, UM, AND I MEAN, I I THINK THAT'S A GREAT DISCUSSION WE COULD HAVE.
WOULD THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T NEED TO GET INTO THE DETAILS OF IT TONIGHT, BUT FOR EXAMPLE, I KNOW, UM, AND I, I DON'T HAVE IT RIGHT OFFHAND WITH ME, BUT, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES IT'S, IF THERE'S SO MANY CERTAIN DAYS OF CONSECUTIVE SICK LEAVE, YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE A DOCTOR'S NOTE.
I I, I MEAN, I I DON'T KNOW OFFHAND DIRECTLY WHAT OURS IS.
YOU KNOW, IT COULD BE NOT UNTIL 10 DAYS, YOU KNOW, MAYBE IT NEEDS TO BE SHORTENED.
THOSE ARE, I THINK, IS THAT WHAT I'M HEARING? YOU'RE, THOSE ARE SOME THINGS WE COULD LOOK AT.
WHAT DO OUR POLICIES SAY? RIGHT? UM, YOU KNOW, AM I ALLOWED TO TAKE 10 STRAIGHT SICK DAYS WITHOUT ANY DOCTOR'S NOTE? I MEAN, CERTAINLY THERE'S ALL KINDS OF SITUATIONS OUR EMPLOYEES GO THROUGH AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE WORK WITH THEM BECAUSE FAMILIES HAVE EMERGENCIES.
UM, BUT WE ALSO WANNA LOOK AT WHAT OUR POLICIES SAY TOO, TO MAKE SURE THERE IS NO ABUSE.
SO IT WAS JUST CONCERNING BECAUSE AT THE SAME TIME WE WERE TALKING ABOUT EMPLOYEE ABSENCES, YOU DID BRING TO US A SUGGESTED POLICY CHANGE TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL FIVE DAYS FOR GRIEVANCE LEAVE.
SO IT SENDS A MIXED MESSAGE WHEN WE'RE TALKING IN ONE INSTANCE OF, OF CONTINUING TO ADD TO THE NUMBER OF DAYS THAT THAT EMPLOYEES HAVE.
AND THEN WE'RE TRYING TO INCENTIVIZE ATTENDANCE AND THEN WE'RE TRYING TO CHANGE POLICY.
I, I HAVE ZERO FAITH IN, IN E SFS.
UM, DO YOU HAVE A, A SAMPLE CONTRACT ATTACHED HERE? I DO NOT.
SO I DON'T SEE THAT WE COULD EVEN VOTE TO DO THIS BECAUSE THE DETAILS OF THE CONTRACT WOULD BE WHAT WOULD DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS A DEAL THAT SHOULD, SHOULD BE CONSIDERED? WELL, I THINK THE TERMS OF THE CONTRACT WOULD BE NEGOTIATED ONCE WE KNEW WHAT DIRECTION WE WERE GOING IN.
THAT THAT'S THE THOUGHT BEHIND THIS, THIS, THIS CONVERSATION OR, OR THIS, THIS, THIS MOTION PROPOSAL.
AND IS YOUR DESIRE, IF WE OPT TO GO WITH ONE OF THE ALTERNATIVE COMPANIES THAT, THAT APPLIED, UH, WOULD YOU PREFER US BRING THIS IN-HOUSE OR WOULD YOU, US WHY WOULD WE DO THAT? WHY WOULD WE DO THAT THEN WHEN OUR STAFF IS, IS SAYING, THIS IS WHO
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WE WANT, THIS IS, THIS IS THE DIRECTION WE WANT TO GO WITH, WHY WOULDN'T WE WANNA SUPPORT OUR STAFF? YOUR ESS STAFF IS NOT SAYING THAT THAT'S THE DIRECTION THEY WANT TO GO IN.AND THEY'RE THE ONES WHO ARE EMPLOYED BY ESS.
WE DIDN'T GET TO THIS POSITION, THIS PREDICAMENT.
THEY SIT HOW MANY ESS STAFF MEMBERS HAVE YOU TALKED TO THAT OVER THAT HAVE GREAT EXPERIENCES? MM, MANY.
I'VE TALKED, I TALKED TO 'EM ALL THE TIME.
I MEAN, WE'VE HAD, IT WAS 23 IN ONE YEAR THAT, THAT GAVE COMPLAINTS.
I YOU DIDN'T ASK ME FOR ANY OF THAT DATA.
DID MR. GOODWIN LEAVE YOU NOTES FROM THE SUBS THAT WERE EXTREMELY UPSET? NO, MA'AM.
AND DID HE LEAVE YOU HIS NOTES ON WHAT THE CHANGES THAT, UM, GIT WAS SUPPOSED TO, THAT SHE PROMISED SHE WOULD MAKE FOR THIS? NO, MA'AM.
SO I, AGAIN, IF IN-HOUSE OR ANOTHER COMPANY, WHICH WOULD BE THE PREFERENCE, KELLY EDUCATION PUT ON A PRETTY IMPRESSIVE, UH, PRESENTATION.
THE ESS PRESENTATION THAT THEY PUT ON FOR US WAS ABYSMAL.
THEY COULDN'T EVEN PROVIDE US WITH ACCURATE DATA.
WELL, I'M, I'M ASKING TO PARTNER WITH ESSI TO SEE WHERE THIS CAN GO FOR, YOU KNOW, SIX MONTHS.
AND IF WE'RE NOT HAPPY AT SIX MONTHS, THEN, THEN LET'S TALK ABOUT THE IN IN-HOUSE PROPOSAL IS ESS WILLING TO DO A, YOU WOULD WANNA SWITCH OVER SUB PROVIDERS HALF WEEK.
I WOULD NOT SWITCH YEAR UNTIL THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
SO WE CAN HAVE ANOTHER YEAR WITH THE BUDGET LOAN OUT.
THAT'S A MID-YEAR REVIEW THAT I MENTIONED THERE IN THE NOTES.
WE, WE CAN, WE CAN, WE CAN SIT, YOU KNOW, I, I WANNA BE OPEN AND HONEST WITH YOU GUYS.
I I WANT YOU TO, TO HEAR FROM THE ONSITE MANAGER THAT, THAT THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE WORKING ON PROVIDING US.
UM, SO YOU ALL CAN SEE, YOU KNOW, EVERY, EVERY BOARD MEETING THAT WE HAVE, IF, IF NEED BE, UM, I, I SAID ONCE, ONCE A MONTH.
BUT WE CAN MAKE IT EVERY, EVERY MEETING.
UM, YOU KNOW, I, I'M WILLING TO DO WHATEVER TO MAKE THIS WORK, BUT I, I TRULY FEEL WITH, WITH MY, MY EXPERIENCE AND, AND THE TRUST THAT I HAVE IN OUR STAFF THAT, THAT WE CAN MAKE THIS PARTNERSHIP.
AND, AND IF IT DOESN'T GO RIGHT AND, AND, AND AT DECEMBER WE LOOK AT THINGS AND WE SAY IT'S NOT RIGHT.
WELL, LET'S BRING IT IN-HOUSE AND WE CAN START THAT BALL ROLLING AND, AND FINISH OUT THE CONTRACT WITH ESS.
I HAVE TO ASK YOU A VERY DIRECT IMPORTANT QUESTION.
YOU SAID YOU'VE BUILT A RELATIONSHIP WITH ESS.
DOES THAT INCLUDE GOLFING WITH THEM? NO, MA'AM.
I'D LIKE TO EV EVERYONE DOESN'T NEED.
SO YOU HAVE NEVER GOLFED WITH ANY OF THE MADAM CHAIR I HAVE NOT ASKED FOR.
UM, I MEAN, THAT'S NOT A PROPER QUESTION EMPLOYEE AS FAR AS WHEN WE'RE, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT, DO YOU HAVE INFORMATION THAT SAYS DIFFERENT? OKAY.
MR. THE ONE THING, MADAM CHAIR, THE ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, YOU HAVE INFORMATION THAT SAYS DIFFERENT.
AND THAT IS WHAT IS DRIVES THE COST UP.
IT'S NOT ONE COMPANY OR WHO, IT DOESN'T MATTER IF WE'RE DOING IT IN-HOUSE, IF YOU'RE WITH ESS OR WHO, WHAT IT IS, THE TEACHER ABSENCES DRIVE THE COST.
AND SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT, WE DON'T PAY A COMPANY OR WE WOULDN'T PAY A SUB IF WE HAD IT IN-HOUSE IF THERE IS NOT A SUB REQUIRED TO FILL THAT POSITION.
AND SO THAT'S ONE THING THAT, THAT YOU DO HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND AS FAR AS WHEN IT COMES TO WHERE, WHAT IS DRIVING THE COST OF OUR SUBSTITUTES, BUT ALSO IF BRINGING IT IN-HOUSE, THE WAY THAT WE HAVE TURNED AROUND THE CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM, WHERE THE PRINCIPLES HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME UP WITH VERY CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO INCENTIVIZE ATTENDANCE.
IF WE BRING IT IN-HOUSE, WE CAN FIND STRATEGIC WAYS THAT WE CAN KEEP THOSE NUMBERS UNDER CONTROL WITH THE ABSENCES.
SO YES, HAVING A DETACHMENT FROM FILLING THESE SUB POSITIONS DOES DRIVE THE ABSENTEEISM PROBLEM WITH THE EMPLOYEES.
I, I'M NOT SAYING I'M NOT OPPOSED TO BRINGING IT IN-HOUSE, I'M JUST NOT, I'M JUST NOT IN FAVOR OF BRINGING IT IN-HOUSE.
AND I GUESS MY FRUSTRATION WITH THAT IS THAT WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING THE, THE DESIRE TO BRING IT IN HOUSE SINCE THE FALL OF 23.
I SHARE THAT SAME, AND IT FEELS LIKE THIS HAS, HAS I SHARE THE SAME FRUSTRATION.
YES, I WANTED THIS DECIDED IN JANUARY, BUT HERE WE ARE.
THERE'S, WE CAN'T, WE CAN'T GO BACK AND CHANGE THAT.
[01:55:01]
WE WERE TO GO, YOU'VE MENTIONED A NUMBER OF TIMES OF STICKING WITH ESS FOR A, A PERIOD OF TIME AND ASSESSING IT ON A REGULAR BASIS, WE'D HAVE TO SET SOME PRETTY LOFTY GOALS YES.AND EVERYONE HAVE TO AGREE ON AND PART OF THE CONTRACT.
I WOULD, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE EVERYBODY'S INPUT ON THAT SO WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE SO WE CAN HAVE CLEAR EXPECTATIONS MOVING FORWARD.
'CAUSE I WILL, I WILL SAY THE SAME AS MS. SALE SAYS.
I MEAN, THEIR, THEIR PRESENTATION WAS PRETTY HORRIBLE.
AND IT, IT, IT'S LIKE SORT OF GOING INTO AN, A VISA RELATIONSHIP.
AGAIN, I UNDERSTAND FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN USING IT, I HAVEN'T USED IT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW THE ON PLACE IS, BUT JUST FROM THEIR PRESENTATION, JUST FROM A BUSINESS POINT OF VIEW IS JUST ABYSMAL.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, IF, IF THERE WERE A WAY TO SAY, WELL, WE'RE GONNA GO BACK AND DO IT AGAIN, IF THAT'S WHAT THE, THE PEOPLE VOTE ON, THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE SOME SET THINGS TO KNOW WHEN TO PULL THE TRIGGER AND, YOU KNOW, JUST SAY WE'RE OUTTA OUTTA HERE.
AND I, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE'RE A CONTRACT IF IT WERE WRITTEN INTO THE CONTRACT.
I MEAN, I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS WHERE I'VE SAID, IF WE, IF WE DON'T MEET THIS METRIC THAT YOU SAY WE'RE GONNA MEET, I WANT A FULL REFUND.
RIGHT? I MEAN, THAT WOULD BE PRETTY BOLD TO SAY, IF YOU'RE GONNA STAND BY WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO, RIGHT? WE WANNA REFUND OR WE WANT DROP IT DOWN.
WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE MONEY PART, 31%, THAT COULD BE $500,000 OF THIS YEAR.
$500,000 IS A HUGE PART OF OUR BUDGET.
IN-HOUSE IS MORE, MORE WORK ON INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE.
AND WE'RE NOT TRYING TO DO THAT, BUT $500,000 IN A YEAR WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO SAVE MONEY AND WE, AND THEY KEEP JACKING THE PRICE OF IT MIGHT BE MORE THAN $500,000 FOR THE, YOU KNOW, PAYING THE 30.9%.
SO IT'S, YOU KNOW, IF WE WEREN'T IN A MONEY SITUATION, WE'D PROBABLY STILL HAVE PROBLEMS WITH IT.
BUT THE FACT IS WE'RE IN EVEN A TIGHTER MONEY SITUATION THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT ALL MEANS NECESSARY TO DO IT.
SO WHATEVER THE POINT, MOVING FORWARD, WHEREVER IT GOES, I I THINK THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING WRITTEN INTO A CONTRACT ABOUT REFUNDS OR DISCOUNTS OR THIS IS WHEN WE'RE CALLING IT QUITS OR WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE.
SO, UM, I MEAN, I, I AGREE WITH TOM AND MELANIE BOTH ON THE PRESENTATIONS.
I WAS SURPRISED TO HEAR IT WAS ESS AS WELL JUST BASED ON THE PRESENTATION ALONE.
BUT I DO APPRECIATE TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS WHO'VE REACHED OUT AND SAID, WE KNOW THIS IS, YOU KNOW, NOT THE ANSWER THAT THE BOARD WAS EXPECTING.
UM, THEY DO FEEL, AT LEAST FROM CONVERSATIONS THAT I'VE HAD, THAT, UM, THE RELATIONSHIP HAS IMPROVED AS THIS END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR HAS MOVED FORWARD.
SO I DO THINK THAT YOU'RE MAKING POSITIVE STRIDES WITH THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING WITH ESS.
UM, IT SEEMS LIKE THEY FEEL LIKE IT'S REFLECTING IN THEIR DAY TO DAY.
UM, I ALSO FEEL EVERYONE'S NERVOUSNESS THAT SCHOOL WILL START AGAIN IN TWO MONTHS AND WE DON'T HAVE ANOTHER OPTION IN PLACE AND READY TO GO AND SUBS TRAINED AND JUST THAT EXTRA LAYER OF TURMOIL THAT A CHANGE THIS LATE IN THE YEAR COULD CAUSE.
UM, YOU ARE REFERRING TO THIS PERSON IN PLACE, I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT IN THE PAST.
WILL YOU HAVE ANY, UM, PART IN HIRING THAT PERSON? YES, MA'AM.
YOU'LL BE DOING INTERVIEWING WITH ESS? YES, MA'AM.
UM, AND YOUR VISION OF THAT PERSON IS SOMEBODY THAT'S A REAL COMMUNITY GO-GETTER, SOMEBODY THAT'S GONNA BE OUT.
YOU KNOW, I, I THINK OF THERESA WHITMORE.
UM, BECAUSE I, I KNOW HER WELL.
I MEAN, THAT WOULD BE THE, THE, I THINK THAT'S WHAT OUR, OUR STAFF IS SAYING THAT THEY WANT IN THAT POSITION.
SO THAT, THAT'S WHO WE WOULD WANT TO DELIVER TO THEM.
AND THEN MR. VALENTINE, COULD YOU REMIND ME, UM, FOR OUR OWN EMPLOYEES, 'CAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE 30.9%, UM, WHAT PERCENT IS IT FOR LIKE OUR EMPLOYEES? USUALLY WITH LIKE ALL THE BENEFITS AND STUFF, IT'S LIKE 26 OR SOMETHING.
WELL, FOR, FOR OUR EMPLOYEES IT'S RIGHT AROUND 20, JUST OVER 25%.
NOW, OUR SUBSTITUTES WHO WOULD BE PART-TIME, THE EMPLOYER COST WOULD BE THE 7.65% FICA COST.
YOU, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE THE VRS AND THOSE OTHERS FOR THEM, WHICH THAT REALLY DRIVES UP THE PERCENTAGE.
BECAUSE THEY WOULDN'T BE, THEY WOULDN'T HAVE BENEFITS BECAUSE THE ESS SAYS THEY OFFER THEM, BUT WE HAD, WHAT DID THEY SAY? TWO ESS EMPLOYEES ACCEPTED THE BENEFITS, SO IT'S NOT LIKE THEY'D BE LOSING ANYTHING.
SO, SO WE'RE COMPARING 30.9% TO 7.65, SIX 5%.
SO RIGHT THERE, RIGHT OFF THE BAT, WE HAVE A LARGE ENOUGH COST SAVINGS THAT WE COULD DO SOME REALLY GREAT THINGS INSIDE OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM AND THEN STILL GIVE EACH OF THE, THE PRINCIPALS A STIPEND OR, OR AN ABILITY TO HIRE AN ADDITIONAL SECRETARY TO HELP WITH THIS.
UM, I THINK WE COULD HAVE REALLY FOCUSED IN ON GETTING SOME CREATIVE SOLUTIONS GOING ON.
AND THEN THE OTHER THOUGHT THAT I HAD WAS OUR EXPERIENCE WITH OUTSOURCING HAS BEEN REALLY HORRIBLE.
AND SO THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I DO LEAN TOWARDS BRINGING IT BACK IN HOUSE.
DO WE REALLY NOT WANT TO GIVE A BETTER COMPANY AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAYBE GIVE US A, A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE WITH OUTSOURCING?
[02:00:01]
UM, OR IS THE IDEA TO RIDE THIS OUT WITH ESS AND THEN ULTIMATELY BRING IT BACK IN-HOUSE NEXT YEAR? AGAIN, I THINK THE COMMITTEE SPENT A LOT OF TIME LOOKING THROUGH THE OPTIONS AND WHILE I WAS SURPRISED IT WAS ESS, THAT IS WHO THEY CHOSE.SO I'M DID THEY ALSO COME IN THE CHEAPEST OF THE THREE? IS THAT CORRECT? WITH THE RFP AS FAR AS, BECAUSE YOU LOOKED AT THREE R, THE THREE YES, YES.
I THINK THAT WAS THE 30.9% VERSUS THE 31%.
THAT WAS HOW THEY CAME IN THE CHEAPEST, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY.
SO THEY WERE CHEAPEST BY 0.1%.
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR MR. LEE? AND MY NEXT QUESTION IS GONNA BE, DO WE WANNA MOVE THIS TO AFTER WE HAVE THE BUDGET DISCUSSION, BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE, UM, BASICALLY MOVING FORWARD, NO MATTER WHAT WE CHOOSE NEXT, THERE WILL HAVE TO BE A FIRM NUMBER IN THE BUDGET FOR SUBSTITUTES NEXT YEAR.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE BECAUSE DR.
BALLINGER IS CORRECT THAT IT'S NOT ESS BLOWING UP OUR SUB BUDGET.
SO, YOU KNOW, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? IF WE SET OUR BUDGET FOR $700,000 AGAIN AND WE HAVE A HUGE AMOUNT OF STAFF ABSENCES AND WE'RE DONE BY DECEMBER, WHICH IS VERY POSSIBLE.
YES, I THINK WE SHOULD, I MEAN, THAT'S POSSIBLE.
WE, SO I WOULD ASSUME THAT THAT'S LIKELY GONNA HAPPEN.
SO YEAH, IF WE CAN, IF WE CAN MOVE THIS, I GUESS I WOULD MAKE THE MOTION TO MOVE THIS ITEM FOR THE VOTE UNTIL AFTER WE HAVE OUR BUDGET PRESENTATION AND OUR VOTE, WE WOULD HAVE TO VOTE ON THIS BEFORE WE WOULD VOTE ON THE EMPLOYEE HEALTH INSURANCE.
IS THERE A SECOND? I SECOND THAT.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.
[5.I. Approval for Agriculture Teacher positions to move from 200 day contracts to 230 day contracts effective immediately.]
APPROVAL FOR AGRICULTURE TEACHER POSITIONS TO MOVE FROM 200 DAY CONTRACTS TO 230 DAY CONTRACTS EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.ALL FOUR OF OUR AGRICULTURE TEACHERS ARE CURRENTLY ON A 200 DAY CONTRACT WITH, WITH THE INCREDIBLE, INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF TIME REQUIRED FOR THESE POSITIONS.
WE WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THEM TO AN 11 MONTH, 230 DAY CONTRACT.
EXAMPLES OF THE ADDITIONAL TIME THAT WERE, THAT OUR AGRICULTURE TEACHERS PUT IN WAS PROVIDED TO YOU, UM, IN THE WORK SESSION, UH, ON FIVE 15, UM, 2024.
AND, UM, I THINK YOU HEARD FROM SOME OF OUR AG, AG TEACHERS TONIGHT, UH, WITH, WITH, WITH THEIR, THEIR COMMENTS AND, AND, AND, UM, INCREDIBLE THINGS THAT THEY'RE DOING WITH THEIR STUDENTS.
UM, AND THE, THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT THEY HAVE TO PUT FORWARD, UM, AND TO MAKING THOSE OPPORTUNITIES POSSIBLE.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. LEE ON THIS? WHAT WOULD BE THE INCREASE IN COST TO $36,540? WELL, THE INCREASE COST FOR WHAT? FOR, FOR MOVING AS THE MOTION SAYS 10 MONTH TO 11 MONTH AS SAYS, THAT WASN'T WHAT I WAS GONNA ASK.
I WAS GONNA ASK TO, LISTENING TO THE AG TEACHERS TALK ABOUT HAVING THE, UM, THE NEED FOR HAVING ONE AG TEACHER AT A 12 MONTH CONTRACT.
WHAT WOULD BE, THAT WOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL $6,500 ON TOP OF THAT 36,000.
IT WOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL $5,820 ON TOP OF THE 36,400 $540.
THEY HAVE ONE 12 MONTH AND THE, THE OTHERS 11 MONTH.
SO ONE 12 MONTH AND THEN THE OTHER THREE WOULD BE 11.
IS THAT A RECOMMENDATION THAT YOU WOULD HAVE? YES, MA'AM.
IS THERE A MOTION I MOVE THAT THE WARREN COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD APPROVES THE ADDITIONAL DAYS TO OUR AGRICULTURAL TEACHERS FROM 10 MONTHS, 200 DAY CONTRACTS TO 11 MONTHS, 230 DAY CONTRACTS, HAVING ONE OF THOSE SERVE AS A 12 MONTH CONTRACT EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.
ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.
[02:05:01]
YOU.[5.J. Discussion and possible action on School Board Member Alliance Proposal for Comprehensive Policy Review and Compliance Assistance]
OKAY.DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER ALLIANCE PROPOSAL FOR COMPREHENSIVE POLICY REVIEW AND COMPLIANCE ASSISTANCE.
SO BEFORE WE GET STARTED ON THIS DISCUSSION, UM, I HAD AN EMAIL FROM THE CHAIR OF THE SHENANDOAH SCHOOL BOARD ON MAY 29TH.
UM, IT INCLUDED CHAIRS FROM WARREN FREDERICK PAGE, ROCKINGHAM AND SHENANDOAH SCHOOL DIVISIONS.
AND, UM, BASICALLY HE WAS LOOKING FOR, IS THERE A WAY TO HAVE A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN COUNTIES, WHICH I KNOW OUR BOARD HAS TALKED ABOUT PREVIOUSLY BACK IN THE DAYS OF MR. RINALDI, UM, WITH IS THERE A WAY TO COMBINE LEGAL SERVICES, POLICY SERVICES INSTEAD OF SORT OF, YOU KNOW, EACH, EACH COUNTY PAYING ALL THEIR OWN PRICES FOR ATTORNEY'S FEES AND WHATEVER THE CASE IS.
UM, I RESPONDED THAT I WOULD BE, THAT WAS TIMELY BECAUSE WE'D BE TALKING ABOUT IT TONIGHT.
UM, SO FAR SOMEONE HAS RESPONDED FROM ROCKINGHAM AND PAIGE AS WELL, UM, THAT THEY'D BE INTERESTED IN HEARING MORE.
BASICALLY THE IDEA IS JUST THAT THERE'S, AT FIRST THIS INFORMATIONAL SESSION OF WHAT ATTORNEY COULD WE USE? UM, IS THERE A WAY TO COMBINE THOSE EFFORTS, UM, INSTEAD OF, FOR EXAMPLE, RIGHT NOW, US PAYING Z ANDERSON ALL ON OUR OWN.
UM, CAN YOU REPEAT THOSE COUNTIES AGAIN? YES.
WARREN, FREDERICK, PAIGE ROCKINGHAM, AND SHENANDOAH.
SO I'M JUST PUTTING THAT OUT THERE.
I AS SOMETHING FOR CONSIDERATION, I SPOKE TO MY SUPERVISOR BECAUSE GOING INTO THIS CONVERSATION TONIGHT, UM, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF, A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS ABOUT BUDGET AND WHERE ALL OF OUR COSTS ARE GOING.
UM, CERTAINLY OUR LEGAL FEES AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, THERE'S A LOT TO BE SAID, THOUGH.
UM, NOT PUTTING A LOT OF MONEY INTO, UM, GOOD LEGAL ADVICE IS CERTAINLY GONNA COST US A LOT MORE IN THE LONG RUN.
UM, I TALKED TO HER ABOUT WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE TO HAVE SOME KIND OF COLLABORATIVE EFFORT.
UM, AND SO, YOU KNOW, I JUST BRINGING THAT FORTH TODAY, I DON'T THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE THE SAME THING AS THIS, THOUGH.
I DON'T THINK THERE, WELL, IT SAYS IN LIKE, THE DISCUSSION IS TO HAVE INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL BOARDS OBTAINING BETTER POLICY SERVICES, UM, AND LIKE, HOW COULD WE DO THAT IN A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT? TO BE CLEAR THOUGH, THE POLICY SERVICES HAS NOT BEEN WHAT'S BLOWN OUR BUDGET OUT OF THE WATER THIS YEAR WITH SAN SANDERSON.
WE, UM, WE WERE PROMISED $1 FIGURE.
WE DID NOT GET THAT IN CONTRACTUAL FORM, UNFORTUNATELY.
AND, BUT, UM, WHAT'S BLOWN OUR BUDGET OUTTA THE WATER LEGAL SERVICES WISE IS, IS ALL THE OTHER STUFF THAT'S HAPPENED.
UM, AND JUST SO THAT WE'RE REALLY CLEAR ON THE TIMELINE, UM, THE ISSUES THAT HAVE CAUSED US TO INCUR THESE, THESE HUGE LEGAL BILLS DID NOT TAKE PLACE DURING THE TIME.
THEY, IT ACTUALLY, THEY, ALL THESE HUGE LEGAL BILL ISSUES THEY'VE TAKEN PLACE DURING THE TIME WE WERE WITH VSBA WHEN WE HAD THE MAY OF 2023 ISSUE WITH THE TEACHER ARRESTED ON MULTIPLE FELONY CHARGES.
THAT WAS OBVIOUSLY, UM, BACK WHILE WE WERE WITH VSBA AND, AND AS WE LEARNED, THEIR POLICY SERVICES KIND OF GOT US IN THAT MESS.
UM, THEN WITH THE ISSUES THAT HAPPENED AT, WITH THE ASSAULTS, MULTIPLE ASSAULTS AT, AT SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL THAT HAPPENED IN AUGUST.
WE DIDN'T LEAVE THE VSBA UNTIL, UM, SEPTEMBER.
SO WE NEED TO BE VERY CLEAR ON, ON THAT TIMELINE SINCE IT WAS MISREPRESENTED ELSEWHERE EARLIER YESTERDAY.
WELL, BUT WE WEREN'T USING THE BSBA POLICY SERVICES AT THAT TIME.
WE ARE STILL STUCK WITH THE POLICIES THAT THE BSBA WROTE FOR US.
SO IT'S NOT LIKE WE WOULD HAVE MAGICALLY, UM, GOTTEN SOME
YOU CAN'T BLAME SAM SANDERSON OR ANYONE ELSE FOR THE POLICY MESS THAT WE'VE GOT ON OUR HANDS RIGHT NOW.
YOU'VE GOTTA PUT THAT SQUARELY ON THE VS B'S SHOULDERS.
I MEAN, WHAT WAS IT THEY THAT THE SBMA
[02:10:01]
FOUND ON JUST THEIR QUICK, UM, ROUTINE AUDIT? I THINK IT WAS WHAT, 51 51 AREAS? OUR POLICIES ARE OUT OF COMPLIANCE.SO THE VSBA LANDED US IN THAT WATER IN THAT MESS.
UM, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A VERY SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY HERE, WHAT, $5,500 FOR THE FULL POLICY AUDIT, AN ADDITIONAL $500 WITH THEIR RECOMMENDATION IF OUR BOARD WERE TO SET UP A POLICY COMMITTEE, WHICH IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT, UM, I THINK WE SHOULD DO.
UM, AND THEN THEY'VE GOT THEIR, THE LEGISLATIVE SERVICES, WHICH I THINK WAS $2,900.
SO ALL IN ALL WE'RE, WE'RE WELL UNDER $10,000.
AND MY CONCERN IS THAT WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING THIS COLLABORATION, UM, BETWEEN THE, THE COUNTIES FOR, FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW, FOR THREE YEARS THAT I REMEMBER, AND IT'S NEVER COME TO FRUITION.
UM, AND AS WE'RE LEARNING, GOING WITH A LAW FIRM IS CERTAINLY A LOT MORE EXPENSIVE.
UM, IF WE HAVE POLICY WRITERS WHO ARE, WHO ARE WRITING THE DRAFT POLICIES, AND THEN TOGETHER WE WERE RUNNING THEM THROUGH A, A SHARED ATTORNEY BETWEEN ALL OF US, I THINK, I THINK REALLY THAT SOUNDS MORE ALMOST LIKE WE SHOULD BE EXPLORING, UM, SHARED LEGAL SERVICES AND LEAVING SAN ANDERSON TO GO WITH A SHARED ATTORNEY, AS WAS WHAT MR. ALDI HAD HAD TALKED ABOUT FOR ALL THOSE YEARS.
UM, BUT I DON'T THINK WE'RE AT ANY POSITION TO DO THAT RIGHT NOW.
I THINK CURRENTLY WE DON'T, WE'RE NOT IN LEAGUE WITH ANYBODY OTHER, UH, ON A REGULAR BASIS.
WE SORT OF A AD HOC WAY WITH OUR ATTORNEYS AND WHEN THEY HAVE DONE THE UPDATES, AS I'VE STATED FOR THE RECORD BEFORE, THEY SEEM TO BE DOING A GOOD JOB WHEN THEY'RE PUT TOGETHER THE, THE, THE ONES WE JUST APPROVED FOR THE, UH, HOMESCHOOL THINGS THAT WERE, WERE A GOOD JOB.
UM, BUT WE ALSO TOOK INPUT FROM, FROM OTHER FOLKS TOO THAT ACTUALLY ADDED TO IT.
SO I THINK HAVING A, I MEAN, FOR THE PRICE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, WE'VE ALREADY SPENT THIS YEAR ON POLICY REWRITE OR UPDATING POLICY.
I, I KNOW IT'S BEEN SOMEWHERE CLOSER TO THE 20, $30,000 RANGE FROM WHAT I'VE, FROM DIFFERENT NUMBERS THROWN AROUND, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FOR THE WHOLE YEAR, $5,500 ON ON ONE END AND $2,900 SORT OF A WIN-WIN TO, TO, TO GET INTO IT AND SAY AGAIN, EVEN IF IT'S, WELL, LET'S SEE HOW THE YEAR WORKS, JUST LIKE WE'RE PEOPLE ARE THINKING OF THAT FOR THE ESS AS WELL, SAYING HOW, HOW WE'RE WE'RE, WE'RE OUT THE DRIFT RIGHT NOW WITHOUT ANYBODY.
IT'D BE NICE TO HAVE SOMEBODY THAT THAT'S GONNA LOOK AT IT AND THEY'VE ALREADY DONE THE LEGWORK TO SAY, WE ALREADY HAVE 51 POLICIES OUT OF OUTTA WHACK.
SO I, I, I'M ALL FOR THAT BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THEY'RE ALREADY, UM, ON BOARD DOING IT.
THEY HELPED US WRITE A, A SCHOOL BOARD SELF-EVALUATION.
THEY'VE ALREADY SHOWN GOOD, GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE IN THAT SENSE.
THEY'RE VERY EASY TO REACH AND EASY TO TALK WITH.
UM, SO I, I THINK FOR THE, FOR THE MONEY, I DON'T THINK YOU CAN BEAT IT.
YEAH, AND I THINK, I THINK ALSO WHEN, WHEN WE'RE THINKING ABOUT THIS, I THINK IT'S, UM, REALLY DOING A DISSERVICE TO CRITICIZE SMALL BUSINESSES BECAUSE REALLY THE, YOU GET A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE WHEN YOU GO WITH A BIG BOX COMPANY.
IF YOU'RE GONNA GO SHOP AT, YOU KNOW, AT AT WALMART OR TARGET OR OR WHATNOT, YOU'RE GONNA GET A VERY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE THAN IF YOU GO SHOP AT, UM, A LITTLE BOUTIQUE IN TOWN AND TO CRITICIZE SOMEONE JUST BECAUSE THEY HAVE A SMALL BUSINESS.
WELL, MY EXPERIENCE WITH SMALL BUSINESSES IS THAT YOU GET THAT PERSONALIZED TOUCH, AND SO FAR I HAVE SEEN NOTHING BUT THAT PERSONALIZED TOUCH FROM THE SBMA.
UM, TOM REACHED OUT AND LIKE WE SAID WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD EVALUATION FORM, THEY PUT THAT TOGETHER FOR US FREE OF CHARGE.
UM, THE ISSUE OF, UH, OF THE VACANCY TOTALS THAT CAME UP DURING A JOINT BOARD MEETING BETWEEN THE SCHOOL BOARD AND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, UM, NOBODY KNEW HOW MANY VACANCIES THERE WERE.
AND WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO TRACK DOWN THAT TYPE OF INFORMATION FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW.
AND IT WAS EXTREMELY HELPFUL THAT, UM, THE SBMA HAPPENED TO BE WATCHING THAT MEETING AND THEY IMMEDIATELY CAME BACK WITH A LINK AND THEY SAID, HEY, DID YOU KNOW THAT IT'S IT'S STATE LAW THAT YOUR SUPERINTENDENT MUST REPORT THE NUMBER OF VACANCIES EVERY YEAR AND HERE'S THE LINK TO THAT.
AND THAT WAS, THAT WAS VERY HELPFUL.
UM, THERE REALLY IS A VERY PERSONALIZED, CUSTOMIZED TOUCH, AND I THINK IT WOULD CERTAINLY BE WORTH OUR TIME TRYING IT OUT.
THERE WAS ONE ISSUE THAT I HAD WHEN I WAS READING, UM, ONE OF THE CONTRACTS, IT DIDN'T, I DON'T THINK IT ENDED UP ON
[02:15:01]
THE BOARD DOCS.IT WAS, IT WAS GIVEN TO US IN PRINT.
UM, BUT THEY TALKED ABOUT AN EXCLUSIVITY CLAUSE.
AND I'M ABSOLUTELY AGAINST THAT.
I DON'T DO EXCLUSIVITY CLAUSES.
UM, JUST IN MY PERSONAL LIFE, OTHER THAN MY MARRIAGE LICENSE, I DO NOT SIGN EXCLUSIVITY CLAUSES.
AND SO I DID REACH OUT TO THEM AND ASKED ABOUT HAVING THAT REMOVED AND THEY WERE OPEN TO REMOVING THAT.
SO THAT WOULD FREE US UP TO BE ABLE TO DO A COLLABORATION WITH OTHER, UM, COUNTIES IF WE CAN GET THAT WORKED OUT.
BUT I THINK WE NEED TO, I THINK WE NEED TO JUMP ON ON GETTING OUR POLICIES AT THE VERY LEAST AUDITED AND UP TO DATE, UM, IN, IN LEGAL COMPLIANCE, UM, ASAP.
AND I DO NOT WANNA SEE US CONTINUE TO SPEND THE MONEY WITH, WITH SAN ANDERSON, WITH, WITH A OPEN CHECKBOOK.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ARE SOME DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR POLICY.
I THINK IT'S A LITTLE STRANGE THAT WE'RE ONLY LOOKING AT ONE OPTION RIGHT HERE.
I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO EXPLORE, UM, THIS EMAIL THAT YOU SAID YOU RECEIVED RECENTLY, YOU KNOW, THE VSBA SANS ANDERSON, AND SEE FROM EACH OF THEM WHAT ARE THEY OFFERING, WHAT ARE THE COSTS SO THAT WE CAN COMPARE.
UM, I AM A LITTLE LEERY OF THE, THE BARGAIN BASEMENT PRICE.
UM, IT, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE WHEN YOU SEE FISH ON SALE AT THE SUPERMARKET, IT'S LIKE, ARE YOU SAVING MONEY? LIKE IF YOU GET SICK, THEN YOU WEREN'T SAVING MONEY AND I'M NOT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE YOU WON'T GET SICK, SICK.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT IT'S A BAD SERVICE, BUT IT DOES.
I MEAN, I THINK THERE'S A REASON THE PRICE IS SO LOW, AND THE REASON IS BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT EXPERIENCED.
AND YOU KNOW, THEY SAID THAT WE KNOW THAT, UM, BASED, IT DOESN'T, I'M SORRY, THEY SAID WHAT? THAT THEY'RE NOT EXPERIENCED IN PROVIDING THESE SERVICES TO SCHOOL BOARDS.
WELL, THEY, THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT THEY'RE NOT EXPERIENCED IN WRITING POLICY, THOUGH.
THEY ACTUALLY HAVE QUITE A BIT.
THEY WENT INTO DETAIL ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE THAT THEY HAVE IN WRITING POLICY.
BUT NO ONE HIRED THEM TO DO THIS.
JUSTIN'S A NEWLY FORMED COMPANY.
UM, AND THE, WELL, IF I CAN FINISH, I'M, I'M JUST SAYING, I'M NOT SAYING THAT'S NECESSARILY A REASON NOT TO DO IT, BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT GIVES ME PAUSE.
AND SO THAT'S WHY I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE RUSHING INTO SOMETHING WITH THIS BRAND NEW UNTESTED COMPANY WITHOUT AT LEAST LOOKING AT OUR OTHER OPTIONS AND SEEING WHAT OTHER SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE, WHAT THEY COST, AND SO ON.
WELL, THEY, WELL, SO THE VSBA POLICY LEGISLATIVE SERVICES COST $3,000 A YEAR.
SO THAT A HUNDRED DOLLARS IS WHAT MAKES YOU THINK THAT THIS IS ROTTEN FISH.
I'M JUST SAYING, I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM MULTIPLE COMPANIES LIKE WE NORMALLY DO WITH MOST DECISIONS.
AND JUST HEARING FROM ONE SWEETHEART COMPANY THAT YOU HAVE A PREEXISTING RELATIONSHIP WITH, THAT I HAVE A PREEXISTING RELATIONSHIP WITH, BECAUSE I'M A MEMBER AND I'VE EXPERIENCED THEIR ACTUAL TRAININGS, AND YOU COULD HAVE TWO I I PAID $250 TO BE A MEMBER AND EXPERIENCE THEIR TRAININGS AND THE, THE THE CROWD, I'M SORRY.
THE CROWD IS GETTING A LITTLE, YEAH, I'M GETTING A LITTLE BIT OF NOISE OUT THERE.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT A HUNDRED DOLLARS DIFFERENCE IN THE LEGISLATIVE POLICIES BETWEEN THE VSBA AND THIS.
WE'VE EXPERIENCED THE VSBA, WE ARE STUCK WITH THEIR POLICIES AS IT SITS RIGHT NOW.
SO THIS WOULD BE LIKE THE WHOLE ESS SITUATION ALL OVER AGAIN WHERE WE HAVE BEEN IN A, IN A, AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH A COMPANY AND THEN, UM, THEY'VE PROVEN THEMSELVES TO NOT DO A GOOD JOB, BUT, HEY, LET'S GO BACK AND LET'S GO BACK FOR SOME MORE.
THAT SOUNDS LIKE A HORRIBLE IDEA TO ME.
AND BEING THAT THE SUB SITUATION IS A, AN EXTREMELY LARGE DOLLAR FIGURE, YES, IT WAS REQUIRED TO BE PUT OUT TO BID, WHEREAS SPENDING $5,500 IS ABSOLUTELY NOT REQUIRED TO BE PUT OUT TO BID.
NOR DO I FEEL THAT WE HAVE THE TIME TO SIT WITH 51 POLICIES OUT OF LEGAL COMPLIANCE AS WE SPEND THE NEXT THREE MONTHS PLUS CHOPPING THIS AROUND TO YOU DON'T PUT OUT BIDS FOR, FOR A A $5,000 CONTRACT.
I DON'T THINK IT'S ABOUT THE BIDS.
I THINK IT'S JUST WHAT OTHER SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE.
WELL, WE KNOW SAN ANDERSON QUOTED US 40 TO 50,000 AND THEY WERE GOING TO COMPLETELY REWRITE ALL 11 SECTIONS, WHICH EACH SECTION CONTAINS MULTIPLE POLICIES.
AND THEY DID NOT STAY ON BUDGET WITH WHAT THEY PROVIDED US THUS FAR, WHICH GRANTED IS OUR FAULT BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT GIVEN A CONTRACT, THEY WERE NOT GIVEN A, A CAP.
BUT I HAVE NOT BEEN, UM, WE, WE DON'T HAVE THAT IN THE BUDGET AT AT THIS POINT.
WE DO NOT HAVE THAT IN THE BUDGET.
WE'VE EXPERIENCED THE VSBA AND THE SBA, THIS IS, THIS IS THE ONLY OTHER POLICY REVIEW SERVICE THAT, THAT I KNOW OF.
UM, AND, AND LIKE WE DISCUSSED EARLIER WITH THE HOMESCHOOLING POLICY, IT WAS LOVELY TO HAVE HEAVE STEP IN AND ESSENTIALLY DO THE POLICY REWRITE FOR US BECAUSE THAT IS THEIR AREA OF EXPERTISE.
AND IF WE REMOVE THE EXCLUSIVITY CLAUSE, WE CAN EASILY DO THAT AGAIN WITH OTHER THINGS.
[02:20:01]
BUT I THINK WE NEED TO GET SOMETHING IN PLACE NOW BECAUSE THEY'VE ALREADY DISCOVERED OUR 51 AREAS OF, UH, LEGAL NON-COMPLIANCE.SO, WELL, WE HAD SOMETHING IN PLACE UNTIL OUR LAST MEETING WHEN THIS BOARD VOTED NOT TO.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHY THERE'S NOW SUCH A RUSH THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING IF LAST MEETING WE WERE COMFORTABLE WITH GOING WITHOUT FOR A LITTLE WHILE.
NO, WE WERE, WHAT WE HALTED EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY WAS THE FACT THAT OUR LEGAL BUDGET HAD BEEN GROSSLY OVERSPENT IN OTHER WAYS.
AND, UM, IT, AS OF LAST MEETING, IT WAS AT $160,000 FOR A $55,000 BUDGETED EXPENSE.
OUR BOARD WAS NOT TOLD HOW GROSSLY WE HAD EXCEEDED THAT BUDGET AMOUNT.
AND NOW WE HAVE EXCEEDED OUR LEGAL BUDGET BY AT LEAST ANOTHER A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS DUE TO A GRIEVANCE HEARING.
BUT WE HAD TO STOP THE HEMORRHAGING.
A CONTRACT SHOULD HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE WITH SANS ANDERSON WHEN THAT PROCESS STARTED.
A CONTRACT WOULD NOT, WAS NOT PUT IN PLACE.
AND WE WOULD HAVE BEEN FOOLS TO CONTINUE TO HAND OUR ATTORNEY AN OPEN BLANK CHECKBOOK TO JUST RACK UP THE CHARGES.
A FULL POLICY REWRITE IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN A POLICY AUDIT AND UPDATE.
THEY'RE TWO VERY DIFFERENT THINGS.
WE DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO DO A FULL THOUSAND PLUS PAGE POLICY REWRITE AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
WE HAVE BEEN OFFERED A VERY PRACTICAL, UH, AFFORDABLE OPTION HERE, WHICH IS TO GET US INTO LEGAL COMPLIANCE.
HOW MANY LAWSUITS ARE WE GONNA BE FACING IF WE CONTINUE TO STICK WITH 51, LIKE 51 OUTDATED NON-COMPLIANT POLICIES? IT'S NOT ONE, OR IT'S NOT MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE.
WE HAD SBMA TO GIVE TWO PRESENTATIONS.
I, I DON'T, IT'S LIKE, WELL, MAYBE THAT WOULD'VE BEEN A, A GOOD TIME TO SAY, WELL, IS THERE A THIRD OR IS THERE A FOURTH OR SOMEBODY ELSE OUT THERE? BUT I DON'T KNOW.
I MEAN, IN VIRGINIA, ALL SCHOOL BOARDS OTHER THAN WARREN COUNTY, I BELIEVE CURRENTLY USE VSPA.
SO I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER OPTIONS OUT THERE.
THIS COMPANY WAS CREATED TO BE DIFFERENT FROM THEM.
I, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW WHAT OTHER OPTIONS WE HAVE OTHER THAN JUST, I MEAN, WE, WE TRIED TO KIND OF WING IT AND LET'S, LET'S, LET'S JUST, LET'S JUST MAKE SOME ADDITIONS AND CHANGES TO THE, TO THE DISCIPLINE POLICIES, HOW THAT STARTED, JUST ADDING STUFF.
THAT'S, THAT'S KIND OF WHAT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING IN THAT CASE OF WHAT EXACTLY WE SHOULD BE DOING.
WE HAVE LESS EXPERIENCE THAN SBMA PEOPLE.
SO I DON'T KNOW FOR THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT IT IS COMPARED TO WHAT WE'VE ACTUALLY SPENT THIS YEAR.
I THINK IT'S A, IT'S A NO BRAINER.
I WANNA BE CLEAR AFTER THE POLICY AUDIT, EACH SECTION THAT THEY SEND TO US, UNLESS IT'S JUST LITTLE GRAMMATICAL THINGS, LITTLE UPDATES, UM, WE WILL BE DOING THREE READINGS FOR EACH OF THOSE ADOPTIONS.
WE'LL BE ASKING SAN SANDERSON TO REVIEW IT.
IF THERE ARE BIG CHANGES, WHICH IS WHAT I KNOW WE DID FOR THE VS BA WE IS WHAT WE DID FOR V SBA A, ANYTIME THERE WAS ANYTHING THAT SEEMED CONTROVERSIAL OR JUST COULD BE INTERPRETED DIFFERENT WAYS.
RIGHT? AND THAT'S, THAT IS A HUGE COST SAVINGS TO HAVE SAM SANDERSON, HEY, HERE'S THIS ALREADY COMPLETED DOCUMENT.
MAYBE THEY CHARGE US FOR AN HOUR WITH THAT VERSUS US HAVING THEIR TEAM REWRITE THINGS AND THEN WE'RE LOOKING AT $10,000, WHICH WASN'T WHAT WAS PROMISED TO US BY THEM.
SO WE STILL HAVE THE, THE, THE, THE SECURITY NET IN THE SENSE OF THE LAWYERS LOOKING OVER TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ON THE UP AND UP.
SO WITH THE EXCLUSIVITY CAUSE CLAUSE, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT COMES OUT BECAUSE, UM, AND BECAUSE WE WOULD BE, IF SANS ANDERSON'S LOOKING AT IT, YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD ABSOLUTELY COURSE MEET THAT.
SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE AT, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE, IF I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AN UPDATED POLICY SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH THAT OUT, I WANT IT IN WRITING.
I THINK AS MR. LEE JUST EXPLAINED TO US WITH THE ESS SITUATION, WE WOULD VOTE TO GO FORWARD WITH THE SBMA POLICY SERVICES WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE FINAL CONTRACT COMES BEFORE THIS BOARD AND GETS VOTED ON BY THIS BOARD.
IS THAT WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE IS UNDERSTANDING THAT THE PROCESS WOULD BE, AS HE EXPLAINED WITH, WITH ESS? IT IS, BUT AS FAR AS POLICY SERVICES GO, I'M GONNA COME BACK TO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE HAD ALREADY HAD THAT CONVERSATION 'CAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE AUDIT.
I CAN HERE AND I CAN UNDERSTAND, WHAT IS IT, $5,500 TO GO THROUGH OUR ENTIRE POLICIES.
[02:25:01]
WE SEE WHAT THEY SUGGEST.WE GET IT VETTED OUT AGAIN THROUGH SAM SANDERSON, THE POLICY SERVICES.
I'M STILL GONNA COME BACK TO, UM, NOT SURE ABOUT THAT.
UM, BECAUSE THERE MAYBE IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO, TO COMBINE OUR FORCES WITH OTHER SCHOOL DIVISIONS AND USE ATTORNEYS TO DO IT AND SPREAD THAT COST OUT.
WE ACTUALLY HAVEN'T EVEN SEEN WHAT SAN SANDERSON IS DOING BECAUSE WE DID NOT DO A GOOD JOB AS THIS BOARD MINUS YOU, UM, HAVING EXACTLY WHAT WAS GONNA HAPPEN BECAUSE ALL WE REALLY WANT FROM POLICY SERVICES IS FOR SAN SANDERSON OR WHOEVER TO TELL US, HEY, THESE ARE THE CHANGES THAT ARE COMING DOWN.
THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE THE LEGISLATIVE UPDATES.
ALL THAT WE, I DOUBT SAN ANDERSON IS GOING CHARGE LESS THAN $2,900.
I MEAN THAT'S, THEY JUST OPEN THEIR MOUTH.
WELL, AND I'M CON I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT THOSE ARE POLICIES THAT ARE COMING DOWN TO AD AND HAVE NEW POLICIES THAT'S NOT AUDITING OUR EXISTING POLICIES.
SO IT'S GONNA BE MUCH LESS, MUCH LESS VOLUME.
AND I THINK, I SEEM TO REMEMBER THAT SANS ANDERSON WOULD SEND US ALERTS BACK IN THE DAY WITH, HEY, THIS LEGISLATIVE CHANGE IS COMING DOWN THE PIKE.
WE NEED TO, TO GET ON ON THAT.
I'M NOT, NOT READY TO DO THAT WITHOUT SEEING THAT THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS.
UM, BUT WHAT WITH THE POLICY REVIEW SECTION, THE AUDIT AND REVIEW, I MEAN, AGAIN, LIKE I THINK WHEN YOU SAY POLICY SERVICES ARE YOU'RE DOING THE 2,900, IS THAT THE LEGISLA THE LEGISLATION THEY'RE USING SOME OF THE TERMS, IT'S TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.
THEY'RE, I'M JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I HAVE THE, THE POLICY AUDIT IS THE 5,500, THE POLICY SERVICES IS THE 29.
THAT'S TO CONTINUALLY KEEP UP TO DATE.
WHEN THEY, THEY, WHEN THE LEGISLATIVE RULES COME OUT, THEY'RE SAYING, HERE, LET'S MAKE SURE UP TO DATE THE REVIEW IS GOING BACK AND SAYING, LET'S GET YOU UP TO SPEED WHERE WE ARE CURRENTLY.
'CAUSE AND HONESTLY, I'M NOT SURE WE'VE SEEN A CONTRACT FOR POLICY AUDIT BECAUSE THE CONTRACT I'M LOOKING AT THAT WE'VE ONLY SEEN HARD COPY SAYS PO LEGISLATIVE POLICY SERVICES AGREEMENT.
SO WHERE'S THE POLICY AUDIT CONTRACT? THERE'S THIS PROPOSAL.
THAT'S A PROPOSAL WHAT THEY WOULD DO.
YEAH, I MEAN I'M, I'M NOT READY TO, UNTIL I SEE A FINALIZED, UM, WELL, I MEAN, WELL THEY GAVE THE PRESENTATION THAT INCLUDED WHAT IT WOULD, WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE.
BUT YES, WE WOULD HAVE TO, AS EXPLAINED WITH ESS, THE PROCESS WOULD BE THAT WE VOTE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE POLICY AUDIT WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE BOARD WILL REVIEW THE CONTRACT AND VOTE AGAIN BEFORE ANYTHING IS SIGNED.
SO I'M JUST WONDERING, AGAIN, FOR DISCUSSION, I FEEL LIKE WE'RE DOUBLE WE'RE WE'RE DOUBLE PAYING TOO.
WE'RE PAYING THEM AND THEN WE'RE GONNA PAY OUR ATTORNEYS TO REVIEW IT, UM, AS WELL.
YOU KNOW, SO I KNOW IT WOULDN'T BE AS AS MUCH DETAIL 'CAUSE THEY'RE NOT GONNA, YOU KNOW, IT MIGHT, THEY'RE THE, THE ATTORNEYS LOOK OVER IT, BUT I'M JUST, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THAT COST GONNA LOOK LIKE? ARE WE, YOU KNOW, FOR A LOT LESS THAN WHAT IT'S COSTING US TO HAVE THE, TO PAY ATTORNEYS TO WRITE ALL OF THE DOCUMENTS AND THEN REVIEW THEM.
AND I WOULD, WOULD LIKE TO GET MORE, YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN GET SOME MORE INFORMATION FROM SAND ANDERSON, WHAT, WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE? YOU KNOW, AN ESTIMATED YEAH.
HAVE SOME REAL COST TO LOOK AT.
THAT IS, I MEAN, RIGHT NOW THEY'RE JUST DOING THE ENTIRE POLICY REWRITE, WHICH IS PRICEY.
LIKE WE KNOW THAT, AND WE DIDN'T DO A REAL CONTRACT WITH 'EM.
WE HAD THIS ONE EMAIL THAT SAID HOW MUCH IT WAS GONNA COST BASICALLY.
AND THEY DID A PRESENTATION HERE, UM, BEFORE US.
BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE AUDIT, AND THAT WAS MY QUESTION JUST NOW.
UM, I THINK THE COST FROM SAN SANDERSON IS GONNA BE ONLY IF THIS GROUP SEES, OKAY, THIS, LIKE THIS WHOLE POLICY IS REDLINED ALL OF A SUDDEN MM-HMM
SO I WOULD RATHER US DO A POLICY SERVICES THAT IS JUST A NEUTRAL ATTORNEY IS IS GIVING IT TO US THE WAY IT SHOULD BE.
IN ALL FAIRNESS, THOUGH, I THINK I'M THE ONLY PERSON ON
[02:30:01]
THIS BOARD WHO HAS ACTUALLY ATTENDED TRAININGS WITH BOTH.AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE EVALUATION FORM THAT THEY WROTE FOR US TO USE, THE SBMA IS, IS INCREDIBLY LEGAL ORIENTED.
THEY, THEY WROTE THE ENTIRE EVALUATION FORM BASED AROUND WHAT OUR LEGAL DUTIES ARE AS A SCHOOL BOARD.
AND THE TRAININGS THAT I HAVE ATTENDED ARE ALL LEGAL CENTERED.
IT'S, IT'S DOING TRAININGS ON THE DIFFERENT SOQ AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
IT, I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED THE SAME SPIN.
AND THE BIG ISSUE, THE BIG ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM IS THAT THE VSBA IS A LOBBYING GROUP.
AND SO THAT MEANS THAT ALL THE MONEY, WHAT WE'RE PAYING TO VSBA IS TAXPAYER MONEY USED TO THEN LOBBY.
AND DO WE REMEMBER ALL THE WAYS THAT THE VSBA LOBBIED AGAINST US? SO, I MEAN, WE CAN, WE CAN REVISIT THAT REAL QUICK IF, IF YOU WOULD LIKE.
UM, NO, I MEAN I KNOW WE HAD, WE HAD THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND WELL, IT WAS, YOU KNOW, ULTIMATELY IT WAS WHY ARE THEY CONTINUING TO SCREAM OUT FROM THE AUDIENCE? UM, IT WAS ALARMING TO ME TO GO BACK AND, AND REREAD SOME OF THE, UM, THE EMAIL EXCHANGES THAT TOOK PLACE IF THE SBMI, IF, IF THE SBMA WERE TO EVER BEHAVE IN THE MANNER IN WHICH THEY BEHAVED WERE THEY ARE SERVING YOU AT YOUR HOME WITH LETTERS TO COMPLAIN THAT I ASK QUESTIONS DURING A Q AND A, THEN I'M NOT GOING TO SIDE WITH THEM ON THIS EITHER.
I'VE GOT ENTIRELY TOO MANY BAGS OF PAPERS WITH ME TONIGHT.
OH, I PUT THAT IN THAT THE SBA FOLDER.
SO WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE US
I, I DON'T, I, I COULDN'T IMAGINE IT BEING LESS EXPENSIVE THAN THIS.
YOU COULD GO TO 'EM AND SAY, IF WE USE THE SBMA, WHAT'S IT, WHAT'S IT GOING TO TAKE TO GET YOU TO DOT THE I'S AND CROSS THE T'S TO MAKE SURE WE'RE IN COMPLIANCE? WHAT DOES THAT COST? I MEAN, THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS YOU COULD LOOK AT, BUT I DON'T THINK YOU'RE GONNA, I MEAN, FROM JUST WHAT WE'VE ALREADY SEEN FROM THE REWRITING OF, OF WHATEVER POLICIES WE'VE HAD SO FAR, THEY'RE, I MEAN, JUST THE REWRITING OF THE HOMESCHOOL ONES ARE PROBABLY MORE THAN TWO YEARS WORTH OF, OF THE FEES THAT WE'RE PAYING THAT WE WOULD PAY FOR THE SB MA.
WELL, YEAH, I MEAN, WE ALREADY HAVE IN WRITING FROM SAN SANDERSON WHAT THE POLICY REWRITE IS GONNA COST US THROUGH THEM.
AND THAT'S THE, WELL THEY SAY 40 TO $50,000, WHICH WE NOW KNOW IS NOT ACCURATE.
SO I THINK THAT, THAT, THAT SHIP SAILED, UM, WE'RE LOOKING AT $5,500 IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS.
UM, THAT'S NOT GOING TO MAKE OR BREAK THE, UM, THE, THE BUDGET.
WORST CASE SCENARIO THEY GO THROUGH, THEY FIX THOSE 51 AREAS THAT WERE OUTTA COMPLIANCE, OUR BOARD VOTES ON IT, AND WE'RE AT, AT BE, I MEAN THAT RIGHT? I MEAN, BEING OUT OF COMPLIANCE IS, IS GONNA PUT US MORE AT RISK.
AND I THINK WE ALL KNOW AT THIS POINT WITH OUR BUDGET THAT WE'RE FACING, UM, IT, IT'S GONNA BE OUT OF THE QUESTION TO DO A COMPLETE POLICY REWRITE AT THE, AT THE RATE THAT WE'RE GOING AT THE PRICES THAT WE'RE PAYING, UM, AT LEAST AT THIS TIME.
WELL, WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? CAN WE DO A MOTION TO, TO MOVE FORWARD AND SAYING THAT, TO GET MORE INFORMATION ON THE, ON THE ACTUAL CONTRACTS AND WHAT THEY ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE VERSUS THEORIES THAT WE'RE HAVING RIGHT NOW.
AND ALSO TO, TO SEE WHAT, WHAT, WHAT THE MATCHING VERSION WOULD BE FROM OUR ATTORNEYS.
I MEAN, IF WE SHOW THE ATTORNEYS THAT, LOOK HERE, HERE'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.
HERE'S THE POLICY, HERE'S THE PROPOSAL, WHAT ARE YOU GONNA CHARGE US FOR THAT HAVE APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISON.
WELL, AND REMEMBER THE COST WITH THE SBMA IS NOT THE FULL COST.
'CAUSE WE KNOW THAT SOME OF THOSE, NOT ALL, SOME OF THOSE ARE GONNA GO THROUGH OUR LAWYERS.
SO THERE WILL BE AN ADDITIONAL COST.
SO I DON'T KNOW THAT IT WOULD NECESSARILY BE APPLES TO APPLES, BUT, BUT I AGREE WITH WHERE YOU'RE GOING, LIKE GET SOME FACTS AND FIGURES AND FIGURE OUT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
AND I THINK IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO EXPLORE, LIKE I SAID, THE CONSORTIUM OR WHATEVER YOU WANNA CALL IT, IF, IS THAT AN OPTION? IS THAT SOMETHING WE COULD GET OFF THE GROUND? IS THAT A YEAR LONG
[02:35:01]
PROJECT? I DON'T KNOW.AND I KNOW WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT FOR YEARS, BUT WE'VE NEVER ACTUALLY TALKED TO ANY OTHER COUNTIES ABOUT IT.
WE'VE ONLY TALKED TO NO, I HAVE TALKED, I HAVE, I HAVE ACTIVELY SOUGHT OUT ATTORNEYS AND SPOKEN, REACHED OUT AND SPOKEN TO OTHER SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS IN SURROUNDING COUNTIES.
SO YES, NO, I ACTIVELY HAVE, AND THE ISSUE HAS ALWAYS BEEN FINDING AN ATTORNEY THAT'S WILLING TO, TO DO THAT.
UM, IT, IT'S DIFFICULT TO SAY THE LEAST.
SO NO, I, I'VE PUT IN CONSIDERABLE TIME DOING THAT.
UM, SO I WOULD SAY THAT THE OTHER THING WE HAVE TO CONSIDER TOO IS THAT THE SBMA DID SAY AS THEY HAVE OTHER BOARDS THAT ARE LEAVING THE VSBA, THIS PRICE IS NOT GOING TO STICK.
IF WE'RE NOT JUMPING ON AT THE GROUND LEVEL, THEN THE, THE PRICE IS NOT GOING TO STICK.
SO IT COULD END UP, WE MIGHT MISS OUT ON THIS, ON THIS DEAL.
SO, AND I'M JUST WONDERING IF WE CAN JUST GET SOME OTHER, AS, AS TOM HAD MENTIONED, GET SOME OTHER OPTIONS AND THEN BRING IT BACK TO THE TABLE AT OUR WORK SESSION SO THAT WAY WE CAN HAVE SOME MORE NUMBERS TO LOOK AT.
WE HAVE THE FULL KNOWLEDGE ALL BACK TOGETHER AND WE HAD THE DIFFERENT CONTRACTS FROM THE DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
I MEAN, THE ONLY PLAYERS WE KNOW CURRENTLY ARE V-S-B-A-B-A WHO THE BOARD CHOSE TO LEAVE.
AND THEN WE HAVE SBMA AND THEN WE HAVE OUR LAWYERS.
SO IF WE LOOK AT SBMA AND OUR CURRENT LAWYERS AND SAY, GIVE US AN APPLE TO APPLES.
AND ALSO ASKING, I MEAN WE, WE MIGHT HAVE SOME, UM, FROM WHEN VSBA WAS DOING OUR POLICIES, APPARENTLY OUR LAWYERS HAD TO LOOK AT THAT YES.
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY HAVE, THEY WOULD HAVE SOME KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, IF, IF THEY WERE PRESENTED WITH A WELL PUT TOGETHER POLICY AND THEY JUST HAD TO SHAKE IT UP A LITTLE BIT, WHAT WOULD SOMETHING AT THAT COST? I MEAN, THEY SHOULD KNOW WHETHER IT'S AN HOUR OR TWO OR WHATEVER.
WELL DO WE HAVE, WE SHOULD HAVE SOMETHING TO COMPARE.
WITH, UM, THE LOG TIME THAT THE ATTORNEY JUST SPENT TO REVIEW THE HOMESCHOOL POLICY THAT HE WROTE, DID THEY ALREADY SEND THE BILL FOR THAT? YEAH, I'M, I'M NOT SURE I SAW SOMETHING BILL FROM THERE FOR $12,000 FROM, FROM THEM IN, IN YOUR CLERK'S REPORT.
WELL, THAT WAS, YEAH, I HAVE THE ACTUAL INVOICES WHERE IT'S BROKEN DOWN.
THAT WAS NOT FOR, UM, ALL OF THAT FOR GRIEF.
AND, UH, WELL, I MEAN, THAT WOULD BE, YOU'RE RIGHT, THAT WOULD BE A GOOD INDICATOR IF WE RECEIVE THE BILL FOR, BECAUSE THAT POLICY WAS ALREADY YEAH, BASICALLY READY.
IT JUST NEEDED TO BE REVIEWED.
WELL THAT WAS, THAT WAS MY POINT THOUGH, IS THAT THE POLICIES THAT IF WE DO THE, THE AUDIT AND UPDATE THE POLICY WILL BE WRITTEN BY THE SBMA.
WE'LL HAVE OUR CHANCE TO EDIT IT, WE'LL SEND IT TO THE ATTORNEY AND LIKE YOU SAID, IT'D BE LIKE AN HOUR FOR THE ATTORNEY TO, TO READ IT OVER.
SO, I MEAN, UNLESS THERE'S SOME SORT OF HUGE DRASTIC CHANGE.
'CAUSE THE ONE THING I'D SAY IS WHEN WE FIRST STARTED THE HOMESCHOOL POLICY, WE, WE HAD OUR, OUR LAWYERS DO IT, AND THEN OUR, OUR HOMESCHOOL KNOWLEDGEABLE PERSON WITH HEVE SAID, YEAH, MOST OF THIS STUFF IS, IS STILL NOT IN COMPLIANCE.
SO THEY ACTUALLY TOLD THE LAWYERS THIS ISN'T IN COMPLIANCE.
AND THEN THEY CHANGED IT AND REDLINED EVERYTHING.
AND SO IT WAS, IT WAS KIND OF INTERESTING THAT THE POLICY THEY PUT FORWARD IS WHICHEVER VERSION IS, IS ON THERE WAS THEIR FIRST ATTEMPT AT IT BY OUR LAWYERS AND, AND IT WASN'T IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW.
SO THAT'S KIND OF, WE'RE WE'RE PROMOTING SAYING, WELL, OUR LAWYERS KNOW WHAT'S IN COMPLIANCE TO THE LAW, BUT AT LEAST, AND THEN THEY, THEY SUBMITTED TO IT BECAUSE THEY CHANGED AND SAID, YEAH, YEAH, YOU'RE RIGHT.
LET'S, LET'S MM-HMM,
SO WHAT WE HAVE NOW IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW, BUT I, BUT WHEN WE DID OUR FIRST, UH, DRAFT AT IT, THE, OUR LAWYERS DIDN'T MAKE IT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW.
AND SO WE STARTED OFF WITH A POLICY THAT WAS OUT OF LEGAL COMPLIANCE, GROSSLY OUT OF LEGAL COMPLIANCE THAT CAME FROM THE VSBA.
IT WAS THEN SENT, WE PAID THE LAWYER A BUNCH OF MONEY TO TRY TO GET US INTO LEGAL COMPLIANCE.
AND WE FOUND OUT IT STILL WASN'T IN LEGAL COMPLIANCE.
THEN WE UTILIZED HEVE TO REWRITE IT, AND NOW WE'RE IN LEGAL COMPLIANCE, SO TO SAY, I GUESS WE WENT WITH THE ROTTEN FISH OPTION AND GOT THE MOST LEGAL WONDERFUL POLICY.
LIKE IT WAS THE, IT WAS THE, THE FREE SERVICE THAT CAUGHT US IN LEGAL COMPLIANCE WITH THE POLICY THAT WE JUST VOTED TO APPROVE.
SO WITH THAT SAID, I THINK, UM, I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE FULL YEAR POLICY AUDIT AND REVIEW WITH THE SBMA PROVIDED OR PENDING A, AN ACTUAL CONTRACT SUBMITTED TO THE BOARD ABSENT OF AN EXCLUSIVITY CLAUSE THAT OUR BOARD WILL BE VOTING ON THE CONTRACT AT A, AT
[02:40:01]
A FOLLOWING MEETING.IS THERE A SECOND? I SECOND THAT.
WE'RE NOT VOTING TO DO THE AUDIT.
WE'RE VOTING TO GET THE CONTRACT AND SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
AND IN THE MEANTIME, WE CAN ALSO DO OUR OWN WORK IF WE WANT TO.
THAT WE WILL BE GETTING, THAT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH REQUESTING A CONTRACT FROM THE SBMA FOR THE POLICY AUDIT.
I'M NOT ADDING THE POLICY SERVICES TO THAT, JUST THE, JUST THE REVIEW TO GET US INTO LEGAL COMPLIANCE.
BUT WE NEED TO, WE NEED A CONTRACT FIRST.
AND I THINK AS, AS A BOARD, LIKE I, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS.
WELL, NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS FOR A SCHOOL SYSTEM.
FISCAL YEAR STARTS JULY 1ST, THE SCHOOL YEAR STARTS IN AUGUST.
UM, I KNOW VIEWING AND READING THESE CONTRACTS IS GONNA BE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS BOARD DOING MOVING FORWARD WITH, WITH ALL MATTERS.
SO WE DON'T END UP WITH AN ISSUE LIKE WE DID WITH SAN SANDERSON IN AN OPEN CHECKBOOK OR ESS IN AN OPEN CHECKBOOK.
ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS ON THAT? CAN YOU REREAD, RESTATE WHAT YOU SORRY, CAN YOU RESTATE
UM, I, I WANNA MAKE IT, I, I JUST WANNA BE VERY CLEAR ON WHAT IT, WHAT IT IS AND I, I'M SORRY TO NO, THAT'S FINE.
IF, IF WE CAN RE RESTATE THAT, UM, I MOVE THAT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH REQUESTING A CONTRACT FROM THE SBMA FOR THEIR POLICY AUDIT SERVICES.
IS THAT, DID I USE THE CORRECT TERM FOR WHAT THEY CALLED IT? THE, THE AUDIT? IT'S THE AUDIT.
THE AUDIT, THE POLICY SERVICES, RIGHT.
ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.
I'M GONNA ASK FOR A BREAK UNTIL NINE 15.
WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND GET BACK TO IT.
[5.K. Award Property, Liability, Auto, Student Accident, and Workers Compensation Insurances for FY2024-2025 - Mr. Ballentine]
NEXT UP THIS EVENING IS THE AWARD PROPERTY LIABILITY, AUTO STUDENT ACCIDENT AND WORKERS COMPENSATION INSURANCES FOR FY 24 25.UM, SINCE JULY 1ST, 2004, 20 YEARS AGO, WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS PARTICIPATED IN AND BEEN INSURED BY THE VIRGINIA ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES GROUP, SELF-INSURANCE RISK POOL KNOWN AS V CORP.
I'VE ATTACHED A 24 YEAR HISTORY OF OUR, UM, RATES BROKEN OUT BY THE DIFFERENT LINES OF COVERAGE.
AND THE RENEWAL RATES FOR NEXT YEAR ARE $12,041 MORE THAN THIS YEAR, WHICH EQUATES TO 3.8%.
UM, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT IT OVER A 22 YEAR PERIOD, THE RATES HAVE GONE UP $25,163, AND THAT'S 8.2% OVER A 22 YEAR PERIOD.
AND I WILL NOTE THIS, THE VALUE OF OUR BUILDINGS HAS, UH, INCREASED EXPONENTIALLY OVER THAT TIME WITH THE ADDITION OF A SECOND HIGH SCHOOL, A SECOND MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND BUILDINGS RENOVATED AND ALL THOSE THINGS.
SO, UM, I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT IT FROM THAT STANDPOINT, THAT'S PRETTY REASONABLE WHEN YOU PROBABLY COMPARE THAT TO YOUR OWN HOMEOWNER'S INSURANCE, WHAT IT'S DONE OVER THE PAST 24, 22 YEARS.
UM, SO WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR THIS EVENING IS YOUR APPROVAL TO ALLOW THE, UH, SUPERINTENDENT TO SIGN THE COVERAGE INTENT FORM.
NOW WE DON'T HAVE A BUDGET YET FOR NEXT YEAR, SO IT HAS TO BE DONE, YOU KNOW, CONTINGENT UPON AS PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING WE DO, SUFFICIENT FUNDS BEING APPROPRIATED.
HOPEFULLY LATER ON THIS MONTH, WE'LL GET OUR APPROPRIATION FROM THE COUNTY AND WE'LL BE GOOD.
BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, THI THIS INSURANCE IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE GOTTA DO.
AND, UH, I WOULD RECOMMEND STAYING WITH FA CORP, UM, BECAUSE THE SERVICE HAS BEEN GOOD AS FAR AS OUR CLAIMS, AND AS, AS YOU SEE, THE RATES HAVE BEEN VERY STABLE OVER A, UM, PROTRACTED PERIOD OF TIME.
GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THOUGH.
ARE, ARE THERE OTHER OPTIONS BESIDES BAY CORP? I MEAN, YOU, YOU'VE OBVIOUSLY BEEN HAPPY WITH THEM, YOU'RE DOING IT FOR 25 YEARS.
THERE, THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS.
UM, THERE ARE OTHER GROUP RISK POOLS, UM, LEAVING ONE AND GOING TO ANOTHER.
THERE ARE SOME EXPENSES TYPICALLY WHEN YOU LEAVE ONE, BECAUSE IT IS A GROUP POOL, AND I, YOU KNOW, I GUESS YOU COULD GO OUT AND LOOK FOR PRIVATE INSURERS ALSO, UM, BECAUSE WE ARE A MEMBER OF THIS SELF, UM, INSURED RISK POOL, UM, PROCUREMENT
[02:45:01]
LAW ALLOWS US TO DO THAT WITHOUT HAVING TO PUT IT OUT.FORBID THAT DOESN'T SAY WE CAN'T, OR THERE MAY BE A CASE WHERE, UH, IT, IT WOULD BE ADVISABLE TO DO THAT.
UM, RIGHT NOW I'M JUST NOT SURE, UM, THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO GET A BETTER DEAL AND, UM, ON THAT.
ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FOR MR. VALENTINE? IS THERE A MOTION I MOVE THAT PROPERTY LIABILITY, STUDENT ACCIDENT AUTO CYBER RISK AND WORKERS' COMPENSATION INSURANCES FOR 24 25 BE RENEWED AS RECOMMENDED THROUGH THE VIRGINIA ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY'S GROUP, SELF-INSURANCE RISK POOL, AS OUTLINED IN THEIR PROPOSAL, AND THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT BE AUTHORIZED TO SIGN THE 24 25 COVERAGE INTENT FORM WITH APPROVAL BEING CONTINGENT UPON SUFFICIENT FUNDS BEING APPROPRIATED.
IS THERE A SECOND? I SECOND IT.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IS IN FAVOR, AYE.
[5.L. IRT/Technology Restructure Plan (Title II Position) - Ms. Bragg/Mr. Stefnoski]
IRT TECHNOLOGY RESTRUCTURE PLAN TITLE TWO, POSITION MS. BRAGG AND MR. STEF.THE INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCE TEAM AND THE TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENTS ARE PROPOSING A RESTRUCTURING OF POSITIONS TO PROVIDE INCREASED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT TO TEACHERS FOCUSED ON STUDENT DATA ANALYSIS, IMPLEMENTATION OF CHANGING STANDARDS AND BEST PRACTICES TO SUPPORT THE IMPROVEMENT OF STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES.
SO THIS POSITION IS PART OF TITLE TWO.
WE'RE REFERRING TO DOUG'S CURRENT POSITION, UM, AS THE INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY COORDINATOR.
AS YOU KNOW, DOUG'S MOVING ON TO THE DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY.
AND SO HIS POSITION ON THE INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCE TEAM ON IRT, WE'RE LOOKING TO CHANGE THAT TO MEET THE NEEDS THAT WE SEE FROM AN ANALYSIS OF OUR DATA, OUR SOLS, AND GOING FORWARD WITH TEACHER SUPPORT AND HOW WE CAN, UM, HELP TO INCREASE, UH, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR TEACHERS AND IMPROVE, UM, OUR STUDENTS' LEARNING OUTCOMES.
SO IN THE ATTACHMENTS YOU'LL SEE WE HAVE AN EXPLANATION AND SUMMARY.
IN ADDITION TO THE JOB DESCRIPTIONS, LET ME SAY UPFRONT, THIS IS, THIS WOULD BE A TITLE TWO FUNDED POSITION.
IT DOES NOT IMPACT THE LOCAL BUDGET.
IT IS DEPENDENT UPON TITLE TWO FUNDING.
AND YOU'LL NOTICE IN THE NEXT ITEM WE HAVE LIKE THE APPROVAL OF THE TITLE TWO FUNDS.
THIS CHANGE IS NOT IN THERE BECAUSE YOU HADN'T VOTED ON IT.
UM, SO IT'S ALL RELATED TO HOW MUCH MONEY WE WILL RECEIVE FROM TITLE TWO, WHICH WE DON'T KNOW THAT EXACT AMOUNT FOR NEXT YEAR YET.
UM, AND IT WOULD BE PAID FOR FROM THAT TITLE TWO MONEY.
SO IT DOES NOT IMPACT THE LOCAL BUDGET.
SO WITH THE RESTRUCTURING, WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING, UM, IS A CHANGE IN THE TITLE FROM THE INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY COORDINATOR TO AN INSTRUCTION SUPPORT COORDINATOR.
THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES OF THAT INSTRUCTION SUPPORT COORDINATOR WOULD BE TO FACILITATE, UH, INTENSIVE AND SUSTAINED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR THE SCHOOL DIVISION.
AND WE WOULD ASSIGN THAT, UH, OR PRIORITIZE THAT BASED ON SOL DATA AND THE NEEDS THAT WE RECOGNIZE.
SO WE ARE, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT MAKING THAT IF THIS IS APPROVED AND THE MONEY IS FUNDED, THEIR FOCUS NEXT YEAR WOULD BE IN THE AREA OF SCIENCE.
IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY CAN'T SUPPORT OTHER THINGS.
THEY WOULD BE A FUNCTIONING MEMBER OF THE IRT.
WE'RE INVOLVED IN A LOT OF THE LEADERSHIP DECISIONS RELATED TO MATTERS OF INSTRUCTION, BUT THEIR CURRICULUM FOCUS WOULD BE PRIMARILY IN SCIENCE BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZE THAT THAT IS A NEED FOR OUR DIVISION.
UM, THEY WOULD SUPPORT TEACHERS THROUGH, UH, COACHING.
THEY WOULD GO THROUGH OUR STUDENT-CENTERED COACHING, UH, TRAINING THAT WE'VE ESTABLISHED AS A DIVISION FOR OUR MODEL.
UM, THEY WOULD BE PART OF HELPING TO, YOU KNOW, TRAIN, UH, PRINCIPALS AND OTHER SCHOOL LEADERS AND HOW TO, UM, IMPROVE OUR CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION ALIGNMENT AND GENERALLY SUPPORTING TEACHERS AS PART OF, AS PART OF IRT.
AND THEN I'M GONNA LET DOUG SORT OF TALK ABOUT HOW THIS IMPACTS HIS DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY POSITION, UM, AND THE, UH, LEAD TICK THAT HE'S REQUESTING THE STIPEND FOR.
SO YEAH, WHEN I WAS FIRST BRINGING THIS IDEA UP TO SAY HOW I THINK WE COULD BETTER SUPPORT THE DISTRICT BASED ON OUR CURRENT PERSONNEL AND OUR NEEDS, UM, AS WE TRY TO SHIFT AWAY FROM THE INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY COORDINATOR TO THE INSTRUCTION SUPPORT COORDINATOR, UH, I WAS HOPING TO TAKE ON SOME OF THE, UH, PROFESSIONAL
[02:50:01]
DEVELOPMENT BULLET POINTS THAT WOULD FALL WITHIN MY CURRENT JOB DESCRIPTION SO THAT WE COULD, UM, HAVE A CONTINUITY OF SERVICE, USE MY EXPERTISE TO HELP KIND OF KEEP THINGS, UH, SUPPORTED WITHIN THE DISTRICT.UM, AND ALSO, UM, TO BE PERFECTLY FRANK, LIKE THAT'S A PIECE THAT I'M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT.
SO LIKE, FOR MY OWN JOB SATISFACTION, I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE THAT AS WELL.
UM, BUT TO TRY TO HELP BALANCE THINGS OUT, I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE HAVING A LEAD TIC, WHICH COULD BE SOMEBODY THAT COULD HELP SUPPORT AND MENTOR OUR NEW TICKS, UM, AND ALSO HELP SUPPORT, DO OUR PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES.
UM, JUST PROVIDE ME SOME EXTRA SUPPORT WITHIN THIS POSITION TOO.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? IS ARE, ARE ALL THE NEW POSITIONS COVERED BY THE TITLE II GRANT? BOTH.
BOTH THE, BOTH THE STIPEND AND THE NEW POSITION WOULD BE IN OUR, UM, IT WOULD BE IN A, AN AMENDMENT, WHICH I KNOW MAY SEEM STRANGE SINCE YOU'RE GETTING READY TO VOTE ON THE TITLE ONE, BUT WE WOULD HAVE TO DO AN AMENDMENT BECAUSE OF THE CHANGE.
BUT YES, WE WOULD SUBMIT IT THROUGH TITLE TWO.
AND WE DO HAVE OUR FEDERAL GRANTS COORDINATOR KIND OF PRELIMINARILY ASKING IF THIS IS GOING TO FIT A TITLE TWO AMENDMENT.
SO WE, WE WOULD KNOW KIND OF AHEAD OF TIME IF THIS IS GONNA BE A GO OR NOT.
AND IF FOR SOME REASON IT WEREN'T, WE JUST, WE WOULDN'T GO FORWARD WITH IT.
WE WOULD KEEP THE, YOU KNOW, PERHAPS THE INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY COORDINATOR POSITION THE WAY IT, THE WAY THAT IT IS, OR TRY TO LOOK AT SOME OTHER WAY TO PROVIDE THE, UM, THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT THAT WE NEED.
OR IF THEY PROVIDE SOME FEEDBACK, THEN MAYBE WE COULD JUST USE THAT TO TWEAK THE JOB DESCRIPTION.
CAN YOU SPEAK ABOUT HOW THIS NEW ROLE, THE INSTRUCTION SUPPORT COORDINATOR WOULD INTERFACE WITH THE WORK THAT HOPE PETTY DOES AND, AND HER PEOPLE LIKE WHAT'S DIFFERENT? WHAT'S THE SAME? WHERE'S THE OVERLAP THAT THIS PERSON WOULD BE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH? HOPE AS FAR AS TEACHER SUPPORT COORDINATOR, BUT ALSO, UM, NOT THAT HOPE DOES NOT WORK CLOSELY WITH OUR, ALSO OUR ENGLISH AND MATH CURRICULUM COORDINATORS.
I THINK WE KIND OF SEE IT AS A LITTLE BIT OF A, OF A HYBRID BETWEEN PROVIDING, UM, THAT TEACHER SUPPORT, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND COACHING AND ALSO HAVING THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTIONAL BACKGROUND THAT SORT OF OUR ENGLISH COORDINATORS AND MATH COORDINATORS BRING ESSENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE, UM, YOU KNOW, AN ENGLISH COORDINATOR AND A MATH COORDINATOR FOR K 12 SCIENCES BEING COVERED BY, UM, OUR MATH COORDINATORS.
UM, AND IT WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ALLOW SOME, UM, DISPERSING OF THE THREE CORE CONTENTS THAT ARE PART OF ACCREDITATION AND ALLOWING THIS PERSON TO IMMEDIATELY PICK UP SOME OF THAT SCIENCE RESPONSIBILITY TO GET INTO THOSE CLASSROOMS WHERE WE RECOGNIZE WE NEED TO BE TRENDING IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.
DOES THAT HELP ANSWER OR, YEAH.
AND SO IN THAT WAY, SOMETIMES IT IS A LITTLE BIT HARD TO SORT OF PARCEL OUT SOMETHING SPECIFIC.
IT'S, IT'S, IT'S ANOTHER PERSON ON THAT IRT IN, IN MUCH THE WAY THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO USE DOUG AS KEEPING SOME OF THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES THAT HE AND HOPE THEY HAVE ESTABLISHED THAT, UM, COACHING MODEL THAT WE USE IN THE, IN THE DIVISION.
AND SO TO BE ABLE TO KEEP, UM, YOU KNOW, SOME OF, SOME, SOME OF, SOME OF DOUG'S ATTENTION AS HE TAKES ON THAT NEW ROLE WITH THE INSTRUCTIONAL TEAM AND THEN ADD ANOTHER PERSON, IT'S GIVING US THAT SUPPORT THAT WE NEED, THAT OUR DATA SHOWS THAT WE NEED TO BE GIVING TO OUR TEACHERS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS THERE? MOTION? I MOVE THAT THE WARREN COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD APPROVED THE RESTRUCTURING OF THE INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY COORDINATOR POSITION TO AN INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT COORDINATOR POSITION AND THE STIPEND FOR LEAD TICK AS PART OF THE IRT SLASH TECHNOLOGY RESTRUCTURING PLAN, PROVIDED THAT THE CHANGES ARE ACCEPTED, CHANGES ACCEPTED ARE ACCEPTED THROUGH THE TITLE TWO GRANT.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION? ALL IS IN FAVOR? AYE.
[5.M. Title I, II, III, and IV Grant Applications Approval - Ms. Bragg]
THEN WE HAVE THE TITLE 1, 2, 3, AND FOUR GRANT APPLICATIONS APPROVAL, MS. BRAG.SO THE TITLE 1, 2, 3, AND FOUR APPLICATIONS SEEK FEDERAL FUNDING TO IMPROVE THE BASIC INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS, TEACHER AND PRINCIPAL
[02:55:01]
TRAINING AND RECRUITING SUPPORT FOR LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION FOR ENGLISH LEARNERS, AND INCREASE THE DIVISION'S CAPACITY TO PROVIDE ALL STUDENTS WITH ACCESS TO A WELL, WELL-ROUNDED EDUCATION.THE DRAFT GRANT APPLICATIONS WERE SUBMITTED FOR REVIEW TO THE BOARD AT THE WORK SESSION ON MAY 15TH.
ALL OF THE TITLE GRANTS ARE BASED ON THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S ALLOCATION AND APPLICATIONS ARE DUE BY JULY 1ST.
THE BUDGET FIGURES ARE PRELIMINARY.
ONCE VDOE PROVIDES THE OFFICIAL ALLOCATIONS, THE APPLICATIONS WILL BE REVISED AS NEEDED.
WE ARE REQUESTING THAT THE TITLE 1, 2, 3, AND FOUR APPLICATIONS BE APPROVED FOR SUBMISSION TO THE VDOE.
ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? IS THERE A MOTION I MOVE THAT THE TITLE 1, 2, 3, AND FOUR GRANT APPLICATIONS BE SUBMITTED TO THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR APPROVAL? IS THERE A SECOND? I SECOND IT.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.
[6. Discussions by School Board]
ARE THERE ANY BOARD MEMBER REQUESTS FOR UPCOMING MEETINGS, WORK SESSIONS? YES.UM, SO I TOUCHED ON THE ONE REQUEST DURING MY, UM, REPORT FROM THE BOARD REGARDING DISCIPLINE.
UM, RIGHT WITH THE, WELL, WITH THE, UM, VANDALISM, THE VANDALISM, ALLOWING THE, UM, FACILITIES DEPARTMENT TO POST PUBLISH PHOTOS OF SOME OF WHAT IT IS THAT THEY'RE DEALING WITH.
UM, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW IF WE REALLY WOULD NEED A VOTE ON DOING SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
IT COULD JUST BE AT THE SUPERINTENDENT'S DIRECTION.
UM, I THINK IT'D BE JUST NICE TO KNOW LIKE, WHAT KIND OF COSTS ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? I MEAN, WE'VE NEVER REALLY SEEN WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, AND I'M SURE THAT FACILITIES HAS AN IDEA OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, LIKE WHAT IT LOOK LIKE FOR THIS PAST SCHOOL YEAR.
MAYBE HE COULD TELL US ON OUR WORK SESSION.
HE DESCRIBED SOME OF IT TO US.
AND WHEN THEY WERE FLUSHING THESE ITEMS DOWN THE TOILET AND THEN USING THE TOILET AFTERWARDS TO THE POINT THAT IT'S THEN FILLED UP AND THEY CAN'T, THEY CAN'T PLUNGE IT DOWN, THEY HAVE TO PULL IT OUT.
THEY, THEY'RE LITERALLY HAVING TO TAKE THE FISH, THE STUFF OUT AND THEN TAKE THE TOILET OUT AND REMOVE THE TOILET TO THEN ADDRESS THE PLUMBING ISSUES OF WHAT HAS BEEN FLUSHED DOWN INTO THE, THE SEWER SYSTEM.
UM, AND THEN THE OTHER, UM, REQUESTS THAT I HAD, I HAD TOUCHED ON IN EMAILS PRIOR ABOUT THE CHANGE IN HOW WE TRACK OUR, OUR POSITIONS AND THE VACANCY.
JUST, JUST BETTER, UM, USE OF EXCEL DOCUMENTS SO THAT THE DATA IS MORE EASILY ACCESSIBLE.
UM, I KNOW RIGHT NOW IT, IT'S COME UP IN THE, IN THE PAST WITH, WITH, UM, WHEN WE HAVE THE PERSONNEL REPORT VOTED ON AND IT SHOWS, YOU KNOW, TEACHER X, YZ IS REPLACING TEACHER A, B, C, AND IT HAD BEEN BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION, WELL, TEACHER A, B, C LEFT TWO YEARS AGO.
SO IT DOESN'T REALLY GIVE AN ACCURATE DEPICTION.
I WOULD LIKE FOR OUR DIVISION TO KNOW SPECIFICALLY WHO IS, WHO IS IN EVERY CLASSROOM IN A MORE EASILY TRACKABLE, UM, DOCUMENT FOR, FOR MULTIPLE REASONS.
I MEAN, NUMBER ONE, WE NEED TO KNOW WHO'S WHO.
IF WE NEED TO LOOK BACK AND SAY, HEY, WHO WAS IN THIS CLASSROOM AT THIS TIME PERIOD, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO EASILY AND QUICKLY FIGURE THAT OUT.
AND THEN WHEN WE'RE REVIEWING SOL SCORES AT THE END OF THE YEAR, I THINK IT'S RELEVANT BECAUSE IF WE HAVE, DO WE HAVE A A LICENSED TEACHER IN THE ROOM OR DID THAT, DID THAT CLASSROOM HAVE A LONG-TERM SUB FOR HALF THE YEAR OR WERE THEY HAVING TO BE COVERED ELSEWHERE? AND THEN WE CAN ALSO SEE FROM THERE WHAT, UM, WHAT TEACHING STAFF WE HAVE THAT ARE GIVING UP PLANNING PERIODS SO THEY CAN COVER EXTRA CLASSES.
BUT THOSE VACANCY REPORTS AND THE VACANCY TRACKING IS CRITICAL ALSO FROM A BUDGETING STANDPOINT, BECAUSE IT WAS, IT WAS AWFUL TO, TO SIT WITH THE SUPERVISORS AT THAT JOINT MEETING AND HAVE NO IDEA HOW MANY VACANT POSITIONS WE HAD.
BECAUSE THAT DOES AFFECT OUR BUDGET.
IF WE, IF WE'RE HAVING TEACHERS GIVING UP THEIR PLANNING PERIODS TO DO DOUBLE DUTY, WELL WE'RE NOT COVERING, THAT'S, THAT'S THE, WE'RE NOT COVERING THAT HEALTH INSURANCE COST.
SO THAT'S WHERE WE'VE THEN GOT UNACCOUNTED FOR MONEY OR WAS IT ACCOUNTED FOR WITH THE ESS BUDGET? IT'S, IT, IT'S, WE NEED TO BE MORE DATA DRIVEN ON, ON THIS BOARD.
AND I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD
[03:00:01]
PLACE TO, TO START FRESH THIS SCHOOL YEAR.UM, AND THEN THE LAST THING IS I WOULD LIKE TO REASSERT MY DESIRE TO CREATE A TWO MEMBER, UH, PUPILS AND PERSONNEL COMMITTEE.
I KNOW THIS IDEA WAS SHOT DOWN IN JANUARY, BUT AT THIS POINT I DON'T THINK WE CAN AFFORD TO NOT HAVE THIS.
IT HAS RECENTLY COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT WE HAD SOME PRE PRETTY SERIOUS STAFF CONCERNS, UM, THAT WENT ON FOR WELL OVER A YEAR, BUT WERE NEVER BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF OUR BOARD.
I'LL SAY IT AGAIN, I SAY IT ALL THE TIME.
WE CAN'T FIX WHAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT.
UM, AND TO THE STAFF WHO ARE LISTENING RIGHT NOW, WE NEED YOU TO KNOW THAT IF YOU DO NOT TELL US DIRECTLY, IF YOU DO NOT TELL BOARD MEMBERS DIRECTLY ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT YOU'RE FACING, YOU HAVE TO ASSUME THAT WE DO NOT KNOW ABOUT IT.
UM, I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE US TRY TO INTERVENE BEFORE WE HAVE, UM, SO MANY RESIGNATIONS.
I WAS ABSOLUTELY HORRIFIED TO SEE THE STACK THAT WE WENT THROUGH TONIGHT OF HOW MANY STAFF MEMBERS THAT WERE LEAVING AND WE DIDN'T GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRY TO, TO HELP SALVAGE ANY OF THOSE RELATIONSHIPS BECAUSE WE WERE KEPT COMPLETELY IN THE DARK ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON.
SO THESE ISSUES, LIKE I SAID, HAVE NOW RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF MULTIPLE STAFF MEMBERS.
AND CURRENTLY IT FEELS LIKE THE ONLY TIME THAT, THAT THE BOARD CAN TRULY INTERVENE IS, IS WITH THIS, WITH, BY THE TIME IT COMES TO A GRIEVANCE HEARING.
AND AS WE'VE NOW LEARNED A GRIEVANCE HEARING, I THINK WE SPENT OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ON THAT.
SO AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION IS WORTH A POUND A CURE.
AND I THINK WE COULD REALLY IMPROVE THINGS IN OUR DIVISION IF WE HAD TWO BOARD MEMBERS AND WE COULD CYCLE THROUGH.
THAT WOULD BE, MY PROPOSAL WOULD BE LIKE THAT.
UM, IF YOU GUYS DON'T WANNA ROTATE THROUGH, THEN I WILL MAKE THE TIME FOR IT.
UM, BUT JUST TWO BOARD MEMBERS TO SIT DOWN PUPILS AND PERSONNEL IF THEY, AND THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY SKIP THE CHAIN OF COMMAND, THEY GO THROUGH THEIR CHAIN OF COMMAND, BUT IF THEY'RE NOT GETTING THEIR ISSUES RESOLVED, THEY COULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SIT DOWN WITH BOARD MEMBERS AND DISCUSS WHAT'S GOING ON.
AND THEN THOSE TWO BOARD MEMBERS CAN TRY TO HELP RESOLVE THE ISSUES.
ANYBODY ELSE? I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO REVIEW INFORMATION ABOUT DIFFERENT POLICY SERVICE OPTIONS LIKE WE HAD TALKED ABOUT IN THE LAST PREVIOUS ITEM.
ANYBODY ELSE? UM, IF I WAS GONNA ADD TO THAT AND JUST SEE, UNLESS EVERYONE IS ADAMANTLY OPPOSED TO UM, THIS MEETING WITH THESE OTHER COUNTIES, UM, THAT WE JUST GO AHEAD AND DECIDE THAT OKAY.
WE CAN AT LEAST HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK MS. LOWE AND MR. MCFADDEN TO GO, BECAUSE SHE'S ASKED I GUESS FOR POLICY, SERVICE OPTIONS AND THE DREAM TEAM.
I SAID THE DREAM TEAM AND YOU ARE LIKE SUPER INTO READING OUR POLICIES.
I FEEL LIKE
SO THOSE WOULD JUST BE MY TWO REQUESTS.
UM, AND WHY I HAVE ASKED, UM, IF YOU GUYS WOULD BE WILLING TO DO THAT, I CAN LIKE GET YOU THAT INFORMATION.
I THINK
I SAID I WAS GONNA ASK THE BOARD TONIGHT AND I THINK, UM, SOMEBODY ELSE IS ASKING THEIR BOARD NEXT WEEK, SO.
I'M CERTAINLY OPEN TO, TO THAT.
WAS CLARK INTERESTED AT ALL? 'CAUSE I, WELL I HAD SPOKEN TO THEM AT ONE POINT, BUT OKAY.
I MEAN THIS IS JUST LIKE ONE PERSON'S EMAIL, SO I FEEL LIKE WE COULD CERTAINLY EXPAND THAT TO WHOEVER.
[7. Work Session]
BUDGET DISCUSSION.I BELIEVE WE HAVE AN UPDATED DOCUMENT ON HERE THAT POPPED ON.
UM, I'M TRYING TO GET HERE 'CAUSE I,
[03:05:02]
ALL RIGHT, THERE WE GO.SO MR. VALENTINE HAS WORKED THROUGH, UM, JUST KIND OF SIMPLIFIES THINGS SO WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A LOT OF PAPER AND I'LL KIND OF LET HIM EXPLAIN EVERYTHING HERE AS WE LOOK THROUGH THIS SHEET.
BUT ONE THING YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER IS THAT, UM, WE DID GET OUR CALC TEMPLATE AND WE DID GET CUT, UH, I BELIEVE IT WAS 147,000.
IS THAT CORRECT, ROB? FROM THE STATE.
SO WE DID SEE LESS REVENUE FROM THE STATE THAN WHAT WE WERE PROJECTING BY ABOUT $150,000.
YEAH, IT WAS 127,000 200 7827.
IS THAT REFLECTED ON THE SHEET? THAT WAS, SO THAT IS NOW REFLECTED ON THAT SHEET NOW.
SO, MR. BALLANTINE, IF YOU DON'T MIND, UH, OKAY.
GOING OVER YOUR PROPOSED HERE, UM, AND WHAT WE HAVE AND WHAT, AND THEN WE CAN OPEN UP FOR DISCUSSION AFTER THAT.
SO, AT THE VERY TOP OF THE SHEET, UM, WE HAVE THE 76 MILLION 1 93 989 PROJECTED REVENUE FOR NEXT YEAR.
THAT INCLUDES THE APPROVED STATE BUDGET BASED ON THE CALC TEMPLATE.
SO THAT'S, THE STATE NUMBER IS A, A GOOD NUMBER.
UM, THE, THE FEDERAL REVENUE IS BASED ON WHAT WE ANTICIPATE, AND AS WAS MENTIONED, WHEN YOU APPROVE THE, UH, TITLE ONE THROUGH FOUR, UM, APPLICATIONS, WE WON'T KNOW TILL JULY OR AUGUST, PROBABLY WHAT THOSE ACTUAL AMOUNTS ARE, BUT THEY DON'T SEEM TO FLUCTUATE MUCH FROM YEAR TO YEAR.
UM, AND THEN THE COUNTY APPROPRIATION, THE COUNTY HAS ADVERTISED ITS BUDGET AND I BELIEVE WILL HAVE A BUDGET, UM, HEARING, UM, NEXT TUESDAY EVENING, A PUBLIC HEARING ON IT.
AND THEY HAVE, UH, ADVERTISED LEVEL FUNDING ON THE COUNTY APPROPRIATION FOR THE SCHOOLS, UM, AT THE 28,650,000 THAT WE RECEIVED THIS YEAR.
SO ALL THOSE ARE REFLECTED IN THAT 76 MILLION.
SO THEN WHAT DO WE DO IS WHAT WE DO AS FAR AS START TAKING AWAY FROM THAT, UM, SALARIES AND BENEFITS, WHICH INCLUDE FOUR NEW, FOUR ADDITIONAL POSITIONS.
UM, THEY'RE FOOTNOTED AT THE BOTTOM.
UM, ONE OF 'EM IS AN AG TEACHER AT SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL.
THAT ORIGINALLY WAS SHOWN AS A COMMUNICATIONS PERSON, BUT, UH, THE DECISION WAS MADE TO, IN THE RECOMMENDATION TO CHANGE THAT TO THE AG TEACHER, A TEACHER AT REST, AN ADDITIONAL TEACHER AT RESTY JEFFRIES, UH, ELEMENTARY, A READING SPECIALIST, AND THEN THE SPECIALIZED PROGRAM COORDINATOR.
AND I'LL NOTE ON THAT ONE, THE BOARD'S ALREADY APPROVED THAT POSITION.
IT WAS AFTER WE STARTED THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS.
SO THERE'S ALREADY A POS A PERSON IN THAT POSITION.
THE OTHER THREE I NAMED THERE IS NOT YET A PERSON.
THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ADVERTISED OR, UM, RECRUITED FOR YET.
SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT, IT INCLUDES, UH, THE $65,644,713.
THAT INCLUDES, UM, GIVING GRADES ONE THROUGH SIX, WHICH ARE OUR TEACHERS AND OUR INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANTS.
A STEP PLUS 3%, THEY'D MOVE TO THE NEXT STEP.
AND THAT STEP WOULD BE 3% MORE THAN IT IS THIS YEAR.
THE OTHER, UH, SCALES, WHICH ARE GRADE SEVEN THROUGH 41 AND WOULD INCLUDE, INCLUDE ALL OTHER CONTRACTED EMPLOYEES, THEY WOULD RECEIVE A 3% INCREASE, UM, IN SALARY, WHICH MEANS FROM THE STEP THEY'RE ON THIS YEAR TO THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE 3% MORE.
UM, ALSO INCLUDED IN THAT ARE ALL THE BENEFITS, UM, THAT, THAT ARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO THOSE POSITIONS.
AND THE WAY IT, IT, WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THERE NOW WOULD BE HOLDING THE EMPLOYEE HARMLESS ON HEALTH INSURANCE.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT LATER AND WHAT THAT COST IS.
AND THEN I KNOW YOU'LL BE TALKING ABOUT, UH, WHICH RATES THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SET FOR NEXT YEAR A LITTLE BIT LATER ON.
SO WHAT WE DID THEN WAS WE, WE HAD ABOUT A $2.4 MILLION GAP BETWEEN WHAT HAD BEEN REQUESTED AND WHAT, UM, WE, WE HAD AVAILABLE IN REVENUE.
WE WENT AHEAD AND, UH, JUST MADE THE DECISION, OKAY, WHAT HAPPENS IF WE LEVEL FUND ALL NON-LABOR? WE KNOW THERE ARE AREAS THAT WE CANNOT DO THAT IN, BUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE DID THAT? AND WHEN WE DO THAT, WE STILL END UP $438,951 SHORT OF BEING BALANCED, OUR BUDGET BEING BALANCED.
AND THEN, AS I MENTIONED, THERE ARE SOME THINGS WE FEEL THAT WE CANNOT GET AWAY, UM, WITHOUT INCREASING.
UM, ONE OF 'EM, AND YOU'LL BE DISCUSSING THIS
[03:10:01]
A LITTLE LATER ALSO, IS THE SUBSTITUTE BUDGET.BUMPING IT FROM 728,000, UH, BUMPING IT UP $300,000 TECHNOLOGY.
WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE TECHNOLOGY, AND WE'RE BEHIND THE GAME ON FAR AS FAR AS, UM, BEING ABLE TO EVEN HAVE MATCHES FOR GRANT MONEY WE GET AND HAVING A REPLENISHMENT PROGRAM FOR, UM, ALL OF THE, UH, DEVICES THAT OUR STUDENTS HAVE.
AND, AND ANOTHER THING, SO WE'VE SAID, INSTEAD OF THE 600,000 OR THE LARGER NUMBER, LET'S JUST GO WITH A HUNDRED THOUSAND TO AT LEAST GET US STARTED ON A PROGRAM.
UM, THE CUSTODIAL BUDGET, I THINK MR. SMITH WENT AND NEGOTIATED THAT DOWN.
I FORGET WHAT THE INITIAL AMOUNT WAS, BUT IT WAS 1 35.
WE GOT IT DOWN TO 80, GOT IT DOWN TO $80,000 AND BUCK.
UM, THERE WERE SOME QUESTIONS.
DOES THAT STILL, WOULD THAT STILL INCLUDE, INCLUDE THE RAISES FOR, OR IS IT AS MUCH, OR WHAT, WHAT WAS THAT CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT, THAT THAT DID NOT? CONVERSATION OF WHERE THEY WOULD APPLY THE FUNDING.
THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO ALMOST SPLIT IT, UH, BECAUSE THEY CAN'T CONTINUE TO, WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO OFFER THEM A PRICE OF, WHICH IS NOT REALLY COMPETITIVE WITH ANYTHING AROUND US.
UM, SO I CAN GO BACK AND HAVE THAT DIALOGUE, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO GET THAT DOWN BY 50,000, 55,000.
I CAN GIVE YOU A PERCENTAGE OF WHAT WOULD GO TO WHAT, BUT YOU'RE NOT QUITE SURE IF THAT DOES INCREASE THE STARTING PAY OF THE CUSTODIANS THE WAY WE HAD TALKED EARLIER OR LIKE SEVERAL MONTHS AGO.
I, I DON'T HAVE EXACTLY HERE THIS EVENING.
THE PERCENTAGE THAT IT WOULD INCREASE THE SALARIES.
AND HOW MUCH OF THAT, THERE WERE TWO THINGS.
ONE WOULD BE THE INCREASE OF THE SALARIES TO MAKE IT COMPETITIVE, AND THE OTHER WOULD BE THE INCREASE DURING THE, UH, COMPOSITE OF THE, THE PRICE INDEX.
AND THEN THE OTHER THING THAT WE, UH, MUST INCLUDE IN THE BUDGET NEXT YEAR, WE HAVE A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE, UH, SHERIFF'S OFFICE WHERE, UM, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, EXCUSE ME, IS OBLIGATED TO PAY HALF THE SALARY OF TWO RESOURCE OFFICERS.
SO IT BASICALLY BOILS DOWN TO THE SALARY OF ONE.
THAT'S BEEN A LONG STANDING AGREEMENT.
AND I THINK IT GOES BACK TO WHEN THERE WERE GRANTS, AND MAYBE THERE'S STILL GRANTS, BUT AT LEAST THAT'S HOW IT STARTED.
UM, WHEREAS, UH, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM HAD TO CONTRIBUTE HALF OF THE COST TO IT TO BE ABLE TO GET THE GRANT.
AND AS YOU KNOW, GRANT, AS MOST GRANTS GO, UM, THEY GET YOU STARTED, BUT THEN THEY, THEY GO AWAY.
I'M NOT SURE IF THOSE GRANTS STILL EXIST, BUT THAT AGREEMENT WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE DOES EXIST.
SO, UM, WHEN YOU TAKE THE SHORTAGE, WE HAD UP AT THE TOP, THE 438,951, WHICH IS THE, UH, SHORTAGE IN BEING ABLE TO DO THE SALARY AND BENEFITS INITIATIVES THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO AND ADD TO THAT, THE ADDITIONAL AMOUNT WE WOULD, AS A BARE BONES MINIMUM NEED TO ADD TO, UM, THE NON-LABOR.
THAT MEANS WE ARE $981,112 SHORT OF BALANCING OUR BUDGET.
SO WHERE CAN WE LOOK FOR THAT MONEY? THERE ARE SEVERAL AREAS I GUESS WE COULD LOOK AT.
UM, ONE OF 'EM, WHICH WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IS SHARING THE HEALTH INCREASE, INSURANCE INCREASE WITH OUR EMPLOYEES.
IF WE DID THAT, THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO REDUCE THE, UH, SALARIES AND BENEFITS UP AT THE VERY TOP THERE BY 302,000.
CAN I ASK, IS THAT A 50 50 SPLIT THERE? IT, IT'S NOT.
WHEN YOU SAY SHARE, IT'S NOT SO MUCH A 50.
IT'S EACH OF THEM GOING UP THE 7.3%, 7.1, WHATEVER, THE PERCENTAGE IS GOING UP THE SAME BECAUSE THE EMPLOYER, UM, PORTION THAT THEY, THE EMPLOYER PAYS IS LARGER THAN THE EMPLOYEE.
UM, THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS ARE DIFFERENT.
THE INCREASED COST OF THE SCHOOL BOARD, IF WE DID THAT, IS STILL MUCH MORE THAN 302,000.
IF TEACHERS RECEIVED A 3% INCREASE
[03:15:01]
INCLUSIVE OF STEP, THEN THAT WOULD SAVE $422,106.IF YOU DID THE SAME THING FOR INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANCE, THAT WOULD SAVE $96,402.
AND, UM, IF YOU GAVE ONLY A STEP INCREASE TO THE OTHER SCALES INSTEAD OF THE 3% INCREASE, AND THAT WOULD VARY BY SCALE, HOW MUCH THAT EACH OF THOSE SCALES WOULD ACTUALLY GET, UM, THAT WOULD SAVE $87,729.
UH, THE CAUTION ON DOING THAT IS THERE'S 700 AND SOME THOUSAND 700 AND, UH, COMPENSATION SUPPLE IS THE COMPENSATION SUPPLEMENT, I'M SORRY, 628,000, UM, IN STATE MONEY THAT'S USED IN AN INCENTIVE.
AND IF WE DON'T GIVE EVERY EMPLOYEE THE 3% RAISE, THEN THEY WOULD, WE'D EITHER LOSE THAT OR IT WOULD GET PRORATED DOWN.
I HAVEN'T SEEN THE WORDING YET ON THAT EXACTLY, BUT THERE, THERE WOULD BE A LOSS OF, UH, REVENUE TO SOME DEGREE IF WE DID NOT GIVE EVERYONE A 3% INCREASE.
SO THE TOTAL OF ALL OF THOSE THINGS TO CONSIDER IS JUST OVER A MILLION DOLLARS, 1,000,001 68, 7 96.
SO THAT IS, IF YOU DID ALL THOSE THINGS, AND I'M, WE'RE NOT ADVOCATING THAT YOU DO, UM, THAT WOULD TAKE CARE OF THE 981,000 DEFICIT.
UH, ONE OTHER THING WE'LL THROW OUT THERE, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW, UM, HOW REALISTIC OF A, OF A OPTION THIS IS, THE FISCAL YEAR, 2022 SCHOOL OPERATING SURPLUS WAS $896,416.
UM, IN TALKING TO THE COUNTY, I UNDERSTAND THERE MAY BE A RELUCTANCE IN APPROPRIATING THAT.
AND THAT'S, UH, FOR OTHERS TO DECIDE, I GUESS.
AND THEN THE OTHER PROBLEM WITH THAT IS IF WE USE THAT, IF YOU LOOK UP HERE, UM, THE ITEMS THAT IT WOULD BE SORT OF OFFSETTING IN THE BUDGET ARE ALL RECURRING COSTS.
SO IF YOU DO THAT, THAT MEANS YOU START OUT THE FOLLOWING YEAR, FISCAL 26, WITH A $900,000 HOLE THAT YOU'RE IN, THAT YOU GOTTA GET OUT OF BEFORE YOU CAN EVEN MAINTAIN STATUS QUO.
SO THAT'S SORT OF AN OVERVIEW FROM A HIGH LEVEL OF WHERE WE'RE AT.
BALLINGER, IF THERE'S, YOU'D LIKE TO ADD ANYTHING TO IT? UM, YOU KNOW, THE ONLY OTHER THINGS ARE, YOU KNOW, OPTIONS OUT THERE THAT WE COULD LOOK AT WOULD BE, UM, POSITIONS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN FILLED AND MAYBE SAYING, OKAY, WE'RE GONNA HOLD THOSE.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, IDENTIFYING POSITIONS THAT, THAT YOU DO NOT FEEL FOR THIS YEAR.
UM, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THEM, YOU'RE GONNA BE ABLE, SOME OF THEM YOU MAY BE ABLE TO SQUEAK BY FOR A LITTLE BIT.
UM, SOME OF THEM, YOU, YOU CAN'T, YOU KNOW, THERE MAY BE YOU, YOU CAN'T DO THAT WITH A TEACHING POSITION.
BUT LIKE THE FOURTH VLA, LIKE ROB MENTIONED THAT IN THERE, YOU KNOW, THAT ONE, I WOULD SAY HOLD IT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A FOURTH VLA POSITION.
ALTHOUGH WE PUT IN THERE, WE WANTED FOUR, HOLD IT.
UM, BUT THEN ALSO YOU, YOU CAN LOOK AT, OKAY, UM, YOU KNOW, AND I'M, I'M JUST GONNA THROW THIS OUT THERE, IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE'S A HIGH, UH, DEAN POSITION AT ONE OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS.
UM, YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE ARE DIFFERENT POSITIONS THAT WE COULD LOOK AT AND IDENTIFY AND SAY, OKAY, IF, IF WE HAVE TO HOLD THIS ONE, WE COULD HOLD IT.
UM, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THE, THE SCHOOLS AND THE ADMINISTRATION AT THE SCHOOLS WOULD NOT BE HAPPY ABOUT THAT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, IF THOSE DECISIONS HAVE TO BE MADE, THOSE DECISIONS HAVE TO BE MADE.
I TALKED TO, UH, MR. DAILEY BEFORE THE MEETING TODAY, AND HE SAID THAT THAT 896,416 SURPLUSES, THAT SHIP HAS SAILED, UH, DUE TO SOME DEADLINE OR WE DIDN'T MEET OR SOMETHING, BUT WE WOULD'VE HAD ASKED HER AT SOME EARLIER POINT.
AGAIN, I'M THE NEW GUY, I DON'T KNOW.
YOU GUYS CAN DUKE IT OUT IN A ROOM OR SOMETHING, BUT THAT'S AT LEAST WHAT HE TOLD ME COMING INTO THE MEETING.
I'VE NOT KNOWN ABOUT A DEADLINE BEFORE FOR THAT.
WELL, I'M NOT, NOT SURE I'M AWARE OF ONE.
UM, AND, AND MAYBE WHAT THAT MEANS IS IT'S BEEN ALLOCATED TO ANOTHER USE.
AND, AND, AND THAT COULD BE THE, UH MM-HMM.
NO, IT'S NOT BECAUSE, BUT NO, WE WENT THROUGH THAT WITH BUCK.
BUCK HAS EVERYTHING FOR THE LFK AND E WILSON MORRISON.
AND ACTUALLY WE'LL HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF SURPLUS TO DO A,
[03:20:02]
SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE ARE NEEDING TO DO.BUT YEAH, NO, I KNOW, I, I KNOW THEY HAVE THE MONEY, BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT MAYBE THAT WASN'T PART OF THE ORIGINAL PLOT, THE POCKET MONEY, BUT IF IT WASN'T, THEN THAT'S FINE.
YEAH, WE WENT THROUGH THAT, THAT OKAY.
THEY SUPPLANTED THAT 1.2 MM-HMM.
AND SO THAT'S WHY THE 20, THE FY 22 IS, IS SETTING OUT THERE.
HE JUST SAID IT WOULD'VE HAD TO HAVE BEEN REQUESTED A YEAR AGO, I GUESS, BECAUSE IT WAS 22 AND SORT OF TIES, I MEAN, AGAIN, THAT'S JUST, THAT'S WHAT HE SAID.
YOU CAN SAY, YEAH, THEY DIDN'T, THEY DIDN'T GET THE AUDIT FOR THAT TILL LAST SPRING.
I'M, HAVE YOU LOOKED AT, UM, WHAT HAVE YOU IDENTIFIED THE POSITIONS THAT YOU WOULD HOLD AND WHAT THAT COST WOULD BE OR, OR WHAT THAT SAVINGS WOULD BE? I GUESS I SHOULD SAY? I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I WOULD SAY THERE'S, THERE'S THREE POSITIONS THAT WE WERE GOING TO TRY TO LOOK AT MOVING SOME SPECIAL EDUCATION POSITIONS AROUND TO CREATE SOME TIER TWO PROGRAMS TO HELP WITH SOME OF OUR DISCIPLINE IN OUR SCHOOLS.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, THOSE POSITIONS, I THINK, YOU KNOW, THOSE WOULD BE TWO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE'S THREE THERE THAT WE COULD IDENTIFY.
AND IF YOU THROW THEM AT THE SAME AMOUNT AS WHAT ROB HAS THERE FOR APPROXIMATELY ARRESTEE JEFFRIES TEACHER, SO YOU TAKE THREE TIMES 83,000 THERE.
UM, YOU HAVE THE VLA, IF YOU LOOK AT, UM, AT A DEAN, UM, AT SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL, YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY 110.
UM, SO ABOUT FOUR 30 MM-HMM,
BUT ON THE SPECIAL ED, THE ONLY THING I WOULD WARN YOU ON IS WE HAVE WHAT'S CALLED MAINTENANCE, MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT.
WE CANNOT SPEND LESS IN ONE YEAR AND LOCAL MONEY FOR SPECIAL ED EDUCATION THAN THE PRIOR YEAR.
SO WHILE SALARY INCREASES AND ALL THAT GO TOWARDS THAT, UM, WE WOULD HAVE TO LOOK PRETTY CLOSE AT THAT JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, TAKING, UH, THAT'D BE ABOUT A QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS, MAYBE THREE POSITIONS, TEACHING POSITIONS THAT THAT WOULDN'T PUT US UNDER THAT THRESHOLD.
THAT WOULD BE THE ONLY THING THAT, THAT I WOULD CAUTION ON THAT.
AND USUALLY I THINK THERE'S ABOUT A 10% VARIANCE THAT YOU CAN GO DOWN ONE YEAR ON THE MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT, UM, WITHOUT GETTING DING BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OR THE STATE.
SO I BELIEVE IT'S A 10%, BECAUSE THEIR DING IS, IF YOU DON'T, YOU HAVE TO GIVE MONEY BACK TO THEM THAT THEY GAVE YOU.
SO THE FEDERAL MONEY, COMMENTS, QUESTIONS, THOUGHTS.
IS THIS A DECISION THAT'S BEING MADE TONIGHT? OR ARE WE, IS THIS SOMETHING, I MEAN, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE SORT OF SAW IT TO THINK ABOUT, IT SEEMS LIKE THIS, THIS INFORMATION, YOU KNOW, MAYBE, MAYBE OBVIOUSLY THE, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ARE INVOLVED AS WELL IN THE WHOLE THING.
AND TALKING TO SOME OF THEM TODAY ABOUT SOME OF THEIR NUMBERS, THEY HAVE, THEY'VE, THEY'VE SORT OF DIFFERENT NUMBERS AND DIFFERENT IDEAS OF HOW IT COULD WORK IN THERE.
IT'S GOOD TO SEE THAT THERE'S THESE OPTIONS.
I MEAN, THERE, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF OPTIONS.
IT SEEMS LIKE IF WE'RE SUPPOSED TO SAVE $981,000, WE, WE HAVE TO DO ALMOST ALL OF THESE THINGS IN ORDER TO REDUCE, OR WE DON'T HAVE MANY OTHER OPTIONS OTHER THAN MAYBE HOLDING SOME TEACHERS, OR, AGAIN, ANOTHER OPTION.
OBVIOUSLY THE, THE, THE BUDGET, THE, I MEAN THE, THE ESS SUB THING.
IF WE'RE GONNA GO TO 1,000,028, YOU 30, YOU KNOW, 30% OF THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY TOO.
IT'S A, IT'S OBVIOUSLY A, A BIG DECISION TO SAY, WHAT, WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO TO, TO THAT, TO SAVE $981,000 IS A LOT OF MONEY TO SAVE A LOT OF CUTS.
I BELIEVE IT WOULD BE OVER $200,000 THAT WE WOULD SAVE BY BRINGING THE SUBS BACK IN HOUSE.
UM, BUT I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ENCOURAGE, UM, MAYBE A REVISIT OF COMMUNICATION, BECAUSE I KNOW THE CANCELED WORK SESSIONS WITH THE SUPERVISORS MULTIPLE TIMES LEADING UP TO THIS IS WHAT HAS CERTAINLY HAD A BREAKDOWN IN THE ENTIRE BUDGET PROCESS.
AND I MEAN, I'M VIEWING THIS DOCUMENT WITH THESE NUMBERS FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME,
[03:25:01]
RIGHT THIS MOMENT.SO I'M NOT PREPARED TO DISCUSS THESE NUMBERS IN, IN DEPTH.
BUT, UM, THE PROCESS HAS NOT GONE WELL THIS YEAR.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF THE SUPERVISORS WOULD EVEN BE WILLING TO SIT DOWN AND HAVE A WORK SESSION, BUT IT WOULD CERTAINLY BE WORTH ASKING.
WORST THEY CAN SAY IS NO, I, I BELIEVE THEIR FINAL DECISION IS ON TUESDAY.
I KNOW THEIR PUBLIC HEARING IS ON TUESDAY.
ARE THEY VOTING AT THAT? YEAH, I, I'M NOT REAL SURE ON THIS, BUT I BELIEVE THEY HAVE TO WAIT SEVEN, AT LEAST SEVEN DAYS AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARING TO ADOPT THE BUDGET.
WHEN I LOOKED AT THEIR SCHEDULE, I THINK THEIR NEXT MEETING WAS THE 25TH.
I'M NOT SURE IF THERE WOULD BE A MEETING ON THE 18TH THAT THEY WOULD OR COULD APPROVE THE BUDGET, BUT REALLY TILL THEY'VE APPROPRIATE APPROVED THE BUDGET AND APPROPRIATED THE FUNDS, UM, ALL WE'RE REALLY DOING IS WORKING WITH A PROPOSED BUDGET AFTER THAT HAPPENS.
THAT'S WHEN THIS BOARD WOULD NEED TO MAKE THE FIRM DECISION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL 25.
YEAH, THE PUBLIC HEARINGS JUNE 11TH, AND THEN IT WOULD GO FROM THERE.
UM, BUT, AND I ALSO BELIEVE THAT IF THEY WERE TO INCREASE THE BUDGET AFTER THAT PUBLIC HEARING, THEY'D HAVE TO HAVE ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING.
AND IF THAT'S, YOU KNOW, SO WELL, IT'S, THEY, THEY'RE, THEY CAN'T DO THAT BECAUSE THE TAX RATE HAS ALREADY BEEN SET AND THE TAX BILLS ALREADY WENT OUT.
SO THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE INCREASING TAXES MORE.
I, SO, AND THEN THE OTHER THING IS SEEING, FOLLOWING ALONG THE GRIEF, I'VE GOT A LOT OF PAPERS, UM, THAT IT, IT'S VERY UNFORTUNATE THE WAY THIS WHOLE BUDGET SEASON WORKED OUT BECAUSE YOU MISSED THE, THE MEETING WHERE ALL THE MONEY WAS BEING CLAIMED FROM THE TAX INCREASE.
SO THE TAX INCREASE OF THE $4 MILLION OF ADDITIONAL REVENUE, IT'S ALL BEEN SPOKEN FOR AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
SO WE WOULD LITERALLY BE TAKING MONEY AWAY FROM THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT OR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IF WE WERE GONNA, I CAN'T FIND ALL THE ALLOCATIONS RIGHT NOW, BUT IT'S, IT'S NOT GOOD.
AND MR. VALENTINE, I KNOW YOU SHOWED UP FOR ALL OF THOSE MEETINGS AND I GREATLY APPRECIATE THAT.
THAT IS BY NO MEANS WHAT I AM SUGGESTING.
BUT, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE BEEN ASKING FOR WAS, UM, WITH THE HEALTH INSURANCE BREAKDOWN, I SENT THE DOCUMENTS OVER THAT THE COUNTY HAD WITH THE COUNTY STAFF HAD PROVIDED TO THE SUPERVISORS WHEN THEY WERE VOTING ON IT.
THEY, THEY PUT TOGETHER A VERY DETAILED, UM, CHART THAT SHOWED, UM, VERY SPECIFIC NUMBERS AND OPTIONS AND PERCENTAGES.
AND THEY, THEY DID PASS ALONG THE COUNTY DID PASS ALONG SOME OF THE INCREASE IN HEALTH INSURANCE TO THE EMPLOYEES.
UM, I BELIEVE THEY ABSORBED MOST OF IT.
I THINK I SAID I FORWARDED YOU GUYS ALL THE MM-HMM
UM, MAYBE NOT FOR THE TOP TIER PLAN FOR THE, UH, DEPENDENTS, BUT IT WAS DEFINITELY A SHARED, UM, PROPOSAL.
AND WE REALLY JUST HAVEN'T GOTTEN CONSISTENT NUMBERS ON THAT.
AND IT'S BEEN SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, I THINK SINCE ABOUT MARCH.
BUT, UH, WCEA, THEY PUT TOGETHER SOME CHARTS FOR US TODAY AS WELL, BUT THEN WHEN THOSE WERE CRUNCHED, UM, THE NUMBERS, NONE OF THESE NUMBERS ARE, ARE ADDING UP.
SO WE REALLY NEED SOME SORT OF OFFICIAL FINAL SAY FROM OUR DIVISION THAT BREAKS IT DOWN IN THE SAME MANNER THAT THE COUNTY DID WITH THEIR EMPLOYEES.
THAT SHOWS US SOME, SOME VIABLE OPTIONS.
'CAUSE SOME OF THIS DATA I'M LOOKING AT LOOKS LIKE IT'S ONLY A $13 A MONTH INCREASE FOR, FOR ONE OF THE OPTIONS.
[03:30:01]
BUT THEN ON ANOTHER PAGE WE WERE TOLD IT WAS GONNA BE A $3,000 ANNUAL INCREASE FOR IT.THAT JUST, IT MAKES NO SENSE SINCE.
SO WE REALLY NEED CONSISTENT, ACCURATE NUMBERS.
SO MR. BALLANTINE DID PUT TOGETHER A DOCUMENT.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE, UM, INSURANCE RATE PLANS AND MR. BALLANTINE, WOULD YOU MIND GOING OVER THAT RENEWAL RATES, EMPLOYEE IMPACT? WAS THIS JUST RECENTLY UPLOADED? JUST TODAY.
AND SEE MY, AND MY BOARD DOCS HAS BEEN DOWN, SO I HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO REVIEW ANY OF THIS STUFF.
SO, UM, I THINK WE NEED TO WAIT AND VOTE ON THIS INSURANCE STUFF AFTER WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW ALL OF THIS.
AND, AND THAT'S PERFECTLY FINE.
AND, BUT, BUT I WOULD LIKE MR. VALENTINE TO, TO WALK THE BOARD THROUGH WHAT HE CREATED HERE WITH THIS DOCUMENT.
YOU MAY HAVE A PRINTED COPY THERE.
THE ONE I DID NOT HAVE PRINTED WAS THE DOCUMENT THAT YOU WERE JUST GOING OVER A SECOND AGO.
I DUG THROUGH ALL THE STACKS OF PAPER, THE ONE WITH THE RED NUMBERS ON IT.
THAT'S THE 25 PROPOSED OPERATING FUND BUDGET.
IF I, IF I CAN GET, WE'LL GET THAT.
SO THE CHART SHOWN THERE IS BASICALLY, AND, AND WHAT I DID, I TOOK, THE MAJORITY OF IT IS INFORMATION THAT, UH, MCGRIFF OUR, UH, HEALTHCARE CONSULTANTS PROVIDED FOR US.
IT HAS EVERYTHING ON OUR CURRENT YEAR.
AND THEN THE RENEWAL, IF WE WENT WITH, UH, SHARING THE, UH, COST, UM, WITH OUR EMPLOYEES AND, UM, IT HAS THE ENROLLMENT NUMBERS FOR EACH OF THE PLANS AND EACH OF THE TIERS.
AND THEN WHAT I DID WAS JUST ADD THAT THIRD, UH, THIRD OR FOURTH COLUMN, THE ONE ON THE FAR RIGHT.
AND WHAT I DID WAS TAKE EACH PLAN AND SAY, THIS IS A MONTHLY EMPLOYEE COST INCREASE.
IF WE SHARE THE PERCENTAGE INCREASE EQUALLY WITH BOTH PARTNERS.
UM, AND YOU CAN SEE IT'S A, UH, I HAVE TO MAKE MINE LARGER HERE.
SO I CAN SEE, UM, A $23 INCREASE PER MONTH IS THE SMALLEST INCREASE, AND THE LARGEST WOULD BE THE, UH, DOWN IN THE BOTTOM RIGHT THERE, THE, UH, $84 AND 50 CENTS.
AND THEN WHAT I DID WAS, OKAY, ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, WHAT IS THAT? AND IT GIVES THE NUMBERS.
THERE AGAIN, THE, UH, ONE PLAN WAS THE LOWEST AND THEN TWO OF THE OTHER PLANS WERE, WERE THE HIGHEST.
AND THEN I JUST ADDED A COLUMN.
I SAID, OKAY, HOW DOES THAT COMPARE TO AN EMPLOYEE THAT GETS A 3% INCREASE FOR THE YEAR? AND I JUST DID IN $10,000 INCREMENTS, UM, THE, A RANGE THERE AND SHOWED WHAT A 3% INCREASE WOULD BE.
SO FOR CERTAIN EMPLOYEE CLASSES, DEPENDING ON WHAT INSURANCE THEY HAVE, THEY MAY END UP HAVING LESS TAKE HOME PAY OR, UM, MAYBE NOT.
BUT UM, IT DEPENDS ON, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WHAT YOUR SALARY IS.
AND THE, UH, HIGHER IT IS, THE HIGHER THE 3% IS, AND THE LESS IMPACT IN TAKE HOME PAY, THE, UH, UH, INCREASE IN THE PREMIUMS WOULD HAVE.
AND I GUESS THE OTHER THING WE, WE COULD CONSIDER, IF YOU KNOW IT, IT'S NOT AN ALL OR NOTHING THING, YOU COULD DECIDE NOT TO, UM, HOLD THE EMPLOYEE HARMLESS, BUT YOU COULD LOOK AT THE RATES AND SAY, OKAY, INSTEAD OF 7.1%, WE WILL DO 5% OF THE EMPLOYEE, THREE AND A HALF, WHATEVER, AND STILL REALIZE A, A REDUCTION IN THE TOTAL COST, BUT IT WON'T BE PUTTING THE FULL BURDEN ON THE EMPLOYEE.
AND THEN WOULDN'T WE ALSO HAVE OPTIONS LIKE COVERING THE, THE FULL COST OF THE INCREASE FOR THE EMPLOYEE BUT NOT COVERING THE FULL COST FOR THE DEPENDENTS OR DOING, UM, LIKE ONE OF THE THINGS I LIKED ABOUT THE COUNTY'S, UM, CHART WAS THEY SHOWED HOW MANY OF THEIR EMPLOYEES USED EACH PLAN.
AND SO THEIR MOST POPULAR PLAN, I, I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE OUR MOST POPULAR PLAN WE COVER, PICK A NUMBER, THE MAJOR, ALL OF IT.
BUT THEN FOR SOME OF THE MORE EXPENSIVE PLANS, WE, WE SPLIT THAT OR WHATNOT, LIKE JUST SOME DIFFERENT PLAYING WITH THE NUMBERS OPTIONS.
YOU CAN UH, YOU KNOW, SET THE RATE BASED ON THE PLAN.
UM, QUITE HONESTLY, I BELIEVE IF YOU LOOK AT IT, OUR, UH, THE KEY ADVANTAGE TWO 50 PLAN IS OUR MOST BENEFIT RICH
[03:35:01]
PLAN HAS A $250 DEDUCTIBLE.UM, AND I THINK WE'VE SET THE RATES ON THAT OVER THE YEARS, WHERE, UM, PERCENTAGE WISE, THE EMPLOYEE PAYS A LITTLE MORE THAN THEY WOULD IF THEY WERE ON EITHER THE KEY ADVANTAGE THOUSAND, WHICH IS A THOUSAND DOLLARS DEDUCTIBLE, OR OUR HIGH DEDUCTIBLE HEALTH PLAN, WHICH IS A $3,000 DEDUCTIBLE.
NOW, IF AN EMPLOYEE TAKES OUT THE HIGH DEDUCTIBLE PLAN, WE AS THE EMPLOYER GIVE THEM A THOUSAND DOLLARS EACH YEAR TOWARDS THEIR HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNT.
SO IN ESSENCE, IT BRINGS IT DOWN TO A $2,000 DEDUCTIBLE BECAUSE THEY'VE GOTTEN THE FIRST THOUSAND GIVEN TO THEM FOR THEIR HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNT.
CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND, ONE OF THE SPEAKERS TODAY, UM, MENTIONED AN IMPACT ON THE, THE HOUSEHOLDS WHERE BOTH EMPLOYEES WORK FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW THE INSURANCE WORKS? IF BOTH OUR EMPLOYEES, WHAT WE BASICALLY DO IS IF TWO EMPLOYEES WORK THERE AND I FALL INTO THAT CATEGORY, UM, AND THERE'S QUITE A FEW, IT'S SURPRISING THE NUMBER THAT THERE ARE.
WHAT WE DO IS WE TAKE WHAT, EXCUSE ME.
SO IN, IN MY CASE, IT'S EMPLOYEE SPOUSE.
SO THAT'S THE PLAN THAT I HAVE.
WHAT WE DO IS WE TAKE THE EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTION FOR BOTH AND PUT IT TOGETHER.
AND THE REASON THAT IS LESS THAN EACH PERSON THAT WOULD TAKE OUT THE EMPLOYEE ONLY PLAN IS THAT THE EMPLOYEES PLUS ONE THE EMPLOYEE SPOUSE OR EMPLOYEE CHILD, UM, RATE IS NOT TWO TIMES THE INDIVIDUAL RATE.
I GUESS THE WAY THEY DO THE RATING OF PLANS AND THINGS, UM, TWO PEOPLE WANT A ONE PLAN.
TYPICALLY THE EXPERIENCE ISN'T TWO TIMES OR THE, THE SUM OF THE TWO INDIVIDUALLY.
IT'S JUST THE WAY THE INSURANCE RATING'S DONE.
AND YOU KNOW, A FAMILY ISN'T FOUR OR FIVE TIMES THE INDIVIDUAL.
SO ARE YOU SAYING BOTH EMPLOYEES PAY THE EMPLOYEE PLUS SPOUSE AMOUNT? TYPICALLY WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IS ONE EMPLOYEE WOULD HAVE THE EMPLOYEE PLUS SPOUSE PLAN.
THAT EMPLOYEE WOULD GET CREDIT FOR WHAT THEY NORMALLY WOULD GET FOR HAVING THAT PLAN.
THEY WOULD ALSO RECEIVE CREDIT FOR WHAT THE SPOUSE WOULD GET IF THE SPOUSE WERE ON THE PLAN.
SO THE PLAN'S ONLY IN ONE EMPLOYEE'S NAME, THE OTHER, THE SPOUSES THE DEPENDENT.
SO IT TAKES BOTH EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS PUTS 'EM TOGETHER AND BECAUSE THE EMPLOYEE SPOUSE RATE ISN'T TWO TIMES THE INDIVIDUAL RATE, IT GENERATES A SAVINGS FOR THAT, THAT PARTICULAR FAMILY UNIT.
SO IT COMES OUT A LITTLE BIT CHEAPER THAN EMPLOYEE SPOUSE IF YOUR SPOUSE WORKS SOMEWHERE ELSE.
AND THERE WAS JUST ONE PERSON.
I THOUGHT THE COMMENTS EARLIER WERE SAYING IT WAS GONNA DOUBLE CHARGE AND WHAT DID SEVERAL YEARS AGO.
UM, AND TO BE COMPETITIVE WITH UH, UH, FREDERICK COUNTY FOR ONE THING IS WE HAVE WHAT WE CALL EMPLOYEE CHILDREN.
AND THAT IS THE SAME AS THE EMPLOYEE CHILD RATE.
AND THAT IS, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE TO TAKE A FAMILY PLAN FOR A SINGLE PERSON WITH MULTIPLE CHILDREN, UM, THE RATES ARE STRUCTURED SO THAT THEY WOULD PAY NO MORE THAN IF THEY HAD A, UM, JUST ONE CHILD ON THEIR PLAN.
AND THAT'S DONE, I GUESS PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF, YOU KNOW, FOR A SINGLE PARENT RAISING, YOU KNOW, WITH RESPONSIBLE FOR TWO OR THREE CHILDREN.
I'M GLAD TO HEAR THE CHILDREN AREN'T OUR EMPLOYEES
IN THE EMPLOYEE CHILD PROGRAM.
MAYBE FUTURE
AND THIS DECISION BASICALLY JUST HAS TO BE MADE BEFORE, LIKE WITH THE WHOLE BUDGET, RIGHT? IT'S NOT, NOTHING IS HAPPENING BEFORE THEN WITH THE HEALTH INSURANCE.
I, I DO YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S A TIMELINE ON THERE, THERE IS, YOU KNOW, THE DATE I'M LOOKING IT UP
[03:40:01]
RIGHT NOW,SO THAT WOULD BE THE MAJOR THING.
AND, AND THEN ALSO THE, THE BENEFIT OF EMPLOYEES KNOWING WHAT TO PLAN FOR, UM, GETTING THAT TO THEM, YOU KNOW, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IS, IS BETTER THAN LATER.
BUT, AND I'M SORRY, WHAT WAS THE PROJECTED COST INCREASE? IF WE FULLY FUND THE INSURANCE? I'M STRUGGLING TO SEE 300, 2,300.
IF, IF WE SHARED THE PERCENTAGE INCREASE WITH THE EMPLOYEE.
NO, THAT'S SOUNDS WE'D BE ABLE TO SAVE IF WE, IF WE SHARED, IF WE SHARED.
SO IT'S, IT'S THE TOTAL, THE TOTAL.
SO IT'S 600 SOME THOUSAND, SO IT'S 605%.
WHAT IS THE, WHAT IS THE ACTUAL COST THAT WE WE'RE PAYING IF WE, IF WE COVER ALL HELD THEM BLAMELESS, WHAT'S THE, WHAT'S THE TOTAL AMOUNT, WHAT'S WE WOULD BE PAYING? 'CAUSE IT'S, IT'S NOT GONNA JUST BE DOUBLE IT'S THE EMPLOYER.
AND WE'RE HOLDING THEM BLAMELESS.
COULD YOU SAY THAT ONE MORE TIME? SIX MILLION SIX MILLION SIX HUNDRED TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHT DOLLARS.
THAT IS THE, TO TOTAL HEALTH INSURANCE EMPLOYER COSTS PROJECTED FOR NEXT YEAR.
IF WE HOLD THE EMPLOYEE HARMLESS, IF WE DON'T HOLD 'EM HARMLESS, IT'D BE 302,000 LESS THAN THAT.
AND SO THAT, SO THAT'S THE INCREASE WAS HOW, HOW MUCH THE TOTAL? LIKE IF WE, IF THE YES, THE 7.1% OF THAT, I, UH, MAYBE I HAVE IT.
I DUNNO, I DON'T HAVE THAT NUMBER IN FRONT OF ME.
SO, BUT JUST TO CLARIFY, THAT'S THE TOTAL AMOUNT, RIGHT? THAT'S NOT THE INCREASE FROM LAST YEAR.
OH, OH NO, THAT'S THE TOTAL AMOUNT.
MR. LEE, I ASSUME, I ASSUME YOU'RE STILL LOOKING AT MR. LEE JULY 1ST.
WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE ON THE CONTRACTS THAT WENT OUT? DOES IT SAY LIKE, PENDING? WE, WE DON'T PUT THE INSURANCE, IT DOESN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT RATES ON THE CONTRACTS.
THAT'LL BE A SEPARATE, UM, NOTIFICATION OF WHAT THE, UH, INSURANCE RATES WOULD BE FOR NEXT YEAR.
SO THAT'S NOT SHOWN ON THE CONTRACT BECAUSE QUITE HONESTLY, NOT ALL EMPLOYEES EVEN TAKE INSURANCE.
SEE NOT ALL EMPLOYEES TAKE INSURANCE.
THAT'S THE OTHER THING THAT I KEEP COMING BACK TO.
LIKE IF WE'RE, IT'S TWO THIRDS, RIGHT? I THINK WE DECIDED LIKE 60 SOME PERCENT OF EMPLOYEES, 559 OF OUR SEVEN NINETY NINE, EIGHT HUNDRED AND TWO ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES TAKE IT.
SO THAT IN THAT PERCENTAGE HAS INCREASED OVER THE YEARS.
I'M JUST THINKING LIKE IF WE'RE, IF WE'RE CRUNCHING NUMBERS, I'M NOT MAKING ANY OF THESE SUGGESTIONS.
I'M JUST THINKING IT THROUGH AND WE'RE, THERE WAS MENTION OF INSTEAD OF STEP PLUS 3% DOING STEP INCLUSIVE, THAT'S GOING TO NEGATIVELY IMPACT ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES VERSUS HEALTH INSURANCE ADJUSTMENTS.
SHARED COSTS IS GOING TO IMPACT FEWER EMPLOYEES.
JUST STATING THE OBVIOUS, THE RAISE, IS THAT WHAT YOU STARTED WITH? RIGHT? I'M SORRY, I MISSED THE VERY FIRST PART OF YOUR YEAH.
[03:45:07]
I DON'T WANNA CUT ANY OF THIS STUFF THOUGH.I WOULD LIKE TO, I WOULD LIKE FOR THERE TO BE SOMETHING ELSE FOUND TO CUT AIR CONDITIONING.
NO, EVERYONE'S WALKING TO SCHOOL.
ACTUALLY DID OUR AIR CONDITIONING SAVINGS RIGHT.
SO, BUT WE WOULD BE, I I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS TOO THAT WAS BROUGHT UP A BUILDING COMMITTEE MEETING IS OUR, THE REPLACEMENT OF THE STAGE CURTAINS, WHICH I HAD NO IDEA STAGE CURTAINS COST $50,000 A SCHOOL.
WE'VE GOT TWO THAT'S NOT IN HERE THOUGH, IS IT? NO, THAT'S NOT IN THERE ANYMORE.
SO WHAT, IT'S BEEN REMOVED NOW.
SO, SO YEAH, WHAT WHAT YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER WITH WHAT THE NUMBERS ROB'S SHOWING YOU IS THAT'S TAKING EVERYTHING OUTTA NON-LABOR AND SAYING YOU'RE LEVEL FUNDED FROM LAST YEAR.
SO THEN WHERE'S THE, SO WHERE'S THE O 'CAUSE WE WERE JUST TOLD AT THE BUILDING COMMITTEE MEETING THAT BECAUSE LFK STATE UNDER BUDGET E WILSON MORRISON STATE UNDER BUDGET, WE HAVE $50,000 LEFT OVER, GIVE OR TAKE FROM ALL OF THOSE RENOVATIONS THAT HAVE DONE SO.
WELL, WE WERE TOLD THAT THAT MONEY WAS GONNA BE MOVED TO DO CURTAINS.
TAKE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE WIPING OUT OF THIS BUDGET, THEN TRY TO PUT IN THE CAPITAL IF THEY FIT IN THE CAPITAL CATEGORY AND, AND STILL DO SOME OF THOSE THINGS TO GET IT DONE.
NOW THAT'S NOT IN THIS BUDGET.
SO RIGHT NOW EVERYTHING IS OUT.
SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN, WHEN YOU LOOK AT, AT COSTS AND, AND SAY A COPIER HAS WENT UP AND IF YOU LEVEL FUND A SCHOOL, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE DOING, WE'RE SAYING YOU'RE LEVEL FUNDED, BUT THEIR COPIER COSTS WENT UP $200.
THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO FIND THAT $200 SOMEWHERE ELSE.
AND, AND THAT MAY BE, YOU KNOW, IT COULD COME OUT OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OR IT COULD COME OUT OF EDUCATIONAL SUPPLY OR IT COULD COME OUTTA WHATEVER THAT THE, YOU KNOW, THAT SCHOOL PRINCIPAL WOULD HAVE TO TRY TO CUT EVEN MORE TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY MEET THAT.
UM, WHAT YOU'RE SHOWING US RIGHT HERE IS ALL THOSE COST CENTER PAGES THAT YOU PRESENTED BASICALLY, OR JUST BACK TO THE, IT'S JUST WHAT WE HAVE THIS YEAR.
YOU JUST LIKE THREW IT AWAY, RIGHT? YEAH.
THAT'S DONE JUST WHAT WE HAPPENED THIS YEAR.
BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU CANNOT, YOU, YOU HAVE TO PUT SOMETHING IN, IN SUBSTITUTES.
YOU REALLY NEED TO PUT SOMETHING IN TECHNOLOGY BECAUSE IF, YOU KNOW, WE, WE, YOU KNOW, THE TECHNOLOGY BUDGET, WHEN YOU GET THOSE, THOSE GRANTS THROUGH E-RATE, IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS THERE AVAILABLE TO DO 'EM, THEN YOU KNOW, YOU'RE ALSO LOSING A LOT OF MONEY IN THAT ASPECT.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE CUSTODIAL AND THEN THE, UM, YOU KNOW, SCHOOL SECURITY.
BUT IF WE'RE HAVING TO PICK AND CHOOSE, AND WE'VE GOT, I, I MEAN I UNDERSTAND CIP IS ONE TIME FUNDING, BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS, WE'VE GOT THE SURPLUS, THE OPERATING SURPLUS OF THE 8 96, WHICH WE'RE NOT GETTING, BUT IT WAS ACCOUNTED IN AS A ONE TIME TOWARDS RECURRING EXPENSES.
IF WE'RE PICKING AND CHOOSING BETWEEN NEW STAGE CURTAINS AND THE COMPUTER AND TECHNOLOGY UPGRADES, I WOULD BE MORE INCLINED TO SPEND THAT $50,000 ON ACTUAL EDUCATIONAL SUPPLIES LIKE TECHNOLOGY.
WELL, THAT WOULD HAVE TO SEE IF IT WOULD FIT INTO THE, THE CATEGORY, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW IT'S HELD ON THE COUNTY SIDE.
SO THAT'S THE COUNTY, UM, I GUESS THEY COULD APPROPRIATE IT HOWEVER THEY WANT IT TO APPROPRIATE IT, BUT COULD GO THROUGH THE TEXTBOOK FUND.
SO YEAH, YOU COULD HAVE, YOU KNOW, BUT THE COUNTY WOULD HAVE TO MOVE THAT.
WE'D ASK THEM FROM CAPITAL TO THE TEXTBOOK FUND.
YOU KNOW, WE, WE, WE CAN'T DO THAT.
SO WELL, AND THEN FROM WHAT I WAS TOLD, AFTER THE AUDIT MEETING, WHATEVER IS LEFT OVER IN OUR CAPITAL, WE SHOULD NOT BE COUNTING ON JUST BEING ABLE TO HAVE THAT TO DO WHAT WE WANT WITH IT.
THAT AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR, THAT'S REVERTING BACK TO THEM AS WELL AND HAS TO BE REAPPROPRIATED.
AND I CANNOT IMAGINE THAT THE COUNTY SUPERVISORS ARE GONNA SAY YOU CANNOT UPGRADE YOUR COMPUTERS, BUT YOU DEFINITELY CAN GO BUY CURTAINS.
WELL, THE OTHER THING TO REMEMBER, EXCUSE ME, LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE, IS THAT TECHNOLOGY HARDWARE PIECE IS AN ONGOING EXPENSE.
AND SO PAYING FOR IT OUT OF THE CAPITAL FUND IS NOT IDEAL.
I'M NOT SAYING IT'S OFF THE TABLE, BUT IT'S GONNA, WE'RE GONNA NEED THAT NEXT YEAR TOO.
WE, IT JUST FEEL LIKE WE DID THIS E-RATE GRANT WRITER AND THERE'S PROBABLY GONNA BE MONEY THAT WE CAN GET THAT WE'RE GONNA END UP LEAVING ON THE TABLE BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE ANY MONEY IN OUR TECHNOLOGY FUND TO MATCH OUR 25% ON ANYTHING.
[03:50:01]
WE SHOULDN'T BE PURCHASING CURTAINS.BUT THAT'S NOT IN THIS DISCUSS.
THAT'S NOT IN THIS, NO, BUT IT'S, I MEAN, YOU GUYS NEED TO BE AWARE OF WHAT, WHAT WE'RE DISCUSSING AT THE BUILDING COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND WE'RE LITERALLY TALKING ABOUT PRIORITIZING CURTAINS,
I'M NOT DEVALUING THE CURTAINS.
STAGE CURTAINS ARE CERTAINLY NICE TO HAVE AND I UNDERSTAND LIKE THE FIRE TREATMENT SITUATION AND ALL THAT STUFF.
BUT AGAIN, IF IT WERE, WE'RE CHOOSING BETWEEN CURTAINS AND COMPUTERS.
SO WHERE ARE WE GOING? WELL, SO OUR NEXT MEETING ISN'T UNTIL THE 26TH, SO I'LL HAVE TO FIGURE SOMETHING OUT.
WELL, THE BUDGET WILL BE, UH, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WILL HAVE FINALIZED OUR APPROPRIATIONS BY THEN, CORRECT? I I, I THINK SO, YES.
I'M JUST NOT SURE IF THEY, THEY DO ON THE 18TH OR THE 25TH.
IT MAY BE AS RECENT AS THE NIGHT BEFORE OUR MEETING.
WELL, WELL THEN MAYBE 20 BEFOREHAND.
I THINK A PRETTY GOOD UNDERSTANDING WHERE MM-HMM.
BECAUSE THE THING ABOUT THE, THE CONSIDERATION FOR REDUCTIONS THAT WAS LISTED ON HERE, I MEAN WE'RE, IT'S ALMOST THAT WE HAVE TO DO ALMOST ALL OF THEM UNLESS THERE'S SOME OTHER MAGICAL WAY TO, TO NOT SPEND THE MONEY UNDER NUMBER FIVE.
BUT IT'S, I MEAN, IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT JUST CUTTING ONE THING.
IT'S NOT LIKE, WELL LET'S JUST SAVE
IT'S LIKE WE HAVE TO, WE DON'T HAVE TO SAVE A MILLION BASICALLY.
AND BASICALLY THAT WAS ALREADY 1.4.
ALMOST ALL THE ITEMS IN NUMBER SEVEN ARE EMPLOYEES AND MM-HMM.
I KNOW, RIGHT? I MEAN, ULTIMATELY I JUST THINK IT'S, YOU KNOW, JUST REALLY HARD FOR OUR BUDGET TO BE LEVEL FUNDED AND, YOU KNOW, TO KNOW THAT THE COUNTY HAS $4 MILLION IN INCREASED REVENUES AND NONE OF IT CAME TO THE SCHOOLS IS SAD, BUT IT IS WHAT IT IS.
AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO WORK WITHIN THAT.
SO, AND MAYBE WE NEED TO DISCUSS WHY THAT IS WHAT IT IS.
I MEAN, YOU GUYS CANCELED BOTH OF YOUR WORK SESSIONS WITH THEM AND THEN DIDN'T GO TO THE MEETINGS WHEN THE MONEY WAS CLAIMED.
SO YES, I WAS AT THAT MEETING ACTUALLY WITH MR. VALENTINE, UM, AND HEARD ALL THAT DISCUSSION.
ARE YOU DENYING THAT YOU GUYS CANCELED YOUR TWO WORK SESSIONS WITH THE SUPERVISORS? WE DID HAVE TO CANCEL 'CAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE EVERYBODY AT THE TABLE, SO WE DIDN'T HAVE, SO WELL, WHEN WE HAVE OUR BUILDING COMMITTEE MEETINGS, WE DON'T CANCEL THEM.
THOSE MEMBERS OF US THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO ATTEND STILL GO BECAUSE BUSINESS GOES ON.
WE CAN SIT HERE AND ARGUE ALL DAY ABOUT THE PROCESS.
UM, I DON'T THINK WE'VE AGREED A HUNDRED PERCENT ON THE BOARD ON THE PROCESS SINCE I'VE COME ON THE BOARD.
UM, I CAN TELL YOU I FEEL LIKE THE PROCESS HAS BEEN THE SAME SINCE I'VE BEEN A PART OF THE BOARD.
UM, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE HAVE TO SUPPORT OUR TEACHERS.
WE NEED TO QUIT POINTING FINGERS AMONGST US.
WE NEED TO SUPPORT OUR TEACHERS AND OUR STUDENTS.
UM, AND WE DO THAT BY SHOWING UP TO THE MEETINGS THAT WE COMMIT TO.
AND YOU WERE HEARD, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NOT TREATING EACH OTHER DISRESPECTFULLY, NOT POINTING OUT.
UM, WE CAN SIT HERE ALL DAY AND DO THAT.
I CHOOSE NOT TO ENGAGE IN THAT.
YOU DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TO AGREE WITH ME.
I'M NOT GONNA ENGAGE IN THAT KIND OF BEHAVIOR.
BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS I JUST WANT US TO, YOU KNOW, WE CAN AGREE TO DISAGREE, MOVE ON.
UM, ENGAGE IN WITH HAVE TO, I I'D LIKE TO FINISH PLEASE.
UM, AND, AND I'M NOT, I I'M NOT, I'M NOT HERE TO BATTLE WITH ANYBODY.
UM, WE ARE, EVERYBODY'S IN A TOUGH POSITION.
THE COUNTY'S IN A TOUGH POSITION.
YOU KNOW, THE, UM, OUR SCHOOL BOARD IS IN A TOUGH POSITION.
THERE ARE OTHER COUNTIES IN THE, ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT ARE EXPERIENCING THIS.
UM, YOU KNOW, OUR ECONOMY IS WHAT IT IS RIGHT NOW.
SO I WOULD PREFER TO JUST FOCUS ON, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE HAND WE HAVE, LET'S MAKE OUR BEST OPTIONS TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE LEVEL OF EDUCATION THAT WE WANNA, YOU KNOW, HAVE AND MOVE FORWARD.
SO, UM, THEN WE SHOULD NOT, AND THAT'S WHAT I SAY.
SO SHOULD NOT PLACE BLAME ON THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOR THAT.
THAT'S WHERE THIS TOOK THE TURN, WAS DECIDING TO PLACE THE BLAME ON THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
BECAUSE I MEAN, I DID REACH OUT
[03:55:01]
MULTIPLE TIMES AND WHEN I'M GIVING THE FEEDBACK THAT, UM, THE SCHOOL BOARD BUDGET COMMITTEE AND SUPERINTENDENT DID NOT APPEAR TO TAKE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.SERIOUSLY, THE SUPERINTENDENT HAS NOT BEEN AN ADVOCATE FOR HIS BUDGET.
HE DID NOT ATTEND THE SUPERVISOR'S BUDGET MEETING ON APRIL 9TH.
HE CANCELED THE JOINT BO THIS JOINT SCHOOL BOARD, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETINGS ON APRIL 9TH AND MAY 15TH TO FULL BOARD OF SUPERVISOR AND SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS.
UH, NO TIME DID THE SUPERINTENDENT OR THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER PRESENT OR PRESENT ANYTHING RESEMBLING A STRATEGY PLAN OR INITIATIVE TO IMPROVE IN AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN THE SUBJECT OF MUCH PUBLIC ATTENTION.
I SET IT FROM THE GET GO OF THIS BUDGET SEASON.
AND WE BEST TAKE THAT SERIOUSLY GOING FORWARD AND PRESENT A BUDGET THAT IS AS LOW AND AS FLAT AS POSSIBLE SO THAT OUR BUDGET WOULD BE CONSIDERED AS AN A, A REALISTIC ASK.
AND, AND, AND I'M, YOU KNOW, THAT'S GREAT.
UM, I COULD CERTAINLY SIT UP HERE AND HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE CONVERSATIONS I'VE HAD WITH A BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WHERE I SPECIFICALLY GAVE THEM DIRECTIONS OF SUGGESTIONS OF WHAT THEY CAN DO.
I COULD, I MEAN, I COULD GO ON AND ON AS WELL.
UM, I DON'T WANNA ENGAGE IN THAT.
WE WANT TO BUILD A RELATIONSHIP.
I'M JUST NOT GONNA CHOOSE TO DO THAT.
UM, I'M GONNA WORK WITH WHAT WE HAVE.
UM, YOU KNOW, I, THEY'VE SAID THEIR WORDS.
YOU KNOW, WE HEARD LOTS OF THINGS AT OUR JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE ABOUT HOW HORRIBLE OUR SCHOOLS ARE.
UM, I'D LIKE TO ASK THEM THE LAST TIME THEY WALKED THROUGH HOW HORRIBLE OUR SCHOOLS ARE.
SUCH IF I COULD FINISH PLEASE.
I HEARD NO SUCH THING ABOUT THAT ACTUALLY.
WELL, THAT WE WERE FAILING SPECIFICALLY.
AND I'M NOT, AGAIN, I'M NOT GONNA SIT HERE AND POINT FINGERS WITH THEM.
IF I WANNA HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THAT INDIVIDUAL BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
I'LL, EXCUSE ME, I'M, I HAVE THE FLOOR.
UM, YOU KNOW, I WAS SADDENED BY SOME OF THE COMMENTS I HEARD ABOUT OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS, WHICH WERE WHAT, AGAIN, I'M NOT, THIS IS NOT THE DISCUSSION.
IF I WANNA HAVE THAT, I'LL HAVE THAT WITH HIM IN HIS, BACK IT UP BECAUSE I WATCHED ALL OF THOSE MEETINGS.
WELL, AND THAT, IT'S MY OPINION, I DON'T HAVE TO DEFEND THAT TO YOU, THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS SAID THESE THINGS.
THAT WE WERE CALLED FAILING SCHOOLS, AS IT HAS BEEN POINTED OUT NUMEROUS TIMES BY OUR ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR INSTRUCTION.
FAILING SCHOOLS IS NOT A TERM THAT VIRGINIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS USES.
UM, THEY USE, YOU KNOW THAT I'M JUST SAYING WE WERE CALLED FAILING SCHOOLS.
WE HAVE SPECIFIC AREAS IN CERTAIN SUBDIVISION OR SUBGROUPS OF TESTS THAT DIDN'T MEET THE, UM, REQUIREMENTS.
BUT AGAIN, I'M NOT GOING TO SIT HERE AND I'M NOT BADMOUTHING THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
I'M JUST SAYING, YOU KNOW, WE ALL NEED TO WORK TOGETHER.
WE CAN SIT HERE FOUR HOURS, YOU KNOW, IT'S 10, ALMOST 10 30 AND POINT BLAME.
BUT WE'RE NOT MAKING PROGRESS BY DOING THAT.
CRUNCHING THE NUMBERS, LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS, YOU KNOW, HAVING THE DISCUSSIONS, HEARING.
OKAY, WELL MAYBE WE HAVE SOME OTHER OPTIONS TO LOOK AT.
UM, AGAIN, BRING EVERYTHING TO THE TABLE AND THEN WE'LL MAKE A DECISION.
AND I DID NOT POINT FINGERS UNTIL THE FINGERS WERE POINTED BY MS. LOWE SITTING DIRECTLY NEXT TO YOU.
SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE FACTUAL AND YES, BUILDING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS OKAY.
INVOLVES SHOWING UP TO MEETINGS AND WORKING TOGETHER.
ARE YOU SUGGESTING THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CUT OUR FUNDING OUT OF SPITE? 'CAUSE THEY WERE MAD THAT WE CAN, I'M SUGGESTION KNOW WHEN YOU DON'T SHOW UP TO MULTIPLE MEETINGS AND YOU DO NOT PROVIDE ANY OF THE DATA THAT THEY REQUESTED TO SUPPORT.
AND WE PROVIDED OUR BUDGET AS ASKED FOR IN THE CODE OF VIRGINIA.
WE MET WITH THEM MULTIPLE TIMES.
THIS WHOLE BOARD MET WITH THEM.
SO YOU DENY CANCELING THESE MEETINGS? I DON'T DENY CANCELING TWO MEETINGS.
THERE WERE TWO MEETINGS THAT GOT CANCELED OUT OF A YEAR.
UHHUH
WHAT ARE YOU READING FROM NOBODY ON THE SCHOOL BOARD BUDGET COMMITTEE HAS PAID ATTENTION TO THESE DELIBERATIONS AND THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THEM, NOR PAID ATTENTION TO THE REVENUE THAT WILL BE RAISED BY THE TAX INCREASES.
WHAT ARE YOU READING FROM? AND, AND I'LL JUST SAY THIS.
I, I APPRECIATE YOU SHARING THAT, BUT THAT'S THE FIRST TIME I'VE HEARD IT.
IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO SHARE THAT, I BROUGHT THAT, LET THEM COME TALK, TALK TO ME MULTIPLE TIMES.
'CAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT? I'LL HAVE A CONVERSATION.
I THINK THEY WANTED TO TALK TO YOU.
[04:00:01]
OF SUPERVISORS, WE HAVE ONE SITTING BACK THERE.FIRST TIME I'M HEARING ABOUT IT, HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH ME FACE TO FACE.
LET'S SIT DOWN AND HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.
ANY ONE OF THEM, I THINK WE CAN HAVE A GREAT CONVERSATION.
SO, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN SAY WHAT THEY WANT.
EVERYBODY CAN SAY WHAT THEY WANT.
OUR CITIZENS CAN SAY WHAT THEY WANT.
YOU ARE NOT GONNA HURT MY FEELINGS.
BUT, AND I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
UM, THERE'S A LOT OF PASSION HERE AND THAT'S OKAY.
SO, OKAY, SO NO DECISIONS MADE.
SO AT THIS POINT, WE CAN EITHER JUST WAIT UNTIL JANUARY SI UH, JUNE 26TH, BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN WE'RE GONNA KNOW WHAT THE BUDGET IS AND WE'LL HAVE OUR NUMBERS.
WE CAN JUST DECIDE FROM THERE.
THAT LEAVES US VERY LITTLE TIME FOR THE JULY ONE DEADLINE.
UM, OUR SUBSTITUTE SITUATION, LIKE, WE'RE GONNA NEED TO KNOW THAT, UM, BECAUSE THE SCHOOL YEAR IS GONNA BE STARTING QUICKLY.
UM, DELAYING FROM THERE, WE NEED TO HAVE A CONTRACT TO LOOK AT BECAUSE WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT THOSE COSTS ARE GONNA BE AND HOW WE'RE GONNA STAY IN THAT FRAMEWORK AND WHERE WE'RE GONNA GO IF THINGS AREN'T GOING AS PLANNED.
UM, SO THOSE ARE THE THINGS WE NEED TO DO.
WE CAN EITHER, I MEAN WE, WE, I, IF WE COULD ALSO CALL A, AN ADDITIONAL MEETING IF WE NEEDED TO.
MAYBE DID YOU GUYS ARRIVE AT THE 1 MILLION FOR, UM, THE SUBS? 'CAUSE THAT'S LESS THAN THE 1.2, BUT JUST IN HOPES THAT THE SICK DAY PAYOUT IS MORE, OR JUST LIKE, SO YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER, MAKE SURE I'M MY MIC ON.
UM, WHEN YOU'RE, WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE SUB BUDGET, UM, I THINK WE LOOKED AT, UM, WE WERE PROJECTING THAT THE SICK LEAVE PAYOUT WAS GONNA BE AROUND 250,000.
SO YOU HAVE TO TAKE THAT RIGHT OFF THE TOP, UM, OF YOUR SUB BUDGET.
BECAUSE I THINK IF YOU, YOU, YOU KNOW, IF ALL THE TEACHERS DON'T USE THAT, THEN YOU'RE PAYING THAT OUT NO MATTER WHAT.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE WERE TRYING TO BUILD THAT IN INTO THE, THE, I BELIEVE IT WAS THE 1.3, BUT WITH WHERE YOU'RE AT AND WITH WHAT'S AVAILABLE, WE COULD SQUEEZE IT UP TO 1 MILLION.
SO THAT INCLUDES THAT 250,000 THAT'S GONNA BE THE SICK LEAVE PAYOUT.
SO THAT MEANS ACTUAL COST THAT WE WOULD BE PAYING THE SUBS WOULD BE SEVEN 50.
I MEAN, IT'S, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT'S WHERE THE, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT'S WHERE THAT TWO IS.
THAT'S WHERE IT HAS TO COME FROM.
SO REALLY THAT $300,000 INCREASE IS BASICALLY THE SICK LEAVE PAYOUT, NOT THE INCREASE OF SUBS.
'CAUSE THAT THAT MONEY'S NOT SOMEWHERE ELSE.
BUT WE'RE, THAT'S JUST LOW BUDGETING IT FOR THE SAKE OF MAKING IT FIT THE BUDGET.
BUT BASICALLY, YES, ACTUAL COSTS.
I MEAN, UNLESS WE THINK IT'S ACTUALLY GONNA SAVE $400,000, I MEAN, IT'S BECAUSE WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW, SOMEWHERE WHERE A MILLION, RIGHT? MM-HMM,
AND IT COULD EASY, I MEAN, IF YOU SPEND THE SAME THAT YOU DO THIS YEAR, AND IF WE FINISH OUT AT 1.1, 1.2, AND THEN YOU ADD THAT TWO 50 TO IT, YOU'RE PUSHING A LITTLE HIGHER, IT COULD BE WORSE.
WELL, THAT'S KINDA MY QUESTION GOING FORWARD, IF WE MAKE A CONTRACT THAT SAYS THIS IS WHAT OUR LIMIT IS, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? LIKE WHAT, WHAT IF IT SUCCEEDED INSTANTLY, WHICH IT PROBABLY WILL BE.
WELL, DECEMBER, I'M, I'M JUST KIND OF ENVISIONING IF WE, I'M JUST TOTALLY THROWING THIS OUT HERE.
IF WE HAD A, LIKE IF WE SAID, OKAY, YOU CAN'T GO OVER 750, 800,000 MAX AND WE GET TO, YOU KNOW, MARCH AND WE'RE THERE, WOULD, DOES THAT MEAN, UM, YOU KNOW, BUILDINGS HAVE TO COVER ABSENCES? 'CAUSE THERE'S NO PEOPLE, I DON'T KNOW.
THOSE TEACHERS STILL HAVE TO PLAN FOR SURE.
BUT THEN YOU'D HAVE TO PAY THE TEACHERS TO COVER THE CLASSES.
SO IT'S NOT MUCH THAT WE CAN DO TO LIMIT THAT.
THE, THE ABSENTEEISM, YOU'RE HOPING TO GET TO THAT ROOT OF THE MULTIPLE ABSENTEEISM.
HAVE WE EVER CONSIDERED ASSESSING EACH INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL A AN ALLOTMENT THAT THEY CAN SPEND WITH ESS SO THAT WAY THAT IT DOES BRING THAT IN-HOUSE TO WHERE THE PRINCIPALS FEEL MORE INCLINED TO BE A LITTLE MORE STRINGENT WITH SOME OF THE
[04:05:01]
CALL OUTS AND LEAVE EARLYS? I DUNNO IF YOU COULD DO THAT, BECAUSE EVERYBODY HAS THE SAME, THEY'RE ON THE SAME CONTRACT WITH THE SAME SICK DAYS.SAY, CAN YOU SAY LIKE, NO, YOU CAN'T TAKE A SICK DAY.
NO, THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
I'M TALKING ABOUT LIKE, WE, WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT CERTAIN SCHOOLS ARE VERY PERMISSIVE WITH, OH, I I'M NOT COMING INTO, OH, IT'S FINE.
WHEREAS OTHER SCHOOLS, THERE'S A LITTLE BIT MORE QUESTIONING AND, UM, LIKE, YOU KNOW, HEY, I'M NOTICING THAT YOU'RE NOT COMING TO SCHOOL EVERY MONDAY.
UM, I'M GONNA NEED YOU TO BRING IN A DOCTOR'S NOTE WITH THAT OR, OR WHATNOT.
BUT I BELIEVE FROM DATA WE HAD SEEN BEFORE, THERE ARE CERTAIN SCHOOLS THAT TEND TO HAVE HIGHER ABSENCE RATES THAN OTHERS.
AND NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT THE FACT THAT OUR SOARING COST FOR SUBS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO PENALIZE THE ENTIRE DISTRICT IN EITHER A LOSS OF RAISE PLUS STEP, OR A COST OF INSURANCE INCREASE.
I MEAN, I KNOW IF I WERE WORKING IN A SCHOOL WHERE STAFF MEMBERS WERE MORE INCLINED TO SHOW UP TO WORK AND THEN I JUST LOST PART OF MY RAISE BECAUSE OF IT, I'D BE PRETTY IRRITATED.
IT'S JUST A WAY OF PUTTING ACCOUNTABILITY BACK ONTO EACH SCHOOL.
FOR WHAT I, I'D BE CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE, UM, ESS EXPENDITURE WENT TO WHICH SCHOOL.
I MEAN, WE'VE, WE'VE DONE A REALLY GREAT JOB OF THIS PAST YEAR TRACKING STUDENT ABSENCES VERY CLOSELY.
AND WE SEE THE POSITIVE, UM, COMPETITION THAT THAT HAS HAPPENED WITH WITH THAT.
AND WE'VE SEEN HOW DRASTICALLY CERTAIN SCHOOLS HAVE, HAVE IMPROVED THEIR ATTENDANCE.
SO MAYBE IF WE WERE TO TURN IT INTO A COMPETITION WITH STAFF ABSENCES BETWEEN THE SCHOOLS, WE COULD START TO SEE CERTAIN PATTERNS OCCURRING, WHICH SCHOOLS ARE, HAVE BETTER STAFF ATTENDANCE THAN OTHERS.
THAT'S POSITIVE, NOT PUNITIVE.
YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING TO THAT.
IF YOU CAN FIGURE OUT A WAY TO DO IT.
I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY YOU CAN, YOU CAN, IT CAN'T BE THE, THE MONEY ISN'T SPREAD ACROSS THE SCHOOLS EQUALLY BECAUSE AGAIN, THERE'S SOME SCHOOLS THAT HAVE LARGER AND TINY AND LARGER.
IT'S PERCENTAGE OF ABSENCES OR SOMETHING.
I THINK THAT'D BE A COOL THING TO, WE DID THE ATTENDANCE, THE, UM, THE MONTHLY DRAWINGS.
I DON'T KNOW THAT, THAT, THAT FAILED MISERABLY.
I, I WAS GONNA SAY, I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT DID, BUT THAT WAS ALL BEHIND THE SCENES.
IF WE START HAVING TEACHER ABSENCES, AWARDS AND BANNERS OF THAT NATURE, AND IT'S ANNOUNCED TO EVERY SCHOOL BOARD, I KNOW SIMPLY FROM TRACKING VIEWPOINT OF IT, IT WOULD CERTAINLY HELP US TRACK IT.
LIKE EACH MONTH, WHO HAD THE FEWEST PERCENTAGES OF TEACHER OF, OF, UH, STAFF ABSENTEEISM OR SOMETHING? MM-HMM.
I'D BE INTERESTED TO HEAR FROM LIKE PRINCIPALS AND TEACHERS, WHAT THEY THINK OF THAT IDEA.
OR IF THERE ARE OTHERS IDEAS OF HOW WE COULD, UM, ADDRESS THIS, YOU KNOW, FROM OUR STAFF.
I THINK MR. LEE SAID THAT WE WOULD BE DOING WELL.
I MEAN, THAT KIND OF ROLLS INTO IT, BUT UPDATES EITHER I THINK TWICE MONTHLY OR MONTHLY.
I MEAN, YOU, YOU DIDN'T SAY SPECIFICALLY LIKE FROM EACH SCHOOL, BUT YOU SAID LIKE THAT COULD BE THE INFORMATION THEY PROVIDE.
UM, BECAUSE THEY WERE GONNA UPDATE US WITH THESE WERE WHAT THE ABSENCES ARE AND WHERE YOU'RE AT.
SO THAT WOULD JUST BE ONE STEP DEEPER INTO IT.
WAS THERE WELL, ARE WE THINKING WAITING TILL THE 25TH MEETING OR HAVING A MEETING BEFORE THAT TO DISCUSS IT? OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE, THEY MAY, I MEAN, WHEN WILL WE KNOW ROB, WHEN THE SUPERVISORS ARE GOING TO MAKE THEIR, MAKE THEIR FINAL CALL AFTER TUESDAY MAYBE? WELL, WE COULD, EXCUSE ME.
WE COULD CHECK WITH THEM IN THE MORNING.
BECAUSE IF IT'S, IF IT'S ON THE 25TH AND OUR MEETING'S ON THE 26TH, AGAIN, THAT IS A LITTLE LATE IN THE, IN THE GAME.
BUT IF THEY, IF THEY WERE GOING TO DO IT EARLIER, WE COULD MEET THE DAY AFTER THAT WHENEVER OR WHENEVER APPROXIMATE TO, TO DISCUSS IT IN MORE DETAIL.
AND I THINK, I MEAN, WE CAN PLAN ON THIS BEING IT NOW AND THEN TRY TO MAKE SOME DECISIONS THERE.
AND IF IT ENDS UP CHANGING, THEN WE HAVE A STARTING POINT.
[04:10:01]
IT'S PROBABLY PRETTY CLOSE TO THIS.AND I, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE ADVERTISED THEIR BUDGETS.
THEY'RE NOT RAISING AND OURS IS INCLUDED IN IT.
UM, I I THINK MOST PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED IF IT ENDS UP ANYTHING DIFFERENT THAN THAT.
BUT IT WOULD HAVE TO BE, IF IT WERE MORE, IT WOULD, AS WAS MENTIONED.
I DON'T THINK TAKE MORE FROM SOMEONE ELSE TO DO IT AND RIGHT.
I, I WASN'T EXPECTING TO BE MORE JUST, BUT IF IT'S PRETTY MUCH A KNOWN THING THAT IT'S AT LEAST VERY CLOSE TO THIS WITHIN, WITHIN A $20,000 MARK OR SOMETHING, MAYBE WE SHOULDN'T WORRY ABOUT WHEN THEY MAKE THE DECISION AND JUST MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR OWN MEETING ABOUT WHATEVER.
WELL IT SEEMS LIKE THAT'S WHAT WE PROBABLY SHOULD DO.
BUT I AM ALSO ABSTAINING FROM THE BUDGET BECAUSE I TOTALLY DISAGREE WITH THE PROCESS.
SO IF YOU GUYS WANNA GO FORWARD WITH IT, BE MY GUEST.
WELL, WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING WITH IT, DON'T WE? I MEAN, WHAT DO, WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO TO, WE'VE GOTTA GET
ANY OTHER DATES ANYBODY WANTS TO THROW OUT? WE CAN CERTAINLY FIND ONE.
WELL, WE DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE MEETING ON THE 18TH, THE 10TH.
WE'RE JUST TAKING A LOT OF TIME RIGHT NOW.
I GUESS, CAN YOU READ US BACK INTO CLOSE ANYONE? I'M SORRY, WHAT? CAN SOMEBODY READ US BACK INTO CLOSE? WHAT WAS THAT? WHAT WAS THE QUESTION TO READ US BACK INTO CLOSE SO WE CAN MOVE ALONG.
I DON'T REMEMBER WHICH ITEMS WE ALREADY DISCUSSED.
'CAUSE ALL THESE NUMBERS ARE NOT,
[8. Approval of Closed Meeting Item(s)]
THIS MOTION IS MADE THAT THIS OPEN PUBLIC MEETING OF THE WARREN COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD BECOME A CLOSED MEETING PURSUANT TO VIRGINIA CODE SECTION 2.2371.THE SCHOOL BOARD DESIRES TO DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING MATTER IN ENCLO MEETING SECTION 2.2371 A ONE DISCUSSION, CONSIDERATION, OR INTERVIEWS OF PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATES FOR EMPLOYMENT ASSIGNMENT, APPOINTMENT PROMOTION, PERFORMANCE TO MOTION SALARIES, DISCIPLINING OR RESIGNATION OF EMPLOYEES OF THE SCHOOL BOARD.
SPECIFICALLY THE, UM, DID WE FINISH WITH THE PERSONNEL REPORT? I BELIEVE SO.
UM, I THINK WE NEED TO REVISIT THE SMS SUBSTITUTE NUMBER 2 0 2 4 0 6 0 5 DASH ONE.
UM, FOLLOW UP ON EMPLOYEE GRIEVANCE 2 0 2 4 0 5 0 1 DASH ONE, THE SUPERINTENDENT'S EVALUATION AND EMPLOYEE.
AM I DOING THREE OR FOUR? I'LL JUST READ 'EM BOTH.
UH, EMPLOYEE NON-RENEWAL NUMBER 2 0 2 4 0 6 0 5 0 3.
AND SECTION 2.2 DASH 3 7 1 A TWO.
DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION OF ADMISSION OR DISCIPLINARY MATTERS OR ANY OTHER MATTERS THAT WOULD INVOLVE THE DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION CONTAINED IN A SCHOLASTIC RECORD CONCERNING ANY STUDENT IN WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
SPECIFICALLY STUDENT NUMBER 2 0 2 4 0 6 0 5 DASH TWO.
IS THERE A SECOND? I SECOND IT.
MR. VALENTINE, COULD YOU ROLL CALL PLEASE? MRS.
[04:15:01]
SALAN? AYE.THIS HEREBY CERTIFY THAT TO THE BEST OF EACH MEMBER'S KNOWLEDGE, ONE, ONLY PUBLIC BUSINESS MATTERS, LAWFULLY EXEMPTED FROM OPEN MEETING REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE VIRGINIA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT WERE DISCUSSED IN THE CLOSED MEETING TO WHICH THE CERTIFICATION APPLIES AND TWO, ONLY SUCH PUBLIC BUSINESS MATTERS AS WERE IDENTIFIED IN THE MOTION BY THE CLOSED MEETING, WERE CON WERE CONVENED, WERE HEARD, DISCUSSED OR CONSIDERED BY THE SCHOOL BOARD.
IS THERE A SECOND? I SECOND IT.
MR. VALENTINE, COULD YOU DO A ROLL CALL? YES.
IS THERE A MOTION I MOVE THAT THE WARREN COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD APPROVED THE 20 24 20 25 STAFF REAPPOINTMENT LIST? IS THERE A SECOND? I SECOND IT.
IS THERE ANOTHER MOTION? NO, I WAS JUST GONNA READ THE NEXT ONE WHEN YOU'RE READY.
2024 SUMMER SCHOOL APPOINTMENTS PART TWO AND THE TEACH FOR TOMORROW APPOINTMENTS BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED.
A NEXT MOTION I MOVE THAT THE JUNE 5TH, 2024 PERSONNEL REPORT ADDENDUM BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED.