[00:00:10]
OPEN MEETING WOULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE NEGOTIATING OR LITIGATING POSTURE OF THE PUBLIC BODY RELATED TO AN EASEMENT
[1. Closed Meeting - 5:30 p.m.]
DISPUTE 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 A DEED OF EASEMENT AND RELATED LAND USE MATTERS.IS THERE A SECOND? I SECOND IT.
MR. BETON, COULD YOU DO ROLL CALL PLEASE? YES.
[2. Meeting Opening - 6:30 p.m.]
ACCORDING TO THE VOTES RECORDED BY THE CLERK, THE SCHOOL BOARD OF WARREN COUNTY DOES HEREBY CERTIFY THAT TO THE BEST OF EACH MEMBER'S KNOWLEDGE, ONE, ONLY PUBLIC BUSINESS MATTERS, LAWFULLY EXEMPTED FROM OPEN MEETING REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE VIRGINIA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT WERE DISCUSSED IN THE CLOSED MEETING TO WHICH THIS CERTIFICATION APPLIES.AND TWO, ONLY SUCH PUBLIC BUSINESS MATTERS AS WERE IDENTIFIED IN THE MOTION BY WHICH THE CLOSED MEETING WAS CONVENED, WERE HEARD, DISCUSSED, OR CONSIDERED BY THE SCHOOL BOARD.
IS THERE A SECOND? I SECOND IT.
MR. VALENTINE, COULD YOU DO ROLL CALL PLEASE? MRS. LOWE? AYE.
AND WITH THAT, IF YOU COULD PLEASE JOIN ME FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, FOLLOWED BY A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND SEE THE REPUBLIC STANDS, ONE NATION A UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
[2.A. Call to Order - Pledge of Allegiance and Moment of Silence - School Board Chair]
[2.B. Accept or Modify the Agenda - School Board]
MOTION TO ACCEPT OR MODIFY THE AGENDA? I MOVE TO ACCEPT THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED.[2.C. Recognition of Warren County Public Schools Teachers of the Year]
THIS EVENING, WE HAVE RECOGNITION OF THE WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TEACHERS OF THE YEAR, DR.MADAM CHAIR, MADAM CHAIR BOARD MEMBERS.
I'M VERY EXCITED TONIGHT FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO STAND IN FRONT OF YOU TO RECOGNIZE SOME OF OUR OUTSTANDING EDUCATORS IN WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
THE, UM, AND I KNOW IT'S NOT WRITTEN DOWN ANYWHERE, BUT THESE FOLKS ARE PHENOMENAL.
WE ARE VERY IMPRESSED WITH, UM, ALL OF OUR TEACHERS AND IT'S GREAT THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE OUR TEACHERS OF THE YEAR.
SO AT UM, THIS TIME, WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS WHAT I LIKE TO CALL IT THE TEACHER OF THE YEAR, UM, TO COME UP.
BALLINGER HAS A SPECIAL CERTIFICATE FOR THEM.
AND, UM, THEN THOSE THAT WE CALL UP, IF YOU DON'T MIND JUST KIND OF STANDING OVER HERE TO THE SIDE.
'CAUSE WE, WE WANT A PHOTO, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE GET PICTURES OF EVERYBODY THAT'S HERE.
SO, UM, WITH THAT SAID, UM, REPRESENTING AS ROADS ELEMENTARY IS CHARITY LEASE REPRESENTING E WILSON MORRISON ELEMENTARY, VICTORIA LA WE DID HAVE SOME WHO WERE NOT ABLE TO MAKE IT TONIGHT 'CAUSE OF THE CONCERN OF THE WEATHER AND, UM, WHERE THEY LIVE.
SO, UM, BUT WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THEIR CERTIFICATES TO THEM.
UM, REPRESENTING HILDA, J BARBER ELEMENTARY, NICOLE AND LINGERER, REPRESENTING LESLIE FOX, KEYSER ELEMENTARY, ALEX WALL,
[00:05:19]
REPRESENTING RESTY JEFFRIES ELEMENTARY.HALEY CHADWELL, REPRESENTING SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
REPRESENTING WARREN MIDDLE SCHOOL.
HALLE GROVES, REPRESENTING OUR NON-TRADITIONAL PROGRAM.
EMMA SELBY, REPRESENTING BLUE RIDGE TECHNOLOGY.
MICHAEL ABEL REPRESENTING SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL.
ROBIN JENSEN, REPRESENTING WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL.
AND THIS YEAR, REPRESENTING THE ENTIRE DIVISION, OUR DIVISION TEACHER OF THE YEAR IS HALLE GROVES.
I'M VERY HONORED AND VERY HUMBLED AND TO BE AMONG, I DON'T KNOW THE LINE OF TEACHERS THAT TAUGHT ME AND NOW I'M IN LINE WITH THEM.
CAN ALL THE TEACHERS OF THE YEAR COME FORWARD FOR ONE GROUP PICTURE, PLEASE ALL THE, ALL THE TEACHERS OF THE YEAR, PLEASE COME UP FOR A GROUP PICTURE.
AND ALSO, AS EVERYONE'S WALKING UP, WE'LL LET YOU KNOW YOU, THEY WILL BE RECOGNIZED AGAIN AT A BANQUET, UM, LATER ON IN THE YEAR.
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO SQUISH IN.
I DON'T HAVE A WIDE ANGLE LENS.
YOU'RE GONNA ACT LIKE YOU LIKE EACH OTHER.
AND 1, 2, 3, AND TRY TO IN BIT ONE.
[00:10:01]
BOARD MEMBERS, AS THEY MAKE THEIR WAY BACK, SOME OF THEM DO, SAID THEY HAD LESSON PLANS THEY NEEDED TO GO WORK ON.SO IF THEY DO EXIT AT THIS TIME OR WHENEVER THEY FEEL LIKE THEY NEED TO, I DID, I DID WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THEY'RE NOT BEING RUDE AND WALKING OUT THAT THEY ARE GETTING PREPARED.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.
[2.D. Attendance Award Presentation - Dr. Ballenger]
UP THIS EVENING, WE'RE GONNA HAVE OUR ATTENDANCE AWARD PRESENTATIONS.AND, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY WELCOME TO EVERYBODY THAT THAT IS IN ATTENDANCE TONIGHT AND EVERYBODY THAT'S IN ATTENDANCE, UH, JOINING US ONLINE.
AND SO AT THIS POINT, YOU KNOW, WE, WE HAVE BEEN DOING OUR ATTENDANCE AWARDS FOR SOME TIME NOW, AND WE ARE STILL GOING TO RECOGNIZE A COUPLE OF SCHOOLS THAT WE'VE RECOGNIZED JUST ABOUT EVERY MONTH, UH, SO FAR THIS YEAR.
UH, BUT THAT AGAIN, IS A TESTAMENT TO, TO WHAT THEY'RE DOING IN THEIR SCHOOLS.
BALLER, CAN YOU GUYS HEAR US OUT THERE OR NO? NO.
YEAH, I'VE GOT MY JESSE, CAN YOU GUYS HEAR US NOW? NO.
CAN ANYBODY THE RECORDING? ARE YOU HERE? TESTING, TESTING? YOU'RE JUST NOT HEARING US OUT THERE.
YEAH, WELL YOU CAN ALWAYS GO BACK AND WATCH THE RECORDING
UH, SO I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE, UH, FOR THE ELEMENTARY ATTENDANCE AWARD THIS MONTH GOES TO AS ROADS.
THEY HAD AN ATTENDANCE RATE OF 93.26% FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY.
BALLINGER AND THANK YOU CHAIRMAN PENCE AND BOARD MEMBERS.
UM, JUST TO START, ONCE AGAIN, THANKS AGAIN FOR TAKING THE TIME THIS EVENING TO RECOGNIZE THE TEACHERS OF THE YEAR FOR OUR COUNTY AND ALL OF OUR TEACHERS THAT DO PUT IN LONG HOURS EVERY DAY AND DO THEIR BEST TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL KIDS ARE SUCCESSFUL.
AND THAT REALLY IS WHY WE'RE ALL HERE.
AND THAT ALSO IS HOW WE ARE EARNING AN ATTENDANCE BANNER.
JUST TRYING TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE STUDENTS WANT TO BE IN SCHOOL EVERY DAY.
UM, WE ALL HAVE THOSE DAYS THAT ARE LESS THAN PERFECT, BUT WE DO STRIVE TO MAKE THEM BETTER EVERY DAY FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS.
UM, WE HAVE A FEW CLUBS THIS YEAR THAT I THINK ARE REALLY HELPING THAT.
UM, AS YOU KNOW, OVER THE YEARS, MR. SITERS HAS REALLY BUILT HIS DISC GOLF CLUB.
SO WE HAVE FALL DISC GOLF, WE HAVE WINTER DISC GOLF, WE HAVE JUST A CLUB PUTTING CLUB, I THINK THAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.
IT'S LIKE AN IN-BETWEEN WINTER AND SPRING.
SO, AND HIS GOAL IS TO CREATE A, UM, A COURSE AT OUR SCHOOL SO THAT HE DOESN'T HAVE TO PUT THE BASKETS UP AND DOWN EVERY TIME.
AND OUR STUDENTS REALLY LOVE THAT.
ALSO, THANKS TO MR. WILLIAMS FOR THE NUDGE TO GET OUR EARLY ACT CLUB GOING WITH ROTARY AND ALSO TO MS. CHADWELL WHO IS RECOGNIZED FOR TEACHER OF THE YEAR AT RUSI.
SHE IS OUR ROTARY REPRESENTATIVE.
SO IN ADDITION TO HELPING AT HER SCHOOL AND ALL THE GREAT THINGS SHE DOES THERE, SHE DOES COME OVER TO HELP US WITH OUR CLUB.
AND WE'VE HAD TWO MEETINGS SO FAR.
SO WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE THEIR SUPPORT, UM, TO US.
AND WE HOPE TO IN THE SPRING START OUR, UM, TUTORING FOR STUDENTS THAT HAVE HAD SOME OF THAT CHRONIC ABSENCE, UM, BEHAVIOR SO WE CAN TRY TO EARN BACK SOME OF THOSE HOURS.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE 10 STUDENTS, SO, UM, YOU KNOW, AS WE GET A LITTLE FURTHER ALONG IN THE SPRING, IF THERE ARE OTHERS THAT ARE KIND OF JOINING THAT GROUP, WE'LL DEFINITELY TRY TO EARN BACK SOME OF THAT TIME.
AND NOT TO FORGET, UM, MRS. CURTIS FOR SPONSORING OUR WALKING CLUB.
SO SHE'S AN EARLY MORNING PERSON AND SHE'S THERE AT SEVEN O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING AND HAS A GROUP OF ABOUT 30 STUDENTS THAT JOIN HER TWO DAYS A WEEK TO JUST COME IN AND, AND WALK AND TALK AND SOCIALIZE.
AND I THINK THAT REALLY DOES HELP TO BUILD SOME OF THOSE RELATIONSHIPS THAT GET OUR KIDS TO SCHOOL EVERY DAY.
SO WE APPRECIATE ALL THEIR HARD WORK AND THANK YOU AGAIN.
AND THANK YOU FOR, UM, ALL OF THE WORK YOU DO.
AND WE LEFT A SMALL GIFT FOR YOU AND RECOGNITION OF ALL YOUR WORK, UM, FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD APPRECIATION MONTH.
[00:15:13]
JUST MAKE SURE POSTED.OKAY, I'LL
THIS IS ALWAYS THE HIGHLIGHT, HIGHLIGHT OF MY MONTH.
UH, I WANNA START BY THANKING YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU DO AND HAPPY SCHOOL BOARD, UH, MEMBER APPRECIATION MONTH.
UH, WE ALSO LEFT SOMETHING UP THERE FOR YOU ON YOUR CHAIRS, SO THANK YOU.
UM, AND SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ATTENDANCE AND THE SICKNESSES AND STUFF GOING AROUND, THIS MIGHT BE DIFFERENT.
I WANNA THANK ALL THE DOCTORS AND NURSE PRACTITIONERS AND OTHER MEDICAL PEOPLE WHO ARE SEEING ALL OF OUR KIDS IN THEIR OFFICES HERE OVER THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS, AND HOPEFULLY THAT GOES DOWN AS SPRING SETS IN.
AND SINCE I DIDN'T HAVE MY PAPER, I WILL READ WHAT THEIR ATTENDANCE RATE WAS FOR THE MONTH.
IT WAS, UH, 92.75% AND MOST IMPROVED THIS MONTH, OR FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY IS SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL.
THEY HAD AN ATTENDANCE RATE OF 90.72%, WHICH WAS AN INCREASE OF 3.44% FOR THE MONTH.
AND, UH, DEEP THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE TO THE FAMILIES OF WARREN COUNTY, WHICH WE APPRECIATE IMMENSELY.
WE COULDN'T DO WHAT WE DO WITHOUT YOU.
UM, ALSO TO OUR FANTASTIC STAFF, OUR STUDENTS, AND OUR FAMILIES WHO HAVE BEEN KEY PARTNERS IN CONTINUING TO TRY TO MAKE THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE HAVE, IMPROVING, GROWING, AND CHANGING FOR THE BETTER, TO BE BETTER IS CENTRAL TO OUR MISSION AND TO OUR CRAFT.
AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO ASPIRE TO THOSE GOALS.
UM, I'M DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR THE EXCELLENT TEACHING THAT'S GOING ON, AS IS EXEMPLIFIED BY OUR FANTASTIC TEACHER THE YEAR ROBIN JENSEN, WHICH I'M VERY PLEASED TO HAVE BEEN HONORED, UH, THIS EVENING.
UH, MY PARTNER IN ALL OF OUR LEADERSHIP WORK, MRS. PUMPHREY AND I, UH, PASSIONATELY BELIEVE THAT CREATING A CULTURE OF PASSIONATE TEACHING THAT LEADS TO JOYOUS LEARNING IS CENTRAL TO MAKING SCHOOL SOMETHING THAT CHILDREN WANT TO ATTEND, DO, ATTEND, AND IN WHICH THEY SUCCEED.
UM, AND WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS CALLING ME RIGHT NOW, SO SORRY FOR THAT INTERRUPTION.
UH, WE WILL CONTINUE TO USE ALL OF THE DATA AT OUR DISPOSAL TO SELECT THE BEST RESEARCH SUPPORTED PRACTICES TO ENSURE THAT SKYLINE FULFILLS ITS RICH POTENTIAL.
BALLINGER AND THE TEAM AND THE, UH, DEPARTMENT OF INSTRUCTION HAVE BEEN ESSENTIAL IN HELPING TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT, THANK YOU TO THEM.
AND WE'RE HONORED TO REPRESENT OUR TEACHERS WHO ARE THE ONES DOING THE REAL WORK.
[2.E. School Reports - Dr. Ballenger]
UP THIS EVENING, WE HAVE OUR SCHOOL REPORTS, DR.UM, WE ARE PRIVILEGED TO HAVE TWO REPORTS TONIGHT.
UM, SO WE WILL START OFF WITH WARREN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR THEIR MONTHLY REPORT.
SORRY, DR. THOMPSON, UH, MADAM CHAIR AND BOARD MEMBERS, IT IS MY PLEASURE TO SERVE AS THE PRINCIPAL AT WARREN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL.
UH, I BELIEVE WE HAVE A GREAT SCHOOL, AND I HOPE YOU SEE IT THROUGH OUR REGULAR RECOGNITION OF HAVING THE HIGHEST ATTENDANCE, UH, AMONG WHAT WCPS SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND TONIGHT, UH, AS WARREN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL'S HOME TO THE BACK, TO BACK TO BACK WCPS TEACHER OF THE YEAR.
SO WE'RE LIKE THE CHIEFS, UM, I GUESS IF THEY WOULD ON SUNDAY.
UM, BUT OUR SCHOOL WOULD NOT BE GREAT WITHOUT OUR STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND TEACHERS.
I TELL OUR STUDENTS HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE THEM AND HOW MUCH I WANT THEM AT SCHOOL.
WCMS WOULD NOT BE IF IT WERE NOT FOR OUR STUDENTS.
THEY'RE WHY I COME TO WORK EVERY DAY.
UH, MY CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM ENERGIZE ME AND THEIR SUCCESS HELPS ME FEEL SUCCESSFUL.
UH, THE PARENTS AT WCMS ARE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THEIR STUDENTS AND OUR STAFF.
I RARELY HAVE DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS WITH PARENTS, BUT WHEN I DO, IT'S ALWAYS CLEAR THAT THOSE PARENTS WANT THE BEST FOR THEIR STUDENTS.
AND THAT'S THE SAME THING I WANT AS WELL.
[00:20:01]
FINALLY, WE HAVE THE BEST TEACHERS AT WCMS. THEY WORK HARD DAY IN AND DAY OUT.THEY'RE WILLING TO TAKE NEW RISKS, TRY NEW THINGS TO BENEFIT OUR STUDENTS, AND THEY'RE ALWAYS FOCUSED ON STUDENTS' SOCIAL AND ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT.
EVERY TEACHER AT WCMS, UH, IS FOCUSED ON THE SKILLS AND CONTENT STUDENTS NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN LIFE.
UH, I WOULD ARGUE THAT EDUCATION IN 2025 IS HARDER THAN BEING A ROCKET SCIENTIST.
UH, BUT OUR TEACHERS HANDLE THOSE DAILY CHALLENGES WITH GRACE AND PATIENTS.
I APPRECIATE THEM AND WCMS WOULD NOT BE A SUCCESS WITHOUT THEM.
AND FINALLY, I WANT TO THANK THE GREAT ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM I WORK WITH.
UH, I THINK OUR MAIN OFFICE STAFF IS THE BEST IN THE COUNTY.
IF YOU ASK THEM, THEY'LL TELL YOU TO, UH, FROM OUR SECRETARIES TO OUR COUNSELORS, UH, AND ENDING WITH MR. MARBERRY, OUR NEW DEAN OF STUDENTS WHO IS FANTASTIC.
AND MS. HALL, OUR, OUR ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL WHO YOU'LL HEAR FROM TONIGHT, UH, THEIR SUPPORT IS APPRECIATED MORE THAN THEY KNOW.
UH, I DON'T WANT TO, UH, REITERATE SOME OF THE REGULAR WRITTEN UPDATES THAT I GIVE YOU ALL.
UH, SO THIS EVENING I'VE ASKED SEVERAL PEOPLE TO SPEAK WITH YOU TO GIVE THEIR UPDATE ON WARREN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL.
UH, SO I'D FIRST LIKE TO INTRODUCE, UH, MRS. CRYSTAL HALL AP TO GIVE AN INSTRUCTIONAL UPDATE.
THIS IS HER FIRST YEAR AS AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT WCMS AND HAS, SHE HAS BEEN A GREAT ADDITION WITH HER EXPERIENCE AS AN INSTRUCTIONAL COACH.
SHE'S DONE A FANTASTIC JOB FOCUSING ON CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION WITH OUR TEACHERS.
THANK YOU DR. JOHNSTON AND THANK YOU BOARD MEMBERS AND DR.
BALLINGER FOR HA GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TONIGHT AND TO REPRESENT WARREN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL.
UM, OUR TEACHERS ARE DOING INCREDIBLE THINGS IN THEIR CLASSROOMS, AND IT'S EVIDENT DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
UM, OUR BENCHMARK SCORES HAVE INCREASED SINCE LAST YEAR OVERALL, AND THAT THAT'S, THAT'S DUE TO THE HARD WORK THAT THEY'RE PUTTING IN.
LIKE I SAID, DAY IN AND DAY OUT, THEY'VE BEEN PARTICIPATING IN VARIOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
OUR MATH TEACHERS ARE READING AND WORKING THROUGH THE BOOK, UH, BUILDING THINKING CLASSROOMS AND MATHEMATICS.
AND IT'S DOING EXACTLY WHAT IT SAYS.
WE'RE GETTING THE KIDS TO THINK MORE.
UM, AND SO I'M SEEING THE STUDENTS WORKING AND THINKING AND ENGAGING AND COLLABORATIVELY WORKING TOGETHER IN THEIR CLASSROOMS TO SOLVE MATHEMATICAL CONCEPTS.
UM, THE ENGLISH TEACHERS ARE PARTICIPATING IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WITH DR.
UM, THEIR FOCUS ON THE BOOK LITERACY LEARNING CENTERS FOR THE BIG KIDS.
UM, AND SO WE'RE BRINGING THE FOCUS BACK TO THE FIVE MAIN CATEGORIES OF INTENTIONAL VOCABULARY INSTRUCTION, HIGHER LEVEL QUESTIONING, GRADE LEVEL AND ABOVE, TEXT SUMMARIZATION AND ANNOTATION.
UM, AND THAT THAT'S HELPING THE STUDENTS WORK THEIR WAY THROUGH VARIOUS TEXTS THAT THEY WILL RECEIVE, UM, AND MAKE IT A PRIORITY, AS DO MY THE OTHER ADMINISTRATORS I WORK WITH TO BE IN AS MANY CLASSROOMS AS WE POSSIBLY CAN, AS OUR SCHEDULE ALLOWS.
UM, AND LIKE I SAID BEFORE, OUR TEACHERS ARE DOING INCREDIBLE THINGS.
OUR STUDENTS ARE ENGAGED, THEY'RE THINKING, UM, AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE WORKING, THEY'RE WORKING REALLY HARD DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
AND I THINK MY TEACHERS FOR DOING SUCH A GREAT JOB TOO.
NEXT I WANNA INTRODUCE, UH, MRS. REBECCA WEBSTER.
SHE'S AN EIGHTH GRADE ENGLISH TEACHER AND RETURNED TO WCMS THIS YEAR.
UH, HER STUDENTS LOVE HER AND I'M SO GLAD THAT SHE WAS RECOMMENDED TO US AND SHE AGREED TO RETURN TO WARREN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL.
UM, MIDDLE SCHOOL'S A TIME WHEN KIDS ARE STARTING TO FIGURE OUT WHO THEY ARE AND WHERE THEY BELONG.
UM, I THINK WARREN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL DOES AN EXCELLENT JOB OF HELPING THEM FIND THEIR WAY.
EXCUSE ME, WHEN I WALK DOWN THE HALLWAY.
MOST STUDENTS GENUINELY LOOK HAPPY TO BE AT SCHOOL.
THROUGH CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS WILDLIFE, FFA, UM, ESPORTS INTERACT AND NATIONAL JUNIOR HONOR SOCIETY, STUDENTS ARE FINDING PLACES WHERE THEY FIT IN PEOPLE WHOM THEY WITH WHOM THEY CAN INTERACT AND ARE IMPACTING OUR COMMUNITY POSITIVELY.
THIS FALL, WCMS HELD A FALL FESTIVAL IN CONJUNCTION WITH A TALENT SHOW TO ENGAGE FAMILIES AND PROVIDE AN EVENING OF FUN AND ENTERTAINMENT.
THE GIFTED CLASS HOSTED HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE AT A FAMILY STEM ARCADE NIGHT AND THEATER BAND CHORUS AND ART STUDENTS PUT ON A PLAY WINTER CONCERT AND AN ART SHOW.
EACH YEAR, STUDENTS AND STAFF COME TOGETHER TO PROVIDE FOR THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE IN OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY THROUGH HOLIDAY FOOD DRIVES AND ANGEL TREE GIFTS.
IN ADDITION, EVERY STUDENT STARTED THE YEAR BY SETTING GOALS, AND THEY'RE WORKING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO BUILD A PORTFOLIO OF WORK THAT THEY ARE PROUD OF TO SHARE WITH THEIR PARENTS.
WCMS ALSO HAS A REALLY HARDWORKING FACULTY THAT IS DEDICATED TO ENSURING THAT ALL STUDENTS ARE ENGAGED, HAPPY, AND SAFE.
CONTENT AREAS MEET EVERY TWO WEEKS IN THEIR PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES OR PLCS, UM, TO SHARE IDEAS, DISCUSS DATA, AND TO COLLABORATE TO IMPROVE INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICES.
TEACHERS THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL WORK WELL WITH WELL TOGETHER AS TEAMS TO ADDRESS COMMON CONCERNS AND TO STRENGTHEN EACH OTHER.
THE MATH DEPARTMENT, AS MS. HALL SAID, IS CURRENTLY, UM, COMPLETING A BOOK STUDY ON BUILDING THINKING CLASSROOMS. AND THE ENGLISH DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN WORKING WITH A CONSULTANT ABOUT HOW TO INCORPORATE BEST LITERACY
[00:25:01]
PRACTICES IN THE CLASSROOMS. EVERY DAY.TEACHERS ARE WORKING TO REACH EVERY STUDENT THROUGH INNOVATION AND CONNECTION.
STUDENTS HAVE MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO FIND A PLACE TO BELONG WHILE LEARNING FROM AND BEING CARED FOR BY THEIR TEACHERS DAILY.
UH, NEXT WE'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE TWO STUDENTS THAT ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR NEW ESPORTS TEAM.
UH, LAST YEAR I WAS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO FIND OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS, UH, TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
AND ONE OF OUR ENGLISH TEACHERS, UH, MR. GUNN AGREED TO COACH OUR ESPORTS TEAM, UH, FOR OUR STUDENTS.
MR. GUNN AND OUR STUDENTS HAVE DONE AN AMAZING JOB.
UH, SO I WOULD LIKE TO TELL, UH, INTRODUCE THE BEST MARIO KART PLAYERS I'VE EVER SEEN.
UH, JASPER SULLIVAN AND MATEO VERNA TO TELL YOU ABOUT ESPORTS.
I'M A SEVENTH GRADE STUDENT AT WARREN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL.
I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF THE NEW ESPORTS TEAM.
THIS YEAR I JOINED ESPORTS 'CAUSE I LOVE PLAYING VIDEO GAMES.
THIS YEAR WAS MY FIRST TIME PLAYING ON AN ESPORTS TEAM.
WE HAD THREE TEAMS FOR THREE GAMES, PLATOON, MARIO KART AND SMASH BROTHERS FOR EACH GAME.
OUR TEAM HAD THREE PRACTICE SCRIMMAGES AND 11 GAMES FOR A TOTAL OF 42 GAMES.
SCHEDULED ON TUESDAYS, WEDNESDAYS, THURSDAYS ACROSS 14 WEEKS.
IN ADDITION TO HAVING LOTS OF FUN, WE ARE VERY SUCCESSFUL.
OUR PLATOON TEAM FINISHED THIRD PLACE IN THE EAST REGION.
OUR MARIO KART TEAM FINISHED NINTH PLACE, AND OUR SUPER SMASH BROS TEAM FINISHED 40TH.
MY FRIENDS AND I ENJOY THE NEW ACTIVITY AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO MR. GUNN WHO HAS SERVED AS OUR SPONSOR TO THIS YEAR AND HIS TIME THAT HE HAS DEDICATED TO OUR TEAMS. WE ARE PLANNING TO COMPETE AGAIN THIS SPRING AND HOPE TO ADD TEAMS FOR CHESS AND MADAM FOOTBALL.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO SPEAK, AND WE HOPE THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD CAN SUPPORT ESPORTS AT W-W-C-M-S.
THEY DID SELL THEMSELVES SHORT A LITTLE BIT.
THEY CAME IN THIRD, NINTH AND 40TH OUT OF OVER A HUNDRED TEAMS FROM KIND OF EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER, SO INDIANA, GEORGIA, ALL OVER THE PLACE.
UH, BUT FINALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE TWO LEADERS OF OUR NATIONAL JUNIOR HONOR SOCIETY.
AFTER LOOKING FOR WAYS TO RECOGNIZE OUR STUDENT LEADERS LAST YEAR WE'RE REESTABLISHED OUR NJHS CHAPTER.
THE STUDENTS HAD TO HAVE A 3.5 GPA.
THEY ALSO HAD TO, UH, DEMONSTRATE LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE AS REVIEWED BY A FACULTY COUNCIL.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE TWO FUTURE LEADERS THAT I'M SURE YOU'LL HEAR GREAT THINGS FROM IN THE FUTURE.
AVERY HILL, AVERY HILL, AND HALEY CIO.
I'M IN EIGHTH GRADE, AND I'M THE RECORDING SECRETARY OF THE WCMS NATIONAL JUNIOR HONOR SOCIETY.
CHAPTER NJHS IS A PROGRAM THAT CURRENTLY HAS OVER 17,000 CHAPTERS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
WITH THE FIRST CHAPTER BEING FOUNDED IN 1929, THE GOAL OF THE SOCIETY WAS TO RECOGNIZE STUDENTS WHO EXCEED STANDARDS IN ALL PARTS OF THEIR LIVES.
NJHS IS COMPOSED OF FIVE CORE VALUES, EVERYDAY SCHOLARSHIP, SERVICE, LEADERSHIP, CHARACTER, AND CITIZENSHIP.
STUDENTS ARE GIVEN NJHS APPLICATION PAPERS WHERE THEY FILL OUT THEIR HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE, AS WELL AS LEADERSHIP ROLES THEY'VE TAKEN ON IN THE PAST.
AFTER AN EVALUATION PROCESS BY PANEL OF TEACHERS, STUDENTS ARE THEN INDUCTED INTO THE NATIONAL JUNIOR HONOR SOCIETY.
MEMBERS ARE EXPECTED TO KEEP UP GOOD GRADES WHILE PLANNING PROJECTS FOR THE GROUP, AS WELL AS TAKING PART IN AT LEAST 10 HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE PER SEMESTER.
THESE HIGH STANDARDS PUSH STUDENTS IN A MORE RIGOROUS WAY THAN MOST EXTRACURRICULARS DO.
BY FULFILLING THESE REQUIREMENTS, MEMBERS GAIN A SENSE OF SELF-ESTEEM AND SATISFACTION.
TAKING PART IN NJHS LOOKS AMAZING ON OTHER APPLICATIONS, TEACHES COOPERATION SKILLS AND SET STUDENTS APART.
NOW OUR WCMS, NATIONAL JUNIOR HONOR SOCIETY PRESIDENT WILL TELL YOU MORE ABOUT WHAT OUR CHAPTER HAS ACCOMPLISHED THIS YEAR.
HELLO EVERYONE, AND THANK YOU FOR COMING AND TAKING THE TIME TO HEAR ABOUT OUR CLUB.
MY NAME IS HALEY PRECIOUS AND I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE WCMS NATIONAL JUNIOR HONOR SOCIETY.
OUR CLUB AT ITS VERY FIRST MEETING OF THE YEAR ON SEPTEMBER 9TH, 2024.
SINCE THEN, WE'VE HAD TWO MON, WE'VE HAD MEETINGS TWO MONDAYS A MONTH FROM THREE 30 TO FOUR O'CLOCK BECAUSE THERE HAD BEEN NO NATIONAL JUNIOR HONOR SOCIETY.
THE YEAR PRIOR, WE HAD TO BUILD OUR CLUB FROM THE GROUND UP.
WE CREATED OUR OWN RULES AND TASKS THAT WENT ALONG WITH THEM.
EACH OF OUR 10 MEMBERS WAS GIVEN ONE OF THE FOLLOWING RULES, PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT, TREASURER, RECORDING SECRETARY, CORRESPONDING SECRETARY, RESEARCHER, CANVAS WORKER, OR SOCIAL MEDIA OFFICER.
THIS WAY, EVERYONE HAS A SPECIFIC JOB TO DO DURING AND OUTSIDE OF MEETINGS.
AS OUR MEETINGS WENT ON, THEY BECAME MORE PRODUCTIVE.
WE STARTED PLANNING OUR FIRST CLUB FUNDRAISER IN DECEMBER, WHICH WE DECIDED WOULD BE SELLING CANDY GRAMS. CANDY GRAMS OR BAGS INCLUDE ONE CANDY GAME THREE HER HERSHEY GIVES US AND A NOTE FROM WHOEVER SENT IT.
EVERY MORNING FOR ONE WEEK, A HANDFUL OF OUR MEMBERS WOULD SELL FORMS FOR CANDY GRAMS. IN
[00:30:01]
THE STUDENT COMMENTS.EACH FORUM GETS YOU ONE CANDYGRAM AND COSTS $2.
ON LAST DAY BEFORE WINTER BREAK, THE CANDY GRAMS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO THE STUDENTS AND FACULTY BY OUR MEMBERS.
THE FUNDRAISER WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL AND RAISED OVER $300.
CURRENTLY, WE ARE PLANNING TO DO ONE TO TWO MORE FUNDRAISERS FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR, AT LEAST ONE COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT.
I'M SO PROUD OF THE CLUB THAT WE'VE HELPED SHAPE IN EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED.
UH, I'VE BEEN IMPRESSED WITH OUR JUNIOR HONOR SOCIETY MEMBERS BECAUSE YOU WALK INTO THE ROOM AND THE KIDS ARE LEADING THE MEETINGS AND IT'S BEEN FANTASTIC TO SEE.
UH, BEFORE I CONCLUDE, I WANNA THANK EACH OF YOU, UH, AS MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD.
I KNOW YOUR JOBS ARE VERY DIFFICULT, UH, AND I KNOW I KIND OF JUMPED THE GUN AT THE ATTENDANCE THING.
UM, BUT I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU PUT IN.
UH, I WANT TO INVITE YOU TO OUR STUDENT FACULTY BASKETBALL GAME THAT WE HAVE HERE EVERY, EVERY YEAR.
IT'S GONNA BE MARCH 28TH AT SEVEN O'CLOCK AT WARREN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HAPPY SCHOOL BOARD APPRECIATION MONTH.
AND PLEASE FEEL FREE TO VISIT WCMS ANYTIME.
THANK YOU DR. JOHNSON AND WARREN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL.
AND OUR NEXT PRESENTATION TONIGHT IS NON-TRADITIONAL.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE MS. ZA UP.
ALL RIGHT, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION TO OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.
AND THAT INCLUDES OUR NON-TRADITIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S A CLICK OR, ALRIGHT.
OUR NON-TRADITIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO MEET THE UNIQUE EDUCATIONAL, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL NEEDS OF OUR DIVERSE STUDENT POPULATION.
WE MEET THESE NEEDS THROUGH OUR DAY PROGRAM, WHICH INCLUDES BRIGHTER FUTURES, WHICH SERVES GRADES K THROUGH EIGHT AND DIVERSIFIED MINDS, WHICH SERVES OUR GRADES NINE THROUGH 12TH GRADE STUDENTS.
WE ALSO PROVIDE EVENING PROGRAMS AT OUR SECONDARY SCHOOLS.
JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT OUR, OUR CURRENT DAY PROGRAM LOOKS LIKE.
OUR POPULATION IS ALWAYS FLEXING.
I MEAN, WE HAVE STUDENTS COMING AND GOING ALL THE TIME, BUT CURRENTLY WE HAVE SEVEN TEACHERS AND TWO INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANTS.
AND CURRENTLY WE'RE SERVING 32 STUDENTS IN GRADES K THROUGH 12.
UM, 13 OF THOSE RECEIVING, UH, SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES.
THIS SMALL TEACHER TO STUDENT RATIO ALLOWS FOR MORE INDIVID INDIVIDUALIZED ATTENTION AND INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT.
AND I DO WANNA NOTE THAT OUR TEACHER OF THE YEAR, MS. EMMA SELBY COULDN'T BE HERE DUE TO THE WEATHER THIS AFTERNOON, BUT SHE CREATED THAT BEAUTIFUL MURAL ON THE WALL.
AND THAT NON-TRADITIONAL CREATURE THAT YOU SEE THERE IS A COMBINATION OF A HAWK AND A WILDCAT BECAUSE ALL OF OUR STUDENTS WILL BE OR CURRENTLY ARE.
SO WE ALWAYS REMIND THEM WHERE THEIR ROOTS ARE ARE TIED TO.
I WANNA JUST TO MENTION HERE, OUR PROGRAM, UH, OUR DAY PROGRAM SERVED AS A PILOT FOR OUR METAL DETECTORS, UM, IN, IN PROMOTING A SAFE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.
UM, WE, I JUST WANTED TO SHARE A VIDEO OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
I, I SHOT THIS VIDEO EARLIER THIS WEEK, OR ACTUALLY MY ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT, SO DO I JUST CLICK AGAIN? GOOD MORNING, CANDACE.
HOW SO? AS YOU SEE, STUDENTS ARE, ARE IN A ROUTINE NOW.
THEY'VE BEEN INSTRUCTED HOW GOTTEN THE ROUTINE.
NOW THEY COME IN, THEY KNOW TO TAKE OUT ANYTHING OF METAL THAT MIGHT SET OFF.
HOW IS YOUR WEEKEND? UH, IT'S GOOD.
CHROMEBOOK CHARGING WILL DO IT EVERY TIME.
AGAIN, JUST TO SAY IT'S BEEN ROUTINE, IT'S ROUTINE.
NOW THE KIDS JUST COME AND KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TO DO WHEN WE GET ON WITH OUR DAY.
SO THAT, WE JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL FOR ADVOCATING FOR, FOR THAT SAFETY FEATURE.
[00:35:01]
ALL RIGHT.JUST A FEW IMAGES THAT, UH, THAT WE, UM, HAVE TAKEN RECENTLY.
ON THE LEFT, WE HAVE A STUDENT AT HER MOTHER ENJOYING THE HOLIDAY MEAL AT BRIGHTER FUTURES.
IN THE MIDDLE, WE HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT WORKING ON A, A LAB ACTIVITY AND SCIENCE CLASS.
AND TO THE RIGHT, UM, THIS WAS TAKEN THIS WEEK, WE HAVE OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS RESPONDING TO A WRITING PROMPT.
UM, AND I'LL SAY MORE ABOUT THAT HERE SHORTLY.
I WANTED TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR EVENING PROGRAMS THAT WE PROVIDE.
SO WE, AT OUR SECONDARY SCHOOLS, UH, WELL, LEMME SAY THIS FIRST.
THIS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED FOR STUDENTS FOR THAT, FOR WHATEVER REASON, ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND SCHOOL ALL DAY, EVERY DAY.
AND HERE IN THIS PICTURE, UM, YOU CAN SEE ONE OF THOSE REASONS WHY THAT STUDENT MAY NEED A NON-TRADITIONAL AFTERNOON PROGRAM.
UM, THAT STUDENT DIDN'T EARN A STANDARD DIPLOMA, UM, WHICH IS FABULOUS.
BUT THESE, UM, AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS RUN TWO HOURS A DAY, THREE DAYS A WEEK.
UM, AT OUR, IN ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE LEAVING US READY TO BE, UM, SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
SO HERE'S A PICTURE OF OUR, UH, NANCY REESE, ONE OF OUR WCPS CAREER COACHES.
WE MAKE SURE THAT THEY COME OVER, MEET WITH OUR STUDENTS TO DISCUSS THEIR FUTURE PLANS, WHETHER THAT'S A TWO YEAR COLLEGE, A FOUR YEAR UNIVERSITY, WHETHER THAT'S THE MILITARY, GETTING A JOB, A TRADE SCHOOL, WHAT HAVE YOU.
AND I DO WANNA PUT A SHOUT TO BLUE RIDGE TECHNICAL CENTER THROUGH THEIR WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS HAS, UM, BEEN INVITING OUR STUDENTS TO COME OVER.
SO WE'VE BEEN SETTING THAT UP FOR THEM TOO.
AND WHAT'S OUR END GOAL, UM, IS TO, TO THAT OUR STUDENTS GRADUATE WITH DIPLOMAS.
AND I'M VERY PROUD TO SAY, UM, THAT WE'VE HAD A HUNDRED PERCENT GRADUATION RATE WITH OUR STUDENTS RECEIVING A STANDARD OR APPLIED STUDIES DIPLOMA SINCE 2022.
AND CURRENTLY ALL 17 OF OUR SENIORS ARE ON TRACK.
ONE OF OUR SENIORS TODAY, I'M TELLING YOU, PAST HER FINAL TESTING RES, I MEAN, SHE'S BEEN TRYING SO HARD TAKES TESTS.
WE READ THE DA DATA REPORTS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT SKILLS THEY STILL NEED.
AND I'M SO PROUD OF HER TODAY.
SHE FOUND OUT THAT SHE WILL GRADUATE WITH A STANDARD DIPLOMA AND SHE'S, I MEAN, SHE'S HAD SPECIAL SERVICES ALL HER, HER, HER LIFE.
SO SHE'S REALLY OVERCAME A LOT, HAD A LOT OF SUPPORT.
AND FINALLY, JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR NONTRADITIONAL PROGRAMS. SO THANK YOU.
[2.F. Community Participation]
THIS EVENING WE HAVE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION.UM, I DID BECAUSE I'VE HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
SO THERE IS COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION TONIGHT, AND THEN A LITTLE BIT LATER WE'LL HAVE THE, UM, BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING.
SO IT IS TWO SEPARATE SPEAKING OPPORTUNITIES.
YOU CAN SPEAK ONCE OR TWICE, IT'S THREE MINUTES EACH TIME.
BUT I JUST WANTED EVERYBODY TO KNOW THOSE SAME FACTS BEFORE WE GET STARTED.
IT IS THE DUTY OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE SCHOOL BOARD WITH ASSISTANCE FROM THE COUNTY SHERIFF AS NECESSARY TO CONDUCT THE MEETING IN AN ORDERLY MANNER AND TO LIMIT DISCUSSION TO TOPICS RELEVANT TO THE ISSUE BEFORE THE BOARD FOR CONSIDERATION.
PERSONS ADDRESSING THE SCHOOL BOARD ARE ADVISED TO LIMIT THEIR REMARKS TO THOSE RELEVANT TO THE PENDING ITEMS. NO PERSONS IN ATTENDANCE SHALL BE ALLOWED TO VOICE REMARKS EXCEPT AS RECOGNIZED BY THE CHAIRPERSON OR THE CLERK OF THE BOARD AFTER AUDIBLY STATING THEIR NAME AND WHOM THEY REPRESENT.
IF APPLICABLE, NO PERSON SHALL BRING INTO THE BOARDROOM ANY SIGN, BANNER, OR OTHER SUCH ITEM WHICH WOULD INTERFERE WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN SEEING, HEARING OR OTHERWISE PARTICIPATING IN THE MEETING.
PROVIDED THAT MODELS, PHOTOS, MAPS, CHARTS, DRAWINGS, AND OTHER SUCH DEMONSTRATIVE MATERIALS INTENDED FOR USE IN A PRESENTATION BY A SPECIFIC PERSON SHALL BE PERMITTED UPON RECOGNITION BY THE CHAIR OR THE CLERK OF THE BOARD.
THE SPEAKER SHALL ADDRESS THE SCHOOL BOARD CHAIR 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 ARE A COUNTY RESIDENT, PARENT OF WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENT OR AN EMPLOYEE OF THE SCHOOL DIVISION.
AND LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES.
MR. VALENTINE, DO WE HAVE ANYBODY ON THE LIST? YES.
UM, THE FIRST SPEAKER IS MICHAEL WILLIAMS.
[00:40:09]
MADAM CHAIR, SUPERINTENDENT MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.MY NAME IS MICHAEL WILLIAMS. I'M A LONG TIME AND CURRENT TAX PAYING RESIDENT OF WARREN COUNTY.
I'M HERE THIS EVENING AS YOU CONTINUE BUDGET DISCUSSIONS TO ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER EXPLORING OFFERING THE JUNIOR RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING CORPS PROGRAM, BETTER KNOWN AS J-R-O-T-C, TO OUR HIGH SCHOOL'S CURRENT EDUCATIONAL OPTIONS AS THE PROUD SON OF AN AIR FORCE CANINE TRAINER AND HANDLER, AND THE PROUD FATHER OF A SON WHO WAS BOTH THE PRODUCT OF WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND POSSESSES AN AIR FORCE J-R-O-T-C CERTIFICATE FROM RANDOLPH MACON ACADEMY, ALSO KNOWN AS RMA.
IT BROKE MY HEART WHEN RMA LOST THEIR AIR FORCE JR.
RTC PROGRAM, KNOWING THAT MY SON SHOULD HE CHOOSE TO ENLIST IN THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE.
BUT UPON SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF BASIC TRAINING, EARNED BOTH AN EXTRA STRIPE ADDITIONAL PAY, NOT TO MENTION LEARNING A USEFUL TRADE WHILE BEING PAID TO DO IT, AND HAVING HIS FOUR YEAR UNIVERSITY DEGREE PAID FOR THROUGH THE GI BILL OR BEING ABLE TO OFFER THAT GI BILL TO HIS CHILDREN MADE MY WIFE AND I EXTREMELY PROUD NOT TO MENTION THE PRIDE THAT IT BROUGHT.
OUR NOW 23-YEAR-OLD SON TO SEE SO MANY STUDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY NO LONGER HAVE THIS OPTION IS VERY CONCERNING TO ME AS A PARENT COUNTY CITIZEN AND AMERICAN.
MORE IMPORTANTLY TO US AS PARENTS, THE EMPHASIS ON CHARACTER EDUCATION, RESPONSIBILITY, SURVIVAL, SELF-AWARENESS, DISCIPLINE, THE PROUD HISTORY OF OUR US MILITARY AND PATRIOTISM WAS ONLY OUTDONE BY THE CONSTANT EMPHASIS ON HOW TO HOLD A CIVIL CONVERSATION WITH ONE'S MOUTH AS OPPOSED TO ONE'S THUMBS.
YEARS AGO, WE USED TO TEACH CIVICS IN HIGH SCHOOL.
I'M UNAWARE OF THIS OPTION CURRENTLY.
PLEASE BY ALL MEANS, CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG, REGARDLESS, AS I CONTINUE TO SADLY WITNESS A DECLINE IN SELF-DISCIPLINE AND CIVILITY IN SOCIETY, I HOPE THAT YOU WILL NOT BRUSH ASIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US AS A COMMUNITY TO OFFER OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WOULD BETTER PREPARE THEM FOR THE REALITIES OF OUR WORLD THAN OUR FOUR YEAR COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ARE CURRENTLY, UNFORTUNATELY AND SEEMINGLY FAILING TO DO.
IT'S WORTH MENTIONING THAT WHATEVER BRANCH OF SERVICE A SCHOOL DISTRICT IS ABLE TO PARTNER WITH THAT BRANCH PAYS HALF OF THE SALARY OF THE NCO AND OR OFFICER THAT TEACHES THIS COURSE.
I WOULD PROUDLY OFFER TO HELP MOVE THIS OPPORTUNITY FORWARD WITH PROFESSIONALS I KNOW PERSONALLY WHO ARE STILL WORKING IN OR HAVE THIS EXPERIENCE IN, IN THIS FIELD.
SHOULD THIS BE OF INTEREST TO THE BOARD.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND HAVE A LOVELY EVENING.
I'M A TEACHER AT RUSTY JEFF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND I REALIZE THIS IS YOUR THIRD, UM, READING OF THE, UH, DRAFT CALENDAR TONIGHT.
BUT IN LIGHT OF RECENT EVENTS, I URGE YOU TO CONSIDER PUTTING SOME SORT OF WEATHER MAKEUP DAYS IN OR ADDITIONAL DAILY HOURS IN THE CALENDAR FOR NEXT YEAR.
EVERY EDUCATOR IN THIS ROOM WILL TELL YOU THAT ADDING DAYS AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR ARE INEFFICIENT AND INEFFECTIVE.
UM, WHAT'S DONE? WE HAVE TO DO WHAT'S ALREADY DONE THIS YEAR.
THERE ARE DIFFERENT OPTIONS YOU COULD TAKE AWAY THE FULL WEEK AT THANKSGIVING AND JUST GIVE US WEDNESDAY OF THAT WEEK, WHICH WAS WHAT A LOT OF THE SURROUNDING CA LOCALITIES HAVE DONE IN PREV AND WE HAVE DONE IN PREVIOUS YEARS.
DON'T ANYBODY THROW ANYTHING AT ME.
YOU COULD TAKE AWAY THE, OR YOU COULD ADD 15 OR EVEN 30 MINUTES TO THE SCHOOL DAY.
UM, I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS ANY BETTER TO COUNT DAYS INSTEAD OF CLOCK HOURS.
I LIKE THE WAY THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING CLOCK HOURS.
THAT SEEMS TO HAVE WORKED, UM, RECENTLY.
AND I, YOU MAY HAVE ALREADY DISCUSSED ALL OF THESE OPTIONS AND IF YOU HAVE, I APOLOGIZE.
UM, SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE BEST SOLUTION IS.
NONE OF THESE SUGGESTIONS MAKE ME POPULAR
UM, SO, BUT I DO THINK THAT PLANNING AHEAD WILL ALLOW FOR BETTER USE OF INSTRUCTIONAL TIME RATHER THAN THE DAYS ADDED AT THE END SIMPLY BECAUSE WE ARE SHORT ON HOURS.
GOOD EVENING, HAPPY SCHOOL BOARD APPRECIATION MONTH AND NATIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELING WEEK.
I'M AN EMPLOYEE AND ALSO SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT RESIDENT.
UM, I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET, SO APOLOGIES IF I'M JUMPING THE GUN AND SPEAKING A LITTLE TOO EARLY.
UM, I SPOKE PREVIOUSLY ABOUT MY CONCERNS REGARDING THE SICK LEAVE PAYOUT INCENTIVE AND WHILE THE BOARD APPEARED TO ALSO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE POINTS I BROUGHT UP, NOTHING
[00:45:01]
WAS CHANGED FOR THIS YEAR SINCE THEN.IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT I SPEAK UP NOW THAT IT IS EARLY IN THE BUDGET PROCESS TO AGAIN BRING ATTENTION TO THOSE INEQUITIES.
SO TO RECAP, ONLY SELECT EMPLOYEES WERE OFFERED THE CHANCE TO EARN AN ADDITIONAL $1,000 THIS YEAR.
THIS HAS RESULTED IN EMPLOYEES WHO ARE ON THE SAME PAY GRADE, NOT RECEIVING THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
AND THE REASONING OF CHOOSING EMPLOYEES WHO GET SUBSTITUTES WAS NOT SOUND AS SOME WHO WERE GIVEN THE FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITY DO NOT GET SUBSTITUTES.
THESE DECISIONS DON'T MAKE SENSE AND ARE NOT INCLUSIVE NOR EQUITABLE OR FAIR.
WHILE THIS NEGATIVELY IMPACTS LOTS OF PEOPLE, LIBRARIANS, INSTRUCTIONAL COACHES AND OTHERS, I'M GONNA PRIMARILY SPEAK ABOUT SCHOOL COUNSELORS AS THAT'S MY POSITION.
SCHOOL COUNSELORS ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE A 60 CREDIT MASTER'S DEGREE, INCLUDING OVER A YEAR OF PRACTICUM AND INTERNSHIP.
WE ARE TASKED WITH PROVIDING CUSTOMIZED INTERVENTIONS TO IMPROVE STUDENT ATTENDANCE, ACADEMICS AND BEHAVIORS.
WE ARE THE ONES CONDUCTING SUICIDAL RISK ASSESSMENTS AND TAKING THE LEAD TO HELP STUDENTS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS.
WE DO A LOT FOR OUR STUDENTS, HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF THIS INCENTIVE, WE NOW EARN LESS THAN A TEACHER, EVEN IF THEIR MASTER'S DEGREE WAS HALF OF OURS, 30 CREDITS.
SO HOW ABOUT SOME SOLUTIONS WE COULD GIVE INCENTIVES SUCH AS STIPENDS AND BETTER PAY GRADE FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING EXCLUDED.
UM, I SEE THERE'S A NEW PAY GRADE FOR DEANS WHO ARE IN THE SIM.
SIMILAR SITUATION WHERE THEY ARE CURRENTLY ON THE TEACHER'S PAY GRADE, BUT BEING EXCLUDED FROM THE SICK LEAVE PAYOUT.
PERHAPS SCHOOL COUNSELORS CAN BE ADDED TO THAT.
HOWEVER, THAT WOULD COST MORE MONEY.
AND I HAVE HEARD IT SAID THAT THERE ISN'T ENOUGH MONEY CURRENTLY TO PAY FOR EVERYONE TO RECEIVE THE INCENTIVE WHO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS.
SO ANOTHER SOLUTION RAISE THE STANDARDS, INCREASE THE NUMBER OF DAYS REQUIRED TO RECEIVE THE PAYOUT FROM 30 TO WHATEVER IT NEEDS TO BE SO THAT WE CAN AFFORD TO GIVE ALL EMPLOYEES ON THE SAME PAY GRADE EQUAL AND FAIR PAY.
MY SECOND REQUEST REAL QUICKLY HERE PERTAINS TO SSI JEFFRIES LARGEST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, HIGHEST AMOUNT OF LOW INCOME STUDENTS, BUT YET WE NOW KNOW IT'S THE LOWEST FUNDED SCHOOL PER STUDENT IN THE DISTRICT.
WHEN LOOKING AT NON-LABOR COSTS, I KNOW THAT RESI ALSO HAS THE SAME NUMBER OF SPECIALS TEACHERS AS THE SCHOOLS THAT HAVE 200 FEWER STUDENTS.
RESI NEEDS ANOTHER SPECIALIST TEACHER.
WE HAVE REQUESTED PE TEACHER AND ASSISTANT LAST YEAR, AND I THINK AGAIN THIS YEAR WE REALLY NEED TO SERVE OUR STUDENTS EQUIT EQUITABLY.
SO PLEASE, UH, GIVE RESI THE FUNDING AND ALSO THE STAFF THAT WE NEED.
DO I JUST START
UM, I'M JUST HERE 'CAUSE I'M CONFUSED.
UM, I NEED ANSWERS TO SOME QUESTIONS THAT I AM NOT GETTING.
UM, UP UNTIL LAST YEAR, I WAS A SIXTH GRADE ENGLISH TEACHER IN WARREN COUNTY FOR THE PAST 18 YEARS, HALF OF MY LIFE TEACHING IN THE SAME COUNTY I ATTENDED AND GRADUATED FROM WHERE MY OWN CHILDREN GO FOR FIVE OF THOSE YEARS.
WHEN IT WAS CLOSER TO GO TO LOUDOUN COUNTY.
I HAVE NEVER APPLIED OR INTERVIEWED IN ANY COUNTY OTHER THAN WARREN.
THIS YEAR I WAS ATTACKED, BERATED, DEMORALIZED, AND THREATENED BY A PARENT FOR NO REASON OTHER THAN THAT HE COULD.
I NEEDED SUPPORT AND PROTECTION THAT NEVER CAME.
I ASKED FOR HELP MULTIPLE TIMES.
ISN'T THAT WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO? IS THREE MONTHS? THIS PARENT HAD FREE REIGN TO SAY ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING HE WANTED.
TO ME, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THE ONLY PERSON WHO EVER ASKED HIM TO STOP WAS ME.
ON NOVEMBER 6TH, I EMAILED DR.
BALLINGER WITH THE MOST RECENT THREATENING EMAIL I HAD RECEIVED PEGGING FOR HELP.
HE IMMEDIATELY CAME TO MY CLASSROOM AND FOR THE FIRST TIME I FELT SEEN IN THAT SITUATION, HE ENCOURAGED ME TO NOT RESIGN, BUT TO TAKE FMLA TIME AND THAT WHEN I WAS READY TO RETURN, I WOULD HAVE OPTIONS TO RETURN TO ANOTHER SCHOOL.
HE PROMISED ME THIS BOTH IN PERSON AND IN WRITING.
ON JANUARY 14TH, I EMAILED DR.
BALLINGER TO TELL HIM I WAS READY TO RETURN TO WORK.
I OFFERED MANY SUGGESTIONS, BUT ULTIMATELY TOLD HIM I WOULD WORK AT ANY OTHER SCHOOL DOING LITERALLY ANYTHING THAT WAS NEEDED.
SO YOU CAN IMAGINE MY SURPRISE WHEN A WEEK LATER AND WHILE STILL UNDER FMLA, MS. DRAKE CALLED TO TELL ME THAT MY ONLY OPTION WAS RETURNING TO MY SCHOOL, THE SPACE I HAD CONFIDED THAT I DID NOT FEEL SAFE IN REGARDING MY SAFETY.
TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THIS PARENT HAS NEVER BEEN ISSUED A NO TRESPASSING ORDER, WHICH WAS ACTUALLY SUPPOSED TO BE RECEIVED TWO YEARS AGO FOR A SEPARATE
[00:50:01]
INCIDENT WITH ANOTHER TEACHER.MS. DRAKE INFORMED ME THAT IN WARREN COUNTY, WE DO NOT EVER ALLOW A TEACHER TO TRANSFER WITHOUT BACKFILL.
I CERTAINLY NEVER EXPECTED SPECIAL TREATMENT, BUT I, BY DR.
BALLINGER, WAS LED TO BELIEVE THAT MY SITUATION WAS UNIQUE AND NOT SUBJECT TO THE RULES OF TRANSFER.
SO I JUST WANNA KNOW WHAT CHANGED.
I WANNA KNOW WHY I WAS LIED TO.
I WANNA KNOW WHY, WHY I WAS MISLED.
I WANNA KNOW THAT MY FELLOW EDUCATORS CAN ASK FOR HELP WITHOUT BEING TREATED THE WAY I'VE BEEN.
I WANNA KNOW WHY THERE ARE 40 OPEN POSITIONS IN OUR COUNTY AND ME A LICENSED TEACHER THAT'S NOT AVAILABLE TO DO ANY OF THEM.
APPARENTLY, I HOPE ALL THE PARENTS WHO HAVE VIRTUAL TEACHERS OR LONG-TERM SUBSTITUTES ARE ALSO ASKING THESE QUESTIONS.
RIGHT NOW, I DON'T WANT MY EXPERIENCE TO TAKE AWAY FROM THE AMAZING THINGS MY COLLEAGUES ARE DOING.
WE HAVE SO MANY FANTASTIC EDUCATORS IN WARREN COUNTY.
THERE IS SO MUCH TO BE PROUD OF AND OUR TEACHERS NEED TO FEEL SAFE AND SUPPORTED SO THAT OUR STUDENTS CAN THRIVE.
THAT WAS THE LAST, UH, ONE TO SIGN UP IN ADVANCE.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THIS EVENING THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK DURING COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION? OKAY.
UM, I'M HERE TO SHARE SOME CONCERNS FROM A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER FROM LFK THAT COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY.
SO I VOLUNTEERED TO COME DOWN AND DO THAT AND FOR YOU TO TAKE THESE CONCERNS TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS BUDGET RELATED.
SO SHE WRITES, I HAVE BEEN A SUB AT LFK EXCLUSIVELY AND I'VE BEEN WORKING, UH, WITH THE SPECIAL NEEDS CLASS AS WELL AS GENERAL EDUCATION AND SPED.
I ASKED OUR PACE TEACHER IF THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT SHE WOULD LIKE TO ADD AND SHE HAD QUITE A BIT.
THEY ARE IN DESPERATE NEEDS OF IAS.
UH, THE PARTICULAR CLASS SHE'S REFERRING TO HAS TWO AT ALL TIMES AND PLUS THE TEACHER AND IT MAKES THINGS DIFFICULT IF SOMEBODY OF COURSE HAS TO LEAVE OR IS ABSENT.
SO THEY'RE LOOKING FOR MORE OF THOSE.
UM, AND THEN THAT SHE BELIEVES THERE'S A GENERAL NEED FOR THAT ACROSS THE ENTIRE SCHOOL.
SPED UH, EDUCATED OR TRAINED STAFF IS ALSO A LARGE NEED.
UH, SHE'S WITNESSED BIAS AGAINST PACE AND SPED STUDENTS.
AND THEN THE ESL ENGLISH LEARNER PROGRAMS ARE ALSO AN ISSUE.
UH, STUDENT IN HER DAUGHTER'S CLASS IS SEVERELY DISADVANTAGED IN GEN ED AND SHE CAN'T EVEN READ THE WORKSHEETS TO TAKE A TEST.
SO APPARENTLY THERE ARE OTHER CHILDREN IN THE CLASSROOM THAT ARE TRYING TO HELP THE CHILD THAT CAN'T READ THE WORKSHEET.
AND OBVIOUSLY THAT'S A BURDEN THAT CHILDREN SHOULDN'T TAKE ON.
SO THAT WAS FROM THE SUBSTITUTE AND FROM ME, I WAS GOING TO SUGGEST THAT, UM, MAYBE IF YOU HAVE ANY FRIENDS OVER AT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
UM, SPECIFICALLY SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER POSITIONS.
THERE'S NOT ENOUGH MONEY TO GO AROUND AS IT IS.
SO I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO CONTACT THEIR SUPERVISOR, EXPRESS THEIR CONCERN OVER THIS, AND ASK THEM TO REDIRECT THOSE FUNDS AND THE ENTIRE ASKING BUDGET TO OUR UNDERFUNDED SCHOOLS BECAUSE OUR CHILDREN NEED IT AND THEY DESERVE IT.
WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION? WHOEVER WANTS TO GO FIRST.
OH, DO I NEED TO SIGN THIS? OKAY.
YOU GUYS HAVE SEEN ME A MILLION TIMES.
UM, I HAVE A STUDENT AT SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND I AM THE ONLY PARENT VOLUNTEER FOR SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
UM, I FEEL KIND OF BAD AFTER ALL THE NEGATIVE STUFF TODAY, BUT I WANNA SAY SOMETHING POSITIVE ABOUT SKYLINE THAT I'VE SEEN AFTER BEING THERE FOR TWO YEARS.
UM, I'VE SEEN A GIANT IMPROVEMENT NOW THAT WE HAVE NEW ADMINISTRATION THERE.
UM, IT FEELS LIKE NIGHT AND DAY, UH, THERE FROM THE BEHAVIORS THAT WE SAW LAST YEAR TO, UM, TEACHERS NOT WANTING TO BE IN THE BUILDING.
THEY ACTUALLY WANNA COME TO WORK NOW.
UM, I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING ABLE TO MAKE THOSE CONNECTIONS WITH TEACHERS AND STUDENTS NOW THESE DAYS.
UM, AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE SOMEBODY NEW THERE.
UM, AND BRINGING UP MORE LIGHT AND POSITIVITY INTO SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND THAT WE'RE NOT JUST IN THE NEWS FOR BAD THINGS ALL THE TIME.
NOW,
[00:55:01]
KNOW IF ANYBODY ELSE KNOWS ABOUT THAT.UM, IT'S SOMETHING THAT I PROVIDE FOR THE STUDENTS AND, UM, FOR THE COMMUNITY IN GENERAL.
SO IF YOU KNOW ANYBODY THAT IS IN NEED OF THAT, UM, I AM THERE AT LEAST ALMOST EVERY SINGLE DAY.
UM, SO IF YOU KNOW A STUDENT THAT IS IN NEED AND THEY'RE KIND OF NERVOUS ABOUT TALKING TO THEIR TEACHERS, JUST FLAG ME DOWN.
I'LL, I'LL TAKE THEM TO THE CLOSET.
THEY CAN GET WHATEVER THE HECK THEY WANT.
UM, KNOW, HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT THAT AND THEN THEIR DIGNITY IS, IS IS STILL UM, INTACT.
UM, OTHER FUN THING THAT'S COMING UP SOON IS, UH, HAWK FEST.
SO IF ANYBODY KNOWS ANYBODY THAT HAS BOUNCY HOUSES, I NEED THAT HELP TOO.
HELLO, MY NAME IS BETHANY O'NEILL AND I LIVE IN THE NORTH RIVER DISTRICT.
I HAVE A DAUGHTER THAT GRADUATED FROM SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL IN 2022, AND A DAUGHTER THAT IS A SENIOR THIS YEAR ALSO AT SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL.
MY GIRLS WERE IN PRIVATE SCHOOL UNTIL 2019 WHEN WE DECIDED TO ENROLL THEM IN PUBLIC SCHOOL.
I'M SURE YOU DON'T HEAR THAT OFTEN.
I'M USUALLY WEARING MY SAVE SAMUEL'S T-SHIRT, SPEAKING THE PRAISES OF SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
BUT TONIGHT, I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF A PARENT IN THE HAPPY SCHOOL.
HAPPY SCHOOL DISTRICT WITH TWO CHILDREN IN THE WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND FROM A TEACHER THAT IS AT HOME WRITING LESSON PLANS.
I WOULD LIKE TO START OFF WITH A QUESTION FOR THE BOARD.
WHY DOESN'T LFK HAVE AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL? THEY HAVE BEEN WITHOUT THIS POSITION FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
I'M TOLD THERE IS A CANDIDATE WHO HAS ACCEPTED THIS POSITION, BUT THEY CANNOT MOVE INTO THIS POSITION DUE TO FUNDING.
SHOULDN'T THE COUNTY ALREADY HAVE THE FUNDING FOR THIS POSITION? I HAVE ALSO BEEN INFORMED BY DR.
BAER'S PLAN TO REDUCE THE FUNDING TO ALL OF THE SCHOOLS NEXT YEAR BY PAYING A PRICE PER PUPIL, WHICH ENDS UP BEING MUCH LESS THAN PREVIOUS YEARS.
INSTEAD OF DECIDING THIS WITHOUT INPUT FROM YOUR ADMINISTRATORS, SCHOOL STAFF, COMMUNITY AND SCHOOL BOARD, YOU SHOULD BE WORKING TOGETHER WITH EACH ADMINISTRATOR TO COME UP WITH A PROPOSAL FOR FUNDING EACH SCHOOL NEEDS.
THESE PROPOSALS SHOULD BE PRESENTED TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS BY EACH SCHOOL'S ADMINISTRATOR FOR CONSIDERATION DURING THE FINANCE FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETINGS BETWEEN THE TWO BOARDS.
THAT WAY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CAN ASK QUESTIONS IF THERE IS NEED FOR MORE CLARITY.
THE FINANCE COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MEETING WITH SCHOOL STAFF TO DISCUSS THE BUDGET SHORTFALLS THIS SCHOOL YEAR AND HOW THOSE CAN BE ADDRESSED IN THE BUDGET FOR THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.
THIS PROCESS NEEDS TO INVOLVE AS MANY SCHOOL PERSONNEL AS POSSIBLE IN ORDER TO BE CLEAR ON WHERE THE NEED FOR FUNDING REALLY IS.
WE NEED TO TAKE A GOOD HARD LOOK AT THE STAFF WE HAVE EMPLOYED AT THE SCHOOL BOARD OFFICE AND WHERE WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF STAFF MAKING $80,000 A YEAR OR MORE.
ON ANOTHER NOTE, WE NEED TO PROMOTE A BUDGET THAT SUPPORTS COMPETITIVE SALARIES AND BENEFITS BECAUSE WE CONTINUE TO LOSE TEACHERS.
MY DEPARTMENT IN IS AND HAS BEEN UNDERSTAFFED AND I UNFORTUNATELY DON'T SEE THAT CHANGING.
IF WE CONTINUE THE WAY WE ARE ALSO ONE THAT SUPPORTS PROVIDING THE RESOURCE TEACHERS NEED FOR THEIR JOB, THE RESOURCES TEACHERS NEED FOR THEIR JOBS.
FOR INSTANCE, I'VE HEARD FEEDBACK FROM SEVERAL SCHOOLS HAVE ALREADY BEEN WARNING TEACHERS THAT THEY ARE OVER THEIR PAPER BUDGETS, BUT THERE ARE THINGS THAT CAN'T HAPPEN WITHOUT PAPER.
IT WAS REALLY SAD WHEN TEACHERS RAN OUT OF PAPER LAST YEAR AND THE PTO PROVIDED PAPER FOR RESI THE LAST FEW MONTHS OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
IT'S SCARY AND SAD THAT THEY MAY NOT HAVE ENOUGH PAPER ALREADY FORESEE FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR.
AND LET'S NOT FORGET THE IT DEPARTMENT.
THEY ARE BASICALLY EXPECTED TO RUB TWO PENNIES TOGETHER AND MAKE MAGIC.
WE LIVE IN A TECHNOLOGY WORLD WHERE CERTAIN ONLINE LEARNING PROGRAMS ARE REQUIRED AT EACH GRADE LEVEL, AND THE TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT NEEDS A REAL BUDGET THAT SUPPORTS AN UPDATE AND REFRESH CYCLE TO PROVIDE TEACHERS AND STUDENTS WITH THE RESOURCES THEY NEED.
I CAN SAY THE TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT NEEDS A LOT.
THEIR PROGRAMS AND EQUIPMENT ARE NOW TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS TIME FOR A HUGE UPDATE TO BE ABLE TO SERVE THE NEEDS OF TEACHERS AND STUDENTS.
I DON'T THINK PEOPLE REALIZE THIS IS HOW THE CURRICULUM IS BEST TAUGHT THESE DAYS.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK DURING COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION? OKAY, NEXT UP THIS
[3. Consent Agenda]
EVENING WE HAVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.IS THERE A MOTION I MOVE THAT THE CONSENT AGENDA BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED? IS THERE A SECOND? I SECOND IT.
[4.A. Public Hearing on the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget - Dr. Ballenger/School Board Chair]
I'D LIKE TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET.IF THERE'S ANYONE HERE THAT WOULD LIKE AN ADDITIONAL THREE MINUTES OR A NEW THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK ON THE BUDGET, WE'LL OPEN THAT NOW.
[01:00:06]
MADAM CHAIR, SUPERINTENDENT MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.MY NAME IS STILL MICHAEL WILLIAMS. I'M STILL A RESIDENT OF WARREN COUNTY.
I'M HERE THIS TIME TO ADVOCATE FOR THE 20 PLUS STUDENT SUPPORT COACHES AND AIDES CURRENTLY EMPLOYED BY WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
AS YOU WELL KNOW, THE PROGRAM WAS STARTED IN 2020 WITH A TWO YEAR GRANT WITH THE GOAL OF HELPING STUDENTS WHO WERE MOST AFFECTED BY NOT BEING IN SCHOOL AND WERE STRUGGLING AFTER SCHOOL SHUTDOWNS WITH READING, WRITING, ARITHMETIC.
AND SADLY, THE BEHAVIORS, WHICH MANY TIMES COME INTO PLAY WHEN STUDENTS STRUGGLE ACADEMICALLY.
I WILL NEVER FORGET SITTING IN WHAT WAS THEN BAND'S FAMILY CUISINE, PARKING LOT WITH MY FIVE HOTSPOTS ON MY CELL PHONE, TRYING TO HELP STUDENTS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD WHO COULD NOT SUCCESSFULLY LOG ONTO THEIR CHROMEBOOKS DUE TO SPOTTY WIFI CONNECTIONS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
THANKFULLY FOR OUR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES, FUNDING HAS BEEN FOUND TO KEEP THESE NEEDED POSITIONS IN PLACE.
I HOPE YOU WILL AGREE THAT THESE POSITIONS HAVE PROVEN TO BE VITAL TO STUDENT SUCCESS THROUGH DATA PROVEN AND PROVEN IN ATTENDANCE AND ACADEMICS, AS WELL AS TESTIMONIALS FROM TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND YOUR FELLOW TAX PAYING CITIZENS WHO DEPEND ON WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
THIS MONEY HAS BEEN WELL INVESTED FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR BELOVED COMMUNITY.
WHILE WE ARE NOW FOUR YEARS REMOVED FROM SHUTDOWNS AND THEIR EFFECTS ON STUDENTS, THE NEED TO CONTINUE TO HELP STUDENTS WHO STRUGGLE ACADEMICALLY, BEHAVIORALLY, AND SOCIALLY REMAIN.
AS YOU ALL WELL KNOW, WE HAVE MANY TITLE ONE SCHOOLS IN WARREN COUNTY.
THE POVERTY RATE AT MY SCHOOL ALONE IS WELL KNOWN AND EXTREMELY HIGH.
I'M PERSONALLY VERY PROUD OF THE PROGRESS THE STUDENTS I HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO SERVE, HAVE MADE OVER THESE PAST FOUR YEARS.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT MICHAEL WILLIAMS KEEPING A JOB.
MY WIFE AS A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL.
I'VE BEEN IN EDUCATION FOR OVER 33 YEARS.
I HAD A VERY SUCCESSFUL PRIVATE TRANSPORTATION BUSINESS.
WE'VE BEEN VERY BLESSED AND WE'RE FINE FINANCIALLY.
WHILE I CERTAINLY WORRY FOR MY 20 PLUS COLLEAGUES AND THEIR FAMILIES, MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS OUR STUDENTS.
AND THE MANY STEPS BACKWARDS THAT NOT CONTINUING TO FUND THESE POSITIONS WILL CREATE.
I'M NOT GOING TO INSULT YOU WITH STATISTICS ABOUT GENERATIONAL CRIME, POVERTY, MENTAL HEALTH, AND THE DIRECT CORRELATION THIS HAS WITH THE LACK OF QUALITY EDUCATION, THE BANG FOR THE BUCK THAT WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES WE REMAIN BLESSED TO SERVE AS RECEIVED AND RETURN FOR THESE POSITIONS HAS SPOKEN LOUDLY FOR ITSELF.
PLEASE DON'T TAKE THIS AWAY FROM THESE CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES.
PLEASE FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE THESE POSITIONS PERMANENT SO THAT WHEN YOU FINALLY GET RID OF ME, SOMEONE WILL BE ABLE TO FILL THOSE SHOES AND CONTINUE TO GIVE THE BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN OF WARREN COUNTY HOPE AND GOALS FOR SOMETHING BEYOND AN EVEN MORE COSTLY TO THE TAXPAYERS, HOMELESSNESS, GENERATIONAL POVERTY, AND SADLY PRISON AND OR EARLY DEMISE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ONCE AGAIN, HAVE A LOVELY EVENING.
SO, UM, YOU MAY HAVE HEARD OF THE ICEBREAKER GAME.
WELL, THIS IS THREE THANK YOUS AND A REQUEST, UH, THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING PER STUDENT COST.
AS YOU LOOK AT NON-LABOR EXPENSE BUDGETS FOR EACH FACILITY, WHETHER THAT'S BECAUSE TITLE ONE IS REQUIRING YOU TO DO IT OR YOU GUYS ARE, ARE BEING FORWARD THINKING ENOUGH TO DO THAT.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN 28 YEARS THAT I HAVE BEEN HERE THAT THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS AT A PARTICULAR, AT EACH SCHOOL HAS BEEN CONSIDERED IN DETERMINING THAT SCHOOL'S NON-LABOR BUDGET.
I WAS, I WAS GONNA SAY I I REALLY DIDN'T.
WELL THAT WASN'T ME, WAS IT? OH, OH,
UM, IT ONLY MAKES SENSE THAT A SCHOOL WITH 200 PLUS MORE STUDENTS THAN THE OTHER ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS WOULD USE MORE PAPER, NEED MORE TEXTBOOKS, MATERIALS, ET CETERA.
SO THANK YOU FOR WORKING TO CHANGE THAT.
THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING REI WITH THE DEAN.
THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING REI WITH THE DEAN OF STUDENTS POSITION AND RECOGNIZING THAT A SCHOOL WITH 200 PLUS MORE STUDENTS WOULD NEED ADDITIONAL ADMINISTRATION.
WHILE RESI HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE LARGEST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, IT HAS ALWAYS HAD THE SAME STAFFING AS THE OTHER ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, ADMINISTRATIVELY SPEAKING.
AND THAT PUT A TREMENDOUS BURDEN ON OUR ADMINISTRATORS IN THE PAST WITHOUT THAT ADDITIONAL POSITION.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING US FULL-TIME ART THAT ENABLED OUR SCHOOL COUNSELORS TO COME OUT OF THE REGULAR SPECIALS ROTATION MOSTLY AND SPEND MORE TIME DOING THE THINGS, NOT, NOT NOT QUITE ALL THE WAY, SPEND MORE TIME DOING THE THINGS THAT SCHOOL COUNSELORS ARE SUPPOSED TO DO, WHICH BY THE WAY, THEY WERE ABLE TO GET THE RAMP CERTIFICATION, WHICH IS THE, UM, THE,
[01:05:01]
UH, THE AMERICAN SCHOOL COUNSELORS ASSOCIATION CERTIFICATION THING.SORRY, I CAN'T GO OFF SCRIPT 'CAUSE I'LL LOSE MY PLACE, BUT I HAD TO SAY THAT NOW.
THE REQUEST, WHEN YOU GAVE EE FULL-TIME ART, EVERY OTHER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL RECEIVED FULL-TIME ART.
THEY STILL HAVE THE SAME SPECIAL STAFFING AS RESI.
WE STILL HAVE THE SAME NUMBER OF SPECIALS TEACHERS AS EVERY OTHER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE STUDENTS REQUIRING US TO SPLIT ONE CLASS AMONG THE OTHERS, JUST TO GIVE CLASSROOM TEACHERS THE, THEIR BLOCK OF PLANNING, EACH SPECIALIST TEACHER AT A TEACHES ONE AND A FOURTH CLASS DURING EACH PERIOD.
SO WE HAVE LARGER CLASSES THAN ANY OTHER, UH, CLASS, UH, BUT ALSO THAN OTHER, THE OTHER ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTY.
IN ADDITION, WE HAVE ONE GRADE THAT HAS SIX CLASSES AND OUR SCHOOL COUNSELOR HAS STEPPED INTO THE SPECIALS ROTATION FOR THAT GRADE LEVEL, GIVING EACH SPECIALS TEACHERS ONE IN A FIFTH OF A CLASS RATHER THAN ONE AND A HALF.
UM, SO STUDENTS AT THE OTHER ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS HAVE PHYSICAL EDUCATION TWO TIMES A WEEK, WHICH IS REQUIRED BY STATE LAW, OR AT LEAST IT WAS THE LAWS CHANGE OFTEN, AND I HAVEN'T LOOKED INTO THAT IN A FEW YEARS.
UM, ALL STUDENTS AT RESI HAVE PE TWICE A WEEK, ONCE EVERY FOUR WEEKS.
UM, AT EVERY OTHER TIME THEY HAVE PE ONCE A WEEK RECESS IS COUNTED AS PART OF OUR ED, OUR PHYSICAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENT, WHICH IS THE ONLY WAY WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET AROUND THAT PARTICULAR STATE REQUIREMENT.
I NOTICED THAT AN ADDITIONAL PE TEACHER IS IN THE NEW POSITIONS REQUESTED PORTION OF THE BUDGET DOCUMENTATION, BUT ONLY IF A NEW KINDERGARTEN TEACHER IS NOT NEEDED.
NOW, I RESPECTFULLY SUGGEST THAT THIS SPECIAL ADDITIONAL SPECIALS POSITION IS NOT SOMETHING THAT CONTIN CAN CONTINUE TO BE DELAYED.
SUCH DISPARATE STAFFING IN THIS AREA IS NOT EFFECTIVE, EFFICIENT, OR RESPONSIBLE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
YOU HAVE TO CREATE SOMETHING WITH NO CONTROL OVER WHAT YOU GET.
AND SO IT'S, AS I SAID AT THE PRIOR TO THE MEETING, IT'S SCHOOL BOARD APPRECIATION MONTH AND WE APPRECIATE THAT YOU HAVE TO DO A REALLY DIFFICULT JOB.
SO, BUT I WANTED TO THANK YOU MS. OAKLAND.
WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE BUDGET THIS EVENING? STILL THE SAME PERSON FROM LIKE FIVE MINUTES AGO.
UM, I'M ALSO TALKING STILL FOR SKYLINE MIDDLE.
UM, AGAIN, I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING ABLE TO TALK TO TEACHERS AND KNOW THESE PEOPLE ON A, ON A MORE, UM, PERSONAL LEVEL.
AND I ALSO HAVE A CHILD THAT IS ALSO SPECIAL NEEDS.
SO THE SPECIAL NEEDS DEPARTMENTS AND THE SPEC ED DEPARTMENT IN GENERAL AT SKYLINE AT ANY OF THE SCHOOLS IS NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART IN GENERAL.
AND I, I MEAN, MY KID'S NOT GONNA BE THERE NEXT YEAR, BUT I'M STILL FIGHTING FOR THOSE DEPARTMENTS TO HAVE, HAVE MORE HELP.
UM, THEY'RE DOING THE JOB OF FOUR TEACHERS
UM, I DO KNOW THAT THE SIXTH GRADE LEVEL RIGHT NOW HAS A LOT OF SPECIAL NEEDS AND I KNOW THAT'S GONNA BE MORE COMING UP NEXT YEAR AS WELL.
UM, SO I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE SKYLINE BE ABLE TO BE SUPPORTED IN THAT WAY.
UM, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE ALL THE SCHOOLS SUPPORTED IN THAT WAY, BUT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE SKYLINE TO BE ABLE TO BE A MORE ROUNDED SCHOOL, TO BE ABLE TO HELP THOSE CHILDREN, UM, SO THAT THEIR NEEDS ARE NOT FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS.
'CAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF BIGGER BEHAVIORS AND THINGS LIKE THAT AS WELL.
UM, THEY DESERVE AN EDUCATION JUST AS MUCH AS ALL THE OTHER NEUROTYPICAL CHILDREN AS WELL.
WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE BUDGET THIS EVENING? ONE LAST CHANCE.
[5.A. Superintendent]
UP THIS EVENING, WE HAVE REPORTS.FIRST UP WE HAVE THE SUPERINTENDENT, DR.
UH, FIRST OFF, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS SCHOOL BOARD APPRECIATION MONTH.
AND I DO KNOW THAT WE DID HAVE SOME SCHOOLS DELIVER SOME LITTLE GIFT BASKETS.
I DID BRING THOSE TO YOU, BUT ALSO, UH, YOU HAVE YOU, I PROVIDED YOU A CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION.
UH, THIS IS, UM, BASICALLY F UH, FROM THE GOVERNOR, UH, SCHOOL BOARD APPRECIATION MONTH, WHEREAS SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS ARE ELECTED OR APPOINTED TO REPRESENT THE INTEREST OF STUDENTS, TEACHERS, PARENTS, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS.
AND WHEREAS SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN ENSURING THAT STUDENTS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH HAVE
[01:10:01]
ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY, RIGOROUS EDUCATION AND ARE BEST POSITIONED TO UPHOLD EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE IN VIRGINIA SCHOOLS.AND WHEREAS SCHOOL BOARDS ARE GOVERNING BODIES RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERSIGHT, SUCCESS, TRANSPARENCY, EFFECTIVENESS, AND OUTCOME FOR SCHOOL SYSTEMS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH.
AND WHEREAS LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS WORK FOR THEIR COMMUNITY, PARENTS, BUSINESSES, EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO EXECUTE A SHARED VISION OF SUCCESS FOR STUDENTS.
AND WHEREAS THESE DECIS THESE DECISION, THESE DECISIONS AFFECT THE PRESENT AND FUTURE LIVES OF CHILDREN AND CHART A PATH TO PREPARE ALL STUDENTS TO BE PRODUCTIVE WORKERS IN VIRGINIA'S ECONOMY, INFORMED AND ENGAGED CITIZENS IN OUR PL DEMO DEMOCRACY AND RESPONSIBLE AND GOOD NEIGHBORS IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND WHEREAS SCHOOL BOARD APPRECIATION MONTH ACKNOWLEDGES CONTRIBUTIONS, DEDICATION, SERVICE OF VIRGINIA LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.
NOW, THEREFORE, I GLENN YOUNGEN DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE FEBRUARY, 2025 AS SCHOOL BOARD APPRECIATION MONTH IN OUR COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA AND CALL ON THIS OBSERVANCE TO THE ATTENTION OF ALL OF OUR CITIZENS.
AND I DID PROVIDE THAT TO YOU.
UH, SO YOU HAVE THAT PROCLAMATION ALSO.
AND SO I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
UM, YOU KNOW, I KNOW WE, WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME WORKING ON VARIOUS THINGS THROUGHOUT, THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, SOME MONTHS.
AND, UM, SO I WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO THE STUDENTS OF WARREN COUNTY AND TO THE, TO THE TEACHERS OF WARREN COUNTY AND TO OUR FULL SCHOOL COMMUNITY.
SO I DO APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU DO ON A DAILY BASIS AND I APPRECIATE WORKING WITH YOU.
UM, THE OTHER UPDATE I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT IS, WELL, SOME WINTER WEATHER.
UM, SO AGAIN,
SO IT'S GONNA HIT OUR AREA AGAIN.
SO WE ARE ALREADY ON A TWO HOUR DELAY FOR TOMORROW.
SO JUST SO THAT, THAT YOU'RE AWARE, WE, WE, UM, UH, SO TWO HOUR DELAY TOMORROW AND WE ARE GOING TO BE CHECKING AT SIX 30 IN THE MORNING.
AND IF WE HAVE TO ADJUST TO A CLOSE, THEN WE'LL CLOSE AT THAT TIME.
UH, WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HIGHER LEVELS OF ICE, UM, UP IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS.
AND SO THAT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT, THAT DOES, UM, CAUSE US TO, TO CLOSE TOMORROW, NEXT WEEK IS ALSO LOOKING LIKE WE MAY HAVE ANOTHER WEATHER EVENT.
UM, JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE THAT MS. BRAGG AND THE INSTRUCTIONAL DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN WORKING ON A REMOTE LEARNING DAY, UM, GUIDANCE, UH, DOCUMENT FOR STAFF.
COSTNER HAS BEEN WORKING ON SOLUTIONS FOR MEALS.
UH, WE WILL BE ISSUING THE GUIDANCE TO PRINCIPALS AND STAFF TOMORROW.
SO WE'RE GONNA TRY TO USE SOME REMOTE LEARNING DAYS.
THERE ARE SOME THERE, THERE'S SOME GUIDELINES WITH COUNTING REMOTE LEARNING DAYS.
AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S MS. BRAGG AND HER STAFF ARE, ARE MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE GOING TO MEET THOSE SO THAT WE CAN COUNT THOSE INSTEAD OF NOT COUNTING THOSE AS DAYS IN SESSION.
UH, WE WILL COUNT THOSE AS REMOTE LEARNING DAYS.
UH, JUST SO THAT EVERYBODY IS AWARE, UH, WE, WITH THE TWO DAYS THAT WE ADDED, WE HAVE EIGHT HOURS.
SO THAT MEANS IF WE TAKE TWO HOURS TOMORROW, THAT LEAVES US WITH SIX.
BUT IF WE TAKE THE DAY, THAT LEAVES US WITH TWO.
UM, AND THEN WE WILL, WE WILL START LOOKING AT OTHER OPTIONS.
I KNOW THERE ARE SOME QUESTIONS CONCERNING, UM, MAKE UP DAYS, BUT ACCORDING TO TO VIRGINIA CODE, WE HAVE TO MAKE OUR DUE EFFORT IN MAKING UP DAYS, UH, GIVING AN, UH, AT LEAST AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE UP SCHOOL DAYS.
AND THERE ARE SOME DAYS THAT WE CAN ASK FOR FORGIVENESS LATER ON AFTER WE'VE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE THAT THO THO THOSE DAYS UP.
AND SO MOVING FORWARD, NOW THAT WE HAVE MADE THAT ATTEMPT, WE WILL, WE WILL LOOK TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO, UM, WITH, WITH REQUESTING DAYS TO BE FORGIVEN IF WE NEED TO.
BUT WE ARE ALSO GOING TO TRY TO WORK FROM THAT, FROM A REMOTE LEARNING STANDPOINT.
AND, UM, AND SO WE'LL BE PUSHING THAT OUT TO TEACHERS.
THE GOAL WILL BE THAT THAT WILL GO HOME WITH THE STUDENTS ON MONDAY.
'CAUSE I BELIEVE WEATHER'S SUPPOSED TO BE COMING IN, UH, MONDAY NIGHT.
AND SO FROM MY CONVERSATIONS EARLIER THIS WEEK WITH MR. MITCHELL, HE SAID I WOULDN'T PLAN ON BEING IN SCHOOL ON TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, OR THURSDAY NEXT WEEK.
UH, NOW THAT'S JUST HIS, HIS FORECAST RIGHT NOW
SO, SO, YOU KNOW, WINTER WEATHER, YOU KNOW, OLD MAN WINTER HAS, HAS NOT HELPED US OUT THIS YEAR AT ALL.
UM, I DO WANNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THERE ARE SOME QUESTIONS AND WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR CALENDAR, UH, LATER
[01:15:01]
ON.BUT WE DO BUILD IN DAYS IN OUR CALENDAR THROUGH THE HOURS.
SO JUST BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE DESIGNATED DAYS THAT SAYS SNOW DAY, IT'S BUILT IN BECAUSE OF THE HOURS.
SO FOR INSTANCE, ON NEXT YEAR'S CALENDAR, WHEN YOU LOOK AT 175 DAYS AT SIX HOURS, THAT'S 1,050 HOURS.
WE ARE REQUIRED TO GO 990 HOURS.
SO THAT'S A DIFFERENCE OF 60 HOURS.
SO THAT'S 10 DAYS, THAT'S 10 SNOW DAYS THAT ARE BUILT INTO THE CALENDAR THROUGH THE HOURS.
UH, JUST BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A DESIGNATED DAY SAYING THIS IS A SNOW DAY.
UH, IT IS BUILT IN THROUGH THOSE, THROUGH THAT TIME BECAUSE WE GO ABOVE THE REQUIRED TIME, UM, THAT IS REQUIRED BY THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
SO, BUT ANYWAY, THAT'S MY REPORT.
WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS TOMORROW WITH THE, UH, WEATHER TONIGHT AND OVER THE MORNING, AND THEN WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT WEEK.
BUT WE ARE GONNA TRY TO GET SOME REMOTE LEARNING DONE.
AND, UH, AGAIN, I WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR THE JOB THAT YOU DO.
NEXT UP THIS EVENING WE HAVE SCHOOL BOARD REPORTS AND WE'LL START WITH MS. LOWE.
UM, I JUST HAD A COUPLE THINGS I WANTED TO SAY.
THANK YOU, FIRST OF ALL, TO EVERYONE WHO CAME AND SPOKE TONIGHT, UM, ABOUT OUR BUDGET AND ABOUT OTHER ISSUES ON THEIR MINDS.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU ALL TAKING THE TIME TO COME OUT HERE IN YOUR EVENING WITH THE WEATHER COMING, UM, AND SPEAK TO US.
AND ALSO FOR THE OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE LISTENING TO BE ABLE TO HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
AND THANK YOU ALSO TO THOSE FOLKS WHO WEREN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT TONIGHT, BUT SENT THEIR COMMENTS INTO SOMEONE ELSE WHO DID READ IT.
UM, I, I THINK THAT FEEDBACK'S REALLY VALUABLE.
SO THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE FOLKS.
UM, I DID WANNA SAY ALSO THANK YOU TO THE, UM, SCHOOL NURSES AND EVERYONE WHO IS WORKING TO KEEP OUR SCHOOLS OPEN, EVEN IN THE FACE OF ALL THIS ILLNESS.
UM, I HAVE PERSONALLY CONTRACTED TWO DIFFERENT RESPIRATORY PLAGUES FROM SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT HOME BY MY DAUGHTER SINCE CHRISTMAS, SO I KNOW IT'S GOING AROUND.
UM, AND WE JUST GOT A TEXT SINCE WE'VE BEEN HERE TONIGHT ABOUT THAT.
AND SO JUST KIND OF ENCOURAGING ALL THE FAMILIES TOO TO KIND OF MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE SENDING THAT MESSAGE HOME WITH THEIR KIDS, ESPECIALLY THE LITTLE ONES ALWAYS NEED REMINDERS ABOUT WASHING THEIR HANDS AND STUFF.
SO I KNOW THAT'S A REAL ISSUE WE'RE LIVING THROUGH AT THE MOMENT.
UM, AND THEN JUST KIND OF IN RESPONSE TO A LITTLE BIT OF THE BUDGET CONSIDERATIONS.
YOU KNOW, I HOPE THAT FOLKS ARE HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS IN THE SCHOOLS AND IN THE COMMUNITIES.
I HOPE YOU DO REACH OUT TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WITH YOUR THOUGHTS BECAUSE I DO THINK THAT THIS IS A YEAR WHERE WE ARE GOING TO NEED ADDITIONAL FUNDING.
UM, I'M ESPECIALLY WORRIED, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AT OUR LAST WORKING SESSION, BUT ABOUT THOSE STUDENT SUPPORT COACH POSITIONS THAT MR. WILLIAMS MENTIONED, 'CAUSE THAT FUNDING IS GOING AWAY.
SO UNLESS THERE'S AN INFLUX OF FUNDING, IT WOULD BE EXTREMELY HARD FOR US TO KEEP THOSE POSITIONS.
UM, AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT.
SO JUST WANTED TO MAKE THOSE COMMENTS.
UH, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOUR SAY, NOT THE GREAT IDEA.
UM, SO I'M, I'M ON THE, THE, UH, THE BUDGET COMMITTEE OF THE SCHOOL BOARD WITH DR.
THIS IS MY FIRST YEAR DOING THIS.
I I JUST HAVE SOME SORT OF THOUGHTS ABOUT THE WHOLE THING.
OBVIOUSLY WE'RE GONNA HAVE SOME MORE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT IT.
UH, BUT THINK ABOUT PROBABLY THE LAST MEETING.
SO WE CONTINUE TO MEET REGULARLY WITH OUR, OUR LITTLE COMMITTEE AND TOGETHER WITH, UH, DR. BALL AND MR. VALENTINE.
AND THEN TODAY WE ACTUALLY MET WITH THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS JUST BEFORE THIS MEETING, JUST DISCUSS THINGS.
SO WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD, WHAT I'VE SEEN, UM, A LOT OF ASKS A LOT OF PEOPLE ASKING A LOT OF STUFF.
IT'S ALL VERY GOOD THINGS TO ASK FOR THE PEOPLE THAT CAME TONIGHT AND ASKED FOR THINGS.
ONE, ONE, IT'S A HARD DECISION TO SAY, WHAT, WHAT CAN WE DO? UM, ONE THING I ALSO SAY IS WE DON'T KNOW WHAT OUR, OUR BUDGET IS GIVEN TO US BY THE STATE OR THE FEDS OR EVEN BY LOCAL LOCALITY.
IT'S HARD TO SAY HOW TO KIND OF BACKFILL OUR BUDGET AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO SPEND THAT MONEY BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN THAT YET.
BUT WE'VE OPENED FORTH OUR REQUEST.
CHER TO COME UP WITH A BUDGET REQUEST THAT WE'RE, WE THINK MEETS THE NEEDS OF THE, THE, UH, SCHOOL DIVISION.
OBVIOUSLY WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT SOME MORE.
WE KIND ROUGH DRAFT NOW, INCORPORATE THINGS WE'VE HEARD TONIGHT AND OTHER INFORMATION WE'VE RECEIVED.
UM, BUT A LOT OF IT HAS TO BE CONNECTED TO OUR STRATEGIC PLAN.
WE HAVE A 20 21, 20 26 LONG RANGE, UH, COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT WAS CREATED BY THE BOARD BEFORE MEETING.
SOME OF THESE FOLKS WERE ON BOARD THAT DID IT.
AND THEY CREATED GOALS AND STRATEGIC GOALS SAYING, HERE'S WHO YOU WANNA BE IN FIVE OR SIX YEARS.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT COMING FROM WHERE I COME FROM, THE
[01:20:01]
WORLD OF BUSINESS, LOOKING AT THAT, THAT'S SORT OF WHAT SHOULD DRIVE EVERYTHING YOU DO, IS THAT STRATEGIC PLAN ARE ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS WE THINK ABOUT.WE VOTED ON IT, WE SAID, YES, THIS IS IT.
AND SO AS YOU MOVE FORWARD, WHEN YOU'RE CHOOSING TO HAVE THIS, SPEND MONEY ON THIS THING OR THAT THING, IT SHOULD SAY, WELL, IS THAT GONNA AFFORD OUR STRATEGIC PLAN? SO SOME OF THE GOALS, WE LOOKED AT IT TO IMPROVE SOL SCORES TO BE FEDERAL ANNUAL MEASURABLE OBJECTIVES.
RECRUITING, ENTERTAINING, HIGHLY QUALIFIED, UH, FACULTY AND STAFF, ENSURING A HUNDRED PERCENT OF STUDENTS GRADUALLY PREPARED TO ENTER THE WORKFORCE WITH MARKETABLE SKILLS, ARE READY FOR HIGHER EDUCATION.
ENSURING THE SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF MORE EFFECTIVELY, COMMUNICATING WITH PARENTS AND COMMUNITY, INCREASING PARENTS INVOLVEMENT IN SCHOOL ACTIVITIES, ACTIVITIES, ENSURING THE TECHNOLOGICAL LEADS OF OUR STUDENTS ARE MET AND PROVIDING SAFE AND EFFICIENT TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM SCHOOLS, WHICH ARE KIND OF SUMMARIES PARAPHRASING OF SOME OF THE GOALS THAT WERE IN THERE.
AND SO OBVIOUSLY THOSE ARE ALL VERY IMPORTANT THINGS TO WHAT WE'RE DOING, WHICH OBVIOUSLY MORE THINGS TOO.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY, OUR BUDGET CONTINUES TO RISE AND RISE EACH YEAR, UH, WHILE THE ENROLLMENT CONTINUES TO DECLINE.
IT'S NOT NO ONE'S FAULT HERE THAT IT'S, IT'S DECLINE.
IT JUST IS, BUT IT'S A REALITY.
SO, IN MY MIND, I'M SURE MANY OTHERS, PEOPLE I'VE TALKED TO OUTSIDE OF THE, WHO DON'T WORK IN THE SCHOOLS OR WORK IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR PEOPLE, JUST REGULAR TAXPAYERS, WHY ARE WE SPENDING SO MUCH MONEY WHEN WE HAVE SO FEWER STUDENTS, NOT SO FEWER THAN WE HAD BEFORE? UM, WE, OUR BUDGETS GROWN BY 12% IN FOUR YEARS WHEN OUR ENROLLMENT IS DECREASED BY 2% OVER THE SAME PERIOD OF TIME.
SO THIS IS WHAT MAKES THE BUDGET PROCESS TRICKY AND HARD TO NAVIGATE.
THERE'S A LOT OF DO A LOT OF, UM, I ACTUALLY WANT, WHEN DOING THIS THING, WE, DOING THE BUDGET AND LOOKING AT THE SPENDING AND TRYING TO IMPROVE SCORES, SET STRATEGIC PLAN.
WE'RE GONNA DO NEW STRATEGIC PLAN, HOPEFULLY NEXT YEAR SOMETIME PLAN AUDIT.
WE GET 26 TO 32 OR WHATEVER IT IS.
I, I'D LIKE TO, TO US TO BE THE LEADER IN THE, IN WORLD OF STRATEGIC PLANNING AND HIGHER AND EDUCATION TO NOT JUST SAY, WELL, WE'RE GONNA BE JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER SCHOOL IN VIRGINIA.
WE'RE GONNA KEEP PLUGGING ALONG AND JUST KIND OF BANGING AND SCRAPPING FOR WHATEVER MONEY WE HAVE TO DO.
I WOULD LOVE TO COME UP WITH SOME NEW INNOVATIVE WAYS TO SAY, WHAT CAN WE TAKE? FOR EXAMPLE, THEY RECENTLY HAD A TEST CALLED THE, UH, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, THIS NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS THAT'S TAKEN ALL OVER THE, ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
AND, AND TO BE HONEST, PUBLIC EDUCATION DOESN'T DO ALL THAT WELL, BOTH IN THE NATION COMPARED TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND ALSO THE NATION, OTHER NATIONS.
AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, AGAIN, THERE'S NO JUDGMENT ON, IT'S JUST WHAT IT IS.
IT'D BE GREAT PEOPLE TO SAY, IS THERE SOMETHING WE CAN TAKE FROM IF THE PUBLIC, IF THE PRIVATE SCHOOL, FOR EXAMPLE, WHATEVER, YOU KNOW, WHOEVER'S RUNNING THEM, IF THEY'RE SUCCEEDING IN SOME MANNER, SHAPE OR FORM, IS THERE SOMETHING WE TAKE FROM THEM AND SAY, HEY, THEY DO THAT, RIGHT? HOW CAN WE, HOW CAN WE DO THAT? I KNOW THERE'S SMALLER SCHOOL WHERE BIG SCHOOL DIVISION THERE, SOMETHING WE CAN TAKE FROM ANY INNOVATIVE WAYS TO SAY RATHER THAN THE SAME.
YOU KNOW, OF COURSE WE NEED MORE TEACHERS, WE NEED THIS, BUT IS THERE SOME EASIER, MORE EFFICIENT, BETTER WAY OF JUST LOOKING AT THE WHOLE THING, WHATEVER THE WHOLE THING IS.
I THINK A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE GET BOGGED DOWN INTO, WELL, THIS IS WHAT WE ALWAYS DO.
I ALWAYS SAY, MY JOB, I DO EVERY YEAR, I, I DO GREAT ROUTINE THINGS IN, IN THE COLLEGE ENVIRONMENT THAT I'M IN EVERY YEAR I SIT TO MY STAFF AND SAY, IF WE EVER SAY, THIS IS JUST WHAT WE DO, WE'RE DEAD.
WE HAVE TO KEEP SAYING, HOW CAN WE DO BETTER, FASTER, STRONGER, MORE EFFICIENT? AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING, IT'S A, IT'S A HUGE, HUGE OPERATION, BUT I THINK THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE COULD LOOK FORWARD TO AND SAY, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT CAN WE DO THAT'S DIFFERENT? OBVIOUSLY THE NEW BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, YOU ULTIMATELY MAKES THE DECISION ABOUT WHERE, WHETHER WE GET MONEY OR GET LOTS OF MONEY OR NO MONEY OR WHATEVER.
SO THEY'RE DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING.
WE'RE, WE'RE SORT OF A NEW BOARD WORKING TOGETHER.
THERE'S ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ELECTION THIS YEAR, DIFFERENT PEOPLE COMING AND GOING.
IT'S A MATTER OF SAYING, WELL, WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE IT BETTER? WHAT, WHAT'S A WAY OF LOOKING AT IT THAT'S COMPLETELY OUTSIDE OF WHAT WE NORMALLY DO? SO WE'RE NOT JUST STRUGGLING ALONG ASKING FOR ANOTHER COUPLE PERCENT HERE AND THERE, 12% THERE, HERE AND THERE.
I THINK IT'S, SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S WHY I GOT INVOLVED.
A LOT OF PEOPLE, ME, WHEN I WAS RUNNING, WHAT YOU GETTING INVOLVED WITH HAVE ANY STAKE IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
WHY IS IT I LOVE TO FIX THINGS.
AND I WANT TO BE PART OF THIS PROGRAM TO SAY, WHAT, WHAT CAN WE DO TO FIX IT? DOESN'T MEAN IT'S BROKEN.
AND SO THIS IS MY FIRST RODEO WITH THE, WITH THE, UH, BUDGET COMMITTEE.
AND I DON'T KNOW HOW IT'S ALL GONNA LAND AT THE END RESULT, BUT IT'S, IT'S, I THINK IT'S A WAY OF LOOKING AT IT, SAYING THIS AS YOU MOVE FORWARD THE NEXT YEAR, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE BUDGET SYSTEM START EARLIER AUGUST, MAYBE EVEN JULY, LIKE START TALKING ABOUT IT NOW.
FIGURING OUT WHAT WE CAN DO DIFFERENTLY.
WHAT, WHAT CAN, WHAT, WHAT IS IT? LET'S NOT, LET'S NOT DO WHAT WE ALWAYS DO.
LET'S NOT LOOK AT THE SAME CALIBER AS YOU ALWAYS DO.
SO THOSE ARE MY INSIGHTS ON WHAT IT IS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT I ACTUALLY SAID EXACTLY, BUT I, I JUST WANT TO HAVE SOME CHANGE IN WHAT WE'RE DOING AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND, AND GET NEW IDEAS AND INNOVATIVE IDEAS AND SAY, THIS IS GREAT.
THIS IS HOW WE DIDN'T DO IT BEFORE.
AND I THINK IT HAS TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT GUMPTION, A LITTLE BIT OF INNOVATION, A LITTLE BIT OF
[01:25:01]
WILLINGNESS TO STEP OUTSIDE WHAT WE'RE USED TO TO MAKE IT BETTER.BUT ULTIMATELY WE WANNA MAKE IT BETTER.
WE WANT THE SCORES TO GET BETTER.
WE WANT TO ACHIEVE ALL OF OUR GOALS.
WE WANT TO, WE WANT TO HAVE AT THE END, HAVE A GREAT REPORT CARD AT THE END FOR THE SCHOOLS.
IT, LOOK WHAT WE DID, MOM, LOOK WHAT WE DID THAT, THAT'S THE BOARD SUPERVISOR IN CASE YOU DON'T KNOW.
AND YOU KNOW, WE NEED SOME MORE MONEY.
SO THAT'S THE GOAL TO, TO SAY, HERE'S OUR REPORT AT THE END.
WE DIDN'T JUST MOVE IT, MOVE IT, MOVE THE NEEDLE LIKE IT HAPPENED.
NOT IN EVERY DIRECTION, NOT ALL THE THINGS, BUT IN SOME WAYS THIS WAS OUR MAIN GOAL.
THE WHOLE THING GOT TOGETHER AND SAID, WE'RE TRYING TO DO THIS.
I KNOW ABSENTEEISM, THAT'S A BIG GOAL FOR EVERYBODY TO WORK ON AND WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT IT.
BUT I THINK ALSO LOOKING AT THE BUDGET SAYING, YOU KNOW, AT SOME POINT YOU JUST, PEOPLE ARE GONNA SAY THAT'S, IT'S TOO MUCH.
AND WE HAVE TO SAY, IS THERE A WAY TO BE MORE EFFICIENT? SO THAT'S WHERE I'M LOOKING TO MAYBE NOT REPEAT THIS YEAR BECAUSE I'M NEW AT IT, I'M LOOKING AT, BUT I DEFINITELY KNOW FOR THE FUTURE, I'M STILL IN THIS COMMITTEE THAT LOOK TOWARDS WHAT ARE DIFFERENT WAYS, WAYS THAT OUR ARE THOUGHT MAYBE, YOU KNOW, COPYING FROM OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE SUCCESSFUL, WHETHER IT'S OTHER SCHOOL DIVISIONS OR AGAIN, EVEN PRIVATE SCHOOL SYSTEMS OR HOW THEY DO IT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO BE MORE EFFICIENT.
SO AS A RESULT, YOU CAN PROVIDE BETTER RESULTS FOR THE STUDENTS, STUDENTS IN THE FIRST PLACE, BETTER CHANCE TO SUCCEED IN LIFE.
THANK YOU MS. UM, I TOO WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE TEACHERS OF THE YEAR AND, UM, THANK YOU FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD APPRECIATION GIFTS.
UM, I WANTED TO SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UH, PARENT BEHAVIOR.
I HAVE BEEN, AS YOU KNOW, A HUGE ADVOCATE FOR PARENTAL RIGHTS.
WELL, PARENTAL RIGHTS DO NOT GIVE YOU THE RIGHT TO ABUSE OUR STAFF.
AND THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WORLD IN WHICH STAFF MEMBERS SHOULD BE CUSSED AT AND, AND HARASSED.
AND YOU CAN REALLY MAKE OR BREAK A STAFF MEMBER'S DAY OR THEIR, THEIR CAREER JUST BY HOW YOU TREAT THEM.
SO PLEASE HAVE CONSIDERATION FOR THE WAY THAT YOU TREAT OUR STAFF AS A PARENT.
UM, I TOO APPRECIATED THE, THE DETAILED SUGGESTIONS THAT WERE GIVEN BY THE SPEAKERS ON THE, THE BUDGET MATTERS.
UM, KNOWING WHAT'S GOING ON INSIDE OF THE SCHOOLS IS CERTAINLY VERY HELPFUL TO KNOW.
UM, WE HAVE A FINITE AMOUNT OF MONEY IN, IN THIS COMMUNITY.
ANYBODY WHO HAS BEEN ON SOCIAL MEDIA HAS SEEN EVERYBODY FREAKING OUT ABOUT THEIR NEW TAX ASSESSED VALUES, HOW MUCH THE COST OF YOUR ELECTRIC BILL IS GOING UP, YOUR, YOUR EVERYTHING IS JUST SO EXPENSIVE.
UM, SO WHAT I WOULD HOPE FOR THIS BUDGET SEASON IS THAT WE NOT APPROACH THIS FROM A VILIFY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS APPROACH, BUT INSTEAD WORK ON IT AS AS A TEAM.
UM, AND YES, WITH, UH, THE CARES ACT MONEY ENDING, I THINK WE DO HAVE A NEED FOR MAKING SURE WE CAN FUND POSITIONS.
UM, BUT ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE CAN STRETCH OUR DOLLARS THE MOST IS WITH PARENT VOLUNTEERS.
UM, MS. STEELE, THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR VOLUNTEER TIME.
I WAS REALLY HOPEFUL THAT WE WOULD HAVE MORE PARENTS THAT WERE, WE'RE WILLING TO STEP UP.
WE NEED PARENT VOLUNTEERS, WE NEED BUSINESS VOLUNTEERS.
WE NEED, IF YOU'VE GOT EXTRA PAPER DONATED VOLUNTEERS, THE MORE DONATIONS THAT WE CAN GET FROM OUR COMMUNITY, THE LESS WE HAVE TO BEG THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO RAISE TAXES.
BECAUSE REALLY ULTIMATELY THAT IS WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR.
WHEN WE ARE ASKING TO EXPAND OUR BUDGET, WE ARE ASKING EVERY TAXPAYER TO PAY MORE AND PEOPLE ARE STRAPPED RIGHT NOW.
UM, THERE WERE SOME THINGS THAT I'M, I'M HOPING MAYBE WE CAN GET CHECKED INTO.
I WASN'T AWARE THAT WE WEREN'T HIRING AN LFK ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL BECAUSE WE RAN OUT OF MONEY.
I, I DIDN'T KNOW WE WERE OUT, OUT OF MONEY IN ANY OF THESE AREAS.
SO IF, IF THAT'S THE CASE, UM, NOT THE CASE.
SO WE CAN PUT THAT ONE TO REST BEFORE IT GETS ALL OVER SOCIAL MEDIA THAT WE'VE RUN OUT OF MONEY AND NOT STAFF THINGS.
UM, I LIKE THE IDEA OF RAISING STANDARDS.
UM, I THINK THAT'S, I THINK THAT'S THE PHASE THAT WE'RE MOVING INTO ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
MERIT-BASED, MERIT-BASED, MERIT BASED, MERIT BASED.
UM, I THINK THAT WE NEED TO FIND SOME CRITERIA AND WORK ON SOME CRITERIA TO WHERE WE CAN ESTABLISH MERIT-BASED REWARDS, PAY INCREASES, STIPENDS, WHAT, WHATEVER.
BUT WE NEED TO, AS A BOARD, WORK TOWARDS GETTING SOME SORT OF A MERIT BASED COMPENSATION TO COMPENSATE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING
[01:30:01]
ABOVE AND BEYOND MEETING THEIR GOALS AND MOVING US INTO THE CORRECT DIRECTION.UM, AS FOR THE SNOW DAYS, I THINK WHAT WAS BEING REFERRED TO, AT LEAST THE FEEDBACK I'VE GOTTEN IS YES, WE HAVE EXTRA DAYS BUILT IN OR EXTRA HOURS BUILT IN.
UM, BUT I THINK PARENTS WANTED TO KNOW WHICH DAYS, IF WE HAVE TO DO MAKEUPS WOULD BE THE FIRST TO GO.
SO THAT WAY THEY, THEY AVOID SCHEDULING ON ON THOSE JUST A HEADS UP.
LIKE, HEY, YOU GET PRESIDENT'S DAY UNLESS
AND THEN, SORRY, I SAVED THESE ON TWO TOTALLY DIFFERENT SCREENS HERE.
OPENING THE COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST WAS BROUGHT UP.
UM, I KNOW THAT'S BEEN SOMETHING THAT I'VE BEEN AGAINST FOR YEARS NOW.
HOWEVER, WHEN THEY'RE BRINGING IT UP NOW, I BELIEVE IT'S BEING BROUGHT UP AS A SHARED POSSIBILITY SITUATION.
SO I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO LOOK INTO.
IF THE COUNTY IS TALKING ABOUT HIRING A COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST, UM, WHO COULD DO WORK FOR THE COUNTY, THE SCHOOLS, THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, UM, I THINK THAT'S CERTAINLY A CONVERSATION THAT WE SHOULD HAVE BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE, HAVE WANTED FOR A WHILE.
AND IF THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET INTO A SHARED SITUATION, IT, IT'S WORTH EXPLORING.
UM, AND THEN MY BIG WISH FOR THIS BUDGET SEASON WOULD BE THE AG TEACHER THAT WE HAD TO, UM, DEFER LAST YEAR, UM, TO PIGGYBACK OFF OF MR. MCFADDEN'S MAKING THINGS SPECIAL, FIND OUR WAY TO DO OUR OWN.
WE HAVE SUCH A HUGE OPPORTUNITY IN THIS AREA TO PLAY TO OUR STRENGTHS OF, OF AGRICULTURE.
UM, I THINK THAT WE SHOULD REALLY TRY TO FIND OUR WAY TO DO THAT.
AND I ALSO, I I LOVE THE ROTC IDEA AS WELL, UM, ESPECIALLY WITH THE, THE HALF OF THE FUNDING.
SO THAT, THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR TODAY.
UM, SO YEAH, I'M GONNA SOUND A LITTLE BIT LIKE A BROKEN RECORD BECAUSE, BUT I ALSO WANNA, YOU KNOW, GIVE MY THANKS TO, UM, ALL THE SPEAKERS THAT WERE HERE, UH, THIS EVENING AND, AND SHARE ALL THEIR INPUT.
UM, I THINK WE'VE ALL, YOU KNOW, TAKEN NOTES AND, AND WE'RE, WE'RE LISTENING AND HEARING YOU, UM, WANNA CONGRATULATE ALL THE TEACHERS, UH, THAT WERE RECOGNIZED THIS EVENING.
AND I THINK I MIGHT HAVE SAID THIS BEFORE, ONE OF THE THINGS I ALWAYS ENJOY IS WHENEVER WE'RE RECOGNIZING SOMEBODY IS I WATCH THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS BE, UM, IT'S JUST REALLY, YOU KNOW, THE SPOTLIGHT'S ALL ON THEM, BUT IF YOU WATCH THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, YOU, YOU KNOW, THEIR, THEIR FRIENDS AND THEIR FAMILIES, UM, YOU WATCH WHERE THEY'RE WALKING UP AND SEEING THOSE, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S THE KIDS THAT ARE GETTING RECOGNIZED OR OUR TEACHERS LIKE THIS EVENING, UM, THAT JUST MAKES ME SMILE BECAUSE, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL PROUD OF OUR, OUR FAMILY MEMBERS AND TO KNOW THAT THEY CAN HAVE THEM HERE WITH THEM ON THE EVENINGS.
UM, I'M, I'M WATCHING THE, THE FAMILIES AS THEY'RE WALKING UP.
UM, SO I JUST, IT'S IT, YOU KNOW, TRY THAT SOMETIME.
IT'S REALLY NEAT TO WATCH THOSE FAMILIES, UM, AND SEE HOW THEY, THEIR FACES LIGHT UP 'CAUSE THEY'RE SO PROUD.
UM, AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE, THE GIFTS THAT YOU KNOW, WE HAVE RECEIVED.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE, WE'VE TALKED, UM, THOSE OF US WHO'VE BEEN, WELL, ALL OF US, WE'VE HAD A YEAR IN NOW.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS RECEIVE SUCH SOME CREATIVE AND NEAT, UM, GIFTS EVERY YEAR.
AND, UM, I WILL SAY THE LAST, THE, AT THE, OUR FIRST MEETING WE GOT THE NACHO AVERAGE, UH, SCHOOL BOARD.
AND FUNNY SIDE STORY, MY FAMILY WAS TELLING ME, WE ARE OUT OF NACHO CHIPS.
AND I'M LIKE, OKAY, OKAY, I WILL STOP ON THE WAY HOME AND GET TORTILLA CHIPS.
AND I OPENED THAT BAG AND THERE WAS A BAG OF TORTILLA CHIPS IN THERE.
AND I THINK THAT WAS MAYBE LF.
SO, UH, WE LOVE THEM ALL, BUT THAT MADE MY DAY.
'CAUSE I DID NOT HAVE TO RUN INTO MARTIN'S AT LIKE NINE O'CLOCK AT NIGHT.
NOW THEY WERE GONE PROBABLY BY NINE O'CLOCK THE NEXT DAY.
BUT, UM, BUT YEAH, WE, WE, YOU KNOW, WE APPRECIATE IT.
UM, AS FAR AS SOME THINGS THAT WE'VE, THAT, THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN JANUARY, UM, I ATTENDED THE, UM, WARREN COUNTY 1 0 1 BUDGET SESSION WITH THE, UH, WARREN COUNTY 1 0 1 THAT MEETS, UM, YOU KNOW, AS MR. MCFADDEN SAID, WE, WE'VE BEEN MEETING REGULARLY.
WE MET EARLIER WITH THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
UM, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW THAT I REALLY HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD.
UH, YOU KNOW, HE, HE TALKED ABOUT HOW THAT PROCESS HAS BEEN GOING.
UM, SO WE'RE HAVING LOTS OF GOOD, YOU KNOW, DISCUSSIONS.
[01:35:01]
QUESTIONS, HOPEFULLY, UM, YOU KNOW, WORKING IN ALL FACTUAL NUMBERS, UH, AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF WHAT PEOPLE PERCEIVE AND THEY THINK, OH, WELL, I READ THIS, BUT THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, WELL, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? BECAUSE EVEN WHEN WE, WHEN IT'S WRITTEN OUT THERE, IT'S HARD.UM, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT AN ARCHITECTURE.
UM, IN MY CURRENT JOB WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE BUILDING A, UH, DOING A BUILDING AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I GET TO BE INVOLVED IN THAT AND I HAVE TO ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS BECAUSE I DON'T READ ARCHITECTURAL BLUEPRINTS.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK THOSE QUESTIONS, YOU KNOW, HEY, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? WHAT DOES THIS STAND FOR? HOW MANY DOES THIS REPRESENT? UM, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY FROM OUR BUDGET COMMITTEE, OUR COMMITTEE HERE, YOU KNOW, WE CAN ANSWER IT.
UM, MR. VALENTINE ALWAYS HAS ALL THE ANSWERS WHEN IT COMES TO NUMBERS.
SO, YOU KNOW, IF WE DON'T KNOW, HE'S GONNA KNOW.
AND HE, UM, SO AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WE'RE JUST GONNA CONTINUE TO, TO, TO PROCESS, MOVE FORWARD WITH EVERYTHING.
UM, I DON'T THINK I HAVE ANYTHING ELSE THOUGH, SO THANK YOU.
I ALSO JUST WANTED TO THANK, UM, ALL THE TEACHERS OF THE YEAR FOR COMING AND CONGRATULATE THEM, UM, FOR ALL THE HARD WORK AND JUST THANK REALLY ALL OF OUR TEACHERS AND DEDICATED STAFF MEMBERS FOR WHAT THEY DO FOR OUR STUDENTS EVERY DAY.
I WANTED TO THANK THE SCHOOLS, UM, AND THE KIDS THAT CAME THIS EVENING.
UM, I ALWAYS LOVE TO HEAR WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
AND I THINK THERE'S ESPORTS OR SOMETHING REALLY INTERESTING THAT'S, UH, THAT'S GOING ON AT WARREN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL.
UM, I ALSO WANTED TO THANK EVERYONE WHO BROUGHT FORTH ANY BUDGET INFORMATION TO US THIS EVENING.
UM, I ALSO HAD A COUPLE OF MEMBERS OF WCEA REACH OUT AND I KNOW ILLNESS HAS SORT OF PLAGUED A LOT OF PEOPLE OF, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT A FEW TIMES THIS EVENING.
SO I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY, IF YOU COULDN'T COME HERE TO SPEAK THIS EVENING, THERE'S STILL PLENTY OF TIME, A LITTLE BIT OF TIME, UM, TO EMAIL US TO EMAIL OUR TWO BUDGET COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND JUST SAY KIND OF WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO YOU, UM, AS WE LOOK AT THIS BUDGET.
FOR ME PERSONALLY, UM, I AGREE WITH MANY OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN SAID THIS EVENING.
I THINK OUR AG PROGRAM AT SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL IS PHENOMENAL AND IT HAS SO MUCH ROOM TO GROW.
AND SO GETTING THAT SECOND AG TEACHER AT SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL, I THINK IS REALLY A BIG DEAL, UM, FOR THEM.
I THINK THAT OUR STUDENT SUPPORT COACHES ARE DOING A TREMENDOUS JOB.
AND I THINK IF OUR FOCUS IN THIS COUNTY REALLY WANTS TO BE ON MOVING OUR SCORES, IMPROVING OUR BEHAVIORS, THOSE ARE SOME OF OUR, OUR PEOPLE ON THE GROUND THAT ARE GONNA BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN WITHIN THOSE BUILDINGS.
UM, I DO AGREE AND THANK MS. STEELE FOR, UM, ALL OF HER VOLUNTEER HOURS AT SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
UM, I'VE VISITED JUST A COUPLE LITTLE SHORT TIMES, BUT IF YOU WANNA KNOW THE INS AND OUTS OF THAT SCHOOL, SHE CAN SHOW YOU ALL AROUND AND KNOWS EVERY KID AND EVERY TEACHER AND WHERE THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND WHERE THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE.
UM, AND IF YOU GO TO E WILSON, YOU'RE GONNA SEE THAT SAME SORT OF PERSON WITH MR. WILLIAMS THERE, KNOWING KIND OF EVERYBODY THAT'S GOING ON.
UM, AND REALLY JUST HAVING THAT SORT OF RELATIONSHIP IN OUR BUILDING.
SO I THINK, UM, WHILE ONE IS A VOLUNTEER AND ONE IS A STUDENT SUPPORT COACH, I THINK, UM, THAT JUST SHOWS WHAT CAN REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR, IN OUR STUDENTS EVERY DAY.
UM, AND I THINK THAT, WELL, THERE ARE LOTS OF GREAT ASKS.
I MEAN, WE HEARD LOTS OF, LOTS OF REQUESTS THIS EVENING AND, AND WE KNOW THAT THE BUDGET, UM, HAS LOTS OF NEEDS.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE FOR LOOKING AT SORT OF THAT PER PUPIL COST, UM, FOR OUR, UM, NON-LABOR.
I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA IN A WAY TO SORT OF EVEN IT OUT ACROSS OUR SCHOOLS MOVING FORWARD, UM, BASED ON PUPIL NUMBERS.
SO I THINK THAT'S WONDERFUL AS WELL.
AND HOPEFULLY THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO WORK ON AS THE BUDGET SEASON GOES.
AND I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAVE THIS EVENING.
I HAD A REQUEST FOR A FIVE MINUTE BREAK.
CAN WE TAKE A QUICK LITTLE FIVE MINUTE BREAK BEFORE WE START OUR ACTION ITEM THIS EVENING? SO WE'LL START BACK AT ABOUT EIGHT 15.
I THINK WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GET BACK, UM, TO OUR ACTION
[6.A. Third Reading of 2025 - 2026 School Calendar - Dr. Costner]
AGENDA THIS EVENING.FIRST UP WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE THIRD READING OF THE 25 26 SCHOOL CALENDAR.
COSTNER, GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR BOARD MEMBERS, UH, TONIGHT I BRING FORTH TO YOU, THIS IS THE THIRD READING OF OUR 2020 5 26 SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR THAT THE CALENDAR COMMITTEE DID WORK ON DILIGENTLY AND PUT TOGETHER FOR OUR, UM, THIS NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.
SO, UM, I DO MOVE THAT THE WARREN COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD APPROVES THE 2020 5 26 DIVISION CALENDAR AS PRESENTED.
[01:40:03]
ARE THERE QUESTIONS FOR DR.COSTNER? I WANTED TO ASK A QUESTION.
I KNOW WE'VE HEARD ALREADY THAT THERE ARE 60 HOURS, CORRECT? YES, MA'AM.
UM, I SHOULD HAVE LOOKED THIS UP.
I THINK I TRIED TO AND COULDN'T QUITE FIGURE IT OUT.
UM, HOW MANY HOURS ARE IN THIS YEAR, DO YOU, THIS YEAR THERE, I BELIEVE IS ACTUALLY SIX LESS.
THAT'S WHAT I WAS GONNA, I WAS GONNA LOOK AT IT.
I THINK WE ADDED MORE THIS YEAR.
WE TRIED TO ADD IN AS MANY DAYS AS WE POSSIBLY COULD TO FIT IT IN WITH THE PARAMETERS OF THE, THE KIND OF THE WISHLIST THAT THE SCHOOLS' PRESENTED.
AND THEN I KNOW WE'VE ALREADY, UM, I THINK WE'VE ALREADY REMOVED THINGS LIKE PRESIDENT'S DAY FROM HERE, THINGS THAT WE, LIKE THIS YEAR TOOK AWAY, WELL, THIS YEAR WE ALREADY TOOK EASTER.
WELL, FOR THE 25, 26, LIKE I DON'T SEE, UNLESS I'M MISSING IT, EASTER MONDAY, CORRECT.
THAT DAY WAS PART OF IT ALREADY THAT DAY, DAY WAS REMOVED.
UM, THAT, WELL, I I SAY REMOVED THAT DAY WAS ADDED AS A SCHOOL DAY.
UM, IF I'M, IF WHERE ARE YOU REFERRING TO THIS CALEN? THE, FOR THE 25, 26? I DON'T 25.
BECAUSE IT, IT'S, IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT A HOLIDAY.
IT'S A REGULAR, OH, IS IT THE WAY THE, IS IT THE WAY THE, UM, YEAH.
CALENDAR FALLS THIS YEAR? I I GUESS IT FALLS, IT FALLS WITHIN THAT THOSE DAYS, I BELIEVE.
I'M SORRY, MY WHOLE LINE OF QUESTIONING HERE IS BASICALLY EXACTLY WHAT MS. LEN WAS ASKING EARLIER.
IS THERE A WAY TO SORT OF KNOW AHEAD OF TIME, LIKE IF WE ENDED UP HAVING TO TAKE DAYS AWAY FROM THIS CALENDAR, LIKE HAVE THEY BEEN IDENTIFIED WELL IN, IN, IS THERE A WAY TO BE ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT? THE ANSWER IN QUICKEST AND SIMPLEST TERMS, THE DAYS THAT ARE UNENCUMBERED TEACHER PLANNING OR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAYS ARE THE DAYS THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO TAKE AWAY WITHOUT TAKING AWAY PART OF THE SPRING BREAK OR, UM, ANY OF THE OTHER DESIGNATED HOLIDAYS? THAT'S, THAT'S THE QUICK AND EASY.
THE, THE MAIN THING IS TO UNDERSTAND, LIKE I SAID, WITH, AS DR.
BALLINGER EXPLAINED, THERE ARE 10 DAYS.
SO EXAMPLE, IF WE DO HAVE A ANOTHER WEATHER EVENT NEXT YEAR AND WE'RE OUT FOR THREE DAYS, WE'RE OKAY.
WE DON'T HAVE TO MAKE UP THREE DAYS.
THE ISSUE THAT IS HAPPENING THIS YEAR IS THE NUMBER OF DAYS THAT WE HAD TO, WE CONTINUOUSLY MISSED WE'RE, WE'RE BEYOND THAT.
SO THAT WOULD BE LIKE US, WE'RE BEYOND THE 10 DAYS.
UM, IF IT HAPPENED NEXT YEAR, IF WE, IF WE MISS MORE THAN 10 SCHOOL DAYS, THEN YES, WE WILL HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, FORTUNATE IF WE CAN LOOK UP, UM, TO DO A, UM, AS, UM, I SAY E-LEARNING, UM, IT WOULD BE A, A LEARNING DAY TO WHERE THAT WE CAN PLAN AHEAD.
WE CAN SEND MEALS HOME AHEAD OF TIME IF WE KNOW THE EVENT'S COMING AS THE, A LOT OF TIMES IT'S WHEN WE DON'T KNOW THE EVENTS COMING BEST, THAT'S WHAT KIND OF CATCHES US BACK.
AND AGAIN, THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED THIS YEAR FOR, UM, UPON MATERNITY SCHOOL.
SO I WANNA MAKE SURE I'M HEARING CORRECTLY.
SO IF WE NEXT YEAR, YOU KNOW, IF WE HAVE HUGE SNOW EVENTS AND WE HAVE TO, THE CALENDAR WOULD NEED TO BE ADJUSTED, THE FIRST DAYS TO GO BACK AND HAVE SCHOOL WOULD BE THOSE UNENCUMBERED PLANNING DAYS, THERE'S FOUR OF 'EM.
WOULD THAT, THOSE WOULD BE THE FIRST ONES YOU WOULD RECOMMEND AND SUGGEST TURNING THOSE INTO? WELL, ACTUALLY, IF YOU DON'T, IF YOU DON'T MIND, NO.
GO RIGHT TO YOUR DOCTOR BALANCE.
SO, SO THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS YOU CAN DO.
ONE WE CAN LIST, LIKE FOR INSTANCE, UM, WE COULD LIST JAN JANUARY 19TH, FEBRUARY 16TH.
MARCH 16TH, AND MAY 1ST YOU CAN LIST THEM.
OH, UH, WELL YOU CAN'T REALLY DO, UH, JANUARY 5TH, BUT, UH, YOU COULD LIST THOSE AS, FOR INSTANCE, FEBRUARY 16TH, PRESIDENT'S DAY OR SNOW MAKEUP DAY IF NEEDED.
OR YOU LIST MARCH 16TH, UNENCUMBERED PLANNING DAY OR SNOW MAKEUP DAY IF NEEDED.
UH, YOU CAN, YOU, YOU CAN PUT THOSE IN THERE AND JUST SO THAT WAY IT'S GOING TO BE EITHER A HOLIDAY OR IF WE HAVE TO MAKE UP DAYS, THEN WE WILL USE THOSE FOUR DESIGNATED DAYS TO MAKE UP THE TIME THAT WE MISS.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE, THAT'S HELPFUL.
ABOVE EIGHT, THE EIGHT HOURS AND WE CAN ADD THAT IN THERE.
UM, YOU KNOW, I WOULD JUST SAY I WOULD MARK JANUARY 19TH, I'D MARK FEBRUARY 16TH.
YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET ANY TEACHERS HERE ANYWAY, BECAUSE THAT'S APPLE BLOSSOM DAY.
APPLE BLOSSOM WEEKEND, AND YOU'RE JUST, YOU WON'T HAVE ANY STAFF.
UM, SO I WOULDN'T, I, YOU CAN LIST IT IF YOU WANT TO, BUT AGAIN, THAT'S APPLE BLOSSOM WEEKEND.
PROBABLY NOT GONNA GET A LOT THERE.
CAN YOU READ OFF THOSE DATES ONE MORE TIME? YEAH, LEMME PUT MY GLASSES BACK ON.
SO I WOULD SAY JANUARY 19TH, FEBRUARY 16TH, MARCH 16TH.
AND THEN YOU GUYS CAN DECIDE ON MAY 1ST IF
[01:45:01]
YOU WANT TO TRY THAT ONE OR NOT.I'M NOT GONNA RECOMMEND IT BECAUSE IT'S APPLE BLOSSOM WEEKEND, BUT I WOULDN'T RECOMMEND IT EITHER.
I'VE EXPERIENCED THAT AND IT'S NOT FUN.
'CAUSE THEIR STAFFING IS VERY CHALLENGING WITH RESPECT.
WE COULD ALSO LOOK AT MARCH 13TH AS A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAY THAT COULD ALSO BE IDENTIFIED AS ONE OF THOSE TWO WITH RESPECT.
THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD ACTUALLY IDENTIFY FOUR OTHER DAYS, WHICH WOULD TECHNICALLY YES.
SAY YOU CAN ON MARCH 13TH, YOU KNOW, GOOD CATCH DR.
MS. BRAGG MAY NOT LIKE US TAKING AWAY THAT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAY, BUT HEY, SHE MAY ENJOY HAVING STUDENTS IN CLASS ON THAT DAY INSTEAD.
WELL, AND WE HAVE 10 DAYS BUILT IN, BUT THIS I THINK IS JUST NICE.
THEN WHEN WE, IF WE HAVE THIS CONVERSATION AGAIN IN JANUARY OR FEBRUARY NEXT YEAR, IT WON'T COME AS QUITE A SURPRISE THAT SOME OF THOSE DAYS WERE MAYBE GONNA BE TAKEN AWAY.
WELL, AND TYPICALLY YOU DON'T HAVE THIS MANY SNOW DAYS.
IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT A NORMAL YEAR.
I MEAN, TYPICALLY YOU GET A SNOWSTORM, YOU MAY BE OUT A DAY AND YOU CAN START WITH A DELAY, BUT BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE TEMPERATURES HIT, THINGS JUST STUCK AROUND.
THEN WE GOT THINGS PACKED AND WE COULDN'T GET, YOU KNOW, OUR LOTS CLEANED.
UM, I WAS JUST JOKING WITH, UH, MR. HELME A LITTLE EARLIER.
I LIKE, HEY, WHEN THIS NEXT SNOWSTORM COMES IN, WE'RE GONNA BLOCK OFF THE ENTRANCES AT OUR SCHOOLS SO THAT PARENTS AREN'T, YOU KNOW, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS AREN'T DRIVING UP THERE TO GO SLEDDING AND PACKING ALL THAT.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE CAN ACTUALLY CLEAN OUR DRIVE, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR PARKING LOTS AND LOOPS, BUT I WON'T BLOCK ANY ROADS.
I'LL LET EVERYBODY COME UP AND, AND, AND, AND SLED.
BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU TYPICALLY DON'T HAVE THAT.
AND TYPICALLY EIGHT DAYS IN A CALENDAR, AND WE HAVE 10 IN THIS ONE EIGHT DAYS, THAT'S A LOT OF MAKEUP DAYS BUILT INTO A CALENDAR.
SO, I MEAN, WE'RE AMPLE, BUT IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DESIGNATE THOSE AS AS THEY'RE STIPULATED AND THEN JUST ADD OR WEATHER MAKEUP DAY IF NEEDED, I'M PERFECTLY FINE WITH THAT.
SO WITH THAT TRAIN OF THOUGHT, SO YOU'RE SAYING WE HAVE, THERE ARE 10 BUILT INTO THIS NEXT YEAR.
IS THAT, DID THAT STICK CORRECTLY? SO, OKAY.
AND THEN WE JUST HAVE FOUND AN EXTRA FOUR FOR POSSIBLE MAKEUP DAYS.
I'M STILL STUCK ON THIS GOING AFTER MEMORIAL DAY SITUATION, THOSE THREE DAYS.
UM, IS THERE A WAY TO SOMEHOW DESIGNATE THOSE AS IF WE DON'T HAVE ANY EXTRA, IF WE DON'T USE OUR SNOW DAYS, THEN WE WILL GET OUT AT MEMORIAL DAY AND NOT HAVE TO DO THOSE THREE DAYS AFTER MEMORIAL DAY SINCE WE WOULD MEET OUR HOURS? I THINK IT'S JUST, I THINK WE ARE GONNA TAKE A HIT ON, ON OUR ATTENDANCE, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK, I, I DON'T THINK KIDS ARE GONNA COME, I DON'T THINK THERE'S REALLY GONNA BE ANY LEARNING THAT TAKES PLACE.
IT'S JUST, I KNOW THE TEACHERS ARE NOT HAPPY ABOUT GOING PAST MEMORIAL DAY.
I, IF ALL I'M SAYING IS THAT YOU'RE, IF YOU TAKE AWAY THOSE HOURS, THEN YES.
THAT, THAT LESSENS THE NUMBER OF DAYS THAT YOU HAVE.
AND THEN YOU'RE AUTOMATICALLY GOING TO BE FILLING THOSE DAYS UP WITH THE DAYS THAT, THAT YOU'RE MARKING AS IF NEEDED.
I DON'T THINK SHE'S SUGGESTING THAT WE DO IT NOW.
SHE'S JUST SAYING IF IT'S LIKE A SUPER WARM WINTER DOES.
OH, SO YEAH, AT THE END OF THE YEAR, YES, AT THE END OF THE YEAR, IF WE GET TO MAY AND WE HAVEN'T USED A SNOW DAY, YEAH.
WE CAN DEFINITELY BRING THE CALENDAR TO THE BOARD AND SAY, LET'S, LET'S ADDRESS, LET'S ADDRESS THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
WELL, I'M SUGGESTING WE LABEL THEM NOW, LIKE THE WAY WE'RE LABELING THE SNOW MAKEUP POSSIBILITIES.
LET'S LABEL THE, UM, GET OUT OF SCHOOL EARLY BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE SCHOOL OR HAVE SNOW POSSIBILITIES.
WELL, THE, THE WAY YOU WOULD DO THAT IS, IS THE WAY WE MARK THOSE, UM, WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THERE IS YOU LIST IT AS HOLIDAY IF NEEDED.
SO BASICALLY WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS WE CAN MAKE THOSE THREE DAYS A HOLIDAY IF ABLE, IF, IF IT'S, UM, YEAH, AND I GOTTA GET THE WORDING RIGHT, BECAUSE WE USED TO DO THAT IN SOME CALENDARS THAT I'VE DONE.
UM, WE WOULD, IT WOULD BE A REGULAR SCHOOL DAY OR IT WOULD BE A HOLIDAY.
UH, WE WOULD PUT IN THERE AS AN OPTION.
SO THEN AT THE END OF THE YEAR, WE WOULD JUST SAY, THESE ARE HOLIDAYS.
AND SO KIDS WOULD GET OUT EARLIER AND THEN THOSE OTHER DAYS COUNTED AS HOLIDAYS IN OUR CALENDAR.
SO IT'S, OR WE CAN JUST BRING IT TO THE SCHOOL BOARD AT THAT POINT IN TIME IN APRIL.
UH, AS WE LOOK, 'CAUSE TYPICALLY IN APRIL, I WOULD SAY HALFWAY THROUGH APRIL, WE DO GET SOME BIG SNOWSTORMS IN APRIL, I WOULD SAY HALFWAY THROUGH, YOU KNOW, MID-APRIL WE BRING IT TO THE BOARD, SAY,
[01:50:01]
OKAY, HERE WE ARE ON OUR HOURS, WE'D LIKE TO TAKE THESE DAYS OFF AT THE END OF MAY, LET'S UPDATE THE CAN.LET'S SEND IT OUT TO EVERYBODY.
I THINK, SO I HAVE A QUESTION AND, AND I'M NOT LIKE STUCK TO THIS, BUT WE OBVIOUSLY ARE SITTING HERE TALKING ABOUT THERE, THEY'RE TECHNICALLY ARE DAYS BUILT INTO THE SYSTEM.
SO I'M JUST, THAT WORDING AT THE BOTTOM I THINK CAN BE SOME CONFUSING.
IT SAYS WEATHER, MAKEUP DATES, THERE ARE NO BUILT, THERE ARE NO DAYS BUILT IN THE CALENDAR FOR WEATHER CLOCK HOURS WILL BE USED TO ACCOUNT FOR THOSE DAYS MISSED.
SO I THINK THAT COULD BE MISUNDERSTANDING TO SOME PARENTS BECAUSE WE ARE SAYING THERE'S, THERE'S DAYS BUILT BECAUSE WE HAVE STOCKPILED HOURS.
SO JUST A THOUGHT, LIKE, I KNOW THIS IS OUR THIRD READING, BUT WE'VE HAD REALLY GOOD DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS CALENDAR.
UM, DO WE WANNA, I MEAN, COULD THAT BE CHANGED TO BE MORE ACCURATE? BECAUSE I, I TOTALLY GET WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
THERE'S NO BUILT IN DAYS PER SE, BUT THERE ARE BUILT IN HOURS, SO MAYBE CHANGING IT TO, YOU KNOW, SO THAT PEOPLE DON'T GET CONFUSED.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? IT DOES.
I I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE BEST WAY TO PUT IT IN THIS, THE, IN WRITING.
I MEAN, YEAH, BECAUSE THE, THE, THE, IN THE ESSENCE OF IT IS IF YOU HAVE 10 DAYS AND THEN AFTER 10 DAYS, IT FALLS ON THE JANUARY THE 19TH.
BUT FOR EXAMPLE, IF AN INCLEMENT WEATHER EVENT OCCURS AFTER THE 19TH THAT DAY, WE DIDN'T GO TO SCHOOL.
AND SO IT DOES, IT WILL AFFECT THINGS.
SO I MEAN, IT IS, IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT WHEN YOU DEAL WITH HOURS VERSUS DAYS.
WE HAD A, A CALENDAR THAT WAS 180 DAYS, THEN WE WOULD DEFINITELY HAVE TO HAVE BUILT IN DAYS FOR IF WE WENT BY DAYS INSTEAD OF HOURS.
SO I MEAN, IF WE COULD JUST, I MEAN, JUST REMOVE THE SENTENCE ABOUT THE WEATHER MAKEUP DAYS ALTOGETHER AND JUST SAY CLOCK HOURS.
WE USED TO ACCOUNT FOR DAYS MISSED.
WE CAN ALSO GO BACK IN AND ADD THE CORRECT VERBIAGE FOR THE HOLIDAYS ON THE LAST THREE DAYS AND ADD THE CORRECT VERBIAGE OUT BESIDE THE, UM, TENTATIVE DAY, SNOWED MAKEUP DAYS IF NEEDED.
WHAT IF WE JUST TOOK, THERE ARE NO BUILT IN DAYS.
RIGHT? 'CAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BUILDING IN DAYS AND HOURS.
WELL, WE CAN ADD, WE CAN STRIKE ALL THAT IF NECESSARY.
THERE'S 60 EXTRA HOURS BUILT INTO THIS SCHEDULE TO ALLOW FOR MAKEUP OR SNOW DAYS.
YEAH, NO, BECAUSE THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE SAYING TO US, WHY AREN'T THERE ANY SNOW DAYS BUILT INTO IT? SO IT WAS SOME MISUNDERSTANDING.
SO WHAT YOU JUST SAID WAS GREAT.
THEY'RE SAYING THERE'S 60 HOURS BUILT INTO THIS IN CASE OF INFINITE WEATHER.
JUST SAY THAT IF WE EXCEED THAT AMOUNT BASED ON HOURS, RIGHT, WE CAN, WE CAN ACTUALLY LOOK AT THAT AND DO THAT IF, BECAUSE THAT WAY IT GIVES YOU FLEXIBILITY IF, YOU KNOW, YOU GET THROUGH MARCH 16TH AND THEN YOU HAVE A SNOWSTORM IN APRIL, IT STILL GIVES YOU THAT FLEXIBILITY.
AND THAT'S LIKE LAST YEAR WE DIDN'T USE A SNOW DAY ONE, I DON'T BELIEVE LAST YEAR.
UM, SO, AND THIS YEAR WE'VE USED EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM, PLUS SOME IF YOU PREFER TO TABLE THIS UNTIL THE NEXT BOARD MEETING, SO WE CAN GO AND MAKE THOSE CORRECTIONS, THEN YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW IT AND READ IT OR WE CAN MAKE THE CHANGES.
UH, AS YOU ALL SAY HERE, IT'S, IT IS WHATEVER YOU PREFER, WHATEVER THE BOARD WISHES.
DID WE LIKE THE, DID WE LIKE WHAT MS SALE SAID ABOUT, ABOUT JUST ADDING THE SIX, THERE'S 60 EXTRA DAYS, HOURS, HOURS, 60 DAYS
I DO LIKE THAT WORDING, BUT I FEEL LIKE WE'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF FEEDBACK ON THIS CALENDAR AND WE JUST MADE SEVERAL IMPORTANT CHANGES.
SO I WOULD BE INCLINED TO TABLE UNTIL NEXT TIME PERSONALLY, BUT I COULD SEE GOING EITHER WAY.
DO YOU MIND JUST BRINGING IT TO OUR FEBRUARY WORK SESSION? TRY WHATEVER THE BOARD WISHES WITH WISHES.
COSTNER, I THINK THIS IS YOU E-CARD READER
[6.B. E-Card Reader Purchase and Installation 2024 Security Equipment Grant - Dr. Costner]
PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION 2024 SECURITY EQUIPMENT GRANT.UM, BACK IN DECEMBER, THE BOARD DID APPROVE TO, UM, TO ACCEPT THE 2024 SCHOOL SECURITY, UM, EQUIPMENT GRANT FUNDING.
AND SO THEREFORE THE MONEY WAS REQUESTED.
AND UPON THAT, THE SCHOOL IS RESPONSIBLE FOR, UM, COVERING A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE.
AND SO WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS USING THE FUNDS TO PURCHASE AND INSTALL E CARD READERS AT HILDA J BARBER, WARREN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL, SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL IN THE AMOUNT OF $39,708 AND 30 CENTS.
THE GRANT COVERS $31,611 WITH THE REMAINING $7,902
[01:55:01]
AND 75 CENTS WILL COME FROM THE CATEGORY 6 4 0 0 0, WHICH IS OUR, OUR COST.IT'S A LITTLE BIT ABOVE, UM, WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO COVER FOR THE GRANT ONCE YOU ACCEPT IT.
BUT, UM, THAT IS WHAT THEY'RE WANTING TO USE THE, UM, SCHOOL SECURITY EQUIPMENT GRANT FOR.
SO THAT'S WHY WE BRING IT FORTH IS TO APPROVE THE GIVEN PURCHASE OF THE ECAR ECARD READERS AND INSTALLATION SERVICE FROM NATIONAL SECURITY AND DOOR IN THE AMOUNT OF $39,708 AND 30 CENTS.
COSTNER COSTNER? CAN YOU EXPLAIN FOR THE PEOPLE WATCHING OVER GIMME THESE E-CARD READERS? WILL DO.
AND WHAT'S THE BENEFIT FOR THE STUDENTS, THE E-CARD READERS? YES, SIR.
AN E-CARD READER IS, IT'S ACTUALLY FOR SECURITY SYSTEM TO WHERE THAT THE, IT'LL READ THE, UM, THE ID SO THAT IT SCANS IN AND ALLOWS THE UNLOCKING THE DOOR INSTEAD OF A MASTER KEY, WHICH COULD, UM, IT'S TO HELP IMPROVE THE SECURITY SO THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO MONITOR, YOU KNOW, WHO'S UTILIZING THE, UM, UNLOCKING OF THE DOORS.
AND THEN ALSO FOR THAT, UM, IT'S, IT'S JUST A GREATER SAFETY PROCEDURE.
NOW, MR. EXTERNAL FRONT DOOR DOORS, ANY OTHER DOORS IN THE BUILDING OR JUST THE OUTSIDE EXTERIOR? I WAS LOOKING AT MR. HELMICK STEPPED UP.
YEAH, HE ALREADY TOOK OUT ON YOU.
YEAH, HE, THEY'RE EXTERIOR DOORS.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE JUST TRYING TO GET ALL OF OUR EXTERIOR DOORS, UM, UM, WITH THE SYSTEM.
SO I WOULD IMAGINE IT ALSO IMPROVES SAFETY BECAUSE IF SOMEONE LEAVES ISN'T SUPPOSED TO BE IN THE BUILDING ANYMORE, THAT'S AN IMMEDIATE, YOU CAN SHUT THEIR CARD OFF AND DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT LOOSE KEYS DANGLING AROUND SOMEWHERE.
IS THERE A MOTION I MOVE THAT APPROVAL WILL BE GIVEN TO PURCHASE E-CARD READERS AND INSTALLATION SERVICES FROM NATIONAL SECURITY AND DOOR, THE AMOUNT OF 39 30 $9,708 AND 30 CENTS.
IS THERE A SECOND? I SECOND IT.
ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.
[6.C. First Reading - DLB Salary Deductions, DLC Expense Reimbursements, DM Cash in School Buildings, DO Nonlocally Funded Programs, EA Support Services, EBAA Reporting of Hazards, EBBA Emergency First Aid CPR AED Certified Personnel, EBCA Electronic Room Partitions, EBCD School Closings, ECA Inventory and Reporting of Loss or Damage - Dr. Costner]
UP WE HAVE THE, UM, FIRST READING OF THE SECOND CHUNK OF POLICIES THAT WE'LL BE REVIEWING AND GOING THROUGH DR.UM, AS YOU KNOW, THE SCHOOL BOARD POLICY SUBCOMMITTEE HAS BEEN WORKING VERY HARD AT REVIEWING THE COM, UM, POLICIES AS THEY COME.
WE HAVE 10 POLICIES IN FRONT OF YOU TONIGHT THAT ARE FOR THE FIRST READING.
UM, AND THESE POLICIES HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED.
POLICY, D-L-B-D-L-C, POLICY, D-M-D-O-E-A, E-B-A-A-E-B, BA.
AND THAT ONE SHOULD BE E-B-C-B-A.
IT WAS LEFT OFF THE B AND THEN, UM, EBCD AND POLICY ECA.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR ABOUT THESE POLICIES THAT WERE SENT FORTH FROM US FROM THE, UM, POLICY COMMITTEE? I THINK MOST OF 'EM LOOKED PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD.
THERE WASN'T REALLY MUCH CHANGED.
UM, BUT WHEN WE HAD THIS IN FRONT OF US, I WANNA ASK A QUESTION ABOUT ECA, THE ESTABLISHING OF THE INVENTORY LIST.
UM, IT, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT OFF AND ON SINCE 2021, UM, WITH THE MOWER ISSUE AND, YOU KNOW, THE COUNTY TOOK ALL OF OUR MOWERS AND THEN, UM, WHEN THE SANITARY DISTRICT ENDED UP WITH OUR WOOD CHIPPER.
AND, UM, SO HAVE WE ESTABLISHED AN INVENTORY LIST AT THIS POINT OF, OF ALL THE EQUIPMENT AND STUFF? AND IF NOT, CAN WE PLEASE DO THAT? AND I THINK YOU'RE TALKING SPECIFICALLY ABOUT LIKE A LOT OF THE STUFF THAT'S STORED OUT A LIKE EVEN DIVERSIFIED MINES LIKE IN THAT BUILDING.
YEAH, WE SHOULD, WE SHOULD HAVE A, A TOTAL PROPERTY LIST.
I MEAN, EVERYTHING FROM OUR, OUR SNOWPLOWS TO OUR LEAF BLOWERS.
LIKE WE SHOULD HAVE A LIST THAT WAY WHEN SOME OF THESE THINGS GET, UM, BORROWED FROM OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM BECAUSE, UH, OUR, OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM IS INCREDIBLY GENEROUS TO THE ENTIRE COUNTY, AND I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE GETTING THOSE ITEMS BACK ONCE WE LOAN THEM OUT.
SO THERE SHOULD BE SOME TYPE OF, OF INVENTORY CONCERNING OUR, OUR EQUIPMENT.
UM, WE'LL JUST NEED TO TO TRACK WHERE THAT IS, YOU KNOW, WHO IS IN POSSESSION OF THAT INVENTORY.
UM, FOR INSTANCE, AARON, MR. MITCHELL, MAY, MAY TRACK ALL OF OUR VEHICLES WHILE MR. HELMICK MAY TRACK SOMETHING ELSE.
UM, WHILE FOR INSTANCE, WE EVEN INVENTORY
[02:00:01]
OUR TEXTBOOKS THAT MS. BRAGG KEEPS AN INVENTORY OF ALL OF OUR TEXTBOOKS.UM, AND LIKE WITH OUR, WITH OUR CHROMEBOOKS, I THINK MR. STEFANSKI, UM, HE HAS THE INVENTORY LIST FOR ALL OF OUR CHROMEBOOKS.
SO, SO WE HAVE INVENTORY LISTS.
I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS PROBABLY TRY TO GET THOSE CENTRALIZED INTO ONE LOCATION INSTEAD OF MAYBE BEING, UH, OR, OR AT LEAST HAVE A, A REPORTING PLACE FOR THOSE TO GO, UM, INSTEAD OF EACH DIRECTOR BEING RESPONSIBLE AND HOLDING THOSE.
UM, THAT MAY GIVE US A LITTLE BETTER IDEA OF WHERE WE'RE AT.
UH, WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO, TO BE PROACTIVE WITH HAVING, UM, SURPLUS CELLS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE SURPLUS ITEMS. I AGREE WITH YOU.
I HATE JUST HAVING JUNK LAYING AROUND OR JUST IF WE'RE NOT USING IT, GET RID OF IT.
UM, AND, AND SO I KNOW WE'VE, WE'VE REALLY TRIED TO FOCUS ON, ON HAVING SOME OF THOSE SURPLUS CELLS SO THAT WE CAN GET RID OF THAT, UM, THO THOSE THINGS.
SO I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO DO, DR.
COSTA IS PROBABLY, MAYBE, EXCUSE ME, MAYBE IN CABINET WE DISCUSS WHAT INVENTORY LIST WE MAY HAVE WITHIN VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS AND THEN SEE HOW WE CAN GET THAT LIST PULLED TOGETHER, UM, SO THAT WE CAN GET IT CATEGORIZED MAYBE IN ONE GOOGLE DOC OR IN A, OR, OR A GOOGLE SHEET, UM, SO THAT WE COULD GET IT ALL IN ONE LOCATION AND, AND HAVE THAT.
SO YEAH, GOOGLE SHEET WITH DIFFERENT TABS AND THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS WOULD BE GREAT.
AND I THINK THE POLICY ITSELF SAID WE NEED TO HAVE AN INVENTORY LIST FOR EVERY BUILDING FOR EVERY SCHOOL AS WELL.
SO HOWEVER WE GET THAT SET UP JUST IF WE FOLLOW OUR, OUR POLICY.
UM, MY OTHER QUESTION THAT I JUST WANNA TOUCH ON WAS THE EBB ABOUT THE DEFIBRILLATORS.
UM, WE HAD GOTTEN THE EMAIL LIKE A WEEK OR SO AGO.
DID WE EVER TAKE MS. COOK UP ON HER OFFER FOR THAT DONATION? SO HER AND I ARE TRYING TO GET IN TOUCH WITH EACH OTHER.
SO YEAH, I, I SENT AN EMAIL AND I DIDN'T NOTICE, BUT IT GOT KICKED BACK.
MAYBE IT WAS BECAUSE I PUT, UM, THE ADDRESS WRONG OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE.
WHEN I DID GO CHECK, I, I SAW THAT I GOT AN AUTOMATED RESPONSE.
AND I KNOW MS. ZA, UM, HAD REACHED OUT TO HER.
UM, AND SO SHE DID MESSAGE ME AND SAY THAT SHE WAS GONNA GIVE ME A CALL.
FROM OUR POLICY COMMITTEE MEMBERS, IS THERE, OR THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE WORKING ON THIS, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE SHOULD BRING TO THE PUBLIC? NO, I THOUGHT IT WAS VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD AND THERE WEREN'T VERY MANY CHANGES IN THERE.
THESE WERE PRETTY MINOR CHANGES.
UM, WE JUST CLEANED UP SOME LANGUAGE AND STUFF LIKE THAT, SO THERE WASN'T ANYTHING, ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGES, I DON'T BELIEVE.
SO WE'LL DO OUR SECOND READING LATER THIS MONTH.
[6.D. Third Reading of Policy GCI and GCI-E Resolution Authorizing Superintendent to Reassign Staff - Ms. Drake]
WE HAVE THE THIRD READING OF POLICY, GCI AND GCI DASH E RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING SUPERINTENDENT TO REASSIGN STAFF.UH, THIS IS OUR THIRD READING, SO LOOKING FOR OUR MOTION.
I BELIEVE I ANSWERED QUESTIONS FROM THE LAST FEW MEETINGS THAT WE HAD ABOUT THIS, BUT HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS THAT MAYBE HAVE COME UP WITH, UH, FOR OUR POLICY AND RESOLUTION TO BE APPROVED.
QUESTIONS FOR MS. DRAKE? I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, BUT I'M STILL, I'M STILL SORT OF IN MY, I RATHER WITHOUT HAVING INPUT, BUT I GET, I UNDERSTAND IT, BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT IT WHETHER WE'VE DONE THIS ALL BEFORE OR UNDERSTAND YOU'RE GOING OVER MATTER WHAT CONVERSATION, BUT SEEMS TEACHING AT SCHOOL IS ABOUT A COMMUNITY'S NOT JUST A JOB FOR ANYBODY.
AND TO ALL OF A SUDDEN SAY, I'M LEAVING ALL THESE FOLKS WITH EVERY DAY, SPENDING ALL THIS TIME IN THE, WORKING WITH THESE KIDS TO THIS SCHOOL, IT'S SOMETIMES MAYBE BECAUSE SOMEONE AT THIS SCHOOL DID SOMETHING WRONG, OR MAYBE IT'S A BAD SCHOOL OR, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE, IT'S LIKE BEING THE PENITENTIARY TYPE THING.
LIKE, I'M GETTING PUNISHED SOMEHOW FOR GOING OVER THERE IF SOMEONE AGREES SAYS, YEAH, BUT I'M GONNA GIVE
[02:05:01]
YOU A LITTLE STIP BUCKS FOR DOING THAT, MAYBE.OR IF IT'S A QUESTION TO SAY, WHO WANTS TO RAISE THEIR HAND? JUST AGAIN, LIKE, WANT A SEAT IS, UH, YOU KNOW, TOO MANY SEATS ON THE, ON THE, ON THE AIRPLANE.
THEY SAY, WHO WANTS TO GIVE UP YOUR SEAT AND THERE'S SOME MONEY INVOLVED.
SO THAT'S JUST MY TAKE ON IT THEN.
SO CHANGE, I'M JUST STATING MY OPINION OF WHY I'M, I'M AGAINST THIS POLICY.
I BELIEVE IN VOLUNTARY AND CONSENT, AND IF WE NEED TO MOVE SOMEBODY, IT NEEDS TO BE AN ENTICEMENT AND NOT, UM, A FORCED UPON THEM THING.
I THINK REMOVING THAT FROM HAVING IT HELD OVER HEADS WOULD, WOULD MAKE FOR A HAPPIER TEACHING ENVIRONMENT.
AND THAT'S JUST MY OPINION ON IT.
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? IS THERE A MOTION ON THIS? I MOVE THAT THE WARREN COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD APPROVE THE UPDATES TO POLICY GCI AND GCIE AND APPROVE THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING SUPERINTENDENT TO REASSIGN STAFF.
ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.
[7.A. Board Member Requests]
NEXT OF THIS EVENING, WE HAVE BOARD MEMBER REQUESTS AND WE'LL GO IN OPPOSITE ORDER.UM, I BELIEVE I ALREADY TOUCHED ON THE DESIRE TO CREATE A MERIT-BASED RAISE SYSTEM TO BE PUT IN PLACE.
UM, THE SECOND ONE, WHICH I'M, I'M HOPING WE COULD POTENTIALLY ADD TO OUR VERY NEXT, UM, WORK SESSION IS FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN'T FOLLOWED ALONG, THERE WAS A BILL IN FRONT OF THE SENATE.
BUT, UM, WHAT IT DID WAS REMOVE ALL OF THE PRIVACY VERBIAGE FROM STATE CODE FOR HOMESCHOOLERS.
SO WHEREAS PUBLIC SCHOOLED STUDENTS AND PRIVATE SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE PROTECTED BY FERPA, HOMESCHOOL STUDENTS DO NOT HAVE THAT SAME PROTECTION IN PLACE.
SO IF NEXT YEAR THIS BILL IS REINTRODUCED AND THE VOTES DO NOT GO OUR WAY, IT WOULD REMOVE ALL PROTECTION FOR, FOR HOMESCHOOLERS RECORDS.
AND I AM NOT OKAY WITH THAT FOR MINOR CHILDREN TO HAVE THEIR POTENTIALLY HAVE THEIR NAMES, ADDRESSES.
UM, WHEN WE FILE OUR NOTICE OF INTENT, WE GIVE OUR CURRICULUM, UM, WHICH CAN INCLUDE WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO A CO-OP.
IT CAN INCLUDE INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR RELIGION.
UM, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING HOPEFULLY EVERYBODY CAN AGREE WITH, IS THAT MINOR CHILDREN'S INFORMATION IS OFF LIMITS.
AND I'D LIKE TO PUT SOMETHING SOMEWHERE IN ONE OF OUR POLICIES THAT EXTENDS THE SAME PROTECTIONS THAT OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLED STUDENTS HAVE, GIVE THOSE SAME PROTECTIONS TO OUR, TO OUR HOMESCHOOLED STUDENTS.
NUMBER NEXT ONE WAS I WANTED TO REASER REASSERT MY DESIRE FOR US TO CREATE A PUPILS AND PERSONNEL COMMITTEE IN HOPES THAT OUR BOARD CAN BE INVOLVED IN ISSUES BEFORE THEY ESCALATE TO THE POINT OF NO RETURN.
UM, I THINK SOMETIMES PARENTS, STAFF MEMBERS, THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO REACH OUT TO THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND JUST HAVE INTERVENTION, HELPFUL HANDS, HELPFUL EYES, JUST SOMETHING TO HELP, UM, KEEP EVERYBODY HAPPY.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF OTHER DISTRICTS DO.
UM, AND I THINK THAT'S PRETTY MUCH ALL I'VE GOT.
UH, SO AS MOST YOU'RE AWARE, I'VE ON THE BOARD, I'VE EXPRESSED A STRONG INTEREST IN HAVING MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM DELIVERED TO US AND THE PUBLIC IN A MORE REGULAR AND ORGANIZED MANNER.
EVERYTHING FROM REPORT UPDATES ON THE STRATEGIC PLAN TO UPDATING POLICIES IN A CLEAR MANNER AND FOLLOWING THEM PROPERLY AND ENSURING THAT WE ARE BEING AS TRANSPARENT AS POSSIBLE TO BOTH OUR FAMILIES AND THE WARREN COUNTY TAXPAYERS.
SO TO THAT END, I HAVE TWO REQUESTS.
THE FIRST IS A SECONDARY REQUEST THAT I'VE ASKED BEFORE IS THAT OUR INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS, OUR CURRICULUM TO BE UPDATED ON OUR WEBSITE.
I UNDERSTAND THERE MIGHT BE CHANGES COMING AND GOING, BUT WE SHOULD ENSURE THAT EACH SCHOOL'S LISTS, CURRICULUM, BOOKS, AND RESOURCES USED AS WELL AS LEARNING GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR EACH GRADE LEVEL.
I KNOW I'VE LOOKED ON, UM, UH, VARIOUS SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE AREA.
YOU CAN GO ON THERE AND SAY, OH, HERE'S WHAT THE THIRD GRADE CURRICULUM IS.
[02:10:01]
BOOKS THEY DO.HERE'S THE SUMMARY OF WHAT THEY'RE GONNA LEARN THIS YEAR IN EACH SUBJECT MATTER.
I KNOW WE DO IT, WE TEACH IT, IT ALL EXISTS.
WE JUST NEEDS TO GO UP THERE SO SOMEONE CAN, CAN READ IT.
SO THAT'D BE REALLY GREAT TO HAVE THAT.
UM, SECONDLY, THERE'S A POLICY, I I I SPEND A LOT OF TIME LOOKING THROUGH THE POLICY MANUAL TO SEE WHAT WE DO KNOW AND DON'T KNOW.
AND THERE'S A POLICY CALLED CMA, IT'S THE LAST POLICY IN THE LIST OF SCHOOL GOVERNANCE, GENERAL SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION, SECTION C CALLED CMA SCHOOL DIVISION ANNUAL REPORT CARD.
AND, UM, I I, I MEAN I HAVEN'T SEEN IT THIS YEAR.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE DO IT OR IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE USED TO DO, HASN'T BEEN UPDATED SINCE 2000.
BUT BASICALLY IT'S SAYING THE WARREN COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD ANNUALLY PREPARES AND DISSEMINATES INFORMATION ON THE SCHOOL DIVISION.
AND EACH SCHOOL WITHIN THE DIVISION, THE INFORMATION IS CONCISE, PRESENTED IN AN UNDERSTANDABLE AND UNIFORM FORMAT.
AND TO THE EXTENT PRACTICAL, PRACTICAL, UH, PRESENTED IN A LANGUAGE THAT PARENTS CAN UNDERSTAND.
THE INFORMATION IS ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC AND SHOWS HOW STUDENTS IN THE DIVISION ACHIEVED ON THE STATE STUDENT ACADEMIC ASSESSMENTS COMPARED TO STUDENTS IN THE STATE AS A WHOLE AND HOW STUDENTS AT INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS ACHIEVED COMPARED TO STUDENTS IN THE DIVISION AND IN THE STATE.
AND THEN IT GOES THROUGH SCHOOL QUALITY PROFILES, ALL KINDS OF STUFF.
IT'S BASICALLY LIKE A FACT BOOK OF INFORMATION OF HERE.
IT'S, IT'S OUR ANNUAL REPORT CARD.
HERE'S ALL OUR GOOD AND BAD WHERE WE WERE.
YOU CREATE ONE TIME, YOU CAN TURN INTO A COLORFUL BOOK LIKE WINCHESTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS DO, TURN INTO A SHEET OF PAPER, WHATEVER IT IS.
BUT IT'S LIKE, HERE'S ALL THESE SECTIONS THAT WE WANT TO HAVE DATA ON EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
SO WE, WE HAVE SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT HAPPEN MONTHLY.
WE HAVE REPORTS ON SCHOOL SAFETY.
WE HAVE REPORTS ON ATTENDANCE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
LIKE, HERE'S OUR REPORT, HERE'S THE WHOLE YEAR IN REVIEW.
THAT COULD THEN BE PRESENTED AT A JUNE MEETING, WHATEVER, WHICHEVER MEETING IT IS, AND SAY, HERE IT IS, FOLKS.
HERE'S MEETING OUR GOALS, NOT MEETING OUR GOALS, ACHIEVING SUCCESS IN THIS WAY OR THE OTHER WAY.
I MEAN, THIS, THIS IS EVERYTHING FROM THE NUMBER AND PERCENTAGE OF DROPOUTS NUMBER BOARD APPROVED, INDUSTRY CERTIFICATIONS OBTAINED, NUMBER OF STATE LICENSURE EXAMS PASSED, ATTENDANCE AND ABSENTEE FOR STUDENTS, ACCREDITATION STATUSES, ALL KINDS OF STUFF.
UM, NUMBER OF PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS WHO ARE ENROLLED IN DUAL CREDIT COURSES, WHICH WE HEARD ABOUT TONIGHT, UH, IN DIFFERENT WAYS.
NUMBER OF NATIONAL OCCUPATIONAL COMPETENCY ASSESSMENTS PASSED BY OUR STUDENTS AND NUMBER OF ARMED DISTURBANCE, VOLUNTEER UP, ALL KINDS OF STUFF THAT IS ACCORDING TO THE LAW, WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING THIS.
AND THIS WOULD BE GREAT TO DO, I THINK.
SO IT COULD BE JUST, YEAH, IT'S GONNA TAKE A LOT OF HEAVY LIFTING TO GET IT ALL TOGETHER THE FIRST TIME.
BUT ONCE YOU GET IT TOGETHER THE FIRST TIME, YOU JUST UPDATE IT AS YOU MOVE ALONG.
AND, AND ALTHOUGH YOU CAN UPDATE IT THROUGHOUT THE, THE YEAR AT DIFFERENT QUARTERLY REPORTS AT THE END RESULT, AGAIN, WINCHESTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS, TO THEIR CREDIT, HAS A VERY NICE ONE THAT'S COLORFUL AND ACTIVE AND SUMMARIZES THINGS, HAS NICE BIG NUMBERS AND PERCENTAGES AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S EASY TO READ.
AND AT THE END RESULT YOU CAN SAY, YEAH, YEAH, WE DID THIS, WE DID THIS TOGETHER, WE DID A GOOD JOB.
SO THAT CMA POLICY, THE SCHOOL DIVISION ANNUAL REPORT CARD WOULD BE REALLY, REALLY COOL TO DO.
AND MS. LOW, I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING.
[8. Approval of Closed Meeting Item(s)]
UM, AN APPROVAL OR A MOTION ON OUR PERSONNEL REPORT AND PERSONNEL REPORT ADDENDUM THIS EVENING? I MOVE TO APPROVE THE PERSONNEL REPORT AND THE PERSONNEL REPORT ADDENDUM AS PRESENTED WITH THE AGREEMENT THAT WE DO HOLD HARMLESS THE TEACHING LICENSES OF THE DESIGNEES.IS THERE A SECOND? I SECOND IT.
ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.