[00:00:05]
[1. Closed Meeting - 5:30 p.m.]
THIS MEETING TO ORDER.IS THERE A MOTION? THIS MOTION IS MADE THAT THIS OPEN PUBLIC MEETING OF THE WARREN COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD BECOME A CLOSED MEETING PURSUANT TO VIRGINIA CODE SECTION 2.2 DASH 3 7 1 1.
THIS SCHOOL BOARD DESIRES TO DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING MATTER IN A CLOSED MEETING SECTION 2.2 DASH 3 7 1 A ONE, DISCUSSION, CONSIDERATION OR INTERVIEWS OF PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATES FOR EMPLOYMENT ASSIGNMENT, APPOINTMENT PROMOTION, PERFORMANCE, DEMOTION, SALARIES, DISCIPLINING, OR RESIGNATION OF EMPLOYEES OF THE SCHOOL BOARD, SPECIFICALLY THE PERSONNEL REPORT, THE PERSONNEL REPORT ADDENDUM IN SCHOOL YEAR 2020 5 26.
IS THERE A SECOND? I SECOND IT.
UH, MR. VALENTINE, CAN YOU DO ROLL CALL MR. SALANS? AYE.
[2. Meeting Opening - 6:30 p.m.]
VOTES RECORDED BY THE CLERK, THE SCHOOL BOARD OF WARREN COUNTY DOES HEREBY CERTIFY AND TO THE BEST OF EACH MEMBER'S KNOWLEDGE, ONE, ONLY PUBLIC BUSINESS MATTERS, LAWFULLY EXEMPTED FROM THE OPEN MEETING REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE VIRGINIA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT WERE DISCUSSED IN THE CLOSED MEETING TO WHICH THE CERTIFICATION APPLIES.AND TWO, ONLY SUCH PUBLIC BUSINESS MATTERS AS WERE IDENTIFIED IN THE MOTION BY WHICH THE CLOSED MEETING WAS CONVENED, WERE HEARD, DISCUSSED, OR CONSIDERED BY THE SCHOOL BOARD.
IS THERE A SECOND? I SECOND IT.
UH, MR. VALENTINE, CAN YOU TAKE, TAKE ROLL MRS. LOWE? AYE.
[2.A. Call to Order - Pledge of Allegiance and Moment of Silence - School Board Chair]
OKAY.UM, I WILL OPEN UP THE MEETING BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND A MOMENT OF SILENCE PLEASE.
IFIED BY UNITED STATES OF AMERICA REPUBLIC FOR WHICH EXPANDS ONE NATION INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY, JUSTICE WORLD.
[2,B. Accept or Modify the Agenda - School Board]
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT OR MODIFY THIS EVENING'S AGENDA? I WOULD LIKE TO MODIFY THE AGENDA, PLEASE TO ADD A SECTION SIX B SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A BOARD DISCUSSION REGARDING THE BUDGET, SPECIFICALLY THE HEALTH INSURANCE.IS THERE A SECOND? I SECOND IT.
[2.C. School Reports - Ressie Jeffries Elementary School]
RIGHT.AND AT THIS MADAM VICE CHAIR, AT THIS POINT IN TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE RESTY JEFFRIES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO THE PODIUM.
UH, THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME SHOWCASE HOW AMAZING RUSTY JEFF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS.
UH, TONIGHT I HAVE MS. BRADLEY, OUR ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, MS. SHEPHERD, OR DEAN OF STUDENTS, AND TWO OF OUR LITTLE GUYS HERE THAT ARE GONNA INTRODUCE THEMSELVES TO YOU AND GET STARTED WITH THE PRESENTATION.
ANYONE REPORTING TO UI FROM THE WARREN COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD
[00:05:03]
AND I SO WOULD LOVE TO.SO YOU WHAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON AND WHAT OUR SCHOOL CAN DO.
WE ARE REPORTING LIVE FROM RUSTY JEFFRIES.
WE ARE HERE TODAY WITH OUR PRINCIPAL AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, MS.
WE, WE WOULD LOVE TO ASK YOU A FEW QUESTIONS ABOUT RUSTY JEFFERIES.
WHAT IS THE TOTAL POPULATION OF RUSTY? THE TOTAL POPULATION OF IS 651 STUDENTS AS OF THIS MORNING.
MS. BRADLEY, CAN YOU TELL ONE THING THAT YOU LOVE ABOUT REST OF YOUR FACE? JUST ONE THING I HAD TO PICK.
IT WOULD BE OUR AMAZING STUDENTS AND OUR STAFF AT EE SO EVERYBODY IN THE BUILDING IS MY FAVORITE THING ABOUT RESTY.
AND MISS HELMICK, WHAT DO YOU THINK MAKES RUSTY SUCH A GREAT PLACE TO GROW AND LEARN? I WOULD HAVE TO SAY IT'S ME,
I THINK THAT RUSTY JEFFRIES IS A GREAT PLACE TO LEARN AND GROW BECAUSE OF THE AMAZING PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE AROUND US, THE STUDENTS, THE STAFF, THE TEACHERS, HOW HARD EVERYONE WORKS EVERY SINGLE DAY.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT, WE'RE A FAMILY HERE AT RUSTY JEFFERIES.
OUR STUDENTS ARE OUR FAMILY AND OUR TEACHERS ARE OUR FAMILY.
WE LOVE EVERYONE HERE AT RUSTY JEFFERIES.
I WOULD LOVE TO SHOW YOU GUYS HOW AMAZING WE REALLY ARE AS WE ENTER THIS SCHOOL.
LET'S GO TAKE A PEEK AT WHAT RESCUE JEFFRIES IS ALL ABOUT.
HE TAKE THE POSSIBILITY REPORTING FROM YOU LIVE FROM RUSTY JEFFRIES.
I AM HERE TODAY WITH MS. FRANKLE.
I HEARD YOU MS. FRANKLE, I'VE HEARD YOU'VE GOTTEN SOME NATIONAL AWARDS THIS YEAR.
WHAT HAVE YOU RECEIVED? WELL, THANK YOU FOR ASKING.
WE HAVE RECEIVED TWO NATIONAL CERTIFICATIONS THIS SCHOOL YEAR.
IN THE FALL I RECEIVED AN AWARD THAT SAID I'M AN ASCA CERTIFIED SCHOOL COUNSELOR.
AND IN THE WINTER, OUR SCHOOL COUNSELING PROGRAM QUALIFIED AS A RECOGNIZED ASCA MODEL, PROGRAM, OR RAMP FOR SHORT.
WHAT DO THOSE TITLES MEAN? WELL, I'M GLAD THAT YOU ASKED.
SO THE FIRST ONE, THE ASK A CERTIFIED SCHOOL COUNSELOR IS FOR MYSELF AS AN INDIVIDUAL.
IT SAYS THAT I WORK VERY HARD TO BE A PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELOR WHO DOES WHAT IS BEST FOR MY STUDENTS AND THAT I CONTINUE TO LEARN NEW AND BETTER WAYS TO HELP THEM.
THE RAMP AWARD THOUGH, IS FOR ALL OF RESCUE JEFFRIES.
IT SAYS THAT OUR SCHOOL COUNSELING PROGRAM TRIES TO HELP STUDENTS IN WAYS THAT ARE BEST FOR THE WHOLE SCHOOL BY PRIORITIZING STUDENT ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, ATTENDANCE, AND BEHAVIOR.
AND WE DO THAT BY USING DATA INFORMATION LIKE GRADES AND SOL SCORES, ABSENCES TO CHOOSE WHO WE WORK WITH, HOW WE HELP THEM, AND THEN FIND OUT IF WE WERE SUCCESSFUL.
IN THE END, BEING A RAMP SCHOOL SAYS THAT OUR SCHOOL COUNSELING PROGRAM IS DOING EVERYTHING IT POSSIBLY CAN TO HELP OUR STUDENTS SUCCEED AND HOPEFULLY HELP OUR SCHOOL HAVE ITS BEST CHANCE FOR ACCREDITATION.
HOW MANY OTHERS HAVE WON THIS AWARD? WELL, WE ARE THE FIRST ONES HERE IN WARREN COUNTY TO WIN BOTH AWARDS IN THE FALL.
WHENEVER I WAS GIVEN THE HONOR OF BEING AN ASCA CERTIFIED SCHOOL COUNSELOR, I WAS ONE OF ONLY 57 SCHOOL COUNSELORS WHO HAD EVER GOTTEN THAT IN THE NATION.
AND SINCE RAMP HAS BEEN AROUND LONGER, WE KNOW THAT OVER 1300 SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN DECLARED RAMP SCHOOLS IN THE PAST 21 YEARS.
BUT THAT'S ONLY 1% OF THE SCHOOLS IN THE UNITED STATES.
WOW, THAT'S REALLY INTERESTING.
WHAT DOES A JAGUAR MEAN TO YOU? UM, A JAGUAR TO ME WOULD BE, UM, SOMEONE WHO IS RESPECTFUL, SOMEONE WHO, UM, IS HERE TO GET A GOOD EDUCATION, UM, BUT COULD ALSO BE AN ANIMAL.
[00:10:02]
WHAT ARE SOME SOME OF THE THINGS YOU'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO IN, FOR, TO IN THEIR RETIREMENT? WELL, YOU KNOW, THIS WILL BE THE FIRST TIME IN SINCE I WAS 15 THAT I WON'T HAVE A JOB.SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SOME FREE TIME AND DOING SOME FUN THINGS LIKE YOU COULD GET FREE TIME, LIKE SPENDING TIME WITH FAMILY RIGHT.
I DO A LOT OF VOLUNTEER WORK TOO, SO, SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO NOT HAVING A JOB.
WHAT IS YOUR PROUDEST MOMENT AS A TEACHER? AS A TEACHER, PROBABLY MY PROUDEST MOMENT IS SEEING THE KIDS, UM, GROW, MAKE GROWTH THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND HOW MUCH THEY GROW SOCIALLY AND ACADEMICALLY AND MAKE ALL THAT PROGRESS IN ONE YEAR.
WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR STUDENTS? UH, FOR STUDENTS LEAVING HERE? I WOULD SAY BE RESPONSIBLE.
ALWAYS TRY YOUR BEST, UM, BE RESPECTFUL TO YOUR TEACHERS AND YOU WILL DO JUST FINE.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS YOU'LL MISS MOST ABOUT TEACHING? UM, I THINK I'LL MISS THE CHILDREN THE MOST.
UM, I'M MISS SEEING THEIR FACES.
I MISS WHEN THEY COME BACK AND SEE ME YEAR AFTER YEAR.
UM, IN ADDITION TO THE KIDS THOUGH, I THINK I'M GOING TO MISS MY RESTY FAMILY.
THOSE ARE MY COWORKERS AND MY TEAM.
UM, WE'RE, WE'RE A TEAM THAT GETS TOGETHER.
WE LAUGH AND HAVE FUN JUST LIKE I DO WITH MY REGULAR FAMILY MEMBERS.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO DO IN THE NEXT CHAPTER OF YOUR LIFE? UM, I AM HOPING TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH MY FAMILY AND MY GRANDCHILDREN.
MY HUSBAND AND I WANNA DO SOME TRAVELING.
WE, UM, HAVE A LOT OF CAMPING TRIPS PLANNED.
WE HAVE SOME BEACH TRIPS PLANNED ALREADY, SO JUST TIME TO RELAX AND ENJOY LIFE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE AND DEDICATION TO OUR SCHOOL.
HI, I AM MS. MILLER FROM RUSTY JEFFERIES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
HE IS IN SECOND GRADE AND HE'S GONNA SHARE HIS TIMELINE WITH US.
I, SO RILEY, CAN YOU TELL US WHAT YOUR FAVORITE THING IS ON YOUR TIMELINE? OH, WENT TO HAWAII.
WHO'S MILLER AGAIN WITH ANOTHER SECOND GRADER? THIS IS OWEN AND HE'S GONNA SHARE WITH US HIS TIMELINE.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ACTIVITY ON YOUR TIMELINE? UM, PROBABLY NOT.
OH, YOU GOT TO CELEBRATE YOUR BIRTHDAY AT DISNEY.
YOU WENT TWO TIMES TWO HIGH FIVES WITH THAT.
I'M RESEARCH COMING TO YOUR LIFE RISK EVERY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO TAKE OUT THEIR AMAZING SCIENCE FAIR.
HI, WHAT IS YOUR NAME? WHAT A NICE TO MEET YOU.
WHO IS YOUR TEACHER? JUST WIFE.
I THINK LIKE SOMETHING, SOME BOXES.
WHAT GRADE ARE YOU IN? FIRST GRADE.
WHO IS YOUR TEACHER? MS. NICHOLSON.
[00:15:01]
PROJECT IS IN AX LOT AND IT CAN, IT CAN SET THEIR FOOD.THEY HAVE WE B AND THEY CAN RE GROW BODY PARTS, AND THEY LIVE IN LAKE AND STREAMS. AMAZING ART.
AND THEN IT'S NOT THE, THE PARTS WITHOUT THE PLAN, IT STARTS CRUMBLE.
LIKE YOU GO OUT TO ONE SIDE AND TO THE BALLOON, IT WILL EXPAND AND IT'LL GO WAIT.
WHEN, WHEN THE, WHEN THE AIRS COVER THE TUBE, IT'LL GO FAST.
THAT'S PROBABLY ABOUT THE PROJECT.
IT ALSO, AND MAKE YOUR OWN ECLIPSE.
IT SHOWS THE FULL MOON'S SOLAR SYSTEM.
A MINI DIAGRAM OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM, THE MOON, THE EIGHT FACES OF THE MOON.
GET THE LITTLE FUN, SOME COMEBACKS.
AND THEN WHY DOES THE MOON STAY IMPORTANT? UM, MY NAME IS, AND THIS IS LIKE THE HIGH PITCH, UH, PUPPY.
THE HIGHER THE FROG ARE, HIGHER THE FROG ARE THE HIGHER THE PITCH GONNA BE.
TODAY WE ARE HERE WITH DEBORAH D. LAMBERT AND W ACE.
WHAT IS YOUR, WHERE IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO WORK? RUY.
FAVORITE THING ABOUT MY PARTNER IS ONE, HE'S LIKE A FAMILY MEMBER AND HE GETS TO GO HOME WITH ME ALL THE TIME.
AND HE GETS TO COME TO SCHOOL AND MEET ALL YOU KIDS AND HAVE FUN WITH ALL YOU KIDS.
WHAT DO YOU DO EXACTLY AT REI? AT REI, I'M THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER AND WHAT MY PRIMARY JOB IS, IS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IN THE SCHOOL, WHETHER IT'S TEACHERS, ADMINS, STUDENTS, VISITORS, THEY ARE ALL SAFE.
AND WE ARE KEEPING THE SCHOOL SAFE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE.
CAN YOU TELL ME YOUR NAME? WHAT IS YOUR NAME? KENDALL.
AND YOU'RE IN PRE-K, AREN'T YOU? YEAH.
CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT PRESCHOOL IS? WHAT? KINDERGARTEN.
OH, GETTING READY FOR KINDERGARTEN? YES.
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE BOOK? GABBY'S HOUSE.
REPORTING TO YOU LIVE FROM RUSTY JEFFRIES KELLY, WHAT IS ANOTHER FAVORITE THING ABOUT RUSTY JEFFRIES? HOW ABOUT LIKE HOW SUPPORTIVE THE TEACHERS ARE BACK FROM YOUR CAN.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING? UH, PROBABLY JUST BEING HERE AND HAVING FUN AS A FIFTH GRADER READ.
WHAT ARE YOU GONNA MISS THE MOST ABOUT RUSTY? PROBABLY ALL THE TEACHERS THAT I'VE MET AND WE I AGREE WITH THAT.
WHAT DO YOU YOUR ABOUT? PROBABLY ALL THE TEACHERS THAT I'VE SPENT THE MOST TIME TIMELY.
AND ACCORDING TO YOU LIVE FROM RUSTY JEFFERY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
I'M HERE WITH THIS MS. TIMEWELL THAT DOES THE EARLY ACT AND SHE SPONSOR MISS CHADWELL.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT EARLIER? I LOVE THAT WE CAN ALL GET TOGETHER AND HELP OUR COMMUNITY AND HELP OUR SCHOOL AND IT'S JUST A FUN WAY TO KIND OF LEARN HOW TO BE A, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND HOW TO HELP YOUR OWN, YOU KNOW, WHERE YOU LIVE AND WHERE YOU GO TO SCHOOL AT.
I JUST WANNA SAY MS. CHAPO, THAT WAS A GREAT ANSWER.
HELLO, WHO ARE YOU? WHAT IS YOUR NAME? I'M EMMA COLLINS.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT EARLY ACT? UM, THAT WE CAN HELP OTHER PEOPLE DO OTHER THINGS AND WE CAN DO FUNDRAISERS BASED, HAVE TO GIVE THEM, GIVE HOMELESS PEOPLE MONEY AND FOOD.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT EARLY ACT? I LIKE THAT WE CAN ALL GET TOGETHER AND JUST BE FRIENDS SO WE CAN TALK, DRAW AND WE CAN DO STUFF TO HELP THE HOMELESS, GIVE CARDS TO LIKE PEOPLE IN NURSING HOMES, JUST
[00:20:01]
HOME.I'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME ON RUSTY JEFFREY'S LIVE.
BRAD, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
I'M, AND THIS WAS R-J-E-S-T-V.
JUST A LITTLE GLIMPSE IN EVERY DAY IS LIKE RESI.
UM, I WANNA DO A SHOUT OUT TO MS. MILLER AND MS. GRIMLEY AT, UH, RESI.
THAT HELPED US A LOT, PUT THAT TOGETHER.
AND YOU GUYS DID AN AMAZING JOB,
[2.D. Attendance Award Presentation - Dr. Ballenger]
HAVE ATTENDANCE AWARDS.A SCHOOL ATTENDANCE IS ESSENTIAL TO ACADEMIC SUCCESS.
RESEARCH SHOWS THAT MISSING AS LITTLE AS TWO DAYS EVERY MONTH OR 10% OF THE SCHOOL YEAR CAN HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON STUDENTS.
AT OUR REGULAR MEETING, UM, EACH MONTH, THE WARREN COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD, WE RECOGNIZE, UH, SCHOOLS THAT HAVE THE HIGHEST ATTENDANCE RATES AT ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY LEVEL.
THE ATTENDANCE FLAGS ARE THEN DISPLAYED AT, AT THE SELECTED SCHOOLS FOR THE MONTH.
UM, AND SO TONIGHT I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, RECOGNIZE OUR ELEMENTARY, SECONDARY, AND THEN OUR MOST IMPROVED.
UH, FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE OUR ELEMENTARY WINNER OF THE MONTH, AND THAT IS HILDA J BARBER ELEMENTARY.
SO IT'S NOT AS ROAD, SO WE GOT TO, YAY.
BUT, UM, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO THIS, THIS AWARD.
I THINK THIS TIME REALLY I NEED TO SHOUT OUT TO, UM, OUR STAFF AND OUR PARENTS.
ONE, BECAUSE OUR STAFF TRYING TO GET THOSE STUDENTS HERE WHO HAVE MISSED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME.
AND THE STAFF THAT STEPPED UP, FIRST OF ALL, TO VOLUNTEER WITHOUT PAY TO TRY AND HELP THAT OUT AT THE BEGINNING.
AND FOR MAKING IT SO MUCH FUN ALSO, AND ENTERTAINING AND INTERACTIVE, THAT THE STUDENTS WANT TO BE THERE EVERY WEEK.
WE GOT KIDS THAT WANNA BE THERE THAT DON'T NEED TO BE THERE.
SO I THINK THAT SAYS A LOT FOR OUR STAFF THAT ARE PARTICIPATING IN THAT.
AND OF COURSE FOR OUR PARENTS WHO ARE GETTING THE KIDS THERE TO NOT ONLY THAT, BUT THE KID, THE PARENTS WHO ARE ALSO STILL SENDING THEIR STUDENTS EVERY DAY.
SO I JUST GIVE A HUGE SHOUT OUT TO, UM, TO OUR STAFF AND TO OUR PARENTS FOR THIS ONE.
AND JUST TO NOTE, UM, HILDE JAY HAD AN ATTENDANCE RATE OF TH OF 94.36% FOR THIS, UH, FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL.
UM, OUR SECONDARY WINNER IS, UM, NOT NEW TO THIS, UM, AWARD FOR THE MONTH.
UM, I THINK IF THEY, WELL, LET'S JUST SAY THEY HAVE ONE MORE MONTH TO GO AND THEY WILL, THEY WILL HAVE WON THE ATTENDANCE AWARD EVERY MONTH, ALL YEAR LONG FOR THE SECONDARY SCHOOLS.
AND THAT IS WARREN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL.
IT'S MY, UH, CONTINUED HONOR TO, UH, REPRESENT THE STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND FAMILIES AT WARREN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL AND ACCEPTING THE WCPS ATTENDANCE AWARD.
UM, I'M ESPECIALLY THANKFUL AS THIS WEEK IS TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK, AND WE ARE ALSO CELEBRATING MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH AT WARREN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL.
UH, RIGHT NOW FOR MAY, WE HAVE A 96.1% AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE.
SO SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL, SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL, WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL, GET OVER 96%.
WE'RE GONNA KEEP IT
I'VE INVITED OUR FAMILIES IN TO COME MEET WITH THEIR STUDENTS TO GO OVER A GOAL SETTING, UH, DOCUMENT THE STUDENTS HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS YEAR.
UH, COMING UP OVER THIS NEXT WEEK, UH, WE ALSO HAVE OUR, UH, SEMI-ANNUAL STEM NIGHT AND,
[00:25:01]
UM, I'M SORRY, GT AND ART, UH, SHOWCASE.UH, AND THEN THE FOLLOWING WEEK, UH, THE LAST WEEK OF SCHOOL, WE'LL HAVE OUR AWARDS DAY AND THEN WRAPPING UP THE YEAR WITH OUR ANNUAL, UH, ROAR DAYS TO RECOGNIZE ALL THE STUDENTS FOR THEIR ACADEMIC BEHAVIOR, UM, AND ATTENDANCE WORK.
SO I'M, UH, LOOKING FORWARD TO THE END OF THE YEAR AND EXCITED AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL KEEP ALL THOSE KIDS IN SCHOOL SO WE CAN BE BACK HERE THE FIRST WEEK IN JUNE.
AND JUST TO NOTE, WARREN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL HAD AN ATTENDANCE RATE FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL OF, UH, 93.36%.
AND THEN OUR MOST IMPROVED FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL WITH AN ATTENDANCE RATE, UM, OF 93.59%.
THEY HAD AN INCREASE OF 1.21%, AND THAT IS AS ROADS.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS AWARD.
UM, AS DR. JOHNSON SAID, WE ARE ALSO WORKING ON THAT END OF THE YEAR AND JUST TRYING TO KEEP THE EXCITEMENT UP.
WE HAD A FAMILY ENGAGEMENT TONIGHT THIS EVENING, AN ART SHOW, UM, SHOWCASE.
SO WE HAD A LOT OF FAMILIES COME OUT.
IF YOU HAVE TIME, WE HOPE TO KEEP THAT UP, AT LEAST FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK.
I DID POST PICTURES ON FACEBOOK, SO IF YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO MAKE IT IN PERSON, YOU CAN TAKE A LOOK THERE.
BUT, UM, I THINK THE STUDENTS HAVE BEEN REALLY EXCITED TO FIND THEIR WORK, SEE THEIR WORK.
EVERY STUDENT HAS AT LEAST ONE PIECE OF ART DISPLAYED.
SO THAT WAS, UM, A WONDERFUL EVENT.
KIND OF ORGANIZED BY OUR FAMILY ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE AND MRS. LEWIS, OUR ART TEACHER.
UM, AND THEN FOR THE LAST WEEK OF SCHOOL, OF COURSE, NEXT WEEK WE'LL HAVE OUR AWARDS CEREMONIES, UM, AT THE END OF THE WEEK.
AND THEN WE'LL HAVE FIELD DAY THAT LAST WEEK.
FIFTH GRADE HAS A FUN DAY PLANNED.
WE HAVE OUR PBIS CELEBRATION ALSO PLANNED, AND OUR SOL CELEBRATION, UM, JUST TO CELEBRATE ALL THAT HARD WORK THAT'S GOING INTO THE WHOLE SCHOOL YEAR.
SO, UM, JUST TRYING TO KEEP EVERYONE MOTIVATED TO, TO STAY IN SCHOOL FOR THE REST OF THE MONTH.
AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE BACK HERE FOR THE, THE OTHER BANNER NEXT MONTH.
[2.E. WCPS 101 Recognition of Participants]
NEXT WE HAVE THE WCPS 1 0 1 RECOGNITION OF PARTICIPANT.AS PART OF OUR PARENT ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVE, WCPS 1 0 1 WAS IMPLEMENTED DURING THE 2324 SCHOOL YEAR TO PROVIDE PRO TO PROVIDE MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT WCPS AND ITS O AND ITS OPERATIONS.
WCPS 1 0 1 PARTICIPANTS MET O OR MEET OVER SEVEN SESSIONS THAT COVER, UH, OVERVIEW OF THE WORK OF THE SCHOOL BOARD INSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY, UH, STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES, SPECIAL EDUCATION, PUPIL SERVICES, FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT FACILITIES, UH, SCHOOL ACCOUNTABILITY, CAREER IN TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND SCHOOL NUTRITION AND HUMAN RESOURCES IN THE SRO PROGRAM.
EACH SESSION IS HELD AT A DIFFERENT LOCATION THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE, UH, FACILITY ALSO PROVIDES INFORMATION ABOUT THE SCHOOL OR DEPARTMENT.
AND THEN WE GO ON TO, TO, UH, UH, AS WELL SO THAT PARTICIPANTS ARE ABLE TO WALK THROUGH THE BUILDING AND TO SEE, UH, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON, UH, IN OUR BUILDING.
AND SO TONIGHT WE WANNA RECOGNIZE OUR WCPS 1 0 1 PARTICIPANTS, AND THEN ALSO PROVIDE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ABOUT THE PROGRAM.
SO, UM, MR. BALLANTINE WILL READ OFF ALL OF THE PARTICIPANTS.
SOME ARE NOT HERE TONIGHT, UH, BUT WE DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THEM, UM, EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT HERE.
AND, UM, THOSE THAT ARE HERE, UH, WHEN YOU COME UP, WE WILL, I WILL GIVE YOU YOUR CERTIFICATE AND IF YOU COULD JUST STAND UP HERE THAT WAY, THEN AFTERWARDS WE CAN TAKE A PICTURE.
BUT THEN I WANT TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ABOUT THE PROGRAM, IF YOU WANNA SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE PROGRAM, UM, AND, AND JUST, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE CAN IMPROVE UPON, UM, OR IF YOU LOVED IT OR NOT.
SO, UH, OR IF YOU'D RECOMMEND IT, BUT GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THE PROGRAM AS WELL.
SO, UM, MR. BALLANTINE, WE'LL GET STARTED WITH YOU, IF YOU DON'T MIND READING THE NAMES FOR ME, SIR.
IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER, THOMAS ADAMS, UH,
[00:30:01]
BRETT BEMAN, ADAM BITNER, FAYE CAMPBELL.THANK, MICHELLE HAMER, DAR, DARLENE KELLY, THOMAS MCFADDEN, KAREN PATTON, DEBBIE SEILER, AND JOSEPH STAHL.
I, SO AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE, IF YOU GUYS WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD OR JUST SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS.
UM, I THINK THIS WAS A FANTASTIC PROGRAM.
WE GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO SEE THE INNER WORKINGS, WHAT GOES ON BEHIND THE SCENES, AND, UM, I'M A MOTHER OF A CHILD WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, SO IT WAS GREAT FOR ME TO SEE HOW THE BACKSIDE OF THAT WORKED, AS WELL AS THE TRANSPORTATION, THE FINANCIAL STUFF AS WELL.
UM, SO I THINK THAT EVERYONE SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO JOIN AND TO GET TO SEE.
I THINK IT, IT WOULD, UM, HELP SOLVE A LOT OF CONFUSION ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT GOES ON BEHIND THE SCENES.
I JUST WANNA SAY, UM, THANK YOU TO DR.
COSTNER, MS. BRAGG, AND ALL OTHERS WHO WERE A PART OF PLANNING, IMPLEMENTING, AND OFFERING THE WCPS 1 0 1 PROGRAM TO OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN AND SEE HOW EVERY DEPARTMENT OPERATES WITHIN OUR WONDERFUL WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO ATTEND IN THE WCPS 1 0 1 PROGRAM, IF YOU CAN, YOU KNOW, IF YOU SUPPORT THE SCHOOLS OR YOU'RE JUST CURIOUS HOW THE SCHOOLS OPERATE, OR YOU JUST HAVE QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS, THIS PROGRAM WILL BE BENEFICIAL AND INFORMATIVE EVERY MONTH.
WE MET KNOWLEDGEABLE AND DEDICATED STAFF WHO TRULY CARE ABOUT THE SUCCESS OF OUR SCHOOLS.
JUST TO NAME A FEW OF THESE WHO SPOKE TO US.
WE HEARD FROM STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES, HUMAN RESOURCES, TECHNOLOGY, FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS, AND FOOD AND SERVICE
[00:35:01]
NUTRITION.WE VISITED DIVERSIFIED MINES, BRIGHTER FUTURES FACILITY, THE TRANSPORTATION FACILITY, AND BLUE RIDGE TECHNICAL CENTER.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO PERSONALLY THANK THE CULINARY CLASS FOR THE VERY NICE MEAL THEY PREPARED FOR US THAT NIGHT.
SO TO EVERYONE WHO CAME TO SPEAK TO US, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE EXPERIENCE YOU GAVE US.
YOU GAVE OF YOUR TIME, AND THE INFORMATION YOU SHARED GAVE US A REAL ROUNDED UNDERSTANDING OF OUR WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
SO I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU, AS WELL AS ALL OF OUR WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, ADMINISTRATORS, TEACHERS, AND STAFF.
UM, SO AS SOMEBODY WHO DID NOT GROW UP HERE, UM, AND FROM A WHOLE DIFFERENT STATE, I APPRECIATED GETTING THE UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE MY KIDS ARE GOING TO SCHOOL AND HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH ALL OF YOU AS WELL AS THE TEACHERS.
AND SEEING THE SCHOOLS WHERE MY KIDS ARE GONNA GO, AND LEARNING THE PRINCIPALS, LEARNING THE TEACHERS, AND LEARNING ALL OF THAT.
AGAIN, AS SOMEONE NOT FROM HERE, UM, AND VOLUNTEERING WITH ALL THE KIDS TOO, IT REALLY BROUGHT MY PERSPECTIVE TO A REALISTIC EXPERT EXPERIENCE, I'LL SAY.
SO I HAVE, UM, THREE KIDS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
ONE GRADUATED, ONE'S IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, ONE'S, UH, ABOUT TO GRADUATE FIFTH GRADE.
ALL MY KIDS ARE DYSLEXIC, WHICH IS KIND OF SHOVED UNDER THE RUG IN THIS COUNTY.
UM, THIS WAS AN EYE-OPENING EXPERIENCE FOR ME THAT I REALLY ENJOYED.
I LIKED SEEING THE FRAMEWORK OF HOW THINGS ARE PUT TOGETHER BUDGET WISE, WHERE MONEY GOES, UM, HOW THINGS ARE IMPLEMENTED, AND WHERE THAT BREAKDOWN MIGHT BE AND WHERE THE POSITIVE ENFORCEMENT IS IN THE FRAMEWORK AS WELL.
SO I DO ENCOURAGE ALL PARENTS TO TAKE THIS CLASS, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE STRUGGLING, UM, TRYING TO LIKE NAVIGATE ADVOCACY FOR YOUR CHILDREN.
THIS IS A GREAT STARTING POINT.
WELL, UH, AGAIN, THANKS TO EVERYBODY FOR ALL THE GREAT WORDS THAT THEY'VE ALREADY PREPARED.
I WISH I WAS AS PREPARED AS YOU MISS IDA FOR HAVING WRITTEN OUT A SPEECH
UM, SOMETHING THAT YOU'LL SEE CONSISTENTLY THROUGH ALL OF THIS IS THAT EVERY ONE OF US HAS BEEN RECOMMENDING THIS TO EVERYBODY ELSE.
UH, AND I THINK THAT SPEAKS WELL FOR ITSELF.
UH, PARTICULARLY I WANNA THANK DR.
BALLINGER FOR TAKING THE BULL BY THE HORNS.
YOU DIDN'T HIDE FROM ANY TOUGH QUESTIONS AND THERE WERE SOME WEIRD, UM, THINGS IN THE WEEDS.
'CAUSE AGAIN, SCHOOL, IT'S POLITICS AND THIS WAS VERY MUCH HOW THE SAUSAGE GOT MADE AND TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT AND HOW IT CHANGES EVERY YEAR.
UH, AND ONE THING THAT I WANNA POINT OUT, I WAS ONE OF THE FOLKS WHO CAME TO IT LATE.
UH, THE ONLY REASON I GOT INVOLVED IN IT WAS BECAUSE I WAS PERSONALLY INVITED BY DR.
BALLINGER DURING A FIRESIDE CHAT, UH, BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH GOING ON.
SO DEFINITELY MORE THAN JUST NEWSLETTERS.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU REACHING OUT PERSONALLY, AND THANK YOU ALL FOR TAKING THE COURSE WITH ME.
ANYBODY ELSE SPEAK, ASKING? OKAY, LET'S SEE.
ALRIGHT, Y'ALL GONNA HAVE TO GET JUST A LITTLE BIT CLOSER.
NOW THAT, NOW THAT'S A GOOD LOOKING GROUP RIGHT THERE.
[2.F. Community Participation]
NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION.AND I BELIEVE WE DO HAVE SOME SPEAKERS, CORRECT? UM, WE DO, YES.
SO I AM GOING TO READ OUR COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION PREAMBLE.
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
[00:40:01]
FOR CONSIDERATION.PERSONS ADDRESSING THE SCHOOL BOARD ARE ADVISED TO LIMIT THEIR REMARKS TO THOSE RELEVANT TO THE PENDING ITEMS. NO PERSON IN ATTENDANCE SHALL BE ALLOWED TO VOICE REMARKS EXCEPT RECOGNIZED BY THE CHAIRPERSON OR THE CLERK OF THE BOARD AFTER AUDIBLY STATING THEIR NAME AND WHOM THEY REPRESENT.
IF APPLICABLE, NO PERSON SHALL BRING INTO THE BOARDROOM ANY SIGNED BANNER OR OTHER SUCH ITEM WHICH WOULD INTERFERE WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN SEEING, HEARING OR OTHERWISE PARTICIPATING IN THE MEETING.
PROVIDED THAT MODELS, PHOTOS, MAPS, CHARTS, DRAWINGS, AND OTHER SUCH DEMONSTRATIVE MATERIALS INTENDED FOR USE IN A PRESENTATION BY A SPECIFIC PERSON SHALL BE PERMITTED UPON RECOGNITION BY THE CHAIR OR CLERK OF THE BOARD.
THE SPEAKER SHALL ADDRESS THE SCHOOL BOARD CHAIR CAN FIND THEIR COMMENTS TO ISSUES OF PUB 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 OR VULGARITY, STAY WITHIN THE ALLOTTED TIME OF THREE MINUTES.
WHEN DIRECTED BY THE CHAIRPERSON GROUPS OR INDIVIDUALS IN THE AUDIENCE CREATING AN ATMOSPHERE DETRIMENTAL TO OR DISTURBING, THE ORDERLY CONDUCT OF THE MEETING WILL BE ASKED TO REFRAIN FROM SUCH CONDUCT ONCE ANY ADDITIONAL DISTURBANCE AFTER THE WARNING WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.
AND THE CHAIRPERSON WILL ASK THE COUNTY SHERIFF TO REMOVE THE INDIVIDUAL GROUP OR CLEAR THE BOARDROOM SO THAT THE BOARD CAN CONDUCT THE BUSINESS OF THE SCHOOL DIVISION WHEN RECOGNIZED.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, WHETHER YOU ARE A COUNTY RESIDENT, PARENT OF A WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENT OR AN EMPLOYEE OF THE SCHOOL DIVISION.
AND LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES.
THE FIRST SPEAKER IS ELISA BRADFORD.
GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD, SUPERINTENDENT AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS ELISA BRADFORD, A WARREN COUNTY RESIDENT, A WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER, AND THE PRESIDENT OF SECONDARY EDUCATION FOR THE WCEA.
AND I'M HERE THIS EVENING, NOT AS AN EDUCATOR, BUT AS A VOICE FOR MANY DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS WHO WALK INTO OUR SCHOOLS EVERY DAY WITH A DEEP LOVE FOR OUR STUDENTS, BUT WITH GROWING CONCERN IN THEIR HEARTS.
WE ARE PROUD TO SERVE THE CHILDREN OF WARREN COUNTY.
THEY ARE OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.
THEY ALWAYS HAVE BEEN AND ALWAYS WILL BE.
BUT THE TRUTH IS OUR EDUCATORS ARE FEELING DEFEATED.
WE ARE BEING ASKED TO DO MORE WITH LESS, LESS SUPPORT, FEWER RESOURCES, GROWING BURDENS THAT WEIGH HEAVILY ON OUR ABILITY TO TEACH EFFECTIVELY AND CARE FOR OUR OWN FAMILIES.
THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT TEACHERS.
IT'S ABOUT THE FUTURE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION IN WARREN COUNTY.
IT'S ABOUT ENSURING THAT EVERY CHILD, REGARDLESS OF THEIR ZIP CODE, HAS ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY INSTRUCTION, CURRENT TEXTBOOKS, FUNCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY, AND CLASSROOMS THAT ARE FULLY STAFFED WITH WELL SUPPORT.
YET TODAY WE FACE, FACE SOME SERIOUS CHALLENGES.
OUR CLASSROOMS LACK UP TO DATE MATERIALS AND ESSENTIAL TECHNOLOGY.
IF YOU WANT TEACHERS TO TEACH THE CURRICULUM CORRECTLY, GIVE THEM THE RESOURCES TO DO SO.
TEACHERS AND SUPPORT STAFF ARE BEING FACED WITH ABSORBING MOST OF THE HEALTH INSURANCE INCREASE WITH NO OFFSETTING RELIEF LEAF.
UNFORTUNATELY, THIS WILL HAVE WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS LOSING SOME TEACHERS TO SURROUNDING COUNTIES.
THE COST OF LIVING CONTINUES TO RISE AND THE DEMANDS OF OUR PROFESSION CONTINUE TO RISE WITH ONLY GETTING A 3% INCLUSIVE OF OUR STEP.
THAT WILL NOT EVEN COVER THE INCREASE PER MONTH OF THE HEALTH INSURANCE.
THERE IS LITTLE TO NO DISCUSSION ABOUT TEACHER RETENTION, DESPITE THE FACT THAT WE ARE LOSING TALENTED EDUCATORS EACH YEAR TO BETTER PAYING DISTRICTS.
WE NEED ACTION, NOT JUST APPRECIATION.
WE NEED SALARY THAT REFLECTS OUR VALUE.
WE NEED BENEFITS THAT DO NOT FORCE EMPLOYEES TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THEIR HEALTH AND THEIR PAYCHECK.
WE NEED A PLAN THAT ACTIVELY WORKS TO RETAIN THE PROFESSIONALS WHO BUILD THE VERY FOUNDATION OF OUR COMMUNITY'S FUTURE, OUR TEACHERS.
THE TRUTH IS, WHEN EDUCATORS ARE UNDERVALUED, STUDENTS ARE THE ONES WHO ULTIMATELY SUFFER.
WE'RE WE'RE ASKING FOR FAIRNESS, DIGNITY, AND THE RESOURCES TO DO OUR JOBS, THE JOBS YOU ENTRUSTED WITH US.
SO TONIGHT, I URGE YOU, LISTEN TO YOUR EDUCATORS, ENGAGE IN HONEST CONVERSATIONS ABOUT RETENTION, PRIORITIZE FUNDING FOR THE TOOLS AND SUPPORT SYSTEMS OF OUR STUDENTS' NEEDS.
AND ALL ABOVE SHOW THROUGH ACTION THAT OUR CHILDREN AND THOSE WHO TEACH THEM OUR TRULY NUMBER ONE.
[00:45:02]
HELLO, JENNY BRYANT FORK, DISTRICT, MOTHER, TEACHER, AND TAXPAYER.UH, I WASN'T GOING TO SPEAK TONIGHT.
I'M TIRED OF CONSTANTLY PROMOTING THIS COMMUNITY THAT HELPED SHAPE ME INTO THE PERSON, THE TEACHER, AND THE MOM THAT I AM TODAY.
I'M TIRED OF BEING THE ONE TO URGE MY COWORKERS JUST TO HANG IN THERE FOR OVER A DECADE, MORE LIKE 14 YEARS.
I'VE TOLD SOME OF THE MOST DEDICATED AND TALENTED TEACHERS I KNOW TO WAIT IT OUT AND TO BELIEVE THAT THINGS WILL GET BETTER.
BUT THAT ATTEMPT AT REASSURANCE IS EMPTY.
THE CHALLENGES REMAIN OR HAVE GOTTEN WORSE, AND SO DOES THE SILENCE FROM THOSE IN CHARGE.
I'M TIRED OF ASKING AGAIN AND AGAIN FOR SOMETHING AS FUNDAMENTAL AND BASIC AS COMMUNICATION FROM THOSE IN CHARGE.
AND YET I FIND MYSELF READING A MOTION TO EXTEND THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL, NOT THROUGH AN EMAIL OR A FACULTY MEETING, OR A CASUAL CONVERSATION IN THE HALLWAY, BUT BURIED IN BOARD DOCS ON A SATURDAY MORNING THE DAY BEFORE TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK, WHICH BY THE WAY, HAPPY TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK TO ALL MY FELLOW TEACHERS.
THIS WEEK FALLS DURING ONE OF THE MOST STRESSFUL TIMES OF OUR YEAR, SOL TESTING, FINAL EXAMS, FINAL GRADES, GRADUATION PREP, PACKING UP OUR CLASSROOMS AND COUNTLESS MEETINGS.
AND YET AGAIN, I'M FINDING SOMETHING OUT THAT IMPACTS ALL OF US ON BOARD DUCKS.
THE MESSAGE IS LOUD AND CLEAR, AND IT IS NOT APPRECIATION, BUT HERE'S WHAT WORRIES ME THE MOST.
WE ARE LOSING OUR TEACHERS QUIETLY AND CONSISTENTLY AND INCREASING AND, AND INCREASING NUMBERS.
I COUNTED 38 JOB OPENINGS ON OUR WEBSITE SINCE MONDAY.
THEY ARE NOT LEAVING BECAUSE THEY DON'T LIKE OUR STUDENTS.
THEY ARE NOT LEAVING BECAUSE THEY AREN'T CAPABLE.
THEY'RE LEAVING BECAUSE THEY'RE UNHEARD, UNSUPPORTED, UNDERPAID, AND EXHAUSTED.
TEACHER RETENTION ISN'T ABOUT CASUAL WORK ISN'T ABOUT CASUAL DRESS DAYS OR THANK YOU EMAILS DURING OUR APPRECIATION WEEK.
IT'S ABOUT COMPETITIVE SALARIES, REASONABLE WORKLOADS, CONSISTENT SUPPORT, AND BEING INCLUDED IN DECISIONS THAT DIRECTLY IMPACT OUR CLASSROOM STUDENTS AND DAY.
AND WHY SHOULD WE ASK OUR BEST TEACHERS TO WAIT FOR CHANGE? THAT NEVER COMES.
WHY SHOULD WE SETTLE FOR ONLY A $750 BONUS INSTEAD OF A THOUSAND THAT THE STATE RECOMMENDS AND OTHER COUNTIES ARE GETTING? WHY SHOULD WE SETTLE FOR A 3% INCLUSIVE STEP WHEN OTHERS ARE GETTING STEPS PLUS COST OF LIVING RAISES? WHY SHOULD WE CONS EAT THE COST OF A CONSIDERABLE INCREASE IN INSURANCE, WHICH BY THE WAY, DECREASES THE AMOUNT THAT SOME EMPLOYEES WILL ACTUALLY BRING HOME.
SO WHY IS EVERYTHING WE ARE GIVEN LESS? IF WE WANT STRONG SCHOOLS, WE NEED STRONG TEACHERS AND WE WATCH, WATCH THEM WALK AWAY, THE QUESTION BECOMES, WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO DO BESIDES LISTEN TO THE SAME FIVE PEOPLE THAT COME AND TALK SAY THE SAME EXACT THING.
THAT WAS THE LAST, UH, SPEAKER TO PRE-REGISTER.
DO WE HAVE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK THIS EVENING? LAST CALL? ANYONE ELSE? OKAY.
[3. Consent Agenda]
WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.IS THERE A MOTION I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO WITH, TO TAKE OUT NUMBER THREE B, THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM APRIL 23RD, 2025, JUST TO DISCUSS THE NATURE OF THE, YOU KNOW, THE MINUTES AND SORT OF, WE, WE'VE HAD A LITTLE DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS IN THE PAST ABOUT WHETHER THERE'S SUPPOSED TO BE VERY INVOLVED OR PARTIALLY INVOLVED OR JUST CURSORY AND JUST WANT TO JUST NOT JUST TO TALK ABOUT IT.
SO IF WE COULD TAKE THAT OFF AND MOVE IT TO SOMEPLACE WHERE WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT.
SO YOU WANNA MAKE THE, I JUST WANNA CLARIFY, YOU WANNA MAKE, MAKE THE MOTION TO REMOVE THE, UH, THREE B FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AND I, I GUESS MOVE IT TO THE ACTION AGENDA, UH, AS A, AS AN INDIVIDUAL DISCUSSION? YES.
LIKE ACTION NUMBER H, MAYBE? OR DOES IT GO UNDER SIX FOR DISCUSSIONS? I'M NOT, I'M NOT SURE ACTUALLY WHERE, WHICH PLACE IT GOES UNDER.
IF YOU'RE PLANNING ON ACTING ON IT.
I WOULD SU SUGGEST UNDER THE ACTION AGENDA.
IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
ANOTHER MOTION FOR THIS? I MOVE THAT THE CONSENT
[3.B. Approval of the Minutes of the April 23, 2025, Regular Meeting - Mr. Ballentine]
AGENDA BE APPROVED AS MODIFIED.[4.A. Superintendent]
NEXT WE HAVE THEN REPORTS, UH, DR.THIS WEEK IS TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK AND TEACHER APPRECIATION DAY WAS ON MAY 6TH.
[00:50:01]
I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS TIME TO RECOGNIZE ALL WCPS TEACHERS.I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THEM FOR CHOOSING WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND FOR CHOOSING TO SERVE THE STUDENTS OF THIS COMMUNITY.
YOU'RE VALUED AS A PILLAR IN THIS COMMUNITY, AND I'M GRATEFUL TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE ALONGSIDE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND, AND THE JOB THAT YOU DO.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO, TO MAKE NOTE IS THAT WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION WILL BE HELD ON MAY 15TH AT SEVEN O'CLOCK AT THE WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL FIELD.
SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL, UH, GRADUATION WILL BE HELD ON MAY 16TH AT SEVEN O'CLOCK.
THAT WILL BE HELD AT SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL FIELD.
AND THEN OUR WEATHER MAKEUP DAY IS MAY 17TH.
UM, IF WE CANNOT HAVE GRADUATION ON THE 15TH OR THE 16TH, UH, THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS WILL BE ON MAY 22ND.
THERE ARE MANY ACTIVITIES THAT WILL BE HAPPENING AT ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS BETWEEN NOW AND THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
UH, PLEASE CHECK WITH YOUR CHILD'S SCHOOL TEACHER ADMINISTRATOR, UH, TO SEE WHAT EVENTS WILL BE OCCURRING AND HOW YOU CAN BE INVOLVED.
UH, WE RECOGNIZED OUR TEACHER OF THE YEAR AND SUPPORT PERSON OF THE YEAR, ALONG WITH ALL OF OUR SITE TEACHERS OF THE YEAR AND SUPPORT PERSONNEL OF THE YEARS.
UH, SO CONGRATULATIONS TO MS. GROVE FROM WARREN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER OF THE YEAR, AND TO MS. JENKINS FROM LFK, UH, FOR THE SUPPORT PERSON OF, UH, SUPPORT PERSONNEL OF THE YEAR.
UH, WE ALSO HAD OUR RETIREMENT DINNER LAST NIGHT TO RECOGNIZE OUR DIVISION RETIREES.
I WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF, OF OUR RETIREES FOR THEIR SERVICE TO THE PROFESSION AND TO, AND TO THE WARREN COUNTY SCHOOL COMMUNITY.
[4.B. School Board]
SCHOOL BOARD REPORTS AND WE WILL START WITH, UH, MS. LOWE.I'D JUST LIKE TO, UM, ECHO WHAT DR.
BALLINGER SAID AND SAY THANK YOU TO OUR TEACHERS AND STAFF.
UM, IT IS TEACHER APPRECIATION, UM, BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, JUST LOOKING BACK OVER THE PAST YEAR, JUST APPRECIATING ALL OF THE HARD WORK THAT ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES HAVE PUT INTO IT.
UM, I KNOW THIS IS A HARD TIME OF YEAR, KIND OF GETTING THROUGH THAT LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, GETTING THROUGH ALL THE SOL TESTING.
THERE'S A LOT HAPPENING, A LOT GOING ON.
UM, I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THE TEACHER AND SUPPORT PERSONNEL OF THE YEAR DINNER AS WELL AS THE RETIREMENT DINNER.
AND SO IT WAS GREAT TO BE ABLE TO HONOR SOME OF THOSE, UM, STAFF MEMBERS AND TEACHERS IN PARTICULAR.
UM, SO THANK THEM, ESPECIALLY FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DO.
THANK YOU, MR. UM, FIRST I WANNA SEND MY DEEPEST APPRECIATION OUT TO ALL THE TEACHERS DURING THE TEACHER'S APPRECIATION WEEK.
UM, I'M A CURRENT COLLEGE PROFESSOR WHO I'VE TAUGHT GRADE LEVELS PRE-K ALL THE WAY THROUGH GRADUATE SCHOOL FOR OVER 30 YEARS.
AND I UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF BEING A TEACHER AND A MENTOR AND WHAT IT CAN BRING TO THE LIFE OF STUDENTS.
I WANNA THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK, WHICH OFTEN GOES UNNOTICED AND UNAPPRECIATED, AND TO LET YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE THE REAL HEROES HERE IN WARREN COUNTY, IN MY OPINION.
THANK YOU FOR THE LOVE AND KINDNESS YOU SHOW OUR STUDENTS.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT AND DEDICATION TO EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE.
UM, SECONDLY, SPEAKING OF HEROES, I ALSO ATTENDED THE RETIREMENT DINNER LAST NIGHT WHERE WE HONORED 14 MEMBERS.
THEY WEREN'T ALL THERE, BUT 14 MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY WHO, BETWEEN ALL OF THEM, GAVE OVER 250 YEARS TO WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
IT'S A LOT OF YEARS TO TRY TO REPLACE.
I WANNA PUBLICLY THANK THEM FOR THEIR TIRELESS EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF THE STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND WISHED THEM WELL IN THEIR FUTURE PURSUITS.
UH, WE WILL MOST CERTAINLY MISS THEIR EXPERIENCE, PASSION, AND LOVE FOR THE CHILDREN.
UM, THIRD, SINCE OUR SORT OF OUR LAST MEETING TO TODAY, UM, I'VE HAD TO SPEND MORE TIME THAN I SHOULD TRYING TO EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE THAT IT'S PERFECTLY LEGAL AND ADVISABLE TO, TO SPEAK TO MEMBERS OF OUR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, UM, ABOUT DIFFERENT MATTERS SUCH AS BUDGETS.
AT OUR LAST MEETING, WE HAD A LIVELY DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS TOPIC, AND I THOUGHT WE HAD CLEARED UP THE MISUNDERSTANDINGS ABOUT MY COMM COMMUNICATIONS WITH INDIVIDUAL MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, UH, BUDGET REQUESTS AND SPENDING.
BUT THEN I FOUND OUT THE WORLD OF SOCIAL MEDIA GOT AHOLD OF IT, AND YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN THERE.
BUT ALL OF A SUDDEN I'M COLLUDING WITH RUSSIA AND EVERYTHING ELSE, UH, DISTORTED THE NARRATIVE TO FIT A POLITICAL AGENDA.
SO, ONCE AGAIN, I WANT TO REITERATE THAT I DID COMMUNICATE WITH A SINGULAR MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ABOUT OUR BUDGET, WITH THE PURPOSE OF TRYING TO FIND OUT HOW WE CAN GET AN INCREASE IN FUNDS THIS YEAR, SINCE WE DID NOT RECEIVE ANY INCREASE IN FUNDS LAST YEAR, I WAS TRYING TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE BOARD OF SUPERVISOR MEMBER TO BENEFIT OUR SCHOOLS BECAUSE THE ONE THING I DID NOT WANT AND DO NOT WANT CONTINUALLY IS TO GET US FLAT FUNDED ONCE AGAIN THIS YEAR.
SO I UTILIZE MY PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
I HAVE A PERSONAL ISSUE WITH A COUPLE OF THEM TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE BUDGET SITUATION.
AND IN VERY, THIS IS THE VERY SHORT AND ACCURATE STORY OF WHAT HAPPENED AND I WOULD NOT CHANGE A THING ABOUT IT.
AND THEN FINALLY, UM, AN UPDATE ON THE BUDGET.
WE HAD A LAST MEETING WE'RE AT, WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THE BUDGET.
WE'RE GONNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HEALTH INSURANCE OPTIONS TONIGHT, I THINK, BUT THERE'S NOTHING SORT OFFICIALLY ON THE, ON THE TOPIC ABOUT BUDGET.
WHAT, BUT THAT WAS THE, THAT WAS THE BIG DISCUSSION LAST TIME.
UM, I'M ON THE BUDGET COMMITTEE, UM, WITH, WITH, UM, DR.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE KIND OF GONE THROUGH A LOT OF DIFFERENT PROCESSES TRYING TO GET TO WHERE WE HAVE TO GO TO.
BUT FOR EVERYONE WHO'S WATCHING OUT THERE CURRENTLY, THE THE BUDGET THAT'S BEEN APPROVED BY THIS BOARD, BY THE THREE TO TWO VOTE, AND THAT'S CURRENTLY THE BUDGET IS THE, IS THE ONE AND ONLY BUDGET WE EVER PUT FORTH, WHICH WAS
[00:55:01]
DR.BALLINGER SUPERINTENDENT BUDGET FOR AROUND 4.2 MILLION.
SO THAT IS THE BUDGET THAT'S OUT THERE.
NOTHING'S BEEN ADDED, SUBTRACTED CUT OR ANYTHING.
THERE'S DISCUSSIONS OF IT BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO GET TO A, TO AN AGREEABLE AMOUNT OF MONEY OF WHERE WE CAN GO.
AND, UM, AND I DON'T KNOW WHEN, YOU KNOW, THE, WHEN THE SORT OF, THE NEXT BIG DISCUSSION AT OUR, OUR END UP HERE IS GONNA TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET, BUT IT IS TOMORROW WE HAVE A BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING WITH THE JOINT, WITH THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
BALLINGER AND OTHER PEOPLE THAT MIGHT BE THERE TO TALK ABOUT WHERE WE MIGHT WANT TO GO TO.
AND SO YOU CAN LOOK ON BOARD DOCS AND SEE SOME, SOME PAPERWORK AND SOME, UM, INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IN SOME DIFFERENT SCENARIO THAT DR.
BALLINGER PUT FORWARD TO SAY, HERE'S A DISCUSSION WE CAN HAVE WITH THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO FIGURE OUT IF WE CAN LAND SOMEWHERE THAT'S NOT 4.2 MILLION.
THERE'S A VERY GOOD CHANCE WE'RE NOT LANDING AT 4.2 MILLION FROM OUR JOINT DISCUSSION WE HAD ON MARCH 25TH.
IT SEEMED PRETTY EVIDENT THAT WE WEREN'T GOING TO LAND AT 4.2 MILLION.
THE QUESTION IS, WHAT, WHERE ARE WE GOING TO LAND? AND THAT'S WHERE WE HAVEN'T COME UP WITH A DISCUSSION YET.
WE DO KNOW THAT THE COUNTY OF WARREN COUNTY HAS, HAS DECIDED NOT TO RAISE TAXES THIS YEAR.
SO THERE ISN'T EXTRA MONEY THAT THEY CAN JUST PULL FROM SOMEPLACE.
SO REGARDLESS OF WHETHER SOMEONE'S DESERVING OF IT OR WHETHER WE APPRECIATE PEOPLE OR WHETHER WE WANT, OR WHETHER WE NEED, THE MONEY JUST ISN'T THERE TO DO THIS.
THIS IS, THIS IS A MESSED UP SYSTEM.
I UNDERSTAND IT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD WORK ON IN THE FUTURE TO SAY, HOW CAN WE GET TO THE POINT OF NOT ALWAYS HAVING TO KIND OF TAKE THE LOW, THE LOWEST AMOUNT OF MONEY WE CAN FIND, OR TO, TO SORT OF ALWAYS GO INTO NEGOTIATION MODE AT THE END.
WHY CAN'T WE GET THE THINGS THAT WE NEED? AND THAT'S A BIGGER DISCUSSION OF LOOKING AT HOW WE, JUST, THE WHOLE, WHOLE SITUATION OF HOW IT WORKS.
BUT WE'RE NOT THERE RIGHT NOW.
SO TOMORROW WE'RE GONNA HAVE A MEETING, WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT THINGS.
I DUNNO WHAT THE EXACT GOAL OF IT IS OTHER THAN TO TRY TO HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO SAY, OKAY, WELL IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE YOU'RE INTO 4.2.
WHAT CAN WE BE INTO? AND WE HAVE A HAVE A COUPLE DIFFERENT SCENARIO THAT DR.
BALLINGER LAID OUT ABOUT AMOUNT OF, UH, HEALTH INSURANCE INCREASES AND HOW WE CAN WORK OUT WITH THAT AND AMOUNT OF, UH, STUDENT, YOU KNOW, THE TEACHER TEACHERS THAT WE MIGHT NEED AND THE THINGS THAT WE MIGHT NEED.
SO WE CREATED A LIST OF OUR TOP ITEMS THAT WE'D LIKE OUR WISHLIST, AND WE'VE KIND OF PARED IT DOWN AS MUCH AS WE CAN TO SAY, WELL, WE, WE HAD A LONG WISHLIST THAT WE BELIEVED WAS NECESSARY AND WE THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT.
WE THOUGHT THEY WERE ALL VALUABLE.
SO MAYBE WE CAN, HOW ABOUT THIS? AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO DO A LITTLE GOOD NEGOTIATION FOR WHERE WE ARE TO SEE IF, IF, IF THAT'S THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE CAN GO.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE END RESULT OF HOW IT'S ALL GONNA END UP, BUT THAT'S WHERE WE ARE ON THE BUDGET AT THIS POINT.
SO OFFICIALLY AGAIN, THE BUDGET THAT'S OUT THERE THAT'S BEEN APPROVED IS THE 4.2 MILLION.
WE'RE TRYING TO GET TO SOME NEGOTIATION TO TALK ABOUT WHERE WE CAN GO WITH WHAT IT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO BE.
SO I JUST WANNA GIVE AN UPDATE ON THAT.
MS. S UM, I THINK MOST OF WHAT I HAD TO SAY HAS ALREADY BEEN COVERED.
UM, I ATTENDED THE TEACHER SUPPORT STAFF OF THE YEAR BANQUET AS WELL AS THE RETIREMENT BANQUET.
AND I TOO, THANK THE TEACHERS, YOU ARE APPRECIATED.
UM, I CERTAINLY HAVE LISTENED TO THE NEEDS THAT WERE EXPRESSED AT THE TIME WE HAD THE BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING.
AND, AND WHAT I HEARD REPEATEDLY WAS WE NEEDED TO RETAIN SUPPORT STAFF.
I HAD MET WITH TEACHERS WHO WERE CONCERNED WITH THE NEW READING CURRICULUM.
THEY TOO WERE CONCERNED WITH THE SUPPORT STAFF.
SO YES, I'VE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR THE SUPPORT STAFF, UM, IN NO WAY, SHAPE OR FORM DOES THAT MEAN THAT I AM AGAINST RAISES OR HEALTH INSURANCE OR, OR ANYTHING ELSE.
UM, THE WAY THAT I TRY MY BEST TO PARTICIPATE IN THE BUDGET PROCESS IS I PAY ATTENTION TO THE COUNTY MEETINGS AND, AND THE PROCESS.
AND, AND I UNDERSTAND WHEN THE ADVERTISEMENT TO RAISE TAXES, WHEN THAT HAS TO HAPPEN.
WHEN HA AND I, I TRACK AND I LISTEN TO WHAT DR.
DALEY'S TALKING ABOUT AND HOW MUCH THE ASSESSMENTS CAME BACK AND HOW MUCH EXTRA REVENUE WILL BE THERE.
AND SO IN MY HEAD, I, I HAVE A RUNNING CALCULATOR GOING AT ALL TIMES OF, OKAY, WELL AT THIS POINT I THINK WE'RE, WE'RE WORKING WITH THE COUNTY HAVING ABOUT AN EXTRA $700,000.
SO IT'S NOW MY JOB TO ADVOCATE FOR GETTING THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AS MUCH OF THAT $700,000 AS POSSIBLE.
IT'S NOT BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE IN THE OTHER 350 THOU $3.5 MILLION, BUT WHEN THERE'S NOT MONEY THERE, THERE'S NOT MONEY THERE.
AND, UM, TO SEND NASTY EMAILS AND CALL THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS NAMES, THAT REALLY DOES NOT HELP ME WITH THESE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
UM, SO JUST, YOU KNOW, PLEASE TRY TO BE COGNIZANT.
I, THE WAY THAT I CAN BEST EXPLAIN IT IS SOMETIMES IF, IF MY, IF MY CHILDREN ASKED ME FOR A LAMBORGHINI, I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO BUY THAT.
IT'S NOT THAT I DON'T WANNA FULFILL THEIR, THEIR EVERY WANT AND DESIRE, BUT WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE THE MONEY, YOU HAVE TO WORK WITHIN YOUR MEANS.
AND THERE ARE, THERE'S, THERE'S MORE THAN ONE WAY TO SKIN THE CAT.
IF WE CAN'T, UM, GET MORE MONEY, THEN WE HAVE TO LOOK AT WAYS
[01:00:01]
IN WHICH WE CAN BE MORE FRUGAL.AND THAT WAS MY REQUEST WITH, UM, WITH THE HEALTH INSURANCE.
AND OBVIOUSLY WE'LL BE SPEAKING ABOUT THAT, TALKING ABOUT THAT LATER.
SO I, I'M NOT GONNA GO INTO THAT IN DETAIL RIGHT NOW.
UM, BUT, UM, THE, THE ONLY OTHER THING I HAVE TO UPDATE IS I DID HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND A CONFERENCE IN DC WE ATTENDED A CURRICULUM TRAINING AT THE VICTIMS OF COMMUNISM MUSEUM, AND THEN WE ALSO GOT TO MEET WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WITH SECRETARY MCMAHON.
AND HER AND HER STAFF WERE VERY WELCOMING.
THEY ADDRESSED QUESTIONS, CONCERNS.
THEY ASSURED US THAT THE AMOUNT OF BUREAUCRACY THAT THEY HAVE CUT THERE WILL HOPEFULLY RESULT, SHOULD RESULT IN MORE FUNDING REACHING THE SCHOOLS.
SO ANY CONCERNS THAT PEOPLE HAVE HAD WITH THAT, I THINK REST ASSURED GOOD THINGS ARE COMING.
UM, SO THIS, OVER THE PAST MONTH, UM, I WAS ABLE TO, RIGHT AFTER OUR LAST MEETING, I WAS ABLE TO VISIT WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL, UM, AND MEET WITH THE SRO THERE, SAW WHERE THEIR OFFICE WAS AND TALK TO, UM, HI DE, I BELIEVE IT WAS DEPUTY FUENTES THERE ABOUT WHAT WAS PRESENTED TO US, UM, FROM THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
UM, SO THAT WAS GREAT TO, TO SEE WHAT THAT KIND OF VISUALIZE WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE.
UM, AS FAR AS, UM, IF WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT, UM, AND TALK WITH SOME OF THE STAFF THERE, OF COURSE, UM, WENT TO, I WAS ABLE TO VISIT, UH, HJB AND VISIT SOME OF THEIR, UH, READING SUPPORT TEACHERS.
UH, SAW THEM IN ACTION WORKING WITH THE KIDS.
UM, AND OF COURSE, UM, YOU KNOW, IT WAS FIRST THING IN THE MORNING AND THEY'RE ALREADY IN THERE AND THEY'RE SMALL GROUPS WORKING.
UM, WAS ABLE TO VISIT E WILSON MORRISON AND, AND TAKE A FULL TOUR OF E WILSON MORRISON AND, UM, YOU KNOW, OUTSIDE AND EVERYTHING.
SO THAT WAS, UH, ANOTHER GREAT EXPERIENCE.
TALKED WITH A LOT OF STAFF MEMBERS THERE.
UM, WENT TO SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL, GOT TO VISIT AND TALK WITH SOME ADMINISTRATORS AND STAFF THERE.
SAW ALL THE NEW, UM, PAINTING THAT WAS, UM, THAT THEY HAD TOLD US ABOUT IT AT THE, THE ONE MEETING WAS THERE DURING BREAKFAST TIME.
AND I WAS THOROUGHLY IMPRESSED BY WHAT THEIR OPTIONS WERE FOR BREAKFAST.
UM, I BELIEVE IT WAS, I WANNA SAY A, A TATER TOP BOWL OR SOMETHING.
UM, IT WAS, IT WAS PRETTY AWESOME.
UM, I ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO A DAY FIELD TRIP WITH, UM, STUDENTS AND STAFF FROM WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL, THE ELEMENTS PROGRAM AND SOME OF OUR SPECIAL ED STAFF TO VISIT THE WOODROW WORKFORCE CENTER.
AND I HOPE I'M REPEATING THAT CORRECTLY.
UM, THERE ARE SOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STUDENTS THAT, UM, HAVE IEPS AND SOME SPECIALIZED SERVICES.
AND I, I WAS ABLE TO, UM, VISIT ALONG WITH THEM AND SEE THAT AMAZING FACILITY AND SEE SOME OF THE ABSOLUTELY AMAZING, UM, EXPERIENCES THAT OUR STUDENTS CAN PARTAKE IN, UM, YOU KNOW, THROUGH THE AGE OF 21 OR 22, I GUESS, FROM, YOU KNOW, THREE TO THREE TO 22.
UM, SO THAT WAS A REALLY GREAT EXPERIENCE.
UM, I ALSO ATTENDED A CAC MEETING.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT ONE OF THE THINGS, YOU KNOW, I LOVE, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO THANK ALSO ALL OF OUR PARENTS WHO PARTICIPATED IN WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS 1 0 1, GETTING THE WORD OUT THERE.
AND THE ONE THING THAT I FOUND INTERESTING WITH THE CAC MEETING IS, YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE MANY, MANY DEDICATED STAFF VOLUNTEERS HERE.
UM, I PREVIOUSLY, ALMOST 15 YEARS AGO, WAS A PART OF CAC WAS AT THE CHAIR.
AND, UM, THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, I'VE ONLY PARTICIPATED IN BRIEFLY AND COMING BACK 15 YEARS AGO TO THAT, THAT MEETING.
THERE ARE STU STILL TWO LADIES WHO ARE SO DEDICATED TO THAT, TO THE PROGRAMS AND THE CAC AND, UM, ONE DOESN'T HAVE STUDENTS WITH US ANYMORE, BUT HER KNOWLEDGE IS, IS EXCELLENT AND, UM, HER SUPPORT FOR OTHER PARENTS.
SO I JUST WANNA ENCOURAGE PARENTS.
I KNOW ONE OF OUR PARENTS, UH, WCP 1 0 1 SAID, UM, YOU KNOW, IT WAS VERY INFORMATIVE OF HER BEING A PARENT OF A, A CHILD WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.
IF YOU ARE, YOU KNOW, JOIN, REACH OUT TO CAC, UM, YOU KNOW, I'VE, I'VE PARTICIPATED AS A PARENT MANY A YEARS, AND IT'S A SMALL GROUP, BUT THEY ARE A MIGHTY GROUP WITH LOTS AND LOTS OF INFORMATION TO SHARE.
UM, I ATTENDED THE, THE TEACHER OF THE YEAR, UM, BANQUET AS WELL AND HAD GREAT CONVERSATIONS, UM, WITH MY, MY GROUP OF PEOPLE, UM, THAT WE WERE SITTING OUT AT THE TABLE AND JUST, YOU KNOW, RECOGNIZING ALL OF THOSE.
[01:05:01]
UM, THE, THE TEACHERS WAS WONDERFUL.UH, UH, AND THEN OF COURSE, TEACHER OF, UH, TEACHER AND STAFF APPRECIATION THIS WEEK.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT, IT'S A, IT'S A TOUGH TIME RIGHT NOW.
AND, UM, I, I HOPE THAT ALL OF OUR STAFF, UM, I ALWAYS LIKE TO SAY STAFF, NOT JUST TEACHER, BECAUSE IT'S EVERYBODY IN THE BUILDING.
IT'S OUR CUSTODIANS, IT'S OUR COOKS.
IT'S, YOU KNOW, EVEN OUR VOLUNTEERS, THEY, THEY, THEY ALL ARE THERE FOR OUR STUDENTS.
SO, UM, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO.
THE RETIREMENT CEREMONY, I WAS NOT ABLE TO ATTEND, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, WOW, THANK YOU FOR SHARING 14 STAFF FOR 250 YEARS.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S, THAT'S AMAZING BECAUSE MOST OF OUR STAFF AND, AND MOST PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE RETIRING WITH 30, 40 YEARS, UM, IF NOT LONGER.
SO THEY ARE VERY DEDICATED AND I THANK YOU ALL FOR THOSE, UH, YEARS OF SERVICE THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN.
AND THEN, UH, NEXT UP, YOU KNOW, GRADUATION IS COMING UP.
SO, UM, I THINK I'VE SAID THIS EVERY YEAR TO OUR GRADUATING STUDENTS.
THIS IS A, A MONUMENTAL MILESTONE IN YOUR LIFE.
UM, IT, I UNDERSTAND IT'S HARD TO THINK PAST THE FOLLOWING WEEK WHEN YOU'RE IN THAT GRADUATION, UM, MODE, BUT, UH, PLEASE, OVER THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS AS OUR GRADUATES, UM, EXPERIENCE THAT NEXT STEP AND PHASE IN THEIR LIFE, EMBRACE IT.
UH, BUT BE SAFE, MAKE GOOD DECISIONS.
UM, 'CAUSE WE WANT TO SEE YOU, YOU KNOW, 20 YEARS FROM NOW COMING BACK AND TELLING US ABOUT ALL THE GOOD THINGS THAT YOU ARE DOING.
UM, AS FAR AS THE BUDGET GOES, YOU KNOW, AS HE DID SAY, WE DO HAVE ANOTHER JOINT SESSION TOMORROW WITH THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
SO I'M JUST GOING TO, UM, REFRAIN FROM MAKING IN ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS AT THIS TIME UNTIL WE HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.
UM, AND WE WILL, YOU KNOW, WE'LL CONTINUE TO KEEP THAT CONVERSATION GOING.
SO I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAVE AT THIS TIME.
ME AGAIN, I'M NOT USED TO, UH, I GET DONE TALKING.
SO WE ARE NOW AT OUR, OH, SHE, SHE WENT, SHE WAS FIRST
[5.A. Second Reading - GCCB Employment of Family Members, GCBEA Leave Without Pay, GCBI Civic Duties - Dr. Costner]
WE ARE AT OUR ACTION AGENDA.SO NUMBER ONE, SECOND READING OF GCB.
GCCB, EMPLOYMENT OF FAMILY MEMBERS.
G-C-B-E-A, LEAVE WITHOUT PAY GCBI, CIVIC DUTIES.
COSTNER, MAD VICE CHAIR BOARD MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
AS YOU KNOW THAT OUR, UM, SCHOOL BOARD SUBCOMMITTEE HAS BEEN WORKING ON THE PROCESS OF GETTING OUR POLICIES IN AND HAVING THOSE POLICIES REVIEWED.
UM, I'M BRING FORTH TONIGHT AS YOU, THIS IS FOR THE SECOND READING.
THERE IS NO MOTION THAT IS NEEDED ON THIS.
BUT AGAIN, THESE ARE THE POLICIES, UM, AS DR.
FUNK SAID, GCCB, G-C-B-E-A, UM, AND GCBI.
AND THIS IS THE, UM, JUST FOR THE, UH, SECOND READING, UM, THERE WERE NO CHANGES FROM THE FIRST READING.
IS THERE ANYTHING, ANY ADDITIONS, DELETIONS THAT THE BOARD WOULD LIKE, UH, MOVING FORWARD BEFORE WE BRING IT FOR A FINAL VOTE? ANY, ANY DISCUSSIONS OR QUESTIONS? OKAY.
[5.B. Second Reading - GDBD Support Staff Leaves and Absences and GDBD-E3 Unpaid Leave of Absence Request Form - Dr. Costner]
ITEM B, SECOND READING OF GDBD SUPPORT STAFF LEAVES AND ABSENCES AND GDBD DASH E THREE, UNPAID LEAVE, ABSENCE, UH, REQUEST.MAD VICE CHAIR AND BOARD MEMBERS.
UM, THE POLICY, UH, HAD THE FIRST READING MS. DRAKE WAS ABLE TO DO SO.
UM, AT THE PREVIOUS WORK SESSION, THERE WAS, UM, A COUPLE OF ITEMS THAT WERE ASKED TO BE ADDED.
THERE WAS CONCERN THAT IT WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT READ WHERE IT DIDN'T SEEM LIKE THEY WERE GONNA BE ABLE TO GET EXTRA DAYS.
UM, WITH THIS POLICY, OF COURSE IT IS DESIGNED TO HELP, UM, OUR, UM, EMPLOYEES, BUT IT, UM, THE RED, RED LINED ITEMS, UM, THAT YOU CAN SEE WERE ADDED TO, UM, HELP CREATE AND CLEAR UP SOME OF THE VERBIAGE THAT WAS, MAKE SURE THERE'S SOME CLARIFICATION THERE.
THE REQUEST FORM, UM, I BELIEVE, WHICH IS, UH, GCDB DASH E THREE, DID NOT HAVE ANY CHANGES, RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE FIRST READING.
SO WITH THE ADDITIONS THAT WERE ADDED IN THE, THE, UM, RED LINE ITEMS, IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS, DISCUSSIONS, OR ANYTHING THAT YOU FEEL NEEDS TO BE ADDED BEFORE IT'S BOUGHT FORTH FOR THE THIRD READING?
[01:10:05]
ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION?[5.C. Revise School Calendar to change May 22, 2025 from Early Release to Full Day - Dr. Costner]
WILL MOVE ON TO C UM, YOU DON'T GET TO SIT FOR A LITTLE BIT THERE.SO,
AGAIN, MAD VICE CHAIR BOARD MEMBERS.
AS YOU KNOW, WEATHER HAS NOT BEEN, UM, HAS BEEN CHALLENGING THIS YEAR.
UM, AND ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT CAME FORTH WITH THE LE WITH THE WEATHER WAS THAT IT HAPPENED WHEN WE WERE OUTTA SCHOOL ALREADY.
THE WEATHER CAME IN AND CREATED SOME INCLEMENT WEATHER DAYS WHERE THAT WE WERE NOT ABLE TO DO REMOTE LEARNING DAYS.
WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO DO TWO REMOTE LEARNING DAYS, UM, WHICH DID HELP.
UM, BUT AGAIN, WITH THAT, WE ARE REQUIRED BY THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO HAVE SO MANY SET HOURS WITHIN THAT.
SO, UM, WITH THAT LOOKING AHEAD AND AS WE PREPARED FOR IT, AND AS AGAIN, DR.
BALLINGER HAS SENT OUT, UM, AN EMAIL TO EVERYONE ABOUT IT.
AS YOU'LL NOTICE BACK ON, UM, FEBRUARY THE SIXTH, WE HAD ACTUALLY HAD FOUR HOURS AS A SAFETY NET, SO TO SPEAK, THE WAY THE CALENDAR WAS SET UP.
AND THEN WE WERE ABLE TO DO TWO REMOTE LEARNING DAYS, WHICH WE DID NOT LOSE THAT TIME, UM, WITH REMOTE LEARNING DAYS.
BUT THEN ON FEBRUARY THE 13TH AND FEBRUARY THE 20TH, WE DID HAVE TO HAVE A TWO HOUR DELAY ON THOSE DAYS DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER.
SO THAT LEFT US WITH NO, NO WIGGLE ROOM.
AND WITH MAY 22ND BEING AN EARLY RELEASE DAY, THAT'S TWO MORE HOURS WE WOULD HAVE TO TAKE AWAY.
SO WITH THAT SAID, THAT'S WHY WE ARE COMING FORTH ASKING FOR THAT STAFF WAS, UM, ALREADY SCHEDULED TO BE THERE.
I KNOW THAT THEY PROBABLY ALREADY HAD OTHER PLANS.
BUT WITH IT, FOR US TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAW, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THOSE OTHER TWO HOURS SO THAT WE CAN MEET IT.
AND THAT WOULD REQUIRE, UM, BOTH STAFF AND STUDENTS TO ATTEND THE FULL DAY ON MAY 22ND.
BALLINGER DID SUBMIT THAT FOR THE EMERGENCY.
UM, AND THE GOVERNOR DID REQUIRE DECLARE CERTAIN DAYS FOR, UM, EMERGENCY, UM, NOT SURE THE EXACT TERMINOLOGY THEY WERE EMERGENCY DAYS.
UM, THAT WAIVER HAS BEEN SUBMITTED.
UM, WE HAVE NOT HEARD BACK WHETHER THAT WAIVER WILL BE APPROVED.
AND YOU KNOW, THE, THE SAD THING IS IT SOUNDS LIKE IT MAY NOT BE.
SO WE NEED TO HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE, BECAUSE IF WE DON'T MEET THIS TIME, THEN IT COULD AFFECT OUR FUNDING.
UM, THE STATE DEPARTMENT CAN SAY THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING THE, THE AMOUNT OF TIME AND YOU KNOW, WITH WHAT THEY'RE REQUIRING WHEN WE DO SUBMIT THE WAIVER IS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE TO SHOW THAT WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE UP TIME.
AND SO, UM, WE'VE DONE THAT WITH REMOTE LEARNING DAYS.
WE HAVE ALREADY CHANGED SOME DAYS SO THAT WE CAN MEET THE REQUIREMENTS.
WE ARE STILL TWO HOURS SHORT, AS LONG AS THE WEATHER, NOTHING CHANGES BETWEEN NOW AND MAY 22ND.
UM, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY WE WON'T HAVE TO COME BACK TO YOU.
IT'D BE NICE IF I COULD COME BACK TO YOU AND SAY, HEY, WE GOT THE WAIVER, BUT, UM, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED FOR THAT.
SO THAT'S WHY WE ARE ASKING FOR, UM, MAY 22ND, UM, TO BE CHANGED FROM AN EARLIER RELEASE DAY TO A REGULAR DAY.
AND IT DOES REQUIRE AN ACTION FROM THE BOARD.
HOW MUCH DOES THE WORST CASE SCENARIO, HOW MUCH DOES THE TWO HOURS COST US? I I COULD, I COULD NOT ANSWER THAT.
I'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED THAT TO MEET WHAT THE, UM, WHAT THEY REQUIRE.
UM, I COULD TELL YOU PERSONAL FEARS OF THAT.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF STATE DEPARTMENT WOULD SAY, WELL, YOU DIDN'T MEET ENOUGH TIME, THEREFORE THEY REALLY DIDN'T COMPLETE THEIR SCHOOL YEAR.
I MEAN, I, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW.
UM, THAT IS SOMETHING, I MEAN, WE COULD INQUIRE, BUT I DON'T WANNA ALSO PUT US UNDER A MICROSCOPE.
UM, YOU KNOW, SO, BUT WITH FINANCIALLY, UM, I, I CAN'T ANSWER THAT QUESTION RIGHT NOW.
I I'LL BE GLAD TO TRY TO LOOK AND SEE TO GET YOU THAT ANSWER, BUT, UM, I JUST KNOW THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SAYS IT CAN HAPPEN.
I WOULD, YEAH, I WOULD DO THE SAME.
I MEAN, IF, IF IT'S TWO HOURS, BECAUSE IF, IF WE'VE GOTTEN SOME COMMUNICATIONS FROM TEACHERS AND STAFF SAYING, WELL, WE MAY, MAY, MIGHT, MAY NOT COME IN THAT DAY OR MAY TAKE THAT TIME OFF OR PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY HAD PLANS, THEN WE HAVE TO BRING IN SOME SORT OF SUBSTITUTE AND PAY MORE MONEY FOR THAT.
I, I DON'T, I MEAN, IT'S, I KNOW THERE'S SOME DAILY KIND OF ALLOTMENT OF MONEY.
IF IT WAS TWO HOURS, DEPENDING WHAT IT IS, IT MIGHT BE WORTH JUST TAKING THE HEAD.
[01:15:01]
IS ALREADY SCHEDULED TO BE THERE.SO IT'S, IT'S NOT ASKING, UM, THEM TO COME IN ON, UM, TIMES WHERE THAT THEY DID HAVE, UM, TIME THAT WAS SCHEDULED.
NOW THEY MAY HAVE ALREADY HAD PLANS TO BE OUT THAT DAY.
UM, STUDENTS MAY HAVE THAT PLAN.
AND SO IT'S, UH, UM, AND I KNOW THE OTHER THINGS THAT TURN AROUND AND SAY IT'S AT THE END OF THE YEAR, IT'S AFTER SOL TESTING MM-HMM
THERE, THERE ARE THOSE FACTORS.
UM, AND ONE OF THE THINGS I CAN JUST TELL YOU FROM MY, MY, MY EXPERIENCE AS AN ADMINISTRATOR, THAT'S WHERE I TELL MY TEACHERS, GO IN, TEACH SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT THAT YOU LOVE.
USE THAT TIME TO EXCITE THEM SO THAT THEY'LL BE EXCITED ABOUT BEING THERE THAT DAY.
UM, MAKE SURE IT'S WITHIN THE STANDARDS.
DON'T GO OUTSIDE THE STANDARDS, DON'T GO OUTSIDE THE PARAMETERS, BUT, BUT DO THAT AND USE THAT AS A TOOL TO WAY TO KICK THEM OFF FOR THE SUMMER SO THEY'LL BE EAGER TO COME BACK IN THE NEXT YEAR.
SO I THINK AT LEAST THE FEEDBACK I HAD GOTTEN WAS THAT YES, THE TEACHERS WERE SUPPOSED TO BE THERE FOR THE FULL DAY, BUT THE, THE AFTERNOON WAS COM HAD LUNCHEONS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE ALREADY PROPOSED.
AND SO IT WAS GOING TO BE MESSING UP, UM, THOSE TYPES OF SCHEDULED EVENTS FOR, FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO ENJOY FOR THEIR END, END OF THE YEAR.
NOW THEY ARE SCHEDULED TO RETURN THE FOLLOWING WEEK, UM, FOR THEIR WORKDAY.
SO I MEAN, IT, IT, IT, IT WILL REQUIRE SOME FLEXIBILITY IN CHANGING, THERE'S, THERE'S ALWAYS, EVERY ADMINISTRATOR HAS A SPECIAL EVENT PLAN.
THE TEACHERS HAVE A SPECIAL PLAN AND TEACHERS PLAN TO GET TOGETHER TO GO OUT TO DO CERTAIN THINGS.
IT IT DOES, BUT THIS IS JUST, YOU KNOW, THE CHALLENGING THING.
SO THAT, THAT'S WHY WE COME FORWARD.
I I, I WOULDN'T DARE ASK IF IF IT WASN'T A REQUIREMENT.
I, I KNOW, I KNOW, BUT I'M, I'M GONNA KEEP BEING THE DEVIL'S ADVOCATE HERE.
SO WE HAVEN'T HAD IT REJECTED YET, THOUGH.
THEY HAVE NOT REJECTED OUR WAIVER, IS MY UNDERSTANDING.
SO I DID SEND COMMUNICATION TODAY JUST TO CHECK, AND THE RESPONSE I GOT IN ABSENCE OF ANY COMMUNICATION TO THE CONTRARY, ASSUME THAT THE REQUEST IS NOT APPROVED.
BECAUSE I TALKED TO THE SAME GUY THAT YOU HAD EMAILED US ABOUT TALKING TO, AND HE WAS SAYING THAT THERE WAS A CHANGEOVER OF THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT, AND I'M NOT, I'M NOT DISPUTING THAT YOU GOT THAT RESPONSE, BUT, UM, FROM THE SAME PERSON I WAS TALKING TO EARLIER, SO'S THAT WAS THE RESPONSE I GOT TODAY, UH, SENT THAT TO ME AT 9 33 THIS MORNING.
I BELIEVE YOU, I'M NOT SAYING I DON'T BELIEVE YOU
NO, I, I DON'T DISAGREE BECAUSE I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WHEN THERE WERE SOME SCHOOLS THAT DID GET A WAIVER REC MM-HMM
UH, A WAIVER, GRANTED WHEN LISA, AND THEN THERE ARE SOME SCHOOLS THAT DON'T, UH, WE'RE IN THE SAME BOAT AS FREDERICK FREDERICK SENT IN A WAIVER AS WELL.
HUMMER, UM, AND, AND HE HAD NOT HEARD ANYTHING BACK ON HIS EITHER.
SO, SO I KNOW WE'RE NOT PROBABLY THE ONLY SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THIS, BUT, BUT I MEAN, STATE CODE DOES OUTLINE.
IF IT'S NOT APPROVED, WE HAVE TO MAKE UP THAT TIME OR IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT IS STATE FUNDING THAT YOU'RE GOING TO, THAT YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE.
NOW, THE OTHER THING, YES, WE, YOU KNOW, IT TALKS ABOUT STATE FUNDING.
NOW, THE OTHER SIDE THAT I WOULD WANNA LOOK AT IS ALSO I COULD, IT AFFECT CREDITS AT HIGH SCHOOLS FOR TIME AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
IF, IF, AND I'M LOOKING AT MS. BRAGG BACK THERE, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WOULD BE A CONCERN TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT, WE'RE ALSO MEETING THOSE REQUIREMENTS FOR OUR STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO, TO EARN A CREDIT TOWARDS GRADUATION.
AND SO, AND LISTEN, AND I KNOW IT'S THE TWO HOURS ON THE LAST DAY, AND REALLY AND TRULY, WHAT IS IT? IT'S CHECKING A BOX.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, BUT IT'S A BOX THAT WE HAVE TO CHECK.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE WANT TO GO, YOU KNOW, I WOULD NOT, I CANNOT RECOMMEND GOING DOWN THAT RABBIT HOLE OF WHAT IFS BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT ALL COULD HAPPEN AT THAT POINT IN TIME.
AND, YOU KNOW, MR. BALLANTINE AND I, WE KIND OF TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT DO WE THINK THE FUNDING COULD BE, BUT WE BOTH JUST KIND OF, WE, WE DON'T KNOW AT THIS POINT IN TIME WHAT, WHAT THAT COULD BE.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, LISTEN, I MEAN, THE EASIEST SOLUTION WAS TO DO THE TWO HOURS AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
YOU CAN ADD 15 MINUTES FOR THE NEXT EIGHT DAYS, BUT IF YOU ADD 15 MINUTES TO THE, FOR THE NEXT EIGHT DAYS TO THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, YEAH, THAT'S TWO HOURS.
NOT JUST ARE YOU JUST AFFECTING TEACHER SCHEDULES, BUT NOW YOU'RE, YOU'RE AFFECTING EVERY PARENT'S SCHEDULE THAT, YOU KNOW, SO, SO NOW YOU'RE, YOU'RE GETTING INTO THAT, THAT REALM TOO.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, I WOULD, I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND FOR OUR SCHOOLS IS THAT, YOU KNOW, IF WE HAVE SPECIAL EVENTS THAT END AT A CERTAIN TIME, LET OUR PARENTS KNOW THAT SPECIAL EVENTS ARE ENDING AT A CERTAIN TIME AND PARENTS CAN COME PICK THEIR CHILDREN UP IF THEY WOULD LIKE AT THAT POINT IN TIME.
[01:20:01]
YOU KNOW, IT WOULD BE STILL COUNTING THAT, THAT FULL DAY.AND WE CAN'T STOP A PARENT FROM CHECKING THEIR CHILD OUT.
I MEAN, IT, IT'S, IT'S VERY UNFORTUNATE.
IT'S LITERALLY A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE TO CHECK A BOX.
UM, YOU KNOW, AND, AND I, YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALSO ALL, I BELIEVE, GOTTEN SOME EMAIL CONCERNS.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, HIDDEN OR NOT PRESENTED.
IT WAS EVERYTHING WAS FOLLOWED THROUGH.
UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE NEED ANSWERS FROM THE STATE.
WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT GETTING THEM.
UM, YOU KNOW, THAT'S VERY UNFORTUNATE.
UM, BUT IT IS, IT, IT PUTS US IN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE.
BUT, UM, AT THE END OF THE DAY TO, TO FOLLOW THE LAW, YOU KNOW, CHECKING A BOX YES.
TO, UH, TO BE THE GLASS HALF FULL RATHER THAN HALF EMPTY.
I MEAN, WE DID HAVE IT SOME CALENDAR THAT MAYBE WE'RE GONNA GO TO MAY 28TH.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE WAS IDEA OF SAYING, WELL, IF WE DON'T GET OUR, IF WE DON'T HAVE BAD WEATHER DAYS, WE WERE GONNA GO MUCH LATER, RIGHT? MM-HMM
UM, SO, AND, AND I KNOW SOME PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT, WELL, WHY DIDN'T WE GO ON APPLE BLOSSOM FRIDAY? I COULDN'T DO THAT BECAUSE WE HAD A LOT OF TEACHERS THAT CAME IN BEFORE THEIR CONTRACT DAY, UM, FOR SOME PD AND THE, AND SO WE SWAPPED OFF THAT DAY, AND SO I COULDN'T JUST TAKE THAT DAY AWAY BECAUSE THAT WAS A, A GUARANTEE THAT WE GAVE THOSE TEACHERS THAT CAME IN BEFORE THEY WERE ACTUALLY UNDER CONTRACT TO GO THROUGH SOME PD THAT WE WOULD GIVE THEM THAT DAY OFF.
AND SO I WAS ALREADY, YOU KNOW, I, I'D ALREADY PROMISED THAT DAY TO, UH, QUITE A BIT OF STAFF THAT THAT CAME IN EARLY TO DO SOME PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR US.
AND SO IT JUST KIND OF, YOU KNOW, AND NOT HEARING ANYTHING JUST KIND OF PUT US IN A BIND.
AND, AND THAT'S WHEN I, I FINALLY CALLED, SAID, HEY, WHAT'S UP? AND IT WASN'T GOOD INFORMATION.
SO I FEEL LIKE, UM, FIRST OF ALL, I, I'M NOT A PERSON WHO CHECKS BOXES AND FOLLOWS SILLY RULES THAT I DON'T BELIEVE IN.
BUT, UM, I ALSO FEEL LIKE IF, IF WE HAVE THIS DUTY TO FULFILL THE HOURS, THEN THE STATE HAS THE DUTY TO GIVE US AN ANSWER.
THE STATE HASN'T GIVEN US AN ANSWER.
I, I DON'T LIKE ANY OF THE OPTIONS.
I DON'T WANNA ADD THE EXTRA TWO HOURS AT THE END OF THE DAY.
CERTAINLY DON'T WANNA TAKE THE APPLE BLOSSOM, WHICH THAT ALREADY HAPPENED.
SO I WOULD SAY WE, WE DO NOTHING UNLESS WE GET A DENIAL.
BUT THAT'S, THAT'S THAT, THAT, THAT IS NOT MY RECOMMENDATION.
BUT, YOU KNOW, THE BOARD CAN MAKE THE DECISION AS THE BOARD, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'LL DO.
BUT THAT IS NOT MY RECOMMENDATION.
IS THERE A MOTION I MOVE THAT THE WARREN COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD REVISED THE 24 25 SCHOOL CALENDAR TO MAKE MAY 22ND, 2025, A FULL DAY FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF.
IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND IT.
AND, UM, MR. VALENTINE, COULD YOU TAKE ROLL CALL MRS. SALAN? NO.
WHAT, WHAT DOES THAT DO? IT DIDN'T PASS.
SO IT, IS THERE ANY INFORMATION THE BOARD WOULD REQUEST THAT I TRY TO SEEK AND FIND OUT BEFORE THE NEXT MEETING? WOULD THAT TO GIMME SOME GUIDANCE ON WHAT YOU WOULD PREFER TO KIND OF HELP CLEAR UP SOME THINGS FOR YOU ALL? IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO TO HELP? I KNOW I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT IT, WHAT THE COST WOULD BE.
UH, IF, IF, IF IT'S A DEFINITIVE, THEN IT SHOULD BE SOME DEFINITIVE THING.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO KNOW IS, AS DR.
BALLINGER MENTIONED, WHETHER IT WOULD AFFECT ANYBODY'S CREDITS FOR ANYTHING IF IT DIDN'T HAPPEN, OR IF IT'S JUST SIMPLY A FINE OR, OR LACK OF MONEY.
UM, I'D ALSO LIKE TO FIND OUT, TO BE ABLE TO FIND OUT A DEADLINE OF WHEN, WHEN THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO, WHEN THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO GIVE US, UH, AN ANSWER ON THE, ON THE, ON THE WAIVER.
I MEAN, IT'D BE GOOD TO GET IT DEFINITIVE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
I MEAN, IT'S TO GO INTO A DECISION.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY, WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
THAT'S, THAT'S, THOSE WOULD BE THE THREE THINGS I WOULD ASK FOR.
NO, I MEAN, I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT I WOULD SAY THAT MY ANSWER I GOT TODAY WAS, WAS PRETTY DEFINITIVE OF THAT.
IF I DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING ABOUT IT, THEN CONSIDERED IT NOT APPROVED.
WELL, I UNDERSTAND THAT'S A NEGATIVE OF IT.
RIGHT? IT ISN'T APPROVED BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING BACK.
BUT THEY WOULD'VE, IF THEY HAVE ACTUALLY REJECTED, IT SEEMS LIKE THEY WOULD'VE ACTUALLY REJECTED IT, WHICH THEY HAVEN'T.
I MEAN, I'M NOT, IT MIGHT GET REJECTED, BUT IT'S, IT'S STILL AN UNKNOWN.
TO GO ON THAT PREMISE OF SAYING HASN'T BEEN ACCEPTED, BUT
[01:25:01]
THAT'D BE GOOD TO KNOW.I DO MY DUE DILIGENCE TO TRY TO GET YOU THE ANSWERS.
I CANNOT ASSURE YOU, I'LL GIVE YOU, I'LL GIVE YOU THE INFORMATION THAT I RECEIVE RIGHT AT OUR NEXT MEETING TO KIND OF HELP WITH CLARIFICATION.
UH, JUST TWO CONSIDERATIONS MAYBE.
UM, ONE IS THE NEXT MEETING YOU'LL DECIDE IT AT, I BELIEVE WILL BE AFTER SCHOOL'S OUT.
SO IT'LL SORT OF BE A MOOT POINT AT THAT POINT.
THE OTHER IS, I LOOKED AT CODE AND, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN READ CODE AND INTERPRET IT MANY DIFFERENT WAYS, BUT IT LOOKED LIKE THAT WHAT IT SAYS IS THAT YOUR BASIC AID COMPONENT WILL BE REDUCED BY A PROPORTION AMOUNT OF THE DAYS YOU MISS.
AND IF WE MISS TWO HOURS, THAT'S ABOUT, UM, JUST OVER TWO 10 OR JUST OVER TWO TENTHS OF A PERCENT.
SO IF YOU TAKE TWO TENTHS OF A PERCENT OF OUR STATE AID BASIC AID, IF THAT'S BASIC AID ONLY, IT'S ABOUT BETWEEN 34 AND $35,000.
WE CAN TALK TO THE STATE AND FIND OUT FOR SURE.
COSTNER MENTIONED THAT TALKING TO 'EM AND ASKING THAT QUESTION MAY, UM, HAVE THEM FOCUS ON US AND MAYBE SEE SOMETHING THEY HADN'T OR WOULDN'T HAVE SEEN BEFORE ANYWAY.
BUT JUST
I DON'T, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY SCHOOL DIVISIONS ARE DOING THIS OR, OR THAT ARE ASKING THE QUESTIONS.
WE CAN SAY, WELL, WE'RE AT A, WE'RE A BIT OF A PICKLE.
WE, WE HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION WHERE TO SPLIT VOTE.
CAN, CAN SOMEONE GIVE US ADVICE ON, ON WHAT, WHAT ARE DIFFERENT OPTIONS? MAYBE KINDA GIVE 'EM TO MOVE A LITTLE QUICKER ON IT, OR WE COULD JUST NOT ASK THEM AND ASK FOR FORGIVENESS AFTERWARDS.
THE VIDEO, I WOULD NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE.
THE STATE DEPARTMENT WILL NOT FORGIVE.
SO YOU, YOU, YOU WILL GET THE PENALTY.
THERE'S, THERE'S NOT GONNA BE ANY FORGIVENESS.
UM, I GUESS WE WILL GO ON TO, UH, ACTION
[5.D. Recommendation for Approval of Food Service Management Contract Renewal - Dr. Costner]
ITEM D RECOMMENDATION FOR APPROVAL OF FOOD SERVICE MANAGEMENT CONTRACT RENEWAL.UM, AS YOU ALL KNOW THAT WE, BACK IN, UM, JULY 1ST, 2024, UM, WARREN COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH SODEXO TO DO OUR, UM, FOOD SERVICE OPERATIONS FOR THE SCHOOL DIVISION.
NOW, PART OF THIS AGREEMENT WHEN WE DID THIS IS THAT EACH YEAR, THAT, UM, THAT, UH, DOES ALLOW THE CONTRACT TO BE RENEWED FOR FOUR ADDITIONAL YEARS.
UM, BUT WITH CONSENT FROM BOTH.
AND, UM, I CAN TELL YOU OUR FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM AND SODEXO ARE DOING A TREMENDOUS JOB, UM, FROM FEEDING OUR STUDENTS TO, UM, TAKING GREAT CARE OF OUR STUDENTS DURING SCHOOL, AFTER SCHOOL DURING THE SUMMERTIME.
SO WE HAVE A GREAT WORKING RELATIONSHIP.
AND, UM, A PART OF THE CONTRACT, IT DOES ALLOW THEM TO REQUEST A RATE, UM, AN INCREASE IN THE MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE FEES BASED ON THE CURRENT CONSUMER PRICE INDEX.
THE CURRENT CONSUMER PRICE INDEX WAS 3.4.
UM, SO WITH THIS REQUEST OF INCREASE, AND THIS IS WHERE I, I HAD TO ASK, I SAID, OKAY, SO DOES THIS MEAN OUR BUDGET IS GOING TO GO UP BECAUSE OF THIS REQUEST OF INCREASE? THE ANSWER TO THAT IS NO, THE BUDGET DOESN'T GO UP.
BUT WHAT PORTION DOES GO UP IS WHAT THAT SODEXO'S ABLE TO TAKE OUT OF THE SERVINGS PER MEAL FOR THE PRICE OF, UM, THEIR MANAGEMENT FEES AND FOR THE PRICE OF ALSO THEIR ADMINISTRATIVE FEES NOW.
SO THAT MEANS THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO BRING IN A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY TOWARDS WHAT THEY ARE WORKING FOR.
BUT AGAIN, WE ARE GUARANTEED AS A PART OF OUR RFPA SET AMOUNT.
THE AMOUNT INCREASE PER MILL, AS YOU CAN SEE, IS 0.004 UM CENTS, AS YOU CAN SEE DOWN THERE FOR THE MANAGEMENT FEE FROM TWO 2020 4 25 TO 2020 5, 26.
UM, AND JUST A, AN ESTIMATE, UM, THE INCREASE IN THE TOTAL MANAGEMENT FEES WOULD BE $5,957 AND 29 CENTS, AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE FEE WILL BE $6,297 AND 78 CENTS.
AND THAT'S WITHIN THE CONTRACT FOR THEM TO ASK THAT.
UM, WE DO, UM, AS THE DIVISION, WE LIKE TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THEM AND CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT.
SO, UM, THAT'S WHY WE ARE BRINGING THE REQUEST THAT WE MOVE THE APPROVAL TO BE GIVEN, UM, TO CONTRACT WITH SODEXOS, OUR FOOD MANAGEMENT SERVICES COMPANY FOR THE PERIOD OF JULY 1ST, 2025 TO JUNE 30TH, 2026, AND THE SUPERINTENDENT BE AUTHORIZED TO SIGN THE SODEXO FOOD MAN FOOD SERVICE MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT AND ACCEPT ANY ADMINISTRATIVE NON-MATERIAL CHANGES AS REQUIRED BY THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS, UM, FOR THE FOOD SERVICE MANAGEMENT CONTRACT,
[01:30:03]
CAN YOU JUST RESTATE, UM, I THINK YOU SAID THIS, BUT JUST TO PULL IT OUT, UM, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE LOOKING AT AN INCREASE HERE, IT'S NOT ACTUALLY AN INCREASE IN OUR SCHOOL BUDGET, CORRECT? IS THAT RIGHT? IT'S, IT'S AN INCREASE IN WHAT THEY ARE ABLE TO, UM, FOR ME TO HELP ME TO UNDERSTAND.IT'S LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, OUT OF A DOLLAR 10 CENTS GOES TO SODEXO FOR THE MANAGEMENT FEE AND THE FOOD SERVICE FEES, WELL, NOW OUT OF A DOLLAR, A LITTLE BIT MORE COMES OUT TO GO TO, IT IS STILL A DOLLAR, BUT A LITTLE BIT MORE GOES TO SODEXO AND THEIR MANAGEMENT FEE.
SO IN OTHER WORDS, THEY WILL, THEY WILL BE MAKING A LITTLE BIT MORE, MORE, BUT WE ARE STILL GUARANTEED A SET AMOUNT THAT'S SUPPOSED TO COME TO US.
SO IF THEY CONTINUE MAKING GREAT MEALS, CHILDREN CONTINUE TO EAT, THEN WE WILL HA CONTINUE TO HAVE REIMBURSABLE MEALS.
IF IT DROPS, THEN SODEXO HAS TO IMPROVE AND UP THEIR GAME SO THAT IT DOES NOT DROP.
BUT NO MA'AM, THE FUNDING IS NOT A CHANGE IN FUNDING IT FOR WHAT WE ARE, UM, WHAT WE HAVE TO GIVE OUT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? IS THERE A MOTION I MOVE? APPROVAL WILL BE GIVEN TO CONTRACT WITH SODEXO AS A FOOD MANAGEMENT SERVICES COMPANY FOR THE PERIOD OF JULY 1ST, 2025 TO JUNE 30TH, 2026.
AND THE SUPERINTENDENT BE AUTHORIZED TO SIGN THE SODEXO FOOD SERVICE MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT AND ACCEPT ANY ADMINISTRATIVE NON-MATERIAL CHANGES AS REQUIRED BY THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
[5.G. FY2025-2026 Special Education Annual Plan]
FY 20 25 20 26 SPECIAL EDUCATION ANNUAL PLAN? YES.UM, AS AT THE LAST BOARD WORK SESSION, MS. BURLING WENT THROUGH, UM, WHAT WAS GOING OVER WITH THE PLAN FOR THE SPECIAL EDUCATION ANNUAL PLAN APPLICATION AS SHE WENT THROUGH EACH STEP OF WHERE THE FUNDING, WHAT THEY WERE REQUESTING, UM, AS YOU KNOW, WHERE FOR THE ASSURANCE AND THE CERTIFICATION, THE INTERAGENCY JAIL AGREEMENT, THE REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 2020 4 25, AND THE APPLICATION OF FEDERAL FUNDS.
UM, AND SHE EXPLAINED ALL THAT, UM, WE DO NEED TO HAVE THIS APPROVED, AND SO WE'RE BRINGING IT FORWARD AFTER, UM, YOU WERE ABLE TO SEE IT.
UM, THERE IS A RECOMMENDATION THAT THE 2020 25 2020 26 SPECIAL EDUCATION ANNUAL PLAN, WHICH INCLUDES AN APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,405,746 AND 38 CENTS FOR 6 1 1 PART B $34,294 AND 36 CENTS FOR 6 1 9 PART B AND $69,971 FOR RSW REGIONAL JAIL WITH A TOTAL FUNDING OF $1,510,011 AND 74 CENTS TO BE APPROVED FOR THE SUBMISSION TO THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? IS THERE A MOTION I MOVE THAT THE 20 25 20 26 SPECIAL EDUCATION ANNUAL PLAN, WHICH INCLUDES AN APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF ONE THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED ONE MILLION FOUR HUNDRED FIVE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED FORTY SIX DOLLARS AND 38 CENTS FOR 6 1 1 PART B $34,294 AND 36 CENTS FOR SIX 19 PART B AND $69,971 FOR RSW REGIONAL JAIL WITH A TOTAL FUNDING OF $1,510,011 AND 74 CENTS BE APPROVED FOR SUBMISSION TO THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
IS THERE A SECOND? I SECOND IT.
[5.E. Approval of Additional Appropriation Request for Employee Bonus - Dr. Ballenger/Mr. Ballentine]
NEXT WE HAVE APPROVAL OF ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION REQUEST FOR EMPLOYEE BONUS, DR.OKAY, WELL, LET ME PREFACE, UH, PREFERENCE, UH, PREFACE WHAT I SAY, UM, IN THAT TONIGHT, WE'RE NOT ASKING YOU TO ACTUALLY APPROVE THE BONUS EITHER THE AMOUNT OF IT, UM, THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR IT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
BUT WHAT WE DO WANT TO DO TONIGHT IS TO GET YOUR APPROVAL TO GO AHEAD AND ASK THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO APPROPRIATE THIS MONEY TO US SO THAT WHEN IT DOES BECOME AVAILABLE TO US, AND WITH A TIGHT TIMEFRAME
[01:35:01]
OF JUNE 30TH COMING UP ON US, UM, WE'RE ABLE TO GO AHEAD AND THEN HAVE YOU DECIDE HOW TO EXECUTE OR HOW TO ADMINISTER THE BONUS.SO THIS IS MORE OR LESS JUST, UH, LAYING THE, THE GROUNDWORK OR THE FOUNDATION FOR BEING ABLE TO DO THAT.
BUT BASED ON AMENDMENTS MADE TO THE FY 25 BUDGET BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SCHOOL DIVISIONS WILL RECEIVE ADDITIONAL STATE FUNDING BY JUNE 1ST OF THIS YEAR IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THEIR EMPLOYEES WITH A BONUS.
THE AMOUNT OF THE PROPOSED FUNDING FOR WARREN COUNTY IS $536,129.
BECAUSE THIS FUNDING IS BASED ON THE 498 SOQ POSITIONS, THE STATE RECOGNIZES, AND THE APRIL 30TH, UH, 2025, UH, WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL PAYROLL INCLUDED 774 EMPLOYEES.
AT THAT TIME, THERE IS NOT SUFFICIENT FUNDING TO DO A THOUSAND DOLLARS BONUS.
SO AS DISCUSSED, IT'S BEING, UH, PROPOSED, AND AGAIN, THIS CAN BE DECIDED AT A LATER DATE TO PROVIDE, UM, A, A RETENTION BONUS, LET'S CALL IT, TO EMPLOYEES WHO SIGN THEIR CONTRACT BY A CERTAIN DATE.
AND THAT DATE WOULD NEED TO BE DETERMINED IN THE FUTURE, UM, THE DEADLINE.
AND SO WHAT WE'RE BASICALLY DOING IS ASKING, UH, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO APPROVE, UH, ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION TO THE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES, UH, SO THAT WE CAN, ONCE THE, UH, MONEY BECOMES AVAILABLE FOR SURE FROM THE STATE, WE CAN GO AHEAD AND HAVE YOU APPROVE ISSUING THE BONUS AT WHATEVER MONETARY AND WHATEVER STIPULATION OR QUALIFICATION FOR IT, THAT THAT WOULD BE DECIDED THEN.
SO THIS IS JUST APPROVAL OF THE OVERALL TOTAL COST BASED ON THE NUMBERS, BASED ON THE NUMBERS AS AT THAT THE STATE WILL BE GIVING US, AND, UH, HOW IT'S, YOU KNOW, DETERMINED THEN THE AMOUNTS AND THE QUALIFICATIONS.
UM, WE CAN CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT WITH YOU AND, UH, MAYBE AT THE MAY 28TH MEETING, UM, HAVE A GOOD DISCUSSION WITH YOU AND I KNOW YOU DISCUSSED IT AT THE PRIOR WORK SESSION AND, UM, WE'LL HAVE A BETTER PICTURE THEN OF THE OPTIONS TOO.
SO THANK YOU FOR, FOR EXPLAINING THAT, THAT WE'RE NOT ACTUALLY VOTING ON THE BUDGET OR ON THE BONUS RIGHT NOW, BUT JUST THE APPROPRIATION.
SO IF WE'RE ASKING THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO APPROPRIATE THE FULL 7 74 FOR, FOR THE TOTAL PAYROLL POSITIONS OF THE 774 PEOPLE, AND WE END UP GOING A DIFFERENT ROUTE, THE QUESTION WAS POSED TO ME, WHAT THEN, WHAT HAPPENS TO THAT MONEY IF THERE'S AN OAGE? WELL, MY, MY, MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE WHATEVER POT OF MONEY AND, AND IT'S THE, THE POT OF MONEY IS REALLY DETERMINED ALREADY.
MY SUGGESTION, I THINK OUR DISCUSSIONS HAVE BEEN THAT WHATEVER YOU DO, WE WOULD RECOMMEND YOU SPENDING ALL OF IT, AND IT WOULD DEPEND ON THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR SOMEONE TO GET IT.
UM, AND THAT WOULD ADJUST THE AMOUNT.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, IT MAY BE A, YOU'LL FIND OUT IF WE HAVE HAVE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE NOT COMING BACK, AND THAT'S THE QUALIFIER FOR IT, THAT IT MAY END UP BEING A $775 BONUS OR WHATEVER THE NUMBER IS THAT WOULD, UH, MAKE IT SO AT THE TOTAL COST COMES OUT TO THE 5 36, UM, 1 29.
UHHUH
THAT'S WHAT THE STATE SAID THAT THIS MONEY WAS SUPPOSED TO GO TOWARDS.
SO WHEN WE DO GO FORWARD WITH DISCUSSING WHO IS GETTING THE BONUS AND, AND WHO'S GETTING HOW MUCH, UM, I, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF WE COULD HAVE A BREAKDOWN OF IF WE DO STICK TO JUST THOSE CATEGORIES AND OBVIOUSLY IF, IF, IF WE'VE GOT AN EXTRA TEACHER OR EXTRA IA THAT'S NOT CONSIDERING THE SOQ, OF COURSE INCLUDE THEM IN THERE AS WELL.
[01:40:01]
WHAT DOES THAT NUMBER LOOK LIKE, MADAM VICE CHAIR? I WOULD JUST LIKE TO, TO MAKE NOTE THAT THE, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE ON THE STATE CALCULATION SHEET, UH, THE SOQ POSITION BONUS IS BASED ON $1,000 BONUS FOR SOQ FUNDED INSTRUCTIONAL AND SUPPORT POSITIONS IN SCHOOL DIVISIONS.UM, OF COURSE IT SAYS THAT WE DO NOT HAVE TO GIVE A MATCH CURRENTLY WITH GIVING A SEVEN.
UH, WITH OUR, OUR NUMBER AT SEVEN 50, WE, WE STILL HAVE TO COME UP WITH $45,000 WITH OUR CURRENT NUMBERS.
UM, AND, AND I DID SEND AN EMAIL, UH, TO THE BOARD THAT OUTLINED ALL THE SUPPORT, UH, POSITIONS THAT THAT INCLUDES AND ALL THE INSTRUCTIONAL POSITIONS THAT, THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THAT.
SO, UM, YEAH, IT, AND, AND I KNOW THERE ARE, THERE ARE SCHOOLS DOING A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS, UH, WHEN IT COMES TO IT.
UM, YOU KNOW, TO HEAR ONE SAY THAT THEY'RE SACRIFICING FOR SOMEBODY ELSE.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WHEN, WHEN YOU LOOK AT SUPPORT PERSONNEL, UM, ALSO, YOU KNOW, THERE IS THAT, THERE'S THAT LINE OF OPERATION MAINTENANCE AND TECHNICAL, I MEAN, THERE'S 45 POSITIONS THERE THAT WE'RE GETTING A THOUSAND DOLLARS BONUS FOR.
UM, SO, SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S, TO ME, IT'S, IT IS EQUITABLE TO TO SAY WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT, AT OUR POSITIONS, UM, THE SEVEN 50, WHAT I'D LOVE TO GIVE EVERYBODY A THOUSAND DOLLARS.
UM, I KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME OTHER SCHOOLS THAT ARE DOING THE SEVEN 50.
UM, I'VE BEEN COMMUNICATING WITH, UH, A COUPLE OTHER SCHOOLS THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE LOOKING AT, UH, LET ME FIND IT HERE REAL QUICK.
UH, AND IT, IT'S ACTUALLY A LITTLE LESS THAN, A LOT LESS THAN WHAT WE'RE DOING.
UM, BUT THEY WERE ONE OF 'EM, IT WAS GONNA BE ABOUT A $600, UM, BONUS, UM, BECAUSE THAT, THAT'S WHAT THEY WERE USING AS FAR AS THAT.
SO IT'S ALL OVER THE PLACE WHEN IT COMES TO, TO THE AMOUNT.
I THINK PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO MAXIMIZE THE STATE DOLLARS, WHICH WE ARE TOO.
UM, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE TRYING TO PUT THAT EXTRA 45,000 IN THERE.
NOW LISTEN, IF WE HAVE ENOUGH, YOU KNOW, IF WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT RESIGN AND, AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY TO, WHEREAS MR. VALENTINE SAID WE CAN BUMP THAT TO, TO 7 75 OR TO SEVEN 80 OR 800.
I MEAN, THAT'S, THAT'S OUR GOAL.
YOU KNOW, WE WANNA MAXIMIZE THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY TO GIVE TO PEOPLE.
UM, SO I, I KNOW IT'S NOT, IT, IT'S, IT'S VERY CONFUSING WHEN A STATE SAYS WE'RE GIVING A THOUSAND DOLLARS PER, PER TEACHER FOR, I MEAN, THAT, THAT'S SOQ POSITION.
UM, AND THEY DON'T CLARIFY THAT STUFF.
AND THAT, THAT, THAT DOES GET CONFUSING.
UM, HOW, HOW THE STATE FUNDING FORMULA IN VIRGINIA WORKS.
UM, ONE, IT'S VERY ANTIQUATED.
UH, THEY NEED TO TOTALLY REVISE THE, THE FUNDING FORMULA IN VIRGINIA.
I KNOW THEY HAVE A COMMITTEE THAT'S LOOKING AT THAT, BUT THAT'S GONNA COST BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO DO THAT.
UM, AND, AND SO I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A BIG PUSH FOR THAT RIGHT NOW, BUT ANYWAY, NOT GETTING OFF ONTO THAT TOPIC.
I KNOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE BONUS HERE.
WHEN WE LOOKED EARLIER, WE WERE GONNA HAVE TO, TO COME UP WITH ABOUT 250,000 OUT OF OUR OWN BUDGET TO, TO GET THAT THOUSAND.
AND WE'RE SO CLOSE RIGHT NOW, UH, WITH THE END OF THE YEAR.
UM, I, I'M NOT COMFORTABLE AND I KNOW ROB'S, ROB AND I HAVE TALKED AND WE'RE, WE'RE REAL.
THINGS ARE GETTING REALLY TIGHT.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I JUST BE COGNIZANT OF, OF WHERE WE'RE AT KIND OF RIGHT NOW TOWARDS AS WE FINISH UP THE END OF THE YEAR.
AND, UM, THAT, YOU KNOW, JUST, JUST OUR BUDGET IS REALLY TIGHT.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION QUESTIONS? IS, IS THERE A MOTION? IT'S A LONG ONE.
I MOVE THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT BE AUTHORIZED TO REQUEST THAT THE WARREN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS INCREASE THE SCHOOL BOARD'S FISCAL YEAR 20 24, 25 OPERATING BUDGET FUND BUDGET BY $536,129.
THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES, CATEGORY 6 1 0 0 0 INSTRUCTION BY $449,000 742, CATEGORY 62,000, ADMINISTRATION ATTENDANCE AND HEALTH BY $25,028.
CATEGORY 63,000 PUPIL IN TRANSPORTATION BY $35,524, CATEGORY 64,000 OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE BY 16,147 AND CATEGORY 68,000 TECHNOLOGY BY $9,688.
I FURTHER MOVE THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT BE AUTHORIZED TO REQUEST THAT THE WARREN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS INCREASE THE SCHOOL BOARD'S FISCAL YEAR 20 24 25 CAFETERIA FUND BUDGET BY $807
[01:45:02]
IN CATEGORY 65,000 SCHOOL FOOD SERVICES.IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
[5.F. WCPS 2025-2026 Salary Scales Approval]
ON OUR AGENDA ITEM IS W-S-C-P-S 2025.UM, ATTACHED, ATTACHED ARE THE PROPOSED SALARY SCALES FOR 20 25, 20 26 FOR ALL GRADES AND CLASSIFICATIONS WITHIN WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
THESE SCALES REFLECT A 3% INCREASE INCLUSIVE OF STEP FOR EACH GRADE LEVEL.
UH, THE FIGURES ARE, UH, TENTATIVE WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE FY 26 BUDGET HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED AS SUCH, ALL CONTRACTS ISSUED ON THESE SCALES ARE CONTINGENT UPON FINAL BUDGET APPROVAL BY THE SCHOOL BOARD, UM, AND ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE THIS PROPOSED ADJUSTMENT IN PART OF WCPS ONGOING EFFORTS TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE SUPPORT STAFF RETENTION, AND RECOGNIZE THE VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUR EMPLOYEES ACROSS ALL ROLES.
UH, BASICALLY WHY WE HAVE THIS ON HERE IS WE NEED TO GET CONTRACTS OUT, UM, UH, SO THAT OUR TEACHERS WILL BE ABLE TO, TO LOOK AT THAT.
SOME SCHOOLS WILL PROBABLY ALREADY HAVE ALREADY HAVE THEIR BUDGETS.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING FROM OUR LAST UH, COMMITTEE MEETING IS THAT THEY'RE NOT GONNA ADVERTISE UNTIL JUNE.
SO THAT MEANS WE'RE NOT, PROBABLY WON'T HAVE A BUDGET TILL MID-JUNE, A FINAL BUDGET, AND THAT'S TOO LATE, UH, FOR CONTRACTS TO BE SENT OUT TO STAFF.
SO THIS AT LEAST GETS US TO WHERE WE CAN SEND CONTRACTS OUT TO STAFF, UM, WITH WHAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT AS FAR AS WITH THE 3% INCLUSIVE STEP ACROSS ALL SCALES.
ANY QUESTIONS? I HAVE ONE QUESTION.
SO BEFORE, UH, OBVIOUSLY EVEN IN THE, IN THE BUDGET THAT'S CURRENTLY, UH, ON THE TABLE WE HAD PUT IN THAT ALL A CERTAIN GROUP OF PEOPLE WERE GONNA GET THREE, WERE GONNA GET, UH, 3% PLUS THEIR STEP.
THAT WAS THE, THE PLAN, AND THAT'S WHAT'S THERE.
AND THEN THERE WERE CERTAIN PEOPLE THAT WEREN'T GOING TO GET 3% PLUS STEP, THEY'RE JUST GETTING 3%.
SO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT GOING TO GET THE STEP AND THE 3% DUE TO WHAT WE BELIEVE IS GONNA BE A MONEY SHORTAGE, WE'RE SHRINKING THEIR, THEIR RAISE.
BUT THE PEOPLE THAT WERE JUST GETTING THE 3% ARE STILL GETTING THEIR 3% MM-HMM
IS THERE ANY WAY WE CAN SHRINK THEIR 3% TO SOME OTHER NUMBER SO THAT EVERYONE HURTS? IN A SENSE? NO.
'CAUSE YOU HAVE TO GET 3% PER SOQ IN ORDER TO GET THE FUNDING.
IT'S ALL, AGAIN, YOU GO BACK TO THE OQS.
UM, SO IF, IF, YOU KNOW, IF 3% IS THE MINIMUM, WE CAN GIVE MORE.
UM, AND IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW YOU GET TO THAT 3%, UM, THEN THAT'S WHY THE INCLUSIVE COUNTS TOWARDS THAT, BECAUSE IT IS A 3% FROM YEAR OVER YEAR.
UM, SO THAT'S WHAT THEY LOOK AT.
IS THERE A MOTION? UM, I, I'M SORRY, GO AHEAD.
UM, WE HAD RECEIVED THE CORRESPONDENCE ABOUT THE CONCERN WITH THE, UM, THE SPEECH, THE, UM, SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST.
I THINK YOU GUYS, YOU GUYS GOT THE EMAIL TOO, RIGHT? WE DID.
AND, AND, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, DR.
BALLINGER, YOU CAN SHARE, UM, IN OUR BUDGET DISCUSSIONS, WE'VE, THAT WAS A PART OF LOOKING AT THE SALARY SCALES.
WE, WE DID LOOK AT THAT SALARY AND UM, I FORGET WHAT IT WAS LABELED, BUT IT, I DON'T WANNA SAY SALARY AND IT'S NOT THE ENHANCEMENTS, IT WAS THE ADJUSTMENTS, SALARY ADJUSTMENTS, SALARY SCALE ADJUSTMENTS.
SO THAT WAS A, A PART OF OUR BUDGET DISCUSSION, UM, EARLY ON AS, AS FAR AS, UM, SALARY ADJUSTMENTS.
THERE'S A VERY INVOLVED PLAN THAT'S PROBABLY STILL UP THERE.
ER PRESENTED THE BUDGET OF, OF WHAT THIS 25, 26 SALARY SCALES WOULD BE.
THEY WERE VERY, VERY WELL THOUGHT OUT ABOUT HOW WE WOULD ADJUST THEM IF WE HAD THE MONEY TO DO IT.
THAT WAS PART OF THE PLAN TO VARIOUS EVERYTHING FROM DIFFERENT STIPENDS TO, THERE'S ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT WERE CHANGED.
THERE'S A LOT OF WORK PUT INTO IT.
AND SO I DON'T THINK AT THIS POINT WE THINK WE CAN DO THAT BASED ON THE, ON THE BUDGETARY RESTRAINTS, BUT THERE WAS A WHOLE PLAN TO, TO GET, TRY TO GET EVERYONE UP TO A LEVEL THAT WE BELIEVED THEY WERE NOT THE LEVEL THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN.
BUT AT THIS POINT, IT'S NOT SEEMINGLY PLAUSIBLE TO, TO DO, TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.
AND MR. MCFADDEN, YOU'RE CORRECT ON THAT, BUT UH, THEN THE ONE THING I WOULD SAY ALSO IS THAT, YOU KNOW, IF FOR SOME REASON WE DO GET ADDITIONAL FUNDS, WE CAN ALWAYS ADJUST SALARY SCALES AT A LATER DATE.
THIS IS THE, THIS IS THE, THE MINIMUM THAT WE HAVE TO MEET.
UM, AND SO IN ORDER TO GET THE CONTRACTS OUT, WELL ONE IN ORDER TO GET THE CONTRACT OUT AND THAT WILL MEET THE STATE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE 3%, CORRECT, MR. VALENTINE? THAT'S CORRECT.
[01:50:01]
THEN WE LOSE 1.4 MILLION, UH, IN INCENTIVE MONEY THE STATE'S GIVING US TO PROVIDE THAT 3%.SO YEAH, THAT WOULD SET US WAY BACK.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? DO WE HAVE A MOTION? I MOVE THAT THE WARREN COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD APPROVED THE PROPOSED SALARY SCALES 20 25, 26.
AND H APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE APRIL 23RD, 2025 REGULAR MEETING.
SO THE REASON I WANTED TO PULL THIS OUT WAS BECAUSE, AGAIN, I'M I THE PURPOSE OF MINUTES, WE, WE STARTED, UM, WE HAD A DISCUSSION WITH THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, AND WE GOT UP TO SPEED AND DIFFERENT PEOPLE WERE PUTTING THE MINUTES TOGETHER AND PUTTING 'EM OUT THERE.
AND THIS IS NOTHING AGAINST ANYONE WHO TAKES MINUTES, BUT SOMETIMES IN READING THE MINUTES, THEY'RE A LITTLE CURSORY WHERE YOU'RE, IF SOMEONE WANT TO ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON OR WHAT SOMEONE SAID, IT WOULD BE VERY HARD TO ACTUALLY SAY THAT YOU COULD WATCH THE VIDEO.
I I, I'VE DONE THAT MANY A TIME, BUT IT'S, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE, AND I, I TALKED TO, UM, DR.
AT SOME POINT WE BROUGHT UP SAYING, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN GET DIFFERENT TRANSCRIPTION SERVICES OR HAVE MORE, AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU NEED TO HAVE AN EXACT WORD FOR WORD.
I CAN, IT CAN GO ON FOR A LONG TIME.
BUT THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT, AND IT'S SORT OF, I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT WENT, BUT JUST FROM READING OVER THESE PAST MINUTES, YEAH, EVERYTHING ON THERE IS TRUE AND IT HAPPENED, BUT THERE, THERE'S SOME DETAILS THAT I THINK ARE LEFT OUT.
UM, I MEAN, JUST EVEN GOING TO OUR BUDGET DISCUSSION, WE HAD IT, THERE'S A, THERE'S A THREE LINE THING ABOUT, WE TALKED ABOUT THE BUDGET AND WHEN WE TALKED, THERE'S A LITTLE MORE THAN JUST TALKING ABOUT THE BUDGET, WHICH IT WOULD BE GOOD TO HAVE SOME, SOME, A COUPLE DETAILS IN THERE.
SO AGAIN, IT'S NOT A, IT'S NOT A ANYTHING AGAINST TO WHERE WE PUT THE BUDGET TO PUT THEM IN THIS TOGETHER, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S, THERE'S NEW TECHNOLOGIES NOW THAT, YOU KNOW, THROUGH AI THAT YOU CAN JUST SIT THERE AND RECORD THE THING AND IT, IT JUST TAKES IT ALL DOWN AND, AND SUMMARIZE IT FOR YOU IF YOU WANT TO.
SO I, IT SEEMS LIKE THERE SHOULD BE WAYS THAT WE COULD ACTUALLY CAPTURE IT FOR, FOR THE PURPOSE OF A MINUTES FOR SOMEONE TO BE ABLE TO SAY, I WANNA GO BACK AND SEE WHAT THESE PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT.
IT WOULD BE MUCH EASIER TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THEY TALKED ABOUT BY READING THE MINUTES AND HAVING THEM GO THROUGH AND WATCH THE WHOLE VIDEO.
SO THAT WAS THE DISCUSSION ON IT TO SAY, WW WE HAD THIS DISCUSSION AT ONE POINT.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT, WHAT PART OF THE, THE MEETING IT WAS, BUT SAYING IT, I PERSONALLY THINK IT SHOULD BE, THERE SHOULD BE SOME MORE DETAILS IN THE MINUTES FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
I KNOW SHENANDOAH COUNTY, I THINK THEY'RE DOING WORD FOR WORD THAT'S A LITTLE EXCESSIVE IN MY OPINION.
BUT THERE'S, THERE SEEMS LIKE THERE SHOULD BE SOME MIDDLE GROUND TO, UM, TO ALLOW PEOPLE, IF THE REASON WE'RE TAKING THE MINUTES IS SO PEOPLE CAN KEEP AN EYE ON OR SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.
I DON'T THINK THEY CURRENTLY SERVE THAT PURPOSE ENOUGH TO GET AN INSIGHT AS TO WHAT EVERYONE'S TALKING ABOUT OR WHAT THEIR ANGLE WAS OR WHY THEY VOTED, WHAT THEY VOTED OR WHATEVER.
THAT'S MY, THAT WAS MY TAKE ON THAT.
AND, AND I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S A WORK SESSION MINUTES, IT, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING WHEN WE'RE HERE AND YOU GO BACK AND YOU LOOK AT THE VIDEO, THERE IS A, A TRANSCRIPT THAT YOU, THERE'S A TRANSCRIPT TAB THAT YOU CAN CLICK AND THERE IS A TRANSCRIPT.
UM, BUT AS FAR AS I KNOW, THAT IS NOT AN OPTION AT THE WORK SESSION BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S MORE OF A YOUTUBE VIDEO.
AND, AND OF COURSE I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT THEY ARE VIDEOING THE, THE MEETING.
BUT, UM, YEAH, THESE, THESE MINUTES, I, I CAN'T SAY THAT I WOULD APPROVE THEM AS PRESENTED.
UH, AND AGAIN, THAT WILL BE A DISCUSSION FOR THIS BOARD TO HAVE BECAUSE AS FAR AS OUR POLICY, BDDG, UH, IT SAYS MINUTES ARE IN WRITING AND INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO THE DATE, TIME, LOCATION OF THE MEETING.
THE MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD RECORDED, UM, AS PRESENT OR ABSENT A SUMMARY OF THE DISCUSSION ON MATTERS PROPOSED DELIBERATED OR DECIDED AND RECORD, UH, RECORD OF ANY VOTE.
SO, UH, AS FAR AS WITH, YOU KNOW, HOW DETAILED, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU WOULD NEED TO PROBABLY LOOK AT THAT POLICY BDDG, UM, TO KIND OF DEFINE THAT.
UM, BECAUSE A SUMMARY TO ONE PERSON MAY NOT BE A SUMMARY TO ANOTHER PERSON.
AND SO WHEN WE, YOU KNOW, TO DEFINE THAT CLEAR, I MEAN THAT, I THINK THE BOARD NEEDS TO, YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION TO LOOK AT THAT POLICY, TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION AS TO HOW WHAT YOU FEEL A SUMMARY IS AND WHAT YOU GUYS ARE ACTUALLY LOOKING FOR AS A BOARD.
UM, AND THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION.
AND MAYBE WE CAN PUT IT ON THE NEXT, THE NEXT WORK SESSION OR SOMETHING TO JUST DISCUSS IT OR BRING SOME DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF IT.
AND I DON'T, ANYWAY, JUST TO GIVE ANOTHER VIEWPOINT, I DON'T, I DON'T USUALLY THINK OF MEETING MINUTES TO BE AS DETAILED AS WHAT I THINK YOU'RE DESCRIBING.
I USUALLY THINK OF IT AS SAYING THE OUTCOMES AND GENERALLY WHAT HAPPENED AND NOT REALLY GETTING INTO, YOU KNOW, THIS PERSON THOUGHT THIS AND THIS PERSON THOUGHT
[01:55:01]
THAT.I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW, JUST WHEN I LOOK AT MEETING MINUTES, THAT'S NOT USUALLY WHAT I EXPECT TO SEE.
UM, SO YEAH, I DO THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE COULD DISCUSS AS A BOARD AND SEE WHAT EVERYBODY WANTS TO DO.
YEAH, I MEAN, I TOTALLY AGREE.
I MEAN, I JUST KNOW AT ONE POINT WE TALKED ABOUT IT AND THERE SEEMED TO BE SOME AGREEMENT, BUT JUST IT SORT OF DIDN'T GO ANYWHERE.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT SHOULD GO SOMEPLACE AND IF IT ENDS UP BEING THE BOARD'S DECISION THAT YEAH, WE KIND OF LIKE THE SHORT VERSION.
WELL, THAT'S FINE TOO, BUT JUST, IT SEEMS LIKE IT JUST GOT KIND OF STUCK SOMEPLACE AND DIDN'T, DIDN'T GO ANYWHERE FURTHER.
SO IT SOUNDS LIKE MAYBE DEFINITELY A, A WORK SESSION ITEM FOR, UM, HOW WE WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH BOARD MEETING IN MINUTES, UM, FOR THE FUTURE FOR THE WORK SESSION DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION ON, ON MINUTES DISCUSSION.
DISCUSSION ON HOW WE'RE GONNA DO WORK, UH, DO, DO MEETING MINUTES FOR THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.
UM, IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE A COUPLE OF OPTIONS POTENTIALLY.
YOU KNOW, WE CAN PUT THIS TO VOTE TONIGHT.
WE COULD, UM, POSSIBLY TABLE IT IF WE COULD, IF THERE'S SPECIFIC AREAS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE FOR THEM TO GO BACK AND MAKE SOME EDITS TO, TO ADD MORE DETAIL, AND THEN WE COULD LOOK AT IT AT A DIFFERENT MEETING.
UM, I'M JUST TRYING TO BRAINSTORM ALL THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS.
I'M NOT APPROVING IT BECAUSE IT, IT IS TRUE, EVERYTHING IS TRUE, BUT I'M JUST SAYING IT JUST, IT BROUGHT TO MIND SAYING IF SOMEONE WERE TRYING TO PLAY ALONG AT HOME, THEY WOULD, THEY WOULDN'T, THEY WOULDN'T REALLY KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
SO YEAH, NO, I, I'M NOT OKAY WITH APPROVING AS, AS PRESENTED.
AND THIS IS, THIS IS THE REASON WHY WE DO VOTE TO APPROVE OR DENY MINUTES IS, IS BECAUSE YES, THE, THE POLICY SAYS THAT THERE SHOULD, IT SHOULD BE A SUMMARY, BUT THERE WAS A WHOLE SECTION OF BOARD DISCUSSION THAT WAS, WAS NOT SUMMARIZED.
SO, UM, IT SHOULD CERTAINLY BE THE PURVIEW OF THE BOARD.
I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHERE THERE HAVE BEEN LITTLE TWEAKS HERE AND THERE, AND I'LL REQUEST THEM AND, AND THEY'LL UPDATE IT.
I, I THINK, I THINK WE CAN TABLE THIS OR REQUEST REQUEST.
SO I WAS GONNA SAY, IS THIS, SO DO WE WANT TO TABLE THIS WITH WHAT SEC, IS IT THE BUDGET SECTION THAT WE WANT THAT THE REQUEST IS TO ADD MORE, HAVE MORE DETAILS IN IT? YEAH, THE REQUEST WOULD BE TO SUMMARIZE THE BOARD DISCUSSION OF THE, OF THE BUDGET SECTION OF THE WORK SESSION.
BECAUSE AGAIN, THE WORK SESSION WE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LOTS OF STUFF, WE DO LESS OF THAT HERE.
SO IT'S, AND IT'S MORE FOR THAT.
SO WE ARE GONNA TABLE THIS WITH THE WORK SESSION, UM, ITEM BEING A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAILED FROM AND, AND BROUGHT BACK TO THE BOARD THEN, RIGHT? YES.
[6.A. Board Member Requests]
THAT TAKES US TO BOARD MEMBER REQUESTS AND WE WILL START WITH MS. LOWE.UM, SO MY REQUESTS WOULD BE THAT, UM, IT KIND OF PIGGYBACKS OFF OF THESE, THESE MEETING MINUTES.
UM, AND I DO THINK THAT IT, IT WILL BE PART OF OUR, OF A POLICY REVIEW, BUT FOR OUR STANDING COMMITTEES, I THINK WE DO NEED TO INCLUDE IN THE POLICY, MAYBE SBMA CAN WORK ON THIS WITH OUR POLICY SERVICES.
UM, BUT I FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO HAVE MINUTES FROM THE, UM, THE BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETINGS, UM, BECAUSE THE, THE, THE BUDGET IS SUCH A SIGNIFICANT PART OF OUR JOB AS ELECTED OFFICIALS AND FOR THE THREE OF US WHO ARE ON THE OUTSIDE.
AND I, I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT YOU GUYS MEET THE TWO OF THE TWO OF YOU AND, AND DO ALL THE HARD WORK AND THE NITTY GRITTIES.
BUT, UM, I FEEL A BIT LEFT OUT AND WHICH THAT MEANS THEN THAT, THAT MY NORTH RIVER CONSTITUENTS ARE LEFT OUT.
AND AT THE VERY LEAST, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MEETING MINUTES COMING FROM THAT MEETING.
I KNOW WITH OUR FACILITIES COMMITTEE BUILDING COMMITTEE MEETING, UM, DR.
COSTNER WILL SEND OUT A, UM, LIKE AN OVERVIEW SUMMARY OF THE, OF THE MEETING.
UM, AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SOMEHOW STANDARDIZE THAT OUR STANDING COMMITTEE MEETINGS WILL BE, UM, PRESERVED IN A MINUTES SUMMARY, WHATEVER YOU WANNA CALL IT, FASHION, UM, GOING FORWARD.
AND THAT ANY HANDOUTS THAT ARE GIVEN AT THOSE MEETINGS WOULD ALSO THEN BE ATTACHED TO THE AGENDA SO THAT WAY THE REST OF US GET TO SEE THOSE AS WELL.
AND I DO NOT HAVE ANY, UH, BOARD REQUEST AT THIS TIME.
[7. Approval of Closed Meeting Item(s)]
NEXT DISCUSSION IS THE, UH, FY 2026 BUDGET HEALTH INSURANCE CONSIDERATIONS.[02:00:01]
SO WITH THIS ONE, I, I'VE BEEN PLAYING AROUND WITH THESE NUMBERS, UM, FOR A COUPLE WEEKS NOW.SO I THINK YOU ALL HAD THE, THE EMAIL OF THE, THE CHARTS THAT I HAD HAD PUT TOGETHER.
AND WHAT THIS INITIALLY STARTED OFF AS IS I WAS TRYING TO COMPARE WHAT, I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE OUR HEALTH INSURANCE RATE THAT, THAT ANTHEM IS, IS CHARGING US.
AND THEN FROM THERE WE HAVE TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH IS WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL'S RESPONSIBILITY, HOW MUCH IS THE EMPLOYEE'S RESPONSIBILITY? UM, AND SO MY GOAL IN DOING THIS WAS TO LOOK AT WHAT WAS OFFERED IN OTHER NEIGHBORING COUNTIES.
I WAS LOOKING AT CLARK PAGE, SHENANDOAH, AND THEN, UM, TRYING TO BRAINSTORM WAYS THAT WE COULD PLAY WITH THESE NUMBERS TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS AT LEAST, UM, ONE HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN.
I'M KIND OF TARGETING THE, THE MID-RANGE PLAN, SO THAT WAY STAFF DOES NOT HAVE TO, THAT NOBODY HAS TO BE IN A POSITION WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO LOSE MONEY, UM, PAYING FOR THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE.
NOW, MY RESEARCH TOOK A HARD LEFT TURN WHEN I WAS WATCHING THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING LAST NIGHT, AND, UM, ONE OF THE ITEMS ON THEIR AGENDA WAS TO VOTE ON, ON THEIR INSURANCE RATES.
AND SO I WENT AHEAD AND I ADDED WARREN COUNTY, NOT WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, BUT I ADDED WARREN COUNTY TO MY CHART WHERE I BROKE DOWN WHAT THEIR OVERALL RATE IS AND THEN WHAT THEIR PERCENTAGE BREAKDOWN IS FOR THE, UM, WHAT THE COUNTY PAYS VERSUS WHAT THE, UM, STAFF PAYS.
AND WHAT I NOTICED IS THEY'RE, THEY'RE ACTUALLY DOING THINGS KIND OF THE WAY THAT I'VE BEEN WANTING TO SEE US DO OUR HEALTH INSURANCE FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS.
UM, THEY HAVE A FORMULA FOR IT, UM, AT LEAST THE WAY THAT I CALCULATED IT OUT, THAT IT APPEARS THEY HAVE A PRETTY CLEAR FORMULA FOR IT.
UM, SO THEY ONLY OFFER THE TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF, OF HEALTH INSURANCE.
THEY HAVE THE KEY CARE 1000, AND THEN THEIR CADILLAC PLAN, THE, THE KEY CARE TWO 50.
NOW, THE WAY THAT THEY BREAK THEIRS DOWN IS, UM, IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN HOW WE BREAK OURS DOWN.
REMEMBER I WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW WE'VE GOT THESE FORMULAS AND, AND THE PERCENTAGES DON'T MATCH UP.
AND IN, IN SOME INSTANCES, EMPLOYEES ARE, ARE GETTING A, A BENEFIT OF UP TO LIKE $1,900 PAID FOR THEM.
IN OTHER WAYS IT'S, IT'S LESS.
AND IT JUST DIDN'T, IT NEVER FELT FAIR TO ME THAT EVERY ONE OF OUR EMPLOYEES IS, IS GETTING A, A DIFFERENT DOLLAR FIGURE FOR THEIR, FOR THEIR BENEFIT.
SO THE WAY THAT THE COUNTY BREAKS THEIRS DOWN IS, UM, THEY HAVE THEIR EMPLOYEE ONLY AMOUNT THAT THEY PAY, THEN THEY HAVE VERY SIMPLIFIED EMPLOYEE PLUS ONE.
SO WITH OURS, WE HAVE EMPLOYEE CHILD, WE HAVE EMPLOYEE SPOUSE.
THEY'RE TWO TOTALLY DIFFERENT AMOUNTS THAT GET PAID OUT.
UM, BUT THE COUNTY HAS EMPLOYEE PLUS ONE, AND THAT IS A STANDARD CONTRIBUTION.
SO THE COUNTY CONTRIBUTES $1,316 AND 61 CENTS TOWARDS EMPLOYEE PLUS ONE HEALTH COVERAGE.
IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU HAVE THE KEY CARE 1000 OR THE KEY CARE TWO 50, THEIR CONTRIBUTION IS THE SAME.
AND THEY'RE SAYING THIS IS WHAT YOUR BENEFIT IS WORTH.
YOU CHOOSE WHICH ONE OF THESE PLANS YOU WANT TO APPLY THAT TO, WHICH OBVIOUSLY THEN IF YOU'VE GOT THE CADILLAC PLAN, YOU'RE PAYING MORE OUT OF POCKET.
UM, AND THEN THEY DO THE SAME THING WITH THEIR FAMILY OPTION, WHICH THEY PAY OUT, UH, 1,600, $6 AND 10 CENTS.
WHETHER YOU TAKE THE KEY CARE 1000 OR WHETHER YOU TAKE THE KEY CARE TWO 50, THEY CONTRIBUTE THE SAME ACROSS THE BOARD.
NOW IN LOOKING AT THESE NUMBERS, THE OTHER THING THAT STOOD OUT TO ME IS THAT WHERE, WHERE OUR, OUR POLICIES COST MORE, UM, WHICH THAT JUST, IT IS WHAT IT IS.
IT, IT IS, UM, WE'VE SUSTAINED A, A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF CLAIMS THAT WE'VE MADE.
AND THAT'S WHAT'S THE DRIVING FACTOR OF OUR HEALTH INSURANCE GOING UP IS THE NUMBER OF CLAIMS THAT WE ARE MAKING.
UM, SO WHEREAS OUR KEY CARE 1000 COST $815, THE COUNTIES ONLY COST 771.
HOWEVER, WHEN I'M LOOKING AT THE COUNTY CONTRIBUTION, WHAT THE COUNTY IS SAYING THEIR EMPLOYEE IS WORTH AS PROVIDING THEM WITH THIS BENEFIT, THEIR AMOUNTS THAT THEY'RE PAYING TOWARDS THEIR COUNTY EMPLOYEES ARE ACTUALLY MORE THAN WHAT, WHAT OUR EMPLOYEES ARE BEING TOLD THAT THEY ARE WORTH.
AND I DON'T FIND THAT TO BE FAIR.
[02:05:01]
THINK THAT THAT NEEDS TO BE, THE MANNER IN WHICH WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS TOPIC IS NOT TO LOOK AT, OKAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD A 10% INCREASE IN RATES AND, AND IS THE COUNTY GONNA FUND US AT AT COVERING NONE OF THAT? OR ARE THEY GONNA FUND US AT 5% AND SPLIT IT OR 10% LIKE THAT? THAT'S LIKE IN, IN MY MIND IT'S, THAT'S JUST ALL KIND OF MINUTIAE.I THINK IT COMES DOWN TO WE'RE ALL, EVERYBODY IS A WARREN COUNTY EMPLOYEE.
THE TEACHERS ARE WARREN COUNTY EMPLOYEES.
ALL THE COUNTY SCHOOL EMPLOYEES ARE COUNTY EMPLOYEES ULTIMATELY.
SO SHOULDN'T OUR STAFF BE WORTH THE SAME CONTRIBUTION AS THE COUNTY STAFF? AND I THINK THAT'S HOW WE NEED TO STRATEGIZE THIS, THIS CONVERSATION GOING FORWARD WITH THEM IS, HEY, WARREN COUNTY, YOU BELIEVE THAT THE, THE DOLLAR FIGURE YOU HAVE PLACED ON YOUR EMPLOYEE ONLY CONTRIBUTION IS $771.
SO WE WOULD LIKE THE SAME FOR YOUR EMPLOYEE PLUS ONE.
THE VALUE YOU'VE PLACED ON THAT IS 13 16 61.
WE WOULD LIKE THE SAME VALUE PLACED ON YOUR FAMILY CONTRIBUTION IS 16 0 6 10.
AND IF WE CAN DO THAT, IT WILL PUT US IN A BETTER POSITION COST WISE, THEN PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING THAT'S BEEN OFFERED.
I KNOW, TOM, I THINK YOU'VE CRUNCHED SOME, SOME SPECIFIC NUMBERS, BUT, UM, YEAH, ONE OF THE WAYS WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT IT IS, IS IF, IF WE WERE TO GO THAT DIRECTION OR ASK FOR THAT DIRECTION, IT WOULD PROBABLY INCREASE OUR BUDGET, TO BE HONEST.
IT'S GONNA PROBABLY COST US MORE MONEY, BUT IT'D BE MORE FAIR ACROSS THE BOARD.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO IS TRYING TO, TO SAY, WELL, IF, IF, IF WE HAVE A 10.1% INCREASE, HOW MUCH OF IT'S GONNA BE PAID BY THE EMPLOYEE? HOW MUCH GONNA PAID BY US? AND, AND THAT'S HOW WE'RE LOOKING AT TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THAT, THAT MEASUREMENT, IF WE SAY, FORGET ABOUT ALL THAT, AND LET'S JUST SAY COUNTY, YOU SAY YOU'RE GONNA PAY 7 71 PER PERSON, HOW ABOUT YOU PAY 7, 7 1 FOR OUR PERSON PER PERSON AND LET'S JUST RUN THE DICE AND SEE HOW THAT WORKS OUT.
IF THAT HAPPENS, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT OUR EMPLOYEES WOULD SAVE WOULD BE WELL BELOW A LOT MORE THAN WHAT THEY WOULD IF WE DID THE, YOU KNOW, 5%, 7%, 8% OF THE INCREASE.
IT COULD BE QUITE SUBSTANTIAL SAVINGS ON BEHALF OF THIS, OF THE, OF THE, OF OUR EMPLOYEES.
SO THAT'S ONE WAY OF LOOKING AT THE, THE, THIS SYSTEM INSTEAD OF EVERY YEAR JUST SAYING, WELL, IT'S, IT'S INCREASING BY THIS AMOUNT.
HOW MUCH ARE WE GONNA ABSORB? HOW MUCH IS EVERYONE GOING TO AB ABSORB IF WE SAY THE WHOLE COUNT? WE TRIED AT ONE POINT TO SAY THE COUNTY SHOULD GET TOGETHER, WE SHOULD HAVE ONE JUST BIG, ONE BIG HEALTHCARE PLAN.
FOR WHATEVER REASON, IT'S, IT'S NOT BENEFICIAL FOR THAT, FOR THE COUNTY'S POINT OF VIEW BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY MORE EMPLOYEES.
BUT IF WE CAN SAY YOU GUYS JUST WENT TO, TO THE POINT OF, OF, OF GIVING YOUR EMPLOYEES A SPECIAL DEAL, A SPECIAL DISCOUNT, OR A SPECIAL, UM, ALLOTMENT, WE'D LIKE THAT SAME ALLOTMENT.
'CAUSE I THINK OUR EMPLOYEES ARE WORTH AS MUCH AS YOUR EMPLOYEES ARE, AND SO WHY SHOULD THEY HAVE TO SUFFER, UH, IF YOU'RE GONNA DO THAT FOR YOUR EMPLOYEES.
SO THAT'S AN IDEA THAT COULD BE TALKED ABOUT AT OUR MEETING TOMORROW WHEN WE'RE, WHEN WE'RE TALKING WITH THEM.
ANOTHER ONE IS TO TRY TO DO, CRUNCH THE NUMBERS AND TRY TO GET SOME SPECIFIC PERCENTAGES OF, UM, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE ALL THESE, WE HAVE ABOUT FIVE OR SIX DIFFERENT PLANS FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.
SOMETIMES THE, WE ARE PAYING 80% OF IT AND THEN PEOPLE ARE PAYING 20%.
SOMETIMES IT'S 60%, THEY'RE PAYING 40%.
THERE'S NO, THERE'S NO SET SYSTEM.
AND SO IT'D BE GOOD TO LOOK AT IT AND SAY, WELL, LET'S PUT SOMETHING IN PLACE.
AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS, I THINK OUR LAST MEETING ABOUT AT ONE POINT IN OUR, IN OUR HISTORY, IT WAS SORT OF MORE DEFINED AND THEN WE, WE STARTED CHANGING THINGS MONKEYING WITH THIS BUSINESS FOR, FOR VARIOUS REASONS.
SO I THINK THERE'S WAYS OF TRYING TO MAKE EVERYONE HAPPY IN A SENSE OF NOT OVERCHARGING OUR EMPLOYEES WHO ARE, WHO, WHO ARE VALUABLE AND WHO NEED THE, THE INSURANCE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME BE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO MAKE IT FINANCIALLY WORK FOR THE COUNTY TO BE ABLE TO AGREE TO IT AND SAY, AND SO I THINK ONE OF THE WAYS IS TO SAY, HEY, COUNTY PEOPLE, YOU, YOU THINK SO MUCH OF YOUR EMPLOYEES, WE THINK SO MUCH OF OUR EMPLOYEES.
HOW ABOUT WE JUST GIVE THEM THE SAME, WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR MORE, WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR LESS.
AND IF THAT HAPPENED, I THINK IT'D BE VERY BENEFICIAL FOR EVERYBODY.
AND I MEAN, IT WAS S THAT CAME UP WITH ALL THIS, BUT I THINK, LOOK, CRUNCHING THE NUMBERS, IT WOULD BE QUITE A SAVINGS THAT WOULD BE WAY BETTER THAN US TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, UH, COVERING 7% OF THE INCREASE OR 5% OF THE INCREASE OR 6% OF THE INCREASE BASED ON SOME, SOME NUMBERS THAT I'VE, I'VE GIVEN ALL OF YOU.
AGAIN, IT'S JUST PURELY AS THEY SAY, JUST ON THE NAPKIN FINANCE LOOKING AT IT.
BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE ONE, IT WOULD BE, IT'S DEFINITELY A UNIQUE WAY OF LOOKING AT IT.
YEAH, I WANNA SAY, I THINK THIS IS AN INTERESTING PROPOSAL AND THANK YOU MRS. SALAN FOR TAKING THE TIME TO PUT THIS TOGETHER AND BRING IT TO US.
UM, REAL QUICKLY, WOULD WE BE ABLE TO PUT THIS ON THE BOARD DOCS AFTER OUR MEETING SO THAT PEOPLE COULD SEE IT, THE FINGER, THE FIGURE THAT SHE, I HAVEN'T YOU, I CAN EMAIL IT TO YOU.
I THINK I EMAILED YOU THE, THE LITTLE DIFFERENT CHARTS THAT I'D PUT TOGETHER.
[02:10:01]
TAKE A LOOK IF THEY WANT TO.UM, YEAH, I THINK THAT'S INTERESTING.
I'D BE INTERESTED TO HEAR WHAT, UM, THEY SAY IN YOUR MEETING TOMORROW.
SO YEAH, I THINK IT'S INTERESTING.
AND THEN I THINK THE REAL ASK WOULD, WOULD FALL UNBURDENING MR. VALENTINE, BECAUSE I'M SURE WE WOULD HAVE TO RUN THE NUMBERS THROUGH THE, THROUGH THE BIG SPREADSHEET AND CALCULATE OUT WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE IF WE DID MOVE TO THEIR MODEL WITH THEIR CONTRIBUTION AMOUNTS.
WOULD THAT BE DOABLE? SURE, WE CAN DO THAT.
AND, UH, MY GUESS IS THIS GONNA BE VERY BENEFICIAL, UM, IF WE COULD GET FUNDED AT THAT LEVEL.
AND WE, WE HAVE A MEETING TOMORROW, SO, UM, I THINK THAT'LL BE A, CERTAINLY A DISCUSSION PIECE.
ANY OTHER, UH, DISCUSSION ON THAT? ALL RIGHT.
UM, PERSONNEL, I MOVE THAT THE MAY 7TH, 2025 PERSONNEL REPORT AND THE PERSONNEL REPORT ADDENDUM BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED.
YOU WANTED A TWO? UH, THIS IS JUST FOR THE PERSONNEL REPORT AND PERSONNEL ADDENDUM.
UH, ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.
OPPOSED? I MOVE THAT THE WARREN COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD APPROVED THE WCPS STAFF, REAPPOINTMENT FY 25, 26, AND PART-TIME AND SUPPLEMENTAL EMPLOYEES FY 25 26.
UH, MR. VALENTINE, CAN YOU DO ROLL CALL? MRS. LOWE? AYE.
MADAM VICE CHAIR, AB STATE MR. MCFADDEN? AYE.