Dec 03, 2025 Board Meeting

[00:00:05]

MS. ALENS, COULD YOU

[1. Closed Meeting - 5:30 p.m.]

THIS MOTION IS MADE THAT THIS OPEN PUBLIC MEETING OF THE WARREN COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD BECOME ENCLO MEETING PURSUANT TO VIRGINIA CODE SECTION 2.2 DASH 3 7 1.

THE SCHOOL BOARD DESIRES TO DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING MATTER IN ENCLO MEETING, SECTION 2.2 DASH 3 7 1 A ONE.

DISCUSSION, CONSIDERATION, 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 AND THE PERSONAL REPORT ADDENDUM.

IS THERE A SECOND? I SECOND IT.

MR. VALENTINE, COULD YOU DO ROLL CALL DR.

FUNK? AYE.

MRS. LOWE? AYE.

MR. MCFADDEN? AYE.

MADAM CHAIR? AYE.

MRS. SALAN? AYE.

THANK YOU.

MS. SALAN, COULD YOU READ US OUT

[2. Meeting Opening - 6:30 p.m. ]

ACCORDING TO THE VOTES RECORDED BY THE CLERK, THE SCHOOL BOARD OF WARREN COUNTY DOES HEREBY CERTIFY THAT TO THE BEST OF EACH MEMBER'S KNOWLEDGE, ONE, ONLY PUBLIC BUSINESS MATTERS, LAWFULLY EXEMPTED FROM OPEN MEETING REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE VIRGINIA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT WERE DISCUSSED IN THE CLOSED MEETING TO WHICH 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? SECOND, MR. VALENTINE, COULD YOU DO ROLL CALL, PLEASE? YES.

MRS. SALANS.

AYE.

MADAM CHAIR? AYE.

MR. MCFADDEN? AYE.

MRS. LOWE? AYE.

DR.

FUNK? AYE.

THANK YOU.

WE'LL GET OUR MEETING STARTED.

[2.A. Call to Order - Pledge of Allegiance and Moment of Silence - School Board Chair ]

I PLEDGE.

ALL AYE.

OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

FIRST UP THIS EVENING, IS

[2.B. Accept or Modify the Agenda - School Board ]

IS THERE A SECOND? A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

OPPOSE? NO.

THANK YOU.

YOU GOT THAT MR. BENE? THANK YOU.

NEXT UP THIS

[2.C. Attendance Award Presentation - Dr. Wright ]

COSTNER .

IT'S A TEAM EFFORT TONIGHT.

, UH, YES, MADAM CHAIR, UM, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE JOINING AND WATCHING.

I I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TONIGHT TO RECOGNIZE OUR HIGHEST ATTENDANCE PERCENTAGE FOR, UM, THE AWARDS FOR NOVEMBER AND THE, FOR THE ELEMENTARY, IT GOES TO AS ROADS ELEMENTARY WITH AN ATTENDANCE RATE OF 95.24.

SO SOMEONE FROM AS ROADS IS HERE IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK.

MADAM CHAIR MEMBERS, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU, UM, BOTH FOR RECOGNIZING US FOR THIS.

UM, OBVIOUSLY WE HAVEN'T BEEN HERE MUCH THIS YEAR.

USUALLY WE WE'RE DOING A BETTER JOB, BUT, UM, OUR CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM RATE IS STAYING UNDER 14% SO, SO FAR FOR THIS YEAR.

SO THAT'S AN IMPROVEMENT FOR US.

UH, DEFINITELY OVER LAST YEAR IS ABOUT A TWO PERCENTAGE POINTS LOWER THAN WE WERE AT THIS TIME LAST YEAR.

SO, UM, EVEN THOUGH WE'VE HAD SOME ILLNESS AND THAT'S IMPACTED DAILY ATTENDANCE IN TERMS OF THAT CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM, WHICH IS WHAT COUNTS AT THE END TOWARDS OUR ACCREDITATION, THAT WE ARE KEEPING THAT, UM, UNDER CONTROL.

AND JUST A SHOUT OUT TO MR. CIDER'S CLASS.

THEY HAD THE HIGHEST ATTENDANCE FOR THE SCHOOL FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER, SO SHOUT OUT TO THEM.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

OBJECTIONS.

[00:05:01]

EXCELLENT.

THANK YOU.

NEXT UP, I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE OUR HIGHEST ATTENDANCE PERCENTAGE FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER FOR OUR SECONDARY SCHOOLS.

AND IT GOES TO, SHALL WE ALL SAY IT TOGETHER, WARREN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL AT 93.75%.

THANK YOU.

I TRIED TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE PREPARED, UH, THIS TIME.

UH, IT IS A CONTINUED HONOR TO ACCEPT THE WCPS SECONDARY ATTENDANCE AWARD.

UH, JUST BY MY COUNT, I BELIEVE THIS IS LIKE THE 16TH OR 17TH CONSECUTIVE MONTH, UH, IN A ROW NOW, UH, , AND I'M NOT SAYING ANYTHING.

I'M JU I AM GLAD TO BE HERE.

UH, WE DO BELIEVE THAT ATTENDANCE IS THE FOUNDATION OF LEARNING AT WARREN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE THINGS THAT WE DO, UM, JUST TO ENCOURAGE ATTENDANCE, UH, BECAUSE I KNOW STUDENTS ARE, UH, IT'S EASIER TO GET THEM TO SCHOOL WHEN THEY KNOW THAT, UH, IT'S AN EXCITING PLACE TO BE.

SO, A COUPLE THINGS WE'VE DONE IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER.

UH, WE HAD OUR RED RIBBON WEEK WITH WARREN COALITION.

THEY CAME OUT, WE HAD GAMES AND PRIZES TO HELP REMIND STUDENTS, UH, ABOUT, UH, AVOIDING DANGEROUS HABITS AND BEING KIND TO OTHERS.

WE HAD A SPIRIT WEEK, UH, GOING ALONG WITH THAT, THAT ENDED WITH HALLOWEEN.

SO ON HALLOWEEN DAY, WE LET STUDENTS WEAR, UH, THEIR COSTUMES TO SCHOOL.

UH, THEY LOVED THAT.

UM, THIS MONTH IN DECEMBER, EVERY, WE HAVE A SPIRIT DAY FOR EVERY, UH, DAY OF THE MONTH FOR DECEMBER.

UH, TODAY WAS, I'M DREAMING OF A WHITE CHRISTMAS.

UH, I'M GLAD WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT YESTERDAY, UH, WHERE WE ASKED ALL OF OUR STUDENTS TO WEAR WHITE.

UH, AND THE KINDNESS CHALLENGE FOR TODAY WAS INVITING SOMEONE NEW TO EAT LUNCH WITH YOU.

WE ALSO HAVE REGULAR DANCES.

SO TODAY WE HAD A DANCE AFTER SCHOOL THAT I JUST LEFT.

UH, WE TRY TO KEEP THINGS FUN AND WANTING KIDS TO BE THERE AT SCHOOL.

AND THEN ALSO AT THE, UM, GENERALLY THE LAST FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH, WE HAVE A SPECIAL RECESS FOR ALL THE STUDENTS, UH, TO RECOGNIZE THEM, UH, WHEN THEY'RE MEETING OUR ACADEMIC BEHAVIORAL AND ATTENDANCE, EXPECT EXPECTATIONS.

UH, SO THAT'S JUST SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING THAT I WANTED TO SHARE.

UH, BUT I WANT TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION AGAIN FOR HAVING THE ATTENDANCE ORDINANCE AGAIN, UH, MY HONOR TO RECEIVE THAT ON BEHALF OF WARREN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

NEXT UP, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THE SCHOOL THAT HAD THE MOST IMPROVED ATTENDANCE IN THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER.

AND IT GOES TO RUSTY JEFFRIES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

LORD, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IT'S, UM, I THINK THIS IS OUR FIRST TIME THIS YEAR THAT WE'VE BEEN, WE'VE BEEN UP HERE.

SO, UH, WE JUST WANNA SAY THAT WE TRY TO MAKE EVERY DAY EXCITING AND SPECIAL FOR OUR STUDENTS, AND WE WANNA MAKE EVERY DAY A DAY THAT THEY WANNA COME TO SCHOOL.

UM, SO THAT, THAT'S NOTHING FABULOUS OR ANYTHING THAT WE DO SPECIAL.

REALLY, WE JUST WANT THEM THERE EVERY DAY AND LET THEM KNOW THAT WE LOVE THEM EVERY DAY.

SO GOOD.

WELL, WE, WE ARE DOING, UM, WE HAVE QUITE THE COMPETITIVE GROUP AT OUR SCHOOL.

IF YOU'VE BEEN THERE, YOU KNOW, OUR TEACHERS.

SO WE HAVE TURNED THE ATTENDANCE COMPETITION TO TEACHERS, NOT GRADE LEVELS.

SO THEY'VE GOTTEN VERY COMPETITIVE.

THEY GET, UM, RECESS COVERED BY ONE OF US IF THEY WIN.

SO THAT HAS HELPED ENCOURAGE THEM AS WELL.

THANK YOU ALL.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

NEXT UP THIS EVENING,

[2.D. Community Participation ]

I AM NOT GONNA READ THIS LONG THING.

WE'RE JUST GONNA SAY IT'S THREE MINUTES FOR EACH SPEAKER.

AND MR. VALENTINE, HAS ANYONE SIGNED UP THIS EVENING? OH, I'M SORRY.

SO NOW, OKAY.

IS THERE ANY YEP.

COACH BROWN, MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DR. WRIGHT.

I'M JEFF BROWN, A VOLUNTEER TENNIS COACH AT SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL TO THE SCHOOL BOARD.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR FUNDING THE REPAIR OF SKYLINES COURTS THIS FALL AND WARREN COUNTY COURTS THIS COMING SPRING.

THE 16 COURTS OF THE TWO SCHOOLS WERE CLOSED SINCE THE BEGINNING OF

[00:10:01]

NOW THEY CAN BE OPEN WITHOUT THE REPAIRS, THERE WOULD BE NO 2026 SEASON.

THE BOYS AND GIRLS ON THE FOUR TENNIS TEAMS ARE EXCITED AND SO IS THE WARREN COUNTY TENNIS COMMUNITY.

THE REPAIRS ARE A TEMPORARY FIX THAT GIVES US TIME TO EXAMINE LONGER TERM SOLUTIONS TO REPLACE ALL 16 COURTS USING PROPER CONSTRUCTION METHODS APPROPRIATE FOR THE SHIFTING SUBSURFACE BENEATH THE EXISTING COURTS.

I ASKED FOR THE CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THIS BOARD IN TWO WAYS.

FIRST, TO CONTINUE TO MAKE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE TWO HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS COURTS A HIGH PRIORITY IN THE ANNUAL BUDGET.

THESE 16 COURTS WILL SOON BE THE ONLY PUBLIC COURTS IN THE ENTIRE COUNTY.

AND SECOND, TO SUPPORT AN EFFORT TO IDENTIFY AND SEEK GRANTS TO DEFRAY THE COSTS OF COURT CONSTRUCTION.

WE'VE COMPILED A LIST OF STATE AND FOUNDATION GRANT OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE FOR CONSTRUCTION OF PUBLIC TENNIS COURTS.

ONE OF THE MOST PROMISING IS THE VIRGINIA LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND, STATE AND LOCAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THAT WILL PROVIDE UP TO 50% OF AN APPROVED PROJECT.

THE COUNTY HAS ALREADY RECEIVED A GRANT FROM THE WATER CONSERVATION FUND THROUGH WORK DONE BY THE NORTHERN SHENANDOAH VALLEY REGIONAL COMMISSION.

I ASK THIS BOARD TO SUPPORT A REQUEST TO THE REGIONAL COMMISSION TO TAKE ON THE PROJECT OF IDENTIFYING AND BIDDING ON GRANTS FOR RECONSTRUCTION OF OUR HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS COURTS.

THE GOAL IS A PERMANENT SOLUTION AT A REASONABLE PRICE.

THANK YOU AGAIN.

YOU MADE A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE AND A BUNCH OF US ADULTS VERY, VERY HAPPY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK THIS EVENING? OKAY, NEXT UP THIS EVENING, WE'RE GONNA HAVE

[3.A. Public Hearing on the Fiscal Year 2027 Budget - Dr. Wright/School Board Chair ]

ON THE FISCAL YEAR 2027 BUDGET, THE SCHOOL BOARD SUPERINTENDENT AND STAFF HAVE BEGUN THE PROCESS OF BUILDING A PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FY 2027, WHICH WILL BE JULY 1ST, 2026 TO JUNE 30TH, 2027.

TO ASSIST WITH PRIORITIZING THE NEEDS OF THE SCHOOL DIVISION, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE INVITED TO SHARE INPUT ON THEIR PRIORITIES AND IDEAS FOR THE PROPOSED FY 2027 SCHOOL BUDGET.

NOTICE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS ADVERTISED IN THE NOVEMBER 20TH, 2025 AND NOVEMBER 21ST, 2025 ADDITIONS OF THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA DAILY.

THERE WILL BE AN ADDITIONAL PUBLIC HEARING HELD IN 2026 ONCE THE SUPERINTENDENT'S PROPOSED BUDGET IS INTRODUCED TO ALLOW FOR ADDITIONAL PUBLIC INPUT.

THIS WILL BE THE SAME THREE MINUTES.

UM, YOU'RE WELCOME TO SPEAK AGAIN.

AND IS THERE ANYONE HERE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE BUDGET THIS EVENING? GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE.

OKAY.

PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.

NEXT UP

[4. Consent Agenda]

WE HAVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.

IS THERE A MOTION? MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE TO ACCEPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.

IS THERE A SECOND? I SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.

AYE.

OPPOSED? NO.

THANK YOU.

NEXT UP THIS

[5.A. Superintendent ]

WELCOME TO YOUR FIRST MEETING, DR. WRIGHT, AND YOU GET TO GO FIRST.

THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE SUPERINTENDENT COMMENTS.

UM, FIRST OF ALL, MR. BROWN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT, UM, OUR TENNIS COURTS.

I'VE READ UP FROM DR.

MARTIN'S FRIDAY MEMOS AND HE'S KEPT ME UP TO SPEED THAT, UH, THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROJECT.

SO I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT.

UH, THEY ARE PLAYABLE AND I APPRECIATE YOUR FEEDBACK REGARDING A MORE PERMANENT SOLUTION.

SO WE'LL CERTAINLY FOLLOW UP WITH YOU, UH, ON THOSE DETAILS AND, AND GET BACK WITH YOU.

SO I APPRECIATE THAT.

UH, TO OUR PRINCIPALS THAT ARE HERE TODAY, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ATTENDANCE.

I WAS ABLE TO GET OUT TO SOME SCHOOLS FOR THE FIRST TIME OFFICIALLY TODAY.

SO I APPRECIATE, UH, FIRSTHAND WHAT, UH, WE ARE DOING TO, UH, TO MOTIVATE STUDENTS TO COME TO SCHOOL.

AND IT REALLY IS MORE THAN A CONTEST.

UH, IT'S, THE BANNER IS GREAT, BUT IT'S REALLY, IT'S MORE THAN THAT.

AND IT'S REALLY A CULTURE THAT, UH, I HAD A REALLY GOOD GLIMPSE OF TODAY IN THE SCHOOLS THAT I VISITED.

IT'S THE CULTURE THAT THE PRINCIPALS CREATE, THE COMMUNITY ALL COMING TOGETHER SO THAT OUR KIDS ARE LOVED ON.

I HEARD THAT MENTIONED.

THEY KNOW THEY'RE GONNA BE APPRECIATED AND THEY'RE GONNA BE, THEY KNOW THEY'RE GONNA BE LOVED ON WHEN THEY, THEY SHOW UP TO SCHOOL.

AND, UM, AND IT'S, IT'S HAPPENING.

SO, AND YOU'RE DEFINITELY MAKING A DIFFERENCE.

SO I APPRECIATE THE PRINCIPLES AND THE HARD WORK YOU'RE DOING TO GET, TO GET OUR KIDS NOT ONLY TO SCHOOL, BUT TO WANT TO COME TO SCHOOL 'CAUSE THEY KNOW SOMEONE CARES FOR THEM.

UH, SO TODAY IS, UH,

[00:15:01]

AS A NEW SUPERINTENDENT, I WAS ABLE TO SEND OUT A BRIEF INTRODUCTORY MESSAGE, WHICH I PLAN TO DO ON DAY ONE, BUT DAY ONE WAS FULL OF LOTS OF OTHER THINGS THAT GOT, UH, IN THE WAY.

SO I APPRECIATED A REMINDER FROM, UH, DR.

COSTNER TODAY TO GET THAT, UH, OUT THERE.

SO THANK YOU DR.

COSTNER.

UM, DAY ONE WAS MET WITH A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS AND MAKE A DECISION ABOUT INCLEMENT WEATHER.

UH, I DID NOT ANTICIPATE THAT.

UH, I HAVE A NEWFOUND APPRECIATION OF ALL THINGS WEATHER THANKS TO MR. MITCHELL, OUR DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION.

SO IF YOU EVER HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE WEATHER APPRECI, UH, REACH OUT TO MR. MITCHELL AND HE WILL ENLIGHTEN YOU ABOUT, UH, ALL THE WEATHER AND IN WARREN COUNTY.

SO I APPRECIATE THAT.

AND DR.

COSTNER IN HELPING US MAKE OUR TWO HOUR DELAYED DECISION.

UH, I THINK THAT WORKED OUT, UH, WELL, AND I'M ALMOST GLAD WE COULD, UH, TO GET TO SCHOOL, UM, AND NOT HAVE TO CANCEL AND THE WEATHER HELD OUT.

SO, UH, APPRECIATE THAT.

UH, SUPPORT.

I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE WARM WELCOME I'VE RECEIVED.

UH, I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO MEET NEW MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND BEGIN DEVELOPING RELATIONSHIPS.

SO, UH, SO MY GOAL IS TO GET SETTLED IN AND, AND REALLY GET STARTED, UH, AND, AND SORT OF DIGGING INTO THE COMMUNITY.

BUT, UH, SO IT'S BEEN A, UH, IT'S BEEN A LOT.

IT'S BEEN GREAT, BUT IT'S BEEN A LOT AS JUST TRYING TO GET, UH, AS MEMBERS OF STAFF HAVE BROUGHT ME UP TO SPEED ON, ON THE MANY THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN, UH, IN THE WORKS.

SO I APPRECIATE, UH, GETTING BROUGHT UP TO SPEED AND GETTING ALL THE ONBOARDING THINGS TAKEN CARE OF THROUGH HR.

UH, TODAY I MET WITH THE PRINCIPALS AT HILDE J BARBER ELEMENTARY, UH, WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL AND E WILSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

UH, AND THEN I HAVE SCHEDULED MEETINGS WITH ALL THE OTHER PRINCIPALS TO HAPPEN AT THEIR SCHOOLS BEFORE THE HOLIDAY BREAK.

UM, TODAY WAS WONDERFUL.

EACH SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT AND, UH, CULTURE IS DIFFERENT.

YOU CAN SEE IT AND FEEL IT RIGHT WHEN YOU WALK IN, BUT THEY'RE ALL WONDERFUL IN THEIR OWN SEPARATE WAYS.

SO IT WAS REALLY GREAT TO BE THERE WITH THE PRINCIPALS AND TO HAVE THEM, UH, WE GOT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT FIRST, AND THEN WE GOT TO WALK AROUND THE BUILDINGS AND THEY GOT TO SHOW OFF THEIR SCHOOLS.

THEY GOT TO MEET A LOT OF TEACHERS, GOING TO SOME CLASSROOMS, UH, LUNCH AND JUST, AND JUST MEET STUDENTS AND STAFF AND, UH, UH, AND THE PRINCIPALS GOT TO BRAG ON THEIR SCHOOLS, WHICH, WHICH THEY REALLY ENJOYED DOING.

AND I ENJOYED HEARING ALL THE GREAT THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING.

SO, SO MUCH SO THAT I FEEL LIKE, AND I DON'T, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ON THIS, ON ANY OF THE AGENDAS I'VE SEEN, BUT I THINK THERE'S SO MANY GOOD THINGS HAPPENING.

I WOULD PROPOSE IN THE FUTURE, UH, WHEN WE GET TO OUR JANUARY, UH, SCHEDULE THAT WE ADD A SECTION FOR INSTRUCTIONAL HIGHLIGHTS, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF HIGHLIGHTS THAT I THINK OUR BOARD AND OUR COMMUNITY WOULD LIKE, UH, TO SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR SCHOOLS AND TO HAVE OUR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS COME IN AND SHARE SOME OF THE WONDERFUL INSTRUCTIONAL THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING.

SO, UH, AND TO REALLY GET INSTRUCTION, UH, IN THE FOREFRONT OF THE CONVERSATION.

SO THAT'LL BE SOMETHING I'LL, I'LL, I'LL PROPOSE AND HOPEFULLY OUR, WE CAN, WE CAN ADD THAT IN IN SOME FASHION TO OUR, TO OUR MEETINGS IN THE FUTURE.

UH, LATER THIS WEEK, I'LL BE MEETING WITH, UH, WARREN COUNTY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.

I BELIEVE THAT'S TOMORROW.

AND THEN I'LL MEET WITH SHERIFF KLEIN ON FRIDAY.

UH, SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THOSE MEETINGS.

UH, RACHEL DRAKE, OUR DIRECTOR OF HR, SHARED THAT WE DO HAVE 14 VACANCIES.

UH, I WON'T GO INTO THE SPECIFICS OF THOSE, BUT IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE THAT LOOKS LOOKING FOR, UH, WE HAVE TEACHING OPENINGS.

WE HAVE, UH, A LOT OF, UM, ASSISTANT OPENINGS AND, AND SEVERAL OTHERS.

SO IF YOU ARE INCLINED TO LOOK FOR THAT OR YOU KNOW, SOMEONE, PLEASE DIRECT THEM TO OUR WEBSITE, UH, OR OUR HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT.

AND I WANT TO ALSO THANK, UH, DR.

FUNK AND MS. LOWE FOR THEIR SERVICE ON THE BOARD.

I ENJOYED GETTING TO KNOW YOU BOTH, UH, DURING THE INTERVIEW PROCESS AND SINCE THEN, AND I HOPE THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO KEEP IN TOUCH.

I ALSO WANNA WELCOME MR. KLEIN AND MS. JONES AS I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU BOTH.

UH, LASTLY, UH, I WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT MY WIFE AND I HOPE TO BE CLOSING ON A HOME SOON IN WARREN COUNTY.

THAT'S BEEN AN ADVENTURE.

UM, BUT THAT LOOKS LIKE THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN NEXT WEEK.

UH, WE'RE BOTH VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING SETTLED PERMANENTLY IN WARREN COUNTY AND REALLY STARTING TO INVEST AND GET INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY.

SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR THAT.

THAT'S ALL MY COMMENTS FOR THIS EVENING.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, DR. WRIGHT.

NEXT UP

[5.B. School Board ]

FUNK AND MS. LOWE AS YOU TRANSITION ONTO YOUR, YOUR NEXT VENTURE.

AND WELCOME THE, THE NEW BOARD MEMBERS WHO WILL BE JOINING US NEXT MONTH.

AND, UM, THEN I WOULD JUST LIKE TO WISH EVERYBODY A HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON.

THAT'S ALL.

THANK YOU, MS. SALANS.

MS. LOW,

[00:20:01]

I ALSO WANTED TO WELCOME DR. WRIGHT, UM, TO THE FIRST MEETING HERE.

AND I HOPE THAT YOU HAVE, UM, A WONDERFUL REST OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

I'M SURE IT'S A LITTLE, UM, CHAOTIC COMING IN THE MIDDLE LIKE YOU HAVE, AND RIGHT INTO A HOLIDAY OR, UH, WEATHER SITUATION AS WELL.

BUT, UM, I THINK IT'LL, UH, REALLY BE A GOOD SITUATION FOR ALL INVOLVED.

SO, WELCOME.

UM, THIS MONTH SINCE OUR LAST MEETING, UM, I DID ATTEND THE TH THANKSGIVING LUNCH AT RESI JEFFRIES ELEMENTARY, WHICH WAS, UM, REALLY NICE.

AND I KNOW A LOT OF OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS DO THAT.

IT'S A GREAT WAY TO BE ABLE TO GET IN AND SIT AND TALK TO MY CHILD AND A COUPLE OF HER FRIENDS AND HER FRIEND'S PARENTS, AND SEE THE STAFF.

AND THE PRINCIPAL WAS HELPING TO SERVE LUNCH THAT DAY.

UM, SO IT WAS GREAT TO SEE EVERYONE.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

UM, AND SINCE THIS IS MY LAST MEETING AS A BOARD MEMBER, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU, UM, IN PARTICULAR TO ALL OF OUR TEACHERS AND STAFF WHO DO SUCH A WONDERFUL JOB WITH OUR STUDENTS, TEACHING MY TWO CHILDREN AS WELL AS THOUSANDS OF OTHER STUDENTS ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY.

UM, AND THANK YOU TO OUR WHOLE COMMUNITY, AND ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO REACH OUT TO THE BOARD WITH YOUR COMMENTS AND FEEDBACK.

UM, WE DON'T ALWAYS AGREE, BUT I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US AS A COMMUNITY TO BE TALKING TO EACH OTHER, LISTENING.

UM, I ALWAYS TRY TO SPEAK WITH, UM, CIVILITY AND TRY TO LISTEN WITH CURIOSITY.

AND THAT IS WHAT I HOPE FOR THE FUTURE FOR THIS COMMUNITY.

THE MORE WE KEEP TALKING TO EACH OTHER AND SHARING OUR OPINIONS AND SAYING WHAT WE THINK, I THINK THE STRONGER THAT WE'LL ALL BE.

SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE, EVEN, EVEN IF WE HAVEN'T ALWAYS AGREED.

THANK YOU, MR. MCFADDEN.

UM, I ALSO AM HAPPY THAT DR.

TROY WRIGHT IS HERE WITH US TONIGHT.

UM, BASED ON WHAT WE LEARNED FROM HIM THROUGH THE EXTENSIVE INTERVIEW PROCESS, I'M VERY EXCITED FOR WHAT WE'LL BRING TO OUR WONDERFUL SCHOOLS AND COUNTY.

SO WELCOME TO WARREN COUNTY.

I WANT TO FORMALLY THANK DR. DAVID MARTIN FOR HIS ROLE AS INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT AND FOR THE MARK THAT HE LEFT IN OUR SCHOOLS CHILDREN, COMMUNITY AT LARGE, AND MYSELF AS WELL.

UH, WE WERE THANKFUL TO HAVE HIM.

AND, UM, I'VE BEEN WORKING ON A COMBINED FOR THE PAST COUPLE WEEKS, UH, COMBINED SCHOOL BOARD GOVERNANCE AND OPERATING PROTOCOL HANDBOOK, WHICH WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT A LITTLE BIT HERE.

BUT JUST SO YOU KNOW WHERE IT CAME FROM.

UM, LAST MEETING WE PUT, WE HAD A CODE OF ETHICS AND PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT, AS WELL AS A GOVERNING PROTOCOL, UM, DOCUMENT.

I'VE CREATED A SORT OF A, UH, ONE STOP SHOP BOOKLET THAT I WILL GIVE TO THE NEW MEMBERS TO, TO LOOK OVER FOR THE NEXT MEETING.

AND IF, IF WE PUT THIS UP ON THERE.

AND IT SORT OF COMBINES EVERYTHING TO BE A GOVERNANCE AND OPERATING PROTOCOL HANDBOOK FOR US AS BOARD MEMBERS TO READ THROUGH AND ALSO FOR THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING TOO.

SO, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT, BUT THAT'S BEEN TAKING A BIT OF TIME ON THAT, TRYING TO KEEP IT UP TO STANDARDS OF THAT WE NEED TO HAVE ON STANDARDS FOR, UM, I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THE SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY THAT'S BEEN ON, ITS, YOU KNOW, 20TH READING AT THIS POINT.

BUT, UM, TODAY WE RECEIVED SOME THINGS FROM DR.

COSTNER WITH SOME INPUT FROM THE, FROM DIFFERENT ADMINISTRATORS, VERY GOOD INPUT.

SO I RE REVISED A VERSION OF IT TO INCLUDE SOME OF THAT.

IT WAS VERY EASY TO FIGURE OUT THE THINGS THAT MOST PEOPLE HAD AN ISSUE WITH.

AND ACTUALLY THEY WERE VERY GREAT INSIGHTS.

MOST OF 'EM WERE FREE SPEECH ISSUES THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN OUT IN A SENSE, BECAUSE PEOPLE DESERVE THEIR FREE SPEECH.

BUT ANYWAY, WE, THAT'LL BE A NEW, A NEW ISSUE ON THAT AS WELL.

UM, THIS MORNING I TOOK PART IN THE BLUE RIDGE TEXT MOCK INTERVIEW EVENT.

THAT WAS PRETTY COOL.

UM, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTERVIEW SOME OF THE STUDENTS IN ORDER TO GIVE THEM THE EXPERIENCE OF INTERVIEWING, BUT ALSO TO GIVE THEM SOME TIPS ON WHAT THEY DID WELL AND WHAT THEY COULD DO BETTER IN THE FUTURE.

I'M THANKFUL TO VINCE GREG FOR THE USE OF HIS OFFICE, UM, AND MOST ESPECIALLY TO ANNA WALTON, THE WORK BASED LEARNING COORDINATOR FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTERACT MORE WITH THE STUDENTS OF WARREN COUNTY.

IT WAS A GOOD EXPERIENCE.

UM, IT WAS GREAT AS A BOARD MEMBER TO TO, TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.

AND THEN FINALLY, I'D LIKE TO WISH ANDREW LOWE AND ANTOINETTE FUNK ALL THE BEST AS THEY LEAVE OUR SCHOOL BOARD.

I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR ALL THEY DID TO HELP WARREN COUNTY SCHOOL BOARDS MOVE FORWARD OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS.

I APPRECIATE YOUR COLLEGIALITY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MR. MCFADDEN.

DR.

FUNK.

THANK YOU.

I'LL TURN THAT ON.

UM, THANK YOU.

UM, SO AS MY TERM COMES TO A CLOSE THIS MONTH, UM, I DO WANT TO EXPRESS MY SINCERE GRATITUDE FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE OUR STUDENTS, OUR SCHOOLS, AND MY COMMUNITY.

UM, FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, MY GUIDING PRINCIPLE WAS VERY SIMPLE AND UNWAVERING.

IT WAS, UH, SEEKING INTEGRITY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND TRANSPARENCY FOR OUR SCHOOLS, WHILE WORKING DILIGENTLY TO SUPPORT EVERY STUDENT AND ENSURE THAT DECISIONS ARE MADE BASED ON WHAT IS BEST FOR THEIR LEARNING, THEIR GROWTH AND THEIR WELLBEING, AND RECOGNIZING OUR PROFESSIONALS, OUR TEACHERS, OUR SERVICE STAFF, AND ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES, UM, AND THEIR NEEDS FOR THE VITAL JOBS THAT THEY DO EACH DAY.

I WORKED VERY HARD TO KEEP POLITICAL MOTIVES OUT OF OUR WORK AND TO UPHOLD THE FUNDAMENTAL, FUNDAMENTAL PURPOSE OF OUR SCHOOL BOARD, WHICH IS PROVIDING STRONG GOVERNANCE, ADVOCATING FOR HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION, AND MAINTAINING A CLEAR FOCUS ON STUDENTS ABOVE ALL ELSE.

OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS, I DID TAKE A FEW MINUTES AND WENT BACK AND

[00:25:01]

UM, THAT WAS A LOT OF FUN.

UM, BUT OUR BOARD, OUR BOARD HAS ACCOMPLISHED A VARIETY OF SIGNIFICANT WORK, AND WE'VE NAVIGATED MORE THAN A FEW STORMS ALONG THE WAY.

WE'VE SEEN, UM, JUST TO NAME A FEW THINGS.

AND, YOU KNOW, THIS IS STUFF THAT EVERYBODY CAME TOGETHER ON THAT I THOUGHT WERE SOME DEFINITE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE LAST FOUR YEARS.

THE FACILITIES PROJECTS, UM, AT LFK AND E WILSON MORRISON, OBVIOUSLY THE TENNIS COURTS.

UM, WE PURCHASED SOME NEW SCHOOL BUSES AND VEHICLES.

THERE, UM, WAS SOME SIGNIFICANT AND MEANINGFUL IMPROVEMENTS TO SALARY SCALES ACROSS THE BOARD.

UM, YOU KNOW, FROM ALL OF OUR DIFFERENT, UM, STAFF WHO WORK WITH US STARTED THE ATTENDANCE AWARDS, AND WE HAD A, WE BRANDED A BRAND NEW LO, UH, COUNTY LOGO.

UM, WE HAVE ALSO HONORED VARIOUS STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS.

YOU KNOW, WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE HIGHLIGHT THE SPORTS, THE ACADEMICS, THE ARTS.

UM, WE'VE DONE THAT AND WE HAVE WELCOMED NEW AND INNOVATIVE LEADERS, UM, TO OUR COUNTY.

AND OF COURSE, OUR PRIME FOCUS HAS ALWAYS BEEN AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD, IS THE ARRAY OF POLICY UPDATES AND CONVERSATIONS THAT, UM, HAVE TAKEN PLACE.

I THINK WE RECENTLY GOT A LIST OF A LOT OF 'EM.

AND WHEN YOU PUT 'EM ALL TOGETHER, THAT WAS A REALLY LONG LIST.

UM, AND ONE OF THE MOST, UH, IMPORTANT ACHIEVEMENTS THAT HAS, UM, THAT WAS OUR SUCCESSFUL HIRING OF OUR NEW SUPERINTENDENT, WELCOMING DR. WRIGHT.

SO, AGAIN, WELCOME.

UM, THIS PROCESS DID REQUIRE SOME THOUGHTFUL COLLABORATION AND A FULL BOARD COMMITMENT TO FINDING A LEADER WHO SHARED OUR COMMUNITY'S VALUE AND OUR VISION AND FOR STUDENT SUCCESS.

AND WE DID THAT.

UM, AND I ALSO DO WANT TO THANK AGAIN, DR. MARTIN FOR HIS LEADERSHIP DURING THAT INTERIM ROLE.

SO AS I STEP AWAY FROM THIS ROLE, I'M CONFIDENT THAT THE NEW INCOMING, UH, MAKEUP OF OUR BOARD WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD ON OUR MOMENTUM, OUR CURRENT MOMENTUM THAT WE HAVE.

AND I FULLY EXPECT THAT, UM, WE WILL OBVIOUSLY START TONIGHT CON, UH, WITH THE, UH, REVIEWING OF THE SCHOOL BOARD GOVERNANCE AND OPERATING PROTOCOL HANDBOOK.

I APPRECIATE ALL THAT HARD WORK, MR. MCFADDEN, THAT YOU HAVE DONE.

UM, THAT IS CERTAINLY YOUR EXPERTISE WHEN YOU'VE PUT SOME DOCUMENTS TOGETHER FOR US.

UM, AND I FULLY EXPECT THAT THIS CONVERSATION WILL CONTINUE WITH OUR NEW FULL BOARD, AND THAT WE WILL HAVE, UH, VERY SOON A VERY STRONG CODE OF ETHICS THAT DEMANDS PROFESSIONALISM, RESPECT, AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

ACCOUNTABLE LEADERSHIP.

I'M CERTAIN THAT OUR NEW BOARD WILL REMAIN FOCUSED ON STUDENTS.

THEY WILL PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF THE WORK OF THE SCHOOL BOARD, AND THAT THEY WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT AND DEDICATION TO OUR SCHOOLS AND TO OUR COMMUNITY THAT THEY DESERVE.

I DO WANNA THANK EVERYBODY, UM, FROM FOUR YEARS AGO TO TODAY FOR YOUR SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, STAFF, FAMILIES, FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS, UM, OUR STUDENTS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, EVERYONE WHO SUPPORTED ME AND HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE, TO THE SUCCESS OF OUR DISTRICT.

UM, A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I DID DO OVER THE LAST MONTH FROM OUR LAST MEETING IS I DID TAKE, UH, HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO READ TO SOME FIRST GRADE, UH, FIRST GRADE CLASS AT, UM, AS ROADS AND HILL TO J BARBER.

AND WE HAD A GREAT TIME, UH, READING AND, UH, TAKING SOME PICTURES AND MAKING SOME FUNNY FACES AND, UM, MAKING SOME CONNECTIONS WITH THE KIDS.

SO I DO, UH, ENCOURAGE ALL OF OUR CURRENT SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND OUR COMMUNITY, UM, LEADERS TO BE INVOLVED IN OUR SCHOOLS, TO ACTIVELY POP IN, YOU KNOW, TAKE YOUR FAVORITE BOOK, READ IT, UM, TO THE KIDS.

UM, IT'S A GREAT ROLE MODEL AND IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR SCHOOLS.

UM, I WANNA EN ENCOURAGE OUR COMMUNITY TO CONTINUE TO BE, UH, PARTICIPANTS.

I WOULD, UH, BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T SAY I WAS A LITTLE SAD TONIGHT THAT NOBODY CAME AND SPOKE ON OUR BUDGET.

UM, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALWAYS FOLLOWED THAT PROCESS.

WE'VE HAD IT OUT THERE YET WE HAD NOBODY HERE TO SPEAK.

UM, SO, YOU KNOW, MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD.

UM, AS MS. LOWE SAID, WE'RE NOT ALWAYS GONNA AGREE, AND THAT'S PERFECTLY FINE, BUT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO DO IT WITH, UM, ACT WITH CIVILITY AND CURIOSITY.

SO, I LIKE THOSE, I APPRECIATE THOSE WORDS.

UM, SO I DO HOPE THAT THAT WILL CONTINUE.

UM, YOU KNOW, YOU PROBABLY, UM, HAVEN'T SEEN THE LAST OF ME.

THIS IS MY THIRD OPPORTUNITY.

I'VE HAD TO PARTICIPATE ON A BOARD IN OUR COMMUNITY IN THE 26 YEARS THAT I'VE LIVED HERE.

SO I'VE ALWAYS

[00:30:01]

UM, AND THEN THE LAST THING IS I ALWAYS LIKE TO KIND OF LEAVE A LITTLE BIT OF, UM, THOUGHTS.

DR.

SEUSS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE AUTHORS.

I JUST LOVE HIS BOOKS.

SO JUST, UM, TO OUR STAFF, OUR WARREN COUNTY STAFF, PLEASE CONTINUE TO, UH, TO DO WHAT YOU DO EVERY DAY.

AND REMEMBER, UM, ONE OF MY FAVORITE BOOKS, THE OH, THE PLACES YOU'LL GO FOR OUR STUDENTS.

YOU KNOW, THE MORE THAT YOU READ, THE MORE THINGS YOU WILL KNOW.

THE MORE THAT YOU LEARN, THE MORE PLACES YOU'LL GO.

UM, DON'T EVER GIVE UP ON YOUR DREAMS. AND, UH, OUR STAFF AND, UM, EVERYONE JUST TEACH OUR STUDENTS SO THEY CAN HAVE WHAT THEY NEED TO KNOW, AND THEN THEY CAN GROW AND CONTINUE TO MAKE WARREN COUNTY A GREAT PLACE TO BE.

SO THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING.

THANK YOU.

UM, I DON'T HAVE MUCH TO ADD THIS EVENING.

JUST WELCOME AGAIN TO DR. WRIGHT.

WE'RE ALL LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.

OUR SINCERE THANK YOU TO DR.

FUNK AND MS. LOWE FOR YOUR FOUR YEARS ON THE BOARD.

IT'S REALLY BEEN A GOOD TIME WORKING WITH YOU BOTH.

UM, I KNOW WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT THE HANDBOOK SOME MORE, BUT SINCE YOU'VE ALREADY BROUGHT IT UP, APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK ON THIS AND THE OTHER POLICIES, UM, MR. MCFADDEN, THAT YOU PUT INTO THAT WITH YOUR TIME AND EFFORT.

UM, AND ONE MORE THING FOR ANYBODY WHO'S FOLLOWING OUR MEETINGS.

WE HAD ORIGINALLY APPROVED, UM, TWO ADDITIONAL BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETINGS OR BUDGET MEETINGS IN DECEMBER.

WE ARE NOT DOING THOSE NOW, JUST IN CASE ANYBODY HAS THEM ON THEIR CALENDAR.

YOU CAN SCRATCH THOSE OFF.

THIS'LL BE IT FOR US UNTIL JANUARY.

AND NOW WE'RE GONNA MOVE

[6.A. Set Date and Time for 2026 Organizational Meeting - Mr. Ballentine ]

MR. BALLANTINE? YES.

UH, EXCUSE ME.

WARREN COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD POLICY FILE BCA, WHICH IS THE SCHOOL BOARD ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING, REQUIRES THAT AN ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING BE HELD IN JANUARY OF EACH YEAR.

ONE OF THE ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN AT THAT MEETING IS TO ESTABLISH THE REGULAR MEETING SCHEDULE FOR THAT YEAR FOLLOWING CURRENT PRACTICE.

WE'RE JUST RECOMMENDING, UM, AND OF COURSE IT'S THE BIRD BOARD'S DECISION WHEN TO HOLD IT, BUT IT'S RECOMMENDED THAT WEDNESDAY, JANUARY THE SEVENTH, 2026 BE CONSIDERED, UM, THE TIME.

IT, IT WAS ORIGINALLY FIVE 30 AND WE THOUGHT, 'CAUSE WE HAVE A CLOSED MEETING THEN, BUT SINCE THE BOARD WON'T HAVE A CHAIR AND ALL THAT, THEN THAT MAYBE WE, LAST YEAR WE STARTED AT SIX 30.

BUT, UM, IN DISCUSSIONS THIS AFTERNOON, SOMEONE MENTIONED MAYBE SIX O'CLOCK WOULD BE BETTER.

SO, UM, CERTAINLY THE TIME AND THE DATE AND ALL THAT'S UP TO YOU.

BUT THOSE ARE THE SUGGESTIONS THAT ARE PUT FOR YOU AS, UH, BEFORE YOU, JUST FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TO, TO COME UP WITH A DATE AND TIME.

I DID CHECK THIS ROOM IS AVAILABLE ON THE, UH, ON THE SEVENTH.

OKAY.

AND AS FAR AS WE KNOW, IT'S AVAILABLE ON THE FIRST WEDNESDAYS OF THE MONTH.

YES.

OR YOU CANT GET THAT FOR YOU.

YEAH, I KNOW.

WE'LL, WE'LL DEAL WITH THAT IN JANUARY, BUT, OKAY.

UM, I PERSONALLY LIKE THE IDEA OF STARTING IT AT SIX VERSUS SIX 30.

UM, LEAVE THAT UP TO THE BOARD AND IF THERE'S A MOTION, I'M READY FOR IT.

I MOVE THAT THE 2026 ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING OF THE WARREN COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7TH, 2026 AT 6:00 PM IN THE BOARDROOM OF THE WARREN COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER.

IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

OPPOSED? NO.

THANK YOU.

SO OUR FIRST MEETING OF 2026 WILL BE JANUARY 7TH IN THIS ROOM AT 6:00 PM OKAY.

NEXT UP WE HAVE THE SECOND

[6.B. Second Reading of the Policies Updated by SBMA as Presented - Dr. Costner ]

COSTNER, MADAM CHAIR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.

AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH, UM, THE POLICIES THAT THE, UM, SBMA HAS BEEN REVIEWING FOR US AND UPDATING.

UM, JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, THERE IS ONE MORE SET THAT WE, WE WILL BE RECEIVING SOMETIME BEFORE THE END OF DECEMBER, BUT THIS IS THE SECOND READING OF THESE POLICIES FROM POLICY D JF EEB, EEB AB B-E-B-B-B GA B SLASH IBE A.

UM, IS THERE ANY SUGGESTIONS OR ANY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE POLICIES FOR THE SECOND READING? ANY QUESTIONS? NO.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

NEXT UP WE

[6.C. Fifth Reading of Policy IIBEA-R2/GAB-R2 Employee Use of Social Media and Electronic Communication - Dr. Costner ]

AND MR. MCFADDEN,

[00:35:01]

YES.

SO I, I, UM, YOU KNOW, WE GOT A LOT OF INPUT FROM, UM, FOLKS WITH IDEAS ABOUT WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT.

THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT LIKED IT, A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT I DON'T, I DIDN'T COUNT HOW MANY RESPONSES WE HAD FROM THESE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT LIKED IT AND SAID, THIS IS A GREAT POLICY.

PRETTY MUCH ALL THE PEOPLE HAD THAT HAD A PROBLEM WITH IT, HAD A PROBLEM WITH A COUPLE OF THE ASPECTS.

THE FIR THE BIGGEST PROBLEM AND, AND I'M, I'M IN AGREEMENT WITH THEM, IS THE EMPLOYEE USE OF PERSONAL SOCIAL MEDIA.

SO THERE'S A SECTION IN HERE.

THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF THIS IS TO TALK ABOUT EMPLOYEES HAVING SOCIAL MEDIA INTERACTIONS WITH OUR STUDENTS.

THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THE THING.

AND THERE'S A SECTION HERE ABOUT JUST SORT OF EMPLOYEES PERSONAL USE OF THEIR OWN PERSONAL SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS.

AND IT'S A LITTLE OUTSIDE OF THE SCOPE OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.

SO THAT WAS WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAD A PROBLEM WITH SAYING, HEY, I HAVE A FIRST DOING RIGHT TO SAY CERTAIN THINGS, DO CERTAIN THINGS WHEN I'M OFF THE CLOCK, I'M DOING MY THING.

OBVIOUSLY SOME HE'S ILLEGAL.

THAT'S THE THING.

HAVE OTHER PEOPLE TO DEAL WITH.

BUT IT'S JUST THAT.

SO THAT WAS A SECTION THAT I HAVE A NEW UPDATED VERSION OF REDLINE VERSION THAT I'LL SEND OUT, HOPEFULLY DR.

COSTNER CAN PUT UP THERE.

AND THOSE PEOPLE WHO MADE SUGGESTIONS ABOUT IT, HOPEFULLY WE'LL SEE A LOT OF THEIR SUGGESTIONS IN IT.

BUT IT WAS PRETTY MUCH THE SAME SUGGESTIONS OVER AND OVER AGAIN, WHICH AGAIN SHOWED YOU THAT THERE WAS A, A NEED TO UPDATE IT.

UM, THERE WERE SOME FREE SPEECH, OTHER FREE SPEECH THINGS IN THERE THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, THERE MAY BE THINGS WE'D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO CONTROL, BUT THEY'RE NOT OUT THERE OUTSIDE OF OUR PURVIEW OF THAT.

AND SO I, I PERSONALLY WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO PUT THIS UP THERE AND THEN THAT WE TALKED LAST TIME THAT MAYBE WE SEND IT TO THE, THE LAWYERS TO LOOK OVER TO SEE IF IT DOES MEET ALL THE NEEDS OF OUR THING.

BUT I BELIEVE THAT THE FOLKS THAT HAD ISSUES WITH OUR LAST ONE WILL, WILL READ OVER THIS AND SAY, YEAH, THIS MAKES, THIS MAKES BETTER SENSE AND IT GIVES MORE PROTECTIONS.

AND THAT, AND WE HAD ADDED THE TWO THINGS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT THE LAST MEETING, WHICH WAS ABOUT HOW COMMUNICATION SHOULD HAPPEN PRIMARILY THROUGH WCPS APPROVED COMMUNICATION.

SO WE ADDED THAT WORD.

AND THEN ALSO WE ADDED THE WORD OTHERS, UH, WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT LIMITED EXCEPTIONS WHERE EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE LEGITIMATE NON-SCHOOL RELATIONSHIP WITH STUDENTS, EXAMPLE FAMILY MEMBERS, CHURCH GROUPS, SPORTS TEAMS, CIVIC GROUPS AND OTHERS, THAT WAS A THING THAT WAS DECIDED UPON SAYING IT WASN'T JUST THOSE PEOPLE, IT WAS OTHERS.

SO THOSE ARE THE TWO MAIN PROBLEMS WE HAVE WITH THE LAST ONE THAT WE'VE NOW ADDED TO IT.

AND THEN AGAIN, THE REST OF THE RED LINE STUFF IS MAINLY TO DO WITH INPUT FROM THE, FROM THE FOLKS AND ALSO IN LINE WITH, WITH FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS.

I THINK THE ONLY QUESTION THAT I HAVE, AND I DO APOLOGIZE, I'M REALLY HONESTLY JUST OPENING THIS, UM, IN SECTION FIVE WHERE YOU'VE READ LINED THE EMPLOYEE USE OF PERSONAL YEAH.

SOCIAL MEDIA, UM, I UNDERSTAND SOME OF IT, BUT LIKE, B, PROTECT STUDENT PRIVACY AND COMPLY WITH FERPA AND THEN, UM, YOU KNOW, AVOID, AVOID POSTING NEGATIVE, HARMFUL OR CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION ABOUT STUDENTS, COLLEAGUES, OR WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

I MEAN THOSE, LIKE, I WOULD THINK THAT IT IS APPROPRIATE TO HAVE PROTECTING STUDENT PRIVACY AND COMPLYING WITH FERPA ON THERE.

I I WOULD AGREE WITH FERPA AND, AND ALSO AVOID POSTING CONFIDENTIAL YEAH.

INFORMATION.

YES, I WOULD AGREE.

BUT OTHERWISE WE CAN ADD THAT THAT COULD, THAT COULD PROBABLY ADD INTO ONE OF THE GENERAL STANDARDS FOR EMPLOYEES UNDER PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT.

THAT COULD BE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SAYS THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS YOU DON'T DO.

YEAH, I DON'T KNOW THAT IT NEEDS ITS OWN SECTION, RIGHT.

BECAUSE ALL THESE OTHER THINGS ARE MARKED OUT.

BUT I THINK THAT CERTAINLY THAT IS REASONABLE TO, TO STATE IN POLICY THAT WE'RE NOT GONNA DO THAT.

OKAY.

WELL, I'LL UPDATE, I'LL UPDATE THOSE AND SEND THEM IN.

BUT OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE A COUPLE WEEKS BEFORE ANYTHING HAPPENS AFTER THIS.

SO, UM, IF PEOPLE HAVE INPUT ON IT.

ANY OTHER THOUGHTS ON THAT FOR THIS EVENING? NO, I, I APPRECIATE THE EDITS YOU MADE.

UM, AND I AGREE WITH, UM, DR.

PENCE WITH WHAT YOU SAID, AND, YOU KNOW, MOVING FORWARD I THINK THAT'LL BE A, A MUCH MORE, UM, COMPREHENSIVE DOCUMENT TO SUPPORT.

YEAH.

AND MY, MY UNDERSTANDING WHEN WE FIRST STARTED TO PUT THIS TOGETHER WAS THAT, UM, OBVIOUSLY THERE, THERE'S A NATIONWIDE CRISIS RIGHT NOW WITH DOZENS UPON DOZENS.

I WAS TRYING TO LOOK UP EXACT NUMBERS AND, AND THE NUMBERS RANGE HUGELY FROM STATE TO STATE OF THIS VERY SLIPPERY SLOPE OF, OF TEACHERS AND, AND, AND ANY EMPLOYEE, ADULT EMPLOYEE CONDUCTING THESE, UM, INTERACTIONS WITH STUDENTS THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA WITHOUT THEIR PARENTS' KNOWLEDGE, WITHOUT THEIR CONSENT MANY TIMES BEFORE THE CHILD IS EVEN OLD ENOUGH TO LEGALLY BE ON PLATFORMS THAT REQUIRE THEM TO BE 13 AND THE GROOMING THAT'S TAKING PLACE.

AND, AND I, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE GET THIS IN PLACE.

THIS IS IN NO WAY I, I I'M A HUGE FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS SUPPORTER.

UM, BUT PARENTS HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW IF, IF GROWN ADULTS ARE, ARE PURSUING ACTIVELY RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR, THEIR CHILDREN OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL HOURS, THROUGH RECREATIONAL SOCIAL MEDIA, IT'S, IT'S JUST A BAD IDEA ALL THE WAY AROUND.

[00:40:02]

IT CLEARLY INTERFERES WITH JOB PERFORMANCE OR CAUSES SUBSTANTIAL DISRUPTION.

SCHOOL OPERATIONS ARE PROHIBITED.

AND THEN THE NEXT LINE WILL BE SOMETHING ABOUT THINGS THAT, WHATEVER THE THING ABOUT FERPA SAYING, PRIVACY, CONFIDENTIALITY, PRIVACY, AND THE CONFIDENTIAL INFO WOULD BE UNDER THAT.

OKAY.

PROTECT STUDENT PRIVACY AND COMPLY WITH FERPA AND, UM, DO NOT DISCLOSE CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.

RIGHT.

SO BASICALLY THOSE WORDS IN THERE.

OKAY.

ALRIGHT.

OKAY.

WE'LL GOOD ON THAT.

WE'LL WAIT UNTIL THEN AND THEN BRING IT FOR ANOTHER READING.

WE'LL HAVE A SIXTH READING.

YES MA'AM.

THAT MIGHT BE THE LAST ONE.

YEAH.

.

YES MA'AM.

GOING FOR A RECORD.

I'LL EVEN THE TOMORROW.

THAT'LL BE FINE.

THANK YOU SIR.

WE ARE GOING FOR A RECORD.

THANK YOU.

THAT'S OKAY.

THANK YOU.

THANK, OKAY.

THANK YOU DR.

COSTNER.

AND THEN, UM, THIS, WE DON'T HAVE ANY, UM, OF THESE NEW DOCUMENTS FOR THE NEXT ONE, THE SECOND READING OF WARREN COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD CODE OF ETHICS AND PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT.

UM, WE'LL ADD SOME DOCUMENTS, ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS, THIS, UM, HANDOUT THAT MR. MCFADDEN IS, UM, SHOWING THIS EVENING.

BUT JUST WANTED TO GET IT ON HERE SO WE COULD HAVE IT AS A READING SO THAT WE CAN GET THE DOCUMENTS ON THERE.

SO WHEN WE HAVE OUR NEW BOARD MEMBERS COME ON IN JANUARY, THEY WILL HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO READ THE INFORMATION AND THINK ABOUT IT OVER OUR BREAK THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO HAVE.

AND THEN IF YOU WANNA EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE THINKING.

SO AGAIN, I HAVE TWO COPIES FOR EACH OF YOU, SO YOU CAN TAKE THAT AND OF COURSE WE CAN EMAIL IT OUT AS WELL.

SO AGAIN, WE, THE HA IT'S BETTER TO HAVE IT ALL IN A BOOKLET SO YOU KNOW, WHERE EVERYTHING'S FOUND.

WE HAVE AN EMPLOYEE, WE HAVE STUDENT CONDUCT HANDBOOK THAT'S ON THE WEBSITE FOR EACH SCHOOL.

IT'S SORT OF OUR, OUR VERSION OF A CONDUCT BOOK.

IT'S, IT DOESN'T LEAVE THINGS, UM, TO THE IMAGINATION.

YOU CAN READ IT AND SAY, OH, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING.

SO IT GOES EVERY OVER THE, ALL THE GOVERNANCE ABOUT HOW THE BOARD OPERATES, OUR, OUR ROLES AS, AS MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, THE DIFFERENT POSITIONS OF, OF THE CHAIRMAN AND THE VICE CHAIR, UM, HOW BOARD MEETINGS ARE SUPPOSED TO WORK, LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES, COMMUNICATION, EVALUATION AND PLANNING.

UM, SO THE, THERE'S, THERE'S SOME, SOME BLUE LINES, SOME RED LINES IN HERE THAT'LL BE POSTED.