>> I'M GOING TO CALL US TO ORDER.
[Call Meeting to Order]
[00:00:04]
WELCOME, EVERYBODY, TO THIS WORK SESSION.IT IS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3RD AND WE'RE STARTING AT 7:08 P.M.
JUST TO QUICKLY GO OVER THE AGENDA, WE'RE GOING TO START OFF WITH A PRESENTATION FROM ALEXANDRIA CITY SCHOOLS TO SHARE OUR FOCUS ON THE COMBINED FUNDS BUDGET.
I DON'T KNOW WHY I HAVE AN ECHO THERE.
>> YEAH, COULD YOU? THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
IS THERE STILL AN ECHO FOR ME? OKAY, THANK YOU.
I HAVE IT OPEN BUT I FORGOT TO --
YOU CAN SHARE IT AND I WILL KEEP GOING.
SECONDLY WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT A PRESENTATION FROM THE CITY AND THEN WE'LL CONCLUDE.
AFTER EACH PRESENTATION, WE'LL HAVE IT OPEN FOR QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US TODAY.
[1. Joint City Council/School Board Budget Work Session]
LIKE I SAID, WE COME TOGETHER JUST TO GIVE CITY COUNCIL AND CITY STAFF A LOOK AT OUR APPROACH TO OUR FY 2022 COMBINED FUNDS BUDGET.YOU CAN GO AHEAD TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
JUST TO REITERATE AND SHARE, OUR BUDGET REALLY IS REFLECTIVE OF OUR COMMITMENT AND IT IS REFLECTIVE OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES WE HAVE TAKEN ON.
WE HAVE EMBARKED ALREADY ON OUR 2025 STRATEGIC PLAN WHICH IS IMPLEMENTATION SO YOU CAN QUICKLY SEE OUR MISSION, VISION, AND CORE VALUES.
WE ARE REALLY LOOKING AT REMOVING BARRIERS TO LEARNING, MAKING SURE WE'RE INSPIRING OUR STUDENTS.
WE REALLY WANT TO EMPOWER OUR STUDENTS SO THAT THEY CAN THRIVE AND WE ABSOLUTELY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO BE A WELCOMING, EQUITY-FOCUSED COMMUNITY.
SO T BUDGET, IT'S EVOLVED FROM THIS ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT WE ARE INDEED, AS EVERYONE KNOWS, BATTLING A DUAL PANDEMIC AND SO THIS DUAL PANDEMIC HAS BOTH ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS AS WELL AS SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL IMPLICATIONS AND THOSE ARE NOT ONLY SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL IMPLICATIONS FOR OUR STUDENTS BUT IT'S ALSO SOCIAL EMOTIONAL IMPLICATIONS FOR OUR STAFF SO OUR WORK IS LINED UP ACCORDINGLY.
AT T SCHOOL YEAR AND EVEN BEFORE WE EMBARK ON SETTING OUR PRIORITIES AS A SCHOOL BOARD AND THOSE PRIORITIES GUIDE OUR BUDGET FOCUS.
YOU CAN SEE HERE WE'VE REALLY DEVELOPED FIVE BUCKETS INTO WHICH WE ARE PUTTING OUR WORK AND ALL OF THESE BUCKETS INCLUDE A FOCUS, THINGS THAT WE HAVE PRIORITIZED THAT REALLY FOCUS ON EQUITY AS PART OF OUR STRATEGIC PLAN.
SO I CALL THIS REALLY BOLD AND COURAGEOUS WORK AND THE QUESTION IS WHY DO THIS BOLD AND COURAGEOUS WORK? I THINK IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE FOR US.
A MAJORITY OF THE STUDENTS THAT WE SERVE REALLY DEFINE THE WORK THAT WE NEED TO DO.
63.7% OF OUR STUDENTS QUALIFY FOR FREE AND REDUCED MEALS.
WE HAVE 31% OF OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS, 10% OF OUR STUDENTS RECEIVE SPECIALIZED INSTRUCTION.
WE SERVE KIDS FROM 145 COUNTRIES, 132 NATIVE LANGUAGES AND OVER 2600 FULL TIME EMPLOYEES SO OUR POPULATION ALONE DEFINES WHY WE NEED TO BE BOLD AND COURAGEOUS.
OUR FOCUS NEEDS TO BE ON PROVIDING EQUITABLE EXPERIENCES FOR THOSE KIDS.
[00:05:03]
OUR BUDGET I THINK IS ALSO REFLECTIVE OF ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON, WHICH IS FISCAL STEWARDSHIP.YOU CAN SEE THE BREAK DOWN OF FUNDING AND WE ALWAYS KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO BE STRATEGIC BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE AN INFINITE POOL OF FUNDS AND SO WE HAVE TO REALLY INVEST STRATEGICALLY.
WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE USING GRANTS THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO UTILIZE, AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE GRAPHIC HERE, YOU CAN SEE OUR APPROPRIATIONS.
YOU CAN SEE THE STATE REVE EVERYONE KNOWS THAT CLEARLY WE DEPEND PRETTY HEAVILY ON CITY COUNCIL AS YOU CAN SEE HERE IN THE PIE CHART.
SO THE QUESTION THAT BECOMES HOW DO WE INVEST TO GET THE JOB DONE? WE HAVE BROKEN UP LOOKING AT OUR BUDGET APPROACH THIS YEAR INTO THREE MAJOR CATEGORIES.
WE KNOW THAT WE REALLY NEED TO RECOVER, WE NEED TO REIGNITE AND WE NEED TO RETAIN SO THIS PRESENTATION IS GOING TO CATEGORIZE OUR WORK UNDER THOSE THEMES.
HOW DO WE RECOVER? WE CAN ONLY RECOVER IF WE FOCUS ON MEETING THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS.
I THINK IT'S CLEAR WITH ALL CHALLENGES THERE ARE SOME REAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT EMERGE AND WE HAVE REALLY DECIDED TO USE THIS BUDGET AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO FOCU OPPORTUNITIES THAT HAVE EMERGED EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE HAD THESE CHALLENGES.
SO SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT I HAVE OUTLINED HERE, WE HAD ABRUPT CHANGES TO THE TRAD ENVIRONMENT.
I WOULD CONSIDER THAT ONE OF THE GREATEST CHALLENGES THAT WE FACED THIS YEAR.
AT THE SAME TIME, IT ALSO PROVIDED US AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY REIMAGINE EDUCATION AND REIMAGINE INSTRUCTIONAL DELIVERY SO THINGS THAT WE CAN LOOK WE HAVE SEEN AND UNDERSTOOD THAT WE COULD DO VIRTUAL LEARNING ON A LARGER SCALE AND SO WE REALLY NEED TO CONSIDER HOW WE'RE USING TECHNOLOGY FOR LEARNING BEYOND THE PANDEMIC, REALLY ENHANCING AND FORMALIZING OUR SOCIAL AND EMOT IMPORTANT AND ONE OF THE EXCITING THINGS HAS BEEN HOW WE DEVELOPED PARTNERSHIPS OR FURTHER DEVELOPED OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SEE THAT WE CAN, IN FACT, DO VERY CREATIVE THINGS WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT WILL HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON BOTH THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING OF OUR STUDENTS.
ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE FACED IS DEFINITELY STRAINED STAFF AND FACULTY.
DEALING WITH A GLOBAL PANDEMIC, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S INEVITABLE BUT THAT CHALLENGE HAS SHOWN US, AGAIN, HOW CAN WE EXPAND OPPORTUNITIES VIA TECHNOLOGY SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN BRING INTO THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.
AND ECONOMIC DOWNTURN, YOU ARE CITY COUNCIL, CITY STAFF.
I'M SURE YOU KNOW VERY WELL THIS HAS HAD AN ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT HAS NOT NECESSARILY BEEN POSITIVE BUT WHAT THAT'S FORCED US TO DO IS TO BE STRATEGIC AND THINK ABOUT HOW TO HAVE SUFFICIENT INFRASTRUCTURE AND HOW WE CAN USE OUR RESOURCES STRATEGICALLY AND ALLOCATE RESOURCES STRATEGICALLY.
SO HERE'S A GLIMPSE OF HOW WE'RE LOOKING AT BEING STRATEGIC WITH THE RESOURCES WE HAVE.
IF YOU REMEMBER AT OUR COMBINED FUNDS WORK SESSION LAST YEAR WE FOCUSED ON MULTITIERED SYSTEMS OF SUPPORT AND SO THAT FOCUS WILL CONTINUE AND OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE IT MORE ROBUST, CONTINUING TO IMPROVE ON THAT, AND THAT IMPORTANT CLEARLY AFTER WE'RE STILL IN A PANDEMIC SO IT'S GOING CONTINUE TO BE IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE'RE IN A PANDEMIC AND IT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC WHICH WE ALL HOPE WILL BE SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.
[00:10:01]
WHAT THAT INVOLVES FOR US AS A SCHOOL DIVISION WAS REALLY ASSESSING WHERE THE PANDEMIC HAS HAD THE GREATEST IMPACT.WE REALLY HAVE TO BE PREPARED TO ADDRESS THE ACADEMIC LEARNING LOSS THAT MAY HAVE OCCURRED WITH MANY STUDENTS, THE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL IMPACTS ON OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF AS WELL AND REALLY THAT MAYBES US FOCUS ON CONTINUED INSTRUCTIONAL DELIVERY.
HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO IMPROVE, BY PROVIDING TECHNOLOGY, LOOKING AT MORE TECHNOLOGY, TARGETING EXTENDED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE ACADEMIC SCHOOL YEAR.
ALSO TAKING ADVANTAGE OF REGIONAL PROGRAMMING AND FUNDING FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE GOING TO DO AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT WAS THINKING ABOUT HOW WE -- MAKING SURE WE REALLY ADDRESS THE RESERVE, MAKING SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH RESERVE POSITIONS FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION AND ELL STUDENTS.
SO H RETENTION? I THINK WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON RETENTION.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A CONCERN, ALWAYS NEEDED TO BE A PRIORITY BUT REALLY HIGHLIGHTED NOW, AGAIN, BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF THIS PANDEMIC SO HOW DO WE DO THAT? NEXT SLIDE.
WE DO THAT BY INVESTING IN OUR STAFF.
I AM ONE TO SAY THAT IN A SCHOOL DIVISION, OUR STUDENTS ARE A GREAT ASSET BUT WE HAVE TO BE REALLY FOCUSED ON MEETING THE NEEDS OF STAFF AND KEEPING THEM AROUND.
WE DON'T NEED THE REVOLVING DOOR.
THAT'S NOT HELPFUL TO KIDS SO REALLY INVESTING IN THEM.
WE CAN SEE, AND THIS HAS BEEN A TREND AS WELL, A LOT OF OUR COMBINED FUNDS BUDGET, 86%, IN FACT, IS SPENT ON PERSONNEL.
THAT'S A LARGE CHUNK OF THE BUDGET AND ON TOP OF THAT, WE HAVE TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE WITH SALARIES, PROVIDING THE BEST POSSIBLE HEALTHCARE PLANS WE CAN AND THE BEST RETIREMENT PLANS WE CAN SO NEXT SLIDE.
THIS DEMONSTRATES OUR COMMITMENT TO COMPETITIVE COMPENSATION, EVEN IN THE MIDST OF WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH.
WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PROVIDING COMPETITIVE COMPENSATION FOR OUR STAFF, THAT MEANS STEP INCREASES FOR ALL ELIGIBLE STAFF.
1% ONE TIME PAYMENT TO THE TOP OF SCALE OR HOLD STEP ON OUR SCALE, AND MAKING SURE WE'RE PROVIDING MARKET RATE ADJUSTMENTS.
LAST YEAR WE LOOKED AT STARTING TO DO STUDIES ABOUT MARKET RATES AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO PUSH THROUGH THAT WORK, SO WE LOOKED AT SPECIFIC JOB CLASSES AGAIN THIS YEAR AND IN LOOKING AT HOW WE NEED TO CLOSE GAPS FOR EMPLOYEES WHO ARE NOT REMOTELY CLOSE TO WHERE THEY SHOULD BE IN TERMS OF THE MARKET.
SO THAT GROUP INCLUDED SKILLED MAIN MAINTENANCE SUPERVISORS, SCHOOL NUTRITION MANAGERS AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS IS A BIG PORTION OF THAT GROUP WHO WE NEED TO FOCUS ON GETTING COMPETITIVE AND WE'RE GOING TO DO JUST THAT.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR? WE HAVE TO REIGNITE OUR STUDENTS' DESIRE TO LEARN FOR SURE.
THIS HAS BEEN A VERY UNPRECEDENTED SITUATION, A CHALLENGING YEAR ADDRESSING ACADEMIC AS WELL AS SOCIAL EMOTIONAL ISSUES SO HOW DO WE MOVE ON FROM THIS STRANGE, UNPRECEDENTED YEAR? I THINK OUR HIGH SCHOOL IMPORTANT IS ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING WAYS TO DO THAT, REALLY RETHINKING THE HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE AND ADDING CAREER PATHWAYS FOR STUDENTS TO ENGAGE.
INNOVATIVE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES.
LOOKING AT THIN SCHEDULING, PAID EMPLOYMENT, INTERNSHIPS
[00:15:02]
FOR KIDS, AND A MAJOR FOCUS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AND JUST FINISHED DISCUSSING IN OUR WORK SESSION HIGH SCHOOL PROJECT IS PROJECT-BASED LEARNING SO JUST SHIFTING THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT TO MAKE IT MORE ENGAGING FOR STUDENTS.AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE RENAMING IN PROCESS FOR TWO OF OUR SCHOOLS, TC WILLIAMS AND MATTHEW MAURY AND LAST YEAR WE WERE ABLE TO OFFER SUMMER LEARNING FOR ALL AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT MOVING FORWARD.
WE ARE AT A POINT WHERE WE ALSO NEED TO REIGNITE A PASSION FOR THE PROFESSION AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN BE CHALLENGING IN NORMAL TIMES.
NOW IT'S EVEN MORE IMPORTANT, AGAIN, THE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL STATE OF OUR STAFF IS VERY IMPORTANT AND REALLY UNDERSTANDING THE NEEDS OF THE PROFESSIONALS, HOW TO GET THROUGH ALL OF THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
WE'RE GOING TO BE FOCUSED ON THAT, CONTINUING TO PROVIDE PROGRAMS ON EQUITY AND LEARNING AND LOSS RECOVERY.
ALSO EXPANDING THE GRADUATE PROGRAM INCLUDING A ACPS 2025 STRATEGIC PLAN FOR LEADERS AND CONTINUING THE GROW A TEACHER PROGRAM SO STAYING IN TOUCH WITH OUR STUDENTS AND HOPEFULLY BRINGING THEM BACK AS TEACHERS WITH ACPS ONE DAY.
CONCLUDING WITH A FEW THINGS ABOUT LOOKING AT FEDERAL MONIES AND STATE MONIES.
SO YOU CAN SEE THE ELEMENTARY AND EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND, WE'RE CURRENTLY PREP APPLICATION THAT'S DUE APRIL 1ST AND THAT FUNDING IS ANTICIPATED TO SUPPORT SEVERAL THINGS TO, AGAIN, CONTINUE TO GUIDE US THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC, HIRING OF CLASSROOM MONITORS, ACADEMIC LEARNING RECOVERY, TRAUMA SUPPORT, ANY MITIGATIONS FOR COVID-19 AND OUR TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND WE ARE, OF COURSE, FOLLOWING INTENTLY AS PRESIDENT BIDEN'S $1.9 TRILLION AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN IS GOING THROUGH, I THINK WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE SENATE AT THIS POINT SO WE'RE KEEPING AN EYE ON THAT TO SEE WHAT OTHER RESOURCES WE CAN GAIN TO SUPPORT OUR NEEDS.
THIS IS JUST SOME INFORMATION REGARDING BUDGET AMENDMENTS MADE IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SO HB1800 WAS APPROVED AND THIS, THE WAY THAT THIS WORKS IS WE RECEIVE ACCESS TO THESE FUNDS UNDER THE CAVEAT THAT WE PROVIDE A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF PAY INCREASES FOR TEACHERS.
AS IT WAS PASSED THIS YEAR, IT'S PRORATED FOR SCHOOL DIVISIONS THAT PROV INCREASES OVER THE BIENNIUM SO WE'RE LOOKING AT PROVIDING 3.75% AT THIS POINT.
AND THEN FINALLY, JUST SOME GUIDANCE ON NEXT STEPS.
SO WE ARE HERE, FEBRUARY -- I'M SORRY, WE'RE HERE IN MARCH.
OUR SCHOOL BOARD APPROVED OUR FY 2022 COMBINED FUNDS BUDGET ON FEBRUARY 18TH SO WE'RE SHARING WHAT WAS APPROVED WITH YOU ALL TODAY.
CITY COUNCIL, I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE OPERATING LOOKING AT YOUR CIP WORK SESSIONS AND ADD AND DELETE SESSIONS OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTH WHICH IS WILL THEN HOPEFULLY, IF APPROVED THEN WE WON'T NECESSARILY NEED TO HAVE ADJUSTMENTS TO OURS BUT IF WE DO, THOSE WILL HAPPEN FOR US IN MAY AND JUNE.
THE SCHOOL BOARD HOPES TO HAVE ADOPTED THE FINAL FY 2022 BUDGET.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU GUYS ARE ALSO LOOKING AT APPROVING IN OUR
[00:20:07]
FULL BUDGET IS CIP, JUST QUICK UPDATES ON PROJECTS THAT WE DO HAVE GOING.WE JUST MET ABOUT THE HIGH SCHOOL PROJECT AND WE'RE LOOKING TOMORROW IN OUR VOTE TO APPROVE THE HOWARD SITE SO THAT'S IN PROGRESS, TIME LINE LOOKS GOOD.
I ALSO KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN QUESTIONS ABOUT DOUGLAS MACARTHUR.
WE DID HAVE SOME SLIGHT DELAYS DUE TO CONTRACT CONCERNS AND ALSO EASEMENT CONCERNS WITH DOMINION, HOWEVER, THERE ARE 0 CONCERNS ABOUT DOUGLAS MACARTHUR IS ON TIME.
IF THERE ARE EVER ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING OUR BUDGETS OR WORK, PLEASE USE THE CHANNELS OF CONTACTING THE SCHOOL BOARD, WE'RE HERE AT YOUR DISPOSAL.
THAT BENEFITS BOTH OF US TO GET YOU THE INFORMATION YOU NEED IF YOU DO HAVE QUESTIONS.
SO THAT IS THE END OF MY PRESENTATION AND I WILL TURN IT OVER FOR QUESTIONS.
CAN WE DO RAISED HANDS? ARE YOU ABLE TO RAISE HANDS SO I CAN CALL ON PEOPLE?
>> I RAISE YOUR HAND, JUST RAISE IT IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA BUT I DO SEE MR. CHAPMAN'S HAND RAISED, THANK YOU.
YOU BROUGHT UP MACARTHUR, I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I KNOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE ASKED ME IS THEY HEAR ON TIME BUT I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE A SPECIFIC SCHEDULE SO ON TIME DOESN'T MEAN MUCH TO THEM BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE THE SCHEDULE IS AND, OF COURSE, ON TIME MEANS IT'S ON TIME UNTIL IT'S LATE AND I GUESS THEY DON'T HAVE ANY -- I THINK THE MEMBERS THAT ARE TALKING TO ME DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TRUST IN AN ON TIME ANSWER BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.
THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S OUT THERE TO BE DONE SO ON TIME MEANS NOTHING TO THEM.
I'M JUST RELYING WHAT I'M HEARING AND THAT'S WHY QUESTIONING WHAT IS ON TIME? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? WE HAVE HEARD THAT ON THE CITY SIDE, SOMETHING IS ON TIME AND THEN IF IT'S LATE, THERE ARE REASONS WHY IT'S LATE BUT PEOPLE WERE ASKING QUESTIONS WHEN IT WAS ON TIME.
IS THERE A WAY TO GIVE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO THE COMMUNITY TO WHAT ELSE NEEDS TO BE DONE? WHAT ELSE COULD COME UP? HOW EARLY ARE WE? IF WE'RE AHEAD OF SCHEDULE WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? WHAT'S LEFT TO BE DONE? WHAT STEPS ARE STILL LEFT? I KNOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT ARE E-MAILING US, TEXTING US ON FACEBOOK ARE TALKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE BUILDING IS STILL UP AND THEY'RE LOOKING FOR THOSE CONCRETE STEPS TO SAY IS THIS ON TIME OR LATE OR WHAT'S WHAT?
ONE, LET ME JUST SAY WE HAVE NOT BEEN GETTING PHONE CALLS FROM THE COMMITTEE SO IT WOULD BE GREAT IF YOU COULD SEND THOSE OUR WAY.
WE HAVE BEEN IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION WITH DOUGLAS MACARTHUR IN PARTICULAR, WE HAD A MEETING THAT WE WERE ON TARGET SPECIFICALLY REFERRING TO THE JANUARY 2023 TARGET DATE SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BEING ON TIME, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE DELIVERY OF THE NEW SCHOOL.
[00:25:01]
IS THE MAIN CONCERN THAT WE HAD FROM THE SCHOOL'S POINT OF VIEW AND THAT'S BEEN THE MAIN CONCERN OF THE COMMUNITY THUS FAR AND WITH ALL THE WORK WE HAVE DONE WITH HAVING OUR SWING SPACE AT THE OLD PATRICK HENRY LOCATION, WE KNOW WE HAVE TO BE OUT OF THAT SPACE FOR STUDENTS TO ARRIVE IN JANUARY OF 2023 SO WHEN WE'R TARGETED DATE, THAT'S THE DATE WE'RE TALKING TO.WE ALSO SHARED THAT INFORMATION OUT WITH OUR DOUGLAS MACARTHUR COMMUNITY ON FEBRUARY 11TH.
WE SENT THAT OUT WITH OUR SCHOOL LETTER.
THAT'S HOW WE COMMUNICATE WITH OUR DOUGLAS MACARTHUR COMMUNITY IN PARTICULAR.
WE DID RECORD OUR JANUARY 26TH SESSION.
I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO HEAR THE DEEP DISCUSSIONS THAT ARE OCCURRING.
THE THINGS YOU WILL NOTICE NOW, OUR FENCE PANELS ARE UP.
THE MEETING WITH THE CITY I BELIEVE IS FRIDAY.
THE ASBESTOS ABATEMENT STARTS NEXT WEEK.
ONCE THE ASBESTOS IS CLEARED FROM THE BUILDING, THAT'S WHEN THE PHYSICAL BUILDING COMES DOWN AND THAT COULD TAKE A FEW WEEKS TO OCCUR.
THOSE ARE THE THINGS HAPPENING.
WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO SHARE MORE INFORMATION OUT AND TALK WITH OUR ADVISORY TEAM ON OTHER WAYS TO S INFORMATION OR MAYBE JUST ANOTHER FORMAT THAT MIGHT BE GOOD FOR SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS BUT I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU ALL TO JUST SEND THOSE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE CONTACTING YOU OUR WAY SO WE CAN PROVIDE CLARITY AROUND THE TIME FRAME.
>> M APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS AND I WILL TRY TO SEND THOSE PEOPLE YOUR WAY.
I THINK IT WOULD ALSO BE GREAT TO FIND AN OPPORTUNITY TO REACH OUT TO THE GREATER COMMUNITY.
THEY'RE NOT CONNECTED TO THE SCHOOLS SO I THINK THAT WOULD BE WISE AS WE CONTINUE TO BUILD SCHOOL BUILDINGS IN DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS TO NOT ONLY JUST LEAN ON THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY BUT ALSO THE WIDER COMMUNITY BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE FOLKS COMING OUR WAY, NOT NECESSARILY TO THE SCHOOL BOARD OR SCHOOL STAFF.
AS IT RELATES TO TARGETS, I KNOW A TARGET THAT WAS PUT OUT THERE TO US ON COUNCIL AND I BELIEVE TO THE COMMUNITY WAS KIND OF THE TARGET DATE AROUND WHEN THE BUILDING WAS COMING DOWN AND SO I DO BELIEVE WHILE I DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND YOUR RESPONSE THAT THE OVERALL TARGET IS THE OPENING OF SCHOOLS AND THE DELIVERY OF THAT PROJECT, I DO UNDERSTAND, ALSO, THAT THAT TARGET DATE FOR THE BUILDING WAS OUT THERE FOR THIS BUILDING TO COME DOWN AND THAT WAS SOMETHING THE COMMUNITY COULD LATCH OUT TO SO WHEN WE PUT OUT TARGETS LIKE THAT THAT THE COMMUNITY LATCHES ONTO, IT DOES NOT BEHOOVE US TO THEN MOVE THE GOAL POST, SO IF THAT IS NOT A TARGET WE WANT TO LOOK AT, LET'S NOT PUT THAT OUT THERE.
I'LL SHARE SOME OF THIS INFORMATION WITH OUR ADVISORY TEAM SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT SOME OTHER FORMS OF COMMUNICATION THAT CAN GO TO THE BROADER COMMUNITY AND NOT JUST TO THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY OF DOUGLAS MACARTHUR AND THAT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT WE CAN WORK TOWARDS SO I APPRECIATE THAT.
CAN YOU TALK IN A LITTLE MORE DETAIL ABOUT HOW YOU THINK -- I KNOW WHEN YOU HAD THE CHART EARLIER YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT INVESTMENTS IN THE AREA AND YOU SPOKE ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONAL TIME AS WE WORK TO AMELIORATE SOME OF THE IMPACTS OF THE LAST YEAR, AS IT RELATES TO THE BUDGET CONVERSATION, TALK TO US ABOUT WHAT YOU HAVE IN MIND, WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
IS IT SOMEWHAT SHAPED BY THE FEDERAL GRANT DOLLAR CONVERSATION? HOW DOES THAT FIGURE INTO EVERYTHING? I HAVE HEARD A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS AT THE STATE LEVEL AND NATIONAL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR HOW PEOPLE ARE GOING TO ADDRESS
[00:30:04]
LEARNING LOSS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.TALK TO ME ABOUT IT FROM THE PERSPECTIVE HOW YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT THAT AND WHAT WE SHOULD EXPECT GOING FORWARD FROM A FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVE ON THAT TOPIC.
I CAN SORT OF START OFF BUT DO WE WANT TO HAVE DR. HUTCHINGS, WHO WOULD YOU LIKE --
>> OKAY, THAT WAS KIND OF A LONG QUESTION.
WE START OUT LOOKING AT OUR DATA AND WE HAVE SEVERAL DATA POINT POINTS IN MAKING STRUCTURAL DECISIONS AND THAT DATA INFORMS HOW WE SPEND THE DOLLARS AND, YES, THAT INCLUDES ALL THOSE BUCKETS OF THE BUDGET THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO USE SO FEDERAL DOLLARS.
THERE'S MONEY FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION TO ADDRESS THOSE SUPPORTS, SO I THINK THAT'S THE LARGER QUESTION IF WE WANT TO SHARE DETAILS ABOUT SPECIFIC PROGRAMS, WE CAN ADD ONTO THAT, DR. HUTCHINGS.
>> YEAH, AND I WAS GOING TO SAY IN ADDITION TO LOOKING AT OUR DETERMINING KIND OF WHERE OUR SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND THE ACADEMIC LOSS OCCURS.
I KEEP SAYING THIS TIME AND TIME AGAIN.
OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AS WELL AS OUR STAFF ARE DEALING WITH A CRISIS RIGHT NOW.
EVERYONE IS IN CRISIS MODE AND WE KNOW THAT CRISIS LEADS TO A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS, DIFF BEHAVIORS, MENTAL SITUATIONS AND CONCERNS.
IT CAN LEAD YOU BECOMING SOMEBODY WHO YOU DIDN'T USED TO BE AND I'M SURE YOU'RE EXPERIENCING THIS IN YOUR HOMES OR YOU HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS EXPERIENCING THESE THINGS AND WE'LL HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT THROUGH THE SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL AND ACADEMIC SUPPORTS WE'RE PROVIDING OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF MEMBERS.
WE'RE FORTUNATE TO HAVE SOME OF THE FUNDING COMING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE STATE AND HOPEFULLY WITH OUR APPLICATION THAT WE WILL SUBMIT BY APRIL 1ST WE WILL BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE SOME OF THESE NEEDS.
FROM A ALL STUDENT SUMMER LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES TO ADDITIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELING AND SOCIAL WORK AND PSYCHOLOGY SERVICES THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO PROVIDE OUR STUDENTS AS WELL AS THIS ACADEMIC LEARNING LOSS THAT MANY OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE FACED WITH.
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A ONE SHOT AND A ONE SIZE FITS ALL SOLUTION FOR ALL THIS.
THIS IS GOING TO TAKE US YEARS TO MAKE UP FOR SOME OF THE LOSS THAT OUR YOUN EXPERIENCING.
WE'LL HAVE TO REALLY BE PREPARED TO NOT ONLY HAVE SOME OF THESE SERVICES AND SUPPORTS THIS UPCOMING YEAR BUT THROUGHOUT THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS TO MAKE UP FOR THIS LOSS.
WE ALSO ARE GOING TO HAVE TO START LOOKING AT, IN THE FALL, HOW DO WE RETHINK WHAT EDUCATION LOOKS LIKE? SOME OF OUR STAFF AS WELL AS OUR STUDENTS STILL MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO RETURN BACK INTO OUR SCHOOL BUILDINGS IN THE FALL SO WE HAVE TO START THINKING ABOUT HOW DO WE PROVIDE DELIVERY OF INSTRUCTION FOR STUDENTS WHO CAN'T RETURN FOR WHATEVER REASON.
THOSE ARE THINGS WE'RE WORKING ON.
I DON'T KNOW IF DR. MOZINOG WANTED TO ELABORATE.
>> YOU COVERED MANY OF THE AREAS, THANK YOU, BUT I KNOW YOU HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE MULTITIERED SYSTEM OF SUPPORT.
ONE OF OUR GOALS IS ALSO TO DEVELOP A PARTNERSHIP WITH HARVARD UNIVERSITY.
THEY HAVE A PARTNERSHIP TO ALLOW US TO ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE VARIOUS INTERVENTIONS THAT WE'RE USING WITH OUR MULTITIERED SYSTEM OF SUPPORT.
AS MEAGAN MENTIONED EARLIER, WE WANT TO START WITH THE DATA.
WE HAVE A LOT OF DATA SYSTEMS BUT OUR MAJOR QUESTION IS ARE THOSE SYSTEMS AND ARE THOSE STRATEGIES EFFECTIVE? SO THAT'S ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE PLANT TO UTILIZE SOME OF THE FUNDS AND AS DR. HUTCHINGS INDICATED THERE'S A REALLY COMMITMENT TO SUMMER PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS TRYING TO MITIGATE AGAINST THE ACADEMIC LOSS THAT'S OCCURRED.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT, THAT WAS REALLY HELPFUL AND
[00:35:01]
UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO ASSESS THE DAMAGE, IF YOU WILL, AND THEN ASSESS THE EFFICACY OF VARIOUS INTERVENTIONS.I THINK AT SOME POINT, ONCE YOU GUYS GET TO A PLACE WHERE YOU HAVE A BETTER PICTURE OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, I THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD CONVERSATION FOR US TO HAVE JOINTLY IN THE FUTURE.
I THINK OF THIS AS YOU COMING IN AND SAYING WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO BUILD ANOTHER SCHOOL.
IT'S A MULTIYEAR INVESTMENT FOR US AND THAT'S PROBABLY WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE WITH SOME OF THESE INTERVENTIONS AND I THINK WE NEED A CRISP ANSWER FOR THE COMMUNITY IN HOW WE'RE THINKING ABOUT THAT, WHETHER IT'S SUMMER FOR ALL, WHATEVER, WHATEVER IT LOOKS LIKE, BEING ABLE TO EXPLAIN TO THE COMMUNITY, LISTEN, THIS IS WHAT WE THINK IT'S GOING TO TAKE TO SUPPORT OUR KIDS AND THIS IS GOING TO BE A SUSTAINED COMMITMENT FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT AND LET'S COME UP WITH A WAY TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
ONE OTHER THING AND THEN I'LL STOP.
I APPRECIATE DR. HUTCHINGS THE CORR HEALTHCARE THING.
IT SEEMS LIKE, AND I ASK EVERY YEAR ABOUT HEALTHCARE AND I'M GOING TO ASK AGAIN.
THIS YEAR WE SEEM TO BE GOING IN VERY DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS AND I RECOGNIZE WE HAVE DIFFERENT POPULATIONS BUT I'M KIND OF SURPRISED BY THAT ESPECIALLY SINCE YOU'RE SELF-FUNDED AND WE'RE SELF-FUNDED.
YOU'RE LOOK AT A GROWTH IN HEALTHCARE, THAT'S SURPRISING.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT'S SURPRISING THAT AND WHETHER THERE'S SOME PLAN DESIGN OPTIONS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO TRY TO MITIGATE SOME OF THOSE INCREASES.
>> I WILL HAVE MR. TURNER TO ELABORATE ON THAT BUT WE HAVE STRUCTURES WE'RE WORKING THROUGH WITH OUR HEALTHCARE PREMIUMS. I DO WANT TO ADDRESS THAT JUST RECENTLY WE SHARED WITH OUR BOARD, AND THIS IS ABOUT YOUR FIRST COMMENTS ABOUT US COMING TOGETHER AND PROVIDING YOU WITH DATA AND INFORMATION ON THINGS WE'RE GOING TO NEED.
WE PROVIDED THE SCHOOL BOARD WITH AN UPDA PRESENTATION ON WHERE WE ARE NOW BASED ON OUR SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND ACADEMIC LEARNING LOSS.
SPECIFICALLY WE WERE LOOKING AT OUR GRADE DISTRIBUTION, ABSENTEEISM, SOME OF THE INTERNAL ASSESSMENTS THAT WE'RE DOING OF OUR STUDENTS IN REGARD TO ACADEMIC CHALLENGES AND DEFICITS THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED DUE TO COVID-19.
WE ALSO SHARED WITH THE BOAR INFORMATION THAT CAME OUT OF OUR SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL STUDY OUT OF UCLA AND THIS IS TO DO A COVID-19 KIND OF SCREENER OF STUDENTS' SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING SO WE HAVE DATA THAT WE USE TO MAKE OUR INFORMED DECISIONS NOW.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO WAIT UNTIL THE PANDEMIC IS OVER TO BEGIN TO DETERMINE WHAT WE NEED.
SOME OF THOSE THINGS WE ARE BEGINNING TO ADDRESS NOW.
THESE ARE WHY WE'RE HAVING TO SHIFT DOLLARS, WHY WE HAVE HAD TO PROVIDE THESE ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS FOR STUD ACTUALLY, RIGHT NOW.
THIS IS SOME OF THE REASONS WHY WE RECONVENED OUR GRADING PRACTICES COMMITTEE, WHY WE'RE WORKING WITH THE SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL AND ACADEMIC LEARNING COMMITTEE.
WHY WE'RE BEGINNING TO DEVELOP OUR SUMMER LEARNING PROGRAM.
ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE SITUATIONS THAT IF, ONE, EVEN IN A NORMAL YEAR WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU THE ANSWERS TO IN MARCH.
WE CAN'T PREDICT THE SUMMER OR THE FALL AND I ALWAYS BRING UP THE FACT THAT WHO WOULD HAVE PREDICTED ON MARCH 13TH WE WOULD HAVE CLOSED OUR BUILDINGS AND ARE JUST OPENING THEM A YEAR LATER? SO WE KNOW WHAT FROM PREDICTIONS CAN AND CAN'T DO.
WE HAVE PROVIDED THOSE SUPPORTS AND WE WILL BE SURE YOU HAVE THAT AND THE ACTIONS WE'RE ALREADY TAKING TO ADDRESS THEM.
SO WHEN IT COMES TO OUR HEALTHCARE BENEFITS.
IT'S A PROJECTION OF 8% INCREASE RIGHT NOW BASED ON OUR HISTORICAL INCREASES BASED ON THE CLAIMS SO, AGAIN, LIKE YOU SAID, WE'RE SELF-INSURED SO THE CLAIM OF YOUR STAFF OR EMPLOYEES THAT YOU HAVE --
[00:40:01]
SO AGAIN SO IT'S BASED ON THE CLAIMANTS AND THE STAFF THAT YOU HAVE SO THAT DETERMINES YOUR INCREASE.
EACH SPRING WE USE A HEALTH CONSULTANT TO DETERMINE WHAT THE ACTUAL INCREASE IS, SO THAT COULD BE LESS OR MORE THAN WHAT WE HAVE PREDICTED BUT WE LIKE TO PROJECT ON THE CONSERVATIVE SIDE SO THAT'S WHY WE LOOK AT OUR HISTORICAL DATA TO SAY, OKAY, 8% INCREASE IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT GOING INTO FISCAL YEAR 2022.
WHEN THE CONSULTANT COMES BACK THEY WILL TELL US THAT'S HIGH OR LOW AND THEN THAT WILL PROVIDE EITHER FUNDS THAT CAN GO TO THE CLASSROOM OR WE'LL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE COVER THE INCREASE.
I MAY HAVE MORE QUESTIONS ON THAT.
>> I'M NOT SURE IF EVERYONE IS HEARING ME.
>> DID YOU SEE MY HAND? I DON'T SEEM TO HAVE A PROPER PLACE TO DO THAT BUT RAISING HANDS COUNTS.
I WANTED TO ASK YOU A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
FIRST OF ALL, HOW MANY STAFF MEMBERS DO YOU IMAGINE THAT YOU'VE LOST SINCE MARCH 15TH OF LAST YEAR? DON'T EVERYONE RUSH TO ANSWER.
>> I MOVED ON, EITHER OTHER JOBS OR BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO WORK OR WHAT.
>> I 100% SURE OF THAT BUT DR. WILKINS, ANY THOUGHTS?
I KNOW WHEN WE STARTED THE YEAR OFF THIS YEAR WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR HR REPORTS IS DO WE HAVE ADEQUATE STAFF STARTING THE SCHOOL YEAR OFF AND WE LOOK AT THE TRENDS OVER THE PAST 3 TO 5 YEARS JUST TO GET AN IDEA OF ARE WE IN A WORSE OR BETTER SITUATION? WE SAW THIS YEAR WE WERE WHERE WE WERE LAST YEAR AND THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
DR. WILKINS YOU MAY WANT TO GIVE INSIGHT IN REGARDS TO THE NUMBER OF STAFF MEMBERS WHO ARE NO LONGER WITH US DUE TO A RESIGNATION OR RETIREMENT.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT COUNCILWOMAN PEPPER, I THINK THAT'S WHAT --
>> G DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE THAT AT THIS POINT?
>> W GLAD TO PROVIDE IT AFTER THE MEETING.
I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO TELL ME A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE SUMMER PROGRAMS AND HERE'S WHERE MY QUESTION IS COMING FROM.
BOTH ELIZABETH AND I ARE PART OF A WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT GROUP, COMMITTEE, I GUESS, THAT KIND OF OVERSEES SUMMER PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH.
THEY ARE PAIRING PEOPLE UP WITH BUSINESSES SO THAT SOME OF THE STUDENTS CAN GO AND LEARN HOW TO BE A GOOD EMPLOYEE.
YOU BE ON TIME AND YOU LOOK NICE AND YOU STAY THE WHOLE DAY AND YOU DON'T CHAT ON YOUR PHONE THE WHOLE TIME AND YOU LOOK ALERT KIND OF STUFF, OKAY? WELL, WHY ARE YOU ALL SMILING? THAT'S THE WAY IT IS.
>> I'M GOING TO GET FIRED IS WHAT IT IS.
>> I HAD NOT THOUGHT ABOUT THAT, BUT ANYWAY, WHAT I WANT TO KNOW IS IF EVERYBODY IS IN SUMMER SCHOOL IN PERSON, PARTICULARLY, AND THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, I THINK, WHAT HAPPENS TO THIS PROGRAM?
>> WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SUMMER LEARNING AND SIMILAR TO THE CONCEPT WE HAD LAST YEAR, THERE WILL BE SOME REVISIONS MADE THIS UPCOMING SUMMER BUT IN GENERAL, THE CONCEPT IS THAT FAMILIES CAN OPT OUT OF THE SUMMER LEARNING.
[00:45:01]
REQUIREMENT SO YOU'RE NOT FORCED TO DO THAT BUT WE DO WANT OUR FAMILIES TO HAVE THE OPTION TO RECEIVE THESE SUMMER LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES.SO ALL STUDENTS ARE ENROLLED BUT FAMILIES CAN OPT OUT OF THAT PARTICULAR OPPORTUNITY FOR WHATEVER REASON THEY CHOOSE.
WE BELIEVE THAT WITH THE LEARNING LOSS THAT HAS OCCURRED OVER THE PAST YEAR, IT WILL BEHOOVE OUR FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY THOSE EXHIBITING ACADEMIC DEFICITS TO CONTINUE INTO THE PROGRAM.
WE TRY TO MAKE IT FLEXIBLE SO THERE ARE STILL OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO NOT LOSE THEIR ENTIRE SUMMER BECA PUNISHMENT FOR SOME OF OUR KIDS AS WELL AS SOME OF OUR FAMILIES BECAUSE I KNOW THEY HAVE PLANS AND THINGS THEY WANT TO DO WITH THEIR CHILDREN THE SUMMER SO WE TRY TO MAKE SOME FLEXIBILITY IN REGARDS TO HOW WE'RE OFFERING THIS PROGRAM.
THE DIFFERENCE THIS SUMMER AS WELL WILL BE THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE 100% SUMMER LEARNING LIKE WE DID LAST YEAR BUT WE WERE IN A PANDEMIC LAST YEAR WHERE THE GOVERNOR HAD AN EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT WE COULD NOT BE IN OUR SCHOOLS OTHER THE SUMMER, SO THAT'S WHY WE HAD 100% VIRTUAL.
THIS SUMMER, BECAUSE WE ARE ALREADY TRANSITIONING OUR STUDENTS THIS WEEK, HATS OFF TO OUR TEAM FOR DOING A PHENOMENAL JOB AND KNOCK ON WOOD, THINGS ARE GOING WELL SO FAR BUT BECAUSE WE'RE TRANSITIONING SOME OF OUR STUDENTS BACK IN PERSON, WE ENVISION THIS SUM BEING A HYBRID TYPE OF APPROACH WHERE THERE'S SOME IN PERSON AS WELL AS SOME VIRTUAL OPTIONS FOR STUDENTS BUT IT'S NOT STUDENTS.
SOME FAMILY WILLS CHOOSE TO OPT OUT OF THE SUMMER LEARNING.
>> YOU KNOW, THERE WAS KIND OF THE SAME PROBLEM THAT THE YOUT EXPERIENCING LAST SUMMER AND THAT IS SO MANY OF THE OFFICES WERE CLOSED, NOT ONLY THE CITY OFFICES, AND WE ARE ONE OF THE BIGGEST CONTRIBUTORS TO PROMOTING JOBS OR PROVIDING JOBS FOR THIS AGE GROUP FOR THE SUMMER.
ANYWAY, I DO HOPE THAT WHEN WE RAISE THE SALARIES AND I HOPE THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN FOR EVERYBODY UP TO $15, I DO HOPE THAT SOME OF THAT GOES TO THESE YOUNG FOLKS, TOO.
SO THIS IS GOING TO BE OPTIONAL, I'M SORRY TO HEAR THAT FROM THE STANDPOINT OF THESE KIDS BECAUSE WHAT I CERTAINLY HAVE HEARD FROM PARENTS IS THAT THEIR KIDS, YEAH, THEY DO THE VIRTUAL STUFF BUT THEIR LEARNING IS NOT THE SAME AND NOTHING IN THE WAY OF SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS SO I HOPE THE SUMMER WOULD BE A TIME WHEN YOU COULD REALLY CATCH UP.
I HAVE ONE LAST QUESTION IF I MAY.
SINCE THE KIDS ARE NOT IN SCHOOL, AT LEAST THEY HAVEN'T BEEN FOR MONTHS, WERE YOUR WORKERS ABLE TO SPEED THINGS UP AT MACARTHUR AND GET KIND OF A LEAP AHEAD? IT WASN'T LIKE KIDS WERE RIGHT THERE UNDER THEIR FEET.
>> FOR SOME OF OUR PROJECTS WE WERE ABLE TO GET SOME THINGS MOVING FASTER, BUT IN SOME AREAS WE MOVED SLOWER BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE WORKERS BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC SO WE'RE STILL ON TARGET ON OUR PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE RIGHT NOW BUT EVERYTHING WASN'T ABLE TO MOVE QUICKLY BECAUSE EVERYBODY WAS PANDEMIC, ESPECIALLY OVER --
THAT CLEARS MY DESK OFF, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN PEPPER AND TO ADD TO YOUR FIRST QUESTION WITH STUDENTS BEING ABLE TO WORK, WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT STUDENTS IT'S NOT JUST A SUMMER ISSUE, IT'S A YEARLONG ISSUE BECAUSE SOME OF OUR STUDENTS ARE PROV HOUSEHOLDS AND SO THAT'S WHY OUR HIGH SCHOOL PROJECT IN REALLY THINKING ABOUT PATHWAYS AND WORK OPPORTUNITIES IS REALLY IMPORTANT IT'S ALSO WHY CONTINUING TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX IN TERMS OF VIRTUAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES IS REALLY IMPORTANT, BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF OUR STUDENTS WHO NEED A LOT MORE FLEXIBILITY IN HOW THEY CAN ACCESS EDUCATION.
[00:50:01]
I HAVE A FEW THINGS TO TOUCH ON.
I APOLOGIZE, SIRENS ARE GOING UP AND DOWN RIGHT NOW.
TO TOUCH ON WHAT COUNCILWOMAN PEPPER ASKED ABOUT, I WILL PUT THAT OUT THERE SO THE PANDEMIC, OF COURSE, HASN'T JUST BEEN FOR US, IT'S BEEN NATIONALLY.
WHEN PARENTS -- I KNOW EVERYONE IS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP THAT'S GOING TO BE SEEN FOR THIS YEAR, BUT WE ALL HAVE TO REALIZE THAT PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY IS -- I DON'T WANT TO SAY ON EQUAL PLAYING FIELDS OR PLAYING GROUND, BUT IT'S A -- [SIRENS] I THINK THEY'RE COMING FOR ME.
>> ARE THEY COMING FOR YOU, AMY?
>> I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT IS BEING DONE BECAUSE YOU HAVE HALF THE PARENTS THAT WANT ACPS OPEN RIGHT NOW AND HAVE WANTED THAT FOR THE LAST EIGHT MONTHS, WANTED THAT TWO WEEKS AFTER WE CLOSED, RIGHT? BECAUSE WE WERE ONLY SUPPOSED TO BE CLOSED FOR 2 TO 3 WEEKS.
NOBODY SAW THIS COMING, NOBODY.
SO DIFFERENT PEOPLE HAD TO ADAPT DIFFERENT WAYS.
I KNOW OUR HOUSEHOLD HAS HAD TO ADAPT AND IT'S BEEN TOUGH, YOU KNOW? ELEMENTARY SCHOOL KIDS IN A HOUSE WITH AT LEAST WORKING PARENTS.
WE'RE WORKING BUT WE HAVE OTHER FAMILIES WHO HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS AND CAN'T GO TO WORK BECAUSE THEY HAVE BECOME CHILDCARE BECAUSE SCHOOLS ARE ALWAYS THOUGHT OF AS CHILDCARE ALTHOUGH PEOPLE DIDN'T THINK ABOUT IT AS CHILDCARE, IT'S EDUCATION BUT NOW IT'S CHILDCARE.
THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT HEAVEN FORBID THEIR KIDS -- I CAME TO THE REALIZATION SIX MONTHS AGO, IF MY CHILD DOESN'T MAKE THE GRADE THIS YEAR, I'M GOING TO BE OKAY IF THEY HAVE TO REPEAT IT IN PERSON THIS YEAR AND I TOLD MY HUSBAND THE SAME THING AND I'M A CAREER EDUCATOR SAYING THAT BUT YOU HAVE TO GIVE GRACE FOR THE SITUATION.
EVERYBODY, LIKE DR. HUTCHINGS HAS ALREADY SAID, EVERY HOUSEHOLD IS TAKING ON STRESS IN A TOTALLY DIFFERENT WAY WITH THIS SO THERE'S THAT.
NOW FOR WHAT I PUT OUT THERE ON VIDEO A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, MARCH 1ST, BECAUSE WE HAD BEEN TOLD A DATE AND IT WAS ALMOST LIKE THE DOG HAD EATEN MY HOMEWORK FOR THE 15TH TIME AND I KNOW I HAVE HAD A COUPLE OF SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS REACH OUT TO ME GOING I WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU IF YOU ASKED AND HONESTLY THERE WERE MORE THAN TWO DOING THIS, HOWEVER, IF YOU ALL ARE AN ELECTED BODY AND I'M TRYING TO NOT PLACE BLAME ON ANYBODY, BUT IF IT'S REALLY THREE PEOPLE ON THIS CALL THAT ARE ON COUNCIL THAT ARE THE SOCIAL MEDIA PEOPLE AND WE'RE THE ONES GETTING THE QUESTIONS WHEN WE ARE NOT THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS WHO KNOW THE ANSWERS BUT THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AREN'T ON SOCIAL MEDIA ANSWERING SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS, IT BEGS THE QUESTION WHO IS SUPPOSED TO BE ON SOCIAL MEDIA ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS? I UNDERSTAND EVERYONE HAS A WEBSITE, WE HAVE A WEBSITE, THE SCHOOL BOARD HAS A WEBSITE, EVERYBODY HAS A WEBSITE.
IT TOOK ME 10 TO 15 MINUTES TO FIND A LINK FOR A MEETING TWO WEEKS AGO.
IT WAS NOT ON THE CALENDAR FOR ME TO CLICK ON THE CALENDAR TO A LINK TO GET TO THAT, BUT I DIGRESS.
I PUT THAT VIDEO OUT THERE FOR A FEW REASONS.
ONE, THAT DATE HAD BEEN OUT THERE, THAT IT WAS MID FEBRUARY, THAT BUILDING WAS COMING DOWN.
AND THEN IN THE TWO WEEKS LEADING UP TO WHAT I PUT OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA ON MARCH 1ST, WHICH WAS A VERY SILENT SPINNING AROUND SO EVERYONE COULD SEE THERE WAS NO BULLDOZER OUT, THERE WAS NO GATE UP UNTIL THIS MORNING WHEN THE GATES STARTED GOING UP AROUND THE BUILDING WE NEEDED TO CALL THE QUESTION WHY? WHY? AND SINCE THEN I HAVE GOTTEN SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS TEXTING ME BUT YOU SHOULDN'T BE
[00:55:03]
TEXTING ME, YOU SHOULD BE PUTTING THAT OUT THERE TO TELL THE COMMUNITY WHO IS ASKING WHAT THE ANSWER IS.I APPRECIATE YOU TEXTING ME AND I LOVE THE PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS WE HAVE, BUT THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS NEED TO HEAR YOU AND THEY WON'T JUST GO TO THE WEBSITE, THEY WANT A QUICK INTERACTION, JUST A QUICK ONE AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SET ANY PRECEDENT BUT DOING IT AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO BACK IN TWO SECONDS AND ANSWER ANYMORE.
THAT'S ONLY JUSTIN WILLSON WHO DOES A THAT, ANYBODY ELSE DO THAT AND I GIVE YOU THE OKAY NOT TO DO IT, OKAY? BECAUSE I DON'T, EITHER.
THERE'S NOT ENOUGH HOURS IN MY DAY, BUT I'M TELLING YOU, THERE ARE VERY UNHAPPY PEOPLE THAT, AND I UNDERSTAND NEWSLETTERS WENT OUT AND EVERYTHING ELSE BUT THE PEOPLE THAT DID RESPOND TO MY VIDEO ARE THE ONES WHO ARE ENGAGED IN MACARTHUR, IN THE COMMUNITY WHO DIDN'T HAVE THE ANSWER, EITHER.
OBVIOUS I'M VERY PASSIONATE, I LOVE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, I LOVE OUR SCHOOLS, OUR KIDS, OUR TEACHERS ARE PHENOMENAL.
I HONESTLY -- MY ISSUE IS THE COMMUNICATION.
WHATEVER YOUR ANSWER IS, IT CANNOT BE ANY WORSE THAN NOT HEARING ANYTHING AT ALL.
THAT'S THE ISSUE THAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE.
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT SCHOOLS, IT'S ABOUT.
IF THEY HAVEN'T HEARD FROM SOMEBODY ABOUT SOMETHING.
NOT KNOWING IS WORSE THAN ANY ANSWER YOU GIVE THEM BUT THEY NEED AN ANSWER, THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO PLAN.
THEY NEED TO SEE THE PROGRESS AND I UNDERSTAND IF THERE WAS PROGRESS IN BUILDINGS, FANTASTIC.
IF IT WAS ASBESTOS, DOMINION, EASEMENTS, CAN'T GET THE BULLDOZERS UNTIL A CERTAIN TIME, WHATEVER THE ANSWER IT, THEY JUST NEED TO HEAR THE ANSWERS ON SOCIAL MEDIA BECAUSE WE'RE IN A PANDEMIC, IT'S BEEN 11 TO 12 MONTHS AND THIS IS THE WAVE OF THE FUTURE.
INSTAGRAM, TWITTER, FACEBOOK, I'M SURE THERE ARE 50 MILLION OTHERS THAT I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YET BECAUSE I'M OLD.
YOUR ANSWER COULD JUST BE AWFUL, BUT THEY JUST NEED HEAR IT FROM YOU.
NINE OF YOU, THERE ARE NINE OF YOU.
>> SO THAT'S THE THING ABOUT MACARTHUR.
I DON'T WANT THE SAME ISSUES COMING UP WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL PROJECT AND THEN WE NEED CO-LOCATION.
MY QUESTION ABOUT CO-LOCATION, ARE WE GOING TO LOOK AT CO-LOCATION AT EVERY INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL SITE AS IT COMES UP? BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY NEEDS TO KNOW, NOT TO MENTION TO CITY, OKAY? SO WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THAT? I WAS ON THE JOINT FACILITIES COMMUNITY MEETING ON -- WAS THAT LAST NIGHT? I CAN'T REMEMBER.
SO WHERE ARE WE WITH TEST FITS? I SAW A LOT OF THINGS THAT WERE CITY BUT I DIDN'T SEE SCHOOL FACILITIES BEING DISCUSSED, HONESTLY.
SO THERE ARE A LOT OF HANDS THAT HAVE GONE UP AND I'M GOING TO START OFF THIS RESPONSE.
I'M JUST GOING TO BLUNTLY SAY A FEW THINGS.
I THINK WHAT DR. HUTCHINGS -- ACTUALLY, WHAT I ASKED AT THE END OF MY PRESENTATION WAS REALLY A PROFESSIONAL COURTESY.
I WANTED TO BE CLEAR THAT DR. HUTCHINGS CLEARLY STATED THAT WE, AS A SCHOOL BOARD, DID NOT HEAR THOSE THINGS.
SO YOU'RE SAYING THAT ALL THESE PEOPLE ARE COMING TO THE SCHOOL BOARD AND ASKING ABOUT DOUGLAS MACARTHUR, NO ONE CAME TO ME, DR. HUTCHINGS DID NOT HEAR ANYTHING, OTHERS CAN SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES SO THE PROFESSIONAL COURTESY WOULD BE IF ANYONE COMES TO A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, ANYBODY, ASKING ABOUT SCHOOL BUSINESS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER REFERS THOSE PEOPLE TO THE SCHOOL BOARD AND REFERS TO THOSE PEOPLE DEALING WITH THAT SITUATION.
THAT'S A PROFESSIONAL COURTESY, OKAY? AND THE SECOND THING IS I DON'T DO BUSINESS ON SOCIAL MEDIA BECAUSE I DON'T FIND IT APPROPRIATE.
SOCIAL MEDIA IS NOT THE REAL WORLD.
SO MAYBE WE ALL NEED TO RECONSIDER HOW WE BEHAVE AS ELECTED OFFICIALS ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
YOU ALL HAVE DIRECT CHANNELS TO THE SCHOOL
[01:00:02]
BOARD.YOU HAVE ACCESS THAT OTHER PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE.
USE THAT AS OPPOSED TO BLASTING OUR STAFF AND SCHOOL BOARD ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
I DON'T FIND IT APPROPRIATE AND I DON'T FIND IT FAIR SO THAT'S MY ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION AND I WILL LET OTHERS SPEAK.
>> I UNDERSTAND THE TREMENDOUS CHALLENGE OF COMMUNICATION AND I THINK I KNOW CITY STAFF AND ELECTEDS WORK TIRELESSLY ON TRYING TO FIND MULTIPLE WAYS TO SEND OUT INFORMATION.
I KNOW THAT ON THE SCHOOL SIDE WE WORK TIRELESSLY AS WELL.
THERE'S NO VERSION OF THIS WHERE WE ACHIEVE PERFECTION OF COMMUNICATION WHERE EVERY SINGLE HUMAN BEING GETS EXACTLY THE AMOUNT OF INFORMATION DELIVERED TO THEM IN PRECISELY THE WAY THEY WANT IT.
SO ALL THAT WE CAN DO IS KEEP MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE DOING AS MUCH AS WE CAN AND KEEPING OURSELVES OPEN SO THAT EVERY TIME THERE'S SOMEBODY THAT ISN'T GETTING SOMETHING THAT WE FOLLOWUP.
WE DO ALSO HAVE THE CITY SCHO MEETINGS.
WE HAVE THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT HAVE ASSIGNED TO BE PART OF SCHOOL RELATED ITEMS, AND SO THERE ARE MULTIPLE KINDS OF WAYS THAT WE CAN GIVE INFORMATION.
AND WE ALSO KNOW THAT PEOPLE DO JUST END UP DEVELOPING RELATIONSHIPS.
THERE ARE PEOPLE -- THERE ARE MULTIPLE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE MIGHT JUST CREATE SHORTCUTS.
THEY PARTICULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER OR CITY COUNCIL MEMBER AND THAT INDIVIDUAL PERSON MIGHT DEVELOP THAT RELATIONSHIP AND MAYBE THEY REACH OUT TO YOU AND THAT'S FINE.
I WOULD CERTAINLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO REACH OUT TO US AS WELL BUT IF THE WAY YOU WANT TO DO IT IS ASK US THE QUESTION WE GIVE YOU THE ANSWER AND THEN YOU DELIVER THE ANSWER BACK TO THEM, THAT'S FINE, BUT WE DO NEED TO KNOW BECAUSE WE'RE IN A CONSTANT STREAM OF GIVING OUT INFORMATION AND WITH ALL EFFORT, AND I WOULD ALSO WANT TO KEEP IN MIND THAT AT THE SAME TIME THAT WE ARE TRYING TO PUT OUT INFORMATION ABOUT THESE SCHOOL PROJECTS, WE ARE PUTTING OUT INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT I TRULY HOPE IS THE MOST COMPLICATED SCHOOL RELATED INFORMATION THAT ANYONE WILL EVER HAVE TO GIVE, WHICH IS ALL OF THE INFORMATION AROUND THIS PANDEMIC.
I CANNOT EVEN REALLY WRAP MY BRAIN AROUND IT.
WE ARE WORKING VERY HARD AND I DO, I CERTAINLY -- MY ASSUMPTION, IF THERE IS SOMEBODY IN THE COMMUNITY THAT IS CONFUSED ABOUT SOMETHING ON THE CITY SIDE IS NOT THAT THE CITY IS HOLDING BACK INFORMATION OR NOT GIVING INFORMATION, IT'S, HMM, HOW CAN I HELP THIS PERSON GET THE INFORMATION THEY NEED? THE WAY I WOULD DO THAT IS TO REACH OUT TO YOU ALL, MY COLLEAGUES, WHO I KNOW WOULD DIRECT MY TO THE CORRECT STAFF PERSON.
>> T OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE IN THE CONVERSATION.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE A FEW POINTS.
ONE OF THE THINGS I REALLY APPRECIATED ABOUT THE MAJORITY OF ELECTED COLL OPPORTUNITY TO WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM TO FOCUS ON THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE AND AT THE SEND OF THE DAY, THAT'S OUR NORTH STAR, OUR COMPASS, THAT WE SHOULD ALL BE WORKING TOGETHER TO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY PARTICULARLY IN A TIME OF A GLOBAL HEALTH PANDEMIC.
TO BE CANDID, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, I WAS SHOCKED AT YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA, WHICH SEVERAL ACPS PARENTS SENT ME IN SURPRISE THAT IT CAME OFF THAT YOU ARE ANTI-ACPS AND THEY WERE QUESTIONING WHY IS THAT AND I THOUGHT WE WERE ALL WORKING TOGETHER HERE SO I HOPE THAT THAT'S A REMINDER THAT THAT'S WHY WE'RE ALL HERE, TO SERVE AS ELECTEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WITHIN THAT WE HAVE TO BE SUPER MINDFUL OF
[01:05:01]
WHAT'S THE STAFF ROLE VERSUS ELECTED ROLE? WE HAVE TO BE SUPER CAREFUL AS ELECTEDS TO SNOT STEP ON STAFF TOWS.WE'RE NOT RESPONDING ON BEHALF OF STAFF, WE'RE NOT THROWING STAFF UNDER THE BUS, WE'RE NOT COMING AND PITTING THE COMMUNITY AGAINST STAFF BUT ALLOWING THEM TO DO THEIR JOB AND WE'RE THERE AS A OVERSIGHT BODY TO SERVE AS A SUPPORT ROLE AND IN THAT VEIN, THE PROP COMMUNICATION IS THE WEBSITE AND THERE ARE SEVERAL LISTERS THAT YOU CAN SIGN UP TO FOLLOW A CERTAIN SCHOOL OR PROJECT.
MY NUMBER ONE CONCERN ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA WHICH I DO NOT ENGAGE IN AT ALL AND I NEVER HAVE AND I WILL EXPLAIN THAT.
AS A CAREER EDUCATOR FOR 24 YEARS IT'S MY JOB TO MODEL MYSELF IN WHAT I WANT YOUNG PEOPLE TO DO AND SOCIAL MEDIA HAS BECOME A TOOL WHERE A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE ARE HAVING MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS OVER, USING IT INAPPROPRIATELY, GAINING INFORMATION, IF WE COULD ALL HAVE A SPARE MOMENT AND WATCH THE MOVIE, I THINK THE SOCIAL DILEMMA CAN SPEAK MUCH BETTER THAN I CAN ABOUT THE CONCERNS.
I ALSO FIND SOCIAL MEDIA TO BE A TOOL AGAINST INEQUITY.
OUR WEBSITE IS TRANSLATED INTO FOUR LANGUAGES.
63% OF OUR PARENTS ARE FROM LOW INCOME BACKGROUNDS AND ONE-THIRD DO NOT SPEECH ENGLISH SO SOCIAL MEDIA IS NOT THE TOOL THEY USE.
I FIND IT TO BE AN INEQUITY OFFICIALS AND OTHERS ARE USING IT AS A TOOL WHEN MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY WHO DO NOT USE SOCIAL MEDIA AS THEIR TOOL FOR ENGAGEMENT.
PEOPLE ARE GAINING INFORMATION AND WHY SHOULD I BE JUMPING WHEN AN UPPER MIDDLE CLASS PERSON WANTS TO SPEAK AND I'M SUPPOSED TO BE A SLAVE TO THE TOOL BUT INSTEAD WE HAVE PUBLIC MEETINGS, TRANSPARENT MEETINGS LIKE THIS ONE, WEBSITES, NEWSLETTERS, THE ACPS BLAST.
IF I USE SOCIAL MEDIA AS MY ONLY TOOL OF ENGAGEMENT I WOULD BE CONTRIBUTING TO THE INEQUITIES AND NOT ALLOWING LOW INCOME FOLKS TO NOT HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD.
IF UPPED YOU WANT TO KNOW WHY VERONICA NOLAN IS NOT ON SOCIAL MEDIA, IT'S NOT A STRONG ROLE MODEL SITUATION TO BE USING TOOLS TO RECEIVE OR ENGAGE IN INFORMATION.
THE OTHER ISSUE I HAVE IS SPREADING MISINFORMATION AS ELECTEDS.
THE INFORMATION THAT WAS SHARED WAS NOT ACCURATE AND SO I'M CONCERNED, AGAIN, IF WE STEP ON STAFF'S TOES AND USE OTHER CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION BESIDES WHAT ACPS HAS UTILIZED AND WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING IS EXACTLY WHAT MS. GENTRY AND ALDERTON SAID, HERE'S WHERE YOU CAN SIGN UP TO FIND INFORMATION TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS RECE INFORMATION.
I SAY THIS IN THAT WE'RE SUPPORTING OUR STAFF IN THAT VEIN SO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SHARE MY INTERACTIONS, CHAIR ALDERTON, I APPRECIATE IT.
>> MS. JACKSON IS YOUR HAND UP?
SORRY, I THOUGHT I WAS ON MUTE.
JUST SO WE'RE CLARIFYING WHY I PUT THE VIDEO UP, IT WAS BECAUSE NO ONE INFORMATION AFTER WE KNEW THE INFORMATION THAT HAD BEEN SAID WAS FEBRUARY FOR THE DEMOLITION.
NO ONE HAD THE INFORMATION AND IT WASN'T ON THE WEBSITE.
>> MR. AGUIRRE HAS HIS HANDS UP.
I JUST WANT TO VOICE SOME OF MY SUPPORT AROUND SOME OF THE SOCIAL MEDIA STUFF.
I'VE BEEN CRITICIZED GREATLY ON SOCIAL MEDIA IN DIFFERENT REGARDS BUT WHAT I HAVE ALWAYS SAID IS I WILL TAKE A MEETING WITH ANYONE.
THROUGH OFFICIAL CHANNELS THAT'S HOW I DEAL WITH THE PUBLIC, RIGHT? AND FRANKLY I JUST DON'T HAVE TIME WITH A FULL TIME JOB AND ALL THE STUFF THERE'S NOT ENOUGH TIME IN THE DAY
[01:10:02]
AS WE'RE ALL PRETTY MUCH IN THE SAME BOAT WITH THAT ONE.I DO HAVE A SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNT AND TO MS. NOLAN'S POINT, I DO TRY TO MODEL HOW IT'S BEING USED, TRYING TO PUT OUT INFORMATION THAT'S VERIFIED AND TRUE.
IF PEOPLE GET UPSET OR CONGRATULATE ME, I DON'T RESPOND.
I GET CRITICIZED FOR THAT BUT THAT'S HOW I WANT TO HANDLE MY SOCIAL MEDIA.
I WAS OFF FACEBOOK FOR SEVEN YEARS BUT GOT BACK ON BECAUSE I WANTED TO RUN FOR CITY COUNCIL.
I'M GOING TO GO TO MR. SUAREZ AND THEN MR. CHAPMAN.
>> Y MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS ABOUT COMMUNICATION.
I THINK ALL OF US ARE AWARE THAT COMMUNICATION HAS BEEN AN ISSUE AND IT'S BEEN CHALLENGING BUT IT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE WORKED ON A LOT AS A BOARD AND SOMETHING WE HAVE NOT ONLY WORKED ON IT IN THE SENSE OF MAKING SURE THAT OUR COMM STAKEHOLDERS, PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY IMPROVES BUT WE ALSO WORKED ON IT AS A BOARD TO ENSURE THAT WHEN PEOPLE ENGAGE ON SOCIAL MEDIA OR WHEN THERE ARE COMMUNICATIONS TO THE SCHOOL BOARD, THERE'S NOT CROSS TALK AMONGST THE BOARD, THAT COMMUNICATION IS CLEAR AND CONSISTENT AND THAT THERE'S A PROTOCOL FOR THAT AND THAT'S IMPORTANT SO GOING BACK TO THE POINT MS. NOLAN MADE ABOUT TEAM WORK AND US WORKING AS A TEAM, THE WAY WE COMMUNICATE IS MODELING THE NATURE OF COMMUNICATION THAT WE'RE ENVISIONING FOR THE COMMUNITY.
THE MORE WE CAN BE COLLABORATIVE AND FRANKLY, THE MORE THAT WE CAN ESTABLISH PROT COMMUNICATIONS, IF THERE'S A SCHOOL ISSUE, HERE'S HOW WE'LL MAKE SURE WE GET THE INFORMATION AND SO FORTH, I PERSONALLY THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
ACPS, WE'RE WORKING ON ROLLING OUT A CUSTOMER RELATION COMMITMENT AND IN THIS DIVISIVENESS AND TEMPERATURES JUST BEING SO HOT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
WE HAVE TO TAKE A STEP BACK TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE ON WHAT THE COMMUNICATION PROTOCOLS LOOK LIKE.
WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS AROUND GETTING TO THAT POINT AS A BOARD AND I PUT A PLUG IN FOR THIS.
I REALLY THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THESE BODIES ENGAGE IN COMMON VISI UNDERSTANDINGS AND I THINK WE'RE TALKING PAST EACH OTHER A LOT BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THOSE COMMON UNDERSTANDINGS.
I USE A NUMBER OF SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS. DON'T PLAN TO STOP, NOT NECESSARILY BECAUSE OF OUR CONVERSATION BECAUSE I DO FIND IT A GOOD WAY TO INTERACT WITH A NUMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS ESPECIALLY DURING THIS PANDEMIC WHEN I HAVE NOT SEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE IN PERSON FOR OTHER A YEAR SO IT DOES NOT SURPRISE ME THAT SOME OF OUR COMMUNE CONVERSATIONS HAVE BEEN ONLINE, THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA SOMETIMES THROUGH E-MAILS AND TEXTS BECAUSE AS MR. AGUIRRE SAID, SOME OF THESE COMMITTEE MEMBERS HAVEN'T BEEN AVAILABLE.
I UNDERSTAND THE PROS AND CONS OF SOCIAL MEDIA.
I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THAT FOR US AS ELECTED OFFICIALS SOME OF THE DOS AND DON'TS.
SOME OF THEM I QUESTION BUT I UNDERSTAND THE PROS AND CONS OF FOLKS AND EVERYBODY, ESPECIALLY PEOPLE HERE AND THEIR LEANINGS ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
I THINK ON COUNCIL I CAN SPEAK TO A COUPLE OF COLLEAGUES, I THINK THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN MADE
[01:15:05]
AWARE OF HOW THEY'RE GOING TO OPERATE ON SOCIAL MEDIA.I WOULD SAY GENERALLY SPEAKING I DON'T KNOW IF THE OVERALL COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDS HOW INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF SCHOOL BOARDS OR THE SCHOOL BOARD AS A WHOLE CHOOSE TO ENGAGE OR NOT ENGAGE IN SOCIAL MEDIA.
I SEE SOME FOLKS GIVING ME A QUESTIONING LOOK.
I GUESS I'M SAYING THAT BECAUSE OF WHAT I'M HEARING TODAY ABOUT INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR STANCE ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND WHY THEY USE IT OR WHY THEY DON'T AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S BEEN PUT OUT THER COMMUNITY SO YOU WILL HAVE FOLKS THAT MIGHT TAG INDIVIDUALS, OPENLY QUESTION SOMETHING THAT ACPS SCHOOL BOARD DOES EXPECTING A RESPONSE AND NOT GETTING ONE SO I DON'T KNOW IF THOSE FOLKS KNOW THAT SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS ARE NOT GOING TO ENGAGE IN THAT WAY BECAUSE IT HASN'T BEEN SAID PUBLICLY BUT TO THE QUESTION OF PLANS AN PROJECTS AND THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING, LET'S BE HONEST, SOCIAL MEDIA IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE.
I WOULD HOPE THAT THE CITY AS WELL AS ACPS COMES UP WITH A WAY TO ENGAGE PEOPLE THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA.
THAT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GO TO A SCHOOL BOARD PAGE OR A QUESTIONS.
HOPEFULLY FOLKS ARE RESPONDING, WHETHER IT'S SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS OR SCHOOL STAFF AND I HOPE WE FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT WAY IS.
IF INDIVIDUAL ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE GOING TO RESPOND OR NOT RESPOND, SURE.
I ALSO DON'T THINK IT'S NECESSARILY ALWAYS THE CASE THAT WHETHER A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER OR A COUNCIL MEMBER GETS A QUESTION ABOUT SOMETHING THE OTHER BODY IS DOING, SOMETIMES THAT QUESTION IS GOING TO GET PASSED ON.
SOMETIMES DEPE RELATIONSHIP OR THE HISTORY SOME OF OUR MEMBERS HAVE HAD WITH ACPS OR THE SCHOOL BOARD, THEY'RE NOT INTERESTED IN BEING PASSED OFF TO ANYBODY AND THEY WANT US TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
SO, SURE, WE CAN GET THAT INFORMATION OR WE CAN SAY THAT'S NOT OUR ISSUE.
THAT'S THE PLACE I HAVE BEEN PUT IN IN A COUPLE OF POSITIONS AND SOMETIMES I HAVE TAKEN THE LATTER STANCE SAYING THIS IS A SCHOOL BOARD QUESTION, HOPEFULLY YOU CAN REACH OUT TO THE SCHOOL BOARD OR ACPS.
MANY TIMES WHEN I DO, THAT I STEP BACK AND HOPE THAT GETS ANSWERED.
I DON'T WANT TO BE THE ONE THAT SHEPHERDS EVERYBODY TO WHO THEY NEED TO.
I HOPE THAT WE'RE EDUCATING FOLKS ON WHERE THEY NEED TO GO FOR ANSWERS AND THEY'RE GETTING THE ANSWER THEY NEED.
SOMETIMES THAT HAPPENS, SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T AND I THINK OUR FOLKS ON SOCIAL MEDIA WITH SHAPED BY THOSE INSTANCES.
DO THEY WANT TO SEE ENGAGED ELECTED OFFICIALS? I THINK THEY DO.
ON SOCIAL MEDIA, CAN IT GET ROUGH IN CAN IT BE THE WRONG CONVERSATION? ABSOLUTELY.
I THINK WE HAVE ALL SEEN WHERE IT GOES AWRY BUT IF WE THROW AWAY THE TOOL TO ENGAGE, I THINK IT DOES US MORE HARM THAN GOOD.
I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT PEOPLE CHANGE THEIR INDIVIDUAL PAYS THEY OPERATE BUT I WOULD SAY THAT OUR BODIES NEED TO COME UP WITH HOW WE, AS A BODY, OR DIFFERENT BODIES WANT TO RESPOND TO ISSUES THAT ARE EASY BUT ALSO CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES.
I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE NEED TO GO BUT THAT'S ONLY MY SUGGESTION.
I THINK THIS QUESTION CAN BE SOMETHING FOR ANOTHER DAY IF WE CHOOSE IT TO BE, BUT I'M GLAD TO H RESPONSES ON THIS.
I KNOW WE HAVE ANOTHER PRESENTATION SO I WANT TO MOVE ALONG.
MY ONLY RESPONSE THAT I WILL REITERATE IS THAT NO ONE IS TELLING PEOPLE TO USE SOCIAL MEDIA OR NOT.
WE ARE ASKING AS A BOARD FOR THE PROFESSIONAL COUR MISINFORMATION OUT AND NOT USE SOCIAL MEDIA TO SAY NEGATIVE THINGS ABOUT OUR WORK.
[01:20:01]
WE ARE VERY PROTECTIVE OF OUR STAFF, WE KNOW THEY'RE WORKING VERY HARD RIGHT NOW AND WE DON'T NEED EXTRA THINGS TAKING THEM AWAY FROM THE WORK THAT IT IS THAT WE DO AND THAT WORK IS KIDS.IF YOU WILL HEAR ME SAY ANYTHING OVER AND OVER AGAIN, EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED TO DO IS ABOUT KIDS AND WHEN WE DISTRACT AND DETRACT, IT RUINS WHAT WE CAN DO, IT TAKES TIME AWAY FROM WHAT WE NEED TO BE DOING.
UNFORTUNATELY THIS WAS A BUDGET SESSION ABOUT THE COMBINED FUNDS BUDGET FOCUSSED ON SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL AND ACADEMIC LEARNING AND WE HAD TO DEAL WITH THIS.
THAT'S A PROBLEM FOR ME AND THE 63% OF THE KIDS WE SERVE WHO HAVE NOBODY SPEAKING UP FOR THEM.
SO I'M GOING TO LEAVE IT AT THAT.
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON, MR. JINKS, YOU HAVE YOUR
[2. City Presentation: Schools Debt Service]
PRESENTATION.SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE OPERATING BUDGET AND THE CAPITAL BUDGET, I WANTED TO UPDATE THE CONVERSATION I HAD WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD LAST YEAR IN REGARDS TO THE FISCAL IMPACT OF THE CIP.
WE HAVE A CIP THAT IS NOW $2.7 BILLION OF THE SCHOOLS, THE LARGEST SINGLE PIECE OF THE CIP AT $551 MILLION AND I WAS PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO RECOMMEND FULL FUNDING FOR THAT AS WELL AS THE OPERATING BUDGET.
THE CIP, WE HAD DEBT POLICY GUIDELINES, THE CITY WAS AMONG THE FIRST IN THE UNITED STATES TO ESTABLISH THEM IN THE LATE 1980S AND BASICALLY IT'S SAYING TO SET PARAMETERS FOR ISSUANCE OF DEBT AND TO MAKE SURE IT WAS PRUDENTLY HANDLED AND THERE IS BASICALLY THE CIP THAT GETS US, AS I WILL WALK YOU THROUGH, REALLY TO THE OUTER LIMITS OF WHERE THE CITY SHOULD BE IN REGARDS TO THE AMOUNT OF DEBT.
IT HAS AN IMPACT ON THE OPERATING BUDGET AND AN IMPACT ON OUR CREDIT RATING AND OUR ABILITY TO MANAGE NEW DEMANDS THAT COME AT US 10 OR 15 YEARS FROM NOW.
THE NEXT SLIDE, TO PUT IT INTO PERSPECTIVE, THIS REPRESENTS EVERY YEAR THE CITY SCHOOLS, WE DO CIP FOR SOME TIME, WE HAVE BEEN DOING A TEN-YEAR CIP, WE WERE AMONG THE FIRST JURISDICTIONS AND VERY FEW SCHOOLS IN THE AREA GO OUT THAT FAR AND IT'S GREAT THAT WE DO THAT TOGETHER BECAUSE IT HELPS US TO SET PRIORITIES AND THINK ABOUT HOW TO DEAL WITH THEM LONG BEFORE THEY SHOW UP IN OUR LAPS AS EMERGENCIES.
THIS PARTICULAR GRAPH SHOWS WHAT THE TOTAL TEN-YEAR CIP WAS STARTING IN 2013.
ADD THE NEXT TEN YEARS AND ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE THE SCHOOL YEAR'S PROPOSED CIP FOR 22.
YOU CAN SEE THE TOTAL WAS $200 MILLION FOR TEN YEARS AND NOW AS WE JUST TALKED ABOUT AND YOU'RE FULLY AWARE, IT'S NEARLY THREE TIMES THAT AMOUNT.
IT'S A BIG INCREASE, MUCH OF THAT MONEY IS BORROWED AND WE HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE IMPACT OF THAT BORROWING.
THE NEXT SLIDE SHOWS STANDARD MEASURES, THE BOND RATING AGENCIES THAT TELL US HOW WELL WE'RE DOING LOOK AT A NUMBER OF KEY MEASURES FOR EVERY MUNICIPALITY WITHIN THE UNITED STATES AND WE MEASURE IT AND THEY MEASURE IT FOR US.
THIS IS AN ASSETS AND LIABILITIES TEST AND YOU CAN SEE AND THE MESSAGE HERE IS THAT THE CITY HAS A LIMIT OF 2.5% OF WHAT THE PERCENTAGE OF DEBT CAN BE TO THE VALUE OF OUR TAX BASE AND WE HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY BELOW THAT AND OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS, WE ARE GOING TO HIT THAT CEILING AND JUST STAY UNDER IT FROM THERE FORWARD.
THE INCREASE REALLY RELATES TO THE CITY PROJECT AND IN PARTICULAR THE BIGGEST PROJECT THAT'S HITTING THIS MEASURE IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS IS
[01:25:05]
GOING TO BE THE MINNIE HOWARD HIGH SCHOOL PROJECT AS WELL AS STARTING TO PAY FOR AND BORROW MONEY FOR THE MACARTHUR PROJECT AS A RESULT OF THAT AND YOU CAN SEE WHEN IT COMES TO PLANNING THE CIP A YEAR FROM NOW, TWO YEARS FROM NOW, WE'RE GOING TO BE COGNIZANT THAT WE HAVE TO STAY WITHIN THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS THAT WE HAVE ESTABLISHED AND PUT IN THE CIP FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS, PARTICULARLY PROBABLY THE FIRST FIVE YEARS OF THAT TEN YEARS SO THAT IT WILL BE A MATTER OF TRADEOFFS TO A LARGE DEGREE GOING FORWARD.THE BASICALLY HOW MUCH OF YOUR OPERATING BUDGET DO YOU HAVE TO PUT INTO DEBT AND PAYING THAT DEBT BACK? AND THE CEILING IS 12%.
I SHOULD SAY WHEN I SAY CITY IMPOSED WHILE IT'S VOLUNTARY REALLY LOOKING TO THE NORMS OF WHAT'S CONSIDERED GOOD FISCAL MANAGEMENT AS ARTICULATED BY THE RATING AGENCIES AND OTHERS AND WE REALLY SHOULDN'T HAVE MORE THAN 12% OF OUR EXPENDITURES FOR DEBT SERVICE AND WE'RE REALLY TAKING ON A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY AND UNDERTAKING THESE PROJECTS IN REGA RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY BACK THE MONIES WE'RE BORROWED FOR THOSE PROJECTS FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS.
THE THE DEBT SERVICE IS AND THIS HITS OUR OPERATING BUDGET AND YOU CAN SEE THE NUMBERS GET BIG QUICKLY OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS.
WE HAVE A BIG CHALLENGE IN FRONT OF US FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR AND THE YEAR AFTER AND WHILE WE COULD SMOOTH THIS OUT A LITTLE BIT, IT IS GOING TO BE A BIG CLIMB IN ORDER TO RAISE THE MONEY AND FIGURE OUT HOW WE PUT THIS WITHIN OUR EXISTING BUDGET AND WHAT OUR TAX RATES NEED TO BE GOING FORWARD.
THE GOOD THING ABOUT THE CITY'S DEBT MANAGEMENT IS THAT WE PAY IT BACK FAIRLY AGGRESSIVELY SO THE AVERAGE BOND ISSUE, WE CALL IT A 20-YEAR BOND, IT'S PAID BACK IN A LITTLE MORE THAN A DECADE SO THAT MEANS AS WE TAKE ON NEW DEBT FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, WE'RE PAYING BACK A LOT OF OLD DEBT, FOR EXAMPLE, THE TC WILLIAMS PROJECT, WE'RE ALMOST DONE PAYING THAT BACK AND THAT GIVES US CAPACITY TO BORROW AND REPLACE THAT DEBT BUT FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS, WE HAVE OUR HANDS FULL TO SAY THE LEAST.
CAPITAL PROGRAMS PUT A LOT OF PRESSURE ON THE SCHOOL BUDGET AND AS A RESULT, AS I INDICATED LAST YEAR, I TALKED TO THE SCHOOL BOARD THAT'S PROBABLY GOING TO MEAN HAVING TO RAISE THE TAX RATE AND THIS IS ONE EXAMPLE OF LAST YEAR I PROPOSED 2¢ AND WE PUT IT OFF BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC AND THIS YEAR BETWEEN TIMING AND SCHEDULING, WE DID NOT NEED IT BUT GOING FORWARD, THAT INCREASE IN THE TAX RATE TO GIVE US MONIES, THIS DOESN'T COVER ALL THE DEBT SERVICE INCREASE BUT IT WOULD BE A BIG HELP AND AS YOU ALL KNOW, RAISING THE TAX RATE IS A BIG LIFT AND WE GOT THAT IN FRONT OF US, SO I GUESS THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE GOT A GOOD PROGRAM THAT WE WON'T WANT TO DELIVER IN REGARDS TO CAPITAL PROJECTS BUT WE HAVE OUR LIMITS AND IT'S GOING TO BE A NEED ASK FOR MORE FROM THE COMMUNITY AS WE PROCEED WITH THE REST OF OUR PROJECT AND NEXT YEAR'S PREPARATION FOR NEXT YEAR'S CIP, WE'RE ALL GOING TO HAVE TO WORK WITHIN THE GUARDRAILS OF THE AVAILABLE.
[01:30:02]
TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.>> THANK YOU, MR. JINKS, I HAVE A QUESTION FROM MS. GENTRY.
>> THANK YOU, SO, SO MUCH A QUESTION BUT A COMMENT.
FIRST, THANK YOU, MR. JINKS AND THE STAFF THAT HELPED PUT THIS TOGETHER.
I REALLY THINK TIMING WISE IT'S GREAT FOR US TO SEE AND IT'S REALLY HELPFUL FOR US TO THINK ABOUT HOW THIS IMPACTS SOME OF THE MORE IMMEDIATE PROJECTS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON BUT AS THIS SLIDE INDICATES, WHAT WE MIGHT NEED COMMUNITY FOR GOING FORWARD IF WE'RE GOING TO REALLY WHAT BOTH THE SCHOOLS AND THE CITY ARE REFLECTING IN OUR TEN-YEAR CIPS AND AS AN EXAMPLE OF SOME IMMEDIATE IMPLICATIONS, WE HAD OUR DISCUSSION ABOUT THE HIGH SCHOOL PROJECT IN A SEPARATE WORK SESSION JUST PRIOR TO THIS MEETING AND IT'S RIGHT THERE IN THE DOCUMENTATION.
THERE'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE SOME -- THERE ARE SOME ITEMS THAT ARE POTENTIALLY BEING DISCUSSED SUCH AS UNDERGROUND PARKING OR THE POOL OR THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT WE HAVE HAD TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THOSE MIGHT HAVE TO LIVE IN A SEPARATE COLUMN.
THEY CAN'T BE DIRE EDUCATION AND WHILE WE ABSOLUTELY UNDERSTAND THE COMMUNITY WANTS THEM, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THAT WANT WITH SOME OF THE BUDGETARY REALITIES WE'R PRESENTATION RIGHT HERE SO THAT'S SOME BARRELLING DOWN ON THAT REALLY JUST IN THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME DECISIONS THAT WE THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE MORE AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
I JUST APPRECIATE THAT WE HAVE THIS PRESENTATION.
WE'LL WANT TO KEEP MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE REGULARLY DOING PRESENTATIONS LIKE THIS FOR US TO DISCUSS AND ALSO JUST TO KEEP REMINDING THE COMMUNITY ABOUT IT, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> DID YOU WANT TO RESPOND, MR. JINKS?
>> T COMMENT FROM MS. GENTRY FOR STAR CONVERSATION.
I WANTED TO GIVE SPECIAL THANKS TO MAYOR WILSON, THE CITY COUNCIL AND A SPECIAL THANKS TO MR. JINKS AND YOUR TEAM.
THIS IS JUST SUCH A TREMENDOUS GIFT TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, REAL INSINCERE EFFORT OF PARTNERSHIP, ESPECIALLY IN THIS TIME OF A GLOBAL HEALTH PANDEMIC WHICH WE, AS A UNFORTUNATELY GOT HIT SO TREMENDOUSLY THROUGH IN A REVENUE STANDPOINT WITH THE TOURISM DOLLARS AND THINGS LIKE THAT SO I WANT TO SINCERELY THANK YOU FOR STANDING BY THE SCHOOL.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF MAGIC YOU DID, I KNOW IT WASN'T MAGIC, IT WAS HARD WORK BUT I WANTED TO THANK YOU.
I HAVE ALWAYS FELT YOU'RE SUCH A STRONG PARTNER TO THE SCHOOL AND WE'RE FORTUNATE TO HAVE YOU AND YOUR TEAM IN THIS TIME AND THANK THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL FOR YOUR SUPPORT, REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
AS WE SHARED IN OUR PRESENTATION, THE NEED IS GO OUR NEEDIEST CHILDREN SO THIS WILL BE A GREAT SUPPORT SO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU AND THIS IS S TEAM EFFORT AND PART OF THE TEAM THIS YEAR AND BEING ABLE TO FULLY FUND THE SCHOOLS WAS GOOD SUPERINTENDENT, HIS STAFF'S PART.
LOOKING AT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE BUDGET WITH OTHER SCHOOLS, WE'RE IN THE SINK COMPLETELY FROM THE START.
>> T ECHO, I LOVE THE PARTNERSHIP PART MR. JINKS AND DR. HUTCHINGS.
I APPRECIATE YOU CONTINUOUSLY TOGETHER.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, AND LET ME JUST ECHO MR. JINKS' COMMENTS, THE FACT THAT WE'RE NOT SEEING A LOT OF SUNLIGHT BETWEEN THE OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET IS A RESPONSE TO THE MOMENT THAT WE'RE IN AS WELL AS THE BOARD'S ADOPTION AS SUCH.
[01:35:04]
LET ME JUMP OFF ON SOMETHING MS. GENTRY RAISED.I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO HAVE CONVERSATION ABOUT AS WE GO FORWARD.
PART OF HOW WE DO THESE PROJECTS OFF IN OUR OWN TENTS IF YOU WILL, WHATEVER, OFF IN OUR OWN SIDES, IT MAKES THAT KIND OF MUNI COLOCATION LIKE A POOL, LIKE MENTAL HEALTH, WHATEVER, IT MAKES SOME OF THAT MORE DIFFICULT TO BUDGET FOR AND FUND BECAUSE I THINK WE ALL MIGHT WANT A POOL ON THE MINNIE HOWARD SITE BUT THAT'S NOT PART OF YOUR EDUCATION SPECS AND SO YOU GUYS, AS YOU GO THROUGH YOUR PROCESS ARE NOT EASILY ABLE TO IN REQUIRE A PARTNERSHIP VERY EARLY ON, NOT ONLY AT THE STAFF LEVEL BUT THE POLICY MAKER LEVEL TO MAKE SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPEN.
SO I KNOW THAT WAS PART OF THE RECOMMENDATION SEVERAL YEARS AGO.
I THINK THERE'S STILL WORK TO HAPPEN THERE TO MAKE THE STRU DECISIONS MORE UNIFIED EARLIER IN THE PROCESS SO THAT IT'S STILL NOT A, HEY, WE'RE THE SCHOOL BOARD, WE'RE DONE WITH OUR PLAN FOR MINNIE HOWARD, IT'S GOING TO COST THIS MUCH, HERE WE GO, TO A HEY, WE'RE HOLDING HANDS TOGETHER AND FIGURING OUT THE PROCESS TOGETHER.
ANY OF THOSE TYPES OF COLLABORATIONS, WE'LL HAVE TO FIGURE THAT OUT.
I THINK THAT'S THE HOLY GRAIL OF MAKING THAT WORK.
SO PROBABLY SOMETHING FOR A FUTURE CITY SCHOOLS MEETINGS TO INCUBATE A LITTLE BIT AND WE DID HAVE A COUPLE OF JOINT WORKS SECTIONS JUST FOCUSING ON THE STRU RELATIONSHIP AND I THINK IT HAPPENED WHILE THERE WAS A TRANSITION OF BOARD AND COUNCIL GOING ON, PROBABLY NOT THE BEST TIME TO DO THAT, AND NOW WE'LL HAVE THE SAME THING HAPPENING AGAIN THIS YEAR BUT MAYBE WE CAN FIGURE OUT THE RIGHT TIMING FOR THAT AND THEN CLEARLY GIVEN THE EARLIER CONVERSATION, THERE MIGHT BE A BENEFIT OF SOME MORE STRUCTURED CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE WORKING RELATIONSHIP GOING FORWARD AS WELL SO I WILL LEAVE THAT OUT THERE.
PLEASE FORGIVE ME FOR BEING A CYNIC ON THIS CONVERSATION BECAUSE THAT'S NOT MY INTENT BUT AS WE LOOK AT THE CIP AND WE LOOK AT THE FACT THAT WE'RE REACHING OUR CITY-INITIATED DEBT RATIOS, WHAT ARE WE -- AND THIS IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE MORE OF A RHETORICAL QUESTION BECAUSE I DON'T EXPECT ANYONE TO ANSWER IT TONIGHT, I THINK WE'LL HAVE TO LOOK AT OUR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AS WE GET CLOSER TO THAT EDGE TO SEE HOW WE STAY WITHIN THE GUARDRAILS.
I THINK OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS AND FOR FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN ON LONGER, I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE CHANGED A WHOLE LOT OF PROCEDURES AS IT RELA CONVERSATION.
I THINK OUR REDS OF BOTH ORGANIZATIONS, I DEFINITELY AGREE WITH THOSE WHO HAVE SAID THAT RELATIONSHIP HAS GOTTEN BETTER AND WE HAVE A MORE JOINED CIP BUT I'M WORRIED ABOUT GETTING TO THE NEXT YEAR OR NEXT TWO YEARS, IF I'M HERE, AND NOT TOO MUCH HAVING CHANGED ON THE POLICY OR PROCEDURE SIDE AND SO OUR BODIES LOOK TO MAKE CHANGES IN THE NEAR TERM THAT HAVE A FAR REACHING EFFECT WHICH WILL THEN END UP OUTSIDE OF THOSE GUARDRAILS THAT MR. JINKS IS TALKING ABOUT SO I WOULD LOVE US TO THINK ABOUT GOING FORWARD HOW DO WE MAKE SURE WE STAY WITHIN THOSE GUARDRAILS? ARE WE COMMITTING TO A CERTAIN NUMBER OF YEARS AND NOT CHANGING THAT? I HAVE NEVER REALLY SEEN US, WHETHER IT'S ON THE CITY OR SCHOOL SIDE OR TOGETHER STAY WITH A CERTAIN NUMBER OVER THE YEARS.
THINGS COME UP, WE MAKE CHANGES, SOMETIMES WE MAKE TRADEOFFS, SOMETIMES NOT BUT IF WE'RE SAYING ADDITIONAL REVENUE IS NOT EASILY HAD, HOW CAN WE LOCK IN A GOOD PORTION OF THE CIP TO
[01:40:05]
MAKE SURE NOT ONLY WE KNOW THAT BUT WE'RE TELLING THE COMMUNITY, HEY, WE'RE FULLY COMMITTED TO THIS CIP AND THESE NUMBERS ARE NOT GOING TO GO UP? AGAIN, A RHETORICAL QUESTION, NOT SOMETHING THAT I THINK FOLKS ARE READY TO ANSWER TODAY BUT I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT IF WE WANT TO SAY, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO REMAIN IN THESE GUARDRAILS AS IT RELATES TO SPENDING AND WITH THE FOCUS THAT BOTH OF OUR BODIES HAVE TOWARD THE OUTCOMES WE WANT TO SEE IN THE CIP.>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAPMAN, DO YOU WANT TO RESPOND MR. JINKS?
>> I HARD WORK AND AS MS. GENTRY INDICATED, IT WILL BE TOUGH CHOICES, EDUCATING THE COMMITTEE AS TO WHY WE CAN'T SAY YES TO EVERYTHING THEY WANT OR WHY IT'S GOING TO BE MORE YEARS THAN WE WISH BEFORE WE CAN GET TO SOMETHING.
>> THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION AND I KNOW THAT THE JOINT FACILITIES MASTER PLAN THEY HAD A MEETING ON MONDAY NIGHT, THE FIRST COMMUNITY MEETING AND I WAS ABLE TO SEE A POWER POINT, I HAVEN'T SEEN THE VIDEO YET BUT I HAVE BEEN WONDERING ABOUT HOW WHAT COMES OUT OF THAT WILL SHAPE THE BUDGET MOVING FORWARD SO MAYBE WE CAN PLAN A CONVERSATION AROUND DISCUSSING THAT DOCUMENT AND SOME IDEAS FOR MOVING FORWARD BUT I THINK A GOOD START IS JUST HAVING THIS CONVERSATION AND PLANTING THE SEEDS HERE SO WE KNOW THE EXPECTATIONS MOVING FORWARD AND BEING ABLE TO SHARE THAT WITH THE COMMUNITY IS GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION, MR. JINKS.
THAT'S A FIRST TIME THAT'S HAPPENED TO ME, ISN'T IT? THAT HASN'T HAPPENED TO ME YET.
I DON'T SEE ANYMORE HANDS SO I'M JUST SCROLLING ACROSS MY SCREEN TO MAKE SURE.
>> M NECESSARILY TO EVERYTHING WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING ALTHOUGH IT'S RELATED PERIPHERALLY.
THE BOARD ASKED FOR US TO SEND ANY ISSUES WE WANTED TO DISCUSS DURING THIS MEETING AND MENTIONED I WANTED TO DISCUSS THE SROS BUT I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE AT THAT POINT YET.
>> G QUESTIONS BECAUSE WE'RE DONE WITH THE BUDGET STUFF.
>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE TO CLEAR THE TABLE OF ANY OTHER ISSUES IF ANYONE HAS ANYTHING THEY WANT TO SAY.
>> I WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THE BUDGET IF WE'RE MOVING ON.
>> OH, YES, PLEASE, GO AHEAD AND THEN WE'LL GO BACK TO MR. AGUIRRE.
>> I MS. NOLAN WAS A SAYING ABOUT MR. JINKS AND THE WORK HE'S DONE.
AS YOU FAST FORWARD TO NOW AND COLLABORATION THAT WE DO HAVE, WHETHER IT'S BETWEEN ME AND THE CITY MANAGER OR STAFF OF ACPS AND THE STAFF OF T TREMENDOUS.
WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH ALL THE PLANNING AND HAVING THE BUDGETS PRESENTED THE WAY THAT THEY ARE WITHOUT THAT TYPE OF COLLABORATION AND TRUST FOR ONE ANOTHER AS WELL AS GUIDANCE BECAUSE MR. JINKS, HE GIVES ME ADVICE ON CERTAIN THINGS AND HE CALLS ME AND GETS ADVICE FROM ME SO I WANTED TO PUBLICLY SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION.
AS A CITY MANAGER, JUST AS A SUPERINTENDENT, A LOT OF TIMES PUBLICLY WE DON'T GET TO HEAR SOME OF THE POSITIVE THINGS YOU'RE CONTRIBUTING TO YOUR ROLE AND I JUST WANTED TO ECHO WHAT MS. NOLAN SAID EARLIER.
I LOVE THAT WE DO CONTINUE TO GET TO COLLABORATE AND TO WORK THROUGH SOME OF THE OBSTACLES THAT WE'RE ALL FACED WITH, ESPECIALLY WITH THIS ECONOMIC DOWNTURN BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR WORK AND I KNOW IT TAKES A TEAM BUT EVERY GREAT TEAM HAS A GOOD LEADER THAT HELPS GUIDE AND SET EXPECTATIONS ALONG THE
[01:45:03]
WAY, SO THANK YOU.THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS BESIDES THE TWO OF US WHO MAKE IT WORK.
[Additional Item]
OKAY.>> THANK YOU, I KNOW WE'RE TWO HOURS IN, I WILL TRY TO BE AS CONCISE AS POSSIBLE BUT I WANTED TO DISCUSS THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS AND THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO SAY I BELIEVE THIS WAS MENTIONED DURING THE SCHO CONVERSATIONS.
I DID GO BACK AND WATCH ALL FOUR HOURS OF YOUR DELIBERATIONS ON THIS ISSUE THAT WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME SIDE, RIGHT? WE WANT OUR KIDS TO LEARN AND BE IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT AND TO SUCCEED SO I WANT TO START BY SAYING THAT.
TO BE FRANK, I WAS A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED IN HOW THE SCHOOL BOARD CHOSE TO PROCEED WITH THE SRO MOU.
MY FULL INTENTION WAS TO R INFORMATION OVER CHRISTMAS BREAK AND THEN BE ABLE TO DISCUSS FURTHER WITH ALL OF YOU AND WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT, HOWEVER, I CHOSE MY OWN MENTAL HEALTH AND SLEEPING SO I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET TO A LOT OF THIS INFORMATION UNTIL JUST A FEW DAYS AGO WHEN I WAS ABLE TO GO BACK THROUGH A LOT OF THE VIDEO.
I THINK THAT WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY TRY AND REIMAGINE THINGS OR AT LEAST TO PUT A DIFFERENT SPIN ON THINGS AND WITH THE MOU, WHILE THERE WERE IMPROVEMENTS, I WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THAT 100%, THERE WERE DEFINITELY IMPROVEMENTS ON IT, I THINK THERE COULD HAVE BEEN MORE.
SO FIRST OFF, THE POLICE OFFICERS CLEARLY DOING A GREAT JOB THERE.
WHEN WE HAD THE PRINCIPAL SPEAK TALKING ABOUT STRONG CONNECTIONS WITH KIDS, BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS, LOTS OF TRUST, THAT THEY'RE PART OF THE COMMUNITY, AND SEVERAL SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AS WELL AS DR. HUTCHINGS REITERATING THESE STRONG RELATIONSHIPS AND TRUST AND PEOPLE ARE SAYING THAT'S WHY IS SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE SROS THERE.
THAT'S NOT WHAT I WAS HEARING.
I WAS HEARING THAT THEY WERE TWO MALE SPANISH SPEAKING INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE ACTING AS EXCELLENT ROLE MODELS THAT HAPPENED TO ALSO BE POLICE.
SO THROUGH A LOT OF THAT CONVERSATION THAT WAS COMING TO ME THAT WE NEED MORE POSITIVE ROLE MODELS IN OUR SCHOOLS, NUMBER ONE.
WITH OUR SROS, I DON'T BELIEF THEY SHOULD BE HOUSED IN THE BUILDINGS AND THEY BROUGHT UP GOOD POINTS IN TERMS OF RESPONSE TIME THAT IT'S BETTER FOR THE KIDS TO SEE A KNOWN OFFICER RATHER THAN JUST A RANDOM OFFICER SHOWING UP BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE TO SAY WE CAN'T STILL HAVE THOSE THINGS AND NOT HAVE THOSE OFFICERS ON CAMPUS AND CHIEF BROWN, I'M GOING TO GET ON YOU FOR THIS, I WAS DISAPPOINTED, WE CAN HAVE OFFICERS ENGAGE IN WAYS THEY ALREADY ARE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE IN THE PROGRAM TO HAVE A SOCCER PROGRAM, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE IN THE BUILDING TO GIVE PRESENTATIONS AT NIGHT.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE IN THE BUILDING, FRANKLY, TO BE ABLE TO SHOW UP DURING LUNCH OR ARRIVAL OR DISMISSAL WHICH IS WHEN THEY'RE ENGAGING WITH THE STUDENTS THE MOST SO WE CAN CREATE SCHEDULES FOR THESE OFFICER WHERE IS THEY STILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW UP DURING SOME OF THESE TIMES AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE EVERY DAY AT LUNCH, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE EVERY DAY AT DISMISSAL OR ARRIVAL AND JUST LIKE THE SOCCER PROGRAM ISN'T EVERY DAY.
WE HAVE PRESENT OF EXAMPLES OF DIFFERENT NONPROFITS IN THE CITY THAT DO LOTS OF GREAT WORK WITH OUR KIDS BUT ARE NOT HOUSED IN THE BUILDING, RIGHT? SO I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN WORK ON AND TAKE A LOOK AT.
IN TERMS OF MS. ALDERTON AND MR. SUAREZ BROUGHT THIS UP, THERE WAS NOT AS MUCH DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT'S IN THE MOU AND WHAT SHOULD
[01:50:01]
BE ADDRESSED.I DO LIKE SO THAT IT WAS CHANGED SO THAT 18-Y AUTOMATICALLY GIVING INFORMATION TO OFFICERS, THERE STILL NEEDS TO BE WRITTEN CONSENT FROM PARENTS.
ALSO INFORMATION IS MANDATED TO BE COLLECTED.
I AM STILL WORRIES THAT IF WE'RE COLLECTING DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION, CAN I ASK MR. SUPERINTENDENT WITH THE FORM, BECAUSE I'M LOOKING AT THE FORM AND I DON'T SEE A PLACE TO COLL INFORMATION IS AT THE VERY LEAST THE STUDENT ID BEING COLLECTED SO THAT COULD BE EXTRAPOLATED.
>> Y DEMOGRAPHIC DATA FOR DISCIPLINE.
SO THE OTHER THING WITH THE MOU, WELL, I'M GOING BACK TO -- AND I DIDN'T REALLY SEE THIS IN THE CURRENT MOU AND I READ IT A COUPLE OF TIMES BUT I'M GOING BACK TO MY ORIGINAL ALMOST 30 QUESTIONS THAT I SENT IN REGARDS TO THE ORIGINAL MOU, IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON TRAINING FOR THOSE SROS AND FOR THE COMMUNITY TO BE INVOLVED IN THE SRO COLLECTION PROCESS AND I'M NOT SAYING THE COMMUNITY WILL SELECT THE SRO BECAUSE THAT'S THE PANEL'S DECISION BUT IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A COMMUNITY TO HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL OR A COUPLE OF PEOPLE TO BE INVOLVED IN THAT PROCESS?
>> I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE CHIEF AND I CAN DISCUSS IN REGARDS TO THE PROCESS OF HAVING COMMUNITY MEMBERS PART OF THE HIRING PROCESS OR COMMITTEE.
THAT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING WE CAN DISCUSS AND I CAN SHARE THAT WITH OUR TEAM.
ALSO, FOR SOME CLARIFICATION, IT SAID THAT IN THE ORIGINAL RESPONSE THAT I RECEIVED THE RESTORATIVE PRACTICE STRATEGIES ARE ADMINISTRATIVE IN NATURE AND WILL NOT HAVE SROS INVOLVED FOR RESTORATIVE PROCESSES BUT IN THE CURRENT MOU THERE'S A SMALL SEGMENT TALKING ABOUT RESTORATIVE PRACTICES SO MY QUESTION IS IS THERE A NEXUS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT?
>> IN REGARDS TO RESTORATIVE PRACTICES?
>> I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION.
>> B WAS GIVEN IS CONTRADICTORY TO WHAT I'M READING IN THE MOU.
I BELIEVE THERE IS A NEXUS WITH LAW RESTORATIVE PRACTICES.
I WILL LEAVE THAT QUESTION, THEN, FOR A LATER TIME SO HOPEFULLY SOMEONE CAN GET BACK TO ME ON THAT.
ONE THING THAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL FOR YOU TO KNOW.
WE RECENTLY REVISED OUR POLICY AROUND BASICALLY EXTREME STUDENT BEHAVIOR AND WITHIN THAT POLICY WE HAVE EXPLICITLY STATED THAT THE TRAINING AROUND DEESCALATION THAT ALL STAFF RECEIVE, THAT THAT IS FOR ANYONE IN OUR SCHOOL BUILDINGS WHO INTERACTS WITH OUR KIDS.
THE OTHER THING THAT WAS UPDATED ON THE MOU, HATS OFF TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PARENTS ARE CONTACTED AND THAT THE STUDENTS ARE AWARE OF THEIR RIGHTS IN TERMS OF ASKING FOR A PARENT TO BE AVAILABLE DURING AN INTERVIEW OR INTERROGATION.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S FULLY UP TO AN INTERROGATION.
THE OTHER THING, TOO, THAT I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT BECAUSE I ASKED WHEN WAS THE FIRST ITERATION OF A SCHOOL LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERSHIP AND I WAS TOLD THAT 2018 IS THE FIRST MOU PROVIDED BUT THAT ALL VERSIONS BEFORE THAT WERE NOT SATISFACTORY.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF SOMEONE CAN TELL ME WHEN WAS THE FIRST ITERATION OF AN SRO IN OUR SCHOOLS?
>> ARE YOU ASKING WHEN WAS THE ITERATION OF AN SRO IN OUR SCHOOLS?
>> YEAH, WHEN WAS THE FIRST TIME WE HAD POLICE OFFICERS IN OUR SCHOOLS.
>> I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THAT DATE BUT I CAN GET THAT FOR YOU.
[01:55:01]
I'M CURIOUS AS TO WHEN IT DID START.I PROMISE THIS IS ALL KIND OF LEADING SOMEWHERE.
I'M JUST TRYING TO TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF MY NOTES HERE.
I WAS CURIOUS DURING THE CONVERSATION I DID GET SOME OF THE FEELING THAT WE HAVE SUCH AN EXCEPTIONAL SRO PROGRAM THAT THERE'S NOTHING WRONG HERE SO WE SHOULDN'T DO ANYTHING AND THING MS. THORNTON AND MR. SUAREZ MADE GOOD POINTS, THAT BECAUSE ALEXANDRIA IS SEEN AS A PROGRESSIVE CITY WE DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING BUT TO THE POINT THAT MS. THORNTON BROUGHT UP, THERE ARE STILL STRUCTURAL RACISM THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH AND OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM IS PART OF THAT SYSTEM AND WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS SOMETHING, WHEN STUDENTS ARE SEEING POLICE ON CAMPUS, HOW ARE THEY REACTING TO THAT? WHAT'S THAT YOU ARE EMOTIONAL RESPONSE TO THAT? AND DR. RIEF DID MENTION THAT SOME STUDENTS ARE EXPERIENCING SOME TRAUMA FROM MEDIA AND FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCES, RIGHT? SO WE NEED TO BE SENSITIVE TO THAT.
THE THING THAT REALLY GETS ME, AND SEVERAL PEOPLE BROUGHT THIS UP, RIGHT? IS THAT IT'S NOT TOTALLY CLEAR WHAT EXACTLY ALL THESE DATA POINTS ARE GOING TO BE AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO MEASURE IT AND I KNOW WITHIN THE MOU IT SAID THERE WOULD BE QUARTERLY REPORTS IS THE REPORT FOR FEBRUARY COMPLETED OR IS THERE NO REPORT? SORRY, YOU'RE ON MUTE, DR. HUTCHINGS.
>> WHAT SPECIFIC REPORT ARE YOU REFERRING TO?
>> DR. HUTCHINGS ISN'T PART OF THIS BECAUSE THERE'S NO ONE IN THE BUILDING.
>> O THIS IS WHAT I PRINTED OFF FROM THE WEBSITE.
THE SCHOOL LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERSHIP.
IT'S UNDE EVALUATION OF THE SCHOOL LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERSHIP.
LETTER D, THAT THERE WILL BE QUARTERLY PERFORMANCE REVIEW MEETINGS, ACPS AND APD WILL MEET IN AUGUST, FEBRUARY, AND MAY OF EACH SCHOOL YEAR AND DISCUSS REPORTING DATA.
FEBRUARY IS THE FIRST DATE UNDER THIS MOU THAT SAYS THERE WILL BE A REPORT IN FEBRUARY SO I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE'S ANY REPORT.
>> WE JUST MET TWO WEEKS AGO TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS AROUND WHAT SOME OF THE DATA THAT WE CAN REPORT BEING THAT WE'RE IN
[02:01:06]
THE PANDEMIC, SO SOME OF THE INFORMATION REALLY IS NOT APPLICABLE BECAUSE OF THE CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES WITH OUR STRUCTURES IN OUR SCHOOLS BUT WE DID HAVE A MEETING TWO WEEKS AGO AS WE'RE SUPPOSED TO PER OUR NEW MOU TO DISCUSS TO TALK ABOUT WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE CAN REPORT OUT SO WE'LL FOLLOWUP WITH MORE ON THAT.>> YES, I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT BEING THERE IN PERSON BUT I HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THE MEETING.
IF I COULD RESPOND TO A COUPLE OF MR. AGUIRRE'S MEETINGS.
THE REPORT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, SINCE THE SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN CLOSED, THE CAMPUSES HAVE BEEN CLOSED AND PEOPLE HAVEN'T BEEN ON CAMPUS, WE DIDN'T HAVE MUCH TO DISCUSS BUT WE WILL BE DOING QUARTERLY REPORTS AS REQUIRED BY THE MOU.
THE ADMINISTRATIVE WORK IS IN THE MOU TO DIFFERENTIATE WHAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DOES NOT INVOLVE ITSELF IN AND WHAT'S WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION AND WE DID DO TRAINING WITH THE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF AND PART OF THAT WAS THE DEESCALATION TRAINING FOR ALL PEOPLE ON THE CAMPUS.
MR. AGUIRRE YOU MADE A COMMENT REGARDING MY REFERENCE IN THE BOARD MEETING ABOUT USING PEOPLE ELSEWHERE AND THAT WAS IN THE CONTEXT OF THE DISCUSSION OF THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE DIDN'T USE THEM IN SCHOOLS? THERE'S PLENTY OF WORK IN THE CITY TO BE DEPLOYED BUT I ALSO SPOKE TO VALUE OF THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS FOR THE MENTORING AND SOME OF THE THINGS YOU POINTED OUT.
I AM CERTAINLY WILLING TO RESPOND TO THOSE QUESTIONS WITH YOU AND THE SUPERINTENDENT AND SEE HOW WE CAN MOVE FORWARD IN WHATEVER DIRECTION THE POLICY MAKERS AND THE CITY WANT TO MOVE IN.
>> A WHAT CHIEF BROWN HAS SAID, IT WOULD BENEFICIAL TO GET THESE QUESTIONS BEFOREHAND AND WE CAN GET A TEAM TOGETHER AND DISCUSSION.
I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS THE BEST PLATFORM JUST SO WE CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH THE MOST ACCURATE AND UP TO DATE INFORMATION, SEND THAT ONTO US AND WE CAN FOLLOWUP WITH YOU OR EVEN SET UP A TIME TO MEET WITH YOU AND SHARE MORE SPECIFICS AROUND YOUR QUESTIONS.
>> I GET THAT AND I ADMITTED AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS THAT I HAD NOT HAD TIME TO DIG INTO IT BUT, YES, I WILL TAKE YOU UP ON HAVING A MEETING.
ANOTHER SUGGESTION FOR DATA POINTS SINCE YOU'RE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE THOSE OUT AND DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO REPORT BECAUSE THE FUNNY THING IS WHEN YOU LOOK THROUGH THIS, IT SAYS YOU CAN USE INFORMATION FROM THE PAST TO AT LEAST START SOME REPORTING.
FEBRUARY'S COME AND GONE AND THERE'S NOTHING SO I'M A LITTLE FRUSTRATED THAT, YEAH, I UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE IN A PANDEMIC AND THAT A LOT OF DATA POINTS CAN'T BE USED BUT PAST INFORMATION COULD BE UTILIZED TO CREATE SOMETHING SO WE HAVE A BASELINE TO START FROM.
ONE THING THAT I THINK SHOULD BE A TRACT MEASURE SHOULD BE ANY TEACHER WHO CALLS FOR AN SRO OR EVEN AN ADMIN WHEN THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BECAUSE IT'S CLEAR WITHIN THE MOU THAT SROS ARE NOT USED FOR DISCIPLINE.
THE UNFORTUNATE THING IS THAT THEY ARE.
WE CAN'T STAR SOMETHING IF THERE'S NOT ANY DATA POINTS TO REFERENCE TO, RIGHT? I KNOW I WAS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM TEN YEARS AGO AND THAT'S A LONG TIME BACK AND CERTAINLY THINGS HAVE CHANGED BUT I WOULD BET A GOOD AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT TEACHERS ARE STILL USING SROS AS A THREAT TO TELL STUDENTS I'M ABOUT TO CALL THE SRO AND THEY MIGHT CALL THEM.
HOW THE SROS ARE ACTING, I DON'T KNOW AND I DON'T THINK MOST OF THE SCHOOLS WOULD KNOW BECAUSE NO ONE IS TRACKING IT.
THAT WOULD BE A GOOD THING TO TRACK AND I WILL LET YOU KNOW WHEN I SAW WHEN I WAS BASED ON TWO CAMPUSES.
I WAS AT TWO OF THE FOUR CAMPUSES THAT HAD SRO.
WHEN I WAS AT GW, A STUDENT WAS MARCHED OUT IN HANDCUFFS AND THE EVEN THE OFFICER REALIZED IT WAS NOT A GREAT SIGHT SO THEY PUT A SWEATER OVER THE HANDCUFFS OF THE STUDENT.
THAT'S NOT SOMETHING WE WANT TO SEE ESPECIALLY FOR MINOR OFFENSES.
IF THERE'S SOMETHING SERIOUS, THAT'S A WHOLE 'NOTHER STORY, THAT'S SOMETHING ELSE.
THIS WAS AN SRO WHO HAD A REALLY GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY AND THE STUDENTS BUT THEY DIDN'T NEED TO BE THERE TO MARCH OUT THE STUDENT.
WE DON'T HAVE ALEXANDRIA AND THIS IS A TESTAMENT TO THE STRENGTH OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, BUT I WAS IN THE CAFETERIA AT TC, THERE WAS A FIGHT, THEY WERE TRYING TO BREAK IT UP AND A SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR AND SRO TACKLED A STUDENT INTO A TABLE, THE STUDENT'S SHIRT WAS TORN, BARE CHESTED WALKING OUT AND THERE WAS NO COURTESY TO PUT SOMETHING OVER THE STUDENT TO WALK HIM OUT.
UNDERSTAND THERE ARE CERTAIN RESPONSES BUT I DON'T SEE IT.
[02:05:01]
>> I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, ARE YOU REFERRING TO TEN YEARS AGO OF THINGS THAT HAPPENED?
>> THIS WAS SEVEN YEARS AGO, YES.
>> I JUST THINK, FOR ME, I WAS NOT SUPERINTENDENT AT THE TIME, IT'S ANECDOTAL AND IT'S IRRELEVANT RIGHT NOW.
THIS IS WHY WE WILL HAVE THESE REPORTS.
>> THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I'M BRINGING UP BECAUSE DURING YOUR EVERYTHING WAS ANECDOTAL.
MS. NOLAN HAD A GROUP MEETING, ANECDOTAL.
AND WHAT I'M SAYING RIGHT NOW IS ALSO ANECDOTAL BUT HERE'S WHAT I'M GETTING TO.
THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A PROGRAM THAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY YEARS REGARDLESS OF WHEN ANY OF US SHOWED UP.
I DON'T KNOW IN WHAT UNIVERSE THAT THAT'S ACCEPTABLE AND THAT WE CONTINUE A PROGRAM THAT HAS 0 REPORTS, 0 DATA.
DON'T GET ME WRONG, I LOVE WHAT THE OFFICERS ARE DOING AT THE SCHOOL BUT HOW DO YOU CONTINUE A PROGRAM OFF ANECDOTAL INFORMATION WITH NO REPORTS FOR PRACTICALLY -- HOW MANY YEARS IS THAT?
>> I NEED TO HAVE DATA AND I THINK THE ANECDOTAL INFORMATION TO NOT HAVE IT IS ALSO NOT VALID SO THE REASON WE'RE TRYING TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO COLLECT DATA, TO HAVE THE COMMITTEE AND THE QUARTERLY REPORTING IS SO THAT WE'RE USING DATA TO INFORM OUR DECISION MAKING AND NOT ANECDOTAL DATA EITHER WAY, TO SUPPORT OR NOT SUPPORT THE PROGRAM, THAT'S WHAT CAME OUT OF THE SESSION THAT WE HAD WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD AND OUR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS ARE PART OF THAT.
WE SHOULD NOT BE MAKING DECISIONS OFF ANECDOTAL DATA, TO SUPPORT OR DENY SO WE WANT CONCRETE DATA.
GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.
UNFORTUNATELY WE'RE IN A PANDEMIC RIGHT NOW AND WE HAVE NO DATA BECAUSE STUDENTS ARE NOT IN OUR BUILDINGS UNTIL THIS WEEK.
WE HAVE NO REPORTS TO GIVE ABOUT HOW MANY REFERRALS HAVE BEEN MADE.
SROS ARE NOT IN OUR SCHOOL BUILDINGS AT THIS TIME JUST LIKE STAFF IS NOT IN OUR THE BUILDINGS.
THAT'S A LEGITIMATE REASON, IT'S NOT A COP OUT, IT'S A FACT.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS FOR THE TIMES THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW AND THAT'S FOR ALL THE THINGS WE'RE DOING, INCLUDING THIS SRO MOU THAT'S IN PLACE.
NOTHING IS INTENTIONAL TO TRY TO DO ANYTHING NEGATIVE OR NOT PROVIDE YOU OR THE COMMUNITY WITH DATA, WE'RE NOT IN A PLACE RIGHT NOW TO OFFER IT.
>> I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S NO WAY TO COLLECT DATA RIGHT NOW BUT IT SAYS IN YOUR MOU THAT YOU CAN USE PAST DATA AND THERE'S STILL NOTHING, NOT EVEN A DRAFT REPORT OR A DRAFT HERE ARE THE DATA POINTS WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO UTILIZE.
SO WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT I PUT A BUDGET MEMO AMENDMENT TO REALLOCATE SOME OF THESE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS OUT OF THE BUILDINGS SO I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I'VE DONE THAT AND I WILL BE LOOKING TO PURSUE IT BECAUSE LIKE I JUST FINISHED SAYING, THE FACT THAT WE HAVE 23 YEARS AND WE HAVE 0 REPORTING ON THIS.
>> T THOUGHTS IN MY HEAD RIGHT NOW.
ONE THING WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE ESPECIALLY FOR THE STAFF PARTICIPATING THAT WE HAVE GOT AN LITTLE ON TRACK IN TERMS OF THE PURPOSE OF THIS MEETING.
THIS WAS A BUDGET MEETING SO I WANT TO BE MINDFUL OF WHY WE ASKED STAFF TO JOIN US.
I'M FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE THAT WE'RE GETTING OFF TOPIC SO I WANT TO APOLOGIZE THAT THAT'S THE CASE.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING THIS UP.
YOU KNOW WHERE I STAN FOUR-HOUR MEETING.
I HAVE WORKED PRIMARILY WITH HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND I HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE WITH SROS IN FIVE DIFFERENT URBAN JURISDICTIONS AND
[02:10:01]
AS I SHARED EARLIER, I THINK ALEXANDRIA IS THE MODEL THAT WE SHOULD ALL BE ON WITH CLIPBOARDS FROM OTHER JURISDICTIONS VIDEOING US BECAUSE I THINK WHAT WE HAVE IS WHAT FOLKS SHOULD BE ASPIRING TO.WE DO HAVE DATA, THE DATA SHOWS THERE'S NO CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP FOR TC WILLIAMS TO THE PRISON PIPELINE.
WE HAVE ONE OF THE LOWEST SUSPENSIONS REFERRALS AND ARREST RECORDS FOR THE STATE AND THERE ARE PLENTY OF SCHOOLS IN THE STATE WITH SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER ARREST, SUSPENSION AND REFERRAL RATES.
THE NATIONAL DATA SIGNIFIES THAT THE CAUSAL RATE FOR THE PRISON PIPELINE IS STUDENT TRUANCY, MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND THAT'S THE AREA WHERE IT IS, NOT SROS.
I HEAR THAT YOU WANT THE REPORTS AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE ADDRESSED AS A SCHOOL DIVISION THAT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SEEKING SO I'M CONCERNED THAT YOU'RE NOT GIVING THE SCHOOL THE OPPORTUNITY TO FOCUS ON THE REPORTS AND THE DATA AND HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.
THE SECOND THING THAT I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT IS ELECTEDS STEPPING ON STAFF TOES.
YOU DO NOT GET BETTER THAN MR. BALLICE, AND MS. PETERS AS PRINCIPLES.
I WORKED ON THE EAST COAST WE HAVE STELLAR PRINCIPALS SO FOR THEM TO COME FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER AND SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES OF WHAT IT'S LIKE SROS TO HAVE TEACHERS WRITING US AND SAYING THE TOP THREE PASSES THEY GET ASKED FOR IS BATHROOM, NURSE AND SROS, I'M JUST BAFFLED THAT WE'RE EVEN HAVE HAVING THE DISCUSSION THAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THROUGH OUR SCHOOL DIVISION LEADERS THAT THIS IS A RESOURCE THAT STUDENTS DEPEND ON, WHETHER THROUGH SOCCER OR LIFE EXPERIENCES OR HAVING RELATIONSHIPS AND WE'RE CONSIDERING TAKING RESOURCES FROM THE KIDS WE CLAIM TO CHAMPION.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT AND I DON'T I UNDERSTAND THAT WHY WE AS ELECTEDS SAY WE KNOW BETTER THAN THE PRINCIPALS AND WE ALREADY HASHED THIS OUT IN A FOUR-HOUR MEETING AND THE SCHOOL BOARD STATED THIS IS WHAT WE NEED THROUGH A VOTE, THE SUPERINTENDENT, PRINCIPALS HAVE STATED YET BUT NOW THERE ARE FOLKS CLAIMING THEY KNOW BETTER THAN THAT AND ONE OF THE THINGS I ALWAYS APPRECIATED ABOUT COUNCILMAN CHAPMAN, HE'S ALWAYS MADE SURE ABOUT THE DELINEATION.
THERE'S A VOTE THAT STATED WE'RE LISTENING TO OUR SCHOOL LEADERS, LOOKING AT THE DATA, LISTENING TO OUR COMMUNITY THAT'S IMPACTED.
I DID PLENTY OF GROUPS AND DIVING INTO THE DATA AND I HAVE CHIEF ADMIRATION FOR CHIEF BROWN AND I SHOULD SAY THE FIRST TIME I EVER MET HIM HE WAS AT A NETWORKING EVENT FOR LOW INCOME YOUTH IN ALEXANDRIA, NO PRES NOTHING, HE WAS JUST THERE TO CONNECT WITH THE COMMUNITY.
THESE ARE NOT JUST TWO GENTLEMEN JUST PLACED THAT AND WORKING WELL, THIS IS THE SRO PROGRAM UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP SO I HOPE WE'RE ALSO LISTENING TO THE FOLKS WE HIRE AND LETTING THEM DO THEIR JOBS.
I'M CONCERNED THAT WE'RE STAYING IN OUR LANES AND NOT STEALING RESOURCES AWAY THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED BY THE SCHOOL LEADERS WHO REALLY KNOW THE DAY-TO-DAY WORK.
I'M VERY CONCERNED TO HEAR THAT YOU'RE CONSIDERING TAKING AWAY RESOURCES THAT WE AS A SCHOOL BOARD, SCHOOL LEADERS, THE STUDENTS AND THE TEACHERS ON THE GROUND HAVE SOMETHING WE NEED AND WANT AND HELPS US PARTICULARLY FOR OUR LOWEST INCOME YOUTH.
THANK YOU TO COUNCILMAN AGUIRRE AND HIS REMARKS.
THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUE AND ONE THAT I FEEL PRETTY STRONGLY ABOUT AS WELL.
I ULTIMATELY VOTED FOR THE MOU BUT LIKE MANY OF THE BOARD MEMBERS, I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THIS WAVE OF ANECDOTAL DATA, THE GOOD VERSUS THE BAD DATA AND MAKING A DECISION THAT WAY.
I WOULD SAY THAT COUNCILMAN AGUIRRE'S POINT IS WELL TAKEN AND I WANT TO RECOGNIZE STAFF, STAFF IS WORKING INCREDIBLY HARD, DOING A WONDERFUL JOB THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC AND I DID NOT TAKE COUNCILMAN AGUIRRE'S TO BE CASTING ASPERSIONS ON STAFF OR
[02:15:02]
PRINCIPALS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.I DON'T THINK THAT WAS THE INTENT BEHIND THE COMMENTS BUT I FELT THE INTENT WAS THIS WAS THE IMPORTANT FOR THE CITY AND THE SCHOOL STAFF, WE CREATED A DOCUMENT, IT SAYS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A REPORT.
THE SCHOOL BOARD DID EXPRESS A CONCERN ABOUT DATA AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE SHOW OUR WORK.
IF THIS REALLY IS THE MODEL PROGRAM OF THE NATION, I WANT THAT WORK TO BE SHOWN AND I WANT TO SEE THE DATA QUALITATIVELY AND QUANTITATIVELY AND REVIEW THE MATERIAL AT THOSE MEETINGS, IT FELT ANECDOTAL TO ME.
I THINK COUNCILMAN AGUIRRE SPEAKS TO PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AND SOME OF THEM MAY BE OUTDATED AND NOT REFLECTIVE BUT WE NEED UP TO DATE DATA TO MAKE SURE WE'RE MAKING DECISIONS GOING FORWARD.
I'M CONFIDENT THAT CHIEF BROWN AND DR. HUTCHINGS, THAT YOU HAVE HAD THAT DISCUSSION AND I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT TO SEE WHAT THOSE DATA POINTS LOOK LIKE, HOW WILL THOSE BE PRESENTED IN THE QUARTERLY REPORTS? HOW ARE WE GOING TO HAVE USEFUL INFORMATION TO CONTINUE TO EVALUATE AND STRENGTHEN THIS PROGRAM ASSUMING IT IS A MODEL PROGRAM FOR THE NATION AND IT IS A TOP PROGRAM BUT IF IT'S NOT DOING THINGS WELL, COUNCILMAN AGUIRRE POINTED TO CONCERNS ABOUT TEACHERS MAYBE REFERRING TO PEOPLE TO SROS WHEN THEY SHOULDN'T BE, HOW ARE WE COLLECTING THAT DATA? I THINK THIS IS A CONVERSATION WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO HAVE AND GRAPPLE WITH.
I DO THINK WE DO SOMETIMES THINK THAT EVERYTHING IS ALL GOOD BECAUSE WE ARE IN THIS PROGRESSIVE COMMUNITY, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT SCHOOLS AND THE HISTORY OF COMMUNICATION, SOME OF THE MOST PROGRESSIVE PLACES ON THE SURFACE HAVE DONE THE MOST INSIDIOUS THINGS SO WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT AND HIT THE DATA HEAD ON.
WE JUST NEED TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND I APPRECIATE THESE ISSUES BEING RAISED IN THIS MEETING.
I THINK THIS MEETING HAS SOMETIMES BEEN TOO PERFUNCTORY ON THE BUDGET.
I DON'T WANT THIS TO GO 6 OR 7 HOURS BUT I THINK SOME ISSUES SHOULD BE EXCHANGED BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE SCHOOLS.
THERE SHOULD BE RESPECT IN TERMS OF THE DECISIONS MADE BY THE BOARD AND PROFESSIONAL COURTESY AS ALLUDED TO EARLIER BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THESE ARE GOOD CONVERSATIONS FOR US TO BE HAVING SO I APPRECIATE THE LINE OF THOUGHTS AND QUESTIONS BY COUNCILMAN AGUIRRE AND I HOPE THIS WILL GET US TO A BETTER PLACE AND I'M CONFIDENT THAT THE STAFF IS WORKING HARD ON THIS AND THAT WE WILL GET BETTER DATA AND I THINK THE FOUR-HOUR CONVERSATION THE BOARD HAD MOVED THE BALL ON THAT AGREEMENT, MAKING THAT MUCH STRONGER --
>> CAN I CHIME IN? I WILL BE BRIEF.
>> Y THERE WAS QUITE A BIT OF AMBIVALENCE.
PART OF IT WAS, YES, OUR BELOVED PRINCIPALS AND TEACHERS, VERY, VERY FOND OF THE PARTICULAR SROS IN PLACE AND I MADE THE POINT THEN AND I STILL BELIEVE IT NOW THAT A PROGRAM SHOULDN'T BE RENEWED BASED ON PERSONALITIES SO I'M GLAD THIS CAME UP.
WE MADE THE POINT THAT AT ANY MOMENT WE COULD REOPEN THE DISCUSSION BECAUSE I WAS VERY HESITANT ABOUT RENEWING THE WHOLE CONCEPT.
I DON'T FEEL LIKE THERE'S A MODEL SRO PROGRAM.
[02:20:05]
I DON'T BELIEVE GUNS, HANDCUFFS OR BILLY CLUBS BELONG IN THE SCHOOLS THEMSELVES SO I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT BUT AT THE SAME TIME, CLEARLY AT THIS PARTICULAR MOMENT, BOTH AT GW AND AT TC, THE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN PLAYING THESE ROLES HAVE MADE THEMSELVES INDISPENSABLE AND PEOPLE FEEL ALLEGIANCE TO THEM.I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND, THOUGH, THIS WAS BY NO MEANS A UNANIMOUS -- ANYWAY, I THINK IT'S SOMETHING UP FOR DISCUSSION AND I THINK MR. AGUIRRE FOR BRINGING IT UP.
I HOPE TO PUT SOME CLARITY ABOUT EARLIER COMMENTS.
BY US TALKING ABOUT THIS, BUT US WEIGHING IN ON THIS, BY US LOOKING AT THIS DURING OUR BUDGET CONVERSATIONS IS EXACTLY IN OUR LANE.
I APPRECIATE BEING CALLED OUT TO TALK ABOUT THAT, BUT I UNDERSTAND VERY PLAINLY THAT THIS IS OUR LANE.
SCHOOL BOARDS AND I'M LOOKING AT THE MEMO, MADE AN MOU WITH ONE OF OUR DEPARTMENTS, NOT WITH CITY COUNCIL, YOU MADE IT WITH A DEPA COUNCIL'S ROLE IS TO FUND WHAT OUR DEPARTMENTS DO.
IN SPEAKING TO SOME OF OUR EARLIER COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT THIS ISSUE, I THINK I INCORRECTLY STATED THAT THE FUNDING FOR THIS WAS PART OF THE LUMP SUM MONIES WE GIVE TO SCHOOLS AND I THINK A COUPLE OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS CORRECTED ME ON THIS AND SAID THIS IS A LINE ITEM BUDGET ITEM.
BECAUSE IT IS WE CAN TAKE IT UP DURING OUR BUDGET CONVERSATIONS.
THAT'S DEFINITELY WHAT WE CAN DO AND I'M SHOCKED TO SEE THAT QUESTIONED HERE.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT DISCUSSION.
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IF FOLKS HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING ALONG WITH THIS COUNCIL OR PAST COUNCILS, WE DON'T ALWAYS LINE UP WITH OUR PARTNERS.
WE DON'T ALWAYS LINE UP WITH SCHOOL BOARDS, WE DON'T ALWAYS LINE UP WITH ANYBODY THAT'S OUTSIDE OF CITY GOVERNMENT.
THIS MIGHT BE ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS WHERE HOPEFULLY OUR CONVERSATIONS, WHETHER IT'S IN THIS MEETING OR INDIVIDUALLY WITH EACH OTHER CAN GET SOME BETTER ALIGNMENT.
I THINK IT'S UNFAIR AND UNFORTUNATE TO TRY TO QUESTION WHAT COUNCIL CAN LOOK AT IN ITS OWN BUDGET.
WE ARE TECHNICALLY ONE-HALF OF THIS MOU.
BY SIGNING THE MOU WITH OUR DEPARTMENT, WE CAN HAVE A SAY SO ON IT THROUGH OUR CITY MANAGER AND I FIND IT ODD THAT THAT'S BEING QUESTIONED, ESPECIALLY IF FOLKS KNOW THE ROLE OF CITY COUNCIL AND THE ROLE OF THE SCHOOL BOARD.
I HAVE SAID THIS IN COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND I WILL SAY THIS PUBLICLY HERE, I DO FEEL THAT THIS PROCESS WAS UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE I KNEW COMMUNITY MEMBERS WOULD COME TO US AND SAY, AFTER THE SCHOOL BOARD VOTE, HEY, CAN YOU LOOK TO TAKE MONEY OUT? I THINK WE DO ON CITY COUNCIL WE NEED TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS AMONG OURSELVES ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO WORK WHEN IT COMES TO THESE SITUATIONS WHERE ANOTHER BODY IS GOING TO VOTE FOR SOMETHING AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FOLKS THAT COME TO US LOOKING TO UNDERCUT THAT DECISION.
I THINK, FRANKLY, IF WE WANTED TO PULL THIS OUT, I THINK WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY VERY EARLY ON AND I THINK A NUMBER OF US MADE IT KNOWN INDIVIDUALLY MAKE IT KNOWN THAT WE WERE NOT GOING TO FUND THIS.
THAT COULD HAVE KILLED ANY CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT THE SCHOOL BOARD IS GOING TO DO OR NOT DO.
I THINK IT COULD HAVE SAVED A HEADACHE AND BY HEADACHE I MEAN THAT YOU HAVE MADE A DECISION AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK AND FIGURE OUT WHAT OUR SIDE IS, ESPECIALLY IF WE HOLD THE UPPER HAND OF FUNDING.
I WANTED TO PROVIDE CLARITY BECAUSE THAT SEEMED UNCLEAR.
I THINK IT'S VERY CLEAR WHAT COUNCIL'S ROLE CAN BE IN TERMS OF FUNDING.
IT'S UNFORTUNATE TO HAVE THE PROCESS PLAY OUT LIKE THIS BUT WE DID
[02:25:02]
HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS WITH EACH OTHER TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE, AS TWO DIFFERENT BODIES, WANT TO ADDRESS THIS, SO IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE ADDRESSED DURING OUR BUDGET CYCLE TO SEE IF THIS PROGRAM DOES INDEED STAY.MAYBE WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT FUTURE PROCEDURES AROUND LINE IDEM BUDGETED PROGRAMS. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S THE WAY.
I THINK WITH WHAT WE HAVE DONE WITH THE FUNDING OF THE OVERALL BUDGET, I THINK THAT PROCESS IS PRETTY IN TUNE IN TERMS OF THE FACT THAT WE GIVE YOU A LUMP SUM AND YOU DO WITH IT WHAT YOU CHOOSE, BUT LINE ITEM ISSUES ARE A DIFFERENT THING AND SO MAYBE THERE'S A GREAT OTHER CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT IN THE FUTURE ABOUT WHAT THAT IS.
I HAVE NOT MADE MY FULL POSITION ON THIS KNOWN BUT I DO SEE THE PROS AND CONS OF MOVING FORWARD IN EITHER WAY BUT IT I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR WHAT COUNCIL'S ROLE IS AND WE ARE NOT OVERSTEPPING.
FOLKS MIGHT FEEL THAT BECAUSE THEY HAD A LONG CONVERSATION AND DOLED IT OUT BUT IF COUNCIL IS FUNDING A PROGRAM WE GET TO MAKE A DECISION ON WHETHER OR NOT WE FUND IT, REGARDLESS OF WHO THE OTHER PARTNERS WANT US TO DO AND, OF COURSE, THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES FOR THAT.
WE HAVE THE SAME CONSEQUENCES AND DECISIONS WHEN IT COMES TO ANY OF OUR THIRD PARTY PARTNERS AND SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE FOLKS WALK AWAY FROM THIS MEETING WITH THAT CLARITY BECAUSE IT SHOULD NOT BE SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO SELL HERE AND QUESTION WHAT COUNCIL'S ROLE IS AND TELL US TO STAY IN OUR LANE BECAUSE WE ARE IN OUR LANE.
I THINK AT THIS POINT AS THE CHAIR OF THIS BOARD THE ONLY THING I WOULD ASK IS I HONESTLY WOULD HOPE, AND I'M NOT NEGATING THAT THAT'S A LINE ITEM IN YOUR BUDGET THAT YOU ABSOLUTELY DO HAVE CONTROL OVER, BUT I THINK MY REQUEST AND HOPE WOULD BE THAT OUT OF RESPECT FOR THE DISCUSSIONS WE HAVE HAD AS A SCHOOL BOARD AND FOR THE PROCESS THAT WE WENT THROUGH AND FOR EVEN AS A MATTER OF TRUST TO GIVE US TIME TO DO WHAT WE SAID WE WOULD LIKE TO DO, THAT YOU WOULD NOT TAKE AWAY THAT RESOURCE AT THIS TIME.
I DON'T THIN PRODUCTIVE WAY TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE THAT I THINK WE ALL WANT TO ADDRESS AND SO I'M JUST GOING TO LEAVE IT AT THAT.
I'M JUST PUTTING OUT WHAT I WOULD ASK AND THAT'S ALL.
>> A THAT AND I UNDERSTAND THAT.
THAT'S WHY I PREFACED THIS THAT I DIDN'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DIG INTO THIS UNTIL RECENTLY.
ADDITIONALLY WHAT I WILL ADD IS THAT I HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH MULTIPLE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AS WELL AS SENDING A LETTER TO EVERYONE SO IF MY LETTER WASN'T CLEAR ENOUGH AT WHAT I WAS GETTING AT, ANYONE WOULD HAVE REACHED OUT TO ME AND WE COULD HAVE HAD A FURTHER CONVERSATION ABOUT IT.
FIRST OFF, AS COUNCILMAN CHAPMAN EXPLAINED WELL, THIS IS IN MY LANE.
THIS IS IN MY PURVIEW TO SPEAK ABOUT AND THIS IS A VENUE TO DO SO, SO LET'S JUST GET THAT CLEAR.
NUMBER TWO, AS A FORMER ACPS STAFF, I TAKE OFFENSE? SOMEONE SAYS I'M ATTACKING STAFF.
WHAT I WAS GETTING AT IS THAT I'M SEEING SOMETHING ELSE.
WE NEED MORE POSITIVE ROLE MODELS IN OUR SCHOOLS WHICH MEANS WE NEED MORE RESOURCES IN OUR SCHOOLS AND I'M VERY, VERY INSULTED THAT SOMEONE WOULD SAY I'M TRYING TO REMOVE RESOURCES FROM OUR SCHOOLS WHEN THEY KNOW WHAT I HAVE DONE IN THE LAST TEN YEARS IN THIS CITY SO THAT'S VERY, VERY INSULTING.
I'M NOT GOING TO TOUCH ON THAT MORE BECAUSE BY BRINGING THIS UP, I'M NOT ONLY TRYING TO IMPROVE SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE WITHIN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, TO MAKE SURE WE'RE CAPTURING THE DATA BUT IF WE'RE SAYING, YEAH, WE NEED MORE RESOURCES
[02:30:01]
WHICH WE KNOW OUR SCHOOLS DO, WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THAT.IF THERE'S A REALLOCATION FROM THIS, I'M ASKING STUFF TO LOOK AT MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES, COUNSELLORS, BECAUSE AS MR. NOLAN NOTED, THE ISSUES ARE AROUND TRUANCY, SUBSTANCE, ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH AND I KNOW THAT EXTREMELY WELL FROM THE WORK I HAVE BEEN DOING THE LAST TEN YEARS IN THIS CITY.
SO THAT IS WHAT I WAS TRYING TO DO WAS TO SEE HOW WE CAN REALLOCATE RESOURCES.
I UNDERSTAND IN THIS CONVERSATION THIS WAS NOT CLEAR AND THIS GOES TO COMMUNICATION BETWEEN BOTH OF OUR BODIES AND I WILL TAKE BURDEN ON MY SIDE AS WELL.
I NEVER ONCE MENTIONED THE SCHOOL THE PRISON PIPELINE AND BY SAYING PLENTY OF STUDENT FOCUS GROUPS, AGAIN, THIS IS ANECDOTAL.
IF THIS IS NOT DONE PROPERLY THROUGH THE APPROPRIATE CHANNELS, THEN IT'S STILL ANECDOTAL.
IT'S THE SAME THING FOR ME WHEN I HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH STUDENTS WHETHER IT'S 4 OR 20 STUDENTS, IT'S ANECDOTAL.
WE HAVE THE LARGEST HIGH SCHOOL IN THE STATE SO I THINK IT WOULD BEHOOVE US TO DO A SURVEY.
NOT JUST HEY, DO YOU LIKE YOUR SRO? YEAH, LOVE THE GUY, OF COURSE, AS OPPOSED TO HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT A POLICE PRESENCE ON SCHOOLS OR ARMED INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE POLICE IN SCHOOLS SO I WILL LEAVE THAT TO CLINT BECAUSE CLINT IS THE EXPERT ON THAT, CLINT PAGE ON ACPS STAFF, SHOUT OUT TO CLINT, DOES REALLY GREAT WORK.
>> AND THE LAST THING I WILL SAY IS THAT, AND WHAT THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF AND WHAT COUNCILWOMAN JACKSON TALKED ABOUT AT THE BEGINNING AND WHAT MANY OF US HAVE SAID IS THAT I DON'T KNOW HOW WE DO THIS BUT I WOULD LOVE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO GET TOGETHER MORE, TO DISCUSS THE POLICY OR BUDGET OR WHATEVER BUT WHEN WE JUST GET TOGETHER TO TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET, GLOSS OVER AND THEN MOVE FORWARD WHEN THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER ISSUES THAT WE NEED TO BE DISCUSSING TOGETHER TO REALLY BRING SOMETHING FORWARD.
AND I THINK THAT'S A GOOD POINT.
I THINK THAT'S THE A GOOD POINT.
I THINK IT'S OKAY -- IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE WE COULD USE SOME OPPORTUNITIES TO COME TOGETHER MORE FREQUENTLY I THINK BUDGET DISCUSSIONS SHOULD BE SEPARATE FROM POLICY DISCUSSIONS AND MAYBE WE FIGURE OUT TIMING OF THAT OR HOW THOSE WORK SO THAT BECAUSE POLICY LEADS INTO BUDGET, SO I ABSOLUTELY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT'S WORTH CONSIDERING AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK THE LEADERSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO BODIES MAYBE COULD FIGURE OUT MOVING FORWARD.
SO WITH THAT SAID, I HEARD SOME MADAM CHAIRS AND I DON'T WANT TO KEEP EVERYBODY HERE FOREVER.
WAS THERE ANYONE BEFO MR. SEIFELDEIN HAS NOT SPOKEN AND THEN MR. CHAPMAN WILL BE LAST.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
I SENT A MEMO TO ALL SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS BACK IN SEPTEMBER ABOUT THIS ISSUE IN WHICH I ALSO HIGHLIGHTED RESEARCH THAT SHOULD BE LOOKED AT REGARDING THE RESOURCE OFFICERS.
I'M NOT GOING TO RELITIGATE THAT, THE RESEARCH SAYS WHAT IT IS.
SOME OF IT HAS BEEN PERVERTED BUT THAT'S A DISCUSSION FOR A LATER TIME.
SO I JUST WANT TO REITERATE MY SUPPORT FOR WHAT COUNCILMAN AGUIRRE AND COUNCILMAN CHAPMAN SAID, THIS IS A BUDGET AND POLICY ISSUE AND THE BEST WAY FOR US TO DISCUSS IT IS WITH YOU GUYS, THE DECISION MAKERS WHO THOUGHT THIS WAS WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR SCHOOLS BUT WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION NOT JUST TO YOU BUT ALSO TO OUR OTHER STAKEHOLDERS AND CONSTITUENTS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THESE MATTERS.
IT'S WITHIN OUR COUNCILMAN AGUIRRE SHOULD BE APPLAUDED TO
[02:35:03]
BRINGING THIS UP TO YOU GUYS SO HE CAN HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO STAY AND THE CHAIR MADE A GOOD POINT ABOUT GIVE OUR DECISION SOME CONSIDERATION.I'M A BIT -- I DON'T WANT TO SAY HEATED BUT SURPRISED THAT THIS IS BEING PUSHED BACK AGAINST THE COUNCILMAN ALSO IN THE DISCUSSION ITSELF, SOME OF WHAT HE SAID AND HIS INTENTIONS WHICH WERE VERY CLEAR AND DETAIL HAS ALSO BEEN PERVERTED SO I THINK THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO DO THIS, TO HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH YOU GUYS ABOUT THE SUBSTANCE OF IT.
AS A LAWYER, WHEN YOU'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT SUBSTANCE BUT TALKING ABOUT PROCEDURE, THEY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY.
I GET CONCERNED WHEN I HEAR PROCEDURE.
I JUST WANTED TO REIT RAY MY SUPPORT FOR THE COUNCILMAN SO YOU HAVE MY VIE ON THE MATTER AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU AND WE'LL CLOSE IT OUT WITH MR. CHAPMAN.
>> TO BE DIRECT I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD RECOMMEND TO SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS IS TO PAY ATTENTION TO HOW COUNCIL HAS BEEN TRYING TO REIMAGINE PUBLIC SAFETY.
I THINK THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF THIS CONVERSATION COMES FROM.
COUNCIL HAS NOT BEEN QUIET OR SHY ABOUT DISCUSSING HOW WE BELIEVE PUBLIC SAFETY NEED TO BE REENVISIONED IN OUR CITY.
PROPS TO COUNCILMAN SEIFELDEIN ON TAKING A STRONG LEAD ON THAT ISSUE AND THE CITY HAS BEEN VERY UP FRONT TO THE FACT THAT WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE CHANGES WITHIN OUR OWN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND I THINK THIS ISSUE FALLS INTO THAT.
WE HAVE NOT HAD THE COMMUNICATION WITH THIS BOARD ON THE SUBSTANCE OF WHAT THAT MEANS FOR US AND WHAT WE'RE WILLING TO PAY FOR AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT THIS PLAYS OUT IN THE BUDGET CYCLE BUT, AGAIN, I THINK THERE'S A VERY INTERESTING EXPECTATION FOR COUNCIL TO NOT STICK TO THE FOCUS IT'S HAD FOR THESE SEVERAL MONTHS ABOUT REIMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY IN ALL OF ITS FORMS, HOW WE DO THAT, WHERE WE DO THAT AND WHAT WE FUND.
I THINK GREATER ATTENTION NEEDS TO BE PAID TO SOME OF THE BIGGER CONVERSATIONS THAT COUNCIL IS HAVING.
I HAVE SEEN THAT DISCONNECT ON A COUPLE OF THINGS, A COUPLE OF TIMES AND TALKED ABOUT IT WITH A COUPLE OF SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.
I THINK ALSO COUNCIL, AS WAS SAID EARLIER, I HOPE COUNCIL CAN DO A BETTER JOB IN LISTENING TO HOW YOU GUYS ARE LOOKING TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE COMMUNITY BUT I WOULD ASK FOR THE OPPOSITE TO BE DONE AS WELL.
WE HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATING WITH THE COMMUNITY ABOUT A NUMBER OF ISSUES THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY EDUCATIONAL ISSUES BUT WHEN THEY CROSS PATHS, I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE NECESSARILY A SURPRISE ON WHAT COUNCIL IS LOOKING TO DO.
IF IT'S NOT, I CAN TRY TO REITERATE IT AGAIN, BUT, YEAH.
WITH THAT SAID, THERE ARE NO OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, SO THANK YOU, EVERYBODY, FOR THIS EVENING.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING HOW THE BUDGET PROCESS PLAYS OUT AND I HOPE EVERYBODY HAS A GOOD NIGHT.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.