GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. [00:00:02] WELCOME TO THIS VIRTUAL SCHOOL BOARD MEETING FOR MARCH 4TH, 2021. [1. Meeting Called to Order by Chair Alderton] I AM CALLING THIS MEETING TO ORDER AT 4:04 P.M. I WILL START BY CALLING THE ROLE. I WILL CALL YOUR NAME AND PLEASE INDICATE YOU ARE PRESENT. MEAGAN ALDERTON. YES. CINDY ANDERSON? RAY ME -- RAMEE GENTRY? >> YES. >> JACINTA GREEN. >> HERE. >> MARGARET LORBER. >> HERE. >> NOLAN. >> RIEF. >> HERE. >> CHRISTOPHER SUAREZ. HEATHER THORNTON. >> HERE. >> SO WE ARE ALL -- WELL, WE ARE AT FIVE HERE. FOUR ARE NOT PRESENT. [2. Observe a Moment of Silence] ALL RIGHT. WE WILL START WITH A MOMENT OF SILENCE. OKAY. THANK YOU, EVERYONE. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE AGENDA? >> I MOVE TO ADOPT THE AGENDA. [3. Adopt the Agenda for the March 4, 2021 School Board Meeting] >> SECOND. >> I HAVE MS. GREEN WHO SECONDS MS. LORBER'S MOTION. I ALSO NEED A MOTION TO AMEND THE AGENDA. >> MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE TO ADD THE AGENDA ITEM "SCHOOL YEAR 2020-2021 ACADEMIC CALENDAR REVISION FOR PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCE DATE CHANGE" AND FOR FRANCIS C HAMMOND AND GEORGE WASHINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL TO NEW BUSINESS. >> SECOND. >> I HAVE MR. SUAREZ WHO SECONDS MS. GENTRY'S MOTION. SO I WILL CALL FOR THE VOTE TO AMEND THE AGENDA. AL ALDERTON YES. GENTRY. YES. ANDERSON. GREENE. YES. >> LORBER. >> YES. VERONICA NOLAN. MICHELLE RIEF. >> YES. >> CHRISTOPHER SUAREZ. >> YES. >> AND HEATHER THORNTON. >> YES. OKAY. THE VOTE IS 7. 7 TO NOT PRESENT. THANK YOU. SO NOW I NEED A MOTION TO -- I'M SORRY. I NEED TO CALL FOR THE VOTE SO THAT WE CAN ADOPT THE AMENDED AGENDA. ALDERTON YES. CINDY ANDERSON? RAMEE GENTRY? >> YES. >> JACINTA GREENE. >> YES. >> MARGARET LORBER. >> YES. >> VERONICA NOLAN. MICHELLE RIEF. >> YES. >> CHRISTOPHER SUAREZ. >> YES. >> AND HEATHER THORNTON. >> YES. >> WE HAVE SEVEN YES AND TWO NOT PRESENT. MOVING FORWARD TO COMMUNICATIONS AND ADDRESSES TO THE BOARD. JUST A REMINDER THAT EACH SPEAKER IS GIVEN THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD [4. Public Comments] AND THE CLERK WILL BE TIMING YOU AND ANNOUNCE WHEN YOUR TIME IS EXPIRED. IF YOU HAVE ALREADY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK IT HELPS IF YOU CAN TURN ON THE RAISED HAND FUNCTION SO WE CAN FIND YOU EASILY. OUR FIRST PUBLIC SPEAKER IS MS. JANICE PORTER AND SHE IS A COMMUNITY MEMBER. >> I DO NOT SEE MS. PORTER. I DO SEE MS. TURNER WHO IS PRESENT. >> SO WE WILL GO TO MS. EMILY TURNER. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR ALDERTON. MY OLDEST CHILD IS A FIRST GRADER CURRENTLY AND MY SECOND OLDEST WILL BE STARTING KINDERGARTEN IN THE FALL. [00:05:01] I AM VERY HAPPY AND EXCITED TO SEE THE CHILDREN RETURNING TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL THIS WEEK. A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE FACULTY, STAFF AND ADMINISTRATORS WHO HAVE WORKED SO HARD FOR THIS WEEK, AND A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THOSE FOUR SMALL CHILDREN I SAW RIDING THE BUS UP TO GEORGE MASON THIS MORNING, AND TO THEIR PARENTS. IT IS NOT EASY TO BE AMONG THE FIRST TO RETURN. MY COMMENTS TODAY ARE AROUND THE CURRENT HYBRID MODEL. IT IS CLEAR THAT THE TRANSMISSION OF DISEASE WILL BE GREATLY REDUCED WITHIN THE SCHOOL WHEN WE HAVE ONLY SIX CHILDREN IN A CLASSROOM AND WITH EIGHT FEET OF DISTANCE BETWEEN DESKS AND NO SHARING OF ANY OBJECTS AND ONLY ALLOWING CHILDREN TO WALK IN A SOCIALLY DISTANCED LINE DURING RECESS. NO ONE IS DEBATING THAT DISEASE TRANSMISSION WITHIN THE SCHOOL WILL BE NEAR ZERO WITH SUCH MEASURES. MY QUESTION IS HOW MUCH IS DISEASE TRANSMISSION REDUCED IN THE COMMUNITY BY IMPLEMENTING SUCH MEASURES IN SCHOOLS? TO MY KNOWLEDGE THERE IS NO SUCH EVIDENCE SHOWING THE COMMUNITIES WITH THE HYBRID SCHOOLING HAVE CONSISTENTLY LESS DISEASE TRANSMISSION IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE FULL TIME IN PERSON SCHOOLING. IN THE ABSENCE OF CLEAR REAL WORLD EVIDENCE THAT HYBRID SCHOOLING REDUCES COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION, SCHOOLS MUST REOPEN FIVE DAYS A WEEK. THIS IS BECAUSE THERE IS CLEAR REAL WORLD EVIDENCE THAT LONG-TERM SCHOOL CLOSURES CAUSE LONG-TERM HARM TO CHILDREN. THE COMMUNITY HEALTH BENEFITS OF THE SCHOOL CLOSURES MUST OUTWEIGH THE COSTS. ANOTHER QUESTION, HOW LONG ARE WE PLANNING TO OPERATE ON THE HYBRID MODEL? IS THIS AN INTERIM MEASURE TO ENSURE FRIGHTENED PARENTS AND TEACHERS THAT ACPS CAN OPERATE SAFELY? ARE WE OPERATING UNDER THIS MODEL UNTIL THE MAJORITY OF ADULTS IN ALEXANDRIA ARE VACCINATED? OR IS TWO DAYS A WEEK IN PERSON FOR A SELECT FEW CHILDREN IN A BRAVE NEW WORLD PUBLIC EDUCATION IN ALEXANDRIA CITY? WE NEED TO KNOW. IS YOUR INTENT TO RETURN TO FIVE DAYS A WEEK IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION NEXT YEAR, IF NOT SOONER? ALL OF US NEED TO MAKE PLANS FOR OUR FAMILIES. PRESIDENT BIDEN RECENTLY STATED THERE SHOULD BE ENOUGH VACCINE FOR EVERY ADULT AT THE END OF MAY. THIS IS WONDERFUL NEWS. WIDESPREAD DISTRIBUTION OF THE VACCINE IN THE EARLY SUMMER WILL GIVE ACPS PLENTY OF TIME TO ACHIEVE A FULL RETURN IN THE FALL. THE VACCINES ARE MIRACLES OF MODERN MEDICINE AND WILL PROTECT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. AGAIN, I THANK THE TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, STAFF, PARENTS AND CHILDREN WHO ARE MAKING THIS WEEK'S IN-PERSON LEARNING HAPPEN. THANK YOU, CHAIR ALDERTON. THIS CONCLUDES MY REMARKS. >> THANK YOU, MS. TURNER. >> I THINK WE HAVE MS. WINTERS WHO MIGHT BE MS. PORTER. HOLD ON ONE MOMENT. >> OKAY. MS. WINTERS, CAN YOU UNMUTE YOUR SPEAKER? >> YES. >> ARE YOU MS. PORTER? >> NO, I AM NOT. I AM THE SISTER OF NAOMI BROOKS. I AM A VISITOR. >> OKAY. WE ARE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WITH THE SAME FIRST NAME. MY APOLOGIES. >> DO WE SEE MS. TALBOT? >> I DO NOT SEE EITHER OF THEM. >> OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO JUST A REMINDER TO THE BOARD THAT THERE ARE NO WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT [5. Report from Student Representatives Lorraine Johnson and Ashley Sanchez-Viafara] WERE SUBMITTED FOR TODAY. A REMINDER TO THE COMMUNITY IF YOU HAVE WRITTEN COMMENTS AND SIGN UP TO SPEAK, PLEASE SIGN UP NO LATER THAN NOON A DAY PRIOR TO THE MEETING USING THE LINK ON OUR SCHOOL BOARD PAGE. NEXT UP ON THE AGENDA WE HAVE A REPORT FROM OUR STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES. SO WE HAVE A REPORT FROM LORRAINE JOHNSON. I DID SEE LORAIN HERE AND DO WE HAVE ASHLEY SANCHEZ HERE TODAY? LET'S START WITH LORAIN. MS. JOHNSON? >> HELLO. GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY. THIS IS MY FIRST SCHOOL BOARD MEETING BACK AFTER BEING WITH SOME BACK TO BACK FAMILY ISSUES, AND IT IS REALLY GOOD TO SEE EVERYBODY. WHEN PREPARING FOR TODAY'S MEETING I KEPT THINKING ABOUT -- I BELIEVE LAST TIME MIA WROTE A SONG ABOUT TURNING 18 DURING COVID, AND IT DAWNED ON ME THAT NOW IT IS MARCH AND IN THE NORMAL WORLD, SENIORS WOULD BE STARTING THEIR, LIKE, SENIOR EXPERIENCES, AND WE WOULD BE HAVING OUR LAST TITAN PEP RALLY AND PLANNING FOR PROM AND GRADUATION. OBVIOUSLY THINGS ARE DIFFERENT NOW. WE HAVE TO BE MORE CREATIVE THAN THESE TRADITIONAL EVENTS. IN SAYING THAT, I JUST WANTED TO GIVE THE SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM, GIVE THEM [00:10:07] RECOGNITION FOR TRYING TO MAKE THE SENIORS FEEL VERY SPECIAL THIS YEAR, AND WE ARE WORKING HARD TO MAKE THIS YEAR REMEMBERABLE IN A POSITIVE SINCE COVID CAN'T TAKE EVERYTHING AWAY FROM US. WE JUST HAVE TO THINK SAFELY AND OUTSIDE THE BOX. I HOPE WE CAN PLAN SOMETHING SOON. >> THANK YOU, MS. JOHNSON. I WILL JUST DOUBLE CHECK. IS ASHLEY HERE? >> YEAH. I'M RIGHT HERE. HI, ASHLEY. >> HI. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. I HAVE BEEN FOCUSING ON LINKING WITH THE MIDDLE SCHOOL REPS AND WANTING TO ESTABLISH A CONNECTION WITH THEM SO IT IS IMPORTANT THEY UNDERSTAND THEIR VOICES ARE BEING HEARD. I HAVE BEEN SETTING UP MEETINGS WITH THEM THROUGHOUT THE PAST MONTH AND MAKING SURE THEY HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE ANNAI THROUGHOUT THE RESPECTIVE MIDDLE SCHOOL THAT'S THEY HAVE SOMEBODY OLDER THAT CAN GIVE THEM THE MENTOR SHIP THAT THEY NEED. THAT'S IT. >> THANK YOU TO BOTH OF OUR STUDENT REPS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT TIME WE SEE YOUR LOVELY FACES. DR. HUTCHINGS, DO YOU HAVE YOUR HAND UP? >> YES. WHILE WE ARE ON THE STUDENT REPS IS IT POSSIBLE TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON THE SCHOOL BOARD REPRESENTATIVES? >> SHE IS HERE, SO ABSOLUTELY. >> MR. VALDEZ, IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT ONE OF OUR BOARD REPRESENTATIVES. >> THANK YOU, DR. HUTCHINGS. WE ARE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT OUR ASHLEY SANCHEZ-VIAFARA EARNED THE HARRY F BIRD JUNIOR LEADERSHIP AWARD. THIS AWARD WAS STARTED IN 1995. EACH AWARD WINNER RECEIVES $15,000 TOWARD THEIR POST SECONDARY ENDEAVORS. IT HAS BEEN ALMOST 20 YEARS SINCE A TITAN HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED WITH THIS PRESTIGIOUS AWARD IN OUR DISTRICT, AND I CANNOT THINK OF ANYONE MORE DESERVING THAN ASHLEY. THIS AWARD IS THE LATEST IN ASHLEY'S RECOGNITION OF HER HARD WORK AND DEDICATION AND LEADERSHIP. ASHLEY WILL BE GIVEN HER AWARD IN A CEREMONY ON APRIL 14TH IN RICHMOND. THIS AWARD RECOGNIZES ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND LEADERSHIP IN OUR YOUTH AND WILL HELP CULTIVATE HER AS A LEADER. ASHLEY, IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR TO WORK WITH YOU OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, TO WATCH YOU GROW AS A CITIZEN AND AS A STUDENT AND TO PUT YOUR PASSIONS OF RACIAL JUSTICE INTO ACTION. YOU MAKE THE WHOLE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA PROUD OF YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. >> MR. BALAS, THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MR. BALAS. >> AND WE HAVE BOTH OF YOU STUDENT REPS, BOTH OF THEM HAVE BEEN NOMINATED FOR A 40, UNDER 40 AWARD THROUGH THE ALEXANDRIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. THAT IS A HUGE, HUGE HONOR. I THINK THIS IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE THEIR FIRST APPLICATIONS FROM STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES, BUT WE FELT THE SIMPLE FACT THAT YOU PAVED THE WAY AND LEAD THE EFFORTS ABOUT WHAT WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT WITH THE IDENTITY PROJECT AND DISMANTLING RACIAL EQUITY -- EXCUSE ME, RACIAL INEQUITY IN THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA IS A HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR SENIORS TO DO THAT. WE HOPE YOUR NOMINATION WILL BE SELECTED AND THAT YOU ALL WIN BECAUSE YOU NEED TO BE THE FIRST TWO KIDS -- NOT KIDS, YOUNG LADIES UNDER THIS 40, UNDER 40 AWARD. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL ON YOUR NOMINATION. >> ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU SO MUCH, GUYS. I FEEL LIKE, MR. BALAS, IS THAT SPARKLERS THAT YOU DO ON ZOOM? >> THAT'S DR. PAGE I THINK. >> IS IT? LADIES, YOU GET SPARKLERS. THAT'S SO AWESOME. THAT'S THE STUFF WE LIVE FOR. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE BOTH OF YOU. ALL RIGHT. MOVING ALONG ON OUR AGENDA WE NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT A CONSENT CALENDAR FOR THIS [Consent Calendar] EVENING. >> MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE WE APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR. >> SO I HAVE MS. GREENE WHO SECONDS MS. GENTRY'S MOTION. I WILL GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE. ALDERTON, YES. CINDY ANDERSON. RAMEE GENTRY? YES. >> JACINTA GREENE. >> YES. MARGARET LORBER. >> YES. >> VERONICA NOLAN. >> YES. [00:15:01] >> MICHELLE RIEF. >> YES. >> CHRISTOPHER SUAREZ. >> YES. >> AND HEATHER THORNTON. >> YES. >> SO WE HAVE APPROVED THE CONSENT CALENDAR. 8 PRESENT AND ONE ABSENT. AND SO WE CAN NOW MOVE ON TO OLD BUSINESS AND WE ARE GOING TO START OFF WITH THE [12. Superintendent's Recommendations for Renaming Matthew Maury Elementary School and T.C. Williams High School--30 mins] EXCITING NEWS OF THE EVENING. WE HAVE THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE RENAMING OF MATTHEW MORREY AND TC WILLIAMS. DR. HUTCHINGS? >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. WE ARE SO EXCITED THAT WE GOT TO THIS MOMENT. LOOK HOW LONG IT HAS BEEN SINCE WE FIRST GOT OUR PETITION OVER THE SUMMER. ALL OF THE WORK WE HAVE BEEN DOING, AND I SINCERELY WANT TO THANK BOTH OF OUR STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND EFFORTS THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS. ONE THING WE SAID AT THE BEGINNING OF THE IDENTITY PROJECT WAS WE WERE GOING TO GET OUT OF THE WAY AND ALLOW OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO LEAD, AND THIS IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF HOW AWESOME AND HOW WONDERFUL THIS PROCESS CAN BE WHEN YOU LET THE NEXT GENERATION LEAD THE EFFORTS. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO SHARING SOME INFORMATION WITH YOU. I HAVE A CO-FACILITATOR THIS MORNING -- OR THIS AFTERNOON, MS. JULIA VERGOS. WE ARE GOING TO DO THIS JOINLT PRESENTATION FOR YOU ALL TODAY. I WANT TO START OFF WITH THE IDENTITY PROJECT AND REALLY WHAT THE GOAL OF THIS WHOLE PROJECT WAS ABOUT. YES, WE WANTED OUR STUDENTS TO LEAD THE COURSE. IT WAS ABOUT RENAMING THOMAS CHAMBERS WILLIAMS HIGH SCHOOL AND MATTHEW MAURY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND MAKING SURE WE KEPT OUR ACPS VALUES AND THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT AT THE FOREFRONT THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE PROCESS. NEXT SLIDE. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WHAT OUR MISSION AND OUR VISION IN ALEXANDRIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS, IT IS ABOUT EMPOWERING OUR STUDENTS. THAT'S OUR MISSION. WE WANT TO EMPOWER THEM TO THRIVE IN THIS DIVERSE AND AS WE ALL HAVE EXPERIENCED THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE GLOBAL PANDEMIC, EVER-CHANGING WORLD. WE WANT THEM TO BE LEAVE ACPS PREPARED TO DO WHATEVER THEY CHOOSE. WHETHER IT IS GOING TO COLLEGE, WHETHER IT IS GOING TO THE WORKFORCE AND WHETHER IT IS GOING TO THE MILITARY. WE HOPE IT IS NOT JUST GOING TO YOUR PARENTS' BASEMENT. WE WANT YOU TO DO SOMETHING AFTER SCHOOL. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE EQUIPPED AND THEY HAVE THE FOUNDATIONAL SKILLS TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH WHATEVER THEY CHOOSE. >> THANK YOU. IT IS EXCITING. I REMEMBER ON DAY THREE OF ME STARTING WITH ACPS, THIS PROCESS BEGAN WITH THE BOARD'S DECISION AND MEETING MR. BALAS FOR THE FIRST TIME. AND I CAN'T BELIEVE WE ARE ACTUALLY HERE AT THIS POINT. I WANT TO THANK THE SCHOOL BOARD FOR THE REPORT AND THE TEAM TO GET THIS PROCESS TOGETHER. AND FOR DR. HUTCHINGS AS WELL. AS YOU CAN SEE AFTER THE BOARD MEETING ON THE 23RD, THERE WERE MANY, MANY MILESTONES AFTER THAT. I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS TO ECHO WHAT DR. HUTCHINGS SHARED EARLIER IS THAT WE REALLY WANTED TO MAKE SURE [INAUDIBLE] WE CREATED THE POSTER CAMPAIGN. WE WERE EXCITED TO SEE 119 SUBMISSIONS FOR TC WILLIAMS AND 150 FOR MATTHEW MAURY. SO THEY TOOK THE INITIATIVE TO CREATE THE POSTERS AND THE ESSAYS TO GIVE THE COMMUNITY AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT THEY FELT SHOULD BE IN CONSIDERATION FOR NAME CHANGES. AND THEN WE ALLOWED THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO SUBMIT NAMES FOR CONSIDERATION. WE RECEIVED THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF NAMES TO CONSIDER. AND WE HAD A HARD TIME. I WANT TO THANK SUSAN NIELSEN WHO HAD TO SIFT THROUGH THAT. BOTH OF THEM WORKED REALLY HARD TO SIFT THROUGH THAT AND MAKE SURE WE FOUND THE NAMES THAT WERE THE TOP. WE FINISHED THAT PROCESS AND WE HAD THE COMMUNITY POLL FROM FEBRUARY 5TH TO THE 19TH. AND NOW WE ARE HERE TO HEAR THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE NAME THAT ROSE TO THE TOP. GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT AS I MENTIONED EARLIER WE HAD THIS PUBLIC COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS THAT WAS REALLY ROBUST. WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME MAKING SURE WE EDUCATED THE COMMUNITY AND WE WORKED WITH [00:20:07] THE SCHOOL BOARD CLERK TO WIDDLE DOWN THE NAMES. WE HAD ALMOST 15,000 ENTRIES SO STUDENTS, FAMILIES, ALUMNI AND STAFF MEMBERS ACROSS THE GLOBE. WE HAD PEOPLE THAT WERE INTERESTED IN THIS. THERE WERE TOP NAMES IN THE POLLS, BUT THEY MET THE ACPS SCHOOL BOARD POLICIES AND WERE DEEMED SUITABLE FOR NAMING A SCHOOL. THERE WAS CAREFUL CONSIDERATION THAT WENT INTO PUBLIC OPINION, SUITABILITY TO THE CAMPUS AND STUDENT POPULATION AND OUR COMMUNITY. NEXT SLIDE. I THINK ONE OF THE OTHER INTERESTING COMPONENTS ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN IS WE HAD A TREMENDOUS MEDIA INTEREST. WE HAD FALL OUTLETS THAT COVERED THESE NAME CHANGES. WE HAD 89 MEDIA STORIES. THAT'S INCREDIBLE. AND MEDIA POSTS, SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS ON FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM AND TWITTER. AND 9 INSIDER EDITIONS THAT HAD SOME INTERESTING INFORMATION ABOUT THE IDENTITY PROJECT. WHAT WAS REALLY INTERESTING TOO WAS WE TOOK TIME TO REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY IN SEVERAL WAYS. ESPECIALLY MANY OF OUR INTERESTED PARTIES, GROUPS THAT WANTED TO BE INVOLVED AND PARTICIPATED IN THE READ INS AND SERVED IN THE EARLY EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS. IN ADDITION TO THE MEDIA OUT REACH WE DID EMAILS FOR PARTICIPATION THAT RESULTED IN THE 15,000 ENTRIES. NEXT SLIDE? SO WHEN WE CONDUCTED THE SECOND POLL THESE ARE THE TOP WE RECEIVED. WE PROVIDED THE 9 NAMES FOR EACH SCHOOL. WE ORIGINALLY HAD SIX PLANNED, BUT THERE WAS SO MUCH INTEREST WE PROVIDED MORE NAMES SO PEOPLE COULD REALLY HAVE A NICE GROUP TO CHOOSE FROM. MANY OF THE SUBMISSIONS WERE INTERESTING. WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE GAVE A GOOD NUMBER OF NAMES TO CHOOSE FROM AND THESE WERE THE 9 FROM EACH SCHOOL IN THE LAST POLL WE RAN FROM FEBRUARY. NEXT SLIDE? ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANTED TO LOOK AT IN PUTTING THE PRESENTATION TOGETHER AND DR. HUTCHINGS WILL SHARE MORE ON THIS LATER, BUT WE WANTED TO SEE HOW THE SUBMISSIONS RELATED TO OUR STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS. ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT IS THE RATIONAL FOR EVEN CHANGING THE NAMES OF THE SCHOOL WAS SYMBOLIC AND ONE OF THE FIRST STEPS ABOUT EQUITY FOR ALL. EQUITY FOR ALL IS PART OF THE STREE -- STRATEGIC PLAN. WE WANTED TO SHOW HOW THEY ALIGN WITH OUR PLAN GOALS. NEXT SLIDE. AND SO FROM THE ALMOST 15,000 ENTRIES WE HAD 8,602 ENTRIES FOR TC WILLIAMS HIGH SCHOOL. THERE WAS A REAL GOOD MIX OF THE TYPES OF PEOPLE THAT PARTICIPATED IN THIS PROCESS. WE EVEN HAD 10% OF EMPLOYEES THAT WERE INTERESTED IN THE RENAMING OF THE SCHOOL. IN THIS POLL WHICH IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT WE HAD A SPLIT. 34% OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND 22% OF ALUMNI AND ALT OVER 22% OF CURRENT ACPS STUDENTS. WE HAD A LOT OF PARTICIPATION AND THEN PARENTS. THERE WAS 34.2% CHOOSING ALEXANDRIA. TITAN COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL RECEIVED SOME RECOGNITION AND THEN RUTH BADER GINSBURG. WE HAD A LOT OF OTHER GOOD ENTRIES AS WELL. I WILL HAND IT OVER TO DR. HUTCHINGS. >> THANK YOU. I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT SEEING ALL 9 NAMES AND THEN KNOWING THAT I HAVE TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD ON WHAT NAME DO WE BELIEVE IS BEST FOR EACH OF THE SCHOOLS. ONE THING I WANTED TO STAY TRUE TO IN REGARDS TO MY RECOMMENDATION WAS, ONE, ALLOWING OUR STUDENTS TO GUIDE THIS PROCESS AND FOR THEM TO CARRY THE MOST WEIGHT WITH THE RECOMMENDATION I WAS GOING TO MAKE. WE ALSO WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE WERE PROVIDING INSIGHT TO THE BOARD AS WELL AS TO THE COMMUNITY AROUND WHAT OUR STUDENTS ARE SAYING ABOUT THIS PROCESS. THIS HERE CAPTURES IT ALL. AALIYAH WHO IS A SOPHOMORE, HER WORDS ARE PROFOUND. SHE SAYS IT IS BETTER TO BE INFORMED. [00:25:02] BEING A BIT UNCOMFORTABLE MAY NOT BE WHAT PEOPLE WANT, BUT I THINK IT'S NECESSARY IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD AS A COMMUNITY. THIS IS SOMETHING WE TALK ABOUT QUITE OFTEN. WE SAY YOU HAVE TO KNOW YOUR HISTORY OR YOU WILL REPEAT IT. PART OF THE THIS IDENTITY PROJECT WAS US SHARING OUR HISTORY WITH OUR COMMUNITY. SO WHEN IT WAS TIME TO CHANGE THE NAMES, TC WILLIAMS AND MATTHEW MAURY, THAT OUR COMMUNITY, STAFF AND STUDENTS UNDERSTOOD WHY THIS NAME NEEDED TO BE CHANGED. BEFORE WHEN WE WERE POLLING PEOPLE ASKING THEM WHO TC WILLIAMS WAS, ONLY A FEW PEOPLE ACTUALLY KNEW HE WAS A SEGREGATIONIST. IT WAS A SHOCK TO MANY OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AS WELL AS OUR STUDENTS ONCE WE REVEALED WHO HE WAS AND WHAT HE STOOD FOR. I WANT TO GO INTO THE TOP THREE NAMES THAT WE HAD. YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. THE TOP THREE PRESENTED. I WILL SHARE SOME RATIONAL BEHIND WHY THE COMMUNITY FELT THESE NAMES -- THESE NAMES SHOULD REPLACE TC WILLIAMS. WE REALLY WANTED TO LOOK AT WHAT IS THE SYSTEMIC ALIGNMENT WITH THE RECOMMENDED NAME. WHAT IS THE STUDENT ACCESSIBILITY AND SUPPORT? HOW DOES THIS ALIGN WITH THE STRATEGIC RESOURCE ALLOCATION AND WHAT ARE THE STUDENTS SAYING ABOUT IT? AND THE ALEXANDRIA HIGH SCHOOL WAS RECOMMENDED BY A STUDENT SPECIFICALLY AND MANY STUDENTS VOTED FOR THIS NAME. A LOT OF THIS CAME ABOUT BECAUSE WE ARE THE ONLY HIGH SCHOOL IN THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA. I KNOW YOU ARE ALL AWARE OF THIS, BUT JANUARY 23RD, OUR CITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED A RESOLUTION AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGED RACIAL INEQUITY IN THE PAST AS WELL AS THE PRESENT IN THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA. AND HOW WE ARE GOING TO MAKE A COMMITMENT TO ADOPT PRACTICES AND POLICIES THAT PROMOTE RACIAL AND SOCIAL EQUITY. THAT IS ALIGNED WITH OUR VISION AND OUR MISSION OF WHO WE ARE AS A SCHOOL DIVISION. I MEAN, THIS IS LIKE THE PERFECT TIMING IN REGARDS TO US REBRANDING OUR CITY, REBRANDING OUR SCHOOLS AND THIS WAS SOME OF THE REASONS WHY ALEXANDRIA HIGH SCHOOL REALLY RESONATED WITH A LOT OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AS WELL AS OUR STAFF AND STUDENTS. WE TALK ABOUT THE STUDENT ACCESSIBILITY AND SUPPORT. THE SIMPLE FACT THAT WE ARE ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE HIGH SCHOOLS NOT ONLY IN THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA REGION, BUT REALLY ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AND HAVING A CITY SAYING WE EMBRACE ALL. WE ARE ADMITTING TO THE FACT THAT WE HAVE INEQUITIES. WE WANT TO TACKLE THEM. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE A PLACE FOR ALL CHILDREN REGARDLESS OF THEIR CIRCUMSTANCE. THAT THAT BRAND OF ALEXANDRIA REALLY RESONATED WITH A LOT OF OUR FAMILIES AS WELL AS OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. AND ALL OF THE CONNECTIONS WE HAVE WITH THE CITY. HAVING A SCHOOL NAMED AFTER THE CITY AUTOMATICALLY CONNECTS IT TO THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA. THAT WAS ANOTHER REASON THIS CAME ABOUT FROM MANY OF OUR COMMUNITY AND STAFF AND STUDENTS. WE ALSO HAD ANOTHER -- YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. WE HAD A RECOMMENDATION THAT CAME FROM THE COMMUNITY POLLING. THAT WAS THE TITAN COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL. THAT WAS THE KEEP THE BRAND OF TC. EVERYBODY KNOWS TC, TC TITANS. A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW THAT TC STOOD FOR THOMAS CHAMBERS WILLIAMS. WHY NOT CALL IT TITAN COMMUNITY? LET'S KEEP THE TC AND REBRAND WHAT IT STANDS FOR. WHICH I THOUGHT WAS A VERY CLEVER, CLEVER IDEA OF ONE OF OUR STUDENTS. A LOT OF THAT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT SYSTEMIC ALIGNMENT, TITANS ARE WARRIORS. WE RISE TO THE TOP. WE ARE RESILIENT AND ABLE TO OVERCOME ADVERSITY. A TITAN ALWAYS WINS. THAT'S PART OF THE BRAND. I THINK OUR STUDENTS AS WELL AS OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS FELT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT A TITAN COMMUNITY, THAT IS WHO WE ARE. WE ARE KNOWN AS "REMEMBER THE TITANS" SO WHY NOT BE THAT TITAN COMMUNITY. AND THIS ALIGNS WITH THE LONG HISTORY THAT WE ALWAYS HAVE OF ALL ALMA MATER OF TC TITANS AND MY ALMA MATER AS WELL. ONCE A TITAN, ALWAYS A TITAN IS HOW WE ROLL. THAT'S ANOTHER REASON WHY THE WHOLE TITAN COMMUNITY OR THE TC COMMUNITY WAS PUSHED [00:30:05] AS A RECOMMENDATION FROM OUR STUDENTS AS WELL AS OUR COMMUNITY. YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. THE FINAL OR THE OTHER -- WE ARE SHOWCASING THE TOP THREE AND THAT'S THE RUTH BADER GINSBURG AS A NAME. NEED I SAY MORE ABOUT RUTH BADER GINSBURG? THIS WOMAN IS A FORMER SUPREME COURT JUSTICE, A POWERFUL WOMAN. A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT SHE ACTUALLY WROTE FOR THE COURT IN THE UNITED STATES VERSUS VIRGINIA. THIS WAS A 1996 CASE THAT STRUCK DOWN THE STATE'S EXCLUSION OF WOMEN AT THE VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE. SHE IS ALL ABOUT I AM WOMAN, HEAR ME ROAR. YOU KNOW, BEYONCE WROTE THE SONG "WHO RUNS THE WORLD? GIRLS" SHE IS TALKING ABOUT RUTH BADER GINSBURG. AND I THINK OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR STUDENTS UNDERSTAND THAT AS WELL. SHE IS KNOWN AS RBG. YOU MAKE IT BIG IF YOU GET INITIALS. I WAS EXCITED TO SEE OUR STUDENTS UNDERSTANDING OUR SUPREME COURT JUSTICE, LUTE BADER GINSBURG AND NOT ONLY HER HISTORY IN VIRGINIA, BUT IT IDENTIFIES AS TO WHO WE ARE AS A SCHOOL DIVISION AND ACCEPTING ALL AND WANTING TO MAKE SURE WE ARE EMPOWERING WOMEN IN ALEXANDRIA CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE ARE DEFINITELY MODELS OF THAT. WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR FACILITIES AND OPERATION TEAMS AND YOU LOOK AT OUR CHIEFS AND LOOK AT OUR SCHOOL BOARD, WOMEN ARE ROCKING IT IN ALEXANDRIA. YOU ARE DOING A FABULOUS JOB. I THINK THAT'S WHY IT IS BETTER NOW IS BECAUSE YOU ARE RUNNING THINGS. I THINK THIS IS A TRUE SENTIMENT TO THE FACT THAT WOMEN IN ALEXANDRIA, WE DO APPRECIATE AND VALUE AND UP LIFT THEM. THIS IS WHY IT MADE IT TO THE TOP 3. SO WE WILL MOVE TO THE NEXT SESSION. AS WE TRANSITION INTO MATTHEW MAURY, AND I WILL GO THROUGH THE THREE RECOMMENDATIONS AT THE END. AND AT MATTHEW MAURY, THE THIRD GRADER SAYS SOMETIMES OUR HISTORY IS GOOD, SOMETIMES IT IS NOT SO GOOD, BUT IT'S THE WORLD WE LIVE IN. BUT IF YOU DON'T KNOW YOUR HISTORY, YOU DON'T KNOW IF SOMETHING EVER HAPPENED BEFORE. AND THAT IS SO TRUE. IF YOU DON'T KNOW YOUR HISTORY, HOW DO YOU KNOW IT HAPPENED? HOW CAN YOU MAKE CONNECTIONS TO SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE ARE EVEN EXPERIENCING TODAY WHEN IT COMES TO SOME OF OUR EDUCATIONAL CHALLENGES THAT WE ARE TRYING TO WORK THROUGH RIGHT NOW IN OUR STRATEGIC PLAN. IT IS HISTORY REPEATING ITSELF. ONCE YOU KNOW THE HISTORY, YOU CAN SEE WHERE IT GENERATED FROM AND HOW IT EVEN BECAME A PROBLEM IF OUR SCHOOL DIVISION OR IN OUR CITY BY KNOWING THE HISTORY. MS. BERGOSE I KNOW YOU WILL GO THROUGH THE PERCENTAGES AND I WILL GET BACK INTO THE TOP THREE FOR THE ELEMENTARY. >> THANK YOU, DR. HUTCHINGS. IF I CAN HAVE THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, IT IS INTERESTING TO SEE THAT IN THIS POLL WE THE 60% OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT WERE REALLY INTERESTED IN RENAMING MATTHEW MAURY AS OPPOSED TO THE 34% IN THE TC SLIDE. I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING OF NOTE. BUT WE HAD A CROSS SECTION OF PARTICIPANTS IN THE COMMUNITY. I KNOW EVEN SOME OF OUR YOUNGER STUDENTS. WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THEY VOTED AND PARTICIPATED IN THE READ INS AND THE MATTHEW MAURY FORUM. YOU WILL SEE SOME OF THAT REPRESENTED HERE. NAOMI BROOKS WAS VERY POPULAR. SHE GOT 30.46% OF THE VOTE. AND FOLLOWING THAT WAS ROSEMONT AND THEN JEAN REID WAS AN IMPORTANT MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL. YOU WILL SEE THAT. WE HAD A LOT OF GREAT NAMES. AND EVEN RUTH BADER GINSBURG AS WELL. WE ADD GREAT PARTICIPATION. WE HAD TO STOP AT 45 ENTRIES. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. >> I WILL GO THROUGH EACH OF THE TOP THREE FOR MATTHEW MAURY. NAOMI BROOKS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS. AS YOU SAW IN THE STATISTICS, IT WAS ONE OF THE TOP RECOGNITIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNEW ANYTHING ABOUT MS. BROOKS, BUT YOU TALK ABOUT THE EPITOME OF THE ALEXANDRIA AN, THIS RIGHT HERE IS THE EPITOME OF AN ALEXANDRIA AN. SHE IS BLACK EXCELLENCE FOR THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA. SEE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST IN HER FAMILY TO GO TO COLLEGE. [00:35:02] TO LEAVE AND GO TO COLLEGE AND THEN COME BACK TO HER HOMETOWN WHERE SHE WAS BORN AND RAISED. SHE COMES FROM A HISTORY OF BLACK EXCELLENCE IN THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA. BUT TO COME BACK AND TO GIVE BACK TO HER OWN COMMUNITY. SHE WAS A BELOVED TEACHER AT CHARLES HOUSTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. SHE WENT AND MATRICULATED ALL OF OUR ALEXANDRIA CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND SCHOOLS THAT NO LONGER EXIST LIKE PARKER GRADE HIGH SCHOOL AND ATTENDED CROUCH. I THINK OUR STUDENTS SAID IT WELL. I NOMINATE NAOMI BROOKS BECAUSE SHE EXEMPLIFIES THE HUMILITY AND STRENGTH IT TAKES TO BE AN EDUCATOR. TEACHERS ARE THE REAL HEROS. WHEN KIDS SAY THAT ABOUT THEIR TEACHERS IT TOUCHES MY HEART BECAUSE IT LETS ME KNOW THAT AS EDUCATORS WE ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE. AND YOU DON'T EVEN REALIZE THE DIFFERENCE YOU ARE MAKING UNTIL THEY GROW UP AND REALIZE HOW MUCH YOU DEPOSITED IN THEM AND MADE THEM BELIEVE IN THEMSELVES. NAOMI BROOKS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. ANOTHER ONE OF OUR TOP THREE IS ROSEMONT PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. ROSEMONT IS ONE OF OUR AREAS. IT IS AN AREA THAT FEEDS INTO MATTHEW MAURY. STUDENTS TALKED ABOUT THIS AS WELL BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTAND THE ROSEMONT COMMUNITY WHICH IS A HISTORIC COMMUNITY. SEVERAL LIVE IN ROSEMONT OR A COUPLE LIVE IN ROSEMONT. IN ALEXANDRIA, EVERYBODY KNOWS ROSEMONT. ROSEMONT WAS LIKE THE PLACE. I KNOW DELRAY WILL SAY NO DELRAY IS THE PLACE. ROSEMONT WAS THE PLACE TO LIVE, FOLKS. AND THEY HAVE A SOLID REPUTATION. SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE GROWN UP TO BE ACTORS, ASTRONAUTS, COMEDIANS, CONGRESSMEN WHO LIVED IN ROSEMONT. I THINK THAT WAS PART OF THE BRAND THAT THEY TRULY UNDERSTAND THE ROSEMONT COMMUNITY BREEDS REALLY GOOD FOLKS AND SENDS THEM OUT INTO THE WORLD AND I THINK THAT'S WHY IT MADE IT TO THE TOP THREE LIST. THE THIRD FOR MATTHEW MAURY WAS OUR -- YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. IT WAS JEAN REID ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. A COMMUNITY MEMBER SAID REID WAS ONCE DESCRIBED AS A TORNADO WITH THE FORCE TO KNOCKOUT THE OLD AND USELESS WHILE CREATING A NEW PATH FOR THE NEW AND PURPOSEFUL. I MEAN, YOU TALK ABOUT A PHENOMENAL WOMAN. THIS WOMAN -- I NEVER KNEW JEAN REID, BUT WHEN I WAS READING ABOUT HER I SAY THIS WOMAN WAS AMAZING. SHE WORKED WITH STUDENTS WHO HAD DIFFICULTY READING AND SHE WAS GENEROUS WITH HER TIME AND ENERGY AND WAS A DEVOTED EDUCATOR. SHE WAS HONORED AS AN OUTSTANDING TEACHER. SHE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH LEE AND STONEWALL JACKSON AND PATRICK HENRY AND CORE KELLY. AS YOU KNOW, READING IS FUNDAMENTAL. AND SHE WAS THE EXAMPLE AND AN HONOR TO HAVE JEAN REID TO BE NOMINATED AS A NAME FOR OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. I THINK. >> I'M SORRY. MY PRESENTATION IS STUCK. THERE WE GO. WE WILL GO TO MY NOMINATION. IT IS LIKE -- I WAS WAITING FOR THE DRUM ROLL. LET ME EXPLAIN HOW I GOT TO MY RECOMMENDATION. I HAVE TO FIRST AND FOREMOST SAY THAT THE NAMES I HAD DIDN'T MAKE IT TO THE LIST. THE NAMES I HAD DIDN'T MAKE IT TO THE LIST, SO I WAS A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED. I WILL NEVER TELL YOU WHAT THEY ARE. WHAT I REALLY WANTED TO DO WAS MAKE SURE I STAYED TRUE TO HOW WE STARTED THIS JOURNEY. WE STARTED THIS JOURNEY BY SAYING I AS SUPERINTENDENT, I AM GOING TO GET OUT OF THE WAY AND ALLOW OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO LEAD. AND I AM GOING TO ALLOW OUR COMMUNITY TO GUIDE AND EDUCATE AND HELP US SELECT WHAT THE APPROPRIATE NAME NEEDED TO BE FOR OUR TWO SCHOOLS. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I DID. FOR MY RECOMMENDATIONS I TOOK THE COMMUNITY VOTES AND THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGES IS [00:40:01] WHAT I AM RECOMMENDING TO PUT FORTH. I THINK WITH TC WILLIAMS, NAMING IT ALEXANDRIA HIGH SCHOOL, NOT ONLY WAS IT IS MOST POPULAR NAME OUT OF THE COMMUNITY POLL, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW IT, BUT OUR HIGH SCHOOL USED TO BE ALEXANDRIA HIGH SCHOOL. THE FIRST HIGH SCHOOL IN ALEXANDRIA WAS ALEXANDRIA HIGH SCHOOL IN 1901 TO 1903 AND THEN IT WAS CHANGED TO THE GEORGE WASHINGTON HIGH SCHOOL. I LEARNED ALL OF THIS BY GETTING THE HISTORY. I LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT THE PROCESS AND I LIVE IN ALEXANDRIA. I NEVER KNEW WE HAD AN ALEXANDRIA HIGH SCHOOL. YOU THINK ABOUT IT COMING FULL CIRCLE WITH THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA SAYING WHAT WE STAND FOR AND THAT WAS BOLD. THE RESOLUTION WAS BOLD TO SAY WE HAVE INEQUITIES AND WE ARE GOING TO OVERCOME THEM. THIS IS NOW REBRANDING WHAT ALEXANDRIA IS AND WHAT OUR FUTURE IS GOING TO BE. I FELT IT WAS FITTING TO CHANGE THE NAME BACK TO WHAT IT WAS ORIGINALLY WHERE WE HAD ONE HIGH SCHOOL IN THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA IN 1901. FOR MATTHEW MAURY, MY RECOMMENDATION IS ALSO THE MOST POPULAR VOTE FROM THE COMMUNITY WHICH IS NAOMI BROOKS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. AS I READ MORE ABOUT NAOMI BROOKS AND I HEARD ABOUT HER STORY AND I EVEN HEARD ABOUT HER THROUGH MY CHURCH. SHE WAS A MEMBER AND HER HUSBAND IS STILL A MEMBER AT THE CHURCH. I THINK EVEN A DEACON AT THE CHURCH. IT WAS PHENOMENAL TO HAVE SOMEBODY OF HER CALIBER WHO TRULY VALUES YOUNG PEOPLE AND BELIEVES IN EDUCATION AND HAS QUITTED HER ENTIRE LIFE TO THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA. SHE WAS BORN AND RAISED AND CAME BACK AND SPENT HER LIFE HERE IN OUR CITY. I THINK THIS IS A HUGE HONOR TO NAME A SCHOOL AFTER SOMEONE WHO IS ALIGNED WITH WHAT WE BELIEVE IN REGARDS TO OUR CORE VALUES. AND DURING THESE TIMES WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MAKING SURE WE PROMOTE BLACK EXCELLENCE, I THOUGHT IT WAS FITTING TO NAME MATTHEW MAURY AFTER NAOMI BROOKS AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY. SO THESE ARE MY RECOMMENDATIONS AND IT IS ON BEHALF OF OUR COMMUNITY AND FIRST AND FOREMOST OUR STUDENTS. THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION. >> THANK YOU, DR. HUTCHINGS. I WILL JUST CHECK IN WITH THE BOARD TO SEE IF ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. I DO SEE MS. NOLAN. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHAIR ALDERTON. I HAVE ONE QUESTION AND I DID WANT TO SAY SOME REMARKS ABOUT ONE OF OUR FINALISTS WHO I FEEL LIKE I KNOW HER AND SHE IS SO BELOVED IN MY COMMUNITY THAT I WANT TO SAY A FEW THINGS. MY FIRST QUESTION IS, JUST CURIOUS, WHAT WAS THE THINKING BEHIND ALEXANDRIA VERSUS ALEXANDRIA CITY HIGH SCHOOL? DO WE HAVE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT THAT GETTING CONFUSED? >> IT CAME UP A FEW TIMES ALEXANDRIA VERSUS ALEXANDRIA CITY. WHAT WE ARE HEARING FROM ALEXANDRIA ANS, YOU KNOW WE ALWAYS SAY THERE IS NO -- WE ARE SECOND TO NONE. SO IT IS ALEXANDRIA. IT IS ALEXANDRIA. THEN WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE TALK ABOUT ALEXANDRIA CITY BECAUSE THERE IS SOMETIMES CONFUSION ABOUT THE FAIRFAX SIDE OF ALEXANDRIA AND THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA. I THINK WE HEARD ARGUMENTS FOR BOTH. THE RECOMMENDATION THAT CAME THROUGH WAS ALEXANDRIA HIGH SCHOOL. THERE WERE NOR INTERNAL DISCUSSIONS ABOUT SHOULD WE ADD CITY TO THAT OR NOT? THE RECOMMENDATION THAT CAME FROM THE CITY WAS ALEXANDRIA HIGH SCHOOL. IT COULD GO EITHER WAY. >> THANK YOU. LOOKING FORWARD TO THE DISCUSSION. IF YOU DON'T MIND, I WOULD LOVE TO, WITH YOUR PERMISSION, DR. HUTCHINGS AND CHAIR ALDERTON, I WOULD LOVE TO SAY A FEW REMARKS ABOUT JEAN REID. I DO LIVE IN ROSEMONT AND ONE OF THE ROSEMONT SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND I FEEL LIKE I KNOW HER. I HAVE HEARD HER NAME OVER THE YEARS AND SHE SOUNDS LIKE AN INCREDIBLE PERSON. MANY NEIGHBORS ARE EXCITED TO SEE HER AS A FINALIST. I HAVE BEEN HUNTED DOWN ON COMMUNITY WALKS AND PEOPLE SAY I JUST REALLY WANT YOU TO KNOW WHO THIS PERSON WAS. IF YOU DON'T MIND, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SHARE WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD AND THE COMMUNITY JUST WHAT AN INCREDIBLE PERSON SHE WAS AS WELL AS HOW HONORED WE ARE THAT SHE WAS A FINALIST. [00:45:01] THAT SAID I AM VERY EXCITED FOR THE RECOMMENDATION OF DR. HUTCHINGS. IT SEEMS LIKE ANOTHER INCREDIBLE WOMAN. WE ARE HONORED TO LIVE IN A COMMUNITY WHEREIN CREDIBLE PENAL HAVE -- WHERE INCREDIBLE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN AND WE WANT TO HONOR. I HAVE SOME WRITTEN DOWN FROM EMAILS I RECEIVED. SHE WAS FOR 33 YEARS WORKED AT ACPS AT SIX ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND REALLY DID INSPIRE A LOVE OF READING. ONE PERSON WROTE TO ME AND IT WAS A RETIRED ACPS EMPLOYEE AND SAID SHE WAS A TEACHER'S TEACHER FORMALLY AND INFORMALLY. SHE INSPIRED TEACHERS. AND SHE HAD THREE CHILDREN THAT WENT THROUGH MAURY AND TC WILLIAMS AND HER GRANDCHILDREN ARE ACPS STUDENTS. HER HUSBAND ALSO TAUGHT IN ACPS. SO A REAL ACPS FAMILY THROUGH AND THROUGH. OTHERS SAID TO ME -- YOU CAN IMAGINE ON THE BOARD I LOVED THIS ONE. YOU COOPERATE CONTAIN HER SPIRIT AND THAT SHE HAD AN INFECTIOUS LAUGH AND IT SOUND -- SOUNDED LIKE SOMEONE PEOPLE ENJOYED WORKING WITH. THE WORD BELOVED WAS USED IN COUNTLESS EMAILS WHETHER IT WAS BELOVED MENTOR AND BELOVED COLLEAGUE. IT SPEAKS HIGH TO ALEXANDRIA THAT SHE WAS ONE OF THE FINALISTS AND I WANTED TO THANK THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED AND SAY WHAT A PHENOMENAL COMMUNITY WE LIVE IN THAT FOLKS LIKE THIS ARE TO BE HONORED. I LOVE THE FACT THAT TWO OF THE FINALISTS WERE WOMEN AND DEVOTED THEIR CAREER TO ALEXANDRIA. LIKE I ALWAYS SAID, WHEN YOU LEAD THE BEST OF THE BEST, THEY ARE THE BEST OF THE BEST. WE HONORED TWO OF THE BEST OF THE BEST WHO HAVE BEEN WITH US AND DEVOTED THEIR LIVES TO ALEXANDRIA AND ACPS, I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MS. NOLAN. MS. GREENE. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR ALDERTON AND THANK YOU, DR. HUTCHINGS FOR SO ELOQUENTLY GOING THROUGH THE PRESENTATION AND ALL WHO PLAYED A PART IN US RENAMING THE SCHOOLS I WANTED TO SAY A FEW THINGS ABOUT MS. NAOMI. AS DR. HUTCHINGS SAID, SHE IS THE EPITOME OF COURAGE AND ALL GOOD THINGS. SHE WAS ALSO FULL OF GRACE AND BEAUTY AND LOVE. EVERYONE TRULY LOVED HER. SHE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE TO TAKE ME IN WHEN I CAME TO ALEXANDRIA IN 2002, WHEN I JOINED THE BAP CHRIS CHURCH. MY MAMA SAID WHEN YOU MOVE TO A NEW PLACE THE FIRST THING YOU FIND IS A GOOD CHURCH. WONDERFUL PEEP IN MY CHURCH. SHE STOOD OUT. EVERY SUNDAY WHEN I WOULD GO TO CHURCH AFTER MEETING HER, I WOULD LOOK FOR HER. CHURCH GETS CROWDED WHEN THE SERVICE IS OVER AND SHE WOULD BE ONE OF THE PEOPLE I WOULD SEE WHERE SHE WAS SITTING AND MAYBE SHE WAS IN THE CHOIR. I WOULD FIND HER AFTER CHURCH. AFTER TALKING TO HER IT MADE YOUR HEART GLAD WHEN YOU TALKED TO HER. SHE HAS AN AMAZING FAMILY. SHE OF COURSE PASSED AWAY A FEW MONTHS AGO AND SHE WILL BEMISED AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE MISSED BY HER FAMILY AND BY HER CHURCH FAMILY AND THE COMMUNITY AND IT IS A FITTING HOMAGE TO A REMARKABLE WOMAN. I WAS SO VERY EXCITED WHEN I SAW HER NAME COME TO THE TOP OF THE LIST. TRULY AN HONOR FOR HER AND HER FAMILY. OH ONE MORE THING. SORRY, CHAIR ALDERTON. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT HER HUSBAND IS ON THE CALL AND HER SON AND HER BROTHER AND HER SISTER MS. WINTERS AND HER DAUGHTER. IF I MISSED ANY OF THE FAMILY MEMBERS CHARGE IT TO MY HEAD AND NOT TO MY HEART. I LOVE YOU ALL. >> THANK YOU, MS. GREENE. THAT WAS AWESOME. I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER HANDS SO I WILL COMMENT THAT THIS HAS BEEN SUCH A VERY WELL DONE PROCESS. IT WAS ROBUST AND I FEEL IT WAS VERY MEANINGFUL FOR THE COMMUNITY. I FEEL AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER IT WAS MEANINGFUL FOR ME AND I FEEL LIKE IT WAS MEANINGFUL FOR OUR KIDS. SEEING THE QUOTES THAT THE KIDS CAME UP WITH AND HEARING THEM THINK ABOUT IT MADE IT MORE POWERFUL. I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY TAKING THE TIME TO DEVELOPING THIS PROCESS. [00:50:01] MAKING SURE THAT WHEN WE GOT TO THIS POINT IT FELT RIGHT. I CAN SAY THAT IT FEELS RIGHT. THIS IS RIGHT. THANK YOU, EVERYBODY, FOR THIS. ALL RIGHT. I'LL JUST SHARE A TIDBIT OF INFORMATION FOR THE PUBLIC AND FOR THE BOARD. A REMINDER THAT WE WILL HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON MARCH 18TH. WE WILL VOTE FOR APPROVAL OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS ON APRIL 8TH. EXCITING, GUYS. YAY! ALL RIGHT. GOOD. SO MOVING ON ON OUR AGENDA. THE NEXT ITEM WE HAVE IS AN ITEM UP FOR ACTION AND THAT IS OUR HIGH SCHOOL PROJECT. [13. The High School Project: Site Specific Educational Specifications (documents uploaded on 3/2/21)--10 mins] WE HAVE TO APPROVE OUR SITE SPECIFIC EDUCATIONAL SPECIFICATIONS. SO I WILL TURN IT OVER TO DR. HUTCHINGS WHO WILL TURN IT OVER TO HIS TEAM. >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I WANT TO THANK MS. VERBOSES AND THE COMMUNICATIONS TEAM. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I RECALL WHEN WE GOT THE PETITION MS. VERBOSES SAID WE NEED A THEME AND A SCHEDULE AND IT WAS ON AND ON. YOU SAID WE HAVE TO BE METHODICAL AND STRATEGIC AND I AM GRATEFUL YOU PUSHED THAT. THAT WAS THE RIGHT PROCESS FOR US TO GET THERE IN A MEANINGFUL WAY. THANK YOU. >> I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ENTRUSTING US WITH THE PROCESS. IT WAS FUN. BUT IT GAVE US SOMETHING ELSE TO FOCUS ON. IT HELPED US FOCUS ON OUR EQUITY EFFORTS. THANK YOU. >> SO AS WE TRANSITION INTO EDUCATIONAL SPECIFICATIONS, THE TIME IS HERE. I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT FOR WEEKS. YESTERDAY WE HAD OUR WORK SECTION WHICH WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE BOARD WITH SOME OF THE REVISIONS WE MADE NOT ONLY FROM BOARD MEMBERS, BUT THE DESIGN TEAM AND OUR STAFF AND STUDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY AND WE HOPE THAT TODAY WE ARE ABLE TO GET THOSE EDUCATIONAL SPECIFICATIONS APPROVED SO WE CAN CONTINUE THROUGH THE DESIGN PROCESS. BEFORE I TURN IT OVER I WANT TO GIVE A HUGE THANK YOU AND A SHOUTOUT TO SOMEBODY I KNOW IS SPECIAL TO ALL OF US. MR. ABDUL ARACKMAN. I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT HE WAS WORKING WITH US FOR ALMOST THREE YEARS. HE HAS BEEN A BEHIND THE SCENES FORCE. WE KNOW THIS IS HIS LAST WEEK WITH US. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT AS YOU ARE GOING BACK TO RETIRE MEANT OR WHATEVER YOU ARE CHOOSING TO DO NEXT THAT YOU KNEW WHAT A SPECIAL PERSON YOU ARE AND WHAT AN IMPACT YOU HAVE ON THIS PROJECT. YOU TALK ABOUT A LEGACY. A PART OF YOUR LEGACY WILL LIVE ON IN THIS SCHOOL DIVISION. I AM GLAD OUR PATHS GOT TO CROSS AND WE WERE ABLE TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY THROUGH THIS PROCESS. WE WERE ABLE TO BUILD A BOND AND EVEN SET ASIDE FROM THE PROFESSIONAL WORK. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO MAKE SOME REMARKS I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO ON BEHALF OF ALEXANDRIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS. YOU CAN WATCH THIS OVER AND OVER AGAIN. IT IS BETTER THAN A CARD. NOW YOU HAVE IT ON VIDEOTAPE AND IT IS A PUBLIC RECORD THAT PEOPLE CAN SEE 50 YEARS FROM NOW. IF THEY CHOOSE BECAUSE IT WILL BE A PUBLIC RECORD. HATS OFF AND A ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO ABDUR-RAHMAN. >> I WILL KEEP IT BRIEF. I TOLD DR. HUTCHINGS THAT THE DIVISION WORKS SO HARD IT MADE ME WANT TO WORK EVEN HARDER. I HAD TO TRY TO BRING MY A-PLUS GAME TO THIS EQUATION. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE RESPONSE I RECEIVED NOT JUST IN THE DIVISION AND THE VARIOUS PARTS OF THE DIVISION. I TOLD THEM EVERY DAY THAT THEY MADE ME LOOK GOOD. IT IS AN HONOR AND A PLEASURE AND THANK YOU FOR ACKNOWLEDGING THE WORK I DO. >> THANK YOU. AND NOW I WANT TO TURN IT OVER TO THE DIRECTOR OF CAPITAL PROGRAMS PLANNING AND DESIGN. [00:55:02] >> THANK YOU, DR. HUTCHINGS. I WANT TO PILE ON THAT HE HAS REALLY SET THE STAGE FOR THIS PROJECT. HE HAS ONLY BEEN WITH US FOR TWO YEARS, BUT HE HAS DONE THREE YEARS WORTH OF WORK. I HAVE LEARNED A LOT FROM HIM. THANK YOU FOR SETTING THE PROJECT ON THE RIGHT PATH AS WE MOVE INTO DESIGN. IT CERTAINLY SETS THE STANDARD AND WE ALL HAVE BIG SHOES TO FILL. THANK YOU. WITH THAT WE ARE ASKING YOU TO APPROVE THE COMPREHENSIVE SPACE AND SITE PRACTICE/ED SPEC FOR OUR ALEXANDRIA HIGH SCHOOL -- OR TO BE DETERMINED. WE DON'T HAVE A PRESENTATION FOR YOU TONIGHT, BUT WE DID POST THE FINAL DOCUMENT FOR YOU WE POSTED TWO ITERATIONS, ONE DISCUSSED YESTERDAY AND WE ARE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS FROM YOU ALL, IF NOT, FEEL FREE TO MOVE TO IT. >> OKAY. I WILL JUST DOUBLE CHECK AND MAKE SURE DO I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? ANY COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? WITH THAT SAID I DO NEED A MOTION. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE SITE SPECIFIC EDUCATIONAL SPECIFICATIONS. >> MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD APPROVE THE COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM EDUCATIONAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL PROJECT. >> SECOND. >> I HAVE MS. LORBER WHO SECONDS MS. GENTRY'S MOTION. I AM GOING TO CALL FOR THE VOTE. ALDERTON YES. CINDY ANDERSON. RAMEE GENTRY. >> YES. >> JACINTA GREENE. >> YES. >> MARGARET LORBER. >> YES. >> VERONICA NOLAN. >> YES. >> MICHELLE RIEF. >> YES. >> CHRISTOPHER SUAREZ. >> YES. >> AND HEATHER THORNTON. >> YES. >> THANK YOU. MS. NIELSEN, THE VOTE IS 8 PRESENT, 8 YES AND ONE ABSENT. EXCELLENT. EXCITING. WE ARE MOVING ALONG WITH OUR HIGH SCHOOL PROJECT. I THINK THAT GETS AN APPLAUSE. I AM GOING TO PILE ON TOO JUST TO SAY THAT YOU ARE THAT QUIET BUT POWERFUL FORCE. SO GENTLE AND SO KNOWLEDGEABLE. YOU MADE AN IMPRESSION ON ME FROM THE BEGINNING. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AND IT IS SAD TO KNOW YOU WON'T BE AROUND. WILL YOU HANG AROUND A LITTLE BIT? >> I WILL SAY THAT I WON'T BE TOTALLY GONE. I REALLY AM COMMITTED TO THE DIVISION. I HAVE BEEN WORKING -- AS YOU KNOW I AM WORKING ON THE ADVISORY BOARDS AND THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE. I WILL BE THE ADVISORY IN THE ACE MENTOR DIVISION. IT INTRODUCES ARCHITECTURE AND CONSTRUCTION AND ENGINEERING AND CAREERS TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. THIS IS IN PARALLEL WITH DR. JACOBS' EFFORT TO ESTABLISH A CONSTRUCTION AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT PATHWAY. YOU ARE NOT TOTALLY FINISHED WITH ME YET. YOU WILL SEE ME EVERY NOW AND THEN. DR. RIEF MAY SEE ME AT THE ADVISORY MEETINGS. DR. HUTCHINGS AND I HAVE TO DO A 10K RUN AT SOME POINT. >> WELL THAT IS GOOD NEWS. THAT'S GREAT NEWS. THANKS AGAIN. >> THANK YOU. >> WE CAN MOVE ON IN THE AGENDA AND UP IS THE HYBRID REOPENING 5.0 UPDATE. [14. Hybrid Reopening 5.0 Update: Building Blocks for A Successful and Safe Return] >> THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. AS WE TRANSITION INTO OUR 5.0 UPDATE I ALSO FORGOT TO ACKNOWLEDGE MR. BALAS AND MR. POWELL. THE PRINCIPALS. YOU ALL HAVE BEEN DOING A PHENOMENAL JOB THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS FOR THE RENAMING. I APOLOGIZE THAT I DID NOT MENTION YOU ALL EARLIER. I WANTED TO TRANSITION INTO OUR UPDATE BECAUSE, WOW, WHAT A WEEK. THAT'S ALL I CAN SAY. I FEEL LIKE I HAVE HAD TWO WEEKS, BUT IT HAS ONLY BEEN FOUR DAYS. I AM JUST SO PROUD OF OUR STAFF. I MEAN, YOU TALK ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE RESILIENT AND INNOVATIVE AND HARD-WORKING AND DEDICATED. THEY GO ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY. IT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE TO OPEN THE DOORS TO THE K-5 STUDENTS RECEIVING SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES AND EL SERVICES THIS WEEK IF NOT FOR OUR STAFF. [01:00:06] THEY HAVE WORKED -- I CAN'T EVEN TELL YOU FROM THE BEGINNING. THIS WAS NOT JUST SOMETHING THAT COULD HAPPEN OVERNIGHT. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY JUST TO UNDERSTAND HOW HARD THEY ARE WORKING AND THEY ARE IN A PANDEMIC TOO. THE CRISIS SIM PACTING EVERYBODY'S LIFE. WHEN WE DO THINGS LIKE A HIGH SCHOOL PROJECT AND DOUGLAS MCARTHUR PROJECT AND RENAMING AND OPENING OUR SCHOOLS, PEOPLE ARE DOING THIS WORK AND STILL IN A CRISIS. THEY ARE DOING IT IN SPITE OF A PANDEMIC. THAT'S HUGE. WE NEVER WORKED AS HARD BEFORE. NONE OF US HAVE EVER WORKED THIS HARD BEFORE THROUGH A STORM. WE ARE MAKING IT THROUGH THIS STORM, FOLKS. WE HAVE OUR RAINCOATS AND OUR UMBRELLAS AND EVERYTHING ELSE WE NEED TO MAKE IT THROUGH. NOW I WANT TO TURN IT OVER TO THE QUEEN OF TEACHING, LEARNING AND LEADERSHIP. DR. MAZINGO IS ONE OF THE QUIET, POWERFUL PEOPLE BEHIND THE SCENES. YOU TALK ABOUT SOMEBODY WHO DOES NOT STOP WORKING. I ALWAYS SAY DR. MAZINGO, YOU CAN STOP. TAKE A BREAK. I CAN'T HANDLE ANYMORE EMAILS OVER THE WEEKEND. SHE WORKS SO HARD WITH OUR TEAM. YOU ARE GRATEFUL AND KNOWLEDGEABLE AND PATIENT. I WANT TO GIVE YOU A WARM WELCOME. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO. >> THANK YOU, DR. HUTCHINGS. IF YOU CAN GO BACK TO THE FIRST SLIDE. I WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT. GOOD EVENING MADAM CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. AT THE TOP OF THE PRESENT SAYINGS AND WE WANT TO MAKE THIS GREAT ANNOUNCEMENT. THE HYBRID REOPENING 5.0 PLAN IS ATTACHED. WE JUST WANT THE PUBLIC TO BE AWARE OF THAT. AS DR. HUTCHINGS MENTIONED, THE 5.0 PLAN IS THE COLLECTIVE WORK OF A LOT OF PEOPLE. IT IS THE COLLECTIVE AND COLLABORATIVE OF A LOT OF PEOPLE. I WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW THAT. THE PRESENTATION IS BUILT FROM 5.0. GOOD NEWS IS WE HAVE ALSO SUBMITTED IT TO THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ED. I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO WAS PART OF DEVELOPING THE 5.0. AS WE MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE, THE CENTRAL QUESTION AGAIN IS WHAT IS THE CURRENT HEALTH GUIDANCE FROM THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND CONTROL, THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AS WELL AS THE ALEXANDRIA HEALTH DEPARTMENT. WE WILL HEAR AGAIN FROM DR. HERON AND WE THANK HIM FOR HIS EFFORTS. WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE PRIORITY FOR OPENING SCHOOL BUILDINGS. SOME OF THESE ARE AREA THAT'S WE HAVE ALREADY MENTIONED. WE WON'T GO IN DETAIL WITH THOSE TONIGHT, BUT WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE FOUNDATIONAL PRIORITIES THAT HAVE BEEN CENTRAL FOR REOPENING. AND THERE WILL BE STAFF MEETINGS ON THE NEW SUPPORT OF TRANSITIONING INTO NEW BUILDINGS AND THE PRE-PLANNING EFFORTS ON THE WAY FOR THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR. NOW I WOULD LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO DR. HERRING. >> GOOD EVENING. CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? >> YES. WE CAN HEAR YOU. >> HI, DR. STEVEN HERRING DIRECTOR OF ALEXANDRIA HEALTH DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE. I APPRECIATE IT. THE LEFT UPPER BOX GIVES SOME BACKGROUND. THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL HAS CHANGED THE METRICS IN A NUMBER OF MANNERS. IT USED TO BE FIVE AND THEY CHANGED THEM FROM HIGH, SUBSTANTIAL AND MODERATE AND LOW. SOMEBODY FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD PREVIOUSLY SAID CAN'T WE SEE THEM OVER TIME AND CAN'T WE SEE THE TRENDS? THANKFULLY WE CAN. WHEN WE LOOK AT THE OVERALL CURRENT CDC INDICATORS, THE COMMUNITY -- WHEN WE CONSIDER EVERYTHING, THE BURDEN, THE TREAD, THE EXTENDED TRANSMISSION WE ARE AT A HIGH LEVEL OF RISK TRANSMISSION. THAT COMES FROM WHAT IS ON THE RIGHT PANEL. [01:05:01] AND THERE ARE CORE INDICATORS AND THE SECONDARY INDICATORS. THE FIRST ONE IS THE PERCENTAGE -- OR THE NUMBER OF NEW CASES PER 100,000 OVER THE PRIOR SEVEN DAYS. YOU CAN SEE THAT HAS BEEN TRENDING REMARKABLY DOWN. SOON, HOPEFULLY, WE WILL BE IN THE SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT, THE HIGH CATEGORY. AND THE SECOND ONE IS THE PCR TESTS THAT WERE POSITIVE IN THE LAST FIVE DAYS. THAT IS ACTUALLY IF THE LOW RISK CATEGORY. THE OTHER INDICATORS HAS ONE WEEK -- THE PREVIOUS SEVEN DAYS TO THE SEVEN DAYS BEFORE THAT. IT IS A WEAK OF A WEEK COMPARISON. THAT'S GOOD NEWS THERE. AND THE OTHER IS HOSPITAL CAPACITY AND THAT'S GOOD NEWS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS NOT ON HERE, AND I MAKE NOTE OF THIS EVERY TIME BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT. IN ALL OF THE TEXT OF THE LEFT UPPER BOX THERE IS A PARAGRAPH THAT STATES A SCHOOL DIVISION CAPACITY TO SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENT. AND IF THIS WAS ON A METER THAT HAS BEEN DOING REMARKABLY WELL. THEY REACH OUT TO US WITH QUESTIONS. I HAVE A QUESTION OR CONCERN AND THEY GATHER EVERYBODY THAT NEEDS TO BE TOGETHER. THEY ARE WORKING WITH OUR EPIDEMIOLOGISTS AND OUR SCHOOL TEAM. IN FACT, I BELIEVE WE HAVE A TOWN HALL FOR PARENTS THAT IS PLANNED SOMETIME THE WEEK OF MARCH 22ND. THAT'S UNDER DEVELOPMENT. THAT WAY PARENTS UNDERSTAND ALREADY THE DISTANCING AND THE FACE MASKING. IT GIVES THEM MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHEN THERE IS A CASE IN SCHOOL AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN AND WHAT IS A CASE INVESTIGATION AND WHAT TO LOOK FOR. IT IS GOING TO BE WHEN THERE IS CASES IN SCHOOL AND NOT IF. THAT'S NOT DOOMSDAY. FROM WHAT I AM SEEING EVERYTHING THE SCHOOL IS DOING, THERE SHOULD BE A LOW RISK OF TRANSMISSION WITHIN THE SCHOOL SETTING WITHIN THE CLASSROOMS. THAT'S MY PRESENTATION. I APPRECIATE BEING ABLE TO BE HERE AND I APPRECIATE THE COLLABORATION WITH ACPS. >> AND WE ARE GOING TO BE PROVIDING THE COMMUNITY WITH A NEW OVERVIEW OF OUR DECISION MATRIX. THIS DOES HAVE AN IMPACT. WE SHARED A COUPLE WEEKS AGO THAT THE VDH WAS WORKING THROUGH WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO TAKE FROM THE REVISED CDC GUIDELINES. THIS IS WHAT IS COMING FROM THE INFORMATION. JUST KNOW THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE SHARING OUT WITH THE COMMUNITY WHAT THE DECISION MATRIX LOOKS LIKE. AS DR. HERRING STATED, OUR HEALTH AND SAFETY MITIGATIONS AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL ARE SOLID. ALL HEALTH AND SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS ARE BEING DONE IN REGARDS TO THE VH RECOMMENDATIONS IN ACPS. AND WE ARE REALLY AT A GOOD PLACE IF REGARDS TO MITIGATING ANY HEALTH OR SAFETY CONCERNS. WE SHOULD HAVE A LOW RISK WITHIN OUR SCHOOL BUILDINGS. >> I KNOW YOU HAVE SEEN THIS SLIDE BEFORE. WE ARE DELIGHTED WITH THIS SLIDE. WE PURPOSELY CHOSE THE MINT GREEN COLOR TO REPRESENT THAT THE STUDENTS THAT WERE SCHEDULED AND FAMILIES THAT CHOSE HYBRID RETURNED THIS WEEK. SO IT IS SOMETHING TO REALLY CELEBRATE. THAT'S WHY THE COLOR IS GREEN. APPROXIMATELY A THOUSAND OR MORE STUDENTS DID TRANSITION TO OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS THIS WEEK. WE HAVE HAD SOME FAMILIES, HOWEVER, THAT DECIDED TO REMAIN VIRTUAL AND THEY DO HAVE THAT OPTION. LATER ON TONIGHT YOU WILL SEE A VIDEO THAT SHOWS EXAMPLES OF WHEN STUDENTS WILL RETURN. WE WANTED TO ANNOUNCE WHAT IS IN GREEN. AND MARCH 9TH WE ARE GETTING READY FOR NEXT WEEK AND MARCH 16TH. KUDOS TO THE STAFF, THE COMMUNITY, THE FAMILIES AND OUR TEACHERS FOR REALLY GOOD TRANSITION BACK TO SCHOOL THIS WEEK. NOW, THE NEXT SLIDE -- WE LIKE THIS SLIDE IN MANY WAYS. I WANT TO TELL YOU A LITTLE ABOUT THE SLIDE. ON THE LEFT SIDE WHAT WE WANTED TO DO, AND DR. HUTCHINGS HAS ASKED US, WE WANT TO STOP REPEATING OVER AND OVER AGAIN WHAT WE HAVE SHARED. WHAT WE WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU IN THE BRICKS TO REPRESENT THE FOUNDATION FOR REOPENING. WHAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED IN EACH OF THE RED BRICKS IS EXAMPLES OF PRESENTATIONS OR INITIATIVES OR SYSTEMS WE REPORTED ON BEFORE SUCH AS CONCURRENT INSTRUCTION, PPE [01:10:06] EQUIPMENT, SCHOOL SCHEDULES AS WELL AS A REOPENING CHECKLIST FOR PRINCIPALS. ALL OF THE ITEMS OR THE SOLID FOUNDATION OR THE ESSENTIAL WORK THAT HAS OCCURRED TO GET THE SCHOOLS TO THE POINT WHERE THEY ARE. IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THIS WORK HAS BEEN DONE IN COLLABORATION WITH A LOT OF ADDITIONAL -- A LOT OF OTHER INDIVIDUALS. THE MIDDLE SECTION OF THE SLIDE IS WHAT YOU WILL HEAR ABOUT LATER THIS AFTERNOON. THOSE ARE SOME NEW AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN MODIFIED TO SUPPORT MORE -- TO PROVIDE MORE SUPPORT FOR REOPENING. THE FAMILY COMMUNICATION SCHOOL SIM MA LATERS AND THE TEMPERATURE SCANNERS AND THE MEALS AND TRANSPORTATION AND THERE IS AN UPDATE ON CLASSROOM MONITORS. THE FAR RIGHT SIDE WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THERE WILL BE MORE INFORMATION FORTHCOMING, BUT THERE WILL BE A CROSS FUNCTIONAL TEAM WHICH IS OUR SECOND YEAR OF SUMMER LEARNING THAT WILL LOOK A LITTLE DIFFERENT AND WILL BRING THE INFORMATION BACK TO THE BOARD IN THE FUTURE AS WELL AS DR. HUTCHINGS ASKED ALL OF US MEMBERS OF THE SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM AND OUR STAFF TO LAUNCH A PROCESS WHERE WE DEVELOP A SCOPE OF WORK FOR THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR AND FINALLY WE KNOW WE HAVE SOME FAMILIES THAT WILL CHOOSE AND HAVE AN INTEREST IN VIRTUAL LEARNING. WE WILL FORM A CROSS FUNCTIONAL TEAM AND BRING AND SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH THE PUBLIC AND THE COMMUNITY AND THE TEAM WILL BE AS ALL OF THE OTHER TEAMS HAVE BEEN CROSS FUNCTIONAL. LOOKING BACK, THOSE ARE OTHER PLANS THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED AND ARE ON OUR WEBSITE. LOOKING BACK, THE RED BLOCKS SERVE AS A FOUNDATION. WE WILL MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE WITH OUR FIRST PRESENTER AND THAT IS MARIAH. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. EXCUSE ME. I AM PROVIDING AN UPDATE ON THE COMMUNICATIONS THAT ARE GOING TO FAMILIES. IT GEARS THEM AS ESSENTIAL COMMUNICATIONS BECAUSE THEY OBTAIN INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT DAYS THE STUDENTS WILL BE RETURNING ON AND WHAT THE RETURN DATE IS AND BUS TRANSPORTATION. OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS WE HAVE, I AM HAPPY TO SAY, WE HAVE SENT OUT ALL OF THE RETURN INFORMATION FROM A CENTRALIZED LOCATION. AND WE HAVE SENT OUT THE INFORMATION TO THE FAMILIES THAT ARE RETURNING IN HYBRID. THE FINAL ONES WERE SENT OUT THIS PAST TUESDAY. AND THE TWO CENTRAL COMMUNICATIONS COMING OUT NEXT, TOMORROW, WILL BE THE WORK THAT OUR TRANSPORTATION TEAM, IT IS A LOT OF WORK THAT THEY HAVE PUT IN. WE ARE WORKING HARD TO GET THE BUS ROUTES TOGETHER. THAT INFORMATION WILL BE SENT OUT TOMORROW. THAT WILL INCLUDE INFORMATION FOR FAMILIES THAT ARE RETURNING ON THE 9TH. AND THEN NEXT WEEK, NEXT FRIDAY, WE WILL SEND OUT BUS INFORMATION FOR THOSE RETURNING ON MARCH 16TH. AND THEN AS ALWAYS IN COLLABORATION WITH THE DIFFERENT GROUPS THAT ARE REQUIRED TO MAKE WHAT SEEMS LIKE A FEW FIELDS THAT WILL GO INTO THE EMAIL THE WORK OF AN ENTIRE DIVISION. I AM GRATEFUL TO EVERYBODY WHO SUPPORTS OUR ABILITY TO DO THIS. >> THANK YOU, MARIAH. THIS SLIDE REALLY TALKS ABOUT THE SIMULATIONS WE HAD ACROSS THE SCHOOLS. WE WANT TO THANK THE SCHOOLS THAT WORKED WITH US TO DO A DAY IN THE LIFE VIDEO. WE WILL SHOW YOU A PREVIEW OF THE HIGH SCHOOL VIDEO AND ALSO A MIDDLE SCHOOL DAY IN THE LIFE VIDEO. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE PURPOSE OF THE SIMULATION. IT WAS TO GIVE THE SCHOOL AN OPPORTUNITY TO WALK THROUGH EVERY PART OF THE DAY TO MAKE SURE WE WERE CHECKING THE BOXES. WE HEARD FROM THE PRINCIPAL THAT'S IT WAS A GREAT PROCESS. THERE IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO DO AND THEY FELT REALLY PREPARED. FELT THEY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY SEE WHAT THE DAY WAS GOING TO BE LIKE AND ENSURE THAT NOTHING FELL THROUGH THE CRACKS. I WANT TO THANK OUR PRINCIPALS FOREGOING THROUGH THE SIMULATIONS. I KNOW IT WAS A LOT OF WORK TO PUT TOGETHER AND THE LEADERSHIP TEAMS PARTICIPATED IN THE SIMULATIONS TO LOOK AT THE PROBLEMS AND ISSUES AND RESOLVE THEM. NEXT I WILL SHOW YOU THE INNOVATIONS, BUT I WANT TO SHOW YOU THE HIGH SCHOOL DAY [01:15:05] IN THE LIFE VIDEO. CAN YOU PLAY THAT VIDEO PLEASE? ΒΆ >> AT THIS TIME WE WILL LIKE TO GO TO THE SECOND PERIOD CLASS. I COULD NOT FINISH MY PRESENTATION WITHOUT SAYING PATH AT JOHN ADAMS AND THE EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER AND TAKING OVER AND BRINGING THE STUDENTS WHO WORK PHENOMENAL ACTORS AND ACTRESSES AND SO THEY REALLY HELPED TO MAKE THIS VIDEO COME TO LIFE. I'M SURE YOU ALREADY SAW THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ONE. I REALLY WANTED TO THANK THE TEAMS FOR HELPING US TO PIECE IT TOGETHER. SO NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THESE ARE SCHOOLS THAT CONDUCTED THE SIMULATIONS OF THE FIRST COUPLE DAYS OF SCHOOL. THAT'S IT FOR ME. >> THANK YOU. AND SO OUR PRINCIPALS AND OUR SCHOOL LEADERSHIP TEAMS HAVE PLANNED FOR A SUCCESSFUL HYBRID REOPENING. THERE WILL BE A REVIEW OF THE PRINCIPAL CHECKLIST. WHAT YOU ARE VIEWING IS THE HOME BASE DOCUMENT WHICH IS THE KEY LOCATION THAT ALL HAVE LINKED THEIR DOCUMENTS. AND SO YOU'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO VIEW THE AWESOME HIGH SCHOOL VIDEO AND YOU WILL NOTICE HIGHLIGHTED IN BLUE ARE THE OTHER SCHOOLS THAT HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A VIDEO THAT INCLUDES THE EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER AND STEWART WASHINGTON. SO THE HOME BASE DOCUMENT AND THE SIMULATION PROCESS HAS QUICKLY BECOME ONE OF THE KEY OPERATING PROCEDURES FOR PRINCIPALS AND THEIR SCHOOL-BASED TEAMS. THE SIMULATION PROCESS TOOK ABOUT TWO TO THREE HOURS WITH KEY STAKEHOLDERS INCLUDING SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS AND ESSENTIAL OFFICE STAFF WHO COLLABORATED AND PROBLEM SOLVED ON EACH ASPECT. SO THE SIMULATION HAS ALLOWED -- [INAUDIBLE]. [01:20:06] AND ABLE TO ANSWER OPERATIONAL QUESTIONS AND IMPLEMENT ASSOCIATED STEPS OF EACH ASPECT AND ALSO BRAINSTORM THROUGH THE SCENARIOS. OVERALL THE SIMULATION PROCESS WILL ADEQUATELY AND PLAN FOR THE HYBRID REOPENING AND THE SIMULATION PROCESS HAS QUICKLY BECOME OUR SCHOOL AND DISTRICT FORM OF COMMUNICATION WHICH CAN GIVE PARENTS AND THE COMMUNITY USED TO OUR HYBRID PLAN. THANK YOU. >> WE JUST WANTED TO COVER TONIGHT SOME OF THE ADDITIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY MEASURES THAT WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED FOR OUR REOPENING OF SCHOOLS. YOU SAW IN THE PREVIOUS VIDEO THAT THERE WAS A DAILY SYMPTOM CHECKER THAT STUDENTS AND STAFF ARE ASKED TO COMPLETE PRIOR TO ENTERING THE FACILITY FOR THE DAY. YOU ALSO GOT A CHANCE TO SEE OUR SCANNERS IN ACTION. THOSE SCANNERS -- I'M SO SORRY. EVERYONE ENTERING THE FACILITY HAS THEIR TEMPERATURE SCANNED. IT TAKES FOUR TO SEVEN SECONDS. WE UNDERSTAND IT WOULD HELP IMPROVE EFFICIENCY AND REMOVE THE BARRIER OF HAVING TOO MANY PEOPLE GATHERED IN ONE PLACE TRYING TO GET THEIR TEMPERATURE SCREENED IF WE KEPT IT TO A MANUAL PROCESS. IN REGARDS TO MEALS AND TRANSPORTATION, ANOTHER HUGE EFFORT, BUT THE TEAM PULLED IT OFF. AND HOW DO WE DO THAT? WITH MEAL SERVICE THERE IS A GRAB AND GO MODEL. THEY GRABBED THEIR BREAKFAST AND THEY HEAD TO THE CLASSROOMS TO EAT. LUNCH IS SERVED IN THE CLASSROOMS. AND OUR FOOD DISTRIBUTION CONTINUES AT OUR ALREADY ESTABLISHED SITES. OUR TRANSPORTATION STARTED THIS WEEK. AND SO WE HAD 62 BUSES PRIMED AND READY TO HELP TRANSPORT STUDENTS ON THE BEGINNING OF SCHOOL ON MARCH SECOND. WE WILL BE COMPLETING OUR TRANSPORTATION PLANNING. THE FIRST WILL COME THE WEEK OF APRIL 5TH AND REALLY THE GOAL OF THE REASSESSMENT IS TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO WHAT WE CALL RIGHT SIZE OUR ROUTES BASED ON THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT RETURN TO THE HYBRID. WE HAVE ALSO DONE MAJOR WORK IN REGARDS TO THE HVAC AND VENTILATION SYSTEM. IT INCLUDES THE SYSTEMS. WE HAVE UPGRADED OUR FILTRATION TO MERV13 FILTERS. WE HAVE IDENTIFIED AND COMPLETED REPAIRS ON SYSTEMS WHERE NEEDED. AND THAT IS HIGHLIGHTED BY SCHOOL IN OUR EXISTING HVAC-FAQ. WE PROVIDED HEPA AIR PURIFIERS FOR CLINICS AND HEALTH ANNEXES AND SOME COLLECT ROOMS IN THE BUILDINGS BASED ON SPECIALIZED CIRCUMSTANCES. WE ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY -- AND THIS WAS SHARED A FEW WEEKS AGO, TO INSTALL UV TECHNOLOGY AT ONE OF OUR SCHOOLS AND THAT IS LYLES CROUCH UNIVERSITY. WE INSTALLED 17 NEW ROOFTOP UNITS THERE. AS PART OF THE PROCESS WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO INSTALL THIS TECHNOLOGY. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO ASSESS AND POSSIBLY PLAN TO INCLUDE IN OUR FUTURE HVAC PROJECTS AS WELL. AND WITH THAT VEIN WE CONTINUE WITH THE CIP PROJECTS TO INCLUDE ANY PRE-PLANNED HVAC REPLACEMENTS AND PROJECTS ALREADY ESTABLISHED IN THE BUDGET. BEFORE WE MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE I WANT TO PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGE ALL OF THE HARD WORK OF THE FACILITIES AND THE OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT. WE PULLED IT OFF. IT WAS A HERCULEAN EFFORT. I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT RECOGNIZE THE TEAM AND THE STAFF. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> DR. WILKINS HERE, CHIEF OF STAFF. AS YOU KNOW WE ARE USING TWO RECRUITING APPROACHES TO BRING OUR CLASSROOM MONITORS. WE HAVE A TEMPORARY STAFFING AGENCY THAT EXCLUSIVELY HANDLES THE CLATION ROOM MONITORS AND THE ACPS-HR OFFICE IS MONITORING OUR TEMPERATURE SCREENERS. THE NUMBERS BELOW THAT ARE 120 CLASSROOM MONITORS AND 24 HEALTH ANNEX MONITORS AND 22 TEMPERATURE SCREENERS AND WE HAVE 14 SPECIALIZED INSTRUCTIONAL CONTRACT STAFF SERVING OUR SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS. SO OUR PERSONNEL AND STAFFING SUPPORT IS ON TARGET AND IT WILL INCREASE IN THE DAYS AHEAD. THANK YOU. >> AND THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL OF THAT. I AM GOING TO PASS THINGS BACK TO MADAM CHAIR TO OPEN THE FLOOR FOR QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU, DR. HUTCHINGS. AND THANK YOU TEAM. [01:25:01] I WILL SEE IF WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD MEMBERS. VERONICA NOLAN. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR ALDERTON. AND THANK YOU, DR. HUTCHINGS, TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM. WE SAY IT EVERY MEETING, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE SAID EVERY MEETING. IT IS SUCH A HERCULEAN TASK AND WE KNOW HOW MUCH HARD WORK IS GOING INTO IT AND STAFF AT ALL LEVELS ARE REALLY WORKING HARD TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. WE SINCERELY APPRECIATE IT. I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT -- DO YOU MIND SPEAKING TO -- I KNOW THERE HAS BEEN A LITTLE BUZZ ABOUT THE WINDOWS AND WHAT WE ARE DOING ABOUT THE WINDOWS. FOR THE SAKE OF THE COMMUNITY, WILL YOU MIND SHARING ACPS'S STANCE ABOUT WINDOWS ? AND THE ONLY REASON I SAY THAT IT HAS GENERATED A LOT OF QUESTIONS SO I THINK NOW WOULD BE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WHERE YOU STAND WITH THAT. AND THE OTHER QUESTION I HAD ABOUT CHILD CARE WITH STAFF. I KNOW THAT CONTINUES TO BE A BARRIER OF STAFF COMING IN. IF YOU COULD ALSO SHARE, IS THERE ANY TROUBLESHOOTING BEHIND THE SCENES GOING ON WITH THAT? I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW. >> SURE. WE WILL START WITH THE FIRST QUESTION IN REGARDS TO OUR POLICY ABOUT OUR WINDOWS DURING THE PANDEMIC. IF YOU CAN PROVIDE OUR STANCE AND THE PURPOSE BEHIND THAT. >> ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE QUESTION, MS. NOLAN. AS OF RIGHT NOW ACPS HAS THE STANCE OF RECOMMENDING NOT OPENING WINDOWS. I KNOW FOR SOME THAT IS, WELL WHY ARE YOU DOING THAT? WE HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLAIN OUR HVAC SYSTEM AND I AM LAYING IT OUT FOR THE PUBLIC. WE HAVE SOME FACILITY THAT'S HAVE, UNFORTUNATELY, PRIOR HISTORIES OF INDOOR AIR QUALITY CONCERNS. THE TEAM HAS WORKED VERY HARD OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS TO TRY TO HELP REMEDY THOSE CONCERNS TO MAKE SURE OUR BUILDINGS ARE IN THE BEST SHAPE FOR OUR STAFF AND STUDENTS AND OTHER OCCUPANTS. SO BASED OFF OF OUR INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL EXPERTISE, REGARDING OPENING WINDOWS, THE FIRST IS THAT OPENING WINDOWS BRINGS IN OUTDOOR POLLUTANTS. IT CAUSES YOUR SYSTEM TO WORK OVER TIME TO FILTER THE OUTDOOR AIR. I KNOW THERE WERE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT CAN'T YOU PUT A BOX FAN IN YOUR ROOM TO CIRCULATE THE OUTSIDE AIR. THAT ENDS UP MIMICKING THE DESIGN THE HVAC SYSTEM WORKS. IT IS MIMICKING THE OPERATION OF THE HVAC SYSTEM. THE SEEK POINT TO IT IS WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE MAINTAINING OUR RELATIVE HUMIDITY LEVELS. WE HOPE IS NOT FAVORABLE FOR MOLD. WE HOPE THAT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO CONTEND WITH. IT IS A BEAR TO REMEDY THAT. THE NEXT IS TEMPERATURE CONTROL. I KNOW THAT MAY SEEM SMALL IN THE SCHEME OF THINGS, BUT WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE FACILITIES THAT HAVE BEEN CONSTRUCTED DURING THE DIFFERENT TIME FRAMES. SOME OF THAT CONSTRUCTION, SAY FOR INSTANCE IT IS CINDER BLOCK. WE KNOW THOSE TYPES OF BUILDINGS HOLD HEAT OR THEY HOLD IN THE COLD AIR. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO THEN REGULATE TEMPERATURE WITH AN INFLUX OF OUTDOOR AIR. WE ARE ALSO MAKING SURE WE ARE KEEPING IN THE CONSIDERATION -- THERE MAY BE SOME STUDENTS THAT DO NOT HAVE SESANALLY -- SEASONALLY APPROPRIATE CLOTHING. WE DON'T WANT TO WORRY ARE THEY TOO WARM OR TOO COLD. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE TEMPERATURES ARE MAINTAINED THROUGHOUT THE BUILDINGS. SO WE REALLY ARE LOOKING AT THE TOTAL AND HOLISTIC APPROACH TO INDOOR AIR QUALITY AND VENTILATION. WE PUT A LOT OF WORK INTO OUR SYSTEMS, YOU KNOW, REGARDING MAKING SURE THEY ARE REPAIRED AND DOING WHAT THEY INTEND TO DO INCLUDING UPGRADING FILTERS AND ENHANCE OUR FILTRATION. WE HAVE PROVIDED AIR PURIFIERS IN PLACES LIKE THE CLINICS AND THE HEALTH ANNEXES. AND FOR GOOD MEASURE WE DID CONSULT WITH THE ALEXANDRIA HEALTH DEPARTMENT AFTER THE UPDATED GUIDANCE WAS RELEASED. THE ALEXANDRIA HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AFTER WE SHARED WITH THEM ALL OF OUR CURRENT MITIGATION STRATEGY -- STRATEGIES, THAT WE ARE CONTINUING TO ADHERE TO THOSE TOP MITIGATION STRATEGIES AND CORRECT FACE MASK USAGE AND SOCIAL DISTANCING. THEY DID NOT OBJECT TO OUR POSITION OF OPENING WINDOWS. WE ARE NOT AN ANOMALY. THERE ARE A FEW DIVISIONS IN THE NEIGHBORING COUNTIES WITH THE SAME POSITION. I AM SO SORRY. I REALLY AM TRYING TO PUSH THROUGH THIS. >> I LOVE IT. I LOVE THE BABY IN THE BACKGROUND. [01:30:01] YOU'RE FINE. ALL OF US MOMS HAVE BEEN THERE, SO DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. >> OUR TEAM REALLY DOES REVIEW THE GUIDANCE AND REALLY DOES REVIEW -- SO SORRY. I DON'T KNOW IF JOHN FINNIGAN OR MARK CAN JUMP IN TO JUST CLOSE THIS OUT FOR ME, PLEASE. I APOLOGIZE. >> JOHN, DO YOU WANT ME? >> MR. FINNIGAN, YOU ARE ON MUTE. >> TO FINISH THIS OFF, WE HAVE LISTENED TO THE CONCERNS AND WE HAVE LOOKED AT CDC GUIDANCE AND LOOKED AT THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR HEATING REFRIGERATION AND AIR CONDITIONS AND MADE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE SYSTEM. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THAT OUR SPACES AND OUR BUILDING DO BRING IN OUTSIDE AIR. WE JUST FILTER IT BEFORE WE BRING IT IN. BASICALLY WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS TURNOVER THE AIR MORE BECAUSE OF THE CONCERN OF THE PANDEMIC. WE HAVE MADE ADJUSTMENTS. WE ARE TAKING THOSE THINGS INTO CONSIDERATION. ANY QUESTIONS? >> DO YOU MIND IF I ASK A FOLLOW-UP, MR. FINNIGAN? I KNOW THERE ARE CONCERNS FROM TEACHERS ESPECIALLY WALKING INTO A CLASSROOM AND FEELING ASSURANCE THAT THE VENTILATION AND THE AIRFLOW IS BEING TAKEN CARE OF AND THEY ARE IN A SAFE SPACE, BOTTOM LINE. DO WE HAVE A SENSE OF HOW WE ARE MEASURING THAT AND DO WE KNOW HOW, FOR EXAMPLE, THE AIR IS BEING REPLACED AND THE FREQUENCY OF THAT? I KNOW THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS BROUGHT OUT? THIS IS JUST COMING FROM A PLACE THAT HOW ARE WE ASSURING TEACHERS THEY ARE WALKING INTO A SAFE ENVIRONMENT AND WE HAVE DONE ALL OF THE PROTOCOLS WE HAVE TO AS FAR AS AIRFLOW. >> AND THERE ARE DIFFERENT AGES AND DIFFERENT SYSTEMS. BASICALLY A LOT OF THEM YOU'VE GOT DEVICE THAT'S WORK FOR A CERTAIN PART OF A BUILDING. SO YOU HAVE PROBABLY HEARD US TALK ABOUT ROOFTOP UNITS. THE ROOFTOP UNITS THERE WILL BE ONE OR TWO JUST FOR THE AUDITORIUM. THERE WILL BE ONE THAT WILL SUPPLY JUST FOR THREE OR FOUR CLASSROOMS. ALL OF IT IS MONITORED OF A BUILDING FOUNDATION SYSTEM. IT IS CALCULATED THROUGH ENGINEERING AND IT IS CONSTANTLY MONITORED BY THE BUILDING AND CUSTODIAL SERVICES STAFF. THE AIR IS TURNED OVER SO MANY TIMES PER DAY. AND AS MENTIONED WE ARE INCREASING THAT JUST SO IT TURNS OVER A LITTLE MORE. THERE IS MORE FRESH AIR IN THERE. I KNOW OUR ASSISTANT OF BUILDING SERVICES IS ON AS WELL. AND I ASK IF THERE IS ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO THAT. >> SO -- LET ME GET GOING HERE. SO WE ARE GOING TO OPERATE THE HVAC SYSTEMS THREE HOURS EXTRA DURING THE COURSE OF THE DAY. WE WILL RUN IT TWO HOURS LATER IN THE EVENING AND START IT ONE HOUR EARLIER IN THE MORNING. IT WILL ESSENTIALLY RUN UNTIL MIDNIGHT AND THEN WE WILL START IT UP AGAIN AT 4 A.M. THAT WILL GIVE AN ADDITIONAL NUMBER OF AIR CHANGES IN THE BUILDINGS. >> AND I THINK THE BOTTOM LINE HERE -- I KNOW WE ARE GOING TO -- WE NEED TO MOVE ON, BUT I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMUNITY AND I THANK MS. NOLAN TO ASK THIS AND IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMUNITY AND THE STAFF TO KNOW, BUT WE ARE NOT GOING TO PUT OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS UNHEALTHY AND THIS SAFE. WE SPENT THIS MUCH TIME NOT OPENING BUILDINGS WHEN WE THOUGHT THE COMMUNITY HEALTH METRICS WERE NOT SAFE TO OPEN THE DOORS. WE ARE NOT JUST GOING TO ALL OF A SUDDEN THROW HEALTH AND SAFETY OUT THE WINDOW. AND WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT THROUGHOUT THIS TIME WE ARE ADJUSTING BASED ON THE INFORMATION THAT WE RECEIVED WHETHER IT IS FROM THE CDC OR THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH OR ALEXANDRIA HEALTH DEPARTMENT. AND FORTUNATELY WE HAVE A CONSISTENT AND STRONG COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ALEXANDRIA HEALTH DEPARTMENT WHERE WE ARE INQUIRING WITH THEM ABOUT THE STRATEGIES THEY ARE IMPLEMENTING WITHIN OUR DECISION MAKING. I'M SORRY. NOW THE PEOPLE ARE MOWING OUTSIDE. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE ARE IN A PANDEMIC ON ZOOM. I WILL STOP THERE, MS. NOLAN. >> DR. HUTCHINGS, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I WANTED TO CLOSE OUT NOW THAT MY CHILD DECIDED TO CALM DOWN. I WANTED TO CLOSE OUT AND SAY THAT ONE THING THAT THE TEAM AND I ARE GOING TO REINSTITUTE, WE STARTED IT RIGHT BEFORE THE PANDEMIC AND WE HAD TO PUT IT TO THE SIDE SO WE COULD FOCUS ON REOPENING IS THE QUARTERLY CHATS WITH THE PRINCIPALS [01:35:01] AND WORKING THROUGH THE PRINCIPALS TO PRESENT AT AT VARIOUS PTA MEETINGS. ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID FIND SUCCESSFUL, I WILL GIVE AN EXAMPLE, AT GEORGE WASHINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL, WE HAD A FEW PRESENTATIONS PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC OF ALL OF THE ITEMS WE HAD BEEN WORKING ON AND WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON TO HELP THEM IMPROVE, AND JUST OTHER BUILDING CONCERNS. SO THAT IS SOMETHING WE WILL REINSTITUTE AND MAKE SURE OUR COMMUNITY HAS THE LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE AND WE FEEL THAT WILL BE A GREAT STEP. AND I JUST WANT TO CLOSE OUT ON THAT TOPIC. >> WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION AND FOR ALL OF THE HARD WORK AND IT IS A BIG ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR SURE. AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU, DR. HART, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN ASKING A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT VENTILATION AND CERTAINLY WITH THE NEW UPDATED GUIDANCE THAT THE CDC RELEASED ON FRIDAY. I WILL SAY ONE THING I DEFINITELY LEARNED GOING THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER IS REALLY IT IS NOT ALL ONE SIZED FITS ALL SOLUTIONS. I THINK THE PUBLIC OFTEN WANTS THAT. I LEARNED THROUGH THE PROCESS THAT IT IS NOT ALWAYS LIKE THAT. I DO APPRECIATE YOU TALKING US THROUGH THE PROCESS AND ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS. I DID GO BACK AND -- I WANTED TO ALSO MENTION THAT LOOKING AT THE HVAC INVESTMENTS WE HAD LAST YEAR AND IT WAS OVER $5 MILLION. IN THIS COMING YEAR IT IS $6 MILLION. I KNOW WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO CATCH UP. OF COURSE WE HAD SCHOOLS THAT HAD THE INDOOR AIR QUALITY ISSUES. AND I THINK PARTICULARLY FOR FAMILIES THAT ARE AT THOSE SCHOOLS, THERE IS EVEN A HEIGHTENED AWARENESS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I WAS WONDERING IF MAYBE SOMEONE, MR. FINNIGAN, OR SOMEONE COULD PARTICULARLY SPEAKING TO THE MT. VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL AND I KNOW THERE WAS QUESTIONS ABOUT THE HVAC SYSTEM AND THE ISSUES THEY HAD IN THE PAST AND WHAT WAS REPAIRED ON THEM. IF YOU CAN JUST SPEAK ABOUT HOW THE SYSTEMS ARE WORKING AT MT. VERNON AND THEN RELATE IT TO THE ISSUE. THERE HAS ALSO BEEN A LOT OF FAMILIES ASKING ABOUT EATING OUTDOORS OR LUNCHTIME AND YOU CAN CLARIFY IS THAT UP TO THE PRINCIPAL TO DETERMINE THAT, OR HOW IS THAT BEING HANDLED AND THEN THE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT IS ANOTHER THING WE ARE HEARING ABOUT. THEY SAY THE SURFACE TRANSMISSION IS UNLIKELY AND DO WE NEED TO KEEP THE KIDS OFF THE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT? THERE HAS BEEN CONSULTING WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT ON THAT. SO MT. VERNON, EATING OUTDOORS AND THE PLAYGROUNDS. >> I WILL START OFF -- BEFORE WE GO INTO MT. VERNON UPDATE I WILL START WITH THE PLAYGROUND AND EATING OUTSIDE. I DO THINK THAT IT IS IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE SAME KIND OF LIKE PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES THAT YOU HAVE AT HOME DON'T APPLY AT SCHOOL. ESPECIALLY WHEN WE ARE PROVIDING FOOD AT SCHOOL AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTS FOR KIDS TO EAT OUTSIDE. CAN THEY WASH THEIR HANDS? CAN THEY HAVE A SPACE TO SIT AND EAT PROPERLY WITHOUT HAVING THEIR FOOD CONTAMINATED WITH DIRT OR GRASS OR TRASH OR FLOOR OR WHATEVER. THERE ARE GUIDELINES WE HAVE TO FOLLOW. WE CAN'T JUST HAVE A PICNIC ANYMORE. THAT'S NOT HOW THE SCHOOLWORKS, LIKE IT USED TO. THERE ARE A LOT OF GUIDELINES. WHEN THERE ARE ISSUES, GUESS WHO GETS SUED. WE CAN'T JUST SAY, HEY, EVERYBODY, WE ARE GOING OUTSIDE TO EAT TODAY. THERE IS A TRANSACTION THAT HAS TO OCCUR. RIGHT NOW WE ARE NOT IN A PLACE WHERE WE HAVE OUTDOOR DINING FACILITIES THAT CAN ACCOMMODATE OUR STUDENTS, PARTICULARLY LIKE A WHOLE CLASSROOM OR A GROUP OF STUDENTS AT A PARTICULAR PERIOD OF TIME. ANOTHER THING WE ARE WORKING THROUGH IS RECESS. THERE ARE NEW GUIDELINES AND WE HAVE A MEETING SCHEDULED FOR NEXT WEEK TO FINALIZE SOME THINGS. TONIGHT WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE SHARING THAT INFORMATION. NEXT WEEK WE WILL BE SHARING INFORMATION IN REGARDS TO OUR RECESS. AND WHAT REFINEMENTS ARE MADE TO THAT. WE WILL BE RELEASING THAT NEXT WEEK. I WILL TURN IT OVER TO MR. FINNIGAN TO TALK ABOUT MT. VERNON. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER THE SCHOOLS WE GOT EMAILS FROM. I THINK IT MAY BE A GOOD IDEA FOR US TO LOOK AT THOSE SCHOOLS. EVEN CHARLES BARRETT AND MT. VERNON AND THEY HAVE TWO SYSTEMS AND TWO REMEDIES. I THINK IT WILL BE HOOF US. [01:40:01] IT WILL HELP THOSE FAMILIES AT THOSE SCHOOLS UNDERSTAND ALL OF THE MEASURES WE HAVE TAKEN AND THE MITIGATIONS. MR. FINNIGAN, YOU MAY WANT TO TALK ABOUT MT. VERNON? >> THANK YOU, DR. HUTCHINGS. I WILL GO THROUGH A HANDFUL OF THINGS AND I WILL BE FAIRLY BRIEF. AS WE GO INTO SUMMER I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THESE AND BE COMPREHENSIVE AND SHOW SOME OF THE THINGS WE HAVE DONE. I WILL TOUCH ON THE HIGHLIGHTS. A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO MT. VERNON DID HAVE VARIOUS INDOOR AIR QUALITY ISSUES THAT WERE REALLY BASED ON A COUPLE OF FACTORS. WE HAD SOME HVAC SYSTEMS THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WE HAD A WINDOW SYSTEM OUTDATED AS WELL. IT WAS A SYSTEM WHERE THE PIPE WAS 40 OR SO YEARS OLD AND IT WAS COMPROMISED AND IT WAS LEAKING AND NOT DOING THE INSULATING JOB IT WAS INTENDED TO. HOWEVER, ONE PROBLEM WAS THERE WAS ASBESTOS ON THERE. WHAT WE HAD TO DO AT MT. VERNON IS TAKE A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO THESE THINGS TO GET THE AIR QUALITY BACK UP. WE WENT THROUGH THE ENTIRE BUILDING AND REPLACED ALL OF THE INSULATION. ONCE WE GOT UP ABOVE THE CEILING WE REALIZED THAT THAT WAS CHOOSING THE INSULATION. AS MENTIONED, WE REPLACED ALL OF THAT INSULATION. WE REMOVED ALL OF THE ASBESTOS. EVERY TIME WE DID THAT WE HAD TO SEAL UP THE ROOM AND GET RID OF THE INSULATION AND COME BACK AND REINSULATE THE MODERN INSULATION MATERIAL. WE WERE TAKING OUT THE WINDOW SYSTEMS. THAT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM AS WELL. THERE IS A GROUP ON EVERY SECTION OF THE BUILDING. THAT PUTS THREE OR FOUR INTO ONE. THERE ARE 24 DIFFERENT ROOF SECTIONS INCLUDING AWNINGS ET CETERA. EVERYTHING HAS A NEW ROOF ON IT. WE ARE GOOD FOR ANOTHER NUMBER OF YEARS, 15 TO 20 YEARS. ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE CONTRIBUTING TO IT. WE HAD SOME LEAKS IN THE AUDITORIUM. WE HAD AN OUTDATED HVAC SYSTEM THAT WASN'T PROPERLY GETTING AIR IN THERE. IT WAS DRAWING IN VERY MOIST AIR THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE PROBLEM. AND WE HAD A MOLD OUTBREAK BECAUSE OF THE HIGH MOISTURE LEVELS. WE REPLACED THE HVAC SUPPLY ROOFTOP UNITS. WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THE VARIOUS THINGS. THEY HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THE DIFFERENT THINGS WITH LEAKING PIPES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THE UNDER SIDE OF THE BUILDING WHERE YOU DRIVE THROUGH TO GET TO THE BACK COURTYARD. WE HAVE BEEN DESIGNING A NEW COURTYARD TO CATCH THE WATER FROM THE DOWN SPOUTS. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE ALL OF THE WATER MANAGEMENT GETS INTO THE CITY SYSTEM AS OPPOSED TO DROPPING IT ON THE GROUND. >> QUICKLY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING THE WORK IN THE OTHER SCHOOLS. I AM GLAD TO SEE WE ARE DOING THE TARGETED FILTERS AND THE HEALTH ANNEX. I WILL SAY AS A PARENT, I DO FEEL SOME ASSURANCE THAT WE HAVE BEEN CONSULTING WITH THE ALEXANDRIA HEALTH DEPARTMENT ON THIS. I KNOW IF I HEARD ONE THING FROM DR. HERRON IS FOCUS ON THE PRIMARY MITIGATION STRATEGIES WHICH IS THE SOCIAL DISTANCING, THE MASKING AND THE WASHING OF HANDS. THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE. >> AND DR. HUTCHINGS IF I MAY ADD, YOU WERE SPOT ON WITH MEETING WITH THOSE PARTICULAR COMMUNITIES. WE HAVE ALREADY DISCUSSED WITH PRINCIPAL VARELL AND SETTING UP A MEETING NEXT WEEK WHERE THE TEAM AND I CAN PRESENT AN UPDATE TO THE MOUNT VERNON COMMUNITY AND WE WILL WORK WITH CHARLES BARRETT ON THE SAME THING. >> THANK YOU, DR. HART AND THANK YOU MR. FINNIGAN. [01:45:01] AND TO OUR COMMUNITY, WE WILL ALWAYS MAKE SURE WE TAKE THE APPROPRIATE MEASURES TO ENSURE THE HEALTH AND SAFETY IS A TOP PRIORITY FOR US. I DO UNDERSTAND THERE HAS BEEN CONCERNS IN THE PAST. ONE THING WE HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND, OUR FACILITIES AND OUR OPERATIONS TEAM IN REGARDS TO THE LEADERSHIP HAS CHANGED. IN REGARDS TO THE SYSTEMS AND THE PROCESSES, IT HAS CHANGED. IT WILL TAKE TIME FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO REBUILD THAT TRUST AND THAT UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WE ARE DOING WITHIN OUR SCHOOL BUILDINGS. IT IS A NEW DAY. WE ARE HAVING OUR PRECAUTIONS BEING TAKEN AND OUR PREVENTATIVE MEASURES IN PLACE AND REGULARLY CHECKING OUR SYSTEMS. THAT IS A PART OF HOW WE OPERATE. WE DON'T HAVE TO BE TOLD TO DO THAT. THAT IS A PART OF OUR SYSTEM. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE SHOWING WE HAVE A HEALTH AND SAFETY ENVIRONMENT NOT ONLY FOR OUR STUDENTS, BUT OUR STAFF IN THERE EVERY DAY. >> THANK YOU, EVERYONE. GOOD CONVERSATION AND GOOD QUESTIONS. I HAVE MS. LORBER. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE THIS DISCUSSION OF THE AIR QUALITY. WE HAVE RECEIVED SO MUCH MAIL AND I TOO WAS PLEASED TO SEE THAT WE ARE ALREADY USING SOME OF THE HEPA FILTERS IN CERTAIN NURSES OFFICES. I HAVE A QUESTION. HOW DO YOU -- WE HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT CLASSROOM BASE CARE QUALITY. AND I WANT TO KNOW HOW DO YOU MEASURE CLASSROOM AIR QUALITY? IT SEEMS TO ME AND I AM GETTING A SENSE THAT WE WOULD BE OPEN TO PUTTING IN ADDITIONAL HEPA FILTERS IN THE CLASSROOM IF WE FELT THERE IS A NEED. I CAN HEAR US TALKING A LOT ABOUT THE SYSTEMS LEVEL, BUT HOW DO WE MONITOR IT AT THE CLASSROOM LEVEL? IS IT POSSIBLE TO REALIZE THAT SOME OF THE ROOMS ARE NOT GETTING THE FULL BENEFIT OF THE BIG SYSTEM AND THEREFORE MIGHT NEED A HEPA FILTER? >> ABSOLUTELY. THERE IS GOING TO BE A TWO-PART ANSWER TO THAT. IN TERMS OF THE FILTRATION, ONE THING WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO STRESS IS WE HAVE UPGRADED THE SYSTEM FILTERS TO MERV-13. IT IS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO HELP WITH A HIGHER ABILITY TO HEDGE VIRAL PARTICLES IN THE AIR. THAT'S ONE THING. A HEPA FILTER IS NOT NECESSARILY A FILTER THAT IS POPULAR, BUT THEY HAVE TAKEN OVER THE SCENE AND WE OPTED FOR THE MERV IN OUR SYSTEM AND THEY HAVE AN ADDITIONAL MEASURE IN THE HIGH RISK AREAS. WE ALSO HAVE A BUILDING AUTOMATION SYSTEM AND I WILL ASK MR. CARLSON TO SPEAK HOW OUR BUILDING AUTOMATION SYSTEM WORKS AND MONITORING OUR HVAC AND OUR INDOOR-OUTDOOR INTAKE AND THAT SORT OF THING. MR. CARLSON? >> THESE SYSTEMS ARE MEASURE -- THEY MEASURE TEMPERATURE, HUMIDITY, STATIC PRESSURE. THERE ARE THINGS THAT SPEED UP AND SLOW DOWN AND DEPENDING ON -- IT IS A FAIRLY COMPLICATED SYSTEMS. THERE IS A LOT OF AIRFLOW THAT GOES INTO THESE THINGS. DEPENDING ON THE OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE, THAT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE ON HOW FAR THE DAMPERS OPEN AND CLOSE. THERE ARE A LOT OF SENSORS AND DATA THAT MAKE THESE SYSTEMS WORK. >> CAN I JUST -- WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND STILL IS -- ONE OF THE LONG EMAILS WE RECEIVED FROM SOMEONE WHO SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN WORKING YEARS IN THIS FIELD INDICATES THAT MANY TIMES THE LARGER SYSTEMS ARE NOT GOING TO BE AS EFFECTIVE AT THE CLASSROOM LEVEL. I AM STILL TRYING TO SORT THAT OUT. I UNDERSTAND YOU ARE TALKING SYSTEMICALLY. I UNDERSTAND THAT. THESE SCHOOLS ARE SO LARGE AND -- OR ARE YOU SAYING THAT IN FACT WHAT THESE SYSTEMS DO IS KEEP MONITORING AIR QUALITY ROOM FOR ROOM? [01:50:02] I THINK THAT'S THE THING I KEEP HEARING FROM THE PUBLIC IS THEY ARE CONCERNED THAT THE CLASSROOMS TO CLASSROOM SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE WE DON'T OPEN WINDOWS. I KNOW THE CDC SAYS IF YOU CAN'T OPEN THE WINDOWS, NO PROBLEM. THERE ARE OTHER THINGS YOU CAN DO. ONE OF THEM IS A LOCALIZED AIR FILTER IN A CLASSROOM VERSUS THE LARGE SYSTEM. SO I GUESS I AM STILL TRYING TO SORT OUT -- NOT HEPA VERSUS MERV, BUT THE NEED FOR A LOCALIZED AIR PURIFIER SYSTEM VERSUS THE LARGE SYSTEMIC SYSTEM. >> JOHN, DO YOU WANT TO RESPOND TO THAT? >> YES, SO, AS I MENTIONED, I WITH I WILL TAKE LYLE'S PROMPT. THERE WERE 27 UNITS ON THAT SCHOOL. YOU TAKE A ROOFTOP UNIT AND IT IS ONLY SERVING THREE OR FOUR ROOMS. IT IS A LITTLE MORE LOCALIZED THAN YOU THINK. IT IS NOT ONE SYSTEM PUMPING AIR THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL. WE'LL TAKE ONE ROOFTOP UNIT AND GET THE DATA FOR THAT AND IT WILL SHOW YOU WHAT THE CUBIC FEET PER MINUTE IS IN THE SPACE AND WE CAN ADJUST HOW MUCH OUTSIDE AIR PERCENTAGE WE ARE BRINGING THROUGH AND WE ARE BRINGING OUTSIDE AIR INTO THE BUILDINGS. THAT'S LIKE OPENING A WINDOW, BUT WE ARE BRINGING IT THROUGH THE DUCTS. AND WE ARE BRINGING IT IN THROUGH A FILTRATION SYSTEM. I WANT THE PUBLIC TO BE AWARE THAT WE ARE BRINGING IN OUTSIDE AIR. WE ARE JUST FILTERING IT WHICH IS DIFFERENT THAN JUST OPENING UP THE WINDOW. THEY WILL CHANGE THE LEVER TO OPEN AND CLOSE IT AND IT IS RUNNING THE SYSTEMS LONGER IN THE DAY. AND IT MEANS THAT THE AIR IN THAT SECTION OF THE BUILDING, THOSE THREE OR FOUR ROOMS. IT IS TURNED OVER. ALL OF THIS IN THE BILLING AUTOMATION SYSTEM TELLS US WHAT IT IS DOING AND WE CAN ADJUST FOR THE HUMIDITY LEVEL. >> IS THAT TYPICAL SCHOOL TO SCHOOL WHERE A ROOFTOP SERVES FOUR CLASSROOMS, BUT TYPICALLY IT IS NOT THAT LARGE OF AN AREA AFFECTED BY THE HVAC SYSTEM? >> CORRECT. AND AS MENTIONED WE HAVE A HANDFUL OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF SYSTEMS. YOU HAVE SOME SYSTEMS THAT HAS A CASSETTE UNIT IN THE CEILING THAT ONLY SERVES THAT ROOM. OUR BIGGER UNITS ARE ONLY A FEW ROOMS. >> AND IF YOU GO ON THE ROOF OF TC WILLIAMS, FOR INSTANCE, THERE IS PROBABLY 40 AIR UNITS IN THERE FOR DIFFERENT SECTIONS OF THE BUILDING. IT IS NOT LIKE ONE AIR HANDLER FOR THE ENTIRE BUILDING. IT IS ALL SECTIONED OFF. THE OTHER THING, THERE ARE CO SENSORS AND IT IS JUST A VERY COMPLICATED SYSTEM. IT WILL SPEED THE FANS UP AND SLOW THE FANS DOWN DEPENDING ON WHERE THE DAMPERS ARE OPEN IN THE BUILDING. IF ONE ROOM IS SATISFIED IT WILL CLOSE THE DAMPERS UP BECAUSE THE TEMPERATURE IS SATISFIED AND THAT WILL SLOW THE FAN SPEED DOWN. IT IS ALL ENGINEERED. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. MS. GREENE. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR ALDERTON. AND THANK YOU, EVERYONE. SO VERY EXCITED ABOUT GETTING THE KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL. JUST HAPPY TO BE IN THIS PLACE. REALLY AM. EACH AND EVERY DAY GET CLOSER AND CLOSER. MY QUESTION IS AROUND HIGH SCHOOL AND THE VIDEO TEAM DID A WONDERFUL JOB ON THE PRESENTATION WE SAW. I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE EXPECT IN THE REAL WORLD AT OUR -- FOR OUR HIGH SCHOOLERS TO DO. HIGH SCHOOLERS LOVE BEING CLOSE TO ONE ANOTHER AND LOVE JOKING AROUND WITH ONE ANOTHER. THEY ARE MOST LIKELY NOT GONNA KEEP THEIR MASK ON AND I SERIOUSLY DOUBT THEY WILL WALK SIX FEET FROM ONE ANOTHER. CAN I JUST GET SOME LOGISTICS ON THE DAY-TO-DAY FOR OUR HIGH SCHOOLERS? I KNOW IT IS NOT GOING TO BE AS CROWDED BECAUSE NOT ALL OF THE STUDENTS ARE COMING BACK, BUT IT STILL WILL BE QUITE A FEW KIDS IN THE SCHOOLS. HOW ARE WE HANDLING IT IN THE HALLS? AND IF SOMEONE DOES CONTRACT COVID WHAT HAPPENS AT THAT POINT? >> WE CAN TURN THINGS OVER TO MR. BALAS TO TALK ABOUT THAT. [01:55:01] I WANT TO START OFF BY SAYING THERE ARE ONLY 30% OF STUDENTS RETURNING BACK AT THE HIGH SCHOOL. AND THAT'S -- AND IT IS TWO DAYS PER WEEK. IT IS NOT ALL 30% AT THE SAME TIME. THE SCHOOL REALLY WILL NOT BE CROWDED. IT IS NOT GOING TO BE ANYTHING LIKE IT LOOKS TODAY. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO ENSURE WE HAVE ROUTINES ESTABLISHED. STUDENTS DO OVER TIME WITH ANYTHING THAT WE DO WE ARE FIGURING OUT HOW TO MAKE THIS WORK. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO KEEP THAT ROUTINE IN PLACE FOR OUR STUDENTS. MANY OF OUR STUDENTS, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THEY DON'T WANT TO BE SPREADERS BECAUSE THEY HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS AT HOME AS WELL. IT IS BEYOND THEM. THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE MORE PARTICULAR. THEY UNDERSTAND THE RAMIFICATIONS THAT COMES OUT OF THIS. AND BEING HOME ALL THE TIME, IT PROVES THAT THEY ARE NOT IN CONTROL. THEY HAVE BEEN SHAKEN, I BELIEVE. MR. BALAS, YOU MAY WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE SYSTEM THAT'S ARE IN PLACE TO GET THESE ROUTINES SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE WHAT MS. GREEN IS REFERENCING. THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. AS DR. HUTCHINGS HAS SAID, THINGS ARE DEFINITELY GOING TO LOOK A WHOLE LOT DIFFERENT AND ESPECIALLY IN TERMS OF NUMBERS I WILL JUST GIVE YOU A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES. AS THE STUDENTS ARE ARRIVING WE HAVE DIFFERENT CENTRAL LOCATIONS FOR THEM TO GO AND WAIT TO GO TO THEIR CLASSROOMS WHERE THEY WILL BE SOCIALLY DISTANCED. WE HAVE PASSING TIMES WHERE THE CLASSES WILL TRANSITION SEVERAL TIMES A DAY. THAT WILL BE DONE BY HALLWAY AND BY ANNOUNCEMENTS WHERE KIDS WILL BE LEAVING ROOMS AND THERE WILL BE STUDENTS LINED UP AND IT WILL TAKE PLACE OVER A 20-MINUTE PERIOD. IT WILL BE A CHANGE FROM OUR VIRTUAL SCHEDULE TO NOW. AND WHERE WE HAVE HAD THINGS LIKE THE CLEANING THAT IS HAPPENING IN BETWEEN THE CLASSES AND THE LUNCH DELIVERED TO CLASSROOMS AND THE PROTOCOLS. WE HAVE GONE OVER THIS AND REVIEWED IT WITH THE STAFF. WE HAD OUR HYBRID LEARNING OPEN HOUSE LAST NIGHT AND WE WILL SEND OUT NEWSLETTERS IN SMALLER CHUNKS AROUND A LOT OF THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE SCHOOL DAY. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE A FOLLOW-UP FOR ANYTHING -- >> WELL, I WANTED TO ASK THE DOCTOR -- FOR DR. CRAWFORD TO TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IF SOMEBODY IS POSITIVE. THAT WAS ANOTHER COMPONENT I THINK IS IMPORTANT THAT MR. GREENE HAS ASKED. >> THAT'S GOOD, MR. BALAS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A BIG QUESTION FOR EVERYONE. WHAT IS THE SITUATION IF WE HAVE A CHILD THAT IS SYMPTOMATIC AT SCHOOL, AND IF WE RECEIVE NOTIFICATION THAT A STUDENT OR A STAFF MEMBER RECEIVED A POSITIVE TEST. WE UPDATED FOR THE COMMUNITY THE HEALTH GUIDELINES THAT WENT OUTLAST WEEK. THAT HAVE BEEN VETTED THROUGH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. WE HAVE A COUPLE OF VISUALS INCLUDING USING THE CDC FLOW CHART FOR ASSESSING SYMPTOMS IN STUDENTS AT SCHOOL. IF WE HAVE A CHILD IN A CLASSROOM THAT EXPRESSED THEY DIDN'T FEEL WELL OR THE TEACHER DIDN'T -- THOUGHT THEY WEREN'T ACTING LIKE THEMSELVESES AND MAY NOT BE FEELING WELL, THEY WOULD GO TO THE HEALTH ANNEX WHICH IS DR. -- AS DR. WILKINS SAYS IS STAFFED BY A MONITOR. A PARENT WOULD BE CONTACTED. IF THIS WAS A CHILD WHO DID NOT HAVE ANY PRE-EXISTING CONDITION THAT'S WOULD EXPLAIN THE SYMPTOMS, THE CHILD WOULD BE SENT HOME AND A PARENT OR GUARDIAN WOULD BE ASKED TO PICK THEM UP. THERE WOULD BE SPECIFIC SCHOOL GUIDANCE WE ARE GIVING TO FAMILIES IF A CHILD IS BEING SENT HOME FROM THE HEALTH ANNEX ROOM. IT SAYS WHAT YOU NEED TO PROVIDE. THIS IS YOUR ANTICIPATED RETURN DATE. IF WE ASSUME IT IS COVID THIS IS YOUR RETURN DATE. THIS IS WHAT WE NEED IF THE FORM OF A TEST OR A DOCTOR'S NOTE OR CLEARANCE BY THE SCHOOL NURSE. IF YOU DON'T GO TO GET TESTED OR IF YOU CAN'T GET TO THE DOCTOR, HERE ARE THE OTHER SAFEGUARDS WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE STUDENTS AREN'T OUT LONGER THAN THEY NEED TOVMENT AND PROVIDING THE TEST INFORMATION TO THE FAMILIES WHEN THEY LEAVE [02:00:06] SCHOOL SO THEY KNOW WHAT IS AVAILABLE AND WHERE THEY CAN GET FREE TESTING. LET'S SAY ONE OF THE STUDENTS IS DISCHARGED FOR A FEVER AND A STOMACH ACHE AND MY TEST WAS POSITIVE. HOPEFULLY OUR FAMILY WILL NOTIFY US DIRECTLY, BUT GIVEN THAT WE ARE WORKING WITH CHILDREN WHO LIVE IN ALEXANDRIA, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT WOULD REACH OUT TO NOTIFY US AND LET US KNOW WE HAD A POSITIVE TEST RESULT. IN THE CLASSROOM WE DECIDED TO DO A TWO-DAY PAUSE, IF YOU WILL. AS SOON AS WE RECEIVE NOTIFICATION WE WILL PAUSE OUR LEARNING AND REVERT TO VIRTUAL. WE WOULD CLOSE THE CLASSROOM FOR TWO DAYS. THE PURPOSE TO BE CLOSED FOR TWO DAYS IS TO GIVE THE 24-HOUR WINDOW OF HAVING NO ONE IN THERE BEFORE WE ASK THE CUSTODIAL STAFF TO CLEAN AND DISINFECT. AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO DETERMINE IF THERE IS ADDITIONAL CONTACT TRACING THAT NEEDS TO TAKE PLACE. IF THERE ARE CLOSE CONTACTS AND IF IT IS BIGGER THAN ONE STAFF MEMBER OR ONE STUDENT DO WE NEED TO CLOSE THE CLASSROOM LONGER IN THOSE TWO DAYS. IF IT IS ISOLATED AND THERE ARE NO CLOSE CONTACTS AND WE ARE CONFIDENT WE GET THE GUIDANCE FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT WE WILL RE-OPEN. THE TWO DAYS ALLOWS US TO MAKE THE ASSESSMENT WORK WITH THE PRINCIPALS. EVERYONE IS AWARE THAT WE NEED THE SEATING CHARTS AND THE BUS NUMBERS AND PARENT CONTACT INFORMATION AT THE READY FOR ALL OF OUR CLASSROOMS SO WE CAN CONTACT TRACE IMMEDIATELY. WE HAD STRONG HESITATION HONESTLY ABOUT HAVING AN IMMEDIATE 14-DAY CLOSURE. KNOWING THAT THAT COULD RESULT IN STUDENTS BEING OUT LONGER THAN NECESSARY. IF THE CONTACT TRACING TOOK PLACE AND THERE WERE NOT CLOSE CONTACTS, THEN WE WERE -- PARTICULARLY AT THE SECONDARY LEVEL WHERE THERE ARE MULTIPLE CLASSES IMPACT -- IMPACTED, THERE WOULD BE STUDENTS OUT LONGER THAN NECESSARY. WITH THE GUIDANCE FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT WE DECIDED, AND OF COURSE THE SUPERINTENDENT ON A TWO-DAY SWITCH BACK TO VIRTUAL LEARNING AND ASSESS THE SITUATION AND HOPEFULLY BE BACK ON THE THIRD DAY. IF NOT CLOSE FOR A LITTLE LONGER. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. I'M GONNA GO TO MR. SUAREZ. >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS. ONE IS -- AND I KNOW A LOT OF THE STUDENTS ARE SELF-CONTAINED, AND I KNOW MAYBE WITH SOME OF THE ELL STUDENTS WHO HAVE RETURNED, I AM CURIOUS IF WE HAVE STARTED TO DO ANY -- [INAUDIBLE]. CONCURRENT TEACHING AND JUST WANTED TO GET A REPORT ON HOW THAT'S GOING AND HOW THE LOGISTICS ARE WORKING AND JUST THINKING AND PROJECTING ON US BEING PRO ACTIVE ON EQUITY AS FAR AS AND BEING AT HOME AND SOME BEING THE IN CLASSROOM. I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR HOW THAT IS GOING AND HOW WE ARE FEELING ABOUT THAT AND WHAT WE ARE DOING WHEN WE GET TO THE 4,000 STUDENTS IN A COUPLE WEEKS IN TERMS OF TECHNOLOGY AND HOW ARE WE MAKING SURE THAT EVERYONE IS GETTING ACCESS TO THE FULL EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE TO THE FULLEST EXTENT POSITIVE. >> DO WE HAVE OUR ELEMENTARY PRINCIPALS ON HERE TODAY? I SEE SECONDARY. MR. PASCAL. >> YES. >> MR. PASCAL, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND PROVIDE SOME INSIGHT TO THE CONCURRENT TEACHING. >> ABSOLUTELY. HAPPY TO DO SO. WE HAD A VERY SUCCESSFUL FIRST COUPLE OF DAYS OVERALL. I WOULD SAY COLLABORATION WAS THE BIG WINNER THIS WEEK. AT EVERY JUNCTURE THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR BUILDING TEAMS TO REACH OUT TO THE CENTRAL OFFICE TO SAY THANK YOU. EVERYBODY'S HARD WORK PAID OFF IN A BIG WAY. ESPECIALLY WITH THE TECHNOLOGY. I THINK DR. HUTCHINGS WAS IN A ROOM WHERE THE TEACHER WAS ABLE TO PICK UP THE CAMERA AND SHOW THE OTHER KIDS IN THE ROOM WOULD WAS IN THE ROOM INCLUDING DR. HUTCHINGS HAS A SPECIAL GUEST. TEACHERS HAVE BEEN PRETTY QUICKLY BEEN ABLE TO TRANSFORM THE PAGES AND PAGES AND PAGES OF WHAT WE ASK THEM TO KNOW AND THE ROUTINES AND THE PROCEDURES WE ASK THEM TO DO INTO -- AND I WOULD LIKE TO USE THE WORD MR. SUAREZ HOW ARE TEACHERS FEELING? IT WAS VISCERAL AFTER THE FIRST COUPLE DAYS. AT THE END OF THE DAY THE RELAXING OF THE SHOULDERS AND THE BIG DEEP BREATH THAT IT IS WORKING. WE ARE GETTING POSITIVE FEEDBACK FROM THE STUDENTS AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL. [02:05:05] A LITTLE GIRL GOT OFF THE BUS THIS MORNING AND I GUARANTEE YOU SHE IS NOT THAT EXCITED ON HER BIRTHDAY. SHE SAID I AM SO EXCITED. SHE SAW HER TEACHER AND SCREAMED OUT MS. ANDERSON! FROM A DISTANCE AND IT WENT ON FROM THERE. OF COURSE WORKING ON THINGS THAT WE WILL MAKE BETTER AND WE WILL MAKE EVERY DAY BETTER AND WE EACH HAVE OUR AGENDA AND OUR MARCHING ORDERS. I CAN SAY CERTAINLY FROM THE ELEMENTARY PRINCIPALS WE MET WITH DR. HUTCHINGS AND THEN AGAIN WITH OUR OWN LITTLE TEAM AND EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US SHARED THE EXHILARATION OF BEING BACK IN THE BUILDING AND IT IS A GREAT POSITIVE STEP. >> THANK YOU, MR. PASCAL. AND I THINK HAVING SOME OF OUR STAFF IN THE BUILDINGS NOW WITHOUT THE STUDENTS IS ALSO HELPFUL TOO. THEY ARE NOW IN THEIR CLASSROOMS AND TEACHING FROM THEIR CLASSROOMS TO VIRTUALLY. AND THAT SAME STRUCTURE AND THAT SAME TEACHING APPROACH WILL HAPPEN WHEN SOME OF THE STUDENTS AREN'T IN PLACE TOO. GIVING THEM THE PRACTICE OF WEARING A MASK AND BEING AT THEIR DESK HAS BEEN EXTREMELY HELPFUL. >> THANK YOU, EVERYONE. DR. RIEF, DO YOU HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION? >> YES, I DO. THANK YOU. THANKS FOR THAT QUESTION, MR. SUAREZ. I THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT. AND I DO FEEL LIKE THIS TRANSITION IS SUCH A BIG ADJUST MEANT FOR EVERYONE. I AM JUST GLAD WE ARE IF THIS PLACE AND WALKING THROUGH IT TOGETHER. MY QUESTION IS KIND OF RELATED TO THE CONCURRENT TEACHING. IT IS ABOUT THE MONITORS AND I APPRECIATE DR. WILKINS YOU GAVE US THE UPDATE ON HOW MANY WERE HIRED AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THEY ARE WORKING ON A WEEK TO WEEK CONTRACT AND WE ARE HOPING SOME OF THE TEACHERS COULD COME BACK. I WAS CURIOUS TO HEAR -- BASICALLY IF YOU HAVE ENOUGH MONITORS OR STILL TRYING TO HIRE MONITORS AND HOW THAT IS GOING. ARE WE ABLE TO FIND THE PERSONNEL WE NEED? I AM CURIOUS HOW MANY STUDENTS, IF YOU KNOW, HAVE OPTED TO STAY VIRTUAL BECAUSE OF A MONITOR IN THE CLASSROOM. AND THE LAST THING WITH THAT I WOULD LOVE AN UPDATE ON SPECIALIZED INSTRUCTION. I KNOW WE HEARD FROM A COUPLE OF FAMILIES WHO HAD A CHILD THAT WAS RECEIVING SPECIALIZED INSTRUCTION AND NEEDED A LOT OF SUPPORT TO DO THAT AT HOME. WHEN THE OPTION WAS TO COME BACK AND THE TEACHER WASN'T ABLE TO BE THERE AND IT WAS GOING TO BE SPECIALIZED INSTRUCTION VIRTUALLY WITH THE MONITOR I THINK SOME PARENTS WERE UNHAPPY ABOUT THAT. WONDERING IF WE CAN GET AN UPDATE ON HOW THE SPECIALIZED INSTRUCTION HAS BEEN GOING IN THIS FORMAT AS WELL. I KNOW MS. WARNER IS ON THE CALL. THEY CAN PROVIDE SOME SCHOOL PERSPECTIVE. >> GOOD EVENING, DR. RIEF. ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO SPECIFICALLY DISTINGUISH FOR THE BOARD AND FOR THOSE THAT ARE LISTENING IS THAT THE MONITORS BEING HIRED BY DR. WILKINS IS DIFFERENT THAN THE MONITORS HIRED BY THE OFFICE OF SPECIALIZED INSTRUCTION. IN THOSE CLASSROOMS WHERE WE DO NOT HAVE A FULL COMPLEMENT OF STAFF RETURNING WE HAVE ONE ACPS STAFF MEMBER EITHER A PARENT PROFESSIONAL OR A TEACHER IN THE CLASSROOMS. WE HAVE HIRED CERTAIN HIGHLY-QUALIFIED STAFF TO COME IN AND SUPPORT THOSE CLASSROOMS. WHEN YOU SAW THE SLIDE FROM DR. WILKINS WHERE IT SAYS WE HAVE 14RBT'S OR LPN-CNA'S THAT CAN HELP WITH THE ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING THAT NEED SPECIAL PROCEDURES OR MEDICAL NEEDS OR TOILETING AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. WE HAVE A HIGHLY TRAINED GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE TRAINED FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. WE HAVE RETURNED STUDENTS IN THE CITY WIDE CLASSROOMS AND WE HAVE THE SELF-CONTAINED READING AND MATH. WHAT I WANT TO REITERATE THE CLASSROOM TEACHER WHETHER THEY ARE LOCATED IN THE CLASSROOM OR THEY ARE COMING IN FROM VIRTUAL IS THE INSTRUCTOR RESPONSIBLE FOR [02:10:01] THE STUDENTS. THEY ARE DIRECTING THE STAFF AND THEY ARE ENSURING THAT THE STRUCTURE BEING PROVIDED TO STUDENTS IS WHAT WE WANT IT TO BE. I WILL SAY IN SOME SCHOOLS AND IN MANY OF OUR SCHOOLS THE CONCURRENT TEACHING MODEL EMPLOYED IS THAT THE TEACHER, REGARDLESS OF WHERE HE OR SHE IS SITTING IS STILL DOING IT VIRTUALLY. IF THE STUDENTS ARE IN THE CLASSROOM AND THE TEACHER IS WORKING THROUGH THE ZOOM OR WHATEVER PLATFORM THEY ARE USING AND WORKING WITH THE STUDENTS IN FRONT OF THEM AND THE STUDENTS AT HOME. WHEN THAT SITUATION OCCURS WE HAVE THE SPECIAL EDUCATION STAFF MEMBERS COMING IN AND SUPPORTING THE STUDENTS AS WELL. WE DO HAVE SOME STUDENTS WHO HAVE AN ADDITIONAL AIDE OR MONITOR, AN RBT TECH. I DON'T LIKE TO USE THE WORD MONITOR, BUT AN AIDE IN THE CLASSROOM TO HELP SUPPORT THE ACCESS TO THE INSTRUCTION. BECAUSE OF THE COVID RESTRICTIONS AND BECAUSE OF THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WE ARE KEEPING THE COHORTS CLOSE. WE ARE NOT HAVING PEOPLE COMING IN AND OUT OF THE CLASSROOMS. SOME STUDENTS ARE STILL RECEIVING THEIR INSTRUCTION AND THEIR SPECIAL ED TEACHER MAY BE COMING TO THEM VIRTUALLY. IN THE CITY WIDE CLASSROOMS, THE TEACHERS ARE FACE-TO-FACE WITH THE STUDENTS. AND THEY ARE BRINGING IN THE STUDENTS AT HOME VIRTUALLY. THE CITY WIDE TEACHERS ARE ENGAGING WITH THE STUDENTS AND DOING ACTIVITIES IN THE STATION ROTATION MODEL. THAT IS A DIFFERENT KIND OF AN ACADEMIC CONSTRUCT. WHEN WE COME TO THE SECONDARY PROGRAM THOSE STUDENTS CHANGE CLASSROOMS AND THEY ARE ASSIGNED TO STUDENTS THE ENTIRE BLOCK. THOSE STUDENTS WILL RECEIVE INSTRUCTION FROM THE DIRECT SPECIALED TEACHER. IF THE SPECIAL ED TEACHER IS NOT IN THE CLASSROOM THERE WILL BE SOMEBODY WHO SUPERVISES WHERE THEY ARE FOR THE CLASS PERIOD AND THEY WILL THEN GO ABOUT HAD REST OF THE ACADEMIC DAY. WE HAD AN INCREDIBLE THREE DAYS. I WANT TO TELL THAT YOU WE GOT KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL AND SHORT OF ONE MINOR INCIDENT ON THE BUS WHERE A CHILD TOOK OFF THEIR CLOTHES, ONE OF OUR PRESCHOOLERS, THAT WE HAVE HAD A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL OPENING. IT HAS BEEN VIRTUALLY FLAWLESS. THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT'S GONE INTO IT. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE DR. STONE ON MY TEAM FOR ALL OF THE WORK SHE HAS DONE TO GET THE SPECIALIZED STAFF ON BOARD. >> AND MS. PASCAL, WE WON'T HAVE COMMENTS BECAUSE WE -- WE HAVE ONE MORE ITEM THAT IS GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME, SO TO GET TO THE TIME, I THINK MR. WERNER COULD COVER IT. >> MR. SUAREZ? >> I DO HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION AND YOU CAN'T PROVIDE AN EVENS TODAY, I UNDERSTAND. DR. HUTCHINGS, IF YOU CAN GIVE A PREVIEW OF WHAT YOU WILL PROVIDE IN TERMS OF THE UPDATED COMMUNITY REOPENING MATRIX AND WHETHER THAT WILL COUNT FOR THE HYBRID AND FULL RETURN MODEL AND CURIOUS IN LIGHT OF THE LEGISLATION PASSED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THAT MAY FORCE SCHOOLS TO RETURN TO FIVE-DAY IN PERSON. I KNOW NORTHAM HASN'T SIGNED IT YET. I DON'T EVEN KNOW IN IT IS CONSTITUTIONAL WITH THE STATE CONSTITUTION. I AM CONCERNED THAT THERE MAY BE PRESSURE TO MOVE TO FIVE-DAY INSTRUCTION. AND THE LAW DOES NOT EVEN ALLOW FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH METRICS TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE SETTING OF DECIDING WHETHER OR NOT TO REOPEN. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS IS AS FAR AS THE MATRIX REPLYING NOW AND WHAT YOU ARE DISCUSSING IN TERMS OF THE LAW IF GOVERNOR NORTHAM DECIDES TO SIGN IT. >> WE WILL SHARE AN UPDATE OF THE REVISED MATRIX WITH THE BOARD. THE VDA JUST RELEASED THEIR NEW STUFF. WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE ORGANIZATION WITH. AS FAR AS THE GOVERNOR AND THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, I MEAN, I REALLY CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT I THINK RIGHT NOW. WHAT I PERSONALLY THINK. WHAT IS PREVENTING US FROM BEING ABLE TO HAVE FIVE DAYS A WEEK AND HAVE EVERYBODY BACK INTO OUR SCHOOLS ARE THE CDC GUIDELINES THAT WE HAVE TO FOLLOW. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WE DON'T WANT KIDS BACK IN OUR BUILDINGS. [02:15:06] PEOPLE FORGET WE ARE IN A PANDEMIC AND WE HAVE CDC GUIDELINES THAT PEOPLE WANT US TO FOLLOW AND WE GET EMAILS, BUT THEN DON'T FOLLOW IT WHEN IT DEALS WITH THE KIDS. JUST SEND THEM BACK TO SCHOOL. GOVERNOR NORTHAM, I HOPE YOU ARE LISTENING. IF WE HAVE CDC GUIDELINES I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT WILL COME TO FRUITION. IF THE CDC GUIDELINES ARE IN PLACE AND WE ARE BRINGING THE KIDS BACK TO SCHOOL WE NEED FUNDING TO HELP US PAY FOR THE BUILDING CAPACITY AND THE STAFFING THAT WILL COME ALONG WITH THAT. RIGHT NOW WE ARE NOT ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE 48% OF THE STUDENTS COMING BACK TO THE BUILDINGS WITH THE STAFF. THAT'S WHY WE HAVE CLASSROOM MONITORS IN THE FACILITIES. AS WE CONTINUE TO INCREASE THAT WILL REQUIRE ADDITIONAL STAFF. WHEN WE HAVE MORE STUDENTS IN THE BUILDING, IT WILL REQUIRE MORE BUILDING SPACE WHICH COSTS MONEY. IT GOES BACK TO THE INFAMOUS CONVERSATION WE HAD IN AUGUST WHEN I SAID WE MAY HAVE TO HAVE KIDS IN OTHER BUILDINGS AND EVERYBODY GOT IN AN UPROAR. WHAT DO YOU MEAN? MY KID CAN'T GO BACK TO THEIR SCHOOL? WELL GUESS WHAT, IF EVERYBODY GOES BACK TO SCHOOL THAT'S A CONVERSATION WE HAVE TO HAVE. EVERYBODY WILL NOT FIT IN THE BUILDING IF WE HAVE CDC GUIDELINES. UNFORTUNATELY OUR STATE RIGHT NOW IS NOT THINKING ABOUT ALL SCHOOL DIVISIONS. THEY ARE GOING TO THE WHOLE ONE SIZE FITS ALL, AND THAT DOES NOT WORK. ESPECIALLY WHEN WE HAVE CAPACITY ISSUES BEFORE THE PANDEMIC. THERE ARE MANY SCHOOL DIVISIONS WHO ARE ALREADY OVERCROWDED. NOW YOU ADD THE ADDITIONAL LAYER AND IT MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE. I WANT OUR KIDS BACK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, DON'T GET ME WRONG. BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE FOLLOWING THE HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS AND NOT BEING PRESSURED BY THE POLITICS THAT IS COMING OUT OF THIS. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT OUR KIDS ARE WORTH MORE THAN THE POLITICS AND WORTH MORE THAN ANOTHER ELECTION. I DON'T THINK THE GOVERNOR IS GOING FOR ANOTHER RE-ELECTION AND SO DO WHAT IS RIGHT. >> I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS ON THE UNFUNDED MANDATE PART OF IT BECAUSE IT CERTAINLY IS AND THAT'S NOT BEING DISCUSSED. THE FACT THAT THERE IS DISCUSSION ABOUT MOVING THE DATE BACK FROM JULY 1 WHICH IS THE CURRENT DATE. PUSH ARE PUSHING THAT AND IT IS NOT FAIR IF THERE IS NO FUNDING THAT COMES WITH THAT. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE PLANNING FOR THE POSSIBILITY IF THE LAW IS OPERATIVE AND OF COURSE THERE IS A QUESTION FOR THE FALL AND PLANNING FOR THAT. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ON TOP OF THAT AS WELL. >> THAT'S OUR SPRINT 5. WE ARE WORKING ON SUMMER THIS MONTH AND THEN IN APRIL AND MAY WE ARE WORKING ON FALL. WE DO HAVE ALL OF THESE IN THE WORKS, BUT WE ARE TRYING TO TAKE IT ONE STEP AT A TIME. HOPEFULLY WE WON'T HAVE THE CDC GUIDELINES AND WON'T WORRY ABOUT ALL OF THIS IN THE FALL AND IT WILL BE EASY. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP, MR. SUAREZ. I THINK THAT'S A WHOLE 45-MINUTE DISCUSSION IN ITSELF. I THINK THAT HIT ALL OF US A LITTLE BIT BY SURPRISE OR MAYBE A WHOLE LOT BY SURPRISE. SINCE WE HAVE TO MOVE ON I WILL LEAVE IT THERE. AS ALWAYS IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS FOR THE STAFF, DEFINITELY SEND THEM TO [15. Equity for All Formative KPI Reporting and Implementation Timelines--30 mins] DR. HUTCHINGS. NEXT UP ON THE AGENDA IS OUR FAVORITE PERSON WHO WE LIKE TO CELEBRATE. WE WILL HEAR FROM CLINT PAGE AND I WILL TURN IT OVER TO DR. HUTCHINGS TO INTRODUCE DR. PAGE. >> THAT'S RIGHT. SOON TO BE DR. PAGE. HE HAS TO DEFEND THAT DISSERTATION FIRST. PEOPLE WITH DOCTORA -- DOCTORATES YOU CAN'T GET YOU CALLED IT UNTIL YOU DEFEND IT. I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT I CALLED CLINT A COUPLE WEEKS AGO READING THIS DOCUMENT AND GOING THROUGH THE INFORMATION. I SAID, CLINT, I'M ABOUT TO DIE. HE SAID WHAT? WHAT HAPPENED? I SAID I AM READING THE KPI REPORTING AND IT IS SO ALIGNED WITH WHAT WE SAID IN THE STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS. OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE WERE ADAMANT ABOUT APPROPRIATE KPI'S AND BEING ABLE TO MONITOR OUR STUDENTS AND MAKING SURE THERE ARE THINGS WE HAVE CONTROL OVER. TO GET OUT OF THE WHOLE S.O.L.THING. [02:20:01] LOOK WHERE THE STATE IS RIGHT NOW AND THE S.O.L.ARE HORRIBLE. THIS IS WHAT I HOPE YOU WILL GET OUT OF EVERYTHING WE TALK ABOUT. HATS OFF TO OUR ACCOUNTABILITY TEAM. WE ARE ABOUT TO REALLY SHOW HOW YOU CAN MAKE EQUITY MATTER AND HOW YOU CAN USE IT TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS AS A SCHOOL DIVISION AND HOW EVEN THE LAYPERSON CAN MONITOR HOW WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS AND MONITOR OUR PROSPERITIES. I WON'T TAKE ANYMORE THUNDER FOR THE TEAM AND I WILL TURN IT OVER TO MR. PAGE SO YOU CAN INTRODUCE YOUR TEAM AND ALSO GO INTO THE PRESENTATION TODAY. >> THANKS SO MUCH, MR. HUTCHINGS. GOOD EVENING MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND THE VIEWING PUBLIC. WE ARE ABSOLUTELY THRILLED TO BE HERE WITH YOU ALL THIS EVENING. AS DR. HUTCHINGS ELUDED TO, IT IS VERY MUCH A TEAM EFFORT. I AM JOINED BY DR. EVIE FROM THE ACCOUNTABILITY TEAM AND DUE TO UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES, I AM GOING TO BE STANDING IN FOR DR. JENNIFER WOODSON FOR HER PART OF THE PRESENTATION. IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT DR. JENNIFER, SHE IS A PERFECTIONIST. I WILL DO MY BEST, BUT IN FULL TRANSPARENCY, I HAVEN'T BEEN THIS NERVOUS FOR A BOARD PRESENTATION IN YEARS. I KNOW JENNIFER IS WATCHING BECAUSE SHE IS SO COMMITTED TO THIS WORK. WE ARE THRILLED. AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE TEAM, ANGIE GREEN AND TINA CONSTANTINE HAVE DONE AMAZING WORK IN MOVING THIS FORWARD. AS DR. HUTCHINGS SAID NOT JUST REPLICATING, BUT REALLY INNOVATING AND THINKING OUTSIDE OF THE BOX IN TERMS OF WHAT IS GOING TO FIT THE NEEDS OF ALEXANDRIA CITY AND OUR UNIQUE COMMUNITY. SOME ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS AND WHAT WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT TONIGHT AND SO FIRST HOW ARE WE GOING TO GO ABOUT MONITORING PROGRESS AND THE PLAN IN THE MONITORING. YOU WILL HAVE YOUR FIRST EXPERIENCE AND LOOKING AT OUR NEWLY-CREATED EQUITY DASHBOARD AND WHERE WE ARE SEEING DECISION PROPORTIONALITY IN THE KPI'S. AND KEEPING AN EYE ON MOVING FORWARD WHAT ARE WE SEEING OF OUR OVERALL TIMELINE OF ALL OF THE STRATEGIES WITHIN THE STRATEGIC PLAN AND GO OVER THE FIVE-YEAR LIFE OF THE PLAN AND WHAT ARE THE IMMEDIATE NEXT STEPS WE WILL TAKE TO CONTINUE TO MOVE THE PLAN FORWARD. WITH THAT SAID I WANT TO BRING US BACK TO THIS SLIDE. IT IS NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART. HAVING THE STRATEGIC PLAN BE THE UMBRELLA FOR ALL OF THE WORK WE DO AS AN ORGANIZATION. CERTAINLY INFORMING THE BUDGET PRIORITY CONVERSATION WHICH THEN CASCADES INTO THE SCHOOL YEAR FOCUS AREA AND IT DIRECTLY INFORMS THE CREATION OF THE DEPARTMENT AND THE SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLANS. AND IT IS HOW THAT CAN INFORM THE WORK UNDER THE STRATEGIC PLAN. JUST A QUICK LOOK AT WHERE WE ARE AND WHERE WE HAVE BEEN AND WHERE WE ARE GOING, THIS FALL THE BOARD RECEIVED A PLAN OF HOW WE WILL GO ABOUT MONITORING THE STRATEGIC PLAN. IT IS THE Q1 QUARTERLY CHATS. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A MAP ORANGE LINKING SPACE WHERE WE ARE DOING THE MID-YEAR FORMATIVE KPI'S AND THEN IN MID-MAY THEY WILL HAVE A BRIEF ON THE SCHOOL AND DEPARTMENT IMPROVEMENT PLANS AND THEN WE WILL WRAP UP THE YEAR IN JUNE DOING AN END OF YEAR KPI UPDATE THROUGH THE EQUITY DASHBOARD. SO JUST TO RESEND TO THE BOARD THIS IS A SLIDE WE SHARED BACK IN THE OCTOBER PRESENTATION. IT IS AROUND THE MAP OF THE PROPOSED MEASUREMENT PLAN. THE COMMITTEE WAS STRATEGIC OF NAY ROWING IT DOWN FROM THE 135 SOME ODD KPI'S WE HAD IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN TO SHOW THE STUDENT OUTCOMES THAT DEFINE SUCCESS. AS A PART OF THE NARROWING YOU HAVE THE BOX AROUND THE KPI'S. AND YOU WILL SEE SOME INDICATORS BENEATH THE BOX THAT ARE VERY CRITICAL AND ABSOLUTELY MONITORING. [02:25:01] DROP OUT DATA AND IT IS NOT QUITE TO THE TIER OF KPI AND THE COMMITTEE PLAN. WE WILL FOCUS ON THE KPI'S AND KNOWING THAT THE INDICATORS ARE MONITORED AND WE GO THROUGH AN ANNUAL REVISION PROCESS AND WE WILL SHOW SOME ADJUSTMENTS. WE ARE AT A PLACE WHERE WE CAN BREATHE LIFE IN AND SHARE WHAT THE DIVISION IS AT THE END OF QUARTER 2. AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE ARE REPORTING ON OUR KPI'S. MAKING A PURPOSEFUL MOVEMENT UP STREAM SO WE CAN HAVE REAL DECISIONS ON ASSESSING CHANGE. WITH EQUITY AND RACIAL EQUITY IN THE HEART OF THE PLAN AND WE NEED TO MONITOR EACH TO THE STUDENT GROUPS OF INTEREST. AS DR. HUTCHINGS ELUDED TO WITH THE PARTNERSHIP WITH HANOVER IT ALLOWED US TO LOOK AT STUDENT GROUPS AND USING A REPRESENTATION INDEX. WHAT IS A REPRESENTATION INDEX? ON THIS SLIDE WE SEE A SLIDE ON WHAT A REPRESENTATION INDEX LOOKS LIKE. WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT HERE IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT WILL BE ON THE EQUITY DASHBOARD AND WHAT WE CAN SEE IS THAT IN THIS SCALE THAT IS COMMON ACROSS ALL OF THE KPI'S. 1.0 EQUALS EQUITABLE REPRESENTATION. AS AN EXAMPLE IF EXCITE STUDENTS ARE 28% OF THE OVERALL STUDENT BODY AND WE ARE LOOKING AT THE TAG DEMOGRAPHICS THEN WE SEE 28% OF WHITE STUDENTS REPRESENTING THE TAG STUDENT BODY. AND THEN WE ARE SEEING THE SAME 28%, EQUAL. THAT IS REPRESENTED AS NO COLOR. WHERE WE SEE LESS COLOR, WE ARE SEEING MORE EQUAL REPRESENTATION. WHERE WE SEE THE SATURATED COLORS IN THE INDEX IS MORE INEQUITY. WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE HUES OF ORANGE OR GREEN IS THEY ARE UNDER OR OVERREPRESENTED BODIES IN THE INDEX. AS AN EXAMPLE STICKING TO THE TAG EXAMPLE. THE BOTTOM ROW WHERE THERE IS MORE COLORS IS THE TAG INDICATOR AND IT IS 2.2. THAT'S BECAUSE WHITE STUDENTS ARE 60% OF THE TAG IDENTIFIED STUDENTS. THERE ARE OVER -- THEY ARE TWO TIMES MORE REPRESENTATIVE IN TAG THAN THE STUDENT BODY. AND THAT'S WHERE YOU GET THE 2.2 AS AN EXAMPLE. LET'S DIVE IN. FIRST WE WILL LOOK AT THE ACADEMIC OUTCOMES. THAT INCLUDES THINGS LIKE OUR KPALS READINESS BENCHMARK AND OUR WINTER MAP RESULTS AND 9TH GRADERS ON TRACK FOR FIRST SEMESTER GRADES. AS WE DIVE INTO THE RESULTS WE NOTICE THAT AS WE READ THESE RESULTS VERTICALLY WE SEE PATTERNS OF INEQUITY. THEY ARE MORE ORANGISH ZONES FOR HISPANIC AND EL STUDENTS ARE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS. THE ORANGES GOING UP AND DOWN, THAT'S WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT THERE. SOME OF THE OTHER GROUPS REPRESENTED WE CAN SEE INCONSISTENT PATTERNS. WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR BLACK AFRICAN-AMERICAN GROUP THE GREATER PROPORTION OF BLACK STUDENTS ENTERED KINDERGARTEN READY THIS YEAR RELATIVE TO ALL STUDENTS IN THE DIVISION. HOWEVER, IF WE GO DOWN THE KPI'S WE CAN SEE DISPROPORTIONATELY FEWER MEETING THE KPI. THESE ARE NOT COHORT ANALYSIS AND WE ARE NOT TRACKING STUDENTS OVER TIME. IT IS NOT THE SAME KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS NOT ON TRACK TO GRADUATE IN 9TH GRADE. WE SEE FEWER CURRENT EL STUDENTS AND A GREATER FORMER EL'S. SO FOCUSING IN ON THE CURRENT COMPARED TO FORMER. AND STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES WE SAW DISPROPORTIONATELY MET THE PROPORTIONAL CHAIR AND IS ON TRACK TO GRADUATE. WITH THAT WE WILL TRANSITION TO OUR KPI'S ON ATTENDANCE AND PROGRAM ACCESS. THIS IS THINGS LIKE CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM WHICH FOR PURPOSE OF THIS DASHBOARD IS [02:30:07] 90% ATTENDANCE. WE LOOKED AT WHO WAS BEING REFERRED AND WE LOOKED AT TAG IDENTIFICATION. SO WE LOOKED AT COURSE WORKS WHICH IS HONORS, AP AND DUAL ENROLLED COURSE. OF ALL OF THE KPI'S INCLUDING THOSE ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, WE CAN SEE ATTENDANCE OUTCOMES DISPLAYED THE FEWEST INEQUITIES. GENERALLY RANGING BETWEEN THE PLUS OR MINUS . 1 OFF OF THE 1.0 MIDDLE GROUND. PROGRAM ACCESS DATA SHOWS THE LARGEST INEQUITY. SO THE LAST TWO ROWS YOU CAN SEE THE DEEPER HUES OF ORANGE AND GREEN REPRESENTING UNDER AND OVERREPRESENTATION BOTH IN THE TAG AS WELL AS THE SECONDARY HONORS ENROLLMENT. WITH THAT WE CAN PUT THESE TOGETHER AND ON THE NEXT SLIDE WE WILL SEE THAT THIS IS WHAT THE OVERALL DASHBOARD WILL LOOK LIKE. GIVING FOLKS A HOLISTIC SNAP SHOT. ACROSS ALL OF THE KPI'S AND ALL OF THE GROUPS WHERE ARE WE SEEING THE USE OF CLOUGH ARE AND WE ARE WE SEEING THE DISPROPORTION NALT AND WHERE DO WE NEED TO GO NEXT IN TERMS OF HAVING CONVERSATIONS ON UNEARTHING THE ROOT CAUSES. THESE KPI'S ARE INTENDED AS DIP STICK-TYPE ENGINE CHECKS. OUR STAFF AND STAKEHOLDERS CAN ENGAGE IN THE ANALYSIS AND IT IS CORRECTING COURSE IN THE FUTURE YEAR. WHILE EQUITY IS OUR FOCUS, OUR STRATEGIC PLAN EM PHO SIGHSES EXCELLENCE. WE DON'T WANT TO GO DOWN TO THE LOWEST COMMON DENOMINATORS. WE LOOK FOR EXCELLENCE AND IT COMES FROM WHAT YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN. IT LEADS US TO THE NEXT DISPLAY OF OUR KPI OUTCOMES. WHICH YOU CAN SEE HERE. THIS GRAPHIC LOOKS SIMILAR TO WHAT WE JUST HAD ON. INSTEAD OF THE 1.0 NUMBERS WE ARE SEEING PERCENTS. THE IMPORTANT THING IS SHOWING NOT JUST THE DISPROPORTION NALT, BUT WHAT ARE THE OUTCOMES WE ARE TALKING ABOUT. AS AN EXAMPLE THERE WAS -- GENERALLY YOU ARE NOT SEEING DEEP HUES THERE. ON THIS SLIDE YOU CAN SEE AS A DISTRICT WE HAD 67% OF STUDENTS MEETING THE ON TRACK METRIC AFTER THE END OF THE FIRST SEMESTER. THAT THEN LENDS TO THE CONVERSATION IS 67% WHERE WE ASPIRE TO BE AS AN ORGANIZATION. IT IS ACROSS ALL ROUTES IN THIS PARTICULAR INDICATOR. THAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE DASHBOARD IN THIS VEIN AS WELL. SO WITH THAT TOMORROW WE HOPE TO LAUNCH THE DASHBOARD ON THE ACPS WEBSITE WHICH WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT. THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WILL HAVE ACCESS TO EXACTLY WHAT WE SHARED HERE TONIGHT. THEY ALSO WILL HAVE ACCESS TO ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. WHAT YOU CAN SEE HERE IN KIND OF THE TOGGLE ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE, WHEN WE HAVE FUTURE YEARS YOU CAN CHANGE OVER THE YEARS AND LOOK AT MID-YEAR VERSUS END OF YEAR AND THEN THEY WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT SPECIFIC GRADE LEVEL BANDS. IF I AM INTERESTED AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL I CAN TOGGLE ELEMENTARY. IF I AM AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL I CAN DO THAT AS WELL. OUR SCHOOL AND DIVISION LEADERS WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THESE RESULTS INTERNATIONALLY BY SCHOOL SO THEY CAN BEGIN TO MAKE SENSE OF THE IMPACTS THEIR SCHOOL RESULTS ARE HAVING AND CAN USE THAT INFORMATION TO ADJUST THEIR SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLANS AS WELL AS THEIR DEPARTMENT IMPROVEMENT PLANS TO MEET THE NEEDS IN THEIR SPECIFIC TIME. WITH THAT I WILL TURN IT OVER TO DR. EVIE WHO WILL TALK A LITTLE ABOUT IMPLEMENTATION AND TIMELINES. >> THANK YOU, CLINT. I AM AMBER EBY AND I CANNOT SPEAK ON THIS WITHOUT ACKNOWLEDGING TINA [02:35:03] CONSTANTINE WOULD WORKS WITH ME ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN. IT BEEN EXCITING TO MAP IT OUT FOR OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. OF OUR FIVE OBJECTIVES FOR IMPLEMENTING THE PLAN I AM SHARING THE MOST ABOUT THE LAST ONE, ACCOUNTABILITY AND LEADERSHIP EMPOWERMENT. THAT IS WHO IS LEADING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GOALS AND STRATEGIES. HERE IS A QUICK REFRESHER OF THE STRUCTURE OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN. WITHIN THE PLAN THERE ARE FIVE GOALS. WITHIN EACH GOAL THERE ARE MULTIPLE STRATEGIES FOR ACHIEVING THE GOAL. AND WITHIN EACH -- STRATEGY THERE ARE HIGHLIGHTED STRATEGIES. YOU CAN SEE IN THE YELLOW ARROWS THAT EACH GOAL HAS ACHIEVED SERVING AS GOAL LEADER. FOR EACH STRATEGY UP TO THREE LEADERS FROM THE MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS ARE IDENTIFIED TO LEAD THE WORK IN THAT STRATEGY. THAT ENSURES WE ARE WORKING KAW LAB BRA TIFFLY. GOAL LEADERS AND STRATEGY MANAGERS WORK TOGETHER TO DEVELOP TIMELINES FOR EACH STRATEGY USING THE THREE STAGES AS A GUIDE. PLAN AND PREPARE AND INITIATE AND REFINE. WE ARE JUST DOING THE STRATEGIES AND THE CHECKING OFF THE BOXES. WE WANT TO START SMALL AND LEVERAGE LEARNING ALONG THE WAY TO EVENTUALLY BRING THE STRATEGIES TO THE FULL SCALE AND SUSTAIN IT ACROSS THE SYSTEM. AND EVEN THEN WE ARE NOT FINISHED. WE MUST CONTINUOUSLY MONITOR WHETHER THE STRATEGIES ARE WORKING BECAUSE OUR CONTEXT WILL CONTINUE TO CHANGE AND WHETHER THAT IS DIFFERENCES AND HOW THE STRATEGY WORKS FROM SCHOOL TO SCHOOL OR OVER TIME, MAYBE A STRATEGY THAT WORKS NOW WON'T BE EFFECTIVE AS THE YEARS GO ON. THAT'S WHY WE EMPHASIZE STARTING SMALL AND LEARNING AS WE GO AND SCALING UP AND THAT'S WHAT WE TRIED TO CAPTURE IN THESE THREE STAGES. WE CAN TAKE TO YOU WHERE THE PROCESS IS. YOU CAN SEE IT GOING FROM LIGHT BLUE TO DARK BLUE AS THE STRATEGIES MOVE FROM THE PLANNING PHASE TO INITIATE A REFINED PHASE AND VIOLATES THE SCALE. YOU WILL ALSO SEE WHY ON SOME OF THESE STRATEGIES WHICH INDICATES STRATEGY THAT'S WE HAVEN'T EVEN STARTED PLANNING. AND THERE IS THE FOLLOWING YEAR OF THE PLAN. WE EMPHASIZE AND INSTEAD WE TAKE A STRATEGIC AND ALIGNED APPROACH ACROSS THE FIVE YEARS, AND BY BEING PURPOSEFUL IN THESE PHASES AND LOOKING AT THE STRATEGY LEADERSHIP WE ARE PROVIDING THESE ACROSS THE SCHOOLS OF THE DIVISION. AND WE HAVE ALWAYS EMPHASIZED THAT THE STRATEGIC PLAN SHOULD BE A LIVING AND BREATHING AND EVOLVING DOCUMENT. EVERY YEAR WE WILL FACILITATE A REVISION PROCESS. WE ARE GETTING STARTED WITH THE FIRST ONE RIGHT NOW. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE AS WE STARTED TO GET INTO THE FINER DETAILS OF HOW TO IMPLEMENT THE STRATEGIES, OUR STRATEGY MANAGERS AND THE GOAL LEADERS STARTED TO SEE WHERE THINGS MIGHT TAKE PLACE. OUR ANNUAL REVISION PROCESS SUPPORTS THE IDEA THAT WE SHOULD NOT STICK TO STRATEGIES THAT ARE NO LONGER WORKING OR RELEVANT TO THE CONTEST. THERE IS NO BETTER EXAMPLE THAT MOST OF THE PLAN WAS DEVELOPED PRE-COVID. WHILE THE GOALS AND THE MISSION AND VALUES ARE THE SAME, SOME OF THE PRIMARY DETAILS MIGHT NEED RETHINKING. BUT HOW SHOULD WE GO ABOUT MAKING MODIFICATIONS TO THE PLAN. JUST AS MULTIPLE STAKEHOLDERS HAVE SHOWN ON THE LEFT PART OF THE DIAGRAM WERE PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PLAN, THE SAME IS ALSO TRUE FOR REVISIONS. WE ARE CREATING A DIVERSE COMMITTEE KNOWN AS SPARC, THE STRATEGIC PLAN ANNUAL REVIEW COMMITTEE THAT WILL WORK WITH WORLD LEADERS AND STRATEGY MANAGERS TO PLAN THESE REVISIONS. HERE ARE OUR IMMEDIATE NEXT STEPS. IN MARCH AND APRIL WE WILL BE GOING THROUGH THE FIRST ANNUAL REVISION PROCESS WITH THE GOAL OF SUBMITTING STRATEGIC PLANS IN MAY. WE WILL HAVE THE CLIMATE SURVEY FOR STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES IN MAY. YOU CAN EXPECT THE FIRST END OF YEAR KPI DASHBOARD IN JUNE. [02:40:04] TO WRAP UP, WE ARE HONORED TO BE PART OF THE WORK AND WE HOPE IT COMES ACROSS IF OUR PRESENTATION. WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND WE CAN TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT PRESENTATION. I MEAN, I AM JUST GOING TO SAY WOW TO START. LET'S SEE IF I HAVE ANY HANDS FROM ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES. SO I WILL START WITH MS. THORNTON. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR ALDERTON. WOW. CONGRATULATES TO EVERYBODY INVOLVED IN THIS. THIS SCHOOL BOARD, WE ARE HAVING MORE OF A FOCUS ON DATA-DRIVEN DECISION MAKING AND DATA-DRIVEN STUDENT OUTCOMES AS WE HAVE COME TOGETHER AS A BOARD. I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A WONDERFUL NEW LEAF WE ARE TURNING BY HAVING A CLEAR AND TRANSPARENT DASHBOARD THAT WE WILL BE PRESENTING TO THE COMMUNITY TO REALLY SEE HOW WE ARE DOING ON OUR GOALS. I LOVE THE FOCUS ON ACCOUNTABILITY PUT INTO THIS PRESENTATION. PARTICULARLY IN THE LAST FEW SLIDES WE SAW. IF POSSIBLE CAN WE PULL UP SLIDE 18? A QUICK QUESTION ON THE ANNUAL REVISION PROCESS. PERFECT. THANK YOU. I LOVE THE FACT THAT WE WILL START CONVENING THE STRATEGIC PLAN ANNUAL REVIEW COMMITTEE. I THINK THE INTENTION WAS FOR THE STRATEGIC PLAN TO ALWAYS BE A LIVING DOCUMENT ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF ANY CHANGES THAT MIGHT COME UP SUCH AS COVID WHICH HAS ALTERED THE STATE OF EDUCATION RIGHT NOW. I DID WANT CLARITY ON WHAT EXACTLY THE ASPECTS OF THE PLAN COULD BE ALTERED UNDER THESE POSSIBLE REVISIONS. IF I AM LOOKING AT THE SLIDE IT LOOKS LIKE THE PER VIEW OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN COMMITTEE IS THE KPI'S AND THE GOALS AND MEASURES AND THE STRATEGIES. IF WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE DASHBOARD I IMAGINE WE WILL MAINTAIN THE KPI'S THAT WE SET UP AND SO WE ARE NOT CONSTANTLY MOVING THE GOALPOSTS AND HAVE SUCH A WIDE VARIETY OF KPI THAT IT COULD BEACON FUSING. SO WHAT COULD BE THE PER VIEW OF THINGS THAT COULD BE CHANGED. >> ABSOLUTELY. IT IS AN EXCELLENT QUESTION AND AN EXCELLENT POINT. WE WANT TO SET OFF GO GUARDRAILS IN TERMS OF ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES AND WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF POTENTIAL CHANGES. OUR OVERALL MESSAGING TO THE SPARK IS THAT WE WANT TO MAKE CHANGES THAT ARE ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY AND ULTIMATELY WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE HAVING CONSISTENCY YEAR TO YEAR WITHIN THE LIFE OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN TO YOUR POINT. SO CERTAINLY THINKING ABOUT KPI'S AND MAKING SURE THAT THERE REPORT ANY TWEAKS THERE. THERE ARE CHANGES AND DO WE NEED TO ADD A KPI? DO WE NEED TO TAKE ONE OFF? WE HAVE BEEN ADDING A WHOLE NEW GOAL TO THE STRATEGIC PLAN. IT IS A MEASUREMENT WITHIN A GOAL. THOSE ARE THE LEVEL OF CONVERSATION. WE HAVE IT WITH THE SPARC AND INTERNAL STAFF. >> SOME OF THE EXAMPLES YOU MAY WANT TO SHARE IS LIKE RIGHT NOW THE STATE WE ARE IN RIGHT NOW WITH THE ABSENTEEISM AND THE GRADE DISTRIBUTION AND I THINK ABSENTEEISM IS A PRIME EXAMPLE BECAUSE WE ARE IN COVID AND VIRTUAL. IF BE COMPARED THIS YEAR'S ABSENTEEISM TO LAST YEAR'S ABSENTEEISM AND THEN TO NEXT YEAR, THE MEASUREMENTS WOULD BE SO OFF BECAUSE OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WE MIGHT HAVE TO MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO THE TARGET OR TO THE DATA. IT IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT MAY HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE. YOU ARE NOT NECESSARILY LOSING OR REVISING THE GOAL PER SAY. BUT THERE HAS TO BE SOME ADJUSTMENTS FOR THE STATE WE ARE IN IN THAT PARTICULAR YEAR. AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE MAY HOLD AT THIS POINT. [02:45:05] >> THANK YOU. MS. GENTRY. >> THANK YOU. SO, I GUESS FOR REFERENCE MAYBE SLIDE 12? YES. CAN'T WAIT TO JUST SPEND AN -- I MEAN, LIKE SPEND AN EVENING AT HOME JUST LIKE POURING THROUGH THIS. IT IS GOING TO BE SO MUCH FUN. YES, IF YOU ARE THE KIND OF PERSON THAT LIKES TO DO THIS, YOU SHOULD -- YES, THANK YOU. WOO! I DID HAVE ONE SORT OF -- MY QUESTIONS ARE TO THE REALLY GOING TO BE ABOUT THE DATA TONIGHT. THAT'S OBVIOUSLY GOING TO BE FOR LATER, BUT I DID HAVE ONE QUESTION ABOUT THIS IN TERMS OF US MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN ALL SEE IT AND READ IT. IT IS SOMETHING THAT I JUST IN OTHER AND IT IS RELATED TO COLOR-BLINDNESS AND PEOPLE'S ABILITY TO READ GRAPHIC INFORMATION AND CERTAIN COLOR COMBINATIONS. FORTUNATELY THERE ARE SOME GREAT TOOLS THAT YOU WANT TO USE AND IT CAN GIVE YOU GOOD PALLETS TO CHOOSE FROM. YOU MIGHT BE AHEAD OF ME ON THIS AND IT IS SOMETHING I HAVE BECOME AWARE OF MORE RECENTLY. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF WE MIGHT NEED TO MAKE AN ADJUSTMENT ON THAT TO ENSURE AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE CAN VIEW THIS. THANK YOU FOR THAT. LOOKING FORWARD TO -- AGAIN, LOOKING FORWARD TO LOOKING AT THIS MORE AND THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE WHOLE TEAM. >> THAT'S SOMETHING WE WILL TAKE TO HANOVER IN TERMS OF WHAT WE CAN DO. >> THANK YOU. MS. NOLAN? >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHAIR ALDERTON. I HAVE TO SAY THIS IS ONE OF MY MOST FAVORITE PARTS OF BEING A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER. THIS IS OUTSTANDING WORK. I COULD NOT BE MORE EXCITED FOR THE DIVISION AND WHAT THIS WILL DO FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. AS ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, I HAVE ALWAYS TRIED TO BE A PART OF THE CLINT PAGE FAN CLUB. HOPEFULLY I CAN BE A MEMBER AFTER YOU ARE TOO BIG FOR YOUR BRITCHES AFTER THIS PRESENTATION. AND BY THE WAY, JENNIFER SHOULD KNOW YOU DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB AND YOU DID RIGHT BY HER. I ALWAYS APPRECIATED HER LEADERSHIP AS WELL AND ALL OF THE HARD WORK. MS. EBY, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND OUTSTANDING TEAM EFFORT. MY TWO QUESTIONS, IF YOU DON'T MIND, NUMBER ONE, I JUST THINK THIS IS A PHENOMENAL FRAMEWORK. HOW ARE WE AS A DIVISION GOING TO GET PROFESSIONALLY DEVELOPED AND SO THAT IT COMES TO LIFE AND IT IS REALLY UTILIZED AND WE ARE COURSE CORRECTING WITH THE DATA AND PRINCIPALS ARE EMBRACING IT AND THEY ARE INTUITIVE. HOW WILL THEY MAKE IT COME TO LIFE THROUGH THE DIVISION? AND I WILL SAY -- THIS IS A BIAS QUESTION AND IT IS SOMETHING I LOVE TO SEE HAPPEN. I LOVE HOW IT IS THE CLIMATE SURVEY FROM THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY AND WITHIN THE SCHOOLS. I THINK IT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE COLLECTING FEEDBACK ALL THE TIME. IT IS NOT JUST LOOKING AT DATA, BUT WHAT IS THE CLIMATE AND THE CULTURE OF RETAINING TOP TALENT. SORRY TO SQUEEZE IN TWO QUESTIONS, BUT NUMBER ONE, TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW IS THIS WORK GOING TO COME INTO LIFE AND BREATHED IN SO WE ARE UTILIZING IT TO THE BETH OF ITS ABILITY. AND IF YOU DON'T MIND SHARING WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR THE CLIENT SURVEYS FOR THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY AS A STAKEHOLDER AND INTERNATIONALLY WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT. >> SURE. YOU CAN ALWAYS MAKE ME BLUSH. YOU ARE TURNING ME RED. >> I AM SUCH A FAN. >> THE FIRST QUESTION AROUND -- REALLY THE QUESTION BOILS DOWN TO HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD OUR ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE AS IT RELATES TO THE DATA USE AND THE LEARNING. I THINK IT DOES REPRESENT A LEAP FORWARD FOR US IN TERMS OF KIND OF SOME OF THOSE JUST IN TIME DATA ELEMENTS AND THE DATA ELEMENTS THAT ARE EASILY ACCESSIBLE AND DIGESTIBLE AND KNOWING THAT IT IS NOT JUST ENOUGH TO HOIST OUT SOMETHING YOU HAVE [02:50:04] TO SUPPORT. I THINK WE WILL ROLL THROUGH THE EXISTING STRUCTURES SUCH AS THE QUARTERLY CHATS WE HAVE WITH SCHOOLS AS WELL AS SOME POTENTIAL INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP PROFESSIONAL LEARNINGS WITH THE SCHOOL LEADERS TO BEGIN WITH. AND THEN ONCE THEY GET USED TO THIS DASHBOARD THIS DOES BEGIN TO ALLOW FOR OTHER DASHBOARD-LIKE EFFORTS TO TAKE ROOT. THIS IS VERY MUCH A STARTING POINT, BUT NOT AN END POINT. THINKING ABOUT HOW WE CONTINUE TO EXPAND OUR UTILIZATION OF DASHBOARD AND OTHER TECHNIQUES TO GET LEADERS AND STAFF DIGESTIBLE DATA THAT ARE TIMELY AND MEETING THEM AND THEIR NEEDS OF LEARNING AND ADAPTING AS THEY GO THROUGH THEIR IMPROVEMENT EFFORTS. >> MR. PAGE I WANTED TO ADD TO THE FIRST QUESTION. I WANTED TO ADD SOMETHING TO THAT. I DO THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THE FACT THAT THERE IS COLLABORATION HAPPENING WITH ACCOUNTABILITY IN OUR PROFESSIONAL LEARNING DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS WITH OUR NEW DIRECTOR -- OUR NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT. I WAS LIKE, WHAT DEPARTMENT IS THAT? IT IS DR. SIMMS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT. WE ARE AT A PLACE NOW THAT WE CAN USE -- YOU KNOW, A DATA WAREHOUSE OR A DATA BASE THAT CAN DRIVE OUR DECISION MAKING. WE SPENT THE TIME TO DEVELOP THE SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLANNING STRUCTURES THREE YEARS AGO. OUR STAFF, THEY ARE NOW GOING TO BE -- THEY ARE ASKING FOR THIS NOW. IF WE WOULD HAVE GIVEN IT TO THEM THREE YEARS -- OH MY GOD, I CAN'T DO THIS. WHAT ARE YOU ASKING ME TO DO? WE ARE UTILIZING THE TIME OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS AND BUILDING CAPACITY ABOUT SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT. JUST TO REMIND THE BOARD MEMBERS WHO WERE NOT HERE INITIALLY WHEN I ARRIVED IN JANUARY -- I MEAN JULY OF 2018. ONLY SCHOOLS NEEDING IMPROVEMENT HAD AN ACADEMIC IMPROVEMENT PLAN. THEN WE SHIFTED THAT ALL SCHOOLS HAD AN IMPROVEMENT PLAN AND ALL SCHOOLS HAD A SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLANNING TEAM. WE HAD TO BUILD CAPACITY WITH THEM OVER THE PAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS. I THINK THIS IS GOING TO COMPLEMENT THEIR WORK. THEY ARE SAYING WHERE CAN I GO TO SEE THE AGGREGATION OF THE DATA? WHERE CAN I GO TO SEE THE DISPARITIES THAT WE ALREADY KNOW ARE WITHIN OUR DATA. WHERE CAN I GO AND SEE THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP ISSUE THAT'S WE KNOW ARE IN OUR DATA? THIS IS LIKE TAKING US TO THE NEXT LEVEL. IT IS PERFECT TIMING AND I AM GLAD IT WORKED OUT THIS WAY WITH THE STRATEGIC PLAN PROCESS. OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE ADVOCATED FOR ALL OF THE COMPONENTS THAT ARE IN THIS NOW PROGRESS MONITORING TOOL. THEY SAID WE NEEDED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE REAL LIFE DATA. THAT WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE ACCESSIBLE -- DR. RIEF WAS TALKING ABOUT -- SHE IS LIKE, I WAS ON THERE, BUT COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT. I DON'T KNOW HOW IT WORKS. I CAN'T FIND THE INFORMATION. DR. REIF I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. HOW CAN WE MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE? IN IS WHAT THE TEAM HAS BEEN ABLE -- I WANTED TO MAKE THE KEY CONNECTION TO THE SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLANNING PROCESS AND THE CAPACITY THAT'S BEEN BUILT AND HOW WE ARE GOING TO UTILIZE WHAT THEY SHARED WITH YOU ALL THIS IS HOW THE SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLANNING TEAMS WILL FUNCTION. WE HAVE GIVEN THEM A GUIDING PRINCIPAL OF HOW WE FUNCTION AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT THE DATA. >> AND NOT TO BE A SPOILER, BUT A PRE-CURSOR TO THE DATA YOU ALL WILL BE VIEWING IN YOUR BUDGET PRIORITY WORK SESSION IN AUGUST, RIGHT? WE WILL BE ALIGNED DIRECTLY -- I MEAN IT GOES BACK TO THE SLIDE AROUND ALIGNMENT AND REALLY MAKING SURE WE HAVE THE SYSTEMIC ALIGNMENT THROUGHOUT THE LEVELS OF ORGANIZATION. SO WE ARE ALL TAKING THE SAME LANGUAGE AND PULLING FROM THE SAME DIRECTION. THE SECOND QUESTION MEMBER NOLAN ASKED WAS THE SURVEY CLIMATE. WE ARE THRILLED TO IMPLEMENT A CLIMATE SURVEY ANNUALLY IN THE NEW STRATEGIC PLAN. I KNOW IN THE PAST WE HAD A FEW SURVEYS. ONE WAS FOR INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF AND THAT WAS EVERY TWO YEARS AND THEN WE HAD [02:55:08] ANOTHER SURVEY FOR THE STRATEGIC PLAN EVERY YEAR. NOW WE ARE PULLING IT INTO ALIGNMENT AND WE WILL HAVE ONE SURVEY THAT WILL GO OUT TO ALL OF THE STAKEHOLDER GROUPS AND THAT INCLUDES STAFF -- NOT JUST INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF. IT IS GOING TO ALL STAFF. IT IS LOOKING AT OUR CRITICAL AREAS OF CLIMATE. TO DIRECTLY INFORM OUR STRATEGIC PLAN. AND CERTAINLY WE WILL BE TAKING THE STOCK CLIMATE MEASURES AND THE VARIABLES FROM THE LITERATURE AND THE RESEARCH. WE KNOW IT HAS TO BE AN ACPS SPECIFIC SURVEY. AND IT IS DIRECTLY ALIGNED TO THE CORE VALUES. WE HAVE A CORE VALUE OF WELCOMING. HOW MUCH ARE THE STAKEHOLDERS FEELING THAT? IF WE HAVE A CORE VALUE OF EQUITY FOCUS, HOW MUCH ARE FOLKS FEELING THAT? MAKING SURE WE ARE LOOKING AT THE RESEARCH AND HOW WE ARE THINKING OF CLIMATE. BUT THE ACPS SPECIFIC ONES AND WE ARE FOLDING IN THE RESULTS AND THE DISCOURSE LIKE WIDE INTO A SIMILAR VEIN OF THE KPI DISCUSSION IN TERMS OF HOW WE ARE LEVERAGING LEARNING AND HOW THEY ARE FOLDED INTO THE IMPROVEMENT PLANNING PROCESSES AROUND SCHOOLS AND DEPARTMENTS AND BUDGET PRIORITIES, ET CETERA. SO IT WILL BE FOLDED IN THE DISCUSSION. >> I LOVE. IT YOU TOTALLY MADE MY DAY. THIS IS AMAZING. IT IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU. DR. RIEF. >> THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. THAT WAS A GREAT QUESTION. YOU KNOW HOW TO GET THE REAL BUY IN AND THE UTILIZATION OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL AND THE TEACHING -- THE TEACHERS AND EVERYTHING. MY QUESTION IS ALONG THOSE LINES. WHERE WILL THE DASHBOARD LIVE? I ASSUME ON THE ACCOUNTABILITY DASHBOARD? I DON'T KNOW. AND HOW WILL IT BE SHARED WITH THE COMMUNITY. I THINK THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO HEAR THIS. I THINK THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO HEAR THIS, BUT I ALSO FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, BEYOND THIS FACILITY -- I MEAN, THIS IS WHO WE NEED TO BE TALKING WITH IN THE COMMUNITY AND THEN WE CAN ALL COLLECTIVELY GET ON THE SAME PAGE OF THE GOALS. WE WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE PROGRESS. SO THE QUESTION OF HOW IT WILL LIVE AND WHERE IT WILL BE SHARED AND MAYBE EVEN THINKING ABOUT DOING SOME KIND OF COMMUNITY WORKSHOP TO BRING THE COMMUNITY IN WITH THIS INFORMATION. THAT WAS MY FIRST QUESTION. I HAVE ONE OTHER QUESTION. MAYBE YOU WANT TO TOUCH ON THAT FIRST. >> SURE. SORRY. I BLANKED ON THE FIRST PART OF THE QUESTION. >> WHERE WILL IT LIVE? >> OH YEAH. SO THAT WILL BE ON THE -- SO ON THE WEBSITE WE HAVE AN ACPS 2025 LANDING PAGE FOR THE STRATEGIC PLAN. IT WILL BE WITHIN THAT PAGE. YOU WILL CLICK A LINK AND THEN IT HAS A PAGE WITH THE DASHBOARD. AS MUCH AS I WOULD LIKE TO THINK EVERYONE TRAVELS TO THE ACCOUNTABILITY PAGE ON A DAILY BASIS, MAYBE NOT. THAT'S WHERE THAT WILL BE HOUSED. AND IT IS A GREAT POINT IN TERMS OF HOW DO WE STRATEGICALLY HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COMMUNITY AND THERE ARE SOME COLLABORATIONS AND JULIE HAS BEEN A FANTASTIC PARTNER IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN OF IMPLEMENTATION. WE HAVE A WHOLE PLAN WITH GOALS IN THE CURRENT YEAR AND OUT YEAR. SO THAT ABSOLUTELY IS A PART OF THAT. IT IS SOMETHING YOU WILL BE SEEING MORE OF AS WE GO FORWARD IN THE COMING MONTHS AND YEARS. I DO THINK IT WILL BE A LITTLE BIT OF BABY STEPS TO BEGIN WITH. WE DO NEED PEOPLE TO BE GROUNDED IN, LIKE WHAT THE STRATEGIC PLAN IS BEFORE WE HIT THEM OVER THE HEAD WITH DASHBOARDS AND NUMBERS. I THINK WE WILL STRATEGICALLY PUSH THE CORE VISION AND THE GOALS AND THE OVERALL KIND OF WHERE WE PLAN TO LAND AND CONTINUING THAT PUSH FIRST WITH THE BROADER COMMUNITY. AND THEN QUICKLY FOLLOW THAT -- AND EVEN EMBED WITHIN THAT THE CRITICAL WHY AROUND THE DATA. THE DATA DO SPEAK TO THE WHY. I THINK WE CAN DO A LITTLE BIT OF AN AND THERE. [03:00:03] >> GO AHEAD, DR. HUTCHINGS. >> I JUST WANTED TO ADD TO WHAT MR. PAGE IS SAYING AND MAKE A CONNECTION. WHEN WE ARE ESTABLISHING FOR THE YEAR, LIKE OUR AREA OF FOCUS FOR THE YEAR, IT DRIVES UP OUR BUDGET PRIORITIES AND IT HELPS US WITH THE SUPERINTENDENTS' EVALUATION AND LEAD TO THE SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLANNING AND STAFF EVALUATIONS. NOW THAT WE HAVE THIS DATABASE, IT IS GOING TO DRIVE -- THAT'S WHERE THE DATA IS GOING TO COME FROM TO GET US TO WHERE OUR AREAS OF FOCUS NEED TO BE FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR. NOW THAT THIS IS A NEW TOOL AND IT IS INTRODUCED. OUR GOAL WAS TO ESTABLISH THIS AND NEXT YEAR WHEN WE ARE MEETING IN AUGUST WE WILL BE PULLING OUR DATA FROM THIS. AND OUR DATA DISCUSSION IN AUGUST WITH THE BOARD WHEN WE ARE TRYING TO IDENTIFY WHERE OUR AREAS OF FOCUS ARE, THAT DATA WILL COME FROM THIS. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WHEN WE ARE SHARING THIS WITH THE COMMUNITY WE ARE GIVING THE FULL ALIGNMENT OF THIS IS WHERE WE STORE THE DATA. THIS IS HOW WE ANALYZE THE DATA AND THIS IS HOW WE BRING BACK THE DATA. WE DID NOT HAVE A MEASURE OF WHAT MATTERS THIS YEAR. WE WERE SO CONSUMED AND SAYING ARE WE GOING BACK TO SCHOOL AND ARE WE DOING VIRTUAL? WE WERE LAUNCHING VIRTUAL PLUS. WE WANTED TO GET THE MATRIX AND THE KPI IN PLACE. THIS WILL DRIVE IT. WE SAY MEASURE WHAT MATTERS. IT IS NOT JUST THESE PARTICULAR DATA POINTS. WE WILL INCLUDE OTHER THINGS IN THE MEASURABLE DOCUMENT. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WILL BE PART OF OUR ROUTINE AND NOT JUST HAPPENING PERIODICALLY. IT WILL BE WE ARE SHIFTING TO HAVE SPECIFIC TIMES WHEN OUR COMMUNITY RECEIVES THE DATA. >> THANK YOU. I JUST HAVE ONE OTHER QUESTION. ONE SUGGESTION IS ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE ACPS WEBSITE IN THE TOP RIGHT CORNER THERE IS LIKE A LITTLE THING THAT SAYS "EQUITY FOR ALL" AND I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT IF THAT COULD JUST LINK TO THAT PAGE SO IT WOULD BE SUPER EASY TO FIND. THAT'S JUST ONE SUGGESTION. CAN SOMEBODY PULL UP SLIDE FIVE, PLEASE? MS. NOLAN TOUCHED ON THIS, BUT ABOUT THE SURVEYS. THANK YOU. SLIDE FIVE. IT'S THE ONE WITH -- YEAH, THERE YOU GO. BACK ONE MORE -- I MEAN THE OTHER WAY. SORRY. YEAH. ONE THING I WAS WONDERING ABOUT THE SURVEY, AND APOLOGIES IF I MISSED IT. I CAN SEE THERE ARE THREE COLORS OF SURVEYS HERE. IS IT ONE SURVEY? IS IT MULTIPLE SURVEYS? THAT'S SOMETHING I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO UNDERSTAND. AND THE TIMELINE FOR THAT. IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING THAT IS MAYBE INTERNATIONALLY DEVELOPED OR ARE YOU WORKING WITH A CONSULTANT ON THAT? CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THAT? >> SO THE COLORS ARE REPRESENTING THE DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDER GROUPS FOR WHO WE WILL BE SERVING. IT IS INTENDED TO BE ONE UMBRELLA CLIMATE. SOME ITEMS MAY LOOK DIFFERENT GIVEN THE AUDIENCE. WE MAY ASK STAFF A QUESTION DIFFERENTLY AND THEY WILL HAVE ALIGNED A MEASURE IN BUCKETS OR VARIABLES ACROSS THE SURVEYS SO WE CAN MAKE THE MEANINGFUL COMPARISONS. I WOULD SAY THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE CLIMATE SURVEY IS NOT OUR ONLY DIVISION LEVEL SURVEY. SO FOR EXAMPLE, EQUITY AUDIT AT WORK AND OTHER SURVEY EFFORTS DO CONTINUE TO FOLD INTO THIS AS WELL. THIS IS INTENDED FROM A CLIMATE SURVEY PERSPECTIVE THAT IS ONE EFFORT GOING OUT TO THREE DISCRETE STAKEHOLDER GROUPS. AND WAS THERE A SECOND PART TO THE QUESTION? >> DO YOU ENVISION IT AS AN ANNUAL SURVEY? WOULD YOU WORK WITH A CONSULTANT, OR IS THIS SOMETHING INTERNAL? >> YEAH. SO WE ARE PARTNERING WITH HANOVER RESEARCH ON THE DESIGN, ADMINISTRATION AND [03:05:04] ANALYSIS OF THE CLIMATE SURVEY. THAT'S WHO WILL BE WORKING WITH AS AN EXTERNAL PARTNER. THERE IS AN EQUITY DASHBOARD THAT YOU WILL BE VIEWING AND THEY HAVE A LOT OF EXPERTISE AROUND IN PARTICULAR CLIMATE SURVEYS. WE ARE THRILLED TO BE ABLE TO PULL FROM THEM. AND THEN AGAIN LIKE I TALKED ABOUT MAKING IT FIT THE SPECIFIC ALEXANDRIA CONTEXT. RIGHT NOW WE ARE THINKING OF IT AS AN ANNUAL SURVEY. WE WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH IT AND IN FUTURE YEARS WE WILL MAKE SURE WE ARE MEETING ALL OF THE NEEDS. >> I WANT TO SAY PART OF MY EVALUATION THIS YEAR IS MAKING SURE WE ARE DEVELOPING A SURVEY. THAT'S WHAT DROVE OUR WORK WITH HANOVER. INITIALLY IT WAS GOING TO START LAST YEAR AND THEN THE PANDEMIC HAPPENED. AND THEN WE PURPOSELY MOVED IT TO THIS YEAR. PART OF THE DIRECTIVE WE GOT FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT'S EVALUATION COMMITTEE IS THAT WE NEEDED TO HAVE ONE CLIMATE SURVEY THAT MAY COVER MULTIPLE AREAS, BUT NOT HAVING MULTIPLE SURVEYS. PEOPLE CAN GET SURVEYED OUT, AND YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GET GOOD MATERIALS. AND WE ALSO HAVE THE GUIDANCE IN REGARDS TO HAVING CONSISTENCY AND HAVING AN ANNUAL SURVEY. THEN WE ARE ABLE TO GAUGE WHAT THINGS LOOK LIKE OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. WHEREAS WE WERE DOING OUR CLIMATE SURVEY EVERY YEAR AND SOMETIMES THE TOOLS ARE CHANGING. IT WAS LIKE COMPARING APPLES TO ORANGES. IN TWO YEARS IT HAS GONE BY. THE DATA IS NOT AS HELPFUL AS WE INTENDED FOR IT TO BE. I WANTED TO MAKE A CONNECTION THAT A PART OF THIS CLIMATE SURVEY AND HAVING LIKE ONE DOCUMENT OR ONE SURVEY THAT MAY HAVE MULTIPLE COMPONENTS, THAT WAS THE GUIDANCE THAT CAME OUT OF OUR STRATEGIC -- SORRY, OUR SUPERINTENDENT'S EVALUATION COMMITTEE. AND IT IS PART OF MY EVALUATION FOR THIS YEAR TO DEVELOP THAT. >> MR. SUAREZ? >> I HAD JUST A REALLY SMALL QUESTION ABOUT THE DASHBOARD COLORS, BUT HAVE I SOME CHILDREN IN THE BACKGROUND MAKING NOISE, SO I WILL WITHDRAW THE QUESTION FOR NOW. >> OKAY. FEEL FREE TO SEND THE QUESTION ALONG. LOOKS LIKE THAT IS THE END OF THAT REALLY GOOD INFORMATION. I'M VERY EXCITED, AND I THINK MY COMMENT WOULD BE -- I MEAN THERE IS A LOT OF EXCITING THINGS HERE, BUT WHAT IS MOST EXCITING IS THE ALIGNMENT THAT I THINK I KNOW I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN CRAVING AND REALLY WANTING TO SEE. I THINK IT IS OKAY TO HAVE DIFFERENCES ACROSS THE BOARD. BUT I THINK IT IS HUGELY BENEFICIAL TO SEE THAT THERE ARE JUST SOME THINGS WE ARE SAYING THAT WE ARE DOING TOGETHER AS AN ORGANIZATION. IT WAS TELLING TO ME IN THE MEETING -- IT WAS ACTUALLY THE DIVISION TRANSITION MEETING THIS WEEK AND THE EXCITEMENT THAT CAME FROM THE ADMINISTRATORS AROUND THE OPENING OF SCHOOL AND THE EXCITEMENT WAS AROUND THE FACT THAT THEY REALLY FELT LIKE THEY HAD WORKED TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE THE ONE GOAL. I ENVISION THIS TOOL HAVING THE SAME IMPACT. EVEN THOUGH WE ARE ALL IN OUR DIFFERENT BUILDINGS, WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER AS A DIVISION TO ACHIEVE THESE GOALS. I THINK THIS IS POWERFUL AND I THINK IT WILL GO A LONG WAY. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK BEHIND THIS. I AM EXCITED TO SEE EVERYTHING THAT COMES OUT OF IT. SO WITH THAT SAID, YES, I THINK THIS DESERVES AN APPLAUSE FOR SURE. YES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MR. PAGE. THANK YOU AMBER. THANK YOU TO THE WHOLE TEAM. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A UM COULD OF ACTION ITEMS WE NEED TO GET THROUGH ON THE AGENDA. [16. Easement Agreement between ACPS and Virginia Electric and Power Company dba Dominion Energy Virginia--10 min] [03:10:02] THE FIRST ONE WE HAVE AN EASE MEANT AGREEMENT BETWEEN ACPS AND VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND DOING BUSINESS AS DOMINION ENERGY. AND SO IF WE WANT TO JUST SHARE THAT INFORMATION SO WE CAN TAKE ACTION. GO AHEAD, DR. HUTCHINGS. >> I WILL TURN THINGS OVER TO MR. TURNER, OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER IN REGARDS TO OUR EASE MEANT FOR DOMINION. >> THANK YOU, DR. HUTCHINGS. GOOD EVENING SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS. TONIGHT FOR YOU FOR INFO AND ACTION IS A DEED OF EASE MEANT TO INSTALL THE CHARGING STATIONS FOR THE ELECTRIC BUSES. AS YOU ARE AWARE WE ARE ONE OF 16 SCHOOL DIVISIONS TO BE PART OF THE DOMINION PILOT PROGRAM FOR ELECTRIC BUSES. ACPS IS RECEIVING FIVE BUSES NEEDING CHARGING STATIONS. AS A PART OF THE POLICY ANY CONSTRUCTION ON ACPS PROPERTY NEEDS APPROVAL. WITH YOUR APPROVAL WE WILL TAKE A SMALL STEP IN GETTING A GREENER FLEET. IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS THE TEAM IS HERE TO RESPOND. >> I'M SORRY. DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? DR. RIEF, I CAN SEE YOUR HAND. >> I'M SORRY. IT SAYS THE TOTAL LENGTH IS 140 FEET. THAT SEEMS LIKE ABOUT 28 FEET PER BUS. THAT JUST SEEMED REALLY BIG TO ME. I WAS JUST WONDERING IF YOU COULD TALK A LITTLE ABOUT IS IT EACH BUS HAS ITS OWN SEPARATE THING? AND IS DOMINION STORING ENERGY ON THAT CHARGING STATION, OR IS IT ON THE BUS? >> MR. MERRYMAN IS HERE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND HE IS ABLE -- THIS IS HIS LOVE AND EXPERTISE. MR. MERRIMAN? >> THANK YOU, DR. HUTCHINGS AND GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS. IT IS AN EXCITING TIME FOR TRANSPORTATION TO LOOK AT TRANSPORTATION. THE EASE MEANT IS THE AVAILABILITY ADDING CHARGING STATIONS. AND WE HAVE SIX CHARGING STATIONS AND DOMINION HAS GIVEN US GROWTH POTENTIAL. THE BUSES WILL STORE THE ENERGY ONCE THEY ARE FULLY CHARGED. AND THEN AT TIMES DURING THE SEASON PER THE AGREEMENT THEY WILL BUY BACK THE ENERGY. FOR THE AGREEMENT ON THE BUY BACK PIECE THEY ARE PAYING FOR 100% THE INFRASTRUCTURE. THE COST TO OUR DIRECT IS ZERO DOLLARS AND ZERO CENTS. >> THANK YOU. SO IF THERE ARE NO OTHER QUESTIONS, I WILL NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE EASE MEANT BETWEEN ACPS AND DOMINION ENERGY VIRGINIA. >> MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE EASE MEANT OF -- BETWEEN ACPS AND DOMINION ENERGY. >> DO I HAVE A SECOND? OKAY MS. LORBER SECONDS MS. GENTRY'S MOTION. ALDERTON YES. CINDY ANDERSON. RAMEE GENTRY. >> YES. >> JACINTA GREENE. >> YES. >> MARGARET LORBER. >> YES. >> VERONICA NOLAN. >> YES. >> MICHELLE RIEF. >> YES. >> CHRISTOPHER SUAREZ. >> YES. >> AND HEATHER THORNTON. >> YES. >> THE VOTE IS 8 WITH ONE ABSENT. ALL RIGHT. MOVING RIGHT ALONG WE HAVE ONE MORE ACTION ITEM ON THE AGENDA. [17. SY 2020-2021 Academic Calendar Revision for Parent-Teacher Conferences Date Change for T.C. Williams High School, Francis C. Hammond Middle School, and George Washington Middle School--10 mins] AND THIS IS REGARDING THE 20-21 REVISION FOR PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES FOR TC HAMMOND AND GW MIDDLE. I WILL TURN IT OVER TO DR. HUTCHINGS OR DO YOU WANT ME TO TURN IT OVER -- >> I WILL SAY TURN IT OVER TO MS. PETERS TO TALK US THROUGH THE ACTUAL -- WE HAVE MS. PETERS AND WE HAVE MR. MAZER AND MR. BALAS WHO IS JOINING US. I KNOW MS. PETERS IS LEADING THE SECONDARY. IT IS ONE OF THE NEEDS FOR THE SECONDARY PRINCIPALS. I WILL TURN THINGS OVER TO MS. PETERS. >> MR. BALAS WILL INTRODUCE OUR REASON FOR MEETING WITH YOU AGAIN AND THEN I WILL CLOSE OUT WITH THE RECOMMENDATION. MR. BALAS? >> THANK YOU, MS. PETERS. FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO THANK DR. WAZINGO FOR ALL OF THE EFFORTS SHE HAS DONE TO [03:15:08] ENHANCE AND MAXIMIZE THE TIME AND STRUCTURE FOR PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES. AS A BIT OF BACKGROUND AND REMINDERS, WE WERE HERE A FEW MONTHS AGO TO MOVE OUR CONFERENCE DATES FROM THE BEGINNING OF FEBRUARY TO MARCH. THIS WAS DONE DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE CONFERENCES FELL ON A TIME WHEN WE SWITCHED SEMESTERS. WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT THIS EVENING. SINCE OUR LAST TIME HERE TO CHANGE THE CONFERENCES TO MARCH, WE DID TO THE HAVE A VERY GOOD NEWS LIKE WE DO NOW THAT WE WOULD BE RE-ENTERING SCHOOLS IN PERSON AT OUR DIFFERENT CAMPUSES. THEREFORE WHERE OUR CONFERENCE SITS IN MARCH POSES A FEW CHALLENGES TO THE RETURN TO IN-PERSON LEARNING. DR. WAZINGA WORKED WITH PRINCIPALS DEVELOPING AN OPTION TO DO THIS SITUATION. ULTIMATELY AFTER DISCUSSING THE PRO'S AND THE CONS WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT THE PROPOSAL BEFORE YOU ALIGNS WITH MAXIMIZING INSTRUCTIONAL TIME AND PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCE TIME. I WILL NOW TURN IT BACK OVER TO MY COLLEAGUE TO TAKE YOU THROUGH THE DETAILS OF OUR PROPOSAL HIGHLIGHTING THE AFOREMENTIONED BENEFITS. >> THANK YOU. THROUGH LOTS OF COLLABORATION AND BRAINSTORMING WITH DR. WAZINGO AND MR. BALAS WE WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE THE SECOND MOVING OF THE PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCE TOUGHS APRIL 5TH. APRIL 5TH IS A PROFESSIONAL LEARNING DAY. THERE IS NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS ON THIS DAY HAVING NO IMPACT ON THE HYBRID SCHEDULE. CONFERENCES WILL BE HELD VIRTUALLY. AND WE ARE PROPOSING THAT THE CURRENT APPROVED CONFERENCE DATES ARE SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 11TH AND 12TH FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL AND THE 18TH AND 19TH WILL BECOME FULL SCHOOL DAYS RATHER THAN EARLY RELEASE DAYS TO MAXIMIZE THE HYBRID REOPENING. WE WANT TO HAVE CONTINUITY IN THE HYBRID REOPENING AND WE ARE PROPOSING APRIL 5TH AS A PROFESSIONAL LEARNING -- EXCUSE ME, APRIL 5TH AS OUR PARENT CONFERENCE DAY TO RECOGNIZE AND MAXIMIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES. I WILL TURN IT BACK OVER TO FINAL COMMENTS. >> WE WANT TO REASSURE THE BOARD AND THE COMMUNITY THAT THERE WILL BE A COMMITMENT TO MEETING THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS AND SCHOOLS WILL STILL HOLD THEIR OFFICE HOURS. THEY WILL HAVE CONFERENCES WITH STUDENTS AND THEY WILL STILL MONITOR THEIR PROGRESS. AS THEY HAVE INDICATED WE DO BELIEVE THIS WILL ALLOW US FOUR FULL INSTRUCTIONAL DAYS WITH THE CHANGE. WITH THE PROPOSED CHANGE. THANK YOU. I WILL TURN IT BACK OVER TO DR. HUTCHINGS. >> MADAM CHAIR. >> MS. GENTRY? >> THANK YOU ALL FOR THIS. I THINK THERE IS CERTAINLY A LOT OF LOGIC IN THIS PLAN AND I THINK THIS MAKES TOTAL SENSE. IT DEFINITELY DOES, YOU KNOW, THE FIRST CHANGE MADE A DIFFERENCE, AND NOW IT IS REALLY A DIFFERENCE. IT ALMOST FEELS TO ME LIKE IT IS REIMAGINING WHAT A PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCE MOMENT IS. WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT BEING POSITIONED WHERE IT IS IN THE CALENDAR. DR. MOZINGO I KNOW YOU BRIEFLY TOUCHED ON THINGS LIKE OFFICE HOURS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT I DO THINK THAT SOMETIMES FOR WHATEVER REASON IT IS NOT UNTIL THAT MOMENT MAYBE WHERE THERE IS THAT OFFICIAL PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCE MOMENT WHERE THERE IS SOMETIMES THE WAKE UP MOMENT FOR THE FAMILY THAT MAYBE THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE STUDENT. I GUESS I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU ALL AN OPPORTUNITY TO REITERATE AND ELABORATE ON HOW THE TEACHERS ARE PRO ACTIVELY REACHING OUT TO FAMILIES, NOT WAITING FOR A PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCE MOMENT, YOU KNOW, IF NEEDED. AND THEN KIND OF IN LIGHT OF IT BEING LATER IN THE YEAR, IF IT IS NOT ONE OF THOSE THINGS AND IT IS JUST GOING TO BE THE PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCE MOMENT, I AM, I [03:20:08] AM INTERESTED IN THINKING WHAT ARE YOU THINKING IN TERMS OF THE KIND OF SHIFTS IN CONVERSATIONS OR APPROACH FOR THE CONFERENCES? THANK YOU. >> IS IT OKAY IF I GO FIRST? >> ABSOLUTELY. ABSOLUTELY. >> THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO REITERATE THAT THROUGH OUR PROCESS WE HAVE AN ON GOING PROTOCOL OF HOW WE ARE CONSTANTLY REACHING OUT TO PARENTS. WE ARE HAVING KIDS TALK WEEKLY. OUR TEACHERS ARE CONSTANTLY USING THEIR OFFICE HOURS AND IN OUR A-BLOCK FOR THE MIDDLE SCHOOL TO MAKE SURE WE ARE COLLABORATING AND SPEAKING WITH PARENTS AND NOT WAITING FOR PARENTS CONFERENCE DAY. I THINK THE ADVANTAGE OF THE PARENT CONFERENCE DAY IS THAT WE DO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE A LARGER NUMBER OF PARENTS IN ONE GIVEN TIME. DEFINITELY IT IS NOT THE FIRST TIME WE REACHED OUT TO THEM OR CALLED TO MEET WITH THEM ABOUT THEIR PROGRESS. >> YES. I WOULD REITERATE THAT FOR THE HIGH SCHOOLS THAT WE DON'T WAIT UNTIL IT IS TWO POINTS IN THE YEAR TO CONTACT HOME. IN IT VIRTUAL PLUS YEAR WE ARE MAKING USE OF MONDAYS WHERE MANY PARENT MEETINGS AND PARENT CONTACTS TAKE PLACE. THIS IS NOT JUST A TWO TOUCH POINTS ONLY IN THE YEAR. >> THAT'S GREAT. THANK YOU BOTH. >> AND I ALSO THINK THAT ONCE WE LAUNCH THE SEAL MONDAYS, IT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR A NUMBER OF STUDENTS. WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT WHEN THE CALENDAR COMMITTEE BEGINS TO PLAN FOR NEXT YEAR, WE REALLY NEED TO -- AS YOU JUST EMPHASIZED, MS. GENTRY, WE NEED TO REIMAGINE PARENT CONFERENCES AND WHAT THEY WILL LOOK LIKE THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR. EVEN ON THOSE DAYS IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO GET EVERY PARENT THROUGH THE CONFERENCE. SO WE REALLY WANT TO HAVE A LARGER DISCUSSION LATER ON ABOUT WHAT -- HOW DO YOU REIMAGINE PARENT CONFERENCES AND PARENT CONTACT AND KEEPING PARENTS INFORMED TO ENSURE GREATER SUCCESS. >> THAT'S GREAT. I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING MORE ABOUT THAT. THANK YOU ALL. >> MS. NOLAN? >> THANKS SO MUCH. THIS IS GREAT INFORMATION. THANK YOU, CHAIR ALDERTON. MR. BALAS AND MS. PETERS, ALWAYS GREAT TO SEE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND LEADERSHIP DURING THIS TIME. I KNOW NO SCHOOL LEADER WOULD EVER BEGIN TO IMAGINE RUNNING A SCHOOL. IF WE THOUGHT THE JOB WAS HARD BEFORE, BUT BOY HAVE YOU SHOWN THAT, LIKE, YOU KNOW, COVID AND SCHOOL LEADERSHIP IS A WHOLE NEW BALL. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU ARE DOING. I JUST WANTED TO ASK A CLARIFYING QUESTION. IS THERE ANY CONCERN -- I KNOW WE TALKED AT A PREVIOUS SCHOOL BOARD MEETING AND I BELIEVE I ASKED THE QUESTION OF TRYING TO KEEP MONDAYS SACRED FOR TEACHERS. WE RECEIVED A LOT OF FEEDBACK THAT TEACHERS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT MAKING SURE THERE IS TIME FOR PLANNING AND TIME FOR ALL OF THE WORK THAT'S GOING INTO IT. THERE ARE MEETINGS SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY. IS THERE ANY CONCERN -- YOU KNOW, ANY CONCERN FROM TEACHERS ON MONDAYS. AND I KNOW DURING COVID TIMES BE ARE TRYING TO EMPHASIZE FLEXIBILITY. HAS THERE BEEN ANY THINKING ABOUT IS THERE WAYS TO MAKE PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES FLEXIBLE? THEY MAY BE UPSET ABOUT THE MONDAYS BEING TAKEN AWAY FOR OTHER THINGS. I WANT TO KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT THAT. >> I CAN RESPOND IN A COUPLE OF WAYS. THE SCHOOL LEADERS ARE SUPPORTING AND MAINTAINING MONDAYS. SO WE MADE MANY EFFORTS IF THAT AREA TO REALLY TRY AND MAINTAIN MONDAYS AS PROFESSIONAL LEARNING DAYS. IN ADDITION TO THE SECOND QUESTION YOU ASKED, WHEN WE MEET WITH THE CALENDAR COMMITTEE WE WILL HAVE NEW IDEAS AND NEW WAYS TO FOSTER DIFFERENT CONFERENCES AND CONTACTS THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR. I THINK THE SEAL MONDAYS WILL AFFORD A NUMBER OF OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICULARLY WORK WITH STUDENTS WHO ARE HAVING DIFFICULTIES AND CHALLENGES. WE ALSO -- DR. HUTCHINGS ASKED US TO IDENTIFY MEETINGS WE CAN MOVE LATER IN THE YEAR. WE ARE MOVING AND REDUCING AND ELIMINATING MEETINGS THAT ARE NOT ESSENTIAL TO GIVE OUR TEACHERS MORE PLANNING TIME. I DON'T KNOW IF THE TWO PRINCIPALS WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT COMMENTS IN THAT AREA ABOUT MONDAYS AND PLANNING? >> I JUST WANT TO REITERATE THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM BEFORE WITH THE TEACHERS COMPLAINING ABOUT AT THE BEGINNING OF FEBRUARY AND WE TOOK AWAY ALL OF THE MEETINGS. THE FIVE HOURS OF PLANNING THAT THE STAFF RECEIVED AND WE ARE READVISING -- WE HAVE REVISED THE TEACHER KIND OF LIKE EXPECTATIONS FOR THE TRANSITION BACK TO AND HELPING STAFF KNOW THAT THE TIME IS SACRED. WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT FIVE HOURS ARE SET ASIDE FOR PLANNING BECAUSE THEY CAN'T GET THEIR PLANNING EACH DAY DURING THE WEEK. WE DO HAVE 90 MINUTES THAT WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE -- WE DON'T WANT TO ELIMINATE MEETINGS BECAUSE THEY NEED THEM FOR PLANNING PURPOSES. [03:25:04] >> THANK YOU, DR. RIEF -- >> I'M SORRY. DO YOU MIND IF I ASK DR. HUTCHINGS A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION? >> GO AHEAD. >> I APOLOGIZE. DR. HUTCHINGS JUST SO I AM CLEAR, IS MONDAYS BEING SET FOR BOTH PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND SEAL? FORGIVE ME IF THIS IS A DR. MOZINGO QUESTION. >> MONDAYS ARE SCHEDULED FOR ALL. THEY CAN BE SEAL. THEY CAN BE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING. WE CAN'T DO IT TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. WE WANTED IT TO BE ASYNCRONIST MEETINGS TO DO DEPARTMENTAL MEETINGS AND TO DO THEIR REGULAR LESSON PLANNING. WE CAN'T HAVE FIVE HOURS OF PROFESSIONAL LEARNING ON THOSE PARTICULAR DAYS. AS WE GO INTO NEXT YEAR WE NEED TO START THINKING ABOUT LESSON PLANNING AND THAT KIND OF A THING. AS WE TRANSITIONED BACK TO SCHOOL EVERYBODY WAS THINKING ABOUT I HAVE BUS DUTY. BUS DUTY LOOKS DIFFERENT THAN IT DID IN MARCH. THINGS ARE EVOLVING. MONDAY -- MONDAYS ARE DESIGNATED FROM MEETINGS TO PLANNING AND TO PROFESSIONAL LEARNING. FIVE HOURS OF MONDAY IS DESIGNATED AS PLANNING FOR OUR STAFF. YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO GET THE PLANNING TIMES DURING TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. >> THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU AGAIN MR. BALAS AND MS. PETERS. APPRECIATE ALL YOU ARE DOING. >> DR. RIEF? >> THANK YOU. THE RATIONAL MAKES SENSE TO ME TO MOVE IT. AND I APOLOGIZE IF I MISSED THIS. ARE YOU CONCERNED AT ALL IF IT IS THE MONDAY AFTER SPRING BREAK? I KNOW THAT IS A HARD -- I'M JUST THINKING FROM A SCHEDULING STANDPOINT. THAT SEEMS LIKE THAT WILL BE TOUGH. AND JUST WONDERING IF PEOPLE ARE ON BOARD WITH THAT? >> MR. BALAS AND I AND -- WE HAVE HAD LOTS OF CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT. AND NOT WAITING UNTIL THE PARENT CONFERENCE DAY TO HAVE CONFERENCES IF THERE WERE BY CHANCE A REASON A TEACHER COULD NOT HAVE A CONFERENCE ON THAT DATE WE WOULD WORK WITH THE TEACHERS TO HOLD THE CONFERENCE PRIOR TO APRIL 5TH. MR. BALAS IS IF THERE IS ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO ADD YOU CAN. >> NO, WE HAVE HAD DISCUSSION. THAT'S OUR STANDARD PRACTICE DURING ANY PARENT CONFERENCE IF THERE IS A CONFLICT. WE ALLOW THE TEACHER THE FLEXIBILITY TO ALERT THEIR PARENTS OF THE ABSENCE FOR WHATEVER REASON AND THAT THEY WILL REACH OUT AND OFFER OTHER TIMES AND DAYS. >> AND AS THEY INDICATED WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME. THEY ARE SMILING ABOUT THIS BECAUSE WE DID LOOK AT THE PRO'S AND CONS OF EVERY IDEA THEY PROPOSED. AND THIS ENDED UP BEING OF ALL OF THE PROPOSALS AND THE BEST ONE GOING FORWARD AND WE NEED TO RETHINK AND REIMAGINE THE PARENT CONTACTS AND THE STUDENT SUPPORT GOING FORWARD. >> THANK YOU. SO BEING THAT THERE ARE NO MORE QUESTIONS WE DO NEED TO TAKE ACTION ON THIS ITEM. I DO NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE 2020- 2021 CONFERENCES FOR TC WILLIAMS AND SCHOOLS. >> MOTION. >> SECOND. >> GENTRY SECONDED THE MOTION. I WILL CALL FOR THE VOTE. ALDERTON YES. CINDY ANDERSON, ABSENT. RAMEE GENTRY. >> YES. >> JACINTA GREENE. >> YES. >> MARGARET LORBER. >> YES. >> VERONICA NOLAN. >> YES. >> MICHELLE RIEF. >> YES. >> CHRISTOPHER SUAREZ. >> HAD TO LEAVE THE MEETING. [03:30:01] >> HEATHER THORTON. >> YES. >> THE VOTE IS 7, YES. TWO ABSENT. ALL RIGHT. IS EVERYBODY HEARING MY 7-YEAR-OLD CRYING IN THE BACKGROUND? I MEAN, WHY? I DON'T KNOW. >> IT IS BETTER THAN MY KID'S TROMBONE LESSON. >> I DON'T EVEN WANT TO KNOW. >> WE NEED ANOTHER TROMBONE INSTALLMENT. >> SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS THURSDAY MORNING ACPS MUSIC CLASS. COME TO THE NOLAN HOUSEHOLD TO HEAR MY 5TH GRADER GET HIS TROMBONE LESSON. HE'S AMAZING. >> IT IS AN IMPROVEMENT. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND SO WE CAN FINALLY MOVE ON TO REPORTS. [18. Report from Meagan Alderton] MY CHAIR REPORT, I DON'T REALLY HAVE MUCH. I WILL SAY THAT I WILL LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT THERE IS A PUBLIC HEARING THAT I DID ON MARCH 18TH ABOUT RENAMING MATTHEW MAURY AND TC WILLIAMS. SIGN UP IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK AT THE PUBLIC HEARING BY WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17TH AT NOON. WE WILL ALSO ACCEPT WRITTEN COMMENTS ON THE TOPIC AND A SIGN UP LINK IS ON THE SCHOOL BOARD PAGE. [19. Report from Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr.] LET'S SEE. DR. HUTCHINGS, DO YOU HAVE A REPORT? >> WELL, I'M REPORTED OUT. I JUST WANT TO REMIND THE BOARD THAT TOMORROW IS -- AND JUST THE COMMUNITY IN GENERAL BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW IT, BUT IT IS NATIONAL EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION DAY TOMORROW. THERE IS A HUGE PUSH ESPECIALLY SINCE EVERYBODY IS IN A GLOBAL PANDEMIC THAT SO MANY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ROLES HAVE CHANGED AND PEOPLE HAVE ADDITIONAL STRESSORS TO THEIR LIVES DURING THIS TIME. ANYBODY YOU KNOW SAY THANK YOU FOR WORKING. IF YOU DON'T HAVE A JOB, SAY THANK YOU. YOU ARE STILL MANAGING YOUR OWN PERSONAL LIFE. WE WILL BE ACKNOWLEDGING OUR STAFF TOMORROW. THERE IS AN APPRECIATION VIDEO THAT I WILL JUST BE ACKNOWLEDGING WITH MY STAFF TOMORROW IN OUR ACPS WEBSITE. >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. DO I HAVE ANY BOARD MEMBERS WITH ANNOUNCEMENTS? OKAY. WELL, DON'T GET ALL EXCITED. [21. Closed Meeting] YOU ARE ABOUT TO GO INTO A CLOSED MEETING. SO WITH THAT SAID, VICE CHAIR NOLAN, CAN YOU READ US INTO CLOSED? I'M SORRY. I DIDN'T GIVE YOU MY NORMAL HEADS UP. >> NO PROBLEM. NO. I JUST -- I'M PURPOSELY TRYING TO HAVE A DRAMATIC PAUSE SO YOU CAN REALLY FEEL LIKE YOU ARE ALL GOING TO BE EAGER FOR THIS CLOSED SESSION. >> MS. GENTRY -- >> MS. NOLAN, I ACTUALLY HAVE IT IF YOU WANT ME TO READ IT. >> MS. GENTRY, IF YOU CAN LEND YOUR MELODIOUS VOICE TO GET US TO THE CLOSED SESSION I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT. >> MADAM CHAIR I MOVE THE BOARD CAN BE IN A CLOSED MEETING PURSUANT TO VIRGINIA CODE 2.2-3711A6 FOR DISCUSSION OR CONSIDERATION OF THE INVESTMENT OF PUBLIC FUNDS WHERE COMPETITION OR BARGAINING IS INVOLVED AND WHERE IF MADE PUBLIC WOULD AFFECT THE FINANCIAL INTEREST OF THE BOARD. SPECIFICALLY A CONTRACT RELATED TO THE DOUGLAS MCARTHUR PROJECT. >> SECOND. >> AND MS. LORBER SECONDS MS. GENTRY'S MOTION. I WILL CALL FOR THE VOTE. ALDERTON YES. CINDY ANDERSON. ABSENT. >> RAMEE GENTRY. >> YES. >> GREENE. >> YES. >> LORBER. >> YES. >> NOLAN. >> YES. >> RIEF. >> YES. >> CHRISTOPHER SUAREZ IS ABSENT. HEATHER THORTON. >> YES. >> SUSAN, WE HAVE 7 YES AND TWO ABSENT. ALL RIGHT. SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE. >> YOU HAVE AN EMAIL WITH THE LINK IN CASE YOU AREN'T AWARE. >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> GOOD NIGHT, DR. MOZINGO. >> GOOD NIGHT, EVERYBODY. >> THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING. >> GOOD NIGHT. PLEASE STAND BY. PLEASE STAND BY. PLEASE STAND BY. >> VICE CHAIR NOLAN -- >> I AM GIVING YOU THE BATON. [22. Certification of Closed Meeting] >> IT WAS OPEN ON MY SCREEN. >> HOLD ON. IS SUSAN ON? IS SUSAN HERE? >> VICE CHAIR ALDERTON, I WOULD HATE FOR PEOPLE TO THINK THERE IS DRAMA. WAIT. WHY DID RAMEE SAY THAT? >> IT IS A REAL SCANDAL. >> ONE OF YOU READ US OUT OF CLOSE PLEASE. >> COME ON. >> IS SUSAN BACK? >> I CAN SEE -- >> OKAY. HELLO, EVERYONE. PURSUANT TO VIRGINIA CODE 2.2-37112, I MOVE THAT THE BOARD CERTIFY THAT TO THE BEST OF EACH MEMBER'S KNOWLEDGE, ONLY PUBLIC BUSINESS MATTERS IDENTIFIED IN THE MOTION BY WHICH THE CLOSED MEETING WAS CONVENED AND ARE LAWFULLY EXEMPTED BY THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT WERE HEARD, DISCUSSED OR CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD IN THE CLOSED MEETING HELD ON MARCH 4TH, 2021. >> SECOND. >> MS. LORBER WHO SECONDS MS. GENTRY'S MOTION. SO I WILL CALL FOR THE VOTE. ALDERTON, YES. CINDY ANDERSON. ABSENT. RAMEE GENTRY. >> YES. >> JACINTA GREEN. >> YES. >> LORBER. [03:35:01] >> YES. >> NOLAN. >> YES. >> RIEF. >> YES. >> SUAREZ. HORTON? >> YES. >> I HAVE SEVEN YES AND TWO ABSENT. >> MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE TO ADJOURN. >> SECOND. >> MISS LORBER SECONDS MS. GENTRY'S MOTION. I WILL CALL FOR THE VOTE. ALDERTON YES. CINDY ANDERSON IS ABSENT. RAMEE GENTRY. >> YES. >> GREENE. >> YES. >> LORBER. >> YES. >> NOLAN. >> YES. I RIEF. >> YES. SUAREZ IS ABSENT AND THORTON SPH. >> YES. >> SO WE ARE -- >> THANK YOU, EVERYBODY. >> WE ARE ADJOURNED. >> GOOD NIGHT. >> GOOD NIGHT, EVERYONE. >> GOOD NIGHT, EVERYONE. >> YES, I HAVE EVERYTHING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> GOOD NIGHT, GUYS. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.