[00:00:01]
EVERYONE, THANK YOU FOR THE RECESS.AND SO WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND TURN EVERYTHING OVER TO DR. HUTCHINGS THIS
[1. FY 2022 Combined Funds and FY 2022-2031 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Budgets Work Session: Superintendent's Recommended Adjustments]
TIME.>> AND THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
I KNOW WE HAVE A FEW OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS HERE TODAY TO KIND OF TALK THROUGH.
I THINK WE'RE GOING TO START WITH THE BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS, CORRECT? SO I WANT TO START OFF BY BUT BEFORE I TURN THINGS OVER TO MR. TURNER, OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, I JUST WANT TO THANK OUR FINANCE TEAM.
MR. TURNER AND THE FINANCE TEAM.
THEY HAVE DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB.
BECAUSE WE WERE TALKING LAST YEAR, MR. TURNER, WHEN WE WENT INTO THIS WHOLE PANDEMIC.
WE HAD OUR ONE ON ONE SESSION.
HE'S LIKE, WE NEED TO START STRATEGIZING NOW SO WE'RE NOT IN A SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE A DEFICIT BY THE END OF NEXT YEAR.
AND WE STARTED MAKING CHANGES INSTANTLY STARTING IN APRIL.
AND WE CONTINUED THROUGHOUT THAT YEAR.
BECAUSE OF THAT FORWARD THINKING, THAT DUE DILIGENCE, THAT PROACTIVE APPROACH, WE ARE IN A REALLY SOUND FINANCIAL SITUATION RIGHT NOW AS A SCHOOL SYSTEM.
AND I KNOW IT WAS INTENTIONAL.
IT WASN'T SOMETHING THAT JUST HAPPENED.
WE DIDN'T JUST DISCOVER MONEY.
MR. TURNER SAYS YOU DON'T DISCOVER DOLLARS.
BUT I APPRECIATE MR. TURNER AND HIS TEAM JUST FOR MAKING THIS ALL POSSIBLE.
AND FOR US TO BE ABLE TO COME BEFORE THE BOARD NOW TO TALK ABOUT SOME ADJUSTMENTS THAT I THINK ARE REALLY GOING TO BE EXTREMELY BENEFICIAL FOR THE ORGANIZATION AS WELL AS FOR OUR STAFF IN KEEPING ALL THE THINGS THAT THE BOARD IN REGARDS TO PRIORITIES, BUDGET PRIORITIES AT THE FOREFRONT OF THESE ADJUSTMENTS, WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THIS EVENING.
WITH THAT SAID, I'M GOING TO TURN THINGS OVER TO MR. TURNER TO GIVE US A HIGHLIGHT OVERVIEW.
AND WE'RE GOING TO GO OVER MORE DETAILS.
GOOD EVENING, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.
AND YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, DR. HUTCHINGS.
I NEVER FIND MONEY BECAUSE I NEVER LOST ANY.
I'LL GO INTO THE SUPERINTENDENT'S PROPOSED BUDGET FOR EVERYBODY.
BOTH REVENUE ENHANCEMENTS AS WELL AS EXPENDITURE CHANGES IN EACH ONE OF OUR FUNDS.
I'LL START WITH THE OPERATING FUND.
I'LL GIVE A HIGH LEVEL VIEW FOR EACH ONE OF THE FUNDS.
FOR THE OPERATING FUND, WE HAVE A REVENUE ENHANCEMENT OF JUST OVER $2Â MILLION FOR STATE REVENUE.
THAT'S COMING IN THE FORM OF SALES TAX RECEIPTS AND SALARY SUPPLEMENT.
I'LL GET INTO THAT IN A SECOND.
ON THE EXPENDITURE CHANGES, WE HAVE ALMOST $3.9Â MILLION IN REDUCTION.
AND THAT'S THROUGH HEALTH BENEFITS SAVINGS.
THAT'S OUR HEALTH BENEFITS DIDN'T GO UP AS MUCH AS WE HAD PROJECTED THEM TO.
AND WE'RE ALSO ELIMINATING THE 1% BONUS AS WELL.
BUT WE'RE REPLACING THAT 1% BONUS WITH A 2.4% MARKET RATE ADJUSTMENT.
AND THE REASON WHY WE'RE DOING THAT IS BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAXIMIZE THE STATE SALARY SUPPLEMENT THAT THEY'RE GIVING TO SCHOOL DIVISIONS TO BE ABLE TO GIVE A 5% INCREASE TO STAFF.
SO THE 1% BONUS WOULDN'T GO TOWARDS THAT.
SO THAT MAXIMIZES THAT SALARY ENHANCEMENT FOR STAFF.
WE ALSO HAVE $388,000 FOR VIRTUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS FOR NEXT YEAR.
AND THEN $505,000 FOR PROGRAM EXPANSION.
SO THAT'S WHAT FTE TO EXPAND PROGRAM.
THAT'S THE AVID PROGRAM, INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PROGRAM, THE DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM, AS WELL AS ONE HUMAN RESOURCES POSITION TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO FULFILL THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE AUDIT.
THAT'S EVERYTHING FOR THE OPERATING FUND.
ON THE GRANTS FUND, AS YOU KNOW, WE ARE RECEIVING QUITE A FEW FEDERAL DOLLARS HERE TO THE TUNE OF 50,284,758.
WITH THAT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ENHANCES TO SOCIAL EMOTIONAL ACADEMIC LEARNING, COVID MITIGATION PROJECT AND STAFF SUPPORT FOR NEXT YEAR.
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WE ALSO HAVE PROGRAM SUPPORT.WE'VE ADDED SEVEN FTE TO SUPPORT STUDENT RECOVERY.
WE HAVE HALF FTE FOR ACCOUNTING, AND HALF FTE FOR PROCUREMENT.
THAT'S FOR GRANTS ADMINISTRATION.
THIS IS A RATHER SIZEABLE GRANT AND IT RUNS FOR THREE YEARS.
THEN ON THE SCHOOL NUTRITION FUND, WE HAVE THE REDUCTION FOR THE HEALTH BENEFIT SAVINGS, WHICH WE THEN TURN AROUND AND PUT INTO THE 2.4% MRA FOR SCHOOL NUTRITION EMPLOYEES AS WELL.
I'LL COVER THE CIP REAL QUICK, TOO.
WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF ADJUSTMENTS ON THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT SIDE AS WELL.
AND THAT IS $100,000 FROM THE JOHN ADAMS STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PROJECT, TO THE HVAC REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT PROJECT.
SO WITH THAT, WE CAN DIVE INTO THE MORE DETAILS OR WE CAN OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS ON EITHER THE COMBINED FUND SIDE OR THE CIP SIDE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU WANT TO DO IT THIS EVENING, MS. ALDERTON AND DR. HUTCHINGS.
>> I WOULD SAY LET'S DIVE INTO SOME OF THE DETAILS SO BOARD MEMBERS CAN COME UP WITH QUESTIONS THEY MAY HAVE AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SPECIFICS.
SOME OF THE OPERATING EXPENDITURES.
IF YOU WANT TO PROVIDE THE DETAILS FOR THE PROGRAM EXPANSION UNDER THE OPERATING FUND.
SO FIRST I JUST WANT TO GIVE SOME MORE DETAILS IN REGARDS TO SOME OF THESE EXPENDITURES UNDER OPERATING.
IF YOU LOOK UNDER THE ADDITIONAL FTES, THIS IS THE SECTION UNDER EXPENDITURE, UNDER THE OPERATING FUND PORTION.
AND I WANT TO SPECIFICALLY TALK ABOUT WHY THESE PARTICULAR FTES WERE ADDED.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, AS YOU WELL KNOW WE ARE SEEING AN INCREASE IN OUR EL POPULATION, PARTICULARLY AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ACCOMMODATING THE NEEDS OF OUR ADDITIONAL EL STUDENTS.
SO WE HAVE PUT INTO THE BUDGET TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL EL CONTENT TEACHER FOR BOTH FRANCIS C.
THIS IS TO MAKE SURE WE ARE MEETING THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT CAME OUT OF THE HUMAN RESOURCES COMPREHENSIVE REPORT AND AUDIT THAT OCCURRED.
THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT THEY'RE HAPPENING.
AND THAT REQUIRES US TO HAVE A DATA QUALITY SPECIALIST TO GUIDE US THROUGHOUT IN PROCESS.
THIS IS NOT ONE AND DONE TYPE DEAL.
THIS IS GOING TO BE ONGOING AS WE ARE WORKING THROUGH ALL OF OUR HR RECOMMENDATIONS.
SO WE'VE INCLUDED THAT HR DATA QUALITY SPECIALIST WITH THAT.
THE WORLD LANGUAGE SPANISH TEACHER.
THIS IS A POSITION THAT HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.
WE JUST HAVE NOT HAD THE FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO ADD THAT ADDITIONAL FTE.
AND THIS YEAR, WE'RE ADDING THAT .
5 FTE FOR WORLD LANGUAGE, PARTICULARLY SPANISH, AT THE FCH MIDDLE SCHOOL CAMPUS.
THIS IS ANOTHER THAT'S BEEN COMING UP A LOT.
WE'RE NOW ABLE TO FUND THIS HOPEFULLY THIS YEAR WITH THIS ADDITIONAL DOLLARS SO WE CAN ADD A.5.
SO THAT STUDENTS WHO ARE REQUESTING TO BE, WHICH IS A GREAT THING BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN THE ARTS.
THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THAT INTEREST THAT'S HAPPENING NOW AT JAMES K.
AND THEN AVID, AS YOU WELL KNOW, IT'S BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL AT OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND OUR HIGH SCHOOL.
IT'S EXPANDING AT BOTH OF OUR K 8 SCHOOLS.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ACCOMMODATING BOTH OF THOSE BECAUSE NOW PEOPLE ARE MATRICULATING THROUGH 8TH GRADE AT BOTH CAMPUSES AND THAT'S AT JEFFERSON HOUSTON AND PATRICK HENRY.
5 AVID POSITION AT BOTH OF THOSE CAMPUSES.
THOSE ARE SPECIFICS IN REGARDS TO THE ADDITIONS.
I JUST WANT TO REITERATE WHAT MR. TURNER SAID EARLIER IN REGARDS TO US TRYING TO MEET THE MAXIMUM STATE SALARY SUPPLEMENT.
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THAT 5%.THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO TRY TO MEET THAT.
WE WERE NOT ABLE TO PRIOR TO ADDITIONAL FUNDING AND THE INCREASE IN STATE REVENUE, AS WELL AS THE RENEWAL RATES AND THE SAVINGS, HEALTH SAVINGS THAT CAME OUT OF THAT.
WE WANTED TO ENSURE THAT WE WERE MAKING THE MARKET RATE ADJUSTMENT.
THE BONUS DOES NOT COUNT TOWARDS THAT MAXIMUM 5%.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, OUR STAFF HAD BEEN WORKING EXTREMELY HARD.
WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DO SIGNIFICANT MARKET RATE ADJUSTMENTS OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS.
SO THIS IS SETTING US UP TO REALLY RETAIN, AS WE TALK ABOUT THAT RECRUIT/RETAIN OUR STAFF.
THIS IS PUTTING US IN LINE WITH MAKING THAT HAPPEN.
THIS IS FOR ALL STAFF NOT JUST CERTAIN STAFF MEMBERS.
MR. TURNER, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO TAKE THINGS FROM HERE.
JUST SOME MORE DETAILS ON THE STATE REVENUE AND THEN THE HEALTH BENEFIT PIECE BECAUSE THAT IS A LION SHARE OF SOME OF THE CHANGES HERE.
THE STATE REVENUE INCREASE, INCREASING TO THE MAXIMUM 5% FOR OUR STAFF.
AND THEN AS WELL AS THE SALES RECEIPTS.
SALES TAX RECEIPTS HAVE BEEN COMING IN HIGHER FOR THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, WHICH IS A GOOD THING FOR PUBLIC SERVICES.
SO WE'RE REFLECTING THAT AS A PART OF OUR BUDGETS AS WELL.
WE JUST GOT THE INFORMATION NOT TOO LONG AGO FROM OUR HEALTH BENEFIT CONSULTING FIRM.
AND IT BASICALLY SHOWS OUR MOST EXPENSIVE PLAN PREMIUM WON'T BE INCREASING.
AND OUR KAISER WILL BE INCREASING I THINK IN THE 3% RANGE VERSUS THE 8.5% RANGE WE HAD PROJECTED IT BASED ON HISTORICAL RESOURCES.
WON'T SEE ANY INCREASES TO THEIR PREMIUM.
AND THE PREMIUM INCREASE WITH KAISER WON'T BE AS GREAT AS WE INITIALLY THOUGHT IT WAS.
SO THAT PROVIDES A SAVINGS FOR US TO BE ABLE TO PUT TOWARDS THE MAXIMIZING THE 5% INCREASE.
ON THE GRANT SIDE WITH THE FUNDING AGAIN, A LITTLE OVER $50Â MILLION COMING IN ADDITION REVENUE.
WE JUST HAD OUR APPLICATION FOR ESSER APPROVED.
HOW THAT FUNDING IS BROKEN DOWN.
FOR THE ESSER 3 OR AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDING, THAT APPLICATION IS DUE IN SEPTEMBER.
SO WE HAVE A WORK TEAM THAT WILL BE WORKING TOGETHER TO FOCUS THOSE DOLLARS IN THE FOUR AREAS THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT.
SO SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, ACADEMIC LEARNING, COVID 19 PROJECT, TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE, AND ANY STAFF SUPPORT THAT IS NEEDED TO HELP WITH THEIR RECOVERY AND REIGNITING OF OUR STUDENTS.
THE SCHOOL NUTRITION FUND, AGAIN, THE CHANGES IS JUST TO ACCOUNT FOR THE HEALTH BENEFIT SAVINGS.
AND PROVIDING EMPLOYEES WITH THAT 2.4% MARKET RATE ADJUSTMENT.
SO WITH THAT, I'LL OPEN IT UP TO ANY QUESTIONS ON BOTH THE COMBINED FUNDS AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
SO I'M GOING TO OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR.
I ACTUALLY DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTION ON ANY OF THE ITEMS JUST SHOWN.
I THINK THEY WERE SET UP REALLY CLEARLY.
AND YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT OUR PRIORITIES FOR A WHILE.
EVERYTHING THAT WAS PROPOSED I THINK REALLY ALIGNS WITH WHAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED AS OUR BUDGET PRIORITIES.
THE TOPIC THAT I WANTED TO ASK ABOUT IS SOMETHING THAT IS NOT SOMETHING DRIVEN BY US, BUT RATHER, WE ARE BEING COMPELLED TO GRAPPLE WITH AS A RESULT OF THE CITY COUNCIL'S ACTIONS.
I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUE, VICE CHAIR NOLAN FOR HER REMARKS IN THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING.
I HAVE TO SAY I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH ALL OF THEM.
I WOULD ALSO JUST SAY THAT EVEN IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE A PERSON WHO WAS NOT NECESSARILY PARTICULARLY IN FAVOR OF THE SRO PROGRAM, THIS IS RAINY GENTRY PUTTING ON HER PROCESS HAT AGAIN.
THE PROCESS THIS WAS ELIMINATED IS DEEPLY, DEEPLY PROBLEMATIC.
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IT IS NOW MAYÂ 6TH.THIS DECISION BY THE CITY COUNCIL HAPPENED EARLIER THIS WEEK.
AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, THE EXPECTATION NOW IS THAT THE FUNDING THAT WOULD HAVE GONE INTO SUPPORT THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS IS TO BE TEMPORARILY REALLOCATED TO A CONTINGENT RESERVE UNTIL THE SCHOOL SYSTEM PRESENTS A PROPOSAL ABOUT HOW TO USE THE FUNDS.
AND THAT THE PROPOSAL IS TO BE PRESENTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL BEFORE SUMMER RECESS.
I CANNOT STATE HOW INFURIATING I FIND THAT.
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL IS DICTATING TO OUR STAFF WHAT THEY NEED TO DO BY, FRANKLY, AN INSANE DATE.
I TRUST THAT MY COLLEAGUES WOULD NEVER THINK THAT WE COULD ASK OUR STAFF TO CREATE FROM SCRATCH AN ENTIRE PROGRAM WITHIN A COUPLE OF MONTHS.
AND IT IS PARTICULARLY PROBLEMATIC THAT IT IS BEING ASKED NOW, WHEN LITERALLY THE VERY SAME STAFF THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT TODAY, THE STAFF THAT WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT ALL OF THE EXTRA WORK THAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW OF THE STAFF THAT IS SPECIFICALLY TAFKD WITH REACHING OUT TO FAMILIES, HARD TO REACH FAMILIES, AND TALKING ABOUT HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO GET TO THOSE FAMILIES AND COMMUNICATE WITH THOSE FAMILIES.
IT'S THAT EXACT SAME STAFF THAT WOULD BE ASKED TO COME UP WITH THIS PLAN.
AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO I WANTED TO ASK, I'M REALLY DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE EXPECTED TIMELINE FOR THIS.
I FIND THAT EXPECTATION REALLY PROBLEMATIC, AND I'M REALLY CONCERNED.
I'M HOPING THERE CAN BE SOME KIND OF COMMUNICATION.
AGAIN, WE HAD ALREADY PREVIOUSLY INDICATED OUR DESIRE TO KEEP THE SRO PROGRAM.
I CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE WANTED US TO.
THERE WAS A DESIRE FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO ELIMINATE IT.
AT LEAST GIVE A YEAR TRANSITION.
BUT IN ANY REGARDS, I DON'T WANT THAT FUNDING TO BE ELIMINATED BECAUSE WE DID NOT MEET AN ARBITRARY DEADLINE THAT WAS NOT SET BY ANY OF OUR LEADERSHIP OR OUR BOARD TO OUR OWN STAFF.
>> IS THERE ANY RESPONSE TO THAT?
>> SO MAYBE I NEED TO SAY THIS AS A QUESTION.
DR. HUTCHINGS, I'M WONDERING IF THERE IS A WAY I CAN DO SOME COMMUNICATION BECAUSE I REALLY AM CONCERNED ABOUT THIS KIND OF TIMELINE BEING SET.
YOU KNOW, A BEFORE SUMMER MY UNDERSTANDING IS THEY WANT A PROPOSAL BEFORE THEIR SUMMER RECESS.
AND AGAIN, THINKING ABOUT ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE HAVE, THAT OUR STAFF HAS ON OUR PLATE.
>> AND I CONCUR WITH WHAT YOU'VE SAID.
I WONDER IF IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE FOR MADAM CHAIR TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THE MAYOR.
AND FOR US TO, YOU KNOW, TO BE ABLE TO EXPRESS FORMALLY THAT TIMELINE IS JUST UNREASONABLE FOR ALL THE THINGS THAT WE ARE FOCUSED ON AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME, SUCH AS, YOU KNOW, GETTING STUDENTS BACK INTO OUR SCHOOL BUILDINGS FOR SUMMER AS WELL AS FOR THE FALL.
AND JUST OUR TYPICAL SUMMER WORK.
WE HAVE ALL OF OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS BEGINNING NOW.
SO WE ARE RIGHT IN TO OUR SUMMER MODE.
SO I WOULD PROPOSE THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE MADAM CHAIR TO SPEAK WITH THE MAYOR ABOUT THIS.
AND I CAN ALSO SET A TIME DURING MY WEEKLY MEETINGS WITH THE CITY MANAGER TO BRING IT UP WITH HIM AS WELL.
BUT I REALLY BELIEVE IT'S SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAPPEN BETWEEN THE BOARD AND THE CITY COUNCIL AND MAYBE THROUGH MADAM CHAIR AND THE MAYOR.
MR. TURNER, FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I WAS CURIOUS TO HEAR A LITTLE BIT ABOUT UNDER THE GRANSON SPECIAL PROJECTS FUND.
I DON'T THINK WE WENT THROUGH THE FTES AND OUT OF SCHOOL PROGRAMMING COORDINATOR.
I WAS JUST WONDERING IF YOU COULD OR DR. HUTCHINGS COULD TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
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THOSE POSITIONS.AND THEN I HAD ONE OTHER QUESTION AFTER THAT.
>> SO SPECIFICALLY, IN REGARDS TO THE POSITIONS THAT COME OUT OF THAT THAT WE'RE ASKING OR REQUESTING TO USE GRANT MONEY FOR.
I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THESE POSITIONS, MANY OF THESE POSITIONS ARE BASED ON GRANT FUNDING.
AND THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO SHARE.
THAT IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO BE SUSTAINABLE FOREVER.
IN SOME CASES, SOME OF THESE POSITIONS MAY HAVE TO EVENTUALLY ROLL INTO OUR OPERATING FUNDS.
BUT I DID WANT TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT THIS IS BASED ON THE GRANT FUNDING.
MR. TURNER, YOU MAY WANT TO ELABORATE IN REGARDS TO THAT.
SO THESE POSITIONS WOULD BE LIMITED TERM GRANT FUNDED POSITIONS.
AS THE GRANTS GO AWAY, THE POSITIONS WOULD GO AWAY AS WELL.
THE POSITIONS THAT WE HAVE HERE THAT WE'RE REQUESTING AS A PART OF THE ADJUSTED BUDGET UNDER THE GRANT ARE TO SUPPORT THE RECOVERY OF OUR STUDENTS BOTH ACADEMIC AND SOCIALLY, EMOTIONALLY.
WE HAVE TWO MENTAL HEALTH SPECIALISTS, A SCHOOL HEALTH SPECIALIST.
I THINK YOU ASKED ABOUT THE OUT OF SCHOOL SPECIALIST AND OUT OF SCHOOL PROGRAM COORDINATOR.
THE PROGRAM COORDINATOR WOULD WORK ON EXTENDED LEARNING.
AND WORK PLACE LEARNING SPECIALIST, I WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE TEAM TO GET THAT JOB DESCRIPTION TO BE MORE FAMILIAR WITH IT.
BUT AGAIN, ALL OF THESE POSITIONS WERE AROUND THE RECOVERY OF OUR STUDENTS ACADEMIC, AS WELL AS THEIR SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL WELLBEING.
YOU'LL SEE THE GANT SPECIALIST COORDINATOR.
THOSE ARE MORE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THESE GRANTS BECAUSE IT IS OVER $50Â MILLION.
SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE SUPPORT TO BE ABLE TO DO ALL OF THE OVERSIGHT FOR THESE PROGRAMS.
>> ONE THING IN ADDITION TO WHAT MR. TURNER IS MENTIONING.
THIS FUNDING IS REALLY SUPPOSED TO ASSIST US WITH THE RECOVERY OF LEARNING LOSS, WITH FACILITY AND OPERATIONAL NEEDS WE HAVE WITH REGARDS TO THE PANDEMIC.
AND WE HAVE BEEN VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT MAKING SURE WE'RE ADDRESSING THOSE.
AS YOU ALL KNOW IT HAS HAD AN IMPACT NOT ONLY ON OUR STUDENTS, BUT IT DOES HAVE AN IMPACT ON OUR OPERATIONS AS WELL.
SO WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THE APPROPRIATE STAFFING SO THAT WE CAN GO INTO NEXT YEAR AND IT'S FOR THE DURATION OF THESE GRANT FUNDS THAT WE WILL HAVE THOSE ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS AND NOT HAVE TO NOW UTILIZE LIKE WE HAVE BEEN DOING UNFORTUNATELY THIS YEAR.
UTILIZING OUR CURRENT STAFF AND JUST ADDING ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES TO SOME OF THEIR WORK.
AND I AM INTERESTED IN, AND MAYBE NOT RIGHT NOW AT THIS TIME, BUT THE WORK BASED LEARNING SPECIALIST.
I'M CURIOUS AS TO WHAT SCHOOL.
WHAT SCHOOLS THAT PERSON WOULD BE SERVING.
AND MAYBE YOU CAN JUST FOLLOW UP WITH ME ON THAT AT ANOTHER TIME.
I DID WANT TO ASK ABOUT JUST THE FEDERAL FUNDING.
I MEAN, IT'S CERTAINLY A LOT OF MONEY.
I KNOW THAT IT HAS CERTAIN CRITERIA THAT HAS TO FALL UNDER IT.
BUT I WAS JUST WONDERING IF YOU COULD TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT'S THE PROCESS FOR DETERMINING HOW THOSE FUNDS WILL BE USED.
AND HOW WILL THE BOARD BE INVOLVED IN THAT PROCESS? AND THEN I ALSO WANTED TO JUST ASK IF ON THE FINANCIAL SERVICES WEB PAGE, IF YOU'VE THOUGHT ABOUT PUTTING SOME INFORMATION ON THERE.
BECAUSE I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE HEARING THAT THE SCHOOL DIVISION IS RECEIVING THIS MONEY AND THEY WANT TO KNOW HOW IT'S BEING USED.
I THINK IF WE COULD CLEARLY HAVE A PLACE ON OUR WEBSITE THAT WE COULD DIRECT PEOPLE TO TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL.
SO THREE PARTS TO THAT QUESTION.
SO ONE, FOR THE WEB PAGE AND INFORMATION ON THE FEDERAL RESOURCES THAT ARE COMING, THAT WE ARE RECEIVING, WE TRY TO PROVIDE A BOARD BRIEF.
FOR THE CARES ACT, WE PROVIDED ONE.
FOR THE CRF FUND, WE PROVIDED ONE.
NOW THAT WE JUST GOT OUR ESSERII APPLICATION APPROVED, WE'LL BE PROVIDING THAT.
ALL OF THOSE ARE ON OUR WEB PAGE FOR THE CITIZENS OF ALEXANDERIA TO READ UP ON
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HOW TO USE THOSE DOLLARS.WE HAVE A WORK TEAM MADE OF DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS TO WORK TOGETHER TO DEVELOP THE APPLICATION AND DEVELOP THE PLAN FOR HOW THAT'S GOING TO BE USED.
OUR BUDGET OFFICE LEADS THAT GROUP.
TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT HAVING ANY DUPLICATE EFFORTS.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE MAXIMIZING THESE RESOURCES.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE FOR INSTANCE, OUR STUDENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT ISN'T REQUESTING THE SAME THING THAT OUR TLL DEPARTMENT IS REQUESTING.
THAT THEY ARE LOOKING TO DO SOMETHING SIMILAR THAT WE PUT THEM TOGETHER SO WE CAN MAXIMIZE THOSE DOLLARS.
AS FAR AS HOW THE SCHOOL BOARD IS INVOLVED WITH THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING THESE PLANS, THE INVOLVEMENT IS THE APPROVAL OF THE BUDGET.
IF THERE'S SOMETHING WE'RE PUTTING FORTH, YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THAT YOU WOULD LIKE IT TO BE FOCUSED ON A DIFFERENT PRIORITY.
BECAUSE THE BUDGET CAN'T GET APPROVED WITHOUT YOUR APPROVAL COME THE FIRST WEEK IN JUNE.
AND I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT OUR NEXT ADD/DELETE SESSION WE'RE GOING TO ACTUALLY UTILIZE THAT WORK SESSION TO TALK MORE SPECIFIC DETAILS ABOUT OUR SPECIFIC GRANTS.
SO FROM OUR AMERICAN RELIEF FUND.
SO THAT WILL PROVIDE SOME MORE INSIGHT.
AS MR. TURNER MENTIONED, WE HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTING ALL OF THE DIFFERENT GRANTS AS THEY COME THROUGH.
BUT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A MORE COMPREHENSIVE CONVERSATION AND MORE IN DEPTH DISCUSSION AROUND THIS AT OUR NEXT WORK SESSION.
DO I HAVE I HAVE MR. SUAREZ WITH A QUESTION.
I JUST WANTED TO ASK AGAIN ABOUT BECAUSE I KNOW THESE ADJUSTMENTS DON'T INCLUDE IT.
IF THERE'S BEEN ANY THINKING OR PROGRESS AROUND THE MINNIE HOWARD POOL, THE 1.2Â MILLION.
IF MR. TURNER, THERE ARE ANY VIABLE PATHS TO THAT.
YOU KNOW, I WOULD ECHO MY FRUSTRATION, MY COLLEAGUES WITH THE PROCESS WE SAW ON MONDAY.
OBVIOUSLY I HAVE CONFLICTING VIEWS IN THE SROS AS I'VE EXPRESSED BEFORE.
BUT MY MORE FUNDAMENTAL CONCERN IS THAT THE NET RESULT OF THE CITY COUNCIL'S BUDGET SESSION IS CUTTING FROM THE SCHOOLS.
WE'VE REPEATEDLY GET TOLD WE'RE GOING TO GET EVERYTHING WE NEED.
THAT'S A BIG HOLE IN OUR BUDGET.
IF WE DON'T HAVE A REGULATION SIZE POOL IN THIS TOWN.
MS. GREEN HAS POINTED THAT OUT.
OTHER BOARD MEMBERS HAVE POINTED THAT OUT.
AND I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT THE NET RESULT OF THE CITY'S BUDGET PROCESS IS A CUT TO THE SCHOOLS.
AND SO I WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT CONVERSATIONS HAVE HAPPENED TO SEE IF WE CAN GET AT LEAST THAT BACK.
BECAUSE IT'S STILL SOMETHING WE'RE NOT FUNDING IN OUR BUDGET.
AND WHAT DISCUSSIONS HAVE THERE BEEN IN TERMS OF WHAT MORE WE MIGHT NEED THAT THE CITY HAS NOT BEEN PROVIDING.
BECAUSE AGAIN, THE ELECTED OFFICIALS HAVE REPEATEDLY SAID WE'RE GOING TO RECEIVE EVERYTHING THAT WE ASK FOR.
>> THE CITY I THINK IS PRETTY EXPLICIT OR DIRECT IN REGARDS TO NOT SUPPORTING THE POOL.
AND THAT COST WAS I WANT TO SAY $15Â MILLION.
AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT FROM OUR END, THIS IS WHAT WE PROPOSE AND WHAT WE SHARED WITH THE BOARD WHEN WE WERE TALKING THROUGH OUR CIP.
THAT WE COULD CONSIDER DOING A PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO TRY TO FUND THAT.
BUT WE HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND WE HAVE TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, A BITE FOR SOMEBODY WHO REALLY WANTS TO WORK WITH THE SCHOOLS TO FUND THAT.
YOU CAN'T JUST SAY IT AND IT HAPPENS.
I KNOW WE'VE BEEN EXPLORING THAT.
WE'VE ALREADY HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CITY AND CITY STAFF IN REGARDS TO HAVING A POTENTIAL PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP IN REGARDS TO THE POOL.
YOU MAY WANT TO ELABORATE A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THIS.
I WOULD JUST REITERATE WHAT DR. HUTCHINGS HAS SAID.
WE HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CITY ABOUT P3 OPTIONS.
IT'S NOT FREE TO HAVE A PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP.
IT USUALLY REQUIRES SOME MONEY UPFRONT OR YOU'RE PAYING FOR IT OVER THE LONG
[00:30:05]
TERM.OUR INITIAL CONVERSATIONS DON'T SEEM VERY PROMISING, BUT WE WILL BE FOLLOWING UP WITH THE BOARD ON THOSE.
AND AS DR. HUTCHINGS SAID, WE DO NOT ADD TO OUR CAPITAL BUDGET BECAUSE WE DID NOT GET APPROVED FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING WITHIN OUR CAPITAL BUDGET.
THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WE STAND RIGHT NOW.
WE'LL CONTINUE EXPLORING AND HOPEFULLY HAVE MORE UPDATES FOR THE BOARD IN THE COMING WEEKS.
>> CAN YOU REMIND ME, MS. GULICK, OF THE DATE THAT CLOSES.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I REMEMBER THAT.
>> SO THE CHALLENGE NOW IS OUR DESIGN TEAM IS GETTING INTO THE DSUP PROCESS.
OUR CONCEPT SUBMISSION ACTUALLY GOES IN THIS MONTH TO THE CITY.
WHAT WE'VE SAID, WE REALLY NEED TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE GOING TO DO THE POOL REALLY PRIOR TO JUNE.
I THINK INITIALLY I MAY HAVE INDICATED THERE MAY HAVE BEEN MORE FLEXIBILITY IN THAT TIME LINE.
BUT JUST GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT GOES INTO THE DIFFERENT DESIGN SUBMISSIONS, OUR ARCHITECT AS WELL AS THE REST OF THE DESIGN TEAM ARE TRYING TO GET A HANDLE OF THE PROJECT WE ARE BUILDING FOR.
THAT IS A DECISION WE WILL HAVE TO MAKE SOON.
>> IF I MAY REQUEST, MADAM CHAIR, CAN THIS BE ADDED TO THE DISCUSSION WITH THE MAYOR, THIS ISSUE?
THIS TOPIC CAME UP ACTUALLY DURING AGENDA SETTING.
I THINK WE OBVIOUSLY AT LEAST NEED TO BE VERY PUBLIC ABOUT THE FACT THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE WANT.
THAT'S ALL I CAN SAY RIGHT NOW.
>> JUST ANOTHER FOLLOW UP TO THAT, CHAIR ALDERTON.
MS. GULICK, HAS THE GRANTS, THE NEW GRANTS PERSON HIRED FOR THE CITY, HAS HE BEEN HELPFUL?
SO WE HAD AN INITIAL DISCUSSION WITH HIM ON THE VIABILITY OF THIS.
SO I THINK HE'S PROBABLY JUST GETTING UP TO SPEED ON A LOT OF THINGS.
BUT WE DID HAVE INITIAL CONVERSATION AND HIS INSIGHT WAS VERY HELPFUL.
IT WASN'T VERY POSITIVE, UNFORTUNATELY.
BUT IT WAS CERTAINLY VERY HELPFUL AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH HIM.
SO WE'LL BE GOING MORE IN DEPTH DURING OUR ADD/DELETE SESSIONS COMING UP.
I DID HAVE ONE QUICK QUESTION.
WE DON'T HAVE TO GO OVER IT NOW.
IT COULD BE IN THE MEMO OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE.
THREE THINGS, NUMBER ONE, JUST REALLY APPRECIATE DR. REEF'S SUGGESTION ABOUT HAVING CRYSTAL CLEAR IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY ARE AND THE THINKING BEHIND THEM.
I KNOW I'VE ALWAYS ASKED THIS QUESTION EVERY BUDGET SEASON, I'M ASSUMING WE'RE GOOD TO GO.
ARE THERE ANY STAFFING POSITIONS THIS GO AROUND TO BE ELIMINATED? THERE WAS A SURPRISE WHERE A MATH COACH WAS ELIMINATED DUE TO A BUDGET THAT WE AS A BOARD WERE NEVER TOLD.
SO I JUST LIKE TO ASK THAT QUESTION EVERY TIME.
JUST AS IMPORTANT AS IT IS TO KNOW THE EXPLICIT ADDITIONS TO STAFF, ARE THERE ANY ELIMINATIONS.
SIDE NOTE, I DID GET ASKED AS A PTA LIAISONIUS JUST THIS MORNING, THERE'S RUMORS MILLING ABOUT THAT BECAUSE OF CHANGE OF ENROLLMENT, THERE MIGHT BE EITHER TEACHERS THEY'RE LOSING OR THINGS AROUND.
THAT'S ANOTHER DATA POINT AS TO WHY I'M ASKING THE QUESTION.
IT WOULD BE REMISED IF I DID NOT GET THE SHOUT OUT AT HOW EXCITED I AM TO SEE THE
[00:35:04]
EXPANSION OF AVID.I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE FEATHERS IN ACPS'S CAP.
I PERSONALLY COULD NOT BE MORE THRILLED BY THE DECISION OF YOU, DR. HUTCHINGS, AND THE TEAM TO EXPAND.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY A HUGE THANKS TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THAT MUCH NEEDED PROGRAM.
I JUST WANTED TO DOUBLE CHECK.
ARE THERE ANY STAFFING POSITIONS THAT ARE BEING ELIMINATED THAT THE BOARD SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF.
BUT JUST THOUGHT I WOULD LIKE TO EXPLICITLY KNOW.
>> SO THERE ARE NO ELIMINATION OF POSITIONS.
BUT AS ENROLLMENT CHANGES, WE DO HAVE THE FLUCTUATION BASED ON THE ENROLLMENT.
FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, THE PROJECTION FOR STUDENTS WAS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN WHAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.
AND THE NUMBERS WON'T BE AS HIGH GOING INTO NEXT YEAR.
SO BASED ON THE ENROLLMENT CHANGES, THERE'S CHANGES IN ACCOUNTS OF POSITIONS.
BUT THERE'S NO POSITIONS THAT WE'RE SAYING WE'RE NOT LONGER DOING THIS, FOR EXAMPLE.
APOLOGIES TO EVERYONE FOR PROLONGING THE MEETING.
>> SO DR. REEF HAS ANOTHER COMMENT.
BUT BEFORE SHE DOES, I'M JUST GOING TO SAY SOMETHING FOR JUDY PETERS.
>> I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE 2.4% MARKET RATE ADJUSTMENT FOR ALL OF OUR STAFF.
I'M SURE I SPEAK FOR THE BOARD THAT I'M SO EXCITED WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT.
I THINK THAT'S THE BEST TEACHER APPRECIATION GIFT THAT WE CAN GIVE THIS WEEK.
WELL WE'RE DONE WITH OUR WORK SESSION.
>> I'M GOING TO TURN THINGS OVER TO ACTUALLY MS. GULICK AND HER TEAM.
WE'RE GOING TO TRANSITION INTO OUR LAND ACQUISITION.
>> I JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE A REMINDER TO THE SCHOOL BOARD THAT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE COMBINED FUND OR THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, THE QUESTIONS ARE DUE TOMORROW.
THEN THE STAFF WILL PUBLICLY POST THOSE QUESTIONS BY TUESDAY, MAYÂ 11TH.
AND THEN ADD/DELETE REQUESTS FOR BOTH ARE DUE THURSDAY, MAYÂ 13TH.
AND THEN WE WILL COMPILE THOSE AND GET THEM BACK TO YOU FOR COSPONSORSHIPS BY THE FOLLOWING DAY ON MAYÂ 14TH.
I JUST WANT TO PROVIDE A REMINDER OF THOSE DATES WHILE WE'RE TALKING BUDGET.
[2. Land Acquisition & Space Needs]
NOW DR. HUTCHINGS.I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN A TOPIC OF DISCUSSION FOR A WHILE BUT WE HAVEN'T HAD THE CONVERSATION IN A LITTLE WHILE, TOO, BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN DOING SO MANY OTHER THINGS LIKE ADDRESSING THE PANDEMIC, RIGHT? BUT IT'S TIME FOR US TO REVISIT THIS CONVERSATION AND TO GET BACK UP TO SPEED.
AND TO ALLOW THE BOARD TO GET BACK UP TO SPEED ON THIS PARTICULAR TOPIC.
TONIGHT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE LAND DESIGNATIONS THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD HAS WITHIN ITS PURVIEW.
WITH ME TONIGHT, I HAVE SOPHIE HUMOR WHO IS A NEW WISH MEMBER.
CERTAINLY IS A CRITICAL MEMBER OF THE TEAM AND I'M REALLY EXCITED FOR HER TO PRESENT YOU ALL TONIGHT.
TONIGHT, OUR ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS WE'LL BE GOING OVER ARE WHAT ARE OUR SPACE NEEDS? WHAT REAL ESTATE ASSISTANCE SHOULD WE BE LOOKING FOR AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IN OUR NEXT UPDATE.
SO WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
HERE'S SOME CURRENT SPACE NEEDS.
WE ARE LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL SPACE.
THE CITY HAS BEEN WORKING ON THE WHITER WHEELER STUDY.
WE'LL HAVE UPDATES AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THAT.
THE BUT JUST WE ALL KNOW THAT THE TRANSPORTATION FACILITY IS REALLY IN DIRE
[00:40:04]
NEED OF REPLACEMENT.>> WE DO WANT TO PROVIDE A DIFFERENT A BETTER LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR THOSE STUDENTS.
AND THAT LEASE EXPIRES IN 2023.
AND THEN OUR NEW SCHOOL, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S IN OUR CIP.
WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT.
WE HAVEN'T IDENTIFIED EXACTLY WHAT OR WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE.
BUT THAT IS ANOTHER ONE OF OUR SPACE NEEDS THAT WILL BE CONSIDERED WITHIN THE NEXT FEW YEARS.
SO I'M GOING TO JUST PRESENT THIS FIRST ONE, THEN I'M GOING TO PASS IT OVER TO SOPHIE TO TAKE YOU THROUGH THE REST OF THEM.
I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE NORTH POTOMAC SITE.
ORIGINALLY WE WERE DESIGNATED BLOCK 4.
AND IT WAS CLOSER TO THE EARLIEST PARTS OF DEVELOPMENTS AND WHERE THE CURRENT MOVIE THEATER PARKING LOT IS.
SOME OF THE INITIAL CONVERSATIONS WITH VIRGINIA TECH CAMPUS GOING OVER THERE, AS WELL AS THE DEVELOPER, WE KIND OF TRADED UP AND GAVE UP BLOCK 4 OR BLOCK 23.
IT IS MORE APPROXIMATE TO MAYBE WHERE OUR STUDENTS WILL BE.
WE WILL HAVE TO CO LOCATE WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
ANOTHER PIECE OF THIS THAT SOMETIMES GETS LOST, THERE IS A $15Â MILLION CONTRIBUTION FROM THE DEVELOPER ONCE 2,000 RESIDENTIAL UNITS ARE DEVELOPED.
THAT CONTRIBUTION NEEDS TO GO TO THE CITY AND IT GOES TO CAPITAL NEEDS THAT ARE SUPPORTING THE RESIDENTS OF THAT ZONE.
SO JUST AS WE DEVELOP FUTURE CIPS, WE KNOW THAT'S A PIECE, MAYBE SOMETHING WE CAN BRING UP TO CITY COUNCIL.
CURRENTLY OUR LOT, IF WE WERE TO TAKE YOU ON A TOUR OF IT, IT'S JUST PART OF THE PARKING LOT OF TARGET AND WILL LIKELY NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL 2027.
AND THEN WE JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS IS GOING TO BE A VERY DIFFERENT LOOKING SCHOOL WHEN WE DO BUILD A SCHOOL THERE, IT WILL LIKELY NEED TO BE SIX PLUS STORIES.
AND HOW WE COLOCATE THE HOUSING WILL STILL HAVE TO BE DETERMINED.
YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, SOPHIE JUST SO EVERYBODY CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
HERE'S KIND OF THE PLAN FOR NORTH POTOMAC YARD.
WE'RE KIND OF THAT SOUTH WELL IT'S THE ONE THAT'S TO THE RIGHT.
BUT IT'S THE MOST SOUTH BLOCK IN THE PLAN.
I'LL NOW TURN IT OVER TO SOPHIE AND SHE'LL TAKE US QUICKLY TO THE REST OF THE SITES.
GOOD EVENING CHAIR ALDERTON AND MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD.
WE HAVE A QUICK UPDATE ON LANDMARK.
THERE IS THE ABILITY TO NEGOTIATE FOR CO LOCATED SPACE.
HOWEVER, AS THIS DEVELOPMENT PROCESS MOVES FORWARD, THIS OPTION DOES NOT SEEM VIABLE AT THIS TIME.
INITIAL DISCUSSIONS WERE HELD WITH INOVA, AND ACPS WILL BE INVOLVED IN ANY PLAN APPROVALS.
FINANCES ARE ALSO CHALLENGING ON THE SITE FOR ACPS TO FIND SPACE.
THE CITY IS ALREADY SUBSIDIZING THE DEVELOPMENT.
ADDITIONALLY THE NEED FOR FIRE STATION WAS IDENTIFIED IN THE AREA.
AND THE CITY PRIORITIZED THE FIRE STATION NEAR THE SCHOOL IN THIS PLAN.
JUST FOR EVERYBODY'S INFORMATION, THE FIRE STATION IS LOCATED ON THE BOTTOM ON LOT J.
IT'S APPROXIMATELY A 4 ACRE SITE FOR SCHOOL USE.
WE PRELIMINARY ESTIMATE 120,000 DEVELOPABLE SQUARE FEET.
CURRENTLY, IT'S BEING USED AS A SOCCER AND BASEBALL FIELDS FOR THE COMMUNITY.
THE SITE IS ALREADY APPROVED FOR FIELD LIGHTING, AND IT WILL BE AVAILABLE TO ACPS NOW TO DEVELOP AS A SCHOOL SITE THROUGH THE DSUP PROCESS.
[00:45:01]
THERE ARE SOME SITE CHALLENGES HERE AS IT WOULD REQUIRE DISPLACING THE CURRENT USES.ADDITIONALLY, THERE'S AN ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION OR KV LINE THAT RUNS UNDER THE SITE.
WHICH REDUCES THE DEVELOPABLE AREA.
THIS IS THE AREA OF THE SITE OUTLINED IN YELLOW HERE TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF THE SHAPE OF THE LOT AND JUST FOR ITS LOCATION.
IT'S APPROXIMATELY HALF A MILE WALKING DISTANCE NORTH OF GEORGE WASHINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL.
THIS IS ANOTHER CO LOCATION OPPORTUNITY AT A SITE THAT IS YET TO BE DETERMINED.
THE SMALL AREA PLAN FOR EISENHOWER EAST RECOMMENDS THAT IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS LAND BE DEDICATED TO ACCOMMODATE A PUBLIC SCHOOL FACILITY.
IT'S ALSO EARLY IN THE PLANNING PROCESS.
AND THE EISENHOWER EAST AREA HAS MULTIPLE OWNERS.
WE WOULD NEED TO COORDINATE WITH THE CITY TO DETERMINE WHAT IS VIABLE AND WHEN A SITE WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO ACPS.
ADDITIONALLY, THE CHALLENGE IS A MINIMUM HEIGHT OF 125 FEET BUILDINGS.
AS ERIKA WAS DISCUSSING WITH THE POTOMAC YARDS, SCHOOL SITE MIGHT JUST LOOK A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
THIS IS THE PLAN FOR EISENHOWER EAST AS WELL AS IMAGES FROM THE PLAN.
AND LASTLY, WE HAVE THE GREEN HILL NORTH SITE.
THERE IS A 30,000 SQUARE FOOT LAND DESIGNATION.
THIS IS IN THE PLANNING PROCESS AND WE WILL COORDINATE WITH THE CITY TO DETERMINE WHEN THIS LAND WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE LONG TERM.
LIKELY 10 YEARS INTO THE FUTURE.
ANOTHER CHALLENGE FOR THE SITE IS OBVIOUSLY IT'S AREA FOR DEVELOPMENT IS LESS THAN AN ACRE.
AND I WILL TURN THE PRESENTATION BACK OVER TO ERIKA.
SO JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU GUYS THE INFORMATION FOR SOME OF OUR LEASES.
SO JUST SHOWING THAT OUR CENTRAL OFFICE LEASE, WE DO STILL HAVE UNTIL 2029.
AND JUST REFERENCING GIVEN HOW WE'VE BEEN WORKING OVER THE PAST YEAR, OUR NEEDS RELATIVE TO A CENTRAL OFFICE MIGHT CHANGE.
AND WE KNOW THAT WE DO DEFINITELY HAVE A NEED THERE THAT WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR.
AND THEN OUR WAREHOUSE, WE JUST EXTENDED FOR ANOTHER YEAR.
BUT THAT IS ALSO A NEED THAT WE'LL CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR.
AND SO POSSIBLE DISCUSSION TOPICS FOR NEXT UPDATE.
AGAIN, THIS IS THE FIRST OF HOPEFULLY MANY DISCUSSIONS WE'LL HAVE RELATED TO THIS.
WE KNOW WE WILL BE HAVING SOME CONFIDENTIAL ITEMS RELATED TO PRIVATE PROPERTY.
AS FOR OUR NEXT PUBLIC DISCUSSION OR SCHOOL BOARD TO CONSIDER FOR TONIGHT'S DISCUSSION, JUST ABOUT ENGAGING REAL ESTATE ASSISTANCE, WHICH WE HAVE BEEN USING AND HAVE USED IN THE PAST.
WHAT IS GOING TO BE OUR LONG TERM APPROACH FOR THESE DIFFERENT LEASES AND NEEDS THAT WE HAVE.
AND HOW DO WE WANT TO WORK ON ESTABLISHING A STRATEGIC PROCESS FOR LAND ACQUISITION TO DEFINE OUR NEEDS AND BE ABLE TO FULFILL THEM.
SOPHIE AND I ARE CERTAINLY HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
AND I'LL TURN IT BACK TO YOU, DR. HUTCHINGS AND BOARD CHAIR.
MS. ANDERSON, AND THEN MS. THORNTON.
MS. GULICK, CAN YOU CLARIFY FOR ME THE PLOT OF LAND THAT WE HAVE AT POTOMAC YARD.
BUT I THOUGHT THE LITTLE GRASSY SMALL PIECE OF LAND, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL THAT, WHERE PEOPLE WALK THEIR DOGS IS THE LAND THAT THEY GAVE US.
>> ORIGINALLY, I'M LOOKING AT THE IMAGE ON THE RIGHT.
ORIGINALLY WE HAD BLOCK 4 WHICH YOU SEE IS IN THE BACK.
THERE IS A GRASSY AREA, RETENTION POND OR SOMETHING OVER THERE.
AND THAT'S WHERE THE MOVIE THEATER PARKING LOT IS.
OUR SITE, THOUGH, MOVED TO BLOCK 23, WHICH IS WHERE SOPHIE IS POINTING TO RIGHT NOW.
THAT IS THE PARKING LOT ACROSS THE DEVELOPMENT THAT HAS THE GIANT IN IT.
SO THE GRASSY PIECE OF LAND WHERE PEOPLE WALK THEIR DOG.
I BELIEVE IT'S PART OF THE PARKING LOT AS WELL.
>> ACROSS FROM THE APARTMENT COMPLEX.
>> BUT IT WILL BE TOTALLY DIFFERENT IN 10 YEARS OF COURSE.
[00:50:04]
>> YEAH, I'VE BROUGHT THIS UP BEFORE, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE TO KEEP AT THE FOREFRONT BECAUSE THAT NORTH POTOMAC YARD, WILL IT BE GIVEN TO US WITH THE TOXIC WASTE REMEDIATED OR WILL WE HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT? IT'S NEXT DOOR TO A LOT THAT'S NOT REMEDIATED FOR USE AS A SCHOOL OR RESIDENTIAL.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT?
>> WE CAN FOLLOW UP AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THE CONDITIONS ARE THAT IT WILL BE GIVEN TO US.
I HAVEN'T HEARD ABOUT THAT BEFORE.
AND THEN THE SECOND QUESTION ABOUT THE SIMPSON ONE, EXACTLY HOW DOES IT DOES IT BI SECT THE PROPERTY OR IS IT REALLY TO ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER? THE TRANSMISSION LINES.
>> SO IT KIND OF RUNS RIGHT ALONG RICHMOND HIGHWAY ALMOST, IF YOU WOULD.
SO IT KIND OF CUTS THROUGH THE BACK OF THE WHOLE SITE.
THE CITY DID DO A FEASIBILITY STUDY ON IT.
AND THE WAY WE HAD IT CONFIGURED IN THE BUILDING, IT WAS IDENTIFIED AS A CHALLENGE.
WE HAVE THAT SPECIFIC MAP THAT WE COULD SHARE, TOO, IN A SUBSEQUENT UPDATE.
>> I IMAGINE IT WOULD NEED AN EASEMENT BEYOND THE ACTUAL TRANSMISSION LINE.
AND THIS IS THE SPACE THAT NOBODY WANTED 20 YEARS AGO.
THAT'S BASICALLY I SAW IT HAPPEN OVER A SERIES OF YEARS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, SOPHIE AND ERIKA FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I JUST WANTED TO ASK I GUESS A STRATEGY QUESTION MOVING FORWARD.
AND HOW THE BOARD CAN BEST ENGAGE WITH THE CITY ON THESE TYPES OF DISCUSSIONS.
I HATE IT KIND OF HARP ON THE PAST.
BUT YOU KNOW, WITH THAT LANDMARK DECISION, YOU KNOW, AND THE FIRE STATION BEING PRIORITIZED OVER A SCHOOL, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IN TALKING WITH CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AFTER THAT DECISION WAS KIND OF ANNOUNCED PUBLICLY, ONE OF THE THINGS I KNOW I HEARD A LOT WAS THAT THE SCHOOLS HAVE A LOT OF LAND THAT'S ALLOCATED IN THE FUTURE.
AND THE EXAMPLES GIVEN WERE THINGS LIKE GREEN HILL NORTH WHICH WE'VE ALREADY ESTABLISHED IS LESS THAN AN ACRE AND NOT A VIABLE SPACE FOR US TO DO MUCH WITH.
NORTH POTOMAC YARD, AS MS. GREEN POINTED OUT, SPACES WHERE PEOPLE WALK THEIR DOGS CURRENTLY.
IT'S NOT THE BEST SPACE FOR EXPANSION EITHER.
I KNOW THESE DISCUSSIONS ARE SENSITIVE AND THEY KIND OF HAPPEN WITH STAFF NOT NECESSARILY IN A PUBLIC FORUM.
BUT TO THE DISAGREE THIS BOARD COULD HAVE MORE DISCUSSIONS AT JOINT MEETINGS OR WHATEVER.
I WANT TO GET MORE FEEDBACK HOW WE CAN GET MORE INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS PUBLICLY.
>> MS. THORNTON, ONE, IT'S LATE.
SO I WANTED TO SAY MS. THORNTON, THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.
BECAUSE I REALLY DO THINK THAT THE JOINT FACILITIES AND THAT WAS THE PURPOSE IN ESTABLISHING THAT GROUP WAS SO THAT WE COULD HAVE THESE KINDS OF DISCUSSIONS.
AND I REALLY DO THINK WE CAN UTILIZE OUR CITY SCHOOL MEETINGS, TOO, WHICH THAT IS ONE OF THE RECURRING TOPICS THAT SHOWS UP AT OUR CITY SCHOOLS MEETING EACH MONTH.
BUT THE JOINT FACILITIES COMMISSION OR COLLABORATIVE IS REALLY WHERE A LOT OF THESE DISCUSSIONS ARE HAPPENING.
WE SENT TO THE BOARD JUST AN OVERVIEW OF ALL THE DIFFERENT SPACES THROUGHOUT ALEXANDRIA, THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA.
YOU'RE BEGINNING TO SEE HOW LIMITED WE ARE WITH THE THINGS WE NEED TO PURCHASE.
THAT'S WHY WHEN WE HAVE THE MONEY TO IT IS SO LIMITED.
BUT TO YOUR POINT, MS. THORNTON, THE JOINT FACILITIES GROUP IS A PRIME WAY FOR US TO HAVE THIS KIND OF ENGAGEMENT, AND THEN ALSO UTILIZING OUR MEETING TO TALK THROUGH SOME OF THESE.
SO EACH REPRESENTATIVE FOR BOTH ENTITIES, THE BOARD AS WELL AS CITY COUNCIL, CAN THEN GO BACK TO THEIR RESPECTIVE GROUPS AND HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS AS WELL AS BRING QUESTIONS TO THOSE MEETINGS EACH MONTH.
[00:55:04]
>> THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
THAT WAS REALLY HELPFUL TO REVIEW THIS INFORMATION.
I HAD ONE I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS.
BUT THE FIRST ONE IS YOU SAID THAT ON THE POTOMAC YARD SIDE THAT WE HAVE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING HAS TO BE CO LOCATED WITH IT.
I JUST WANT TO GET CLARITY ON THAT.
IT SEEMS LIKE IN THE PAST WE WERE HAVING A DISCUSSION ABOUT DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO CO LOCATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITH ANY SCHOOLS.
SO I JUST WAS TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW THAT DETERMINATION HAS ALREADY BEEN MADE FOR THAT SITE, IF THAT'S PART OF THE SMALL AREA PLAN OR SOMETHING.
IF YOU COULD JUST CLARIFY THAT.
AND THEN MY SECOND QUESTION WAS ABOUT JUST I'M JUST CURIOUS ABOUT HOW THE JOINT FACILITIES MASTER PLAN FITS INTO THIS.
ESPECIALLY BECAUSE I WAS REALLY SUPPLIED TO THE LIST TO SEE THAT THEY HAVE AS URGENT NEEDS NOT JUST THE SCHOOLS THAT ARE IN THE 10 YEAR CRP BUT REPLACING BOTH OF OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS, MOUNT VERNON.
I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE STRATEGY FOR THAT BECAUSE THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY.
I KNOW THERE'S ALREADY A LOT OF MONEY BEING INVESTED IN THE CIP.
WE'RE TAPPING OUT IN TERMS OF WHAT IT SEEMS LIKE THE CITY IS, YOU KNOW, FOR THE DEBT RATIO.
I WAS WONDERING IF YOU HAVE ANY INSIGHT FROM YOUR INVOLVEMENT IN THAT PROCESS, WHAT THE STRATEGY IS GOING TO BE MOVING FORWARD WITH FACILITIES IN GENERAL.
I'LL ANSWER THE FIRST ONE, AND THEN SOPHIE, MAYBE IF YOU WANT TO CHIME IN ON SOME OF THE UPDATES WE'VE ASKED THE CONSULTANT TO MAKE RELATED TO THE JOINT FACILITIES MASTER PLAN.
IN POTOMAC YARD, ONE OF THE IMPORTANT AND MAYBE NUANCED AND CHALLENGING THINGS TO NOTE IS ALL OF THESE PROPERTIES ARE COMING FROM PRIVATE DEVELOPERS.
THERE'S REALLY ONLY SO MUCH THAT THE CITY CAN PLACE ON THEM FOR PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT.
AND POTOMAC YARD, IT'S DESIGNATED FOR SCHOOL USE.
THE PROPERTY WOULD BE TURNED OVER TO CITY OWNERSHIP SO IT'S NOT NECESSARY TO SAY THAT ACPS WOULD OWN IT.
IF THE SCHOOL DECIDES NOT TO USE IT, IT GOES TO CITY SECOND.
THE DEVELOPER IS ASKED TO MEET A CERTAIN NUMBER OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS.
SO THEY ARE, IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THAT PROPERTY, THEY NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE ABLE TO ALSO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON THAT PROPERTY IN ORDER TO MAKE MEET THE AMOUNT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT THE CITY IS REQUESTING.
>> NO, THAT WAS CLEAR AND VERY INTERESTING.
AND THEN RELATED TO JOINT FACILITIES MASTER PLAN AND KIND OF, YOU KNOW, HOW WE'RE APPROACHING SOLUTIONS, MAYBE SOPHIE, IF YOU WANT TO RESPOND TO THAT.
WE PROVIDING A BOARD BRIEF IN APRIL STATING WHERE WE WERE IN THE PROCESS.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE DEEP INTO THE DRAFTING OF THE PLAN.
AND WE'RE HOPING TO PROVIDE ANOTHER UPDATE BY THE END OF THE MONTH.
BUT JUST AS PART OF THE FRAMEWORK OF THE PLAN, GOING THROUGH DECISION MAKING CRITERIA, COMMON GOALS FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND FOR THE CITY.
JUST SOME STANDARDS FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS AND HOW WE DEFINE THE STAGES OF CAPITAL PROJECT DEVELOPMENT, AND LOOKING FOR THOSE OPPORTUNITIES OF JOINTNESS BETWEEN EXISTING CO LOCATED SITES WHERE WE MIGHT ALREADY HAVE THE SCHOOL AND RECREATION CENTER ON SITE, AND WHAT CAN WE DO TO SYNCHRONIZE THE GOALS OF THE CITY AND THE SCHOOLS.
SO AS WE PROVIDE THOSE UPDATES FOR THE JFMP, WE'LL BE ABLE TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT OVERALL FRAMEWORK, AND THE PROCESS GOING FORWARD.
AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT CERTAIN SITES THAT YOU MAY HAVE IDEAS ABOUT.
ECHOES SOME OTHER SENTIMENTS OF MY COLLEAGUES.
I'LL BE A BIT COLLOQUIAL, I THOUGHT THE WAY THE WHOLE LANDMARK THING WAS ANNOUNCED WAS JACKED UP.
IT DIDN'T FEEL LIKE WE WERE ENGAGED IN THAT PROCESS AT ALL.
AND YOU KNOW, THERE'S THIS CLEARLY DECISION ABOUT THE FIRE STATION.
[01:00:01]
THE CITY COUNCIL HEARD US ALL CAMPAIGN ABOUT LANDMARK BEING A SPACE WE WERE CONSIDERING, AND THAT WAS NEVER DISCUSSED.SO I GUESS, YOU KNOW, I'M SORT OF CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THIS HAPPENS GOING FORWARD.
PARTICULARLY WITH THESE HIGH LEVEL CONVERSATIONS AROUND WHAT THE USES OF SITES ARE GOING TO BE.
AND SO I GUESS I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
ONE IS DR. HUTCHINGS, YOU HAD ALLUDED TO THE JOINT SESSIONS MEETINGS.
I KNOW FOR EXAMPLE WITH THE INOVA PARTNERSHIP, I'M GUESSING THEY WERE PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS.
YOU KNOW, THE THINGS THAT WOULD BE EQUIVALENT TO CLOSED SESSION TYPE DISCUSSIONS BECAUSE YOU HAVE NEGOTIATIONS AND REAL ESTATE IMPLICATIONS AND ALL THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.
I'M WONDERING IS A CONSTRAINT THAT WE CANNOT SPEAK ABOUT THESE SORT OF PENDING TRANSACTIONS THAT INVOLVE THE CITY WITH THE LEVEL OF CANDOR THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO IN A CLOSED SESSION BECAUSE OF THE LEGALITIES, THE SORT OF IMPLICATIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND DOES THAT SORT OF NECESSITATE HAVING SITUATIONS WHERE MAYBE CITY COUNCIL AND SCHOOL BOARD DO HAVE TO GO INTO AND I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S SUCH A THING AS A JOINT CLOSED SESSION.
BUT CONVERSATIONS WHEN THERE'S SORT OF SENSITIVITIES AROUND BIDDING ON A PROPERTY AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT.
APART OF THE JOINT FACILITIES MASTER PLANNING PROCESS, AND THAT SORT OF THING, YOU KNOW, DOES THERE NEED TO BE, AGAIN, BEATING A DEAD HORSE HERE, BUT JOINT POLICY, CODIFIED POLICY BETWEEN THE SCHOOL BOARD AND THE CITY COUNCIL AROUND, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT THESE TYPES OF OPTIONS.
MAKING SURE THE SCHOOL BOARD HAS A SEAT AT THE TABLE.
WHEN I SAY THE SCHOOL BOARD, I OBVIOUSLY INCLUDE THE STAFF.
BECAUSE I JUST DON'T THINK WE CAN HAVE THESE SITUATIONS HAPPEN AGAIN WHERE THE SCHOOL BOARD ISN'T IN THE LOOP ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THESE VERY CRUCIAL DECISIONS.
AND YOU KNOW, WE GOT THE PRESENTATION ABOUT LANDMARK.
IT SOUNDED LIKE PARTNERSHIPS AREN'T VIABLE.
I WONDER IF THE PARTNERSHIPS WOULD HAVE BEEN VIABLE HAD WE BEEN ENGAGED IN THE PROCESS AT THE FRONT END MORE.
SO I'M JUST CURIOUS WHAT YOUR ALL'S THOUGHTS ARE ON THOSE ISSUES.
>> I DEFINITELY BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE SOME SITUATIONS WHERE, I MEAN, DUE TO LEGALITIES OR SENSITIVITY ON CERTAIN TOPICS THAT WE'RE NOT ABLE TO HAVE DEEP DISCOURSE PUBLICLY.
MS. ABERZAZE MAY BE ABLE TO GIVE US INSIGHT IN TO WHAT IS A CLOSED SESSION BETWEEN THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE BOARD TO ACTUALLY HAVE SOME, YOU KNOW, SOME CONVERSATIONS, IN DEPTH CONVERSATIONS AROUND CONTRACTUAL OR LEGAL PARAMETERS THAT MIGHT BE SET FOR SOME LAND ACQUISITION OPPORTUNITIES.
SHE WOULD HAVE TO SPEAK SPECIFICALLY TO THAT.
BECAUSE I DO NOT KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION.
BUT I DO THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES THAT IS THE CASE WHERE WE AREN'T ABLE TO HAVE, EVEN FROM THE STAFF AND THE BOARD, SOME CONVERSATIONS WE JUST CAN'T HAVE PUBLICLY BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE LEGALITIES THAT DO OCCUR.
WOULD HAVE A ROBUST DISCUSSION IN A SESSION SUCH AS NOW, A WORK SESSION.
DID YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING TO THAT?
>> I JUST SAW SHE CAME OFF MUTE IF SHE WANTED TO RESPOND.
I WAS JUST GOING TO I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS REALLY THE MOMENT.
BUT AS YOU ALL ARE WEAR FOR CLOSED SESSION IT WOULD HAVE TO INVOLVE EITHER PENDING LITIGATION OR CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS ESSENTIAL.
OR THE PURCHASE OF REAL PROPERTY CAN SOMETIMES ALSO QUALIFY.
BECAUSE YOU'RE DISCUSSING THAT ACTUAL PURCHASE.
AND JUST TO TIE THIS IN A BOW, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT IF WE COULD DISCUSS IT PUBLICLY WITHOUT HAVING AN ADVERSE IMPACT, I THINK WE SHOULD DO THAT.
AND YOU KNOW, JUST THE GENERAL POINT, AND I DON'T KNOW IF MS. ABBURRSESE, YOU'RE ABLE TO DO THAT NOW.
I DON'T WANT TO DUMP MORE ON YOUR PLATE.
IF OTHER CITIES OR THE SCHOOL BOARD THERE ARE SCHOOL BOARDS AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT HAVE THEIR OWN BONDING AUTHORITY, THAT HAVE THEIR OWN AUTHORITY TO DO
[01:05:07]
CAPITAL THINGS.SO IN THAT UNIVERSE, WE HAVE TO HAVE SOME SORT OF CODIFIED POLICY TO MAKE SURE THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN.
AND I FRANKLY, THINK DECADES OF THIS SORT OF THING HAPPENING.
AS MS. ANDERSON ALLUDED TO, WE GET THE SLOPPY SECONDS LEFT OVER.
THE TOXIC WASTE DUMP IN POTOMAC YARD.
THE PLACE WITH THE LINE UNDER IT THAT WE CAN'T BUILD ON.
SCHOOL BOARD IN TERMS OF BONDING AUTHORITY, CAPITAL TO DO THEIR OWN INITIATIVES HAVE VERY LITTLE AUTONOMY, YOU KNOW.
AND SO I JUST FEEL LIKE THAT NEEDS TO BE A CONVERSATION.
FRANKLY, WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE SCHOOL BOARD TONIGHT.
THERE'S A LOT OF FUNDAMENTAL CONVERSATIONS THAT NEED TO HAPPEN AROUND THAT.
AND I THINK THIS IS ANOTHER ONE.
I WANT TO SECOND EVERYTHING THAT MR. SUAREZ JUST SAID.
I THINK THAT'S ALL REALLY IMPORTANT.
I ALSO THINK, AND THIS IS A LITTLE TRICKY BECAUSE YOU KNOW, I'M AWARE OF THE PROCESS.
AND YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT'S POSSIBLE ON A SITE THAT REALLY IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS LATER IN A PROCESS.
I HAVE A FEELING THAT WE I THINK, FIRST OF ALL, THIS PRESENTATION WAS INCREDIBLY ILLUMINATING.
AND I WANT TO THANK BOTH THE SCHOOL STAFF AND THE CITY STAFF FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.
BECAUSE IT'S REALLY GREAT FOR EVERYBODY.
EVERYBODY ON THE CITY SIDE, AND THE COMMUNITY, TO SEE WHAT WE'RE REALLY DEALING WITH.
AS ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES ALLUDED TO EARLIER.
IT'S VERBALLY SAID, WELL THERE ARE OTHER SITES.
THESE SITES HAVE ISSUES, SHALL WE SAY.
AND EVEN IF WE CAN BE CREATIVE AND SURMOUNT SOME OF THESE ISSUES, I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE, I THINK THIS IS REALLY HELPFUL.
BUT I THINK WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT IN ADDITION TO EVERYTHING ELSE OTHERS HAVE SUGGESTED.
MAYBE THE NEXT LEVEL OF DATA ON THESE SITES.
IF THIS SITE REALLY DOES HAVE A POWER LINE RUNNING THROUGH IT, IT MEANS WE CANNOT HAVE ANYTHING MORE THAN A BUILDING THIS BIG, THIS TALL THAT WOULD ACCOMMODATE THIS MANY PEOPLE.
I THINK WE MIGHT NEED SOME KIND OF BASIC SORTS OF INFORMATION AROUND THAT.
BECAUSE I THINK OTHERWISE EVERYONE'S GOING TO KEEP INTERPRETING THIS THE WAY THAT WORKS BEST FOR THEIR INTERNAL MONOLOGUE.
AND I JUST, I THINK WE WON'T GET FURTHER IN THE PROCESS.
BUT I JUST I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION.
AND I THINK IN A LOT OF WAYS WHAT I THINK WHAT WAS GREAT ABOUT THIS PRESENTATION IS IT REALLY SHOWED WHAT'S NOT THERE.
AND I'LL JUST THROW IN, I ECHO EVERYBODY'S SORT OF SENTIMENTS AND COMMENTS HERE.
YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT THAT PRESENTATION DOES NOT MAKE ME FEEL HOPEFUL.
THERE'S NOTHING GIVEN THE DIRE NEEDS THAT WE ALREADY KNOW WE HAVE, AND EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLY MAYBE SO 10 YEARS OUT.
I MEAN, THAT'S WE CAN'T KEEP DOING THIS.
SO YOU KNOW, I AGREE WE GOTTA FIGURE SOMETHING OUT.
I THINK PART OF THE KEY THING IS WE CANNOT MISS OUT ON ANY OPPORTUNITY THAT POPS UP.
WHENEVER IT POPS UP, WE'VE GOT TO GO FOR IT.
SO YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I EVEN THINK ABOUT ALL THE FRUSTRATION AROUND, YOU KNOW, BUILDINGS BEING OPEN DURING THIS PANDEMIC.
WELL THE CAPACITY CRUNCH THAT WE WERE IN PRIOR TO, AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
[01:10:02]
IMPLEMENTING CDC GUIDELINES IN SOME OF THESE SPACES, THERE'S A BREAKING POINT HERE.IT'S ALREADY BROKEN PRETTY BADLY.
I JUST THANK ALL MY COLLEAGUES FOR WHAT YOU HAD TO SAY.
>> YOU SAID YOU HAVE THESE QUESTIONS FOR A FUTURE CONVERSATION, WHEN DO YOU THINK THE NEXT TIME WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT THIS WILL BE?
>> WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A CLOSED SESSION SOON TO HAVE SOME DISCUSSIONS ABOUT SOME THINGS THAT INVOLVE SOME LEGALITIES.
AND THEN WE'LL BE ABLE TO BRING TO THE BOARD KIND OF A TIME LINE I THINK OVER THE NEXT YEAR OF WHEN WE HAVE THESE KIND OF CHECK INS.
I THINK IT WILL BE IMPORTANT FOR US TO GO AHEAD AND MAYBE SET A TIME FRAME OVER THE NEXT YEAR TO COME BACK AND REVISIT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT.
SO WE'LL BRING SOMETHING BACK TO THE BOARD WITH MORE SPECIFICS.
BUT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A CLOSED SESSION WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH WITH SOME MORE INFORMATION.
SO THAT IS THE LAST ITEM FOR OUR WORK SESSION.
SUSAN JUST DID A HOORAY OVER IN THE CORNER.
>> SO I DO NOW NEED WE NEED TO RECONVENE.
YES.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.