[00:00:02] GOOD EVENING. [1. Meeting Called to Order by Chair Alderton] WELCOME TO THIS SPECIAL CALLED MEETING IN AUGUST OF 2021. I AM CALLING THE MEETING TO ORDER AT 7:03 P.M. WE ARE NOT GONNA CALL ROLL. ARE WE, SUSAN? ARE WE JUST GOING TO -- WE DON'T NEED TO CALL ROLL, RIGHT? OKAY. ALL RIGHT. I'LL DO IT THIS TIME AND FIGURE IT OUT FOR THE NEXT TIME. I'LL CALL ROLL TO SEE WHO IS PRESENT AND THEM WE'LL BE CLEAR ON WHO IS ABSENT. WE DO HAVE SOMEONE WE HAVE TO APPROVE FOR VIRTUAL UH 10 -- ATTENDANCE. MEAGAN ALDER SON AND CINDY ANDERSON IS ABSENT. RAMEE GENTRY IS HERE. DO WE HEAR YOU, RAMEE? >> YES. I WASN'T SURE IF I WAS -- >> YES. >> GREEN. >> HERE. >> VERONICA NOLAN. >> HERE. >> MICHELLE RIEF. >> HERE. >> CHRISTOPHER SUAREZ. >> HERE. >> MARGARET LORBER IS ABSENT. [3. Adopt the Agenda for the August 3, 2021 Special Called School Board Meeting] MAY I PLEASE HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE AGENDA? >> MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE WE ADOPT THE AGENDA. >> SECOND. >> SO I HAVE MS. GREEN WHO SECONDS DR. RIEF'S MOTION. I'M SORRY. I HAVE DR. RIEF WHO SECONDS MS. GREEN'S MOTION. WE CAN GO AHEAD AND VOTE ON THE AGENDA. WE ARE SUPPOSED TO. YES. >> ALL RIGHT. WE ARE JUST WORKING ON SOME TECHNICAL STUFF. HOLD ON A SECOND. [00:05:06] >> ALL RIGHT. WHILE WE'RE TRYING TO WORK ON THE TECHNICAL ISSUE HERE, I THINK WHAT WE WILL DO IS CALL FOR THE VOTE AND MS. CHANEL, OUR WONDERFUL CLERK WILL RECORD OUR VOTES. OKAY? WE WILL CALL FOR THE VOTE. MEAGAN ALDERTON IS A YES ON ADOPTING THE AGENDA. WE HAVE CINDY ANDERSON WHO IS ABSENT. RAMEE GENTRY? >> I CAN'T VOTE YET. >> SO YOU CAN VOTE ORALLY. >> OH THAT'S RIGHT. I'M SORRY. THIS IS MESSY. JACINTA GREENE. >> YES. >> MARGARET LORBER IS ABSENT. VERONICA NOLAN. >> YES. >> CHRISTOPHER SUAREZ. >> YES. >> HEATHER THORTON. >> YES. >> WE HAVE ADOPTED THE AGENDA WITH 6-4 NUMBERS. WE HAVE TWO WHO ARE ABSENT AND ONE WE WILL ADDRESS NEXT. WE DO NEED A MOTION FOR PARTICIPATION FOR RAMEE GENTRY TO PARTICIPATE BY [4. Allow Participation of Board Member Ramee Gentry by Electronic Means] ELECTRONIC MEANS. MADAM VICE CHAIR, WILL YOU MAKE THAT MOTION? >> YES, CHAIR ALDER SON. MISS RAMEE GENTRY NOTIFIED THE CHAIR SHE SUN ABLE TO BE PHYSICALLY PRESENT FOR TONIGHT'S MEETING DUE TO A SPECIFIC MATTER OUT OF STATE MATTER. AND SHE HAS NOT BEEN PART OF MEETINGS VIA ELECTRIC MEANS AND SHE REQUESTS TO PARTICIPATE VIA VIDEO CONFERENCE FROM HARPERS FERRY, WEST VIRGINIA WHERE THE VIDEO CONFERENCE WILL BE HEARD BY ALL PARTICIPANTS IN THIS BOARDROOM AND WHERE A FORM OF THE BOARD IS ASSEMBLED IN THIS BOARDROOM. I MOVE TO 2.2-3078 THAT THE BOARD APPROVE THE PARTICIPATION OF RAMEE GENTRY IN THIS MEETING BY ELECTRONIC MEANS. >> SECOND. >> SO I HAVE MR. SUAREZ WHO SECONDS MS. NOLAN'S MOTION. SO WE WILL CALL FOR THE VOTE AGAIN. MEAGAN ALDER SON IS A YES. CINDY ANDERSON IS ABSENT. JACINTA GREENE. >> YES. >> VERONICA NOLAN. >> YES. >> MICHELLE RIEF. >> YES. >> CHRISTOPHER SUAREZ. >> YES. >> HEATHER THORTON. >> YES. >> MARGARET LORBER IS ABSENT. WE HAVE APPROVED WITH SIX BOARD MEMBERS PARTICIPATION FOR MS. RAMEE GENTRY VIA ELECTRONIC MEANS. MOVING ON WE HAVE COMMUNICATIONS AND ADDRESSES TO THE BOARD THIS EVENING [5. Public Hearing on ESSER III (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) Plan Use of Funds] AND THIS IS OUR PUBLIC HEARING ON OUR ESSER III AND THE USE OF FUNDS AND SO WE DO HAVE TWO SPEAKERS. THIS PUBLIC HEARING ON ESSER III PLANNING FUNDS, REMARKS ON OTHER TOPICS ARE NOT ALLOWED DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING. YOU WILL HAVE AS USUAL THREE MINUTES IN WHICH TO DELIVERY MARKS TO THE BOARD. AND THE CLERK WILL LET YOU KNOW WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP. FIRST UP WE HAVE MS. KRISTEN AMONSON AND SHE IS PROVIDING HER COMMENTS VIA ZOOM. MS. AMUNDSON, ARE YOU THERE? >> I AM HERE. CAN YOU HEAR ME? >> YES, WE CAN. >> ALL RIGHT. I AM TRYING TO GET MY CAMERA TO WORK. WELL, I'LL JUST TALK WITH MY PICTURE, I GUESS. CHAIR ALDERTON, SUPERINTENDENT HUTCHINGS AND MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD, I AM KRISTEN AMUNDSON AND HERE TO REPRESENT EDU-TUTOR VA. IT IS AN HONOR TO TALK ABOUT LEARNING LOSSES WHEN KIDS COME BACK TO SCHOOL THIS FALL. WHEN SCHOOLS CLOSED IN MARCH DURING COVID, AMERICA LEARNED A VERY DIFFICULT TRUTH. THE DIGITAL DIVIDE IS REAL AND IT IS DEEP. JUST LAST WEEK A REPORT FROM THE MATT GROVE PEOPLE SAID THIS, STUDENT LEARNING HAS BEEN DISRUPTED ON AN UNPRECEDENTED SCALE AND HAS EXPOSED PREVIOUSLY UNSEEN AND DEEPER INEQUITIES IN OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM. THAT WAS EVEN IN ALEXANDRIA WHERE YOU WORKED INCREDIBLY HARD TO KEEP STUDENTS ENGAGED AND INVOLVED DURING COVID. [00:10:03] BUT THE HONEST TO GOODNESS TRUTH IS THIS. EVEN THE VERY BEST AND MOST DEDICATED TEACHERS IN THAT GROUP ALL BY THEMSELVES NEED TIME TO RECHARGE AND NEED TIME TO SPEND WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND THAT'S WHERE WE COME IN. I AM ONE OF THE CO-FOUNDERS OF A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, EDU-TUTOR VA, THAT WAS LAUNCHED TO PREVENT LEARNING LOSS. WE PROVIDE FREE RESEARCH-BASED ONLINE TUTORING TO CLOSE EDUCATION GAPS. LAST YEAR WE WERE THRILLED TO WORK AT WILLIAM RAMSEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WITH A TERRIFIC PRINCIPAL AND A WONDERFUL STAFF. HERE'S WHAT WE DO. AS WE SEARCH RECOMMENDS, ED U-TUTOR VA HAS TUTORS THAT WORK IN GROUPS OF TWO TO THREE STUDENTS ON A FREQUENT BASIS AND TYPICALLY THREE TIMES A WEEK. THESE TUTORS ARE PRE-SERVICE EDUCATORS AND WE PAY THEM BECAUSE WE WANT THEM TO TREAT THIS AS A PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY. WE KNOW WE'VE MADE A DIFFERENCE, AND WE ARE NOW TRYING DURING THE SUMMER TO DESIGN INDIVIDUALIZED PROGRAMS AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR OUR STUDENTS FOR NEXT YEAR. THAT'S WHERE THIS ISSUE COMES IN. WHILE WE WANT TO CONTINUE OUR WORK AT RAMSEY, WE ARE ALSO VERY INTERESTED IN EXPANDING TO AN ADDITIONAL SCHOOL. WE CONSIDER HAMMOND'S MIDDLE SCHOOL TO BE A LOGICAL ADDITION SO THAT STUDENTS MIGHT END UP ACTUALLY WITH FOUR YEARS OF TARGETED INDIVIDUALIZED TUTORING. OUR COSTS ARE ROUGHLY $1500 PER STUDENT WHICH IS SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN ANY OTHER HIGH INTENSITY TUTORING PROGRAM ACROSS THE COUNTRY. NOW, WE HAVE PROVIDED THAT COMPLETELY FREE OF CHARGE. OF COURSE THE FAMILIES COULD ALSO DO ACPS. AS WE ADD ADDITIONAL SCHOOLS WE WILL NEED OUR PARTNER SCHOOL DIVISIONS TO JOIN ABOUT US IN SUPPORTING THIS EFFORT. WE BELIEVE FUNDING FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN WHICH MANDATES 25% OF TOTAL CLUBS -- >> I'M SORRY, BUT YOUR TIME IS UP. >> IS AN IDEAL SOURCE OF FUNDING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT. NEXT UP WE HAVE ASHLEY SIMPSON- BAIRD AND SHE IS PROVIDING COMMENTS IN PERSON. >> GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO GRANT INPUT ON THE ESSER III PLAN. I AM SPEAKING AS A PARENT, COMMUNITY MEMBER, EDUCATOR AND POLICY ANALYST. I WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON SIX SPECIFIC STRENGTHS I SEE IN ACPS'S PLAN. ONE ALIGNMENT WITH CURRENT ACPS STRATEGY. TWO, PROVIDING [INAUDIBLE]. THREE, FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS. FOUR TIGHTENING UP FRAMEWORK. FIVE, IMPROVING THE PIPELINE. SECOND I WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON THE PLAN'S FRAMING. THIS ONE-TIME FEDERAL FRAMING IS BOLD AND UNPRECEDENTED. ACPS SHOULD USE IT TO MAKE BOLD AND UNPRECEDENT -- UNPRECEDENTED ACTIONS. THERE ARE DRASTIC CHANGES THAT COULD CHANGE EDUCATION FOR A GENERATION OF STUDENTS. TO THIS END I PROPOSE TO RECOVER, RETAIN AND REIGNITE [INAUDIBLE] YET IS ONLY INFERRED FROM THE PLAN. USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO STRENGTHEN TIER1 INSTRUCTION AND ENSURE EQUITABLE EDUCATION FOR ALL. OUR TIERS STEP IN ENHANCING TIER1 INSTRUCTION IS TO HELP CONTENT AREAS SPECIFIC 8 PROTEIS TO ACCELERATED LEARNING SO STUDENTS CAN ENGAGE IN GRADE-LEVEL CONTENT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. RESEARCH ON ACCELERATED TEACHING IS PROVEN ADVANTAGEOUS. IT WILL NOT ONLY SERVE TO ADDRESS UNFINISHED LEARNING, BUT SERVE EDUCATORS TO IMPROVE IT SHOULD ALSO BE SUPPORTED BY ADDITIONAL STAFFING IN SCHOOL YEAR 21-22. I ASK WE INCLUDE THE MONITORS, SMALL GROUP WORK AND TUTORING. SCHOOLTIME WRITERS ARE PROVIDING TARGETED SKILLS FOR ANY STUDENTS WHO MAY HAVE GAPS. EVEN WITH MINIMAL TRAINING AND THE RIGHT RESOURCES CAN BE EFFECTIVE TUTORS. MAKE SURE ALL FAMILIES REGARDLESS OF HOME LANGUAGE OR PRIOR EDUCATION KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THEIR CHILD'S SCHOOL AND CLASSROOM. IT CAN BE ACHIEVED THROUGH COMMUNICATION THAT OFFERS 2-WAY TRANSLATION AND AUDIO [00:15:02] AND VIDEO BETWEEN FAMILIES AND SCHOOLS. THE MORE ENGAGED YOU CAN PROVIDE HELP TO STUDENTS. IDENTIFY NEEDS AND INVEST -- OR ININVEST IN THE TRAINING INSTITUTE. VIRTUAL LEARNING PROVIDES A GLIMPSE INTO SCHOOL LEARNING WHICH HAS PROVIDED SOME CONCERNS. LET'S PROVIDE A POSITIVE PLATFORM TO CHANNEL FAMILY INTEREST IN OUR SCHOOLS. THANK YOU. THIS CONCLUDES MY COMMENTS. >> THANK YOU. THAT CONCLUDES OUR COMMENTS FOR THIS EVENING AND WE ALSO RECEIVED A WRITTEN PUBLIC HEARING COMMENT FROM ELIZABETH SELTZER WHICH WAS POSTED IN TODAY'S AGENDA. I'M STILL TALKING, SUSAN. AND MS. SELTZER ASKED THAT ACPS MAKES IT A PRIORITY TO USE THE FUNDS TO IMPROVE OUTDATED ACPS BUILDINGS AND IMPROVE SERVICES, EQUIPMENT AND STAFFING FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AS WELL AS CONTINUING WITH ONLINE LEARNING FOR 21-22. THANK YOU, EVERYONE FOR THOSE COMMENTS. THEY WERE ALL GREAT. APPRECIATE EVERYONE TAKING THE TIME TO COME OUT AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK. SO WE ARE MOVING INTO NEW BUSINESS AND REPORTS TO THE BOARD. THIS IS THE BIG EVENT FOR THE EVENING. WE ARE GONNA HEAR ABOUT OUR RESCUE PLAN FOR ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL [6. American Rescue Plan: Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund III] EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND USAGE. I'M GOING TO TURN THAT OVER TO DR. HUTCHINGS. >> AND THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND WELCOME BACK TO OUR BOARD. IT IS SO GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL IN THIS SPACE. WE MISSED YOU IN THIS SPACE. WE REALLY DID. I GENUINELY MEAN THAT. I REALLY MISSED YOU ALL. I CAN SEE WE ARE LEARNING HOW TO RIDE OUR BIKES AGAIN. YOU ARE ALL A QUICK STUDY SO IT IS WORKING OUT JUST FINE. YOU ARE DOING A GREAT JOB. I WANT TO START OFF BEFORE WE GET STARTED TO KIND OF SHARE WITH OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL AS WITH THE BOARD THAT THESE ESSER III FUNDS ARE TOTALLY, TOTALLY -- WE ARE TOTALLY APPRECIATIVE OF THE WORK OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND OUR STATE IS DOING TO PROVIDE US WITH THESE ADDITIONAL FUNDS. AS YOU ALL KNOW, I MEAN, WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH THIS GLOBAL PANDEMIC, AND WE ARE STILL IN IT. IT IS NOT OVER. A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK IT IS, BUT IT IS NOT OVER. WE HAVE TO WORK THROUGH THIS AND PIVOT AS INFORMATION COMES IN AND NEW REPORTS COME OUT. THIS IS IMPORTANT FUNDING FOR US AT A TIME OF NEED AND WE ARE GREATLY APPRECIATIVE OF IT. I ALSO WANT TO SHARE THAT OUR TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING TOWARDS IDENTIFYING HOW TO SPEND THESE FUNDS NOT JUST INTERNATIONALLY, BUT A PART OF THE ESSER III WAS TO GET INPUT AND OUR TEAM WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THIS LATER. INPUT FROM OUR COMMUNITY AND A LOT OF COMMUNITY INPUT WE HAD THIS PAST SPRING HELPED US TO DRAFT THIS PLAN. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WAS CREATED IN ISOLATION OR JUST A COUPLE OF PEOPLE. THERE WAS A LOT OF INSIGHT THAT WAS PROVIDED FOR US TO MAKE THIS POSSIBLE. FINALLY I WANT TO THANK OUR CONSULTANT WE WERE WORKING WITH. WE WORKED WITH A COMPANY THAT IS A CONSULTING FIRM THAT SPECIFICALLY WORKS WITH LEADERS WHO ARE INNOVATIVE AND TRYING TO GO BEYOND WHAT WE ARE DOING TODAY AND BE A LOT MORE VISIONARY. WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE THE CO-FOUNDER OF THRU AND WORKED WITH ANOTHER ORGANIZATION THAT WE WORKED WITH WITHIN THE SCHOOL DIVISION. WE HAD SOME CONSULTING THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS AS WELL. AS YOU KNOW WE ARE JUGGLING NOT ONLY ESSER, BUT SUMMER LEARNING, REOPENING OF SCHOOLS, CDC GUIDELINES, VDH GUIDELINES, THAT WE DID NEED SOME OF THE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT. THANKFULLY WE HAVE FUNDS LIKE THIS TO HELP US FUND SOME OF THE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR TONIGHT'S PRESENTATION. I WILL TURN IT OVER TO OUR TEAM SO WE CAN GET STARTED. BEFORE I DO THAT I WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU BECAUSE I DID NOT DO THAT AT THE BEGINNING. ALL OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS WHO ARE PART OF THE COMMITTEE AS WELL AS OUR LEADS WHO ARE GOING TO BE SPEAKING TONIGHT. THANK YOU ALL. I TELL YOU THIS EVERY OPPORTUNITY I GET. I KNOW HOW HARD YOU ALL ARE WORKING. I GET TO SEE YOU EVERY SINGLE DAY WHETHER IT IS THROUGH ZOOM OR IN PERSON, BUT I CAN SEE THE TIRELESS WORK YOU DO AND IT IS APPRECIATED NOT ONLY ON BEHALF OF OUR STUDENTS, BUT OUR STAFF. [00:20:01] SO I'M GOING TO TURN THINGS OVER TO MR. ROBERT EASLEY WHO WILL BEGIN THE PROCESS. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, DR. HUTCHINGS. GOOD EVENING CHAIR ALDERTON AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. I AM ROBERT EASLEY. ON BEHALF OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT THIS EVENING I WILL BE SPEAR HEADING A PRESENTATION REGARDING THE ACPS AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND PLAN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. THERE WE GO. TONIGHT WHAT WE HOPE TO ADDRESS ARE ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS. WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS OF THESE ARP ESSER FUNDS? 2, HOW MIGHT WE USE THESE FUNDS TO STRENGTHEN AND DEEPEN OUR STRATEGIC PLAN AND CONTINUITY LEARNING PLAN 6.0 AND HOW DOES IT IMPACT OUR TARGETED STUDENTS AND FAMILIES? AND 3, IN WHAT WAYS CAN OUR COMMUNITY SUPPORT OUR PRIORITIZED INITIATIVES AND GET INVOLVED IN THE ON GOING WORK? ALLOW ME TO SET THE CONTEXT A LITTLE ABOUT THIS. THROUGHOUT TONIGHT'S CONVERSATION YOU WILL ENCOUNTER OUR OWN VERSION OF ALPHABET SOUP. YOU WILL SEE THE ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL EMERGENCY RELIEF WHICH IS ESSER. WE MAY MENTION THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, THE USDOE OR IN SOME CASES THE USED. WE WILL REFER TO THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, VOE. YOU WILL SEE LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCIES, LEA AS WELL AS OUR OWN SOCIAL EMOTIONAL AND ACADEMIC LEARNING ACRONYMM, SEAL. FOR CONTEXT, THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN WAS SIGNED INTO LAW IN MARCH OF 2021. THROUGH A SPECIFIC FUNDING ALLOCATION, ACPS IS SET TO RECEIVE $30.8 MILLION. THE PURPOSE OF THE FUNDS WAS MULTI-FOLD TO OPEN AND SUSTAIN THE OPERATIONS OF SCHOOL AS WELL AS ADDRESS THE IMPACTS OF COVID 19 ON STUDENTS' SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS. WHILE IT WAS ENCOURAGING APPLICANTS TO BUILD LONG-TERM SYSTEMS OF SUPPORT TO MODERNIZE AND SUSTAIN THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE MADE THUS FAR. WE WILL TALK WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS? VDOE REQUIRES THERE IS A PLAN FOR SAFE RETURN TO IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION AND CONTINUITY OF SERVICES. THE PLAN SHOULD INCLUDE FUNDING FOR THE PREVENTION AND MITIGATION STRATEGIES WE PLAN TO IMPLEMENT AND ADDRESS UNFINISHED LEARNING AND ADDRESS STUDENTS' SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS ALONG WITH ACADEMIC NEEDS. ONE OF THE GUIDING STRATEGIES WE SET FORTH, AS WE CONTINUE OUR JOURNEY TO RECOVER FROM THE PANDEMIC, ACPS IS APPROACHING THE 21-22 SCHOOL YEAR WITH A MISSION TO RECOVER, RETAIN AND REIGNITE. I LIKE THE PUBLIC COMMENT WE HAD EARLIER, TO REIMAGINE HOW WE APPROACH INSTRUCTION IN ACPS. A HUGE PART OF THE STRATEGY WAS TO USE THE FUNDS TO DRIVE THE GOALS OUTLINED IN OUR STRATEGIC PLANNED EQUITY FOR ALL AND THE PLANS OUTLINED IN THE CONTINUITY OF LEARNING PLAN 6.0 REOPENING PLAYBOOK. WE WILL ENSURE THAT STUDENTS ARE ENGAGED IN OUR CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION, UTILIZING WHAT IS NEEDED TO PARTICIPATE IN A SAFE, FRIENDLY AND WELCOMING LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. HOW DO WE ORGANIZE OUR COMMUNITIES? ARP ESSER PLAN HAS FOUR FOCUS AREA TEAMS. WHO WILL WORK COLLABORATIVE FOR SPECIFICS TO COMPLEMENT SUCCESSFUL STRATEGIES IN PLACE THROUGHOUT ACPS AND OUR COMMUNITY. THESE TEAMS ARE SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT AND EQUITY, ACADEMIC LEARNING, TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE AND CAPITAL NEEDS. THEY HAVE BEEN MEETING, PRIORITIZING AND PLANNING FOR THE RELEASE OF THIS PLAN. SO OUR PROCESS OF MILESTONES, HOW DO WE GO ABOUT THIS? WE STARTED PRESENTING OUR COMMITTEES AND TEAMS TO ASSESS THE NEEDS AND GATHERING DATA TO COME UP WITH A PRIORITY LIST OF INITIATIVES. [00:25:03] IN JULY AND EARLY AUGUST WE ARE PRIORITIZING THEM FOR COMMENT. FOR THE REMAINDER OF AUGUST AND TOWARD THE END OF AUGUST WE ARE DEVELOPING IMPLEMENTATION PLANS AND FINAL LIESING OUR APPLICATION FOR SUBMISSION TO VDOE. OUR PLAN IS TO SUBMIT BY AUGUST 25TH WITH A DEADLINE OF SEPTEMBER 1ST TO SUBMIT THE APPLICATION. OUR WORKING DOCUMENTS, THERE ARE MULTIPLE DOCUMENTS THAT ARE BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE PLAN WE HAVE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. WE HAVE OUR PROJECT PLANNING MATERIAL THAT'S ARE WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES THAT HELP REDUCE THE PLAN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AND THEN BEHIND THE SCENES THERE IS AN INITIATIVE LIST AND A CORRESPONDING BUDGET THAT WILL GO LIVE WITH THE INITIATIVES. AND ULTIMATELY WHAT WE PLAN TO HAVE AND WHAT IS A REQUIREMENT IS HAVING REPORTING DASHBOARDS. WE WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THE SPECIFIC INITIATIVES THAT WE HIGHLIGHT IN THE ESSER FRAME. ONE OF THE GENERAL PRINCIPALS WE HAVE FOR FUNDING, IT WAS INFLUENCED BY OVER 700 RESPONDENTS TO A STAKEHOLDER SURVEY THAT WE CONDUCTED IN JUNE. BASED ON THE RESPONSES OF THE STAKEHOLDERS, THERE WERE THREE PARTICULAR FOCUS AREAS THAT WE WERE TASKED TO FOCUS ON. WE WERE TASKED TO CONCENTRATE ON EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMS AND HIGH IMPACT AREAS. TWO, THEY WANTED TO FIND WAYS TO BUILD ON OUR INTERNAL CAPACITY AND NOT SEEK OUTSIDE SOURCES OR OUTSIDE RESOURCES TO HELP IMPLEMENT OUR PLAN. AND 3, TO IMPLEMENT OUR INITIATIVES WITH FIDELITY AND SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION AND MONITORING. AT THIS POINT NOW I WOULD LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO MY ESTEEMED COLLEAGUES AS THEY WILL CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION REGARDING THEIR PARTICULAR FOCUS AREAS AND THE PRELIMINARY ALLOCATIONS FOR THEIR FUNDING INITIATIVES. >> THANK YOU, MR. EASLEY AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. DEPARTMENT OF STUDENT SERVICES IS LUCKY TO PARTNER WITH TEACHING, LEARNING AND LEADERSHIPS AND SPECIFICALLY DR. SIMPSON'S TEAM AS WE LOOK AT RECOVERY AND ACCELERATED LEARNING. AS MR. EASLEY STATED WE ARE LOOKING TO BUILD ON AND ENHANCE AND BE CREATIVE WITH WHAT WE ARE PROVIDING STUDENTS. WHEN WE LOOK AT THE RECOVERY AND ACCELERATION WE FRAMED IT IN THE MTSS FRAMEWORK, THE MULTI-TIERED SYSTEM OF SUPPORT. THAT'S WHAT THIS SLIDE REPRESENTS, SEVERAL EXAMPLES IN EACH TIER. IN TIER1 WE ARE LOOKING FOR CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE TEACHING APPROACHES OF HOW TO REACH OUR STUDENTS. WE ARE LOOKING TO INTERVENE BY USING ADDITIONAL SCREENING TOOLS AND ENHANCE OUR FAMILY ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNICATION. AS YOU MOVE UP A TIER IN THE MTSS PYRAMID WE ARE LOOKING AT EXTENDED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, OPPORTUNITIES NOT AFFORDED BEFORE. AND LASTLY OUR TOP TIER, EXPANDING STAFF. AN EXAMPLE WOULD BE ADDITIONAL SST STAFF OR STUDENT SUPPORT TEAM STAFF LIKE PSYCHOLOGISTS OR SOCIAL WORKER TO ADDRESS THE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS IN RESPONSE TO TRAUMA THAT OUR STUDENTS HAVE FACED THE LAST 18 MONTHS. >> GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS AND THE COMMUNITY. PART OF THE ESSER FUNDS WE RECOGNIZE THE NEED TO STRENGTHEN OUR INTEGRATED CONTINUUM OF EXTENDED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. WE WANT TO ALIGN RESOURCES WITH PROFESSIONAL LEARNING AND PARTNER SUPPORT SPECIFICALLY AROUND TUTORING AND ENHANCING OUR ACADEMIC ACADEMY. THE FOCUS IS ON STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AS WELL. WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO ESTABLISH A ROBUST MONITORING AND EVALUATION SYSTEM. SPECIFICALLY TO REVIEW THE SOCIAL AND ACADEMIC LEARNING INITIATIVES. AS MR. EASLEY POINTED OUT, AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THE ESSER III WORK IS MONITORING AND EVALUATING OUR PLAN. WE CONSIDER THE MONITORING AND EVALUATION OF THE INITIATIVES IN THE PLAN, A FOREMOST ASPECT OF THE USE OF FUNDS. WE WILL FOCUS ON TIER1 INSTRUCTION AND INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMMING SPECIFICALLY FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AND FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS. FINALLY, WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO BUILD OUR SCHOOL LEADER AND STAFF EXPERTISE IN MULTI-TIERED SYSTEMS OF SUPPORT THAT DR. CROCKER REFERENCED. [00:30:01] AND SPECIFICALLY WE WANT TO ENHANCE OUR DATA ANALYTICS RELATED TO THE THINGS WE HAVE AT TIER1, TIER2 AND TIER3 SO WE ARE ABLE TO LOOK AT OUR ACADEMIC RETURN ON INVESTMENT FOR THESE INNER VENGESES -- INTERVENTIONS AT THE VARIOUS TIERS. DR. CRAWFORD? >> THANK YOU. THE ESSER FUNDING GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD ON THE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL PROGRAMMING THAT THE BOARD HAS HEARD ABOUT PREVIOUSLY. IMPORTANTLY TO ACCELERATE IT, KNOWING THAT THE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS AND THE RESPONSE TO TRAUMA SERVICES NEEDS TO INCREASE. ESSER ALLOWS US TO EXPEDITE WHAT WE WERE PLANNING. THE BOARD IS AWARE OF THE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL CURRICULUM CALLED RULER. PRE-COVID YOU HEARD OUR PLAN TO ROLL OUT RULER TO SEVERAL SCHOOLS AT A TIME. THIS FUNDING IS ALLOWING US TO REALLY FAST-FORWARD THAT PLAN. WE ARE EXCITED TO SAY THAT WHEN WE REOPENED AND WHEN WE COME BACK TO SCHOOL IN A FEW WEEKS ALL SCHOOLS WILL HAVE STAFF TRAINED IN RULER ON SITE TO PROVIDE TURN AROUND TRAINING FOR ALL STAFF IN THE BUILDING. THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO US. REMINDER TO ANYONE NOT FAMILIAR WITH RULER IT INCORPORATES LESSONS IN OUR CORE CURRICULUM ON RELATIONSHIPS AND DECISION MAKING. WE EMBEDDED SEAL INTO EACH DAY AND WE WILL CONTINUE THAT AND NOW HAVE THE BACKING OF RULER IN DOING THAT. THE BOARD ALSO HEARD LAST YEAR OF A UNIVERSAL SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SCREENING TOOL WE USED. LAST YEAR WE USED THE UCLA BRIEF COVID SCREENER AND WE WILL USE IT THIS FALL WHICH GIVES US, WE BELIEVE, AN ADVANTAGE OF HAVING A COMPARISON. WE WILL LOOK AT THE SCREENING TOOL WE USED LAST OCTOBER AND WE WILL USE THIS YEAR. THIS FUNDING ALLOWS US TO EXPEDITE SOME OF OUR PLANS WITHIN THE UNIVERSAL SCREENING TOOLS AND WE HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN AN RFP PROCESS WITH ANOTHER TOOL WE HOPE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH DURING THIS SCHOOL YEAR. AND LASTLY, AS I MENTIONED SEVERAL TIMES, THIS ALLOWS US TO PROVIDE TRAINING AND PREPARE OUR TEACHER AND STAFF TO RECOGNIZE WHEN A STUDENT IS IN DISTRESS OR WHEN THEY MAY BE EXPERIENCING SOME RESPONSE TO TRAUMA AND INTERVENE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE TO SUPPORT THE STUDENT. WE ARE NOT EXCITED WE ARE RECEIVING THE MONEY IN RESPONSE TO COVID, BUT WE HAVE EXCITED ABOUT THE MONEY WE ARE RECEIVING BECAUSE WE KNOW WE WILL BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING NEEDS ON A FASTER TIMELINE. I'LL TURN IT OVER TO DR. HART. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, DR. CRAWFORD. FACILITIES AND OPERATIONS IS EXCITED ABOUT THE ESTIMATED $5 MILLION WE WILL BE GIVEN TO CONTINUE WITH OUR HVAC, MAJOR REPAIRS AND UPGRADES TO THE FACILITIES. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE BUILDING UPON THAT MOMENTUM IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS. WE WILL CONTINUE ON WITH OUR HVAC PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE, UPGRADES AND REPAIRS. IT IS TO MAKE SURE OUR SYSTEMS ARE EFFICIENT AND PROPERLY FUNCTIONAL THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE FOCUSING ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE FACILITIES TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE AIRTIGHT BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THAT PLAYS A PART IN TERMS OF JUST GENERAL WELLNESS OF THE BUILDING AND PREVENTING MOLD, ALLERGENS AND EXACERBATING PEST ISSUES. WE WILL ALSO MAKE SURE SOME OF THE FUNDING IS DEDICATED TO REPAIRS THAT ARE NOTED IN TERMS OF THE ON GOING FACILITY'S CONDITION ASSESSMENT. WE FEEL LIKE THAT IS AN AWESOME INVESTMENT TO ADDRESS ANY ISSUES NOTED. AND WE ARE ANTICIPATING THE ITEMS -- EXCUSE ME, THE REPORT TO BE CONCLUDED SOMETIME IN THE FALL. NOW I WILL PASS IT ON TO DR. HOOPER. >> GOOD EVENING. LIKE MY COLLEAGUES I SHARE THE EXCITEMENT AND OPPORTUNITY TO INVEST. MY TEAM AND I ARE VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO THE OPPORTUNITY TO INVEST IN OUR TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE OF $5 MILLION. WE BELIEVE THE PROJECTS CONTAIN AN ESSER WHICH IS A BENEFIT FOR YEARS TO COME. IT IS MODERNIZING THE FACILITY COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS LIKE PHONE SYSTEMS AND PA SYSTEMS. WE WANT TO UPGRADE OUR WI-FI EQUIPMENT SO WE HAVE THE CURRENT STANDARDS IF ALL OF OUR BUILDINGS. WE WANT TO UPDATE OUR TECHNOLOGY STANDARDS AND WE WANT TO INCREASE INFRASTRUCTURE. THERE IS ROOM FOR GROWTH AS WE WORK ON THESE PROJECTS. [00:35:04] NOW I WILL PASS IT ON TO DR. KAWYAT. >> I AM THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES AND HONORED TO BE HERE TONIGHT TO TALK ABOUT THE HUMAN RESOURCES FUNDING OF THE $1.7 MILLION. THE HR DEPARTMENT RECOGNIZES AND BELIEVE THAT'S OUR SCHOOL STRENGTH AND SUCCESS DEPENDS ON OUR STAFF. WE ARE APPRECIATIVE OF YOUR DEDICATION AND EXCITEMENT TO ALEXANDRIA CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT WILL UTILIZE A PORTION OF THE PUBLIC FUNDS TO EXPAND PROGRAMMING. THE SCHOOL'S WELLNESS INITIATIVES WILL OFFER SUPPORT TO STAFF. WITH THIS FUNDING WE WILL INCREASE STAFFING LEVELS TO INCREASE NEW INITIATIVES TO REIGNITE OUR TEAMS AND ACCOMMODATE COVID SAFETY REQUIREMENTS. OUR HR COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS DEPARTMENT IS EAGER TO ENGAGE WITH STAFF AND THEIR INITIATIVE OF THE EMPLOYEE BENEFIT COMMITTEE. THE INITIATIVE WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT IS THE COORDINATION OF THE EMPLOYEE ENVOY PROGRAM TO HELP STAFF IN THE FIRST YEAR. WE HAVE A MODEL TO INCLUDE ENGAGEMENT AND SUPPORT STAFF THROUGH THE DISTRICT. IT SUPPORTS OUR NEXT INITIATIVE OF BUILDING A LARGER EDUCATOR PIPELINE. WITH THE CHANGING PLATFORM OF EDUCATION IN RECENT YEARS, WE REALIZE THAT WE HAVE TO AND WILL REMAIN INNOVATIVE IN OUR RECRUITMENT EFFORTS TO BUILD A MORE DIVERSE PIPELINE OF EDUCATORS. WE WILL BE LASER FOCUSED ON HOW WE ENGAGE AND RECRUIT THESE CANDIDATES FOR THIS INITIATIVE. WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO BE A PART OF ACPS AND DOING THIS GREAT WORK. I WILL TURN IT OVER TO MR. HUFFMAN. >> I AGREE WITH DR. HUTCHINGS. IT IS WONDERFUL TO SEE THE BOARD EVEN THOUGH IT IS THROUGH ZOOM ON MY END. EXCITED TO SEE ALL OF YOU AND TALKING TONIGHT. YOU HEARD FROM COLLEAGUES ON THE SLIDES AND THERE IS A CONSISTENT MESSAGE ABOUT STRENGTH AND ASSESSING THE CURRENT IMPACT TO EXPLORE NEW ENGAGEMENT OF OPPORTUNITIES. AN ALIGNMENT WITH THE RECENT FAMILY ENGAGEMENT EVALUATION AND THE ACPS PLAN AND CONTINUING TO STRENGTHEN OUR OUT REACH AND BEST PRACTICES STRATEGIES THROUGH PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STAFF AND THEN PROVIDING FOR FAMILIES STRONG EMPOWERMENT AND RE-ENTRY AND REENGAGING OPPORTUNITIES AND WORKSHOPS AND EVENTS AND RESOURCES ET CETERA. WE WILL ANALYZE THE STRENGTH OF THE OUT REACH METHODS. THINK OF THE HELP LINE WE DID IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES. THE FAMILIES USE THAT ANALYSIS TO EXPLORE NEW OUT REACH OPPORTUNITIES AND COMMUNICATION SUPPORT INITIATIVES. WE KNOW A CONTINUATION OF STRENGTHENING THE CURRENT SERVICES WE PROVIDE IN SUPPORT THROUGH THE STAFF FACE OUR PARENT LIAISON AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS WILL BE ESSENTIAL AS WE EMPOWER OUR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS. NOW I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO MR. EASLEY. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. AS WE WRAP UP THE PRESENTATION, THE LAST SLIDE HERE TALKS ABOUT MONITORING. WE HAVE HIGHLIGHTED THROUGHOUT TONIGHT'S PRESENTATION HOW CRITICAL AND HOW KEY MONITORING OUR PLAN OF INITIATIVES ARE. THEY ARE INHERENT IN THIS APPLICATION PROCESS AS WELL AS THE IMPLEMENTATION. THERE ARE REQUIREMENTS THAT CALL FOR A CONTINUED ASSESSMENT OF THE INITIATIVES WE PUT FORWARD AS WELL AS REGULAR AND PERIODIC PUTOUTS IN THIS ELIGIBILITY PERIOD. AS YOU HEARD, THERE IS A KEY COMPONENT IN THIS ESSER FUNDING AND IT IS THE MONITORING OF OUR PARTICULAR STRATEGIC INITIATIVES. AS WE WRAP UP I WILL HIGHLIGHT OUR NEXT STEPS. AGAIN, WE ARE STILL WORKING THROUGH AND GATHERING FEEDBACK REGARDING THE SPECIFIC PLAN FORWARD. WE WILL BE WORKING IN THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS TO DETAIL OUT THESE INITIATIVES AS WE PREPARE THE VDOE APPLICATION. AND WE ARE PREPARING TO HAVE FUTURE PUBLIC FORUMS AND PUBLIC HEARINGS AS WE QUONT [00:40:05] THE PROCESS TO MAKE SURE THE PUBLIC AND THE COMMUNITY IS ENGAGED THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS. MY CONTACT INFORMATION IS LISTED THERE. ANY FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME. WITH THAT I WILL TURN IT BACK OVER. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION. I WANT TO SAY THIS RIGHT HERE IS AN EXEMPLAR. THESE ITEMS WE ARE PROPOSING IN OUR ESSER III PLAN. THEY ARE COMPLETELY ALIGNED WITH OUR DATA AND ANALYSIS AND WHAT IT IS TELLING US IN REGARDS TO WHAT ARE THE NEEDS OF THE STUDENTS. YOU'RE GONNA SEE THAT VERY CLEAR SYSTEMIC ALIGNMENT WHICH IS ONE OF THE EFFORTS OUR TEAM CONTINUES TO STRIVE FOR TO REACH THE STRATEGIC PLANNING GOAL. I WANT TO COMMEND BEFORE I TURN THINGS BACK OVER TO THE MADAM CHAIR I WANT TO THANK THE SCHOOL BOARD FOR APPROVING OUR STRATEGIC PLAN. OUR STRATEGIC PLAN WAS FORWARD THINKING. NO ONE KNEW ABOUT THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC, SO I CAN'T TAKE CREDIT FOR KNOWING ABOUT THIS. I WISH WE WOULD HAVE KNOWN SO WE COULD HAVE BEEN PREPARED FOR IT. FORWARD THINKING AND MAKING SURE THAT WE HAD A PLAN IN PLACE THAT ALLOWS US TO PIVOT FOR WHATEVER COMES OUR WAY. WE CONTINUE TO STAY FOCUSED ON OUR MISSION AND OUR VISION AND OUR CORE VALUES, RACIAL EQUITY IN THE HEART OF WHAT WE WERE DOING IN SPITE OF A PANDEMIC. EVERY SCHOOL CANNOT SAY THAT. SOME ARE SAYING WHAT DO WE DO NOW? WHAT DO WE DO WITH THE FUNDS? AS WE WENT THROUGH THE PRESENTATION, YOU WILL ALL SEE THAT WE ARE EXPANDING UPON MANY OF THE RESOURCES AND SUPPORTS WE HAVE IN PLACE. WE ARE NOW ABLE TO ESCALATE AND MOVE AT A MORE RAPID PACE WITH SOME OF THE INITIATIVES WE ALREADY IN PLACE. PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC, WE HAD CHILDREN WHO EXPERIENCED TRAUMA. WE HAD CHILDREN WHOSE NEEDS WERE NOT BEING MET ON A DAILY BASIS IN ALEXANDRIA CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. AND WE HAD RESOURCES IN PLACE FOR A SMALLER GROUP OF STUDENTS. WE ARE NOT NEW TO THIS WORK. WE DO UNDERSTAND THAT THROUGH THIS GLOBAL PAN DEPP MICK, WE ARE SEEING MORE STUDENTS WHO ARE NEEDING SOME OF THE SUPPORTS WE HAD IN PLACE PREVIOUSLY. THIS IS NOT A NEW WAY TO REACT AND RESPOND. TRAUMA IS TRAUMA. REGARDLESS IF IT IS A GLOBAL PANDEMIC OR FAMILY SITUATION OR DEATH OR WHATEVER THE PARTICULAR TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE IS OUR STUDENTS FACE, TRAUMA IS TRAUMA AND WE KNOW THERE ARE SPECIFIC BEHAVIORS THAT MANIFEST IN THE CLASSROOM BECAUSE OF THAT. WE HAVE PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE EXPERTS IN THE ALEXANDRIA CITY SCHOOLS. WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE THAT. NOW WE ARE EXPANDING OUR SERVICE AND MAKING SURE WE MAKE ADJUSTMENTS. NOW IT IS ON A LARGER SCALE THAN IT HAS BEEN EVER BEFORE. NOT ONLY IN OUR SCHOOL DIVISION, BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WITH THAT SAID I WILL TURN THINGS BACK OVER TO MADAM CHAIR TO OPEN UP THE FLOOR FOR QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU, DR. HUTCHINGS AND TEAM. I AM GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO THE BOARD FOR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS. MR. SUAREZ? >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. IT IS NICE TO BE BACK IN THE BOARDROOM. I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS AND BY THE WAY, THIS IS GREAT. I AM REAL EXCITED ABOUT THE INFUSION OF MONEY. I AM EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY IT PROVIDES FOR THE SCHOOL DIVISION. I WANT TO LOOK AT SOMETHING DR. HUTCHINGS SAID, SYSTEMIC ALIGNMENT. I AM ALWAYS BIG ON THE DATA. I WAS EXCITED TO HEAR HOW WE WILL USE THAT DATA. ONE THING I AM THINKING ABOUT IS WE ARE GETTING AN INFUSION OF CASH, AND IT WILL GO TO COMPLIANCE FUNDS PUDGEETT. I FEEL LIKE THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THE CASE THAT WE SHOULDN'T JUST GET IT IN A ONE OFF, BUT WE SHOULD GET IT EVERY YEAR. MY FIRST QUESTION IS HOW ARE WE GOING TO THINK ABOUT COLLECTING THE DATA AND SHOWING THAT IT HAS HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT SO WE CAN MAKE A CASE FOR THE CRITICAL SEAL FUNDS TO CONTINUE TO BE PROVIDED BY THE CITY. THAT'S MY FIRST QUESTION AND I CAN STOP THERE AND THEN GO TO THE SECOND ONE IF YOU [00:45:09] WANT TO ANSWER THAT. >> MY MIC IS ALREADY ON. TO ANSWER YOUR FIRST QUESTION, MR. SUAREZ, SPECIFICALLY WHAT WE ARE ENSURING IS THAT WE HAVE TO COLLECT KIND OF THE DATA FOR ESSER. IT IS A GUIDELINE TO SHOW HOW IT IS HAVING AN IMPACT ON OUR SCHOOL. ONE, IT IS A REQUIREMENT TO HAVE. NOT ONLY WITH ACPS, BUT EVERY SCHOOL DIVISION HAS A FORM OF FUNDING AND THEY ARE ADVOCATING FOR THE PROCESS. I'M JUST SPEAKING REAL TALK RIGHT NOW. WE HAVE NEVER BEEN FUNDED APPROPRIATELY AS SCHOOL DIVISIONS. THAT'S NOT ONLY FROM THE STATE, BUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. IN SOME CASES EVEN FROM OUR LOCAL ENTITIES. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO NOW AS YOU MENTIONED, MR. SUAREZ, TO USE OUR IMPLICATIONS AND THE FINDINGS THAT COME OUT OF THIS TO SHOW HOW THIS DOES IMPACT POSITIVELY OUR STUDENTS AS WELL AS OUR STAFF IN ACPS. IT IS A REQUIREMENT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION AND TO COLLECT THE DATA AND WE WILL USE THAT TO DEFEND WHY THIS FUNDING NEEDS TO BE EXTENDED BEYOND THE THREE YEARS. THAT'S A KEY POINT. $34 MILLION OVER THREE YEARS IS NOT AS MUCH AS IT SOUNDS, RIGHT? THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO KEEP -- IT IS NOT 34 MILLION THAT WE CAN USE RIGHT NOW. IF WE WERE ALL USING IT RIGHT NOW WE WOULD BE IRRESPONSIBLE. IT WOULD BE THREE YEARS TO USE THE FUNDING AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TOMORROW BRINGS. WE DON'T INTEND TO SPEND EVERY TIME THIS SECOND. THE POCKETS WE WILL BE FOCUSED ON IS WHAT WE KNOW. WE HAVE THREE YEARS TO PROVE NOT JUST OUR STATE, BUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT THIS IS AN EXPECTATION MOVING FORWARD. WE SHOULD NOT GO BACK TO FUNDING SOURCES PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC. I AM NOT JUST SPEAKING ABOUT SCHOOLS. IT IS PEOPLE TO THE BEING EVICTED FROM THEIR HOMES. THEY SHOULD BE GUARANTEED REGARDLESS OF A PANDEMIC OR NOT. >> ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU FOR THAT. MY SECOND QUESTION WAS MORE GRANULAR. WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT RESTORE TIFF PRACTICES. THAT'S SUPER IMPORTANT. AS KIDS ARE BACK IN PERSON AND MOST ALL KIDS ARE BACK IN PERSON AS YOU MENTIONED DR. HUTCHINGS THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF TRAUMA FROM THIS. WE WILL HAVE TO HAVE A LOT MORE OF THE COMMUNITY CIRCLES AND THE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT BUILDING COMMUNITY IN THE SCHOOLS AND FRANKLY FOR SOME OF US BOARD MEMBERS WHO ARE COMING BACK IN PERSON IT FEELS A LITTLE SURREAL. ALL OF THE KIDS WILL FEEL THOSE FEELINGS WHEN THEY COME BACK. I'M SORT OF WONDERING MAYBE A LITTLE MORE GRANULAR, IS THERE A PLAN AROUND SORT OF USING THE SEAL CASH TO EXPAND PRACTICES. I KNOW THERE IS A PLAN AROUND THAT, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY AND CURIOUS WHAT THINKING WAS AROUND THAT. >> THANK YOU, MR. SUAREZ. GREAT QUESTION. WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT OUR PEAK RANGE TODAY. YOU ARE 100% RIGHT. YOU DIDN'T USE THIS EXACT TERM, BUT WHAT WE HAVE BEEN SAYING IS CONNECTION BEFORE CONTENT. WHEN YOU ARE IN THE CLASSROOM YOU ARE ESTABLISHING A RELATIONSHIP AND YOU ARE GETTING TO KNOW YOUR STUDENTS AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE NEED IS. OF COURSE, THE USE OF COMMUNITY CIRCLES ON ANY YEAR PRE-COVID, THAT'S A WONDERFUL WAY TO GET TO KNOW YOUR CLASS AND DEVELOP THAT COMMUNITY. YES, WE HAVE A PLAN LIKE WE DID DURING THE PAST YEAR. WE HAVE A CALENDAR THAT WE PUT OUT. ALL SCHOOLS HAVE COMMITTED TO AND FRANKLY ARE EMBRACING THE USE OF SEAL TIME DURING THE DAY TO ADDRESS THAT. A LOT OF SCHOOLS ARE USING COMMUNITY CIRCLES FOR THAT FORUM. AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE BACK TO SCHOOL, THE NECESSARY TRAINING AND COMMUNITY CIRCLES FOR STAFF COMING FORWARD. THE PLAN IS THERE. THE TRAINING IS THERE. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT FUNDING, THE MAJORITY OF THE FUNDING GOES TO OUR TRAINERS. YOU MAY REMEMBER SEVERAL YEARS AGO THAT WE WORKED TO DEVELOP EXPERTS SO THEY ARE IIRP CERTIFIED AND SO WE HAVE THEM ON STAFF. THAT MODEL HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL. WE WILL CONTINUE TO EXPAND THAT. I WOULD JUST TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY WE WILL HAVE ADDITIONAL STAFF [00:50:01] MEMBERS TRAINED IN CHILD EXPERIENCES. THIS IS SOMETHING WE PARTNERED ON THE CITY ON BEFORE TO HAVE SUPPORT TEAMS TRAINED AND IDENTIFY PARTICULAR THINGS RELATED TO TRAUMA. THAT'S SOMETHING WE ARE LOOKING AT PURSUING. YES, OF COURSE THE COMMUNITY CIRCLE ASPECT IN THE CLASSROOM AND DEVELOPING THAT COMMUNITY, THAT RAPPORT AND THAT TRUSTING RELATIONSHIP IS GOING TO BE CRITICAL AND THAT'S A PART OF OUR SEAL PLAN. >> GREAT. THANK YOU. >> MS. NOLAN? >> THANK YOU, CHAIR ALDERTON. THANK YOU TO THE STAFF. I KNOW THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF WORK AND WE ARE CONSTANTLY REIMAGINING WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN. I'M SURE THAT STUDENTS AND STAFF WILL BE BACK IN THE FALL. WE HAD A REALLY THOUGHTFUL LETTER SENT OUT BY PTAC. IT IS BOTH WHERE THE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE FOR THE FUNDING AS WELL AS QUESTIONS RELATED TO THE FUNDING AND DIFFERENT PROTOCOLS. I DON'T WANT TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THEM, BUT THERE WERE SOME THAT WERE ASKED ABOUT WHAT ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE LUNCH OUTSIDE? ARE WE PROVIDING PPE? WHAT ARE THE QUARANTINE PROTOCOLS? I WANT TO ESTABLISH, DR. HUTCHINGS, WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO HAVE THESE QUESTIONS MADE PUBLIC BECAUSE THEY ARE FROM THE -- IT IS THE COLLECTIVE OF ALL PTA AND THEN AS WELL AS HOW CAN WE GET THE RESPONSES TO THESE QUESTIONS OUT THERE? WHAT IS THE BEST WAY YOU THINK, DR. HUTCHINGS, TO PROCEED WITH THAT? >> I THINK ONE OF THE BEST WAYS FOR PTA TO SEND OUT QUESTIONS TO THE MEMBERSHIP. THEY HAVE PROTOCOLS ALREADY IN PLACE TO SHARE OUT THEIR QUESTIONS. I THINK THAT TO ME IS THE PERFECT WAY FOR THEM TO SHARE THAT. I KNOW I RECENTLY COMMUNICATED WITH PTA PRESIDENT AND SHARED OUR CONTINUITY LEARNING PLAN 6.0. I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT WHEN WE PRESENTED THIS WE HAD THE BITE, THE SNAP AND THE MEAL. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY WHICH WE SHARE THAT WITH ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY, BUT I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR PTA TO CONTINUE TO PUSH THAT OUT TO THEIR MEMBERSHIPS AS WELL. THE ONLY THING THAT HAS CHANGED AND WE WILL TALK ABOUT IT IN THE NEXT ITEM IS WEARING MASKS DURING THE DAY. ALL OF THE OTHER HEALTH AND SAFETY PRECAUTIONS AND THE MEASURES WE PUT IN PLACE THIS PAST JUNE, THOSE STILL REMAIN. I'M THANKFUL WE WERE BEING FORWARD THINKING IN REGARDS TO WHAT WE WERE PLANNING TO DO THIS UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR AND NOT WAITING TO PUT TOGETHER THE INFORMATION. WE WILL BE, IN ADDITION TO ASKING PTA TO SHARE THE PLIP, WE WILL SEND OUT BACK TO SCHOOL INFORMATION AND REITERATE SOME OF THE PROTOCOLS THAT ARE IN PLACE THAT WE SHARED A COUPLE MONTHS AGO. BUT IT IS SUMMERTIME AND YOU FORGET, RIGHT? IT IS A PART OF OUR BACK TO SCHOOL COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ROLLOUT FOR US TO BRING BACK TO THE SURFACE SOME OF THE HEALTH AND SAFETY MITIGATIONS WE DISCUSSED AND MAKING SURE THE COMMUNITY IS AWARE OF HOW THE PRACTICES WILL BE ONCE THEY GET BACK TO OUR SCHOOL BUILDING FIVE DAYS A WEEK. >> AND APOLOGIZE FOR THE FOLLOW-UP. I'M SORRY. I THINK I MISS SPOKE WITH MY QUESTION. I AM CURIOUS MYSELF AS A BOARD MEMBER WHAT THE RESPONSES ARE. I WASN'T SUGGESTING HOW TO GET THE QUESTIONS OUT THERE. FOR EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUTSIDE LUNCH? ARE WE PROVIDING MASKS? WHAT ARE STUDENTS GOING TO BE DOING QUARANTINING AT HOME IF THEY NEED TO. CANDIDLY, I AM NOT EVEN AWARE -- I AM NOT SAYING IT IS NOT A PLAN, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS ACPS HAS DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB DURING THIS TIME IS UTILIZE THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS AS A TOOL FOR COMMUNICATION. HOW CAN WE, OURSELVES, LEARN THE RESPONSES TO THE RELEVANT QUESTIONS IN LINE WITH THE PRESENTATION WE JUST RECEIVED. >> SO I THINK I'M GOING TO REITERATE AGAIN, ANY CHANGES WE MADE WE WILL SHARE OUT. WE NEVER HAD PLANS TO DO OUTDOOR LUNCHES. WE WERE DOING OUTDOOR LUNCHES THEN WE WOULD SHARE THAT WITH THE COMMUNITY. THAT'S NOT A PART OF OUR PLAN RIGHT NOW. IT WAS A DIFFICULT TASK WHEN WE HAVE 50% OF OUR STUDENTS AND NOW WE HAVE 95% OF OUR STUDENTS COMING BACK FOR OUTDOOR LUNCHES. THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT IS EASY TO DO. [00:55:56] AS WE MOVE INTO THE FIVE DAYS A WEEK THAT IS MANDATORY FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND SCHOOL DIVISION TO DO THAT WE HAVE TO SEPARATE WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO IN THE SPRING WHEN WE DIDN'T HAVE EVERYBODY OUT. WE ARE BACK TO OVERCROWDED SCHOOLS. WE ARE NOT IN THE SPACE WHERE WE HAVE ALL OF THIS ADDITIONAL SPACE. WE STILL HAVE TO HAVE RECESS FOR KIDS TO GET OUT. AND NOW THAT EVERYONE WILL BE BACK IN OUR BUILDINGS, 100% OF STUDENTS AND STAFF, WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE A HYBRID APPROACH LIKE WE DID IN THE SPRING. ANY CHANGES THAT ARE GOING TO BE SHARED OUT WILL BE SHARED WITH THE COMMUNITY AND THAT'S NOT A SURPRISE. THE ONLY THING THAT IS CHANGING IS A RECOMMENDATION THAT WE ARE ASKING FROM THE BOARD. THE NEXT ITEM IS DISCUSSING MASK WEARING IN OUR SCHOOL BUILDINGS REGARDLESS OF YOUR VACCINATION STATUS. EVERYTHING ELSE REMAINS THE SAME. >> THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION. I APPRECIATE IT. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR ALDERTON. THANK YOU, EVERYONE. I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE ESSER PLAN AND THE FUNDING. I LOVE HOW IT IS ALIGNED WITH THE STRATEGIC PLAN AND ALSO WITH THE COMMUNITY FEEDBACK INCLUDED. ONLY THING I'M A LITTLE UPSET ABOUT AND IT JUST GOES TO WHAT SHE SAID, I TRULY DON'T FEEL WE RECEIVE ENOUGH FUNDING IN OUR SCHOOL DIVISION FOR OUR NEEDS. MY QUESTION IS FOR YOU, MR. EASLEY, ONCE OUR APPLICATION GOES IN, CAN WE CHANGE WHAT IS PROVIDED LATER OR ONCE IT GOES IN, NO CHANGES AND THAT'S IT? >> UNFORTUNATELY THAT SOUR CURRENT ALLOCATION, $34.8 MILLION. I DO BELIEVE THE STATE'S GENERAL ASSEMBLY WENT BACK INTO SESSION TO POSSIBLY ALLOCATE SOME ADDITIONAL RESOURCES. AT THIS TIME THE $34 MILLION ALLOCATED TO US IS WHAT WE HAVE. WE'LL KEEP OUR FINGERS CROSSED FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO COME FROM THE STATE WITH THIS SESSION THEY HAVE RIGHT NOW. >> THAT'S GOOD NEWS. THANK YOU. >> I AM GOING TO MS. THORTON, BUT THANK YOU, MR. EASLEY. IT IS IMPORTANT TO PAY ATTENTION TO BECAUSE THAT IS STARTING THIS WEEK. IT IS DEFINITELY AN AREA TO KEEP OUR EYES AND EARS OPEN AND WATCH. THANK YOU FOR THAT. MS. THORNTON? >> THANK YOU, CHAIR ALDERTON. I AM REMINDED OF MR. SUAREZ'S COMMENT EARLIER ABOUT THESE FUNDS ARE HOPEFULLY REPEATED IN THE FUTURE SO WE CAN SUSTAIN SOME OF THE SERVICES. TYPICALLY IN A SITUATION WE ARE IMPLEMENTING ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS AND WE ARE BOOSTING OUR SEAL SUPPORT, BUT SHOULD WE NOT GET FUNDING LIKE THIS NEXT YEAR WILL THESE PROGRAMS BE ABLE TO BE SUSTAINED? LOOKING AT THE LETTER THAT MS. NOLAN REFERENCED FROM PTA, AND THEY WANT PARALIAISONS AND I THINK IT IS A GREAT IDEA. BUT I KNOW THEY WOULD SAY IT IS NOT PERSONNEL POSITIONS BECAUSE IT IS NOT ONE-SHOT MONEY. IS THERE A WAY TO USE THE FUNDING THAT WE CAN EXPEDITE THINGS AND USE IT FOR THINGS WE WOULD HAVE USED PREVIOUSLY. ARE WE MAKING SURE EVERYTHING WE ARE PUTTING THE FUNDING TOWARD IS SOMETHING THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN LONG-TERM? ARE THESE PROGRAMS THAT WILL HAVE TO STOP OF A THE THREE YEARS IS OUT? >> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION FOR THIS CONVERSATION WE ARE HAVING AND MAKING SURE THAT WE DON'T PUT THINGS INTO OUR BUDGETS -- ONE THAT WILL GIVE US THE BANG FOR OUR BUCK AND TWO IS SUSTAINABLE. THE GOAL WE HAVE, AND I WANT TO REITERATE THIS IS OVER A THREE-YEAR SPAN. ALL OF THESE DOLLARS ARE NOT BEING SPENT THIS YEAR. I WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR TO THE COMMUNITY. ONE THING WE ARE INTENTIONAL ABOUT IS WE KNOW THE EXCESSIVE NEEDS OUR STUDENTS WILL HAVE WHEN WE RETURN ON AUGUST 24TH ARE NOT GOING TO BE THE NEEDS THREE YEARS FROM NOW AT THE MAGNITUDE IT IS NOW. WE ARE HOPING HAVING THE INFLUX AND THE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT WE PUT INTO ESSER -- ESSER III FUNDING BUDGET IT WILL ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES WE KNOW MANY STUDENTS ARE EXPERIENCING AND THIS WON'T BE AT THIS MAGNITUDE. [01:00:03] WE WILL VOLS HAVE TO HAVE SST WHICH IS STUDENT SUPPORT TEAMS. WE WILL ALWAYS NEED EMOTIONAL SUPPORT TEAMS. ALL OF THIS WE HAD PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC. IF WE ARE DOING THIS RIGHT, I BELIEVE WE CAN DO THIS. IF WE DO IT CORRECTLY IT DOES -- IT DOESN'T MEAN IT WILL ELIMINATE THE CHALLENGES, BUT IT WILL REQUIRE SO MUCH MORE SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS. THAT IS OUR EXPECTATION. BUT ARE YOU SPOT ON WHEN WE SAY WE CAN'T JUST TAKE THE FUNDS AND SAY LET'S HIRE NEW TEACHERS. ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE USING ESSER FUNDS. YOU HAVE TO INFORM PEOPLE THAT THE FUNDING MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE. HOW MANY PEOPLE SAY I WILL WORK FOR ONE OR TWO YEARS. MOST PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW THEY CAN BE TENURED AND IT IS IN A BUDGET AND AS LONG AS THERE IS NO DEDUCTION, THEY HAVE A JOB. WE MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT UTILIZING THE FUNDS IN THAT WAY. YOU WILL SEE FTES THAT ARE INTENDED TO BE TEMPORARY AND NOT TO GO BEYOND OUR ESSER III FUNDING CYCLE. >> OKAY. LOOKING DOWN THE LINE. DR. RIEF? >> THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION. I'M REALLY EXCITED, LIKE EVERYONE, ABOUT THESE FUNDS. THERE'S WILL BE A LOT OF TALK ABOUT HOW THESE FUNDS ARE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A HISTORIC INVESTMENT IN OUR SCHOOLS. I FEEL LIKE A LOT OF THE CONVERSATION HAS BEEN AROUND INFRASTRUCTURE AND USING IT TO INVEST IN INFRASTRUCTURE. GIVEN THE HISTORY IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM WITH THE ISSUES WITH SOUR -- WITH OUR DEFERRED MAINTENANCE AND I KNOW COMING OFF THIS -- COPPING BACK IN THE FALL WE HAD -- COPPING BACK TO SCHOOL IN THE FALL WE KNOW THEY DIDN'T SELECT THE MODEL. IT DESIGNATES THAT 20% NEEDS TO BE USED TO MITIGATE AGAINST LEARNING LAWS. I CAN SEE WE ARE PUTTING THE 55% TOWARD CL WHICH I THINK IS VERY EXCITING. FOR THE COVID MITIGATION IT IS A SMALLER AMOUNT. I AM WONDERING IF YOU CAN TALK ABOUT THE DECISION TO PUT THE MONEY INTO THE RECOVERY VERSUS THE BUILDINGS. AS DR. HART MENTIONED, WE'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF WORK PREVIOUSLY ON THE BUILDINGS TO GET THEM READY TO HANDLE ALL THESE STUDENTS COMING BACK IN. IF YOU CAN TALK ABOUT THE DECISION TO PUT THE BULK OF THE FUNDING TOWARD THE SEAL. >> THANK YOU, DR. RIEF. THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION FOR DR. HART IF DR. HART IS STILL ON THE LINE. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO GIVE A COUPLE OF PATS ON THE BACK TO OUR FACILITIES AND OPERATIONS TEAM. PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC WE WERE TRYING TO MITIGATE A LOT OF THESE ITEMS. WE HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE TO EXPEDITE SOME OF THOSE PROJECTS AS WELL. I WANT TO TURN IT OVER TO DR. HART TO PROVIDE MORE CLARITY AS TO THE FUNDING AND WHY THE 5 MILLION AND HOW WE ARE PLANNING TO USE THOSE DOLLARS. >> ABSOLUTELY, THANK YOU, DR. HUTCHINGS. SPECIFIC TO THE FUNDING, DR. RIEF, I WILL ACTUALLY ASK FOR ROBERT TO SPEAK TO THE SPECIFICATIONS ON HOW WE WERE ASKED TO UTILIZE THIS POT OF ESSER FUNDING. I BELIEVE BASED ON THE CALCULATIONS IS WHY WE ENDED UP WITH THE $5 MILLION ALLOCATION OF FACILITIES AND OPERATIONS. DO DR. HUTCHINGS POINT AND THE COMMENTS YOU MADE EARLIER, WE HAVE ACTUALLY MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN OUR FACILITY PRIOR TO COVID AND THEN THROUGH COVID NOW WE ARE IN A SPACE WHERE WE CAN UTILIZE THE $5 MILLION AND MAKE SURE THE HVAC SYSTEMS ARE IN THEIR BEST CONDITION. AND WE WANT TO UPDATE THE HVAC SYSTEM AND MAKE SURE THERE ARE DEDICATED FUNDING FOR THE ASSESSMENTS. EVEN WITH ALL OF THE WORK WE HAVE BEEN DOING THERE WILL BE NOTATIONS OR ITEM THAT'S [01:05:01] MAY NEED ATTENTION. WE DON'T WANT TO WAIT THROUGH ANOTHER BUDGET CYCLE PROCESS ESPECIALLY NOT KNOWING IF WE WILL RECEIVE THAT FUNDING. ALSO SOMETHING WE WANT TO SHARE IS WE HAVE PROJECTS IN THE CIP. WE CAN MAKE SURE AS WE CONTINUE WERE THE BUDGET PROCESS THAT WE ARE REVAMPING AS NECESSARY AND IT IS THE PREVIOUS ESSER FUNDING AND THE ESSER FUNDING THAT IS UPCOMING. MR. EASLEY, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO YOU. >> THANK YOU, DR. HART. I APPRECIATE SOME OF THE POINTS YOU BROUGHT OUT. THE ALLOCATION FOR ESSER III WHICH IS 15% OF THE 34.8 MILLION IS A PRELIMINARY ESTIMATE WE USE TO ALLOCATE TO THE COVID MITIGATION AS WELL AS TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE AND WE PORTIONED OUT A PIECE FOR HUMAN CAPITAL NEEDS. THE POINT I WANTED TO MAKE WITH THE ESSER III $5 MILLION IS SUPPLEMENTAL TO WHAT WE HAVE IN THE CIP IN TERMS OF MITIGATION PROJECTS AS WELL AS WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN OUR OPERATING BUDGET THAT WE HAVE FOR FY22 AND THAT IS IN ADDITION TO THE PREVIOUS MONIES WE HAVE FOR THE ESSER 1, ESSER 2 AND NOW THE ESSER III. I SAY IT IS ALL IN COMBINATION SO IT IS NOT JUST THE $5 MILLION, BUT TO GO BACK TO THE ORMING POINT REGARDING ALLOCATION. IT WAS CLEARLY A METHODOLOGY WE SAID FOR OUR KEY FOCUS AREAS WE DEVELOP A FUNDING ALLOCATION FOR EACH OF THE AREAS. >> IF I CAN JUST ASK A QUESTION, MR. EASLEY. YOU MENTIONED THE NEXT STEPS AND YOU TALKED ABOUT GETTING A MORE DETAILED COST OF THE INITIATIVES AND THERE MIGHT BE FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC FORUMS AND HEARINGS AND I WONDER IF I CAN HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT. I WAS FOLLOWING THE CITY COUNCIL PROCESS AND THEY WERE TAKING THE FIRST HALF OF THE MONEY AND THEN THEY HAD AN ITEMIZED LIST OF HOW THEY WILL SPEND THE MONEY. I WAS WONDERING IF IT WILL COME BACK IN A LITTLE MORE ITEMIZED WAY TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING. >> ABSOLUTELY. AS I MADE REFERENCE AND I AM GOING BACK TO THE PRESENTATION IT IS SLIDE NUMBER 8 WHERE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE WORKING DOCUMENTS. WE WILL BE COMING BACK TO THE BOARD. THE FURTHER STEPS ARE DETAILING THOSE SPECIFIC INITIATIVES WITH DOLLAR AMOUNTS AS WELL AS THE PLANNED YEAR SPENDING IT IS MEANT TO SPAN THE THREE-YEAR FUNDING PERIOD. WHAT WE PLAN TO INTRODUCE AND PLAN TO PRESENT IN THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS IS A MORE DETAILED LIST OF THE INITIATIVES AS WELL AS A PLAN OF SPENDING IN YEAR ONE, TWO AND THREE. >> AND IN ADDITION TO MR. EASLEY SAID IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US AS THE BOARD AND THE COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE GONNA HAVE TO REVISIT OUR PLAN CONTINUOUSLY TOO. THERE ARE THINGS THAT CHANGED. THINK IF WE HAD A CONVERSATION A MONTH AGO TO NOW. THERE MAY BE CHANGES IN THE FUTURE AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE PIVOTING AND MAKING ADJUSTMENTS ALONG THE WAY. DIFFICULT TO SET THINGS IN STONE FOR THREE YEARS FROM NOW. WE CAN BE FORWARD-THINKING IN SPECIFIC CATEGORIES, BUT WE HAVE TO BE SURE THAT WE ARE CONTINUOUSLY MONITORING PART OF OUR PLAN. MR. EASLEY, I HOPE YOU WILL ADD IN THAT EACH QUARTER WE WILL COME TOGETHER TO DO KIND OF AN ANALYSIS OF FUNDING THAT WAS SPEND -- EXCUSE ME SPENT. AND IT IS ANYTHING THAT MAY NEED TO BE REPURPOSED OR ADJUSTED AS WE GO ALONG. THAT WAS SOMETHING INTENTIONAL. MID-YEAR SOMETHING CHANGES AND NOW WE HAVE SPENT THE DOLLARS AND WE CAN'T DO WHATEVER IS NEEDED IN THAT PARTICULAR TIME. WE WILL BE QUARTERLY REVISITS AND MONITORING AS WELL AS ADJUSTMENTS WHEN [01:10:21] NEEDED THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS. >> THANK YOU. AND A FOLLOW-UP, THERE IS AN AMENDMENT PROCESS THAT CAN OCCUR THROUGHOUT THE FUNDING PERIOD, CORRECT? >> YES. >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. I WILL THROW MYSELF IN LAST. I HAVE A QUESTION RELATED TO SOME OF THE PUBLIC COMMENTS FROM EARLIER. I WANT TO START WITH AN AREA OF STRENGTH AND PRAISE AND THAT IS SYSTEMIC ALIGNMENT. I HAVE REALLY SEEN THAT ACROSS THE BOARD. IT RELATES ALSO TO WHAT YOU BROUGHT UP EARLIER WHICH IS ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND TIME WITH THE SCHOOL LEADERS GETTING STARTED FOR THE YEAR. ALL OF THE LANGUAGE WE ARE SEEING IN THIS PLAN IS ALIGNED WITH THE LANGUAGE THAT THEY ARE USING AND DISCUSSING THEIR WORK FOR THE COMING YEAR AND IT IS IN OUR STRATEGIC PLAN. WE ARE GETTING TO A POWERFUL PLACE WHERE THERE IS NOTHING BEING SAID TO THE BOARD THAN WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE WORK ROOM. I SEE A PLACE WHERE WE ARE ALL IN THE SAME PAGE AND I THINK THAT IS EXTREMELY POWERFUL. I THINK THAT RELATES TO THE SUSTAINABILITY. THIS ESSER FUNDING PLAN DOESN'T SEEM TO NEED TO COME OUT TO BE ANYTHING THAT IS SEPARATE FROM WHAT WE ARE ALREADY SEEING WE ARE GOING TO DO. IT LITERALLY JUST IS ENHANCEMENT IN GETTING IT DONE. I APPRECIATE THAT. I AM INTERESTED IN GOING BACK TO THE PLAN. I THINK IT IS PAGE 5. PREPARING STAFF FOR PROFESSIONAL LEARNING AND CREATING A CONTINUUM OF OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDING EXTENDED DAY AND SUMMER AND THEN THAT NOTION OF STAFFING AND HOW TO GET IT DONE. THERE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN EXPLICIT DISCUSSIONS YET BUT I SEE HIGH-IMPACT TUTORING AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE EXTENDED, TARGETED LEARNING TO OCCUR. THE REASON IS WE HAVE COME TO A PLACE WHERE WE KNOW A SMALL GROUP OF INSTRUCTION CAN BE IMPACTFUL. TWO TO THREE KIDS AND DOING SOMETHING SPECIFIC TO THEIR NEEDS. HIGH-IMPACT TUTORING ALLOWS SOME OF THE PRESSURE TO COME OFF THE TEACHERS. I'M ALWAYS CONCERNED ABOUT, OH, I HAVE TO TEACH THESE PARTICULAR THINGS AND NOW I HAVE TO SOMEHOW CREATE THESE INTERVENTIONS OR ACTIVITIES FOR THESE FIVE OR SIX SMALL GROUPS AND THEY CAN BE VERY TARGETED THINGS. I AM JUST CURIOUS AS TO WHAT THE DISCUSSION HAS BEEN ABOUT HOW TO GET THAT TYPE OF WORK DONE IN A WAY THAT DOESN'T CREATE MORE STREAMING AND MAYBE CAN BRING IN SOME ADDITIONAL PEOPLE TO DO THAT SORT OF TARGETED WORK. I THINK THAT CAN BE REALLY POWERFUL FROM TIER1 ALL THE WAY THROUGH. IT IS A LONG QUESTION, BUT CURIOUS AS TO WHAT THE QUESTION HAS BEEN. >> I'LL START AT THIS AND THEN IF YOU WANT TO CHIME IN. WE ALREADY HAVE COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO ARE WORKING WITH US IN REGARDS TO TUTORING. WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS IS HOW DO WE EXPAND THAT? NOW WE HAVE MORE STUDENTS WHO NEED THE ADDITIONAL TUTORING. WE ALSO HAVE OUR FAMILY OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WHO IS WORKING WITH OUR FAMILIES. [01:15:02] THESE ARE STUDENTS WHO WE KNOW NEED THAT SUPPORT. IT IS GETTING KIDS TO REMAIN AT THE SCHOOL AND MAKING IT SO IT IS NOT A PUNISHMENT. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ENGAGED IN TUTORING. MANY OF OUR SCHOOLS ARE INCORPORATING SUPPORT SERVICES AND TUTORING OPPORTUNITIES DURING THE SCHOOL DAY AS WELL. THAT'S INCLUDING AT THE HIGH SCHOOL AND WE HAVE NOT HAD THAT IN THE PAST. YOU CAN GET SMALL GROUP AND ONE ON ONE TUTORING. WE KNOW HIGH SCHOOL KIDS, WHEN THE BELL RINGS, IT IS HARD TO MAKE THEM STAY. THEY ARE BIGGER THAN WE ARE SO WE CAN'T HOLD THEM. [LAUGHING]. THEY'RE LIKE, I'M OUT. I'M DONE. AND SO WE ARE TRYING TO BE INNOVATIVE AND ADDRESSING THIS IN A DIFFERENT WAY THAN WE HAVE IN THE PAST. WHEN WE SAY REIMAGINE, I'M EXCITED BECAUSE -- I AM NOT KNOCKING ANYTHING IN THE PAST. STAFF, I AM NOT SAYING THAT ANYBODY IS BAD OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. IN THE PAST WE WERE NOT SERVING THEM WELL AND IT FORCED US TO GET OUT OF OUR OLD WAYS. EVERYTHING WE USED TO DO IS NOT ALWAYS RIGHT. NOW WE CAN CUSTOMIZE BASED ON A STUDENT'S NEED AND NOT A ONE SIZE FITS ALL APPROACH THAT SCHOOLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE ALWAYS DONE. SO I REALLY BELIEVE AND I HAVE FAITH IN OUR STAFF SAYING WE DO HAVE PARTNERS OUT HERE. HOW DO WE REALLY UTILIZE THE SERVICES THAT THEY BRING. HOW CAN WE GET THEM IN THERE AT 2? HOW CAN WE GET THEM IN THERE IN THE MORNING? DR. MAZINGO OR DR. HUFFMAN, YOU CAN ADD TO THAT. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. WE HAVE DURING OUR SUMMER PROGRAM, I KNOW THAT THE SPECIALIZED STAFF FOCUSED ON OUR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES ON LITERACY AND WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING AND UTILIZING THE FUNDS. WE WERE MEETING THE NEEDS AND STILL CONTINUING TO WORK ON MEETING THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. ONE OF THE STRATEGIES WE ASKED FOR FUNDING IS TO PROVIDE SOME EXTENDED DAY OPPORTUNITIES AFTER SCHOOL AS WELL AS SATURDAY. AND USING THIS PROGRAM AND IMPLEMENTING THE PROGRAM DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR. THAT'S ONE OF THE STRATEGIES WE ARE LOOKING AT FOR THAT GROUP OF STUDENTS. MAINLY BECAUSE THERE WAS SUCH SUCCESS THIS SUMMER. WE HAD A SERIES OF CONVERSATIONS WITH MS. HUFFMAN AND HOW DO WE USE EXTENDED TIME DIFFERENTLY WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO AND HOW CAN WE COLLABORATE AS DR. HUTCHINGS HAS INDICATED. HOW CAN WE ENGAGE OUR PARTNERS? THOSE ARE TWO EFFORTS THAT WE ARE PROPOSING TO BE FUNDED THROUGH ESSER III. WE KNOW GIVEN THE LOSS OUR CHILDREN WILL NEED MORE TIME AND THE TIME IN SCHOOL AS WELL AS OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL AS WELL AS ON SATURDAY WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE. WE ARE DELIGHTED ABOUT WHAT THIS WILL BRING FOR OUR FAMILIES AND THE COMMUNITIES. I DON'T KNOW IF MR. HUFFMAN HAD A FEW COMMENTS? >> DID A GREAT JOB SUMMING IT UP. WE HAVE A 21ST CENTURY GRANT CALLED THE LINK CLUB THAT HAS AFTER SCHOOL TUTORING FOR CHILDREN THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS NEEDING ADDITIONAL HELP. IT IS COOL BECAUSE WE CAN USE THAT AS A DATA POINT OF WHAT'S WORKING WITH THAT PROGRAM AND HOW DO WE STRENGTHEN THAT PROGRAM? HOW DO I WORK -- HOW DOES OUR OFFICE AND OUR AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM WORK WITH THE GROUP AND LOOK AT USING THAT AS A MODEL OF, OKAY, WHAT WORKS? [01:20:19] HOW DO WE STRENGTHEN IT? WHAT IS THE NEXT VERSION -- I HATE TO USE THAT WORD, BUT AFTER SCHOOLTIME AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY DIG INTO THAT. WE HAVE A GREAT MODEL OF CERTAIN THINGS THAT WORKED REALLY WELL AND WE CAN SAY HOW DO WE WORK TOGETHER AND WHAT IS COMING UP. IT IS PRETTY EXCITING STUFF THAT COULD BE COPPING OUR WAY. >> GREAT, THANK YOU. I WILL JUST ADD A PLUG TO WHAT YOU SAID, DR. HUTCHINGS. I AM A HUGE PROPONENT OF GETTING THESE THINGS IN ON THE SCHOOL DAY. THERE IS RESEARCH THAT INDICATES THAT THAT IS ACTUALLY MORE EFFECTIVE. THAT WILL TAKE INNOVATION, BUT I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WORTH TRYING TO EXPLORE. THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR THE RESPONSES. DR. RIEF? >> THANKS FOR THE CONVERSATION. THERE IS SOMETHING I HAVE BEEN CURIOUS ABOUT ON THIS TOPIC. I WILL ASK IT NOW, AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO -- IF YOU CAN TALK ABOUT IT OR MAYBE AT A FUTURE BOARD MEETING, BUT I AM CURIOUS ABOUT WITH THIS CONVERSATION AROUND LEARNING LOSS WHAT IS THE IMPACT IN THE CLASSROOM? I TALKED ABOUT REMEDIATION VERSUS ACCELERATION. I KNOW THE TEACHERS ARE DOING PROFESSIONAL LEARNING LIKE GOING INTO THE SCHOOL YEAR. IF YOU CAN TALK ABOUT HOW IT IS GOING TO BE ADDRESSED. MAYBE A STUDENT MOVES IN MIDDLE SCHOOL FROM ONE MATH CLASS TO THE NEXT AND MAYBE LAST YEAR WAS A LITTLE BIT OF AN ANOMALY SO HOW ARE WE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE CAUGHT UP ON THE SKILLS THEY NEED? >> WE WILL FOLLOW-UP ON THAT ONE. THAT'S ONE OF OUR FOCUS AREAS FOR 2021 AND 22. THAT WILL PROVIDE THE BOARD WITH SOME GUIDANCE AS TO WHAT OUR LEARNING PLAN WILL BE IN THIS UPCOMING YEAR WITH THIS UNIQUE SITUATION IN REGARDS TO STUDENT DATA. THE BOARD IS GOING TO RECEIVE RECOMMENDATIONS AT THE NEXT MEETING. >> OKAY. THANK YOU, EVERYONE. THAT WAS A GREAT DISCUSSION. IT IS EXCITING TIMES. WITH EVERY CRISIS COMES AN OPPORTUNITY, AND I THINK WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY AHEAD OF US. EXCELLENT. WE DO NEED TO MOVE ALONG IF OUR AGENDA. [7. Mask Wearing Recommendation] WE HAVE A MASK RECOMMENDATION TO DISCUSS. DR. HUTCHINGS? >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND FOR THE RECORD, I WANT TO PUT THIS OUT THERE BEFORE WE START WITH OUR PRESENTATION. I DON'T READ EVERYTHING IN THE NEWS. I TRY NOT TO ANYMORE. BUT PEOPLE DO PROVIDE UPDATES BASED ON WHAT HAPPENS IN THE NEWS. THERE WAS AN ARTICLE THAT SAID ACPS IS THE LAST TO MAKE A DECISION. I WAS TAKEN BACK BY THAT. I CURRENTLY SERVE AS THE REGION 4 CHAIR FOR REGION 4. THAT'S ALL SCHOOL DIVISIONS IN THE REGION. WE MET TWO WEEKS AGO AND ALL TALKED ABOUT WHAT OUR DECISIONS WOULD BE. SOME DIDN'T HAVE TO GO TO THE BOARD TO MAKE DECISIONS LIKE THAT. I CHOSE TO WAIT FOR OUR BOARD MEETING TO DO THAT, VERSUS JUST MAKING THE DECISION WITHOUT THE BOARD'S APPROVAL AND VOTE. THAT'S THE REASON WE ARE DOING THIS TODAY. NO ONE WAS INTENDING TO DO ANY KIND OF RESOLUTION OR VOTE ON MASK WEARING FOR THE FALL. WE KNEW WE WERE DOING OUR ESSER III PUBLIC COMMENTS AND WE CHOSE TO ADD IT TO THE AGENDA AND THAT'S THE ONLY REASON WHY WE ARE HAVING THIS PRESENTATION AND RECOMMENDATION BEFORE THE BOARD AT THIS TIME. SCHOOL DOESN'T BEGIN UNTIL AUGUST 24TH. FOR MOST SCHOOLS. SOME START ON MONDAY. WE ARE MAKING SURE THE INFORMATION IS OUT AND THAT'S WHY WE ARE DOING IT AT THIS TIME. THERE IS NOTHING SOMEBODY TOLD US TO DO. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO KNOW AS A REGION THAT ALL OF OUR SUPERINTENDENTS ARE ON SPEED DIAL. I TALK TO THEM ALL THE TIME AND WE WORK COLLABORATIVE. [01:25:01] NO ONE IS AHEAD OF ANYONE ELSE. IT IS REALLY JUST THE PROCESSES IN THE SCHOOL DIVISIONS. WITH THAT BEING SAID I WILL TURN THINGS OVER TO DR. CRAWFORD TO SHARE AND GO THROUGH THIS PRESENTATION IN REGARDS OF HEALTH AND SAFETY MEASURES FOR HEALTH OF MASKING. >> THANK YOU, DR. HUTCHINS. GOOD EVENING, BOARD AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT ONE OF THE HEALTH AND SAFETY MEASURES WE USE, SPECIFICALLY MASKING. ON THE NEXT SLIDE YOU WILL SEE WHEN WE BEGIN OUR CONVERSATIONS YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THIS SLIDE, OF COURSE. THIS IS THE SLIDE OF THE INFORMATION OFF THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SCHOOL METRICS FROM THE CDC. THIS INFORMATION IS TYPICALLY UPDATED ONCE A WEEK ON WEDNESDAY. THE INFORMATION THAT IS ON THIS SLIDE IS FROM LAST WEDNESDAY, THE 24TH. YOU CAN SEE LAST WEDNESDAY, THE 24TH, WE UNFORTUNATELY WENT INTO THE SUBSTANTIAL AREA ON OUR COMBINED CORE INDICATORS. THE COMBINED CORE INDICATORS, AS YOU KNOW, BUT A REFRESHER FOR ANYONE LISTENING WHO DOES NOT, PUTS THE TWO INDICATORS THAT ARE ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE AT THE TOP TOGETHER. THAT'S THE TOTAL NUMBER OF NEW CASES PER 100,000 IN THE LAST SEVEN DAYS. AND THEN THE PERCENT OF PCR TESTING POSITIVE IN THE LAST SEVEN DAYS. YOU TAKE THE HIGHER INDICATOR WHEN DETERMINING THE COMBINED CORE INDICATOR. UNFORTUNATELY WE DID GO BACK TO SUBSTANTIAL. WE HAD BEEN DOWN IN MODERATE AND LOW FOR SOME TIME. I WANT TO PUT THE CHANGING HEALTH METRICS IN PERSPECTIVE. SINCE THESE NUMBERS ARE LAST WEDNESDAY, THE 24TH, COMPARED TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY, THE THIRD, A WEEK LATER, THE CITY'S DASHBOARD SHOWS TOTAL NEW CASES PER 100,000 IS 73.69. AND OUR PERCENT OF PCR TESTING RATE POSITIVE IS UP TO 4.5 IN UNDER A WEEK. WE ARE SEEING INCREASING NUMBERS HERE. WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT FOR THE BOARD BECAUSE WE WANT TO USE PUBLIC HEALTH INFORMATION WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WHAT MITIGATING MEASURES ARE TO SUPPORT THE SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF MEMBERS. WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. WHEN WE HAVE THIS DISCUSSION AND I KNOW THE BOARD KNOWS THIS, BUT IF THERE IS ANYBODY NEW TO THE DISCUSSION, ACPS WORKS WITH THE ALEXANDRIA HEALTH DEPARTMENT LITERALLY ON A DAILY BASIS. WE ARE GOOD ENOUGH TO HAVE DR. GATTY ON THIS MEETING TONIGHT. WE TALKED WITH DR. GATTY AND THE TEAM OF EPIDEMIOLOGISTS AND THURSDAYS ON A DAILY BASIS. WHEN TALKING ABOUT WHAT A MASKING RECOMMENDATION CAN BE WE CONSIDER A NUMBER OF FACTORS. FIRST WHAT YOU JUST SAW. WE ARE IF SUBSTANTIAL RIGHT NOW WITHIN THE COMMUNITY WHICH IS AN INCREASE. WE ALSO KNOW, AND MOST OF US IN THE MEETING KNOW THAT THERE IS INCREASE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE OF THE DELTA VARIANT THAT IS MORE CONTAGIOUS AND CAN RESULT IF A MORE SEVERE ILLNESS FOR THOSE WHO BECOME INFECTED. RECENTLY, THE CDC -- IF YOU GO BACK A COUPLE SLIDE AGO, MASKING MAY NOT BE RECOMMENDED IF YOU ARE FULLY VACCINATED. IN THE CONTEXT OF A SCHOOL IT IS CHALLENGING SO WE ARE HIGHLIGHTING THAT WE DO NOT COLLECT INFORMATION ON AN IDENTIFIABLE LEVEL TO MONITOR THE VACCINE STATUS OF STAFF MEMBERS AND STUDENTS. WE DON'T HAVE A SYSTEM TO MONITOR THAT. ENFORCING MASK POLICIES AND TALKING ABOUT MAXIMIZING SAFETY THAT WOULD BE CHALLENGING. THE OTHER CONSIDERATION WE HAVE IS WE KNOW WE ARE GOING BACK FIVE DAYS A WEEK AND WE ARE SUPER EXCITED ABOUT. WE CANNOT WAIT TO HAVE OUR STAFF AND OUR STUDENTS BACK. IT HAS BEEN A LONG YEAR WITHOUT THEM, AND WE KNOW THAT'S WHERE WE WANT TO BE WITH OUR STUDENTS. THAT SAID, WE KNOW THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE FULL CLASS ROPES. DR. HUTCHINGS SHARED EARLY IN THE SPRING THAT WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PHYSICALLY DISTANCE IN OUR SCHOOLS AND IN OUR PROGRAMS. THAT IS A MAJOR CONSIDERATION AS WELL. WHEN WE ARE NOT ABLE TO DO THE DISTANCING, THE IMPORTANCE OF THE OTHER MITIGATING MEASURES REALLY KICKS IT UP A NOTCH. BASED ON THOSE CONSIDERATIONS AND TO THE BEING ABLE TO DISTANCE, INCREASING TRANSMISSION IN THE COMMUNITY AND OUR LACK OF A SYSTEM TO MONITOR VACCINES WE DO HAVE THE RECOMMENDATION THAT IS ON THE NEXT SLIDE WHICH WE OFFER TO THE BOARD. IF WE CAN CLICK ONE MORE SLIDE. [01:30:03] MASKS WILL BE REQUIRED WHEN ACPS. ALL ACPS PHO SILLS COR VEHICLES REGARDLESS OF VACCINATION STATUS. AND JUST LIKE WE HAVE DONE SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC IS MONITOR HEALTH METRICS AND STAY IF TOUCH WITH THE ALEXANDRIA HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO SEE WHERE ARE WE? WHAT GUIDANCE DO WE NEED? THINGS ARE EVER CHANGING. WHERE WE ARE PRESENTLY BASED ON THE CONSIDERATIONS I JUST REVIEWED WITH YOU, THIS IS THE RECOMMENDATION WE PRESENTED THE SCHOOL BOARD FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. SO WITH THAT WE HAVE OUR RECOMMENDATION IN FRONT OF US AND I WILL NEED A MOTION FROM MS. NOLAN? >> YES. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MADAM CHAIR I MOVE TO PRIORITIZE THE SAFETY OF ALL STUDENTS AND STAFF AS ACPS RETURNS FIVE DAYS A WEEK IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL OF DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS AND THE LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS THAT MASKS CONTINUE TO BE REQUIRED INSIDE ALL ACPS FACILITIES AND VEHICLES REGARDLESS OF VACCINATION STATUS FOR THE FALL 2021 SEMESTER. ACPS WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR COMMUNITY HEALTH METRICS AND GUIDANCE FROM FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL HEALTH OFFICIALS AND WILL REASSESS AS NEW INFORMATION IS SHARED. >> SECOND. >> MS. GREENE SECONDS THE MOTION. WE WILL CALL FOR A VOTE. MEAGAN ALDERTON IS A YES. WE HAVE CINDY ANDERSON WHO IS ABSENT. RAMEE GENTRY, YOU CAN VOICE VOTE. >> YES. >> JACINTA GREENE. >> YES. >> MARGARET LORBER IS ABSENT. VERONICA NOLAN. >> YES. >> CHRISTOPHER SUAREZ. >> YES. HEATHER THORTON. >> YES. >> THE MOTION IS APPROVED WITH -- WE HAVE 7 YES AND 2 ABSENT. LOOK AT THAT. IT SHOWED UP. DOES EVERYBODY SEE IT? YOU HAVE A QUESTION DR. RIEF? >> YEAH. I WAS WONDERING IF I COULD ASK A QUESTION FOR DR. GATTY IF SHE IS STILL ON THE ZOOM. I BELIEVE I SAW HER, OR MAYBE DR. CRAWFORD. DO YOU KNOW -- LOOKING AT SOME OF THE NEW CDC GUIDANCE THE DEFINITION OF A CLOSE CONTACT HAS CHANGED A LITTLE. IN A K-12 SETTING THEY SAID -- WE HAVE BEEN GOING BY SIX FEET AND NOW THEY SAY IT IS WITHIN LESS THAN THREE FEET EXCEPT WE KNOW WE ARE GOING TO BE LESS THAN THREE FEET. I AM WONDERING HOW THAT WILL CHANGE THE APPROACH WE WILL BE TAKING IN TERMS OF CONTACT TRACING AND ISOLATION. >> SURE. YEAH. I CAN START OUT AND THEN YOU CAN TALK TO WHETHER THERE IS ANY PRACTICAL CONCERNS. I'M DR. ANNE GATTY AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE ALEXANDRIA HEALTH DEPARTMENT. WHAT YOU SAID IS CORRECT. IN SCHOOL SETTINGS, THE WAY THAT THE CDC WOULD DEFINE A CLOSE CONTACT WOULD BE IF CHILDREN ARE MASKED AND THEY ARE OUTSIDE OF A THREE-FOOT RADIUS FROM SOMEONE WHO IS KNOWN TO HAVE COVID, THEN THEY WOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED A CLOSE CONTACT. BASICALLY IF WE DISCOVER THERE IS A CASE, WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT A THREE-FOOT RADIUS AROUND THAT CASE TO BE ABLE TO DETERMINE WHO NEEDS TO BE QUARANTINED IF THEY ARE -- IF THEY ARE THEMSELVES NOT VACCINATED. THAT DOES APPLY ONLY TO STUDENTS AND NOT TO TEACHERS OR OTHER ADULTS. WE WOULD BE WORKING CLOSELY WITH ACPS ON ANY CASES LIKE THIS TO DETERMINE WHO WE NEED TO CONTACT TRACE. AND WE'VE BEEN IN CLOSE COMMUNICATION WITH DR. CRAWFORD AND HER TEAM TO TRY TO ENSURE THAT WE KNOW WHERE STUDENTS ARE TO MAKE THE CONTACT TRACING EASIER. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING DR. CRAWFORD. >> SURE. FROM A PRACTICAL LEVEL, THIS IS A GREAT QUESTION, SO I THANK YOU FOR IT. [01:35:05] IT ALSO SHOWS THE IMPORTANCE OF MASKING. WE UPDATED OUR NOTIFICATION LETTERS BASED ON NEW INFORMATION AND WORDING WE RECEIVED FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO EMPHASIZE SOME OF THE CHANGES WITH THE UPDATES. ALSO FROM A PROCESSED POINT FROM STUDENT SERVICES TO THE SCHOOLS WHEN WE DO HAVE A POSITIVE INDIVIDUAL WOULD POTENTIALLY HAD EXPOSURE, WE HAVE HAD TO -- WE HAVE UPDATED OUR QUESTIONS THAT WE ASKED AND AS DR. GETTY SAID, WE ARE LOOKING THREE FEET FOR OUR STUDENTS AND LOOKING SIX FEET FOR ADULTS. THE TYPES OF QUESTIONS WE ARE ASKING IS WE GET AN INITIAL LIST OF POTENTIAL CLOSE CONTACTS THAT WE COMMUNICATE TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AND THEN THEY DO THEIR CONTACT TRACING SPECIFICALLY. SOMETIMES THEY CALL US BACK AND GIVE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR ASK US TO LOOK IN ANOTHER AVENUE. YES, DR. RIEF, WHEN WE HAVE EVERYONE BACK FIVE DAYS A WEEK, THOSE CONVERSATIONS MAY BE, UNLESS IT IS A SMALLER CLASS OR A SMALLER PROGRAM, WE ANTICIPATE THE NUMBER OF CLOSE CONTACTS TO BE OBVIOUSLY HIGHER. AND THAT'S WHY HAVING ALL OF THE INFORMATION LIKE OUR PRINCIPALS HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB AND HAVING ACCESS TO THE SEATING CHARTS AND NIGHTS AND WEEKENDS AND HAVING THAT INFORMATION AT THEIR FINGERTIPS TO RESPOND. WE ANTICIPATE WITH MORE STUDENTS RETURNING WE ANTICIPATE THE NUMBER OF [Consent Calendar] [01:42:20] CLOSE CONTACTS WE WILL PROVIDE WILL INCREASE. CASES WE HAD IN THE SPRING, WE HAD A HANDFUL THAT WE PASSED ALONG, BUT WE KNOW OUR NUMBERS WERE A FRACTION OF WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE. [10. Report from Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr.] THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. WE ARE IN A CLOSE PARTNERSHIP AND HAVE A GOOD HANDLE ON THE UPDATED DOCUMENTATION. >> I'M SORRY. CAN I JUST FOLLOW-UP? JUST PIGGYBACKING ON SOME OF THE THINGS I HEARD TONIGHT, YOU FOE, THIS IS OUR FIRST YEAR WE ARE STARTING BEFORE LABOR DAY AND I FEEL LIKE IT IS SNEAKING UP ON US AND COMING QUICKLY. I AM GETTING QUESTIONS ABOUT THE REOPENING AND THE SAFETY MEASURES AND I KNOW LIKE MS. NOLAN WAS ASKING A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. WE DID TALK ABOUT IT AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WEREN'T -- MAYBE IT WASN'T THEIR FOCUS AT THE TIME. I KNOW WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE ACADEMIC PROGRAM. SINCE WE ARE NOT DOING THE HYBRID MODEL, I AM CURIOUS HOW THE QUARANTINING AND ISOLATION WILL WORK FROM AN ACADEMIC STANDPOINT? WILL KIDS MISS TWO WEEKS OF SCHOOL? JUST WONDERING WHAT YOU ARE SAYING ABOUT THE BACK TO SCHOOL COMMUNICATIONS. WHEN CAN PARENTS EXPECT TO RECEIVE MORE INFORMATION OF WE HAVE A LOT OF STUDENTS COMING BACK WHO HAVEN'T BEEN IN THE SCHOOLS FOR A YEAR NOW. THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN PAYING AS CLOSE ATTENTION TO WHAT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY MITIGATIONS WERE. THEIR ANXIETY ESPECIALLY WITH THE VARIANT WILL BE AMPING UP IN THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS. WHEN CAN THEY EXPECT TO GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROTOCOLS FOR THE FALL? IF YOU CAN JUST TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT. >> AND I WILL HAVE MS. BERGOSE TALK ABOUT OUR BACK TO SCHOOL. AND THIS IS TYPICAL. EVERYONE IS ON VACATION, RIGHT? IF WE GET THINGS OUT TOO EARLY, PEOPLE MISS IT. WE TRY TO BEGIN OUR COMMUNICATIONS TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO SCHOOL BEGINNING. PEOPLE START TO SEE BUSES AND TAKING RIDES AROUND. PEOPLE START TO SAY, HEY, SCHOOL IS ABOUT TO BEGIN. SO WE REALLY HAVE A PLANNED COMMUNICATION. IT IS NOT DONE ON A HAPHAZARD OR HODGE PODGE COMMUNICATION. SHE MAY WANT TO TALK ABOUT OUR COMMUNICATIONS PLAN FOR BACK TO SCHOOL. >> THANK YOU, DR. HUTCHINGS. ACTUALLY WE HAD AN EXTENSIVE MEETING WITH THE PRINCIPALS THIS AFTERNOON TO ENSURE THAT WE WERE INCLUDING ALL OF THE INFORMATION AND WE ARE GOING TO BE SHARING THAT WITH THEM SO OUR BACK TO SCHOOL EDITION WILL COME OUT AUGUST 13TH THAT WILL HAVE ALL OF THE INFORMATION WE ARE DISCUSSING TONIGHT, AND WE ARE WORKING ON AN FAQ THAT WILL INCLUDE THIS INFORMATION. WE WILL INCLUDE SOME OF THE QUESTIONS WE RECEIVED TONIGHT FROM PTA THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ADDRESSED. MANY WERE PUT INTO THE FAQ. [Additional Item] ALL OF THAT INFORMATION WILL GO INTO THAT BACK TO SCHOOL EXPRESS EDITION. WE WILL ALSO BE SHARING THE INFORMATION WITH PRINCIPALS SO THEY CAN PUT IT INTO THEIR NEWSLETTERS AFTER WE SEND IT IN EXPRESS. IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE WERE WAITING TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON THIS EVENING WITH THE MASK POLICY AND WHAT THE DECISION FROM THE BOARD WOULD BE AND WE ARE SENDING A MESSAGE TO FAMILIES TOMORROW ABOUT THE MASKING REQUIREMENT AS WELL AS HEALTH AND SAFETY MITIGATION EFFORTS AND VISITOR POLICIES. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT FOR THE MOMENT AND THEN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT TO EXPECT FOR THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR WILL BE FORTHCOMING NEXT WEEK WHEN WE SEND OUT THE BACK TO SCHOOL EXPRESS AND INSIDER. I HOPE THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION. >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. [01:45:01] SO EVERYONE CAN LOOK OUT FOR THAT. ALL RIGHT. WE DO HAVE SOME CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS TO ADOPT THIS EVENING. >> MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE WE APPROVE THE CONSENT. >> SECOND. >> MR. SUAREZ SECONDS MS. GENTRY'S MOTION. WE WILL CALL FOR A VOTE. ARE THERE ITEMS TO PULL? ALL RIGHT. SO WITH THAT SAID -- I'M SORRY. THE QUESTIONS ARE AFTER. YEAH. IT'S IF THERE. NO PROBLEM. WE HAVE THE -- DID YOU GET THE SECOND -- OKAY OF WE HAD MR. SUAREZ WHO SECONDED MS. GENTRY'S MOTION. GOT THAT? OKAY. ALL RIGHT. AND SO WE WILL CALL NOW FOR THE VOTE FOR THE CONSENT CALENDAR. MEAGAN ALDERTON, YES. >> RAMEE GENTRY. >> YES. >> JACINTA GREENE. >> YES. >> MICHELLE RIEF. >> YES. >> CHRISTOPHER SUAREZ. >> YES. >> HEATHER THON TON. >> YES. >> AND CINDY ANDERSON AND MARGARET LORBER ARE ABSENT. OKAY? ALL RIGHT. CONSENT CALENDAR IS DONE. DR. HUTCHINGS, DO YOU HAVE A REPORT FOR THE BOARD? >> A QUICK REPORT. WELCOME BACK, EVERYBODY TO IN-PERSON. WE CANNOT WAIT FOR OUR KID -- I KNOW I CAN'T WAIT FOR MY KIDS TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE. FIVE DAYS A WEEK, CAN'T WAIT. AND I AM EXCITED THIS WEEK OUR SCHOOL LEADERS ARE GOING TO BE LEAVING FOR LEADERSHIP ACADEMY. THIS SETS THE STAGE FOR THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. AND I KNOW EVERYBODY IS EXCITED. LAST YEAR WAS VIRTUAL AND EVERYBODY WAS ON ZOOM. WE ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE ABLE TO BE IN PERSON WITH MASKS BECAUSE WE ARE IN AN ACPS BUILDING, BUT WE WILL ALL BE IN PERSON AND DISCUSSING OUR, YOU KNOW, OUR GOOD, OUR BAD AND OUR UGLY. IT IS ALL WE NEED TO WORK THROUGH ESPECIALLY DURING THESE TRYING TIMES. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THURSDAY AND SEEING YOU ALL AND I KNOW THE BOARD MEMBERS RECEIVED AN INVITATION. DROP IN IF YOU CAN. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ALL AND I WILL SEE YOU THURSDAY TO OUR TEAM. >> AND IT IS EN BLANC. >> I WON'T HAVE ON WHITE SHOES, BUT I WILL HAVE ON MY WHITE. ON THURSDAY, IF YOU CAN JUST HAVE ON SOMETHING WHITE, THAT'S OKAY. EVERYBODY GOT NERVOUS, I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING WHITE. PUT ON A WHITE T-SHIRT AND JEANS IF YOU NEED TO. JUST WEAR SOMETHING WHITE. IF YOU HAVE ALL WHITE -- I KNOW I WILL HAVE ON ALL WHITE, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ALL. IT IS REALLY THE THEME THIS THURSDAY AND THAT'S ABOUT US REIMAGINING EDUCATION. WE ARE STARTING WITH A BLANK CANVAS. THAT'S WHAT THE WHITE SYMBOLIZES. THIS IS A TIME FOR US TO REALLY START OVER AND TO FORGET ABOUT HOW EVERYTHING WAS DONE BEFORE. WE NOW GET TO PAINT THIS NEW PICTURE OF WHAT EDUCATION IN ALEXANDRIA PUBLIC CITY SCHOOLS LOOKS LIKE AND THAT'S WHAT THE WHITE IS FOR THIS THURSDAY. >> EXCELLENT. LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. DO WE HAVE ANY BOARD MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS? I HAVE MS. GREEN AND THEN I THINK MS. GENTRY HAS AN ANNOUNCEMENT AS WELL. >> OKAY. I JUST WANTED TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2021 SUMMER SCHOOL GRADUATES. THE GRADUATION WAS LAST FRIDAY. IT WAS ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL, AS USUAL. THEY DO A WONDERFUL JOB WITH THE CEREMONY. TO HEAR THE STORIES OF PERSEVERANCE FROM THE GRADUATES MAKES WHAT WE DO TRULY WORTH WHILE. IT IS ONE OF THE BEST EVENTS OF THE YEAR. SO I WAS JUST HAPPY TO BE THERE TO CELEBRATE WITH THEM. AND I'M NOT SURE -- MS. GENTRY ASKED ME TO -- >> YOU GO AHEAD. I CAME UP WITH SOMETHING ELSE. YOU GO AHEAD, MS. GREEN. >> ALL RIGHT. SHE TEXTED ME TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE WATCH NOAH TOMORROW IN HIS RACE AT 8:55 A.M. WE CAN WATCH HIM BRING HOME THE GOLD HERE TO ALEXANDRIA. VERY PROUD OF HIM. >> EXCELLENT. MS. GENTRY? >> THANK YOU, MS. GREEN. I DID THINK OF ONE OTHER THING. I WAS REMINDED OF IT WHEN WE WERE DOING THE MASK DISCUSSION. I KNOW THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE FEELING VERY DISCOURAGED RIGHT NOW. IN SOMEWAYS IT FEES LIKE A STEP BACKWARD. I THINK THERE MIGHT BE SOME PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT FOR WHATEVER REASON HAVEN'T BEEN VACCINATED YET WHO MIGHT BE THROWING UP THEIR HAND AND SAYING, WELL, WHAT'S THE POINT? I STILL HAVE TO WEAR A MASK ANYWAY. I PRETTY MUCH USE ANY OPPORTUNITY I CAN TO URGE PEOPLE PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE GET VACCINATED. IT IS CRUCIAL. YES, THIS IS TAKING LONGER THAN ANY OF US WANTED TO. WE ARE WEARING MASKS LONGER THAN ANY OF US WANTED TO. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO KEEP GOING THROUGH, YOU KNOW -- THIS WILL CONTINUE TO TAKE LONGER THAN ANY OF US WANTED TO UNTIL WE GET THAT -- UNTIL WE CAN GET BACK TO HERD IMMUNITY. GETTING THE VACCINE IS SUCH A CRUCIAL, CRUCIAL PART OF IT. AND WE KNOW NOW THAT FOR THE PEOPLE -- FOR THE SMALL, UNFORTUNATE PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE THAT STILL MIGHT GET COVID IF THEY ARE -- IF THEY ARE VACCINATED, IT IS MUCH LESS SEVERE. YOU KNOW, DO IT -- PLEASE, YOU KNOW, DO IT FOR YOURSELF AND DO IT FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THAT WAS IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. >> THANK YOU, MS. GENTRY. ALL RIGHT. SO IF THERE ARE NO OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS I NEED A MOTION TO ADJOURN. >> MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE THAT WE ADJOURN. >> SECOND. >> I THINK THEY WANT TO STAY HERE TONIGHT. >> SO I HAVE MS. GREEN WHO SECONDS MR. SUAREZ'S MOTION. I WILL CALL FOR THE VOTE. MEAGAN ALDERTON IS YES. RAMEE GENTRY. >> YES. >> JACINTA GREENE. >> YES. >> VERONICA NOLAN. >> YES. >> MICHELLE RIEF. >> YES. >> CHRISTOPHER SUAREZ. >> YES. >> HEATHER THORTON. >> AND WE HAVE CINDY ANDERSON AND MARGARET LORBER WHO ARE ABSENT. IT IS 7 PRESENT TO -- I'M SORRY. AT 8:51. WE ARE ADJOURNED AT 8:51. IT IS 7 PRESENT AND 2 ABSENT. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.