>> HEY, WELCOME EVERYONE, THIS IS THE SPECIAL CALLED SCHOOL BOARD MEETING FOR
[1. Meeting Called to Order by Chair Alderton]
[00:00:03]
NOVEMBER 4TH, 2021.I WILL NOW CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER AT 6:36 P.M., WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME PLEASE INDICATE THAT YOU ARE PRESENT.
>> I'M HERE, HEATHER THORNTON?
>> AND BOTH CHRISTOPHER SUAREZ AND MEAGAN ARE ABSENT.
>> MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE ACTED.
>> MADAM CHAIR, I WISH TO ADOPT THE AGENDA.
[3. Adopt the Agenda for the November 4, 2021 Special Called School Board Meeting]
>> BOARD MEMBERS ANDERSON'S MOTION TO ADOPT THE AGENDA.
AND SECONDED BY BOARD MEMBER NOLAN, I'LL CALL THE ORDER TO ADOPT THE AGENDA.
>>> THANK YOU, IT'S A UNANIMOUS ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA.
WE WILL NOW OBSERVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
[2. Observe a Moment of Silence ]
I BELIEVE WE DON'T HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT FOR TODAY IN >> NO, PUBLIC COMMENT.
IF YOU WISH TO SIGN OR COMMIT WIN PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR THE NEXT SCHOOL BOARD MEETING PLEASE SIGN UP NO LATTER THAN NOON THE DAY PRIOR POT MEETING AND USE THE LINK ON THE SCHOOL BOARD WEB PAGE.
>> MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
[5. Revisions to E, I, K, and L Policies/Regulations ]
>> MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, NEXT WE HAVE DR. RIEF, SHELL LEAD US THROUGH THE NEXT AGENDA
[6. School Board Discussions with Athletic Hall of Fame and Special Education Advisory Committees]
ITEM.>> SURE, THANK YOU, MS. NOLAN, AND WE ARE HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IS WE ESTABLISHED IN THE SPRING AN AD HOC COMMITTEE, THE BOARD DID TO LOOK AT OUR INTERACTIONS WITH OUR SCHOOL BOARD ADVISORY COMMITTEES.
WE HAVE FIVE CURRENT ACTIVITY SCHOOL BOARD ADVISORY COMMITTEES, AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE COMMITTEE HAS BEEN WORKING ON IS WE CREATED A SURVEY THAT WAS SHARED OUT WITH CURRENT AS WELL AS FORMER MEMBERS OF THE DIFFERENT ADVISORY COMMITTEES.
AND THE RESULTS, WE WERE JUST SHARED WITH YOU TONIGHT.
WE ALSO HAVE E-MAILED THEM TO YOU, SO PLEASE, TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE.
AND SOME OF THE -- I'LL JUST SHARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT CAME OUT OF THE SURVEY.
SOME OF THE THINGS FOR ANYBODY WHOSE LISTENING THAT PEOPLE HAVE FOUND OUT ABOUT OUR ADVISORY COMMITTEES IN DIFFERENT WAYS, MOSTLY THROUGH WORD OF MOUTH.
ABOUT HALF OF THE FOLKS WHO RESPONDED TO THE SURVEY WERE PARENTS, THEY WERE ALL STAFF MEMBERS REPRESENTED ON THE COMMITTEE.
THERE WERE A COUPLE OF SCHOOLS THAT DID NOT HAVE ANY PARTICIPATION IN THE SURVEY, SO, PERHAPS THEY ARE ALSO UNDER REPRESENTED ON THE ADVISORY COMMITTEES.
75% OF THE PEOPLE HAD SERVED ON THE COMMITTEES FOR FOUR YEARS OR LESS.
[00:05:01]
MOST AGREED THAT THE COMMITTEES MET REGULARLY, RAN EFFICIENT MEETINGS AND REVIEWED THEIR BUY LAWS ANNUALLY.IT APPEARED THAT MORE SUPPORT FROM OUR BOARD LIAISONS AND STAFF LIAISONS MAY BE NEEDED IN THE COMMITTEES.
AND THERE SEEMS TO BE ROOM FOR GROWTH THAT ALL COMMITTEE'S VOICES BE HEARD AND EACH COMMITTEE'S WORK IS VALUED.
AND WE PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ARE PEOPLE TO MAKE SUGGESTIONS IN THE SURVEY, SO, WHEN YOU HAVE A CHANCE, IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY, PLEASE LOOK AT THOSE.
WE ALSO WANTED TO INVITE THE CHAIRS OF THE VARIOUS COMMITTEES COME AND INTERACT WITH THE BOARD AND SHARE SOME OF THE WORK THEY'VE BEEN DOING IN THE COMMITTEE.
TONIGHT WE'RE JOINED BY CINDY HART FROM THE SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE, THAT'S THE FORMER CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE, THE CURRENT CHAIR WAS UNABLE TO BE HERE IT TONIGHT.
AND WE HAVE MR. JOHNSON FROM THE ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME ADVISORY.
SHOULD WE START WITH MS. HART SINCE SHE'S AT THE TABLE?
>> (INDISCERNIBLE) >> >> YEAH, IF YOU WANT TO MOVE TO THE TABLE.
AND REALLY, WE HAD JUST ASKED THE CHAIRS TO SHARE, WE SHARED WITH THE REST OF THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS THE MOST RECENT ANNUAL REPORT AND SCOPE OF WORK EACH YEAR FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW WHO MAY BE LISTENING IN, OUR ADVISORY COMMITTEES, THEY COME UP WITH A SCOPE OF WORK AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR OF WHAT THEY WILL BE DOING AND WORKING ON FOR THE YEAR AN AT THE END OF THE YEAR, THEY SHARE AN ANNUAL REPORT, WHICH IS KIND OF CONSENT, AND WE WANTED TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM YOU ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH YOUR COMMITTEE AND HOW WE CAN SUPPORT THE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING.
SO, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU, MR. DONALDSON.
>> ABOUT EVEN, SUPERINTENDENT, HUTCHINGS, MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD, IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE WITH YOU TO TALK ABOUT THE SCOPE OF THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE AS ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
FIRST OF ALL, I THINK MARK EISENHOWER WHO WAS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL INDIVIDUALS WHO PUT THIS PIECE TOGETHER WAS LONG OVERDUE AND WE'RE GOING TO YEAR, SINCE 2014, WE'VE GONE FROM YEAR TO YEAR MAKING ADJUSTMENTS THAT WE FELT NECESSARY TO MAKE IT MORE FEASIBLE AND OPEN UP MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EVERYBODY.
ALSO, SCHOOL BOARD LIAISON MS. GREENE FOR HER LEADERSHIP, IT'S BEEN GREAT IN SUPPORT AND GIVING US THE DIRECTION THAT YOU EXPRESS AT TIMES WHEN YOU SEE OUR COMMITTEE.
AND LASTLY, TO SUSAN NELSON WHO SETS ON OUR MEETINGS, AND HELPS US TO STAY IN ORDER.
LAST YEAR WAS, AS WE ALL KNOW WAS A VERY DIFFICULT YEAR.
WE ENDED CONDUCTS TWO CLASSES AT ONCE, THE 2020 AND THE 2021.
IT WAS A TASK, AND AGAIN WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF THE BOARD AND THE COMMITTEE ITSELF, WE GOT IT DONE.
WE FOUND OUT GOOD THINGS THAT WE COULD DO GOING FORWARD AND WE'RE LOOKING AT MAKING THOSE CHANGES AND ADOPTING DIFFERENT IDEAS.
THE HARDEST PART IS ALWAYS MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT WHAT WORE DOING AND HOW THE PROCESS WORKS.
THERE'S A MYTH OUT THERE IS THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO KNOW THEM ALREADY, SO IT SHOULD BE AUTOMATIC, YOU KNOW ME, BUT, WE'RE GOING INTO DETAILS TO BE SURE THEY FILL OUT THE APPLICATION AND GET THE DOCUMENTATIONS.
AND THE OTHER THING THAT WE'VE DONE OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS IS BECAUSE THERE'S PRIOR TO TC WILLIAMS, THERE WAS GW AND THE HAMMOND AND PARKER GRAY AND OTHER HIGH SCHOOLS TRYING TO BRING THAT GROUP IN ALSO.
THE FIRST YEAR WE HAD A LARGE NUMBER OF INDUCTEES IN THE HALL OF FAME, SO, WITH THE NUMBER OF KIDS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO BE NOMINATED ROTC IS HUGE COMPARED TO THE PAST YEARS BECAUSE SOME SPORTS, FOR INSTANCE, I KNOW THERE'S BEEN CONSTRAINT OF THE GROUP ARE FEMALES AND WE THINK BACK TO THE TIME WHERE THERE WEREN'T MANY SPORTS FOR FEMALES, AND THAT'S GROWN.
AND IN THE COMMITTEE, ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID LAST YEAR WAS GO BACK AND SET IN OUR PROCESS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE NUMBER OF MALE/FEMALE IS EQUAL.
[00:10:03]
SO WE CAME UP WITH A 60/40, NO MATTER WHAT, IT HAS TO BE 60/40 ON THAT, THAT'S BEEN HELPFUL AND THE COMMITTEE'S BEEN GOOD ON MAKING SURE WE STAY ON TASK.THIS PAST YEAR WE WENT WITH THE IDEA OF DIVIDING THEM UP INTO DIFFERENT CATEGORIES.
LIKE I SAID, WE HAVE THE PIE, AND WE HAVE THE POST 6 PIE.
WE DID IT WITH INDIVIDUAL ATHLETES, TEAMS, AND THAT, AGAIN, THIS PAST YEAR WE HAD THE TEAM FROM 1956 BASKETBALL TEAM FROM GW, AND 1991 GIRL'S INDOOR TRACK TEAM, THE 1971 WERE INDUCTED AND DID I MISS ONE?
>> SO, THAT CATEGORY GOT SATISFIED AND WE WENT TO COACHES, ADMINISTRATORS AND CONTRIBUTORS, AND THESE ARE PEOPLE, WHO ARE AGAIN, COACHES, VERY SIMPLE.
ADMINISTRATORS IS ANOTHER CATEGORY TO LOOK INTO AND CONTRIBUTORS.
WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WITHIN THE CITY THAT CONTRIBUTE TO OUR ATHLETIC PROGRAMS IN ALEXANDRIA CITY AND AGAIN, SOMETIMES ON THE OUTSIDE BUT DOING A LOT OF THINGS THAT MAKE THINGS WORK ON THE INSIDE.
WE ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER THE DATE.
WE WENT FROM THE WINTER TO THE FALL AND HOMECOMING AND SAID, OKAY, WHY DON'T WE JUST COME UP WITH A DATE AND SAY THIS IS OUR DATE AND WE HAVE CHOSEN THE SECOND WEEKEND IN OCTOBER.
WE PUT IT ON THE SCHOOL BOARD CALENDAR SO IT'S KNOWN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
AND THE OTHER PART IS THAT WE LEARNED FROM THE LAST INDUCTION CEREMONIES THAT BEING IN THE AUDITORIUM WASN'T BAD.
IT WAS A NICE SETUP AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET PEOPLE IN AND OUT AND HAVE IT ON A SATURDAY STARTING AT 2:00 AND IT ENDED UP BEING VERY NICE.
AND WE GOT A LOT OF FEEDBACK SAYING IT WAS VERY NICE.
I THINK THE WORD OF MOUTH PRIOR TO THAT IS WE GOT TO GET THAT WORD OUT TO BE SURE PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT IT.
WE GOT TO DO A BETTER JOB OF GETTING THAT INFORMATION OUT THERE.
>> MARK, DO YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING?
>> NOT TOO MUCH, I JUST WANTED TO THANK AK FOR THE MOST PART WHEN HE CAME ON BOARD HE BROUGHT A LOT MORE STRUCTURE TO IT.
AND TALKED ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCE AT NORTH POINT AFTER HE LEFT TC WILLIAMS MANY YEARS AGO, HE STARTED THE HALL OF FAME THERE AND BROUGHT IN A LOT OF THAT EXPERIENCE AND GOT A LOT MORE STRUCTURE TO HOW WE DO IT AND IT'S MUCH MORE ORGANIZED AND THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE ON THE COMMITTEE AND THERE ARE MORE FEMALES ON THE COMMITTEE, SO IN A LOT OF WAYS, WHAT AK HAS DONE IS TAKEN OUR IDEA AND MADE IT IT MUCH MORE PROFESSIONAL AND REACHING MORE PEOPLE AND HE WAS ALSO MY COACH AS WELL.
>> [LAUGHTER] >> I WA WONDERING IF MS. GREENE WANTED TO ADD ANYTHING, SINCE SHE'S THE BOARD LIAISON TO THE COMMITTEE?
>> WELL, IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE WORKING WITH THE ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS, AND HONESTLY, IT GETS BIGGER AND BETTER ALL THE TIME.
WE HAVE SUCH DEDICATED MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE THAT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH SPORTS IN ALEXANDRIA CITY AND ACPS FOR MEAN YEARS.
FEMALE AND MALE THAT BRING GREAT PERSPECTIVE TO WHAT WE DO.
AND LIKE AK SAID WE'RE CONSTANTLY TRYING TO MAKE IT BETTER TO INCLUDE THOSE DESERVING ATHLETES, BUT WE ALSO NEED PEOPLE, PEOPLE WILL SAY, WHY ISN'T SUCH AND SUCH INDUCTED YET, AND YOU KNOW, THAT PERSON MAY NOT HAVE EVEN HAD AN APPLICATION IN, AND YET THEY THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THE SHOULD BE IN THE HALL OF FAME.
PEOPLE HAVE TO BE NOMINATED SOMEONE AND IT GOES THROUGH A WHOLE PROCESS OF HOW WE MAKE SELECTIONS.
BUT VERY HAPPY THAT WE NOW HAVE MORE FEMALE REPRESENTATION ON THE COMMITTEE AND INDUCTING MORE FEMALES TO MAKE IT FAIR ACROSS THE BOARD.
SUCH A WONDERFUL COMMITTEE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THEM IN THE NEXT THREE YEARS.
>> I HAVE, I THINK WE SHOULD OPEN IT UP TO THE BOARD FOR QUESTIONS.
BUT ONE THING I WAS INTERESTED MR. JOHNSON AND EISENHOWER, IF YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTS FOR HOW THE BOARD CAN BETTER SUPPORT YOUR WORK, LIKE IT WAS HELPFUL FOR ME TO HEAR THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO HAVE A SPECIFIC DATE TO PLAN THE EVENT
[00:15:04]
EVERY YEAR, WHICH I THINK AS BOARD MEMBERS WE COULD ALL HELP TO REMEMBER THAT'S ON THE CALENDAR AND HELP TO SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT THAT AND ALSO JUST THAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR PEOPLE TO MAKE NOMINATIONS.AGAIN, THIS IS A GREAT P OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BE REMINDED WHAT OTHER WAYS CAN THE SCHOOL BOARD BE SUPPORTING THE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING?
>> THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING ALREADY.
I THINK AS WE GO FORWARD, THE WORD OF MOUTH, IS VERY IMPORTANT.
AS WELL AS BEING ABLE TO PUT ITTEN OH THE WEBSITE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO PROMOTE THE IDEA.
BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT CHANGING THE CLOSING DATE, SO THAT'S GOING TO INTERFERE WITH SOME PEOPLE'S THOUGHTS.
WE HAVE A LOT OF APPLICATIONS, TRUST ME.
BUT AGAIN, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET EVERYONE INCLUDED IN THE PROCESS.
>> ONE MORE POINT ON THE NOMINATIONS.
EACH YEAR, THE DEADLINE IS MARCH 30TH, SO, THE END OF MARCH IS THE CUTOFF FOR WHEN WE START REVIEWING FOR THAT YEAR FOR THAT INDUCTEE CLASS.
>> IF I COULD JUST FOLLOWUP, OUR MEETING ON MONDAY THE COMMITTEE TALKED ABOUT CONDENSING THAT A LITTLE BIT TO GIVE US MORE TIME TO LOOK OVER THE APPLICATIONS SO WE COULD GET THAT PROCESS TO YOU EARLIER THA JUNE, SO THAT WE COULD THEN PROMOTE IT MORE SOONER AND GO FORWARD THAT WAY.
SO, THE DATE THAT WAS SUGGESTED WAS THE JANUARY 31ST, OF THE YEAR OF THE INDUCTION.
SO, FOR THE '22 CLASS, JANUARY 31ST IS THE DATE ON IT.
SO WE'LL START OUR PROCESS A LITTLE EARLY TO GET THE NOMINATION TO YOU TO VOTE ON.
AND HOPEFULLY BY, MAY, THE WORD IS OUT WHO WAS SELECTED.
>> THAT'S ACTUALLY A GOOD SIGN THAT IN THE EARLY YEARS WE WERE SCRAMBLING TO GET ENOUGH NOMINEES TO MAKE A DESCENT SELECTION BY THE END OF MARCH AND SO WE ALREADY HAVE A BANK OF IT DUE TO THE WORK OF A LOT O FOLKS SO WE'RE ABLE TO START SIFTING THROUGH AS WE SPEAK, SO IT'S A GOOD SIGN.
>> THANK YOU, SO MUCH, TO YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE, IT'S REALLY GOOD TO HAVE A ONE-ON-ONE INTERACTION WITH OUR COMMITTEES, WHICH IS SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN LACKING UP TO THIS POINT.
BUT ONE THING THAT I KNOW THAT YOUR COMMITTEE IS KNOWN FOR IS ROBUST PARTICIPATION AND STRONG MEMBERSHIP AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ENCOURAGE AMONGST ALL OF OUR COMMITTEES, I'M CURIOUS IF YOU COULD DELL TELL US ABOUT YOUR STRATEGIES THAT YOU USE TO ATTRACT MEMBERS AND KEEP THEM THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, YOU MENTIONED FOR EXAMPLE YOU ATTRACTED MORE FEMALE MEMBERSHIP THAT ENCOURAGED FEMALE INDUCTEES, I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR SOME OF YOUR TIPS THAT YOU'RE USING.
>> YOU MENTIONED THE WORD ATHLETICS, THAT SEEMS TO STEP OUT FRONT RIGHT AWAY.
BUT WHAT I'VE DONE FOR SEVERAL YEARS IS TRY TO CONTACT, MAKE THE PERSONAL PHONE CALL TO PEOPLE IN ASKING WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN SERVING ON OUR COMMITTEE, HERE ARE THE GUIDELINES, BILAWS AND THINGS WE DO.
MANY TIMES WHEN I ASK, THEY'RE ALL YEAH, I WOULD LIKE TO BE PART OF THAT.
KEEP THEM INVOLVED, YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY ARE PART IN SOMETHING.
WE ALL HAVE A HAND IN THIS AND WE ALL TAKE OWNERSHIP IN THIS BECAUSE IT REPRESENTS OURSELVES AND YOU AS THE SCHOOL BOARD AND TH COMMUNITY.
>> YEAH, I THINK IT WOULD HELP ME TRY TO THINK OF PEOPLE IF I HAD MORE INFORMATION ABOUT EXACTLY WHAT THE BEST CANDIDATE WOULD BE, IN OTHER WORDS, SOMETIMES I WONDER IF IT'S NOT ONLY SOMEONE THAT'S BEEN GREAT IN SPORTS IN SCHOOL OR ARE WE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE ENGAGED IN SPORTS NOW OR SOMEONE THAT'S MADE A REAL CONTRIBUTION IN SOCIETY, I'M TRYING TO THINK BACK BECAUSE I WAS ON GIRL'S SUPPORTS ONLY BECAUSE OF TITLE NINE.
BUT WHEN I THINK BACK, I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT DO THEY ALSO HAVE TO BE ABLE TO APRIL TEND THE CEREMONY, AND ALL THAT STUFF, THAT WOULD BE GUIDANCE THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO ME.
>> SO, THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE WE HAVE IN THE BY-LAWS WE HAVE LOTS OF CATEGORIES TO COVER EVERYTHING FROM FORMER ATHLETES TO CURRENT MEMBERS
[00:20:02]
OF THE HALL OF FAME TO STUDENTS.WE HAVE AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF STUDENT THIS IS YEAR.
AND TO YOUR POINT OF STAYING AND PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL INVOLVED ON THE BALLOTS WE'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE ACTIVE COACHES FOR AC ON THE COMMITTEE AND THAT'S BEEN TOUGH BECAUSE IT USUALLY CONFLICTS WITH THEIR PRACTICE SCHEDULE, SO WE'VE HAD A FEW ON AND OFF, BUT WE DO TRY TO COVER ALL THE CATEGORIES THAT YOU MENTIONED.
BECAUSE WE DO HAVE SOME GUYS THAT HAVE BEEN ON THE COMMITTEE FROM THE BEGINNING WHO ACTUALLY KNOW ABOUT SOME OF THESE GUYS WHO PLAYED IN THE '40S AND EARLY '50S, BUT THAT ONLY COVERS A SMALL PORTION OF FOLKS THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO INDUCT SO WE NEED PEOPLE AT ALL LEVELS.
>> AND ALSO, YOU ASKED ABOUT HOW IS THE SELECTION MADE, WHAT'S THE CRITERIA, IN OUR BY LAWS THERE ARE CRITERIA, SOME CASES IT COULD BE ALL DISTRICT, ALL STATE, STATE CHAMPIONS, AND WE ALSO HAVE PEOPLE INDUCTED TO THE HALL OF FAME WHO BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL CONTRIBUTE TO OUR SOCIETY.
AND THEY'RE IN THERE, TAKE ONE INSTANCE, THE FIRST YEAR, A COACH WHO COACHES AT OREGON AND WAS IN WISCONSIN HE WAS A CROSS COUNTRY COACH, DISTANCE RUNNING COACH, IN HIGH SCHOOL, HE WAS AN AVERAGE TRACK ATHLETE BUT HE HE WENT ON TO BE ON OUTSTANDING COACH ON THE COLLEGIATE LEVEL.
SO, WE LOOK AT ALL THOSE THINGS NOT JUST WHAT THEY'VE DONE IN HIGH SCHOOL, THAT'S THE STARTING POINT.
BUT OTHER STUFF THEY BRING TO THE TABLE IS VERY IMPORTANT ALSO.
>> YEAH, I APOLOGIZE, THANK YOU, NOW I KNOW WHAT WAS MEANT BY YOU'RE BRINGING PROFESSIONISM TO IT, BECAUSE I JUST NOTICE IT HAD HAS A LOT MORE THAN IT USED.
IT DIDN'T SAY HAD MUCH ABOUT IT PREVIOUSLY.
SO, I APOLOGIZE, I SEE SEAS REALLY GOOD AND PEOPLE WILL HAVE AN IDEA, SO, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
AL >> I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, FOR AWHILE THERE, WE DIDN'T HAVE ANYONE THAT WANTED TO STEP UP TO BE CHAIR.
THAT'S ALSO VERY HARD IN COMMITTEES, AS YOU KNOW.
AND AK WAS LIKE I'M GOING TO DO IT AND I'M GOING TO DO IT FOR ANOTHER YEAR TOO.
YOU HAVE JUST BROUGHT GREAT PROFESSIONALISM TO THE COMMITTEE AND THANK YOU.
AND ALSO, MARK, YOU'RE A WONDERFUL STAFF LIAISON AS WELL, AND WE THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO, HE'S VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT ACPS SPORTS AND ACPS SPORTS AS WELL.
AND TO THE COMMITTEE IF YOU ARE WATCHING OR WILL WATCH THIS, THEY'RE JUST INCREDIBLE PEOPLE TO WORK WITH, AND THEY PUT THEIR WHOLE HEART INTO IT AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED FOR ALL OF OUR COMMITTEES, SO, THANK YOU.
AND IF THERE'S NO FURTHER COMMENTS, THEN WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING THIS EVENING.
>> AND WELL, NEXT WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING TO, I MENTIONED CINDY HART REPRESENTING THE SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND I KNOW SHE'S BEEN A PARENT FOR A LONG TIME, AND I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN HEARING ABOUT YOUR HISTORY WITH ACPS AS WELL.
HI, I'M CINDY HART AND I'VE BEEN INVOLVED FOR THE PAST 3 TO FOUR YEARS AND I WAS THE CHAIR FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS, UNFORTUNATELY OUR CURRENT CHAIR COULDN'T BE HERE.
SHE LIKE ME IS REALLY APPRECIATIVE OF THIS EFFORT, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY OUR INTERACTION WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD IS KIND OF TH CRUX OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF OUR COMMITTEES.
SO, I CREDIT MEAGAN, CHAIR ALDERTON.
AND RECOGNIZING THAT WE SEE FRUITION FROM THE TIME SPENT.
MY INVOLVEMENT, I HAVE OLDER CHILDREN BUT I SURPRISINGLY STILL HAVE ELEMENTARY CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND I STARTE TO HEAR ABOUT CIAC AS AN ACRONYM AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS, AND PEOPLE WOULD SAY YOU SHOULD GET INVOLVED.
THEY SAID IT AS THOUGH I SAID KNOW AND I DIDN'T KNOW AND I FELT A LITTLE EMBARRASSED TO ASK WHAT IS CIAC, AND I DID LEARN WHAT IT WAS AFTER A YEAR OR TWO, I WENT TO MEETINGS, BUT DIDN'T WANT TO GET INVOLVED RIGHT AWAY.
[00:25:02]
AND THIS IS A DIFFICULT PROBLEM OF FAMILIES OF PARENTS OF STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.SUCH FAMILIES ARE USUALLY VERY TAPPED OUT.
WHILE YOU HAVE THE ROBUST INVOLVEMENT WITH THE ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME, IT'S DIFFERENT WITH FAMILIES OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, THEY WANT TO BE INVOLVED BUT THERE ARE PRACTICE CALL CHALLENGES.
THE FIRST THING I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IS IN OUR COMMITTEE WE APPRECIATE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO MEET VIRTUALLY THIS FALL AND AT THE STATE LEVEL WE WOULD LIKE TO ADVOCATE FOR THAT TO CONTINUE, WHILE I PERSONALLY LIKE ALL OF YOU LOVE SEEING PEOPLE IN-PERSON, I NEW CHAIR, I'VE NEVER ACTUALLY MET IN PERSON, WHICH IS FIND OF FUNNY.
BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD BE NICE, BUT, FOR INVOLVEMENT FOR OUR COMMITTEE, THE VIRTUAL REALLY PROVIDES ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITY TO EVEN, AT ONE POINT, THERE WAS CHILDCARE PROVIDED, EVEN THAT IS ENORMOUSLY DIFFICULT.
I MEAN, I HAD PEOPLE COMING TO GET ME DURING MEETING, IT'S JUST NOT AN EASY THING WHEN TALKING ABOUT FAMILIES WITH STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.
AND SECONDLY, I HAVE JUST SOME QUESTIONS, WELL, I'LL SHARE OUR END OF YEAR REPORT FOR THE LAST YEAR.
JUST SORT OF FOCUSSING ON OUR DIFFERENT CATEGORIES BUT ALSO SHARING WHERE WE SAW STRENGTHS, WHAT OUR PRIORITIES AND GOALS WERE, RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ACPS AND FUTURE CONSIDERATIONS.
AND I GUESS, I WOULD ASK IF THAT'S A USEFUL FORMAT FOR OUR COMMITTEE AND OTHER OTHERS, SOMETHING LIKE THAT? AND THEN, POSSIBLY, I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO MAY BE HAVE A SOMETHING LIKE THIS WE'RE PRESENTING END OF YEAR REPORTS.
WHERE THE CHAIR CAN PRESENT, QUESTIONS COULD BE ASKED AND FUTURE CONSIDERATIONS OR FOLLOWUP COULD BE DISCUSSED.
I WOULDN'T GO THROUGH OUR END OF YEAR REPORT, BECAUSE YOU ALL HAVE SEEN IT EXCEPT TO SAY WE DID FOCUS ON COMMUNICATIONS TRYING TO GET CIAP VISIBILITY RAISED, AND WE'RE AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, WE'RE CAN, TAKE IT OFF FOR A SECURE?
>> WE ARE TASKED BY THE STATE, OUR DISTRICT IS REQUIRED BY THE STITHE TO HAVE A SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE, SO THIS IS OPTIONAL BUT REQUIRED.
SO, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT OUR ROLE IS, OUR MANDATE BY THE STATE IS TO FOCUS ON UNMET NEEDS OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES IN THE DISTRICT IN ORDER TO DO THAT, SOMETIMES THERE ARE VERY FORMAL SURVEYS THAT ARE DONE, BUT AT OTHER TIMES, WE JUST HAVE TO BE VERY CONNECTED.
AND TO DO THAT WE'VE REACHED OUT TO PTAS, AND TRIED TO DO OTHER THINGS AS WELL.
I WOULD, AGAIN, IN TERMS OF WHAT THE SCHOOL BOARD CAN DO, WE CAN BENEFIT GREATLY FROM ANY RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE IF YOU HAVE INTERACTIONS PARTICULARLY IN THOSE SCHOOLS NOT CURRENTLY REPRESENTED.
IT'S NICE THAT OUR SCHOOL BOARD HAS THREE MEMBERS FROM EACH DISTRICT, SO, TO GET REPRESENTATION MORE BROADLY ON OUR COMMITTEE, WE HAVE SOME DIVERSITY, BUT, WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING TO BETTER REPRESENT THE STUDENT BODY OF ACPS.
AND, FORROUS, UNLIKE THE ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME IT GETS MORE CHALLENGING AS THE STUDENTS GET OLDER.
YOU TEPID TO HAVE PARENTS OF YOUNGER STUDENTS, BUT THEN, PARENTS GET WORN OUT.
SO, TRYING TO GET PARENTS IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL LEVELS IS IMPORTANT FOR US AND THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE A LITTLE LESS REPRESENTATION, ANOTHER CHALLENGE IS THAT THERE'S A BODY OF KNOWLEDGE THAT MEMBERS SORT OF HAVE TO BE FAMILIAR WITH.
AND OUR NEW CHAIR DID A VIRTUAL ORIENTATION THIS TIME, THIS YEAR, BUT IT REALLY DIDN'T FOCUS ON SPECIAL ED 101, IF YOU WILL IT WAS JUST PERTINENT TO OUR COMMITTEE.
AND SO, ANOTHER QUESTION I HAVE, AND THIS MAY NOT BE FOR YOU GUYS BUT FOR THE INCOMING BOARD MEMBERS, I KNOW A FEW YEARS BACK WE DID A SPECIAL ED 101 FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD AND WOULD THAT BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE GOOD TO DO AGAIN AS WE HAVE OUR NEW MEMBERS COME IN?
>> I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT IT WOULD BE NICE TO RECORD AND HAVE AVAILABLE ON THE ACPS WEBSITE SO PARENTS COULD ALSO CIAC MEMBERS CAN TAKE A LOOK SOMEONE WHO MAY BE WANTS TO BE ON CIAC AND THINK I DON'T KNOW VERY MUCH THEY
[00:30:03]
COULD ALSO USE THAT AS A RESOURCE, AND OF COURSE, THE PRC DOES QUITE A LOT, THEY'VE BEEN REAL PARTNERS WITH US IN REACHING OUT IN VARIOUS COMMUNITIES WITHIN ACPS.ANOTHER QUESTION THAT WE HAVE HAD AND OUR NEW CHAIR HAS IS WHAT WOULD BE THE BEST WAY TO CONVEY INFORMATION TO YOU ALL ON AN ONGOING BASIS? SO THIS YEAR WHAT SHE'S DOING AND WE CAME TO THE REALIZATION THAT WE NEED TO HAVE NOT ONLY OUR BROAD COMMITTEE MEETING BUT THEN SUBCOMMITTEE MEETINGS WITHIN OUR MONTHLY TIME SLOT, IT'S JUST WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO COME TOP MONTHLY MEETINGS AND DO SUBCOMMITTEE MEETINGS, SO, IN ORDER TO KEEP ALL OF US ON THE COMMITTEE'S UPDATED, SHE'S THINKING OF A QUARTERLY UPDATE OR NEWS LETTER IF YOU WILL, AND THAT COULD BE PROVIDED TO THE BOARD AS WELL ARES THAT'S A THOUGHT THAT SHE ASKED ME TO BRING UP.
AND ALSO A QUESTION ABOUT PUBLIC COMMENTS.
SO, IN THE PAST I HAVE DONE PUBLIC COMMENT.
I NEVER SPEAK FOR MYSELF, AND I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT COMMITTEE CHAIRS KNOW.
AND I THINK THEY DO, BUT IMPORTANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT COMMITTEE CHAIR DOESN'T SPEAK FOR HIM OR HERSELF BUT FOR THE COMMITTEE, SO, I ONLY SPOKE HAD WE TOOK A VOTE ABOUT THINGS, OR I DID LIKE POLLS OF OUR MEMBERS, THINGS LIKE THAT, SO, I WANTED TO SHOW THAT I WAS REPRESENTING THE COMMITTEE AS A WHOLE AND OTHER TIMES, I WAS JUST CONVEYING INFORMATION AS W WERE GETTING AS WE WERE TAPPED INTO PTAS, BUT MY THOUGHT IS IT SEEMS ODD TO LINE UP WITH INDIVIDUALS MAKING PUBLIC COMMENT, BECAUSE AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE CHAIR IS NOT REALLY, YOU ARE AN INDIVIDUAL, BUT YOU'RE NOT REPRESENTING JUST YOURSELF.
SO, I'M WONDERING IF THAT COULD BE DIFFERENTIATED PERHAPS AT THE BEGINNING OR THE END OF THE COMMENT PHASE.
I DON'T KNOW IF OTHER ADVISORY COMMITTEES HAVE THIS NEED AS WE DO, BUT THAT WOULD BE A RECOMMENDATION THAT I WOULD MAKE.
BECAUSE IT FEELS, OTHERWISE, LIKE YOU'RE JUST SPEAKING FOR YOURSELF AND THAT'S NOT THE CASE, A DIFFERENTIATION SHOULD BE MADE.
ANOTHER QUESTION I HAVE IS HOW MUCH INFORMATION CAN SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS ABSORB, LIKE IF WE SEND INFORMATION, HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH? AND ALSO, IF WE PROVIDE BACKGROUND MATERIAL, IS THAT TING THAT CAN BE ABSORBED AND I JUST BROUGHT SOME SAMPLES, I THOUGHT I WOULD HOLD THEM UP TO SHOW YOU HOW THICK I'M TALKING ABOUT.
ONE OF THE SUBCOMMITTEES WILL FOCUS ON INCLUSION AND EQUITY, AND THERE ARE REPORTS OUT THERE, INCLUSIVE EDUCATION, ESSENTIAL BEST PRACTICES AND INCLUSIVE SCHOOLS.
IS THAT THE SORT OF THING THAT WOULD BE USEFUL TO A SCHOOL BOARD AS BACKGROUND INFORMATION? CAN YOU ABSORB ALL OF THAT.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING I DON'T HAVE AN AWARENESS OF.
AND, SOMETIMES ONCE YOU DO GET EMERSED IN THE SPECIAL NEEDS WORLD, THINGS START TO SEEM SECOND NATURE TO YOU AND YOU FORGET, JUST LIKE ANY FIELD.
LET'S SEE, WHAT ELSE? OH, I WOULD ALSO SHARE AND AGAIN THIS MIGHT BE MORE FOR, SINCE THERE'S GOING TO BE TURNOVER, THIS, I THINK IT'S GREAT IF THE SCHOOL BOARD TASKS THEY ARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, PARTICULARLY CIAC WITH SOMETHING THEY NEED HELP WITH.
IN PARTICULAR, WE CHAIRS ARE ENCOURAGED TO COLLABORATE WITH CHAIRS IN OTHER DISTRICTS.
A FEW YEARS AGO IN FAIRFAX COUNTY, THE SCHOOL BOARD TASKS THE CIAC WITH SPEPDING TIME TO EVALUATE COMMUNICATIONS TO PARENTS OF STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND DISABILITIES.
AND SO THAT, IT'S ALWAYS AN ISSUE FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AND THEIR FAMILIES.
AND SO, THE SCHOOL BOARD RECOGNIZED IT AND SAID, THAT'S WHAT WE WANT YOU, CIAC TO WORK ON THIS YEAR.
WE HEAR THIS PROBLEM CONSTANTLY, AND SO THEY TASKED THE CIAC WITH THAT.
SO, A CIAC DOES HAVE THE FREEDOM, PROBABLY TO SAY, WE DON'T WANT TO DO THAT, WE HAVE BETTER THINGS TO DO.
BUT I THINK IF A BOARD WERE ENGAGED IN THAT WAY, I FEEL CONFIDENT A CIAC WOULD RESPOND.
AS FAR AS INFORMATION THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL, I THINK VERY EARLY ON, I FEEL OUR COMMITTEE IS HEALTHY NOW.
IT WASN'T VERY HEALTHTHY A FEW YEARS AGO, WE STRUGGLED WITH MEMBERSHIP AND SO ON.
[00:35:02]
SO, THE TRANSITION WHEN THE COMMITTEE'S NOT HEALTHY CAN BE BUMPY AND THE CHAIR NEEDS TO BE GIVEN INFORMATION FAIRLY EARLY, JUST SOME OF THE BASICS, ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER, THE VIRGINIA REQUIREMENTS, THE HANDBOOK THAT'S NOW VERY HELPFUL, ALL OF THESE TOOLS ARE GOOD TO MAKE SURE CHAIRS GET THEM AS SOON AS THEY COME CHAIRS.AND EVEN SUGGESTIONS FOR HOW TO FORMAT MEETINGS THAT SO THAT YOU COULD HAVE SUBCOMMITTEES.
IT TOOK ME LIKE A YEAR AND-A-HALF TO TWO WITH THE PANDEMIC TO REALIZE WE REALLY NEEDED TO DO OUR MEET TING STRUCTURE DIFFERENTLY.
WE COULDN'T DO A MONTHLY MEETING AND HAVE ANYONE STILL HAVE ENERGY TO DO SUBCOMMITTEES.
SO, WE NEEDED TO DO A MONTHLY LEAST MEETING AND THE NEXT MONTH HAVE TIME FOR SUBCOMMITTEES TO MEET ET CETERA.
THOSE SUGGESTIONS ARE HELPFUL, NOW THEY'RE ORGANICALLY GETTING PASSED ON, BUT THAT'S NOT ALWAYS THE CASE.
AND ALSO VERY PERTINENT TO CIAC, BECAUSE WE ARE STATE MANDATED, THERE'S ALSO A STATE CIAC, AND THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION AT THE STATE LEVEL AND GUIDANCE AND NOW EVEN TRAINING, THEY HAVE VIRTUAL TRAINING AVAILABLE NOW.
AGAIN, HOPEFULLY, THAT WOULD ALL GET PASSED ON ORGANICALLY, BUT IF NOT, I THINK IT WOULD BE JUST REALLY ESSENTIAL FOR A CHAIR TO KNOW ALL OF THAT IS OUT THERE.
WHEN I STARTED, I DIDN'T REALIZE ALL THE RESOURCES WERE AVAILABLE.
AND I ACTUALLY JUST FOUND THEM BY GOOGLING, SO, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WOULD BE THE SCHOOL BOARD'S RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE STAFF LIAISON'S RESPONSIBILITY, BUT I THINK THAT SHOULD JUST BE ENSURED.
AND THEN, THE NEXT ONE COMES, I KNOW THAT THE ACPS WEBSITES ARE BEING UPDATED BECAUSE COMMUNICATIONS WERE SOMEWHAT OF A TO BEIC OR ONE OF OUR SCOPES OF WORK LAST YEAR, I WOULD JUST WANT TO ENSURE WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPENS, THAT CIAC IS INVOLVED, I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN GENERAL SURVEYS, JUST TO ENSURE BECAUSE THIS IS ALWAYS A CHALLENGE OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES TO MEET WITH THE CIAC CHAIR AND EVEN JUST TO HELP US UNDERSTAND HOW TO KEEP OUR WEB PAGE UPDATED.
BUT, YOU KNOW, NOT JUST WITH MINUTES AND SO ON, BUT OTHER LINKS ALLOWING PEOPLE TO SIGN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
I THINK I'LL STOP THERE, THOSE ARE MY NOTES AND SEE IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR OTHER AREAS YOU WOULD NEED ME TO ELABORATE ON.
>> I'M GOING TO TAKE OFF MY MASK TO COMMENT.
THANK YOU, MS. HEART, AND THANK YOU CHAIR FOR THAT REPORT.
>> I MOST OF ALL WANTED TO SAY MS. HART REALLY BROUGHT SOME SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO CIAC, AND I JUST WANTED TO, I'M GLAD YOU'RE THE PERSON REPRESENTING TODAY BECAUSE I WANTED TO LET PEOPLE KNOW.
I WAS THE LIAISON TO CIAC ON THE BOARD, POSSIBLE FOUR YEARS, I THINK MAYOR ALDERTON TOOK OVER A IDENTIFY YEARS AGO.
I HAVE BEEN REALLY IMPRESSED, CIAC HAD ALWAYS STRUGGLED OF ONE THING FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES HAVE A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITIES, IT'S DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO GET TO MEETINGS, IT'S A HARD COMMITTEE ON THE ONE HAND, IT'S A MANDATED COMMITTEE AND HAS A LOT OF THE MISSIONS AND GOALS, THERE'S A LOT OF SUPPORT AND STRUCTURE THAT YOU CAN FOLLOW ON THE OTHER HAND, IT'S A DIFFICULT COMMITTEE BECAUSE PARENTS ARE SO OVERWHELMED DOING WHAT THEY NEED TO DO IN TRYING TO ADVOCATE FOR THEIR CHILD.
SO, WHAT I LOVED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP WAS YOU STARTED, YOU DEFINITELY WERE ABLE TO RECRUIT MORE MEMBERS.
AND SOME OF THE FOLKS WHO CAME IN WERE WILLING TO TAKE ON SPECIAL PROJECTS, SO YOU WERE ABLE TO EXTEND SORT OF THE FOCUS OF THE COMMITTEE AND SO, YOU KNOW HAVE, I BELIEVE THERE'S A WEBSITE OR A FACEBOOK PAGE.
WOULD YOU TELL FOLKS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF THOSE SPECIFIC GROWTH ITEMS
[00:40:02]
THAT CAME ABOUT WHILE YOU WERE THE CHAIR, BECAUSE I THINK THEY'RE MEANINGFUL, AND I THINK IT REALLY IMPROVED.>> SURE, I'M GOING TO EVEN JUST LOOK AT MY ANNUAL REPORT.
SO, LAST YEAR WE DID ENCOURAGE A QUARTERLY NEWS LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR OF SPECIALIZED INSTRUCTION AND I HOPE THAT WILL BE ONGOING, PROVIDED UPDATES FOR THE WEB PAGE.
WE GOT INVOLVED IN THE LITERACY AND THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT REPORT COMING TOUT AND WE'VE ALREADY HAD THAT TEAM BACK TO CIAC FOR OUR FIRST MEETING AND THAT'S SOMETHING ONE OF OUR SUBCOMMITTEES CONTINUES TO FOLLOW IN PARTICULARLY, OBVIOUSLY HOW THAT IMPACTS STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING TEAR ONE PROGRAM.
BUT WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT WHILE WE LOOK AT THE TIER ONE PROGRAMMING FAMILIES WITH DISABILITIES WILL BE BENEFITS AND THEIR STUDENTS ALSO.
FOR OUTREACH, WE CREATED A CIAC FLIER FOR DISTRIBUTION AT I.E. P MEETINGS, WE PROVIDED LIAISONS TO EACH ACPS SCHOOL AND PRIMARILY TO THE PTAS, WE PROVIDED QUESTIONS AND TRANSLATIONS FOR THEM.
WE MET WITH GROUPS OF NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING COMMUNITIES AND THAT WAS THANKS TO PRC AND WE COLLABORATED WITH PRC TO CREATE AN INFO GRAPHIC TO PROVIDE EVERYONE A CLEAR VIEW.
PARENTS GET REALLY CONFUSED WHEN THEY HEAR ALL THE ACRONYMS AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WHAT SO THE IDEA WAS TO CLARIFY THAT SIMPLY.
CREATED A FACEBOOK PAGE, WE NEVER REALLY FULLY ROLLED THAT OUT, SO WE'LL SEE HOW WE GO ABOUT IT THIS YEAR.
AND AGAIN WE ARE INVOLVED IN LITERACY, IN BUDGET, AWARDS, POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, ONE OF OUR GOALS WAS TO HELP SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT TO UNDERSTAND THE REALITY OF LIFE DURING THE PANDEMIC FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.
>> I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE BECAUSE IT WAS IMPRESSIVE.
FOR THE COMING YEAR, THE SUBCOMMITTEES WILL BE BUDGET AND BY LAWS, CONTINUING FOCUS ON LITERACY, AND WE WILL STUDENTS WHO ARE GETTING OLDER A AND EQUITY AND INCLUSION.
AND AT OUR FIRST COMMITTEE MEETING IT WAS DECIDED THAT THERE SHOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL SUBCOMMITTEE ON PANDEMIC RECOVERY.
WHICH IS, OF COURSE, EVEN IT EXTRA DIFFICULT FOR SOME OF OUR STUDENTS.
AND HAVING SPOKEN WITH A COUPLE OF SPECIAL ED TEACHERS, WE DEFINITELY SEE IS THAT TO BE TRUE AFTER SO MUCH TIME WITH STRANGE OCCURRENCES.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM VICE CHAIR AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
AS MANY PEOPLE KNOW THIS IS AN AREA OF REAL CONCERN FOR ME.
IT'S A REAL CONCERN TO THE WHOLE BOARD BUT I'M PARTICULARLY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS AREA BOTH NOW AND IN THE FUTURE, AND I'M JUST HAPPY THAT YOU ARE HERE AND I ALSO AM GRATEFUL TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR THIS INITIATIVE.
AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO SERVED ON THIS AD HOC COMMITTEE.
BECAUSE THESE ARE CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE SORELY NEEDED.
MY EXPERIENCE IN THE BOARD, I THINK AND THIS IS PROBABLY WHY I THINK WE'RE DOING THIS IS SOMETIMES, THE ADVISORY COMMITTEES BECOME SILOED FROM THE BOARD AND WE NEED TO HAVE A MORE COHESIVE BOARD.
IN EVERYTHING WE DO WE HAVE TO ALIGN OUR CONVERSATIONS AND OUR DIALOG WITH THE STRAIGHT STRATEGIC PLAN.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS I'M THINKING ABOUT, I SAY THIS TO MY COLLEAGUES, IS WE STARTED ON THIS JOURNEY OF HAVING THESE FOCUSED CONVERSATIONS AROUND OUR AREAS OF FOCUS, RIGHT, SO THAT WE'RE MORE INTENTIONAL OF REFLECTING OBJECT THE DATA AND REFLECTING ON THESE KNIGHTS, DISPROPORTIONALITY IS AMONG THEM BUT THERE ARE MANY OTHER ISSUES THAT TOUCH ON CIAC'S JURISDICTION.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE GOING FORWARD AND I SAY THIS IN
[00:45:05]
PART BECAUSE MR. HARRIS, NEW BOARD MEMBERS IN THE AUDIENCE, SOME OF THE RETURNING BOARD MEMBERS IN THE ROOM, HAVING THESE DIALOGS INTEGRATED INTO OUR CONVERSATIONS HAVING MORE MEANINGFUL INTERACTIONS.I WAS LOOKING AT THE SURVEY AND ONE OF THE COMMENTS WAS BASICALLY THE SCHOOL BOARD NEEDS TO TAKE CIAC'S WORK MORE SERIOUSLY, REALLY INTERACTING WITH CIAC AND HEARING FROM THE CHAIR IS IMPORTANT.
THAT COMMENT, IT REALLY RESONATED WITH ME.
AND WHEN I LOOKED AT OTHER PARTS OF THE SURVEY THAT SAID HALF OF THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS DON'T THINK THERE'S ALIGNMENT WITH THE STRATEGIC PLAN TEA COMMITTEE MEETINGS, IT JUST UNDERSCORES THAT WE REALLY NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU REGULARLY, AND OBVIOUSLY, THE BOARD TAKES ON A LOT AND SO WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT A WAY TO DO IT EFFICIENTLY AND THOUGHTFULLY, BUT, I JUST WANT TO SAY FROM MY PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE, YOU ARE HEARD.
AND I'M REALLY HOPEFUL THAT THE NEXT BOARD WILL TAKE THE MANTEL OF ENGAGING WITH THE CIAC COMMITTEE MORE FREQUENTLY.
AND I GUESS THAT GOES TO YOUR COMMENT ABOUT GIVING ASSIGNMENT, I FEEL LIKE IF WE HAVE AN AREA OF FOCUS ON AN AGENDA FOR AN UPCOMING MEETING, WE COULD PLAN AHEAD AND SAY, WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THIS AREA OF FOCUS AT THE UPCOMING MEETING SO WE COULD HAVE A CALL TO THE COMMITTEE CHAIR AND SAY, WE WOULD LOVE TO GET A REPORT AND SUBMISSION, NOT JUST THE PAPER, ONE OR TWO PEOPLE SITTING HERE HAVING A COLLOQUY WITH US WHILE HAVING THAT CONVERSATION SO THAT WE COULD BE MORE INTENTIONAL.
AND FRANKLY, ALSO, SO THAT YOU COULD SEE WHAT THE BOARD'S DOING AND HOW IT ALIGNS THE STRATEGIC PLAN AND THE DATA THAT'S HAPPENING.
AS YOU SAID, CIAC MEMBERS DON'T KNOW ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER OR APPRECIATE WHAT THE BOARD IS.
A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT A BOARD IS DOING.
I THINK THE MORE OF THAT COHESION CAN HAPPEN, I THINK THE BETTER THAT WILL BE TO SORT OF LEVEL UP THIS BOARD'S WORK IN TERMS OF WHAT WE DO GOING FORWARD.
I KNOW I SAID A LOT, BUT I THINK THESE COMMENTS APPLY NOT JUST TO CIAC BUT ALL THE ADVISORY COMMITTEES.
SO, I'M EXCITED FOR THIS WORK AND I APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUES, BECAUSE IT WAS AN EXTRA AD HOC COMMITTEE THEY SERVED ONTO START DOING THIS WORK AND IT'S SUPER IMPORTANT.
SO, THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR SUGGESTIONS BECAUSE THEY'RE REALLY HELPFUL.
>> ABSOLUTELY, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE COMMENTS.
I WOULD SAY REGARDING THE STRATEGIC PLAN, I THINK THAT'S ONE MORE TIP FOR INCOMING CHAIRS.
AS THE SCOPES OF WORK ARE BEING FORMED, JUST TO REMIND THEM TO LOOK AT THE STRATEGIC PLAN AND ALIGN THE WORK WITH THAT.
AND THEN PERHAPS TO CONSIDER YOU KNOW, EVEN IN OUR CASE, I'LL TAKE THAT MESSAGE BACK TO OUR CHAIR IN CONSIDERATION OF OUR SUBCOMMITTEES, BECAUSE AS YOU WOULD IMAGINE, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT OUR INDIVIDUAL CHILDREN, THAT OF COURSE, INFORMS WHAT EVERYBODY WANTS TO DO.
SO I'LL BRING THAT MESSAGE BACK AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR NOLAN.
I JUST WANT TO ADD MY THANKS TOO, BECAUSE I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN REALLY HELPFUL AND IN THE SIX YEARS THAT I'VE SEEN IT BE SOMEWHAT DIFFICULT JUST TO POPULATE THE COMMITTEE AND HAVE A LEADER, SO I APPRECIATE AL THAT YOU HAVE DONE.
AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT I FOUND THE SPECIAL ED 101 VERY ENLIGHTENING, SO IF THAT HELPS, SOME FEEDBACK FOR THAT.
AND ALSO I DO THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD TO GET INFO, I FEEL LIKE ONE OF MY ISSUES WITH OUR STATE CONVENTION IS THAT I FEEL LIKE IT'S COMING FROM ONE PARTICULAR LENS AND THERE'S NOT REALLY THE INFORMATION THAT I'M LOOKING FOR AT THE STATE BOARD CONVENTION.
SO, I THINK THAT INFORMATION WOULD BE REALLY NICE, IF WHEN YOU CONTINUE TO WORK ON THE WEBSITE, MAYBE, YOU KNOW, VARIOUS RESOURCES ON THERE WOULD BE GREAT, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES AS A BOARD MEMBER THEY COULD GO THERE WHEN THEY'RE HAVING A QUESTION ABOUT SOMETHING, FOR INSTANCE, I'VE MET WITH PEOPLE ABOUT DISLEXIA OVER THE YEARS AND IT WOULD BE NICE TO SEE SOMETHING ABOUT IT SO I COULD BE MORE INFORMED.
AND ANOTHER THINK I WOULD SUGGEST IF YOU WERE LOOKING TO GET ANOTHER VENUE FOR LETTING PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT CIAC AND SPECIAL ED, WHEN I WAS PTA COUNCIL PRESIDENT
[00:50:07]
MY MOST WELL ATTENDED PROGRAM WAS ABOUT SPECIAL EDUCATION.THE ROOM WAS FILLED AND USUALLY IT WAS JUST THE PTA PRESIDENTS.
SO, YOU MIGHT WANT TO GET, AND THEY'RE VERY STRONG IN TERMS OF THEIR COMMUNICATION AND MASTERED THE WHOLE ZOOM THING AND BREAKOUT ROOMS. SO THAT WOULD BE A RESOURCE THAT I WOULD RECOMMEND IF YOU WANTED TO KIND OF JUST, BECAUSE EVEN IF IT'S JUST THE PTA PRESIDENTS THAT HEAR WHATEVER IT IS, THEY'RE GOING BACK TO THEIR INDIVIDUAL, AND SO IS ELEVATES THE INFORMATION LEVEL OF THE GENERAL COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH, UNFORTUNATELY, OUR MEETINGS FALL ON THE SAME NIGHT.
THE MEETING, MAY BE YOU COULD COME TOGETHER THEN, THAT'S ACTUALLY BETTER.
>> BECAUSE YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO FIND ANOTHER TIME.
>> AND REGARDING THE WEB PAGE, WE DON'T REALLY HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO ANYTHING.
SO, WE NEED THE COMMUNICATIONS PEOPLE TO COME TO US.
BUT I WOULD LOVE THAT WEB PAGE TO BE MORE REBUST AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU, SO MUCH, MADAM VICE CHAIR AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND YOUR HELPFUL FEEDBACK.
I THINK WHAT STRUCK HE ME YOUR COMMENTS SAYING THAT REALLY THE ONLY OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU HAVE TOM SPEAK TO THE BOARD IS DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
AND I THOUGHT THAT'S TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE.
WE SHOULD HAVE A MORE FORMALIZED PROCESS TO DISCUSS WITH OUR CHAIRS.
WEE WANT TO HAVE A SET PERIOD WHERE WE WOULD HEAR FROM OUR COMMITTEES, WHETHER THAT'S QUARTERLY OR EVEN MORE FREQUENTLY IS STILL UNDER DISCUSSION, BUT I ALSO HEARD YOUR COMMENTS TOO ABOUT HOW DIFFICULT IT COULD BE TO KEEP REGULAR MEETINGS GOING ESPECIALLY IF YOU WANT TO MAKE SUBCOMMITTEES AND YOU HAVE INDIVIDUALS ESPECIALLY IN CIAC THAT HAVE CHILD CARE NEEDS AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO COME TO MEETINGS REGULARLY.
IT'S A VERY DELICATE BALANCE THAT I THINK WE HAVE TO TAKE AND IT WILL VARY DEPENDING ON THE COMMITTEE.
I'M CURIOUS TO HEAR IDEAS OR FEEDBACK ON WHETHER YOU THINK WE SHOULD HAVE CHAIRS TO COME AND SPEAK BEFORE THE BOARD AND DO YOU THINK IT SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT'S ONCE A YEAR OR FOR FREQUENT, IDEALLY, IT COULD BE SOMETHING THAT'S JUST ANY FEEDBACK THAT YOU WOULD.
I THINK THE CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR WOULD MAKE THEMSELVES AVAILABLE.
AT THIS POINT THEY WOULD NEED TIME TO GATHER INFORMATION THEMSELVES.
WE HAVE NEW LEADERSHIP NOW, OUR VICE CHAIR IS RETURNING, SO THAT'S HELPFUL, SO, I THINK THEY WOULD WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE INFORMATION, IT'S JUST THE COMMITTEE AS A GROUP WOULD HAVE A HARD TIME MEETING EXTRA TIMES, WE WOULD HAVE TO FOLD THINGS IN.
SO, PROBABLY THE MOST HELPFUL THING WOULD BE TO GET ANY REQUESTS, AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR FOR THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR SO THINGS CAN BE PLANNED IN.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK ANYTIME THERE'S A REQUEST MADE LIKE THAT, IT SORT OF BUILDS RAPPORT AND GOOD WILL IN A SENSE EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE ASKING PEOPLE TO DO MORE WORK, IT'S ALSO A SHOW OF CONFIDENCE, AND INPUT THAT'S COMING, SO, I THINK THE COMMITTEE WOULD WELCOME THAT.
>> AND IF IT I COULD JUST ADD, A LITTLE COMMENT ONTO THAT TOO, WHEN YOU SHOWED US THE BOOKLETS OF HOW MUCH INFORMATION MIGHT BE TOO MUCH, I THINK, FOR MMEF PERSONALLY, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE ALL THE INFORMATION.
BUT I THINK ONE OF THE REASONS WE WERE THINKING OF REGULAR MEETS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR IS THAT WE COULD PIECE MEAL THAT INFORMATION, AT ANY TIME IT'S GIVEN AT THE END, IT'S HARDER TO LOOK AT ALL OF THAT, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ALL THE MATERIAL.
THAT'S VERY HELPFUL, AND I AGREE, MAY BE A QUARTERLY, KEEP THAT THOUGHT IN MIND, THAT QUARTERLY INTERACTION OF SOME SORT.
>> THANKS, I THINK IN A LOT OF WAYS I'M GOING TO HIT ON SOME OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE HAVE SAID BUT THEY'RE ONES THAT I THINK ARE WORTH UNDERLINING.
[00:55:03]
THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR SERVICE AND ALL OF THE REALLY GREAT SUGGESTIONS THAT YOU BROUGHT TONIGHT.I DO WANT TO REITERATE THE VALUE OF THE SPECIAL EDUCATION 101, I THINK IN PARTICULAR, THAT'S THERE'S A LOT OF LEARNING CURVE FOR INCOMING BOARD MEMBERS, BUT, I THINK, I MEAN I'VE BEEN ON FOR SIX YEARS AND I STILL FEEL LIKE I KNOW, THIS MUCH ABOUT IT.
IT'S, SO, I THINK ANYTHING ABOUT THAT WOULD BE ENORMOUSLY HELPFUL AND I THINK WE SHOULD DEFINITELY, I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO WAIT, WE'RE IN THIS EXCITING, KIND OF ONBOARDING PHASE RIGHT NOW AND IN A LOT OF WAYS THIS COULD BE A GREAT TIME TO GET A LOT OF THAT WORK DONE RATHER THAN WAITING UNTIL THE NEXT YEAR.
I DO REALLY WANT TO PUT IN A PLUG FOR, I THINK, THE IDEA OF GETTING VERY SPECIFIC ABOUT A TOPIC PER YEAR.
AND I THINK WE'VE ALREADY HEARD SOME GOOD IDEAS ABOUT USING THE STRATEGIC PLAN AS A WAY TO HELP CONSIDER WHAT'S A TOPIC THAT IS THAT WE COULD HAVE AN ALIGNMENT MOMENT BECAUSE IT'S IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF THE PARTICULAR MEMBERSHIP OR KNOWLEDGE BASE IN CIAC IN THAT PARTICULAR YEAR SPEAKS TO IT.
BECAUSE I DO THINK FOR A LOT OF THESE COMMITTEES, THE TOTALALITY OF POSSIBLE THINGS THAT COULD BE DISCUSSED.
WE'LL NEVER BE LIKE, WE'RE DONE, WE WENT THROUGH THE LIST AND WE DON'T NEED TO TALK ABOUT ANYTHING ANYMORE.
SO IT REALLY DOES BECOME A QUESTION OF FOCUS FROM YEAR TO YEAR.
AND THE MORE THAT WE'RE HAVING THAT ALIGNMENT MOMENT WITH SOMETHING THAT THE BOARD IS ALREADY DISCUSSING BECAUSE OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN.
YOU'RE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO HAVE THAT MOMENT WHERE THERE'S A VERY LOGICAL MEETING THAT CIAC IT'S GOING TO BE AT THE MEETING WHEN THE SCHOOL BOARD'S DISCUSSING THIS AGENDA ITEM.
I GET A LITTLE NERVOUS, WHILE I'M VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF ALL OF THE COMMITTEES HAVING THIS MOMENT TO TALK, I GET NERVOUS ABOUT IF WE JUST SAY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THEM ALL COME IN MAY, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, I THINK THERE'S A REAL DANGER OF A DILUTION MOMENT OF WASHING OVER THE BOARD MEMBERS, AGAIN, ANOTHER KEPT OF HUGE AMOUNT OF DATA.
SO, I THINK IT'S ABOUT BEING STRUCTURED AND FOCUSED ABOUT WHAT MOMENT CAN WOULD BE.
I WAS JUST MENTIONING TO MS. THORNTON, I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S REWARDING ABOUT THE ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME COMMITTEE, IS THEY HAVE TO PUT IN THAT WORK AND HAVE TO DO ALL OF THOSE APPLICATIONS.
BUT, I MEAN, EVERY YEAR THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE THAT VERY TANGABLE MOMENT.
FINDING WAY TO HAVE THOSE TANGIBLE MOMENTS FOR PEOPLE TO SAY, YEAH, THAT'S WHEN WE DID THIS.
THANK YOU, AND I LOVE GETTING TO SEE ALL OF THOSE GREAT SUGGESTIONS YOU HAD PERCOLATING THROUGH.
>> THANK YOU, SO MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW THIS, I KNOW VICE MAYOR BENNETT PARKER WAS WORKING TO MAKE VIRTUAL MEETINGS MORE OF A POSSIBILITY FOR ADVISORY COMMITTEES AND COMMISSIONS AND THAT KIND OF THING.
IT WASN'T AS A SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME THAT SHE WAS HOPING FOR, JUST KNOW THAT I'M SURE SHELL CONTINUE THAT WORK AS OUR NEW DELEGATE.
AND YOU WOULD BE A GREAT PERSON TO TESTIFY LIKE BEFORE A STATE COMMITTEE ABOUT WHY THIS IS REALLY NEEDED.
AND THEN, I WANTED TO JUST COMMEND YOU FOR YOUR COMMITTEES ANNUAL REPORT.
IT WAS VERY ALIGNED TO THE STRATEGIC PLAN LIKE YOU ALL ARE LOOKING AT THE STRATEGIC PLAN AND ALIGNING YOUR WORK TO IT.
AND I THINK YOU MADE A LOT OF GREAT SUGGESTIONS THAT I THINK WE'RE GOING TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION.
[01:00:02]
THE AD HOC COMMITTEE, WHERE WE ARE WITH THAT, JUDGE U.S.TO UPDATE EVERYONE, IS WE WERE TASKED WITH MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE END OF THIS CURRENT YEAR BECAUSE WE HAVE A TRANSITION, AND SO WE'RE GOING TO BE ROOKING TO DO THAT ONCE WE HEAR FROM THE DIFFERENT COMMITTEE CHAIRS, AND I'M SURE SOME OF YOUR SUGGESTIONS WILL BE INCLUDED WITH THAT JUST KIND OF STAY TUNED FOR THAT.
I THINK THE STATE HAS MANDATED SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR A REASON.
AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS DEFINITELY, THROUGH MY YEARS OF SERVICE ON THE BOARD AND CERTAINLY RUNNING FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD AND HAVING LOOTS OF CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE JUST REALLY, LISTENING TO THE FAMILIES AND REALLY HEARING THE EXPERIENCE AND REALLY LETTING THAT GUIDE SOME OF THE WORK THAT WE DO, I THINK IS SO CRITICAL TO MOVING THE WORK FORWARD.
AND ANOTHER THING THAT I'VE LEARNED THROUGH THE WORK ON THE BOARD IS JUST HOW IMPORTANT LIKE, THE KIND OF LIKE RELATIONSHIP BUILDING IS, AND THE COMMUNICATION AND SORT OF, THAT'S WHAT LIKE LEADS US ALL TO HAVE THIS SHARED VALUES AND SHARED GOALS AND THAT'S WHAT I THINK IS REALLY GOING TO HELP PUSH THE DIVISION'S PROGRESS IN THIS AREA.
SO, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT AND I LOVE THE IDEAS THAT I'M HEARING ABOUT, REGULAR, ONE THING WE TALKED ABOUT IT MAY BE THE WAY THAT CITY COUNCIL HAS THEIR SECTION WHERE THEY HAVE IN THEIR MEETINGS, THE REGULAR UPDATES FROM THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, SOMETHING LIKE THAT WHERE IT COULD BE A LITTLE MORE REGULARLY ON OUR AGENDAS.
AND ALSO DOCTOR HUTCHINGS AND I WERE COMMENTS IF WE COULD ALIGN THE DELIVERABLES THAT WE HAVE WITH THE AREAS OF FOCUS AS PART OF OUR BUDGET PROCESS.
A LOT OF GREAT STUFF AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR FEEDBACK.
>> QUICK QUESTION JUST REGARDING DOING A SPED 101 AND POTENTIALLY DOING IT EARLIER, TIME FRAME IDEAS, HOW LONG AND HOW DO WE DO THAT TOGETHER OR SHOULD WE JUST COMMUNICATE SEPARATELY ABOUT THAT.
>> ANYBODY ELSE CAN CHIME IN, BUT I WOULD SAY CONNECT WITH MEAGAN AND THE BOARD CLERK AND FIGURE OUT WHAT WOULD MAKE THE MOST SENSE BECAUSE WE'RE CERTAINLY DOING ORIENTATION FOR THE NEW BOARD AND FIGURING OUT HOW TO FIT IN WITH THAT SCHEDULE.
>> I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ECHO EVERYONE ELSE GRATITUDE AND SENTIMENTS THROUGHOUT THE BOARD.
I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN HERE FOR YEARS AND WE CERTAINLY KNOW WHAT CIAC IS NOW.
SO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR LEADERSHIP HAND SUPPORT OF THE ACPS STUDENTS, SUCH AN IMPORTANT POPULATION THAT WE NEED T CONTINUE TO SERVE SO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MR. JOHNSON AND EISENHOWER FOR BEING HERE EARLIER.
>> MR. SUAREZ? DID YOU WANT THE P FINAL WORD?
>> AS WE CLOSING OUT THE CONVERSATION, DID YOU WANT TO CONTINUE IT?
>> NO, I KNOW YOU'RE CLOSING IT OUT.
AND I WOULD BE REMISS TO NOT MAKE ONE LITTLE FINAL POINT.
WHICH IS TO DRIVE HOME DR. RIEF'S POINT BECAUSE I FORGOTTEN IT IN MY COMMENTS, WHICH IS THAT YOU'RE SO RIGHT ABOUT THE NEED FOR THE ABILITY TO HAVE THE VIRTUAL PARTICIPATION.
AND, SO, YOU KNOW, LIKE MS. GENTRY SAID, SOMETIMES IT WORTH DRIVING HOME THE POINT AGAIN, I WANT TO SAY THIS PUBLICLY AND EMPHATICALLY, BECAUSE IF THE STATE OF VIRGINIA TRULY WANTS TO ENHANCE EQUITY AND EDUCATION THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN THESE COMMITTEES, THERE MUST BE, MUST BE A VIRTUAL OPTION FROM THESE.
WE LEARNED FROM THE PANDEMIC THIS IS POSSIBLE.
WE LEARNED FROM THE PANDEMIC THAT THESE MEETINGS CAN HE SEELY BE STREAMED PUBLICLY, AND YOU COULD HAVE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION, THAT'S THE INTENT OF THE LAW.
AND, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THERE'S GOING TO BE A REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE, IN MY VIEW, UNFORTUNATELY, YOU KNOW CANS BUT THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY, NO MATTER WHAT THE PARTY IS, THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT SHOULD NOT BE REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT, THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT IF THERE'S REALLY HARD ADVOCACY, AND THOUGHTFUL ADVOCACY, THIS SHOULD BE PUSHED THROUGH.
NONE OF THOSE BOARD ADVISORIES COMMITTEES SHOULD SKR SO MEET IN PERSON.
HAVING SIGNIFICANT GROWTH IN MY FAMILY OVER THE LAST YEAR OR TWO, I HAVE COME TO PERSONALLY PRAESH HOW DIFFICULT IT IS FOR FAMILYING, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE IN A SINGLE PARENT HOUSEHOLD, AND THOSE ARE THE PERSPECTIVES WE NEED AT
[01:05:03]
THESE CIAC MEETINGS, AT TAG MEETINGS, AND ALL THESE MEETINGS, TO ME, IT'S FRANKSLY RIDICULOUS THAT THESE ARE A CONSTRAINT ON THESE MEETINGS.THAT WAS ANOTHER REASON WE THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO GO BACK AND FORTH WITH YOU, TO UNDERSTAND, BECAUSE WE NEED TO HAVE OUR EYE ON THE BALL ON THAT AS A BOARD.
WE NEED TO KNOW IF THERE'S NOT THE RIGHT REPRESENTATION, WE NEED TO ADDRESS THAT.
AND OBVIOUSLY THERE IS NOT GOING TO BE CHANGING THIS LAW, WE'LL STILL HAVE CHALLENGES WITH REPRESENTATION BUT IT IS A WAY TO REALLY MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN IMPROVE THIS AREA.
SO, I JUST WANT TO DITTO DR. RIEF'S COMMENTS ON THAT AND REALLY SAY SOMETHING EMPHATIC PUBLICLY ON THAT, BECAUSE, AGAIN, NO-BRAINER, AND I WOULD WANT TO MARCH DOWN TO THAT FOYA COUNCIL EVEN THOUGH I'M OFF THE BOARD BECAUSE THIS IS A SIMPLE ISSUE IN MY OPINION.
AND PEOPLE NEED TO COME OUT AND TALK ABOUT THAT.
AND AGAIN, IT SHOULDN'T MATTER WHAT POLITICAL PARTY YOU ARE IN THIS ONE.
>> GREAT WAY TO CLOSE OUT THE DISCUSSION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. SUAREZ, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH MS. HEART, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH TO ALL WHO.
THIS IS A PERFECT SEGUE, MS. WISE TO KEY UP TO YOU TO THE EXCEPTIONAL JOB THAT
[7. Proposed 2022 ACPS Legislative Agenda ]
YOU PROVIDE TO OUR DISTRICT AND OTHER DISTRICTS, SO IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND WE HAVE OUR NEXT AGENDA AND TINGS TO PROPOSE THE 2022 LEGISLATIVE AND WE HAVE MS. LILLA WISE TO SHARE WITH US WHERE WE ARE WITH THIS IMPORTANT WORK.GREAT WAY TO KEY YOU UP AND THE IMPORTANCE OF YOUR WORK.
THAT'S THE MOST STEREOTYPICAL PHRASE FOR ZOOM.
>> HOLD ON, MS. WISE, WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF IT'S SOMETHING ON OUR END, WE'LL BE WITH YOU IN JUST A MOMENT.
>> YEP, YOU HAVE IT, WE CAN HEAR YOU CLEARLY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING, WE GRATELY APPRECIATE IT.
>> I KNOW THAT WHEN I COME TO SEE YOU, I SAY THAT IS GOING TO BE AN EXCITING YEAR, BUT THIS IS GOING TO BE A DIFFERENT YEAR.
I HEARD ON THE NEWS THIS EVENING THAT OUR NEW GOVERNOR ELECT IS PLANNING TO HAVE A SECRETARY OF EDUCATION BY NEXT WEEK.
SO, IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF VIM DIFFERENT KINDS OF THINGS WE NO LONGER HAVE SOME OF THE SUPPORTIVE FOLKS FOR EDUCATION, EVEN THOUGH, THIS GOVERNOR SAYS THAT EDUCATION IS HIS NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.
LET ME GO OVER THE POSITIONS WITH YOU, AND AS YOU POINTED OUT, YES, WE DO HAVE A POSITION ABOUT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETINGS BEING HELD REMOTELY.
AND, IT CAN BE EXPANDED IF THERE'S ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO DO THAT.
WE HAVE JUST PUT IT IN AS ADVISORY COMMITTEES FOR ALL THE SAME REASONS THAT YOU FIES ARE TALKING ABOUT.
IF WHAT WE REALLY WANT TO DE IS HAVE MANY YOUNGER FAMILIES GETTING INVOLVED IN THIS, IT REALLY DOES HELP TO HAVE THEM BE ABLE TO DO THIS REMOTELY.
AND, FIRST, AS USUAL, WE HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES ABOUT FUNDING.
AND SOME OF THESE YOU'VE SEEN BEFORE AND SOME OF THEM WILL BE NEW FOR YOU.
THE FIRST ONE IS AND YOU KEEP HEARING ABOUT THE SUPPORT CAP, THIS HAPPENED INNED IN 2009 WHERE THERE WASN'T MUCH MONEY SO THEY DECIDED ONE OF THE THINGS WE'LL DO WITH EDUCATION FUNDING IS WE'LL PUT A CAP ON HOW MANY SUPPORT POSITIONS WE WOULD FUND FOR EACH DIVISION.
NOW, SUPPORT POSITIONS WERE A VERY INTERESTING GROUP BECAUSE YOU HAD ALL THE PEOPLE WHO, YOU KNOW, THE SOCIAL WORKERS, PSYCHOLOGIES, SCHOOL NURSES, PLUS, SCHOOL CUSTODIANS, BUS DRIVERS WHO WERE ALL UNDER THE SUPPORT CAP.
THERE HAVE BEEN GOOD THINGS HAPPEN OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS AS YOU KNOW FOR SCHOOL DIVISIONS TO GET MORE SUPPORT FUNDING FOR GUIDANCE COUNSELORS, PSYCHOLOGIES, AND SCHOOL NURSES, BUT THAT'S STILL A GREAT DEAL OF MONEY WITH THE SUPPORT CAP.
THE SECOND IS WE WOULD SUPPORT FUNDING TO PROTECT SCHOOL DIVISIONS FROM
[01:10:03]
ENROLLMENT LOGS.I KNOW THAT MOST SCHOOL DIVISIONS THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH DO HAVE ENROLLMENTMENT LOSS OF NUMBER OF KIDS THIS YEAR A OPPOSED TO NUMBER OF KIDS LAST YEAR.
AND AS WE WORK THROUGH THE FUNDING, IT'S GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT TO HAVE TO HAVE EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE AS MANY STUDENTS, THEY DON'T COME IN NEAT PACKAGES, AND VERY OFTEN TO RUN A SCHOOL DIVISION, YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE SAME FUNDING THAT YOU HAD THE YEAR BEFORE EVEN IF YOU HAVE FEWER STUDENTS.
AND SUPPORT ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO SUPPORT LOST LEARNING DUE TO COVID.
AND THERE'S SUPPOSEDLY THIS BIG BUNCH OF MONEY SITTING OUT THERE THAT GENERAL ASSEMBLY WILL BE HANDING OUT, AND THAT'S WHEN I THINK MOST SCHOOL DIVISIONS ARE REALLY VERY INTERESTED IN THAT.
AND THEN THERE'S IMPLEMENTATION OF A BOARD OF EDUCATION RECOMMENDATION.
AND AS YOU ALL PROBABLY KNOW THAT WHEN THEY DO FUNDING FOR EL STUDENTS, IT'S USUALLY DONE, THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS IN THE SCHOOL AND THE RATIO OF TEACHERS, AND WHAT THE STATE BOARD IS SAYING IS BUT THERE'S SOME SITUATIONS, FOR EXAMPLE, WITH YOUR NEW LEARNERS, THAT TAKE A LOT MORE WORK THAN FOR THE KIDS WHO ARE IN FOUR OR FIVE, SO, THIS WOULD BE CHANGING THE FORMULA SO THAT IT WOULD BE DONE ON THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY OF STUDENTS RATHER THAN JUST THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS RATIO TO TEACHER'S.
THIS NEXT ONE, YOU PROBABLY HAVEN'T EVEN HEARD ABOUT AND IT'S PRETTY INTERESTING AND THIS IS CALLED THE HALIFAX MODEL.
YOU KNOW OVER THIS PAST YEAR THEY HAD WHO WAS CALLED THAT CRUMBLING SCHOOLS TOUR.
AND I THINK THAT ONE OF YOUR SCHOOLS WAS INVOLVED IN THIS AND THIS WAS WITH SCHOOLS THAT NEED MODERNIZATION, RENOVATION OR EVEN NEW BUILDINGS, AND ESPECIALLY IN THE RURAL AREAS.
THEY WEREN'T GETTING FUNDING FOR THAT.
SO, HALIFAX COUNTY, WHICH HAD A LOT OF ISSUES WITH THIS, SAID, HEY, WAIT A MINUTE, WHY DON'T WE HAVE A REFERENDUM WITH OUR CITIZEN AND ASK FOR 1% SALES TAX INCREASE AND USE ALL OF THAT MONEY FOR SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION MODERNIZATION AND RENOVATION.
WELL, IT WORKED OUT VERY WELL FOR HALIFAX, AND THEY DID IT HAD NO PROBLEM HAVING THE REFERENDUM COME THROUGH AND THEY HAD RENOVATION, WELL IT WAS SUCH A GOOD IDEA, THEY OTHER DISTRICTS THAT WANTED TO BE A PART OF IT, SO THEY HAD A CHRISTMAS TREE BILL SO OTHER SCHOOL DIVISIONS GOT INVOLVED IN THAT AS WELL.
THIS WOULD EXTEND THE HALIFAX MODEL FOR ALL SCHOOL DIVISIONS FOR SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION AND MODERNIZATION, IN ORDER TO DO THIS, OF COURSE, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A REFERENDUM AND YOUR CITIZENS HAVE TO AGREE TO DO THIS AND YOU HAVE TO USE THE WHOLE 1% SALES TAX FOR SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION AND MODERNIZATION.
GOING ON TO THE NEXT ONE AND THIS IS ONE YOU'VE SEEN FOR YEARS AND YEARS, AND THAT'S COST OF COMPETING.
WE WANT TO KEEP YOUR COST OF COMPETING FACTOR IN THERE, AND YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR, IT WASN'T, THEY DID NOT TAKE MUCH AS THEY SOMETIMES HAVE, BUT, I THINK IT'S REALLY HARD TO FORESEE WHAT KINDS OF THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THIS SHARE, ONE OF OUR BIG ADVANTAGES IS WE HAVE WONDERFUL LEGISLATURES LEGISLATORS WHO KNOW THIS IS IMPORTANT TO US.
WE WERE SAYING THIS AND ALWAYS BELIEVED IT, THIS YEAR IT'S REALLY GOING TO BE AN ISSUE.
WE'RE HEARING ABOUT TAX CREDITS AND TAX DEDUCTIONS AND WE'RE DEFINITELY HEARING ABOUT VOUCHERS.
ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES TODAY SAID ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO GET IS VOUCHERS FOR PARENTS WHO PUT THEIR KIDS IN PRIVATE SCHOOL DURING THE PANDEMIC.
THE NEXT ONE IS ONE THAT SOME OF YOUR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS HAVE BEEN VERY INVOLVED WITH, AND THEY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH, IT'S BEEN ALEXANDRIA CITY BOARD MEMBERS, ARLINGTON BOARD MEMBERS AND FAIRFAX BOARD MEMBERS, AND THIS CAME ABOUT AFTER TWO OR THREE FOOTBALL GAMES, THERE WAS BULLYING, THERE WAS
[01:15:01]
SPITTING AND NAME CALLING.AND IT SEEMED LIKE THE ADULTS WEREN'T DOING VERY MUCH TO MANAGE THE SITUATION.
SO, THESE BOARD MEMBERS MEAT WITH TWO OF OUR LEGISLATORS, SENATOR ADAM AND DELL GAT ALFONSO LOPEZ AND WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO ANY OF THIS KIND OF THING.
YOU'LL BE DELIGHTED TO KNOW THAT WE GOT JUST THIS WEEK, SENATOR EBON ASKED FOR LEGISLATIVE SERVICES TO DRAFT A BILL AND WE NOW HAVE A DRAFTED BILL THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH.
AND THIS WOULD, BE PRETTY PRESCRIPTIVE.
AND IT HAD WITH BE PROVIDING THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD COME UP WITH REGULATIONS THAT COACHES AND OFFICIALS WOULD HAVE TO HAVE STAFF DEVELOPMENT AND EVEN ALL STUDENTS MIGHT HAVE TO SIGN OFF SAYING THEY SAW ALL THESE THINGS THEY WOULD HAVE TO DO AND THAT IN ORDER TO BE INVOLVED IN A SCHOOLASTIC SPORTS, THIS IS WHAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO DO.
WE ALL KNOW, THE VIRGINIA HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE IS A PRETTY IMPORTANT LOBBYING GROUP AND IT'S GOT A LOT OF LEGISLATORS WHO ARE INVOLVED IN ADDITION TO EVERY HIGH SCHOOL IN THE STATE, ATHLETIC DIRECTORS, SO, HOPEFULLY, COMING UP WITH SOMETHING LIKE THIS, AND WORKING WITH THE VIRGINIA HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE WE WILL END UP WITH SOMETHING THAT WILL PUT US IN A BETTER POSITION THAN WE WERE THIS PAST FALL WHEN THIS HORRIBLE THINGS HAPPENED.
YOU'RE NEXT ISSUE, AND YOU'VE HEARD THIS BEFORE, AND THIS IS THE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD SUPPORT THE OPTION FOR SCHOOL DIVISION ADVISORY BODIES TO MEET ELECTRONICALLY.
AND WHEN I PUT THIS OUT PEOPLE SAID, WHY ARE YOU JUST HOLDING IT TO ADVISORY BODIES, WHY CAN'T IT BE SCHOOL BOARD, AND THIS IS WHAT DELEGATE PARKER IS DOING ALSO, SHE'S BEEN A WONDERFUL ADVOCATE.
ONE OF THE GOOD THINGS THAT COMES OUT OF THE PANDEMIC IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING IN-PERSON AND IT'S POSSIBLE TO COMMUNICAT REMOTELY.
AND THE LAST ONE IS THIS IS, AN ASSESSMENT ISSUE.
YOU KNOW, STANDARD LEARNING ASSESSMENTS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN SINCE THEY STARTED, ALMOST UP UNTIL TODAY, STANDARD OF LEARNED TESTS.
THAT'S WHERE THE ASSESSMENTS WERE.
AND THERE ARE MANY SCHOOL DIVISIONS NOW ARE SAYING WE NEED TO USE PERFORMANCE-BASED ASSESSMENTS FOR ALL END OF COURSE STANDARD OF LEARNING ASSESSMENTS.
AND THIS WAS A POSITION LAST YEAR AND PROBABLY THE YEAR BEFORE, BUT THINGS HAVE CHANGED SO DRAMATICALLY DURING THIS PERIOD OF TIME, THAT IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHERE THIS GOES.
NOW, USUALLY IT'S THE STATE BOARD AND THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION THAT ARE THE WAY UPS RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE AREAS, HOWEVER, TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO, WE HAD A PERFORMANCE BASED ASSESSMENT.
>> (LOST AUDIO) >> WHAT MIGHT ACTUALLY BE POSSIBLE.
>> (LOST AUDIO FEED) >> IF, IF, IF, THAT IS TRULY YOUR PLATFORM AND YOU TRULY EXALT ALL IMPORTANT VOICE, AS I SAID, BEFORE, THAT IS YOU SHOULD BE AN ABSOLUTE
[01:20:05]
NO-BRAINER.SO, I THINK, YOU KNOW, I GUESS, SO THIS IS A GLOBAL COMMENT OF LIKE, YOU KNOW, WHAT CAN WE DO TO THINK ABOUT HOW TO CRYSTALLIZE THESE ISSUES AND FRAME THEM IN A VERY SPECIFIC WAY SO THAT SOMETHING CAN BE DONE THAT'S CONCRETE.
AND SO, I SEE THAT, AND SO, YOU KNOW, I WAS JUST COMMENTING IN TERMS OF THINKING ABOUT HOW CAN WE PRIORITIZE THESE ISSUES AND FRAMING THEM.
OFFENSIVELY I'M THINKING ABOUT THAT, DEFENSIVELY, MY FUNDAMENTAL ISSUE IS THE LAST, SEEMS LIKE IT'S COMING, AND THE FUNDAMENTA WORD THAT YOU PUT IN THE AGENDA THAT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IS DIVERSION OF FUNDS.
WE CAN'T HAVE A SITUATION NEXT YEAR WHERE WE HAVE THE SAME EXACT ALLOCATION FROM THE STATE AND THE SAME ALLOCATION FROM THE CITY AND THERE ARE THREE NEW SCHOOLS THAT HAVE TO BE FUNDED WITH THAT SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY AND PARENTS, YOU KNOW, GOING TO THESE OTHER POTENTIAL OPTIONS OR, MONEY BEING PUT OVER TO PRIVATE EDUCATION AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF HERE, RIGHT, SO, I'M JUST THINKING ABOUT HOW DOES THIS BOARD AND THE OTHER BOARD STRICTLY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA HAVE A FOCUS IT'S ENERGY ON THE DEFENSIVE ISSUES COMING, I THINK IT'S THE BIG ONE, THE ONE I JUST TALKED ABOUT, BUT OFFENSIVELY, WHAT CAN WE GET DONE, ONE OF THEM BEING THE LEGISLATION TO SUPPORT ELECTRONIC PARTICIPATION OF ALL PARENTS.
I FEEL LIKE, THE OPPORTUNITY HERE IN THIS SITUATION IS TO FOCUS.
AND TO REALLY, YOU KNOW, HONE IN ON WHAT THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS ARE.
SO, BUT, YOU KNOW, OPEN OTHER VIEWS AS ALWAYS.
>> THANK YOU, MR. SUAREZ MS. GENTRY?
>> THANK YOU, MR. SUAREZ, I WOULD SAY IN ADDITION TO FINDING WAYS THAT WE'RE MAKING SURE, THAT I DO THINK THERE'S A WILL THE OF ALIGNMENT ON THE SCHOOLS THAT KNOW ABOUT THESE THINGS.
I THINK IT'S REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, CRUCIAL THAT ALL THE SCHOOL DIVISIONS ARE MAKING SURE TO TALK TO THEIR CITY OR COUNTY COUNTERPARTS.
WE REALLY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MAKING IT EXTREMELY CLEAR TO THE INCOMING CITY COUNCIL THAT THIS IS VERY MUCH A HUGE ISSUE FOR THEM TO YOUR POINT, ABOUT IF MONEY IS DIVERTED IN SOME KIND OF WAY, THAT WILL ABSOLUTELY, THAT SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT IS OF EXTREME CONCERN TO THEM BECAUSE AS WE LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE, THE BIGGEST SLICE OF PIE OF LOCAL FUNDS GOES INTO OUR SCHOOLS.
SO, THEY HAVE A VERY, VERY, VESTED INTEREST IN MAKING SURE THAT THAT KIND OF THING DOESN'T OCCUR.
AND SO, I THINK IT'S JUST GOING TO BE AS HAS BEEN INDICATED, YOU KNOW, IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF HOW MANY RHETORIC, HOW CAMPAIGN RHETORIC TRANSLATES INTO ANY KIND OF GOVERNMENT ACTION.
BUT TO THE EXTENT THAT IT DOES, I DON'T THINK WE WANT THERE TO BE A PERCEPTION THAT THE SCHOOL BOARDS WILL HANDLE THE EDUCATION SIDE OF THINGS.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY NEED TO PARTNER WITH FOR OUR NEIGHBORS AND OUR COUNTIES, IT'S THE SCHOOL BOARD'S COLLABORATING WITH THEIR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND FOR US IT'S COLLABORATING WITH THE CIT COUNCIL.
I KNOW THERE'S BEEN OPPORTUNITIES FOR MS. WISE, WE KNOW THAT THE CITY HAS THEIR OWN, REPRESENTATIVE TO WHATEVER DEGREE, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE, THAT MS. WISE AND THE CITY COUNTERPART ARE BEST BUDS.
>> AND TALKING WITH ONE ANOTHER, SO, THAT WAS JUST, I WANTED TO TAKE YOU UP ON THAT THOUGHT, MR. SUAREZ AND I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT TO ME I THINK THAT'S
[01:25:02]
AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT ONE.>> I'LL PUT MYSELF IN THE CUE, JUST TO RESPOND TO THAT, MS. GENTRY, I THINK YOU BRING UP A VALUABLE POINT.
I KNOW WE HAD THE BENEFIT, THE LAST TIME THERE WAS A CHANGE OF GUARD OF ELECT THE OFFICIALS, THAT WE GOT TO HEAR FROM THE CITY ABOUT THEIR JOBS.
THIS ALSO MAY BE AS A SCHOOL BOARD, WE THINK HOW TO WE ORIENT THE NEW SCHOOL BOARD COMING IN AND WHAT TOPICS FOR THEM TO BE AWARE.
THREE THINGS COME TO MIND, NUMBER ONE, WE COULD MAKE IT A CITY SCHOOLS MEETING WHERE WE'RE COMING TOGETHER AND HAVING A DIALOG AND SHARING, DURING ONE OF THE FOR OF THOSE MEETS LIKES WE COULD ALSO MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW THAT THERE'S AN ORIENTATION THAT THEY EXPERIENCE FROM EITHER OUR STAFF OR SCHOOL BOARD OR MS. WISE, SO THERE COULD BE A SPECIAL ASSIGNED ORIENTATION.
AND THE THIRD HOW CAN WE INCORPORATE THAT MONTHLY CITY SCHOOL MEETING THAT THIS COULD BE AN AN YOU'LL OR BIANNUAL TOPIC.
>> JUST ANOTHER THOUGHT IS IN THE NEXT TWO BOOKS, THE VIRGINIA SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION MEETING'S HAPPENING AND THERE'S GOING FOB THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA REGIONAL MEETING AT THAT TIME, AND I'M PLANNING TO BE THERE AND THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO JUST BRING UP THIS IDEA AND THINK WHAT THE OTHER SCHOOL DIVISIONS HOW WE CAN COLLABORATE ON SOME OF THESE ISSUES, SO, I'LL DEFINITELY VOLUNTEER TO DO THAT.
WITH NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, MS. WISE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING WE GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR ADVOCACY ON BEHALF OF OUR CHILDREN.
THESE ARE CRITICAL POINT, WE APPRECIATE YOU AND NEED YOU AND THANK YOU.
>> ALWAYS ENJOY WORKING WITH YOU.
>> THANK YOU, HAVE A GOOD EVENING.
>> NEXT UP ON OUR AGENDA WE HAVE THE ACPS GUIDELINES ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ACT
[8. ACPS Guidelines for the Implementation of the Public-Private Education Facilities and Infrastructure Act of 2002 ]
OF 202 AND WE'LL HAVE ABESASI WALK US THROUGH A AGENDA ITEM.>> I'M SORRY, MADAM CHAIR, I BELIEVE THAT MR. TURNER WILL BE WALKING YOU THROUGH THAT ITEM.
>> MY APOLOGIES, MR. TURNER, THANK YOU.
>> THAT SAID, I ALWAYS APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.
HOPE EVERYBODY CAN HEAR ME, I APOLOGIZE IF I SOUND FUNNY TODAY, I GOT MY BOOSTER SHOT YESTERDAY, SO HAVE BEEN A LITTLE UNDER THE WEATHER, BUT I WILL MANAGE.
I WANT TO INTRODUCE THE PPEA GUIDELINES, THIS IS ON FOR INFORMATION TODAY AND HOPEFULLY ON FOR APPROVAL.
PUBLIC PRIVATE FACILITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE ACT OF 202.
THE FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE ACT OF 2002 WILL BE ABLE AWE TO DEVELOP NEEDED QUALIFYING PROJECTS IN A TIMELIER OR LESS COSTLY MANNER.
THE GUIDELINES ESTABLISH HOW TO RECEIVE UNSOLICIT THE OR SOLICITED PROJECTS.
THE METHOD OF EVALUATION AND THE SELECTION OF THESE PROJECTS AND IT ALSO ESTABLISHES THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD WOULD NEED TO APPROVE ANY PROJECT BEFORE IT MOVES FORWARD AND WE HAD AN AGREEMENT.
WE HAD A FIRST PROJECT THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD AND THAT IS A POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENT OR ENERGY SAVINGS PERFORMANCE CONTRACT TO PROVIDE SOLAR PANELS FOR BOTH THE NEW DOUGLAS MCARTHUR AND MINNIE HOWARD PROJECT.
WITH THAT, I'LL OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS AND WE'LL DO OUR BEST TO ANSWER FOR YOU ALL.
>> I THINK YOU GAVE A THOROUGH PRESENTATION, I'M NOT SEEING ANY QUESTIONS AND SO, I THANK YOU FOR KEEPING US UPDATED ON THAT.
>> THANK YOU, THIS WILL BE ON NOR APPROVAL NEXT WEEK.
>> THANK YOU, SO MUCH, MR. TURNER, I APPRECIATE YOU.
[9. Report from Vice Chair Nolan]
>> WITHOUT FURTHER ADIEU, I'M GOING TO SHARE THE CHAIR'S REPORT ON BEHALF OF
[01:30:02]
CHAIR.I SHOULD BE SAYING THERE'S A WOO HO IN THE HOUSE BECAUSE IT'S NO SECRET THAT THE FALL MEMBERSHIP REPORT IS ONE OF THEED BOARD'S FAVORITE PRESENTATIONS.
THANK YOU, FOR YOUR ENTHUSIASTIC INFORMATION SHARING AS ALWAYS.
WE HAVE A SPECIAL CALLED SCHOOL BOARD MEETING WHERE WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THE CTE AND THE BUDGET ADVISORY COMMITTEES JOINING US SIMILAR TO TODAY'S PRESENTATION THAT WAS VERY INFORMATIVE AND HELPFUL.
WE'LL HAVE THE CIP WORK SESSION AND WE'LL BE DISCUSSING EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION.
ON NOVEMBER 18TH AT 7:00 P.M., WE'LL HAVE THE EQUITY POLICY AUDIT COMMITTEE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH ESPECIALLY TO ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS THAT ARE PARTICIPATING AND LEADING US THROUGH THAT EFFORT AND ON NOVEMBER 29TH AT 7:00 P.M.
WE HAVE A SPECIAL CALLED SCHOOL BOARD MEETING AND WORK SESSION WHERE WE WILL BE RECEIVING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE CIP BUDGET AND THE BUDGET ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND THE KRICHLT I 2.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK AND CONGRATULATE CHAIR ALDERTON, MS. GREENE AND DR. RIEF, WHO'LL BE JOINING THE BOARD, WE'RE SUPER EXCITED AND GRATEFUL FOR YOUR CONTINUED SERVICE.
>> AND A ADDITIONAL CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE NEW MEMBERS.
KNOWING THE EXITING BOARD MEMBERS AS WELL AS WE DO, I KNOW WE'RE HERE TO SERVE YOU AND SUPPORT YOU IN THE TRANSITION, SO, WE LOOK FORWARD TO DE THAT IN ANY WAY, PLEAS DON'T HESITATE TO ALL ON US IF YOU NEED US, WE'RE EXCITED FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE OUR STUDENTS.
>> AND WITH THAT, I'LL PASS THE BATON TO DR. HUTCHINGS FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
>> I DO NOT HAVE THAT TODAY WHITE HOUSE TOMORROW WE'LL HAVE THE NOVEMBER VIDEO RELEASED, SO YOU'LL HAVE ALL THAT INFORMATION TOMORROW.
SO, THANK YOU, MADAM VICE CHAIR.
>> I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT THE VIDEO, THAT'S FANTASTIC, GREAT TO KNOW.
>> ARE THREE ANNOUNCEMENTS BOARD MEMBERS?
THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND WITHOUT FURTHER ADIEU, MS. GENTRY CAN I GET YOU TO
[12. Closed Meeting ]
MOVE US INTO CLOSED MEETING?>> MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE THAT THE BOARD CONVENE A CLOSED MEETING PURSUANT INTO.
FOR THE DISCUSSION OF THE AWARD OF A PUBLIC CONTRACT INVOLVING THE EXPENDITURE OF PUBLIC FUNDS AND DISCUSSION OF THE TERM AND SCOPE OF SUCH CONTRACT.
WITH DISCUSSION IN AN OPEN SESSION WOULD DIVERSELY EFFECT THE BARGAINING POSITION OF THE BOARD.
>> THANK YOU, SO MUCH MR. SUAREZ FOR SECONDING MS. GENTRY'S MOTION.
THANK YOU, SO MUCH, WE WILL NOW BE ENTERING INTO CLOSED SESSION.
(MEETING NOW IN CLOSED SESSION) (MEETING NOW IN CLOSED SESSION) >> MS. GENTRY, CAN YOU TAKE US OUT OF CLOSED SESSION?
>> PURNT TO VIRGINIA CODE, I MOVE TO THE BOARD CERTIFY THAT TO THE BEST OF EACH MEMBER'S KNOWLEDGE, ONLY WHICH THE CLOSED MEETING WAS CONVENED AND LAWFULLY EXEMPTED BY THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT WAS OCTOBER 21ST, 2021.
>> I MADE A SMALL JUMP BACK IN TIME.
OR CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD IN THE CLOSED MEADING HELD ON NOVEMBER 4, 2021.
>> MS. GENTRY SECONDS MS. RAMEE'S MOTION.
THAT'S WHY I SAID OCTOBER 21ST.
MS. GREENE, SORRY, SECOND MS. GENTRY'S MOTION.
[01:35:02]
CAN I PLEASE HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING.
>> MANAGER, I MOVE THAT WE ADJOURN.
>> MS. LORBER SECONDS MS. GENTRY'S MOTION.
CAN I PLEASE GET A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING.
AND WITH THAT, THANK YOU SO MUCH, EVERYONE.
CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOUR VIDEO TOMORROW, DR. HUTCHINGS.
WE'LL LEAVE YOU WITH THAT CLIFFHANGER.
THANK YOU ALL.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.