[1. Meeting Called to Order by Chair Alderton]
[00:00:07]
THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE GOING INTO THE CLOSED MEETING, WHEN I SIGN INTO THE OTHER LAPTOP, THERE IS NO CLOSED MEETING IN THAT ACCOUNT.
HAVE TO CREATE A NEW ONE ON THIS OTHER LAPTOP.
I'M GOING TO SEND YOU A BRAND-NEW MEETING FOR THE CLOSED MEETING.
I FORGET THAT THIS LAPTOP DOES THAT FOR SOME REASON.
I WILL SEND THAT DURING THE MEETING.
WELL BEFORE THE CLOSED SESSION.
>> DOES IT LOOK LIKE WE ARE ALL HERE?
SORRY, I WAS TALKING WITHOUT MY MICROPHONE ON.
>> I WILL GO AHEAD AND CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER AT 6:31 PM.
THIS IS A VIRTUAL SCHOOL BOARD MEETING FOR JANUARY 20, 2022. I'M GOING TO READ PART OF THE VIRGINIA CODE.
THAT IS PURSUANT TO THIS MEETING.
PURSUANT TO VIRGINIA CODE SECTION 2.2 – 37808.283 AND THE CONTINUITY OF GOVERNMENT ORDINANCE ADOPTED ALEXANDRA CITY COUNCIL ON JUNE 20, 2020.
[3. Adopt the Agenda for the January 20, 2022 School Board Meeting]
THE SCHOOL BOARD IS ABLE TO UNDERTAKE ESSENTIAL BUSINESS WITH MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD AND STAFF PARTICIPATING FROM REMOTE LOCATIONS THROUGH A ZOOM WEBINAR.SO, WHAT THAT THE MEETING HAS BEEN CALLED TO ORDER.
I WILL CALL THE ROLL CALL TO GET US STARTED.
OKAY, WE HAVE ALL NINE BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT.
AT THIS TIME WE WILL OBSERVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
THANK YOU EVERYONE. WE WILL NEED TO ADOPT THE AGENDA FOR THIS MEETING.
I NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE AGENDA.
>> I WILL MOVE THAT WE ADOPT THE AGENDA.
>> SECOND. >> MR. BAILEY IS USED TO SAYING MADAME MAYOR.
>> MADAM CHAIR. [LAUGHING] >> IT IS ALL GOOD.
WAS IT MS. GREENE? I DID NOT HEAR WHO SECONDED.
>> I WILL DO A ROLL CALL VOTE.
OKAY, THE AGENDA HAS BEEN ADOPTED WITH A VOTE TO 9 TO 0.
WE HAVE A COMMUNICATIONS AND JUSTICE TO THE BOARD.
[4. Public Hearing on the FY 2023 Combined Funds Budget]
AT THIS TIME, THIS WILL BE OUR MOMENT FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE FY 2023 COMBINED FUND BUDGET. EVERYBODY CAN HEAR MY CRAZY KIDS IN THE BACKGROUND.I APOLOGIZE. [LAUGHING] EACH SPEAKER WILL BE GIVEN THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD.
THE CLERK WILL BE TIMING AND WILL ANNOUNCE WHEN THAT TIME IS UP.
IF YOU ARE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK PLEASE HAVE YOUR HAND UP.
THAT ALLOWS THE CLERK TO SEE YOU AND CALL ON YOU.
WITH THAT SAID, THE FIRST SPEAKER I HAVE ON THE LIST IS MS. MILLIE PALMA.
>> GOOD EVENING EVERYONE MY NAME IS MILLIE I AM CURRENTLY AN 11-YEAR-OLD ALEXANDRIA CITY HIGH SCHOOL. IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE RESOURCES FOR ME AND MY PEERS.
DURING MY TIME BACK TO IN PERSON I HAVE NOT HAD MUCH OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE CIRCLED WITH CLASSMATES AND TEACHERS.
[00:05:02]
I UNDERSTAND THAT CLASS IS IMPORTANT.I WISH WE COULD TAKE TIME TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER.
CHECK IN ON HOW EVERYBODY IS DOING.
SOMETIMES, STUDENTS MAY NOT HAVE THE BRIGHTEST DAY.
WE HAVE TO PUSH OURSELVES TO DEAL WITH WHAT IS GOING ON INTERNALLY AND FOCUSED IN CLASS.
THE PANDEMIC HAS CHANGED A LOT OF THINGS.
EVERYONE HAS DIFFERENT WAYS TO COPE.
BUT, WE NEED TRUSTED ADULTS TO BE THERE FOR US.
TAKE THE TIME TO MAKE US FEEL WELCOMED.
I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO PRIORITIZE WHAT WE AS STUDENTS HAVE TO SAY AND SUPPORT.
AS YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT WHAT TO DO WITH THE BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE MONEY GOING TO MENTAL HEALTH.
HAVING BETTER TRAINING AS WELL AS MAKING IT MANDATORY FOR TEACHERS TO HAVE BETTER COMMUNICATION. HAVE BETTER CONNECTIONS WITH STUDENTS.
--IN THE CLASSROOMS. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
I HOPE THAT YOU WILL DO SOMETHING TO SUPPORT OUR WELL-BEING.
NEXT UP WE HAVE CINDY CARR BIO GARCIA.
>> GOOD EVENING VICE CHAIR MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT.
I AM A YOUTH ORGANIZER FOR TENANTS AND WORKERS UNITED.
I THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.
EXPRESS OUR CONCERNS. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO TAKE THE TIME TO WELCOME ALL OF THE NEW BOARD MEMBERS. ALSO, THE RETURNING ONES.
WHILE THE PANDEMIC CONTINUES TO MOVE FORWARD AND BECOME THE NEW NORM STUDENTS CONTINUE TO ACCOMMODATE TO ALL OF THE CHANGES IMPACTING THEM ON A DAILY BASIS.
NOW IS THE TIME TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT STUDENTS WITH ESSENTIAL RESOURCES NEEDED TO THRIVE IN THESE CONDITIONS.
AS YOU ARE DISCUSSING THE BUDGET AND PRIORITIZING HOW TO USE IT, WE URGE YOU TO PLACE MORE FUNDING TOWARDS PROGRAMS LIKE RESTORATIVE JUSTICE AND MENTAL HEALTH.
--MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR STUDENTS.
AS STUDENTS CONTINUE TO BUILD SOCIAL SKILLS AND BETTER CONNECT WITH PEERS, TEACHERS AND STAFF HAVE TO RETURN TO IN PERSON SCHOOL, IT IS ESSENTIAL THEY TAKE TIME TO BUILD COMMUNITY AMONGST THEMSELVES.
WE KNOW THAT THESE CHANGES WILL NOT HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.
THAT IT TAKES TIME TO BETTER IMPLEMENT THE CIRCLES TO BUILD TRUST AND UNDERSTAND WHERE EVERYBODY IS COMING FROM.
STUDIES SHOW THAT BY PROVIDING SPACE TO CONDUCT COMMUNITY IN A CIRCLES WITH THE RATES OF SUSPENSIONS GO DOWN.
WE NEED YOU TO PRIORITIZE ADDING MORE FUNDING TO THESE PROGRAMS. BUILDING UPON IT SO THAT EVERYBODY HAS BETTER TRAINING.
IT BECOMES MANDATORY FOR ALL TEACHERS TO CONDUCT WITH THEIR STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM.
MENTAL HEALTH IS A HUGE AGING RESOURCE THAT STUDENTS NEED TO HAVE REGULARLY AVAILABLE TO ACCESS. WE URGE YOU TO ADD MORE FUNDING AS STUDENTS REQUIRE THAT ONE-ON-ONE SUPPORT TO UNDERSTAND THEIR PERSONAL EXPERIENCES.
WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON AROUND THEM.
WE HOPE YOU CONSIDER OUR CONCERNS AND CONTINUE TO TAKE STEPS AHEAD TO TRULY SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER BY PROVIDING MORE RESOURCES.
THANK YOU. >> NEXT WE HAVE A PARENT.
ARE MUTED. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
MY NAME IS SAMI. I AM PRESENTING AS A PARENT.
OUR CONCERN BEFORE THE PANDEMIC WAS RELATED TO THE PRINT TRANSPORTATION.
BECAUSE OF THIS PANDEMIC, WE ARE STILL LIVING IN IT.
[00:10:04]
MOST OF OUR CONCERN HERE AS PARENTS DURING THIS TIME WE ARE LOOKING FOR THE BUDGET.MOST THINGS WE SEE IN OUR CASE THE PLAYGROUND.
THAT SHOULD BE A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
BETTER COMMUNICATION WITH THE TEACHERS.
THE MOST COMMON TRANSPORTATION.
THAT IS KEY. ESPECIALLY AROUND ALEXANDRIA.
WE SEE A LOT OF CAPACITY BECAUSE OF TRAFFIC. THE BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR, YOU CAN ADD TO MAKE THAT BETTER.
MAKE IT BETTER AND ALEXANDRIA.
THE CAPACITY IN THE CLASSROOMS IS NOT GIVING THE KIDS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN BETTER.
WE SAY THE PLAYGROUND IS SAFE BUT AT THE SAME TIME IT IS UNSAFE.
WE KNOW IT IS HARD TO GET A BETTER PLAYGROUND.
TO PUT THAT IN THE BUDGET FOR THE NEXT YEAR.
THAT WOULD MAKE THINGS MUCH BETTER.
TRANSPORTATION SO YOU DO NOT HAVE KIDS WALKING CROSSING THE BRIDGE TO SCHOOL.
SO, THAT IS WHAT MOST OF OUR CONCERN IS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME HERE.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS DAWN LUCAS AND PRIVILEGE TO SERVE AS THE EDUCATION ASSOCIATE OF ALEXANDRIA. MORE AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN AS EAA.
I COME BEFORE YOU TO ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF THE EMPLOYEES IN OUR SCHOOL DIVISION.
EAA SUPPORTS THIS PROPOSED COMBINED FUND BUDGET THAT HAS A STEP INCREASE FOR ALL ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES. OUR MARKET RATE ADJUSTMENT FOR ALL EMPLOYEES.
A BONUS FOR THOSE EMPLOYEES AT THE TOP OF THE SCALE OR ON A HOLD OF STEP.
AS WELL AS THE CONTINUED EFFORTS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION FOR THOSE EMPLOYEE GROUPS THAT ARE BELOW MARKET RATE.
WE VALUE THE COMMITMENTS OF SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL AND ACADEMIC LEARNING.
EA KNOWS HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO REACH OUR MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS.
WE BELIEVE IN THE COMMITMENT TO PROFESSIONAL LEARNING AND GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES.
EA BELIEVES OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES AND STAFF MEMBERS ARE SIMPLY THE BEST.
EA FURTHER BELIEVES THAT THOSE EMPLOYEES THAT REMAIN LOYAL TO ACPS SHOULD BE ACKNOWLEDGED FOR THAT LOYALTY DURING THESE HARD TIMES.
FOR THE PAST SEVERAL EAA HAS ADVOCATED FOR EMPLOYEES TO RECOVER LOST STEPS ON THE SALARY SCALE. WE RECEIVED NUMEROUS MEMBER INQUIRIES ABOUT THIS EVERY YEAR DURING BUDGET SEASON.
IT IS THE MOST COMMONLY ASKED QUESTION EACH YEAR AFTER STUFF INCREASES AND MARKET RATE ADJUSTMENTS. YOU KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO KEEP EXPERIENCED AND HIGHLY QUALIFIED EDUCATORS IN OUR SCHOOL DIVISION.
IT DIRECTLY BENEFITS OUR STUDENTS AND THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS.
WE SHARE THIS CONCERN WITH MANY OF YOU PERSONALLY DURING THE LAST SUMMER.
MANY OF OUR MEMBERS HOLD THIS TO BE ONE OF THEIR HIGHEST UNFULFILLED CONCERNS.
WE ASK THAT ACPS REPLACE LOST STEPS ON THE SALARY SCALE FOR EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE REMAINED IN OUR SCHOOL DIVISION.
IT IS DISHEARTENING FOR AN EMPLOYEE TO SEE SOMEBODY HIGHER WITH LESS EXPERIENCE PLACED ON THE SALARY SCALE GREATER THAN THAT LOYAL EMPLOYEE.
WHO STATED DURING THE HARD TIMES.
THIS IS NOT A MINOR GRIEVANCE.
THE ECONOMIC LOSS CAN BE IN THE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS BOTH IN COMPENSATION AND IN FUTURE RETIREMENT EARNINGS.
NONE OF US COULD HAVE PREPARED FOR THESE UNCERTAIN TIMES.
SPEAKING AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION OF ALEXANDRIA, I COULD NOT BE MORE PROUD OF THE EMPLOYEES OF THE ALEXANDRIA CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THEIR CONTINUING CONTRIBUTIONS. I BELIEVE THAT YOU SHARE MY VIEW AND I AM CONFIDENT THAT YOU WILL MAKE THE CHANGES WE HAVE SUGGESTED IN THE COMBINED FUND BUDGET.
TO SHOW OUR EMPLOYEES YOUR COMMITMENT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND DEDICATION TO PUBLIC EDUCATION AND THE CITY OF
[00:15:03]
ALEXANDRIA. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH MISS LUCAS.
NEXT UP WE HAVE OUR PTAC PRESIDENT.
>> ASKED. --YES. >> GOOD EVENING.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE ALEXANDRIA PTA COUNCIL.
AS PART OF OUR ADVOCACY PETE PTAK RECENTLY SOUGHT INPUT VIA SURVEY FROM OUR LOCAL PTA MEMBERSHIP VERY BUDGET AND PRIORITY FOR ACPS.
PETE PTAK CLOSED ON THE 16TH RECEIVED 160 RESPONSES FROM PARENTS AND STAFF FROM ALL ACPS SCHOOLS. THE SURVEY RESULTS HAVE INFORMED THE DECISION ON THE FOLLOWING BUDGET AND PRIORITIES. I WILL HIGHLIGHT THESE PARTIES WHICH ARE ELABORATED UPON IN THE PREVIOUS LETTER SUBMITTED TO THE BOARD.
DURING THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR ACPS SHOULD PRIORITIZE INCREASING SALARIES AND BENEFITS TO HIRE AND RETAIN THE BEST TEACHERS AND STAFF.
REDUCE CLASS SIZE, HIRE NEW POSITIONS TO SUPPORT STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, AND ENHANCE MENTAL HEALTH AND COUNSELING SERVICES.
THIS QUOTE FROM OUR SURVEY ILLUSTRATES THE RATIONAL FOR THE SURVEY.
"PLEASE INVEST IN OUR TEACHERS, WE DESPERATELY NEED THEM AND WANT TO RETAIN THE OUTSTANDING TALENT WE ALREADY HAVE.
SALARIES AND BENEFITS MUST BE INCREASED TO MATCH THE COST OF LIVING IN THIS AREA" ACPS SHOULD PRIORITIZE GROUNDS AND BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS.
WHEN RESPONDENTS WERE ASKED WHICH FACILITIES THEY WOULD LIKE COMPLETED, SEVERAL SCHOOL PACIFIC EMERGED HVAC TIMELY CONSTRUCTION OF MACARTHUR HVAC MODERNIZATION AT GW.
PLAYGROUND AND THAT JOHN ADAMS AND AIR QUALITY IN MOUNT VERNON.
ACPS SHOULD CONSIDER BUILDING GROUND INFRASTRUCTURE AND FAMILY EQUITY WORK.
--HAS VOICED CONCERNS TO PETE PTAC ABOUT FAMILIES NOT BEING ABLE TO ACCESS THE PLAYGROUND DURING OFFICE HOURS WHICH POSES A BARRIER.
[INAUDIBLE]. THAT FAMILIES ACROSS THE DISTRICT HAVE ACCESS TO EQUAL RECREATIONAL AND SOCIAL OPPORTUNITIES.
ACPS SHOULD ENSURE THAT ALL STUDENTS IN NEED OF ADDITIONAL ACADEMIC SUPPORT RECEIVE AFTERSCHOOL TUTORING.
ACPS SHOULD ENSURE STUDENTS HAVE EQUAL ACCESS TO A WIDE VARIETY OF ON-SITE AFTERSCHOOL ACTIVITIES. INCLUDING CLUBS, EVEN IN SCHOOLS WITHOUT PTAS THAT ORGANIZE AND PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR SUCH ACTIVITIES.
ACPS SCHOOL BOARD SHOULD DEVELOP CREATIVE MEASURES TO HEAR AND SEEK INPUT FROM ALL PARENT VOICES AND CRUCIAL POLICY DECISIONS.
SUCH MEASURES COULD INCLUDE STUDENT ROUNDTABLES, OFFICE HOURS, COMMUNITY FORMS IN EACH DISTRICT AND COMMUNITY WALKS TO NAME A FEW.
SURVEY TAKERS ALSO SUPPORT STREAMLINING ACPS COMMUNICATIONS.
FAMILIES HAVE A RELIABLE ONE-STOP SHOP FOR THE LATEST NEWS.
AS WELL AS DEVELOPMENT OF CLEAR CALENDAR PROCEDURES AND GUIDANCE.
WORKING WITH CURRENT AND PAST CALENDAR COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND PUBLIC INPUT.
SURVEY RESPONDENTS SUPPORT ACPS EXPANDING FOREIGN LANGUAGE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LEVEL.
TO INCLUDE EXPANDING ENROLLMENT AND DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAMS. PTAC APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION OF THESE BUDGET AND PRIORITIES.
WE HOPE THIS INFORMS YOUR REVIEW OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2023 COMBINED FUNDS AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAMS BUDGET.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR PUBLIC HEARING ON THE COMBINED FUND BUDGET.
NEXT WE WILL MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENTS.
[5. Public Comments]
AGAIN, THREE MINUTES FOR EACH SPEAKER.EACH SPEAKER WILL BE NOTIFIED WHEN THAT TIME HAS EXPIRED.
IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE A PUBLIC SPEAKER THIS EVENING AND PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. USE THE RAISE YOUR HAND FUNCTION SO WE CAN LOCATE YOU EASILY.
THE FIRST PERSON WE HAVE ON THE LIST IS ZACHARY ROBERTS.
>> HE MIGHT BE USING THE LINK FOR RICARDO ROBERTS.
[00:20:12]
>> ZACHARY IS UNABLE TO PERFORM.
IF YOU DO NOT MIND ME TAKING THAT SPOT.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I SENT MY COMMENTS AND.
I HOPE YOU RECEIVED THEM. I SENT THEM TO THE BOARD.
WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT ACPS LIKE VIRTUALLY EVERY OTHER SCHOOL SYSTEM ACROSS THE COUNTRY IS DEALING WITH ISSUES RIGHT NOW.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF COMPETING PRIORITIES THAT EACH NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.
IN REVIEWING THE SUPERINTENDENT PROPOSAL FISCAL YEAR COMBINED BUDGET, UNDERSTANDABLY THERE IS AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THE BUDGET DEDICATED TO SALARIES AND EMPLOYEE BENEFITS. CERTAINLY TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN HIGHLY QUALIFIED AND SKILLED STAFF.
ACPS MUST OFFER COMPETITIVE SALARIES AND BENEFIT PACKAGES.
I DO BELIEVE IT IS AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT IN PROVIDING THE BEST POSSIBLE SERVICES FOR OUR CHILDREN. I AM WONDERING IF ANYBODY CAN DIRECT ME TO WHERE I CAN FIND MORE DETAILED INFORMATION REGARDING THE OVERVIEW PROVIDED ON PAGE 19.
MAINTAINING AND IMPROVING OUR LEARNING SPACE.
WHILE A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE BUDGET, 43 PERCENT, UP 43 PERCENT IS DEDICATED TO SALARIES AND EMPLOYEE BENEFITS.
THERE ARE TWO BROAD CATEGORIES THAT I WOULD APPRECIATE MORE TRANSPARENCY ON.
AGAIN, IF IT IS LOCATED ELSEWHERE FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO ME.
I BELIEVE YOU ALL HAVE MY CONTACT INFORMATION.
SPECIFICALLY, I AM CURIOUS ABOUT THE PURCHASE SERVICES AND OTHER CHARGES SECTION.
WHICH TOGETHER COMPOSE ABOUT 50 PERCENT OF THE BUDGET OUTLINE.
NOTICE ON THE TEXT ON THE RIGHT THERE WAS A CALL FOR AMONG OTHER THINGS, ADDITIONAL TWO WAY RADIOS AND ADDITIONAL SECURITY FUNDING.
REGARDING THE TWO WAY RADIOS, I MUST ADMIT, I AM CONFUSED.
WHAT PROBLEM THE PROCUREMENT OF ADDITIONAL TWO WAY RADIO WILL SOLVE? TO MY KNOWLEDGE, MOST STAFF WHO ROUTINELY WALKED ALWAYS HAVE TWO WAY RADIOS.
UNLESS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE NEED TO REPLACE OLD RADIOS.
THAT ARE NO LONGER FUNCTIONING.
WHICH IS NOT WHAT THE PHRASING SUGGESTS.
I STRUGGLED TO UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS BEST USE OF OUR FUNDS.
I AM GETTING FRUSTRATED, I AM SORRY.
MANY PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE LOOKS OF METAL DETECTORS AND THE LOOK AND MESSAGE.
WE HAVE TO PASS METAL DETECTORS AND GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS AND AIRPORTS.
PERHAPS, INSTEAD OF BEING CONCERNED ABOUT THE WAY THINGS LOOK WE SHOULD FOCUS ON ENERGY.
>> HI MR. ROBERTS, YOUR TIME IS UP.
>> I AM SORRY IF I MISPRONOUNCE THIS NAME, WE HAVE A.
I'M A PARENT OF TWO CHILDREN THAT ATTENDED JOHN ADAMS AND ALEXANDRIA CITY HIGH SCHOOL.
FIRST OF ALL, I HAVE NEVER ATTENDED A BOARD MEETING IN MY LIFE.
TWO ARE ADULTS AND TWO ARE NOW A PART OF ACPS.
MY QUESTION AND MY CONCERNS ARE RELATED TO -- I KNOW THIS IS ABOUT A BUDGET.
[00:25:05]
MY QUESTIONS AND MY CONCERNS ARE RELATED TO THE MASK MANDATES.ALSO, WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF MY CHILDREN AND OTHER CHILDREN.
THOSE THAT ACTUALLY ATTEND ALL OF THE SCHOOLS WITHIN ACPS.
I WILL JUST BE HONEST I AM AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN.
I HAVE CONCERNS IN REFERENCE TO METAL DETECTORS OF ANY KIND BEING IN SCHOOLS. I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE GAME PLAN IS.
AS A PARENT, WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP? TO HELP IN THESE AREAS? THE AREAS I HAVE MOST CONCERNED WITH.
WHICH IS MASK, COVID TESTING, COVID VACCINES.
WHAT IS THE PLAN FOR THAT? I AM GOING TO BE HONEST, I ONLY SCANNED I DID NOT REALLY DIVE INTO EACH THING I WAS LOOKING FOR. WHEN I WENT ONLINE BEFORE I MADE THE COMMENT.
SO, MY QUESTIONS AND MY CONCERNS ARE, ARE YOU GUYS BASED OFF OF THE NEW REPEAL FOR MASKS, ARE YOU GUYS PLANNING ON HAVING THE CHILDREN COME TO SCHOOL WHERE THERE IS GROUPS OF CHILDREN WERE HONESTLY MASKS HAVE ALWAYS -- MASKS WERE THE FIRST INITIAL SOLUTION BEFORE VACCINES CAME INTO PLAY.
I AM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO DO IN REFERENCE TO THE MASKS MANDATE. THAT HAVE NOW BEEN CHANGED.
ARE YOU GUYS GOING TO CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE CDC GUIDANCE? ARE WE GOING TO GO INTO A MORE POLARIZED ENVIRONMENT? WHICH IS WHAT I AM PICKING UP ON.
>> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP.
BEFORE I MOVE ON TO THE NEXT WEEK I'M GOING TO DO SOMETHING THAT I FORGOT.
I'M GOING TO ADD A REMINDER AT THE TOP OF PUBLIC COMMENT TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THIS IS NOT A TIME, FEEL FREE TO PUT OUT YOUR QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS.
THIS IS NOT A TIME WHERE THE BOARD WILL ANSWER QUESTIONS DIRECTLY.
HOWEVER, THIS INFORMATION DOES INFORM YOU KNOW OUR WORK.
THINGS THAT WE WILL TALK ABOUT IN THE CURRENT MEETING THAT IS HAPPENING OR ANY FUTURE MEETING. SO, THERE YOU GO.
[LAUGHING] I DO HAVE RALPHIE RODRIGO.
>> PEOPLE MOVE ON DOWN THE LIST.
>> GOOD EVENING BOARD MEMBERS. CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> GOOD EVENING. I WILL ASK YOU TONIGHT TO FOLLOW OUR NEW GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER.
IT APPEARS THAT YOUR MINDS ARE MADE UP ON THAT ISSUE.
IT APPEARS THAT IS SOMETHING THE COURTS WILL HAVE TO RESOLVE.
INSTEAD, I ASK YOU AS OUR SCHOOL BOARD TONIGHT TO CONSIDER, WHEN WILL YOU BE READY?
[00:30:02]
WHEN WILL YOU BE READY TO ALLOW OUR KIDS TO END MASKS? WHEN WILL YOU CHOOSE TO LET OUR KIDS GAIN THEIR NORMAL LIVES? NORMAL LIVES LIKE KIDS HAVE BEEN LIVING THROUGHOUT THE MIDWEST, THROUGHOUT THE SOUTHERN UNITED STATES. ALL YEAR LONG.NORMAL LIVES LIKE KIDS HAVE BEEN LIVING IN EUROPE AND THE UNITED KINGDOM.
HER KIDS ARE NOT FORCED TO WEAR MASKS AT SCHOOL.
WHEN WILL YOU STOP TELLING OUR BASKETBALL TEAM THAT THEY CANNOT BE CHEERED ON BY THEIR CLASSMATES? THOSE KIDS ARE NOT DUMB.
THEY COME HOME HAVING PLAYED THEIR HEARTS OUT IN AN EMPTY GYM.
THEY TURN ON THEIR TV AND THEY SEE ARENAS OF 20,000 FANS.
IN PLACES WHERE PEOPLE HAVE RESUMED THEIR NORMAL LIVES, JOYFULLY.
BUT, NOT HERE, WHY NOT? ARE WE STILL AFTER THE OMICRON VARIANT, PRETENDING WE ARE CONTROLLING THE VIRUS? WE ARE NOT.
THANKFULLY, WE DO NOT HAVE TO.
FOR 18 MONTHS WE HAVE KNOWN THAT COVID IS A DEADLY DISEASE FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE AND UNHEALTHY ADULTS.
IT PRESENTS LITTLE RISK TO SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN.
LESS THAN THE RISK FROM INFLUENZA.
YET, OUR KIDS WHO FACE THE SMALLEST RISKS HAVE BEEN FORCED FOR TWO YEARS NOW, TO BEAR UP UNDER THE MOST STRINGENT RESTRICTIONS ON THEIR DAILY LIVES.
WE SAY, IT IS NO BIG DEAL THEY ARE RESILIENT AND THEY CAN TAKE IT.
YET, THE CDC REPORTS THAT ER VISITS FOR SUICIDE ATTEMPTS AMONG TEENAGE GIRLS HAVE GONE UP 51 PERCENT DURING THE PANDEMIC.
DRUG AND ALCOHOL OVERDOSES HAVE DOUBLED AMONG OUR TEENS.
THE MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL TOLL ON OUR KIDS IS HEAVY.
THEY NEED TO REGAIN THEIR NORMAL LIVES.
I ASK AGAIN, HOW MUCH LONGER ARE WE GOING TO WEEKLY FOR CASE COUNTS TO SUBSIDE? THAT IS NOT HAPPENING. THE VIRUS IS MUTATING AND BECOMING MORE TRANSMISSIBLE BUT LESS LETHAL. THE CASE COUNTS WILL NOT GO DOWN.
IT IS TIME TO BEGIN LIVING WITH THIS VIRUS.
IF YOU ARE WAITING FOR CERTAINTY FOR THE HUNDRED PERCENT ABSENCE OF RISK, THAT THEY WILL NEVER ARRIVE.
IF YOU ARE WAITING FOR OUR MOST ANXIOUS PARENTS IN THE COMMUNITY TO BE READY, THAT THEY WILL NEVER ARRIVE. WHAT WE ALL NEED TO FIND FOR OUR KIDS TO REGAIN THEIR NORMAL LIVES IS COURAGE. I ASK YOU TONIGHT TO THINK CAREFULLY ABOUT WHEN YOU WILL BE READY TO GIVE OUR KIDS THEIR LIVES BACK.
OKAY, JUST AS A REMINDER IF YOU WISH TO SIGN UP TO SPEAK OR SUBMIT WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENT WE DO ASK THAT YOU DO THAT NO LATER THAN NOON THE DAY PRIOR TO THE MEETING.
THERE IS A LINK ON THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING PAGE THAT ALLOWS ANYONE TO DO SO.
IF YOU EVER HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT, THERE ARE CLERKS OFFICES READY AND WILLING TO HELP. MOVING ON.
WE DO HAVE A CONSENT CALENDAR TO ADOPT.
I NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
>> MADAM CHAIR WE HAVE THE STUDENT REP REPORT.
[LAUGHING] LET'S SEE, WE NEED TO TALK TO OUR STUDENT REPS TODAY.
[6. Report from Student Representatives Emily Milton and Sylvia Rahim]
THEY'RE GOING TO COMMUNICATE WITH US.WE USUALLY START WITH EMILY MILTON.
>> SYLVIA RAHIM WILL START TODAY.
GO AHEAD, THANK YOU. >> GOOD EVENING BOARD MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
STARTING OUR REPORT WE LIKE TO MENTION HOW LAST MONDAY WE CELEBRATED MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY.
WE WANTED TO SUGGEST HOW ACPS CAN CELEBRATE YEAR-ROUND THROUGH VOLUNTEER PROJECTS, FOOD DRIVES AND DONATIONS FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO COMMEMORATE HIM AN OVERALL BLACK HISTORY.
NEXT WE ARE MOVING ON TO THE NEW GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA WAS INAUGURATED THIS SATURDAY.
HE HAS BUILT MULTIPLE EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND WHICH HAVE INCLUDED THE REMOVAL OF A STATEWIDE MASK MANDATE. AS A WHOLE SCHOOL BOARD WE WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT MASKS WILL STILL BE WORN IN THE BUILDINGS AND BUSES.
THIS EXECUTIVE ORDER HAS NOT BANNED MANDATING MASK AT ALL RATHER IT IS UP TO THE LOCAL
[00:35:05]
GOVERNMENTS AND THERE IS NO LONGER A STATEWIDE MANDATE.I UNDERSTAND THERE HAS BEEN CONFUSION BECAUSE OF THE EXECUTIVE ORDER GIVEN BY THE GOVERNOR. WE JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY AS A WHOLE THAT WE WILL STILL BE FOLLOWING THE CDC GUIDELINES. I JUST ALSO WANTED TO MENTION WHAT WE MENTIONED IN THE FIRST SCHOOL BOARD MEETING REGARDING INFORMING PEOPLE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF MASKS.
JUST TAKE WHAT WE SAID "AS STUDENTS ADDRESSING TO THE NORMALCY OF MASKS DURING SCHOOL HOURS OR MAYBE INITIAL HESITANCY.
SOME STUDENTS MAY NATURALLY UNDERSTAND THE REASON WHY WE WERE MASKS AND IT'S IMPORTANT.
IT IS IMPORTANT FOR ALL ACPS STUDENTS TO BE WELL-INFORMED AND SAFE IN OUR SCHOOLS WE SUGGEST POSSIBLE CAMPAIGNS TO EDUCATE STUDENTS ABOUT MASKS MANDATES AND WHY IT IS IMPORTANT ACROSS ALL ACPS SCHOOLS.
THIS COULD BE DONE THROUGH SIMPLE VIDEOS DURING LESSONS OR POSTERS TO SEND HOME.
I THINK THIS IS NEEDED MORE THAN EVER RIGHT NOW.
BECAUSE, OF WHAT IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW AND THE DIFFERENT INFORMATION BEING GIVEN.
MAYBE SOME FAMILIES MAY NOT SEE THE POINT OF WEARING MASKS.
RIGHTFULLY SO, BECAUSE OF WHAT THE NEW GOVERNOR SAID.
THROUGH EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGNS THAT HAVE SCIENTIFIC DATA PROVING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF MASKS MAY BE ABLE TO CHANGE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES MIND.
ACPS WANTS TO KEEP OUR SCHOOLS OPEN IF MULTIPLE STOP IS OUT SICK DUDE TO BE EXPOSED TO THE CORONAVIRUS IT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO DO SO.
TO COMBAT THIS ACPS HAS CURRENTLY WORKED AND HAVE ALREADY SENT OUT AND 95 MASK FOR ALL STAFF AND STUDENTS. THIS STARTED THIS WEEK.
I WANT TO SHOW THE MASK THAT WE GOT BECAUSE I HAVE THEM WITH ME RIGHT NOW.
THESE ARE THE MOUSE. I HAVE FOUR OF THEM.
THEY WERE GIVEN YESTERDAY TO US.
ALL STUDENTS SHOULD HAVE ABOUT FOUR N 95 MASK TO USE.
WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE STAFF ARE WORKING HARD TO MAKE THE SCHOOL STAY SAFE WITH THESE NEW MAPS. --MASKS.
>> SYLVIA MADE SOME GREAT POINTS.
WE BOTH FEEL THAT MASKS ARE SO IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW.
EDUCATION IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, ALWAYS.
WE WANT TO SAY HOW PLEASED WE ARE WITH THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR NORTHERN VIRGINIA'S BUSINESS --[INAUDIBLE].
OFFERED $20,000 TO START A CLUB AT FRANCIS C HAMMOND AND JEFFERSON HOUSTON.
ENCOURAGING YOUNG GIRLS TO BUILD STEM RELATED SKILLS.
WE ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT STUDENTS ARE --. [INAUDIBLE].
>> EMILY, ARE YOU MUTED? I THINK WE MAY HAVE A CONNECTION ISSUE.
>> WHAT DID YOU LAST HEAR FROM ME?
>> THE LAST THING I HEARD WAS --.
>> THE STUDENTS AT FRANCIS AND JEFFERSON HOUSTON.
>> WE WERE VERY PLEASED BY THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FROM NORTHERN VIRGINIA'S BUSINESS WOMEN'S GIVING CIRCLE AND THEIR DONATION OF $20,000 TO START A STEM IS CLUB AT FRANCIS THE HUMAN AND JEFFERSON HOUSTON K-8 SCHOOL.
TO ENCOURAGE OUR RISING GENERATION OF YOUNG GIRLS TO START LEARNING STEM RELATED ACTIVITIES AT A YOUNG AGE.
WE ALSO WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT STUDENTS ARE IN NEED OF SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS AND CLASS MONITORS TO CONTINUE IN PERSON EDUCATION.
EVEN IF THE TEACHER IS UNABLE TO BE IN THE BUILDING FOR ANY REASON.
ACPS IS HIRING SUBSTITUTES AND I ENCOURAGE THE COMMUNITY IF YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO CAN, VOLUNTEER TO BE A SUBSTITUTE CLASS MONITOR OR A BUS DRIVER.
PLEASE VISIT THE ACPS WEBSITE FOR EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES.
THE PROJECT DISCOVERY OF ALEXANDRIA ADVISORY BOARD, AND THE COLLEGE AND CAREER CENTER DID A PRESENTATION ON HOW FAMILIES CAN PAY FOR COLLEGE.
HOW THEY CAN GET SUPPORT AND RESOURCES FOR THEIR STUDENTS POST SECONDARY EDUCATION BRYN MAWR EDUCATION TO BE DONE ON COLLEGE RESOURCES AND HOW TO PAY FOR COLLEGE ON PD ADVISORY ALEXANDRIA.COM. OR AT THE CAMPUS OF A CHS IN FRONT OF COLLEGE AND CAREER CENTER.
[00:40:07]
[INAUDIBLE]. WE WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR WORK ALL YEAR ROUND.WE APPRECIATE SEEING ALL OF THE SOCIAL MEDIA POST DEDICATED TO THEM.
WANT TO GIVE A HUGE THANK YOU TO DOCTOR WENDY GONZALES FOR HER INCREDIBLE LEADERSHIP IS THE PRINCIPAL'S DIRECT SUPERVISOR AND MENTOR.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
--STEMENOUS. I LIKE THAT I HAVE NOT HEARD THAT.
MOVING FURTHER ALONG WE CAN NOW MOVE TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
[Consent Calendar]
I NEED A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE CONSENT CALENDAR.>> MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE THAT WE ADOPT THE CONSENT
>> YES MADAM CHAIR I HAVE AN ITEM I WOULD LIKE TO PULL FOR CONVERSATION.
THE SUPERINTENDENT CONTRACT PROVISION, OTHER WORK ACTIVITIES PLEASE.
>> THAT IS UNDER ITEM NUMBER 11.
>> IT IS MOVED TO THE ITEMS PULLED FROM CONSENT.
>> CAN YOU TELL ME THE NEW NUMBER.
>> OKAY, WE ARE PULLING NUMBER 16.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER ITEMS TO PULL? OKAY, WE HAVE PULLED THAT.
WE DO NEED A MOTION TO -- SUSAN SHOULD BE TALK ABOUT THE ITEM 1ST?
>> IF YOU WANT TO GO THROUGH THE REMAINING ITEMS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR FIRST.
>> LET'S APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
A VOTE FOR THE CONSENT CALENDAR MINUS ITEM NUMBER 16.
I'M GOING TO DO A ROLL CALL VOTE.
--A VOTE IS 9 TO 0 SUPERINTENDENT CONTRACT REVISION.
[16. Superintendent Contract Provision: Other Work Activities]
>> MY QUICK QUESTION IS AROUND THE MEMO REGARDING THE BOOK THAT WAS RECENTLY WRITTEN. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING AND MAYBE AT THE PREVIOUS BOARD AND OR DOCTOR HUTCHINGS CAN'T ASSIST THAT WE ARE APPROVING TONIGHT NOT THE BOOK ITSELF WHICH HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY APPROVED BY THE BOARD PRIOR TO US BEING ELECTED.
WE ARE APPROVING THE PLACE AT WHICH YOU WILL TEACH.
IF YOU COULD HELP EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT AROUND THE MEMO THAT WOULD HELP ME TO UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT BETTER AS A NEW SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER.
THE BOOK WAS ACTUALLY APPROVED BACK IN THE FALL OF 2020 ABOUT THE PREVIOUS BOARD.
WE ARE NOW IN THE STAGES THAT THE BOOK WILL BE RELEASED THIS SPRING.
IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE RELEASED LAST YEAR.
IT WILL BE RELEASED IN THE SPRING.
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO SHARE THIS BECAUSE THERE WERE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS BOOK BEING SOME KIND OF AUTOBIOGRAPHY, THE BOOK IS AN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE.
IT IS TARGETED TOWARD EDUCATIONAL LEADERS, SUPERINTENDENTS, PRINCIPALS, COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. IT IS NOT MY MEMOIR OF DOCTOR HUTCHINGS.
THERE IS REFERENCES TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF OUR WORK IN REGARDS TO CHANGING THE NAME OF OUR HIGH SCHOOL. OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS.
[00:45:01]
THIS BOOK IS A GUIDE AND A TOOL FOR THE COMMUNITY.SO, TONIGHT'S MEMO IS AN ADDENDUM TO THE BOOK ALREADY BEING APPROVED.
ANY TYPE OF SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS.
ANY ROYALTIES OR THINGS THAT I MAY RECEIVE FROM THE BOOK WHEN IT IS SOLD.
IT WILL GO TO MY LLC, REVOLUTIONARY ED.A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION, I UNDERSTAND THE BOARD PREVIOUSLY APPROVED THE ADJUNCT PROFESSOR.
IS THAT CORRECT? >> YES, THAT IS CORRECT.
FALL 2021 THERE WAS AN APPROVAL FOR ADJUNCT TEACHING.
IN ADJUNCT TEACHING POSITION WITH HOWARD UNIVERSITY.
FOR THE FALL. THIS SPRING I WILL BE TEACHING A COURSE AT GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY INSTEAD OF HOWARD. I WILL NOT BE TEACHING AT HOWARD I WILL BE TEACHING AT GEORGETOWN.
>> THANK YOU, I HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.
>> WITH THAT BEING SAID WE WILL NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 16.
>> MADAM CHAIR MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 16.
>> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A SECOND TO THE MOTION.
NOW THAT WE ARE DONE WITH THE CONSENT CALENDAR WE MOVE ON TO OLD BUSINESS.
[17. COVID-19 Update]
OUR LONG AND ENDURING AND CONTINUED BUSINESS.I WILL TURN IT OVER TO DOCTOR HUTCHINGS TO GET US MOVING ON THAT UPDATE.
I WISH WE COULD STOP TALKING ABOUT COVID HONESTLY EVERYBODY.
I WISH I HAD THE POWER TO CHANGE THE NARRATIVE FOR IT.
TONIGHT BEFORE WE GET STARTED I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT, I HAVE HEARD FROM A COUPLE OF PEOPLE, THE PRESENTATIONS FOR THE COVID UPDATES ARE POSTED THE DAY OF.
I WANTED TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR TO PEOPLE, IT IS INTENTIONAL FOR THAT.
THINGS CHANGE LITERALLY EVERY SINGLE DAY.
I WILL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, WE POSTED OUR PRESENTATION ON FRIDAY, HALF OF IT CHANGED OVER THE WEEKEND. THEN, YESTERDAY WE GOT ANOTHER UPDATE.
SO, EVERYTHING WE TRY TO DO IN REGARD TO PRESENTING WE TRIED TO GIVE THE MOST RECENT INFORMATION. SO, THERE IS NO CONFUSION OUT THERE WITH HAVING TO POWERPOINT PRESENTATIONS THAT LOOK ALMOST IDENTICAL.
THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS WITH THE INFORMATION THAT HAS CHANGED.
I WANTED EVERYBODY TO KNOW THAT IT IS INTENTIONAL TO TRY TO HOLD ONTO THE POWERPOINT TO GIVE THE MOST UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION.
TONIGHT, WE ALSO WILL BE ABLE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT KIND OF WHAT SOME OF OUR EFFORTS ARE INTERNALLY.
WITH CONTINUING TO HAVE OUR HEALTH AND SAFETY LITIGATIONS IN PLACE.
WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE OUR BOARD COUNSEL WITH US THIS EVENING.
WHO WILL BE SHARING SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE MOST RECENT EXECUTIVE ORDER FROM OUR GOVERNOR. SO, AT THIS TIME I'M GOING TO TURN THINGS OVER TO DOCTOR CRAWFORD TO GET THINGS STARTED. THEN, WE WILL GO THROUGH THE PRESENTATION AND WE WILL OPEN UP THE FLOOR FOR ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, HI MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
THANK YOU FOR THE TIME TO HEAR ABOUT COVID-19 AND THE HEALTH AND SAFETY MEASURES WE HAVE IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
NEXT SLIDE. THIS SLIDE IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE TO WHAT DOCTOR HUTCHINGS JUST MENTIONED.
WE DO GET A BRIEFING FROM THE CITY ON THURSDAY MORNING.
HE ALWAYS TRIED TO INCLUDE THE MOST UP-TO-DATE DATA ON WHAT OUR COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION LEVEL IS. AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE NUMBER AND COLOR WE ARE STILL ON THE HIGH RANGE WITH OUR COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION LEVELS.
[00:50:02]
I WOULD SAY, THINGS ARE ALL RELATIVE.IF YOU GO BACK SEVERAL MONTHS WE HAD NUMBERS IN THE HUNDREDS THAT SEEM TO VERY HIGH.
OF COURSE, WE ARE AT 1296 TODAY.
JUST FOR COMPARATIVE PURPOSES WHEN WE SPOKE LAST ON JANUARY 6 OUR NUMBER WAS 1683.
I WOULD SAY, EVEN PRIOR TO THAT, TIME IS A LITTLE BIT LOST WITH COVID TIME.
WE WERE OVER 2000 AT ONE POINT AS FAR AS HIGH TRANSMISSION.
THIS IS A GOOD DECREASE AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE CHART ON THE SLIDE.
NEXT SLIDE. THE BOARD IS FAMILIAR WITH THE SLIDE AS I WENT THROUGH THIS AT THE LAST MEETING. I WILL NOT HIGHLIGHT EVERY SINGLE ASPECT OF WHAT WE ARE DOING.
IT IS JUST A REMINDER TO THE COMMUNITY FOR THE VARIOUS MITIGATING MEASURES IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. TO TRY TO DECREASE ANY OF THE SPREAD WHEN STUDENTS ARE IN SCHOOL.
ONE THING I DO WANT TO MENTION TO THE BOARD IS THE WEEKLY SCREENING TESTING WE HAVE.
THERE IS A WEEKLY TESTING OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF ONCE A WEEK AT EVERY SCHOOL. TAKE A MOMENT TO HIGHLIGHT OUR NUMBERS.
I SHARED WITH THE BOARD WHILE OUR BOARD IS 30 PERCENT OF OUR STUDENTS AND WE HAVE YET TO GET CLOSE TO THAT, THE NUMBERS WERE SIGNIFICANTLY DOWN BEFORE THE BREAK AT THE END OF DECEMBER. IN FACT WE WERE AT 691 TEST FOR THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 13 THROUGH THE 17TH ACROSS ALL LOCATIONS.
I AM HAPPY TO SAY THE WEEK OF JANUARY 10 THROUGH THE 14TH ALMOST AT 2000.
A VERY NICE INCREASE. WHILE THAT IS STILL NOT 30 PERCENT WE WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH.
TESTING IS A CRITICAL MEASURE WE WANT TO OFFER TO ALL OF OUR FAMILIES.
IT IS OPTIONAL IF YOU HAVE NOT PARTICIPATED WE HAVE ENCOURAGED FAMILIES TO CONSIDER THE OPPORTUNITIES. CERTAINLY REACH OUT IF YOU WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION.
NEXT SLIDE. THIS IS VERY EXCITING NEWS FOR US TO SHARE IN STUDENT SERVICES.
I HOPE MR. SUAREZ IS WATCHING FROM A NICE EXCITING PLACE.
THIS IS A PROJECT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON TO HAVE A REAL-TIME DASHBOARD, SINCE OCTOBER.
THIS IS JUST A SCREENSHOT OF THIS.
SO, THERE ARE SOME ADDITIONAL UPDATES THAT FOLLOWED ONCE IT WENT LIVE TODAY.
AS CASES COME IN AND THEY ARE ENTERED INTO OUR SYSTEM, ALONG WITH CLOSED CONTACT DATA, THAT IS OUR METHOD OF COMMUNICATING WITH FAMILIES AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL DELAYS AS WE HAVE HAD CHANGES IN CDC UPDATES.
DATES WE HAD FOR QUARANTINE AND ISOLATION.
CERTAIN THINGS THAT HAVE THROWN US OFF OUR TIME TO RELEASE.
I CANNOT THINK OUR DEPARTMENTS OF TECHNOLOGY, MY FELLOW TEAM AND STUDENT SERVICES AND COMMUNICATIONS ENOUGH FOR THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN ONGOING WITH THE DASHBOARD.
THERE ARE SEVERAL SLIDES BUT I WILL VERY QUICKLY HIGHLIGHT WHAT WE HAVE HERE.
REMEMBER, THIS IS REALLY A WORK IN PROGRESS FOR US.
AS WE LEARN AND WHAT WE SEE IS EFFECTIVE.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE ACTUAL FORMAT HERE.
AGAIN, MANY THANKS TO THE TEAM WHO WORKED ON THIS.
REAL-TIME DASHBOARD PROVIDES CASE DATA OTHER POSITIVE CASES.
IT IS DELINEATED BY STUDENTS AND STAFF MEMBERS.
NEXT SLIDE. WE HAVE A MONTHLY DISTRIBUTION.
AGAIN, WITH OUR CASES AND CLOSE CONTACT INFORMATION YOU GET A NICE VISUAL.
IN THE NEXT SEVERAL SLIDES YOU WILL SEE A BREAK IN ACTION THERE.
THOSE OTHER WEEKS WE WERE NOT IN SCHOOL DUE TO THE HOLIDAY BREAK.
NEXT SLIDE. WE ALSO HAVE IT BROKEN DOWN BY LOCATION.
FOR THE CASES AND THE CLOSE CONTACT.
SHOWING THE DISTRIBUTION ACROSS THE SCHOOLS.
NEXT SLIDE. THE SAME THING HERE.
LOCATIONS FOR OUR CLOSE CONTACTS.
I HAVE A VERY IMPORTANT NOTE TO SAY WITH OUR CLOSE CONTACTS.
DURING TIME OF HIGH CASES THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING NOW, THERE MAY BE WEEKS WHERE WE ARE UNABLE TO CONTACT TRACE TO THE DEGREE WE HAVE BEEN DOING.
THIS HAS BEEN SHARED AND COMMUNICATED WITH FAMILIES THROUGH EXPRESS AND OUR STAFF.
THIS PRIMARILY APPLIES TO THINK STRAIGHT BECAUSE OF THE SIZE AND NUMBER OF CASES THEY HAVE HAD, WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DRILL DOWN TO THE LEVEL THAT WE COULD DO AT JOHN ADAMS.
[00:55:03]
IT IS A SMALL SCHOOL, COMPARATIVELY SPEAKING.WE ARE STILL ABLE TO DO EXPLICIT CONTACT TRACING, SEATING CHARTS, MAKING PHONE CALLS AND REACHING OUT IN A VARIETY OF WAYS.
I DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT BECAUSE I ASKED ANYONE THAT USES THE DASHBOARD TO INTERPRET CLOSE CONTACT DATA WITH CAUTION BECAUSE THE NUMBERS FOR A PARTICULAR KING STREET CAMPUS ARE LOWER THAN ACTUALS.
BECAUSE, IT DOES NOT HOLD THE EXPLICIT CLOSE CONTACT WHEN WE ARE IN A TIME OF SURGE, IF YOU WILL. I WILL TAKE JUST A MOMENT TO REVIEW WITH EVERYONE WHAT HAPPENS DURING THAT TIME. IF YOU ARE AT KING STREET AND YOU HAVE A POSITIVE TEST, LET'S SAY JULIA CRAWFORD IS 1/10 GRADER AND SHE TESTED POSITIVE.
MY SCHEDULE IS PULLED AND ALL OF STUDENTS AND STAFF MEMBERS I INTERACT WITH DURING MY CLASSES RECEIVE NOTIFICATION THAT SOMEBODY IN THE CLASS HAS TESTED POSITIVE.
THAT THEY NEED TO REMAIN EXTRA VIGILANT ABOUT ANY NEW SYMPTOMS AND THINGS ALONG THOSE LINES. WE KNOW THIS IS NOT IDEAL AND OUR STANDARD.
WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE SUCH A HIGH VACCINATION RATE AT KING STREET RIGHT NOW.
THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO WOULD NOT NEED TO QUARANTINE IS HIGH.
SO, WE ARE PUTTING THE ALERT OUT THERE TO ANYBODY WHO MAY BE UNVACCINATED OR EXPERIENCING NEW SYMPTOMS THAT YOU HAD A CASE IN YOUR CLASS.
THOSE NUMBERS, AS I SAID, ARE NOT REPORTED FOR THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS ON THIS PART OF THE DASHBOARD. I HOPE THAT IS CLEAR.
I TRIED TO NOTE THAT IN THE DASHBOARD IN SEVERAL PLACES.
NEXT SLIDE. HERE, THE DATA FROM THE LAST 30 AND SEVEN DAYS.
TREND DATA AND COMPARATIVELY SPEAKING LOOKING AT OVERALL NUMBERS AND CLOSE CONTACTS AND THOSE LOCATIONS.
SO, IF YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY AND YOU ARE INTERESTED ALL YOU HAVE TO GO IS TO THE ACPS WEBSITE BUT DASHBOARD AND AND COVID-19 DASHBOARD WILL COME UP.
IT WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH A LINK.
IT WILL JUMP OUT IN A NICE RED BOX WITH A LINK TO THE REAL-TIME DASHBOARD.
IT ALSO LIST THE MONTHLY DATA FOR THE TIME THAT WE DID NOT HAVE A REAL-TIME DASHBOARD.
THE DATA YOU ARE SEEING IN FRONT OF YOU AND THE REAL-TIME DASHBOARD TELLS YOU THIS IS EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 1 MOVING FORWARD.
WE HAVE HAD SMALLER AMOUNTS OF CASES, THOSE ARE CAPTURED ON THE WEBSITE.
THEY ARE NOT REFLECTED IN THIS DATA HERE THIS IS DECEMBER 1 AND MOVING FORWARD.
I KNOW THE BOARD HEARD THE TEST TO STAY PILOT WAS BEING DISCUSSED WITH THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. WE HAVE HAD FURTHER CONVERSATIONS AND I HAVE SOME DETAILS.
THE TEST TO STAY PROGRAM WAS BROUGHT UP BY THE CDC.
I BELIEVE THE VDH AT THE END OF DECEMBER.
THIS IS IN AN EFFORT TO MINIMIZE ANY QUARANTINE IMPACT FOR STUDENTS WHO WOULD HAVE TO BE OUT OF SCHOOL DURING A QUARANTINE DOING TO A CLOSE CONTACT IDENTIFICATION.
WE ARE IN DISCUSSION WITH THE VDH ABOUT DOING THIS.
WE HAVE AGREED TO DO THE PILOT.
I WANT TO THANK THREE SCHOOLS THAT HAVE AGREED TO PILOT THAT IS LILES CROUCH TRADITIONAL ACADEMY, JAMES CAPEL ELEMENTARY AND AC HS SATELLITE PROGRAM.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN SPECIFICALLY? IF YOU ARE IDENTIFIED AS A CLOSE CONTACT, THIS IS ONLY STUDENTS NOT STAFF, STUDENTS ONLY WHO ARE ASYMPTOMATIC, UNVACCINATED, OR NOT UP TO DATE ON YOUR VACCINES.
YOU WOULD PARTICIPATE IN A DAILY RAPID TEST.
YOU WOULD NEED TO TEST NEGATIVE OF COURSE WITH THE SIGNED PERMISSION FROM YOUR PARENT OR GUARDIAN. WHEN YOU ARE DOING THE TEST TO STAY PROGRAM THE CRITICAL ASPECT IS MASKED DURING. WE ARE CHECKING EVERY DAY AND WE KNOW YOU HAVE EXPOSURE TO THE COVID-19 VIRUS.
WE ARE STILL IN THE PLANNING STAGES.
I KNOW SEVERAL BOARD MEMBERS HAVE QUESTIONS.
WE KNOW THERE ARE CHALLENGES AND THE CURRENT TESTING KIT, THE ORIGINAL CONCEPT AS YOU WOULD SEND THE KIDS HOME AND THEY WOULD TEST THE STUDENTS EVERY MORNING BEFORE THEY CAME TO SCHOOL. WE ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHER NORTHERN VIRGINIA DIVISIONS HAVE GREATER DIVERSITY AND OTHER LANGUAGE NEEDS THAT NEED TO BE FACTORED IN.
SO, WE WORKED OUT A SYSTEM OF HOW TO DO THAT AT SCHOOL IN THE MORNING BEFORE KIDS,.
WHICH WE CAN CERTAINLY DO IS ONLY AN ENGLISH AND SPANISH SPORT USING THE TESTING KITS.
WE HAVE ANOTHER CONSIDERATION.
[01:00:02]
RIGHT NOW THE VDH REQUIREMENTS ESSAY IF THE SCHOOL IS DOING THE TESTING IN THE MORNING THE STUDENTS NEED TO BE BROUGHT IN BY A PARENT OR GUARDIAN OR WALK.THEY COULD NOT TAKE OUR TRANSPORTATION.
THAT RAISES AN ISSUE FOR US THAT WE ARE WORKING THROUGH.
I HAVE BEEN TALKING TO VDH REGULARLY AND THEY ARE OPEN TO MANY IDEAS.
HOW WE COULD GET THROUGH THESE CHALLENGES THAT ARE LISTED.
SO, WE ARE COMMITTED TO DOING THE TEST TO STAY PILOT.
FOR THE STUDENTS THAT DO NOT EXPERIENCE THOSE SYMPTOMS WHO ARE IN CLOSE CONTACT TO OUR UNVACCINATED OR NOT UP TO DATE ON COVID-19 VACCINES THAT WE HAVE PARENTAL PERMISSION TO TEST. AS LONG AS THEY REMAIN NEGATIVE AND THEIR DAILY TESTING THEY WOULD BE PERMITTED TO GO TO CLASS. THEY DO NOT NEED TO QUARANTINE DURING THAT TIME.
WE WANT TO KEEP OUR STUDENTS IN CLASS EVERY DAY.
WE ARE IN THE PROCESS HOWEVER.
WE HAVE SHARED THESE NAMES WITH VDH.
I HAVE TALKED TO THEM ABOUT ORDERING OUR TESTING SUPPLIES.
I HOPE TO MOVE THIS FORWARD AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
THIS IS A BRIEF UPDATE BUT THE BOARD HAS HEARD ABOUT THE VISSTA VDH WEEKLY TESTING PROGRAM WE SIGNED UP TO PARTICIPATE IN.
WE ARE STILL IN THE PLANNING PHASE HERE WITH THE VDH.
WE ARE AWAITING THE MOU FROM THEM.
THEY HAVE SUGGESTED A DIFFERENT VENDOR AND THEN I SUGGESTED ON THE LAST BOARD.
THEY ASKED US LAST WEEK IF WE ARE WILLING TO WORK WITH A DIFFERENT VENDOR WHICH DID AGREE TO. WE WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH TALKING TO THAT ORGANIZATION.
THE TAKE AWAY HERE WE ARE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN THIS PLANNING.
WE WILL CONTINUE CURATIVE WEEKLY TESTING.
EVEN THOUGH VISSTA IS NOT UP AND RUNNING WE ARE TESTING OUR STUDENTS WEEKLY.
VERY TESTING HEAVY TONIGHT AS FAR AS THIS PRESENTATION.
WITH THE CHANGE IN THE CDC GUIDANCE THAT WE HAVE DISCUSSED AT THE LAST MEETING, WE KNOW SEVERAL OF THE TIME FRAMES WERE SHORTENED TO A FIVE DAY WINDOW.
WITH A POTENTIAL RETURN ON DAY NUMBER SIX.
WE ARE DISCUSSING AND ACPS, FOR DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS WHO TEST POSITIVE.
WHO ARE HOME FURTHER ISOLATION.
IF THEY ARE ASYMPTOMATIC OR OTHER SYMPTOMS RESOLVE BY DAY NUMBER SIX THEY WILL REMAIN FEVER FREE, WITHOUT FEVER REDUCING MEDICATION, AND THEY ARE ABLE TO WEAR A WELL FITTED MASK. THIS IS GUIDANCE FROM CDC DIRECTLY.
THEN, OUR PLAN IS TO TEST THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHEN THEY RETURN TO SCHOOL TO MAKE SURE WE ARE LIMITING ANY SPREAD.
WE WOULD USE A RAPID TEST IN THIS MANNER.
PCR TEST AND THE MOLECULAR TESTING THEY DO THEY CAN STILL PICK UP THE VIRUS PAST THE INFECTIOUS PERIOD OF TIME.
THIS IS OUR PLAN TO MOVE FORWARD.
PLEASE NOTE THIS WILL NOT BEGIN IMMEDIATELY I CANNOT STRESS THAT ENOUGH WE DO NOT HAVE THE TESTING SUPPLIES YET.
WE HAVE ORDERED THE TESTING SUPPLIES BUT ACPS LIKE MANY OTHER DIVISIONS ADDING RAPID TEST IN PARTICULAR, HAS BEEN A STRUGGLE.
WE ARE LOOKING TO HOW TO HAVE STUDENTS RETURN TO SCHOOL AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE WHILE ENSURING WE HAVE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.
THE CDC RIGHT NOW, THEIR LANGUAGE IS IF YOU HAVE ACCESS TO A TEST AND YOU ARE INTERESTED THAT IS WHAT WE WOULD BE OFFERING TO OUR FAMILIES.
OF COURSE, WE REQUIRE PARENTAL CONSENT TO BE ABLE TO TEST.
IF THEY WANTED TO RETURN ON DAY NUMBER SIX LIKE PREVIOUS QUARANTINE GUIDANCE.
PARENTAL TESTING TO RETURN ON DAY EIGHT.
NEXT SLIDE. SAFETY UPDATES THANK YOU TO OUR STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES TO THE SHADOW AND DEMONSTRATION. KUDOS TO DOCTOR HART AND HER TEAM.
WHEN SUPPLIES ARE SHORT IN PARTICULAR WITH HIGH-QUALITY MASKS LIKE THE KN95S WE ARE SO LUCKY WE HAVE THEM ORDERED AND THEY ARE OUT IN OUR HANDS.
I JUST WANTED TO LET THE BOARD KNOW THAT.
THE FIT OF THIS OF COURSE IS VERY IMPORTANT.
SECONDARY STUDENTS WERE GIVEN THE OPTION TO MAKE SURE IF THE ADULT SIZE MASK WAS TOO LARGE FOR THEM, WE OF COURSE HAD THE CHILDREN SIZE.
IF THE FIT WAS A STRUGGLE WE DID PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SURGICAL MASKS TO ALL SCHOOLS.
[01:05:02]
SO, THE ADDITIONAL OPTION OF DOUBLE MASKING IS FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF IS THERE IS A CHALLENGE WITH THE FIT.I'M GOING TO TURN THIS OVER TO OUR ACTING CHIEF OF HUMAN RESOURCES.
PROVIDING US AN UPDATE WITH STAFF VACCINATION.
>> THIS EVENING I WANT TO PROVIDE SOME UPDATES WITH SOME DATA WE HAVE AROUND OUR STAFF VACCINATION AND COVID-19 TESTING.
WE HAVE OVER 2600 STAFF MEMBERS FULLY VACCINATED.
117 MEDICAL STAFF EXEMPT FOR MEDICAL OR RELIGION.
THEY ARE STILL REQUIRED TO DO WEEKLY TESTING.
THEY WILL REPORT IT TO THE PORTAL.
WE HAVE 371 A STAFF WHO UPLOADED THEIR BOOSTER VACCINATION.
WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY ANOTHER 300 TO VERIFY.
WE DO ANTICIPATE THAT NUMBER INCREASING AS THE STAFF CONTINUES TO REVIEW EACH OF THE VACCINATION RECORDS.
I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK ALL OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS WE DID SEND OUT COMMUNICATION ENCOURAGING THEM TO PROVIDE THEIR VACCINATION STATUS WITH THE NEW BOOSTER INFORMATION ON IT. OF COURSE, YOU CAN SEE WE HAD A LOT OF SUPPORT WITH THE 371 REPORTING.
WE WANTED TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THEM FOR THAT AND WE ENCOURAGED HIM TO CONTINUE TO UPLOAD THAT INFORMATION AS THAT IS MOST HELPFUL FOR US.
WE CAN MOVE FORWARD AND MAKE DECISIONS.
I WILL TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU DOCTOR CRAWFORD.
I KNOW THE BOARD IS FAMILIAR WITH THIS SLIDE.
I TAKE EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE THE SAFETY REMINDERS TO OUR COMMUNITY TO CONSIDER GETTING VACCINATED AND BOOSTED.
PLEASE REPORT YOUR TEST RESULTS.
I SAID THIS LAST WEEK AND I WILL SAY IT AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR USING THIS EMAIL.
WE ARE GETTING MANY REPORTING COVID EMAILS AND IT HELPS EXPEDITE THAT CONTACT TRACING AND SHARING INFORMATION.
THANK YOU TO THE FAMILIES AND STAFF MEMBERS AND AT THE SECONDARY LEVEL IT IS THE STUDENTS REACHING OUT BECAUSE THEY ARE CONCERNED THEY ARE REACHING CLASS.
THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO UTILIZE WORKING WITH THEIR TEACHERS AND THE REPORTING COVID EMAIL.
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A CARE PLAN IN PLACE THINGS ARE UNPREDICTABLE.
WHETHER IT IS A WEATHER FORECAST, SNOW THAT IS SUPPOSED TO, OR GETTING NOTIFICATION OF BEING IN CLOSE CONTACT.
PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU BRING YOUR INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPLIES HOME ON A DAILY BASIS.
AS ALWAYS, IF YOU ARE FEELING UNWELL, PLEASE STAY HOME.
ANY NEW SYMPTOMS, STAY HOME AND TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.
IF IT SUGGEST COVID, THAT TESTED.
DOCTOR HUTCHINS MENTIONED WE HAVE A GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER.
HE HAD EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER TWO AS RELATED TO MASKING IN SCHOOLS.
THERE WAS SOME QUESTION ABOUT THE DATE OF THE EXECUTIVE ORDER.
THAT IS ACTUALLY MONDAY, JANUARY 24 IT WILL GO INTO EFFECT.
FOR CLARIFICATION, I KNOW ACPS MESSAGE FAMILIES AND STAFF ON THE 16TH ABOUT THE MOSQUE REQUIREMENT CONTINUING AS A MITIGATING MEASURE.
AS A RESULT OF THE SCHOOL BOARD POLICY.
BASED ON CDC GUIDANCE AND UPDATES IN THE PAST.
I WANTED TO OFFER THAT FOR THE BOARD.
AT THIS POINT I WILL TURN IT OVER TO OUR ACPS SCHOOL COUNSELOR.
I WILL BE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS ONCE WE CONCLUDE.
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD GOOD EVENING.
IT IS A LITTLE BIT UNUSUAL FOR ME TO BE ADDRESSING YOU.
ABOUT SOME OF THESE LEGAL ISSUES.
I WAS ASKED TO GIVE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE LEGAL ISSUES THAT PERTAIN TO EXECUTIVE ORDER.
AS YOU KNOW AND AS YOU JUST HEARD WAS ISSUED BY THE GOVERNOR.
THAT WAS ISSUED ON SATURDAY THE 15TH.
IF THERE ARE DETAILED QUESTIONS I WILL ASK UD FOR THOSE TWO FURTHER DISCUSSION IN A CLOSED SESSION. --I WILL ASK YOU ALL TO DEFER QUESTIONS INTO THE CLOSED SESSION.
THERE ARE SOME ISSUES I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT FOR YOU.
[01:10:07]
THERE ARE SOME EXTREMELY SUBSTANTIAL LEGAL QUESTIONS.CONCERNING AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT PERTAINS TO LOCAL SCHOOL DIVISIONS AND LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS.
THE EXECUTIVE ORDER CONTAINS A NUMBER OF PROVISIONS.
SOME OF THEM DEAL WITH THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF CONSTRUCTION, SOME OF THEM DEAL WITH SCHOOLS, LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
STUDENTS ACTUALLY IN SCHOOLS, ALL SCHOOLS, BY ITS TERMS AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF SUBSTANTIAL LEGAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE VALIDITY OF IT.
AS IT PERTAINS TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT TWO OF THEM.
THE FIRST HAS TO DO WITH THE VIRGINIA CONSTITUTION.
THE ROLE OF LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS.
THE ROLE OF LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS AND THE EDUCATIONAL STEAM CONTEMPLATED BY THE VIRGINIA CONSTITUTION. ONE THING THAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS SUCH AS THE ALEXANDRIA CITY SCHOOL BOARD, AND VIRGINIA AS COMPARED TO SCHOOL BOARDS IN MOST OTHER STATES THEY ARE NOT DIVISIONS OR DEPARTMENTS OF EITHER THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT OR THE STATE GOVERNMENT. THEY ARE THEIR OWN SEPARATE CONSTITUTIONAL ENTITIES.
CONSTITUTIONALLY CONSTITUTED BODIES.
ONE OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE VIRGINIA CONSTITUTION SECTION 7 SAYS THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY AND AUTHORITY OF THE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD TO SUPERVISE AND OPERATE SCHOOLS AND THE SCHOOL DIVISION.
THE IDEA IS THAT YOU ALL ARE LOCALLY ELECTED BY THE CITIZENS HERE.
YOU ARE IN THE BEST CONDITION TO KNOW WHAT THE LOCAL CONDITIONS ARE THAT HAVE TO DO WITH THE SCHOOLS AND THE STUDENTS INTO THE PREVAILING, YOU HEARD DOCTOR CRAWFORD TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE TRANSMISSION RATES AND OTHER PUBLIC HEALTH CONDITIONS IN THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA. CONDITIONS THAT MAY BE DIFFERENT IN SOME OTHER JURISDICTIONS.
ULTIMATELY, IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE THOSE CALLS AND MAKE THOSE JUDGMENTS.
THERE IS A LONG HISTORY AROUND THIS.
AROUND THIS CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISION IN VIRGINIA.
FRANKLY, GOING BACK MANY DECADES.
A TIME WHERE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WOULD ATTEMPT TO DEFUND SCHOOL BOARDS APPROPRIATIONS. INTENDED FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF SCHOOLS FOR MINORITY STUDENTS.
AS RECENTLY AS SOME OF YOU MAY REMEMBER, A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO THERE WAS AN INITIATIVE BY THE FORMER GOVERNOR.
ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY CALLED THE OPPORTUNITY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION.
ESSENTIALLY A STATE TAKEOVER OF THE SEVERAL SCHOOLS IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA.
THAT WAS LITIGATED AND IT WAS FOUND THAT RAN A FOUL OF THE VIRGINIA CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISION. THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT QUESTION ABOUT THAT ISSUE.
ALSO, AS MANY OF YOU ARE AWARE, THERE WAS A STATUTE PASSED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
THE STATUTE PASSED ON A BIPARTISAN BASIS SENATE BILLS SB 1303.
THAT WAS ENACTED AND ADOPTED MARCH 30 OF LAST YEAR.
ESSENTIALLY IT WAS GET KIDS BACK TO IN PERSON EDUCATION.
A PROVISION. AMONG OTHER THINGS IT REQUIRED THAT AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR ALL STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO FULL-TIME IN PERSON EDUCATION.
ONE OF THE OTHER PROVISIONS OF THAT LEGISLATION WAS THAT SCHOOL BOARDS WERE TO EMPLOY MITIGATION STRATEGIES.
AS RECOMMENDED BY THE FEDERAL CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL.
[01:15:02]
ONE OF THOSE, AT THE CURRENT MOMENT THAT HAS BEEN IN EFFECT FOR SOME TIME, ONE OF THOSE MITIGATION STRATEGIES IS THE EMPLOYMENT OF MASKING REQUIREMENTS. THERE IS A QUESTION AS TO WHETHER THE EXECUTIVE ORDER IS CONSISTENT OR INCONSISTENT WITH THIS VIRGINIA STATUTE.WHETHER THERE IS AUTHORITY FOR THE GOVERNOR TO ESSENTIALLY INVALIDATE THAT.
THESE ARE THINGS THAT WERE FILED EARLIER THIS WEEK BY A NUMBER OF PARENTS IN CHESAPEAKE.
ONE LEGAL CHALLENGE TO THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER FOLLOWED IN THE VIRGINIA SUPREME COURT, I THINK IT WILL NOT BE SURPRISING, IF WE SEE SOON OTHER LEGAL CHALLENGES.
LEGAL CHALLENGES TO THE EXECUTIVE ORDER.
FOR THOSE REASONS, KNOW THAT A NUMBER OF SCHOOL BOARDS IN VIRGINIA HAVE ELECTED AND VOTED AT LEAST AT PRESENT MOMENT TO CONTINUE WITH THEIR MASKING REQUIREMENTS.
RATHER THAN IMMEDIATELY ADHERED TO THE GOVERNORS EXECUTIVE ORDER.
AT LEAST UNTIL SOME OF THE LEGAL ISSUES ARE DETERMINED.
THAT IS SORT OF THE CURRENT SITUATION AS IT PERTAINS TO THE GOVERNOR'S
EXECUTIVE ORDER. >> THANK YOU.
I AM ACTUALLY GOING TO DO SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT ODD.
I'M GOING TO JUST JUMP IN AT THIS POINT AND PROVIDE THE BOARD, STAFF AND ANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE JOINING US TODAY, A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY.
HOW WE GOT TO OUR CURRENT POLICIES.
I KNOW WE HAVE RECEIVED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MASK POLICIES AND OUR SCHOOLS.
WE TOOK AN OPPORTUNITY TO LET THE COMMUNITY KNOW WE WILL CONTINUE TO WEAR THE MASKS.
WE WILL CONTINUE WITH THOSE MITIGATION STRATEGIES.
IN OUR FACILITIES, SCHOOLS AND ON OUR BUSES.
OUR GOAL IS TO REDUCE TRANSMISSION OF COVID-19.
FOR A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY OUR SCHOOL BOARD FIRST ESTABLISHED THE MASK REQUIREMENT IN A WORK SESSION ON AUGUST 27, 2020.
IT WAS A WORK SESSION WHERE WE WERE DISCUSSING THROUGH, AT THE POINT WHICH WE OPENED OUR SCHOOLS, SOME PROTOCOLS WE NEED IN PLACE.
THAT INCLUDES EVERYBODY THAT IS IN OUR BUILDINGS.
THAT WAS COUPLED WITH THE WHY WE WERE DISCUSSING OUR DISTANCE-LEARNING GUIDANCE FOR THE 2021 SCHOOL YEAR.
MORE THAN A YEAR AND AND A HALF AGO WE REVISED OUR SCHOOL BOARD POLICY KG ARE ON COMMUNITY USE OF SCHOOL FACILITIES.
THE PURPOSE OF THE POLICY IS TO LIMIT NONESSENTIAL VISITORS, VOLUNTEERS AND ACTIVITIES IN OUR SCHOOLS. MAKING SURE WE ARE CONDUCTING TEMPERATURE SCREENINGS, PROTECTIVE FACE COVERINGS AND MASKS ARE REQUIRED WITHIN THE POLICY.
REVISIONS TO POLICY KFGTHAT WERE ADDED AS PRECAUTIONS --KGR WERE ADDED AS PRECAUTIONS. THAT IS TO LIMIT THE SPREAD OF COVID.
OUR DESIRE TO ADHERE TO THE CENTER OF DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION.
ALONG WITH THE ALEXANDRIA HEALTH DEPARTMENT AT THAT TIME.
WE HAVE INCORPORATED THIS REQUIREMENT WITHIN OUR POLICIES THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE PERIOD OF TIME. WE MADE SURE WE INCLUDED A DISCUSSION AND THAT.
WE HAD TO DO IT FOR OUR SUMMER LEARNING PROGRAM IN 2021.
THESE THINGS ARE WHAT REMAIN INTACT TODAY.
WE ARE DEFINITELY LISTENING TO THE VOICES OF ALL OF OUR FAMILY, STAFF AND STUDENTS.
IN CONTINUING WITH THE REQUIREMENT AS IT IS, OUR NUMBER ONE GOAL AS EVERY SCHOOL MEMBER
[01:20:06]
HERE WOULD SAY, MAKE SURE WE KEEP OUR DOORS OPEN.WE ARE COMMITTED TO DOING THAT.
OUR MITIGATION STRATEGIES HAVE BEEN A PART OF OUR ABILITY TO DO THAT.
WE CAN HEAR ALL OF THE STORIES AROUND US AND AROUND THE COUNTRY WERE SCHOOLS, ENTIRE SCHOOLS HAVE HAD TO SHUT DOWN.
I AM GRATEFUL THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED YET.
I AM HOPING THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN.
CONTINUING TO MAKE SURE WE ARE DOING WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
MONITORING, ETC., THAT IS REALLY ESSENTIAL.
I JUST WANT TO THANK THE TEAM FOR THE WORK THEY ARE DOING.
THANK YOU FOR JUST GIVING SOME GENERAL INFORMATION TO THE BOARD.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT INFORMATION WITH THE PUBLIC.
I WILL TURN THINGS OVER TO DOCTOR HUTCHINGS FOR A FEW POINTS AND AFTER THAT I WILL TURN IT OVER TO THE BOARD FOR QUESTIONS.
I WANT TO SAY A COUPLE OF THINGS BEFORE THE BOARD ASKED THEIR QUESTIONS.
I WANT TO THANK THE SCHOOL BOARD FOR PUTTING THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF AS A PRIORITY.
AT THIS TIME, IS A GREAT CONCERN IN REGARD TO THE SWORD WITH THE COVID-19 CASES.
THIS IS DUE TO THE OLD MARK ON VARIANT.
WE ARE IN THE MIDST --THIS IS DUE TO THE OMICRON VARIANT.
PARENTS ARE HAPPY THAT WE ARE CONTINUING THIS IN THE SCHOOLS INCLUDING INDIVIDUALS WEARING MASKS.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT PEOPLE REALLY ARE POLITICIZING THIS WHOLE MASK REQUIREMENT.
IT HAS BECOME A HOT TOPIC IN THE NEWS.
I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE MASK REQUIREMENT AND ACPS IS STRICTLY ABOUT PRESERVING THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF ALL OF OUR STAFF AND STUDENTS.
IT IS TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL STUDENTS AND STAFF FEEL SAFE WHEN THEY ARE PARTICIPATING OR ENGAGED IN OUR IN PERSON LEARNING.
SO, THE MASK USAGE HAS BEEN A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF OUR MITIGATION EFFORTS.
MADAM CHAIR MENTIONED EARLIER THAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR OVER A YEAR AND 1/2.
SO, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS NEW FOR US.
I THINK THAT ALSO HELPS US TO NOT HAVE AS MANY CASES.
WE ARE STILL HAVING CASES BUT I BELIEVE IT IS HAVING US HAVE A DECREASE IN A NUMBER OF CASES IN THE SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
WE HAVE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.
I ALSO WANT TO STATE THE VARIOUS HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS WE HAVE IN CASE WITHIN A ACPS, THAT IS HOW THE DOORS ARE OPEN FIVE DAYS A WEEK.
WE DID THIS HUGE PUSH TO SAY WE WANT OUR BUILDINGS OPEN.
WE NEED OUR KIDS IN OUR SCHOOLS.
WE NEED OUR STAFF IN OUR SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
I BELIEVE THE MANY MITIGATION METHODS WE HAVE PUT INTO PLACE HAS PROTECTED OUR STUDENTS.
THEY HAVE BEEN EFFECTIVE IN HELPING US MANAGE THE CHALLENGES OF THIS PANDEMIC.
IN ADDITION TO THE MASK REQUIREMENT, WE STILL HAVE OUR DAILY HEALTH SCREENINGS.
WE STILL HAVE OUR TEMPERATURE CHECKS, WE STILL HAVE OUR ENHANCED CLEANING RECORDS THAT OUR WONDERFUL CUSTODIAL STAFF IS CONTINUING TO DO.
WE STILL HAVE AIR PURIFIERS AND CLASSROOMS AND COMMON AREAS AND OUR THREE WEEKLY ON-SITE COVID-19 TESTING FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF MEMBERS IN OUR SCHOOLS.
WE ARE EVEN DOING ALL OF THESE OTHER THINGS THAT WE JUST MENTIONED DURING OUR PRESENTATION FROM TEST TO STAY.
THE ADDITIONAL TESTING WE OFFER OUR ATHLETES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
I CAN ALSO ASSURE THE BOARD THAT THE STAFF WILL CONTINUE TO IMPLEMENT THE MASK REQUIREMENT. AS WE HAVE BEEN DOING SINCE THE BOARD PUT THIS CAUTION INTO POLICY IN AUGUST 2020. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDS THE SPECIFICS.
THE FACT THAT THE USE OF MASS IS HELPING TO MITIGATE THE SPREAD OF COVID-19.
STUDENT, STAFF, VISITORS, ANYONE THAT IS INSIDE ANY OF OUR FACILITIES OR ON OUR VEHICLES THAT ARE REQUIRED BASED ON OUR POLICIES TO WEAR PROTECTIVE FACE COVERINGS.
THAT ARE SECURED OVER THEIR NOSE, MOUTH TO MAKE SURE WE CONTAIN THE SPREAD OF A POTENTIAL
[01:25:03]
INFECTIOUS RESPIRATORY VIRUS.WHICH COULD THEN LEAD TO COVID-19.
WE ALSO FIND THAT OUR STUDENTS, THEY UNDERSTAND AND I HAVE TALKED TO A NUMBER OF STUDENTS, EVEN STUDENT BOARD MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE, THEY KNOW IT IS AN EXPECTATION TO WEAR A MASK. WE HAVE NOT HAD SITUATIONS WHERE KIDS ARE REFUSING TO PUT ON A MASK IN OUR CLASSROOMS. REFUSING TO FOLLOW THE POLICIES THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE.
WE HELP STUDENTS LEARN HOW TO WEAR THEIR MASK PROPERLY.
IF A STUDENT DOES NOT HAVE A PROTECTIVE MASK WE WILL PROVIDE IT.
WE'VE JUST MENTIONED THAT WE HAVE ANOTHER SHIPMENT OF OUR K AND --KN95 MASKS. I KNOW HOW MUCH WE WOULD ALL LIKE TO FAST-FORWARD TIME AND ERASE ALL OF THIS.
EVERYBODY IS AT THE POINT WHERE THEY ARE COVID DONE.
I REALLY AM DONE. I DO NOT HAVE THAT POWER.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE DO NOT HAVE THE POWER TO DO THAT.
UNTIL THEN I DO WANT TO THANK OUR FAMILIES FOR ABIDING BY OUR SCHOOL DIVISION MASK REQUIREMENT. I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO PLEASE KEEP MAKING AN EFFORT TO HELP REDUCE THE TRANSMISSION OF COVID-19.
THAT INCLUDES GETTING VACCINATED, GETTING BOOSTED AT ONE OF THE MANY VACCINATION CLINICS WE HAVE IN THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA.
THEY ARE EVERYWHERE. YOU CAN SIGN UP, IT IS FREE.
OUR STUDENTS CAN GET TESTED AT SCHOOL EVERY WEEK FOR FREE.
IT IS VOLUNTARY AND IT REQUIRES FAMILIES TO REGISTER, IT IS QUICK AND FREE.
IT IS DEFINITELY AN IMPORTANT WAY FOR US TO IDENTIFY ASYMPTOMATIC INFECTIONS THAT MAY BE OUT THERE. SOME PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE SYMPTOMS AND THEY COULD BE PASSING ON THE VIRUS.
BY WORKING TOGETHER IN PARTNERSHIP, WE ARE SO MUCH BETTER TOGETHER THAN WE ARE APART.
AS WORKING WITH OUR HEALTH EXPERTS, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HELP PROTECT OUR STUDENTS AND OUR STAFF AND SCHOOLS.
THIS COLLABORATIVE EFFORT IS SOMETHING I WANT TO SAY, THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO HAS BEEN DOING THIS.
I KNOW THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO KEEP THIS IN PLACE.
THOSE ARE ALL OF MY REMARKS FOR THIS EVENING.
>> THANK YOU DOCTOR HUTCHINGS.
AT THIS POINT WE WILL TURN IT OVER TO THE BOARD FOR QUESTIONS.
JUST A COUPLE OF COMMENTS ON THE MASKS.
QUESTIONS ON THE RETURNING BASICS.
ON THE MASTERPIECE I THINK OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS CAN APPRECIATE THAT I HAD A LITTLE BIT OF PTSD TODAY WITH VIRTUAL LEARNING.
HAVING A FIRST GRADER AND THIRD GRADER AT HOME.
IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PANDEMIC.
IT TURNS OUT THE WEATHER PEOPLE IN THE AREA DID NOT GET IT RIGHT THIS TIME.
IF MASKS ARE WHAT IT TAKES TO KEEP EVERYBODY SAFE AND KEEP OUR KIDS IN SCHOOL WE NEED TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO KEEP OUR KIDS IN SCHOOL.
THAT IS BY FAR THE BEST PLACE FOR THEM TO BE LEARNING.
MY FIRST GRADE SON, I HOPE YOU LEARNED FROM ME.
HE WAS MOST DEFINITELY PLAYING WITH LEGOS AS I WAS TRYING TO TEACH HIM TODAY AND JUGGLE MY OWN CAREER AND JOB.
THE OTHER POINT TO MAKE IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT STUDENTS.
YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR KIDS ARE STAYING SAFE AND HEALTHY.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE DOING THE BEST FOR OUR STAFF.
OUR STAFF IS OUT OF SCHOOL AND WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH SUBSTITUTES YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO KEEP THE BUILDINGS OPEN AND KEEP OUR KIDS IN SCHOOL.
BETWEEN KEEPING OUR KIDDOS SAFE AND ALSO OUR STAFF SAVE.
I HAVE A HUSBAND WHO IS A TEACHER IN FAIRFAX COUNTY.
I KNOW THEY ARE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO KEEP THEIR STAFF SAFE AS WELL.
KEEP TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOM SO WE CAN KEEP OUR KIDS IN PERSON AND NOT VIRTUAL.
THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE DOCTOR CRAWFORD.
I HAD EMAILED AFTER OUR PREVIOUS BOARD MEETING ABOUT GOING BEYOND WHAT THE CDC RECOMMENDED. FOR THOSE WHO ARE CONFIRMED COVID CASES, DO THEY NEED A TEST TO RETURN?
[01:30:06]
AS AN EXTRA MITIGATION MEASURE.I'LL BE GOING TO REQUIRE THAT ON DAY NUMBER SIX? THAT WE WILL HAVE THE TEST TO RETURN? IF NOT, WHAT IS THE PROCESS? YOU MENTIONED THAT WE NEED SOME OF THE SUPPLIES.
IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A RAPID TEST.
COULDN'T WE JUST USED THE CURATIVE ANTIGEN RAPID TEST WE ARE ALREADY USING TO ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN? FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE CLOSE CONTACTS, ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE RECEIVING FROM THE COMMUNITY THE RECOMMENDATION IS YOU SHOULD GET TESTED ON DAY FIVE.
SO, HOW CAN WE HELP FACILITATE MAKING THAT EASY FOR STAFF AND STUDENTS? IF THEY ARE IN CLOSE CONTACT TO MAKE THAT EASIER? I CAN REPEAT THOSE QUESTIONS BECAUSE I THREW A BUNCH AT YOU.
I FAILED MY OWN RECOMMENDATION MYSELF.
APOLOGIES. >> I WILL SEE IF I CAN HIT THEM ALL LET ME KNOW IF I MISSED SOMETHING.
THE USE OF THE CURATIVE FOR THE TESTING, WE HAVE LOOKED AT THAT.
WE WILL HAVE DAY SIX TESTING AT EVERY SCHOOL ON EVERY DAY.
SO, OUR PLAN IS TO UTILIZE THE DATABASE THAT WE HAVE.
THE SCHOOLS REALLY HAVE A GOOD SYSTEM DOWN.
IT IS A HUGE ACCOUNTABILITY TRACKING PIECE WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT A CAMPUS AS LARGE AS KING STREET, OR EVEN HOWARD.
GIVEN THAT EVERY SCHOOL WILL HAVE SOME SCHOOLS COMING BACK.
WE DID NOT HAVE THE BANDWIDTH CURATIVE.
THEY HAVE A SET SCHEDULE OF WHO THEY TEST.
THEY DO NOT HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO BE AT EVERY LOCATION.
REMEMBER, WE WANT IT DONE IN THE MORNING BEFORE YOU GO TO SCHOOL AND HAVE EXPOSURE.
SO, WE ARE NOT ABLE TO SET THAT UP.
OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE THE TESTING SUPPLIES AND THE STRUCTURE WITHIN THE SCHOOL OUTSIDE OF CURATIVE. IT IS A GREAT THOUGHT AND USUALLY THEY ARE OUR FIRST THOUGHT.
EVEN THIS WEEK, WE WERE OFF MONDAY AND THEY REARRANGED THE SCHEDULE.
WE DID HAVE A COUPLE OF SCHOOLS EXPRESSING CONCERN THAT EVEN THE SHORTENED WINDOW DURING THIS WEEK MIGHT TEST THE LIMITS.
BECAUSE, THEY HAVE THE INCREASE THAT I MENTIONED WHICH IS GREAT.
SO MANY MORE STUDENTS AND STAFF MEMBER GETTING TESTED.
IT LIMITS OUR FLEXIBILITY IN BEING ABLE TO MOVE THAT BAND AROUND.
THE QUESTION ABOUT CLOSE CONTACT, DAY FIVE, WE ARE STILL PURSUING OPTIONS FOR THAT.
WE HAVE ORDERS WITH THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
WE ARE CONSTANTLY SEEKING GUIDANCE ON WHAT WE CAN USE THOSE TEST KITS FOUR.
TODAY WE HAVE SOME TEST THAT WE ARE USING.
WE ARE ONLY SUPPOSED TO USE THEM FOR DIAGNOSTIC PURPOSES.
A RETURN ON DAY SIX COULD BE DIAGNOSTIC AND NOT SCREENING.
THE VOLUME OF THE CLOSE CONTACTS WE WOULD RUN OUT OF THOSE TEST VERY QUICKLY.
WE CAN GET A LARGER SUPPLY FROM ANYWHERE.
IN PARTICULAR FROM THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, THEN WE COULD DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT. TALKING TO THE SCHOOL HEALTH TEAM ON A DAILY BASIS.
THE SUPERINTENDENT WANTS THIS TO HAPPEN, RIGHT NOW THE TESTING SUPPLY IS ONE OF THE GREAT LIMITATIONS FOR THOSE POSITIVE INDIVIDUALS RETURNING.
WHEN WE LOOK AT NOT BEING OUR TOP TIER AND SECOND TIER BEING CLOSE CONTACTS, JUST LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS WE HAVE NOT COME CLOSE TO HAVING A TESTING SUPPLY THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR THAT. I WILL NOT GO INTO TOO MUCH DETAIL, WE HAVE LOOKED AT IF WE CAN UTILIZE THE CURATIVE SITES WHICH WE DO FOR STAFF NOW.
IF YOU ARE LEAVING AND YOU DO NOT FEEL WELL AND YOU ARE HOME AND NEED A RAPID TEST WE DO ALLOW STAFF MEMBERS TO COME IN.
THEY COME INTO A NONWORK LOCATION TO GET TESTED.
THE CONCERN IS THE VOLUME OF STUDENTS THAT COULD BE COMING TO A SCHOOL THAT IS NOT THEIRS, POTENTIALLY SYMPTOMATIC WHEN WE ARE LIMITING VISITORS GREATLY.
[01:35:03]
ALSO, PARENTS ABILITY TO RUN THEM BETWEEN.WE HAVE NOT UTILIZED THE NONSCHOOL LOCATIONS FOR STUDENTS AT THIS POINT.
ARE WE GOING TO REQUIRE IT? WHEN WE GAVE THE OPTION AND WE SHORTENED THE QUARANTINE, DAY SEVEN, YOU COULD TEST ON DAY FIVE, DAY SIX AND A SEVEN.
THERE WAS NOT A REQUIREMENT THERE.
WE DID NOT SEE A REAL PROBLEM.
THE CRITICAL PIECE WE WANT OUR FAMILIES TO FOCUS ON IS MONITORING THE SYMPTOMS. WORRYING LESS ABOUT BASICS ABOUT YOU CAN GO TO SCHOOL, LET'S MAKE SURE YOUR SYMPTOMS ARE RESOLVED. YOU ARE ASYMPTOMATIC, FEVER FREE AND CAN WEAR YOUR MASK.
FROM STUDENTS AND STAFF MEMBERS SOME ARE NOT IN A PLACE TO RETURN ON DAY SIX BECAUSE THEIR SYMPTOMS ARE NOT RESOLVED.
AT THIS POINT WE DID NOT PUT FORWARD A REQUIREMENT SO MUCH AS AN OPTION FOR FAMILIES TO HAVE IT DONE AT SCHOOL.
WE CAN HAVE A FURTHER DISCUSSION OF THAT, IF THAT IS SOMETHING YOU WOULD LIKE US TO
PURSUE. >> THAT IS SUPER HELPFUL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.
I HAD ONE REALLY QUICK FOLLOW-UP QUESTION THAT MY DAUGHTER DECIDED TO VIDEO BONHOMIE.
I WILL GET BACK IN LINE BECAUSE I LOST IT.
[LAUGHING] >> I WILL MOVE OVER TO MR.
HARRIS. >> THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION DOCTOR CRAWFORD.
HOW FLUID INFORMATION IS COMING FROM CDC.
I WORKED WITH THEM FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, OUR FROM OUR INFORMATION CHANGES.
I DEFINITELY GET AND APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU HAVE PUT INTO IT.
THE QUESTION I HAVE IS IN REGARD TO THE MOSQUE.
--MASK. N95 IT IS TYPICALLY ONE TIME USE.
IS THERE GOING TO BE ANY KIND OF INFORMATION THAT BETTER EDUCATES? ON HOW TO STORE THEM, USE THEM? PREFERABLY HOW TO CLEAN THEM AND WASH THEM BECAUSE THEY CAN BE REUSED ACCORDING TO CDC GUIDELINES IF CLEANED PROPERLY.
BEING THAT WE HAVE A POTENTIAL SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUE AROUND THE COUNTRY, DOES THAT AFFECT OUR COST AND SUPPLY OF MASKS GOING FORWARD? WE DO NOT KNOW HOW LONG THIS WILL GO ON AND REMAIN HAVE TO HAVE THEM FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.
I AM CURIOUS ABOUT THAT, THANK YOU.
I DO NOT WANT TO PUT DOCTOR HART ON THE SPOT BUT SHE IS OUR PPE ORDER.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH DOCTOR CRAWFORD AND THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTIONS MR. HARRIS. DOCTOR CRAWFORD AND I DID CONSULT WITH ALEXANDRIA HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN TERMS OF THE ACCEPTABLE USE OF THE KN95 LINKS AND HOW MANY TIMES I RECOMMEND REUSED.
EACH MASK CAN BE USED UP TO FIVE TIMES, IF THEY ARE PROPERLY STORED.
ONE OF THE STORAGE MECHANISMS IS TO PLACE THE MASK IN A PAPER BAG OF COURSE MAKING SURE CAREFUL NOT TO TOUCH THE MOSQUE WITH SOILED HANDS.
IF THE EARLOBES HAVE BROKEN AND IT HAS BEEN SOILED YOU NEED TO REPLACE THE MASK.
WE ARE HOPING THE GENERAL RULE OF THUMB IS EACH MASK CAN BE USED UP TO FIVE TIMES.
WITH THAT SAID, WE ARE ANTICIPATING ESPECIALLY WITH SOME OF OUR YOUNGER ONES THEY WILL PROBABLY GO THROUGH THOSE MASKS MUCH QUICKER THAN THAT.
WE ARE WORKING TO CONTINUALLY PLACE ORDERS WITH VENDORS FOR THESE PARTICULAR MASKS.
THIS SEGUES INTO THE SECOND QUESTION YOU ASKED.
THERE ARE DEFINITELY SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES WITH THE KN95S YOU ARE SEEING CHALLENGES WITH THE CHILD SIZE MOSQUE.
WE ARE SEEMING TO GET THE ADULT SIZE MASK A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
A LOT OF OUR OLDER STUDENTS SOME OF THEM JUST BASED ON SIZE CAN ACTUALLY WHERE THE ADULT MOSQUE.-- MASK.
WE GET INQUIRIES EVERY DAY FROM VENDORS EVERY DAY.
THE FINAL CONSIDERATION IS MAKING SURE WE ARE PURCHASING FROM A REPUTABLE COMPANY.
WE DO NOT WANT TO RECEIVE COUNTERFEIT.
[01:40:02]
THAT ADDS AN ADDITIONAL LAYER OF CHALLENGE TO THE SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES.IN THE GUIDANCE WE DID SHARE WITH FAMILIES WE WERE OPEN AND TRANSPARENT WE HAVE A LIMITED SUPPLY. WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO USE ALL OF OUR VEHICLES.
REALLY WANTING TO PUT THAT OUT THERE TO ENCOURAGE FAMILIES IF THEY ARE ABLE TO DO SO TO SEE IF THEY CAN FIND THE MOSQUE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR STUDENTS AS WE LOOK FOR VARIOUS
VENDORS. >> THANK YOU A LOT, I APPRECIATE IT.
I WILL START BY ECHOING THE SENTIMENTS ABOUT THE NECESSITY OF MASK'S AT THIS TIME.
TO KEEP KIDS AND STAFF IN SCHOOL AND MAINTAIN IN PERSON LEARNING.
THAT IS THE PLACE WE ARE AT RIGHT NOW.
I KNOW WE ARE ALL THINKING ABOUT THE FUTURE.
WE HAVE TO ACT ON THE INFORMATION RIGHT NOW AND CURRENT CONTEXT.
MINUS AROUND THE BOOSTER DATA THAT WAS PRESENTED TODAY.
I AM CURIOUS ABOUT THIS NUMBER OF STAFF THAT REPORTED THEY HAVE RECEIVED THEIR BOOSTER.
I AM CURIOUS HOW I COULD THINK ABOUT A DENOMINATOR FOR THAT NUMBER.
DO WE KNOW HOW MUCH STAFF IS ACTUALLY A NEGLIGIBLE TO BE BOOSTED? NOT ALL OF THEM WOULD RELATIVELY BE ELIGIBLE FOR THEIR BOOSTER IF THEY JUST GOT VACCINATED. THAT IS MY FIRST QUESTION.
WHAT IS THE NUMBERS OR THE PERCENTAGE OF STAFF THAT IS BOOSTER ELIGIBLE.
I WILL ASK MY SECOND QUESTION AFTER YOUR RESPONSE.
>> SORRY, I WAS TRYING TO UNMUTE MYSELF.
I ACCIDENTALLY TURNED MY CAMERA OFF.
[LAUGHING] IT LOOKS LIKE I JUST TURNED MY CARAMEL OFF.
>> THANK YOU DOCTOR HUTCHINGS.
RIGHT NOW WE ARE LOOKING AT ALL OF OUR DATA.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT A DENOMINATOR FOR THAT WE HAVE ABOUT 96 PERCENT OF OUR POPULATION FULLY VACCINATED STATUS.
AS WE ARE LOOKING THROUGH IT IS REALLY HARD TO DETERMINE AT THIS POINT.
WE DO HAVE A LARGE NUMBER WE STILL ARE VERIFYING.
WE HAVE TO PUT OUR HANDS ON EACH ONE OF THOSE VACCINATED RECORDS.
THAT WAY WE CAN VERIFY IT IS IN THE WINDOW.
RIGHT NOW IT IS A LITTLE BIT PREMATURE TO HAVE AN EXACT NUMBER I WOULD LIKE SOME TIME TO GET THAT BACK TO AS WE REVIEW THE HUNDRED THAT ARE LEFT TO MAKE SURE I GIVE YOU SOME GOOD DATA ON THAT.
>> THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE THAT.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT INFORMATION.
MY NEXT QUESTION IS ABOUT DAY SIX RETURN.
I AM EXCITED TO SEE THAT HOPEFULLY IN THE NEAR FUTURE WE WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO TEST STUDENTS WHEN THEY RETURN ON DAY SIX.
IN THE INTERIM, HAVING STUDENTS WHO ARE: POSITIVE ON DAY SIX BUT ARE ASYMPTOMATIC -- THAT MIGHT STILL POSE A RISK FOR STUDENTS PARTICULARLY DURING LUNCH TIME WHEN MASKS HAVE TO COME OFF. EITHER ADDITIONAL MITIGATION STRATEGIES OR THINGS WE CAN DO TO LIMIT THE SPREAD
DURING THAT TIME? >> GREAT QUESTION.
AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL THEY ARE MONITORING WHAT SCHOOLS RETURN.
TO DATE WE DO NOT HAVE A SEPARATE LOCATION FOR DAY SIX STUDENTS TO EAT LUNCH.
WE DO HAVE, IN PARTICULAR AT SOME OF OUR LARGER LOCATIONS DIFFERENT LUNCH OPTIONS FOR ALL. WHO NEEDS A DISTANCE, OR HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT DISTANCING.
WHETHER THAT IS BECAUSE YOU ARE RETURNING AND ASYMPTOMATIC OR LET'S SAY YOU HAVE A PERSON WHO IS IN A RISK AREA IN YOUR HOME.
YOU WANT TO EAT IN A DIFFERENT LOCATION.
WE KNOW OUR SCHOOLS ARE SPACING TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITY.
CDC DID PROVIDE MASK GUIDANCE AT LUNCH AS A REMINDER OF WEARING YOUR MASK WHEN IN LINE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE HAVE TALKED TO SECONDARY SCHOOLS FOR STUDENTS LOOKING FOR ANOTHER OPTION.
IN ANSWER TO YOUR DIRECT QUESTION DO WE HAVE A SEPARATE LOCATION FOR STUDENTS ON DAY SIX RETURNING, WE DO NOT.
IT HAS CERTAINLY BEEN A STRUGGLE AND A TOPIC WE HAVE DISCUSSED.
HASHING OUT HOW DO YOU REQUIRE SOMEONE EATING A PARTICULAR ROOM WITHOUT REVEALING
[01:45:09]
PROTECTED HEALTH DATA. I HAVE BEEN HESITANT TO HAVE A COVID LUNCHROOM, A DAY SIX ROOM AND DAY SEVEN ROOM. THEN, MONITORING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE GETTING ALL OF THE STUDENTS ON THE DAY SIX RETURN. SO, IT IS A TOPIC WE HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH.WE DO NOT HAVE THAT IN PLACE AT THIS TIME.
>> NEXT STEP I HAVE THIS RAHIM.
>> I HAVE ONE QUESTION THAT HAS PROBABLY BEEN ANSWERED.
WHEN IT COMES TO GETTING POSSIBLY EXPOSED TO COVID, IF YOU DO NOT SHOW ANY SYMPTOMS, YOU SEEM FINE, BUT YOU HAVE NOT GOTTEN TESTED, YOU NEED TO BE TESTED TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL? OR YOU CAN GO BACK TO SCHOOL AND IT'S FINE? IS IT STILL RECOMMENDED TO GET TESTED? IS A TEST GENUINELY NEEDED? OR COULD YOU GO BACK TO SCHOOL? WITHOUT GETTING TESTED.
IS THAT FINE? >> THANK YOU, GOOD QUESTION AS WELL.
THE QUARANTINE GUIDANCE ON TESTING RIGHT NOW IS IF YOU HAVE AN EXPOSURE AND YOU DEVELOP SYMPTOMS THEN TESTING NEEDED.
YES, IF YOU DEVELOP SYMPTOMS WE WANT YOU TO GET TESTED.
IF YOU DO NOT HAVE SYMPTOMS THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO GET TESTED ON DAY FIVE.
TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE NOT ASYMPTOMATIC AND WITH THE VIRUS.
YOU COULD BE CARRYING IT AND PASSING IT ALONG.
CAN YOU RETURN WITHOUT TESTING? AT THIS POINT, YES.
SIMILAR TO OUR PREVIOUS QUARANTINE GUIDANCE.
YOU COULD TEST ON DAYS FIVE, SIX, SEVEN AND RETURN DATE.
IF YOU DID NOT TEST YOU CAN RETURN DAY 10.
WE DO RECOMMEND PEOPLE GET TESTED ON DAY FIVE BEFORE RETURNING THAT IS THE
RECOMMENDATION. >> THIS IS EVEN IF YOU ARE VACCINATED OR ON VACCINATED AND YOU HAVE THE BOOSTER?
>> YOU WOULD NOT HAVE TO QUARANTINE BUT MONITORING OF THOSE SYMPTOMS AND THE TESTING, THAT
IS CONSISTENT. >> OKAY, THANK YOU.
>> VERY GOOD QUESTION. >> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU CHAIR ALDERTON AND DOCTOR CRAWFORD.
VERY EXCITED TO HEAR ABOUT THE VDH TEST.
ASYMPTOMATIC CLOSE CONTACTS CAN STAY IN SCHOOL.
I AM INTERESTING, IS THERE ANY RATIONALE BEHIND THE SCHOOLS THAT WERE SELECTED FOR THE TEST? I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW, I KNOW YOU ARE IN THE PLANNING STAGES, IT SEEMS THAT THINGS ARE ALWAYS IN PLANNING STAGES, WE GET SO EXCITED.
I WAS WONDERING IF THERE WAS A TIME WHEN WE COULD POTENTIALLY BE UP AND RUNNING? FOR THE PILOT.
I TALKED TO OUR REPRESENTATIVE EVERY DAY.
I TALKED TO HER AT 4:30 PM TODAY.
>> HONESTLY, OUR GOAL IS THAT WE ARE UP AND RUNNING IN THREE WEEKS.
LOOKING AT THOSE THREE SPECIFIC LOCATIONS.
WE LOOKED AT ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS.
WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE WERE NOT DOING SCHOOLS THAT WERE RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER.
WE DID NOT FEEL THAT WE COULD ASK KING STREET TO TAKE ON A PILOT AT THIS TIME.
THE VOLUME OF THE CASES THAT THEY HAVE HAD AND THE THINGS GOING ON.
WE WANTED TO GET A RANGE OF SECONDARY STUDENTS WHICH IS WHEN WE THOUGHT WE WOULD ASK AN ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM IF THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO DO THAT.
SO, WE STILL HAVE A SAMPLE OF SECONDARY STUDENTS.
ALSO, WE HAVE HEARD FROM A NUMBER OF PRINCIPLES ABOUT WILLINGNESS WANTING TO DO IT.
SO, WE SPOKE TO SEVERAL PRINCIPLES TO GET A SENSE.
[01:50:04]
KNOWING THAT WE WERE LIMITED.VDH WAS LOOKING FOR AN ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL.
WE WANTED TO GET IT UP AND RUNNING.
WE WANTED IT TO BE FEASIBLE BASED ON THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT.
THE SELECTION WAS LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS, UNDERSTANDING THE THRESHOLDS OF STAFF RIGHT NOW. ONE OF THE THINGS THEY DO SAY IS YOU CAN USE YOUR VISSTA FUNDING TO HIRE STAFF.
WE DO NOT HAVE THAT FUNDING YET.
WE WANTED TO PICK SCHOOLS WE COULD GET UP AND RUNNING AND BRINGING SOME HOURLY SUPPORT AND ORDINATION. WE WANT TO HAVE THOSE STOPS BEFORE WE GET IT GOING.
THE PRINCIPLES AND THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION HAD GREAT BUY-IN FOR SUPPORTING THE
>> THANK YOU NEXT UP IS DOCTOR RIEF.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE DOCTOR CRAWFORD.
HOW HARD EVERYONE IS WORKING TO MAKE SURE WE ARE KEEPING EVERYBODY SAFE.
VERY EXCITING NEWS ABOUT THE DASHBOARD.
I KNOW A LOT OF OUR FAMILIES ARE GOING TO BE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
I ALSO APPRECIATE THE UPDATE ABOUT MASK.
WE REALLY PRIORITIZE AS A BOARD WANTING TO PROTECT EVERYBODY'S HEALTH AND SAFETY.
I THINK THE BEST WAY WE CAN DO THAT IS LISTENING TO OUR PUBLIC HEALTH THE CDC IS STILL RECOMMENDING CAD UNIVERSAL MASKING.
SOMETIMES ADVICE WILL CHANGE OVER TIME.
AS THE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH COMES OUT THE RECOMMENDATIONS WILL CHANGE.
THERE WILL BE A DAY WHERE I THINK THE MASK WILL BE REMOVED.
RIGHT NOW THE CDC IS STILL RECOMMENDING THAT.
I THINK IT IS GOOD WE CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THAT RECOMMENDATION.
I THOUGHT THE STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES MADE A GREAT RECOMMENDATION ABOUT AN AWARENESS CAMPAIGN. JUST LISTENING TO YOU, DOCTOR CRAWFORD, GO THROUGH THE LATEST INFORMATION IS CHANGING CONSTANTLY.
MAYBE IF WE COULD THINK ABOUT GETTING CREATIVE.
CONTINUING TO UPDATE FOLKS ON THE CHANGES.
I THINK GETTING STUDENTS INVOLVED IS A GREAT IDEA AS WELL.
JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT. MY QUESTION IS REALLY FOR DOCTOR HUTCHINGS, IN RELATION TO THE SICK LEAVE FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.
EARLIER IN THE PANDEMIC THERE WAS FEDERAL LEGISLATION THAT BASICALLY EXTENDED FMLA LEAVE TO SUPPORT STAFF.
THOSE THAT ARE DEALING WITH CLOSE CONTACT, TESTING POSITIVE, ETC.
WE ARE ASKING OUR EMPLOYEES TO USE UP THEIR SICK LEAVE IF THEY TESTED POSITIVE AND HAVE TO ISOLATE FOR FIVE DAYS.
IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA AS WELL AS THE NEIGHBORING SCHOOL DIVISIONS, MANY OF THEM HAVE PUT INTO PLACE AND EMERGENCY HEALTH LEAVE PROGRAM.
THE CITY IS CALLING AT THE CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS LEAVE.
STAFF GET UP TO 10 ADDITIONAL DAYS THAT THEY CAN USE IF THEY ARE UNABLE TO WORK FOR A QUALIFYING REASON RELATED TO COVID-19.
THROUGHOUT THIS PANDEMIC WE HAVE WORKED HARD ON WAYS TO SUPPORT OUR EMPLOYEES.
IT SEEMS LIKE WE ARE MISSING AN OPPORTUNITY HERE.
MY QUESTION IS, WHY ARE WE NOT DOING THAT LIKE THE CITY AND OTHER DIVISIONS? IS THIS SOMETHING WE CAN DO? I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR SOME FEEDBACK ON THAT FROM MY COLLEAGUES.
I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE COULD MAKE IT RETROACTIVE.
I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR SOME THOUGHTS ON THAT. THANK YOU.
>> WE HAVE BEEN HAVING DISCUSSIONS.
DOCTOR, IF YOU COULD ELABORATE ON SOME OF THE PRELIMINARY CONVERSATIONS WE HAVE HAD.
ALSO, GO OVER OUR CURRENT POLICY IN REGARD TO OUR STAFF MEMBERS WHO ARE OUT SICK.
WHETHER IT IS COVID OR FLULIKE SYMPTOMS.
>> THAT QUESTION HAS COME UP TO US SEVERAL TIMES.
WE HAVE LOOKED AT NEIGHBORING DIVISIONS ABOUT SOME POSSIBILITIES AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO SUPPORT STAFF. IN THE INTERIM WE HAVE EXPRESSED TO OUR LEADERS AND LEADERS IN DIFFERENT
[01:55:06]
DEPARTMENTS THAT IF THEY HAVE A STAFF MEMBER WHO HAS ENCOUNTERED SUCH CONCERNS AROUND THAT PLEASE REACH OUT TO OUR DEPARTMENT.THAT WAY WE CAN PROVIDE THEM SUPPORT.
WE ARE HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO SUPPORT
THEM. >> I THINK STAFF HAVE A PARTICULAR AMOUNT OF DAYS THEY ARE ALLOTTED FOR SICK LEAVE EVERY YEAR. ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS HOW WOULD YOU MAKE THAT DECISION WHETHER TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SICK LEAVE TO SOME EMPLOYEES?
>> BASICALLY THEY REACH OUT TO OUR COMPENSATION OFFICE AND WE HAVE THE CONVERSATION ABOUT IF THEY HAVE OTHER OPTIONS THEY MAY HAVE NOT CONSIDERED.
SOMETIMES IT IS NOT ALWAYS AROUND LEAVE IT COULD BE AROUND ADDITIONAL FINANCES OR CHILDCARE THERE ARE DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR THEM TO USE THROUGH OUR EAP.
THAT WOULD PROVIDE THEM RESOURCES THAT WOULD ALLOW THEM TO CONTINUE TO WORK OR PROVIDE CARE FOR MAYBE A FAMILY MEMBER OR PARENT.
SOMETIMES IT IS AROUND THAT TYPE OF LEAVE AS WELL.
THEY CAN REACH OUT TO US AND WE WILL DEFINITELY PROVIDE GUIDANCE ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS FOR THEM. WE DO REALIZE THESE ARE CHALLENGING TIMES.
WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO TRY TO SUPPORT THEM.
WE ARE AWARE THERE ARE NEIGHBORING DIVISIONS OFFERING THOSE PROGRAMS. LIKE DOCTOR HUTCHINGS SAID WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE FOR ACPS MOVING
I'M GOING TO WRAP EVERYTHING UP.
I'M GOING TO GET EVERYBODY HERE IN ORDER.
I KNOW MISS BOOZ IS COMING BACK AS WELL.
>> DOCTOR HUTCHINGS I WANT TO ECHO WHAT SHE JUST MENTIONED.
IF WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BEING THE BEST AND ABOUT RETENTION AND TAKING CARE OF OUR STAFF, IT IS PROBABLY PRUDENT TO HAVE SOME SORT OF CONSISTENT POLICY LIKE COVID SICK DAYS.
SOMETHING THAT STAFF WILL KNOW IS THERE IF THEY FACE HARD TIMES.
IF THEY ARE FORCED TO QUARANTINE OR THEY TEST POSITIVE THEY DO NOT HAVE TO USE THEIR SICK LEAVE. PAY IS NOT THE ONLY THING THAT ATTRACTS STAFF.
WE ALWAYS WANT TO BE THE BEST.
WE REALLY WANT TO TAKE CARE OF THEM.
WE NEED TO HAVE SOME SORT OF POLICY IN PLACE.
ESPECIALLY WITH THE RISING CASES RIGHT NOW, THIS IS PROBABLY LIKE THE BEST TIME TO DO IT, SOONER THAN LATER. DOCTOR CRAWFORD CAN YOU ELABORATE ON THE VISSTA PROGRAM.
HOW IS THAT DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WE HAVE AND HOW THAT WORKS?
>> IT IS DIFFERENT IN A COUPLE OF WAYS.
THE BIGGEST AND MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE IT IS FUNDED.
BY THE STATE. THE CURATIVE PROGRAM WE ARE USING SOME OF OUR FUNDS TO PAY FOR.
WE DID THAT INTENTIONALLY BECAUSE WE KNEW WE WANTED TO GET UP AND RUNNING WITH THE WEEKLY TESTING. WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT WITH THE BOARD'S SUPPORT ABLE TO GET A CONTRACT AND MOVE FORWARD. THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE IS THE DISTINCTION IN THE FUNDING.
THE OTHER PIECE IS THAT SOME OF THE VENDORS HAVE DIFFERENT TYPES OF TESTING.
AGAIN, AND FULL TRANSPARENCY, WE JUST LEARNED OF THE NEW VENDORS.
SO, WE HAVE NOT HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THEM.
THE PREVIOUS VENDOR HAD STAYED WITH US THEY WOULD BE DOING PCR TESTING AS AN EXAMPLE VERSUS RAPID TESTING.
MOST OF THE VENDORS DO A DEGREE OF POOLED TESTING.
I DO NOT WANT TO BE TOO SPECIFIC BECAUSE I DO NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS VENDOR TYPICALLY THE POOLS ARE SMALL ENOUGH THEY ARE ABLE TO IDENTIFY WITHOUT A RETEST.
THERE WERE SOME DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT VENDORS.
NOW, WILL OUR KIDS KNOW THERE IS A DIFFERENCE, PROBABLY NOT? THEY WILL COME DOWN AND DO THE SAME TYPE OF TESTING.
IF IT IS A PCR TEST WE WILL JUST NOT RECEIVED RESPONSE
[02:00:10]
WITHIN THE 15 MINUTES OR SO.>> THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE IT.
>> MISS BOOZ. >> IT SURPRISES ME WE DO NOT HAVE A POLICY FOR OUR STAFF.
THEN, WE ARE REQUIRING THEM TO TAKE TIME OFF AND THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO COME BACK INTO THE CLASSROOM. THE FACT THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO USE THEIR LEAVE TIME, PERSONAL LEAVE TIME TO DO THAT, REALLY IS NOT THE BEST WAY WE SHOULD BE TREATING OUR STAFF.
WE WANT TO DO WHAT IS BEST TO KEEP THEM SAFE AND HEALTHY AND TAKE CARE OF THEIR MENTAL HEALTH. THE LAST THING WE WANT TO DO IS STRESS ANYONE OUT THAT THEY HAVE TO USE THEIR OWN LEAVE FOR THIS TIME.
I REALLY ECHO YOU BOTH TO SAY WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO FIX THIS.
IT IS NOT JUST SURROUNDING JURISDICTIONS I CAN POINT TO SEVERAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS AROUND THE COUNTRY WHO HAVE CREATED GREATLY POLICY TO SUPPORT STAFF.
WE SHOULD BE LOOKING BEYOND AT THE DMV AT OTHER EXAMPLES.
THE QUESTION, DOCTOR CRAWFORD, THE ONE THING ON THE DAY SIX TO RETURN TEST, IS IT THAT WE ARE GOING TO REQUIRE --THE DELAY IS THAT WE WANT TO REQUIRE THE TEST THAT WE AS ACPS ARE OFFERING? OR IF FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE ACCESS TO GETTING CURATIVE TEST FOR ANTIGEN OR THEY HAVE SOME AT HOME TEST.
WITH THAT ALSO COUNT? I KNOW CURATIVE TEST HAVE BEEN HARD TO GET.
IT SEEMS LIKE THEY ARE STARTING TO GET A LITTLE BIT MORE OPEN TO GETTING SOME APPOINTMENTS. AS THE DELAY OF MOVING FORWARD ON THAT DAY SIX BECAUSE WE WANT TO DO IT ON OUR OWN? AS ACPS.
RIGHT NOW FAMILIES ARE PROVIDING RESULTS THEY GET.
WHETHER IT IS CURATIVE OR AT HOME OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES.
OUR FAMILIES ARE SENDING IN THEIR RESULTS.
THE REASON THAT IT IS NOT STARTING IMMEDIATELY IS THAT I AM ONLY SPEAKING TO YOU, THE ACPS PROCESS OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN ON DAY SIX.
WE DO NOT HAVE THE TESTING INVENTORY TO HAVE IT BEGAN.
OUR FAMILIES ARE ALREADY DOING THAT.
IF THEY ARE ABLE TO THEY ARE SENDING THEM IN.
STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO RETURN IF YOU MEET THOSE THREE OTHER CRITERIA.
WE ARE ENCOURAGING THE TESTING.
THE TESTING IS JUST AN EXTRA LAYER OF MEASURE TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE BEING SAFE.
FAMILIES ARE SHARING RIGHT NOW.
WE WOULD BE ACCEPTING TEST THAT HAPPEN OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL.
>> MY LAST QUESTION IS AROUND THE TEST TO STAY PILOT.
FIRST, WHAT METRICS ARE YOU LOOKING AT TO KNOW IF THAT PILOT IS SUCCESSFUL? AFTER THAT, WHAT IS SORT OF THE TIMELINE OR PLANS FOR EXTENDING THE TWO OTHER SCHOOLS? A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION AS WELL FOR OUR FAMILIES WHO HAVE A HOME LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH OR SPANISH, COULD BE POTENTIALLY USE LANGUAGE LINE AS AN ASSISTANT? NAVIGATING WHATEVER THE ONLINE PORTAL IS FOR THE TEST ADMINISTRATION.
>> STARTING WITH THE SECOND, YES.
I THINK THAT COULD BE AN OPTION.
THE CHALLENGE WOULD BE SOME OF THE HEARING, COULD BEGET LANGUAGE LINE TO BE ON THE CALL? OR THE VIDEOCONFERENCE.
IF THE PERSON IS ON THE PHONE THE LOGISTICS OF APPEARING TO THE PERSON ON THE COMPUTER, THE FAMILY AND SOME OF THAT DOES NOT WORK AS WELL.
THAT IS WHAT THE EXPERIENCE WAS WITH SOME PEOPLE WHO HAD TRIED THAT.
IT WAS NOT AS EASY TO DO IT THAT WAY.
IN FACT, IT WAS PRETTY FRUSTRATING.
IN ANSWER TO TEST TUESDAY QUESTIONS AT THE BEGINNING, SOME OF IT IS DEPENDENT ON THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AS THEIR INITIATIVE.
THEY ARE PROVIDING THE TEST SUPPLIES TO US.
WE JUST SUBMITTED TODAY THAT WE WILL FOLLOW THEIR REQUIREMENTS.
FIRST OF ALL, WE LOOK AT PARTICIPATION.
LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF CLOSE CONTACTS AND HOW MANY FAMILIES CHOSE TO DO THAT.
WE WILL LOOK AT OUR POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE RESULTS ON THE TEST.
[02:05:04]
DID IT PROVE EFFECTIVE? DID OUR STUDENTS TESTED NEGATIVE EVERY DAY? DID THE MAJORITY TEST POSITIVE? WE LOOK AT THE POSITIVITY, PARTICIPATION RATE, AND FEEDBACK.QUALITATIVE FEEDBACK FROM FAMILIES.
IS THIS WORKING? THE IMPORTANT PIECE ABOUT TEST TO STAY IT IS A COMMITMENT OF AT LEAST 30 MINUTES.
SO, IT SOUNDS LIKE A SMALL AMOUNT OF TIME AND LISTEN YOU ARE TRYING TO ORGANIZE YOUR FAMILY TO GET OUT OF THE DOOR EVERY MORNING TO GET TO SCHOOL.
AS WELL AS COMING TO SCHOOL AND THEN TAKING THE TEST AND WAITING 30 MINUTES.
YOU ARE LATE FOR YOUR FIRST PERIOD, YOUR HOMEROOM.
IT IS ONLY FIVE DAYS, OF COURSE.
GETTING A SENSE FROM THE FAMILY ON HOW THAT PROCESS FLOWS.
GETTING THAT QUALITATIVE ASPECT AS WELL AS MONITORING THE DATA.
THAT IS WHAT ACPS IS LOOKING AT VDH MAY HAVE ADDITIONAL MEASURES THEY WOULD BE LOOKING AT TOO.AS FAR AS THE EXPANSION WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO EXPAND WITHOUT THEIR PERMISSION.
>> THANK YOU. >> OUR LAST QUESTION WILL COME FROM MR.
BAILEY. >> THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. I JUST WANTED TO GO BACK TO WHAT DOCTOR WAS SAYING.
I KNOW THEY SAID THEY ARE LOOKING AROUND AT OTHER JURISDICTIONS AND SCHOOL SYSTEMS TO SEE WHAT THEY ARE DOING. AS IT RELATES TO SICK LEAVE, IF STAFF IS USING THEIR OWN SICK LEAVE, FOR POSSIBLE CLOSE CONTACT FROM THE CLASSROOM BEFORE IN SCHOOL, THEN THE SHOULD BE COVERED. WE SHOULD BE WORKING ON THIS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO MAKE SURE THIS IS COVERED.
THEY SHOULD NOT BE USING THEIR OWN SICK LEAVE IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT OBVIOUSLY, IF THEY GOT IT FROM A KID IN THE CLASSROOM OR THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
WE SHOULD BE DOING ALL WE CAN TO WORK ON THAT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
I FEEL THAT IS THE BEST THING TO DO.
I AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY WITH WHAT EVERYONE IS SAYING AS IT RELATES TO BEING THE RIGHT THING TO DO. NOT JUST ABOUT THE SALARY BUT ABOUT THE OTHER THINGS THAT IS GOING TO ATTRACT OTHER TEACHERS TO COME HERE.
AGAIN, THIS IS NOT A QUESTION.
AS IT RELATES TO THE PANDEMIC, THE LAST TIME SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENED IT WAS OVER 100 YEARS AGO.
OBVIOUSLY, WE KNOW THEY DID NOT LEAVE US A PLAYBOOK ON IT.
EVERYTHING YOU ALL ARE DOING, DOCTOR HUTCHINGS AND YOUR STAFF, IS NOT WRONG.
WE JUST HAVE TO KEEP TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING THE BEST WE CAN.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, TO KEEP OUR KIDS IN SCHOOL AND GET A GREATER EDUCATION.
I FEEL THAT YOU ALL ARE WORKING HARD AND DOING EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO MAKE SURE OUR KIDS ARE ABLE TO ATTEND SCHOOL.
SO, KEEP THROWING THE IDEAS OUT THERE.
I SEE EVERYBODY IS TALKING ABOUT CDC.
WE CANNOT GO WRONG IF WE FOLLOW WHAT THE CDC IS SAYING.
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU MR. BAILEY. DOCTOR HUTCHINGS HAS HIS HAND UP.
I WANT TO TELL YOU ALL, WE ARE GOING THROUGH THIS TOO.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE ARE ALREADY WORKING THROUGH, THE LEGAL POLICY, WE WILL COME BACK AND SHARE WITH THE BOARD WHAT WE GET OUT OF THIS.
IT IS NOT THAT WE DO NOT CARE.
I DO NOT WANT ANYBODY TO THINK WE DO NOT CARE ABOUT OUR STAFF.
WE DEARLY CARE ABOUT OUR STAFF.
THEY ARE OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY AS WELL AS OUR STUDENTS.
WE ARE ALREADY IN THE WORKS OF DOING THIS.
WE JUST DO NOT HAVE A FINAL THING TO SHARE WITH THE BOARD TODAY.
THAT WAS NOT AN ITEM ON THE LIST.
YOU ALL WILL GET AN UPDATE ON THAT.
OKAY, WE HAVE A HEFTY AGENDA THIS EVENING.
SO, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ONE.
I AM LOOKING AT VICE CHAIR GREENE.
I PROMISE WE WILL HAVE A LITTLE BREAK BETWEEN THE END OF OUR MEETING AND OUR WORK
[02:10:05]
SESSION. BECAUSE SHE WILL GIVE ME THE EYES.[LAUGHING] MOVING ON WITH SOME NEW BUSINESS.
[18. FY 2021 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report]
WE DO HAVE OUR COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT.THIS IS BOTH AN INFORMATION AND ACTION ITEM.
I WILL TURN IT OVER TO DOCTOR HUTCHINGS TO TURN IT OVER TO HIS TEAM.
>> EXCUSE ME, I AM LOSING MY VOICE.
>> THE COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT.
>> I WAS LIKE WHERE OUR WEEKLY I DO NOT SEE JODY APPEAR.
I'M GOING TO TURN THINGS OVER TO OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, MR. TURNER, TO INTRODUCE OUR TEAM AS WELL AS TALK THROUGH OUR COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT.
>> THANK YOU DOCTOR HUTCHINGS.
I HAVE OUR ACCOUNTING DIRECTOR MR. MICHAEL COVINGTON AND OUR EXTERNAL AUDITOR MR. GREG. I DO NOT SEE MICHAEL ON, I WILL GO AHEAD AND SAY THESE FEW WORDS FOR HIM.
I WANT TO THANK OUR WHOLE ACCOUNTING TEAM FOR WHAT THEY DO EVERY YEAR WITH OUR INTERNAL CONTROLS. ENSURING THAT WE STAY ON THE RIGHT PATH BEING ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER A COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL ANNUAL REPORT EVERY YEAR.
AND WORKING WITH OUR EXTERNAL AUDITORS TO ENSURE THAT WE DO HAVE A CLEAN AUDIT OPINION.
WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO MR. GREG. HE WILL GO THROUGH THE COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU EVERYONE.
WE ARE GOING BY CLA NOW AT MY SCHOOL, A LOT EASIER TO SAY.
I WANT TO START BY THANKING EVERYONE WITHIN THE FINANCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
WITHOUT THEIR HELP WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET THROUGH THE AUDIT OF THEIR FINANCIAL STATEMENT. EACH YEAR.
CERTAINLY APPRECIATE YOUR HELP.
YOU HAVE HEARD THE TERM COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT THERE IS AN ACRONYM FOR THAT THAT HAS FALLEN OUT OF FAVOR CAFR WILL NOT BE USED ANYMORE.
NEXT TO IT WILL BE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT.
WE ARE ALL STARTING TO SAY THAT ACRONYM AND DOES NOT QUITE ROLL OFF OF THE TONGUE.
YOU MAY START TO HEAR THAT ACRONYM AND OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AREAS AS WE PROGRESS.
STANDARD NUMBER 98 THAT MAKES IT EFFECTIVE FOR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR NEXT YEAR.
THAT WILL BE A CHANGE YOU WILL SEE COMING DOWN THE ROAD.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR THEIR HELP DURING THEIR YEAR END PROCESS.
I AM HAPPY TO SAY WE DID ISSUE A CLEAN OPINION.
ALSO AN UNMODIFIED OPINION ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT HIGHEST FORM OF ASSURANCE WE CAN GET. IF YOU HAVE A COPY OF THE DOCUMENT IT IS ON PAGE 21 THROUGH 23.
I WILL NOT READ THE WHOLE THING TO YOU NOW.
THAT IS OUR OPINION APPEARED WE ISSUE THE REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS AND REGULATIONS. WE DO NOT ISSUE AN OPINION ON INTERNAL CONTROL BUT WE DO PERFORM TESTING AS PART OF OUR ENGAGEMENT.
THAT IS ON PAGE 161 AND 162 OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
I AM HAPPY TO SAY THERE WERE NO FINDINGS THERE.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS THERE IS A 170 PAGES IN THAT DOCUMENT.
MANAGEMENT THEIR HARD WORK THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, RECORDING TRANSACTIONS.
WRITING CHECKS, APPROVING TRANSACTIONS.
ALL OF THAT HARD WORK IS DONE BY YOUR FINANCIAL STAFF DURING THE YEAR.
THE CLEAN OPINION, ONE THING TO POINT OUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS DOCUMENT IT IS A QUALITY DOCUMENT. ACPS RECEIVED TWO CERTIFICATES WITHIN THE INDUSTRY, GOVERNMENTAL REPORTING.
ONE OF THEM IS THE ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BOARD OFFICERS AND THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICER ASSOCIATION THEY GIVE OUT THEIR AWARDS.
THEY AWARDED CERTIFICATES OF EXCELLENCE BASED ON MEETING CERTAIN STANDARDS IN FINANCIAL REPORTING. THE SCHOOL BOARD HAS RECEIVED A CERTIFICATE FOR 18 YEARS.
CONSECUTIVE. GFOA 11 YEARS CONSECUTIVE.
A LOT OF HARD WORK GOES INTO THESE DOCUMENTS.
[02:15:03]
THE 2020 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS HAVE RECEIVED THE AWARD.THEY ARE IN PROCESS. THEY WILL FIND OUT IN THE SPRING AND SUMMER TIMEFRAME IF THEY RECEIVED IT. FROM THE QUALITY WE SAW IT LOOKS LIKE THEY WILL BE GOING INTO THE YEARS RESPECTIVELY. THAT IS SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND OF A FEATHER IN THE CAP OF MANAGEMENT AND THE FINANCIAL REPORTING TEAM.
ONE THING YOU WILL SEE IN THIS FINANCIAL STATEMENT THIS YEAR THERE WAS A NEW FINANCIAL STANDARD. NUMBER 84 RELATED TO THE WAY CERTAIN FIDUCIARY FUNDS ARE REPORTED.
THERE IS A FOOTNOTE THAT DESCRIBES IT.
THE SCHOOL ACTIVITY FUNDS THAT USED TO BE RECORDED AS FIDUCIARY FUNDS ARE NOT RECORDED AS A PART OF YOUR SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS.
THAT IS DISCLOSED AND REPORTED WITHIN THE STATEMENT.
THAT MAY LOOK A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN WHAT YOU SEE IN THE PAST.
A COUPLE OF THINGS TO POINT OUT, WE DID NOT IDENTIFY ANY ADJUSTMENTS WITHIN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT. WE DID NOT FIND ANY ERRORS THAT NEEDED TO BE RECORDED BY MANAGEMENT.
HERE, YOU CAN SEE THE COVER OF THE DOCUMENT.
TAKE A READ OF THAT ONCE YOU HAVE A CHANCE.
YOU NEED TO SPEND SOME TIME IF YOU WANT TO READ THE WHOLE THING.
THERE IS A TRANSMITTAL LETTER AND MANAGER ANALYSIS.
IN THE FRONT THAT WILL GIVE YOU A SUMMARIZED VERSION OF THE RESULTS OF OPERATIONS, FINANCIAL POSITION, IT WILL TALK ABOUT HOW THINGS CHANGE.
THEN, A LITTLE BIT OF A FUTURE OUTLOOK.
THERE IS AN INTRODUCTORY SECTION, MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, THERE ARE NOTES WITH THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NOTES, THEY TELL THE STORY BEHIND THE NUMBERS.
IT IS GOOD TO READ THOSE AND UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON.
THERE IS ACTUALLY FOOTNOTES ON THE STATEMENTS THAT REFER PEOPLE TO THE NOTES.
THERE IS SOME REQUIRED SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
THERE WERE SOME OTHER INFORMATION AND THEN THE STATISTICAL SECTION AND COMPLIANCE SECTION. THERE WAS A LOT TO THIS DOCUMENT.
AGAIN, THE HARD WORK FROM EVERYONE AT ACPS OVER THE YEAR.
I POINTED OUT THE CHANGE OF THE COORDINATOR.
ALSO IN OTHER STANDARD 87 RELATED TO LISA'S.
--LEASE. TO GET READY FOR NEXT YEAR'S FINANCIAL REPORTING THE WHOLE ACCOUNTING INDUSTRY IS KIND OF GOING THE SAME WAY WITH LEASS THEY WILL BE SHOWING UP AS CAPITAL LEASES.
THAT IS WHAT IS COMING DOWN THE ROAD.
THAT IS EVERYTHING WITH THIS YEAR'S OF RESOURCE OLD --OF OPERATION.
CLEAN OPINION. I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? BASED ON THE DOCUMENT THAT WAS POSTED FOR EVERYBODY TO LOOK AT?
DOCTOR RIEF? >> THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION AND THANK YOU TO THE TEAM.
DID WE HAVE THE PLEASURE OF GETTING THE HARD COPY OF THIS REPORT IN THE FUTURE?
>> YES, WE CAN PRINT OUT A COPY FOR ANYBODY THAT WANTS ONE.
WE CAN HAVE THOSE DISTRIBUTED TO EVERYBODY.
IF YOU DID NOT GET A HARD COPY WE WILL PRINT THEM OUT AT THE PRINT CENTER AND GIVE A HARD COPY TO EACH ONE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS.
>> MR. TURNER I DO HAVE THE HARD COPIES.
SINCE WE WERE NOT IN PERSON TONIGHT I WAS NOT ABLE TO DISTRIBUTE THEM.
I DID WANT TO GIVE MIKE COVINGTON A SECOND TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF OF HIS TEAM.
IT IS THE ACCOUNTING TEAM THAT WORKS WITH OUR EXTERNAL AUDITORS AND CREATES THIS DOCUMENT. MR. COVINGTON IS UNDER MY NAME RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I HAD TO SEND HIM MY LINK.
[LAUGHING] >> VERY GOOD, THANK YOU DOMINIC.
GOOD EVENING EVERYONE, DOCTOR HUTCHINS, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I AM HONORED TO BE BEFORE YOU TONIGHT TO INTRODUCE THE AUDITORS REPORT THAT YOU HAVE HEARD. THAT REPORT IS A COMBINATION OF ACTIVITIES AND FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS THAT EVERY ACPS SCHOOL IN DEPARTMENT CONTRIBUTES TOWARD.
I DEFINITELY WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK ALL OF THE DEPARTMENT HEADS, STAFF, CHIEF, SCHOOL PRINCIPALS AND TREASURERS FOR BEING MINDFUL IN THEIR DILIGENCE IN COMPLYING
[02:20:07]
WITH OUR MEMBERS FINANCIAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES.I AM ALSO THANKFUL FOR THE SUPPORT MY OFFICE RECEIVES FROM DOMINIC OUR CFO.
ALL OF THE OTHER FINANCIAL SERVICES STAFF AND PARTICULARLY I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE DEDICATION, COMMITMENT AND EFFORTS OF MY ACCOUNTING AND PAYROLL OFFICE.
SINCE THE INITIAL PANDEMIC CLOSINGS IN MARCH 2020 THROUGH TODAY, THEY HAVE MAINTAINED CONSISTENT 2 TO 4 DAYS PER WEEK PRESENT IN THE OFFICE.
JUST LIKE MANY OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
TO ENSURE ACPS FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES CONTINUED WITHOUT DELAY.
PROCESSING PAYROLL, PAYING VENDORS, KEEPING ACPS FINANCIAL AFFAIRS IN ORDER.
SO, TO MY STAFF, I HAVE TO SAY PUBLICLY HOW THANKFUL AND GRATEFUL I AM FOR EACH AND ONE OF YOU BUT YOU --YOU. I WOULD NOT SAY THERE IS AN EASY JOB ANYWHERE IN ACPS MY LOAD IS DEFINITELY LIGHTER BECAUSE OF THE EFFORTS OF EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
THIS FISCAL YEAR 2021 WILL BE THE LAST YEAR OF OUR ENGAGEMENT WITH OUR AUDITORS.
THIS WILL BE THEIR 10TH YEAR PERFORMING OUR AUDIT.
THE PARTNER AS YOU HEARD, GREG, HAS BEEN WITH US TONIGHT.
HE HAS BEEN OUR AUDIT PARTNER FOR ALL 10 YEARS.
I MUST SAY, THANK YOU FOR THEIR SERVICES OVER THE YEARS.
GETTING AUDITED IS LIKE GETTING A PHYSICAL.
YOU DO NOT LOOK FORWARD TO IT.
YOU ARE GLAD WHEN IT'S OVER. THEY ARE NECESSARY AND CAN PROVIDE A LOT OF INSIGHT INTO HOW WELL WE ARE DOING.
GREG, YOU AND YOUR FIRM HAVE BEEN EXEMPLARY PROFESSIONALS.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICES.
I CANNOT SAY IT HAS BEEN FUN BUT IT HAS BEEN GOOD.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> YOU ARE WELCOME.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE DOCUMENT? WITH THAT SAID, WE DO HAVE TO TAKE ACTION.
WE HAVE TO TAKE ACTION TO APPROVE THIS FINANCIAL REPORT.
SO, DO WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE?
WE HAVE TO ACCEPT IT. >> MOTION TO ACCEPT THE FINANCIAL REPORT.
>> SECOND. >> MR. HARRIS IS SECOND.
I WILL GO AHEAD AND DO A ROLL CALL VOTE.
VOTE]. WE HAVE A VOTE OF 9 TO 0.
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR THE WORK.
[LAUGHING] IT IS GOOD TO HAVE A CLEAN RESULT.
>> MADAM CHAIR BEFORE YOU MOVE I WANT TO SAY SOMETHING.
I WANTED TO THANK MR. COVINGTON. HE GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND.
HE IS KIND OF BEHIND THE SCENES.
WE DO NOT GET TO SEE HIM THAT OFTEN.
HE IS BEHIND THE SCENES REALLY MAKING SURE THAT OUR ACCOUNTING IS UP TO PAR.
THANK YOU YOU HAVE BEEN A LOYAL ACPS STAFF MEMBER FOR MANY YEARS.
A LOT OF PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW ALL OF THE WORK YOU DO TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE GOOD AUDITS LIKE THIS. YES, WE DO NOT WANT TO GO TO GET THE PHYSICAL BUT WE ARE EXCITED WHEN WE DO NOT HAVE BAD NEWS. SO, THAT IS THE PIECE THAT I LIKE TO ADD WE ARE ALWAYS EXCITED WE DO NOT HAVE BAD NEWS AFTER OUR AUDITS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK WITH THAT.
>> THANK YOU I APPRECIATE THAT DOCTOR HUTCHINS.
>> MR. COVINGTON WILL SHOW UP AT MY DOOR.
HE IS WRITING AROUND AND GETTING STUFF DONE.
[02:25:05]
OKAY MOVING RIGHT ALONG.[19. Early College Update]
WE HAVE OUR EARLY COLLEGE UPDATE.MRS. NOLAN ALWAYS GOT EXCITED.
I GET EXCITED WHEN MISS PETERS IS ABOUT TO PRESENT.
I LOVE EVERYBODY, I AM NOT PLAYING FAVORITES.
BUT, I DO GET EXCITED WHEN I KNOW MISS PETERS IS ABOUT TO COME ON AND TELL US ABOUT HER WORK. I WILL TURN IT OVER TO YOU.
>> I LOVE WE ARE ON THIS TOPIC.
WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT EARLY COLLEGE FOR MANY YEARS.
HE PASSED THE BATON TO ME AND THEN THE OLDER PRESIDENT LEFT.
WE ARE HOPING SHE STAYS AROUND FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
IT HAS BEEN A BLESSING IN DISGUISE.
WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REALLY EXPAND THE VISION.
WHICH I AM SO EXCITED WE WILL BE ABLE TO SHARE THAT VISION WITH THE BOARD TODAY.
SHE IS ONE OF MANY REMARKABLE ACPS EMPLOYEES.
I WILL TURN THINGS OVER TO HER.
SHE WILL WALK US THROUGH WHAT OUR NEWFOUND VISION IS IN REGARD TO THE EARLY COLLEGE.
AS WELL AS THE OUTCOMES WE ARE SEEKING FROM THIS NEXT STEP.
I HAVE TO GIVE A HUGE SHOUT OUT TO ALL OF OUR PARTNERS OUT THERE.
WE HAVE NOT SOLIDIFIED ALL OF OUR PARTNERSHIPS BUT THEY ARE IN THE WORKS.
WE ARE GOING TO GET THESE THINGS SOLIDIFIED REALLY SOON.
I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO SHARING THIS INFORMATION.
MISS PETERS I AM TURNING THINGS OVER TO YOU.
>> I AM ACTUALLY GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO GET US
[LAUGHING] >> THANK YOU GOOD EVENING SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.
WE ARE REALLY EXCITED TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ABOUT THIS EDUCATIONAL MODEL.
THE OPPORTUNITIES IT WILL AFFORD MANY OF OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES.
WE WILL TURN TO THE NEXT SLIDE AND FRAME TO THE GUIDING QUESTIONS OF THIS PRESENTATION.
FOCUSING ON STRUCTURES, SYSTEMS AND RESOURCES NEEDED TO DEVELOP AN EFFECTIVE EARLY COLLEGE PARTNERSHIP MODEL.
IDENTIFY SOME OF THE BENEFITS AND RESEARCHES SURROUNDING THIS EDUCATIONAL MODEL.
AS WELL AS BENEFITS FOR FAMILIES OF ALEXANDRIA CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS.
LASTLY WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE MILESTONES AS WE CONTINUE TO WORK AND DEVELOP THIS PARTNERSHIP.
WE ARE DELIGHTED TO HAVE MISS JODY PETERS WITH US.
SHE IS OUR AVID COORDINATOR SPREADING THE SUPPORT.
THIS IS CERTAINLY A MAJOR PROJECT FOR HER.
SHE IS PROVIDING TREMENDOUS LEADERSHIP.
WE WILL TURN IT OVER TO MISS PETERS.
GOOD MORNING ACPS SCHOOL BOARD AND THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY WATCHING THIS EVENING.
EARLY COLLEGES I WILL REFER TO AS ECU]S RECRUITED AS A PART OF THE HIGH SCHOOL EARLY INITIATIVE ESTABLISHED IN 2002 BY THE BILL AND MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION.
ALONG WITH THE CORPORATION OF NEW YORK THE FORD FOUNDATION AND INITIATIVE WAS TO INCREASE OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE DISADVANTAGED OR UNDER ENROLLED TO EARN A POSTSECONDARY CREDENTIAL. TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL EARLY COLLEGE HAS PARTNER TO OFFER STUDENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EARN AN ASSOCIATES DEGREE OR UP TO TWO YEARS OF COLLEGE CREDIT TOWARD A BACHELOR DEGREE.
DURING HIGH SCHOOL DURING KNOW OR LOW COST TO THE FAMILY BY EARLY COLLEGE PROVIDES RIGOROUS SUPPORTIVE HIGH SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT TO HELP STUDENTS NAVIGATE AND EXCEED AN COLLEGE COURSEWORK. THIS IS ALSO OUR VISION THIS BEGAN WITH NORTHERN VIRGINIA COLLEGE, COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND HAS GROWN INTO A COMPLETE CRADLE TO CAREER MODEL WITH A FOCUS OF A COMMUNITY COLLEGE PARTNER AND FOR YOUR PARTNERS AND THAT OF GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY AND VIRGINIA TECH. WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THIS VISION WE KNOW THAT THIS INCLUSIVE MODEL PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS TO SIMULTANEOUSLY COMPLETE THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA
[02:30:04]
WHILE ALSO REQUIRING A TRANSFERABLE ASSOCIATES DEGREE FROM NOVA.A FOCUS ON DURING OUR ACPS DEMOGRAPHICS ENROLLMENT AND STAYING TRUE TO THE EARLY COLLEGE MODEL. WE KNOW WE ARE PREPARING STUDENTS FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF MULTIPLE INDUSTRY CERTIFICATIONS. AN ASSOCIATES DEGREE WHICH THEN LAUNCHES THEM INTO A BACHELORS PROGRAM AND GRADUATE DEGREE OPTIONS WITH OUR PARTNER UNIVERSITIES.
OFFER POSSIBLE COMPLETION BY AGE 22.
THIS PARTNERSHIP WILL PROVIDE A TRULY RIGOROUS EXPERIENCE FOR COMMITTED STUDENTS AND FAMILIES, REDUCE TIME NEEDED FOR DEGREE ATTAINMENT AND REDUCE FINANCIAL BURDEN FOR FAMILIES WHILE INCREASING WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES.
THIS WILL ALSO BOOST THE POOL OF APPLICANTS TO OUR BUSINESSES IN A VARIETY OF FIELDS IN THE LOCAL AREA. WHEN WE LOOK AT THE OUTCOMES FOR SUCCESS THE EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL INITIATIVE THAT WAS ESTABLISHED BACK IN 2002 WAS GUIDED BY A FIVE CORE PRINCIPLES THAT RELATE TO OUR OUTCOMES FOR SUCCESS YOU ALSO ARE SEEING HERE.
WE KNOW WE WILL BE SUCCESSFUL WHEN WE CAN SHOW OUR STUDENTS HAVE ACQUIRED THEIR VIRGINIA HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA WILL SIMULTANEOUSLY COMPLETING THE CHOSEN ASSOCIATES DEGREE IN FOUR YEARS. HIGH RATES OF GROWTH AND SUCCESS ON PHYSICAL ASSESSMENTS COMPARED TO THEM OF THEIR NON- EC PEERS.
ABOVE AVERAGE ATTENDANCE RATES.
A MAJORITY OF THE STUDENTS BEING OF COLOR THAT ENROLL PERSIST AFTER SCHOOL AND INTO UNIVERSITY AND INTO THEIR SECOND YEAR WHICH IS A CONSISTENT DATA POINT SUCCESSFUL EARLY COLLEGE REPORTS. ONSET AND EARLY COLLEGE FINDINGS REPORT THAT EARLY COLLEGE COMPLETERS COMPARED TO NON-EARLY COLLEGE PEERS ARE MORE LIKELY TO ENROLL IN A BACHELORS PROGRAM.
ATTAINDER DEGREE IN A 6 TO 10 YEAR SPAN FROM THE EARLY COLLEGE INITIATION.
EFFICACY FOLLOW-UP STUDIES CONTINUE TO SHOW THE STRENGTH IN THIS SAME DATA.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THESE POSITIVE IMPACTS WERE SIMILARLY OBSERVED FROM A DIFFERENT FAMILY BACKGROUNDS INCLUDING, GENDER, RACE, ETHNICITY AND THOSE THAT QUALIFIED FOR FREE AND REDUCED MEALS.
IN TERMS OF SUPPORTING OUR EARLY COLLEGE STUDENTS WE FOUND EACH TIME WE VISITED IN EARLY COLLEGE, TALK TO EARLY COLLEGE WILL DEVELOPERS, AND WHAT WE READ WITHIN THE RESEARCH OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS, WHEN YOU CREATE HIGH EXPECTATIONS RELATED TO RIGOROUS COURSES THE SUPPORT MUST MATCH THE LEVEL OF CHALLENGE.
MEETING SEVERAL PROGRAMMING PIECES THAT ARE NECESSARY TO ENSURE THE SUCCESS FOR THESE STUDENTS INCLUDE, AND INFORMATIVE EXPONENTIAL SUMMER BRIDGE TEACHER TO HELP DEVELOP THE MINDSET FOR RIGOR INTRODUCED EARLY COLLEGE CONSTRUCTS, EXPLORE COLLEGE CAREER CULTURE, AND EXPOSE STUDENTS TO VARIOUS PATHWAYS AND FIELDS.
WE WERE CAUTIONED TO ENSURE WE HAVE PROPER HUMAN RESOURCES TO SUPPORT THE COLLEGE LEVEL CLASSES, PATHWAY PLANNING AND COACHING THEY CAN GET THROUGH AN EARLY COLLEGE COUNSELOR WHO LEARNS AND TEAMS UP WITH THE HIGHER EDUCATION COUNSELOR AND ADMISSIONS OFFICE.
HAVING ACCESS TO SYSTEMATIC TUTORING, PEER COLLABORATION AND PROVIDING CONSISTENT REGULAR TIME FOR TUTORIAL MODELS WHERE STUDENTS CAN PROBLEM SOLVE TOGETHER IS ALSO ESSENTIAL FOR INTER-EARLY COLLEGE SCHOOLS AND RESEARCH.
MUCH SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DO AND AVID.
ADDITIONALLY, ACCESSIBILITY TO THE STAFF AND OFFICES AND TO FURTHER THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO A COLLEGE STUDENT IS HIGHLY PROMOTED.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THESE WILL BE UNDER THE OFFICE OF ACPS AND KNOW THE EXPECTATIONS AND POLICIES.
MEANING THEY WILL BE CLASSIFIED AS A COLLEGE STUDENT AND EXPECTED TO ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES WITH COLLEGE PROFESSORS AND INSTRUCTORS.
HAVING PLANNED MILESTONES ALONG THE WAY AND MOPPED COURSES OF STUDIES WILL ALSO SUPPORT THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS. THIS WILL BE ACHIEVED THROUGH THE TIGHTLY ALIGNED AND PRESCRIBED PATHWAY COURSES. BY REGULARLY REVIEWING GRADES AND PROJECTS AND PLANNING PREDETERMINED INDUSTRY CERTIFICATION ENDEAVORS AND FREQUENTING CONFERENCING.
LASTLY, WE KNOW WHEN GROUPS OF STUDENTS LEARN TOGETHER, THEY STRUGGLE TOGETHER AND ADVANCE TOGETHER THEY BECOME A POSSE.
THIS POSSE ALLOWS THEM TO DEVELOP THEIR OWN EARLY COLLEGE IDENTITY AS THEY SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER THROUGH THEIR EARLY COLLEGE RIGOR OF ALL FOUR YEARS.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. IN TERMS OF THE MODEL OUR ACPS EARLY COLLEGE MODEL AS AN EXTENSION OF THE PROJECT CONSISTS OF THE FOLLOWING PARTS, BEGINNING THE SUMMER WE WILL COST A WIDE INCLUSIVE NET FOR CURRENT SIXTH-GRADERS TO OFFER SUMMER PROGRAM THAT EXPLORES A VARIETY
[02:35:03]
OF COLLEGE AND CAREER FIELD EXPLORATION.ALIGNED TO STEM RELATED FIELDS.
IT WILL FOCUS ON INAUGURAL COHORT OF 100 STUDENTS MANY OF WHOM PARTICIPATED IN THE PREPARATORY SUMMER BRIDGE IN 2022 AND BEYOND.
WHO WILL THEN APPLY IN THE SPRING OF 2024 AND BE ACCEPTED.
THEY WILL ENROLL AS THE POST-CORE YOU WILL ADD 100 STUDENT COHORTS EACH YEAR THAT COHORT COLLEGE MODEL.
EC INSTRUCTIONAL TEAM ON A PREDETERMINED CANVAS.
FRAMED BY THE EARLY COLLEGE RESEARCH BASE MODEL EARLY COLLEGE ENROLLMENT WILL NEAR OUR ACPS DEMOGRAPHICS AND CONTINUE TO USE THE RESEARCH-BASED CORE PRINCIPLES TO ENSURE EQUITY BY TARGETING STUDENTS AND FAMILIES WHO WOULD OTHERWISE NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS TYPE OF EDUCATIONAL ADVANCEMENT.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. A CONTINUATION OF THE MODEL WILL ALSO INCLUDE A FOCUS ON IDENTIFYING AND DEVELOPING A COMMITTED ACPS EARLY COLLEGE INSTRUCTIONAL TEAM FOR THE INITIAL 100 STUDENT COHORT. ADDITIONAL PLANNING WILL INCLUDE NARROWING THE PATHWAYS AND IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL COLLEGE FACULTY FOR THESE COURSES.
ESPECIALLY FOR PATHWAY COURSES GENERALLY TAKEN IN YEAR THREE AND FOUR WERE 11TH AND 12TH GRADE. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT IN LINE WITH THE EARLY COLLEGE MODEL WE INTEND TO MAKE THIS RESULT IN AN ASSOCIATES DEGREE THAT IS FREE TO FAMILIES.
THROUGH THIS PARTNERSHIP THE ASSOCIATES WE WILL ALIGN WITH THE FOUR-YEAR UNIVERSITY TO ENSURE THE SEAMLESS TRANSFERABILITY THAT WILL LEAD TO A BACHELORS DEGREE.
NEXT SLIDE. HERE YOU SEE OUR EARLY COLLEGE PROPOSED PATHWAYS.
REITERATING THAT WE ARE FOCUSING ON SEEING THE TRUE MICROCOSM OF ACPS STUDENTS BY DEMOGRAPHICS. WHO ARE ACCEPTED AND ENROLLED WITH STRONG PURPOSE BEHIND THE ORIGINAL ECS 20+ YEARS AGO, WE ARE COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE OUR UNDERREPRESENTED POPULATIONS ARE INFORMED, EDUCATED, ENCOURAGED AND INCLUDED.
WITH HELP FROM OUR COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY PARTNERS HERE ARE THE PROPOSED PATHWAYS WE INTEND TO FORGE TO OUR EARLY COLLEGE STUDENTS.
MANY FALL UNDER STEM RELATED FIELDS.
WE ALSO KNOW THE IMPORTANCE AND HAVE CONSIDERED NORTHERN VIRGINIA WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND LABOR MARKET INFORMATION.
HIGHLY SOUGHT TRANSFERABLE PATHWAYS BASED ON WHAT NORTHERN VIRGINIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE REPORTED TO THEIR DATA GATHERING.
RELATED TRANSFERABILITY RATES FROM NORTHERN VIRGINIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO GM YOU AND VIRGINIA TECH. --GMU AND VIRGINIA TECH.
WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS IN FRONT OF US.
THE EARLY COLLEGE PARTNERSHIP WILL ENSURE STUDENTS HAVE THE RIGOROUS COURSE OPPORTUNITIES, STRONG SUPPORT SYSTEMS FOR SUCCESS, PATHWAY CERTIFICATE COMPLETION AND ALSO OPTIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR INTERNSHIPS, FIELD EXPERIENCES AND MENTORING PARTNERSHIPS. WE ARE EXCITED TO PARTNER WITH AVID CENTERS TO SUPPORT KEY CENTERS FOR SUCCESS. WE LOOK FORWARD FOR WORKING WITH THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA AND WILL CONTINUE TO EXPAND THE ESTABLISHED PARTNERSHIPS WITH AMAZON, NOVA AND THE FOUR-YEAR UNIVERSITIES.
AS WELL AS GMU AN VIRGINIA TECH AND AMAZON HQ.
WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT STUDENTS COMING TO THE LOCAL AREA TO HAVE THEM ENGAGE IN GRADUATE AND DOCTORAL WORK TO ENTER THE WORKFORCE AND ESTABLISH PIPELINE PARTNERSHIPS AFTER THEY HAVE ACQUIRED ADDITIONAL CERTIFICATES AND DEGREES.
THIS IMAGE IS PROBABLY FAMILIAR TO ALL OF YOU.
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING FRAMEWORK.
THIS IS WHAT ALEXANDRIA CITY HIGH SCHOOL TEAM DEVELOPED TO SHOW HOW THE MODEL WILL ALIGN AND COMMIT TO THE CAREER PREPARATION AND PLANNING NEEDED.
YOU SEE THE ACPS MODEL FOR HOW THEY ARE ORGANIZED.
ULTIMATELY WE COULD SUPPORT ALL OF THESE THE EARLY COLLEGE WILL FOCUS ON THE STEM RELATED FIELDS. ACCORDING TO CURRENT WORKFORCE PROJECTIONS AND ANOVA TRANSFER DATA.
IN TERMS OF THE MAJOR TIMELINE WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT JUST A FEW.
WE KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO GET OFF OF THE GROUND.
WE WILL WORK TO DEVELOP THE SUMMER BRIDGE TO CAST A WIDE NET FOR STUDENT PARTICIPATION.
STUDENTS ARE CURRENTLY IN THE SIXTH GRADE ACROSS ACPS.
WORKING WITH PARTNERS TO BRING ENGAGING LEARNING EXPERIENCES.
[02:40:03]
WE WILL DEVELOP AN OUTREACH AND MARKETING PLAN THAT CAN REACH ALL COMMUNITIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGH A VARIETY OF COMMUNICATION NEEDS.WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO CREATING EXCITEMENT HERE IN ALEXANDRIA AND ALSO WITHIN THE COLLEGE FACULTY. AS WE LOOK FORWARD WE WILL ESTABLISH AN INSTRUCTIONAL TEAM COMMITTED TO EARLY COLLEGE COHORT AND CONTINUE THE MARKETING EFFORTS.
CONTINUE WITH OUR COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY PARTNERS TO NARROW DOWN AND NAME A SPECIFIC LOCATION FOR EARLY COLLEGE SETTINGS.
IN 2024 OUR FOCUS WILL BE ON STUDENT SELECTION, SUMMER BRIDGE PREPARATION AND STAFF DEVELOPMENT. SO, WHAT DOES SUCCESS REALLY LOOK LIKE? SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON THE SYSTEMS. MEANING WE WILL DEVISE A FIRM, OUTREACH AND MARKETING PLAN FOR THE COMMUNITY.
LOOKING AT OPTIMIZING A YEAR-LONG CALENDAR THAT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT ACPS AND NOVA COURSE EXPECTATIONS. CONTINUE TO IDENTIFY THE BEST SPACE FOR EARLY COLLEGE BEGINNING IN 2024.
MANY ACPS DEPARTMENTS THAT INCLUDE STUDENT SERVICES, FOOD NUTRITION SERVICES, INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT AS WELL AS HIGH LEADERS HAVE BEEN A PART OF THIS EVOLVING PROJECT OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.
WE ALSO KNOW WE WANT ALL OF THE STUDENTS TO BENEFIT BY THE RESOURCES BY THE COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITIES TO ENSURE THERE BEING SUCCESSFUL.
A DEDICATED QUALIFIED TEAM FROM ACPS.
WE CONTINUE TO PLAN WITH OUR FULL COMMITTEE THAT WILL INCLUDE MEMBERSHIP FROM ALL OF OUR PARTNERING EDUCATIONAL ENTITIES.
WE WILL MAP OUT SCHOLARSHIP BENEFITS, GUARANTEED DETAILS AND ADDITIONAL SUMMER PROGRAMMING RESOURCES.
NEXT SLIDE. AS WE THINK ABOUT OUR PARTNERS HERE ARE A FEW THINGS WE ARE ASKING REGARDING COMMITMENTS, WE ARE ASKING THEM TO STAY COMMITTED TO ASKING US REDUCE THE MINORITY AND UNDER ENROLLED POPULATIONS IN STEM RELATED FIELDS.
HELP DEFER THE COST FOR FAMILIES AS WE INCREASE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.
WE NEED CONTINUED COLLABORATION AND COMMITMENT TO FOCUS ON TUITION ASSISTANCE, PATHWAY COUNSELING FROM A HIGHER EDUCATION SITE AND SCHOLARSHIPS AND FIELD TRIPS TO FURTHER DEVELOP THE SUMMER BRIDGE OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS.
WE ARE ASKING THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND FOUR-YEAR UNIVERSITIES TO ALSO DEVELOP PATHWAYS THAT ARE NEEDED TO ENSURE THERE IS SEAMLESS TRANSFERABILITY.
FROM THE ASSOCIATES INTO THE BACHELOR.
PROVIDING THE FACULTY AND STAFF WITH THIS EARLY COLLEGE IMPLEMENTATION TOGETHER AS TRUE PARTNERS WE CAN CHANGE THE EDUCATIONAL WORKPLACE TRAJECTORY FOR MANY FAMILIES.
NOW I WILL TURN IT BACK OVER TO DOCTOR HUTCHINGS.
>> THANK YOU MISS PETERS. I WILL TURN IT OVER TO MADAME CHAIR FOR QUESTIONS.
DO WE HAVE QUESTIONS FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD? LOOKING FOR HANDS.
OKAY FIRST QUESTION WILL BE NOW.
>> I JUST HAVE A QUICK QUESTION AROUND THE DE SCIENCE COMPONENT.
I'M NOT SURE IF WE HAD BEEN IN THE PAST.
DO WE HAVE ONE NOW? IS THERE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE ONE IN THE FUTURE?
>> LET ME START BY CLARIFYING SOMETHING.
I THINK THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE BOARD TO UNDERSTAND PRIDE WE TALK ABOUT DISTINCT PATHWAYS OF EARLY COLLEGE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT DEVELOPED COURSES IN A SERIES THAT STUDENTS WILL STICK TIGHTLY TO.
IN COMPLETION OF THOSE ASSOCIATE DEGREES THAT WERE NAMED.
WHAT YOU JUST ASKED ABOUT SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE ASKING ABOUT A SPECIFIC DUAL ENROLLMENT COURSE AFFORDED PERHAPS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL AS A SINGLE COURSE.
SO, THAT IS A DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITY THAT WILL STILL REMAIN AT THE HIGH SCHOOLS TO SELECTS INDIVIDUAL DUAL ENROLLMENT COURSES THAT DO NOT NECESSARILY RESULT IN AN ASSOCIATES DEGREE. DOES THAT HELP?
>> ONE THING I WANT TO ADD TO THAT MISS PETERS, WE ARE INTENTIONAL ABOUT THE EARLY COLLEGE BEING SEPARATE FROM DUAL ENROLLMENT.
EARLY COLLEGE IS A FOUR-YEAR COMMITMENT.
SOME PEOPLE TAKE DUAL ENROLLMENT AND ONLY DO IT ONE TIME.
WITH EARLY COLLEGE YOU ARE COMING IN AS A FRESHMAN.
[02:45:01]
YOU ARE REMAINING IN THAT PROGRAM THROUGH YOUR SENIOR YEAR.THE GOAL IS FOR YOU TO GRADUATE FROM ALEXANDRIA CITY HIGH SCHOOL WITH A DIPLOMA AND AN ASSOCIATES DEGREE. THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE SUMMER ENRICHMENT THAT STARTS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL.
WE ARE THEN GROOMING INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILIES PRIOR TO WAITING FOR NINTH GRADE TO SAY I WANT TO GO INTO EARLY COLLEGE.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE BEING PREPARED AND YOU UNDERSTAND THAT TYPE OF COMMITMENT.
IT IS DIFFERENT FROM JUST TAKING A DUAL ENROLLMENT COURSE.
WE STILL HAVE THAT OPTION FOR THOSE THAT WANT TO.
FOR SOMEONE THAT JUST WANT TO TAKE A COUPLE OF COURSES DUAL ENROLLMENT WILL BE THE PATHWAY FOR YOU.
NOT THE EARLY COLLEGE PROGRAM WHERE YOU WILL OBTAIN AN ASSOCIATES DEGREE AND A STRUCTURED --WITH THE INTENTION OF YOU GETTING THE ASSOCIATE WHEN YOU GRADUATE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH THIS PROGRAM IS SO EXCITING.
I AM SO GLAD TO SEE IT COME BACK AROUND.
I REMEMBER WHEN YOU FIRST GOT PRESENTED WHEN I WAS A NEWLY ELECTED BOARD MEMBER THE FIRST GO AROUND. I AM HAPPY THAT IT IS BACK.
I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO ALL OF THE OPPORTUNITIES IT PRESENTS FOR THE STUDENTS.
JUST PIGGYBACKING ON WHAT DOCTOR HUTCHINGS SAID THIS IS A FOUR-YEAR COMMITMENT.
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS CHANGE THEIR MINDS ALL THE TIME.
WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY GET INTO THE PROGRAM AND THEY DECIDE THEY DO NOT LIKE IT ANYWHERE AND THEY WANT TO OPT OUT.
>> THAT IS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WE CONTINUED TO ASK EARLY COLLEGES THAT WE VISITED.
WE WERE CONSTANTLY TOLD, IF YOU PUT THE PROPER STRUCTURES IN PLACE, THEY FIND THEIR NICHE AND THEY STAY. I JUST TALKED TO PITT COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA, THEY HAVE TWO EARLY COLLEGE MODELS ONE WITH COMMUNITY AND ONE WITH EAST CAROLINA.
VERY FEW STUDENTS HAVE LEFT SINCE INCEPTION.
WE NEED TO PREPARE FOR THAT POSSIBILITY.
NOT ONLY BE GIVING THEM THE SUPPORT TO BE SUCCESSFUL WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE DO OUR WORK WELL IN ADVANCE TO MAKE SURE FAMILIES AND STUDENTS ARE INFORMED ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE GETTING THEMSELVES INTO.
THE LEVEL OF COMMITMENT THAT IT TAKES.
IF WE DO THE WORK UP FRONT, WE HOPE THAT WILL NOT BE THE CASE.
WE HOPE WE CAN COACH STUDENTS TO STAY.
WE WILL HAVE TO CONSIDER A TRANSITION PLAN FOR THOSE THAT COME UP.
WE WILL NOT FORCE THEM TO STAY.
WE CERTAINLY WANTED THE BODY IN.
WE WANT THEM TO HAVE THE FULL BENEFIT.
WE HOPE THIS WILL BE HIGHLY COMPETITIVE.
IF THEY TAKE A SEAT WE WANT THEM TO TAKE AND KEEP THE SEAT.
TAKE ADVANTAGE ON WHAT IS BEING AFFORDED IN FRONT OF THEM.
THAT WILL BE A PART OF THE WORK WE DO IN TERMS OF OUR APPLICATION.
CONTINUED REVISION ON HOW WE SUPPORT STUDENTS ALONG THE WAY.
>> I JUST WANT TO REITERATE WHAT MS. PETER SAID IN REGARDS TO THE FOUNDATIONAL PIECE.
ON THE FRONT AND IT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO BE COMMITTED INTO THE APPROPRIATE SUPPORT NETWORK PRIOR TO EVEN STARTING THE PROGRAM.
WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT OUR POOL OF STUDENTS WE ARE LOOKING AT A LOT MORE STUDENTS THAN 100. WE ARE TRYING TO PEAK INTEREST AND GIVE THEM THE APPROPRIATE FOUNDATION.
BY THE TIME WE GET TO THE SELECTION OR PEOPLE COMMITTING TO A FOUR-YEAR COMMITMENT THE STUDENTS ALREADY HAVE THAT FOUNDATION.
THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS GOING TO BRING.
WE ALSO WANT TO ADD VARIETY TO THE PATHWAYS.
INITIALLY, OUR VISION WAS TO HAVE ONE PATHWAY EVERYONE HAD TO DO.
WHAT WE HAVE DONE NOW IS TO HAVE MULTIPLE PATHWAYS WITHIN THE EARLY COLLEGE SO THAT YOU CAN HAVE SOME EXPIRATION OF OTHER PALLETS AND STILL BE A PART OF EARLY COLLEGE.
YOU CANNOT GO THROUGH 12TH GRADE AND THEN SAY, I AM GOING TO CHANGE.
WE ARE GIVING SOME FLEXIBILITY.
EVEN WITHIN THE EARLY COLLEGE.
[02:50:01]
IF YOU DECIDE YOU WANT TO GO THROUGH ANOTHER PATH, WE WANT YOU TO DO>> YES. >> WHAT THE SUPERINTENDENT JUST MENTIONED, WHAT ALSO HAPPENS IN THE BEGINNING WITH THE EARLY COLLEGE MODEL IS A PART OF THE INTERVIEW PROCESS IS A FAMILY DECISION.
SO, IT IS WITH THE COUNSELOR, THE FAMILY AND ADMIT AS MISS PETERS INDICATED THEY ARE REALLY INFORMED OF THE COMMITMENT OF THE EXPECTATIONS AND ADDED VALUE.
WHY IT WORKS IS THAT THE FAMILY IS MAKING A DECISION TOGETHER.
IN MOST OF THESE, IF THEY TRULY UNDERSTAND THAT AND THAT SUPPORT IS THERE THEY TEND TO STAY AND SUCCEED.
I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE PROGRAM.
THE FIRST WAS ABOUT THE SUMMER BRIDGE PROGRAM.
IT STARTS LIKE THAT WILL BE STARTING THIS SUMMER.
DO YOU HAVE ANY DETAILS ABOUT WHAT THAT WILL LOOK LIKE AND HOW MANY STUDENTS WILL BE INVOLVED? MY SECOND IS BUILDING ON SOME CONVERSATION I HAVE ALREADY HEARD.
WE GOT THE PICTURE WITH THE DIFFERENT 16TH PATHWAYS.
THE PATHWAYS YOU OUTLINED THROUGH THE EARLY COLLEGE THERE WILL ALSO BE PATHWAYS THROUGH THE TRADITIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TO EXPLORE THOSE CAREERS THROUGH THE CTE PROGRAM.
HOW CAN WE ENSURE ALL OF OUR STUDENTS ARE UNDERSTANDING ALL OF THESE AVAILABLE OPTIONS? WE ARE CREATING ALL OF THESE GREAT PATHWAYS AND OPPORTUNITIES YOU KNOW HOW MIDDLE SCHOOLERS ARE. HOW ARE WE ENSURING THEY ALL ARE UNDERSTANDING WHAT THESE OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM.
>> I LOVE THAT YOU ASKED THOSE QUESTIONS TOGETHER.
THEY ARE RELATED. WE JUST BEGAN A SUMMER BRIDGE PROGRAM IN PLANNING.
WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT THE RESOURCES IN THE PAST AND DO SOME INTEGRATION THROUGH AN INNOVATIVE MODEL OF SUMMER.
AS WELL AS ENGAGE OUR PARTNERS WITH SOME OPPORTUNITIES.
WE HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH EVER FOUR-YEAR UNIVERSITIES AS WELL AS NOVA SYSTEMIC TO ENGAGE SOME OF THEIR LAB -RELATED OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STUDENTS.
WHEN WE ENGAGED OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLERS, HAVING SPENT NEARLY 10 YEARS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL I UNDERSTAND AND I KNOW MIDDLE SCHOOL QUITE WELL, WE KNOW EXPOSURE IS KEY.
THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS OUT THERE.
WHAT WE KNOW WE CAN ACHIEVE THROUGH THE SUMMER BRIDGE IS EXPOSE THEM TO A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT THINGS. WHILE ALSO TELLING THEM ABOUT THE PROGRAMMING THAT IS AVAILABLE.
NOT JUST WITH EARLY COLLEGE BUT BEYOND.
WITH THE CTE ENGINEERING ENERGY CLUSTER THAT WILL BE COMING IN A YEAR. THROUGH DOCTOR JACOBS.
WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THERE IS AN DIFFUSION OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT ALL THOSE AVAILABLE HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS. THROUGH THE SUMMER BRIDGE WORK WE ARE GOING TO DO.
WE ARE GOING TO BE VERY EXPLICIT ABOUT THE FLEXIBILITY IN THOSE PROGRAMS. THAT WAY THEY ARE WELL AWARE BEFORE THEY GET TO THOSE STUDIES.
THANK YOU FOR ASKING ABOUT THAT.
OUR WORK IN THE SUMMER IS TO DO MOST EXPOSURE.
THAT WAY THEY ARE READY TO MAKE A CHOICE.
>> THANK YOU. >> YOU'RE WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE INCREDIBLY COMPREHENSIVE PRESENTATION.
I'M TRYING TO THINK ABOUT WHAT STUDENTS MIGHT HAVE ACCESS TO THIS PROGRAM, IN PARTICULAR WHAT YOU ARE THINKING FOR ADMISSIONS CRITERIA AS WELL AS MAYBE SOME SPECIFIC SUPPORTS THAT COULD BE OFFERED TO STUDENTS WHILE THINKING ABOUT LINGUISTIC SUPPORTS FOR ENGLISH
[02:55:02]
LEARNERS. ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND EVEN SUPPORTS FOR DREAMERS WHO MAY HAVE ADDITIONAL BARRIERS TO ACCESSING COLLEGE.>> IRONIC THAT YOU SHOULD ASK THAT.
WE ARE USING THE SAME CRITERIA WE WOULD USE FOR OUR AVID ENROLLMENT.
THAT IS THE SAME CRITERIA THAT THE EARLY COLLEGE MODEL IS BASED UPON, IT IS FOR UNDER PARTICIPATING POPULATIONS.
WE HAVE LOOKED AT SEVERAL DIFFERENT MODELS OF PATENT APPLICATIONS OR SELECTION CRITERIA IS DONE. IT IS DONE THROUGH NUMBER ONE AN APPLICATION, AN ESSAY, AN INTERVIEW, A COMMITMENT FROM THE FAMILY.
REALLY A THOROUGH UNDERSTANDING AND MEETING THE FAMILY TO FULLY EXPLAIN WHAT IT MIGHT LOOK LIKE FROM YEAR TO YEAR.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A VARIETY OF DATA POINTS.
I DO NOT BELIEVE EVIL THOROUGH ASSESSMENTS OUT THERE IMMEDIATELY.
CERTAINLY THERE MIDDLE SCHOOL TRANSCRIPT AND LEVEL OF RIGOR WE CAN LOOK AT EVEN IN TERMS OF LANGUAGE ACQUISITION.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MIRROR THE POPULATION THAT ACPS DEMOGRAPHICS REALLY LOOK LIKE. WE WANT TO STICK TO THAT TARGET.
THIS IS BEING DEVISED ON THE BASIS OF THE WANT OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES TO KNOW THAT THIS IS FREE. WHERE THE FINANCIAL PEACE IS NOT THE BARRIER.
IF THEY ARE SUCCESSFUL WITH GETTING INTO THE ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE THERE IS GREAT DATA SAYING YOU WILL FINISH. VERY COMMITTED TO THAT AS WELL AS FIRST GENERATION.
THERE ARE MANY COLLEGE MODELS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES THAT ARE ALSO ON AVID EARLY COLLEGE MODEL. I TEND TO MAKE THIS AN EXTENSION OF THE HIGH SCHOOL AVID PROGRAM THAT IS ALREADY OCCURRING. AN EXTENSION FOR THOSE AVID STUDENTS THAT ARE VERY SERIOUS ABOUT MOVING TO A PATHWAY IN A VERY SPECIFIC WAY.
>> IN REGARD TO THE SUPPORT NETWORK AND SUPPORT SYSTEMS THAT WILL BE IN PLACE, AND A LOT OF TIMES WHEN PEOPLE THINK OF EARLY COLLEGE THEY THINK OF THE GIFTED PROGRAMS THAT WE ARE GOING TO TARGET TALENTED OR GIFTED STUDENTS, WE WELCOME TALENTED AND GIFTED STUDENTS INTO THE EARLY COLLEGE PROGRAM.
AND, WE ARE PROVIDING THE NECESSARY SUPPORTS FOR STUDENTS WHO MAY NOT BE TALENTED AND GIFTED. I THINK MISS PETERS MENTIONED THIS EARLIER, IF YOU PUT IN THE NECESSARY SUPPORT SYSTEMS STUDENTS CAN BE SUCCESSFUL.
WE HAVE TO GET OUT OF THAT LABEL OF WHAT TYPE OF STUDENTS SHOULD BE A PART OF EARLY COLLEGE. IF KIDS GET EXPOSURE THEY WILL RISE TO THE OCCASION.
IF YOU GIVE THEM THAT SAFETY NET THEY WILL SIX --SUCCEED.
WE KNOW THERE IS UNDERREPRESENTATION OF BLACK AND BROWN CHILDREN, PEOPLE IN CERTAIN FIELDS AND NATIONALLY.
WE KNOW THERE IS UNDERREPRESENTATION OF BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE IN COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. SO, WE CAN TAKE OUR MOST DIVERSE STUDENT BODY IN THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA REGION, GROOM THEM, PROVIDE THEM WITH THE SUPPORTS, AND NBA PIPELINE TO CHANGE THE NARRATIVE FOR THESE UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS.
EVERYONE IS SAYING WE WILL BUILD IT AND THEY WILL COME.
YOU CAN BUILD IT BUT YOU HAVE TO INTRODUCE, PROPOSE AND SUPPORT SO THEY CAN FINISH.
I THINK THAT IS A HUGE COMMITMENT AND AN ADDITIONAL LAYER THAT MANY OF THE EARLY COLLEGE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING WITH, JUST IN ADDITION WE ARE DOING.
IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE OUR STUDENTS ARE DIVERSE AND SUCCESSFUL.
I APPRECIATE THAT. I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT.
>> I SAID SOMETHING BRILLIANT.
I WAS JUST SAYING, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I REMEMBER WHEN THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS WHEN I WAS BACK ON THE BOARD BACK IN THE DAY. IT IS REALLY EXCITING TO SEE THIS COME TO FRUITION.
YOU KNOW THERE HAS BEEN SO MUCH WORK GOING INTO THAT.
DURING MY COLLEAGUES AND THEIR QUESTIONS AND YOUR CLARIFICATION BETWEEN EARLY COLLEGE VERSUS DUAL ENROLLMENT.
IT WOULD BE GREAT TO PROVIDE SOME KIND OF CHART OR CLARITY AS WE ARE MOVING FORWARD TO
[03:00:06]
MAKE SURE OUR FAMILIES KNOW WHAT THESE DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES ARE AND WHAT THEY MEAN.PARTICULARLY WITH THE ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE ARE GETTING SOME COLLEGE CREDIT THROUGH THESE
OTHER PROGRAMS. >> BECAUSE OF THE HIGH SCHOOL MODEL AND CONNECTED THE NETWORK AND THE GRAPHIC YOU SAW THIS EVENING WE WILL HAVE TO FLUSH ALL OF THAT OUT.
TO MAKE SURE FOLKS KNOW THE OPTIONS THAT ARE IN FRONT OF THEM BEYOND HAVING A PROGRAM OF STUDIES THAT MIGHT DESCRIBE THAT.
SO, THAT WILL BE A PART OF ALL OF OUR WORK AS WE CONTINUE INTO THE HIGH SCHOOL PROJECT.
THANK YOU. >> OKAY, THANK YOU AGAIN.
IT IS GOOD TO HAVE THIS UPDATE.
I GUESS IT IS EXCITING TO REALLY START TO SEE -- AS WE ARE DOING THE HIGH SCHOOL PROJECT THIS IS AN ADDITIONAL PATHWAY.
EVERYTHING IS STARTING TO FEEL A LOT MORE CONNECTED.
AS OUR STUDENTS WILL BE ON DIFFERENT PATHWAYS, THEY WILL BE CONNECTED AND WHAT THEY ARE DOING. CONNECTED IN THEIR LEARNING.
MY HOPE IS THAT AS WE CHANGE THE PROGRAM OF STUDIES, THIS WILL LOOK A LOT MORE -- WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THE PROGRAM OF STUDIES AND YOU KNOW THIS BIG 400 THIS BIG DOCUMENT WITH 400 COURSES.
I AM REALLY STARTING TO SEE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EVEN THE PROGRAM OF STUDIES TO LOOK COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.
IN TERMS OF HOW WE ARE THINKING ABOUT SERVING KIDS AND HOW WE ARE CONNECTING IT FROM SIXTH GRADE. WE ARE CONNECTING IT ALONG THE WAY.
WE ARE NO LONGER HAVING JUST THE SEPARATE BOXES OF THINGS THAT KIDS DO.
I AM A BIG PROPONENT AND FAN OF JUST HAVING --IT IS NOT JUST WHAT I LEARNED IN A SOCIAL STUDIES AND WHAT I AM DOING AND MOUTH AND THEN I GO TO SCIENCE AND LANGUAGE ARTS. ALL OF THESE THINGS WORK TOGETHER.
TO BE CONNECTED TO THE SUBJECT THEMSELVES.
IT IS GOING TO BE REALLY EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR THE KIDS THAT WE SERVE.
I AM EXCITED TO HEAR ABOUT MAKING IT CONNECTED TO THOSE AVID SUPPORTS.
I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT THE TUTORING.
THOSE EARLY COLLEGE KIDDOS CAN BENEFIT FROM A SIMILAR MODEL OF HAVING ACCESS TO REGULAR TUTORING. ALL THE GOOD STUFF.
I AM GLAD TO SEE IT HAPPENING.
OKAY, WITH THAT SAID, WE ARE DONE.
[LAUGHING] I DO HAVE THE CHAIRS REPORT.
I HAVE A FEW THINGS TO SHARE OUT.
STAY TUNED FOR THE COMBINED FUNDS WORK SESSION WHICH IS HAPPENING IMMEDIATELY AFTER THIS CLOSED SESSION.
REMEMBER THAT BUDGET QUESTIONS WILL BE DUE TOMORROW AT NOON.
SO, YOU WILL EMAIL THOSE TO DOCTOR HUTCHINGS.
MAKE SURE THAT I AM ON THEM AS WELL SO I CAN SEE THE QUESTIONS COMING THROUGH.
STAFF WILL POST THOSE RESPONSES TO THE QUESTIONS ON JANUARY 28.
ARE WE SAYING BY NOON? JANUARY 28 BY NOON? YES. OKAY.
THIS WILL BE OUR FIRST JOINT CITY SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING FOR THE EURO 2022.
THAT WILL BE MONDAY AT FIVE VIA ZOOM.
JANUARY 26 THE BUDGET ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND OF THE CITY'S BUDGET AND PHYSICAL AFFAIRS ADVISORY COMMITTEE. THEY WILL BE HOLDING THEIR JOINT MEETING.
THERE WILL BE LINKS AVAILABLE ON THE CITY SITES AND THE SCHOOL BOARD.
--SITE. NEXT SCHOOL BOARD MEETING IS FEBRUARY 3.
[03:05:05]
I'M GOING TO THROW IN MY PLUG AND REMINDER HERE.IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, WE ARE ASKING EVERYONE TO USE THE ASK AT ACPS EMAIL.
ASK@ACPS. THAT INFORMATION WILL GET TO THE CORRECT PERSON.
THEY WILL RESPOND TO YOUR QUESTIONS.
WITH THAT SAID, I'M GOING TO MOVE ALONG TO THE SUPERINTENDENTS REPORT.
[21. Report from Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr.]
>> I ONLY HAVE TWO ITEMS. I WANT TO CONGRATULATE OUR ALEXANDRIA CITY HIGH SCHOOL LIBRARIAN, MS. LAUREL TAYLOR.
SHE IS BEING SPONSORED BY THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL LIBRARIANS AND THE AMERICAN LIBRARIAN ASSOCIATION 2022 EMERGING LEADERS PROGRAM.
THE EMERGING LEADERS PROGRAM ENABLES GRANTS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
-- LIBRARIANS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO NETWORK WITH PEERS AND HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE IN A LEADERSHIP CAPACITY.
SO, HATS OFF TO MS. TAYLOR. I DID NOT SEE ANY SNOW TODAY.
I WAS TALKING TO ONE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS EARLIER AND SHE SAID SHE SAW ONE SNOWFLAKE.
I WAS LIKE I DO NOT SEE A SNOWFLAKE.
[LAUGHING] I WANTED TO MAKE THE POINT THAT WE COULD HAVE ALL BEEN IN SCHOOL TODAY.
ALL WE HAVE IS THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE IT.
WE GOT THE INFORMATION 13 HOURS BEFORE.
IT JUST HAPPENS SOMETIMES THAT WAY.
TODAY, WE DID A SYNCHRONOUS DAY.
I WANTED TO EXPRESS HOW AND WHY WE CHOSE TO MAKE SURE THIS WAS SYNCHRONOUS.
I KNOW LAST WEEK REASSURED OUT WITH THE COMMUNITY THAT WE WOULD DO ASYNCHRONOUS DAYS ON A SNOW DAYS AND THAT TYPE OF THING.
ASYNCHRONOUS DAYS, WITH EVERYONE, IT JUST DID NOT WORK.
THE FIRST THREE DAYS WE CAME BACK, A LOT OF STUDENTS AND PARENTS SHARED WITH ME NOTHING HAPPENED. THEY ARE LATE, I DID NOT GET MUCH.
I DID NOT GET THIS DONE OR I DID NOT GET THAT DONE.
IT WAS A BUNCH OF THINGS THAT WERE GOING ON.
WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT REPEATING THINGS THAT DO NOT WORK.
SO, THE SYNCHRONOUS IS THE BEST TYPE OF LEARNING WHEN TALKING ABOUT VIRTUAL LEARNING.
WE HAVE TO PIVOT SO THAT, I THINK WE ALL ARE GOING TO HAVE TO START GETTING COMFORTABLE WITH PIVOTING. RIGHT NOW, IT WAS BECAUSE OF INCLEMENT WEATHER, SUPPOSEDLY.
THERE CAN BE TIMES WE MIGHT HAVE TO DO THIS DUE TO COVID ISSUES OR WE JUST DO NOT KNOW IN THE FUTURE. WE ARE ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE TO BE PREPARED WITH BRINGING OUR COMPUTERS HOME.
TEACHERS HAVING LESSONS ALREADY READY.
WE HAVE LESSONS READY WHEN YOU MIGHT BE OUT TOMORROW.
MAKING SURE WE HAVE A LESSON PLAN READY THAT COULD BE VIRTUAL.
OUR STAFF IS REALLY GOOD AT THAT.
I JUST WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT TO THE DOUGLAS MACARTHUR STAFF AND HOW THEIR TEACHERS WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND.
I'M NOT SAYING I LOVE ONE GROUP OVER THE OTHER I JUST HEARD FROM THE PRINCIPAL.
THAT IS THE ONLY REASON I AM MENTIONING THAT.
THEY SENT OUT HOW THE TEACHERS CAME TOGETHER AND THEY WERE ENGAGED, IN ATTENDANCE, SOME HAD ON PAJAMA SOMEHOW DON'T CLOSE, BUT THEY WERE THERE.
THE KIDS WILL LEARN BEST WHEN THEY HAVE AN INSTRUCTOR WITH SOMEONE GUIDING THEM THROUGH THE LESSONS AND NOT HAVING TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES.
I WANTED TO CLEAR THAT UP I HEARD A LITTLE BIT OF CHATTER ON THAT.
OUR SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY.
THAT IS ALL I HAVE, MADAM CHAIR.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU DOCTOR HUTCHINGS.
ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE BOARD MEMBERS?
[22. Announcements]
OKAY, WITH THAT SAID WE DO NEED TO MOVE INTO A CLOSED SESSION.[23. Closed Meeting]
SO, I NEED A MOTION.MADAM VICE CHAIR? >> I MOVE THAT THE BOARD CAN BE IN A CLOSED MEETING PURSUANT TO VIRGINIA CODE FOR DISCUSSION OR DISCUSSION OR CONSIDERATION OF THE PUBLIC FUNDS OR COMPETITION OR BARGAINING IS INVOLVED.
WHERE IF MADE PUBLIC WOULD ADVERSELY REFLECT THE FINANCIAL INTEREST OF THE BOARD.
[03:10:03]
I MOVE THAT THE BOARD CONVENED A CLOSED MEETING PURSUANT TO VIRGINIA CODE 2.2 – 371188 CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL AND EMPLOYED OR RETAINED BY A PUBLIC BODY REGARDING SPECIFIC LEGAL MATTERS REQUIRING THE PROVISION OF LEGAL ADVICE OF SUCH COUNSEL.>> SECOND. >> A MOTION AND A SECOND.
I'M GOING TO DO A ROLL CALL VOTE.
MOVE OVER INTO THE CLOSED SESSION.
YOU WILL NEED TO LOG OUT OF THE SESSION AND LOG BACK IN AFTER WE RETURNED FROM CLOSED.
CAPTIONER STANDING BY. CAPTIONER STANDING BY.
CAPTIONER STANDING BY. CAPTIONER STANDING BY.
CAPTIONER STANDING BY. >> ALL RIGHT WE ARE BACK.
IS THE CLERK HERE AND READY TO GO?
[24. Certification of Closed Meeting]
MADAM VICE CHEROKEE POLICE OR FIRE CLOSED MEETING?I MOVE THAT THE BOARD CERTIFIED TO THE BEST OF EACH MEMBER'S KNOWLEDGE ONLY PUBLIC BUSINESS MATTERS IDENTIFIED IN THE MOTION OF THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT HEARD, DISCUSSED AND CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD IN THE CLOSED MEETING HELD ON JANUARY 20, 2022.
>> WE HAVE A SECOND TO THE MOTION.
OKAY THE VOTE IS PRESENT EIGHT AND ONE IS ABSENT.
>> I NEED TO REAFFIRM OUR COMMITMENT TO --ANITA MOTION TO AMEND THE AGENDA.
A COMMITMENT TO ASSURING SAFE SCHOOLS.
>> SECOND. WE WILL DO A ROLL CALL VOTE FOR THAT.
ONE IS ABSENT. WE HAVE AMENDED THE AGENDA.
[25. Motion to Reaffirm Commitment to Ensuring Safe and Efficient Schools]
TO REAFFIRM OUR COMMITMENT TO ENSURING SAFE AND EFFICIENT SCHOOLS?>> MADAM CHAIR I MOVE THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD REAFFIRM ITS COMMITMENT TO ENSURING SAFE AND EFFICIENT OPERATION OF SCHOOLS IN THE PROVISION OF IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION BY EMPLOYING THE COVID-19 MITIGATION MEASURES RECOMMENDED BY THE FEDERAL CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL.
INCLUDING MASKING OF STUDENTS, STAFF, AND VISITORS AS APPROVED BY THE BOARD ON AUGUST 3, 2021.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATION GPE – ARE – J HCC – ARE ADOPTED BY THE BOARD ON DECEMBER 16, 2021.
OTHER POLICIES AND REGULATIONS AND AUTHORIZE ACTIONS RECOMMENDED BY THE BOARD ATTORNEY AS PRESENTED IN CLOSED SESSION INCLUDING PARTICIPATION IN LEGAL ACTION IF AND
[03:15:08]
AS NEEDED.>> A SECOND TO THE MOTION. WE WILL DO A ROLL CALL VOTE.
CLERKS WE HAVE A VOTE OF EIGHT YES ONE ABSENT.
>> SECOND. >> A SECOND TO THE MOTION. WE WILL GO AHEAD AND DO A ROLL CALL VOTE.
THE VOTE IS 9 TO 0. ADJOURNED AT 11:19 PM.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.