[1. Meeting Called to Order by Chair Alderton]
[00:00:03]
IT IS MARCH 24TH, 2022.I AM GLAD YOU ARE EXCITED TO BE HERE.
I AM GOING TO CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER AT 6:34 P.M.
EVERYONE JUST MAKE SURE YOU ARE LOGGED IN, PLEASE.
WE WILL GO AHEAD AND OBSERVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE GENERAL DO.
[3. Adopt the Agenda for the March 24, 2022 School Board Meeting]
>> MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE TO ADOPT THE AGENDA.
>> I HAVE MR. BAILEY WHO SECONDS DR. RIEF'S MOTION.
WE NOW NEED TO MOVE INTO A CLOSED MEETING SO MADAM VICE CHAIR WILL YOU READ US INTO CLOSED SESSION?
>> MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE THE BOARD CONVENE A CLOSED MEETING PURSUANT TO CODE
[4. Closed Meeting]
2.2-3711, A6 FOR DISCUSSION OR CONSIDERATION OF THE INVESTMENT OF PUBLIC FUNDS WHERE COMPETITION IS INVOLVED.IT MAY AFFECT THE INTEREST OF THE BOARD.
I MOVE THAT THE BOARD CONVENE A CLOSED MEETING PURSUANT TO THE VIRGINIA CODE FOR THE DISCUSSION OF THE AWARD OF A PUBLIC CONTRACT INVOLVING PUBLIC FUNDS INCLUDING INTERVIEWS OF BIDDERS OR OFFERS AND THE DISCUSSION OF THE TERM OR SCOPE OF SUCH CONTACT.
DISCUSSION IN OPEN SESSION WOULD AFFECT THE STRATEGY OF THE BOARD.
AND MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE THAT THE BOARD CONVENE A CLOSED MEETING PURSUANT TO VIRGINIA CODE 2.2-37112 FOR THE DISCUSSION AND DISCUSSION OF ADMISSION OR DISCIPLINARY MATTERS OR ANY OTHER MATTER THAT WOULD INVOLVE THE DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION CONTAINED IN A SCHOLASTIC RECORD CONCERNING ANY STUDENT.
>> DR. RIEF SECONDS VICE CHAIR GREEN'S MOTION.
[00:05:02]
GO AHEAD AND VOTE.>> WE ARE MOVING INTO CLOSED AND WE WILL RETURN.
VICE CHAIR GREEN, CAN YOU PLEASE CERTIFY THE CLOSED SESSION?
>> MADAM CHAIR, PURSUANT TO CODE 2.2-3712 I MOVE THE BOARD CERTIFY THAT TO THE
[5. Certification of Closed Meeting]
BEST OF EACH MEMBER'S KNOWLEDGE ONLY PUBLIC BUSINESS MATTERS IDENTIFIED IN THE MOTION OF WHICH THE CLOSED MEETING WAS CONVENED AND LAWFULLY EXEMPTED BY THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT WERE HEARD, DISCUSSED AND CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD IN THE CLOSED MEETING HELD ON MARCH 24TH, 2022.>> HAVE I DR. RIEF WHO SECONDS MS. GREEN'S MOTION.
SO EVERYONE CAN GO AHEAD AND VOTE.
MOVING ALONG WE WILL MOVE TO COMMUNICATIONS AND ADDRESSES TO THE BOARD.
JUST A REMINDER THAT EACH SPEAKER HAS THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD AND THE
[6. Public Comments]
CLERK DOES TIME OUR SPEAKERS.WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED YOUR TIME IS UP.
IF YOU ARE PARTICIPATING THROUGH ZOOM WHICH WE DO HAVE ONE VIRTUAL COMMENT, PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU RAISE YOUR HAND IN THE ZOOM FUNCTION MAKE SURE YOU RAISE YOUR HAND SO WE CAN IDENTIFY YOU.
BE AWARE THAT WE DO NOT PROVIDE ANY COMMENT TO YOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
WE TAKE THAT INFORMATION IN AND RESPOND ACCORDINGLY.
WITH THAT SAID, FIRST UP I HAVE MR. ZACHARY ROBERTS.
>> HELLO, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
SO MANY -- AS WE HAVE COME BACK FROM VIRTUAL LEARNING WE HAVE RUN INTO OVER THE YEARS SEVERAL ISSUES WITH THE TECHNOLOGY IN OUR SCHOOLS.
FIRST OFF WHY ARE WE USING PHONES TO DO ASSIGNMENTS BECAUSE THAT SEEMS TO BE WHAT'S HAPPENING MORE AND MORE BASED ON SCHOOL POLICIES.
AS YOU HAVE DISABLED ACCESS TO MANY THINGS, FOR EXAMPLE, YOUTUBE, MOST TEACHERS USE YOUTUBE FOR ASSIGNMENTS.
I HAVE TO WATCH VIDEOS ON ALL ASSIGNMENTS.
YOU USED TO BE ABLE TO VIEW THEM ON CHROME BOOKS, BUT NOT ANYMORE.
BUSINESSES USE MICROSOFT OFFICE AND CHROME BOOKS CANNOT EVEN UNDERSTAND THE FILE TYPES.
WE SAY WE DO OFFER STUDENTS IN TERMS OF TECHNOLOGIES, BUT WE HAVE TO WAIVE THE COMPUTERS AROUND TO GET A SIGNAL AND IN ORDER TO DO THEIR ASSIGNMENTS.
PEOPLE ARE USING PERSONAL DEVICES TO DO THEIR STUDIES.
WHY ARE WE PROVIDING COMPUTERS TO STUDENTS IF YOU AREN'T EVEN ABLE TO DO THE ASSIGNMENTS ON THE COMPUTER? ISN'T THAT THE POINT OF GIVING EVERYONE A COMPUTER? THERE ARE OTHER THINGS AND THE FACT THAT TEACHERS ARE NEVER CONSULTED WHEN THE CHANGES ARE MADE.
WHEN THINGS ARE LOCKED ARE THE TEACHERS CONSULTED? NO.
THE TEACHERS HAVE TO JUST -- AND THE STUDENTS JUST HAVE TO LIVE WITH IT.
LARGE AMOUNTS OF CLASS TIME IS WASTED BECAUSE WE HAVE TO -- FOR EXAMPLE, I DID AN ENGLISH ASSIGNMENT AND I HAD TO FIDDLE AROUND ON MY PHONE FOR FIVE MINUTES TO GET TO THE VIDEO AND THERE ARE 10 VIDEOS.
[00:10:02]
DO THAT 10 TIMES AND THAT'S 50 MINUTES OF WASTED CLASS TIME.AND WE CAN'T EVEN DO IT ON OUR CHROME BOOKS WITHOUT DOING THINGS THAT, IF YOU GIVE IT TO US, LET US DO OUR WORK WITHOUT GROWING HINDRANCE BECAUSE IT SAVES BAND WIDTH.
IF IT SAVES -- THAT'S -- IF YOU NEED BAND WIDTH, JUST GET MORE BAND WIDTH.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR LISTENING, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
STUDENTS, PARENTS, STAFF AND FACULTY, COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ALL STAKEHOLDERS ARE OWED INFORMATION ABOUT SERIOUS VIOLENT OFFENSES THAT TAKE PLACE IN THIS CITY'S SCHOOLS.
PARENTS ARE BEST POSITIONED TO MAKE A RISK ASSESSMENT FOR THEIR CHILDREN AND ADDRESS ANY TRAUMA ASSOCIATED WITH GOING TO SCHOOLS WHERE IT OCCURS.
ACPS IS AND CONTINUES TO BE DERRELICT.
THIS INCLUDES A SUPERINTENDENT AND EACH OF THE MEMBERS OF H SCHOOL BOARD.
HIDING BEHIND JUVENILE PRIVACY LAWS TO CLOAK YOURSELF IN SILENCE IS COWARDESS OF EPIC PROPORTION.
I ASK YOU TO FIND INFORMATION ABOUT THE OCTOBER 6TH RAPE THAT IS LONG OVERDUE.
THE QUESTIONS I WANT ANSWERS TO WAS THERE A TITLE 9 INVESTIGATION? WHO IS YOUR CERTIFIED TITLE 9 INVESTIGATOR.
WHAT TIME OF DAY DID THIS OCCUR? WAS IT OVER LUNCH? WHAT HAVE WE DONE TO MITIGATE THAT? WHO CALLED THE POLICE? WHO MADE THE LEGAL DETERMINATION THAT YOU CAN'T SAY ANYTHING? WHAT'S THEIR NAME? WHO IS YOUR ATTORNEY? THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE HIDING BEHIND BECAUSE THE CITY PUT OUT A HORRIFYING VICTIM-BLAMING STATEMENT INDICATING SUCH.
WHAT IS THE STATUS OF CAMERAS AT MINI HOWARD? WHO MONITORS THEM? WHAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS.
WHAT IS THE SAFETY PLAN AT SCHOOLS? IS THERE KNOWN GANG ACTIVITY IN THE SCHOOLS? WHEN WILL YOU INVOLVE PARENTS AND NOT TREAT US AS AN ENEMY.
I WILL CONCLUDE MY REMARKS ON A PERSONAL NOTE.
THE DAY BEFORE THE REVIEW STORY WAS ANNOUNCED, ST. PATRICK'S DAY, I MADE A STATEMENT SAYING OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS SO MANY THINGS THAT FRUSTRATE ME.
IT IS POLITICAL AND OUR SUPERINTENDENT IS A JOKE PERFORMANCE SERVICE.
IT IS A SPECIAL PLACE AND OUR KIDS ARE THRIVING.
I THINK ABOUT IT AS SCHOOLS ARE THE POLITICAL GROUND 0 RIGHT NOW.
WHEN I SPEAK UP I HAVE TO WONDER IF -- IF IT IS ME AS A GROWN UP CARRYING ON AN UNNECESSARY CAMPAIGN WHEN WHAT IS HAPPENING FOR OUR FIVE KIDS IS PRETTY WONDERFUL.
WE HAVE FIVE KIDS IN ACPS SCHOOLS.
THEY HAVE BEEN TARNISHED BY THE INTENTIONAL SILENCE BY YOU, THE SUPERINTENDENT AND THE BOARD AND THIS CITY'S MAYOR.
ACPS IS NOT A POLITICAL MACHINE.
YOUR STATE MISSION OF EQUITY FOR ALL AND OPEN AND HONEST AND MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SAFETY IN SCHOOLS WILL NEVER BE ACHIEVED.
UNSAFE SCHOOLS RENDER EQUITY UNACHIEVABLE AND IT WILL NOT EVERY PLAUSIBLY OCCUR WHEN SCHOOLS ARE MIRED BY CRIME, DRUG USE AND VANDALISM.
NOT TALKING ABOUT THOSE THINGS DOES NOT RENDER THEM NONEXISTENT.
AS A PARENT SAID IN THE ALEXANDRIA TIMES, SUNSHINE IS THE BEST ALTERNATIVE.
HE IS YOUR BOSS AND HAS NO AUTHORITY ON HOW TO CONDUCT YOURSELVES.
ANSWER TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND NO ONE ELSE.
>> NEXT UP IS MR. JOHN LEVALLE.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
>> AS YOU KNOW FOR THE LAST SEVEN YEARS I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE SAFETY OF ALL THE KIDS, WHITE KIDS, BLACK KIDS, HISPANIC KIDS IN ACPS.
[00:15:01]
I WENT TO BATTLE WITH SCHOOL SECURITY AFTER MY SON WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS BY ANOTHER STUDENT WHOSE PARENT WORKED AT THE SCHOOL.I HAVE THE EMAIL RECORDS AND I WILL PRESENT IT TO THE BOARD.
THE REASON WHY MY SON HAS BEEN ABLE TO OVERCOME SOME OF THE ISSUES IS BECAUSE HE HAD INVOLVED PARENTS.
HOW ABOUT THE OTHER PARENTS -- BY THE WAY, THE SRO WAS NEVER CONTACTED.
IN THE RECENT EVENTS AT MINI HOWARD WHERE KIDS WERE TAKING PICTURES OF HIM AND OTHER STUDENTS USING THE BATHROOM, THAT ALSO WAS NEVER REPORTED TO THE SRO AND NEITHER WAS 9-1-1 CALL.
ALTHOUGH WE PUT IT IN WRITING THAT'S WHAT WE WANTED, THEY SAID, AND I QUOTE, MR. ROBERTS, YOU CAN FILE CHARGES AGAINST THE KID.
IN LIEU OF THE PARENT BEING THERE, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MY SON'S SAFETY AND THE OTHER KIDS' SAFETY.
I WAS RAISED TO SPEAK LIKE THIS.
AND YOU INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE AT THE CENTER, DR. MAISER, MR. BENSON.
EVERY TIME MY SON SEES MR. BENSON WHO TOLD THE KIDS TO BEAT HIM UP TO SILENCE HIM AND TO SILENCE ME, IT IS ON RECORD.
THE SRO REPORTED IT, ALEXANDER JENSON REPORTING.
AND YOU, DR. HUTCHINS, YOU MEMBERS YOU KNEW ABOUT IT AND LET THEM SWEEP IT UNDER THE RUG.
OTHER KIDS THAT ARE VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, UNPROVOKED VIOLENCE ARE VICTIMS BECAUSE YOU ARE SCARED TO GET RID OF THIS MATTER.
APPRECIATE -- I WANT TO ASK YOU STOP TALKING ABOUT STUFF.
GET CAMERAS BACK IN THE BUILDING.
STOP THEM FROM BRINGING WEAPONS AND GUNS -- >> MR. ROBERTS, YOUR TIME IS UP.
>> NEXT UP WE HAVE VIRTUAL COMMENTS FROM MS. GARCIA.
GOOD EVENING, CHAIR, VICE CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ALLOW ME TO SPEAK.
MY NAME IS SINDY AND I AM AN ACPS GRADUATE AND I WORK ALONGSIDE ACPS STUDENTS ADVOCATING FOR A WELCOMING SCHOOL CLIMATE FOR ALL STUDENTS AND BEING SUPPORTED BY HOLISTIC RESOURCES.
WE HAD SEVERAL ONE ON ONE CONVERSATIONS WITH ELECTED LEAD EVERIES, AND UNFORTUNATELY THE STUDENT TESTIMONIES AND THEIR CONCERNS ARE YET TO BE HEARD AND TAKEN ACTION UPON TO SOLVE THE ISSUES OF SAFETY, SCHOOL CLIMATE AND THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP AMONG STUDENTS OF COLOR.
WHILE IT IS GREAT THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT HAS INITIATED A STEP FORWARD TO EVALUATE THE SRO PROGRAM AND THE SAFETY IN SCHOOLS, THE PROCESS NEEDS TO BE FULLY TRANSPARENT AND HAVE THE INCLUSION OF THE IMPACTED YOUTH VOICES IN IT.
WE HOPE YOU TAKE THIS INTO CONSIDERATION AND BRING FORTH A PLAN THAT IS TRULY REFLECTIVE OF STUDENTS BEING IMPACTED AND LEFT BEHIND.
WHILE THIS PROCESS IS GOING ON, IT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT THE DATA KEEPS SHOWING THE
[00:20:14]
SAME RESULTS.THAT AMONG ALL STUDENTS BEING ARRESTED, PRIMARILY BLACK STUDENTS ARE THE ONES BEING ARRESTED IN DISPROPORTIONATE PERCENTAGES.
IT IS UNACCEPTABLE WE DO NOT PRIORITIZE PROGRAMS LIKE MENTAL HEALTH AND RESTORE TIFF PRACTICES AND FULLY INVEST IN THEM TO IMPLEMENT THEM CORRECTLY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS.
BY TRULY SUPPORTING STUDENTS AND HAVING TRUSTED, TRAINED ADULTS THAT UNDERSTAND AND SERVE YOUNG PEOPLE WITH THE NECESSARY TOOLS, RATES OF SUSPENSIONS, ARRESTSES AND EVEN INCIDENTS WILL DECREASE.
IT WOULD HIGHER THE PROBABILITY OF GRADUATIONS AND OVERALL ACADEMIC SUCCESS.
IT IS ALSO UNACCEPTABLE THAT THIS IS TAKING THIS LONG TO TRULY -- FOR YOU GUYS TO TRULY WORK TOGETHER AND IMPROVE THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM THAT SERVES THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS IN ACPS.
AGAIN, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY, AND WE HOPE THAT MOVING FORWARD WE CAN HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE AND YOU CAN USE YOUR LEADERSHIP ROLE TO MAKE THE CHANGES STUDENTS DESERVE IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR THIS EVENING.
THERE ARE THREE WRITTEN COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO THE BOARD.
MAKE SURE YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE.
REMEMBER, IF YOU WISH TO SIGN UP TO SPEAK, MAKE SURE YOU DO SO BY NOON ON THE DAY PRIOR TO THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING AND THERE IS A LINK ON THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING PAGE THAT ALLOWS YOU TO DO THAT.
MOVING ON WE HAVE OUR REPORTS FROM OUR STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES.
[7. Report from Student Representatives Emily Milton and Sylvia Rahim]
WHO WOULD LIKE TO START?>> GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS AND ATTENDEES.
I WOULD LIKE TO START WITH THE ESSENTIAL WORKERS EVENT.
THE ELEMENTARY STUDENTS WERE ABLE TO TALK WITH THE ESSENTIAL WORKERS AND ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR JOBS AND OVERALL HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORK OF THE PEOPLE WHO KEEP OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM RUNNING SUCCESSFULLY.
NEXT FOR STUDENTS IN NEED OF MEALS OVER SPRING BREAK, THEY ARE AVAILABLE TO PICK THEM UP AT ACHS FROM 8 A.M.
MORE INFORMATION ON SIGN UP FOR DELIVERIES CAN BE FOUND ON ACPS WEBSITE.
CURRENTLY THE MONTHLY COVID ACPS CASES IN MARCH HAVE BEEN 34 WHICH IS A GREAT IMPROVEMENT FROM FEBRUARY WHICH HAD 106 CASES.
LAST WEDNESDAY WE HAD OUR FIRST SUPERINTENDENT STUDENT ADVISORY COUNCIL AS DR. HUTCHINGS CAN ATTEST TO, WE COULD SPEAK FREELY AND HAVE A GREAT VARIETY OF VOICES AND PERSPECTIVES ON ISSUES GOING ON IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
AND FINALLY FOCUS GROUPS ON THE ACPS LOGO WILL BEGIN ON MARCH 28TH AT 9 A.M.
>> HELLO, BOARD AND COMMUNITY.
MY NAME IS EMILY AND MY FIRST POINT I WANT TO MAKE IS THAT ON MARCH 28TH, THERE WILL BE A VIRTUAL PANEL WITH OTHER NORTHERN GS SCHOOL DIVISIONS INCLUDING OS AND THEIR BENEFITS AND -- ORGANIZATION AND THEIR BENEFITS.
IT CAN BE FOUND ONLINE IF YOU WANT TO ATTEND.
ACPS HAS TRANSFERRED TO A NEW WEEKLY COVID TESTING VENDOR AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE STUDENTS TO TAKE THE ACPS EQUITY FOR ALL CLIMATE SURVEY.
THE LINK IS ON THE ACPS WEBSITE, ACPS EXPRESS AND OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES.
[Consent Calendar]
WE WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE ACPS'S MARCH PARTNER HIGHLIGHTS.THE NONPROFIT LITERACY TUTTINGER -- TUTORING PROGRAM.
THEY WOULD LIKE TO EXPAND AND WE THANK TESTIMONY FOR THEIR WORK.
THE GROUND BREAKING OF MINI HOWARD IS TUESDAY MARCH 29TH AT 10:30 A.M.
WE ARE ALL EXCITED FOR THE NEW 9 THROUGH 12TH GRADE BUILDING THAT IS
[00:25:02]
STATE-OF-THE-ART.WE WISH EVERYONE A RELAXING SPRING BREAK.
WE REMIND EVERYONE THAT THERE IS NO SCHOOL ON THE FOLLOWING MONDAY FOR TEACHER WORK DAY.
I NOW NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE CONSENT CALENDAR, PLEASE.
>> I HAVE DR. RIEF WHO SECONDS MR. HARRIS' MOTION.
THE CONSENT CALENDAR HAS BEEN ADOPTED.
WE ARE GOING TO NEXT TALK ABOUT THE TAG SERVICE MODEL.
[13. TAG Service Model]
I WILL TURN IT OVER TO DR. HUTCHINGS TO TURN IT OVER TO HIS TEAM.AS WE TRANSITION I KNOW WE ARE GOING INTO THE TAG DELIVERY OF SERVICES AND IDENTIFICATION.
I'M, ONE, EXCITED ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE HAVE OUR NEW DIRECTOR HERE AND THAT IS DR. MEAGAN MILNER.
-- I WANTED TO GET IT RIGHT TEMPLE-MILNER.
WE ARE FINALLY ABLE TO MAKE SOME REVISIONS TO THE PLAN.
THE LAST TIME WE REVISED THE PLAN WAS IN 2010.
THAT WAS 12 YEARS AGO AND IT HAPPENED TO BE THE TIME WHEN I WAS HERE LAST AS THE DIRECTOR OF MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS TIME FOR US TO REALLY REIMAGINE AND REEVALUATE HOW WE ARE PROVIDING SERVICES TO THE STUDENTS.
SO TODAY IS REALLY ABOUT GETTING AN OVER VIEW OF WHERE WE ARE GOING WITH THIS.
WE JUST STARTED OUR WORK, BUT HOPEFULLY DR. TEMPLE-MILNER CAN LOOK AT WHAT WE ARE CURRENTLY PROVIDING AND WHAT ARE SOME OF THE GUIDELINES OUR TAG COMMITTEE WILL BE REVIEWING.
I WILL TURN THINGS OVER TO DR. MANN WHO WILL BEGIN THE PRESENTATION AND THEN WE WILL HEAR FROM DR. TEMPLE-MILNER.
YOU TOOK EVERYTHING I WAS GOING TO SAY SO I WILL TURN INTO OUR ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS.
THIS EVENING WE HAVE FOUR ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS FOR THE BOARD.
WHAT ARE THE KEY TOPICS PRESENTED A MARCH 10TH SCHOOL BOARD MEETING? WHAT IS THE CURRENT TAG DELIVERY MODEL? WHAT IS THE ADVANCED ACADEMICS SERVICE MODEL, AND WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS FOR THE STEERING COMMITTEE? IT IS MY PLEASURE TO TURN IT OVER TO DR. TEMPLE-MILNER.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE INTEREST DUCKS.
IN ADDITION THANK YOU TO THE SCALL BOARD AND THE COMMUNITY FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TONIGHT AND CONTINUE OUR CONVERSATION FROM THE MARCH 10TH MEETING.
TONIGHT I LOOK FORWARD TO SHARING SOME OF OUR WORK I WILL PROVIDE A STATUS REPORT OF WHERE WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF UPDATING OUR DELIVERY OF SERVICES AND IDENTIFICATION PROCEDURES AND THE NEXT STEP IN OUR DRAFTING PROCESS.
AS A BRIEF OVERVIEW WE HAVE TWO LEVELS OF GIFTED SERVICES.
GENERAL INTELLECTUAL APTITUDE KNOWN AS GIA AND SPECIFIC ACADEMIC APTITUDE KNOWN AS SAA.
IT RUNS THROUGH K-12 AND MOSTLY SERVING KINDERGARTEN THROUGH THIRD GRADE.
THE MODEL VARIES BY SCHOOL AND IS DEPENDENT ON HOW THE SCHOOL AND STAFF TAG TEACHERS THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO PUSH IN AND PULL OUT AND CO-TEACHING SERVICES.
THERE ARE SIX SCHOOLS WITH TWO TAG TEACHERS.
ON SPECIFIC ACADEMIC APTITUDE THEY ARE FOCUSED ON LANGUAGE AND MATH.
THEY HAVE A SELF-CONTAINED PULL OUT MODEL WHICH A TAG TEACHER TEACHES.
FOR MATHEMATICS IN GRADES 4-5, THE STUDENTS RECEIVE INSTRUCTION WITH A SELF-CONTAINED PULL OUT MODEL WHICH A TAG TEACHER ALSO TEACHES.
STUDENTS RECEIVE THE GRADE LEVEL CURRICULUM.
AND SOCIAL STUDIES AND SCIENCE IN GRADES 4 THROUGH 5 STUDENTS RECEIVE DIFFERENTIATED STUDIES AND OUTLINES THEIR QUARTERLY SERVICES.
WHEN THEY ENTER MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL THEY WILL RECEIVE HONORS, AP AND DUAL ENROLLMENT COURSES BASED ON THE SUBJECTS THEY ARE TAKING.
TWO OF THE FOUR HAVE A TAG TEACHER FOR A CURRICULUM AND THE OTHER TWO HAVE GRADES
[00:30:09]
K-8.OUR STEERING COMMITTEE HAS WORKED HARD ON UPDATING THE STATEMENT OF PHILOSOPHY.
WE WE SPENT FOUR MONTHS MEETING WITH THE WORKING GROUPS.
TONIGHT WE ARE BRINGING BACK TO THE BOARD A PROPOSED PHILOSOPHY AND HERE ARE SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS FOR YOU.
THE PROPOSED ACPS STATEMENT OF PHILOSOPHY IS ALIGNED WITH THE ASSOCIATION FOR GIFTED CHILDREN.
WE BELIEVE CHILDREN REQUIRING ADVANCED ACADEMIC SERVICES COME FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS AND STUDENTS WHO REQUIRE EL LANGUAGE SERVICES CAN BE HELPED WITH THE ADVANCED ACADEMIC PROGRAM.
ONE OF THE ITEMS THE COMMITTEE IS PRO 30ESING IS A SHIFT FROM GIFTED TO ADVANCED ACADEMIC SERVICES.
ACPS IS NOT ALONE IN THIS PARADIGM SHIFT AS IT IS TAKING PLACE ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA AND OUR COUNTRY.
HERE IS MORE INFORMATION ON WHY WE ARE PROPOSING THIS CHANGE.
WITHIN THE BOOK "BEYOND EDUCATION, ADVANCING ACADEMIC PROGRAMS" DR. SCOTT PETERS TALKS ABOUT THE CONCEPT OF GIFTS AND ADVANCED ACADEMICS.
ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SCALE YOU CAN SEE THAT GIFTED EDUCATION IS A CONSTRUCT DEVELOPED OVER 100 YEARS AGO BY PSYCHOLOGISTS.
IT WAS USED EARLY ON IN THE U.S.
TO DETERMINE MILITARY RANKS AND RELY ON THE METRICS TO SEE WHO FITS IN A CONCEPTUAL DEFINITION.
ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SCALE IS IT WHAT WE ARE LEARNING FOR ADVANCED ACADEMIC.
ADVANCED ACADEMICS ARE SCHOOL, STUDENT AND EDUCATOR BASED.
THEY ARE INTERESTED IN FINDING STUDENTS WHO NEED MORE ACADEMICALLY AND FOCUSES MORE ON SERVICES RATHER THAN IDENTIFYING.
THE INVESTMENT MOVES TO THE SERVICES IDEAL RATHER THAN TESTING AND SCREENING TO FIT A MOLD.
I WILL CONTINUE TO OUTLINE THE WORK OUR COMMITTEE IS DOING IN RELATIONSHIP TO THIS PARADIGM SHIFT.
AS OUR COMMITTEE CONTINUES, THE WORK IS TO FOCUS ON A CONTINUUM OF SERVICES AND PROGRAM DESIGN MODEL THAT SERVES STUDENTS FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12TH GRADE.
CURRENTLY WE HAVE TWO PATHS FOR STUDENTS TO ACCESS THE GIFTED SERVICES.
IT IS NOT ALLOWED FOR FLEXIBILITY AND TALENT DEVELOPMENT FOR STUDENTS NOT INCLUDED UNDER THE PROGRAM USING THE CURRENT IDENTIFICATION PROCEDURES.
AS THE TASK FORCE CONTINUES WE WILL LOOK TO EXPAND OUR NOTION OF ADVANCED ACADEMIC SERVICES TO DISCUSS DIFFERENT LEVELS OR TIERS BASED ON SERVICES.
OUR GOAL IS TO STRENGTHEN THE CONTINUED SERVICES INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO CRITICAL THINKING FOR ALL STUDENTS AND YOUNG SCHOLARS.
AND WE WILL EXAMINE THE WAY SERVICES ARE DELIVERED INCLUDING PUSH IN, PULL OUT AND CO-TEACHING MODELS.
AS OUR PROGRAM DEVELOPS WE WILL HAVE A PHASED APPROACH IMPLEMENTATION THAT WILL ALLOW US TO LEARN OUR CURRICULUM WITH ADVANCED ACADEMIC NEEDS.
IN ADDITION WE WILL DEVELOP AN ADVANCED PROGRAM TO OFFER TO ALL OF OUR STUDENTS.
OUR COMMITTEES ARE THINKING ABOUT STUDENTS' NEEDS USING A DISTRICT AND SCHOOL-LEVEL PERSPECTIVE WHICH ALLOWS US TO THINK LOCALLY ABOUT OUR STUDENTS BAYOUSING A CONTINUUM OF ADVANCED ACADEMIC SERVICES WE CAN MATCH THE PROGRAM WITH THE NEED.
IT WILL ALLOW MORE FLEXIBILITY AND GROWTH FOR OUR STUDENTS WHICH WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THROUGH A REGULAR REVIEW OF STUDENT PROGRESS.
YOU MAY REMEMBER THIS SLIDE FROM OUR LAST PRESENTATION.
THERE ARE 13 COMPONENTS OF OUR LOCAL PLAN AND I WILL HIGHLIGHT FOUR.
OUR WORKING COMMITTEES ARE CURRENTLY EXPLORING, PLANNING AND DRAFTING THE FOUR COMPONENTS CIRCLED IN RED WHICH ARE CHANGING INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES AND SERVICE OPERATION THAT'S ARE CONTINUOUS AND SEQUENTIAL, PROGRAM DIFFERENTIATED CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION AND SCREENING REFERRAL AND IDENTIFICATION PROCEDURES.
THESE ARE CRUCIAL TO OUR PLAN.
IT IS BASED ON CURRENT RESEARCH.
AS WE KNOW THE WORK IS MUCH NEEDED.
IT IS DETAIL ORIENTED AND THE CHANGES WILL OCCUR OVER TIME.
OUR PRIMARY WORK IS CERTIFY THE DELIVERY OF SERVICES.
IT REQUIRES PUSH IN, PULL OUT OR CO-TEACHING SERVICES AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL.
[00:35:06]
ONE THAT PROVIDES CHALLENGING EXPERIENCES FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS.IT ALSO INCLUDES CONNECTED WORK BETWEEN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL PROJECTS.
WE WILL ALSO LOOK AT AND MAKE SUGGESTIONS FOR OUR STAFFING AND MATERIAL RESOURCES TO PLACE THE DELIVERY SERVICES INTO ACTION.
THE SECOND LARGE SCOPE OF WORK IS TO ADAPT OUR PROCEDURES TO ALIGN WITH CURRENT BEST PRACTICES INCLUDING LOOKING AT LOCAL NORMS AND SO WE DO NOT CONTINUE THE PATTERN OF THE REPRESENTATION THAT HAS BEEN PART OF OUR CITY FOR MANY YEARS.
DURING THE UPDATE TO THE PLAN WE WILL DEVELOP A TIMELINE FOR IMPLEMENTATION AND DETERMINE WHAT RESOURCES WE NEED TO PLACE THE PLAN INTO ACTION.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO GATHER FEEDBACK AND TO PRESENT OUR PROGRESS TO THE BOARD AS THE PLAN COMES INTO SHAPE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TONIGHT AND I WILL NOW TURN IT BACK OVER TO THE SCHOOL BOARD AND DR. HUTCHINGS FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I WILL GO AHEAD AND TURN IT OVER TO THE BOARD FOR QUESTIONS.
FIRST, THANK YOU, DR. MANN AND DR. TEMPLE-MILNER FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I THINK IT IS LIKE YOU SAID LONG OVERDUE.
YOU TALKED ABOUT A PARADIGM SHIFT AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT IS REALLY NEEDED.
I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS AND I AM GOING TO ASK ONE AND THEN I WILL LET YOU ANSWER AND THEN COME TO MY SECOND ONE.
IN DEVELOPING THE NEW PLAN, I WAS WONDERING WHAT ROLE STUDENTS WERE HAVING IN TERMS OF GIVING THEIR FEEDBACK ON THAT PROCESS.
AND I HAD MENTIONED AT OUR LAST MEETING THAT YOU ALL INCLUDED IN THE TEACHING LEARNING AND LEADING NEWSLETTER A SHORT VIDEO CALLED RETHINKING GIFTEDNESS.
IT WAS A GREAT VIDEO WHERE -- I AM JUST SHARING WITH MY COLLEAGUES, STUDENTS QUALIFIED AS GIFTED GROWING UP AND THE DOWNSIDE OF THAT LABEL.
WHEN STUDENTS WITH THAT LABEL STRUGGLED, THEY DIDN'T WANT TO ASK FOR HELP.
THEY THOUGHT MAYBE THEY WERE MISS IDENTIFIED.
I LOVE THE SHIFT FROM LABELS TO SERVICES AND THAT'S GREAT.
I REMEMBER WHEN WE WERE GOING THROUGH THE RENAMING ISSUE AND WE HAD THE IDENTITY PROJECT AND THERE WERE A NUMBER OF STUDENT PANELS WHERE THE STUDENTS GOT TO SHARE SOME OF THE THOUGHTS AND FEEDBACK ABOUT OUR SCHOOL'S HISTORY.
I THOUGHT IT WAS INSIGHTFUL FOR THEM TO SHARE THE EXPERIENCES THEY HAD AROUND GIFTED COURSE WORK AND GIFTED IDENTIFICATION.
IF YOU CAN JUST SHARE HOW YOU ARE INCORPORATING THE STUDENTS INTO THE LOCAL PLAN.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.
WE WILL CONSIDER STUDENT VOICES AS WE ARE UPDATING THE PLAN.
RIGHT NOW THE WORK WE ARE DOING IS VERY COMPLICATED AND THERE IS A LOT OF TALKING ALONG THE WAY.
OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE A LITTLE MORE OF A DRAFT BEFORE WE PRESENT THIS TO STUDENTS.
WE KNOW IT INTERRUPTS STUDENT LEARNING TIME.
WE WILL GET PERSPECTIVES FROM STUDENTS BECAUSE THEIR VOICES ARE VALUABLE, AND I WILL ALSO WORK WITH MY SUPERVISORS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE QUESTIONS THAT WE ARE ASKING OUR CHILDREN ARE DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE FOR EACH AGE LEVEL WE SPEAK WITH.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.
I DIDN'T MENTION, AND NOT EVEN STUDENTS IDENTIFIED AS GIFTED, BUT OTHER STUDENTS.
I THINK IT IS IMPACTING ALL OF OUR STUDENTS.
I HEARD ANECDOTALLY HOW IT IS AFFECTING OUR STUDENTS.
I AM REALLY INTERESTED TO HEAR WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY ABOUT IT.
MY OTHER QUESTION IS AROUND -- I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN PULL UP SLIDE THREE THAT TALKS ABOUT THE DIFFERENT SERVICES WE HAVE.
IT TALKS ABOUT THE IDENTIFICATION PROCESS THAT WE'VE BEEN USING.
RIGHT NOW WE ARE RELYING ON THE NAGLIERI TEST AND THE COGNITIVE ABILITIES TEST.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE TESTS AND THE CONCERN I HAVE IS ONE SCORE ON ONE TEST SHOULD NOT BE A BARRIER THAT KEEPS STUDENTS FROM ACCESSING ADVANCED ACADEMIC EXPERIENCES.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING.
AND SO I WAS WONDER FIGURE YOU CAN TALK ABOUT HOW YOU ALL ARE THINKING ABOUT THAT.
[00:40:08]
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN TALK OR EVEN IF THERE ARE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS AROUND TAG AND I AM NOT FAMILIAR WITH WHAT THEY ARE.ARE WE GOING TO CONTINUE TO USE SOME KIND OF NORM REFERENCED STANDARDIZED TESTS, OR DO WE HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO MOVE AWAY FROM THAT AND WHAT IS CONSIDERED BEST PRACTICES AROUND USING A STANDARDIZED TEST LIKE THIS?
>> ABSOLUTELY AND THANK YOU FOR ASKING THAT QUESTION.
>> THE STATE REQUIRES THAT WE HAVE ONE NATIONALLY NORM ABILITIES TEST.
CURRENTLY UNDER THE PROCEDURES WE DO HAVE TO FOLLOW THAT.
AND IT IS TOO PREMATURE, BUT BEST PRACTICE USUALLY IS NOT RELYING ON A SCORE TO MAKE A DETERMINATION ON GIFTED SERVICES.
USUALLY THERE IS A MULTI-MODAL APPROACH.
SOME SCHOOLS USE A MATRIX FORM AND ESPECIALLY WITH THE ADVANCED ACADEMIC PHILOSOPHY THEY OUT A PORTFOLIO WHERE ONE PIECE OF DATA IS NOT WEIGHED MORE THAN THE OTHER.
YOU USE ABILITY SCORES AND ACHIEVEMENT SCORES.
YOU LOOK AT GROWTH ON PROGRESS REPORTS AND MULTIPLE WORK SAMPLES THAT SHOWS STUDENTS PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS AS WELL AS OBSERVATION SKILLS.
CURRENTLY THEY ARE NOT THERE YET.
UNDER THE ACADEMIC PHILOSOPHY, YOU DETERMINE SERVICES FIRST AND THEN WORK ON INDEMNIFICATION.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO CONSIDER AND CONSIDER THE WEIGHT WE PLACE ON THOSE ABILITY SCORES AND ACHIEVEMENT SCORES.
WE KNOW THERE IS BIAS ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
>> THANK YOU, DR. TEMPLE-MILNER FOR COMING BACK AND PROVIDING A COMPREHENSIVE PRESENTATION.
I AM EXCITED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL SHIFT AND SOME OF THE WAY ITSELF CAN COUNTERACT THE DISPROPORTION NATIONAL TEES WE SAW.
WHAT ROLE WILL TAGA PLAY IN THE PLAN AND WILL THERE BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO OFFER FEEDBACK?
WE PLACED IT OUT TO JOIN OUR WORKING GROUPS.
WE HAVE ONE MEMBER FROM TAGAT AND OUR PROGRESS WHEN DOING THE DRAFT UPDATES AND IN ADDITION TO THAT WE CURRENTLY HAD TWO WORKING GROUPS.
ONE IS THE LEADERSHIP GROUP AND THE OTHER GROUP WAS OUR INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT AND COMMUNITY APPARENT GROUP.
WHO WE DECIDED TO DO IS SPLIT IT APART BETWEEN TEACHER AND COMMUNITY SO WE CAN HEAR MORE VOICES IN THE ROOM.
ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO BE A PART OF THE COMMITTEE FOR THE PARENTS AND THE COMMUNITY, THEY ARE WELCOME TO.
THEY CAN EMAIL ME AND I AM REACHING OUT TO PARENTS WHEN I AM SPEAKING TO THEM ON THE PHONE.
I INVITE THEM TO BE PART OF THE PROCESS.
OUR WORK IS GOING TOWARD THAT.
AND THEN ALSO I'M LOOKING INTO THE SPECIFICS BEHIND THIS, BUT WE WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE FEEDBACK ON THE DRAFTED PROPOSAL.
I THINK I HEARD THE NUMBER SIX SCHOOLS AND TWO TAG TEACHERS PER SCHOOL? IS THAT CORRECT?
I AM EXCITED AND LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING A CONTINUUM OF SERVICES AND
[00:45:01]
THINKING OF SURVEYING OUR STUDENTS IN THAT WAY.I AM ALSO EXCITED ABOUT THE FOCUS ON TALENTED DEVELOPMENT.
I THINK PART OF THE WAY TO ADDRESS THE DISPROPORTION NATIONAL TEE IS DEVELOPING IN OUR STUDENTS.
WE WON'T REACH STUDENTS IF WE ARE ALREADY EXPECTING THEM TO BE WHERE WE WANT THEM TO BE INSTEAD OF LOOKING FOR THE NUGGETS OF GOLD WE KNOW ARE THERE AND WE CAN DEVELOP AND BRING OUT FOR STUDENTS.
I LIKE THE SHIFT TO SERVICES OVER IDENTIFICATION.
ONE IS ABOUT THE NNAT AND THE COGAT.
WE WANT TO KNOW HOW WELL WE HAVE USED THOSE TOOLS AND LEAKED AT OTHER RESOURCES OR COMPONENTS ABOUT STUDENTS TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS.
HAVE WE TAKEN AN HONEST LOOK AT THAT AND SAID, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE EVEN DONE THAT WELL THUS FAR AND DO WE HAVE IMPROVEMENTS TO MAKE IN THAT AREA? THAT'S MY FIRST QUESTION.
MY SECOND QUESTION IS WHERE DOES YOUNG SCHOLARS FIT INTO ALL OF THIS? THAT'S A BIG SEED WE HAVE PLANTED AND IT DEFINITELY HAS A ROLE, BUT I AM NOT SEEING HOW WE MAKE THE CONNECTION.
>> I HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THE DATA IN ALEXANDRIA CITY OVER TIME IN TERMS OF HOW THE TESTS BREAK DOWN BY SUBGROUP AND BY SCHOOL.
I HAVEN'T HAD THAT OPPORTUNITY.
I NEED TO DEFER TO DR. HUTCHINGS ON THAT.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE HOPING TO LOOK INTO.
I KNOW I AM -- WE ARE JUST FINISHING UP THE APPEALS PROCESS.
WE ARE A SMALL AND MIGHTY TEAM OF TWO IN OUR OFFICE.
OUR NEXT STEP IS TO LOOK AT WHO IS ELIGIBLE AND WERE THEY AN AUTOMATIC REFERRAL BASED ON COGAT SCORE OR NAGLIERI SCORE OR THEIR MAP SCORES TO SEE HOW OUR STUDENTS ARE GETTING INTO THE AUTOMATIC REFERRAL POOL LET ALONE BEING ELIGIBLE FOR SERVICES.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO DO A DEEPER DIVE ON.
IN TERMS OF YOUNG SCHOLARS, WE ARE SO LUCKY TO HAVE MS. TIANA DOMINIC AS PART OF OUR OFFICE.
SHE IS A YOUNG SCHOLAR SPECIALIST.
OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST FEW YEARS SHE EXPANDED YOUNG SCHOLARS ACROSS THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
A LOT OF OUR YOUNG SCHOLARS ARE GOING INTO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
WE NEED TO LOOK AT YOUNG SCHOLARS -- I FEEL LIKE WE ARE LOOKING AT IT AS TWO SEPARATE ENTITIES.
YOUNG SCHOLARS IT AN INTERVENTION.
IT IS AN INTERVENTION OF ENRICHMENT.
AND THAT ADVANCED ACADEMIC MODEL WOULD FALL UNDER THE SCOPE.
WHAT HAPPENS WITH YOUNG SCHOLARS IS BECAUSE WE ARE LOOKING AT IT AS TWO ENTITIES OF YOU ARE NOT IN TAG YET.
WORKING THROUGH OUR PLAN, YOUNG SCHOLARS WILL BE PART OF ADVANCED ACADEMIC SERVICES FOR OUR CHILDREN.
IN ADDITION, WE ARE LOOKING TO EXPAND THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WE CAN PLACE OR BE IDENTIFIED IN YOUNG SCHOLARS.
AND MAKING SURE WE ARE REFERRING OUR CHILDREN WHO RECEIVE YOUNG SCHOLAR SERVICES FOR GIA SERVICES AND SIA SERVICES TO MAKE SURE OUR KIDS GET TO THE TABLE FOR SCREENING.
YOU ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE INELIGIBLE IF YOU AREN'T SCREENED.
THAT'S OUR PERSPECTIVE MOVING FORWARD WITH YOUNG SCHOLARS.
I AM EXCITED TO SEE THE GROWTH THAT WILL OCCUR IN OUR SCHOOL AND TO CONTINUE
[00:50:02]
TO SEE THE GREAT WORK MS. DOMINIC IS DOING.WE DON'T HAVE ANYMORE QUESTIONS SO LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING MORE AS WE GROW IN THIS AREA.
[14. School Law Enforcement Partnership and SRO Program]
SO NEXT UP UNDER OLD BUSINESS WE HAVE A BRIEF UPDATE ON THE SCHOOL LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERSHIP.>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU SAID I CAN TALK.
THANK YOU TO THE BOARD FOR THE INSIGHT AND THE FEEDBACK SHARED AT OUR PREVIOUS BOARD MEETING.
OUR TEAM IS WORKING THROUGH SOME OF THOSE REVISIONS AND WE WILL BE BRINGING THAT BACK TO THE BOARD IN REGARDS TO OUR SCHOOL LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERSHIP ADVISORY GROUP ON APRIL 21ST, AT OUR APRIL 21ST MEETING.
TODAY I WILL ASK FOR DR. HART TO GIVE US A QUICK OVERVIEW OF WHAT WE ARE ASKING THE BOARD TO INQUIRE OR TO REQUEST WITH THE CITY COUNCIL TO EXTEND THE TIME FRAME FOR OUR SRO FUNDING SO WE CAN HAVE HAD THE ADEQUATE TIME TO WORK THROUGH THE TASK FORCE AND ADVISORY GROUP THAT IS NOT IN A RUSHED FORMAT.
I WANT TO TURN IT OVER TO DR. HART SO SHE CAN GO OVER THOSE POINTS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, DR. HUTCHINGS.
GOOD EVENING, CHAIR ALDER SON AND VICE CHAIR GREEN AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
AS NOTED FOR THIS TOPIC, WE ARE REQUESTING AN EXTENSION ON THE FUNDING OF THE SRO PROGRAM THROUGH JUNE OF 2023.
UNDERSTAND THAT THE FUNDING IS PROVIDED BY THE CITY.
HOWEVER, GIVEN THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD IS THE ELECTED BODY, WE WANTED TO PUT FORTH THIS REQUEST THROUGH THE APPROPRIATE CHAIN OF COMMAND.
WE ARE RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING A FULL EXTENSION -- WELSHING THE EXTENSION FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS.
FIRST TO ALLOW HAD SLE PERKS ADVISORY GROUP TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK.
AND TO CONDUCT ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND ALLOW THE ELECTED BODIES THE TIME TO MAKE A DETERMINATION REGARDING THE FUTURE OF THE SRO PROGRAM BASED ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE SLEP ADVISORY GROUP AND MAIN TAGGING CONTINUITY UNTIL A -- AND MAINTAINING CONTINUITY.
THAT CONCLUDES MY COMMENT, BUT HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE, DR. HART.
I WAS WONDERING ABOUT THE SRO PROGRAM AT THE KING STREET CAMPUS.
I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE NO SRO'S RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF THE INVESTIGATION THAT WAS HAPPENING.
IS THERE PLANS TO RETURN THOSE OFFICERS OR RETURN NEW OFFICERS WHO HAVE GONE THROUGH THE SRO TRAINING PROGRAM 1234* CAN WE GET AN UPDATE ON THAT?
>> I WILL BE HONEST WITH YOU, DR. RIEF.
I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN SPEAK ON THAT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I DO KNOW THAT THERE IS AN ON GOING I BELIEVE INVESTIGATION WITH APD REGARDING THAT PERSONNEL MATTER.
BUT I CAN SHARE THAT THE SCHOOL IS SUPPORTED BY DETAILED OFFICERS EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE NOT IN THE BUILDING SIMILAR TO AN SRO PROGRAM.
[INAUDIBLE] BECAUSE I KNOW THAT IS AN ACTIVE INVESTIGATION.
>> DR. HUTCHINGS, WERE YOU GOING TO SAY SOMETHING? NO? OKAY.
WE ARE EXCITED TO SEE THIS MOVE FORWARD.
ONE QUESTION I HAVE IS WHAT IS THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE SRO PROGRAM IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND HIGH SCHOOLS? I KNOW I AM SPEAKING OF THE INVESTIGATION THAT IS ON GOING.
ARE WE STAFFED WITH SRO'S NOW? AND THE SECOND QUESTION IS WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? ARE WE RETRAINING SRO'S TO COMPENSATE FOR THOSE NOT THERE? HOW DOES THAT WORK? I AM NOT SURE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
>> TO ANSWER YOUR FIRST QUESTION, MR. HARRIS, WE HAVE SRO'S AT THE SECONDARY LOCATION SO THAT IS GEORGIA WASHINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL AND FRANCIS C HAMMOND.
WE HAVE AN SRO AT THE MINI HOWARD CAMPUS AND TWO ASSIGNED TO THE KING STREET CAMPUS.
IN TERMS OF THE SECOND QUESTION, CAN YOU REPEAT THAT AGAIN?
[00:55:05]
I WANT TO MAKE SURE I AM ANSWERING THAT QUESTION CORRECTLY.AS FAR AS THE CONTINUATION OF THE SRO PROGRAM, DOES THAT MEAN WE HAVE TO TRAIN NEW SRO'S TO COMPENSATE FOR THE ONES THAT ARE MISSING OR ARE WE ADDING SRO'S? I KNOW THEY GO THROUGH A 40-HOUR TRAINING.
SO WE ARE ADDING NEW SRO'S TO COMPENSATE THROUGH 2023?
WE WILL BE ASKING FOR THE EXTENSION OF THE FUNDING FOR THE SRO PROGRAM AND THE DETERMINATION OF WHO THOSE SRO'S WOULD BE IF THIS FUNDING REQUEST IS APPROVED.
AND THEY WOULD PUT IN AN APPLICATION AND THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE TRAINING TO BE AN SRO.
>> IT IS A CONSIDERATION TO CONTINUE THE DETAIL, OR IS THERE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE DETAIL GOING ON NOW AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OR REESTABLISH MEANT OF THE FULL SRO PROGRAM.
>> SOME OF THAT WILL COME OUT OF THE SLEP ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE GOING FORWARD, THAT'S ONE OF THE CHARGES OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
TO DETERMINE WHAT OUR SCHOOL LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERSHIP WILL LOOK LIKE.
WHETHER IT IS DETAILED OFFICERS OR CONTINUING TO HAVE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS IN OUR SCHOOL AS TYPICAL OR NOT.
A LOT OF THIS CONVERSATION AND WORK WILL COME OUT OF THE SLEP ADVISORY GROUP AND THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE BROUGHT BEFORE THE BOARD.
I APPRECIATE THAT, DR. HUTCHINGS.
MY LAST QUESTION, BEING THAT WE ARE EXTENDING OR PROPOSING TO EXTEND IT THROUGH 2023, DOES THAT MEAN THE IMPLEMENTATION WHATEVER PROGRAM OR PROCESS WE COME UP WITH, WILL BE PUSHED BACK PAST 2023?
WHAT WE ARE SAYING OR REQUESTING IS TO MAINTAIN THE FUNDING TO EP COULD THE SRO'S ON THROUGH JUNE OF 2023.
SO WE HAVE THE TIME FROM THE NEXT TIME I PRESENT AND IF THAT PROPOSAL IS ACCEPTED FOR US TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD.
AT THAT POINT WE WILL CONTINUE WITH THE ADVISORY GROUP TO LOOK AT THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS AND ALL OF THE SPECIFIED [INAUDIBLE] TO IMPROVE RECOMMENDATIONS BEING BROUGHT TO THE BOARD.
WE ARE NOT ANTICIPATING THAT PROCESS TO GO BEYOND JUNE OF 2023, BUT WE DO KNOW AT THIS POINT THAT WE CAN FORM THE GROUP AND HAVE THEM MEET AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS PRIOR TO THE CITY'S BUDGET CYCLE ENDING AND ALSO PRIOR TO THE EXISTING [INAUDIBLE] OF JUNE OF 2023.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND DR. HART.
A QUICK QUESTION ON A CLARIFICATION ON THE TIMELINE.
IF I AM NOT MISTAKEN, THE STATE MANDATES US EVERY TWO YEARS TO LOOK AT THE MOU THAT COMES UP AT THE END OF THIS YEAR, NOVEMBER OF 2022.
WE WILL PROBABLY START THAT PROCESS IN SEPTEMBER, CORRECT, OR AROUND ABOUT THE FALL? WILL THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAVE A RECOMMENDATION BY THAT TIME FRAME OR ARE WE LOOKING TO POTENTIALLY EXTEND THE MOU AND HOW THAT WORKS WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD AND HAVING TO WORK ON THE MOU AND REVIVED MOU IN NOVEMBER OF 2022?
>> I CAN DEFINITELY SAY THERE IS NO INTENT AT THIS MOMENT TO EXTEND THE MOU PROCESS BEYOND THE TRADITIONAL -- I GUESS THE DISCUSSION AND DEVELOPMENT PROCESS FOR THAT PARTICULAR ITEM.
PART OF THE SLEP ADVISORY PROPOSAL IS TO HAVE A MEMORANDUM.
WHEN WE PRESENT IN APRIL IF THAT PARTICULAR PROPOSAL IS ACCEPTED, THEN WE WILL MOVE FORWARD AND UNDERSTANDING THE EXTERNAL FACILITATOR WILL KNOW WHERE OUR TIMELINE IS FOR THE MOU AND WE WOULD WORK THAT INTO THE ADVISORY GROUP COMMITTEE.
THEY WILL BE ACTIVE IN THE PROCESS [INAUDIBLE] REGARDING THE MOU PROCESS.
>> JUST SO I'M CLEAR BECAUSE I CAN'T REALLY HEAR YOU, DR. HART.
>> JUST TO BE CLEAR THAT WHEN THE BOARD STARTS TO DISCUSS THE MOU IN SEPTEMBER OR AROUND ABOUT IN THE FALL, WILL WE HAVE A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE
[01:00:02]
SUBCOMMITTEE, THE MOU SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE SUB ADVISORY GROUP?>> A PART OF THIS EXTENSION FOR US TO GO THROUGH THE ACTUAL SLEP ADVISORY GROUP, WE WERE LOOKING TO EXTEND OUR RECOMMENDATION BEFORE THE BOARD TO DECEMBER OF 2022.
THAT WAS A PART OF THE CONVERSATION THAT CAME FROM SOME OF THE BOARD MEMBERS AT THE PREVIOUS MEETING.
YOU WILL SEE SOME OF THE REVISIONS WE MADE TO THE BOARD, BUT THAT WILL BE INCLUDED AND TO HAVE ADDITIONAL TIME FOR SLEP TO WORK THROUGH THE DATA AND TO COME UP WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS WE WILL SUBMIT TO THE BOARD.
WE ARE EXPECTING IT BY DECEMBER OF 2022.
SO THAT LEADS ME TO TWO THINGS.
ONE COMMENT I HAVE IS WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE A FAIRLY INTENTIONAL PURPOSE AT THIS TIME, BUT WE SHOULD CONSIDER THIS BEING A LONG-TERM SUPPORT AND COMMITTEE.
SAFETY AND SECURITY IS PARAMOUNT AND THINGS CHANGE ALL THE TIME.
WE HAVE NEW KINDS OF THREATS, LIKE SOCIAL MEDIA THREATS.
THERE IS SO MUCH THAT HAPPENS, ANY OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE STAKEHOLDERS TO CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE WITH US AND WORK WITH US ON THE ISSUES WOULD BE BENEFICIAL.
MAYBE AT SOME POINT IT CAN BE PERMANENT FOR THE SCHOOL DIVISION.
LASTLY, THE ONLY THING I HAVE FOR THE BOARD -- YOU CAN SEE -- BOARD MEMBERS YOU CAN SEE THAT I DRAFTED A MEMO TO SHARE WITH CITY COUNCIL.
I THINK IT BEHOOVES US IF THIS IS SOMETHING WE WANT TO ASK THAT WE ACTUALLY ASK IT FORMALLY SO IT IS IN WRITING.
WERE THERE ANY COMMENTS ON THE MEMO? OKAY.
IF THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS, THEN THIS IS GOING TO GO TO THE MAYOR TOMORROW.
HE KNOWS WE HAD THIS DISCUSSION.
WELL, WE'RE NOT DONE, BUT -- I KNOW.
BEFORE WE MOVE TO CLOSED SESSION WE WILL DO ANNOUNCEMENTS AND I DO HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT AND THEN AN ACCOLADE.
[17. Announcements]
FIRST AND FOREMOST WE WILL HAVE OUR JOINT CITY SCHOOL SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING ON MONDAY AT 5 P.M.WE WILL BE AT CITY HALL FOR THAT MEETING.
THE PUBLIC IS ALWAYS WELCOME TO JOIN IN THE FUN.
SECONDLY I HAVE AN ACCOLADE THAT I WANT TO SHARE THAT I'M NOT SURE IF EVERYBODY IS AWARE OF.
HOWEVER, AS YOU ALL MIGHT KNOW, OUR SUPERINTENDENTS IN THE STATE ARE CATEGORIZED INTO REGIONS AND DR. GREGORY C HUTCHINGS, JUNIOR HAS BEEN NAMED AS SUPERINTENDENT OF THE YEAR.
I WANTED TO CONGRATULATE DR. HUTCHINGS ON THAT.
IT IS NICE TO KNOW YOUR COLLEAGUES ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE WORK YOU DO.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT IT IS ULTIMATELY ABOUT.
ALL RIGHT, SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
[01:05:24]
>> YES, I DO HAVE AN UPDATE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE.
ONE, THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
I AM EXCITED THAT MY COLLEAGUES WERE ABLE TO SELECT ME AS THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE YEAR FOR REGION 4.
I TAKE MY ROLE AS CHAIR OF REGION 4 VERY SERIOUSLY AND THE WORK WE HAVE BEEN DOING NOT ONLY IN ALEXANDRIA, BUT ACROSS THE REGION IS GETTING NATIONAL ATTENTION AND IT IS AN EXEMPLAR FOR HOW WE SHOULD DO WORK FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, NOT ONLY IN
[01:10:02]
VIRGINIA, BUT AMERICA.WE JUST CELEBRATED OUR ESSENTIAL WORKERS WEEK AND THAT WAS MARCH THE 13TH THROUGH THE 20TH WITH AN AMAZING KICKOFF FOR OUR MAD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.
[18. Closed Meeting]
THE EVENT PROVIDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE FOR OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND OUR POLICE OFFICERS AND OUR SHERIFF AND HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS AS WELL AS OUR SCHOOL STAFF AND THIS WAS AN IN-PERSON EVENT AND IT WAS ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA.[19. Certification of Closed Meeting]
I WANTED TO GIVE A HUGE SHOUTOUT TO ALL OF OUR ESSENTIAL WORKERS AS WELL AS[20. Motion to Amend Agenda]
[21. Grievance Matter]
[01:16:02]
NOT JUST INTERNATIONALLY, BUT OUR CITY ESSENTIAL WORKERS FOR GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND IN THIS COVID EPIDEMIC.AND I WANT TO CONGRATULATIONS DR. LAUREN HOPEHOUSE HAS BEEN GIVEN THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR AWARD.
IN HER ROLE SHE WORKS TIRELESSLY TO HELP ENSURE EVERY STUDENT'S ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL NEEDS ARE MET AS SHE MOVES FORWARD ON THE DIVISION'S MISSION FOR PROVIDING AN EQUITABLE EDUCATION FOR ALL.
WE ARE EXCITED SHE WILL RECEIVE HER AWARD AT THE VA ESP CONFERENCE HELD THIS JUNE.
AND WE PRESENTED OUR LATEST VIP AWARDS THAT IS FOR VISION, INTEGRITY AND PASSION.
THESE ARE AWARDS THAT GO TO ACPS SUPPORT STAFF AND I WANT TO CONGRATULATE FOUR RECIPIENTS FOR THEIR EXCEPTIONAL WORK AND DEDICATION.
KADESHA GIBSON, JENNIFER MARTINEZ WHO IS OUR ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT AT CHARLES BARRETT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, ANNA SPROUT WHO IS A PROFESSIONAL AT NAOMI L BROOKS AND MS. STYLES.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THEM AND CONGRATULATIONS FOR THE ALEXANDRIA SCIENCE OLYMPIAD AS THEY QUALIFIED FOR STATE IN THEIR FIRST YEAR COMPETING IN THE VIRGINIA SCIENCE OLYMPIAD.
THE ALEXANDRIA HIGH SCHOOL TEAM PLACED 8TH IN THE REGIONAL EVENT AND ONE 24 TEAMS TO ADVANCE TO THE STATE COMPETITION WHICH WILL BE HELD ON MARCH 26TH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA.
I ALSO WANT TO WISH THE TEAM WELL AS THEY COMPETE IN THEIR NEXT ROUND OF THE COMPETITION BECAUSE IT IS THIS SATURDAY.
AND I AM PROUD TO SAY ACPS UTILIZES ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND AND CONSTRUCTION PRACTICES WITH OUR MODERNIZATION PROGRAM.
THE LATEST EXAMPLE COMES AS THE GYMNASIUM HAS BEEN AWARDED THE LEADERSHIP AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN SILVER CERTIFICATION WHICH IS ONE OF OUR LEAD AWARDS AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO PRIDE OURSELVES ON BECAUSE IT IS THE WIDELY USED GREEN BUILDING RATING SYSTEM IN THE WORLD.
I WANT TO SAY SHOUTOUT TO OUR FACILITIES AND OPERATIONS TEAM FOR THEIR INNOVATION AND HARD WORK.
AND THAT CONCLUDES MY ANNOUNCEMENTS.
ARE THERE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM BOARD MEMBERS?
I WANTED TO THANK THE STAFF AT DOUGLAS MCARTHUR FOR INVITING ME TO CAREER DAY BEING THEIR PTA LIAISON.
IT WAS MY HONOR TO VISIT THE SCHOOL AND MS. HAIRSTON AND HER STAFF.
IT WAS A VERY REWARDING EXPERIENCE.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE GET TO DO OUT OF THIS BOARDROOM THAT IS REWARDING.
THAT'S THE KIND OF THING WE DO FOR THE KIDS.
AND I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUE AND MY VICE CHAIR FOR INVITING ME TO THE READING PROGRAM.
LOOKING FORWARD TO COMING BACK TO THAT GREAT PROGRAM.
LAST THING AND I WON'T BE AS LONG AS DR. HUTCHINGS.
TOMORROW I AM DOING A RIDE ALONG WITH OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
I WANT TO THANK CAPTAIN BALLENTINE AND I WANT TO GET AN APPRECIATION FOR WHAT THEY DO, THOSE THAT SERVE AND PROTECT US AND KEEP US SAFE IN THE CITY.
I'LL LET YOU KNOW HOW IT WENT.
EXCITED FOR THAT AND WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALL THEY DO.
MOVING ALONG WE WILL CERTIFY OUR NEXT CLOSED MEETING.
>> MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE THE BOARD CONVENE A CLOSED MEETING PURSUANT TO CODE 2.2-3711A1 FOR THE DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION OF EMPLOYMENT, PERFORMANCE AND CONTRACTUAL MATTERS FOR 10 SPECIFIC PUBLIC EMPLOYEES.
>> I HAVE DR. RIEF WHO SECONDS VICE-CHAIR GREEN'S MOTION.
MADAM VICE CHAIR, CAN YOU READ US OUT OF CLOSED?
>> YES, MADAM CHAIR PURSUANT TO VIRGINIA CODE 2.2-3712, I MOVE THE BOARD CERTIFY THAT TO THE BEST OF EACH MEMBER'S KNOWLEDGE ONLY PUBLIC BUSINESS MATTERS IDENTIFIED IN THE MOTION BY WHICH THE CLOSED MEETING WAS CONVENED AND ARE EXEMPTED BY THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT WERE HEARD, DISCUSSED OR CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD IN THE CLOSED MEETING HELD ON MARCH 24TH, 2022.
>> WE HAVE DR. RIEF WHO SECONDS VICE CHAIR GREEN'S MOTION.
I NEED A MOTION TO AMEND THE AGENDA TO ADD A GRIEVANCE ITEM.
>> MADAM CHAIR I MOVE TO ADD AN AGENDA ITEM.
>> I HAVE DR. RIEF WHO SECONDS THE MOTION.
>> MADAM CHAIR -- >> WE'LL VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT AND THEN WE CAN TAKE ACTION.
>> SO WE ARE JUST GOING TO GO ALL IN FAVOR?
>> SO THE AGENDA HAS BEEN AMENDED.
ON AND NOW I THINK VICE CHAIR GREEN HAS A MOTION FOR THIS ITEM.
IN GRIEVANCE NUMBER 2022-1 I MOVE THAT THE BOARD CONVENE A FURTHER HEARING AND DIRECT THE CLERK OF THE BOARD AND THE SCHOOL BOARD ATTORNEY TO MAKE THE NECESSARY ARRANGEMENTS.
>> VICE CHAIR GREEN'S MOTION AND WE CAN VOTE ON THAT MOTION.
THAT IS 9 OF 9 BOARD MEMBERS IN FAVOR.
AND NOW I NEED A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
>> MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE WE ADJOURN.
WAS IT DR. RIEF'S MOTION? GOSH, MS. GREEN.
I WILL CALL FOR THE VOTE PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU, EVERYONE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.