>> GOOD EVENING, FELLOW SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, EVERYONE IN ATTENDANCE.
[1. Meeting Called to Order by Chair Alderton]
[00:00:08]
WELCOME.THIS IS A VIRTUAL SCHOOL BOARD MEETING FOR APRIL 21ST, 2022.
I AM CALLING THE MEETING TO ORDER AT 6:36 P.M.
WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE INDICATE THAT YOU ARE PRESENT.
>> WE WILL NOW OBSERVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE AGENDA, PLEASE?
[3. Adopt the Agenda for the April 21, 2022 School Board Meeting (Part 1 of 2)]
I HAVE MR. BAILEY WHO MOVED TO ADOPT THE AGENDA, WITH DR. GREENE SECONDING IT.
LOOKS LIKE WE NEED TO AMEND THE AGENDA.
>> WE HAVE TO AMEND THE AGENDA.
>> MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE TO AMEND THE AGENDA TO ADOPT THE AGENDA FOR APRIL 21, 2022.
BOARD MEMBER ASHLEY SIMPSON, SECOND BOARD MEMBER IGNACIO'S MOTION TO AMEND THE AGENDA.
WE WILL NOW HAVE COMMUNICATIONS AND ADDRESSES TO THE BOARD.
WE WILL START TONIGHT WITH OUR SIMPLY THE BEST SCHOOL HIGHLIGHT ON WILLIAM RAMSAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
WE HAVE THE PRINCIPAL HERE FROM WILLIAM RAMSAY.
WE'RE EXCITED TO HEAR ABOUT ALL THE GREAT THINGS HAPPENING AT WILLIAM
[6. "Simply the Best" School Highlight--William Ramsay Elementary School]
RAMSAY.I BELIEVE THIS SPOTLIGHT COMES OUT IN THE ALEXANDRIA CITY TIMES EACH MONTH.
HOPEFULLY, NEXT TIME YOU'LL BRING YOUR KIDS WITH YOU.
I WAS GONNA SAY, GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY, DR. HUTCHENS, SCHOOL BOARD, ACPC, TEAM MEMBERS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
REALLY GLAD ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT SCHOOLS AGAIN AND WHAT'S GOING ON AT THEM.
I KNOW I SPEAK FOR MY FELLOW PRINCIPAL COLLEAGUES WHEN I SAY THAT.
I KNOW I ALSO SPEAK FOR THEM WHEN I SAY SIMPLY THE BEST PART OF OUR SCHOOLS ARE OUR CHILDREN.
THEY ARE THE BEST PART OF OUR SCHOOLS.
AND I WILL SAY, AND I KNOW MY COLLEAGUES WILL AGREE WITH ME, THAT THEY WOULD
[00:05:15]
LOVE FOR THE STUDENTS TO COME BACK AND TALK ABOUT WHY THEIR SCHOOL IS SIMPLY THE BEST.MIDDLE AGE ADMINISTRATORS, WE'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT THE SCHOOL, BUT WE'RE NOT AS CUTE.
I ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO PLAY A ROLE IN THIS AGAIN AND COME BACK AND LEAD THE PLEDGE AND THOSE OTHER PIECES THAT I KNOW THEY WANT TO COME TALK ABOUT.
THAT SAID, I HAVE NO PROBLEMS TALKING ABOUT WILLIAM RAMSAY.
IN FACT, I PREPARED MY COMMENTS BECAUSE I KNOW IN FIVE MINUTES I HAVE A PROBLEM STOPPING AFTER FIVE MINUTES OF CONVERSATION SO I'M GOING TO TRY TO STICK TO MY SCRIPT.
I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT WILLIAM RAMSAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, HOME OF THE ROADRUNNERS.
I HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO SERVE AS THE PRINCIPAL SUPER PAVER FOR THE LAST SEVEN YEAR.
WE WORK ON WHAT WE CALL THE ROAD TO SUCCESS.
EVERYTHING FOR OUR STUDENTS IS, ARE THEY RUNNING THEIR ROAD AND HOW ARE YOU RUNNING YOUR ROAD TODAY? SO I WILL SAY THAT AT WILLIAM RAMSAY THE STAFF IS THE MOST DEDICATED GROUP OF EDUCATORS THAT A PRINCIPAL COULD EVER WANT BY HER OR HIS SIDE IN THIS WORK.
NEVER MIND THE PANDEMIC THAT WE JUST WENT THROUGH.
SO THE STAFF THERE ARE, I WOULDN'T COMPARE THEM TO ANYBODY.
WE HAVE A WONDERFUL DIVERSE COMMUNITY AT WILLIAM RAMSAY AND WE HAVE GREAT RESPECT FOR ONE ANOTHER AND THE GREAT NEEDS THAT THEY HAVE THAT WE ALL HAVE TO FULFILL ON OUR WORK ON THE ROAD.
AT RAMSAY, OUR STUDENTS SPEAK 30 LANGUAGES AND REPRESENT ABOUT 30 COUNTRIES.
WE ARE WORKING WITH MANY STUDENTS WHO ARE LEARNING ENGLISH AS AN ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE.
RIGHT NOW THAT'S OVER 65%, BUT I'LL SAY DON'T QUOTE ME ON THAT BECAUSE IT'S A MOVING TARGET.
AS OF THIS YEAR WILLIAM RAMSAY HAD 138 THROUGH ENROLLMENTS.
THAT'S NOT COUNTING THE 88 PRE-K AND KINDERGARTENERS THAT ENROLLED BEFORE OCTOBER 1ST.
SO THOSE STUDENTS ARE STUDENTS OTHER THAN THOSE FIRST LEARNERS OR STUDENTS THAT JOINED US IN THE MIDDLE OF THEIR ELEMENTARY CAREER.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, 118 STUDENTS HAVE UNENROLLED AND LEFT US.
SO WE ARE A MOVING TARGET WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ENROLLMENT, WE TALK ABOUT THE NUMBER OF ENGLISH LEARNERS AND SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS.
THOSE NUMBERS ARE ALWAYS CHANGING.
I SHARE THAT TO ILLUSTRATE THE IMPORTANCE OF REGULAR ADDRESSING OF SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL LEARNING AND WELL OF OUR STUDENTS.
WHEN YOU'RE MEETING NEW STUDENTS ALL THE TIME, YOU HAVE TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS ALL THE TIME.
SO RELATIONSHIPS ARE THE KEY TO REALLY ALL THE WORK THAT WE DO AT WILLIAM RAMSAY.
OF OUR ENGLISH LEARNERS THE TOP FIVE LANGUAGES EXCLUDEING ENGLISH, OF COURSE, IS SPANISH, ARABIC, BENGALI.
WHEN I DO THOSE BLACK BOARD CONNECT MESSAGES TO FAMILIES, I SEE THE NUMBERS CHANGING.
SO THAT IS CONSTANTLY CHANGING AS WELL.
AT RAMSAY WE TRY TO BUILD STRONG RELATIONSHIPS AMONG EACH OTHER TO ENSURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND HOW BEST TO SERVE EACH STUDENT.
ONE OF THE WAYS WE DO THAT IS ACCURATE ASSESSMENT LIKE ONE ON ONE IN-PERSON READING ASSESSMENTS WITH STUDENTS.
ALSO MORE ROBUST QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENTS LIKE THE MATH ASSESSMENT.
WE USE THIS DATA TO INFORM OUR ON GOING ACADEMIC INFORMATION CYCLES, WHICH HAPPEN ALL THE TIME.
WE ALWAYS HAVE NEW STUDENTS IN EVERY QUARTER WE HAVE NEW STUDENTS TO ASSESS AND DETERMINE WHERE THEY FIT INTO THAT MTSS INTERVENTION SYSTEM STRUCTURE THAT WE HAVE.
AGAIN, RELATIONSHIPS ARE THE CORNERSTONE OF ALL THE WORK WE DO.
AND WE NEED THOSE RELATIONSHIPS TO GET ACCURATE ASSESSMENT DATA, WHICH SHOWS THE STUDENT GROWTH.
BECAUSE WE MEASURE STUDENT SUCCESS BY WHERE WERE THEY YESTERDAY AND WHERE ARE THEY TODAY? WE DON'T MEASURE IT AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO DO IT IN GENERAL.
IT DEFINITELY DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO DO IT AT A SCHOOL LIKE WILLIAM RAMSAY.
WITH THAT SAID, I WANT TO SHOUT OUT ALL OF RAMSAY'S 2ND THROUGH 5TH GRADE STUDENTS BECAUSE THEY MET THEIR GOAL ON THE MATH GRADE LEVEL SUMMARY REPORTS, GRADE 2-5.
EVERY SINGLE GRADE LEVEL, READING AND MATH MET OR OVERSHOT THEIR GROWTH GOAL AS A GRADE LEVEL.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT -- SHOUT OUT ROAD RUNNERS.
IF YOU'RE NOT LISTENING, WE'LL GIVE YOU A LINK TO THIS VIDEO.
BUT THAT IS HUGE WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH LEARNING LOSS, LEARNING TIME LOSS.
INSTRUCTIONAL TIME LOST THIS YEAR.
[00:10:02]
WE'VE HAD SO MANY STUDENTS HAVE TO GO HOME TEN DAYS, WHETHER OR NOT THEY CAN CONNECT WITH US OVER THOSE TEN DAYS.I MEAN, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE ATTENDANCE, THAT TO ME IS A MARVEL BECAUSE WE ACTUALLY WERE TRYING TO GET THE WINDOW EXTENDED FOR MATH S WE COULD HAVE MORE INSTRUCTIONAL -- OUR TEACHERS ARE ADVOCATING FOR MORE INSTRUCTIONAL TIME BECAUSE WE WANTED TO SEE THE BEST GROWTH WE COULD GET.
MANY OF THEM GOT TO DO FUN THINGS FOR MEETING THEIR GOALS.
THERE WAS PIES IN THE FACE OF TEACHERS.
THAT TEACHER I FELT SO BAD I LET HER PIE ME IN THE FACE FOR THE KIDS.
THERE WAS GLOW DANCE PARTIES, GLOW STICK DANCE PARTIES, PIZZA PARTIES.
AND SO I WILL SAY OUR GROWTH FOR OUR STUDENTS WE CELEBRATE IT ALL THE TIME.
IN ADDITION TO OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH EACH OTHER AND WITH OUR STUDENTS, OUR COMMUNITY, ANOTHER BIG PIECE IS OUR PARTNERSHIP.
BECAUSE AT RAMSAY, WE WOULD NOT BE WHERE WE ARE WITHOUT OUR PARTNERSHIPS.
OUR TEACHER, IT'S NOT JUST -- AND HATS OFF TO CENTRAL OFFICE.
BUT I WILL SAY IT'S NOT JUST CENTRAL OFFICE AT RAMSAY WHO ARE LOOKING FOR THESE PARTNERSHIPS.
MS. CUMMINGS, SHOUT OUT TO YOU, PARTNERED WITH TACO BELL TO GET TACOS FOR KIDS TO DO A TACO LUNCH TO CELEBRATE EVERYBODY MEETING THEIR GROWTH GOAL.
TO GET INTO OTHER PARTNERSHIPS, WE HAVE ALEXANDRIA TUTORING CONSORTIUM WORKING AT OUR SCHOOLS EVERY DAY.
WE PARTNERED WITH EDU TUTOR TO HAVE TUTORS FOR 5TH GRADERS REMOTELY.
WE HAVE SCHOOLS PARTNERING WITH US AND TEACHERS EVERY DAY ARE LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES.
RUNNING BROOK HAS AWARDED SO MANY GRANTS FOR OUR SCHOOL AND HELPED US GET RUNNING CLUB, GARDEN CLUB, YOGA CLUB, CLUB CALLED ODYSSEY OF ADVENTURE.
IF YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THAT, ASK ME LATER.
ALL THESE THINGS THAT RAMSAY NEVER HAD BEFORE.
SO WE'RE GETTING, WE'RE REALLY MOVING TO GETTING ALL OF THE MASLO HIERARCHY.
WE'RE MAKING THOSE THINGS HAPPEN.
I JUST WANT TO SHOUT OUT ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE MAKING THOSE PARTNERSHIPS A REALITY.
THAT'S CENTRAL OFFICE PERSONNEL, SCHOOL BASED PERSONNEL.
THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THOSE ORGANIZATIONS ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR US, TOO.
AND ALSO THINGS LIKE THE HOFFMAN FAMILY HELPED US GET SCHOOL UNIFORMS A COUPLE YEARS AGO.
THE WASHINGTON COMMANDERS AWARDED US A GRANT FOR THE LAUNDRY MACHINES IN OUR SCHOOL.
THERE ARE SO MANY PARTNERSHIPS.
WITHOUT THEM RAMSAY WOULDN'T BE WHERE WE ARE.
THESE PARTNERSHIPS ARE CRITICAL.
IN ADDITION TO THOSE PARTNERSHIPS, IT'S ALSO THE GRUNT WORK OF OUR TEACHERS AND OUR COACHES AND INTERVENTIONISTS AT RAMSAY TO INNOVATE THEMSELVES.
IT'S NOT JUST LOOKING FOR HELP.
IT'S NOT JUST LOOKING FOR THE NEXT NEW THING.
IT'S DOING OUR OWN THING AND DOING WHAT WORKS FOR US.
HIGHLIGHTED IN THAT SCHOOL PROFILE ARTICLE, IT TALKS ABOUT AN AWARD WE GOT FOR AN INTERVENTION PROGRAM FOR OUR 5TH GRADE SCIENCE.
AND THAT PROGRAM CAME OUT OF -- WAS THE FRUIT OF COACHES, ADMIN, SPECIALISTS GETTING TOGETHER AND GOING, WE'VE GOT THIS 5TH GRADE SCIENCE TEST WE HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
IT HAS CONTENT KIDS HAVE BEEN TAUGHT ALL THROUGH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
YOU KNOW WHEN I TALK ABOUT THAT MOBILITY AT OUR SCHOOL AND HOW MANY NEW STUDENTS WE WELCOME ALL THE TIME.
WE DIDN'T TEACH THEM ALL THOSE STANDARDS.
THEY WEREN'T WITH US FROM PRE-K TO 5TH GRADE.
WHEN WE LOOK AT WHERE THE READING LEVELS ARE, WE CAN'T TELL OURSELVES WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON THESE SCIENCE STANDARDS BECAUSE WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT THIS TEST AND OUR ACCREDITATION.
WE CAN'T SACRIFICE READING FOR SCIENCE.
WE CAN'T SAY WE'RE NOT GONNA DO THE SCIENCE.
WHAT DOES OUR TEAM DO? THEY BACKED DOWN AND LEARNED ABOUT ALL THESE SCIENCE BOOKS, ALIGNED WITH THE SCIENCE CURRICULUM.
LEVELLED THEM AND MADE THEM PART OF A READING INTERVENTION.
STUDENTS WERE GETTING, AT A CERTAIN LEVEL THAT NEEDED IT, WERE GETTING READING INTERVENTION THAT WAS IN NONFICTION SCIENCE ALIGNED TECH.
THEY WERE GETTING THEIR INTERVENTION BUT IT WAS IN SCIENCE CONTEXT SO THAT IN
[00:15:05]
THE HOPES THAT SOME OF THAT WOULD BE RETAINED THROUGH THE READING INTERVENTION AND WE COULD FIND THAT OUT IN THE SOL PERFORMANCE.THAT'S WHAT MAKES OUR SCHOOL SPECIAL.
OUR STUDENTS ARE THE MOST -- AND FAMILIES.
ARE THE MOST THANKFUL AND RESPECTFUL WE COULD ASK FOR.
THEY COME TO SCHOOL READY TO LEARN EVERY DAY.
THEY HAVE CHALLENGES AND NEEDS, AND WE WORK TO FULFILL THEM ALL ACADEMICALLY, SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL, PHYSICAL.
THAT'S WHY I'M SO PROUD TO CALL THAT PLACE HOME.
SO AGAIN, NEXT TIME, PRINCIPALS, KIDS.
YOU'RE GREAT, BUT PLEASE BRING THE KIDS.
>> THE KIDS WILL STICK TO THE SCRIPT BETTER THAN I DID.
BUT THANK YOU GUYS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE.
WHAT A WONDERFUL PRESENTATION.
IT'S HEARTWARMING TO HEAR THE WONDERFUL THINGS HAPPENING AT WILLIAM RAMSAY.
KEEP DOING THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.
IS ANYONE HERE FROM WILLIAM RAMSAY TONIGHT? THEY'RE ON ZOOM.
WHAT A WONDERFUL SCHOOL COMMUNITY.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO TOURING YOUR SCHOOL NEXT WEEK.
SO I WAS MOVING ALONG TOO FAST TRYING TO GET US THROUGH THE MEETING.
[3. Adopt the Agenda for the April 21, 2022 School Board Meeting (Part 2 of 2)]
WE AMENDED THE AGENDA BUT DID NOT ADOPT IT AFTER WE AMENDED IT.SO I WOULD LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADOPT THE FULL AGENDA FOR THIS EVENING'S MEETING.
>> MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE THAT WE ADOPT THE FULL AGENDA.
>> I HAVE DR. GREENE WHO SECONDED MR. ELNOUBI'S MOTION TO ADOPT THE AGENDA.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
[7. Public Comments]
EACH SPEAKER IS GIVEN THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD.THE CLERK WILL BE TIMING YOU AND WILL ANNOUNCE WHEN YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
OUR CLERK IS OVER THERE IN THE CORNER.
IF YOU ARE ALREADY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AND ARE PARTICIPATING THROUGH ZOOM, PLEASE TURN ON THE RAISE HAND BUTTON SO WE CAN FIND YOU EASILY.
FIRST UP WE HAVE MR. ZACHARY ROBERTS, WHO IS A STUDENT.
IS THIS THING ON? HELLO MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I COME TO YOU AGAIN ASKING, PLEASE, END ALL OF THE DISRUPTIONS AT OUR SCHOOL.
RECENTLY ANOTHER EVENT HAPPENED AT OUR SCHOOL THAT ENDED UP CAUSING THEM TO SECURE THE BUILDING AT ALL OF THE HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUSES.
WHY IS IT THAT WE HAVE TO GO TO SCHOOL ALWAYS SOMETIMES AFRAID BECAUSE ALL OF THESE CRIMES ARE TAKING PLACE AT OUR SCHOOL.
ALL OF THE PEOPLE -- WE ALL KNOW IT.
PEOPLE BRING, HAVE BROUGHT WEAPONS INTO THE SCHOOL.
PEOPLE HAVE BROUGHT, LIKE VAPES INTO THE SCHOOL.
PEOPLE HAVE BROUGHT DRUGS INTO THE SCHOOL.
I'M PRETTY SURE YOU HAVE SEEN SOMEONE VAPING IN THE SCHOOL AT SOME POINT.
NOW WHY CAN'T WE JUST HAVE A SAFE BUILDING FOR ONCE? IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYTHING IS MORE SO BEING DONE FOR IMAG AS OPPOSED TO JUST HELPING CHILDREN.
WHY IS THAT? THAT IT'S MORE ABOUT IMAGE? WHY IS IT THAT AFTER ALL OUR SCHOOL WAS EVACUATED AND THE FRESHMEN WERE ALL SENT HOME THAT A VIDEO WAS SENT OUT BY MR. HUTCHENS WHICH, HONESTLY, WHICH DIDN'T SEEM TO DO ANYTHING.
IT DIDN'T HAPPEN LIKE -- IT'S NOT A DETERRENT.
IF THERE'S NO CONSEQUENCE THAT IS MAJOR, PEOPLE ARE STILL GONNA DO IT.
IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW MUCH YOU SAY YOU'RE GONNA PUNISH THEM.
IF YOU DON'T ACTUALLY FOLLOW THROUGH WITH IT, OR IT'S INCONSISTENT AND YOU AREN'T ENFORCING YOUR OWN RULES, OR SELECTIVELY ENFORCING THEM, THAT'S NOT RIGHT.
ANYWAY, I'M JUST GONNA SAY GO TITANS, GO FRC 6587.
[00:20:02]
WE WILL NOW HAVE HIS MEREDITH PEW, WHO IS ALSO A STUDENT.
>> HELLO, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.
I'M IN 6TH GRADE AT GEORGE WASHINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL.
I HAVEN'T BEEN GOING TO ACPS SINCE KINDERGARTEN AND I HAVE NEVER EVER HAD A LESSON ON OR ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE.
I THINK THAT IT IS REALLY CRUCIAL FOR KIDS TO LEARN ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE BECAUSE IT IS AFFECTING US MORE THAN ADULTS.
IF WE DON'T STOP IT SOON, WHEN OTHER KIDS AND I GROW UP, OUR WORLD WILL BE SUFFERING FROM EVEN MORE WILD FIRES, DROUGHTS, FLOODS, EXTREME HEAT, HURRICANES AND MORE.
SO MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, CAN YOU PLEASE, PLEASE, ENSURE THAT SCHOOLS AND ACPS SCHOOLS ARE EDUCATED ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE? TOMORROW IS EARTH DAY, AND IT WOULD REALLY SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR A BETTER FUTURE FOR PLANET EARTH AND US KIDS.
OUR NEXT PUBLIC COMMENTS WILL COME FROM MR. RICARDO ROBERTS.
SO I WANT TO THANK SOMEONE FOR CALLING ME TODAY TO WARN ME THAT I WAS GOING TO BE REMOVED FROM THE SESSION FOR EXERCISING MY FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS.
AGAIN, I'M TAKING OFF THE MASK SO YOU CAN SEE THAT I'M SMILING.
AND AGAIN, I'M CALLING FOR YOU ALL TO HELP THE CHILDREN.
WHEN DR. KING AND OTHERS PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE SO YOU ALL COULD SIT HERE IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS AND OFFER HELP FOR THE FUTURE.
WHEN MR. BROWN PUT HIS DAUGHTER ON THE LINE, BROWN VERSUS BOARD OF EDUCATION.
PUT UP WITH RIDICULE FROM HIS OWN PEOPLE.
YOU COULD SEND YOUR KID TO THIS OTHER SCHOOL.
WHY DO YOU HAVE TO SEND THEM TO A WHITE SCHOOL? THEY DROPPED THE WORD SUPREMACIST OFF THE WHITE.
I'M TORN BETWEEN EXPOSING PEOPLE AND KEEPING SECRETS.
I HAVE BEEN PLAYING WITH ADULTS FOR TOO LONG.
I THOUGHT YOU ALL WANT TO BE ENTERTAINED.
THAT'S WHY I WAS ACTING THE WAY I WAS ACTING.
BECAUSE YOU HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING TO HELP OUR KIDS, TO HELP OUR CHILDREN.
YOU COULD PUT METAL DETECTORS AT THE DOORS.
IT DOESN'T STOP, BUT IT DETERS KIDS FROM BEING ALLOWED -- IT'S AGAINST THE LAW.
EVERYBODY KNOWS IT'S AGAINST THE LAW TO BRING A LOADED HANDGUN TO SCHOOL.
BUT IF THE CONSEQUENCES ARE NOT IN LINE ON A ROUTINE BASIS.
IF YOU'RE ONLY SUBJECTING A GROUP OF KIDS, HISPANICS AND THE BLACK KIDS TO PUNISHMENT AND YOU'RE ALLOWING OTHERS TO GET AWAY WITH IT THEN YOU SET UP A PRECEDENT.
PEOPLE ARE SAYING, DIDN'T HAPPEN TO HIM.
HE'S IN GOOD WITH THIS PRINCIPAL, OR THAT PRINCIPAL.
SO IT MAKES THE RULES FOLLOWERS SAY, I HAVE BEEN DOING IT.
LET ME GO BACK TO THE BEGINNING SEVEN YEARS AGO WHEN I CAME BEFORE THE BOARD REALLY CALM AND MEEK AND EVERYTHING.
SOME OF YOU ALL ARE NOT HEARING ME NOW.
BECAUSE YOU THINK I'M OUT OF CONTROL.
[00:25:03]
I WAS ONE OF THOSE FALSELY ACCUSED TEACHERS LIKE WE HAVE NOW WHO WAS FALSELY ACCUSED OF A HEINOUS CRIME.MY KIDS ARE SUFFERING BECAUSE EVERY TIME I COME UP TO THE SCHOOL ON THEIR BEHALF, I'M SUBJECTED TO HAVING MORE SECURITY FOLLOW ME AROUND SCHOOL.
>> MR. ROBERTS, YOU'VE COMPLETED YOUR TIME.
[00:30:10]
APPRECIATE IT.WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON NOW TO OUR WONDERFUL STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE, MS. EMILY MILTON.
WE HOPE YOU HAD A CHANCE TO REST AND COME BACK REFRESHED.
OUR STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE COULD NOT BE HERE TODAY.
IT OPENS TOMORROW AND ALSO OPENS ON SATURDAY NIGHT AND NEXT WEEK.
[8. Report from Student Representatives Emily Milton and Sylvia Rahim]
WE ENCOURAGE ALL ACPS COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO COME AND WATCH.APRIL IS NATIONAL BLACK HERITAGE MONTH.
WE MUST CELEBRATE OUR ARAB-AMERICAN POPULATION AND HOW MUCH THEY CONTRIBUTE TO NOT ONLY OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM BUT TO THE COMMUNITY AS A WELL.
AS WELL AS ARABIC-AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH, WE CELEBRATE THOSE STUDENTS WITH PARENTS IN THE MILITARY AND THE STRENGTH THEY SHOW.
OUR MONTHLY COVID CASES ARE AT 58.
BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR WE'VE SEEN A DECREASE IN CASES.
WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK DR. CRAWFORD, DR. HUNT AND MANY OTHER WONDERFUL PEOPLE THAT MADE THIS POSSIBLE.
THERE IS STILL TIME TO NOMINATE TEACHER OF THE YEAR.
THERE IS ALSO READING TUTORS FOR KINDERGARTENERS.
[00:35:02]
AS WE HEARD EARLIER, THIS SATURDAY WE WOULD LIKE TO SAY PATRICK HENRY ARE HOSTING A STUDENT FUN RUN WHERE STUDENTS WILL GET TO ENJOY THE BEAUTIFUL WEATHER AND APPRECIATE OUR PLANET IN A FUN AND ACTIVE WAY.WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO SHOW UP AND HAVE FUN.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE CONSENT CALENDAR PLEASE?
[Consent Calendar]
DR. REESE, ADOPT THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE NOW, PLEASE.
WE ARE NOW MOVING TO THE SCHOOL UPDATE.
>> AS OUR TEAM GETS PREPARED I JUST WANT TO SAY A FEW COMMENTS.
[17. Middle School Project Update]
TONIGHT WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE OUR FIRST DISCUSSION OR JUST UPDATE IN REGARD TO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL.I KNOW WE WILL TALK MORE SPECIFICALLY AROUND THIS.
THIS IS ONE OF OUR AREAS OF FOCUS FOR ALEXANDRIA CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
I'M EXCITED TO NOT JUST HAVE CENTRAL OFFICE STAFF TALKING ABOUT THIS IN REGARD TO OUR COMMITTEE BUT OUR SCHOOL LEADERSHIP AS WELL AS TEACHER LEADERSHIP AND COLLABORATION ON THIS VERY TOPIC.
I'M GOING TO TURN THINGS OVER TO INTRODUCE AND GIVE A FEW HIGHLIGHTS.
WE'LL GO RIGHT INTO OUR PRESENTATION.
IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE HERE TONIGHT.
ONE OF OUR GREAT TEACHERS AT GEORGE WASHINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL.
WE ALONG WITH MANY OTHERS HAVE BEEN WAITING SINCE MARCH TO GIVE BOARD AN UPDATE.
WE WANT TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON SOME OF THE WORK AND REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO BRINGING IT TO YOU.
IT WILL BE SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DID WITH DR. TEMPLE.
WE CONTINUE TO STRIVE WITH ALIGNING TO OUR STRATEGIC PLAN.
WE HAVE FIVE ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
WHAT ARE THE AREAS OF FOCUS FOR THE WORK TEAM.
WHAT IS THE CONNECTION TO OTHER MAJOR PROJECTS? WHO MAKES UP THE COMMITTEE? WHAT PROCESS WILL THE MIDDLE SCHOOL WORK TEAM USE TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS? AND WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT INSTRUCTION.
THANK YOU TO THE SCHOOL BOARD.
THE MIDDLE SCHOOL PROJECT WORK TEAM HAS BEEN DIVIDED INTO FIVE FOCUS AREAS.
THE FIVE FOCUS AREAS ARE HONORS COURSES, MATH PATH WAYS, DUAL LANGUAGE, MIDDLE SCHOOL SCHEDULING AND COLLEGE LEVEL COURSES.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHER PROJECTS HAPPENING AT ACPS ESPECIALLY THE MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL.
THE WORK TEAM IS TAKING THOSE INTO CONSIDERATION AS THEY ANALYZE RESEARCH AND PREPARE STUDENTS FOR ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED IN ACPS.
OUR TEAM IS KEEPING NATIONAL COUNCIL OF TEACHER OF MATHEMATICS IN MIND.
WE ARE ENSURING AND PROVIDING FULL ACADEMIC SERVICES AS WELL AS OPPORTUNITIES LIKE EARLY BUSINESS DEGREES, EARLY COLLEGE CLASSES.
EACH OF OUR COMMITTEES HAVE ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS.
HOW SHOULD ADVANCED COURSES AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL BE CONSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE RIGOR AND ENGAGEMENT TO ALL STUDENTS WITH A FOCUS ON REMOVING BARRIERS TO STUDENT SUCCESS.
[00:40:08]
OUR INDEX SLIDE HERE SHOWS AS WE DIVE INTO THE WORK, EACH OF THE SUBCOMMITTEES ARE EXAMINING.IN HONORS ACTIVITIES, THE FOCUS IS ON, SHOULD WE HAV HONORS COURSES AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL? IS HETEROGENEOUS GROUPING AT MIDDLE SCHOOL THE WAY FORWARD.
ARE WE ON TRACK FOR IMPLEMENTATION AT 8TH GRADE FOR THE 2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR? SHOULD DUAL LANGUAGE EXPAND TO THE ACHS.
ALL THESE COMMITTEES ARE FOCUSING WITH STUDENTS IN MIND.
GOOD EVENING SCHOOL BOARD AND DR. HUTCHINGS.
THE MIDDLE SCHOOL PROJECT WORK TEAM CONSISTS OF VARIOUS ACPS STAKE HOLDERS INCLUDING SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, CENTRAL OFFICE STAFF, CENTRAL OFFICE CURRICULUM SPECIALIST, SCHOOL COUNSELORS AND CLASSROOM TEACHERS.
THE PROJECT HELD ITS FIRST MEETING MARCH 24TH.
FIVE WORK TEAMS MEET EVERY OTHER THURSDAY AND ARE WORKING THROUGH RECOMMENDATION TO IMPROVE COMMITTEE OVERVIEW, COMMITTEE RESEARCH AND DATA ANALYSIS WHERE THEY DISCUSS FUTURE ANALYSIS.
AS PARENT AND STUDENT VOICE IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE RECOMMENDATION PROCESS, PARENTS AND SPEAKERS WILL BE ABLE TO JOIN THE COMMITTEE IN MAY.
THE PARENT AND STUDENT VOICE WILL BE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE FEED BACK PROCESS TO MAKE SURE IMPHREMENTATION TIMELINES ARE BEING DEVELOPED.
THE RECOMMENDATION ANALYSIS CHART WHICH IS THE SAMPLE SHOWN ON THE SCREEN.
THE COMMITTEE WILL DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE DOCUMENTED TO INCLUDE THE RATIONALE FOR THE NEW ADDRESS, DATA ANALYSIS TO SUPPORT RECOMMENDATIONS, SUCCESS METRIC, SHOULD CHANGES BE REQUIRED TO SUPPORT THE SUCCESS OF THE RECOMMENDATION? AND IMPLEMENTATION.
THE NEXT STEPS OF THE MIDDLE SCHOOL PROJECT WORK TEAM WILL INCLUDE EXPLORING LEADING RESEARCH AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHICH IS CURRENTLY TAKING PLACE AT THIS TIME.
DEVELOPMENT OF RECOMMENDATIONS AND A TIMELINE WHICH WILL OCCUR IN MAY THROUGH THE FIRST WEEK OF JUNE.
BEGINNING WITH THE 2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR, EACH COMMITTEE WILL CONTINUE TO GATHER FEED BACK FROM STAKE HOLDERS AND EXPERTS IN THEIR FIELD.
AT THIS TIME, I WILL TURN IT BACK OVER TO DR. HUTCHINGS FOR ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.
>> I WILL BE TURNING THINGS BACK OVER TO OUR MADAM VICE CHAIR FOR ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? THANK YOU FOR THIS UPDATE.
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR PH.D..
THE MAKEUP, CLASSROOM TEACHER.
WILL THAT INCLUDE TEACHERS SUPPORTING STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AS PART OF THIS COMMUNITY?
>> I CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION DR. HUTCHINGS.
IT INCLUDES TEACHERS FROM ACROSS ALL AREAS, SPECIAL EDUCATION, CONSTANT TEACHERS, ELECTIVE TEACHERS.
THERE ARE A RANGE OF TEACHERS SUPPORTING.
I JUST WANTED TO CALL THAT OUT.
SLIDE 7, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS BEING COVERED IN THE MAKEUP OF THE COMMITTEES.
I'M EXCITED TO SEE HOW IT PROGRESSES FORWARD, SO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
LIKE DR. HUTCHINGS AND MY COLLEAGUES, I'M REAL EXCITED ABOUT THIS WORK AND HEARING THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
I WAS WONDERING IF WE COULD PULL UP SLIDE THREE THAT SHOWS THE AREA OF FOCUS.
I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS AND SOME COMMENTS AND TWO QUESTIONS.
FEW QUESTIONS AROUND AREA OF FOCUS.
JUST THINKING ABOUT THE FOCUS, THINKING ABOUT -- DON'T KNOW HOW TO CALL IT.
[00:45:05]
MAYBE OUR SPECIAL POPULATIONS OR ALTERNATIVE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.I'M THINKING ABOUT THINGS LIKE, ARE STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT MIDDLE SCHOOL SCHEDULING, THINKING ABOUT OUR CITY WIDE CLASSES THAT ARE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL.
JUST WANTING TO MAKE SURE WE ARE THINKING ABOUT HOW SCHEDULING MIGHT IMPACT WHAT CLASSES LIKE OUR STUDENTS IN THE PROGRAM HAVE ACCESS SO.
FOR ELECTIVES OR THINGS LIKE THATCREATING CLASSROOMS OR MAXIMIZING STUDENTS IN THE GENERAL EDUCATION SETTING.
I'M ALL THINKING ABOUT STUDENTS.
I BELIEVE WE HAVE THE INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL WHICH IS SOMETHING I HAVE BEEN WONDERING ABOUT, TOO.
IF STUDENTS WHO WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, DO THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY? THAT WAS SOMETHING I WASN'T CLEAR ABOUT.
ANOTHER AREA IS STUDENTS WITH SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL ACADEMIC LEARNING CHALLENGES.
I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES THAT STUDENTS ARE EXPERIENCING.
I HAVE HEARD ABOUT STUDENTS AND FAMILIES WANTING TO TRANSFER INTO THE SATELLITE PROGRAM BECAUSE OF SOME OF THESE CHALLENGES THEY'VE BEEN HAVING.
LOOKING FOR A SMALLER SETTING.
SO MY QUESTION HERE, HOW ARE YOU INCORPORATING SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS AROUND SOME OF THE SPECIAL POPULATIONS WE HAVE AND WHAT KIND OF MAYBE ALTERNATIVE MODELS THEY MIGHT HAVE IN CONTRAST TO MAYBE LIKE A TYPICAL MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT.
>> MAY I ANSWER THAT QUESTION? SO FOR THE FIRST PART OF YOUR QUESTIO -- ARE PARTICIPANTS ON OUR COMMITTEE.
THE VOICE IS HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR.
IT IS PART OF OUR RESEARCH LOOKING AT PRIOR DATA BUT CURRENT RESEARCH AS WELL.
HOW DO WE CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS? I KNOW YOU ARE PART OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
HOW DO WE CREATE ROOM ON A SCHEDULE FOR STUDENTS -- STUDENT CAN HAVE LANGUAGE AND ANOTHER ELECTIVE.
WE KNOW EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE DOING IS NOT JUST FOCUSED ON THE GENERAL STUDENT, IT'S ALL STUDENTS.
WE CAN MAKE SURE EVERYONE HAS AN OPPORTUNITY, MATH, LANGUAGE, COLLEGE COURSES.
IT'S NOT JUST FOR THE SUPER STUDENTS BUT OTHER WAYS THAT WE CAN MAKE ALL OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE FOR ALL OF THE STUDENTS AT ALL FOUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS.
MY OTHER QUESTION WAS AROUND I GUESS THE WORK TEAM MAKEUP.
I GUESS WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL LOOKING AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
ONE OF MY ASSUMPTIONS IS WE WERE LOOKING AT THE TRANSITIONS THAT STUDENTS HAVE COMING INTO MIDDLE SCHOOL AND TRANSITIONING TO HIGH SCHOOL.
I THINK IT'S PRETTY CLEAR FROM THE PRESENTATION, THE TRANSITION TO HIGH SCHOOL HAS BEEN PART OF THIS CONVERSATION.
WORKING IN THE TRANSITION, COMING UP FROM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
ONE OBSERVATION THAT I HAVE HAD, THE TRANSITION FROM ELEMENTARY TO MIDDLE SCHOOL CAN BE REALLY CHALLENGING FOR STUDENTS.
I THINK PROBABLY THERE'S A BIG JUMP IN EXPECTATION FOR STUDENTS.
[00:50:08]
THEY NOW HAVE SEVEN TEACHERS.THEY'RE EXPECTED TO TAKE ON A LOT MORE RESPONSIBILITY.
SOMETIMES REALLY STRUGGLING, FIGURING OUT HOW TO NAVIGATE THAT.
THE GRADING SYSTEM IS DIFFERENT.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S SOMETHING YOU ARE CONSIDERING.
GOING FROM THAT TO THE A, B, C, D, F MODEL IS A CHANGE.
JUST A SIDE NOTE ABOUT THE DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM.
KIDS ARE GOING FROM LEARNING MATH AND SCIENCE AND SPANISH TO NOW LEARNING HISTORY IN SPANISH.
I HAVE DEFINITELY HEARD SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT UNDERSTANDING THE RATIONALE BEHIND THAT.
SO AGAIN, TRANSITION COMING OUT OF ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE IS SOMETHING I'M INTERESTED IN.
HERE IT SAYS THE WORK TEAM WILL BE COMPRISED OF STAFF FROM ALL THE SECONDARY SCHOOLS.
I'M WONDERING IF IT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE TO HAVE SOME ELEMENTARY.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WERE THINKING OF HAVING ELEMENTARY TEACHERS OR ADMINISTRATORS AS PART OF THIS WORK TEAM.
I WAS ALSO WONDERING ABOUT THE PARENTS AND THE STUDENT, HOW YOU WERE PLANNING TO SELECT THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND WHAT ROLE THEY WOULD PLAY.
>> SO THE PARENTS AND STUDENTS.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE INCLUSIVE OF ALL FOUR MIDDLE SCHOOL CAMPUSES.
WE'RE ASKING PARENTS AT ALL FOUR SCHOOLS.
WE DON'T WANT THIS TO BE ONE SCHOOL.
HOW DO WE GET PARENTS INVOLVED? AND ALSO PARTNERING WITH OUR BASE TO MAKE SURE WE CAN GET THE WORD OUT AND EVERYONE TO COME TO THE MEETINGS ON THURSDAYS.
THEN TRANSITION PIECE IS SOMETHING THIS COMMITTEE HAS.
THERE'S ANOTHER GROUP THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET TOGETHER TO FOCUS SOLELY ON TRANSITION.
EVERYTHING YOU BROUGHT UP ABOUT ELEMENTARY IS SOMETHING WE'VE DONE DIFFERENTLY AND WE KNOW DR. FINNEY AND MASON WORKED ON THE PROGRAM.
DR. BYNAM IS ONE OF THE CO-LEADERS OF THE MIDDLE SCHOOL SCHEDULING TEAM.
I HAVE READ THE NOTES AND LISTENED TO THEIR CONVERSATIONS.
SHE HAS BROUGHT THAT UP AS A CONVERSATION REGARDING THE TRANSITION FROM ELEMENTARY TO MIDDLE SCHOOL, AS WELL AS THE TRANSITION FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL TO HIGH SCHOOL.
THEY ARE CONSTANTLY LOOKING AT RESEARCH AND DIFFERENT SCHOOL MODELS.
I DO KNOW THAT IT'S AN ASPECT THAT THEY ARE RESEARCHING.
LIKE WE DO IMPLEMENT A PROGRAM.
WE WANT THAT TRANSITION AND EXPERIENCE TO BE VERY STRONG FOR STUDENTS, AS WELL AS THE TRANSITION FROM 8TH TO 9TH GRADE AS WELL.
>> ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? MR. SIMPSON?
>> THANK YOU, MADAM VICE CHAIR.
SOMETHING FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I'M EXCITED TO LEARN ABOUT THIS WORK AND TO SEE WHERE IT'S GOING.
MY FIRST QUESTION IS, I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS.
FIRST IS, ARE THERE ANY DIFFERENT CONSIDERATIONS THAT ARE BEING MADE FOR MIDDLE STUDENTS THAT ARE K-8 SCHOOLS VERSUS THOSE THAT STAND ALONE.
MY SECOND QUESTION IS, WHAT IS THE TIMELINE FOR THIS WORK? WHEN CAN THE BOARD EXPECT TO SEE SOME OF THE OUT COMES AND RECOMMENDATIONS THAT COME FROM YOUR TEAM?
>> THE COMMITTEE INDICATED WE WANT TO MAKE SURE ANY OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS CAN WORK WITH THE SCHEDULE.
WE KNOW THE VISION IS THEY TRULY OPERATE AS A K-8.
WE KNOW SOME OF THESE MAY WORK AND TRANSLATE DIRECTLY.
THAT IS SOMETHING I AM PLEASED TO HAVE REPRESENTATIVES.
HAVING ONE OF THE LEADERS THERE TO HELP.
I LOST THE SECOND PART OF YOUR QUESTION.
>> WHAT IS THE TIMELINE WHEN WE CAN EXPECT TO HEAR ABOUT SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS OR FINDINGS OF OUR WORKING GROUPS?
>> WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK THE REST OF THIS MONTH AND MAY.
THE GROUP, WHEN THEY GET FEED BACK FROM THE PARENTS, OUR HOPE IS THEY COME BACK TO THE BOARD WITH DRAFT RECOMMENDATIONS BEFORE OUR LAST BOARD MEETING.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH, TEAM.
THIS WORK IS TRULY I DON'T THINK OVERDUE.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE WONDERFUL RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WILL BE COMING DOWN.
[00:55:01]
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO OUR STUDENT PLACEMENT POLICY REVISIONS WITH
[18. Student Placement Policy Revisions (Revised on 4/21/22)]
DR. CRAWFORD.I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE -- SEE IT ON THE SCREEN HERE.
HE IS OUR NEW POLICY CONSULTANT.
WE ARE JUST SO HAPPY TO HAVE HIM ON BOARD.
HE HAS JUMPED RIGHT IN, BECAME AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE TEAM.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING AND YOU'RE GOING TO DO.
HE'LL TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HIMSELF WHEN HE GETS INTO HIS PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU, EVERYBODY FOR YOUR TIME TONIGHT.
I HAVE BEEN WRITING POLICIES FOR A COUPLE YEARS NOW.
I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU ARE DOING, IMPLEMENTING POLICY.
IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR THAT YOU SELECTED ME TO HELP WITH THIS GOING FORWARD.
I'LL GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE HERE.
SO THE WORK ON THIS PROJECT IS SYSTEMATIC AUDIT OF ALL THE SCHOOL BOARD POLICIES FOR EQUITY.
THIS STARTS WITH MAKING A PRIORITY LIST STARTING CLOSEST TO THE STUDENTS.
STUDENTS HAVE BEEN MOVING FURTHER FROM THAT.
ONE OF THE MAIN PURPOSES IS TO ENSURE ALL THE POLICIES ARE ALIGNED AND SUPPORT EDUCATION.
THAT'S REALLY WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT AS WELL AS YOUR STRATEGIC PLAN.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, IT'S A PROCESS TO FIND THE ROOT CAUSES OF DISPARITIES, MARGINALIZED POPULATIONS, ENSURING EQUITY FOR ALL.
UNCOVERING POLICIES THAT THWART SUCCESS OF HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED POPULATION.
THEN DISMANTLE CURRENT SYSTEMS THAT ARE BARRIERS TO STUDENT SUCCESS.
THAT YOUR POLICIES SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL EQUITY IN YOUR STRATEGIC PLAN AND THAT YOU IDENTIFY IT IN YOUR SYSTEM.
THE WORK THAT'S CONDUCTED BY TEACHINGS.
WE HAVE THE POLICY EQUITY AUDIT TEAM.
THAT'S PRIMARILY STAFF MEMBERS.
AS A POLICY EQUITY AUDIT SCHOOL BOARD COMMITTEE.
THREE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS WHO LOOK AT A CLUSTER OR GROUP OF POLICIES.
THE AUDIT TEAMS SCHEDULE, GIVE US FEEDBACK.
THEY TAKE A FIRST LOOK AT THE AUDITING.
THEN THE SCHOOL BOARD REVIEWS IT THROUGH AN EQUITY LENS.
PRESENT REVISIONS TO THE FULL BOARD FOR REVIEW/APPROVAL.
WE HAVE A PROCESS HERE TO DO THIS.
WE HAVE BASICALLY A FIVE STEP PROCESS.
WE SELECT THE POLICY SCHOOL REVISION FIRST.
AUDIT COMMITTEE, ETC. THE AUDIT PROCESS ITSELF.
SCHOOL BOARD, THE AUDIT COMMITTEE LOOKS AT THOSE DOCUMENTS.
THE POLICY -- EQUITY AUDIT TEAM ALSO DOES A REVISION OF IT.
CODE CHANGES, ETC. IT COMES BACK TO THE TEAM, THEN STAFF AND THE BOARD.
AND THEN THE NEXT STEP WILL BE BOARD ACTION COMING UP NEXT.
[01:00:04]
JUST AS A GENERAL UNDERSTANDING HERE, POLICY IS A BASIC STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT, THE INTENT OF THE SCHOOL BOARD.MOSTLY THOSE ARE TWO MAJOR COMPONENTS.
LOT OF CODE IN VIRGINIA LANGUAGE.
THAT'S A BIG CHUNK OF WHAT THIS IS.
WE'LL SEE SOME CHANGES WHERE WE'RE UPDATING THE STATEMENTS.
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF IT BY THE SUPERINTENDENT, SETS THE REGULATIONS.
THE BOARD CAN CHOOSE TO DO THAT BUT IN GENERAL THOSE ARE SET BY THE SUPERINTENDENT.
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE POLICIES AND THE EXECUTION.
GIVING DETAILS ON THE HOWS AND THAT SORT OF THING.
THIS IS A PRETTY MAJOR CHARGE AS A BOARD FOR THE ORGANIZATION, TO NEW MEMBERS OF THE ORGANIZATION, CREATING POLICIES.
IN ADDITION TO SETTING THE BUDGET, SUPERINTENDENT TO IMPLEMENT THE POLICIES USING THE BUDGET.
THERE ARE REALLY THREE ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS USED TO DRIVE THIS WORK.
FIRST QUESTION DO THE REVISIONS SUPPORT EQUITY FOR ALL WHILE ACCOMPLISHING THE ULTIMATE REVISION OF THIS INITIATIVE WHICH IS TO MAKE THE POLICIES ALIGN.
QUESTIONS THAT ARE USED BY THE EQUITY TEAM.
WHO IS IT INTENDED TO IMPACT? HAS ANYBODY BEEN ADVERSELY IMPACTED? DO THE REVISIONS ALIGN WITH THE CODE OF VIRGINIA? AND DO THE REVISIONS IMPROVE SYSTEMIC ALIGNMENT? THIS IS THE POLICIES GO ALONG WITH THE CORE OF THE ORGANIZATION.
DO THEY IMPROVE SYSTEMIC ALIGNMENT.
TONIGHT WE ARE LOOKING AT EIGHT STUDENT PLACEMENT POLICIES AND TWO REGULATIONS.
THERE'S TWO ADDITIONAL POLICIES, JC, STUDENT PLACEMENT POLICIES WILL BE PRESENTED ON THE 5TH.
THAT'S A BIG TOPIC AND WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET AMPLE TIME.
WE WILL SPREAD THESE POLICIES OVER A COUPLE OF MEETINGS.
THE SECOND ONE IS JCE REDISTRICTING.
THAT'S SETTING OUT THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS.
IT SORT OF SETS THE NEW STATEMENTS AROUND THE DISTRICTING.
LOOKING AT THAT AS A KICK OFF OF THE DISTRICTING PROJECT.
THERE'S A WORK SESSION ON THE 5TH.
STARTING TO GET OUR UNDERSTANDING.
WE'LL LOOK AT THE POLICY WHEN IT'S READ.
TALK ABOUT THE CHANGES, THE TIMELINE WITH STAKE HOLDER FEED BACK IN DECEMBER OF 2021.
SCHOOL BOARD EQUITY AUDIT SCHOOL BOARD COMMITTEE MET THREE TIMES.
LOT OF MATERIALS WERE PRESENTED, FINDINGS FROM STAKE HOLDERS, FEED BACK, DRAFT REVISIONS.
THEY WERE ALL PRESENTED AND THE MATERIALS ARE AVAILABLE UP ON THE SCHOOL BOARD.
I DO ENCOURAGE FOLKS IF THEY WANT TO LOOK AT THOSE MATERIALS, ETC AND RECOMMENDATIONS JUST GO ONLINE AND ALL THE DETAILS ARE THERE.
THIS IS A LOT OF INFORMATION TONIGHT.
WE'LL HAVE MORE ACTION ON THE 5TH.
IN GENERAL IN THE REVISIONS, THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS WE CHANGE EVERY SINGLE TIME.
GOING INTO THE FUTURE, I'M NOT GOING TO MENTION ANY O THESE THINGS SPECIFICALLY.
AS YOU LOOK AT THE POLICIES, EVERY POLICY THAT'S POSTED AND HAS CHANGES ON IT, THERE ARE COMMENTS WITH THE CHANGE.
MY COMMENTS TONIGHT WILL NOT GO INTO ANY DETAILS OR THE DOCUMENTS WITH THOSE
[01:05:10]
CHANGES AND THOSE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS.THERE ARE A LOT OF BREAD CRUMBS.
SOMETIMES FAMILIES ARE AWARE OF THE POLICY.
THIS HELPS THEM LOOK AT THE OTHER POLICIES THEY ARE LOOKING FOR.
ADDING MORE BREADCRUMBS AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
MAKING SURE THEY ALIGN WITH THE MODEL AND THE CODE.
I HAVE ONLY SEEN THIS ONCE OR TWICE.
WE TALKED ABOUT THE STATEMENTS AND THE COMMITMENT TO SMALL CLASS SIZES WAS DISCUSSED.
WE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT SOME CLASSES ARE SMALLER.
THAT'S AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AT THE BOARD LEVEL.
SO BEING SUPPORTIVE OF THE MILITARY.
CONFIRM THE ACCOMMODATIONS ARE THERE.
THERE ARE CERTAIN SITUATIONS WHERE PEOPLE SAY, THIS CLASS LOOKS A LITTLE SMALLER.
WE'RE WATCHING BOTH SIDES OF THAT SPECTRUM AND MAKING GOOD EDUCATIONAL DECISIONS FOR KIDS.
CLARIFIED LANGUAGE ABOUT STUDENT TEACHER RATIOS.
BUT IT WAS ALIGNED UP TO CODE.
IN JCA TRANSFER OF STUDENT VICTIMS OF CRIME.
WE ADDED DEFINITION OF A COMPARABLE SCHOOL.
RECOMMENDATION OF IDRA FOR EQUITY AS WELL AS -- UPDATE.
WE DID MOVE SOME CONTENT INTO NEW REGULATION, JEC-R2.
THAT'S WITH KINDERGARTENERS AND GRADE 1 STUDENTS.
THE REASON FOR THAT, IT'S WHETHER YOU COME TO SCHOOL OR NOT.
IT'S NOT ABOUT WHAT SCHOOL YOU GO TO.
WE MADE IT ON ITS OWN, REGULATION.
YOU CAN FIND -- THIS IS ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS WITH A LITERAL 50/50 SPLIT.
MORE SUPPORT FOR MILITARY FAMILIES.
REVISED LANGUAGE ABOUT ACTIONS IF A PARENT CANNOT PROVIDE A BIRTH CERTIFICATE.
IF THEY CAN'T PRODUCE BIRTH CERTIFICATES.
LOOKS LIKE AS IT'S WRITTEN SORT OF DISCRIMINATORY.
WE NEED THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE TO ENSURE THE CHILD IS NOT BEING TRAFFICKED.
IT'S TO PROTECT THE KIDS, IDENTIFY THE IDENTITY OF THE KID AND WHETHER THE PERSON ENROLLING THE KID IS A PARENT OR GUARDIAN.
[01:10:02]
THERE'S A REASON THAT'S THERE.WE UPDATED POLICY TO MAKE THAT REAL CLEAR HOW WE WORK TO GET THOSE BIRTH CERTIFICATES.
ADDED A CLAUSE ABOUT STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN EXPELLED.
AND KINSHIP CARE MUST BE UPDATED ANNUALLY AS REQUIRED.
JECA, ADMISSION OF CHILDREN EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
THIS IS A LANGUAGE CHANGE HERE.
CURRENTLY ALL WE'VE DONE TALK ABOUT IT AS A LABEL.
HEY, THESE KIDS ARE TEMPORARILY EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
SO WE CHANGED THE LANGUAGE TO CHILDREN OR STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
WE ADDED A STATEMENT THAT ACPS DOES NOT PERMIT STIGMAIZATION FOR STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
AND THE CODE CHANGE SAYING THE STUDENT IS BEING HOME SCHOOLED.
THEY CAN PARTICIPATE IN JROTC.
TONIGHT WE GAVE YOU INFORMATION.
ON THE 5TH, OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING, WE'RE LOOKING FOR ACTION.
WE'LL HEAR ABOUT THE CHANGES TO JC/JCD.
WE'LL HAVE A WORK SESSION TO TALK ABOUT JCE.
THINK ABOUT PHILOSOPHIES AND THE PROCESS.
WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT BACK OVER TO DR. HUTCHINGS AND SEE IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD.
THANK YOU TO YOU AND THE TEAM.
WE APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM VICE CHAIR.
I HAVE HEARD GREAT THINGS ABOUT YOU FROM OUR FRIENDS.
EXCITED TO START MAKING POLICY.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST AREAS OF IMPACT WE CAN HAVE AS A BOARD.
SLIDE 3 BULLET POINT 2 SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFY ROOT CAUSES OF DISPARITIES.
IF YOU CAN JUST ELABORATE ON HOW WE'RE GOING TO GO ABOUT THIS.
PROBLEM SOLVING IS WHAT I'M TRAINED IN.
IF YOU CAN JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT, I'D REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
>> I'M GOING TO PASS IT OVER TO KENDRA TO TALK ABOUT THAT PROCESS.
THAT STARTED BEFORE I CAME ON BOARD.
CAN YOU ANSWER THAT QUESTION FOR ME, PLEASE?
CAN YOU REPEAT THAT? WHICH PART ARE YOU REFERRING TO?
>> SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFY ROOT CAUSES OF DISPARITY.
IF YOU CAN ELABORATE AND TELL US MORE ABOUT HOW YOU ARE GOING TO DO THAT.
>> HOW WE WILL GO ABOUT FINDING ROOT CAUSES OF DISPARITY? DATA WILL BE USED TO PUT TOGETHER OUR STRATEGIC PLAN, AS WELL AS OUR DATA DASHBOARD HELPS US IDENTIFY THE ROOT CAUSES AND WHERE WE SEE OUR DISPARITIES AND DIVISION.
WE LOOK AT THE DATA AND OUR PROCESS TO DETERMINE THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND HOW TO REVIEW OUR POLICIES.
QUESTION REGARDING POLICY, JEC.
SORT OF 77 THROUGH BASICALLY 79.
THERE'S A NEW ADDITIONAL THAT WAS ADDED IDRA.
IN THE EVENT JOINT CUSTODY THE PERSON MUST SPEND 50% OF THE SCHOOL NIGHTS WITH A QUALIFIED CARE GIVER.
[01:15:02]
I'D JUST LIKE TO UNDERSTAND WHY THIS -- WHY THIS WAS RECOMMENDED AS AN ADDITION HERE? I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT GOING TOBE LIMITING OR CREATING ANY UNNECESSARY STRESS FOR FAMILIES WHO MAY BE JUGGLING THEIR OWN CUSTODY ARRANGEMENT, WHETHER ONE PARENT IS IN THE CITY, THE OTHER PARENT MIGHT BE IN ANOTHER COUNTY OR SOMETHING.THIS IS A SITUATION WHERE HISTORICALLY IT SAID MAJORITY OF NIGHTS.
BUT THAT LEAVES A UNIQUE SITUATION, WHAT IF IT'S SPLIT EVENLY DOWN THE MIDDLE, 50/50? YOU'RE NOT SPENDING MAJORITY OF NIGHTS IN EITHER PLACE.
THIS IS A MINOR ADJUSTMENT TO THE POLICY TO CLARIFY THAT YOU HAVE AN EVEN SPLIT AND YOU CAN GO TO ALEXANDRIA OR YOU CAN GO TO ANOTHER DIVISION.
CURRENTLY YOU HAVE TO SPEND MAJORITY, LIKE 51%, RIGHT? IT'S A PRETTY UNCOMMON THING.
THIS IS FAIRLY MINOR, BUT WE WERE AWARE THAT IN SOME CASES IT'S A 50/50 SPLIT SO MAJORITY OF NIGHTS WOULDN'T APPLY TO A KID.
I DIDN'T SEE LANGUAGE WHERE IT SAID MAJORITY OF THE NIGHTS IN THE JEC.
>> IT'S NOT IN PREVIOUS POLICY.
>> THERE'S NO LANGUAGE ON MAJORITY OF NIGHTS IN ANY OF OUR POLICIES.
DO WE NEED TO ADD THIS PORTION BACK IN? DO WE NEED TO ADD THIS PORTION TO START WITH?
>> THE REASON WE WANTED, OBVIOUSLY IT'S YOUR DECISION.
YOU COULD HAVE A SITUATION, THERE ARE PARENTS IN A SITUATION WHERE A CHILD IS SAY IN ALEXANDRIA 10% OF THE TIME AND SOMEWHERE ELSE 5% OF THE TIME.
WITHOUT A NUMBER, YOU NEED TO ADMIT THE CHILD.
YOU CAN CHOOSE TO DO THAT BUT IT'S PRETTY TYPICAL TO SAY 50% TO COME TO THE DIVISION THERE.
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR ABOUT ESTABLISHING RESIDENCY AS WELL.
SO THAT IS WHERE SCHOOL ADMISSIONS POLICY THAT WE HAVE.
AS YOU KNOW, WE DO NEED TO WORK WITH FAMILIES TO ENSURE WE ARE SERVING OUR RESIDENTS.
AS YOU SAID, THERE ARE SITUATIONS THAT ARE CHALLENGING AND EMOTIONAL.
I THINK THIS IS PROACTIVE AND PUTTING INFORMATION OUT THERE TO BE SPECIFIC THAT WHEN YOU HAVE A SITUATION WHERE A CHILD IS IN ALEXANDRIA ONE NIGHT A WEEK, THAT CHILD WOULD NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO ATTEND AS A RESIDENT OF THE CITY.
SO THIS, HOPEFULLY, IS GIVING FAMILIES INFORMATION UP FRONT SO WE DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS MOVING FORWARD.
THIS IS A VERY, VERY COMMON QUESTION FOR US, SO THEY'RE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAVE WITH FAMILIES REGULARLY ABOUT WHAT YOU NEED TO ESTABLISH RESIDENCY WHEN YOU HAVE JOINT CUSTODY SITUATIONS.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION, MR. SMITH.
FIRST TIME GOING THROUGH THIS, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WORKING ON THESE, I JUST HAD -- I WAS ON A SUBCOMMITTEE.
JUST READING IT AGAIN, I WANTED TO FLAG IT AGAIN.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN PULL UP THE POLICY, IF PEOPLE WANT TO PULL UP THE POLICY.
THIS IS THE ONE ON CLASS SIZE.
IT JUST READS A LITTLE -- IT JUST THROWS ME OFF, THAT SECOND SENTENCE, WHERE IT SAYS THE BOARD RECOGNIZES THAT NEW FORMS OF SCHOOL ORGANIZATIONS, INNOVATIONS AND TYPICAL CLASSROOM CAPACITY WILL GOVERN THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS ASSIGNED TO A CLASS.
[01:20:01]
THEN AFTER THAT, CLASS SIZES SHOULD BE EDUCATIONAL AND SUPPORT THE SCHOOL BOARD'S COMMITMENT TO SMALL CLASS AND EQUITABLE NEEDS OF EACH STUDENT.I'M WONDERING A COUPLE THINGS.
NUMBER ONE WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO FLIP THE SECOND AND THIRD SENTENCES? WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I READ THIS IS I THINK, ALL RIGHT.
NEW ORGANIZATIONS AND CAPACITY THAT ARE THE MAIN DRIVERS.
I THINK THAT WOULD GOVERN IS ANOTHER THING THAT TRIP MESS UP.
I WAS WONDERING IF WE COULDN'T SAY INFLUENCE.
THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT PROVIDE THAT FLEXIBILITY BUT THEY'RE NOT REALLY THE MAIN THINGS I THINK.
SO I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK THAT I HAVE ON THAT.
>> THEY ARE JUST CHANGES TO IMPROVE READABILITY.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE TOP LINE AND SECOND ONE IS THE MODIFIER TO THAT.
>> I WAS GOING TO JUST ASK FOR CLARIFICATION.
MR. SMITH, YOU MIGHT KNOW THIS.
BUT I BELIEVE, ISN'T THERE SPECIFIC KIND OF LIKE THRESHOLDS THAT WE HAVE IN REGARDS TO CLASS SIZE BY THE STATE STANDARDS OF QUALITY.
I'M JUST WONDERING, IS THAT WHY THE GOVERN PIECE IS UNDER -- WHY THE GOVERN PIECE WAS IN THERE? HELP ME.
SO I'M JUST WONDERING IF THAT IS WHY THAT LANGUAGE WAS USED.
I'M JUST PUTTING THAT OUT THERE AS A QUESTION AND MAYBE, MR. SMITH, YOU HAVE INSIGHT.
IF NOT, LET US AT LEAST LOOK INTO IT.
BECAUSE I'M WONDERING IF THE LANGUAGE OR WORD WAS USED FOR A SPECIFIC REASON RELATED TO SOQ'S.
>> SHARE OF QUALITY, WHICH GOES ON CLASS SIZE LIMITATIONS AS WELL AS AVERAGE CLASS SIZES.
REQUIRED TO -- IF ALEXANDRIA CHOOSES TO SET LIMITS.
THAT'S PART OF YOUR PHILOSOPHY.
MAYBE WHY THAT'S THERE, COULD BE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT REMOVING SOME LANGUAGE THAT'S CRITICAL.
MY SENSE IS NOT POSITIVE IT'S FORMAL LANGUAGE.
MAYBE IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF THAT, LEFT OVER.
WE'LL LOOK TO BE SURE THAT IT'S NOT DOING ANYTHING TO INFER THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO COMPLY WITH STANDARDS OF QUALITY.
OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE TO DO THAT.
READY FOR ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD.
I WANT TO GO BACK TO JCA ONE MORE TIME ON THE JOINT CUSTODY ONE.
I ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO THINK ABOUT IT.
IS THE NEED TO ADD THIS ADDITION IN HERE? WE SHOULD ADD FAMILIES THAT MAY HAVE COMPELLING CIRCUMSTANCES.
SAY ONE OF THE PARENTS HAPPEN TO LIVE IN HUNTINGTON RIGHT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BORDER.
SMALL CITY SURROUNDED BY LOTS OF OTHER AREAS.
I UNDERSTAND THE REASONING OF THIS, BUT I'M CONCERNED THAT WE MAY BE CAUSING EXTRA STRESS FOR FAMILIES THAT WE DON'T NEED TO.
SO DOES IT HAVE SOME SORT OF LANGUAGE IN HERE THAT PROVIDES AN OPTION FOR THE FAMILIES? DEPENDING ON THEIR SITUATION.
>> ONE THING WE MAY WANT TO CONSIDER IN REGARD TO WE JUST MENTIONED.
WE MAY WANT TO TALK TO OUR LEGAL COUNSEL JUST TO GET SOME INSIGHT.
I KNOW THAT NOW, IN SITUATIONS ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE'S CUSTODY SITUATIONS.
THERE'S ALWAYS A LEGAL MATTER THAT TAKES THAT OUT OF IT.
SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE LOOKING AT THE BEST INTEREST OF ACPS, THAT WE DON'T GET IN THE MIDDLE OF SOME TYPE OF COURT ORDER SITUATION WHERE BECAUSE IT'S 10% THE CHILD REALLY SHOULDN'T BE GOING TO SCHOOL SOMEWHERE AND NOW THE PARENT SAYS, WE GET TO CHANGE?
[01:25:01]
I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET LEGAL COUNSEL, IF THAT'S OKAY FOR US.BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO PUT OURSELVES IN A SITUATION WHERE WE'RE NOW IN THE MIDDLE OF A CUSTODY BATTLE.
WE REALLY SHOULD BE OUT OF IT, I THINK.
>> I WAS GOING TO PIGGY BACK ON THAT.
I THINK FROM A SCHOOL STANDPOINT WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAUTIOUS ABOUT MAKING SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES FOR SPECIAL INDIVIDUALS.
ALSO, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT WHEN A CHILD IS LIVING OUTSIDE THE CITY AND CAN'T GET TO SCHOOL ON TIME AND THAT BECOMES YET -- THAT CAN BECOME ANOTHER ISSUE.
I WOULD RECOMMEND, TOO, THAT WE TALK TO COUNSEL AROUND IT.
WE CERTAINLY HAVE OUR SHARE OF CONCERNS AROUND PEOPLE WHO MAY BE ATTENDING OUR SCHOOLS AND NOT LIVING IN THE CITY.
I WOULDN'T WANT TO COMPLICATE THAT MORE WITH THE WORK THAT DR. CRAWFORD'S OFFICE DOES WITH RESIDENCY.
NOT SEEING ANY MORE QUESTIONS, I WANT TO THANK YOU, MR. SMITH.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.
THANK YOU FOR TACKLING THIS WITH US AND DR. CRAWFORD AS WELL.
I WASN'T HERE BUT I DO WANT TO REITERATE A WELCOME TO MATT SMITH, WHO HAS BEEN PRETTY PHENOMENAL COMING IN, IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL THIS.
ALWAYS LOVE OUR DISCUSSIONS AND LOOK FORWARD TO MORE WORK.
NEXT UP WE ARE INTO OLD BUSINESS.
[19. School Law Enforcement Partnership (SLEP) Advisory Group Proposal--Revised 4/21/22]
THAT IS OUR SCHOOL LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERSHIP ADVISORY GROUP PROPOSAL.I'LL TURN IT OVER TO DR. HUTCHINGS.
I'M GOING TO TURN THINGS OVER TO DR. HART WHO IS GOING TO FACILITATE THIS DISCUSSION TODAY.
AS WE'RE TRANSITIONING, I JUST WANT TO REITERATE THAT THE LAST TIME WE WERE ABLE TO SPEAK PUBLICLY ABOUT OUR SCHOOL LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERSHIP ADVISORY GROUP PROPOSAL, THE EXPECTATION ON OUR END WAS TO GET FEED BACK FROM THE BOARD AND BRING THEM BACK TO KIND OF SHARE SOME OF OUR KEY TAKE AWAYS FROM THE DISCUSSION WE HAD AT OUR LAST BOARD MEETING AND TO SEE WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
I'M LOOK FORWARD TO SHARING THIS INFORMATION.
I'M GOING TO TURN THINGS OVER TO DR. HART.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, DR. HUTCHINGS.
GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR, VICE CHAIR AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.
I AM GLAD TO BE BACK TONIGHT TO TALK ABOUT THE PROPOSAL FOR SCHOOL LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERSHIP ADVISORY GROUP.
THE ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS I HOPE TO ANSWER TONIGHT INCLUDE WHAT REVISIONS WERE MADE, WHO RECOMMENDED THE REVISION AND WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS IN THIS PROCESS? NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
THE REVISIONS IN THE UPDATED PROPOSAL WERE PRIMARILY GENERATED BY THE ROBUST DISCUSSION FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD DURING THE 3/10/22 MEETING.
THERE ARE A NEW NOTABLE CHANGES WITH A FOCUS ON EXPANDING STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AND THE PARTIES USING GREATER TRANSPARENCY.
THE NEXT TWO SLIDES WILL TALK ABOUT THE REVISION AND UPDATES TO THE PROPOSAL.
IF YOU REFER TO THE SLIDE GRAPHIC, WE WILL ALSO PROVIDING INSPIRED FEED BACK IN WHICH YOU CAN FIND AN UPDATE.
SO FIRST AND FOREMOST STATEMENT HAS RIGHT INTO THE PROPOSAL.
WE HAD EXPERIENCED CORE ADVISORY GROUP.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE MORE ABOUT THIS.
A NUMBER OF EXPERIENCE IN BLACK MALE ACHIEVEMENT.
IT WAS IMPORTANT TO ADD THIS -- ONE OF THE ADDED IS FOR AN ADDITIONAL -- AUDIO ] WE ALSO CLARIFIED THE SELECTION PROCESS WHICH WE INVITED YOUR LEADERSHIP.
WE ADDED AN APPLICATION PROCESS FOR SELECTION IN AN EFFORT TO PROMOTE GREATER TRANSPARENCY IN THE SELECTION PROCESS.
[01:30:03]
WE CLARIFIED THE SELECTION OF A STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE WHO WILL BE SELECTED FROM THE PRINCIPAL.I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE FOR THIS PARTICULAR MEMBERSHIP SPOT, WE ARE LOOKING TO RECRUIT A HISPANIC STUDENT FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL.
WE FEEL IT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE HISPANIC STUDENT REPRESENTATION ON THE ADVISORY GROUP DUE TO HISPANIC STUDENTS ARE 87% OF OUR STUDENT POPULATION.
WE HAVE UPDATED THE FUTURE SELECTION PROCESS.
WE UPDATED THE TIMELINE FOR THE FIRST MEETING FROM MARCH TO MAY AND/OR JUNE.
ALSO TO DISCUSS THE IMPLEMENTATION.
WE'VE EXPANDED EACH SUBCOMMITTEE BY TWO PARTICIPATION MEMBERS.
THESE MEMBERS WILL PARTICIPATE IN SUBCOMMITTEE WORK PROCESS TO GIVE UPDATES AND CHANGES.
CLARIFIED THAT EACH SUBCOMMITTEE WILL ELECT A CHAIR AND THAT PROCESS WILL BE FACILITATED BY THE CHAIR.
ALSO ADDED A FOCUS GROUP TYPE.
WE WILL ASK OUR FACILITATOR TO AN APPROACH OF SHARED DIVERSITY.
WE ALSO EXPANDED DATA COLLECTION BEYOND THE FOCUS GROUPS.
AND CLARIFIED THE ROLE OF THE SCHOOL BOARD IN SUPPORTING THE ADVISORY GROUP.
NOW I WOULD LIKE TO TELL THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE CORE ADVISORY GROUP MEMBER AND PARTICIPATORY SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBER.
CORE ADVISORY GROUP MEMBERS ARE ONE OF THE 16SLEP ADVISORY GROUP MEMBERS.
THEY WILL PARTICIPATE IN BOTH SLEP ADVISORY GROUP AN SUBCOMMITTEE MEETINGS.
IF A PARENT OR COMMUNITY MEMBER, WILL BE SELECTED THROUGH THE APPLICATION PROCESS.
THEY WILL BE ABLE TO VOTE ON WHETHER OR NOT A RECOMMENDATION SHOULD MOVE FORWARD FROM THE SLEP ADVISORY GROUP TO THE SUPERINTENDENT TO BRING TO THE BOARD.
THERE ARE PARTICIPATORY SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBER.
THEY WILL PARTICIPATE IN SUBCOMMITTEE MEETINGS, BUT NOT THE SLEP ADVISORY GROUP MEETING.
IF A PARENT OR COMMUNITY MEMBER WILL BE SELECTED THROUGH THE APPLICATION PROCESS AND WILL VOTE ON WHETHER A RECOMMENDATION SHOULD MOVE FORWARD FROM SUBCOMMITTEE TO THE CORE SLEP ADVISORY BOARD.
AS MENTIONED EARLIER, WE HAVE ADDED TO IMPART MORE TRANSPARENCY INTO THE PARENT AND COMMUNITY MEMBER SELECTION PROCESS.
THOSE INTERESTED CAN APPLY FOR A MEMBERSHIP SPOT OR PARTICIPATORY MEMBERSHIP SPOT.
IF ACCEPTED WE PLAN TO OPEN UP THE PROCESS TOMORROW AND CONCLUDE IT MONDAY, MAY 2ND OF THIS YEAR.
ONCE SUBMITTED, APPLICATIONS WILL BE RECEIVED AND REVIEWED BY THE OFFICE.
THIS ENSURES THAT WE HAVE CROSS REPRESENTATION WHILE ALSO ENSURING THE AREAS AND EXPERTISE ARE REPRESENTED AS WELL.
APPLICANTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO SHARE THEIR AREAS OF EXPERTISE AS IT RELATES TO THE SUBJECT MATTER, WHETHER IT IS LAW ENFORCEMENT, BLACK MALE ACHIEVEMENT, CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM OR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
I'D NOW LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE NEXT STEPS.
TONIGHT WE NEED CONSENSUS FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS VERSION OF THE PROPOSAL.
IF SO THE APPLICATION PROCESS WOULD BEGIN TOMORROW.
APPLICATION WILL BE POSTED TO SUBMIT IF INTERESTED AND CLOSE ON MONDAY, MAY 2ND.
WE WILL BEGIN THE FOCUS GROUP PROCESS AS WELL AS THE ENGAGEMENT PROCESS.
THE GOAL IS TO NOW HAVE THE FIRST SLEP ADVISORY GROUP MEETING IN MAY OR JUNE.
DEPENDS ON THE STARTUP FACILITATORS TIMELINE AND BEING ABLE TO POST THAT INITIAL MEETING.
THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
[01:35:02]
DR. HART, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR CONTINUED HARD WORK ON THIS PROPOSAL.I'LL JUST REITERATE THAT I BELIEVE THAT HAVING THE SLEP PROCESS IS JUST REPRESENTATIVE AND THAT'S INCLUSIVE AN TRANSPARENT IS KEY TO GETTING A BUY IN FROM THE COMMUNITY AND TRUST, GIVEN HOW THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN WORKING.
I REALLY LIKE THE CHANGES THAT YOU'VE DONE TO THIS.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO MENTION A COUPLE THINGS.
I LIKE HOW THESE ARE FOCUSING ON DIFFERENT LANGUAGES.
ONE GROUP THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AS IT OWN FOCUS GROUP.
I WONDER WHAT MY COLLEAGUES THINK, YOUR FEED BACK AND DR. HUTCHINGS FEED BACK ON THIS.
HAVING INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY BE ITS OWN FOCUS GROUP.
IT'S A MARGINALIZED GROUP THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY HERE TO AMPLIFY THEIR VOICE.
NOT JUST IN TERMS OF DIVERSITY, BUT IN TERMS OF THE LIFE EXPERIENCES THAT THEY CAN PROVIDE US.
THAT CAN BE VERY INSIGHTFUL TO US.
IF IT WAS UP TO ME, I WOULD MAKE THE GROUP BIGGER.
WHATEVER MY COLLEAGUES DECIDE, I'M OKAY WITH IT.
I JUST FEEL A BIGGER GROUP, MAKES IT MORE REPRESENTATIVE AND IT MAKES PEOPLE BUY IN MORE INTO THE PROCESS.
WHATEVER MY COLLEAGUES WORK WITH.
IF WE INCREASE IT FROM 12 TO 16 I THINK THAT'S GOOD.
SO, YOU KNOW -- WHEN IT COMES THIS THIS, COUPLE THOUGHTS HERE.
COMMUNITY TRUSTED US AND TRUSTED OUR VALUES AND PUT US IN THIS POSITION BECAUSE THEY KNOW AND THEY TRUSTED THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE COMMUNITY AND HAVE EXPERIENCE IN THE COMMUNITY.
THEY TRUSTED THAT WE CAN USE COMMONSENSE AND LOOK A THE BIG PICTURE WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING SENSITIVE DECISIONS.
I THINK JUST TAKING A STEP BACK AND LOOKING AT THE BIG PICTURE WHEN IT COMES TO THE CONVERSATION.
IT CANNOT BE SIMPLIFIED TO JUST AN EITHER/OR, EITHER FOR OR AGAINST.
IT'S ABOUT EVERYONE'S RIGHT TO FEEL SAFE.
IF STUDENTS DON'T FEEL SAFE, THEY CAN'T LEARN.
IF STAFF DOESN'T FEEL GOOD, THEY CAN'T PERFORM THEIR JOBS.
KIDS NEED TO FEEL SAFE IN SCHOOL.
IT'S ALSO PERSONAL FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.
PEOPLE HAVE KIDS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
WE ALL HAVE OUR OWN EXPERIENCES THAT IMPACT HOW WE SEE THIS ISSUE.
WE SHOULDN'T DISMISS PEOPLE JUST BECAUSE WE DISAGREE WITH THEM.
PERSONALLY, I APPRECIATE HAVING A ROLE IN SOCIETY.
AGAIN, PEOPLE MAY DISAGREE WITH ME ON THAT.
WE JUST NEED TO REALIZE WE ALL MAY NOT SHARE THE SAME VIEW.
HOPEFULLY, THIS PROCESS IS GOING TO FINALLY BRING US TO A SOLUTION THAT BRIDGES THAT GAP BETWEEN PEOPLE WHO MAY FEEL COMFORTABLE AROUND THE POLICE AND PEOPLE WHO DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE AROUND THE POLICE.
PEOPLE HAVE CONCERNED ABOUT POLICING KIDS AND PEOPLE FEEL IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE PREVALENCE.
MY UNDERSTANDING AND DR. HART, YOU CAN HELP ME HERE.
IF YOU CAN EXPLAIN TO US WHAT KIND OF -- WE USE DIFFERENT MODELS.
NOW WE WENT TO A DIFFERENT MODEL.
SO IF YOU CAN EXPLAIN TO US THESE DIFFERENT MODELS.
I FEEL WE CAN USE THIS EXPERIENCE AND HOPEFULLY SLEP WILL LOOK INTO THOSE MODELS WHEN THEY'RE LOOKING AT WHAT CAN BE DONE AND HOW AND WHAT POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS WE CAN ACHIEVE.
>> THE TRADITIONAL MODEL WE HAD PRIOR TO THIS, WE HAD SRO'S THAT WERE AT OUR SECONDARY LOCATIONS.
WE WENT TO A CAMPUS SERVICE DESIGN.
THEY WOULD SUPPORT IF WE ASKED THEM FOR ASSISTANCE.
IT WENT BACK TO THE TRADITIONAL MODEL, IN TERMS OF HAVING THESE AT OUR
[01:40:04]
SECONDARY LOCATION.IN DECEMBER NCHS CAMPUS THAT MODEL HAD TO CHANGE BECAUSE WE WERE WONDERING ABOUT THE SRO'S ASSIGNED THERE.
WE HAD OFFICERS WHO WERE ASSIGNED TO SUPPORT.
THAT'S THE MODEL THAT WE ARE WORKING ON NOW.
DO YOU KNOW OR CAN WE ASK APD IF SOMETHING LIKE, IF THE SOR'S CAN WEAR PLAIN CLOTHES AND MAYBE CONCEAL THEIR WEAPON AS THEY'RE DOING THEIR DUTIES? I FEEL THAT'S SOMETHING THEY CAN LOOK AT.
THIS MODEL GIVES US DIFFERENT OPTIONS TO STUDY.
SRO WITH PLAIN CLOTHED WITH A CONCEALED GUN THAT IS PROPERLY TRAINED IN DEESCALATION.
WHAT WE HAVE NOW, IF I UNDERSTAND YOU CORRECTLY, JUST GO AND DO THIS.
I FEEL THAT COULD PROBABLY BRING CONSENSUS IN THE COMMUNITY.
THAT MAY BE A MODEL THAT TAKES AWAY A LOT OF THE STIGMA AND THAT PEOPLE HAVE.
IT'S SOMETHING YOU KNOW THE ANSWER TO.
CAN WE GET AN ANSWER ON THE PLAIN CLOTHES AND CONCEALED WEAPON?
>> I WAS GOING TO MENTION, I THINK WHEN WE BEGIN TO GET INTO DETAILS ABOUT WHICH MODELS, THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF HAVING THE LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERSHIP ADVISORY GROUP.
THE GOAL IS THAT WE'RE BRINGING IN DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AROUND A TABLE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS SPECIFICALLY AROUND, WHAT DO WE THINK IS BEST IN REGARDS TO RESOURCES AND SAFETY AND SECURITY WITHIN EACH OF OUR SCHOOLS.
IT WOULD BEHOOVE US TO MAKE SURE THESE ARE THE TYPES OF QUESTIONS THAT OUR SUBCOMMITTEES AND OUR COMMITTEES WILL GRAPPLE WITH.
THEY'LL BE ABLE TO SHARE WITH US SOME RECOMMENDATIONS THAT COME OUT OF THAT, IN ADDITION TO THE DISCUSSIONS THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE INTERNALLY, WE ALSO HAVE TO PUT INTO CONVERSATION THE FOCUS GROUP DATA THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE.
THIS WILL BE A THIRD PARTY FACILITATOR.
THIS IS WHY I REALLY BELIEVE IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR US WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE MAKEUP OF THE COMMITTEE TO NOT HAVE WHEN WE SAY SOMETHING IN A GROUP, PEOPLE GET FIXATED ON THAT, THE GROUP WANTS TO DO THAT.
IT WILL BE IMPORTANT TO HAVE A DIVERSE PERSPECTIVE AROUND THE TABLE AND ALLOW THEM TO GRAPPLE WITH THESE BEFORE WE BEGIN TO PLANT SEEDS THIS EARLY BEFORE WE HAVE EVEN IDENTIFIED THE GROUP.
PEOPLE WILL GO BACK AND LOOK AT THIS MEETING AND THINK THAT'S THE PATH WE WANT TO GO AND NOT HAVE THE OPEN MIND OF SAYING LET'S LOOK AT OUR DATA AND SEE WHAT'S GOING TO BE BEST BASED ON THE INFORMATION WE HAVE, NOT WHAT ANY MEMBER MEMBER OR SUPERINTENDENT THINKS IS GREAT.
>> ARE THEY GOING TO LOOK AT THESE? THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THESE KINDS OF QUESTIONS? RIGHT?
>> THAT'S SOMETHING I HAVE THOUGHT OF.
OTHER QUESTION, IF YOU CAN HELP ME OUT, TOO.
ARE THEY GOING TO LOOK INTO POLICIES AROUND THAT? ARE THEY GOING TO LOOK INTO THE TYPE OF TRAINING, HIRING PRACTICES, EVALUATION.
WHATEVER MODEL THEY COME BACK WITH, EVALUATION OF THE PERSONNEL.
>> DR. HART, YOU CAN ELABORATE MORE.
THEY WILL BE LOOKING AT MULTIPLE MODELS.
[01:45:02]
THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS WE WANTED TO ENSURE WE HAD THE ALEXANDRIA POLICE DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATION.PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, ANYONE WHO HAS ANY TYPE OF INTEREST OR PASSION WITH REGARD TO BLACK MALES IN EDUCATION.
THOSE DIFFERENT AREAS OF EXPERTISE WILL HELP US TO GRAPPLE WITH A LOT OF THESE QUESTIONS.
YOU MAY WANT TO ELABORATE MORE ON WHAT I HAVE SAID.
>> I WANTED TO ADD THAT OUR RESEARCH SUBCOMMITTEE IS SPECIFICALLY PUT IN PLACE FOR THAT PURPOSE.
WE WILL BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THE DATA AND BRING THAT BACK TO THE PROCESS TO DETERMINE WHAT WE ARE SEEING AS IT RELATES TO DATA.
NOT JUST LOCALLY OR WITHIN THE STATE.
>> IS THERE A WAY TO GET THE BREAKDOWN OF FOCUS GROUPS?
I KNOW DR. HART MENTIONED SOME OF THIS DURING THE PRESENTATION.
IT IS IMPORTANT FOR TOWS HAVE REPRESENTATION.
WHETHER IT'S THE STUDENT FOCUS GROUP OR EVEN THE COMMITTEE ITSELF.
WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE VARIED DEMOGRAPHICS REPRESENTED.
THAT IS AN INTENTIONAL EFFORT THAT WE WILL BE DOING.
>> WHEN WE RECEIVE THE PRODUCT OF THE SLEP GROUCH THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE WILL GET? HOW THE FOCUS GROUPS ARE BROKEN DOWN?
>> THESE ARE COMMENTS THAT I KNOW ARE OUT THERE.
I CAN TELL FROM PREVIOUS FOCUS GROUP, TYPICALLY THERE IS DATA THAT RELATES TO THE DEMOGRAPHICS WHEN YOU HAVE LARGER NUMBERS.
IF WE HAD THREE PEOPLE, WE WOULD NOT DO THAT.
WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT MULTIPLE FOCUS GROUPS THAT WILL TAKE PLACE, WE WILL BE LOOKING AT DEMOGRAPHICS AT GRADE LEVELS IN REGARD TO STUDENTS AND BACKGROUNDS.
THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT OUR FACILITATOR WILL HAVE INCLUDED IN THE FINAL REPORT THAT GOES BEFORE THE SLEP ADVISORY GROUP.
>> I HOPE WE CAN USE THAT AS A FOCUS GROUP.
SOMETHING I WANT TO PLANT THAT SEED TODAY.
THE OTHER THING I'M CONFLICTED WITH.
I KNOW WE'LL HAVE THE MEETING MINUTES.
I DON'T KNOW WRITE STAND ON THAT.
I FEEL THAT MAYBE TO HAVE THE MEETINGS RECORDED MAY BE A LITTLE MORE INFORMATIVE TO US WHEN IT'S TIME TO MAKE A DECISION.
AGAIN, I AM HAPPY TO HEAR MY COLLEAGUES' FEED BACK ON THAT.
I WANT TO JUMP IN HERE AND SAY, ONE OF THE SORT OF HEAVY LIFTS OF THIS GROUP, BEING SORT OF I THINK COMBINING ACTUAL EXISTING POLICY TO WHAT WE ASPIRE TO.
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS WE'LL HAVE TO CONSIDER IS THERE MAY BE SOME APD POLICIES THAT WOULD NEED TO BE ADJUSTED IN ORDER FOR US TO MEET WHERE WE WANT TO MEET.
WE REALLY NEED TO BE CLEAR ON ANY ELEMENTS OF APD POLICY THAT WOULD NEED TO BE CHANGED BECAUSE THAT MAKES IT MORE COMPLEX, SHOULD WE WANT TO GO IN ANY ONE DIRECTION.
THINGS CAN SEEM RELATIVELY EASY.
NOT SAYING THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO, BUT PLAIN CLOTHE, THAT KIND OF THING.
THERE MAY BE POLICY AROUND THAT THAT WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF.
[01:50:02]
JUST SHOWS THE COMPLEXITY OF THIS AND WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE ALL THESE STAKEHOLDERS HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS SO WE CAN GET TO SOME COMMON PLACES.>> THANK YOU FOR TAKING ALL OF THE TIME.
I APPRECIATE ALL THESE UPDATES.
I'M HAPPY TO SEE THE DIRECTION THIS IS GOING.
MY QUESTION ON -- COUPLE QUESTIONS.
LOOKS LIKE THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND FEED BACK WILL BE COMING TO THE BOARD DECEMBER OF 2022.
DR. HUTCHINGS, WILL WE GET REGULAR UPDATES BETWEEN NOW AND DECEMBER?
>> I KNOW WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE WERE PROVIDING TRANSPARENCY ALONG THE WAY.
>> I WOULD SAY WE CAN DEFINITELY PROVIDE UPDATES IN TERMS OF HOW THE PROCESS IS GOING AND THOSE UPDATES WOULD COME FROM OUR FACILITATOR.
OUR INVOLVEMENT, I HAVE NOT BEEN INVOLVED.
>> TYPICALLY WHEN WE HAVE COMMITTEES HAPPENING WITH THE NEXT FACILITATOR, PART OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES IS PROVIDING CHECK INS AND UPDATES SO THAT THEY MAY COME TO THE BOARD LIKE A BOARD BRIEF OR BOARD MEMO.
I KNOW DR. HART MENTIONED THIS DURING THE PRESENTATION.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE BEING VERY INTENTIONAL AROUND LIKE DR. HART, DR. HUTCHINGS.
KIND OF BEEN OUT OF THIS PICTURE.
IT IS NOT THAT WE ARE HANDS OFF COMPLETELY.
NOT LIKE WE ARE NOT INVOLVED AT ALL, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ALLOWING THIS ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO GO THROUGH THE APPROPRIATE MOTIONS AND BRING A RECOMMENDATION TO THE SUPERINTENDENT WITHOUT ANY INFLUENCE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT.
THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE HEARD LOUD AND CLEARLY THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE PROCESS OVER THE PAST YEAR IN REGARD TO JUST COMMENTS FROM THE COMMUNITY.
SO I THINK BY THE TIME IT COMES TO THE BOARD FOR RECOMMENDATION, YOU WON'T BE COMPLETELY IN THE DARK.
IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT TO DIGEST.
YOU'LL HAVE TO MAKE A SOUND DECISION.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE BOARD IS TAKING ACTION ON HOW WE MOVE FORWARD IN REGARDS TO OUR SCHOOL LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERSHIP.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE BOARD WILL HAVE TO TAKE A VOTE.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE WELL INFORMED.
I WOULD SAY AT LEAST FOR ME, I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE SOMEBODY CHECK IN WITH THE FACILITATOR JUST IN TERMS OF HOW THE PROCESS IS GOING.
WHETHER THAT'S A BOARD BRIEFING OR PRESENTATION.
I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND IT SHOULD BE COMING THROUGH THE FACILITATOR.
GIVEN HOW INVESTED OUR COMMUNITY IS, AS WE ALL SHOULD BE, I THINK THOSE REGULAR UPDATES WOULD BE HELPFUL.
NOT ONLY FOR THE COMMUNITY, FOR US, BUT MAKING OUR OUR PARTNERS STAY UP TO DATE ON THE WORK THAT THE SLEP COMMITTEE IS DOING.
MY OTHER QUESTION, WILL THESE MEETINGS, WHETHER THE REGULAR COMMITTEE OR SUBCOMMITTEE, WILL THEY BE PUBLIC? WILL THEY BE POSTED AN OPEN FOR THE PUBLIC TO JUST BE A MEMBER OF THE AUDIENCE TO LISTEN?
>> I'LL HONESTLY HAVE TO ASK THE FACILITATOR IN TERMS OF HOW THESE ARE HANDLED.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S THE STANDARD FOR OUR ADVISORY GROUPS SO I DON'T KNOW.
I WOULD RATHER HAVE THE FACILITATOR PRESENT THEIR FINDINGS AND LET US KNOW HOW THAT SHOULDOCCUR.
TYPICALLY WHAT WE TRY TO DO, OUR COMMITTEE MEMBERS ARE PARENTS OR STUDENTS THEMSELVES, SOMETIMES COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE PART OF COMMITTEES.
THEY TAKE A DIFFERENT STANCE THAN BOARD MEMBERS HAVING A CAMERA IN FRONT OF THEM.
WHAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IS HAPPENING THERE ARE AUTHENTIC CONVERSATIONS HAPPENING.
THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE MAKE PEOPLE FEEL THEY CAN HAVE THESE REGULAR DISCUSSION WITHOUT ADDITIONAL EYES OR HEAT OR CRITICISM THAT WILL COME OUT OF THAT.
PEOPLE ARE TYPICALLY WATCHING TO GIVE CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM.
WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS PROVIDE SOLID MINUTES WHERE IT IS NOT JUST AN OVERVIEW,
[01:55:06]
BUT IT'S GIVING THE FULL MINUTES OF THAT PRESENTATION SO IT CAN BE AS ORGANIC AS POSSIBLE WHEN THEY'RE HAVING THEIR SUBCOMMITTEE MEETINGS.THAT'S SOMETHING WE DO BELIEVE IS IMPORTANT WHEN YOU'RE BRINGING IN, WHETHER IT'S STUDENTS OR STAFF SO THAT THEY DON'T -- WE DON'T EXPOSE THEM TO BE SOMEBODY UNFORTUNATELY, THIS HAS BEEN OUR HISTORY.
SOME PEOPLE HAVE LATCHED ON TO INDIVIDUALS AND PUT THEM ON SOCIAL MEDIA BECAUSE THEY MADE A CERTAIN COMMENT OR LOOKED A CERTAIN WAY.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE AVOIDING SITUATIONS LIKE THAT IN THIS PARTICULAR CLIMATE.
I KNOW IN THE PROPOSAL WE ARE STRONGLY RECOMMENDING HAVING FULL MINUTES WHERE OUR FACILITATOR, THAT'S ONE THING WE ARE ASKING OUR FACILITATOR TO INCLUDE IN THEIR SCOPE OF WORK SO THAT WE CAN POST THOSE.
WE ARE ALSO DEVELOPING A SLEP WEB PAGE ON THE WEBSITE THAT WILL PROVIDE THOSE CONTINUOUS UPDATES SO PEOPLE CAN EASILY FIND INFORMATION, AS WELL AS UPDATES THAT WILL COME TO THE BOARD OR EVEN THE COMMUNITY.
ANOTHER PIECE THAT I WANTED TO MENTION.
WE ADDED TO THE CITY SCHOOLS JOINT MEETING.
SLEP IS NOW AN ON GOING TOPIC THAT WILL HAPPEN.
THAT WILL BE A GOOD, I THINK, AVENUE FOR US TO MAKE SURE THE CITY COUNCIL AS WELL AS CITY COUNCIL LEADERSHIP THAT IS PART OF THAT.
THAT'S ANOTHER WAY FOR US TO ENJOY CITY COUNCIL IS GETTING SOME OF THOSE UPDATES ALONG THE WAY.
AGAIN, I'M ONE OF NINE BOARD MEMBERS.
I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGES AND CONCERN ABOUT PEOPLE BEING OPEN TO HAVE OPEN CONVERSATION.
ALSO THE TRANSPARENCY MAKING SURE WE HAVE ACCESS TO THE INFORMATION THAT'S PROVIDED.
WE DO NEED TO STRIKE THAT BALANCE THERE.
MY PREFERENCE WOULD BE THEY ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC SO PEOPLE CAT TEND THEM FOR TRANSPARENCY PURPOSES.
I CAN UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGES OF SOME ACTORS MAYBE TAKING THAT INFORMATION AND GOING IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION, BUT THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE HERE ARE RESPECTFUL AND CONCERNED.
I THINK THIS IS A TOPIC PEOPLE WILL HANDLE WELL.
AT LEAST FOR ME, I KNOW IN THE LAST BOARD MEETING ON MARCH 10TH, OUR BOARD ENDED UP GOING, ELEVATING THIS TO A BOARD LEVEL COMMITTEE, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN HAD MORE OF THESE MEETINGS MORE OF THE PUBLIC HERE.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE US TO GO THROUGH THE FACILITATOR TO SEE WHAT BALANCE WE CAN HAVE AS FAR AS HAVING SOME MORE OPEN MEETINGS.
I DO BELIEVE IT IS A BALANCE TO STRIKE.
I THINK WE PROBABLY WOULD WANT TO WORK WITH THE FACILITATOR TO SEE IF THINGS SHOULD BE PUBLIC.
THERE PROBABLY ARE SOME THAT SHOULDN'T BE.
IF WE COULD DETERMINE, YOU KNOW, WHICH MEETINGS WE SHOULD AT LEAST -- I'M OF THE MINDSET, I'M NOT REALLY INTERESTED IN RECORDING PEOPLE.
WE'RE RECORDED I THINK FOR A DIFFERENT PURPOSE.
IF WE'RE DOING UPDATES ON A WEBSITE.
IF WE'RE DOING MINUTES AND HAVING THAT SORT OF REGULA CHECK-INS.
I THINK THAT'S PRETTY TRANSPARENT.
I WILL SAY PROBABLY WE SHOULD PROBABLY STILL HAVE CERTAIN MEETINGS THAT THE PUBLIC COULD COME AND SIT IN ON.
JUST BECAUSE I DON'T THINK WE WANT TO LEAVE ANY ROOM FOR BEING ACCUSED OF NOT, YOU KNOW, BEING OPEN AND TRANSPARENT IN THAT WAY.
I BELIEVE BALANCE COULD BE STRUCK WITH CERTAIN TOPICS.
ESPECIALLY, REMEMBER, THIS IS SCHOOL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERSHIP.
THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE MAY NOT WANT TO HAVE PUBLICLY DISCUSSED BECAUSE THEY COULD IMPACT OUR SAFETY POSITION.
[02:00:01]
BUT, YOU KNOW, CERTAIN TOPICS THAT ARE A LITTLE MORE NUANCES, PEOPLE JUST MIGHT WANT TO SIT AND LISTEN TO CONVERSATION.WE PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE THE DOORS OPEN.
WE JUST NEED TO DECIDE WHAT THOSE ARE.
HOW ARE YOU? THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THE PROCESS GO FORWARD.
I HAVE A COUPLE QUICK QUESTIONS.
IF YOU CAN JUST ELABORATE ON THE METHODS OF OUTREACH THAT WE'RE USING TO SHARE THAT THIS IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? ALSO, THE DATE.
DO WE THINK THAT'S ENOUGH TIME TO REALLY CAPTURE ALL THE APPLICATIONS IN TEN DAYS AND THEN -- I'M SURE THE VETTING WILL BE AFTER THE APPLICATIONS, BUT DO WE THINK THAT'S ENOUGH TIME TO HAVE OUTREACH AND HAVE A FAIR APPLICATION PROCESS? AND MY LAST QUESTION IS, WHAT IS THE CRITERIA THAT WE'RE USING TO SELECT WHO WILL BE ON THE COMMITTEE? THANK YOU.
>> I'M GOING TO TRY AND MAKE SURE I ANSWER ALL OF YOUR QUESTIONS.
THE FIRST QUESTION IS, WE ARE DEFINITELY WATCHING THIS ON THE OUTREACH PORTION.
WE'VE BEEN STRATEGIZING ON HOW TO MAKE SURE THE WORD GETS OUT, THAT WE ARE
[02:06:12]
PROMOTING THAT APPLICATION WILL BE OPEN ONCE WE GET CONSENSUS.I TRUST THE TEAM BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT THEY DO.
I DON'T KNOW ALL OF THEIR METHODOLOGY.
[02:10:11]
I DO KNOW THEY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS WHEN IT COMES TO THE APPLICATION AND HOW IT WILL BE ROLLED OUT.NOT SURE IF SOMEONE ELSE CAN SPEAK MORE TO THAT.
[02:16:56]
THAT IS BEING HANDLED BY THAT GROUP.THAT'S WHAT THEY DO AND DO IT VERY WELL IN TERMS OF THE OUTREACH GROUPS.
I JUST FORGOT YOUR SECOND QUESTION.
[20. Report from Meagan L. Alderton]
TIMING IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHETHER WE ARE DEFINITELY OPEN FOR FEED[02:20:26]
BACK.THE THOUGHT WAS TO HAVE THE APPLICATION PROCESS OPEN.
WE ARE ALSO TRYING TO REMAIN COGNIZANT THAT WE WANT ENOUGH TIME FOR THE
[21. Report from Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr.]
[02:25:19]
GROUP TO START AND BE ABLE TO HAVE A FEW MEETINGS, TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE GREAT RECOMMENDATIONS WHEN THE TIME FRAME COMESWE STARTED IN MARCH.THE FURTHER WE CONTINUE TO EXPAND THE APPLICATION PROCESS, WHICH I'M NOT SAYING NOT TO.
I JUST WANT EVERYONE TO UNDERSTAND THAT IF WE DO SO, THAT THERE WILL BE A TIMELINE IMPACT.
WE COULD BE CUTTING INTO THE TIME THE GROUP CAN FORM AND MEET AND ACTUALLY PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE BOARD.
BUT IN TERMS OF THERE IS ENOUGH TIME OR NOT, I WOULD DEFER TO THE PEOPLE WHO DO THIS REGULARLY, IN TERMS OF GATHERING APPLICATIONS, SUBMITTING APPLICATIONS.
WE TALK SO MUCH ABOUT SLEP IN GENERAL, THIS IS SOMETHING WE ARE LOOKING TO ESTABLISH.
I AM HOPEFUL SOME OF THAT DISCUSSION EARLY ON, AT LEAST GET THE WORD OUT IN THE COMMUNITY THAT THIS IS UPCOMING, HOPEFULLY THIS WILL BE AN INITIATIVE PEOPLE WANT TO APPLY FOR.
I WOULD BE OPEN TO HEARING RECOMMENDATIONS ON IF THE APPLICATION PROCESS SHOULD BE EXTENDED LONGER THAN TEN DAY.
I BELIEVE THE LAST QUESTION WAS REGARDING SELECTION CRITERIA, HOW PEOPLE WILL BE SELECTED FOR THE GROUP.
WE DID SPECIFICALLY ASK THAT THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED, WHEN THEY APPLY, THEY SPEAK TO THEIR AREA OF EXPERTISE.
I WILL SAY EXPERTISE WILL BE THE MAJOR DRIVING FACTOR ON WHO IS SELECTED.
WE WILL BE USING THE TEAM DOING THE SELECTION, THE PROCESS ON HOW ALL OF THAT GETS WORKED OUT.
I CAN'T SPEAK WITH SPECIFICITY TO THAT BECAUSE I'M NOT THE ONE HANDLING THAT PROCESS.
MAJORITY OF THE DECISION MAKING WILL BE DRIVEN BY THE EXPERTISE AND THE SUBJECT MATTER WHEN IT COMES TO THIS PARTICULAR ADVISORY GROUP.
I'M NOT SURE IF YOU WANTED TO ADD ANYTHING.
>> I WAS GOING TO SAY IN ADDITION TO THAT, ONE THING THAT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT FOR US IS JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE DIVERSITY IN REGARDS TO THE MEMBERS WHO ARE PART OF THE COMMITTEE.
WE ARE GOING TO BE ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO APPLY.
THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL PEOPLE ALREADY WHO ARE SAYING WE WANT TO BE INVOLVED.
THIS IS NOT A NEW TOPIC FOR US.
YES, IT IS A SHORT TIME FRAME, BUT WE'VE BEEN HAVING THIS DISCUSSION FOR ALMOST TWO YEAR.
WE KNOW EVERYBODY OUT THERE WHO WANTS TO SPEAK.
EVERYBODY WHO WANTS TO BE ON THE COMMITTEE IS PROBABLY WATCHING.
ANY TIME THEY SEE SLEP, THEY ARE WATCHING.
I'M SURE THE NEWS WILL TALK ABOUT IT TONIGHT AS WELL.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE STAYING AKIN TO THE TIME BECAUSE WE ALREADY ARE PAST OUR TIME FRAME.
IT'S NOT THAT WE NEED TO SPEED THINGS UP, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO JUST PROLONG IT SO LONG THAT WHEN WE GET TO THE END OF THE YEAR, WE HAVE ONE MEETING AND DON'T TALK AGAIN UNTIL SEPTEMBER.
LET'S GET THINGS MOVING WHILE WE HAVE THE MOMENTUM.
THAT REALLY IS THE SENSE OF URGENCY THAT WE HAVE.
WE WANTED TO START THIS IN JANUARY.
WE ARE ALREADY PAST THAT TIMEFRAME.
JUST FOR CLARITY, MY TIMETABLE IN MY MIND IS NOT JUST A WEEK OR SO.
>> IF WE HAVE PEOPLE IN MIND, SHARE THE APPLICATION.
THAT'S ANOTHER AVENUE TO GET THEM OUT THERE.
>> I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN A VERY CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE ON BOTH SIDES AND I APPRECIATE THE WORK, DR. HART, THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM HAVE DONE ON THIS.
I JUST WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO COUNSEL, DON HAYES HAS OFFICIALLY BEEN NAMED OUR CHIEF OF POLICE.
I THINK THAT IS A BENEFIT TO US THAT THERE IS NOW SOMEBODY PERMANENT IN THAT ROLE.
I KNOW PERSONALLY THAT CHIEF HAYES IS VERY VESTED IN OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR CHILDREN AND THE PEOPLE IN IT.
SO I TRUST THAT HIS ROLE WILL BE A GOOD ROLE FOR US.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, DR. HART.
MY QUESTION HAS ALREADY BEEN ANSWERED, BUT I STILL WANTED TO COMMEND YOU ON THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING AROUND THIS SO VERY COMPLICATED ISSUE FOR SO MANY REASONS.
I FEEL SO COMFORTABLE WITH YOU LEADING THIS CHARGE.
THE PRESENTATION WAS PHENOMENAL.
EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID AT THAT MARCH 10 MEETING, ALL OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE IN THIS PROPOSAL.
I WROTE DOWN A CHECKLIST, SO I KNOW THEY ARE ALL IN THERE.
I JUST WANT TO COMMEND YOU ON THE WORK THAT YOU DO AND YOUR TEAM.
YOU REALLY MAKE ACPS LOOK GOOD.
ALSO ON THE RECOGNITION RECENTLY BEING A WOMAN IN A MALE DOMINATED FIELD.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MS. GREENE.
I KIND OF HAVE A DOUBLE QUESTION.
I KNOW WE ARE HAVING A LOT, FOCUS ON MARGINALIZED GROUPS BEING TALKED ABOUT IN THIS ADVISORY GROUP.
WE'RE MAKING SURE TO HAVE THIS APPLICATION BE IN MANY LANGUAGES.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS CONFIRMED.
ALSO, IF WE'RE HAVING STUDENTS APPLY FOR THE POSITIONS IN THIS GROUP THAT ARE NEEDED, ARE WE USING LANGUAGE THAT THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND
[22. Announcements]
BETTER FOR THEIR APPLICATION VERSUS AN ADULT'S APPLICATIONS.MIGHT NOT HAVE A SPECIFIC FIELD THAT THEY KNOW THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT OR THEY WANT TO DO IN THAT WAY.
>> THOSE ARE WONDERFUL QUESTIONS, MS. MILTON.
IN TERMS OF ANYTHING WE SHARE, I KNOW IT'S TYPICALLY STANDARD TO SHARE IT OUT FOR MAJORITY SPOKEN LANGUAGE, ENGLISH,SPANISH, ARABIC.
THAT WILL BE PART OF THE PROCESS.
IN TERMS OF THE APPLICATION, THAT'S THE GREAT POINT.
WE CAN GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE APPLICATION AND MAKE SURE THAT IT IS STUDENT FRIENDLY.
IT'S FAIRLY SHORT IN TERMS OF WHAT NEEDS TO BE SUPPLIED.
MOSTLY CHECKING OFF DEMOGRAPHIC, PROVIDING INFORMATION REGARDING NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER, SO ON SO FORTH.
THINGS THAT WILL BE UNIVERSALLY UNDERSTOOD.
IF THERE'S ANY PART OF THE APPLICATION THAT WE THINK WE NEED TO APPLY FOR STUDENT APPLICANTS, WE CAN DO THAT AND MAKE THOSE MODIFICATIONS.
>> THANK YOU, DR. HART, FOR THE PRESENTATION.
BEFORE I GET INTO THEM, I APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION WE'VE HAD TONIGHT.
I THINK OUR LAST MEETING USED ON FOCUSING ON THE PUBLIC.
AS MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HAS SAID, IT HAS BEEN A CONTENTIOUS ISSUE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE JUST WANT TO GET IT RIGHT THE BEST THAT WE CAN.
I'M REALLY EXCITED TO GET THIS GOING, JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.
SEE WHAT RECOMMENDATIONS THEY WILL BRING BACK TO US.
I THINK SOME OF THE QUESTION, HOW TO BE TRANSPARENT, IN TERMS OF RECORDING OR HAVING PUBLIC MEETINGS, JUST TRYING TO STRIKE THE RIGHT BALANCE.
I SHARE THOSE CONCERNS, TOO, FINDING THE RIGHT BALANCE WITH THAT.
MY QUESTIONS ARE ABOUT -- JUST TO DIG IN DEEPER.
WITH THE APPLICATION PROCESS, WE HAVE THE ONE FUTURE REPRESENTATIVE.
I'M GLAD TO SEE THE GROUP HAS BEEN EXPANDED.
DR. ELNOUBI MENTIONED THE ADVISORY GROUP HAS 16 MEMBER.
I'M GLAD TO SEE AN ADDITIONAL SIX MEMBERS.
THAT'S BRINGING US UP TO 22 WHICH IS GREAT.
WE ONLY HAVE THE ONE DESIGNATED TEACHER REPRESENTATIVE.
SOMEONE WAS ASKING ABOUT STUDENTS.
JUST TO CLARIFY THE APPLICATION PROCESS, CAN TEACHERS AND STUDENTS, ARE THEY ALSO ELIGIBLE TO APPLY IN THE APPLICATION PROCESS?
THERE ARE AN ADDITIONAL SIX SPOTS THAT HAVE BEEN ADDED TO BE SUBCOMMITTEES.
THOSE ARE NOT JUST PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS, BUT ALSO STUDENTS OR STAFF MEMBERS OR ANYONE ELSE WHO HAS AN INTEREST IN THE SUBJECT MATTER.
ALL THE TEACHERS AND STUDENTS WHO ARE OUT THERE LISTENING, YOU MAY HAVE AN INTEREST IN PARTICIPATING.
I ALSO AM GLAD TO SEE THE APPLICATION PROCESS.
I THINK IT ALLOWS US TO CAST A WIDER NET AND IDENTIFY INDIVIDUALS WHO WILL BE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN THIS PROCESS.
I DID HAVE CONCERNS ON THE TURN AROUND TIME BUT I DO UNDERSTAND WE WANT TO GET THIS GROUP GOING.
WE WILL LOOK TO SEE HOW THOSE APPLICATIONS COME IN.
I JUST WANTED TO ALSO SAY WHEN THE INFORMATION IS BEING SHARED OUT ABOUT WHO THE MEMBERS OF THE ADVISORY GROUP ARE, I THINK ANY INFORMATION THAT CAN SHARED ABOUT THE NUMBER OF APPLICANTS THERE WERE, HOW THE GROUP WAS SELECTED TO BE PUT TOGETHER BASED ON THEIR EXPERIENCE.
ANY KIND OF INFORMATION WE CAN SHARE WITH THE COMMUNITY WILL HELP WITH THE TRANSPARENCY PROCESS.
MY OTHER QUESTION WAS KIND OF ON THE EXTERNAL FACILITATOR AND THE FOCUS GROUPS.
I, LIKE SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES, AM HOPING THE FOCUS GROUPS WILL REPRESENT THE DEMOGRAPHICS IN OUR SCHOOL.
ALSO WANT TO MAKE A PLUG FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AND THEIR FAMILIES TO MAKE SURE WE ARE CAPTURING THEIR PERSPECTIVES WITH REGARD TO SAFETY IN SCHOOLS.
THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PERSPECTIVE TO GET.
[02:30:01]
THE QUESTION IS ABOUT THE EXTERNAL, IS THE EXTERNAL FACILITATOR, HAVE THEY ALREADY BEEN SELECTED? WILL THE EXTERNAL FACILITATOR BE THE SAME INDIVIDUAL OR CONSULTANT THAT DOES THE FOCUS GROUPS? HOW WILL THE QUESTIONS FOR THE FOCUS GROUPS ON THE SURVEYS, HOW ARE THOSE BEING FORMULATED? ANY INSIGHT YOU CAN PROVIDE ON THAT WOULD BE APPRECIATED.THE EXTERNAL FACILITATOR HAS NOT YET BEEN SELECTED.
WE HAVE A FEW WHO ARE INTERESTED BUT WE ARE WAITING ON WHAT THE FINAL RECOMMENDATION WOULD LOOK LIKE, KNOWING WE WERE COMING BACK TO THE BOARD TODAY.
HOPEFULLY, IF WE GET CONSENSUS TONIGHT, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO RECEIVE THOSE PROPOSALS PROBABLY WITHIN THE NEXT FEW DAYS TO BE ABLE TO SAY WHICH GROUP OR WHICH COMPANY WILL BE SELECTED FOR THAT PROCESS.
YOU MAY HAVE ONE GROUP SELECTED TO BE THE FACILITATOR AND ANOTHER GROUP THAT MIGHT JUST DO THE RESEARCH, THE FOCUS GROUPS, THE SURVEYS, SO ON SO FORTH.
WE WILL LET THE BEST GROUP AND THEN THAT INFORMATION WILL BE MADE PUBLIC ONCE SELECTIONS ARE COMPLETED.
I THINK SECOND QUESTION ABOUT THE FOCUS GROUP, OR DID I ANSWER IT?
>> JUST HOW THE QUESTIONS ARE FORMULATED.
>> THAT IS SOMETHING WE WOULD DEFER TO THE FACILITATOR, THE COME UP WITH THE FRAME WORK.
WE DID AT LEAST WANT TO FRAME OUT THE TYPE OF FOCUS GROUPS WE WANTED FOR THIS PROCESS AND RELY ON THEIR EXPERTISE TO DETERMINE, WHAT TYPE OF QUESTIONS SHOULD WE BE ASKING IN THE FOCUS GROUP PROCESS OR THE SURVEYING PROCESS.
AS WELL AS WHATEVER COMES OUT OF THE FOCUS GROUP, THERE MAY BE OPPORTUNITIES TO FOLLOW UP WITH IN-DEPTH INTERVIEWS WITH A DIFFERENT SET OF QUESTIONS BASED ON THE FEEDBACK THAT COMES OUT OF THAT PROCESS.
I WANT TO ECHO MY COLLEAGUES' COMMENTS, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING BACK THESE CHANGES TO US.
I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE WHAT WORK THE GROUP'S GOING TO PRODUCE.
DOESN'T LOOK LIKE WE HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS.
I WOULD JUST SAY, I THINK WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD.
I DO THINK, YOU KNOW, WE'RE AT THE RIGHT PLACE IN TERMS OF GETTING A GROUP GOING AND GETTING SOME GOOD INFORMATION.
THE BOARD, IN OUR ROLE, WE ABSOLUTELY CAN AND SHOULD REQUEST SOME CHECK IN POINTS ALONG THE WAY.
I TAKE THAT ON AS MY RESPONSIBILITY AS CHAIR, THAT WE HAVE CHECK-IN POINTS BUILT IN AT THE APPROPRIATE TIMES.
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO REMEMBER THAT, JUST LIKE EVERYTHING WE DO, WE'RE ALWAYS PROVIDING FEEDBACK.
AS WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS, THINGS COME UP, WE DO WHAT WE ALWAYS DO.
ASK THE QUESTIONS, MAKE THE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS.
I THINK WE CAN MAKE THIS WORK.
IF THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS, I WOULD LOVE FOR STAFF TO MOVE FORWARD, START GETTING THOSE APPLICATIONS IN SO THAT WE CAN GET THIS WORK GOING.
>> LOOKING FORWARD TO, YOU KNOW, THE PROCESS.
JUST REMEMBER THIS IS A PROCESS.
LIKE EVERY PROCESS, THERE'S THE BEGINNING, ALL THE POINTS IN THE MIDDLE AND WE GET TO THE END.
APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S FEED BACK.
TAKE A MOMENT TO SAY SOMETHING POSITIVE, DR. HART.
DR. HARBGT I HAVE TO SAY THIS, SHE IS NOT ONLY A PHENOMENAL HUMAN BEING.
HAVING TO NAVIGATE THIS, SUCH A PUBLIC TOPIC THAT EVERYBODY FEELS LIKE THEY NEED TO BE A PART OF IT.
IT'S DIFFICULT AND IT'S CHALLENGING.
YOU TALK ABOUT SOMEBODY WHO HAS VISION, INTEGRITY AND PASSION.
THIS WOMAN RIGHT HERE HAS EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM AND SHOWS IT EVERY DAY.
YOU CAN GO BACK AND LISTEN TO THIS ANY TIME YOU WANT.
I PERSONALLY JUST WANT TO TELL YOU, THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESILIENCY AND ALSO PROVIDING US WITH THE APPROPRIATE GUIDANCE TO GET THIS WORK DONE.
HAVING TO NAVIGATE THESE UNCHARTERED WATERS.
BUT YOU DO IT FLAWLESSLY, FLAWLESSLY.
I JUST WANTED TO PERSONALLY JUST SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK.
I'M ALWAYS GOING TO BE YOUR NUMBER ONE CHEERLEADER.
I WILL BE THERE, RIDE OR DIE, TO SUPPORT.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO, ON BEHALF OF OUR CHILDREN AS WELL AS STAFF AT ACPS.
DEFINITELY HUMBLED BY YOUR WORDS.
WITH THAT SAID, WE ARE ON TO SHARER'S REPORT.
I DO HAVE A COUPLE THINGS, COUPLE ANNOUNCEMENTS.
ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO TUNE IN APRIL 25TH IS OUR JOINT CITY COUNCIL/SCHOOL BOARD SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING.
>> YOU WANT TO HAVE SOME FUN WITH US, JOIN US.
MR. HARRIS SAID HE WOULD PASS.
MS. NEILSEN CAN CHIME IN, BUT I'M PRETTY SURE WE WILL BE RIGHT HERE.
ON MAY 5TH, WE HAVE OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING WHICH WILL BE FOLLOWED BY WORK SESSION.
WE HAVE A COUPLE OF ITEMS WE WILL DISCUSS FOR THAT.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS IN BETWEEN THAT TIME, REACH OUT TO DR. HUTCHINGS AND GET THOSE QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
MAY 16TH AT 6:30 WE HAVE OUR SCHOOL BOARD RETREAT.
MAY 19TH AT 6:30 P.M., WE WILL HAVE OUR PUBLIC HEARIN ON THE COMBINED FUNDS AND CIP BUDGETS.
WE'LL ALSO HAVE A SCHOOL BOARD MEETING ON THAT NIGHT, AS WELL AS A DELETE WORK SESSION AVAILABLE IF NEEDED.
MAY 9TH, APPLICATIONS, ANY STUDENTS WHO ARE OUT THERE LATE AT NIGHT WATCHING THIS, HOPEFULLY NOT.
BUT ON MAY 9, 2022, APPLICATION FOR STUDENT REPS ARE DUE.
SO IF YOU ARE A STUDENT WHO IS INTERESTED IN BEING A STUDENT REP, THOSE APPLICATIONS ARE DUE MAY 9TH.
MAY 26TH, WE HAVE ANOTHER WORK SESSION.
IT IS TECHNICALLY OUR SECOND ADD DELETE WORK SESSION.
HOWEVER, HOPEFULLY WE WON'T NEED THAT.
WE DO HAVE OUR SPECIAL ED 101 PRESENTATION BEING PUT ON BY OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO DO IT AND REALLY EXCITED TO ENGAGE IN CONVERSATION WITH THE BOARD.
SO WE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.
I'M GOING TO MOVE ON TO SUPERINTENDENT.
DR. HUTCHINGS, DO YOU HAVE A REPORT?
I DO HAVE A FEW ITEMS. I WANT TO MAKE SURE I GO OVER MY SCRIPT.
I WANT TO SAY WELCOME BACK TO EVERYBODY.
HOPE FOLKS HAD A WONDERFUL RESTFUL SPRING BREAK.
I KNOW IT WAS MUCH NEEDED FOR EVERYONE UP HERE, AS WELL AS ALL OF OUR FAMILIES AND STUDENT.
APRIL HAS ALREADY PROVEN TO BE A BUSY MONTH.
IT'S CONFLICTED ON WHAT IT WANTS TO DO.
COLD, HOT? I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE SOME APRIL WEATHER SOON.
IN APRIL, WE CELEBRATE THE DIVERSE CULTURE AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUR ARAB-AMERICAN FAMILIES IN ACPS DURING NATIONAL ARAB HERITAGE MONTH.
IN OUR SCHOOL DIVISION, WE HAVE 530 FAMILIES THAT IDENTIFY AS ARABIC SPEAKING, AS 5% OF OUR ENGLISH LEARNERS WHO SPEAK ARABIC.
I'M PROUD TO SAY ACPS HAS A PARENT LIAISON AND BILINGUAL SPECIALIST WHO PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR OUR ARABIC SPEAKING FAMILY.
BEFORE BREAK, ACPS ALSO PROVIDED A SHOW OF SUPPORT FOR OUR ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL.
IT WAS NATIONAL ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS WEEK.
OUR ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS, AS YOU KNOW, THEY PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN ENSURING THAT OUR SCHOOLS ARE WELCOMING AND THEY ARE SUPPORTING OUR PRINCIPALS AS WELL AS OUR STAFF AND STUDENTS.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO MENTION ONE OF OUR EXCEPTIONAL MATH TEACHERS WHO IS LIKE THE LONGEST SERVING TEACHER IN ACPS, MR. LEWIS CONCODES.
63 YEARS IN THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM.
I'M LIKE, THAT IS AMAZING JUST THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE 63 YEARS.
HE'S CELEBRATED A YOUTHFUL 90 YEARS OLD ON APRIL 1ST.
HE WAS ONE OF MY FORMER MATH TEACHERS.
I WAS HONORED JUST TO TELL HIM HAPPY BIRTHDAY IN PERSON.
DOES HE REALLY REMEMBER? HE DOES.
I KNOW WHAT I WAS DOING IN YOUR CLASS.
I WAS ONLY DOING IT BECAUSE I WAS IN 10TH GRADE AND EVERYBODY ELSE WAS 11TH AND 12TH GRADER.
I FIGURED IF I MADE THEM LAUGH, THEY WOULDN'T PICK ON ME.
IT WAS A GROUND BREAKING THAT TOOK PLACE FOR THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL.
THIS WAS ON MARCH 29TH, A REAL EXCITING DAY.
ALSO PART OF THE HIGH SCHOOL PROJECT, THIS WILL DISCUSS THE CHALLENGES WE KNOW WE'RE FACED WITH IN REGARDS TO STUDENT ENROLLMENT.
WE ARE PROJECTED TO OPEN OUR NEW CAMPUS 2024/2025 SCHOOL YEAR, WHICH IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.
I JUST WANT TO SHARE SOME EXCITING NEWS OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS WAS AWARDED A $120,000 GRANT FROM THE SHARE OUR STRENGTH WHICH IS A NO KID HUNGRY CAMPAIGN.
[02:35:01]
MONEY WILL BE KWRAOUDZ FOR A MUCH NEEDED OFFICE OF SCHOOL NUTRITION SERVICES WITH DELIVERY VEHICLE.OUR SCHOOL NUTRITIONAL SERVICES ARE OVER THE MOON ABOUT THIS.
BUT THE DELIVERY OF THE NEW TRUCK IS EXPECTED THIS SUMMER SO IT WILL BE IN COMMISSION NEXT YEAR.
I AM ALSO PROUD TO SHARE OUR 5TH GRADE TEACHER, MISS MARIE PEACHES IS AMONG THREE VIRGINIA FINALISTS FOR THE 2022 PRESIDENTIAL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE TEACHING.
THIS IS A TOP HONOR IN THE NATION FOR MATH AND SCIENCE.
YES, SHE CAN GET A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THAT.
AS A TEACHER FOR THE PAST 18 YEARS, MS. PEACHES INCORPORATES HANDS ON ACTIVITIES TO HELP STUDENTS WITH MAKING CONNECTIONS WITH THE SUBJECT MATTER AND REMEMBERING CONTENT.
AWARD RECIPIENTS WILL BE ANNOUNCED FOLLOWING A NATIONAL REVIEW OF FINALIST APPLICATIONS FROM EACH STATE AND U.S.
THEN FINALLY, OUR SECOND ANNUAL EQUITY FOR ALL CLIMATE SURVEY.
IT CAME TO A CLOSE ON APRIL 3RD.
SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE RESULTS.
OF THE SURVEY, WHICH WILL PROVIDE US WITH VALUABLE INFORMATION, AS WELL AS INPUT FOR OUR PLANNING AND UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR.
THAT CONCLUDES MY ANNOUNCEMENTS AND THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING THIS FOR ME.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO MS. MILTON FOR EVERYTHING TODAY.
NORMALLY SHE GIVES ALL MY ANNOUNCEMENTS.
ANY BOARD MEMBERS WITH ANNOUNCEMENTS?
SOME OF YOU KNOW I SERVE ON BOARD OF THE ALEXANDRIA HOUSING AUTHORITY.
TONIGHT I'M HAPPY TO REPORT TO EVERYONE THAT -- REPORT TO YOU THAT WE'VE DECIDED TO NAME OUR HEADQUARTERS AT -- IN OLD TOWN.
WANT TO TOUCH ON REAL QUICK SOME OF YOU THAT DID NOT KNOW MR. MILLER.
HE WAS A LAWYER WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, CIVIC LEADER AND ACTIVIST WHO WORKED ON EDUCATION AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING ISSUES.
SERVED AS DEPUTY SECRETARY AT HUD FROM 1997 TO 2014.
THIRD HIGHEST RANKING INDIVIDUAL I BELIEVE UNDER THREE DIFFERENT PRESIDENTS.
HE WAS AN EIGHT YEAR MEMBER OF THE STATE COUNCIL ON EDUCATION IN VIRGINIA IN THE 1970S AND MEMBER OF CITY SCHOOL BOARD FROM 1986 TO 1993 AND SERVED AS CHAIR FROM 1990 TO 1992.
CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY FROM 1970 TO 1977 AND FROM 2001 TO 2012.
LASTLY, IN THE EARLY '60S, HE WAS A LEADER AND SPOKES PERSON OF THE SECRET SEVEN A GROUP OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN LEADERS WHO ADVOCATED FOR SCHOOL EQUALITY AND INTEGRATION.
MR. MILLER WAS A WONDERFUL VISIONARY, PHENOMENAL INDIVIDUAL.
IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW HIM, HE WAS -- I SPOKE TO NUMEROUS INDIVIDUALS WHEN I HEADED UP THE COMMITTEE TO PUT HIS NAME IN THIS PROCESS.
I SPOKE TO NUMEROUS INDIVIDUALS WHO TALKED ABOUT WHAT HE DID TO GET THEM TO COLLEGE, THINGS LIKE THAT.
HE WAS SUCH A POSITIVE INDIVIDUAL THAT HE ATTENDED SOUTHERN BAPTIST IN NORTH CAROLINA.
ANY TIME THEY HAD A CHANGE OF PRESIDENTS UNTIL THEY FOUND SOMEONE TO FILL, TO TAKE THAT POSITION, THEY CALLED MR. MILLER AND HE WOULD FILL IN AS PRESIDENT OF THE COLLEGE.
HE ASSISTED NUMEROUS KIDS IN ALEXANDRIA CITY WHO WENT TO ALEXANDRIA CITY HIGH SCHOOL.
HE HELPED THEM GET INTO SCHOOL THERE.
THIS WAS -- I'M JUST SO GLAD WE DID THIS FOR SOMEONE WHO DID SO MUCH HERE FOR ALEXANDRIA AND ALEXANDRIA CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS? MR. ELNOUBI.
AS A PARENT, I'D LIKE TO CONGRATULATE MR. PASQUEL WHO RECEIVED NATIONAL DISTINGUISHED PRINCIPLE AWARD.
PRINCIPALS WHO SET HIGH STANDARDS FOR STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, CHARACTER AND CLIMATE.
I HAVE BEEN SENDING MY KIDS TO MR. PASQUAL FOR FIVE YEARS.
I HAVE WORKED WITH HIM BEFORE.
I'M SO EXCITED AND HAPPY FOR HIM.
ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS? OKAY.
IF THERE ARE NONE I NEED A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
I HAVE MR. BAILEY, SECOND, MR. HARRIS' MOTION.
THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.