Mar 08, 2023 Joint City Council/School Board Work Session

[00:00:02]

OKAY. SO GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

[Call Meeting to Order]

SO WE ARE.

[1. Joint City Council/School Board Work Session]

SO WELCOME TO OUR CITY COLLEAGUES.

SO WE ARE LOOKING AT, UH, WE'RE ACTUALLY, I GUESS, GOING TO HAVE SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT BOTH BUDGETS.

HOWEVER, WE'LL START WITH JUST A QUICK PRESENTATION ON OUR COMBINED FUNDS BUDGET BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THAT WITH OUR CITY COLLEAGUES.

WE WILL WE WILL SHARE THAT AND WE WILL END WITH SOME POINTS ON THE CIP THAT WE WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT.

AND AFTER THAT, I GUESS I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MR. PERRY. JOHN, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU BECAUSE THERE WAS SOME RECOMMENDATIONS AROUND THE CIP THAT WERE POSTED AND THEN WE CAN ENGAGE IN OUR QUESTION AND ANSWER. SO WITH THAT SAID, UM.

OUR COMBINED FUNDS BUDGET.

THE THEME THAT WE.

PUT OUT THERE FOR THIS BUDGET IS RESET.

RESTART, REFOCUS.

AND SO WE'RE ON OUR CONTINUOUS JOURNEY.

POST COVID TO MAKE BOTH ACADEMIC, SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL IMPROVEMENTS FOR OUR STUDENTS AND ALEXANDRIA CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

SO OUR FY 2024 APPROVED COMBINED FUNDS BUDGET TOTALS, $359.9 MILLION.

AND AS YOU CAN SEE, WE ALWAYS SHARE THIS LITTLE PIE CHART WITH YOU ALL.

BUT WE KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THAT A GOOD PORTION OF THIS FUNDING WE ARE DEPENDENT ON COMES FROM THE CITY AND YOU KNOW, THE CITY, OBVIOUSLY.

UH, MEETS THE LOCAL COMPOSITE INDEX, WHICH IS 0.8.

SO HOW ARE OUR MONEY'S ALLOCATED? WE'RE REALLY JUST STRATEGICALLY INVESTING TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS HAVE WHAT THEY NEED.

WE HAVE LOCAL REVENUE, WHICH WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, OUR STATE REVENUE, WHICH WE DEPEND ON FEDERAL REVENUES AT 6%, AND THEN WE HAVE OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDS AS WELL.

UM, WE ALWAYS TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALSO UTILIZING GRANTS TO ENHANCE OUR SERVICES AND WE'VE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB WITH THAT. SO NEXT SLIDE AND WE CAN GET INTO SOME DETAILS.

CAN YOU. OH, YEAH.

SORRY. THAT'S ME.

I'M LOOKING AT DIFFERENT SLIDES.

ALL RIGHT, SO HOW ARE WE LOOKING AT RESETTING, RESTARTING AND REFOCUSING? I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, EVERY YEAR WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME CHALLENGES, BUT EVERY YEAR WE ALSO KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME OPPORTUNITIES.

SOME OF THE CHALLENGES, I THINK ARE PRETTY OBVIOUS BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT JUST CHALLENGES, THEY ARE NATIONAL CHALLENGES.

WE HAVE TEACHER SHORTAGES, WE HAVE BUS DRIVER SHORTAGES.

WE ARE CONTINUING TO WORK VERY INTENTLY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MAINTAIN COMPETITIVE PAY FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.

BURNOUT IS REAL, PARTICULARLY IN THIS PROFESSION.

AND SO HOW DO WE ADDRESS THAT? BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT IF WE DON'T ADDRESS THAT, THEN WE DON'T HAVE THE CONSISTENCY THAT WE NEED FOR OUR STUDENTS.

WE OBVIOUSLY KNOW THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE EXPERIENCING A LOT OF SOCIAL EMOTIONAL TRAUMA, AND SO OUR BUDGET NEEDS TO ADDRESS THAT AS WELL.

AND ACADEMIC LEARNING LOSS, I LIKE TO SAY RECOVERY.

YOU KNOW, HOW ARE WE INVESTING OUR FUNDS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE RECOVERING? I ALWAYS KIND OF LIKE THIS CONVERSATION BECAUSE WHILE I THINK THERE'S ACADEMIC RECOVERY AS A RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC, I THINK WE WERE DOING WE WERE DOING A LOT OF WORK AND NEEDING TO DO A LOT OF FOCUS ON THAT PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC.

WE HAVE AN ACHIEVEMENT GAP THAT CONSISTENTLY EXISTS AND HOW ARE WE ADDRESSING THAT? WHAT ARE OUR OPPORTUNITIES? I'M REALLY THINKING ABOUT HOW WE DO PROFESSIONAL LEARNING, HOW WE ARE BRINGING ON AND AND BRINGING PROFESSIONALS INTO ACPS AND BEING CREATIVE ABOUT THAT, ENHANCING OUR COMPENSATION, UM, ADDING ADDITIONAL SEAL SUPPORTS.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT OUR SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL AND ACADEMIC LEARNING.

HOW ARE WE INVESTING IN THAT, MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY REIMAGINING EDUCATION? I THINK OUR HIGH SCHOOL PROJECT IN THAT ONGOING DISCUSSION IS AN EXAMPLE OF THAT AND HOW ARE WE IMPROVING OUR EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT.

[00:05:04]

NEXT SLIDE. ALL RIGHT.

SO GOING TO DIG A LITTLE BIT MORE INTO WAYS THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL AND ACADEMIC LEARNING.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

ALL RIGHT. THE YOU ALL I THINK I BELIEVE WE PRESENTED THIS SLIDE VERY EARLY ON IN THE SCHOOL YEAR AT YOUR BUDGET RETREAT, UM, CITY COUNCIL, UM, AND WE TALKED ABOUT JUST THIS CONCEPT OF WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO MAINTAIN SMALL CLASS SIZES.

SO WE REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR BUDGET CONTINUES TO ALLOW US TO MAINTAIN OUR CLASS CAPS OVERALL.

SO 22 FOR KINDERGARTEN, 24 FOR FIRST AND SECOND GRADES AND 26 FOR THIRD THROUGH FIFTH.

IN ADDITION, I THINK IT'S ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO NOTE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO AT THE KINDERGARTEN LEVEL THAT IS NOT VERY COMMON IS THAT WE ENSURE THAT THERE IS ALWAYS AN INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANT IN OUR KINDERGARTEN CLASSROOMS AS WELL.

SO OUR KINDERGARTNERS HAVE THE BENEFIT OF HAVING BOTH A KINDERGARTEN TEACHER AND AN INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANT, WHICH CREATES EVEN SMALLER CLASS SIZES.

NEXT SLIDE. NEXT SLIDE.

ALL RIGHT. HOW ARE WE INVESTING OUR FUNDS TO REACH OUR MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS SO WE KNOW IN OUR STUDENTS SPAN ALL DEMOGRAPHICS AND WE'RE WORKING TO ENSURE THAT ALL OF OUR STUDENTS HAVE WHAT THEY NEED TO SUCCEED.

HAVING STAFF WHO ARE ABLE TO WORK WITH MULTILINGUAL FAMILIES IS AN EXAMPLE.

HAVING RESOURCES FOR OUR FAMILIES TO BE ABLE TO CONNECT WITH CPS, MAKING SURE WE'RE USING TITLE ONE FUNDS TO PROVIDE SUPPLEMENTAL RESOURCES AND MAKING SURE THAT OUR NUTRITIONAL PROGRAM STAYS ROBUST.

WE'RE ALSO CONTINUING TO ADDRESS AND HAVING SPECIAL INITIATIVES TO ADDRESS OVERIDENTIFICATION OF BLACK STUDENTS WITH EMOTIONAL DISABILITIES.

THAT HAS BEEN AN ONGOING WORK.

I KNOW THAT WE'VE IN THE PAST DONE SOME CREATIVE THINGS WITH OUR FUNDING THAT COMES FROM OUR PART FUNDS, AND SO WE CONTINUE TO EXPAND ON THOSE INITIATIVES. NEXT SLIDE.

ALL RIGHT. HOW ARE MONIES GOING INTO RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION? NEXT SLIDE, SUSAN.

SORRY. AND YOU CAN GO AGAIN.

OBVIOUSLY, IN ORDER TO RECRUIT, RECRUIT AND RETAIN, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE COMPETITIVE SALARY SALARIES.

SO EVERY YEAR WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE REGION AND WE TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT ARE THE WAYS, WHAT ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE STAY COMPETITIVE IN THE MARKET. SO AND OBVIOUSLY ALSO FOR OUR BUDGET, 85% OF THAT BUDGET GOES TOWARD STAFF.

SO THIS IS A BIG PORTION OF HOW OUR COMBINED FUNDS BUDGET IS SPENT.

SO WHAT DO WE INCLUDE IN FY 24? WE HAVE STEP INCREASES FOR ALL ELIGIBLE STAFF.

WE HAVE A 3% MARKET RATE ADJUSTMENT AND THEN WE'RE COMMITTING TO PREVIOUS ADJUSTMENTS THAT WE ESTABLISHED BASED ON MARKET STUDIES THAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST ADDRESSING ALL SCALES BY ELIMINATING THE FIRST STEP ON ALL SCALES.

AND WE ADDED A NEW TOP STEP.

SO THIS ALLOWS PEOPLE WHO ARE ENTERING INTO TO ENTER AT A HIGHER STEP.

AND OVER THE PAST YEAR, WE'VE SEEN OTHER SCHOOL DIVISIONS INCREASE THEIR SALARIES TO A LEVEL HIGHER THAN ACPS.

AND SO OUR BUDGET ATTEMPTS TO ADDRESS THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T FALL BEHIND.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

ALL RIGHT, SO HOW DO WE VALUE OUR HIGH QUALITY STAFF? UM, WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT OUR STAFF SALARY AND BENEFITS, WHICH MAKES UP OUR TOTAL COMPENSATION PACKAGE.

SO WE'VE ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT AND ENFORCED THE FACT THAT IT'S NOT JUST SALARIES THAT WE ARE FOCUSED ON, BUT IT IS ALSO OUR BENEFITS.

WE OFFER A VERY WHAT WE CALL A PLATINUM HEALTH CARE PACKAGE.

AND SO ACPS PAYS 80 OR 90% OF OUR EMPLOYEES HEALTH CARE PREMIUMS. THAT'S A HUGE IMPACT ON TAKE HOME PAY FOR ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES.

IN ADDITION, WE HAVE TWO DEFINED BENEFIT RETIREMENT PLANS, WHICH IS THE PLAN AND THE SUPPLEMENTAL RETIREMENT PLAN.

[00:10:03]

SO WE'RE CONTRIBUTING TO VOICE ON BEHALF OF ALL ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES AS WELL AS OFFERING UP TO A 2.5% MATCH FOR EMPLOYEES TO CONTRIBUTE MORE TO THEIR RETIREMENT.

SO THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW WE ARE USING COMBINED FUNDS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE OUR PLATINUM BENEFITS PACKAGE.

NEXT SLIDE.

WE ARE ALWAYS COMMITTED TO PROFESSIONAL LEARNING.

I THINK THAT IS A BIG PART OF RETAINING NOT JUST RETAINING STAFF BUT RETAINING AND MAINTAINING HIGH QUALITY STAFF.

SO WE BELIEVE IN GROWING OUR OWN DEFINITELY, AND WE'VE DONE SO THROUGH FUNDING PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES AND SUPPLEMENTAL PAY OPPORTUNITIES.

WITH MORE THAN $4.1 MILLION.

OUR GROW A TEACHER PROGRAM IS AN EXAMPLE OF THAT, AND THAT CREATES A PIPELINE OF TEACHERS BY HELPING OUR INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANTS BECOME TEACHERS.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO CONTINUE TO HELP OURSELVES IN FINDING OUR NEWEST TEACHERS AS THE SHORTAGE CONTINUES.

SO INVESTING IN OUR OWN IS A BIG PART OF THAT.

OUR DIVISION LEADERS ALSO RECEIVE EXECUTIVE COACHING SO THAT THEY ARE.

WE'RE ENSURING THAT THEY'RE AT THE VERY, VERY BEST IN MANAGING THEIR OWN TEAMS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

ALL RIGHT. HOW ARE WE FUNDING OUR LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS? NEXT SLIDE. SO DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE'VE DEFINITELY MADE SOME SIGNIFICANT GAINS IN IMPROVING OUR LEARNING SPACES.

I THINK THAT WAS WE'VE CONSISTENTLY TALKED ABOUT THAT BEING, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE BENEFITS AND BEING ABLE TO MOVE QUICKLY WITH PROJECTS THAT COULD HAVE OTHERWISE TAKEN LONGER.

SO WE HAVE AN FY 2024 BUDGET.

WE'RE INVESTING ADDITIONAL FUNDS THROUGHOUT OUR FACILITIES AND OPERATIONS BUDGET, AND THAT'S FOR MAINTAINING AGE FACTS, PLUMBING REPAIRS, ADDITIONAL CLEANING OF NEW SPACES.

FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE THE DOUGLAS MACARTHUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL COMING ONLINE AND THEN ALSO BEING ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE CLEANLINESS AND SAFETY OF SPACES.

THE NEW SPACE AT 1703 THAT WILL ALSO REQUIRE ADDITIONAL SECURITY EQUIPMENT.

SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE FUNDING THAT.

ENSURING THAT OUR FACILITIES ARE SAFE AND SECURE IS VERY IMPORTANT.

AND SO OUR BUDGET INCLUDES FUNDING FOR ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT, EQUIPMENT AND ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR SCHOOL SECURITY OFFICERS FOR SOME OF THE NEW MEASURES. WE'RE NOT GOING TO WAIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR.

SOME OF THOSE WERE GOING TO ADVANCE WITH THIS YEAR.

NEXT SLIDE. AND ON TO OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.

SO WE PRESENTED OUR FULL CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM TO COUNCIL.

I BELIEVE OCTOBER WAS THE WINDOW IN WHICH THAT HAPPENED.

BUT WE WANTED TO REVISIT A FEW THINGS HERE BECAUSE WE KNOW THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT TONIGHT AS WELL.

NEXT SLIDE. ALL RIGHT.

SO WHAT IS OUR APPROACH TO OUR BUDGET SUBMISSION? SO OUR APPROACH FOR THE FY 25 TO FY 2023 BUDGET WAS REALLY TO REMAIN CONSISTENT WITH PRIOR APPROVED CIP BUDGETS WHILE ACCOMMODATING FOR NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS.

AND, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THOSE ADJUSTMENTS OBVIOUSLY WERE A RESULT OF INFLATION.

SO. I'LL JUST, YOU KNOW, PROVIDE A LIST.

WE PRIORITIZE PROJECTS BASED ON URGENCY WHILE CONSIDERING THE TIME AND ABILITY OF THE TEAM TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT.

SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ALWAYS DO, UH, MAINTAINING OUR CAPACITY PROJECT SCHEDULE AND DOING THAT BY DEVELOPING THAT JOINTLY WITH THE CITY AND PASS THE IPS ADJUSTING COSTS FOR INDUSTRY WIDE COST INCREASES, WHICH INCLUDES AN ACCOUNTS FOR THE LATEST PROJECT REQUIREMENTS.

AND ONE OF THOSE THAT WE KNOW COSTS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAT WE DID NOT NECESSARILY DO IN THE PAST WAS NET ZERO ENERGY.

SOME ADS WERE BASED ON NEEDS, SO SOME OF THE NEEDS INCLUDED PLANNING, DESIGN AND FITOUT OF A NEW LEASE SPACE FOR OUR ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION BASED PROGRAM.

ADJUSTMENTS TO THAT PROGRAM AND SPACE NEEDS THAT ARE CURRENTLY NOT BEING MET IN THE EXISTING FACILITY.

[00:15:02]

UM. ALIGNING WITH THE CITY'S APPROACH AND MOVING ALL POSITIONS.

SUPPORTING THE CIP INTO THE CIP BUDGET WAS ALSO A CONSIDERATION IN THAT PROCESS AND WHERE NEEDED FOR THE PRIORITIZATION.

ADDING NEW NON CAPACITY PROJECTS MOSTLY FOCUSED ON SITE IMPROVEMENTS.

I CAPTURE IT ALL.

THINK I DID. I'M SURE THERE'LL BE MORE QUESTIONS.

ALL RIGHT.

UM, AND SO A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THE PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT.

AND I THINK WE THE ONLY THING THERE WOULD BE TO REITERATE FROM OUR JOINT WORK SESSION IN OCTOBER, UM, WHEN WE'RE DEVELOPING OUR CIP, WE'RE USING A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO THAT DEVELOPMENT AND DOING ESTIMATING, OBVIOUSLY.

SO WE LOOK AT THE LATEST STUDIES AND THOSE STUDIES ARE USUALLY OUR FACILITY CONDITIONS ASSESSMENTS.

WE USE THOSE SPECIFIC SYSTEM ASSESSMENTS, WORK ORDERS, SITE OBSERVATIONS TO DETERMINE WHAT OUR NEEDS ARE AND IN SOME CASES TO DETERMINE WHAT OUR COSTS ARE GOING TO BE.

OUR FEASIBILITY STUDIES ALSO INFORM OUR WORK.

AND SO, FOR EXAMPLE, MOST RECENTLY, OUR FEASIBILITY STUDIES INFORM THE SWING SPACE NEED AT 1703.

NORTH BEAUREGARD.

SO. THAT'S THE END OF MY LITTLE PRESENTATION.

I HOPE YOU ALL ENJOYED THAT.

AND WE CAN MOVE ON TO, I GUESS.

MR. PETTIJOHN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND, UM.

SURE. I'M HAPPY TO TALK WITH A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT'S IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET THAT THE COUNCIL IS CONSIDERING.

SO ON THE OPERATING SIDE, IT'S PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD.

THE PROPOSED BUDGET THAT I'VE PUT FORTH TO THE COUNCIL IS RECOMMENDING FULL FUNDING OF YOUR OPERATING BUDGET.

UM, WITH ONE CAUTION.

THE, THE CAUTION IS THAT SUSTAINABILITY OVER A PERIOD OF TIME IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE IMPORTANT FOR EFFICIENCIES. AND HOW WE DO WHAT WE DO COLLECTIVELY IS GOING TO BE A CRITICAL FACTOR.

IN LAST YEAR OR THIS PROPOSED BUDGET.

I REQUESTED ALL DEPARTMENTS LOOK AT EFFICIENCY SAVINGS IN THEIR BUDGETS.

UM, AND THOSE ARE OBVIOUSLY CHALLENGING FOR EVERY DEPARTMENT WILL BE LOOKING TO DO THOSE THINGS IN THE FUTURE COLLECTIVELY AND COMPREHENSIVELY.

UM, WITH THE RECOGNITION THAT OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTS AND DIFFERENT NEEDS, BUT I THINK THAT THAT THAT EFFORT IS GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT SO THAT WE CAN MANAGE THE SINGLE SINGLE AMOUNT OF FUNDING THAT WE MUST WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE BOTH COMMUNITY WIDE SERVICES FROM CITY GOVERNMENT AND SCHOOL SERVICES THAT ALL ACHIEVE THE SAME INTENT AND MAKE IT BETTER FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

SO JUST KIND OF WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT A LITTLE BIT.

ON THE CAPITAL SIDE, IT'S IT'S A LITTLE MORE CHALLENGING.

BLUNTLY, ON THE CAPITAL SIDE, WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT I THINK IT'S $2.4 BILLION PROPOSED CAPITAL BUDGET OR CAPITAL PLAN, WHICH IS A TEN YEAR PLAN.

UM, I THINK THE GOOD NEWS IS WE ARE WE ARE INCREASING.

I AM RECOMMENDING INCREASING THE SCHOOL'S CIP PLAN FROM IN 2024 FROM LAST YEAR'S PLANNED 24 BUDGET. I THINK THE THE PROPOSAL THAT I RECEIVED WAS ABOUT $25 MILLION MORE IN PLANNED CIP IN 2024 THAN WHAT WAS APPROVED IN LAST YEAR'S 24 PLAN.

UM, QUITE FRANKLY, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH FUNDING TO DO THAT AS WELL AS THERE'S OTHER PRIORITIES THAT NEED TO TAKE, TAKE, TAKE A HIGHER PRIORITY, FRANKLY.

SO WHAT WE ARE DOING, MY RECOMMENDATION IS TO FUND A LITTLE BIT AROUND, I THINK 16.5%, 16.5 MILLION IN INCREASED FUNDING.

SO IT'S NOT A DECREASE.

IT'S ACTUALLY INCREASING THE SCHOOL'S 24 CIP.

[00:20:03]

I'M NOT RECOMMENDING.

SOME OF THE CAPACITY ON THE LEASE SPACE, THE CHANGED LEASE SPACE.

THOSE ARE TWO PROJECTS THAT ARE $7.5 MILLION THAT QUITE FRANKLY, IN MY ESTIMATION, WHILE THEY'RE IMPORTANT AND NEEDED, THERE ARE OTHER CONSIDERATIONS IN THE CAPITAL THAT WE MUST DO.

AND PROBABLY THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FOR US GOING FORWARD IS THAT IN 2025, WE HAVE CATALYTIC PROJECTS, INCLUDING THE HIGH SCHOOL THAT ARE MOVING FORWARD.

AND WITHOUT ADJUSTING OUR ABILITY AND OUR AMOUNT THAT WE BORROW TO PROVIDE FOR THE CAPITAL, WE HAVE TO SMOOTH THAT OUT. AND THAT REQUIRES BOTH CITY RESTRAINT AS WELL AS SCHOOL RESTRAINT.

AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE.

BUT I'M CONFIDENT WE CAN DO THAT.

WE'VE ALREADY STARTED SOME GREAT DISCUSSIONS WITH WITH STAFF ABOUT LONGER TERM SHARED FACILITIES, SHARED USE, SHARED SERVICES, THINGS LIKE THAT.

THAT'S EXPLORATION.

WHERE THAT REALLY HEADS I THINK IS IS REALLY A FUNCTION OF THE SCHOOL BOARD AND THE COUNCIL.

BUT AT THE STAFF LEVEL, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THOSE THINGS TO BE ABLE TO GET GET TOWARD A TEN YEAR CIP THAT WE KNOW HAS GOT A HIGH LEVEL OF SUSTAINABILITY MEETING ALL OF THE FISCAL PRINCIPLES THAT THE COUNCIL HAS ESTABLISHED, I THINK SINCE LIKE 1986.

AND THAT'S CRITICAL BECAUSE THOSE FISCAL POLICIES CREATE THE TRIPLE A BOND RATING, WHICH MAKES IT EASIER AND LESS EXPENSIVE FOR US TO BORROW MONEY. SO WITHOUT THAT, AND WHEN WE GO TO THE BOND RATING AGENCIES, IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE MAINTAIN THAT.

AND SO THAT'S THAT'S REALLY I MEAN, I THINK IT'S RELATIVELY GOOD NEWS, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT WAS VERY THOUGHTFUL CIP.

IT WAS A THOUGHTFUL OPERATING BUDGET THAT WAS PROPOSED, AND I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK WITH THE LEADERSHIP IN IN THE SCHOOLS TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND THE DYNAMICS OF THAT.

AND SO THAT'S THAT'S REALLY THE SUMMARY.

I THINK AS YOU LOOK IN LATER YEARS OF THE CIP, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO TRY TO SCALE BACK, QUITE FRANKLY, GIVEN THAT NEXT YEAR WE'LL BE KIND OF A REVISITING OF THE ENTIRE CIP AT A LITTLE BIT DEEPER DEPTH.

WE FELT TO TRY TO KEEP THE FUNDING LEVELS WITHIN SOME OF THE SAME LEVELS OR CLOSE TO THE SAME LEVELS AS WERE PLANNED LAST YEAR.

UM, SO THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY WHERE, WHERE THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

SO NOW IT IS TIME FOR Q&A.

WHO'S FIRST? SARAH IS FIRST REFERRING TO THE MAYOR, IF YOU WANTED TO.

OH. BUT I'M GOOD.

I'M GOOD. HOLD ON.

I'M GOING TO HAVE SARAH GO FIRST.

ALL RIGHT. GO AHEAD, SARAH.

OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU TO THE CHAIR AND TO THE CITY MANAGER FOR SETTING US UP TONIGHT AND SORT OF GOING OVER SOME OF THE BIG PICTURE.

UM, I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS, AND THEY'RE A LITTLE ALL OVER THE PLACE, SO I MAY SORT OF SEE WHERE THE DIALOG TAKES US AND, UM, YOU KNOW, KIND OF GO FROM THERE.

UM, I WANTED TO ALSO THANK ALL THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS WHO SUBMITTED QUESTIONS LIKE IN THE PROCESS.

I FOUND THAT TO BE EXCEEDINGLY HELPFUL AS I TRIED TO UNDERSTAND YOUR BUDGET SEEING WHAT YOU HAD ASKED AND WHAT THE ANSWERS WERE.

SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO, YOU KNOW, ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS THAT, THAT ASKED QUESTIONS AND THE STAFF THAT RESPONDED TO THEM.

THAT WAS REALLY HELPFUL.

UM, ONE OF THE TO KIND OF PICK BACK UP ON LAST WEEK'S CONFERENCE WAS THAT LAST WEEK.

OKAY. SO TO PICK BACK UP ON LAST WEEK'S CONVERSATION ABOUT THE RECOMMENDATIONS, THERE WERE A COUPLE QUESTIONS AND ELEMENTS OF THE BUDGET THAT, THAT TIE INTO THAT CONVERSATION, AND I'VE FLAGGED IT IN A FEW PLACES.

BUT. IT WAS ASKED ABOUT IN A FEW PLACES.

SO. SO THE QUESTIONS I HAVE RELATE TO THERE'S A REFERENCE TO THE 600,000 INCREASE IN SECURITY COSTS.

THAT'S ONE OF YOU ASKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, IDENTIFIED INCREASES AND THERE'S A REFERENCE TO $600,000 IN SECURITY INCREASES.

AND I TRIED TO TIE THAT THROUGH TO THE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE NUMBERS OF FTES AND THE NUMBER OF CONTRACTS, BUT I COULDN'T CLOSE THE LOOP MYSELF.

SO I'M WONDERING IF YOU COULD JUST ADDRESS WHAT IS THAT $600,000 IN SECURITY INCREASES? IS IT FTES? IS IT CONTRACT OFFICERS? IS IT OTHER SECURITY ENHANCEMENTS? IT'S GOING TO BE FOR OUR CONTRACT OFFICERS.

[00:25:01]

OKAY. SO IT'S THE EXPECTATION THAT THE NEW CONTRACT WILL HAVE DIFFERENT RATES.

NEW RATES WILL BE MORE EXPENSIVE.

I THINK THAT IT'S NOT JUST NECESSARILY CONTRACT COSTS, BUT ALSO HOW WE ARE REIMAGINING WHAT OUR SAFETY POSTURE LOOKS LIKE FROM AN SSA LENS.

SO THAT MAY INCLUDE ADDING ADDITIONAL OFFICERS AT CERTAIN SCHOOLS, SO ON AND SO FORTH, AND THAT WOULD ALL HAVE AN INCREASED COST.

OKAY. AND AND I REALIZE THAT KIND OF TIES BACK TO OUR CONVERSATION.

BUT SOMETHING ELSE I WAS TRYING TO RECONCILE BETWEEN LAST WEEK'S SLIDES AND THESE QUESTIONS IS ON RECOMMENDATION TWO, THERE WAS A COMMENT ABOUT THE SECURITY OFFICERS AND NOT SROS, BUT SECURITY OFFICERS, AND THERE WAS A REFERENCE TO A REQUEST BY THE SLEP TO DO AN EVALUATION OF THAT PROCESS.

AND THE STAFF ANSWER WAS THERE WAS ALREADY AN EVALUATION IN PROCESS PRIOR TO THIS RECOMMENDATION.

BUT THEN ACTUALLY, DR.

SIMPSON BAIRD ASKED ABOUT THAT REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION.

AND THE QUESTION WAS ANSWERED BY SAYING STAFF IS UNSURE AT THIS POINT WHAT THE COST OF A REVIEW WOULD BE FOR THE SSA PROGRAM, WHICH IS WHAT YOU'VE JUST SAID.

SO I'M TRYING TO CLOSE THE LOOP HERE.

WAS THERE AN EVALUATION OF THAT PROGRAM IN PROCESS ALREADY? IS IS THERE AN EVALUATION IN PROCESS OR WHERE ARE WE IN THAT? SO WHAT I SHARED AT THE LAST MEETING WAS THAT THE EVALUATION HAS BEEN STAFF LED.

WE EVALUATED OUR WORK PROGRAM, WE'VE EVALUATED THEIR JOB DESCRIPTION.

AND PART OF THE EVALUATION IS WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW IN TERMS OF DETERMINING IF WE WANT TO GO IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION WITH OUR COMPANY.

OKAY. OKAY.

AND SO.

THAT $600,000 IS FOR THE EVALUATION PROCESS AND THE ANY POTENTIAL INCREASE.

IT IS FOR ANY POTENTIAL INCREASE TO STAFF OR ANY OTHER SECURITY MECHANISM THAT COULD BE EQUIPMENT, THAT COULD BE SOMETHING OF THE LIKE.

SO I I'M TRYING TO BE RESERVED AND GO INTO A LOT OF DEEP DETAIL ABOUT OUR SECURITY POSTURE.

BUT YES, ALL OF THAT IS TIED INTO IT.

OKAY. AND IF YOU CAN JUST AND WHETHER IT'S YOURSELF OR ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE TEAM CAN SORT OF ADDRESS THE PREFERENCE FOR FTES VERSUS CONTRACT POSITIONS. IS IT SIMPLY COST? I KNOW THE FTES ARE MORE EXPENSIVE.

THE CONTRACT OFFICERS ARE LESS EXPENSIVE.

IS THAT SORT OF WHAT DRIVES THAT DIFFERENCE OR ARE THERE OTHER RATIONALES FOR THAT CHOOSING ONE OR THE OTHER? SO THE STRUCTURE IS ONE THAT I INHERITED AND THAT MY TEAM INHERITED, MY CURRENT TEAM INHERITED.

SO THAT IS PART OF WHAT WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT.

I WILL SAY THAT AT TIMES IT IS EASIER TO STAFF THROUGH A CONTRACTED VEHICLE VERSUS TRYING TO RECRUIT FTES.

OF COURSE THERE ARE ALSO ADDITIONAL COSTS FROM A BENEFIT STANDPOINT WITH FTE.

SO RIGHT NOW OUR POSTURE CONTAINS BOTH.

WE MAY MAINTAIN THAT OR WE MAY MAKE A RECOMMENDATION IN THE FUTURE TO GO ONE OVER THE OTHER, BUT WE'RE NOT THERE YET.

OKAY. WELL, I APPRECIATE THAT.

AND THAT THAT GIVES ME SOME CONTEXT, I GUESS, BEFORE I CHANGE TOPICS DRAMATICALLY.

I MEAN, I DON'T LIKE SHOULD I JUST BOUNCE AROUND OR.

MADAM. DR.

WHITE. YEAH. DR. WHITE YES.

I'M SORRY, MADAM CHAIR, AND I THINK MR. TURNER ALSO HAD HIS HAND UP.

I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK TO THE SLEP EVALUATION PIECE.

I THINK WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TWO DIFFERENT EVALUATION PIECES WITH THE SLEP RECOMMENDATION THAT WAS MORE AROUND EVALUATING THE FULL PROGRAM.

AND DR. HART'S EVALUATION TOOL IS A VERY DIFFERENT LENS AND APPROACH.

SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE KEEPING SEPARATE THE STAFF EVALUATION VERSUS THE RECOMMENDATION OF SLEP, AND THEN I'LL TURN IT OVER.

I BELIEVE MR. TURNER ALSO HAD SOME ADDITIONAL THINGS TO SHARE.

YES, I WAS JUST GOING TO GO INTO THE $600,000 THAT WAS ADDED FOR SECURITY SERVICES.

SO A PIECE OF THAT IS TURNING OUR EMPLOYEES FROM 7 HOURS TO 8 HOUR EMPLOYEES IS TO BE ABLE TO HIRE ADDITIONAL SSO'S TO STAFF OUR SCHOOLS AS WELL AS SECURITY EQUIPMENT.

SO IT'S MULTIPLE THINGS THAT THAT $600,000 IS TO DO GOING INTO NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. THAT'S SO TO SHIFT GEARS A LITTLE BIT, THERE IS AN INCREASE IN THE OPERATING BUDGET THIS YEAR IN THE AMOUNT OF RESERVE FTES.

AND JUST FOR REFERENCE, I'M ON QUESTION QUESTION 27.

UM, AND IT LOOKS LIKE EACH YEAR WE ARE INCREASING THE NUMBER OF RESERVE FTES IN THE BUDGET, BUT THERE'S BEEN SORT OF A DECREASE IN THE ACTUAL UTILIZATION OF THOSE POSITIONS.

AND I'M JUST CURIOUS, NOT NECESSARILY A CRITIQUE, JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND.

LAST YEAR THERE WAS A REAL DISCONNECT, WHICH IS PROBABLY RELATED TO HOW HARD IT IS TO HIRE RIGHT NOW.

AND I GET THAT. BUT I'M JUST CURIOUS WHAT'S DRIVING US TO GO FROM 20.1 TO 22.4 WHEN LAST YEAR'S UTILIZATION WAS WAS SO NOMINAL.

[00:30:05]

IF WE NEED A NEW TEACHER AND A NEW SCHOOL, OUR RESERVE POSITIONS ARE BROKEN UP INTO THREE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES.

GENOA, ADL AND SPED POSITIONS.

THESE POSITIONS ONLY GET USED IF WE SEE AN ENROLLMENT INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY ABOVE WHAT THE PROJECTION WAS GOING TO BE.

THERE'S NO FUNDING BEHIND THESE POSITIONS.

THE FUNDING FOR THESE POSITIONS IS PAID THROUGH ATTRITION SAVINGS, BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE THE COUNT TO AUTHORIZE FTE COUNT TO BE ABLE TO GET THAT BODY, SO TO SPEAK, INTO THE SCHOOL.

SO THIS IS ABOUT BUILDING POTENTIAL CAPACITY RATHER THAN CHANGING THE BOTTOM LINE FOR FY 24.

I'M SORRY. I COULDN'T HEAR YOU.

SORRY, I TRAILED OFF.

IT'S MORE JUST MY UNDERSTANDING OF HOW.

HOW THESE ARE ALLOCATED, THAT THIS IS REALLY JUST ABOUT EXPANDING POTENTIAL CAPACITY AND DOESN'T HAVE BOTTOM LINE IMPACTS.

THAT IS CORRECT.

THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT.

I'LL ASK ONE MORE AND THEN I'LL SORT OF CEDE THE FLOOR FOR A MOMENT.

UM, UH, VICE CHAIR GREENE ASKED A QUESTION ABOUT THE TRUANCY OFFICER POSITION, OR I FORGET HOW IT'S PHRASED, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS SHE ASKED THAT I DIDN'T ACTUALLY SEE IN THE ANSWER WAS LIKE THE JOB DESCRIPTION.

AND I ASK ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH DISCUSSION AT LIKE OUR CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES, COLLABORATIVE COMMISSION AND OTHER SOURCES ABOUT HOW PERFORMANCE OUTCOMES AND TESTING OUTCOMES AND GRADUATION OUTCOMES AND ALL THESE OUTCOMES REALLY JUST COME DOWN TO LIKE SHOWING UP OR I SHOULDN'T SAY COME DOWN TO, BUT OUR INITIATE WITH JUST SHOWING UP.

AND SO I WAS INTRIGUED BY THIS QUESTION AND DIDN'T SEE THE ACTUAL JOB DESCRIPTION.

SO I WAS JUST WONDERING IF SOMEBODY COULD SPEAK TO WHAT THE ROLE OF THAT POSITION IS AND IS IT A ROLE DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE KIDS TO SHOW UP OR IS IT PURELY A PUNITIVE ROLE DESIGNED TO DO WHATEVER IT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DON'T SHOW UP? SO I'LL TAKE THAT QUESTION, MADAM CHAIR, IF YOU DON'T MIND.

GO RIGHT AHEAD. SO, OF COURSE, OUR INTENT IS NEVER TO BE PUNITIVE WITH ANYTHING THAT WE DO IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.

THE GOAL IS REALLY TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS AND OUR FAMILIES ABOUT WAYS TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO FIND WAYS TO ENGAGE, COME TO SCHOOL AND COME TO SCHOOL ON TIME.

SO THAT JOB DESCRIPTION.

PLEASE UNDERSTAND. AND WHEN YOU'RE CREATING A JOB DESCRIPTION, IT'S AROUND THE GENERAL TASK AND ASSIGNMENTS.

BUT WHAT REALLY NEEDS TO HAPPEN IS, IS THAT WE'VE GOT TO BUILD A PROGRAM AROUND TRUANCY THAT'S REALLY GOING TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES AT LARGE.

SO WHILE THE TARGET IS TO REALLY GET STUDENTS IN SCHOOL, WE HOPE TO BUILD THAT POSITION OUT TO REALLY GIVE THEM THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO THOSE FAMILIES TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE HEALTHY WAYS TO ENGAGE WITH SCHOOL LEADERS AND SCHOOL TEACHERS SO THAT THEIR STUDENTS CAN ACHIEVE SOME ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT.

OKAY. YOU FIRST, DOCTOR.

QUIET. AND CAN I JUST FOLLOW UP? NO, I APPRECIATE THE ANSWER.

SO I THINK I HEARD ONE THING I GUESS I HEARD IS THAT THE POSITIONS AREN'T ACTUALLY FILLED AT THIS TIME.

AND SO WHO DO YOU ENVISION? I MEAN, IS THIS A SOCIAL WORKER? IS THIS, YOU KNOW, WHO IS THE PERSON THAT YOU PICTURE IN THIS ROLE? I GET WHY THE JOB DESCRIPTION MAY BE IN FLUX OR RESPONSIVE TO CONDITIONS, BUT.

WHO DO YOU. YES, WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF CREATING THAT JOB DESCRIPTION NOW.

I'M SORRY IF I'M OVER SPEAKING.

I'M FREEZING A LITTLE BIT, SO I APOLOGIZE.

MISS BAGLEY. YOU CAN GO AHEAD.

AND THAT'S FINE WAS IN ARTFULLY WRAPPING UP.

BUT YEAH, I MEAN THAT'S THAT'S JUST SOME INSIGHT INTO I APPRECIATE WHAT THE VISION IS LIKE HOLISTICALLY TO SUPPORT THE STUDENTS, BUT I WAS CURIOUS, LIKE PRACTICALLY WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? IS THIS A SOCIAL WORKER? IS THIS A TEACHER? IS THIS SOMEBODY WITH LANGUAGE FACILITY, THAT SORT OF THING.

YEAH. SO WE'RE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE AND WE'RE GOING TO BUILD THIS JOB DESCRIPTION.

OF COURSE, WE'RE STILL WORKING ON IT.

IT'S REALLY AROUND SOMEONE WHO HAS EXPERIENCE WITH TIERED SUPPORTS FOR OUR STUDENTS AND REALLY WHO HAS SOME BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE IN INTERVENTIONS.

SO THAT JOB DESCRIPTION WILL BUILD AROUND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

HOPEFULLY WE'LL FIND SOMEONE WHO HAS SOME EXPERIENCE IN TRUANCY WORK AND SOME SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS WITH FAMILIES TO GET STUDENTS ENGAGED OR REENGAGED IN SCHOOLING.

UM, YEAH, I CAN TELL YOU, LIKE HISTORICALLY, UM, IT'S ALWAYS, USUALLY HISTORICALLY BEEN LIKE, YOU KNOW, A COMBINATION OF LIKE SOCIAL WORKERS AT EACH SCHOOL TRYING TO DO THE FOLLOW UP AND, UM, I GUESS COORDINATING.

BUT I THINK THE PURPOSE REALLY IS TO FIND SOMEONE WHO WILL BE COMPLETELY DEDICATED TO ADDRESSING TRUANCY ISSUES

[00:35:02]

BECAUSE I THINK WHEN THEY ARE DIVIDED AMONGST DIFFERENT STAFF, THEN THE FOCUS DOES BECOME MORE TECHNICAL, RIGHT? YOU KNOW, YOU'VE BEEN ABSENT THREE TIMES, THAT KIND OF THING, AS OPPOSED TO DEVELOPING A HOLISTIC PROGRAM AROUND TRUANCY THAT DOES THAT HELP? ROOTING FOR THE FOR THE JOB DESCRIPTION AND FOR THE HIRING BECAUSE LIKE, I THINK IF DONE CORRECTLY, YOU KNOW, OR IF DONE WITH THESE INTENTIONS, SIMPLY GETTING THE STUDENTS INTO THE BUILDING IS GOING TO, YOU KNOW, BE A HUGE STEP FORWARD IN GETTING THEM EVERYTHING ELSE THEY NEED AND GETTING THEM ACCESS TO THE TEAM WELLNESS CENTER, GETTING THEM ACCESS TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT HAPPEN INSIDE THE BUILDING.

SO WE JUST HAVE TO WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO GET THEM THERE.

AND I GUESS I SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE YOU IN LOOKING FOR, LIKE YOU SAID, SOMEONE WHO'S GOING TO BRING THAT MINDSET TO THE ROLE.

THANK YOU. OKAY, I'M GOING TO GO.

MINUS TWO. BUT NO, GO AHEAD.

NO. SO HOW ABOUT I GO MS..

JACKSON? OKAY.

MR AGUIRRE. AND THEN IT'LL BE SO IT'LL BE MR AGUIRRE, THEN MISS JACKSON, AND THEN MR. MCPIKE. PLEASE. YEAH, IT'S JUST STRICTLY ON.

ON WHAT MISS BAGLEY WAS JUST TOUCHING ON.

I'M EXCITED TO SEE THAT THERE'S PROGRESS HERE BECAUSE THIS IS ONE OF THE PILLARS OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN EQUITY FOR ALL 2025.

THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR MANY YEARS THAT WE'VE KNOWN.

I WAS GOING TO TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WAS LISTED ON ONE OF THE SLIDES AND THAT I LIKE THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT PERFORMANCE OF BLACK YOUTH MALES.

WHAT WAS IT ON ONE OF THE SLIDES? AND AGAIN, WHICH IS ONE OF THE PILLARS IS THE TRUANCY RATE, ESPECIALLY WITH LATINO MALES.

UM, AND I THINK IT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE BUILD OUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WITH THAT.

AND I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT SOMETHING'S HAPPENING NOW.

I GUESS MY ONLY, MY ONLY CONCERN OR GRIPE IS THAT WE STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE.

AND WHEN WE'RE SAYING WE'RE GOING TO BUILD OUT A PROGRAM, WELL, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? AND I DON'T THINK WE HAVE THAT YET.

AND I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED IN THAT BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN YEARS.

AND SO I REALLY WANT TO HEAR MORE SPECIFICS ABOUT THE PROGRAM THAT'S BEING BUILT OUT.

AND IF WE DON'T HAVE IT NOW, THEN WHENEVER IT STARTS HAPPENING, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW.

ALL RIGHT. WHO? I'M SORRY, MISS JACKSON.

THANK YOU. SO TO BUILD ON THAT, I ALSO WANT TO ADD, I MEAN, I'VE BEEN UP AT BRADLEY SHOPPING CENTER PROBABLY 3 OR 4 DAYS IN A ROW NOW, AND IT'S THE SAME GROUP OF KIDS I KNOW MY WINDSHIELD WAS HIT WITH A SHOE THE OTHER DAY BY THIS GROUP OF KIDS.

BUT I ALSO WANT TO SAY, I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, NO LOITERING SIGNS UP AT BRADLEY.

SO I THINK THE TRUANCY OFFICER COULD ALSO WORK WITH, OF COURSE, APD TO HELP MEAN THE KIDS THAT NEED TO BE IN SCHOOL ARE THE ONES THAT ARE NOT IN SCHOOL.

RIGHT? I MEAN, THEY ALL NEED TO BE IN SCHOOL.

BUT I DO HAVE A CONCERN WHEN I'M SEEING THE SAME GROUP OF KIDS HANGING OUT AT FRESH MARKET EVERY DAY.

BUT THAT BEING SAID, IT'S NOT JUST THAT AGE GROUP.

TRUANCY IS FOR THE ENTIRE SYSTEM.

SO WE HAVE TO WORK ON ALSO THE PARENTS MAKING SURE THAT THE KIDS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ARE GETTING TO THE BUS STOP OR GETTING TO SCHOOL ON TIME BECAUSE ALSO IT IS IT IS, YOU KNOW, FAMILIES OF OF, YOU KNOW, FOUR, SIX, EIGHT PEOPLE.

AND EVERYONE HAS SO MANY ROUTINES AND SO MANY PLACES TO BE THAT I KNOW FAMILIES.

IT'S HARD TO LOSE TO LOSE SIGHT OF.

THAT BEING ON TIME MATTERS, RIGHT OR CLOSE TO IT.

SO BECAUSE WHEN THAT BELL RINGS, YOU SHOULD BE IN YOUR SEAT AND READY TO LEARN.

SO I.

I AGREE. YES.

THEY THEY NEED TO BE IN THEIR SEAT READY TO LEARN.

THE TEACHER AND ME. YES.

THAT SECOND BELL RINGS.

YOU BETTER BE IN THAT SEAT DOING YOUR WARM UP.

THAT'S IT. SO AND YOU KNOW THAT.

SO BUT AGAIN, YOU ALSO HAVE TO WORK WITH THE FAMILIES THAT ARE ARE CONSTANTLY LATE AND THEN BEING ABSENT BECAUSE THEY HAVE HAD TO DROP OFF FOR OTHER SIBLINGS OR THE SIBLINGS HAVE TO YOU I'M PREACHING TO THE CHOIR.

I WON'T. I WILL STOP.

BUT. I AM ANXIOUS ALSO TO SEE WHAT THIS TRUANCY PROGRAM LOOKS LIKE BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S NOT JUST FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.

IT'S FOR ALL THE STUDENTS.

AND IN TURN, THAT MEANS WORKING WITH THE FAMILIES EVEN MORE, NOT JUST WORKING WITH THE KIDS THAT HAVE HAD FREEDOM.

HONESTLY, FOR TWO AND A HALF YEARS BECAUSE OF COVID AND NO ONE REALLY WATCHING THEM AT HOME.

SO NOW THEY'RE BACK IN THE CLASSROOMS AND THEY DON'T WANT TO BE THERE.

SOME OF THEM. OKAY.

SO I HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS.

SPEAKING OF CLASSROOMS. WAIT ONE SECOND.

DOCTOR, WHY DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU WANTED TO SAY? NO, I THINK IT'S FINE.

I JUST WANTED TO QUICKLY STATE THAT WE ARE WORKING ON SOME TRUANCY PLANS.

[00:40:04]

IT'S A IT'S A SMALL GROUP OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS, APD AND CPS AROUND TRUANCY IN THE BRADLEY SHOPPING CENTER.

SO I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT THERE.

I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU.

I DO WANT TO SAY THERE WERE TWO THERE WERE TWO APD OFFICERS IN CRUISERS ALSO THERE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS ALLOWED AND WHAT ISN'T IN TERMS OF DID THEY BUY SOMETHING AT FRESH MARKET AND THEN THEY GET TO SIT IN THOSE SEATS AND SO THE COPS CAN'T COME UP AND SAY, I MEAN, I DON'T I'M NOT A POLICE OFFICER.

I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS GOES, BUT I KNOW THAT THERE'S THE SAME GROUP OF 7 TO 10 KIDS THERE THAT KEEP WANDERING AROUND LIKE THEY HAVE NOWHERE TO GO WHEN I KNOW THEY HAVE SOMEWHERE TO GO. AND IF I WERE DANA LORBER, I'D PICK THEM UP AND PUT THEM IN MY CAR AND TAKE THEM TO WHERE THEY NEED TO BE.

BUT I'M NOT. SO THERE YOU GO.

OKAY. SO TO MOVE ON, A COUPLE OF THINGS.

ONE, I KNOW AT THE RETREAT I ASKED ABOUT THIS CHART CONCERNING STUDENTS STUDENT TEACHER RATIO.

MY PAGES AREN'T NUMBERED, SO I HAVE TO.

SO MAINTAINING SMALL CLASS SIZES.

SO I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

IN LOOKING AT THIS ONE, IS THIS WHERE WE ARE NOW? WITH LIKE, SAY, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

15.3, ELEMENTARY 9.2.

YES, THAT IS CORRECT.

THAT IS USING THIS YEAR'S DATA.

THAT IS THIS YEAR'S DATA.

OKAY. SO WHEN I AM LOOKING AT THIS, I KNOW I HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS EVEN TODAY, THAT CLASS SIZES AT A FEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AROUND OUR JURISDICTION.

THERE IS NO THEY'RE NOT AT 15, THEY'RE NOT AT 25, THEY'RE AT 28, 29, 30 KIDS IN THEIR CLASSROOM.

THAT'S ELEMENTARY.

SO I ALSO UNDERSTAND BY LAW, IF YOU HAVE ABOUT SEVEN KIDS THAT ARE SPECIAL ED KIDS IN YOUR CLASS, SO IT MAY BE A SPECIAL ED TEACHER AND A GEN ED TEACHER IN YOUR CLASSROOM.

SO USUALLY SEVEN SEVEN STUDENTS ARE ABOUT WHAT A SPECIAL ED TEACHER IS ALLOWED TO HAVE WHEN COMBINED WITH A GEN ED TEACHER IN YOUR CLASSROOM.

IS THAT CORRECT? SO IF I'M LOOKING AT THIS AND I SEE, I GUESS I'M JUST THIS IS.

IT JUST DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THESE ARE THE RIGHT NUMBERS, THAT IF ANYBODY, YOU KNOW, LAYMAN TERMS THIS THIS IS NOT WHAT OUR PUBLIC MAY BE SEEING AS SUCH. THEY SEE THESE NUMBERS AND THEY'RE GOING TO SAY THERE IS NO WAY MY KID IS IN A CLASSROOM OF ONLY 15 KIDS.

WHICH BEGS THE QUESTION OF.

THE TEACHERS THAT WE HAVE.

THESE ARE THE NUMBERS THEY HAVE IN THE CLASSROOM.

OKAY. IT'S AN AVERAGE, SO.

RIGHT? THE MEDIAN. HEY, IT'S THE QUESTION.

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE ONES WHO HAVE THEIR KIDS IN THESE CLASSES, I TELL YOU WHAT, IT'S NOT A GOOD THING WHEN YOU HAVE 28 KIDS IN A CLASSROOM AND ONE TEACHER IS TRYING TO WRANGLE 2810 YEAR OLDS, IT DOESN'T WORK OR IT DOESN'T WORK WELL, UNLESS YOU'RE WATCHING LIKE SPONGEBOB MOVIES.

SO. I GUESS MY CONCERN IS WHEN I SAID THAT THIS CHART WASN'T WORKING WELL AT THE RETREAT AND NOW IT'S STILL THE SAME THING. YOU KNOW, I'M THE ONE WHO'S OUT THERE TRYING TO EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE WHAT EXACTLY IS HAPPENING IN YOUR CLASSROOM VERSUS WHAT THE SYSTEM THINKS IS HAPPENING.

SO THAT'S SO, YEAH.

SO WITH THIS CHART WE TRY TO HAVE AN APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISON OF OUR SCHOOL DIVISION VERSUS THE SURROUNDING SCHOOL DIVISIONS.

SO THERE'S A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF POSITIONS THAT ARE ALLOCATED INTO THAT TO GET TO THAT NUMBER.

SO YOU HAVE ALL OF THOSE POSITIONS DIVIDED BY THE TOTAL NUMBER OF STUDENTS AT THAT AT THAT GRADE LEVEL OF ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, HIGH SCHOOL TO COME UP WITH THOSE AVERAGES. WE DO IT THIS WAY TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE AN APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISON TO US VERSUS ALL OF THOSE OTHER JURISDICTIONS.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE THINK FOR ELEMENTARY, IT'S LIKE 15.3 OR SOMETHING AND THEN IT GOES DOWN.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT, UM, ALL OF THE EXTRA SUPPORTS, THAT'S AGAIN, AN APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISON OF US VERSUS ALL OF THE OTHER SCHOOL DIVISIONS THAT'S ADDING IN ALL OF THE EXTRA TEACHERS TO BE ABLE TO BRING THAT NUMBER LOWER THAN THE 15.

IF WE WERE TO SIMPLY LOOK AT THE HOMEROOM AND SAY WE HAVE AN AVERAGE OF 24 STUDENTS IN A HOMEROOM CLASS, OUR NUMBER WOULD NOT BE AN APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISON TO ALL OF THE OTHER JURISDICTIONS.

SO THE THE WAVEGUIDE, THE WASHINGTON AREA BOARDS OF EDUCATION HAS CREATED A WAY TO BE ABLE TO DO APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISON ACROSS THE NUMEROUS SCHOOL DIVISIONS SO PEOPLE CAN SEE WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE HERE IN ALEXANDRIA VERSUS WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE IN ARLINGTON, FAIRFAX FALLS CHURCH, ETCETERA.

[00:45:07]

I'LL MOVE ON. SO HOLD ON.

DR. RIEF, DID YOU WANT TO RESPOND AS WELL? THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THE QUESTION, MS..

JACKSON, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT CLASS SIZE IS SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN TALKING A LOT ABOUT.

AND IN ADDITION TO THE WEB GUIDE, WE ALSO DO THE MEMBERSHIP REPORT THAT COMES OUT.

AND SO I'M HAPPY TO EMAIL THAT TO YOU, WHICH BASICALLY HAS THE EXACT BREAKDOWN FOR EVERY SCHOOL.

SO YOU CAN CHECK THAT OUT IF YOU'D LIKE TO.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

MADAM CHAIR. YES, GO AHEAD, DOCTOR.

YES. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO RECOMMEND THAT THEY GO BACK.

WE DID DO A FULL PRESENTATION THAT WAS RECORDED THAT IF CITY COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT, EXPLAINING HOW WE COME UP WITH OUR CLASS SIZE NUMBERS.

AND SO THAT POWERPOINT PRESENTATION AS WELL AS THE VIDEO IS AVAILABLE, THAT MAY HELP BETTER EXPLAIN HOW WE LOOK AT OUR CLASS SIZES.

OKAY. IT.

YES, BUT IT'S STILL HIGH.

IT'S NOT THE NUMBERS ON HERE.

THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO, WHICH IS WHAT I'M SAYING.

NEW TEACHERS. UM, WHICH LEADS ME TO THE I.

SO WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, UH, WHEN YOU THE GROW A TEACHER PROGRAM TO IGNITE TEACHER PIPELINE AND ACPS WITH A FOCUS ON DIVERSITY.

UH, HOW MANY IS ACTUALLY TAKE US UP ON DOING THAT.

AND IS THERE A PROGRAM LIKE IN FAIRFAX COUNTY? THERE'S THE ACADEMY COURSE PROGRAM FOR TEACHERS TO CONTINUE THEIR CERTIFICATION.

DO WE HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THAT HERE IN ALEXANDRIA OR IS ABLE TO TAKE IT? ARE THEY GETTING FREE COLLEGE CREDITS? IF THEY WANT TO TAKE ANY COLLEGE COURSES THROUGH GEORGE MASON OR ANY OTHER COLLEGE AROUND HERE FOR THEIR CERTIFICATION AS WELL AS TO HELP THEM ESTABLISH THEIR THEIR TEACHER CERTIFICATION NOT JUST IS.

SO WE DO HAVE AN AI, A PROGRAM THAT SUPPORTS AIS GETTING INTO THE LICENSURE TRACK.

WE ALSO DO TUITION REIMBURSEMENT FOR PROFESSIONALS WHO WANT TO FURTHER THEIR CAREER.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE KEEPING SEPARATE THE AIA VERSUS THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO MIGHT NEED SUPPORT WITH ADDITIONAL CREDITS COMING OFF OF A PROVISIONAL LICENSE TO GET FULL LICENSURE IN VIRGINIA.

THOSE ARE TWO SEPARATE KIND OF TRACKS AND ITEMS TO DISCUSS.

SO AN AIA, WHICH IS OF COURSE, THE INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANT TRYING TO SEEK INITIAL LICENSURE VERSUS SOMEONE ON PROVISIONAL PROVISIONAL LICENSE WHO WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH TRYING TO GET FULL LICENSURE STATUS.

IN VIRGINIA, WE WORK WITH OUR HUMAN RESOURCES TO REALLY SUPPORT ALL OF OUR STAFF TO FURTHER THEIR EDUCATIONAL NEEDS THAT WOULD REALLY BENEFIT OUR STUDENTS. THANK YOU.

AND DO WE HAVE A BREAKDOWN OF HOW MANY OF THOSE INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANTS ARE WILLING TO CONTINUE ON TO GET THEIR TEACHER CERTIFICATION, NOT JUST BE PROVISIONAL, IF THAT'S WHAT THEY HAVE? WELL, I CAN GET THAT INFORMATION FOR YOU.

DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBERS OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, BUT WE CAN DEFINITELY GET THAT INFORMATION FOR YOU.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME.

ALL RIGHT, MR. MCPIKE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

MY IN THIS.

OKAY. I CAN'T TELL IF I'M USING THE MIC.

RIGHT. UM, SO I WANT TO SKIP TO A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT TOPIC.

I SAW THAT MR. NEWBY PUT IN A QUESTION REGARDING YOUR SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELORS, THAT YOU ALL HAVE TWO OF THEM THAT ARE FULL TIME.

THEY'VE HAD ABOUT 150 CASES SO FAR THIS SCHOOL YEAR, WHICH IS ON TRACK FOR LIKE 200 OR SO PROBABLY THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE SCHOOL YEAR.

AND YOUR YOUR NEW BUDGET ADDS A THIRD SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELOR, WHICH I THINK IS AN EXCELLENT ADDITION TO YOUR STAFF.

I'M CURIOUS, HOW DOES THIS PROGRAM WORK? ARE THEY BASED IN THE HIGH SCHOOL? DO THEY GO TO THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS? HOW IS THIS ORGANIZED? DR.. WHAT YOU WANT TO ANSWER? YES. I WAS LOOKING TO SEE IF WE HAD DOCTOR JACKSON ON.

SO THEY ARE BASED OUT OF CENTRAL OFFICE.

THEY DO GO OUT IN SERVICE.

ALL THE SCHOOLS THAT HAVE NEEDS, WE DO HAVE THEM GOING INTO PRIMARILY THE SECONDARY SCHOOLS WHERE WE DO SEE SUBSTANCE ABUSE.

AND SO THE THIRD ONE WOULD COMPLEMENT THAT PROGRAM.

THAT PROGRAM WORKS WITH INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS.

WE ARE WORKING ON A NEW PROGRAM WITH THE TWO THAT WE DO HAVE THAT WILL REALLY GET SOME MORE GROUP SUPPORT, HELP FOR THOSE STUDENTS.

BUT IT'S REALLY CONNECTING THEM, ALL OF THEM AT THE SECONDARY LEVEL AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ALSO CONNECT WITH THEIR FAMILIES TO PUT SOME SUPPORTS IN PLACE IN THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT AS WELL AS THE HOME ENVIRONMENT SO THAT THEY'RE SUCCESSFUL WITH THE CHALLENGES THEY'RE FACING.

SO HAVING A THIRD ONE REALLY BENEFITS WITH WHAT WE'RE SEEING AROUND SUBSTANCE ABUSE.

THAT'S GREAT. I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT YOU ALL ARE PUTTING INTO THIS.

HOW MUCH OF THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROBLEMS IN THE SCHOOLS WOULD YOU SAY IS FENTANYL OR OPIOID RELATED? I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK TO THE NUMBERS OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, BUT WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE.

[00:50:01]

WE KICKED OFF A PRETTY EARLY CAMPAIGN WHEN WE NOTICED THAT WE WERE SEEING EVIDENCE OF IT NOT ONLY IN SCHOOL BUT OUTSIDE IN THE COMMUNITY, HEARING ABOUT THE USE AND CONCERNS FROM OUR FAMILIES.

SO WE DID KIND OF KICK OFF OUR CAMPAIGN, REACHING OUT WITH A VIDEO MESSAGE TO OUR PARENTS AND A VIDEO MESSAGE TO OUR SECONDARY STUDENTS ABOUT SEEKING HELP AND CONNECTING WITH AN INDIVIDUAL. YOU KNOW, IF YOU SEE A FRIEND OR SOMEONE WHO'S STRUGGLING OR EVEN A FAMILY MEMBER.

SO I DON'T HAVE EXACT NUMBERS, BUT WE DID SEE A SLIGHT INCREASE.

BUT THAT IS NOT THE ONLY SUBSTANCE THAT WE'VE TAKEN NOTE OF THIS YEAR THAT'S BEING USED BY STUDENTS.

ABSOLUTELY. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH ON THAT TOPIC.

AND THEN ON A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT MATTER, OBVIOUSLY, THE CITY GOES INTO EFFECT ON JULY 1ST, PREVAILING WAGE ORDINANCE FOR ALL OF OUR CIP PROGRAMS AND BUILDINGS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

Y'ALL DO NOT HAVE SUCH A POLICY BE IN PLACE FOR YOUR PROJECTS.

AND I'M CURIOUS, HAS THE SCHOOL SYSTEM LOOKED INTO THE POSSIBILITY OF PREVAILING WAGE REQUIREMENTS FOR YOUR PROJECTS? SO I CAN JUMP IN AND ANSWER THAT BECAUSE WE HAD EXTENSIVE CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT DURING OUR CIP.

WAS THAT OUR CIP BUDGET DISCUSSION? YES. AND I THINK SORT OF WE CAME OUT WITH TWO THINGS.

I THINK IT'S OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING THAT BOARD THE BOARD IS INTERESTED IN.

AND I THINK WE SORT OF LANDED IN ON TWO THINGS.

ONE, PRIMARILY IN OUR JOINT REGULAR CITY SCHOOLS MEETINGS, WE WE'VE TALKED EXTENSIVELY ABOUT SORT OF WATCHING HOW YOU ALL MANEUVER WITH THESE THINGS SO THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT TOO FAR OFF FROM WHAT YOU WERE DOING, AS WELL AS, YOU KNOW, LEARNING FROM WHAT YOU WERE DOING.

SO THAT IS A PART OF IT, TOO.

WE ALSO HAVE TALKED ABOUT ONE OF THE THINGS IN OUR COMBINED FUNDS BUDGET IS WE ARE BRINGING ON OUR GOAL IS TO BRING ON OUR OWN COUNSEL, WHICH WE DO NOT HAVE TO SUPPORT US WITH THAT TYPE OF WORK BECAUSE IT'S.

VERY COMPLICATED AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE SOMEONE ON STAFF WHO CAN SUPPORT US SO THAT WE DON'T MAKE ANY HUGE. WE DON'T HAVE ANY HUGE PITFALLS OR MISTAKES.

SO THOSE ARE SORT OF THE TWO THINGS, I THINK.

SO IN TERMS OF THAT DISCUSSION AROUND PREVAILING WAGE AGREEMENTS, AND I THINK OUR FIRST STEP IS BRINGING ON OUR COUNSEL TO GET US. GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

AND WE ARE, OF COURSE, MOVING AHEAD OF YOU ALL.

SO YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THE DEGREE TO WHICH IT DOES OR DOES NOT IMPACT THE COST OF OUR OWN PROJECTS OVER ON THE CITY SIDE, WHICH I THINK WILL ADDRESS SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU ALL MIGHT HAVE. BUT. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ALL RIGHT. IS IT AROUND THAT QUESTION OR BECAUSE YOU'RE ON MY LIST.

YOU'RE ON MY LIST, BUT I HAVE TO GO.

ALL RIGHT. EVERYBODY LISTENING.

I HAVE TO GO TO MAYOR WILSON FIRST AND MR. CHAPMAN AND THEN MS..

GASKIN. OKAY.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

I GUESS A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

I'LL START EASY AND GO A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT.

SO REMEMBER, WE HAD SOME DISCUSSION AT CITY SCHOOLS AND MAYBE SOMEONE CAN REMIND ME AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WE'VE WE'VE HAD AND I KNOW THE PANDEMIC HAS IMPACTED THIS, BUT WE'VE HAD KIND OF A DOWNWARD TREND IN THE FARM RATE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.

AND I REMEMBER I BELIEVE THERE WAS A PARTIAL ADMINISTRATIVE EXPLANATION THAT I HEARD AROUND KIND OF HOW PAPERWORK WAS SUBMITTED.

AND THE TIMING OF THAT.

IS THAT IS THAT LEVELING OUT? DO WE FEEL LIKE THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE? DO WE FEEL LIKE THIS TRAJECTORY IS A IS A IS A SUSTAINING ONE GUESS CAN SOMEONE GIVE ME SOME INSIGHT THERE? I WILL JUMP IN AND DO MY BEST.

SO I THINK THAT THE PANDEMIC DEFINITELY HAD AN IMPACT ON THE FARM RATES.

AND I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT OUR TEAM HAS BEEN COGNIZANT OF AND WORKING WITH COMMUNICATIONS AND BUILDING PRINCIPALS AS WELL IS HOW DO WE HOW DO WE IMPROVE OUR AVAILABILITY TO BE ABLE TO PUSH THIS OUT TO FAMILIES THAT WE KNOW PROBABLY WOULD QUALIFY AND WOULD PROBABLY BENEFIT FROM THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM? SO THAT IS ONE THING THAT WE HAVE BEEN FOCUSED ON.

UM, I THINK THERE MIGHT END UP BEING A SLIGHT UPTICK, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF WE'LL EVER GET BACK TO THE 60 PLUS PERCENT WHERE WE WERE A FEW YEARS AGO, REALLY PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC.

SO IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF OUR EFFORTS THIS YEAR I'M KICKING OFF THAT PROGRAM, REALLY DO HELP IN TERMS OF INCREASING IT.

BUT I CAN'T SAY RIGHT NOW WITH ANY LEVEL OF CERTAINTY THAT WE'LL GET BACK TO LIKE THE PRE-PANDEMIC LEVEL.

I THINK WE WERE ABOUT 65% AT THAT TIME.

SO IS IT OUR BELIEF THAT KIDS ARE STILL THERE, THEY'RE JUST NOT APPLYING?

[00:55:02]

SOME OF THE FEEDBACK THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED IS THAT SOME OF OUR IMMIGRANT FAMILIES MAY HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT PAPERWORK WILL BE USED TO THREATEN THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS.

AND SO THAT IS SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN WORKING AGAIN WITH PRINCIPALS AND WITH STAFF TO REALLY MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE GETTING OUT THE MESSAGE THAT WE DON'T UTILIZE THE PAPERWORK FOR FOR THAT PURPOSE, THAT, YOU KNOW, IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IMMIGRATION STATUS.

WE REALLY ARE FOCUSING ON JUST MAKING SURE YOU GET THIS BENEFIT.

SO THAT IS SOME OF THE THAT IS SOME OF THE FEEDBACK THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED IN TERMS OF THERE MAY BE SOME HESITANCY OF FAMILIES FILLING OUT THE NECESSARY PAPERWORK.

I APPRECIATE THAT. THAT'S HELPFUL.

AND SORRY, I WAS JUST GOING TO ADD ALSO AND DR.

HART, YOU CAN CORRECT ME THAT SOME OF THE SOME OF THE WORK THAT THE SCHOOL NUTRITION TEAM HAS DONE IN PROVIDING FREE MEALS FOR ALL STUDENTS WHO NEED IT, AS WELL AS FREE MEALS IN CERTAIN SCHOOLS WHERE WE HAVE WE'VE HISTORICALLY HAD HIGH FARM RATES MAY HAVE DETERRED FAMILIES FROM ACTUALLY APPLYING THROUGH THE FARM PROCESS BECAUSE THEY DON'T NEED TO TO TO GET THOSE MEALS AT OUR SCHOOLS.

SO THAT'S JUST ANOTHER REASON.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. THANK YOU, MS..

GULICK. YOU KNOW, A COUPLE OF MY COLLEAGUES ALREADY REFERENCED THE Q&A, WHICH I AGREE WAS VERY HELPFUL, AND I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO READ IT.

AND IT SOUNDS LIKE EVERYONE DID, WHICH IS GREAT.

EVERYONE DID THEIR HOMEWORK. A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

I THINK PROBABLY HALF THE QUESTIONS IN THERE WERE AROUND KIND OF HEADCOUNT AND STAFFING AND IN SOME OF THE CHALLENGES, I GUESS, CAN YOU GUYS GIVE US A LITTLE BIT MORE OF COLOR ON YOU KNOW, CLEARLY WE'RE DEALING WITH A LOT OF VACANCIES ACROSS THE THE SYSTEM.

AND WE'RE NOT ALONE. YOU KNOW, EVERY EVERY SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE REGION IS DEALING WITH SOME OF THE SAME FACTORS.

YOU GUYS ARE ADDING POSITIONS CERTAINLY THIS YEAR FOR GOOD, FOR GOOD REASON.

I GUESS. WHAT IS OUR CONFIDENCE LEVEL AROUND? ARE WE ARE WE JUST DRIVING UP OUR VACANCY FACTOR OR DO WE BELIEVE WE WILL TURN THE CORNER AND BE ABLE TO FILL SOME OF THESE POSITIONS? I'M GOING TO SAY WE ARE VERY HOPEFUL AS WE ALWAYS START OUR BEGINNING OF THE YEAR AND WANT TO FILL THOSE VACANCIES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MEETING OUR STUDENTS NEEDS AND OUR BUILDING LEVEL NEEDS.

SO I THINK WITH OUR ENHANCED RECRUITMENT EFFORTS AND WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING WITH OUR SALARY ENHANCEMENTS, THAT WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN FILL THOSE VACANCIES. WE DO REALIZE THERE'S A SHORTAGE ACROSS THE NATION, BUT I WANT TO REMAIN HOPEFUL THAT WE ARE REALLY RECRUITING WELL AND RECRUITING PEOPLE TO COME WORK IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.

I THINK IT'S REALLY ABOUT BUILDING A BETTER BRAND OF TEACHERS.

WE'RE REALLY HIGHLIGHTING THE GREAT WORKS THAT WE HAVE IN CPS.

WE'RE HIGHLIGHTING OUR PARTNERSHIPS AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT WE HAVE TO OFFER.

SO WE'RE VERY HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN FILL MOST OF THOSE POSITIONS.

AND YOU ALL, OF COURSE, CAN HELP US WITH THAT WITH THESE BUDGET ENHANCEMENTS AND REALLY GETTING THE WORD OUT TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO COME AND LIVE IN ALEXANDRIA AND IT'S THE BEST PLACE TO WORK.

I THOUGHT YOU WERE ASKING US TO APPLY.

NO. YOU CAN ALSO APPLY.

MAYOR, WE DO HAVE A POSITION FOR YOU, IF YOU LIKE.

I'M GOING TO BE SERVING BREAKFAST TOMORROW MORNING AT ONE OF YOUR SCHOOLS.

SO I UNDERSTAND.

I THINK THERE'S A SCHOOL NUTRITION VACANCY IF YOU'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IT.

IT'S KIND OF EARLY, THOUGH. 730.

IT'S EARLY. ALL RIGHT.

UM, I GUESS LET ME LET ME CLOSE WITH PERHAPS THE MORE THE THE MORE DIFFICULT QUESTIONS AND PROBABLY A LITTLE KIND OF A LITTLE EDGY AND PROVOCATIVE HERE.

UM, SO, SO IT'S IT'S, IT'S IT'S FY 24, WHICH, WHICH MEANS ON THE CIP SIDE, WE ARE KICKING OFF ANOTHER PROJECT, A BIG MODERNIZATION PROJECT.

AND LET ME ASK A SIMPLE, I THINK, QUESTION AND THEN A MORE COMPLICATED QUESTION.

SO TO DO BOTH THE MODERNIZATION PROJECTS REQUIRE SWING SPACE AND WE HAVE THE SWING SPACE ACQUIRED, BUT WE HAVE TO BUILD OUT THE SWING SPACE.

WE HAVE MONEY TO TO DO THAT.

I GUESS TALK TO ME ABOUT THE SEQUENCING AND TIMING OF THE SPEND GIVEN THE BUILD OUT THAT'S REQUIRED BECAUSE I'M MINDFUL OF HOW THE THE EXTENDED TIMELINE IT TOOK TO BUILD OUT FERNANDA IN THE FIRST PLACE.

AND JUST KIND OF THINKING ABOUT THE TIMELINE OF WHAT WE HAVE TO DO AT 1703 AND HOW IT RELATES TO WHEN WHEN THE SIGNIFICANT MONEY WOULD BE SPENT ON GEORGE MASON.

THANK YOU. SO I WILL ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

SO AND JUST GOING BACK TO FERDINAND DE, WHAT TOOK THE BULK OF TIME ON FERDINAND DE DAY WAS REALLY GETTING THROUGH THE DESIGN PROCESS, THE PERMITTING PROCESS, UNDERSTANDING HOW ARE WE APPROACHING THIS THE FIRST TIME WE'RE DOING IT IN THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA? WE'VE DONE THAT. WE HAVE THOSE LESSONS LEARNED.

WE KNOW THE PROCESS AND I'VE ALREADY ENGAGED YOUR TEAM, THE CITY TEAM ON 1703 NORTH BEAUREGARD WHEN IT CAME TO BUILDOUT

[01:00:07]

AND SO IT IS QUICK WHEN WHEN WE'RE ABLE TO DO A RENOVATION AND ESPECIALLY GIVEN THAT THIS IS KIND OF AN INTERIM USE AND WE KNOW WE'LL STILL HAVE TENANTS THERE AND THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT HAVE TO BE MAINTAINED ON THE SITE.

SO REGARDING TIMELINE FOR 1703, WE ALREADY HAVE AN ARCHITECT ON BOARD WHO HAS STARTED DESIGN AND THEY'RE WRAPPING UP CONCEPTS AND PREPARED TO MOVE FORWARD. WE WILL BE BRINGING ON A CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK HOPEFULLY WITHIN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

WE ANTICIPATE THE DESIGN TIMELINE TO BE ABOUT A YEAR AND THEN THE RENOVATION TO BE ABOUT A YEAR AS WELL.

WE'VE REQUESTED THE DESIGN FUNDS TO START GEORGE MASON, THE GEORGE MASON DESIGN IN FY 2024, THIS UPCOMING YEAR.

FY 2024.

AND IN GENERAL, WE'RE APPROACHING THESE PROJECTS AS DESIGN AS TWO YEARS.

CONSTRUCTION IS TWO YEARS AND HOPING THAT WE CAN WE CAN CREATE WE CAN HOPEFULLY START CONSTRUCTION A LITTLE BIT EARLIER AND WRAP UP DESIGN A LITTLE BIT EARLIER AS WELL.

AND SO WHAT'S IN THE BUDGET IS WHAT WE CALL DESIGN MONEY, BUT REALLY IT'S JUST A PORTION OF THE TOTAL PROJECT COSTS IN FY 2024 TO GET US STARTED TO BRING ON THE DESIGN, TO BRING ON THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK, BRING ON THIRD PARTY PROJECT, EVERYBODY, WE NEED TO GET THE PROJECT STARTED AND THEN THE BULK OF THE FUNDING IS IN FY 2025.

WE'VE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH OMB AND YOUR TEAM ON CASH FLOW PROJECTIONS FOR OUR PROJECTS, SO THAT SIMILAR, I BELIEVE CITY MANAGER REFERENCED BEFORE THAT A LOT OF THE FUNDING FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL PROJECT WILL BE IN FY 2025, EVEN THOUGH WE KNOW YOU ALL APPROVE THAT BUDGET IN FY 2023, THAT THAT'S ALREADY A FUNDED PROJECT FROM OUR END.

AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE CITY, WITH CITY STAFF ON DOING THOSE CASH FLOW PROJECTIONS SO THAT WE'RE NOT ACTUALLY BONDING FOR THINGS EARLIER THAN WE NEED TO.

WE DO NEED THE MONEY UP FRONT FOR THE CONTRACT, THOUGH, AND THAT'S JUST PUBLIC PROCUREMENT.

AND WE'VE WE'VE CAN'T GET AROUND THAT.

SO HOPEFULLY THAT EXPLAINS THE TIMELINE.

YEAH. NO, THAT THAT THAT HELPS AS FAR AS THE SWING SPACE IS CONCERNED.

LET ME LET ME ASK A I'M GOING TO HEAVILY CAVEAT THIS QUESTION BEFORE I ASK IT.

SO ADOPTING THE BUDGET OBVIOUSLY IS MAKING A NORTH OF $100 MILLION DECISION AROUND GEORGE MASON ESSENTIALLY MOVING MOVING AHEAD WITH THIS PROJECT.

AND I HAVE BEEN THE I'VE BEEN VERY OUTSPOKEN ON THE FACT THAT WE NEED TO REMAIN TRUE TO THE THE CIP AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND NOT MAKE DRAMATIC CHANGES. BUT I FEEL LIKE I WANT TO I WANT TO STRESS TEST OUR PLAN FOR A SECOND AND JUST MAKE SURE AND CHALLENGE THE THINKING A LITTLE BIT HERE.

SO WE NEED TO RENOVATE GEORGE MASON.

WE NEED TO DEAL WITH GEORGE MASON.

I ALSO KNOW THAT THE LAST FEW YEARS IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF WHAT THE FUTURE LOOKS LIKE, BUT I ALSO LOOK AT ENROLLMENT AND I SEE THAT GEORGE MASON HAS THE THE BIGGEST DROP IN THE SYSTEM OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, THE LARGEST EVERY NEIGHBORING CATCHMENT ZONE AROUND THAT SCHOOL HAS DROPPED.

SO THERE'S NO THERE'S NOT A WAY YOU REDISTRICT CAPACITY INTO THAT SCHOOL.

SO I GUESS THE QUESTION I WOULD ASK IS AT THIS POINT IN FY 24, IS THIS STILL OUR NUMBER ONE CAPITAL NEED FOR RENOVATION? SO THERE ARE THREE.

SORRY, DR.. OKAY.

SO JUST THAT THERE ARE THREE.

THREE COMPONENTS THAT GO INTO DECIDING WHAT PROJECTS WE ARE GOING TO PURSUE FOR MODERNIZATION.

SO ONE IS ABSOLUTELY CAPACITY.

WE KNOW GEORGE MASON USED TO BE IN A MUCH DIFFERENT PLACE PRIOR PRE REDISTRICTING.

UM, THE THE SECOND IS THE PRE REDISTRICT PRE COVID AS WELL BUT YEAH PRE COVID, YES.

UM THE SECOND BEING THE CONDITION OF THE FACILITY.

UH, HAS IT BEEN MAINTAINED? HAVE WE, HAVE WE UPDATED THAT FACILITY? ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT GEORGE MASON, KNOWING THAT IT WAS COMING ON SOON, WE'VE DONE MINIMAL ROOF WORK THERE.

WE'VE DONE NO HVAC WORK.

IF WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO EXTEND THE LIFE OF THAT BUILDING, THOSE ARE PROJECTS THAT NEED TO GET ADDED INTO THIS CAP.

UM, AND, AND LASTLY, JUST HOW IS IT PERFORMING? WHAT'S THE EDUCATIONAL ADEQUACY OF THE BUILDING? WHAT'S IT DOING? UM, OUR CLASSROOMS ORIENTED THE RIGHT WAY.

ARE THEY THE RIGHT SIZE? DO THEY HAVE THE RIGHT LIGHTING? ARE YOU PROVIDING THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT THAT WE WANT TO.

AND SO FROM FROM THOSE THREE ASPECTS AND WHILE SOME OF THE THE NEIGHBORING BOUNDARIES HAVE GONE DOWN, MOUNT VERNON IS STILL CLOSE TO A 900 STUDENT SCHOOL.

CHARLES BARRETT HAS GONE UP BECAUSE THEY TOOK ON A LOT OF THE GEORGE MASON THAT WAS THAT WAS REZONED CORE.

KELLY HAS GONE DOWN, JEFFERSON HOUSTON HAS GONE DOWN.

AND NAOMI BROOKS HAS STAYED ABOUT THE SAME OR GONE DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

YEAH. SO BUT WE DO LOOK AT OUR ELEMENTARY CAPACITY AS A WHOLE.

AND IF WE ARE GOING TO MODERNIZE A FACILITY, WE'RE GOING TO ADD CAPACITY TO IT AND REALLY TRYING TO GET ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS.

I THINK THERE'S A THERE'S AN APPROACH FROM FROM OUR TEACHING LEARNING AND LEADERSHIP TEAM TO REALLY GET ALL OF OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS ON THE SAME PAGE.

[01:05:07]

HOW DO WE HOW DO WE CREATE KIND OF A STREAMLINED OR A STANDARD FOR OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS BEING AT ABOUT 600 TO 700? SO THAT IS WHY GEORGE MASON REMAINS IN THE BUDGET.

IT IS A NEED FROM A FACILITY PERSPECTIVE, AND WE'LL CERTAINLY USE THAT CAPACITY THROUGH A THROUGH A REZONING EFFORT ONCE IT COMES ONLINE.

I APPRECIATE THAT ANSWER.

I. YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WE CAN'T IN THE EVEN BEFORE THIS YEAR, WE CAN'T MEET ALL THE NEED.

THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.

AND SO WE HAVE TO TRIAGE AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SPENDING OUR RESOURCES ON ON THE MOST IMPORTANT.

AND, OF COURSE, AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ONLY 5 OR 6 YEARS AGO OR SEVEN YEARS AGO WAS 50 MILLION, AND NOW IT'S 100 MILLION.

RIGHT. AND SO IT IS A IT IS A MUCH BIGGER DECISION AND IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO GROW.

AND SO I JUST I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT AS WE LOOK AT ALL THE NEEDS AND LOOK AT THE ENROLLMENT CHALLENGES WE HAVE ACROSS THE SYSTEM, THAT THAT THIS REMAINS THE THE HIGHEST PRIORITY AND BEST ENABLES US TO, LIKE YOU SAID, ADD CAPACITY IN THE SYSTEM IN A WAY THAT IT'S GOING TO BE QUICKLY UTILIZED.

AND SO I THINK BECAUSE I AGREE WITH YOU, WE NEED WE NEED OVERALL CAPACITY IN THE SYSTEM.

WE DEFINITELY DO. AND CERTAINLY AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL.

NOW, I WOULD SAY WE ALSO NEED IT AT THE SECONDARY LEVEL, WHICH IS A DIFFERENT CONVERSATION.

AND WE HAVE NOTHING IN THE TEN YEARS NEXT TEN YEARS TO DEAL WITH THAT EXCEPT FOR POTENTIALLY K EIGHT.

BUT SO I, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS THAT IS STILL WHERE WE'RE AT GIVEN THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE IN THE NEXT DECADE. THAT'S IT FOR ME FOR NOW.

ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT, I SAID, MR. CHAPMAN. AND THEN MS..

GASKINS. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

KIND OF GOING BACK TO I THINK I'M GOING TO ASK SOME.

KIND OF, I THINK, QUESTIONS AROUND KIND OF LONG TERM SUSTAINABILITY IN A WAY.

THE FIRST QUESTION I HAVE GOES BACK TO THE CHART WE HAD AROUND THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF FUNDING AND WHERE YOU GET YOUR REVENUE.

AND I'D LIKE TO KIND OF UNDERSTAND.

YOU KNOW, LOCAL REVENUE IS A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE, STATE REVENUE IS A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE AS IT RELATES TO FEDERAL OR EVEN EVEN THE OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDS ARE THERE. IS THERE ROOM TO GROW THERE? AND I DON'T MEAN THAT JUST KIND OF CASUALLY SPEAKING, BUT, YOU KNOW, ARE THERE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO OR PUT IN PLACE WHERE WE CAN HAVE SOME FOCUS AROUND GROWING THOSE POTS OF MONEY OR THOSE PERCENTAGES? YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, THE CITY JUST SIGNED ON SOME FEDERAL LOBBYISTS.

YOU KNOW, HOW CAN WE MAKE USE OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO KIND OF GO AFTER SPECIFIC EDUCATIONAL DOLLARS, WHETHER IT'S CAPITAL, WHETHER IT'S CERTAIN PROGRAMMATIC AREAS? YOU KNOW, DO FOLKS IN ACPS FEEL THAT THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY THERE IF WE, YOU KNOW, PULL SOME LEVERS THERE TO GET ADDITIONAL FEDERAL FUNDING OR KIND OF PUSH UP THAT THAT REGULAR PERCENTAGE? I GUESS THE SAME THING WITH GRANTS AND OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING AS WELL.

SURE. YEAH. SO THERE'S A COUPLE OF WAYS FOR US TO PULL AT DIFFERENT LEVERS TO TRY TO INCREASE, WHETHER IT'S LOCAL, STATE OR FEDERAL FUNDING OR GRANTS.

SO I'M JUST I JUST WANT TO BE VERY SPECIFIC.

I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT LOCAL.

I'M TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT STATE.

I MEAN, WE'VE GOT OUR ISSUES AT THE STATE LEVEL, BUT I'M TALKING ABOUT KIND OF THE FEDERAL PIECE OR THE OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING.

OKAY. SO. SO WHEN I WAS THINKING LOCAL, I WASN'T THINKING CITY OF ALEXANDRIA WAS MORE THINKING OF THE LOCAL THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD CONTROLS, SUCH AS TUITION FEES, BUILDING RENTALS AND SO FORTH.

SO THOSE ARE ALWAYS LEVERS THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD CAN PULL.

THAT'S A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF OUR BUDGET.

AS FAR AS FEDERAL.

WE HAVE A GRANTS OFFICE THAT GOES AFTER SEVERAL DIFFERENT GRANTS.

THEY'VE BEEN DOING A MARVELOUS JOB OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY AND WIN THE MAJORITY OF THE GRANTS THAT WE HAVE BEEN APPLYING FOR.

UM, YOU KNOW, AND THIS IS OUTSIDE OF OUR ENTITLEMENT GRANT, SO TITLE ONE, TITLE TWO AND SO FORTH.

UM, WE'VE ALSO I KNOW YOU SAID YOU DIDN'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT STATE, BUT WE'VE ALSO BEEN GOING AFTER DIFFERENT STATE REVENUE SOURCES AS WELL.

FOR INSTANCE, THE REGIONAL SPED PROGRAM THAT WE JUST GOT IN A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WHERE WE PARTICIPATE WITH SEVERAL OTHER SCHOOL DIVISIONS HERE.

IT ADDED ABOUT A LITTLE MORE THAN $600,000 TO OUR STATE FUNDING ONCE WE BECAME A PART OF THAT SPED REGIONAL PROGRAM FOR THAT AS WELL.

SO THERE'S SEVERAL THINGS THAT WE DO GO AFTER WHEN IT COMES TO FEDERAL DOLLARS.

[01:10:02]

UM, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T GET TOO MUCH MONEY IN, UM, IN OUR OPERATING BUDGET FOR, FOR FEDERAL DOLLARS, UM, IS MAINLY RELATED TO OUR JROTC PROGRAM AND SO FORTH THERE.

UM, SO IT'S REALLY JUST AGAIN, LEANING ON OUR GRANTS OFFICE, IDENTIFYING THE GRANTS AND THEN BEING ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER COMPETITIVE PACKAGES TO BE ABLE TO WIN THOSE GRANT GRANTS AND HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO TO KURT HUFFMAN AND DR.

GREG TARDO THERE BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN DOING A WONDERFUL JOB OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, UM, GETTING THOSE FOR US.

THANK YOU. THE NEXT QUESTION I HAVE KIND OF RELATES TO THE CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE WITH WITH DASH IN TERMS OF FREE FARES AND NUMBER OF STUDENTS KIND OF RIDING BUSSES.

HAVE WE SEEN A KIND OF A REAL IMPACT ON THE NEED FOR BUS DRIVERS OR THE AMOUNT OF CHILDREN TAKING TRANSPORTATION TO THE POINT WHERE, YOU KNOW, THERE CAN BE SOME MOVEMENT OR, YOU KNOW, IT EASES EVEN SLIGHTLY THE KIND OF NEED FOR BUS DRIVERS.

NO, NOT. NOT ON OUR END.

NOT FROM THE SECONDARY LEVEL.

I WOULDN'T SAY WE'VE SEEN ANY SUBSTANTIAL DECLINE RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF THE NEED FOR EITHER BUSSES OR DRIVERS AS IT RELATES TO WHAT DASH NOW OFFERS TO OUR STUDENTS. OKAY.

THANK YOU. UM, I THINK IT WAS MENTIONED ALREADY KIND OF BY THE MAYOR, BUT KIND OF CAN SOMEBODY TALK TO ME ABOUT KIND OF WHAT IS THE AND I THINK WE DISCUSSED THIS MAYBE LAST YEAR OR MAYBE IN OCTOBER, KIND OF THE VISION FOR K-8.

I KNOW THAT WAS KIND OF A HOT TOPIC AND I THINK STAFF IS GOING TO STAFF AND THE BOARD WERE GOING TO KIND OF MAKE SOME MOVEMENTS ON THAT.

HAVE HAVE THOSE MOVEMENTS HAPPENED? I HAVEN'T FOLLOWED ALL THE THE MEETINGS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, ARE WE AT A PLACE YET TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AROUND WHAT THE IMPACT TO SIP WILL BE? AND IF NOT, KIND OF WHAT'S THE TIMELINE ON THAT? WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO RESPOND, DR.

WYATT? SURE.

AND I CAN ADD.

I'M SORRY. GO AHEAD.

OKAY. SO, MR. CHATMAN, WITH THE TEAM AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON IS A SCOPE OF WORK IN TERMS OF WHAT AN ANALYSIS MAY LOOK LIKE.

RIGHT NOW WE ARE REVIEWING IT AT THE CHIEF LEVEL AND ALSO WITH THE INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT.

AND ONCE WE HAVE THAT FINALIZED, OUR NEXT STEP WOULD THEN BE TO BRING IT TO THE BOARD FOR DISCUSSION AND FOR THEIR NEXT STEPS IN TERMS OF WHERE WE MOVE THE ANALYSIS.

SO IT IS ACTIVELY IN PROCESS.

WE ARE ACTIVELY WORKING ON THAT, BUT REALLY WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE CAPTURING NOT JUST FROM A FACILITIES PERSPECTIVE BUT ALSO FROM A PROGRAMMATIC PERSPECTIVE AND MAKING SURE THAT IT'S REALLY COMPREHENSIVE AND HOLISTIC, BECAUSE I THINK SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT WE DON'T WANT TO SOLELY APPROACH IT JUST FROM A FACILITY NEED STANDPOINT, BUT REALLY A PROGRAMMATIC STANDPOINT AS WELL.

SO OUR TEAMS ARE WORKING ON THAT.

ALSO WORKING WITH DR. WYATT AND I WOULD ASSUME PROBABLY WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS IT WOULD BE COMING TO THE BOARD FOR FOR THEIR REVIEW, FOR THEIR REVIEW.

NOT TO ACTUALLY WE DOESN'T MEAN WE AUTOMATICALLY LAUNCH IT, BUT FROM THERE IT WOULD GO INTO THE ACTUAL ANALYSIS PIECE.

AND SO MAYBE, MAYBE EMILY OR CITY MANAGER CAN SPEAK TO THIS.

SO. AND I GUESS LET ME ASK THIS QUESTION IN TERMS OF WHAT I WANT TO KIND OF HEAR FROM CITY STAFF, YOU KNOW, GOING BACK TO KIND OF WHAT'S.

APPRECIATE THE PROCESS.

BUT KIND OF WHAT'S THE TIMELINE? BECAUSE I WANT TO UNDERSTAND AND I WANT TO ASK CITY STAFF, GIVEN WHATEVER YOUR TIMELINE IS, WHEN DO WE PLUG THIS IN ON THE CITY SIDE IN TERMS OF WHAT WE SEE AT THE SECONDARY LEVEL AND WHEN WE'RE MAKING KIND OF REAL GAINS? TO THE MAYOR'S POINT, YOU KNOW, WHEN DO WE NEED TO STICK SOMETHING IN, YOU KNOW, THE NEXT TEN YEARS OR OR PUSH IT OUT PAST THAT? I REALLY THINK WE NEED TO WAIT UNTIL WE COMPLETE THE SCOPE OF THE WORK TO SEE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, BUT I DO NOT SEE IT WITHIN PROBABLY A MINIMUM OF SIX MONTHS OUT, AND THAT'S JUST AN ESTIMATE OF TIME.

I THINK OUR TEAM NEEDS THAT ADDITIONAL TIME OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS TO LAY OUT WHAT THAT SCOPE IS.

AND OF COURSE I WILL DEFINITELY COMMUNICATE AND SHARE THAT WITH OUR CITY MANAGER, MR. PARAJON, AND OUR BIWEEKLY MEETINGS.

YEAH, I DO APPRECIATE THAT.

I WOULD JUST KIND OF I'M SORRY.

I DO APPRECIATE THAT ANSWER, BUT I WOULD JUST PUT A EXTRA EMPHASIS ON KIND OF THE NEED TO MAYBE BY THE NEXT BUDGET CYCLE, BE ABLE TO HAVE SOME REAL UNDERSTANDING ON HOW WE NEED TO SHIFT OUR CIP TO ACCOUNT FOR THAT.

BECAUSE I THINK THE MAYOR DID, YOU KNOW, PICK UP ON A GLARING MISSING PIECE OF OUR CIP.

AND SO REALLY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE NEED TO GET TO A POINT WITH THIS AND I APPRECIATE THE THE, THE ROBUST LOOK AT THIS POTENTIAL CHANGE.

[01:15:01]

YEAH. THANK YOU FOR THAT, MR. CHAPMAN. WE DO SEE THAT AS A PRIORITY, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE, LIKE DR.

HART SAID, THAT WE ARE REALLY DOING OUR DUE DILIGENCE FROM NOT JUST THE FACILITY SIDE, BUT FROM THE INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMING SIDE.

AND SO THAT IS WHAT'S GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE A STEP BACK AND TAKE OUR TIME THROUGH THIS PROCESS.

BUT WE DO HAVE THAT AS A PRIORITY FOR OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM AS OUR SCOPE OF WORK MOVING FORWARD.

THANK YOU. IF I COULD JUST ADD A LITTLE BIT, BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS A GOOD POINT TO CONTINUE TO EMPHASIZE.

THE TYPES OF DYNAMICS WITH OUR SHIP AND THINKING ABOUT PROGRAMMATIC ISSUES, THINKING ABOUT NEW FACILITIES. COUPLE OF THINGS WE HAVE GOING FOR US.

ONE, WE HAVE LAND THAT WE WE WE HAVE ASSETS THAT ARE ARE UTILIZED BUT CAN BE FURTHER UTILIZED.

SO THAT'S A POSITIVE.

WE HAVE, I THINK, A WILLINGNESS TO LOOK AT SHARED UNDERSTANDING OF HOW WE COULD PERHAPS THINK ABOUT FACILITIES IN A DIFFERENT WAY THAN SCHOOL FACILITIES AND CITY FACILITIES OR COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND SCHOOL FACILITIES.

I THINK WE'RE ALREADY DOING SOME OF THAT.

BUT I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT WE NEED TO DO QUITE A BIT MORE OF THAT.

AND THEN WE ALSO NEED, IN MY ESTIMATION, IN ORDER TO SUSTAIN A REALLY STRONG CIP, WE DO HAVE TO LOOK AT SERVICE AND OPERATIONS MS AND SHARED NOT JUST SHARED FACILITIES BUT SHARED UNDERSTAND OF HOW HOW WE MIGHT BENEFIT FROM THEM, THE WORK THAT WE'RE ALL DOING TOGETHER.

IT MAY BE A SITUATION WHERE IN THE CITY GOVERNMENT WE MAY DO SOMETHING REALLY WELL.

AND IN THE SCHOOL AREA, THE SCHOOLS MAY DO SOMETHING VERY, VERY WELL.

AND IF WE HAVE REDUNDANCIES IN THOSE SYSTEMS, PERHAPS THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES WHERE WE CAN EITHER SHARE RESOURCES OR SHIFT THOSE RESPONSIBILITIES, RECOGNIZING THAT THERE'S DYNAMICS TO ALL OF THAT.

BUT IN ORDER TO SUSTAIN A SINGLE POT OF MONEY AND ACHIEVE ALL THAT, WE THINK THAT'S THAT'S THE OPPORTUNITY.

AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT TRANSIT AND I AGREE WITH DR.

HART. THAT'S THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE RIDERSHIP, WHAT IS THAT REALLY SAYING? BUT WHAT COULD IT BE? WHAT COULD IT BE AS IT RELATES TO DRIVER TRAINING, WHAT COULD IT BE RELATED TO SHARED OPPORTUNITIES IN THAT THAT SPACE, INCLUDING MAINTENANCE AND THINGS LIKE THAT? IT'S IT'S NOT JUST.

TO TWO ELEMENTS.

AND I GUESS I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE, IN LOOKING AT OUR FORECASTING AND LOOKING AT TAX BURDENS, LOOKING AT OUR NEEDS, WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO DO THAT OVER THE NEXT DECADE AND THINK ABOUT THINGS IN A REIMAGINED WAY.

ACTUALLY REALLY LIKED THE THE TAG THAT WAS PUT FOR THIS SESSION.

BUT THAT THAT COMMITMENT HAS TO BE THERE BECAUSE I'M JUST JUST LAY IT RIGHT OUT.

THERE'S NO WAY TO CONTINUE THIS IN THE WAY THAT IT'S IT'S AT THIS STAGE IT'S JUST IT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE FROM A FINANCIAL STANDPOINT, A BORROWING STANDPOINT.

AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DELIVER THESE PROJECTS AT THE LEVEL THAT WE EXPECT.

SO THAT'S THAT'S THE CHALLENGE.

THE OPPORTUNITY, THOUGH, IS VAST BECAUSE WE'VE ALREADY STARTED THOSE DISCUSSIONS WITH WITH OUR STAFFS.

BUT FRANKLY, WE NEED THIS, THE COUNCIL AND THE SCHOOL BOARD TO BE BE HELPING PUSH US IN THOSE DIRECTIONS.

SO I'LL STOP THERE.

THANKS. AND MADAM CHAIR, I MEAN, I THINK I APPRECIATE THE MANAGER'S COMMENTS.

I THINK I WAS AT OUR LAST BUDGET MEETING, I WAS KIND OF FIRED UP AROUND THE IDEA THAT AS WE WORK THROUGH PROCESSES, IN MANY CASES THE CITY AND SCHOOLS ARE STILL NOT AT A PLACE WHERE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A JOINT KIND OF UNDERSTANDING LIKE A SINGLE SINGULAR MIND.

AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, YOU AND I AND OTHERS HAVE BEEN ON THESE BOARDS WHERE WE'VE TALKED WITH STAFF AND HEARD FROM STAFF THAT THEY'RE WORKING TOGETHER, BUT THEY'RE THEY'RE NOT THERE YET. AND I THINK I'M AT A PLACE, YOU KNOW, GIVEN OUR OUR FINANCIAL BURDEN AND KIND OF WHAT I SEE COMING DOWN THE ROAD THAT I REALLY WANT OUR STAFFS TO BE, YOU KNOW, REALLY GET TO A PLACE WHERE THEY'RE AT ONE MIND.

LIKE IF THERE ARE CERTAIN PROCESSES, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY YOU KNOW, EVEN IF IT'S A FLIP OF A COIN, SOMEBODY PROCESS WINS AND EVERYBODY MOVES TO THE BEAT OF THAT PROCESS.

I DON'T GET THAT FEELING FROM OUR STAFF THAT THAT'S HAPPENING.

[01:20:02]

AND I WOULD RECOMMEND TO MY COLLEAGUES ON THE SCHOOL BOARD THE SAME THING, BECAUSE IF WE'RE STILL.

FIGHTING OVER.

YOU KNOW, FRANKLY, LET ME BE HONEST.

IF IF THEY'RE HAVING IF ACPS IS HAVING DIFFICULTY IN OUR PERMIT CENTER, THAT'S PROBLEMATIC AT THE HIGHEST DEGREE.

LIKE THERE SHOULD BE NO PROBLEM WITH YOU GUYS WALKING IN THE PERMIT CENTER SAYING, HEY, I NEED THIS PERMIT.

WE GET TO IT AND IT'S DONE.

YOU KNOW, SIMILARLY, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE CERTAIN PRINCIPLES OF CONSTRUCTION.

THERE ARE CERTAIN PRINCIPLES OF HOW WE DO EVERYTHING.

YOU KNOW, WHAT'S THE PRINCIPLE TO THAT? IF THERE ARE SOME DIFFERING PERSPECTIVES, YOU HAVE A MEETING ABOUT WHAT THAT IS.

AND SO WE GET ON THE SAME PATH.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, WHAT I HEAR IN A NUMBER OF MEETINGS IS THAT WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER, BUT WE'RE NOT THERE YET.

AND I THINK OUR OUR COMMUNITY WANTS US TO GET THERE.

OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, POLICY WISE, THERE CAN BE DISAGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE CITY AND SCHOOL BOARD, YOU KNOW, BUT AS WE EXECUTE A BUILDING, AS WE DO SOME OF THESE KIND OF VERY FOCUSED EFFORTS WHEN IT COMES TO BUILDING, WHEN IT COMES TO FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES, WHATEVER THEY MAY BE.

WE NEED TO GET TO A PLACE WHERE WE'RE KIND OF MARCHING TO THE SAME DRUM.

AND SO I WANT TO WORK WITH MY COLLEAGUES AND CITY COUNCIL, BUT ALSO MY COLLEAGUES ON SCHOOL BOARD TO HELP US GET THERE.

AND I DON'T KNOW HOW WE KIND OF DIRECT THAT PROCESS AND DIRECT OUR STAFFS TO, HEY, HUDDLE UP, LET'S FIGURE THIS OUT FOR THIS THING.

YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT SHARED SERVICES.

WHAT ARE THOSE? WHAT DO THEY NEED? WHAT DOES THE FUTURE OUTCOME NEED TO BE AND HOW DO WE GET THERE VERSUS KIND OF HAVING A MEANDERING LIST OF SHARED SERVICES THAT, YOU KNOW, HALF OF WHICH, YOU KNOW, IF WE IF WE REMEMBER, WE'VE NEVER TACKLED OR TACKLED AND JUST SAID, HEY, THAT MIGHT NOT WORK.

UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE, THE BUDGET CHALLENGES IS REAL.

AND SO GETTING TO A PLACE WHERE, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE A DISAGREEMENT ABOUT PROCESS, I THINK IS SOMETHING I WANT TO GET PAST.

SO HOWEVER WE DO THAT, HOWEVER, WE NEED TO EMPOWER OUR STAFFS TO DO THAT.

I'D LOVE FEEDBACK FROM STAFF, EITHER ONE, ON HOW WE DO THAT.

I KNOW JIM HAS KIND OF SAID SOME STUFF, BUT I WOULD LOVE TO KIND OF HEAR HOW THE POLICYMAKERS KIND OF EMPOWER STAFF TO COME TOGETHER, GET CERTAIN THINGS DONE AND ON THE SAME PAGE AND SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT.

EVERYBODY'S FLOWING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AT THE SAME TIME AND ROWING THE BOAT TOGETHER.

SO I DO THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.

MR. CHAPMAN.

I DEFINITELY WANT TO REITERATE THAT STAFF ARE WORKING TOGETHER, CONTINUING TO HAVE A LOT OF ROBUST CONVERSATION.

AND I THINK THE ONE THING, AT LEAST FROM FROM FROM IRELAND IS THAT WHETHER IT'S A PROCESS, WHETHER IT'S A PROCEDURE, SO ON AND SO FORTH, THAT WE ALSO HAVE TO SEE THE EFFICIENCIES FROM AN ACP STANDPOINT.

AND I THINK SOMETIMES THAT MAY BE WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD IS.

WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW IS THIS BENEFICIAL, HOW IS A PARTICULAR SHARED SERVICE OR A PARTICULAR PROCESS BENEFICIAL TO BOTH ENDS? AND THOSE ARE SOME THINGS THAT QUITE TRANSPARENTLY WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH.

I THINK WE ARE OF AND I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR ANYBODY, BUT WE ARE DEFINITELY GETTING TO A SINGULAR MIND IN TERMS OF WHAT IS THE OVERALL GOAL.

AND I THINK THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOW FROM AN ACP STANDPOINT.

CLEARLY THROUGH OUR THROUGH OUR PROPOSALS, WHETHER IT IS THROUGH THE COMBINED FUNDS OR EVEN THROUGH THE CIP IN TERMS OF THERE IS A LOT OF CONVERSATION THAT HAPPENS IN TERMS OF NOT WANTING TO UNNECESSARILY INFLATE ANYTHING OR ARE WE DOING THIS BY X, Y, Z PRACTICE, SO ON AND SO FORTH.

AND WE HAVE A LOT OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH CITY STAFF.

SO I JUST I JUST WANT TO REITERATE THAT WE ARE DEFINITELY HAVING CONVERSATIONS, MULTIPLE CONVERSATIONS, LONG CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE, WHY IS THIS BENEFICIAL FOR BOTH SIDES? BECAUSE WE WILL ULTIMATELY HAVE TO EXPLAIN THAT TO, YOU KNOW, THE SCHOOL BOARD AND FOR OUR CITY COUNTERPARTS TO THE COUNCIL IN TERMS OF HOW WE'VE COME TO THIS DECISION AND WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS THAT WE SEE HOLISTICALLY FOR ANYTHING THAT WE DO AGREE TO TO MOVE FORWARD.

SO, YOU KNOW, SHARED SERVICES, THAT CONVERSATION IS DEFINITELY ONGOING.

I KNOW THAT MR. PARAJON MENTIONED, FOR INSTANCE, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT WAS WITH MAINTENANCE AND OR VEHICLES, SO ON AND SO FORTH.

AND, YOU KNOW, WITH WHEELER, THAT IS A CONTINUED TOPIC OF CONVERSATION.

AND I THINK THE ORIGINAL CONVERSATION OF A SHARED SERVICE WHEN IT CAME TO THE VEHICLE OPERATION WAS IF OUR OPERATION REMAINED ON THAT SITE, THE LAST CONVERSATIONS WE HAD WAS THAT THAT WAS NOT NECESSARILY GOING TO BE, I GUESS, WHAT WAS RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL.

SO AT THIS POINT, IF WE'RE NO LONGER ON THAT SITE, DOES IT STILL MAKE SENSE FOR US TO HAVE THAT SHARED SERVICE? SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE WORKING THROUGH IN TERMS OF JUST OVERALL CONVERSATION.

SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S NOT ANY SENTIMENT THAT STAFF ARE OPPOSED TO MOVING FORWARD WITH CERTAIN PROCESSES OR CERTAIN RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT RATHER JUST

[01:25:05]

SO THAT'S I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I COULD I DON'T SAY CLEAR THAT UP, BUT ADD THAT AS PART OF THE CONVERSATION.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR THAT, DR.

HART. MADAM CHAIR, CAN I JUST ADD? SURE. YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT OUR TEAMS ARE WORKING.

I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WAS CLEAR FOR EVERYONE WHO'S LISTENING TONIGHT, THAT OUR TEAMS HAVE BEEN WORKING MYSELF ALONG WITH MR PERSON, HAVE KIND OF BEEN LEADING THIS EFFORT OF COMING TOGETHER TO REALLY UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER'S WORK AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE GOING FORWARD.

SO I THINK DOCTOR HART ALREADY MADE THAT VERY CLEAR.

BUT AGAIN, PLEASE KNOW THAT OUR TEAMS ARE WORKING ON IT.

IT'S JUST BEEN A FEW MONTHS WITH SOME OF US IN OUR ROLES AND STARTING THIS NEW BUDGET PROCESS.

MR PERSON AND I, LIKE I SAID, WE MEET BI, BI, BI WEEKLY SOMETIMES LATELY MORE THAN THAT, PROBABLY SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK.

BUT OUR TEAMS REALLY ARE TAKING THAT TIME TO REALLY BUILD THIS NEW CULTURE AND UNDERSTANDING MOVING FORWARD.

BUT THERE STILL WILL HAVE TO BE SOME CONVERSATIONS TO MAKE SURE WE GET TO THE POINT THAT EVERYONE IS SPEAKING TO THIS EVENING.

NO, NO, I APPRECIATE THAT.

AND, YOU KNOW, I HEARD SIMILAR SENTIMENTS FROM THE MANAGER.

AND I'LL JUST BE HONEST, KIND OF WHAT I SHARED TO HIM AND STAFF AND APOLOGIZE.

THIS IS NOT NOT PERSONAL FOR FOR ANYBODY.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I GUESS I AM.

I GUESS I'VE BEEN AROUND TOO LONG AND HEARD THAT A LITTLE BIT TOO MUCH AND I'M PAST THAT.

I WANT TO SEE THE OUTCOMES.

I DON'T WANT TO. I UNDERSTAND EVERYBODY'S WORKING.

I APPRECIATE THAT AND I REALLY DO, BECAUSE I THINK THE LEVEL OF CONVERSATION, THE LEVEL OF WORKING TOGETHER HAS DEFINITELY IMPROVED SINCE, YOU KNOW, 2012, 2013.

NO QUESTION. ANYBODY WHO'S BEEN HERE, YOU KNOW, THE, YOU KNOW, THE LAST SIX YEARS, THEY'VE SEEN A MARKET CHANGE.

UM, AND SO, YOU KNOW, KUDOS TO STAFF FOR, FOR WORKING TOGETHER AND, YOU KNOW, BEING A PROFESSIONAL ABOUT THEIR WORK AND PULLING, PULLING THAT TOGETHER, HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS. I THINK FOR OUR COMMUNITY, OUR COMMUNITY WANTS TO SEE WANTS TO BE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT.

RIGHT? THEY WANT TO THEY WANT TO HAVE THAT IN THE BACKGROUND WHERE WE'VE WE'VE WORKED TOGETHER.

WE'RE WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE, STEPPING TO THE SAME SHEET OF MUSIC.

AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT I WANT TO SEE.

I'M YOU KNOW, I'M I DON'T MEAN TO BE AS AGGRESSIVE, BUT I THINK I'VE BEEN HERE TOO LONG TO TO, TO CONTINUE TO HEAR THAT AND BE LIKE, OKAY, THAT'S COOL.

EVERYBODY'S WORKING TOGETHER.

NO, YEAH, WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER.

THAT'S THAT'S OUR BASELINE. NOW I WANT TO SEE MORE.

I WANT TO SEE THE FINISHED PRODUCT THAT COMES TO US AND SAYS, WOW, I CAN SEE HOW WE'VE, WE'VE BECOME SINGULAR ON THIS THING OR THIS PROJECT OR THIS PROCESS. AND SO I GUESS THAT'S MY PERSPECTIVE THAT I WANTED TO SHARE ON THAT.

AND I DO APPRECIATE EVERYTHING EVERYBODY HAS BEEN DOING TO HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS TO GO BACK AND FORTH.

BUT I DO WANT TO PUSH THE ISSUE, PUSH THE ENVELOPE.

I THINK THAT'S OUR OUR JOB AS POLICY MAKERS TO WORK WITH STAFF TO KIND OF PUSH YOU SOMETIMES AND YOU PUSH BACK.

AND THAT'S THAT'S WHAT WE DO.

BUT I JUST WANT TO KIND OF KEEP THAT PUSH ON.

SO THANK YOU. UM, CAN I JUMP IN ON THAT REAL QUICK? SURE. AND THEN.

MR. WILSON UM, YEAH, I THINK, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY IT'S THE IDEAL PLACE TO BE.

UM, ONE OF THE THINGS FROM MY OBSERVATIONS THAT I THINK MIGHT BE HELPFUL FOR US, I THINK NOT ONLY AS OUR COLLECTIVE ELECTED BODIES, BUT FOR STAFF IS TO REALLY.

PINPOINT AND BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT SHARED SERVICES WE WANT TO ZONE IN ON FIRST, BECAUSE I THINK YOU CAN SAY SHARED SERVICES AND THERE'S LIKE A MILLION THINGS THAT WE COULD THAT COULD COME TO MIND THAT WE ALL THINK OF.

AND, YOU KNOW, I CAN EVEN THINK ABOUT DISCUSSIONS THAT WE HAD YEARS AGO WHERE THERE WAS A LIST OF THINGS WHERE WE'RE LIKE, WELL, WE ALREADY DO THAT, RIGHT? SO WHAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL IN SORT OF PUSHING THAT ENVELOPE IS JUST GETTING A LITTLE MORE SPECIFIC AND SAYING, YOU KNOW, HEY, LET'S LOOK AT TRANSPORTATION FIRST, YOU KNOW, SO THAT IT'S DOESN'T LEAVE.

I JUST FEEL LIKE WHEN YOU LEAVE THINGS SO BIG AND OPEN, THEN IT'S HARDER TO FOCUS THE CONVERSATIONS.

SO I'M JUST THROWING THAT OUT THERE.

LIKE MAYBE THAT IS THE FIRST STEP.

YOU KNOW, WE DETERMINE, YOU KNOW, WHAT COULD BE LIKE MAYBE WHAT'S THE LOW HANGING FRUIT, RIGHT.

THAT WE COULD REALLY DIG INTO FIRST? UM. BECAUSE THAT MIGHT BE THE BETTER, MORE EFFECTIVE WAY TO SEE SOME SPECIFIC RESULTS SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.

MR. WILSON. SO THAT'S A REALLY, REALLY GOOD LEAD IN FOR THE COMMENT THAT I WAS GOING TO MAKE.

[01:30:03]

I THINK THERE IS THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF AN IMPATIENCE WITH WITH HOW LONG WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THESE BIGGER, MORE DRAMATIC THINGS.

AND I'LL GIVE YOU A SPECIFIC EXAMPLE.

OFFICE SPACE ALL OVER THE DANG CITY, BOTH IN THE CITY SIDE AND SCHOOL SIDE.

WE'RE SITTING IN A BUILDING RIGHT NOW WITH $3 MILLION ANNUAL LEASE.

AND I SAW A LOT OF QUESTIONS IN THOSE Q AND A'S ABOUT THE FACT THAT A LOT OF THOSE SPACES AREN'T BEING UTILIZED REGULARLY.

WE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE IN CITY HALL.

WE JUST MOVED INTO A NEW BUILDING, FREED UP OFFICE SPACE IN A COUPLE PLACES IN THE CITY THAT THAT ARE THAT ARE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR OFFICE SPACE.

OUR USAGE IS DRAMATICALLY REDUCED, OBVIOUSLY GIVEN GIVEN WHERE WE ARE, THERE IS YOU GUYS HAVE TWO FLOORS SITTING ON TOP OF FERDINAND.

THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR US NOT TO BE WORKING SMARTER ABOUT OFFICE SPACE BETWEEN THE TWO ORGANIZATIONS AND THAT IS EASY.

IT DOESN'T AFFECT KIDS.

IT DOESN'T AFFECT HOW WE PROVIDE SERVICES.

OFFICE SPACE WE SHOULD BE USING SMARTER.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT COULD BE DONE TOMORROW.

AND THERE'S NO EXCUSE FOR US NOT DOING THAT.

SO THAT'S A PERFECT EXAMPLE.

AND I'LL THROW IT OUT THERE AND SAY THAT THAT IS AN EASY ONE TO DO.

AND THEN I AGREE COMPLETELY WITH CHAIR ALDERTON ON TRANSPORTATION.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS IS THE TYPE OF THING THAT YOU BRING IN SOMEONE.

YOU BRING IN SOMEONE FROM OUTSIDE.

THIS IS WHERE YOU BRING IN A CONSULTANT LOOK AT HOW WE DO TRANSPORTATION, COMBINE NOT JUST WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING, BUT WHAT WE DO, THE POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES BOTH ON THE DIRECT SERVICE SIDE OF THINGS AS WELL AS ON THE BACK SIDE AND KIND OF HOW THINGS ARE MAINTAINED.

I THINK THERE IS OPPORTUNITIES THERE.

I HAVE HEARD SUGGESTIONS FROM THE.

SCHOOL STAFF AND LEADERSHIP AND ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THE PAST ABOUT SOME OF THE WAYS WE DO.

SCHOOL BUSSES AND OPPORTUNITIES THERE, PARTICULARLY AROUND STAGGERING TIMING OF OF STARTS OF SCHOOL AND WAYS FOR POTENTIAL EFFICIENCIES.

I THINK THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES HERE BOTH WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING ON DASH, WHAT YOU'RE DOING ON SCHOOL BUSSES AND AND YOU KNOW, ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE COULD BE DOING. AND THOSE ARE THINGS THAT ARE EASY.

LIKE WE GOT TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE DO SOME OF THESE THINGS.

SO I'M WITH COUNCILMAN CHAPMAN, LIKE, LET'S LET'S TEE THESE UP AND LET'S MAKE SOME DECISIONS AND DO IT.

SO, UM, I DO HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS.

WHILE I APPRECIATE THE ENERGY, THE NEXT ONE I HAD WAS KIND OF ON THE BUDGET AND I KNOW I'VE PROBABLY ASKED THIS IN THE PAST, UM, BECAUSE I DO SEE REAL VALUE TO IT.

I THINK THE LAST TIME I ASKED IT PROBABLY WAS 3 OR 4 YEARS AGO, BUT I THINK IT GOES BACK TO I THINK IT WAS I CAN'T REMEMBER WHO'S QUESTION IN THE BOOK THAT I SAW. IT WAS A QUESTION ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF YOU CUT 1%.

UM, I THINK I CAN'T REMEMBER WHOSE QUESTION THAT WAS, AND I APPRECIATE THE CFO'S RESPONSE ON THAT AND KIND OF TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW THAT WOULD HAVE AN EFFECT ON, YOU KNOW, CERTAIN DEPARTMENTS, CERTAIN INITIATIVES, CERTAIN CIP WORK.

UM, BUT I WANTED TO ASK THE GENERAL QUESTION, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE DO A, I THINK EVEN PREVIOUS TO THIS MANAGER, WE'VE DONE ANNUALLY AN EXERCISE, WHETHER IT'S REAL OR IMAGINED, THAT EVERY DEPARTMENT KIND OF COMES IN WITH A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF, OF EFFICIENCIES, WHETHER THEY'RE CUTS, WHETHER THEY'RE CHANGES TO SERVICE OR WHAT HAVE YOU.

UM, OF COURSE THE MANAGER DOESN'T TAKE ALL OF THEM.

SOMETIMES HE TAKES NONE OF THEM, WHATEVER IT MAY BE.

BUT IS THERE A SIMILAR PROCESS ON THE ACP SIDE? AND IF NOT, WHY NOT? SO YES, THERE IS A SIMILAR PROCESS.

SO EACH YEAR WE ASK OUR DEPARTMENTS TO COME IN WITH A FLAT BUDGET.

IF WE'RE LOOKING TO REDUCE THE BUDGET, WE WILL ASK FOR THEM TO ALSO PROVIDE ANY REDUCTIONS IN ANY AREAS THAT THEY EITHER PROGRAM IS NOT WORKING OR IF THERE'S ANY EFFICIENCIES TO BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, POINT THAT OUT AS WELL.

BUT TYPICALLY, IN OUR BUDGET INSTRUCTIONS, WE ASK FOR THE DEPARTMENTS TO COME IN FLAT BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT OUR BUDGET IS PRIMARILY PEOPLE.

WE LOOK THEN AT THE PERSONNEL SIDE TO HAVE ANY REDUCTION.

IT'S VERY HARD. WE'RE ALREADY ON THE NON-PERSONNEL SIDE, VERY LEAN.

AGAIN, THAT BUDGET IS ONLY ABOUT 10 TO 12%.

SO WE REALLY HAVE TO LOOK AT OUR PERSONNEL SIDE WHEN WE COME UP WITH ANY REDUCTIONS.

SO THAT INVOLVES USUALLY ELIMINATING VACANT POSITIONS, LOOKING AT CHANGING ANY OF OUR HEALTH PLANS AND THE LIKE.

SO AND THEN ALSO JUST LOOKING AT ANY VACANCY SAVINGS THAT WE WANT TO FACTOR IN KNOWING THAT OUR VACANCIES HAVE BEEN HIGHER LATELY THAN IT HAS BEEN IN THE PAST.

AND HOW IS THAT HOW IS THAT PROCESS SHARED WITH THE POLICY MAKERS?

[01:35:01]

BUT HOW IS THAT KIND OF SHARED WITH YOUR POLICY MAKERS? THE REASON I ASK THAT, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S AN AMAZING EDUCATIONAL TOOL FOR POLICY MAKERS.

I THINK EVEN IN YOUR RESPONSE TO THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, YOU KNOW, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU MAKE A 1% CUT, YOU'RE HITTING CIP, YOU'RE HITTING, I THINK IT WAS PEG MONEY THAT YOU HAVE TO GIVE.

I MEAN, YOU'RE TRYING YOU'RE TOUCHING WHAT WE CALL SOME KIND OF GOLDEN CASH THAT SHOULD NOT BE TOUCHED.

AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THAT'S ONE THING FOR ALL OF US TO KIND OF WHETHER IT'S COUNCIL OR SCHOOL BOARD, WHENEVER WE LOOK AT KIND OF WHAT WHAT STAFF PRIORITIZES, HOW STAFF PRIORITIZE IS INTERNALLY AND WHAT THINGS YOU KEEP AWAY FROM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S AN EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY THERE.

SO HOW IS THAT SHARED ON YOUR SIDE SIDE WITH, WITH THE FOLKS FROM SCHOOL BOARD? SO YEAH, SO IN THE PAST WE USED TO DO BUDGET 101 AND OUR TWO BY TWOS WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, UM, WILL PROBABLY REVAMP THAT AND BRING THAT BACK.

UM, AS FAR AS WHAT'S REQUESTED, WE NORMALLY PROVIDE THE SUPERINTENDENT'S PROPOSED BUDGET AND DON'T GO INTO ALL OF WHAT'S REQUESTED. IF WE PUT FORTH EVERYTHING THAT WAS REQUESTED, OUR BUDGET WOULD USUALLY BE ANYWHERE BETWEEN 15 AND $30 MILLION HIGHER THAN WHAT WE TEND TO PROPOSE.

UM, SO AS FAR AS THE EDUCATIONAL PIECE THERE, WE USUALLY DO THAT DURING OUR TWO BY TWOS TO GO THROUGH UM, THE DIFFERENT LAYERS OF, OF THE BUDGET.

SO THE WAY WE DO IT IS WE HAVE OUR REQUESTS COME IN.

THE BUDGET OFFICE WOULD THEN MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE SUPERINTENDENT AND THEN THE SUPERINTENDENT MAKES THE PROPOSED BUDGET TO THE SCHOOL BOARD.

AND THAT'S TENDS TO BE HOW IT GOES.

UM. AGAIN, TO YOUR POINT, THE THE EDUCATIONAL PIECE, WE TRY TO DO THAT DURING THE BUDGET 101 IN OUR TWO BY TWOS, AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE TWO BY TWOS PRIOR TO THE RELEASE OF OF THE SUPERINTENDENT'S PROPOSED BUDGET, WHERE WE TRY TO GO OVER WHY WE ARE PROPOSING WHAT WE HAVE PROPOSED. I APPRECIATE THAT.

YOU KNOW, TO MY COLLEAGUES ON SCHOOL BOARD, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, IT'S IT'S A PROCESS WHERE, YOU KNOW, WE GET THAT EDUCATION, FRANKLY, BECAUSE A MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL SAYS, HEY, I WANT TO SEE BEHIND THE CURTAIN.

AND I WOULD SUGGEST THAT, YOU KNOW, EVERY BUDGET CYCLE, AT LEAST ONE OF YOU GUYS ASKED THAT QUESTION.

SO THAT INFORMATION GETS OUT THERE TO YOU BECAUSE IT'S YOU KNOW, FOR ME PERSONALLY, IT'S HELPED ME GREATLY, KIND OF SEE HOW WE MOVE MONEY, WHERE WE CAN MOVE MONEY WHERE WE CAN'T MOVE MONEY EVEN IF WE WANTED TO DUE TO LAW OR DUE TO CERTAIN CONTRIBUTIONS.

SO MY NEXT QUESTION IS THIS, I THINK A SIMPLE ONE, AND I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT KIND OF UNDERSTANDING THIS OR KNOWING THIS AS YOU ELIMINATE A BOTTOM STEP OR ADD NOT ADD A TOP STEP, BUT AS YOU ELIMINATE A BOTTOM STEP, YOU KNOW, HOW DO YOU ARE YOU.

GOING TO HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH FORGOT WHAT THE TERM IS CALLED, WHERE PEOPLE KIND OF JUMP OVER EACH OTHER, EITHER COMPRESSION OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, WHERE, YOU KNOW, IF I'M I CAME TO ACPS LAST SCHOOL YEAR AND I STARTED AT, YOU KNOW, BOTTOM BOTTOM RUNG AND NOW I'M UP TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

A PERSON COMING IN STARTS AT THAT RUNG EVEN IF THEY DON'T HAVE THE SAME KIND OF EXPERIENCE AS ME IN THE SYSTEM.

AND HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THAT? SO YES, THAT WOULD HAPPEN.

BUT THAT'S WHY WE'RE NOT ELIMINATING MULTIPLE STEPS AT THE BOTTOM.

IF WE WERE TO ELIMINATE MULTIPLE STEPS AT THE BOTTOM, THEN WE'D BE CREATING A SITUATION WHERE OUR LEAST EXPERIENCED EMPLOYEES WERE GIVING MORE OF A RAISE THAN OUR MOST EXPERIENCED EMPLOYEES.

SO THAT'S WHY WE LOOK TO DO ONE STEP OF THE ELIMINATION OF ONE STEP, AND THEN THE ADDITION OF ONE STEP TO NOT GIVE OUR LEAST EXPERIENCED EMPLOYEES THE BIGGEST RAISE OR A GREATER RAISE THAN OUR MOST EXPERIENCED EMPLOYEES.

BUT YOU WILL HAVE SOMEONE THAT COULD BE WITH ACPS FOR ONE YEAR AND THEN SOMEBODY COME IN NEXT YEAR AND THEY WOULD BOTH BE ESSENTIALLY AT THE SAME SPOT.

I THINK THAT'S A QUESTION FOR NOW.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

MS.. GASKINS. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

UM, I HAD TWO QUICK COMMENTS BASED ON SOME OF THE CONVERSATION, AND THEN I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS.

THE FIRST, JUST KIND OF GOING TO THE COMMENTS ABOUT SHARED SERVICES, RECOGNIZING THAT, YOU KNOW, AFTER WE ADOPT THE BUDGET ON MAY 3RD, YOU GUYS ALREADY START PLANNING FOR THE

[01:40:06]

THE OTHER COMMENT I HAD WAS TO THE EARLIER POINTS MADE ABOUT HOW ACPS IS THINKING ABOUT PREVAILING WAGE IS REALLY EXCITED TO HEAR THE INVESTMENTS YOU'RE MAKING IN ADDITIONAL COUNCIL.

I JUST WOULD REITERATE, I THINK AS WE START HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ONE POT SHARED OPPORTUNITIES, YOU KNOW HOW WE THINK ABOUT EACH PROJECT AS A SHARED INVESTMENT AND MAKING SURE IT MEETS ALL OF OUR GOALS AROUND AND PRINCIPLES FOR STRONG LABOR PROTECTIONS AND SO FORTH.

SO EXCITED TO HEAR THAT.

I HOPE THAT THAT'S A SPACE WE CAN WORK MORE CLOSELY ON.

IN TERMS OF MY QUESTIONS, THE FIRST, THE CITIES GANG PREVENTION TASK FORCE HAD SENT, I THINK BOTH OUR BODIES A MEMO ABOUT AN ANONYMOUS NOTIFICATION SYSTEM.

I'M JUST WONDERING, DID THAT MAKE IT INTO THE BUDGET? AND IF SO, HOW MANY SCHOOL SITES DID IT MAKE IT IN FOR? WE ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO START.

SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE A SYSTEM.

AND IN THE MOMENT, ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON IS MAKING SURE.

SORRY LANGUAGE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL OF OUR STUDENTS.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN WORKED ON.

BUT DOES ANYONE WANT TO ADD TO THAT? I'M SORRY, MADAM CHAIR. MAY I? YEAH, GO AHEAD. OKAY.

YES. WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH DR.

HOOVER, AS WELL AS MS..

BURGOS IN DR.

HART AROUND A APP THAT WE HAVE FOUND THAT WILL REACH ALL OF THE LANGUAGES THAT WE NEED.

SO THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS OF GOING WITH NEXT STEPS OF GETTING THAT INTO OUR SYSTEM.

BUT WE DO, LIKE YOU SAID, WE DO HAVE ONE NOW, BUT WE WILL BE MOVING TO AN UPGRADE AND WE'LL BE BRINGING THAT TO THE BOARD WITH AN UPDATE PRETTY SOON HERE.

WE DID WANT TO TAKE OUR TIME TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SPOKE WITH DIFFERENT VENDORS, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY MET OUR NEEDS BECAUSE SOME OF THEM ARE NOT WATCHED 24 HOURS A DAY AND THEY PICK UP ON KEY WORDS.

BUT THE BIGGEST THING FOR US IS MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THEM.

THAT WOULD TRANSLATE IN THE VARIOUS LANGUAGES FOR US.

AND AS A FOLLOW UP, IS THAT SOMETHING YOU EXPECT THAT'LL BE IN WORKING WITH YOUR VENDORS? YOU'LL BE READY FOR NEXT SCHOOL SYSTEM? OR KIND OF WHAT'S THE TIMELINE FOR BEING.

YEAH, I'M HOPING WITH SOONER THAN NEXT NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.

MS. GASKINS SO I CAN GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THE TIMELINE.

I THINK IT'S EVEN PROBABLY WITHIN A MONTH OR SO.

IT'S REALLY JUST GETTING THROUGH KIND OF THE SYSTEMS AND MAKING SURE THAT THAT PROGRAM WILL WORK WITH OUR PROGRAMS AND TECHNOLOGY.

SO THEY'RE WORKING THROUGH THAT RIGHT NOW.

YES, WE'RE HOPEFUL FOR AT LEAST A ROLLOUT OF IT THIS YEAR.

AND THEN THE OTHER QUESTION I HAD IS REALLY HELPFUL TO HEAR ABOUT THE DIFFERENT STUDIES YOU GUYS ARE DOING RELATED TO K THROUGH EIGHT.

I'M JUST WONDERING, ARE THERE SIMILAR STUDIES UNDERWAY FOR PRE K THAT MIGHT HAVE IMPLICATIONS ON OUR SPACE NEEDS AS WE'RE DOING SOME OF THESE LARGER CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS? SO I WILL JUMP IN.

SO ON ON PRE-K WE HAD DONE PREVIOUSLY, YEARS AGO, A FEW DIFFERENT I DON'T KNOW IF I WOULD CALL THEM STUDIES, BUT JUST LOOKING AT OUR PRE-K NEEDS ACROSS THE DIVISION AND REALLY LOOKING TO ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID WAS A GRADE LEVEL CONFIGURATION STUDY.

AND PART OF THAT SAID, IT'S REALLY GREAT TO HAVE THE PRE-K THROUGH THREE CONTINUITY AND PUTTING PRE-K IN OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS AN UPDATE THAT WE MADE TO THE CIP A FEW YEARS AGO WAS INCLUDING PRE-K CLASSROOMS AT ALL OF OUR NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MODERNIZATIONS.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, AT GEORGE MASON, THERE CURRENTLY IS NO PRE-K THERE.

THERE IS PRE-K PROPOSED THERE AS PART OF THIS THE CAP PROPOSAL.

ADDITIONALLY, WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL PROJECT WE'VE WORKED WITH, DHS HAS ADDED FIVE PRE-K, MS..

GARVEY FIVE PRE-K CLASSES TO THE HIGH SCHOOL PROJECT.

SO THOSE WILL BE INCLUDED AS WELL.

WE KNOW THERE'S A NEED JUST BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF KINDERGARTNERS WE HAVE THAT COME.

THERE MUST BE FOUR YEAR OLDS. SO WE ARE CONTINUING TO EXPLORE PRE-K THROUGH ALL OF OUR MAJOR MODERNIZATIONS.

AND I GUESS PROBABLY THE STUDIES WERE BEFORE ME.

SO YOU MENTIONED A FEW YEARS AGO ABOUT WHAT TIME FRAME WERE THOSE STUDIES, 2018, I WANT TO SAY.

OKAY. UM, SORT OF RECOGNIZING WHAT YOU'RE SAYING ABOUT JUST THE LARGER SIZES AND THE NEED, SORT OF HOW OFTEN DO THOSE STUDIES TYPICALLY HAPPEN IS, YOU KNOW, I GUESS I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THAT'S NOT A LONG TIME AGO, BUT OUR NEEDS ARE CHANGING.

OUR DEMOGRAPHICS ARE CHANGING.

WHEN MIGHT BE THE RIGHT TIMING TO EMBARK ON ANOTHER STUDY TO KIND OF GET A SENSE OF OUR PRE-K NEEDS ACROSS THE CITY? SO WHEN IT COMES TO ENROLLMENT, WE DO ENROLLMENT PROJECTIONS AND ANALYSIS EVERY YEAR.

[01:45:03]

AND SO WE CAN SEE BY THAT POPULATION HOW MANY STUDENTS DIDN'T HAVE PRE-K.

IT'S NOT TO SAY THAT THEY LIVED IN ALEXANDRIA THE YEAR BEFORE, BUT WE CAN ASSUME THAT IF WE STARTED AND WE ALSO LOOK AT BIRTH DATA.

AND SO IF WE STARTED WITH A CERTAIN NUMBER OF BIRTHS AND WE'VE GOTTEN TO A CERTAIN NUMBER OF KINDERGARTNERS SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN THOSE NUMBERS, THERE'S PROBABLY THAT MANY FOUR YEAR OLDS IN THE CITY.

AND THEN LOOKING AT THE POPULATION THAT WE SERVE, WE ALSO WE WE HAVE SEVERAL DIFFERENT PRE-K PROGRAMS AND PRE-K PROVIDERS, PARTNER PROVIDERS.

SO CPS MANAGES THE IEP, BUT WE WORK WITH OTHER PARTNERS AND AND HEAD START.

AND SO EVERYBODY'S KIND OF DOING THEIR OWN, I GUESS, ANALYSIS OF WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE AND PROPOSING THOSE.

AS FAR AS OUR OUR CAPACITY PROJECTS, WE JUST LOOK AT FOR THE THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL COMING UP, IF IT'S A 700 STUDENT SCHOOL OR IT'S A 650 STUDENT SCHOOL, WHAT IS THE APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF PRE-K CLASSES TO TO INCLUDE IN THAT BUILDING? THANK YOU. OKAY.

THAT'S THE END OF MY LIST.

OKAY. UM.

MISS BAGLEY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

I JUST WANTED TO.

OH, WASN'T SURE IF I WAS GOING TO BE GIVEN THIS SIGN.

I WANT TO JUST FOLLOW UP ON A ON A COUPLE OF EARLIER COMMENTS WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE FARM RATES, I WAS JUST CURIOUS IF SOMETIMES THE HAVING IF THE SCHOOL IS ALREADY AT A SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE OF FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH, IT MEANS WE MORE READILY QUALIFY OR MORE FOR OTHER OTHER PROGRAMING LIKE THAT NUMBER IS SOMEHOW TIED INTO OTHER OTHER THINGS WE QUALIFY FOR.

EXCUSE ME. AND I'M JUST CURIOUS, IS THAT A REASON TO, DESPITE THE AVAILABILITY OF FREE FOOD, STILL WANT CHILDREN TO SORT OF GET FORMALLY ENROLLED? AND AND ADMITTEDLY, I MEAN, I MIGHT BE OUT OF SYNC WITH HOW SOME OF THIS WORKS, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING WAS SOMETIMES THOSE RATES ARE USEFUL WHEN WE APPLY FOR OTHER GRANTS OR OTHER PROGRAMS TO POINT TO THAT DATA.

SO. CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT AT ALL? DON'T KNOW. JUST MR. DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO THAT FIRST, MR. TURNER? SURE.

SO, YEAH. SO I'M.

OUR FARM RATE DOES IMPACT TITLE ONE.

SO THAT'S ONE OF OUR ENTITLEMENT GRANTS AT OUR DIFFERENT SCHOOLS.

AND THEN IT WOULD ALSO, UM, OUR PROGRAM, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, I BELIEVE IT'S IF IT'S YOUR OVER 80% AT THAT SCHOOL, THEN THE ENTIRE SCHOOL THEN QUALIFIES FOR FREE MEALS THERE.

A LOT OF TIMES THAT WILL IMPACT SOME OF OUR NUMBERS BECAUSE IF THEY'RE ALREADY AT 80%, THEN SOME FAMILIES MAY NOT SEE THE NEED TO GO AHEAD AND FILL OUT THAT PAPERWORK.

BUT YES, IT WOULD IMPACT OUR TITLE GRANTS AND THEN THAT WOULD THEN IN TURN, THAT WOULD THEN AFFECT WHICH ONE OF OUR SCHOOLS IN WOULD QUALIFY FOR TITLE ONE FUNDING.

SO THAT IS WHY WE DO MAKE A PUSH AT THE BEGINNING OF EVERY SCHOOL YEAR TO TRY TO GET FAMILIES TO FILL OUT THAT PAPERWORK.

UM, AS FAR AS THE FREE MEALS GO, WE DEFINITELY WANT THOSE FAMILIES THAT QUALIFY FOR FARM TO FILL OUT THAT PAPERWORK SO THAT THEY CAN GET THAT BECAUSE WE DO HAVE TO KEEP THE THE TRACK OF THE FREE MEALS THAT WE ARE GIVING AWAY.

UM, IT'S FREE TO THE FAMILIES, BUT OBVIOUSLY YOU ALL KNOW NOTHING IS FREE.

UM, SO WE DO HAVE TO KEEP TRACK OF THAT, UM, BY LAW.

SO, UM, AGAIN, THAT'S WHY WE DO THAT PUSH.

UM. NOW.

I APPRECIATE THAT. I JUST, YOU KNOW, RECOGNIZING IT'S NOT AS SIMPLE AS THAT DATA ITSELF, BUT WHAT IT FEEDS INTO FOR FOR OTHER FUNDING AVAILABILITY.

AND SO I WOULD JUST, YOU KNOW, ENCOURAGE US TO CONTINUE ENROLLING THOSE STUDENTS AND LET US KNOW IF THERE'S, YOU KNOW, A ROLE TO PLAY IN OUTREACH OR ENGAGEMENT, YOU KNOW, TO HELP WITH THAT. ON A ON A SIMILAR NOTE THERE, THE MAYOR ASKED A QUESTION ABOUT THE ABILITY TO FILL POSITIONS, YOU KNOW, INCREASING MORE POSITIONS, BUT CAN WE FILL THEM? AND THERE WAS TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, COMPETITIVE SALARY, WHICH I WAS PLEASED TO SEE IN THE CHART.

WE ARE COMPETITIVE, IT APPEARS, WITH OUR NEIGHBORS AND SALARY.

AND I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT OTHER PROGRAMING THAT MIGHT BE MORE JOINT OPPORTUNITIES LIKE HOMEOWNERSHIP PROGRAMING OR STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS COUNSELING.

ARE THERE OPPORTUNITIES? AND I SEE THE MANAGER, YOU KNOW, NODDING HIS HEAD.

SO ARE THERE OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO CONSIDER, YOU KNOW, EXPANDING, PROMOTING, HIRING A FACILITATOR, SOMEONE WHO CAN INCREASE ACCESS TO HOMEOWNERSHIP PROGRAMS, INCREASE ACCESS TO PROGRAMING THAT SORT OF THING.

[01:50:02]

I MEAN, I CAN ADD A LITTLE BIT.

I ACTUALLY THINK THAT THIS REPRESENTS A REALLY GOOD OPPORTUNITY, EVEN BROADER THAN WHAT YOU'RE SPEAKING TO.

AS YOU KNOW, THE CITY HAS SIMILAR CHALLENGES IN OUR CITY ORGANIZATION TO HIRE.

AND WHAT WE ARE FINDING IS THAT WHEN WE TELL OUR STORY REALLY WELL, WE'RE REALLY PRETTY SUCCESSFUL.

AND I DON'T I DON'T PRETEND TO KNOW THE EXACT WAY THAT THE SCHOOLS RECRUIT, BUT I WOULD SUSPECT THAT IF WE LOOK AT OUR POOLED RESOURCES IN TERMS OF HOW DO WE ESTABLISH A STRONG STORY ABOUT HOW THE CITY AND THE COMMUNITY ARE IN RECRUITMENT EFFORTS, UM, OR IF, FOR INSTANCE, WE HAVE SOME OF OUR PERSONNEL GOING OUT TO UNIVERSITIES TO RECRUIT CERTAIN POSITIONS, WHY NOT? OFFER TO HELP RECRUIT POTENTIAL COLLEGE STUDENTS TO BECOME TEACHERS OR WORK IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

SAME WAY, I'M SURE THAT THE SOME OF THE SCHOOL PERSONNEL ARE GOING OUT INTO EDUCATIONAL AREAS AND OTHER RECRUITMENT VENUES TO MAYBE WE HAVE SOME KEY POSITIONS THAT WE WOULD LOVE THAT MIGHT FIT THAT TYPE OF PROFILE.

I THINK THAT'S, AGAIN, AN OPPORTUNITY.

IT DOESN'T DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE DON'T DO OUR OWN THING, TOO, BUT THAT SEEMS TO REPRESENT A COMBINED EFFORT.

SO THINGS LIKE SHARING BASIC FACTS OF THE CITY THAT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL OR THE TYPES OF PROGRAMS WE HAVE THAT MAY WE MAY BROADEN THEM OUT TO APPLY COLLECTIVELY.

YOU KNOW, THE SCHOOLS HAVE SOME THINGS THAT ARE PROBABLY STRONGER THAN SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO IN THE CITY ORGANIZATION.

THE CITY MAY HAVE SOME THINGS THAT MIGHT FIT REALLY WELL.

SO I THINK THAT'S THAT MIGHT BE THE THIRD ITEM ON THE THE TWO THAT WE MIGHT WANT TO TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT, BECAUSE THAT'S THAT'S A THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT ONE.

AND I HAVE A FEELING THAT TOGETHER WE GOT A LOT OF TALENT AND WE CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE THERE.

MAY I MAY I ADD TO THAT, MADAM CHAIR, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE AN EXPERT IN AIR ON THE LINE.

YES. I TRY NOT TO THROW THAT HAT ON TOO MUCH AS WE DO HAVE A WHOLE TEAM THERE THAT I TRULY VALUE THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING.

BUT JUST TO ADD, OF COURSE, THERE'S ALWAYS OPPORTUNITIES TO RECRUIT.

AS YOU KNOW, WE'RE LOOKING AT DIFFERENT PARTNERSHIPS WITH UNIVERSITIES AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DEFINITELY TALK ABOUT HOW WE COLLABORATE AND HOW THEY GIVE US REDUCED FUNDING FOR TUITION FOR OUR STAFF, THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR CREATIVE WAYS.

ONE THING I WANTED TO POINT OUT, I THINK WHEN I FIRST CAME ON, I MET WITH SOME CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND WE TALKED ABOUT WAYS TO HELP RECRUIT, YOU KNOW, STAFF TO ACPS.

BUT I THINK IT'S REALLY BIGGER THAN THAT BECAUSE WE WANT THEM TO COME NOT ONLY TO WORK IN THE CITY, WE WANT THEM TO COME LIVE AND REALLY KIND OF GO OUT AND ENJOY WHAT BUSINESSES WE HAVE TO OFFER IN THE CITY.

SO I THINK IF WE COULD WORK TOGETHER ON PROMOTING WHAT WE DO, KIND OF LIKE A COME LIVE WORK, ENJOY THE CITY, I THINK THAT WOULD BE A REALLY NICE CAMPAIGN.

WE KIND OF USE THAT, COME LIVE IN A GREAT PLACE AND WORK HERE.

BUT HOUSING COSTS FOR SOME OF OUR STAFF IS DEFINITELY A CHALLENGE.

SO AND THANK YOU TO THOSE OF YOUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO SHARED THAT WITH ME IN WAYS THAT WE COULD PROBABLY GET CREATIVE WHEN WE HAD OUR ONE ON ONE.

SO THAT IS DEFINITELY AN OPPORTUNITY AREA FOR US.

DR. SIMPSON. THANK YOU.

I WAS GOING TO MAKE SOME SIMILAR POINTS TO WHAT DR.

KING WAS SAYING, BUT MISS BAGLEY AND I WERE ACTUALLY JUST HAVING THIS CONVERSATION THE OTHER DAY, AND I BROUGHT UP HOUSING FOR TEACHERS AND SHE'S LIKE, BUT WE NEED CASHIERS.

AND I WAS SORT OF LIKE, WE NEED THEM ALL.

AND IT JUST SORT OF KIND OF HIT HOME THIS POINT FOR ME.

AND I THINK WE'RE KIND OF DANCING AROUND IT A LITTLE BIT IN ALL OUR DISCUSSIONS TODAY THAT YOU ALL AS CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE ALSO RECRUITERS FOR OUR TEACHERS TO THE DECISIONS YOU MAKE ABOUT THE LIVABILITY OF OUR CITY AND WHAT OUR CITY LOOKS LIKE.

TEACHERS ARE LOOKING AT THAT WHEN THEY COME HERE.

AND SO I THINK, YES, HOUSING IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO THEM.

LOAN FORGIVENESS WOULD BE AMAZING.

A LOT OF TEACHERS ARE WOMEN AND THEY'RE THINKING ABOUT CHILD CARE AND THINGS FOR THEIR FAMILIES.

AND SO AS MUCH AS YOU CAN KEEP THEM IN MIND WHEN YOU'RE MAKING THESE OTHER DECISIONS, THOSE ARE RECRUITMENT TOOLS THAT WE CAN USE AS WELL.

THANK YOU, DR. SIMPSON. YOU KNOW, I TELL EVERYONE WHO LIVES IN THE CITY THAT THEY ARE A RECRUITER FOR OUR WORK.

SO THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT.

ALL RIGHT. HEY, I'M EXCITED.

I GET TO TALK. UM, I REALLY HAVE APPRECIATED THIS CONVERSATION.

I THINK IT'S BEEN REALLY GREAT AND REALLY PRODUCTIVE.

AND I WANTED TO GO BACK TO THE JOINT.

WE'RE KIND OF BOUNCING AROUND A LITTLE BIT, BUT I WANTED TO GO BACK TO THE JOINT PLANNING PROCESS A LITTLE BIT.

UM, AND I THINK WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT SHARED SERVICES AND, AND THAT'S BEEN GREAT.

[01:55:05]

I HAD A CHANCE TO WATCH THE CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION ON THE CIP AND I WAS WONDERING IF WE COULD PULL UP SLIDE FOUR OF THE CITY MANAGER'S SLIDES, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK WE ACTUALLY WORKED OUR WAY DOWN TO THAT ONE, UM, WHICH IS THE SCHOOL'S CAPITAL FUNDING COMPARISON.

SO MAYBE, I DON'T KNOW WHO'S DOING THE SLIDES, IF SOMEONE COULD PULL THAT UP.

BUT I JUST WANTED TO HAVE A COUPLE COUPLE COMMENTS AND THEN A QUESTION AT THE VERY END.

BUT JUST SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I HEARD, SOME OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS EXPRESS AT THAT MEETING WERE THAT IF YOU COULD GO DOWN TO THE LAST SLIDE, SLIDE FOUR. THANK YOU.

UM, WHAT I HEARD IS THAT SOME OF THE COST ESCALATIONS WERE KIND OF MORE THAN THE CITY ANTICIPATED.

AND I GOT THE SENSE THAT FROM SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT THEY FEEL LIKE MAYBE THAT'S HAPPENED, HAPPENS A LITTLE TOO FREQUENTLY AND THAT THERE'S BEEN SOME FRUSTRATION.

I THINK WE HEARD IT TONIGHT, YOU KNOW, THAT THE JOINT THE JOINT PLANNING PROCESS ISN'T FURTHER ALONG.

UM, AND ALSO I'VE KIND OF HEARD THIS OVER THE YEARS TOO, THAT THE CITY, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A LOT OF CAPITAL NEEDS AND THE SCHOOLS ARE JUST KIND OF ONE PIECE OF THAT.

AND WHAT I HEARD FROM THE CITY MANAGER WAS THAT WE NEED TO DEVELOP A COMMON APPROACH FOR SUBMITTING CAPITAL PROJECTS AND WE NEED TO START ASKING HARD QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW WE PHASE PROJECTS TO MANAGE COSTS.

SO I APPRECIATED HEARING ALL THAT AND JUST WANTED TO KIND OF LET YOU KNOW, LIKE I HEARD HEARD WHAT YOU SAID AND I, YOU KNOW, BEING ON THE BOARD FOR FOUR YEARS, I HAVE WE HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS CONVERSATION FOR A LONG TIME.

WE DID SURVIVE A PANDEMIC, EVERYBODY DURING THAT FOUR YEARS.

BUT WE HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS CONVERSATION FOR A WHILE.

AND I THINK, YOU KNOW WHAT, COUNCILMAN CHAPMAN, YOU SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, THE SCHOOL BOARD TENDS TO BE FOCUSED ON THE SCHOOL'S PORTFOLIO.

AND I THINK THAT'S VERY TRUE BECAUSE THAT'S KIND OF OUR AREA.

AND BUT YOU ALL HAVE THIS LARGER PORTFOLIO AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW THE SCHOOL PROJECTS FIT INTO THAT.

THAT SAID, I THINK AS STAKEHOLDERS, MYSELF INCLUDED, WERE CITY RESIDENTS IS KIND OF IS WHAT MISS DOCTOR SIMPSON BAIRD WAS JUST SAYING.

WE'RE CITY RESIDENTS, WE'RE TAXPAYERS.

WE WANT TO HAVE GREAT SCHOOL FACILITIES.

WE ALSO WANT TO HAVE GREAT CITY FACILITIES.

WE GO TO THE REC CENTERS, THE FIELDS, THE LIBRARIES, YOU KNOW, CITY HALL.

WE WE USE ALL THOSE THINGS, TOO.

AND I WANT TO JUST TAKE A MOMENT TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT I THINK, YOU KNOW, CITY MANAGER, YOU WERE SAYING THAT THAT WE ALL VALUE THESE THINGS. AND THAT'S ONE OF THE BEST THINGS, I THINK, ABOUT THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA.

AND I DID WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE TO JUST ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK THE CITY COUNCIL FOR CONTINUING TO INVEST IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, UM, FULLY FUNDING OUR OPERATING BUDGET. THAT'S A REALLY BIG DEAL.

I LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENS ACROSS THE STATE WITH OTHER JURISDICTIONS AND WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE HERE AND I JUST REALLY WANT TO THANK OUR CITY COUNCIL FOR THAT.

BUT I ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT THE FUNDING IS NOT UNLIMITED.

UM, AND SO, YOU KNOW, I AGREE.

LIKE AND I HEARD WHAT DR.

HART SAID, STAFFS WORKING TOGETHER AND I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT.

AND IF THERE'S IF THERE'S MORE WAYS WE CAN WORK TOGETHER, I JUST WANT TO KIND OF ECHO WHAT COUNCILMAN CHAPMAN SAID, THAT, YOU KNOW, I SUPPORT THAT.

I MEAN, I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM MY COLLEAGUES.

I THINK THAT THEY SUPPORT THAT AS WELL.

AND THAT MY HOPE IS OUR TWO BODIES CAN BE SOLUTION SOLUTIONS ORIENTED.

UM, AND SO IT'S JUST KIND OF REFLECTING AFTER LISTENING TO THAT MEETING ABOUT LIKE HOW DO WE KIND OF PUSH AND JUST KIND OF REFLECTING ON THE PROCESS.

SO I JUST WANT TO SHARE SOME OBSERVATIONS FOR, FOR KIND OF WHAT IT'S WORTH FOR EVERYONE.

UM, I WANT TO START WITH WHAT'S WORKING.

WELL, I THINK THAT OUR JOINT FACILITIES PLANNING MEETING IN OCTOBER WAS REALLY PRODUCTIVE.

I THINK THE ROADMAP THAT WE HAVE THIS DOCUMENT WHICH KIND OF STANDARDIZES THE INFORMATION ABOUT CITY AND SCHOOL ASSETS IS THAT'S A REAL ACCOMPLISHMENT.

AND I MEAN, IT TOOK A LOT OF WORK, I KNOW, TO GET TO GET TO THAT PLACE.

AND I THINK IT'S A REALLY GREAT TOOL THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO UPDATE.

BUT IT'S LIKE AN INVENTORY.

WHAT IT REALLY ISN'T IS LIKE A PLAN FOR LIKE WHAT WE DO WITH THAT INFORMATION, HOW DO WE MOVE FORWARD? AND SO WHERE THERE'S OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWTH, I THINK IS, YOU KNOW, JUST HOW DO WE MAKE THAT PROCESS, THE PLANNING PROCESS MORE COLLABORATIVE? AND I GUESS I WAS THINKING ABOUT IT MORE FROM THE CIP PROJECTS VERSUS THE SHARED SERVICES THAT OTHER FOLKS HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT.

BUT. JUST ONE OBSERVATION IS THAT THE WORK KIND OF FALLS INTO TWO BUCKETS.

THERE'S THE BUILDINGS AND LIKE THE BUILDINGS WE NEED TO FIX AND THE NEW BUILDINGS WE NEED TO BUILD.

AND THEN THERE'S THE PIECE OF LIKE, HOW DO WE FUND IT? AND I'M WONDERING IF SEPARATING THAT MAYBE AND LIKE TALKING ABOUT THE PROJECTS AND PRIORITIZING THEM AND THEN AND THEN THEN CIRCLE BACK TO THE FUNDING

[02:00:03]

AND I THINK THE ROADMAP MAYBE KIND OF CAN BE A TOOL IN THE SENSE THAT IT TALKS ABOUT THE NEAR-TERM, THE INTERMEDIATE AND THE LONG TERM NEEDS. I'M WONDERING HOW THE NEAR TERM IS DEFINED.

IS THAT WHAT WE SEE IN THE NEXT TEN YEARS? MAYBE. SO I'M JUST JUST KIND OF THINKING ABOUT THAT FROM A PLANNING STANDPOINT AND THEN LIKE SORT OF THE LAST COMMENTS I HAVE ARE JUST AROUND.

I THINK THERE'S HOW THE ELECTED BODIES COLLABORATE AND THEN THERE'S HOW THE, THE STAFF COLLABORATES FROM THE FROM THE FOR THE ELECTED BODIES.

WHAT I HEARD OUR STAFF, THE STAFF SAY WHEN WE HAD THE JOINT FACILITIES DISCUSSION IN THE FALL IS THAT THEY NEED FROM CITY COUNCIL AND SCHOOL BOARD TO ESTABLISH GUIDING PRINCIPLES OR STATEMENT OF VALUES ABOUT HOW WE APPROACH THE PLANNING.

AND I DON'T KNOW HOW WE GET THERE, BUT AT THE TIME I HAD BEEN THINKING ABOUT OUR SCHOOL BOARD CAPITAL BUDGET PRIORITIES.

AND SO I KNOW THAT YOU WE ADOPT THOSE AROUND SEPTEMBER.

YOU ALL ADOPT YOUR BUDGET GUIDANCE, I THINK IN NOVEMBER.

AND I'M THINKING, HOW CAN WE MAYBE EVEN BEFORE THAT TIME WE COME TOGETHER, WE TALK ABOUT THOSE SHARED PRIORITIES.

WE BOTH PUT THEM IN OUR BUDGET PRIORITIES FOR STAFF.

THAT WAS ONE IDEA I HAD.

AND THERE MAY BE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY SCHOOLS SUBCOMMITTEE.

AND THEN FROM THE THE STAFF COLLABORATION, SOME OF THE THOUGHTS I HAD ABOUT THAT IS JUST I AM INTERESTED IN HEARING MORE ABOUT WHAT HOW YOU ALL ARE WORKING TOGETHER, LIKE WHAT MECHANISMS YOU HAVE.

I UNDERSTAND THERE'S THE JOINT CAPITAL COUNCIL.

JUST KIND OF WONDERING HOW HOW FREQUENTLY YOU MEET WHO PARTICIPATES IN THAT.

BUT AS FAR AS DEVELOPING LIKE A COMMON APPROACH FOR THE CAPITAL PROJECTS, LIKE WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO? THAT IS ONE OF MY QUESTIONS AND I'M THINKING IF YOU ALL JUST, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE MEETING LIKE ONCE A MONTH FOR AN HOUR OR SOMETHING, LIKE MAYBE LIKE IT'S A DAY LONG RETREAT WHERE EVERYBODY'S, YOU KNOW, TOGETHER AND YOU, LIKE, BRAINSTORM, WHAT IS THIS COMMON APPROACH? UM, ANOTHER THOUGHT I HAD IS THE, THE WORK IS BEING COORDINATED BY OUR STAFF WHO HAVE A LOT OF OTHER THINGS THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO. DO WE NEED A DEDICATED POINT PERSON, A DEDICATED INDIVIDUAL STAFF PERSON WHOSE JOB IT IS TO COORDINATE THE JOINT PLANNING? UM, THAT'S SOMETHING I WAS THINKING ABOUT.

AND THEN ALSO LASTLY, I'M WONDERING IF SINCE BOTH STAFF HAVE TO COME BACK TO THEIR ELECTED BODIES TO FOR DECISION MAKING POINTS, YOU KNOW, IS THAT SOMEHOW INHIBITING THE PROCESS? LIKE, ARE YOU NOT FEELING EMPOWERED TO MAKE DECISIONS? AND SO THEREFORE, THAT'S KIND OF HOLDING UP THE PROCESS.

SO I'D LOVE TO HEAR ANYBODY'S RESPONSE TO ANY OF THOSE IDEAS, BUT MAYBE JUST IMMEDIATELY, IF YOU COULD TALK ABOUT THE MECHANISMS OF HOW YOU'RE COLLABORATING RIGHT NOW. I'D LOVE TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT.

THANK YOU. SO WE DEFINITELY STILL HAVE OUR JOINT CAPITAL MEETINGS BETWEEN OUR BETWEEN OUR PROJECT TEAM.

SO MYSELF, EMILY BAKER, OUR RESPECTIVE PROJECT TEAMS. AND IS THAT TWICE A MONTH? EMILY OR ONCE A MONTH? IT'S ONCE A MONTH.

EMILY AND I ALSO HAVE OUR OWN STANDING MEETING SO WE CAN WORK THROUGH DIFFERENT DIFFERENT ELEMENTS OF OUR WORK PROGRAM.

SO I THINK THAT THAT'S BEEN EXTREMELY BENEFICIAL AS WELL TOO, BECAUSE THEN THAT HELPS US KIND OF CREATE SOME OF THE TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION DURING OUR JOINT COUNCIL JOINT EXCUSE ME, JOINT CAPITAL COUNCIL CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR TEAM.

SO I THINK THAT THAT'S BEEN EXTREMELY HELPFUL.

AND THEN THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMAL COLLABORATIONS BETWEEN OUR TEAM MEMBERS.

SO, YOU KNOW, I KNOW ERICA'S TEAM HAS MULTIPLE CONVERSATIONS WITH CITY COUNTERPARTS EVERY DAY.

I KNOW THAT I CAN ALWAYS REACH OUT TO VARIOUS CITY COUNTERPARTS, WHETHER IT'S EMILY, WHETHER IT'S JOHN, SO ON AND SO FORTH, AND SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW, THIS IDEA HAS POPPED UP.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS? SO ON AND SO FORTH.

SO A LOT OF FORMAL BUT ALSO A LOT OF INFORMAL COLLABORATION AND WOULD DEFINITELY DEFER TO EMILY IF YOU HAD ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD.

YEAH, THE ONLY THING I WOULD ADD IS THAT OUR STAFF, I THINK THERE ALSO ARE REGULAR MEETINGS WITH THE STAFF OF THIS THAT DR.

HART AND I DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN.

SO AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH, SORT OF A FORMAL.

SO THERE ARE I THINK THAT'S AT LEAST THREE FORMAL MONTHLY MEETINGS, BUT THAT ARE COORDINATION.

AND THEN IN ADDITION TO ALL THE INFORMAL COORDINATION.

DO YOU MIND IF I ADD JUST A LITTLE BIT? I THINK THE COORDINATION IS GOING WELL, BUT I WOULD HIGHLIGHT A FEW THINGS TO KIND OF GET MAYBE MORE VERY SPECIFIC.

SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A COMMON APPROACH FOR FOR INSTANCE, LET'S TAKE THAT ONE, THE CITY HAS AN APPROACH

[02:05:04]

WE SIP THAT COMES TO THE CITY FOR REVIEW AND EVALUATION, AND THEN IT GETS PROPOSED BY MYSELF TO THE DECISION MAKING BODY OF THE COUNCIL.

AND IN THE PROCESS, IT'S NOT AS SMOOTH AS IT NEEDS TO BE ON BOTH SIDES.

AND I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.

WE DO FORECASTING.

SO WE HAVE A REALLY GOOD SENSE OF THE LEVEL OF DOLLARS THAT WE MIGHT HAVE AVAILABLE TO US AS WE DEVELOP AN OPERATING BUDGET AND A CAPITAL BUDGET.

SCHOOLS AREN'T AT THE TABLE.

STAFF IS NOT AT THE TABLE WITH US WHEN WE'RE SHARING THAT.

THAT'S PROBABLY SOMETHING WE SHOULD DO.

THEN INFORMATION COMES IN BOTH FROM DEPARTMENTS AND THE SCHOOLS.

THEY LOOK DIFFERENT.

THEY FEEL DIFFERENT.

INFORMATION IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

WE PROBABLY NEED TO LOOK AT.

SOME COMMONALITY TO THAT.

AND THEN THE WAY THAT WE REVIEW IN THE AT THE CITY PROCESS, THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS GET A CHANCE TO PRESENT WHAT THEY FEEL ARE THE STRONGEST NEEDS.

BUT WE DON'T CONNECT THAT AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL.

WE SHOULD PROBABLY DO THAT.

AND FINALLY, YOU KNOW, WHEN WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THAT EFFORT, THAT'S THE PROCESS.

BUT FROM A POLICY STANDPOINT.

THAT'S SOME.

YOU ASK WHAT THE SCHOOL AND THE THE COUNCIL.

CAN I GET VERY CLEAR POLICY DIRECTION FROM THE COUNCIL PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENTS, PREVAILING WAGE.

YOU'RE GOING TO INSTITUTE THOSE FOR OUR CVS.

AND THEN IT'S IT'S UP TO OUR STAFF TO EXECUTE ON THAT.

THAT'S A COMMON POLICY.

I WOULD ARGUE THAT THAT IS A COMMON POLICY SINCE THE FUNDING FOR THE CIP IS IN A SEPARATE FUNDING, IT'S ONE FUNDING POT.

SO IF IF THE UNLESS THERE WAS A STRONG OBJECTION ON THE SCHOOL BOARD PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENTS, PREVAILING WAGE SHOULD JUST BE THAT POLICY SHOULD JUST BE FILED FOR ALL OF THE CIP.

IT'S EXAMPLES OF THAT, THAT WE NEED THE BODIES TO COME TOGETHER ON THE SAME THING.

I GET BUDGET GUIDANCE.

I'M SURE THE SCHOOL I LOVE THE IDEA THAT THAT SHOULD BE COME TOGETHER BECAUSE THERE'S PROBABLY SOME SHARED PRINCIPLES.

RIGHT AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY HELPFUL.

AND THEN THE FINAL ONE IS THE EFFICIENCY DISCUSSION, WHICH WHICH YOUR CFO EXPLAINED REALLY WELL.

IT'S GOT COMMONALITIES TO WHAT WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN THIS PAST YEAR, BUT IT'S NOT QUITE THE SAME.

AND I THINK THERE'S PROBABLY SOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR AGAIN, COMMON PRINCIPLES AROUND HOW WE DEVELOP THESE THINGS.

AND I THINK THAT WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF THE PRACTICAL SIDE OF.

HOW EVERYTHING FITS TOGETHER AND WHERE THE TWO POLICY BODIES COME TOGETHER.

I THINK THAT'S CRITICAL.

AND WE HAVE TO START TO, AT THE STAFF LEVEL WITH A LOT OF THIS DIALOG WHERE THERE IS A POLICY QUESTION, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO TAP INTO THE JOINT MEETINGS THAT YOU HAVE AND SAY THIS IS A POLICY QUESTION.

WHERE DO YOU WANT TO BE WITH IT? BECAUSE ULTIMATELY THAT'S, I THINK, WHERE WE'RE A LITTLE BIT ON THE SHORT SIDE.

I THINK I HAVE SOME OF THAT AND I'M SURE DR.

WYATT HAS SOME OF IT. BUT IS IT IS IT CONSISTENT? DOES IT MAKE SENSE? BECAUSE AGAIN, I LOOK AT ON A PRACTICAL SIDE, IT'S THE SAME FUNDING POT.

WE DON'T DON'T HAVE PROPOSED TWO DIFFERENT ONES.

IT'S ONE. SO.

DR. WYATT. THANK EVERYONE FOR THAT CONVERSATION.

AND YOU KNOW, OUR STAFF, WE'VE HAD THIS DISCUSSION BEFORE.

WE'VE KIND OF SHARED SOME IDEAS.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME JUST BECAUSE OF THE WAY WE OPERATIONALIZE AND MANAGE SCHOOLS.

IT'S BEEN A BIT DIFFERENT.

I HEAR ABOUT THE POLICY COMMENTS AND THAT SORT OF THING, SO I WOULD ASK THAT BOTH BODIES PLEASE BE UNDERSTANDING THAT IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE SOME HARD CONVERSATIONS MOVING FORWARD TO GET TO A POINT WHERE WE CAN COLLABORATE IN THAT MANNER.

SO I THINK WE JUST NEED TO BE MINDFUL MOVING FORWARD THAT THOSE DISCUSSIONS ARE GOING TO BE ONGOING.

AND I THINK BOTH COLLECTIVE BODIES NEED TO ALSO WORK IN COLLABORATION SO WE CAN GET TO THAT POINT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, SCHOOLS AND CITY, WE UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S ONE POT OF MONEY.

[02:10:01]

OKAY. UM, I'VE GOT A LIST OF FOUR HERE.

UM. I HAVE CHAPMAN, AGUIRRE, JACKSON, AND THEN SIMPSON.

BAIRD. THANK YOU.

YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS BY BOTH THE SUPERINTENDENT AND THE MANAGER.

I THINK I'LL REITERATE MY MY POSITION.

YOU KNOW, I'M I'M GOING TO BE PUSHY.

I JUST HAVE TO SAY IT.

WE PUSH YOU TO BOTH STAFFS.

I APOLOGIZE TO MY COLLEAGUES.

I APOLOGIZE TO THE PUBLIC.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I'VE I'VE BEEN AROUND TOO LONG TO JUST SAY, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE THE ABILITY TO WAIT.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, I'M VERY INTERESTED IN SEEING WHAT WE CAN GET DONE IN THE NEXT THREE MONTHS, THE NEXT SIX MONTHS.

AND AS WE GET ROLLING TO THE NEXT BUDGET YEAR, I THINK DR.

RIEF IS RIGHT. MAYBE, YOU KNOW, SOME TYPE OF EXTENDED POLICY CONVERSATION, RETREAT, SOMETHING SPECIFICALLY WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD, BECAUSE IF, YOU KNOW, MY MEMORY SERVES ME RIGHT, YOU KNOW, THE SCHOOLS CONVERSATION IS PART OF OUR KIND OF RETREAT.

BUT IT'S A YOU KNOW, IT'S A SMALL SECTION AS WE GET THROUGH OTHER PIECES AS WELL.

AND I THINK WE NEED TO, YOU KNOW, EXPAND THAT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE SEPARATE THAT FROM WHAT WE DO AND HAVE A SPECIFIC CONVERSATION WITH THE SCHOOLS ABOUT HOW WE MOVE FORWARD ON THE POLICY PIECE AS WE'RE TRYING TO WORK TOGETHER.

I THINK YOUR COMMENTS ARE ARE EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

SO, HOWEVER, WE NEED TO GET TO THE PLACE WHERE WE IMPLEMENT THAT AS TWO SEPARATE BODIES DOING SOMETHING IN THE FALL WHERE WE TALK EXTENSIVELY ABOUT KIND OF WHAT WE WANT TO SEE, HOW DO WE PULL THINGS TOGETHER, HOW DO WE WORK WITH STAFF TO DO THAT I THINK IS NECESSARY.

UM, SO I APPRECIATE THOSE COMMENTS.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE I THINK WE CAN BEGIN TO HAVE THE BIGGER CONVERSATION.

I THINK I WAS HAVING I CAN'T REMEMBER WHO I WAS TALKING TO, BUT, YOU KNOW, TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE EVOLUTION OF SOME OF OUR JOINT MEETINGS.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE I THINK WE DID FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, JUST DID ONE MEETING A YEAR.

AND THAT WAS THAT WAS THAT.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, AS WE'VE HAD ADDITIONAL MEETINGS, AS WE'VE HAD THE CITY SCHOOLS SUBCOMMITTEE CONTINUE TO MEET AND CONTINUE TO PROCESS THINGS, I DO THINK THERE'S STILL OPPORTUNITY FOR US AS JOINT BODIES OR TWO SEPARATE BODIES COMING TOGETHER TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, BIGGER CONVERSATIONS, BIGGER RETREATS, STYLE CONVERSATIONS.

AND I THINK WE'VE TRIED THAT IN THE PAST AND IT'S WORKED.

BUT FOR A CERTAIN KIND OF SPECIFIC TIME FRAME WHERE I THINK WE NEED TO KIND OF BUILD THAT IN UNTIL WE ARE KIND OF MARCHING TO THE SAME BEAT.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU WE THINK ABOUT SPORTS PRACTICES OR EVEN A BAND PRACTICE, IF THEY'RE THEY'RE NOT MARCHING TO THE SAME BEAT, THE DIRECTOR IS GOING TO MAKE THEM PRACTICE MORE TOGETHER UNTIL THEY GET THERE.

AND I THINK THAT'S THE WAY WE HAVE TO KIND OF LOOK AT IT.

HOW CAN WE CONNECT MORE TO GET TO THE SAME PLACE? AND I KNOW OUR STAFF IS MEETING, SO IT'S GOOD TO HEAR THAT, BUT HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT GETS TO THE PLACE WHERE WE WANT IT TO BE? SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. I THINK MY LAST KIND OF QUESTION WAS KIND OF UNDERSTANDING SEEING KIND OF THE COST AND THE THE PRIORITY. I THINK THE COST INFORMATION FROM STAFF AND FROM A COUPLE MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD, THE PRIORITY OR NEED FOR A REBRAND.

I SAW THAT IN WHAT YOU GUYS ARE LOOKING AT AND KIND OF BRINGING TO THE TABLE FOR YOUR BUDGET.

I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND WEBSITE UPDATES AND HOW WE CHANGE SOME OF OUR DIGITAL FOOTPRINT TO BE MORE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE.

BUT AS WE AS YOU GUYS LOOK AT A REBRAND, KIND OF WHERE WHERE DOES THAT FIT IN YOUR PRIORITIES AND KIND OF WHY NOW? WE HAVE HAD SOME OTHER CITY CITY RELATED ENTITIES DO A REBRAND RECENTLY, BUT I KIND OF WANT TO UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, THERE OBVIOUSLY A LOT DIFFERENT THAN THAN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

AND SO I KIND OF WANT TO UNDERSTAND KIND OF WHY FROM SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS WHY THAT'S ON THE TABLE.

UM, SO REBRAND WAS ACTUALLY KIND OF ON THE TABLE LAST YEAR.

UM, AND JUST GOT EXTENDED FOR SEVERAL REASONS.

BUT I THINK ONE OF THE WHERE IT FALLS WITHIN OUR PRIORITIES IS ACTUALLY RECRUITMENT.

UM, THE, THE BRANDING AS IT IS NOW.

UM, I DON'T BELIEVE, UM, WELL, IT'S VERY OLD AND I DON'T BELIEVE IT IN ITSELF IS VERY SORT OF ATTRACTIVE AND, AND DRAWING PEOPLE INTO REALLY UNDERSTANDING.

[02:15:02]

SO, UM, THAT IS AN, I GUESS AN INITIATIVE THAT STARTED LAST YEAR.

IT GOT EXTENDED INTO THIS YEAR AND WE REALLY DO WANT TO GO THROUGH IT BECAUSE THERE IS A BELIEF THAT, UM, IT IS A PART OF OUR RECRUITMENT STRATEGY.

OKAY. MR. AGUIRRE. MISS JACKSON AND DR.

SIMPSON BIERI. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

NOT BE A COMPLETE BUDGET SEASON IF I DID NOT DO MY YEARLY CHAMPIONING OF THE LOWLY BUT MIGHTY PARENT LIAISON.

UM, HAVING BEEN ONE IN THE PAST, WE TALKED ABOUT FARM RATES AND LETTING PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THE APPLICATIONS ARE AND WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS, AND THAT IT WON'T GO AGAINST THEM NECESSARILY FOR IMMIGRATION REASONS.

UM, SO TO THAT, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE VERY EFFECTIVE AT, ESPECIALLY SPEAKING TO SPECIFIC COMMUNITIES WITHIN OUR CITY.

WE TALKED ABOUT TRUANCY.

I ACTUALLY WENT ON RIDES WITH OFFICER LINGO, SOCIAL WORKERS, MS..

SIMS AND MS.. SHEEHY BECAUSE NONE OF THEM SPOKE SPANISH.

SO THE APPARENT LIAISONS ARE A VALUABLE PIECE OF THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY.

AND I KNOW THAT IT'S BENCHMARKED ACROSS THE REGION, BUT IN MY OPINION, THE REGION PAYS VERY LOW.

AND I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT NEED TO BE PAID FOR, BUT LIKE I SAID, JUST MY YEARLY CHAMPIONING OF THE PARENT LIAISONS AND WHAT THEY DO.

TO SOMETHING THAT MISS SIMPSON BROUGHT UP.

I AGREE WITH YOU 100%.

HOUSING STOCK IS A MAJOR ISSUE.

OF COURSE, THERE'S OTHER THINGS THAT GO INTO, YOU KNOW, THE LIVABILITY TO LIVE, WORK AND PLAY IN ALEXANDRIA AND TO COUNCIL MEMBER BAGLEY.

I WAS ON THE I WAS GETTING THOSE EMAILS WHEN I WORKED FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

UM, I WAS REALLY EXCITED AT FIRST AND IT WENT DOWNHILL QUICKLY BECAUSE I REALIZED THAT I CAN AFFORD ANYTHING.

UM, SO THAT THAT'S KIND OF DIFFICULT.

AND THEN DEPENDING ON WHAT WE HAVE, THIS GOING BACK TO HOME TO THE STOCK THAT WE HAVE HOUSING STOCK HERE IN THE CITY IN GENERAL.

ONE OF MY FAVORITE STATS WAS, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS AND THIS IS SEVERAL YEARS OLD, WHICH MEANS THERE MAY NO LONGER BE ANY SINGLE FAMILY DETACHED HOMES UNDER $500,000.

UM, AND SO THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, THAT'S JUST REAL.

UM, AND IT'S NOT TO SAY THAT WE'RE NOT TRYING TO CREATE MORE HOUSING, IT'S JUST DIFFICULT BECAUSE WE'RE DOING, UM, HOUSING THAT COULD BE IN DEEP AFFORDABILITY OR HOUSING THAT'S VERY EXPENSIVE.

AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER HOUSING THAT WE'RE MISSING.

UM. WHAT WAS I GOING WITH THAT ONE? JUST ONE OTHER THING.

OH, AND THE CITY MANAGER BROUGHT THIS UP, RIGHT? IT'S ONE POT OF MONEY.

UM, IT'S.

AND DR. RIEF, YOU TALKED ABOUT THIS, RIGHT? WE'RE ALL ENJOYING ALL THE DIFFERENT SERVICES.

YOU KNOW, EVEN IF WE DON'T HAVE CHILDREN, WE WANT A GOOD SCHOOL SYSTEM AND WE WANT TO HAVE GOOD SERVICES.

PERSONALLY, EVEN THOUGH I DON'T HAVE KIDS, I WANT TO SEE A GREAT SCHOOL SYSTEM AS WELL.

MY MOTHER IS A TEACHER.

I WORKED IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM HERE, SO I'M HIGHLY INVESTED IN PUBLIC EDUCATION.

SO, YOU KNOW, I'M.

I'M STILL UNDERSTANDING, THOUGH, THAT WE'RE PULLING JUST FROM ONE POT OF MONEY TO TRY AND MAKE ALL OF THIS WORK FOR GEORGE MASON AND SPECIFIC.

I KNOW THAT A LOT OF THE OVERAGES ARE JUST, YOU KNOW, COST INCREASES AND EVERYTHING.

ARE WE LOOKING AND GOING BACK TO WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, THINKING ABOUT HOW WE'RE.

UTILIZING RESOURCES TOGETHER OR IS THERE GOING TO BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND, SAY, THE GYM SIZE SO THAT IT'S MORE OF A REC CENTER, MORE CAPACITY? BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, AT MOUNT VERNON AND CORA KELLY, WHEN WE'RE DOING SUMMER CAMPS AND EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING GOES REALLY QUICKLY.

AND I KNOW THAT WE HAVE OUR OWN EQUITY ISSUES WHEN IT COMES TO REGISTERING FOR SOME OF THE SUMMER CAMPS AND EVERYTHING.

BUT IS THERE ANY POSSIBILITY THERE TO KIND OF ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE PRESSURE? SO I THINK THAT THAT WILL BE A DISCUSSION.

OUR STAFF HAVE ALREADY REACHED OUT TO US ABOUT POTENTIALLY LOOKING AT DOING SOMETHING SIMILAR TO WHAT WE'RE DOING AT DOUGLAS MACARTHUR AND ADDING SOME OF THAT PROGRAM IN SO THAT IT SUPPORTS AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMING AND OTHER COMMUNITY EVENTS THAT YOU WOULD HAVE GOING ON.

SO THAT'S CERTAINLY AN OPTION.

I'M NOT SURE THAT IT'S NECESSARILY BAKED INTO OUR COSTS.

SO IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT IF RPK WANTS TO PURSUE, IT WOULD BE PART OF THEIR CFP.

UNDERSTANDABLE. YEAH, BECAUSE I MEAN THERE WOULD STILL BE ADDITIONAL COSTS.

YOU KNOW, IF WE HAVE TO HIRE MORE FOLKS FOR TO COVER A REC CENTER.

BUT I DEFINITELY WANT IT TO BE ON ON THE LIST OF THOUGHTS THAT ARE GOING OUT THERE BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, YOU KNOW, MOUNT VERNON FILLS UP SO FAST.

OUR KELLY FILLS UP SO FAST.

AND THAT WOULD REALLY HELP TO ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE PRESSURE BECAUSE IT'S FAMILIES FROM THOSE AREAS THAT ARE GOING TO THOSE TWO REC CENTERS AS WELL.

UM. SO I'M KIND OF JUMPING ALL OVER THE PLACE BECAUSE I'VE BEEN CROSSING THINGS OUT AND WRITING THEM BACK IN.

UH, I THINK THE LAST THING THAT I WANTED TO ASK, AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF I WANT TO ASK, BUT I GUESS WE GET A QUICK UPDATE ON WHERE YOU ALL ARE

[02:20:08]

IF YES, SO.

THE THE ONLY SORT OF ACTION WE'VE TAKEN AS A BOARD IS WE HAVE A RESOLUTION THAT WE.

APPROVE THAT SAYS THAT WE ARE GOING TO EMBARK ON THE JOURNEY OF COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.

THE NEXT STEP THAT WE'VE TAKEN ACTUALLY NOW WITH THAT SAID, LAST YEAR THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS WITH DIFFERENT ENTITIES TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE FOR SCHOOLS, ETCETERA.

THIS BUDGET CYCLE, WE HAVE ADDED LEGAL COUNSEL ONTO OUR STAFF AND THAT WILL SORT OF THAT'S OUR NEXT STEP TO ACTUALLY WE NEED SOMEBODY WHO CAN REALLY DRIVE THAT WORK.

AND WE DEFINITELY AGREED THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE'RE ADDING.

WE'RE ADDING TO OUR CURRENT STAFF'S CAPACITY.

WE NEED SOMEONE WHO CAN SORT OF TAKE THE REINS.

IT DOESN'T MEAN, HOWEVER, THAT WE KNOW THAT THAT ONE PERSON ISN'T NECESSARILY GOING TO DO ALL OF IT, BUT THEY CAN ABSOLUTELY GET US ON THE PATH TO COORDINATING, SEEKING OUTSIDE EXPERTISE, ETCETERA, TO START TO PULL THAT TOGETHER FOR US SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD AS A BOARD, BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO BE OTHER RESOLUTIONS THAT WE HAVE TO DO IN ORDER TO.

START TO DECIDE WHO OUR GROUPS ARE GOING TO BE.

ET CETERA. SO.

WELL, TOTALLY UNDERSTANDABLE. THANK YOU.

OKAY. UM.

WHO DID I SAY? JACKSON AND SIMPSON.

BIERI. THANK YOU.

UH, I THINK THIS HAS BEEN A GREAT CONVERSATION.

IT'S A IT'S. EVERY YEAR.

WE SEEM TO FULLY FUND OUR SCHOOLS.

AND AND TO JUMP OFF OF WHAT DR.

SIMPSON BAIRD WAS SAYING, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALSO UP TO THE CITY TO PLAY ITS PART, MAKE IT A GREAT CITY SO THAT PEOPLE CAN COME AND LIVE AND PLAY AND GO TO SCHOOL HERE AND WORK.

SO I GUESS MY QUESTION AT THIS POINT IS WHEN WE ARE FULLY FUNDING AND WE'VE HAD THE DISCUSSION CONCERNING CIP AND OPERATING AND EVERYTHING THAT THE BOARD AND OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM IS ALREADY DOING.

TO GO BACK TO THE FALL SCHOOL BOARD MEETING CONCERNING THE 13 SCHOOLS THAT ARE STILL UNDER ACADEMIC REVIEW.

UM, AND LOOKING AT THE COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.

WHEN WE ARE CONTINUALLY FULLY FUNDING AND WE AREN'T SEEING.

I MEAN, WHAT DO WE HAVE? 17 SCHOOLS AND ALL.

17, 18, 17 OR 18 AND 13 ARE.

BELOW GRADE.

HOW ARE WE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THE SAME CONVERSATIONS AND NOT SEE THE IMPROVEMENT THAT WILL DRAW PEOPLE IN TO WANT TO LIVE HERE AND GO TO OUR SCHOOLS? AND HONESTLY, I WAS STILL POKING AROUND AND I JUST ASKED MISS IGNACIO ON ONE OF THESE AND MY COMPUTER IS GOING TO DIE.

IT IS THE SEPTEMBER 23RD BOARD BRIEF THAT GOES INTO ALL THE ALL THE RESULTS, AND IT HAS A REFERENCE TO SEPTEMBER 9TH, 2022, BOARD BRIEF, PRELIMINARY EXCUSE ME, PRELIMINARY SCHOOL ACCREDITATION RESULTS.

AND I CLICK IT AND IT SAYS BOARD ITEM NOT APPROVED FOR REVIEW.

SO I GUESS THEN MY CONCERN IS, IS WE KNOW THERE ARE 13 SCHOOLS, BUT WE HAVE NO DATA TO REVIEW.

IS THAT CORRECT? WELL, THERE'S DEFINITELY DATA.

OKAY. UM, I'M NOT SURE WHY IT'S NOT ON ESB, BUT.

YEAH, PROBABLY A BROKEN LINK, BUT NOT APPROVED FOR REVIEW.

I DON'T. I DON'T KNOW WHY IT'S NOT ON ESB, BUT GO AHEAD.

DR.. YES, I THINK MAYBE THAT IF WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING TO BETTER EXPLAIN ABOUT ACADEMIC REVIEW BECAUSE THERE'S 13 THAT WE'RE WORKING TO SUPPORT AND THAT THERE ARE FOUR THAT ARE IN MORE OF AN INTENSIVE STATE WITH THEIR DATA.

SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CAUTIOUS AS TO HOW WE IDENTIFY OUR SCHOOLS.

BUT IF THAT LINK IS BROKEN, WE CAN DEFINITELY PROVIDE CITY COUNCIL WITH THE DATA AROUND THE SCHOOLS THAT ARE ACTUALLY IN ACADEMIC IMPROVEMENT AND THOSE THAT OTHER HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL NEEDS IN CERTAIN AREAS, MAYBE IT BE SCIENCE AND THAT SORT OF THING.

[02:25:01]

THANK YOU. I'D APPRECIATE THAT.

I JUST I UNDERSTAND THE BIG PICTURE OF THE BUILDINGS AND EVERYTHING.

WE NEED TO GET THE CORRECT, YOU KNOW, TO BE SUCCESSFUL HERE.

BUT WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT, THIS IS ABOUT ACADEMICS AND THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF OUR KIDS.

AND SO.

THIS IS THIS IS CITY COUNCIL TRYING TO SUPPORT YOU ALL IN YOUR DECISION MAKING WITH THE MONEY THAT WE GIVE.

RIGHT. BECAUSE YOU'RE 30% OF OUR BUDGET.

SO. MORE INFORMATION WOULD BE GREAT ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO GO ABOUT GETTING BACK ON TRACK.

THANK YOU. WELL, WE ARE ACTUALLY ON.

IF YOU WANT TO TUNE IN TO OUR NEXT MEETING ON MARCH 16TH, WE'RE GOING TO DO SOME IN DEPTH DIVING ON OUR ON OUR KPIS FROM OUR STRATEGIC PLAN.

HOWEVER, AND ACTUALLY, I MIGHT NEED STAFF TO CHIME IN ON THIS.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE EVER GONE ON TO LOOK AT THE EQUITY DASHBOARD ON OUR WEBSITE, BUT THERE WILL BE AN UPDATE TO THAT GIVEN OUR NEW.

DATA, CORRECT? DR..

YES. YES, MA'AM. SO THAT IS ANOTHER SOURCE WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE ACADEMIC DATA.

BUT YES, THAT IS AN IMPORTANT DISCUSSION AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE.

IS YOURS RELATED TO THAT? OKAY, MR. CHAPMAN.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND I APPRECIATE THE COMMENT BY VICE MAYOR.

I GUESS MY ONLY ADDITIONAL QUESTION IS.

MIGHT BE A KIND OF SIMPLE ONE, BUT OUTSIDE OF KIND OF THE FUNDING PIECE.

KIND OF GENERALLY SPEAKING, YOU KNOW, ARE THERE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE CITY TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL WRAPAROUND SERVICES OR SUPPORTS THAT THE CITY DOES ON THE CITY SIDE FOR THOSE SCHOOL COMMUNITIES? MAYBE THAT'S A CONVERSATION FOR CITY SCHOOLS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT WHERE WE KIND OF HONE IN ON CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS AND SAY, HEY, WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT.

HOWEVER, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S THERE'S A CONVERSATION FOR THAT, BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT COULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE WE DISCUSS AND SEE IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT THAT COULD HAPPEN.

YEAH, I MEAN, I WOULD SAY THE ANSWER IS YES.

AND I THINK WE WOULD JUST HAVE TO.

YEAH, WE WE NEED TO WE WOULD HAVE TO STRATEGIZE AROUND THAT BECAUSE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT.

YOU KNOW, MANY OF THE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE WITH OUR STUDENTS, LIKE THEY'RE NOT JUST SCHOOL RELATED.

AND SO HOW DO WE.

PULL EVERYBODY IN THAT WE CAN, AND THAT WOULD INCLUDE THE CITY.

ALL RIGHT. DR. SIMPSON.

BAIRD. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF CIRCLE BACK TO THE CONVERSATION THAT DR.

RIEF STARTED TAKING US ON.

AND AND THANK YOU FOR THAT AND BRING US TO A PRODUCTIVE STANDPOINT.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT, BECAUSE WE ALL ARE VERY COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING OUR SCHOOLS AND GETTING THEM IN THE DIRECTION THEY WANT TO GO IN.

I ALSO WANTED TO THANK MR. PETTIJOHN AND YOUR TEAM FOR FOR FOR FULLY FUNDING THE COMBINED FUNDS BUDGET.

AGAIN, I THINK THIS IS A REALLY STRONG BUDGET AND IT'S THE REALLY THE RESULT OF A LOT OF, I THINK, GOOD COLLABORATION BETWEEN STAFF AND SCHOOL BOARD.

SO I'M REALLY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT WE ALL PUT INTO THAT.

I ALSO LIKE DR.

RIEF WATCH THE YOUR CIP WORK SESSION AND WAS REALLY STRUCK BY JUST LIKE HOW MUCH DISCONNECT THERE WAS, SORT OF HOW IT GOT TO THAT POINT.

AND WE MAYBE IT'S ON US THAT WE DIDN'T COMMUNICATE CERTAIN THINGS OR THERE JUST I GUESS WEREN'T SHARED EXPECTATIONS.

AND THAT WAS REALLY A SURPRISING TO ME.

AND SO LIKE DR.

RIEF, I'VE BEEN TRYING TO THINK LIKE, YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE DO BETTER IN THE COMING YEAR? AND SO I LIKE HER IDEA OF COMING TOGETHER WHEN WE'RE ESTABLISHING OUR BUDGET PRIORITIES.

I ALSO THINK, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST ON THE SCHOOL BOARD SIDE, WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB OF USING OUR LIAISON RELATIONSHIPS TO SHARE REALLY KEY INFORMATION, LIKE EVEN JUST YOUR POINT, VICE MAYOR JACKSON, AROUND ACCREDITATION DATA AND WHERE THE STATUS OF OUR SCHOOLS RIGHT NOW LIKE THAT IS, IS INFORMATION I THINK ISN'T FLOWING.

AND SO MAYBE WE NEED A MORE STRUCTURED PROCESS FOR FOR MAKING SURE THAT INFORMATION GETS TO YOU BECAUSE IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

AND AND AS WE'VE SAID SEVERAL TIMES NOW, YOU ALL ARE IMPORTANT RECRUITING TOOLS FOR FOR OUR SCHOOLS.

AND WE WANT YOU TO TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON.

AND I ADMIT, TOO, I HAVE NOT BEEN FOLLOWING THE CITY SCHOOLS MEETING SO CLOSELY.

SO I'M JUST WONDERING IF THAT'S ANOTHER AVENUE FOR ENSURING THAT THOSE EXPECTATIONS ARE IN LINE, ESPECIALLY AROUND THINGS AROUND THE CIP.

UM, AND THEN MR. PARAJON, I REALLY APPRECIATED YOUR GUIDANCE ON SORT OF THE, THE OR YOUR IDEAS AROUND THE GUIDANCE THAT WE COULD PROVIDE YOU ALL.

AND I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE OUR STAFF TO LIKE IF THERE ARE THINGS YOU NEED FROM US TO BETTER FACILITATE THAT COLLABORATION, IDENTIFYING EFFICIENCIES, IDENTIFYING OVERLAPS, LIKE

[02:30:07]

ALL RIGHT. I HAVE MR GEAR.

AND THEN I THINK WE SHOULD PROBABLY WRAP IT UP SUPER FAST.

MADAM CHAIR. DR. HART.

OKAY, GO AHEAD. SUPER FAST ONE JUST BECAUSE I FORGOT TO MENTION IT WHEN I WAS TALKING ABOUT THE PARENT LIAISONS AND THE IMPORTANCE AND THE NEED FOR THEIR FOR THEIR COMPENSATION. I BELIEVE WE'RE GOING ON 14 YEARS NOW THAT GEORGE WASHINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL HAS HAD A DIFFERENT PARENT LIAISON EVERY SINGLE YEAR SINCE 2009.

SO THERE'S JUST ALWAYS ONE OF THE POINTS THAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE I LEAVE WITH EVERYONE.

OKAY. DR. HART SO I JUST WANTED TO BE ABLE TO TAKE A MOMENT BECAUSE I KNOW WE HADN'T GOTTEN TO IT THROUGH CONVERSATION ABOUT THE THE TWO PROJECTS THAT ARE RECOMMENDED NOT TO BE FUNDED, BECAUSE I REALLY DO WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M ABLE TO SPEAK TO WHAT THAT MEANS FROM A SCHOOL DIVISION STANDPOINT.

SO I KNOW MAYOR WILSON WAS TALKING ABOUT ONE OF THE POTENTIAL SHARED SERVICES SUCH AS OFFICE SPACE OR JUST LOOKING AT OFFICE SPACE.

I DON'T WANT TO SAY SHARED SERVICES.

ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE RECOMMENDED THE FIFTH AND SIXTH FLOOR RENOVATION AT FTD OR FERNANDEZ IS BECAUSE WE CURRENTLY HAVE AN ASSET WHERE THE FIFTH AND SIXTH FLOORS ARE NOT FULLY DEVELOPED. WE CONTINUE TO GET QUESTIONS ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE WERE SPENDING FOR THIS PARTICULAR BUILDING, FOR THIS PARTICULAR LEASE.

AND IN ORDER FOR US TO START MAKING A STRATEGIC MOVE OUT OF THIS BUILDING, WE NEED SOMEWHERE TO GO.

WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD OUT THAT SPACE.

BUT OF COURSE THAT PROJECT WOULD NEED TO BE FUNDED.

AND IF WE DO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD OUT THAT, BUILD FURTHER, BUILD OUT THAT SPACE.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DEPARTMENTAL OFFICES HERE THAT WERE ALREADY PLANNED TO RELOCATE WHEN IT WAS ORIGINALLY PLANNED A FEW YEARS AGO, SO WE WOULD STICK TO THAT SAME GUESS METHOD IN TERMS OF WHO WOULD RELOCATE TO THAT SPACE.

WOULD IT FIT EVERYBODY IN THIS BUILDING? NO, BUT IT WOULD BE A SUBSTANTIAL REDUCTION IN TERMS OF FOOTPRINT HERE AT CENTRAL OFFICE.

I DO KNOW THAT THERE MAY BE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO LOOK AT RECENTLY VACATED SPACES, SO ON AND SO FORTH.

BUT JUST AGAIN, KEEPING IN MIND THAT WE WOULD STILL NEED MONEY TO RENOVATE AND DESIGN THOSE SPACES SPECIFICALLY FOR A SCHOOL NEED.

SO JUST WANTING TO MAKE SURE I MENTIONED THAT.

AND THEN FOR THE LEASE SPACE PIECE, WHICH IS SPECIFIC TO OUR CHANCE FOR CHANGE ACADEMY, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN EXPAND OUR ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAMS. WE CANNOT DO THAT IN THAT CURRENT SPACE.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF CONCERNS WITH THAT CURRENT SPACE, WHETHER IT'S FULL ADA COMPLIANCE, WHETHER IT IS PARKING, WHICH IS NOT GOOD FOR A STAFF LACK OF OUTDOOR SPACE.

SO WE SPEAK ABOUT AN EQUITABLE LEARNING EXPERIENCE.

IT'S NOT THERE FOR CHANCE FOR CHANGE.

AND SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR TEAM HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF FURTHER JUST SOLIDIFY WHY WE PROPOSE THOSE PROJECTS IN THE FIRST PLACE.

AND IT'S NOT SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, THE TEAM PUTS A LOT OF THOUGHT INTO.

WHAT WE DO PUT FORWARD.

EVERY PROJECT THAT WE PUT FORWARD IN THE CIP FROM A SCHOOL STANDPOINT IS A PRIORITY.

SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M SHARING THAT BY NOT FUNDING THOSE TWO PROJECTS, THOSE ARE SOME OF THE POTENTIAL RECOURSES OR POTENTIAL CHALLENGES THAT WE'LL HAVE TO DEAL WITH MOVING FORWARD IN FUTURE BUDGETS OR IN THE FUTURE.

SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO THAT AND I NEED TO SAY, AND WHILE I REALLY APPRECIATE DR.

HART'S FEEDBACK ON THAT, EVERY PROJECT BEING A PRIORITY DOESN'T WORK IN THE CIP.

THAT'S GOT TO BE SUSTAINED.

BOTTOM LINE IS WE HAVE TO MAKE CHOICES.

AND YOU KNOW, I HAVE 20 SOMETHING DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE EVERYONE AS A PRIORITY AND THE REALITY IS IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY.

SO, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO BE PRETTY STRONG IN THIS THIS WORDING.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE START TO READJUST HOW WE THINK ABOUT WHAT IS A THE HIGHEST PRIORITIES, BECAUSE THAT'S THE THINGS THAT HAVE TO GET FUNDED.

NOT THAT ANYTHING IS NOT NOT THAT EVERYTHING IS IMPORTANT AND IS A PRIORITY.

I MEAN, THERE'S LEVELS AT WHICH WE HAVE TO OPERATE.

AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAD WITH THESE TWO PROJECTS.

AND ONE THE ONE PROJECT WAS IN ANY OF WAS IN YOUR PREVIOUS TEN YEAR CIP.

WHICH. WHICH WHICH PROJECT IS THAT? THE CHANGE ONE.

SO I'M NOT I'M NOT DEBATING THE NEED.

I'M WHAT I'M SAYING IS WHEN WE SIT DOWN AND THIS IS WHERE IT HAS TO BE A COMMON THOUGHT PROCESS, IT HAS TO BE AN URGENT NEED TO BE ABLE TO BE FUNDED WHEN IN 2025 WE HAVE THE LARGEST POTENTIAL DEBT SERVICE WE HAVE TO OCCUR.

WE CAN'T JUST ADD TO THAT BECAUSE THERE'S NO FISCAL ABILITY TO MANAGE THAT.

THAT'S KIND OF THE POINT I WAS TRYING TO MAKE IN HOW WE HAVE TO SEQUENCE THESE THINGS.

[02:35:04]

I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT THAT'S THAT'S THE DECISION PROCESS, THAT THAT DOES FALL TO THE CITY, MY OFFICE TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS.

SO CAN I JUMP IN HERE TOO? UM, BECAUSE FIRST OF ALL, I THINK THIS IS AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION.

AND, AND I THINK AS IT RELATES TO BOTH PROJECTS, I THINK I THINK, DR.

HART, YOU'RE SAYING EXACTLY WHAT YOU SHOULD BE SAYING, RIGHT? AND I THINK, JIM, YOU'RE SAYING EXACTLY WHAT YOU SHOULD BE SAYING IN THIS CONVERSATION.

I THINK SPECIFIC TO THE OFFICE SPACE, THIS IS GETTING TO THE POINT THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER.

RIGHT. WE NEED TO COME BACK, I THINK, WITH A JOINT OFFICE STRATEGY FOR CITY AND SCHOOLS.

THERE'S NOTHING SPECIAL ABOUT SCHOOL OFFICE SPACE AND THERE'S NOTHING SPECIAL ABOUT CITY OFFICE SPACE.

AND THIS SHOULD BE A JOINT STRATEGY THAT WE PUT TOGETHER BECAUSE IF YOU'RE PULLING PEOPLE OUT OF HERE, YOU'RE OPENING UP SPACE HERE.

YOU HAVE SIX AND A HALF YEARS LEFT, YEARS LEFT ON THIS LEASE.

SO WHAT'S GOING IN THERE? RIGHT? DO WE HAVE WE HAD A CONVERSATION ON THE CITY NEEDS WHERE WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO CLOSE DOWN CITY HALL FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS AND WE'RE GOING HAVE TO MOVE PEOPLE OUT.

IS THAT FIGURED IN PART OF THIS PHILOSOPHY? WE HAVE TO COME BACK WITH A STRATEGY THAT IS COMPREHENSIVE AND JOINT AND THAT WE'VE ALL THOUGHT THROUGH.

AND THEN WHEN THESE PROJECTS COME FORWARD, IT'S IT'S IT'S PART OF A STRATEGY.

AND I THINK THE SAME IS TRUE ON ON CHANCE FOR CHANGE.

I THINK JIM'S RIGHT THIS IS A NEWER PROJECT.

I, I ASK QUESTIONS ON ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION LAST TIME WE WERE TOGETHER AND I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE TALKING ABOUT THAT FROM A STRATEGY PERSPECTIVE AND YOU'LL YOU'LL COME BACK TO US ABOUT IT. BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A CONVERSATION WE NEED TO HAVE.

WE HAD A CONVERSATION A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO AROUND A JOINTLY OWNED FACILITY ON THE WEST END WHERE THERE'S POTENTIALLY REAL ESTATE THAT'S GOING TO BE FREED UP OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS.

IF YOU GUYS ARE LOOKING FOR REAL ESTATE, THAT MAY BE PART OF THAT CONVERSATION.

I THINK THESE ARE THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT I THINK WE HAVE TO PLAN COLLECTIVELY.

WE HAVE TO PLAN JOINTLY.

IT CAN'T JUST BE BUDGET REQUESTS THAT KIND OF GET THROWN IN.

SO. I'LL JUST LEAVE IT THERE.

I HAVE. WHAT I HOPE IS JUST A SIMPLE QUESTION IS IF THIS IS NOT FUNDED, WHAT BECOMES OF CHANCE FOR CHANGE IN THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR? IS THEIR LEASE UP? CAN THEY STAY IN THEIR CURRENT FACILITY AT THEIR CURRENT CAPACITY? JUST AS A PRACTICAL MATTER, WHERE DOES THAT SCHOOL STAND? THEY CAN STAY IN THEIR IN THEIR CURRENT FACILITY.

I AGAIN, I GUESS FOR ME, THE BIGGER CONVERSATION IS THAT THAT ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMING TIES INTO A NUMBER OF OTHER INITIATIVES THAT OUR TEAM HAS BEEN ASKED TO LOOK INTO, WHETHER IT'S, YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE SUPPORT STUDENTS THAT MAY HAVE HAD SOME DISCIPLINARY DIFFICULTIES AND AND THIS MAY BE THEIR PATH FORWARD. AND JUST REALIZING THAT THE CURRENT SPACE DOES NOT ALLOW FOR MUCH GROWTH.

SO AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S DEEMED HIGH PRIORITY, LOW PRIORITY, HOWEVER, WE'RE GOING TO CALL IT FROM A FROM AN EDUCATIONAL PERSPECTIVE, WHEN WE SEE AN INEQUITABLE SCHOOL FACILITY, WE DO CONSIDER THAT SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO BRING FORWARD IN CONVERSATION, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OUR STRATEGIC PLAN IS THE EMPHASIS IS ON EQUITY FOR ALL.

SO LONG ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION.

BUT YES, THAT THAT THEY CAN STAY IN THE CURRENT FACILITY EXTENDING THE LEASE, CORRECT, ERICA? YES. AND SO I GUESS, MADAM CHAIR.

YES. OH, I'M SORRY.

I HEARD SOMEONE SPEAKING.

I WANTED TO KIND OF SPEAK TO THE ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM FOR CFC.

IF I DON'T KNOW IF I'M CUTTING OVER SOMEONE OR NOT, IF THEY WANT TO GO FIRST.

BUT I DEFINITELY WANT TO SPEAK TO THE IMPORTANCE OF WHY WE HAVE THAT IN THE REQUEST.

GO AHEAD. SO, YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED THIS EVENING A LOT AROUND INFRASTRUCTURES AND BUILDINGS AND PROCESSES AND SYSTEMS THAT WE NEED TO PUT IN PLACE MOVING FORWARD. AND I TRULY UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AND TO GET THAT WORK DONE.

AND THOSE INVOLVE BRICK AND MORTAR.

BUT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WITH CANCER CHANGE AND ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS ARE CHILDREN'S LIVES AND CHILDREN'S EDUCATIONAL NEEDS THAT ARE IMMEDIATE NEEDS. SO PUSHING THOSE DOWN THE ROADS ARE GOING TO FURTHER IMPACT OUR STUDENTS ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, THEIR SOCIAL EMOTIONAL GROWTH.

AND I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE SEEN VERY DIFFERENTLY THAN MAYBE ANOTHER INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE OFFICE SPACE.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CHILDREN WHO ARE IN NEED OF SERVICES, AND BY HAVING THAT LIMITED KIND OF FACILITY, IT LIMITS WHAT WE CAN DO.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD MANY MEETINGS WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD ABOUT WHAT THEY EXPECT AROUND, FOR INSTANCE, BLACK MALES OR LATINA MALES AND ALL OF THESE OTHER PROGRAMS AND CONCERNS THAT WE'RE HEARING AND SEEING ABOUT EVEN SOME WE'VE TALKED ABOUT TONIGHT AROUND DISCIPLINE.

[02:40:05]

SO I'M NOT SAYING THAT TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, OTHER THINGS ARE NOT A PRIORITY AND IT'S NOT ABOUT THAT.

BUT I WANT US TO UNDERSTAND THAT SOMETIMES WHEN WE'RE SEEING THEM AS A PRIORITY, IT'S IMPACTING CHILDREN'S THEIR LIVES, RIGHT? IT'S IMPACTING THEIR EDUCATION.

AND PUTTING SOMETHING LIKE THAT OFF A YEAR IS GOING TO FURTHER PUT THEM BEHIND.

AND THAT THAT TO ME IS JUST SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO BRING UP AND HAVE TO ADDRESS.

SO I HEARD THE CONVERSATION ABOUT PRIORITIZING WORK AND PROJECTS AND THAT SORT OF THING, BUT THIS SPECIFIC ONE IS TALKING ABOUT OUR STUDENTS. AND THEIR NEEDS.

AND I THINK WE NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF THAT WITH THIS.

HOLD ON. HOLD ON A SECOND.

HOLD ON A SECOND. HOLD ON A SECOND.

SO I WANT TO RESPOND TO YOUR QUESTION BECAUSE I THINK YOUR QUESTION WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW, LOGISTICALLY.

UM. IS IT ADEQUATE? LIKE, IS IT GOING AWAY IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING? I THINK THE ANSWER TO THAT IS NO, NOT NOT IMMEDIATELY.

UM. IS IT MEETING THE NEEDS OF WHAT WE WANT? CHANCE FOR CHANGE TO BE? NO, IT DOESN'T.

SO I THINK IT'S A TWO SIDED QUESTION.

MY APOLOGIES IF I MISUNDERSTOOD THE QUESTION.

NO, NO, NO. EVERYBODY'S FINE.

MADAM CHAIR. YES, MR. MAYOR. I APPRECIATE THAT.

AND. AND I, UM.

I'M INCLINED TO AGREE WITH EVERYTHING YOU SAID.

THE PROBLEM IS, I JUST HEARD IT.

FOR THE FIRST TIME.

A COUPLE OF MINUTES AGO.

YOU AND I MEET MONTHLY AT CITY SCHOOLS.

THIS HAS NEVER BEEN PLACED ON THE AGENDA.

I'VE READ THROUGH THE ENTIRE OPERATING BUDGET PROPOSAL, A COUPLE GLANCING MENTIONS OF CHANCE FOR CHANGE I CAN'T EVEN FIND IN YOUR WEBSITE HOW MANY KIDS ARE AT CHANCE FOR CHANGE RIGHT NOW. AND TRUST ME, I'VE SEARCHED AND I KNOW YOUR WEBSITE PRETTY DARN WELL.

RIGHT. SO IF THERE IS A STORY TO BE TOLD ON ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION AND ABOUT A CHANGE IN POLICY AND A DIFFERENT DIRECTION THAT REQUIRES SIGNIFICANT CAPITAL INVESTMENT, LAST TIME I'M CHECKED, I'M THE MAYOR OF THE CITY AND I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

SO LIKE, THIS IS THIS IS A CONVERSATION THAT WE NEED TO HAVE COLLECTIVELY AND JOINTLY, ESPECIALLY BEFORE SOMETHING JUST SHOWS UP IN A CIP PROPOSAL. AND THEN WE'RE GETTING TOLD TONIGHT THAT HORRIBLE THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN TO KIDS IF THIS PROPOSAL DOESN'T GET FUNDED.

THAT SHOULD NOT BE THE CASE AND THAT SAYS SOMETHING'S BROKEN IN THE PROCESS.

WELL, I DON'T THINK WHAT IS BEING SAID IS HORRIBLE THINGS WILL HAPPEN TO KIDS.

I THINK. I WANT TO GO BACK TO MY INITIAL POINT, WHICH IS IN TERMS OF THE ACTUAL FUNCTION AND PHYSICAL SPACE, IT IS NOT AN IMMEDIATE THREAT.

I THINK WHAT IS BEING RELAYED HERE TONIGHT, YOU KNOW, SHOULD IT HAVE BEEN RELAYED SOONER OR LATER? WHAT WE ALL ARE GETTING TONIGHT, HOPEFULLY, IS THAT THAT IS A, UM, FACILITY AND PROBABLY ONLY AN EXAMPLE OF ONE OF MANY THAT IS NOT MEETING THE ACTUAL.

NEEDS. OF WHAT? WE WOULD LIKE CHANCE FOR CHANGE TO BE.

AND THE DISCUSSION AROUND ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION HAS BEEN ONGOING.

I THINK WHAT'S MISSING FROM I WILL EVEN TAKE IT A LITTLE DEEPER THAN THIS.

WHAT'S MISSING IS THE FULL UNDERSTANDING OF OUR HIGH SCHOOL PROJECT.

AND HOW THAT PLAYS A ROLE IN WHAT WE'RE ENVISIONING, BECAUSE EVEN THAT CHANCE FOR CHANGE IS A SMALL PIECE OF A BIGGER ISSUE.

SO IT'S, UM.

EDUCATE ME, PLEASE.

NOBODY'S TRIED TO EDUCATE YOU ON WHAT ALL OF THIS LIKE.

WELL, I THINK BUT WE.

OKAY, I GET YOU.

AND I THINK LIKE WHAT I SAID AT THE LAST MEETING, IF WE WANT TO HAVE MORE AND HERE'S HONESTLY WHAT I THINK HAPPENS, IF WE'RE ALL GOING TO BE CANDID, I'M GOING TO BE CANDID HERE. I THINK A LOT OF TIMES WE TALK ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS OTHER THAN THE ACTUAL EDUCATION OF THE KIDS.

AND SO MAYBE A SOLUTION WE NEED TO GET TO IS ALL OF US.

I'M GOING TO SAY EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US TALKING MORE ABOUT THE EDUCATION OF THE KIDS, BECAUSE WE GET BOGGED DOWN IN SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS.

[02:45:04]

IF WE DON'T TALK ABOUT THAT, I DON'T KNOW HOW IT'S GOING TO CHANGE.

SO WE GET BOGGED DOWN IN THE FACILITIES.

WE GET BOGGED DOWN IN PHILOSOPHIES ON, YOU KNOW, WHO'S WORKING WITH THE KIDS AND.

WE REALLY GOT TO UNDERSTAND THE EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF THESE KIDS BECAUSE AND WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT IT AND WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT WHY THEY'RE NOT ACHIEVING.

AND WE HAVE TO BE HONEST ABOUT THE ACADEMIC LACK OF ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT.

BECAUSE WE'RE NOT DOING IT.

I JUST DON'T SEE US DOING IT.

WE HAVE TO LIKE IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT I WILL LEAVE THIS SEAT COMPLETELY, COMPLETELY DISAPPOINTED ABOUT IS THAT WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT OF THE OF THESE KIDS AND WHAT IT TAKES.

AND I WILL TEAR UP RIGHT HERE BECAUSE OF IT.

YOU KNOW, ONE THING THAT I ALWAYS SAY, WHAT IS THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT THE SLAVE MASTER WANTED TO KEEP AWAY FROM THE SLAVE? A BOOK.

THE ABILITY TO READ.

AND WE HAVE FOUGHT IN THIS COMMUNITY ABOUT EVERYTHING.

OTHER THAN THAT. SO WHAT I WOULD SAY IS, YES, LET'S TALK ABOUT ALL THE THINGS.

BUT WE GOT TO FIGURE THIS OUT.

BECAUSE WE CAN KEEP THEM. WE CAN KEEP THEM SAFE WITH POLICE OR NOT.

WE CAN KEEP THEM SAFE WITH HAVING GUNS OR NOT.

BUT THERE IS NO KID OF COLOR IN THIS WORLD WHO IS SAFE WITHOUT BEING EDUCATED.

SO. I THINK WE ALL GOT TO GET TO THAT.

THAT IS OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY AS A COMMUNITY IN MY MIND.

IF OUR KIDS ARE GOING TO HAVE A FUTURE.

I APPRECIATE ALL THIS CONVERSATION.

I THINK EVERYBODY EVERYBODY HERE TONIGHT MADE VALID POINTS ABOUT HOW WE CAN IMPROVE.

AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO DO IT.

BUT WE ALL GOT TO DIG IN AND START BEING, LIKE, SUPER HONEST.

SO I DON'T WANT TO KEEP US HERE FOREVER.

I'M LIKE SHAKING AT THIS POINT.

AND I JUST HOPE WE CAN REFLECT ON THAT, REFLECT ON EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED HERE TONIGHT.

I THINK WE CAN, YOU KNOW.

WHEN IT COMES TO THE JOINT ISSUE, I THINK WE PICK ONE THING.

LET'S JUST PICK ONE THING TO FOCUS ON.

AND JUST MAKE MOVES.

BUT ALL OF THAT IN THE BACK OF OUR MINDS WITH ALL OF THAT, I KNOW THE CITY HAS LOTS OF OTHER PRIORITIES.

WE HAVE TO EDUCATE THE CHILDREN OF THIS COMMUNITY.

IF THERE'S GOING TO BE ANY RACIAL EQUITY.

THAT'S THE TICKET.

WE'RE A WEALTHY, WEALTHY LOCALITY.

DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME.

IT JUST DOESN'T.

I'M SORRY. YOU KNOW, YOU SAID TO THROW THAT OUT THERE, SO.

LET'S GET TO WORK AND THINK.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT. I'M SURE.

MR. CHAPMAN. THANK YOU.

UM, I APPRECIATE YOUR WORDS.

I APPRECIATE YOUR PASSION.

YOU KNOW, YOUR FOCUS HAS NEVER CHANGED.

ABOUT FOCUSING ON OUR STUDENTS AND PARTICULARLY OUR MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS.

AS I COME TO THESE MEETINGS.

STUDENTS ARE IN MY HEAD, BUT.

HOW WE GIVE THEM FROM THE COUNCIL SIDE, HOW WE MAKE SURE THE RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE.

TO MAKE SURE.

WE FIND, WE PRIORITIZE.

WHAT WE CAN.

OVER THE YEARS, THAT'S BEEN WHAT WE TALK ABOUT, WHAT WE LOOK AT.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK AFTER THIS MEETING.

HAVE ANOTHER SERIES OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT ISSUES AND HOW WE FUND THEM.

[02:50:04]

AND I THINK THE THE STARK REALITY IS AND THE MANAGER SAID IT.

HOW WE'VE BEEN OPERATING IS NOT NECESSARILY TENABLE INTO THE.

THE NEAR FUTURE. NOT SUSTAINABLE.

COUNCILWOMAN BAGLEY AND AT A MEETING OF CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS LAST LAST NIGHT.

AND. YOU HAD MEMBERS EXPRESSING ABOUT THEIR FEAR THAT THEY WILL BE NO LONGER IN THIS COMMUNITY, FRANKLY, BECAUSE OF THE COST.

THAT'S REAL. AND SO.

YOU KNOW. I WANT TO BE THERE WITH YOU.

BUT I NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO FUND.

AFTER THIS MEETING IS OVER, I NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO FUND.

WHAT DOES, BUT ALSO WHAT DASH DOES.

ALSO HOW TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT INCOMES THAT CAN STILL LIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY.

DIFFERENT OF DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS.

I DO NOT WANT YOU TO THINK OR YOU OR ANYBODY LISTENING TO THINK THAT I'M DISMISSING WHAT YOU JUST SAID BECAUSE IT'S POWERFUL AND IT'S NECESSARY.

AND I'M SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE YOU AND OTHER MEMBERS WHO THINK LIKE YOU ON THIS SCHOOL BOARD, BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN OTHER SCHOOL BOARDS THAT ARE NOT FOCUSED ON KIDS.

AND YOU GUYS DEFINITELY ARE.

BUT I NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE THE RESOURCES.

WHETHER IT'S OURS, WHETHER WE'RE LOBBYING FOR YOU AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING THE QUESTIONS THAT I AM, BECAUSE I NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE RESOURCES BECAUSE IT DOESN'T GET DONE WITHOUT SOME OF THOSE RESOURCES AS MUCH.

GOODWILL AS WE WANT TO PUT FORWARD.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO ATTRACT THE TEACHERS THAT WE WANT WITHOUT THE RESOURCE.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO BUILD THE SPACES THAT WE WANT WITHOUT THE GOOD PLANNING AND RESOURCES.

AND I WILL BE HONEST, OUR COMMUNITY IS PROBABLY NOT VERY FAR FROM LOSING FAITH THAT WE CAN COME UP WITH A RESOURCES TO KEEP MANY OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE IN THE CITY GOING, WHETHER IT'S WHETHER IT'S TRANSIT, WHETHER IT'S HOUSING, WHETHER IT'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WHATEVER IT IS, PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT THEIR BILLS AND SAYING, WHY AM I STILL HERE? AND WE'VE SEEN PEOPLE LEAVE THE CITY DURING THE PANDEMIC.

WE CONTINUE TO SEE PEOPLE LEAVE EVERY YEAR.

MY COLLEAGUES WILL TELL YOU, WE GET NUMEROUS EMAILS ABOUT THE TAX RATE, ABOUT TAX INCREASES, ABOUT BILLS.

AND SO, YES, WE.

I AM VERY DIRECT WITH THE STAFF THAT WE NEED TO FIGURE THIS OUT.

AND FIGURING OUT MEANS GOING TO EACH OF OUR PARTNERS AND I'VE SAID THIS ON OUR BUDGET, OUR BUDGET CONVERSATIONS FROM THE START.

EACH OF OUR PARTNERS IN TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE NEED TO SEE AND HEAR FROM THEM IN TERMS OF HOW WE'RE GOING TO GET THROUGH THIS, BECAUSE WE'VE GOT TO DO IT TOGETHER.

WE'VE GOT TO GO TO WOOMERA AND SAY, WE NEED YOU TO GET IT TOGETHER.

WE'VE GOT TO GO TO FOLKS AND SAY, GIVE US GIVE US YOUR PLAN.

WE COME TO YOU AND SAY, HOW CAN WE WORK BETTER TOGETHER? HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE THINGS ARE EFFICIENT SO THAT WE CAN SHOW THE PUBLIC THAT WE ARE STRETCHING THEIR DOLLAR AS FAR AS IT CAN GO AND NOT JUST COMING WITH OUR HANDS OPEN, ASKING FOR MORE.

YOU KNOW, FOLKS CONTINUOUSLY TELL US HOW MUCH THEY'VE SEEN THEIR THEIR PROPERTY TAXES RISE, THEIR ASSESSMENTS RISE.

AND WHERE IS IT GOING? WHAT'S IT WHAT'S HAPPENING? WE TELL THEM ALL THE GOOD THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THIS COMMUNITY, ALL THE THINGS THAT FOLKS, STAFF AND POLICYMAKERS ALIKE ARE WORKING TO DO FOR ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY. BUT WHEN WE COME TO THESE MEETINGS AND WE ARE WE ARE LOOKING TO MAKE SURE NOT ONLY WE SERVE THE CHILDREN NOW.

BUT WE SERVE THE CHILDREN IN THE FUTURE AND ALL OF THE CHILDREN IN THE FUTURE.

BUT IT HAS TO BE IN A WAY THAT WE ARE ABLE TO SUSTAIN.

NOT ONLY WHAT WE DO WITH APPS, BUT WHAT WE DO WITH OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT SO THAT THE SAME INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE EDUCATING OUR STUDENTS ARE NOT SEEING THEM FALL OFF AND NOT HAVE THE SUPPORT AND SERVICES AFTER THE SCHOOL BELL ENDS.

SO I WANT TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.

THAT'S YOU KNOW, I AM SO HAPPY OUR SCHOOL BOARD CHAIR SAID WHAT SHE SAID.

BECAUSE IT DOES FRAME THESE CONVERSATIONS AROUND OUR CHILDREN.

BUT, COLLEAGUES, WE HAVE TO.

HAVE OUR MAKE SURE OUR PUBLIC, WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAVE CHILDREN, UNDERSTAND THAT THEY WILL BE HERE IN TEN YEARS.

AND WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW IS SUSTAINABLE, WHETHER IT'S PLANNING, WHETHER IT'S PROGRAMS. THAT HAS TO BE THE WAY.

[02:55:05]