[00:00:04]
OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.
SO GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO OUR MAY 4TH, 2023 SCHOOL BOARD MEETING.
I'M CALLING THE MEETING TO ORDER AT 6:33 P.M.
I WILL DO A ROLL CALL JUST SO WE ARE KNOW WHICH BOARD MEMBERS ARE PRESENT THIS EVENING.
ABDUL AL-NUBI PRESENT JACINTA GREENE HERE.
OKAY, WE WILL QUICKLY OBSERVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
[3. Adopt the Agenda for the May 4, 2023 School Board Meeting]
OKAY. DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE AGENDA? MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE THAT WE ADOPT THE AGENDA FOR THE MAY 4TH, 2023 SCHOOL BOARD MEETING.UM, ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES REMINDED ME THIS EVENING THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO LET EVERYONE KNOW.
WHEN NOT TO GET UP AND LEAVE YET.
OKAY. BUT THAT'S HOW THAT'S HOW WE'LL DO IT THIS EVENING.
[4. Washington Post 2023 Principal of the Year: Dr. Liza Burrell-Aldana]
TEACHER OF THE YEAR.ALL RIGHT. SO I AM PLEASED TO SHARE THIS EVENING THAT DR.
BERYL ALDANA, THE PRINCIPAL AT MOUNT VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL, HAS BEEN NAMED THE 2023 ALEXANDRIA CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR, AND SHE HAS BEEN NAMED THE WASHINGTON POST PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR.
I ASKED BOTH AWARDEES ACTUALLY, IF THEY WANTED TO SHARE REMARKS, AND DR.
BUT BEFORE SHE DOES, I WOULD JUST TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HER.
DR. ALDANA STRONG LEADERSHIP AND DEDICATION TO HER STUDENTS WERE NOT ONLY RECOGNIZED BY THE DIVISION, BUT ALSO OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY AND OBVIOUSLY THE REGION.
THIS MAY NOT COME AS A SURPRISE, AS SOME OF YOU MAY ALREADY KNOW, BUT SHE, AS THE WASHINGTON POST PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR, WAS AWARDED REGIONALLY AND RECOGNIZED THIS PAST WEEK.
SO I'M TRULY HONORED TO BE HERE WITH YOU THIS EVENING, DR.
ALDANA, AND RECOGNIZE YOU ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD AS YOU HAVE MADE HISTORY IN BEING NAMED THE FIRST ALEXANDRIA CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS PRINCIPAL TO BE NAMED THE WASHINGTON POST PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR.
IT WAS REALLY INTERESTING TO LISTENING TO A VIDEO THAT WAS PREPARED ABOUT DR.
ALDANA. SHE'S MADE AN IMPACT AND SHE'S MADE HISTORY IN MANY WAYS.
[00:05:03]
WOMAN IN LEADERSHIP AND A LATINA WOMAN IN LEADERSHIP AND A LATINA WOMAN WHO HAS WON THIS HONOR.SO I WOULD HAVE TO APPLAUD YOU FOR THAT AS WELL.
SHE WAS APPOINTED MOUNT VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL PRINCIPAL IN 2017, AND UNDER HER LEADERSHIP, MOUNT VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL TRANSFORMED INTO THE ONLY FULL DUAL LANGUAGE SCHOOL WITHIN ALEXANDRIA CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
ALDANA HAS MORE THAN 25 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AS AN EDUCATOR WITH 13 YEARS SERVING AS A TEACHER OR INSTRUCTIONAL LEADER IN DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAMS. I THINK WE HAVE TO APPLAUD AND SAY 25 YEARS THESE DAYS IS A BIG DEAL.
THE PROFESSION IS REALLY HARD.
AND I CAN I CAN TELL YOU, I DON'T SEE HER GOING ANYWHERE ANYTIME SOON.
SO THANK YOU FOR THAT AS WELL.
SHE'S EFFECTIVELY MANAGES A LINGUISTICALLY AND CULTURALLY DIVERSE STAFF OF OVER 100 INDIVIDUALS AT MOUNT VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL, WHICH INCLUDES RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF BILINGUAL EDUCATORS WHO MAKE THE SCHOOL'S DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM POSSIBLE.
BERYL ALDANA FOR PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR UNDERSCORES HOW SHE ALSO FOSTERS A STRONG COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MOUNT VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL, PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION AND OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO SUPPORT STAFF AND STUDENTS.
THEIR COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS LED TO LAUNCHING AND OR EXPANDING BLESSINGS IN A BACKPACK, WHICH PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH FOOD EACH WEEKEND AND FROM NEIGHBORHOOD AND FROM NEIGHBORS TO FRIENDS, WHICH IS A FAMILY ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVE THAT BRINGS PARENTS FROM DIFFERENT LINGUISTIC AND CULTURAL BACKGROUNDS TOGETHER TO ENGAGE IN COMMUNITY BUILDING AND SHARED LEARNING OF SPANISH AND ENGLISH.
DR. BERYL ALDANA WAS BORN IN COLOMBIA AND EARNED A BACHELOR'S IN FOREIGN LANGUAGES FROM UNIVERSIDAD DEL VALLE IN CALI, AND SHE COMPLETED A MASTER'S IN TEACHING AND EDUCATION LEADERSHIP FROM THE SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL TRAINING AND GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY, RESPECTIVELY.
BERYL ALDANA. WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU.
GOOD EVENING, DOCTOR. QUIET AND GOOD EVENING, SCHOOL BOARD.
I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SAY THANK YOU.
BECAUSE THANKS TO YOUR SUPPORT, I'M AT MOUNT VERNON, AND WE HAVE AN AMAZING SCHOOL THAT NOW HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR WORK THAT IS DONE THERE. SO I WANT TO THANK THE SCHOOL DIVISION.
AND THIS IS A RECOGNITION FOR EVERYBODY, FOR ALL PRINCIPALS IN CPS, FOR OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE AMAZING IN OUR FAMILIES AND FOR OUR LEADERSHIP, BECAUSE WITHOUT YOU GUYS, WE WOULD NOT BE THERE.
SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[00:10:09]
ALL RIGHT.ON WITH OUR CONTINUED CELEBRATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS.
[5. ACPS Teacher of the Year: Nathan Hershberger ]
NEXT UP, WE HAVE OUR TEACHER OF THE YEAR.AND OUR TEACHER OF THE YEAR THIS YEAR IS MR. NATHAN HERSHBERGER.
DID WE GET A PICTURE? LET'S GET A PICTURE.
SO ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD, I'M PLEASED TO RECOGNIZE MR. HERSHBERGER FOR BEING NAMED A 2023 ALEXANDRIA CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TEACHER OF THE YEAR.
STARTING OFF HIS CAREER IN 2014, FIRST AS A THIRD GRADE TEACHER AT WILLIAM RAMSEY AND NOW A FIFTH GRADE TEACHER AT GEORGE MASON ELEMENTARY. MR. HERSHBERGER HAS TIRELESSLY WORKED TO IMPACT STUDENT LEARNING.
HE LEADS HIS STUDENTS IN DEVELOPING THEIR SCIENCE VOCABULARY, ENGAGING IN SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS, COLLECTING DATA TO TEST THEIR HYPOTHESIS, AS WELL AS PARTICIPATING IN PROJECT BASED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES BEYOND THE CLASSROOM.
MR. HERSHBERGER'S EXPLICIT TEACHING AND EFFECTIVENESS RESULTED IN OUR STUDENTS COLLECTIVELY EARNING AN 86% PASS RATE ON THE STANDARDS OF LEARNING ASSESSMENT THIS YEAR. HE VALUES BUILDING MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS WITH HIS STUDENTS THAT ARE TRUSTING AND SUPPORTIVE.
HE'S ABLE TO HELP HIS STUDENTS IN CONQUERING BARRIERS THAT THEY FACE BY MAINTAINING CONTACT WITH PARENTS, FRIENDS AND FELLOW TEACHERS WHO ALSO SUPPORT THE STUDENTS THROUGH GETTING TO KNOW HIS STUDENTS INDIVIDUALLY.
FOLLOWING THE PRINCIPLE THAT LEARNING AND PERSONAL GROWTH CAN ALSO OCCUR OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM.
HE HAS VOWED FOR AS LONG AS HE IS TEACHING TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE.
MR. HERSHBERGER VOLUNTEERS HIS TIME AFTER SCHOOL CO-LEADING THE GENTLEMAN'S CLUB WHERE HE AND STUDENTS PERFORM VARIOUS COMMUNITY SERVICE ACTIVITIES SUCH AS VISITING RETIREMENT HOMES DURING THE HOLIDAYS AND NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUP PROJECTS.
HE'S TAKEN STUDENTS ON A TRIP TO GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY, WHERE THEY RECEIVED A TOUR AND WERE PROVIDED WITH BOTH FINANCIAL AND NON-FINANCIAL RESOURCES THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO THEM IN THE FUTURE.
IT IS TRULY AN HONOR TO HAVE YOU AS A PART OF THE COMMUNITY, MR. HERSHBERGER. YOUR DEDICATION TO ADDRESS BARRIERS TO LEARNING AND CONTINUOUS SUPPORT TO OUR STUDENTS EXHIBITS YOUR TRUE PASSION.
CONGRATULATIONS. WE'RE SO PROUD OF YOU.
THANK YOU. SO I'LL SAY A FEW THINGS.
SO FOR ME TO GET THIS RECOGNITION, IT'S REALLY, REALLY AN HONOR.
BE HONEST. UM, SO THANK YOU GUYS VERY MUCH.
MEAN, THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME A CHANCE.
GIVE ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO, YOU KNOW, SHOW WHAT I CAN ACTUALLY DO AND BE THE TEACHER THAT I CAN BE.
[00:15:39]
SO JUST THANK YOU AGAIN TO OUR TWO HONOREES AND I'LL JUST SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR STAFF.INCREASINGLY, I THINK HAS CHANGED SO MUCH AND HAS BECOME SO DIFFICULT IN A LOT OF WAYS, IN WAYS THAT IT NEVER HAS BEEN BEFORE. BUT I THINK IT'S OBVIOUS THAT OUR PEOPLE SHOW UP EVERY DAY AND THEY CONTINUE TO DIG IN AND CONTINUE TO WORK HARD. SO WE'RE WE DEFINITELY APPRECIATE YOU.
[6. Public Comments]
UM, AND.OKAY. MAY WE PLEASE HAVE RYAN MORALES AS OUR FIRST SPEAKER? OKAY. ONE LAST TIME.
OKAY. SHOULD WE MOVE ON? LET'S MOVE ON TO OUR SECOND SPEAKER, JAY LYNN VAN PELT.
HI, MY NAME IS JALEN VAN PELT.
I'M A PARENT HERE AND I'M ALSO AN EDUCATOR.
I'VE BEEN AN EDUCATOR FOR 23 YEARS.
I DO NOT HAVE WRITTEN COMMENTS AND I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.
IT'S JUST BEEN ONE OF THOSE WEEKS.
BUT I'M HERE TO SPEAK AS A MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE WHO WILL BE PRESENTING LATER.
BUT JUST TO KIND OF THROW MY SUPPORT OVER, I'M REALLY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE.
I'M ACTUALLY APPLYING FOR MY THIRD TERM.
WE HAVE STRUGGLED THIS YEAR JUST LIKE EVERYONE, TO KIND OF GET ORGANIZED, BUT WE'VE DONE A LOT OF GREAT WORK WITH OUR EQUITY AND INCLUSION COMMITTEE, WHICH YOU'LL HEAR SOME AND THEN AND THEN SEE THE FINAL REPORT.
ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT IS JUST THE PROCESS OF BEING A SPECIAL NEEDS PARENT.
PRINCIPAL YEAH. UM, BUT BEING A SPECIAL NEEDS PARENT IS A LEVEL OF STRESS THAT.
I'M SORRY. UM, AND WHEN WE ARE.
WHEN WE'RE PROPER PARTNERS WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, WHEN WE HAVE AN IEP TEAM THAT'S THERE FOR US.
CHILD. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL THING WHEN WE DON'T WHEN THERE ARE ABSENCES, WHEN THERE'S TEACHERS THAT LEAVE MID-YEAR, WHEN THERE ARE UNFULFILLED, UNFILLED POSITIONS THAT GO UNFILLED ALL YEAR LONG.
ONE OF MY CHILDREN IS IN THE CITYWIDE AUTISM PROGRAM, WHICH IS AN INCREDIBLE PROGRAM.
SHE'S HAD WHOLE YEARS WHERE SHE DIDN'T HAVE A PROPERLY TRAINED TEACHER.
YOU KNOW, CURRENTLY THEY DON'T HAVE A FULL STAFF OF ASSISTANTS.
CURRENTLY THEY DON'T HAVE A TEACHERS THAT THAT CAN CO-TEACH WITH THEIR GENERAL ED COUNTERPARTS SO THAT THE CITYWIDE STUDENTS CAN BE PUT INTO MAINSTREAM CLASSES. SHE'S HAD IT IN HER IEP THAT SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE STARTING TO BE PULLED INTO MAINSTREAM CLASSES FOR A YEAR AND A HALF, BUT THE STAFFING HASN'T BEEN THERE IN ORDER TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
[00:20:03]
WE ARE GOING UP AGAINST A NATIONAL CRISIS FOR FOR SPECIAL NEEDS AND SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS.A TOPIC OF CONVERSATION MANY TIMES HAS BEEN ARE WE COMPETITIVE WITH WITH WITH LOCAL DISTRICTS? AND THE ANSWER, QUITE FRANKLY, IS NOT WITH WHEN IT COMES TO, YOU KNOW, VARIOUS SALARIES.
BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE PREVIOUS THE OTHER DISTRICTS AS WELL, THEY'RE OFFERING INCENTIVES.
THEY'RE OFFERING ALL KINDS OF SIGNING BONUSES.
THEY'RE OFFERING BUMPS IN DIFFERENT SO THAT YOU GET BUMPED TO AN EXTRA LEVEL OF YOUR THING.
SO WE I'M NOT SEEING THAT HERE.
AND WE'RE CONCERNED AS A BOARD.
AND I JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT TO YOUR ATTENTION.
SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS VAN PELT.
NEXT UP, WE HAVE RUCHIR NARAYAN.
YOU'LL BE HEARING FROM LATER THIS EVENING.
BUT I'M HERE AS A PARENT OF A SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENT.
I JUST WANT TO SHARE SOME CONCERNS THAT I'VE SEEN.
RIGHT. THERE'S THREE THAT I WANT TO BRING TO THE BOARD TODAY.
YOU HEARD FROM MS.. VAN PELT JUST A FEW SECONDS AGO.
RIGHT. THAT'S A CONCERN THAT A LOT OF SPECIAL NEEDS PARENTS HAVE RIGHT NOW.
MY DAUGHTER HAD A FANTASTIC TEACHER, LIKE FANTASTIC.
BUT FOR THE FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR, SHE DID NOT HAVE A TEACHER AT ALL.
RIGHT. THIS IS ESPECIALLY CONCERNING FOR A SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENT.
UM. ALSO RIGHT NOW, SHE HASN'T RECEIVED HER LEGALLY MANDATED SERVICES THAT ARE IN HER IEP BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF SERVICE PROVIDERS.
THERE'S JUST A LACK OF SERVICE PROVIDERS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
NEW AND INNOVATIVE WAYS TO ATTRACT TEACHERS.
WE'RE STARTING THAT RIGHT NOW.
THERE'S A PARTNERSHIP WITH GW, BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE IN ORDER TO ATTRACT MORE TEACHERS, SUPPORT STAFF AND SERVICE PROVIDERS. THE SECOND THING THAT I WANTED TO BRING UP TO THE BOARD WAS THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL COMMUNICATION BETWEEN.
TEACHERS AND SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES.
FAMILIES ARE AN IMPORTANT PART, ESPECIALLY FOR SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS, TO BRING THAT LEARNING BACK HOME, TO TAKE THAT LEARNING, THOSE STRATEGIES THAT ARE BEING PROVIDED IN THE CLASSROOM AND BRING IT HOME SO THEY CAN CONTINUE WORKING ON THAT.
UM, RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE QUARTERLY PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES, BUT THERE'S ADDITIONAL STUFF THAT CAN BE DONE, ADDITIONAL COMMUNICATION, ESPECIALLY FOR SOMEONE LIKE MY DAUGHTER, WHO'S NONVERBAL.
SO THAT ADDITIONAL COMMUNICATION IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL.
THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION OUT THERE.
A LOT OF FAMILIES ARE DOING WHAT THEY CAN WITH THE LIMITED RESOURCES THAT THEY HAVE.
SO HAVING A CENTRALIZED LOCATION WHERE FAMILIES CAN GO AND MAKE IT EASY ON THEM TO FIND THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED IN ORDER TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR STUDENTS, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD CAN HELP WITH, MAKING SURE THAT THE RESOURCES ARE OUT THERE, AND THERE'S AN EMPHASIS ON MAKING IT EASY FOR SPECIAL NEEDS FAMILIES TO GET THE INFORMATION AND THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED.
THINKING ABOUT SPECIAL NEEDS AS WELL AS IN THE PRESENTATION AND A LITTLE BIT.
NEXT UP, WE HAVE DAVID PALADIN FERNANDEZ.
IN MY PREVIOUS COMMENTS, I DISCUSSED HOW COLLECTIVE BARGAINING WOULD HELP STAFF OUR SCHOOLS.
BUT I ALSO BELIEVE A VITAL PART OF COLLECTIVE BARGAINING IS BRINGING RESPECT BACK TO EDUCATORS.
AT THE LAST MEETING I ALLUDED TO HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO BE AN EDUCATOR AT THIS TIME.
SO MUCH SO THAT THE BOARD ADMITTED AS MUCH DURING THIS MEETING.
BUT LET ME BE MORE SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
[00:25:03]
IT LOOKS LIKE THE STATE LOWERING STANDARDS.IT LOOKS LIKE STATE AND LOCAL ADMINISTRATORS TELLING ME MY PEDAGOGY IS SUBSTANDARD, EVEN THOUGH THEY'VE ONLY SPENT 15 MINUTES IN MY CLASSROOM, DON'T KNOW WHO MY STUDENTS ARE AND WILL NEVER RETURN.
IT LOOKS LIKE GROUPS LIKE MOMS FOR LIBERTY AND THE LIKE CALLING EDUCATORS GROOMERS OUT OF ONE SIDE OF THEIR MOUTHS WHILE SAYING WE HAVE TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL DURING A PANDEMIC OUT THE OTHER. BECAUSE AS I READ IN ONE FACEBOOK GROUP, WE JUST NEED SOMEONE TO BABYSIT OUR KIDS.
AND IF YOU DON'T THINK SOCIETY VIEWS US IN THAT WAY, I PRESENT THE MOST INSIDIOUS EXAMPLE.
NOW, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO THE PROFESSIONS, I AM NOT A BABYSITTER.
I AM NOT A DAYCARE TECHNICIAN.
THAT MEANS MY JOB IS TO PREPARE STUDENTS TO BE AGENTS OF DEMOCRACY.
AND IN CASE YOU HADN'T NOTICED.
TRUE, AMERICAN LIBERTY IS UNDER ASSAULT.
AMERICAN LIBERTY IS UNDER ASSAULT BY GOVERNORS WHO ARE MORE INTERESTED IN ALLOWING THE RELEASE OF WOMEN'S MENSTRUAL DATA AND SILENCING THE HISTORY OF MINORITIES THAN PROTECTING INDIVIDUAL LIBERTIES.
IT'S UNDER ASSAULT BY REPRESENTATIVES WHO ARE MORE INTERESTED IN MAINTAINING THE STATUS QUO.
SOCRATES SAID DEMOCRACY IS ONLY AS GOOD AS THE EDUCATION THAT SURROUNDS IT.
SO IT IS ESSENTIAL. WE HERE IN ALEXANDRIA SURROUND OUR FRAGILE DEMOCRACY WITH THE SUPPORT IT NEEDS.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING CAN PROVIDE SUPPORT BECAUSE, QUITE FRANKLY, I AM TIRED OF PRETENDING LIKE GIFT CARDS AND BAGS OF CHIPS DURING TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK ARE ACCEPTABLE WAYS OF ADDRESSING THE CHRONIC UNDERPAYMENT OF EDUCATORS HERE IN AMERICA.
AND THAT IS NOT TO SAY I AM NOT THANKFUL.
MUCH LIKE WE DID NOT BREAK THE SYSTEM WE ARE A PART OF.
PASS COLLECTIVE BARGAINING NOW.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DEBORAH J.
TONIGHT, I'M SPEAKING ABOUT THE POLICY ON SUSPENSION AND EXPULSION OF STUDENTS AS OUTLINED IN THE 20 2122 STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT IN NEWPORT NEWS.
A TEACHER IS SUING THE SCHOOL BOARD AFTER HAVING BEEN SHOT BY A SIX YEAR OLD STUDENT WHO HAD BEEN REPORTED TO HAVE A GUN, ALTHOUGH HIS BACKPACK HAD BEEN SEARCHED BY THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, HIS SWEATER HAD NOT, AND THAT WAS WHERE HE HAD HIDDEN THE GUN.
THE INCIDENT WAS NOT AN ISOLATED ONE, AS THIS CHILD HAD BEEN REPORTED TO HIGHER LEVEL STAFF BEFORE BEING FOR BEING DISRUPTIVE, ABUSIVE AND VIOLENT TO TEACHERS AND CLASSMATES ALIKE. WHY SHOULD THIS STORY MATTER TO CPS? WHAT HAPPENED THERE COULD VERY WELL HAPPEN HERE.
WE HAVE ONLY JUST NOW STARTED A TRIAL OF WEAPONS ABATEMENT EQUIPMENT IN SELECT SCHOOLS.
AND DESPITE THE GROWING THREAT OF SCHOOL SHOOTERS AROUND THE COUNTRY, YOU STILL HAVE TO ASK THE CENTRAL OFFICE IF AFTER TRIAL IS OVER, YOU COULD DECIDE NOT TO PROCEED WITH THE PROGRAM AS IF THAT WERE A REAL OPTION.
IT WAS DIFFICULT TO LISTEN TO THE PARENTS AT LAST MEETING WHO SPOKE ABOUT HOW THEIR MIDDLE SCHOOLER HAD BEEN BEATEN THREE SEPARATE TIMES IN THE BOYS BATHROOM AND THREATENED WITH DEATH BY MS. 13 THUGS IN CLASS.
SCHOOL STAFF FOLLOWS GUIDANCE SET BY YOU, SO THE BLAME ROLLS BACK TO YOU.
A MEMBER OF ONE HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED POPULATION BEING VICTIMIZED BY STUDENTS FROM ANOTHER.
SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT TIME AND RESOURCES SPENT ON DAILY RESTORATIVE PRACTICES IN OUR SCHOOLS.
IN HER SPEECH, THE MOTHER SUGGESTED A RETURN TO EXPULSIONS.
AND I DECIDED TO READ YOUR POLICY ON SUSPENSIONS AND EXPULSIONS.
I FOUND THE SECTION ON EXPULSIONS ESPECIALLY FASCINATING, BUT NOT IN A GOOD WAY.
[00:30:04]
HEINOUS OFFENSES INDEED.AND YET I FOUND IN THE PARAGRAPH ON FIREARMS THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT QUOTE, A SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR PURSUANT TO SCHOOL BOARD POLICY OR THE SCHOOL BOARD MAY, HOWEVER, DETERMINE BASED ON THE ON THE FACTS OF A PARTICULAR SITUATION, THAT SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES EXIST AND NO DISCIPLINARY ACTION OR ANOTHER DISCIPLINARY ACTION OR ANOTHER TERM OF EXPULSION IS APPROPRIATE.
IT'S ALSO WHY ALEXANDRIA COULD VERY WELL BE THE NEXT NEWPORT NEWS.
THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LAURA ROSE.
I AM LAURA ROSE AND I AM SERVING MY SIXTH YEAR ON THE TALENTED AND GIFTED ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WHICH I CHAIRED FROM 2019 TO 2021. THIS EVENING I AM HERE WITH A SINGLE MESSAGE FUND.
THE RECOMMENDED UPDATES TO THE LOCAL PLAN FOR THE GIFTED.
I HAVE EDUCATED MYSELF ON LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL ISSUES ON THIS TOPIC.
INVITED ME TO PARTICIPATE IN THE INTERVIEW PROCESS FOR OUR CURRENT DIRECTOR OF GIFTED AND ADVANCED ACADEMIC PROGRAMS. AC HIT THE JACKPOT AND LANDED A ROCK STAR WHEN HIRING DR.
MEAGAN TEMPLE MILNER AWAY FROM FAIRFAX COUNTY.
I TELL YOU THIS WITH HOPES YOU TRUST ME HER.
IT IS A CONCISE DOCUMENT THAT ALIGNS WITH THE DIVISION'S STRATEGIC PLAN, ADDRESSES THE MYRIAD OF CONCERNS FROM TEACHERS, STUDENTS AND PARENTS AND INCORPORATES LEADING NATIONAL RESEARCH.
HOWEVER, YOUR JOB IS NOT SIMPLY TO APPROVE THIS PLAN, BUT TO MAKE IT ACTIONABLE, WHICH CAN ONLY BE DONE BY FULLY FUNDING IT. SPECIFICALLY, RECOMMENDATION NUMBER EIGHT CALLS FOR THE HIRING OF AT LEAST 12 NEW ADVANCED ACADEMIC TEACHERS SLASH COACHES.
THIS REPRESENTS A LOT OF MONEY.
IT WILL ALLOW IDENTIFICATION OF AND PROVIDE SERVICES TO CURRENTLY UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS.
IT WILL PROVIDE EQUITABLE ACCESS AND NEEDED SERVICES SO THAT ADVANCED STUDENTS WILL BE ACADEMICALLY CHALLENGED AND IT WILL COMPLY WITH STATE REGULATIONS. THE DESIRED OUTCOMES WILL NOT BE ACHIEVED WITH A PARTIALLY FUNDED PROGRAM.
IT IS WAY PAST TIME FOR THE BOARD AND THE DIVISION TO PUT ITS MONEY WHERE ITS MOUTH IS.
FAILURE TO DO SO WILL ONCE AGAIN PROVIDE A PLAN THAT EXISTS ON PAPER BUT CANNOT BE ACHIEVED IN OUR CLASSROOMS, WHICH IS A GRAVE, GRAVE DISSERVICE TO STUDENTS, THEIR FAMILIES, AND TAXPAYERS.
BY DOING SO, YOU WILL RAISE THE ACADEMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL OUR STUDENTS.
NEXT UP, WE HAVE CLARENCE GRIFFIN.
THANK YOU. MY NAME IS DICK GRIFFIN.
ACTUALLY, CLARENCE IS WHAT THE IRS CALLS ME.
WE REALIZE THAT IT'S YOU WHO ARE THE PIVOT POINT IN ADDRESSING TRANSPORTATION CONCERNS.
WHAT HAMPERS TRANSPORTATION SERVICE TO OUR STUDENTS?
[00:35:03]
HOW WILL ALLOWING COLLECTIVE BARGAINING HELP? WELL, OF IMMEDIATE IMPORTANCE.IT IS IT WILL IMPACT OUR DISMAL RATE OF STAFF RETENTION.
TRANSPORTATION ACHIEVES SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE EVEN WHILE CRITICALLY UNDERSTAFFED.
THAT'S NOT 100 MORE DRIVERS WE HAVE.
BUT WE'VE CURRENTLY BEEN RUNNING WITH 86.
15 NEW DRIVERS HAVE BEEN TRAINED THIS YEAR, YET ONLY THREE OF THEM REMAIN ON THE PAYROLL.
EXPERIENCED DRIVERS ARE HIRED AT THE SAME RATE THEY LEAVE.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
CPS RETENTION BONUS HAS REGRETTABLY COMPOUNDED OUR RETENTION PROBLEMS. IT SIMPLY ACCENTED THE IMPORTANCE OF RECOGNIZING AND DEMONSTRATING APPRECIATION FOR TRANSPORTATION STAFF.
ANOTHER VERY SIGNIFICANT ISSUE IS THE OMISSION OF AQAP'S SAFE DRIVING AWARD.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING WOULD HAVE HELPED WITH THAT.
ABOUT THESE RETENTION BONUSES.
NONE WAS EVEN OFFERED TO THE BUS MONITORS.
AGAIN, COLLECTIVE BARGAINING MAY HAVE PREVENTED THIS OVERSIGHT.
YET IT MONITORS ARE COMPLETELY OVERLOOKED.
THEY FEEL THAT THEIR WORK DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH VALUE TO DESERVE RECOGNITION.
DRIVERS AND BUS MONITORS, SUPERVISORS, MECHANICS ALL STEPPED UP DURING THE COVID TO DELIVER FOOD TO FAMILIES OF CHILDREN THAT OTHERWISE MAY HAVE HAD NONE WHILE CONSTANTLY EXPOSED TO DIRECT 1 TO 1 EXPOSURE THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC.
TRANSPORTATION STAFF REALIZED THAT A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING VOICE WOULD BRING FOCUS AND DIRECTION TO RESOLVING MANY ISSUES IN POLICY AND DECISION MAKING THAT DIRECTLY AFFECT US AND OUR CAREERS.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING WILL REFINE AND STRENGTHEN MR. BRICK TO PROVIDE CHILDREN WITH SAFETY AND SECURITY DURING TRANSPORTATION.
LET'S WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
MOVING ALONG IN COMMUNICATION ADDRESSED TO THE BOARD.
[7. Advisory Committee Public Comments--Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC)]
EVENING. SO.GOOD EVENING. GERALD VICE CHAIR GREENE MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD.
YOU'VE HEARD TODAY FROM TWO OF MY COLLEAGUES, JALEN VAN PELT AND RICHARD NARAYEN NARAYEN.
THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF CEAC IS TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PARENTS AND OTHER SCHOOL BOARD BOARD APPOINTEES TO HAVE A VOICE IN THE WAY SCHOOL DIVISIONS PROVIDE SERVICES TO STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.
FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR HAS 11 APPOINTED MEMBERS.
EIGHT OF THE MEMBERS ARE A PARENT OR A GRANDPARENT OF AN A STUDENT WITH DISABILITIES.
ONE MEMBER IS AN A SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER AND ONE MEMBER IS A STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE.
[00:40:05]
I AM A PARENT OF A SCHOOL AGED FORMER STUDENT WITH DISABILITIES WHO IS CURRENTLY ATTENDING A PRIVATE THERAPEUTIC BOARDING SCHOOL.CHERYL IS OUR IS THE BOARD LIAISON DIRECTOR OF SPECIALIZED INSTRUCTION.
TERRY WARNER IS OUR STAFF LIAISON.
AND DR. PATRICIA CZYZIO IS OUR PRINCIPAL LIAISON.
COURTNEY DAVIS AND JANET REESE OF THE PARENT RESOURCE CENTER ALSO REGULARLY ATTEND OUR MEETINGS.
GENERALLY MEETS ONCE PER QUARTER AND WORKS ON VARIOUS ISSUES THROUGH SUBCOMMITTEES.
CURRENTLY, THE EQUITY INCLUSION SUBCOMMITTEE IS WORKING ON A REPORT WITH RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WILL LIKELY CONSIDER AND ADOPT FOR PRESENTATION TO YOU THROUGH THE ACTING SUPERINTENDENT AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
JUST A LITTLE MORE BACKGROUND ON THE FOCUS OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.
REFER TO STUDENTS WHO ARE ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY A DISABILITY IN ONE OF 13 CATEGORIES IDENTIFIED IN THE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EDUCATION ACT IDEA. BASED ON THAT DEFINITION, IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A BROAD RANGE OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES UNDER IDEA AND THAT STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES NEEDS CAN VARY GREATLY.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES ARE PRESENT THROUGHOUT GENERAL EDUCATION, CLASSROOMS AND SBS AND PROGRAMING IN ADDITION TO TWO SPECIAL EDUCATION INSTRUCTION, INCLUDING THE CITY WIDE CLASSROOMS. RECOGNIZING THE BREADTH OF DIFFERENCES.
WITH RESPECT TO STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AND SUCH STUDENTS NEEDS, THE EQUITY INCLUSION SUBCOMMITTEE UNDERTOOK A BRAINSTORMING EXERCISE TO IDENTIFY AREAS OF CONCERNS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, WHICH WE GROUPED IN FOUR CATEGORIES INSTRUCTIONAL ENVIRONMENT, ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT AT HOME, EXTRACURRICULAR AND OTHER.
BASED ON THAT PROCESS, I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT SOME PRIMARY AREAS OF CONCERN.
VAN PELT AND MR. NARAYEN. STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES ARE AFFECTED BY THE CURRENT TEACHER AND STAFF.
ALSO, MANY STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES REQUIRE QUALIFIED CLINICAL STAFF TO PROVIDE RELATED SERVICES SUCH AS SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS FOR WHICH HAD OPENINGS THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR.
SECOND, AS MR. RYAN TOUCHED ON, COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN ACT AND PARENTS AND GUARDIANS OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES IS AN AREA OF CONCERN.
SUCH COMMUNICATIONS ISSUES ARISE IN A NUMBER OF AREAS, INCLUDING PROVIDING INFORMATION TO PARENTS AND GUARDIANS ON THE INSTRUCTIONAL APPROACH OR RELATED SERVICES. APPROACHES TAKEN WITH STUDENTS STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES TO ENABLE FAMILIES TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING THEIR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AT HOME, PARENTS AND GUARDIANS OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES CAN BENEFIT FROM BEING PROVIDED INFORMATION ON ACTIVITIES THEY CAN WORK ON WITH STUDENTS AT HOME AND TO WORK AS PARTNERS WITH THE SCHOOL TO FACILITATE THEIR STUDENT'S DEVELOPMENT.
AND JUST TO GIVE ONE EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, ONE OF MY CHILD'S DISABILITIES IS DYSLEXIA AND DYSGRAPHIA.
AND, YOU KNOW, AS A PARENT, YOU KNOW, FACING THAT, I WASN'T WELL VERSED IN EVIDENCE BASED PHONICS INSTRUCTION AND PROVIDING PARENTS WITH SUPPORT ON THAT AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT'S BEING TAUGHT TO STUDENTS IN SCHOOL WITH RESPECT TO EVIDENCE BASED PHONICS INSTRUCTION WILL HELP PARENTS WORK WITH THEIR CHILDREN AT HOME, EVEN SO MUCH AS READING WITH YOUR CHILD IN THE EVENING.
[00:45:03]
SO THAT'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF THIS.ALSO HAS IDENTIFIED CONCERNS ABOUT WHETHER PARENTS AND GUARDIANS ARE PROVIDED SUFFICIENT INFORMATION ON RESOURCES AVAILABLE WITHIN APPS SUCH AS THE PARENT RESOURCE CENTER, WHICH IS A GREAT RESOURCE FOR STUDENTS, FAMILIES OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES IN NAVIGATING THE SPECIAL EDUCATION PROCESS.
OR ANOTHER AREA WHERE PARENTS MAY NOT BE AWARE OF IS ITSELF THE, YOU KNOW, THE OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN.
BIRD. UH, THE THIRD AREA OF FOCUS OF THE EQUITY INCLUSION COMMITTEE IS TRAINING EXTRACURRICULAR, EXTRACURRICULAR, EXTRACURRICULAR STAFF AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN AREAS OF CONCERN.
ONE. ONE AREA THAT'S BEEN HIGHLIGHTED TO US IS MAKING SURE THAT EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES ARE ACCESSIBLE TO STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES IN THE SAME WAY THEY'RE THEY'RE THEY'RE AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS WITHOUT DISABILITIES OR, YOU KNOW, NEUROTYPICAL STUDENTS, FOR EXAMPLE.
UH, ONE ISSUE THAT'S BEEN RAISED TO US IS THE LACK OF TRANSPORTATION AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS WITH WHEELCHAIRS FOR AFTER SCHOOL, EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, ACTIVITIES AT ALEXANDRIA CITY HIGH SCHOOL.
AND ALSO A CONCERN WAS RAISED WITH US WITH RESPECT TO THE AVAILABILITY OF WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE SPACE AT PARKER GRAY STADIUM AT ALEXANDRIA CITY HIGH SCHOOL FOR FOOTBALL GAMES.
AND THEN FINALLY, I'D LIKE TO TOUCH ON ONE OTHER POINT, WHICH WILL BE WITHIN THE APPENDIX, LIKELY IN THE APPENDIX OF THE SPECIAL, THE THE REPORT FOR THE END OF THE YEAR.
UM. YOU KNOW, THINK IN THE LAST TWO SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS, THERE'S.
THERE'S BEEN DISCUSSION ABOUT.
UM. SAFETY ISSUES WITH RESPECT TO STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK MY FAMILY'S EXPERIENCE WHEN MY SON WAS A THIRD GRADER WITH AN SPS, HE EXPERIENCED BULLYING AND AS WELL, WHEN WE DID NOT KNOW THAT WAS HAPPENING, HE HAD AN INCIDENT WHERE UNKNOWN TO US.
AND, YOU KNOW, MY WIFE AND I ARE BOTH LAWYERS.
AND THAT WAS A GIGANTIC CONCERN.
AND IT HAS CAUSED DIFFICULTY, YOU KNOW, WITH RESPECT TO ADDRESSING THAT WITH MY SON GOING FORWARD.
BUT, YOU KNOW, STEPPING BACK FROM THAT INCIDENT, IT KIND OF HIGHLIGHTS A COUPLE OF AREAS THAT ARE SORT OF BROAD BASED THAT, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE BOARD WOULD ASK THE BOARD TO KEEP IN MIND AND ARE WITHIN THE PURVIEW.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, CONCERN THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND THOUGHT PROCESS THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND MAKING SURE THAT STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES ARE SERVED AND CAN, YOU KNOW, CAN BE SUCCESSFUL THROUGH THE DAY IN A SAFE MANNER.
AND YOU KNOW YOU KNOW, THERE THERE ARE WEIGHING ISSUES ON THAT.
BUT THAT'S JUST AN ISSUE I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT.
AND THIRD, WITH RESPECT TO INCIDENTS THAT DO OCCUR, INTERACTION BETWEEN STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AND LAW ENFORCEMENT THROUGH THAT, THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER ISSUE THAT, YOU KNOW, IS SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND AS WHEN CONSIDERING ISSUES WITH STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.
CIAC WILL PROVIDE MORE DETAIL ON ON ALL THE ISSUES I'VE DISCUSSED IN ITS END OF YEAR REPORT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. OLSEN. ALL RIGHT.
[8. Report from Student Representatives Emily Milton and Torenzo Ricks]
AND THEN WE'LL MOVE TO MR. RICKS AND MISS RAMEE.[00:50:02]
SO WE'LL START WITH MISS MILTON.HAPPY TO SEE EVERYONE HERE TODAY.
FULL HOUSE. I FIRST WOULD LIKE TO SAY WHAT A FULL CIRCLE MOMENT IT WAS TO CONGRATULATE DR.
ALDANA. HERE SHE WAS MY VICE PRINCIPAL AT MOUNT VERNON WHEN MR. BALAS WAS MY PRINCIPAL, AND NOW SHE'S MY BROTHER'S PRINCIPAL AT MOUNT VERNON.
SO IT WAS GREAT TO SEE HER HONORED FOR ALL HER WORK.
THERE WAS A T SHIRT MAKING OPPORTUNITY IN QUIET DINING AND EVERYONE GOT TO CELEBRATE WITH THEIR PEERS FOR THEIR POST-SECONDARY PLANS, SUPPORTED BY THE COLLEGE AND CAREER CENTER SCHOLARSHIP FUND. ALEXANDRIA ALL OF IT.
AND WE APPRECIATE ALL THE RESOURCES THAT CBS HAS GRANTED TO OUR SENIORS.
TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK IS ALSO NEXT WEEK, AND I WANT TO THANK ALL THE TEACHERS THAT HAVE IMPACTED MY EDUCATION AND GOTTEN ME TO THE POINT WHERE I AM TODAY, AND I'M EXCITED TO CELEBRATE THEM NEXT WEEK.
AND AS STUDENT REP, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHO OUR NEW STUDENT REPS ARE GOING TO BE.
AS WE KNOW, THE APPLICATION IS OUT THERE AND IT'S GOING TO BE CLOSING RELATIVELY SOON.
I'M SURE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME GREAT NEW PEOPLE NEXT YEAR WHO AND AS WE MOVE INTO JUNE, I'M EXCITED TO SEE HOW EXCELLENT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE NEW STUDENT REPS AND NOW I WILL PASS IT OFF TO TERENZO.
THANK YOU. CAN'T GET USED TO HER SAYING PASSING ON TO ME.
SHE'S NOT GOING TO BE HERE NO MORE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO LEAVE. YOU CAN STAY IF YOU WANT, BUT HAPPY THURSDAY, EVERYONE.
PIGGYBACK OFF OF EMILY MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH.
UM, SECOND, THIS WEEK IS ALSO NATIONAL PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND SPORTS WEEK.
AND I'M SURE I CAN SPEAK FOR EVERYONE WHO CAME, INCLUDING DR.
K, MR. NEWBY, AS WELL AS MISS GREENE.
EXCUSE ME. VICE CHAIRMAN GREENE.
UM, THAT IT WAS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.
AND OF COURSE, WHO DOESN'T PLAY A BETTER POPE THAN, OF COURSE, MR. BALLOTS HIMSELF? UM, THERE WERE ALSO A COUPLE OF APPS WHO ALSO PLAYED THE POPE, WHICH I WILL NOT MENTION BRANT ROBERTSON AS WELL AS MAGGIE TRON.
UM, LASTLY, SINCE EMILY LIKES TO GET ALL SAPPY, REMINDING PEOPLE THAT THERE'S ONLY LIKE THREE BOARD MEETINGS LEFT, I DO HAVE TO SAY BEING IN THIS POSITION HAS REALLY TAUGHT ME A LOT, AND I CAN REALLY SAY THAT UP HERE.
YOU ALL ARE LIKE MY SECOND FAMILY.
I THANK YOU ALL FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE A STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE.
AND, YOU KNOW, SHE LIKES TO NUDGE ME ABOUT IT.
UM, AND HOPEFULLY I AM SELECTED BECAUSE THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE AMAZING BODY OF WORK LOVE.
I JUST LOVE IT AND PASS IT ON TO SARAH.
[9. Report from International Academy Student Representative Zahra Rahimi]
GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.I'M ZAHRA RAHIMI. AND FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO START WITH TOLMAN MIDDLE SCHOOL.
THEY HAD THEIR HERITAGE NIGHT LAST MONTH.
THEY BRING A VAN WITH DOCTORS TO HUTCHINGS VISION FOR FREE, AND STUDENTS CAN GET GLASSES.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WOULD HELP THEM TO DEMONSTRATE WHAT THEY KNOW IN SOCIAL STUDIES WITHOUT ADDITIONAL CHALLENGE OF WORKING IN A LANGUAGE THAT THEY ARE STILL LEARNING IS PERFORMANCE BASED ASSESSMENT.
THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ALLOWS LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT TO USE PERFORMANCE BASED ASSESSMENT A SUCCESS AND PLACE OF SOLS FOR CERTIFIED CREDITS. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT CPS IS THINKING ABOUT STARTING THESE PERFORMANCE BASED ASSESSMENTS NEXT YEAR FOR SOCIAL STUDIES.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD APPROVE.
IT WILL GIVE OUR STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEMONSTRATE THEIR KNOWLEDGE ON AN EQUITABLE BASIS.
[00:55:02]
GUESS WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THAT AT SOME POINT.WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR CONSENT CALENDAR, WHICH WE NEED TO ADOPT.
[Consent Calendar ]
UM, AND SO I NEED A MOTION TO DO SO.MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE THAT WE ADOPT THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
SECOND. ALL RIGHT. HAVE MR. HARRIS, WHOSE SECONDS? MR. ALLENBY'S MOTION.
ARE THERE ANY ITEMS TO PULL? ALL RIGHT. LET'S GO AHEAD AND VOTE.
WE'RE GOING TO WAIT FOR MR. BAILEY. WE'RE WE'RE NOT MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS CONSENT CALENDAR WITHOUT MR. BAILEY. WE'RE WAITING FOR YOU, SIR.
ALL RIGHT. AND OUR CONSENT CALENDAR HAS BEEN ADOPTED.
AND IT IS AT THIS TIME, UM, THAT I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF ANNOUNCING, UM, OUR NEW
[Additional Item]
PERMANENT SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.MELANIE KAYE WYATT HAS BEEN IS BEING ANNOUNCED AS THE PERMANENT SUPERINTENDENT OF ALEXANDRIA CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
I THINK SOME OF US PROBABLY WANT TO SPEAK.
UM. THIS IS THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN.
TO. LEAD ALEXANDRIA CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS A AS A PERMANENT SUPERINTENDENT.
AND THINK THAT DIDN'T REALLY HIT ME UNTIL NOW.
I KNOW IT'S PROBABLY BEEN HITTING HER.
SHE'S HAD THESE MOMENTS WHERE IT'S LIKE IT'S HITTING ME.
I THINK I JUST FIRST HAVE TO THANK HER.
OR. DIGGING IN AND EVEN JUST STEPPING UP TO DO THIS JOB AT A TIME OF UNCERTAINTY, AT A TIME OF DIFFICULTY, AT A TIME WHERE WE SEE, YOU KNOW.
PEOPLE LEAVING THE PROFESSION IN DROVES.
WE SEE SUPERINTENDENTS JUST RUNNING FOR THE HILLS.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, PRETTY MUCH ALWAYS DID IT WITH A SMILE.
UM, BUT I JUST HAVE TO THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WILLING TO DO THIS.
UM, THANK YOU FOR DECIDING TO DEDICATE YOURSELF TO THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA.
TO THE STUDENTS OF ALEXANDRIA.
UM, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T HAVE AN EASY ROAD AHEAD, BUT THAT DOES NOT DETER YOU.
EVER. UM, AND SO, YOU KNOW, ON BEHALF OF THIS BOARD.
UM. WE APPRECIATE YOU AND THINK YOU'VE GOT THIS.
SO I WILL TURN IT OVER TO ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK.
NO, MR. NEWBY HAD SOME REMARKS.
MS. GREENE I'LL GO FIRST BECAUSE MR. NEWBY HAS A BOOK THAT HE WROTE.
ALL GOOD THINGS. ALL GOOD THINGS.
LIKE. CHARLES, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU.
[01:00:04]
LOSING A SUPERINTENDENT FOR ANY SCHOOL SYSTEM IS VERY HARD.VERY, VERY HARD. AND PARTICULARLY WHEN WE LOST A SUPERINTENDENT AND WE'VE BEEN THROUGH SO MANY SUPERINTENDENTS IN THE LAST TEN YEARS, I THINK I'VE LOST COUNT. HOW MANY HAS IT BEEN, KELLY? TOO MANY. SO SOMEONE SAID IT FROM THE AUDIENCE.
DURING THE TIME YOU CAME IN WAS A TUMULTUOUS TIME.
WE WERE GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER AS A BOARD.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE.
YOUR COLLABORATIVE LEADERSHIP.
I REMEMBER IN ALABAMA ON THE PILGRIMAGE WE WENT TO WITH THE CITY, UM, MISS BOOZ AND I, IF ANYTHING HAPPENED TO A CHILD, YOU WERE THERE.
IF ANYTHING WENT WRONG WITH ANYTHING THAT WAS GOING ON, IT WAS YOU THAT SAID, NO, I'LL DO IT.
YOU KNOW, YOU COULD BE OFF TO THE SIDE AND BE LIKE, HAVE PEOPLE THAT HANDLE THAT.
SO THINGS LEADING LIKE THAT IS WHAT WE NEED HERE IN ALEXANDRIA CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO YOU TAKING THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM TO THE NEXT LEVEL, US WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH YOU AND US SUPPORTING YOU EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO.
MR. NEWBY. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
YOU KNOW, MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID, YOU KNOW, HIRING A SUPERINTENDENT IS ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT DECISIONS A SCHOOL BOARD IS TASKED WITH MAKING, IF NOT THE MOST CRITICAL. SO THIS IS A BIG DEAL TO US AND TO ME AS A BOARD MEMBER.
BUT I ALSO HOPE THAT NONE OF US HERE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS AGAIN.
UM, AND I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY CONGRATULATIONS AND MY GRATITUDE TO DR.
WYATT FOR YET AGAIN STEPPING UP TO THIS CHALLENGING TASK.
AND I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT SHE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
SHE WILL DO THE RIGHT THING FOR THE RIGHT REASONS.
SHE REALLY HAS THAT GENUINE CARE FOR PEOPLE AND FOR STUDENTS, FOR CHILDREN.
AND WITH HER CHARACTER, STRONG WORK ETHIC, COLLABORATIVE APPROACH TO LEADERSHIP, I HAVE EVERY CONFIDENCE THAT SHE WILL GO ABOVE AND BEYOND TO ENSURE THAT OUR KIDS RECEIVE THE BEST EDUCATION.
SO CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN, DR..
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I'VE GOT MISS BOOZE AND THEN MR. HARRIS. OKAY. I'LL GO REAL FAST.
SO MAY 4TH. MAY THE 4TH BE WITH YOU.
WE SUPPORT YOU. AND MISS GREENE WHEN SHE BROUGHT UP OUR TRIP TO ALABAMA, YOU KNOW, GETTING TO SEE YOU FIRSTHAND, INTERACTING WITH THE STUDENTS, WE HAD ONE STUDENT WHO GOT VERY SICK ON THE BUS.
I MEAN, THERE'S THERE'S NO JOB THAT YOU WEREN'T WILLING TO TAKE ON, LET'S JUST PUT IT THAT WAY.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, AND YOU'RE, YOU'RE AN INCREDIBLY GOOD LISTENER.
YOU'RE RESPONSIVE, AND EVEN ON THINGS THAT SOMETIMES YOU DISAGREE WITH, YOU'RE WILLING TO SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE CAN'T DO THIS RIGHT NOW AND YOU'RE WILLING TO MAKE SOME TOUGH CHOICES, EVEN IF IT'S NOT THE POPULAR CHOICE, WHICH IS HARD TO DO WHEN YOU'RE AN INTERIM, TOO.
SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AND AND CONGRATULATIONS.
UM, AND WE'LL PASS THIS DOWN FOR THE CAFFEINE, BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO NEED IT.
QUIET. JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR APPLYING AND FOR BEING HERE.
FOR GIVING YOURSELF TO OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.
I KNOW THIS HAS NOT BEEN AN EASY PROCESS FOR ANYONE, BUT WE'RE THROUGH IT.
AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK WHAT DRAWS ME AND EVERYONE ELSE TO YOU IS THIS IS NOT A JOB TO YOU.
[01:05:03]
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TRANSITION OVER THE YEARS FOR ALL THE SUPERINTENDENTS COMING IN AND OUT, AND I PERSONALLY FEEL LIKE WE HAVE STABILITY.A BRIGHT FUTURE. AND IN ORDER TO DO THAT.
WE NEED YOU JUST AS MUCH AS YOU NEED US.
SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOU BEING OUR NEW SUPERINTENDENT.
WE CAN REPLACE THE NAMEPLATE SOON, BUT CONGRATULATIONS.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING YOUR ALL TO THE CITY, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.
THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, MR. RICKS. GREENE.
MISS HONEY, AS THE YOUNG STUDENTS CALL IT, AND AS MR. BELL AND I SAY, LADY IN THE FLYEST JACKETS.
ON BEHALF OF MYSELF, EMILY AND ZARA, WE CONGRATULATE YOU.
UM, HAVE TO SAY HOW MUCH OF AN INSPIRATION YOU HAVE BEEN TO ME? YOU HAVE LITERALLY SHOWN THE DEFINITION OF PERSISTENCE AS WELL AS DETERMINATION.
UM, AND I'M SURE I CAN SPEAK FOR EVERY WOMAN IN THE ROOM OF HOW YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO BREAK A BARRIER AND BE A HUGE INSPIRATION TO ALL THE WOMEN IN POSSIBLY EVERY STUDENT IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.
UM I'VE I REMEMBER, I THINK THE FIRST TIME WE REALLY CONNECTED.
UM, YOU PULLED ME OUT OF CLASS ON MY BIRTHDAY AND ACTUALLY TOOK A PICTURE WITH ME.
SO AGAIN, AND I'M GOING TO CALL YOU THIS, MADAM SUPERINTENDENT.
ARE YOU READY? DO YOU HAVE ANY? YES, GO AHEAD.
YEAH, YOU'RE GOOD. THEY'RE DIRECTING ME TO PUT MY MIC ON.
FEEL LIKE I NEED A MINUTE? WE COULD HAVE STOPPED WITH THE COCA COLA.
MY DEDICATION TO THE SCHOOL AND TO STUDENTS.
I SAID I WASN'T GOING TO DO THIS.
I THINK. WHAT IS THIS, NUMBER 7 OR 9 HERE? I'M SORRY. FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE SCHOOL BOARD FOR SELECTING ME TO LEAD SUCH A DIVISION OF DIVERSITY AND COMMITMENT.
AND I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS THIS SCHOOL YEAR.
IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGING SCHOOL YEAR.
THANK YOU TO THE STAFF WHO HAVE SUPPORTED ME AND OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY AND OUR STUDENTS THIS YEAR.
COMING IN IN SEPTEMBER WAS DEFINITELY.
BUT I WILL TELL YOU TO THE CABINET AND TO THE SLT WHO STEPPED UP TO SUPPORT ME SIDE BY SIDE.
AND THANK YOU FOR LATE NIGHT CALLS AND EARLY MORNING CALLS AND AND WEEKEND EVENTS.
I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR YOU ALL AND SEE YOU ALL CRYING.
I CAN'T EVEN LOOK AT YOU. I'M PROBABLY GOING TO NEED TO LOOK THIS WAY.
I DON'T KNOW WHICH WAY TO LOOK, BUT I THANK YOU ALL AND THANK YOU AGAIN TO THE SCHOOL BOARD.
BUT WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT WHEN WE COME TOGETHER, EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE.
AND, YOU KNOW, MY WORD IS IMPACT.
AND I WILL CONTINUE TO STAND BY THAT.
I WANT TO END WITH ONE MORE STATEMENT THAT IS PRETTY AND EMOTIONAL STATEMENT.
WE JUST KEEP GOING. LIKE, LET'S, LET'S MOVE THROUGH IT.
AND THEN READING THE HISTORY BECAUSE WE'RE IN A CITY WITH SO MUCH HISTORY, UM, TO BE SITTING IN THIS ROLE BEFORE MY COLLEAGUES, BEFORE STUDENTS.
YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE MY FULL COMMITMENT.
AND ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT I'M VERY PROUD.
[01:10:21]
ALL RIGHT. SO IF YOU WERE PLANNING ON LEAVING, YOU CAN LEAVE NOW.YES, YES, MR. MARTIN. I'M TALKING TO YOU BACK THERE.
LEAVING. CAN WE GO? YEAH, SURE. ABSOLUTELY.
UM, SO WE WILL MOVE ON IN OUR AGENDA.
WE HAVE TO GO INTO A CLOSED SESSION.
[17. Closed Meeting ]
UM, SO, MADAM VICE CHAIR, WOULD YOU BE SO KIND AS TO READ US INTO CLOSED?[18. Certification of Closed Meeting ]
YES, I WILL, MADAM CHAIR.MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE THAT THE BOARD CONVENE A CLOSED MEETING PURSUANT TO VIRGINIA CODE 2.2-3711A1 FOR THE DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION OF EMPLOYMENT, PERFORMANCE AND CONTRACTUAL MATTERS FOR TEN SPECIFIC PUBLIC EMPLOYEES.
I HAVE DR. RIEF, WHO'S SECOND VICE CHAIR, GREENS MOTION.
[19. Proposed Updates, ACPS/APD School Law Enforcement Partnership MOU]
THE NEXT TOPIC ARE PROPOSED UPDATES TO OUR MOU WITH THE ALEXANDRIA POLICE DEPARTMENT.OUR DR. WYATT WHO CAN HAND IT OVER TO HER TEAM.
WONDERFUL. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, FOR THAT.
WE DO HAVE A GUEST IN THE AUDIENCE KNOW MR. JOHN LAMBERT, WHO HAS BEEN A PART OF THIS PROCESS.
SO WE JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOU AND THANK YOU, SIR.
SO NOW I'LL TURN IT OVER TO DR.
GOOD EVENING, CHAIR ALDERTON, VICE CHAIR, GREENE AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.
SORRY, I'M TRYING TO GET THIS ADJUSTED.
AS DR. WYATT MENTIONED, I AM JOINED BY MY TEAM TONIGHT MR. JOHN CONTRERAS AND MISTER CARLTON GERALD, ALONG WITH DEPUTY CITY MANAGER JOHN LAMBERT, WHO OVERSEES PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO COLLECTIVELY ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS AT THE END OF TONIGHT'S PRESENTATION.
[01:15:10]
INTO THE REVISION AND THE NEXT STEPS RELATED TO THIS PROCESS.NEXT. THE REVISION PROCESS TOOK PLACE OVER A TWO MONTH PERIOD BEGINNING IN MARCH.
REVISIONS WOULD HAVE STARTED EARLIER, BUT WE WANTED TO WAIT FOR THE CONCLUSION OF THE SLEP ADVISORY GROUP PROCESS, WHICH, AS WE UNDERSTOOD THAT RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE MOU WOULD BE A DELIVERABLE OF THAT GROUP.
THE PROCESS CONCLUDED IN JANUARY OF 2023.
BOTH JOHN AND I MET REGULARLY TO REVIEW RECOMMENDATIONS FROM OUR TEAMS AND WORKED TO INCORPORATE UPDATES FROM THE SLEP ADVISORY GROUP AND THE RESPECTIVE ELECTED BODIES WITHIN THE MOU. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WE TOOK THE APPROACH OF FEWER BUT SUBSTANTIAL UPDATES IN AN EFFORT TO HONOR THE ROBUST EXCUSE ME, THE ROBUST COLLABORATION THAT OCCURRED REGARDING THE OCTOBER 2020 MOU, WHICH DID RESULT IN MANY POSITIVE UPDATES TO THAT DOCUMENT.
FIRST, IT HAS BEEN SHARED AS PART OF THE BOARD PACKET FOR TONIGHT IN THE BOARD PACKET.
ALL RECOMMENDED EDITS IN ADDITIONS ARE CLEARLY AND TRANSPARENTLY NOTED WITHIN THE RED LINE DOCUMENT.
ALL ADDITIONS ARE NOTED IN RED FONT AND ALL PROPOSED DELETIONS ARE INDICATED BY A STRIKETHROUGH.
WHEN REVIEWING THE RED LINE DOCUMENT, YOU WILL SEE THAT A LOT OF THE MOU REMAINS UNCHANGED.
WE DID NOT WANT TO RECOMMEND ANY UPDATES THAT WOULD NEGATE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE RELATED TO THIS PARTNERSHIP OR MINIMIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF RESTORATIVE PRACTICES. THE AREAS WHERE SUBSTANTIAL UPDATES AND ADDITIONS WERE ADDED INCLUDE THE ADDITION OF A USE OF SHARED TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES SECTION, WHICH SPEAKS TO THE WAYS IN WHICH THIS PARTNERSHIP MAY TRANSCEND INTO THE JOINT USE OF TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES TO SUPPORT SAFETY.
FOR EXAMPLE, SHARING INFORMATION WITH FROM OUR RAPTOR EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION SYSTEM.
IN ADDITION OF A GLOSSARY OF TERMS TO INCLUDE WORDS IN WHICH THE TEAMS FELT MORE CLARITY WAS NEEDED TO PROVIDE CONTEXT TO USE TO THE USE WITHIN THE MOU. UPDATES TO APPENDIX ONE TO NOTE ORDER MAINTENANCE AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS RECOMMENDATION FROM THE SLEP ADVISORY GROUP.
NEXT. AS NOTED EARLIER, WE WORK TO ENSURE THAT ADVISORY GROUP FEEDBACK WAS INCORPORATED INTO THE DRAFT UPDATE TO INCLUDE ADDING MORE CLARIFICATION REGARDING THE ROLE OF THE SSA WITHIN SECTION 4.8.1.
WE ADDED LANGUAGE REGARDING ORDER MAINTENANCE AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS TO THE SRO RESPONSIBILITIES IN APPENDIX ONE AND WE ADDED THE SRO ASSESSMENT FORM TO INCREASE DATA COLLECTION REGARDING PARTNERSHIP PERFORMANCE METRICS.
LASTLY, I'D LIKE TO REVIEW THE TIMELINE AND NEXT STEPS FOR THE PROCESS.
THE MOU REVISIONS HAVE BEEN SHARED AND PRESENTED TO THE BOARD AS OF TONIGHT.
THERE IS A PLAN DISCUSSION WITH THE FULL JOINT ELECTED BODIES ON MAY 15TH.
WE WILL HAVE OUR PUBLIC COMMENT HEARING ON THE REVISIONS ON MAY 18TH.
THAT SAME NIGHT WE WOULD BE REQUESTING BOARD APPROVAL AND UPON APPROVAL, THE MOU WOULD BE SIGNED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT AND THE CHIEF OF POLICE SOMETIME IN JUNE, WITH IT TAKING EFFECT ON JULY 1ST OF 2023.
IN CONCLUSION, WE BELIEVE THE UPDATED VERSION OF THE MOU REFLECTS A STRONG WORKING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AND APD, AS WELL AS OUR COMMITMENT TO INCORPORATING COMMUNITY AND ELECTED BODY FEEDBACK INTO THE DOCUMENT.
WE ARE NOW HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THE BOARD MAY HAVE.
THANK YOU. OKAY, SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR QUESTIONS.
AND IT'S ACTUALLY A MEAN ONE THING.
THANK YOU FOR IN THE RED LINE VERSION.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE ADD IN THAT ALLOWS A FORMAL WAY FOR OUR SCHOOL LEADERS TO WEIGH IN ON
[01:20:04]
EVALUATING. THE THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS.I THINK THAT OUR PRINCIPALS KNOW THEIR SCHOOLS.
THEY KNOW THEIR STUDENTS BEST.
ONE QUESTION THAT I HAVE, AND I DON'T NECESSARILY THINK THAT IT NEEDS TO GO IN THE MOU, BUT WAS ACTUALLY BROUGHT UP BY A PARENT, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS AN INTERESTING POINT. DO WE THINK THAT IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO ENSURE OR REQUIRE THAT AT THE BEGINNING OF EVERY SCHOOL YEAR WHEN WE'RE DOING OUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THAT WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S A 30 MINUTE SESSION OR WHATEVER, WHERE WE'RE JUST REMINDING SCHOOL STAFF, THIS IS YOUR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER, HERE'S WHAT THEY DO, HERE'S HOW THEY, YOU KNOW, PARTICIPATE IN THIS IN OUR SCHOOLS. HERE'S WHAT THEY DON'T DO.
UM, TO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THAT CLARITY AT THE BEGINNING OF EVERY YEAR WHERE WE'RE WE'RE REINFORCING THE EXPECTATIONS FROM FROM BOTH STAFF AND THE RESOURCE OFFICERS.
MR. LAMBERT AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT OUR RESPECTIVE TEAMS AND HOW WE CAN WORK TO BETTER CONTINUE TO BUILD COMMUNITY WITHIN THE SCHOOLS AS IT RELATES TO THE SRO RELATIONSHIP. SO I DO THINK THAT OUTSIDE OF THE MOU, THERE ARE WAYS TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN.
AND I DO BELIEVE AT THE JOINT SESSION ON THE 15TH AND MR. LAMBERT, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, APD WILL BE THERE AS WELL.
THANK YOU. MISS MILTON, FIRST OF ALL, JUST WANTED TO SAY AGAIN, AS A MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR TAKING THIS AS SUCH AN IMPORTANT ISSUE AND IMPLEMENTING IT AS FAST AS POSSIBLE.
I WANTED TO ECHO WHAT CHAIR ALDERTON WAS SAYING ABOUT ANNUALLY LOOKING AT MAKING SURE THAT ALL ACP'S STAFF UNDERSTANDS THE ROLES OF SROS AND WHAT THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES ARE AND WHAT THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES ARE NOT.
I THINK ALSO ANNUALLY OR BI ANNUALLY, LOOKING AT THE POLICIES AND MOU AGAIN OR EVEN CREATING A SIMILAR TASK FORCE TO THE SLEP ADVISORY GROUP TO CONTINUE TO GO OVER AND ADVISE AND REVIEW AS THINGS CHANGE AND DEVELOP.
THANK YOU AGAIN. MR. HARRIS? YES.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
BUT I'VE TALKED TO A COUPLE OF PARENTS AND A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS THEY HAD IS, IS THERE A MECHANISM THAT WE CAN PUT IN THAT CAN BE TRIGGERED BY A STUDENT OR A PARENT WHEN THEY HAVE A COMPLAINT AGAINST A SRO? I THINK THAT WOULD KIND OF BALANCE THINGS OUT A LITTLE BIT IF WE HAVE THAT MECHANISM IN PLACE.
I WAS LOOKING INTO IT, BUT I COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING.
BUT I KNOW FOR A FACT SOME LOCALITIES DO THAT.
I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW IT'S IMPLEMENTED.
I WOULD SAY IF WE COULD TAKE THAT BACK AND WORK THROUGH WHAT THAT MAY LOOK LIKE.
I DO KNOW WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST INITIALLY WOULD BE THE PARENT HAVE A CONVERSATION DIRECTLY WITH THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR, BECAUSE THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR AND THE SRO HAVE THAT RELATIONSHIP. ALSO THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR.
BUT IF IT'S A MORE FORMAL REQUEST, THEN I CAN DEFINITELY WORK WITH MR. LAMBERT AND WE CAN SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.
YEAH, I THINK THAT IT WILL BE BENEFICIAL TO HAVE SOMETHING THAT COULD BE STRUCTURED AND FORMAL SO THAT PARENTS AND FAMILIES KNOW THAT THERE IS A MECHANISM IN PLACE JUST IN CASE THERE IS A ISSUE.
AND IT COULD BE THE EXACT SAME PROCESS WE HAVE NOW.
BUT JUST FORMALIZE AND STANDARDIZE IN A PLACE WHERE, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO BE THERE.
RIEF THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE, DR.
HART. UM, I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS.
I GUESS THE FIRST ONE IS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT PROCESS.
SO YOU MENTIONED WHEN YOU WERE TALKING THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST ITERATION.
SO I, I NOTICED JUST LOOKING AT THE WAY THAT THE ADVISORY GROUPS STRUCTURED THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS, THERE WERE SEVERAL THAT FELL AS UNDER THE CATEGORY OF MOU.
AND YOU THE PRESENTATION WENT OVER THE CHANGES THAT YOU DID MAKE.
[01:25:03]
SO SPECIFICALLY SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS AROUND THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING FOR SROS.SO I WAS WONDERING IF THAT HAPPENED.
SO I'LL START WITH THE LATTER FIRST AND THEN I'LL DEFER TO MR. LAMER TO ANSWER YOUR FIRST QUESTION.
WE HAVE GOTTEN A LEGAL ANALYSIS REGARDING INCIDENTS.
SO THE ONE THING THAT I THINK WE'VE REALLY BEEN CHALLENGED WITH IS THERE'S A LOT THAT WE'VE BEEN ASKED TO PUT IN THE MOU, BUT THE MOU IS REALLY ABOUT MANAGING THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN APD AND EPS.
AND FOR INSTANCE, WITHIN OUR BIANNUAL PRESENTATIONS THAT WE DO ON THE SAFETY DATA, I THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE A GOOD PLACE FOR US TO SPEAK TO THE LEGAL ANALYSIS A LITTLE BIT FURTHER WHAT WE CAN AND WHAT WE CAN'T SHARE, SO ON AND SO FORTH.
AND THEN WITHIN THAT CORRESPONDING DOCUMENT, BUT MAYBE NOT NECESSARILY WITHIN THE MOU.
SO THAT IS ONE REASON WHY SOME THINGS YOU MAY NOT SEE BAKED INTO THE MOU, BECAUSE AGAIN, IT'S HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS REALLY ADDRESSING THE PARTNERSHIP AND NOT SOME OF THE OUTLIER OUTLIERS THAT MAY BE A RESULT OF THE PARTNERSHIP.
SO JUST WANTING TO ADDRESS THAT AND MR. LAMBERT, WE'LL COME UP.
THANK YOU, DR. HART. AND TO THE BOARD.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME OUT TONIGHT.
WE ARE LOOKING AT SORT OF A PHASE TWO AND SORT OF APPOINTING A COUPLE OF MEMBERS FROM BOTH THE BOARD AND COUNCIL TO DISCUSS WHAT THE NEXT ITERATION OF THE OF THE OF THE MOU WILL LOOK LIKE.
SO ABSOLUTELY, WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING THAT CONVERSATION.
MY SECOND QUESTION, IT'S PERFECTLY KIND OF LEADS INTO THAT IS ABOUT THE NEXT STEPS.
UM, I KNOW I HAVE SOME OTHER FEEDBACK.
I WAS INTERESTED IN EMAILING TO DR.
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO BE REPEATING THIS PRESENTATION OR WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FOR THAT CONVERSATION? CAN YOU GIVE US ANY KIND OF PREVIEW OF WHAT TO EXPECT FOR THAT? SO HONESTLY, I FELT LIKE THAT WOULD LIKELY BE LED BY THE ELECTEDS HAVING THAT CONVERSATION AS PEERS.
BUT ONE THING THAT MR. LAMBERT DID MAKE SURE TO DO IS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL DOES HAVE A COPY AS WELL AS THE CITY MANAGER OF THE RED LINE DRAFT NOW SO THAT BOTH SIDES CAN BE HAVE THE SAME INFORMATION, BE ABLE TO REVIEW IT AND BE ABLE TO COME TO THAT MEETING WITH QUESTIONS.
BUT FROM A PROCESS STANDPOINT, I WOULD JUST SAY THAT THE STAFF WILL BE THERE TO SUPPORT ANY QUESTIONS THAT COME UP, TAKE ANY FEEDBACK AND HAVE A FEW DAYS TO INCORPORATE ANY FEEDBACK THAT THE BODIES WOULD LIKE TO SEE ADDED TO THE MOU PRIOR TO ASKING FOR APPROVAL ON THE 18TH.
GUESS THIS IS MORE A RECOMMENDATION OR SUGGESTION.
IF IF WE COULD JUST REALLY PUBLICIZE THAT.
WELL, PERSONALLY, I HAD CONCERNS ABOUT THE PUBLIC HEARING THAT WE HAD ON STAGGERED TERMS. I DIDN'T SEE A LOT OF PUBLICITY.
I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT WE COVER IN THE EXPRESS, BUT AGAIN, IF PEOPLE AREN'T TUNED IN, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO KNOW WE'RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION. I KNOW THIS IS OBVIOUSLY BEEN A A TOPIC OF A LOT OF INTEREST IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO JUST WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE REALLY GETTING THE WORD OUT THAT THERE IS THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AND THAT THAT IS PART OF OUR LEGAL OBLIGATION ACCORDING TO VIRGINIA CODE.
I'M SORRY. ONE MORE. THANK YOU.
[01:30:03]
AND I'M CURIOUS HOW YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT WHAT THESE EVALUATIVE ADDITIONS TO THE MOU, HOW YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT IF THAT MIGHT CHANGE THOSE REPORTS AT ALL.SO THE SRO PERFORMANCE FORM WILL ACTUALLY BE AN ADDENDUM TO THE QUARTERLY SRO REPORTS THAT WE DO.
SORRY, IT'S JUST SO MANY REPORTS THAT WE DO, BUT THAT'S ONE CHANGE THAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING.
SO THEN THAT WAY THAT'S ALL PART OF THE OVERALL ASSESSMENT FOR THAT QUARTER OF THE SRO PARTNERSHIP.
THAT'S GREAT. I'M EXCITED TO HEAR THAT.
I THINK YOU PROBABLY INFERRED FROM ALL MY COMMENTS DURING ALL THE OTHER SAFETY REPORTS.
I STRUGGLE SO MUCH WITH THAT DATA BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S NOT THE COMPLETE PICTURE.
THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, NEXT STEP.
SO. I'M WONDERING, I'M JUST THROWING THIS OUT THERE BECAUSE WE HAVE WE HAVE THE ADJUSTED APPROVED BUDGET FOR FY 23 FOR THE CIP.
WE HAVE THAT HERE ON THE AGENDA.
BUT THEN WE ALSO HAVE IT SORT OF BAKED INTO A WORK SESSION.
DO WE WANT TO CONDENSE THAT IN SOME WAY AND MAYBE JUST TALK ABOUT ALL OF IT DURING THE WORK SESSION? DOES THAT MAKE SENSE TO EVERYBODY? SECOND. OKAY. SECOND.
SO, MADAM CLERK, JUST FOR THE MINUTES.
UM. WE ARE GOING TO TACKLE THAT AGENDA ITEM DURING THE WORK SESSION.
ALL RIGHT. SO LET'S MOVE ON TO SOME NEW BUSINESS THAT WE HAVE, WHICH IS OUT OF SCHOOL TIME.
[21. ACPS Out of School Time Update]
SO, DR.WYATT, START WITH YOU, AND THEN YOU CAN TURN IT OVER TO YOUR STAFF.
YES. AT THIS LATE HOUR, WE DO HAVE MR. HUFFMAN ON WHO WILL BE PRESENTING THE OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME UPDATE, AND I DO BELIEVE HE HAS A SPECIAL GUEST.
SO, MR. HUFFMAN, WELCOME. I KNOW IT'S PRETTY LATE AND YOU ALL ARE STILL THERE AND READY AND EAGER TO PRESENT.
AND IF YOU COULD PLEASE INTRODUCE YOUR GUEST THIS EVENING.
SPECIAL CONGRATULATIONS TO DR.
WYATT. ON BEHALF OF OUR TEAM, THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND ENGAGEMENT.
UM, LIKE SHE SAID, THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THIS OUT OF SCHOOL TIME WORK THAT WE DO.
AND CERTAINLY IT ISN'T ONE PERSON LEADING THE SHOW, IT ISN'T TWO PEOPLE LEADING THE SHOW.
AND I THINK WE'VE DONE A GREAT JOB OF THAT.
BEAUTIFUL. EVERYBODY CAN SEE THAT IN FULL VIEW.
WE'RE GOING TO START RIGHT INTO THESE ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS.
HOW IS OUR OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME PROGRAM ALIGNED WITH OUR ACP 2025 EQUITY FOR ALL STRATEGIC PLAN? OUR CITY PLANS AND NATIONAL RESEARCH.
WHAT ARE THE CURRENT SITES, PARTNERS, AND NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY BEING SERVED BY THE LINK CLUB? WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED THROUGH ANY CHALLENGES AND DATA REFLECTION AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS? HOW DOES OUR COLLABORATIVE WORK WITH THE YOUTH SUPPORT NETWORK, WHICH IS FROM ALEXANDRIA IMPACT OUR STRATEGIES AND WHAT IS OUR VISION AND SUSTAINABILITY PLAN MOVING FORWARD? SO YOU SEE, THERE ARE SOME MAJOR AREAS HERE.
THERE'S GOALS, ALIGNMENT, DATA, REFLECTION AND COLLABORATION AND VISION.
I'M GOING TO INTRODUCE MARISOL MORALES, WHO IS OUR OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME MANAGER.
IT'S A LARGE LINK CLUB PROGRAM AND SHE IS EMBEDDED HERSELF INTO THE WORK AND SHE'S GOING TO EXPLAIN THE STAFFING BECAUSE THERE'S SOMETIMES THERE'S PERCEPTION THAT FROM A DIVISION STANDPOINT, WE HAVE LOTS OF STAFF DOING THIS WORK, BUT IT'S A VERY SMALL STAFF ON OUR END.
BUT WE USE OUR SITE COORDINATORS AT EACH BUILDING AND COMMUNITY SITE TO HELP OUT.
[01:35:03]
SO MARISOL, IF YOU'LL GO THROUGH JUST A QUICK VIEW OF THE STAFFING, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.SURE. THANK YOU, KURT, FOR THAT INTRODUCTION.
AS KURT SHARED, I AM THE OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME MANAGER OVERSEEING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM, LINKING INSTRUCTION, NURTURING KNOWLEDGE, WHICH IS ALSO KNOWN AS THE LINK CLUB.
AND SO THE LINK CLUB IS SUPPORTED BY A NUMBER OF DEDICATED INDIVIDUALS AND PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS.
WE HAVE MY POSITION THE OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME MANAGER.
THERE IS ALSO THE OPERATIONS AND DATA COORDINATOR WHICH IS HELD BY MS..
TAMIKO HUDSON, AND SHE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THE COMPLIANCE OF OUR GRANT REQUIREMENTS.
AND WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE MORE SUPPORT IN THAT AREA.
IN THE AT THE SITE LEVEL, WE HAVE EACH LINK CLUB SITE IS LED BY A SITE COORDINATOR.
OUR LONGEST STANDING COORDINATOR IS AT BRANT PLACE LINK CLUB AND IS LED BY MR. DAVID RAWLINGS, A LONGTIME LINK CLUB ADVOCATE AND THE ONLY FULL TIME COORDINATOR AMONG ALL THE SITES THAT WE.
IT SHOULD READ ALEXANDRIA REDEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING AUTHORITY.
THE SECOND IS WE ARE MISSING ONE OF OUR CO-APPLICANTS WAS ACCIDENTALLY OMITTED AND THAT IS HOMES FOR AMERICA AND HOMES FOR AMERICA IS A NONPROFIT HOUSING DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION THAT MANAGES THE BRANT PLACE APARTMENT BUILDING WHERE WE CONDUCT OUR LINK CLUB.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, THIS TABLE SHOWS YOU THE COMMUNITY LODGINGS INC AS ANOTHER CO-APPLICANT FOR OUR LINK CLUB FOR THREE OF OUR LINK CLUB SITES AND MANY SEVEN SEVEN LINK CLUB SITES THAT ARE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH RECREATION PARKS AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES.
SO COMING BACK, I JUST WANT TO SAY ONE MORE THING ABOUT THESE.
I KNOW THE BOARD WILL LIKE THIS OR BE EXCITED ABOUT THIS.
ONE OF OUR CASUAL FAMILY ENGAGEMENT SUPPORT STAFF IS ACTUALLY ASHLEY, WHO WAS A BOARD STUDENT LIAISON PREVIOUSLY, AND SHE'S AMAZING AND SHE'S GOING TO BE HELPING US OUT WITH OUR LINK CLUB.
I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT, HEY, HOW DID WE GET HERE? I MEAN, WHERE DO WE HOW DO WE GET TO THIS POINT? AND REALLY, IT ALL STARTED IN 2014 WHEN THERE WAS A CREATION OF THE ALEXANDRIA CHILDREN AND YOUTH PLAN.
AND ONE OF THOSE AREAS WAS REALLY TO TALK ABOUT OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME AND SUPPORTS FOR STUDENTS.
WE STARTED TO THINK ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS.
AND OUT OF IT, THREE YEARS LATER, IN 2017, CAME THE OUT OF SCHOOL TIME WORKGROUP.
THEY LOOKED AT WHAT WERE THE NEEDS IN THE CITY, WHAT WERE THE GAPS, CHALLENGES.
AND SO WE TOOK THAT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY FOR OUR FIRST 21ST CENTURY COMMUNITY GRANT.
AND WE RECEIVED IT AND WE RECEIVED IT FOR BRANT PLACE, WHICH MARISOL MENTIONED.
AMAZING COMMUNITY KIND OF CONNECTION THERE.
THEN IN 2019, IF YOU CAN BELIEVE IT, WE AT A 28 GIVEN IN VIRGINIA, WE GOT FOUR MORE AND WE TOOK THAT AS AN OPPORTUNITY THEN TO EXPAND TO DIFFERENT ADDITIONAL SITES IN ALEXANDRIA ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CITY IN 2020.
OH, BOY. REMEMBER THAT TIME WE WERE IN THE PANDEMIC AND WE SHIFTED.
THANK GOODNESS. WE WERE REALLY PROACTIVE ABOUT IT.
WE SHIFTED TO HOME SUPPORT FOR LINK CLUB AND AT THAT SAME TIME FOR ALEXANDRIA STARTED THE YOUTH SUPPORT NETWORK, WHICH CAITLIN BROWN, WHO'S OUR SPECIAL GUEST, IS GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT LATER.
BUT THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE THAT WAS AMAZING OUT OF THAT TIME, OUT OF THAT HUGE CHALLENGE, IT ACTUALLY OPENED THE DOOR FOR ALL PARTNERS TO COME TOGETHER, TO START TO TALK ABOUT THE NEEDS IN THIS CITY.
AND EVERYBODY JUST HELD HANDS TOGETHER AND SAID, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? AND IT WAS AN AMAZING TIME AS WE DID CHILD CARE, AS YOU ALL KNOW.
AND WE ALSO DID THESE LINK CLUBS.
WE TOOK THE ESSER RELIEF FUNDING AND WE EXPANDED TO MORE SITES.
[01:40:03]
AND THEN JUST RECENTLY WE A LOT OF WORK, WE JUST WENT THROUGH THE MONITORING SYSTEM FOR FOR SOME OF OUR GRANTS AND WE REAPPLIED FOR BRANT PLACE AND WE HAD TO FILL IN FOR CONTINUATION GRANTS.AND AGAIN, I HAVE TO THANK DR.
KAY WYATT BECAUSE, AS SHE KNOWS, WE HAD TO GET LOTS OF SIGNATURES AND SHE WAS RIGHT ON IT.
SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THAT.
SO THAT'S KIND OF THE OVERVIEW TIMELINE.
SO LEAN CLUB FOCUSES ON THE WHOLE CHILD BY PROVIDING AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMING THAT NOT ONLY INCORPORATES ACADEMIC SUPPORT, BUT ALSO ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS AROUND SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL LEARNING, HEALTH, WELLNESS AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT, ALL OF WHICH, AS YOU KNOW, CONTRIBUTE TO A STUDENT'S ACADEMIC SUCCESS IN THE LONG RUN.
LINK CLUB IS MADE POSSIBLE BY FEDERAL AND STATE GRANTS AND COLLABORATION WITH KEY COMMUNITY PARTNERS AS THE ONES THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER IN THIS PRESENTATION AND OF COURSE OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
AS KURT BRIEFLY MENTIONED EARLIER, LINK CLUB IS A FREE PROGRAM THAT OPERATES MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY AFTER SCHOOL UNTIL 530, 6:00, AND IT'S FOR KINDERGARTEN ALL THE WAY THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL.
I'M ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANTED TO ALSO SHARE WITH YOU IS LIKE, WHAT ARE OUR CURRENT GOALS WITH GREENE CLUB? WELL, FIRST IT'S TO IMPROVE THE ACADEMIC OUTCOMES OF HIGH NEED STUDENTS BY OFFERING EXTENDED LEARNING SERVICES, HOMEWORK HELP, TUTORING AND OTHER ACADEMIC SUPPORT THAT GO BEYOND THE SCHOOL DAY.
WE WANT TO SUPPORT IMPROVED SCHOOL ATTENDANCE AND REDUCE BEHAVIORAL ISSUES, AND WE DO THAT BY HELPING BUILD RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN AFTERSCHOOL STAFF AND STUDENTS.
ANOTHER TRUSTED ADULT IN THEIR LIVES THAT COULD BE SERVED AS A A A SAFETY NET, IF YOU WILL, TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES THAT SUPPORT HEALTH, WELLNESS, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS THROUGH ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES.
WE WANT TO ALSO ENGAGE FAMILIES BY BUILDING TRUSTING RELATIONSHIPS AND PROVIDING MEANINGFUL AND CULTURALLY RELEVANT TOOLS, INFORMATION AND RESOURCES SO THAT THEY SEE THAT THE SCHOOL IS A PARTNER AS WELL AS THE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM.
WE WANT TO CONNECT SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN NEW AND INNOVATIVE WAYS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM OF PROGRAMS AND SUPPORT TO THE COMMUNITIES OF NEED WITHIN ALEXANDRIA.
THANKS, MARISOL. I'M GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT JUST QUICKLY, YOU'LL SEE THAT THAT SURROUNDING THE WHOLE CHILD, WE REALLY DID A LOT OF RESEARCH WHEN WE STARTED AND CONTINUED TO REFLECT ON THIS RESEARCH OF WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF HIGH QUALITY OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME PROGRAMS. I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH THESE, BUT LET ME JUST TELL YOU, WE ARE ATTACKING EACH ONE OF THESE AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ALIGNED WITH EACH PIECE OF THE PUZZLE THERE.
I ALSO WANTED TO SHOW WHEN WE DO ALIGNMENT AND WHEN OUR TEAM AND WHEN OUR STAKEHOLDERS LOOK AT WHY WE ARE DOING THESE THINGS, WE ARE SHOWING ALIGNMENT WITH NOT ONLY SCHOOL SYSTEM BUT THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA AND NATIONAL.
AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE, BECAUSE I'M NOT GOING TO READ THIS, ALL I'M GOING TO TELL YOU, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT IN EVEN IN THE NATIONAL ALIGNMENT, IF YOU LOOK AT THAT, THAT LAST ONE OF COST AND TRANSPORTATION IS THE BIGGEST BARRIER OR A HUGE BARRIER.
WE TOOK CARE OF THAT RIGHT OFF THE BAT.
AND ALSO, OF COURSE, PARENTS WHO ARE WORKING, THEY NEED A SAFE, HIGH QUALITY AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM.
AND THIS SERVES A LOT OF THAT FOR FREE FOR A LOT OF OUR STUDENTS.
AND MARISOL IS GOING TO QUICKLY JUST MENTION THIS.
THIS IS A COMBINATION OF 21ST CENTURY SITES AND ALSO ESSER RELIEF FUNDED SITES.
AND YOU WILL NOTICE THAT THAT PARTNER IN THE MIDDLE IS ACTUALLY A CO-APPLICANT.
SO THEY ARE IN ON THE GRANT AND HELP US IN VARIOUS WAYS, OF COURSE.
SO YOU YOU'LL SEE IN MARISOL, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'LL JUST TAKE THIS.
YOU'LL SEE THAT THE REC DEPARTMENT IS A LARGE PARTNER OF OURS.
AHA. IS A PARTNER FOR TWO OF THOSE.
AND THEN WE HAVE GREAT COMMUNITY LODGING SITES AND HOME FOR AMERICA.
SO YOU'LL ALSO NOTICE THAT THERE'S A NUMBER OF STUDENTS.
YOU MAY ASK, WHY ARE THESE ALL DIFFERENT? WELL, IT ALL DEPENDS ON MANY FACTORS FACILITIES, STAFFING, AVAILABILITY AND CAPACITY FUNDING LEVELS BECAUSE YOU GET A FUNDING LEVEL FOR EACH OF THOSE SITES BASED ON THE GRANT ALLOCATION.
[01:45:04]
SO THERE'S LOTS OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT GO INTO THESE NUMBERS.THIS IS AN EXCITING ASSESSMENT.
I THINK THAT ONE IN GREENE IN THE MIDDLE IS PRETTY AMAZING.
99% OF THE STUDENTS THAT ARE REGULARLY PARTICIPATING HAVE HAD NO IN-SCHOOL SUSPENSIONS AND OR HAVE DEMONSTRATED A DECREASE IN THE IN-SCHOOL SUSPENSION RATES. BUT YOU'LL ALSO NOTICE THERE'S A THERE'S A GROWTH IN READING AND MATHEMATICS.
NOW, YOUR QUESTION MAY BE, WELL, WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT IN TERMS OF HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT? AND MARISOL WILL BE ABLE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT.
MARISOL, CAN YOU PLEASE GIVE US JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE READING AND MATH, HOW THAT IS SHOWN IN IMPROVEMENT? YES. SO FOR OUR 21ST CENTURY GRANTS, WE DO HAVE TO MEASURE ACADEMIC SUCCESS.
AND THE AREAS THAT WE ARE REQUIRED TO MEASURE ARE IN READING AND MATH.
AND SO WE DO LOOK AT THE SOCIAL LEVEL.
SO WE KNOW THAT THAT'S ONLY ONCE A YEAR TOWARDS THE END OF THE YEAR.
BUT BETWEEN THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR UNTIL THE END OF THE THE SCHOOL YEAR WHERE WE SEE THE RESULTS, WE ALSO RELY ON THE MATH SCORES THAT STUDENTS RECEIVE THROUGHOUT THE DIFFERENT QUARTERS.
SO ALL OF THAT SHOWS GROWTH TOWARDS.
UM, TOWARDS THE READING AND MATH LEVELS AND SHOWS WHETHER OUR REGULARLY ATTENDING STUDENTS, WHICH ARE STUDENTS THAT ATTEND AT LEAST 90 HOURS OF CLUB PROGRAM, WHETHER THEY'VE GROWN IN THOSE AREAS.
THAT'S AWESOME. AND ONE MORE THING.
IF YOU REMEMBER THE DEVELOPMENTAL ASSETS THAT THE CITY PUTS INTO MOTION TO TO GET SOME SURVEY RESULTS ABOUT CHILDREN, STUDENTS AND HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT SCHOOL AND THOSE TYPE OF THINGS, I LOVE THAT 87% OF STUDENTS AGREE THAT LINK CLUB TEACHERS CARE ABOUT THEM.
THAT'S A TRIBUTE TO THE TEACHERS.
YOU KNOW, THEIR TEACHERS THAT ARE WORKING AFTER SCHOOL.
BUT THEY'RE STILL SO PASSIONATE AND SO WONDERFUL ABOUT HELPING THESE STUDENTS AFTER SCHOOL THAT ALMOST 90% SAY WE CAN TELL THAT THESE TEACHERS REALLY CARE ABOUT US ARE AMAZING.
MARISOL IS QUICKLY GOING TO RUN THROUGH THOSE.
SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO SHARE A FEW HIGHLIGHTS.
THE FIRST BEING OUR LINKING TO OUR FUTURE CURRICULUM, WHICH WAS A CURRICULUM WE PILOTED THIS YEAR AND IT WAS FEATURED IN FIVE OF OUR SITES FOR STUDENTS THAT ARE BETWEEN KINDERGARTEN AND EIGHTH GRADE.
THIS CURRICULUM INTEGRATES BEST PRACTICES FROM TWO INSTRUCTIONAL MODELS THE PROJECT GLAD AND AVID, AND IT REALLY ALLOWS TWO TEACHERS TO ENGAGE STUDENTS IN THEMATIC EXPLORATION THAT FOCUSES ON BEING AN AGENT OF CHANGE WITHIN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES.
AFTER THIS PILOT YEAR, WE ARE ENHANCING THE LESSON PLANS WITH THE FEEDBACK THAT WE'RE RECEIVING FROM THE PILOT SITES AND PREPARING TO LAUNCH A 2.0 VERSION, IF YOU WILL, FOR THE NEXT PROGRAM YEAR.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE'RE VERY HAPPY THAT WE'RE ABLE TO EXPAND OUR ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES.
STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN WEEKLY VARIETY OF HANDS ON LEARNING ACTIVITIES, STEM RELATED.
THERE ARE ROBOTICS CODING, ENGINEERING.
WE ALSO OFFER CREATIVE ARTS, THEATER, MUSIC LESSONS, PAINTING AND OTHER ENRICHING ACTIVITIES THAT REALLY HELP PROMOTE AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT AND FOSTER POSITIVE GROWTH AMONG STUDENTS.
AND SO THANKS TO OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND HUMAN SERVICES, WE WERE ABLE TO NOT ONLY PROVIDE TRAINING TO OUR LINK CLUB STAFF ON HOW TO BUILD ASSETS AMONG YOUTH, BUT WE WERE ALSO ABLE TO IMPLEMENT A PRE SURVEY OF THE DEVELOPMENT ASSETS IN THE BEGINNING OF THE LINK CLUB SCHOOL YEAR, AND WE ARE GOING TO BE CONDUCTING A POST SURVEY AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR TO EVALUATE THE IMPACT OF LINK CLUB STAFF HAS HAD IN ASSET BUILDING AMONG YOUTH.
SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THOSE RESULTS.
IS THAT WITHIN THE WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF A GRANT AWARD, WE HAVE MONITORING VISITS.
[01:50:01]
AND SO THESE SITES VISITS ARE CONDUCTED, AS I MENTIONED, IN THE FIRST OF THE THREE YEAR GRANT AWARD CYCLE.NOW, SOME PEOPLE SAY THAT'S BECAUSE IT'S ALPHABETICAL, BUT I DON'T THINK SO.
I THINK IT'S BECAUSE WE'RE FIRST.
YAY. AND IT REALLY IS A TRIBUTE TO ALSO TO JUST SHOUT OUT TO MISS BURGOS IN HER LEADERSHIP ON MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE REALLY ACKNOWLEDGED FOR THIS INCREDIBLE WORK THROUGH COMMUNICATION EFFORTS.
YOU'LL SEE DOWN IN THE RIGHT HAND CORNER THERE IS A SPECIAL PHOTO OF OUR TEAM AND THAT'S GOING TO LEAD US TO OUR FACE BECAUSE OUR FAMILY ENGAGEMENT IS CERTAINLY A HUGE COMPONENT OF THIS OF THIS PROGRAM.
AND I'M NOT GOING TO READ THOSE OFF.
AGAIN, SURROUND THE CHILD, 350 TOTAL HOURS OF FAMILY ENGAGEMENT FOR THESE PROGRAMS. EXCELLENT. ALL RIGHT.
ALSO. YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THIS CITY HAS A LOT OF DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES.
WE'RE NOT THE ONLY GAME IN TOWN.
WE'VE ALSO GOT THE COMPAGNIA CENTER.
WE'VE GOT ABOUT 160 COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND ABOUT 30 OF THOSE SERVE AFTER SCHOOL.
EVEN THE SMALLER ONES LIKE THE SPITFIRE CLUB THAT DOES LITERACY, AMAZING RSA, YOU NAME IT.
YOU LOOK AT ALL OF THESE, WE'VE GOT THEM COVERED AND I THINK THAT'S AMAZING.
AND A LOT OF THEM ARE EITHER FREE OR ON A SLIDING SCALE, WHICH IS ALSO IMPORTANT.
SO I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT WE'VE GOT SUCH A GREAT JUST A, I ALWAYS SAY THIS COLLABORATIVE, COLLECTIVE, COLLABORATIVE OF PARTNERS THAT HELP OUT THE CITY AND THE STUDENTS.
I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO KAITLIN YOUNG FOR THIS.
CAITLIN BROWN. SORRY, I SAID CAITLIN YOUNG.
CAITLIN BROWN, WHO IS THE YOUTH SUPPORT YOUTH NETWORK SUPPORT MANAGER FOR ALEXANDRIA.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, KURT, AND GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.
AND A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE SCHOOL BOARD AND TO OUR COLLEAGUES FOR HAVING ME THIS EVENING.
AND A WARM CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU, DR.
WYATT. MY NAME IS CAITLIN BROWN AND I SERVE AS THE BACKBONE FOR THE ALEXANDRIA YOUTH SUPPORT NETWORK, WHICH IS HOSTED BY ACT FOR ALEXANDRIA AND GENEROUSLY FUNDED BY THE FRANK AND BETTY WRIGHT FOUNDATION FOR A PREVIOUS JOINT CITY COUNCIL AND SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE A REPORT ON THE BACKGROUND OF THE NETWORK'S BEGINNINGS AND INITIAL DEVELOPMENT.
AT THE START OF THE PRESENTATION, KURT PROVIDED A BRIEF REFRESHER ON HOW THE NETWORK BEGAN, BUT SINCE THEN WE HAVE IDENTIFIED MORE THAN 80 EXPANDED LEARNING AND OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME PROGRAMS AS NETWORK MEMBERS WHO ARE DELIVERING SERVICES TO K THROUGH 12 YOUTH IN SCHOOL BUILDINGS, PUBLIC BUILDINGS, PRIVATE FACILITIES AND FAITH BASED ORGANIZATIONS. ALL PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS ARE UNITED BY THE VISION THAT EVERY YOUTH IN THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA THRIVES, REGARDLESS OF CIRCUMSTANCES, THROUGH EQUITABLE ACCESS AND ENGAGEMENT IN HIGH QUALITY AND MEANINGFUL OUT OF SCHOOL TIME AND COMMUNITY BASED PROGRAMS. OUR MISSION IS TO FOSTER COLLABORATION AND PROVIDE COORDINATED SUPPORTS TO A NETWORK OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, SCHOOLS AND OTHER PARTNERS DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE EQUITY QUALITY AND CONTINUOUS INNOVATION OF YOUTH SERVING PROGRAMS. IN THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA, WE'VE BEEN FORTUNATE TO HAVE AN INCREDIBLY SUPPORTIVE PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR COLLEAGUES AT OK.
THEY ARE JOINED ON THE COMMITTEE BY TEN OTHER DEDICATED REPRESENTATIVES FROM AREA NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, CITY AGENCIES AND FAITH BASED ORGANIZATIONS, ALL OFFERING YOUTH PROGRAMING TO ALEXANDRIA'S YOUNG PEOPLE.
[01:55:07]
ENGAGEMENT AND OUT OF SCHOOL TIME AND COMMUNITY BASED PROGRAMS. THE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING WORKGROUP CONSISTS OF MORE THAN 25 ORGANIZATIONS DEDICATED TO IDENTIFYING STRATEGIES AND PRACTICES THAT WILL SUPPORT THE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING AND WELL-BEING OF STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS, AND FOSTERING THE SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT OF YOUTH.THE WORKGROUP HAS BEEN LEARNING ABOUT THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA'S FRAMEWORKS AND ENGAGED IN EXTENSIVE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT LED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND HUMAN SERVICES, AS WELL AS THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SEARCH INSTITUTE.
MARTIN, ERICA MACK AND THEIR TEAM AT CPS AS THEY INTRODUCE THE FRAMEWORKS UTILIZED BY CPS.
ENSURING THAT AS A COMMUNITY WE'RE SHARING THE MUTUAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE WITH CPS, LEADERSHIP, TEACHERS AND STAFF DUE TO SUPPORT FROM THE FRANK AND BETTY WRIGHT FOUNDATION AND AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDING FROM THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA, WE HAVE CONTRACTED WITH WEBER MOORE PARTNERS ON A YEAR LONG LANDSCAPE STUDY, EXAMINING THE BARRIERS, NEEDS AND HOPES REGARDING EXPANDED LEARNING AND OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME PROGRAMS IN THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA.
THROUGHOUT THE STUDY, WE HAVE RECEIVED CONSIDERABLE SUPPORT FROM SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS THE FACE CENTER, THE OFFICE OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND RESEARCH, THE SPECIAL EDUCATION PARENT RESOURCE CENTER, THE OFFICE OF SCHOOL LEADERSHIP, ALL OF THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS AND THE PTA COUNCIL LEADERSHIP.
AND ON BEHALF OF THE NETWORK, WE'RE TRULY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR GENEROUS PARTNERSHIP.
AND WITHOUT YOU, NONE OF THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE.
AT THE CONCLUSION OF THIS STUDY, WE WILL HAVE COMPREHENSIVE GIS MAPPING OF THE EXISTING PROGRAMS AS WELL AS RECOMMENDATIONS TO HELP US ADDRESS THE NEEDS AND DESIRES IN OUR COMMUNITY. HOWEVER, THERE ARE SOME CORE ELEMENTS THAT ALL OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME NETWORKS ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE, WHICH WE'RE HOPING TO DEVELOP.
THE FIRST IS AN ONLINE PROGRAM LOCATOR OR DIRECTORY THAT CAN CONNECT OUR COMMUNITY WITH AVAILABLE PROGRAMS. THE SECOND IS TO IDENTIFY A METHOD OF ONGOING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, WHICH IS USUALLY SUPPORTED BY A NATIONALLY RESEARCHED PROGRAM QUALITY FRAMEWORK, SUCH AS THE WEICHERT CENTER FOR PROGRAM QUALITY.
WE ALSO HOPE TO HAVE FUTURE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT DEVELOPING A DATA AND UNIVERSAL REGISTRATION SYSTEM WHICH CAN SERVE AS A POWERFUL CONNECTION BETWEEN CPS, ITS PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITY. THE LAST ELEMENT WILL LARGELY BE INFORMED BY DATA FROM OUR LANDSCAPE STUDY.
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO LEARNING FROM THE COMMUNITY WHETHER THE.
WITH THIS KNOWLEDGE, WE'LL BE ABLE TO PLAN FOR THE NETWORK'S LONG TERM FUTURE EFFECTIVELY.
AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR HAVING ME THIS EVENING.
THIS LAST SLIDE IS ALL ABOUT WHAT'S NEXT.
AND WE KNOW THAT ESSER FUNDING WILL EXTEND TO NEXT YEAR AND THEN WHAT COMES AFTER.
SO WE'VE ALREADY STARTED DISCUSSIONS AND SUSTAINABILITY PLANNING BECAUSE WE KNOW WE NEED TO LOOK AT A SYSTEM THAT'S GOING TO BE SUSTAINABLE AFTER THOSE END. AND SO WE'VE BEEN TALKING TO OBVIOUSLY CAITLIN, WE'VE BEEN TALKING THROUGH DIFFERENT NETWORK SYSTEMS AND LOOKING AT HOW THEY'RE DOING IT IN NEIGHBORING DISTRICTS AND ALSO NATIONALLY.
AND WE'VE GOTTEN TOGETHER AS A TEAM AND WE'LL START TO PLAN WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS OF HOW ARE WE GOING TO PUT THIS SUSTAINABILITY PLAN IN ACTION SO THAT WE HAVE A REALLY GOOD IDEA OF HOW WE'RE GOING TO GO FORWARD? I KNOW SOME PEOPLE LIKE, BOY, HE GETS EXCITED ABOUT THIS STUFF.
I REALLY DO. I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR 32 YEARS AND THE WAY THE REASONS WHY I GET SO EXCITED, ESPECIALLY ABOUT THIS TYPE OF PROGRAM, IS THAT WHEN I REALLY FEEL LIKE IT'S IMPACTING THE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES IN GAPS WHERE THERE WERE GAPS.
AND THIS FREE PROGRAM FILLS GAPS FOR MANY OF OUR FAMILIES.
AND SO I CAN'T DO ANYTHING BUT BE EXCITED ABOUT IT.
AND I LOVE WHERE IT'S GOING TO GO.
I HAVE ALL THE OPTIMISM THAT IT'S GOING TO JUST KEEP GOING UP AND UP.
OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. HUFFMAN, FOR YOUR ENTHUSIASM.
SO DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FROM BOARD MEMBERS? ALL RIGHT. I HAVE MR. HARRIS AND DR.
[02:00:01]
RIEF. MR. HOFFMAN, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A PROGRAM IN THE CITY THAT IS ACTUALLY FREE.
UM, THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU PUT INTO IT.
I HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE OF VISITING THE THE BRANT PLACE LOCATION, UH, RUN BY MR. ROLLINS, AND I WAS VERY IMPRESSED BY THE WORK THAT WAS BEING PUT IN.
I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO MEET THE CHILDREN ARE GOING TO BOTH CLASSROOMS. WHEN? THE DAY I WENT, THEY WERE ENGAGED IN ROBOTICS AND IT WAS VERY IMPRESSIVE.
AND I JUST HAVE THREE QUESTIONS JUST IN REGARD TO HOW THINGS ARE GOING IN THE FUTURE.
ONE IS AND YOU CAN ANSWER THEM HOWEVER YOU LIKE.
I'M REACHING OUT TO FAMILIES TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THESE THESE RESOURCES EXIST.
MY SECOND QUESTION IS YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE FAMILY ENGAGEMENT.
AND. FINALLY, THE IS THERE A ROADMAP? I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT A LITTLE BIT THE FUTURE PLANS, BUT DO WE HAVE A DETAILED ROADMAP OF WHERE THIS IS GOING, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE ESSER FUNDS ARE SPENT? SPENT AND WE TYPICALLY SEE A LOT OF PROGRAMS FALTER ONCE THEY NO LONGER HAVE FUNDING.
SO CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE FUTURE PLANS AND LET ME KNOW IF I NEED TO REPEAT ANY OF THOSE QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. NO, AND I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT YOU WENT OUT TO BROWN PLACE.
I KNOW MISTER ROLLINS HAD TOLD ME THAT YOU WERE VISITING AND YOU GET TO SEE MR. ROLLINS IN ACTION. AND HE REALLY IS A COMMUNITY CONNECTOR.
I'LL TELL YOU. HE'S HE IS A WONDERFUL RELATIONSHIP SITE COORDINATOR AT THAT SITE.
AND HE'S VERY TRUSTED AND KNOWN THERE.
SO IT'S WONDERFUL. SO THANK YOU FOR VISITING.
I'M GLAD YOU GET TO SEE THAT IN ACTION.
IT'S WONDERFUL. THE OUTREACH THAT WE DO IS VARIED.
SO BECAUSE THE GRANT, YOU HAVE TO DO CERTAIN OUTREACH AND REACH OUT TO THE BUILDINGS AND THE COMMUNITIES THROUGH SOCIAL WORKERS, THROUGH THROUGH LEADERSHIP, THROUGH PARENTSQUARE, BECAUSE WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE IDENTIFY STUDENTS BASED ON A CRITERIA, AND THOSE STUDENTS THEN GET REFERRED TO US BY DIFFERENT MEMBERS OF THE TEAMS AT DIFFERENT BUILDINGS AND SITES.
YES. SO WE DO OUTREACH BY PARENT SQUARE.
LINK CLUB SERVES LIKE A WRAPAROUND FOR THEIR EXTENDED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES.
SO THEY IDENTIFY THOSE STUDENTS.
AND SO IT THERE'S ALSO OTHER SITES THAT IT HAS TO ALSO DO WITH OUR CO-APPLICANT.
OUR CO-APPLICANT IS AHA SO PRIORITY ARE GIVEN TO STUDENTS THAT LIVE IN OUR DEVELOPMENT AS WELL.
SAME THING WITH COMMUNITY LODGINGS.
ULTIMATELY, THE THING THAT KURT MENTIONED IS THAT IT'S ALL ABOUT ACADEMIC, RIGHT? IF THEY ARE NOT MEETING STANDARDS IN READING AND MATH, THAT IS ONE OF THE ONE OF THE ELEMENTS WITHIN THE RUBRIC RACE, ETHNICITY, POVERTY LEVEL. IF THEY HAVE IF THEY'RE FARM ELIGIBLE AND AS I MENTIONED, AS KURT MENTIONED, REFERRALS BY SOCIAL WORKERS AND ADMINISTRATORS. THE SECOND PART OF YOUR QUESTION WAS ABOUT FAMILY ENGAGEMENT.
THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING LOOK AT HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER FAMILY ENGAGEMENT WE'RE DOING AT A CERTAIN SITE, FOR EXAMPLE, IS REALLY ALIGNED WITH NOT ONLY THE BUILDING NEEDS AND THE COMMUNITY THAT SURROUNDS THEM.
SO FAMILY ENGAGEMENT MAY BE DIFFERENT AT JEFFERSON HOUSTON.
I'M JUST MAKING IT UP. JEFFERSON, HOUSTON, THEN AT BRANDT PLACE, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THAT COMMUNITY THERE AND THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING WITH THOSE STAFF MEMBERS THAT ARE WORKING WITH THE STUDENTS AND THE FAMILIES HAVE A KIND OF A BETTER IDEA OF WHAT THOSE FAMILIES ARE NEEDING.
AND SO WE MAKE SURE WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS MATCH IT UP WITH EACH SITE, WITH ALSO HAVING THESE GLOBAL, I CALL THEM GLOBAL GLOBAL EVENTS THAT EVERYBODY CAN FROM LINK CLUB CAN GO TO LIKE OUR SCIENCE NIGHT, YOU KNOW, EVERY LINK CLUB FAMILY CAN ATTEND THAT AND BE TOGETHER.
SO IT'S KIND OF A MIX BETWEEN SPECIFIC FAMILY ENGAGEMENT AND PARTNERS FOR EACH SITE AND GLOBAL.
AND THEN THAT THIRD, YOU'RE SPEAKING OUR LANGUAGE, DR..
[02:05:01]
MR.. HARRIS ABOUT THIS ROADMAP.LET'S JUST SAY WE'RE AT THE FIRST STOPLIGHT.
WE KNOW BASED ON REFLECTION AND DATA OF WHAT WE'VE DONE THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD IN THE CORRECT WAY AND STILL KEEP THE VISION AND MISSION OF THIS PROGRAM? THAT'S THE TOUGH PART.
WHERE DO YOU GET THAT FUNDING WITHOUT IT BEING A LIKE YOU SAID? MR. HARRIS, A FEE BASED PROGRAM.
WE GOT TO THINK THAT THROUGH AND MAKE SURE WE'RE SERVING THOSE STUDENTS THAT CANNOT PAY WITH SOME NEW MODEL OR SOME EXTENSION OR ADJUSTMENT OF THAT MODEL.
ALONG WITH DR. WHITE, OF COURSE, HOPE THAT ANSWERED YOU.
DO YOU SEE ANY LIMITATIONS IN REGARD TO THE OUTREACH TO NON-ENGLISH SPEAKERS LANGUAGE RESTRICTIONS? NO, WE'VE WE'RE VERY LUCKY THAT OUR TEAM ALSO WORKS WITH DIFFERENT LANGUAGES AND EVEN HAS PARENT WORKERS IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES AS NEEDED, ALONG WITH PARENT SQUARE THAT CAN DO IT IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES.
BOY, OH BOY, IS THAT ALSO TALK IN OUR LANGUAGE.
WE MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR FAMILIES, NO MATTER WHAT LANGUAGE THEY'RE SPEAKING, KNOW ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY AND HAVE SOMEONE THEY CAN CONNECT WITH WITH QUESTIONS AND OR ANYTHING THAT THEY NEED.
OKAY, GREAT. REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU. AND KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MR. HARRIS. DR.
RIEF. WELL, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION, MR. HUFFMAN. AND MISS MORALES AND MISS BROWN.
I REALLY ENJOYED IT. YOU KNOW, LISTENING TO THE PRESENTATION, I THINK THIS IS, YOU KNOW, THIS THE WAY THAT THIS PROGRAM HAS GROWN AND THE WAY THAT THE PARTNERSHIP, THE ALEXANDRIA YOUTH SUPPORT NETWORK, HAS GROWN.
THANK YOU. THE FACT THAT WHEN WE ENTERED THE PANDEMIC AND THERE WERE ALL THESE CONCERNS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW WERE WE GOING TO SUPPORT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE WHEN THE SCHOOLS WERE CLOSED, THE FACT THAT THIS CAME OUT OF IT IS REALLY AMAZING.
THERE'S NOT LIKE A FORMULA THAT YOU CAN COME IN AND JUST IMPOSE.
YOU HAVE TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS.
AND I THINK IT'S JUST IT'S IT'S SO GREAT.
AND I JUST REALLY WANT TO I'M REALLY EXCITED.
I MEAN, WE'RE SERVING 678 STUDENTS.
AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THAT'S REALLY, THAT'S REALLY IMPRESSIVE.
UM, AND I ALSO WANTED TO SAY THAT I'M REALLY EXCITED TO HEAR THAT THERE'S A COMMITTEE FOCUSED ON MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAMING IN PARTICULAR BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING I'VE BEEN THINKING A LOT ABOUT, UM, WITH REGARDS TO SOME OF OUR SAFETY CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD.
AND I KNOW WE'RE LOOKING AT MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAMING AS WELL, BUT I THINK ABOUT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TODAY AND I THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE PLAYGROUNDS FOR OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL KIDS, RIGHT? BUT OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLERS ARE HIGH SCHOOLERS.
WHERE ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO GATHER IN THE COMMUNITY? UM, I THINK THAT TOO OFTEN PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, REACT NEGATIVELY HONESTLY WHEN THEY SEE GROUPS OF KIDS GATHERING AND THAT SOCIALIZATION THAT THE KIDS ARE HAVING AND THOSE EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, JUST THAT UNSTRUCTURED TIME IS SO IMPORTANT FOR THEIR DEVELOPMENT.
SO I'M REALLY GLAD THAT YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT THAT.
AND SOMETHING I'M JUST THINKING ABOUT IS WHAT SPACES DO WE HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHERE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS CAN REALLY GATHER TOGETHER? AND THEN AND THEN THE LAST, YOU KNOW, JUST THOUGHT THAT I WANTED TO KIND OF PUT OUT THERE.
I KNOW THAT ACT FOR ALEXANDRIA I WAS TALKING TO A COUPLE FOLKS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING THE EXPANSION OF CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES AND WORK BASED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH.
I THINK THAT THE FRANK AND BETTY WRIGHT FOUNDATION IS INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING THAT WORK AS WELL.
AND SO I WAS I WAS THINKING THERE MIGHT BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A COLLABORATION HERE TO EXTEND THE YOUTH SUPPORT NETWORK UP THROUGH THE HIGH SCHOOL.
AND THERE MIGHT BE A WAY TO BRING IN THIS WORK BASED LEARNING PIECE.
IT MIGHT BE AN OPPORTUNITY THERE.
[02:10:01]
SO I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT PLUG IN.BUT AGAIN, JUST THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN DOING.
WELL, I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
DR. RIEF UM, I, I AGREE WITH YOU.
NOW, MY TEAM AND THE DEPARTMENTS AROUND US THAT ARE INVOLVED WITH THIS KNOW THAT SOMETIMES IT MAY GO INTO THE DITCH FOR A MINUTE OR INTO THE INTO A POTHOLE, BUT WE GET OUT OF THERE AND THAT'S OKAY BECAUSE WE'VE LEARNED THROUGH THE EXPERIENCE OF GROWING THESE OVER THE YEARS.
AND YOU'RE RIGHT, THAT'LL BE A CONTINUED GROWTH EXPERIENCE AND IT'S EXCITING TO DO THAT.
THAT'S WHAT A GREAT PROGRAM DOES.
AND SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
AND I KNOW CAITLYN, IN TERMS OF HIGH SCHOOL AND EXPANSION, SHE CAN TALK MORE ABOUT THAT IF NEEDED.
BUT I KNOW THEY'RE LOOKING AT ALL GRADE LEVELS EVENTUALLY.
I KNOW THEY'RE JUST STARTING WITH MIDDLE SCHOOL.
BUT I AGREE WITH YOU WITH THE WORK BASED DEVELOPMENT STUFF.
SURE. I'M HAPPY TO ADD ON TO THAT, TOO, KURT.
THANK YOU. DR. RIEF. I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITIES.
THE INTENT OF THE NETWORK IS DEFINITELY TO COVER K THROUGH 12 IN TIME.
THAT WAS NOTING THAT FEWER THAN 24% OF MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS WERE ENGAGED IN EXISTING PROGRAMS. SO WE WERE TAKING THAT FORWARD.
SO WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING ALL OF THAT FEEDBACK.
AND IT WAS ALSO WONDERFUL THAT THE OFFICE OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND RESEARCH INCLUDED US IN THE EQUITY FOR ALL SURVEY SO THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT BROAD RESPONSE FROM COMMUNITIES. SO AGAIN, WE'RE SO APPRECIATIVE FOR THE PARTNERSHIP AND THE RESPONSE THAT WE'VE RECEIVED.
AND I THINK THE DATA THAT WE GATHER AND ANALYZE IS REALLY GOING TO HELP US IN OUR STEPS FORWARD.
THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, MISS GREENE.
AND THANK YOU, MR. HUFFMAN, MISS MORALES AND MISS BROWN, WE'RE SO VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE YOU WORKING, DOING THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING ON BEHALF OF OUR STUDENT STUDENTS AND ALEXANDRIA YOUTH.
HAPPENS WITH MY RUBY TUCKER STUDENTS AND THEY, THEY GET EXCITED TO GO EACH AND EVERY DAY.
UM. IN OUR JOINT CITY SCHOOL MEETINGS ONCE A MONTH.
THE CITY OFTEN SAYS THAT THEY HAVE PROBLEMS FINDING PEOPLE TO STAFF THEIR AFTER SCHOOL RECREATION PROGRAMS. I WAS WONDERING IF YOU WERE HAVING THE SAME DIFFICULTY WITH OUR AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, PARTICULARLY THE LINK CLUB PROGRAMS, AND IF YOU ARE, WHAT ARE WE DOING CREATIVELY TO TO GET MORE STAFF IN ORDER TO POTENTIALLY GROW THE PROGRAMS, CONTINUE TO GROW THE PROGRAMS? YEAH, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
MARISOL COULD PROBABLY SPEAK TO THEM MORE.
I KNOW WE HAVE AT TIMES, DEPENDING ON THE SITE, SOME TRANSIENT NATURE OF STAFF COMING IN AND OUT.
I KNOW THAT THE YOU'RE CORRECT, THE REC STAFF HAS HAD ISSUES WITH STAFF.
I MEAN, IT'S ALL OVER THE PLACE.
YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING WITH STAFFING.
BUT I THINK WE'VE BEEN PRETTY GOOD.
MARISOL, CAN YOU KIND OF KIND OF COMMENT ON THAT REALLY QUICKLY? YEAH. I MEAN, AS YOU SEE IN ONE OF THE SLIDES, SEVEN OF OUR SITES ARE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE REC STAFF.
SO WE ARE ALSO IMPACTED BY THEM.
THEY ARE THE ONES THAT ARE ON SITE WORKING WITH THE STUDENTS AND IT DID IMPACT THE LEVEL OF ENROLLMENT THAT WE COULD DO EARLY IN THE FALL SEASON.
IN TERMS OF OUR OTHER SITES, WE'VE BEEN LUCKY WHERE IT IT'S A COMBINATION OF OUR CO-APPLICANT.
THEY HAVE STAFF THAT ARE SUPPORTING DOING THE WORK ON SITE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ONE OF MY GOALS IS THAT I WOULD LOVE TO START PLANNING SOME MEETINGS AND ATTENDING THE DIFFERENT SITES, DIFFERENT SCHOOLS AND, YOU KNOW, REACHING OUT TO TEACHERS WHO WANT TO BE ABLE TO DO SOME EXTRA WORK AFTER SCHOOL THAT MIGHT NOT NECESSARILY BE ABLE TO DO IT.
FOR EXAMPLE, TUTORING DAYS, THEY MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO.
BUT IF THEY CAN DO OTHER DAYS WHERE WE NEED SUBSTITUTES.
[02:15:04]
SO THAT'S ONE WAY THAT WE'RE TRYING TO BE ABLE TO FILL THAT.BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, I THINK THAT'S PART OF OUR SUSTAINABILITY PLAN, IS HOW DO WE ENSURE THAT WE EVENTUALLY HAVE FULL TIME STAFF THAT IS OUT OF SCHOOL TIME, STAFF THAT WILL BE ABLE TO REALLY PROVIDE THE SUPPORT NEEDED DAY TO DAY? OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY.
TAKE THE POLICY REVISIONS OFF OF THE AGENDA FOR TONIGHT.
THEY ARE PRETTY SIMPLE AND THEY'RE MORE STATUTORY.
SO WE CAN PLUG THEM INTO OUR MEETING ON THE 18TH VERY EASILY.
[25. Announcements]
ANNOUNCEMENTS TONIGHT.BUT I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT TOMORROW, MAY 5TH, IS SCHOOL LUNCH HERO DAY.
SO PLEASE MAKE SURE WE ACKNOWLEDGE THOSE STAFF AND I WILL SAVE THE REST FOR NEXT TIME.
BOARD MEMBERS HAVE ANNOUNCEMENTS.
ALL RIGHT. I NEED A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE TO ADJOURN.
OKAY. AND THEN WE CAN MOVE INTO OUR WORK SESSION.
OKAY.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.