VERY GOOD. WE'RE GONNA CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.
[I. COVID-19 Update]
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THIS IS THE JOINT CITY COUNCIL'S SCHOOL BOARD SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING FOR MARCH 23RD 2020.WE HAVE ON THE MEETING RIGHT NOW WE HAVE COUNCILMAN JOHN CHAPMAN, THE SCHOOL BOARD CHAIR, CINDY ANDERSON.
WE HAVE SCHOOL BOARD VICE CHAIR VERONICA NOLAN.
WE HAVE OUR SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT, DR.
GREG HUTCHINGS. WE HAVE OUR CITY MANAGER, MARK JINKS, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER DEBORAH COLLINS. AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE A NUMBER OF OTHER STAFF MEMBERS FROM BOTH SIDES WHO WILL CONTRIBUTE THROUGHOUT THIS.
LET ME START OFF RIGHT OFF THE BAT.
IF YOU ARE NOT TALKING, IF YOU COULD PLEASE PLACE YOUR YOUR YOUR COMPUTER ON MUTE.
YOU ALREADY HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND NOISE AND NOW [INAUDIBLE] THE BEST WE CAN SO THAT WE CAN HEAR EVERYONE IN THE PUBLIC CAN CAN PARTICIPATE.
YOU KNOW, THE PURPOSE OF THIS MEETING UNDER THE STATE LAW IS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ONLY TALK ABOUT THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK AND THE COMBINED CITY SCHOOL RESPONSE TO IT.
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NOT WITNESSED THIS MEETING BEFORE, BEEN A PART OF THIS MEETING BEFORE.
TRADITIONALLY, THIS IS A COMMITTEE THAT MEETS MONTHLY BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE SCHOOLS HAS REPRESENTATION FROM MYSELF COUNCILMAN CHAPMAN, THE SCHOOL BOARD CHAIR SCHOOL BOARD VICE CHAIR, AS WELL AS THE SUPERINTENDENT AND CITY MANAGER.
AND WE MEET TO DISCUSS ONGOING COLLABORATION AT THE POLICY LEVEL BETWEEN CITY AND SCHOOLS. THIS IS NOT A BODY THAT MAKES POLICY DECISIONS NECESSARILY.
THIS IS A BODY THAT IS IS A COORDINATING BODY BETWEEN THE TWO ORGANIZATIONS ON A MONTHLY BASIS. SO FOR THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS, THE CITY AND SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN IN VERY CLOSE COORDINATION ON ON THIS OUTBREAK AS WELL AS THE IMPACTS OF IT.
AT THIS POINT, TO START THE CONVERSATION, I THINK IT PROBABLY MAKES SENSE TO ALLOW THE LEADERS OF BOTH ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE OF WHERE WE ARE ON BOTH SIDES, MAYBE STARTING WITH DR.
HUTCHINGS AND THEN [INAUDIBLE] REPRESENT.
AND NOW WE'LL GET UPDATES FROM BOTH SIDES AND THEN WE CAN ENGAGE IN SOME DIALOG ABOUT WHERE WE GO FROM HERE. MR. MAYOR. YES. SO I'M NOT DISAGREEING WITH YOUR FORMAT, BUT I WAS JUST WONDERING IF IT WOULD BE HELPFUL SINCE WE HAVE DR.
HAERING ON THE LINE TO KIND OF START WITH THE BROADER HEALTH PERSPECTIVES AND THEN [INAUDIBLE]. THAT MAKES SENSE. SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO DR.
STEVEN HAERING, THE DIRECTOR OF THE ALEXANDER HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
GOOD AFTERNOON. THANKS FOR HAVING ME HERE.
I JUST KIND OF A RECAP OF EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENED.
WE FIRST LEARNED ABOUT THIS FROM CHINA ON DECEMBER 31ST.
THERE WERE CASES IN SEATTLE IN FEBRUARY AND MARCH, AND THEY WERE VERY DISCONCERTING, REPEATING SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT WE WERE GETTING FROM CHINA.
AND THAT IS THAT IT HAS DELETERIOUS EFFECTS FOR CERTAIN POPULATIONS, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO ARE OVER THE AGE OF 65 AND HAVE UNDERLYING HEART DISEASE, LUNG DISEASE, DIABETES AND OTHER UNDERLYING CONDITIONS.
THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION ON MARCH 11TH DECLARED THIS IS A PANDEMIC, MEANING THAT THERE IS ONGOING TRANSMISSION IN MORE THAN A FEW COUNTRIES AND MORE THAN ONE CONTINENT.
SUBSEQUENT TO THAT, THE CDC HAS ISSUED A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT TRAVEL NOTICES THAT HAVE IMPACTED PUBLIC HEALTH IN TERMS OF WHO WE MONITOR WHEN THEY RETURN FROM A HIGH TRANSMISSION COUNTRY.
AND THAT HAS EVOLVED INTO BANS ON TRIP BANS ON TRAVELS TO VARIOUS COUNTRIES.
ON MARCH 12TH, THE GOVERNOR NORTHAM DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY AND THE SUBSEQUENT DAY HE CLOSED ALL K-THROUGH-12 SCHOOLS.
AND AS YOU KNOW, HE ALSO DECLARED THAT SCHOOLS WILL BE CLOSED FOR THE REST OF THIS YEAR JUST TODAY.
PRESIDENT TRUMP DECLARED A NATIONAL STATE OF EMERGENCY ON MARCH 13TH AND VDH REPORTED OUR FIRST DEATH OF COVID-19 ON MARCH 14TH.
SINCE THAT TIME, THERE'S BEEN THREE DEATHS IN VIRGINIA.
EXCUSE ME, THERE'S BEEN SIX DEATHS IN VIRGINIA SINCE THAT TIME, 254 CASES IN VIRGINIA, 38 HOSPITALIZATIONS.
LOCALLY OR I SHOULD SAY REGIONALLY, LOCALLY IN ALEXANDRIA, WE HAVE HAD NINE CASES, DOZENS AND DOZENS OF CONTACTS.
MEANING WHEN SOMEBODY HAS A POSITIVE CASE, WE DO AN INVESTIGATION AND DETERMINE EVERYBODY THEY'VE HAD CLOSE CONTACT WITH, WHICH IS DEFINED AS BEING WITHIN SIX FEET FOR TEN MINUTES OR MORE DURING THE PERIOD OF TIME THAT THEY ARE KNOWN TO BE INFECTIOUS, WHICH WOULD BE THE FIRST DAY OF SYMPTOMS AND AND ONWARD.
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WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY POSITIVE CASES IN ANY ACPS STAFF OR STUDENTS.I THINK THE WHOLE ISSUE OF TESTING HAS BEEN REALLY DIFFICULT FOR THE UNITED STATES BECAUSE TESTING IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR PUBLIC HEALTH TO TRACK THE VIRUS, TO FULLY UNDERSTAND THE EPIDEMIOLOGY, TO INFORM HOW WE MANAGE CASES.
WHAT THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HAS DONE HAS RESTRICTED THE CRITERIA TO HELP US DETERMINE THE EPIDEMIOLOGY IN THE UNITED STATES.
AND THOSE WERE BY THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF CONTROL OR UNDERSTANDING OF THE DISEASE.
WHAT WE ARE DOING IS, AGAIN, INVESTIGATING EVERY CASE THAT COMES IN.
WE HAVE AN ACTIVE MONITORING TEAM, A SURVEILLANCE TEAM AND LOTS OF DIFFERENT TEAMS. WE'VE CLOSED VIRTUALLY ALL OF OUR CLINICS.
WE HAVE KEPT THE TEAM WELLNESS CENTER OPEN.
WE'VE REDUCED THE STAFF THERE BY ONE PERSON THAT WE'VE BROUGHT OVER HERE.
AND I UNDERSTAND FROM TALKING TO THE STAFF THERE THAT THERE HAS BEEN A DECLINE IN PATIENTS, CLIENTS OVER THERE.
BUT THE ONES THAT ARE COMING IN ARE DEFINITELY IN NEED OF THE SERVICE THAT'S BEING PROVIDED THERE. THAT'S THAT'S PRETTY MUCH MY SUMMARY.
RIGHT NOW, OUR STAFF ARE WORKING VERY, VERY HARD AND VERY COMMITTED TO DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO KEEP ALEXANDRIA SAFE AND HEALTHY.
DR. HAERING, LET ME FIRST OF ALL THANK YOU AND YOUR STAFF FOR ALL OF THEIR EFFORTS.
I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN WORKING DAY IN AND DAY OUT ON ON THIS FOR THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS. AND WE'RE DEEPLY APPRECIATIVE OF THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING.
AND AS WE LEARNED TODAY WITH THE KIDS WILL BE OUT OF SCHOOL NOW UNTIL UNTIL SEPTEMBER FROM FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH PERSPECTIVE, COVERED 19 ASIDE.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CONSIDERATIONS THAT YOU GUYS NEED TO MAKE AS FAR AS MAKING SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO SOME OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES THAT THEY TRADITIONALLY RECEIVE WITHIN THE SCHOOL SETTING FOR NOW A PROLONGED PERIOD OF TIME.
YOU TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE THOUGHTS THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT, THE TEAM CENTER REMAINING OPEN.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE WAYS THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THAT ACCESS? YES, SIR. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL, I THINK, WHEN COMMUNICATIONS GO OUT IS THAT THOSE COMMUNICATIONS INCLUDE THAT ALL ALEXANDRIANS, AGE 12 TO 19, CAN ACCESS THE TEAM WELLNESS CENTER. WE WILL BE ASKING THEM TO CALL AHEAD OF TIME IN THE SAME WITH ANY HEALTH CARE PRACTICE SO THAT WE CAN SCREEN THEM FOR FEVER OR FOR COUGH BECAUSE WE DO NOT DO ROUTINE MEDICAL CARE THERE.
OUR FOCUS THERE AT THE TEAM WELLNESS CENTER IS DURING THIS PERIOD OF TIME IS FAMILY PLANNING TO BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, OUR CONCERN IS THAT KIDS WILL HAVE INCREASED RISKY BEHAVIORS. SO WE'LL BE CANCELING THEM.
AND THEN THOSE WHO ARE CHOOSING BIRTH CONTROL OPTIONS THAT WILL YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS ADVISE ABSTINENCE IS THE FIRST WAY TO NOT GET PREGNANT, BUT NOT ALL TEENS WANT TO DO THAT. SO WITHIN WE OFFER [INAUDIBLE] YEAH, I JUST I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED THAT GIVEN THAT THE FOLKS ARE NOT GOING TO BE COMING IN AND OUT OF THE BUILDING EVERY DAY AND HAVING A PHYSICAL PROXIMITY TO SOMEBODY SERVICES THAT WE MIGHT NEED TO ADDRESS SOME OF THAT.
I AGREE WITH YOUR CONCERNS REGARDING THE TYPES OF THINGS THAT MIGHT HAPPEN DURING THIS PROLONGED PERIOD OF TIME. AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WE KEEP THOSE SERVICES ACCESSIBLE. RIGHT.
AND WE'RE COMMITTED TO DO THAT AS VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH OF ALEXANDRIA HEALTH DEPARTMENT. APPRECIATE THAT.
ALL RIGHT. ARE THERE ARE THERE OTHER QUESTIONS FOR DR.
HAERING SPECIFICALLY FROM ANYONE BEFORE WE MOVE INTO THE UPDATES FROM THE REST OF THE STAFF TEAM? OK.
WELL, DR. HAERING, WE APPRECIATE THE THE UPDATE ON WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND WE APPRECIATE ALL THE HARD WORK AS WELL AS I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN VERY CRITICAL AND SOME OF THE SOME OF THE DECISION MAKERS THAT ARE ON THIS CALL AND ARE OFF THIS CALL IN HELPING ADVISE AND PROVIDE THE BEST PUBLIC HEALTH INFORMATION THAT YOU CAN TO TO MAKE MAKE DECISIONS.
AND SO WE APPRECIATE THAT WORK.
ALL RIGHT. I THINK NOW WE'RE GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO DR.
HUTCHINGS. IS THAT RIGHT? YES, SIR. HELLO.
THANK YOU. SO FIRST, LET ME JUST SAY THAT TODAY I'M SURE EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT THE
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GOVERNOR HAS ANNOUNCED THAT ALL SCHOOLS IN THE COMMONWEALTH WILL BE CLOSED THROUGHOUT FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR.AND SOME THINGS FOR US THAT WE ARE WORKING THROUGH IS, YOU KNOW, WE REALLY HAVE HAD LIKE A 30, 60, 90 DAY PLAN IN ACPS, OUR 30 DAY PLAN, WHICH EVERYONE IS ALREADY FAMILIAR WITH AND THAT WAS INITIALLY TO RETURN TO SCHOOL ON APRIL 13TH.
AND THAT WAS TO HAVE THE LEARNING PACKETS THAT WE HAD SHARED WITH OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, THE CHROMEBOOKS THAT WE HAVE IN GRADES THREE THROUGH TWELVE.
SOME OF THE ADDITIONAL KIND OF LIKE LEARNING ACTIVITIES THAT ARE HAPPENING, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH ZOOM OR ON OUR WEB SITE, ALSO NOW THROUGH ACPS TV.
AND THE CITY HAS ALSO ALLOWED US TO USE THEIR THEIR CHANNEL THROUGHOUT THE WEEK IN WHICH WE'RE GONNA BE BROADCASTING SOME READINGS OF STORIES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
SO THAT WAS A PART OF OUR 30 DAY PLAN THAT'S ALREADY BEEN RELEASED.
NOW, WHAT WE'RE DOING IS REFINING WHAT DOES THAT 90 DAY PLAN LOOK LIKE IN A 90 DAY PLAN HOW DOES THIS LOOK THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE SCHOOL YEAR? AND THERE'S A NUMBER OF FACTORS THAT WE STILL NEED TO REALLY WORK THROUGH.
AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT THE GUIDELINES FROM THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION LOOK LIKE TOMORROW, BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME QUESTIONS IN REGARDS TO HIGH SCHOOL CREDITS, IN REGARDS TO SCHOOL ACCREDITATION, IN REGARDS TO GRADING.
IF WE CONTINUE TO DO GRADING OR NOT.
NEW INFORMATION, IS IT RELEASED? DO WE ACTUALLY HAVE ONLINE LEARNING OR ARE WE ABLE TO DO THAT AT THIS POINT? BECAUSE WE WERE NOT ABLE TO DO THAT TO DO THAT THUS FAR.
SO THOSE GUIDELINES ARE REALLY GOING TO HELP DRIVE WHAT REFINEMENTS NEED TO OCCUR IN REGARDS TO OUR 90 DAY CLOSURE PLAN.
SOME OTHER THINGS THAT WE HAVE BEEN REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IS THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A RESILIENT STAFF WHO HAVE STEPPED UP.
I MEAN, THEY HAVE GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY.
LIKE I MEAN, I HAVE GOTTEN SO MANY POSITIVE E-MAILS FROM COMMUNICATE IN REGARDS TO COMMUNICATIONS, IN REGARDS TO TEACHERS DOING ZOOM IN, REGARDS TO, YOU KNOW, GETTING BACK TO PARENTS AND STUDENTS ABOUT QUESTIONS.
YOU KNOW, FAMILIES ARE SENDING IN THINGS THAT THEY'RE DOING WITH THEIR KIDS AT HOME.
SO WE ARE REALLY COMING TOGETHER AS A SCHOOL COMMUNITY.
AND IT IS DEFINITELY SHOWING, YOU KNOW, I GET TO HEAR FROM, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF OTHER, YOU KNOW, FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE ACROSS THE STATE OR THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA.
AND THEY'RE NOW SAYING THEY'RE TUNED INTO ACPS WEBSITE TO GET OUR INFORMATION.
SO THAT'S SAYING SOMETHING ABOUT THE WORK THAT OUR STAFF IS DOING.
AND WE WANT TO KEEP REMAINING AHEAD BY 1 KEEPING EVERYBODY INFORMED AND DOING THESE DAILY VIDEOS IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO SEE THEM.
I CONDUCTED VIDEO EVERY DAY FOR OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL AS FOR OUR STAFF MEMBERS.
WE ALSO PROVIDE ACPS INSIDER TO OUR STAFF MEMBERS.
WE ALSO PROVIDE ACPS EXPRESS, WHICH IS A COMMUNICATION THAT GOES OUT TO OUR ENTIRE SCHOOL COMMUNITY AND THAT IS RELEASED EVERY DAY AS WELL.
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE DOING THAT BECAUSE THIS IS A TIME WHERE INFORMATION IS EVER CHANGING. I MEAN, EVERY DAY THERE'S SOMETHING NEW THAT IS EITHER RELEASED OR ANOTHER GUIDELINE THAT COMES ABOUT.
SO WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS WELL INFORMED AS WE TRANSITION THROUGH THROUGH THIS PROCESS. AND THEN ONE FINAL THING BEFORE WE GET INTO QUESTIONS IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE SHARE TODAY WITH OUR COMMUNITY.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT THEY MAY HAVE OUT THERE AND SOME WE WON'T BE ABLE TO ANSWER RIGHT NOW.
AND THAT'S ONLY BECAUSE WE REALLY WANT TO WAIT UNTIL THOSE GUIDELINES ARE RELEASED TOMORROW SO THAT WE'RE BEING CONSISTENT WITH WHAT THE GOVERNOR AND THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT IS KIND OF GUIDING US AS A SCHOOL DIVISION TO FOLLOW THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS. SO THAT'S WHY SOME QUESTIONS WE CAN'T ANSWER, YOU KNOW, AT THIS MOMENT.
BUT WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO GET EVERYTHING AS WE HAVE BEEN DOING FOR THESE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS OUT TO OUR COMMUNITY.
AND THEN FINALLY, BEFORE WE TURN OVER QUESTIONS THAT I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO A REPORTER TODAY. AND ONE THING I WAS SHARING WITH THEM WAS THAT, YOU KNOW, THE REPORTER ASKED WHAT IS WHAT IS ONE OF YOUR MAJOR CONCERNS? AND AS A SUPERINTENDENT AND WHAT I SHARED WITH [INAUDIBLE] ONE OF THE MAJOR CONCERNS AND ALSO WHAT IS ONE THING THAT YOU'RE HOPEFUL ABOUT? AND THE MAJOR CONCERN FOR US IS MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO PROVIDE FOOD FOR OUR KIDS, BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF STUDENTS WHO RELY ON SCHOOL LUNCHES AND SCHOOL BREAKFASTS AS THEIR MEANS OF FOOD.
AND IF NOW WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY BETWEEN NOW THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER,
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RIGHT. THAT IS SIGNIFICANT.AND THAT CAN HAVE A VERY NEGATIVE IMPACT ON A LOT OF OUR FAMILIES.
SO, YOU KNOW, MY CONCERN IS ENSURING THAT WE'RE STILL ABLE TO DO THAT FOR OUR FAMILIES.
WHAT I'M HOPEFUL ABOUT IS SOMETHING, THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION THAT WE'RE ALL IN ACROSS THIS WORLD, THAT WE USE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US.
AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS THIS GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT HOW WE EDUCATE OUR STUDENTS, HOW WE TEACH, HOW WE LEARN IN A VERY DIFFERENT WAY.
I MEAN, WE'VE BEEN PUSHED TO DOING THIS, NOW WE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE BUT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO IT. BUT I THINK IT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO GET TO THAT EDUCATION THAT A LOT OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE BEEN STRIVING TO RECEIVE FROM US.
AND THAT IS HOW CAN YOU GET MORE ON TECHNOLOGY? HOW CAN WE DO MORE THINGS REMOTELY? YOU KNOW, ALL THOSE THINGS THAT PARENTS AND STUDENTS HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, THAT NOW WE ARE FORCED TO REALLY HAVE TO ADJUST AND BE A LOT MORE INNOVATIVE AND OPEN MINDED. SO LET US USE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET US THROUGH THIS.
AND WE HAVE TO THINK BACK TO THOSE STUDENTS WHO WERE IMPACTED BY HURRICANE KATRINA.
YOU KNOW, MANY YEARS AGO, THEIR SCHOOLS WERE CLOSED FOR UP TO A YEAR IN SOME CASES.
AND THOSE STUDENTS TODAY ARE DOCTORS, LAWYERS, TEACHERS.
SO WE NEED TO KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT GOING TO END HOW PRODUCTIVE OUR STUDENTS IN THE NEXT GENERATION WILL BE. BUT WE'RE GOING TO STILL HAVE TO RESPOND AND MAKE SURE WE'RE PROVIDING THOSE NECESSARY SUPPORTS IN REGARDS TO FOOD, ACADEMICS, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL NEEDS OF OUR KIDS IN ORDER FOR THEM TO THRIVE.
THANK YOU, DR. HUTCHINGS, I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT UPDATE AND YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT THAT I THINK YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN VERY MUCH LEADING THE WAY.
I HAVE CALLS DAILY WITH MY COUNTERPARTS ACROSS THE REGION, MAYORS AND CHAIRS, AS WELL AS A LOT OF PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM.
AND THEY ARE ASKING LIKE, WHAT DO WE DO AND ASK AND ALL THE THINGS THAT WE ARE GOING TO DO. SO I THINK THEY'VE CERTAINLY BEEN WATCHING AND I'M TRYING TO CATCH UP, QUITE HONESTLY. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK OF ALL OF OUR EDUCATORS AND SUPPORT STAFF AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS JUST INCREDIBLE AND JUST REWRITING KIND OF ALL THE RULES ON THE FLY.
BUT IT'S IT'S VERY, VERY IMPRESSIVE.
AND I HAVE HEARD FROM A LOT OF PARENTS WHO ARE LIKE, HEY, CAN WE DO THIS ALL THE TIME? THIS IS GREAT. YOU KNOW, THIS IS WONDERFUL.
BUT, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD BE NICE TO BE BACK TO TRADITIONAL EDUCATION AT SOME POINT.
SO BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
CAN YOU AS A QUESTION, CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT I KNOW THAT IN FOOD ACCESS HAS BEEN ONE THAT EVEN BEFORE WE CLOSED, THERE WAS A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT IN THE COMMUNITY, SOMETHING WE DEAL WITH EVERY TIME WE HAVE SNOW CLOSURES THAT WE HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT I KNOW YOU MADE SOME CHANGES THIS WEEK TO HOW WE'RE DOING FOOD DELIVERY. CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND HOW YOU'RE CHANGING, AS WELL AS HOW YOU BELIEVE IT ALL EVOLVE AS WE GO FORWARD? YES. SO STARTING TODAY, WE ACTUALLY LAUNCHED OUR NEW MEAL DISTRIBUTION TO EXPAND ACROSS MULTIPLE DISTRIBUTION CENTERS THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL DIVISION, REALLY THROUGHOUT THE CITY VERSUS THE ONE LOCATION LIKE WE HAD LAST LAST WEEK, WHICH WAS OUR LOCATION WAS ONLY AT T.C. WILLIAMS. NOW WE'VE EXPANDED IT TO WILLIAM RAMSAY, TO FRANCIS C.
HAMMOND, TO JEFFERSON HOUSTON, TO CORA KELLY, AND THEN ALSO AT T.C.
AND WE WILL BE HAVING SOME MOBILE KIND OF SITES THAT WILL VARY AS TIME MOVES FORWARD.
AND WE'RE STILL GETTING SOME MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT.
I KNOW WE HAVE MS. ANTHONY ON THIS CALL AND SHE WAS GIVING OUR TEAM AN UPDATE EARLIER AROUND.
TODAY'S FIRST DAY WITH THESE MULTIPLE SITES THAT WE'VE HAD, ONE MAJOR CHANGE THAT YOU WILL SEE MS. ANTHONY WILL BE ABLE TO ELABORATE ON THIS IS THAT IN THE PAST WE HAD OR LAST WEEK WE HAD THESE MEALS AVAILABLE EVERY DAY MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.
WE ARE TRYING TO REALLY, YOU KNOW, ADHERE TO THE GUIDELINES IN REGARDS TO SOCIAL GATHERINGS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING.
SO NOW WE HAVE LIMITED OUR DAYS FOR DISTRIBUTION TO MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY, BUT ON MONDAYS AND WEDNESDAYS.
FAMILIES AREN'T ABLE TO GET MULTIPLE DAYS OF BREAKFAST AND LUNCH.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU CAN GET MONDAY, TUESDAY, ON MONDAY AND WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY ON WEDNESDAY, AND THEN COME ON FRIDAY TO GET YOUR TO GET YOUR MEALS SO THAT YOU'RE STILL ABLE TO HAVE MEALS FOR THE WEEK.
BUT WE'RE TRYING TO REALLY NOT HAVE FAMILIES OUT EVERY DAY OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS STAFF OUT EVERY SINGLE DAY AND INTO THE COMMUNITY.
AND WE'RE FOLLOWING THE GUIDELINES THAT HAVE BEEN SET BY THE ALEXANDRIA HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WHICH GIVES US SOME GUIDANCE ON HOW TO PREPARE FOODS AS WELL AS HOW TO DISTRIBUTE THEM DURING THE TIME OF A PANDEMIC.
SOME OF THE GUIDELINES THAT WE NEED TO FOLLOW.
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AND WE'RE MAKING SURE THOSE THINGS ARE IN PLACE, SUCH AS TEMPERATURES BEING TAKEN EVERY DAY OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS AND MONITORING.IF PEOPLE HAVE SYMPTOMS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE, THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO TO WORK OR DO ANY OF THE WORK IN ANY OF THE DISTRIBUTIONS OR ENTER ANY OF OUR BUILDINGS WITHIN OUR SCHOOL.
SO WE'RE REALLY ADHERING TO THAT.
MS. ANTHONY, DID YOU HAVE AN UPDATE FROM TODAY REGARDING THE DISTRIBUTION OR DISTRIBUTED CENTERS? I CAN'T START MY VIDEO BUT YEAH, I THINK THAT THE.
HUTCHINGS MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL ON BOARD.
I THINK, DR. HUTCHINGS JUST COVERED MOST OF IT THIS MORNING BY 10:00 WE HAD DISTRIBUTED ALMOST A THOUSAND MEALS AT WILLIAM RAMSAY.
AND NOT QUITE THAT MANY, BUT ALMOST THAT MUCH AT CORA KELLY BY THE TIME WE STOPPED AT NOON TODAY, WE'LL HAVE SOME MORE.
WE HAVE DATA THAT WE ARE COLLECTING EVERY DAY IF ANYBODY IS INTERESTED IN KNOWING.
OK. MY VIDEOS ON THE OTHER I THINK, ITEM IS THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS AROUND THE CITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THEM AND OUR FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT GROUP TO RUN A HOTLINE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DELIVER TO FAMILIES WHO HAVE AN EXTRAORDINARY NEED.
LAST WEEK WE WERE WE WERE LIVE.
WE DELIVERED ABOUT 20000 MEALS LAST WEEK.
AND A LOT OF THEM, I SAY ALMOST HALF OF THEM WERE DELIVERED BY OUR ACPS VAN AND BUS PROGRAM. THAT WAS REALLY A BIG LIFT.
AND THERE WERE A LOT OF FAMILIES.
AND WE WANTED TO CORRECT THAT.
WE HAVE SOME LESSONS LEARNED ON HOW TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO SOLVE IT.
SO WE ARE YOU KNOW, WE'VE DEVELOPED A MUCH MORE STRATEGIC PLAN.
AND AGAIN, WE HAVE TO ACCOUNT FOR MEALS TO STUDENTS.
AND SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR VOLUNTEERS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN ADDRESS THE POTENTIAL FOR OFFERING FOOD FOR FAMILIES AND ADULTS.
SO IT'S DEFINITELY A COMBINED EFFORT AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF THE SUPPORT THAT THE CITY HAS GIVEN US WITH THE PROGRAM.
SO DO WE ARE THERE STILL GAPS FROM THE DO YOU NEED MORE PEOPLE? I MEAN, IS THIS A PLACE WHERE, DEBORAH, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO ASSIST WITH SOME OF OUR STAFF THAT'S NOT ABLE TO DO THEIR TRADITIONAL JOBS TO HELP ON SOME OF THAT DISTRIBUTION? WELL, RIGHT NOW, VOLUNTEER ALEXANDRIA IS HELPING US.
AND WE'LL KNOW TODAY OR TOMORROW HOW THIS NEW DISTRIBUTED PROGRAM GOES.
HUTCHINGS MENTIONED, WE HOPE TO HAVE OUR SITES IN PLACE.
AND WE'VE DONE OUR DEMOGRAPHIC SEARCH.
WE'VE LOOKED AT WHERE THE FAMILIES ARE IN THE MOST NEED THAT ARE CONCENTRATED AND ARE DIFFICULT TO GET TO THE OTHER LOCATIONS.
AND WE'RE HOPING TO BE ABLE TO DISTRIBUTE THEM.
SO WE WILL DEFINITELY RAISE OUR HAND AS WE LOOK AT HOW THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM HAS TO EXTEND. WE'VE GOT A LONG WAY TO GO NOW.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT ALL THE WAY TO THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
SO MAKING SURE THAT OUR OUR STAFF DOESN'T GET BURNT OUT, THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE TRAINED AND CERTIFIED BECAUSE THE PEOPLE WILL PREPARE THE MEALS HAVE TO BE CERTIFIED AND TRAINED CAN'T BE JUST ANYBODY.
AND SO WE HAVE TO TURN THEM OVER AND EXTEND THESE SERVICES FOR SEVERAL MONTHS.
SO I'M SURE THAT WE'LL BE DEVELOPING RELIEF PLANS AND ROTATION PLANS OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. SO I'M SURE THAT WE'LL BE COLLABORATING MORE WITH THE CITY ON SOME OF THAT.
MR. MAYOR, TO YOUR POINT, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE SCHOOLS.
I THINK THE MANAGER HAS MENTIONED IN THE PAST THAT WE HAVE EMPLOYEES WHO WE'VE ENCOURAGED TO WORK FROM HOME, BUT EVERYONE DOESN'T HAVE THE TYPE OF JOB WHERE YOU WORK FROM HOME.
THE [INAUDIBLE] RPCA, THE SEASONAL STAFF THAT WOULD TYPICALLY TAKE CARE OF OUR AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS. SO THE SCHOOLS, INDEED, ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS RAISE THEIR HAND.
AND RIGHT THROUGH HERE, I COULD SAY WE'RE ALL WEARING THE SAME COLOR SHIRT.
RIGHT NOW, I DO KNOW THE RPCA IS WORKING WITH MEALS ON WHEELS ALSO TO GIVE THEM KIND OF A DEDICATED, NOT JUST DROPPING VOLUNTEER RESOURCE.
OK. ARE THERE OTHER QUESTIONS FOR DR.
DO WE WANT TO MOVE TO MS. COLLINS, DO YOU WANT TO PROVIDE US WITH AN UPDATE FROM THE CITY PERSPECTIVE? I WILL YIELD TO MR. JINKS. MR. JINKS YOU ARE HERE.
OK. SORRY YOU WEREN'T HERE WHEN I WAS LOOKING FOR YOU EARLIER.
BESIDES THE STELLAR WORK THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN DOING.
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WE'VE BEEN LOOKING TO HAVE THE GOVERNMENT'S CONTINUITY CONTINUE AT THE SAME TIME REWRITING RULES BY LOOKING AT THE WAYS WE DO BUSINESS SO THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, THE PERMITS ENTER. WE HAVE THE LAST FEW DAYS MOVING JUST ABOUT 100 PERCENT OF THE PERMITS PEOPLE THAT ASK FOR ONLINE.SO PEOPLE CAN CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THIS, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE TO COME TO CITY HALL.
IN FACT, TODAY WE PUT CITY HALL AND MOST OF OUR OFFICE BUILDINGS ON BY APPOINTMENT ONLY.
SO WE'RE OPEN AND ENCOURAGING PEOPLE.
WE THINK THAT WE CAN GET MORE SERVICES DELIVERED BY TALKING TO PEOPLE AND A SENSE OF WHETHER IT'S PLANNING AND ZONING OR PERMITTING OR TDS PERMITS OR DEALING WITH OTHER CITY OFFICES. AND WHEN PEOPLE CALL US, WE CAN WORK WITH THEM ELECTRONICALLY ON THE PHONE.
WE CAN WORK WITH THEM BY E-MAIL.
WE CAN WORK WITH THEM IN MEETINGS LIKE THIS.
WE'VE GOT HUNDREDS OF CITY STAFF NOW, TELEWORKING FROM HOME.
AND SO CITY HALL IS VERY SKELETAL CREW.
IF AT THIS POINT, OUR JOB IS BASICALLY TO MAKE SURE WE DELIVER THE CORE SERVICES TO CITY GOVERNMENT AND MANY OF THE SERVICES OUR RESIDENTS CONTINUE TO EXPECT.
WE CLOSED REC CENTERS, LIBRARIES THIS WEEKEND.
WE CLOSED PLAYGROUNDS AND LOCKED UP THE FENCED AREAS WHERE WE'RE HAVING PEOPLE WITH TOO MUCH CONGREGATION INCLUDING TENNIS COURTS.
PEOPLE SAID, WHY A TENNIS COURTS? ONLY TWO PEOPLE. WELL, WHAT WE WERE SAYING WAS IT WAS AN OPEN CLEAR SPACE AND A LOT MORE THAN TWO PEOPLE WERE SHOWING UP ON TENNIS COURTS TO PLAY OTHER SPORTS.
AND SO WE HAD TO LOCK THOSE UP AS WELL.
WE'VE SHIFTED AS MS. COLLINS SAID, SOME OF THE STAFF WE'VE GOT AVAILABLE, PARTICULARLY THE REC CENTER STAFF WITH THOSE REC CENTERS CLOSED, WE HAVE LIBRARIES CLOSED AND WE'RE WORKING WITH SENIOR SERVICES TO START HELPING THEM DELIVER THE HOME DELIVERED MEALS TO THE SENIORS IN REGARDS TO EMERGENCY PLANNING, THAT'S ONGOING AND CONTINUES TO BE ONGOING, UNFORTUNATELY, FOR MONTHS AHEAD. BUT WE'VE GOT TO KEEP ONE STEP AHEAD AND BEGIN THINKING, WHAT'S NEXT? WHAT DO WE DO THEN? HOW DO WE ORGANIZE? THAT IS UNDERWAY.
ON WEDNESDAY WE'RE GOING TO OPEN OUR EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER AND HAVE THAT GOING.
A LOT OF IT'S GOING TO BE VIRTUAL WITH PEOPLE'S ASSIGNMENTS NORMALLY IN THE ROOM.
WE CAN'T DO THAT. BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ORGANIZED AND WE'RE DEALING WITH THE INCREASED CRISIS AS IT CONTINUES.
ONE OF THE BIGGER ISSUES THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH IS AND SCHOOLS AND JUST LIKE PRIVATE SECTOR, OUR REVENUES ARE DOWN.
A ROUGH ESTIMATE IS WE'RE GOING TO BE DOWN THIRTY FIVE MILLION DOLLARS BETWEEN NOW AND THE END OF THE YEAR. WE THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO BE UP 10 OR DOWN THIRTY FIVE.
WE RELY MORE THAN OTHER JURISDICTIONS IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA ON MEALS, TAXES TRANSIT OCCUPANCY TAXES, VARIOUS CONSUMER TAXES AND LESS ON PROPERTY TAXES.
AND THAT MEANS WE'VE GOT A BIGGER HOLE TO FILL.
AND THEN YOU WOULD EXTEND THAT AND TRY TO GET SOME SOME WHAT I THINK NEEDS TO BE CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE OF REVENUES IN FISCAL 21.
WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THOSE NUMBERS, BUT I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE A LARGE REDUCTION.
I TOLD STAFF WE NEED 100 MILLION DOLLARS IN CUTS IN SAVINGS BETWEEN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR AND NEXT FISCAL YEAR IS MY ROUGH GUESS.
THAT WILL BE SAVINGS AND LOOKING AT CAPITAL PROJECTS SEEING WHAT WE NEED TO CANCEL OR WHAT WE NEED TO RESCHEDULE TO A FUTURE YEAR.
LOOKING AT COMPENSATION INITIATIVES, I SPENT A PORTION OF YESTERDAY AFTERNOON WITH MY COUNTERPARTS IN THE REGION AND THE ALL THE MAJOR GOVERNMENTS ARE TAKING ACTIONS IN REGARDS TO THE BUDGET, SOME DIFFERENT THAN OTHERS.
BUT IT'S ALL RECOGNITION THAT WE'VE GOT A HUGE UNKNOWN IN FRONT OF US.
I READ A REPORT FROM [INAUDIBLE] COMPANY TODAY BASICALLY SAID THE RECOVERY FROM THIS IS GOING TO TAKE A WHILE.
LIKE THROUGH ALL OF 2020 INTO 21.
AND IT MEANS THAT OUR REVENUES WILL BE DOWN THOSE TIME PERIODS.
IT MEANS THE INITIATIVES I'M LOOKING AND OTHERS [INAUDIBLE] SOMEBODY MENTIONED ME TODAY IN READING THE INITIATIVES WE HAD PROPOSED SIX WEEKS AGO WHEN WE PROPOSED THE BUDGET.
THEY SEEM LIKE ANCIENT HISTORY NOW AND HIGHLY IRRELEVANT.
SO WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO GO BACK ALL OF US AND BASICALLY REDUCE OUR FINANCIAL FOOTPRINT.
WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO LOOK AT COMPENSATION INITIATIVES THAT WE HAD AND WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE TO PUT THOSE ON ICE.
AS FAR AS A HIRING FREEZE, WE'RE GONNA GO THROUGH A HIRING FREEZE OF THE CITY.
[00:30:03]
SOME EXCEPTIONS HERE AND THERE, LIKE PUBLIC SAFETY JOBS.BUT THIS IS GONNA BE TOUGH TIMES.
THIS IS GOING TO BE AFTER IF YOU WANT TO SAY IN 2008 THAT IT TOOK OVER A COUPLE OF YEARS.
THE TOUGH THING WITH THIS ONE, WE'RE NOT SLIDING DOWN GRADUALLY.
WE CRASHED AND WE DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THIS IS GOING TO LAST.
AND WHEN WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK UP, WHAT'S THE NATURE OF THE ECONOMY'S GOING TO BE WHEN THINGS RETURN? WE MAY FIND MANY OF OUR RESTAURANTS COULDN'T MAKE IT.
WE HAVE THEY CAN STORE FRONTS.
AND BUYING ONLINE CHANGED SO MUCH DURING IT, A LOT OF OUR RETAIL STORES BASICALLY CAN'T SURVIVE. SO WE'VE GOT SOME REAL TOUGH TIMES.
I THINK THIS IS I'VE BEEN DOING LOCAL GOVERNMENT BUDGETS FOR DECADES IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA, AND I THINK THIS IS THE BIGGEST CRISIS I HAVE EVER SEEN.
THAT SAID, WE'VE GOT TALENTED STAFF.
WE'VE GOT OPTIONS. WE JUST HAVE TO PUT OUR NOSE TO THE GRINDSTONE AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THOSE SOLUTIONS ARE AND DO IT SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE WE'RE NOT OVEROPTIMISTIC AND END UP HAVING ANOTHER CRISIS SIX MONTHS NOW WHEN WE OVERESTIMATED REVENUES.
BASICALLY TAKE THE WORST CASE AND MAYBE PLAN FOR IT.
AND THEN WE CAN RESTORE AS WE MOVE ALONG AND AS WE FIND THINGS MAY GET A LITTLE BIT BETTER THAN OUR WORST CASE SCENARIO.
THANK YOU, MR. MANAGER. AND WE APPRECIATE THAT UPDATE AS WELL AS THAT SOBERING KIND OF FINANCIAL OVERVIEW. AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WE'RE STILL IN THE FIREFIGHTING PHASE OF THIS.
BUT, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE UNFORTUNATE TIMING ASPECTS OF THIS CRISIS HAS BEEN IT'S IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR BUDGET PROCESS AND WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF MAKING DECISIONS AROUND AROUND THE CITY SCHOOLS BUDGETS FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR.
AND I THINK AS MR. JINKS NOTED, THOSE DECISIONS ARE GOING TO BE DRAMATICALLY CHANGED AS A RESULT OF WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH RIGHT NOW.
AND I THINK OUR GOAL NOW IS TO TRY TO MINIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE AND PROTECT THE CORE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE WHERE WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION OF REVENUE FROM WHAT WE THOUGHT WE WOULD HAVE, AS WELL AS SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED OTHER EXPENSES, EXPENSES THAT WE NEVER WOULD HAVE IMAGINED EVEN A MONTH AND A HALF AGO, BUT NOW ARE FACING US.
AND I THINK, AS THE MANAGER NOTED, THERE'S ALSO AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF UNCERTAINTY.
AND WE JUST DON'T KNOW RIGHT NOW.
AND SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO MAKE BUDGET DECISIONS HERE IN THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS AND WEEKS BASED ON VERY IMPERFECT INFORMATION.
AND I THINK WE'LL DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN AND HOPE WE GET IT RIGHT.
AND I THINK THE GOOD NEWS IS WE HAVE A PARTNERSHIP CERTAINLY AT THE FINANCIAL LEVEL AND AT THE SENIOR LEADER LEVEL BETWEEN THE TWO ORGANIZATIONS.
THAT'S GOING TO ENABLE US TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SOME REALLY DIFFICULT DECISIONS HERE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, BUT UNFORTUNATELY HAVE TO DO THAT AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE TRYING TO BOTH SIDES DEAL WITH AN INCREDIBLE CRISIS.
SO IT'S GOING TO BE A CHALLENGING COUPLE OF WEEKS I THINK.
WE HAVE GREAT TEAMS ON BOTH SIDES THAT ARE UP TO IT, BUT IT'S STILL GOING TO BE VERY CHALLENGING AND IT'S ONE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TRY TO GET.
IT WILL BE CHALLENGING UNDER THE BEST OF CIRCUMSTANCES.
BUT WE HAVE TO TRY TO GET INPUT FROM RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS IN A TIME WHERE THEY CAN'T SHOW UP AT MEETINGS AND CAN'T HAVE THE NORMAL DISCOURSE THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE TO MAKE THESE KINDS OF DECISIONS AND DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN.
WE'LL TRY TO PROVIDE NEW WAYS FOR FOLKS TO WEIGH IN.
BUT I THINK EVERYONE NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND THE BUDGET IMPLICATIONS AS THE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF THIS ARE DRAMATIC AND WILL LAST US A LONG TIME.
AND JUST TO GIVE YOU A KIND OF AN IDEA, RIGHT.
YOU KNOW, EVERYONE TRIES TO COMPARE IT TO 9/11, TO THE TO THE MELTDOWN IN 08-09.
YOU KNOW, I WAS AROUND ON THE COUNCIL WHEN WE DID THE 09 BUDGET.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE SAW WE ADOPTED A BUDGET THAT YEAR THAT REDUCED SPENDING BY ABOUT 22 PERCENT, WHICH IS OUR FIRST NEGATIVE BUDGET PROBABLY THE CITY HAD SEEN IN 40 OR 50 YEARS.
IF THAT, WE COULDN'T EVEN GO BACK THAT FAR.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PERCENTAGES THAT ARE PROBABLY GOING TO BE DOUBLE THAT.
NOW, YOU KNOW, THREE OR FOUR PERCENT, MAYBE EVEN MORE.
SO I THINK THIS IS GOING TO LEAVE A MARK AND WE NEED TO PREP EVERYONE FOR THAT DISCUSSION. SO ON THAT HAPPY NOTE.
I DO WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF THE WAYS THAT WE CAN HELP EACH OTHER DURING THIS TIME, BOTH CITY AND SCHOOLS.
[00:35:02]
WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF THE STAFFING OPPORTUNITIES WHERE WE CAN HELP WITH SOME OF THE FOOD DELIVERY.I'M ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT SOME OF THE HUMAN SERVICES ON OUR SIDE AND THE DELIVERY OF SOME OF THOSE HUMAN SERVICES, PARTICULARLY AS THE IMPACT OUR STUDENTS.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE [INAUDIBLE] I GUESS MS. GARVEY CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF THE HUMAN SERVICE PIECE FOR US IN PARTICULAR AS IT RELATES TO OUR YOUTH? ARE YOU THERE MS. GARVEY? THERE YOU ARE.
[INAUDIBLE] IT'S BEEN REALLY BAD.
I THINK. YEAH GREG IS SUFFERING FROM THAT, TOO.
[LAUGHING] WE ARE ALL IN IT TOGETHER.
I THINK SEVERAL DIFFERENT LEVELS I WANT TO JUST GO ON TO THE FOOD ELEMENT FOR A SECOND TOO, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE SEEN THROUGH THE COMMUNICATION WITH OTHER PROVIDERS THAT WE HAVE A GAP FOR FOOD FOR FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN.
AND WE REALLY ARE NOT SEEING THAT BEING DISTRIBUTED.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO WORK ON.
ALSO TALKING WITH JEN FROM [INAUDIBLE] THAT THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM FOR FOOD IS GETTING GLOMMED UP BECAUSE THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH DRIVERS, THERE'S FOOD, BUT DISTRIBUTORS ARE NOT ABLE TO GET IT OUT.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF, THAT THERE COULD BE SOME CHALLENGES.
I DON'T KNOW FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IF THEY'RE RUNNING INTO THAT AT ALL.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TWO DISTRIBUTIONS PLANNED FOR NEXT WEEK AND THE WEEK AFTER.
BUT WE DO NOT HAVE YOU KNOW, WE'VE ORDERED FOOD.
WE JUST DON'T HAVE CONFIRMATION THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET IT TO US.
SO THOSE ARE THINGS I THINK WE NEED TO PLAN FOR.
SO CAN I ASK A QUESTION? SO THE FAMILIES WITH SMALL CHILDREN, THESE ARE FAMILIES WHO OTHERWISE HOW ARE THEY RECEIVING WERE THEY RECEIVING FOOD FROM US PREVIOUSLY? NO, IT WOULD JUST BE WHERE THEY'RE HAVING A FINANCIAL.
SO THEY HAVE SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN, AT LEAST THEY'RE CONTINUING TO GET THAT FOOD.
BUT THE BARRIERS RELATED TO THEIR INCOME WOULD JUST BE CAUSING SOME CHALLENGES.
NOW, ON THE ACPS SIDE, AS I UNDERSTOOD IT, WE WERE DISTRIBUTING FOOD TO THOSE FAMILIES AS WELL. [INAUDIBLE] YES.
SO THAT'S FANTASTIC. I MEAN, THAT'S AMAZING.
IT'S MORE THINKING ABOUT FAMILIES, HOURLY WORKERS WHO ARE GETTING US A SPOT WITH THE CHILDREN BELOW 2.
SO DEFINITELY THE SYSTEM IS SUPPORTING PARENTS WITH CHILDREN, TOO.
AND I DO WONDER I MEAN, I THINK IT'S ABSOLUTELY EXTRAORDINARY.
I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT FOLKS AROUND THE REGION HAVE BEEN ASKING US ABOUT.
THE FACT THAT ACPS IS OPENING UP THEIR FOOD ACCESS FOR NOT JUST ACPS FAMILIES.
AND I THINK THAT'S BEEN EXTRAORDINARY.
I DO WONDER HOW WHETHER THERE IS STILL THINGS WE CAN DO TO GET THE MESSAGE OUT ON THAT.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE TAKE IT, TOO, TO SOME OF THE FAMILIES THAT YOU SERVED THAT MIGHT NOT BE ACPS FAMILIES, WHETHER WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY THERE OR WHETHER THERE'S WAYS TO GET THAT MESSAGE OUT BETTER.
SURE. AND WITH THIS NETWORK OF NONPROFITS THAT IT'S COMING TOGETHER JUST TO MAKE SURE WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO SHARE INFORMATION ACROSS THE BOARD, I AM JUST EMPHASIZING [INAUDIBLE] THAT THERE'S NOT AN ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.
SO WE CAN KEEP ON PRESSING THAT.
OK. SORRY, I DIDN'T MEAN TO CUT YOU OFF THERE.
NO THAT'S FINE. ANOTHER PIECE THAT I THINK IS FOR GETTING DEEPER AT ANOTHER TIME, THOUGH, IS THIS THE JOINT GUIDANCE FOR EMERGENCY CHILDCARE AND RELATED TO THE STATEWIDE SCHOOL CLOSURES THAT WE JUST GOT AN UPDATE FROM THE GOVERNOR TODAY.
AND THIS IS TRYING TO BE RESPONSIVE TO ESSENTIAL PERSONNEL AS CHILD CARE NEEDS.
AND SO THERE ARE SOME MULTIPLE OPTIONS THAT ARE BEING PUT OUT IN TERMS OF WAIVERS USING PUBLIC SCHOOL SETTINGS, USING CURRENT PROGRAMS, PRIVATE SCHOOLS, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WHERE THERE ARE WAIVERS RELATED TO QUALIFICATIONS AND OTHER THINGS.
THE BIG CHALLENGE IS, THOUGH T REQUIREMENT IS NO MORE THAN 10 CHILDREN.
SO IT'S STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE LOGISTICS FOR CHILD CARE PROVIDERS HOW TO MAKE THAT WORK FINANCIALLY.
BUT I DO FEEL LIKE THIS IS A PIECE THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO EXPLORE.
AND WHAT ARE THE SETTINGS THAT WE THINK ARE MOST APPROPRIATE? AND THEN WE CAN GO THROUGH THE ESSENTIAL PERSONNEL ARE ALL THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO WE KNOW ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE TO WORK.
SO HAVE WE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH [INAUDIBLE] ON THAT ON WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE FOR THEIR STAFF? THIS IS DEBORAH.
[00:40:02]
WE CAN HEAR YOU. OK.SO LITERALLY, JUST A COUPLE HOURS AGO, I GOT OFF THE PHONE WITH JIM [INAUDIBLE] WITH THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS, AND HE HAS WORKED OUT A DEAL WITH HOLY CROSS IN MARYLAND.
AND NOW, BASED ON THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER AND KNOWING THAT WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE HEALTH CARE WORKERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS AND CHILD CARE, HE WOULD LIKE TO APPROACH NOVA TO SEE WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE USING HIS LOCATION HERE IN ALEXANDRIA.
HE DOESN'T WANT, YOU KNOW, FAIRFAX OR ARLINGTON TO START KNOCKING ON HIS DOOR SAYING, CAN YOU DO THIS SERVICE? SO I LITERALLY JUST GOT LIKE THE PROPOSAL THAT HE WAS WORKING ON WITH MARYLAND.
AND I'M GOING TO REACH OUT TO DR.
[INAUDIBLE] JUST TO GET ORDERS OF MAGNITUDE.
WHAT ARE THEY SEEING WHAT ARE THEY HEARING FROM EMPLOYEES TO SEE IF WE CAN HAVE A STARTING POINT THERE.
THERE WAS SOME COST ASSOCIATED.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN US AND MARYLAND RIGHT NOW IS THAT MARYLAND HAS THE ABILITY AT SOME POINT TO REIMBURSE THE HEALTH CARE CENTERS THAT ARE GOING TO PAY BECAUSE ROUGHLY IT'S COSTING LIKE $500 A KID A WEEK.
AND SO HOLY CROSS, I THINK HE'S APPROACHED [INAUDIBLE] AS WELL.
THEY ARE WILLING TO PAY THAT ON BEHALF OF THEIR EMPLOYEES.
BUT THEN THE STATE IS GOING TO AT SOME AT SOME POINT, BASED ON WHAT, YOU KNOW, CURRENT NEW SHIFTING INFORMATION, COME BACK TO REIMBURSE THE HOSPITAL SYSTEMS THAT ARE USING IT.
SO HE'S THE FIRST ONE TO RAISE HIS HAND.
WE ALSO HAVE A NUMBER OF OTHER ORGANIZATIONS LIKE FIRST BAPTIST AND OTHERS THAT ARE RAISING THEIR HANDS. WHAT YOU NEED WHEN YOU NEED.
SO TAKING THAT LIST OF PEOPLE WHO ARE SAYING THAT THEY HAVE CAPACITY, WHAT ARE ASSOCIATED COSTS? AND THEN, YOU KNOW, TRY ASKING, LIKE, YOU KNOW, WHO REALLY IS IN THAT SPACE OF NEEDING THAT. SO I WAS GOING TO START A CONVERSATION WITH THE HOSPITAL FIRST BECAUSE THERE IS A COST ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PARTICULAR OFFER.
AND I BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT NEIGHBORHOOD HEALTH, WHO ALSO HAVE HEALTH CARE WORKERS, WOULD NOT HAVE ANY MONEY TO PAY FOR THAT.
BUT THEN THE CITY MANAGER HAS BEEN VERY CLEAR THAT WE ARE MEETING THE NEEDS.
YOU KNOW, THESE EMERGING NEEDS AS THEY COME UP, BECAUSE SOME OF IT IS WE DON'T KNOW.
WE DON'T KNOW YET. SO JUST TRYING TO REALLY MAKE SURE THAT MONEY IS NOT THE REASON WHY WE ARE NOT DOING PARTICULAR WELL.
SO IT SEEMS LIKE WE NOT ONLY HAVE A BUNCH OF NEED THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NOT JUST THE HEALTH CARE WORKERS, BUT ALSO SOME OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE TO WORK.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE IDLE STAFF, IN SOME CASES IDLE STAFF WHO CARE FOR KIDS AS PART OF THEIR REGULAR JOB AS WELL AS WE HAVE PLENTY OF FACILITIES.
ORDINARILY, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CHILD CARE EARLY ED AFTER SCHOOL, WE HAVE FACILITY DEFICITS AND WE DON'T HAVE WE GOT FACILITIES ALL OVER THE PLACE RIGHT NOW THAT ARE COMPLETELY IDLE. SO IT SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE A LOT OF BUILDING BLOCKS TO DEAL WITH THIS.
EVEN ASIDE THIRD PARTY PROVIDERS, WE HAVE BUILDING BLOCKS ON THE PUBLIC PAYROLL RIGHT NOW. SO LIKE, WHY AREN'T WE LOOKING AT BRINGING THOSE? WE ARE. I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT WHAT WAS FRESHEST IN MY MIND.
BUT WE'VE HAD KIND OF CROSS DEPARTMENTAL DISCUSSIONS WITH OUR BCA AND OTHERS BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SHIFT KIND OF LIKE WHAT THE MISSION IS.
WELL, ONE ISSUE WITH THAT WAS THE TWO WEEKS OF SCHOOL.
BUT IT'S BEEN PLANNING TIME, REALLY JUST SAYING WHAT IS IT THAT WE CAN OFFER BASED ON OUR FACILITIES, BASED ON STAFF THAT WE ARE ABLE TO BRING IN, BASED ON TEN IN A ROOM, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THOSE CONSIDERATIONS.
SO THAT'S NOT A DONE DISCUSSION.
THAT'S MORE A CURRENTLY CONTINUING DISCUSSION AS WE MOVE THROUGH THIS.
I ALSO DO WANT TO MAKE SURE [INAUDIBLE] BECAUSE WE DO HAVE SOME SPACE WITHIN THE CURRENT PROVIDERS, FAMILY CHILD CARE PROVIDERS.
RIGHT NOW WE'VE GOT 50 VACANCIES, CENTER PROVIDERS.
SO TO BE SURE, WE GET THOSE FILLED SO THEY CAN MAINTAIN.
BUT THEN THERE ARE DEFINITELY OTHER OPTIONS.
AND WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, THEY ARE ALLOWING THEY DO HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO HIRE STAFF AND OFFER RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN SCHOOLS WITHOUT A LICENSE.
SO THEY ARE MAKING SOME OF THE PROVISIONS TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR THOSE THINGS TO OCCUR.
BUT AGAIN, WE HAVE TO ALSO THINK ABOUT HOW ARE WE PROTECTING FOLKS AND MAKING SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF THE HEALTH AND SAFETY PIECE WITHIN THE CHALLENGES.
YEAH, NO, I GET IT. IT JUST SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE A BUNCH OF RESOURCES THAT WE CAN WE CAN BRING HERE. AND I YOU KNOW, ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES NOTED AND SHE'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT OUR OWN HEALTH CARE WORKERS.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT OUR OWN PUBLIC SAFETY WORKERS.
WE ALSO HAVE A TON OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE CITY, WHO ARE WORKING AT OTHER OTHER REGIONAL RESPONSE INITIATIVES THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS AS WELL.
[00:45:01]
WE ACTUALLY WANT TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF THOSE EFFORTS.BUT I THINK IT'S AND NOT TO MENTION, I FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE FROM A MONEY PERSPECTIVE, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF THINGS WE CAN SORT OUT LATER.
AND I'M SURE THAT FOR THESE TYPES OF NEEDS, THERE WILL BE RESOURCES AVAILABLE.
SO WE CAN WE CAN SORT THAT OUT LATER.
THE ONLY OTHER THING I WANT TO RAISE WAS JUST THE PROSPECT OF HAVING CHILDREN AT HOME FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. AND AGAIN WITH FAMILIES WHO HAVE FEWER RESOURCES AND SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES IN TERMS OF CHILDCARE AND OTHER THINGS, SUCH AS THINKING THROUGH HOW ARE WE STAYING CONNECTED, UNDERSTANDING THE STRESS THAT FAMILIES ARE UNDER.
HOW ARE WE PROVIDING ADEQUATE SUPPORT? SO THOSE ARE JUST THINGS WE'VE GOT TO START TO BE THINKING THROUGH.
YOU KNOW, AS YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE BIGGEST REFERRAL SOURCES THAT WE HAVE IS THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, BECAUSE THEY ARE THEY ARE SO PRESENT WITH WITH FAMILIES.
AND SO WHERE THERE'S LESS OF A CONNECTION.
HOW ARE WE BEING ABLE TO CONNECT WITH FAMILIES WHEN THEY ARE BEING CHALLENGED AND WHEN THERE ARE [INAUDIBLE] SO IT'S JUST THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO THINK THROUGH AND REALLY WORKING WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND OTHER WAYS TO INTERSECT WHILE STILL MAINTAINING, YOU KNOW, STAYING IN.
SO I JUST I THINK WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ENTIRE SCHOOL YEAR THAT KIDS ARE NOT IN PLACE.
THAT'S A TREMENDOUS BURDEN ON FAMILIES FINANCIALLY AND JUST IN TERMS OF STRESS.
HUTCHINGS TALKED A LOT ABOUT HOW 90 DAY PLAN UNDER 20 DAY PLAN COMING UP WITH PLANS FOR THE DIFFERENT EVENTUALITIES.
I THINK ONE ADVANTAGE OF THE GOVERNOR'S DECISION TODAY IS NOW WE HAVE WE HAVE PREDICTABILITY. WE KNOW WE KNOW THE EARLIEST THAT SCHOOLS WILL WILL COME BACK.
BUT I DON'T THINK WE KNOW IS IS WHAT THE SITUATION IS GOING TO BE IN MAY OR EVEN EVEN LATE APRIL. AS FAR AS KIND OF LIFE AS WE KNOW IT HERE IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND SO I WOULD I WOULD HOPE THAT WE HAVE SOME PLANNING ON OUR SIDE SINCE WE KNOW THE SCHOOLS ARE NOT GOING TO BE OPEN.
IT COULD BE THAT SOME OF OUR TRADITIONAL SUMMER PROGRAMS WILL NEED TO PICK UP EARLIER IF, YOU KNOW, IF LIFE COMES BACK TO SOMETHING APPROACHING NORMAL IN A MAY TIMEFRAME OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, WHERE WE NEED TO BE READY TO BRING SOME OF THOSE PROGRAMS ONLINE, BECAUSE I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT A SITUATION WHERE, LIKE YOU SAID FOLKS ARE GOING TO BE EXPECTED TO GO BACK TO WORK BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE COMMERCE IS GOING TO RETURN TO THE AREA. AND NOW, WITHOUT SCHOOLS OPEN, WE HAVE KIDS UNDER SUPERVISED SITUATIONS.
AND THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE A GOOD SOLUTION FOR ANYBODY.
SO YOU BROUGHT UP SOMETHING I MEANT TO ASK MR. HUTCHINGS, BUT I THINK IT'S PROBABLY TOO EARLY.
AND YOU COULD PROBABLY SAY THIS IS THAT.
HAS THERE BEEN ANY CONVERSATION AROUND WHAT THE SUMMER MIGHT LOOK LIKE OR WHEN THERE MIGHT BE A DECISION TOWARDS THE OPENING OF FACILITIES, IF NOT EVEN PROGRAMS FOR THE SUMMER? THAT'S PROBABLY WAY TOO SOON, BECAUSE OF WHAT JUST CAME OUT ABOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR. BUT I THINK THAT PROBABLY THE NEXT QUESTION ABOUT AVAILABILITY OF ACPS SPACES AND PROBABLY PROGRAMMING.
SO IT'S HARD TO DEFINITIVELY SAY WHAT THE SUMMER IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE, BUT WHAT WE DO PREDICT IS THAT WE WILL NEED TO HAVE OR OFFER MORE SERVICES THAN WE TYPICALLY OFFER DURING THE SUMMER BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO BE MORE KIDS WHO MAY ACTUALLY NEED SOME OF THAT REMEDIATION OR REINFORCEMENT BECAUSE OF THE TIMEFRAME THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE OUT OF SCHOOL. ANOTHER THING THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO I WANTED TO JUST MAKE A QUICK COMMENT TO TO THE COMMENTS THAT MS. GARVEY AND MS. COLLINS HAVE MENTIONED ABOUT JUST USING THE SCHOOLS ARE USING BUILDINGS FOR CHILD CARE NEEDS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
WE WANT TO KEEP IN MIND THAT RIGHT NOW SUPPLIES ARE ALSO LIMITED.
WHAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING RIGHT NOW.
WE DID ORDERS ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO FOR OUR CUSTODIAL SUPPLIES.
WE'RE BEGINNING TO RUN OUT OF OUR CUSTODIAL SUPPLIES.
WE'RE TRYING TO DO ALL OF OUR CLEANINGS AND THINGS IN OUR BUILDINGS AND EVERYTHING IS STILL ON BACK ORDER. SO THINGS THAT WERE PROMISED TO BE HERE TWO WEEKS AGO, THEY'RE STILL NOT HERE. AND I THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE THAT ACROSS THE BOARD.
SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND, WE MIGHT HAVE ALL OF THESE FACILITIES AND SPACES THAT ARE AVAILABLE, BUT WHEN THE SOAP AND THE CLEANING SUPPLIES AND THE PAPER TOWELS AND ALL THAT THE HAND GELS AND ALL THOSE THINGS THAT WE'RE GONNA NEED TO BE IN OPERATIONS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. WE WON'T HAVE ADEQUATE SUPPLIES TO KEEP EVEN THE ENVIRONMENT SAFE THAT WE
[00:50:06]
WANT TO OPEN TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO, YOU KNOW, TO USE WHETHER IT'S FOR CHILD CARE NEEDS OR WHATEVER WE NEED TO USE OUR DIFFERENT SPACES FOR IN THE FUTURE.SO I JUST WANT US TO START THINKING THROUGH THAT.
OUR TEAM IS THINKING THROUGH THAT NOW AS WELL.
BUT THOSE ARE PRETTY MUCH SOME SOME BARRIERS THAT WE'RE ALREADY BEGINNING TO SEE, LIKE STARTING THIS WEEK WHERE WE'RE STARTING TO SEE THOSE BARRIERS.
CAN I ASK A QUESTION? IS THIS AN OPPORTUNITY WHERE WHERE WE CAN SUPPORT ON THE CITY SIDE? BECAUSE I KNOW WE WE CERTAINLY WE HAVE FACILITIES WHERE WE ARE NO LONGER NEEDING TO CONDUCT MAINTENANCE BECAUSE WE'RE BASICALLY CLOSING THEM DOWN FOR NOW.
YOU KNOW, IT SEEMS LIKE THERE MIGHT BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO PARTNER A LITTLE BIT ON THIS.
I THINK THAT'D BE GREAT. AND I'LL HAVE OUR TEAM I KNOW MS. ANTHONY'S ON THIS CALL.
WE'LL REACH OUT TO OUR CONTACTS JUST TO SEE WHAT WE COULD DO TO COLLABORATE.
WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FACILITIES REAL QUICK.
ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I'VE RECEIVED QUITE A BIT IS AND I THINK IT COMES FROM THE MAKING MAKING LEMONADE OUT OF LEMONS FOLDER IS EVERYONE'S ASKING, WELL, NOW THAT THE SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED FOR THIS LONG, YOU KNOW, CAN WE RENOVATE THEM ALL THIS SUMMER, YOU KNOW? DOES THIS GIVE US SOME OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOME SOME FACILITY WORK THAT OTHERWISE WE DIDN'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO? I WOULD FEEL LIKE I HAVE TO ASK THIS QUESTION BECAUSE ALL THE PARENTS HAVE ASKED IT TODAY. AND YOU KNOW I THINK IT'S A QUESTION THAT WE'VE THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT AS WELL.
BUT I THINK THAT AS WE'RE LOOKING AT THE DIRE BUDGETARY ASSETS THAT WE HAVE TO REVISIT HAVING IT, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE SOME DISCUSSIONS AROUND SOME OF THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS. WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT DOLLARS AND TRYING TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF SAVINGS, IT'S COMING OUT OF MAJOR RENOVATION PROJECTS REBUILD AND SALARIES AND BENEFITS.
I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT BIG DOLLARS COME FROM.
IT'S JUST YOU KNOW, THE PART OF THE BUDGET.
IT'S NOT DR. HUTCHINGS, YOU KNOW, PHILOSOPHY.
THAT'S JUST BUDGETING PHILOSOPHY.
AND THOSE ARE SOME OF THE DISCUSSIONS WE ARE GOING GOING TO NEED TO HAVE.
BUT MANY OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE HAD IN PLACE TO HAVE DONE ARE BEING DONE.
AND WE HAVE HAD SOME THINGS THAT WERE SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETED, SPRING BREAK SOME OF THOSE PROJECTS HAVE STARTED EARLIER BECAUSE WE KNEW THAT SCHOOLS WERE GOING TO BE CLOSED.
SO WE HAVE STARTED SOME OF OUR PROJECTS THAT WERE ALREADY, YOU KNOW, SCHEDULED TO TO BE COMPLETED. WE'VE ALREADY STARTED SOME OF THOSE AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.
THANK YOU, DR. HUTCHINGS. ALL RIGHT.
I THINK WE WERE DON'T REMEMBER WHERE WE GOT OFF TRACK HERE.
IT WAS MY FAULT WHEREVER WE WERE.
[INAUDIBLE] FOLLOW UP QUESTION. YEAH VICE CHAIR.
SO I GUESS FIRST OFF THANK YOU SO MUCH EVERYONE FOR ALL THEIR HARD WORK.
IT'S JUST BEEN INCREDIBLE TO SEE THE TOP TALENT WE HAVE IN THIS CITY REALLY SHINES THROUGH DURING THIS TIME.
HUTCHINGS HOW ARE WE HANDLING THE SENSITIVITY AND THE NATURE OF WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE FACT THAT THERE IS NEEDING TO BE WORK CONTINUING FORWARD IN TERMS OF DOUGLAS MACARTHUR? AND I KNOW LIKE GW IS ON THE MEND FOR GETTING A SERIOUS RENOVATIONS ON SPRING BREAK IN THE SUMMER. HOW IS THAT BALANCE HAPPENING OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT MAYBE YOU WANT TO REPORT BACK TO, LIKE AT A FUTURE MEETING AS TO LIKE WHAT'S.
BECAUSE THAT WAS A SERIES LIKE HOW ARE WE BALANCING IN TERMS OF THOSE TYPES OF PROJECTS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE FACILITIES, GIVEN THAT THIS IS THE JOINT CITY SCHOOLS MEETING.
I KNOW A LOT OF OUR JOINT WORK IS THE FACILITIES PROJECTS.
SO WITH DOUGLAS MACARTHUR, FOR EXAMPLE, WHAT OUR TEAM IS BALANCING IS THE FACT THAT WE KNOW WE HAVE A TIMELINE THAT IS VERY RESTRICTIVE IN REGARDS TO HAVING THAT SWING SPACE.
PATRICK [INAUDIBLE] SO WE'RE STAYING WE'RE PRETTY MUCH ON TARGET WITH THOSE WITH THOSE ITEMS. AND MY RESPONSE EARLIER TO MR. CHAPMAN'S QUESTION WAS IN REGARDS TO US TRYING TO ADD NEW PROJECTS OR TRYING TO BRING NEW PROJECTS SOONER THAN LATER, THAT WE ARE NOT LOOKING AT BRINGING ANY ADDITIONAL OR NEW PROJECTS THAT WERE NOT INITIALLY SCHEDULED FOR NOW, BUT AS OF RIGHT NOW.
DOUGLAS MACARTHUR IS STILL ON ON TARGET.
WE'RE STILL FOLLOWING THOSE MILESTONES.
AT THIS POINT TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT PARTICULAR PROJECT IS ON SCHEDULE BECAUSE OF THE RESTRICTIVE GUIDELINES AND THE SWING SPACE THAT WE HAVE.
SO ANY OF OUR OTHER PROJECTS FOR FOR THE FUTURE, YOU KNOW, WE MAY HAVE TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT FUTURE PROJECTS THAT WE'RE CHOOSING TO DO, BUT CURRENT PROJECTS RIGHT NOW ARE CURRENTLY IN PLACE AND WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS THEM.
SO THE GW PROJECTS FOR THE SPRING BREAK AND SUMMER ARE STILL ON TRACK? SO ALL THOSE THINGS AS OF RIGHT NOW YES THEY ARE STILL ON TRACK TO TO BE COMPLETED.
[00:55:02]
WE JUST HAVEN'T TAKEN ANY NEW.WE HAVEN'T BROUGHT IN NEW PROJECTS TO THE PORTFOLIO OR LET'S SAY A PROJECT THAT WAS SCHEDULED TO BE DONE NEXT YEAR.
WE DIDN'T SAY, OK, WELL, CAUSE SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED LET'S BRING IT TO THIS YEAR.
WE HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING LIKE THAT AT THIS TIME.
THE CURRENT PROJECTS ARE CURRENTLY ON SCHEDULE.
ALL PROJECTS ARE CURRENTLY ON SCHEDULE RIGHT NOW.
OK. CAN I ASK ANOTHER QUESTION, DR.
HUTCHINGS? KIND OF SWITCHING FROM FACILITIES FOR A SECOND.
AND IT'S ONE THAT I'VE ALSO GOTTEN FROM A FAIR NUMBER OF PARENTS.
I THINK, AGAIN, I'VE BEEN VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE WAY OUR TEACHERS HAVE TURNED ON A DIME AND ARE COMING UP WITH NEW WAYS TO DELIVER INSTRUCTION.
ONE OF THE GROUPS OF PARENTS THAT I'VE HEARD CONCERNS ABOUT HAVE BEEN THE K THROUGH 2.
K THROUGH SECOND GRADE PARENTS.
AND I GUESS CAN YOU TALK US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW YOU'RE TRYING TO REMAIN CONNECTED WITH THOSE FAMILIES AND WHAT OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE TO IMPROVE THAT AS WE GO FORWARD? YEAH. SO NOW THAT WE ARE GOING INTO THIS 90 DAY CLOSURE PLAN, WE'RE LOOKING AT ACTUALLY DOING AN ANALYSIS NOW OF HOW MANY OF OUR K-2 FAMILIES ALREADY HAVE SIBLINGS WHO ARE IN GRADES 3 THROUGH 12, BECAUSE THEN WE KNOW THAT THERE SOME CHROMEBOOK THAT'S ALREADY HOME HOME WITH THEM BECAUSE WE DON'T ISSUE CHROMEBOOKS FOR KINDERGARTEN THROUGH SECOND GRADE.
BUT IF WE'RE GONNA BE USING THINGS LIKE ZOOM VIDEOS THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO TRY TO FIND AN AGE APPROPRIATE WAY TO INTEGRATE THAT INTO THIS LONGER CLOSURE PLAN THAT WAS NOT IN OUR INITIAL PLAN. YOU KNOW, OUR INITIALLY OUR K-2 STUDENTS ALL HAD LEARNING PACKETS THAT WENT HOME SO THAT THEY COULD DO MORE HANDS ON ACTIVITIES AND NOT TO HAVE THE ELECTRONIC COMPONENT AND TO ALSO BE ABLE TO WATCH ACPS TV TO SEE DIFFERENT STAFF MEMBERS READING MATERIAL TO THEM AND DOING READ ALOUD AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
WHAT WE ARE NOW GOING TO HAVE TO PRODUCE ARE SOME, YOU KNOW, APPROPRIATE LEARNING ACTIVITIES FOR K-2.
THAT MAY REQUIRE SOME, YOU KNOW, DIGITAL RESOURCES IN ORDER FOR THAT FOR THAT TO OCCUR.
BUT WE'RE IN A PROCESS RIGHT NOW OF TALKING THROUGH WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE FOR, YOU KNOW, THE YOUNGER LEARNERS IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH SECOND GRADE, BECAUSE THEY'RE JUST, YOU KNOW, DEVELOPMENTALLY THEY'RE AT A DIFFERENT LEVEL IN REGARDS TO HOW YOU ENGAGE.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO WORK THROUGH WHAT IS GOING TO BE THE MOST APPROPRIATE AGE APPROPRIATE MEASURE FOR THAT. BUT WE WILL HAVE MORE DETAILS ABOUT THAT WHEN WE RELEASED OUR 90 DAY CLOSURE PLAN. I APPRECIATE THAT UPDATE.
ALL RIGHT. OTHER QUESTIONS FOR ANY OF OUR STAFFING? FROM EITHER SHARON ANDERSON? VICE CHAIR NOLAN? COUNCILMAN CHAPMAN? NOTHING.
ALL RIGHT. SO I APPRECIATE AGAIN ALL THE ALL THE HARD WORK EVERYONE IS DOING.
THIS HAS BEEN AN EXTRAORDINARY TIME FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND ONE THAT WE WILL.
A COUPLE OF YEARS FROM NOW, WRITE A REALLY GOOD BOOK ABOUT.
BUT RIGHT NOW WE JUST GOTTA KEEP PARTNERING AND WORKING TOGETHER AND MAKING SURE WE GET THROUGH IT FOR ALL OUR FAMILIES.
SO IT'S BEEN A REMARKABLE TIME OF INGENUITY TOO ON THE PARTS OF BOTH ORGANIZATIONS.
SO IT'S REALLY BEEN INTERESTING TO WATCH THAT.
ALL RIGHT. UNLESS WE HAVE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS TOPIC, WE WILL BE DONE FOR TODAY. AND WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE OF THESE MEETINGS NEXT MONTH.
WE'LL SEE IF WE'RE BACK TO NORMAL BY THEN OR WE'LL STILL BE TALKING ABOUT THIS.
IS THAT [INAUDIBLE]? NO I WAS SAYING GOODBYE [LAUGHING] THIS ACTUALLY WORKED VERY WELL.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HEAR IS THAT THIS IS STRETCHING PEOPLE TO DO THINGS A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY. AND WHEN WE GET TO THE OTHER SIDE OF IT, IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT WE CAN TRACK BACK TO WHAT WE CHOOSE TO KEEP ON.
YEAH, I THINK THIS IS GOING TO HAVE LASTING CHANGES TO A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO.
SOME POSITIVE SOME NEGATIVE AND IT WILL BE.
WE'RE DOING A LOT OF EXPERIMENTATION RIGHT NOW, SO WE WILL SEE HOW IT ALL WORKS.
ALL RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR GATHERING.
WE APPRECIATE THE INPUT AND THE IDEAS AND THE THOUGHTS.
AND WE WILL TALK AGAIN NEXT MONTH.
ALL RIGHT GUYS. THANKS, EVERYONE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.