[00:00:01] >> WELCOME, EVERYONE. [1. Meeting Called to Order by Chair Anderson] THIS IS THE VIRTUAL SPECIAL BOARD MEETING. I'M CALLING THE MEETING TO BE STARTED AT 7:03. >> SO WE'RE ALL HERE AND WE'RE GOING TO START OFF WITH A MOMENT OF SILENCE. [2. Observe a Moment of Silence] >> OKAY. EVERYONE. COULD I GET A MOTION TO ADOPT THE AGENDA, PLEASE. [3. Adopt the Agenda for the August 6, 2020 Virtual Special Called School Board Meeting] >> MADAM CHAIR I MOVE THAT WE ADOPT THE AGENDA THIS EVENING. >> SECOND. >> I HAVE MS. GREENE SECONDED MS. LOEBER'S MOTION TO ADOPT THE AGENDA SO I'LL GO THROUGH THE LIST. AND WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME PLEASE INDICATE YOUR VOTE. >> CINDY ANDERSON, YES. VERONICA NOLAN, YES. >> MEAGAN. >> YES. >> RAMEE GENTRY. >> YOU WERE SILENT. I DIDN'T HEAR YOU AT LEAST. >> SHE LOOKS FROZEN. >> I WILL COME BACK. MARGARET LORBER. OKAY. AM I JUST NOT HEARING PEOPLE? >> JACINTA GREENE. >> YES. BACK TO. >> YOU SKIPPED THE OTHER GS. >> I THOUGHT I SAID IT AND YOU DIDN'T -- SO I WARS GOING TO COME BACK. >> MARGARET LORBER. >> YES. >> MICHELLE RIEF. >> YES. HEATHER THORNTON. >> YES. THAT IS 9-0 APPROVING THE AGENDA. THANK YOU EVERYONE. SO NOW WE WILL GO ON TO THE PUBLIC HEARING AND THIS PUBLIC HEARING IS [4. Public Hearing on Continuity of Learning Plan 4.0] EXCLUSIVELY FOR COMMENTS ABOUT OUR CONTINUITY OF LEARNING 4.0 PLAN FOR THE FALL. SO AND DR. HUTCHINS INDICATES HE IS IN THE ON PHONE. ON THE OTHER SIDE. NOT THE PANELISTS SIDE. EACH HAS THREE MINUTES. FOLLOW-THROUGH WITH E-MAIL SO WE CAN HAVE A RECORD OF THEM SO WE CAN REFER BACK TO THEM OR IF YOU HAVE COMMENTS THAT WOULD EXCEED THREE MINUTES OR INFORMATION THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH US. FIRST PERSON AND IF YOU'RE ONE OF THE SPEAKERS WHO SIGNED UP WHICH WE HAVE FOUR. IF YOU COULD RAISE YOUR HAND ON THE ATTENDEE SIDE, THAT WAY I CAN FIND YOU MORE READILY. OKAY. SO FIRST UP I SEE CAROLYN MAZA. >> HOLD ON. HELLO. >> GO AHEAD, MS. MEZA. THANK YOU. >> GOOD EVENING, SCHOOL BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT HUTCHINS. I'M A PARENT A OF A RISING THIRD GRADER AND RISING -- GRADER. WE ATTEND ALL OF THE ZOOMS AND DID ALL OF THE THINGS REQUIRED AND I HAVE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS TO MAKE THE VIRTUAL LEARNING EXPERIENCE EASIER FOR PARENTS THIS FALL. ONE COMMUNICATIONS NEEDS TO BE MORE FREQUENT AND ON A PLATFORM THAT IS EASY FOR THEM NAMELY E-MAIL. HAVING TO TAKE A PICTURE OF A QR CODE TO FIND OUT WHAT IS HAPPENING THAT DAY IS [00:05:07] INCREDIBLY INCONVENIENT. WITH MULTIPLE CHILDREN IT'S VERY HARD TO KEEP UP WITH IT ALL AND I'M ASKING FOR YOUR HELP IN MAKING OUR ROLES EASIER. IT WOULD HELP US PLAN OUR WEEK AND ENSURE THEY ARE SUCCESSFULLY ABLE TO COMPLETE ASSIGNMENTS. TWO, PLEASE CONSIDER LEARNING PODS. I LIKE MANY OTHERS ARE FORMING PODS SO WE CAN SUPERVISE OUR CHILDREN'S LEARNING AND ASSIGNMENTS. CHILDREN CANNOT BE EXPECT TO SELF-REGULATE AND BE EXPECT TO REMEMBER ALL THAT IS REQUIRED OF THEM. AND IF OUR HUSBANDS ARE TO KEEP OUR JOBS IT CAN'T BE US. AS YOU SAY DR. HUTCHINS NOBODY EXPECT TO BE IN THIS SITUATION AND ALL OF THESE ARE UNANTICIPATED CHILD CARE NEEDS. PARENTS ARE STRUGGLING. I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE SOME VALID ISSUES AROUND DIVERSITY AND ISSUES HOWEVER THIS IS A CHILD CARE ISSUE. KINDERGARTEN THROUGH THIRD GRADE CANNOT BE EXPECT TO BE HOME ALONE OR WORKING ALONE AND BE SUCCESSFUL. MY CHILDREN NEEDED HELP LOGGING IN AND CONSTANT REMINDERS TO PAY ATTENTION AND DO THE WORK REQUIRED. MY JOB SUFFERED AND WHILE NOBODY EXPECT US TO BE IN THIS SITUATION FOR SORE LONG WE HAVE TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO MAKE IT MANAGEABLE AND YOU'RE ASKING FOR A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY AND PATIENTS FROM PARENTS AND STUDENTS. I ASK THAT YOU GIVE PARENTS THE SAME FLEXIBILITY AND UNDERSTANDING AND THAT MIGHT MEAN ALLOWING KIDS TO BE IN PODS AND BY ASSIGNING THEM TO THE SAME TEACHER. YOU'RE MAKING A STRESSFUL SITUATION EVEN HARDER. EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS WORLD RIGHT NOW IS NOT PERFECT AND HAS FLAWS. WE'RE ALL DOING THE BEST WE CAN. KNOW THAT I'M FULLY COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING YOUR EFFORTS. I JUST NEED SOME HELP. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MS. MEZA. IF YOU WANT TO SEND THAT TO US, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. NEXT UP, I HAVE JEREMY FLACKS. >> MR. FLACKS -- HELLO. MR. FLACKS. >> HELLO. CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? >> YES. THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU BEING PRESENT. I AM A FATHER OF A RISING 8TH GRADER. AT GW. FIRST OF ALL I WANT TO SAY THAT I DO THINK YOU MADE THE RIGHT DECISION. I'M FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS START TO THE SCHOOL YEAR HAVING TO BE REMOTE. OF COURSE, THAT IS NOW A DECISION THAT COMES WITH A LOT OF ISSUES AND PROBLEMS OF SORTS. I KNOW LAST YEAR I WOULD SAY THAT FOR MY DAUGHTER IN 7TH GRADE IT WAS A BIT ROUGH. I REALIZE IT WAS SOMEWHAT UNEXPECED TO HAVE TO TEACH REMOTELY BUT I HOPE THAT GIVEN THE TIME THAT THE SCHOOLS HAVE HAD TO PREPARE FOR WHAT I THINK IS SOMEWHAT INEVITABLE THAT IT WILL BE A BIT SMOOTHER. THAT THE LESSON PLANS, THE TEACHING, THE FOLLOW-UP, THE METRICS FOR HOW THEY ARE DOING WILL ALL IMPROVE SUBSTANTIALLY OVER WHAT I SAW AND MY DAUGHTER SAW THIS PAST SPRING. AGAIN, I REALLY DON'T MEAN TO BE TOO CRITICAL BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THAT IT WAS BASICALLY AN EMERGENCY SITUATION AND DO THE BEST WE CAN AND I THINK THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED BUT I THINK NOW I'M HOPING FOR MORE STRUCTURE, MORE OVERSIGHT, MORE FEEDBACK, MORE FOLLOW-UP. I REALIZE IT WON'T BE PERFECT. BUT I'M HOPING FOR IMPROVEMENT OVER WHAT I SAW THIS SPRING. I WORRY A LITTLE BIT ABOUT PARENTS THAT HAVE TO WORK EITHER SINGLE PARENTS OR COUPLES THAT BOTH WORK. FORTUNATELY I'M NOT IN THAT SITUATION WHERE MY WIFE CAN BE HOME. SO I'M PROBABLY NO NEED FOR ME TO GET TOO DEEP INTO WHAT I THINK IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE BECAUSE IT DOESN'T AFFECT ME PERSONALLY BUT I DO WORRY ABOUT WHAT PLANS [00:10:05] THE SCHOOL HAS MADE TO HELP PARENTS WHO JUST CAN'T STAY HOME AND I HAVE NOT HEARD TOO MUCH ABOUT WHAT THOSE PLANS ARE. I MAY HAVE MISSED THEM BUT I HOPE THAT ALL OF YOU ARE PUTTING YOUR THOUGHTS TOGETHER AS TO HOW YOU'RE GOING TO HELP THOSE FAMILIES THAT CAN'T HAVE A PARENT HOME DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR. BUT BASICALLY I THINK YOU MADE THE RIGHT DECISION. I'M FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF MAKING THE BEST OF THIS. IF MY DAUGHTER DOESN'T PROGRESS AS IF IN PERSON THAT'S FINE. I UNDERSTAND. THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH. AND WE WILL ALL MAKE THE BEST OF IT. >> THANK YOU, MR. FLACKS. NEXT UP, WE HAVE KYLE MARTIN. >> I DON'T SEE HIM ANY LONGER. I'M SORRY. >> I SAW -- HIS HAND IS RAISED AT THE TOP NOW. >> GOT IT. SORRY ABOUT THAT. GOT IT. ONE SECOND. OKAY. MR. MARTIN, IF YOU WISH TO GO AHEAD AND START. >> VERY GOOD, MA'AM. HOW IS THE AUDIO? CAN YOU HEAR ME ALL RIGHT? >> YES. >> OKAY. EXCELLENT. SO I AM A FATHER OF THREE RISING SECOND GRADER, FIRST GRADER AND A RISING KINDERGARTENER. AND AS MR. FLACK SAID I'M ONE WE'RE ONE OF THOSE FAMILIES THAT IS DUAL ESSENTIAL IN PERSON. AND WE DO NOT, WE ARE STRUGGLING TO FIND A WAY TO MAKE THIS WORK. I AM PERHAPS A LITTLE BIT LESS SANGUINE IN THE UNEXPECTED NATURE OF THIS STARTS IN THE FALL. AND I WOULD LIKE THE SCHOOL BOARD TO PRESENT HOW FAMILIES SUCH AS US THAT HAVE TO GO TO WORK IN PERSON THAT DO NOT HAVE A SPOUSE THAT CAN STAY HOME AND TEACH THAT DO NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO FUND A POD OR A PRIVATE TUTOR FOR OUR STUDENT OR HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO MAKE THIS WORK? THERE IS SOME GENERAL REFERENCES TO CHILD CARE WHICH IS GREAT. BUT THOSE LACK THE SPECIFICS THAT WOULD MAKE YOU FEEL AS IF THERE WAS REAL SUBSTANCE TO THOSE. PERHAPS WE'RE EARLY IN THE PROCESS. BUT I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A BLIND SPOT FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD IN HOW SINGLE PARENTS, DUAL ESSENTIAL EMPLOYEES ARE GOING TO MAKE THIS WORK. ALEXANDRIA REC HAS CHILD CARE AND ATTEMPTED TO DO SOME OF THE SUMMER LEARNING BUT IT WAS HIT-AND-MISS BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT TEACHERS. SO I WOULD LIKE THE BOARD TO ADDRESS HOW OUR FAMILY IS SUPPOSED TO MAKE THIS PLAN WORK. HAND IN HAND WITH THAT I WOULD LIKE THE SCHOOL BOARD TO ADDRESS WHY WE WENT WITH A ONE SIZE FITS ALL SOLUTION. I'VE ASKED SEVERAL TIMES WHY WE DIDN'T PURSUE OPTION THAT'S WERE BOTH A VIRTUAL OPTION FOR PEOPLE THAT WANTED TO GO VIRTUAL AND AN IN PERSON OPTION. I GET KIND OF BRUSHED ASIDE WITH WAVES OF THE HAND THAT SUCH A THING IS IMPOSSIBLE. BUT I JUST DON'T THINK IT WAS FULLY CONSIDERED OR MAYBE IT I DON'T KNOW, I FEEL LIKE IT WAS THERE AND WE JUST DIDN'T LOOK AT IT. WE STILL HAVE TIME TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS PRIOR TO SCHOOL KICKING OFF AND WE TALK A LOT ABOUT INCLUSIVITY HERE BUT UNLESS WE'RE GOING TO BE WILLING TO CREATE A PLAN THAT ALLOWS SINGLE PARENTS AND DUAL ESSENTIAL EMPLOYEES TO PARTICIPATE FULLY IN THE SCHOOL YEAR THEN WE DON'T HAVE AN INCLUSIVE PLAN. WE HAVE A PLAN FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE SORT OF 1950S FAMILY STRUCTURED. AND I'M UP ON MY TIME SO I THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING MY COMMENTS. [00:15:07] >> THANK YOU, MR. MARTIN. >> WE HAVE ANOTHER SPEAKER BUT I'M NOT SEEING THE PERSON BUT I FIGURED THEY MIGHT BE UNDER A DIFFERENT NAME SO I'M GOING TO CALL OUT THE NAME FOR MERIDITH WEST. IF YOU COULD RAISE YOUR HAND AND WE CAN SEE THAT YOU'RE HERE. AGAIN LOOKING FOR MERIDITH WEST. OKAY. SO SEEING NOBODY RAISING THEIR HAND THAT IS ACTUALLY THE LAST SPEAKER WE HAVE FOR THIS EVENING SO WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. BUT IF PEOPLE HAVE IF OTHER PEOPLE ARE ON-LINE LISTENING YOU CAN CERTAINLY CONTINUE TO SEND US E-MAILS WITH YOUR COMMENTS AND CONCERNS. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR PARTICIPATING. AND NOW I'LL MOVE ON ACTUALLY WHICH IS A GOOD PLACE FOR THIS TO THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT. ACTUALLY IS HE STILL ON, SUSAN? I'M LOOKING. I DO NOT SEE HIM. >> IS HE THE ONE -- >> I SAW HIS CELL PHONE DROP EARLIER. >> HE HAS NOT RECONNECTED YET. >> I'M BACK. HE SAID HE IS BACK. IS HE THE NUMBER AT THE TOP? >> I THINK HE IS THE ONE AT THE TOP. >> OKAY. >> HE SHOULD BE BACK. >> OKAY. DR. HUTCHINS. IT'S TIME FOR YOUR REPORT. SO WE FINISHED THE PUBLIC HEARING. >> I DON'T HAVE THE REPORT AT THIS TIME. I APOLOGIZE. I'M IN A BAD AREA SO MY PHONE KEEPS DROPPING. BECAUSE OF THIS WEATHER. I'LL HAVE TO TELL YOU THE STORY LATER. >> OKAY. >> SO NOW THEN WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR CLOSED SESSION THAT WE HAVE THIS EVENING. [6. Closed Meeting] IF THE VICE CHAIR COULD LEAD US INTO CLOSED SESSION FOR BOTH TOPICS THAT WOULD BE GREAT. >> MY APOLOGIES. THANK YOU SO MUCH MADAM CHAIR. I HAVE TWO ITEMS FOR CLOSED SESSION. FOR EMPLOYMENT MATTERS, MADAM CHAIR I MOVE THAT THE BOARD CONVENE A CLOSED MEETING -- FOR THE DISCUSSION AND DISCUSSION OF EMPLOYMENT, PERFORMANCE AND CONTRACTUAL MATTERS FOR 35 EMPLOYEES. MY NEXT MOTION IS A LEGAL BRIEFING. MADAM CHAIR I MOVE THAT THE BOARD CONVENE A CLOSED SESSION -- FOR CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNCIL AND BRIEFINGS BY STAFF MEMBERS OR CONSULTANTS PERTAINING TO POSSIBLE LITIGATION. >> SECOND. >> SECOND. >> NOW I'M MUTED. I MISSED WHO SAID THAT FIRST. THE SECOND. WAS THAT YOU, MS. GREENE? >> IT WAS MS. GENTRY. >> SORRY. I WAS ASKING FOR A SECOND AT THE TIME YOU WERE SAYING SECOND. MS. GENTRY SECONDS THE MOTION. SO I'LL CALL FOR THE ROLL CALL FOR THE VOTE. THAT IS 9-0 AND WE WILL BE GOING INTO THE MEETING BUT AS EVERYBODY KNOWS WE HAVE TO DO A DIFFERENT LINK SO WE HAVE TO GET OUT OF THIS MEETING AND GO INTO THAT. SO I'LL SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE. THANKS, EVERYONE. >> OKAY. HELLO, EVERYONE. I THINK -- >> IS EVERYONE BACK? >> DO YOU SEE MARGARET? >> WE'RE MISSING MARGARET. IS THAT ALL WE'RE MISSING? >> YEAH. I THINK EVERYONE ELSE IS IN. >> SHE MAY HAVE HAD TROUBLE FINDING THE THING AGAIN. THERE ARE A LOT OF E-MAILS BETWEEN THE ONE I WAS USING TO GET ON AND THAT HAPPENED WHILE WE WERE MEETING. >> I'M TEXTING HER JUST TO CHECK ON HER. >> YOU CAN ALSO JUST SAY THAT SHE IS AND SENT FOR THE MOMENT. [7. Certification of Closed Meeting] >> PURSUANT TO VIRGINIA CODE 2.2-3712 I MOVE THAT THE BOARD CERTIFY ONLY PUBLIC BUSINESS MATTERS IDENTIFIED IN THE CLOSED MATTERS. [00:20:02] -- WERE HEARD, DISCUSSED OR CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD IN THE CLOSED MEETING HELD ON AUGUST 6,2020. >> SECOND. >> MS. GREENE SECONDS MS. NOLAN'S MOTION. SO I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE. ALL RIGHT. NOW MS. NOLAN. >> YES I MOVE THAT THE BOARD DISMISS THE GRIEVANCE AS DRAWN AND AUTHORIZE THE CHAIR TO -- A LETTER TO THAT EFFECT. >> I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE. THAT IS 9-0 IN FAVOR. NOW WHAT WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR. MAY I OF A MOTION TO ADJOURN PLEASE. >> MADAM CHAIR I MOVE THAT WE ADJOURN TONIGHT'S MEETING. >> DO I HAVE A SECOND. >> SO I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE ON ADJOURNMENT. THE MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED. IT'S THE 9-0 TO ADJOURN AND IT IS 8:40 P.M. WE'LL SEE EACH OTHER IN LESS THAN 24 HOURS AGAIN. >> GOOD NIGHT. >> I LOOK FORWARD TO IT. >> YEAH. I DO TOO. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.