SCPS School Board Meeting 03/12/2026

001March 12th, 2026 meeting of the Shannidora County School Board. Madame Superintendent, might you have a suggestion regarding a closed session? >> I do. Thank you. I recommend the school board of Shannidoa County convene a close meeting under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act in order to discuss and consider several personnel matters involving the assignment, appointment, promotion, performance, demotion, salary, discipline, or resignation of several employees of the Shannidora County Public Schools under Virginia code 2.2-3711814 and for the purposes of discussing and considering several student matters involving the admission, discipline, or disclosure of information contained in a scholastic record of students in the Shannidoa County Public Schools under Virginia code 2.2-371182 and to consult in pursuant to Virginia code 2.2-3711 -3711A7 to consult with legal counsel and have briefings by staff members or consultants pertaining to actual

002or probable litigation where such consultation or briefing and open meeting would adversely affect the negotiating or litigating posture of the public body. Miss Pence, >> I move that the Shando County School Board convene a closed meeting under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act in order to discuss and consider several personnel matters involving the assignment, appointment, promotion, performance, demotion, salary, discipline, or resignation under Virginia Code 2.2-3711A14. and for the purposes of discussing and considering several student matters involving the admission, discipline, or the disclosure of information contained in the Scholastic Record of students in the Sheno County Public Schools under Virginia Code 2.2-3711A2 2-3711A2 and to consult with legal counsel and have briefings by staff members or consultants pertaining to actual or probable litigation where such consultation or briefing in open meeting would adversely affect the negotiating

003or litigating posture of the public body pursuant to Virginia code 2.2-3711A7. >> A motion has been made to convene into close session as provided by state code. Is there a second? Second. >> Thank you, Mr. Rickert. All in favor shall say I. >> I. >> And oppose shall say no. The eyes prevail and we will convene in close session. Is there a motion to reconvene an open session? >> I move to reconvene in open session. >> Thank you, Mr. Richard. Is there a second? >> Second. >> And second by Miss Pence. All in favor say I. >> Opposed say no. The eyes prevail. I am to read the following statement. Shannidora County School Board hereby certifies by roll call vote that to the best of each member's knowledge one only public business matters lawfully exempted

004from open meeting requirements by Virginia law were discussed in the closed meeting to which this certification resolution applies and two only such public business matters as were identified in the motion convening the closed meeting were heard discussed or considered by the Shannondo County School Board. Each member will respond by replying, "I so certify when called by the clerk as I have called for a roll call vote." Madame clerk, >> Mr. Shy, >> I so certify. >> Mr. >> I so certify. >> Miss Carennia, >> I so certify. >> M >> I so certify. >> Mr. Ripper, >> I so certify. >> Mr. I so certified. >> For the purpose of invocation and pledge of allegiance to the flag, I call upon district 3 representative Miss Carlin. >> Thank you, chairman. Um, it is my pleasure

005to um invite uh Pastor Duke McCaffrey. He's a pastor of our church at Oakill um church in Fort Valley. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we gather here in a government capacity, a government instituted among men, deriving its just powers from the consent of the govern. Father, I ask that you remind each member of this school board that they will have to appeal to the Supreme Judge of the world for the decisions they make tonight. Holy Spirit, please fill these men and women with the courage, wisdom, and the resolution to make good decisions. We repent where we have turned from you and we trust in your mercy as we rely on the protection of your divine providence. It is in the name of Jesus Christ that we humbly petition you God to lead, guide and direct

006us tonight. Amen. >> Amen. >> Thank you. >> Please rise for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Is there a motion to approve the agenda as presented? >> Move to approve the agenda as presented. Thank you, Mr. Richard. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Miss Carinio seconds. All in favor say I. >> Oppos? No. And it prevails as pass. Recognitions. Dr. Shepard. >> Thank you. So this evening we need to get Miss Melissa Folultz up here because she is going to the opening night of Newsy. So, Miss Miss Folz, thank you, Miss Chrisman and Miss Emily. So, joining me this evening, I have Miss

007Ray Chrisman, the head swim coach at Strawsburg High School, and Miss Emily Davis. Dr. Shepard, Chairman Vance, and members of the board. Thank you for the opportunity to share an accomplishment of the Shawsburg High School student athlete, one who has been recognized in the past for the past two years, and so this is her third year coming before you. On Wednesday, February 18th, 2026, Emily Davis successfully defended her state titles in the 100yard butterfly and the 200yard individual medley. In the 200yard IM, Emily finished with a time of 2 minutes 12 seconds, outdistancing the second place finisher finisher by 5 seconds. And in the 100yard butterfly, she finished with a time of 58.63 seconds, about 1 second ahead of the second place finisher. With three state championships, Emily now has now won three straight 100yard

008butterfly titles and two straight 200yard individual medley titles. Emily holds five state swimming championship titles. And she holds all of Strawlesburg High School's swimming state championships in our history. More importantly, Emily not only excels in the pool, she also is stellar in the classroom. She is at the top, very top of her class. She's a straight A student with a current GPA of 4.2. Please join me in congratulating student athlete Emily Davis for her top performances both in the swimming pool and in the classroom. Congratulations Emily. Our next recognition is for Quinnland met and I will call um Quinnland and Pastor Casperson up tonight. I would like to recognize and thank Quinnland and Eagle Scout for her generous donation to support our school nurses through her Eagle Scout project. Quinnland demonstrated exceptional organization and leadership

009by seeking out and collecting organizing more than 11,000 donated items for use in our schools. This project required a significant amount of planning and community outreach. Our school nurses are incredibly appreciative of Quinnland's thoughtful and generous contribution. Quinnland, thank you for your dedication to service and for making such a meaningful impact on our students, school nurses, and schools. And I have a card for you from our uh school nurses. Would you like to say anything? No, I just want to tell you what a wonderful young lady she is. I'm so proud of her. She will be 14 this month. So, this is quite an accomplishment and I'm very grateful that she chose just because as her outlet she had more fun collecting all these items for our nurses and counselors. >> Thank you. Our next

010recognition is music. Shannidoa County Public School students from North Fork Middle School auditioned and were selected to the all county 14 uh district all district 14 choir orchestra and band. So I would like to ask Wendy Whitford and Andre Stson to come up please and Dr. Nan if you would like to come up as well. I saw you back there. >> Dr. Shephard, members of the board, thank you so much for taking this time to acknowledge the diligent hard work of our music students, especially in this month of March. That is music in our schools month. It really means a lot to us. I know it means a lot to our music students and their families to acknowledge the amount of hard work that they put in. Um, I'd like to acknowledge by name the

011district students that made it in for choir. So, there's a few students unable to make it tonight due to athletics. also just like to acknowledge that a lot of our students can fantastically do both things. Um, and we're super thankful that they can achieve in that way and yeah, very very appreciative of our music and student athletes. So, I'd like to acknowledge Danielle Wayaney, Jaylen Price, Yvana Chaparo, Leen Clauser, and Kendra Tus. And then representing for our band students, we had four students uh achieve in the all district band, including second chair mallets and second chair in the bass clarinet. Claire Wampler could not be here this evening. However, we do have with us Carter Verka, Aan Brewer, and Gracie Baker. And we had seven students achieve all district orchestra uh including number two violist

012Gavin Welman who is here this evening as well as Rebecca Smith. Incredible amount of hard work and hours put in by these students who are achieving not just in the classroom academically. All of them are incredible students as Dr. Newman can attest to but on the playing field as well in their sports lives and then in their musical lives. Uh we'd like to close out just by mentioning that it's March uh music in our schools month and already this year our music team across the county has performed in hundreds of musical performances that are free and open to the public. Almost all of them are. Um and so what a great gift for our community as well as a chance for our students to perform. Thanks for coming. And finally, we are going to recognize

013employees who have worked for Shannidoa County Public Schools for 20, 25, 30, and 40 years. >> Okay. Well, as you just heard, this evening, we have some very special recognitions. These are our employees who have worked here in this division for over 20 years. And this is a new recognition for us. We haven't done this in the past. So, I'm going to start with those who are here. So, I'll recognize each category. We have many that weren't able to be here this evening. And I think first I'll read to you what their certificate says. It says, "In grateful appreciation for blank years of outstanding service to students, staff, and families of Shannondoa County Public Schools. Your dedication, professionalism, and commitment to excellence have made a lasting impact on our schools and community. And it's signed

014by Chairman Vance and Dr. shepherd. And they'll also receive a service pen that has the school division logo and also the years of service on it. So, we'll start with 20 years of service. Brenda Maren, Jennifer Martin, and Karen Smallwood. Those who were not able to be here this evening that have 20 years with the division are Nolan Bowen, Tara Brinkley, Abby Cop, Diana Fox, Esther Howard, Lenita Irwin, Jennifer Layman, David Lucas, Susan Painter, Selene Ina roads, Deborah Shelton Reigns for 25 years. Mary Flanahan, Joe Christmas, Michelle O Connor, and Heather Walters. Heather here. Okay. So those who were not here with 25 years, Sher Bareric, Beverly Cosby, Teresa Good, Sharon Marston, Daniel Morgan, Cheryl Morgan, Elizabeth Puit, and Irene Shocki. 30 years. CHARLIE FANCLER goes >> Cheryl Jet. MELISSA MARSTON and Jen PROCTOR >>

015and Cynthia Grand staff has 30 years also. She was not able to be here. And with 40 years, we had Sher Hushman. She was not able to be here either. I just want to reiterate years of service in Shannidoa County Public Schools. So, just one more big round of applause. That's all the recognitions for this evening. Item 2.6 is public and staff comment on agenda items and non-aggenda items. The Shannido County School Board welcomes public comment from Shannido County residents, parents, or guardians, as well as from current students and employees of Shannido County Public Schools. Schoolboard members do not respond to public comments during the meeting or hearing. Each speaker may speak for up to three minutes. The board generally allows up to 30 minutes for public comments on agenda and non-aggenda items at the

016beginning of the meeting. If there are a large number of speakers, the board may limit the total time for comments and or may reduce the time allotted for each speaker. There are four people signed up. I don't think we'll have to modify that. All comments should address a matter related to Shadowville County Public Schools. Complaints regarding division employees should be directed to the school principal or an appropriate school division official. The school board expects that each speaker will be courteous, modeling for our students how one can respectfully disagree with others views. Speakers will address their comments to the entire school board and not to one individual board member, to the superintendent, to a staff member, nor to the audience. Speakers will not engage in personal attacks. Speakers may sign up to speak at the school

017board meeting, which four people have done on the document provided by the clerk of the school board. The school board clerk will ascertain speakers indicate their role as stakeholders and ballot addresses. Speakers are called in the order in which they signed up. If time allows, the chair may allow comments from individuals who have not signed up. A speaker may not speak more than once on a specific topic. Speakers who wish to speak on more than one topic must submit a separate request for each item. If a speaker would like to present written comments to the school board, eight copies should be provided to the school board clerk as the speaker approaches the podium to speak. Up first is um Amanda Robinson. Thank you. It's just a copy of what I'm saying just in case I

018ran out of time. I timed it at 255 at home, but we'll see. I just start >> with with only four speakers. I think it'd be all right if you know I follow the rules. My name is Mandy Robinson. I am the healthcare sciences teacher at Triplettech. Um, and I'd like to comment on the possibility of splitting triplet into multiple campuses or relocating the healthcare classes to the hospital. I want to start by addressing a comment that has been made more than once that opposition to separating triplets programs is really about teachers wanting to stay together because we form close relationships. And yes, we have formed close relationships. And just this past year, our staff has experienced the loss of a co-worker's home to a fire, the sudden death of a husband to cardiac arrest,

019the loss of our custodian after a brave fight with pancreatic cancer, and ultimately the death of our principal, Todd Lynn, our leader, our advocate, and the person that held our school together. Those experiences changed people and they certainly strengthened our sense of family. But I want to be clear. This is not why we're opposed to splitting the triplet campus. And this is not what we've expressed in previous conversations with board members and the superintendent. We oppose it because separating programs creates real measurable risks for our students. While triplet is a technical school, we function just like every other high school. We have students who get into conflicts, students who need redirection, and students who require immediate support. Right now, when something escalates, an administrator can be at my room within minutes. And I have no

020doubt that without that support, some situations would have become more disruptive, more stressful, and potentially dangerous for both our students and our staff. As a health care professional, I'm trained to think in worst case scenarios. Removing nearby administrative support does not feel like a mere inconvenience. It feels like a problem waiting to happen. The same concern applies to special education services. Every semester I have at least one student who requires testing accommodations or additional support related to their learning disabilities or other diagnoses. These accommodations work because our special education teacher can physically move between classrooms on the same campus. Splitting campuses turns this into a logistical nightmare if not an outright impossibility. And failing to provide legally required accommodations is not just wrong, it places the division in violation of federal law. Beyond that, our

021administrators and support staff do far more than their job titles suggest. They cover classes with when needed, assist with student supervision, support field trips, and step into multiple rules when something unexpected happens, which always happens. That flexibility exists because we are on one campus, and fragmenting it weakens every one of those systems. Finally, there's the idea that healthcare classes being located at the hospital would provide invaluable experience for healthcare students. In practice, this is largely unrealistic. Hospital access requires tuberculosis screenings, drug tests, and strict limits on student numbers. With nearly 60 students in my program next year, 59 to be precise, meaningful hospital exposure is simply not feasible, nor is it necessary to my competencies. Our nurse aid students must complete clinical hours in long-term care facilities, not hospitals. And next year we begin a

022sports medicine program that requires hours at high schools. Again, not in a hospital setting. So yes, we are a family at triplet, but more importantly, we are a well functioning system. One that mitigates crisis, shares resources, adapts when people have to step into multiple roles, and prioritizes student safety and wellness above convenience. If it appears that we simply want to stay together, I ask you to look deeper. We want uh the support structure necessary to provide a safe, effective and legally sound learning environment for our students. And I want to say I could not be the teacher that I am without the support, the five ministers, my staff, the counselors and everyone there. So not having them like me seems detrimental. Thanks so much for your time. >> Thank you, >> Robert Feler. Good evening,

023Dr. Sheepard. I have heard about you, read about you, but I'm meeting you tonight for the first time. So glad to see you and thank you for taking care of our schools. Distinguished board, I'm glad I could come tonight. I come here as a pastor in the community. I'm pastor at Building Faith Church at Mount Hebrron, which is in the suburbs of Fischer Hill, Thomas Brook, Strawsburg. Uh my concern is this. I am a father, a grandfather. I am a great-grandfather, an uncle, a great uncle. So, I have a lot of access to children that go to our Shandel County public school systems. And something that's been been more prominent over this last year that I've been hearing more of, including this school year, more is students that are coming home upset about politics being

024discussed in the classroom. I don't think there's a place for that. I don't think we should be doing that. Our kids need to go to school to learn. They are our most precious commodity that we have. And when we see the the teachers that we had here tonight that we recognize that have 20, 25, 30, 35 years, 40 years of experience in our schools, most of those probably come and were homegrown right here. We need to figure out ways to keep our students in the county. We need to figure out ways to teach them things that are going to keep them here, resources, trade schools, whatever it might be. But I am all for teaching about politics as far as how our government works, the entries of our government, how important it is, why we

025have a constitution, why we have a bill of rights, and what that means for all of us. But for personal political agendas to be put in the classroom, I think there is absolutely no place for that. I am concerned because as a pastor, the students that are exposed to the Bible have to be bust off of school campuses to do that. Do you all know what the first thing is handed out in a prison? If you go to prison for a crime, do you know what they normally hand you first? A Bible. If a Bible is important in prison, a Bible would be very important in our public schools. I would think if we could catch them before they get to prison, we wouldn't need to hand out prison Bibles. We need to teach our

026kids right and wrong. We need to teach them values and morals. But we need to most of all keep politics out of schools, especially our own opinions. Cuz as you all know, everybody's got one and it's not always agreeing with each other in a positive way. And it creates strife at home. Think about this. Our teachers are exposed to our children more hours than our parents are. They see teachers more than they see their parents. We're competing with our church against all these new athletic programs that are not school related that teaches them to play soccer, basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball. all traveling teams that are all practicing and all are going on on the weekends, especially Sundays, taking our kids out of the community clear to the Carolas, to Florida, wherever for sports. So, we're

027having less time as pastors to keep them in our church because we're competing with those things, but we don't need to compete with politics yet coming from our teachers. And that is my concern. That's why I'm here. As a taxpaying citizen, as a Stallsburg High School student, as a county grown person that's trying to keep our county like it should be, it's my concern. So, thank you for your time and little investigation. If it's going on and there's a way to to reiterate that that can't go in the classroom, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. >> Thank you. Good evening board members and Dr. Shepard. Thank you for allowing me the time to speak this evening. 17 months ago, I began this campaign to advocate for what I believe is in the best interest

028of our most vulnerable student population, which is that we need a new elementary school. I have witnessed and documented the structural issues at Sandy Hook, as well as the growing impact of being at a 97% capacity. At this point, time is no longer on our side. The proverbial can that has been kicked down the road in this school system has reached its final destination. It's either at a dead end or at a new beginning and it's time to get serious about investing in the construction of a new school, ideally on a new campus in Maritown. The school board expects our staff and students to do everything to the best of our abilities. Well, tonight I'm here to ask the same of each of you sitting here tonight. Our community is well aware that the current

029board members had nothing to do with how we got here. But tonight, you do have the power and the ability to change course. Forge a new path with our students becoming the primary beneficiaries of the priorities selected tonight. They deserve this. I'm simply their advocate because as a counselor, I see the impact of how a good education can pull a child out of generational adversity, which has a direct impact on how they will give back to the community, our community, and eventually our schools. If our taxes have to go up, which they typically do, people adjust. I couldn't think of a better reason for them to, especially if we use those dollars in a fiscally responsible way and invest in a new elementary school. It will be cause less disruption to our instruction. We build

030and then renovate. Thank you. And I will be here if you like sign this shovel at the end of the meeting. God. >> Thank you, ma'am. Mr. Steven Hashman, >> welcome back. >> Thank you. >> School board members, Chairman Vance, Dr. Shepard, thank you for allowing me to speak this evening. I have not been able to be here for the last uh couple months due to uh workloads, but I wanted to take a second if I could and uh welcome the two new members, Mike Shy and Miss Pence to the uh school board. I'm sure all of you all will make a a very good team. Uh congratulations to all the students that were recognized this evening uh for their different achievements. And I have to think about the uh the awards that the employees

031were given this evening for 20 and 30 and 35 40 years of of um employment here and as I'm nearing at some point I'm going to be at the end of my work career. It's not in the near future, but as I look back over the years, what I have learned myself to be a uh as an employee and as an employer, um it is very admirable for a person at the end of their career, whatever it may be, of having a short resume. that is very very admirable compared to a lot of the corporate nonsense that we have going on today and I wanted to thank all of them also. Um W weekday religious education is what I need to emphasize and focus mostly on here this evening u and the success that it

032has. U when Mr. preacher was just talking a minute ago and he was absolutely right. The children in the public school systems have to go off campus to get the but that's okay. There's not a thing wrong with that. And uh it has grown at at my church this past um uh Sunday. We had the director there giving us an update of all the details and the um successes they have had in uh weekday religious education and it's up to 259 uh and still growing and that is a a very very good thing. Um, another thing that he had mentioned, the the reverend that just spoke, uh, politics in schools and such, uh, and I could not agree, um, uh, any more of the 100% of what he just said. And it reminded me of

033our uh president of the United States that we have here uh today. In his inaugural address, he stated to the nation that the United States is woke no more. And that will be leaving the public school system. And that is a very very good and positive thing to be uh to be thinking about. The last thing I just to mention, uh, this board has a big task in front of us. Education is the most important thing here in Shendo County from one end of the county to the other. And we have at some point schools to build. We have uh schools to update and to build on to or something because of growth. And we also have schools that need desperate maintenance and and upgrades and uh to bring back up to uh to code

034to sufficient be sufficient. And and I I know, hope, and trust that you that you all, you know, will look at it and you it's hard to eat an elephant, but you you can bite it off um a a bite at a time and you figure out how to prioritize what needs to be done. And anybody in business would tell you that it's most important usually to take care of the things that you already have and then figure out how to move on. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> This concludes the public and staff comment on agenda items. Category three is the consent agenda and the chair asked for a motion to approve the consent agenda items. >> Move to approve the consent agenda. >> Thank you, Mr. Richard. Is there a second?

035>> Second. >> Miss Carlin, your second along with someone else on this side. Anyway, um all in favor of approving the consent agenda indicate by saying I. >> I oppose. No. >> And the motion passes somewhere. We get to the next >> category 4 instructional agenda, high school English language arts materials adoption. Mr. Sheerer, who is the uh specialist for English and language arts, welcome to the podium. Good evening, members of the board, Dr. Shepard, members of our community. Thank you for the opportunity to present the high school ELA core resource adoption process. This evening, I'll take you through the procedure Shannidoa County Public Schools followed to evaluate and select a high school ELA core resource. I'll briefly walk through the legislative origins, describe how we ensured strong input from our stakeholders, and also touch

036upon our next steps. I want to begin by referencing the legislative requirement of this process. Virginia House Bill 2777 requires school divisions to adopt and implement highquality instructional materials, often referred to as HQIM, for English, history, math, and science. Shannidoa County has been approaching this work in phases. At the elementary level, the division adopted HMH into reading in 2020. McGraill Study Sync was adopted for middle schools in 2024. The work you'll see tonight represents the final phase of aligning ELA core resources across grades K through 12. This adoption followed a clearly defined timeline that began at the start of the school year. In September, the instruction department introduced the adoption process, expectations, and the two core resource options to school administrative teams. Schools then selected pilot teachers who would implement the materials in their classrooms.

037In October, these pilot teachers participated in training sessions to prepare them to use the materials. Beginning in November, these teachers implemented the two core resource options during an 8week classroom pilot. At the same time, all high school ELA teachers explored and evaluated the materials and submitted feedback through a structured process. In January, teachers and administrators reviewed the collected feedback and developed school level consensus. Additionally, both core resources were made available at this time for community review and feedback at each high school. If approved by the school board, materials will be delivered to schools in May and teachers will receive training in June in preparation for full implementation at the start of the 2026 2027 school year. The classroom pilot was a central component of the adoption process. Each of the three high schools selected two

038ELA teachers to participate. One teacher implemented HMH into literature and the other implemented McGraill study sync. These two resource these two resources are HQIM approved by the VDOE. The piloting teachers used the materials in their classrooms for an 8-week period so both teachers and students could experience the resources in authentic instructional settings. Teachers were asked to use the materials with fidelity so the instructional routines, texts, and supports within each program could be fully evaluated. Teachers utilize a balance of resources, print and digital materials. Throughout the pilot, feedback was collected from teachers, administrators, and students to ensure that the evaluation reflected real classroom experiences. I would like to take a moment to recognize the teachers who participated in this work. Billy Firestein and Stephanie Willford from Strawburg High School, Terresa Maddock and Catty Dlo from Central

039High School, and Kim Eastip and Greg Kleinmith from Stonewall Jackson High School. While the classroom pilot was underway, all high school ELA teachers participated in a structured evaluation of the two core resource options. Teachers explored both programs and provided detailed feedback through an evaluation survey addressing multiple aspects of each resource, including struct instructional routines, student engagement, and alignment to standards. At the same time, the division provided opportunities for community members to review both programs and share feedback. Once the pilot and evaluation phases were complete, ELA departments at each high school met with administrators to review feedback and determine a school level consensus. All three high schools independently selected HMH in the literature. With all schools reaching the same conclusion, a divisionwide consensus was achieve was achieved based on the collective voice of our high school

040stakeholders. If the school board approves this recommendation, the next steps will focus on preparing schools and teachers for implementation. In May, HMH into literature materials will be delivered to each high school in inventory. HMH representatives will provide initial training for teachers in June to support implementation of the program. Additional training will take place in August so the teachers are fully prepared before the start of the school year. The resource will then be implemented in high school ELA classrooms beginning in the 2026 2027 school year. This adoption represents the final step in aligning Shannidoa Countyy's ELA core resources across grades K through 12 while ensuring that the decision reflects the experience and expertise of our high school staff. I want to thank the board members, Dr. Shepard and community members for your time and I would

041also like to once again thank our staff for their diligent work throughout this process. At this time, I'd be happy to answer any questions that you might have. I have a question. Um, so one of my concerns, uh, when my son attended high school, uh, here at Central, um, it's his English classes, they were not really reading literature. They were probably reading like one book of young adult, you know, fiction per semester and that was about it. Um, and one of my concerns is I don't think that we're, and I don't mean just us. I think over as a country, we're not um reading enough about the classics and the books that we grew up reading. Um, which all served a a purpose. Uh, do you have a list of what books are being read

042in in the high schools? And um is it something that we have you know like a list and then the teachers can pick what they want to teach or are we telling them you have to teach the certain books. >> Some books or excerpts of books will be required and others will be optional based on teacher and student choice. Okay. >> But we do have those list that we could provide. >> That would be great if you could. >> Absolutely. >> Other questions. >> Will it be more textbook than Chromebook? That is a great question and one of the strengths of HMH and literature is it's designed to work effectively with both print and digital materials. So students will have access to printed text, workbooks and instructional materials which is going to allow uh teachers

043to conduct most of the core reading, discussion and writing activities without relying on screens. >> That's great. >> So if I heard you correctly, more writing as well. Yes, it has a very robust writing resource and it a lot of the reading is integrated into the digital component, but all of that can be transferred to print also. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Thank you for time. >> Thank you. >> Well, that was a good handoff because item 4.2 is balanced instruction through reduced screen use. Calling upon our assistant superintendent of instruction, Mrs. Welcome. >> I'm not quite as tall as Craig. >> Good evening board members. Dr. Shepard, good to see you. So, this evening, I'm going to talk to you a little bit about balanced instruction through reduced screen use. Um, this

044aligns with the um resolution that was presented, I believe, two months ago. And so we're just going to um touch base on where we're at, where we're aligned to that resolution, what are the state requirements for uh technology in our schools, where we're at currently um with technology usage, and then what is the support and what do we need to do to sustain the that um initiative? So where are we aligned with your current um resolution? So in your resolution, the Shandel County School Board is committed to ensuring that all students receive a high quality education that promotes academic excellence, critical thinking, long-term retention of knowledge, and the mental well-being of its students. And uh if you'll note the pictures, uh we tried to pull some samples of things that we thought that as a

045board you would be interested in seeing are happening in our classrooms. Uh research consistently shows that handwriting and reading from paper materials enhance comprehension, memory retention, and cognitive engagement compared to reading or writing on digital screens. And the human interaction of teacher-led instruction and attention cannot be replaced by an electronic digital screen. And we couldn't agree more. So where are we aligned? So currently instruction is overwhelmingly led by teachers in a face-to-face interactive interactions across all levels K through 12. Digital tools require and are excuse me digital tools required and recommended by the school division are evaluated by the technology department for student privacy and terms of use. And our core content area textbooks K through 12 are provided in hard copy. Additional math man manipulatives have been purchased for K through 8 within the

046last five years and elementary and middle schools have plans for adjusting the assignment and use of Chromebooks for the 26 27 school year. So just to give you an update on where we're at with that. At the elementary level currently our kindergarteners are no longer onetoone with Chromebooks. We have carts available so if they have an activity where they need Chromebooks they can get the cart and use those with their students. first grade, we do start using them onetoone. However, we are not sending those Chromebooks home. Um, we stopped doing that, I believe, last year. So, Chromebooks do not go home with our elementary school students anymore. And right now, we're in conversations with the middle school principles about not sending home the Chromebooks in the middle school next year. So, we need to get

047some things to make that happen in our schools, some charging stations and things like that. So, that's one of the adjustments that we're in the process of making. Um, so just to pull out some experiences, if you were to go into our elementary schools, we expect you would see students working with manipulatives, using whiteboards um to record their answers, as you can see in these pictures. In middle school, oh, excuse me, another elementary example. So, this actually um the picture on the left is a student that is using her English uh textbook and they have um it's a workbook, but they're able to annotate and write in that book workbook. And so that is a great tool for our teachers to be able to use and it actually gets them in hard copies, not on

048the computer. And then the uh picture on the right is an example of a student practicing multiensory uh letter formation. Middle school students, you hopefully would see them um doing similar pictures to this, analyzing specimens in a science lab. Um the one on the right is a mock legislative session to try and pass a law um in our high schools. Here's an example of some biology notes and then also participating in a novel novel study in a high school classroom. So, let's touch base on what some of our state requirements are because we can't get rid of Chromebooks completely. And I think you all all are aware that our so tests and our growth assessments are done digital um on our Chromebooks and they also have what we call TEI technology enhanced items and that

049requires a digital device and we have to give students opportunities to do that. So, for example, on the SO test, it's not just a multiple choice question any always. Sometimes they have to do a drag and drop. They have to fill in um on a dra on a graph where different pieces may go. Um they might have to put something in sequential order. And if they miss any piece of that question, the whole question's incorrect. So it's important that our students get um exposure to those TEI types of questions. And then we also do our local assessments. Our benchmarks um are also done digitally so we can measure what our students know and understand. And so it's also a check for us to make sure that our students are um retaining the information that we're

050teaching them. So those are some of the ways that we need to use it. And then also um our state requires um that we have digital learning integration. So the state moved in 2020. They adopted these digital learning integration standards and those are in all of our standards K through 12. And so one of the so first of all let me tell you what those digital learning integrations are. They define them in seven student roles. Digital citizen, a knowledge constructor, an innovative designer, a computational thinker, a creative communicator, and a global collaborator. And these are also part of the domains of a profile of a graduate. And so um an example of where our standards have changed. I pulled a lower level um example just to help you understand. So at second grade the standard

051is create a simple presentation using multimodal tools that enhance the topic of a pre enhance the topic or the presentation and this um strand explicitly says that they need to be able to use digital tools not just print. So, we have to you to to meet the SOS, we have to be able to use our um Chromebooks some. However, that doesn't mean that they're on Chromebooks all period or all day. And those are just woven into um and another example would be in history, we expect our students to be able to look at primary sources. Well, to do that, they need to be able to do that digitally. So, uh, we did a survey with our teachers, uh, just to ask them, how much time do your students spend in your class period on a

052Chromebook? And so, this is the elementary snapshot. So, you can see that um, the times are 0 to 15 minutes, 16 to 30 minutes, 31 to 45 minutes, or more than 45 minutes. And so, most of our classrooms are spending 0 to 15 minutes a day on the Chromebook. I um I did not break this down by level, but I would venture to say that our 30% and 8% that are getting up there a little higher would be our upper grades um where they are using the Chromebooks a little bit more. Um so what are we using them for? Well, we use them for math schools. So in the elementary level, um we have Reflex Math, Imagine Learning Math, which is also a fact fluency. And then we also have Desmos. And Desmos is the

053online calculator that students use um that for math and so they have to have exposure to that. Teachers are also using it for Google Classroom and for Canvas. They use it for research. Um we have Pebble Go, Storyline Online, Epic and Bratannica. And then of course for our assessments which is done primarily through Mastery Connect but some of our teachers also try to make those things fun and so they'll use things like look at Cahoot and Gim Kit. And so those are like online quizzes that they can give kids and it has like a little bit of a gaming element to make it a little more fun. So here's the um usage at the middle school and you can see it's starting to increase a little bit and you would expect that as we go

054up in grades that the usage of the Chromebook is going to go up a little bit. Um, so less than 10 minutes, 27%, 10 to 20 minutes, 27%, 21 to 40, we're starting to get up there, 36, 36%, and then more than half the period is only 8%. Um, and uh, that is only about five teachers across the division. When I pulled those numbers, I did get about 200 responses from teachers on this, by the way. Um, and so that was only about five teachers and I did not go through I wasn't able to go through the way I set the form up, but I wondered if some of those might be our technology teachers um that we have at the middle school. So, what are the middle school students using it for? Well, they're

055using it for the learning management systems, which is that Google Classroom and Canvas again, math, Desmos, calculator. And then at the middle school level, we also have um which is a practice tool that teachers can use. And we have that in math, English, and science and history as well. Nope, I'm that science and history is at the high school level. At the middle school level, it's just math and English. Um and then engagement tools, again, that kit, the blitet, and the cahoot. And then, um literacy and reading. We also have students at the middle school level that use Lexia. And Lexia is one of our primary interventions that we have for students at the middle school in reading. And then they also have Nuzella and Common Lit. And then again for assessments um Mastery Connect

056and Google Forms. Here's our high school um usage. And so you can see um again the numbers are going up a little bit here. Um more than half the period is about 20% here. And then here are the things that they're using them for at the high school level. Again, those learning management systems, Google Classroom, Canvas, um, and then assessment tools, Cahoot, Look at Gim Kit, Quizlet, Quizzes, and Mastery Connect. And they also do a lot with Google Suite at the high school level with the kids and doing Google Docs, Google Slides, Google Drive. And then also we have some have some subject specific tools as I was saying earlier ISL um Edpuzzle Wayground and we video way is also another way to provide a quiz to students. Um and then our high school students

057also begin to use Canva which is a design um element for students to use. So what are our next implementation actions? Um, so we want to support teachers in leveraging student writing to enhance their comprehension, memory retention, and cognitive engagement and reinforce the expectation that human interaction of teacher-led instruction and attention cannot be replaced by an electronic digital screen. So what does the research say? Handwriting activates a broader network of brain regions involved in motor, sensory, and cognitive processing. Typing engages fewer neural circuits resulting in more passive cognitive engagement. Despite the advantages of typing in terms of speed and convenience, handwriting remains an important tool for learning and memory retention, particularly in educational contexts. Also, one of our major tools that we have in our pocket right now as educators is quality teachers are a

058critical determinant of student achievement. So, Chromebook and device management. Uh, elementary K5 devices, as I said earlier, remain in the classroom on charging cards, use only for specific testing or supplemental activities. Secondary, we still have a bell-to-bell phone free environment. And Chromebooks are open only upon explicit teacher instruction for a specific task. That is an area that we'll probably need to start educating some of our teachers on and having them help reinforce that thought process in their classrooms. support and sustaining balanced instruction. So, build on what is already working. Continue strong instructional practices already in place. Highlight classrooms that are effectively balancing hands-on, paperbased, and digital learning. Use exist existing structures by incorporating balanced instruction into current walkthrough conversations. So, as you know, our administrators are always doing walkthroughs and so incorporating some of that

059into what we're looking for. Discuss instructional balance during regular leadership meetings and leveraging existing professional learning time. Gather feedback and adjust. Invite teachers input on what is working well. Adjust guidelines based on classroom realities and share successful strategies across schools. And then we need to monitor student impact, observe student engagement and participation, review academic trends alongside instructional practices, and make thoughtful refinements as needed. And those are the references to some of the things that I use this evening. Any questions? I know you have them. I saw you writing >> under your your writing. >> Yes. >> I don't want to assume that it's with pencil and paper, but I'm assuming we're going to start increasing the use of pencil and paper. >> Yes. Um that is the goal. It's going to take us having some

060professional conversations with teachers. Um, I think that it's already begun. I think that we're heading in that direction. Um, but it's still we still have pockets of places where it could get better. >> Are we going to increase cursive writing? The amount of time we spend on that in >> Well, we definitely teach cursive writing. Um, we can look into it and see how much time is actually being spent on it. Um, I don't have that off the top of my head, but we do begin teaching cursive writing in second grade. um and they finish it in third grade, but then after that it's never mentioned again. So that's part of what makes it a little difficult to continue that trajectory of cursive writing. So um yeah, as you know, I have a lot to

061say in here about this. Um one of the things I did want to say and I wanted to comment, I was going to do it in my board member comments, so I think it's relevant right now. Um, as you know, we have the mental health task force and we had our students um, come with us um, last week. No, this week. Was it this week or last week? Last week. And uh, which is always very um, helpful for us because we get to hear from students from all three campuses, middle and high school. And um, it was pretty amazing to hear all of them across the board talk about the same things. And one of the things that they were talking about was the fact that they wish there was more engagement in in the

062classroom. Um, one of them was a problem with the Chromebooks. They they really don't want to be using the Chromebooks, but also uh they were complaining a lot about the packets information. Um, they were all saying that they want to see more engagement from the teachers, that they want to see more presentations, that they want to actually be able to talk more about what they're learning. uh which I thought was really interesting because these are students that have never really had that kind of teaching like we had it. So for them to know that that's what they would like to have I I thought was um great to hear. I I do I spoke to Dr. Shepard yesterday. I am considering because we do have an instruction uh committee um and I know you're working

063on a lot of this stuff and the AI and all that. Um, but I think we're considering maybe having a meeting sometime in May, uh, and even advertise it so that we can actually have more members from the board to discuss some of the things because I think there's so many questions and there's so many things that we would like to hear from the teachers and that we would like to hear from you that unfortunately we don't have the time to do uh during our regular meetings. So I think we're gonna I'm going to look into doing that hopefully. So um that way any board member that is interested in attending and asking question um but I if I do I'll definitely talk to you because I do have some questions but I'm thinking I'm

064just going to leave them until then. >> Yes, we can get together. >> We'll do that. >> I just have a question about um these supplemental activities like uh reflex math. So in our elementary schools, sorry, if our students are using reflex math and they go through the whole program and you know they get a final score, I guess whether it's green or red, if they pass, you know, they just go further. Do they ever get any explanation in regards to the questions that they've missed? So reflex is really just practice on uh facts. It's fact practice. So addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Um, so there's really um when you say like it doesn't retach them anything. So if they're struggling with that, it would be up to the teacher to look in the program,

065see that a student is struggling, and be able to go back and have conversations with that kid and retach some skills. >> But I guess my question is, how would the teacher know? They would have to go into the program. >> So you can actually go into the program just to see what the teachers can. Yes. And then the same thing for um the LL. Is that the same? Because I know that's for up. >> And a lot of our teachers actually assign um the things they want students to do in LL. Reflex is a little different. The kids I mean the teachers can say, "I want you to work on multiplication." And so then the kids pick multiplication. They can actually assign different um topics to the students to work on >> like per

066student. >> Yes. Yes, usually they do it by class though because everybody's working pretty much on the same thing. ISL is not really meant to be a remedial tool. It's to be a practice tool. Lexia is more of a remedial tool. And so that is where students are struggling. They might go into Lexia to get some intervention, but then there's also a face-to-face piece that goes along with that. So they might have if they have a half an hour they might have 15 minutes where they're online and the other 15 minutes are working with a teacher or a tutor because that is some of the times when we have our um tutors coming into the building during that IE time at the middle school and so they might work with a tutor during that time.

067>> Okay. Thank you. >> Has um have you gotten any feedback like from staff on on you know these changes and you know plans going forward? Has there been any, you know, feedback, positive or negative, >> either way? >> Um, I think we've had some teachers um panic a little bit like, oh, we're not going to be allowed to use Chromebooks anymore. And we've said, no, that's not what we're talking about. It's really about a balanced approach because there are SOS that we have to address. Like at the middle school, we have to teach computer science standards. There's a lot of technology involved with that. Um, so I think that we just need to do some more talking with the teachers and let them realize it's it's not that we're taking them completely away. It's

068about being balanced. So when we're talking about a writing assignment, we'd rather see you do paper pencil. Um, yes, you need to be able to type because eventually you are going to have to type it when you do your writing so at the lower grades we really want to be a we want you to have paper to pencil, >> right? And um well and and I mean that's a good point because it's a fine line. We need the technology as you advance in education. It comes in more you know especially at the university level. Um how does what we're doing compare to any of the other school divisions around like is this different? Is it the same? You know, I mean, as much as I like Shando County to be unique, I don't want to

069look too unique where we're either setting, you know, setting us back or >> being too far ahead. >> I don't know exactly what all the other divisions have in place, but I can tell you that Rockingham and Frederick County have also been looking at the same issue. Um, I know that Rockingham, their middle school kids don't take their Chromebooks home anymore either. So, like that kind of thing. And I know Frederick did um did some similar things where they were trying to find out what where are we at and where do we need to go. >> Okay. Thank you. >> One more question about the cursive. >> I know you said you touched on it in second grade and it goes through third. There's no there's nothing preventing us from going further with it, is

070there? >> No, it's just it really becomes a time issue for our teachers. Um well, you know, the reality is teachers want every minute for the SOS that they have that are on their grade level and then they also have students that are behind or struggling and so making sure they have the time to fit in the interventions for those students. And so it really becomes a time issue and when they look at their day, I'm I'm just life according to Jim Proctor again. When they look at their day, what can I put to the side? They put cursive writing to the side. It's not because they don't want to teach it or don't believe in it or any of those things. It's truly becomes a time issue. So, >> thank you. >> Yeah. >>

071Sad that we've gotten to the point where we teach to the test. >> Well, we have a lot of standards to cover. If you ever want to sit down and I can show you the amount of standards that the state has put forward for some of our contents is tr like I can't remember which grade level it is but um it's in the middle school and if we taught every day we would have to teach a new so to cover them all. >> I get it. I trust you. >> And yet the more standards we have more as a nation we're lowering our achievement test when compared internationally with other countries. I mean that's we need to go back to the basics but >> I do have one more question >> that's might not have

072the answer to it yet but in regards to these apps let's say we're just talking about um reflex and they're not free they come with the tag >> yes >> um so I'm just wondering do we have data that shows us that we are getting what we're paying for and the second part to that is how often do we evaluate that so we evaluate the usage quarterly. Um Maggie uh Gavell, our math person, goes in and checks on the LL usage for math, goes in and looks at the reflex data. Imagine learning was a pilot this year because first grade wanted something. Um making sure in my mind it was first grade, but yes, because first grade wanted something for math facts. Um so that was new this year and we were just piloting it.

073I'm not sure if we will continue with that one. So it was kind of free for us right now. Um, but we do go in and look at that quarterly. We go in and look at the excl data. We go in and look at the Lexia data to make sure one that the usage isn't like through the roof because then that tells us kids are just sitting on their computers all the time. And two, are they making gains? Is the data going the way we would want it to go? Prime example is um you and I had this conversation years ago. We had used I Ready for many years, but our data really wasn't changing and we weren't seeing the bang for our buck. And so it became a cost analysis. Is this worth the

074time and the energy and the money or should we put something else in place? And so yes, we do that. >> So would you say that we eval how often do we evaluate it? >> We're constantly evaluating it. It's an ongoing process all the time. >> Okay. >> Thank you. I think want to make one more point of clarification just in terms of what you know what we did with this resolution and um that it's really covering the instruction and how our kids are learning um you know the teachers can still use this as tools I know they they use it for you know communications they may use it for how they going to write a test and all that so you know that's not going to necessarily change um and also for special education

075you know it definitely if there's a place for that that's not something that we're going to touch that that's completely separate from what we're doing in terms of general education. >> One of the other things that I didn't put in the slideshow um that I will point out though is whenever um teachers want to use a new website or online tool, it's most definitely probably blocked by our technology department. Um so then they have to put in a request to have that unblocked. And so then what we do is the instruction department or whoever um this program might pertain to um but most of the time it's the instruction department. we go and evaluate it. So one of the examples is um you the YouTube like YouTube was widely open to students so they could

076get on YouTube and watch YouTube videos. And so we've blocked that. Students cannot get to YouTube. The only way they can watch a YouTube video on their Chromebook is if their teacher takes it and embeds it into Google Classroom or Canvas and then the student can go on but then they can only see that video. and it also takes out all of the commercials that go with it. Um, so that's an example of where we have tightened things down. Um, and teachers get frustrated because sometimes they're expecting to be able to use something and then they can't. Um, and we also really evaluate those things for their instructional value. And to be honest, our instructional department is pretty pretty strict. If it's gified, if it's not to tightly aligned to SOS, it's usually a no.

077>> Um, I'm just going to this this is a topic that is actually very important to me. Um, and I'm going to just add on to both mics that they were saying and I agree a balance and I agree that the future is technology. But on the other hand, I feel that we have dropped the ball on this kind of just without maybe realizing it. Kind of keeping up with all the mandates and and sometimes that happens. But I am a big advocate for like you said, back to the basics. To me, I I get it. Education never plateaus and I get the technology is the future, but I am a big advocate for the basics. You know, you have to know how to read and write. I don't have the answer. I know it's

078difficult. I know there's only a certain amount of time in a school day, but if there's any way possible, I am a big advocate that the kids need to know how to read and did he know how to write and and like Mike says, cursive is very important. Um, whatever we can do. >> Yes. And and and our principles are working on that. You know, that's something they struggle with every day, working with their teachers. Um, we are currently evaluating where we're at in our elementary schools because we know that that's building the foundation for our students whole educational careers and so and beyond. And so we are working on that very diligently right now with our elementary schools and hopefully we're going to start to see those gains real soon. >> Well, I guess

079that's it. That's very thorough. And thank you very much. >> Thank you for your time and preparation. That closes out the U instructional agenda. We're now move to category number five, which is theformational agenda. Information and discussion of proposed health insurance plan. Dr. Shepard, you're up. >> Thank you. >> At the February 23rd meeting, I presented the health insurance information for the first time and There was some questions about the affordability of the proposal. So I came back with five five options. So here are the options. If um option A is continue with the current health insurance plan with no changes which would be the cost of the increase is 2 uh almost 2.4 4 million in health insurance and then the total ask from the board of supervisors would be about 1.3 million. So

080one of option B is move from keyare 250 to key 500 and that would be a savings on our health insurance premium of $250,000. The cost of the health insurance increase would be 2.1 million and the total ask of the board of supervisors would be one point one million a little over 1 million. Option C would be to change the prescription co-pay um from 10, 30, 45, and 55 to 15, 40, 60, and 75. And no other if there were no other changes to the health insurance, the savings would be about 65,000 and the cost of the health insurance premium would be 2.3 million. And the ask from the board of supervisors would be a little over 1.2 2 million. Option D would be to increase employee contribution by $25 per month in uh for

081each employee on all plans. The cost per employee would be $300 more a year. The savings on health insurance would be $225,000 and the cost of the health insurance increase would be two a little over 2.1 million. And then the total ask from the board of supervisors would be a little over a million dollars. And then I combined option um B, C, and D. And the cost of the health insurance increase there would be 1 a little over 1.8 million. And then the total ask from the board of supervisors would be 5 or 750 760,000 a little under 760,000. So the original proposal at the top is at the top and then if we went with options D or E where we would increase the premium for our employees those numbers are in the are

082on the bottom chart. So you could see employee only employee only for the um key 1000 preventive dental would be $33 but if we would increase the premium for $25 per month for the employees it would be $58. So there's just a snapshot of what that increase would look like for our employees. So then this is the original proposal and it shows where where we land with Frederick and Rockingham County. And then if we added option D and E, you will see where we land for the employee only. We're still a little lower than our um our colleagues to the north and south of us, Frederick and Rockingham. And you'll see our employee plus spouse is still um lower than our than Frederick and Rockingham. Employee plus child, we're in the mix. Employee plus children,

083we're a little higher. And employee plus family, uh we're we're in the middle there. So, um there's what it would that's what our health insurance would look like if we if we um if the school board approved option D or option E. And then here is the comparison year-over-year of where our health insurance has been from 2023 to what is proposed currently and this is the original proposal and I think the next slide is yes is option where we would be with option D and or E. So the reason I added this to information because it's also on action is to give the school board an opportunity to discuss it before we actually go to have a vote on the action agenda. So, here are the options again if you would like to have any

084conversation at this time about the um insurance plan options and where you would like to go this evening with with this. >> Mr. um Dr. Shepard, there was mention I think at our work session when we were talking about insurance that if we changed providers, it would cut that 2.3 2.4 4 million in half. Is that accurate? So, there was um I'm going to have to um defer to either Miss Hodgeges or Miss Campbell, but there was a insurance carrier who provided lower um lower premiums. A couple of things um that and I'm not going to name the insurance carrier, but they only served 90% of our um of our our physicians that our employees went to. So 10% of the doctors or uh physicians assistants or whatever that went with this um 10% would

085not be in network. So they would have to pay more. And we have heard loud and clear from our staff because we switched to Etna a few years ago and we have heard loud and clear from our staff that they would really prefer to stay with Anthem. Um, and you know, so that's that's the recommendation. >> Even if it were to cost the employees more out of their pocket. >> So, um, the the I don't know about costing them. I don't know where the the break point is like, you know. So, yes, a little more, but I don't know where the the breakage is there where they would say, "No, we want to switch providers if it was, you know, $100 more a month." I'm not sure. Well, >> the reason I'm asking that is

086if it's that much of a savings to change carriers >> and it keeps the deductibles, the um prescription care all that the same and we didn't have to. >> It It's not half. >> What is What is that number? I heard it would save us like a million. I don't remember what the savings were the initial when we got the initial proposals and I'm going to look to Miss Hajes the Anthem proposal was double what that one was but then our um consultant went back and negotiated and that has come down to the 15.2%. So it is no longer double because it's come down these insurance changes that Dr. Shepard has on the screen as options actually takes us within a competitive range of that other proposal. I'd like to see that number before I

087can make a decision because I mean to be honest, we can't keep absorbing the additional cost for our employees. But if we could save our employees that additional cost by changing providers and you're only talking 10% of doctors in network. >> Thank you. >> No. Um I agree Mr. Rickard. I mean, um, you know, the school board and the taxpayers can't, um, absorb, uh, this indefinitely. Um, you know, the the, uh, we we've got a lot of things to pay for and, um, you know, the rising cost of health insurance isn't going to go away. So, this is something that, um, will be perpetual. Um, so I mean down the road um if it's not this year, I mean it may come to the point where we will need to really consider moving away from

088Anthem even though our staff is comfortable there now. Number-wise, not percentage, but number-wise, how many employees do we have that take the healthcare? Again, >> 750. That's a round number. I think it's 754. >> Out of approximately how many? >> A thousand. A little over a thousand. So, about 75% of our staff. So, um, is there a way that if we were to in theory cover this, um, I mean that could could we leverage the the percentage increase to cover this? you know, um, if we go up with the 3%, could the increased premiums come out of those, you know, of the raise for for the people who take the health insurance? Um, because this brings me back to the, um, you know, the disparity that we have, um, because we have x amount of

089employees who do not take health insurance. And um so if we cover this for them and they get you know a 2 or 3% raise they are being compensated at a much different level than employees who do not take the health insurance and and I'm not saying that uh our employees should not take health insurance trust me but I mean um if you're getting health insurance outside of our benefits package you're saving the county money and um you know and you're being compensated at a different level. So if we could, you know, let's say if we are going to do a 3% cola raise, could the increased premiums come out of the employees cola race? >> So option D, I think, um, is what you're recommending, but is it, you know, is it $25 a

090month or is it something else? >> Uh, well, you know, I don't um because each employee is going to have a different >> number anyway. That's right. >> So, yeah. All right. >> So, um, Miss Campbell, I have a number. I don't know. Uh, I'm going to say it and then you can tell me if I'm right or wrong. >> I didn't have the increase in my computer. Linda went upstairs to get the paper copy. >> All right. So, if you look at option E, if you look at option E, the increase is of health insurance is 1.8 million. And with um this other um organization, the increase was 1.4 million. >> So it is it is less significantly less. >> Yeah. I mean, you're talking almost a million. >> Um >> 400,000. >> Well,

091if we're talking about option E, >> but yes, if you're looking at option A, yes. That's what I'm looking at because I I want to compare apples to apples. If we're talking about a new company that keeps the deductible at 250, keeps the pharmacy co-pays the same, and we don't have to increase the cost to the employees and it's going to save us a million dollars. A loss of 10% of the doctors is what's keeping us from making that decision. I mean, to me, we're supposed to be good stewards of the taxpayer dollars. Um, and trying to look out for our employees best interest. I kind of think it's a no-brainer. Just to confirm, does it keep the deductible at 250 and the pharmacy co-pays the same? >> It's Yes, that's what it says. But,

092you know, until we until we take a deep dive into the health insurance plans, we we won't know exactly what it looks like. So, when we switched to Etna um five years ago, we had some unexpected calls. So in I can't explain them but they didn't pay the same as Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield. So the same visit for the same thing with Etna costs our employees more than the same visit when they had Anthem. So and that's that's the feedback we got over and over again is it's it's costing us more for the same services that we received previously. Um, I guess one of my concerns, and I know what company we're talking about, and and I had a horrendous experience with them. I mean, it's one of those things that they say they're

093going to cover something, but then they end up not covering what they said they're going to cover. But, um, putting that aside, my one concern, and it it's more of a question, I guess, and I don't know if there's any way of knowing. My concern is uh where we are we have very limited resources and access to doctors of many many kinds. I mean even for many of the specialists we have to go to either Len County or we have to go to Harrisonburg. So my concern would be um do we know if we pick another insurance um if there would be practitioners here in this area? I mean, I I guess that I'm wondering if that's a concern that the employees would have is that there wouldn't be do the doctors here in the

094area would not be accepting that particular insurance. And and I just don't know if there's a way of knowing that. Um there's any way that we can find out if it's just a 10% or is it just, you know, 10% across the board or is it just 10% here in Shannidor County or, you know, how would we know who would take that other insurance? I mean, would we be able to know? >> My understanding of how this how the um RFP worked is that we sent all of the doctors that have been used >> um by our employees to the companies that proposed and then they came back and said we can serve you know 98% or or 95% or 90%. So that's that's my understanding of how it worked. >> Do we have that

095in writing from them? I don't know that I have it in writing >> that other this other company we're talking about that maybe could save that much the company the independent company or contractor we used to do all that was that company in in the ball game when he evaluates all that and presents it to presents it was that company in the mix >> they were they were one of the three organizations that provided a quote that met the RFP criteria. So that they provided dental vision um in healthcare. >> So they met the criteria to to be considered. Yes. I guess what I'm getting at is well what what I'm getting at is if this company was in the ball game and how it works the independent am I right the independent person >>

096I can't remember the name of the company but the in the meetings where he presents to us in other words he's advocating for us what's the best you know uh campaigning for us trying to get the best deals for us >> right >> was this company in that mix that he was trying to make get the best >> so the The only company that we negotiated with was Anthem, if that is what you're asking. >> That was the only company. >> But but they you got proposals from from two other companies that weren't there. So, well, it would it be possible to if we wanted to look at going with another company to negotiate them down too? >> Possibly. Possibly. >> Right. So, yeah. And you know, the percentages when Anthem came back was 22

097and 23%. And then this other company was 11. Um, so I mean, and we're now down to 15 or or 16 or something, right, with >> with with Anthem. So, I mean, if that number could could lower, um, I mean, it it makes uh financial sense to to take a hard look at it at the very least. But, I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm very cautious of with Anthony. We know what we have. We know we know what it is. We know what we have. We know what to expect. I am cautious about somebody advertising and then you find out it's really not what they were advertising. We all been down that road. >> Yeah. So, we know and unless this company um has better rates negotiated with, you know, with Valley Health or

098Centa or whatever, we know that our claims are actually we're um paying out in the 90%. And most insurance companies like to be in the 80%. So we're paying almost as much money out as um Shannidoa County is paying the premium to Anthem and they're paying almost the entire amount of that out to to Centaur Valley Health provide you know all the doctors that we use. So you know so that's it's going to be tough for a company to make money at an 11% rate. >> Mr. This question, this vote does not need to happen tonight. Correct. We >> Okay. >> The reason I'm asking is, is it possible to put it out to the employees that have insurance to find out? Put a survey out there. Would you want to stay where you're at

099if it's going to cost you more per pay period than to switch to another carrier? and we were able to absorb that cost. >> Yeah. So, what has to happen tonight is we have to vote on a budget so that we can forward it to the board of supervisors because they have a meeting with the school board on Monday at 1:00 and then they have a meeting on Tuesday to set their tax rate for advertising. So, they have to know how much money um the school board is asking for in order to um to do what they need to do on Tuesday. But we could give them this number. We don't have to have a final decision until we solidify the budget. Correct. We're going to solidify the budget um this evening with, you know,

100with the um there's another a crack at, you know, at the budget again after the board of supervisors sets their rate and they say, um, Shannidoa County Public Schools, this is what we're going to give you. And then we should have the state numbers at that point as well. >> But if we went if we voted on this tonight >> and we just voted on the number for the sake of the budget, the board of supervisors isn't going to care if we reduce that number later on as long as we don't go over it. >> So I don't want to speak for the board of supervisors. However, what I would say is we need to be as close as possible because they may advertise for a two cent tax increase and they only need to

101advertise for a one or so on and so forth. So that that would be the only information I would give. >> But but we could in theory um vote for example option E and if then some reason we get information that says oh it's going to be lower then we could always just swap that out. I mean theoretically. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> Any other questions? >> I was just getting ready to say that. >> Sorry. >> Any other questions? Comments? >> Wish we had more time. >> A lot of people say that. I guess just my only comment would be yeah it would have been great to know from the people who are going to be using this because just from my personal experience I would rather pay more say with Anthem than pay

102less with this other company but that's just my experience based on having had both of them. >> That's what I was getting at. I'm concerned of the the unknown somebody going to care. I mean, I'm not It may be legit, but at this time in the ball game, uh, I don't know if I want to take that risk. >> Well, what I know about that company, the experiences that I've had with that company are not great. >> I just like to take care of our employees, but at the same time, I want to look out for our taxpayers, too. We We ate the cost last year. We can't keep doing it year after year. At some point the people that use the insurance need to eat some of the costs themselves. >> But I think

103that's what option E does. So like I mean >> yeah, you know to me I mean I'm just throwing this out there but it's up to the board. But the option E there that Dr. Shepard provided looks like come back to that term used earlier balanced. Um, but we also have to keep in mind it's not just salary, but it's also benefits that keeps our employees. >> Yeah. But we have been told over and over again they're not leaving because of money or benefits. >> And but coincidentally, I switched the other way. Our family switched from Anthem to this other company and it's been one of the greatest things for us. So, I guess, you know, it's um it'll depend on the user. Um, you know, but uh it's it's saved us a lot of

104money with our co-pays and um and you know, my son and and uh my prescriptions uh with type 1 diabetes. I mean, a few hundred a month. >> I just wish we had input from the employees because I mean, private sector, you're sent a thing in the mail says, "Hey, we're switching insurance providers." and you deal with it. >> You know, it would be nice to get feedback from the employees. Um I think I only remember receiving one email from an employee about the health insurance. >> Yeah. >> Was unfortunate. >> How how I mean how quickly can we get feedback? >> We can get feedback before the work session on the 23rd. However, you know, this depends on how many people answer the survey. But you're also saying we have to vote on this

105tonight. >> Well, what I would suggest is we vote on this options. Um, and then in the meantime, maybe we'll do that poll and see if if it does come back that it's we save money, then we can always switch that way. But if not, then we, you know, keep whatever we vote on today. As I understand this discussion, um, if we vote on this, we're voting on the request to the board of supervisors that we're not making commitment to a provider. Is that correct? >> That's what I hear. >> So, we should perhaps go with the large request to cover ourselves just in case. No, the other way. >> You know, if the survey comes back and says, "Oh, yes, let's go with this other provider." Um, we don't have to take the extra

106money. Not that we couldn't use it, but >> well, what I would suggest is just doing, for example, option E because in that way, we are requiring the the employees to afford more, you know, to give more into their health insurance. So, we're not paying for all of it. And then u the idea would be if the only way we would change it is if the other company comes back substantially lower than what this number would be. >> Okay. So what you're saying, so we're understand if if we go with option E, if the other company does come back lower and it does look better and it's been looked into, then we can always >> vote on it, >> go with that company >> and then go back to the employees to pay less. >>

107In the meantime, we can still do the poll. I doesn't mean that >> we're tied to it. He's just trying to get the opinion >> and my understanding is you want their opinion on >> the two separate companies and if they would be more willing to pay more for >> Anthem. >> Is that right? >> Right. >> So a simple three or four question survey. >> That's it. >> Yeah. But to be fair, we don't know what the other company how how do they answer that question when they don't know what the other company what are you know >> we'll include it in the survey. Assuming assuming that >> numbers with the other company >> well we can just say assuming that this would be lower would you rather do that assuming meaning that we

108don't know for that for a fact I think I feel more comfortable superintendent looking into it and making sure the figures are lower or are better before >> but are we able to negotiate that >> before in >> that tight window of time between now and the 23rd and get the staff survey. >> I know we could do a staff survey. I don't know about the negotiation piece. So, but you could do what Gloria is saying and put in there, assuming this other company negotiates at the deal that they stated, would you be comfortable changing carriers? >> I think I have enough direction. >> Yes. Well, it sounds like we're done with that for a while. >> Uh 5.2 information on superintendent's proposed fiscal year 2027 budget and capital improvement plan. >> So for this

109um I just added this for information just so that you would know that whatever we um whatever we do with health insurance is going to budget. So that was really the intent of this. So I'm really I will not go through all of these slides in their entirety because you have seen most of them. But I we are going to talk about the the school board will vote on the budget here in a um in a few items and I want you to be clear on the things that um that have been proposed. So, we would like to have an additional special ed program compliance teacher and that position would go to North Fork Middle School and Central High School. No, it would go to Signal Mall Middle School and Strawburg High School. That is

110the only school that does not have a program compliance teacher and it helps our our special ed staff with um IEPs. And then two additional special ed teachers, one at Ashby Lee and one at WW Robinson Elementary School. Grant funds paid for the following asks. Three special ed teachers, one assistant principal that is currently at Ashby Lee Elementary School, an interventionist. I think that position is at WW Robinson, a grant funded our halftime aviation teacher. So, we would like to ask to have that in our budget. And then the recovery attendance and recovery programs. And then we are also asking for to add middle school volleyball and seventh grade boys and girls basketball. Our students at our middle schools are constantly asking for additional sports opportunities for um that they can participate in. I have

111proposed a 3.25 cost of living to all salary skills plus a step. We are ask I am asking to do a special ed teacher incentive at $5,000 stipen each. And then the health insurance um increase would go anywhere from 1.8 million to 2.3 million. And then there are the options that we just discussed. And then there's the health insurance information again. And then the last couple of requests are a um a person to manage our capital projects and then also additional funds for our maintenance budget mainly to include our um to be able to pay for the increasing cost of electricity and some additional money for the maintenance department to use for repairs. So at the very bottom you will notice that depending on the healthcare option that was selected our request to the board

112of supervisors is between $760,000 and 1.3 million. If we go if the school board votes for option E, it would be $760,000. If the school board would vote for option A for health insurance, it would be 1.3 million. And then the capital improvement items are the same as they were previously. Nothing has changed. So happy to answer any questions as I'm scrolling through the CIP list or if you if anyone has any comments. Now is the time before the vote here in a in a little while. The >> question I have pales in comparison to all those millions of dollars that you have up there, but the uh expansion of middle school sports um the athletic directors who are in charge of that. I mean, they're in sync with expanding. >> It wasn't one of

113those, oh no, not more. >> Mr. Hensley. Um it wouldn't add a whole lot of extra work because those seventh grade um students would travel with the eighth grade students in away game. So Mr. Hensley met with all three athletic directors and they're in support. Um >> well that's good to know. >> Thank you. >> Mr. Richard, >> tagging on to what LV was asking about. Um, do we know if the other schools in our division have seventh grade teams to compete against ours >> in our district? I don't know that we that other I don't know that all of the schools in our division have or all of the schools that participate in like our our class 2 B region have um middle school sports, but we do know that that uh Rockingham has

114and we can go outside of our our division because it's not VHSL sanctioned sport. So, and they're not competing for a championship or anything like that. >> So, we would have people to play that is within driving distance. >> The only reason I'm asking is if we went outside our district for seventh grade, they would not be able to go on the same bus on the same night as our JV and varsity teams. >> No. And so, they would travel with our eighth grade team who is not JV or varsity either. But I think you had the same point. >> I guess we'll make sure that wherever that eighth grade team's going, that school has a seventh grade team. >> Yes. Yes. >> To to take advantage of that. >> And if nothing else, our

115seventh grade team play our So if it's the signal n middle school team, they could play North and Peter Miller. So there would be some I guess you could call it interolgiate ball as well, inner school ball. Um, I had a question earlier just to be clear how this works. Okay. It's my understanding the state has it they haven't set what they're going to do as far as a a raise. >> That's correct. So, the Senate has approved um a 3% and the House um approved a 2% but the House has some some flexible spending in their budget for um school division. So, not sure what that's going to look like. I know that both of their money committees are meeting and they're trying to come up with some some final plan. So, we will

116not know until after um you approve the budget what our state funds will be. And that's an every year thing. There was one year we didn't know what our state funds were going to be until June. So, you know, that's that's something that we live with every year. >> Okay? Correct me if I'm wrong. I'm just using common sense here, but and I feel like I'm could be a dumb question, but if the state does if they agree on a 3% raise and then we agree on a 3% let's just say we agree on a 3% plus step, is that 3% covered by the state? >> So it their fair share of it. >> Yeah. So yes, I know it's complic. The question is >> so um so and the state provides about 60% of

117our our um our revenue and the county provides about 36% of our revenue and federal is in you know is is up the rest. So, >> so you're saying that if the state decides on a 3% raise, it's a combination of the state and the local that has to make up that 3%. >> That's correct. >> So, if we let's I'm just using I'm just using numbers example. So, if the state decides by decide on a 2.5% and we decide on a 3%. So, not only that combination, we have to make up the other 5%. So, you'll notice that um even though our health insurance is going up pretty significantly, we're getting a significant amount of state funds because our health insurance went up by let's say 2.4 million and million I'm scrolling back to

118to get there. Um so, our health insurance went up by 2.4 million, but the only the asset we are are asking for the highest asset we're asking from the board of supervisors is 1.3 million. So, you know, so we're only we're not asking for any of the other things, you know, um if you add all of those numbers together, it's well over um it's several millions. It's several million dollars. So, the state's covering most of those other things. So the state, you know, the capital improvement management and oversight 155,000, the inflation and the increased service costs 180,000. You know, add those numbers together and you're getting well over um the amount the state's providing that the funding for that. The $430,000 for the um so you know, right there's or eight that's 800,000 and then

119the cost of living is 2.8 million. So that's 3.6 if my math is correct. And then another 300,000 and 700,000. So there's another million dollar. So 4.6. So we're asking for about $4.6 million in new stuff in new new things. And we're only asking the board of supervisors for 1.3 million of that. You're a good saleserson. >> So, back to the three, I'm just using that 3%. >> You're saying the state doesn't really cover all that 3%. It's combination between them and us. >> That's correct. >> And that's the number that we never really know. >> That's right. And we won't know until until after the um the general assembly approves something and then the governor signs it. Do you know what the superintendent from Frederick County was requesting for their employees? >> I do

120not. >> Yes, I do. Yes, I do. Um, he said that it's going to be an average um that each employee will get at least a 2.8%. However, when we looked at their scales earlier in the year, you noticed that there were several that were compressed that were the same. Several several steps were the same. So, he's going to try to uncompress those scales. He said it's a two or three year process. Uncompress those scales. So, it it was between 2.8 and 5 something% increase for his for his teachers in particular. So, >> so 3.25 25 will keep us competitive with Warren, Frederick, Paige. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> A little higher than some, a little lower than the others. Yes. >> Middle's nice. >> Middle ground. >> And don't forget, Mike, then you add

121the step to that and we're well above inflation. What I've never understood though and I had a teacher when I think it was our first year on the board. We sat here and went over step no step back and forth and I pulled hundreds of teachers throughout the county. Thankfully an economics teacher at Strawsburg High School pulled me in and wanted to know I see your brain going. Don't mention names. Um, but they broke it down for me and for some reason when you say plus a step, your salary from this year moves down to that next step. So you're the way I looked at it, I don't see where you're getting a step because you're adding 3.25% to what you're making this year, but then that number moves down to the next step. So,

122you didn't gain anything to me anyway except that 3.25%. >> I think there was an article, was it not? The Mr. Shy and one of the local newspapers that sorted that out. >> Yes. >> So, you know, >> and it's still as clear as most people. >> Yeah. No, this the guy that explained it to me, he's been with us a long time. >> I see Kayn really wants to jump in here and talk >> once he put it up there. I mean, he put it on a board for me and we went through it. To me, I didn't see where you're getting a step, but when I went through all the teachers that I pulled in the county, my first I think it was my first year on the board. >> They said yes.

123>> They all wanted that step. >> Yes. >> And I was like, okay. >> Anything else on the budget? >> That is it on the budget. >> That's it on the budget >> unless there's other questions. Hearing none, we shall proceed to um 5.3. Uh you may be aware that there is a statewide referendum on April 21st, something regarding u congressional districts and it does impact the school division because as you know Strawsburg High School and Central are used as polling stations because of the availability of a of a sizable parking lot. And so I think the superintendent would like to discuss this in more detail. >> Yes. So to allow families adequate time for um childcare arrangements, we would like to ask for this item to be um both for information and for approval.

124The the recommendation is to actually make April the 21st a professional day for our staff um so that um voting can happen at Strawlesburg High School and Central High School um on on April the 21st for election day. Be happy to answer any questions since there's um there won't be a meeting in between the information and the action. 5.4 change request on May 14th of this year school board meeting. Dr. Shepard, >> thank you. Triplet Tech's graduation is scheduled for Thursday, May the 14th, which coincides with the May schoolboard meeting. Um, I would like to recommend that the May 14th meeting be rescheduled to Wednesday, May the 13th to allow schoolboard members and administrators to attend Treble Tech's graduation. So this item is also um being presented for information and action for this evening. So

125happy to answer any questions. >> I'd ask my fellow board members to please consider that otherwise I will not be here at that meeting. >> I think it'll be considered. >> 5.5 discussion on parent community advisory committee again Dr. Shepard. >> Thank you. A school board member has requested a discussion regarding the parent community advisory committ committee attaches a document outlining the mission and responsibilities of the committee that was previously previously shared with the schoolboard members in January and February of 2024. >> Any information or discussion needed? >> I was the school board member that requested that. Um, it was brought to my attention by two other advisory committee members that one of our spouses was on that committee. Um, where I knew there was no break in the policy having one of our spouses

126on that committee. I just thought it was unethical. Um, and maybe we should revisit this policy and put something in there. Um, speaking for myself, I would have never thought of putting my spouse on a committee after I have a voice on this board. I would rather hear more from um taxpayers in the county. So, when I was asked to nominate two people, it took me a while to come up with two people to put on that board. It's extremely hard. Um, so I think we need to look at that policy and maybe make some changes to it. Um, I don't know how the rest of the board feels. Like I said, I think it's just an ethical thing. Um, I would have never thought to put my spouse on there. >> Anyone else? >>

127No. Is this for action today or are we just um information today? I don't think there's anything on the action agenda. No. >> Um, >> anything else? >> Well, I mean, um, we're mentioning a policy. I mean, this is the it's the superintendent's advisory committee, which is an administrative committee run by the superintendent. Um, it's this is not um under under board control. Um, you know, and it's not it's actually not a policy that the board voted on. Um, so I think we're getting way ahead of of that. I mean, um, and I don't know if it's the board's duty to control what our superintendent has in, you know, in her committee. When I was first on that committee, um, I I don't I don't even know. I believe the super may have appointed me

128directly. It seems like it's evolved um after that point to where the uh the board members are nominating people. So, um, you know, so I, um, I I don't know if we really need to micromanage this. And on the other end of that as well, um, when somebody's elected to office, um, you know, their spouse doesn't lose their rights to be civically engaged as a as a citizen. So I mean um I don't you know I I think that we are um you know um ethical or not. I mean you know that's that's subjective but um I I I don't know if we need to create more policies and and micromanage uh Dr. Shepard's committee. just I just wanted to say because and I'm not sure I I this committee was already in place before

129I got um elected so I wasn't sure if it was ever um approved by the board. I do understand um it was my understanding all along that we provide the members and the reason why some of you may have been appointed directly by Dr. Shepard is because members in the past did not do their due diligence in finding people. Um is is that correct or I I believe that that's what >> so originally um so this committee started five years ago um when I became the superintendent and originally um I elected or selected the people for the um um parent community advisory committee and then I asked the schoolboard members to actually you know send to representatives so that you so that I could get a a good group of people that could give me

130advice from across the school across the county. So that was the intent is to hear from our our community. >> So on that note then I mean so there never has been official governance of this by the school board. >> Yeah. >> Right. Okay. So >> I I get what you're saying, Mike. I just think it would look awfully ridiculous if we had a committee where all six of our spouses or family members were on the committee. To me, it it doesn't give you a good cross-section of the county to give the superintendent feedback on her ideas or or plan she's looking at implementing. >> I guess what I would say is, yeah, it does kind of defeat the purpose. if we're trying to have more community members involved. Um, and honestly, yeah, it, as

131far as I'm concerned, it is the superintendent's committee, so she can actually decide to do whatever she wants. If if we are not going to be um voting on this, um, I did, you know, I take I took it seriously and I did look out for people in the community. Um, that would be good representing the community and be able to get information. Um, I think with a lot of I don't know if it's ethical or unethical. I'm not going to pass judgment on that. Um, but for sure it's not a good look. Um, especially when we are we've been talking a lot about a lot of the retaliation, a lot of the the stuff that goes on in the community that we're not involving enough people. Um, so as far as I'm concerned, that

132is not a good look when it comes to that. But in the end, um, I guess you're right. I mean, it is the superintendent's committee. Um, and I guess if we're not going to be the ones um, asked to appoint people or if we're not going to be, you know, taking an active role in it, then I guess it can remain like that. And, you know, it would it probably been helpful to better define it and make sure that the community understands what it is and what it does. Um, and and maybe, you know, if that's all we need to do, then then maybe that's all we need to do. >> Yeah. I mean I I just want to avoid overreach where it's not necessary. >> I mean assuming that's what >> yeah I think

133yeah I promise some people take it more seriously than others and I think some people when they get appointed to this they think that they are actually you know representing their community. Um so I guess what we need to know is you know make sure that the people understand that what it is that it's just a committee of the superintendent not the school board. Um, and that, you know, she gets to do whatever she wants with it then. >> Well, within reason. >> Well, I mean, >> well, if it's hers, it's hers, right? >> I mean, Gloria, >> that's what we're saying. >> Gloria brings up a good point. I mean, when I found two people to nominate to put on there, it was two people that were known in my district. Um, one of

134the people I've never actually met in person. They were referred to me. Um, but I count on them to represent the people in the town of Strawsburg. If I put my spouse on there, is she representing me or is she representing the people in the town of Strawsburg? And that's when I talk about ethical. When these two people came to me, that was their concern. They're like, "Hey, are you all putting your spouses on the board just to cover whatever you want to say?" And I'm like, I I this is news to me. I didn't even know this. Let me research it. And so, you know, when two people come to you that are on the committee and bring it to your attention, it's your job to check it out. And that's what I was

135doing. To me, I was like, man, I was I was kind of floored when I was told about it. I'm like, I would have never even thought. But >> well, you know, >> if the board doesn't have a problem with it, >> we'll just go on with it. >> There there's one big caveat to that, too. Um you know, if if um it was my spouse on there, um you'd probably get some different opinions coming from us. So, um you know, so maybe maybe the broad spectrum of opinions uh might not be a bad thing. >> Well, there's coming from the same house. But I you know, I I understand your your um your points about you know, the optics of it. Um but you know if if we feel that we want to make

136this something that the board governs and there's a process to do that. >> All right let's close that one out and move. >> Oh stop this train. >> Is this is this seen as a conflict of interest? >> That's the way it was presented to me. point >> the advisory committee is advisory. They're not making policy. They're not handling money. They're not making uh you know passing motions or whatever. It's advisory. Um if I had a spouse who was an authority on health insurance, I wouldn't think twice about having that authority giving advice to the superintendent. and whoever else was at that meeting. I would not think twice about that because they bring the knowledge, the lingo, >> whatever. >> That would be on that one topic. Yes. But look at the impact on on

137our discussion today on health insurance. Holy cow, it took almost 30 minutes. >> Yeah. No, I get what you're saying. And if any of your spouses are in health insurance, I'd love to talk to them. Um, but I mean, we're talking about representing the rest of the members of your district. Um, that when it was brought to me, Tom, it was conflict of interest. I I couldn't find any. >> I guess I'm going to say I'm short and sweet that first of all, it's a superintendent committee. They're extremely important. All views are important. Like the chairman pointed out, they only make certain decisions. However, they don't make the, you know, I don't know what you want to call it, but you know what I'm saying? They are important. Their view is important. So, we have

138to have them. But it's a superintendent committee. And if they see it as a conflict of interest, I don't know how to say this, but I will say with all due respect, if I had a spouse more than just being on an advisory committee as a parent, if I had a spouse that was an employee of the school system and my decision making tonight in fact is impacts a a pay raise, which ultimately goes back to my household income, I don't think I'd bring it up. To me, that would be more of a conflict of interest. If you're going if you're going to do it, that's the route that's going to be taken. That's all I had to say. I advise that we move on. Southwest Food Excellence Food Service Contract Renewal Director of Finance,

139Miss Campbell. Sorry. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Vance. Good evening, board. In addition to my finance duties, I have the distinct privilege this year of overseeing our food service program. So, what I have before you tonight is a request to consider the renewal of our contract with our food service management company, SF. They have been our partner since we put out the RFP in 2022. They help us administer our federal food service program. And tonight I have Lauren Mayor who is our representative here in the district to just give you some highlights on what we've done this year. This next renewal will be the last renewal on the original RFP. So we will have this for discussion at the work session on the 23rd with the intent to approve at the April meeting. So

140Lauren, >> thank you. >> Good evening members of the board. I have a cold, so please excuse me. Um, Dr. Shepard and everyone joining us this evening. Um, for those of you who I have not met, my name is Lauren Mayor. I've been with um the district since we took over um a few years ago. So, I've had the privilege to be um here to see it through many stages of life. So, thank you for having me this evening. Um over the past year, um my main focus has really been on um pretty simple um just engaging with the students um gaining feedback and um listening to what the students in our district are asking for. So, um, the first few years it was, um, a little different, you know, just kind of getting my

141feet wet and, um, it's this year I've been able to really get out and talk to the students and find out what students are asking for in our district. So, um, tonight instead of overwhelming you with a bunch of charts and numbers, um, I'm looking forward to just sharing some highlights, memorable moments, and true, um, successes in our district with our employees and students. So, without further ado, let's go ahead and take some take a look at some fun things that have been happening this past year. And again, I apologize, my voice is not normally like this. Okay. So, um this is kind of SF's mantra and it is food first, customized programs for each district. Um innovation is in our DNA and compassionate leadership in Virginia. Um SF has the privilege to partner with

142Shannondoa County Public Schools, Spot, and Reno City Public Schools currently. U so our SF promise is we want every student to be excited about eating um to ensure excuse me to ensure they are nourished um to learn. So at the core of what we do is um to fuel students to reach their full potential in their learning environments. Um so some culinary and nutrition education that we currently run in our schools right now are our roving chef programs. Um we participate this at all of our ele elementary schools across the district and whether it's working alongside me or chef. It's just kind of learning about kitchen hygiene, nutrition, and culinary skills. So it's it's been fun. And I have some pictures at the end that hopefully you'll be excited to see because it's it's a

143lot of fun to work with these students. Um, another exciting thing that I'm proud to um let you all know is that we've introduced a supper service across the district. We piloted this at Stonewall Jackson in the spring of last year and happy to say that we have now um gone live across all of our high schools. So, we are able to send dinners um with our students. So, >> it's always a good thing. >> Um we also um have a CACF snack program that's after school that we offer to students who are staying after for um tutoring or um if it's a musical program uh that they have to stay over for school, we're supplying snacks for that and kids wreck. Um, and just sorry to backtrack a little bit. So we're our dinners

144are at our high schools and we're serving approximately 2,800 dinners monthly to our high school students. So good. And then the same with the snack service. It's averaging about 200 2,800 snacks each month each month. Um something that's exciting um is the whole milk initiative. So um my team at SF has partnered with Shannondoa County Public Schools to introduce whole milk into our cafeterias. We just went live with this this week. So it was huge. Um and so it's just again it's providing students with additional choices of milk options. We have harvest of the month. Um it's it's where we introduce a fruit a fresh fruit or vegetable encouraging them to just kind of explore new foods, menu feedback. Um I'm kind of boots on the ground. So isn't my partner Jamie? Um we're always

145out in the schools. Um visiting, engaging with students, gathering feedback, and just kind of again finding out what they want because we're listening. um taste testing events. Anytime we This happens more in um middle school and high schools when we introduce a new menu item, we are out there kind of sampling it like if you would at a Costco or Sam's. So, the students love it. Um so, and this just kind of piggybacks on my last slide. Um harvest of the month is done monthly uh classroom education every other month. Then you'll see off to your right that's kind of just a snapshot of what that classroom education could look like. Um taste testing try to do it weekly. Um and certainly if we're introducing um a new menu item moving chef three to four

146events per year. I do want to say we took we were invited to do all of second grade at WW Robinson this year and it was about 125 students. So, it was a lot of fun. Um, and I think they enjoyed it. So, that's always good to get in the school. So, we just had our federal uh program audit last week and um I just wanted to kind of note what the auditor had um the feedback that we got from her. So um the team we received many multiple accolades during the review. Um welcoming professional staff across all kitchens, exceptional teamwork, very clean kitchen environments, excuse me, leadership was described as organized, responsive and open to feedback. Um outstanding results. Um so performance standard met it and it's a little hard to explain but we

147had no findings um so super impressed with that um as far as the meal pattern nutritional quality um and also with the meal counting and claiming and she also uh gave us feedback that we have strong compliance with USDA regulations. super proud of all my staff. They for the staff here in the district. They did a tremendous job. Can't forget to click. Um so what does this mean for Shannondoa County? Um it means that we have a strong compliant nutrition program for our students. We're ded uh the teams are absolutely dedicated to working hard every day. Um the leadership is effective across the district and um there's continued commitment to providing health and quality meals for all of our students. So this is the fun part. Um so we participated in um it's called Cruncher

148Around the Commonwealth and I believe October 8 or 9 I'm sorry. Um, we partnered with a few local orchards and they brought us in some apples and this this was kind of a statewide push from the USDA and the students at I think it was 11:00 they all crunched down on an apple so it was fun something cute that we participated in and then we also partnered with local orchards around the area. Um, these are just these are food for thought. These are this is what the students in the district are eating. Um so I encourage you to come out and visit and come have lunch with us. I know Mr. Rance you came and attended one of our roving chefs which was pretty >> Yes. >> Sandy Hook. Yes, sir. That was fun. >>

149Um so thank you for joining us. >> It was fun. >> Yeah. So, I would love to see you all out there. I can get you a schedule or get you a menu. So, um this is just these are our lunch heroes. Um day in and day out, they work very very hard. Um they're committed. They show up. Um it's not easy work. It's not easy work in the kitchen. So, yeah, we celebrate them daily. And then here's our here's some of pictures of our roving chef. It just kind of gives you an idea of what we do. Um get a recipe, they follow the recipe, we give them the ingredients, they actually make um the um the item that we have and then they go home and can share the recipe with their families.

150That's fun. And then um yeah, so every single day in Shannido County Public Schools, we're serving about roughly 1,800 breakfasts and 3,600 lunches, which means averaging about 5,000 meals a day for our students. Um so we're excited about the direction that the program is heading and um bringing fresh ideas, positive energy and um experience through our nutrition program. Thank you for your time this evening, your continued support and allowing us to hear and make a difference in in the district. I move into questions or comments. I have a question. You just the numbers there and you just have to >> I just want to be clear and and I'm pretty sure it's not just me, but I'm just curious. >> Sure. >> You know, cuz back when I was in school, all it was was

151lunch and that was it. But now we have breakfast, you know, then lunch and and then you said we're sending we're having dinners now. >> Correct. >> And I understand, don't get me wrong, I understand there's kids that don't get dinners and I think it's sad. Real sad. And I don't know how to fix that. >> Yeah. >> Um, you know, I wish I could wave a magic wand. Okay. With all that those meals, I'm just curious who who other than lunch, who pays for that? >> We all of it's federally paid. >> It's all federal paid. Okay. >> Yes. >> And our our dinners are for students who are in some type of activity after school. So whether it be band or sports or play, musical, things like that. >> And that's great. That's

152great. I just hope they don't pull the pin. Um, >> right. So, I'll hope they don't do that because they are the CACF and our separate programs are all reimbursements. >> Okay. I mean, it all looks good. Um, so if I've already missed the train tonight, so if I don't have to go to work tomorrow, what school do you recommend to go to eat lunch at? Which one? >> Oh, well, it's pizza day at the elementary school. So, if you're in the mood for pizza, go get grab a pizza. In our um middle schools, we have about four to five different options a day and our high schools like six to eight. So, depends on what you want. >> I thought you were supposed to say any of them. >> Well, that's what I basically

153I just said. Come to any of them. Come to a few of them. But no, we would love that. It'd be great. >> All right. Thank you. >> No, thank you so much. >> Did you just say six to eight different options at the high school? >> Yeah. Well, and and so just to put that in a little in some context, we have two cold options in our on our alle cart side. So our students are always provided with a fresh salad and a fresh sandwich, whether it's turkey or Italian wrap or something on in that level. It's kind of a cold alle cart side. >> So that's included in that. >> Thank you. >> Appreciate that. >> Yeah, absolutely. I just want to say thank you for doing that whole uh the program with

154the supper program. I think it's such a great idea. The high school and the athletes and all that. So, >> yeah, we're happy to do that. >> Yeah, that was a great idea. Good job. >> Thank you so much. >> All right. Well, thank you very much. >> Thank you. Have a good evening. >> Thank you for having me. Thank you, Dr. Shepard. >> Miss Campbell, audit results of fiscal year 2025. >> Yes. Thank you, Mr. Vance. Now, turning to money. We ended last fiscal year June 30th, 2025. We received our audit results. Um, I was expecting Robinson Farmer Cox tonight. Unfortunately, they could not join us. So, you get me with their presentation and I will try my best to answer any questions you have as we go through this. Um, at your place

155tonight, you should have also received, as this falls, tighten that back up. Um, you should have also received a copy of the agreed upon procedures that with the carry forward calculation estimates from last year. This will be for your consideration at the next work session. Um, and we will go from there on what it looks like to get those monies reappropriated or asked back from the board of supervisors. That just came out yesterday, which is why it was not included on the board item originally intended. So without further ado, our auditors were very happy with our audit results. They finished earlier this year. I believe it was January. Um but they just wanted me to point out that the audit objectives are to provide a third party opinion. They did not check every single item,

156but their job is to make sure that our financial statements are fairly presented in material respects and in conformity with general accepted accounting principles. We are presented as a distinct unit of the larger um Shannondoa County as a whole and what they found in their opinion is that it is like previous years an unmodified opinion similar to all other years they have looked at our things. That means that they found no exceptions and they believe that all of our financials are presented fairly. Couple items to note. There are lots of tables in here. I will not go into them in detail. happy to take any questions about them. But at this table, what I want you to notice at almost the very bottom corner is that there are small uses of fund balance. That means

157that we are not dipping into savings. We are using the funds we're allocated. We're bringing in revenues and using them accordingly. Federal government revenues. This just shows budget actuals. what was received year-over-year. It was about a $4 million decrease and that was due to the um disappearance of the CARES COVID esser funds, whatever you would like to call them. So, it was not really a loss of regular revenue. It was a return to a revenue level that we had experienced pre-COVID. Commonwealth revenues, those that come from the state, on the other hand, were up about $2 million year-over-year. expenditures. Please note that they came in under budget. We budgeted to have $100 million spent. We spent $88 million. And the last five years revenues, you can see that steady growth year-over-year for the last five

158years and a similar trend in our expenditures. Compliance testing, they check for state compliance. There was no non-compliance noted for state overall in our financials. They conducted two single audits of our federal programs. One was the tri child nutrition cluster which you just heard a report on. They had no non-compliance reported. And then title one also went through a single audit with no non-compliance or other matters to report. Happy to take any questions and answer them to the best of my ability. So I take this that during the audit they didn't find anything wrong. Right. >> Precisely. >> So you get a lot of credit. Right. >> If you would like to give it to me. I really attest everything to my team and to the professionals that are here in the district, our bookkeepers

159at the schools, our teachers, our principles. Everyone is has a part in this. >> Okay. Well, and I understand that you're right. But I just want to give the way I take it. that it was audited and they didn't find anything wrong. So, I just want to compliment you and your department. Obviously, you are doing a great job. >> Thank you. >> You had you had made a comment a couple slides back about not moving money around. >> Are you referring to the fund balance slide? >> I believe so. >> Okay. So, what I was pointing out here, I don't know if this has a laser pointer on it. Um, at the very bottom corner you'll see a negative 300,000 and a negative 19,000 right next to it. What that means is that we dipped

160into fund balance in our school cafeteria fund and the school activity funds, but it was small in comparison to the total amount spent. What it means is that we're not dipping into savings except when absolutely necessary and we're spending down in with regard to food service anyway, we're actually spending down excess fund balance that the state had told us we had to spend. >> So I guess that so there is nothing in place to keep you from going into Central High School's budget and moving money from there to Strawsburg High School's budget. Is it set up like that? >> We have internal controls that keep us from doing that and we give our principles autonomy on their own accounts. Um the schoolbased funds themselves actually can't be moved from schools. Those are um accounts dedicated

161and located at the school that the principles themselves have the fiscal autonomy over. Um they would actually have to physically cut me a check for me to actually touch their funds. The schoolboard money, those appropriated funds, that's the largest portion of our budget. That's what we've been discussing in the budget process. Those can be moved from school to school, but they are not per our own procedures internal. >> Thank you. Um, I have another question. You said back a couple slides back, you said, did you say we had a a surplus or carryover or something or >> There is a sheet there's a sheet in front of you that I do not have a slide for. We have a surplus. Um, I'm not going to get into it tonight. We are going to discuss it

162in great detail at the work session. >> Okay. But we had a surplus. >> We did we had a surplus of approximately um 8.3 million almost and um 1.6 million of that was grants. 1.2 of that was our capital improvement program with unfinished projects and five and a half of that was unspent operating dollars. >> Okay. I would like to add on to that just a little bit. So, um, Miss Campbell said that we were going to talk about that at our March 23rd work session. And what I would like the school board to think about is for that work session is where we would like to see that money if the board of supervisors would reappropriate it to the school division. My recommendation may be that we um use that 5 the 5.5 million

163which was operational actually use that for our architectural and engineering design for whatever facilities we talk about in the major capital. So that would be my recommendation, but you guys may have other things that you would like to see it and and we definitely want to have a great conversation about that. So whenever we go to vote on it in um I think it's April the 9th that we'll have a good solid plan on what we're going to ask the board of supervisors to do with that money. >> Coach, good. Is it fair to say that under you know the administration of Dr. Shepard superintendent that you know we uh kind of saved 5.4 million I guess or >> I that is one way to look at it. >> Okay. I just want to make

164sure that's one way to look at it. It's the way I look at it just in case there's a board supervisor watching or happen to be in the room. That's all you know being good stewards I guess. >> That's all. >> Okay. I have a clear question under expenditures the um those No, sorry. You were on the right page. >> Sorry. >> That's all right. >> Yes, ma'am. >> So, is there a main contributing factor to I guess those are excess funds? They're on the third line down under expenditures, >> the excess deficiency revenues. >> Right. Yes. So what that is um this gets into the weeds a little bit is there are accounting principles that require us to record leases and depreciation of assets and that's what that is representing >> for each category

165>> for those three categories. Yes. Now with cafeteria and your um student activity funds those really are the draws on fund balance. That's where we may have dipped into our savings in operations. We actually don't have savings. the code of Virginia does not allow us to do that. So that is where the um auditor credits back liabilities and puts the lease against it. >> Thank you. >> So if we have a $8.3 million carryover, does that mean we overbudgeted last year? what it means and we can get into this more in the work session because I haven't done the full detailed analysis yet of exactly where it came from. But on a cursory analysis, what it means is that we received grant funds that we did not expend fully. That's really what that special budget

166is for. Um your capital improvement program, as I said, we did not complete all the projects. Mr. Hensley gave um an update recently at the infrastructure committee about how we are working down those projects steadily. And then the operational dollars um are largely couple things. First and foremost, we had more students than we had originally budgeted for which brought in additional revenues. And then because we have had still had large amounts of vacancies and you as you've heard over and over and over again, budgeted salaries did not actually go out the door. The grant funds, those have to be spent for the grants, correct? >> Yes. Um, the majority of these grant funds, I believe, are local grants that would have been forward funded, trust funded. Your Starn's um, trust. I'm trying to think of

167other things that this is largely made up of. Medicaid dollars that came from direct Medicaid reimbursements. >> So, would we say out of that 8.3 million, we're still paying out grant funds? >> Yes. Okay. >> And that's that it's about 1.5 1.6 million >> that are already allocated somewhere. >> Thank you. >> Anything else? >> Thank you, M. >> Library book materials purchase list. >> Thank you. So in front of you is the library materials um agenda item. the in February, the librarians developed a draft list of new books proposed for purchase and provided the list to the principles and the assistant superintendent for instruction for review. Um on Friday, February the 20th, the draft list were placed on the division website for review. This is the firstformational item. It will be up for on

168the consent agenda for approval at the April 9th schoolboard meeting. >> Thank you. personnel. >> This is under the action item which means we need to have a motion. Second and then if there's discussion it follows after a motion has been made. >> Move to approve the personnel list as presented. >> Motion has been made to approve by Mr. Rickard and it was seconded by second >> Mr. Shabi. Any discussion? Hearing none. All in favor of the personnel as this presented, please vote yes by saying I. >> I. >> And no by saying no. And the eyes prevail. Approval of health insurance. I I move to approve option E of the proposed health insurance that were presented for the plans of fiscal year 20 I guess 20,27. >> Did he say he is in Edward?

169>> He is in Edward. >> Yes. >> Echo >> emergency >> for military. >> Who knows? It might be my middle name. Uh the motion is to approve option E of the proposed health insurance plans for fiscal year 2027. It was made by Mr. Street. >> Second. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> That was Mr. Shotty. Floor is open for discussion hearing. None. Do you recommend a roll call vote on this? >> Yes. The recommendation is a roll call vote and the clerk will call the role. >> Mr. Shy, >> I. >> Mr. Street, >> yes. >> Miss Carennia, >> yes. >> Miss Pence, >> yes. >> Mr. Ripper, >> yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. The vote is six to nothing. That's that's the score I have and it has been approved. >>

170Um, point of information. Um, since we were saying that we're going to keep this option open in case there's another option that is lower, do we need to do any motions? >> No. So, good. >> I mean, it's you set it aside, but you can reset it aside when you see what you got to work with. Sounds good to me. And the main event, the approval of major capital projects. Or did I skip something? >> No, I didn't. >> Yes, ma'am. >> I do have a motion. >> Well, I heard you say something. I didn't hear. >> Well, wait. What you say? Go ahead. My intent with this motion is simply to just give the board of supervisors a clear picture of where this board believes our most pressing facility needs are. So, I'm just

171going to pass them down the motion down to everyone before I read it. So, you have it in front of you. No, wait. Yeah. >> Are there other press members here? I move that the Sheno County School Board formally requests the Shannido County Board of Supervisors to consider the following projects as the school board's recommended major capital facility priorities presented in the order listed below with projects one, two, and three identified as a division's most immediate facility needs and intended to move forward simultaneous ously as the initial phase. Number one, and these are in no particular order, but we're focusing on projects one, two, and three. Number one, renovation of the existing three elementary schools. Ashby Lee Elementary School, Sandy Hook Elementary School, WW Robbins Elementary School. Number two, renovation and expansion of triplet tech,

172which will remain the center and flagship of career and technical education for Shannido County public schools. Number three, consideration of a potential fourth elementary school option in the Martown Tomsbrook area. Number four, begin planning for a future career and technical educational education facility in Woodstock. Furthermore, the school board requests the board of supervisors consider these priorities during the development of the fiscal year 2627 county budget and evaluate allocation of funding to begin planning so these projects may move forward within the first quarter of the fiscal year. >> Is there a second to the motion? >> I'll second. >> Thank you. Floor is open for discussion. Can we get a explanation? >> Sure. >> Yeah. >> So, what what do you need in your next explanation? >> Well, because this is basically asking for everything. So,

173I'm just wondering what exactly are we voting on? >> Well, it's actually so projects one, two, and three um identified as our most immediate facility needs, which is the renovation of the existing three elementary schools. um the renovation and expansion of triplette and consideration of a potential fourth elementary school option in Mortown and Tomsburg area. >> Okay. Because the I guess my question is because the motion that you have here actually has number two the renovation and expansion of triplette which I'm assuming is >> where it is right now. I mean is that what you're saying? >> Yes. >> But then it also says begin the planning of a career CTE in Woodstock. So at the top of the motion when I first said that um with projects one, two, and three identified as a

174division's most immediate facility needs and intended to move forward simultaneously. So working on one, two, and three all at the same time. >> So what do we have for then? >> Because there has been discussion um around all of these. So I just wanted to make sure that you know our motion reflects the range of ideas that that we have discussed. >> Well that's I guess my point is that that's not giving the board of supervisors any more direction other than what we're doing right now telling them this is all the things that we want to consider because as far as I understood it number two and number four um here are against each other. I mean it was all along what we've been trying to discuss is either we renovate and expand triplettech where

175it is right now or we begin the planning and a career um in in Woodstock. So as far as I'm concerned I think these are just you know not compatible with one another. Well, I mean, ultimately those decisions are going to require like further study and discussion with the board of supervisors, >> but this is what we're supposed to be doing now. That I mean, this is what we've been talking about for the last year and a half, two years. So, I thought the whole point was that tonight we're supposed to pick which ones of these we want to do. >> I think >> and not just say all of them. >> I think the motion does what you ask it to do. It identifies the top three priorities as I understand it for simultaneous

176uh work funding go forward and number four is begin the planning for the uh >> okay so just to be clear after all we've been talking about for the last year and a half in terms of making it more specific as to what we want what we're telling the supervisors is we want everything fund If you don't ask for it, you're not going to get it. So, >> okay. I just want to make clear that's what we're doing. >> I like this, but I'd like to see some things moved around in that list if we're going to prioritize one, two, and three. Um, I think the renovation of the existing three elementary schools and new elementary school need to be top of the list. Um, one deals with the condition of our elementary schools right

177now. The other deals with the capacity. Those I mean, we've got a triplet tech right now. I'd love to see one at the central campus just because there's people here tonight that know that there's kids in Strawsburg that are not allowed to apply to go to triplet because of the distance. Um I I think top of the list are the elementary schools and the new elementary school. Um my other priority would be number four moved to number three. Um we have a triplet tech that works. Does it need renovating? Absolutely. Um if we expand it, sure it it takes care of now, but it doesn't take care of 20, 30 years down the road. uh the architects we've paid to do all these studies have told us you need 20 plus acres to have a

178a good CTE school. We don't have that there. Um plus like I said, you know, I felt bad that lady that was just doing the presentation on the lunches. I have no input on that whatsoever because my son misses lunch every day because he's at triplet and he's got to get back to Strawburg High School. by the time he gets back, he has 10 minutes for lunch. Um, so needless to say, he doesn't do lunch at the school. Um, so when she said six to eight different options, I had no clue. Um, I I like this. I think this is a great proposal starting out, but I really think that number three needs to be moved up to number two, and number four needs to be moved up to number three. I didn't interpret the

179motion to mean that one, two, and three were prioritized, that they were all priorities. >> She put in the top in the last sentence with projects one, two, and three identified as the division's most immediate facility needs and intended to move forward simultaneously. Well, that's inclusive, >> but that's saying we can leave number four off and proceed with one, two, and three simultaneously. I think that four should take precedent over number two. Well, number two, I mean, Triplette Tech is a sick building, too. It's it's in the same shape as our elementary schools. So, I mean, to say it's good and it's good enough. I mean, we don't have the electrical capacity, you know, it it has some dire needs as well. So, um you know, I kind of look at it that um and

180I I'll go back to our work session what I brought up the timing. I mean, we have immediate needs and if we're prioritizing the future over dealing with the I mean, the the drastic issues some of our buildings have, um, we're not dealing with the immediate problem. So, um, you know, renovating some at the existing triplet, maybe getting some more shop space, we'll do something in the meantime because it's going to take years for us to build something new. many years and if we decided if we voted tonight let's start building a new CT center in Woodstock there isn't a kid in triplet that would set foot in it before it was done >> that's correct >> yeah so we have to jumble and we also the biggest caveat here is how's this going to

181get financed so as we move forward asking for it all which is this kind of makes sense so we can work with the board of supervisors and start to come up the framework that we're going to have to I mean this isn't going to be a oneanddone vote. Um so but you know I think this is a good starting point and um we've moved further this year than we have in the past. So um you know I think prioritizing this year on this list is um kind of preemptive because we don't know what they're going to tell us they can fund. So we can shuffle it all around now. Um but um you know and I I I believe our most dire need is to put money into you know and into the existing buildings.

182Um because you know let's say the idea that let's build a new elementary school and then renovate the old. Um so 20% we'll say or 25% if if um we now had four elementary schools was going to be split evenly between the four. So 25% of the students and staff get to go to a brand new building and the rest have to wait until we fix the old ones. I mean that's not fair. >> So you know and it's kind of prioritizing. So, if we can do it simultaneously, great. But, um, we we really can't make any educated moves forward until we know what could be funded. >> Well, I guess my my point is, and I I guess I might have a question with this. This is exactly what we've been doing for the

183last year and a half. We've been talking about all of these options, and my understanding was that the board of supervisors wanted us to prioritize which ones we think we want to have first. And this is what we've been waiting, you know, voting on since last year. Um, all along we've said, I think we've been very clear. I even wrote a put it down in writing in the paper saying that all along we've said that the state of our current elementary schools is a priority that we're going to be dealing that we have been dealing with and that we will continue dealing with. So, let's stop saying that that's not a priority because we have been doing that and we will continue to do that. Then the question becomes um you know are we going

184to expand the elementary schools and add more kids than we already have into those elementary schools or are we going to build a new elementary school? Um that was one of the things that we've been talking about. This kind of takes care of that. But then the other question is with regards to triplet. Um well, if my understanding here is that we're saying we're going to spend the money to renovate and expand triplet the way it is right now, which is going to be I can't remember how much the money was. Maybe you remember off the top of your head, Dr. Shepard, but and then in addition to that, we're also going to spend the money on the new triplet in Woodstock. My my understanding was that we needed to make the hard decision of

185which of those two was going to be. Either we renovate and expand triplet where it is right now or we start looking I mean yeah we we're going to continue fixing things. It's not like we're going to completely forget it and and and not do anything to what we have right now. But instead of keep fixing an old building that cannot really be expanded to the possible needs in the future that it has all the other problems like Mr. Ricker just talked about. Um, does it really make sense to spend all that money to renovate and expand triplet if we're going to be planning to move to Woodstock in just a few years and we're going to start building it right away? I mean, we keep talking about being um responsible stewards of the money

186of the of the taxpayers. And I know I've already gotten a lot of push back for even trying to advocate for a new elementary school. I think we need to do this. I think this is something that we, you know, of all the wants and needs that we have on this list, that's one of the needs. I mean, if we keep getting more kids, especially we're talking about elementary school kids, um we we're going to need to start providing for them. And and I think we've discussed enough that expanding the current elementary schools as we have them right now is not really an option. um the triplet situation obviously something we need to address as well because we do know that a lot of the careers in the future are going to be in the

187trades. So obviously I I do want to see that as well. But I believe and again I may be wrong. I thought that what the board of supervisors wanted from us was the list of real priorities. Do we want to do one or do we want to do the other? Do we want to do this or do we want to do that? Not a list saying, "Oh yeah, we want to do it all. But again that that maybe I was just mistaken on that. I mean I I don't understand I guess and maybe I can you can answer this question is what are we not doing? What are we leaving behind in this list from the long list of things that we had that were options? What are we not doing? So, I mean, this

188really doesn't commit us to a final project sequence tonight, but what it does is put it in front of the board of supervisors, what our true priorities are, zeroed in just a little bit more because they will be the ones who ultimately decide on, you know, what is financially achievable for the county. >> But, okay. So let me ask you again. What of all the things that we have considered, what is not included in this motion? >> Surrender. >> That wasn't one of the options. >> It would be if we did nothing. >> Well, no. But see, I'm not saying not do anything. And the opposite. I'm saying we do more. We do actually what they asked of us to do, which is do an actual list of things that we can, you know, afford

189and that we actually need. not just sending it back to them and telling them actually we want it all. You guys figure it out. >> All right. You use the word afford. Uh Mr. Rickard, Mr. Shottabi, you're on the infrastructure committee. Have there ever been any um boundaries established for >> Interesting. You asked that. The last question I asked at our last infrastructure committee meeting was, "Do you guys want to set any parameters for me to take back to my board?" And they declined. >> And it was asked several times during that meeting. >> So if there are no boundaries, there are no boundaries. >> But I still I'm in agreeance with Gloria. If we're going to put in here that projects one, two, and three identify our most immediate facility needs, then I think,

190like I said, number one needs to be the renovation of the three elementary schools. Number two needs to be building the new elementary school and number three should be planning for the new CTE facility in Woodstock. If we're going to build a new CTE facility, there's no point in expanding triplette. Um, it's kind of like doing an electrical expansion. You brought up electrical. It doesn't meet the electrical needs. If we're going to build a new one, there's no point in sinking more electrical into that building because if you're going to build a new CTE facility that houses everything under one roof to keep CTE together, that building has more electrical in it than what you need if you're moving CTE out of it. So, if you eliminate expansion from number two, are you okay with

191all four? If we change the priority, if we change the listing, I'm good with it. I don't see any reason we shouldn't renovate Triplette Tech. If there's known issues, I mean, elementary schools got mold issues. That is pressing. As far as I've heard, I haven't heard from anybody at Triplet Tech about mold issues. Um, to me the elementary schools have have got to be our priority. I mean, if we can't house the kids, you got to do one and three at the same time. >> Mhm. >> I'm not prioritizing those two. That should be one and two. We should be working on building a brand new elementary school and taking care of the three elementary schools the best we can right now while they're while the kids are in there. If there's some big projects

192we got to hold off on until the new elementary school's complete, those projects will have to take a back seat. But as far as maintaining, cleaning them up over the summertime, getting whatever we can done, that should be our priority. >> Agree. So on on that note though um in the meantime um with you know with triplet and um doing some some uh renovations there and not expansion um does it not make sense to do some of those things while we're waiting because once again I mean what's it going to cost to build a new CTE in Woodstock and um you know are any of our employee people here from triplet still going to be working there when that comes to fruition. So I mean our our needs are now >> they're not in a

193few years. So, um, you know, and to hold off and leave triplet without, you know, maybe expanding some electric, trying to get some welding in there, doing something, um, you know, doesn't make a lot of sense to me. And, um, you know, that CTE center in Co Pepper and up there is completely built out of, you know, prefab and modular steel steel things. So if we put something like that to to get triplet through and so we can have the shop space that we need, it could be moved to Woodstock later if that's what eventually comes to fruition. I think we're getting a way ahead of it. Um you know and you know we have a donor that's willing to help um and all but that's going to be planning. I mean, you know, we

194we can plan it, but um looking at the price tag on everything that's on this list, I mean, it's going to be a while before we can afford to build something new. And we cannot expect our staff and students at Triplet to wallow in the same conditions they have been in the meantime. >> But that's exactly what I'm saying. I mean, we're putting all of this list of all these things and you just said that we can't afford them. So >> then >> isn't that exactly what I just said? >> So okay. So but then on back to that so you want to decide on which one we think we can afford, >> right? I mean that was the whole my understanding. Um let's put it this way. This list is actually less specific than

195the vote that we had last year. It actually is more encompassing. It adds more programs uh more more projects than what we voted on last year. So we're adding more things. So instead of making it more specific, we're making it less specific. And what happens with that is by giving u the poor supervisors this list like this, we're running the risk that we don't get to pick what our priorities are that they do. >> Well, I I think that that that was more or less the the affordability is going to determine that. >> Well, whether we like it or not. Well, yeah, but if we're saying if we're telling them that, you know, our youngest kids, the ones that don't have a choice as to what elementary school they go, the ones that are more

196susceptible to have, you know, mold issues and and and you know, we have uh more disciplinary issues, if they're having to have too many kids in one classroom or the teachers having to share a one classroom. I mean, our most vulnerable are our elementary school kids, and they're also the ones that we don't have a choice about. We can't just tell them, "Well, suck it up." Or, you know, when the state comes to us and tells us, "Oh, you have too many kids on that classroom." We can't just tell the state, "Sorry, that's all we have." You know, with triplet, it's it's a it's a want. It's definitely a want and it's something that we need to work on. And I'm not taking away from that, but ultimately, it's a choice. A kid has the

197choice to go to that and it's something that's going to help them in the future. But elementary school kids don't have that choice. So this is why especially when we're talking about the health of our kids and the health of our teachers because it's not just the kids. I mean we have teachers who are getting sick because of the mold and all that kind of stuff. I mean come on having to think about kids having to walk around back up sewage in their class in the schools. I mean this is just ridiculous. So, as far as I'm concerned, those two should be the the the main priorities right now would be the, you know, the renovation of the existing elementary school, the things that need to be fixed, um the new uh elementary school. And

198when it comes to triplet, I think we need to make a decision. If you guys think that we just want to stay where they are right now, renovate and expand, then let's just vote on that and forget about the new uh CTE. But if you think that we should have the CTE in Woodstock and we want to make the most out of that donation that has been offered to us, then we should vote for that. Right now, the way it is, that one, and I'm sure this why Mike is bringing that up, that one is the one that's probably going to get cut off. So, we're going to lose that donation, and that donation is going to go somewhere else that is probably going to be very well appreciated. Okay. I don't remember whether you

199guys were on the board when the sewage issue wasn't an issue at Sandy Hook, but I remember my wife coming home and telling me about the bathrooms being shut down. I mean, when sewage is backing up into the hallway to where kids are having to be diverted around it, that's where our priorities got to be. That's aside from the mold issues. Um, we've been told that the piping, the sewage piping under that school needs to be relined. >> We're not that >> that's in the renovations and you know that's in option one. I mean I I 100% agree that's the priority. >> yeah I think I think everybody's in agreeance to we need to fix what we have. So I don't think that's an issue. I guess the issue from there goes on. Um, and

200I I guess I'm just going to throw something out there. I've been thinking about it for quite a while, but somebody might have to tell me by the charts and the numbers in the past. Um, both Sandy Hook, and I know it's not good, but you know, I guess what I'm pointing out is by the numbers, both Sandy Hook Elementary and WW in the past, they both had 190 more kids in that school. And somehow they did. So, we're talking 190 kids less by the numbers from in the past. I'm not saying that's good, but al but I'm saying it's doable. I did drive by and look at the new modular and I liked it and and to me that is a quick fix. My my thought is if you put another one in, that

201should definitely take care of the the capacity right now, especially by the numbers here. There was 190 more kids in that school in WWE in the past where Triplet if we're turning away 80 90. How many kids were we turning away? >> A little over 100. >> Oh, I'm wrong. That's not a want. That is a need. >> Yeah, I don't see that's not a want. >> No, we're talking about, you know, if we have too many kids in a classroom, for example, for elementary school, that's going to be a violation of of And maybe I'm wrong. Dr. Sheper can actually correct me on this that we could be in violation of state you know policy >> if they have too many kids or and then the other question is um with what we're dealing

202right now I and again she she can talk about this a lot more but my understanding is because we offer a lot more programs right now you know with sped or with different programs that we have right now in the schools that didn't used to be there decades ago we're having to use more space for the kids you You know, I I mean, I'll be honest with you. I when I went to school um in in Puerto Rico, my school, my classroom had 40 students and it was fine in our schools that my teachers had no problem dealing with that. We have no disciplinary problems whatsoever. I don't believe that's the case anymore. >> Okay, back to what I was saying. If you don't mind, let me finish. What I'm saying is there's got to

203be some, you know, if somebody explained to me there's there's 190 kids more in the schools. So if it was another modular the capacity what what was there if and it may take another modular unit you know I see that fixes that should fix the problem you know until we can financially figure out and do we need it do do we probably need another elementary school but that would fix the issue right away um the way I see it >> so do you want me to answer or no because you just told me that you didn't want me to answer >> I just wanted to finish speaking go ahead Oh, >> go ahead. >> All right. Go ahead. >> Oh, so you don't want me to answer? >> No, I'm just saying you cut me

204off. I just want >> I did not. You You asked a question and I was answering it. >> Okay, go ahead. >> So, again, this is what I said. I mean, what we've been hearing from the community has to do with the different needs that our schools have today that they used to have before. Um, again, we also had the problem with those. From what I hear again, my kids didn't go to the northern campus. My kids didn't go even to the to WW Robinson. This is what I keep hearing from the community and from the teachers and everybody who's come to to speak before us. Um there's also the traffic problem. Um you know, we keep adding all these houses around in Woodstock and Strawburg. Um we see them popping up all the time.

205A lot of those are going to be bringing kids. Where are all those kids going to go? So, you're saying that we should just keep on putting more mobile units and and modulars. Fine. If that's what the the way that the board wants to go, that's fine. At some point, it's going to catch up. And then we're going to really need an elementary school and it's going to take another five, six years to build it. If that's the way that you want to go, that that's your priority. That's fine. That that's that's ultimately what we're here to do. We're here to decide. Do we think that the elementary schools and our elementary school kids, especially the ones that are facing all these problems, are going to be our priority, or do we think that no,

206we they can wait. We can just work on triplet and then just expand what we have right now. Um, and that that'll work that that's ultimately what we're having to do. >> Are we in violation of the how many kids are in class? We are currently not in violation, but we do have um tutoring groups and reading specialists um teaching kids in the cafeteria and in the hallways. >> Th that's what I was going to I think Mike Shy said it at the infrastructure committee meeting and I'm like, you know what, this finally starts to make sense. Um because I was looking at the numbers and how many numbers we've had in the past. Our numbers of sped students now or kids with 504s, they require more area than just putting 23 to 26 kids

207in a classroom. Now you've got spg classrooms, you've got reading specialists. It's not like it was years ago. Um, and sure you can keep adding trailers, but I would challenge you to go to Strawsburg, start at uh, Holiday Street and Route 11 about 7:45 in the morning and try to get to the elementary school entrance. I feel bad for the people that live beyond our middle school. If, god forbid, a house fire happened at that time, you're not getting your house extinguished anytime soon. It's one way in, one way out. There's a two-lane bridge. That's it. Afternoon. I mean, my wife, she goes in to work. She's not supposed to be there till 8:00. She goes in at 7:30. Otherwise, she's late. Um, you can keep putting modular units there, but it doesn't resolve the

208cafeteria issues, the kids starting lunch at 10:30 in the morning. um them only getting PE music and art four times a month or whatever the number is. I'm taking a guess. Um to me, I mean, you know, if you've driven through the town of Strawsburg or you've driven through the town of Woodstock, they're only building more. And you're talking about how many years it's going to take to build a new elementary school. To me, one and two have to be centered around elementary education. >> Are you saying in the morning, the afternoons because of traffic? Because of what? >> The people dropping their kids off at schools, the buses, the high school kids trying to make it to the high school. It's atrocious. >> And the middle schools also as their book. >> Wasn't that

209a great piece of planning? Mhm. >> Well, you know, my take, my position, I, you know, how do I say this? You know, if parents don't want to put their kids on the bus, I can't, you know, they, you know, I can't make a decision on spending money on infrastructure for the kids at the school. I I I can't, you know, the parents that don't that want to take their kids to school, I can't cater to that before I cater to u you know the schools, triplet tech or any of that. So to me that's irrelevant. Put the kids on the bus and that'll cut down traffic. >> The the traffic is just one of the points the starting lunch. >> But I'm just saying but as far as the traffic, so to me that

210that's irrelevant. Put the kids on the bus. Um, >> okay. Tom, we've had a lot of issues in buses today. A lot of parents don't want to put their kids on the buses because there's been a lot of bullying or we've had situation even in our in our system where I do not blame kid parents for not putting their little kindergartener or first grader on a bus. >> Did we not did we not have an issue with it >> just last year? Anyway, >> I mean, if your work schedule doesn't allow your kid to be put on a bus and you got to take them to school, >> you don't have much choice. >> Well, then we need to talk to Von. >> Well, they're not going to build us another bridge across. >> There

211was a nice article in one of the local papers. I think it's called the Northern Virginia Daily. It was published on the 3rd of March. The Shannondoa County need a new elementary school. There's a big difference between a need and a want. A need is a necessity. A want is tied to emotion. And more modular trailers is another band-aid. And if you haven't read this article, it's it's pretty compelling for all the reasons that Miss Carly Neo wrote about about the backed up sewage, the U classroom situation, the air quality, the mold, and and it goes on and mentions the traffic. You'll see I had a note there, 7:45. We're on the same page, Mr. Rick. We're on the same page. And it just seems to me and and we're in agreement, Miss Carino, Mr.

212Richard, Miss Pence, the first priority needs to be the new elementary school. It's It is a tough call moneywise, but it's also the right thing to do. So, let's get busy, roll up our sleeves, and start doing it. I know where there's a shovel available, we move the first uh first piece of dirt. and it'll have my LP on there when you leave. >> So, that's my input on on that matter. >> And you will know you'll know from the uh I guess it was a work session and renovate the existing schools simultaneously. You have to you got to clean up the mess that's u been ignored for x number of years. Solve for x discount. Next there there's no other discussion. I'd like to make an amendment. >> All right. Great. >> Yep. >>

213Okay. Uh from a parliamentary law standpoint, you all are fine. My only concern is the word consider on the third choice and that is not necessarily parliamentarian job to do verbage but what does consider mean maybe I wrote it down >> thank you for that >> consider means okay thank you I consider it next item And I I am crossing into a gray area by saying that. But from a debate standpoint, you know, technically you debate twice. You know, we're we'll step back from that because it's too much on the line. But you all you're fine. You're respectful. That's great. But you're answering the question, but I'm just into the gray twilight zone. I'm wondering what consider means. And maybe I wrote down wrong. >> Well, is the uh chairman of this small body permitted

214to offer an amendment? >> Abs. Yeah. >> Then I >> I mean I I Yes, absolutely. But it's another compadre. >> Do I need to hand the g? >> Yeah, you could. You could technically that would be the proper way to handle it. Yes. >> Okay. I relinquish. >> Do I make my amendment first or does he make it? >> Y'all arm wrestle on that one. I don't know. >> Maybe they're the same. Let's see. >> Yeah. Why don't you make everything? >> I mean, I'm open to yours, but do you want to hear my wordage first? >> I think we're on the same page, Mike. >> Whitney, I appreciate the time you put into this, but I would like to amend this. And I would like to move number two. And I would like

215to ch move number three to number two and change the verbiage to instead of consideration of a potential start the process of constructing a fourth elementary school. I would like to move number four to number three, number two to number four, and take out the two words and expansion. Does all that make sense? Cheryl, are you good with that? >> Would you say it again? >> Yeah. One more time. >> Change number three to number two. Take out consideration of a potential. Change that to start the process of constructing a fourth. Change number four to number three. Change number two to number four. And delete the two words and expansion. I'll take the back. Sorry. >> Thank you. >> Once the U clerk gives me the okay that she has the language guided, I will

216ask for a second to Mr. Rick's motion. >> I'll second. and his second then Miss Carino. So now we're discussing the amendments. And yes, Mr. Record, we were on the same page, just different language. >> If it was in if it was in no special order, then why did we change the order? If there was no if this wasn't a priority list, then why did we change numbers? >> Because Whitney put in here the priorities are one, two, and three. That's in that first paragraph. >> All right. So, you're moving four to a priority and dropping two to number four. >> Correct. >> Which is not covered under simultaneously. >> Correct. >> So, are we moving simultaneously? >> No, we're leaving simultaneously. We're clarifying what will be simultaneous. >> I mean, the way >> because

217I understand the amendment. Yes. >> Yeah. And the way I look at it now is I mean if there's any issues that arise at triplet they've got students on staff or there that can take care of it. As a matter of fact my son has attested to the fact of doing electrical work at triplet. >> So what you're saying is number two becomes four which is not covered at the beginning of the top where it says >> it's not a priority. If we're going to build a new one, >> why are we going to sink a bunch of money into the the one now and expand it? Yes, we need to renovate it. Yes, we need to take care of particular issues, but if they come back to us and say, "Hey, we've only got

218this amount of money to do this." >> Yeah. I mean, we we don't want to lose out on that donation. >> All right. So, just so I have it clear, your number one is renovation of the existing three elementary schools. >> Your number two is start the process of constructing a fourth elementary school. Your number three is oh gosh, I can't read my handwriting. Begin planning for future career and technical education facility in Woodstock. And your number four is renovate triplette. >> Correct. >> Oh yes. Thank you. Thanks, Miss J. >> Mr. Parliamentarian, I assume we're going to vote on these amendments and then come back and vote on the motion as a whole. >> That's correct. Now, the original motion. Does it say no particular order? >> It does not. It says with projects

219one, two, and three identified as a division's most immediate facility needs. >> Very good. >> That's what I thought. So to answer your question, yes, you approach the amendment first. >> It will be and was there a second? >> Any other discussion on the amendments? >> Um yes, if >> you move to the um you moved three what? You did three to two, right? >> Yes. Yes. >> And what was the wording? >> Start the process of constructing a fourth elementary school. >> Okay. Along with that, when does this board discuss when do we discuss how we going to pay to staff that new school? >> Pay what? >> Pay the staff that new school. When do we discuss that? >> It's got to be part of the plan. You got st after you build

220it. You got staff. >> That's a question to be answered another time. Now's not the time to >> Okay. >> Not tell not now is not the time to put that on a timeline. >> Yeah. Just like it wouldn't be, you know, how are we going to pay the staff of a expansion of triplet or any available ones? We're not talking about any of those spec specifics. >> Any other discussions on the amendments? >> It has been uh proposed. It has been seconded. I have called for discussion. I'm hearing nothing new and I call for a roll call vote. Mrs. Jet, this is a vote on the amendments that Mr. Record proposed and Minino gave a second to >> Mr. Shy. >> No. >> Mr. Street, >> no. >> Miss, >> no. >> Miss Carinia,

221>> yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. to further discussion. I will note. >> So, the amendments have failed. >> Kind of at a loss. I I thought we were in agreeance in >> I thought we were too. >> Well, let's let's continue this discussion on the original the original motion which Mrs. Pence proposed as the original copy. I have no other discussion. I've >> I've said my piece. I mean, we've been talking about this for over a year. >> You're right. And >> just another point, you know, our facility needs across the division, they're significant. And while all of these issues will not be solved in one budget cycle, I believe it's important that we clearly identify our main priority and move that conversation to the board of supervisors so that we will then be able

222to have some sort of funding pathway because right now, you know, we don't have a number Then if we're if we're going to limit ourselves to what we ask for, that's what I'm hearing. Then we got to ask for number one and number three. That that's our priorities. They're not slowing down on construction in Strawsburg. They're not slowing down on construction in Woodstock. We need a new elementary school and we need to renovate the ones we've got. That should be our priority. So, if we're going to limit ourselves on what we ask for that I think those two things should be our priority, >> how are we limiting ourselves on what we ask for? >> That's what I was hearing from you guys. Whitney just said we need to figure out exactly what our needs

223are, what our priorities are. That it >> Well, did I hear correctly? >> Um, I didn't take it that way. I mean, everything on this list is really a need. So, it's going to be a matter of how we navigate to get there. Um, you know, and I I mean, I'll be honest, I voted against the amendment because I do not believe that we should begin planning to pick up triplet and move to Woodstock. So, um, you know, and even if I did agree with that, um, I wouldn't make it home if I voted for that, uh, because of, you know, the the local sentiment. So, um, you know, I think that this, I mean, maybe we take out the words priorities or something, but, I mean, um, this is the list of things that

224we need. So, um, you know, I think if we go back and forth on, um, you know, on the priorities and different things, um, you know, we're we're wasting more time because I mean, anything where we're building new and even the renovations, it's going to take some time to plan and the board of supervisors needs time to plan on how they're going to finance it and and structure it down the road. Um, you know, so we basically, you know, we've got um expansion needs because we we need more room. We have to fix the existing buildings, but you know, to me, the existing triplet is part of that plan. Um and then for future use planning down the road that was what I thought that the satellite in Woodstock was um for CTE was a

225possibility of starting. Um so I you know I had no idea that it was you know the plan was not to do anything to the existing triplet and move it move it to Woodstock. um you know these you know um they need they need shop room and and classroom space right now >> and like you said that's not going to happen for years. >> Yeah. >> I mean the the disruption it would cause the staff and the students at triplet. If you want to go with leaving uh if you want to go with making number two number three and taking out expansion and leaving four where it's at, I'm fine with that. I could vote for that, but I believe number three should definitely be moved to number two. >> Yeah, >> I don't know

226if there's a way to, you know, I guess, you know, to me the reality is is there a way to make it is there a way to make it a motion that the existing elementary schools and existing triplet building we take care of what we have renovations. now but after further review and obviously it's very obvious that this board needs to you know think still you know talk about it go over things and exactly how you know what are we going to do it but after further you know with further review and further study then yes we need to increase triplet and yes we need to build it you know we need an elementary school I don't know if there's a way to put that in a If we stop wasting money on reviews and

227studies and just start doing things, >> we might be able to afford some of this stuff. I mean, how many studies have we done on the schools over the past 10 years or 5 years since you >> I'm not talking about spending money on studies, you know, too much. I'm talking about, you know, looking at everything. I mean, I just asked a question. I've asked well I brought a couple things up and there's no answers you know but the latest the latest one is as this board discussed how are we going to staff the elementary school we never have how much is it going to cost >> that's why Dr. Shepard got us the rough numbers so that we could figure it out I mean we've talked about this for over a year and a

228half now >> but do we know do we know how much it's going to cost >> yeah Dr. Shepard presented those numbers >> million or something >> 1.6 it. >> It went up. Jeez. >> 1.65. >> Well, and we'll face the same things with, you know, with with expanding triplet and and and all that, too. >> And we've only done one stud.6 million. >> I mean, no, >> four different departments. >> No, I'm sorry. >> I want to be paid that. >> We did one study with RRMM and the work that's been done recently by Miller Cup and Daily Mather has been um free of charge. Thank you for that. >> Well, um I actually disagree with some of my board members. I think we have enough information. I think we've been I understand some

229of our members are new, but this is something we've been talking about and talking about and looking at for over a year, year and a half. We this already voted on this before, voting on this again. Um I will be honest. I I I agree with Mr. Rickard. I've already been very um um very clear about where my priorities start stand with the elementary schools and why, you know, because I think these are our most vulnerable. I think I think at this point it's not a matter of whether we have enough information or not. It's more of a commitment and courage to do what we believe needs to be done. That's ultimately what we where we are right now. Um I will agree with um Mr. Rickard. You didn't say it in so many words,

230but I'll say it in my words. Um, I agree with moving some of this stuff around. I'm fine with that. What I will not I what I cannot commit to is paying for a renovation and an expansion of triplet and then also planning a new one in Woodstock. I think that's a waste of money. And I think right now with the way things are right now for our taxpayers, that's the last thing we should be doing is burdening them with an expansion um and a renovation of the current, but then still have a new one as well. So I believe that we need to decide which one of those two we want. If we decide that what we want to just do is stay where we are now with triplet renovate and expand that to

231the extent that it can be expanded because obviously it has very um severe limitations of space. That's fine. we'll lose the money for the donation. Um, and obviously a lot of the other benefits that would come with with moving it to Woodstock. I know a lot of people don't want to do that, but there are real um, arguments as to why we were considering moving it because it would be more fair for the whole entire county. I mean, triplet is not just a school for the southern end, it's also for the northern end. So, we have to make sure that everybody has access to it. So, that's kind of where I stand right now. Um I'm fine with a lot of this. Again, I've said all along, we are renovating the schools to the extent

232that we can. Um whether it's the elementary schools or even triplet, if there are things that needs to be fixed right now, we will be taking care of those as we have been taking care of them. The question is, do we sink in more money for an actual expansion? Uh what is that going to look like with the students that we have there right now? um and and do we do that and then also ask to to have a new school uh for CTE? That just to me makes no sense at all. So, personally, I'm I'm um I would like to see the elementaryaries become the number one and number two priorities. What I will not vote for and the the way I would vote no for this just to make sure that everybody understands

233is if this budget is if this request is including both a renovation and expansion and also a new um CTE. I think that's just too much for the taxpayers, especially during these times. >> Um, one one point to make on that. Um, you were talking about repairs of the existing elementary schools. Renovations are not repairs. So, and I I think that that's getting kind of jumbled together with some of this. I mean, we're talking about, you know, some modernization, getting out the sinks that have been there since 1975 and things like that. Those aren't the the plumbing and all that that would be done simultaneously. And when we go in to pull off a roof and and and redo the HVAC, it's going to make sense to do those upgrades at those points. So I

234I just want to make a point there that you know the CIP maintenance and operating it's different than what we're talking about here with renovations. >> Wait, but hold on because I think what No, I think the renovation meant anything that needs to be fixed right now um from the infrastructure that we have right now. What we're talking about not including is expansion of the current elementary school. So that that was separate. That's what we're not talking about. But when we're talking about renovations, we're talking about repairing the things that need to be repaired right now, >> but also also swapping out plumbing fixtures, re moving walls. All those interior renovations are not part of the expansion. >> So, you know, and the only, you know, I mean, Ashby Lee needs a new gym. So,

235I mean, in looking at it there, that's the only thing I would see alongside building a new elementary school would be that we add something there so so the kids have somewhere to, you know, to to um to do PE. Um, so, but I believe the board of supervisors is going to ask for this, too. We need to have some clarification because we have things that cross over. We have HVAC on one list and on the other. So, um, you know, I think a lot of this will evolve. Um, but I'm I'm a little confused though because, um, in in relation to starting to build a new Woodstock facility for CTE, you said we'll start small and and plan for future expansions. So, I mean, that doesn't solve our problems at at triplet right now.

236I mean, you know, that's that's a staggered down the road plan, which I think is what we're all after because there's one other thing that we really need to remember is looming is the is the middle schools. They haven't been touched in decades either. So, this is going to continue to to roll over. So, I I believe the faster we bring something to the board of supervisors, the faster they're going to say, "Here's what we're able to do," and we could all move forward collectively. That's what we've been trying to do for the last year and a half, >> right? Well, but and and I'm here now and you're still doing the same thing. So, I mean, you know, >> we're like going back in circles. Well, um the the whole idea of starting small

237with the um with the planning for the uh CTE and Woodstock had two main purposes. One was we could start building the buildings for like the business classes that could be taken out now um leaving more space in the triplet as we have it right now. So by taking those programs out, it's going to open up more space at triplet right now. Um so it does kind of solve that even before you do because even right now last year that's one of the problems that we're talking about is when you when we're thinking about expanding the current elementary schools or expanding triplet one of the problems that we're looking at is when are we going to do that? What are we going to do with the students as we're you know we can't be building

238while they're in the school. So that's obviously an obstacle that and a challenge that we're going to be facing. So the idea of starting with the Woodstock one was to start a small have the plans for the whole entire thing but building phases. So we start out with the first phase which would be the you know maybe some of the business classes that can be easily moved that are not going to need the special you know um specifications that some of the trades would. So cyber u maybe cosmetology some of the stuff that we can move there. So that would take care of that, but it would also take care of the fact that we would start building and take advantage of the donation that has been offered to us >> that right now we're

239risking you know losing >> I'm fully aware of that donation but I mean what's the most pressing need at triplet now in your opinion? both space >> classroom space or >> no that the shop space but >> there's nothing that you just laid out that that gives any more shop >> but he can start opening it up for for some of the other projects pro programs that we have talked about as well so if we're thinking about you know doing some of the other programs that Dr. Shepherd has talked about it would open up some of that. But what you're saying about with the with the expression that that's not going to be taken care of by your idea either because when are we going to start um how are we going to start expanding

240for the trades at triplet? I mean with what space? We don't even have the land next to it. We don't even have we would have to be building simultaneously as we have the students in there. So that problem is going to be there. It's just a matter of are we going to solve it in the short term and just kind of put a you know bandaid over what we have in Tripoli right now or are we going to try to do a better facility that has more space to grow and that can be more um state-of-the-art and hopefully even absorb some of the programs that we don't even know about. We've talked about this before. You know, maybe some of the things that we're considering right now for our schools and CTE were things that

24120 years ago we would have never even guessed were going to be programs today. We don't know what's going to come down the pike for us 10 years from now, five years from now. So that that was the idea. I mean, obviously there is no magic formula. There's not, you know, it's not going to be an easy transition regardless, but at least this way we were trying to have the least amount of problems to the students that we have right now and start considering all the things that we need to do for the future because like you said, pretty soon we'll have the middle schools to to deal with, too. But if we haven't taken care of this, then that means that we're just piling up more and more and more. Um, and again, for

242those of us living in the in wood, you know, in the center and in the northern campus, we've seen all the construction going up. And let me tell you that construction does not take five years to go up. It takes a couple of months and they're already up and people are living there within a a few months. You can see it here in Woodstock. You can see it over by the hospital. You can see it in Strawburg. Just drive around and you'll see it. And I mean, if that's directed to me, I'm not denying anything. >> No, I'm just saying that there's no construction going there. I mean, but um you know, priority is, you know, for me is doing something at Triplet now to get them space for the dirty, you know, I mean,

243we're talking about masonry and different things. We don't have the room there. Classroom space would be easier to find than than that shop space. So that that's that's kind of you know and I'm kind of sticking on that um because I mean >> I mean we need room all over obviously but the immediate the most pressing need is you know in my opinion at triplet is some upgrades on the facility and to give them square footage for these kids to learn their trades. But can let me ask you a question then um answer Mike and you want to talk but um why would we be sinking money into an expansion and renovation of triplet if we're thinking about also building one in in Woodstock? Why would we do that? >> Because it's going to take

244many years for the entire thing to move the Woodstock and and we need we need this the that space now. Not in three years, not in seven years. I mean we need it now. And like I said, if we we went with the the um the metal building that could come in and stuff, we could actually move that. They can be dismantled and it could go to Woodstock if that's eventually what happens. But you know, I think we're getting way ahead of you know um you know that $5 million that's going to be great, but that's going to get eaten up just with the planning. I mean, we're not going to get a shovel in the ground with that. So, I mean, we've we've got a you know, I think we need a more of

245a plan going forward. I believe we all want the same things. We're just kind of arguing over how to get there. But, um, I can't see putting money aside and planning for things we, you know, that we don't know if they're going to fund or we could ever get to when we have the immediate needs now. >> But what you're saying about expansion of triplet, I mean, what we're talking about, you're not just talking about putting a metal. >> I am. I am. That's what I'm talking. >> That's not what we're talking about. I mean, product set. >> Well, that's the other thing. we were talking about was redoing the whole thing and putting the solar panels on the top and redoing the electrical and then, you know, adding a whole wing to the front

246and then we're going to wing another one to the back and then we're going to buy the the land next door and then we're going to put some built some brick in there. Agreed. >> That's what it was in there. That's not what you're saying. >> But I I well I mean I didn't say anything either way. I mean I just said that we need shop space. That doesn't mean I'm going through all those things. I mean at when we take our plan or whatever to the board of supervisors and they come back with numbers all these things are going to change. I mean everything will. So and I believe we have the the ability to alter our plans um to fit our immediate needs and you know and maybe come up with some better

247options here. >> Well, let's let's attempt to resolve this. Um, is there any disagreement on this board that item number one, renovation of the existing three elementary schools should be a priority? All right. Is there any disagreement on this board that item number three funding the building of a fourth ele school in the Morytown Thomas Town Thomas area should be a priority number three here. Okay. Now dealing with number two and number four. Number two, renovation and expansion of triplettech, which will remain the center flagship for CTE for Shannono County. And I understand your concern, Miss Carino, why expand it if you if you go build another one and also understand there's limited space there to to expand. So, let's find the compromise there with two and four. So we can send this bill to

248the board of supervisors. >> I would suggest either um as Mike said doing the renovation living at that and then the beginning beginning planning of the future carrier center or do a two or four >> eliminate expansion in number two. one. So, one of two things. Either we put um just a renovation of triplet and beginning the move to Woodstock. That would be one option. Or put the options as renovation and expansion of triplet or beginning the the new one um in Woodstock. And then at that point, you just let the board of supervisors decide which one they want to fund. And if they decide the renovation expansion and we lose the donation, we lose the donation. Okay, let's hear from this side. >> We have agreement. We have agreement. One in three are priorities.

249>> So the intent of my motion was number one to list our priorities. But I'm also of the opinion that no matter what list we send to the board of supervisors, they will ultimately end up allocating funding that makes one, two, three, whatever number, however many of these projects that they're able to do, they they must be fiscally achievable for the county taxpayers. That is quite frankly what I had in mind when I came up with this list and what could be moved forward within the first quarter of the fiscal year >> which would be architectural engineering >> I I'm sorry to sound cynical or skeptical with all due respect to our um supervisors here. I just don't think that that's what's going to happen. I think I think what we need to do is

250give more um clarity on what we want to do because if we just send the list as it is right now, they're just going to pick it apart and decide whatever they want. I I understand the concerns. I I understand that ultimately we may not have a voice on this, but at least we put it on them. We make we do our due diligence. We do our priorities, we send it, you know, we pass it and then we send it to them and then have them be the ones who decide not to do what the school wanted. >> So, how do you want the give to my slow here so I can get this? Give me the agreement for triple. So that's that's I'm going to leave it somebody else to do it because my

251original uh my preferred motion would be the one that Mr. Rickard made that was voted down. So if we're not going to do that then I would just say um third you know we put the third as an eitheror either renovation and expansion of triplet tech where it is for now or begin the uh begin the planning of a future career in technical education. >> Who's going to decide the or those guys? them. If we don't want to make the decision ourselves, if we're punting the ball ball and not wanting to make the decision, then let them make it. >> Can I make another >> recommendation? We haven't dealt with the first motion yet, right? >> That's right. So, we have to vote that one down to to do a new one. >> All right.

252Come again on that one. Sorry. what you said. >> Uh she said one and three priorities and she uh listed this, correct me if I'm wrong, two or four as the third priority. >> Mhm. >> With the understanding that if it's not four, then we risk losing the donation. Are you in agreement with the adverb simultaneously? >> Uh, yes, I'm familiar with simultaneously. >> So, correct me if I'm wrong, but what you're saying is one and three present two and four still. >> It's a little up in the air. >> Up in the air. >> Exactly. Which direction to go? Yes, >> that was that heard. >> I would say that's >> I heard there was two with two options >> that uh option two and option four as worded in in the original motion

253are a little up in the air >> TVA >> to be announced later >> unless you want to repeat it. >> Well, it's really up to them to decide. >> I mean, I heard what you said, but to just to be clear if you want to repeat that again on two and four, >> are you making an amendment or are we still There's a motion on the floor >> because I want to throw another option out there so that the decision stays with this board. >> I'm fine with two and four. Just take out the word and expansion on two. We can have two or four as number three. I don't care. And then like you said, Larry, we you asked one and three. There was no argument on those should be one and two.

254Yeah, but the problem with that is you say eliminate expansion and what you're saying is the only thing that we're considering is moving CTE to the Woodstock. >> I don't think we've had that discussion >> as far as expansion goes. Yes. Um >> but you would but we would still renovate the facility therein now, >> but not add any square footage. Correct. I mean, even adding shop space, let's talk realistically, adding shop space, I'm pretty sure that Mr. Judy's class is probably one of the priorities that kids sign up for. So, adding shop space, sure, it gives his class more space, but he's still not able to add more students >> unless we add more staff. So adding more space, build him a new facility instead of what Miss Carenio said when we start when

255we break ground at Central Campus, assuming we go that route, go with the trades first, build the high bay space, build all that first, move all the trades there. >> Then you still got plenty of room for classroom space at at the original triplet while it's being renovated. >> I mean, remember that? >> Yeah. >> To me, I haven't heard of any lifealtering things going on at triplets, such as mold, sewage backups. Sure, I know Chef Cross would love an electrical panel in her kitchen that wouldn't trip breakers all the time when she wanted to add new equipment, and she'd love to have a generator for her freezer. Um, but to me, if we're going to build a new, you know, magnificent flagship CTE building, nobody's saying we got to build the classroom space first.

256We could build the highbay space first. We could build the culinary arts new kitchen first. But to me, I think we're we are doing the taxpayers a disservice to turn away a $5 million donation. We are doing the kids in Strawsburg a massive um disservice by not moving it to the central campus. If you've talked to the teachers that teach any of the kids from Strawsburg, the Strawsburg kids are missing 50 minutes of instruction time every week. 10 minutes a day. That's almost a full hour. And then they're missing out on lunch because they get back to school with 10 minutes to spare. That's why we have parents that don't sign their kids up for triplet. >> I'm fine with that. I mean, by the way, I just said the classroom space because I thought

257that was the easier thing. But yeah, that's actually a great idea. I just feel the big need first at the central campus and take care of that problem. I'm fine with that. Very good. So, you're moving forward to a third priority. >> You know, I really I really have no preference on the priority of triplet. I want to see the one they have renovated, but I also want to see them given a brand new modern state-of-the-art facility that offers the kids what they need and the staff what they need. I would prefer to see number four moved up to number three, but I I'm not going to be heartbroken if number two becomes number three. But I would like to see my verbiage stay. Take out the word in expansion and for number two start

258the process of constructing Anything from the folks on the right? >> Got it. >> First time. >> That's what I said. >> Two times now. >> So, are we voting on the or? >> I would like to see it stay and >> we can do the and and without. I would like to see I would like to see the decision stay with this board. So I wouldn't like the word ore in there on any of it. I believe Miss Pence got our priorities right. We just got to get them in the right order and worked out. >> And uh if you're going to do a one, three, two, and four, are you leaving expansion in number three? >> No. >> All right. I'm going to drop expansion. Do you want to define four to say

259shop space? >> Mike, do you do you think we should add on number four to start with shop space, the trade space, the high bay space so that it's defined? Um, you know, I think that, um, frankly, we should just push it forward like it is and see what they're willing to do. Um, you know, I don't I don't I don't know if, um, if if if that's the priority. You know, I still think that we should consider some expansion at the existing site, >> but it would be easier. I mean, if what you're saying is that the priority is the shop space, wouldn't it be easier to start building that in a brand new place where they don't have to be interrupting the class right now? >> Sure. But I mean, um, you know,

260we we don't want to split them up. I mean, you know, there's there's there's too many, um, you know, variables here. So, in a perfect world, yes, that would make sense. But I mean, >> um, the the the one thing that I've heard consistently from everyone on the board of supervisors pretty much is to take care of what we have now versus building new. And Triplet is kind of that, you know, there with me. And um and I mean the overwhelming majority of people in my district um want you know want to try to keep triplet there um and and to to make it better in place. So, I mean, and that doesn't mean I don't um understand the the driving and everything and the effects from the other from the other um you know,

261the northern areas, but um I just uh I'm I can't with the conscience vote to to to just decide to move it all there now, but I absolutely believe that we should look into future expansion there and use that $5 million to do it. >> I'm sorry. I did not understand that expansion where >> the expanding something at the existing, not in the grand, you know, building all that stuff that was originally um uh proposed. I mean, some sort of a hybrid model that can give us more bang for our immediate dollar. So, and I just um you know, I don't see us being able to move everything to Woodstock in in >> not everything, but that's what we're saying by stages. And if you said before that the biggest need was the high base

262space and all the, you know, for the trades that I think that would make sense to actually build those first and be able to move those. >> Understood. But I mean, um, you know, I I disagree. I think we need to try to do something and triple it now. And that's what my constituents want. So, I'm not going to sit up here and and, you know, pretend that there's a lot of people in district one telling me, "Let's let's take it to Woodstock." I'm sure the people of District One wouldn't want to give up 5 million taxpayer dollars toward a new triplet. >> Potentially 10. Is that is that I'm just curious is that in writing that that's the only way to receive that is it has to be >> I mean they're some of

263the first constituents I hear about when we talk about any >> I'm just asking is it in writing that that's the only way to receive that >> the only Yes. I believe so. I don't know that it's in writing, but I've spoken to the lady who um is interested in donating and she has mentioned that it needs to be a Woodstock, but it's not in writing that I'm aware. >> I mean, it to me it makes sense. We already own the land there. We would have to buy more land. >> I'm sorry. How about the email? Didn't we get an email from the her representative that stated that in writing? >> Oh, yes, we do. >> Yeah. So, we Yes, Tom, we do have it in writing. >> You have it as well. >> I

264think it's time to close the polls and vote. So, the first thing we have to do, correct Mr. moment is we have to vote no on the original motion as presented by Miss Pence. >> That has to be handled. >> That has to be disposed. >> Correct. >> Or amended, right? >> Or amended. >> Well, it might be better to dispose and then propose than you. >> It will be easier to follow in TV land if we >> What's that? >> It will be easier to follow in TV land if we start Start fresh. Start fresh. Okay. >> That way everybody knows what's >> okay. So I will word it this way. All in favor of withdrawing the original motion as presented. >> I think it's probably better to end it. >> Stood this way.

265All in favor of the original motion will vote yes and those opposed no. And that will be a roll call vote. >> So we're voting on >> the original the original >> with the wording as it is. >> As it is the original wording >> so that we can open up >> Gotcha. Okay. >> What we agree on. >> I'm just keeping tally marks and track over here so I know. >> Anyway, so can you explain again? So wait, we're putting yes to keep it. So, we're voting on the >> on the actual motion to pass. >> The actual motion which was presented about sometime yesterday about 9:00. >> About 9:00. Yes. >> Mr. Shiny. >> No. >> Mr. Street. >> No. >> Yes. Okay. >> Okay. So, we're voting on this motion. So, I'm

266voting no. >> Mr. >> No. And the new motion will read as follows. >> I don't care. >> So, okay. Um, why don't you do it? You want to do it? You have it? >> I can. I move that the school board recommend to the board of supervisors to b to fund and I'm just going to deviate from your list a little bit, Dr. Shepard. Um renovate the three existing elementary schools. Start the process of constructing a fourth elementary school near Morytown, Tomsbrook. um >> begin the plan >> begin planning for a future CTE facility on the central campus and renovate Triplette Tech. Is there a second to the motion? >> Second. >> Miss Carino seconds the motion. Is there anything left to discuss? And I'm going to call for a vote. >> Miss Jeff,

267do you have that motion that you could read back to us, please? I move that we recommend the school board to the board of supervisors to fund to renovate the three existing elementary schools to start the process to build a new elementary school and to begin to plan for the new CT Wood did you want the renovation >> and renovate >> and the renovation of the current >> that you attach location to the elementary school? >> Yes. >> And I'd like to add the word constructing in there. Start the process of constructing. But you want construction >> and you added you added the location. >> Correct. >> Thomas Brook account area. Roll call vote. >> Mr. Shy. >> No. >> Mr. >> No. No, >> yes. >> Mr. >> Yes, >> Mr. >> Yes. >>

268Motion is defeated. No majority. Well, I I thought, Mr. Chairman, we were all in agreeance with priority one and priority two. Has that changed with any of the members? >> No. >> I voted. The only reason I voted no is because you took out expansion. And how about we put possible expansion there and then and then let's move on. >> I think that's a waste of taxpayer dollars. >> Well, then we're in an impass. It's a shame to have a impass for one word expansion. Um, >> why don't you vote on what you agree on >> separately? >> Yes. Just vote on one and the on the on the renovation of the elementary and the new elementary and then just leave it at that. >> Yep. >> Vote on one. Vote on >> at least

269you get something done and then you can still come back in this evening and talk about >> You mean this morning? >> Tomorrow morning. >> Tomorrow. Yes. >> So what you're saying is someone needs to make a motion to the effect. >> I'll make it >> of forwarding number one and number three to the board of supervisors. I'll I'll move I move that the school board recommends uh to the board of supervisors to fund the renovation. Hold on. Let me get that. The renovation of the existing three elementary schools and the cons the did we say consideration? No. >> The start the process of building the fourth elementary school option in the Morytown Thomas area. >> Who would like to second that motion? >> Second. >> Yeah, there's a second. Mr. record. >> Is there

270anything left to discuss on this? >> No. >> Madame Clerk, >> could you repeat the answer? >> Yes, ma'am. Um, I move that the school board recommend to the board of supervisors to fund the renovation of the exist existing three elementary schools and the construction of the uh of a potential fourth elementary school option in the Mortown Tomsburg area. No, take out the word potential. >> Oh, yeah. It's not not this. Yeah. Where is it? >> We want to say we're going to start building. >> That's right. Hold on. Let me see. Do we have it here in the >> Okay. Yeah. Start. I'm sorry, Cheryl. Um, so then the second one is start the process of constructing uh the elementary school option in the Mortown, Tomsburg area. I was looking for it here. >>

271You ready for roll call? >> I'm ready for roll call. >> One. Sorry. Can we just say it one more time, please? me. >> Yes, please. Sorry. No, that's okay. Um, I move that the school board recommend to the board of supervisors to fund the renovation of the existing three elementary schools and build a new elementary school near Mortown, Tomsbrook. >> Thank you, >> Mr. Shy. >> Yes, >> Mr. >> No. No. >> Yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> 42 and the motion. >> Don't forget Mr. Reporter over time is taxfree now. Now you can continue the triplet discuss. >> Now we do the battle for triplet. >> But you've got something or postpone it or something. >> All right. Let's have some fresh ideas. >> I think the reality is we still have to

272narrow down what we want to do with the future trip. It's got to be, you know, the capacity has to be increased, but we have to narrow down where that's, you know, that's the reality. >> Well, I mean, we already own the land at the central campus. probably not a good idea. >> Again, I understand there's a lot of um history with the campus as we have right now in triplet and I perfectly understand that. Um but there are a lot of limitations that we have with that campus um with how much layer we have in there, how much we can actually expand, how old the building is and of course um Mr. record has been talking about is that it's not as accessible to all our students, which is what this school should be.

273I mean, this is not a school, like I said, just for the southern campus. It's a school for the entire county. The entire county is paying into it. The entire county should be having access to it. Um, the idea of Woodstock, um, it wasn't because we needed to have it in Woodstock, it's because it's more central, because we already own the land, because also building in there, we have the space. we can actually start something that has um you know state-of-the-art that is going to have a lot of better you know um opportunities for our students but it also opens up even the traffic for that central campus that's something we haven't even talked about today um so even helps alleviate some of that problems that we have at the central campus so again this

274is why I have um um I support the the building of that one and also and of that the donation that it it is tied to that and it is in writing because we did get that email. Um so you know for all those reasons that's why I think we should be supporting. Now again if the board decides that no we should keep it down on the southern end and we really want to stay in that building and that's really what we want to have. I'm fine with that. But then we can't be asking the the taxpayers to fund that and f fund that expansion and also fund the new building at the central campus. That that to me is just too much to ask of of our taxpayers and um it makes no sense

275if we're going to sink that kind of money. Now if what we needed, which is I think what Mr. um Shy seem to have at some point is, you know, while we're building the new one at the central campus, if you wanted to put I know some people have said just kind of put one of those um metal um structures, if if that's something that can be considered, then we can think about that. But I think Dr. Shepard said that that was not something that was really an option, the the putting of the um an extra, you know, like a carport kind of thing. Um I mean, >> it is an option. It could be an option. We have a um a metal facility as a gymnasium at Sandy Elementary School. >> So maybe that's

276the option. You know, the option would be, you know, that we renovate what needs to be fixed right now at Triplet and then we have one of those while the other one is being built. I'm fine with that because I don't think those are very expensive. I think I've heard that the price is pretty nominal. Um, I just don't I just don't think we should be going through the expansion that we had been talking about for the last year and a half where we had the architectural drawings where we're going to be building all this new facility with the new wing in the front and the one in the back and all the stuff that is going to uh convey which was actually going to be, you know, a lot of money. So, um, so

277from my perspective, I believe that the central campus is should be the the uh place to put this. Um, but I would be okay if part of the renovation at the current triplet because like you said, this is going to take a long time. I mean, we don't even know if they're going to fund this right away. So, we're talking about many years. I actually think that most of the teachers that we have at Tripler are probably not going to be able to be uh at the new um central campus. But if we wanted to put one of those for the time being, that is not going to be a big structure, that it's not going to be too costly, then that is something that I'd be willing to consider. um if that's something that

278would help. >> All right. Well, then let's look at these here. I mean um then let's combine them. You know, maybe um number whatever it is now, you know, it's moved down. Um but renovation and minimal expansion of triplet tech and begin planning for a future career technical education thing all on the same line. But just combine them. And yeah, >> my only concern your use of the word nominal when you were talking about that. Dr. Shepard, can you tell us how much that new gymnasium at Sandy Hook cost? >> I do not know. >> Okay. Cuz I I know it would have to have its own sprinkler system, fire alarm system. I mean, it's not a matter of throwing up a metal building like you're throwing up a metal shed in your backyard. It's

279pretty substantial. And I would like to talk to whoever said you can put it up and take it down and move it to another land location easily. >> Um, >> well, I never said easily. I said it could be moved. >> Okay. >> And they are moved. >> I mean, I would be I would assume I mean, again, I don't know anything about this, but I would assume that maybe if it's just for a shop space, it probably wouldn't be as hopefully as as >> you know, as as it would be for a gym. You know, a gym would entail a lot more cost, I would think. I don't know. But again, >> a shop that >> a shop a shop space you wouldn't have to drywall the inside, >> but you still would have

280to put fire alarm systems in there. Sprinkler. And when I say sprinkler, it's not like your sprinkler you have in here. He's going to have cars in there. >> That opens a totally different ball. So, I mean, I'd like to see a price on that before we start putting >> that verbiage in there. Um because to me, I mean, you're costing the taxpayers money that we don't have. If we're going to build new, then we should renovate what we've got. Well, the good the good thing would be, I think, that if we decided to do that, um, once we do get those costs, if if the board of supervisors decided to fund this and it came back to us, we would have to vote again >> on the cost and whether we approve them or

281not. And if it's something that is too costly and it doesn't make any sense, then we can just vote it down. >> Yeah. And I mean, nothing here is really etched in stone. I mean, it's all going to be cost prohibitive. I mean or you know or permiss permit it. So um you know but you know I think that the main the main objective here is to come forward with something and then we'll alter it later as needed. >> I mean would that be something that would solve the concerns of my members to my left? Just >> I'm just looking for for a solution. I know. Would that be something that would be amendable? I mean, is that something that could be um that we could work on and then we'll look on the prices.

282If it's something that is prohibited in in cost, then we go come back before the board and we can vote on it and decide, okay, no, that's not going to work. >> Absolutely. So, which one of you two would like to make the uh >> Okay. So, >> the move >> I would make the motion. I move that the school board recommend to the board of supervisors to fund the um to begin the planning of a future career technical education facility in Woodstock while also renovating and considering um what was the word that you used? >> Minimal um expansion of triplet. >> Renovation and minimal expansion >> of triplet. All right. >> I have a feeling Mr. Rickert's going to second this. >> You got it. Second. Motion has been made and seconded which calls

283for uh number four is printed on the original motion >> and >> number three >> and number three but adding a minimal expans renovation and minimal expansion of the existing triplet right >> other discussion When Miss Jet's ready, if she could read the motion back, >> can I have a question? >> I do have a question like for parliamentarian. Um, is this motion going to be um in competition with our previous motion? I mean, should we be >> I will take it to you advance both. Okay. >> Advance them separately. >> Yeah. But it's still the same. I >> mean, should we prioritize it first? >> Actually, you could. It's two separate things technically because your elementary and your vocational education. So, >> you know, they split hairs on that. I can't >> Should we

284do like sub, you know, like a subsequent or, you know, two motion? >> Actually made it easier because you put elementary and you put technical if they come back to >> I just want don't want them to think that this is a priority over the elementary schools. >> I think because we voted on the first one that pretty much tells them that's the priority. >> Yeah. I don't I don't know about >> or should we put it in the motion? >> They I mean you could put in the motion. I will put in the motion after that after the elementary schools and then add what we talked about. >> We think about it. >> So, can I >> We're going to vote on the motion you made. >> Well, can I rephrase the motion? Add

285the word before. Yeah. >> See, that's rephrasing the motion. >> Sure. We're withdrawing the motion now. We're going to rephrase it. >> Okay. Um, let's see. I move the school board center and minimal expansion of the current tech after the elementary projects are complete. >> I wouldn't say after they're complete. >> Well, and we need to add renovation and minimal expansion. We don't have renovation in there. >> Yep. renovation and minimal expansion of triplet tech. >> Um, could it be subsequent to the motion to address the elementary schools >> simultaneous or sub the words post >> taste >> immediately following. >> Yeah. >> In addition to >> or in addition to Yeah. >> In addition to I like that one. >> In addition to >> Yeah. In addition to >> addition to >> the motion

286regarding the elementary schools, right? And then the rest of the sentence. >> All right. >> Yes, please. I move that the school board recommend to the board of supervisors to fund the plans for a new CT center in Woodstock renovation and minimal expansion of the current regard. >> Call for roll call vote. >> Mr. Shy. >> Yes. Mr. Street, >> no. >> Miss, >> yes. >> Miss Cario, >> yes. >> Mr. River, >> yes. >> Mr. Banks, >> yes. >> I have this. I have one. >> Amen. >> Do we get a raise, >> ma'am? >> Do we get a raise? We're not dealing with that tonight. >> I guess we're on 6.4 every month. More capital improvement. >> Approval of fiscal year 2027 budget and capital improvement plan. >> Looking confirm motion. >> Indeed

287I am. I move to approve the fiscal year 2027 budget and capital improvement plan as presented reflecting the health insurance plan changes approved earlier in this meeting. >> Okay. Is there a second to that motion? >> Second. >> And there is a second. Any discussion? Miss Jeff's the one that should get a pay raise for all the roll call votes I'm putting up for today. Roll call vote. Madam clerk, that's I think the motion is clear. >> Mr. Shy, >> yes. >> Mr. Street, >> yes. >> Miss Carlin, >> yes. >> Miss, >> yes. >> Mr. Rick, >> yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. and the budget and capital improvements have been approved unanimously. Moving to 6 point wherever I am five uh approval of revisions to policy JHCP cell phone free education. This was discussed

288at the work session previously. >> Mr. >> Go ahead Mike. All right, mate. >> I move to approve the revision to policy JHCP, cell phone free education, as presented. >> And a second. >> Second by Miss Pence. Any discussion? >> All in favor say I. >> I. No. >> I have that one marked six to nothing. 6.6 6 approval of the increase of fiscal year 2026 special budget. >> I move to approve the request to increase the fiscal year 2026 special budget as presented. >> A second. >> Second. Any discussion? All in favor indicate by saying I. >> I opposed. No. Another six to zero. As previously discussed, there is a um referendum in Virginia on the 21st of April, and we are seeking approval of the calendar to be adjusted to make April the

28921st a professional development day rather than a class meeting day. Who has the motion for that? I move to approve the recommended revision to the 2025 2026 school calendar to designate April 21st, 2026 as a professional day contingent upon April 21st, 2026 remaining and election day. >> Is there a second to that motion? >> Second. >> Mr. Rickert seconds. Any discussion on that? All in favor of this adjustment to the school calendar indicates by saying I. >> I oppose. No. And that motion carries six to nothing. Moving to item 6.8, date change request on May the 14th uh on the uh the school calendar because graduation a triplet. So we would be meeting on a Wednesday instead of the Thursday. Who has the motion for that? >> I move to change the May 14th, 2026

290regular school board meeting date to May 13, 2026. >> Have a second. >> Second. >> Any discussion? All in favor indicate by saying I. >> Opposed? No. And that's a six to n. >> Superintendent monthly report. Dr. Shep. >> All right. I'll try to keep this short. Maybe 35 minutes or so. >> Sounds about right. Yes. >> All right. So, for the seventh straight month, we saw improvement in our attendance rate year-over-year with an overall attendance rate of 95.09% for the month of January. And I would like to congratulate uh Peter Muenberg Middle School seventh grader Kaylee Quintinia Rivas on placing second in the regional scouting bay held at Skyline Middle School in Harrisonenberg on Saturday. Uh Kaylee is the highest finisher in the last four years since SCPs started participating in the spelling be

291again. Uh Strawsburg High School is um presenting their spring musical this weekend and so if you have some free time um it's tonight and Saturday at 7 o'clock and then Sunday at 3. So I'm looking forward to seeing that. Uh this weekend we had three FFA students place first in the re in the recent Shividua Federation public speaking event. Congratulations to Stone Jackson senior Carly Baker for finishing first in extraneous speaking. Central junior Anna Writtenower for placing first in senior prepared public speaking in Strawburg freshman Megan Written for placing first in creed speaking. I would also like to congratulate Stell Jackson High School science teacher Zella Funkhouser on being selected to serve on the state board of the Virginia Association of Science Teachers as Biology Committee Chair. On Friday, last Friday, WW Robinson celebrated their

29250th 50th anniversary with a series of grade level assemblies where assistant principal Becky Reynolds, who is in the back, led a special presentation that went over the school's history, celebrated its former admin and staff, and shared pictures throughout the years. It was wonderful to see how gau engaged the students were in that event. And then just earlier this week, several of our triplet tech students traveled to the skills USA state conference um in Virginia Beach and the following students took first overall. Cosmetology total fantasy look. Jaden BL Yara Mares Roses and Bana Flick carpentry Luke Wessel electricity German Selena Ortez and HVAC Mart Marcus Ortez all four um all four groups placed first at the um Skills USA conference. And then um I wanted to remind the school board members that the board of supervisors

293are meeting on Monday, March the 16th at 100 p.m. to talk about the school budget. I will be presenting information and I hope some of you will be able to attend. And then last but not least, good luck to our Central boys basketball team. They are traveling to Richmond tomorrow to take on Graham High School in the class 2 state championship. And again, this is Central's first trip to the state finals since 1980. So, >> go Falcons. >> That is all. >> Well, that wasn't 35 minutes. >> I know >> you must have skipped a page or two. >> I skipped some words. >> Report of board members other business. Uh, been mixing this up since January. I'm going to go odd even tonight. No particular reason, just for fun. So, if we start with

294the odd number, we would start with district 1, Mr. Sha. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, as we wrap up tonight's uh meeting, um, I want to express thanks to our our board members. Um, you know, we all have the best interest in mind. Um, you know, and we moved forward, um, you know, after two years. So, you know, it took us a little bit, but you know, I'm I'm happy to be able to work with with all of you. And um but I also want to, as as typical in each in each uh meeting, I want to just give a thanks and and um and extend my most sincere appreciation to the staff and um and our faculty. I mean, you're the boots on the ground. Um, you know, whether you're grading tests or turning

295wrenches, um, you guys are what, you know, you're you're what makes our kids be able to achieve, um, you know, such high such heights and, you know, academically, athletically. Um, you know, well, and speaking of athletics, good luck to Central tomorrow. Um, you know, 46 years is a long time to, uh, to make it to a to a state state game. So, um I want to um again encourage parents to be to become more partners in your child's education. And um I had the pleasure of making some connections with um the GAP program, the grandparents as as uh as parents um in Chennova County. And um we have a lot of grandparents, you know, raising raising kids. Um so If people haven't heard of it, it's out there. Um, you know, they they're trying to

296get the word out in our schools a little more. Um, there are resources and help um, you know, from other grandparents and and different organizations that can kind of um, you know, can can help you out if if you're not sure. Um so and I want to thank um our board of supervisors um you know for for the considerations you're giving and and the hard work that you know you guys are being tasked with by us. um you know there's a lot of talk we we have to work together and we do and I look forward to navigating the rest of this um this difficult CIP uh process um you know in the near future. Um and as uh Mr. Mr. Vance always has quotes I always bring one too. So I'm going to um

297end on um you know a a thought from uh Thomas Jefferson um who said um educate and inform the whole mass of the people. They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty. >> That's it for me sir. >> That's it for you. >> Yes. Thank you Mr. Sherman. Um so as I mentioned before well first of all good luck to Central before I forget. um in their game tomorrow. Uh but as I mentioned before, we um had our mental health task force uh meeting last last week and uh we had our students come over and it was very refreshing to hear a lot of the things that they that they had to say. Um they're very honest and and we love hearing their honesty. Um and one of the things that

298they uh well pretty much everything that they were saying had to do with they want more human interaction. They wanna, you know, be able to talk to their teachers more. They want to be able to have their teachers talk to them and explain concepts to them. They wanted to have uh more time to hang out with their friends. They wanted to have more time to just um be kids. So, it was kind of interesting because like I said before, these are not things that they're necessarily used to. These are things that we take for granted because we live that way. But to hear the younger generations saying the same things, it just tells you, you know, we're all humans and we all have the same needs generation after generation. So, I'm hoping that we'll be

299working on some of the uh things that they recommended. Uh for example, what I said before with their teachers. They want to have more engagement. They want to have less um digital, you know, Chromebooks. They want to see less packages uh I mean packets of of information. Um, and they also, one of the things that they mentioned, and they've mentioned this several times, is uh the mentorship. They would like to see more mentorship. Um, especially when they go into high school, they want to be able to when they're new students be able to talk to other students, not just do the one, you know, one day orientation where they do the tour. They want to actually be there more often and and talk to the other students. So, uh, aside from that, uh, pretty soon,

300I haven't talked to Mr. record, but I think um probably end of March or April, we'll have to be thinking about the P personnel committee meeting. So, we'll do that again uh at each campus. And um as I mentioned also with um Miss Proctor when she was here um hoping to also have an instruction committee meeting. So, I'll talk to you about that too where we can actually talk about some of the things like the Chromebooks, the AIS and also syllabus and hear concerns from the teachers as well. So, that's all I have. Thank you, Mr. Street. >> Yes. Uh, want to congratulate and thank all the employees that's recognized at the beginning for their service, years service. Uh, want to thank them. Along with that, also want to congratulate Triplettech with the four golds

301coming coming home with the four golds. So, congratulations and and the ones that continue on in nationals. Wish them best of luck. And um also wish uh definitely wish Central best of luck tomorrow uh in the state playoffs. So good luck to them and the Falcons. And um final um also I guess good luck to the board supervisors. So you know I don't know what I think I think the only worse shoes than ours is being nurse shoes. So, um, but I thank I thank them for the things they do and and we seem to we we're able to communicate and and we're able to work together and so always looking forward to working with them. So, um, but I thank them for the things they do. But anyway, that's all, Mr. Chairman. >> Thank

302you, >> M. Pence. >> All right. So, if this sounds short and sweet, it's because it's intentional. It was a little longer, but I can didn't sit down. Um, I do appreciate the discussion tonight and the willingness of our board to keep working uh through some of the larger facility issues that we have. Um, none of those decisions are easy and they certainly won't be solved overnight. Um, so I think we've exhausted that discussion for the night. Um, so again, like I said, this is going to be short and sweet, but I I do want to just take notice um real quickly. Although I wasn't at the central game last week, I do want to thank the teachers, staff, and the administration who helped manage the crowd after the CHS game uh last week. It

303was a really hard fault game and by both teams, and our staff did a really great job helping things wrap up safely and smoothly. Um, and another thing I want to point out, and it it just shows some of the class of our students and our players is that the basketball team allowed the opposing team their time on the court after they lost. Um, and they allowed them to move off the court before um, our students kind of went over and attacked our basketball team. So, with that being said, um, that's where I'll end tonight. And I usually have a bunch of thank yous, but I know it's late. Um, so I will see everyone at the Seagull Center tomorrow and go Falcons. >> Mr. Rick, >> uh, let me let me start by getting

304this one out of the way because this comes hard >> from uh, Stroller. Congratulations to the Falcons. I wish you well down in Richmond. Um, I keep it as short and sweet as I can. I'm in agreement with everything you guys have said. It was it was good that we were able to remain cordial this evening and get things worked out. Um I feel bad for the board of supervisors. Um but I don't always get to take time off work to go and see our schools. And February 27th, I went to Sandy Hook Elementary School to meet the RA ambassadors. And I doubt any of their parents are watching right now, but if they go back and watch, they have some phenomenal kids. I could see I could see every reason in the world why

305those kids were chosen to be ambassadors. Chairman Vance was there. Mike Shy was there. Um we had breakfast with them. They talked to us. I mean, it's unusual nowadays to find kids that can carry on a conversation with adults. Um, Miss Wine King, you're knocking it out of the park there. Um, those kids were phenomenal. And just to say a big thank you to Rowan McVey, Harper Grant, and Eva Alcade. >> Okay. >> Um, they did a phenomenal job of taking Chairman Vance and I around to the classrooms. We went to Miss Shifflet's class, Miss Dinkles, Miss Cyles, who's here tonight. What a fabulous job you're doing. Um, and we went to Miss Davis's class. It was cool that we ended with Miss Davis's class because we got to see the courtyard. And this summer

306that courtyard is going to be transfer transformed into an outdoor learning space due to the more educational grant. Um, so I can't wait to see that. But just a huge thank you to Miss Wine King and the Ramb Ambassadors. What a great program. And those kids, I mean, they really impressed me. So I thank you for that. Um, and then some of the classrooms we went to, they made us cards and stuff. So, that that always hits home. That's the best part of being a a school board member. Um, other than that, the staff that's still here, thank you for hanging in there. Um, it's not 1:00 in the morning yet, so it's not as late as one of the one of the schoolboard meetings we've had. Um, but thank you and thank you to

307all our staff in the building. Congratulations to the triplet tech students that that are going on to nationals. They did a great job and um heard nothing but good things about going to Virginia Beach this past week. So other than that, huge thank you to you all. Thank you. >> Well, it might go on one o'clock except that uh Mr. Rickard took most of what I wanted to say. So I'll just agree with everyone about go Falcons and thanks for hanging in there. Um, two words, carbide deal, seize the day, make the most of the present time. And we did that this evening, but we got there. A quote I found I think is appropriate. Gather ye rose buds while ye may. Old time is still a flying. And this same flower that smiles today,

308tomorrow may be dying. Or as Mick Jagger said, more poetically, you don't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you might just fine and get what you need. Who has the motion to adjurnn? Mike, >> move to ajourn. Second. >> Second. >> All in favor say I. Get up and leave. And another unanimous vote. And I'll see all of you back here on the 23rd. Miss Wine, I need to sign your shovel. >> Mike, can you please give me that? >> All right, ladies. If you're leaving, you can make sure you get you're at work on time