SCPS School Board Meeting 08/14/2025

001matters involving the assignment, appointment, promotion, performance, demotion, salary, discipline, or resignation under Virginia code 2.2-3711A14 and to have a briefing by staff members or consultants pertaining to the actual or probable litigation where such consultation or briefing and open meeting adversely affect the negotiating or litigating posture of Shannidoa County Public Schools under Virginia code 2.2-3711A7 and for the purpose of discussing and considering several student matters involving the emission, discipline or disclosure of information contained in the scholastic record of students in the Shannidoa County Public Schools under Virginia code 2.2-3711A2. >> Thank you, Dr. Shepard. We have a motion to that effect. I move that the Shindo 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,

002salary, discipline, or resignation under Virginia code 2.2-3711814 2-3711814 and have a briefing by staff members or consultants pertaining to actual or probable litigation or such consultation or briefing and open meeting would adversely affect the negotiating or litigating posture of Shendo County Public Schools under Virginia code 2.2-3711 2-3711A7 and for the purpose of discussing and considering several student matters involving the admission, discipline or the disclosure of information contained in a scholastic record of students in the Sheno County Public Schools under Virginia Code 2.2-3711 A2. >> Thank you, Mr. Gaw. I need a second. >> Second by Mr. Rickard. All those in favor, please signify by saying I. >> I. Any opposed? No post. We will reconvene in close session. session and I would like to read the following statement. Okay. Um yeah. Do I have a

003motion to actually convene an open session? >> Move to reconvene in open session. >> Thank you, Mr. Goodch. What would I do without you? Second. >> Second, Mr. Rickard. All in favor of uh convening in open session, please signify by saying I. >> I. >> Any oppos? Not a Let me read the following statement. The Shannondoa County School Board hereby certifies by roll call vote that the that to the best of each member's knowledge only public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements by Virginia law were discussed in the closed meeting to which this certification resolution applies and only such public business matters as were identified in the motion convening the closed meeting were heard discussed or considered by the Shenoa County School Board. Each member responds ISO certify when called. And Cheryl, are

004you gonna call that roll call vote for us? >> Mr. Street, >> I so certify. >> Miss Carlinia, >> I so certify. >> Mr. Gutshaw, >> I so certify. >> Mr. Vance, >> I so certify. >> Mr. Rickard, >> I so certify. >> Mr. Barley, >> I so certify. the invocation and the pledge um will be convened by Mr. Street. >> Thank you. I'd like to start off uh a moment of silence right now for Mr. Toddlin, please. Heavenly Father, we come to you for another school year, but with great sadness with the loss of Mr. Todd Lynn. Lord, we ask that you be of course with his family. Please be with his wife, his children. Lord, you tell us in Genesis as you created life and you bring us such joy when you bring

005life into this world and unfortunately when you suddenly take life away, it brings quite sadness. But Lord, we ask that you somehow someway find his family to lean on you to reach out to your lending hand to be with them to help guide them to give them strength to get through this time. Lord, not only his family, but Lord, we also remember and pray for others in these same situations of sudden loss of life that for others in this situation that you be with them also as you tell us also to lean on you so that you carry the burden. Lord, we also ask that you had another beginning school year that you be with our staff, our complete staff to be able to provide a great atmosphere academically in the classroom or outside the

006classroom. To give our staff the ability to give them the strength, to give them the support to do the best they can to provide for our students. Lord, we also acknowledge that in our society and we watch the news, it seems like sometimes that we're not a Christian nation. But Lord, we continue to ask us Christians as we follow your word and your way to continue to be a nation of Christians, not only in our nation, but in our public, our school system. Give us the strength to go forward and the abilities to do our best as Christians. Lord, we especially ask another school year ahead of us that you provide the safety that you keep our students and you keep our staff sta safe every day to be able to carry on. Lord, thank

007you as we walk in your will and your way to accept to have the courage what you give us and one day we'll understand. In the Lord's name we pray. Amen. >> Amen. I pledge allegiance 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. [Music] This time I'd like to have a motion to approve the agenda as it has been presented to us. >> Move to approve the agenda as presented. >> Thank you, Mr. Gutshaw. Second. >> Second. >> Um, Mr. Klin, I heard you. Um, second. Um, all in favor of approving the agenda at as it has been presented, uh, please signify by saying I. >> I. >> Any opposed? None opposed and recognitions. Dr.

008Shepard. >> Thank you. I'm happy to introduce Miss Holly Stone who is the principal of Ashley Lee Elementary School and she is going to tell us about these wonderful students in front of her who um have invested they participated in the stock market gain uh game and really um made some great gains in their investment. So Miss Stone All right. Okay. This past school year, fourth and fifth grade students from Ashb Lee participated in a stock market assimilation game. Each team started the simulation with $100,000 to invest. They worked as a team to research and select investments based on real companies using current data. Throughout the game, they had to monitor their stocks performance and make decisions about buying, selling, and holding stocks based off of their research. Through this process, they learned to analyze

009companies performance and economic trends. The stock market game helped develop math, research, and critical thinking skills. At the end of the game, the teams were ranked based on their total equity in their portfolio. We had six teams um participate and they were ranked as the top three teams in our region during their competition window. Congratulation to our teams for a job well done. Tonight we have Aelin Ramirez, which is right back here. uh Josie Folly, Caroline and Kora Logan, Leon Butterfield, and Luke Funkhouser. And I believe some of them have something prepared that they would like to say. >> Would you like to share what you prepared? >> She goes first. They have some great if you want to ask them questions they can tell you about their projects. Yeah. >> The only question I

010would ask is will you guys invest some of my money for me? >> So can you tell them what you invested in? >> Yes. >> Jersey. Did did you guys invest in separate companies >> or did you invest in like different sectors? >> You'd have to explain that to me. >> I'm guessing you probably invested in a company. >> Yes. >> Okay. Yes. >> Tell us tell us about some companies maybe you invested in. >> Um me and my partner we invested in JetBlue. I'm pretty sure Hershey, Google, um, uh, something to do with Chromebooks, Apple, and I'm pretty sure that's all I can remember. >> Go ahead. >> Anybody else? >> Well, the only things I remember were two companies. video and I remember the stock market like tag thing for this one, but

011I don't remember the actual name of the company. NSTR. I'm pretty sure it might be like Mastercard or something. >> I don't know. I'm pretty sure we also >> we also invested in Apple, but for that it didn't really do that good for us. >> Interesting. >> And last year cuz um me and my team also played a different team, but we also invested in Apple and Apple's just not good stock for us. Don't hate on Apple. >> They they don't always go off. So >> So what what were some of the things that made you invest? Did you like like the company? Did you like their logo? Was it the right time of year to indicate what was what was the thing that made you jump up and say I want that company? >>

012Well, we definitely had to make sure the company had an okay range. Um, we definitely made sure we searched up different companies. Um, we were on like a stock app on >> Okay. >> thing and um we searched up different companies and um some of the companies that we wanted to invest in were doing so good. So, we had um shifter. >> I I heard the keyword research in there. So, that Okay, that's a good thing. All right. >> So, it's good thing you invest in JetBlue and not Spirit Airlines. That probably be really bad. Now, are any of you guys going to be doing this when you are grown-ups? Do you guys want to study this in college or work in this or >> No, that's honest. The first thing I said when I

013found out is why do we have to do this? >> Let's see. Because you you got to win. So, >> yeah, >> that's great. >> Yeah. >> How about you? You guys interested in doing this later on or >> um I personally don't really want to. It was sort of a hassle doing it and I don't want to say it, but like sometimes uh we took a lot of chances. We were sort of like gambling with our fake money and I don't think I really want to lose $1,000 >> for for other people's money, right? >> Good job, guys. That's good. >> So, we'll take a picture. >> Okay. >> Congratulations. >> Thank you guys. Appreciate it. >> Thank you. [Applause] All right, it is time for um public and staff comments. And uh looks

014like we have u folks signed up to speak to us. We'll begin in just a minute. I'm going to give some uh general guidelines for how we do this and then we'll jump into it. The Shannidella County Public School Board does welcome public comment from uh county residents, parents, or guardians as well as from current students and employees. Shannidoa County Public Schools. Schoolboard members did not respond to public comments during the meeting or the hearing. Each speaker may speak up to three minutes. The board general allows up to 30 minutes. We're not going to need all that time tonight. Um comments should address a matter related to our uh county schools and uh complaints regarding division employees should be directed to the school principal or an appropriate school division official. Uh school board expects that

015each speaker will be courteous modeling for our students that 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. Um, so if you have uh already signed up, uh, they'll have to give you guidelines for that. Looks like we have Thank you, Mr. Shy. I can actually read yours tonight, so it's legible. So, thank you for that. And, uh, so, uh, Linda Thomas Fowler Many politicians give lip service to protecting girls from boys participating in athletics programs intended for girls. But the actions they then take have exactly the opposite effect. Instead of protecting girls, it puts every girl under a microscope. The mindset

016when it isn't rooted in animist towards transgender people starts with the premise that there is no way a girl can beat a boy in an athletic event. It assumes that girls are always inferior to boys. While it may be true that statistically boys tend to be stronger or faster once the effects of puberty kick in, but it's not universally true. There is a very wide standard deviation. The overlap between the boys and the girls is significant. And except for elite athletes, the difference is not nearly as large as one might think. There are plenty of girls that could win an athletic competition against boys. And for prepent children, the statistical difference between boys and girls is smaller, maybe non-existent, at least for effects due to physical differences. The actual effects of policies like this will

017be to subject every girl that excels at sports to give extra scrutiny to them. Instead of being praised for her ability, she will be looked at with a questioning eye. People will think that must be a boy. There's no way a girl can be that good. Let me remind you of Billy Jean King soundly defeating Bobby Riggs. Girls and women are that good. But your policy declares otherwise. This is the effect your policy will have. Girls that would have excelled will instead stay away because they don't want the negative attention. Transgender girls will again be told that they do not belong. Tell me how this protects anyone. Who is checking on these girls? How will accusations be handled? Is every girl going to be subjected to an inspection before being allowed to compete? If your

018reaction to that is revulsion, then good. It should be. But the question remains, you have a policy designed to invite challenges. And I want to know how you are going to handle it. Prepubescent transgender girls are no different than other girls. And if a child has been on puberty blockers, then she doesn't experience the physical changes that might make her a better athlete. Therefore, her blanket ban serves no other purpose other than to again make transgender students unwelcome in Shannondoa County. While making any girl who is larger, stronger, or faster have a target on her back. Do not enact this change. Remove section H on athletics in its entirety. It is discrimination dressed up as protecting girls. It won't protect them. It will discourage girls from standing out. If you truly care about girls, then

019enact policies that truly protect all girls. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Good job. >> Whitney Bench. Good evening, Chairman Barlo, Dr. Shepard, and board members. As we begin a new school year, I want to take a moment to thank all of our teachers, staff, and administrators for all they have done and will continue to do to prepare our schools, and our students for success. Tonight, I want to briefly highlight something our school division cannot afford to overlook this year. Teacher retention. Here in Shannido County and across Virginia, teachers carry enormous responsibilities. They're not just educators, but also mentors and support systems for our students. At the same time, they're navigating increasing demands and often limited resources. Retention is not only about pay, though fair compensation matters, retention is also about respect, support, and trust.

020This means we must back teachers when it comes to student behavior disruptions by maintaining consistent fair discipline policies that prioritize both learning and safety. Listening to teacher input, protecting their time, and ensuring their voices shape our decisions and policies are powerful ways to show respect. Great teachers thrive when they are trusted as professionals, given the freedom to teach in ways that best serve their students. So, let's commit to making this a year where teachers feel valued, heard, empowered, and supported. When we support our educators, we boost morale, and strengthen our entire school community. Thank you. >> Thank you. Mike Shy. >> Good evening, Dr. Shepard School Board. Um, I pretty much I I had a plan here and I could just say echo what she said because Whitney hit every single thing I was going

021to say. So, um, but welcome back teachers, staff, admin particularly. Um I I'll segue a little bit um from what Miss Pence Mrs. Pence just said. Um but a big part of that is discipline in the schools. So um discipline or lack thereof leads to disruption. Um it leads to distraction and it leads to deteriorating test scores and atmospheres in the schools. And one I talked to a lot of teachers on the southern campus, some who stayed and some who left. Um and pay wasn't the reason that they left. It was disruption, um lack of discipline, lack of support. Um but that doesn't just come from inside the schools. I'm going to call out to parents to, you know, all across the county and other counties and whoever is listening. Um, parents need to take

022more of a partnership in their child's education. Don't just show up when be don't just be reactive. If your child gets in trouble, the principal calls, then you get involved. At that point, I think it's already kind of too late. If you're proactive and you're involved in the beginning, I think that um there'll be less disruptions, less distractions, less discipline issues. Um because if you're setting the example at home and working as a partner with our teachers and our administrators, everyone's going to flourish, especially your own child. So, um on that note, I wish everyone a excellent um school year and I look forward to um not having as much teacher turnover this year with the excellent um attention that I see has been given to at least in our elementary schools. So, let's um

023let's keep up the good work and uh and and let's have everyone have a great year. Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh was there anybody else who wanted to speak? All right, we'll move on. Um and now we'll consider the uh consent agenda. Uh you've all been able to take a look at uh the minutes approval of paid bills, donations, field trips, religious exemption, foreign exchange students, and the library book materials purchase list. Um do I have a motion that we approve the those consent agenda items? >> I move to approve the consent agenda items. >> All right. Thank you, Mr. Rickard. A um second. >> Second by Mrs. Carlinia. All those in favor of approving the consent agenda, please signify by saying I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Opposed. And we will move to

024the um instructional instructional agenda and the summer school report. It says 2025. That's a good year to take a look at since we're there. >> Good evening, Doc. Uh Dr. Barlo. Well, you know, let me just promote you a little bit this evening. Chairman Barlo, Dr. Shepard, school board members, we're going to talk to you this evening about summer school from this past summer. And I wanted to start off with giving you a little um information about what we had going on. So, we did summer school for the month of June. Um we did uh four weeks and we had attendance at the elementary level, we had 158 kids come and at the middle school, we had 114 students come. So, pretty good. Um, and also just to clarify, elementary was grades K through four,

025and we go ahead and transition our fifth graders into the middle school to kind of get them a little bit of a head start into middle school. And so our middle school program had fifth through 8th grade. Um, this evening to help us um, hear a little bit about summer school, we have Jacqueline Rhodess, who was one of our coordinators that helped write the summer school program for the elementary and she's an ELEL teacher at WW Robinson. And then we also have Sabrina Boserman with us. She helped write the middle school program and she is a history teacher at Signal Nom Middle School. And then we also have Nicole Gokenau with us who was one of our administrators this summer at summer school and she did that at Signal Nom Middle School. So, and she's

026a math teacher at Signal Knob. So, I'm going to turn it over now to Jacqueline. >> Good evening. Um so for elementary summer school our theme was all in a day's work. Um the teamwork of community helpers. So our goal was to get the community involved as much as possible and kind of showcase different um careers in the community that could potentially be possibilities to our students in the future. Okay. Um this is a sample classroom schedule for elementary summer school this year. So, we had about 2 hours of language arts instruction and a little over an hour of math instruction. Um, our language arts instruction included um daily readalouds that went along with our themes for the day. Um, writing activities, phmic awareness and phonics activities, um, decodable text and comprehension. Um, language arts

027instruction was pulled from HMH and Hagerty. Um and math instruction was pulled from um the CIP resources on the Shindo County website. Um this kind of goes over that again. Um each day was reinforced by read aloud, STEM activities, videos, writing activities, and comprehension passages and questions. Um and then I'm going to go into kind of more detailed week by week what we did with the students. So week one we focused on services um including veterinarian, chef, postman, public works and the library. Um this week included um Vicky Lutz as a guest speaker. Um she came in to kind of touch on veterinary services and um things related to taking care of animals and they also um went on a field trip to the Shannidoa County Library. um some samples of some of the work

028that students did. Um for example, for public works, we tied in um articles on waste management. Um to go along with the chef career, we um did passages and comprehension questions. Students were able to write letters and um send them to the other elementary schools as pen pals. Um, so they learned how the postal service works and how to write and address letters. Um, to go along with the veterinary career, students had to look at um, symptoms of animals and use problem solving skills to triage how they could um, assist those animals. Some photos from this week were um the speaker Vicky Lutz bringing in her animals, their field trip to the Shandoa County Library. Um week two we focused it on we focused on trades such as electrician, construction worker, mechanic, and hair stylists.

029Um students learned how circuits work. Um they were able to um do a writing that went along with mechanics as uh if they built a car what they would do. Um they were able to do STEM activities to go along with the construction worker career, more activities to go along with the hair stylist career. Well, week three was healthc care. Um so we focused on physical health, dental health, healthy foods and mental health. Um some activities that went along with these were um learning about perseverance, um mental health of things you can do when you're scared or feeling fearful. Um we did a lot with dental health and um healthy foods. Students were able to paint with paint brushes and um make smiles with teeth out of apples and marshmallows. Um painting with celery during

030our healthy foods unit. And week four was safety themed um police officers fire safety, water safety, outdoor safety, and internet safety. Um, so just some things that they learned what police officers do. Um, how to stay safe on the internet. Um, things they could do to be safe in the water. We had a field trip to Seven Ben State Park. Um, the park rangers talked about water safety, hiking safety, plant and animal safety, and the students got to do a lot of hands-on experiments with them. Um they also collaborated with Friends of the North Fork and they presented as well. Um we had uh first responders day. We had fire and rescue um and Woodstock Strawburg and Mount Jackson police departments were at each of the campuses. And then um Eric Hair came to the

031southern campus with um a helicopter that landed there for the students. Okay, that's all. Any questions for me? >> Looked good. >> Okay, thank you so much. >> Good evening. So, the middle school also did a very similar theme. We did hometown heroes, making the community better, and we focused on the same careers as well. We focused on trades, essential services, safety, and healthcare. So, I'll let our professional who is there every day show you a little bit more about what the kids were doing each day and explaining some of those activities. So, our week one was essential services. So, we had two guest speakers. We had one from the Virginia Department of Transportation, Scott Ambrose. He came and talked about the different items that the um VOTE works with and how they construct their

032roads, how they keep up the roads. Um on that same day we also had for think um somebody from city national bank she came and talked about the different banking aspects they have some of the new technology that they are incorporating um and the students were very receptive of both of these very much for middle schoolers it was amazing how many questions that they asked these two individual speakers then we also took a field trip to the Rockingham Harrisonenberg SCPA um the students learned about the nonprofit organization there. Also, they loved being able to play with the kittens and the puppies and learn about all the information they could from there. As you can see, they really enjoyed the animals. We also talked to them about um grocery stores and farmers. We learned about the

033process of growing um plants and they actually were able to plant their own vegetables and see throughout the course of the four weeks how the plant process worked and they recorded their observations. We also took it one step further and we let them go grocery shopping. And then after they went grocery shopping, we actually let them do a little bit of cooking. So, they were able to do some measurements and see the process of baking as well. Week two that we focused on trades. Um we had a guest speaker from Shandanda Valley Electric Co-op. Um the students were able to learn the importance of the electric company and also the dangers and why it is important to if you do see a power line down to avoid it and to make sure that you contact

034everybody. And they were able to see how difficult it was. As you can see our student there have the big gloves on. how difficult it is for those workers to do some of the items that they have to do in their everyday job. They also learned about construction. So they were able to take Legos and we made an epic house. So each group was able to build their own particular room and we built a big epic house. So they're able to see what all goes into the construction, how they have to have a good foundation, a good walls and things like that in order to make their structure stable. And they went step through step. They drew out their blueprints before they actually went through and did the construction of their individual rooms. And we

035had rooms from kitchen to a game room to a pool room to a basketball court. They thought of a little bit of everything with that. They also did a little more with the construction and they built bridges with popsicle sticks and rubber bands to see how much weight they could actually hold with the particular structure that they made. Week three, we focused on health. We also talked about the importance of healthy snacks. So, students were able to create their own snack and they had to look up the calories and how much carbs and sugars and things like that would be in their each individual snacks. Then we also took it a step further and actually let them make a healthy snack. We did some trail mix and some homemade granola bars, making them along the

036routes in the healthy snacks. And yet again, they enjoyed getting their hands dirty with the foods and all of that. And there's our finished product of the granola bars. Continuing with the health theme, they became fitness instructors for a day. They had to come up with their own fitness routine. They had to include cardio. They had to re involve some fun activities, whether that be dancing, hula hooping, anything like that. and it had to be, I believe, about three minutes long for them to present. Then at Signal Knob, we actually did a book study along in our classrooms. We did a book study last uh summer school and this continued on was called Brian's Winter. And the teachers were able to incorporate um coming up with a vacation brochure along with the book study. And

037they were their final project for the book study. They made either a comic strip or a movie poster to coordinate with the book studying Brian's winter. As you can see there, they're they're creating their brochures. So, as you can see with these first couple of weeks, we really tried to get as many hands-on experiences as we could. The students learn better not just sitting and hearing somebody talk the entire time, but actually being able to be involved in these and truly inspiring them to possibly go into these careers that we very much need every single day. So, we're going to show you some more pictures of the rest of the weeks. Oh, I guess that's it. I >> Okay, thank you. >> Thank you. >> Any more questions? >> Great job. >> Thank you all.

038I just wanted to say um that the last three years when um when the kids went up to the parks, when they looked at local history, when they um the county winds up being too much of a mystery to us people who move here, even even the come here's and so so it's um I think it's important early on to to get a sense of infrastructure whether it's social, economic, industrial, agriculture, you know, just to demystify it a little bit. I mean, it doesn't have to be a great accomplishment, but seeing how a farmer goes about his day's work or seeing how how somebody, you know, in the health field does something and so you're not afraid of what's in that building or what those people do. And I I think that at the elementary

039and middle school level, that's really a good a good way to um to kind of get them to be interested and and less scared of the whole system and and just kind of stay at home. So, I like the fact that the trend has been to get out and about around the county and find out what it's all about. >> Yeah. We try to balance it with the instruction and then things that make being at school in the summer not so painful. Yeah. So anyway, >> thank you. >> Thanks. Appreciate it. >> All right, we move into the uhformational agenda and um we have a a new regulation in place. Um Dr. Shepard, are you going to tell us about the u appeal process for review of final grades? >> Certainly. This um the regulation

040presented here is um outlines a process for a parent or legal guardian to appeal a final grade. The appeal starts with a teacher and then moves on to the principal and then to the superintendent who will have um final whose decision is final. On August the 11th, our attorney weighed in on the um the regulation and made a few modifications which have been incorporated in the draft regulation um with recommended attorney revisions which establish uh legitimate grounds for a grade appeal which include clerical or calculation error, mislication of grading criteria, procedural irregularity or discrimination or retaliation. And then um also it added a brief ADA section um 504 and IDA carveout so that the process doesn't um limit disability rights um for our students with disabilities or 504. So um the draft regulation establishes a

041clear process for addressing final grade concerns and ensures that the uh results are or the the grades are resolved in a timely manner. I think when calculated the number of days was 35 days that it would take to actually go through the entire process if you had to go through all of the appeal processes. So happy to answer any questions. Um if there if the school board does not want to um does not have to act on this because a regulation um can be developed by a superintendent. But if the school board wants to then they can um they can act on this um this regulation. questions for the superintendent on this one. >> So, when would it be Oh, sorry. >> No, go ahead. >> So, when would it become um finalized? >> It'll

042be done. >> If the school board doesn't request does not request for um to have approval on this and it the regulation will be put in place tomorrow. >> Tomorrow. >> I just had a comment, not a question. I wanted to thank Dr. Shepard. looks very thorough and uh looks like she put a lot of time and energy into it. So, thank you. >> I I I'm going to concur that uh the rapidity with which you did this was pretty astounding. So, thank you for getting on it so quickly. I think it's do it is something we need and needed. So, it's good that it's there and finite. we can turn to it and uh also for having I think the wisdom discernment to send it past the lawyer who made a few good catches

043that makes it a little bit more comprehensive and bulletproof. So I think I commend you on a quick but quality job when on doing this. So thank you. Um the next item is um uh information on the new regulation of forms for policy uh privacy, dignity, and respect for all students and parents in Shando County Public Schools. Um so as anformational um portion of where um this is before us now, Dr. Shepherd, are you um you going to give us any guidelines on this? So um this regulation actually puts um practices in place for both policy GBA JFAB privacy, dignity and respect for all students and parents of Shannido County Public Schools and policy um INB teaching about controversial issues on when um school counselors or any number of those um people that were identified

044in polic policy INB could talk with students about gender gender issues. So, the policy actually puts the process in place. Again, I sent this to our attorney for um his input and on August the 11th, he provided um information um suggestions to address the compliance with the Virginia Board of Counseling Regulations and the potential FURPA concerns. And then he also clarified the term parents which included parents and legal guardians. So the draft regulation GBA-R JFHAB-R or IMB-R with attorney revisions that are attached to this agenda item would be the um the regulation that would be um implemented tomorrow if the school board does not want to um actually um approve this um because the superintendent can approve a regulation. >> Right. So, u a question I have is u are you now I know that

045we've been given this we've seen it's in its development. >> Um are you you're still receiving um input from school board on this or you is this um is this up for not decision but implementation? If there is no additional input from the school board this evening, then the regulation will become a regulation tomorrow morning. Okay. >> We'll put it in our policy manual. >> So there so there's still 11 hour ability to make comments to the superintendent on the regulation, but if none are forthcoming, what we see is what we'll get in terms of. Thank you. >> I've got one question. Um, I just wanted to make sure I heard you clearly. The regulation you're going with is the one that has the attorneys. >> Okay. Thank you. >> It says with um with

046attorney revisions. Yes. >> Thank you. Uh 5.3 information agenda is to u carry forward fiscal year 2025 CIP. And I see Kayn is approaching the microphone to make us all smarter. Well, that's a tall order. >> Good evening, school board. Dr. Shepard. Um, you may remember that we had a CIP last year of 3.3 million. We also carried forward about $828,000 from fiscal year 24. Our facilities and construction crew was hard at work this year and we completed almost all of it. We do have a remainder of about $1.3 million that is not yet completed. There was an attachment included with this memo detailing those projects. This is for your consideration at a future meeting to just carry forward these projects so we can get them done and completed. I'm happy to answer any questions

047on this one. >> We don't need any board of supervisors. Um, >> we do need board of supervisors approval. After you approve, I will need to take this before the board of supervisors. And uh will that be at our next meeting or is that for action this evening? >> It is not for action this evening. >> Okay. So the one for this evening is the 2026 special budget. Okay. >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. All right. Any questions? >> You want to talk about the next one? The next item is to discuss um the appropriation and the increase of a special budget. We received an additional grant or an increase onto a grant rather in the amount of about 20 $11,000. We also have remaining funds from last year that we haven't yet spent. The total

048appropriation increase to the special budget is $23,726. These are reimburseable federal funds. We are asking for action this evening as these funds need to be spent by September 2nd. >> Happy to take any questions. >> Thank you. >> We're moving into action items now. Um we um have before us um recommended uh personnel list. Um we have a motion to accept the personal list as it has been presented. >> I move to approve the personnel list as presented. >> Thank you, Mr. Rickard. Is that a second? >> Second by Mr. Vance. Um, all in uh favor of accepting that personnel list, please do signify by saying I. >> I. >> Any opposed? >> None opposed. Uh, and now we're moving to um proposed revisions to policy JF HAB, GBA, privacy, dignity, and respect for all

049students and parents in Shando County Public Schools. Um, do I hear a motion uh dealing with this with this uh action item? >> So I move to amend the policy JF HAB uh GBA privacy, dignity and respect for all students and parents in county public school as presented. All right. Um, and sh you you have the motion down there. Okay. >> Just make sure I heard I move to amend. I know what you're saying, but I move to just make sure we get that. There's nothing to just straight forward motion. You'll be fine. So don't read it like this. >> No, just say I move too. >> I move too. I got the amen. Okay. I move too. >> But the dentals in the details. >> Well, even though the a is amendment to the

050policy, >> the policy is in existence. It's already there. You're moving to >> make it different. A change to >> revise. Maybe >> revise. Yeah. Okay. I need to be on prop >> because amendment is a way of changing a motion. >> Okay. It's sure some but that's the ones that >> no and I agree because then we may have an amendment to the policy itself so that that will come after >> so then okay >> so bring the motion out I move to approve whatever you said and >> I move to approve u changes to the policy JF hab GBA privacy dignity and respect for all students and parents in Shindville County Public School as presented. Got it. >> Good. Okay. Do we have a second to that motion? >> Second. >> Okay. Second

051by Miss Mr. Record. Um discussion. >> Mr. Carino. >> Well, so we um had some back and forth and get got some information. I think Mr. Gardo, you requested some. I had some questions as well um for our legal counsel regarding this and from that we got some language that may be uh better and would actually um be acceptable in terms of um the legalities um and questions of this amendment. So I would like to introduce this amendment um and I actually make copies of this before we should let them read or should I go ahead and mute it now? >> Okay. And also two different amendments to two different parts of it. Um, should I do them all in one amendment or should they be discussed separately? >> Uh, it's two different ones. I

052mean, you almost just got to pick one and >> do the first one and do the second one. >> The first one passes. >> Okay. >> Well, it's No, it's two different. So, we're amending the same thing. >> Okay. So, you're have two different Okay, I'm with you. So, amendment one Yes. >> All right. So, I'll do that. Um, so I'll do amendment one and that would be um to the very first uh to the first of Mr. Records amend amendment. Hold on. So, the amendment would be to read um for 3.8.2 two um would change the language to say for any athletic program or activity that is designated for female athletes and this is where the change comes uh where competitive skills, safety considerations or the preservation of equal athletic opportunities would be materially

053affected by physiological differences between the average members of each sex. No biological male shall be permitted to participate except to the extent as required by applicable law. >> Cheryl, do you have one or >> Yeah. >> So, is this amendment going to be a part of the original first motion? >> I would break it into two. I would I would amend your motion to include verbage of one and discuss it >> and then do because I'm reading they're two separate >> two separate separate items. >> Yes. Two separate paragraph intent. Correct. >> So what? >> So that's the intent. They're two separate. >> It's two separate paragraphs and they would be a both of them would be amended. >> You've got your motion now. Someone moves to bring amendment one and then discuss it and

054then we'll vote and then once that's either yay or nay then you'll swing in pick up amendment too. So it'll be basically you got your motion and then you're constructing amendment one. >> Got it. Thank you. >> So that'll be amendment one. And so Miss Carllinio is allowed to make an amendment to her original motion. >> Yes. Yep. She can amend her >> and she has made that motion. >> She put the big motion out there now. >> No, no, I mean the amendment to that. >> Have you made that motion yet? >> Yes. >> I I'd like to move >> to Okay, let let me restate. Okay. So, I amend uh I mean I move to amend um the first paragraph 3.8.2 to read for any athletic program or activity that is designated for

055female athletes or competitive skills safety considerations or the preservation of equal athletic opportunities would be materially affected by physiological differences between the average members of each sex. No biological males shall be permitted to participate except to the extent as required by applicable applicable law. >> All right. And do I have a second to that amendment? >> Second. >> All right, Mr. Rick. Thank you for the second discussion. >> Okay. So, um, so this, like I said, this came about from some of the discussions that we've had, um, with council, and this was, um, the proposed language, um, that would best, um, uh, pass the constitutional mustard and and the lit, you know, the potential of litigation that we have. Um, one of the things that we have right now that's a concern is that with

056the uh current um policy that we have um we are not allowing girls to participate in um sports that are separated by um sex such as football and uh wrestling or baseball. Uh so you know that's something that we had talked about before that that was not the intent of our policy. So this actually clarifies that um and at the same time it kind of uh reiterates the sentiment of the sport which had said that it wanted to um make sure that biological males were not participating in girls in this kind of sports where uh the athletic uh opportunity would actually be affected by the physiological differences um between the two sexes. So basically this is just uh I'm passing along the the results of what that inquiry into the legality of our original um

057the original motion that we were going to be discussing from Mr. Rickard. It actually amends that to read um with the appropriate language. Other discussion on the amendment? >> I believe this does a good job of covering. >> Sorry. Hold on, Mike. I'll get right up to you. Is there anybody with an opposing point of view on that and then we'll go back and forth. Is anybody >> Yeah. So, I prepared some comments tonight for this. Um, >> now don't want to interrupt you, but this deals with the amendment itself rather than rather than the larger ones. >> I'll wait then. >> Okay. Go ahead. >> Oh, I was just going to say I like the way this is worded after the attorney weighed in and gave his opinions on it. Um, I think this

058covers what I was looking to accomplish. >> Okay. Any other comments? Okay. I I have a comment and that is that when the lawyer, by the way, the lawyer, our lawyer did suggest that addition as an alternative that he didn't recommend as much as his key recommendation, which was if we maintain our position with the policy that we passed last April that we were less likely to invite attention and litigation and that that course that model that policy would be sound and preferable in most instances. Uh I would recommend maintaining their current policies. He said, "Should the board wish to move forward with a specific term protect a term protecting female athletes, I would recommend the following qualifying language." And he added word for word the amendment that Mrs. Carolinio has just suggested. But since

059that is his not his preferred option, but a second option if we wanted to go down that road, he is suggesting that that will invite attention litigation and he would find the original policy to be sound and preferable. based on that um I'm I'm inclined to vote against the any other discussion. So I can go. Um well this is like I said this is very um interesting that we're discussing this again especially because we just recently and I believe it was last month u passed a resolution unanimously that basically demanded that the DHSL implement this exact language um into their policy. Um, in fact, it read that we wanted them to implement enforcable policy and guidance that does not allow biological males complaining in women's sports. Um, so again, as I said before, we're demanding

060we demanded that another organization do what we ourselves are not trying to do, which uh to me it it's it's beyond belief that we're actually even doing that. Um, you know, the fact of the matter is this is a very binary discussion that we have in our hands. Either you're on the side that is literally hellbent in promoting um gender confusion among the innocent children and destroying their lives or you're on the side that wishes to protect his children um from being forced to play and and and and have to compete against um other males. Um you know, we've heard a lot of excuses about this. Now we're hearing a new one about um what Mr. Butler said, which again, if we read the memo, it actually says um that not only was the language

061that Mr. record um suggested in compliance with the Trump executive order, but it even says the current policy as written and applied would likely ban girls from participating in football, baseball, and wrestling if applied uniformly. So that is why he actually suggested the additional um language. Now I keep hearing about this would open us to the litigation litigation. You know, virtually everything we do from this day is is opening it up up to that to that. Um, so you know that we're willing to take the risk in some areas but not willing to take steps where we're actually protecting children to me is absolutely repulsive. Um, I I've heard also that this is duplicative because that the original policy stated this. Well, no, it isn't. And and we have his analysis right there saying that

062it did include some. I mean, if it wasn't duplicative or if it was something that we didn't need to do, then we wouldn't even be here right now. Um, the fact of the matter is that we cannot simply rely on DHSL policy. I mean, if they did it and it was legal for them to do it, why isn't legal for us to do it? But more importantly, we're talking about we are an elected board. It is our job to actually do this and to have to be relying on the whims of a private organization to me seems um very very out of place. Um but finally like I said you know the language of this current policy is not sufficient. I mean we are banning those girls from playing those sports when we have all

063always that. Um and the attorney said yes if a girl is already in a team then they're they're going to be allowed to stay in a team but for future reference then that would not be the case because that is a policy that we actually pass. Now I have absolutely no problem with amending the language um uh of Mr. records proposed amendment and uh we do have there's a couple of things that um our attorney didn't mention but we had a discussion on this and I think you guys have that information as well. Um there is a Supreme Court case right now that I mean the Supreme Court has agreed to decide on a case that will literally ban transgender um students in high school sports for participating on female sports. That decision should be

064coming up shortly um probably in 2026. Um, and based on the recent decisions that we have from the Supreme Court, they have already b upheld a Tennessee ban on transgender care for minors, and they have also upheld President Trump's executive order banning transgender individuals from serving in the military. Um, so while I believe that Mr. Rickard's original language would have been compliant with the law, if we want to be safe and just use this other language, I think that's perfectly fine. I mean, in the end, this is about having the courage to be a leader and doing what is right, not what is easy or convenient. Um, and that courage is going to be measured by our our actions and not just empty words or passing resolutions that are ordering or demanding that other people

065do what we ourselves are not willing to do. Um if board members really feel strongly that this is a this is a fair issue um then we should go ahead and adopt this language um that our attorney has already provided us and um just you know protect the innocent children and I wanted to add something because I keep hearing about this you know I was a female athlete once uh in fact I'm the only one here who was a female athlete um in school I I did gymnastics I did track and and field I did some volleyball but My main sport was judo and you know I was an undefeated champion in in judo. Never lost a match. I had whenever I had to because we didn't have enough girls in our team a lot

066of the times I had to practice with other guys. I was 15 16 years old. So we were barely you know out of um you know puberty. And yet I can tell you that if I had been forced to compete about biological males my age at that time, there's no way that I would have been um that I would probably have won. I mean the reality was they are stronger. And I can only imagine all the the stress and and the hardship that we have, you know, given a lot of these girls who have spent their whole entire lives training for a sport and then have to be, you know, forced to compete against as males lose and see, you know, all their opportunities go away. And we hear the stories stories all the time.

067Or at least I do because I I care about this. So, you know, if we're going to be a board that says that we care about this and we're going to be a board that passes it resolutions demanding that that other organizations do this, then the least we should do is do it ourselves. And I think this uh language that Mr. Butler has provided accomplishes that. Um, at least for the time being. >> Other comments only men. I want to make a couple quick comments. Um and that is that um what our current attorney has warned us against is that if we abandon the concept of genet of of gender neutrality and of equal protection clause uh the way um title n is being implemented now uh we are very likely to have a target

068on our backs for litigation and especially in light of kind of the strong stances we've taken on other positions are likely to incur that. Um, not that we shouldn't do it if it were the right thing to do. Everybody on this board is in favor of keeping men out of women's sports and to be able to do that. But we need to do it within the guidelines of the law. And um that has been worked out as best we can by our governor, by the attorney general. Uh it has that concept has been uh approved to or at least recommended to us by three lawyers over the last year that we have hired for this. And um as far as a VHL VHSL policy, it's um that's one part of the piece that we're trying

069to to deal with. That's why I recommended that we work strongly and pass that resolution that u that we would work toward that end. So, um nothing more now than re uh asserting one more time that our leadership in the state uh and the uh legal recommendations of our of all three of the lawyers we have retained are to stand firm behind a policy that we passed April of last year. Anything further before we uh call for the vote? Any further discussion on the amendment? >> I just I'm stuck on your words right now that the entire board is on board with this. However, what I heard was we're not willing to put the verbiage out there. However, I believe if I'm correct, it was you that that penned the resolution to VHSL. >> It

070was I just wanted to clarify that. Let me explain. We deal within a series of laws and regulations. Right now, the VHSL has certain authorities and certain policies. I'm happy that they've accepted the Trump executive order. I'm happy that they are uh that they have gotten machinery in place to do that. And the resolution was to urge them to go even further. And once the laws further on our side, we can let it lean further forward. But until that happens, I I'm I'm not going to step out in front of the snow plow and get run over. I'm going to stay behind. That's my recommendation. >> I'll point. I have a couple of questions. Um because one of the first one being DHSL um is a private organization. So I have uh two question. One

071is um how can you demand that an organization do something that we ourselves are not willing to do? B is VHSL exempt from the law and if it isn't how come VHSL can't take these steps and we can't >> VHSL has an interesting relationship with Sheno County schools. does a lot of the roles have to do with sportsmanship have to do with how we carry out uh athletics and everybody not everybody we all in this everybody in the school system knows that they that they perform a very valuable service for us. It doesn't mean that everything that they do is something we agree with. As a matter of fact, last year uh before they had accepted the the before there was an executive order, uh we had we had a dilemma because when we played

072sports, we played games, we had to decide whether we were going to forfeit the game if we were playing against somebody that had a male playing uh in a in a female sport. And we and so that organization has made strides at at at coming further to what I think is our personal preference. But um and so the idea is to is to move them even further along. But um but right now what we have to deal with is not VHSL as much as it is with the law as it stands and as we're going to be held accountable for it. And I have again this is the third of the three lawyers who say the greatest protection for us uh in in being able to keep to protect our girls in sports is the

073young model policy which again we passed in April last year. So >> I'm sorry he did not I don't I'm sorry with all due respect but he did not answer my questions. Um my question was mainly if the law does the law apply to us but not to VHSL. I mean is are there two different sets of law and um again if this is illegal for us to do how could we demand that the DHSL do it? >> Well we don't make laws. >> Well I understand that but that's what I'm saying. Okay. But we deal with laws that are passed and the law in the interpretation of the laws title 9 equal protection clause means that we have to tow the line as far as that as how that law is being interpreted and

074we have three all three lawyers have recommended we do this as well as the attorney general as well as our governor. Now, I can't supersede what they do, and the Department of Education hasn't told us to do anything different or recommended we do anything different. So, so I I'm I'm saying the smartest thing for us to do is is is stay with the recommended course from those authorities and do our part in keeping our or our girls safe, our sports uh on the up and up and to keep ourselves away from litigation that would come to us because we uh are abandoning that concept of uh gender neutrality. So again, I also read what the Mr. Butler said. Um, but I think you're still not answering the question. So am I to understand then that

075what you're saying is that what we're proposing is illegal and what you propose that the DHSL do is illegal. So we actually pass a resolution having the HSL put themselves at risk um of litigation. >> I mean, is that what you're saying? saying that when we passed that resolution, we were actually asking the DHSL to not follow the law. >> What? No. What we asked them to do was to be as crisp, clear, and understand as they as they could be and explain to us what their policy is. That's all we that's what we asked. >> Uh we we said they committed to following President Trump's um executive order to keep biological men from playing a women's high school sports team. So, we are doing the same thing, but you're saying that it's not prudent

076for us to do it, but it's prudent for us to ask the DHSL to do it. >> It's prudent for us to follow the law, and it's prudent for us to to expect that DHSL is as aggressive they as they can in laying out a precise and and a discernable way that their regulation is to be followed. >> Okay. So again, it didn't really answer my question, but let me ask you a question then. Um, how does the language from Mr. Butler um that we're actually discussing right now not follow the law? Well, he sent us four pages worth of information, but he said when he got to this amendment, which is all we're discussing right now, that um the course that would be sound and preferable would be to follow the policy that we

077passed last April. Period. Now he said if >> he said while I would recommend maintaining the current policies should the board wish to move forward the specific term protecting female athletes in H2 I'd recommend following qual qualifying language. Um but but he indicates that this is this is more likely to invite outside detention and litigation. So >> I'm sorry. Let me finish that sentence because you actually didn't read the whole thing. He says, "I would recommend the following qualifying language be added to strengthen the division's legal position. All right. Um, are we ready to vote on the uh amendment as has been presented? It's amendment number one as presented by Mrs. Carllinio. And u I guess we're ready for a roll call. >> I'm going to read it again. Make sure I have the wording

078right. Okay. I move to amend the first paragraph of 3. H.2 to say for any athletic program activity that is designated for female athletes where competitive skills, safety considerations, or the preservation of equal athletic opportunities would be materially affected. ological differences between the average members of each sex. No biological male shall be permitted to participate except to the extent as required by applicable law. >> That's great. >> All right, Mr. Street. >> No, >> Miss Caria. >> Yes. >> Mr. Mr. Gutshaw. >> No. >> Mr. Vance, >> no. >> Mr. Rickard, >> yes. >> Mr. Barber, >> no. The U amendment one has been defeated. >> Are there any other minutes? Yes, I have amendment two. So, I move to amend um 3.8.3 uh to read, "No student athlete or coach shall be compelled to

079participate in any athletic program, event, or competition where participation by individuals of the opposite biological sex is permitted?" >> And is there a second to amendment two? >> Second. second by Mr. Rick. Discussion. >> Yes. So again um to those that care this is actually the language that u Mr. um Butler actually uh suggested because as he uh for all those who read the extensive memo that he provided um you will know that what he expressly said that he took issue with in this particular uh paragraph was the fact that he was treating the sexes differently in terms of who can cross over and who cannot um because it was legally risky and opens an avenue for a legal challenge which we would not have otherwise. So the very simple um solution was to simply

080say no student athlete or coach should be compelled uh to participate in any athletic program which would include not just girls being uh forced to uh compete against biological males. But if there is a male that does not want to participate against a biological female for whatever reason maybe religious reason or um any other moral reason that they have um is not compelled to. So, um, again, this is about trying to protect our students and trying to protect their rights to say, "No, I don't want to do that." Um, I think the the language again is pretty, uh, straightforward. And, um, I guess we'll have to see how this one goes. >> So, uh, Cheryl, do you you have the what? You have the second amendment properly recorded, correct? >> I have. I move to

081amend 3.h3 to say no student athlete or coach shall be compelled to participate in any athletic program event or competition where participation by individuals of the opposite biological sex is permitted. >> Thank you. And uh we have a second and we have had discussion first. Anybody else have any comments on amendment two? >> I have one question. Who could compel >> who could force >> Well, we we've had several um areas where um other um athletic organizations, I guess it would be the golden, the HSL, some of the other ones that have actually punished the students that that refuse to play against a biological male. Um some of them not been allowed to go to additional competitions um or they have been reprimmended in other ways. So we have seen this around the nation in

082many many other areas. So what we're doing is we're trying to prevent that from happening here >> in the Commonwealth of Virginia. This has occurred. >> Uh yes, I mean I don't see that it's happened here in Shville County, but it's happened all over the all over the country. So what we're saying is um if by any chance because right now you know we didn't pass the other one. Uh so we could potentially have um a biological male that could be you know playing at one of the of the sports if the girl knows about this and does not want to compete against them. They should not be penalized for not competing against that student. >> The same could go the other way with wrestling, >> right? You may have a biological male that may

083not want to wrestle against a biological female >> and I have seen that as well. >> Okay. So, we had a question. We had an answer. Uh any further discussion from the school board? >> Again, I think the uh the attorney did a great job of of rewarding that to to cover everybody. It was something I hadn't even thought of about a male being compelled to wrestle against a female. Um, so again, I think he did a good job. I think we should be in support of this. >> I I think he did a great job, too. And he said, "I would recommend maintaining the current policies." So, that's all I have to say. Are we ready for a vote? >> Cheryl. >> Mr. Street. >> No. >> Miss Carennio. >> Yes. >> Mr. Gutshaw.

084>> No. >> Mr. Vance. >> No. >> Mr. Rickard? >> Yes. >> Mr. Barick? >> No. >> So, amendment two fails on a 4-2 vote. And so we default back to the original motion. And um Mr. Gino, you made that motion. So do you have anything you would like to say? Well, um I just want to say I I do believe that cited uh last year that we're feeling our daughter um our girls and um right now uh as our policy stands um they can't even participate in um football or wrestling or any other sport as they have in the past. And the fact that we refuse to actually uh fix that as our attorney actually even suggested um is actually very very disappointing. But like I said before, it's very time. >> Thank you.

085Um, >> Mr. Vance, >> just a point real quick. Dr. Shepard, can a female play football? >> Yes. >> Well, that's not what Mr. Ber said. Actually, he said he didn't know what to >> No, he said that as it stands right now, that is not allowed. It says that in his memo since he read it, he should know. >> He said he wasn't aware. Well, someplace else then he said he wasn't aware of the sports that we have and how we designate. >> Yeah, but he said as now that it's not >> Okay. So the answer is that they can't. >> No, the answer is the current policy as written and applied would likely ban girls from participating in football, baseball, and wrestling if applied uniformly. And we just passed a policy with that

086information on the that I mean that's exactly what we were actually debating. So the fact that we voted against that would go to the to the um to the reference that if anybody wants to bring it up, we can point to this school board meeting on August 14th. 7:25 and say the board expressly voted not to allow that. >> Okay. Um so you you asked the question and Mr. Vance has the floor. >> Well, the policy is in keeping with the executive order and the skinny on that reads very clearly. The presidential executive order keeping men out of ribbon uh women's sports prohibits male competitive participation in female sports. This is to include transgender females. Therefore, males and students identifying as transgender females may not participate on the girls sports team other than cheerleading. As

087I research this, I'm I got a I got a caution light and I think Mr. Bowman, Mr. Street, I may be leaving somebody out. Why are we licking this calf over the second time when we already have an effective policy? And I have high regard for the Virginia High School League and its and its policies which I will gladly distribute now. >> Merry Christmas. >> Thank you, sir. Page one in the first paragraph. Girls may not compete on boys teams and boys may not compete on girls teams. And my reliance on the Virginia High School leagues is because they it's their job. It's their job to set the guidelines for eligibility. And that's what we're talking about. who's eligible to participate in what in conduct and to govern competition. The Virginia High School League was

088founded in 1913. Woodro Wilson was president. I remember it very clearly because I voted against uh against it. And I'm not very good at math, Miss Campbell, but 1913 2025 is that's more than a century that the Virginia High School League. Am I right on my math? >> Yes, sir. >> All right. Thank you. I'll take that as a second. and they govern more than 300 schools here in the Commonwealth of Virginia and they organize competition for athletes as well as scholastic competition. Their policy is very very detailed. Take a look at what I gave you. There are exceptions not noted in their proposed policy. Cheerleading, for example, baseball and softball are not comparable. girls can try out for baseball. According to Virginia High School League, there's an appeals process. It is a three-step process

089governed by the Virginia High School League. If an appeal is made, it starts at the district level. And I hang my hat on the nail of the Virginia High School League. There's no compelling reason to alter what we already have in place. What is the compelling reason? The Virginia High School League, as I said, they govern. Now, let me say this while I have the microphone. The trolls that are out there need to stop hiding behind their keyboard and meet me one on one. I'll buy the coffee. I'll buy the tea. Let's sit down like human beings and talk about this instead of filling up my my email. Come see me in person. Show me you're a real person. Wouldn't it be interesting if one of the trolls was transgender that he was posing as

090a woman or vice versa? Wouldn't that be ironic? So the trolls need to stop that sit down and have a reasonable discussion. As Lyndon Johnson said, come let us reason together and quit hiding behind your your keyboard. Since we had plowed this ground previously was the impetus for me to dig a little deeper and to look into what the Virginia High School League had to say. I met with people in the athletic departments, not all of them, but one that I trust and a principal and others and they say stay firm with what we got. >> That's the end of my comments order. M I do have a question. >> Excuse me. >> Everybody gets a chance to speak once before >> second speaker. >> So, um, have you spoken this this this round yet?

091>> I I'm good. The vote's done. It's done. >> I'm sorry. >> I'm good. >> You want the floor? >> No, I'm good. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> No, no, no, no, no. >> I think Mr. Barlo and Mr. bands have covered it, but just to be clear, the way it's laid out right now, biological boys are not playing in sports in Virginia. It's not happening. >> It's not happening. >> It has h it happen in Missoula County. >> It's not happening. >> What we have right now, the guidance from the Yan and Trump administrations is in line with Title N. And again, we've talked about this multiple times, and there's a reason that over and over again, these lawyers that we've asked continue to say we probably shouldn't go forward with this. What we

092have already in place is effective. And it protects our female athletes. It treats the boys and girls fairly, and protects Sheno County Public Schools from any legal issues. So again, you know, for whatever number of times this is, you just I don't see the the purpose of continuing to discuss it when we've gotten these opinions from hired lawyers of the school board and they continue to say the same thing. This is unnecessary. The policy you have in place is effective and you know again that's what I'm sticking to. >> Mr. Street, you haven't spoken yet. Do you wish to speak? >> Uh yes. Um, sadly, it it kind of seems like I I don't know, but to me personally, it just seems like it gets messier and messier. But I just simply, you know, I

093I can't I just simply have to take the advice from from the lawyers that we retain and that's why we hire them. I I I have to take their advice on this. And that's just I I don't see it any other way. This this issue that we deal with in society and in the state. How am I supposed to not take their advice? That's all. >> Okay, Mr. Colin, you >> okay? Yeah. So, um yeah, know it's it's pretty much being a dead horse here, but I guess to answer that question, um this was the advice of the lawyer. I mean, the evidence that I supply were actually what the lawyer did supply. So, if we were actually listening to him, we would have passed that. But I do have a couple of um answers

094that I wanted to with some of the questions that were um just asked. You know, why are we doing this again? Well, simple answer is we're doing this again because Mr. Barlo just um uh submitted and we all passed unanimously uh resolution that was actually asking the cells to do this. So that's why we this was brought up again. Um my uh other question is you know why uh why not just follow the VHS cell? Well, I'll tell you what. The reason is actually quite simple. Um, as we know from the DHSL up until February, actually uh February of this year, um, maybe when they actually had there, it was May. The DHSL policy was exactly the opposite. It was actually promoting transgender students from actually um, participating in sports. So, transgender um, students were

095who were male who thought were girls were actually allowed. So, um, Mr. Gotcha, you're wrong. There were some of those here in Virginia. Um, in fact, that student from San Jose State, the the famous infamous student that was the volleyball player was from um either Prince William or Lu County. So, they actually came from Virginia. So, we know that the VHSL policy was exact opposite of what it is right now. The reason it was changed was because of the executive order from President Trump. Um, and the way it happens because they are a private nonprofit organization, is that they can just say, "Well, Trump just passed that executive order, we don't want to be in violation, and in fact, I have a whole entire ar article on this um saying we are not a league

096or an organization that wants to be in content of the law or not follow the law with a presidential executive order. We felt that we needed to do this." Um, so what they did is they just called the meeting and they went ahead and changed everything. they can change that just as easily again if we have a different governor in in enrichment or if we have a different president in the United States. So that is why we as a school board are are supposed to be taking policies and not just simply rely on a private organization that is passing these laws um or these policies rather. But my question again to you and to everybody else is again I still don't understand and have not got an answer from anybody on this board as to

097why it is legal and okay for the DHSL to establish these policies but not for us. And again I read from um Billy Han the executive director of the DHSL u on May 5th who said we're not a legal organization that wants to be in contempt of the law or not follow the law. So clearly they are following the law at least to the best of their knowledge. We're trying to do the same thing and this board is arguing that it's not. So you know I still don't have the answer for that. Um like Mr. Rick said this is is pretty useless as it is in terms of a debate but it would be nice to have that answer. >> Any other comments? We'll u give Miss Carlin a final word, but I would like

098to say something because um I think there's been a some obfuscation about about what our current lawyer has said in his recommendation. So, I'd like to read it. law and analysis. The proposed additions to section 3H of policy JFHAB GBA are largely redundant from a legal standpoint in terms of both legal interpretation and practical application. They also open venues for challenges to the policy under title 9 and the equal protection clause do not exist under the current genderneutral language. Now, if we think we're going to have a problem with a different governor under the current Ynan model, I can guarantee we're going to get action under a different governor. um if it's a de in the Democratic party, if we would pass uh such a um a different version, a more aggressive version that according

099to our lawyer is very likely to uh identify us as a lawsuit vulnerable policy. Um, I think that under this attorney general and under this administration and our VDOE, we've made great strides. And I think it's remarkable that we've had this policy in place for over a year and a half. As far as I know, there have been no law cases in the state of Virginia. And we're doing really well, cooking right along except uh want to piggy back on something Mr. Vance said. Except that we've eaten up how many hours in the last year and a half going over this policy? Three, four times. And here we are. It's turned dark again talking about the same thing. We had a perfectly good acceptable policy. And why we um want to go retread it, I

100don't know. I'll I'll also u piggy back on something that Mr. Butchall said, which is that uh the uh the fact that we uh that we really have um done this and and been successful with it and and been able to um realize that in our county and even in our state there's very little chance of these kind of aberrations coming. And what we've done with the last few things we've passed was the regulations have been so stringent on what we've done that we've done an enormous job of kind of making sure these heinous things don't happen because we have lots of triggers and lots of controls. So even with all those, why aren't we willing to trust our staff to go forward and do the right things since we've given them a policy that

101has teeth in it? It seems that we we we've got the law, we've got the regulations, we've got the personnel. Let's go out and play some sports and have some fun and get on to educational and academic pursuits instead of, you know, doing the transgender model version four. So anyway, um any final words? Call vote. Let's hear the motion again. >> I move to approve changes to the policy JF GB privacy, dignity, and respect for all students and parents in county public schools as presented. key is changes. So just be real real careful so we don't slide into the ditch over the bank and down creek that get make sure your verbiage and everything what you're voting for doesn't erase the previous policy. So the verbiage again is what? >> I move to approve changes

102to the policy JF hab privacy, dignity, and respect for all students and parents in Shendo County Public Schools as presented. >> Okay. So basically it's a motion that there are no changes as we kill them all. So My concern was we were going to mess around and flip the whole policy upside down, which we are not. So, >> well, that that's a good caution. And I >> Yeah, I I No, we're not going through this again. >> Right. >> So, so >> so let's let's not >> I'll second that motion. >> Amen, brother. You know, let's not in our zeal erase everything we did at previous meetings. So that that's why I'm trying to book the break >> and that's why >> these written uh changes and there are none. So we're >> right we're

103the the only the two proposed changes were paragraphs two and three underlined underlined in our in the in the uh proposal and they simply would not be enacted. >> Correct. So, okay, >> Mr. Chairman, point of order for the parliamentarian. Is there even any point in going through this since we just went through breaking them down into two separate amendments? >> I was You got a motion we got a handle. So, excuse me, but um we did vote on the two proposed. >> So, to me, it's a dead issue. Why are we Well, we just went back to the original. >> Yeah, you do have >> It's kind of a mute point. So, >> I think Miss Carinio had originally read the original motion, the I move to amend policy, but then had changed the

104statement after some discussion to I move to app changes. >> Well, the original um motion >> motion was Mr. Ricker's um policy and then after that I moved for the amendment. >> Right. Yeah. >> So, I guess we're now back to the original one which would be Mr. Records policy. So, now we I think we need to vote on Mr. Records policy. I mean, unless we're going to have the date and all that, which I I'm assuming we're not going to do that. I think it was the change of the original proposed >> you had you had this original proposal and then this motion you wanted to change up here. >> Yeah. I remember the very first um motion was the one where originally it said amend but then you rightly called out that that

105it shouldn't be a man that it should be the revision um but we never voted on that because then I introduced the amendment so then we voted on the amendments. Now we're back to the original revision um that Mr. Rickard had already u submitted. So I guess we need to vote on Mr. Rickard's um original policy revision. >> All right, we uh clear on we should all have the original there because it hasn't been amended. And Cheryl, you believe you you've got it. So, it's just that H2 and H3 that would be either adopted or expuned based on the vote. >> So, statement the way I have it is correct. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> So, are you ready to vote? >> Um, >> yes. >> Mr. Street. >> No, >> Miss Carlin. >> Yes.

106>> Mr. Gutshaw. >> No. >> Mr. Vance? >> No. >> Mr. record. >> Yes, >> that would be a no. So, the uh proposal fails for two. Next action item is a request to name Signal Knob Middle School football field in honor of James Jimbo Stout. Do we have a motion? Is that >> Mr. Chairman? I'd like to make the motion, but first of all, I'd like to uh I'd like to thank Miss Shannon Campbell, the president of the Football League in the area. She's in attendance tonight. Um I'd like to thank her for being here. Uh, I would like to make the motion to move to name Signal now Middle School football field uh in honor of James Jimbo Stout and make it James Jimbo Stout Field. >> Thank you, Mr. Rickert. Is there

107a second? >> Second by Mr. Street. Any discussion? All right. Um, we have to do a roll call on this, Cheryl. Can we just do a voice fun? >> It's up to you. >> Well, I think we should just vote for. So, all those in favor of u of changing or naming signal non- middle school football field for James Jimbo Stout, please signify by saying I. >> I. >> Any opposed? >> None opposed. Uh, passes unanimously. And then uh as we had uh as Kayn has earlier briefed us on the request to increase FY 2026 special budget um in the it's uh what was the what was the bottom line on that? Kay 23,726. >> Okay. 23,726. All right. Um, once again, do I have a motion to that effect? >> Move to approve the

108request and increase the fiscal year 2025 special budget by $23,726 as presented. >> Thank you, Mr. Gutchaw. Second. >> Second by Mr. Rickard. All those in favor, please signify by saying I. I. >> Any opposed? None. Once again, a uh unanimous result and the superintendent's uh report or monthly report. >> Thank you. I just have a few things. Um I would like to um acknowledge that we welcome our students back to school on Tuesday and it was a wonderful start to the school year. It was great to see so many smiling faces walk through the door, staff and students included. Um and it was great to see the excitement for the 2025 2026 school year. Um, our FCCLA chapters from Strawsburg, Central, Stonewall, Jackson, Signal Knob, and Northport participated in the national FCCLA conference, leadership

109conference in Orlando. In July, the students um engaged in hands-on learning, listened to an inspiring keynote keynote speaker, and participated in breakout sessions f focused on leadership, and they also competed in events. So, we're proud of our our FCCLA students. Um on the um open house, Ashby Lee celebrated their new courtyard with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Um it was a great opportunity to thank the staff and students and community members who helped to make who helped make the project a reality. Um our students are going to have a great time in that new space this year. And then um finally, um Mr. Street started this off with our moment of silence this um this evening, but we continue to mourn the loss of Todd Lynn. He was a great asset to Shannidoa County Public Schools.

110Um he was a um huge source of energy and we are going to miss him tremendously. the um outpouring of of support has been overwhelming and um there are thousands of kids who have felt the impact of Mr. Lynn um here in Channidoa County and we were so lucky to have him for as long as we did. Um there will be a celebration of life for Toddlin on Saturday, August the 23rd at Cross Link Community Church in Harrisonenburgg and um all who love Todd are welcome to attend and I hope to see everyone there. That is all. >> That's all. Okay. Uh, school board member comments. >> What was to you first? Well, I had some questions for Dr. Shepard about the um her monthly report. Do you have any updates on the HBAC at

111Sandy Hook yet? >> So, I know we are meeting with Train um first of next week um on HVAC. >> What about the security grant? >> So the security grant was submitted last week of July. Um I'm going to say the 29th. I'm not sure that that's correct, but close to the last week of July. And um on their website, they said as soon as they know who um who received the grants, then they will inform the the recipients of those grants. So there's not a date. I do know that that money has to be spent um by the middle of March of 2026. So, um the likelihood that we'll get um information on if we received a grant will be December, but hopefully before then. >> One more thing, the Stonewall Jackson roof, >>

112any repairs being done on that right now. >> So, that roof will be done this coming summer. Um, we focused most of our attention on the roof at WW Robinson Elementary School um, this year because the leaks were fairly significant there over the last year. That roof was the one that needed to be replaced and it takes a while. So, I think that was on the CIP on the money that was given to us towards the end of June. Um, and it takes a while to um, to get crews ready to go and to replace a flat roof and and it takes time to replace that flat roof as well. So that'll be work that's done over the summer likely. >> Thank you. >> Uh I had the good fortune to uh attend the new

113teacher orientation on July the 30th over at Peter Muenberg Middle School. Seemed like a very good crop of new teachers based on their energy and enthusiasm and the many smiles I saw on their faces. And I hope I can sit here in May and tell you that they're still smiling. Anyway, who all had a hand in the uh new teacher orientation job well done. Very, very nice event. >> Thank you, L. >> Uh for my board member comments, I just want to welcome all the kids back to school. Uh welcome the staff back. And I want to thank um all the hard work that was done over the summer with not only summer school, but getting the carpet ripped up at the elementary schools and putting the tile down. Um I applaud those that were

114involved in that. Um other than that, praying for a safe, productive school year. Thank you. >> Tom, do you have any comments? >> Uh sure. Uh just real quick, um just need to say and point out that the you know it's it's a tremendous loss losing Todd and u I was you know I tell people over and over I was really looking forward to working with him. Always enjoyed working with him and was really looking forward to working with him. Um just a great person always like Dr. Shepard pointed out so energetic um and I tell people he he understood how it worked. He understood what it takes, how it works, what you need. And I was always so impressed with that and u he's he's going to be very missed. U and I just

115I feel so sorry for the family. I I just can't imagine being in their shoes. So we just uh just have to continue to think about them and hopefully the students and uh hopefully the students can uh move be able to move forward and it's going to be tough. I'm sure everywhere they look around in that school that you know they they think of him. So hopefully they'll find the strength to to move forward. Um and I want to thank the people that have helped out that have stepped up to the plate uh obviously temporarily but um they've answered the phone call from Dr. Shepard. And I want to thank those individuals u for stepping up and and and helping us out until we can until we can uh find someone or replace a replacement

116there. Um want to thank the staff, all the staff for getting ready for another school year and um thank all the teachers and and the start of another school year and and wish everybody the best. Welcome to new welcome the new teachers and um the only thing else I got is uh don't forget the fair is coming up so it's good I tell people it's good clean country fun so come out enjoy the fair it's coming up real soon and uh you'll see some difference down in the livestock department so come down there and check it out that's all Mr. Chairman >> thank you Mrs. girl any >> uh yes I first want to welcome all the students and staff and teachers back. I'm hoping that this will be a great year. Um I'm excited

117for all the things that we are doing and all the things that you guys are doing. So I'm hoping that um that it will be a great year for everybody. Now, I I just had a couple comments just based on, you know, some of the concerns that were raised in their um um by our constituents and also some of the comments that um that Mr. Street actually made um during his invocation as well as for this debate today certainly drove it home. Um I first wanted to say that u retention from what we hear today um retention is much better for our teachers this year. I think we actually did a lot better than we did last year. So that is actually good news that we were able to retain a lot more teachers and

118uh our vacancies this year are substantially less than they were last year, right? Um so that that's actually really good news. Um I was thinking about a conversation that I recently had. Um I heard this it was three Australian u men and u two of them were one of them is a teacher, one is a former teacher and um it was interesting because they were talking about how the one was going to be starting primary school and he was really not looking forward to going back to school in Australia. Um and then the other one kind of chimed in and said, "Yeah, I'm former student. Yeah, I'm a former teacher. I taught for seven years. I just couldn't take it anymore to stop teaching." Um so we're talking about two teachers in Australia that were

119complaining and and it was it sounded a whole lot like a lot of our teachers here in the US sound. So I kind of asked them I said well so what what's the problem? What what's the issue up in Australia? And what was surprising was it was a lot of the same things we have here. It had to do the number one was with the workload that the teachers are facing. Um the other one had to do with the student behavior. Another one had to do with the violence that they're seeing. Um so not say that it made me feel better uh because it's still all bad but at least it was something that we have a shared pro problem that is not just here in the United States but even um internationally and uh

120we hear that this is also happening in other countries like England and and Europe. Um what was interesting is one of them um uh the one that was not a teacher was talking about how they look they they were he was trying to to say you know what he thinks is a problem. He talked a lot about the breakdown of the family. He talked a lot about um uh just abandoning religion and and abandoning the walk with God, which was really interesting because he said that he was an agnostic, that he was a former Catholic um but that even him as an agnostic thought that that separation um from a walk with God or uh or you know the influence of Christianity actually had an adverse effect on how the students were behaving and how

121society overall was crumbling. Um, and it was really interesting because he actually said to me, knowing that I was from the US, he said, you know, we see the US as a beacon of beacon of light. Um, he said that they're watching that they're always looking that they see us as the hope of what can be done. And it made me think about our, you know, our little community here where we do a lot of things, right? Um, obviously we have a lot of issues and there's a lot of things that we're trying to address. Um I still think social media has a lot to do with that. I think cell phones I think um the disintegration of the family. We have a lot of other issues that we have to deal with. Um but

122at least we are targeting them and we're trying to make those things better. Um so again it it's it's interesting because I know um you know a lot of people like to leave religion outside but I think there is a correlation and um I can tell you this is what guides a lot of the things that I want to do. Um and certainly the discussion today had to do with that and um you know helping our students just follow the path and be able to to to to lead a good childhood and have the innocence that some of us most of us had when we were kids is actually very important. So, I look forward to this year being able to work on a lot of those issues and um hopefully hopefully help our students

123and keep building up our nation and be the beacon of light that um others not just in this country but around the world um need to have. >> Thank you. Um Mr. Gotcha. >> Yeah, I was thinking about you know Mr. Lynn um shared this story with somebody the other day back when Dennis and Brandy and I got on the board. Um it felt like it was one of the first meetings Todd was there and you know you and I didn't know Todd before Brandy I'm sure didn't either. Um but I do remember mentioning some people were here something to the effect of you know I could really tell how much he liked his job or loved his job or whatever and that was when he was in a little bit of a different role

124um before he took over as the principal and head um you know administrator triplet. But, you know, there was never a day where he wasn't showing how much he loved what he did. And, you know, really thinking back on it, um, we got to see him on July 10th and that was the last time that many of us in this room got to see him um when he presented to the board talking about uh, Triplet and when they were talking about the workforce program at Laurel Ridge. So, um, you know, we were very fortunate looking back being able to see him that day. uh still had his same energy and enthusiasm. So, such a tremendous loss for our school division. Um you know, you don't find people like him everywhere. And um obviously it'll be

125impossible to replace him and thoughts and prayers with the triplet staff and the students and his family. Uh hopefully and I'm sure there will be a tremendous showing at his celebration in a couple weeks, celebration of life in a couple of weeks. So, um, just awful to have to lose somebody like that. Um, such a a great leader for our school division. The other thing, um, you know, excited for the school year and everything that goes into it. Um, I think we continue to have a lot of good momentum with the way that we're we're trying to continue pushing for um, high achievement and working on discipline as much as we can. You know, we still get reports of disciplinary issues, but um, I think there have been a lot of improvements and we continue

126to move forward with that. So, looking forward to a great school year. I know it was a great start to the year for the first couple of days and uh can't wait to see what all goes on this year. >> Thank you. Ask Col. I'd like to chip in a little bit about my experience with Tide. I think it's very seldom you see somebody with that kind of passion, integrity, and still being like really down to earth. You felt you felt welcome and comfortable with them. At the same time, you could discuss high-ranging things and it wasn't a lot of pressure and it just really flowed and you could just see him exude that kind of friendliness and and magnetism with the kids and people around him and it was it was just a a

127treat to watch and it I thought find it very interesting you mentioned his last time here he he looks so radiant and strong. I was thinking that this guy's got health problems, but look at him, you know. And so I'm I'm I'm kind of glad I remembered him that last time, that last year. It was really special to me. Um I was um really really impressed with meeting the new teachers. Um what a group. They they really um been in diplomacy a lot of years and I've had some old saws tell me, you know, you can smell you can smell the integrity and you can smell badness and goodness when you go around the world places, but that was a really good feeling just being among those new teachers. They they were ready to go.

128Uh and the u and I just I I tried to stay up with what the superintendent was doing this summer, but I couldn't do it. Uh, and I just realized how much energy goes into opening a school properly and uh, as a teacher used to take summers off. I don't believe how much you guys got done over the summer, but uh, but a great job in doing that. My goal over the next several months is to is that deal with the bottom line of education. We've done so many things to try to prepare our school with attendance and keeping the phones out and keeping the kids here and um and and getting the drugs out of their hands and take doing discipline which all leads us to education and if we don't do anything with

129all that if we don't raise the academic level of these kids if we don't challenge them uh so that later in life they say you know kid I'm not going to forget that algebra teacher straight teacher English teacher because I read this never would have read it for we have a generation of kids who can't read or won't excuse me won't read uh because of COVID, at least the way we dealt with co um we have a bunch of kids in our classes who won't even talk to each other because they're afraid to talk. They're afraid that what they say is going to be challenged by somebody else or that they shouldn't get their views out there. And so it's very I can't imagine meeting a social studies teacher and try to have a discussion

130and having a bunch of kids who are just afraid to speak up. Uh so um getting that research going, getting that dialogue in class going um and it's not easy. I mean, how do you do how do you teach critical thinking? But we got to do it. We got to do it and we we got to find uh the people in our our the kids in our school who are ready for that and and up to that challenge. And so the again the uncan concept you know of increasing expectations means that we have to increase our challenge uh to these guys and it's not going to be easy. It's not easy for teachers. It's not easy for administrators but it it is why we're here. So, uh, I'm I'm hoping, um, you know, with all

131the the other things aren't peripherals, uh, but but they're not the key and and the key is is to use all those, uh, other things as as the environment in which we can grow this wonderful educational garden. So, I'm I'm looking forward to seeing some of that actually bloom this year and see some like academic sprouts coming up. So, that's all I have. Um, can I have a motion for German? >> Move to >> Thank you, Mr. Gutshaw. Second. >> Second. >> Mr. Rickard. Thank you. All in favor of German, please say I. I. The eyes have it. The meeting is adjourned at 8:42.