February 5, 2026 School Board Work Session

001Everyone, I call this meeting to order at 6 PM on February 5th, 2026. We have a quorum present. Let's proceed. The next item on the agenda is roll call. Miss Wisac, >> good evening. >> Miss Boon, >> here. >> Miss Bailey, >> present. >> Mr. Osberg, >> here. >> Mr. Grant, >> here. >> Dr. Harrison, >> here. >> Mr. Held, >> present. >> Miss Parker, >> present. >> And Dr. Carter >> here. >> Thank you. >> Next, we have a presentation from the students. >> Uh point of order, chair. Um right after the roll call, shouldn't the agenda be um announced? How can we legally have half of a meeting including close session? And we have not announced an agenda. That is actually on 1.5 where the discussion is going to come on the top

002of the page. >> I understand. But shouldn't we do that at the beginning of a meeting versus >> that is a policy that needs to be amended. >> I I definitely feel like it's highly inappropriate that we have this meeting without having an agenda at the very beginning. That is understood. We can have that discussion later on. >> I I understood. Um I understand. Excuse me. But I feel like transparency is important in front of the public. Um we continue to do things behind closed doors and we're not necessarily doing things out in public like we should. >> Very true. >> And once again, the chair does take that noted from Mr. Sbrook. The students presentation, please. >> Hello, Dr. Hill. >> I'm gonna let my student do her part. >> Good evening. My name

003is Good evening. My name is Min Herod and I am in the fifth grade at SP Morton Elementary School. In honor of school board appreciation, we at SP Morton appreciate all you do. Also, thank you to Tyler Turner at fifth grade student for her original artwork displayed inside each of your cards. and Tyler, our fifth grade student who uh did the original artwork. This is her. And um what we're going to do, they're going to pass out the cards to you all. And thank you again so much for all that you do to support us um in Franklin City Schools. All right. and a special. Okay, Miss B. You can take it right. >> Thank you, >> Mr. Dr. Harrison. Mr. is right there. Mr. Grant, Miss Parker right there, Miss Bailey. Thank you. And

004our sixth grade class made a banner, I mean, excuse me, made a card for you and uh we had a banner made schoolwide. So, thank you all so much again for all that you do. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> This is beautiful. >> Thank you. Thank you all. And just so you all see the artwork and I can't draw. I'm gonna stand up so y'all can see this. Very very beautiful. >> I wish the audience could see some of this artwork because it's phenomenal and it's signed by many students. Thank you. >> Everyone signed it. Thank you >> staff and students as well. We appreciate you guys just as much as you appreciate us. >> We definitely appreciate you. Thank you so much. We're now moving on to 1.4 four where there is a

005motion to make an amend to the agenda by Mr. Als Brook. Each one of these discussions I am asking you to elaborate on each one of them and it is up to the board whether we discuss them in open session or close session. Your first one is discuss the schoolboard governance procedures related to the superintendent evaluation procedure process. Um it it's definitely time for us to um consider an evaluation uh a substantial evaluation due to the uh ongoing issues that we have in the district. Um I believe it's appropriate that this um governing body decide to finally sit down and have some conversations about what we need to do. um whether we we look at um reappoint or um you know what whatever we need to do in order to get our schools on track

006because our schools are not on track. Um and they definitely continue to be off track. >> When you say they're off track, please be specific. What do you mean by off track? I I think it's pretty evident um madam chair that we have uh schools that yes are some are accreditated and and they're doing well all are accreditated and they're doing what they're supposed to be doing but when it comes to the performance of our students we are definitely not on track and we need to have a serious conversation about what needs to take place. Um you know at this point we continue it's like dust on the rug. we continue to just pretend like it's not there and we keep pushing it and pushing it and pushing it and um it it's time that

007we we do something about it. >> Now I'm going to ask the board would they like to discuss this in open session or close session? First is Mr. Also >> open session. >> Mr. Grant, >> open session. Miss Parker, >> neither session. >> Miss Bailey, >> open session. >> Miss Boom, neither session. Abstain. Mr. Holt, >> closed. >> Mr. Reed. >> Either one doesn't matter to me. Which session has it miss? >> So we have to say it has to be an open has to be in both or has to be >> abstained. >> Just abstain. >> It's in out or abstain. He abstained it. Number two, board action authorization to consult legal counsel. What's the result of the previous of the first one? We moved on without her answering. Is it abstain? Is it

008the three open? Could you repeat that one more time? >> I thought it was two abstains. >> Three. I also abstain. >> So there was three open sessions, two abstains, >> and two nos. >> So I definitely said no. >> I said no. Miss Boon said >> abstain. >> Dr. Harrison >> obstain. >> It was abstain. So it was a close session, three opens, and a no. Those were the You got that? Those were the tallies. >> He's open session. Right? Because abstensions do not >> carry a vote one way or the other. It's either a yes or a no. >> So the vote moves forward. >> So open carries it. So open carries it. Second board action authorization to consult legal counsel. U regarding legal counsel, um I think it is in the board's

009best interest that instead of uh that when we have these conversations that we do have an independent um law firm or agency come in and have these conversations when we discuss the superintendent and anything else dealing with the district. And the reason why I say independent is because we need an outside source that um specializes in educational policy and law so we don't continue to make foyer violations and mistakes that we openly seem to do all the time. Uh we got to start bringing some of this stuff in. Would that be discussed in open or close? >> Are you saying are can you clarify which portion are you talking about the um the legal council? Are you talking about for to continue on from the first motion or you talking about in general for the

010meetings or being able to contact what do you can >> so well actually this is a twopart I would like for the um you know, independent counsel to be there for when we have conversations about the superintendent, but I also feel like we definitely need to start having legal counsel in our meetings. Um, I understand that's an ongoing expense, but um so is continuing to have FOYA violations out in the open. And that's just we're going to have to do what we got to do. We have got to start being responsible in our governance and how we do things here in this district. It has to start We cannot continue to make excuses and if we have to continue to take a hit financially, so be it. But at least we're doing things the right

011way and we're doing it by the books. >> I guess that wouldn't need a vote to be open or closed. that would just need a vote to agree or to disagree for us to have council present at every meeting from our next meeting on which is in two weeks. We'll have to find council. So I'm going to ask for that vote from each one of the board members. Mr. Also, >> yes. >> Discussion first. >> We haven't had discussion. >> You said fine, council. I was under the impression we already had an >> We do have counsel. >> Okay. But you just said find counsel. So we don't have to >> have to make sure that he's available to come to our meetings. >> Let me finish what I'm saying. So we don't have to

012find counsel. We just have to check to see if he's available to come to our um twice a month meetings. >> Yes. Thank you. >> And here's where I have my concerns. We say we have counsel and yes we do have counsel. The problem is we need someone who is independent who specializes. Yes. Neutral. Thank you. who specializes in educational law and policy. We can't just get somebody off the street who can go look and say, "Hey, this is what we're doing." Or, "Hey, this is the interpretation." Lord, I can go look up a code and give an interpretation. We have got to get someone who knows what in the world they are doing because we continue to have issues and it has to stop. Well, then if that's the case, we can take this

013into close session because the gentleman we do have is certified with the schools and he is an independent and he's actually a prepaid because we only call on him when we need him that or we can go ahead and look for another individual and I doubt very much if that will be within the two weeks before our next meeting. So I would say starting in March for us to start having counsel at our meetings. So we have until now until the first meeting in March for us to find counsel. >> So we're no longer going to use who we use. We're going to use >> He's a prepaid individual. So we don't have to use him because to my understandings, what I'm hearing right now is that individuals here on the panel are not aware

014of him. So, with that being said, yes. >> Who hired that individual? >> We all did. >> No, we didn't. >> I'm saying who was the the guiding force to making the choice that this was going to be our legal person and we then we voted on it. But I'm saying still there was someone who actually stepped to the lead to say this is the person. They brought him to the table and we voted on it. So, >> in finding him, >> yes, >> Dr. Carter >> and that's why I believe He's saying someone that's neutral. >> That's fine. That's why I said between now and March 1st, there can be a start of a look for an individual that is neutral. >> Um, so I have no issue with that. The only problem that

015I have is I don't want this to be a situation where it continues to be, oh, it's March 1st and then it's April 1st and then it's June 1st and then it's so on and so forth and it doesn't ever happen. >> I believe our first meeting in March is March 5th. Am I correct, Miss um Miss B? >> Yes. >> I think it's March 5th. >> We all did not hire him because we would know who he is. We would know the ins and outs. Even when we asked questions, it was not told. It was not asked across the board. And that was brought up. Why were we not in that process? We all did not hire him. Even though we are the board and we should have input conversation about the contract, about

016who we hire. Everything Mr. Olsburg just brought up should have already been handled. But that's because we all didn't hire him. Only certain individuals did. In fact, we all didn't even know their name. When you ask superintendent his name, he wouldn't even give you a name and a phone number of the person. Simple contact information I personally asked for. Will not give you a name or a contact information. So, it is not the board's fault when you're asking why don't we have this. Sometimes it is not given and it is not shared and various excuses, convenient excuses is used as to the why. >> Madame chair, may I make a comment? >> Yes, Mr. Holt. >> Looking at all five of these items, they appear to be policy changes. >> Yes. And the proper way

017to change a policy is to be written >> put it in writing and then bring it to the board. So Mr. Osberg or anyone on the board, if you would like to write a policy and bring it to the board for our review, we'll know exactly what we're talking about. >> So let me let me comment on that. Uh Mr. Hull, and I appreciate your um what you're saying. However, how can we um definitively and correctly do something if we do not have legal counsel here to do it? Uh we're saying it's a policy, but unfortunately we say that we follow policies, but we selectively follow the policies that we want to follow here >> in this district when we want to. >> So, if we're going to do something, we need to do it

018right across the board. It can't be I'm going to do it this day. I'm going to do it this day. I'm not going to do it this day. That's the ongoing situation that we have and we cannot say that that's not true. >> The policy can be brought to the board with legal counsel here at the same time. We can do that. >> But once again, it's the it's it's the individual who continuously is already intertwined with the board and it's not um a neutral person. That's my problem. It is not a neutral person. And for this board to continue to do its due diligence and governance, we must do things differently. We continue to do things the same way. And we wonder why people are upset with us. I mean, come on. We got

019to do something different, dude. >> And as far as um all policies having to be changed when it's written, here's the policy on citizen time. It's simple. It's two pages. The city of Franklin changed it in 2023. Nowhere on it does it say after this board makes a decision to change citizen time like we did a couple of weeks ago. It was spelled out. It was talked about. It was voted on. >> The chair does not recognize this barely because we are not talking about citizens time. >> I'm backtracking on what Bob just said about writing policy. You didn't bang your gavvel for Bob. You do not have the chair doesn't recognize Miss Bailey because the chair does not agree >> and no, we were having discussion. >> Once again, point of order. The chair

020needs to have the quorum when having the discussion out in the public. If this is the way that we're going to behave, of course, this is the way that we look to the public. This is not the correct way to do things, nor it is ethical to do it this way. >> But she chooses to do it this way. That was very rude and disrespectful. And we as a board all signed a paperwork on ethics procedures and how to do things and how to talk to people. We should not be yelling at one another nor the community. This is not how we do things. This was discussion. You did not need to slam the gabble to end my discussion. Bob had his discussion during discussion time and so did I. There was no reason to

021silence me if you did not silence the rest of the board because you do not agree or do not like what I'm saying. We all don't agree in this world, but we still have to get along harmoniously. >> We are now going to take a vote on the board's action authorization to consult legal counsel. We're going to take a vote that by March 5th, our next meeting that we will have legal counsel that is not entwined within Franklin. >> So, is this discussion finished? No one else can have discussion. Is discussion time finished? >> Is anyone >> I thought Miss Parker had something to say. >> If we're going to make a motion for something, it needs to be clear and concise for what that motion is going to be because I'm not going to

022vote yes or no for something and it's intended to be something completely different. Which is why Mr. Dolls Brook, I asked you to clarify what you meant when you asked for this particular discussion to happen. The second point is because it is also on record. What exactly is this motion regarding legal counsel? Because what we have discussed and what we went off on is not the same thing. Which is why I'm sitting here looking really really confused. Are we talking one motion? Are we motioning to have this discussion? period and what that looks like and what the board is wanting which I feel that there needs to be a discussion and that is what the board wants or are we automatically saying that we're making a motion now to find new counsel what is the

023motion that we are making clear and concisely what is this motion and who is the we when you say we find because we were not involved in the last person that we found so let's get everything clarified at one time who is the we and we find because this is one board. >> Personally, Madam Chair, I think that that should be um to answer everybody's questions for what it is or what it's going to be. You all may not agree. I think that that needs to be something that the board actually discusses without yelling and going back and forth or whatnot. and let's have a civil conversation about what it is so that we can actually get guidance on what that is because this is not these aren't things that you can do based off

024of your feelings and based off of your emotions on things. We cannot do that way. We can't do that. We can't operate that way. It is is want it's unethical and it is just not professional or appropriate. So I would prefer if we made a motion to have a discussion so that we can get clarity from people who are knowledgeable on what is supposed to happen and how it's supposed to happen so that we're not sitting here looking as though we have no clue on what in the world is going on and how to conduct ourselves. And I just want to say to the children in the audience, I really do want to say this to you. Adults sometimes do it the wrong way as well. But as you can see, we are trying to

025get back on track and handle this the right way. And we do appreciate you guys. We're not perfect, but just understand that sometimes things get a little heated because people do have feelings and are passionate about trying to make sure we do things the right way. So you guys just you're getting a a great show tonight. The clarification is that I would like to make a motion that we have legal counsel that is neutral moving forward at each of our school board meetings from now on. >> I'm fine with that. Yes. So a clarification to get a legal counsel here might be really difficult. Can they observe through video through the our meetings that are recorded? Is that a possibility with that motion? >> I have no issue with that >> because that's one thing

026we've noted in past boards is we cannot get an attorney here on these Thursday nights to sit in on these meetings. And so if that's okay on that motion that they can observe and see our procedures and thereby give us legal counsel. Is that okay with that motion? >> I have no issue with that. >> I second the emotion. I mean second the motion. >> Mr. Osbbor, >> just for clarification, could we restate the motion, please? The motion is that I would like to have legal counsel that is independent moving forward at each of our schoolboard meetings. If we can't have them here, I would like for them to be able to view via our video conference. >> That's all of our school board meetings. >> Yes, all of them moving forward. >> Thank you.

027You mean similar to city council having council present at their bimonthly then their every two month meet? >> Yeah, that's what I would like. Yep. >> And I second that motion. >> With that second, we're going to take a vote. Mr. Osbbor, >> yes. >> Mr. Grant, >> yes. >> Miss Parker, >> yes. >> Bailey, >> yes. Hulk, >> yes. >> Harrison, >> yes. >> Boon, yes. >> Number four, policy direction, development of the whistleblower policy. Can you please explain that to me? I have no clue what that is. >> Oh, sorry. Number three, governance motion regarding superintendent evaluation and contract oversight. Um, so I definitely as as I've stated before, I want us to be able to have a conversation um particularly in in close session about the contract at the superintendent. Um, once

028again, I've noted um several different issues that we have within the district and ongoing issues. And I think it's uh definitely time for us to consider whether we need to move in a new direction um as a school system or if we need to um re-evaluate how we do things within our district in regards to um um the performance and the overall um uh directives moving forward in regards to how um our school system continues to do what it needs to do. >> So, as you just stated that to be done in close session. >> Yes, ma'am. >> I have a question. I'm sorry, Madam Chair. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Are we talking about directives and policies or are we talking about the superintendent? >> The superintendent. So, is this going to be different than

029have scheduled for 5th of March because we already have that on the agenda from what I understand that we're going to have a review and discussion on the superintendent. Is this a different meeting that you're asking for or is that >> confirmed with that? >> So, what I would like to do is take a vote that's I would like to meet and possibly take a vote. >> You're asking to take a vote about the meeting on March 5th. >> No. Um uh if if we need to do if we need to part ways with the superintendent. >> So again to clarify so you want that in open session to do that or you want in a close session to discuss it >> and then determine if if we're to continue >> is that a possibility

030that it happens on the 5th? I mean can we do that both times? Is that okay if we do that on the fifth when we've already got that scheduled on the agenda because it has to be on the agenda. So does that work for you if we continue with that on the 5th? I have no issue with that. >> Okay. >> I'd like to make a point before that. Um, in no way, shape, or form am I going to be okay with having any type of discussion about any type of personnel, any of the personnel in open session for anyone whatsoever. I'm just not comfortable with that. I mean, I'll stand by myself on that if that's necessary. That's just what it is. You want to have a discussion and we already have the things

031that you've already addressed. Um, because I did I read your emails and I appreciate them. Right. So if you want to have that discussion and that's us the board and that's already stated for March 5th close session, we can have that conversation. But just so you know from me, I'm not comfortable having that conversation about any of the employees that we have in open session. >> Yeah, I did say >> No, he said close session. >> Did say close. I wouldn't have that in >> He said close session. So, with the end of that discussion, we don't need a vote because that is going to happen on March 5th. Is that correct? >> Do you still want to vote on this or are you confident in the March 5th date? >> I'm fine with the

032March 5th date as long as we stick to it and say we're going to stick to it. >> So, again, for clarification, would you repeat the motion, please? Well, I was going to ask, can we get clarification on exactly what's on the March 5th uh docket? I mean, what exactly are we going to discuss that you just basically put out there about, you know, we have this because we we were the missing uh uh board members last time. So, you know, so can we get some clarification? >> Well, actually, it wasn't discussed at the last board meeting. Within the last week, everyone on the board received a 30-day notice stating that we will be going over Dr. Carter's contract on March 5th, and that was sent to everyone on the board and to himself also.

033So, he also got a statement stating to him that on March 5th, his contract will be evaluated with the board members. That was a 30-day notice that he got. >> Yeah. I mean, I'm fine with that. So, I my motion is the once again the evaluation, right? We have that evaluation and then I'd like to take a vote afterwards. >> Well, that's just it. When we go into this discussion, it is a lot of things that is actually going to be discussed. What has been done, what hasn't been done, what we can see done, what we'd like to see done, and everything else in between. meaning anything we want to bring forth, anything we'd like to take away, or if in fact we feel that Dr. Carter is not the correct individual for us, that

034vote, that contract, >> I have no issue with that. I'm good with that. >> I have an issue um how did we pick the date? Because we weren't um as you know, Mr. Grant wasn't aware, certain people weren't aware. How did we what did it come out to the board? Let's pick the date, the first meeting, the second. >> Well, I'm glad you said that. Because as per Virginia law, it is a 30-day notice that has to get sent out and it was actually sent out before February 5th. That wasn't the question. I wasn't questioning the time and 30 days is fine. I asked how did we pick the date? It was a simple question. How did we pick the date? Was anybody else consulted on the date? >> No. >> Okay. So, you're okay

035with March 5th? >> Yeah, I'm fine with that. >> With the discussion continuing on March 5th in close session? >> That's fine. >> Uh, just for clarification, are we doing any type of voting on that night? Because I think that's what I know you said that we could get there, but that's a wood. I think he's actually asking for a vote to happen that night. >> So, I understand. We're saying that we want to have the discussion, but then again that night we can have the discussion and then say, "Oh, we're going to have a discussion again or move the discussion forward." So, I definitely would like for us to have the discussion and then have some type of vote >> on the same. >> Yes. on that same night. And I'm being very honest

036with you, I am new to this and that's something that I'd have to look into and to get in contact with legal aid with the legal to find out if that can happen without anyone's input. I'd have to find that out >> without anyone input. >> Yes, without anyone's input. >> What was that referring to? That's referring to everyone on this on this um podium. >> Right. It has to be done in open session, right? So, I mean, I'm okay if we need to to find counsel, but once again, I don't want to continue to put it off. That's what I'm worried about. We're going to continue to put it off, put it off, put it off. We say we do things and we're going to do things and then we don't do it. So,

037>> well, right now it's actually set in stone that March 5th is the date to go over his contract because it is a 30-day notice that he has received. So, it has to happen on March 5th. So, is it to go over the contract and vote or just go over the contract and vote the next time we come together? >> So, I what I think she's proposing or saying is is to go over the contract. Um, if we do the vote, she wants to have legal counsel so we make sure that we do it the right way. Is that what you're saying? >> Yes, Mr. Also, >> does anyone else have a discussion? Do we need to vote on March 5th? >> Okay. Number four, policy direction development of the whistleblower policy. What is that?

038>> Um, >> please elaborate. >> So, in regards to policy, I've looked throughout the policy and um manual for Franklin City Public Schools. There is nothing in there about a whistleblower um where staff can come and really voice their concerns or have a clear way of doing things in order to get stuff across. So if they have concerns, there should be a um a system that we have in place that they can go through all the way up to the I would hope to the board. But once again, many districts have a whistleblowing policy and we don't have a whistleblowing policy. We have one in place. >> And does that include like a no retal uh no retaliating clause? >> Yeah, we definitely want to make sure there's a no retaliation clause. Staff should be

039able to voice their concerns and say what they need to say without fear of retaliation or not being able to speak out um openly uh for whatever concern they may have within the district. >> So, are you saying you want us to vote on implementing a whistle writing and implementing a whistleblower policy with no retaliation. >> So, I would like for us to vote on making a directive to the superintendent and his uh staff and leadership that they um create a whistleblower policy and that we as a board review it and put input as well. >> There you go. That's the way it should be done. You should tell all board members that, not just one. >> So that's a motion from Mr. Osbbor. I'll second it. >> Mr. Osbbor? >> Yes. >> Mr. Grant?

040>> Yes. >> Miss Parker. What? >> Miss Bailey. Yes, >> Mr. Halt. >> Yes, >> Mr. Harrison. >> Yes, >> Miss Boom. Yes, >> Miss Parker. >> Yes, >> Madam Chair. >> Yes. >> May I ask >> May I speak? >> If this if Mr. Spoke is asking the superintendent to to do the policy, are you asking me to create the policy, the whistle policy? Because I saw that in your email. Yes. I would like for >> Does the whistle board policy include you as well? >> Sure. >> I just want to make sure that all staff are account held accountable. >> Well, the school board is not city employees. We're we're not considered staff. That was clarified. So, we're not So, It can't. >> I'm just I'm just asking I'm just asking if you

041are asking for full transparency as you've been preaching. It should also include the board. >> Yeah. The the whole board, not just John, but you made a reference. You made >> I mean the whole board. >> Let me finish. You made a reference that he was staffed. The school board is not staffed. I was giving clarified. >> Thank you. >> And I'm just curious why there um and Madam Chair, I may be out of order, but that's fine. I don't care. You just let me know. Um, my thing is why is why do we have so much hostility to the development of a whistleblower policy? This should be looked as as a positive thing for staff to be able to u voice their concerns. This should not be voiced or seen as a negative thing

042in our district. I think it should be positive >> because Mr. Holsbrook, we already have a climate that is anonymous that we pass out and the data was there. Unfortunately, you were not there to receive it, but we will happily share it with you. The second thing is that we don't have the manpower. If used wrong, it can be weaponized and and bog us down to keep us from doing our job and I'm very very concerned that may that may be the motive. Since we are having discussion concerning um what you just said, what was sent out to staff, a lot of staff said they are truly scared and this is teachers, maintenance workers, um uh kitchen staff because God knows Franklin has wonderful employees in our school and we really do appreciate you. We

043really do appreciate you educating and taking care of our children so much. But back to that, a lot of staff have said they are scared of re retaliation. That's why they do not come regularly to the meetings. That's why they do not voice their opinions. They will not fill out. Some of them say they fill out the anonymous forms. They will not be completely honest because they believe somehow it is trackable and is retaliation. I've asked them how come you just don't put things in the box. That's anonymous. They said because there's a camera looking at it and this is what your staff is saying. If other cities have a whistleblowing policy and it's not a big deal, it should be fine here. But I do agree with Mr. Alsbrook. It should not have been

044that much animosity to that one thing that will make our staff much much much better and happier that they feel that they can voice and say things without their jobs being threatened. People lively here. I'm almost finished. You're interrupting me. You're interrupting me. I did not interrupt you, Dr. Carter. >> Carter, please let Madam >> I did not interrupt you and I will not interrupt anybody speaking. You are quick to correct other people, but you are not quick to take correction yourself. You are quick to point fingers at others, but you are not quick to point that finger back. And you should start doing that. Thank you. >> First of all, your interpretation is your words. I never said animosity. That is your interpretation. And once again, please let me explain to the staff who

045is out there and the public's out there. We have VA that meets with us once a month and that is anonymous. We also have climate surveys that is anonymous that is given out twice a year. That is our data. We have parent advisories. We have student advisories. It is not our problem if staff does not fill out anonymous surveys until and so that's the data that we go by to see if everything is well within the district. What you are talking about madam is I I always ask please bring an example because if it's not an example is hearsay. We cannot >> um we we cannot actively comment on on staff issues with staff and and we know that the problem is um here here's the problem. There is so much deterioration going on within

046our district and we don't even know about it. A whistleblower policy should be looked at as a good thing. I understand it's controversial. I understand it might make your job a little bit more difficult. But unfortunately, you know, we got to do what we have to do. And um you know, if we really care about staff the way that we say we do here at Franklin City Public Schools, then this should not be such a big deal for us. >> Oh, it's a very it's a very big deal because it bogs down what we have to do in central office and in our schools every day. And once again, if it's not used properly and and part of the policy I am going to put in there, I'm going to make it known now is

047that you will I will ask that you will identify who you are so that we do not have someone calling from everywhere all over the world uh making accusations and then we have to bo be bogged down and or we have to hire someone to do this which Paul's great expense. We already have numerous of avenues to survey staff to get what their feedback and opinions are. So, I just think this is a situation that you're already u not trusting the data that you're receiving and just another layer to turn around and bog the central office and uh down so they can't get their work done. >> You misqued what I said. I never said you said anything about animosity. Mr. Als said the level of animosity. So you misqued what I said. I did

048not say you said that. And no one said anything was your problem. You have a way of taking people's words and changing them around as you just did publicly to minds. There's many excuses you're making not to implement a simple policy that this board has the decision to vote on. You're making excuse after excuse after excuse like excuse and excuses made while our numbers are some of the lowest in this district right here when it comes to grades. Now you may not find a whistleblower policy. But our school teachers, our aids, our custodians, our clerical staff, our kitchen workers, you don't know what they found valuable. They do not make the same income you make. They do not have the same freedoms you have. They would like to be voiced and heard anonymously. This is

049not the first city to actually have one of these, but you're making every excuse. We've talked about a whole lot, but you're very vocal on this one thing that would improve the morale of our staff. Our staff are responsible for all these beautiful babies here. They need their morale to be increased. I just wanted the public to know from the other side that the things that you are speaking of we already have in place and there's no need to have a third layer to bog the central office down from focusing on the education. That's what I'm That's what I'm asking. That's what I'm telling the public and that's what I'm notifying the board. Yeah. That we already have two mechanisms to check the pulse of the staff and we don't need a third layer to

050bog us down. I know what this whistleblower policy does. I've seen it in other districts and I've seen situations where lawsuits come out of this all over the place. So, I'm just warning the board. What I have seen in in bigger districts when this happens, it sometimes if misused becomes an awful thing. >> You are not the one to say if it's needed or not needed. It is the people who are working in these schools every day. You can't voice an opinion for them. You have other mechanisms and they're failing. Otherwise, you would not have person after person who works in the schools coming saying the same thing. They will not use those mechanisms because persons who have used them one way or the other had some sort of retaliation many times. So they won't

051use that. They have jobs. They have families to provide for. So they don't use that. So for you to make a blanket statement like it's not needed is not correct. That's you represent your opinion. >> Can can I interject just for a second and just ask uh Dr. Carter a question? um based off of what you believe the whistleblower policy is versus what you already have in place, what's the difference? As I'll state again, it is manpower time that is taken away from from HR, especially if it is anonymous that is that will bog us down because people can if misused. It can be a weapon. There can be a situation that's out of control and we have to focus on the education of our children. That's what I'm talking about. We already have two

052mechanisms in which we gauge. Adding a third mechanism in this way, especially if you're going to ask that it's anonymous, will will cause a situation where we will be every day phone calls being filled uh be being uh answered and then we have to stop and do that instead of focusing on the education of our children. So that that is my concern because I'm worried about the work and who's going to do it. It's easy for some members of the board to suggest that they're not doing the work. >> Okay. Once again, I'm just asking for the schematics of things. I'm saying based off of what you already have and a whistleblower um policy. I'm saying what's the what's the finite difference between the two? because why couldn't you just remove one of the other

053mechanisms you have and we still have two but one just happens to be a whistleblower um policy >> because I don't because I don't understand if a if a survey is anonymous and then you also have VA representation that I meet that's also anonymous why would you need another layer on top of that that that you saying is you're making I'm I'm I'm reading in my mind that you're making the assumption that the two two are not working. So please tell me why you think the other two avenues are not working. I'll give you a wonderful example. Uh the example is this. Um, the whistleblower policy would probably stop any retribution being thrown back at the person who is actually making the complaint. Obviously, that's not happening right now. People are receiving uh unfortunate negative

054retribution for the comments that they have made in the past. I'm not going to bring up any names, but it has happened. I've received emails. I've received com conversation about it and that's why I believe we believe that that's something that's needed something where they can't get blowback for coming forward and stating a wrongdoing uh in the system or something that they're seeing that's done wrong and and be at fear of losing their position or being transferred or being let go. I think that's the big point here. Okay, stop. Just go ahead, >> Dr. Carter. >> I see no wrong in a policy being made. It does not mean that the policy would continue or the policy would be stopped, but just a policy being made and brought to the board where the board takes

055that vote or whether that policy becomes active or not. because at the end of it, it is based off of the board. With that being said, I hear three different things going on. I hear one anonymous. Then it's like as if they're going to face their accuser because it wouldn't be anonymous. So, help me understand right now what it is. >> When you have a whistleblower policy, it it should be anonymous unless they want to say who they are. They should have that right to be able to do that. If they don't want to do that, then so be it. >> So the person option, >> they should have an option. Yes. >> To my understandings, and I'm just saying with the two surveys that are here, there is an option, but the two surveys

056are once again coming from the superintendent and the central office. So with that being said, is there a sample of a whistleblower that you can bring to the board to where we can see a policy of what it is that you would like to have in a policy or out of a policy? >> Yes, there's a there's a couple of examples I can bring. >> So can you bring that to the board so we can see because when you specifically say for central office, they already did it. >> They already did the two surveys. So that's why I'm asking for an example of what it because I don't know what a whistleblower is. >> So when we talk about surveys that that's just testing the temperature of morale within the district. Correct. That's necess not

057necessarily a policy that's saying hey if you have this concern this is what you need to do. Anybody can >> you can send me a survey right now and I can lie on the survey. Right? If there's a set policy and a set way that we do things in order to report things and have you know whatever needs to be known known that should be followed. The policy should be followed. >> So can you make that motion that you like a policy a whistleblower policy? >> Yes. I I would like to make that motion that we have a whistleblower policy. >> Isn't that what you said in the beginning? We just we just that's what he said in the beginning. We just made a motion and we all just voted on that motion to >>

058to create a whistleblower policy. So So that's it. >> That's that we're done. >> Okay. >> We're done. >> All of this discussion was through Dr. Carter. >> Number five, board governance motion, training notice approval, and individual statutory statutory obligations. >> Yes. In regards to um as many of the board members are aware, they received an email regarding training that has to be completed. Um first off, uh per Virginia code, yes, it is our requirement to do it, but no board member can be kept from a closed session meeting because we we don't do it or we're not doing it. Um that email was sent to us that if we did not complete that particular training that we not be allowed into close session and that cannot take place. We are >> um >> required

059by law to do it but nobody can keep an appointed lawfully appointed school board member from doing their um um duties to governance. Um so in regards to that moving forward I believe that we should make a motion that if we're going to um require something that we require something by a particular date and that everything is set by a certain date that this has to be done this has to be done. this has to be done because madam chair one of the things that was put um in the email by you is you wanted us to be able to do these trainings but yet when it came to webinars you couldn't sign up to the webinar until a month later to be able to do it and that's just not fair. >> But if

060the state but we still have to go about what the state says. The state does not say we cannot attend if we don't we can't make our own rules. You cannot do this if you don't do that. That's not what the state says like you pointed out. >> That's true. >> So we we should not be sending correspondents saying things like that. >> You're correct, Mr. Alsboro. But it also says there's a difference between elective and appointed. Even though it says that the elective school board must know about a foyer and not appointed, we still should know what a foyer is or not. So that is one of the things where we don't have to take that but it is something we should be aware of. >> So just for the record I want to

061make sure that it's clear on the record. I am not disputing that we should do the training or have the training. What I am disputing is the way that we went about doing uh saying or uh directing us to do it. Um, yes, we are uh required to do it, but you cannot keep a lawfully appointed school board member from the business um the public's the business of the school, right? You you just can't do it. >> So, I'm sorry. I just misswood. What is without making the motion, what was the intent for this motion? What are you asking? So, the intent of the motion is if we're going to require um notices, it needs to either be in 30 or 60day um increments, right? That it needs to be said. You can't just one

062day I'm return my email and say, "Hey, you got to do this train." That's not fair. >> And according to state policies need to be added to that because the other part of that email was not correct. If you don't, then you cannot such and such. That is not correct and that's not according to policy. So, we're going to go we're going to go by policy. >> Yep. Like Bob said, we can't make policy when we want and not make policy when we want when it's convenient for some and not convenient for others. >> So is this just an agreement that we're having now or do you actually want this written out in a policy that this seems >> I would like this written out in policy and I want us to be able to

063abide by that policy. Yes. >> So what we're saying is we have to develop a policy first and then we have to vote on it. Correct. >> Mhm. >> So, we need to develop a policy. Someone has to bring forth a policy. We look at it, review it, and then vote on it. >> Is that what we're asking for? >> Yes. >> A motion to develop a policy. >> Yes. >> Do you really think the policy itself is necessary? >> I I think a lot of things up here are necessary. Uh we definitely these policies, we've got to start holding ourselves accountable because we say we're going to do it. we just don't do it. And then things like this happen. Emails are sent. Um, you know, folks are kind of wondering and scratching their

064head what in the world. And all you got to go do is do the research and figure out that you can't keep me from doing what I'm supposed to do, right? But it definitely needs to be set in stone for regardless of whether or not any of us are on this board, people know this is the policy and this is how this works. Is that at the end of our discussion? >> Yeah. >> So, are we having a policy? Is there going to be made a policy 30 to 60 days? >> We need a motion in a second for us to have this. >> So, can I clarify the motion? So, I propose we have a motion. I whatever propose a motion that we develop a policy of what is necessary for the training notice

065and approval of individual statutory obligations >> according to the state guidelines and legal approval >> second >> Mr. Als >> yes >> Mr. Grant >> yes >> Miss Parker >> yes >> Miss Bailey >> yes >> Mr. Holt >> yes >> Mr. Harrison. >> Yes. >> Boon. Yes. 1.5. The approval of the agenda. >> I move we approve the agenda as stated >> and I'll second it. We now have the superintendence. >> Jesus. >> Mr. Osbbor. >> We're going to call for a vote. >> Yes. >> Mr. Grant? >> Yes. >> Miss Parker? >> Yes. >> Miss Bailey? >> Yes. >> Miss Boone? Yes. Mr. Holt? >> Yes. >> Mr. Reed? >> Yes. And we now have the superintendence report. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh, Mr. Creek. >> I can't see. I got to

066go to the bathroom. I got to throw up. I got to throw up. >> Good evening everyone. Tonight we celebrate the first completer of our early childhood program. This program is in the second year at Joseph P. King Career and Technical Academy. The program is designed to educate our students about all aspects of education for children in the early phases from birth until about age five. Students learn the pedagogy of early childhood instruction as well as the skill of lesson plan development and proper planning. Students receive a theoretical component and a practical component. The practical practical component is where students participate in hands-on immersive learning at the local children's center. Our students assist the professionals at the children's center with the implementation of lessons and skills with with the children enrolled. They learn from professionals

067that are actively working in the field of early childhood education. Our students did a fantastic job last semester and we are looking forward to our continued partnership with the children's center. Today we commemorate and honor the student in particular who has fulfilled the state requirements to be considered a completer of this program and earned a certification in the field of early childhood. I will now call um our early childhood instructor, Miss Janetta Loftton, to speak more about our first completer of the early childhood program. Good evening. I'm gonna ask that Milani False and her family come forward, please. So tonight we are proud to recognize Milani Falls for a truly historic achievement. She is the first student for our from our career and technical education early childhood education track to earn an industry certification and

068that is no small feat. In addition to meeting rigorous academic and industry standards, Bani has successfully completed her work work-based learning hours. And this year alone, she completed 50 work over 50 workbased learning hours, gaining real world experience in the early childhood education setting. She demonstrated professionalism, responsibility, and a genuine passion for working with young children every step of the way. Milani's success represents not only her hard work but also what is possible when students are given meaningful career focused opportunities. Milani has set a standard for all the future students and she serves as a role model for what commitment and perseverance can achieve. We are so incredibly proud of her. Can you please give Milani Falls a hand? We would like to present Milani with this certificate that just says certificate of completion. This

069is to certify that Milani Faultz has successfully completed the early childhood education program at Joseph P. King Career Joseph P. King Jr. Career and Technical Academy. This day commemorates her as the first student to complete this program in Franklin City Public Schools history. And also this folder is from the children's center. This is a letter from the children's center for Milani. And her name is Milani. >> Milani. Right. That's what I see. Nicole, hold on. Miss Milani, I would like to say to you um one very very I I I know the board feels the same, right? But I am very very proud of you and what it is that you have accomplished. I've come over to the CTE center and I know the work that you all do with the children's center and the

070the babies that that is a special type of person that an educators y'all know I'm not an educator but you know there's something special about dealing with those those little children you know those those real small ones that about the same height as me right but I I'm very very proud of you and that is only the beginning for you don't stop do you understand you keep striving and you keep going above above and beyond and you keep breaking ceilings. You understand? Very, very proud of you. >> All right, the superintendent student advisory, come on up. >> Dr. Carter, can I say something really quick before they leave? Mr. Mr. Creekmer, I think I missed him. for the students that are also at the CTE center. Uh I'd like to thank Dr. Creamwork and the

071the teachers that are there as well because that's a lot of work that goes into training them and getting them I'll call we call it OJT on the job training and then getting them prepared for those certifications. So that is that is no small feat for anything that any of those students are participating in over there at the CTE center. Very very proud of all of them. Good evening, Madame Chair, school board members, superintendent, school board clerk. My name is um Bernita Elliot. I currently serve as the coordinator for adult education and social work services. I had the pleasure of serving as our um facilitator um filling in for Dr. Mr. Copio who currently just left us but we're fine. Um this is um Mr. Co co-chair Goodwin and also good um co-chair Miss Hayan.

072Um we would like to introduce you all. They're going to be ser sharing with you all the students um survey climate survey that Dr. Dr. Dr. Carter just mentioned. Um not only are the he's surveying the the staff and faculty, but he's also surveying the students. So um if you all would bear with them, they will be um sharing the results with you all tonight. >> Okay. >> Hey, I'm Aaron. I was >> I just want to introduce myself since a lot more than you that was here last time. My name is Aaron Gooden. I'm a junior at Franklin High School and I'm actually from St. Louis, Missouri. And I do move a lot. So, this is probably like my third high school I've been to. Um, I'm here this year. >> Hello. It's nice

073to see you guys again. My name is Soila Hayan and I'm in the 11th grade and I'm here with student counselor. >> Why was this survey created? We created the survey to help the district board help better understand how students experience safety, belonging, and support in our schools and to identify areas where the district can also improve. >> This is a brief overview of the survey. 144 students responses grade from grade 11 to 12 anonymous online survey. questions online on safety, security, belonging, staff support, and academic understanding. >> Okay, this is one of the questions on the survey and this is asking the students how safe they feel at the school. As you can see there, we have gotten positive answers so far. They some students feel very safe while some students feel very unsafe

074and we are here to make sure that that percentage becomes very so the students we're here to make sure that all the students fair feel safe not just 37% of them or 32%. And the second one was, how welcoming and inclusive does your school feel to students? And some students say they're they don't feel very welcome and that's 10% of the student body. So we would like for the to see a change in that. And for the most part the 64% of the students feel welcomed at the school. So that's very good. About 50% of the students have the materials and resources they need to complete a work while a big percentage of them at least up to half do not have the res resources they need to complete work and only about 40 43%

075of them know expected know what is expected of them during a typical school week. About 27% of them are neutral and 22% of them know what's expected throughout the school week. Okay, this question was asking the students if all their teachers check to see if the students understand the lesson. And we have 41% that agree that their teachers do check on them, 17% that strongly disagree, 7.1% that disagree, and 29% that are neutral about this. And we also asked the students if they feel comfortable asking for help when they need it. And 41% agreed, 24% are neutral, 12% disagree, 7.2% strongly disagree, and 13.7% strongly agree. >> Just a quick question. >> Yes. >> Uh when you gave them the answer of neutral, Yes. Was there a definition with that? Like what did >> uh

076the definition was they're like they're unsure of like they're they're not comfortable but with certain teachers they are you know most of them. >> You're welcome. Only about 50% only half about only 50% of students feel comfortable. only 50% of the students are neutral about does the classroom environ help you focus and learn. 18% of them agree. 8.6 of them strong disagree and about 20% of them disagree. on what this question is basically asking you is how the students are in the classroom. It's not that it's just the teachers that are the best. It's just the students the students in the classroom about probably about rowdy or they cause havoc or just disruptive and it's very hard for them to learn. 39% of students agree that class schedules and routines are explained clearly. 35% of

077them are neutral about it. 14% strongly agree and 8.8 disagree. Don't know. >> Okay. On this question, we asked the students if they feel that the classes challenge them at an appropriate level. Some students said that the classes are too easy, which was 6.7% of the student body. About 47 46.7% said that they challenged them at a an appropriate level which is about right. Some say they are it is too hard and some say it depends on the class which was 40.7% of the student body and 5.9% said it was too hard. >> We have a question that says how would you rate Franklin City public schools facilities from very dissatisfied to very satisfied meaning classrooms bathrooms and cap zero. Majority of the student body are either neutral or they're dissatisfied on the whole on

078all the facilities. Only about 27% of them are satisfied and five 5% of them were very satisfied. This is what student >> what the students want. Some students spoke about them wanting personalized learning, properly maintained restrooms, classrooms, and common areas throughout the school. And that was a big issue with the students. We spoke with a lot of them and I myself can speak on this since I do attend those schools. And they also want unbiased enforcement of classroom rules, strengthening mental health resources and support systems for students, and increasing the use of assemblies to address student concerns. >> Um, sweetheart, when you >> Yes, >> I think it's prompt number three. Prompt an unbiased enforcement of classroom rules. What did you all mean unbiased? So some students said that teachers have favoritism towards students. So

079a student for example could be on their phone but the teacher feels some type of way about them like they like the students so they allow them to be on their cell phone. That was just like one thing. There's like other stuff like they wouldn't uh speak with them about it. They'll just let them be on their phone while other students they could see they'll see them on their phone and they'll immediately immediately address the problem which that's very unfair towards the students that should be for all the students like they should be treated the same for example if like the example I just spoke out about. >> Can I ask you another question? >> Yes ma'am. >> Okay. Um the next point was strengthening mental health resources and support and systems with students. Mental

080health is so important. Could could you explain what were they thinking when they said strengthen a mental house? What what were they asking for? >> So I believe they were asking for like more for example like they some students don't feel comfortable comfortable enough to just go speak to somebody. I would like we would they would like to see more more help towards that because they can't just go. Some students can't even speak to their um parents, teachers. They need a like a a more approachable way of asking for help. >> One more question. >> Yes. >> Maintain restrooms, classrooms, um common areas. Could you be more specific? What's going on? Properly maintained. Some students reported that there are bed bugs at school >> and I can I I that is true. I have seen

081one. There are there are dirty restrooms first of all and some restrooms don't have toilet paper and we there have been like a disease outbreak in the SP Morton with hands and foot disease and the those classrooms were super dirty that like almost half the students at that school were affected by it. >> Thank you sweetheart. Thank you. >> What is the biggest challenge students face at your school? I'm going just quote every single one. Education. A lot of a lot of teachers are burnt out from students and don't always provide the best education. A lot of students aren't comfortable enough to use our voice to speak up for help from the um first in actually have firstand experience of it. I was in a math class last year. It's not that the teacher was

082bad. It's just the it's just the students were a whole lot on her and guess Yes. it was burning her out. So, I'll either either I'll have to constantly ask for help or I'll just have to teach on myself. Difficultly difficulty learning due to inconsistent access to experienced instructors, difficulty understanding course material, bullying and on ongoing peer conflict and high expectations without consistent academic support. What academic programs or classes would you like to see added? I would like to see I would like to see more advanced placement classes which I also I secondhand this an AVID French class and financial literacy. I personally would like to see like if there was more language classes, photography or game design classes would be cool. Hands-on childhood education, AP and inepth AP and in depth forensic science. >>

083Yeah, thank you. >> And I I really push forward to AP classes. It's kind of hard to get into college going into a school like this where there's very it's very small and they don't offer AP classes. >> We get your message AP class. >> Okay. Students, if students were asked if they could make one change in the district to improve student experience, what would it be? One student said, "Make bottled water more accessible. Most students are not allowed to keep leaving class for water and one trip isn't enough hydration for most. One student said, "Make the classes organized between grades levels and implementing personalized learning through student centered approaches. Empowering shift shifts the educator's role from sole content provider to facilitator. empowering students to take ownership of their learning paths. I would one student

084said, "I would get rid of all virtual classes. They're no help." One student said, "Let us wear headphones unless the teacher is talking. We need them to focus." One student said, "Giving students more mental health support." >> One of the bulletins you have made classes organized between grades. What were they referring to? Um so most classes as you know uh the seventh graders and eighth graders were added to the high school. So they the most of the classes are very mixed in between 12th graders. You can have a seventh grader and a 12th grader in the same class which can cause a lot of ruckus. >> Yeah. As you know, ch those kids at that age are very immature. So, you can >> I I can get it. I like that word, ruckus. I remember

085that word. That's one of my words. Um >> I would get rid of all virtual classes. They're no help. I I never had any. I'm older. So, um could you explain what people are saying about virtual classes? >> So, some of the students uh we have Fridays off. So we have like we have one Friday off and the other not. >> Oh, okay. So some some classes are not actually provided in at school. So students go on their computer or I'm sure they find like a spot to stay at which would be pretty hard since most of the classes are packed and they have to speak with an educator on a computer which most students wouldn't feel as they wouldn't understand sometimes from a virtual experience experience. Some students would like to see their teachers

086face to face to help them better understand everything. So, I believe that's what they're talking about. >> Same way. I need to see the teacher. You said most classes are packed. >> Yeah, most classes are packed. I had to get out of a class myself because there was 25 students and the room was extremely small, first of all, and students had to exit the class to find a seat so they can sit inside the classroom >> and I had to fly to education. >> Okay. Yep. >> Okay. Thank you. In your um classes >> were there that were packed, did you just have one teacher or did you have two? >> There was only one teacher. All of our classes only have one teacher. Yes. >> Okay. >> Thank you everybody for listening to our

087>> Thank you all very much. >> Can I can I ask a quick question? Thank you. Great presentation. Yes. >> So why did so many students were neutral in their feelings? I mean that was the majority in most of your is it because they didn't understand the question. I'm just getting your perspective. Did they not understand the question? Did they just not care? Did they not do they really believe that? What would be your opinion? >> They were just if a lot just really iffy on they couldn't really pick a side because they some maybe sometimes they will some classes they would agree with this but some classes they wouldn't agree with that. is really just iffy about the whole thing. >> Multiple variables like multiple possibilities. So they couldn't say one way or the

088other. Okay. Thank you. Very good on your presentation. >> Very very good on your presentations. Thank you. >> Thank you guys. >> Okay. Education foundation. Dr. Ricks. All right, good evening everyone. >> All right, so we have some special awards tonight for not only some teachers that are here but also some of our support staff and you were definitely nominated by your building administrators also from our central office staff and also from the educational foundation. So, I just want to share that the Franklin City Educational Foundation is a nonprofit that supports Franklin City public schools in V in Virginia by funding innovative programs, technology, scholarships for graduating seniors and recognizing our essential staff at different times throughout the year. So again, we going to we thank you for your dedication and your support. And I'm

089going to read what one certificate says and then we're going to announce each school and have staff to come up. So this certificate, this certificate is awarded for your constant devotion to making a difference in the lives of all and especially your students. Again, whether you're teaching or any type of support staff here, we appreciate you. The educational foundation appreciates you and we're going to ask that you come up. We're going to call you up at le we're going to start with FHS. We're going to take pictures and your family can also come up and join the picture. Thank you. So our first from FHS is Miss Dove. >> Congratulations. Very good. Excellent. And one more. Thank you. And we also have um our nurse, Miss Bale. All right, that's our FHS staff. Let's give

090Next, we have our staff from the academy, JP King Academy. And first, we're going to ask our marketing teacher to come up, Mr. Kelly. Also from the academy, we have Nurse nurse Miss Drury. Thank you. Let's give it up for our JP King team. And now we have um SP Morton. So, first we're going to ask Mr. George Illy to come forward. Our custodian Good idea. Next from SP Morton. Next from SB Morning, we have Miss Mills, teacher All right. One more time for SP Moran. All right. Now also we have one more special recognition for our clear choice program which is our new program this year but we do have some essential staff there as well that the educational foundation would like to recognize. So we're going to ask our facilitator Miss Johnson to

091come forward. Thank you. >> And our last recognition for tonight is our math teacher at Clear Choice, Miss Lane. All right, we're going to give it up one more time for our clear choice staff. Thank you. either either you just can verbally tell it or we can come back. Dr. >> Walls can um Good evening, Madam Chair, members of the board. Um you have a copy of the uh operations update in board docs. Um I've got a printed copy. If if you're okay um moving forward, I'd love to share with you an update and ask uh for a request. Um we'll start with an update at SP Morton on the awning. Uh there has been substantial progress made with that. We are um the the vendor is working with the city on inspections. Uh so

092between the scheduling of those inspections and the weather um we've run into a little bit of a snag, not uncommon uh for January, February, but we're making really good progress with that. Um so look forward to having a a completion on that awning project um in the very near future. Uh the request that I have this evening um as I've done in the past um I've I've come to the board and requested permission to surplus items. Uh items that are purchased are schoolboard properties. So before we do anything with them, we have to bring those uh requests to you. Um, back in June of 2020, the division purchased a collection of eight inflatables. Um, and those inflatables had been used for a number of different, um, incentives or celebrations, field day, uh, those types of

093activities. Um, and about the time that the the inflatables were purchased, uh, we entered into an agreement with 3A Inflatables to maintain and, um, set up those inflatables for the events. Um, as we continue to monitor, um, the the expenses that we have with the division. Um, I have made the decision to separate from that agreement with 3A inflatables. Um, and I'm seeking permission from the board. um to sell those inflatables. 3A Inflatables um has submitted an offer of $15,000 uh for the collection of eight inflatables. The original purchase price of the inflatables was 35,000 uh 335 and um as when I researched the uh estimated depreciation percentage annually it ranges between u 15 and 20% annually. Um in my presentation I have a table that shows what those um depreciated values are. So, the

094the offer that was made was $15,000 to purchase uh all of the inflatables. Um that $15,000 offer is greater than the uh the depreciated value of the inflatables. And so I'm requesting board permission to um accept that offer and sell the inflatables to 3A Inflatables. We're selling them, so we don't have any more use for them. We're not going to need to purchase anymore. >> Well, the part of the issue was the agreement that we had with 3A inflatables. Um, they stored those inflatables and then um would allow us to have two events per month. Um, so it's not necessarily the cost of the original purchase price, um, but the the ongoing, um, monthly cost of of the maintenance and and that agreement. Um, so while I believe that we can still partner with 3A

095inflatables for events, um, I I believe that that price would be significantly less than what our monthly cost is. >> Okay. So, we are going to need inflatables in the future, but it's less costly just to go ahead and rent them from someone. >> Yes, ma'am. And and quite frankly, we have a great relationship with 3A inflatables. Uh that's likely, you know, where I would suggest that we go. Um but at this point, I think it's a better financial decision for the division to accept the offer uh the the sale offer and and uh rent those as needed. Okay. So, you're asking for a motion to to >> to sell the inflatables uh for a total of $15,000 to 3A inflatables. >> I'm going to mess that motion all the way up. Okay. Um I

096make a motion that we accept the proposal to sell the eight inflatables back to 3A. >> Yes, ma'am. >> As for $15,000. for $15,000 as presented by Dr. Walters. >> Do we have a second? >> I second. >> Mr. Osbrook, >> yes. >> Grant, >> yes. >> Parker, >> yes. >> Bailey, >> yes. >> Boon, yes. Holt, >> yes. >> Harrison, >> Yes, it is. >> And the last thing not included in the the board presentation that I prepared because it was kind of breaking news today. I shared with Dr. Carter. Um, we've received a $5,000 grant from the Obusy Healthcare Foundation that will help us to support our spring fling event at SP Morton Elementary School where we'll get to refresh uh our students school supplies u to make sure that they have exactly

097what they need to finish the year strong. So, um please join us uh Saturday, March 14th from 10 until 2. Uh I'll have a reminder at the March 5th board meeting. Um but just want to to put that news out there. So, >> thank you for the invitation. Absolutely. Yes, ma'am. Thank you all. Have a nice evening. >> Thank you. You, too. >> All right, Miss Morrison. >> All right, Madam Chair, school board. Uh, good evening. I'm going to take a moment to explain where we are in the budget process for our next school year. Um, what we are presenting today is a planning budget and it's not a final spending plan. State law and local deadlines require us to submit a school budget to the city manager at this point in the year. Even

098though some of our key revenue details, particularly state revenues, are still developing. Each year in Virginia, the governor releases a proposed state budget in December. The general assembly then debates and amends that proposed budget through the winter, and final adoption typically occurs in February or March. As a result, when school divisions across the Commonwealth are required to develop and submit their local budgets in January and February, we are working with the best information available at the at the time. This information includes the governor's proposed budget, historical funding trends, and conservative revenue assumptions. We are being intentionally cautious so that we do not overcommit funds that may not ultimately materialize. As the general assembly completes its work and we receive clearer information on state and local revenues, we will update this budget and return with any

099uh recommended budget amendments. This budget is a living document and refinement is built into our processes. We are required to submit a best estimate budget now knowing that it will be updated so the city and the schools can continue planning without interruption. Uh and we are committed to keeping everyone informed as this process unfolds from now until June. Next slide, please. Okay, this is for our general fund. The uh first column is the current initial budget that we proposed and was adopted last year. This time this matches the city budget ordinance for fiscal year 2026. The next column would be the proposed next year's budget. A key factor in shaping this proposal is going to be declining enrollment. While lower enrollment does reduce some state revenue, many of our costs do not decrease at that

100same pace. This creates ongoing structural pressure in the budget. As a result, this budget is going to focus on maintaining existing services rather than expending extending programs. So if the first line on the next year's uh initial budget uh you'll note that the state funding has decreased by 5%. Um we are assuming an average daily membership of $9.99 which is more closely aligned with where we are currently and obviously um local funding is going to remain critical to maintaining stable operations during this period of declining enrollment. The local composite index has increased for this year for the 202728 bienium and what that means is that the local expectation has increased and the amount we would get from the state has decreased. So you can see that um the local appropriation operating uh local required match

101has increased to 4.8 million which is about an 8% increase. Even though our enrollment has declined, the required local match has increased due to the um local composite index. Looking ahead to capital, on the capital side, we continue to face challenges related to aging infrastructure. Deferring maintenance increases the risk of higher long-term costs. Planned improvements will extend the useful life of these state assets and will align with the division's long-term plans and prioritize the most critical needs. When you look at local city appropriation capital, we will be requesting $750,000 in the budget to um sustain us on those uh emerging capital needs uh due to our aging infrastructure. local other of 120,000 is the same as last year. Uh historically has been typically JOTC receipts and other smaller dollar amount receipts. Under current revenue assumptions,

102we have limited ability to address staffing sustainability beyond existing commitments. Um current staffing level, salary levels have not kept pace with the current market and inflationary pressures and that can put us at a disadvantage when we go to hire and recruit and retain the best possible teachers. When we look at local city restricted, we're proposing 525,000 to address um teacher pay sustainability and remaining competitive in the local market. Then if you look down to the expenditures, uh notice that each department is being asked to take a reduction from the same budget we had last year. This time with the exception of instruction, which would be the 525,000 of um salaries and then u facilities with the 750,000 of capital needs. Next slide, please. When we look at the textbook fund, the state funds have also

103decreased by 5%. Looking at the nutrition fund, even though we had a decrease in state funding, we believe that the federal funding will increase by about 2%. Next slide, please. When we look at federal grants, the initial budget only budgets for new grants for the 26 27 school year. Last year, we budgeted 1.3 million and that came in closer to 1.8 8 million. So for next year's budget, we're proposing that the new grants will be1,800,8,728. And that happens to be an increase of 34% over what we estimated last year. Next slide, please. And this is what would bring us to our overall total budget. Um it would our total budget then would be an increase of 7%. And again, that is taking care of our capital needs and also maintaining our salary sustainability moving forward.

104>> Are there any questions? >> I have a couple of questions. >> Yes. >> Um, >> do you think the city will be receptive to this budget given the fact the audit for 2024 two 2025 has not been completed yet? >> I don't have any insight as to that. Um, I'm just basically reporting on what we propose to request. >> Um, does this budget assume the city is going to reimburse us for reef expenses that we occurred? Um, because we did not meet the deadline for the grant. >> The um deadline that we didn't meet related to the HVAC at SP Morton of 582,000. Um, the roof expenditures of 712,000. Um the city council did um report in their meeting on August 12th of 2023 to use the funds that we had paid them as

105payments towards any roof expenditures that the literary loan would not cover. And as that is settled, it will be a fiscal year 2025 issue. It will not impact fiscal year 2026 nor the 2027 initial budget I'm proposing. >> And uh my last question and I'll be done. Why do you think student enrollment is declining in the district? >> I don't have any insight into that. Um I don't really track the statistics closely um as our other departments do. >> There are two things. Uh one, we have an increase in homeschool homeschooling request. And two, we have suffered some mass evictions from the Doorchester um in December and January. And they have been uh being unenrolled out of school. So, we are we are working uh with uh homeschool options uh for those who would like

106to join our virtual academy and then we will help the families who have been displaced out of Doorchester which has caused uh an enrollment drop. So we believe that this initial budget reflects the realities of declining enrollment and it also maintains stability for our students. Um this uh is a responsible starting point for us and I look forward to working with the board in the future as amendments u become necessary. Next slide please. So, the next steps in the budget timeline. Um, this tonight is an initial read of the initial uh proposed 2027 budget. The next board meeting on February 19th, I will be asking uh the board to approve the initial budget proposal with any changes that they might recommend. And also, we will hold a public hearing on that fiscal year 27 initial

107budget proposal. You'll see advertisements going out for that um this week. Um March 13th, we will be sending the initial proposed budget to the city manager as required. In April and May, the city manager and city council will consider our request and vote to adopt their own budget. And then in June 2026, the school board will be able to consider and vote to adopt the school systems budget. So something that I've wondered about can is there a way that we can get us to see the more detailed parts of the budget? I mean these are broad categories. Um I mean it doesn't go into actual particular teacher salary and you know relative rates of teacher salaries and what we're teaching. Is there a way that we can see that as a board? I don't have

108it right now because so many of the assumptions are um going to change as time goes on. But once I do get it broken out by account code, um project codes, you know, um object codes, I will be able to provide that level of detail, as much detail, um you know, it's a thousand lines of data. I can provide them all. >> Sure. No, and that's I saying before we do our final voting, that's I sure not tonight but in the future. Thank you. Tracy, the last last time I heard the city finance director talk about reconciling the the audits, he projected sometime before the end of March. Is he on schedule for that? As far as we know, we have uh remained in close contact and I know that the staff is diligently working

109on that among competing priorities for his time. He is in process of hiring two accountants that will help him with that. Um but um keeping in mind that uh from January through April is also the city's budget season. Um I can get an update on that and bring it to the next board meeting. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Tomkins. Good evening everyone. Board Chair Boone, um the school board, Dr. Carter and those assembled here and online. I want to bring to you the first semester scores with retests as of January 30th. there are still students who are retesting but as we um as I pull the data there is a stopping point in time for the board meeting. So this is what we have so far. Um and and this is all

110for FHS as elementary schools. They test during the spring. Um English reading high school as you can see a this is a one-time retest comp for first semester 2024 25 school year compared to one retest for 2526. As you can see with English reading high school last year, this time was 50% with retests. This year with retest, you see 31 or 45 students passed with a 68% uh retest score, which is a 16% uh change over last year's data. With English writing, um there was 36% with retests. The 24 out of 45 students who passed, there have not been retests. Those students will retest during the spring. So you can see that there was a 70% gain uh even without retest for this semester for writing. For civics and economics, uh we are still on

111the low end, but we have increased by 11% from 25 to 36%. Science 8 from 10% with retest last year to 27% which is a 17% point gain. World history um was 57% with retest for uh this semester is 41% which is a negative gain of 16 points. Algebra 1 there were only retesters. There were no firsttime test takers for algebra 1 last year this time and when the retesters tested there was 7% that passed. This year we have 100% which is a 93% point gain. Algebra 2 with retests 47% first semester. This year, 12 out of 13 of the students who were enrolled in that class passed with a 92% pass rate, which is a 45% gain in biology. There was 55% for first semester. This year, it is 40% with a negative 15%.

112So this is where we are at this time. Um when we have more additional retests particularly in March where we will have our term graduates retest then I will bring you additional data at that time. Any questions? >> Yes. Algebra 1 and two are those are advanced students. >> Some are advanced >> and some aren't >> correct. And we only have 12 passing out of 33 children in civics and economics. Yes. Only 11, not asking questions, I'm just making statements. 11 out of 40 children in science, 18 out of 40 children in world history, 24 out of 45 in English, and 31 out of 45 in English reading. Just making an observation. >> I had a question. >> Sure. Um last year and this year we received our first semester so report very promptly. Why

113did it take so long to get a report last year for the end of the year? And when we did get it, why was certain data uh that was picked to be presented and other data that was not uh presented. Um this certainly causes kind of mistrust in the community. >> I'm sorry. I don't understand your question. >> I'll I'll say it again real quick. I'm sorry. So last year and this year we received our first semester so report very promptly. Why did it take us so long to get a report last year for the end of the year? And when and when did we get it? Why was certain data picked to be presented and other data was never presented? So last board meeting January 15th I presented the first semester firsttime test takers.

114This year we have a different testing window because we are operating under a different model. So as soon as the data was available I presented January 15th the data that was pulled as of January 12th. some students had not tested because that testing window was going to be the following week. So that's why I presented all data that was available at that time. I'm not hiding any data. Any data that we have was presented and it was presented in a timely manner. >> Well, um, I just wanted to specify I didn't say that you were hiding it. I just said it causes mistrust in the community. Um to go to my next question because I have a few of them if you don't mind. Uh for English 11 reading and writing, do these scores include

115the advanced English 11 class that historically has not been tested until May? >> Any student that was enrolled in the class took the test whether they were advanced or not. I don't have the specific uh who was in the class. I pulled the data based on the students who are enrolled. Um, did we have any student take the US history, world history 2, earth science, chemistry or geometry so if so where are those scores at? >> The only data that you see here was the data of students that tested at that time. >> Okay. And uh for context, there is no data for English 7 and reading or math 78 because of all of those students. Approximately 175 do not test until May. Is this correct? That will make a huge difference in our scores.

116>> Absolutely it will. Those students will test during the state testing window between May and June. As I stated before, the testing window has changed. So once all of that data is available, it will be presented and it could change uh for the better or it could decrease our overall uh standing. >> I certainly do appreciate you restating it. I'm getting old and I just can't remember things. Um obviously we have more than 21 students taking a math so this year. The rest of them will test in May. Correct. >> Say that one more time, please. >> Say it slow. I'm sorry. Obviously, we have more than 21 students taking a math so this year. The rest of them will test in May. Correct. >> Yes. >> Okay. And then I This is my last

117question, I promise. Um, and this is to piggyback off of a conversation that's already happened. 100% for algebra 1 and 92% for algebra 2 sounds really good. Um, should we expect the same high percentages in May when the rest of the students How were these 21 students selected to take algebra 1 and two first semester? And are these our strongest math students? >> They could perhaps be our strongest math students. How who is selected in what courses? That's a question for the school. I report the data of those students who are enrolled in the courses and who tests. >> I appreciate you answering my question. >> Thank you. Sure. Any other questions? >> So I assume remediation what are we doing? >> Remediation we have started a year-long remediation process. So every since October every

118Tuesday and Thursday students are remediated who need a verified credit or who need to retest. So as so when the students come there are teachers that we have hired who provide that um provide the remediation because the students are required to be remediated prior to them taking an assessment. So we have our curriculum specialists who participate in remediation and we have teachers who participate in remediation and teachers also remediate during the day because there are some students who are unable to participate due to outside op you know obligations like jobs. So we accommodate our students to ensure that anyone who needs that um has the ability to re receive the remediation. So this is something and I'm just giving something personal. So as a biology teacher for three years, you know, you would do your

119midterm tests >> and you hoped it would reflect on the final >> so >> unfortunately I found out it didn't. >> It was very hard to predict. Are we doing better at predicting how these students are progressing throughout the semester? How I mean again I know we had you know the like I said the midterm tests that were supposed to give us an idea. >> Do you feel we're better than we were a couple years ago when I was there? >> So I do think that we are moving towards that but unfortunately um students you know may not have gotten the basics um from years past and is in biology is a very difficult um subject. the standards have changed and so anytime you have a standards change the scores tend to dip. So that's

120what we're experiencing at this time. Thank you. >> Sure read. I think we're experiencing more than that because our city Franklin is doing lower than the rest of the schools in this division. So it's just it's more than just uh what what did she say? Um the standards are changing. There's something else more than that cuz our division is I do believe at the lowest or one of the lowest. So it's more than that and every division has had the same change. >> Well I I want to comment on that too. When you say that the standards are changing are you talking about the language of the the standards or the actual content of the standards? >> Um some of the content perhaps may be changing but also the level of rigor is also changing

121in the standards. >> I think that would be a good thing. Let's let's compare to our local schools. Let's see how we compare. You know, do we have data for them? >> Yeah, those numbers came out. We are I think the lowest in the division. That's what we were in front of us. That would be great. >> The um this is first semester data. I don't have access to first semester data from other school divisions. What we have is at the end of 2425 that comparison is available. But I can't compare what we're doing now to what other divisions have done. >> Okay. >> Any other questions? >> How many years can you go back to look at the data and compare that and >> compare what data? >> Just all of it our so

122scores >> from >> to see trends. So, I have looked at data from 2018, but that is as far as I'm able to go back. >> Is there anything that keeps you from going back any further or >> Yeah, it's not available. >> Any other questions? Thank you. Once again, before I get started, I'd like to thank the teachers for their hard work. This division is in a turnaround state, and when you're dealing with school transfer transformation, and this this this division has been in the bottom 5% for many, many years. It's going to take some time. And so those Yes. Are those gains where we want it to be? Those scores want it to be. No. But we are moving in the right direction and that's what you look for. You look for to

123see if things are moving in the right direction. And so we are continuing to move in the right direction. And I would like to thank the hardworking staff who has rolled up their sleeves and made the difference from last year to this year. And we still have more work to do. But I want to make sure that they're not defeated hearing this. super superintendent town hall meeting. Uh we will be >> one minute. Wait a minute. Mr. Grant, did you have something to say? >> I just wanted to kind of respond to that as well as some statements that were made during the last meeting uh in regards to the staff uh from this platform. I can't recall any board member saying that our our wonderful staff wasn't working hard. I think the thing that

124we are doing is questioning the direction of of the hard work. Uh you know we can dig a hole over there when a hole is need to be dug here. And these people can be working very hard but they're still working hard in the wrong direction. And that's the thing that we question sometimes and I think it's our job and our duty to question it. Um, you say we're heading in the right direction now and I do believe you've been at the head of the schools for a few years now. There should have been indicators each year that showed that we were moving in the right direction and you're saying that we're moving in the right direction now. And I think that's why staff here or school board members here continue to ask about old

125data because of the fact that a lot of times we didn't see any of those indicators. Now no year one, year two, nobody was expecting you to just do a 180 and turn this thing around and have us tops, but there should have been indicators. meaning the indicators that we're seeing now because the data that you're presenting is good data. It's showing that we are moving in the right direction. But that could have happened year one or year two and now we're in what what year is this for you? Uh Dr. Carter? >> Year three. >> Exactly. So, I'm just I mean, so I'm just wondering where the criticism is coming from from the fact that we're just asking questions to get clarification on what's going on along with the information that we're receiving from

126the public. That's that's pretty much all we're doing. And I don't think that should be, you know, met with hostility or or or putting us in a position of of of having us Uh well, we're not criticizing uh any of the staff. We're not even criticizing central office to the to the point of saying that you guys aren't working hard. We're just questioning the direction that you're working hard in and some of the decisions that you're making, which once again I say it's our responsibility and our job to do so. >> Yes, it is. >> So, isn't that why we're here? >> Are you Are you asking me? >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. Okay. So, first of all, I could go into some specific examples that were said up here, but I'm not going to

127do that um to give you an example of what said. I will tell you that in my daily walk from staff, they do they are watching and they are concerned that what do they mean by nothing goes on over at the CTE center? What do they mean by that? Why why would they say that? Why why would that person say that? So that's just to give you an example. And so the te the teachers the teachers and staff uh you are right you can always feel free to ask questions. We always ask you to tour schools. We ask you to get in contact with the students, the the community and what's going on in the building. And so I don't have an issue with um you asking questions. I'm just trying to tell you that

128it is that they're they're in the the trenches every day and they're working very hard and the perception is some of it is undue criticism. And I'm just telling you what I hear. And so they thanked me, a large uh amount of staff thanked me the last time for thanking them for their hard work. And so you have to have positive reinforcements as we go along. And so this is what all that's all I'm saying, Mr. is that you know if you want to come after me or whoever wants to come after me then come then come after then then don't step over the staff to do that. >> I'm just I'm just saying I'm just saying I'm I'm stating because you you brought that up whether the superintendent should head in the right direction

129or not. I'm stating that you you should not and I hope not. but that some uh staff members are perceiving that you're stepping over top of them to get to me. And so that is the perception. I'm putting it out there. >> That is the perception that you choose to state. You have a habit. Hold on. Um Bob, he he's he's made a response and I'm responding from that Bob. So please for a moment you have a habit of making statements saying you said Kent did not say three of the statements that you said this board especially this board appreciates all of the teachers just because we question you on your direction your leadership and output has nothing to do with these hardworking teachers and staff in these schools. We appreciate them. And you trying

130to cast a shadow over us, saying otherwise is horrible. I could use a fancy word, but I am not. We understand what that word means. Furthermore, you're creating doubt. You state teachers come to you. Teachers come to us. Staff comes to us crying. Professionally educated people come to us. The community come to us. this community, the people right here, we have community members who have doctorates, who have skills and trades, certified in that, who are wonderful homemakers, who have hidden talents, they have PhDs, they have masters. We have people from A to Z in this community, wonderful community who is talked bad about and not respected from you, Dr. Carter. You just said horrible things to Kent that was not true. You made statements that were false. You have a way of rearranging people's words.

131And you show no accountability for your shortcomings, but you will point out everyone else's. This board said something about the CTE, such and such and so on, so on. You said, "I'm sorry. I don't have the exact words. He said a whole lot of words just now that was not true. You should apologize for your statements and stop putting words in people's mouths. That is not what we're here to do. >> The other the other part of that we can always re-roll the tape. >> There is a lot of tapes I would like re-rol there are a lot of tapes I would like rew I'm requesting and I know you're not feeling well but I would like to rewind on many many tapes. >> Mr. Mr. Grant, what I what I also would like to

132say to you is that uh when you're in transformation and you're saying I'm in year three, sometimes you would you would like to work with the staff that you inherit and making sure that they if they can buy into the vision uh or where you what you need to do to improve. But sometimes the staff doesn't buy into the envision and you have to make changes in order for progress to move forward. And so it sometimes it takes that time to grow something because unfortunately you have to u move people out of the way or people resign and realize that they don't they they not they don't fit the vision that you're trying to go. And so it takes that time. Any organization takes three to five years to turn an organization around. So year

133three is exactly where we should be if I had to make changes. Now would I would have liked to keep everybody that I inherited? Of course I would. But if you but if you don't buy into the vision of what we need to do to increase, then I have to make the courageous leadership decision and get it done. And so yes, you are starting to see the growth of that now because I've had to I was working with that with individual staff two years, you know, in some cases to turn to to get them to buy into the vision and it just wasn't a match and fit. So we had to move on. And so now you're seeing it and it's going to keep it's going to keep increasing as we get better and better

134and better. We have to and that's how it works. So, so yes, three years is about the third year is about right when you're in a turnaround situation. Um, so you can't necessarily get everything right in year one and year two because some people are just not going to buy into what you want to do. >> I totally understand what you're saying. Uh, but what I said was there should have been indicators in those first couple of years. Indicators could have been the small bump that we're seeing now. third year maybe even smaller but it should have been some type of indicators and also Dr. Carter this is not your first rodeo meaning you yes you've been at the helm for the last three years but you were here you you know part of the

135reason that people don't follow is because of rapport and you were actually here But I do need >> I'm just going to walk her out. Can you continue? This is the board meeting that we can continue. We're going to walk Miss Boon out. >> I I'll walk her out. So, I won't be present right now. you continue. The only thing I'm going to say from this point is is that I just hope that we can uh we can figure out what's necessary to move this in the right direction u in a in a way that that we can all say or see the transparency in. I mean there's a lot of rumors going around in the community about those so-called staff that you say that didn't I guess fit the fit the protocol of what

136you needed to to you know move this thing in the right direction. Um, and that's why we're up here now fighting for staff with the uh whistleblower uh agreement so that we can put things in place to make people feel comfortable to talk and to express and to know that there's not going to be any retal anything that's going to come back to to haunt them and losing their job based off of uh their viewpoint. Um, you know, we should not be each other's enemies up here. We have these children that think about these students. Um, we all want them to be successful. And I think that's everybody's job and everybody's uh, you know, mission to do. And I think right now we're just looking at it from two different perspective. But I'm saying, you

137know, I tell teachers all the time, you know, we're the adults in the room. We're the we're the educators in the room and we're the ones that are supposed to be able to try to figure this stuff out instead of putting it in the hands of the students. We need their input, but at the end of the day, we've trained to be this. And that's what I'm just asking. I think that if we all put our minds together that we can figure this thing out. It just doesn't feel like it's happening right now, though. And we are not the only board in this state and this division and any state and any board to say it's time to re-evaluate the superintendent job performance and other things. It is part of our duties. We are not

138the first. We will not be the last. We are not doing anything new or that has not been done before. >> Thank you sir. >> Miss B. Miss B. I do are we I do believe we're at >> I'm I'm at the superintendent's town hall meeting. >> That's what I was getting ready to say. >> You did not have to interrupt me. You could have just given me a moment, but that's what I was getting ready to say. >> Okay. uh super superintendent's town hall meeting will be at JP King Career and Technical Academy and it's scheduled for February 25th and uh it will be scheduled from 6:00 to 7:30 and speaking with the parent advisory committee they were in great favor of having breakout sessions and so we will have um academics, student services,

139human resources operations and then another session ask the superintendent. So again um I invite all to come out anyone can ask a question and the topics will be academics, student services, human resources, operations and then you can come and ask ask the superintendent and we'll just rotate. So you can go to those four sessions. Okay. Uh we'll try to blow this up but uh just for to let the public knowledge let the public know how uh comparison of how the local districts are funding their school systems. So you see Franklin City uh FY26 adopted budget page five revenues are a little bit over 35 million school allocation is $4 million466,590 which is 13% of the city's budget and then you can see Southampton which is their FY book I'm giving you the source where we'll

140be getting our information adopted memo page two Their budget is 28,189,486. They uh allocate 9 million uh15,000 which is roughly 32%. And you can see the rest from Olive White to Greensville to Siri County of how they fund their school districts. Our 13% is what you would call level funding. and level funding is bare minimum. So, everyone else is giving above level funding to support their school districts. I just want to show that to show uh what the challenge is also because it does take money to make um the school system flourish and we are um we are uh giving less than anyone else in the area. And I just want the public to also understand the challenges that we have with a also with a very aging infrastructure. >> Just a quick question on

141that, but these other counties have multiple elementary schools. Uh I think maybe one middle school and one high school, but they do have, you know, more schools than Franklin. Franklin technically has what, two and a half, three schools? Franklin has three schools and an alternative school. Siri has 650 children. They have half they have less than what we have and they are 30 they give 38 they give 38% of their budget to the school system. So if you're talking about numbers they they have less. That's the only one that you mentioned was ser but Southampton is white and Greensville has more students. >> But but you but you can see I'm saying that the other districts are not giving level funding. That's my point. My point is we're the only district that gives level funding.

142>> Um Dr. Carter, I'm just curious. Um, what have we done to rebuild trust and make our city want to support us? Over the last year, the trust of city council and the community when it comes to FCPS has been broken. We need to own that instead of criticizing. Right. So, what do you want? >> I'm stating that this level funding has been going on for more than five years. So, if you're if you're targeting just the last two or three, it's been going on for over five years. So, do you think publicly publicly criticizing uh with information like this presentation will make them more likely or less likely to support us in the future? >> No, I just want to educate the public and let the public decide for themselves what's going what is

143so that they can see the numbers and they can they can decide that this is what it is. I'm not criticizing anyone. I'm just giving you the information. I'm saying all the other districts go above level funding. >> So, what can we do to repair the trust? So, next year's percentage is not less than 13%. >> Uh, you're assuming that it's trust. >> Was that an assumption or a question? Did you ask the question? ask question. >> Okay. I was just clarifying what >> I you're you're you're stating that it's trust. I'm not saying that it is. I we don't know what it is. >> Then that's what needs to be said that you feel it's not that that but to say you're assuming. >> Um yes because I mean do you know for a

144fact it's trust because I don't. >> But you still stated he's assuming I'm just I'm just only going on by what data trends are showing sir. So, so I'm politely asking you because you are the leader of this district. I would assume that you would would kind of know that. >> Uh, sir, no, I'm don't know that. I don't know every question. So, if you can tell me I please tell me how we can go above level funding cuz we are a board and and I just don't and I'm not the only person that's supposed to help work with city council to get level funding to go above level funding. >> So, so what do you think this board hasn't done to help you? >> Oh, sir, I don't I don't have that much time

145to >> I I would love to hear Oh, >> so it will. >> Okay, I'm not going to get into it at this point. I will just say to you, here are the numbers. >> We can talk. We can talk. Uh we can have much further discussions on how because what we do uh we present a budget, a capital improvement budget >> of course, >> and we give the city our needs and it is up to them whether they would like to approve it or not. Above level funding, >> of course. So, if they decide that they do not want to approve above level funding, then that's all we have to work with. >> Um, I I think it's a perfect opportunity for you to tell us at least three reasons why you think the

146board hasn't supported you in this. Please give us something because I would >> I didn't say tr I didn't say didn't work with you. I said we you need to work with me. I said I said you need to work with me so that we can uh work with city council so that it can go above level funding so the schools that are built all these schools that are built in the 60s can be repaired or a new school because that has not been in the in the queue. Now you want to say how can you help me? Well, there have been plans since 1994 for a new school. And every year we we try to save money. Even when they go level funding, I'll give you and level funding. When we get to a

147savings and we have to uh say for instance, one year we had a savings of a little over $500,000. They took the rollover money back. So, one thing you can help me with is to, as I proposed many times, is to reward us for being good stewards of our money and let us keep our rollover money so that we can build a savings so that we can get things done. So that is one example that you could help me with the board as a whole is is do not take over take our rollover money. >> So are we pushing more blame to city council? >> Hold on for a second. So I'm not saying anybody's blaming anybody, but I'm not about to do this either. We're not doing this. For starters, that has been something

148that has happened since before even I came on the board with us not getting the funding and stuff that was more than the bare minimum. What are they called? Gentleman's agreements or whatever else have you, right? Things have not been honored. So, nobody's going to push, nobody's going to put words into anyone's mouth about who's blaming or anything else. We're not about to do this. And I was going to save this for board comments, but since this is where we are, this is where I'm about to take it. Um, and no disrespect intended, but I mean if you feel disrespected, I guess I apologize, but I don't. First off, with the way that we conduct ourselves on things, and I'm talking about the board, not not the people who are here, who are, you know,

149here to give their input, sort of hear what the board has to say. I can't address the board. I shouldn't even be saying this from the DAS as I'm speaking. So, I guess I'll get in trouble for that, too. But the board itself, the people who were appointed to sit up here on this dis right y'all, there is a way that we're supposed to conduct ourselves. And I'm going to tell you hands down the baiting because call it what you want, but that is that that is what it is, right? We cannot disrespect each other. You have a mind and an opinion. I'm not calling you up particularly, but but we have a we all have minds and we all have opinions, right? and you're free to express yourself. What you are not free to

150do is be a complete disrespectful tyrant to anyone. You are not authorized or allowed to completely disregard what someone else has to say. That is not your right. And it doesn't make you strong or just just because you're louder, it doesn't make you right. So, my first thing is I'm feeling some kind of way because these babies were sitting in here and they were sitting up here acting like a pack of wild animals fighting each other and being disrespectful. Y'all, there was no need for any of that. Governels. That is what the board is supposed to do. Governs. And please tell me and anything that we've had so far tonight where any of this has been beneficial for what the reason that we are really here which is supposed to be what? Not you Kent

151but what what are we here for? What is our purpose? It is supposed to be for the betterment of the children of Franklin City. Correct. Ain't that ain't that what we're supposed to be here for? So how is all of the other things which I want to tell you I feel like they're just distractions. How is that helping the children that we are supposed to be serving? Because at this point to me, at this point to me, I am just all I'm hearing are hurt feelings and petty agendas, bruised egos, baiting. I hear I I hear amongst some of us there's respect for when people are talking and when people are speaking right but for the most part we have not had that whether we're sitting up here or we are in our closed sessions

152we talking about trust let me tell you something I'm going to say this hands down posted in paper I don't care I don't care about what city council or any other organization is doing because they don't govern this Franklin city school board this school board governs ourselves. It does not matter what they what other people are trying to push. We have the access to the information. We ask the questions, we get the answers. We don't feel like we get the answers, we push back a little bit harder. That is perfectly fine. We can have a dialogue and not be disrespectful or coming at each other's throats. So that's why it seems as though the board cannot be cohesive and cannot get anything accomplished. I would like to believe that every single person, all seven of

153us, all have the same end goal, which is the betterment of these children. I'm going to make that assumption. I don't care what other organizations are doing. I don't care how they feel. My concern is this group of people right here that are supposed to govern. And are we doing it? And are we doing what we're supposed to do as a board, even as individual board members with the things that we are a part of, our committees, our trainings, are we doing what we're supposed to be doing? That's where my focus and my concern is. So, it's not that I don't care about what each person feels or what they have to say, right? But I'm telling you right here, right now, I'm not about to play about these kids' education. I'm I'm just not

154I have a person I have a personal interest. I have a second grader second grader who's had phenomenal teachers since I've moved back to Franklin. But I am not going to play games about any of these children's education, the opportunities or the resources that are available to them. If anything, if anything with the clout, the knowledge and the resources that we have, we should be able to bring things in to the district as well or opinions like there's some people that you have even pointed out that have some really really good programs that help the students because you have used that's a that's a beneficial thing. That is a that is an encouragement and it's also a way to build up what we're already trying to do. Y'all, I'm telling you hands down the nitpicking

155and all of the cra I I have no time for it. I have no patience for it. My tolerance is at a negative. All around negative. If it is not about the betterment of these kids and how to support our staff and how to truly make it better, save the nonsense. save it because this is just is we're just it's getting out of hand. You all may agree, you may not agree. That's your opinion. This is mine. But I'm telling you right now what out of everything that we just did tonight, we just celebrated these babies breaking ceilings and letting the students tell us how it is that they really feel about things, right? Because we need to listen to their voices, right? They're the ones that are there. But please tell me outside of

156that, what have we really accomplished besides yelling at each other and causing scenes in front of kids? I I'll wait. That wasn't a rhetorical question either. What do we accomplished >> to to not what we did? >> For me, it was a lot. I got to hear from the young lady and ask her questions. I had a view of what she was thinking was going on in school with the other students. I got to hear what teachers did what this year and so forth. So it would for me it was different things done and accomplished. I didn't even know of some of the things that was going on. So it was accomplishments. Furthermore, um you you said something good. Everyone has their own tolerance and you're at the height of your tolerance. That's you. We

157all have that going on. No one wants to get interrupted. Every action does have an equal or greater reaction. We all know that as an adults. And each one of us has to govern ourselves. We have to make those individual decisions. What you said is wonderful. It's not comment time. So, people out there probably will say it's out of order, which it is because it is not comment time and I guess I was supposed to stop it, but it was no need for that that I just will not do that. Um, I'm not going to continue to make comments now because I'll be out of order, but you asked the question. I did want to address it and you can finish your comments or we can move on or you can return to them at

158the end of the session during comment time. But everybody, everybody on this board feels what you're feeling. You vocalized it, but everyone feels that way. Some people are actually the people who were doing the thing. Some people were falling into a place to reaction, but everybody feels it. You verbalize it, but we all know it. Probably everybody in the room knows that. But there is no reason for people to interrupt like you said when people are speaking. We can voice our opinions and be different. And it's not correct when one person voices what they have to say, but when another one purses the gavl goes down, voices their opinion, the gavvel goes down. That's when you get all that. So I can address that and I will, but if you want to continue your comments

159now, you can or during comments. >> I just want I just want to apologize, but since we were there, I just felt let me go ahead and just go because we were doing too much. >> The young lady um talked about things being unbiased in a classroom, so I don't want to be unbiased up here. She did make comments not during comment time. Did anybody want to make comments or can we wait and do things in a correct order? Okay. All right. Moving on to the next part of the agenda. Is this it, Miss B? >> Okay. Think we should pick it up a 3.1. I move that we I move to approve the work session meeting minutes for December 4th. >> Second. >> Bob seconded. Can we have the vote? Oh, is any discussion?

160>> Can we have the vote? John, >> yes. >> Kent, >> yes. >> Wash. Bob. >> Yes. >> I move that we approve the meeting minutes for December 18th, 2025. >> Did you make that motion? He made the motion. >> Second it. >> Any discussion? Let's have the vote. John, >> yes. >> Kent, >> yes. >> Hi. >> Bob, >> yes. >> Why do you I It's just moving to close. At this time, I move that we move into close session. Do I have a second? We have to read the >> which one. >> In accordance with section 2.2-3711 of the code of Virginia, I move that the Franklin City School Board enter into a close session to discuss and evaluate matters related to new hires and supplemental employment pursuant to Virginia Code section 2.2-3711A1.

161>> I'll second it. Any discussion? Let's have the vote. John, >> yes. >> Kent, >> yes. >> Lashonda, >> I. >> Bob, >> yes. >> Wadia, I now in close session. Hey guys, we don't have Are you sure? I'll go through it again. >> I did. >> If I'm going to reference weather, I'm going try to really reference weather. Good evening. I just like to call this meeting back in session. >> I move that we come out of close session. >> Second. Any discussion? Let's have the vote. John, >> yes. >> Kent, >> yes. >> Landa, >> I. >> Hulk, >> yes. >> I certification Whereas the Franklin City School Board has convened a closed meeting on this date pursuant to an affirmative recorded vote and in accordance with the provisions of the Virginia Freedom

162of Information Act. And where is section 2.2-3712 point delta of the code of Virginia requires a certification by this school board that such closed meeting was conducted in conformity with Virginia law. And now therefore, be it resolved that the Franklin City School Board hereby certifies that to the best of each member's knowledge, one, only public business matters lawfully exempted by Virginia law were discussed in the closed meeting to which this certification applies, and two, only such public business matters as were identified in the motion convening the closed meeting were heard, discussed, or considered. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> Let's have the vote. John, >> yes. >> Kent, >> yes. >> Landa, >> hi. >> Bob, >> yes. >> Wadia, >> I motion carried. >> I move that we approve the personnel agenda as presented.

163>> I'll second that. >> Any discussion? Let's have the vote. John, >> yes. >> Kent, >> yes. >> Landa, hi. >> Bob, yes. >> Wadia, >> yes. So move. Any announcements? >> Um, just keep your your ears open. I do owe you all an email um from the governor schools from both governor schools with the um with the different programs and stuff that they have coming up through the rest of the school year that we are invited to attend as well. um and working um from the gifted side to boost our numbers for both of those programs. So, I'll check your emails. I'll send you all that calendar for the year. >> Okay. Any discussion, comments, John? >> Um I just want to take a moment to tell um our staff and our teachers um

164how proud I am of them and the work that they do for this district every day. They definitely I feel like don't get enough recognition and I appreciate all that they do and I hope that they will continue to do what they're doing. Thank you for what you do for our students and I really do appreciate it. >> Kent, >> I concur. >> Landa, >> I also agree with what uh Mr. John has said. Um and again I'm very very proud of the students though like with the presentations that we had for this evening. Um and just to see what they are what they are accomplishing. I'm very very proud of our students. >> Bob nothing else. Um yes I do have some comments. Um my comments a a lot stems for I think the

165meeting was about two weeks ago. Some of us were not present at that meeting and certain persons from this panel made several comments and it was just not one person. It was certain persons from this panel about the missing persons. Nobody was missing. We were not present but we were not missing. If you have something to say to anyone, like Landa said, let's do things a certain way, you need to say it when they're there, not to wait till they're absent, not missing, to make your comments. That's very cowardly and that's not very professional or courteous at all. Because each member up here have never made a comment. I can think when several persons was missing and we've never made a comment about a well, excuse me, they weren't missing, they were absent. I just

166made that correction. But we've never we've never made a comment about someone who was absent, especially a derogatory comment or frame them in any certain way. So let's go back to our professionalism. If you have something to say to someone, at least do it in their presence. And please do not label anybody in this panel as a missing person. We are absent. We are not present. But we are not missing. and we've not done that to anyone else. Um, another item there was also two weeks ago at the last meeting, it was stated that when this board had a unanimous six to zero vote to move citizen time, if anyone would like to go back, it's clear to see. The wording was clear to see. We had a vote that was six to one changing

167citizen time to no longer did you have to call in. You can come and it will be a sheet provided and all these specifics was said to the general public in open session before the vote. No longer did you have to call in. A piece of paper would be provided in the back for you to sign up. No longer would citizen time be at the back. It would be at the beginning. Two weeks ago, it was stated that that was not procedurally done correctly. And it was. It said according to a policy which was in the back that day. There was no policy in the back that day. And I have it right here. >> This is the policy. It's available for anyone to see. I do believe it was updated November 29th adopted November

1689th, 2023. It was written by the city of Franklin. This is not a state policy. We wrote this policy. That night, two weeks ago, this board unanimously decided to not to change the policy. And we did. And we voted on it. and we did it correctly. Nowhere in this policy does it say we have to rewrite it first. We made the policy change. All of these procedures in here are for procedures for policy for persons to call and it gave instructions on how what they have to say and so forth. It is available to see right online. The policy is very available to see. Titus if you would like to see it. Dr. Carter, Miss B, Bob, Leanda, Kent, or John because we voted on this policy. So why it was implemented is not correct.

169That violates the actions of this board. And to state that it was not legally done is incorrect as well. And to state that it was for that one time only is very, very much wrong. If you will go back to that meeting, it was stated clearly clearly that this is the new policy from henceforth. So why did the chair decide to change that and say that I do not know but I do know was incorrect and for anybody in his board who supported that they were incorrect as well according to the policy. So I do want to state that and clarify it and to say that for us not doing citizen time in the beginning as that was unanimously voted on it is not correct and the policy is right here. It does not state

170that you have to change and do this and do that first because we changed this policy. So I did want to clear that up and state that as well. Miss Parker's statement was was awesome, but I will say I did not agree with all of it because I took a lot out. I took a lot out. I took a lot out for those children. Those children were awesome. I learned from our kids what their perspective of. I got to see our wonderful teachers who I praise every day because they're in the classroom. They're with the kids. I praise the custodial staff. I praise the security. I praise the people who are feeding our children, the clerks there. They're doing an awesome job. They're doing a job that a lot of people would not do cuz

171it takes so much. But they do it. They champion it every single day. So, I did get a lot. I did think a lot was achieved as far as the way each individual govern themselves. Yes. Does it need to be looked at? Sure. But we do need to stop interrupting persons when they speak. You may disagree, but you have to move forward with that. listen and move forth and wait for your turn to speak. And you cannot be biased. One of the children made a biased statement about the teacher teaching um one person getting treated one way and another. That is true up here as well. Everyone has eyes. This is not a secret. What you do to one, you do to the other. Even if you don't agree, whether you're the chair, vice chair,

172superintendent, or a participating board member. And those are my comments for this night. John, did you have something? >> May I make one final comment? I'm sorry. No, no. >> Um, just to speak on the citizens time. I just wanted to be on the record. Under Virginia Code 22.1-79, this board governs its own procedures. Under Robert's rules of order, only the board itself may resend or amend a prior action that has been taken place in regards to citizens time. >> That means that citizen time, we voted on it. It was passed unanimously and it should have been implemented and what was said two weeks prior that this board supported was incorrect. At this time it's time to adjourn the meeting. Um I move for a motion to adjourn the meeting. >> Any discussion? Let's have

173the vote. >> I >> One moment. Did you second it, Londa? Do we have a second? I made the motion. >> Sorry. Correction, Miss B. I second that motion that she said. >> I thought you did. Any discussion again? Let's have the vote. >> I >> Kent >> I >> Landanda >> I >> Bob >> I >> WA I >> meeting adjourned.