School Board Meeting 11/10/22

001we're ready good afternoon at this time I would like to uh open the meat regular board meeting for the Isle of Wight County School Board today is Thursday November the 10th the year is 2022. um we are located 800 West Main Street which is Westside High School at this time we will have a roll call Mrs Dial Mr Vines present Mrs tynes present Mr Cunningham president and Mr colic thank you we have a quarter so we can continue on next on the agenda we have the approval of the agenda or amendments and yeah any amendments to the agenda um okay Madam chair um like to make a motion to amend the agenda uh to add the capital maintenance funds appropriation and the workforce Grant appropriation okay okay second all right we have a motion and

002a second to amend the agenda to include the capital maintenance fund Appropriations as well as the workforce Grant Appropriations at this time what is your pleasure please vote there we go it's not up here it didn't come up for him but you must come up maybe not yeah let's take a verbal Mr Vines yay Mrs tynes yay and Mr Cunningham yay motion passes thank you very much next we will have a motion to go into closed session Madam chair I'd like to make a motion to go into closed session to review the Personnel report posted on board docs under Personnel tab number 17.1 as authorized by Virginia code 2.2-3711a1 for preferences of discussion and consideration of prospective candidates of Isle of white public schools for employment contract changes transferred supplemental contracts and resignations of Isle

003of Wight County Public School Employees and to to discuss the performance evaluation of the superintendent as permitted by Virginia code 2.1-3711a1 and third to discuss one request for early admission that would involve the disclosure of information contained in a Scholastic record concerning students as authorized by Virginia code 2.1-3711a2 thank you do I hear a second second we have a motion and a second to enter a closed session at this time we will take a vote yay I'm a man but it's not wait a minute Mr Vines yay Mrs tines yay and Mr Cunningham yay okay thank you very much the vote is 3-0 at this time we will enter into closed session do we have Madam clerk do we have any uh guests to meet with us in closed session is there anyone here that

004would like to meet with the board in closed session oh let me get this foreign good evening at this time we would like to reconvene into Open session we will have a certification of resolution of compliance Madam chair I'd like to make a motion uh the closed meeting was conducted in Conformity with the provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act as required by section 2.2 days three seven one two D of the code of Virginia and certified that the only public business matters lawfully accepted from open meeting requirements were a discussed and only such public business matters as were identified in Emotion by which the closed meeting was convened were heard discussed or considered do I have a second second we're having a motion and a second at this time we will take a

005vote motion passes 3-0 thank you very much okay I would like to welcome all of our guests tonight as well as the staff uh alawite County Schools we are always preparing students for college career and life and at this time we have some special guests in our audience audience and I would like to recognize them we have Butch here Mr Jefferson Mr Rudolph Jefferson I saw uh bought super well the supervisors Mr Grace come in Mr Grace in the back we always like to recognize our government local and other government people are there any others here in the audience that would like to be recognized tonight who I can't hear you have some stand up I understand because I don't know who you're talking athletic Mr Thomas okay thank you Mr Stefano okay thank you

006for joining us tonight and again you want to say anything and it's one here at least oh two also tonight okay also tonight we all well we have some special guests in our audience uh as you all know we had uh elections this week uh in the state of Virginia as well as Across the Nation and we have two uh I know I saw Mr Wooster here and Mr Marshall here as well will stand you two of you can stand Mr Wooster Mr Mark [Music] and I know some people have a question why they're not up here with us tonight we follow our policies and we follow the rules of the state of Virginia the laws uh the the election has to be certified Isle of Wight County election must be certified by the state

007of Virginia not by Isle of Wight County school board and the earliest that's going to be us they're going to get the certifications will be around uh November the 15th and once they get the certifications the two new elected board members will go to the clerk of courts be sworn in and at that point they will become immediate board members of Isle of Wight County Schools okay that's how the process works I appreciate that and if you come back next month for our regular meeting they will be sitting up here with us okay and if we have any special meetings in between they will be here as well thank you okay at this time we got to move on and we gonna ask um Mr Cunningham if he will lead us in the Pledge of

008Allegiance on a moment of silence I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God silence please thank you thank you okay we'll have Mrs bricks to come forward with all the white achievers let's guess you're going to assist okay oh um I I do want to make this announcement Dr Coleman is not with us this evening because he's playing a parent role uh with his daughter tonight being accepted into an Honor Society at her High School and I just want you all to know that thank you because he did tell me today he was leaving early to get there thank you okay good evening Madam chair board members Dr Kramer um before we start the Isle of Wight Achievers I'd

009just like to mention that division four Isle of Wight County Schools is to create a a learning environment that will enable every child to discover his or her unique gifts and talents the Isle of Wight achiever section of our board meeting gives us an opportunity to recognize and celebrate our students and staff for their unique talents and gifts and we're actually going to start first with you with me well not yet okay but you'll be right back so um the Virginia school boards Association recognizes board members with an award for their commitment to effective School Board governance through their participation in the vsba school board Academy during the 2020-2021 school year school board members are on Academy credits through participation in the SBA meetings and other Academy sessions and through vsba governance and service activities

010receiving Awards of achievement and a bronze pin a bronze vsba pin excuse me are Denise tynes Michael Cunningham John colic Michael Vines and Renee dial and those certificates and pins are at your seat thank you so congratulations [Applause] moving on sorry Miss Getz um from Smithville High School Smithfield High seniors Aiden Shannon and Cameron Barrett have been named commended students in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship program a letter of commendation from the school and the National Merit Scholarship corporation which conducts the program was presented by the principal Patricia cuffy to The scholastically Talented seniors about 34 000 commended students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise commended students placed among the top 50 000 students who entered the 2023 competition by taking the 2021 preliminary SAT National Merits Scholarship qualifying test

011and we have Aiden and Cameron with us today and if you both please come forward Miss Getz has there there yeah okay a certificate and a pin okay and if you would just face the board a moment so they can acknowledge you we want to congratulate you very good thank you [Applause] [Music] congratulations and at this time gentlemen if you would um if you would go to the backdrop over there Mr Elliott is going to get a photo and if there are any family members who want to take a picture as well and you may even get corralled into the photo yourself okay and while they're doing the picture we'll go ahead and move on to our next honoree Dr Kristen Wilkins who's a coordinator of special education for us was recognized by inside business

012as a top 40 under 40. the program recognizes outstanding young professionals from across Hampton Roads Dr Wilkins if you'll come forward Miss Goetz has a certificate in Penn I'll also read that nominees were evaluated for their vision and Leadership Innovation and achievements and strategies for success with an emphasis placed on their community service including the impact of their volunteer work their commitment and interest and involvement in various areas Dr Wilkins joined other honorees at an awards ceremony in Virginia Beach on October 17th and we congratulate her for her recognition by the Hampton Roads area congratulations [Applause] okay Now we move on to our seniors of the month our first senior of the month is from Windsor High School and she is Elizabeth callus Elizabeth takes every assignment every lesson seriously she wants to do her

013absolute best on every task she has given no matter how small she seeks help when she needs it she advocates for herself she is extremely conscientious in addition she is a kind and caring person knowing she would be out for a college tour she met with her teachers to get her assignments ahead of time so she could do them before she left Elizabeth has advocated for herself with her testing anxiety and that is so brave of her she is also curious which isn't seen much in students These Days quote if I had a class full of students like Elizabeth I would never retire and that's from Miss Cassandra Preston English teacher at Windsor High Elizabeth plans on attending NC State or JMU to pursue a degree in biology with the hopes of becoming a criminal

014DNA analyst and we congratulate you Elizabeth and if you'll go over to the backdrop there Mr Elliott's going to get your photo and if there are any family members that want to come up to get a picture as well [Applause] [Music] [Applause] okay our Smithfield High School senior of the month unfortunately could not be here tonight because of work obligations we've invited him to come to the December meeting so we can recognize him in person but I do want to announce a little bit about him the senior of the month from Smithville Ohio is Garrett Hawley Garrett serves as the Battalion commander of the Smithfield JROTC Packer Battalion he he was recently recognized with the Legion of Valor award for 2022. the award was presented to Holly by Lieutenant Colonel retired Rich Ronaldo a distinguished

015service cross recipient only one Cadet and approximately 4 000 Cadets participating in JROTC is honored with this prestigious award Garrett's a member of the school's National Honor Society and the rifle team and he's received numerous Awards including the Special Forces Award of Excellence and the superior Cadet award he also served on the JROTC leadership team academic and drill teams he's active in both his community and his church JROTC instructor Lieutenant Colonel badoin stated in my experience Garrett is in the top one percent of the cadets I've ever observed or instructed after graduation Garrett plans to attend Brigham Young University on an ROTC scholarship and serve in the U.S army as an officer after earning his degree and we congratulate Garrett [Applause] [Music] okay um that concludes our Achievers although we have a special presentation as

016Miss times mentioned we have new board members coming in and we have some board members that will be leaving us and tonight we'd like to thank publicly thanked Mr Vines for his time on the board and I believe Dr Kramer you have something to present to Mr Vines yes I do thank you very much uh so we have the Isle of Wight County Schools recognizes board member Michael Vines for being a dedicated public servant and for doing what's best for all children uh District Four and uh has the name of the four uh other Fort board members uh Denise tynes chair Mr John colic Mr Michael Cunningham Vice chair and Mrs Renee dial presented November 10 2022. congratulations thank you [Music] and that is going to conclude our recognitions for tonight we thank everyone that

017came out and their family and friends who came out to support them as well thank you Riggs next we're going to have Ola white Achievers and we're going to have a special presentation right oh what's wrong I'm sorry special presentation I'm sorry I'm thinking about the uh we're good this is something new tonight but it's very special yes okay Mrs Briggs all right we have a special salute to Veterans we'd like to share this evening um we have many members uh staff members who joined Isle of Wight County Schools after serving in the military and we put together a special presentation we're going to share tonight it will also be shared on our social media Pages tomorrow and our website so let's see [Music] Heroes proved in liberating [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] America

018America [Applause] me got that gold required success [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Skies [Music] [Applause] [Music] I pray for mine majesties [Music] sweet America you know God don't shed his race on thee [Music] yes it is [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] foreign [Music] [Applause] [Music] ma'am was that it that's the end that's the end okay um and I was going to say real quick I can't add I know we have more uh people on our staff who are veterans many of them are very private and may not have shared their story with us so we celebrate all of our veterans whether they were recognized in the presentation tonight um or not thank you Miss times all right at this time I would like um if you are a veteran please stand in the

019audience guests staff all of you please stand we like to recognize you thank you [Music] thank you very much because many of many of you were actually engaged in some of the Vietnam conflict and some of the other Wars and conflicts since then and I'm just proud that you are able to be here tonight with us because so many people we're not able to come back from those conflicts to be with us thank you very much for all you did for America thank you okay at this time we're going to have eye on instructions tonight we have our little ones from Hardy Elementary School that's Mrs uh Shantae Denson is the principal this is the uh stem group from Hardy Elementary hmm to us how can you create a rocket that can land on the

020moon using stop-motion animation our project is based on a real event Artemis is a rocket that was scheduled to orbit the Moon by NASA however the attempt has failed and they are scheduled to try again in November you aren't doing a stomach coding class to complete our project and the package that we gave you are the design processes of the different groups in this process we are able to choose backgrounds and materials to build our Rockets here's some pictures of us working in groups to plan to create our projects Mr Elliott Miss Elliott will you push that mic down a little bit because they're a little shorter than because a little closer to them thank you to create our stop-motion movies we use two applications the first is stop-motion animation we use this app to

021record our videos frame by frame the second app is iMovie we'll use this app to upload our videos from stop motion animation and edit them to create our movie there are many steps to the process to make of making our ideas become a project we are now about to enjoy some examples of what we have created [Applause] [Laughter] foreign [Laughter] [Music] [Laughter] yay I made it foreign [Music] foreign as you can see each video is very different based on the different ideas in each group each video is made by collecting individual pictures and putting them together in video format on the screen are a few Reflections from some of our classmates my favorite part of the experience was I was able to be the voice of our video and something new that I learned is

022that it's good to work in a team my favorite part of the experience was taking the pictures for the Stop Motion by completing this project we all learned a lot and were able to use many skills in order to successfully land our Rockets foreign ERS that worked on the stop-motion animation videos we brought a few of our classmates here with us tonight would you please stand thank you for having us tonight it was a very big honor are there any questions for us how are you any questions from the board no no Samantha well done it was just well done you know I could imagine in about what 20 years from now you all are going to be the ones in NASA and the wall of solid and taking it sending the Jets off and

023all during that time when I was a little girl we used to have this little cartoon show called The Jetsons you are going to be the ones that will be making our little new cars that's going to be flying around okay and I and and and to the audience just imagine what they did tonight I'm looking at this this is something I probably would have executed in high school and maybe a freshman year of college this is what the students of Isle of Wight County are doing now in elementary school and we're going to commend all of you as well as the staff that's working with them and just imagine what they're going to be doing when they get into that new building next year not you all but the ones uh The Kindergartners first

024grade second grade third grade students now who knows the student the building itself may take off okay thank you very much and um be safe going home okay thank you very much Mrs Denson thank you and your staff [Music] [Applause] okay they're going to take pictures over to the left and if there are any parents or grandparents anyone with them you can come up take pictures and as soon as Mr Elliott finished his photo for the school then you all can get in the photo as well we're going to give them a chance that's a larger group we're going to um it's really nice okay again thank you all for coming out thank you very much okay all right at this time we'll continue with at this point this is the part of our meeting

025where the public can participate request to speak on the agenda items Madam clerk do we have any yes in accordance to policy bddh e presentation of information on any subject will be concluded at the discretion of the board no person will be recognized to speak more than once citizens scheduled on the agenda to speak will be permitted four minutes maximum time for their presentation delegations will be requested to limit their speakers to two person speaking are asked to be specific State the issues for the board's consideration and attach a copy of your prepared remarks if you have prepared remarks they should be given to the board clerk please do not approach the board members any matter relating to specific students will be heard by the school board only in a closed meeting first we have

026Mr William constant good evening good evening William constant I live at 9299 Tucker Swamp Road Ivor Virginia I'm a teacher at Smithfield Middle School I'm very proud to work with the best teammates in the world I'm here tonight to speak about the thousand dollar bonus check for teachers that was signed into the state budget on July 1st 2022. that we have not gotten yet why haven't teachers gotten their money yet in the state budget if you paid your state taxes you got a 250 dollar refund everyone got that refund by October 2022. in the state budget the state workers got a thousand bonus check also they have been told for months that everyone would have their check by December 1st at the latest I've been working for months to discover where our money is on

027October 5th I was informed by the Virginia Department of Education Department of planning and budgeting that the Board of Supervisors and the iwcs school boards was appropriated this money for the bonus I was told and I have a voicemail person's name and contact number to get with your school board that day I sent an email to all school board members and to the head of Finance asking where the bonus is I got a quick reply within a day from the finance director and she stated it takes a couple weeks to work it out I sent a follow-up email on November 1st with no reply it looks like there's no CFO for Iowa County schools at this time I never ever heard from any school board member if teachers have to reply back to parents within

028one working day why don't school board members have to do something similar I have heard there was a question about where the money is the school system needs to take care of their teachers teachers are leaving like crazy prime example in the news the other day almost 11 000 teachers have left in Virginia and they only hired seven thousand that's almost four thousand teachers that there's no replacement for for our kids who need qualified Educators in the building teachers are leaving like crazy we're already being pulled to cover classrooms for teachers being out being Bernard in November you the school board asked the Board of Supervisors for money all the time for other items why wasn't asked for bonus money for the teachers the question has come up by teachers and citizens the county has

029the money and they're pocketing the interest you the board should have been working on getting one minute you the board have been getting the bonus to should have been working on getting the bonus to the teachers in August and September when we came back to show us that you care about us Thanksgiving is just about here Christmas right around the corner the teachers would like this money in a separate check not in a regular check more money less taxes taken out how soon will we get our hurt earned money given to us by the state I learned in the Navy you checked the pulse of your crew by talking to the people in the pits you go up on a mess decks talk to the mess crying serve enough food you go down the engineering

030spaces and talk to them people pumping that steam to keep you moving and get to True pulse I can't recall the last time a school board members come into any school and had lunch with the teachers to get the true pulse of the building I appreciate your time be safe going home thank you very much [Applause] Mr herb degroff Madam chairman Mr Cunningham Dr Kramer herb degroff living in the Cartersville District I already sent you my remarks for this evening please take the time to read them and agenda items I'm glad you put that thing up there about veterans recognition because by golly this school system has done a fantastic job at the building level of recognizing veterans I attended both West Side Elementary schools at outstanding performance as Dr Kramer did and thank you

031for your notes sir the one that Smithfield Middle School phenomenally done too I don't remember seeing either one of you board members there I encourage you to do so next year because the kids need to be honored with school board members presence just like bill just said you know show up at the buildings they really appreciate that that's what you get that stipend for foreign now as far as policy FFA I don't know if this man over here ever does his homework and tells you when you're doing something wrong but you definitely have done something wrong on policy FFA because I can vouch for the fact if a building or facility can't be named for somebody after they're dead 10 years a man you named it for is alive and I cannot vouch for that

032because at the Foundation gala that I didn't see either one of you had either we had a little discussion when I challenged him to make a ten thousand dollar donation to the foundation and I'd match it with a thousand you know he got 90 some thousand dollars of our taxpayer money thanks to you lady in red uh just like you did for Dr Pereira in any case he is alive he has not been dead for 10 years he ain't been dead for a minute so somebody cooked the wording Madam chair that you voted on back in 2015. go check some of the notebooks in some of the schools where all the policies are kept and you'll see what I'm talking about and I challenge you in the vice chair to Institute an investigation through that

033man and that man back there has the ability to check and see who cooked that language by virtue of using a school computer and that person needs to face civil penalties and I don't know Madam chair that you shouldn't I frankly think if it takes a state police investigation I'd love to see you pass a polygraph exam they say you're either being truthful or you're not so own up to it fess up to it make it right do not for a second reading pass on this FFA policy and you should be telling them that based upon it being wrong back what was passed in June of 2015 sir so do your job or go collect money from some other bunch of taxpayers and not all the white countians so folks do your job that's what

034you raise your hand for and the guy with this back to me hey at least Mrs Dial as the ethics do not show up when she lost an election the Pearly Gates awake and there's a long-handled cold shovel for you Michael thank you man Mrs Rachel trollinger good evening I'm Rachel trollinger and I reside on Whispering Pines Trail in District Five and I'm here to speak on agenda 17.1 the Personnel report specifically the resignation of the CFO I lived in this County for 16 years and I moved here for the school system I've worked in this division for over eight years and I proudly stood by the statements made each month that the division was being good stewards with the funds given to them by the county state federal government and local Partners I was

035contacted in May when the CFO position was unexpectedly vacated and I agreed to be a contractor to work on finalizing the budget assist with year-end help prepare the county audit I was asked to become a full-time employee once again effective August 1 2022. as I worked on these items I discovered the following errors federal grants were unprocessed in a timely manner and resulted in over a 5 million dollar cash flow shortage for the division federal funds were forfeited because the reimbursements didn't get in did not include an entire month of expenditures a donation from one of our local vendor Partners was not spent by June 30th 2022 resulting in the division giving these funds back to the county deadlines for the Department of education's annual school report was not completed on time and when given

036additional time could not be reconciled to the finance system resulting in the submission of a report that was inaccurate Bank reconciliations were not performed for over an entire year an entire quarter April May and June of 2022 of food service transactions were not recorded in the financial system resulting in inaccurate information being submitted on the Food Service annual report although none of these items are illegal these egregious errors and countless others discovered in the last five months resulted in a domino effect throughout the division and the county to include auditor deadlines the straw for me is one you will be voting on later in this meeting with this division with this decision I could no longer in good conscience stand in front of you and state that the School Division was being good stewards with

037County or taxpayer funds after leaving the CFO position I was asked if I wanted to contract until a replacement could be found I declined the offer but have continued to assist in ensuring payroll is not delayed and have answered countless questions by school and County staff to include some as recent as this afternoon I still love this school system and want only the best for the division the staff and the students but felt this was important enough to bring to your attention so before you vote tonight I hope you ask yourself this question if I vote Yes will I be a good steward thank you [Applause] Mr Mark Wister good evening Madam chair board members Dr Kramer the topic I have to discuss this evening would be more appropriate to do after the policies for

038second read I'm requesting to move my time until after then thank you thank you Mrs Heidi Schwartz can I ask you a question real quick does FFA policy been polled for tonight not going to answer we haven't gotten to that on the agenda yet okay this is your time to speak not our time to speak and you you you're not allowed to ask us questions during that time thank you okay well I'll read what I have I guess so I was prepared to speak on the fraudulent FFA policy and why it would be up for second read I've struggled last month after the oh Jesus Mumble uh from Vines as I walked up to speak the board has ignored multiple emails from me and other citizens in the community regarding his remark and has yet

039to acknowledge divine's Behavior once again chair times you have ignored multiple emails no replies nothing you know what that implies that you support a board member that discredits a parent as they come before the board to speak this is why you don't have parents and citizens here and you don't listen you don't talk with us you talk over us and to us it has to make you wonder what goes on behind the doors and sessions on November 8th citizens spoke with their ballots since we have not heard you have we have not been heard and oh Jesus I thank God for that this board had a month to fix a mistake regarding the policy of FFA Wooster and myself met with Lynn and Jessica the day after the last school board meeting we showed them

040the fraudulent policy and the four of us went through the steps on how it came to be it was proven that day by Briggs Lynch knows this and brought it to the board's attention within a day knowing Lynn's history and her Integrity with the school I can't imagine she feels comfortable letting this fraudulent policy move forward last meeting I stood up here and I could have said something about that policy but I held my tongue which we all know that's very hard for me to do when I see something I speak on it but Wooster and I gave the school board ample opportunity to fix their coverage you have it why so you can Ram through a bunch of policies tonight before a new board takes over and then covers your cover-up Lynn if you

041read that policy tonight as a second read I'm just going to say you're as guilty as them in regard to the minutes from the last meeting regarding all the citizen comments they're Incorrect and complete I've sent an email regarding this certifying them would also be fraudulent unless you've updated those and completed them into be true let's talk about finances it wasn't even on the agenda for citizens to review this month until Tuesday we've gone from Bad transparency to worse that's interesting let's break it down the board refused to meet last spring with the Board of Supervisors Kemps was pushed out trollogen was brought in trollinger is now out I guess she answered some of that just a minute ago we don't have a CFO we've got two payroll Personnel handle it an audience due the

042BSO has taken over millions are probably missing I think she's kind of confirmed some of that we've gone from curriculum contracts that were purchased without other bids this past year the board's been run like an uncontrolled classroom with no behavioral consequences kind of like our schools it's time to take that back and put on track both in the schools and on the board Behavior financially and how do we go from bids and contract forms you need to fire the lawyer up here who admitted at the last meeting that he didn't read some of the policies for first read makes you ask has he ever read them where's your legal Council and why are we paying up to 10 grand a month sometimes for a counselor that isn't even reading policies oh Jesus that's a lot

043here [Applause] that's it Madam chair thank you very much what members committee reports and information do you have any reports Samantha during this times like a few attendants something on behalf of the students or something like that okay if you don't okay let's cut in half okay I do have a report on October the 15th I um the board had a retreat and that retreat was held in the uh town of Smithfield at Smithfield Station in the upper I think third floor library and Dr Peter Gorman was there to present to us that day it was for board members present that was Mrs style Mr Vines Mr Cunningham and myself and as well as Dr Kramer and it was uh I think it was like eight o'clock to noon and we really um Dr Gorman

044really helped us through a lot of things that day and uh hopefully we can get him back here um on October the 17th get my glasses the Virginia School Board Association I attended that the delegates assembly for the informational information on the legislative um platform on October the 18th I did a virtual uh bullying prevention through it was sponsored by the Virginia School Board Association but the presenters were from the city school district of Newport News and on October the 29th I attended the health fair at Main Street Baptist and it was I think it was given by Western Tidewater Community Service Board as well as Main Street Baptist on behalf for the Western topwater Community and I attended that because of the fact Isle of Wight County had a table there and I Mrs

045Ford to want to Fort was there at that table and there were other um Professionals in the community as well and organizations that presented at that uh health fair on October the 10th which was today I attended the Virginia School Board Association delegates legislative meeting this is where we actually act on the legislative platform that will be sent up to the general assembly and that meeting was from 12 until 3 30 this afternoon I would also like to make an announcement at this time that the um in the culinary of the CTE program the culinary arts department will be supplying a hundred families with uh Thanksgiving meals in our community and we would like to thank um Mr horn and Mr Hate his Mr Horn's assistant Mr hey hey as well as the students in

046that um in the CTE program for doing that for the families in Isle of Wight County okay at this time we have our financial report coming from um Mr Todd Christensen good evening Madam chair members of the board Dr Kramer as you all know my name is Todd Christensen I'm the director of Support Services however I'm also being called to support the financial department in any way that I possibly can at this time so as part of that I'm here to discuss the financial presentations and happy to answer any questions you all may have about the check registry facility usage report and financial summary thank you as you all have no I haven't don't have any thank you okay we need an action it's an action item are you waiting for us to act on

047it or do you add something further do you like to say Mr no ma'am I'm I'm gonna be up here for a while actually um it's a 14.2 is is going to be mine as well that um is the budget appropriation request okay um I believe there's being an update here thank you yes oh yeah I thought you said you had some other things that you finished with 14.2 no man I'm waiting for um the agenda to be refresh yeah there we go okay so um item 14.2 is related to additional appropriation of funds in the amount of 800 12 507 being allocated to um instruction in the amount of 712 507 and 100 000 to Transportation this is as approved by the Board of Supervisors um October 6 and and as you alluded to

048Madam chair this as an action item uh Madam chair I'd like to make a motion to direct Dr Kramer to request additional Appropriations in the amount of uh that's breaking a day on a 712 507 in the institutional category instructional excuse me uh category and 100 000 in the transportation category uh as approved by the Board of Supervisors on October 6 20 22. second we have a motion and a second uh at this time just take a vote okay thank you motion passes three zero thank you next we have 14.3 in this Mr Christensen as well additional Appropriations requests yes ma'am this item is related to an additional 234 272 dollars uh which we're asking to be appropriated from the unassigned fund balance to the capital maintenance line again as approved by the Board of

049Supervisors on October 6th um yes I am that's an added one okay yeah all right all right that's fourteen three all right uh Madam chair I'd like to make a motion to direct Dr Kramer to appropriate 234 272 dollars from the honor sign fund balance to the capital maintenance line item and fiscal year 2022-23 general fund as approved by the Board of Supervisors on October 6 2022 okay second we have a motion and a second at this time would you like to discuss that with Mr Christensen no I don't know okay if not we will take a vote motion passes three zero thank you very much next we have Support Services the workforce grade oh that's enough yes information I don't have that information I know they were at it but I didn't thank you

050all right we have a Workforce Grant and the workforce Grant is something that we've spoken on um last month that our nursing program put in the um the grant was fortunate enough to be awarded for so at this time we are asking for the budget to be amended to have that eighty thousand dollars appropriated to the administrative attendance and health budget category and it is an action item as well Madam chair like to make a motion uh to direct Dr Kramer to amend uh the FY 2022-23 budget funds in the amount of eighty thousand dollars be appropriated from the Virginia Department of educate of Education based Health Workforce Grant to the administrative attendance and health budget category within the uh iwcs FY 2022-23 budget as approved by the Board of Supervisors on October 20th 2022.

051okay second we have a motion and a second ah pardon me I second we have a motion at a second on the floor at this time any discussion about the workforce Grant and the motion hearing now we will take a vote motion passes 3-0 thank you very much at this time we have a Mr christerson again and this is uh Board of Supervisors yes operations yes ma'am one more uh so this one is related to the thousand dollar bonus check um and as part of that we are asking for an additional appropriation from the Board of Supervisors in the amount of 616.24 cents for the instructional category okay thank you that's right Madam chair I'd like to make a motion to direct Dr Kramer to request an additional Appropriations from the Board of Supervisors in

052an amount of 577 thousand dollars six 577 616 000 and 24 cents second um hold up I was gonna ask can you repeat the motion there's just a few words left off at the end yeah well um okay all right uh Madam chair I'd like to make them oh do I have to resend the last one yeah right up to you did you make a mistake yeah it's the wording sorry about on the floor you have to rescind it we're going to send it okay uh uh Madam chair I'd like to resend the last motion I made okay second okay Mr Vines ahead and call the vote okay Mr Vines we're rescinding the vote so we're voting on The rescinded vote yeah okay okay yeah Ms stands yeah Mr Cunningham yeah okay now we need

053of motion yep I'll get it all right Madam chair I'd like to make a motion to direct Dr Kramer to request an additional appropriation from the Board of Supervisors in the amount of 577 616.24 cents in the instructional category for the bonus payment okay thank you very much I wanna we have a motion and I'm gonna second it so we have a motion and a second on the floor and I'm going to open it up for discussion but I know Mr Vise you said you want to say something but before you say something on my ass Dr Kramer if he would like to elaborate on this particular motion it could answer what you have here yes and please elaborate as well Mr Christensen so this is the money that we have received from the state

054and we're asking to have these funds appropriated from the Board of Supervisors for the one thousand dollar bonus that teachers will receive any additional comments you'd like to make no sir that's entirely accurate okay thank you okay my only time it is how timely would everything this bonus because he just made a statement earlier that they would like to get these bonuses before Christmas I can't give you an exact time we are going to work as quickly as possible when the funds are appropriated uh from our Board of Supervisors to ensure that our staff do receive that bonus but we had Dr Kramer and I had discussed that and just like he said uh uh depends on getting the funds from the border supervisors they would have to act on it as well and we're

055going to try our best to get it out to them before the holidays absolutely I'm not going to say Thanksgiving but it at Christmas and the best we can do right now because we're dealing with another body that funds us okay so the funds right now are not available we have to get them from the Board of Supervisors so we have that's right until they have their meeting okay right yeah so your action tonight is requesting the funds from the Board of Supervisors so that we can allocate that bonus to uh our educators and if we gave it to them before without it and anticipating that the Border supervisors is going to give us the money we don't do that okay thank you so we'll wait until we have the money in hand thank you

056all right at this time we were acting on that motion no I think she's thinking I know but we have to vote on it right right Dave we're good I was on target okay motion passes three zero thank you very much thank you Mr christerson for doing I know what I was thinking of doing the financial piece but this time we're going to move on to support services which is also Mr christerson thank you yes ma'am thank you so I'm happy to provide a support services and operations update first item I wanted to brief the the board in public on is that the division crisis management team did just recently have a meeting we met on November the 4th um part of the the main focus of that meeting was to review each school's crisis

057manual uh those uh manuals will have a feedback provided to school administration so that we can you know fine-tune those as we are always looking to do one item that we really wanted to focus on this year was coming up with common and consistent formatting and content across the crisis manuals for all schools so that was a big focus of the discussion as well in addition to discussing the school crisis manuals we provided an update on the school mapping project we were in the final stages of that we're just getting some sort of fine-tuned details nailed down with the critical Response Group the company that's doing those those maps and Gathering the names of the individuals First Responders emergency Personnel who will have access to those Maps so we're in the final stages there and

058and the team did have a discussion surrounding that and last up we did hold questions around the sros and the elementary schools as you know it's been a recent development and just wanted to make sure that the crisis management team was all on the same page with those with those developments as many of you know we had a bus driver appreciation breakfast across the county both ends of the county and really was a great opportunity to celebrate our bus drivers and and have some fellowship and just wanted to share some pictures these being from the south end and the North End was oops if the North End one didn't make it in there I apologize but the the North End Of course had their um celebration as well so we were very pleased to celebrate

059our bus drivers as part of bus driver appreciation breakfast week bus driver Appreciation Week excuse me and last up uh we did just recently uh completes a project across the county we actually did this at every school in the division we repainted the handicap parking spaces uh this is an example of one of the freshly painted uh spaces over time these things can wear down to the point where it can produce sort of a two different scenarios that are that are not advantageous that is that people uh end up parking in the spots sort of inadvertently if the spots wear down they're not clearly marked that can happen and then also if you are somebody who needs access to these spots and they're not clearly labeled it can be difficult to find of course we

060we don't want that so we just had these uh all freshly repainted and they are bright and blue across the county I'm happy to answer any questions that you all might have thank you Mr Chris uh Mr Christensen all right one more for me all right so the gasoline propane diesel fuel generator and fuel oil this was a invitation to bid that we had put outs and um had the bids opened we do have an intent to award um that we have um developed based off of the the bid process and so at this point we are asking the board to move forward on the intent to bid so that we can move forward with the uh negotiation process there's a report coming from Mr Christian sentence uh Madam chair I'd like to make a

061motion to approve the intent to award letter for the gasoline propane diesel fuel generators and fuel law all and according to I've be 2023-002 as recommended by Administration second we have a motion in a second there is no discussion at this time vote motion passes three zero thank you very much thank you Mr Christensen okay next we have the update new Hardy Elementary School and that will be Mr Chris Bilbo yeah Mr Bilbo is the Project Director for with uh MB Khan while they're getting Mr bobos straight the uh School Board as well as the Board of Supervisors had an opportunity to visit Hardy Elementary last month we're ready the new Hardy Elementary that we we visited the new Hardy Elementary all right so here we are this is last week November 2nd and construction

062is coming very well along as you can see on the right side there we have over the office area the roofs on the bricks going up and behind that the roof is on the gym and the brick is on the gym as well as the kitchen the mechanical room in the electrical room behind that area is the two-story classroom wings and if you were there today you would see the trusses has already started to be set on that area and the steel is up over to the right the north side brick is just about done windows are starting to go in in this area in the next week or two and we have actually many days of the week we actually have two cranes out there there's one crane there Sutton steel and another crane

063setting the trusses um our goal is to be by the first of the year dried in that means all the roof is on and all the windows are in we're expecting permanent Power Equipment in December and all the last final mechanical systems in January it's been a little bit delayed due to uh the supply chain issues over here to the right you got the d-wing which you can see the trusses are on and the Steel's going up the roof's going to start there hopefully the week after next um so about the first of the year when we're all dried in we'll be starting finishes in January with probably some temporary electric contemporary heat that means paintings painting has just started in the last few weeks but painting will start flooring will start ceilings will start

064everything's pretty much on track I don't know if y'all have any I'm not used to this I gotta get through it just fine but things are going very well for the most part I mean construction Changes Day by Day minute by minute goods and beds hopefully more Goods than beds this job's going pretty good uh I'm not sure if y'all have any questions for me thank you very much but that's a lot because it's just what YouTube go we were there you all have really closed down a lot of it so the big big dates are by the first of the year be dried in uh that means most the roof is dry maybe not all the roof is on and all the windows in and then as we start the finishes and close up

065the outside button on the outside we'll start site work again probably the middle to end of January to start cleaning up the site planting grass putting in sidewalks and so on okay okay that's all I have okay thank you thank you very much all right thank you okay next we will have report from the superintendent thank you madam chair I think they're growing up present the the slides so that I can have a visual illustration of some of the events that I've attended in there Mr kubernet is going to give me the thank you very much sir much appreciated so uh thank you madam chair for this opportunity to share some of the events I have attended and some of the work that I have been engaged in so there we go it gets a

066little bit delayed so I've had the pleasure of meeting with staff members in thus far eight of our nine schools uh there's one that we had to reschedule I think that Smithfield Middle School the purpose of these meetings uh is to continue to make myself available to our Educators listening to their recommendations questions concerns in an effort to ensure that there's continuous Improvement the photos that you see there are from Carrollton Elementary and I think the other one is from Winter Elementary and we do have others but these are the ones that we took pictures on and I want to just extend a huge thank you to those Educators Who provided me as superintendent with some tremendous recommendations they've asked great questions we've chronicled that I will be sharing uh that those questions those recommendations

067with you the board and hope to uh put those on our website as well at least the thematically showing uh the overall questions concerns and recommendations from our Educators so I want to thank them for the wonderful opportunity they've given me and I want to say that these were voluntary opportunities I didn't want to go during a staff meeting or faculty meeting I wanted to ensure that this was an opportunity if they wanted to they could share information with me I have a question sure while you were meeting with them that you have been building administrators in the meeting at the time but just this uh of the staff it was anyone who wanted to be a part so it could be a principal it could be anyone who is an Isle of Wight County

068Schools employee okay if they wanted to meet with me we allowed them to meet and answered questions Miss Whitlow was there with me as well to take uh the notes so that we could have those prepared and we will again make those available once I'm finished having a little bit of concern here with advancing can you help me out uh yeah why don't you help me manually I'm not sure what's going on um next uh I've been privileged to be able to meet with several organizations in the school Community um so as you see there I'm at the with the Smithville Kiwanis and with Ben's United Methodist Church so I extend a huge thank you to Our Community Partners for the opportunity to speak with their organizations about the work that is occurring in the

069Isle of Wight County Schools I was able to meet with and speak with our friends and partners from as you see again the Smithfield Kiwanis Club and a special thank you to Mr Steve Bowman and to our president Mr Willis for giving me that opportunity and you see the image there from Ben's United Methodist Church at the privilege of being invited to speak to the United Methodist men at a breakfast at Bends United Methodist to have discussions about the work that is going on and had a chance to entertain some questions as well so I want to thank all of our Community Partners and I welcome uh extended Opera continual opportunities to extend myself to be a part of the community so I welcome invitations to continue to speak and meet with Community stakeholders and

070next thank you sir uh the Isla white Arch League Fine Arts Teacher reception um the they hosted a reception at the Arts uh Center in Smithfield it was a casual opportunity to bring our teachers together with members of the Arts League to share ideas and philosophy uh and their philosophy among the Arts community so I want to thank them for that opportunity and those are some of our Educators from a number of our schools and from central office as well as the child of one of our Educators happened to make the photo as well so it was a great evening there uh in the town of uh of Smithfield thank you sir and next girls on the run so I had the opportunity to attend the girls on the run uh banquet that was held

071in Chesapeake Virginia with our staff members from Hardy Elementary as well as Windsor Elementary and girls on the run as this wonderful opportunity that allows our staff members to work with and Inspire girls of all abilities to recognize their individual strengths while building a sense of connection in a team setting our Educators volunteer themselves as coaches to facilitate lessons that blend physical activity with life skill development to enable girls to adapt to whatever situations they might contend with in the future so I want to thank them and we're certainly looking at ways to expand these opportunities after school uh in this program is in all of our schools uh except the high schools but we certainly want to look at ways to continue to support our girls and as well as our young men as

072well so we'll be talking about other communities in the future to expand mentoring opportunities for our boys as well yes and the Smithfield homecoming uh events as you may recall I attended some of the Windsor High Homecoming festivities festivities earlier in the fall and more recently I was able to tend to attend uh Smithville High School's homecoming and had the opportunity to meet with some of the parents and alumni who were present that evening as well as it's a very blurry image there in the Middle top middle that I actually had someone take with my phone but that's a former NFL football player and Smithville High Alum Mr Langhorne Reggie Langhorne who was there that evening and a number of other um uh Alum and families were there supporting our students so that was a

073great opportunity to be a part of that event as well and our jacket ceremony I was able to attend this event with other staff members uh the jacket ceremonies and the all a ceremonies is an event at our high schools both Smithville High and Windsor high this event allows us to recognize our students for academic excellence and as I stated that evening we certainly recognize our athletes and we should continue that but this event uh was one that's close to my heart because we're recognizing students for their academic Pursuits and for academic Excellence it was an amazing event and again it was held at both high schools uh consecutive weeks so a great event thank you principals coffee and principal Carol and your respective staff members for recognizing our students and we had a number

074of our families come out I think that happens to be one of our Educators Ms Smith and her family with uh with her son there in the middle receiving his jacket so a great event about how many jackets did you give up this year that's a great question and I was hoping you wouldn't answer that okay 250. okay all right I don't know if that's accurate or not I'm sure it is but I'm gonna go with that thank you all it sounds right we had a lot of students at both schools and um again it was not only the jackets for the for the seniors then the underclassmen the all A's students uh received and not jackets but Awards so between the all A's and the jackets uh that number definitely sounds the jackets this

075year I can remember when that program started a few years back and we only had what maybe about 25 or something that was per building it's growing and it is it's a wonderful thing for everyone to do absolutely better that's right that's right and we need to again recognize our students for uh the reason they're really here and that is to pursue academics so it's a wonderfully uh initiative and we'll certainly continue that and next our bus driver appreciation so Mr Christensen we took care of this for you we have an image from the northern part of the county so uh Mr Christensen I want to thank you and our transportation department for recognizing our bus drivers for their contributions and transporting our students home safely each day uh in appreciation in appreciation for their

076hard work we wanted to thank them with a breakfast and as Mr Christensen mentioned uh we acknowledged and recognized our bus drivers in both the Windsor community and the southern part of the county and then the following few days I think we recognized our students our bus drivers pardoned at uh Smithfield Middle School for the northern part of the county so huge thank you to you Mr Christensen to Dr Coleman and certainly to Mr Blackwell and his staff for recognizing our bus drivers and my hope is that we continue to do that for all that they do for us and then the Iowa white presentation some of you may have seen my tweets and you may have seen this and will certainly extend opportunities for you board members to to be a part of this

077but in conjunction with our new strategic plan we launched a recognition program that is open to any member of the Isle of Wight County Schools Community the award focuses on four broad areas in the Strategic plan Inspire succeed lead and Empower so the Isle award welcomes nominations that demonstrate how someone in the Iowa White County school Community has embodied one of these areas so from October through June four nominees will be selected for recognition and one in each category will be highlighted on social media Pages our social media pages and websites for the division so we see some wonderful people there a young lady in the back was recognized for one of those Awards some of our Educators a bus drivers that's right Miss Jackson where are you stand up Miss Jackson thank you Miss

078Jackson for all that you do Jackson received the first one that's right she received one of the first ones so again this is something we will be doing each month and uh we want did you I'm sorry it's your Medicare were you calling her on this Jackson had her hand up oh you had your hand up you are doing a lot of great things Miss Jackson just continue thank you so much so that's a wonderful award and it's just been a lot of fun going around the county recognizing very deserving people both uh staff members and community members so Dr Kramer invited uh some of the board members myself and I think Mr Cunningham because we were home during that time and I I I told him I said you know what this is one

079of your projects and sometime when board members show up it takes away from the events so I said you go and you're going to surprise them because it's your project and at the board meeting just like you're doing now this is when we can appreciate everything that they're all doing okay certainly thank you very much for that support uh next we have our divisions are crisis management team meeting uh with our law enforcement community so as you see from the photos we've had multiple meetings with our law enforcement Partners to discuss ways to continue making our schools safe and secure and one of the photos is with our sros that actually took the photo to the right occurred today you might notice I have the same outfit on there so that happened today so we

080are constantly meeting with our partners uh see uh the SRO uh Johnson and Lieutenant AC as well as Windsor Police Chief riddle uh is there with us to the left and to the right all of the sros and we are so pleased now that we have sros in all of our schools including our elementary schools [Music] absolutely a thank you to um our Board of Supervisors for their support and uh Sheriff Clarke from making that possible thank you absolutely and next uh as you know I have been visiting our CTE programs uh with Dr kale we have been visiting those programs earlier we still have to visit the southern part of the county and last month I visited our special education programs with Mrs Magner and her staff and um in October we learned and

081I'm learning more and getting a much better understanding about our programs and recently I've had the opportunity to learn so much more about our reading program here and these photos are actually taken at Carrollton Elementary but I want to thank Mrs cooperider and the reading coaches for giving me an opportunity to get a very in-depth look at our reading program I'm learning by going in the classrooms asking students questions being able to ask questions of our teachers as well as entertaining their questions so I want to thank all of our Elementary staff members for allowing me to visit their schools and we still have a few more schools that I will be visiting but again this is just one school that reflects some of the work that I'm able to do with our staff so

082it's giving me a great understanding of the work that's really occurring in our schools and then our um advisories I'm very pleased to say that Mrs Briggs and I have had the pleasure of establishing a few advisories a parent advisory a staff advisory and a student advisory and this I think is just from yesterday actually uh where we had a chance to meet with uh staff and we have representatives from each one of our schools and it's a combination of all we have staff members who are teachers we have support staff and others from our schools and this again is with the intent of me continuing to seek input recommendation suggestions and these advisories of board members will help when I uh offer information to you it's not just going to be from my perspective

083or from central office but this will be very informed by our complete Community from our parents from our teachers and from our students so um next week I think it is Mrs Briggs or we may have to delay that actually because of a conflict actually with our vsba meeting next week so I will be meeting with our students as well and again as they're informing me on matters pertaining to the budget or the CIP or the Strategic plan or Safety and Security that's information that I will gather and will share with you the board as we make decisions so those have been going very well and I want to thank all of our advisor our advisories and those committee members uh for giving of themselves in their time to offer input and in way and

084sharing ways that we can continue uh to Pro to improve our schools and our school community and last and this has been discussed um earlier uh first and foremost and Madam chair you recognized our veterans early and and I want to Echo to Echo that uh acknowledgment as superintendent thank you Veterans for all that you do for our country uh for our community and for our schools and I was very privileged to be in attendance at uh two of the events and I think uh Dr Coleman and others represented us at some of the others so Mrs Briggs helped me I know that we were here at Westside Elementary we were also at Smithfield Middle uh with uh Mrs Goetz and Dr kale and Mrs Truitt and others but I think we were also with

085a program at Windsor Elementary those three okay uh wonderful events and as it was mentioned earlier a parade recognizing our veterans um it's something that I've never seen in all my years so I certainly really Echo the sentiment that we this is something we need to continue so proud of our students and our staff members for recognizing our awesome men and women in the military and with that Madam chair uh that concludes my update and it was rather long uh this month but I do enjoy the opportunity to share with the community the work that we are doing uh on behalf of our students and staff thank you very much next we have the capital Improvement plan Community survey results and recommendation Dr Kells foreign good evening Madam chair members of the board Dr Kramer

086so I am here to share with you the community input the capital Improvement plan Community feedback survey results and our recommendations to you for the capital Improvement plan uh you might remember that in the last couple months we've we've brought you some updates about this particular item we originally planned to present this in September but thought that it would be great to get input from our community members as we move forward so here you'll see the community feedback when we sent out the survey we broke it down into two separate categories facilities and support projects so School operations and classroom kind of things and then Athletics and extracurriculars so the the other pieces of what we do um and so we had 260 responses total which is just over four percent of our student population

087if each response was equated to a student um we averaged those responses to determine what the priority order was for each of these items and what you'll see here is that there's a loud and resounding call for us to acknowledge the growing population of our school and Community we see a lot of rebuild expand increase size kind of things and then we also had a couple of comments where people noted that things like the Fleet Services building they don't see those projects and so because they haven't been there and and don't repair buses they don't often really know what the state of those locations is we also then got their feedback around the Athletics and extracurricular items and these projects reflect our community's growing desire to improve our extracurricular facilities so that we can host

088larger events Regional tournaments playoffs things to that nature so I'll just give you a second to look at that all right and then here we have our recommended priorities and these are in order from what we believe is the top priority to the the lowest level priority um and these take into account the feedback from our community our facility needs an understanding of Maintenance and and size and capacity and then also impact on schools and individual students foreign this is our current timeline you'll see this is where we are this is different from the timeline that we presented to you last month as we felt it would be best to bring you the recommendations this month next month would be the opportunity for first read and then second read in January which is a month

089later than we originally proposed um and so if you have any questions or if there's any information we can provide you about any specific project please just let us know always how many people did you said responded to the survey we had 260 responses and it was open for a little over a week so we sent it out on Monday the 17th and then we closed that survey the Monday following and most of the first pardon most of the responses were pretty much the same items um well that's kind of that's why we averaged the scores to kind of see how those so if you ranked it a two but somebody else ranked it a five everybody's voice was still heard so we took the total number of responses and then got the average of

090that and also musketch just reminded me there will be a public hearing next month okay about the the CI paper that's before she leaves thank you okay thank you at this time we will have a elementary school capacity in the northern end of the county good evening Madam chair members of the board Dr Kramer so with the new Hardy School slated to open next fall it is time for us to begin discussing student distribution so tonight we are going to share information with you as well as a proposal and timeline okay okay so uh the first slide is just our current elementary enrollment you'll see the totals on the right hand side I'd like to draw your attention to um Carrollton um and Hardy uh the Carrollton enrollment is actually shows that our Carrollton population

091is the second largest of our elementary schools so we're going to dive a little deeper in looking at these numbers of Carrollton and Hardy as we talk about student distribution so the capacity um we're going to talk about the capacity of both Hardy and Carrollton Hardy currently has an enrollment of 512 students and that's in grades pre-kindergarten through grade four new Hardy will be able to accommodate 889 students based on the current enrollment the building would open with a capacity of 58 percent Carrollton Elementary has a program capacity of 720 students and a current enrollment of 666 students in grades pre-k through third grade that gives Carrollton a capacity currently of 93 percent okay so what we wanted to show you on this slide are the current School boundaries or attendance zones in blue you

092have the Hardy attendant Zone in green you have the Carrollton attendant Zone and the next slide is just going to sort of zoom in on where those two boundaries meet and we have a few things labeled to give you some perspective a shows you where Hardy Elementary School is located you see B designates the area called Wellington Estates that actually is right next to the Hardy Zone but it's actually in the Carrollton Zone Gatling Point as you go down the road a little bit on both sides of Battery Park Road you have the two gallon points that are in the Carrollton Zone and further down D is the Eagle Harbor area and Carrollton Elementary is in is labeled by e so just to highlight some of the growth that is happening in Smithfield and other

093areas of the county wanted to make you aware and this information is coming from the county we have several subdivisions in the town of Smithfield under construction or proposed Cypress Creek there's um they are adding to the current community of Cypress Creek 152 single-family dwellings Mallory Scott Farm which is off of Battery Park Road construction is expected to start this spring and you can see that's a significant development that's going to come into that area down Battery Park Road it will be phased in but it's going to bring in numerous new residents to the county another development which is behind the Royal Farms also off of Battery Park Road at the corner of South Church Street it has been approved but right now they're not sure of the construction date and the final one up

094there the area called The Grange that's for those of us that have been around here a while you know that as the old Robert little grocery store area and the pierceville farm that's pending and proposed and the current numbers on that are listed for that's a mixed-use development is what's being proposed so that's just in the town of Smithfield then as we move into the northern area of the county you see these are developments currently under construction and the majority of these are on Route 17 or on Brewers neck Boulevard the one that's called Brewer station that's the one happening in the field right next to Carrollton Elementary and the Carrollton Library The Crossings is at the intersection that they just redesigned at Brewer's neck in Route 17 Carrollton Manor is off of Route 17

095that's a smaller development those are all under construction and incidentally that area of the county is what's known as the Newport development Service District which a DSD in the county is a strategic growth area plan for future residential commercial and Industrial Development and essentially the DSD the Newport DSD is along Route 17 Brewers neck and bench Church Boulevard now we have additional subdivisions in the northern part of the county that have been approved but they have not started construction yet actually an additional 191 mobile home lots have been approved for a significant amount of time at Red Oaks but nothing's happened to that and and for people that may not know once things are approved they can sit dormant for for years many of the developments that are taking place right now have been approved

096decades ago there's no time limit on when that approval expires for my understanding so you can see all the ones approved there's also one that's been proposed it's not approved it's um one called sweet grass it's behind the Sherwin-Williams which is at the intersection of Turner Drive and 10 and that's about 600 units that would take place on that farmland um it is interesting the county does mention in their information about the DSD that the Newport developmental Service District is the fastest growing area in Isle of Wight as of May 2021 they noted there were over 3 400 households in the DSD there and the info also notes that that number could double if all of the approved housing units are built so our challenge is how we can we use the available capacity at

097new Hardy Elementary School to alleviate some of the overcrowding at Carrollton and and I will say that new Hardy you know it was never intended to resolve overcrowding at Carrollton it was replacing a building that had outlived its useful life however there are areas in the Carrollton attendance Zone that could easily be moved to Hardy attendance Zone which would help us to alleviate the crowding at Carrollton so it's a benefit that we get by building new Hardy however it's important to note that the growth is very very concentrated on Route 10 and Brewer's neck which is of 17. I'm sorry Route 17 in Brewer's neck which Lynn mentioned is the Newport Service District so that is a challenge where the growth is located so proposed change after carefully looking at the options available here's our

098proposal to the current Hardy attendance Zone to continue down Battery Park Road to rescue Road up to the bridge at Jones Creek then extend down Nike Park Road up to the bridge at Jones Creek extend down bends Church Boulevard to include the proposed Sweetgrass if that becomes approved we would also recommend that we keep the current fourth grade at West Side So currently carrollton's fourth graders go to West Side Elementary originally we had hoped that we could put them back at Carrollton and have Carrollton be pre-k through four and new Hardy B pre-k through four in looking at the numbers it's just not going to be possible so we recommend keeping the num the fourth grade at West Side okay so to show you what this looks like on a map the area in reddish

099pink color that is got the diagonal lines on it that would be the extended or new part of the Hardy attendant Zone once again you see some labels there it would pick up the gallon Point area it would pick up Mallory Scott Farm now where it's labeled right now that actually is the Hardy Zone but across the road on Battery Park is still more of that Mallory Scott development so it would pick up all of the proposed Mallory Scott and Hardy does have room to grow so it would be what we think it would be able to absorb that growth it would pick up Wellington Estates which actually is kind of surrounded by the Hardy Zone but in the Carrollton Zone at the moment D is the area where the proposed sweet grass development would

100be and so you don't see any dots there now the dots represent students there are no students there now but once again if that area does develop become developed you now have designated that for the Hardy Zone as well and you see with e the Eagle Harbor and Associated communities over in the harbor area and F is where Carrollton Elementary is now if we move this in a little bit closer what you're going to notice is the extended Zone actually has a natural geographic boundary in Jones Creek we Ascend essentially are running the Zone up to Jones Creek at the top of the see if I can point to this up here there we go rescue Road up here right above the name that's the um that's Jones Creek the bridge right at Jones Creek

101so it would run to there then you see down here another Crossing at Jones Creek and that's off of Nike Park Road there's one little dot there it would run to there and essentially it's following Jones Creek all through here and picking up this area that's where the sweet grass development would occur if it's approved so um so essentially that's we're looking at that natural boundary to extend the um the zone for Hardy into that natural boundary so this would change our capacity at Carrollton uh this rezoning would decrease capacity to 82 percent at Hardy it would increase capacity which they have room to do to 68 percent right now it looks like about 75 students would be rezoned in those areas that we discussed and as stated before even though we are relieving some

102of the capacity at Carrollton it's not enough to leave the fourth grade there that's approximately 150 to 180 students seven to eight classrooms we will not get that many classrooms from the rezoning all right and our next steps um so tonight we wanted to share with you um proposal however we will then move to hold public comment in December we are also creating a let's talk button on our website for Community feedback we will then propose that we have a first read in January for the board to consider and then second read for approval in the February meeting and then after approval we will then look at having informational meetings for families we're going to provide communication for new hearty parents and then there might be some staffing implications that we will also want to

103look at and and we do want to to point out that these are changes that we are proposing to make beginning next school year so it is time for us to you know really start having these discussions and I'll add that this is just we're introducing this for the first time tonight nothing's finalized we want to make sure our community realizes that we are still in the listening stage for all of this um but we think it's important to go ahead and get this moving forward using the timeline that we've presented thank you very much any questions any questions anyone up here thank you thank you thank you at this time as this is Sullivan to come forward she's all HR director oh you don't have anything but we just want you to sit here

104unless you okay but I just want you to come forward when we um act on your okay report we have the Personnel report that was presented to us in close um session tonight by Dr Kramer oh you ready we're ready okay all right uh Madam chair I'd like to make a motion to approve the Personnel report as presented a copy of which can be obtained from the Schoolboy clerk if anyone wants it second all right you have a motion and a second to approve the Personnel report that was presented to us tonight in closed session at this time if you don't hear any discussion we will take a vote thank you the vote the motion passes three zero all right thank you Miss Sullivan we have another item that was discussed in closed session that's

105ea22-05 and early admissions okay uh Madam T I'd like to make a motion to approve the early admission of EA 22-05 second okay we have a second from Mr savines you know at this time we would take a vote because this is a student item we do not discuss Ocean passes 3-0 thank you we have the adoption of the consent agenda which we have a lot on here tonight and there is one item that I would like to pull tonight on the consent agenda um I approve everything on the uh consent agenda Set uh for item FFA and table it until next month that's pop yes that's FFA one zero one three two two everything else as far as I'm it's okay with me that's okay I I think she's you I that's the next

106item oh yeah but I think it's okay I mean if you want to skip around that's certainly fine let's come back to it all right meeting minutes we'll do that one first okay meeting minutes uh that's an action item yeah okay uh Madam chair I'd like to approve the uh oh I'll make a motion to approve the consent agenda as a text and presented second we have a motion to approve the consent agenda as it was presented at this time we'll take a vote okay motion passes three zero thank you next we have the policies of dates and revisions and I would like I said our proof all of the other policies but I would like to uh accept FFA and table it until next month for further discussion well December for further discussion all

107right uh Madam chair I like them like to make a motion to approve the policies for second read minus FFA which would be tabled until the December board meeting second we have a motion and a second time if there are no discussions we will vote motion passes 3-0 thank you next we have 19.2 regulations and Exhibits that's just information are there any uh concerns or discussions okay next we have on the agenda request to speak non-agenda items the public I'm sorry you can give them the directions while you're waiting in accordance to policy bddh-e presentation of information on any subject will be concluded at the discretion of the board no person will be recognized to speak more than once citizens scheduled on the agenda to speak will be permitted four minutes maximum time for their

108presentation delegations will be requested to limit their speakers to two persons speaking are asked to be specific State the issues for the board's consideration and attach a copy of your prepared remarks if you have prepared remarks they should be given to the board clerk please do not approach the board members any matter relating to specific students will be heard by the school board only in a closed meeting first we have Miss Veronica Davis in the audience and we have Mr Thomas DeStefano good evening uh chair times representative Cunningham Mr Vines my name is Thomas DeStefano I live in District 2 on Matisse court and I'm speaking as a citizen I'm not speaking on behalf of any of the boards that I represent I really appreciate the dedication to Veterans earlier as you all saw I'm

109also active duty military so per DOD relative I'm actually required to say I'm also it's not speaking not behalf of the United States Navy Mr Kramer this is my first time speaking in front of you it's a pleasure to meet you I think many of the changes that you made in your initiatives are on the right path it's a great to have you here um tonight I will discuss ethical representation the importance of accurately representing the will of the people and relate this to consequences of failure uh in these activities like sixty percent of the people in District 2 and 70 of the people in District Four I consider myself inadequately represented over the last year unanswered correspondence and election results substantiate my claim also leading up to the election I've talked to hundreds of

110parents and I would say that was a pretty Universal um Talking Point foreign the people who sent this board a message tonight the same board demonstrates a lack of learning and further demonstrate the will of the people is not a priority it was unethical to hold this meeting it was wrong to hold the meeting tonight intact over 30 public policy items although I do agree that polling FFA was good was a good move by the support it should have been rescheduled as proposed by Mr colic at least twice over the last year this tells me and I'm sure many of the public that our work is is probably not done there may be additional work to do in 2023 and 2025 respectively them I recommend that elected members of this board learn to better demonstrate

111transparency learn the ability to listen to their constituency have an eagerness to respond to communication learn to have integrity to address unacceptable Behavior with fellow board members and understand that you work for the parents of Iowa White to the newly elected members of the board that are in attendance tonight I suggest that you also learn from the mistakes of the previous board I challenge you to revisit the policies that were acted on tonight and any that you find objectable that were put into place over the last year whether by the largely unelected Warden I also urged the board members to consider past performance while selecting leadership positions on this board early next year thank you [Applause] next we have Mr Mark Wooster good evening again Madam chair board members Dr Kramer I want to thank

112you for approving my request to move my time frame earlier I just want to talk about policy FFA real quick on October 13 2022 under agenda item 19.1 under policies for first read you had approximately 30 policies listed of those policies we know policy FFA which pertains to the naming of schools was listed unfortunately the FFA policy listed for first read is not the legitimate policy that was voted on and approved on 11 June 2015. on 4 November 22 I submitted an email to all school board members detailing the fact that the policy presented is not the correct FFA policy and to continue push to push this version of the policy which has not gone through the review process nor voted on constitutes fraud my recommendation was to remove policy FFA from second read on

113the agenda and resolve this issue instead of ignoring the facts to date only one board member Mr colic responded to my email however I did speak with Madam chair times on the issue yesterday via phone I had hoped my district 2 representative would have responded however I can only assume Mrs Dahl did not see the importance in the issue after my conversation with you madam chair times I am pleased that you were able to see the problem and start the process to correct it and by removing policy FFA for a second read I do thank you for doing that and I thank you for hearing me now Miss Laura Fletcher good evening chair times gentleman of the board Dr Kramer I'd like to thank Mrs trollinger for her courageous report and assessment of the state

114of Isle of Wight County Schools budget and budgetary process for over 18 months maybe as many as two years this board has heard community members ask for Budget transparency we've asked for a full accounting of all the covet funds only to receive blank stares and haughty remarks Dr Kramer I'm making an unusual request I'd like for you to ignore the vote of this board tonight and not request the funding Appropriations until our newly elected board has taken its pla their place on the board board members excuse me unelected school board members should not be making weighty financial decisions for this fam for this County the teacher who spoke earlier requesting the one thousand dollar bonus promised teachers of Isle of Wight County Schools thank you for making this public I've watched as a steady stream

115of parents have come before this board month after month to share their concerns about Equity diversity CRT they've spoken about the evils of social emotional learning and it's aimed to flip a child's conscience pushing relativism when children need the security of absolute truths I've watched as parents have read passages from pornographic books available in our school libraries and classrooms all in an effort urging you to act but to no avail this board has failed to act on nearly every concern brought before them but today is a new day and we have new representation I'd like to ask our new board members to provide the taxpayers of Isle of Wight County a full accounting of the Isle of Wight County school budget that they asked for the citizens who've elected them to office and do their

116due diligence in exposing any illegalities in irregular irregularities found in our accounting procedures that they continue to protect parental rights and work to encourage parents citizen involvement with the school system my promise to this board and its new members is that I will support every effort you make to provide transparency regarding the budget and curriculum I will hold you to your campaign promises and encourage the community to support all of you all of your endeavors on our behalf thank you for your willingness to serve thank you for the courage you've shown in running and winning your election we will have Financial transparency in this County and we will hold those accountable who have dealt irresponsibly with public funds this is because we love this community we care about our children and our families and we

117want to see them flourish and succeed thank you [Applause] Mr Lewis Edmonds good evening Louis Edmonds fourth district Windsor um wasn't able to make last month's meetings I was on travel Dr Kramer I want to thank you for your parent engagement meetings the one you held in Windsor and Suffolk while not heavily attended I certainly appreciated them and I appreciate your genuine um concern and willingness to listen to parents and listen to the community and it's a welcome change I also like other people have contacted a chairwoman tines and CeCe the rest of the board regarding the policy FFA I'll try not to um re-plow ground that's already been plowed tonight but I will share a couple things maybe try to fill in a couple of gaps I think it's important for the community to

118know that the law was broken any way you shape this now there's three different ways that potentially could have happened and maybe some of it's overlapping first is the Virginia Public Records act which says part of it says any public official who converts or migrates electronic records shall ensure an accurate copy of the original record so if we made a mistake moving it from the ESB website that was the previous website to the new website that's a violation of the law it's not the worst violation law but it is a violation of the law the second potential thing that happened is that maybe the FFA policy that you have said is uh legitimate maybe it really is legitimate however that is still a violation of the Virginia Public Records act because the agencies shall be

119responsible for ensuring its public records are preserved maintained and accessible throughout their life cycle including converting or migrating electronic records as often as necessary so that the information is not lost due to Hardware software media obsolescence or deterioration so if it was the correct record then the stuff that you have on the ESB from 2015 is incorrect and somewhere along the way that record got changed or wasn't properly recorded in 2015. again not the worst thing you could break it just is a thing that happens uh where it becomes an issue is when you refuse to identify the mistake be public and transparent about the mistake and then um do something to correct it this board has not been transparent Mrs Briggs was transparent up to a certain point and then she I'm assuming was

120not allowed to speak to the Smithville times anymore to help clarify the record the third piece which gets a little more serious is that if that public record was altered on purpose that is a a violation of the criminal code when I reached out to the Library of Virginia asking about the public records issue they are the ones who brought up this doesn't sound like a violation in the public records this potentially sounds like a criminal matter that is very serious I hope you take it as serious as it is um I think that it's been a abdication of leadership by the school board you've left Dr Kramer and Mrs Briggs and other staff kind of out there in the wind Dr Kramer was not hired to come clean up the mess from June and

121he is not the person to investigate this because it's not his job to to tell on his predecessor it's not his job to find out if one of you had undue influence on how this happened he's not in a position to do that you have oversight over him and I certainly hope you would appreciate that and not put him in that position and that's all I have thank you at this time we'll take our 10 minute recess I forgot foreign you at this time we reconvened and continue on with our meeting oh they turn I'm sorry I didn't know they had turned it off thank you and at this time we're reconvene and continue with the meeting um next to speak is Mr Michael Ozil Michael's the heart of District first I want to give

122thanks to uh Miss Vaughn miss that Miss Dowell since he's not here but and Mr Vine for serving on the school for a period of time they did uh I really appreciate that uh secondly uh I wants to see uh verification of your heads to Mr the two new deputies superintendent I think that was in the car with the last Google meeting now will they be the person to speak with if we can't get to talk to the superintendent uh that's under the behalf of he's not present at the time that's all I got and so that the partner know who to contact just in case we cannot reach him somebody in between that can pass the information to him then I cut back on the elimination of time frame and keep the communication going

123that's what I'm looking at keep the communication going uh better be communicate and be able to feel like the better off we all will be and I thank you for your time Miss Martha Jackson Martha Jackson District three uh to chair times to the other board members to miss Conyers superintendent Cramer we call September rather than January the new year because it signals the beginning of the Academic Year for our students I want to commend and thank the members of the sitting board for opting to shine above the many board meetings that have been filled with ridicule and complaints by taking the high road of insurmountable obstacles to stand up for what is best for our students you have spent countless hours at meetings zoom and in person conferences in our County and at the

124state level you visited our nine schools the land lab the farm cosmetology welding nursing and sporting events to make sure that our precious children have the best education possible our instructional team to labors daily with the intentional purpose of developing unique Focus sets with assignments that enhance learning for our teachers including technology and our students please continue to cultivate and replay all the good that is happening in our schools do we have a part in this yes C wee-wee I challenge us I challenge myself the sis the citizens listening to clear the Clutter and debris of self-servateness let us pour our energies into ways of working together for the prize what prize 5396 prizes success and accomplishments just don't happen it takes work work more work and then some let's work together to make it

125so Isle of Wight County School students will become the best of the best thank you foreign Candace vanderbreak hello so I came to say farewell to the school board members that aren't going to be here anymore June 2021 was the first time I attended a school board meeting right after I completed my first foia for training materials given to teachers as a small group of parents and myself dug deeper with Voya the deceitfulness of the board and the school administration became overwhelming during the school during the summer I urge each board member to listen to their constituents for the school board is based on an elected position for the people and by the people as two board members resigned I had hope in our two new appointed school board members but the few parents Then

126followed alawite County school policy to try to make a difference for our children by filing klb forms at the start of the year once inappropriate material was discovered in our children's School issued devices then the board decided to censor us and make concerned parents speak at the end of meetings in an attempt to silence our concerns with the new board I hope this gets reverted back parents concerns should always be put in the front of everything the school does with our children Heidi and I put together a PowerPoint in March of 2022 with for our klb meeting for the board to show them sexually explicit and partisan material on our children's School issued device to continue the censorship of parents time solely denied for us to share the PowerPoint she wrote in the email date

127at 3 30 22 quote I am protecting the public from her visual presentation end quote we received this email through a foia chair times you looked down on me and told me that I was alone look around you said we were just a few and we were alone that is how you treated concerned parents voicing their concerns you challenge us to show proof that other citizens and parents in the community cared about the derogatory books in the library the transgender cartoons on the applications you laughed at us publicly and tried to silence us Vines you smirked and said oh Jesus when Heidi came up to speak at the last board meeting well I guess we did show you a few days ago that we are not just a few parents and we will not be

128silenced according to the October board meeting alawite County Schools declined in student population despite alawite having a positive population growth between those years if that doesn't get you to stop and ask yourself what you're doing wrong What will if this work continues to fail our children then we will we the people will replace you we will continue to foia we will continue to be involved and we will continue to monitor your voting records your words and your commitment the board and the previous School administration continued to vote and make decisions based on personal feelings and beliefs putting their own agendas before parent rights and at the expense of our children the board chair attempted to create turmoil on the community spreading her lies personal discontentment and political agenda like poison between the teachers school board

129members Administration students community members and Board of Supervisors I urge you chairwoman instead of talking to hear yourself talk and acting entitled and conceited to humble yourself listen to your constituents because you're also up in November I hope the new board members the new superintendent assistant superintendents work together find Solutions in the middle of the aisle listen to constituents be the change we need and fight for the safety of our children don't allow sexually explicit videos books in school develop Innovative approaches do not just go with other schools are doing don't be politically motivated support our teachers hire within the community and take discipline seriously create more hybrid learning opportunities and answer your emails she's stronger last we have Mr David Adams I don't think that's gonna work okay good evening Madam chair board members

130Dr Kramer my name is David Adams and I'm in District Four um the topic for my discussion is going to be appreciation um first to Mr Christensen sir since I've been coming to the board I think you've filled four different positions so thank you very much for all you're doing for all the way County Schools um Mr Vines this is to you I I appreciate you coming tonight um I know some of the other citizens haven't been complimentary to you tonight and and rightfully so for their their you know particular uh issues but without you here there wouldn't have been a there wouldn't have been a quorum and we couldn't have voted on accepting the minutes and moving some of the business of the Isle of Wight County Schools forward so thank you for coming

131whether or not we should have moved the meeting I I we didn't so let's live with what we have right now and um specifically the one thousand dollar bonus checks for the Educators that that's a big deal um did we need the extra money I don't know but thank you for for voting for that um the citizens of District 2 and District 4 have spoken um they have chosen the candidates that they want to act as their representatives on the school board but before this board departs and I wish Mrs Dial was here to to hear this as well I want to express my appreciation for the following things that you have done that will have a positive impact moving forward for Isle of Wight County Schools like you and I spoke candidly we don't

132always agree on stuff but but these are positive things that are going to help alawite County Schools thank you for your continued support for the CTE program I'm sure Dr kale can can extend her gratitude for that as well so thank you those fields are critical for our students to to continue to grow and exceed and Excel um thank you and this is to the whole board not just to Mr Vines I'm just not going to see him in this capacity again um the vote to approve this bed trailer I'm sure miss Magner is happy as a clam that that trailer got ordered and it's on its way so I'm I'm sure she's happy about that and and finally in a couple of the other citizens have have talked about this the best decision this

133board has made is sitting right there Dr Kramer it has been a complete change from um the students going to the administrators that I've talked to the teachers I've talked to even the other citizens it's just so refreshing I'm not talking bad about your predecessor it's just a different approach and I I sincerely appreciate it you board members are to be commended for what what you've brought to Isle of Wight County Schools in closing thank you very much for letting me speak um I'm sorry I've missed the last couple of uh board meetings I've been doing my own thing but uh thank you very much and Mr Adams um this really is up oh okay as a matter of fact it's been there for over a month or so now but now they can actually

134enter it steps everything is there I saw the check had cleared so I figured it was it was here it was on the way so thank you I guess it's just waiting for County for inspections or something that's it Madam chair okay thank you very much um next we have board members requests and comments uh Samantha do you have any um I just wanted to say that shs we just had our first JROTC blood drive of the year and it went really well had a lot of people donate so that's great our next one's going to be in February for anyone that can donate parents anyone can donate we beg you to come because it's just it's great you can get a free Q Daddy's coupon if that's that's what you want but yep so

135and then students we have our winter sports tryouts coming up um we're really excited we are having our spring conditioning starting as well and then we went we had our homecoming um as Dr Kramer he went uh and so we had a great time but yep but that's it okay guys I'd like to thank everyone for allowing me to serve the board of Isle of Wight County for one year uh County that I grew up in a County where I graduated from high school and for the opportunity to go to college and serve in the military it's been a roller coaster year we got a lot accomplished we got some great things done made a lot of friends I made a lot of enemies but then at the end of the day God's will was

136still done um the election spoke for itself um but realized I didn't post any election signs I didn't do it in advertising my name was on the ballot when I went into the office I voted for Jason [Laughter] you got to know when to follow them you got to know when to hold them you got to know when to walk away and you have to know when to run thank you for allowing me to serve my community okay to come in here okay I've just got one thing uh that's when I got two things to say but one thing all right today is November the 10th 247 years ago the United States Marine Corps stood up at times Tavern so happy birthday Marines Corps [Applause] and some of you don't know I started as a

137marine retired from the Army but I'm always a marine once the Marine always a marine up I know uh Madam uh chair is gonna uh say something about uh Miss Mrs Dahl and uh Mr Vines but I want to say it also uh I want to thank them for their service to this community I know some people weren't happy but you know what it's not easy up here believe me it's not easy I look forward to the new board members coming up because this is going to be good you're going to be part of the team so we're gonna have to work together you get to see behind the curtain so I'm looking forward to working with each of you both of you one last thing Jason everybody that starts this race with you won't

138end with you take it from my experience had a lot of people in my ballpark Court in the beginning but at the end of the day just stand strong and you'll be fine um Mr Cunningham he mentioned about the Marines the Marines actually started in um Pennsylvania Philadelphia sounds Tapper okay all right I know the history I was a marine I really don't know I just I just know what I got off uh TV this morning on this Today's Show they said it started in Pennsylvania Philadelphia that's all but you know because you were a marine and on that note I would like to thank uh Mr Vines for his year on his board and what he has done for Isle of Wight County and um I know we're this is not the last we're

139going to see of you yes it is not on the not sitting in the seat but I know you're going to show up sometime no I won't okay all right um and I would also like to thank Mrs Vines Mrs not Mrs Vines I'm sorry Mrs style Mrs Dowell was a wealth of knowledge for us on this board because of her uh profession those of you that do not know she was she's a physician's assistant and she's a young lady that wears mini hats and um a lot of times when we had questions anything dealing with Medicals or anything like that we could just turn and look and say and she would give us advice we're going to be missing that piece I I've I'm I I felt a level of comfort while she was

140here although she came on board at the end of the pandemic but she was a great help to all of us and I would truly miss her been on this board um next week I think a few people have already mentioned that we will the board will be attending the Virginia School Board Association conference and Williamsburg historic district and the new members were invited but due to the turnaround and their work they were not a they will not be able to attend with us uh but hopefully next year we all be in attendance because this is the only time that school boards across the state of Virginia can get together come together and find out what's going on in other regions we know what's going on in the Hampton Roads regions because of our media

141local media but do we know what's going on in Northern Virginia Western the western part of the state central part of the state we get to meet these people and for two or three days we get to talk to them and find out what's going on we get ideas from them they get ideas from us and even today I was with a group of them most of them I think all of them except two were all board chairs and we had to make a decision on a lot of the items that we were going to send to the legislature um general assembly for the next session and then and one of them that got me you know because I'm always sitting here Isle of Wight County true is a rural County but we're rural County

142and Hampton Roads and I tell people all the time when most a lot of times when you say rural people right away want to put you in a category oh y'all don't have any money well today I was proud to say when I was asked a question that transportation department uh they were talking about buses and the state of Virginia Apostle they were all wanted to request funding from the state in order to get electric buses uh many of them on the western part of the state said no they didn't want to do that and they gave the reasons why they had their reasons why because the mileage and someone mentioned the fact is there anyone that's using of the different fuel type buses and I answered I said yes in Isle of Wight County

143we have Diesel and we have ProPay and yes we are interested in getting the electric buses as well and I and see these are a lot of things you don't know and I found out we are one of those counties in Virginia that's actually doing Diesel and propane a lot of them have not even reached a propane they're just still doing diesel so you know I'm really proud of what our staff and what our citizens allow us to do as far as funding our schools and I would like for that to continue whether I'm here or not for the future of the young minds of Isle of Wight County Schools we will we have always been a county that would bend over backwards for our youth and I know this because I've been here for

14465 years and I have been I guess uh comprehending things that's been going on in the county for at least 60 of those years okay yes I started at five years old understanding what was going on in politicking as well but like I said please continue to do the best you can to help the students in Isle of Wight County because we have an excellent County here in the Hampton Roads area I am very proud of Isle of Wight County thank you very much if nothing I stand corrected it is Philadelphia but tons ton Tavern is in Philly so so can we go home yeah okay if nothing has to come before this board tonight thank you all for coming out and have a safe trip home meeting is adjourned bro oh sorry I'm sorry