January 7th 2026 King George School Board Meeting

001Thank you so much. It's always an honor to uh pray for this board and for the county, not just on board meeting nights. So, um so glad to be here. Let's let's pray together if we could. God, we just thank you tonight, Lord, for a new year. Lord, we thank you for this this board, the new folks that are on the board. God, we thank you for them. We pray that Lord, that you would lead them and guide them, Lord, as as they unite with the rest of this board, God. We thank you for uh the work that they do. We pray for unity among those who serve here, God, with one another, with uh the folks in King George County, Lord. We pray that you would guide uh the discussions that they have, Lord,

002the direction that they're walking, the decisions uh that they're facing. Lord, we pray for your protection for them and their families, Lord, for strength during seasons where they may be weary. God, we just pray that you would guard their hearts and their minds, Lord. We pray they would have confidence. Confidence is a gift from you, Lord. they would trust you and seek your wisdom. We pray Lord as they make decisions that uh reflect and and Lord the care for the kids in this community. Lord, we pray for the children. We pray for the families. We pray for their very best, God. And so, Lord, may you just mark this year with peace, with direction, uh with progress, Lord. And may your will be done and you be honored, God. And we pray this tonight in

003the name of our savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Thank you. And then we have a special um Mrs. Kate Jones class, which is a third grade class from PTOAC Elementary to lead us in the pledge of allegiance if they want to come forward. >> Oh, they can come up here too if you guys need. That's fine. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, liberty andice for all. >> Please stand for a moment of silence. Okay, thank you. And before you guys leave, good afternoon. Thank you for coming. Um, what would you say? >> They also have an instruction. >> Oh, awesome. Okay, go ahead. >> Hi, I'm Mrs. Jones. I teach third grade at PTOAC Elementary School, and this

004is our third grade class. Um, we learned about um the geographic features of Africa of Africa and the ancient civilization of Egypt in November. And so the kids wanted to share all their learning with you guys. So they created a presentation, a Google Slides presentation called the ancient Egypt ABCs. So they would like to share all they learned about Egypt with you guys tonight. Okay. So I need you guys kind of to get in line. We're going to go out that way. So, go that way. >> So, wherever you go in line, get line up. How about this way? That way, you know, we have to go to the end of our Sit down. [clears throat] >> Ready. >> A is for architecture. The ancient Egyptians built the pyramids as a tomb for the bears.

005B is for bathing. The ancient Egyptians faith in the Nile River because the water was good for their skin and it was nice. They loved it so much that they used it all the time. [snorts] C is for civilization and calendar. Civilization means a group of people living in an organized way. The ancient Egyptians were one of the first civilizations to use a 365 day calendar. D is for desert. Ancient Egypt was located in the Sahara Desert. The Sahara Desert can reach 130 degrees Fahrenheit in the daytime and drop to freezing at night. E is for Egypt. Egypt is a hot three country which very little rain. >> [snorts] >> F is for farmer. When the Ner River flooded, which ears it lets >> left behind [snorts] filled which many made the soil further for

006[laughter] for growing crops Egypt. >> Egypt. >> We're farmers. >> Go to the back. >> G is for gods. The ancient Egyptians were polytheistics, which means they believe in [snorts] many gods. >> H is for Hired liftets. The Egyptians people wrote using symbols called hired lifts. Egyptians hard lifts became the model for the two most common alphabets in the world. >> I I is for irrigation. irrigation is a system of digging ditches in order to bring water from the Nile River up to their crop. The ancient Egyptians used irrigation in order to farm. J is for jewelry. All ancient Egyptians wore jewelry. The materials they used to make jewelry depended on whether they were wealthy or poor. >> Ansley. What's an Angley? >> K is for KT. The ancient Egyptians called their land Kamet, which

007means the black land. They called it Kamet because of the fertile dark soil left by the flooding of the Nile River. L is for lightweight. Ancient Egyptians wore lightweight white linen clothing because of the heat. The Egyptians made their clothing from a plant called flax. Michael, too. >> M is for mommy. The ancient Egyptians were able to preserve bodies after death through mummification. N is for Nile River. The ancient Egyptians used the Nile River for fishing and boating. O is for oblisk. An obelisk is a foursided monument built to honor the gods in ancient Egypt. Our Washington monument is an example of an obelisk in architecture. P is for papyrus. Papyrus is a plant that grew in ancient Egypt along the Nile River. They use papyrus, the papyrus plant, to make paper. You get the

008English word paper from papyrus. Q is for queens. Queens and kings in ancient Egypt were called pharaohs. King Tut was the most famous pharaoh. R is for riding camels. Egyptians used camels to get around the desert. S is for sarcophagus. A sarcophagus is a coffin that was used to hold the bodies of Egyptians that had passed away. We decorated the sarcophagus very fancy. >> T is for tomb. A tomb is a building where people are buried. >> U is U is for uncover. Archaeologists have been able to uncover many items from ancient times in Egypt. V is for very Egypt was a very rich and powerful empire on the continent of Africa. W's for water clock. The Egyptians invented a water clock as a way to tell time. Someone would pour water into a bowl

009[gasps] with lines on the sides. As the water dripped out of a hole, the water level dropped, which allowed them to tell time. X is for exciting. Ancient Egypt was very cool civilization to learn about. Y is for youth. Boys in ancient Egypt went to went to school while girls stayed home and learned from their moms. Z is Z is for zone. Ancient Egypt was located in the norththeast zone of Africa. They are prepared for questions from you if you guys have any questions. But thank you guys for listening to us. They've been practicing really hard and we're so excited to come and share and I'm very proud of them. I mean, at 8 years old, getting up in front of all these people is a big deal. So, I'm very proud of [applause] Do

010>> you have any comments from the board? >> I can't believe I can come up with a question because I feel very educated. So, thank you for that. Um, but I do have one for you. So, something that you said was that um making jewelry, you could tell who was wealthy or who was poor by what they used to make the jewelry. So, what what did the wealthy or the po or the poor use to make their jewelry? The rich would use um diamonds, gold, diamonds in Africa. And the poor would >> like wood, >> some trees or something. Good job. It's good job. >> Thank you. >> Um, Miss Brook had a comment. >> Good job on the pronunciation of some of those words. You know, as a almost adult, I couldn't even pronounce

011half those words, let alone spell them. So, proud of you eight-year-olds. Um, I just want to ask like what was your favorite part of learning about Egypt? Like, was there one specific thing where you were just like, "Oh, this is really cool." the Daros and the mummies. >> What What was cool about the mummies? >> The fact that >> that there were real mummies at one time and it wasn't just a, you know, ghost story. Yeah. >> Real mummies. What you like learning best about Egypt? Ancient Egypt. What did you like learning best about ancient Egypt? >> I didn't really know that. Um the they buried the pharaohs and the civilians from there from ancient Egypt. Good job. >> You want to say what you like to learn about Egypt? Ancient Egypt. Would you like

012learning about want to go? What did you like learning about Egypt? >> Um, my favorite thing about e learning about Egypt is um where they had to like bury the pharaohs in the back in the middle of the um pyramids in like a secret area. >> Cool. >> Yeah. Okay. >> My [sighs and gasps] I forgot it. >> Okay, that's cool. Do you have a favorite thing you learned about ancient Egypt? >> My favorite thing about ancient Egypt was hieroglyphics. >> They got to write. We spent a day and they got to learn the characters and write their names and sentences in hieroglyphics. It'd be really hard to do spelling tests in hieroglyphics. I'll tell you that. >> My favorite thing about ancient Egyptian is the Nile River. >> What about it? because it looks

013beautiful and in and if it's in reality and in picture. >> Yeah. And it's the what what did we learn about the Nile River? [snorts] >> You know what we learned about? Go ahead. >> We learned how to make papyrus. I mean paper from from the banks of the Nile because the plant papyrus. [snorts] >> I really like hieroglyphics. Do you have a favorite thing? >> Yeah. Hieroglyphics. >> Hieroglyphics, too. >> I like hieroglyphics. [laughter] Can >> I say I like the pyramids? >> Yeah. What do you like about them now? >> I like the pyramids because they built the pyramids handade and it took a lot of hard work. I was surprised about how back then you can climb on the pyramids, but now you cannot climb on the pyramids. >> Nothing. >> Thank

014you guys. Thank you so much. >> [clears throat] >> Mikey. Michael. [clears throat] >> Everyone take one step away from the wall. >> [clears throat] [laughter] >> Say school board. [laughter] Sorry. >> Thank you. All right. One more. Oh, where? Oh, >> Thank you. Good job. >> Next, we have Mr. David Zilk. On behalf of the King George Education Foundation, we'll be recognizing William Watermelon for winning the Space Camp Scholarship. Thank you very much. Yes. Uh we're actually before we we celebrate Brandon winning the scholarship for 2025. We're going to have Nora Perry, who is our 2025 Space Camp attendee. She has some slides she'd like to share with us and what she learned. Can I go? >> Yeah. Go. [laughter] >> My name is Nora Perry and this is my NASA Space Camp presentation.

015On November 21st, 2024, I was awarded with the KGF Space Camp Scholarship. I was so happy and so grateful that I won the scholarship. Thank you, KGF, for awarding me and presenting me with the scholarship. It was a great experience. Uh, the picture above is a photo of one of the many things I had to do to win the scholarship. I had to make a patch design for the scholarship. So, I made that one up there. The patch resembles the idea that everyone can learn and explore space. [clears throat] The first day when I first got there, uh, we I had all my stuff and we got to set up our little area in our bunk beds and that was really fun and I got to meet so many new people. And then uh when

016my mom dropped me off, I went into an auditorium and they told us everything about space camp and it was super fun. And we got separated into teams and my team name was Cassiopia. And Cassopia is a constellation in the sky. And I got to see a bunch of cool things. I got to see the Pathfinder shuttle, Saturn 5, and the Mercury Redstone. And then we got to meet the astronaut. at Woody Spring. He is a former NA NASA astronaut and a retired United States Colonel. During my time in Alabama uh NASA Space Camp, he came and did a presentation and it was at our graduation, too. And we got to before I left, they told us about a monkey and her name was Miss Baker and she got she was the first monkey in

017space actually and they have her grave there at the space camp and we got to see that and that was really fun. Then we also go to go in the shop and there's a bunch of cool things to see and I got a thing. It was called a moon ball and it basically bounces really high and it was really fun. And that's everything. Thank you. >> Thank you. [laughter] >> Any questions from the board or any comments for Mrs. Perry? [clears throat] Good. >> So, did you have Thank you for this, by the way. Um, it sounds like a good time. >> So, what did you have to do to win the scholarship? >> Um, I had to do the little picture thing that I showed. It was design a patch. And then I had

018to get teacher recommendations and then I had to write two paragraphs on like why I wanted to go and why I deserved it. basically. >> Were you going up against a lot of other applicants? >> Uh, yes, I guess. Yes. >> Well, congratulations. >> Thank you. And thank you for representing King George. Good job. >> I just wanted to add that uh it's it's kind of a like a for this only for fifth graders. So we want to have someone we recognize at KGF that there is a a need uh among the students where a lot of times some STEM all the excitement from elementary school starts to dissipate a little bit as they get into middle school. So this is a an initiative that was started by Mark Bradford um who was my predecessor

019on the on the board. Uh and we try to do it in a way that it encouraged students to plan as if they were applying for something. So yes, there's those two essays, there's the patch, there's uh but it's really about thinking about where they want to be and what they want to do. And uh it it is very much like the experience that uh we've all heard of in Space Camp. Maybe not the movie that was in the '8s that was produced, but uh it's a great chance for the students to get out and and learn something. They get to go through a a a bounce a moon bounce kind of experience, a 360 degree or five five vector um uh model like uh some of the astronauts actually do and then they get

020to go on a on a uh adventure outside of of the space shuttle. Some of them get to be mission, some of them get to be in in the launch area, some of them get to be in the in the um actual shuttle itself. So it's it's really exciting chance for them to kind of see that you can put science into action. So, you have anything you like to say? >> All right. >> Introduce this year's winner. >> With this with that, I'll pass it over to Yavon and she'll announce. >> Good evening. This year, it is my pleasure to announce Brandon Watermelon as our winner for the Space Camp Scholarship. He will be going to Huntsville, Alabama to spend a week at Space Camp and explore some of the things that Norah shared and

021come back with his own adventures and his own stories to tell. And we're looking forward to finding out what Brandon gets to do on his adventure. >> Yes, I'm going up front. I don't think All right, congratulations. >> Thank you. >> I do want to say that when I was looking out at the crowd, I saw this very nice dressed looking young man and then sitting at the end and I was like, I wonder what he's doing cuz I didn't know who you were. But I I uh I think you have big thanks in your future. I think all kids do, but I just thank you for coming and and uh congratulations. You're welcome. All right. Uh so the board will now um move forward to recognizing the King George Middle School volleyball team for

022winning the Battlefield District Championship for a third straight season. and coach Lindre, >> their fearless captain is uh unavailable to speak, which if you know Sarah Zuk, >> that's the fearless captain. So, uh this is our third year winning this program, uh this tournament, and we're really excited. Thank you guys for your support. Thank you guys uh for supporting us as educators, but also for as uh coaches. Um we went this season um only dropping one game the entire time and then uh going to the playoffs and not dropping a set at all during both of those playoff games. And then the championship match also winning straight three sets and um just taking taking it out really well. Um they don't like to talk so that's why I'm talking and I don't like to talk

023either even though I'm a teacher. So anybody want to say anything? >> All of us. >> No I don't. >> No. Okay. See, I told you. Um, they they play really well. So, I mean, >> I heard Kylie, she said she wanted to. >> No. >> Any questions for them? I mean, I don't I mean, I I was going to bring the trophy, but you know, school. So, >> yeah. What was the highlight when you guys won that game? What I mean, [clears throat] >> they said all they all said they forgot. I I don't I [laughter] I think their their their favorite time was watching me not try to cry during the third win. Um >> I have found out very quickly as a parent um of he's only six now, but um >>

024uh things made me cry a little easier as an adult. Um and these girls doing the work they've done. I had two players come back this year as their third year, so they'll be moving to the high school. Um, out of all the girls, only three actually played court time last year out of entire team. So, we went from three players on a six-man team, if you will, or six-man court to the entire group playing and playing really well. Um, we having aces out out the wazoo, over 300 aces for the season. Um, 100 coming from one player. Um, she broke her her Sarah, she broke her record. Uh, she wanted to get 100 and she got 102. So, >> of course. Yeah. [laughter] >> Yeah. Really, really, really big movement for her. So, >>

025congratulations, ladies. That's awesome. Thank you for representing King George so good, too. Thank you. >> Good job, girl. A picture. >> Yeah, take a picture. [clears throat] >> Is that good enough? I'm sweating. >> It's very hot. >> Good job, girls. >> Woohoo. Good job, coach. >> Good with that. Yeah. >> Good job, coach. >> Thank >> [laughter] [laughter] >> Did she say growl like a bear? Like a bear. Can we hear it? Good job. Yeah. >> All right. What is next? Let's see. Oh, >> so next that we have is the King George High School teams and competitors for participating in states. How awesome. Cross country competitors Timothy Wingard. Is that how you say that? Sorry. and Bailey Deier. >> Okay, no worries. Um, and then the King George High School cheerleading. >> We

026do have Miss West >> for the cheerleading team. Yes. >> Okay. >> So, would you like to come up in Oh, there she is. >> Oh, nope. There they are. Okay, you guys can come to the front. Yes. Sorry. Sorry about that. We couldn't hear anything from the hallway [laughter] um when the other team was leaving and we were trying to come in. Guys, you're supposed to be over here with me. [laughter] >> Very specific formations. >> Hey guys, can you come back this way? Sure. >> There we go. >> Um thank you for recognizing um our varsity team. Uh we have a very strong cheer program. We have for years. Um it's been built on really remarkable kids who've gone on to do great things. Um I'm sure these girls are going to be

027no different. Uh not only did they, you know, so one thing about cheering George is we're we're year round. Uh we and we treat it that way. Uh so the girls actually started sideline triyouts uh in May before last school year ended. Um they worked out all summer. Um very stringent uh workout from home, stretching, you know, conditioning, all the things. We hit the ground running hard in August when competition season starts. Um they never let off the gas. They're remarkable human beings. I'm proud to be associated with them. Um districts they for the third straight year dominated. 28 points between first and second, 126 points between first and last. >> Cheers normally a point or two. Um we got to got to region. The girls had a great day. Um the region's very tough,

028right? uh Little King George were going up against schools that are backed completely by all-star programs in Richmond and Northern Virginia. The girls not only held their own, they crashed second in the region. Um missing first by a single point. >> Wow. >> Um so they they did a really really great job. Um they made first states run in a very long time. Um the last team that had been to states was 2014. Um this one was still in my belly then. That gives you any any kind of indication of how long that had been. Um they earned every single point there. Uh they finished sixth in the state. Um turned around a couple weeks later we transitioned from competitive um VHSL cheer right into game day cheer which is a more sideline format. We

029took them to the um UCA uh Universal Cheer Association Virginia Regional where they won their division um securing a bid to nationals. So they're in the um they're in prep right now working really hard on their nationals routine uh which were taken to Orlando in February. Um, not only did they get a bid, but there our JV team, who also is the only JV team in the district to compete VHSL, they also got their game day bid to go to go to nationals. So, all 38 girls um and and coaches are going to nationals. Um, I think the girls will agree with me that our assistant coaches are some of the best in the business. Um, Jen Griggsby, Prior, Carla Ziggler, and Carly Johnson. Um, really cool thing is that Miss Johnson, who's a gym

030teacher at King George High School, um, she was on our 14 states team. um and then got to go back with the girls. So, we finally got her back coaching. I've been working on her for a lot of years. Finally got her back coaching and then um that was the year that the girls made it back to state. So, um like I said, they work really, really hard. They're really remarkable kids. Most impressive though is it's youth camp week. So, we have about 50 um youth cheerleaders from from the county coming to work with us. Uh they worked with us Monday again on again today. Um, I pulled these girls, they taught camp for the first 45 minutes. We pulled them off the mat. I said, "You got five minutes." Ran in the bathroom, changed

031like they were in a phone booth, and here we are. Um, so they look great. Like for high school girls to change that fast, I think that's probably a huge accomplishment. [laughter] Um, but like I said, they're great humans. Thank you for recognizing them. Um, and for continuing to support the athletics programs at the high school. >> Thank you. Yeah. Awesome. Yes, sir. >> I've known you for what, 25, 30 years now, >> sir. I'm not that old, so I'm not [laughter] sure. >> Yeah, I think that that sounds about right. >> Yep. And >> please be Sergeant Major Frank. >> And over all those years, I have watched you and watched what you have done for these young ladies. uh the mentorship, the role model that you have been for them and I really

032appreciate that and so does the whole board. >> Thank you. >> They make it very easy. >> Thank you so much for this. Um congratulations. I know how hard you guys work. I've seen you on the sideline. Um I you look awesome. I love watching you. Um, thank you for the camps that you do. My daughter goes to those camps. She loves them. She loves you. Thank you, Amanda, for everything that you do. I know how how much commitment and dedication that takes. And I can we can just tell how much you love this team. So, thank you. >> Yes, ma'am. Thank you. >> Yes. Congratulations. Thank you, ladies. Yes. >> Picture. >> Yeah. You guys come up here and we'll take a picture. >> Oh, sorry, Mr. Frank. >> You guys want to do

033a pyramid or something? [laughter] [laughter] Congratulations. >> Hey, good job, guys. All right. Comment. All right. Kathy, >> thank you so much, ladies. Have a good night. All right. You guys are great. All right. So, now we are moving on to public comment. I'm going to read this little disclaimer really quick. If you would like to speak during public comment but have not yet signed up, please see the clerk now, which you still can sign up if you haven't, but I think everybody has. Uh, public comment is an opportunity for community members to share matters they believe deserve Huh. >> Not yet. I'm getting ready to. We're getting ready to Sorry. I will call you just a second. Um, it is a time for a one-way communication to the board, not a form or dialogue

034or debate. All speakers are treated equally and comments should be courteous, respectful and related to the school division services or policies. Audience audience members are expected to maintain proper decorum. Speakers will be recognized by the chair and asked to state their name, their connection to the school division and their district. Each speaker has up to three minutes to comment. Our first speaker this evening is Pastor Sherman Davis from the dog district. >> I don't think I'm first, but anyway, I'm just thinking about brother Mr. Frank, you feel like a uh thorn among the roses? >> I am. >> Okay, checking that out. I'm Sherman Davis and I need to get started cuz I only got 2 minutes and 54 seconds. Can you imagine the the God of love who says there's something we shouldn't love.

035Same verse I read on uh last night at this at the other meeting, supervisor meeting. And it says in 1 John chapter 2 and verse number 15, love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the uh eyes and the pride of life, is not of the father, but of of the world. and the world passeth away, and the lust thereof, but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever. Now, of course, we want to congratulate uh our dear Rachel Scott first time being here tonight. And uh but uh when you think about the world, the Bible uses the word world

036in three different aspects. He uses the world for the created uh land area that real estate so to speak and it means uh uh land or land area and God the psalmist tells us in Psalm 24 and verse one the earth is the Lord's and uh the uh fullness thereof the world and that is the thine and and all they that dwell therein in Psalm 24. And so it talks about land area or the real estate. It all belongs to God. And one of these days he's going to come back and set up his kingdom and he will be the one ruling in the world. And then the world talks about uh also means people. For example, John 3:16 the Bible says for God so loved the world >> world. We know that verse. And

037he's not talking about land area or real estate. He's talking about people. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth him should not perish but have everlasting life. And then God says there some things we something we should not love. The God of love who is love says you should not love the world. And that's a different uh definition of the word world. And the word world here is the uh this is the world we live in. This is the uh the atmosphere we live in. system and this present age, the world as the system organized by men and this world opposes God. Uh you'll probably take note of the fact that many times people come to a board meeting and I ask them for more Bible

038in school, more Bible in school, more Bible in school. They're hollering separation of church and state. Separation of church and state the world, this system opposes God and that's the world that we live in. And so God, the thing is the Lord said this world is going to come to an end and uh this arena of which uh the ungodly can express their uh lust and their uh lostness and their uh lawlessness. It's really the spirit of antichrist and so that world comes to an end and Jesus will come back and he will rule and reign. They all said >> amen. Thank you >> and God bless you. I got pray. >> Thank you, Pastor Davis. I have Mrs. Susan Parks from the G uh She can introduce herself. I'm sorry. [clears throat] >> Thanks,

039Mrs. Davis. Um, yes. I'm Susan Park. I'm the parent of a middle schooler. I'm here tonight to encourage you to reconsider two things. Your new transgender student policy and your decision against the formation of the middle school gay straight alliance or GSA club. They're really both part of the same thing, though. The same fear and rhetoric that has swept our country over the past few years. And I'm deeply concerned about how national political battles seem to be imported into local school decisions across the country. LGBTQ students, especially trans students, have become the focus of intense attention. And I want to be clear, it's not because these students are causing a problem in schools. It's because schools and school boards have become a battleground where adults are trying to work out national and personal issues through

040local policy decisions. When adults feel anxious about rapid social change or loss of control, they often look for a group to blame. History shows us that marginalized groups often become targets during these moments. And that means we should slow down and separate fear from facts. Local school boards are being asked to solve national culture wars. And that's not your role. Your role is to ensure that every student can attend school safely and feel respected enough to focus on their education. Policies that single out LGBTQ students do not make school safer. They make school harder for all students. And regarding GSAs, it's a student-led voluntary club. does not replace parental values or indoctrinate anyone. It provides a supervised space for students to build friendships and do age appropriate activities like puzzles, board games, arts and crafts,

041service projects. When a GSA is denied or singled out, while other non-curricular clubs such as the Beta Club and your book club at the middle school are allowed to exist, the message students receive is not neutrality, it's exclusion. Research shows that when GSA clubs exist in schools, the overall school climate is more welcoming and supportive for all students. And regarding the new transgender student policy, using a student's chosen name and pronouns, it's not a political statement. It's a basic custom that shows kindness and respect. Teachers already use student nicknames and pronouns every day. Refusing to acknowledge a student's name or pronouns does not make a child less queer. It makes school feel hostile. It makes ordinary classroom moments feel stressful. And it takes teachers time and energy away from instruction. I'm asking this board to

042stay grounded in your mission, which is to focus on student well-being and academic success, not politics. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> We have uh next is Artemis Park. Um, good evening. My name is Artemis Park and I'm an eighth grade student at King George Middle School and I'm from the Madison district. Um, some of the qualities that I value most are community, safety, and freedom. And none of these qualities align with the school's actions or rather inactions as of now. The Library of Medicine, an official website of the US government, says queer people have a highly increased risk of what they call STB, which stands for suicide related thoughts and behaviors. The LGBTQ plus youth are at a significantly higher risk of making a suicide attempt. In 2024, the Trevor Project found that almost

04340% of queer people, queer young people, seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year, compared to the 5.4% 4% of heterosexual youth and more than one in 10 queer youth had attempted suicide. If the school doesn't care about that, then they shouldn't be in charge of what they are in charge of children. You can actively be doing things to keep these kids safe and alive, but you what what you just choose not to. I have someone I love who's away from home and who can't come back for another month due to what I believe is self-injury. And I hate that. I hate that there's people who can do things who just aren't because they're scared to. What do you do you expect your child to just be a line from where they are right now?

044They're actively changing every second. What if your child comes out later in life? Will you just stop loving them? instead of hating a marginalized group to steer your part in making the world a better place for everyone. And that can mean just respecting those around you. And about this new policy, it's it's so unnecessary. It's so complicated. And teachers shouldn't have to go and research a child's legal name and see if their nickname matches up or not. It's it's weird and demanding and draining from all parties. It's upsetting and concerning that this was the solution you guys came up with. What about the harassment, the bullying that these kids are facing? I'm in eighth grade and now I'm just trying to leave the school in a better place than I found it. I I looked

045up the Okay, Matthew 65-15 says, "Please don't pray in public." That's it. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you. M hat. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Good evening. My name is Tim Hatch. I'm a resident of the Dogger District. I have two kids in the school system. I come to you tonight to express my support for the Gay Straight Alliance Club and to express my disappointment in my elected leaders that you would even consider banning this club. I was raised Catholic and this time of year Catholics along with our fellow Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. I am reminded of a Bible verse. Mark 12 30:31. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, with all your mind. [snorts] This

046is the first commandment. And the second like it is this. Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these. Let me ask you and all that would oppose this club. How are we loving our children, our neighbors, if we are not preventing if we are preventing them from gathering peacefully and giving them a safe place to gather. This club is not mandatory for anyone but is provide a safe place for children. I realize that many people may view homosexuality as a sin and it is specifically mentioned in the book of Paul where he condemns same-sex relationships. However, most biblical scholars would agree that what Paul was most likely referencing was where an older male was abusing a younger male which was common at the time in Greek and Roman culture. So

047what Paul is really condemning was abuse of power and out of line power dynamics. In fact, the Greek word used that Paul used in his writings to refer to homosexuality is a notoriously difficult word to translate because it's not used anywhere else in the Bible. Nor was it used in ancient society. In fact, the word homosexual was not even used in any English translation of the Bible until 1946, a topic that is explored in a documentary called 1946, which is available on YouTube. a longtime friend of mine is a is a Pennsylvania pastor and is pro-LGBQ like myself. So, I'd like to borrow a quote from him. As followers of the risen Christ, we are called to be commi peacemakers in a wounded world. How are we peacemakers when we would prevent our children and

048they are children from gathering peacefully? as members of the excuse me 1 Timothy 5:8 But if anyone does not provide for his own and especially for those of his household he has denied the faith and is worse than unbelievable unbeliever. As members of the school board you are excuse me as members of the school system board your school system is your household and these children are your own. As Christians, you are commanded to provide for them. You can provide them the opportunity to feel safe and loved, which is what Jesus taught us. I thank you for your attention. The Lord love you and bless you like he has does all of his children. >> Thank you, Mr. Hatch. And Miss Melissa Hatch. >> Good evening. My name is Melissa Hatch and I live in the

049Dogrin District. I'm a parent of two children in the King George public school system. I am a teacher in Charles County and a national board certified teacher. My school has a GSA club. It is a great opportunity for students to come together and feel safe with their peers and teacher. The last time I came here to speak on the creation of the GSA, I expressed the importance of this group as a place of acceptance and comfort. Today I come to reiterate this statement and challenge you as to why there is a hesitation in the creation of a club that represents kindness, compassion, and acceptance. How can we as adults and community members lead by example, demonstrating kindness and being inclusive of others when you're trying to prevent a club that represents the characteristics from forming?

050What is the main idea? What is the main reason to not have this club? Don't we want to teach our students to be inclusive of others, understand others, and support others? Are you trying to shelter students because you're afraid ideas or influence will spread? That somehow someone's going to become homosexual or be bisexual or trans that's going to rub off on them? I know many people who identify as such, former students and friends, and I haven't stopped being heterosexual because of it. Any ideas that would spread would be ones of kindness, respect, inclusiveness, and compassion. This board and community are not setting the right example for our younger population. Please practice what you preach. Be that eye in kind. Be supportive. Encouraging [clears throat] to all students of your system, not just ones that fit

051your cookie cutter mold. As an educator, I know that all children are different and unique. Not all are feel comfortable talking to their parents about aspects of life. I see this every day. Not all parents understand their children's thoughts and feelings and choose not to listen to them because they're too young. They're just kids. They don't know any better. Students are looking for someone to listen to, to care, to support them. We have amazing teachers. Why is the board preventing this? To my understanding, there was a new policy uh that was recently implemented that if a club is non-curricular, then it's not allowed. The timing of this new policy is quite interesting when it talks of the GSA were being created. Why is there a push back? Since the board has this new policy, I

052can offer a new curriculum that my GSA has been using, the advocate for inclusive and affirming curriculum that comes from the gay, lesbian, and straight education network, an organization that has been around since 1990. And this organization supports the GSA in national events like the Day of Silence. I can gladly forward this on to you if you would like. To conclude, if we want to raise our children to be kind, compassionate, and accepting, we need to lead by example. We need to allow this group to meet, to flourish, and to feel accepted. As adults, we need to set the example. We need to show love to all, compassion to all, respect to all, and be inclusive of others. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Touch. >> Madison Hatch. >> Hello, my name is Madison Hatch.

053I live in the Dogrren District and I attend King George High School. I'm here today to discuss how a gay straight alliance club would be beneficial to our community. Did you know that in a year LGBTQ plus youth reported that their anxiety symptoms rose from 57% to 68%. Depressive symptoms declined from 48% to 54%. And here's the kicker. Suicidal ideiations grew from 41 to 47%. But the 54% of transgender and non-binary young people found their schools to be gender affirming reported lower rates of attempted suicide. And LGBTQ youth who reported living in very accepting communities attempted suicide, less than half of the rate of those who reported living in unaccepting communities. This information can all be found on the Trevor Project website, which is a leading organization in suicide prevention for LGBTQ plus youth, founded

054in 1998. Why do I bring this up? I bring it up to show that our community can help youth that live here. One way to do that is the Gay Straight Alliance Club. This club is could be a safe space for our youth. A place where they could go and make friends and hang out without the worry about school, home life, online pressure, and most importantly, other youth. By [snorts] providing this space, we have unofficially designated a safe teacher for anything. So, please help improve our teens mental health here in King George County by allowing a gay straight alliance club and help combat the nearly 42% of LGBTQ plus teens that reported seriously considering suicide in Virginia. To conclude, help me and others around me tonight that are here in support of this club to

055fight me the mental health crisis and LGBTQ plus youth by allowing this club to meet. This is important to me because I personally have had friends that are LGBTQ youth that have gone to the mental hospital and stayed there for multiple weeks on end and I did not know and I was very scared for them and they still fight that to this day. Having this club is very important to me and my friends. And to quote the singer Pink, the kids are not all right. We are not all right. I'm tired, but I will not sleep tonight cuz I still feel alive. Thank you. >> Thank you. Mrs. Carrie Gonzalez. >> Good evening. My name is Carrie Gonzalez. I'm a resident in the Dogrim district and have children at PTOAC Elementary and King George Middle

056School. 5 years ago, I sat on this board in your seats and I served on the Title One Advisory Committee. At one committee meeting, I learned about a podcast called Sold a Story from one of my children's teachers. The story, this story, the premise of which has been covered in by mainstream news outlets, has been credited with the renewed emphasis on phonics based literacy instruction, which in Virginia you may know is the backbone of the Virginia Literacy Act and the science of reading. If you aren't familiar with the podcast or the story, I encourage you to become so. But in summary, it's an expose of how educators came to believe in an unproven idea about how kids learn to read, one that was proven wrong by cognitive scientists decades ago, and how we are now

057reckoning with the consequences. Fortunately, the whole language um or balanced literacy approach was exposed as faulty and we're now returning to phonics-based instruction, albeit decades too late. Similar to that ill-advised shift away from phonics, education is moving rapidly away from techniques and pedigogy that have successfully educated humans for generations and embracing digital technology with a complete lack of evidence and rationale for it. According to Dr. Jared Cuni Horvath, author of The Digital Delusion. Our children are less cognitively capable than we were at their age. For some parents, that may come as a shock, but for others, it's simply confirmation of what they've long suspected. The daughter who once loved school, but now dreads it. The son who used to devour books, but now scrolls until midnight. Memory is fading. Attention is slipping. Something is wrong.

058And many of us feel it. For nearly two centuries, the West experienced steady generational progress. Each new cohort of children grew up on average healthier, happier, and better educated than the last until now. Generation Z, born between the years 1997 and 2012, is demonstrabably less healthy, less happy, and less cognitively developed than their parents were at the same age. For the first time in history of standardized cognitive measurement, children are consistently scoring lower on many key measures of cognitive development, from literacy and numeracy to deep creativity and general IQ. And the early data from generation alpha born after 2012 suggests the downturn isn't slowing but rather it's accelerating. After reviewing 100 After reviewing 126 research studies, the MITbased poverty research center found that initiatives that expand access to computers do not improve K through2 grades

059and test scores. In November, I attended the schoolboard meeting and made a public comment addressing the decline of academics America's academic prowess. Today I am back with the proposed first step for you um as members of the board and superintendent of King George County School Division to begin to reverse course. I contemplated reading this entire book to you all in three minute snippets um but instead decided to get you each a copy. I implore you to read it. If you already have a copy, please let me know and I'll give it to someone else. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mrs. Gonzalez. [applause] >> Thank you so much. That's very kind of you. appreciate it. >> Okay. And then we have um Zo Jane Wheeler. Is that right? Or Zoe. Hi. Sorry. >> Hi. Um good

060afternoon. Um I'm My name is Zoe Jane Whether. I'm uh a seventh grader at middle uh King George Middle School and I'm from the Charlotte district. I'm here to talk about the GSA club I'm trying to create. I was uh see this club is for um people who are trying to find out who they are. Maybe it's their gender or their sexuality or something completely different. Regardless, this club is for everyone. so they can feel safe and in your school and in general. See, I you guys are trying to stop bullying, correct? Well, this is a form of bullying. It tells kids that it's not okay to be themselves, which is just cruel. I've also heard that Seals Elementary School are sorry, non-academic clubs. And didn't you guys say that elementary school and middle school

061are not allowed to have nonacademic clubs? Um, I would also like to address um parents concerns. Uh, now I understand you think you're doing the right thing for your child and I really do, but shutting down um shutting down a club because you don't like the topic is honestly horrible. I don't know what you think we are going to do in the club, but I promise you this is this club is to help people find themselves and be happy with themselves. Honestly, I know how it feels to constantly be told that what I am is wrong and and it hurts. It makes you feel like you're worthless or there's something wrong with you. What uh do you really want your kid to feel that like that? Another thing I'd like to say is that people

062in middle school are around the age where they're trying to find out who they are. Um, he like I'm still trying to figure out who I am. Uh, they might be nervous at the fact people might not accept them. So having a GSA could give them these people a safe place for them to be themselves. We are also at the age where we try to separate from our parents and be independ independent. Um so having some place to go and being able to talk to people our age who are also going through similar things can be great. Cuz honestly for me I find it much easier to talk to my friends and people my age than my parents. So, I ask you please reconsider your decision because this could help a lots of students feel

063safe, heard, and loved. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> And uh Mr. John Wheeler. >> My name is John Wheeler. I live in the Shiloh district. I'm a parent of a middle schooler in King George. Um I'm not going to try to appeal to your humanity. Lots of people have tried to do that over the last few months and that has made no difference. Um, what I am going to bring up though is is uh Kathy last month uh pointed out that there hadn't been any clubs in the uh non-curricular clubs in the middle school for 9 years and some other people confirmed that um on the board and I don't know what difference that makes as to why you decided not to have non-curricular clubs at all. Um, but Kathy also said that teachers

064stretch too thin. But Jesse told us in September that one of the, and I knew this before that, but it was on record anyways, that one of the rules for getting a non-curricular club was you had to get a teacher who volunteered their time. A teacher was found for this to volunteer her time. I don't think it's for this board to determine whether or not she's stretched too thin, if she's volunteering her time. Um, and I don't think it's a coincidence that you've come to a decision on whether or not there are non-curricular clubs at the middle school or at the elementary schools, which I just found out there's one happening at Sealston. Um, I don't think it's a coincidence at all and I don't think court of law would find it a coincidence at

065all that you've decided to cancel clubs, uh, non-curricular clubs in the middle school right when the GSA club was, uh, proposed. So, there's my time. I'll see you guys in a month. >> Thank you. >> Dr. board before you get started. Um, this isn't she didn't ask us to read this in public, but we want we've wanted to read an email from Carrie. >> Okay. >> Gonzalez that she sent us in public because we feel like it was a good email. And so, um, since we're in the same district, I'm going to read it for her. Let me pull it up really quick. Do you have it pulled up a second? Sorry. Okay. Okay, so she says, "Between my two children, my family has approximately 10 years of school experience at PTOAC Elementary School. The

066teacher, staff, and the vast majority of the entire experience has been largely incredibly positive. But after 5 years of hearing the same complaints after school, I think it's long past to address some serious concerns. Feedback I regularly receive from my children is about the practice of using red, yellow, and green cups in the lunchroom to signify the behavior levels of tables in the cafeteria and the resulting punishment of having time taken away for recess being loud. An inherent and fundamental element of childhood and growing up is learning to socialize most effectively through play. Multiple multitudes of research studies show that play and social engagement in such a is such an important if not so than academic skills learned in the classroom. This is not to minimize the importance of school. It is instead to serves

067to underline another vital life skills that our children learn at school to communicate, socialize, and learn through play and engagement with their peers. The fact that the cafeteria is expected to be quiet is laughable. A room full of children eating lunch is naturally going to be and should be loud. They should be able to freely talk with their friends and classmates. I'm almost done. They that they get loud is a function of the number of excited little voices in a combination with the fact that they also don't get enough time to socialize in class. If they are expected to be quiet in class, they need an outlet. And socializing with classmates at lunch is an outlet, as is playing at recess. That they get further punished for being loud in the lunchroom and getting a

068red cup by having to walk 10 laps around the playground. Silently only exaggerates the problem. [sighs and gasps] They should be playing at recess. Full stop. Recess should never be taken away. More recess should fix many of the problems. I'll stop there. Thank you for that email, Mrs. uh Gonzalez and we will discuss that. >> My turn. >> Yeah. >> All right. Thank you. >> Sorry about that. >> No, that's okay. Uh I had an opportunity today. The email address that uh that I was on that email was slightly incorrect. So I did receive that email today from Miss Gonzalez. Uh I'll speak to that first. A lot of what you mentioned uh was spoton. I can tell you at the state level um there's a lot of conversations about screen time and and ones

069that'll probably metriculate through the general assembly and something that we'll keep close tabs on. Uh the same thing is true with with re with recess, excuse me. Uh I had a conversation with uh Hillary Pent earlier this week. Uh she's exploring some options in terms of uh mandatory recess uh minutes required as well as not making recess a punitive. um you can't take it away because of any type of punishment. So, those are things we're keeping close tabs on and taking a look at. Um, Pastor Davis, thank you for always coming. Uh, we certainly appreciate you being part of uh the conversations uh or coming to the schoolboard meetings. For everyone else that came this evening, this is always a tough job for me. Uh, I'm in an interesting position. Uh, but I'll start with

070what I always start with. Thank you for being part of the process. We certainly appreciate you coming uh and being involved in the school division. Your involvement uh certainly helps us and guides us to move forward. Uh with that said, I'm going to speak just a little bit. We've talked about a lot of the facts and and we've talked about, you know, when clubs have been allowed and when they haven't been allowed and where they've been. And so, I'm not going to get into a lot of the facts. I I just want to say something that I was thinking about as as we were talking. I heard a lot of concerning things tonight. I heard bullying. I heard harassment. I heard suicidal ideiations. Uh all of those are huge concerns for me and for educators

071in our building. I'm not picking sides of this battle. It's not my role. It's not my responsibility. But I am responsible for making sure that our schools stay safe. And so without choosing sides to hear those type of things uh coming from our students mouths right now and to envision what we think this looks like in our school building because if you remember some of us mentioned tonight you know this we don't have staff members involved in in these type of clubs. They're just there for to collect attendance and really let the kids do their own thing. So, it would concern me as superintendent on some level to to to have conversations with a group of students about suicidal ideiations, harassment, and bullying. And I want you all to know that if those are topics

072of conversation right now, we have professionals in our building. We have amazing teachers, some of which are in the audience here tonight, that I know I know will lend a helpful ear. We have qualified and certified counselors in our building right now that have been trained to receive those type of concerns and to help you address those type of concerns. This board has been diligent to address bullying which is a very difficult task to do across our nation and for decades it has been. But they've been focused on trying to address that. So, I would urge us all to really envision what we're talking about. uh and and know that it is not with a light heart that we're trying to consider the best path forward here. But again, from a safety standpoint, if we're

073going to just, you know, have a group of kids in a classroom that are going to try to work, you know, we're talking about 10, 11, and 12y old students working through some of these extremely difficult topics. uh without the aid of an adult, it's it's it would be difficult for for me to to try to figure out how to make sure that that remains a safe situation that doesn't have other issues that manifest from it. Um those are those are very strong and difficult topics that I'm so happy that the parents are here tonight to be able to walk side by side with your students to deal with some of those topics. all of our students don't have that opportunity to be able to turn to someone like you and say, "I'm dealing with

074a very difficult thing where suicide is a consideration." Um, we need to make sure that we on at the school division side uh have trained individuals involved in that process and certainly hope that parents uh are aware and and able to jump in and and help hold students hands and walk through this together as well. So I just want us to envision this again not choosing sides about this issue. I know it's very deeprooted on both sides. Uh but I think I think we need to envision what we're talking about and see see if we can come up with solutions that really consider the the richness of these issues we're talking about the severity of the issues we're talking about and how we can successfully help with them in a way that guides uh students

075uh you know with adults out outside of uh you know 10 11 and 12 year olds. So I'll stop there madam chair and thank you for the time. >> Thank you. >> [clears throat] >> Okay. Moving forward, we have any changes to the agenda. No, no changes. Okay. So, then we now are going to go to the strategic plan update. Uh yes. So, Madam Chair, again, I'm not going to uh talk about this for very long, but as you know, this year uh per policy, we had an update of the strategic plan early. I think it was probably in November. However, a lot of this information is going to fuel our very next meeting and it's going to fuel really the entire budget process. So, I'm not going to spend a lot of time. Our

076champions for each one of these goals did a wonderful job of doing this. But, as you all know, our very next meeting is our budget presentation. So, I've provided this for you this evening uh just to really take a look at. If you do have any questions this evening evening, I'll I'll be happy to address them. But what I've provided for you is the four goals in our strategic plan, which again is going to fuel our budget initiatives. And each slide that corresponds this, if you could go to the second slide, Amanda, uh you'll see goal one and and really what our champions for goal one thought were priorities uh in terms of budget implementation for each one of those goals. So take a look at this at your leisure. We already reviewed this in

077November. I won't review it again tonight, but our very next meeting uh will really lend to a lot of the stuff that came out of the strategic plan update that we received in November. Typically, we receive it in January, but per code, we we have it now um we did it in November. So, you've got goal two, which is quality instruction and innovation, goal three, which is communication and collaboration with our community, and goal four, which is uh safe, secure, and healthy learning environments for our school. I highlighted all of the areas where you'll see budget initiatives at our very next meeting. So with that, I won't go into any greater detail, but if there's any questions right now before our budget presentation, I'll be happy to to answer those, address those, or provide an

078update to those at our next board meeting. >> I do believe we have some questions for you. >> Um started. You want to go first, Mr. Okay. >> Dr. Boyd, you and I have talked for years about this. Uh, I can't come on board with with hiring more 12 month or making more 12-month appointments uh or, you know, 12-month employees until we have the teachers in the classroom. Our our mission is educating students. And you know, I think we should we're better off um as a whole if we put that money towards getting qualified teachers uh rather than, you know, building an empire of 12-month employees. Um I I personally I think we need fewer 12-month employees than we have. I I think we could survive without a problem with fewer 12-month employees uh and

079donate and get that money uh that you know we need and to fill you know the vacancies and the teachers that are not certified that we have uh as you well know and you and I have discussed this uh years ago we had 13 math teachers for,00 students now we have nine math teachers teachers for 1,400 students. So, I mean, and that's not only them. I mean, we look at the nurses uh that are there and and I I'm on the health, you know, committee and I and I mean, I understand what they're saying, but you know, if we make all of those people 12 months, you know, we can use that money in the classroom much better. >> Thank you. I certainly appreciate that sentiment. I'll tell you um a couple a couple factors

080right now. We just came back from Richmond and got our first assessment of the state budget which weighs heavy into this. I can tell you there's a lot of things changing on the state level right now that's probably going to constrain the budget process. Um for years we've been operating on a budget surplus. Uh however, with some of the federal changes with uh the entitlement programs and things of that nature, there's going to be a real uh increase in Medicaid spending on the state level. All that to say, without getting into detail, I think we're going to see a from the state level a tighter K12 budget, we're also seeing, as you all already know, we've talked about this um for the first year and and probably next year too. If you take a look

081at Weldon Cooper all the way up until the end of this decade, possibly a drop in enrollment. Uh so what we have talked about with principles, uh what we've talked about in in HR is really taking a look at our existing resources. I think this is what you're speaking to, Mr. Frank and seeing that outside of asking for new positions, which you're not going to see necessarily in a budget request, we are intently focused on the fact that we need additional math teachers at the high school. We need additional ESOL support uh across the division. Those things we have the data for, we can support. Uh so so that will be our focus. However, it may not come in the form of a new a new position requested. It may come in the form of

082allocating existing resources into those uh departments, if that makes sense. Does that make sense? Uh whether it's 12-month positions or or other positions that we have right now. In other words, what we're going to try to do in the budget process, given the state uh forecast, given our drop in enrollment, is look at moving resources versus asking for additional funds from our local government as best we can. Now, of course, there's going to be the typical things, the increase in compensation that comes from the state and the local match requirement. You know, those things that we typically deal with. Uh, but I can tell you specifically from a new staff, a new position standpoint, we've had a lot of conversations um about reallocating resources. So, we know what our needs are. Uh, when you get

083the budget presentation, if you don't see four new math teachers, um, it's just because it's not a new position, but we know that that's what we need uh, in terms of decreasing the class size in in our math department at the high school, if that makes sense. >> Yes, it does make sense. And you but again my concern is you know we keep we keep adding on 12-month employees and 12-month employees and take 10 months and make them 12 months and take 11 months and make them 12 months and that cost us a fortune or we can you know I again I think we can reduce the number of those people that we have and still function quite well. >> I don't think you're saying fire anybody. You're saying just no add to it when

084you just said reducing the number we have. He just means not giving more hours to it. But >> costwise, >> yeah. >> Um, any other questions? Just to clarify, and I I did speak with um Mr. Frank and and our board uh about except for you, Miss Rachel, we got to get together and get your phone number and everything, but um I don't have it yet. >> Or did she sent it to me tonight? Lead nurse contract from 11 to 12 months. Is that because we have summer schools and we need a nurse on staff at every school or >> so as I understand it what that is is there's a lot of requirements that um number one if you remember Mrs. Fischer's presentation and again you know >> the is that going to be

085like rotated >> the quantity the the quality of of our health conditions have increased. We've got students that have a lot more acute health issues things that are taking additional nurse hours. Uh and then also really the paperwork aspect has substantially increased uh over since COVID. I mean there's all kinds of new paperwork requirements associated for our nurses that I think are trying to be satisfied by that request from 11 to 12 months for nurses. But I hear you. I understand and and and certainly we'll take what you're saying into consideration for our budget presentation >> because you know Yeah. I will I'll just discuss it another day. Yes. Any other questions, concerns, or you need a minute? >> Madam Chair, I just have a a comment to make. Um when I was looking at

086um our report, our reporting and reviewing the reporting for the schools that are off track. We have five um locations in King George County and two of them needed intensive support. And so when we think about these strategic plans and I know that you know one of them is the quality instruction innovation. This is huge right? This is the reason why we're here. Um and I just want to put emphasis and I don't know you know I think Mr. Frank was going into some of that emphasis here on how we need to reallocate and I don't know what that looks like and I'm not saying that you know I haven't thought about any of that but this is a big deal right and that's you know what we really need to focus on. Um, and

087I also want to point out that when we think about the goal of um, safe, secure, and healthy learning environments, I didn't see anything on the bullets about like like physical security um, with security in general about the actual locations and that's something as we as we are living in a very changing world, we need to also very much focus on how we can be more proactive with security in the schools. So, so to your first point, I'll tell you that uh instructionally >> there's there's a lot of bugs being worked out in the new accreditation system for a number of reasons and everyone everybody across the state is talking about that. I don't want to discredit the process because I will tell you what the process is going to do. It's going to provide

088some focus. Um there's areas even in in all of our schools right now that that and I will always say this in need of improvement there. there's always areas to grow. Uh I can tell you as a result of in needs of improvement and and uh federal support, we're going to go deep into an improvement process which is um uh we go alongside with folks at the state and focus folks on the federal level to address some of those things. So it's going to be a very thorough improvement process which again regardless of what you think of the results in the new accreditation system right now that process is good. That process is reflective. That process really provides an opportunity to focus and shine a light on things that should always continue to improve. Uh

089that we'll do. Um physical uh I I do want Could you talk a little bit more about maybe some of the physical things that you think we need to focus on because that's that would be important to me. Yeah, I think in terms of well, first off, let me just say that I think Colleen did or Miss Davis, sorry, did u mention this, but it's not just King George. I want to be clear there. We have a decline across Virginia, across the United States. This isn't and regardless if it's new or not, there has been a decline. So, we we all recognize that and know that it is very important that we get it get it right. Right. So, I just want to be clear there. So, my statement isn't, you know, necessarily against King

090George County. It's a statement across the board, right? Um, also from a security perspective, what I'm thinking is like the physical security of the building, being proactive, which we have, right? because we added those weapon detection systems. But I mean just um continuing to build on that um any sort of features as it relates to security of the building and and and the only reason why I mentioned that is because I don't see it in here and I do very much think that that should be part of the safe, secure and healthy learning environment. Right. >> Gota I want to add to that. One of the things that I do see is that um the flex in the behavior educational support program and I do know that we've been hitting really hard on the vapes

091and everything. And so that's part of the protection is we have been hitting hard on that and getting that out of our schools, but we do need to get creative of how where we're going to put these children, right? because we're we know it's not going to be for hopefully forever having these a lot of disciplinary hearings because we are hitting security and that and that I think yours are you looking for like more metal detectors too and things like that. >> Um I mean I'm not I'm not saying any ideas right now. I do certainly have some ideas but I mean I'm just saying in general as we are looking at this because I just didn't see anything about that >> some physical >> on the plan. So, it's it's something I think that

092we need >> focus. >> And also like a shout out, um this is maybe childish, but I think we were like one of the highest districts around with our scores even though they were low. Is that correct? >> Yeah. Well, and I would say this too, I I don't want to lean too heavily on the pro the the new So, we have a new accountability and accreditation system that is in year one right now. It's entirely redesigned. So, everybody is saying there's some bugs to work out in there. >> Yeah, but I saw some help from the states coming is what I read. >> Well, there's some there's we have a Yes, there's some help from the state coming. And really, you just need it's it's there's some good underpinnings. There's some good roots. There's

093some good things in place, but I think as we've seen the first year of the of the data, there's some really interesting things that have come out right now. For example, in that in that new system, elementary schools right now are having a more difficult time meeting the ontrack uh designation than high schools are. There there's many many uh secondary schools because of the different way that the schools are measured. Elementary schools are measured slightly different than than our secondary schools. So, there's going to be some adjustment there. There's some talk about uh the the um sample size, the number of kids in each group and how that weighs heavily on to the outcome of the results. So there's and that's just the beginning of in fact the meeting I just came back from JARK

094who does independent studies across Virginia came up with a list of things that we should consider when it comes to how we improve the accreditation system moving forward. So yes, we have some places where we're very strong. Uh we have some places where we need some improvement, but uh I think we know those things. I I think outside of the system, we knew those things. Chronic absenteeism is something that we continue to focus on. We knew that before this, we'll know that after this. We need to focus resources there. Um it's those type of things that I think we'll continue to focus on. And like I said, regardless of the results, as Mi as Miss Cleveland brought up, we know there's challenges across the country. And what this process will do is really allow us

095to focus finite, you know, acutely on some of these things and see what we can do to address them. And I I think the process will be more important than than the current outcomes. >> Yes, Mr. Ward, a couple more points, please. Uh on goal number two, the last last uh bullet that's there, uh the last sentence, expanding secondary CTE opportunities by utilizing the previous vote building. >> Mhm. [clears throat] >> What's the previous vote? I thought I thought we'd tear this thing down here in March. >> No, that is it's the it is it's going to be the new V CTE center. That's what that mean. And in fact, this this was this is just the slide that they presented in November. And if you remember >> when we were there, we weren't where

096we are now in terms of tearing down the existing uh building and building new. But again, same concept. We're we're hoping to expand CTE opportunities in the new vocational building and providing additional and diverse opportunities for our students. >> Okay. And then back to what Mrs. Uh Davis mentioned about flex. Uh it's better than it has been this year than it has in the last couple of years. But I mean 25 years of watching alternate education within King George County and in my opinion it has never been up to par. So you're saying flex or alternative ed or >> well flex is a is a is a con is a part of alterial ed because we have them out of the classroom >> all right >> in there but you know >> because the original

097flex when you first started was that >> oh yes >> 30 minute IE not that it's >> I'm talking about this flex >> the the okay type >> it cost us a lot of money >> and kids you know when I said, "How was this?" And they say, "It's worthless." You know, we and like I say, it's better than it has been. But I mean, I just talked to a young and you know, you got to consider the source, too. But, you know, it's uh >> I think cons continuing to explore those options. I think Miss Davis brought it up uh with in terms of you know how do we address vapes and things I think trying to figure out you know what type of and and and honestly it's not a King George issue.

098It's a figuring out what the solution is I can tell you is multifaceted because it's not a silver bullet there. There's typically what it involves is getting to know individual students and figuring out what makes them tick and and how that works. and having good administrators doing those day-to-day tasks is is honestly the most effective approach that I've seen in in my years. >> Right, >> Madam Chair? Um so, Dr. We goal three. Um, one of my goals is to figure out how we get to communic community involvement, right? You were doing your weekly things on Facebook. I don't know if that was helping, but we saw a huge uh showing up of parents night for their kids for all their accomplishments. Unfortunately, we don't have but maybe 25% of parents who know what's going

099on. And I don't know how to fix that, but I I would like to add a add a goal of some sort. We we do things, they don't show up. I know that everybody's busy, but I wish there was a way we can figure out a way to get parents to be more involved to know what's going on. >> Um, so I'd like to see that as a somehow a goal. >> Okay. >> We can duplicate that lady. [laughter] Take two of you. You have something you want to say, Rachel? >> [clears throat] >> Um, I like what uh Mr. Frank says about the um fewer 12-month positions. I I had the same question. So, that's something that I would be, you know, interested in looking at, too. Um I liked that the the very

100first thing on goal one is that um the very first thing is continue to provide salary increases to be competitive. I think that is really uh important for the uh next four years as the uh legislation in the state changes. And just too I hear so many stories or I guess anecdotal things from from teachers saying well it's uh uh they get better pay by going to neighboring county uh towards Stafford or um Fredericksburg Spotsy. So, I we don't want to be losing uh good teachers um and seeing them go in that direction. So, I just providing incentives to um you know, financial incentive. I mean, I know part of this is teachers love what they're doing, but want to reinforce that we appreciate them by showing it in their paycheck. >> I I appreciate

101that, Miss Scott. I I think um as has been the case in the past, it'll certainly be one of our top priorities if it's not our top priority. It it typically is. We are, you know, a people business. 80% of our operating budget is is people. Uh so making sure that we stay competitive and attract and and retain qualified teachers is a very important thing. Uh I don't want to, you know, this isn't the budget presentation. We I will give you the budget presentation next time. Uh but I but I can tell you that um that's becoming more and more challenging staying competitive uh with a salary and I'll tell you why. It it's the the way that it works across the state is what's going to happen is the general assembly, the governor um

102we're going to get salary uh suggestions. They're they're they're going to come out and say we believe this year that a 2% sap already the governor has said a 2% salary increase general assembly will probably come out new governor might come out and say 3% 4%. The way that works in Virginia's school funding model is it matches up with the SOQ's the standards of quality. The standards of quality prescribe the number of positions that the school division hires. Everyone in the state of Virginia believes that the standards of quality document is out of date. In fact, a Jark study came out, I think two or three years ago saying that it's way out of date and we need to come up with a new funding model in Virginia. That hasn't happened yet. So, what does

103it mean? When the General Assembly approves a 3% compensation increase, what it means is that they will provide 3% for only about 60% of our workforce in the in the school division. What that does every year is it puts the locality on the hook for the remaining 40% or whatever that breaks down to be. So that's the challenge. That's that's what we have to figure out. Now I say that also with the understanding that there's seven school divisions and in our you know that King George and and six that wrap around us. West Mullen, Colonial Beach, Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spennsylvania, Caroline. If you look at our salaries right now, uh this this school year of those seven school divisions, we at best, uh on the top end of the scale have, you know, are in about

104fourth place for salary. And when I'm talking about top end of scale, I'm talking about between 20 and 30 years. We're the fourth highest paid salary. But as you all know and when we talked last year and we're trying to address compression in our pay scale at the five and 10 year level at the first year level uh we fall much lower. We fall into like spot six. So that's our challenge as a board. That's my challenge as a superintendent. as this being our first priority, teacher salaries, uh our charge is is is to convince our our local legislative body and and again there's a lot of challenges they have in terms of funding uh to provide a compensation increase that is competitive in our region uh with the constraints that I just mentioned. So

105that that's what will be before us this budget season. We have had a very good relationship with our board of supervisors. I can I I believe that'll continue to be the case moving forward. But the challenges are real and and and we'll continue to work through them hopefully together with them this budget season as best we can in addressing the the the shortfall that we have in in teacher salaries in the division. >> You should have a disclaimer for every new schoolboard member that has to learn that because that is a lie but >> it's a lot remember. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Are you finished? >> Thank you, Mr. Scott. Yes. And welcome aboard by the way. Sorry about that. Yes. first meeting. All right. So, we're Do we have any other questions regarding that?

106We're good. Okay. Moving on. We got the student reps here today. So, we're going to let Miss Brooks speak first because we have a new student rep for the middle school, Mrs. Hannah. But, uh, go ahead, Miss Brook. >> Good evening. My name is Brook Hayden and I'm one of the >> It's on, but I can't hear you that well. >> Hello. >> Hers. Yeah. Hello. There you go. Good evening. My name is Brooke Hayden and I'm one of the student representatives for the high school and I'd like to share a few updates and upcoming events. Grade level meetings will be held to review expectations and class specific information for students. These meetings will be taking place on Thursday, January 8th for freshman, sophomores, and juniors with senior meetings following on that Friday. These meetings

107are important opportunities for students to stay informed and prepared. There's also several key academic and schoolwide events coming up. The annual dual enrollment night, which will be held January 14th, and the elective expo at the middle school will be taking place on January 16th. Additionally, freshman orientation for 8th grade families will is set to be scheduled for January 28th. I'd also like to highlight some exciting student achievements and activities. DECA has hit an all-time high of 254 members and this year marks the 25th anniversary of the club, which is a huge accomplishment for our school. King George High School's Y Street was named the 2025 Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth Spotlight School for Rec School Recognization and one of their leadership team members, which is similar to like a president's role, was named the overall

108statewide 2025 Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth Student Spotlights, which was a great honor going to Richmond and receiving an award from the governor. I know that student members for W Street put in a lot of work to help make Virginia a healthier place. Healthy Youth Day in Richmond will be happening in February with Grace Suk and myself attending to create new policies or bills and meet with legislators. Signups are currently happening for the Special Olympics Feet Meet and we encourage all students to get involved and support this event. In addition, the King George High School swim team has an upcoming home meet and we would love to see all of you guys there this Friday at 6 against Spoty and the Cheers youth camp will be performing Friday at the boys basketball game. Lastly, I'd

109like to remind everyone about our school play school play the trial of the big bad wolf running January 21st through January 24th at 7. Tickets are $6 and available on Goof Fans. The dinners will the dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m. prior to each performance. And thank you so much for your time and I encourage everyone to spread the word about the exciting events happening at the high school. >> Thank you, Mrs. Brooke. [snorts] Miss Miss Hannah, right? Hannah, you ready? All right. >> Hi, I'm Hannah Perky. I'm one of the eighth grade representatives at KGMS. We had our Beta Club induction ceremony um on December 11th as well as uh December attendance challenge where the winner got a lunch with three friends. Our school spelling be is coming up next Tuesday on the

11013th, as well as auditions starting for our spring play, The Day the Internet Di. Lastly, next Friday, the 16th, we have our quarter 2 award ceremonies and our King George High School elective expo for eighth graders to learn a little about the electives we can take next year as ninth graders. >> Thank you so much. Any board comments or are we not doing that? Okay, sorry. I'm We've done so many presentations today. Just use the same. Okay. Thank you, Brooke. You did a good job. I mean, and Mrs. Hannah. Okay. Where are we at? Sorry. Consent agenda. The meeting minutes for December 9th and our um Dece and our hearing as well. >> Yes, Madam Chair. I'd like to make a motion that we uh approve as presented the the meeting minutes from December 9

111student hearing and the regular meeting on December 9. >> Have a second. >> I second. Any discussion? All those in favor? >> I I chair votes I. Motion carries to accept the consent agenda as presented. All right. Now we are moving on to action items. The acceptance of funds, the 2026 dangers of fentanyl activation grant. >> Yes, madam chair. So we have actually four opportunities this evening to accept funds. So that's always a good thing. >> Uh I'll go through them rather quickly. Some of them you should be I think we are familiar with if you remember last year the first one the dangers of fentanyl activation grant we received last year uh on the high school level. Uh we have been awarded this activation grant for the middle school. this coming year. Uh so

112we'll now offer these lessons both on the high school level and on the middle school level. Um and I would request a recommendation or a motion this evening to approve the dangers of fentanyl activation grant in the amount of $4,000. >> Madame Chair, I would like to make a motion that we accept the funds for the 2026 dangers of fentanyl activation grant. >> Second. Have to say the um Did you say the >> amount? Do you have to say the amount? Yes. The amount. >> Sorry. >> In the amount of $4,000. >> Second. >> Uh any discussion? >> Yes. Dr. Boyd. I read this first paragraph up here and it talks all about high school uh evidence informed used by any high school classroom across the Commonwealth. But then when we get down into the

113bullets, it talks about middle school. >> Middle school. >> It's that >> it'll be middle school. This for this grant. It'll be middle school this year. Last year it was for high school. >> Good. >> He's saying, >> should the paragraph up top say middle school? >> Oh. Oh, okay. I see what you're saying. I understand what you're saying. Yes. Okay. >> Oh, so we can just approve it as amended. >> As as amended for the middle school. >> Okay. >> Mhm. >> Can I get a >> All those in favor? >> Wait, we did it. Oh, yeah. She just did it for you. Good gravy. Sorry. Any discussion? All those in favor? >> I I chair >> votes I motion passes as amended for the middle school. >> All right, the next one, Dr.

114Boyd. >> Yes. Uh the next one, Madame Chair, is the Raphanic Area Health District American Rescue Plan great grant. This is actually something that we received a while ago uh and something that we had to complete a number of um tasks for in order to receive the funds. So, we have found out recently that we received these funds uh following completion of the photovoice project. RAHD will make a one-time payment of $10,000 to King George County Schools to continue implementation of interventions or programs at King George Middle School to improve youth mental health outcomes. King George Middle School will identify strategies, create smart goals, and provide progress updates to RA uh HD uh RAHD. This was done way back in 2002. Uh it was just completed and I would uh request a motion to accept

115the funds in the amount of $10,000. If we could have a motion to accept the funds from the Rapahhanic Area Health District American Rescue Plan Grant in the amount of $10,000. >> I would like to make a motion to accept the funds from the RA Rapahanic Area Health District American Rescue Plan Grant in the amount of $10,000. >> Second. Any discussion? I do want to say something because I just want to read this bottom part because I think this really would would go for the public comments that came in tonight and it's the King George Middle School will implement interventions that aim to improve student mental health such as stress and anxiety which impacts school success, chronic absenteeism. The King George Middle School will partner with the community agencies such as Office on Youth to

116assist in implementing interventions that target at risk students. So there are good things happening and we are trying to be ahead of this and help our students because we do love and care about them. Um so just ask that that's noted. Um any other discussion? >> All those in favor? I >> I chair votes I motion carries. >> Next up madam >> 2002 though >> uh 2022. Yeah it was in 2022. Yeah. >> Uh next up madam chair is the career switcher mentor teacher grant. We have seen this in the past. This is for fall 2025. King George County Schools has been awarded funds in the amount of $3,180 from the Department of Education, the Virginia Department of Education to compensate teachers for mentor career for mentoring career switchers who are entering public education. I

117would request a motion this evening to accept uh the grant in the amount of $3,180 for the career switcher men uh teacher grant. Madame Chair, I make a motion that we accept the grant funds in the amount of $3,180 from the Virginia Department of Education. >> I second. All those in f Oh, any discussion? >> Dr. Boyd, could you give us some more information about the career switchers? Like specifically, it's saying something about how they're using um I guess career professionals that they transition. Do they get how does that work? So, do you want to speak to it, Beth? >> Well, what I know of it, so typically what it involves is career switchers are individuals that have expressed interest in teaching and have left some other professional field. And as a result, what they're

118required to do is meet a certain number of uh credit requirements for courses and they usually go through a year of mentoring with an experienced teacher. Um what that typically involves is a mentorship which re receives stipens um and to help those uh teachers that are career switching through things like classroom management, understanding of special special education law, just the basic pillars or cornerstones of what we do as educators so that they're prepared to go into the classroom leaving uh their professional uh uh their previous profession. So, just a follow-up question as it relates to like education. Do we wave education requirements as far as like their degree requirements? I mean, not necessarily like the degree field, but having a degree, for example. >> There's uh you mean like having a bachelor's degree? So, they'll

119have to have that in order to be a teacher. Uh >> and then there are some You can speak to this better, Beth. >> Just just quickly, we they have to be enrolled in a career switcher program. the teachers do which right now we have I think one register or she is in the career switcher program with Shannondoa University but then I think ODU has a program um the career switcher program has been around actually for for a good a good period of time um what that money that $3,180 is for is for us to pay our teachers to mentor those teachers in the career switcher program that amount that we get is based bas on we have to report every fall how many teachers we have who are enrolled in a career switcher program.

120>> So we get the grant money based on how many people. So if we the more we have the more money. Okay. >> Correct. >> Thank you. >> And I mean we we always tell people that the career switcher program is an al or an alternate route to lure that that's out there that it's available. We just got a letter yesterday from Shannondoa's program. Shannonoa's program used to be pretty much a lot of it was in person. Um they had it on site here in Fredericksburg. So some of our people were in that cohort. Um but we got a note letter yesterday that they have just switched their entire program to it's it's all online now. So >> yeah, that's great. That's a great opportunity for folks that >> it is. It is. >> Yeah.

121Thank you. >> Any other discussion? All those in favor? I >> I chair >> votes I >> motion carries. >> And then finally, madam chair, uh we have our annual uh request for our national board certification incentive awards. Uh so King George County Schools has been awarded $12,500 by the Virginia Department of Educ Education to compensate teachers who are have earned the national board certification. This is voluntary. Uh we do have some amazing educators that have uh sought this certification. Uh and as you know, we provide a uh uh stipen, a $2,500 stipen for all of our teachers that become nationally board certified. So they they certify that every they they make HR aware of that every year. We currently have five. It's a pretty strenuous process. I've taken a look at it in the

122past. It involves uh all kinds of work to um prove your ability to teach. I mean videotaping your classes, a number of things that go into it. We have five that have completed that process. We certainly hope to increase that number. Uh that's something that's state uh supported. But what we're here this evening to do is uh accept that $12,500 so that we can pay those teachers that have gone through that process. >> So Dr. Ward, this is an addition to what we pay them or this is what we pay them. >> So yeah, so it is an addition. >> Yeah, we have to do a match. >> Yeah. they get 5,000 >> till they get 5,000. >> Okay. >> All right. >> And and it's it's a a process that I would certainly encourage

123uh because I mean if the teachers that have gone through this, Miss Dibble, Miss CG, uh Miss Mitchell, right? Uh the ones that I know of off the top of my head and and they they do an excellent job. >> They're all fantastic. >> They're amazing. >> Yeah. >> And a motion. >> Yes. Madam Chair, I make a motion that we accept grant funds in the amount of 12,500 from the Virginia Department of Education for the National Board of Certification >> or Did you say the cost? Did he read it? >> Yeah. Second. >> 12,500. >> Uh, any discussion? >> Um, I had a question, Dr. Boyd. Um, is there continuing education with this, too? Like, if they get their national board certification, do they need to do a continuing education? >> Yeah, they have

124to annually certify. So, and every 10 >> and how much would you say approximately from a time perspective it would take a teacher to get this certification? >> Yeah, that's fine. I'm just just trying to get an idea of how much work goes into it just for my >> Yeah, initially it's like a year-long process if not longer. Correct. Yeah, it's it's a lot of work. I remember looking into it and it's it's substantial and the process is wonderful because they they learn a ton and really even with the individuals I mentioned mentor a number of our other teachers with all of the great information that they've learned through the process. So certainly an advocate for it. >> It's a several year process. >> Yeah, it's pretty lengthy. >> Yeah. >> All right. Any other

125discussion? >> All those in favor? >> We need a second. Oh. >> Oh. Oh. >> Our clerk says we need >> second. >> She did second. >> Oh, I second. Yeah. >> But thank you, Rachel. [laughter] All those in favor? >> I sure vote. >> Chair votes eye. Motion carries. >> Okay, moving on to the discussion items, which is the policy manual updates. >> Yes, we only have two this evening. I'm sure we'll uh get another batch here from VSBA shortly. Uh, however, I'll go through those quickly. We have GDBC-R, a regulation. Uh, Miss Gal spotted this and I believe in our policy manual. If you remember a few years back before we made some changes um to our payout for um leave, there used to be a stipulation where if you did not choose

126our health care, you would get a $20 a month um it was added to your paycheck, $20 a month. If you remember, we removed that so that we could help pay for some of the payouts associated with with leave. We found that in that regulation that still existed. So again, just technically uh we would request this evening to update the um policy to to reflect that change. >> All right, >> Dr. Ward, I've got a these the dates and then the leave amounts. That's all set by VRS, right? >> A V uh VSBA or the Virginia Retirement. Oh, I thought you were talking about the prior revision dates. >> Virginia retirement system. >> Yes. >> Number of months that you know it takes to go through and for 12 days, 15 days, and 18 days.

127That's also >> Oh, you're you're talking about the number of days of annual leave that we receive. So, if you're if you work with us from 6 to 36 months, you get 12 days of leave. 36 to 72, 15, and then 72 plus 18 days of leave. >> Yes. That's all set by >> that's that's set by school board. >> Okay. And how about the three days? Um no >> personal leave. >> Okay. >> Yeah. I uh Mr. Frank, may I piggyback? We were discussing that we didn't know if the personal leave was required by the state to have that in our policy or not. But um since we're on this page real quick, a question was that Dr. Mr. Frank and I was just talking about because it says 180 to 220 contract zero

128245day contract zero and then it goes 0 to6 and down. Are those only for the 245day contract? The bottom numbers 6 to 36 months 12 days. >> Yeah. So only 12 months. >> Looks confusing. It looks like both would get those because of the way it's put on here. >> Okay. I see. So you're saying that it looks like the 180 to 220 would be part of that as well if they had that number of days. So >> more space between there would be >> or just >> remove the zero. >> Well, the way it looks. So if I was to look at this and when I did look at it 180 it looks zero. 245 zero. But but if you've been with us this long it looks like it's for both contracts. >> Okay.

129I see what you're saying. >> Yeah. I understand what you're saying. be a little bit confusing if somebody's coming on and thinking that's what they get and they don't >> even though they're told. I know that she tells them >> as far as the formatting. >> Yes. Thank you. >> Okay. Where were we? Are we making a motion to approve? >> I make a motion to approve policy GDBC-R as presented. >> I second. >> Any discussion? >> Yes, Madam Chair. I'd like to bring this up at a later date for more discussion. >> Okay. Noted. Yeah. Um all those in favor >> I share votes I motion carries. >> Um next policy update. >> Uh next policy update is a new policy. It's JBB treatment of transgender students. I believe you guys have all had

130an opportunity to review that. That again is entirely new. So the entire script there is underlined and I would request a a motion uh for approval this evening. >> Madam Chair, I'd like to make a motion that policy JBB is approved as submitted. >> Second. Any discussion? [clears throat] >> All those in favor? I >> I >> chair votes eye. Motion carries. Moving on. Uh we have the committee reports. >> None. >> Probably none because yeah >> None. I don't have anything. >> No committee yet. >> Really, Rachel? No. Mrs. Scott and I have none either. >> It will kick into high gear here though soon. Yes. We we've already got some on the calendar and and the governor schools are beginning to to schedule meetings. So, uh we'll make sure that they know who

131you I mean we the only difference is that you'll take ATI now Kathy u but everything else you should be receiving those information. If you're not let me know but I think you guys uh who were formerly on the governor school boards will be getting emails saying this is our meeting schedule. This is when our next meeting is. >> Yeah, we we we have one in uh January and they feed us. It's actually in person this time and so I always go to this. >> When where do we get our committee schedules? >> So you will get that uh here shortly from from Miss Scout. Yeah. >> All right. Superintendent report. >> Uh so really quickly, happy new year to everyone and welcome back. Uh we just uh I think two days ago found out

132we do have uh we will have a new secretary of education who was um a former superintendent in uh Virginia, also in the Northern Neck, was a graduate of West Mullen High School. Uh and I think somebody that is well respected and well known, Jeff Smith, uh that that I think will serve the Commonwealth well uh in terms of what his experience is, what he his role will be moving forward. And so as we continue to keep our, you know, mind and ears to what's going on on the state level, I'm happy to report that that the superintendent meeting that was a wellreceived um piece of information. So we're looking forward to to to getting to uh know Jeff better in that role and and see some of the things that come out of that.

133Um, Miss Jen Brody started her first day in the office today and we dove right in on budget stuff and talked about a number of things. Uh, procurement across the school division and how we need across the county and how we need to adopt some of those things. Uh, we're taking a look at some forecasting models that she's very familiar with. We're diving into the budget and and really moving quickly on that. So, um, I appreciate her being here. I'm looking forward to a lot of the uh new information that she can provide us in the schoolboard office and um we're rolling right into the to the budget season. So uh with that said, the final thing I'll mention is tomorrow is our first vis visit to one of our technical centers as we plan

134for uh visits to regional technical centers as we plan for our new vocational center. Uh Northern Neck Technical Center will visit tomorrow. great great building uh circular building down there in Warsaw that I spent many many days in, many years in uh because I was principal right next door. It's a great school uh given the resources that they have that serve uh six or seven school divisions right around it. So, I think we'll be pleased and tomorrow Mr. Frank and Mrs. Hoover will attend with their respective board of supervisors members and I think what it'll do is uh begin to uh fuel the conversations we need to have about what a vocational center is going to look like in King George. So, thank you guys and I appreciate the opportunity. >> Thank you, Dr. Boyd.

135>> Uh board comment, uh starting with Mr. Frank. >> As always, I'd like to thank the teachers for all you do. Happy New Year to everyone. Uh I'd like to thank everyone who came out and spoke tonight. Uh and the cheerleaders that were here uh doing a fantastic job. But did you notice the way they were dressed? I mean, they were all dressed professionally really, really nice. And that's that's Miss Amanda, as they call her, you know. Uh I've seen her mentoring and being a role model for these kids for 25, 30 years now, and she does a fantastic job. But that's all just a reflection of her right there. And I mean, every one of those girls were were dressed immaculately. So, it was great. Um, student representatives, welcome to the board. Uh, [clears

136throat] I'm I'm sure you'll do well while you're here. You're you you always do a fantastic job. And that's all I have. Thank you. >> Um, happy new year to everybody and I want to thank Mrs. Jones's class for saying the pledge of allegiance and being so um, willing to stand up there. as everybody else said, at eight years old and and speak publicly. Um, they did a great job. Um, and the only other thing I really want to say is uh well, thanks to Mr. uh what is the co the middle the volleyball coach's name? I >> he um also did a great job coaching three years in a row sending those kids to districts and it's obviously that he's bonded with them as well. And uh I went to a couple of those

137games and um our girls really had a lot of uh uh good sportsmanship when I when I I was proud of how they beh you know when there was controversy how they didn't react. So um and uh congratulations to the winner of the space camp scholarship. Um and I also wanted to say that Mr. Frank and I went right before Christmas and visited the middle school and the high school and uh um it's always nice to be welcomed and not feared. Um you know, it was a great experience. Sorry, we miss you, Dr. Nice. Um but we had a great experience there. Um and I'm hoping that we can do that more. So, we need to we need to get to some elementary schools soon, but thank you to both of you student reps. It's

138been a It's been a long few hours. We appreciate you being here and you're getting great public speaking experience as well. And welcome to Rachel. We're glad to have you. That's all. Good evening. Happy New Year. Uh thank you to all of our presenters today. I really appreciate all the information that was given. Um and congratulations to the folks that we recognize. And I I also do want to say congratulations to the volleyball team and Mr. Limbrech. Um I didn't have a chance to make that comment earlier. Um and same applies to him which I made to to to Amanda. Um I know that it takes so much time and commitment on the coach's part and you can tell how much energy and commitment that they have and how much they love that team, right?

139Um and it's showing through the performance that those teams are are giving. Um, so just congratulations and again to the to the uh students that are on those teams. I know how much commitment that is too. Big sports family I am. So and the parents, the commitment that the parents give. Um, thank you for lending you know your children to these programs. Um, and again congratulations to both the volleyball team and the cheerleading team. Um, I also want to say uh thank you to all the teachers and administrators. Thank you for to the administrators for being here tonight. Um, I know that it is difficult when you come back from a long break. Um, and thank you for all you're doing. Um, couple com I also want to say thank you to Carrie Gonzalez for

140this book. I'm looking forward to reading this. Um, I do recognize that there is a concern. I'm not sure, you know, where it stems from, but this could give me good insight and I appreciate uh you you talking with us about that. Um, there was a comment that was made tonight about a non-curricular club in Sealston Elementary School. So, I'm asking Dr. Boyd to please look into that for us to see um there see what that's all about because there there shouldn't be any non-curricular clubs at the elementary level. Um, couple more things. I had gotten um these two documents from a class that I went to um and I'm wondering if we can provide something similar. The first document just outlines um the committees and responsibilities like who is assigned to what committee and

141what their responsibility is as well as like the dates of that committee. If we could get something like this, I think it would be really helpful for us to know what what each other is doing, their responsibilities, and when they're having those committee meetings. Um, additionally, and I'm we probably do have something like this. I couldn't find it. If you have it, can you send it to me? But what's really cool about this organizational chart is it lists the responsibilities of everybody as well. And I know even myself, I get confused. So, I think it would be if we have this, if you could just direct me to where it is, but I'd love to have something like this. And I think the board could could really help could really help the board as well.

142>> Thank you. >> Um and that's it. Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> This is Scott. >> Um I really appreciate the PTOAC elementary school class for coming out and leading us on the pledge of allegiance and they did an excellent job in teaching us about Egypt. There were so many large words that I was impressed they were able to pronounce well and uh many things that I had forgotten uh since I was in elementary school. And also wanted to uh just congratulate Brandon for receiving the space camp scholarship. Um, I'm very excited for him getting a chance to go to space camp and uh just recognizing all of the teams that uh have represented our school very well. Um, this is my first board meeting and first time sitting up here and I look

143forward to working with the rest of the board members and with you Dr. Boyd and and Miss Galf and um everybody else uh all the principles um I uh I really hope we can work well together and I look forward to what we will do in the next four years. Thank you. >> Yes, Mrs. My Nickelback because when Mrs. um Cleveland said about the club at Seleston, a comment was made about Beta Club and Beta Club is an academic club. So that was one of our public commenters that said that there was and we had said non-academic that and I also wanted to thank Mrs. Gonzalez not only for the book but for keeping us you know challenged and for things like that. I I appreciate your in input and your feedback. So thank you.

144>> Okay. I just want to thank everybody for coming out tonight. I want to thank my board for the opportunity to serve as chair and um for Carrie stepping up because Kathy didn't want to be my vice chair. So, thank you. But, but I have her. She's my sidekick. So, um but thank you for leading the way and helping me on my first year and uh help training me to the next step of my career on the school board. Um thank you for all the speakers that came out, all the public comments that were made. Uh I just want to say that you are heard. Thank you Dr. boy for what you said and the explanation that you gave a lot of uh a little bit more input on the the legal side of it

145all as far as the suicidal conversations and things of that that that tends to lead on a legal side too as far as uh things like that. But um I did hear you. And one of the things I do want to um my heart does hurt when I hear when a student comes before us and and tells us that they're hurting. Um and they don't feel heard. Um you are heard. It might not look like in the way you want it. It might not look like the way you think it should look, but we are doing things from these conversations and we are trying to meet those needs. Uh if and the other thing I want to offer if any of like the the father came up and basically said that um it's pointless to

146speak humanly speaking to us because he feels like we're not listening. Um that's not true. Have a conversation with us. I'm willing to sit down. I know everybody on this board is willing and Dr. Boyd to have a conversation with any of you guys to give input or to hear uh or to have that conversation that we're not really allowed to have from the schoolboard level right here. Um and the last thing I want to say is cuz it's important to me. it's my faith. There's nowhere in the Bible that says do not pray. And and so just because we say it doesn't mean it's true. So I challenge you to go back and look at a real Bible. Not just because it says it's a Bible, it's a Bible. So go back and look

147at a real Bible. If you find that verse, bring it to me. I didn't catch everything you said. I know you said Matthew 5 something, but anyways. Um, so I just challenge you to know that just because you hear it or or because you say it doesn't mean it's true. So just thank you. But thank you for coming and and we do hear you and and I do hear you and I do care about you. Um, that's it. [clears throat] So next would be Madame Chair, I'd like to make a motion that pursuant to state code section 2.2-3712A 2-3712A of the code of Virginia. I move that the board convene in a closed meeting to review hires, substitutes, resignations, and stipens as permitted under 2.2-3711A number one of the code of Virginia. >> Second. >>

148Any discussion? I do. Uh, real quick, Mrs. uh Hannah, so I don't know if they told you, but once we close adjourn, we're going to go back and then you guys are welcome to go home. You can stay if you want, but you're welcome to go home. You don't have to stay while we're in close session. Okay. Okay. Um, all those in favor? >> I chair votes I. We are now adjourned into close session. Oh, sorry. >> Uh, come back to open session. Yeah. >> To open session. >> I move that the King George County School Board return to open session and certify that pursuit to state code section 2.2-3712 2-3712D. Only public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements under this chapter and only such public business matters as were identified in the

149motion by which the closed meeting was convened were heard, discussed or considered in the meeting by the public body. >> I second. Uh any discussion? >> Certify. >> Second and certify. >> Certify. >> What do I need to do? >> Just certify. that >> everything we spoke was or no we're opening up into open session. >> So what we what we decided back there is bas just read is >> no she just we're just opening right now. We haven't read that part yet. >> I just read >> she did both of them. Oh >> yeah she said return to open session and certify. >> Oh okay. Sorry. Certify. >> and then the next motion is to accept personnel as presented. >> I move that we accept personnel as presented. >> Second. >> All in favor

150vote I. I chair both eye and states motion carried >> and then >> I >> we have a motion to adjurnn. >> Make a motion to resign. Adjourn. [laughter] >> Come on now. >> You're right. >> You're going to resign now. [laughter] >> And we all say I >> second. [laughter] >> All in favor? I I chair votes. We are now adjourned.