001feel. Hey, hey, hey. Do you know? Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. call to order. Uh approval of electronic participation. I don't think I we have anybody [snorts] joining electronically. Okay. >> He's stuck in traffic and he's not coming. Um Miss Lowry, pledge of allegiance. >> Okay. Please stand for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. >> Is there a motion to approve the agenda? >> Motion. >> Mrs. Lowi. >> Second. >> Dr. Mr. Farmer. Madam clerk, would you please call the role? >> Mr. Alen? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Lauren? >> Yes. >> Dr. Gupta? >> Yes. >> Mr. Dall? >> Yes. >> Mr. Jal?
002>> Yes. >> Dr. Farmer? >> Yes. >> Mr. Po? >> Yes. >> Motion passes. >> Chair comments. I don't have anything. Uh, student representative Dr. >> All right. Good evening everyone. I see uh Miss Ramsey here from EC Glass. And I'm not sure if we're going to have a presentation tonight from Heritage High School, but I'll turn it over to you. >> Hi everyone. I hope you're having a good new year. We first have athletics on this presentation. On this is from last week. On Monday, we had JV and varsity girls basketball away. JV and varsity boys basketball versus Amherst at home on Tuesday. Uh on Wednesday we had Scholastic Bowl at home and wrestling at Liberty Bedford. On Thursday we had JV and varsity boys and girls versus Heritage. And we also had indoor
003track at Heritage High School. On Friday we had JV and varsity boys basketball at Rusburg, JV and varsity girls basketball vers Y. On Saturday, we had indoor track at the Ed Long Invitational in Rockingham and wrestling at Fluana. For swim, the EC Glass boys and girls swimming and diving had a great first meet of the season. They defeated Amherst and Brookville and almost won every event of the night. Rotten Web qualified for states in the 500 free and 200 meter IM. The wrestling team had a record of four and four last week and they traveled to VS in Alagany. Track and field had many athletes placed in the top five at the Ed Long [snorts] Invitational in Harrisonburg. Some of those including the boys 4x800 meter relay placing second with the team of John Paul
004Manier, Enzo Wagner, Jake Flint, and Matthew Rder. The boys 4x200 meter relay placed second. This is the team consisting of seven Waller, Darien Petty, Trevor Dale, and Teneavon Mosley. The girls 4x two meter relay also placed fifth consisting of Trinia Stewart, Heaven Harrington, Shannon Wilson, and Rosa Webb. And the following athletes also placed second in the triple jump being Traniah Stewart. Seven Waller placed second in the 55 meter dash and fifth in the 300 meter dash. Traniah Stewart also placed fifth placed fifth in the 55 meter dash. And Ayana Mosley placed fourth in the shot put. Congratulations to our varsity boys basketball team who on their win of 49 over 31 over JF this past week. That was on January 9th. Many students in the EClass band were also selected for all district band. Those
005being Kira Roland, first chair and all state eligible. Sebastian Mayer, first chair and all state eligible. Alton Quinn, first chair and also all state eligible. And Adakus Wilson, first chair and also all state eligible. In concert band, Alexander Lob was first chair, Leo Struski was fourth chair, Tyler Turbo was fifth chair, Joshua Pinrod was eighth chair, and Luke Aino was third chair. This past week was also Virginia School Principal Week. Our principles set the tone for success in our schools. So, shout out to all of our amazing principles in LCS. Teacher of the year was also named for all the high schools in LCS. Ashley Merritt was named the 2025 to 2026 LCS teacher of the year. Miss Merritt is an art teacher and cultural arts department chair at EC Glass High School and she
006has taught there since 2019. Miss Merritt also leads the student yearbook program which won top Virginia High School League honors in 2024 and 2025. It has also been featured in the national portfolio every year since 2021. >> For theater, they are going to have a fundraising performance at the historic academy stage on February 1st at 3 p.m. It will be the only public performance before they go to compete in March. So get tickets now and go out and support. LCS also celebrated 160 years of public education in Lynchburg. A plaque dedication ceremony was held on Tuesday, December 16th to honor this moment. The plaque was donated by the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War to commemorate the 1865 founding of LCS. LCS students have shown many ways that they've served their community this
007holiday season. Starting with culinary arts, they have been giving back through the Lynchberg Express, a studentrun food truck donated by Into It. They made Thanksgiving treat bags filled with fresh baked desserts for Park View Community Mission. They also catered the football team's pink dinner fundraiser for the awareness garden back in October. The junior ROC has also been serving the community as GlassS and Heritage JOTC students helped run a US Marine Corps reserve toys for tots drive this winter. Our sports teams have also been serving the community. In October, the EClass football team raised $2,500 and the EC Glass volleyball team raised $1,400 for the Awareness Garden Scholarship Endowment, a scholarship that supports students lives who have been affected by cancer or who plan to pursue a career in a cancer related field. Furthermore, I don't
008have a slide for this one, but National Honor Society has been hosting a book drive. They will be collecting children's books and picture books for local nonprofits. And these collections will end on January 26th. >> Thank you. Question, Claire. Uh, how about the prom? Have they got you start planning for prom? I think there's a prom committee for that, but I'll put that. >> All right. No, I'm just curious if you guys start working. >> Yes. The >> the teacher of the I know you wanted to say something during the presentation. >> No, no, no. I was just applauding. We had an opportunity. >> Let's applaud it together. So, >> [applause] >> Thank you. >> Uh, next one is uh public comment. Uh, Mr. Baron is not here. Mr. Lowry. >> Um, there's no one
009signed up for public. >> No one signed up for public comment. Thank you very much. Next is consent agenda. Is there a motion to approve the consent agenda? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Madam clerk, would you please call the role? >> Mr. Alain? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Lori? >> Yes. >> Dr. Gupta. >> Yes. >> Mr. Depal. >> Yes. >> Mr. Julio. >> Yes. >> Dr. Farmer. >> Yes. >> Mr. Poe. >> Yes. >> Motion passes. >> And next is financial report. Dr. MJ. >> I'm going to turn it over to Miss Jamie. >> Thank you. Thank you for the opportunity to address you. So, [clears throat] I'm going to be very brief in my comments tonight so that we can lend more time for our budget presentation. You have before you the December 31st,
0102025 monthend financials. That makes us 50% of the fiscal year um complete. The percent of revenues collected versus the original appropriation was at 46.93 and the amount of expenditures versus original appropriation is at 46.54. So our revenues are again inching out our expenditures. The total expenditures inclusive of our incumbrances equates to 89.45 45% which is well below that 100% mark that you usually look for. So the there were no new notable variances um this month that had not already been addressed uh in the prior month's report. our statement of revenues. Um it we uh reflected a 55,925,721 uh and 41 cents of revenues that we have brought in so far this fiscal year. Of that total, the state revenues of the budgeted amount is at 41.85%. Our federal revenues are coming in at 31 33.11%
011and our local revenues equated to 56.64% of their budgeted amount. Their additional revenues by way of miscellaneous and charges for services. Their collection rates respectively are at 38.70% and 39.36%. Um in December on moving to our summary report in December LCS experienced a another very high claim mount um totaling 1,728,76489. That's even slightly higher than November's claim. Um, we had a lot of highcost claims, surgeries, things of that nature that occurred at the end of the calendar year um when those um when uh you know people need to get that taken care those items taken care of. So that pushed us to a a a balance a monthly balance of um 1.994 932.52 of a a negative pull in our health insurance fund. That is the monthly pull. The annual pull, as you'll see on
012your report, is about a hundred a million.6 negative. So, it's not quite as dire as it was the the two previous uh fiscal years, I mean fiscal year months. Um, so that's all I'm going to report out unless you have any questions. I just wanted to really just give you a highlights of how we were doing. And since 50% of the fiscal year has passed and we're hovering at 46% on expenditures and revenues, we're right there in line with where we should be fiscal year- wise. So, I will entertain any questions if you have any >> questions. Thank you. >> Thank you, sir. This one is um you budget presentation. >> It is. It is. >> All right. Good evening, school board members, community members, and staff. They're pulling up my presentation. But tonight, I
013do have the pleasure of presenting the Lynchburg City Schools um my proposed operating budget for fiscal year 2027, which supports the 2026 27 academic year. So I always like to start with that language. So if we can go to the next slide, this slide here. Perfect. So when you see this image, I really want you to think about our why. Why do we build budgets? And why is this particular budget important? This budget matters because it directly impacts our students and our staff. When we discuss compensation increases, we're talking about ensuring that our employees can pay their bills, support their families, and maintain a reasonable quality of life. This budget supports that stability. It also recognizes teachers who give up planning time to teach additional class periods, often completing essential planning work after hours and
014on weekends. That effort translates into stronger instruction, improved academic outcomes, and better support for our students. This budget also reflects expanded support for students with disabilities, including instructional services, professional development, and staffing to meet compliance and service expectations. It also supports the expansion of alternative education settings, not only for students facing disciplinary action, but for students who needs are not fully met in a tra traditional environment. At its core, our why is our people. Our students and staff are the heartbeat of this organization. And this proposed budget is one step towards supporting those who matter most. And so when we invest in our people, we invest in that investment strengthens our schools and our overall community. Next slide, please. So this slide here um highlights where we're headed as a school division. As you're aware,
015the strategic plan development is currently underway. This has been a thoughtful and very comprehensive process that includes input from internal and external stakeholders. And once this is completed in late spring to early summer, this will be a living plan that will serve as our roadmap for the next five years. our goals and the goals for this budget and set in that budget and direction here. Um, sort of absence of a strategic plan and receiving input from not only the board but as we work one-on-one with principles and staff improving our academic outcomes and providing students with opportunities, access and experiences and learning environments that they need to succeed. So to do this, we must provide stronger student supports and none of this is possible without having a stable and supported workforce. So alongside professional development
016and capacity building, we must ensure that our staff have the resources they need to live well so that they can focus fully on teaching and learning. If you're worried about paying bills, it's kind of hard to focus on what what's happening during the day. Next slide. So Lynchburg City Schools at a glance, I just wanted to provide some context as to a snapshot of who we are, where we are, and where our needs exist. We serve approximately 7,700 students with about 1,400 employees across instructional support administrative roles. We continue to see increased needs in special education and alternative education services for our students. And so as we work to grow academically, we're also responding to incre increased behavioral and student support needs. staffing requirements extend beyond SOQ funded positions and SOQ means standards of quality
017and I'll um speak more to that shortly to meet the needs and maintain compliance with what we need here as a division. So I always like to tell how we do something. I know we talk about the why but how we do it. So I want to explain how we're funded so that people have a general understanding of how we receive the money that we do. So we're funded through state, local, and federal sources. The funding levels are primarily driven by this thing called local composite index or LCI and your average daily membership. And I'll explain what those two things are. While we serve more than 7,700 students, state funded funding is based on an average daily membership. Those not your total enrollment. So those are the stu students that the state will pay for.
018Our projected ADM is um 7,93 students. That means we're funded for fewer students than we actually truly serve. The local composite index determines your division's locality's ability to pay for education. And it's calculated using, and I've never done these calculations, they're done at the state. True value of real property, your adjusted gross income, taxable retail sales, average daily membership, and your overall population. And they recalculate this every two years prior to the bienial budget. Okay? And we just sort received that number. And then of course federal funding is received to use for targeted programs and specific student populations. So that lends us to the next slide and you'll hear us talk a lot about we'll say calc tool or calculation tool. But all of these funding factors are incorporated into the direct aid payment budget
019calculation template and like I said we always call it the C tool for short. It's published by the Virginia Department of Education and it's used to estimate state funding under the governor's proposed budget. So, our most recent governor, outgoing governor, um the calculation tool was released on December 17, 2025. And I included a link there on the slide just for transparency. If someone wants to go in and plug in, it'll give you the estimates not only for fiscal year 27, but fiscal year 27 and 28. It also will connect you back to the recent adjustments to the fiscal year 26, our current fiscal year um budget that we were talking about at our last work session. So, it's there if if you'd like to play around that kind of thing like uh like some of
020us do. Um but definitely go and take a look. And it's important to note while I present this budget tonight, it's subject to change. While general assembly is in session, we have a new governor. Um so, we'll see what those adjustments are to that template. And as soon as we have those adjustments, we'll definitely share with you all. And state funding is based on the standards of quality that defines the minimum staffing pro program requirements funded by the state. And I think there was a question even last time at one of the work sessions it was like what does it say about central office and how many people you should have. Technically it says I should have 2.43 assistant superintendents and I have one. And so it they give what those estimates are, but then
021on the other end they'll say, "Hey, you should only have three fourth grade teachers at a particular school." And as we know, we don't want to have class sizes of 2530 kids. So what do we do? We we need to make sure that we can have those class sizes that are manageable um for teachers and and staff and for kids um to be there. Okay, guess we're on the next slide. So the key funding re realities of that is when you start thinking about the standards of quality they fund the minimum requirements not the full program cost. So it only covers a portion of the total staffing. Many positions are funded entirely through local dollars. Um positions not included in the SOQs or standards of qualities do not receive any state report um support and
022those local local funds are required to implement state approved compensation increases. So you'll see some um pieces there as we continue. [clears throat] So, as we go to the next piece, I wanted to give a snapshot and then I'll walk through each of these. Um, here this slide provides a broad overview of our budget request across compensation, administrative support, academic success, instructional support, and operations. And these requests align with the focus that I mentioned earlier with improving student academic outcomes, providing stronger student supports, and a stable and supported workforce. And these guiding principles were used in developing this propo proposed budget in advance of a finalized strategic plan. Once we have the strategic plan, you'll see how we'll align this differently next year um with guiding this. So with the next Thank you. All right.
023Compensation. It's a major component of this budget. The proposed budget includes a 2% compensation increase that aligns with what the governor's proposal was. um that's in our most recent rec recent calculation tool for all employees. An increase of the base hourly rate from $17 to $20, a 2-year step increase on the employee pay scale and that's in alignment with um my understanding we've been going every other year for people to get that step increase and then also reinstatement of schoolboard stipens. This reflects a level of work that's happening across the division and our commitment to supporting the people that are doing the work. We recognize we have a lot of work to do. It only continues to intensify and we just want to make sure that we're compens compensating people appropriately for the work they're
024doing. On the next one, administrative support. It includes advertising and recruitment support particularly for transportation so we can get more bus drivers um and more um staffing in those areas. adding additional special education supervisor positions so we can strengthen compliance and instructional oversight and support and build that capacity, give better supports for students, families and in particular providing that support and quality professional development for our staff. Um it also includes human resources compliance officer to support our policy alignment and compliance work. There's a lot of work that goes there with ensuring that we are in compliance and communications leon liaison stipen program to just continue to strengthen our communication across the division. We have a really top-notch communications team here but just ensuring that how do we make sure that messaging is um that we're
025really promoting that messaging at the same level at all schools. And so that's just a small chunk but that's something that we do have in there. >> Next. Thank you. All right. So with the next slide, that's academic success and instructional support. So expanding on alternative education program is an immediate need. This supports students whose needs are not fully met in traditional settings. Um the power school update improves alignment with BDOE reporting and our assessment tools that we use. That's our student information system. And then instructional support includes extra class period pay for teachers giving up planning time while they're getting paid to teach an extra course. We want to increase that amount um for those teachers. The middle school deans to support those schools that um you know we recognize we we have few
026schools in crisis but really want to support those middle schools so that we can come out of where we are. An early childhood support specialist to strengthen early intervention. The hope there is the more that we can do early, hopefully as the years to come, we're not asking for so much in terms of those other supports. So really beefing up that that early support um at the in the prek level. Increased purchase services for special education. That's the nature of it and private transportation services for students with disabilities. And we recognize and be in compliance there. Next with operations. Operational requests includes ground equipment replacement, school nutrition equipment upgrades, building maintenance supplies for alternative education expansion, which that team has been working on um been very intentional and they've been working very hard with getting
027those areas ready and and working on that expansion there. But we recognize in next year's budget, we still will need some additional resources. And then in general um looking at increases for our liability insurance that we currently pay for and essentially these investments are supporting safe and efficient school operations. So if you look here at the next slide, so you have your operating I have turn on this one. This slide outlines fiscal year 26 adopted revenues and the fiscal year 27 proposed revenues. And so if you look here fiscal year adopted this this is this school year. Okay, this fiscal year in the middle you'll see the expenditures by category. And I like to look at expenditures. I'm going talk about expenditures and revenues. I look at expenditures as your output, your expenses, what you're
028putting out, your revenues, your input. So that that's the money that's coming in. So here, this is what we're projecting as our proposed re um expenditures for next fiscal year or next academic year. And so our adopted is 119,84,68. Our fiscal year 27 proposed is 127,958,432. And then if you go to the next slide, revenue again this is the input. So you see here in the middle your revenues. And when you go and you look at that calculation tool, as you go and peruse that, you will see um where we where we got a lot of this information from. So fiscal year 26 [clears throat] adopted, you'll see those numbers, the 119 million and then for proposed the 127 million are the same as with expenditures. You always want to ensure that your expenditures and
029your revenues match or your revenues exceed your expenditures, but you never want it the other way around. Okay? So I always put that out there that way. never want it the other way around. And so here and I want to get to the overall bottom line, the difference between what we currently have and then what we are requesting from the city so that we can be clear about what that is. So our fiscical year 26 adopted budget is 119,84,68. The proposed is 127,958,432. what we're requesting as an increase from our locality, from the city is 4,531,15. So, I want to make sure that that number is there um as to that's what we're looking at um requesting to the from the city of Lynchburg. Next slide. So, as always, I just want to tie it
030up. So the budget aligns resources to ensure that we have meaningful impact and the meaningful impact is ensuring that our kids are improving those investments in staff. They support student achievement. If staff feel supported um then of course they're going to be more apt to do their jobs better or to have the opportunity to do their jobs free of distractions. And so that strengthens retention, that helps with compliance, that helps to build capacity, and of course operational investments always protect instructional time. Okay? If the environment feels good, if it looks good, it's easier to thrive in that type of environment. So I wanted to make sure that I connected those pieces so that you understood sort of the vision in the budget, but then how how will it make an impact on kids? And so
031as we go to the next slide, I just have something before we open up for discussion. If approved, I always want to explain what the next steps are and what this will look like. Um, if you all approve this proposal tonight, this will be submitted to the city manager and then of course from there they'll let us know the next steps as to what that what that looks like on their end um and when I would have an opportunity to present there. Of course, we'll continue to monitor the general assembly because we have had um a grimtorial. We have a change so we don't know what that looks like yet. and then any updates we receive from the Department of Education [clears throat] will adjust as as necessary. But I do want to say this.
032I really thank the the board, the finance committee, the staff, Miss Jamie's, [laughter] definitely Miss Jamie's um for just and just the overall engagement in this entire process, the community that that came out. I've received different emails from people um folks sharing um what their thoughts are on the budget and any questions that they have. So I just open it up now for any discussion or any questions that you have of me. Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. So I saw the local ask but that's shorter than the 119 to 127. Where's the difference coming from still need? >> So the difference is coming in on the increased amount on the calcul. >> Okay. Yes ma'am. All right. And I just want to say thank you for everyone for all your work for this. This was very
033thorough. Thank you for sticking to education and that that we're focusing on children learning, growing, and getting ready for the workforce on that day they leave. >> So, thank you. Yes, sir. >> So, I same question just just more specific. Uh, so those state and other revenues are projected or are they confirmed that those are going to be what we get in 2027 >> or is that what we're hoping for? Well, once they put it on the calculation tool, if they end up landing there, because right now it all goes to general assembly, but if nothing changes, then if our ADM stays where it is, if it stays exactly as we projected for this budget, then we would get those amount those funds. Yes. The only time that I've seen just professionally I've seen things
034shift if your ADM if you start trending lower and then you've made all these plans and sometimes you have to hold back on some of your expenditures like midyear and things like that to make sure you meet it. Yes sir. >> What was the other revenue category again? I know that >> state I know we got state and federal. Federal stays the same based on what presented but the other is bigger. What is that? What what accounts for that? Not the local. So your other include your miscellaneous like and your charges of service like any facility fees, anything like that that you do at a local level that you get revenue back in on those are included in the other category. And you're projecting that's going to be roughly 50,000 more >> potentially um because
035we're getting some additional uh revenue on some of our charges for services lines. So we're we're anticipating based on our current projections that we may get a little bit more for next year's budget. So >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Other questions for Dr. Rich? um the the power school, is that a onetime expense or is that an annual extra on top of what we pay now for the infinite campus and that sort of thing? >> The the largest fee for next year is the onetime expense and then you'll have an annual expense, but what we have for infinite campus, it would just swap. >> Okay. So, that won't be something that ongoingly we're paying that amount for that. Okay. >> Just that initial implementation. >> Okay. And then I have one more point. The
036statement requests align to division priorities and vision. Obviously, we're in the middle of strategic planning process. Some of that is subject not necessarily to change but to you know further articulation and understanding where are we pulling that from now. What are these priorities and vision being pulled from as we look at the budget? >> Yes. So what I looked at was honestly some of the board's priorities in terms of in conversations of we need to improve student academic academic outcomes uh just through the work that our students do need stronger they do need more support um in terms of alternative ed um and in terms of special education and then looking at our staff and looking at what they have on them and then you know I would love to propose if the government governor
037was giving more um more financial support, but we got to have a stable workforce and we have a lot of turnover. Um I'm not saying money is everything, but I do think with the cost of inflation, the rising inflation that it is a concern for a lot of our staff as as I communicate with them. So from there um absent of a strategic plan I had to look at what are my people telling me but then also what am I seeing just as a practitioner when we go out and I have conversations with staff and you know many have we have a great deal of have second jobs so I felt like compensation was really important >> um alternative ed so that's where I came with those three goals with with um building this budget
038because we see where we are academically we need greater support for kids and I need to support their staff. >> Go ahead. >> I lied. I have one more question. >> Okay. Shame on >> I've been on a lot of the conversations we talked about like the alternative ed expansion. I think it's really really important. Um you have some pretty specific numbers including facilities maintenance things. Can you speak to what that's counting for exactly or what that plan looks like at this point in time or >> Yes. All right. So to not get into so as far as like under the operations piece when you start looking at building maintenance supplies for alternative expansion there was some plumbing work there was some other work that needed to be done. We're going to look at um
039I never like getting the wireless access points and things like that. So there other operational needs that we need to put in there um with the building maintenance and supplies. So, we did kind of do an estimate there. As far as expanding alternative ed, I'm jumping around because I want to stay on that on the instructional piece. We started looking at what do we need to do with staffing with those placements. So, in some cases, we're going to need to add additional staffing to be able to place people there. We were looking at what counseling supports we would need there. And so, do we look at shifting a counselor or do we look at potentially hiring someone? So, we started looking at all of the numbers there. So that's why I didn't Some of them
040are very specific because we started saying, "Okay, if we hire somebody closer from the middle to the top of the pay scale, how much is this going to cost?" We looked at if we're going to have this many kids, what is that going to to look like? And so we had sort of mapped out >> looking at the one location that that we've been looking at, but then also looking at others to see how can we move a classroom here and open up a space there. So, we were looking at more so staffing when you start looking at expanding alternative ed, but we also recognized in some of the places we're going to have to sort of retrofit some of those places to make them ready. Um, because some were just used for storage, >>
041but it was ample, beautiful space that could be used to expand alternative ed for these students. >> So, the facilities isn't just at Fort Hill. We're talking about extra. >> We're looking at other areas across the city. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Other questions for Dr. Mitch? >> I have few comments to make. Dr. >> Yes, sir. >> Just to overview, reiterate what we talked about last time. Your budget uh puts minimum wage for our employees at $20 an hour, right? >> Yes. Yes. It was 70. >> And u minimum teacher salary goes up to $51,000. >> It was 51,000. 51,000 and plus a step increase for all the teachers. And in terms of you mentioned the general assembly budget, the the governor's proposed budget is 2% but if the current general assembly many times they
042go up and they go up to 4% then we have to cup up another $1.7 million out of our pocket. So uh for across the street for the city hall this is a barebone ask not accounting for what may be coming in month of March or April when general assembly passes their budget and I wanted to make one more statement please do adopt Jark recommendations because we got about 1100 students on IEP in our school district which is a disproportionate number of students with IEP the private schools don't want them people come to you for school choice, school voucher. They don't want students with IEP. So, we as a public school district cannot deny those students services. We do provide services. It costs a lot more money. The current funding formula gives the same money
043for a regular student versus a student with IEP, which is perfectly uh to me they need services, we need to provide them, but we don't get compensated for that. when you 20% of your population is IEP uh there has to be a differential uh payment the JAR recommendation joint commission uh recommendation was to do differential funding general assembly has not adopted that for last 3 years >> so hopefully uh they'll adopt that and will help district like ours because right now we are holding or backfilling that money from our own pockets >> and it's not a political statement either party it's the same story JLAR recommendation needed to be adopted yesterday, but it needs to be adopted in this session. There's no two ways about that. And um and for city 4.5 million looks like
044a large number, but it's a bare bone ask. If the general assembly gives 4% increase, I'm not putting words in their mouth. Then we'll need $1.7 million more. >> As Mr. Jal said, it's a budget based on the needs, not the wants. It's it's a barebone budget based on our needs. So these are the needs of the district and we need to take care of our employees. Many of them are working as you rightly said two three jobs. >> Custodian here I met the other day. He said are you going for dinner? He said no she's going to bring me the food. So why? Because I got to go to the other job. I'm not going home to have meal. I'm just eating meal here. And that's sad. That should not happen. And under no
045circumstances it should happen. So I'm glad you're proposing that. We thank you for doing that. And I think we it's a it's a step in the right direction. >> Thank you, Dr. Uh we move on to the next one. Uh new business VSBA policy update. >> We need to take action. >> Oh, sorry. But I'm Is there a motion to approve her budget? >> Motion. >> Mrs. Lowry. >> Second. >> Dr. Farmer. Madame Clerk, would you please call the role? >> Mr. Baron? >> Yes. >> Mr. Alen? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Larry? >> Yes. >> Dr. Cooper? >> Yes. Mr. Depal, >> yes. >> Mr. Julio, >> yes. >> Dr. Farmer, >> yes. >> Mr. Poe, >> yes. >> Motion passes. >> Thank you. Budget is approved, Dr. >> Take it to the city council.
046Hopefully, they'll give us the money. Next one is VSBA policy update, Dr. >> All right. Well, good evening again. Uh, you see here, and this is just for your information tonight and read, and then of course, um, you take a vote next month, but you have several policies here. I know the policy work groups have been working through these. Uh you have a policy on staff weapons in schools, guidelines for community resources, community resource volunteers, standards, code of conduct. You want me to read them all? >> No. >> Okay. Look, I wanted to check I wanted to check [laughter] but but they're all here and it's for you to review. And again, the committees um the various board committees have been on each of these policies. So, it's just for information tonight and you would
047vote uh next month. Uh the procedural thing is if there's a motion from the floor to make it an action item, we can make it an action. >> Before we do that, I have a question. >> Um now the action item is for to be reviewed and voted on next time for for this because I have a question about staff weapons in school. >> I have >> Is this where we discussed? >> Yeah, that was the one that you had looked at. >> Yep. Um when it says that um a um employee uh cannot have uh weapons in their car that they have to have special permission to do that. That does go past the guidelines and the rules for the Commonwealth of Virginia. Now, when we were talking about this on when I was
048on this committee or we were talking about this particular one, um it was supposed to read that we were going to follow the Commonwealth guidelines and it didn't need special permission as long as they had an appropriate lock box in the car. And that was one of the I'm wondering why and how this changed if you know. >> I I think I'm not sure which board members are on that particular committee. I guess if you could speak to that. >> I was. >> Oh, you were? No, I'm talking about when they reviewed before it came up. You were on here before they put it up here. >> Right. So, however this changed, I'm I'm surprised because >> if we've had a situation where we've had teachers who had orders of protection and uh they brought
049it up that they were um they wouldn't bring it into the school, but at least they would have it in their car so that once they left school grounds, they could protect themselves in the event that they needed to. Uh this made perfect sense to me. [clears throat] But to say that they can't even have it in their car when they are at risk leaving um leaving their car, going to their home, going to their to um shop if they have to go to some place other than directly home. This puts a burden on someone who would might need to protect themselves. And this is one of the concerns that I have. I know that you if someone came to you and said something to you that they are that you would grant I believe
050you would grant them the permission you you'd want people to be saved. I believe that you don't have to answer but that's what I believe. >> Um my point is that there might be a superintendent down the road that doesn't have that. There might be some people that have personal issues that they don't want to talk about and they are rule followers. teachers are rule followers most of the time and this would this would put impede someone's ability to protect themselves. So I have a concern about this >> and I don't want it to pass as it is. I would vote against that and I hope that we can talk about that or put it in your mind that we go back to what the Commonwealth allows for anyone that comes on school property. They
051leave it in their car lock box. They have uh they have that ability to protect themselves. a parent or anyone, but this is mostly for employees, but anyone has that ability in the Commonwealth of Virginia. So, that concerns me. And before we pass it, I want I want everyone to know that this is this is something we should take >> take the time to review before we pass it. >> Okay. How about we remove this for current discussion and come back and we will revisit that in the next thing. >> Go ahead. Yeah, I'm on that particular committee as a lesson on but I do not remember us addressing that directly in terms about it. Could you >> um we put the updates that were provided by the SBA, but we can take this off
052and go back and review it and have another look at >> that'd be terrific. Please, please. >> So, let's let's remove this policy. Is there a motion to make it an action item? Um before that I would also like to call attention there's one other policy that I got brought to me on one of the policy committees and you know said we'll look at it again and then bring it back and I'm looking at it again and it doesn't look like anything was shifted and it's the it's the policy JFCA that has to do with removing students from the classroom and I understand you know having procedures for that and and needing to have you know hold teachers accountable to how they manage their classrooms. Uh, I think the struggle I had at the time
053when we were going over this in the policy review, uh, was that it's it based on what this looks like to me, and I may be misreading this, it's it's a pretty cumbersome process before a teacher is even able to remove a student from the class. They've got to have it documented multiple times. They've had to try to connect with parents and so on before they can even remove a student from class. And so there's no provision in this policy for a situation where a student just needs to be removed for the sake of the class, for the sake of the rest of the class without having made prior contact to parents and things like that. And so that gives me a little bit of pause on this policy, same as it did when it
054was brought to me in that policy review. Um, I just want to make sure we're not burdening our teachers with something, no way for them to be able to remove students from the classroom as as needed. I don't want it to be run rampant, but I do want it to be something that they have this the ability to listen. >> Who are the two board members on the student policy work group? >> I think it was me and Mr. O on that particular call. >> Was it discussed in that policy work group? >> It was and then if I remember correctly, uh it was said, "Hey, we'll we'll revisit this and bring it back for a discussion." And I never saw it again, but I I' I've been looking for it as we've done these
055policies. How about we pull it out, send it back to the policy work group and you guys look at it again, right? And say what needs to be done. >> Okay. >> Right. So, we take JFCA out, we take the uh GB out. Um any other policy you want to take it out for future discussion? Is there a motion to make it an action item? Go ahead, Dr. M. >> Okay. Dr. S has sent me a message that they revisited again um last week in that first >> since he has a concern. Let's let's >> Oh, no, no, it's fine. No, I was I was going to ask um and not for consideration now, but I guess for the future if we could because it's so many different people touching policies. If we can consider
056similar to like academic success committee, you have your three members. If we could just have maybe the same people that could because it's hard. You're going from group to group and I can't tell who's >> who's doing what. >> We can work through that. So, I can speak to that because I it was just me by myself last week and I brought up that same concern again >> um and um there was discussion about it >> um and it was you know decided to just move forward with the way it was >> with the way it was. >> Yeah. >> But can I speak to maybe alleviate some stress? I am under the impression that always if a student is immediately violent they're taken out. There's no steps to go through. What did you say?
057That's correct. I mean that's not what the policy says from my the way I read it but that I agree. >> Yeah. Yeah. I think but they are there should be some provisions for hey we don't have to go through the whole process if these situations are happening. That's where I'm my concern >> because it says could be removed when their behavior poses a safety concern. But we can we can pull >> Yeah, I see that. But the the statement underneath those three bullet points says when the above criteria all have been satisfied when when way I'll read it. When all three are satisfied, then they can be removed from the class. >> So maybe next meeting, >> you could be there, Mr. Baron. >> That's a permanent >> meeting when they meet. >> Yeah.
058>> And you can bring it up again. How about that? >> That's fine. Yeah. >> It was brought up that if there's a safety concern, then immediately they don't they don't have to go through any of those steps, >> right? Because a lot of this focused because it was a >> it was people were removing people permanently. So if you act that's why we start looking >> permanent removal. That's definitely makes sense. I guess maybe it's just behooves us to have some more clarity in the language because it it to me it looks like any removal from class temporary or otherwise has to fulfill these three all three of these things. And I you know look I I've I've been in contract situations where you sign something that's implied and then later on it's exploited
059and I don't want that to happen to us. I want us to be able to have a pretty strong policy. It's also important for policy work group members to be present when the policy is being discussed >> you know and uh all members on the board if there are two members the both needs to be present uh because after the fact when you bring it up it's the the train has moved but we could pull these two out >> and uh any other policy you want to pull it out >> well I just want to speak to what Dr. uh Mette mentioned because I sometimes it gets a little cumbersome because there there are times where uh Mr. Baron and I are requested then there are times where myself and uh Dr. Farmer are requested
060and I understand the difference and why sometimes it's certain board members are not so >> it's the same board members on the policy work group unless somebody's missing and they have put their alternate in there. >> I got you. So, >> so that's why I'm saying it's important for the same members to be present as the policies are being discussed. Um uh we can vote on next time or do you want to pull these two out and um approve the others? What's the >> desire? >> I think they should be investigated further. >> So we should just leave it. >> Yes. All right. Let's move on. >> But we vote on them. >> Vote on the others except for these two. >> Mhm. >> So there's a motion to >> I'll move to make it
061an action item for the remaining policies that we approve them. Now >> is there a second to that? I second it. >> Madame clerk, would you please call the role? >> Mr. Baron, >> yes. >> Mr. Alien, >> yes. >> Mrs. Lori, >> yes. >> Dr. Gupta, >> yes. >> Mr. Depal, >> yes. >> Mr. Galileo, >> yes. >> Dr. Farmer, >> yes. >> Mr. Powell, >> yes. >> I action item. Is there a motion to approve it? >> Motion. >> Mr. Po, there second. >> Second. >> Mr. Lowry. Madam clerk, would you please call the role? >> Mr. Baron? >> Yes. >> Mr. Ali? Yes, >> Mrs. Lori. >> Yes, >> Dr. Gupta. >> Yes, >> Mr. Depal. >> Yes, >> Mr. Gillio. >> Yes, >> Dr. Palmer. >> Yes, >> Mr. Poe. >>
062Yes. >> Motion passes. >> Thank you. School board member reports. Laurel, Mrs. Lowry. >> Um, we went to the ribbon cutting ceremony for their new building. That was very nice. It was on a nice warm day too, [laughter] January. And our next meeting is February 4th. So, we have not had that meeting yet. >> Governor School, Mrs. Larry. >> And our next meeting is March 4th. We have not that meeting yet. academic success, Mrs. Lowry. >> And we have our next meeting uh January 27th. We'll be discussing uh book adoption, PD and PD. Um I'll give an update uh the team and I that went um to [clears throat] the AI um conference um at that meeting and then also discuss the teacher treasure box >> STEM Academy. Mr. Paul. >> Yeah, thank you. [clears
063throat] So, the uh STEM Academy uh ended their fall semester on Friday, December the 19th, 2025, and the spring semester began on Monday, January 12th, uh 2026. Students have been um uh uh start they've started a new semester and enjoying their new classes. Um internship for seniors began on Wednesday, January 7th. at [clears throat] uh 12 different locations throughout central Virginia. Uh the seniors will continue to have internship each Wednesday uh through April 22nd, 2026. On Wednesday, April 29th, 2026, the seniors will be presenting on their internship experiences uh at the Merit Hall multi-purpose room. um uh 10th graders uh at every base high school during December of early January have um uh had an experience with uh uh Susan Cash in terms of meeting and gaining interest in the annual open house that will
064be scheduled for Thursday, February 5th uh at 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The STEM applications for 2026 2027 are due by March 1st uh 2026. Thank you. Finance and facilities Mr. Connor is here. Mr. Depal, Mr. Eileen, you have anything? Well, when we were uh at our last meeting, um well, let me just say first of all, I was going to wait for board member comments for this, but I just want to appreciate how much I appreciate all the work that you've done to make this budget come through come to fruition. >> Great job. >> Thank you. Um I I received emails that uh with all the ideas that I was coming up as the former um committee chair that I was impeding the academic com uh process and that uh the only thing we
065need to think about is academics which is teaching and learning. Well, Dr. Majette's uh report today showed that there's a heck of a lot more to run in a school district than uh than just academics and teaching and learning so much more. Well, I come up with ideas and concepts and I put out emails and I was told that I was impeding the process. So what I think it was a dramatic exp demonstration of petulence and retaliation between chairman Gupta and vice chair Connor. They got together and decided that I was no longer the chair of the finance committee which that's fine with me. You know I'll do all the power moves that you want. But now they want me to give a report on it. I don't have a report because I'm not the
066chair anymore. >> Thank you. So, as far as I'm concerned, >> there you go. >> Thank you. Next one is LACR. Mr. Jal. >> Yes. Our next meeting is going to be February 17th where we'll be discussing these VSBA legislative positions and any other bills coming down the pike in this new legislative year. >> Thank you. Next one is Pi, Mr. Eileen, and Dr. Farmer. >> We are continue working with uh Robert Payne uh tools for school. We have community volunteers who would like to help fund Heritage and Glass if they have students that have funds and the PTO has reached out to us for assistance. That is our report. >> Thank you. Uh Ed Fandian, Mr. Depal and Mr. Jal. Yes, there is [clears throat] a superintendence breakfast coming up again where our lovely
067superintendent is going to share students at the heart of our work. Message on that and it will be March [clears throat] 5th 7:30 a.m. at Lynchburg University of Lynchberg's Burton dining hall. >> Thank you. Next one is become hope. Mr. Bon and Mr. Uh, absolutely. So, uh, spoke with, um, Miss McQueen earlier today and, uh, as always, lots going on, so I'll try to make this very quick. Uh, the Promise Pals at the elementary level is continues. Uh, in January 7th, in partnership with school counseling, I hosted 13 Promise Pals at Perrymont Elementary. Uh, our Promise Pals, his current college students and LCS alumni, spoke to third, fourth, and fifth grade classrooms. So, uh, that's continuing on. SAT prep at the high school level. There's SAT prep at Heritage, NC Glass, and early college students
068has begun for the spring semester. Uh, we have future Fridays at the high school. Two Fridays this month. They host Future Fridays classroom visits. Uh, this initiative connects students with local employers who share their career journeys and demonstrate how classroom learning applies to the real world. Commonwealth scholarship high school level. Our uh Commonwealth scholarship deadline is February 15th. Of course, students are all working to try to get their money in order so they can go to school. So, that's a big date. Uh networking events, the LCS alumni in January 7th, their office of college and career success team hosted a networking night at the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance for LCS young alumni. 10 local companies were present to offer internships, job opportunities, and general connections. And then finally, shadow days for LCS alumni. In January
0699th, their co office of college and career success team connected LCS young alumni with 20 local companies for half-day job shadow immersion experience. >> Thank you. Uh, next one is superintendent comment, Dr. Mitch. >> All right. So, I have three. >> Hold on. I left the student discipline committee. Mr. Connor is not there. Mr. Baron or Mr. >> Yeah, I'd like to speak to that. Uh, On January [clears throat] 27th, uh, a few of us will be heading to Charlottesville to, uh, take a look into, uh, their night school program. Um, the disciplinary committee. Um, I think as Mr. Connor has mentioned multiple times, it's probably one of the most intensive timeconsuming committees [snorts] u on the school board. We have met every Thursday since before school has started. Um, I would like to remind
070parents and guardians to [clears throat] uh be mindful um and stay on top of their children's behavior. Um, this coming Thursday, I believe we're slated to have about nine cases. So, we're we're in here u almost every week to 8 8:30 almost 9:00 at night um hearing discipline cases and if children are not in school then they can't be educated. So, um, we definitely need to come up with a plan on on how we can curve, uh, behavior issues. Um, uh, so, um, [snorts] that's pretty much all I have to say. Um, uh, other than, uh, any of the, uh, principles, um, I did have the pleasure to, uh, go to Sandusky, uh, the other week and speak with all the grade levels at their town halls. um to to to introduce them, you know,
071to to the disciplinary committee and um give them insight into different things that could land them there and then also encourage them um to to um take their education seriously. And um so I implore any other board members um that to have the time to um to uh visit with some schools and and of course um um by reaching out to the principles first and um see if we can um talk [snorts] more with the kids and just uh give them more encouragement um about everything that they're doing um in schools and and to be mindful of their behavior and the the things that and impede them from being in school, especially when it comes to their behavior. So, >> I would just add to that, you know, data trends. We looked at some data
072over the last couple of weeks. Data trends down. So, we're we're in the headed the right direction when it comes to discipline based on what's presented to us and and so I don't I want to give that I think part of why we're seeing so many the last couple is because of the break and and some of the the deadlines associated with that. So, we're seeing things trend down. And I want just remind people, you know, I think the number one predictor of student success is it starts in the home. It's it's it's parental involvement. And [snorts] one of the things I love to see when I sit over here and I talk to families, there students are in trouble. I always picture my kids. I recognize that my boys aren't beyond getting themselves in
073some kind of trouble because kids are kids. So, we're not looking at a bunch of kids who are bad kids. We're looking at kids that have made bad decisions. And our job is to restore them to a place where they can get back in the classroom environment and function [clears throat] and make better decisions down the road. And we see a lot of great cases where parents come in and they hold their children accountable and they and they don't make excuses for them and they let them face the consequences for their actions. And that's always very encouraging to me and I want to continue to ask parents to consider how they are either enabling their children's behavior or holding their children accountable uh so that they can move forward into a better future. Okay. >>
074Thank you. Not Dr. Mitch, superintendent. >> Okay. All right. So, I have uh three comments. Um I think first I want to provide an update on the strategic plan process. Uh Mr. Baron and I are going to kind of play off of each other on this one, but we recently met um Advanced Learning Partnerships uh is the firm that is handling our strategic plan process and guiding us through it. Uh so we had a meeting recently with our two board representatives so that Mr. Baron and Mr. Connor uh could get an update because they've been on this process throughout and just to ensure alignment on our next steps. We've been working closely with them um just to make sure that we have everything clearly outlined so the public can have a better understanding of what
075comes next in the process. Our communication team is working closely with them so that they can outline and promote any the upcom upcoming um community focus groups and surveys. [clears throat] So they're working on that um information. Now, they sent us a template or sort of a I think a draft of what they'd like to send out and then our communications team is pulling that information together so that it's more aligned and on brand for us. Over the next two days, our leadership team, that's central office administration and building level leaders. We're going to meet with them so that we can sort of review some just emerging themes and start getting that information from them because as we've shared before, we're going to have a lot of input into this process. But really, when you
076start getting down to the to the core level, teachers and principles and those people who are directly touching those kids in that building every day are going to be the ones who are going to be carrying out those plans. So, we absolutely want everyone's input. At the same time, we really need their input because they are going to be touching this every day for this to be a living um living plan. [snorts] Um so we're going to be meeting with the company over the next two days um to just sort of engage and work through and she has a series of activities she's going to take us through to engage that conversation and that discussion. >> Yeah, I would just continue I would continue with that same thing. uh this we went through a lot
077of uh vendors to [snorts] secure who we secured and and one of the primary reasons that we landed on them was because they were so immensely data heavy. >> I mean like just absolutely over the top with their data and that's important. [snorts] However, data is only as good as what you know. You know, if you don't have the data, you can't you can't make decisions. You can't interpret data. You can't synthesize it. And so, it's very very important and I can't stress this enough. I've been telling everybody I can that everybody in the community needs to be involved in input. We need to we need to be involved not just for our sake as we collect data and and build the strategy, but for your sake as a community to be informed about what's
078going into this process and where we land. It'll make a whole lot more sense when we roll out the strategic plan if you were involved in the process along the way. And so I think it's absolutely essential every business leader, every organizational leader, every parent, every community member uh that has a stake in what happens with LCS, which is truthfully everybody in this town needs to be involved in that process. I want to see like brimming uh out the doors at the town hall meetings. Like it shouldn't be just a handful of the usual suspects. Everybody needs to be there. February 19th is the date. And I can't stress it enough. put it on your calendar, make space. It's very important. This is we're talking about the the future of our of our students, the
079future of this community based on the strategic plan we developed. So, I just I want to again thank you for allowing me to speak uh into that, but we need that input. We need that uh that all stakeholders to be involved in that. [snorts] >> No, thank you for partnering with me on that. I have two more comments. I'm not going to hold y'all long. All right. My next piece, um we recognize that there may be some inclement weather coming in. I'm doing an anti- snow dance because we need to be here every day that we can. [laughter] Um but in the event that we have inclement weather and people still have access to electricity and internet and those things, um we do have um very well-crafted remote learning plans that uh Dr. Davis and
080Miss Campbell and those teams um work closely with. We've had we met with principles before we left for the holiday break. So all principles, assistant principles, everybody was on that same call and got that information. So we're working now to just to make sure that all staff has that same information. And should we be in a position where we have to have remote learning, um we do have all of that ready to deploy. Um my last piece I just want to share, um just this tidbit with the metal detectors. Today marked the first day of implementation of EC Glass. Overall, I truly believe I I got there I think Travis and that crew, they were there probably at 6:30 or 6:20. I rolled in about 6:47. Okay, [laughter] so I will be honest, about 6:47
081this morning. I was not They were already out there and buses were going by. Um but just the overall process I do I felt like it went relatively smoothly. You know, there's always going to be things that you can work out in kinks and that's life. we're always working and growing and you see something and hope we're all reflective and say, "Oh, I got to adjust this there." And that's what we do. Um, and those things will continue to be addressed. Um, but I really do want to thank that committee for the thoughtful planning that went into to this effort. Um, I know there was, you know, I of course you try to not look on social media and you see the what are they doing? Our kids are outside. For me, when I looked
082at it today and being there, I felt a sense of relief in terms of you can't prevent all things, but there was a sense of relief that, hey, we're getting these kids in here, and once we get this routine going, that's just an added layer of of safety that's there because it's it's important. I think it's important for all of us, but I'll just speak for me. It's so important to just ensure that our students and staff are safe. And that goes back to the environment piece that I spoke to in the budget and things like that. Once that's an operational piece, if you feel safe, you feel good in an environment, it's easier to learn. It's easier to teach. As somebody who was a high school teacher and a high school principal, it's easier
083to do the work that you need to do if if you feel safe and secure. So, I say [clears throat] that that team, I know that they've already had a debrief and they're adjusting for tomorrow and they'll go in tomorrow and we'll continue to move that forward. But I just wanted to at least put that out there that um there will always be a complaint. There'll always be always be something to work through. But I was really proud of that first day of implementation. I do think that it went smoothly. So that's all my comments. >> Thank you. Board comment. We'll start with Mr. Baron. >> All right. Um first of all, just in the vein of of trust, I want to continue with your your comments about the metal detectors. I've got two kids
084at the high school EC Glass that that got to go through there. here. I get to get debriefed when I see that the night about how it went. >> Um, you know, I I think there's a lot a lot of obviously it can be a polarizing thing. You know, are these even useful? Are they, you know, whatever. What I do want to point out is I want you to note if you're listening to this, I want you to note the administration's concern for the safety of our students. That's what should be at the forefront. Recognize that. Appreciate that. Whether you agree with this system or not, appreciate that their concern is the safety of our students. Um, and I will say it is still a community effort. Metal detectors don't fix the problem. They add
085a layer of security and safety, but we it doesn't address the root issue. And that's a that's a community concern. Um, and so I just want to encourage uh our community to be involved in and engaged in things that will address the root cause. Uh what's causing our kids to turn to violence? What's causing our kids to posture with weapons? And what's causing these things to be an issue in the first place? That's what we need to be trying to find. Let's not get a false sense of security now that we have extra security measures in place to say, "Oh, it's taken care of. That's not fixing the problem. Let's continue to to to look for solutions uh that actually address the main root cause." Um and and to jump because I just talked about
086the uh the transition piece with the strategic planning, February 19th be at the town hall. Uh but transportation, we lost another bus aid and driver. If you look at the HR report, um, and we need more personnel in this thing. You know, I want you to reiterate the training is paid for. You get their CDL, you can get all the training, the bus driver, uh, you know, endorsement, but for just you get paid to do that. So, that's that's important to understand. Uh, there's people in our community, I think, that can do this. Uh, I got to drive again before the break. I got to drive a bus for Sandeski Middle School. I love it every single time. like I wish I just had, you know, free time to be able to go and drive
087the buses more. I don't unfortunately, but I absolutely love it. And uh whatever might be the hindrance or the boundary that keeps someone who who might hear this message or if you talk to somebody who has questions, please point them to me. I can set all of their fears at ease. I promise you. And uh you know, I might even start a whole uh bus driving club or something like that. [laughter] But we've got to get people on those buses to drive these kids and get them safely to and from school. kids waiting outside when it's 20 degrees because the bus is late because we've got too many. I'm not saying that is happen. I don't know if it's happening or not. I'm just saying that's what the risk is when we don't have enough
088personnel. It's an easy solution. We just need people step up. We can do this. >> That's all. >> Thank you, Mr. Adam. >> Yes, we still going back in my mind to the kids. I've sat a few times with you guys on the discipline committee and I tell you what that's a tough committee but you know when I went home and reflected on that you know having 10 cases or even nine cases a week when you put all that together within the context of all the other kids [clears throat] it's really boiling down to basically a handful of kids. So I just kind of want to encourage you guys and even the whole system to realize that you know it is not a complete disaster cuz we have 108 families coming in on a weekly
089basis. Uh there are a lot of other kids that are doing extremely well and I think there was we need to at least look at the bright side >> rather than you know the bleak side of you know eight or 10 families coming in on a weekly basis. And then the other thing I want to say is that in terms of the whole point of what we've discussed tonight with the budgets and all the other inputs areas that are coming together I still want to be able to reflect back on the kids because if we have an operation like this so much going into it then I still want to see the end result and that is to know that kids are learning because we're putting in so much energy and effort and so many
090variables in here, but the end product has still got to be the number one thing. And that is that kids are graduating, kids are learning, and kids are doing well. >> Because that's really what the bottom line in my mind is all about. That we're going to be able to get this message and the learning into the hearts and minds of the kids. [clears throat] And I mean, we we're good. We're doing a good job. But the kids, we got to graduate those kids. We got to make sure that they're going to go and be productive citizens. >> Thank you, Mr. Larry. >> Um I'm enjoying um being in the schools. I visited my uh Jan my January visit. So already some I miss because of days out, but [clears throat] um also enjoy seeing
091the kids get bikes for their achievements in the schools. It's been fun. Um I'm setting up uh going to set up reading at the schools who will have me for Valentine's [clears throat] for Valentine's month. So I love this. I love you stinky face series. So anyways, um January 23rd I'll be speaking at CBCC to the our both high school students there. And I also visited the bus um with Mr. Baron uh when we were uh before the um break. So that was very that was very uh eye opening, informative. I've been there but not for many years. So um and also um clarity for teachers who are contacting me still about AR. I found out tonight it's principal first then the principal will talk to Dr. Davis. So, do not directly inform Dr. Davis.
092Just an update. Okay. [laughter and gasps] >> That's you. Thank you, Mr. Dal. >> Um, I'm really I'm really glad you're here. I'm glad I voted for you. I'm just so I'm so pleased. I'm so optimistic about these things. >> Thank you. >> And Dr. Farmer, you being on the RS Payne committee, I'm just glad you're I think you're one of the best people to be on that. You know, RS Pain um is an in an unfortunate situation. uh children there not doing too terribly well. Um it was the go center was put there if you remember to raise the scores of the school >> and that started off where unfortunately the majority of the kids that were coming into that school were from Paul Monroe >> and they couldn't do that any longer because
093it wasn't fair. So they had to split it back up and they had to go and get other kids from other schools to keep the numbers right. Now we want to talk about transparency and what's right for the kids. I think it's really wrong that we move kids from other schools to a failing school just to get the numbers up. We're not addressing the problem. One of the things we might consider is having maybe honors classes for each school, maybe remedial teaching for each school, maybe general educations for each school, something along the lines that has that unit right there when they're close to home. Have that there for them to learn and have the achievement. not segregated from other parts of town but actual people they grow up with. These kids can see others
094achieving that they know now it's a big ask and it might not be able to do it but sitting on our hands and not doing anything or coming up with ideas which I've been encouraging people to do with which unfortunately comes with its own level of retaliation. I'm just saying I'm confident that through Dr. Majette and Dr. farmer or espan is going to have its best chance, but we have to come up with our our inputs, too. I'm just encouraging everybody to come in with ideas that might be able to help save our pain. >> Thank you, Mr. Jire. >> Uh yes, thank you board. For our next meeting, I am going to bring up the issue of a very simple motion that makes it a standing agenda item to discuss student academic performance in
095our business meetings. We get uh students to come here and they tell us about the the sports that they've made accomplishments in and different things like that. But if we can focus on academics, I think that can make a compounding difference. So, a a simple line item. It's not a policy, nothing. Just a line item on our agenda that speaks on student [clears throat] academic performance. That's it. I'll bring that up next um next meeting. I also am speaking on January 28th at CBCC. Look forward to that. My reoccurring stump, similar to Mr. Baron's transportation stump, is that culture eats strategy for breakfast. So, as we compare our notes and as we work on our strategic plan and as we make our [clears throat] plans for this uh coming comprehensive plan, keep in mind that
096the culture you create within each school and I taught at almost all of the schools and they all had a different environment, academic environment, a kind of a spirit. Uh some were more fun than others. Of course, the culture that you create will allow for all these processes and all these different improvements that we're trying to make in other ways uh to be efficient and effective to uh to come to fruition, I think. So, keep that in mind. And I have a lot of detail. I just for example, everyone dressing up on a test day is a small thing that will help the environment, the culture. um having and my other idea is having a monster truck out in front of a middle school a month before a test day and making sure that all
097the kids know that straight A students will get a ride in the monster truck is an incentive that will create a a culture that uh looks elevates academics and elevates the things that we want. So I just would like to remind you of that. Um, lastly, I'd like this board to focus more on transparency, even transparency that errors on excessive transparency. I don't want to hear about uh removals of members from committees at the last minute. I'd like to be notified of this in an email. I'd like to know ahead of time that um this is going to happen or um that it did happen and the reason why. And this I can simply quote Mr. Baron again just for right now. He said, he just said, um, if we don't have the data, we
098can't analyze, we can't make, you know, we can't really make a decision or know what to think about this removal. So, I don't want to hear about it here. I'd like to have notification anytime this happens. That's all. Thank you. >> Thank you, Dr. Farmer. Well, my superintendent, I would like to thank you for the time put in the budget for everyone, the students, the teacher, every staff member, employee, even the janitorial. You didn't leave anyone out and we personally thank you. >> We are getting the trust back into the community slowly, but lease is coming back. when you have uh community uh ladies that want to come out and pay for somebody's fines and all, you know, we're getting the trust back. And we're getting that back by them seeing a board that has
099teamwork. There is no I. We're together. Okay. I'm enjoying and the last thing I have to share with you, I'm enjoying being a life coach for a student at Fort Hill Schools. I'm determined that Mr. Baron and Debris, y'all won't put her out. Okay, that's my spill. >> Thank you, Mr. [laughter] Paul. >> Uh, thank you. Um, so, um, one thing I want to, uh, talk about, this is, um, you know, being a parent myself and something that that I've increased and started doing a lot more of. U, one thing that I'm finding out is, you know, we [clears throat] talk about achievement gap and different things of that nature. [gasps] Um, there are a lot of students that tend to get a bad grade, not because they don't know how to do the work,
100but because they're not turning their work in. Mhm. >> Um so, um one thing I've made a note to do is to as a parent to log into Infinite Campus at least every other every other day if you can every day or at least definitely weekly. So, I just want to put that out there and just check to see what assignments if any um that your children may not have turned in. Communicate [clears throat] with your teachers. I think if if if us as parents do that a lot more often um and encourage uh the kids to um be good students because you can be smart but be a bad student um and I think that will help with the achievement gap actually a lot um as parents. So, um, that's one thing I just
101wanted to put out there, um, for parents like myself to just log into Infinite Campus a lot more and, uh, check on your on your students. Um, I want to on a positive note, I've been spending a lot of time over at the STEM center over at CBCC. Um, there are a lot of great things going on over there. Um for any parents that um you know have their the students that are in uh the 10th grade definitely or even before then start looking into it start um you know uh reaching out there a lot of good programs and um that they have going on over there and those kids are are really performing and learning some highlevel um uh content that's going to help lead them into um into the real world as they
102move forward. report. Um on February 23rd, um this isn't, you know, so much school related, but it is school related. Um our coalition will be having a meeting over at the Miller Center February 23rd. Um we're going to be talking about vaping and we're going to have some, [clears throat] you know, some pretty good speakers and different things. Um, so I encourage all parents and community folks to come out uh and gain some information and and uh see how they can help curve that because that is something that happens in our schools um and and we need to contend uh against that. Uh lastly, I just want to thank you know the staff um of LCS, the teachers, principles, admin, central office all across the board for the work that they do every day. Um,
103just keep on fighting, keep on doing what you're doing. I appreciate. >> Thank you. Last one is me. Uh, you know, it's easy to sit here and give speeches. Uh, this is a volunteer uh, job today. There was a legislative advocacy committee meeting. Guess how many board members showed up for that committee? Zero. Miss Day emailed me that the committee members are here and I'm going back to office. Is that correct, Miss Day? >> Yes, sir. And so it's very easy for us to give speeches. I'm going to put this, do this, do that. But you got to do the basic job of showing up when something is scheduled. Mr. Po, the reason you got these different members, there are two members assigned to each work group stationary. No retaliation, no moving, stationary. But when
104they don't show up, they have an alternate to show up in their place. That's why you see different members. Otherwise, there's no change in terms of membership to those task force. So, it's very easy to sit here and show up at the 11th hour and say I don't like this and I don't like that. But the policy work groups where all that originates. So, we got to make sure that we taking care of it when it's discussed with the staff in those meetings. And uh if you don't like something at that time, don't let it move forward to the full board. Stop it there. you know when she moves it to the full board uh then it's coming out from you not from us. Okay, having said that appreciate everything you guys do. Next is
105informationational item academic success committee January 27th at 3:30. Next school board work session February 3rd at 5:00. Finance and facilities February 10th at 3:30. Uh discipline committee data review February 12th at 3:30. LSCR February 17th at 3:30. Next school board meeting February 17th at 5:00 p.m. The meeting is a Thank you.