001session of the new Kent County School Board on today, Tuesday, December 2nd, 2025. Do I hear a motion to come out of close session? >> So moved. >> Mr. Va has the motion. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Miss Dumbrosski has the second. Miss Davis, please pull the board. >> Mr. Rhyme, >> I. >> Mr. Va, >> I. Miss Dumbroski >> I. >> Miss Kia >> I. >> Mr. Fano >> I. Motion passes unanimously. We are now out of close session. Mr. Rhyr, would you please read the certification, sir? >> Yes. Whereas the new Kent County School Board has convened a closed meeting on this date pursuant to an affirmative recorded vote and in accordance with the provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. And whereas section 2.2 2-3711 of the Code
002of Virginia requires a certification by the new Kent County School Board that such closed meeting was conducted in conformity with Virginia law. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the new Kent County School Board hereby certifies that to the best of each member's knowledge, only public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirement by Virginia law were discussed in closed meeting, to which this certification resolution applies, and only such public business matters as were identified in the motion convening the closed meeting were heard. discussed or considered by the new Kent County School Board. >> Thank you, Mr. Rhymer. Excellent job. Do I hear a motion to approve the certification of the closed session? >> So moved. >> Miss Couna has the motion. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Mr. Va has the second. Miss
003Davis, please pull the board. >> Mr. Rymer, >> I. >> Mr. Blet, >> I. >> Miss Tumbroski. >> I. >> Miss I. >> Mr. Pagano. >> I. Motion passes unanimously. The certification is approved. Please rise and join us for the pledge of allegiance. >> [clears throat] >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> All right, Dr. Nichols, first item on this evening's agenda is the presentations, recognitions, and school spotlight. Take it away, sir. Yes, sir. Tonight we have George Watkins Elementary School. So, we have our principal, Mr. Kerick, and our assistant principal, Miss Sutton. They're going to bring to you the entrepreneur club. So, without further ado, I'm going to
004turn it over to Jordan Watkins. Good evening, Chairman Pagano, board members Dr. Nichols and guests. Tonight, George Watkins would like to share information about our entrepreneur club that was started last year by one of our PTO parents, Tracy Web. Last Christmas, we noticed that many students had been given a 3D printer for Christmas and were bringing in items that they had made. We also noticed a renewed interest in slime. Students were trading these items and Mrs. Web got the idea to channel this excitement into an entrepreneur club. Students could make and sell their items while also learning about creating a business model, supply and demand, profit margins, and giving back percentage to the community. Last year, we started with 11 members, and they met monthly for the latter part of the year. They sold their
005items at a few school and local community events. This year we have 35 members and have participated in farmers markets, school events, and even the crab carnival. Students attend monthly meetings with Mrs. Horton and Mrs. Webb to learn about customer presentation, pricing, being organized and responsible, as well as putting some profits back into the community. I would now like to introduce a few entrepreneurs who are excited to talk about what they learned so far as well as share their products with. First, we have Harper Web. >> Good evening. My product is 3D prints. prints are plastic shaped into different plates. Some of the items I make are dragons, octops, snakes, and so much more. One thing I've learned is how to communicate with customers. Next up, we have all of them. Good evening. My product
006is beyond how to put everything together. One thing I learned is One thing I learned is how to best sell my product that makes it easy for a customer. Good. My name is Jackson Mater. My product is slime. Slime is really popular and I pick all kinds of different colors. But I have learned you have to be respectful and responsible and be a good listener to the customer. Next is my sister Natalie. >> My product is sugar scrubs. You put the scrub on your skin during your shower and it makes your skin very soft. I learned you have to present yourselves while talking to people so they want the body product. Next, I'd like to introduce Gadget. My products are chocolate covered pretzel rods and Oreo cookies with chocolate spoon as well as chocolate apples.
007What I learned from this is how to pass out safely. We appreciate you allowing us to share our products with you this evening and would like to present each of you with an example of one of our new. Thank you and have Oh, wow. Thank you. >> Thank you very much, sir. >> Thank you. >> Look at his back. Oh, please. >> Thank you. >> Wow. >> Future entrepreneurs of America. >> That so impressive. >> Very impressive. >> Sign me up with some pretzel rods. It's slime. [laughter] not together. So, >> all right, Mr. Pano, we are moving on to our next uh set of recognitions. We have athletes of the month. Um I really appreciate the high school and our families and athletes. Uh this was a quick turnaround as today is December 2nd
008and is the December athlete of the month. Uh we typically have a little more uh runway with that. So, our first December athlete of the month is Carly Saxs. Carly is the December athlete of the month. I said that to begin with. Carly is the daughter of Steve and Christy Sachs. She's a 10th grade student working towards an advanced diploma. She is in honors and AP classes. She currently has a 3.9889 GPA. Carly, I'm going to round up to four. Right. My rounding rules. She was named to the first team all district and first team all region team uh this year for volleyball. She is on track to earn 500 kills and 500 digs in her junior year. Uh just for the audience in the board, when you reach those marks, you are on the
009wall in the gym. Um and she will meet those marks, on track to meet those marks by her junior year. She plans to follow the enrollment pathway. She's interested in studying psychology, great major, and possibly attending uh a college, >> Jun Junetta. Juniata College to continue playing volleyball. So I want to present to you Carly SS. >> Carly, I have a question if I may. >> Oh, Carly, this is great. You have a question. I'm I'm come back up. So we everybody >> now is volleyball your primary sport or do you also play soccer? >> No, I just do. >> Okay. And the reason I asked Carly's uh dad was quite the impressive collegiate soccer player. >> And I thought, well, maybe she's got that in the >> I think she has a brother that's
010more in the soccer. >> Okay. Right. >> Very good. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> With a volleyball. [laughter] >> Congratulations. Yeah. Thank you. >> Our next senior of the month, this December athlete of the month, he does happen to be a senior. Uh is none other than Andrew Fallon. Um Andrew is the son of John and Melissa Falcon and uh is a senior member of the football team. He's working on his advanced diploma at New Kent High School while also completing the pharmacy technician program at Bridging Communities. He's enrolled in both AP and honors level classes and maintains a 4.3407 GPA. Andrew, I can't round up to a 4.4. My new rules, but that's incredible. Uh, team captain on the football team, a two-way starter and senior linebacker. Um, he also played a
011key role stepping up as left tackle for the first time this year. Um, he has a strong work ethic, a selfless mentality, always putting his team first. Um, and not in here, but I have witnessed firsthand his leadership and his growth as a student, as a human, and as as as an athlete. Um, has been incredible, incredibly proud of him. He did receive honorable mention Bay Rivers District, which I think should have been higher, but uh, we'll leave that there. Um, he plans to follow the dual pathways of enrollment and employment at the same time. So that's where you have the pharmacy tech piece. He plans to follow. Oh, I've said that. He would like to go to Coastal Carolina, major in business, and plans to be remain employed as a pharmacy technician while at
012school. So our December athlete of the month, Andrew, >> you have a question, Frank? [laughter] >> I do. Yeah. >> Is that it? [laughter] >> That's that's so incredibly impressive. >> Yeah. >> And uh he is one of three fallon. So he is our our final Fallon son. >> So [laughter] >> anyway, >> did I hear an amen, Dad? >> You guys, >> I heard something come to the I didn't expect it [laughter] was uh all right. Our senior of the month is Owen Ag. [laughter] >> Let's just admire that picture. [laughter] U he is the son of Keith and Donnie Ag. In addition to being a prominent member of Bridging Community Technical Center HVAC program, he is also a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, a member of the golf team, a fiveyear
013Here we go. New Kent soccer athlete. There you go, Mr. of Buck playing the center mid position. Owen has worked hard to earn a 3.9273 gradepoint average and has received honoral all four years of high school. >> He's been busy earning dual enrollment credits and will complete his internship this spring with backends heat and air. He has already earned his OSHA 10 card and successfully earned a universal level certificate certific certificate on his EPA exam. Um, just to dive into that a little bit more because it's incredibly impressive. This means he passed all four levels of the EPA exam on the first try. The national pass rate for that exam, and remember he's a young person in our school, is 20%. Wow. 20% of people pass those on the first try and we have one
014here with us. This is something to be incredibly proud of. Uh so I present to you for some remarks Owen H. [clears throat] >> Good evening Mr. Chair, Mr. Vice Chair, school board members, Dr. Nichols and guests. I am Owen AG, a senior at Newan High School, and I'm honored to be here speaking tonight. My E decision is employment. Growing up, I knew the college wasn't for me and wanted to go in a different direction. One, I've been inspired by my dad from a young age from the trades because he's an electrician by trade and I saw firsthand that the trades have treated him well. Once I heard about Bridging Community's technical center, I knew that that was a place that I wanted to apply for. Bridging offers career opportunities in the trades where you'll
015always have a job and always be working hands-on. For me, having a place to work and see different things every day, different challenges is the best way to grow. My future after high school will consist of furthering my education in HBAC, doing a trade school program while also working a full-time HBAC job. I enjoy working with my hands and solving practical problems and helping people out, which is why I chose a career in HVAC. I'm dedicated to growing and learning every aspect of HBAC so that one day hopefully I can own and operate my own business. Over the summer of 2025, I worked for Backends and really enjoyed it. I got to see the day in the life of what a service tech does and also a HBAC installer. I will be completing an internship
016with Backan's HBAC and with the support of Bridging Communities, I'm gaining valuable hands-on experience in the field. My HBAC instructor, Mr. H has been a huge help from teaching me and my class everything that we need to know also helping guiding us find finding a job. The 2-hour class block at Bridge looks like we spend half the class in the classroom learning and then the second half in the shop and we take the knowledge that we learned from the classroom work hands on in the shop. Um, before I close, I would like to thank Principal Strickland for selecting me for the senior of the month. I'm so truly grateful and honored, and I also want to thank her for for being there for her students and supporting them in every way that she can, especially
017those applying and attending at Bridging Communities. Finally, I want to thank my family for supporting me throughout the way, also for being here tonight and helping me pursue this career path. I also want to thank anybody else who's helped me and anybody else who is here supporting me tonight. Thank you. >> So Owen, while you're uh working on your own business, we hire a lot of students out to be part of team UK. like we'll just declare this an early offer and you do with what you when I say I get to work with incredible young people every day. I spent the entire day at the high school today. You saw three of almost,00. So um thank you. Awesome job. Uh we have two more recognitions. Uh uh December 2nd which is today is National
018Special Education Day. It commemorates the signing of the individuals with disabilities education act in 1975 uh which guarantees students with disabilities access uh access to free and appropriate public education. So I want to thank our special educators uh and pair of professionals doing an incredible job with the special education program. It is also computer science week not this week next week December 8th through the 14th. Um, it's a call to action to inspire students to learn computer science and celebrate the accomplishments in the field. Something Mr. Rhymer is very passionate about. The theme for this year is looking back and leaping forwards. What you may not know, our computer science standards are embedded um in our curriculum and the work we do kindergarten through 12th grade uh through the Virginia Standards of Learning. Uh, Mr.
019Chair, that concludes my recognition. >> Thank you, Dr. Nichols. All right, everybody. At this time, we're going to take a 5minute recess, so those who wish to leave may do so. Thank you very much. Were those kids the cutest? Yeah. They are so great. >> All right, everybody. We are back in session. The next item on tonight's agenda is our consent agenda. Board members, by now you've had the opportunity to review the items listed therein, including meeting minutes from the October 7th meeting, a November meeting, monthly financials for the month of September, as well as the superintendent's recommendations regarding three personnel matters. Do I hear a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented? >> So moved. >> Mr. Vault has the motion. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Miss Dumbroski has the
020second. Miss Davis, please pull the board. >> Mr. Rhymer. >> I, >> Mr. V. >> I, >> Mr. Broski. >> Hi, >> Miss Kunyang. >> Hi. >> And Mr. Pome. >> I motion passes unanimously. Next item is schoolboard goals review and update. Dr. Nichols, policy review, please. >> Yes, sir. I promised you at the last meeting to uh bring you an update with policy. Uh, Miss Davis and Miss Romers have been working hard on this. So, this is our plan. So, I'll give you an update on where we're at. Uh right now we are through section G. So A through G reflect the latest updates uh including the most recent updates we did uh a meeting or two ago. Uh the current plan is to be finished with I andJ takes some time. Those are
021really long ones. Uh but we're going through making sure that they're all updated. The teaching and controversial issues policy has been embedded in I. So that is currently there. You can see that on board duct. Um by the February board meeting and I say February because January is a reorganization meeting. Um we will be through J. We'll be through all of the policies including section L. Um and then we also plan to come to you. It's two parts. One is to make it updated. The second part is to have reviewed each of these and have recommendations for you for any changes that we see along the way. So that is the plan for the February board meeting. Um so I appreciate your patience for this project. Uh and if you see anything in A through
022G at this point, I know M. Doski looked at quite a few of them last time. Um please let me know. But I've gone through A and B so far. um and we're in really good shape. So, we have several sets of eyes looking at this and we feel like we're gonna be in a good place. I think we'll hit the timeline of having all the policies done by January meeting, but February is when the next update is scheduled. So, happy to answer any questions uh related to that and the process that we have in place for the next set of policy additions um will be done uh within a week of the meeting. So moving it to board docs was a heavy lift but now that it's there we'll be a lot more nimble
023in our updates um in draft and full. >> Very good. Thank you Dr. Nichols. Does any board member have a comment or question? >> No but thank you. >> All right moving on. Unfinished business. Mr. Miller we have course request second read sir. >> Good evening Mr. Chair, vice chair members of the board. Dr. Nicholls. Uh, last month I brought to you three new courses that we would like to start offering at the high school level and discussed those went over some questions last month. Have not anything since. So if there are any questions, I'm happy to answer them tonight. Otherwise, this is up for approval. This be >> Russ just really quickly. It's AP business and finance. >> Yep. And making pastry specialization. >> That's the one that gives us a completed sequence in
024culinary for the three. These are all embedded in threes. >> And then AP3D and design. There you go. Thank you, sir. >> Thank you, Mr. Miller. Any board member have a question or a comment? >> No. >> Thank you much, sir. >> All right, Dr. Nichols, back to you, sir. Schoolboard meeting calendar for 2026. >> Last meeting, I introduced the 2026 school board meeting calendar. Uh board members, I know uh you've had an opportunity to look at those dates. Uh comes back before you tonight for uh approval because our next board meeting will be in January. So, um, we can also amend this along the way, but this is what we have right now. So, be happy to take any questions or make any amendments. >> All right. Thank you, Dr. Nichols. Does any board
025member have a comment, question, or concern they need to voice about any of these dates presently? >> All right, moving on. We do not have any citizen comments, correct? All right, guys. We are at action items. So, do I hear a motion to approve the course requests as presented by Mr. Miller? >> So, moved. >> Second. Mr. >> Ba has the motion. Mr. Rhymer has the second. >> Miss Davis, please pull the board. >> Mr. Rhymer. >> I. >> Mr. Ba. >> I. >> Mr. Broski. >> I. >> Miss Kuna. >> I. >> And Mr. P. >> I. Motion passes unanimously. >> And then do I have a motion to approve the 2026 school board meeting calendar as presented? So moved. Miss has the motion. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Dumbrosski has
026the second. Miss Davis, please pull the door. >> Mr. Rhymer. >> I. >> Mr. Ba. >> I. >> Miss Dumbroski. >> I. >> Miss Kuna. >> I. >> Mr. Paga. >> Hi. >> All right. Motion passes unanimously. The 2026 calendar is approved. And ladies and gentlemen, we are at our comment section. Mr. Rymer, you have the floor, sir. So, I am by this time um probably boring with repetition, but I'd just like to ask those of you out there listening to make it known to your supervisor that you think that the uh need for a new elementary school replacing Newkin Elementary is uh one of the more paramount requirements for this county. >> [clears throat] >> This will alleviate some of the ongoing issues with maintenance um that the current school has as well as
027address uh incoming capacity issues as the county's growth increases. And um we can only get this school built if the supervisors approve funding for it and we need your help. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Ron. Mr. Vog. >> Yeah, I second that. And well said. Um, I hope anyone who was watching tonight, um, the students that come and the GPA and the the seniors and all of the accomplishments that the school system has had is predicated not only on the amazing administration, amazing teachers and staff, um, including bus drivers, mechanics, but also on the facilities. The facilities are paramount and we're dealing with an ed uh elementary school full of students who are in the one of the worst environments in terms of learning uh due to um just the layout of the school. It's
028um I liken it unto a maze and without um safety features that need to be built in. And I concur with Mr. Rhyr, um, if you're listening in the community, um, this needs to be raised. Um, it can no longer be, this can can't be kicked down the road any further. Um, it's imperative that we are able to get our fine students in schools they deserve. So, please um make the community aware and call your board of supervisors uh representative and let them know that you you fully intend to to uh be after this and and want this to happen. So, thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. B. Mr. Bruss. >> Yes, I echo those those sentiments and absolutely agree. People need to hear, board of supervisors needs to hear from constituents. That's what helps
029them to make decisions. If they're only hearing from the people who are against it, that's all they have to go on. We have to let them know how we feel about things. And and I hope people continue to let us know how they feel about things as well. To be a representative, you can't be representing people if you don't know how they're feeling and what their thoughts are. So, it's really important that you reach out to those people who represent you in a nice way. Of course, when you have questions, please reach out. It's it's far more beneficial uh to ask questions than to just always assume what you're hearing is the truth. And we we can always make things better if we just learn how to actually talk to one another. I want to
030also thank the school board for giving me the opportunity to represent our board at the VSBA delegate assembly. All the three amendments and proposals that we approved were also approved at that time and apparently I talked to somebody and there's usually some drama there, but there was no drama. So, it's kind of it's kind of boring, but it was still exciting. It was nice to be there. Um, and just want to thank everyone for making this an awesome first half almost of the school year. And I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving and best wishes for a very merry Christmas and a happy new year. Make the next few weeks count. >> Miss Cooney. >> Yeah, I echo the sentiments. Obviously, all of us on the board are really uh behind the new Kent Elementary
031School project. Um, as a former school school teacher, public school teacher of 22 years, I can tell you the importance of having um a nice environment to teach in and especially a nice environment for students to learn in. Um, I was actually very disturbed by the fact that some of the students at New Kent Elementary School have cl are in classrooms almost all day that do not have windows. Um, and this is the kind of thing that we're trying to um, make the public aware. And if you're not aware, ask questions. Like Mr. Dumbrosky said, uh, go and and and maybe ask to see go visit the school and go see it for yourself and see what the environment is like. Um, it's important that we give uh every student in New Ken County the
032best learning environment possible and and that includes a safe and um great school to to learn in. Um, as 2025 comes to a close, I also want to express my gratitude to uh my neighbors in district 2 who continue to place their trust in me to fulfill my duties and responsibilities as their school board representative. I remain committed to working with my fellow board members. It's an absolute privilege to work with them to deliver uh quality governance and oversight to ensure what is best for new Kent students remains the primary goal and focus of our of our outstanding school division. Last month, I attended the annual Empower Ed Symposium in which the keynote speaker, Secretary of Education Amy Rogadera, offered an honest and hopeful vision of Virginia's educational future. She stressed that data, integrity, and
033local leadership can continue to drive academic recovery and restore excellence in education no matter uh the political winds. I then reflected on how blessed we are in our county to have the great leadership found in Uken County schools from the superintendent to the teachers and all of the staff that make it all happen each and every day. I know we all share a love for what we do and the important role we each play in keeping our students safe and offering them greater pathways to a bright future. That love and dedication cannot be measured on a data table, but it is the heart of what we do in UK. I wish you all a wonderful holiday season, a health and a healthy and joyful new year. >> Thank you, Mr. Junior, for lack of a
034better word, I'm going to echo again my colleagues comments. I really couldn't say what they've said much better, but I will summarize it again, which is it boils down to the simple fact that it's imperative to support the new New Kent Elementary School project. So, as encouraged by my colleagues, please reach out to your representative and push for that. Our children deserve it. 2025 is rapidly coming to an end. Merry Christmas, happy holidays, and a best new year to everyone. Thank you, Mr. Davis. >> Yes. Uh so I've been working with uh two of my peers from SGA and with the help of Stroski and Principal Strickland, well, we've created what we are calling a pillar project, which I'm going to be presenting next uh week, the 10th, Wednesday. And basically what this project is
035is setting a foundation for new high school students. Um I I would like to say none of this would have happened without Miss Dumbroski. She she brought up uh the idea. I latched on to it. I thought it was a great idea. Uh I was supposed to present it tonight but that things did not happen. So uh I will presenting presenting it next week and I'm looking forward to that. Very good. Thank you, sir. And finally, Dr. Nichols. >> Thank you, sir. Um, it when I say it's an honor and privilege to work in New Kent County, I it's more than a saying. You see it with the students I get to work with. You see Mr. Davis and Entrepreneur Club, they think up incredible things and and we just kind of clear the runway
036and let them make let it happen. Um, we probably do a little more than that, but that's that's our main part. Uh, a couple uh things about excellence. New High School um has just earned the platinum school status for outstanding performance on the wise financial literacy test 2425 school year. And I've heard that our preliminary scores this year are even greater. Just to put it in context, um our teacher who does this work was looking for us in the blue ribbon part. She goes, "I can't believe we didn't get blue ribbon." She didn't even look at the highest level. Um, so there are only 33 high schools in the country that earned a platinum status in financial literacy and only six in the state of Virginia. New Kent High School is one of those. >>
037Nice. >> I have to talk for that. That's awesome. >> And then financial literacy, which is one of the things that we need students to have. Um, New Kent High School is also competing in um for a state title in theater in Charlottesville on Saturday. So we wish them well. Um just each week so the public knows Miss uh each day this week Miss Morheim and I are spending a full day in each of our schools. Um it's another thing that I think makes new Kent unique. Um I think it's rare to find a chief administrative officer and a superintendent to spend a full day in a school um and just have an open door to anybody who wants to talk about anything. We're doing it for budget related purposes, but we're learning so much
038and that's really a testament to Miss Morheim's leadership and leading the way for that. Um, so when you see our budget proposal to you, it has the voice of the people we lead and serve. Um, so it's also easil one easily one of my favorite weeks because I'm not in my office at all this week. Um, including those that is not a slight to anybody in this building. I love these people, but I I'm with kids and staff and teachers every day. Uh, we also have a budget session. We did this last year's first time. It's a community budget forum that is on December 9th from 5:30 to 7. It'll be here. Uh so we definitely invite you uh to attend that. Anybody can attend that. Uh community members, families, anybody. So we'd love to
039have conversation with you about what you would like to see in our budget. I will say we were at New Can Elementary yesterday. Every single person that came to that budget forum throughout the day had number one priority knew New Cat Elementary above any other request there. So it is consistent on the staff uh front as well. I just want to say as we wrap up a year, thank you to our staff, students, families and community members. You make team UK awesome. Um new year will be our next meeting. Same focus to be excellent in everything leading to these three pathways. It is coming alive in our schools. You hear students on their own talking about their E or what E and um it started as a slogan. It's become a movement. Want to thank
040the board for uh really making room in the budget and leading the way. You saw uh Mr. AG today. You and your budget added 20 seats. So you make that pathway for him to be amazing. So thank you for your continued support of the mission. So those are my comments. >> Thank you, Dr. Nichols. All of that is fantastic. All right, everybody. That wraps us up. The next meeting of the school board will be a regular session on Tuesday, January 6, 2026 to be held in the historic courthouse boardroom right here at 5:30. With that, our meeting is adjourned at 6:38, according to that clock, PM.