001Everybody, I call to order the regular session of the new K County School Board on this Veterans Day, November 11th, 2025 at 6 PM. Do I hear a motion to come out of close session? So, >> moved. >> Second. >> All right. Slow down, Mr. Rhymer. All right. Miss Kuna has the motion. Miss Davis, Miss Rhyr has Mr. Rhymer has the second. If you would pull the board, please. >> Yes, sir. >> Miss Couna, >> I. >> Mr. Dumbroski, >> I >> Mr. Vaugh. >> Hi, >> Mr. Rhymer. >> Hi, >> Mr. Davis. >> Oh, no. I'm sorry. That was my fault. Not >> I mean, hit the reset button. >> Thank you very much. All right. >> Motion passes unanimously. Mr. Vaude, if you would please read the certification. Yeah, if I can. Um,
002whereas 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 2.2-3711 2-3711 of the code of Virginia requires a certification by the new Kent County School Board that such closed meeting was conducted in conformity with Virginia law. Now therefore, it is resolved that the new Kent County School Board hereby certifies that to the best of each member's knowledge, one only public business matters lawfully exempt from open meeting requirement by Virginia law were discussed in closed meeting to which this certification resolution applies. and two 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
003Board. >> Thank you, Mr. Vault. Do I hear a motion to approve the certification of the closed session? >> So moved. >> Mr. Vault has the motion. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Mr. Dumbroski has a second. Miss Davis, please pull the board. >> Yes, sir. >> Thank you. >> Miss Kuna, >> I Mr. Mr. Dumbros >> I >> Mr. Vaugh >> I >> Mr. Rhymer >> I >> and Mr. Pagano >> I motion passes unanimously. We are now in open session. Miss Davis please take the attendance >> now. Now now we're we're right. >> Very good. >> Mr. Pagano >> present. >> Miss >> present. >> Miss Drosski >> present. >> Mr. B >> here. >> And Mr. Rhymer >> present. >> And Mr. Dave >> present. >> All right. Very good.
004Please rise and join us for the pledge of allegiance. I do have somebody that's going to lead us. Oh, wait. We're not ready yet. >> Let us get >> He's excited. >> No, you got to face the flag. >> Right there. She's going to get us started. >> Ice to the flag of the States of America and to the republic for it stands. One nation under. >> Great job. Thank you. >> Well done. >> All right. The first item or items on this evening's agenda are many present presentations, recognition, and school spotlights. Dr. Nichols, the floor is yours, sir. >> Yes, sir. We're going to start with uh an amazing spotlight and I actually got a chance to see part of this today. So, uh New Kent Elementary is here and I believe we have
005a Veterans Day theme. So, I'm going to turn it over to our assistant principal, Megavore, and uh Dr. day is here with uh our service dog Bowie as well. >> Oh, sorry. >> All right. >> Good evening, chairman, members of the board, and Dr. Nichols. Um we I'm Megan Whirl. I'm the assistant principal at Newkin Elementary. Um like Dr. Nichols said, I'm here with Dr. OD, our principal, and our therapy dog who is very patriotic today, Bowie. Um today, we want to wish you a happy Veterans Day first and foremost. Um we had the honor of hosting two assemblies with our third grade students. Um the morning one we hosted all third grade families to see their students perform and in the afternoon we invited all veterans who were immediate family members of any students
006in our school. Um they both went very well. We had lots of attendance. Um and they both went very smoothly. So we're going to give you a little picture of what that looked like today. So we're going to have Mr. Eno share that with you. our music teachers. >> All third, come over here. >> Third grade kids, come over. He already got up. I'm recording two songs in my The first song is called on better day. And the song two is called because of you. Guys, don't take one We're Jesus You make us. We have our dead. Turn on the train. The stop. That's amazing. has car. of you. Stop. >> She got what? That's all that we have. Just those two songs. Be prepared. >> You guys did a amazing job. Thank you very
007It's your third performance of the day. That's a lot. Thank you. >> You're becoming famous. >> New Ken Elementary families, thank you for being here with us tonight. Um, you are more than welcome to stay >> through the entire agenda, front and back. But, um, but if you would like to depart at this time, New Elementary family, we're going to move on with recognition, but we'll give you about two minutes if you do want to make a It will not hurt my feeling much. >> Is a veteran himself. Thank you. >> They really they really changed the c the camouflage. >> Thank you. Good job. freed up seats for people and everybody. >> Go ahead. Thank you. >> Because of you. >> I know that's going to stick in my head. >> See the bod
008he just said. >> I'm thinking we should do like a school show where they have middle schoolers. Aren't they so energetic? >> Amazing. Great. >> Oh, thank you, M. >> Little to the >> All right, we will continue with our recognitions. Uh we have a lot of them because uh we have incredible kids, incredible staff. So, um first we have our November athlete of the month. Um, our first athlete of the month is none other than Ryland Opt. Um, he is a 10th grade student. Now, Ryland, you have two choices. You can walk up here while I'm talking and um, so, uh, Ryland is a 10th grader at New High School. He also attends Chesapeake Bay Governor's School. Um, he's participated in advanced level coursework. He has a 4.13 GPA. Um he's maintained honorroll throughout
009the first quarter. Um he's also was the captain of our high school golf team. Uh he earned the lowest season scoring average on the team 80. I did that for nine holes. Is that what you did? Nine. >> Um was 12th in the district, first team all region, and top 25 state tournament finisher as a sophomore. Uh Rodin would like to possibly study meteorology and I think mom will be happy with this at Virginia Tech upon graduation. He is the son of Rick and Lauren Opet, Mr. Rin Opet. Our next November athlete of the month is Claire Richards. So Claire is a ninth grade student. Typically our athletes of the month are like juniors and seniors. So you guys have set the precedent here. Wow. Uh working towards an advanced diploma. She's currently taking honors
010level courses, geometry, English, world history. >> Off the field, she has a 4.3 GPA and has honor role throughout the first quarter. Uh she is freshman goalie on the field hockey team. She's been a standout performer this season, holding an impressive 70% save rate in the tough one of I say the toughest field hockey district in the entire state. Um, if you've attended a football a field hockey game and you see that ball coming, it comes fast and it hurts. Um, so she is incredible. Her impact goes far beyond her stats. She has a positive attitude, drives to improve, and steady leadership. As a freshman, she approaches every challenge from maturity, takes ownership of both strengths and areas of growth, consistency. Uh her relentless work ethic and unwavering commitment make her a incredible asset to
011the team. Um right now, um I was part of this conversation with her. So, uh she's considering James Madison University, although she has a couple years to uh be persuaded to go to Queen Mary and study art education as well as playfield hockey detention when she graduates. She is the daughter of Nathan and Laura Richardson. Swift player. All right. Our senior of the month is Sophia Ward. Sophia is going to tell you a little bit about herself, but I'll I'll give you uh my summary. Um she is a prominent member and president of the new Kent Thespian Society. She's also president of National Honor Society, member of Beta, senior representative of the new Kent High School PTSO, uh member of NAACP Council. We're good strong. Um so she is enrolled in six dual enrollment or
012AP classes currently. Um so when you talk about the enrollment track, um that is where she is. Um she is at Chesapeake Bay Governor School, uh enrolled in several classes through Rapahhanic um and New High School. She has worked diligently to maintain a 4.5 GPA um and works incredibly hard to remain uh a straight A student. Just this past weekend, this is not on this. I'm going off script. She was named actress of the universe. No, region New uh won the region which was incredible. uh and she got the top acting uh role a award. Uh she's also helped me with my acting tremendously since she was a freshman here. So I'm proud to uh introduce you to uh Sophia. She is the daughter of Billy Ward and Stephanie Beanie Ward. So Sophia All right.
013Good evening, Mr. Chair, Mr. Vice Chair, school board members, and Dr. Nichols and guest. My name is Sophie Ward, and I'm a senior at New High School. You may have seen me um in some of the high school theater productions. I'm actually in that picture right there. But I'm truly honored to be here tonight. Uh, ever since I can remember, I've cared deeply about education. And I've always pushed myself to achieve the best in every subject. And I've not made a V since elementary school. And I take pride in my work because I know that every assignment, every class, and every challenge is helping me prepare for the future. And I'm working very hard. And my passion for learning truly began when my niece um Ivy was diagnosed with a condition called Kori Malfformation. Um,
014and that's when the brain kind of extends the spinal cord. And watching her like face something so serious at a young age kind of made me realize how incredible and mysterious the human brain is. And that experience kind of inspired my fascination in neuroscience and my dream of becoming a neurosurgeon. So to me college is something that is very important because to me it's the bridge between curiosity and contribution and it is where I will be gain gaining the knowledge um and experience to take what fascinates me and use it to help others and college will give me the foundation I need to study the brain in depth and develop the skills needed for medical school and ultimately make a difference in people's lives through science and medicine. So, I'm grateful to have teachers at
015New Kent who have helped me um kind of get to this path and classes like psychology and biology have definitely deepened my love for learning um and shown me how much there is still to discover, especially having such a good foundation here at New Kent, especially with all my counselors and all my um RCC coordinators and everything. It also Miss's amazing. Um so um it's just their encouragement has definitely um like reminded me that passion and discipline go hand in hand and that hard work can turn dream into goals. So before I close I want to thank Miss Stricklin again first um and also I want to thank her for all the support that she's given me. So um thank you When I say we get to work with impreous students, I mean that's just
016a small sampling the free before you. Uh moving forward with recognitions, it is time to recognize a first um in new and incredibly excited about doing this. Uh, this state has the Virginia Distinguished Purple Star program and it honors schools that do an exceptional job of supporting military connected students. New Kent um, has a strong military population and a lot of military connected families um, and a lot of staff members who were former military um, which I'll talk about a little more. Um, this really started and I was told I was not allowed to say this earlier today, but I wasn't told now, so I'm saying it. Um, board member, all five board members went to the Veterans Day program at the middle school. If you've never been to it, is one of the best
017things we do here. >> Um, so and Miss Sedholm uh runs it with support from a lot of folks. Um, but she and I had a conversation shortly after last year and she said, uh, we should be a purple star school. And I said, I couldn't agree more. We got to figure out how to make this happen. Um, but she really led that effort at the middle school with her team. Uh, Mr. Miller on our team also coordinated with that. Um, so about two weeks ago, we found out that New Kent Middle School is a firsttime Virginia Distinguished Purple Star School. So we have a couple of our admin administrators and also Miss Cedar Holm here for the middle school. So >> but that's not all. Um, not only was New Captain Middle School, uh,
018named as a purple star school, uh, the high school also took that challenge on. Um, and they've done a beautiful job. One of the key components of that is a student um, connection, military connected mentorship program. Um, and I believe it's Fort Unity. I did not I >> had that in my head. So, Fort Unity is is what they do at the high school. Uh, so we're very proud. uh Wendy Gray who is a staff member um at the high school and former military both Miss Cedar Home and uh Miss Gray really took that on and so New Kent High School was also named a firsttime Virginia Distinguished Purple Star School. Right. >> Okay. Moving on to additional recognitions and incredible first for new. You have the two perfect star awards. Um we are excited
019tonight to publicly recognize Quinton Elementary who is part of the excellence honor role program. Um so the Virginia Quality Birth to Five uh partnership through the Virginia Department of Education annually recognizes uh schools or programs that exceed expectations. That's the highest possible rating you can get and very few schools get that rating. Um and so New has not had that. Um, but if you've ever been to Quinton and you've seen the pre-K program at Quinton, it is not a surprise that they were named one of the excellent honoral schools. It also makes them a national exemplar exemplar for prek education. Um, so we're incredibly honored that they paved the way uh for excellence in prek in new kit. So uh they've been recognized several times and we wanted to do it at the board meeting
020too. So, I have their plaque, which they gave to me to give back to them. We have several members of our Quinton PreK team here. So, I'd love for them to come up with their principal pilgrim and receive Oh, you thought you were going to sit in the audience. Absolutely. >> Yay. all the time. >> Thank you. >> What I failed to mention is it's it's the excellence honor role, but it's private and public prek. So, it's any prek program uh can go through this rigorous rating um series. um and they're one of 12 in the entire uh central region of hundreds of prek programs. So, congratulations to Wayne. >> All right, our next recognition uh just it November is family engagement month. Um so you saw how many families we had at our veterans
021day assemblies and how many families we have here tonight. Um it is celebrated each November, but we work on it each and every day here in NewAt. So, it's a time dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the important role families play in a child's education over over all well-being. And it's one of the things that I say sets New Kent apart from many other places is our partnership with our incredible fans. Our next uh recognition is also Native American Heritage Month. Uh Native American Heritage Month is also celebrated during the month of November each year. It's a time when the rich cultures, traditions, and contributions of Native Americans and Alaskan natives are honored. So, our schools are doing various projects and activities around that recognition as well. I think I've done this a few times already,
022right? U November 11th, which is today, is Veterans Day. Uh many school divisions uh close on Veterans Day. we take the opposite approach and we spend the entire day celebrating our veterans. So um we have so many veterans that work here and veteran families. Uh November 11th is observed annually. Um interestingly so our Navy Corps of Cadet program, our enlistment branch uh they went to five different places uh today to to be a part of Veterans Day uh program. So we honor our veterans and we thank them for their service. It is also school psychology awareness week. Uh well, last week was November 3rd through the 7th. Uh school psychologist awareness week is an annual event that celebrates the accomplishments of psychologists and raises awareness about their important role in supporting student mental health and
023academic success. And we have two school psychologists as part of team new and we're thankful for their contributions and their tireless work. It is also American Education Week. Um, so we celebrate here American Education Week. It's an annual event in the US that celebrates public education and honors all individuals who work to support it. We certainly do that here in UK. The next awards are actually board awards. So the Virginia School Board Association annually gives awards to overachievers in deter in the field of professional development. and we have two of them with us today. Um so we want to make sure that they're recognized. Um we have awards of achievement for attending uh for their commitment to effective schoolboard governance through participation in the Virginia School Board Association School Board Academy. Um so I have
024an award of achievement for and a pen for Miss Kuna. >> Thank you. >> Congratulations. >> Thank you so much. and also for Miss Dumbroski >> and that is for attendance across two um years uh with Virginia School Board Association. So congratulations to you guys. Uh our school board at our last meeting or the one before that officially approved a resolution for the victims of communism day which was November 7th, >> right? >> Yeah. >> Um which was uh November 7th. Um just tell you a couple things that our schools did. Um world history 2 courses uh which is course that all sophomores are required to take. uh really work through the victims of communism information. Seventh grade teachers also uh were a part of that recognition. Uh seventh grade history class on that day,
025coincidentally, the way that the pacing worked, I'd like to say we did this on purpose. Um we're switching from its study of capitalism to a study of communism to include the atrocities that it's caused. So it naturally fit in the curriculum there. So we found a couple of spots uh where they could do it as part of the work that they did. So that is victims of communism day. >> Mr. Chair, >> if I may just share one thing, I just learned um coming across something in my email that uh the White House actually declared beginning November 7th anti-communism week. >> Very good. Thank you. >> All right, everybody. At this time, the board is going to recess for 5 minutes. For those who wish to leave, you may do so. We are journing. >>
026Thank you. Miss >> Hi, >> Mr. Broki. >> Hi, >> Mr. Ba. >> Hi, >> Mr. Rhymer. >> Hi, >> Mr. Pagan. >> I motion passes unanimously. The consent agenda is approved. Next item on the agenda, Dr. Nichols is new business, the school board meeting calendar. First read, please. >> Yes, sir. Um, you have before you board members, a first read of, believe it or not, 2026's school board meeting calendar. So, I want to present this to you uh tonight. This is a draft. As you know, as we work through the year, sometimes we have to change these dates. So, it's not completely set in stone. This will come before you again in December. So, if you have any feedback of dates or need to make any changes that you know of right now, uh
027we're happy to to make those happen. So, I'd be happy to answer any questions I can um at this time. Mr. Chair, >> thank you. Dr. Nichols, does any board member have a conflict with the date that they know of at this point? one, >> Mr. Broski. >> Uh, February 17th, I will be out of town. >> That is a tenative work session, so we'll keep that here marked. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. Anyone else? >> We're going to stay with the Tuesdays then. >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. >> Unless there's a motion. >> Just clarifying. >> Yes, sir. >> Thank you. >> All right. Anyone else? >> All right. Thank you. Moving on. Mr. Miller, course requests first read, sir. Yes. Good evening. U Mr. Chair and members of the board, Dr. Nichols, each
028fall we come to you with courses that we would like to start offering at the high school. And so this year we have three new courses we're that we're going to be adding in. Um the first one is AP business and finance. This would be a college level class that would actually take the place of economics and personal finance for students who would like to have a college level credit with it. And so, um, there's a new course just put out by college board that we'd like to start offering. Um, still waiting on the course code actually from VDOE to um, to be able to do that. But, um, that's the first course. Second course is um, baking and pastry specialization. >> Really excited about this one. So, one of the things that um within
029the CTE world is as career technical education is we look for all of our courses to have what's called a completer sequence, meaning you can take a first and a second level of the course. Currently at New High School, we only have intro to culinary arts and then if you want to become a completer, you have to go to bridging communities to do that. Currently in there, we have over 100 students who are in intro to culinary. We have approximately 12 that go into bridging communities. And so we want the opportunity for more of those students to be able to get an actual speaker sequence. >> That's great. >> And so our culinary arts teacher at New High School happens to have a background in baking. And so she's very excited about being able to
030use that passion and that background to be able to teach her students. And so this would be a completer sequence for students. We are going to be switching from intro to culinary also to culinary one which is slightly different course but becomes a complete sequence for this. Um and then we're also for next year this is um sort of the sequence we're looking at but we have other culinary courses that we're looking at adding in future years. And then the last one is again another AP class um sort of outside your typical AP core classes. Uh this is APA uh 3D art and design. This past year, you may remember y'all approved AP2D art. And so this year want to add in 3D art, which gets into sculpture. And board members, this really goes back
031to our strategic plan goal one and aligning current future offerings to maximize pathways for all students. So we're taking a CTE course and having a completer sequence for kids. So that's more opportunity and then more opportunities uh kids taking personal finance now to get college credit and this piece. So really it is the strategic plan in action uh led by Mr. Miller. >> So this tonight is first read. This will come up for vote at your December meeting. If you have any questions tonight or now and then please >> any board member have a question or comment. Mr. V. >> Go ahead. >> Sure. >> Yes. >> Um I'm sure I've asked this before but if you can just kind of provide a brief background on exactly how these courses are chosen. >> Absolutely. So
032what we do is at the high school um level and we have instructional meetings like every month with the administrators there and as we're sort of talking through this the scheduling and looking we look at sort of what are the interest students are showing. So we're looking at those course enrollments like the the um culinary class with over 100 students but no completer and so we look at those we look at course requests by students and what are kids have most requested to go into and then look at what are the offerings that we have in those areas and then how can we continue to expand our offerings. So then um as a team we then talk to the teachers and say hey what what would you like to teach? How does it fit within
033what the students are requesting? And so between teacher interest, student interest, and student pathways for what they want to do postsecary, um we put those together. >> Great. Thanks. >> Mr. Bosch. >> Yeah. So two things. The Can we go back to the first um offering a business? >> Yeah. So you're waiting on you're waiting from um Department of Education. Is that because they just haven't caught up with this or we're requesting an outlier to what they offer? So several divisions have already requested it and um so they just haven't caught up to the fact that college board has started offering this course and that there's a number of divisions who have applied this year to start offering this course and so they're working on getting the course satisfied. >> Okay. The second one is
034uh with the culinary class. So you're combining the uh kind of the phase one or the beginning and the completer into one. >> It's two still two different classes. So a student would take the first class. Um so similar like foreign language year one year two right. >> So in the CT world you always want to have a year one and year two of any per pathway. And so that year two it's it's called a completer sequence and it's just two years of of that specific area. >> Okay. So will that have any effect on um bridging communities with the students that go over there? Will they be able to stay? >> Yes. So students that still go to they go to bridging communities. So they would that they'll still be using our kitchen and
035they'll students will still go there for culinary one and culinary 2. We may have some students who start going there. I've talked with Miss Ellis um this past week and so we we may have some students who go there who already have culinary one. Okay. >> So actually might open it up to where students who weren't sure if they wanted to go to bridging but took culinary one with us as a junior could go there for culinary 2 as a senior. Um and we can get a little bit more diversified the way we use our seats as well. >> Yeah. And that's why I was looking at the number of seats that we have and if >> we could Okay. Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Anyone else? Thank you, Mr. Miller. >> Thank you, sir.
036>> Morgan, year end transfer fiscal year 2025, please. >> Sir, Mr. Chair, board members, Dr. Nichols. I have the year in transfer which is basically the total dollar that we had remaining at the end of fiscal year 25. It is $192,11976. So that is a4% of our operating budget. Um you know in the past I've spoken with regards to needing contingencies in our budget. Um, this is this is why this was a little bit stressful this year, but we got through it. Um, you know, trying to fund things along the way that pop up is very difficult when you don't really have contingencies built in. So, really kudos to our team for making the budget that we had work for all the things that we tried to accomplish in 2025. We're requesting that we transfer
037this balance into our CIP um appropriation of funds from prior years, which is basically um a holding account for the CIP projects. Any questions on that >> board? All right. Thank you, Mr. Morgan. You have the next one, too. >> Yes. >> Budget calendar. >> The budget is basically a year- round process anymore. Um so, this is more of a formality, but it's our budget calendar. We did have a kickoff meeting with our extended leadership team on October 20th. Um I won't read this to you, but two things I would like to point out for the community and our staff members. Um we will be having budget forums in our schools in each of our schools and also for um employees that don't necessarily work in the schools. We opened up another session this year
038and that will be held here on December 9th from 1 to 5. And then on that same day, December 9th, from 5:30 to 7, will be our new Kent community budget forum, which we invite anyone um from the community to come through basically have a conversation with Dr. Nichols and I. It can be really anything budget related or not budget related. Um we'll just have open doors and anyone can come through. >> Thank you. Anybody have a question or a comment? >> Mr. How in the past what was the participation of that community? >> So for the community in the past it's been very light. We have had some people come through Mr. Bot but not you know any significant amount of people. I will say two things. One is that Dr. Nichols and I
039do still hear from community members very often. We're um in the community a lot so we do hear from them. So, I would say we did get more budget input from the community than just the folks that came to that particular meeting. We do have an email address. Um, so if people can't come through, they're welcome to email us um suggestions, but it is usually very low attended. So, we welcome anyone, tell your friends, bring somebody with you. >> And that begs the next question, how are we how are we informing the community of that opportunity? I think it's posted on our website. Typically, we put out a Facebook post. Ashley Meredith does that for us. Um, just really putting it on the budget calendar. Um, I'm not sure we could put it on the
040rise vision boards maybe in the schools. Um, just for people that come through. I'll make a note of that, Mr. VA, but really that's that's that's how folks would know. >> Okay. And I'd also like to volunteer our chairman to uh join you in that meeting if you'd like to have him there. >> You know, you're coming with me to take notes, right? >> Oh, I don't mind. >> I went last time for >> happy to be there, >> Mr. Chair. Yes. >> All right. Can possibly um communication go out to parents through via an email system or just letting them know the >> Abs? Absolutely, Miss Green. We can definitely do that through the schools. We're also trying to capture u folks that are not connected to a school. So I think Henny was
041answering that specific question. Yes, we can certainly not let our families know >> directly. I think there's a big disconnect in thinking that just because you don't have a student in school, you're not interested, right? >> Uh every taxpayer should be at those meetings. Every >> every uh citizen should take a shot at that and >> have a place for input. you know, you can't >> and we'll be prepared to talk operating but also capital like New Ken Elementary is a big project that we're pushing. So, I would see us in in many of those meetings kind of giving an update and and how you can support those >> and that's kind of where I'm going. That would be an excellent opportunity to open up that conversation. >> We do have a flyer for that
042meeting, Mr. Bot. So, we can certainly put some in our front desk and if there's anyone that knows of organizations or folks that people come through frequently, we can provide you with Um Hy, I'm attending uh the Lions Club on Wednesday morning at 7. >> So if I should take some flyers there and also a copy of the budget calendar, I can use that as part of my presentation. >> Absolutely. >> And hey, I could also get one also for the um I'm member of the new Kent Veterans and I can um we attend the monthly meetings. My husband's at one tonight, so I can share that at the next meeting. >> Great. >> Yeah. Any anywhere like that would be wonderful. Thank you. >> All right. Anybody else have any questions or comments on
043just one? Um, sorry, I missed when you said what date the community budget forth >> December 9th. >> Deceive and then community is 5:30 to 7. >> 5:30. Same day. >> Thank you. >> All right, Miss Morheim, you also have the next one. Healthcare premium holidays. >> Very exciting. Um we are here to make a recommendation for an healthcare premium holiday. Um what this is in the month of December, our employees would not pay their employee share of their healthcare premium for medical, dental, and vision. Uh the school systems uh fund 208, which is our self-funded insurance plan, um would be picking up that bill. And that is from just the the good use of our um health care folks really paying attention to what they're doing. Um getting care in the right places. We're
044running very well. And so it's just through that that we're able to offer this. We've done this um for many years and we're happy to be able to afford the opportunity to do it again this year. >> Okay. >> That is exciting. >> Very exciting. >> Any questions or comments from the board? >> Thank you, Morgan. >> Great. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you fair. >> All right, moving on the agenda. Dr. Nichols, school board goal review and update. We got project new kit elementary school. >> Yes, sir. Just a brief update. Uh for the public on Friday, uh the school board and board of supervisors met jointly uh to talk about capital improvement planning uh but most specifically uh New Kent Elementary. At that meeting, which we posted to board doc so you
045can see the whole presentation. We can put it here to connected to this agenda item. We really tried to show long-term planning uh with enrollment uh trends all the way out to um and also capacity of our school building. So the point of emphasis from us is this new ken elementary project allows us long-term success elementary enrollment um and then additional projects that we have there. So um that is where we've landed with that project so far. I do not I was hoping to have an update for you tonight, board members, but I do not have an update. We went back to the request of um the additional money that would get this project to be able to be bid out. So to go through the whole design process um so to get to that
046point. Um so that is still where we're at with that request uh for the additional 130,000 uh $130,000 to to get us to that point. So, um, we'll continue to provide updates and we'll continue to push forward, uh, with this project. We know it's a project needs to be done. We know we have great support from our school board, um, to do this project. Uh, so that is where we are. >> Thank you. Sure. Strategic plan updated. >> Uh, yes. And and tonight, like many nights, you've already seen a lot of the strategic plan update in in in practice. So, Mr. Miller brought a report together on the pathway piece and then Miss Morheim with the healthcare premium rebate is all about recruitment and retention. Um this trend of the healthcare rebate is catching all
047the school divisions. Uh we've been doing it for a number of years now but it's just another way to get back uh related to that. So looking at both goals one and goal two. >> Thank you Dr. Nichols. Yes sir. >> Next item on the agenda Mr. Hawkman. Unfinished business fiscal year 2027 capital improvement plan. This is our second read board. >> Mr. Chair, vice chair, members of the board, Dr. Nichols here for a second read on capital improvement. Uh what I will be doing, I will be starting on page eight, which is basically where our numbers uh are starting to be listed. What I have is a few adjustments on there and updated some numbers based upon scope of work and things like that. I just want to share with you what those changes
048are. Um I will be starting with tier one critical needs um and transportation. None of those numbers have changed. Those numbers remain the same. So that is what we will be going with. 752,000 is the request for transportation. Um for general operations, go back one please. There we go. Uh what we're going to do is we're going to move down to New Kent High School roof replacement. That number is now uh 280,138. That is a slight increase, but we have some very exact numbers of what we need to do. This is the final phase of the roof replacement. We will be completely done when that phase is done. Um the Newkin High School rooftop HVAC replacement. Um we have 10 units. This is going to replace the first two of those 10. That number is
049$1,57,000. And then the switch gear repair replacement, that number has risen just a little bit. That includes the cost of the equipment, the installation and also the engineering to create the equipment. So that is a total number right there. >> The engineering to create the equipment >> would have to be built. It's very specific and has to be built. So the engineering will lead to the building. So it's a bit of a >> I understood that. >> That is correct. That's exactly what it is. >> And board members on that project. We may actually bring the engineering to you earlier uh through u capital transfer so that we can go and get the engineering done. So July one we can do the work >> versus doing that engineering. So >> it's not a quick process.
050So it would be nice to get started on that >> just as a a forecast of of what you may see. Um nothing on page two of general operations has changed other than the total number now which is 2,582,596.60. Uh moving on to instructional needs, the bottom three, obviously we know that those are not things that are going uh into the total number that we're turning in, but we do have an updated cost for the new Kent Middle School classrooms. That's 5,437,000. And for the classrooms at George Watkins, 6,718,000. U we recently got a final scope and cost on that and that is what it would cost to build today if we were ready to go. Uh that number was updated as we had a bit of an older number. Moving on to athletic needs,
051um we have added tennis court upgrades. Um you see that you go, "Wow, that is a big number." $976,000. And so let's just talk about tennis courts a little bit. It is an ending process to keep our tennis courts in condition to have our high school teams compete on them. Um everywhere you go, tennis courts have to be repaired and replaced almost on an annual basis. So, with knowing that, what we wanted to do was take a look and see what other options were potentially out there. And we did that. There is a company that does a tennis court that has a 50-year guarantee. >> Wow. >> Um, and essentially how that happens is it's post tension that goes into the concrete. Um, they takes uh they take these steel tendons and they pull them
052tight with a machine and it creates constant tension in there and it's going both ways in a grid. Think of a rubber band around several books. It's constant tension which prevents the concrete from cracking. If it does crack, it's insured. It'll come out and take care of it. It's a 50-year guarantee. What we have done that cost, if we were to do repairs at today's cost over the course of 50 years, we'd be over $2.2 million on today's cost, not including inflation. It's an option. It's a big number, but we did want to take a look at it. Um, obviously that changes the total request on the bottom. Phase two of the athletic renovation, we changed our scope a little bit. We're working with our architects and engineers to come up with a final cost.
053We should have that very shortly. Um, district-wide lighting, we have almost a final cost, but it we are finalizing the cost of getting power from Dominion to the fields. So, that is something we're a little bit out of control of. We're trying to get that final cost. We have a roundabout number and we're awaiting both of those. What you would be approving tonight is that you approve those projects to potentially move on. Um that number is 1,384,000. >> Mr. Okay. Uh on that tennis court upgrade, when would we uh do you have any do you have you made estimates when we uh what the payback would be and how much time it would take um over you know from what from what you said we're about half over exact numbers we would be spending at
054976 um if we were to look at the 50-year year plan, we'd be spending 2.178 if you roll. >> So, my problem with that is 50 years is a long time. >> And to to get the uh benefit, you know, basically we're talking about in the first 25 years, we wouldn't get much benefit, right? >> Yeah. >> Uh it would probably be a wash. And that doesn't if you take into consider uh slightly less than 3% inflation, that cost in 50 years is over four and a half million. So, I do think there is some benefit. if we could get more numbers on that. Uh so 10 years I'm I'm probably willing to make that investment but 50 years I'm not sure uh given you know because the tax situation there's a lot of things
055about budget that changes over that period of time >> and at this at this point I'll share it with you when we're done. I have it all right here. >> Yep. >> Absolutely. >> Thank you Mr. You're welcome. Mr. Hawkman as a followup how many tennis courts are we speaking of sir? >> So what you have there is you have six tennis courts. The other thing that we would be doing is on each of those tennis courts, uh, we would be also including markings for pickle ball, which would contribute to the community. Um, we've spoken with the high school tennis coach and he says that would be a great idea. It would have no impact on his high school tennis team. So, um, that would be another option as well. >> Uh, Mr. Chairman, so
056would there be rental options for if the community wanted to use our courts, would there be fee options? Right now, all the courts are free now. >> Okay. >> So, I'm just >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> Yep. >> And finally, u go on to the last page. Um updated numbers. General operations as I shared earlier is just over two and a half million. athletics up to 1.3 for a potential grand total of just shy of $5 million. >> And board me, just just a reminder on the process side of things, uh once this goes issue, the county, uh the number that we end up going through the county, sometimes we have to rep prioritize projects. So, this is a step of several more to go. So, um a vote tonight is is not final.
057It just allows us to put these forward to the county and then continue the conversation with you guys as we finalize other pieces so we can still push things in and out as we move forward and get numbers and different priorities emerged. >> Mr. So, Mr. Chairman, >> Mr. Rhymer, Mr. vault >> in this uh total or or have we um added it elsewhere the additional work that needs to be done at the high school field >> with the concessions ticket restrooms is that all in here >> we're getting a final cost so the project is here but the total is not yet so >> that was phase two if you go back a couple slides that's phase two of what the TBD where I said we changed the scope a little bit. Um, >>
058okay. I see you got it there. >> Yep. >> I missed it. >> That's B. That would include all of that there plus potentially other things. The number we initially got was >> not what we needed it to be in terms of they went with a different look and a different type and we think it could be significantly less and still fit and look great uh to complement our field piece. So, we sort of sent them back to the drawing board to get a better cost. >> Perfect. and not over inflate it because that's not what we needed, >> right? >> We had a little sticker shock when we saw it. >> Yeah. >> And then we realized what they designed it for. Like that's not actually what we need. >> Right. >> Mr. Vote
059tonight. If I uh if I'm against the tennis court upgrades, what is vote tonight? Does that commit me to that the tennis court upgrades? I don't want to vote against the whole package. Uh, but I'm I'm really skeptical about the tennis court upgrades at this point. >> Mr. Chair, if I may ask Mr. Rhymer a question. Your concern then, if I understand you correctly, is that you're concerned that they say 50 years, but they it won't actually last 50 years. That's not it. Okay. >> My concern is this is a 50-year investment. We're a small school that uh can't afford that kind of investment. uh that maintaining it like it is right now saves us money in the now and this is when we need money. >> Yeah. I I just I completely understand the
060point. I I do want to point out that this year the board has contributed 65,000 towards repairs on that tennis court already. So if we do if we follow that that >> every other year every other year every other year >> we're going to be it's not that total but just so the board knows we are putting significant money in I I understand completely. >> Absolutely. >> And it's not a 50-year investment. It's a 50-year warranty. The investment makes sense. It's you can pay me now or you can pay me later. >> Except that we don't get back that in investment for >> you're not going to get back what you put in there every year $65,000 either. But it is advertised over a longer period of time. Uh >> because it's a better it's
061a better court. >> All right, gentlemen. If I may, let's get back on track here. So, Mr. Rhiner, your question is is a vote this evening on this on the action item for the second read of the capital improvement. Does that commit you to saying yes to tennis courts? The answer to that question is no. This is the proposal that we're going to put before the county to see what funds that they would give us case. I just wanted that clarified. We can have the tennis argument when it comes back to us. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. Anybody else have any comments or questions? >> Thank you, Mr. Har. >> Thank you. >> All right. We are now at our citizen comment period. Uh we have Shia Learner signed up. Topic is 4. Miss Learner,
062before you begin, I just have to make an announcement. Okay. >> So before we begin, I'd like to thank you for coming out tonight to speak. Please note that comments are limited to three minutes. Once the timer sounds, please promptly finish your comment and return to your seat. It's customary for the school board not to make comments during the citizen comment period. Please make sure your contact information is on the signup sheet if you'd like someone to follow up with you. Thank you again for coming out and your comments. The floor is yours. >> Good evening, chairperson, members of the board, and guests. My name is Shia Learner and I'm a 15-year-old Southeast District Ambassador for Virginia 4 and a proud member of the Virginia 4 state cabinet. But more importantly, I'm proud to say
063that I come from right here, New Kent County. I'm here tonight because I believe that every student in New Kent deserves access to the opportunities that 4 provides. 4 is more than just an extracurricular club. It's a program that changes lives. Through 4, I've learned leadership, public speaking, responsibility, and how to set and achieve real goals. I've learned what it means to serve my community, and to lead with purpose and integrity. But 4 also offers so much more. It provides scholarship opportunities, healthy competition, and exposure to new areas of life that students might never experience otherwise. It builds college readiness, career skills, and citizenship excellence. qualities that prepare young people to step confidently into the future, whether that's higher education or the workforce. For is rooted in positive youth development. It gives students a sense
064of belonging, purpose, and pride. It helps youth build social skills through teamwork, and shared goals. Studies show that programs like 4 can even reduce depression, anxiety, and suicide by giving young people a place to grow, connect, and feel valued. And because 4 is affordable and accessible, it opens doors for every family in our community, not just a few. For school for schools, 4 offers more than enrichment. Offers partnership for programs support every core subject covered by Virginia's standards of learning tests through hands-on immersive learning. Whether it's science, agriculture, technology, or civic engagement, for brings learning to life in ways that textbooks alone cannot. When new Schools embrace 4. We're not just investing in education. We're investing in character, confidence, and community pride. For helps create a positive reputation for our schools, sets a standard of
065ethics, and inspire students to do better, be better, and lead better. I'm asking you today to consider ways that Kent County schools can expand or integrate for programs into classrooms, after school activities, or student leadership opportunities. Because when students are given the opportunity to discover their potential through programs like 4, they don't just grow, they thrive. Thank you for your time, your dedication to new Kent students, and for believing in the power of opportunities that shape our future leaders. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right, board. We now move on to our action items. First action item is the year-end transfer for fiscal year 2025 as presented. Do I hear a motion to approve? >> So moved. >> Mr. Vault has the motion. Do I have a second? >> Second. >>
066Mr. Rhymer has the second. Miss Davis, please pull the board. >> Muna. >> I. >> Mr. Froski. I >> Mr. V. I. >> Mr. Rhyme. I >> Mr. Pano. I >> motion passes unanimously. Moving on. Do I hear a motion to approve the healthc care premium holiday as presented? So >> moved. >> We have a dual first motion by the ladies. >> Second. >> Alone. Second. >> And a second by Mr. >> Miss Davis, please pull the board. >> Miss Puna. >> I. >> Miss Dumbrosski. >> Hi. >> Mr. B. >> I. >> Mr. Rymer. >> I. >> Mr. Pagano. >> I. Motion is approved unanimously. And then do I hear a motion to approve the fiscal year 2027 capital improvement plan as presented? >> Motion. >> Mr. Rhymer has the motion. Is there a
067second? >> So move. >> Misski has the second. Miss Davis, please pull the board. >> Miss I. >> Mr. >> I. >> Mr. Wat. >> I. >> Mr. Ry. >> I. >> Mr. Pagano. >> I. Motion passes again unanimously. All right everybody. Okay, we are moving on to our comment section. Mr. Rhymer, lead us off, sir. >> Yes, today has been a very full day for me and uh an amazing day. Began with a celebration of our veterans that was incredible and uh I really appreciated uh the efforts that went into that preparation. Uh Mr. Superintendent, you have uh my great staff and they they deserve to become. >> Thank you, sir. >> Um I also want to thank uh young lady who gave the presentation from 4. I think you can't deserves 4 uh
068that kind of integration. she s suggested it's a rural county and uh it fits in with our three um program incredibly well. So, thank you very much. That was a great speech. Um and I'm still keenly aware of the fact that we need to move forward on this um new Kent Elementary School project. I'll be speaking at the Lions Club uh next week um asking them to support our efforts to include this in the county budget and especially getting the $120,000 to kickstart the uh the bidding. Um thank you all. Um that's all I have to say. >> Thank you, Mr. Rhyr. Mr. Vault. >> Yeah, I concur with Mr. Rhymer. um with the Veterans Day program. Um just absolutely phenomenal. Um unlike other school systems that I've ever seen or or and and then
069the Purple Star recognition for the schools is also um show of support and really it's the heart of team New um for veterans and active duty um that are in the community. And Shia, you um you were testimony to what you were claiming uh from the 4. We saw it depicted right here. So kudos uh to you as a 15-year-old to stand up and speak um even better than some uh who are more aged. Um so and I agree I 4 uh makes sense. uh is something that we probably should uh change our aperture and looking at um as we move forward and um I am very proud that all of uh the board members were participants in today's veterans activities. Um I'm um makes me proud as a member and feel honored to be
070a part of what we do. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. V. Mr. Braza. >> Yeah, echoing the same comments. The veterans uh event was phenomenal. I'm just thoroughly impressed by the faculty, everyone's dedication to pulling that off. I understand now for at least 30 years, maybe more. The students were outstanding. It was especially awesome to see the eighth graders in the NNDC or the JOTC program presenting as the color guard. The choir was great. The band was awesome and it was especially a great highlight to have Dr. Nichols and Mr. Miller officially present the first Purple Star award to the new Ken Middle School. That's very exciting milestone just to show how small the world can be sometimes. Uh, when I read the bio bio of the keynote speaker, CDR Justin Champine, I noticed that
071he was from Salt Lake City, Utah, where I was from. So, I went up to introduced myself, found out we both attended the same high school. I uh I'll let you guess who graduated first. >> Um, >> no. Um, second, you know, we we hear great things. Dr. Nichols keeps us in the loop very well. It's just incredible all the great things that are going on in the schools, not only academically, but sports, music, theater, you know, being ninth overall in state SOS. There's just a lot happening and I wish I could be more like Dr. Nichols and make it to everything. Um, because I love to see our students in action and and learning and growing and doing on so many levels. And I love love the opportunity or the chance that you came.
072That's really hard. I can't imagine doing it. So well done. Um lastly on a personal note, I've been a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution for almost two years and this past June, New Camp received or open their first chapter. We're called the New Camp Patriots and I was honored to be asked to serve as the good citizens chair which oversees the good citizen program in our county which is a program that recognizes one high school senior every year um as a good citizen. The high school just takes on the responsibility of determining how to select or nominate that individual and then they pick one. Um, being that we just became a new chapter and I was trying to figure things out, it was kind of a last minute push. Principal Strickland and
073uh, Liz Beetley totally call them my revolutionary minute man. They just were on it. They got it taken care of. And, uh, we officially recognized Mariah Leonard as our very first New Kent High School good citizens honore. It was really incredible to learn about her impressive resume and all that she does not only as a student, as a member of the base softball team, um, but serving our veterans as well. And so I'm just very excited for her. And, uh, she also decided to take the opportunity to enter the scholarship contest that is made available to those who are recipients of that award. and she had one week to get it done and she did it and just just amazing. Couldn't be more impressed and just want to say thank you and well done to
074all the hardworking teachers and staff, administrators, students. It is an extreme honor to serve in this capacity and I am grateful for the opportunity to serve. >> Thank you, Mr. Broski. Miss Cooney, >> um it it's always a great honor for my husband who is a retired Army veteran. uh we always look forward to attending the event that we attended today and we're always very impressed um and he was especially touched by even the personal little thank you notes they were giving out as uh we were entering the auditorium. Um it was wonderful. Um we are a military family. We currently have uh two of our kids are serving in the Air Force. Um, our daughter Rebecca was in the, um, Virginia National Guard back in the day. And so, um, it is it's a
075it's a day of, uh, appreciation for the recognition of of, yes, the sacrifices that, uh, military families make. So, thank you for that. Um, I had an opportunity to attend the FiveL Civic Association meeting, the fall meeting, and I was proud to share and the highlights of our school division for this uh past year and to again also uh share part of uh the presentation that uh Mr. Hoffman shared with us with CIP um and capital improvement program and really stress the importance and need for that new Kent Elementary School being that we have more things coming down the line. uh that will need to be fixed and added on to perhaps. And so I was uh proud to be able to um push for that project. Um I also want to encourage people to
076come out to the community budget forum on December 9th. It's very important to hear from community community members, not just uh people who have children in the in the in the school division. Like Mr. Vat says, we're all members of New Kent County. uh and we all should be involved in those discussions uh and and it's only through open dialogue and discussion that we can come up with consensus um and hopefully more people come out to that event. Thank you. >> Thank you Mr. I would like to thank you Shia again. Your presentation was amazing for being part of 4 and I echo my colleagues comments so keep up the good work. Um, with sincere respect, honor, and gratitude, I would thank all our veterans, active duty, military, past and present, those are in the
077guard, those are in the reserves. My father and grandfather are both veterans. It means a whole lot. The the ceremony this morning was amazing. As usual, um, to members of the public and those watching us on YouTube right now, however many that may be, I would encourage you to contact your district representative on the board of supervisors and support the project for the new New Kent Elementary School. It is something that would greatly benefit this community and something that is desperately needed for our students and our last thing I just want to say is that the the Purple Star recognitions are fantastic. They were evidenced this morning in our Veterans Day assembly. So big kudos and thank you for all of those people who were involved in making that happen and come to life. And
078then thank you everybody for participating tonight. Dr. Nichols, >> thank you sir. Um November is the month of thanks and gratitude. So I have challenged all team new to uh work in that gratitude every day both personally, professionally. Uh there are no shortage of things to be grateful for today. Um, I had the opportunity to attend three uh Veterans Day assemblies today. Uh, so from elementary on up, uh, it's just phenomenal support, phenomenal community. Um, you got to see prek excellence in the room tonight. You got to see, we do a lot of things really well, but I think what I love the most about team weekend is they're never settled and they're never done. U, so give you an example. So, two first time purple star. I can tell you right now they'll be
079five next year. That's just how team New is built. Um, so I'm just very proud of the team I get to work with. Um, they continue to excel in all areas of the work they do. Uh, want to thank Mr. Hawkman for all the numbers that he presented tonight. You guys see numbers on the screen. You may not see the hundreds of different numbers that we see before you see one. There's a lot of back and forth. the year-end number that Haney brought for you look very different. So, the work that Haney does to make that happen. Um, and Ross is cleaning and clearing those pathways kids. Um, so everything we do really comes back to that work. Um, so a lot of awards in the past month, there's a lot more on the horizon.
080So, recognition will continue to be long because team continues to stack up um, incredible honors and achievements. Um, I just love that I get to spend so much time with our students and our staff, uh, because that makes the grateful part of this work very easy. So, uh, thank you board members for the opportunity to, uh, serve as superintendent and do the work we do. >> Thank you, Dr. Nichols. >> Yes, sir. >> All right, everybody. That's going to do it for us. The next meeting of the school board is a work session this coming Monday, the 17th, to be held here in the historic courthouse boardroom, commencing at 5:30. Our meeting is adjourned this evening