School Board Meeting - March 4, 2026

001testing. We're ready. >> Okay. Good evening everyone. Once again, we need a motion to come out of close. >> So move. M >> Proctor, is there a second? >> Second, Mr. As required by section 2.2- 2-3712D of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. A roll called vote will be taken to certify that to the best of each member's knowledge, one only public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements under the act. And two, only such public business matters as were identified in the motion by which the close session was convened were heard, discussed, or considered in the closed session by the board. Prior to the vote, any member of the board who believes that there was a departure from the requirements of one and two as read shall so state the same, indicating the

002substance of the departure that in his or her judgment has taken place. Does any board member wish to respond? Hearing no response, I will now take the Freedom of Information Act roll call. >> Mr. Steven Pierce. >> Mr. Hal Miles. >> Yes. >> Mr. Kenneth Pritchette. >> Yes. >> Mr. Corey Tucker. >> Yes. >> Miss Joyce Proctor. >> Yes. >> Mr. Bernard Lundy. >> Yes. >> Mr. Adrien Dance. >> Yes. Thank you. There's no action from closed session. At this time, we'll take a motion to adjourn from closed. >> Moved by Mr. Miles. >> Second by Mr. D. >> All in favor? >> I motion carries. Thank you. Good evening everyone. The time now is 5:15 p.m. and we would like to call our regular school board meeting to order. Mr. Burios, if you would

003call the role, please. >> Mr. Steven Pierce. >> Mr. Hal Miles >> here. >> Mr. Kenneth Pritchette >> here. >> Mr. Corey Tucker >> here. >> Miss Joyce Proctor >> here. >> Mr. Bernard Lundy >> here. >> Mr. Adrien Dance >> here. >> Thank you, Mr. Reals. >> This is the wrong agenda. >> Okay, we move to 1B. A moment of silence, Miss Bios. >> We would like to remember the parents, aunt and uncle, Mr. Wesley and Mrs. Beverly Mclofflin, all former PCPS employees, and the families and friends in the passing of their daughter and niece, Miss Genesis Tamar Jones, on February 21, 2026. >> Thank you. At this time, we have a moment of silence. Thank you. Next will be led in the pledge of allegiance by Mr. dance >> to the flag of

004the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all >> correspondence. >> Yes. This is uh uh has been addressed to the board from Miss Leslie Steel and it reads, "Hi, my friend. I just wanted to take a moment to thank you." >> Oh, that's okay. I Hi, friend. I just wanted to take a moment to thank you and the board for the kind words shared about my brother. PCPS has been so supportive and it is greatly appreciated. Leslie S. Steel, lead consultant. Thank you, Miss Burios. Okay, next we move to recognitions. Look like we do not have any tonight, but I know we should have some coming up. I've been seeing all of those athletes placing in in regionals and

005yeah, first was it was you called it first first was it first class something like that. >> Quarterfounder. Yeah. But but what are the rankings that they qualify for? I've seen it posted. >> Uhuh. You know, like >> you know what I'm talking about. That's it. Yes. Those rank those ranking. >> Yeah. >> It's several students who have and like speech and and basketball and who else? Wrestling. >> Yes. Okay. So, next we'll move to the approval of the consent agenda. Number three, Miss Brown and C. >> Thank you, board chair and school board members. We'll start with 3A, the approval of the personnel agenda. It is the superintendent's recommendation that the school board approve the final personnel agenda dated for 34206 as provided. For 3B, approval of minutes. It is the superintendent's recommendation that

006the school board approve the minutes of the 113 2025 student disciplinary hearings meeting 123 2025 regular board meeting 129 2025 special meeting superintendent evaluation 1217 20225 special meeting and 114206 special board meeting as provided for 3C donations received by PCPS. It is the superintendent's recommendation that the school board approve the donations received as provided. And this is for the dates for 212026 to 227 2026 from the finance office. And so we have two donations to the division at this time from the Kiwanas Club and you all heard that at this came from board member Revish, former board member Revish and for $5,000 and thank you to the Petersburg Alumni Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated. So with that, it is the superintendent's recommendation that the school board approved um 3A, 3B, and 3 C

007as provided. >> Thank you, Mr. Brown. You heard the superintendent's recommendation. Is there a motion to accept the consent agenda? >> So moved. >> Moved by Mrs. Tucker. Is there a second? >> Second, >> Mr. Dance. All in favor? >> I oppose. Motion carries. Thank you. Next, we move to number four, our superintendent and staff reports for A. >> Thank you, board chair and schoolboard members. We will start this evening with our PCPS attendance policy regulation update. We are bringing this policy back because we brought it for first read prior to and so the PCPS attendance task force has been working and we've been working alongside board member or vice chair Tucker um who has been serving as the board member representative for our work. And so this evening I wanted to bring to the

008board um so that you all can take a look at the regulation and how we have updated it for the work that we're going to do around attendance around our PCPS attendance policy. And so our policy regulation update for policy number J for letter J E D- and so tonight um we have presenting supporting this work with me is going to be um Dr. Yasmin Gay our chief of staff and so if we could next slide please. And so this evening we're going to talk really quickly. We're going to talk about the attendance task force policy review that I'll review with you. We're going to talk about the policy regulation changes. And as you know, the regulation is determined by and developed by the school administration. And so we um recommended some regulation changes back

009in December of 2025. And now we want to bring to you now in March 2026 the final policy regulation updates for the board. Next slide, please. And so as you can see, so this is our attendance policy recommendations that we have updated for our chronic for our PCPS attendance. As a reminder to everyone listening and everyone here, Petersburg City Public Schools is very serious and very focused on chronic absenteeism. And part of our ro part of our board goals, of course, you know, is to reduce the percentage of students who are chronically absent by 3% by the end of this school year in May. And so we have decided to take a look at our our regulation so that we can put more teeth into um making sure that everyone understands that we are very

010serious about students attending school. So just very quickly I want to take you through some of the current regulations and guidelines. You've seen this before and so here's what Petersburg had previously really quickly. We first had students who are absent must bring a parental note within 24 hours after the absence or two days after students return to school stating the reason for the absence. We are making the I am making the recommendation at this moment based on the work of the attendance task force that we now add into our regulation that students who are absent five consecutive or non-consecutive days must be added to the school attendance team case load to address attendance concerns establish attendance goals and strategies and provide relevant supports. What we currently have in place now in in PCPS for our

011regulation is that work miss shall be made up and all makeup work is the student's responsibility. Here's what we've added to the regulation. Recovery time. Schools must implement an attendance recovery strategy to improve student attendance and maintain academic achievement. Our elementary schools, we've added that we will have three hours of recovery. Would recoup one day of absence. For Milan High School, we would have three hours of recovery with recoup one day of absence. Schools must calculate recoupment of time throughout the school year. Suspension days can be recouped and students must be in school or at an approved partner location to recoup the days of absence and that is in alignment with what the VDOE allows for us to recoup time. So, we want to add that to our regulation. Currently, what we have in place

012for number three for Petersburg City Public Schools is that students who are tardy to school must bring a parental note stating the reason for the tardiness. This note must be received no later than the day following the tardiness. Tardiness is defined as arriving after the published start time for school and or class. We are we have worked to change this recommend the recommendation is to change to students who are tardy and or leave early from school because we do have students who are leaving early from school consistently. They must bring a parental note stating the reason for the tardiness or early release. This note must be received no later than the day following the tardiness or the early release. Tardiness is defined as arriving after the published start time for school and/or class. Early release

013is defined as leaving school 2 hours before the published dismissal time. We're also in addition to adding that language, we're adding if a student is tardy, and this is a big piece, tardy or leaves early, five days within a month, then they must be added to the school attendance team case load to address attendance concerns, establish attendance goals and strategies, and provide relevant supports. So they must be a part of the attendance team and we must focus on the data surrounding and support for that student. On the next slide, slide four, we have a couple of current general provisions and this is in our current regulation. A student out of school for the observance of a religious holiday, on a field trip, or representing the school at a special activity shall not be charged an

014absence. The teacher's record must show that the student was not present, but that that will not count as an absence and shall not appear on the student's record, nor shall the student be deprived of any award eligibility or opportunity to compete for any award or the right to take an alternate test or examination. Makeup work is required. We are keeping that recommendation that general provision excuse me. The second general provision that we have changes and additions to regular student attendance is important. Parents are encouraged to provide the appropriate documentation for student absences. This is what we currently have. Students are expected to attend each class meeting. Regular class attendance affords the student the opportunity to complete requirements of the course satisfactorily. Excessive absenteeism, including the lack of proper documentation, may result in poor or unsatisfactory

015grades due to the students inability to compensate fully for the class assignments which were missed. A student absent 15 consecutive days is what we have now. It says will be withdrawn from enrollment in Petersburg City Public Schools. This provision does not apply to students approved and assigned to homebound instruction and students with illnesses substantiated by the appropriate documentation. Any absence for disciplinary reasons such as suspension will be counted under this regulation. Here are some changes and some additions. A change to this is the wording that we want to change. Parents are responsible for providing the appropriate documentation and adhere to the school's recovery structure for student absences. Students are expected to attend each class meeting. Regular class attendance is required in order for students to achieve satisfactory course completion. Excessive absenteeism, especially without proper documentation,

016can lead to poor or unsatisfactory grades because the student may be unable to make up missed class assignments and coursework effectively. In addition, the task force has recommended to me that we add denial of credit for excessive absences in high school during grading period nine weeks. During a grading period, which is nine weeks, a student who misses more than five days from a class that meets daily or misses more than three days from a class that meets on alternate days will receive a failing grade unless he or she can document that the absenteeism is justifiable. In addition, we said a student may not miss more than 18 days of class that meets on a daily basis or more than nine days of class that meets on alternate days. A student may not miss more than

017five days of class for n for a nine weeks that meets daily for a semester or 10 days of class per semester. The following procedures will be implemented when any absence except for those reasons which could cause the student to be exempt from sanctions of the standards of student conduct handbook. So this is a major change to our language that if a student misses a in a grading period, a student who misses in a nine weeks period, five days or more or more than five days from a class that meets every single day or they miss three days from a class that meets on an alternate days, they will receive a failing grade. That is what the regulation says and that if they unless they can document that they're being absent is for a justifiable

018reason. And so that's one of the big things I wanted to make sure I bring to your attention that's going to be different work for our parents that the expectation of the bar has been raised. You miss more than five days, you are in jeopardy of failing that class because you're missing too much content. Right? And we've also gone on to say you can't miss eight more than 18 days because if you miss more than 18 days of a class that meets every day and nine days of a class that meets every other day, you've pretty much lost so much content. you're not ready to move on and you shouldn't earn a passing grade because we currently based on the work of the task force have students who are missing 18 days, missing five more

019than five days and are still passing the course. And so we're putting we're recommending in our in our in our um regulation to put more teeth into this regulation and begin the process of educating parents, educating students because again at the high school level they can get up and come to school. And if you miss a certain number of days that credit that you want those credits that you need, you will not be able to get credit for that course. And so that um concludes the presentation from the task force. Um and I'll take questions for your pitch. >> Thank you. We'll start with Mr. Miles. Um they gave us some good things to start off with, but we got to really take a take a look at this because because some of the things

020that um you could have a kid that missed five days in a grading period and didn't miss a day all year long and end up failing the class for whatever circumstances and they not really chron chronically um absentee person. You know, they had perfect attendance the first nine weeks, second nine weeks, third nine weeks there's a problem. he missed five days and we gonna fail him. We got to really look at every every little thing. They they came up with some really good stuff. I'm really concerned about the um about uh having an excuse for taught if the parents sign them in. I don't think they parent come bring a child in and sign them in. I don't think they need a written excuse, you know, especially elementary school, you know, because we now we're

021going to take up a lot of time with that. I think if if Mr. dance brought this child in and he signed them in because they were late for whatever reason and the parent signed them in. I think that should be the end of it. I don't think we should have to get an excuse from the parent if they brought the child in. Now, if you want an excuse, then that's the time to get it then. But at the same time, the parent is there. So if a discussion need to take place or a conversation need to take place what's going on because it might happen again then that we we don't want to put our staff up against the wall and hold them accountable accountable for something that um um that going to be

022repeat itself over and over again. We want to set it up in a way where that we can work with it and and and we can live with it. Um so each grade level is different. I like what some of the things you said about high school, but the failing part, you got a kid passing all year long. Is he going to be allowed to take the the so after he get that failing grade? If you going to fail him, is you still going to test him and get take the assessment test or the so and the kid pass that, he still get a failing grade because he missed five days. It's a it's a lot of things in there that need to be looked at. They got some really good points, but it's something

023that we're going to have to revisit. I'm not comfortable with saying that's the bottom line because um we have too many situations with kids. We got a lot of still got a lot of McKenna Vento kids that's under a lot of things going on with them. We got um so the board really need to review this and take time to read it for yourself. So we instead of just approving it, I think each one of us need to read what the task force done, come back with idea maybe in the work session and discuss it is is um that's what I think we should do. >> Thank you, Mr. Miles. Mr. Dance, >> well, I somewhat agree with Mr. Miles. Um it is a pretty strict regulation. However, I I do believe that every every

024case is going to be different and I think we should uh keep that flexibility where we can work with the parent and work with the student and try to come with the with a rationale where we won't fail them because we failing is the last result and we don't want we don't want anybody failing. We want everybody passing. So, I agree with it with the policy. However, I think we should uh have the flexibility to be able to work with our parents and students on every individual case if necessary to try to get the our children our students to pass. >> Thank you, Mr. Dance. Miss Tucker, >> thank you. Um I definitely agree with Mr. dance when he says that we need to keep, you know, the flexibility because everything is case by case.

025But I did want to just touch on because I did have a hands-on um opportunity to work with the task force and um shout out to the task force cuz they did an amazing job. Um thank you for your transparency. Thank you for coming to every meeting. Um and just being open and honest and trying to better our system for our kids. So I did want to say it is not just a policy that is designed to fail our kids. We have to keep in mind that chronically absent students, it occurs when a student misses more than 15 days. So right now we have students that have exceeded the number of 40 in PHS. That's why we say high school because we have students that have exceeded 40 days absent. Even if we recover them

026or we recoup their time, they will still have 25 days absent. They're chronically absent. There's nothing we can do about that. We have lost them according to state numbers. They've fallen in the pool. But these kids have straight A's. So when we say like it is literally case by case. That's why we asking for it to be justifiable because we do understand and I will say Miss Phil has a great system here. She has great people in place. Her counselors are amazing. Um they're ve very hands-on. But what we've realized is there's a lot of times we don't know the resources that kids need because we don't know the extent of any situation or circumstance. So even to that point when we look at um the students that are tardy I work with elementary school

027kids here in Petersburg for a while and what I knew what I what I found out was a lot of kids that would leave early or come to school late didn't even live in the division. So that is one of the things that we wanted to hone in on when we say add those students to a case load because then we can really see you know because some parents are just too proud. They're too proud to just say I need help or you know I'm a McKenna my student is a McKenna Vento. So this gives us an opportunity to then send out resources. How can we help? So I did want to you know share that. Um, let me see what was another point. I think that's it. I just say, um, I just ask

028that we keep an open mind when we're thinking about this. And this was a adding that Miss Fields actually asked for because she's seeing a lot of this when it comes to students that are passing right on through and they are never at school. So, at what point do we hold the trifold, the the school division, the parents, and the student accountable? We have no teeth here to hold the trifold accountable. So, you know, I think it is important that we just keep it in mind. But I'm not opposed to, you know, every board member taking it back and really looking at it because I think once you see and you really understand what we've decided, I think it'll it'll all work out. I'm good. >> Thank you, Tuck. Proctor, >> what's to happen to

029the kids who fail in, you know, using this system? Is there we just say they're out in the community? >> Good afternoon. Thank you, Miss Proctor, for for that question. Um, no, we just don't leave students out there that do fail. They will be provided supports, um, tutoring supports, uh, supports with family engagement. But um it to Miss Tucker's point that she's making and I love that you use the term trifold because when we put guard rails um around um teaching and learning, the responsibility of coming to school, then parents have a responsibility to make sure that they are focused on student attendance, student academic progress. uh our teachers, our leaders and also our community, right? Um and also division staff. Um we don't want our students to fail. We want our students to see

030this and say, you know, if I don't come to school, then there is a risk of me of us failing. We put this in here as a kind of um uh an expectation for all of our students for them to know that um you know there are expectations to achieve um and there are also consequences if you don't come to school. Miss Tucker did mention that we needed more teeth uh to our regulations and and just for just just for clarity um the task force is the superintendent's task force. The policy is you know the board governs the policy however the division operates the regulation. So this is a uh recommendation to the superintendent and how we operate expectations, how we operate the implementation of the policy. But back to your question, no, we do

031not leave students behind if they fail. Um if they do fail, then we look into why. uh there are other supports whereas this student is recommended to the attendance team uh to the student success team um to CIS um so there are so many opportunities for the student to recover. So thank you board thank you board chipper for allowing me to thank you board member proctor for the the question. So, I just want to um just again just kind of um emphasize that they're not automatically going to fail. >> What happens is they have to provide documentation. >> All they have to do is tell us, I've been out, >> give us the appropriate documentation, and then we will um if we can they can justify with their documentation, we will move forward. If a

032student does fail, then we have other pieces like egeneuity. We have other ways for the student again to be able to get the course information and to be able to take the course again if they miss the number of days like we use egeneuity now in summer school. We use it for credit recovery. Um, and we use it for um, and we can also use the recouping structure that we have in place that we're putting that you can come for three hours after school here at the school or at a location and you can make up um, the coursework and you can recoup that. So we have those those things in place to make sure that if the student if they don't bring the appropriate documentation to justify being out then these are two other

033ways to make sure that they have an access to be able to take the course and or either to recoup the time attendance-wise. So just know that with this regulation the intention is not to automatically fail a student. It is not going to be automatic. It is you must bring documentation and you must justify. If you don't do that then we have you are in jeopardy of failing that and you can recoup but you got to attend the recoup sessions. You got to do all of those things and if you don't do those things then you're going to automatically fail the course because we put things in place for you to be able to recoup being absent. And so that's what I kind of want to just um emphasize. Is that helpful board? Um board

034member Proctor. >> Yes. >> Okay. Thank you. Superintendent. Also, um if you don't mind, I would like to add into something that came up from uh our task force when uh we agreed to add this. Um we're preparing our students for real life. Um if you're absent from a college course, you're in jeopardy of failing that course, right? Um if you miss five days of work, you're in jeopardy of losing that job. And so that's why this is focused on high school, right? because it's preparation for you know the real world >> and you must have a justifiable reason because there may because there are incidents where people are sick and there are things if they miss the regulation is about stressing you must have a justifiable reason and you must have documentation >> that's

035right >> that's what the piece I want to make sure that everybody walks away is not intentionally that we're going to automatically fail a child who's absent five days if you're sick with the flu who you're going to be out. Do we have the documentation to back up the fact that you were out you missed five days? Um or if you've been out, you know, there's always the justification that the parent can help justify what happened with the student because they can tell us what happened and you have an opportunity through egeneuity or you can recoup the time. If you don't come back for the recouping time, then you're saying, "I've been absent all these days. I don't plan to come and try to take advantage of the support we put in place." So, what

036you're saying is that I understand I'm going to fill that course if you don't do these things if you should miss days. Is that correct, task force members? >> Okay, >> Mr. Lundy. Well, I definitely go along with what we're doing because it's much much needed. But there's something else that we have to do also as we spend time with our students here in the school. We see movement of running around, time being wasted and those are lives being wasted also. And I think that we need to try to get some type of support system with communities as far as men, women or various other things. But we need to try to get directly to this point and find out what is it that we can do to sustain this situation so that our kids

037can continuously be successful. Thank you, Mr. Lundy. I I just have a few questions. We're going to start back start on number three. Number three, where it says, "Add recovery time. Schools must implement an attendance recovery strategy to improve student attendance and maintain academic achievement. We need to put in here, we need to know what is the attendance recovery strategy that you want the schools to implement." >> Correct? >> Because we want everybody to be on the same page. >> Correct? So you need to the task the task force needs to go back and you need to show them or give them the actual tenants recovery strategy that they need to use at each school because if everybody is going to implement their own it's going to be different. So the next one oh throughout

038this here you all are talking about an attendance team. Who is on the attendance team? I don't see that anywhere in your regulation either. Who is your attendance team made of? It's not listed in your regulation. >> Well, we board chair um I think it gives an a school an opportunity to be very strategic on who should be on the on the team. Um uh Dr. Manson >> talking about consistency across the Petersburg City Public Schools. >> Consistency is that they have to have a attendance team >> made of >> absolutely who's on the team are teachers, uh related service providers, administrators, um uh who are all looking at student attendance. Um, and that's pretty consistent across every school. Um, but what wasn't named in the regulation was the requirement of having an attendance team.

039>> So, we wanted to make sure we added that. >> Okay. So, do you think when you all go back and look at it again that you can update that and tell us the actual titles of individuals that's going to serve on the teams? So, we're consistent say in all schools So, and I know Dr. Manson's not here this evening, but um um and so basically clarifying so that's really clear for implementation that every team will have an attendance team and here what I'm hearing J P is that here's who is who should be on the attendance team at every single school and so that'll be and oh thank you oh hey thank you so thank you so much I'm Mr. Custello is here for uh Dr. Manson tonight. So, Dr. Man, I mean, uh,

040Mr. Custo, if you could come and um kind of uh talk a little bit about and so Mr. Patrick could go back to that um um um the question. So, we talked about who's on the team and so we know we need to add that to the regulation, but if you could um pick back up from the first question. Thank you, Mr. Castillo. Uh each school has an attendance team of different members but uh the core of that team consists of family engagement, school social workers, uh behavior interventionists, school administrators, um teachers as well as directors from various departments. Um we also could have u some outside uh parental involvement at the time as well. It looks different from what you would see at Westview uh compared to the high school. However, there is a

041robust team that consists of those people is there. We also have truency that also uh sit on that team and while we have one uh due pro due uh hearing officer, she does rotate throughout those teams as best possible. But that's the core of each school's team >> and and thank you Mr. Kelor because you you brought up something that I I was not going to even address. Westview is not listed in here, but you just brought them up. >> Yes. Uh Westview does have does have an attendance team and >> but they're not listed in the they're not listed in the um regulation. >> I'll make sure that >> we're only addressing elementary, middle, and high school in the regulation. >> Yeah, I'll make sure that get that gets to that. >> So, like

042Mr. M said, it needs to go back and you really need to work on it because this is something I believe board members we need to implement for the 26 27 school year. Nothing we're going to do right now. Hopefully, I hope y'all weren't thinking we were going to do it now. Hopefully, it's for the next school year. So it's a lot of work as Mr. I I agree with Mr. Ms. is a lot of work that we that need to be looked at and to bring it back because another one of my questions is how do you define justifiable documentation? How is that defined? >> Right. I got one more member that I did miss our McKenna Vento leazison too. Well, she's one person. She does attend. >> You all right? And all that.

043>> Make sure you have all them listed in there. >> Absolutely. >> Because I mean because the parent get to see the policy, they get to see the regulation. So the parent may want to know also who can I reach out to that's on that team and so to have those titles there then they know when they call a school you don't always have to call the principal. >> Absolutely. >> So yeah there are forms that actually uh that are housed within uh the process itself that we have for for internal and notes letters that we send out to parents for whether it's three five seven days or or more that go out. However, as far as uh the structure of each school, um that's a question I cannot answer, but that is definitely correspondence

044that we can put out uh to identify what that structure looks like, who those folks are, and who they should reach out initially and then as we can uh assist them in that manner. So, yeah, that's no problem for us to be clear on approach >> and we need to make it clear what what the justifiable documentation is also. >> Absolutely. Also, um I'm kind of I'm kind of taken back on the failing part. We need to make it clear. Will the student fail the class or will the student not fail the class? It it's not it's not that clear and precise in here because I'm concerned because we don't want to create an overage pathway either. I mean that is something we have been trying to get away from and if we fail kids

045then we gonna have a large summer school also that we have to pay more teachers to work summer school. So I we really need to look at it to make sure that we have this damn tight and right. Have we had the attorney to look at what you all have presented us thus far? >> Yeah. The forms that we've put out. Yes. Uh >> forms talking about the regulation that is written. >> Um that's a answer that I cannot give you. Uh question I cannot answer right away. We would definitely get to you on that. >> Okay. So when y'all go back, make sure before you bring us this regulation back for next school year, make sure that our attorney has reviewed this to make sure that we don't have anything that we can be

046sued on. >> Absolutely. >> Okay. >> Yeah, no problem. >> Thank you, Mr. >> Mr. Miles. You know, um when I first retired, um Miss Fields became principal. That was years ago. So, um she tightened up on the athletic program. She came up with her own program where that Virginia High School League said if you take um five classes, you have to pass at least four. You're taking seven classes, you got to pass at least five. And and that mean you can have um five D's and two Fs and be eligible to play. At Petsburg High, she raised the standard. You cannot have any D's and no else. So everyone that play for Petersburg High, whether it's band, cheerleading, athletics, no one has a D or F on their report card. And so it's I

047love that we raised the standard years ago because it changed the whole face of Petersburg athletics and being a student athlete. Now we changing the face of attendance where it got to be some type of reward there also. It got to be some something there that going to lift them up. Not just every time you do something wrong, knock them down. So when I hear about all these consequences, um we got to have something to go along with those consequences where we can um build them up. Um so you you know I was really concerned with the team that you named because I have never heard of attendance team not having a counselor or nurse on it. Never. So if you gonna have an attendance team, you the counselor and and and other thing, medical

048reasons, stuff like that, you got to have somebody in there that can handle that stuff that that they have ability to even take a look at it and address it and make sure that what we receive is um um what what it um that uh we need to document what it is that we're doing. And uh so it's very important that you include those professionals. Um it's good. I don't have a lot of faith in truency because I have been to the courts too many times and we have gone nowhere with truency. So when people tell me about we got these truency people involved, hey, spend a lot of money, I don't see a lot of results. So um um I agree with Mr. Pritchard. This is not something we going to vote on tonight,

049but with that team, you definitely need um at least a school counselor and nurse involved. >> So if I can speak to that quickly, like I spoke on that. We do have a school counselor as well. So, like I said, it's a pretty robust team. We do have school counselors that do support those >> and there also may schools that actually have a medical professional or school nurse, but that's something that I'll have to verify. >> Also, the current documents that we're using that you look at are are um aligned with what we currently do, not our new processes that we're putting in place. So that that documentation is supporting for what we do as far as our our current practices, not not the not the uh not the new recommendations that we have here.

050You know, it might not sound Mr. Chair, Mr. chair. Um being being involved, it might not sound like um that uh we're really involved enough. We sometimes to improve something, you got to inconvenience yourself. And I tell uh teachers and staff that all the time. We we had a student that was um chronically absent. He was acting up in school when he got to school and they tried to get in contact with the parents and the contact information weren't right. I said, "When was the last time y'all checked this?" We four months into school system. Now we're trying to get in contact with the parents. Couldn't get in contact with the parents and um when he was acting up. So I went to the bus stop and to see which bus he was riding. So

051I I'm going to verify where he lived. So he uh didn't get on the bus. He walked and he walked down there. So I saw that he was down there at the state. I went down there the next morning. got I got got down there 45 minutes early before the bus got there. I knocked on every door down there at landmark. I I went down the first building, knocked looking for him. But I got by the time I got to the second door on the fourth building, he answered the door and his parents was there. And I didn't blow him off. I said, "Look, I'm here because we tried to get in contact with your parents yesterday and couldn't get in contact with him. Not quite sure your parents if something happened to that child

052they would like to know that something is going on with that child. The parents came to the door they thanked me like 10 times. They gave me all the contact information. I went back to school. How many times do we verify that contact information when I was a teacher my home room? I checked it at least once a month to let them know how the kids were doing. Whether it was a um um um um something that a correspondence back and forth, telephone calls, something. But we got to verify that stuff. When we're communicating with parents and within a month, if you got if you just do your home room, you understand that communication builds relationships. And that relationship is going to improve that attendance and behavior because when they know we're communicating with their

053parents, with that home, that changes the whole thing. And the thing is is that we don't have enough communication with parents to prove intendance the way we doing. get creating penalties is not building relationship. And we got to build those relationships, especially with those um ones that have challenges because you'll be surprised what's going on with these um some of these people and just talking to them, letting them know that you care and that you're interested and that that child is um um to keep them up with what that child is doing because the most the greatest asset we have in this community, our children. And that's what we're investing in here. So, we got to be able to show that as a staff when we communicate with the community and the parents in the

054homes and how much we doing that. I don't think we communicating as much as we used to. >> I can give you my honest opinion, you know, to be fair about it. I I do think that the because I am on two of the teams and I do think that we have a system and processes in place that are appropriate and I do think that we are communicating with our families. Uh we are putting uh things in place. We're supporting our students. I'm open to the constructive criticism and I'm sure anything can improve, but I I will tell you that there are teams such as the high school was vice chair Tucker stated that that I'm on and I do see that we are constantly um communicating with our families and that is the intent

055of the team. Um that's the foundation of what the team wants to do to make sure that our parent understands that the accountability will lie at home, but we're the support to to remove those barriers to find a way to get them to school. And can I just add also and I can speak from the engagement side is that um we have a parent liaison model um that was instituted last year and each parent liaison has a case load um of students um whereas uh the parent liaison is working with the family and the school uh to tighten that connection and that engagement um and their ga case load consists of students that are chronically absent. So uh we do have a strategy and an infrastructure that is building um around that um in addition

056to what Mr. Cusselo had mentioned um that case there's documentation um of each visit. Um myself I've also attended attendance team meetings such in Pleasant Lane, Walnut Hill. Um our engagement staff is always there to support um our attendance team members uh uh around parent concerns, student concerns. So we do have a structure uh for that to tighten the connection between home and school. So again, um, thank you board members. Um we are again we are working um so these were the original like I said thank you um Vice Chair Tucker for working on because I know you worked on this this this these recommendations and changes and um wording um because I know that you brought some of your experiences and some of the things that you've known that um to add some additional

057supports in place um and so um this is still our kind of work in progress and so we're going to need to go back. Dr. Manson of course um is out ill today. So uh we want to be able to provide him an opportunity as student support to be able to add additional context to um to this. And so um but we were able to provide today and here um related to the regulation of how we're trying to add more teeth to um attendance and chronic absenteeism. And so we've heard um um some of the feedback for clarity um around implementation of this. And so we will be working to bring this back um with um student support working with the um as a part of the attendance task force. And I know that you

058got some feedback too, um, Vice Chair Tucker to take back cuz you've heard these conversations firsthand. And it would be great to, you know, um, like I said, offer, you know, the task force thinking when you all came up with these recommendations, right? Um, your thoughts on what, you know, what was the thinking around that? Um, so we will take this back. Um, and we will, like I said, we'll work with Dr. I I I just want to make sure that that the board was not out of order and and we are we we are in line with the code of Virginia. The code of Virginia 22.1-78 bylaws and regulations. A school board may adopt bylaws and regulations. So it does come to the school board and we do have the authority to adopt regulations.

059It's not just that the superintendent does regulations and we go with it. The board does oversee bylaws and regulations based on the code of Virginia 22.1-78. Go ahead. Oh, I'm sorry, Miss Tucker. >> I did want to just say um thank you so much for the feedback. As you all know, this is my first policy that I'm working on, so it's going to be right. Um it's definitely going to be right. This is not discouraging at all. We actually had a really really great conversation yesterday um on some of these things actually and just talking about um some of the needs that we see um to Mr. Ma's point um when you said that it just doesn't seem like we're doing enough to reach out and to reach you know what are we doing as

060far as like on the ground work. Um that was one of my questions on yesterday. Um and I think you know just to revisit some of our processes and some of the things that we have in place because this is only a portion. This is only a portion. So um thank you so much for the feedback and I have definitely taken notes very well. So um yeah this is not discouraging. We come we coming back. I mean I don't have a problem with it. The only I do not have a problem with the only thing that scares me is the failing grade and creating an overage population which could cause the child to fail the actual grade if they're in the ninth grade, 10th grade, could cause them to fail that grade. And we have

061dealt this this some of us on this board, we have dealt so long with the overage population that they had worked to get it straight. And so we don't want to go back to that again because we would have I mean because we had discussions, believe it or not, we've had discussions where we had PE teachers that failed the kids for not dressing out and they had to we had to hire PE teachers for summer school in order for the kids to pass >> and we had we had to cut that out. >> They just got a failing grade because they wouldn't dress out. >> Yeah, Mr. here. You know, when we address absenteeism, especially taught, we see it all the time at um student hearings and and then we look at the actual record

062and we find out that just to give you example, just a middle school kid, they come in there, they they got suspended for one thing. We looked at the absenteeism, the absenteeism is not that good. Then we look at the every day and they done missed this class, they missed that. They started for you know during the school day the same behavior that it during the school day is not being addressed. He don't. So we saying, well, how can you be absent five times, but you're absent from this class right here 25 times and it's in the middle of the day. So the thing is is that those type of um concerns that we don't address and don't develop those type of relationship because evidently this kid got somewhere to go during the day where

063he can cut this fourth period class every day at least 25 times in a in a school year or in a semester and that's unheard of. So we got a lot of things with absenteeism that we'll see when we come to a student hearing. We get kids get that come in for a suspension without a doubt they suspended for 10 days. But we don't but and then we look at they come to us, you got suspended for 10 days, but you've been out of school 51 days. We had a situation where a kid missed 51 days out of school and and somebody dropped the ball. That's unheard of. I will honestly say since you've been here, it has gotten better, a lot better. Um, Miss Superintendent, since you've been here, gotten a lot better. We

064haven't had as many cases where kids um that had happened again. But at the same time, we don't had those situations. And Mr. Pritchard know, he sat on the committee also. And the thing is that we see that on a regular basis sometime, not as extreme as it was. It didn't truly gotten better. I would honestly say that. But a lot of things need to be addressed inhouse and those relationships. Our responsibility when somebody send kids, we we we're good stewards and their kids supposed to and the parents expect their children to be where they supposed to be during that assigned period and that they somebody is monitoring the kids 100% all day long. They they should go and super supervise. So, um, we do not, you know, that's why when we come up with

065a policy, we got to make sure that we have a policy that we implement in a way that will reward us with the right behaviors and that we're going to address those behaviors. Because if we're going to address those behavior coming to school, we got to address those same behaviors in school and make sure what's going on in school is is is taking place correctly, too. And if we stricter there, they going to know that certain things not going to be tolerated because we can't tolerate bad behavior, especially attendance. Cuz what Miss Gay said, I'm telling you, as an industrial manager and and and plant manager, I would tell you the fastest way to lose a job is attendance. Every time. And you don't have to miss five days. I get rid of you three

066days. I tell you right now because I need somebody at work. >> And to that point, I just want to say cuz you did say something earlier you said about how women's fields got here, how she shifted the face of how athletics looked because she raised the bar. this part of and I I do want to say this, this is something that came straight from the high school and throughout their experience, what they have experienced, this is what Miss Fields has been adamant about seeing. And so I'm sure I'm I'm 100% positive that once we take this back to the task force, um she'll give us what we need as far as what she wants to see, but that the meat and potatoes, but this was something that she wanted to see and we wanted

067to honor it because like you said, she has done a lot of great things for this school. So that was one of the, you know, reasons why we agreed to put it in there. But we'll get it right. And Mr. um Kaslo, if y if you all can take it back to Dr. Manson and and also Dr. Gay and if you all can research for Westview because I know when we did the implementation of uniforms because they are different. They're under federal. We could not re we could not mandate that those kids wear uniforms. So I it'd be good to know whether you can mandate that they come to school over there because I don't think we can. >> That that is correct. They do not fall under the compulsory attendance act. However, we we

068work with them because we want to create an understanding of that you have to show up to school on time because once they get to kindergarten, the expectation is to be on time and stay at school and not leave early. So, that's why it's a priority that we prepare them early to be there. But, but yes, that is correct. Like we we model something for them that is not mandatory. Yes, sir. >> Okay. Appreciate it. Great conversation. I think a lot has come out of it and we look forward to the next round. >> Thank you all. >> I ring it. >> Next round. >> Next we move. Oh, it is. It's Mr. Klo. We move to B. Forward B. >> Thank you board chair pitch and school board members. Again, thank you for your

069feedback. So, we have So, again, um Dr. Manson, we wish him a speedy recovery. And so tonight we will have our McKenna Vento program update who will be given by Miss Anise Flowers who is our new newest McKenna Vento leaison who will be supported by Mr. Costello. >> Uh good morning Chairman Pritchard, Vice Chair Tucker, Superintendent Brown, fellow board members, all those in attendance and those that are attending virtually. Um I am Mr. Custoa, director of special education, and I am substituting for Dr. Manson tonight uh due to an unexpected illness. Uh you guys have seen me more uh before. The difference is I have a little more hair than Dr. Manson. Um but we also have uh Miss uh Andreise Flowers who is our uh division liaison who has been with us for a

070few months now and then I will allow her to to come up when she gets to her part of the presentation. But with that being said, if we can move to the next slide, please. So tonight's agenda, we're going to what is McKenna Vento, what does the law require and then we want to talk about understanding our actual practices in Petersburg and then how has uh Mckin Vento reached the students and our next steps. So today's presentation will focus on educational or student educational stability. So we'll talk about the stability piecing or peace or stabilization for students which is required under the law and then we'll talk about the family piece family stabilization which is a part of our add-on of programs and initiatives to support those families. Next slide please. Hi, good evening board

071and guest. Um, so when we're breaking down and defining what McKenna Vento is, it is considered our students who are lacking fixed and regular permanent housing and residence. Um, this includes our children who are also sharing housing with other persons in our district. This also includes our children and youth who do not have a primary nighttime residence. That is a public or private place not designated for ordinary places of sleep. Can you guys hear me? Okay. Thank you. And last but certainly not least, this is also including our migratory children. We can move to the next slide. Okay. So again, when we're breaking down students who are eligible underneath Mckenny Vento, um students who are living with another family within our district, this is oftent time what we refer to as our doubled up students.

072um students who are also staying or residing within shelters and transitional housing. And then our students that are within motel, cars, parks, and other places that are again are not meant for sleeping. We can move to the next slide. All right. So, I wanted to make sure that we had a very clear and broken down understanding of what the identification process looks like from beginning to end. And so, leading into step one is going to be the initial contact and identification. This typically takes place when our families are coming into the district and we're registering a new student. Um, at that time, some indicators or red flags that a family may be experiencing homelessness or housing displacement would be like if they don't have a fixed address, if they're lacking certain student records like immunizations

073or report cards, things of that nature would be red flags and at the time of registration, our registars do have access to our McKenna Vento eligibility form. Moving into step two, this would be eligibility and immediate support. This is when I would reach out to parents based on the information that's on that screening form and ask them a couple of questions in regards to what's going on, what caused displacement, and how we can be of support. Step three is going to move into the data and documentation. This is when I will go into our student database portal, which is power school, and indicate that that student is labeled underneath McKenna Vento. We can move to the next slide with step four. This is going to be one of the most common needs that our families

074express and that's setting up transportation. So we ensure that all students who are identified underneath McKini Vento first and foremost have access to be able to get to school each day. So the transportation team in our district is wonderful specifically pointing out Melody Temple. She has been amazing in making sure that our students are scheduled, whether that be through Everdriven or routed through our buses here in the district. Step five is comprehensive support. So, what that looks like is reaching out to families to say, "Hey, what are your immediate needs outside of transportation? Can you guys hear me better?" >> Okay, my apologies about that. Um, so that would look like our families being able to receive the tangible things that they need. So whether that be hygiene kits, food, clothing, things that will help

075our students to be able to transition into the building every day seamlessly as other students do that are not considered McKenna Bento. And then lastly, step number six is our ongoing monitoring. So that's making sure that our students grades and attendance and academics are on point where they need to be. Um that's also reaching out to families to see if there are any other needs in terms of community resources that we can assist with. This slide specifically breaks down some of the things that we can do or um purchase in terms of title one funding. Um a lot of those things were outlined in terms of hygiene, um transportation to medical appointments, anything that the family would need to make sure that student has a ground to be successful. This slide specifically outlines the things

076that we have done within our district to be able to support our families. We had individual donors and the Department of Social Services support temporary housing and gift cards for approximately 10 families. We've transported um in emergency situations where families need to get to school or as mentioned um there was a specific family that I helped to um go to an apartment complex to fill out an application to help them to get into stable housing. So, these are the things that we do on a daily basis. We also have a partnership with People's Advantage Helping Hands. Um, and this is an amazing program that helps our families to be able to transition into stable housing. The bank will extend a loan for up to $4,000 to help with a prevention of eviction or with being

077able to help a family pay first month's rent and deposit. This is a picture of our Amazon room that's at Vernon John's. families do have access to be able to get clothing and shoes out of this room. Um, and prior to our winter storm in January, sorry y'all, I'm nervous. Prior to our winter storm in January, we actually, myself and my colleagues within the student services department and special education, we bagged 61 non-p perishable bags for students to be able to take home with them to have food over the storm. This slide right here specifically break down breaks down data in terms of our students who are specifically living in hotels. We have right now 67 students, 38 at the elementary school level, um eight students at Bamford and eight students at Vernon John's. All

078students are provided transportation as mentioned either through ever driven or our routed buses. And this is uh one of our final slides. This is breaking down what NEPX will look like in terms of McKenna Vento. Um this month, actually towards the latter part of the month, we will be applying for the grant. It's my understanding that we haven't applied for the grant in a year or so. So this will be something new so that we have additional funding to support our families. Um, additionally, we will also be creating a manual which outlines the processes that go into McKini Vento and our homeless population. And then we will continue our partnership with People's Advantage Bank. They've been wonderful. And we actually have a housing and community resource fair scheduled on April 9th at Petersburg Library. We'll

079have two sessions for our families who can make it during the day and then also an afternoon session for our families who want to come after work. And that's it. >> Do you all have any questions? >> Thank you. We appreciate it. Any questions from board members? >> Do you have any Do you have any statistics on the high school or how many you put up there that have um kids staying with um friends and other family that had been displaced? You have any statistics on that? Cuz I experienced that a lot as a coach. >> Absolutely. So specifically with our students who are doubled up, we have 184 across the district. >> Believe when it comes down to the McKenna Vento students at the high school, we have 84. >> 84. >> Mhm. >>

080Yes, sir. >> Yeah. Because I know the high school kids are very proud and resilient and I I seen it many times they staying with a classmate of of someone else or stuff like that. They don't come tell you much, >> right? >> So it's really hard to put a finger on them. So that's good. That's why I asked you, did you have any statistics on them? >> Yes, sir. >> I'm quite sure that number is higher because they do, like I said, they don't tell you much. They they have a lot of pride in not telling you. >> Absolutely. >> Yeah. >> Thank you, Miss Tucker. >> Okay. So, I just have a few questions. So I wanted to on I'm not sure what's is step six ongoing monitoring. >> Yes. >> So who

081provides the monitoring? >> Myself >> for all of >> That's correct. I'm a oneman team. So okay, who has access to the data as far as um when you say um data and documentation? So for any resources that are um allotted to the families who has access to see that or is there a process where as because I remember if I recall there used there is um it goes to the schools. I do know that cuz I read it. It says that it goes to the school and um it's put in their I guess the school registers flag they flag possible. So I'm guessing it goes in their folder if this happens. Are you referring to the eligibility form? >> So when they receive resources, how would the school know what resources are being provided?

082>> Typically that's information that I disclose with the families because they're the ones who's in need of the immediate resources. I do have a resource list that's accessible for to have. I actually have an example packet if you guys would like to review. >> I would. Yes, absolutely. Give me one second. >> Okay. Thank you. And um another question that I had um because I know you said you do all the how often do our families get to visit the Amazon room. Is it at the initial um the initial um contact and identification or do they get to go like frequently? Is that something? >> I'm actually grateful that you asked that question. So, right now, our Amazon room is under construction. >> Absolutely. When I got there, it was in a um very interesting

083state. >> Absolutely. >> So, right now, we do have everything organized in terms of the clothes that were already in there and shoes. Um typically, if a family is expressing a need for clothing, I will use our Title One funds to go out and purchase clothes because, as I mentioned, that room is under construction and we have some clothing items, but we don't have everything. So, in the event that a family needs shoes and there is, you know, an accessible size shoe in there, I will then go grab the clothes for the families and I actually deliver them myself. >> Perfect. >> One last thing, I did ask Dr. Manson, this was before you came on board. I did ask him, had we um secured our partnership back with Amazon, is that something that we

084are still working on? because I've seen that room stack to its capacity and then I've seen it recently and I've seen how resources have depleted. So, is that something that we're still working on? Are we looking at working with other partnerships with getting things put in that room so that our families um can have it's a two-part question. And can some of those resources from the Amazon room be allocated to the schools so that if parents come up and um they make the initial contact and they say, you know, I need laundry detergent. >> Yes. >> They will have laundry detergent and they don't have to go to Vernon John's to get, you know, those things. Is that something that's possible? >> Absolutely. Um so right now I am working on establishing or reconnecting with

085Amazon. That has been one of my biggest challenges with being able to find community partners that will be able to suit our students needs. Um I did have an opportunity to meet with one of our amazing teachers over at Vernon John Middle School. Um she has actually been supporting our students in terms of food insecurity over the last four to five years. And I told her when I met her on Monday, I said the only regret that I have is that we did not connect sooner. She, from my understanding, has a plethora of resources and we do intend to transform that Amazon room into a clothing closet and hopefully we'll be able to open up a food market for next school year. >> Yeah, >> that's all I have. Thank you so much. >> You're

086welcome. Thank you. >> Thank you. Would you please I think that with the presentation it was a mixup but could you please introduce yourself to the board because you have been here I think since October November and you're a newer face to Petersburg doing this work around our um prize Mckin Vento student. So talk a little bit about yourself um and let them know kind of your experience. >> Yes ma'am certainly. Um I'm Janice Flowers that's already been introduced. Um I am born and raised from Chesterfield County Virginia. Um, I was raised by a single mom and you know, I'm giving a little bit of this background because I want you guys to understand that this work for me is not just professional, it's personal first. Um, my mom was a very hard worker. Raised

087me in a single um, parent dynamic household. And, um, we did a lot of moving when I was a kid. I went to five different elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school. When I reached the sixth grade, my mom was a first-time homeowner and that was the most stability that we had in quite some time. Um, and we stayed there from the time that I was in sixth grade until 10th grade. Unfortunately, uh, my mother's home went into foreclosure and that is when we experienced homelessness for the first time. So, I am not just a McKenna Vento liaison. I am a former McKenna Vento student from Chesterville County. >> Um, but I'm grateful to say that I stand here today not as a statistic. I stand here as a success story. Um, I

088later went on to graduate from Monin High School and I attended Norfolk State. I graduated in 2016. You attended where? >> Wait a minute. Hold on. I'm not finished. >> Oh, I know you probably got that masters from >> Wait a minute. >> I got a little homesick, Mr. Fitcher, and came back. I attended Virginia State University, graduated with my masters in education in 2019. I then served as a school counselor for the last five years before being granted the opportunity to to serve as your liaison. So that is who I am. Thank you. >> Well, you you got a little bit of both. The Spartans and the Trojan, so that's all right. >> Who is your first love? Who's my Who's your first love of the two? Oh my goodness, that sounds like a

089trick question. Mr. Costello wanted me to mention this. I don't mention this when I do introductions because I think that the life that you lead is better than any title that you earn. But he wanted me to say this. I was Miss Norfolk State University 2015 2016. >> Hold the green and gold. We were at the meeting, >> Miss Pro. Any questions? >> Mr. Lundy. Okay, I'm fine. Appreciate. >> Thank you, board. I appreciate you guys' time. >> Thank you. Welcome aboard. >> Always remember, be whole. Yeah. Next, we'll move Miss Brown to C. >> All right. Thank you, Boj Pitch. Thank you, school board members. We will now have our summer FY2526 calendar updates. And so, thank you for the opportunity to bring our calendar back for review. um as there are some minor

090tweaks we'd like to make to the 2526 26 27 calendar for your um review um and consideration for approval. And so again, I want to thank the wonderful calendar committee that consisted of lots of our community members who worked on the calendars for 2526 and 2627. But as with everything in life, nothing is perfect. And so as you go along, you look for ways to make things better and to figure out how to make tweaks because you don't know what you don't know at the time. And so you work and you figure it out and you get good information and you come back and say, can we revisit it again to make a tweak um in support of our employees and the work that we do each day. So today I'm going to tonight I'm

091going to bring the employee calendar updates for your consideration. And so quickly, our agenda this evening is going to be talking about key four key things. The recommended C 2526 spring break dates for 12-month employees only. I'll give you an overview of the summer 2026 work schedule employee survey and results in summer 2026 work schedule recommendation that you all ask that we launch a survey. And then I want to give you the recommended calendar changes for employees for 2627. And then for summer remote remote workday logistics overview this evening I have with me I have Dr. Yasmin Gay chief of staff and I also have um Dr. Shimika Long Lane who will support with any questions as it relates to the tweaks to our 2025 2026 this year and 2020 2026 2027 for next year.

092Next slide please. So, our very first slide, we want to talk about spring break 2026. And I just want to just remind everyone on the current calendar for this school year, we have designated spring break for Petersburg 12 month employees only, 12-month employees as the 30th and the 31st of 2026. That is a Monday and a Tuesday. I would like to change those dates to be April 2nd and 3rd, which will be a Thursday and a Friday, which will align for our 12-month employees to have the 2nd and the 3rd, and then they'll also be off this year, which was a great recommendation by the calendar committee to have off Easter Monday. So instead of them having to come on Monday and Tuesday unless they take the whole week using their time, they can then

093have Thursday, Friday, and then of course the Monday has already been approved. And so I'd like to move from the Monday, Tuesday for spring break for 12 month employees because remember our other employees are off work 10, 10 and a half and 11 months. They're already out for the duration of the week. So again, this is only 12-month employees. And so I'm recommending that the board consider approving the current cal the calendar now is 30th and 31st. I'd like to recommend that we move 12-month employees for the two days that we will get we provide to 12-month employees for spring break will be Thursday and Friday instead of March 30th and 31st which is Monday and Tuesday. >> Any questions from board members? >> All she's doing is just trading off two days. >> Okay.

094Next >> no Thursday. >> Monday will be off Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday if we approve it. And they I mean they work Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and be off Thursday and Friday if we approve it. Yes. >> Goes along with that Easter Monday there. >> Yes. >> No, no, they're not getting any no any extra days. It's the same day. >> Yeah, >> it's the same. It's the two days. So the Monday and Tuesday would have been the days they got off, right? And they would have to work on Wednesday. So now I just wanted to give them the Thursday and Friday so that they can stay Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday is already given and then Monday the Easter holiday. So that gives them more consistent time versus having to work Monday and Tuesday. If you take

095your time, you could be off for the week, but Monday and Tuesday doesn't give you you have to then work and then be off again on Monday. So basically, we're just switching out the days from Monday, Tuesday and switching them to Thursday, Friday. You already have to work on Wednesday that first. It's not off. So you got to take your time anyway. So all I ask is that we switch out those two days. M >> pro. >> Yes. I move that we accept the recommendation. >> Oh, I'm terribly sorry. I don't >> We're at This is still discussion. >> Yeah, she's going to bring it back to us under action. >> Just want to give you all the information. It's real quick. Yeah, it is under action. Should be >> But we will move it.

096How about you move it? >> Um make a motion to move 4 C to six. >> Dr. Gay, it should be under action because it is an action item and with the addition >> it had to be moved. It's not under I move as they said. Okay. Okay. So um so thank you. >> So you move 4 C. >> I move 4 C to 6 >> to 6E. >> 6E. >> Is there a second? >> Second by Mr. Miles. All in favor? I oppose. Motion carries. Now we'll come to our action item which is the summer 2526 calendar update. Um Miss Brown, your recommendation for 6E. >> You don't mess me up. She had finished. >> Go ahead. She hadn't finished. I'm sorry. >> That's okay. It's fine. I'm glad that you all wanted to

097move it. Thank you so much. So, but I wanted to make sure that you understand what we're moving. So, let's go quickly. So, we got the the two days. >> Yeah, it is recommended that we vote on. >> Yes. Exactly. So, there's a couple things I want you all to vote on all at one time. So, thank you. We got the two days. We just want to switch for spring break. Next slide, please. So, now this is the summer work 2026 work schedule employee survey overview. I remember when we brought the calendars last year, I think it was you vice chair Tucker who asked about doing a survey. So what we did was following that meeting, we launched a survey in October of October 1st to October 15th of 2025. We surveyed as a school

098division the 10 and a half, 11, and 12 month employees around survey choices around the summer work schedule. There's been lots of conversations since I've been in Petersburg and I think it's been years before about the 10-hour work days. We've had that. And so we wanted to provide a survey to to our employees to say, "What do you want summer to look like as far as the work calendar days?" And so, I'm sorry, the work time, excuse me. So, what we did was we put together a survey and we gave them three choices. We said Monday to Friday, you work your regular schedule. The second choice we gave them was a 10-hour workday, which is what's been implemented in Petersburg before in other localities near Petersburg City Public Schools. We gave them a choice of

099two times, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or 7:30 to 5:30 p.m., but we also added an additional um choice for them. Do you want to work your regular schedule Monday to Friday and just have a remote day on Friday so you don't have to drive to the office but you're still working? And so we gave them the choice of those three choices. Here is what the data says and we kept we kept it for two weeks. Here's what the data says. We ready? Next slide. Here's what the data says. So, we had a 44% response rate and so we had employee responses, right? We we did 12-month employees which include central office and school-based employees, your principles, your secretaries, you know, other assistant principles, 11-month employees, and 10 and a half month employees that are

100affected by the June and July summer work schedule in August. the short time in August. So here is what the data told us. So what we did the survey just so you can see everybody had to identify their assigned work location. If you don't see a category, they had to go with a different category. So we see school-based 45% of the people that responded were school-based. And then you saw the 12-month employees, the 10 and a half month employees, and the 11-month employees because that's who's affected at some point by the summer schedule. 10 and a half employees, 10 and a half month employees don't work all summer. They may work the first week. So they may have that Friday. The 11 month work a certain length. And of course 12 months are every single

101day during the summer unless they take their time. So that's what the data that's what the the pie pie charts show. Here are the results of the three choices. Next slide please. Of the three choices, our 10 and a half, 12 month, and 11 month said, one person said they wanted to work the regular schedule Monday through Friday. 41% said they wanted to do the 10 hours a day with Friday off. 61% of the population said they want to work Monday through Friday, regular schedule, and they want Friday to be a remote work day. That is what the survey results have indicated. We surveyed them. We asked them and this is what they said. And so I wanted to just show that data. Next slide. So if the change in working which means there will

102be no if approved there will be no summer work hours. It will be the regular schedule with the one-day remote. We already work remote on wellness days. 12 months already works remote the one day when we have a wellness day. So here's what changes if we go away from the 10-hour days and we go with the recommendation that I'm making from our employees which is that they will work their regular schedule and one day remote. Here's what will change on our 2526 calendar. We will now be observing fully the June 19th which is Junth. If you remember we moved it to be able to provide the day during the holiday. We will not do that. We will still do as you've talked about um Mr. miles. Junth will be the Junth and we will we

103will adhere to that as observed in our policy GCBD ARA right and 2026 27 if this is approved for just one remote workday in the summer July 3rd will be observed as the regular July day remember we were off automatically so it was basically we were already off and we had a holiday so we will continue with of of course observing as required the July 3rd 2026 six. And here's the different change. On December 23rd, where we originally provided them with an additional day, that now becomes a full workday. And if employees want to be off 12 month, they must take their own time. And then in 2027 of June, that will be observed as a regular holiday in alignment with the board policy GCBDR. Okay. >> Okay. June 19th Junth. Absolutely. So you want

104Okay, gotcha. So next slide. So here are what the logistics look like. Just so you're aware. So if we move from the 10 hours to the what the employees have said that they wanted, which is the one remote workday on Friday, they would work their regular hours with Friday being remote. And of course, operation staff is different because they're on a different schedule. And they work that out amongst the operation staff. We never interfere with the operation schedule because we're getting schools ready. There are things happening. Dr. Martinez and Mr. Gdette will work as they always do to manage um the operation schedule. The schoolboard office will remain open with front desk support to make sure that there we have our front desk covered so that when someone comes in, they can greet guests, they

105can answer the phone, and they can receive packages. And if someone needs to make sure that they need to contact anyone that they're there to also direct them to the phone lines that we will have um for during the time. So the the the front main office will still be open. It will not close. All admin supervisors are expected to monitor employees to ensure compliance just like they do during the wellness days with expectations to ensure that work planning and tasks are completed appropriately. Okay, those are the some of the logistics. Next slide, please. The next slide says, "Summer work logistics continue." So, here are the communication tools that we're trying to put in place, and some are already in place for a Friday remote workday. Currently, we have an Encore voice voice over IP

106phone system that sends voicemails to employee emails. We're working to add an app to employee laptops so that their desk or office phones can ring directly to their computers and calls can be conducted on the computer. Miss Yates is here. I know Miss Yates right here is working on that. Um, thank you, Miss Yates. And then our human resources team and other identified staff within departments will be assigned a division cell phone so that their calls at their desk can also be forwarded and received in addition to adding on the app to the computers. And this is a practice of um that's not unusual that you can have something that you can make sure that your phones continue to ring. And of course, we will have someone at the front desk who will be answering

107the phone and will be able to direct and greet guests as we said before. Next slide, please. And so with that, that completes the presentation portion of the changes that we'd like to make to the 2526 and 2627 calendars. Um, thank you for the opportunity to present for consideration. Thank you, Mr. Chair. >> Questions from board members. Um, Mr. Lundy, you okay? Um, Miss Proctor, Miss Tucker, Mrs. Mr. Dan, >> one quick question. The operations team, what what will their hours be? Will they be working uh Monday through Friday or 10 hours? >> How you doing, Mr. Dance? Um, they'll be on a staggered uh uh schedule. So, um, it it just depends on what the operations are and what they need. So, so it it'll be staggered. >> Okay. Thank you. >> You know,

108good that you take a questionnaire and ask everybody what they want, but sooner or later somebody going to have to take this bull by the horns and and regulate it. When it come to executive positions that some of the people in, they want to take a remote day. It don't have to be Friday. It could be any day. I don't care because they know what they doing and they know how to work and they know their people. when it come to running that central office, it should be open on regular hours Monday through Friday. So the general staff should be there. We should be able to do do business between Monday through Friday. The ex the higher ups, you run that. If you need a day off, you need you want to work from home,

109whatever you want to do. Hey, that's your team. That's your that's your thing. You gonna make sure you get the work done. But the general people that need to be in their office to keep regular office hours, a remote day is not reasonable for them because they need to work the 40 hours in that office. We need to run that. And the thing is is that I've been saying it from day one and we keep coming up with these surveys and schedules. Sooner or later, the executive just got to take control and say this is the way we going to run central office. we going to keep it open 20 um uh 8 hours a day Monday through Friday so we can do business with the rest of the community. So, you know, might pass

110it forth, you know, I will support you in anything you do, but when it come to that central office, it should be open Monday through Friday, 8 hours a day. And I would never change on that. You y'all might go ahead and do what you want to do, but I would never change my opinion when it comes to a business to run it like a business. And like I said, you're the executives, but the people that work there that got to take care of the business, we should keep regular business hours at central office. And that's why we keep coming back to this over and over and over again. And other local are doing it. And we come up it could be a survey, but the survey don't dictate to what our executives want and

111what need to be done and the needs of the community. So that's my comment. I'm not going to tell you what to do, but I know I'm telling you like this. When you at the top, you the you are the top and you do it your way. And don't when it comes to that schedule, you create the schedule and those people have to work and we get the job done. I mean, if if you a director or um or whatever you are, and you whichever way you want to do it, but you keep regular office hours, you're going to get a lot less complaints when you don't keep regular office hours. That's all that's all I had to say. And that's off. I'm not addressing anything else. Just when people call somebody, not just answering,

112people need to respond. We need to get business done on Friday just as well as Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. So, um that's just my opinion. Everybody have one and that's the end of it. >> Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Miles. Um Miss Brown, Mr. Pierce did email me on that and wanted me to share that he doesn't have a problem with u what you're presenting. He said the only thing that he's asking you that you that you must hold your people accountable on that Friday on virtual. He said because he just hopes like Mr. Miles said too that we don't get any complaints that no one is responding on Fridays. He said he supported. He said but you have to hold people accountable. I agree. >> Absolutely. And so all of the supervisors, which is

113why we put that in there because they do the same thing on wellness days. So if you know wellness days, 12-month employees work remotely. So we've been doing this for a whole year. And so, you know, and we don't have summer school on Friday. And that's why we wanted to make sure that we tried to add an app that we added, you know, that we make sure that we can have something where our phones could be, you know, someone calls, we have structures in place. And so the same accountability on wellness days that because the school division is still open. It's just school school teachers and students are not in are not working. On wellness days we're 12 month employees are still working but they have been remote for the last year on every wellness

114day that we've had. And so they um that that's when their meetings are scheduled. That's when you know they're supposed to they answer their phones. The employees, they understand, the supervisors absolutely understand that they are accountable. We've had lots of conversations about the accountability related to their teams, but this is not the first time we've done remote because every wellness day, 12-month employees have been working remote that one wellness day. So, we will make sure that we hold people accountable and we understand that now. And we asked our people because we were asked to do a survey and asked them at the last we said it. They asked could you survey your people and this is what not just central office people said school-based people also said that they wanted the different they didn't want

115they wanted the remote day. So basically they're still working their regular hours they're just not driving to the location for that one day. So absolutely point taken. Thank you. Oh boy. Yeah, we we had already moved the number. So, Miss Brand, all we need is your recommendation under the um sorry, your recommendation under 4E. Oh, I'm sorry. 6E. I'm looking at >> 6E. We didn't remember she hadn't finished. >> Took it back. Took it back. >> Yeah. Because she had not finished, Miss Pract wasn't ready to vote on it. >> Yeah. She had She had a second part. Remember? >> She just >> Uhhuh. >> It's the same thing. It's She had it all on one. She she had it all under one. >> Yeah. She had it all together. She had not finished the

116presentation. >> Okay. So, it's so we're at 6E and Miss Brown, you make your recommendation, Miss Buros, if you would call the role also after the recommendation. >> Okay. Thank you, Butcher Pitch and school board members. Um for 6E, it is the superintendent's recommendation that the school board approve the calendar changes for 2526 spring break for the 12-month employees only, the summer 2026 work schedule recommendation for consideration and the employee of the employee survey results and the recommended calendar changes for 26 2027 as provided. >> Okay. Need a motion to pass the recommendation and then a second and then we'll do the roll call. >> So moved by Mr. M. >> Second, >> Mr. Dance. Mr. Rios, roll call, please. >> Mr. Steven Pierce. >> Mr. Hal Miles. >> Yes. >> Mr. Kenneth Pritchette. >>

117Yes. >> Mr. Kari Tucker. >> Yes. >> Miss Joyce Proctor. >> Yes. >> Mr. Bernard Lundy. >> Yes. >> And Mr. Adrien Dance. >> Yes. The motion carries with six affirmative. >> Thank you, Miss Burios. Okay, Miss Brown, we'll move next to 4 DD. Yes, D. >> Thank you, board chair pitch and school board members. We have our policies for first read this evening. So for our first policy of for first read this evening is PCPS policy. Thank you very much. Make it a little bit larger. Thank you. BDD and that is electronic participation in schoolboard meetings from remote locations. The purpose of this review is that the policy language has been updated. The policy was last revised on 116 2024. The Virginia code requires annual review and adoption. VSBA 82024. PCPS policy number two.

118Policy number BDDL optional. The title of this policy is electronic participation in committee meetings from remote locations. That is a VSBA policy BDDL optional. And the purpose of the review is the policy language remains unchanged. The policy was adopted on 124 2024. The Virginia code requires annual review and adoption. VS SBA policy for first read number three PCBS policy GCEB and that policy title is classifications of employment that there not an accompanying alignment of a VSBA policy but this policy has been revised to correct typographical error and the policy language remains unchanged. Policy number four, PCPS policy LBD and that policy title is called home instruction. The SBA policy LBD and the purpose of the review is the policy is updated to clarify that the school board or superintendent may disclose certain information only with

119the written consent of a parent and only to the extent provided by the parents consent. VSBA 1025. And that concludes our policies for first read this evening. Thank you board chair pitch and school board members. >> Thank you, Miss Brown. Are there any questions from board members? These will come back to to us in April. Okay. Next, we'll move board members to our public comment period. We have one individual signed up. Public comment period. No person may no person may speak on the issue for more than three minutes. Please give your name, address, or ward number when you come to the podium. Miss Kina Harris. >> Good evening, Superintendent Brown, schoolboard chair Mr. Pritchard, Vice Chair Miss Tucker, and school board members. My name is Katina Harris and I'm a grateful second grade teacher at

120Walnut Hill Elementary School. I've served promoting academic, social, and emotional growth for our scholars and their families in early childhood education, elementary education, middle and high school education. For over three decades, I've collaborated with leadership for student success. Excuse my voice because I caught a germ. Do you remember a time in in the history of public education that your staff didn't matter? When did it become popular to tell people that do the work literally from the ground up? That they don't matter? Those that serve and are employed in public school systems apply for the children. The children are our why. Two things can exist at the same time. It's possible. An educator's working environment is the exact same instructional, nurturing, creative environment that our scholars are doing work in. Yet, we ask our staff to

121do things we refuse to do. We ask our staff to hold their urine for 4 to 6 hours a day. We ask our staff to not eat lunch. We ask our staff to work one or two hours before their shift and two to four hours after with 30 minutes a week planning time. We say to our staff that you have no voice, no autonomy as an educator in your classroom because we did it years ago. You can just do what we did. Things are forever changing. Quantum mechanics tells us that if we conduct an experiment twice. The results will never be the same. They would be different each time. We ask our staff to never be off that daily schedule. Not even by one minute. Not one minute. Even if we're doing what's best for

122our scholars, even if there are emotional challenges, bodily harm, illness, even if we stop every time a child is tardy or absent, we text and we call to check on our scholars so they'll come to school. We have to be realistic while also meeting the needs of our scholars but supporting our staff. Looking at accountability as clear communication and expectations, not perception, not what you think, but outcomes and especially development for our staff, all staff. Thank you for your time. Okay, >> Miss Har Miss Harris. Can you provide Miss Mario a copy? Do you have an extra copy >> so we can have it for the record or we can make a Can we make a copy of it? >> We get someone to make a copy of it before we leave. >> Thank you,

123Miss Harris. Board members. Next we move to action item six 6A. >> Thank you. school board members. For our field trips, we have it is the superintendent's recommendation that the school board approve the field trips to skills USA state conference, the CTE student competitions in Virginia Beach, Virginia on March the 11th, 9th through the 11th, 2026, and Petersburg High School in Vernon John's Middle School ROC to ignite by 4 and the VSU's College of Agriculture to Washington DC on March 25th through the 29th. So we see our first one which is our Skills USA state conference in Virginia Beach. 14. We have 14. I think that's in Washington. So the next one I think the one before that was the one going to Virginia Beach and that is our Skills USA state conference which our

124CTE competition. And so um we're excited about our students going to USA skill and so um that is the they have the minivans from PHS or a rental activity bus from for PHS and CTE provide meals for students. So the students will compete in multiple skills USA state competitions to include cosmetology aesthetics nails and fantasy mannequin. >> You need a motion. >> Okay. I have to do the second too. Okay, I have a second one. Sorry. >> Two. >> Yeah, they're separate. >> Trips. Okay, gotcha. Perfect. So, >> yep. So, then we have our second one. Thank you. Uh, we have our field trip for Petersburg High School and Vernon John's Middle School, JRO OTC to the VIA and VSU 4 Ignite and College of Agriculture trip on March 25th to March 29th. And so

125we see here, we're excited about our students being able to attend. And so they will be provided with VSU meals and lodging will be provided. And so it will still instill a commitment to service, volunteerism, and community involvement. Any questions, board members? >> Okay, Miss Brown, your recommendation. >> Thank you. It is >> Is that number correct? Cuz up there they got four and down here they got 45. >> Where is that bus? >> Four >> and bus. >> Oh, they tell you how many how many you can put on a bus. >> Oh, how many you can put on the bus cuz only four going with one cher, right? >> Yeah, they're riding they're riding. Yeah. >> Okay. >> We're riding our buses. >> The reason why I asked that because if only four

126going with a chaperon. >> No, it looks like >> what is it? >> Colonel Junior is going and she's also taking Dr. Cobb and Dr. Donaldson is he down there. >> Yes. >> She made a mistake by putting one. >> So they but they put one chaperon. >> Yeah. Right. I see what you said. Yeah. >> Okay. >> It should be more than one. >> So So the total number of people is >> like >> it's how many? >> Look, it's three chaperon. >> So can Mr. Can we not Mr. I mean >> so what does the form say? It says >> One chaperon. So we have it says she has the name. So it should be >> three chaperon. So, we need to make that adjustment. >> But it could be >> and go

127back up. Go back up to the top. Did she list Does it say students or it just say passengers? >> That's why I was saying it said passenger. I just That's why I asked you how many are going. >> Oh, so it's four students, I guess, cuz it says yes, passengers. Yeah, >> because if it's just that they could take a van. >> No, I saw it on there somewhere. She's taking that little bus. >> Yes, it says it act. Yeah, >> I saw it on the form. >> Hold on a second. >> Okay, it's on there somewhere. >> Well, that's fine. That's fine. Yeah, they're not doing a big bus. She drives that that little white bus. >> They said meals and lodging >> one week. >> Yes. How will meals be provided? VSU

128meals and lodging will be provided. Yep. >> Very good. All right. >> So, thank you. So, it is the superintendent's recommendation that the school board approve the field trips to Skills USA state conference, the CTE student competitions in Virginia Beach, Virginia on March the 9th through the 11, 2026, and the PHS and VJMS ROTC to ignite by 4 and VSU's College of Agriculture to Washington DC on March 2020 25th to 29th, 2026 as provided. >> Thank you. And Mr. Miles, it's for on her sheet packet that she sent us. It should be in there. Also, she lists the actual four student names. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> I I just want to make sure I had the right count because I saw more adults than one said one chaperon, but you actually had three >>

129um names. So, she's the chaperon. The other two were >> correct. I guess you want to add that count. >> Make sure we had a total count. >> So, yes. So, we can Mr. Brown, if we can get the them to make the adjustment, we can um >> they have all the names. They just the count is just Not that much. That's all >> right. Have everyone. >> So, let me make the motion a little bit different so we can make that adjustment. So, it is the superintendent's recommendation that the school board approved the field trip to Skills USA state conference, the CTE student competitions in Virginia Beach, Virginia on March 9th through the 11, 2026. and the PHS and VJMS ROC to ignite by 4 and VSU's College of Agriculture to Washington DC on

130March 25th through the 29th with the addition of the four chaperones that will attend the trip with the students as provided. >> Very good. And I'm sorry also it's it's not school bus. She actually checked the charter bus. Virginia State Virginia State is paying for what? >> Yes. >> Okay. You've heard the superintendent's recommendations. Is there a motion to accept? >> So move. >> Who is that? Mr. Dance second. >> Second. Mr. Miles. All in favor? >> I >> oppose. Motion carries. Thank you. 6B. Thank you board chair pitch and school board members. Um this is the action related to the amendment of the PPE project scope of work to calibrate the scope to Walnut Hill Elementary School new construction only preK to five with a 700 student capacity including Walnut Hill Elementary School boundary

131prek students. So, it is the superintendent's recommendation that the school board approve an amendment to the PPE project scope of work to decrease the project size and revise the authorized scope to to the to scope as follows. The new project scope is a new construction of Walnut Hill Elementary School as a prekto5 elementary school only reversing the combined Westview Early Childhood Education Center scope. The capacity is 700 student planned enrollment for the new Walnut Hill facility. And the new program boundary alignment is to include the preK students residing within the Walnut Hill elementary attendance boundary, the local jurisdiction prek to be served at the new Walnut Hill prek to 5 facility. The rationale for this recommendation is to align the project with the secured funding cap and the market feasibility findings presented during the PPE

132phase 2 work session. >> Any questions? And we had this at the um public hearing also. You've heard the superintendent's recommendation. Is there a motion to accept? >> So moved. >> Moved by Mr. Miles. Is there >> second? Mrs. D. All in favor? >> I >> oppose. Motion carries. >> Keep jumping. Yes. 6C. >> Okay. Thank you. Board J. Pitches. Schoolboard members. For the athletic trainer services agreement amendment for 2526 with Bon Secour. It is the superintendent's recommendation that the school board approve the athletic trainer services agreement amendment as provided. >> Thank you, Miss Brown. Any questions from board members? Is there a motion to accept? >> So move by Mr. Dance. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Mrs. Tucker. All in favor? >> I >> opposed. Motion carries. And our last action item,

133policy for second read. >> Thank you. It is the superintendent's recommendation that the school board approve the policies for second read the DGC school activity funds the JN student fees fines and charges and the KBE internet privacy as provided. >> Okay, you heard the superintendent's recommendation. Is there a motion to accept? >> Moved by Mrs. Tucker. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Mrs. Proctor. All in favor? >> I oppose. Motion carries. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Brown. Number seven, board members is our information item. Oh, I'm sorry, Miss Brown. We have a report. Thank you for our brief superintendence report. Thank you. Next slide, please. Sorry. We want to celebrate at PCPS our self-published author. We'd like to celebrate our remarkable Cool Spring Elementary School second grader, Destiny Bryant. At just six years old,

134she has written and self-published her very own children's book along with a delightful companion coloring book recently highlighted by the progress index and CBS6. So, congratulations to Cool Spring and to our little brilliant Destiny Bryant. Congratulations to our PCPS students who have been selected for the high school honor band. Seven talented Petersburg High School students were selected to represent us in the Virginia State University inaugural high school honor band alongside peers from Hopewell Appamatics Regional Governor School Hugenat Charles City Sussex Central and Greensville County. Our students performed brand new music after only six hours of rehearsal. The challenging pieces range from third to grade five in difficulty. Please join us in congratulating our students. Jasmine Brutin on flute 10th grade. Sirill Bair on flute 9th grade. Javon Jivian Javian Lewis trumpet 11th grade. Jaden Glenn

135trumpet 10th grade. Gage Bcraft trumpet 10th grade. Nvon Parish Jr. Trombone 10th grade and Siron Winder trombone 10th grade. Congratulations. Well done. Well done, Mr. Deb. Great. Congratulations to our varsity boys basketball win. Quinn's quarterfinals. Last night, our boys varsity basketball team played against Meridian High School in class 3 Virginia High School League VHSL state quarterfinals and won 102 to 45. The team will now play Western Albamar Albamar Albamar High School in the semi-finals which will take place this Friday, March the 6, 2026 at 700 p.m. at PHS. So, all we know is go wave. Congratulations to our junior reserves officers training corps. JOTC secures a perfect 100 on their program for accreditation. This week, the Petersburg High School and Vernon John's Middle School JOTC programs underwent the program for accreditation. Every JROTTC program must

136undergo this inspection every three years to ensure that they meet the standards of the National Accrediting Agency known as Advanced Ed Rebranded. This year, again, congratulations to our JOTC who earned a perfect score of 100. Also want to thank our academics team. As you all know, on February the 17th, 2026, we held our third divisionwide professional development day. And that was because of the days that you all allowed that we were able to put into our calendar staff from across the school division engaged in very impactful presentations on seven mindsets, which is our new SEO curriculum for our adults and other PD sessions. I want to highlight our maintenance and operations department because they too participated in this very focused professional learning as we work to change the mindset so that we ensure that we're

137able to move forward and working on behalf of students. And so thank you to the academics team and thank you to the team that participated in our staff professional development. Just as a reminder, hiring season is here. The PCPS human resources department has kicked off the 2026 hiring season with two division job job fairs for elementary and secondary educators. We are hiring for 2627. Please share this link with potentially interested can candidates and please come help us transform. That concludes my superintendent report this evening. Thank you JJ Pritch and school board members. Thank you, Miss Thank you, Miss Miss Brown. Board members for 7B committee reports. There are some minutes under there from the gifted. We've attached our minutes from the gifted committee. You can take a look. You can take a look at those.

138We move to number eight, our new business from board members. Just want to remember that on March the 11th, that's next. Is that a Monday or Tuesday? It's a Tuesday. Okay. Next t next Tuesday. Next Tuesday is our work session work session on the FY27 budget. This will be the second time coming back to us and we will be here and it'll start at 5:00 p.m. And our next board meeting is March the 18th here. Also remember board members, Miss Davis has asked that you please turn your hope you you turn your form into her for the Southside form. Give it to Miss Burio if you didn't turn it into her. Saturday, March 14th, here at Petersburg High School, we will have our 2026 District Fine Arts Festival. And it's from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00

139p.m. right here at Petersburg High School. And from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 is our beautiful musical performances. March the 16th from 5 to 7 we will at McDonald's in Denwitty in West Petersburg. McDonald's would like to celebrate Latra Almond and the entire Petersburg High basketball team in their Denwood store. I think I better stop invitation only. Okay. I'm sorry. And don't forget March 24th. That's our regional form. Also want to put Oh, April 30th, we got a we have received a flyer. April 30th is the Little Feet meet, Miss for the Special Special Olympics. Mrs. Proctor and Mr. Lundy, I know you usually attend. It's going to be at Petersburg High School this year. It's going to be here. >> They don't have >> guess Virginia State didn't have enough room. >> Next. have a

140lot of stuff going on. >> Um, I just wanted to make sure that we put this on record. Um, that I received a call I share with Mr. Dance and I've shared it with Mr. Martinez. Also, I received a call from Mayor Per to make sure that we are on top of the PO for the lockers. He called me to say that we asking us to order the lockers for the gym and we do the PO and they're going to reimburse us. M Mr. Martinez is familiar with that. He also called today and Mr. D. What is it called? Because I don't know. >> Okay. The training sled for the football team. I didn't want to get it messed up. Training sled for the football team. He called today to say that um he's asking

141us to move forward. He said they do have some extra funds to move forward and we go ahead on and purchase that and we also send them the bill and they're going to pay for that also. >> Mr. Steel put it on >> um Mr. Martinez uh board chair uh in response to that. So, I'm hearing that um we're approved to open up a PO for the lockers and the sled and then they'll we they will reimburse us >> once we get the bill. Yeah, they'll reimburse it. >> We pay it in the bill. Yeah. Everything. Yes. >> So, we'll Okay, we'll take care of that. >> Okay. Appreciate it. Oh, yes. I'm sorry. March 31st is our budget work session with city council. That's five five or six. What did he say? Six. Dr.

142Greywood. He's out there. Is it six o'clock? I think I have it in my phone. I think it's the um budget hearing. I mean the budget meeting with city council. I have it. It's 6. I have 6:30. Yes. At the library. >> Okay. Okay. All right. Anything else? Any other announcements? >> March 10th. March the 11th. >> Oh, >> March the 11th will be our budget work session here. >> Yeah. Okay. >> It's Tuesday, right? That's next Wednesday. >> Next Wednesday. >> Wednesday. Uhhuh. Next Wednesday. >> Nothing on the >> No, ma'am. There isn't anything. >> That's it. >> Yeah. >> There is 717. Is there a motion to adjurnn? >> So move. >> Moved by Mrs. Tucker. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Mr. Dance. All in favor? I >> oppos. Motion carried.

143This meeting is now joined.